Two of the founders of the Community Cat Crew, J.J. LaBelle (left) with Manchego and Kendi Helmus with Shiner Bock. Both kittens are bottle-babies. (Courtesy Photo)
By Janet Vormittag
WKTV Contributor
One of the goals of the Community Cat Crew is to stop spring from being known as kitten season.
Five women founded the cat rescue and advocacy group in January 2022. The director is Kendi Helmus of Hudsonville, but she doesn’t want to take credit for starting the group.
“I told her if she tackled it I’d be her right-hand woman,” said J.J. LaBelle who lives in Eastown. “We wouldn’t have done it without her. She had the passion and we supported her.”
Other founders include Trish Keyzer and her daughter Syd Keyzer of Grandville and Erin O’Keefe of Jenison.
“We share the workload,” Helmus said. Each woman works with a network of foster homes in her area and works to find homes for the cats and kittens in their care.
“We have kittens in homes from Sparta to Zeeland,” LaBelle said. The group has close to 25 foster homes. The group became a 501(c)3 in April 2023.
Two meanings
Helmus explained that the group’s name has two meanings. First, they’re dealing with community cats — outside cats who have no owners, the community is their home. Second, they want to educate people in the community about the importance of getting the cats spayed/neutered to stop the birth of unwanted litters of kittens.
“Eighty percent of kittens in shelters come from community cats,” Helmus said.
Spring is kitten season
Anyone involved in cat rescue soon learns that spring is when rescues and shelters are overwhelmed with kittens.
“It took years to educate people to fix their personal cats. Our mission is to educate people to fix community cats,” LaBelle said.
Before starting Community Cat Crew, the women volunteered for local rescue groups.
Their focus is TNVR, trap-neuter-vaccine-return. They live-trap outside cats and have them spayed/neutered and vaccinated before returning them to where they were caught. If the cats are friendly they place them in foster homes and find them new homes. If they come across kittens, they’re also placed in foster homes where they can be socialized before being put up for adoption.
Helmus’ passion is trapping cats. She got her start in rescue when as a teenager she found a litter of kittens and snuck them into her bedroom closet. When she showed one to her mother, she learned the kitten had fleas. Her parents soon discovered she had a closet full of flea infested kittens. She was allowed to keep one kitten who she named Gus.
“He was my first rescue kitty,” she said.
With a husband and three children, Helmus’ time is precious. Part of what she does for the group is record keeping.
“I’m a spreadsheet queen,” she said with a laugh.
LaBelle loves to care for bottle babies — newborns who don’t have a mother. “They’re my passion,” she said. She falls in love with each one of them, but knows they’re only with her temporarily. “I’m a huge believer that goodbye is the goal,” she said, but she admits saying goodbye to kittens she raised is bittersweet. “They go and it makes room for new residents.”
LaBelle grew up on a farm and taming feral barn kittens was an ongoing passion. When she was older she spent two years transporting close to 100 cats and kittens from her mother’s farm in the Upper Peninsula to Grand Rapids to get them spayed/neutered and rehomed.
She usually has 12 to 18 fosters plus a dozen or more bottle babies.
“For six months I don’t sleep,” she said.
She works at Schmidt”s Animal Hospital in Walker and can bring the babies to work to care for them.
Funded through adoption fees and fundraising
The group is funded through adoption fees and fundraising. “TNVR is expensive and you’re not getting a return, but it has to be done,” Helmus said.
Members of the group attend various events including farmer’s markets to educate people about the importance of spaying and neutering community cats and to sell craft items to raise funds. This year they’ve partnered with GR8 Food Trucks to staff their beer tent at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids.
One of their needs is volunteers to staff events and to make items they can sell. They also would appreciate monthly donors.
“A small commitment on a monthly basis — something we can count on — makes the work a little easier,” LaBelle said. They also have an Amazon Wish List.
Last year, which is the year the group started, the women TNR’d 93 cats and had 140 adoptions. Their goal was to double those number in 2023. At the end of July they had trapped 93 cats and had close to 180 adoptions.
“We’re moving in the right direction, but we have a long way to go before spring isn’t considered kitten season,” LaBelle said.
For more information or to contact the Community Cat Crew: admin@communitycatcrew.org, www.communitycatcrew.org. You can also follow them on Facebook.
Wyoming Police Department investigates shootings on Sept. 8 and 9, 2023
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
The Wyoming Police Department responded to shooting events on Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9 that left two people injured and one person dead.
A shooting that left one person injured in the 3800 block of South Division Ave on Sept. 8 is being investigated by the WPD.
At approximately 9:15 p.m. on Sept. 8, 2023, police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the 3800 block of South Division Ave on a report of a person shot. When officers arrived, they located a 53-year-old male Grand Rapids area resident suffering from a gunshot wound. The male was treated by medical personnel on scene and transported to an area hospital in serious condition.
Wyoming Police Department (Courtesy, Deborah Reed, WKTV Staff)
There is no suspect information available at this time.
One person is dead and another injured after a shooting in the 3100 block of Woodward Ave SW on Saturday, Sept. 9.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 9, 2023, police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the 3100 block of Woodward Avenue on a report of shooting with two individuals shot. When officers arrived, they located two juvenile male Wyoming residents suffering from gunshot wounds.
One male was treated by medical personnel on scene and transported to an area hospital in serious condition. The other juvenile is deceased.
Individuals involved in this incident have been located and interviewed by investigators.
Wyoming Police detectives and Forensic Services Unit continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding both shooting incidents.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact Wyoming Police detectives at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
Native plants flourish in Andrea Belden’s urban garden (Courtesy, Andrea Belden)
By Deborah Reed
deborah@wktv.org
Native plants not only beautify yards and natural habitats, they increase safe havens for pollinators and decrease effects of climate change.
A trillium flower flourishes in its natural habitat (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com, Nicholas A. Tonelli)
Friends of Buck Creek and Alysia Babcock, “The Garden Guru,” are hosting a free public event to teach the “hows” and “whys” of inhabiting land without damaging it.
“Gardens with native plants provide habitat for many organisms such as pollinators, birds, and small animals,” states Babcock on The Garden Guru Kzoo website. “These pocket gardens are safe havens that help reverse the effects of climate change. We need pollinators for our food crops, birds to distribute seeds, and small animals to keep garden pests at bay resulting in healthy viable plants.”
At 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, Babcock will give an hour-long presentation titled “Cleaning Our Watershed and Beautifying Your Property with Native Plants” at Grandville Kent District Library. This presentation will teach how to beautify personal properties while cleaning stormwater and providing food and shelter for pollinators.
“I have always been an advocate for nature and find nature’s beauty everyday,” said Babcock on her website.
Native plants and flowers provide a natural habitat for many organisms (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
An Advanced Master Gardener, Conservation Steward and Master Naturalist, Babcock also has a Master’s Degree in Education, and is part of a newly formed Strike Team with the Rockford Sustainability Committee. Babcock is also the owner of The Garden Guru Kzoo LLC, a company dedicated to designing and implementing garden makeovers that specialize in native plants.
