City of Kentwood city leaders celebrate the city’s renewed designation as a Tree City USA, by planting a tree of course, in 2021. (Supplied)
By WKTV Staff
The City of Kentwood will honor Arbor Day — and its renewed designation as a Tree City USA — by giving away 250 tree seedlings during an Arbor Day Celebration and tree planting on April 29.
Residents of all ages are invited to join Kentwood’s Arbor Day Celebration at Veterans Memorial Park, 355 48th St. SE., according to an announcement from the city. The event will begin at noon with an Arbor Day proclamation, followed by a tree planting and a half-mile guided tree identification walk in the park. Complimentary refreshments will be available at the concession stand.
Arbor Day is an annual day of observance typically held in the spring to celebrate trees and encourage tree planting. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the holiday.
“A healthy tree population and canopy help improve quality of life and promote happier, healthier communities,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “The Arbor Day Celebration enables Kentwood to engage our community members in environmental stewardship to help make the city a more vibrant and beautiful place to live.”
Arbor Day, locally and nationally
The Arbor Day Celebration engages and educates the community in planting and caring for the city’s trees and is part of Kentwood’s participation in the Tree City USA program.
The City of Kentwood will honor Arbor Day — and its renewed designation as a Tree City USA — by giving away 250 tree seedlings during an Arbor Day Celebration and tree planting on April 29. (Supplied)
Kentwood was recently recognized with the 2021 Tree City USA honor for promoting and caring for trees within the community, the second time the City has received the designation. The first was in 2020.
To become a Tree City USA, cities must have an annual Arbor Day observance, a community tree ordinance, a tree board or department and spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry activities. The program provides the necessary framework for communities to manage and expand their public trees, celebrate the importance of an urban tree canopy and demonstrate their commitment to environmental change.
Residents invited to get trees, get involved
Leading up to the Arbor Day celebration, residents can pick up free red maple or white pine tree seedlings at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. The seedlings will be available during business hours Tuesday, April 26 through Friday, April 29 or until supplies are gone.
The City of Kentwood will honor Arbor Day — and its renewed designation as a Tree City USA — by giving away 250 tree seedlings during an Arbor Day Celebration and tree planting on April 29. (Supplied)
Residents are invited to post a picture of their planted seedling on social media using the hashtag #GreeningKentwood.
The Kentwood Activities Center is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. During Arbor Day week, residents can check on tree seedling availability by calling the Parks and Recreation Department at 616-656-5270.
Residents who are looking for more ways to get involved beyond Arbor Day are invited to join the Kentwood Park Stewards, an environmentally focused program that helps preserve and maintain neighborhood parks, trails and public spaces.
The Wyoming Spring Carnival will run from April 24 – May 1. (Supplied)
Just in time for the warmer weather at the end of this week, Wyoming’s Spring Carnival returns to Lamar Park on Friday.
The annual event event, only missing 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, will run through May 1 at the park located at 2561 Porter St. SW.
According to Corey Stamps, the special events and marketing programmer for the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation, the activities for this year’s Spring Carnival are the same as in the past.
The carnival will include various rides, games and food options. To help keep all participants, employees, and vendors safe, TJ Schmidt & Company will be operating under enhanced health and safety measures in response to COVID-19. Masks are not required at this year’s event, however the vendor is reminding everyone that there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place where people are present.
Because of the popularity of the Spring Carnival, security for the event has been increased as well.
The times for the Spring Carnival are similar to last year, 4 – 8:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 2 – 8:30 p.m Friday; and noon – 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Spring Carnival is weather dependent and before attending residents should check with the Wyoming Department of Parks and Recreation’s Facebook page for updates on the carnival.
Prices are $18 Monday – Friday and $23 Saturday. There are $3-off coupons are available for the unlimited wristbands.
There will be a number of carnival rides and food offerings at the Wyoming Spring Carnival. (Supplied)
A staple in the city city for more than 30 years, proceeds from the carnival support City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation services and the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance or GWCRA. Funds raised support youth scholarships and youth and family programming through the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department. The GWCRA distributes funds to the community its through annual grant awarding process.
The Spring Carnival is made possible through the work of the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation and TJ Schmidt & Company. For more information about the carnival, contact the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department at 616-530-3164.
As protests continue over the April 4 shooting of Patrick Lyoya, several organizations have come forward with resources for the community on dealing with trauma and grief. (pxhere.com)
As many area residents deal with the recent release of video tape of the traffic stop of Patrick Lyoya that resulted in his death, several local organizations have stepped forth to provide resources to help people navigate the difficult conservations of dealing with trauma or grief.
On April 4, Lyoya was stopped by a Grand Rapids police officer and then shot. While the video has been released to the public, the incident is still under investigation.
One of those organizations responding was the Kent County Welcome Plan Steering Committee, which noted that “When critical incidents are seen through the eyes of language barriers, various cultural orientations, and trauma associated with a lifetime of fleeing violence or persecution, we recognize the importance of listening to the voices of New Americans to make our community feel safe for all.”
The Kent County Welcome Plan Steering Committee noted that West Michigan has become home to more than 5,000 Congolese individuals and families. Lyoya and his family escaped the violence of the Congo in 2014.
Along with encourage people to help the Welcome Plan Steering Committee to create a Welcome Plan that makes all new Americans feel welcome, the committee encourage residents to follow the Mental Health Clinicians of Color Grand Raids, Glimpse of Africa, and the Black Impact Collaborative on Facebook. All of these groups have additional resources and upcoming events for the community process this tragedy, according other Welcome Plan Steering Committee.
Kent Intermediate School District and the Grand Rapids Public Library last week both reminded its staff and the public of community resources each organization offers to the public.
The Kent ISD has a parent resource section for processing trauma. According to the website, the resources provided expert guidance for parents and educators on how to assist students and children in the wake of traumatic events. This includes best practices for addressing violence that has occurred in one’s community and processing media coverage of such incidents.
– Reassure children that they are safe. Validate their feelings and let them discuss those filings, letting them know that their feelings are OK.
– Make time to talk. Let their questions be your guide as to how much information to provide and be patient.
– Keep you explanations developmentally appropriate such as with early education, keep language simple and brief with information being balanced with reassurances about safety.
– Review safety procedures both at school and home. Hep children identify at least one adult at school and in the community to whom they go if they feel threatened or at risk.
– Observe children’s emotional state. Some many not express their feelings but rather, may demonstrate changes in behavior or have anxiety or discomfort.
– Limit television viewing of these events.
– Maintain a normal routine. Keeping a regular schedule can be reassuring and promote physical health.
The site provides links to several organizations such as Black Emotional and Mental Health (BEAM), which is dedicated to the healing, wellness and liberation of Black communities.
Other organizations listed on the site are:
The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation which is working to change the African-American community by encouraging people to get the help ethyl need.
The Leland Foundation which provides financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy.
Innopsych which is brining healing to communities of color by changing the face and feel of therapy.
Mental Health America which is committed to promoting mental health for overall wellness.
Therapy for Black Girls, an online space encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.
Safe Black Space, an umbrella under which various services are offered to addresses people of African ancestry’s individual and community reactions to cultural and racial trauma.
Dinosaur and Dragon Stroll comes to the DeltaPlex June 4 and 5. (Supplied)
As one of my exchange students said recently, there is a day for about everything. Today, April 18, is National Velociraptor Awareness Day.
We’re not sure why anyone needs to be aware of these creatures since they lived 73 million years ago and mostly lived on Asian continents, but after some research, we discovered that velociraptors have been wrongly depicted in such movies as “Jurassic Park.” So let’s dispel the myths.
According to National Today, velociraptors did not stand seven feet tall, but were 6.5 feet long and about two feet tall from the hips. They also were not scaly or reptilian looking but resembled more of a turkey dinosaur as they has feathers and wings. Still, they were a ferocious predator with sharp teeth and three-inch-long curved claws on its back feet. Paleontologists have deducted that a velociraptors would stab its victim in the gut and then withdraw to a safe distance letting the creature bleed to death.
So while today is the National Velociraptor Awareness Day, you won’t be able to see one (a replica) four about six weeks when the Dino and Dragon Stroll comes to the DeltaPlex on June 4 and 5. In this interactive walk-through experience, guests will see a range of dinosaurs, from velociraptors to T-Rexes, from babies to life-size.
Tickets for the Dino and Drago Stroll are $30 and available by visiting dinostroll.com.
LANSING – Some trails break out of the woods at a lake. Some climb a dune to a sweeping view.
And many – more than you probably thought – lead to a shipwreck with a story on a beach.
This summer could be excellent for shoreline shipwreck viewing as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predicts that the water level of lakes Michigan and Huron could be almost 2 feet below the record highs set in 2020.
Michigan’s fascinating maritime history is not limited to old lighthouses or restored life-saving stations.
Jim DuFresne, MichiganTrailMaps.com.Remains of the Francisco Morazan off South Manitou Island at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
The state is blessed with accessible shipwrecks that don’t require an air tank or a wetsuit to view – only a pair of hiking boots, a paddle or a snorkel and mask.
The heart of shipwreck territory is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, but there are others, including a wreck in Thompson’s Harbor State Park in Presque Isle County and more off the shore of the Upper Peninsula’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Michigan’s shoreline wrecks are constantly evolving, depending on wave action, shifting sand and Great Lake water levels.
High and dry for easy viewing this summer will be one of Michigan’s newest exposed wrecks, the Jennie and Annie.
The 137-foot schooner, built in 1863, was rounding Sleeping Bear Point in November 1872 when gale-force winds pushed it into the shallows and reefs of Lake Michigan’s notorious Manitou Passage. The ship, its 10-member crew and a cargo of corn were driven aground 9 miles south near Empire. Only three crew members survived.
Gone forever? Hardly. For the past two summers, a substantial piece of the hull has been visible on a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore beach.
Here is a landlubber’s guide to other great Michigan shipwrecks:
City of Boston: Built in Cleveland in 1863, this 136-foot-long wooden steamer also featured a mast – and a history of bad luck.
In 1868, it collided with another steamer and sank in the Straits of Mackinac. When the steamship was raised 125 feet two years later, it was the deepest salvage ever attempted in the Great Lakes up to that time.
After being rebuilt in Cleveland, the ship returned to service as a stream barge, only to finally meet its end on Nov. 4, 1873, during a storm with blinding snow.
It was hauling flour and corn when it ran aground on a sand bar just off Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve in Benzie County. The raging surf quickly broke the hull, and the crew abandoned ship. The ship’s remains are west of the preserve’s beach access stairway, 150 to 200 feet from shore, depending on water levels. It’s angled in 7 to 8 feet of water, with its stern buried in the sand bar and its bow occasionally less than 4 feet below the lake’s surface. It’s easy snorkeling, and visitors can see the outline of the bow in clear water from the preserve’s second observation deck.
James McBride: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a graveyard for shipwrecks, including this 121-foot brig built in 1848 and lost in October 1857. A November storm in 2014 washed up a 43-foot-long section of the James McBride, making it the largest shipwreck ever to appear on the park’s shoreline.
Francisco Morazan: On Nov. 27, 1960, this Liberian freighter left Chicago bound for Holland with 940 tons of cargo, a crew of 13, its captain and his pregnant wife.
Jim DuFresne, MichiganTrailMaps.com.Remains of a wreck at Lake Superior’s AuSable Reef as seen from a Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore trail.
The next day, the ship ran into 40-mile-per-hour winds, snow and fog that made for a virtual whiteout.
The captain thought he was rounding Beaver Island, more than 100 miles away, when he ran aground on the south side of South Manitou Island.
A Coast Guard cutter and helicopter rescued the 15 people, but left the wreck behind to be forever battered by Lake Michigan.
Today it’s the most popular destination for campers on the island. The wreck is also popular with kayakers who bring their boats over on the ferry.
American Union: This 186-foot, three-masted schooner was one of the largest sailing ships to work the Great Lakes when launched in 1862. Its size ultimately led to its demise when it encountered a fatal storm in 1894 that grounded it at Thompson’s Harbor State Park, northwest of Alpena. The crew was saved, and today the wreckage rests a quarter-mile from shore in 10 feet of crystal-clear Lake Huron water.
The remains of the hull offer viewing opportunities for snorkelers and kayakers.
AuSable Reef Wrecks: From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore’s Hurricane River Campground, visitors can head east on the Lakeshore Trail and pass several wrecks, then end up at the AuSable Light Station built to protect the ships.
The first wreck, the Mary Jarecki, lies just outside the campground. The wooden bulk freighter was carrying iron ore and grounded on the AuSable Reef in July 1883. When other boats couldn’t tow it off, the ship was left to be battered by Lake Superior.
Its remains are just offshore and are challenging to see if there is a chop on the lake surface.
But a hike further down the trail leads to timbers and ironwork from two wrecks half-buried in the sand.
The first is the Sitka, a wooden freighter that grounded and broke in half in 1904.
The second is the Gale Staples, built in 1881. The wooden freighter was loaded with coal when it beached itself on the sandy reef in 1918.
America: On June 6, 1928, this tourist ship was loaded with crates of fresh fruit and 48 passengers when it left a resort on Isle Royale National Park’s Washington Island and, within a half-mile, struck a reef.
It sank within sight of horrified hotel employees and guests back at the dock. No deaths occurred, but bushels of fresh fruit washed ashore for weeks after the mishap.
Even more unusual, the ship sank in a vertical position, with one end lying less than 3 feet below the surface of Lake Superior.
