Your customers need to come first

Published 6:15 am Wednesday, April 15, 2009

By Staff
It never ceases to amaze me that some people just "don't get it."
Over and over in each of our communities I have heard pleas of how merchants and their employees shouldn't park in front of their businesses – or just down the line a bit.
Still, when I tried to make a quick stop in Cassopolis the other day at the jewelry store to pick up a ring I had repaired, I couldn't find one parking place.
I really doubt all those cars were from people inside the various shops along Broadway.
This action has been repeated many times by many of you reading this.
Often, shoppers don't have time to drive around the block or seek parking in a nearby lot. That is what the employees should do when they come to work.
Many people just don't believe a rule applies to them – it is for everyone else.
This belief that "I deserve more" extends in other ways to those who would take towels or glassware from a hotel or restaurant, or from our business, open a paper box and take a handful, just to get the coupons.
Whether the item is worth a quarter or much more, the point is they really are stealing.
Years ago I worked at the Jewel Foods in Chicagoland. One of my jobs was to return items on the shelves, which were found in the wrong place.
The number of packages of cookies and other goodies which had been opened with a few taken out was huge. People would even change their mind about purchasing a package of meat, then plop it down in the canned food aisle. Since it could have been out of the cooler for any length of time, it was always necessary to throw out the product.
These what some people would consider small thefts, caused a large percentage of loss to the store and therefore higher prices for everyone. I doubt that this bad practice by a few individuals has changed much through the years.
We lost a quiet voice in Cass County last week. Virginia M. Springsteen, 90, my neighbor for 15 years, died Friday, April 10.
It wasn't long ago that her brother died, Warren Wooden.
He was well known as a supporter of the county's 4-H program, of which Virginia was a leader for 50 years.
I was always amazed to see Virginia out in her yard working – "at her age."
It was just last fall I saw her putting her dish to pass in her car to head to the annual potluck for the Newton House in Newton Woods, which we helped preserve.
She was also active in her church, the United Presbyterian Church in Cassopolis. She had many tales to tell as a member of Cass County Historical Society, and was also a member of Capt. Samuel Felt Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.
Researchers from the University of Michigan learned about the location of Ramptown and about the Underground Railroad in this county from her recollections as a child.
My memories were always of a lady – a great lady who will be missed.
Even the death of a promising young baseball player probably won't stop people from drinking and driving.
This is alcohol awareness month. I am afraid we will continue to lose the good guys, while the drunk driver gets up and walks away.
Keep stressing to your children about not getting behind the wheel after drinking and also to always be on the lookout for someone whose driving doesn't seem right.
Soon graduation will be upon us and the annual accidents which seem to come with our seniors parting and drinking and driving. let's hope this year will be different with the many parents providing alternatives with Project Graduations.
To throw their life away on a short lasted high just isn't worth it. Talk to you children and stress they are too valuable to lose.