The Rockford High School class of 1984 time capsule is unearthed on Thursday, June 25, 2009. Notice the engraved marble headstone. Photo by CLIFF AND NANCY HILL

by CLIFF AND NANCY HILL

Once in a while a newsworthy event happens in Rockford that isn’t a carbon copy of the exact same thing the year before. The following is our coverage of just such a story.

The seeds (no pun intended) for this story were planted in May 1984 when the senior graduating class of Rockford High School (RHS) decided to bury a time capsule containing mementos of the times and of their high school years. This was a special class, because they were the 100th graduating class of the Rockford School System. Being special, they wanted to celebrate their centennial graduation in a special way.

Unique for the times, it was decided to use a concrete burial vault for the time capsule and to paint the exterior in the Rockford school colors of orange and black.

So it came to pass on a school day in early May 1984, just prior to graduation, that the 289 members of the senior class assembled as reported in the May 15 edition of The Rockford Squire newspaper, “to bury a friend of theirs last week. As a matter of fact, they buried lots of friends, ranging from an old beat-up pair of red high-topped tennis shoes (with an interesting past), to a class ring. The class stood around the huge cement box, filling it with newspapers, magazines, clothes, books, sports memorabilia and even an old horn from the band room. The seniors tried to capture a little bit of everything-of what their four years at RHS were all about, and what the year 1984 was like, from popular albums and music, to styles, and favorite hangouts.” Interestingly enough, no record was kept of the contents.

An old high school brass horn peaks out from the time capsule during the vault opening ceremony on Saturday, June 27, 2009. Photo by CLIFF AND NANCY HILL

The time capsule vault was buried on a grassy uphill slope behind the historic Little Red Schoolhouse directly in front of the, then, Rockford High School which is now North Rockford Middle School (NRMS). Completing the installation was a marble headstone burial marker that was inscribed as follows:

“Centennial Class-1984-Time Capsule-Open 2009.”

The initials “LMP” and “KLK” inscribed in the lower left- and right-hand corners, respectively, were those of Lori Pederson, class valedictorian and Kristin Koetje, class president. And there the capsule was to lie at rest for the next 25 years.

EERIE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT—Rockford High School 1984 graduate Tom Rich holds a Michael Jackson poster that was face up atop the contents of the opened time capsule vault. Two days after Jackson’s death, it appears he’s been resurrected. Photo by CLIFF AND NANCY HILL

Fast-forward to Thursday afternoon, June 25, 2009, when John Venman of Venman’s Landscaping arrived at the NRMS burial site to unearth the time capsule. The next afternoon, Friday the 26th, Bill Sturrus of Wilbert Burial Vault Company arrived with a two-man crew, Kevin Kiander and Tim Leys, to remove the capsule from its resting place. (Remember this is a 2,800-pound concrete burial vault!) Needless to say, it took a large specialized flatbed truck with a hydraulic lift. Loaded aboard the truck, the capsule was taken to the Wilbert shop for exterior cleaning and overnight safekeeping. This was all necessary prior to Saturday morning’s scheduled time capsule opening, because of time and safety constraints.

A bluebird Saturday morning, June 27, at 11:00 a.m. found members of the class of 1984 in town to celebrate their class’ 25-year reunion. Gathered around the time capsule that had been returned earlier to NRMS that morning and placed curbside, they witnessed the long-awaited opening of the capsule.

Remember, no list of the contents had ever been made. Many present couldn’t remember what, if anything, they had placed inside. It was almost surreal as they surrounded the vault to gaze at the contents. Of all things, right on top, was a poster of Michael Jackson. Unbelievable!

The time capsule vault is removed from its burial site on Friday, June 26, 2009. Notice the RHS orange-and-black paint job. Photo by CLIFF AND NANCY HILL

As the vault had been sealed with a butyl rubber seal, the condition of the contents was very similar to what it was when the items were placed in the vault in 1984. Even a rubber band holding a bundle of newspapers was not dried out or cracked and still had its stretch.

