The Rockford Public School goal was to have 40 unique ram statues to “unleash” at a downtown celebration during Harvest Festival . The nearly life-sized sculptures are created from melted PVC plastic and will not deteriorate, even if displayed outdoors. Jamie Hosford, Superintendent of Human Resources at RPS said the idea was one staff had thought about for years, and chose the 2010-2011 school year to be the “Year of the Ram.” The Corner Bar and the City of Rockford were among the first entities to jump on board the Year of the Ram with a sponsorship of $1,500 for theirs. Professional artists will paint the statues as directed by the purchaser at no additional charge.

Jamie Hosford of Rockford Public Schools speaks to Rotary about investing in the schools by purchasing or sponsoring a Ram for activities during the Year of the Ram. The City of Rockford’s ram is pictured.

Throughout the next year the rams will be displayed at the dam, at a Ram Pride parade through downtown Rockford, at football games and homecoming. “Our ram is going to do a lot of traveling,” said Rockford City Manager of the City’s red, white and blue ram bearing city, police and fire logos. “There is something special about this district. We believe in working hard,” Hosford told Rotarians at a recent meeting. He said the district had been toying with ideas for showing Ram Pride. They saw another town which did an art project with bulldogs that made a big statement.

“I hope this will bring people to downtown Rockford,” Hosford said of the Year of the Ram statues. Each organization can paint their own Ram or have an artist work according to direction or allow them to come up with an original design. Some limitations, such as using professional sign paint and avoiding obscene or political statements, are placed on design. Possibilities are endless and Hosford believes it is a smart marketing opportunity as well as a way to support Rockford Public Schools and the City of Rockford, which are working jointly on Year of the Ram.

Opportunities to show off the Ram will be many as well. Hosford said he is working on a Ram Scavenger Hunt where people will be directed to find all the rams and perhaps win prizes. The rams will attend festivals and events. When not participating in events, the rams will be a unique way for a business, club or individual to show proof of community pride. They could grace waiting areas, look out of windows or stand in green areas. To find out more about purchasing a ram or sponsorship or ram-sharing opportunities, visit the RPS website. Those who decide to make the investment will be following in the footsteps of other business community leaders. The following have already made their Year of the Ram investment: Action Tax Service, American Cancer Society, American Gas and Oil, Brieden & Miller Orthodontics, City of Rockford, Corner Bar, DARE, Douglas Photography, Independent Bank, Pizza Hut, Rockford Abmulance, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Rockford Floor Covering, Silver Lake Country Club, United Bank, VanDyken Mechanical, Wolverine World Wide and Rockford Public Schools.

Hosford said he has commitments from others who have not yet purchased their rams, and he believes this will be a community art project that will make an impression for years to come. “I am confident that we will have 40 RAMS for the art project.”

Rockford’s Josh Miller about to cross the finish line in first place for the third year in a row at Saturday's Mitchell's Run Thru Rockford. Miller finished in 16:01 and was followed by Dan Kasprouicz, of Grand Rapids, three seconds later at 16:04. Notice "Ace" Rockford Squire photographer Tom Scott in foreground. photo by CLIFF HILL

Three-time Mitchell’s Run winner Josh Miller of Rockford took six seconds off his time to win again, this year with a time of 16:01. Coming in second in the men’s division was Dan Kasprouicz of Grand Rapids with a time of 16:04. From Belmont was third place men’s winner Drake Veitenheimer with a time of 16:18. Grant Gunneson, of Rockford came in fourth with a time of 16:29. Andrew Woznick, also of Rockford, was fifth in the men’s division with a time of 16:30.

Taking top win in the women’s division was Jessica Roster of Grand Rapids with a time of 18:18. In second was Val Thomasma, of Belmont, with a time of 18:48. In third place was Mackenzie Adams, of Rockford with a time of 18:50. Taylor Manett, of Grand Rapids, was fourth with a time of 19:03. Amanda Surdenik of Rockford was fifth in women’s with a time of 19:04.

The 5K run/walk, community picnic, silent auction and live music take place in honor of Mitchell Peterson, diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 1999. Parents Steve and Sandy want to raise awareness for the many kids who have the disease and the need to find a cure.

Jessica Koster, first place women to cross the finish line. photo by TOM SCOTT

photo by TOM SCOTT

The evening included introductions and each person explaining why volunteering is important, a short explanation of Woman’s Life and how it began, and appetizers from the restaurant.