Curious visitors can rent a canoe in Windigo and paddle out of Washington Harbor into the North Gap, where a buoy marks the ship’s location. Lake Superior is so clear it’s amazing how much is visible from a canoe seat.
Jim DuFresne is the editorial director at MichiganTrailMaps.com and an MSU Journalism School alum.
by Redfin, a full-service real estate brokerage, found that 68.8% of home offers written by Redfin agents nationally faced competition in February. (pxhere.com)
LANSING – “Pretty much every offer I put was a shot in the dark, where you’d just cross your fingers and pray and hope that it gets accepted,” said Corbin Holwerda of Grand Rapids.
Holwerda is a first-time homebuyer who has been looking for a house in Grand Rapids since mid-January.
“I’ve put in seven or eight offers, and it’s really tough because half of those I’m losing to all-cash offers,” he said. “I’m still a young adult. I don’t have $250,000 in the bank that I can just front and put up for a house.”
A recent study by Redfin, a full-service real estate brokerage, found that 68.8% of home offers written by Redfin agents nationally faced competition in February. That’s the highest share reported by its agents since at least April 2020.
“Even if we are able to go above asking (price), there are still people waiving inspections and going $50,000, $60,000 or $70,000 above asking in some cases,” Holwerda said.
According to a new Congressional Research Service report, the main factor causing record-high home prices is that more people are looking to buy houses than there are houses for sale.
Cash offers can help the sale of a home move more quickly. (pxhere.com)
It’s a question of supply and demand, the report said.
“We have people selling homes with 40 offers on one home,” said Shirley Smith, the executive officer of the Hillsdale County Board of Realtors.
“There is a huge amount of competition right now, and the reason for that is because inventory is low. House prices have been going up the last few years and inventory has not increased appreciably,” Smith said.
“I think we’re also seeing more cash offers because those are the offers that get accepted more quickly,” she said.
Sometimes offers are contingent on the sale of the buyer’s current home, a bank loan or inspections to be done, and that can take more time, she said.
But cash offers move the process along more quickly.
“Generally, when we have high housing prices like this, it doesn’t go on forever. I think I, and most Realtors, expect that in the not-so-distant future there will be a change in the trend,” she said.
According to Smith, projections from the National Association of Realtors say housing prices may increase 5% in the coming year, which is much lower than several years past.
“That might be a tapering off in the market,” she said.
According to the Case-Shiller Detroit Home Price Index, home prices in Detroit have gone up about 8.6% per year since January 2012. But from January 2021 to January 2022, prices rose 13.9%.
That can be compared with neighboring states’ large cities, like Cleveland, rising 13.3% and Chicago, rising 12.5%. Nationally, home prices rose 19.1% from January 2021 to January 2022, according to Case-Shiller’s national data.
“The interesting thing here (regarding the increases) is that in traditional years, only 3 to 5% of the housing on the market is actually new houses,” said Wayne State University economics professor Allen Goodman.
“As a result, most housing supply occurs kind of above the middle of the market. We don’t allow people to build new, low-quality houses,” said Goodman, who specializes in housing and health economics.
He said some new houses are resold multiple times and “as a result, the housing gets toward the upper end of the market, and what’s left there is sometimes said to filter down to other buyers.”
“A lot of this goes back to COVID, in part,” said Goodman. “To keep the economy growing, the federal government and Federal Reserve banks have had what were historically low interest rates. What it meant was that people who wanted to buy houses were faced with mortgage rates of like 3%.”
A combination of low interest rates and a smaller-than-traditional supply lead to increases in the price of housing. (pxhere.com)
“A combination of low interest rates and a smaller-than-traditional supply lead to increases in the price of housing,” Goodman said.
Monitoring estimates of the value of his own Huntington Woods home over the years, Goodman said it lost half its value from 2007 to 2009.
The value can vastly change by month. In one recent month, his home’s value was estimated to have increased around $30,000, but in a previous month it was estimated to have dropped $20,000.
“But really over the past year, it’s pretty much been the same, at least according to Zillow,” he said, referring to the online real estate-market national company.
Capital News Service is provided by the Spartan News Room located at Michigan State University. CNS reporters cover state government for member newspapers and digital media outlets across the state of Michigan.
The Women of the Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan (WAIAM) will be offering a free and virtual event for girls grades 4-8th to promote STEM education and the aerospace industry as these students plan their future studies.
The event, “Michigan Girls Future Flight Challenge” consists of a four-week long project, where student groups will be assigned to professional women in the aerospace industry as mentors throughout the program. Girls grades 4-8th are invited to participate by creating a team of 2-5 students then registering at https://aiamnow.com/events/.
The assignment is to design a sustainable, unique way of flight to solve a problem. The students will be given guidance and inspiration at the kickoff event on April 23 and immediately begin working with their teams and mentors until final presentations take place May 21.
A team of judges will determine the top teams. Prizes will be awarded, and each participant will receive a free t-shirt for taking part in the competition.
“The WAIAM is a committee within AIAM,” said Tony Vernaci, AIAM Founder and President. “Their mission is to actively work to create advocacy, education, and visibility for women and girls in aerospace across Michigan.
Michigan’s aerospace industry is full of opportunities. The event will reveal the potential this industry has to offer for young girls.”
Michigan has one of the most extensive aerospace clusters in the nation with nearly 1,000 companies supporting the global industry. A number of Michigan companies are sponsoring this event including Eaton, Woodward, Jackson Flexible Products, Array of Engineers, Genuen, Barron Industries, PALM Industries, and Calumet Electronics. Additional sponsors are needed to help make this competition possible and free for the students.
“We are excited to offer this opportunity,” said Stacy Paul, CEO of Array of Engineers. “The WAIAM look forward to inspiring these young girls and demonstrating through this experience how truly rewarding a career in the aerospace industry can be and the importance of STEM.”
The WAIAM virtual kickoff event will take place on Saturday, April 23, at 10 a.m. EST. The event is free and all girls grades 4-8th are invited and welcome to participate. Those wishing to learn more or to register for the event can do so at https://aiamnow.com/events/.
Yes, we have a few Easter Egg Hunts in the Top 5. But it also includes comedy, baseball and more!
What are you doing? Check out my Top 5, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.
Gonzo’s Top 5
Pieces at The Listening Room
5. Pieces at The Listening Room
I love it when I see local kids doing well in music. I’m excited for guitarist Olin Cark in the trio Pieces. I knew him as a student in Comstock Park, and along with his friends Adam Ray on drums and Louie Leager on bass, they are touring nationally. Playing a blend of straight-ahead jazz, rock and avant-garde, Pieces has reached over 30,000 plays on Spotify for its debut album, “1A,” and has been featured on curated playlists such as State of Jazz and Jazz Today, according to its press materials. The trio performs with local act Normal Mode at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (April 16) at The Listening Room in Grand Rapids. More info on the venue’s Facebook event page.
4. Perrin Tap Takeover at Horrocks Market & Taproom
My local brewery makes a road trip to Kentwood today (April 15) for a tap takeover at Horrocks Market and Tavern. Hours are 4-7 p.m. But as regulars know, many of the beers will remain on tap throughout the weekend. If you’re planning a trip to Horrocks to buy Easter dinner items, now you have an extra reason to make a visit. Some of the beers include: Willow Wheat, Perrin Black NITRO, Pineapple Upside Down (Fruited IPA), Slingshot Sour IPA and Fiesta Coffee Cake (Barrel Aged Stout). I just tried the fiesta coffee cake, and it’s super tasty and a little boozy. Enjoy. More info on the Horrocks event page.
Comedian Rob Little
3. Rob Little at Golden Age
It’s been several years now that I’ve been able to hang out with comedian Rob Little. We actually judged a macaroni and cheese competition in Pinconning. Since then, the Bay City native has gone on to a very successful career. In fact, “Last Comic Standing” on NBC named him “The Happiest Comic in America.” He is an awesome guy, and a great comedian. Little performs two shows each night Friday and Saturday (April 15-16) atGolden Age, located on the upper level of Creston Brewing in Grand Rapids. For ticket availability and more information on the show, check out the Golden Age Facebook event page.
Let’s play ball with the West Michigan Whitecaps. (Supplied/West Michigan Whitecaps)
2. West Michigan Whitecaps
I had so much fun Tuesday at LMCU Ballpark where the West Michigan Whitecaps opened a new season against the Lansing Lugnuts. The fun continues through Easter Sunday with games each day. Fans can purchase $1 reserved tickets today. An Easter Egg hunt is planned after the game on Saturday. And $1 lawn seats, plus Kids Eat Free and Kids Run the Bases, are available on Sunday. Also, Crash has a special Easter Brunch in the Pepsi Stadium Club on Sunday. Those tickets are $44. Game times are 6:35 p.m. Friday, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. See you there! More info at whitecapsbaseball.com.
1.Easter Egg Hunts
Many churches and organizations have Easter Egg Hunts this weekend. Find one and make memories with the kids. I recommend John Ball Park and Masonic Lodge in Grand Rapids. Both events begin at 10 a.m. Saturday. Typically there are two events, one for the little kids, and one for older kids.
That’s it for now.
As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Have a great, safe Easter weekend.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Music festivals are returning in force this summer but if you want to get in on “the rising indie class” you might want to schedule a road trip to Chicago’s Union Park in mid-July.
Pitchfork Music Festival will return Friday, July 15, through Sunday, July 17, with a line-up of the familiar — including headliners The National, Mitski, and The Roots — but also the “what’s next” in indie and alt and about half a dozen other genres undefinable.
“This year’s lineup is a celebration of the rising indie class, and those who continue to pave the way for innovation,” Puja Patel, editor in chief of Pitchfork, said in supplied material. “Our goal was to highlight a diverse group of artists who are taking their musical genres to new heights.”
Day 1
The Festival kicks off on Friday with The National, who played Pitchfork Music Festival’s first year in 2006,, as well as Spiritualized, Parquet Courts, Tierra Whack, Amber Mark, Dawn Richard, Tkay Maidza, Indigo De Souza, SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE, SPELLLING, Camp Cope, Wiki, Ethel Cain, and CupcakKe.
The National will be the “name” on that day/night/the weekend — the show marks a return to touring for the band in fact: “The last couple years have given us ample time for reflection and rejuvenation. Summer 2022 is a time for reunion. We look forward to gathering with friends, old and new. United in music and light, suspended in time,” the band states on their website.
But maybe the best of the early Friday acts will be the outstanding Parquet Courts — their late 2021 release Sympathy for Life was outstanding. And for the “I saw her when …” crowd, CupcakKe should be tasty.
Day 2
On Saturday, headliner Mitski will be joined by Japanese Breakfast, Lucy Dacus, Low, Magdalena Bay, Dry Cleaning, Karate, Iceage, yeule, Arooj Aftab, The Armed, Chubby & the Gang, Hyd, and Jeff Parker & the New Breed.
You can’t turn on a radio (over-the-air or celestial) these days without catching Mitski’s catchy 1980s-retro bad-girl hit “The Only Heartbreaker” off her 2022 release Laurel Hell. But Japanese Breakfast is sure to be tasty too.
Day 3
The festival closes Sunday with The Roots, Toro y Moi, Earl Sweatshirt, Noname, BADBADNOTGOOD, Cate Le Bon, Tirzah, Xenia Rubinos, Erika de Casier, Injury Reserve, KAINA, L’Rain, Sofia Kourtesis, and Pink Siifu.
Hey, I have grey hair … You had me at Roots …
Details, details …
Pitchfork Music Festival tickets are available, with three-day passes, single-day passes — and “The Pitchfork PLUS” For tickets and more information visit here.
The Pitchfork Music Festival showcases the best up-and-coming music from around the world, as well as “special performances from touring stalwarts and legends alike,” according to festival promotional material. It also features diverse vendors, including specialty record and craft fairs, and it works to support local businesses while promoting the Chicago arts and food communities as a whole.
The Pitchfork Music Festival will adhere to the city of Chicago’s current-at-the-time COVID-19 protocol, according to supplied material, and will remain in close contact with city and state officials as regulations evolve. Festival attendees will be updated on COVID-19 protocol via email, and can find the latest safety guidelines on Pitchfork Music Festival’s FAQ page, and by following @PitchforkFest on Instagram and Twitter.
Pitchfork is one of the most read voices in music, and is often considered the preeminent resource for fans looking to discover and experience new music through reviews and features of the people, trends, and events shaping the music industry. Pitchfork hosts annual Music Festivals in Chicago and Paris. For more go to Pitchfork.com and follow @pitchfork.
Disability Advocates of Kent County, set to open a new headquarters in the new Special Olympics of Michigan campus in Byron Township and already one of the region’s leaders in advocacy for persons with disabilities, is set to become even more of a force for good in the region.
Disability Advocates has received a $975,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that will enable the organization to make “safety and functional home modifications and limited repairs to meet the needs of low-income senior homeowners that allow them to age in place,” according to an announcement from the non-profit.
The three-year grant will help 150 seniors in Allegan, Ionia, Mecosta, Montcalm, and Osceola counties — and there is anecdotal evidence that keeping seniors in their home environments longer is better for the seniors mental and physical health.
David Bulkowski, executive director of Disability Advocates of Kent County. (Supplied)
“While we do not have direct evidence for this, it would be safe to suggest that it is so as low-income folks have fewer financial resources to address the barriers themselves and would be more stressed by simple barriers in their homes and could lead to feelings of loneliness and despair,” David Bulkowski, executive director of Disability Advocates, said to WKTV.
