THE 43522 COMMUNITY NEWSMay/June 2015 Vol. 2 Issue 3

Brought to you by the Historical Society of Grand Rapids

Spring FlingGrand Rapids Chamber of Commerce is having their annual Spring Fling May 2 from 10am to 5pm. A new feature this year is a talent show for

children ages 6-18. The show will be from 11am to 3pm. Singers and musicians welcome to perform. In front of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrowstore someone will be selling herb plants. There will be a raffle with the prize to be a basket of edibles from all the stores who sell food. Check par-ticipating stores closer to the date for a more detailed schedule of when and where other events will take place.

Plans for Rally DayIt seems a little early to talking about Rally Days but the Chamber of Commerce have some ideas and they need you to help make it a great

Day. The first is the parade that will start at noon on July 11. Start thinking what you want to put in the parade—bike, motorcycle, scooter, trac-tor, wagon, truck, car, self—and if you want to make them photo pretty that is even better.

Speaking of photo pretty. This year the Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring Best “Dam” Photo of Grand Rapids Contest. All you have todo is take a photo of a local scenic site with in the 43522 zip code. Submit your entry which should be a 5’x7’ photo (finish is optional) by July4 to Mary’s Apple Orchard. The photos will be displayed in participating store windows. The judging will be done by the community. You thereaders of this paper will vote on the best photo by casting your vote in any of the participating stores. The voting must be done by July 10. Thewinners will be announced at the time of the parade. There will be 2 categories the first is for ages 0 to 11 years of age and the cost to enter is$3.00 and the other category is 12 and up with a $5.00 entry fee. The winner of each category will get half of the entry fee for their category.The chamber would also have exclusive rights to photo for publicity releases. So get your camera dusted off and get busy. You can enter asmany pictures as you like with an entry fee for each.

Memorial Day PlansThe Grand Rapids Legion Post 232 invites the community to join them

at all or any of the three cemeteries and the town park for Memorial DayServices on May 25. They will be at Beaver Creek cemetery at 9:00 am, Mt.Pleasant cemetery at 9:45 am and St. Patrick cemetery at 11:30. The paradein town lines up at 10:30 with the program at 10:45 in the park. If it rainsthe services will take place at the Legion Post at 10:30. The speakers havenot been confirmed at the time of this printing so check with the SentinelTribune nearer the date or contact John Schlotz at 419-832-4751. Therewill be a pot luck meal at the Post at noon and everyone is welcome.

Art CampThe annual Art Camp sponsored by the Grand Rapids Arts Council

is scheduled for June 15 – 19, 9:00 – 11:30 a.m., at HosannaLutheran Church. Teachers will be Karen Zapiecki, Brian Prestin,and Jo Ascunce. The theme this year is Wackadoo and Art Too.Children will complete animal-themed art projects and enjoy musi-cal activities. Registration forms for the camp will be sent homewith students at the Otsego Elementary School in early May. Costfor the first child is $25; 2nd child, $20; and 3rd child, $15. Pleaseregister early as a limited number of students will be accepted!

Finian’s RainbowThe Grand Rapids Historical Society will once again sponsor a play this summer during

Rapids Rally Days the weekend of July 10-12. Sam Macera and his assistant director KarenZapiecki have chosen Finian’s Rainbow as the musical to be presented this year. The maincharacter Finian moves to the southern United States (the fictional state of Missitucky is acombination of Mississippi and Kentucky) from Ireland with his daughter Sharon to bury astolen pot of gold near Fort Knox, in the mistaken belief that it will grow. A leprechaun fol-lows them, desperate to recover his treasure before the loss of it turns him permanentlyhuman. The Irish-tinged music score includes gospel and R & B influences. Auditions forthe play will be held on May 2 and 3 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm each day at the Grand RapidsTown Hall.

Civil War Re-EnactmentOn Saturday, May 9, the 8th grade social studies department in

conjunction with the Grand Rapids Historical Society and the OtsegoEndowment Foundation will be hosting an American Civil War Re-enactment day on Sycamore Road in Grand Rapids. The 8th gradestudents will be taking an active role in teaching and demonstratingwhat they have learned during their Civil War unit. The entire com-munity is encouraged to come and to participate.

If you went last year you know how interesting this event is butmore is being offered this year so please come. It starts at 9:00 andends at 1:00. They have added more games (old fashioned baseball),battles, The President will be there, Abraham Lincoln that is. Foodwill be available to purchase. So come and participate and learnmore about the Civil War from the 8th grade students of OtsegoMiddle School.

Piano Studio of Lynne E. Long“Passport to Music around the World” is the theme for the annual piano

recital presented by the students of Lynne E. Long of Grand Rapids. Studentswill be playing selections from a number of different countries. The programwill be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 10th, in the First PresbyterianChurch in Grand Rapids. Students performing will be Nathaniel Born, AvaBowen, Abby Eberly, Kaylee Eberly, Jacob Fritz, Ella Hartman, ElijahHergert, Joshua Hergert, Naomi Hergert, Ruth Hergert, Gabriella Hoag, JasonHoag, Bethany Horen, Jason Jones, Zach Jones, Alexander Landgraf,Christian Morgan, Micha Shank, Brooke Simon, Kendal Simon, MorganSimon, Carsyn Tussing, Olivia Weaver, Aaron Yaney, and Moira Yaney.Nathaniel Born, Alexander Landgraf, Micha Shank, and Moira Yaney willreceive their five-year recital trophies, and Jacob Fritz will receive his ten-yearrecital award. A reception will follow the recital. The public is cordially invit-ed to attend. Please come and hear music from around the world!

