“BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST”—Dave Bowman (top left) brought his extended family to see the hospital he dreamed of and worked toward for nearly a decade.

PRETTY IN PINK—A Sudanese soldier waits as Sarah Hammond paints his fingernails for him during her spring break visit to Sudan, the largest country on the African continent.

by BETH ALTENA

What did you do for spring break? One Rockford man and his family spent it in war-torn Sudan, Africa, seeing the result of ten years of passion, faith and miracles.

Dave Bowman, with his wife, sons and daughter and their children, underwent a 24-hour trip to Sudan to see the dedication of a hospital that is the only one of its kind in a country where the people literally had no medical options.

LABOR OF LOVE—The 14-bed hospital includes a surgical ward and birthing rooms. From February 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, 7,368 patients were treated. It is the only facility of its kind in Sudan, a country the size of the United States from the Mississippi River to the East Coast.

The trip, with family members ranging in age from 11-year-old Sarah Hammond to Dave and his wife Nancy, who had her 72nd birthday on the trip. The experience included close proximity to scorpions, termites “on steroids” and two choices of toilet: the long-drop or short-drop outhouse. Still, each family member considers the venture a journey that changed their lives profoundly and permanently.

The ten family members went to see the result of ten years of passion, prayer and hands-on work: a hospital in Sudan. At the outset of the effort to build the hospital, organizers were told it was a humanly impossible endeavor.

“Imaging building a hospital in New York and you have to bring the supplies to build it from Florida and there are no roads in between,” said Bowman. “Supplies either came from Nairobi, 16,000 miles away or they came from Grand Rapids, Michigan. That’s what gives me goose bumps.”

In a way, the hospital is the result of a diagnosis of severe heart disease and diabetes Bowman received. His doctor recommended he no longer work and he was forced to re-evaluate his life.

At the time, there had been news stories of a genocidal war in Sudan where entire tribes of people were killed so their land could be taken. Children, primarily boys as young as four, were without living family members and fending for themselves in a harsh and desolate landscape.

Bowman had heard about these “lost boys” who were being brought to the United States by the U.S. government.

“I thought, ‘I can’t work, but maybe I can be a father to these boys.’” Bowman picked up his new sons at the airport in December, 2000. “At that time I had absolutely no idea I’d have a second career like this.”

As he learned more about the lives of the boys and the country they came from, Bowman began to realize that there was no medical or dental care available. He found out 70 percent of the children die before they reach age five. Those who live have few means. The boys had never seen running water, stairs, never used a toothbrush.

A religious man, Bowman brought up the topic at an adult Bible class. “Our brothers and sisters in Christ are dying,” he told fellow classmates. Bowman said a thought came into his head from God, asking him what he was going to do about it. “I thought, ‘I can’t do anything about it. I’m sick. I’m not qualified.’”

He went to his wife of 46 years and told her he was thinking of going to Africa and starting to build a hospital. He was sure she would say he was crazy, but she didn’t. “I’ve learned God doesn’t need qualified people. He needs willing people,” Bowman said.

In the next years Bowman founded an organization called Partners in Compassionate Care (www.pccsudan.org) and began the long effort of funding-and building-the hospital that he was told could not be humanly built. This spring break he was able to take his whole family to see the hospital, and see how much more there is to be done in Sudan.

Sherri and Dan Hammond went with their two daughters, Hannah, age 11 and a student at Chandler Woods Charter Academy and Sarah, age 15, a Rockford High School student. Sherri said many of the Sudanese the family encountered had never seen a white person before and were taken with the fair-haired girls. “We received offers of many cows for Hannah,” Dan admitted. Hannah said she was a little frightened of the proposals from the men, who wanted an exotic wife.

Dan said the most profound event of the trip was seeing a woman walk into the hospital compound at dusk carrying a sick infant and with two other small children. She was preparing to sleep under a tree to see the doctor the next day. Dan found out she had walked 25 miles to get to the hospital. She was in pain because something was wrong with her back. During the 25 mile trip she had carried her sick infant the whole way. While the woman was in the hospital with the baby, her other children waited outside. One, only three years old, filled a bucket from a pond that has been dug at the hospital, and with a sliver of soap began washing and hanging out the families ragged clothes.

