Jul 18, 2009 6:38 pm US/Central Gravestone Cleaners Of Tomorrow Train In Mpls. Reporting Maya Nishikawa MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― Click to enlarge 1 of 1 Gravestone restoration is delicate work that must be done by hand. It also requires expertise that's not that easy to find.   CBS Volunteers helped make a Minneapolis cemetery a better place Saturday. They provided some special services as they trained for new careers. "This is what I love to do. This you could say would be my dream job. It makes people happy," said John Peterson, who started Grave Groomers in the Twin Cities 10 years ago. It may seem weird to like working in a cemetery, but Peterson feels like he's providing something families need. "Most of the cemeteries around the Cities take really good care of their cemetery. They take care of the immediate grounds of the cemetery, but most of the time the individual gravesite is up to the family member or relative of the person who passed away," he explained. This weekend Peterson donated his services as he trains others to learn how to clean, restore, and care for gravesites. The trainees came from as far as California. They work on their hands and knees with spray bottles, scrub brushes, and special tools that resemble popsicle sticks. Gravestone restoration is delicate work that must be done by hand. It also requires expertise that's not that easy to find, which is why the military gravesites they were working on have never been cleaned. Carol Serie came from Sioux Falls, S.D. to train. She was impressed with the transformation after some gentle scrubbing. "You never think about stones being cleaned. That's something -- who would think to do that? You're really in awe over it because it comes from a stone, you can't hardly read it and you're able to see it. It's beautiful," said Serie. Gary Riggs carefully cleaned out the dirt and debris embedded inside a stone's engraving. The gravestone belongs to a World War I serviceman from a machine gun battalion. Riggs likes experiencing history as he learns a new skill. "It's like reading from the history books first hand. There's no bias to it, it's just 'boom' there it is. It's nice. It's an interesting way to see the cycle of life," he said. He also feels good about giving back to those who once gave so much to their country. The volunteers also raised and leveled some of the gravestones and repaired vandalism at the cemetery. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Austin News New service helps keep grave sites tidy 7/27/2009 8:15:04 AM Comments (0) By Sarah Doty Post-Bulletin, Austin MN  A new business partnership for Turtle Creek Industries is a "win-win," according to Larry Day. Turtle Creek Industries, a provider for employment and support services to individuals with disabilities in the Austin area, recently announced a partnership with the Twin Cities-based Grave Groomers. Grave Groomers is a nationwide business that provides families with the option of having someone care for a loved one's grave site by doing things such as placing flowers, restoring stone and providing general upkeep. Grave Grooming Why: Those who aren't able to visit their loved ones' grave site can hire Turtle Creek Industries to place flowers or flags and take care of the site. Cost: Varies depending on the services needed. Contact: If interested, contact Larry Day at (507) 219-2775 or visit the Grave Groomer's Web site, www.gravegroomers.com. "We are just helping people, and it's a good feeling," said Day, the skills developmental specialist/designated coordinator for Turtle Creek. "In turn, we are helping our individuals help people. It's a win-win." So far, Day said, the effort already has some jobs lined up, and he is hoping that word gets out to others that this service is available. Turtle Creek will offer one-time, quarterly, bi-monthly or monthly visits, and depending on the service, will charge $10 to more than $55. "We are filling a need," Day said. "Most of the cemeteries do upkeep on the grounds, but we will fill the need for families who can't get here for holidays or birthdays by placing flowers or flags, or even just weeding." Although it might seem like a gloomy job, Day doesn't look at it that way. "This gives all our individuals an opportunity to go out and be productive," he said. "We are really excited about it. Even our lowest functioning individuals can go out there. If you could see their faces when they get to go out and be productive, they just light up." Web links John Peterson (Left) Larry Day (Right)