Grand Rapids South 2nd Annual Get-togetherFor the second time a group of former, current, and snow-bird Grand Rapids residents got together to reminisce about our beloved river town, the

recent ice jam & flood at Side-cut Park, and the record setting coldest winter that the Grand Rapid locals suffered through this past winter. Most werethankful that they were in Florida avoiding the cold and enjoying the sunshine. The luncheon was held at Popii's Restaurant in Ellenton where all cel-ebrated James Sproull's 84th birthday with a cake. Jim was once the Grand Rapid's fire chief and operated the local grocery store. Those in attendancewere Jim and Marilyn Sproull, Warren and Diana Baumbarger, Rick and Mary (Baumbarger) Snyder, Rodney and Kathy (Bostelman) Carson, Daleand Carol (Woodling) Bostelman, Greg and Tracy (Bostelman) Ludwig, Gary and Lee Beal, Carol (Box) Perdew, Angie (Hyter) Burditt, Jim and Judy(Overmyer) Price, Joe and Marilyn (Burk) Warner, Joe and Sharon Kirkham, Judy Beal, Roberta (Minnick) Drouard, and Jim and Rae Thomson. Ifyou are in Florida next year plan on attending this event next March.

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POSTAL CUSTOMER

THE 43522 Community NewsP.O. Box 193Grand Rapids, OH 43522

NON-PROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE PAIDGRAND RAPIDS, OH

PERMIT #5

THE 43522 COMMUNITY NEWSMay/June 2015 Vol. 2 Issue 3

Brought to you by the Historical Society of Grand Rapids

Dear Readers, Spring is in the air. We can put our boots, gloves and hats away until

November—hopefully. Take some time to take a walk or a ride toenjoy the beauty in the area. We really do have some beautiful sightsin this part of the county. No we don’t have mountains with snowcapped tops, or rolling hills but we have some very nice plant life thatis making their appearance this time of the year after a winters rest.The trees are leafing out, flowers are starting to bloom and the grass isgreen what can be more beautiful than that!

Don’t forget to send any events coming up tojltonjes@frontier.com or call me at 419-832-7135. I am thankful for all who send me infor-mation. If you don’t feel you are a writer justsend a list of information about the event. Justdon’t forget the what, when, where and who andI will put it in sentence/paragraph form for you.

If you know someone who does not live in the43522 zip code and would like a copy of thepaper they can read it on line at the HistoricalSociety’s web site. If they are not computersavvy a $5 subscription will get them a yearsworth (6 copies) of the paper. Just send it to meat 43522 Community News, PO Box 193, GrandRapids, Ohio. Make the check payable to theHistorical Society of Grand Rapids.

Your humble servant,Judi

Calendar of Events:May 2, Boy Scout recycling pick up, 10-12 corner of Mill and 3rd St.May 2, Spring Fling, downtown all dayMay 2-3, Tryouts for Finian’s Rainbow Town Hall 2-4May 4, tree branch pickup for just the villageMay 5, Election dayMay 9, Civil War Re-enactment 9-11 Sycamore RoadMay 10, Mother’s DayMay 10, Piano recital, 3pm, First Presbyterian ChurchMay 15 American Legion Fish Fry May 21, Ladies Night Out 5 to 8pm, downtownMay 25, Memorial Day see article above for detailsMay 26, 4th Tuesday Meal Hosanna Lutheran Church 5 to 6May 28, 4th Thursday Meal, Presbyterian Church, 5 pmJune 1, tree branch pickup for just the villageJune 6. Boy Scout recycling pick up, 10-12 corner of Mill and 3rd StJune 14, Flag DayJune 15-19, Art Camp, Hosanna Lutheran ChurchJune 18, Ladies Night Out, 5 to 8pm downtown June 19, American Legion Fish Fry, starts 5pmJune 21, Father’s DayJune 23, 4th Tuesday Meal Hosanna Lutheran Church 5 to 6June 25, 4th Thursday meal, Presbyterian Church 5pmEvery Tuesday and Friday 11:00, Otsego Senior Meals, Hosanna Lutheran Church, 419-832-3801; cell 419-266-7619. Email nanlee1642@gmail.com.

New BusinessThere’s a new business in town ! Jane Spoerl, a Financial Representative of Modern Woodmen of America, has recently opened a new office in

Grand Rapids. After 35 years of retail banking experience, Jane has joined Modern Woodmen and is located in the Marsh & Marsh Building at 24204Front Street. “I am excited to be offering financial services to the residents and businesses of Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas.” ModernWoodmen is a fraternal organization founded in 1883. It is an organization with a strong philosophy to support and give back to its communities andfamilies. “I am proud to be part of this team.” I can help people of various ages and income levels. Helping to protect your loved ones in case ofdeath, through life insurance, is the first thing I review with customers and then work towards retirement planning and retirement distribution. ModernWoodmen offers many other options such as individual and group health insurance, long term care and disability insurance, to name a few. I havealways been passionate about helping people improve their financial situation and work towards meeting their financial goals. This position lets medo that. I can be found at the Grand Rapids office on Mondays and Thursdays, although many times my appointments are kept at customer’s homesor over a cup of coffee at a local restaurant. Stop by anytime, but if I happen to be out on an appointment, give me a call at 419-262-4402 and we’llset up a time to meet!

“The only scary thing about a financial plan. . . is not having one.”

Grand Rapids Arts Council Membership DriveThe Grand Rapids Arts Council is currently conducting its annual membership drive. For those of you who have been involved in the past, you have

received your membership letter and application in the mail. If you have not supported GRAC in the past and you are interested in joining, please visitour website to receive membership information. An individual membership is $10, and a family membership is $20. Your membership fee is fully taxdeductible. You can print out the membership application and mail with your check to: GRAC, P.O. Box 234, Grand Rapids, Ohio 43522. For moreinformation, please email the Council at grac@grandrapidsartscouncil.org or call 419-832-ARTS.