Tag Archives: Appreciation

The Rapid celebrates Transit Workers Appreciation Day

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By Bill Kirk
The Rapid

In honor of National Transit Worker Appreciation Day is Thursday, March 18, The Rapid will recognize its entire transportation workforce for its unwavering dedication and resilience. The public is encouraged to join in the celebration by sharing compliments about bus operators and all other transit team members powering The Rapid.

After an extremely challenging year, it is more important than ever to recognize our public servants who have remained essential to keeping our community moving. Every day, a dedicated team of transit workers comes together to ensure thousands of individuals throughout the community make it safely to work, school, medical appointments, and beyond.

“It takes a team to keep the community connected and accessible to all,” said The Rapid’s new Chief Executive Officer Deb Prato. “While bus operators may be the hands on the wheel ensuring your bus makes it safely to your destination, technicians keep buses running smoothly, dispatchers guide buses every day and a team of administrative employees provide the support necessary to ensure our community has safe and reliable public transportation service.

“We are seeking positive stories about the impacts of transit workers to be able to share with our team.”

The Rapid encourages the entire community to chime in about the positive impacts of public transportation and the workers that keep buses moving every day. Please share your appreciation by submitting a compliment to be shared with transit workers on this special day.

Commend your favorite bus operator or transit workers by email at comment@ridetherapid.org or by calling 616-776-1100, or comment on The Rapid’s Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages with the hashtag #transitstrong.

Lunch is on Wyoming residents as way to say thanks to police, fire

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Two special luncheons were not only designed to say thank you to the many first responders who helped with a July 15 fire, but also an opportunity for residents of Bayberry Farms Apartments to heal.

 

“We really wanted to show our appreciation for all that the Wyoming police officers and firefighters did for us,” said Catherine Kooyers, a resident of Bayberry Farms Apartments and one of the organizers of the event that took place earlier this month.

 

img_6099“By being able to say thank you, the residents are able to put closure on what happened and heal from the entire event.”

 

It was July 15 when a call went out that there was a fire at the Bayberry Farms Apartments, a Wyoming senior-living complex located at 2520 56th St. SW. “Earlier that day, we had just had the fire department here but it turned out to be nothing,” Kooyers said. However, the mid-afternoon fire was much more serious as smoke started to fill the apartment complex. Kooyers, who lives in an apartment that was near where the fire started, ran through the building knocking on doors and trying to get people out.

 

“Because of the earlier incident, some people didn’t think the second situation was all that serious,” Kooyers said.

 

Along with tenants, firefighters and police, workers from the nearby businesses came over to help with the evacuation.

 

“I heard a knock on the door but didn’t pay that much attention to it,” said resident Ellen Vining. “I heard another knock, much harder and decided I needed to answer it.

 

“There was a young lady telling me that I needed to get out. She was all dressed in blue so I thought she was one of the firefighters.”

 

Vining later learned that person was a Monelli’s employee who was coming in for her shift when she saw the smoke and came over to help.

 

“I learned a very valuable lesson that day,” Vining said with a chuckle. “Don’t ignore a knock on the door.”

 

Because of the organization of the tenants it made it easier for the department to assess who was missing which in turned meant the lost of only a pet, said Wyoming Deputy Chief Brian Bennett. Three people were taken to the hospital to be checked out. Three units suffered the most damage with the entire building having smoke and water damage.

 

img_6098It has taken several months, but most of the residents have been able to move back home and with the fire behind them, the tenants felt now was a good time to show their appreciation to the police officers and firefighters with the special luncheons.

 

“It is always nice when you are able to come back and visit with those who you were able to help and learn what has happened since the fire,” Bennett said. “A lot of times, we are in and out and we do not get that chance to talk to the residents and see how they are doing afterwards.”

 

“I am so impressed with all of them,” Vining said. “They all have such compassion which I guess that is why they became firefighters.”

Janice Limbaugh: An Appreciation

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Janice4By: Colleen Pierson

 

Janice Limbaugh has been an avid student of life. She was a beacon of humor, creativity, intelligence, and compassion to all who knew her. Death succumbed her last week after fighting a lengthy, courageous battle with cancer. She served as a model of a life well lived.

 

JaniceJanice made a name for herself here at WKTV Community Television as one of the individuals who started the Citizen Journalism program. I, along with the rest of the staff, had the opportunity to be alongside her in that journey. When you walked into her cubicle, we would all light up to see her face breaking grin and the way she celebrated life with uncommon vigor and joy. In a word, she was a SUPERSTAR.

 

She could write about anything, but what interested her most were stories that surrounded the history of the Wyoming/ Kentwood area, and people stories. On some days, we would just hang out at Marge’s Donut Den, and anyone that walked through those doors was fair game for a well-told story. She had a crisp mind and an uncanny focus when she sat down to write.

 

Janice2“Startup programs are never easy,” remarked Tom Norton, General Manager at WKTV. “Janice attacked all the challenges we gave her day in and day out in building a successful Citizen Journalism program here at the station. Always with a smile on her face.  Always being the consummate professional.”

 

Gratitude always encompassed Janice. She always felt positively grateful for her family, friends, the winning performance of the Detroit Red Wings, and the ability to find a scenic camp site.

 

She also told me numerous times how thankful she was to the WKTV Board of Directors and Tom Norton who helped her extensively with medical bills and financial help throughout her cancer fight.

 

Janice1“Not many places of employment would do that for an employee these days,” Janice would relate.

 

She graduated from Redford Union High School in 1977, and from there went on to Grand Valley State University. Janice later transferred to Ferris State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and journalism in 1981.

 

Her Catholic faith played an important role throughout her entire life and helped her through the death of her beloved daughter Hannah and husband Dan Limbaugh. Her sons Dave and Nick have been a constant source of love.

 

In 2013, Janice met John Gore, and he later became her fiancé. She loved spending time outdoors which led to the purchase of a camper. The enjoyment continued as they traveled all over Michigan, enjoying the state’s natural beauty along the way. During Janice’s final days, John became her primary and devoted caregiver.

 

Janice6Because she was such a great friend and family person, her death leaves everyone who was part of her life in such profound grief.

 

The staff at WKTV may feel utterly bereft and sad for a while– losing the affable, huggable writer who was never at a loss for words. So, be kind to them. She was loved by all, and will not soon be forgotten.

 

I spoke to her two days before she died.  The last thing she said was, “I do not want to suffer.”

 

I will always hold onto that.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Koss National Triple Negative Breast Cancer Research Foundation at curetnbc.org.