Disability Advocates was the only organization in Michigan out of 32 nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and public housing authorities nationwide to receive an award from HUD’s $30 million “Older Adults Home Modification Program”, according to the announcement.
The national goal is to deliver home modification services to more than 5,000 qualified beneficiaries in primarily rural areas.
The move to expand its services into more rural areas of West Michigan is part of a natural growth for the group.
“Our work began in Kent County and almost only in the Metro Six cities as we were pretty small back then,” Bulkowski said. “From there we spread out throughout the county and especially with Senior Millage funding in Kent County.
“As for other counties, we would ‘sneak out’ into Ionia and Montcalm and Mecosta and Osceola to a lesser degree through the years as much as our funding allowed. This new grant has enough capacity that we can assertively market the services availability in those four counties and Allegan.”
And while Disability Advocates offers a wide range of advocacy and services, facilitating often simple but often very necessary home improvements and repairs has always been one of its goals.
Grant-funded services and qualifications
Examples of the home modifications which are available through Disability Advocates include installation of grab bars, railings, and lever-handled doorknobs and faucets, as well as the installation of adaptive equipment, such as non-slip strips for tub/shower or stairs, according to the announcement. These enhancements will enable older adults to remain in their homes — to “age in place” — rather than move to nursing homes or other assisted care facilities.
Working with persons with disabilities, for Disability Advocates of Kent County, is often just listening to client’s issues such as wheelchair access, and the working on solutions. (Supplied)
The HUD grant was awarded in August 2021. For the past several months Disability Advocates has been finalizing its project plan and is now sharing the information in the rural counties to find senior homeowners that could benefit from these services.
To qualify, recipients need to be age 62 or older, have proof of ownership for the dwelling they live in, and have income that does not exceed 80 percent of the median income for their area. For more detailed information visit Disability Advocates of Kent County at dakc.us.
“This is an exciting endeavor for our organization because, as our name implies, we focus on Kent County, but the same needs apply to our friends in neighboring counties, so we are eager to expand our reach with this programming,” Bulkowski said in supplied material. “We are very grateful to our state representatives who guided as through the application process.”
One of the governmental advocates for the Disability Advocates’ grant was Kent County’s U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer.
“I am pleased that HUD recognized the good work Disability Associates of Kent County does for our community, and I know their organization will use this award to improve the lives of seniors right here in West Michigan,” Rep. Meijer said in supplied material.
New facility but same goals
Providing home assessments and independent living solutions have long been a “cornerstone” of the 41-year-old organization and will continue to be a major portion of the services it intends to offer at is soon-to-open new headquarters.
In September 2021, Disability Advocates announced the Building Opportunities, Creating Independence campaign, a $2.5 million fundraising effort to move their headquarters to the Special Olympics campus. To date, the campaign has reached 90 percent of its goal and plans to move into its new space in late April 2022.
“We are on track to open for operations at SOMI (Special Olympics of Michigan) on May 2 … our community open house and ribbon cutting is May 12 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.,” Bulkowski said.
The opening of the new headquarters will also be the opening of a new Home Accessibility Center program.
The organization is using “a sizable portion of the campaign funding” to help cover construction of its Home Accessibility Center program, which will be the area’s first space where people with disabilities can explore ways to renovate and retrofit their homes so they can be more independent.
Peggy Helsel, development director for Disability Advocates of Kent County. (Supplied)
It will serve as a “test space” and showroom where persons with disabilities, their families, healthcare, and design professionals and building contractors to “explore options for a safer home, including models and adaptive equipment,” according to supplied material.
“The Home Accessibility Center is a response to a demonstrated need,” Peggy Helsel, development director for Disability Advocates, said in supplied material. “Often people ask, ‘What does that mean?’ when we talk about universal design and the home, we are giving people a real-life model home to experience what a universally-accessible space can look like.”
Recent Kent County-led but community-wide efforts to prevent sexual violence, including a recent survey directing public education and team training efforts, are garnering excitement and hope in the healthcare field.
But everybody knows work still needs to be done.
The Sexual Assault Prevention Action Team of Kent County (SAPAT) is a coalition of Kent County’s individuals and organizations dedicated to the elimination of sexual violence. The team’s goal is to stop sexual assault before it starts by providing education, training, and events to the community that will help people understand how they can prevent sexual assault from occurring.
In order to maximize SAPAT’s effectiveness, a team was formed to create a survey of 38 questions that was put before the general public in the fall of 2021. The results of that survey effort were important and enlightening.
(Pxhere)
“Sexual violence is a real issue that can impact anyone. Our goal was to see what the perceptions and experiences of people in West Michigan were in regard to sexual violence,” Aaron Toffoli, leader of the survey workgroup, said to WKTV. “We wanted to see … if they had experienced some sort of sexual violence, how law enforcement responded, how organizations meant to serve people who have experienced sexual violence worked for those people — or didn’t. What did they do good, what they could improve? We really wanted to get an idea of any gaps that were existing.”
The purpose of the survey was to allow SAPAT to gain a bigger picture of what was going on in regard to sexual violence in Kent County to drive their strategic planning and fill those existing gaps.
Survey results revealed that community members, when rating the seriousness of the problem of sexual violence in West Michigan from 1 (not at all a problem) to 10 (a serious problem), responded with a the median value of 7. Educating community members about intervention and knowing what education people would need to feel more comfortable intervening in a situation or reporting a situation, is one of SAPAT’s goals.
The survey also covered certain stereotypes and generalizations that people have and often make about victims and perpetrators. One such common stereotype is looking down on victims because of how they dress or how much alcohol they consume.
Toffoli said the survey data revealed 55.8 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: “If a person is raped while they are drunk, they are at least somewhat responsible for what happened.”
That particular statistic showed Toffoli that “we have a lot of work to do to dispel these myths and instead hold the perpetrator responsible,” she said. “We believe that no matter what a victim does or does not do, the choice to perpetrate sexual violence is 100 percent up to the perpetrator.”
Information and action
“(People) don’t realize that anybody can be a victim, and it blinds them to the reality of things and makes them think that they, or people they know, can’t or won’t be a victim,” Toffoli said. “We wanted to assess how prevalent those myths were and what education might be needed to dispel those myths and to educate people on the proper ways to intervene, and empower them to be able to act appropriately and mitigate those issues before they even happen.”
Toffoli hopes the observations collected during the survey will help shape organizational policies after they have enough data to know the true impact of SAPAT’s efforts.
“We hope to do this survey on a regular basis, say every three years, in order to establish trends,” she said. “Once you get two or three (surveys) together, then you can establish trends and compare it with the work that you’re doing and see if it’s having an impact.”
Strategic plans will be determined by late spring or early summer, and SAPAT will begin working on implementing those plans over the next three years. They will then run the survey again to create a plan for the subsequent three years.
Toffoli also urges the community to get involved.
“People can help by advocating for laws that hold perpetrators accountable, and push for funding of programs that expand education and services … or those affected and those who are potential perpetrators as well, to help prevent them from becoming perpetrators,” she said.
SAPAT focuses on primary prevention — stopping sexual violence before it starts. “It really starts in the home,” Toffoli said, “and parents need to be informed and empowered to do that.”
Resources available to public
There are many resources and hotlines available to community members that allow opportunities to receive help, and information on how to help others in need.
Many people are shocked at how much of their tax-deferred balances will be erased by current taxes when funds are withdrawn. (Supplied)
Because of the accumulation benefits of tax deferral, many individuals have successfully created substantial IRA or 401(K) accounts or other qualified plans.
Many people are shocked at how much of their tax-deferred balances will be erased by current taxes when funds are withdrawn. It is not uncommon for these accounts to have amassed seven figures of total dollars. It is also usually the case that little attention has been focused on what will happen to one’s hard-earned dollars when taking money out of the Plan.
Reductions Due To Taxes Can Be Dramatic
The tax-caused decrease in total assets going to family members can be dramatic. For example, we recently reviewed a client situation where the plan holder had a $6 million balance. The client wished to begin distributions at age 70 ½. Further, the client did not require any distributions to maintain their lifestyle and wanted all the funds to go to children. The client was disappointed to learn that, under the client’s current structure when distributed over 10 years, the $6 million would be slashed because of taxes by $2.6 million and only yield $3.4 million net proceeds to the beneficiaries.
The $2.6 million of asset erosion occurs because all funds coming out of a qualified plan are fully taxable as ordinary income. And, contrary to common belief, assets in an IRA do not benefit from a step-up basis when passed on. Thus, while this case was a reduction of some 43%, other plans can be crushed by as much as 75% because of income and estate taxes.
The existing Plan had other vulnerabilities, as well. One was the assets were all held inequities subject to significant drops in value. Over a lengthy period, the probability that such a reduction will occur is substantial.
How To Increase Net To Beneficiaries Without Risk
Fortunately, a solution that could produce guaranteed results was possible in this particular situation. We set up a plan where taxable distributions from the IRA will be used to purchase the appropriate type of life insurance with the family named as beneficiaries. The client and the client’s family can be much better off with this solution because:
Assets are shifted from taxable to non-taxed.
Total net after-tax assets to the family are significantly increased.
The increase in assets is immediate.
There is no need to enter speculative investments to achieve the gain.
The value of the account is not subject to market losses.
The results are guaranteed by some of the most substantial financial companies in the world.
The entire Plan can be implemented on a set-it and forget-it basis.
Implementing IRA Rescue For Your Qualified Plan
Each rescue of an IRA or 401K or other qualified plan is custom-made for your circumstances. For individuals with separate plans and assets, net benefits can increase from some 25% of asset value to many times the asset value. For married couples inheriting each other’s IRAs, the after-tax yield can be much higher than otherwise. IRA Rescue can be achieved by converting a client’s weakest assets – those with the most significant tax liabilities – to non-taxed assets.
And while a plan’s asset value is significantly increased immediately, the tax liability on distributions from the Plan is spread over time, much to the client’s advantage.
All plans can and should be coordinated with your accounting and legal, trust, and estate advisors, and we do that as a matter of course.
A complete solution is available with plan distributions able to be executed on schedule, trustees guaranteeing that policy premiums are paid as required, trustees delivering gifts to beneficiaries, and taxes able to be paid at the funding source. These solutions can truly be established to set and forget while delivering much more financial benefit to those for whom a client wished to provide financial security.
Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463 or click this link: Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.comDave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management.
Life seems to be going along at a normal pace and then suddenly, bam everywhere you look its Olympics. And perhaps nothing was more fascinating than the 2022 Beijing Olympics with its figure skating drama and the ending of a career for a snowboard legend.
At the next Mr. Sid’s Video Series, set for Wednesday, April 20, veterans sportscaster Jack Doles, from WOOD-TV8, will be giving the inside scoop on his recent experiences covering the Beijing Winter Olympics, which was Doles’ 12th Olympic games. Other Olympics he has covered are Calgary, Seoul, Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Torino, Beijing, Sochi, Rio, Pyeongchang, and Tokyo.
Doles has more than three decades of covering sports, joining WOOD-TV in 1990. Besides the Olympics, Doles has covered the Rose Bowl, the Super Bowl, the NBA and Stanley Cup Finals and the World Series. He’s been to multiple NCAA Final Four tournaments with Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, the Ryder Cup and two Major League Baseball All-Star Games.
The Mr. Sid’s Video Series meets at 2 p.m. There is a hymn sing at 1:45 p.m. The program is free to the public. Marge’s Donut Den is located at 1751 28th St. SW.
Upcoming Mr. Sid’s Video Series are:
May 4: Father Peter Vu pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church will describe his immigration to the United States after the North Vietnam Victory over the South on April 30, 1975.
May 18: Rick Vuyst from Fruit Basket Flowerland will help you prepare for spring planting – lawn care – wetting your plants, etc.
June 15: Cris Stevens, the Chaplain for the LPGA, will talk about the Pro golfers and the upcoming Meijer Ladies Charity Classic.
July 20: Peggy Maniates, the executive director of the USS Silversides Museum in Muskegon
Getting back to a large degree of summertime normalcy in West Michigan, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts will have a June-thorough-September series of 33 shows that will bring “an eclectic group of artists” to the amphitheater — maybe the region’s premier open-air venue and still at an intimate 1,900 seat capacity despite the massive renovations at the park.
The concert line-up will feature some familiar local faces and sounds —Elvis’s glasses and ZZ’s beards, Lyle’s country twang and Spearhead’s reggae rock, to name drop just a few — but also some fresh faces and, maybe, new sounds.
Andrew Bird and Sam Beam of Iron & Wine. (Supplied)
Amos Lee (he of “Worry No More”, the mantra-like lead single from his outstanding new Dreamland release) may be unfamiliar to many but not to those with an ear to where alt/pop music is headed next. And while Andrew Bird and his space fiddle are no strangers to Meijer Gardens, his concert with Iron & Wine will undoubtedly be as unique and memorable as was his 2019 visit before … well, you know.
And, oh ya, an acoustic evening with Trey Anastasio, the heart and soul and jamming master of Phish, will be nearest you’ll likely come to a tie-died Woodstock evening this summer. Breathe it in …
Tickets go on sale April 23 for members and May 7 to the general public (details to follow), and many concerts sell out quickly.
Decemberists. (Supplied)
And speaking of getting those sometimes hard-to-come-by tickets, in their concert season announcement, Meijer Gardens introduced its new Concerts for the Community initiative, sponsored by The Steve & Amy Van Andel Foundation in partnership with the Kent District Library. The program will provide concert tickets, food and transportation to “guests that may not otherwise have the opportunity” to attend a summer concert.
