The Rockford Squire» Letters

Letters to the Editor

Squire News — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:40:43 +0000

Beware: the funny season approacheth!

Dear Editor,

With the August 7 primary elections right around the corner, even those of us that live in Cannon Township will be facing it. There will be those coming forward saying that Cannon Township is in bad shape and needs new leadership, when in fact in the last year and a half, this board has added $.5 million to the general fund balance, along with ten major accomplishments during that time. With officers on the board like Steve Grimm as supervisor, Bonnie Blackledge as clerk, and Dick Davies as treasurer, we will continue to do just fine.

Given the present state of the U.S. economy with many government agencies having serious financial problems, now is not the time for us to make any major changes.

Nick VanBelkum
Fire Board Member
Law Enforcement & Sewer Committee Member

Letters to the Editor

Squire News — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:30:37 +0000

Scouts save Squire editor work, write up their own story

Dear Editor,

Yesterday we had a fun time visiting The Rockford Squire. It was very interesting. I loved how they kept newspapers from the past years. We looked up what was happening in Rockford the week we were born.

The nice people we met who work there were Beth Altena, Cliff Hill, Nancy Hill and Mary Felix. We learned that The Rockford Squire is the oldest running business in Rockford. Ms. Altena has been in charge of the newspaper for 15 years. The first newspaper was published on February 8, 1871.

We also learned that the newspaper feels different than writing paper because it is made up of different things and recycled materials. Mondays and Tuesdays are busy days because they have to get the stories finished by Tuesday night. That’s when they “put the paper to bed”—that’s what they call it when the paper is done. They send the newspaper in a file through the computer to the publishers and that’s when the press runs overnight. The Rockford Squire is delivered first thing in the morning on Wednesday.

It was really fun to meet everyone and learn about the newspaper business and The Rockford Squire. You should arrange to stop by yourself.

Joshua and Christopher Petzer

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Squire News — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:25:08 +0000

Reader praises City’s innovative restructuring

Dear Editor,

I read the headline article from April 26 titled, “Rockford models new money-saving safety structure” and wanted to thank and commend not only the City Manager and staff but all employees involved in cross-training to be firefighters. As we continue to see the state of Michigan reduce their financial contributions to local municipalities, those same municipalities are forced to “do more with less.” Citizens will expect the same high level of service no matter what the funding level and the City of Rockford has shown it is quite capable of handling this difficult task. It seems that politicians love to place a great deal of economic blame on “overpaid and underworked” city employees in the past years. I highly doubt any politician making that claim has any idea the added tasks given to many public employees, especially those of Rockford.

Private and public sector employees alike have been faced with declining wages and higher workloads, but I believe the employees of the City of Rockford have gone above and beyond anyone’s expectations. It’s one thing to take a pay cut or work longer hours but quite another to add a task of firefighting to your added responsibilities. I’m sure that many city employees never imagined they would add they may be called upon to put out fires or rescue people on medical calls.

Think about it: the same city employee that repairs the water mains, mows city parks and maintains our wonderful city may also be the same person responding to someone having a heart attack or sent to put out a fire. Talk about multitasking.

Paul Smith

Rockford resident

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Squire News — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:25:43 +0000

Donations make huge impact on those in need

Dear friends at The Rockford Squire,

Thank you for your wonderful donation of Easter baskets and goodies to fill them. We are hoping to make and distribute 500 Easter baskets for the children of our families. With your help, we will be able to bring a smile to many children’s faces on Easter morning, who otherwise may not receive a basket.

North Kent Community Services is the largest food pantry in Kent County. In 2011 we had 16,780 visits to our pantry, distributing a total of 684,640 pounds of food. Additionally, we continue to sign up new families on a daily basis. Thank you again for your donation.

God Bless,
Sandy Waite
Executive Director
North Kent Community Services

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Squire News — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:30:33 +0000

Organizer praises Hill article

Dear Editor,

Please pass this on to Cliff and Nancy Hill.

They are to be applauded for this week’s G-R-E-A-T article supporting the Historical Society and the New museum fund drive.

