BY STEPHANIE BEACH
Local columnist
May 05, 2008 04:00 am Greg Whitten has just recently been able to move back into his Traverse City home that was heavily damaged by smoke and water in an attic fire in September 2007. Greg wrote because he would like to publicly thank the firefighters and also the two gentlemen who noticed smoking coming out of the roof vents as they passed his home on their way to work that morning. "I would like (everyone) to know that we are blessed by an army of firefighters who will respond and professionally help you when you need it," Greg wrote. "Three fire units from two counties responded within minutes of my 9-1-1 call. I can't thank them enough. Benzie County sent the Honor and Almira Township departments. Grand Traverse County sent the Long Lake Township department. They worked together as if they were one. "I just cannot express enough how much I appreciate what they did for me. ...All of you did what you had to do, regardless of the risks," Greg wrote. As for Pat McGrow and Jake Snider, the two men who woke him up that morning by pounding on the doors of his house and screaming at the top of their lungs, Greg knows they saved his life. "Had it not been for your actions on that morning, I might not even be here right now...," Greg wrote. Pat and Jake work for D.E.S. Electrical Services Inc. in Traverse City and were driving to work when they noticed something as they passed Greg's house. Not sure exactly what it was they saw, the pair turned around and came back. When they realized it wasn't just mist coming off the roof, but smoke, they woke Greg up and, after making sure he was all right and had called 9-1-1, went on their way to work. "They also drove back out to my house on their break from work...," Greg wrote. "They arrived just after all the firefighters had left to see how I was doing. The good Lord sent these two guardian angels to save me as it apparently wasn't my time to go. I thank God and have a whole new appreciation for life." -- Jim Nothoff, president of the Rotary Club of Elk Rapids, was one of the volunteers who accepted donations of food and cash at Tom's Market in Acme and is most grateful to all the donors for their generosity. "Your donations go directly to the needs-based customers of A.C.T.S. (Acme Christian Thrift Store and the food pantry)," Jim wrote. "It is absolutely amazing to witness the generosity of this community first hand." Shoppers donated items that added up to approximately 4,000 pounds of food and supplies for an estimated value of $6,000, plus cash donations totalling $548.71. "Ninety-five to 110 families (340 to 385 people) will benefit from your generosity," Jim wrote. He went on to thank the members of the Elk Rapids Rotary for volunteering to gather and deliver the donations and the store managers, employees and visitors to Tom's Market, with a special thank-you to Tom's carry-out employees who were seen donating some of their tips to A.C.T.S. "The need for food and supplies is endless and your donations all add meaning and hope to the lives of your neighbors," Jim wrote. Items for this column may be sent to Northern Notes, Record-Eagle, P.O. Box 632, Traverse City, MI 49685-0632; e-mail sbeach@record-eagle.com. -- Volunteers are the backbone of any successful nonprofit organization and last week Munson Medical Center paid tribute to its team of 400 active volunteers with an ap preciation luncheon. "Our volunteers provide important services every day that help make Munson Medical Center the quality health care facility that it is," said Theresa Stachnik, manager of volunteer services. "Every year the volunteers are among the hospital's strongest backers, with both their time and their financial support." In addition to generously donating their time to the hospital, the volunteers annually provide scholarships to area students preparing for medical careers. As a group, the volunteers also have provided more than $2 million to Munson Medical Center projects over the years, including $700,000 to the Munson Manor Hospitality House, and a $500,000 pledge to the new Emergency Department. -- Michigan Community Blood Centers salutes the following blood donors for reaching new gallon levels recently. One gallon -- Marjorie Brunett, Nathan Cebula, Gina Chesnek, Janis Cornell, David Danielson, Norman Davis, Randy Emeott, Rodney Groleau, Evelia Keyes, Brandon Mead, Janet Parker, Brian Roche, Sandra Scarbrough, Wayne Stone, Sarah Straus, Tina Viszmeg, Alyssa Wolschleger, Carol Woodgate, and Sandra Woodgate; two gallons -- Donald Bolt, Donald Bridges, Linda Broughton, Michael Call, Gerald Crim, Julie Falconer, Mike Riebing, Rachelle Flees, Jesse Glick, Jana Hoensheid, Laura LaCoste, Danile McIntyre, Nancy Morairty, Steven Patmore, Susan Roller, Andrew Rudnik, and David Tompkins; three gallons -- Edith Cox, Bob DeSisto, John Flesher, Donald Harbold, Dale Lingaur, Nicole Lovergine, Jack Pickett, Carla Roberts, Tina Taylor, and Joan Williams; four gallons -- Jahn Fraser, Robert Kuhn, Michael Mintz, Tom Rice, Janice Walters, and Adam Ziegler; five gallons -- Morris Kolarik, Gail Maison, and James Sorber; six gallons -- Robert Bosch, Lorne Dickinson, and Robert Miller; seven gallons -- Susan Avery, Jeffrey Carns, Cheryl Myers, Dale Nielson, David Wollenhaupt, and Reta Zielinski; nine gallons -- Ronald Hubbard; 10 gallons -- Diane Bair, George DeSha, Mary Dumon, and Dorothea Goodson; 11 gallons -- Robert Laba; and 26 gallons -- Dan Gwyn. Items for this column may be sent to Northern Notes, Record-Eagle, P.O. Box 632, Traverse City, MI 49685-0632; e-mail sbeach@record-eagle.com.
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Stephanie Beach