A THANK YOU—With a wave of thanks, the Frenz Coffee House family—(l–r) Michele, Shea and Rich Zeck—express their heart-felt appreciation to the community for supporting the small Rockford business.

Miracles—you bet they happen!

Dear Editor,

Last month, Frenz Coffee House came to a crossroads as to whether we would continue to exist. There were forces both seen and unseen that worked to undermine the business and push us toward being another sad statistic in this current economy. Don’t get me wrong, we were 100 percent responsible and accountable for the business, but some things were beyond our control. People who know us well enough know why we do what we do and that we don’t believe in this economy. The past winter had been exceptionally tough for the business and excessive debts had accumulated during that period. We shared our dilemma with a handful of close friends. They were not going to let Frenz go away without a fight and took on the HUGE task of organizing a benefit/fundraiser for Frenz in a very short period of time.

Here’s the story: a handful of people, who know who they are, organized this event. In nine days they organized e-mails, a blog, contacted people and/or businesses for donations for a silent auction, and spent countless hours of their own time away from fun and family time to help Frenz. I know people are easily offended when you talk about things that make them uncomfortable or are not politically correct, but here’s more of the story. I don’t care if you are atheist, Christian, Muslim, or whatever flavor of religion, but what happened here was a miracle—plain and simple. What we witnessed was a community of strangers coming together for a common cause. This was not about Frenz, Michele or even me, but “something bigger” that people believe in and wanted to keep. Frenz has always been about you and not us. We believe our calling is to be servants who offer people a place of comfort, refuge and a place where you feel welcome.

In nine days, we exceeded our goal of $10,000! We had over 100 items that we auctioned off, and overall the whole process was as smooth as can be. People came from all over the area. People we have never seen before, people who did not like coffee, and people who said their friends said they had to come and support us came and donated their hard-earned money. Young, old, rich, poor, black and white, they came and came for two days, July 31 and August 1. When we say we love our spouse, children, this or that, we say it usually because we know it to be true. Imagine love in a form that you do not expect and comes from nowhere, unconditionally and gives just because. We saw love in its purest form during those two days. We were so moved and touched by the generosity and love from the community that we will never forget those special days as long as we live.

Miracles? You bet they happen, and they happen when we get out of the way and let our God do the work.

We are humbled and so grateful that words will never justify our thankfulness for the outpouring of support from the community. In a world that bails out banks, credit card companies, automakers and Wall Street, a community came together and bailed out a business that they truly belong to and, God willing, will be around for many years to come.

I also want to thank my wife Michele who stood at my side during some pretty ugly and trying times and has made Frenz Coffee House an even better place for the community. Without her, I’d be just another piece of driftwood (dead) on the sea of life. Miracles do happen and they will continue to happen!

Rich Zeck owner, Frenz Coffee House

Thank you for a fine article

Dear Editor,
Allow us to express how pleased we were with the article about Western Canada written by Cliff and Nancy Hill, which appeared in The Rockford Squire on August 20. We have long recognized the beauty of that country and the friendliness of its people. Cliff and Nancy did a wonderful job of describing both.

Kindly pass on to them our thanks and also a thank-you to your newspaper for publishing this fine article.

Doreen and John Holmes
Rockford residents

Rockford High School graduate Kylie McKay looks forward to playing basketball under Coach Joel Shrader at Rochester College this fall.

Rockford 2009 graduate Kylie McKay has signed a letter of intent to play college basketball at Rochester College. On Thursday, July 30, McKay and her parents met with Rockford High School Coach Jessica Yonkers and Rochester Coach Joel Shrader to sign this letter of intent.

McKay helped the Lady Rams to win the district championship during her junior year in 2008, and helped the team to a second-place finish in the OK Red conference during her senior year at Rockford.

“In her senior year, Kylie averaged six points per game, three assists and three rebounds,” commented Coach Yonkers. “Kylie has a tremendous ability to get to the rim and score. She also has a great outside shot. She is a true team player and definitely puts her teammates before herself.”

Besides basketball, McKay was also involved in varsity track and field and was a member of the National Honor Society.

McKay signs letter of intent for Rochester

Rockford 2009 graduate Kylie McKay has signed a letter of intent to play college basketball at Rochester College. On Thursday, July 30, McKay and her parents met with Rockford High School Coach Jessica Yonkers and Rochester Coach Joel Shrader to sign this letter of intent.