“I’d say [that] using native perennials in a landscape is a win-win-win-win,” said Martha Stout Vermeulen, founder and former President of Friends of Buck Creek-Michigan (FOBC). “Less money, less work, more beauty, healthier habitat.”
Vermeulen went on to explain that in the first year, native plants “sleep,” growing deep, water-cleansing roots. The second year they “creep,” beginning to beautify, and the third year they “leap” to their full glory.
Daisies come in several shapes, sizes, and colors (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
“Since caterpillars are a primary food source for our dwindling bird population, nibbled leaves mean the garden is doing its job,” said Vermeulen.
Native plants will be available for purchase after Babcock’s presentation.
Parking is available on the south side of the KDL Grandville Branch. The building is wheelchair accessible.
For more information or questions, contact Martha Stout Vermeulen at seasister8@gmail.com.
What’s Your Story: Write Michigan’s annual short story contest provides a chance for all ages to be published and win money (Courtesy, Kent District Library)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
Michigan writers of all ages are invited to enter the 12th annual Write Michigan Short Story Contest.
Kent District Library is pleased to present this annual contest that drew 1,250 entries in 2022. The Write Michigan contest offers separate categories for youth, teens and adults. Winning entries will be published, and the top writers will receive cash prizes.
“This contest gives writers the opportunity to reach their goal of getting published,” said Katie Zuidema, Marketing Communications Specialist at KDL. “Not only do writers have the chance to win $500, but their story could also be available to the masses on bookstore and library shelves across the state.”
Winners of the Write Michigan contest will be published and earn cash prizes (Courtesy, Kent District Library)
Stories can be submitted at writemichigan.org through Thursday, Nov. 30. Details include a 3,000-word maximum length; $10 entry fee for ages 18 and above, free for 17 and under; current Michigan residents only; all entries must be submitted online.
Three cash prizes will be given in each of the three categories ― Judges’ Choice ($500), Readers’ Choice ($250) and Judges’ Choice Runner-up ($250). The top ten stories in each category will be reviewed by a panel of judges comprised of published authors, editors, professors and literary agents. A public vote will determine the winners of Readers’ Choice.
Gary Schmidt, multiple award-winning author and Michigan resident, will be the keynote speaker at the 2024 Write Michigan awards ceremony in March. Schmidt will also be writing the foreword to the anthology, which is published by Chapbook Press.
“Write Michigan is truly a statewide effort,” says Josh Mosey, one of the organizers of the contest. “Kent District Library couldn’t put on the short story contest without our partners, including Schuler Books, Michigan Learning Channel, Capital Area District Library and Canton Public Library.”
Those who enjoy reading stories are encouraged to sign up to be a volunteer story reviewer at writemichigan.org/volunteer.
Those interested can join an online community of writers through Facebook (facebook.com/WriteMichigan) and Instagram (@write.michigan). Get encouragement, writing tips, challenges and more while you plot out your award-winning short story.
Kent District Library is offering a programming series geared towards writers and aspiring writers, covering topics like getting published, freelance writing, self-editing and creating compelling characters. For more details, including dates, times and locations, visit writemichigan.org/writers-conference.
The City of Kentwood is inviting community members of all ages to The Vibe, an annual celebration and fundraiser to enhance the city’s adaptive recreation programs set for Thursday, Sept. 14.
The tropical backyard party will run from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. It will include food, cocktails, live music, a silent auction, adaptive equipment displays and more.
The evening also will feature guest speakers Johnny and Jeff Agar, who compete as TeamAgar. Johnny, who has cerebral palsy, and his father Jeff are a father-son team who compete in endurance races together. Jeff helps Johnny until the last mile when Johnny gets up and walks across the finish line with his walker.
Jeff Agar (far left), son Johnny Agar (middle) and wife/mom Becki. (Courtesy, TeamAgar)
Father-Son team have competed in more than 200 races
Johnny, who uses a wheelchair, and his dad have competed in more than 200 races in various states, including multiple marathons, half marathons, 25Ks and more than 30 triathlons. They’ve also competed in six Ironman races where Jeff pulled Johnny 2.4 miles in a kayak, rode 112 miles on a custom tandem bike and pushed Johnny in a racing jogger during the marathon portion. In September 2022, TeamAgar completed their first full-distance Ironman in Maryland, where Johnny walked across the finish line.
“Johnny Agar and his team have achieved incredible things and serve as an example of the great impact adaptive recreation can have for an individual and a community,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood parks and recreation director. “We are delighted to have Johnny share his story and give community members a chance to learn more about the power of adaptive recreation.”
Community members are encouraged to dress casually for the event. Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased online at kentwoodvibe.com or by calling 616-656-5270 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.
Money raised at this year’s event will help purchase new equipment for Kentwood’s many adaptive programs. These offerings include active sports such as archery, kayaking, rock climbing and water skiing as well as more relaxed activities like leisure club and social events.
“The City of Kentwood is pleased to offer a wide range of activities with something for all interests and abilities,” said Ann Przybysz, Kentwood’s recreation program coordinator. “These programs give individuals an opportunity to safely participate in activities in an adapted way, allowing them to build connections, confidence and new skills along the way.”
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department provides Michigan’s most comprehensive adaptive recreation programming alongside several community partners, including Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan, Hope Network, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and more. Programs also are made possible thanks to the help of a strong volunteer network.
Programs are open to individuals of all abilities in Kentwood and beyond. Learn more about Kentwood’s adaptive programs and current offerings at kentwood.us/adaptive.
A wicker casket can be an environmentally friendly alternative (Courtesy, Ridgeview Memorial Gardens)
By Rachel Rickman
WKTV Contributor
When researching options for her husband’s burial in 2019, Stephanie Edwards believed natural burial fit perfectly with Tom’s life and his love of nature.
“I believe that Tom would have appreciated the ecologically friendly process of this burial,” said Edwards in a Green Burial Council testimonial about her husband’s burial at Penn Forest.
A family chooses to bury their loved one in a shroud at Ridgeview Memorial Gardens (Courtesy, Ridgeview Memorial Gardens)
Throughout preparation for the burial, Edwards also found the process to be one of healing.
“Funerals have always been traumatic for me, but this was a beautiful, healing experience,” Edwards said after Tom’s burial was complete.
What happens with our bodies after death is often discussed among loved ones, and available options are growing in number.
While not always a comfortable conversation topic, it is an inevitable occurrence, so why not have some say in the matter?
Familiar traditions and a new (old?) alternative
Embalming/burial and cremation are two familiar and popular traditions. However, a new option is a natural or green burial, which was recently approved in Michigan but only in certain cemeteries and locations.
In West Michigan, the only currently approved green burial location is Ridgeview Memorial Gardens in Grandville.
Proponents of green burials highlight minimal environmental impact, cost effectiveness, and peaceful, natural settings.
In total, Michigan has 14 designated green burial areas. More cemeteries are adding or looking to add a natural burial section as they grow in popularity. So why don’t more cemeteries offer this option?
“Because they’re more labor intensive,” says Ron Zartman, Executive Director of Ridgeview Memorial Gardens and member of the Green Burial Council.
