Sparta Today June-August 2010 : Page 1
June-August 2010 Vol. 3, Issue 3 featuring EstablishEd in summEr 2008 SpArtA’S CommunIty EVEntS Town & Country Day Volunteer Round UP June 23 @ Rogers Park 7–8 p.m. Join the T &C Volunteers by volunteering today! Town & Country Pig Roast June 25 @ Michigan Beer Cellar 5–8 p.m. Cookout Celebration June 27 @ Sparta Baptist Church 12:30 p.m. Sparta Hunting & Fishing Club 3-D Archery Nights Every Wednesday May - September Start off between 5-6:30 p.m. Farmers Market July 7 @ ChoiceOne Bank Parking Lot 75 N Union St. 5 p.m. to dusk School Fundraiser July 10 12 p.m.-12 a.m. Beer tent, band & raffles! Town & Country Days July 14 – 18 www.spartafair.com Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, and Garth Brooks July 24 Dinner 6 p.m. & show at 8 p.m.. $25 Proceeds to Mooseheart Charities Michigan District IMPACT Team July 28 @ Rogers Park Christian Nazarene Youth gathered from all over Michigan to minister through music! 7-8 p.m. Sparta Chamber Golf Outing Aug. 13 @ Moss Ridge Golf Course Starts at noon Moose Club Tributes to Casnovia Old VBS Hotdog Kent City & Casnovia Spending dollars locally goes further This article will be the second in a series discussing the importance of thinking local first in order to maximize the impact of our daily actions and purchasing decisions. Michael Shuman, author of “Going Local,” doesn’t believe a resident has to cut big box stores altogether, rather, he advises to keep local businesses in mind. “Going local does not mean walling off the outside T world,” said Shuman. “It means nurturing locally owned businesses, which use local resources sustainably, employ local workers at decent wages and serve primarily local consumers. It means becoming more self-sufficient and less dependent on imports. Control moves from the board- rooms of distant corporations and back into the commu- nity where it belongs.” On average, if you spend $100 at a local business, $73 stays in the local economy. If you spend $100 at a non- locally owned business, $43 dollars stay in the local econo- my. The story of the circulation of a dollar One dollar spent at a local business can go a long way. One example is Sparta Elevator, locally owned and man- aged by Ron Schantz. Not only does one receive a personalized education about certain brands of dog food and the unhealthy fatty fillers of other brands of dog food, Schantz makes sure to create a relationship with his customers. “We want our customers to be able to bring their kids in here, and educate them on what types of bird seed bring certain types of birds or to experience the chicks in the spring time,” said Schantz. “Making a connection with a family, teaching them about planting seeds or feeding birds creates memories that those kids will pass on to their kids, hopefully.” Although customer service and education do not have a price tag, a dollar spent at Sparta Elevator continues in the community when Schantz shops at local businesses such as Rogers Hardware, or when he eats lunch at a local restau- rant, such as Angela’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria. With a dollar spent from lunch from Sparta Elevator, Angela’s Pizza spends part of that dollar on purchasing bread products for baked subs from another local business, Tom’s Hometown Bakery. Angela’s is saving time and money on shipping and deliv- Angela’s Pizza is a family owned restaurant that fea- ery charges from Grand Rapids by using the products and services of another locally owned business. Plus, the prod- uct that is freshly baked just a few doors down is much fresher than any frozen bread on the market. Angela Candela, namesake of Angela’s Pizza, said the See SpendinG dollarS, paGe 9 pages 2-4 Sparta Business Beat pages 5-8 Spartan Spotlight page 10 Kent City streetscape to begin tures homemade Italian food with recipes from Italy. Simons named grand marshal By aMy DrEnt Sparta Fair Board Sparta Area Fair Association is pleased to announce Richard Simons as this year’s Town & Country Day Parade Grand Marshal. Born to Alvin and Wilma Simons May 31, 1943, in Grand Rapids, Simons is a lifelong Sparta resident. He attended Sparta Area Schools and graduated from Sparta High in 1961. In 1959, he started working part time as a custodian for Sparta Area Schools. In 1961, he went full time. Five years later he switched to groundskeeper, where he continues to work today with no plans to retire. Simons joined the Sparta Fire Department in 1967, working his way through the ranks and is now the deputy fire chief. Simons has been married to his wife, Betty, for 46 years. They have three chil- Sparta Chamber photo Richard Simons, who has been with the Sparta Fire Department since 1967 and serves as chief now, is this year’s Sparta Town & Country Day Parade grand marshal. dren together, Pam (and Tim) Bruckner, Shelly (and Kevin) Crissey and Scott (and Lydia) Simons. See Grand MarShal, paGe 10 : In this Issue : page 11 Calling all artists! page 13 Book features Sparta history pages 15-16 milestone on main Street By ElizaBEth Gorski-MorsE Sparta DDA/Chamber of Commerce director he next time you decide to make a trip to Grand Rapids for grocery shopping, or per- haps for building materials or a gift for a rela- tive, perhaps see if you can find what you’re looking for in your own hometown, the com- munity of Sparta. Sparta Chamber photo Tom Penland, owner of Tom’s Hometown Bakery, displays a fresh batch of doughnuts. Penland, like many local business owners in the Sparta community, works with other local businesses to promote local spending. “If I can find it in Sparta, it is worth my time and gas money to buy it in Sparta, even if I am paying a little more for it,” said Penland. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 338 Greenville, MI 48838 PRSRT STD MAIL U.S.