Concerts for the Community is designed exclusively for those “facing economic hardship and is meant to diversify community exposure to world-class live music,” according to the announcement.
“Concerts at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park are a favorite summer activity for our family,” said Amy Van Andel. “We are … excited to help others make memories and experience the joy an evening of outdoor live music can bring.”
2022 Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens lineup
Drumroll please …
Amos Lee (Supplied)
The concert series kicks off in June with Marc Cohn + Blind Boys of Alabama on June 12, followed by the aforementioned Amos Lee with Neal Francis on June 17, a doubleheader sure to have you up and dancing with Fitz & The Tantrums + St. Paul & The Broken Bones on June 19, An Acoustic Evening with Trey Anastasio on June 20, and Old Crow Medicine Show on June 23.
Then — get ready for this —Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown featuring Tank and The Bangas, Big Freedia, Cyril Neville: The Uptown Ruler, George Porter Jr. and Dumpstaphunk performing the music of The Meters and The Soul Rebels, all on June 24. Oh what title; oh what a night!
Closing out June will be The Temptations with Kimmie Horne on June 26, and Bluegrass Happening featuring Bela Fleck & My Bluegrass Heart, Sam Bush & The Jerry Douglas Band on June 27.
ZZ Top. (Supplied)
The summer concert season really gets hot in July with Sheryl Crow with Allison Russell on July 3, Corinne Bailey Rae with War & Treaty on July 6, ZZ Top on July 7, O.A.R. on July 8, and the first of several concerts featuring the Grand Rapids Symphony, Five for Fighting with the symphony on July 13.
Annual visits by two always welcome summer music makers are next: Michael Franti & Spearhead with The New Respects on July 14, and Lyle Lovett and his Large Band on July 15, followed by Norah Jones on July 17, Rick Springfield with the Grand Rapids Symphony on July 20, Buddy Guy + John Hiatt on July 21, America on July 27, and Arturo Sandoval with the Grand Rapids Symphony on July 28.
Elvis Costello. (Supplied)
Elvis will be in the building to start August as Mr. Costello & The Imposters with Nicole Atkins will visit on Aug. 4, followed by Andrew Bird + Iron & Wine with Meshell Ndegeocello on Aug.5, The Dead South with Tejon Street Corner Thieves on Aug. 10, Lake Street Dive with Madison Cunningham on Aug. 12, with the The Beach Boys making it a beach party night on Aug. 15.
August closes out with The Decemberists — one of my favorite bands — Aug. 17, Boz Scaggs with the Robert Cray Band on Aug. 22, and Umphrey’s McGee on Aug. 24.
The concert season will close strong in the fall with Emmylou Harris + Mary Chapin Carpenter on Sept. 1, Australian Pink Floyd — which is about the closest you can get to the Dark Side of the Moon these days — on Sept. 12, Goo Goo Dolls with Blue October, on Sept. 15, She & Him on Sept. 16, and (what a way to close the venue for the season) Foreigner: The Greatest Hits Tour on Sept. 18.
Trey Anastasio, in concert at Carnegie Hall in 2021. (Supplied/Rene Huemer)
The details, please
Gate and show start times vary. All information is subject to change. All shows will take place rain or shine, and weather delays are possible. Check MeijerGardens.org/concerts for more details.
There are a lot of details to getting tickets, so much so that Meijer Gardens has created an Insider’s Guide to Buying Tickets, available at MeijerGardens.org/concerts.
The bottom line is that Meijer Gardens members have a members-only presale beginning 9 a.m., April 23, through midnight, May 6. Sales to the public begin at 9 a.m., May 7. Ordering is online at Etix.com (preferred method) or by phone at 800-514-etix (3849), both with per-order handling fee.
Hint: Get a membership, for early tickets and free entry to the grounds any time. To join or renew a Meijer Gardens membership before April 23, visit MeijerGardens.org/membership or call the Membership Department at 616-977-7689.
Renovations to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Volunteer Tribute Garden will soon see plantings come out of their winter stillness, and it will soon have an updated “The Tribute”, by Oliviero Rainaldi, on display. (WKTV.K.D. Norris)
By WKTV Staff
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park appreciates its volunteers enough to give them, and the general public, a Volunteer Tribute Garden with its own work of art — “The Tribute”, by famed Italian artist Oliviero Rainaldi and commissioned for the site.
So it is fitting that as the Gardens readies the competition of renovation, and pending rededication of the tribute garden, still located just outside the hallway leading to the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, part of the renovation will be an expanded version of Rainaldi’s circular work.
Fifteen years after the dedication of the Volunteer Tribute Garden and Rainaldi’s original sculpture, both the space and the sculpture are getting a new look, according to an announcement from Meijer Gardens.
Renovations to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Volunteer Tribute Garden will include an updated “The Tribute”, by Italian artist Oliviero Rainaldi, on display. (Supplied)
The Tribute and the Volunteer Tribute Garden will be rededicated Wednesday, April 20, in a special ceremony at 4 p.m., proceeded on April 19 by “A Conversation with Oliviero Rainaldi” at 7 p.m., in the Huizenga Grand Room.
“In 2006, Rainaldi was first commissioned to create a work of art to honor the thousands of volunteers who give their time and talents to Meijer Gardens,” according to the announcement. “As the buildings, garden spaces and number of volunteers at Meijer Gardens grow, so too did this sculpture.”
The artwork was temporarily removed to accommodate the redesign of the Volunteer Tribute Garden.
(Meijer Gardens is always seeking new volunteers, who are “Wanted. Needed. Appreciated.” with various jobs and shifts. For more information contact Valerie Maciejewski at vmaciejewski@meijergardens.org or 616-974-5221.)
Garden, artwork expanded but remains unique
Designed by Progressive AE and the Meijer Gardens horticulture team, the tribute garden has been expanded and redesigned to be more accessible and improve views of the wetland, sculpture and horticulture.
The tribute garden area update includes a new boardwalk area and outdoor classroom that extends on top of a wetland, “providing a great opportunity to teach guests about the importance of the natural environment, water and the ecosystem.”
And, according to the announcement, newly designed aluminum panels are being inserted into the interior of “The Tribute”.
“The exterior bronze panels poetically tell the stories of a diverse group of Meijer Gardens guest experiences,” according to the announcement. “The two interior panels incorporate stories of place and the emotion of love.”
Rainaldi describes the central curve as “the heart of the sculpture, which should be dedicated exclusively to Fred and Lena Meijer, creating an idealized place where horticulture and sculpture dialog together.”
Rainaldi, well known for his artwork focused on the human figure in a post-war and contemporary setting, “takes a linear approach that emphasizes humanity’s most ideal and essential qualities,” according to the announcement.
The structure brings viewers into a water scene, where they look up at the sky through reeds and will notice an aerial view of the Great Lakes, “as if looking down upon the Earth. Water has historically been symbolic of life, power, purity and strength.”
These elements together represent and pay tribute to Fred and Lena Meijer, to the natural beauty of West Michigan, and to the thousands of dedicated volunteers who have donated their time and talents, according to the announcement.
While “A Conversation with Oliviero Rainaldi” — a conversation with Meijer Gardens President & CEO David Hooker and Amber Oudsema, Curator of Arts Education — is included with admission, registration is required at: MeijerGardens.org/calendar.
After 15 years serving Kent County at the helm of the Kent County Health Department’s vaccine program, and more than 45 years in the health care field, Mary Wisinski will retire from her position as Immunization Program Supervisor on April 15.
And while she is respectively and affectionally known as the “Vaccine Queen” by her colleagues — a title given well before the COVID-19 pandemic but made all the more important during the last two years — her career as a caregiver is much deeper that.
The oldest of seven children, Wisinski always viewed herself as a “caregiver,” she said recently to WKTV. So, it was natural for her to turn to a career in healthcare, though she did look at medical school before settling on nursing.
“The more I looked at it, the more I liked the ability to spend more time with my patients as a nurse and get to know them,” Wisinski said.
(Public Domain photo)
Wisinski began her career in the maternal and child health field, serving 12 years in neonatal intensive care in Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo caring for premature babies (preemies).
“I was a transport nurse and a transport supervisor for them. We picked up babies from different hospitals to bring them back to Bronson on either an ambulance or a helicopter,” Wisinski said.
Wisinski moved back to Grand Rapids to get married and found her new vocation and her new home at the Kent County Health Department (KCHD).
“I’ve been with the Kent County Health Department for about 20 years,” Wisinski said. “I spent three years doing resource (work) at the Butterworth neonatal intensive care unit, and then in 2003 I came back to the county, and then became the Immunization Supervisor in 2007.”
Always knew vaccines saved lives
It was during her first few years in the immunization program that Wisinski became passionate about public health, especially vaccines.
“My passion grew as I worked here and learned more about what public health really is,” said Wisinski. “It’s just a different focus on nursing.”
Wisinski said that what drew her toward public health was the objective of preventing disease versus treating ailments.
A Kent County Health Department nurse gives a COVID-19 vaccination shot. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“When you work in a hospital or a physician office, many times you’re working with ill clients. You’re treating the symptoms of their disease and trying to make them better,” Wisinski said. “In public health, our main goal is to prevent disease. We try to anticipate problems. We assess the entire community, and then work and strategize together to keep people healthy versus treating them when they become ill.”
Wisinski’s knowledge of nursing and vaccines earned her the nickname “Vaccine Queen” as colleagues and counterparts came to her with their questions. But the birth of that moniker, she said, was a friend who had previously worked with her in neonatal intensive care and, when asked a question about vaccines, would respond: “Hold on a minute, I’ll call the Vaccine Queen from Kent County!”
The nickname persisted throughout the years.
Several different components and programs are included in the focus of Wisinski’s immunization and vaccine team, among which is the Vaccines for Children Program in Kent County, a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children.
“Even though our immunization rates are low, we have very dedicated providers in Kent, and we are in one of the top counties in the state for getting our kids vaccinated,” Wisinski said.
Teaching and serving, even in pandemic times
Two nurses on Wisinski’s staff, as well as Wisinski herself, are Immunization Nurse Educators for the State of Michigan.
“I see my role as a teacher in order to give the people the information that they need to do the best and safest job possible to provide vaccines for the kids and the adults who need them,” Wisinski said. “We are seen as people that they can trust and come to, and I’ve been very transparent that as a health department, I am a partner to … our providers and our community.”
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Wisinki and her staff have been the “boots on the ground” for testing and vaccinations. Wisinki was personally in charge of the long-term care testing and long-term care vaccinations.
“We went out not only to long-term care centers, but to adult foster homes, low-income senior housing, and (provided) vaccines for the homeless,” Wisinski said.
Kent County Health Department staff at a county COVID-19 testing station. (Kent County)
Though this is the longest vaccine outbreak Wisinski has been involved with, she chooses to look at the positive outcomes of the pandemic, noting the partnerships established in the community: “Many people here have committed to being part of that group … understanding what the health department is and does in the community.”
Bi-weekly meetings with the different community partners has allowed the health department to make sure they are working together and not “stumbling over each other, duplicating our efforts.”
Wisinski sees that as being a “tremendous achievement.”
Her and community moving forward
As Wisinski prepares to move on to the next part of her life’s journey, she wants the community to know that “public health works. Our job is to keep people safe and healthy as a community … I am extremely grateful to our scientists who have spent countless hours collaborating and cooperating with each other to come up with the best methods for vaccines and antiviral treatments.”
Wisinski says she hopes the community can, as we move forward, see the health department as an ally and not as an enemy.
“We did the best we could with the information we had at the time because we care about protecting people,” she said.
Though Wisinski says it is hard to leave because she loves serving her community, she is looking forward to some relaxation and time with her family. With weddings on the horizon for both her son and daughter, Wisinski’s immediate focus will be on plans for those festivities.
She does, however, plan to take a beach vacation and spend more time with her husband “because it’s been a little busy the last few years.”
Mark and Roger are two roommates, each dealing with life in their own way: Roger numb after dealing with a tragedy while Mark explores it through the tense of a camera.
This is just one story in Jonathan Larson’s Pulitizer Award-winning musical, “RENT,” which will run May 5-7, 11-15, and 18-21 at the Aquinas College’s Performing Arts Center, located 1703 Robinson St. SE. Set in the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the East Village of New York City, “RENT” follows the lives of the Mark, Roger and their friends as they explore love, celebrate happiness and struggle to survive. The musical, which won a Tony Award for Best Musical, is full of memorial songs including “Seasons of Love.”
“‘RENT’ is a protest piece,” said co-director/vocal director Marcus Jordan. “The 1996 cult classic musical encouraged a generation of young people to speak out about the injustices that plagued our country. Police brutality, displacement of the un-homed, and the stigmatization of HIV/AIDS are among the many issues tat are authentically raised in this story.
“But along side the outcry of injustices highlighted in “RENT” are the illustrated light and freedom of the Queer Experience. This piece invites folks to just be folks, to shine one’s light unapologetically. And it is this infusion of holistic living and unyielding advocacy that continues to cement ‘RENT’ as a vital piece in the musical theatre repertoire. Act up AND fights AIDS!”
Show times are at 7 p.m. with a matinee showing on May 15 at 3 p.m. Tickets and details are available at circletheatre.org.
For more information on Circle Theatre’s 2022 season, call the box office at 616-456-6656 or visit circletheatre.org.
