Page 2 — Thursday, March 23, 2023 — The Hastings Banner
as he spoke, highlighting a fire in 1909 that
left parishioners without a place of worship
until 1915.
After the more recent fire, worship was
moved to the parish’s gymnasium as the St.
Rose family worked to rebuild the church, an
effort that was headed off by long-time
parishioner Bill Cusack, joined by fellow
parishioners Phil Green and father-son duo
Bud and Jeff LaJoy, who handcrafted the
alter ambo and shrines.
The church worked with Grand Rap-
ids-based 360 Fire and Flood and were able to
leverage insurance money to cover the costs.
Green admitted that it was a time-consum-
ing journey that also came with its share of
setbacks. But with restorations almost finished,
Green joked that he was going to have to take
up a new hobby to occupy all his free time.
“It was a very difficult process – a long,
hard process and we ran into challenge after
challenge,” Green said. “It seemed like noth-
ing went easily, but at the same time, I would
tell you that I wouldn’t change my experience
for anything in the world. I would do it all
over again. Watching that mass on Sunday
and watching everyone’s reaction to the
church, it was all worthwhile.”
Philip said that he believes, with theCOVID-19 pandemic in the rearview mirror,
and with the newly restored church, it will
welcome in more parishioners.
He also mentioned that the church is plan-
ning a community open house so that
non-members of the parish have an opportu-
nity to come and visit. It was that communitythat proved to be very supportive to the St.
Rose family throughout the turmoil.
“I want to thank everyone – all the pastors
and leaders of the other churches in the Hast-
ings community,” Philip said. “They were all
so supportive when we had this. They gener-
ously supported us.”Mary Youngs Benefit Concert in its 16th year,
presents ‘road trip’ through music
The Mary Youngs Benefit Concert, now in its 16th year, is poised to take audience
members on a trip through music. The annual showcase of local talent will follow a
“Road Trip to Some Great Music” as this year’s theme.
Music will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 25 at the Hastings Performing Arts
Center, 520 W. South Street, Hastings. Though there is no cost to attend, organizers
encourage attendees to provide freewill offerings. The money raised at the concert goes
towards the Mary Youngs Scholarship fund.
Steve Youngs, husband of the late Mary Youngs, organized the first benefit concert 16
years ago to honor the memory of his late wife. Mary Youngs, the former principal of
Northeastern Elementary School in Hastings, died suddenly in 2006.
In addition to honoring his late wife’s memory, Youngs said the concert is the only
fundraiser for the Mary Youngs Scholarship. The scholarship is handed out to Hastings
High School graduating seniors each year, with $2,000 allocated to recipients annually.
The concert, featuring 28 songs, begins its travel theme with “Route 66” by Nat King
Cole and Chuck Berry, sung by the entire cast of performers.
This year’s concert will also remember Kyle Steward, a longtime friend and partici-
pant of the Mary Youngs Benefit Concert.
Voluntary donations will be collected at the door or on the way out of the concert.
Checks can be made to the Mary Youngs Scholarship Fund, or can be mailed to the Barry
Community Foundation, 231 S. Broadway, Hastings, 49058.
Checks made to the foundation should include “Mary Youngs” in the memo line.
Donations to the fund can also be made online at barrcf.org/funds/mary-youngs-athlet-
ic-and-music-memorial-scholarship.Public invited to Rotary talk on pollinators, conservation
The Hastings Rotary Club is hosting a special meeting Monday, March 27, featuring a
streamed talk by author, entomologist, ecologist and conservationist Doug Tallamy.
Tallamy’s discussion is part of the club’s Operation Pollination, an effort by several
Rotary clubs to increase the number of pollinator-friendly plants to the benefit of polli-
nators and the environment. The program will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Monday,
March 27, during the Hastings Rotary Club’s regular meeting. Members of the public are
invited to attend, but must register in advance.
“We are inviting members of the public interested in learning more about why polli-
nators are important and what they can do to support the habitat they need,” said Michelle
Skedgell, Executive Director of Pierce Cedar Creek Institute and chairwoman of the
Operation Pollination committee for the Hastings Rotary Club.
“Attending the presentation by Doug Tallamy will help them learn what impact we can
have locally,”
The Hastings Rotary Club is working together with the Delton Rotary Club, Hastings
Kiwanis Club, Hastings Women’s Club, Thornapple Garden Club, Pierce Cedar Creek
Institute, Kellogg Community College and several area volunteers to bring Operation
Pollination to fruition. Those who are interested in the program, or interested in attending
the Tallamy discussion on March 27, should call Pierce Cedar Creek Institute at 269-721-
4190 and ask for Michelle Skedgell.Rep. Smit hosting office hours in Delton tomorrow
State Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Martin) has invited residents to attend her local office
hours in Delton on Friday, March 24.
