Current Issue
Classifieds — October 15, 2009
HELP WANTED
Supper cook/dishwasher—one day a week and every other weekend. 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. (616) 866-2002. b42
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FOR SALE
Nice entertainment center, $50; round/oval dining table with five chairs, $100; DVD player, $20; VCR, $5; rocking chair, $10; small drop-leaf table, $10; circa 1950 Lane cedar chest, $100; two antique chiming wall/table clocks, $75 each. (616) 401-5266. p42cp
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ANTIQUES
Beautiful walnut Train Masters desk, cubby holes and drawers, $675; large punch tin buffet, $375. (616) 863-0694. p42
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Antique Victorian desk, 5 ft. tall, 4-1/2 ft. wide and 2-1/2 ft. deep, $775. Call (616) 866-1478 and leave a message. ftfn
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GARAGE SALE
Huge, huge moving sale, all inside, too many items to list, come see for yourself! Open noon to 6:00 p.m., 7 days a week. (616) 874-7901. p42cp
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Moving Sale, inside and out—furniture, collectibles, guns, musical instruments, and lots more! October 15-17, Thursday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., 9610 Myers Lake Ave. NE, Rockford, 1-1/2 miles north of 10 Mile Rd. p42cp
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Sale—Saturday, October 17, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 208 S. Main St., Rockford. Clothes and household items. p42cp
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Rockford: 8566 10 Mile Rd., 3-1/2 miles east of McDonald’s. Huge inventory sale. Child care and preschool closing. This is a huge sale with many, many items. Inside and outside sale. Rain or shine. October 21-23, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; October 24, 8:00 a.m. to noon. p42
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ESTATE SALES
Estate Sale Rockford—antique furniture, household items, over 100 years old, and much, much more! Friday-Sunday, October 23-25, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., rain or shine. Inside sale, next to Carstar Collision, 260 Northland Dr. NE, Rockford. p43cp
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FOR RENT
Tri-County Schools—3-bedroom, 2-bath, 2 acres, $800/month. 2-bedroom, 1-bath, $500/month. Pets optional, now vacant. Call Ron (616) 450-9546. b42cp
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Rockford Hills Condo—8771 Courtland Drive, 2-bedroom, 2-bath, garage, walk-out, deck. $975/mo. (616) 458-8200. www.gr4rent.com. b42
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One-bedroom little house with garage and sunporch, $475 plus utilities. Non-smoking, no pets. Great for mature adult, private. (616) 866-2902. p43cp
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House for rent in Rockford area—3 bedrooms, 1-1/2 baths, appliances, 2-stall garage. $1,200/mo., includes lawn and snowblowing. Contact Tim at (616) 291-7557. p42
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A spacious one-bedroom ground-floor apt. located in beautiful and quiet Victorian home at 110 N. Park Street, Cedar Springs. All utilities and trash pick-up included. $650 per month, no smoking or pets. (616) 696-9393. b42cp
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Perfect for one person, charming upstairs studio apt. located in beautiful and quiet Victorian home, located at 64 E. Maple, Cedar Springs. $475/mo. includes all utilities, trash pick-up and snow removal. Laundry room on location. No smoking or pets. (616) 696-9393. b42cp
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Very pleasant and quiet 2-bedroom duplex/apt. located at 134 N. Grant Street, Cedar Springs. Laundry room with washer and dryer, full basement. $550/month includes water. You pay heat and electricity. No smoking, no pets. (616) 696-9393. b42cp
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Spacious upstairs 2-bedroom apt. located in beautiful and quiet Victorian home at 110 N. Park, Cedar Springs. Laundry room on location. One-stall garage included. $675/mo. No pets, no smoking. (616) 696-9393. b42cp
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HOMES FOR SALE
ROCKFORD—6630 Botany Bluff, OPEN SUN. 1-4 (131 north to Post Rd., east to St.), TOO MANY FEATURES TO LIST! 4-bed, 3-bath walkout ranch, 3-car garage. Near White Pine Trail, lots of wildlife! $449,900. Paul Schwallier (616) 490-0932 or (616) 949-9400, Coldwell Banker AJS-Schmidt. b42
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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE OR RENT
7 to 20 acres, Big Rapids, Stanwood, Howard City. $500 down, 10 acres starting at $22,900, $250/mo., 11%, 5-year payoff. Blacktop. Surveyed wooded building sites. Owner/Broker, Chase, call (616) 204-4550 or (231) 629-2944. b50
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CLASSES AND LESSONS
Guitar Lessons—Learn guitar the RIGHT way and enjoy it for a lifetime. Lessons also on banjo, fiddle, mandolin, dobro, etc. Call Joe (616) 874-8582. btfn