I have read it twice and all I can say is “WOW!”

The tone of the article went straight to the heart of the attitudes that make Rockford the terrific place that it is, and to the reasons everyone in the area should be proud to help out.

More important than capturing the essence of what the museum project is all about, it included an impassioned call to action that I’m sure will cause many people to get their checkbooks out in support of this worthwhile cause.

I am a newcomer to the Historical Society, but I have been as active as I could be and am proud to do so. In the short time I have been involved, I have seen a lot of activity and have been impressed by the people who have been so effective in preserving our history despite difficult conditions and relative lack of interest on the part of most area residents.

I am amazed by the hard work that Terry Konkle does as the Society’s President, and Paul Krupp’s efforts as the head of the fund raising committee. Sometimes I feel like I am busy with the Sound of Sinatra show, but I feel like an incredible loafer when I compare myself to either of them.

I have to say, however, that I honestly feel that Cliff and Nancy’s article may have done more than any other single thing I have seen, or anything I may have done, to “rally the troops” in support of the new museum.

Please congratulate, (and thank,) them for me.

Now, if, in the next 16 days, I could find as effective a way to encourage people to buy show tickets, I’d be a very happy camper.

Al Pratt
Sound of Sinatra organizor

PS: You deserve kudos as well.

We wouldn’t be making the progress we are without the Squire’s strong support.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

Editor’s Note: For readers who may have missed Cliff and Nancy’s article on the Rockford Area Historical Society and their efforts to bring Rockford a first-class new museum, find it on our website at www.rockfordsquire.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Squire News — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:20:24 +0000

Sacrifices of City employees appreciated

Dear Editor,

I was driving thru the city a few days ago after a snowstorm and saw a familiar sight: our city plows clearing my subdivision. It got me to thinking… all too often in the news we hear stories and complaints about city employees throughout the country. Overpaid. Lazy. (Insert stereotype here.) What rarely makes the headlines are the vast majority of public employees that thanklessly do their job, day in and day out, with little fanfare.

As a citizen of Rockford, I think I can speak for the majority of us that quite often take our public employees for granted. The City of Rockford has had financial hardships just like every other municipality throughout the area. While I don’t know the exact number, I’m quite sure there are far fewer public employees than even a few years ago. Yet… our streets are plowed. Police patrol just as before. Our parks are well maintained. Even our lights in downtown were put up and taken down during the Christmas season (quicker that even some of my neighbors!). I’ve had to e-mail Rockford city staff several times in the past few months. I have always had a prompt, courteous e-mail reply within a day. Impressive.

I read in the paper a few months back the Rockford Police Officers voluntarily gave up their pay increase for this year. So, not only are the officers patrolling the streets (same as before), they’re doing it while willingly giving part of their pay back to the City of Rockford to help balance the budget. I would also guess nearly every other public department has been “doing more with less,” whether it be less manpower or less in their paycheck. I think this says a lot about not only city staff but each and every city employee we have in Rockford.

As I said when I started this letter, when public employees do their job, and do it well, it often goes unnoticed. So, the next time you come home from a snowstorm and see the street plowed and a police officer driving around that same plowed area, realize the sacrifices they have made to make the city the wonderful place it is to live today.

Paul Smith
Rockford resident

Majerle family grateful for kindness and support

Dear Rockford Community,

My family and I want to personally thank you for a very special night at Rockford High School January 14. We are just “blown away” at the kindness and support you have shown us not only since I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2002 but since we moved here in 1997.

As I stated Saturday night, Rockford is a special place because it is a community that cares about its individuals. It is a community that will roll up its sleeves, put their money where their mouth is, and rally around a good cause. Rockford is a special place because it is a community that understands the importance of education and that the education inside the classroom is just as important as it is outside the classroom. It is a community that demands excellence from their students in all areas of life and is determined to produce leaders of the next generation that will create more communities similar to Rockford and thus making this place a better world to live in.