Grand Valley State University and BCSH Systems, which includes Spectrum Health, have partner to offer a Nurse Scholar program. (Supplied)
Two of Michigan’s largest institutions have created what they hope will be a model for the nation in addressing the severe talent shortage in nursing. Leaders from BHSH System and Grand Valley State University have announced a partnership with the creation of the BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan Nurse Scholar program. The partnership is designed to increase the nursing talent pipeline by taking away financial barriers to college and smoothing the educational path to employment at BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan.
The health system is investing more than $19 million to provide infrastructure, start-up costs and resources for increased clinical placements, training and other support for students in the program. This includes grant dollars for all BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan Nurse Scholars. Grand Valley will increase infrastructure support for students in the areas of financial aid, curriculum enhancements, technology and equipment, student support services, simulation enhancements and clinical experiences.
The BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan Nurse Scholar partnership will create an opportunity for nearly 500 additional students to pursue a career in nursing over the next six years. The university will assume all future infrastructure costs and maintain a permanent increase in the number of students admitted to its Kirkhof College of Nursing, creating a lasting impact for our community, state and region. More than 92 percent of all GVSU graduates within the health professions stay in Michigan.
A federal workforce analysis shows Michigan currently has a nursing shortage for its population, and that shortage has been exacerbated by the burnout and stress caused by the pandemic. Leaders at BHSH System and GVSU say the creative solution they’ve designed will build a stronger talent pipeline, and the partnership can serve as a model and inspiration to enterprises, universities, communities and governments to solve the nation’s talent shortages.
“We challenged ourselves to be bold: What can we do, together with GVSU, to permanently increase access to education, strengthen nursing education programs and invest in talented, compassionate people who want to become nurses?” said Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO, BHSH System (formerly Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health). “Our teams delivered a joint, innovative proposal that expands opportunities for up to 500 future nurses and can be the model for others to emulate. We are incredibly excited about the nurse scholar program and the impact this will have in health care, for individual learners and for future generations.”
Grand Valley President Philomena V. Mantella said the agreement is a perfect example of how educational institutions and enterprises can partner quickly and efficiently to address talent shortages.
“These talent gaps hold us back or put us at risk,” said Mantella. “We have many dedicated and talented students who want to pursue nursing, but we needed the creativity and support of our partners at BHSH System to make the expansion of nursing possible and affordable for more talented and diverse students. This program is a huge leap forward and a model for other high need fields. I applaud the ingenuity and willingness of our teams to bring it to fruition.”
After all approvals and accreditation, the BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan Nurse Scholar program will be in place by January 2023.
Recognizing that reading needs to be a focus year around, the Great Start Parent Coalition’s Nurturing Parent Power Workshop announced its One Book, One County initiative on the last day of the national March is Reading Month campaign.
“One County, One Book will distribute 9,000 books to families, particular families that are living in neighborhoods that are book desserts,” said Chana Edmond-Verley, the chief executive officer for Vibrant Futures and who also the co-chair of the Nurturing Parent Power Workshop.
“In addition, it is more than a book distribution,” Edmond-Verley said. “We have reading strategy kits so parents will know the strategies that they need to deliver this powerful book to their child.”
Started in 2016, the Nurturing Parent Power Workshop is part of the Great Start Collaborative of Kent County, which works to ensure that all children, from birth to age eight, especially those in highest need areas, have access to high-quality early learning and development programs and enter kindergarten prepared for success.
Members of the One Book, One County campaign hold up this year’s selection. (WKTV)
The Nurturing Parent Power Workshop is a group of parent leaders, systems influencers, and decision makers who work to cultivate the power of parents in helping their children succeed.
“Our goal is to provide early reading strategies in Kent County to get all families reading to their children and all children reading by the end of second grade,” Edmond-Verley said.
From the group came the Success Starts Early Basics which provides tips and information on how parents advocate for their children’s success. Edmond-Verley said it was the Nurturing Parent Power Workshop who came up with the idea for the One book, One County campaign.
The book selection for the campaign is Mary DiPalermo’s “The Caring Me I Want to Be!” because it offers engaging story illustrations, easy connections to real life, allows for problem solving, rhyming, and promotes brainstorming emotions, according to literature that was handed out.
Along with the book, the campaign will provide a calendar of activities parents can use to engage their child based on the book such as writing a letter to a friend telling them why you like them or going outside and counting all the different signs of spring.
A third component will be up to 7,000 licenses for a digital parent coach that will send daily activities straight to a parent’s phone.
“The digital parent coach has been a great tool,” said Nicole Notraio-Risk, who is a co-chair of the Nurturing Parent Power Workgroup. “You can customize the program based on your child’s age and mental ability and the program provides you with a daily routine of fun games and activities that you could do with your child.”
Research shows that children who are read to 20 minutes a day and are repeatedly exposed to books from birth exhibit strong reading abilities. Edmond-Verley said parents are key in helping students achieve.
“We are responding by equipping parents with the tools that they can use to assure that their children are successful,” she said.
More than 20 local organizations such as the Early Learning Neighborhood Collobatibes, Bright Beginnings, Head Start, Kent ISD, Vibrant Futures, and the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, are participating in the program. Those interested in learning more about the One Book, One County program can reach out to those organizations or visit www.successstartsearly.org.
The United States Navy Concert Band is scheduled to perform April 27 at Grand Rapids Christian School, and all performances are free and open to the public. (Supplied)
The United States Navy Concert Band is scheduled to perform April 27 at Grand Rapids Christian School, and all performances are free and open to the public. (Supplied)
The United States Navy Concert Band is scheduled to perform April 27 at Grand Rapids Christian School, and all performances are free and open to the public. (Supplied)
The United States Navy Concert Band is scheduled to perform April 27 at Grand Rapids Christian School, and all performances are free and open to the public. (Supplied)
By WKTV Staff
Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to foreign shores, We sail at break of day.
America’s Navy is famous for many stories, in peace and in war, with the medals and ribbons over their hearts, and stripes on their arms, telling a Navy man/woman’s story all by themselves.
And inspirational music, patriotic music, just plain fun music is one of the ways to tell those stories.
Part of that storytelling is the United States Navy Band, coming to Grand Rapids later this month as one of 13 cities spanning six states to host a performance during the group’s 2022 tour.
“For many years, Navy bands have been where it matters, when it matters, just like the rest of our Navy,” Capt. Kenneth Collins, U.S. Navy Band commanding officer, said in supplied material. “Today, we have Sailors performing around the world, improving relations with our allies abroad as well as telling the Navy story here at home.”
The United States Navy Concert Band will be telling its stories April 27, at 7:30 p.m., at Grand Rapids Christian School’s Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Arts and Worship. This concert, like all Navy Band performances, is free and open to the public.
The U.S. Navy Concert Band is the premier wind ensemble of the U.S. Navy. As the original ensemble of the Navy Band, the Concert Band has been performing public concerts and participating in high-profile events for more than 95 years, according to promotional material. The band performs a wide array of marches, patriotic selections, orchestral transcriptions and modern wind ensemble repertoire.
One of the U.S. Navy Band’s primary responsibilities involves touring the country.
All of the band’s primary performing units embark each year on concert tours throughout specified regions of the country, allowing the band to reach out to audiences in areas of the country that do not have opportunities to see the Navy’s premier musical ensembles on a regular basis. The concerts are family-friendly events, meant to be entertaining to veterans, families, individuals and those interested in joining the Navy.
The U.S. Navy Band, based at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., is the “flagship” musical organization of the Navy and one of 11 Navy bands located around the world.
The Navy Band has been touring the country since 1925. Sailors in the Navy Band are full-time professional musicians, and almost all of the Sailors in the Navy Band have undergraduate degrees in music, and most have graduate degrees.
It will be (jazz) party time at St. Cecilia Music Center his week with Delfeayo Marsalis (center) and his Jazz Orchestra in concert. (Supplied/Zac Smith)
By Philip Janowski, WKTV Contributing Writer
St. Cecilia Music Center will be hosting a Jazz Party this week, and what a band to be partying to — acclaimed trombonist, composer and producer Delfeayo Marsalis and his Uptown Jazz Orchestra — as the final concert of the venue’s 2021-22 jazz series on Thursday, April 14.
Delfeayo Marsalis will be leading his Uptown Jazz Orchestra. (Supplied)
Marsalis’ style “promotes the optimism and progressive musical thought coexisting in modern New Orleans jazz,” according to supplied promotional material.
“What the country and the world need now more than ever is some good New Orleans music to give everyone a little joy,” Marsalis said in a published interview with Voice of OC.
Tickets for the concert are still available and can be purchased online at scmc-online.org or by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224.
Featuring as many as 18 accomplished musicians, the Uptown Jazz Orchestra “sets the global standard for celebrating jazz in its authentic musical form,” according to promotional material, “inspiring the next generation of jazz musicians, and promoting a culture of diversity, inclusion and accessibility in the arts.”
Oh, ya. And they love a good jazz party.
Marsalis and a family of jazz
Delfeayo Marsalis has dedicated his prolific career to music theater and education. As part of the Marsalis family of musicians, which included the patriarch of “America’s first family of jazz”, his late father, Ellis, the artist was destined to a life in music.
Delfeayo Marsalis, with his instrument of choice. (Supplied/Zac Smith)
Marsalis has toured internationally with jazz legends such as Ray Charles, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Elvin Jones and Slide Hampton. At the age of 17, Marsalis began his career as a producer and has to date produced over 120 recordings garnering a Grammy award and several nominations.
When it came to being the trombone player of the family, Delfeayo has often said it “kind of suited our personality,” as his dad was playing piano and two of his brothers (Wynton on trumpet and Branford on tenor sax) were soloists already.
Delfeayo Marsalis has a dual Bachelor’s degree in Music performance and Production from the Berklee College of Music, and a Masters in Jazz Performance from the University of Louisville, as well as a doctorate from the New England College.
Health and Safety Requirements
According to supplied material, St. Cecilia currently requires proof of fully vaccinated status, or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours, to attend a concert at the SCMC venue. Attendees need to bring photo ID and proof of vaccination, or a negative test, the night of a concert. Home tests are not accepted. All patrons will be required to wear a mask while in the building for the duration of the concert.
If patrons have tickets to an upcoming performance and are unwilling or unable to abide by this policy, please contact the SCMC box office for a refund at kelly@scmc-online.org a minimum of 48 hours prior to the concert date.
The City of Kentwood is again partnering with Hanger Clinic to host the fourth Limb Loss Awareness 5K, all-ages and all-abilities event, on Saturday, April 30. (Supplied)
WKTV Staff
There will be plenty of inspirational people and inspirational stories running around the City of Kentwood later this month — including local woman and double leg amputee Beth Lowman — as the city will again host a special community event in recognition of Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month.
Kentwood is again partnering with Hanger Clinic, to host the fourth Limb Loss Awareness 5K on Saturday, April 30. The all-ages and all-abilities event will begin with packet pickup at 9 a.m. at Bowen Station Park, 4499 Bowen Blvd. SE, followed by the race at 10 a.m.
The event seeks to increase awareness of limb loss, build community and raise funds for Kentwood’s adaptive recreation programs. These programs “empower people with various disabilities to participate in athletic activities in an adapted way to allow for a safe and fun experience,” according to the announcement.
Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department program coordinator Katelyn Bush and one of her Adaptive Recreation participants at 2021 The Vibe event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“Our Limb Loss Awareness 5K is more than a typical race,” Katelyn Bush, Kentwood recreation program coordinator, said in supplied material. “In addition to health and wellness, this run is focused on inclusivity, awareness, relationships and making a difference in our local community. We are thrilled this educational event has continued to grow in popularity since it began in 2018.”
All profits from the event will go toward improving and expanding the city’s adaptive recreation programs to encourage health and wellness, socialization and excellent quality of life for all. The programs – offered in collaboration with community partners – enable participants to enjoy the benefits that come with any athletic or recreational activity, such as a sense of camaraderie, improved confidence and new skills. To learn more visit kentwood.us/adaptive.
The accessible race route includes sections of the East-West and Paul Henry-Thornapple trails as well as a boardwalk — a “scenic spring route filled with woodlands, wetlands and wildlife.”
Online registration is available at RunSignUp.com. Registration is $35 through April 29. Race day registration is $45. Participants will receive a long sleeve t-shirt and swag bag as part of their registration. Packet pickup will also be available in advance of the event at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, during business hours beginning at noon Wednesday, April 27.
The kid-friendly event will also include a 1-mile fun run for children ages 12 and younger at 11 a.m. along the same route. The kids race costs $10 per child and includes a T-shirt and finisher ribbon. There is also a playground at the park for children to enjoy.
Beth’s story of resilience, resolve
Beth Lowman, a 35-year-old local woman who has experienced bilateral limb loss, will share her story at the Limb Loss Awareness 5K.
Six years ago, Lowman was an active, athletic mom whose life was turned upside down when she developed dystonia, a disorder that causes muscles to involuntarily contract, in her left foot and ankle, according to supplied material.
Beth Lowman, a 35-year-old local woman who has experienced bilateral limb loss, will share her story at the Limb Loss Awareness 5K. (Supplied)
She was unable to walk and, after several unsuccessful treatments, chose amputation. In February 2020, her left leg was amputated below the knee and she was able to walk for the first time in four years using a uniquely custom-designed bent-knee prosthesis fit by her prosthetic team at Hanger Clinic in Byron Center.
But after a fall in January 2021, Lowman developed dystonia in her right foot and ankle, and underwent the amputation of her right leg below the knee in July 2021. Despite the new challenge, she continued to push forward, learning to walk again on two prosthetic feet this time.