Immediately visible was the old high school band brass horn, an old manual typewriter, a white graduation cap and gown, and a bundle of Rockford’s original and only newspaper at the time, The Rockford Squire. The bundle consisted of issues from November 1983 through Tuesday, April 24, 1984. This is a period when Roger Allen took over the publication of what was

RHS class of 1984 grads flock to view the contents of the time capsule vault. Photo by CLIFF AND NANCY HILL

previously known as The Rockford Register. In a unique relationship between the high school and The Rockford Squire, seven interns (five of which were members of the 1984 graduating class) became a segment of the regular newspaper staff. The students were taught various skills of publishing and journalism and were under the supervision of professional newspaper people. They received high school credit for their placement experience. The proud senior interns, Gregor Jennings, Dale Livingston, Josie Rewa, Bill Viergever and foreign exchange student Celia Linssen, had placed the bundle of Squire newspapers in the time capsule.

Too many items to mention were removed from the capsule and displayed on the lawn. Almost last, but not least, was the infamous and beloved pair of red high-top sneakers belonging to Dave Vandenboss. Class members present told us that Dave wore the pair of size 13+ “gunboats” everyday and everywhere for four years. It was even reputed that he wore them to bed.

Class of 1984 graduate Molly (Mankel) Johnson (left) holds Dave Vandenboss’ red high-top sneakers, and classmate Dan Mosqueda (center) holds the pristine bundle of five months worth of The Rockford Squire newspapers. Photo by CLIFF AND NANCY HILL

The contents of the time capsule were placed in totes to be transported to the class’ evening reunion reception at Gracewil Country Club in Walker. Again placed on display for the evening, the items rekindled long lost memories of Rockford and old friendships. Music and fashion styles were laughed at. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses were exchanged. But most of all they remembered the “good old days” and graduation 1984.

Molly (Mankel) Johnson, member of the 1984 graduating class and head of the reunion time capsule committee, told the Squire, “The entire 1984 RHS graduating class would like to thank all of the donors, both financially and materially, that made this 25-year project possible. A special thank-you goes out to Dave Pederson, John Venman and Wilbert Burial Vault Co., without whose support this would not have been possible.”

When asked about this special accolade, Dave Pederson said, “It’s not about us. It’s ALL about the kids of the RHS graduating class of 1984.”

The Rockford Squire was there in 1984, and in 2009 we couldn’t agree more with Dave.

Read a personal recollection of a 1984 student’s four-year journey through RHS in next week’s edition of The Rockford Squire.

CANNONSBURG'S KING—Don Kurylowicz sits on the back of Ralph the Moose, the newest addition to the eclectic community of Cannonsburg.

The 25-year story of Honeycreek Inn and Cannonsburg

“There were two wars going on. There was an oil embargo. We were in a recession. Our president had just resigned and a new one was coming on board,” said Don Kurylowicz of his first days in the Village of Cannonsburg. “So, things have changed a lot in 25 years, but things also haven’t changed a lot.”

Kurylowicz is reflecting back on a 25-year journey he has taken with his community. Kurylowicz could be called the “King of Cannonsburg,” as he owns lots of it-every commercial property that faces the road. His properties include the Honeycreek Inn, the Cannonsburg Grist Mill, the gas station, and the Cannonsburg Market. He doesn’t see it that way.

“I’m so blessed. I’m so grateful,” he insists. “You know the show Cheers, where everyone knows your name? Here, everyone knows your name, but they also look out for each other and take care of each other.” As an example, Kurylowicz pointed out a tragic death last year of a young waitress at the Honeycreek. Just 30 years old, she left behind her family, including young children. The community had a fundraiser for her and collected $38,000.

PRESERVING HISTORY—Saving this 125-year-old building and finding a way to preserve a vanishing way of life are among the motivators that led Don Kurylowicz during the past 25 years in the Village of Cannonsburg.

When Kurylowicz began his long relationship with the people of Cannonsburg, things were different. Twenty five years ago there wasn’t a lot going on there. There was Townsend Park, a real gem of a recreation area. Besides that, there was a restaurant in a 125-year-old building in poor condition. The original town had burned in the big fire of April 10, 1889, “completely destroying the business district,” according to the Cannon Township Historical Society history book.

Kurylowicz was a 30-year-old man with a desire to work for himself. With degrees in sociology, urban planning and architecture, Kurylowicz saw the state of the country and didn’t think architecture would be a profitable career for quite some time. He worked a few years in the mental health field and didn’t want to go back. Back then, no one used the term “flipping” houses, but he had done just that and had about $15,000 to his name-enough for the down payment on the Honeycreek building that was operating as a bar.

