^ - A G 5 rj o ^v "OK 3! IJDER , 35^ spfiNOPonr. michicam 49284 The Tx)w Volume 34 Issue 32 Serving Lowell Area Readers Since 1893 Wednesday, June 14, 2006 End of school year marks the beginning for new super By Dan Schneider ummer vacation began last Friday for all Lowell Area School students. S But as they lined up in front of their schools for their last bus ride until late August, the district was already preparing for the next school year. Among the biggest things to be done is the installing of Greg Pratt as the new district superintendent. That process has been i going very well, Lowell Area Schools board of education president Nancy Hopkins said. "Greg has put quite a lot of time in with (interim superintendent) Pat Murphy, and Pat has been bringing Greg up to speed on what he's learned about the district." Murphy, the retired superintendent from Godwin Heights Public Schools, was chosen as Lowell's interim superintendent last September. Since he was hired in mid- March, Pratt has been meeting with Murphy while spending as much time as possible in the district. %4He has been taking kind of a quiet approach in some ways to get familiar with the community and the district and the schools and the students and the staff," Hopkins said. "He's definitely not coming in cold." Pratt's contractual start date is July I. As it gets closer, he'll spend more time in Lowell than in his current district, Kent City Community Schools. For instance, he planned to spend four out of (ive days this week in Lowell. Students lined up for the school bus ride home for summer vacation last Friday. The Lowell Area Schools Superintendent, con'td., page. 10 district will spend the summer getting ready for next school year, which includes making the transition to a new superintendent. Summer concerts begin this week on the Riverwalk Plaza By Dan Schneider Folk act Potato Moon an eclectic mix of jazz, be swing band Java Jive. by the Sea Cruisers 'SOs photographic montage will take the stage at 7 p.m. blues, more folk, western Junior Valentine will bring rock and roll on July 20. by local artist Patti he official start for the kickoff concert of music and big band. The his blues band to the stage The Flat River Big Band Sevensma, will be raffled of summer is a the 2006 series. Other bands Lowell Area Arts Council June 29. completes the month. off at the Art Attack event Tweek away. will follow every Thursday puts on the concerts each The Boogie Woogie In August, Mane in August. The montage is But on the Riverwalk through Aug. 13, with the year in conjunction with Babies will be the first to Street brings its western composed of photographs Plaza, summer starts a exception of Aug. 10 when the Lowell Area Chamber play during July. They music to the stage. After of children Sevensma took week early ... Thursday, the event will be suspended of Commerce and the bring 1940s tunes to the fair week, Jimmy Stagger during her travels around to be specific, the first because of the Kent County sponsorship of a number of shores of the Flat July 6. The will play the blues Aug. the world. The arts council day of the Lowell Show- Youth Fair. local businesses. Proulx Brothers folk act is 17. Lakeshore Jazz offers scholarships to boat Sizzlin' Summer The series features Next week's act will slated for July 13 followed Ensemble ends the series help Lowell area students Concerts. Aug. 24. pursue higher education. Again this year, Something new this visitors to the concerts year will be a raffle at Fairgrounds host many different venues will have a chance to buy each concert. Every week, By Dan Schneider raffle tickets to support the a patron will win a $25 summer. Horse shows occur out the facility-it only That task has become arts council's scholarship gift certificate to the Flat nearly every weekend. costs $ 150 to rent the horse easier as users have come owell's fund. The piece "They River Grill. In addition, The only weekend the arena for a weekend. But to Lowell and had positive fairgrounds Are the World," a Concerts, fairgrounds will be vacant that money is better than experiences. are still at their cont'd., pg. 3 L this year is over the Fourth nothing when balancing busiest during the Kent "It's getting so now a County Youth Fair in of July. out the facility's books. lot of people come down August. That's not likely Fairgrounds manager Lowell's isn't the only here and use the facilities to change. But' what has Ron Wenger said the fairground encouraging and they say, 'Wow, this is been changing over the increased activity is activity outside of fair nice,"' Wenger said. "And past several years is what's essential for the continued