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Merchants join with boosters to build Community Unity
GO RAMS!—Your Rockford merchants are behind you 100 percent. A new Community Unity card will allow 10 percent of a sale to go to the Rockford Sports Boosters three times a year. Pictured are Community Unity organizers Polly VonEschen, Meredith Gremel and Barb Stein.
by BETH ALTENA
Buy a better product and put money into Rockford Public Schools sports programs. Downtown merchants have formed a new partnership with Rockford Sports Boosters. The program keeps the dollars spent for sports fundraising local, offers better products (those offered here in town) and might keep kids from selling door to door.
Barb Stein of Great Northern Trading Company is one of the organizers of the partnership, called Community Unity.
Three times a year shoppers will be able to present a Community Unity card when making a purchase with a participating merchant. That merchant will then donate ten percent of that sale to the Sports Boosters. Other non-profits are invited to participate in the future.
Stein is a real expert in the retail field as a long-time Rockford merchant and chair-elect of the Michigan Retailers Association. She believes in the value of product and fair pricing local shops offer.
The idea came when Polly VonEschen of Baskets in the Belfry was thinking about the items fundraising groups typically offer. Usually they are catalog items that you aren’t able to see or sample before purchase.
She knows Rockford has better wares to offer, and supporting sports boosters from the stores should please parents, as well.
“As parents, we buy the products ourselves because we don’t want our children going door-to-door, or we take it to work,” Stein said. The plan has the advantage of keeping local dollars within our community. “When you buy from a catalog, certainly none of that money stays local,” Stein said.
Now more than ever consumers are realizing the importance of shopping locally. An article from ambia, the American Independent Business Alliance, discussed findings of the impact of money spent at local, independently-owned businesses compared to corporate chains.
“Dollars spent at community-based merchants create a multiplier effect in the local economy, that, by most findings, typically amounts to three times that of a chain,” the article stated.
A 2003 economic study showed that, of the money spent at a chain, $13 stayed in the community compared to $45 remaining when spent at a local shop or business.
“It is really, really important now to shop locally, Stein said. It is also important to support sports programs in a town like Rockford, especially when some families are struggling more than ever. “We can do this because we are a very generous community,” Stein stated.
The first of three-a-year times to present the Community Unity card is now, April 15 to 30. The card can be cut out of this paper (page 11) downloaded from the Squire website at rockfordsquire.com or is available at participating businesses.
Download your Community Unity ID Card (pdf)
The next fundraising period will be October 15 to 31 and then January 15 to 31. As the program grows, more merchants should join.
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What’s up with the big green footprints?
Sue Arend (R) REF Administrator and Rockford High School senior Shelby Jacobs (L) announce the “Selling of the Sod” event. Jacobs is currently serving as a RHS Co-operative Intern with the REF under the mentorship of Arend.
Buy your own piece of Ted sod
by Cliff and Nancy Hill
It’s spring and miraculously the downtown sidewalks have sprouted pairs of big green footprints. What’s up with the feet?
Turns out that the Rockford Education Foundation (REF) in a joint venture with the Rockford’s Football and Band Boosters had the feet placed on sidewalks and storefronts to promote their upcoming “Tiptoe Through The Ted – Selling the Sod” event.
Weather permitting, the undertaking of the removal of the grass turf at the Rockford High School Football Stadium (aka ‘The Ted’) will begin on May 4. During the weeks following, the grass surface will be replaced with one of the latest generations of synthetic turf.
This taking of ‘The Ted’ to a new level provides the REF and the Boosters a great new opportunity to raise money in support of their good works.
Rain or shine, on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., everyone will be afforded the opportunity to buy a piece of Rockford history. During the free midday event square yards (18 inches by 72 inches) of the removed sod will be available for $10 per yard. Small potted versions will also be available. By buying a chunk of the sod you can create your own little patch of ‘The Ted’ in your yard. Imagine the possibilities! Whether purchasing sod or not, everyone is invited to four hours of live music and games. Picnic on the field, if you like. There will be something for everyone.
The Sports Boosters will have food concessions stands. The High School Band will make an appearance. There will be stage performances by local students, some of who are REF grant recipients. Zumba and Parisi demonstrations are scheduled. Other possibilities include; face painting, relay races, and football passing contests. Many more fun activities are planned, too many to name. In case of rain, the event will be moved inside to the Rockford High School gymnasium.
Aside from the sod sale the purpose of the event is to celebrate the role ‘The Ted’ has played in the lives of all in our Rockford community.