“The only people who went there were bikers, rednecks and drug dealers,” Kurylowicz said. He saw potential.

Kurylowicz bought the building and business. With a kitchen no bigger than a closet, he did some remodeling and opened his doors for business, offering food along with the alcohol. The original menu was modest-nachos, hotdogs and hamburgers. They didn’t even sell potato chips, since he had the tortilla chips available already. The first night was Thursday, March 22, 1984. It was pretty great. Sales totaled $1,200, mostly in beer.

HISTORIC DAY—Don Kurylowicz has just finished painting, ten minutes before the doors of the Honeycreek Inn opened on March 22, 1984.

“People wanted to see what it looked like, so everyone showed up,” Kurylowicz said. “It was all downhill from there.”

Kurylowicz got rid of the drug dealers first. “That was easy,” he said. “You just tell them to leave or you are calling the cops.”

The bikers and rednecks proved more of a challenge. “In 1985, Westside was having a strike, so I decided not to carry Budweiser,” he said. “That’s where the sociology came in. I thought, ‘How do I make them less comfortable here?’ ”

Bikers love Budweiser, and the Honeycreek brought in Strohs and Pabst. It also began the long tradition of selling imports and microbrews on tap, which the restaurant is now known for, in addition to great fish and other meals.

The biker strategy was a two-parter. In addition to taking away their favorite brand of beer, Kurylowicz partnered with Pat Boone and the juke box. For a quarter, you could buy four songs. Kurylowicz opened his doors each day with a pocket full of quarters and lined up “Love Letters in the Sand” to play over and over again. “It drove them crazy,” he said. “It drove me crazy, too, but it worked.”

Just another character in Cannonsburg—Another important person who is not a financial partner but Don Kurylowicz’ "partner in crime" is his father “Red,” who helped every day until he passed away in 1993.

Staff at the Honeycreek spent the next October clearing out the rednecks-defined by Kurylowicz as the unruly drunks who came in to cause trouble and fight. They were driven away by a refusal to serve them, which didn’t go over very well.

Business wasn’t doing so well then, since most of the clientele had been shown the door. There was also an early disagreement with the township, which at that point was suing Kurylowicz regarding his liquor license. Kurylowicz had run out of cash and was living above the restaurant in a space heated by only one register and which had no bathroom. “I’d get up, go to the gym to get a shower and come back for a 12-hour workday,” he described.

The angry rednecks, the last undesirables left, were proving stubborn. At closing time one night, one of them shot out the windows with a 12-guage shotgun. “I guess I was too stupid to quit,” Kurylowicz said.

But the tide was turning. Kurylowicz, who had never worked in a bar or restaurant in his life before this, had a clear vision for his restaurant. He’s traveled extensively and remembered one little restaurant in Italy. It wasn’t pretentious. It didn’t even have a toilet, just a two-hole bathroom with feet painted on the floor forward for the men’s hole and facing back for the women’s. The food was fantastic.

“That’s my philosophy. Great food on a plain white plate beats crappy food on the best crystal china,” he said.

Gradually he worked toward expanding his menu, always concentrating on offering food made in-house, and improving the building. He began building his customer base, and he built relationships. The restaurant began to do well.

The little grocery next door wasn’t doing well. The owner approached Kurylowicz and asked if he’d be interested in buying the building. “I didn’t want another building,” Kurylowicz said.

He had just purchased the property across the street for $35,000. He bought that mostly because drug dealers lived there and he hoped to clean up the neighborhood. He felt bad for the shop owner, who said he’d stay on as a tenant with his grocery, but couldn’t make the mortgage anymore. “He named a price and I paid it,” Kurylowicz said. “It wasn’t much.” That was 1993.

Later the same year, a couple in the home across the road asked if he would buy their property. He told them to get an appraisal and if the bank okayed the deal he’d do it. The bank did and he did.

Two years later the homeowner of the property next to that asked if he’d buy that home, too. He didn’t need it, didn’t want it, and the appraisal was for $134,000. He offered $105,000 and four weeks later they accepted. He kept the commercial frontage on the road and sold the home to a friend’s daughter.

