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Artrain

Nearly 1,300 people, including 800 Shiawassee County elementary school students, visited Artrain USA during its five-day stop in Owosso, October 19-23, 2005. The Steam Railroading Institute and the Shiawassee Arts Council co-sponsored the major event with the support of many volunteers and donors. Committee members were Arlene Black, Piper Brewer, Caroline Colbry, Mary Hogg, Karen Kangas-Preston, Stephanie McClintock and Libby Van Epps.

Financial supporters were: Applebee's, Friends of Bill Berkompas, Cook Family Foundation, Emery Pratt Co. & Shattuck Specialty Advertising, Dr. & Mrs. Phillip Moore, Owosso Graphic Arts, John Peters and the MI State Trust for Railway Preservation Board of Directors.

Also, Ann Bentley, Arlene Black, Chemical Bank, Comstock Inn, Gary Knudsen, Dean Pyers, Memorial Healthcare, Republic Bank, Shaw's Pharmacy, Shiawassee Anesthesia Services.

Also, GiGi's Catering, Healthfirst Pharmacy, George Hoddy, Roma's Back Door, Paul & Cindy Schluckebier, Shiawassee-Owosso Kiwanis Club, UPS Store and VG's Food Center.

Also, Allen Paper Co., Baker College of Owosso, Piper Brewer, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Campbell, Eddie O'Flynn's, M.A. Hanna Corp., Indian Trails, Dr. Jaffri, Peter Keay, Kiwanis Club of Owosso, Mancino's, McDonalds of Shiawassee County, Owosso Floral, Perrin Construction, Risto's Bistro, Shiawassee RESD, Dr. J.M. & Denise Vachhani, Elizabeth Van Epps and Van Epps & Van Epps, Attorneys.

Thank you to the demonstrating artists: Bonnie Brown, Kathryn Gehrs-Pahl, Linda Hill, Jerry Power, Linda Ruehle, Sally Thielen and Thomas Tomasek.

Thank you to the volunteers: Nancy Balko, Sue Sunday, Cheryl Paez, Carolyn O'Connell, Donna Nault, Mike Gregory, Richard Clark & JoEllen Hartley, Bob & Jo Teich, Pegge Dillingham, Joyce Goff, Sharron Smith, Jill Young, Deb Bitterman, Anne Wiseman, Barb Moll, Barb White, Jill Chambers, Ruth Edwards, Connie Voight, June Caponi, Billie Lyons, Janet Franks, Lori Bailey, Carolyn Lawrence, Jeff Deason, Heather Deason, Rena Schwartz, Edythe Reineke, Deb Walworth, Libby Van Epps, Ken Henry, Gary Bredahl, Trish Manke, Kitty & Dick Campbell, and Sue Osika.

Artrain USA is the nation's only touring art museum on a train. The primary focus of the Artrain visit to Owosso was to provide our community's youth, at no cost to them, an opportunity to explore new cultural experiences by viewing a contemporary Native American art exhibition. Two full days of the visit were reserved for elementary school students who were bussed in from school districts throughout Shiawassee County. This was the sixth time that Artrain has visited Shiawassee County - four times in Owosso and twice in Durand. In fact, the Shiawassee Arts Council was established in 1972 to be able to bring Artrain to our community for the first time.

On behalf of the Shiawassee Arts Council and the Steam Railroading Institute, I thank everyone who "came aboard" to help make the visit by Artrain USA a success.

David Louwsma, D.O. Artrain Chairman