Letters

July 18, 2010

Finding sanctuary
This is in respectful response to recent letters from readers offended
by our ad headline using “Seek Asylum” to promote The Village at Grand
Traverse Commons. That headline was not intended to offend anyone, nor
was it intended to be funny. To those offended, we apologize.
Our objective for using the word “asylum” was simply to attract
visitors. It was meant to reference the undeniable history of the
Commons as the former Traverse City State Hospital (originally the
Northern Michigan Asylum), while at the same time invoking the
original meanings of the word, which include “sanctuary, shelter, or
refuge.” Every day, people “seek asylum” from unfavorable
circumstances. We simply repurposed the phrase to convey the positive
sense of asylum, and, contrary to its historical uses, portray The
Village as a place where people want to go to escape our everyday
world.
We respect the history of the TCSH, and acknowledge that any large
state mental institution with decades of operation will bear some sad
stories. While we cannot ease painful memories of an old asylum, we
can choose to celebrate the original noble intent of a historically
enlightened era of care for our fellow human beings. We can recognize
the efforts of hospital employees that were dedicated to truly helping
the patients. We, and the many people who have invested in this
campus, can move forward to preserve historic buildings by giving them
new uses and making them good places to live, work and do business.
That does not change the hospital’s history, especially for those who
prefer to forget it. But we hope the blossoming Village neighborhood
will empower people to see an old asylum in a new way, and maybe one
day reclaim a good word.

Raymond Minervini II
Partner, The Minervini Group LLC
Judgement call
I have been practicing family and probate law over the last 20 years.
I have practiced in courts throughout Michigan. The most critical
qualifications for a judge are honesty, integrity, common sense, legal
knowledge and practical life experience. A judge also cannot be
afraid to make a decision that may not be popular if it is the just
decision.
I have known and practiced in front of Marian Kromkowski for over 15
years in her position as a family law referee. Marian is honest, has
incredible integrity, common sense, legal knowledge and practical life
experience. Marian treats all people who appear in front of her with
respect and keeps and open mind prior to making her final decision.
Marian cares about families and children and results for the people
with whom she comes in contact in the court system. She is not afraid
to make an unpopular decision, if it is the right decision. I highly
recommend and support Marian Kromkowski for Leelanau County Probate
Judge. Vote for Marian on August 3.

Stephen King • Leelanau County

Plugging his books
The article on Summer‘s Best Beach Reads was good, but I feel the
writer should have included the following three books that are also
available at Horizon Books: the award winning author Brian Gruley‘s
hard-hitting mystery, “Starvation Lake“ and my two action adventures,
“China Marine: Tsingtao Treasure“ and sequel, “Tainted Treasure,“ that
follows a China Marine‘s dangerous voyage on a Swedish grain carrier
from the port of Saginaw to China in search of hidden treasure, and
his almost life-ending encounter with pirates in the South China Sea.
My next book, “Web of Greed“ should be out in late fall.

Buzz Harcus • Mancelona

Correction
Brandi Nelson of BANned Ideation Photography deserves credit for
taking the photos of the Saliva show in last week‘s Northern Seen.