Stories

It was reported that our July BBQ was a financial success and everyone was thanked for participating.

We were pleased to have two special guests at our meeting, Raechel McQueen owner of Dairy De-Lite on West River Road, and Andrew Stachowiak, owner of Seasons Change Services.  Both guests passed along their desire to be active in our community.

 

A special report was presented by Alpine Township Community Policing Deputy Jose Douglas.  The Kent County Sheriff's Department recently completed a summer program in Comstock Park  that was attended by about forty-five  5th and 6th graders.  

"Camp CP with a Deputy"  brought youth and the Sheriff's Department closer together. Throughout the week, activities included show-and-tell demonstrations from the department’s Dive Team and Tactical Team, both of which showed off their equipment. The emergency medical, motorcycle and marine division visited and, deputies took campers to Craig’s Cruisers. Most appreciated were demonstrations by the Canine Unit and the Sheriff's Posse.

   

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to donations from the Rotary Club, Community Policing of Michigan and area businesses, each camper received a T-shirt, water bottle and midday meals. Deputy Julie Brown, Comstock Park High School school resource officer, said they organized the camp in hopes of forging a bond with campers at an early age. This marked the first time the department hosted one for elementary school children, she said.

“We want them to see us as normal folks and we’re able to see them as normal kids,” she said. “Sometimes, we only see the naughty kids.”

Thursday, July 11 was another beautiful day for the Comstock Park Rotary second summer BBQ at Dwight Lydell Park.  Hundreds of supporters came out and enjoyed the weather and great food.  Special guests were District 6290 Governor Dave Thomas from Cheboygan and Assistant Governor Jim White from Grand Rapids. Congratulations to our 50/50 winner Angie Lutz. The third and final BBQ for the season will be on Thursday, August 15, 2019  All profits from the event will be used for local and international projects.

Dropping in at our meeting today was Megan Titus a graduate from Kenowa Hills High School and who just completed her first year of College at Grand Valley College.  Megan was one of the 2018  Comstock Park Rotary Grant recipients

Megan talked a bit about college life and how she is excelling in all her classes. She was accompanied by Jerry Hopkins, Kenowa Hills Public Schools Superintendent.  Thank you Megan!

Our guest speaker Thursday was Christine Friedt, director of the Plainfield Township Senior Adult Organization.  The group boasts over a thousand members, many of who are drawn from neighboring communities.  The group is funded through Plainfield Township, is supported through Northview Public Schools, as well as self supported. There is a $12.00 annual fee which helps cover the cost for the monthly news letter.  Christine was introduced by Plainfield Township Supervisor and Rotarian Bob Homan.

The speaker at Thursday's general meeting was David Kammer who with his wife Ruth talked about their involvement in the Emergency Food Pantry "Loaves and Fishes" in Belmont, Michigan.  The pantry is a joint venture of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church and Assumption Roman Catholic Church.  Referrals to the Food Pantry come through the North Kent Service Center located in Rockford.  The pantry is stocked and funded by private donations.  Mr. Kammer  demonstrated a modest example of servant leadership.

Thursday, April 18, the Comstock Park Rotary held he fifth annual "Senior Senior Prom" at the  Fine Arts Center at Comstock Park High School.  Over one hundred senior adults registered for this free event which was sponsored by local businesses.  The program was first offered five years ago by Alpine Floral, Amore Tratoria, and Beuschel's Funeral Home, all of whom continue to be the main sponsors for the event.  This year's theme was "Dance to the Bebop" and featured decorations and music from the fifties and sixties. 

 

Center pieces were so festive. A red car with flowers. And ice cream soda glasses with carnations and a cherry or strawberry on top with a straw. Just perfect for this event, and arranged by Alpine Floral and Gift Shop.  The food dishes provided by Amore Trattoria Italiana Restaurant were delicious and left no one hungry.  In keeping with the theme, members of the Beuschel family took photos with a Polaroid Camera.  Prizes were given for best dressed, and for winner of the cake walk. In addition, there were door prizes donated by local merchants. A disc jockey provided music from the fifties and sixties,  Best of all, there were so many smiling faces. This has turned into a great community event.  

How do the Comstock Park Rotary Club projects get funded?  Our main source of revenue comes from the sale of  barbecued chicken, ribs,or sausage that we offer our community three times a year at Dwight Lydell Park on West River Road. The dates in 2019 are Thursdays,  June 6,  July 11, and August 15.  More information with this year's prices will be forthcoming.  Have a meal in the park or take it home.  Times of the events are from 11:30 AM until 6:00 PM.  (Unless sold out before 6:00 PM.)

For years, Angalia Bianca had slept in abandoned buildings throughout Chicago. She stole. She did drugs. She spent time in and out of jail for forgery, theft, trespassing, and possession of narcotics. But after she landed in prison for the seventh time, something changed -- Bianca knew she wanted a better life. She just didn’t know how to make it happen.

 

After serving her time, Bianca sought help from a local homeless organization, A Safe Haven, and moved to its shelter in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Bianca followed the program closely -- she attended all the required meetings, passed drug tests, and volunteered at every opportunity.

What is it like taking a large team to Africa?  It has probably been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. In mid February, I began leading Rotary members from all over the East Coast of the United States through Ghana. I’ve tried to give the team a warm Ghanaian welcome like I’ve received on my earlier trips. A large trip is a real blessing because each person sees Ghana and our work in a different way.

A highlight for the team was greeting the chief of Sagadugu. The team got excited about buying goats and food for children in the villages where I support eight churches. It was good to see the pastors of most of the eight churches, and I had to explain that we were just passing through on our way to Bolgatanga.

Throughout India and around the world, Rotary clubs are celebrating a major milestone: India has gone three years without a new case of polio. The last reported case was a two-year-old girl in West Bengal on 13 January 2011. To mark this historic triumph, Rotary clubs illuminated landmarks and iconic structures throughout the country with four simple but powerful words, "India is polio free."

 

The three-year achievement sets the stage for polio-free certification of the entire Southeast Asia region by the World Health Organization. The Indian government also plans to convene a polio summit in February to commemorate this victory in the global effort to eradicate polio.