{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Thumbcoast.tv | ebw.tv - Serving Port Huron and the Thumbcoast","provider_url":"https:\/\/thumbcoast.tv","title":"Remembering the Late Gary Kohs: Making the Impossible Possible","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"zyUZ2RA9qR\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thumbcoast.tv\/remembering-late-gary-kohs-making-impossible-possible\/\">Remembering the Late Gary Kohs: Making the Impossible Possible<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/thumbcoast.tv\/remembering-late-gary-kohs-making-impossible-possible\/embed\/#?secret=zyUZ2RA9qR\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Remembering the Late Gary Kohs: Making the Impossible Possible&#8221; &#8212; Thumbcoast.tv | ebw.tv - Serving Port Huron and the Thumbcoast\" data-secret=\"zyUZ2RA9qR\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/thumbcoast.tv\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/thumbcoast.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Kohs-Laura.jpg","thumbnail_width":1033,"thumbnail_height":684,"description":"Written by Audrey Sochor \u00a0 \u00a0A small town once down on hard times, Marine City is now alive with a palpable energy full of possibilities - thanks in large part to the late Gary Kohs, a visionary big-picture thinker, and marketing genius determined to put Marine City on the map. \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cWhen he came to Marine City he saw it as a gem,\u201d said Laura Scaccia, Kohs fiancee. \u201cAnd he wanted to be part of polishing up that gem. He just saw that there was so much more here and he fell in love with it; fell in love with the people.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0The owner of the Mariner Theater and driving force behind record-breaking events, Kohs passed away suddenly on Dec. 15, 2017, at 73 years of age. And although he was only an area resident for a short time, his memory will serve as inspiration for locals for generations to come.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Kohs moved to St. Clair six years ago with Scaccia, a move that would ultimately ignite the spark for his later work in Marine City. \u00a0 \u00a0Having spent years in Birmingham, Kohs\u2019 claim to fame was his successful background in marketing, but in 1989 decided he was done with that and started a new venture, Fine Art Models. Never one to do things halfway, he set out to make it the best model making company in the world. His goal was realized 12 years ago when he was contacted by Harland and Wolff, the company that built the Titanic, to create the official builder\u2019s model of the famous ship. That project turned into a 7-year labor of love. \u00a0 \u00a0Two years after making the move to St. Clair, Kohs grew tired of the commute to Fine Art Models in Royal Oak, so decided to move the business. \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cWhen we bought the house back in St. Clair we did a restoration of it, so we used to come into Marine City quite often to look for antiques and things,\u201d Scaccia said. \u201cRight away we fell in love with the atmosphere.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0When they found the Mariner Theater they knew right away that was it - the Titanic belonged on stage and out of a warehouse. The space also allowed them to create galleries for his other models, which fed into his vision for Marine City.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Kohs also like the space\u2019s history as a theater. Having read a lot about the effects a lit up marquee could have by adding life to a small town, he set out to remodel it after the original 1927 marquee, and also brought in old theater chairs from Grand Rapids that resemble the original.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0One thing he loved about Marine City is the 5 million people an hour away. \u201cHow do you get 5 million people who live an hour away to come here, or to notice us?\u201d Scaccia said. \u201cBreak records.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0Now well-known for his love of doing things that were out of the ordinary and kind of impossible, Kohs set out to break the Guinness record for the world\u2019s longest string of popcorn. \u201cBut he had to take it a step further,\u201d she said. \u201cThe impossible wasn\u2019t impossible enough. He decided to make this international.\u201d That international connection was important to Kohs, especially since their model business is world-wide. \u201cHe said, \u2018I\u2019m now going to take that string of popcorn and connect two countries.\u2019 And he did.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Breaking one world record wasn\u2019t enough of a challenge for Kohs, so the next day he and Scaccia organized an event to have the most people carving pumpkins at one time. While they didn\u2019t set the record for that the first year, they did the second year. \u00a0 \u00a0Kohs desire to make an international connection was taken to the next level when he met Peter Michael, organizer of Slow Cycle & Paddle St. Clair. Shortly after they met, they planned the International Slow Cycle from Marine City to Canada for the grand kick-off of the 2017 cycle season. \u00a0 \u00a0Realizing logistics for a ride like that needed to be worked out, they took a test ride of the route three weeks before the main event. They hopped on the ferry to Walpole Island, and a mile and a half into the ride of Canada Michael\u2019s bicycle broke down. \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cI was in a country I don\u2019t know well on bike,\u201d Michael said. \u201cI told Gary he could ride ahead, but he didn\u2019t and walked the entire way back with me.