Next was a home on Cannonsburg (old-timers will remember it as the big white house). It had parking for six cars. It was another drug house. “They wanted too much for it, but I paid the price,” he said.

A few months later the renter, some other guys and their attorney were arrested in a big Mexican drug ring. Kurylowicz was the sole owner of every piece of commercial property fronting Cannonsburg Road in Cannonsburg. “It was all by accident,” he said.

“There were a lot of bumps in the beginning, but over the years real friendships were formed,” Kurylowicz stated.

The former township officials who advised him to tear down the building and build something decent now are patrons of the businesses and friends with Kurylowicz and the staff members. “Yes, I own it, but it’s their community. It’s a partnership we’ve built over the years.”

Kurylowicz now owns Cannonsburg Grocery, he built the Cannonsburg Grist Mill, and the Honeycreek Inn is a well-established and popular restaurant with a menu he says can match Red’s on the River. Kurylowicz  attributes much of the restaurant’s success to the stability of the staff, many of whom have been on board 10, 12 or 14 years. The chef is award-winning Mike Whelan, who has been there 17 years. The restaurant has its own butcher and flies in fresh fish of the quality you’d find on the plates at Cygnus.

Adherence to the belief that good food, good prices and a clean place lead to success, Kurylowicz  is also always looking for improvements. On July 1, the restaurant is going smoke-free. It’s been a formula that works. For the 20-year anniversary of Kurylowicz ‘s ownership of the Honeycreek Inn, the town celebrated with an old-fashioned day that reflects Kurylowicz’s own views on what is important in life.

“It’s community that is important,” he said. “You don’t need your gadgets, your Gameboys, cell phones and laptops to be connected. You need to walk out your front door and know your neighbors. That’s what makes this place special. That’s what makes this the heart of Cannon Township.”

“My vision was to own a little Polish pub in the country,” Kurylowicz laughs. “This all comes down to the neighborhood. If it’s successful, it’s because they support it. We support each other. Despite the government, people take care of each other.”

The town had a golf outing a few weeks ago and raised $4,000. “That’s money we can give to St. Patrick’s Church, to Cannonsburg school and to help a local family,” Kurylowicz said.

“Because of my architecture background, I love history and I saw these old buildings weren’t being preserved,” Kurylowicz said. “I could have torn these down and put up a strip mall and saved myself half a million dollars, but that’s not what this area needs.” Kurylowicz said he believes people approached him to purchase the buildings because they liked what he was doing, saving the town’s history.

“Even the stuff I built [the Cannonsburg Grist Mill] I built from looking at pictures of what was there 100 years ago,” he said.

He called the community a little like Disney, where the show people see is not all there is to the story. Under the Grist Mill is a huge space of state-of-the-art equipment and walk-in freezers. You’d never expect that from the quaint deli and store above. From his office over the Honeycreek Inn, Kurylowicz can see into every business through security cameras. All the business are networked with phone and computer, and Kurylowicz put in wireless in the village before the City of Rockford put in theirs. Security cameras are a little insurance to keep everything safe; backup to the watchful eyes of the community.

Since the beginning, Kurylowicz has also been putting out a monthly newsletter. It keeps the town informed in a humorous way. “Looking back, that is the best thing I ever did,” he said.

He started the publication to quash the rumor mill. “Nothing kills projects like rumors,” he said.

When he started working on the Honeycreek building and fixing up other properties, he heard rumors starting that were wildly inaccurate. “People hear this and rumors end up being so far from the truth. The next thing you know, there’s a township meeting and hundreds of people up in arms.”

The Cannonsburg Chronical is a bit of editorial, news and whimsy. It’s characteristic of Kurylowicz, who calls himself “a little bit of a wingnut.”

He refers to the “tree people” in front of the Grist Mill and the newest addition to town, Ralph the Moose, who arrived this spring, as examples of his vision for the village. “I just want people to enjoy their life, to have a smile or a laugh, to appreciate what it’s all supposed to be about.”

Ralph the Moose made a trip to Rockford Ace Hardware for his first visit, has been to a Whitecaps game, was on Kurylowicz’ first Start of Summer parade float, moves back and forth across the street, and gets dressed up for holidays. It’s just for fun. Ralph also has his own Facebook page.

