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35 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 20, 2004 Andy Batzer has helped build seven playgrounds for local schools, including this one at Jackson elementary, his first. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Christmas morning, again and again Owner of a construction company volunteers his time and skills to build playgrounds for schools By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune Andy Batzer’s willing attitude and organizational skills have turned him into a veteran volunteer playground builder. It was a Medford Rogue Rotary meeting that got Batzer, 49, started on his path. The call went out to find a "Connect with Kids" project to help local schools. The next thing Batzer knew, he was building Jackson Elementary School’s playground — the first of seven he’s helped construct in the past two years. Jackson Principal Tom Ettel credits Batzer as the leader and says the playground is a big success. "The first day the new structure was completed felt like Christmas morning," Ettel says. "The kids were all over the structure. I have never seen such smiles. Advertisement "Here, in a poverty pocket on the west side, we had the finest playground in the valley. What a kick for our kids." Batzer owns a construction company, but he didn’t expect to be in such demand as a playground builder. "I didn’t think I’d become that knowledgeable," he said. "But after about the fourth one, you gotta wonder what’s going on." Batzer and his crews created new playgrounds for Washington, Howard, Wilson and Roosevelt elementary schools in the Medford district and for Sacred Heart Catholic School in Medford and St. Joseph Catholic School in Roseburg. Nominating Batzer as this week’s Hometown Hero is Debra Lee, executive director for the Center for Nonprofit Legal Services who helped raise money for the playground projects. "I think Andy was the energy as well as the knowledge behind (building) the playgrounds," says Lee. "This is a legacy of success. Each school was able to rally parents, teachers, students and administrators to work in partnership with the city of Medford." Batzer insists he was only one of many volunteers working on these projects. "I was amazed at how good the volunteers are in this community," says Batzer. "Building playgrounds gave a lot of opportunities for people to contribute. Shoveling sawdust, bolting equipment together or digging holes — there was always something for everyone to do." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers