Celebrating Labor Day
By - Compiled by Samantha Tengelitsch, Editor (September 02, 2010)
Who doesn’t love a three-day weekend? In recognition of the hard work and dedication of the American worker, we are given a day off to extend the weekend, and to give everyone a chance to enjoy one last playful round of summer fun. We asked locals about those challenging and most memorable jobs.
Wes Knecht, pharmacist at Corner Druggist downtown, said he started out working on the family’s North Dakota farm milking cows, though farm work paled in comparison with “dealing with the insurance companies.” Wes says his favorite thing about being a small town pharmacist is working with people, “I enjoy helping them.”
Dr. Thomas Rudzinski, DDS, shared a similar sentiment. “I love the people. Absolutely, that’s my favorite part. Having everybody come back; becoming friends. Just trying to help people.” Of the challenges he faces as a dentist, Rudzinski responded, “Trying to get people to understand how important it is to take care of their teeth.”
Rudzinski will be celebrating Labor Day this year fishing and kayaking in Canada.
Elk Rapids High School senior, Josephine Lelito, spent her summer working with her dad in the construction trade. “The most challenging part of it was probably the sanding,” said Lelito. “I did a lot of sanding of floors and drywall and laid a lot of stone; and the most challenging was probably the tile.” Lelito called the work “rewarding,” and said, “I saw it as an art form because when you were all done, you could see the transformation.”
Elk Rapids toy-store (Whirlygigs) owner, Laura Wolfgram, said while owning a store can be a “big challenge,” the reward is worth it. She loves the spring orders and adds, “People are usually happy when they come into a toy-store, so that’s nice. Happy people.”
For Wolfgram, the most difficult job she has had was working as a substitute teacher, “I loved the kids; didn’t like the unexpectedness of my day.”
Steve Montero, owner of the Moose Pizza & Party Store, didn’t hesitate when asked about his most challenging job, “Director of Software Development. Hardest job I’ve had.” Montero worked in software development for several large corporations including Ford Motors and Kmart and then on his own. “You’re on call for 24-hours a day; you have a lot of customers; there’s deadlines, timelines; and there can’t be any problems with anything when you release.” Montero said to some degree, it was the stress that drove him, “I liked the stress to a certain extent. There was never a dull moment; it was always a challenge. Computer software is like a big game. You’re trying to tell this big machine what you want it to do.”
Though Montero ended up retiring due to the stress, he and his wife Lori (who still works in computers), bought the Moose as a way to stay busy. “This is fun in its own way. It’s really fun dealing with customers.” Unlike programming, which put him in communication with his customers primarily via phone, today, Montero enjoys meeting his customers in person.
The biggest challenge Montero faces today is learning to relax, “It’s extremely hard not to get caught up in day to day things.”
For local accountant, Larry Wilson, his biggest challenge has always been, “Trying to make the deadline on April 15th.” Wilson, who tries to see the humor in the mad flurry of tax season said, “A couple of times we’ve had to rush to Traverse City to get all the extensions post-marked. And a couple of times we ended up getting there just before midnight. Looking back on it, it’s probably funny, but in this business you get to deal with the IRS.”
Ice Cream Peddler, Lori Findley, is nearing the close of her fourth successful season. When asked what she enjoys most about working, Findley said, “The people definitely; the tourists, the people I work with, the employees. It makes it fun. Makes it go by faster. It’s face-paced.” Findley added, “I like it when kids leave here with a smile on their face because they got their ice cream.”
Ask any mother about a day off and they’ll tell you, even on a day that honors workers, some of the hardest workers are still working. That was the sentiment of Nina DiStefano, who immigrated to the United States from Italy 39 years ago. She said Labor Day “is supposed to be a break from when you work every day, but you end up doing everything.” DiStefano cooks and bakes bread in preparation for family coming to visit. And yet there’s something in DiStefano’s smile that tells you the hard work, even on a “day off” is well worth it.
Dr. Thomas Rudzinkski, DDS Photo by Samantha Tengelitsch
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