“It’s been a fascinating ride,” Kurylowicz said of his 25 years. “I started out with bikers, broke, getting sued, no sales, and I thought I was having fun. It was an adventure. I guess that shows how my mind works. How many people can say they can go out and paint the town and really do it? I can. I color-coordinate all the buildings.”

Kurylowicz said as his customers back from his early days start to come in with their grandchildren, he realizes he’s getting older. “I’m 56 years old. If I got hit by a bus tomorrow, would all this die? I have 40 to 50 people who work in these businesses and take care of their families. I’d be irresponsible not to think about that. You don’t think about that when you are 30. I’m trying to figure out how to preserve it. Yeah, I’m a wingnut, is there another wingnut out there?”

For now, Kurylowicz is looking to the next five years as well as looking back on his milestone anniversary. “I’m still working with the township to get sewer out here. We need that. We need a good beauty/barber shop. We need a drycleaner, a nice little bank, a car wash.”

“Anniversaries are a time to look back and reflect. Otherwise you are just running,” he said. “When you drive into here, you can feel that it’s a different place than anywhere else in Kent County. I don’t know if it’s karma or it’s ghosts, but we’ve been really lucky. If these walls could give back all that has happened over the years, it would be amazing. This is an interesting plac

This year's Rockford students selected to attend the Life Leadership conference are (back, l–r) Ryan Romain, Stephen May, Brandon Roberts, Drake Veitenheimer; (front) Marissa Saladin, Lindsey Blodgett, Margaret Smiley, Alison Prus and Kelsey Schwiebert, along with (far right) Rotarian Rick Ehinger. The three-day conference is designed to build on the students’ qualities of leadership.

Rockford Rotarians had to raise a little extra cash this year to send a record number of Rockford High School students to a three-day Life Leadership conference at Kettunen Center in Tustin, Mich. According to Rotarian Rick Ehinger, “This is the most we’ve had going from our district in the entire 61 years of this program.” Nine students were accepted to attend the conference, which Ehinger described as “life changing.”

“Rotary was founded with the idea of service, and Rockford Rotary serves our youth in many ways,” Ehinger said.

In addition to the Life Leadership conference, Rockford has long offered tours of the Little Red Schoolhouse, which was restored and is maintained by Rotary. Rockford Rotary Club also funds a literacy program, which provides books to Rockford-area schools. Rotary has provided Rockford’s schools with plaques of Rotary’s four-way test: Is it the truth?-Is it fair to all concerned?-Will it build better friendships?-Is it beneficial to all concerned? Rotary also provides parenting books for women in high school who are pregnant while continuing their education.

The Life Leadership conference was started in 1948 and is held once a year. Students enjoy lectures on leadership in small groups with a Rotarian facilitator. They stay at a dorm-type facility and also participate in other fun activities, such as swimming and evening campfires.

Rockford Farm Market-8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through October 31, in the South Squires Street parking lot, off Main St., downtown Rockford, featuring Michigan-grown produce, fresh baked goods, flowers and plants.

3rd Annual Children’s Bike Parade-2 p.m. along the White Pine Trail from South Squires Street parking lot to Squires Street Square and back (registration at 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot), sponsored by the HEART of Rockford Business Association. Also included is a Bubble Gum Contest at The Sweet Tooth on East Bridge St.

Monday, July 6

Kid & Teen Crafts Sales-2 p.m. at Krause Memorial Library, 140 E. Bridge St., Rockford. Kids and teens will show off their creativity and sell their handmade goods. For more information, visit www.kdl.org.

Tuesday, July 7

Huntington Rogue River Blues Series-7 to 9 p.m. at the Garden Park Stage, along the White Pine Trail near the dam, every Tuesday through August 11. This week features Tomas Esparza Blues Experience.

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.

Thursday-Friday, July 9-10

WCSG’s Summer Lifesaver Drive-8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Michigan Community Blood Centers, 1036 Fuller NE, Grand Rapids. Everyone who attempts to donate can register to win one of six family fun packages from the West Michigan Whitecaps, Craig’s Cruisers and Celebration Cinema. Food provided for donors courtesy of Max & Erma’s. For more information, visit www.miblood.org or call 1-800-MIBLOOD.

Saturday, July 11

Rockford Farm Market-8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through October 31, in the South Squires Street parking lot, off Main St., downtown Rockford, featuring Michigan-grown produce, fresh baked goods, flowers and plants.