McKay helped the Lady Rams to win the district championship during her junior year in 2008, and helped the team to a second-place finish in the OK Red conference during her senior year at Rockford.

“In her senior year, Kylie averaged six points per game, three assists and three rebounds,” commented Coach Yonkers. “Kylie has a tremendous ability to get to the rim and score. She also has a great outside shot. She is a true team player and definitely puts her teammates before herself.”

Besides basketball, McKay was also involved in varsity track and field and was a member of the National Honor Society.

The fourth-grade students at Rockford Public Schools’ (RPS) summer program recently took a bike ride on the White Pine Trail. Their reward was ice cream at Trailside Treats in Belmont. The summer program is held at the RPS administration building.

The students go swimming, go on walking and bus field trips, participate in gym, nature, and craft classes. Another highlight of this summer was magician Maciek Biezunski, who made birds and rabbits magically appear.

GOOD WORKS—Making the partnership happen are (l-r) Dave Bulkowski of Disability Advocates, Dave Jacobs of Home Repair Services, West Michigan Comcast Vice President Larry Williamson, and Senator Mark Jansen. Photo by Christine Bigney

First MMAP project completed, providing greater independence for local woman

A Kent County woman and her family have greater independence thanks to the Michigan Mobility & Accessibility Partnership (MMAP). A group of dedicated volunteers July 6 constructed a wheelchair-accessible ramp at the home of Lori B. in Rockford, the first of five such scheduled builds this summer.

“Being able to freely come and go from your own home is something many of us take for granted,” said Sen. Mark C. Jansen, R-Gaines Township. “By joining forces with Comcast, Disability Advocates of Kent County and dedicated volunteers, today we helped improve mobility and accessibility for a Michigan family.”

Sponsored by Comcast, the partnership is a bipartisan effort led in the Senate by Jansen in collaboration with other elected officials, disability advocates and local volunteers. The group plans to build five wheelchair-accessible ramps this summer for Michigan families in need.

Comcast has committed $30,000 in funding for construction of the ramps, as well as volunteers to assist with the ramp-building projects at each location. Comcast has a long-standing history of giving back to the communities where its employees and customers live and work. In April, approximately 2,400 volunteers dedicated more than 11,000 hours of community service to local nonprofit organizations across Michigan during the company’s 2009 Comcast Cares Day. Held annually, Comcast Cares Day is one of the largest single-day corporate volunteer efforts in the country.

ON THE JOB—Nate Jansen of Cutlerville lends a hand in building the ramp. Photo by Christine Bigney

  “Comcast is committed to making a difference in the communities we serve,” said Comcast vice president for West Michigan, Larry Williamson. “We are pleased to assist in making Lori’s daily life a little easier with this new wheelchair ramp and home repair support, and look forward to partnering with the Michigan Senate to help out four additional deserving individuals later this summer.”

Home Repair Services, a nonprofit organization serving lower-income homeowners throughout Kent County, was on hand to help with construction of the ramp.

STRIVE PARTNERSHIP—Rotarians Sue Bodenner, Ramona Hinton and Dave Spencer are pictured with this year's Service Above Self award winner Bonnie King.

Rockford High School students can have a friend and mentor to help reach their graduation goals through a Rockford Rotary program. Rockford Rotary’s STRIVE program matches seniors with citizens of the community who work together to help the high school students meet their graduation goals.

A recognition dinner for the students and their mentors was held recently at the Rockford Sportsman’s Club. The program is one of many ways Rockford Rotarians work in support of area students.

Pictured are this year’s students and mentors. Candy Lancioni (second from left), of Aunt Candy’s Toy Company, is a repeat mentor who has helped many Rockford High School students successfully complete their high school education.

Anyone can volunteer to be a mentor; being a member of the Rockford Rotary Club is not required. To find out more about the STRIVE program and other Rotary activities, visit one of Rotary’s weekly luncheons at the Rockford Community Cabin, 220 N. Monroe Street in downtown Rockford. The meetings are at noon each Tuesday, with occasional exceptions. Rotary will not meet for lunch on Tuesday, June 30.

HOMEMADE FUN-You didn’t have to spend big money on the midway to have a blast. Families had a good time on their own. This ride was called “You’re blowing in the wind!”

TINY TAKES THE LEAD-This tiny turtle almost showed up its big relatives when it went off to a running start while the other racers sat waiting.

WORTH WAITING FOR-Tiny future firefighters waited their chance to shoot the big water hoses with the help of local fire departments. New last year, the fire department event was another big hit this year.