Sarah was shocked at how differently the boys and girls are treated and made a special effort to spoil the girls while she was there. One of the things she did was paint the girls’ fingernails. She was surprised when Sudanese soldiers approached her and asked if she would do their fingernails, too.

Sherri said she believes nothing can prepare a person for a visit to an impoverished country. “You know about it, or you think you do, but when you actually see it you understand. It’s overwhelming,” she said. She said Hannah was crying when the family boarded the plane to leave, knowing they were leaving these children to come home to lives of luxury by comparison.

“They have nothing and you are leaving them and they don’t get to leave. They seem happy, but I don’t know why they are. They literally have nothing. Maybe they are happy just to be alive,” she said.

Although only just dedicated, the hospital has been saving lives for over a year. Between February 2008 and December 2008, there were 7,368 patients and 445 surgeries. People walk hundreds of miles for the chance to see a doctor.

Michael Bowman, 14, went with his dad Stuart. A Chandler Woods student, he helped arrange a donation of books for the school there. He is amazed by the ability of the Sudanese to maintain their faith despite all they have been through. The local school has 250 students and one pit toilet. The country is still frought with fighting between tribes. Children and cows are subject to raids from warring groups. Children are prized because sexually transmitted diseases are so prevalent that many women are infertile.

In addition to the hospital, which has running water and one flush toilet, there have been some wells put in. Before that people drank the same water that cattle and dogs drank and walked through. Five West Michigan Rotary clubs donated $25,000 for a water tower for the hospital. There is hope to teach the younger generations how to grow crops, learn to read and become educated and break the cycle of tribal fighting.

The hospital itself is still incomplete, with a need for more medical facilities, including a lab for blood work, more doctors, and more medicine. Bowman said his goal all along was for the hospital to be self-sustaining but it is difficult in a culture where people don’t have money. On 40 acres, Bowman believes it will be possible to put in crops, and even fish farms to raise money for needs such as medicine.

Bowman is excited that the possibilities for the hospital are so huge, and has received good news about a grant. If his foundation can raise $15,000, it will be given $45,000-funding that is needed and can make an enormous difference to the Sudanese who need treatment. He believes there is much more good to be done and plans to keep at this “second career” with the help of God.

“When word gets out, we will have people walking from Ethiopia. We will have people walking 400 and 500 miles to be treated,” he said. Bowman hopes schools or organizations may become involved and start projects such as book donations or some pen-pal program, although there is no mail delivery currently. More than anything, he is grateful for the chance he has had to help his brothers and sisters in Christ.

“They said the hospital couldn’t be humanly built, and it couldn’t. God can do miracles, though, and this hospital was built by miracles. I’m just grateful God brought me along for the ride.” To find out more about Partners in Passionate Care, visit online. To find out ways that you can help, email Dave Bowman at dbowman@pccsudan.org.

It probably wasn’t a good idea to stand and watch the demolition of a Main Street property said Bob Christmas of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), but it’s unlikely it was dangerous. Christmas said it was not determined yet whether there was asbestos in the house or in the siding, but either way believes the possibility of illness from asbestos due to the demolition is very unlikely.

The home torn down on Main Street Friday, April 17 was not properly tested for asbestos prior to demolition. At least three neighbors were upset that they were not notified of the day of demolition and were afraid of contamination in the neighborhood.

According to City Manager Michael Young, the demolition date was decided by the City. An inspector condemned the home due to damage inflicted by the nature of the fire practice. “We told him to get it down now because it’s not safe,” Young said of the property owner.

Young said he believes the property owner went above and beyond what was necessary to tear down the  home by contacting the DEQ. “You don’t need a demolition permit from the DEQ for a residential structure,” he stated.

Christmas, who said the home didn’t fall under his jurisdiction because another Michigan entity handles residential structures, was nonetheless helpful in answering questions on the possibilities of danger.

“If I was next door to it would I be worried? No,” he said. Christmas pointed out that asbestos fibers are very tiny, thirty times thinner than a human hair. He said that most asbestos-related illnesses have come from instances where people are working with asbestos in high concentration.