While I was humbled and honored by the proclamation of “Steve Majerle Appreciation Night,” I am truly grateful and fortunate to be a part of this community as an educator, coach, parent and community member. The people of Rockford understand that there is no “I” in “Rockford” or “team” and that the strength of a group united will always be greater than any individual. Over the last 14 years, I enjoyed using my strengths and playing my role on the team named “Rockford” and received a tremendous amount of help along the way.

I would like to thank everybody involved in putting this great night together and raising an unbelievable $16,000+ for the VanAndel Institute research for Parkinson’s. I would like to recognize a few people who played a significant part in organizing the event: Ryan and Rachel DeKuiper, Charlie and Pam Brickey, Jamie and Gerilyn May, Tom and Karen Carlson, Tracy and Shannon Ouellette, Brent Duel and The Ram Shack, Lisa Avram and RHS Student Council, the RHS boys and girls basketball programs, Tim Erickson, and everyone else who contributed to making Saturday night such a special night. Thank you!

Steve Majerle and family
Rockford residents

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Squire News — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:15:05 +0000

Why the Rockford Area Museum matters

Dear Editor,

Several years ago, in anticipation of our Rockford High School class reunion, I went to the Rockford High School in search of sport trophies from years gone by. The athletic director suggested we head to the local museum. We were amazed at the items stored beneath the blue building near the dam! Much to our surprise, we found high school trophies that were collecting dust. I wondered then: Where do we put all of this stuff? How do we keep the past while recognizing the present?

There was one item that caught my eye: the Rams head plaque that was in the entrance to the Rockford High School (now North Rockford Middle School). Looking at yearbooks from the ‘70s, one can easily spot the beautiful wood carving in the background of group photo shots. I asked, “Who made this? Who spent hours creating this masterpiece? And again, what do we do with these old items?”

Today that beautiful wood carving hangs at Ward’s Hair Place in downtown Rockford in a prominent spot above the fireplace with plenty of conversations of years gone by!

Today, while serving on the Rockford Area Museum committee, I ask myself, “Why do we need a bigger museum in downtown Rockford?” The answer comes quickly! We need to remember where we have been in order to appreciate where we are today. We need to remember not only the school district but the individual people and local businesses that made the Rockford area what it is today!

Yes, the Rockford Area Museum matters!

Mary Lou Ohnsman
Rockford High School
Class of 1974

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Squire News — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:00:35 +0000

Vandals urged to confess

Dear Editor,

This is in response and addressed to the thoughtless vandals who ruined the skating pond. What in the world were you thinking? Your act of selfishness and ignorance has caused people a lot of heartache.

Hard work from the Lions and newfound fun and enjoyment by families has been banished because of your thoughtless act.

I have very fond memories of the old millpond rink. Mr. Cahill was the attendant in the little ice shanty with the big roaring fire in the old pot belly stove, with watered down hot cocoa to warm us up from hours of skating! Along with the smell of woolen mittens and gloves drying on that big old stove. Our parents rarely had to check on us—they knew where we were.

We spent countless hours skating with family and friends and now your lack of common sense has ruined what new families and friends could have experienced and to have made memories of.

They may never find who or whom has done this, but you will have to live with the guilt of what you have done, forever.

Thank you for wrecking one of the fun things we could do alone, with a group of friends or with family.

Do the right thing and confess your sin, and help clean up your mess you made for a wonderful opportunity to have some winter fun.

Diana Hoffman,
former Rockford resident

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Squire News — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:45:43 +0000

Rockford Area Historical Society News and Updates

Dear Editor,

The opportunity to improve our local museum by relocating it to the vacant Rockford Courthouse building has appealed to the giving spirit of many individuals and businesses not only in our area but also from other places. Pledges and donations have been received on a daily basis from all over the place. Many of those, but not all, donating have ties to our area and realize that the time is now to help improve our museum situation and to make a change that will affect our community in a positive way. We need a new museum!

I feel that it is important to emphasize that we need a better building to continue to do the job of preserving and presenting our history. A better, larger building will allow the display of things not available for display presently because of lack of space. A new museum will allow for easier public access to our displays and our research areas. Our new museum will have restrooms and storage space. Our new museum will be safer and public parking will be much easier. Please notice that everything mentioned so far has to do with the building improvements, but there is more.

