TRAVERSE CITY RECORD-EAGLE Wednesday, August 10, 2005 BACK TO SCHOOL 3 Resale clothes carry bigger variety, brand-name products these days

BY BETHANY BROADWELL merchandise lets our cus- at this Goodwill,” she said. being able to shop just Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 Children’s Orchard resale Special to the Record-Eagle tomers dress like them- Blick noted that before school starts and p.m. For more information items are priced from 50 to selves, not like everyone Shopgoodwill.com is a then not having any money call 946-4180. 70 percent off the retail With some careful shop- else. Retro, contemporary, national Goodwill auction left for the rest of the school Act II Consignment is a price. Those that fail to sell ping, local families prepar- preppy, nerdy, casual, site, much like eBay. year. store teenage girls and within the first month are ing for the start of the dressy — we’ve got it for just “Everyone — young, old, Goodwill has locations in adult women might check marked down 50 percent to school year can reduce their about every age, shape and disadvantaged and advan- Cadillac and Gaylord, and for back-to-school fashions. make room for more inven- anxiety about checkbook size.” taged — everyone likes a the Traverse City Goodwill Store owner Pam Haney tory. strain. In case someone needs to treasure and a great buy. It’s Store is located at 2279 estimated customers can get Children’s Orchard often Several community resale make a return, Goodwill fun and addictive.” Blick South Airport West. Store quality brand names for carries name brands, businesses offer a means of offers a cash refund policy concluded, “You may never and donation hours are one-third of the retail cost. including Gap, Gymboree, outfitting students in style to its customers. Blick want to pay retail again.” Monday -Saturday from 9 They take in items everyday Old Navy, Levi, Limited Too for a fraction of the price of added that the store works Lynne Chapman of a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday ranging from women’s cloth- and Ralph Lauren for some- typical retail stores. with families at back-to- Interlochen is a mother who from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For ing to accessories and lin- where between $1.99 and According to Ruth Blick, school time through the understands the appeal of more information, call 922- gerie to wedding gowns and $6.99. The store has a “play- director of marketing and Department of Human finding a Goodwill bargain. 4826. keep the merchandise for 60 wear” area, too, where retail operations for the Services and provides a 20 She makes a habit of check- The Women’s Resource days. slightly imperfect clothes Traverse City Goodwill percent discount to those ing the store when she is Center Thrift Shop is anoth- Haney said those who fre- are priced from $1 to $3. Store, value is a prime rea- receiving assistance from school shopping for her 11- er back-to-school resource quent her shop are Children’s Orchard owner son to check out the mer- the agency. year-old son and daughter, where the proceeds benefit impressed with her busi- Tracey Gabel explained that chandise. She estimated Customers who purchase soon-to-turn 16. the community. ness’ organization and customers’ merchandise is children’s clothing sells for Goodwill store merchandise “I go to Goodwill to shop Assistant manager Patty selection. purchased by appointment. $1.65 per piece, most tops can also feel good knowing so my kids can have more Joslin-Scheffer described “They often say also that “We pay cash on the spot for teens cost about $3.50 they are buying items from a nice things for school. If I go that in addition to clothing, they need more time or store credit with a 40 per- and jeans run about $5.25 a venue that provides 70 per- to the mall, they may only backpacks and supplies are because there is so much,” cent bonus. We buy all sea- pair. Plus, every day tags of cent of the operating budget get three or four new out- among the merchandise cus- Haney said. sons all the time including a designated color are 50 for Goodwill programs, like fits,” Chapman said. “If I tomers may be able to find Act II Consignment, locat- winter coats, boots and percent off the marked the Goodwill Inn Homeless shop through the summer at at the store. ed at 1603 Barlow St., has Halloween costumes,” price, she said . Shelter, the Whiting and Goodwill, they usually end The items for sale change store hours Monday -Friday Gabel said, “We pride our- “We have thousands of Transitional Housing and up with 10-15 very nice out- almost daily and the staff from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and selves in having a clean, name brand quality items to the Workers on Wheels pro- fits.” depends on volunteers to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 bright and cheery atmos- choose from. Our Traverse gram, which provides vehi- From winter jackets to help keep it all in order. p.m. For more information, phere. Customer service is City store puts out about cles to area families so they jeans, Chapman said she Anyone can volunteer and call 946-4409. our main priority.” 3,000 new pieces of clothing can maintain and improve finds plenty of brand name those who do receive an in- For younger customers Children’s Orchard hours every day,” Blick explained. employment. items including Old Navy, store credit. who need smaller sizes, are Monday -Friday from 10 Goodwill items only stay Three million pounds of Gap and Nike. Donations can be made to Children’s Orchard, at 2020 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday on the sales floor for three clothing that did not meet “It lets me get my kids the Women’s Resource S. Airport Rd. West, is a from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For weeks. Goodwill quality standards more with less cash,” Center Thrift Shop, located resale store that carries more information, call 929- “We are constantly chang- were recycled last year, Chapman said. “Shopping at at 1719 S. Garfield Ave., gently-used children’s cloth- 1700. ing merchandise by the Blick said. Goodwill lets me get them Monday -Saturday from 10 ing in sizes preemie to 10/12, minute,” she said. “Proceeds from the items new clothes throughout the a.m. to 4 p.m. The store is brand name toys and equip- Bethany Broadwell is a Blick described the store’s listed at this Goodwill stay school year, instead of only open for business Monday - ment. local freelance writer. variety: “We carry it all. Our Schools try to find a balance with student gadgets

