Best people

March 28, 2007

The Best People
Northern Michigan has some wonderful scenery, but it’s the people who live here that add the heart and soul of the region. That’s why our annual ‘Best of 2007’ coverage always opens with some of the folks who put Northern Michigan on the map.

Most Memorable Person:
Jim Carruthers


It’s been a big year for community activist Jim Carruthers, who was much in the news for his grassroots campaign to stop the public funding of a private parking deck development in downtown Traverse City. His efforts resulted in Express readers voting him “Most Memorable Person” in this year’s survey.
A resident of TC’s central neighborhood with a passion for preserving the small town ambiance of the community, Carruthers spearheaded a petition drive to get the parking deck on November’s ballot. The rest was history as voters nixed the project by a landslide.
This fall, some 280 city residents signed a petition requesting that Carruthers be considered to fill the seat of outgoing city commissioner Rick Csapo. Although he wasn’t chosen for the position, he plans to run for office in the next city election.
“I know that people don’t always agree with me, but do they know that I care about Traverse City and what we like about small towns,” he says. “I don’t want to close the floodgates to new people coming here, but to preserve what we have. Traverse City is one of those really interesting spots that people like to travel to, but we need to keep it small and quaint to keep it interesting. We don’t need to build high rises in town to keep it going.”

CITY POLITICS
With a long chestnut ponytail, a ready smile and forceful way of speaking, Carruthers cuts a dashing figure around town and at city commission meetings, where he is a frequent attendee, pointing out the downside of development. Talking about city politics and local issues seems to come naturally.
“A lot of my friends say they think I’m nuts for spending so much time at this, but I care about my community,” he says. “Volunteering and giving back to the community was something that was very big in my family when I was growing up.”
In fact, his father was mayor of a town in Ohio for some 40 years and Carruthers began his avocation as a volunteer back in high school, helping out with CROP walks and a local youth center.
Born in Cincinnati and raised in Connecticut, Carruthers moved to Traverse City in 1989 from Boston after college. He holds a B.A. from the University of Connecticut and a certificate in conservation land acquisition from Duke University. He also attended college in Arundel, England during the early ‘80s.
So, how did he end up in Traverse City?
“My family has summered here since the 1930s and I never missed a summer,” he says. “When my grandmother said she planned to put vinyl siding on her cottage, I drove here to paint it instead. My plan was to stop here and then go west, but I got involved in a local conservancy group and stayed for good.”

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Carruthers has a long resume of activism with worthy causes. Currently, he’s involved in marketing and customer relations with Steinworth Fine Homes, a “green” builder that utilizes renewable resources. He’s also the chair of the
TC Parks and Rec Commission, of which he has been a member for the past eight years.
He also served as executive director of HIV/AIDS Wellness for 10 years; was active as a community development coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Northern Michigan; served on a school district’s sex education advisory committee; and worked with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. Additionally, he took a key role in recruiting “green power” customers in support of launching Traverse City’s wind power program. In 1995, he earned a Sara Hardy Award from the TC Human Rights Commission for his many contributions to the community (of which this is but a partial list).
It’s not all volunteering and no play for Carruthers, however. He’s also an avid sailor who participates in the weekly races on West Grand Traverse Bay each summer. And he’s a world traveler who spent a year in Europe while in college. His travels have also taken him to the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Peru, and even China during the Tiannenmen Square massacre in June, 1989.
“When my folks got married, their honeymoon was spending a year going around the world, so genetically, we’re travel bugs in my family. I like to travel because it makes you realize that we’re very lucky in America. People in America live in the top one percent of wealth in the world and a lot of people here don’t
realize that.”
How would Jim Carruthers sum up his philosophy in a few words to live by?
“Question authority,” he says with a smile. “Keep your eyes open and do what’s right. Every day I wake up and feel that I have a great life and should do things for others. Life shouldn’t be just about me, me, me. You need to give something back.”