Zartman explains that he has been contacted by other municipalities about adding a green burial option, but they find the labor-intensive aspect to be an obstacle.
Burial types and their environmental impact
A traditional burial involves a casket and vault made from concrete, creating little maintenance after the burial. With a natural burial, it is necessary to maintain and service the grave site three or four times as the earth settles.
Wood caskets and cremation containers are often used for natural burials (Courtesy, Ridgeview Memorial Gardens)
A green burial allows for natural decomposition as opposed to dealing with chemicals involved in the embalming process. Keeping embalming fluids and chemicals used on traditional burial sites—such as herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers—out of the equation lessens negative impact on the environment.
In a natural burial, even headstones are considered. While headstones have traditionally been made from imported stones such as marble, designated green burial sites are required to use stone native to the area. Using local stone guarantees all aspects of the site retain their natural integrity.
Embalming, while often still a popular option, is not required in Michigan, though it can be deemed necessary for purposes of transportation or in other specific circumstances.
During the embalming process, a body is drained of blood and those fluids are exchanged for embalming chemicals such as formaldehyde, which delays the body’s natural decomposition process. The practice of embalming has been around a long time—think Ancient Egypt and mummies—but it was popularized during the Civil War as a way to transport bodies home over a long distance.
Natural burials, in contrast, have been “the way the human race handled burial before embalming,” said Zartman.
Before the growing popularity of natural burials, cremation was considered a more natural and less environmentally impactful method of handling a body. However, cremation does carry an environmental footprint because it releases CO2 and other chemicals into the environment.
Costs and requirements
Many people associate death with a casket. However, Michigan law does not require a casket for burial or cremation.
Due to cost, caskets can often be one of the biggest expenses of a funeral.
Be sure to check with cemeteries about their burial requirements (Courtesy, Ridgeview Memorial Gardens)
Zartman stated that the “average funeral in Michigan runs $8,500, but people easily put $10,000 into a burial. Even cremation can be expensive.”
If cost is a consideration, know you have options when choosing a casket, and question if a funeral home or crematory service pressures you into purchasing one.
While you are not required to have a casket for burial, you will need to check with your chosen cemetery about their “container” requirements.
Zartman said that cost is a big factor in why people choose a natural burial. Natural burial services can cost as little as $3,200 compared to higher costs associated with other options. Alleviating more expensive items such as a vault and casket lowers the total cost considerably.
“80% come in cardboard boxes—cremation containers,” said Zartman. However, there are other biodegradable green burial containers available, such as wicker caskets.
Each state has their own rules and regulations when it comes to how a body is handled after death. Whether you or a loved one have chosen cremation, embalming and burial, or natural burial, there are specific guidelines to adhere to.
If you are looking for more information about green burials in Western Michigan for you or a loved one, Zartman is ready to answer your questions.
“Families need help,” Zartman said. “They need sound advice.”
Discussing what to do with your body or the body of a loved one after death is not a comfortable subject, but knowing your options and the costs associated can save a lot of stress during an emotional time.
Rachel Rickman is a freelance writer, editor, and former university English Instructor with a BA, MA, and MFA focused on writing. She grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, but currently resides in Rosarito, Mexico with her husband and son. Much of her work focuses on “narrative recipes”—personal essays with recipe/cooking ideas.
Maria Goosen, CTRS leads seniors in a Tai Chi class at Care Resources (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
By Deborah Reed
deborah@wktv.org
Care Resources in Grand Rapids recently offered a tai chi class to Day Center visitors ages 55 and older as a way to promote healthy living.
“Tai chi is a form of exercise that originated in China and has become extremely popular throughout the world,” said Maria Goosen, a certified therapeutic recreational specialist (CTRS) who led the tai chi class. “It incorporates slow, simple, repetitive and low-impact movements that can be easily modified so that anyone can participate.”
A tranquil environment
Maria Goosen, CTRS, leads a Tai Chi class (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
The small exercise class took place in a room that featured a screen portraying peaceful nature scenes, low lighting, and soft music.
“Tai chi is often referred to as ‘meditation in motion’ because it focuses on your breath as well which helps to clear your mind,” said Goosen. “This allows for a multitude of emotional benefits such as decreased stress, anxiety and depression and enhanced well-being.”
Slow stretches gradually progressed into a sequence of tai chi movements that participants were able to complete sitting or standing, whichever was most comfortable to them.
Goosen says the benefits of tai chi are lengthy: improved balance, improved strength, improved hand-eye coordination, improved sleep quality, increased blood circulation and decreased risk of high blood pressure.
“It is a research-based intervention that has the capability to improve health in older adults,” said Goosen.
That is critically important to Care Resources, a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE®, which is funded by Medicare and Medicaid. The innovative community-based program for people 55 years and older promotes healthy and independent living while working to prevent nursing home placement.
The tai chi class is one of dozens of programs offered each month to participants.
Seniors warm up their muscles before a Tai Chi class at Care Resources (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Goosen helped physically guide participants’ movements if asked, but urged them not to do any tai chi moves that would cause pain. “Listen to what your body is telling you,” said Goosen.
The tranquil atmosphere of the class was sporadically broken by soft laughter over participants’ self-proclaimed “creaking bones” and lack of coordination.
“Your bodies appreciate when you move them,” Goosen told the participants. “Be thankful and grateful for all that your body does.”
Bingo…and good friends
Pamela Miller, a tai chi class participant, has been coming to Care Resources five days a week for the past four years.
“I’ve got a lot of pluses about this place,” said Miller with a firm nod when asked if she enjoyed coming to the Day Center.
Playing Bingo, singing with “Diane the Shower Lady,” shopping in the Bingo Room, spending time with friends, and singing karaoke are only a few things Miller enjoys while at the Day Center.
Pamela Miller, a regular at the Care Resources day center, has made close friends during her visits (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
And Miller’s definition of enjoyment is simple: “All I want is a good card to play Bingo.”
Miller has also forged lasting relationships and good friends at the Day Center, one being a gentleman who recently passed away.
Miller and her friend sat beside each other for years, looked out for each other, and went to events together before he died. Miller was thankful that her friend’s wife contacted Miller so she could go to his room and say goodbye before he passed.
“I know I’m not the only one who misses him,” said Miller.
Another good friend loves to paint, and Miller enjoys watching her create works of art.
Comfort and encouragement
Also very important to Miller is talking to the military veterans who come to the Day Center and offering comfort when she can.
“I’m there for them,” said Miller. “I see how they suffer. And they have suffered a lot.”
When asked what Miller’s favorite thing to do is at the Day Center, she answered without hesitation: “Encourage other people.”
Care Resources offers a day center, clinic and pharmacy in its 36,000-square-foot building at 4150 Kalamazoo Ave SE that provide a wide range of health care services as well as opportunities that promote socialization, build community and offer respite to caregivers.
Monarch butterflies play an important role in supporting our natural environment (Courtesy, John Ball Zoo)
By John Ball Zoo
deborah@wktv.org
Monarch butterflies will be released into the wild at John Ball Zoo on Saturday, Sept. 9 as part of a wildlife conservation celebration.
