New Sculpture Adorns Library Memorial Garden

Altrusa will erect a sculpture in the northeast quadrant of Four Corners Park without the controversy that faced plans for another sculpture in the southeast quadrant last fall.

The Coldwater City Council approved the installation on March 25 of the classic Randolph Rose Collection bronze sculpture "Reading Buddies."

According to past president Carrie Stout, the 47 current local members of Coldwater Altrusa International raised $19,000 for the art piece featuring a boy and a girl reading at each end of a bench with space in between for people to sit.

Stout said, "Bronze is an incredibly durable material that withstands all sorts of weather conditions, and it assures us the sculpture will be around for generations."

Altrusa presented the sculpture to the city to encourage literacy. The group gave the sculpture, "As a symbol of our commitment to the community and to its improvement, both through continued beautification of our Four Corners Park."

The group adopted that corner of Four Corners Park in 1984 and maintains flowers there.

The corner is also home to the Farmer's Market for 13 weeks during the summer.

Another sculpture proposed for the park's southeast quadrant did not receive a similar enthusiastic welcome last November.

Councilman John Petzko and his two daughters provided seed money for the fountain to honor his late wife and their mother, councilwoman Maureen Petzko.

The family suggested, with City Manager Keith Baker, a stylistic modern 15-foot sculpture by Fritz Olsen from the 2023 Grand Rapids Art Walk.

Jersey City unveiled a bronze statue of the late Councilman Michael Yun, marking the fourth anniversary of his passing. The sculpture, placed prominently at the corner of Central Avenue and Bowers Street, outside Yun’s former office and the location of Garden State News, which he owned, symbolizes the enduring legacy of a man who devoted himself to the service of Jersey City.

Councilman Yun, who represented Ward D, was first elected to the council in 2013. His tenure was abruptly cut short in 2020 when he succumbed to complications from COVID-19.

Born in South Korea, Yun emigrated to the United States at the age of 24, embodying the American Dream through his political ascent and profound community engagement in Jersey City. His work and commitment to the people he served have left an indelible mark on the city, a testament to his character as a public servant and a family man, celebrated not only for his role in governance but also as a father, husband, and grandfather.

The city of Jersey City described the unveiling of the statue as a “touching memorial” to Yun, emphasizing that his “presence will remain as a reminder of his service to Jersey City.”