And on those two prosthetic feet, combined with personal goal and a support system around her, she plans to walk across the finish line at the Kentwood 5K.
Beth Lowman, with her family. (Supplied)
“I continuously remind myself that although my life turned out differently than I planned, my life as an amputee is still vibrant and active,” Lowman said in supplied material. “It is important to celebrate the small and large victories, because those are what makes life flourishing.
“I will forever see my life as a victory if I keep setting goals for myself and celebrating each step forward. The world wasn’t made for amputees, but it doesn’t mean we can’t flourish, cheer each other on and set the world ablaze with our successes!”
More than just a 5K run
Phil Tower, a West Michigan radio personality, amputee and advocate for people with disabilities, will serve as the DJ at the Limb Loss Awareness 5K.
Race organizers are also seeking volunteers for the event. Those interested may sign up at RunSignUp.com. Four first-place awards will be given to the first adult men and women amputees and nonamputees who cross the finish line. More information is available at kentwood.us/LimbLoss5K.
The City of Kentwood is again partnering with Hanger Clinic to host the fourth Limb Loss Awareness 5K, all-ages and all-abilities event, on Saturday, April 30. (Supplied)
This year’s event will also include educational components and a peer support table. These resources will enable participants and attendees to learn more about amputation, prosthetics and orthotics. They also will connect individuals who have experienced limb loss or limb difference with one another, enabling them to provide support and build relationships.
The event will also feature several informational booths from various sponsors, including ACV Centers, Airway Mobility and Rehab, Buist Electric, Creative Mobility Group, Hunt 2 Heal, ITC Incorporated, Life Beyond Barriers Rehabilitation group, Mercury Labs, Inc., Muskegon Surgical Associates, New Wave Prosthetics, Proteor USA, Spectrum Health Inpatient Rehabilitation Center and Summit Labs LLC.
“We want people who are experiencing limb loss or limb difference to know they are not alone,” Nikki Stoner, Hanger Clinic care coordinator, said in supplied material. “There is a community here to welcome them and support them through their journey. This event gives us an opportunity to raise awareness and connect those experiencing limb loss and limb difference with resources and others in the community.”
Hanger Clinic, a local prosthetic and orthotic patient care provider, will also feature a memorial activity for Winter, the dolphin with a prosthetic tail who made her movie debut in “Dolphin Tale” on Sept. 23, 2011. Winter lost her tail after it became entangled in a crab trap in 2005.
In 2006, Kevin Carroll, an expert prosthetist and vice president of prosthetics at Hanger Clinic, fit Winter with a prosthetic tail that allowed her to swim again.
Winter died in November 2021 following an intestinal abnormality. This year’s event will feature a card-making station to celebrate the dolphin’s life. The cards will be sent to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida where an ongoing memorial is offered to honor her legacy.
Butterflies are back in the Top 5, and so is baseball, classical music and those who like to dress up.
Enjoy the spring-like weather on the horizon. It’s time for my weekly list of things to do, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.
Here it is!
Chamber Orchestra of Grand Rapids performs at The Stray. (pxhere.com)
5. Classical Music at The Stray
Can’t wait for the next WKTV Voices Storyteller’s event at The Stray (7 p.m. April 15)? Well, it’s not quite a story, but another great opportunity to check out the local coffeehouse/event space. Come see members of the Chamber Orchestra of Grand Rapids perform 17th and 18th century works in smaller groups. The show is at 7 p.m. Saturday (April 9). Admission is free, but a $10 donation is suggested. More info on the event Facebook page.
Butterflies and flowers will be on display at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)
4. Morning With The Butterflies Family Party
Didn’t get a chance to do something fun for Spring Break? The Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition at Meijer Gardens remains open through April 30, with extended hours until 9 p.m. through Friday (April 8). Looking for a party with snacks and activities? One is planned for members on Sunday (April 10). This is a good time to consider a membership for special perks like this. (We love ours in the Gonzalez household).
An array of gems and minerals will be on display at this year’s Gem & Mineral Show at Rogers Plaza. (WKTV)
3. 45th Annual Gem & Mineral Show
Another fun activity for the family is checking out the popular Gem & Mineral Show this weekend at Rogers Plaza. It features treasures for everyone from beginners to seasoned collectors where you will find minerals, fossils, crystals, gems, jewelry, beads, stone carvings, equipment, books, and more. Nearly 30 vendors, club dealers and artisans will be on hand. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday (April 7-8), and from 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday (April 9). More info on the event Facebook page. Admission is free.
The Grand Rapids Valley Railroad Train Shows offer fun for kids of any age.
2. Greater Grand Rapids Train Show
It’s back for another show from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday (April 9) at the Home School Building in Wyoming. The show features more than 200 vendor tables, offering what organizers said is “everything imaginable for even the most discerning model railroader.” In addition, they will have model railroad layouts in different scales and sizes with accurately detailed engines and cars running down their tracks. There’s even a Lego play area for kids. Cost is $5 for adults and free for those 12 and younger. It is presented by the Grand River Valley Railroad Club. More info at grvrrc.org.
1. Grand Rapids Comic-Con
Another sure sign of spring is Comic-Con! Who wants to wear a coat over a Power Rangers costume? This weekend you can experience seminars, panels, vendors, comic books and more. The event runs Friday-Sunday (April 8-10) at the DeltaPlex Arena. Hours are noon-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20 per day. Parking is $10 cash only. For more details on cosplay guidelines and more info, go to grcomiccon.com.
The West Michigan Whitecaps’ home opener is April 12. (WM Whitecaps)
Baseball
As for baseball, the Detroit Tigers are back in action for a new season beginning April 8 at Comerica Park against the White Sox. And our West Michigan Whitecaps open the season on April 8 in Midland, but return to LMCU Ballpark for the home opener on Tuesday, April 12. More info at whitecapsbaseball.com.
That’s it for now.
As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Have a great, safe weekend.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Bringing home the title win was Byron Center’s Code Red, Gull Lake’s Twisted Devils, and East Kentwood’s Red Storm. (WKTV)
East Kentwood’s Red Storm robotics team not only snagged a win at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition, but also earned the Gracious Professionalism Award Advancement of FIRST Robotics. (WKTV)
Code Red Robotics, which is based in Byron Center, was one of the winning teams and also earned the Engineering Inspiration Award at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition. (WLTV)
The Wyoming Demons, far right, was one four teams to finish as a finalist at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition on March 31-April 2. (WKTV)
Hopkins’ Tech Vikes, which is sponsored by Wyoming’s GM Components, earned the Autonomous Award sponsored by Ford. (WKTV)
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma joanne@wktv.org
When spring break is over, Kentwood and Byron Center Public Schools will have something to boost about.
For the first time in almost two years, robotics teams from around the state were able to compete at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition, traditionally held the first weekend of spring break, which this year was March 31-April 2.
“We do it at this time because the school is out on spring break which makes it easier for us to be able to use the gym for a full three days,” said Wendy Ljungren, who works with East Kentwood’s Red Storm, which hosts the competition.
This year it was the combined teams of East Kentwood’s Red Robotics (Team 3875), the all area-based team in Byron Center, Code Red Robotics (Team 2771), and Gull Lake’s Twisted Devils (Team 4381) that took top honors. The first place wins secured all three teams a spot in the state competition, which is set for April 14-16 at Saginaw Valley State University. Also moving on to state is Belmont’s That ONE Team-Our Next Engineers (Team 4967), which earned the coveted District Chairman’s Award.
The FIRST Robotics team resets the playing field at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition, which was March 31-April 1. (WKTV)
Kentwood Superintendent Kevin Poston certainly could not contain his excitement as he sent out a Point of Pride notice on Monday, April 5, to announce the Red Robotics win and mentioning that the team also earned the Gracious Professionalism Award for the advancement of FIRST Robotics.
After a hard fought battle in the playoff rounds, Wyoming High School’s Demons (Team 858) came in as a finalist. Since there is one more district competition, set for April 8-10, Demons coaches said it will be about a week before they know if the team will advance on to the state competition. The Demons’ current ranking is 88th in the state.
There are about 541 Michigan FIRST Robotic teams. The state has 16 districts with about 26 competitions. Teams are required to participate in two robotic competitions for the season.
There are 160 team slots at the state competition. Those who have won a district competition or earned the Chairman’s Award or the District Engineering Inspiration Award advance to the state competition regardless of ranking. From there, the rankings fill in the rest of the spots.
“Sometimes a team can win more than one thing at an event or win two events,” said Ljungren. Such was the case of Byron Center’s Code Red, which was part of the winning alliance and also received the District Engineering Inspiration Award which celebrates the outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization and community.
“In that case, a spot would open up for another team to attend,” she said.
Ken Orsechowski, a coach for the Code Red Robotics team, gets interviewed by the WKTV team. WKTV will airing the East Kentwood Robotics competition at a later date. (WKTV)
For the World competition, which is set for April 20-23 in Houston, Texas, FIRST in Michigan will be sending 64 teams total. This includes the winning alliance from the state competition and the state Chairman’s Award, Engineering Inspiration Award, and Rookie All-Star Award winners. The number also includes any Hall of Fame teams, which is a team that has won the National Chairman’s Award in the past 10 years. In 2021, Novi’s Frog Force (Team 503) earned such an honor.
One West Michigan team expecting to head to the world competition is Hopkins’ Tech Vikes, which is sponsored by the GM Components plant located in the City of Wyoming. The plant also is sponsoring the Wyoming High’s Demons team. Tech Vikes, which earned the Autonomous Award sponsored by Ford at the East Kentwood competition, is currently ranked 23rd in the state.
Other West Michigan team state rankings are Forest Hills’ Comets (Team 3357), ranked third; Byron Center’s Code Red (Team 2771), ranked 45th; East Kentwood’s Red Storm, (Team 3875), ranked 51st; Grandivlle’s The RoboDawgs (Team 288), ranked 146th; and Lee Robotics (Team 7234), ranked 163rd. For a complete list of state rankings, click here.
By David Stanley Integrity Financial Services, LLC
Hurricanes to the weather can impact the U.S. economy. (pxhere.com)
Hurricane Ida, COVID- 19 and a February winter weather disaster in the United States and Mexico; many other catastrophes and worries abound. What issues currently confront the U.S. economy? The answer is multi-level but can be summed up as:
1) The collapse of an economy (potential)
2) Inflation
Are your important retirement dollars safe? If you have a fixed/indexed annuity, your money is still protected. Think of the simplicity the annuity brings to life. No fees, no loads, no market risk. It is not stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, which rely on fluctuating investment trends. It’s dependable fixed/indexed annuities that will fund Baby Boomer retirement.
Safety is not an issue with fixed annuities. The insurance company doesn’t borrow money to make risky or speculative investments. What keeps annuities safe? Think of it this way. Are you worried about your homeowners, auto insurance, life insurance company going under? No. Remember, annuities are not speculative investments, but deposit accounts backed up by cash on hand.
The insurance industry was “the last man standing” during the Great Depression when banks and investment firms failed. Then as now, this sector remains the last bastion of financial freedom. The fixed annuity company already has its portfolio to back these contractual guarantees.
Annuities provide a level of economic security that cannot be duplicated by other investments like stocks, bonds, CDs, etc. Annuities relieve the consumer of the need to set aside additional money to offset potential risk and fees for managing the account.
If fear of managing your retirement accounts paralyzes you and causes you stress, simply pass it to a risk bearer, an insurance company. Let the annuity provide you with a safe and secure income.
Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463 or click this link: Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.comDave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management.
For almost 99 years, the Lee High School has stood at the intersections of Nagel/Havana/Engle/Martindale. Originally called the Lee Street school, District. 7, Wyoming Township, the building was formally dedicated on Dec. 14, 1923. If you did your math, that means the building will mark its 100th anniversary in December 2023. Despite a portion of the building collapsing in 2019, the structure remains true to its original design. (That will change once a two-year remodeling project is completed for the 2023-2024 school year.)
Veteran Jurgen Nitzsche produced this work as part of veterans art project which led to the Yellow Ribbon ArtPrize entry. (Supplied/Pamela Alderman)
Zaneta Adams, Director of the MVAA, Judge Rosemarie Aqualina, and two attendees of Kent County Veterans Services’ 2021 Banquet for Female Veterans. (Supplied)
An attendee making art at one of Kent County Veterans Services’ women veterans events. (Supplied)
Colorful art and colorful veteran at one of Kent County Veterans Services’ women veterans events. (Supplied)
Local female veterans at a “female only” retreat early this year. (KC Veterans Services)
By D.A. Reed, WKTV Contributing Writer
Fair treatment for women serving on American military active duty, and as veterans, has been battle fought for decades — often with unsatisfactory results.
And while many local female veterans continue to fight against unfair treatment — including local veteran and advocate Theresa Robinson — several Kent County organizations and individuals strive to help female veterans and their families receive the acknowledgement and support they deserve.
Devoted specifically to supporting “all” veterans, Kent County Veterans Services (KCVS) has served the veterans of Kent County since 2008, connecting them with resources in the community as well as providing them with assistance in obtaining benefits they are entitled to from all levels of government.
And, in recent years, KCVS has focused heavily on female veterans and their needs.
“Our continued emphasis is going to be on making female veterans feel comfortable and welcome and helping them to recognize that they may be eligible for benefits, which is the primary part of what we do,” Martha Burkett, manager of KCVS, said to WKTV. “A lot of them don’t even know they have them.”
