Archive: Around Town

Even with a brand new enlarged parking lot, cars were parked up and down Auburn Road in front of Lansing Fire Station 4 for the North Lansing Auxiliary's October breakfast.  Around fifteen volunteers were cooking and serving pancakes, French toast, sausage, eggs and potatoes to keep up with the crowd.  "It's repeat performances all the time," said Irene Tyrrell.  "But today we've got people who have never been here before.  It's word of mouth.  We don't advertise that much.  We've got a lot of new people."


The North Lansing Auxiliary uses the money they raise to help people in need.  "We give to the Salvation Army, the Food Pantries, we give to the Gossett Center," Tyrrell says.  Anybody that's in  need, we give them money.  We support our own.  We give out better than $3,000 to $5,000 to community service.  We buy the flags for the cemetery to make sure those are taken care of."  They also support Station 4, and give scholarships to deserving North Lansing students.


Like a force of nature, Tyrrell was everywhere, greeting new arrivals, checking in the kitchen, answering phone calls, answering questions.  Volunteers sped between the kitchen and dining areas with steaming hot plates, while others made sure everyone who wanted coffee had it.  Town Councilman Marty Christopher was serving coffee.  "This is fun," he said.  "There are an awful lot of people here.  You can always come in here and if you don't know 90% of the people, you will after you're through.  There's a great turnout this morning, too."


While the breakfasts are a long standing North Lansing tradition, the Auxiliary has been serving dinner and supper on election day for more than 40 years.  "Never say 'lunch,'" Tyrrell cautions.  "One woman wanted to do lunch once, and people wouldn't come.  It's been a tradition for as long as I can remember."  This year will be no exception, and the kitchen will be open on November 7th.


Fire Commissioner Jeff Walters says he tries to come to every breakfast the Auxhiliary offers.  "Breakfast here at the North Lansing Ladies Auxiliary is just excellent," he said.  "Everyone should come up every time they have one."  He had finished breakfast and was chatting with people.   "I had French toast, eggs, sausage and home fries.  That will keep me going.  It's an excellent deal."


And the word is getting around that it's a good deal and a lot of fun.  "I usually know every one of them, but not today," Tyrrell said.

----
v2i40