Past-E-Mail

Past-E-Mail: Cam Notes - 2006: October: Oct 01-06

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Sunday-What'sUP October 2 - 04:13 am

By Charlie at Pasty Central (Chopper) on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 07:27 am:

A different kind of Shoebox Memory today... In case you missed yesterday's memorial page, we included a tribute to staff, volunteers, and residents who have been through these doors during the past 24 years. In fact it is 24 years to the day that Still Waters in Calumet, Michigan started accepting elderly residents (10/1/82). Today these halls are silent.

If it has been a while since you've tuned in to Pasty Central, here is a summary of recent developments:

Board of directors announces closing

Pasty.NET responds, renews commitment to supporting care for elderly

Daily Mining Gazette guest editorial

We have received numerous questions about this turn of events, which are answered here:

Q: Did all of the Still Waters residents find alternate housing arrangements?
Yes, part of the reason for the home closing was a surplus of available housing in the region. All residents found accomodations and all moves were completed a day ahead of schedule.

Q: Will Pasty Central be continuing? The website? The pasties?
A: Yes! Pasty Central and its website pasty.com became a seperate entity several years ago, in a transaction which provided additional funding for Still Waters, and enabled it to stay open years beyond when it otherwise would have closed. Pasty Central's new USDA approved facility begins baking this week, with online ordering to resume today.

Q: Will pasty sales continue to support care for the elderly?
Yes, in the immediate future, proceeds will assist with the sizeable closing expenses at Still Waters, including staff, vendors, final accounting, etc. Beyond this special project, a portion of each pasty sold will be donated to regional elder care organizations, including Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly and Omega House.

Q: Will Still Waters ever open again?
Several organizations are looking at the building and gardens for alternative uses, such as a homeless shelter and public park. The facility is in excellent condition, forced to close only because of changes in State policies. Any new human service operation in the building will need to adapt to the changes.

Q: How can I help during this transition?
Donation support from Pasty Central visitors filled a very important role caring for the people who called Still Waters 'home' for so many years. Your gifts are tax deductible, and may be given securely online. Any amounts given which exceed the actual need will be forwarded to other non-profit elder-care organizations in the Copper Country. Thank you to all who have generously shown your support.

On a related note, as you may know, a year ago Still Waters was in merger discussions with another local Home for the Aged. At that time we started the process of moving Pasty.NET and Pasty Central's operation to a new headquarters, the Hut Inn in Kearsarge. This was done to free up the space at Still Waters for the possible merger, while at the same time expand Pasty.NET's online resources, and increase Pasty Central's baking capacity. Little did we know at that time the merger talks would eventually break down. How ironic, a year later as the new Pasty Central opens, the old Home closes.

This turn of events is somehow reminiscent of the struggles of the Copper Country as it emerged from the mining era, coping with change, finding its way. We will carry on in the pasty-making tradition of the staff and residents who helped start this project over a decade ago. Thank you for your continued support.

Have a good week :o)

By Danbury (Danbury) on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 08:10 am:

Best of luck to all who were involved, residents, employees, volunteers, and others not included by now, in the ongoing changes and beyond.
Especially to you, Mr. Hopper, since it is due to your work that I am concerned about people I have never met, and who don't know about me respectively, but still relieved to hear the've found a new place to live and, hopefully, work.

By Grace M Wetton (Gmw) on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 08:46 am:

Best wishes to Charlie and anyone connected with Stillwaters.

By Deb S. (Usedtobeayooper) on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 09:34 am:

Good luck everybody. I actually know somebody who resided at Stillwaters. I didn't know that's where she was until August. I have to find out where she's going to go now. Her nieces cleaned out her house so she really can't go back there. Poor thing. It took her so long to get accustomed to being there and now it's gone. Let's pray that everybody who is there finds a great place to live.

By David Soumis (Davesou) on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 10:38 am:

This is truly a sad thing. How did the employees fare? Did they find jobs?
I was looking at some demographic data of the Calumet area not long ago, unemployment is very high and the median household income is extremely low...not a good thing if you're losing your job.

By kosk in Toronto (Koskintoronto) on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 07:53 pm:

Charlie-- We hear your sadness. Empty halls and missing faces are
hard to bear. Blessings to all of you. I've been thinking about you
all day.

By kosk in Toronto (Koskintoronto) on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 07:54 pm:

P.S. The flag at half mast is especially poignant.

By Jim Noble (Jnoblegas) on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 09:34 pm:

Although poignant, only the President can order a flag be flown at half mast

By Jim Noble (Jnoblegas) on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 09:41 pm:

That should read at half-staff, not half-mast.

By Keith Knighton (Kniton2) on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 10:05 pm:

Jim,

Just a question...if the President is the only person that can order the flag to be flown at half staff how come Michigan Governor Granholm has the authority to have them lowered in our state for every Michigan Soldier killed in Iraq?

By kosk in Toronto (Koskintoronto) on Monday, October 2, 2006 - 05:39 am:

Thanks for the correction Jim.

By Jim Noble (Jnoblegas) on Monday, October 2, 2006 - 07:03 am:

Keith, You are correct, a state Governor also has the authority to order a flag be flown at half-staff.

By Tim in Oscoda (Timmer280) on Monday, October 2, 2006 - 07:56 am:

As Governor of the Pasty Nation Charlie can fly his flag as he feel appropriate!


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