BY SAMANTHA CRITCHELL “We went from a code of families with school-age expects to be carrying an The Associated Press conduct that talked about children would buy elec- iPod, too. His friends are tape recorders to CD players tronics and computer-relat- similarly equipped, he says. NEW YORK — For a lot of to an iPod. Each time tech- ed equipment for the new “You can’t let teachers see kids, back-to-school shop- nology improves, it creates a school year, and would you use these things. They ping means checking out the new problem for school dis- spend more on that category don’t want you talking on latest technological gad- tricts,” says Pat Ackley, prin- than on traditional school your phone in the middle of getry. These gizmos, though, cipal at New Lebanon Jr./Sr. supplies: $101 vs. $73. class. Put it in your pocket aren’t always welcome in High School in rural New Schools, however, discour- and no one really bothers classrooms. York. age kids from toting much of you,” Micelli said. Sure, the Internet opened The school has specifically this electronic gear in their The 17-year-old, who is a wealth of research sources forbidden the Tamagotchi. backpacks. ranked third in his class, to students, and a cell phone “We don’t allow toys. We’d The official policy at recently led a successful is pretty handy in an emer- say the same thing about pet Westover High School in community service project gency. But the beep that rocks,” Ackley said. Fayetteville, N.C., is that to collect supplies for an comes from a single Young consumers tell The everything from tape players orphanage in Guyana. Tamagotchi is enough to dis- Zandl Group, a trend to electronic games — all rupt an entire class. research firm, that when “sound producing instru- PLEASE SEE PAGE 6 The little virtual pet from shopping for school this year ments or equipment” — is Japan is expected to make a AP Photo/Jack Dempsey they’re most interested in forbidden on school grounds comeback this year and new Sixteen-year-old Tory “tech goodies” including and even buses between 7 gadgets, including Apple’s iPod music player, a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Jones uses the text mes- from Tiger Telematics — a Playstation Portables and That hasn’t stopped Micelli saging function on a cell handheld console that Game Boys, Bianchini from bringing his phone to message a friend includes GPS satellite track- according to Irma Zandl, the phone, which also holds his from a park in Broomfield, ing, a digital camera and a group’s president. dayplanner, to school each Colo., before going back gyroscope, and can play digi- Last year, the National day, and when he returns for ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS tal music, movies and video to school. Consumer Federation pre- senior year this fall he • Family Oriented Practice. We love children! games — are just entering dicted that nearly half of • Nitrous Oxide Available the scene. • Mercury Free Fillings • Emergency Care • Cosmetic Dentistry - Teeth Whitening Learning through • Evening Appointments Available Is your computer still Tracy A. Ruegsegger exploration and discovery D.D.S. Tracy A. Ruegsegger, DDS Call For An Appointment Today! having problems? 947-6483 bs/8/10.811952 • Still accepting enrollment applications for the toddler program 945 E. 8th Street • 2nd Block West of Garfield • Traverse City • Professional Montessori-trained faculty and staff Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9-5 • Participate with Blue Cross & Delta Dental Do you feel like your servicer • Beautiful indoor and outdoor areas designed to create a safe and enriching learning environment is giving you the run-around? For more information or a guided tour, please contact Colleen Christensen at 231-929-9325 or We offer stress free solutions [email protected] at reasonable rates A Musical Free Pickup • Fast Service • All PC models • Business & Home PC and printer repair • Design and implement Invitation 5363 North Long Lake Road · Traverse City, MI back-up system • Spyware/adware and virus removal www.gtmontessori.org • Data recovery available to Boys and Our Business Will come to your Business Authorized Service Center for: Girls Who Love 231-947-0117 • Traverse City 810.811992.bs to Sing 3rd and 4th graders are invited to join Treble Choir, a beginning nonaudition choral group designed to develop singing voices and encourage a love for singing. 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th graders may do a simple audition to join intermediate or advanced choirs. All choirs are part of the Northwestern Michigan Children’s Choir program which meets September to May. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings beginning Sept. 15 at NMC. For further information for 3rd and 4th graders, call Choir Directors David and Mary Parrish, 946-6615; for 5th, 6th, and 7th graders, call Choir GOLDEN SHOES Directors Mark and Barbara Puchala, Your Family Shoe Store 995-1338. Financial Aid is available. 122 E. Front St., Traverse City • (231) 947-6924 • 1 (888) 465-3369 Auditions will be held Sept. 6 & 7 Gaslight District, Petoskey • 231-347-0950 starting at 6 p.m. To reserve a 5-minute audition or to register for the choir, call NMC Extended Education at 995-1700. Perfect for Field Trips! 8/10/811021.bs bs.8/10.811025 Children’s Choir nmc.edu/childrenschoir