Burkett continued by saying that applying to the federal government for their benefits is often harder than the government claims. “It’s not easy to do the application process or follow it through. If they can deny you, they will deny you.”
Requests can be kicked back if forms are not filled out properly, for not providing adequate documentation, or not using the right words.
“That’s why the services we offer through our office are so important,” Burkett said. “The Veterans Services officers know all of that. They are trained and certified to do that work. We can do that for veterans on their behalf and make the process a lot smoother and easier for them.”
KCVS has been striving to expand their services to female veterans, not only assisting with benefits but providing help and engagement opportunities for veterans in different ways.
A semi-formal banquet in July celebrates female veterans annually, while a year-round wellness program offers yoga classes, art therapy, and various other opportunities for women.
Equine assisted therapy retreats with programing specifically for female veterans has also been made available since 2019. KCVS has also used grant money to facilitate a recreation program that includes kayaking, hiking, and other activities specifically for women.
For some, working to support veterans — all veterans — is personal.
Theresa Robinson at Kent County airport with other veterans welcoming home active duty military members. (Supplied)
Theresa Robinson, at Kent County Airport, arriving home from boot camp. (Supplied)
A veteran married to a veteran, Theresa and George Robinson. (Supplied)
Theresa Robinson, left, is active in many veterans organizations and efforts. (Supplied)
Theresa Robinson — veteran, veterans advocate, local businesswoman. (Supplied)
Individual issues but often common cause
Theresa Robinson, veteran, veteran advocate, and current realtor for 616 Realty, served her country in the U.S. Navy as a personnel specialist from 1974 through 1976, and has remained active in the efforts to bring fair treatment and recognition to women serving on active duty and to female veterans.
Robinson told WKTV she personally experienced the hardship of obtaining benefits, having a claim rejected and being told by other veterans that for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), “This is normal procedure … You just have to keep going back.”
“It’s sad because … any veteran deserves that care and earned that care,” Robinson said. “It should not be so hard.”
KCVS is also only one of many resources available to female veterans, Robinson pointed out, citing groups such as the American Legion, the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard, and the United Veterans Council of Kent County as great avenues for helping veterans and their families.
Robinson has served in all three organizations as a way to continue her service to other veterans and the country she loves.
“As a Vietnam Era veteran, I saw the treatment of veteran and active duty during that time in history and it motivated me to want to make a difference in how veterans are perceived to the public,” Robinson said. “Female veterans need to know if they go to the VA for health reasons, be it mental or physical heath, they can count on the VA being equipped to handle females and their needs.
“And female veterans need to know they are not alone … others that have served have experienced many of the same things they did and are there (to support) each other.”
Burkett also believes female veterans need to know there is support out there for them.
“Women have always been less likely to come forward,” Burkett said.
From fear of their careers being derailed if they speak up, to diving back into their civilian roles of mother and wife, to not realizing their problems could be combat-related, women have often kept silent.
“No matter the arena, women are less likely to present for treatment than men,” Burkett said.
Historic issues still present
Over the years, seeing so little change for women who serve is frustrating for Robinson.
“I should not be hearing from anyone 48 years after I served that behaviors unbecoming a military active member are still happening today,” Robinson said. “We and the military are better than this.”
To see that change happen, however, Robinson believes the community must get involved.
“It’s not only veterans that have to ask the VA and our government to be accountable to veterans. The general public needs to do that too,” she said. “The general public needs to tell their government officials that we belong — as human beings, as citizens of the United States of America.”
Robinson also thinks that despite changes, the VA system still needs improvement — “There has got to be a better system for reviewing claims when they come in.”
Most of all, it is important to Robinson that female veterans are “seen, recognized, and appreciated.” And that male and female veterans will be recognized as one group.
“I long for the day when I can speak on and about veterans,” Robinson said, “and not have to differentiate when speaking, female or male veteran.”
Some other groups support female veterans
Robinson speaks highly of the women veteran’s outreach campaign, She Is a Veteran.
“She Is a Veteran is all about empowering female veterans,” Robinson said. “We want female veterans to know they can make a difference in government, in real estate, in teaching, in their everyday lives.”
Women can also learn about advocacy for themselves and their community by attending the Michigan Women Veterans Conference in Lansing, scheduled for June 10-11, sponsored by the Michigan Women Veterans Coalition. Michigan Women Veterans Conference questions can be directed to Erika Hoover, Women Veterans and Special Populations Coordinator, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, 517-230-6090, HooverE2@michigan.gov.
Other resources and events for female veterans include:
Residents identified they would like to see ARPA (COVID) funding used for is on the city’s water and sewer system. (City of Wyoming)
It was a pretty exciting in the fall when the City of Wyoming, like municipalities across the state and country, learned it would be receiving $13.1 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding.
Similar to the most recent round of stimulus checks the U.S. government gave to American residents, the City of Wyoming’s $13.1 million also was part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) designed to rescue the economy. The federal government gave states about $350 billion dollars, of which Michigan received $250 million.
Deputy City Manager John McCarter said the city has received about $6.5 million of the estimated $13.1 million with the remainder expected to be paid out this year.
But like anything that comes from the federal government, there are a few strings attached to the money, such as what it can be spend not, when it needs to be spent and how cities must report expenditures. According to the U.S. Treasury, those guidelines are:
Revenue replacement for the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, relative to collection in the most recent fiscal year prior to the emergency.
COVID-19 expenditures or negative economic impacts of COVID, including assistance to small businesses, households, and hard-hit industries, and economic recovery
Premium pay for essential workers
Investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure
The money must be used for COVID-related needs. An example given by the Michigan Township Association (MTA) is because of the COVID pandemic, a community’s parks had high usage which resulted in damage and higher than normal maintenance needs, the ARPA money could be used for those parks.
Also, according to the MTA, the ARPA money could be used to bring staffing back to pre-pandemic levels, but only if reductions were a direct result of the COVID pandemic.
How ARPA funds impacts city staffing
The question of using the grant funding has been raised instead of the city seeking an income tax, which is one of two proposals Wyoming residents will vote on May 3.
The additional police and fire staffing that are required to address the community’s needs are a recurring expense that should be support by recurring revenue, McCarter said.
“When you consider the ARPA funding, it is a one-time payment, it will not support the recurring expenses that hiring additional staff includes.” McCarter said, adding that the leaders at the federal level have referred to the bill as a “once in a generation funding opportunity.”
“Because it is a one-time payment, using it to fund police and fire, which is an ongoing expenditure, would not be fiscally responsible as the city needs long-term funding to maintain staffing levels,” McCarter said.
The question of using the grant funding has been raised instead of the city seeking an income tax, which is one of two proposals Wyoming residents will vote on on May 3. The first proposal is the income tax, which would be up to 1 percent for Wyoming residents and .5 percent for non-residents, which according to state law, is the maximum cities are allowed to levy an income tax. City officials have stated that if passed, the income tax would be up to .8 for residents and .4 for non-residents.
The second proposal is to reduce the city’s property taxes for homeowners and businesses by about 58 percent, going from around 12 mills to 5. Both proposals must pass to take effect.
It is estimated that the city would generate about $6 million annually if the proposals are approved. The money would be used to fund 27 additional firefighters (doubling the department), 13 police officers and 1 crime analyst with $600,000 annually being dedicated to update and maintain the city’s parks.
The City of Wyoming is hoping to use its remaining ARPA (COVID) funds for large-scale capital projects. (Supplied)
City of Wyoming projects being considered for ARPA funding
The city has used $437,280 of the ARPA funding to make modifications at city hall which has included a drive-thru for the treasurer’s office, court building upgrades, a city hall kiosk, police flock cameras, and a police desk officer reporting system, McCarter said.
In November, the city did conduct a survey of residents to determine what they would like to see the funds used for. From that survey, residents indicated that their top priorities were equipping first responders and improvements to water and sewer systems. Also receiving strong support was construction of affordable housing and a community clean-up program. Other projects listed were improvements to city facilities to address public health, assistance with home repairs, improvements to parks and grants for improvements to businesses and mobile parks and recreation programs.
The remaining $10 million, which also must follow the ARPA use guidelines, will be used on large scale capital investments and matching funds for grants and other funding sources. City Council is scheduled to resume discussions about how to spend ARPA funding in June.
Municipalities have until Dec. 31, 2024 to obligate the ARPA funds and must spend the APRA money by Dec. 31, 2026.
It might be a stretch to say we celebrate National Healthcare Decisions Day, but to Erica Beitel, it’s certainly something she honors and observes.
It is important to have end-of-life care and death discussions so everyone understands your final wishes. (Supplied)
Though still shy of 30-years-old, she’s already had a conversation and drawn up documents in response to “the talk” about end-of-life care and death that many who are more than twice her age have not or aren’t willing to initiate.
“I had a loved one who was in a car accident,” she explained. “They couldn’t make their own decisions about healthcare. It was an unbelievably tragic episode that put the issue front and center for me.”
Beitel’s perspective is also unique because she works as a healthcare professional, serving as a social worker for Emmanuel Hospice. The role places her in front of people every day who are making tough decisions – and in many cases wishing they’d considered their futures much earlier.
That’s the whole point of National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16 – to encourage adults of all ages to plan ahead for a health crisis. It’s typically recognized during the same week that includes “tax day” in reference to Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote, “nothing is certain except death and taxes.”
“This day is an annual reminder for people to consider making healthcare decisions for a time when they may not be able,” Beitel said, “and that includes everything from making advance care directives to choosing an advocate to honor your decisions about end-of-life care.
“Sometimes the biggest barrier is when patients are ready to opt for the comfort and care route that includes hospice, but the caregiver isn’t on board. They feel the patient is giving up hope, but hope can be redefined and can look different depending on where you are on your journey.”
Beitel also points out that people avoid the talk because “it’s a vulnerable space to enter, or you don’t think death or dying is imminent.” Indeed, having a talk about final wishes acknowledges the tough topic of death itself. Even with groundbreaking books like Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ book, “On Death And Dying,” in 1969, which revolutionized the public’s perception of death, many of us avoid the subject.
Beitel noted that it’s arguably easier than ever to tackle such challenges, thanks to organizations and websites that exist solely to promote open dialogue, including TheConversationProject.org. The site and others like it provide step-by-step suggestions for how to prompt the conversation, what issues to confront and even where to stage the conversation, such as the kitchen table, at a restaurant or during a walk.
Beitel said she wishes more people would approach advance planning like they do in arranging for home and auto insurance or providing a friend a spare key to their home in case of an emergency. We spend countless hours planning weddings, but recoil at the thought of devoting the same energy to our last wishes.
After having the talk, the next step is to take action, arranging for an advocate and creating directives, a task eased by the availability of free forms from a host of sites, including CaringInfo.org. Lawyers will also assist, usually for a fee.
“What some family members sometimes don’t realize is that a patient might endure the medical system for so long that they’re just physically spent and want to be home to enjoy what they can of the time they have left – to spend it with family and friends.
“Making that wish, or other wishes, known can prevent an ambiguous situation ahead of time. It’s also a gift to your loved ones. It’s lifting a burden from their shoulders.”
A storyteller takes the stage during the February WKTV Voices Storytelling Project. (WKTV)
A chance meeting. A lesson learned and applied. An observation.
These were all some of the stories that were shared during the first WKTV’s Storytellers Project that was held in February at Wyoming’s The Stray, 4253 S. Division Ave.
“I moved among the crowd to see their reaction and it was really nice to see how much people were enjoying themselves,” said founder and host Donna Kidner Smith.
In fact, The Stray was packed on that snowy, cold day in February, to listen to about 14 local storytellers share a 5-6 minute story from their life. It was such a success that a second storytelling event has been scheduled for Friday, April 15. The program will be at 7 p.m. and is open to the public.
The idea for the project came from Moth Radio Hour, which airs on NPR stations across the nation. The program features storytellers who share stories that honor both the diversity and commonality of human experience, and satisfies a human need for connection.
“This time there will be a theme,” Kidner-Smith said, adding that the theme is “That didn’t Go as I Had Planned.” There will be about 12 storytellers including Kidner-Smith.
The Stray’s menu features a selection of coffees and non-coffee items such as tea, hot chocolate and Brix soda. There is also a lunch menu of sandwiches and salads and in the evening, the offerings include flat breads and a selection of beer and wine.
For those who missed the February event or would like to get a sneak peek as to how it all goes, can watch the February WKTV Voices Storytelling Project at 9 p.m. Tuesday, 7 p.m. Wednesday, and 10 p.m. Saturday on Comcast Channel 25.
WKTV also will be recording the April 15 event as well.
Baby’s immune system can benefit from chiropractic, too. (Supplied)
Spring has sprung — and for a lot of folks here in Michigan, that means spring allergies. Before making a run to the local pharmacy to stock up on OTC allergy relievers, consider the root cause. It really isn’t the pollen’s fault. The reason why your body reacts to pollens and other allergens is that your personal immune system isn’t working as well as it should.
What can you do to boost your immune system? Well, first of all, avoid sugar. Cutting out cookies, candy, and sweetened beverages isn’t enough. Processed foods contain a lot of hidden sugars. Surprisingly, food we think is good for us often has more sugar than is optimal. For example, one serving of Yoplait Original Strawberry Yogurt has 19 grams of sugar. That’s 10 more grams of sugar than are in a Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie. To reduce the amount of sugar in your diet, read the nutrition information labels on the foods you buy.
