Guests who buy mattress sets on March 22 at Art Van Furniture, 1775 Oak Hollow Drive, Traverse City, also will be helping local charities.
All day on March 22, Art Van will donate a mattress to either the Father Fred Foundation or the Goodwill Inn homeless shelter for each mattress purchased.
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Alex Sarske lives in Summit City on Church Street, which can get hard to navigate in the winter.
Jan. 31 was just such a day. Alex called the Paradise Township ambulance to take him to the hospital and it had trouble reaching his house and getting back out. The next day, some of the EMTs came out and plowed his driveway and part of Church Street.
"It made me feel good that they went beyond their job to help me out," Alex said.
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The Benzie County Council on Aging's board of directors knows how lonely and depressing the holidays can be for senior citizens who have no family in the area. Also realizing that employees need time with their families, The Gathering Place, Benzie County's senior center, is usually closed during the holidays. However, for the past four years, some employees and volunteers have given up their holidays to keep the senior center open and give seniors a place to go.
On Christmas Day, 112 people enjoyed Christmas dinner. The day started with music and hors d'oeuvres and ended with dessert, more music and Christmas carols. On New Year's Eve, about 60 people enjoyed a party with a countdown to "midnight," a toast, noisemakers and confetti, appetizers and music. The board would like to thank everyone who helped make both parties successful.
Those who helped on Christmas were Charlene Hamilton, Michael and Sherry Stephens and Marilyn and Bernie Killeen, who prepared and cooked the meal; Annmarie and Michael Parsons-McNamara, who provided music; Max Kracht, who drove the COA bus to transport participants to and from the party; Bruce Anderson, Betty Cramer, Becky and Hank Milewski, Beth Belanger, Jeannette Hanson, Carl and Deanna Greene, who served coffee and helped with cleanup; and The Gathering Place staff, who helped with directions and food.
Charlene Hamilton, Jean Owens and Bernie and Marilyn Killeen hosted and helped with the New Year's Eve party. The Melody Makers provided music, while staff prepared hors d'oeuvres. Volunteers who decorated and helped with clean up were Art and Jean Cline, Charlene Hamilton, Judy Fast, Connor Burt, Danielle and Harry Gardner and the Killeens.
Stephanie Beach can be reached at sbeach@record-eagle.com or 933-1506.
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