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SERVICES
Need your land cleared? Tree & brush mowing up to 12 inches. Includes old Christmas tree farms, orchards and drainage ditches. Call (231) 652-5468 for a quality job. b42cp
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Need your trees trimmed or removed? Reliable local tree business available. Quality Tree Service can help with all of your tree needs. (231) 652-5468. b42cp
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I’ll design your flier, brochure, business card for a low rate! Other graphic design also available. Over 18 years experience. Professional design guaranteed. Flier design starting at $30. References available. Call Melanie Ragsdale at (616) 889-9082 or view design samples online at ragsdaledesign.com. ftfn
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LOST AND FOUND
LOST—two teenager purses in downtown Rockford pavilion on Sunday, October 11. Call (616) 874-2632 or (616) 970-2632. ftfn
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LOST—cat, orange and white tiger, striped front paws, declawed. Last seen at Wolven and 11 Mile Rd. Call (616) 863-8278. ftfn
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LOST—spayed female cat, silver-gray with black stripes. Last seen in Summit/Prospect area. Call (616) 866-1625. ftfn
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LOST—full-grown, neutered, yellow and white tabby cat. Last seen in area of Ramsdell and Harvard. Call (616) 754-7900. ftfn
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LOST—orange cat with white paws and white chest. Lost by Peachtree and Natchez Court. Comes to the name of “Ginger.” Reward. Call (616) 826-9785 or (616) 884-0068. ftfn
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FOUND—yellow Lab/Siberian husky mix at Thunder Hawk resort in Pierson on Sunday, June 21. Call to identify, (616) 788-9725. ftfn
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LOST—missing since May 1, 2009. Blonde and white mixed Lab, comes to the name “Zoey.” If found, please call (616) 863-0546, or take her to the Kent County animal shelter. Please return her! ftfn
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LOST—11-year-old black-and-white male cat. Declawed, right ear misshapen. Last seen on Hessler Dr. in Rockford on Friday, Feb. 20. Call (616) 874-1702, leave a message. ftfn
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LOST—small Siamese female cat, seal point, spayed. Lost west of river in Rockford near Jericho and Cahill. $50 reward! Call (616) 866-1021. ftfn
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PETS AND SUPPLIES
Free kittens—playful indoor kittens, three girls, two boys. Litter-trained, free to indoor homes. (616) 866-8633. ftfn
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Free—one calico cat, 2 to 3 years old, indoor/outdoor, plays well with kids. (616) 696-9225. ftfn
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The Rockford Squire’s “Free” and “Lost & Found” classified ads are free of charge. Call (616) 866-4465 by noon on Monday to place your ad in next Thursday’s issue.
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Rockford arborist an international champion
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT—Lucas Drews competes in the work climb event. The Rockford arborist enjoys his work so much he is a frequent competitor in world-class events.
by M. SOLLE
Rockford has turned out its fair share of elite athletes over the years, and now we have one more to add to the list. He may have even been at your home before, but you didn’t even know it.
Lucas Drews is an elite, internationally ranked professional tree climber. Not a sport, you say? It’s definitely not a “traditional” sport like football, track or baseball, but if you’ve ever seen a professional tree climber in their daily work, you would be convinced that not many could do an activity like that. It’s rough, it’s physical, it’s technically challenging, and it’s demanding. Being a tree climber takes precision and skill and is definitely not for the faint of heart.
As a certified arborist for over 10 years and a competitive tree climber for over six years, Drews knows trees. He knows how to quickly get up one and quickly get down.
In any given tree-climbing competition there are five different events: the throw-line, the secured foot lock, the work climb, the belayed speed climb, and the aerial rescue. Competitors are scored based on speed, accuracy, and safety/awareness. Judges are placed around the tree and up in the tree being used. At the end of all five stations, points are tallied and a winner is determined.
In 2008, Drews competed in the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Southern Regional Tree Climbing Championship in Knoxville, Tenn. He completed the belayed speed climb (60 feet) in 28.877 seconds. He also finished the secured foot lock (49 feet 2.5 inches) in 19.657 seconds. Overall, he finished first and was ranked 12th in the world.
