Amador County - Jackson couple Kam Merzlak and Kellee Davenport, along with various friends and family, were awarded first prize for commercial float at Sunday’s Italian Benevolent Society Parade in Sutter Creek. The innovative float promoted their respective businesses and showed off Merzlak’s bourgeoning reputation as a float and exhibit designer. Merzlak and Davenport accepted the prize from Paul Molinelli Jr. of ACES Waste Services and Richard Cavalleri on behalf of the Italian Benevolent Society.
“Surprisingly, I do real well with talking people into these crazy ideas,” Merzlak said. Merzlak has been dubbed “The Catalyst” by his family and friends because of his ability to bring people together to develop these projects. The float was built to resemble a small house complete with a landscaped yard and For Sale sign. In homage to the animated film “Up,” a large grouping of balloons were attached to the chimney of the house and Amador County Anime Czar Alan Sprenkle chased along behind the float in a Boy Scout uniform. Merzlak orchestrated an elaborate skit meant to highlight the services provided by all businesses involved. Two couples played by Noelle Erosa and Leland Ruddock and Ryan Erosa and Jenny Bird approached the float as if they were interested in buying the house. Each couple had a 2 x 4 foot blank check on a dry erase board. Davenport and Tera Donahoo, both of Sierra Home and Properties, exchanged the checks with giant cutout keys and the “purchase” was completed. “We put a lot of effort into this and it paid off,” said Merzlak, referring to the three weeks it took to complete the project from idea to inception. Kurt Todden of All County Construction in Ione built the house and Don Ritchie Painting added the finishing touches. Merzlak also took both the Silver and Superintendent’s award at the 2008 State Fair for his exhibit titled, “Picture Yourself in Amador County.” The county has authorized him to build this year’s State Fair exhibit, an ambitious project that will recreate a real working gold mining operation. This year’s state fair takes place from August 21 to September 7 at Cal Expo in Sacramento. Story by Alex Lane
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Amador County - Jackson couple Kam Merzlak and Kellee Davenport, along with various friends and family, were awarded first prize for commercial float at Sunday’s Italian Benevolent Society Parade in Sutter Creek. The innovative float promoted their respective businesses and showed off Merzlak’s bourgeoning reputation as a float and exhibit designer. Merzlak and Davenport accepted the prize from Paul Molinelli Jr. of ACES Waste Services and Richard Cavalleri on behalf of the Italian Benevolent Society.
“Surprisingly, I do real well with talking people into these crazy ideas,” Merzlak said. Merzlak has been dubbed “The Catalyst” by his family and friends because of his ability to bring people together to develop these projects. The float was built to resemble a small house complete with a landscaped yard and For Sale sign. In homage to the animated film “Up,” a large grouping of balloons were attached to the chimney of the house and Amador County Anime Czar Alan Sprenkle chased along behind the float in a Boy Scout uniform. Merzlak orchestrated an elaborate skit meant to highlight the services provided by all businesses involved. Two couples played by Noelle Erosa and Leland Ruddock and Ryan Erosa and Jenny Bird approached the float as if they were interested in buying the house. Each couple had a 2 x 4 foot blank check on a dry erase board. Davenport and Tera Donahoo, both of Sierra Home and Properties, exchanged the checks with giant cutout keys and the “purchase” was completed. “We put a lot of effort into this and it paid off,” said Merzlak, referring to the three weeks it took to complete the project from idea to inception. Kurt Todden of All County Construction in Ione built the house and Don Ritchie Painting added the finishing touches. Merzlak also took both the Silver and Superintendent’s award at the 2008 State Fair for his exhibit titled, “Picture Yourself in Amador County.” The county has authorized him to build this year’s State Fair exhibit, an ambitious project that will recreate a real working gold mining operation. This year’s state fair takes place from August 21 to September 7 at Cal Expo in Sacramento. Story by Alex Lane
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