First row: Aubrey Creasey, Charlotte Touchette of Woman’s Life, Carrie Yeomans, Kristen Varady, Karn Crooks of The Rockford Squire; second row: Robin Nunn of Edward Jones, Lynda Nance of Nance-Martin Accounting Services, Polly VonEschen of Baskets in the Belfry, Alison Burg of Edward Jones, Jody Jernigan, Amanda English, Kate Sickrey of The Rockford Squire. Not pictured is Beth Altena of The Rockford Squire (taking the photo).

Woman’s Life was founded in 1892 by Bina West, a 25-year-old school teacher from Capec, Mich., who observed the financial difficulty a family endured if a mother with young children died. She formed the Woman’s Benefit Association to provide life insurance for women—unheard of at that time. The organization provides support to chapters including both men and women, who can adopt a number of volunteer goals throughout a year. The fraternal benefit society is located in Port Huron, Mich., and can be found online at womanslife.org.

The last vacation Rockford resident and stained glass artisan Eric Brown, owner of the Squire Street business by the same name, took was in 2000. Brown along with his wife, Pat, were visiting Alaska to fulfill a lifelong dream of discovering our 50th state first-hand. “While there I was struck by small trees growing and living in the hostile and rocky environment with their roots clinging tenaciously to the barren rock surfaces,” said Brown adding, “I had the thought that one day, if I could find the perfect rock, I would create a stained glass lamp, depicting a dwarf wind-swept bonsai like tree, using the rock as a base.”

Eric Brown with the latest in a series of one-of-a-kind and highly sought after works of art. The Grand Rapids ArtPrize has never seen anything the likes of "Pandora". photo by CLIFF HILL

That day arrived in early 2010 when Eric came into the possession of an ideal rock, a beautiful 41 lb. piece of green fluorite quartz. In a labor of love requiring 216 hours (27 days in total) Eric created a one-of-a-kind stained glass table lamp that he calls, “Pandora”.

Eric is a master of many artistic talents, all of which were required to bring “Pandora” to life. Beginning first with the base, it was necessary to drill a 7/16-inch hole through the center of the 1ft. x 1ft. rock, to accommodate a threaded rod to electrically wire the lamp. The boring of the quartz rock was no easy task as it contained many faults that could easily rupture. Eric had to adapt a diamond core bit by adding a long enough stainless steel shaft to drill completely through the rock. Exhibiting the skill of a diamond cutter he accomplished, what was to be, the first of many steps.

Using graduated diameters of PVC pipe, Eric then formed the core of the tree’s trunk. He demonstrated his metal crafting skills by painstakingly winding hundreds of feet of copper wire, beginning with roots clinging to the rock and working upwards around the core to the very branches at the top. It was then necessary to add many pounds of molten solder to the wire creating a spiraled and gnarled tree-like surface. Brown then wired the lamp, adding lamp sockets to the tip of each of the five branches.

It didn’t get any easier as Eric had to then move on to the creation (literally) of five leaf-like stained glass shades resembling box-turtle shells. Initially, cardboard molds were crafted in two different sizes that led to finished plaster of Paris molds. Next, a mosaic sketch was drawn on the surface of each mold over which a transparent paper was laid to trace the patterns he would use to cut the individual pieces of glass for each shade. Imagine, if you will, the cutting of 511 individual pieces of green and orange glass (not much bigger than nickels or dimes) to tack to the molds and solder together to form each finished shade.

Last but not least, a chemical patina was applied to the soldered surfaces creating a deep brown finish.

The finished table lamp, standing some 28 inches tall and weighing a substantial 50 lbs., is softly lit with low wattage bulbs and beautiful and breathtaking to behold.

In addition to the finding of the lamp’s quartz base, Brown had a grander incentive to bring “Pandora” into existence, that of being an entrant in the 2010 Grand Rapids ArtPrize competition.

ArtPrize entries require a name and Brown tells us, “I chose ‘Pandora’ as a name for the piece because I was blown-away by the beauty and magnificence of the foliage on the planet Pandora in the movie Avatar. It just seemed like a good fit.”

Brown invites readers to view “Pandora” in his studio/store on Squire’s Street in downtown Rockford prior to being placed at its ArtPrize venue in the Waters Building located at 161 Ottawa Ave. NW in downtown Grand Rapids. Last year’s initial and wildly popular Grand Rapids ArtPrize competition returns bigger and better this year for a three-week run from September 22 thru October 10. Brown’s entry will be one of a record 1,713 submitted by a like number of artists from 21 countries and 44 U.S. states. Entries will be displayed at 192 venues, also another record. The prestigious competition offers $450,000 in prize money.