What sets this sport apart from so many others is the way it integrates into a competition what tree climbers do on a daily basis. The events are actual methods and processes the participants use in their daily work, only done much more quickly and for bragging rights. There is rarely trash-talking or bad-mouthing, and more often than not there is a spirit of camaraderie, where fellow tree climbers root each other on and give advice. Bill Drews, Lucas Drews’ father, said it best, “These men are a brotherhood of elite athletes. They are all athletes in their own right. What we do every day [as arborists] is an athletic event.”
Drews doesn’t climb trees because of the prize money. In fact, there is very little prize money. Occasionally there will be prizes such as chainsaws or other trade-specific items, but rarely monetary prizes. He funds his entry entirely through sponsorship by Woodland Tree Service of Rockford along with his own money.
Drews climbs professionally because he can. “I do it for the education aspect, to learn about myself and the industry and to help upcoming climbers,” Drews said. Julie Drews, Lucas’ mother, recalled Lucas as a young boy and said, “We always had a feeling he would climb; he was climbing before he walked.”
The majority of the Michigan competitions are on the east side of the state, but the entire Drews family hopes to someday have a competition on the west side to showcase what skill these men and women have and to allow the public to see how safe tree-climbing can be when properly skilled and outfitted.
Drews is a 1999 graduate of Lakeview High School. He has a degree in horticulture from Ferris State University and is a certified arborist. His parents, Bill and Julie Drews, own Woodland Tree Service in Rockford. Drews’ next competition is in January in Augusta, Georgia.
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Dance your troubles away with free classes at Rockford Ambulance
GIVE IT A WHIRL—Andy Andresen and Su Gray take a spin around the room at Rockford Ambulance. The paramedics and staff are inviting the public to come learn to waltz at the facility free of charge. Give them a call and give it a try. photo by Ana Olvera
“It’s a natural for paramedics to endorse it.” Chuck Premer, media coordinator and paramedic at Rockford Ambulance, referred to a series of classes coming up at the Rockford Ambulance facility at 8450 Shaner Avenue.
The public is invited to sign up for free waltz lessons taught by the Emergency Medical Technicians and staff of Rockford Ambulance. According to Premer and his co-workers, the dance lessons are appropriate for all ages and are a very healthy form of exercise.
“This is a starter course, anyone can take it. If they can walk, they can dance,” said Su Gray, Operations Supervisor at Rockford Ambulance. Gray demonstrated some moves—lifts and swings—but pointed out that the program is actually very simple and waltz is much easier to learn than people might think.
Paramedic Andy Andresen began the program at a different location and has been teaching and competing in dance for years. He is associated with Silvestro Studios dance center at Plainfield and the Beltline, where he teaches. He is happy to offer his time for free in these dance classes.
“We offered it for firemen, EMTs and police and it was kind of popular,” Andresen said. He said it is important for rescue personnel to keep in good physical shape and first came up with the concept as a fun way for first responders to keep fit. The classes were such a hit with those who took them Andresen thought it might be a good idea to open them up to the general public.
Rockford Ambulance’s CEO Roger Morgan heard about Andresen’s idea to offer it through the Rockford office and was happy to approve the plan. The classes are free and will be open to the first 20 couples that sign up. Someone without a dance partner is invited as well. “We have plenty of EMTs here to help. Even Chuck has some real nice moves,” Gray stated.
Andresen said dance television shows have increased interest somewhat, but not as much as he’d like to see. The enjoyable activity is a fun hobby that couples can do together. He pointed out that it is an activity that can continue on into later years, unlike many sports or other physical activities. “You can have some hot Latin dancers at 85 years old,” he said. “It’s also excellent for balance.”
Gray said even those with no dance background will find it easy to learn the moves. “It’s not at all frightening.” She said it is common for twice as many women as men to sign up, but men should see this as an opportunity to shine.
“The guys start out and don’t do as well as the women at first,” Andresen pointed out. “Then after a couple of weeks their testosterone kicks in and they begin to do very well.”
Andresen’s background in skating, ballroom dance and teaching result in a very structured course. “We don’t just throw them out there and tell them to dance,” he said. “No one would have fun if we did that.”
The team is joined this year by Cuban-born Raul Betancourt, who said people in Cuba don’t learn to dance, they are born knowing it. He has been in the United States three years and is willing to show off some moves. He has been teaching ballroom dance five years. He pointed out that dance is not only physically rewarding, but emotionally healthy as well. “When you are dancing, there is no stress, you are concentrating on dance. You have this hour to relax and forget about everything else,” Betancourt said.