During Monarch Day at the Zoo, butterflies will be released at one hour intervals amid family-friendly events designed to teach participants why the butterflies are so important. Butterfly releases will take place at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Monarch Day at the Zoo will feature several family-friendly activities and opportunities to learn about the butterflies (Courtesy, John Ball Zoo)
“We are so excited to welcome guests to experience the wonder of releasing monarch butterflies into the wild so their population can improve, and they can migrate to wintering grounds in Mexico,” said Dan Hemmann, area curator at John Ball Zoo. “People of all ages can enjoy the events of Monarch Day while learning about why this species is so important.”
From 9 a.m.-6 p.m., John Ball Zoo is offering fun, family-friendly activities and opportunities to learn about monarch butterflies and how pollinators help support our natural environment. Characters including Mirabelle, Rapunzel, Tinkerbell and Fawn will be present throughout the day to help spread the message on conservation efforts everyone can take to contribute to a healthy environment for pollinators.
Events also include story time with Circle Theatre at 11 a.m., as well as an aerial performance provided by Gemini Circus from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monarch Day will also feature live music by Kohns from 4-6 p.m., face painting, and animal activities throughout the day.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport has been named a reader’s choice finalist for the best small airport by USA TODAY.
The public is invited to cast one vote per person, per day at 10best.com/awards/. The voting period will be open until Monday, Oct. 2 at 11:59 a.m. The USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards highlight top-notch attractions and businesses, providing readers with trusted recommendations.
Nominees for the 10Best are chosen by a panel of relevant experts, including editors from USA TODAY and 10Best.com, expert contributors and industry sources. 10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
“Over the last several years, we have invested significantly to improve our guest experience,” Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority President and CEO Tory Richardson said. “From our front-of-house facelift to the expansion of Concourse A, we want to ensure guests flying through the Airport begin their travels in comfort and return home in style.
“Our success is largely based on the tremendous community support we receive, which makes this nomination incredibly meaningful to us. We hope everyone will visit USA TODAY and cast their vote to make the Gerald R. Ford International Airport the best small airport in the country!”
The Airport is undergoing a number of significant investments into its infrastructure, part of Elevate, a $500 million program to accommodate passenger growth and the largest capital expansion initiative for a small hub airport in the country. These investments include:
Concourse A expansion, a $110 million project to accommodate passenger growth. Phase 1 opened to the public on June 16, the concourse added eight new gates, expanded gate space to accommodate larger aircraft and introduced new concession and retail concepts, among other amenities.
Federal inspection station, which will enable the Airport to offer nonstop international commercial passenger flights in the future.
Consolidated rental car facility, a $156 million project that will offer additional transportation accommodations to travelers visiting West Michigan and include an enclosed walkway from the terminal. This project broke ground in May 2023 with an expected completion date in 2025.
Air traffic control tower relocation, with siting efforts completed, this project will now transition to the design phase in 2023.
Additional parking capacity to accommodate increased guest traffic.
Terminal enhancement project, which is a proposed plan to further extend the front of the terminal to add a checked baggage inspection system to streamline the post-ticketcounter journey for baggage, decrease processing time and increase capacity.
In August 2020, WKTV Community Media converted to solar power with 252 solar panels generating enough electricity to power 17 homes. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris
WKTV Contributor
Individual homeowners seeing the advantages of solar energy, both financially and socially, is not new. Often, big industry, and big electric suppliers such as Michigan’s Consumer Energy, are “all in” on solar power and have the large-scale fields to prove it.
But for small to medium businesses looking at their bottomline, and non-profits looking to have their financial resources better spent, turning to solar has to make dollars and sense.
And more and more it is a viable option — financially and socially — for medium sized businesses such as Southwest Michigan’s Lakeshore Die Cast, Inc., Grand Rapids non-profit Hope Network and even WKTV Journal’s Wyoming home at WKTV Community Media.
“Sunrise Over Solar” at Lakeshore Die Cast, Inc.. (Courtesy, Lakeshore Die Cast, Inc.)
Adam Schaller, vice president and day-to-day manager of the Schaller family-owned Lakeshore Die Cast of Baroda, told WKTV that the financial opportunities presented by his business going significantly solar was first and foremost a business decision.
But he and the business — employing 20-30 employees, and producing aluminum and zinc die castings — also are looking to the future as well as the bottomline.
“Sustainability and resilience are important to our company and us,” Schaller said. “As a generational business we think in larger term time scales and if there is some chance we are affecting the climate for future generations we should err on the side of caution and do what we can to leave the world a better place for future generations.”
Lakeshore Die Cast began its effort to go solar in 2019 and now has two solar installations, a 150 Kilowatt (kW) electric power producing array completed in 2020 and a 1.25 megawatt (MW) array completed in 2022.
“The installations take almost zero maintenance, aside from cutting the grass around them which I was doing anyway,” Schaller said. “They work when it’s cloudy and all year long.”
Lakeshore Die Cast’s solar field in Baroda, Mich., from summer 2022. (Courtesy, Lakeshore Die Cast, Inc.)
The amount of energy arrays such as Lakeshore Die Cast’s will generate is “well known,” Schaller said, and the NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) has a calculator (https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/) where businesses can figure out how much a proposed array will generate.
The installer on both of Lakeshore Die Cast’s projects was Harvest Solar in Jackson, Mich.
“They did a great job on both projects with helping me understand and connect with people to figure out how to get projects of the size that I have installed,” Schaller said.
Non-profit organizations seeing solar advantages, too
Hope Network, through its own vision and a $3,655,547 grant from the State of Michigan, also is planning a solar future through its Solar PV and Battery Storage project.
The locally-based charitable non-profit “strives to provide educational, spiritual and healthcare assistance to high-need individuals and communities throughout Michigan,” according to its Jan. 5, 2023 grant application
“Unfortunately, Hope Network doesn’t always have the infrastructure to support their charitable operations,” according to the grant application.
Hope Network’s Lowell location is an approximately 100,000 square-foot campus home to 50 individuals, and the administration is “burdened” with high energy costs and power outages “largely due to their antiquated equipment.” Currently, the campus utilizes 248,800 kWh of energy annually, and all of it is purchased through Consumers Energy.
“This contributes to exorbitant energy costs,” according to the grant application, but the project is expected to “reduce energy costs, uphold energy security, and nearly eliminate carbon emissions.”
In 2022, Hope Network hired Johnson Controls to provide a preliminary study about the financial and environmental impacts of installing solar PV and battery storage. The study reported the potential cost savings to be nearly $790,000 in electric bill savings over 25 years. It would also decrease carbon emissions by 284,057 pounds annually, roughly a 99 percent reduction.
“We will use operational savings to expand community-based programming to serve our area,” according to the grant application. “A dollar that we save through this solar project is a dollar that we will reinvest back into our community through increasing supportive services, continuously improving our infrastructure, and expanding our educational offerings.”
Solar boxes at WKTV at 5261 Clyde Park Ave. SW Wyoming. (WKTV)
WKTV becomes a solar powered facility
WKTV Community Media, its office as well as its broadcast operation, is now a literal solar powered facility with the majority of its energy being supplied by solar. The non-profit has 252 panels on its roof and with the advancement in solar technology, panels are now able to even generate power in full moonlight.
