On May 9, Leelanau resident Terry Herman posted on the popular Facebook group “Overheard in Leelanau County” that a bench had been stolen from a friend’s property on M-22 that overlooks Big Glen Lake. He posted a picture of the solid concrete bench and wrote that if it is returned, all will be forgiven, but if he finds it without the thieves coming forward then he would go to the police. While a lot of people may have a favorite seat in their yard, the emotion behind the post led many to wonder what exactly is so special about this bench.
The bench usually resides on the property of Herman’s former neighbors, Cindy Robertson and her late husband Dave Smith. Together Robertson and Smith operated an assisted living facility in the neighborhood until Smith became ill. With her husband unable to help with the more physical daily chores, she asked Herman to help out.
“I would do the spring cleaning and you know, clean the beach and stuff, and (Smith) would apologize because he couldn’t help me,” explained Herman. “I think he felt like he was less of a man, you know, because he couldn’t do anything.”