April 21, 2017 at 2:47 p.m.
Remembering Jon: Mother keeps son's memory alive with Arbirthday event
Remembering Jon: Mother keeps son's memory alive with Arbirthday event
By Kayla Thomason-
The event, called Arbirthday, will begin at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. The proceeds from the event will go to a scholarship for Rhinelander High School students in Jonathan's name.
Ottman passed away Dec. 25, 2015, at the age of 27, after battling cancer. The Jonathan Ottman Memorial Scholarship was created in his memory.
"Jon and his friends used to get all dressed up and they would celebrate Arbirthday - which his birthday was the 26th of April and Arbor Day is always right around that time," explained Jennifer Sackett, Jonathan's mother. "And so they would get dressed up in suits and ties and the girls would wear dresses and they'd go out and celebrate Arbor Day and his birthday and I thought it would be really good to keep that tradition going and remember him and be able to turn that into a fundraiser to keep his scholarship going."
The fundraiser will include raffles, with prizes such as gift certificates from restaurants, bottles of wine, and more.
Tickets are $1 a piece or six for $5.
There will also be a 50/50 raffle. Tickets for that will be $1 each or six for $5. Tickets for the paddlewheel raggle range from $1 to $5 depending on the prize.
Food will be served including a fish fry, sandwiches, fish tacos, birthday cake and more.
Scott Kirby and Phyl Wickham will provide the entertainment.
Sackett has 150 red pine sapling plugs (not bare root, so they have compacted dirt allowing them to stay alive until they can be planted) that she is giving away for Arbor Day. She is hoping people will plant the trees in her son's memory.
"I want to make sure I keep his memory alive and honor him and I thought this would be a good way to do that," she said, adding that she hopes this will be an annual event.
Two Rhinelander High School students will receive the scholarship, which organizers expect to be about $500.
The students have to have been in band for four years and computer classes are a plus. The students also have to write a general essay on what they can do to make a difference in the world.
The scholarships will be awarded May 21.
Sackett is also still selling scarves, bracelets, headbands and necklaces that she made and sold for Ottman's benefits.
Anyone who is interested in purchasing the items, or making a donation to the scholarship, should email [email protected].
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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