Since its solar installation in September, 2020, WKTV has saved 463,641.59 lbs. in emissions, equivalent to planting 3,503 trees. WKTV is expected to see a return on investment in 10 years.
Solar panels atop the WKTV roof at 5261 Clyde Park Ave. SW Wyoming.(WKTV)
“Since 1974, WKTV has been a leader in our community,” said Tom Norton, WKTV General Manager. “The technological availability of renewable energy is a perfect fit for our organization, and is a great example of our commitment to our community.”
Solar a big part of energy providers’ future
The move to expanded solar power generation and use, on a statewide scale, is led by the state’s largest energy supplier, Consumers Energy, which currently has three large-scale “solar gardens,” one at Western Michigan University, one at Grand Valley State University, and one in Cadillac.
“Consumers Energy is all-in on solar,” Josh Paciorek, Consumers Energy spokesperson, said to WKTV. “We’re adding more clean, renewable, solar-generated electricity for Michigan as part of our Clean Energy Plan. In addition to its environmental benefits, solar is increasingly cost competitive with other fuel sources.”
Consumers Energy currently generates about 4 percent of its energy from solar, Paciorek said. But “as part of our clean energy plan, you’re going to see an aggressive increase of solar generation between now and 2040 … we’re also seeing more and more of an interest in solar from customers.”
The City of Grand Rapids is one customer. The city installed solar at their Water Filtration Plant, and according to Paciorek the reasons were twofold: it made financial sense and it’s part of an effort to power the city with clean energy.
Finding solar financing; finding grants
While Hope Network is starting its solar energy journey through a state grant, Lakeshore Die Cast needed a business partner to go solar. Enter Michigan Saves, which states it is “the nation’s first nonprofit green bank.”
Michigan Saves, based out of Lansing, “is dedicated to making clean energy improvements easier for all Michigan consumers,” Lateshia Parker, Michigan Saves director of marketing and communications, said to WKTV. “Through affordable financing and other incentives, Michigan Saves connects borrowers to a network of skilled contractors for energy efficiency, geothermal and solar installation projects.”
From 2010 through June 2023, Michigan Saves has financed 1,714 solar projects, with 1,681 being residential and 33 commercial, according to Parker.
“Michigan Saves believes an equitable transition to a carbon-free Michigan where everyone has access to the benefits of clean energy and climate-resilient solutions is possible,” Parker said.
The Hope Network’s state grant was part of a $50 million series of low-carbon energy infrastructure enhancement and development grants approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission and announced in June of this year.
Another Grand Rapids area organization receiving a grant was $5 million to Kent County for its Kent County Bioenergy Facility at the Kent County Sustainable Business Park in south Kent County.
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Buy-back rules, battery issues and more
There are two ways individuals, and small businesses and non-profits, can partner with Consumer Energy to turn to solar: the Solar Gardens enrollment program and the Distributed Generation program.
According to Consumer Energy’s Paciorek, customers who enroll in Solar Gardens pay about $10 a month to support solar projects and receive bill credits based on electricity generated by the gardens.
Many residential and business customers, however, use their solar power investments to “sell back” unused energy to Consumers Energy through its Distributed Generation program.
“When customers become part of the Distributed Generation (DG) program, the energy they generate will decrease their need to buy electricity from us, and we will also credit them for any extra energy they produce,” Paciorek said. “It’s good for the planet, and their energy budget, too. I’d note that we recently voluntarily doubled the size of our DG program.”
At Lakeshore Die Cast, which uses Indiana Michigan Power as its electric supplier, Schaller is comfortable with the current buy-and-sell power contract with his power company. But he wished there were better technology to allow him to store generated power as well.
“We operate on a standard tariff agreement with them where we buy inflow power we need and sell back extra power we make at wholesale market pricing,” Schaller said. But “we do not have any battery storage capability at this time. While there have been some large utility batteries installed in other places in the county, there isn’t much in the way of commercial sized battery installations in the market yet.”
Throughout her life, Becci Schumaker found solace in poetry (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
By Deborah Reed
deborah@wktv.org
Grand Rapids resident and poet Becci Schumaker has always been drawn to words and the power within them – so she made words her refuge during difficult times.
Though she classifies herself as an introvert and a loner, Schumaker’s soft voice and kind countenance are the hallmark of a woman who navigated hardships and reached her dreams despite opposition.
Writing poetry was one of those dreams.
Falling in love with words
Becci Schumaker looks through her collection of poems (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“I love working with words,” said Schumaker. “I think words are fascinating. Words can be serene but they can be powerful, they can be enigmatic. It just opens up a whole new world.”
Writing poetry has been part of Schumaker’s world since she was 12 years old.
Coming from an emotionally and physically abusive family background, Schumaker immersed herself in reading and writing to escape the real world.
“It was a means of escape for me,” Schumaker said as she gently touched a binder containing several pages of her written works. “That was my safe place.”
Overcoming struggles and hardship
Words did not come easily for Schumaker at first.
In first grade, a teacher noticed Schumaker struggled with reading and provided extra instruction. By third grade Schumaker was reading college-level works.
“I haven’t stopped reading since,” said Schumaker with a smile.
Young Schumacher was immediately drawn to the genre of poetry, the words and prose a direct contrast to her hostile home environment.
Becci Schumaker’s poems have been published in several compilation poetry books (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Schumaker said she is grateful for the stable presence of an aunt and uncle with whom she spent summers while growing up.
“If it wasn’t for me having that Christian background through them, and getting my morals and values of what a good person is supposed to be, I don’t know if I would have even done this,” said Schumaker, touching the stack of poetry books in front of her.
Schumaker later took an evening American Literature class, writing a short story that her teacher urged her to publish.
However, Schumaker had to put her writing on hold as she focused on raising her four children, working two jobs for several years to support her family.
Reigniting the flame
Meeting her husband Don reignited Schumaker’s creative spirit, and she once again picked up her pen and put it to paper.
“I’ve actually woken my husband up in the middle of the night, jumping out of bed to grab pencil and paper and start writing,” said Schumaker with a grin.
“I will get a thought and will have to write,” Schumaker continued. “Nine times out of ten, the result is a poem.”
When she noticed an ad about submitting original poems to a poetry contest, Schumaker thought she would give it a try. “I Love You Lord” became Schumaker’s first published work of poetry, printed in 1997 under the name Becci Campbell. The poem was included in a Poetry Guild compilation titled By the Light of the Moon.
Everything around Schumaker inspires her writing.
At church, the pastor’s words sparked Schumaker’s imagination and she completed a poem within minutes titled “The Trinity,” now published in Forever Spoken.
Challenged by her husband to write a poem about something as ordinary as a card game, Schumaker immediately put pen to paper. The subsequent poem, “Cards,” can be found in the poetry book Memories of Tomorrow.
With several published works under her belt – the most recent being Schumaker’s poem titled “Carpet of White” in 2022 – the local poet continues to write.