The installation of artificial turf was made possible as a result of school district voters saying “yes” to a mileage renewal during last May’s School Board election. “The mileage replaced funds scheduled to expire and resulted in a zero net increase to taxpayers,” said Rockford School Superintendent Michael Shibler, at the time. Shibler had championed the proposal prior to the election saying, “The installation of artificial turf on the varsity football field would allow more and varied activities to take place.”
“We are community recreation in Rockford,” Shibler said, adding, “The installation of artificial turf on the varsity football field would allow opportunities for hundreds more kids.”
A San Francisco Parks and Recreation study in 2005 supported Shibler’s position in concluding the following:
- Artificial turf playing fields are long-term cost effective with a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years. They recover, on average, their initial high installation costs in 7 to 10 years.
- Synthetic fields virtually double the number of hours a field can be used.
- Artificial turf fields are available for use in all manner of inclement weather, unlike natural fields.
- New generation synthetic fields significantly reduce operating costs because they require much less labor and materials to maintain.
- Unlike their natural turf counterparts, they do not require the imposition of a time limit on the amount of play or use allowed in order to protect the quality of the field.
- New generation synthetic fields have a superior quality-playing surface. The flatness and uniformity of the new synthetic fields produces venues that provide better and safer recreational opportunities for all varieties of ground sports.
- Artificial turf will open the venue to more and newer usage resulting in increased revenue (from ticket fees and concessions at athletic events or band competitions, to name two of many possibilities).
So don’t fail to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event on Saturday, May 2, by following the footprints to the ‘The Ted.’
For more information call the REF at (616) 863-6317.
Now, the rest of the story
For the uninitiated who have always wondered, how did ‘The Ted’ come by its name – here’s the rest of the story as told to us by Ted’s son, Dave Carlson.
When an extended family Carlson emigrated from Sweden in the late 1800’s, half settled in Sister Bay, Dorr County, Wisconsin and the other half settled in the Rockford vicinity. During the ensuing years, the Rockford Carlson’s extolled the virtues of Rockford’s Schools to their relatives across the Lake. (Even then Rockford excelled in educating its children.) For one thing, Sister Bay did not have a high school and Rockford did.
So it came to pass that one of the Dorr County Carlson family’s moved to Rockford in 1910 so the oldest sibling of the family’s children could attend high school. The youngest sibling was a two-year old boy named Ted. If ever a move was meant to be, it was more so for Ted Carlson.
Ted grew up loving all things Rockford. He graduated from Rockford High School in 1927 and briefly spent time at Michigan State University. Impatient to strike out on his own, he entered the working world, married and had a family and eventually owned a factory in Wixom, Michigan that manufactured travel trailer water heaters. Even though the plant was on the other side of the state, Ted commuted back and forth from the plant in Wixom to his home and family in Rockford.
Good financial fortune smiled on Ted and at the early age of 55 he was able to sell the plant and retire from the working world to devote the rest of his life to his beloved Rockford. It was a unique time in a workingman’s town where everyone knew you and you knew everyone. Never having forgotten his own years at Rockford High School, Ted devoted the remaining 28 years of his life immersed in all things athletic at Rockford High School. He may well have been Rockford’s first “Super Fan.”
From attending every practice and sporting event possible, to throwing out the first pitch at each season’s first baseball game, to being the first person elected to the Rockford Hall of Fame, Ted Carlson became affectionately known as “Mr. Rockford.”
Son Dave Carlson, owner of Woodland Travel Center on Plainfield, tells us, “My father was more well known by the athletes and the kids in the stands than the High School Principal himself. He could be seen always proudly wearing the Varsity Jacket that had been embroidered “Coach Carlson” and presented by his close friend Harv DeGood.”
Ted passed away at age 83 in 1991. Through his adult years he had also found the time to serve 20 years as a Rockford School Board Member.
In 1992 the current Rockford High School and its adjacent stadium were completed. It was an easy decision for the then School Board to honor the memory of Ted by naming the new stadium the ‘Ted Carlson Memorial Stadium.’ In doing so they recognized a man who had been a fixture, a part of the fabric of the community. According to son Dave, it is the only thing in the Rockford School System to be named after a person. Thenceforth it has come to be known by countless athletes and students simply as ‘The Ted.’
As our interview with Dave Carlson ended, he told us of the speech his father made after being elected to the Rockford Hall of Fame. Quoting from that speech Ted said, “I love Rockford. I always have. I always will.”
At the dedication of the Rockford High School Stadium, Dave added this footnote to his father’s speech, “It was obvious Rockford loved Ted, too.”
