Tom Stone feels a sense of achievement and satisfaction when his Mr. Fix-it personality takes charge of a project, and the entire City of Clarkston will share in Stone’s latest accomplishment before the New Year rings in.
Stone and wife Arlene are both avid walkers, and early last summer the couple was out for a jaunt around Clarkston when they began noticing and pointing out recent improvements to the city.
‘Everything was cleaned up and we had all these new plantings and such,? he said. ‘But there were still these tired old signs.?
Three worn and rotting ‘Welcome to Village of Clarkston? signs dot roadways around the area, with a fourth ? in the worst condition ? standing in front of the city office building on Depot Road.
As an involved citizen, Stone knew the city council had more pressing matters to consider and would not approve spending an estimated $8,000 to have four new signs made.
So he took matters into his own hands and began raising the money himself.
‘I’m not a fund raiser,? he said. ‘But I’ve been active in a number of organizations and there are a number of people I’m comfortable with and a number who are comfortable with me.?
It was these long-term friendships and business relationships that allowed Stone to solicit donations for the project as a friend and neighbor, rather than a fund raiser. It was also an opportunity, he said, to reconnect with friends and neighbors.
‘Tom has always been willing to offer his time to get involved with the community,? said city Councilman Cory Johnston, who worked with Stone to raise money for the signs. ?
‘And he’s very good at staying focused and getting one project done before moving on to the next thing.?
Of the necessary total of $8,200, the sign fund currently stands at $6,200 in donations from Clarkston businesses, organizations and private citizens.
In addition to raising funds, Stone also asked for cost estimates, researched options for the material and color scheme of the signs, and made presentations to the various governing bodies in Clarkston and finally assigned the contract to produce the signs to Jim Hamblin of Hamblin Sign on Dixie Highway.
‘I get a sense of satisfaction from getting things done,? Stone said. ‘I have the skills, contacts, and resources to address problems and make a difference.?
But Stone doesn’t feel a need for recognition of his work in the community. The result is reward enough, and besides, he said, that Mr. Fix-it personality doesn’t allow him to sit idle, anyway.
Stone retired several years ago after a 25-year tenure as a counselor at Oakland Community College. Always active in the community, Stone sat on the North Oakland Land Conservancy board for 25 years, serving 10 of those years as president, and continues to consult on environmental issues. He is also a member and past president of the Michigan Counseling Association.
Stone also makes sure he is informed about the happenings of the Clarkston community where he has lived with his wife Arlene for 33 years.
After they were married, the Stones rented an apartment on Church Street for one year before moving into their current home on Roberts Court.
‘We’ve been married thirty-three years and we’re still on our starter home,? said Arlene. ‘That’s how much we love this place. Tom has a real passion for the community and he’s like a dog with a bone when he gets into a project ‘he gives the best he can give.?
Now that the sign project is approaching conclusion, Stone is employing his energy to help assemble a program that will help area seniors with household chores.
The idea originated with city Council woman Kristy Ottman, who recognized that some of her Clarkston neighbors needed a little extra help to get by.
Stone was receptive to the idea and pitched in right away.
‘Tom began the’process of contacting the appropriate people and’writing the article and survey that was to be published in the paper and mailed to the qualifying residents,? said Ottman.
‘I asked Tom to please put his name before mine’because’of all the work’he had done, but in true Tom fashion he told me he would think about it and never made the changes.?
But again, Stone isn’t in it for the glory of recognition. He just wants to do what he can to help out where he’s needed.
‘I used to say that I’d like to leave the world a better place than I found it,? he said.
‘But that’s kind of clich?. I’ve had a full family life, a full employment life, a decent retirement, I live in nice neighborhood. What else do I need??