Winners are decided by a popular viewer vote conducted online (after online registration). Each entry has a “thumbs-up or down” number and “Pandora’s” thumbs-up number is: 43071;

If you are unable to attend and view the entries in this year’s ArtPrize, the rules do not prevent you from voting. One can be a “homer” and vote for a “favorite son” and may we suggest a vote for Eric Brown’s entry “Pandora” would do wonders for Eric’s ego and Rockford’s reputation as an enclave of talented and accomplished artisans.

Most every entry in ArtPrize is also for sale and “Pandora” is no exception. For a paltry $7,000 or OBO above, this one-of-a-kind Tiffany style creation could be the long sought final touch to complete and grace the décor of your home or business.

Being one of the top ten monetary prize winners or the outright sale of “Pandora” would allow Eric and Pat to afford the opportunity to take another rare vacation after ten long years of tenacious non-stop sacrifice and devotion to Brown’s craft.

Remember, think 43071!

For more information about ArtPrize, along with registration and voting instructions, go to: www.artprize.org.

Every business owner wants their customer to have an unforgettable experience while at their business. But for one Pizzeria Grandé customer, their experience was definitely one-of-a-kind. On Monday, July 5 around 6:40 p.m., a Buick accidentally accelerated into the front of Pizzeria Grandé’s building on Belding Road while trying to move their car, damaging half of the building’s front exterior.

“When it happened, I just hoped no one had been hurt. The restaurant was full at the time, but luckily there were no injuries,” Pizzeria Grandé owner Jim Zanzig said. “Oddly enough, there were two Kent County Marine Officers in the restaurant at the time of the accident, so they were able to help out.”

After being in business for 10 years, this is the first time Zanzig has experienced anything like this. “It’s not often you see a car go through the front of a building,” Zanzig said.

Pizzeria Grandé is still open for business and running its usual hours at 6575 Belding Rd. However, there is a temporary door at the entrance while arrangements for fixing are made.

Specialist David Durant visited the residents of Bishop Hills Friday, July 2, to thank them for the shipments of cookies and the morale boost for their troops. He took the time to answer questions and share his experience in Iraq.

He brought his family, wife Kaylee, two children and mother-in-law Ramona Hinton. They had the opportunity to meet Clarence Blakeslee and let him know they had read his book about World War II.

Deeb is a native of Grand Rapids. He was educated there and received his undergraduate degree from Aquinas College in 1957. He earned a master’s degree in history from Michigan State University and a doctorate from Wayne State University. He was elected to the State Board of Education in 1968 and served through 1974.

After 20 years in education here in Michigan, Deeb owned and operated an accounting and investment advisory business for 25 years. He is a former resident of Frankenmuth, Mich. Currently retired, he lives in Sun City, Fla. He is married to Sally Dittman, and they have five children and 10 grandchildren.

“Duty and Honor” is the first novel in the trilogy. “Duty Accomplished and Honor Restored” followed this novel. They will be available after the presentation.

Volunteers may do one or more of the following activities:

• Put on waders and dig around the creek bottom with a net.

• Remove macro-invertebrates from the net and place them in trays.

• Identify the macro-invertebrates.

• Place the insects in vials.

• Make tabulations on sheets of paper.

• Take photos.

Volunteers are needed to remove macro-invertebrates from nets and place them in trays, among other various tasks, as part of a stream study in Cannon Township.

Volunteers will go out in groups on a specific date in spring and fall of 2011. If you are interested in being a volunteer, you must attend a one-day training session at Cannon Township Center in September (date to be later announced, but will most likely take place on a Saturday).

“Although the stream study dates are a ways off, the September 2010 training is not. The Township would like to start gathering volunteers now,” said Sapkowski.

Macro-invertebrates are animals without backbones that are larger than 1/2 millimeter (the size of a pencil dot). These aquatic animals live on rocks, logs, sediment, debris and aquatic plants. They include crustaceans such as crayfish, mollusks such as clams and snails, aquatic worms and the immature and adult forms of aquatic insects such as stoneflies and mayflies. Collecting and counting macro-invertebrates indicates the health of a stream. More diversity equals a healthier stream. Threats to macro-invertebrates are sedimentation, habitat loss and chemical pollution.

“Cannon Township was recently awarded a $1,000 grant for macro-invertebrate/steam studies through the Michigan Clean Water Corps [MiCorps]. This grant will allow us to organize a large group of volunteers who will go out on Bear Creek to count and observe the macro-invertebrates. Stream studies will help the Township make better decisions regarding the creek and the Bear Creek Watershed,” stated Sapkowski.

If you are interested in being a volunteer for this project, call Kim Sapkowski at (616) 874-6966 or e-mail her at ksapkowski@cannontwp.org.