The classes begin Tuesday, October 27 and run one to one and a half hours long. The series will be six classes once a week. No equipment is required, just comfortable shoes, such as tennis shoes or slippery shoes. The experts at Rockford Ambulance will take care of the rest. “If anyone does manage to get hurt doing this, they are in the perfect place,” joked Premer.
“A lot of people are having a hard time, losing jobs or just worried about their jobs or finances,” Gray said. “This is our way of helping out. We hope they will have a great time. When I’m dancing, you can’t get the smile off my face.”
To find out more or to sign up for the classes, call Andresen at (616) 633-9557.
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Superintendent sick of ‘lip service’ to education
“It’s like threatening to tear off your leg, and when they only tear off your foot you are supposed to feel good about it,” said Rockford Superintendent of Schools Michael Shibler.
He referred to last week’s per-student funding cut of $165, passed by the legislature Thursday evening and signed by the governor Friday.
Shibler said that Rockford already implemented $2.1 million in cuts in anticipation of the funding freeze districts across the state were expecting.
In last week’s Squire, Shibler said an earlier proposed $218 cut per student would be catastrophic for our state’s education system.
“The spin lawmakers are putting on this is that we only cut $165. It could have been $218,” he said.
Shibler said the cut comes three months into the district’s fiscal year, which runs June to July. “It will have to be personnel and programs,” he said of an additional $1.7 million he is now forced to trim from the district’s budget.
Shibler said he and financial analysts, such as those at the University of Michigan and the Citizen’s Research Council have been saying for years that school funding is flawed.
“There is a structural deficit in the School Aid Fund. You don’t save it by making cuts,” he stated. “The state legislature has come up with one-time fixes year after year to get schools money. It’s over. There are no more one-time fixes.”
Shibler praised Rockford Representative Tom Pearce, who was one of very few who did not vote for the cuts. Pearce explained his stance.
“I still feel there are sources within our current revenues that this could be done without needing to raise any new taxes or fees for this school year. I also feel that if we are going to make any cut to the School Aid budget it needs to be accompanied by cost saving reforms,” Pearce said.
“The reason I was unable to support the final package is because it represented cuts without the reforms I felt should be there.”
Senator Mark Jansen voted for the cuts. He said many districts took an earlier proposal of $110 per student cut that did not pass and built their budgets with that in mind.
He also said the difference between the proposed $218 cut and the passed $165 cut involved some money shifting that will benefit inner-city schools more than suburban ones like Rockford.
He said “The difference between the $118 and the $218 went into categoricals, things like before and after school programs. It is not as advantageous to Rockford as it will be for Grand Rapids.”
“We knew we had to make cuts. What is the best way to use money for schools?” he stated.
He said there was talk of putting Stimulus money into the School Aid Fund, but instead put it toward per-student funding and for schools this year. He called it a one-time fix to lessen the possible $218 cut to $165.
Jansen said $250 million in stimulus that could have been used this year for school funding will be saved for next year.
“Otherwise we could face $400 to $500 per student cuts next year. Instead we are trying to keep that money in the School Aid Fund and soften cuts next year,” Jansen said.
“What we are trying to do is just manage the next couple of years. The economy is still struggling,” he stated.
Jansen also said school cuts were much less than cuts made across the state. “Schools were cut about 2.3 percent,” he said. “Medicare was cut eight percent, cities and villages were cut 11 percent, townships were cut four percent.”
“Schools are just the biggest number,” he stated. Jansen said state-wide the school system is a $13 billion dollar a year expense. He also pointed out that people expect the lottery to pay for schools.
“The lottery generates $500 to $600 million a year for the schools. That’s a nice down payment on the $13 billion cost, but it doesn’t pay for it.”
Shibler also made reference to the possibility of $400 to $500 per student cuts in the future. This is the reason he believes reform in the School Aid Fund, not cuts, is necessary. He said this year’s cuts came “out of the blue.”
“We need to make reductions and add new revenue streams,” he said of the fund. “If they don’t fix it economists say potentially next summer we could see $400 and $500 per student cuts.”
“That would be catastrophic. They have already put us into a very difficult situation,” Shibler said.
He said the additional $1.7 he must cut from this year’s school budget because of the decision makes a total of $3.8 million loss for Rockford.
Shibler said he is also frustrated that people do not understand the millage money approved last May cannot be used for school operations. The improvements in the district—new classrooms, school expansions and more—are made with money specifically designated for such use.