Christmas said in all demolitions it is common-sense practice to try to avoid “fugitive dust.” This can be any dust associated with a demolition, which is a dusty procedure. Wetting down the structure during demolition is appropriate.

According to Young, in addition to wetting the structure, three days of rain followed.

Christmas said the Michigan OSHA, which deals with worker safety, has become involved. He said testing is being done to find out if the home did or did not have asbestos and he will inform the Squire of test results.

“I have been at many, many of these houses and we have tested and found no asbestos in the air. You don’t want to breathe dust in general, but dust does not mean there is asbestos in the dust,” he said.

Young said, “The owner did everything anyone asked of him, probably at great expense.”

Tannery Picketers.

Too young to retire, too old to hire, picketers claim

Former tannery workers picketed Thursday, April 23 at Wolverine World Wide’s corporate headquarters.

Back row: (l.-r.) Jan Wallace, Barb Stein, Polly VonEshen, Kim Smith, and (front row): Char Bouwkamp display items for the Four Store Event.

Event to be held May 1-2 in the Rockford Rotary Pavilion

Feel like celebrating spring with a bit of fresh air-and a fresh new look- but you don’t want to break the bank or wait for the July sidewalk sales? Fret no more! Just head to the Four Store Event to be held at the Rockford Rotary Pavilion in downtown Rockford on Squire Street (across from the post office) and snatch up the bargains while they last. But before you head out, be sure to take a non-perishable food item with you. All those who make a donation will receive a free gift.

Barb Stein, owner of Great Northern Trading Company and one of the event’s organizers, notes: “in this tough economy, the demands on food pantries have escalated, and we as business owners want to do our part to help out. We are giving a free gift to anyone who brings a non-perishable food item with them to the Four Store event.”

This first ever sidewalk-type event is being organized by Rockford-based businesses Baskets in the Belfry, Kimberly’s Boutique, Right Up Your Alley, and Great Northern Trading Company. The four stores will be offering a huge array of items at deep discount clearance prices. 

According to store owners Polly VonEshen (Baskets in the Belfry) and Jan Wallace (Right Up Your Alley) there will be a little bit of everything at the Four Store Event, including apparel, jewelry, home décor and much more. Kim Smith, owner of Kimberly’s Boutique, promises the group’s spring-cleaning efforts have resulted in a treasure-trove of bargains you won’t want to pass up.

The Four Store Event runs Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Rockford Rotary Pavilion is a covered venue in the heart of downtown Rockford, so come out-rain or shine-and enjoy the fun and sure savings… and don’t forget your non-perishable food item.

A GRAND PERFORMANCE—Emily Wilburn as Becky Thatcher and Harrison Witt as Tom Sawyer

The Rogue River Community Theatre will be presenting “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn” a comedy/drama on Friday, May 1 at 8 p.m. and Saturday May 2 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Rockford Freshman Center, 4500 Kroes Street, Rockford. Tickets are adults $8 and students $3. A repeat performance will be at Kent Theatre, 8 N. Main Street, Cedar Springs on Friday, May 8 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets are adults $10 and students $5. For more information contact (616)874-5264

DROP YOUR DUCKIES!—(Above) Kids enjoy the ever-popular ducky races held each year at Waterfest. Numbered ducks “race” down Bear Creek and the winner earns a prize for their kid.

It was sunny and wonderfully warm for all but the last hour of the sixteenth annual Bear Creek Waterfest on Saturday, April 24. Before the sky opened up for a beauty of a spring storm, children and adults enjoyed a pancake breakfast, bake sale, live music and the many interactive booths and activity stations.

      The Waterfest celebrates environmental issues, particularly  water

COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF—Emily Lawrence, 10, and Julia Kwast, 7, dig into the hot pancake and sausage breakfast offered by the fine cooks at the 16th annual Bear Creek Waterfest. "They are delicious," the girls agreed.

issues, and is held at Townsend Park each year by Cannon Township. At one time Bear Creek was closed to physical contact due to pollution caused by animal feces. Today kids are encouraged to jump right in and enjoy the water feature at the picturesque township park. For the last several years members of the band Hawks and Owls have added appeal with live music.