THANK YOU, JOHN DECKER!-John Decker saved the Squire’s bacon twice during Start of Summer, once by loaning us the beautiful truck to pull our float, and again by fixing our little hitch problem (which made our float nearly half way to verticle). What a guy!

OUR DUCK RACE HELPERS-These kids waited so patiently for the duck race to begin. Pictured are Jacob and Tyler Kaminski, ages 7 and 9 and Alyssia and Kadyn Cooper, ages 10 and 4.

Drive to be held in D&W parking lot Sunday, June 14

Rockford residents are asked to help make the days of soldiers serving our country a little more comfortable.  

America’s Transportation Resources (ATR) and its employees will be sponsoring a “Project Soldier Package Drive” to collect items much needed by our soldiers in active duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Many of our military personnel are in dire need of everyday items that we take for granted.  On Sunday, June 14 between from 12 to 5 p.m. items can be dropped off at D&W, 201 Marcell Drive NE, Rockford.

Following are items requested.  Remember, sample sizes are convenient for the soldiers as they are easier to distribute and carry.  However, all items welcome.  

Shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, shaving cream, deodorant, toothpaste and brush, individually packaged snack items, travel size toilet paper, packaged dinners, newly released movies (watch content), batteries, disposable cameras, silly string (identifies trip wires), new magazines and books.

In contrast, Rockford’s traditional Memorial Day celebration, sponsored by American Legion Post 102, focused on the true purpose of the holiday-to honor the men and women who have given their lives to defend our freedom.

As City Manager, Michael Young said in his remarks at the City Cemetery as part of today’s events, this is not a day meant to mark the start of summer, to open the pool or the summer cottage, or when our biggest decision is what to cook on the grill.

It is day when we take time to remember.  It is a day when we stop to honor those who have paid the ultimate price to serve our country.  

We will have our opportunity to celebrate the pleasures of our lives in a few weeks during our annual Start of Summer Festival.  We will stuff ourselves at food booths, wander through arts and craft booths, watch our children gather candy thrown from floats of every imaginable type along our parade route, and shout out the obligatory oooh’s and aahhh’s during the fireworks displays.  

But today is not a time for that in Rockford. Memorial Day in Rockford is marked more reverently.

This year, as in the past, a modest parade featuring veterans, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the Rockford High School Band proceeded along Main Street.  It stopped between Courtland and Bridge Streets for the playing of the National Anthem, a prayer, and some comments honoring heroes from the area and elsewhere.

The parade then proceeded through town to the City Cemetery where a simple ceremony included Star Spangled Banner played by the junior high band, a prayer, comments from Michael Young, and a 21-gun salute.  Red and white carnations were then placed on veterans’ graves, after which the solemn sound of Taps was heard echoing from the distance. 

Memorial Day was first celebrated in the 1860′s as a day set aside to decorate the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers.  In fact, it was originally known as Decoration Day for that reason.

Over the years, its meaning evolved to include the honoring of those who had died in all of America’s wars.

In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May, creating a three-day weekend.

This Memorial Day in Rockford hundreds of people-including entire families with children of all ages-followed the parade the entire way.   Some walk, some ride bikes, some roller blade, and some drive, but all were there for the same reason -to keep the true spirit of this uniquely American holiday alive. 

It is a brief but inspiring experience. If you have never attended it, you may want to plan on doing so next year. Mark it on your calendar, Monday, May 31, 2010 at 9 a.m. You’ll be glad you did.

Rockford Lions Club Meeting-
6 p.m. at the Community Cabin. Program by Richard Hert, executive director of W. Michigan Tourist Assoc. and CEO of W. Michigan Film Office.

Friday, May 29

Rummage & Bake Sale-9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Rockford United Methodist Church, 159 Maple St., Rockford. Kids and adult clothes, housewares, crib and bedding, toys, furniture, and much more. Proceeds help with various service projects in the Rockford area.

Saturday, May 30

Blood Drive-9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hope Community Church, 7000 Myers Lake Ave., Rockford.

Blood Drive-10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Midwest Mountain Bike Summit at Cannonsburg Ski Area, 6800 Cannonsburg Road NE.

Garden Club Event-10 a.m. to 

2 p.m. at Loda Lake National Wildflower Sanctuary (north on M-37, seven miles past White Cloud, west on 5 Mile Road, north on Felch Ave.). Garden Clubs of Michigan volunteers and U.S. Forest Service personnel will organize children’s activities, guide wildflower walks, provide native plant information, and display a butterfly tent.