Sunday, July 12

Breakfast-8 a.m. to noon at American Legion Post #102, 330 Rockford Park Drive, between 11 Mile and 12 Mile roads on Northland Dr.). Cost is $6.50 for adults, $5 for seniors over 70, and $3 for kids, which includes eggs, toast, bacon, sausage, coffee and juice.

Tuesday, July 14

Huntington Rogue River Blues Series-7 to 9 p.m. at the Garden Park Stage, along the White Pine Trail near the dam, every Tuesday through August 11. This week features Steve Hilger Blues Band.

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.

Thursday-Saturday, July 16-18

Rockford Sidewalk Sales-downtown Rockford, sponsored by HEART of Rockford.

by PASTOR MICHAEL CISLER
North Kent Bible Church

As we approach our nation’s Independence Day, it causes me to pause and give thanks for the freedom that is available to us. I am thankful for the many who have served and sacrificed in the past to allow that freedom. I am thankful for those who serve and sacrifice today to continue that freedom and to attempt to provide it for others. I am thankful to those who have led within our governmental offices in all levels to first lay the groundwork of this freedom and then to uphold it. I am thankful that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights. I am thankful also for the freedom available to us in Jesus Christ, the son of God, the Creator.

Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

In Jesus we have freedom from the result of sin, which is death, through the promise of the resurrection. We also have freedom from the bondage of sin, the yoke of slavery mentioned in Galatians 5:1. Sin in our lives can become a bondage that we feel we can’t get away from. We can struggle and struggle against it, but feel like we are not breaking free from it. The reason for this is that by ourselves we can’t save ourselves from sin; we need to turn to Jesus to break free from that which holds us.

In Hebrews 12:1-2, we find these words, “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” We see here the truth that sin easily entangles us and the importance of turning our focus to Jesus.

As we celebrate our nation’s independence this week, I hope for you both the thankfulness for the freedom we have in this country and joy and freedom that is available in Jesus.

Whether you are a little one itching to decorate your bike in red, white and blue, a parent willing to run along side, or a Rockford resident or guest who loves a parade and patriotism, plan on heading to downtown Rockford on Saturday, July 4, for the third annual Children’s Bike Parade.

Festivities kick off with a 1:30 p.m. registration and line-up in the South Squires Street parking lot. The parade is open to those 12 and under; bikes, strollers and big wheels are welcome. Parents and families are encouraged to attend/assist children as needed.

All children will receive a small parade gift for participating, plus three prizes will be awarded for “best dressed bikes.”

At 2 p.m., Rockford Police will lead participants along the parade route (north on the White Pine Trail to Squires Street Square and back).

Also included in the festivities is a Bubble Gum Contest, held at The Sweet Tooth on East Bridge Street.

The parade is sponsored by the HEART of Rockford Business Association members with special assistance offered by Aunt Candy’s Toy Company, Gumballs and Overalls, A Charmed Life Nail Salon, J.T. Stitchery and Frame Shop, and Rudy Kazoody’s.

Roger Allen, publisher.

America’s last king

Every Independence Day we wave the flag for our Founding Fathers who led the revolution. This year, in the renewed spirit of fairness, let’s say a few additional words about the guy on the other side, King George III of Britain.

Down the centuries, he’s been portrayed as a loony in lace cuffs. Actually, he was a pretty stable ruler in between bouts of what medical experts now think was the blood disease porphyria. (During his sick times, yes, he acted like a lunatic.)

We’ve regarded him as a tyrant. In that day and age, however, ruling their colonies was what European monarchs did. North American holdings represented a big investment and a large part of British lands; little wonder the king didn’t let them (us) get away without a fight. And, as European rulers go, King George was a fairly moderate landlord.

George III got utterly bad press for at least 150 years after the launching of the U.S.A. Nowadays, historians don’t roll their eyes about him quite as much.

Who knows? A more recent George in American history may get some of that revisionist history he’s been hoping for, although it’s never quick in coming. As he said in May 2008, “I’ll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office.”

Despite wars and financial and political downers, our country, 200+ years later, is still a going concern guided by the Constitution put in place by our founders. I am proud to be an American. Happy Fourth of July, everybody!

