The Forgotten Thank You continued
“weeds, fertilizes and even does the
snow removal. Inside the Township Hall she is the custodian, caring
for and preparing for the various groups that use the hall. Born and
raised in Stockbridge she says she has been blessed to be married to
her best friend, Martin, for 41 years. “We never take each other for
granted. I think you must be friends first, then lovers. If you do
it in that order, the husband and wife part just falls into place,”
Jean said. She is more than happy to talk about her two children,
four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Family is important to her and she stays as close as possible with
them. “My parents were good role-models for me. I’m a workaholic
like they were. They taught me right from wrong and to make good
with the time we are given. My three sisters are in the area so I’m
able to be close with them, too.”
Jean and her husband spend time together camping with their
fifth-wheel. Jean really enjoys painting and has even sold some of
her works. Oil painting is her favorite. “It took me over 50 years
to figure out that reading could be so relaxing”, she claims.
Reading a good book, coupled with the sound of their fountain
trickling amongst the flowers in the back yard is their haven.
When asked about retirement, Jean quickly replied: “I’m certainly
keeping busy. I love being outdoors and I think it’s important to be
active and maintain a positive attitude. That’s what the doctors
told me helped me so much after my lung surgery. I knew I couldn’t
change it, so it only made sense to stay positive about it.” Jean
says she misses the school kids and it touches her heart when they
get older and wave or come by for a visit.
“It’s great to know I’ve made a difference in a kid’s life,
especially some of the kids that were a handful or were going
through a lot at the time.” She added, “Kids need someone to listen
to them.” It’s the pride that people like Jean take in our
communities, which gives the rest of us pride in being members of
those communities. What a great circle that creates.
Thank you, Jean Bliss, for all you do, for all of us. If you know of
someone deserving of a Forgotten “Thank You” please email me at:
forgottenthankyou@yahoo.com or call The Weekly
Pride toll-free at 888-318-1766.
LESLIE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO NAME
FIRST ASPIRE SCHOLARS
Twelve Leslie 5th graders who aspire to college and career success
will become Leslie Aspire Scholars May 14. With mentoring, service
learning, success training and financial coaching, Aspire Scholars
will prepare to enter Lansing Community College in 2016.
The ceremony is scheduled for 7 PM in the Leslie Middle School
cafeteria, with family members and community leaders invited.
Leslie Aspire was created by the middle school staff to meet the
social, personal, academic and emotional needs of children. Students
are selected at the end of their fifth grade year. The Aspire and
Achieve Programs are funded through private donations and grants.
Aspire offers college assistance and the Achieve Program grants
mentoring and success training. Carol Franz, vice chair, said the
program aims to help increase the numbers of Leslie students going
on to educational pursuits after high school. “By offering the extra
support our program plans to give, we hope these students will
continue on to higher education,” she said.
A person with an associate’s degree can earn $10,000 more annually
than a high school graduate. Michigan’s high school graduation rate
was about 75% in 2008. If all of Michigan’s dropouts had graduated,
they could have earned a total lifetime income of more than $12
billion, the Alliance for Excellent Education reported.
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Stockbridge Class of 2009 Top 10
Information
T1. Rose Branstrom - Valedictorian
Parents: Robert and Therese of Munith
Future plans: Attend Eastern Michigan University,
Major Undecided
1. Kendra Poszywak – Valedictorian
Parents: Dennis and Melissa Poszywak of Pinckney
Future plans: Attend Michigan Technological
University majoring in Computer
Science
1. Grace Rodriguez – Valedictorian
Parents: Dean and Sherrill Rodriguez of Pinckney
Future plans: Attend Western Michigan University
majoring in Pre-Med
2. Name: Mandi Peña - Salutatorian
Parents: Greg and Corey Peña of Stockbridge
Future plans: Attend Michigan State University
majoring in Pre-Dental
5. Mary Balkus
Parents: Philip and Lynn Balkus of Stockbridge
Future plans: Attend Kendall College of Art and
Design majoring in Graphic Design
6. Madeline Carr
Parents: Chris and Jennifer Carr of Stockbridge
Future plans: Attend The University of Michigan
School of Art and Design
7. Edward Abbey
Parents: Edward and Bonnie Abbey of Munith
Future plans: Attend Jackson Community College
majoring in Biology
8. Emily Taylor
Parents: Mark and Nancy Taylor of Stockbridge
Future plans: Attend The University of Michigan
College of LS&A majoring in English
9. Katherine Sexton
Parents: Dewey and Amy Sexton of Munith
Future plans: Attend Albion College majoring in
Physics or History
10. Katherine Zellmer
Parents: Greg and Shelley Zellmer of Grass Lake
Future plans: Attend Jackson Community College
then transferring to The University of
Michigan to major in Biomedical
Engineering
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