We need to have a museum that is open on a regular basis. Our present museum is not open enough because volunteers (docents) are not always available. We try to have regular summer hours but sometimes volunteers are not able to fill all of the time slots. We are not open in the winter on a regular basis. We are open by appointment and volunteers handle that. Volunteers also open the museum for Rockford student tours and other group outings.

It is time to emphasize that our volunteers do a great job! We have had some hardworking museum directors who have donated their time and energy to run our museum. People like Katherine Mancell, Kathy Cornwell, Susie Fair, Char Guzin and present director, Pat Frye and her assistant Janet Matthews, have all been important in keeping our museum alive. They were not paid money for their efforts. All of the docents who worked with them over the years also were not paid. The directors and docents are not the reason we need a new museum. Their efforts are not the problem. Having a new museum is not a criticism of our present volunteer workers. We need more of them.

In order to have regular hours (probably about 20 a week) and to be open at least five days a week year round, our present plan is to hire at least one part-time director to be in charge of our operations. Volunteers would still be needed.

A special “Thanks” to Rockford resident and Grand Rapids Press columnist, Tom Rademacher, who will be selling and signing copies of his latest book, “Knocking on the Door” on Friday, Dec. 23, at Kimberly’s Boutique, 54 Courtland St., from 4 to 6 p.m., and at Great Northern Trading Company, 10 Squires St., from 6 to 8 p.m., with part of the proceeds going to North Kent Community Services and Rockford Area Museum. Please stop by and get your copy! Tom also will be doing a signing at the Rockford library in the spring.

Anyone with questions about our fundraising or desiring to get materials may contact me at (616) 866-0530.

Terry Konkle, President
Rockford Area Historical Society

Reply to Johnston letter

Dear Editor,

I would like to clarify a misstatement made by Mr. Johnston in his letter to the Squire published Dec. 1, 2011 (“Groups’ Tactics Questionable”), specifically, that the Central Rockford Neighborhood Association (CRNA) and the Concerned Citizens for Responsible Development (CCRD) are related.

They are not.

CRNA is a local Rockford neighborhood association. We were officially founded November 2009. We are a nonprofit with the State of Michigan. We have boundaries, bylaws, and even a by-line (“CRNA—Rockford’s Pretty Good Neighborhood Association”). We actively contribute to the community. We have done garlic mustard pulls on Rum Creek and the Rogue, have helped at the annual Rogue River Clean Up, and have collected food for Feeding America at the Farmers Market, among other things. We love Rockford, and our by-laws state this in so many words. Our by-laws are a public document; feel free to request a copy.

However, by early August 2010, about a month prior to the start of the tannery demolition, the CRNA had received a large number of inquiries and expressions of concern from its members regarding the lack of any environmental investigation or any significant environmental testing data taken at and around the Wolverine Worldwide tannery site. After determining that its by-laws did not support an active role in the oversight of the demolition process, and not wanting to polarize those members that sought more information and those that did not, CRNA officers elected to step away from the issue. Since that time, the CRNA has avoided any active role in the tannery demolition or redevelopment.

To address the concerns of local citizens, the Concerned Citizens for Responsible Development was founded in August 2010 as an independent entity, wholly unrelated to the CRNA. Although some CRNA members are also members of CCRD, the groups are very distinct, as are the membership rolls. Full disclosure—I am a member of both. CRNA broadly seeks to help make Rockford a better place to live, while the CCRD is focused specifically on the demolition, cleanup and redevelopment of the former Wolverine Worldwide tannery site. While both groups desire to see the health and welfare of our City, their focuses and goals are very different.

As to Mr. Johnston’s allegations that empirical sampling results and sworn historical accounts of activities at the tannery constitute “lies” and “misstatements,” or that historical river water samples prove that the tannery site is “uncontaminated,” I will leave it to the CCRD to respond… if it chooses to do so. I merely wanted to clarify Mr. Johnston’s own misstatement that the CCRD is a “sub-group” of the CRNA. It is not, and I’d encourage any resident of Rockford to find out for themselves by contacting our local neighborhood association. A community is defined by its citizens, and Rockford has been blessed with a large number of interested, active and diverse citizens. Contact me or any our officers, all local residents: Ken Phillips, vice president; Gail Mancewitz, secretary; or Erin Burke, treasurer. We would love to have you join us!