Submission of her poem “The Lonely Man” is next for Schumaker’s publication goals. The poem stems from personal experience of her husband’s struggle with rehab and the beginnings of dementia.
A legacy of words
Becci Schumaker reads one of her poems aloud (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
When asked how many poems she has written over her lifetime, Schumaker responded, “Oh gosh, probably hundreds and hundreds.”
When asked if she ever threw one of her written works away, Schumaker quickly replied, “I keep them all. Even if I don’t think it’s good, I’ll fold it up and tuck it away somewhere. Maybe someday I’ll go back to it, and reread it, and write it a different way.”
Though she loves poems, Schumaker said her main reading genre is science fiction, and her favorite movies are “ones that put you on the edge of your seat.”
Schumaker freely acknowledges the incongruity between the lighter, lyrical prose of her written works and the darker genres of her favorite movies.
“Even though I like those kinds of movies, [poetry] is my stress relief, my go-to outlet that brings me into the light,” said Schumaker, looking at the binder of poetry. “This is my sanity.”
A powerful responsibility
The power that words contain is always at the forefront of Schumaker’s mind, especially words wielded with harmful intent.
“People don’t realize words really do hurt,” said Schumaker, admitting that, at 71 years old, she still struggles with hurtful things spoken to her as a child. “The scars are there forever.”
“I have had to survive on my own since I was sixteen,” Schumaker continued. “You learn about life. That’s what a lot of this writing is.”
The poet regularly encourages people to carry a notebook and write down any idea that comes to them.
“You never know what’s going to come of it,” said Schumaker, gesturing toward her own poems laid out before her.
Staying active and looking ahead
Along with writing, Schumaker stays active by participating in mission trips with her church and volunteering for WKTV Community Media.
“I’ve got to be doing something, and this gave me an outlet,” said Schumaker about WKTV, adding that she fell in love with the camera work at the station.
When asked what is next for the active poet, Schumaker shrugged. “From here, we’ll see what life brings,” she said with a smile.
Participant Janice smiles as she looks at produce growing in a raised garden bed. As a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE, Care Resources utilizes a holistic approach in developing a comprehensive care plan unique to the physical, mental, emotional and social needs of each participant.(Courtesy, Care Resources)
By Care Resources
“If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
So says Garth Falkins, a recreational therapy manager for Care Resources, addressing not only the services Care Resources provides older adults at its Day Center at 4150 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, but also what activities it can help those same participants enjoy in their own homes.
Care Resources is a community-based program for qualifying adults 55 years and older that promotes healthy independent living – physically, socially and emotionally – to help prevent nursing home placement.
“Our ultimate goal,” says Falkins, who’s been in place at Care Resources since 2006, “is to keep people at home and provide health and wellness options to them and their families throughout their lifespan. While they may end up in skilled nursing care, our goal is to keep them out for as long as possible.”
So, what does that look like?
Exercise: A physical or occupational therapist might develop in-home exercise routines for participants to do alongside therapy or restorative programs in the Day Center. These might include stretches and other activities designed to improve flexibility, range of motion, cardiovascular health and handling the daily affairs of living.
Nutrition: Care Resources provides access to dieticians who can provide education on balanced diets and eating habits within their homes. This may include tips on how to purchase and prepare food to improve the nutritional value of meals.
Socialization: Care Resources assesses social needs and abilities within the home in order to make recommendations about out-of-home social opportunities available through the Day Center or other community sources. Technology also can be used to provide in-home activities such as listening to music or audiobooks, playing digital games and more.
“Our interdisciplinary team clinicians go in and assess a person’s need, and we go from there,” Falkins says. “We cover all the disciplines: physicians, therapy, nursing, dieticians, nursing and social work, to name a few.”
That includes communicating with participants by video chat, or setting them up with others who have like interests and are able to connect digitally.
“We want to increase their activity levels, and there is no limit.”
Falkins also notes that health and wellness goals are established early on, during the standard intake process that helps the organization gauge participants’ financials, their living conditions – “anything that helps us create a unique program specifically tailored to their needs” – taking into account beliefs, physical abilities, cognition, emotional needs, medical needs, etc.
“From a social standpoint, we rely on our assessments to build our Day Center calendars and activity programs for when participants visit us, but also look at potential interventions that we can add or put into their home to continue to socialize and enjoy high quality of life,” Falkins says. “This can include arts and crafts, experiences revolving around horticulture, religious activities, movies, music and more.”
Falkins stresses that Care Resources employees work as a team to accomplish this, relying on one another to take note of things a person enjoys, then “work together to create the best plan and programs to meet a person’s needs.”
The result?
“In the end, our participants are experiencing an increased sense of belonging,” Falkins says. “We’re enhancing their mental health as well as their physical health, and improving quality of life for them and for their loved ones.
“We’re bringing healthy alternatives into an environment they know to be comfortable and safe. In doing so, we’re keeping them happy and healthy in their homes, a place all of us want to remain for as long as we possibly can.”
More information about Care Resources is available at CareResources.org.
The City of Kentwood and GR8 Food Trucks are partnering to host the summer’s second Food Truck Festival with more than 30 food trucks, live music and a beer tent for community members to enjoy.
The free-to-attend community event will run 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 in the parking lot of the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard. L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE.
“We look forward to inviting the community to gather and experience delicious food and drinks from local vendors and great sounds from local musicians,” said Kentwood Parks and Recreation Director Val Romeo. “Whether you’re looking for a refreshing beverage, remarkable food or upbeat music, we have something for everyone to enjoy.”
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
There will be a wide variety of food options available for purchase. Prices will vary by vendor. Participating food trucks include:
“This event gives our local food trucks a fantastic opportunity to show the community their delightful drinks and delicious dishes,” said Alan Tomlinson, president of GR8 Food Trucks. “We’re looking forward to a day filled of community and cuisine.”
This year’s diamond sponsors are Macatawa Bank and NN Autocam.
There is construction along 52nd Street SE that may impact the route community members take to the event. A detour map is available here and a parking map is available here.
Arbor Circle teams up with Steelcase Foundation in a common goal to help West Michigan communities (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
Arbor Circle works to remove barriers and meet the mental health needs of children, their parents, and their caregivers (Courtesy, Arbor Circle)
Arbor Circle is celebrating a recent $100,000 grant from Steelcase Foundation in support of a 2-year project focused on mental health support for children and families.
As communities continue to recover from the ongoing effects of the pandemic, isolation and lack of consistency has had a significant impact on the social and emotional development of children. The last few years have spotlighted several inequities.
The impact of the pandemic on social determinants of health paired with access to resources such as housing, employment, healthcare, and education have created major challenges and disruptions in the lives of families – specifically communities of color and those in poverty.
Help is on the way
One of Michigan’s most comprehensive providers of mental health counseling, substance use treatment, and family services, Arbor Circle serves thousands of individuals and families each year. With deep roots in West Michigan, Arbor Circle collaborates with local resources to address needs in the community.
Steelcase Foundation connects resources with people by providing grants to nonprofit organizations focused on cultivating thriving communities through education and quality learning experiences.