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Reds announces appetizer contest winner
Squire reporters Cliff and Nancy Hill seated alongside Chef Glenn while being served their recipe contest entry.
by CLIFF AND NANCY HILL
along with MEREDITH GREMEL
When in January we heard of the Reds on the River first ever recipe contest we figured, “What the heck, why not enter?” After all, your reporters are graduates of Chef Robin Toldo’s cooking classes offered yearly through Rockford Community Services, a service of Rockford Public Schools.
Reds was seeking an appetizer recipe to be featured, along with the contest winner’s name, on their newly created small plate restaurant menu. What an honor that would be.
We forwarded our entry to Executive Chef/General Manager, Glenn Forgie, and awaited Reds’ response.
In March, we were contacted by Meredith Gremel, Reds’ Publicist, and told that Chef Glenn was, “happy to inform you that you have been chosen as a semi-finalist out of 15 other contest entrants.”
We then moved on to the next phase of the contest. We were invited to demonstrate our recipe in the kitchen of Reds on Saturday, March 28. Each of the six semi-finalists was allotted one of six half-hour time slots beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 11:30 a.m. to demonstrate and prepare their recipe.
We chose the 10 a.m. time slot for our recipe demonstration and found ourselves in an already bustling kitchen, even though the restaurant would not open for another two hours. This was not just any kitchen but the spotless state-of-the-art kitchen of Reds on the River. Every day this kitchen serves up award-winning cuisine prepared absolutely from scratch. (Talk about pressure, we were like school kids taking an oral final exam while at the same time trying not to cut our fingers off.)
We named our entry “German Wurstchen Biss Wraps” (wurstchen is German for a small sausage or wiener and biss means small portion). As an appetizer it is as delicious as it is simple to prepare. Consisting of just three ingredients; thin triangles of pastry dough, old-fashioned, coarse-cut all-meat German-style wieners with no added fillers, and mustard for dipping. The wieners, cut into thirds, wrapped in dough and baked are to die for when dipped while piping hot into mustard. Our favorite is Beer’n Brat Horseradish Mustard. The choice is yours. The main ingredient is not just any wiener but Wimmers Old Fashioned Wieners available locally at Herman’s Boy. These are the same wieners used in the Herman’s Boy famous and best selling Bagel Dogs. The wieners were our secret ingredient and now everyone knows.
Hot out of the oven, we garnished and plated our creation that was whisked into the dining area for a tasting by Chef Glenn. Seated alongside Chef, we were peppered with questions about ingredients, preparation, and presentation. Water was served with the sampling (we ourselves would have preferred something a bit stronger).
The next contestant was already busy in the kitchen preparing their entry as we left the restaurant optimistic that we might, after all, have a shot at culinary fame.
Such was not to be the case however. On Wednesday, April 8 we were notified that the judging team, consisting of Executive Chef Glenn, Line Chef Michael Farrell, Sous Chef Scott Pershbacher, and Meredith Gremel, had chosen…the winner. Gremel tells us, “It was not at all an easy decision to make.” She went on to say, “Clearly we have many talented chefs living in West Michigan. Our team at Reds appreciates their efforts and we enjoyed getting to know each of them.”
Chosen was Gary Saulter who served up “Goat Cheese Stuffed Shrimp” along with sautéed spinach over angel hair pasta. The winning recipe has our mouths watering. We are nothing if not gracious losers and heartily congratulate Saulter. We can’t wait to try his creation when it is added to the small plate menu at Reds.
BON APPETITE—Winner Gary Saulter (left) and his guest Diane Kniowski enjoy the winning dish with Reds’ Executive Chef, Glenn Forgie.
Gremel tells us, “The contest was such a huge success that Reds will offer it on a seasonal basis. We plan to hold an annual cook-off with all four seasonal winners. Additionally, each contest winner’s photo and recipe will be posted at Reds during the season in which they won and all four will be invited to a special dinner at Reds prepared by Chef Glenn. We will replace our current winner with our next recipe winner in July.”
Entrants are encouraged to enter their recipe for a summer appetizer featuring local fresh ingredients that will be served from July through September. Recipes must be submitted to Chefglenn@reds-live.com no later than June 1st.
We’re thinking this time around we’ll offer ourselves up as tasters!
