Truck Murals with Very Special Kids!

Team Elmer’s was thrilled to partner with ACT Grand Traverse for Special Kids Day at this year’s National Cherry Festival. ACT is a local organization with the mission statement of “disabling disabilities through art.” Team Elmer’s donated the use of a 35-yard rock tub trailer set, which 100 enthusiastic artists arrived to help transform into a Mobile Community Mural.

With a brilliant artistic design by Marcia Borell, a host of ACT volunteers, led by district coordinator Dayna Ryan, and the assistance of Angie Walker and the rest of the National Cherry Festival crew, the Special Kids Day artists took only 75 minutes to morph our asphalt truck into an inspirational masterpiece. On Thursday of the Cherry Festival, the truck even took part in the Junior Royal Parade, showing Traverse City and all of its summertime guests just how valuable the ACT mission—and arts learning experiences in general—can be for disabled individuals.

As for the mural, it’s been transferred to a radiant and permanent vinyl decal on the truck that will remain a proud piece of the working Elmer's fleet for years to come.

Click here to learn more.

Holiday Road Resurrection

For years, Holiday Road, the busy gateway to the suburban areas of Traverse City’s Holiday Hills, has been plagued by massive potholes and disintegrating shoulders. Thanks to the devoted and tireless actions of some of Holiday Road’s more vocal residents, as well as a generous grant from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, in coordination with the Grand Traverse County Road Commission,Team Elmer’s went to work to fix the problem once and for all. 

Considering Holiday Road’s high-traffic nature, this project was never going to be a simple one. Holiday Hills is the area that 1,300 Grand Traverse County families call home. That high density population is handicapped somewhat by a small number of access points into their neighborhoods. As a result, Elmer’s did a balancing act of sorts between vigilant traffic control and what was, in essence, a complete overhaul of the Holiday Road area.

Beginning with the crushing and removal of existing pavement, Elmer’s trenched shoulders, added drainage ditches, and moved 73 mailboxes for all directly-impacted households. By the time the project wrapped, the roadway had been widened by ten feet, allowing for two eleven-foot traffic lanes and a pair of five-foot shoulders. The enhancements should support every type of traffic, from drivers to cyclists to pedestrians, while also adding an attractive visual refinement to Holiday Road that has been absent for years.

 By using state-of-the-art robotic equipment, Elmer’s was able to accurately plan and execute the new roadway design within 1/100th of an inch. The high-tech equipment even helped to predict and correct several design changes, saving Elmer’s precious time and assuring Holiday Hills residents had their road re-built and opened for traffic as quickly as possible.

Team Elmer’s even took a bit of time to drive up to Mt. Holiday Ski Resort, where they helped set a tow tower, create a gravel parking lot, and provide general topsoil restoration for the local ski resort. Theresa Galante, Mt. Holiday’s Executive Director, was especially complimentary of Elmer’s and their willingness to go the extra mile.

“For years it has been a game of dodge-hole for vehicle and bicycle traffic, frightening for parents of young children,” Galante said. “Now we can all use Holiday Road safely...Elmer’s additionally has donated countless loads of fill, helped with excavating/erosion issues and erected the final tower for Tucker’s Tow at Mt. Holiday. Elmer’s generosity to Mt. Holiday has been tremendous, proving once again what a wonderful community partner they are.”

Click here to see more pictures of the Holiday Road project.

Elmer's Employees Provide Solid Foundation

Team Elmer’s recently played host to a group from Life Works Boys Camp, a part of the Traverse Life Center that works to empower at-risk youth by teaching them core lessons of leadership, service and work ethic. The initiative is designed to provide these young men with a sense of destiny and respect as they come of age, and Team Elmer’s wanted to help dig those foundations.

The boys were invited to spend a day at Team Elmer’s, where they engaged in various skill-building stations. From landscaping and concrete installation to video production and active asphalt demonstrations that took the Elmer’s guests through skills needed to complete each task. The boys went through a fair amount of physical labor and came out on the other end feeling rewarded, enlightened, and proud.