CREEKY CRITTERS—(left) Ben Johnson, 9, shows off one of the Creeky Critters from that booth. He is from Kentwood, and was visiting for the day with his grandmother who lives on Lake Bella Vista.

Roger Allen, publisher

What’s for Breakfast?

In the “old” days, breakfast was a lot of pork and bread and potatos and eggs.  Maybe even pie!  I was facinated by the long shelves of cereal at the store.  Our local D&W has about 100′ of shelving, six shelves high, devoted to cold cereal.  That’s 600 feet!  The internet lists page after page of different cereals.

The original breakfast cereal was a “granola” designed to promote digestion. It was terrible! Corn Flakes was an accident. Some cereal paste was accidentally left overnight. When cooked in the morning…voila! Corn Flakes.

The original Kellogg was a doctor with a sanitarium in Battle Creek. He wanted a breakfast food that provided more fiber. He wanted nothing to do with the food business; he thought it would compromise his professional status. His brother, W.K. Kellogg took over the cereal business and went to town!  The current amazing variety of cereals is the result.

We don’t want to overlook Charles William Post.  He became a patient at the Kellogg sanitorium.  He didn’t do well at the hospital, but he got interested in the new food fashion.  He started his own cereal business in Battle Creek and invented Grape Nuts.  They were like the oringinal granola but edible!  He became successful with Post Toasties and went on from there.

Next week, Lunch?

A Southern Baptist minister was completing a temperance sermon.   With great emphasis he said,  “If I  had all the beer in the world,    I’d take it and pour it into the river.”  With even greater emphasis he said,   “And if I had all the wine in the world,    I’d take it and pour it into the river.” And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he said,   “And if I had all the whiskey in the world,   I’d take it and pour it into the river.”  Sermon complete, he sat down.

The song leader stood very cautiously and announced with a smile, nearly laughing,   “For our closing song, let us sing Hymn #365,   “Shall We Gather at the River.”

Gas or electric?

After booking my 80-year-old grandmother on a flight from Florida to Nevada, I called the airline to go over her special needs.  The representative listened patiently as I requested a wheelchair and an attendant for my mother because of her arthritis and impaired vision to the point of near blindness.  My apprehension lightened a bit when the woman assured me that everything would be taken care of.  I thanked her profusely. “Oh, you’re welcome,” she replied.  I was about to hang up when she cheerfully asked, …”And will your grandmother need a rental car?”

Jerry Coon, Enrolled Agent

Home improvement credits change

It’s home improvement time of the year. It was a cold winter and many of us are thinking about adding some insulation wherever possible, replacing a few of those leaky windows, replacing that old leaky slider,  putting in a new insulated exterior door, buying a new high-efficiency furnace, or purchasing high-efficiency appliances. This is a good opportunity to go over the dollars our federal government has available to help with these home improvements.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) signed by President Obama in February greatly expanded the Residential Energy Credit in dollars available. In most instances, ARRA increased the percentage of cost that we are allowed as a credit in addition to also
increasing the maximum amount of dollars that we are allowed.

ARRA also further defined what products actually do qualify for the credits. Many of the products that qualified for a credit in 2007 will not qualify for the credit in 2009 because they won’t be considered high-efficient enough. The credit has been increased, but the qualifying standards have also been raised. For reference purposes, for most purchases, there was no Residential Energy Credit in 2008. That year was skipped, so if you did some updating in 2008, you may be painfully aware that there was no credit for those purchases.

I think it is fair to say the federal government once again wants us to spend money on energy-saving home improvements. For example, ARRA increased the maximum credit for installing qualifying windows to 30% of the cost up to a maximum of $1,500 credit. It’s important to note that this credit is nonrefundable. In other words, the taxpayer must have a tax liability in order to benefit from the credit-no tax, no credit. Under the old rules, only 10% of the cost qualified and the maximum credit allowed for windows was $200.

In addition to the $200 limit, there was also a $500 lifetime maximum for all improvements. This was replaced totally by the 30% of cost figure and the $1,500 maximum credit. Perhaps that is one reason every other advertisement we seem to see on TV is Jack’s Windows or Wall Side Windows.

