Friday, May 3, 2013
David Burch, formerly of Trenton, is the author of "Pocket Full of Dreams." His story is one of tragedy and success.
"I want to help kids understand they can become anyone they want, no matter if they are born with privilege or not." -- David Burch When former Trenton resident David Burch, 52, was three years old he lived in a shack without running water. He and his only brother, Jeff, would go door-to-door to collect money to buy food to feed themselves and their baby sister. Burch's father was arrested for robbing 11 banks in Indiana and his mother died in a car accident when he was still a boy. Burch said much of his adolescence was filled with severe poverty, violence, abuse, and tragedy. It was his struggle that motivated him to write the book, "Pocket Full of Dreams," a true story of overcoming adversity and self-transformation. Before authoring a …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Trenton resident James Spears, 65, keeps coats for men and women in his car in case he sees someone around the city who might need one.
"Can you keep a secret," James Spears asked jokingly as he looked around to make sure the coast was clear. A moment later Spears lifted up his argyle sweater to reveal a Superman T-shirt given to him by his daughter. Spears, too, is a super man. A constant contributor to his community, Spears was recently named the 2012 Patch Community Service Person of the Year by the Trenton-Grosse Ile Patch. Spear's daughter, Jodi Williams, nominated him for the award in November 2012. Spears and Superman have a few things in common. They both wear glasses and they both help the helpless. While Superman uses super-strength to save the day, Spears relies on his faith in God. "I still stop and fix flat tires," Spears said. "If I see someone struggling or …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Automotive technology teacher Bryan Monaco's 1969 Hahn Eclipse GT700 was featured in the January/February issue of "Lawn & Garden Tractor Magazine."
Bryan Monaco became interested in engines in high school after taking a small-engine repair class. "If it has an engine--I'm interested in it," Monaco said. Monaco, automotive technology teacher at Trenton High School, collects and restores antique lawn equipment. One of Monaco's prized tractors--a 1969 Hahn Eclipse GT700--was featured in the January/February issue of "Lawn & Garden Tractor Magazine." Monaco purchased the Hahn from a friend and college schoolmate Zac Winstead. Winstead grew up in Evansville, IN, which was once home to the Hahn factory, and his interest in the yellow tractors soon spread to Monaco. In June 2012, Monaco, Winstead and another friend who owns an antique Hahn tractor, Kevin Burton, attended the 2012 Lawn & …
42.143721
-83.20055
Trenton High School
2601 Charlton Rd, Trenton, MI
/articles/antique-tractor-gets-trenton-teacher-national-attention
1536274
/locations/8563482
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Trenton Mayor Kyle Stack and her husband, Bill Jasman of the Trenton Rotary Club, co-wrote a Rotary International grant on behalf of seven Downriver Rotary Clubs including Trenton and Grosse Ile.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Nate Stemen
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Over 350 needy Downriver residents received winter coats in November thanks to Trenton Mayor Kyle Stack and her husband, Bill Jasman. Stack and Jasman, members of the Trenton Rotary Club, created Operation Warm three years ago and have provided warm coats to nearly 1,000 people in Trenton, Taylor, Woodhaven, Brownstown, Gibraltar, Rockwood, Grosse Ile and Wyandotte. This year seven Downriver Rotary Clubs and Rotary International spent about $6,000 for winter coats that were distributed to needy adults and children through Rotary Clubs, area school districts and local churches. Stack and Jasman attained the funding for the coats by co-wroting a Rotary International grant on behalf of seven Downriver Rotary Clubs including Trenton and Grosse…
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Trenton High School students have banded together to provide an estimated 1,000 toys to needy and hospitalized children.
