-- To the thousands of Michigan residents and visitors who kept a great tradition alive by walking across the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day. About 40,000 people crossed the bridge, officials estimated. Some 275 runners chosen by lottery crossed with Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a regular runner, who covered the five-mile span in 35 minutes, 27 seconds, a record for her and the undisputed record for any Michigan governor. It was the 51st year for the bridge walk.
-- To retired Detroit Red Wings forward and Traverse City-area resident Dallas Drake for bringing the Stanley Cup to the Open Space on Labor Day. More than 1,300 fans paid to have their pictures taken with the Cup, with proceeds -- more than $40,000 -- going to the Grand Traverse Hockey Association's New Skater Fund. Drake and the Red Wings won the Cup in June; longtime tradition allows each player to have three days with the trophy.
-- To the Cherry Knoll Elementary School community for coming up with the idea of selling bricks from its former building to raise money for the elementary yearbook. Much of Cherry Knoll was demolished to make way for a refurbished and enlarged building. The bricks will be sold for $5 each during the school year.
-- To the United Way of Northwest Michigan Volunteer Center, Rotary Charities of Traverse City and the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce for holding a food drive to benefit area food pantries. The drive, which continues through Thursday, is the kickoff to the 13th annual Day of Caring. Donations will be accepted at the Traverse City Record-Eagle office, 120 W. Front St., and Traverse Motors, 1301 S. Garfield Ave., Traverse City. For more information on the drive and the Day of Caring, call 947-3200.
-- To Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, an all-volunteer nonprofit group spearheading a license plate campaign that could generate thousands of dollars to support projects throughout the 71,000-acre park. The group is lobbying state officials, who must first pass a law to get the plates. The group will then have to raise at least $15,000 and meet sales minimums.
-- To a Mancelona food pantry that is trying to find grant funding for an emergency homeless shelter to meet what it sees as a rising need. When it was founded 15 years ago the Community Lighthouse Food Pantry served about 75 families a month. That number has risen to 350 families a month. The pantry says many people need someplace to stay, particularly in an emergency such as a fire. The group is seeking about $225,000.
-- To the Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City for holding a memorial ceremony for Airman Charles J. Krause, who drowned while swimming in West Grand Traverse Bay on Aug. 30, 2007. Krause was training to become an aviation maintenance technician.
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