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Ripon getting Love again next spring
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Love Ripon is back after a one-year absence.

Organizers of this community volunteer program are now in search of project ideas for the April 18 event.

Joseph Laswell, who is coordinator for the Love Ripon Committee, said suggestions can be sent to the website (www.loveripon.com) or the Love Ripon on Facebook.

So far, the seven-member committee has met three times. “We’re back and we’re here,” said Laswell at Tuesday’s Ripon City Council meeting.

Mayor Chuck Winn remembered getting involved in Love Ripon 2012. Two events were held that year consisting of projects to spruce up the community.

“Everyone on the Council joined in,” he said. “We worked as teams (on various projects).

“You also met people that you normally wouldn’t have known otherwise.”

Winn added that Love Ripon events took only about three and half hours on that one designated weekend day in various parts of town.

“The experience last for just that one day. But it becomes an ongoing enjoyment of making a difference,” said Winn.

According to Laswell, Love Ripon began out of the success of Love Ripon in 2007.

“The two questions asked was ‘Why is our city on lists of the worst cities in America?’ If our churches were to suddenly disappear would anyone even care or notice,” he said.

Over the years, many surroundings have drawn inspiration from Love Modesto to take on similar endeavors, including Stockton, Salida, Oakdale, Manteca, Lathrop and, of course, Ripon.

“We’re now in over 50 cities,” Laswell said.

This year’s Love Ripon will kick off with a 9 a.m. rally at Fourth Street and South Locust Avenue on April 18.