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0So they took that time to get to know each other, and the experience ultimately helped them plan a successful, international kick-off event last June. True to Kohs\u2019 style, a historical aspect was added through an antique bike show the following day.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cHe got stuff done. He didn\u2019t care if it was crazy,\u201d Michael said. \u201cWithout him, that ride would never have happened.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0Kohs also knew it\u2019s the people who make or break a community, and one of his last projects before his death was to create a safe space for area youth \u2013 the River Rec Teen Zone (RRTZ). \u00a0 \u00a0The idea for RRTZ originated in 2015 with Kyle Pond, a Riverview East High School student, as his passion project assignment. Educators quickly realized his project had potential and before long community leaders like Kohs were pulled in \u2013 soon Pond\u2019s passion became Kohs\u2019.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Jason Stier, former art teacher and current principal at Riverview East, first met Kohs when he took an interest in the RRTZ project. \u201cNot only did Gary open the doors of the Mariner Theater for our youth to meet and share ideas, but more importantly opened his heart and mind to simply listen to students, unpack their potential, and help them in discovering who they are,\u201d he said. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The project faced pitfalls with buildings that didn\u2019t work out, but RRTZ eventually signed a lease with the City of Marine City for the old city hall. Kohs became the driving force behind the fundraiser to renovate the building. He decided on Partronicity after the success of the beach improvement fundraiser and the campaign was going to launch this March. However, Kohs\u2019 passing changed things. \u00a0 \u00a0Faced with a rush of memorial gifts, Scaccia took the $15,000 people gave and jumpstarted the online campaign. By the end, the group raised about $40,000 and received $30,000 in matching funds from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cMy goal right now is to continue that legacy and bring it to fruition,\u201d she said with tears in her eyes. \u201cThat\u2019s what my role is going to be now.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Scaccia said Kohs inspired the teens because he accomplished a lot in his life but was also down to earth and easy to relate to \u2013 sentiments shared by Stier.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cGary's own drive and relentless pursuit to strengthen the very fibers of our community were always applied in ways that would benefit the greater good,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u201cIn every effort, he conveyed an overwhelming sense of passion and purpose. Teens were drawn to Gary's charisma, work ethic, determination and, most importantly, compassion.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0Both Scaccia and Stier said he encouraged not only the teens but everyone who knew him to reach their full potential. \u201cHe used to say if you can dream it you can live it. And he dreamt a lot of things,\u201d she said with a laugh. \u201cHe lived a lot of things.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0When Kohs put his mind to something, he did it. He was the keeper for Mendota Lighthouse, a property he owed on the Keweenaw Peninsula. When he bought the lighthouse it was deactivated, but he restored it and fought to get it back on the charts. Today it\u2019s an operating lighthouse guiding ships home. \u00a0 \u00a0He also flew airplanes and owned a Stearman as well as a Corsair, a historic plane used during WWII, which he did a total restoration on. It was one of his prime joys. \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cHe felt he was only a caretaker of things. So when it was time to let things go, he let them go and let somebody else be a caretaker,\u201d Scaccia said. \u201cHe always used to say you can\u2019t take things with you, you know?\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0Every morning Kohs woke up grateful for his life, she added. He loved and appreciated everyone and everything he had. A huge collector, he saw the art in everything and liked to share that vision and the stories associated with things he owed or restored. \u00a0 \u00a0Even at a later age, Kohs was a thrill seeker. He raced motorcycles in Baja and on the Bonneville Salt Flats \u2013 at 70 years old his record was 187 miles per hour. \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cAs sad as all this is, I feel so fortunate \u2018cause I did have 10 years,\u201d Saccia said with tears. \u201cSomebody wrote he was larger than life. He really was, you know. People in Marine City really only knew a portion of who he was. He came with a whole list of accomplishments with his life.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cHe\u2019d be so surprised,\u201d she added. \u201cAll the people that showed up, and raising the thirty thousand dollars. I think he would be so happy. I know he\u2019s looking down on us going \u2018wow.\u2019\u201d \u00a0\u00a0"}