Free Kids’ Fishing-9 a.m. to noon at Dwight Lydell chapter of the Izaak Walton League, 5641 Myers Lake Rd., Rockford. All kids must be accompanied by an adult. Fishing rods, worms and help will be provided at our catch-and-release pond. For more information, call (616) 866-1061.

Tuesday, June 2

Rockford Rotary Club Meeting-noon at the Community Cabin. Program to include Valley View Elementary teacher Brenda Holsinger’s Reader Theater. Members enjoy lunch, socializing and speakers, while organizing local and international service projects. To find out more about the Rotary Club or to visit as a guest, contact any local Rotarian.

Mended Hearts Meeting-7 p.m. at Spectrum Health Fred & Lena Meijer Heart Center, 100 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids, in Room 8815 on the eighth floor. Mended Hearts, a volunteer nonprofit support group affiliated with the American Heart Association, offers hope, information and encouragement to heart patients, families and caregivers through those who have experienced heart disease. For more information, contact Jim Oldfield at (616) 891-9395.

Country Music-9:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday at Rockford Ambulance Community Center, corner of 10 Mile Road and Shaner Avenue in Rockford. Music by the Rogue River Band. Enjoy free coffee, tea and snacks.

Wednesday, June 3

Business Counseling-Starting a new business or have questions about your existing business? The Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) would like to help. SCORE is a nonprofit organization sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and is dedicated to helping the small-business community through no-fee mentoring, business counseling and low-cost workshops. A SCORE counselor will be at the Chamber starting at 9 a.m. Please call the Chamber at (616) 866-2000, Mon.-Fri. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., to schedule an appointment.

Thur.,-Fri., June 4-5

Boaters Safety Class-6 to 9 p.m. at Rockford Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, 4195 Thirteen Mile Rd., Rockford. To pre-register, call (616) 866-1583.

Saturday, June 6

“Love Your Home Again” Seminar-10:00-11:30 a.m. at DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, 4658 West River Dr., Comstock Park. Along with Matisse & Marguerite Interior Design, we will give simple, sensible solutions for the home along with tips on organizing, creating a serene environment, using color to create moods, and a light brunch is included. Participants may bring a photo of a room in their home that needs help. Seating is limited; reservations required. Call (616) 632-2284.

Monday, June 8

Blood Drive-1:00-6:45 p.m. at Rockford Reformed Church, 4890 Eleven Mile Road.

Tuesday, June 9

Country Music-9:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday at Rockford Ambulance Community Center, corner of 10 Mile Road and Shaner Avenue in Rockford. Music by the Rogue River Band. Enjoy free coffee, tea and snacks.

Rockford Rotary Club Meeting-noon at the Community Cabin. Program to include speaker Jordon Spencer of the Rotary Board. Members enjoy lunch, socializing and speakers, while organizing local and international service projects. To find out more about the Rotary Club or to visit as a guest, contact any local Rotarian.

American Sewing Guild Meeting-6:30 p.m. at Plainfield Senior Center, 5255 Grand River Dr. NE, Grand Rapids. Mary Dykstra will present “Clearing the Clutter” to help you learn how to organize your sewing room. Cost is $2 for non-members, and $1 for members. Refreshments will be served, and Sew and Show presented. For more information, call Mary at (616) 698-9554 or Barb at (616) 949-6669. Visit the club’s website: www.grasg.org.

Friday, June 12

Elvis with Special Guest Tom Jones-doors open at 7 p.m. (show at 8 p.m.) at Rockford American Legion Post 102. Cost is only $10, includes cash bar. Open to public; must be at least age 21 to enter.

A LONG WALK—City Manager Michael Young, who pledged to walk the entire 24 hours of the Rockford Relay For LIfe, about to enter the 5th hour. With 19 hours to go Young was being given encouragement by his charming and delightful wife, Melissa. On Sunday, May 17, Young’s feet were still so swollen from the 24-hour walk he couldn’t put his shoes on. photo by Cliff Hill

In seventh year, American Cancer Society event tops $2 million

When the American Cancer Society (ACS) promotes Relay For Life, they will be using Rockford to do it. Videographers and photographers from the national organization were on hand this past Friday and Saturday, May 15 and 16. The images they captured will appear in brochures, commercials and other promotional material.