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Antiques Roadshow showcases Grand Rapids
THE APPRAISAL PLEASE—Charles Tearle, a Roadshow clock and watch appraiser, gives Squire reporter, Nancy Hill, the low-down on her great-great grandfather’s solid gold pocket watch.
by CLIFF AND NANCY HILL
Stand aside Dancing With The Stars. For the next three consecutive Monday nights (April 20, 27, and May 4), during the time slot of the hugely popular ABC network dance show, West Michigan television viewers will have their sets tuned to WGVU Public Television’s most popular show, The Antiques Roadshow.
Readers will recall The Squire’s coverage of the first ever visit of the Antiques Roadshow to Grand Rapids, MI, August 9 of last year. The Rockford Squire was there to cover that event. Judy Matthews, the show’s Senior Publicist, said at the time, “We have received an overwhelming response in Grand Rapids. 27,000 tickets were requested for the event, a record number unsurpassed by any city in the Roadshow’s history.”
In a random drawing 3,400 lucky people had each received two free tickets to the DeVos Place event. Also holding tickets were a limited number of people who had made a minimum $200 donation to WGVU Public Television to receive just one ticket. Each ticket holder was asked to bring no more than two of his or her “treasures” for appraisal. But somehow that limit was exceeded Matthews related saying, “By the end of the show the 70 appraisers on hand had looked at between14,000 to 20,000 items (another record).”
Recently, The Squire was fortunate enough to receive a Press Preview CD (screener) of the upcoming three Grand Rapids episodes in their entirety. With a bowl of popcorn between us, your reporters sat down one recent evening to prescreen the three one-hour segments.
Your reporters are avid Antiques Roadshow viewers and what we were struck by, and what viewers should watch for, was what seemed to us an unusually high-average value placed on the individual on-air appraisals. Grand Rapids must be a treasure trove of antiques, many hidden away in attics, basements and garages. Those lucky enough to have their items appraised on-air exhibited genuine West Michigan appreciation and outright enthusiasm.
We won’t disclose our favorite appraisals or the segments they are in, but here are three examples that really raised our eyebrows. An 1881 Jasper Cropsey oil painting depicting the Hudson River Valley was appraised at $300,000. A 1905 pair of Carl Faberge cufflinks converted later to earrings was appraised at $40,000 to $50,000. And, if you can believe it – of all things, an extremely rare cold air return/register designed and installed by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co. valued at upwards of $50,000. The owner of this last item stood there after the appraisal and said in a stunned voice, “Really?! Really?! Really?!” Throughout the three segments the most common response heard was, “Unbelievable!” As with all Roadshow programs, we found the history/provenance of appraised items just as compelling as the values learned.
Each of the three Grand Rapids episodes paid a visit to an area antique venue. One was the Grand Rapids Public Museum that displays a huge collection of Grand Rapids made furniture. Another was the Gilmore Car Museum where highly collectable antique hood ornaments were featured. And finally, Dutch Blue Delft Pottery was highlighted at the Holland Museum.
We won’t say if we were able to identify anyone we personally know, but as you watch the three Grand Rapids’ Roadshow episodes see if you can single out anyone you recognize. While we were at the event last August, we did spot Rockford Mayor Janice (Chi-Chi) Rogers pulling a treasure-laden wagon to assigned category appraisal stations. (Yes, she had exceeded the two-item limit, we won’t say by how many!) Also spotted was Rockford’s Sally Charnley, of Burlap N’ Rags fame, waiting for an appraisal of Great-Great-Great Uncle Abel Bowen’s woodcuttings.
Erika Denn, Antiques Roadshow Account Executive, tells us the Grand Rapids’ Roadshow episodes will not disappoint as each revels new hidden treasures from West Michigan. We heartily agree.
GR’s Antiques Roadshow will air at 8 p.m. on three consecutive Monday nights, beginning April 20 on Public Television’s WGVU.
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Letters to the Editor
Thanks for promoting cure for diabetes family fun day
Dear Editor,
Thanks again for the support you are giving to promote my family fun day. I know that my event would not be as successful if generous groups like the Squire did not help me.
I did notice a correction opportunity to the article this week. The article described the cost of a “poker hand” as a minimum donation of $25. The actual cost on the day of the event of a single hand is only $10 and a family pack which you describe is $30 (which include 4 poker hands and the various gift certificates). The $25 donation described in the flyer was for pre-registration via the web site which includes a gift to the participant of a t-shirt and one additional poker hand on the day of the event. I apologize for any confusion I created by having so many options for donation. As always, I am trying to create a win-win for my charity and the participants.
I was blown away to see the picture of Scott and I on the front page this week and feel blessed to have a community of people like yourself to help me make a contribution to finding a cure for diabetes!
Chris Radford
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