Together, these two organizations have a common goal.
Removing barriers for a healthier life
Arbor Circle works to remove barriers and meet the mental health needs of children, their parents and caregivers where they are.
A variety of support services will be delivered to the community through the grant (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com
The Steelcase Foundation funds will support services throughout the community, including skill building for parents and caregivers, support for children in meeting both developmental and educational milestones, and specialized mental health support.
“We are deeply grateful to partner with The Steelcase Foundation in this way, and are honored to work together in ensuring that children and families have the tools they need to thrive,” said Kristin Gietzen, President and CEO of Arbor Circle. “We are energized by this support and see great potential in the multi-generational and community-focused approach woven into this project.”
Utility companies work to restore power to over 374K customers after severe storms sweep through Michigan (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
By Deborah Reed
deborah@wktv.org
Widespread damage extends over Michigan after severe storms and suspected tornados tear across the state on Aug. 25.
75-mph winds left 374,000 Michigan utility customers without power on Friday, Aug. 25, from Grand Rapids to the southeast side of the state.
The storm damaged structures, took down trees and power lines, and resulted in closed roads for several hours.
The Grand Rapids National Weather Service reported that officials will be in the field Friday to conduct damage surveys on tornadoes suspected in central Kent County and northeast Ingham County.
Storms took down trees, power lines, and damaged structures (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
Power outages can cause food spoilage, water contamination, disrupt communication and transportation, and prevent use of medical devices. Loss of power can also restrict consumer access to ATMs, banks, grocery stores, and other services.
Here are some safety tips provided by ready.gov in case of power outage:
Check with local officials about heating and cooling locations open near you, and go to a community location with power if heat or cold is extreme.
Keep freezers and refrigerators closed to prevent food spoilage.
Donot use a gas stove or oven to heat your home.
Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges – power may return with momentary surges or spikes that can cause damage.
Have alternate plans for refrigerating medicines or using power-dependent medical devices.
Use a generator, but ONLY outdoors and away from windows.
Generators can be helpful when the power goes out, but it is important to know how to use them safely to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and other hazards.
Generators and fuel should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and attached garages.
Install working carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill you, your family and pets.
Keep the generator dry and protected from rain or flooding. Touching a wet generator or devices connected to one can cause electrical shock.
Always connect the generator to appliances with heavy-duty extension cords.
Let the generator cool before refueling. Fuel spilled on hot engine parts can ignite.
15,000+ collector/sports/antique cars, two days, 17 hours, five cities, 13 miles, and hundreds of public and private events will descend upon 28th Street and the surrounding areas on Aug. 25 and 26.
An estimated 200,000 people participate in Metro Cruise related events during this annual two day event.
Since its inception in 2005, Metro Cruise has been a consistent celebration of cars, local business, great food, and family and friends while also continuing the car culture known in the Grand Rapids area.
A new era
Previously owned by the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce, Metro Cruise has recently come under new ownership through a privately owned entity.
Despite the change in proprietorship, Wyoming Police Lt. Andrew Koeller said, “The Wyoming Police and the City of Wyoming are providing the same services we have traditionally provided.”
Rogers Plaza mall parking lot in Wyoming is always a focal point for the 28th Street Metro Cruise. (WKACC)
Wyoming Police Department is staffing Metro Cruise with assistance from the Michigan State Police, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Grandville Police, Walker Police, Kentwood Police, and Wyoming Fire Department.
Eventgoers can expect to see WYPD in marked police vehicles, police motorcycles, on bicycles, and on foot.
“The Wyoming Police Department is committed to providing a safe environment during the event for all to enjoy,” said Koeller.
Take a quick Pit Stop
“We are very excited to announce a feature of Metro Cruise we know you’ll love,” the Metro Cruise website states. “There are now more ways than ever to enjoy your favorite auto event.”
Three Pit Stop sites have been added to Metro Cruise. These sites will be smaller, more specialized, and offer easier access than the Main Event sites at Woodland Mall and Rogers Plaza.
Hosting a minimum of four key features – collector car club(s), food vendor(s), official Metro Cruise merchandise, and an entertainment feature – each Pit Stop site will be open to the public with space for free parking.
Popular events
The Metro Cruise Dust Off kicks off the event series each year (WKTV)
Official event times are 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26. The Official Cruise time down 28th Street at 4 p.m. on Saturday. However, it is not unusual to see classic cars cruising along 28th Street all weekend long.
The Woodland Mall Main Event location will offer several family-friendly activities such as live music, Car Smash, RC Car building and racing, a climbing wall, a scavenger hunt, and much more.
Also featured at the Woodland Mall will be the annual DreamWheels Red Carpet Classic Car Show on Saturday from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This premiere event allows audience members to gather along a 135 foot red carpet as beautiful classic cars are revealed and roll by.
Rogers Plaza is the second Main Event location and will also provide live music, various family-friendly activities, the DYNO area, Miss Metro Cruise Finale competition, and the Wyoming High School Color Guard and Drumline.
Plan your visit
Metro Cruise Information Tents at the Main Event sites will have free, full color, printed programs. A full list of events and times can also be found here.
Gene Billings and daughter Cathe DeLaney, Metro Cruise 2022 (WKTV)
We want see how much fun you had at Metro Cruise!
Submit your photos from wherever you are at Metro Cruise to general@wktv.org by Monday, Aug. 28 for a chance to have them included in WKTV Journal’s photo gallery.
Poweshiek skipperling butterfly. (Courtesy, John Ball Zoo)
By Adam Brown
WKTV Contributor
John Ball Zoo has recently stepped up its conservation efforts concerning local endangered populations. This time, the species in question is the critically endangered Poweshiek skipperling butterfly.
To the untrained eye, the skipperling may resemble a small, brown moth. In reality, it’s one of the most at-risk butterfly species. That’s where John Ball’s conservation efforts come in. Off the main path in an area inaccessible to the public, the zoo raises caterpillars in their Poweshiek Skipperling Hoop House.
The enclosures within hold the zoo’s supply of caterpillars, with the ultimate goal of preserving them and preventing extinction, per Michigan State University’s Haddad Lab Research Assistant David Pavlik. In fact, much of the butterfly’s life cycle is spent in the caterpillar stage, only becoming a butterfly for a few-week period in early summer.
Why Is This Important?
“Michigan is the last place in the United States where Poweshiek skipperling currently exist. The Poweshiek skipperling used to be one of the most abundant butterflies in the Midwest. In the early 2000s, populations started crashing to the point where it’s really close to the brink of extinction,” Pavlik noted on the necessity of such a conservation initiative.
Skipperlings naturally reside in habitats known as prairie fens, which also house additional threatened species. This gives John Ball hope that their conservation efforts may be expanded to help the many other threatened wildlife that call the Great Lakes State home.
What Can the Public Do?
While not currently open to the public, there are ample opportunities for zoogoers to get involved. Every donation to John Ball’s conservation fund or visit to the zoo itself lends a helping hand to these desperately needed programs, Pavlik added. Due to the overall rarity of the skipperling, there are few opportunities for the public to directly connect with the species via hands-on contact. One remedy the zoo is undertaking to strengthen public involvement is the Habitat Hero program.
