The Grand Traverse Area Sport Fishing Association's Community Outreach Committee, co-chaired by Amanda Rommell of Tiny Bubbles Charters, and Christine Murphy of the Frankfort Tackle Box, organized a twilight charter fishing adventure to thank 27 volunteers from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Michigan.
Amanda wrote on behalf of the committee to send a "big fishy thank you" to everyone who made the outing such an enjoyable success.
"The day was just perfect. The lake was super calm and the sun was shining," Amanda wrote. "GTASFA's motto is 'Our Mission is Fishin' '' so reports saying that the experience was awesome let us know that the mission was a success."
The committee's goal is to find a way to say thank you to different nonprofit and community volunteer groups through fishing and Amanda and Christine figured the Bigs were a great place to start since these men and women give directly to their communities, especially the children.
"We wanted a night where, for once, they got to do something just for themselves," Amanda wrote.
Charter boats and captains who participated were Tiny Bubbles III, Capt. Dave Rommell; Nibbles, Capt. Wes Newberry; Murphy's Law, Capt. Brian Murphy; Fish Hunter, Capt. Dave James; Slo-Mo-Sean, Capt. Dick Murphy; Intimidator, Capt. Andy Odette; Hammerhead, Capt. John Morrow; and River Rat, Capt. Chris Hettinger.
In addition to the trip, there were other donations including a large pizza for each boat from Papano's Pizza, beverages donated by Pepsi, and T-shirts for all participants donated by GTASFA with screen printing donated by Alfie Embroidery and Olde Town Legal.
To nominate a group or organization to receive a similar "thank you" event, e-mail Amanda, fishtinybubbles@att.net, or visit www.gtasfa.com.
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VEGGO is a group of more than 70 Kalkaska area volunteers working in a community garden. All food grown is being donated to the Kalkaska Area Council on Aging for meals at the Kalkaska Senior Center and Meals on Wheels. The group also will be canning any surplus for use by the senior center.
VEGGO Secretary Martha Moses wrote on behalf of the group to thank all the local people and businesses who have helped make the garden a reality.
Land was donated by Kalkaska Parks & Recreation. Seeds, tools, plant starts, hoses, construction materials and so much more were donated by Great Lakes Containment, Michigan Coating Products, Kalkaska Feed, Barker Creek Nursery, Unlimited Outdoors, McDonald's, Dick and Sandy Adams, Big Boy in Kalkaska, 3rd Street Cafe, Kalkaska High School gym class, Kalkaska Middle School National Honor Society, Dollars Galore, Kalkaska Senior Center, B.C. Pizza, the Kaliseum, Cornell's Crossing, G's Pizza, Country Surplus, Hair Depot, Northside Art Class and Trout Cafe.
"After more than a year of planning, we have our first garden thanks to all of the above and our wonderful band of dedicated volunteers," Martha wrote.
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