Boxes and boxes of toys spill out on to Lori Simmons' classroom floor as over 30 Trenton High School students plan ways to surprise children with presents this holiday season. Beginning in October, Simmons' biology students took time away from homework, part-time jobs and athletics to participate in Santa's Cause, which is an after-school charity project that provides toys to needy and hospitalized children. Simmons' son, Bradley, 11, inspired students to get involved three years ago when he was just 8 years old. Bradley was diagnosed with leukemia and, while in treatment, he received a gift from a major electronics store. Touched by the act of kindness, Bradley was determined to reproduce the same kindness for other children in his …
42.143721
-83.20055
Trenton High School
2601 Charlton Rd, Trenton, MI
/articles/what-would-you-do-with-1-000-presents-this-holiday-season
1536274
/locations/8323043
Thursday, November 29, 2012
For the last 40 years, volunteers from around Downriver have made the Trenton Food Pantry a welcoming, helpful place for needy Trenton families.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Nate Stemen
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Thursday, November 29, 2012
Each month, a man with a weak handshake and a slow, awkward gate shuffles through the faded, brown doors of the Trenton Food Pantry. Volunteers have affectionately dubbed him "Chia Pet," because he recently grew his hair back after finishing a long round of chemotherapy treatments that left him bald and thin. Now, as he checks in with pantry staff, his hair is shoulder-length and he has a full beard that reaches down to the collar of his t-shirt. "Chia Pet’s" real name is Tom Collier, and for Collier the food pantry is a necessary monthly stop. He is currently in his fourth bout with cancer and his body is too weak and fragile to keep a job. Over the last 37 years, Carole Tarnowski has used the Trenton Food Pantry to feed thousands of …
42.13935
-83.208375
St. Timothy's Church
2901 Manning St, Trenton, MI
/articles/the-trenton-food-pantry-ain-t-no-mickey-mouse-operation
1536262
/locations/8251289
Thursday, November 1, 2012
The day she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, doctors told former Grosse Ile resident Emily Schaller she would likely not live long enough to graduate high school.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Nate Stemen
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Thursday, November 1, 2012
In 2000, Emily Schaller did something doctors never thought possible. She graduated from Grosse Ile High School. As a child, Schaller was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis: an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website. In 2007, Schaller founded Rock CF in Trenton, which is a web-based music and fitness driven foundation that raises money and awareness for cystic fibrosis. "I've always been kind of a face for the disease across southeast Michigan, especially Grosse Ile, and now nationwide, but Grosse Ile has been a huge supporter," Schaller said. Schaller, who now lives in Grosse Pointe, began raising funds …
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Trenton resident Sam Delagarza suffered his second heart attack in April and said he owes his life to his five-year-old daughter's quick thinking.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Nate Stemen
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Thursday, September 27, 2012
As 45-year-old Sam Delagarza of Trenton lay on his floor grasping his chest in late April, he called out for help from his 5-year-old daughter. Confused and scared, Delagarza told Amelianna to get his cell phone, and just a few seconds later she appeared before him with cell phone in hand. "She came right back with it and I go, 'Oh, thank God,'" Delagarza said. Soon emergency personnel were scurrying about Delagarza's house on the 3300 block of Hickory Court, but not before Amelianna unlocked the front door. Delagarza was home watching his daughter and 14-month-old son, Santos, when he began to feel "cramping" in his chest. He said he began sweating profusely and was amazed his daughter was able to get him the help he needed—and fast. "I …
42.129949
-83.2077
3300 Hickory Ct, Trenton, MI
/articles/5-year-old-trenton-girl-aids-heart-attack-stricken-father
/locations/7918810
Friday, September 14, 2012
Trenton resident Peter Markus received the Kresge Arts Fellowship for Literary Arts and a check for $25,000 for his novel,“Bob, or Man on Boat,” as well as three books of short fiction.
Just as the wind had left his sail and he began wondering if he would ever get back to writing his current book, Trenton resident Peter Markus received news that was the gust he needed to get back on course. Markus is one of 24 Metro Detroiters who were awarded the Kresge Artist Fellowship for 2012 for creative vision and commitment to excellence within a wide range of artistic disciplines, according to the Kresge Foundation website. Markus received the award for literary arts for his vast collection of writings including his novel, “Bob, or Man on Boat,” and three books of short fiction. "I'd been in a bit of a stand-off with the recent book I'm working on, had lost confidence in it in fact, and the Kresge award came at the right time …
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Grosse Ile resident David L. Dyer recently wrote his first book titled, "From Darkness to Light" about his years of alcoholism, being abandoned by his father and his time in the Vietnam War. He will be at the Grosse Ile Veterans Gala on Friday.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Nate Stemen
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Thursday, September 13, 2012
When I vowed to give up alcohol, Which was my lifelong crutch, I was given a brand-new life, It became my time to touch. The above quote is a small excerpt from the book "From Darkness to Light," written by Grosse Ile resident David L. Dyer and published by Balboa Press in April 2012. Dyer, 73, said the choice to put all of his memories, good and bad, into one book was something that changed him and helped him deal with the many injustices and injuries, both mental and physical, he has experienced throughout his life. Dyer struggled with alcoholism for the majority of his adult life. A recent diagnosis of Parkinson's disease has helped lead him toward sobriety. When he was just 4 years old, Dyer's father walked out on him, his mother, …
Si'nee Anthony
2:10 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Wow, what a great story on a great person. You are one-of-a-kind and rare. Not many people would stop to do a good deed or think twice about helping a stranger. You are better than Superman, he was fictional and you are the living version. It is a honor to know you. Congrats on the award, I believe if there were more of you in the world there would be less violence and hungry to stamp out. more ›