Spending Dollars Locally Goes Further
Elizabe Th Gorski-Morse
The next time you decide to make a trip to Grand Rapids for grocery shopping, or perhaps for building materials or a gift for a relative, perhaps see if you can find what you’re looking for in your own hometown, the community of Sparta.
Michael Shuman, author of “Going Local,” doesn’t believe a resident has to cut big box stores altogether, rather, he advises to keep local businesses in mind.
“Going local does not mean walling off the outside world,” said Shuman. “It means nurturing locally owned businesses, which use local resources sustainably, employ local workers at decent wages and serve primarily local consumers. It means becoming more self-sufficient and less dependent on imports. Control moves from the boardrooms of distant corporations and back into the community where it belongs.” On average, if you spend $100 at a local business, $73 stays in the local economy. If you spend $100 at a nonlocally owned business, $43 dollars stay in the local economy.
The story of the circulation of a dollar One dollar spent at a local business can go a long way.
One example is Sparta Elevator, locally owned and managed by Ron Schantz.
Not only does one receive a personalized education about certain brands of dog food and the unhealthy fatty fillers of other brands of dog food, Schantz makes sure to create a relationship with his customers.
“We want our customers to be able to bring their kids in here, and educate them on what types of bird seed bring certain types of birds or to experience the chicks in the spring time,” said Schantz. “Making a connection with a family, teaching them about planting seeds or feeding birds creates memories that those kids will pass on to their kids, hopefully.” Although customer service and education do not have a price tag, a dollar spent at Sparta Elevator continues in the community when Schantz shops at local businesses such as Rogers Hardware, or when he eats lunch at a local restaurant, such as Angela’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria.
Angela’s Pizza is a family owned restaurant that features homemade Italian food with recipes from Italy.
With a dollar spent from lunch from Sparta Elevator, Angela’s Pizza spends part of that dollar on purchasing bread products for baked subs from another local business, Tom’s Hometown Bakery.
Angela’s is saving time and money on shipping and delivery charges from Grand Rapids by using the products and services of another locally owned business. Plus, the product that is freshly baked just a few doors down is much fresher than any frozen bread on the market.
Angela Candela, namesake of Angela’s Pizza, said the Main reason they support other local businesses is to “help Sparta grow.” Tom’s Hometown Bakery also understands the importance of successful local businesses in a community.
“You can call here and talk to a person about ordering a large order of doughnuts or specialty cake order to make sure it is exactly as you want it,” said bakery owner Tom Penland. “We cater to our customers, even last minute orders. If we can fill it, we will do so gladly!” Tom’s Bakery has three local restaurants in Sparta that buy bread or rolls from their bakery: Maxine’s, Garden Patch and Angela’s Pizza.
Penland’s family is often found eating at those restaurants because they understand the value of spending their dollars at local businesses.
“If I can find it in Sparta,” he says, “it is worth my time and gas money to buy it in Sparta, even if I am paying a little more for it.” Every time you spend $1 at a local retail business, imagine how that dollar will make its way into a local restaurant, that buys product from a local bakery, that purchases services at a local salon, insurance office, or even to support a youth sports team.
That same dollar spent at a big box store in Grand Rapids would most likely never see its way to any Sparta business, Sparta youth program, or employ a Sparta resident. Next time you spend $1, spend wisely
Simons Named Grand Marshal
Amy Drent
Sparta Area Fair Association is pleased to announce Richard Simons as this year’s Town & Country Day Parade Grand Marshal.
Born to Alvin and Wilma Simons May 31, 1943, in Grand Rapids, Simons is a lifelong Sparta resident.
He attended Sparta Area Schools and graduated from Sparta High in 1961. In 1959, he started working part time as a custodian for Sparta Area Schools. In 1961, he went full time. Five years later he switched to groundskeeper, where he continues to work today with no plans to retire.
Simons joined the Sparta Fire Department in 1967, working his way through the ranks and is now the deputy fire chief.
Simons has been married to his wife, Betty, for 46 years. They have three children together, Pam (and Tim) Bruckner, Shelly (and Kevin) Crissey and Scott (and Lydia) Simons.
Richard and Betty Simons also have six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
“I have seen lots of changes in the community and the department some that have been positive and moved the town forward,” said Simons.
Parade information This year’s parade will be July 17, at 2:30 p.m., and will start at Majestic Landscaping. It will move north on State Street to Division then turning east and ending at Angela’s.
Please join us in congratulating Richard Simons.
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