“It’s illegal [to use that money for operations]. We cannot commingle funds,” he said. Shibler believes the school has been very good about educating the public on this point of finance and hopes people understand the difference in money earmarked for buildings versus operating budgets.
He said the financial situation is so difficult for schools because there is no other source of revenue for them.
“It’s frustrating. We hear lip service that education is one of the pillars in turning the state around,” he said.
“The spin is ‘We could have cut $218 but we only cut $165.’ That is not at all accurate.”
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RHS Youth Initiative launches community-wide effort to build Habitat for Humanity home
KNITTING FOR A CAUSE—Ashley Gremel and Barb Stein, owner of Great Northern Trading Co., display the navy and olive patchwork hand-knit blanket Ashley knit over the past several months. As treasurer of RHS’ Youth Initiative, Ashley asked for Barb’s help in selling the blanket, with all proceeds going to the Youth Initiative Habitat for Humanity Rockford Build. The blanket will be on display at Great Northern through the end of October, with the bidding starting at $50. Ashley estimates she has $35 to $40 in yarn, and over 50 hours in knitting. Bids can be placed at Great Northern, or by calling the store at (616) 866-9232.
This summer, a group of Rockford High School (RHS) students active in their Youth Initiative Community Service Club met with school administration, their club advisor, RHS English teacher Dan Modderman, and representatives from Habitat for Humanity of Kent County to discuss a partnership like none other undertaken by Youth Initiative. The club wanted to work with the local Kent County Habitat affiliate to build a LEED-certified home for a hardworking Habitat homebuyer during the 2009-10 school year.
They knew this was no small task. In fact, the club would have to raise $75,000 to underwrite the cost of the home, volunteer 2,000 hours to build it, and secure skilled labor and building products. In doing so, the students would leave a legacy while helping a family realize the American dream. Plus, they would learn a lot about homebuilding, how to collaborate for a common goal, and more about their fellow classmates and community. In short, they would be a part of something much bigger than themselves.
Since August, the club of over 100 students has rallied and kicked off a number of fundraisers, including:
• volunteering to run the
children’s activities and
games at the Heirloom
Tomato Festival and Rockford’s three weekends of Harvest Fest, collecting donations for their help;
• running numerous bake sales at the high school and before home football games;
• selling cider at the home football games;
• selling pancakes before school.
Their efforts have accumulated more than $5,000 to date, but most importantly, the students are getting the word out, gathering support and planning additional fundraisers on a larger scale. Habitat representative Kathy Forzley is also working with Youth Initiative officers to prospect and plan corporate visits.
Youth Initiative is excited to partner with the HEART of Rockford Business Association and its Community Unity fundraising program. From October 15 to 31, anyone who presents a Community Unity ID card when shopping or dining at any of the participating HEART businesses will help raise money for the Rockford-Habitat build. Participating businesses will donate 10 percent of the cardholder’s sale to Youth Initiative. Participating businesses include: A Charmed Life… Nail Salon, Aunt Candy’s Toy Co., Baskets in the Belfry, Bow Dacious Designs, The Corner Bar, Creative Concepts, Dam Dogs, G. Willikers, Great Northern Trading Co., Imperial Computer Solutions, Jade, J.T. Stitchery & Frame Shop, Kimberly’s Boutique, Kitty & Doggy 2, Paper Doll, Pegasus Sports, Poindexter’s Specialty Marketplace, Reading Books, Reds on the River, Right at Home, Right Up Your Alley, Rogue River Tavern, Rockford Flower Shop, The Rockford Squire, Sage & Roses, Ward’s Hair Place, and XScape Hair Salon.
The Community Unity ID card and flier can be downloaded at www.habitatkent.org or clipped from The Rockford Squire. These cards may be copied, freely distributed and used multiple times during the designated fundraising period (October15-31). Some product exceptions may apply—see businesses for details.
The HEART of Rockford Business Association board launched the Community Unity partnership in April 2009, working with the Rockford Sports Boosters. The program is run three times per year (Jan. 15-31, April 15-30, Oct. 15-31) with a designated nonprofit organization. HEART board members conceived of the program as a way to work together with area nonprofits to support each other. It is a part of HEART’s efforts to encourage residents to buy local, as doing so keeps resources in our local economy and spurs economic growth and jobs. The Community Unity fundraiser saves on shipping costs and volunteer staff hours to organize it, and consumers are offered a much greater selection of goods and services to choose from over traditional catalog sales.
Youth Initiative students meet weekly before school to plan fundraisers and community service efforts. They have a number of events on the docket—stay tuned for details.
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