Category Archives: Life

Jeremy Andrews was enjoying a January vacation with his wife, Erin. The couple, co-owners of Penetrator Events, had just finished rafting along the Sturgeon River when they stumbled upon a unique feature at a local park: a shed with numerous sleds pouring out of it, the words “Sled Library” plastered on the side.

Now, with the help of some community partners, Andrews has brought the concept to the Cereal City, (Battle Creek is the home of Kellog’s Cereal), unveiling the first Free Sled Library, where patrons “borrow a sled, leave a sled,” at Leila Arboretum.

Kids took full advantage of the newly installed sled library Feb. 12 as hundreds poured into the 72-acre park for the annual “Festivus” cardboard sled race.

Steep hills combined with formidable ice claimed at least four of the plastic sleds available for kids that afternoon, but Andrews isn’t deterred. “As long as people donate, I’ll just keep buying sleds,” he said. “The idea is really cool and we’re happy with it.” Andrews has garnered more than $600 in donations since floating the idea out to friends on social media Feb. 2. A second sled library is planned and will debut next winter given the recent warmer temperatures.

Heidi LaGrow, a graphic communications technology instructor at Calhoun Area Career Center, was one of the first people to offer Andrews a helping hand with the project after reading his post on Facebook.

“I thought it was absolutely awesome and a great community event,” LaGrow said. “I reached out to and asked if he had any signage that needed to be done or anything that possibly could be donated by the career center.”

A few of LaGrow’s students offered designs, with Andrews ultimately choosing signage developed by Loretha McDonald, a senior at Battle Creek Central High School.

Kyle Burnett, owner of RB Christian Ironworks, also joined in the effort, designing a “corral” where sleds could be stored. The project served as a great learning experience for some of Burnett’s employees new to fabrication, he said, with the team building the structure in time for its debut at “Festivus” on Feb. 12.

“It’s for a good cause, it helps kids get out there and have fun and it sounded like a great opportunity,” Burnett said. “I really like getting involved in these kind of projects around the community. I’m using this venture as a business owner to just be different, help people and maybe encourage other companies to help the community even more. We can have a lot of influence in the community if we just help.”

LaGrow also connected Andrews with Calhoun Area Career Center’s construction students, who built a second corral for sleds.

“What I like about this is although it appears it was a really easily put together thing, I made a Facebook post, I got people to start donating some dollars and I got a couple partners to give and donate some time and resources, but that’s really the accumulation of about 15 years of relationship building,” Andrews said.

Andrews hopes to add more free sled libraries in the future as donations and support allow. At the very least, there will be two fully-stocked next season, and while some have expressed concerns over sleds being stolen, Andrews’ response remains the same.

“Oh, you mean a kid without a sled has a sled now? Cool, I think we’re set,” he quipped. “I want people to learn how to share, of course. But you know what? If a kid needs a sled and they took one home and now they’ve got a sled, cool. That kid didn’t have a sled and now they have a sled.”

Andrews is accepting donations for the free sled library via Venmo @penetratorevents. For more information, visit penetratorevents.com

“summer is the season of inferior sledding”

-inuit proverb

—

source credit: Greyson Steele, Battle Creek Enquirer

Mar3

frozen.

Posted on March 3, 2022 by beth

Standard

that moment when you discover

your sandbox has turned into a frozen lake

you understand the difference between liquid and solid

and realize your toys are not going anywhere until spring.

—

“it’s a moment that I’m after, a fleeting moment, but not a frozen moment.”

-andrew wyeth

Feb27

living and learning.

Posted on February 27, 2022 by beth

Standard

love seeing my granddaughters

riding while filled with a gentle spirit and mutual trust

love all the other grandies coming out

to see what they have been working on

love that they each have different things they love to do

karate, basketball, writing, swimming, cooking, reading, fantasy games,

swimming, horseback riding, drawing, helping people, flying, exploring,

floating, small business building, playing, celebrating

yet they all have the same tender spot for animals

while living life and learning.

—

“from horses we may learn not only about the horse itself

but also about animals in general,

indeed about ourselves and about life as a whole.”

-george gaylord simpson

Feb14

peace by chocolate on valentine’s day and every day.

Posted on February 14, 2022 by beth

Standard

This is a true and incredible human story, of a refugee family losing everything, leaving their home, and finding a new home and new life in an unexpected place and in unexpected ways. I’ve been following their story since their arrival in Canada and they are a wonderful example of will, grit, tenacity, family, compassion, overcoming odds, and a sheer refusal to give up. They are paying it forward by giving back to the people in their new community and beyond. Supporting those who welcomed them and may need the help that they so generously received when they were in desperate need. Plus, their chocolate in incredible.

—

So exciting!

We are so happy to announce that the movie based on our story, Peace by Chocolate – The Film is coming to theatres, exclusively at Cineplex across Canada on May 6th and the official trailer of the movie was finally released. This movie is a platform to share hope with Canadians and the world -something we all need more than anything these days. See you all at the theatres this spring. (no date yet for u.s. or international openings)

—

https://peacebychocolate.ca/collections/all

—

“generosity is not giving me that which I need more than you do,

but it is giving me that which you need more than I do.”

-khalil gibran