“They realized we have something special here,” said organizer Carol Delp-Korzeja. Carol said the story of Rockford’s Relay, this year the seventh, is inspirational.

THREE BLONDES—Kathy Christensen, Miss Relay for Life Contestant Tim Dahlke, who is certainly into body building, and Carolyn Reed. “Miss” Dahlke had just finished collecting donations from the two young ladies.

It is also nothing short of amazing that Relay ’09 brought in $336,992, bringing the seven-year total to  $2.1 million. There were over 300 cancer survivors (up from 263 last year) at the survivor reception and  84 teams participated (up from 77 last year). The top money-raising team was Friends For Life, which raised $24,000.

There is a story behind every person who chooses to participate in Relay For Life. This year five City of Rockford employees, including the City Manager Michael Young, walked the whole 24 hours to show support for police officer Ian Graham, diagnosed with lymphoma this spring.

PLENTY OF DELICIOUS FOOD—At Relay. The Young Marines make Hobo Stew, a mix of every kind of Campbell’s soup. The recipe was discovered when a group didn’t receive their shipment of food for an outdoor excursion. As part of survival training, Marines carry a can of soup. Eveyone had a different favorite. They mixed them all together and discovered it is delicious. At right James Gray, Regiment Commander of the Grand Rapids Young Marines, mugs for a photo.

Carol shared another story that should give goose bumps to even the most hard-hearted. Rockford’s Relay was started by good friends Shannon Oulette and Brent Deuel. Shannon had lost her mom, Paula Banfield, to cancer. Shannon’s brother, Jason Banfield, recently lost his mother-in-law to cancer. Jason’s son, Carson Banfield, having lost two grandmothers to cancer before the age of 9, decided to raise money this year by writing letters to everyone he knows, asking for donations for ACS. His efforts alone netted over $1,600.

FIGHTING BACK—Top right, Denise VanPelt signs up for the ACS Cancer Prevention Study 3. Her sister just finished chemotherapy for breast cancer and her father lost his fight against cancer. “We need to stop it. I don’t want to see any more people go throught it. I have five kids, I’m doing it for them,” VanPelt said. At right Wally Kurzeja, Relay’s disc jockey, gives blood while signing up for the study.

“This is a third-generation Relayer,” said Carol. Carson received a Relay Champion award this year for his efforts. “Our kids are becoming our next generation of Relayers. We bring them and they see what it’s all about.”

Rockford Relay has enjoyed the strong support of both the Rockford School District and the City. On the committee from day one were both Young and Rockford Superintendent Dr. Michael Shibler. Rockford has teams from every school in the district and has always had a City team. This year there were 84 teams participating, up from 77 last year, and the event remembered and honored more than 2,700 people.

“Many Relays are having a hard time this year because of the economy. We’ve been very blessed,” said Carol. She said some participants were people who have lost their jobs since last year’s Relay but still support the event.

Rockford was chosen to be one of the relays offering a chance to sign up as part of a life-long lifestyle cancer study. This once-in-a lifetime opportunity may help unlock the cure to cancer or someday prevent it.

The ACS estimated that Rockford might be able to get 450 people to enroll in the study in five hours.  Relay committee members had asked for extra sign-up kits because they were confident many would volunteer. The sign-up team had to stop of the process early, since the ACS ran out of enrollment packages at 472-more than 90 people per hour.

Winner of the 45-minute Miss Relay for Life Pageant, Miss Lakes Elementary, solicited an amazing $1,126.00 as “she” strolled around the track trolling for contributions. The winner of the Miss Relay for Life pageant was determined by which contestant could raise the most money for Relay in a 45 minute period. All of the contestants together raised $3,800. Stunning as Miss Lakes was we think she had better stick to her day job where she is known as Blake Bowman, Principal of Lakes Elementary School.

A spokesperson for the American Cancer Society praised the community and school district for the incredible support of Relay For Life.

“Two thirds of all cancers are preventable,” she said. “It would be great to find a cure for cancer, but can you imagine being able to stop cancer before anyone gets it? We see so many young people getting cancer. This study is our gift to the generations that come after us.”Young said he remembers the day Oulette came to him asking if Rockford would help host a Relay For Life. “We said, ‘Whatever you need, we’ll make sure it gets done. We don’t just allow Relay to be something that happens in our City, we embrace it.”

There are activities for children and adults all during the 24-hours of Relay.

Rockford firefighters traditionally lead the first hour of walking (in fire suits and wearing 100 pounds of gear)