Smit’s office hours are an opportunity for constituents to speak directly with their
representative and ask questions or share ideas.
Rep. Smit, a freshman lawmaker, will be available from 11 a.m. to noon at Heroes
Food & Spirits, 121 S. Grove St. in Delton.
Rep. Smit represents people in the cities of Allegan, Fennville, Wayland and Bellevue,
as well as the townships of Allegan, Fillmore, Manilus, Clyde, Overisel, Heath, Valley,
Salem, Monterey, Dorr, Hopkins, Watson, Wayland, Martin, Barry, Yankee Springs,
Orangeville, Hope, Prairieville, Johnstown, Bellevue, Assyria and part of Jamestown.
Rep. Smit also invites residents to contact her Lansing office at 517-373-0615 or Rach-
[email protected]. Mail should be addressed to N-892 Anderson House Office
Building, P.O. Box 30014, Lansing, MI 48909.NEWS NEWS BRIEFSBRIEFS
Friends of HPAC name performance
hall in honor of Baums
The Friends of the Hastings Performing
Arts Center (HPAC) announced the renaming
of the center’s performance hall last week. In
a show of honor and gratitude for the Baum
family’s generosity to the HPAC, Hastings
Area Schools and to the Hastings community,
the Friends dedicated the Larry & Earlene
Baum Family Performance Hall at the Hast-
ings Performing Arts Center on Sunday,
March 12.
According to the district, Hastings Area
School System’s board policy allows the com-
memoration of facilities. Since the formation
of the Friends of the HPAC as a 501(c)(3)
registered nonprofit in 2021, the board of
education has allowed the Friends’ board of
directors to institute a naming program called
“Become a Friend, Leave a Legacy.”
Under this program, patrons may name a
block in the lobby, one or more chairs in the
auditorium, or even a room or piece of equip-
ment for the performing arts center. Visitors
of the HPAC may notice the naming of the
Tom Freridge Ticket Booth and the Jim Oli-
ver Office, for instance, in addition to the
blocks and seats.
Because of the many significant gifts made
by the Baums in support of the facility, like
the Steinway grand piano, support for pro-
gramming and support for lighting upgrades
and other equipment, Friends President Rich
Franklin said that the Friends of HPAC Board
of Directors voted to name the performance
hall, or the auditorium where patrons sit to
enjoy so many school and professional
events, for the Baum family.
Earlene Baum spoke on behalf of herself
and her husband, Larry, saying she was grate-
ful for the dedication.
“We were just amazed at what a wonderful
event it was and all the people that made such
kind remarks and showed such appreciation
for things that have been happening over the
years,” said Earlene Baum.
Spencer White, co-director of Hastings
Bands and a member of the HPAC manage-
ment team, had this to say about the manythings the Baum family has done for the
schools and the community:
“Any one of these gracious acts would be
considered a once-in-a-lifetime gift. It’s
impossible to express the impact of the
Baums’ generosity. They have changed the
lives of thousands of students, teachers and
community members.
“They have made Hastings a destination
community. And they have allowed the arts to
flourish and expand in our wonderful city. All
we can do is say thank you and work as hard
as possible to make these gifts have the larg-
est impact imaginable!”The overall facility will continue to be
known as the Hastings Performing Arts
Center, Franklin said, reflecting the invest-
ment of the whole community in building
it and using it. The HPAC is part of Hast-
ings High School and ultimately under the
authority of the Hastings Area School Sys-
tem superintendent and board of educa-
tion.
Anyone interested in the activities of the
Friends of HPAC, or looking to make a dona-
tion, may visit them on the web at hassk12.
org/HPAC, email at [email protected], or
call 269-818-2492.Floor Doctors
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#
& InsuredSteve Youngs (left) is joined on stage at the 2019 concert by (from left) Fred
Jacobs, Chase Youngs, Chris Youngs and Tim Acker during a previous install-
ment of the Mary Youngs Benefit Concert. (File photo)The Baum family (pictured), led by Larry and Earlene Baum (center), has consis-
tently supported Hastings Area Schools, along with the HPAC and community for
many years. To honor and show appreciation for the Baums, Friends of the HPAC
decided to name the auditorium inside the facility after Larry and Earlene Baum.
Pictured are (from left) Jason Baum, Becky McGowan, Susie Baum, Dave Baum,
Larry Baum, Earlene Baum, Tim Pederson, Karen Pederson, Brian Baum, Tauri
Baum, Nick Baum and Mallory Berg. (Photo provided)CHURCH, continued from page 1 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Bishop Paul J. Bradley of Kalamazoo spreads holy water as he walks around the
newly-restored sanctuary at St. Rose of Lima. Deacons James Mellen (left) and
Eugene Has (right) flank him.A fire in July 2021 destroyed the St. Rose of Lima church, leading to a 20-month journey of renovations and restorations. The
church is now open and will be used for mass moving forward.