Best Teacher

How do you pick the “Best Teacher” in Northern Michigan when everyone’s got a favorite? Inspirational, illuminating, funny, wise, at times a mix of gentle and stern -- teachers are our greatest resource for guiding future generations. Following are some of the best suggested by Express readers:

- Cam Carter, Betsie Valley Elementary
- Steve Mass, Long Lake Montessori
- Danielle Brostrom, Blair Elemenary
- Pat Rutt, TC Central
- Ms. Kelly, TC West
- Tom Barkely, NCMC
- Mark Radcliffe, Kingsley
- Mr. Herman, Glen Lake
- Maggie Quinn, NMC
- Mary Lou Landry, Leland
- Shanna Robinson, NCMC
- Karl Malin, TBA Career Tech
- Mrs. Meade, Benzie
- Mrs. Kurburski, Petoskey Middle
- Ms. O’Donnell, Forest Area High
- Judy Caldwell, CHS
- Jami & Mark Blaauw-Hara, NCMC
- Anne Blight, Career Tech Center
- Trisha Frieze, Alba Concord Academy
- Mr. Baldus, Petoskey Middle
- Dave Nolen, TC West
- Mr. Green, Suttons Bay
- Mr. Ross, Crystal Lake Elementary
- Mrs. Hetherington, GT Academy
- Sean Ruane, NMC
- Judith King, NCMC
- Barbara Bokram, NCMC
- Jamie Robinson, Glen Lake
- Jim Nelson, NMC
- Kathy Slack, Lincoln Elementary
- Tony Jenkins, NMC
- Mrs. Shaw, Northwoods Christian Academy
- Beth Hosney, Mill Creek Elementary
- Mr. Rode, TC Christian
- Kacey Corcoran, Petoskey HS
- Amber Turner, Glen Lake
- Diane Lewinski, Montessori
- Dave Kirby, TC West
- Mr. Stevenson, Kingsley
- Rick Wiles, Petoskey HS
- Ed Kolansowski, Manistee Catholic
Best Martial Arts Instructor:
Kevin Shoults, Seung-Ni Martial Arts Academy
Best Waitpersons

How do they balance those big trays of food? How do they know when you need another cuppa’ coffee? Our favorite waitstaff seem superhuman at times. Following are a few favorites of Express readers:

- Karen Herczak, Alden Bar
- Bev Kashen, Town Club
- Tina Arnutt, Papa Lou’s
- Melissa Bobola, Chestnut Golf
- Doren Ford, Papa Lou’s
- Lorna Banks, Windows
- Chauntel Lorenz, Red’s BBQ
- Todd McCall, Blue Tractor
- Mia Bodner, Blue Tractor
- Jack Caldwell, North Peak
- Bea Lejune, 310
- Cheryl Peppendick, Applebee’s
- Sarah Singer, Apache Trout Grill
- Maureen Thompson, Gabby’s
- Sara Stevens, Big Eazy
- Jeannie Keyes, La Senorita
- Sara Baty, Lil Bo’s
- Mary Hancock, Red Mesa
- Adrienne Call, Cherry Hut
- KT Walhein, Roma’s
- Erin Fischer, Happy Hour
- Debbie Brim, The Bluebird
- Vicky Cracker, O’Keefe’s
- Ashley Giglio, The Roadhouse
- Mikala Gray, Cherry Hut
- Gina Walter, Hofbrau
- Brian Preston, Hofbrau
- Charlene Leismer, Red Mesa
- Justin Owens, Red Mesa
- Ashley Humple, First Street Tavern
- Amy Wright, First Street Tavern

... and as usual, some readers sent in only a first name, including:
- Jessica, Papa Lou’s
- Kim, Hannah
- Bonnie, La Senorita
- Dani, Red Mesa
- Aisha, 310
- Amanda, U&I
- Gina, J&S Hamburg
- Debbie, Mode’s
- Sara, Apache Trout Grill
- Carmen, Hannah
- Julie, U&I
- Beth, Outback
- Jenny, North Peak
- Gina, Gabby’s
- Shorty, Union Street
- Tonya, Streeters
- Gabby, Dillinger’s
- Chris, Shimmer’s
- Marcy, Shimmer’s
- Jen, The Cove
- Becky, Cabbage Shed
- Dorothy, Dinghy’s
- Trudy, Hofbrau

Best Bartenders

Virtually every bartender in every watering hole of note gets a vote, but a few who garnered extra attention from Express readers include the following:

Emmet/Petoskey: Natalie Stafford of Papa Lou’s
Grand Traverse: Justin Thompson of Bootlegger’s
Leelanau: Vicki, O’Keefe’s
Benzie: Greg McAllister, The Hofbrau
Boyne City: Ray Hancock, Red Mesa
Charlevoix: Ray Greensky, Guisseppe’s Italian Grille
Manistee: Aaron Wimple, AC’s First St. Tavern