Mike McIntosh
President, CRNA

‘Dear Santa’ contest brings in many kids’ letters

Squire News — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:10:37 +0000

Although the task of reading over the many “Dear Santa” entries was fun, The Rockford Squire staff had a hard time choosing only three winners. The first three letters to Santa listed here are the winners, and the remaining thereafter were just so cute we had to print as many as we could fit in! The three winners may come into the Squire office, 331 Northland Dr., to claim their NorthStar Cinemas “Cinema Cash.”

Erin Morgan, 5, personally delivers her letter to Santa to The Rockford Squire newspaper office. Morgan had a little help from mom with the writing, but chose the color of her marker carefully.

WINNER!
Dear Santa,

I would like a LaLa Loozy doll with a tree house and a bus. I would like a car, but not a big one. Kind of like Cam’s, but he has a jeep and I’d like a car. A Barbie car. And a cat women figure. I like your elves Santa. And I like your suit. Make sure you don’t eat too many cookies or you will have a tummy ache.

Erin Morgan, Age 5

WINNER!
Dear Santa,

You’re the best Santa ever! Can I please have some trucks? I’m a really good boy at school. I would like an ornament that’s not cracked. Merry Christmas to Santa!

Aiden Humphrey, Age 4-1/2

WINNER!
Dear Santa,

Wat I want for Christmas is, love, care, headphones, IPod touch, Friends & aesy bake uven!

Kaitlynn Mountney, Age 9

Ashley Faulkner, 9, has plenty to say to Santa in her letter to him this season. Faulkner added some extra paper to make sure she had room for her comments. She reminded Santa to not eat too many cookies or he could have a tummy ache.

Dear Santa,

What I want for Christmas is an I Pod touch, pillow pet, one of your bells off of your slay, anything purple, cases for my I Pod nano, a pictour of you Santa, and I want you to do the thing that you did last year you gave me some books every day and we got to unwrap them every morning. And that is what I want for Christmas Santa. Merry Christmas Santa! Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho.

Love, Ashley Faulkner, Age 9

Dear Santa,

I would like an electric dinosaur with stuff on it. I would like Woody’s Round-Up game.

Joshua Remmes, Age 5

Dear Santa,

Christmas is not about presentes it is about spending time with each otehr and the holidays. What I want is a remote control helicopter. I hope I am on the good list. ho ho ho Santa!

Jordan Brechting, Age 7

Dear Santa,

How are you doing? What is it like in the north pole? Here is what I would like for Christmas: an art set with markers, paper, siccers, glue sticks, colored pencils.

Olivia Humphrey, Age 6-1/2

Dear Santa,

That little car, I want it. Can you get it for me? Santa will get it for me. My brother said so if I be a good girl. I ¤ Santa.

Bailey Humphrey, Age 3

Dear Santa,

How are you? I’m doing fine thank you. Are you ever busy befor Christmas? Or the day after Christmas? Well somtimes I am and I love it. Please anserw. Thanks!

Megan Steffes, Age 8-1/2

Dear Santa,

Are you enjoying the Holidays? If you are enjoying the Holidays, then Good! I Have been a good Boy this year. I want a barrel blowout. And a mazeball, very badly! I like all the ornametes on my Christmas Tree. I hope you like my ornemins on my Christmas tree too. I will leve you some cookeyies and mellk.

love Kaeden, Age 6-1/2

Dear Santa,

I love you. I’ve been a good and silly girl.

I want new doll clothes; brown ones with blue polk-a-dots. And then a yellow dress. I want a show and tell house with drawers. I want you to come in my house and have cookies. I want a hat with eyeballs and no mouth. I want some balls for my cat “Jasper.” Sorry I didn’t want to sit on you at the mall. For my mom and dad some new hats, moms color yellow and dad’s hat orange.