Students turn out for talent

By LARRY HOLCOMBE

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Ironwood - Downtown Ironwood was jumping with activity during the middle of the day Wednesday as 1,400 area school kids arrived in school buses to take in a show inside and out of the Ironwood Theatre.

COLE's Foundation is marking its 10th anniversary and invited area schools to attend the show dedicated to the message "giving back."

There were two shows - one in late morning, the other early afternoon - filling the theater with 700 kids twice.

Before entering the theater, students lined both sides of blocked-off Aurora Street in front of the theater to watch Ed Rossi, of Neenah, Wis., make several jumps on his motorcycle. Each jump seemed higher and more difficult, as he leaned one way or the other - two hands, one hand, no hands - and finally flipping all the way over, to the appreciation of the crowd.

Rossi, 37, said he grew up in Kenosha, Wis., has been riding bikes since he was 4 and has been jumping professionally for 17 years.

"I raced for five years all over District 16 in Wisconsin, then started making money doing freestyle, instead of spending money doing racing," he said.

He has jumped in every state in the nation and eight countries. He's scheduled to be in Dallas next weekend.

Why jumping?

"Because I love to fly," Rossi said. "It's been a blessing to be able to do something I love to do and make money at it. Now it's cool to have the opportunity to be involved with COLE's Foundation and this whole deal ... trying to give back to the community a little bit and give back what God's given me. It's been a blessing."

After his 15-minute show on the street, the kids took their seats in the theater and Rossi took the stage to urge the kids to aim high and keep trying, even when they fail, "get up when you're down." He also asked the kids to help their neighbors when they're down, to give to their community.

Next to the stage was Ethan Bortnick, a 17-year-old piano player, entertainer and motivational speaker who has also toured internationally. Besides playing and singing from the piano bench, he also talked about the importance of helping one's community. "You can make a difference," he said.

Brittany Wagner, 2018 Ms. America, also addressed the audience. With crown on her head sparkling in the stage lights, she told how she had been bullied growing up in southern California and how competing in pageants helped her confidence. She said her dad died of diabetes and talked about how she has dedicated herself to helping others learn more about the disease. She said it's her way of giving back and asked the audience members try to make a difference in their communities.

COLE's Foundation was created in 2008 in memory of Cole Ruotsala, who died of cancer in that year at the age of 3. His father, Aaron Ruotsala, of Ironwood, set up the foundation with his wife, Moireen, when they realized how many people wished to help other families in which children also have pediatric cancer.

Ruotsala thanked the performers and the kids for coming. He said the performers have been blessed and gracious to "give back" to the kids at the concert. He also reminded the kids to "give back" whenever they can.

Bortnick will return for a fundraising concert for the COLE's Foundation at the Ironwood Theatre on Saturday at 7 p.m.