Speaking of history…

They opened the time capsule last Saturday. The high school class of 1984 had buried it. When it was buried, I had recently re-started a newspaper that I called The Rockford Squire to continue the tradition of the Rockford Register.

Over the past 25 years there have been ups and down with the Squire. For profits and pay it was mostly down, and for hard work it was always up-but it has also been the most satisfying job I ever had. I got to know lots of people in the community and I generally knew what was going on around town.

We did a story on the capsule when it went down, and we have a story about it coming up out of the ground. I always love a happy ending.

Happy ending? Well…

An airplane is in trouble. It looks like there might be a crash. Up jumps a female passenger. Frantically, she announces, “If I’m going to die, I want to die feeling like a woman!”

She removes her clothing, looks around and asks, “Is there someone on this plane who’s man enough to make me feel like a woman?”

A male passenger stands up, removes his shirt, and says, “Here, iron this!”

Last words

What did the fish say when he crashed into the concrete wall?

“Dam!”

Jerry Coon, Enrolled Agent

My wife, Deb, looked around our yard the other day and noted that our yard was an example of nature gone wild. The peonies have never had more flowers and those flowers were large and magnificent. All of the varieties of hostas are huge. There were flowers on lilac bushes that haven’t had flowers on them in years. The decorative crab apples had lots of blooms and it seems like the branches have grown a foot a day. The shrubs have more fresh growth on them than I have ever seen. Deb is hoping the cosmos, begonias and impatiens she just planted will grow as well as the rest of the plants in our yard. 

Even the lawn looks great. It’s funny, but I buy the same amount and type of fertilizer from Pete’s Ace Hardware every year, apply it in the same manner every year, and apply it at the same time every year. Some years it just seems to work better than others. Being a tax professional and not a trained green thumb type person, I have no idea of how that is possible. If I put the same figures into a tax return using the same forms, I am going to get the same answer every time. However, my lawn seems to look different every year.

Of course, the one variable that I don’t have to contend with on my tax returns is something called the weather. It’s been a cool spring with lots of rain lately. It must be perfect growing conditions, at least in my yard.

I want to finish up my articles on Social Security by making a few general points and then going over the survivor’s benefits rules.

Today, there are approximately 50 million people who receive a monthly Social Security benefit. According to the Social Security Administration, that monthly benefit on the average replaces approximately 40 percent of their retirement income. Obviously it’s going to be a tough go if the taxpayer’s only retirement income is his/her Social Security benefit.

Most people do begin drawing at the age of 62. However, there are some rare individuals who continue working past the age of 62-past the age of full retirement of age 66 for someone born in 1943-right up until the age of 70. These taxpayers are rewarded by making the decision to delay receiving a benefit.

By waiting until the age of 66, the taxpayer’s benefit is increased by 25% over the amount to be received at the age of 62. By waiting until the age of 70, the taxpayer’s benefit is further increased by 8% per year. The total increase for the four years is then 32%. That’s a nice total increase by waiting for a few years to begin drawing.

Of course, the downside of waiting is the taxpayer may decease before beginning to draw. If a taxpayer dies, family members may still qualify to receive benefits. If the surviving widow or widower is at least 60 or older, he or she should qualify for benefits. If the surviving widow or widower is disabled and age 50 or older, he or she should qualify for benefits. The surviving widow or widower can be any age if he/she has a child who is younger than age 16 or the child is disabled of any age.

Surviving children also may qualify to receive benefits. Children younger than age 18 qualify for benefits. Children age 18 and 19 who are full-time students in secondary or elementary schools qualify for benefits as well. Disabled children age 18 or older, as long as the disability began before the age of 22, also qualify for survivor’s benefits.

In somewhat of a quirk, a survivor’s parents may even qualify for benefits if the parents were dependent upon the deceased for more than one-half of his/her support.

Information about complicated situations can be obtained by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or going to their website at www.socialsecurity.gov. 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.

Talaski-Griffin

Kate Talaski and Todd Griffin, both from Denver, Colo., will be united in marriage on October 10, 2009.

 The bride is a graduate of Rockford High School and Ferris State University. She is the daughter of Mike and Marcia Talaski of Rockford.

The groom is a graduate of Shelby High School and Ferris State University. He is the son of Al and Becky Griffin of Shelby, Mich.

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.