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3rd graders receive the gift of words

By Carolyn Marnon words and their meanings.”
For the 17th year, the Wayne Because of COVID-19 and virtual
Michigan Rotary Club is embarking learning, last years 3rd graders did
on their annual dictionary project, not receive a dictionary. As 4th
the “Gift of Words.” After the diction- graders, they will receive their books
aries are presented this month, over with this year’s distribution.
5000 3rd graders who attended a Rotary members generally go into
public or private school located the classrooms and put the chil-
within the City of Wayne will have dren’s names on the bookplate at the
benefited from this generous dona- front of the books. Because COVID
tion. is still prevalent, the books are being
According to a press release, “In delivered to the schools involved
2005 Rotarian Nate Weiser, of the (Taft, Roosevelt-McGrath, Schweit-
Wayne Michigan Rotary Club, came The Wayne Rotary are celebrating their 100-year anniversary by performing one zer, St. Michael’s, and St. Joseph
across a Rotary project to provide service project per month. January's project was distributing a dictionary to every Catholic) whereby the teachers will
dictionaries to 3rd grade students. distribute the books to their 3rd
The project had begun with a Califor- 3rd and 4th grader in Wayne. Because of the pandemic, the teachers will distribute grade students.
nia Rotary Club in 1999 and had the books. The picture above is pre-covid. The dictionary is the MacMillan
spread across the country. Nate saw vestment in actual cost or $100,000 ter explaining the program.” for Children Dictionary. At 832
the value in providing a dictionary as in value in the education of students “Often when we distribute the pages, the dictionary also provides
a resource to students – he called it in the City of Wayne.” books students tell us of an older beautiful photos and illustrations for
the ‘Gift of Words’.” “Each year Rotarians from the sibling who was given a book and students to learn by.
“In the 2005/06 school year the Wayne Club go to the schools, in- how excited they are to now have Wayne Rotary Chairperson of the
project was approved as a perpetual, scribe each student’s name on the their own. Teachers tell us what a dictionary project, Cynthia Schofield,
on-going project to provide dictionar- dictionary’s bookplate and present valuable resource this is to the stu- said “Rotary works with education
ies to all 3rd grade students attend- the dictionaries to the students. We dents in their classroom. We have and literacy, so this really works with
ing a public or private school located include with the dictionary a book- had the pleasure of watching stu- what Rotary promotes.” The Wayne
in the City of Wayne.” mark with the ‘4 Way Test of the dents’ eyes light up as they page Rotary is celebrating their 100th
“This represents a $50,000 in- things we think, say, or do’ and a let- through the book, discovering new year in Wayne.

Powers, Continued from page 3 quences, and between she and Jesse, next door to their only son, who has says Susan.
she was far more likely to be the one lived in his home for over 10 years. “We are really fortunate to be able
sight, it was a good thing. But I re- to dole out punishment—or as Fun fact: Both homes are 100 to spend time with our grandkids.
member feeling envious of friends. I Susan called it, “house arrest.” years old. To say that The Powers are They are the jewels in our crown,”
had one girlfriend who went to The “However, we were also never the pleased with how everything has continues Susan.
Kentucky Derby every year, and we type to criticize, condemn, or com- turned out would be an understate- Case in point: The front room of
knew people who were out doing plain about anyone in authority, in ment. Next up on the agenda, the Susan and Jesse’s farmhouse is a
things…but our lives revolved particular at school, their friends’ couple would like to plan a few trips kid’s paradise, replete with a variety
around our kids. We were a family, parents, etc. We wanted to give every- together, an act that one might con- of blocks, a play kitchen, and a pack-
and there was never any question of one the benefit of the doubt and set sider an uncharacteristic one, con- n-play. Sometimes the more things
‘No, this isn’t working’ or ‘Oh, we’re that example for our kids,” says sidering that Susan and Jesse are change, the more they stay the same,
not getting along.’ I’ve always been Susan, who currently works for self-professed homebodies. which not only serves as a source of
conscious of setting an example for Starfish Family Services. They’ve never been ones to paint comfort—but is also confirmation
our kids. That’s always been impor- Another ingredient in their secret the town red. that where you are is exactly where
tant to me. My [adult] kids will say sauce was the emphasis on giving “We never went out…still don’t,” you want to be.
to me now, ‘You know, you guys back. Susan made it a priority to
never fought.’ Well, Jesse and I did bring the kids along when she volun-
disagree. There were many times we teered; Jesse took them with him
didn’t like each other very much, but when he gave blood.
we never did it in front of them [the Turns out, that’s the brand of
children],” says Susan. tough love that often tends to age
Above all else, The Powers’ ap- well—and create stellar parent-adult
proach to trudging through the child relationships.
rough moments involved simply Today, Susan and Jesse’s adult
being there: theirs was the house all children range in age from 39 to 46
the kids hung out at, and their chil- years old, and the couple enjoy won-
dren’s childhood friends still call derful relationships with all four.
them “Mom” and “Dad.” Rounding out the circle are 8 grand-
But that’s not to say it was always children who range in age from 6
smooth sailing: Susan wasn’t one to months to 26 years old.
blindly stick up for her children, she Susan and Jesse have been resi-
was a firm believer in natural conse- dents of Wayne for 20 years and live
4 · February 2022 · The Wayne Dispatch