Other types of purchases also had small limits. Advanced main air-circulating fans were limited to a $50 credit under the old rules. Under the new rules, a qualifying fan will be allowed a credit of 30% of the purchase price up to the full maximum of $1,500. Under the old rules, a natural gas, propane or oil furnace qualified for a 10% credit with a maximum of $150. Under the new rules, these same furnaces qualify for a 30% credit up to $1,500. Under the old rules, a heat pump, central air conditioner, or a stove that used biomass fuel to heat a residence or water heater qualified for 10% up to a maximum credit of $300. Under the new rules, these units will qualify for a 30% credit up to $1,500.

In addition to these regular improvements to our houses, taxpayers are allowed the 30% nonrefundable credit, with no dollar limit, for qualified solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, small wind energy mechanisms, and solar electric property. Fuel cells qualify for 30% but are limited to $500 for each 0.5 kilowatt of capacity. In the past, solar water heaters and geothermal heat pumps were limited to $2,000, and small wind energy mechanisms were limited to $4,000. I’m not sure how expensive these products are, but a 30% rebate on the cost should substantially soften the blow.

As of January 1, 2010, those new and more stringent high-efficiency qualifying guidelines are going into effect. They are pretty technical, but I am quite sure all of the contractors and retailers will have it down pat by the time 2010 rolls around. This is Jerry Coon signing off.

Jerry Coon is an Enrolled Agent. He owns

Action Tax Service on Northland Drive in Rockford.

His e-mail address is jcoon@actiontaxservice.com.

SPIRIT AWARD—State Rep. Tom Pearce, right, welcomed to the Michigan Capitol today Courtney Fedeson and her parents Brian and Jodi Fedeson. Courtney has been named one of Michigan’s two top youth volunteers to receive the 14th Annual Prudential Spirit of Community Award.

Pearce invites ‘Spirit’ recipient Courtney Fedeson to Lansing

State Rep. Tom Pearce welcomed to the Michigan Capitol today Courtney Fedeson of Belmont, one of two top youth volunteers to receive the 14th Annual Prudential Spirit of Community Award.

Fedeson, a 12-year-old seventh grader at North Rockford Middle School, was recognized during today’s Legislative session by the full House chamber for her accomplishment and was presented a House of Representatives’ resolution of congratulations.

“I congratulate Courtney on her accomplishment and for becoming a role model for other youths who want to make a difference in their communities,” said Pearce, R-Rockford. “I was especially impressed with her maturity and graciousness during our visit to make sure it was understood her Girl Scout troop and other volunteers deserve recognition too. This is a tremendous example of how our entire community embra-
ces volunteerism.”

Fedeson helped lead her Girl Scout troop to beautify the front entrance of her school. The project included designing, raising funds and installing new landscaping, concrete sidewalks and a brick sculpture base.

Fedeson and her parents Brian and Jodi Fedeson also had lunch with Pearce while
in Lansing.

As a state honoree, Fedeson received $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and she will travel to Washington D.C. in May for national recognition events with all other states’ honorees and the naming of America’s top youth volunteers for 2009.

      The program was created in 1995 by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals to emphasize the importance of service to others and contributing to communities.

Superintendent of Schools

What if you could personally participate in research to help determine factors that cause or prevent cancer? And what if your involvement ultimately leads to eliminating cancer as a major health problem for this and future generations?

Would you do it?

If your answer is yes, please consider participating in an unprecedented opportunity by enrolling in CPS-3 (Cancer Prevention Study-3) at this year’s Relay For Life in Rockford. Our Relay has been selected to enroll participants in the American Cancer Society’s third research study (the first study started back in 1950 and contributed to linking several factors such as cigarette smoking, obesity, and air pollution to cancer risk). 

Enrollment in CPS-3 will take place on Friday, May 15, 2009 from 4 to 9 p.m., at the Rockford Relay For Life at North Rockford Middle School. To see if
you are eligible to participate and what is involved, please go to www.cancer.org/cps3, or for more information please contact Kyle Cutler at kyle.cutler@cancer.org or 616-551-4035.

Please join me, enroll in CPS-3 on May 15

If you are unable to participate in the study, please consider forwarding this to family and friends who may be willing to participate. Enrollees do not have to be on a Relay For Life team