Arman Garza Memorial
Cathy Schroeder and Debbie Roach came to the podium to tell usabout their project to create a memorial for Arman Garza, who died last year
when he was 15, by installing handicapped accessible playground equipment at Churchill Elementary School.
when he was 15, by installing handicapped accessible playground equipment at Churchill Elementary School.
They distributed handouts showing an Aero Glider, which is a large swing with a ramp that goes up to it and holds several people in wheelchairs. There's nothing like it in the area. They are raising funds now to purchase a similar piece of equipment which holds even more people and wheelchairs up to 1,300 pounds. It costs $15,000, plus they would like to put a permanent bronze plaque in memory of Arman, which might cost another $2,000. They plan a ribbon cutting for the media and hope to install it during the summer after school is out. It will be installed at the Churchill playground, on the south side and connect to the public sidewalk on Granite Street. Churchill school was selected since that's where the students with disabilities attend. The swing rocks and glides while students are in their wheelchairs. After their presentation, President Ryan presented Cathy and Debbie with a check from the Cloquet Rotary for $2,000 for this project.
Cathy Schroeder, Presdient Ryan Micke, and Debbie Roach
Excerpts taken from the Cloquet Rotary log, edited by Rachael Martin