week. then they tell other people ve \\U going on at the fairgrounds financial vitality of the "Successful fairs, that's about it and word of mouth \,o> the rest of the time. Whereas fairgrounds. why they're successful," advertising, that's the best 10 years ago, the grounds "You've gotta do off- Wenger said. "Like Ionia's you can get." may have hosted one or two season activities to help doing the (B-93) Birthday That was how Lowell events per summer outside maintain the grounds and Bash and Centerville in became host to the Grand Potato Moon ... Page 3 of fair, now there is activity pay the bills," Wenger said. Allegan (County), they're Valley American Indian just about every weekend. "We get some money from doing the antique shows." Lodge's Restoring the Budget Woes... Page 4 Bluegrass festivals, a the state, not a lot, but we When Wenger started Circle Pow Wow. Pow Wow, antique tractor don't know how much full time as the manager of New Gun Business... Page 10 pulls, a classic car show and longer that's going to last." the fair, he actively pursued Fairgrounds, craft shows are among the The fairgrounds don't a variety of groups to make cont'd., pg. 9 events transpiring there this make a lot of money renting use of the fairgrounds. Vacant Mall Options ... Page 20 THE LOWELL LEDGER • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2006 PAGE 2 THE LOWELL LEDGER - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14,2006 PAGE 3 preceded in death by her Lynde Adrianse; eight great- God needed him. Tom was husband Robert Daniel grandchildren. A Memorial a champion for the unborn, Courser. She is survived service was held June 11 serving on the boards of Life Potato Moon first act on the Riverwalk by her live children Lori at the Roth-Gerst Funeral International, Baptist for The Lowell Area Arts Courser-Beniche (Frank), Home, Lowell, Rev. Gene Life, Pregnancy Resource Council and the Lowell Area 1 Wallace Daniel Courser DeJong from Keystone Center, and Alpha Women's Chamber of Commerce are ll Carrie (Joe) Kiczenski; (Kim), Phyllis Courser, Community Church, Center, and starting numerous once again bringing music many nieces and nephews. A Patrecia Courser-Pabon officiating. Memorial pregnancy centers in Eastern t6 West Michigan with the memorial service will be held (David), Jeanne Courser- contributions may be made Europe. God blessed Tom Lowell Showboat Sizzlin' Saturday, June 17 at 1 p.m. Bermudez (Rene) and her to Hospice of Michigan, with a business that was Summer Concerts. at the Roth-Gerst Funeral sister Patrecia Glaza of 1260 Ekhart NE, Grand able to support his passion "Potato Moon" will Home, 305 N. Hudson St., Grand Rapids, along with Rapids, Ml 49503. for ministry. He worked be featured this Thursday, Dr. Michael Conklin of First eight grandchildren and for many years in the food SIEGEL June 15. The band, from SIZZLIN' SUMMER CONCERTS Maryan A. Siegel, aged 89, United Methodist Church, four great-grandchildren. service industry as owner Grand Rapids, is one of "Potato Moon" (Folk) will be the first summer officiating. Visitation will be Memorial services will of Ritchie & Associates, passed away Friday, June 9, the more recent editions to concert this Thursday, June 15, 7-9 p.m. at Riverwalk noon -1 p.m. prior to service. be held at the First now Ritchie Marketing. 2006. Wife of the late Carl the West Michigan music Plaza. Free admission/parking. Memorial contributions Congregational Church in Tom is survived by his wife Siegel; dear sister-in-law of scene. Founded in 2000, may be made to St. Mary's Lowell, Saturday June 24, Terre; children Matthew of Byron Field; aunt of Gilbert Potato Moon blends four- NATURALIST GUIDED HIKE Lacks Cancer Center, Grand 2006 at 10:30 a.m. Ashes Lake Odessa, Jon (Karla) of and Susan Field; dear great- part harmonies with the The Land Conservancy of W. Michigan will have ALEXANDER Rapids, Mi. will be interred in Pantwater Grand Rapids, Phil (Amber) aunt, great-great-aunt and intrinsic sounds of acoustic a guided hike at Bradford Dickinson White Nature Cheryl Ann Alexander, Cemetery. of Lowell, Leah (Andrew) friend to many. Maryan instruments, creating a Preserve, Thursday, June 15 at 7 p.m. Take Alden Nash aged 52, of Lowell, left Postema of Grand Rapids; worked in advertising in textured sound that is unique S. to 36th St., east 1/2 mile to preserve. this earth June II, 2006. 13 grandchildren; his mother the St. Louis area and was and enticing for all ages. The She was born October 15, Dorothy Ritchie of Rockford; a third grade teacher in folk group has been featured LOWELL LIEE WALK 1953 to Charles Heckman brothers and sisters Linda Forest Hills for 20 years.