Another reason your immune system may not be at its best is that you’re not drinking enough water. Dr. Jyothi Tirumalasetty, assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health in the department of clinical immunology and allergy states, “Water is vital for the functioning of all of your organs, and it’s a huge part of keeping your immune system functioning at an optimal level. We are made of 60 percent water. If we are dehydrated, the whole system of immunity could start breaking down.”
Proper hydration, along with adequate nutrition and sleep, is an essential component of a healthy immune system. Try to drink half your body weight in ounces of water a day. And remember, caffeinated beverages drive water out of your system. So, if you drink a lot of coffee or Coke, you’ll need to drink even more water every day.
Making other healthy lifestyle changes can boost your immune system, as well. In fact, the Harvard Healthbeat says, “Following general good-health guidelines is the single best step you can take toward naturally keeping your immune system working properly. Every part of your body, including your immune system, functions better when protected from environmental assaults and bolstered by healthy-living strategies.” These strategies include dos like eating lots of fruits and veggies, exercising, and getting a good night’s sleep as well as don’ts — quit smoking, drink alcohol only in moderation, and minimize stress.
Another way to boost your immune system is with regular chiropractic adjustments. An aligned spine helps your brain communicate with all of your organs and body systems. We’ve seen patients’ allergy symptoms dwindle and even disappear. And we can help you tune up your immune system, too!
Scene from the 2019 “Eat. Drink. Be Merry!” annual fundraising event hosted by Martha’s Vineyard to benefit St. Cecilia Music Center. (Supplied)
Scene from the 2019 “Eat. Drink. Be Merry!” annual fundraising event hosted by Martha’s Vineyard to benefit St. Cecilia Music Center. (Supplied)
Scene from the 2019 “Eat. Drink. Be Merry!” annual fundraising event hosted by Martha’s Vineyard to benefit St. Cecilia Music Center. (Supplied)
Scene from the 2019 “Eat. Drink. Be Merry!” annual fundraising event hosted by Martha’s Vineyard to benefit St. Cecilia Music Center. (Supplied)
By WKTV Staff
After a two-year hiatus due to pandemic restrictions, “Eat. Drink. Be Merry!”, an annual fundraising event hosted by Martha’s Vineyard to benefit St. Cecilia Music Center, will return Saturday, April 16, from 6 to 9 p.m.
St. Cecilia Music Center. (WKTV)
In past years, the fundraiser has brought more than 300 people to participate in wine-tasting, food sampling and a silent auction on three floors of the historic St. Cecilia Music Center (SCMC) building, according to an announcement from St. Cecilia.
“As an important fundraiser for SCMC, we’re grateful to Martha’s Vineyard for standing by us during these difficult times, and now bringing back this wonderful event to help fund our music and educational programs,” Cathy Holbrook, executive and artistic director, said in supplied material. “As a (non-profit) 501(C) 3 organization we depend on generous funding and donations.”
Eat. Drink. Be Merry! will include over 100 varietals of wines from around the world sold at Martha’s Vineyard. During the event, wine experts and vendors will present the wines and provide information. “Hearty hors d’oeuvres” will be served by Catering by Martha’s and Nantucket Baking Company.
Musical entertainment and a silent auction will also be a part of the festivities. The silent auction will focus on food and wine items donated by local restaurants and other businesses.
Eat. Drink. Be Merry! will be held at St. Cecilia, 24 Ransom NE, downtown Grand Rapids/ Tickets are $50 per person. Advance tickets can be purchased online at scmc-online.org, or by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224.
Spring Break doesn’t seem like it if you’re stuck in Grand Rapids.
If you’re like me, you’ll make the best of it, despite a few snowflakes.
In my Top 5, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal, I include activities for kids, sports fans, craft beer aficionados and theater lovers. Who needs palm trees, the beach and fancy drinks by the pool?
Have a great weekend, friends.
Gonzo’s Top 5
Grand Rapids Gold wraps up its season this weekend. (Supplied)
5. Grand Rapids Sports
The Grand Rapids Griffins and the Grand Rapids Gold both have home games this weekend. The hockey team has games Friday and Saturday (April 1-2) at Van Andel Arena. Special activities include Jeff Hoggan jersey retirement, Margaritaville Night, and beach hat giveaway on Saturday. Also, the team has a home game on April 6. More info at vanandelarena.com. Also, pro basketball team the Grand Rapids Gold wraps up its season withgames Friday and Saturday (April 1-2) at the DetlaPlex Arena. On Friday, fans get $2 beer, $2 hot dogs and $5 Founders Solid Gold. And it’s Real Superheroes on Saturday. One lucky fan at the game will receive a limited edition superhero jersey and an official Wilson game ball. The Children’s Foundation also presents a post-game autograph session with coaches and team members. Team posters to the first 500 fans as well. Ticket info at https://grandrapids.gleague.nba.com/
4. Grand Armory Tap Takeover at Horrocks
Whether it’s a tap takeover or not, it’s always fun to hang out at Horrocks Farm Market to do some shopping, as well as dine on soup, salad, pizza and other great food. In fact, it’s a great destination any day of the week. If you stop by Friday (April 1), craft beer fans can check out Grand Armory from 4-7 p.m. at Horrocks Market Tavern in Kentwood. Some of the beers on tap include Nerd (New England IPA), Lightly Dusted (Crop Duster Light), Blueberry Watermelon (Fruited Blonde), Grapefruit Grindage (Grapefruit IPA) and their famous Fluffer Nutter (Peanut Butter Marshmallow Stout). It’s super tasty and fun. Learn more on the Facebook Event Page.
3.Craig’s Cruisers Spring Break Wristbands
It’s back! The popular unlimited action at Craig’s Cruisers is from April 1-10 with morning (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) or afternoon (4-8 p.m.) sessions at Craig’s Cruisers Family Fun Center in Wyoming. The unlimited attractions include: Indoor & Outdoor Go-Karts, Laser Tag, Bumper Cars, Mini-Golf, Bumper Boats, Frog Hopper, Cruiser Coaster and Ninja Course. (Weather permitting on outdoor attractions.) Fans can also experience the Trampoline Park, as well as a pizza buffet. Tickets are $35 per person, plus tax. Waivers are also required. You can order tickets online as well as get more details craigscruisers.com/specials_promotions/spring-break-wristbands/.
“Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs” at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Supplied)
2. Kids activities at museums and zoo
Several of our local cultural institutions offer great activities for families.
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum Spring Break Bonanza includesspecial performances and presentations, April 1-10. Details at www.grcm.org/events.
The Washed Ashore Exhibit opens April 1 at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids. The traveling exhibit features 16 large and colorful sculptures throughout the Zoo, all beautifully designed, giant sea life sculptures made entirely of marine debris collected from beaches. More details at jbzoo.org/washedashore.
Spring Break at the Public Museum, April 1-10; includes its newest exhibition, Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs. These are life-size models, casts of rare fossils while interactives bring these ancient animals to life. Also, relax and recline in the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium with shows about the incredible forces of our universe. It’s fun for the whole family. Learn more at www.grpm.org, including how Kent County residents receive reduced admission, including free general admission for Kent County children 17 and under.
“Ain’t Too Proud: The Story of the Temptations” is at the DeVos Performance Hall. (Photo by Mike Murphy)
Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations
I wasn’t too sure what to expect from the national Broadway tour of “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations,” which has performances through Sunday at DeVos Performance Hall. I knew the songs would be great – because who doesn’t love those classic songs like “My Girl,” “I Can’t Next to You,” “Just My Imagination” and “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone”? But the storyline has to pull it all together, and that’s exactly what it did. In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing it again. Asked after the show for my review, I said “Ain’t Too Proud” is “a riveting and compelling behind the scenes story about one of music’s most successful acts, told through the classic songs we know and love. It’s a must-show that features stellar voices and those signature dance moves.” I think that says it all.
In my theater podcast “By All Means, Lead the Way,” I interviewed James T. Lane, who plays Paul Williams, one of the original members of the Temptations. The Philadelphia native tells his own story of how he fell in love with dance and the theater. And why he loves this show so much.
You will, too, he added.
“For 2 ½ hours you will be entertained by some of the most extraordinary artists I have ever had the pleasure to work with in all of my 20-plus years of experience,” Lane said in the interview.
“So come, be dazzled, be delighted; feel all of the emotions of the classic 5, and all of the Temptations. Come and see ‘Ain’t too Proud – Life of the Temptations.’ You will not want to miss this.”
If you want to hear the interview in its entirety, check out my podcast here:
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/49281119
Presented by Broadway Grand Rapids, performances of “Ain’t Too Proud” continue through Sunday (April 3). Ticket information at broadwaygrandrapids.com.
As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Have a great, safe Spring Break.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Planning for any future endeavor can be overwhelming; a big trip, a long-distance move, making a large purchase or upgrade. Developing an aging plan isn’t any different, it can be difficult to navigate. As with anything, starting to research an aging plan is often the first step.
So why do you need an aging plan? It is important to recognize that you may not age exactly how you wish, but having this plan in place before barriers arise, allows you to have a peace of mind that your wishes are carried out how you want.
Where to Start: The Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) is a great place to get started on your aging plan. Area Agencies on Aging are a nationwide network of nonprofit agencies created by Congress in 1974 to be one-stop shops with information about programs and services to maximize the independence and dignity of older adults. At AAAWM, we serve a nine-county region that includes Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola counties, and we partner with local agencies, organizations, and Commissions on Aging to provide vital support to seniors and their caregivers.
Everyone ages differently, and no two situations are identical. The resources that could work to support one family may not be the best choice for another. When you call our Information and Assistance team at (616) 456-5664, they listen to your unique situation and can help you get started. Whether you have current care needs or are planning ahead, we can help connect you to resources that focus on the goal of maintaining independence. The Eldercare Locator tool (www.eldercare.acl.gov) from the U.S. Administration on Aging can also be a helpful online resource for those not in our region or if you are caring for a loved one out of state.
What to Consider: In thinking ahead to your aging plan and having these proactive conversations, you should first consider what you may need help with as you get older. As you share your hopes for aging at home with your family, there could be some support they can provide for you and other things they may not. The good news is that there are many services available in the nine-county region to help fill these gaps.
Here are just a few of the many resources and some questions to consider:
Safety: Is your home safe for you to navigate? What if you were to lose mobility? Some home modifications can be simple, such as adding a handrail, others can be more involved like building an entrance ramp. Programs in the region exist to help older adults make these updates or required repairs and oftentimes will conduct a home assessment to help determine if the home is safe for independence and what steps to take. In some cases, agencies are able to provide adaptive equipment such as walkers and other mobility aids.
Home Support:Can you take care of yourself? Are there some tasks you require support with? Services are available to provide help with routine daily tasks like laundry, shopping, and light housekeeping. If your needs are greater, specific programs like the AAAWM’s Care Management or MI Choice Medicaid Waiver are in place for those who require a higher level of care.
Transportation: If you lose your ability to drive yourself, what are some of your options? Assisted transportation is available to provide older adults with pre-scheduled rides to doctor’s appointments, senior centers, meal programs, and more. Discounted public transportation vouchers are also available.
Meals: Are you able to prepare your own meals? Are you eating nutritious foods? For seniors who are able to still shop for their own food, a wide variety of nutrition services exist from food pantries to the Community Food Club. For the social older adult, congregate meals are a great option to have regular meals with others. Homebound seniors can still have the freedom to choose their own meal options and prepare their own meals through home delivered meals programs.
Health: Are you staying connected socially to peers and your community? Are you prioritizing your physical and social health as you age? Senior centers offer a wide variety of activities to help you stay engaged in your community including specialized programs and activities from woodworking to crafting and bingo. Evidence-based healthy aging classes are designed specifically for older adults to improve their balance and strength to avoid future falls.
Caregiver Support: If you care for an aging loved one, you likely require support from time to time. Services such as adult day, respite, and caregiver education programs are in place to walk with you on the caregiver journey and relieve some of this burden.
In many cases, you can choose the best options for you and what your needs are. It is important to note that in the case of some of these programs, based on age, financial, and medical criteria, some co-pays, or cost-sharing could be required. Call the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at (616) 456-5664 to begin the conversation on how to get connected to the resource options in your community and develop your aging plan!
Graphic from City of Kentwood promotional material.
By WKTV Staff
The City of Kentwood and Georgetown Seniors are inviting community members to have lunch and celebrate successful aging by connecting with resources from as many as 50 vendors, as well as free health screenings, at the 23rd annual Spotlight on Seniors Expo on Tuesday, April 19.
The free indoor event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. For more information visit kentwood.us/events. Vendor space is still available. For more information, contact Ann Przybysz at 616-656-5284 or przybysza@kentwood.us.
The vendors will include a variety of senior-oriented businesses, the free health screenings will include blood pressure, posture, grip strength and mental health, and there will be door prizes as well as free snacks and lunch.
“The Spotlight on Seniors Expo is a meaningful way for seniors and other community members to come together in celebration of successful aging and to learn about local resources that support healthy lifestyles,” Kentwood Recreation Program Coordinator Ann Przybysz aid in supplied material. “Our partnership with Georgetown Seniors and our event sponsors is key to the long-term success of this community favorite.”
Participating vendors include professionals knowledgeable in everything from physical therapy and assisted living to home improvement and health care.
“Staying active, healthy and connected is paramount to our senior neighbors,” Pam Haverdink, director of the Georgetown Senior Center, said in supplied material. “We are pleased to partner with Kentwood Seniors and we are grateful to the vendors who help make it happen.”