“Our Habitat Hero program is a community science effort to get more pollinator plants into communities here in West Grand Rapids,” added Bill Flanagan, John Ball’s Conservation Manager. The program is not just limited to the skipperling. Flanagan noted that the program hopes to expand relief efforts for other local pollinators in the area, such as songbirds or monarch butterflies.
Since the project is closed off to the public, spreading awareness is a top priority since the skipperling is not a well known butterfly. One primary talking point is that species extinction is not limited to faraway places like the jungles and rainforest, it can happen even in our own backyard, Pavlik emphasized. Those who have been involved with the project firsthand have been very supportive, and John Ball hopes that support will grow as knowledge about the mission spreads.
Though the zoo’s current skipperling project is localized, it has the potential to lead to so much more.
“What we do right here in Michigan can have an impact on the biodiversity of the planet,” Flanagan added. Protecting habitats and supporting the zoo’s undertaking quite literally saves species.
Collaboration and the Future
A project of this scope cannot be undertaken alone, and the zoo partners with several other agencies and zoos around the country to bring their operation to life. John Ball is a member of the Poweshiek Skipperling International Partnership, which coordinates common relief efforts throughout the U.S. and Canada. They work with the Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which provides much of the major funding for the project through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The Michigan Natural Features Inventory performs land surveys, while local land managers work to preserve what remains of the skipperling’s habitat.
500 Poweshiek skipperlings released this year
This year has been by and large the most successful for the initiative, with 500 Poweshiek skipperlings released into the wild and a further 1,800 caterpillars currently residing at the zoo. In addition to the skipperling, John Ball has recently begun similar preservation efforts with the Mitchell’s satyr, another federally endangered butterfly.
Butterfly release. (Courtesy, John Ball Zoo)
The zoo’s released butterflies have been observed breeding in the wild and helping to grow the population rate. Pavlik hopes that the number of caterpillars and butterflies increases every year until the species can be pulled back from the edge of extinction.
Flanagan emphasized how easy it is to slip into hopelessness due to the precarious state of the skipperling’s population. However, physically observing the success of reintroduction in the wild reminds them all of the good that can come from conservation.
Mitchell’s satyr butterfly. (Courtesy, John Ball Zoo)
The City of Kentwood has announced Heather Visco as its new human resources director.
In this role, Visco will lead the City’s human resources functions and staff, including employee recruitment, team member development and employee and labor relations efforts. She also will oversee the strategic planning, development and administration of employment-related inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility initiatives.
Visco began her new role with the City on Aug. 21 and was confirmed by the City Commission at its Aug. 15 meeting.
“The City of Kentwood is pleased to welcome Heather to our team,” Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “She has extensive experience in human resources management, recruitment and talent strategies which will assist in our goals of making the City of Kentwood a wonderful place to launch and establish careers serving community.”
Visco brings a broad background in private and public sector human resources to the City. Most recently, she was the human resources manager at EBW Electronics in Ottawa County. In this position, she oversaw all day-to-day functions of the HR department, led employee relations and recruitment efforts and managed employee benefits programs and payroll.
She previously held supervisory HR roles with the Van Buren Intermediate and Ottawa Area Intermediate school districts, supporting HR functions including recruitment, contract negotiations, training and onboarding efforts among many others.
“It is an honor to join the City of Kentwood as human resources director,” Visco said. “The City has a strong team of dedicated employees working to make the community a wonderful place to live and work, and I am looking forward to supporting the individuals and organization behind that effort.”
Visco holds a bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University in English education and a graduate certificate in human resources administration from Central Michigan University. She is working toward a master’s degree in law for human resources professionals at Wayne State University with an anticipated graduation in the fall of 2024.
She is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management and serves as a board member and communications director for the Lakeshore Human Resources Management Association.
Visco succeeds Gail Dewey, who has moved into the part-time role of deputy human resources director.
The dining room at Holiday Aurora Pond senior living community received extensive renovations (Courtesy, Holiday by Atria)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
Upgrades in design and amenities help residents enjoy a vibrant lifestyle (Courtesy, Holiday by Atria)
Aurora Pond, a Holiday by Atria independent living community, has completed their $1.5 million renovation project for capital upgrades in design and amenities.
The public was invited to come see the enhancements during a grand opening celebration on Thursday, Aug. 17. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at 3 p.m. with refreshments, live entertainment and community tours following.
Helping residents thrive
A main focus of the renovation was to create an expanded fitness room to meet the needs of seniors working to maintain a more active lifestyle as they age. The game lounge, living room with library, atrium, and dining room also received extensive renovations.
Other improvements included added A/V capabilities in all common areas, exterior enhancements, and energy-efficient lighting.
Updated and energy-efficient lighting create a cozy atmosphere at Aurora Pond (Courtesy, Holiday by Atria)
“We are always delighted to welcome guests to Holiday Aurora Pond, but we [were] especially excited to show our surrounding community these recent improvements to our communal spaces,” said Matt Kruchowski, General Manager.
“Improving our dining room, fitness room, and multi-purpose rooms helps our residents thrive and continue to enjoy a vibrant lifestyle,” Kruchowski continued. “Social engagement – whether that’s sharing a meal with friends, group fitness classes, or movie nights – is a critical component to our residents’ physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing.”
For more information or to schedule a community tour, call 616-530-2511 or visit www.HolidayAuroraPond.com.
About Holiday by Atria
Holiday by Atria operates senior living communities with friendly neighbors and services designed to simplify life for older adults. Holiday by Atria is one of six distinct brands operated by Atria Senior Living.
An expanded fitness room will help seniors maintain an active lifestyle (Courtesy, Holiday by Atria)
Atria Senior Living, a leading operator of independent living, assisted living, supportive living and memory care communities, is the residence of choice for more than 38,000 older adults and the workplace of choice for more than 13,000 employees.
Atria creates vibrant communities where older adults can thrive and participate, know that their contributions are valued, and enjoy access to opportunities and support that help them keep making a positive difference in our world.
For more information about Holiday by Atria, visit HolidaySeniorLiving.com or follow them on Facebook or LinkedIn. For career opportunities, visit AtriaCareers.com.
Sam Bolt was a dedicated servant of the City of Wyoming for several years (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)
By Deborah Reed
deborah@wktv.org
The City of Wyoming mourns the loss of dedicated public servant and community gem, Sam Bolt, who passed away Aug. 10 at the age of 75 after a 15-year battle with metastatic prostate cancer.
A 1966 graduate of Grand Rapids Central Christian High School, Sam enlisted in the Air Force after graduation and was stationed at McQuire AFB in New Jersey until 1971. He then spent 23 years at Chicago Dr. Schwinn (now West Michigan Cyclery and Fitness), and then as a financial planner with Gunn, Kol, and Bolt until his retirement in 2015.
Harboring a passion for service, Sam served on the Wyoming City Council as a councilmember-at-large and Mayor Pro Tem from 2005-2022, and was a Wyoming paid-on-call firefighter from 1981-1998.
Sam generously served on various boards and commissions including the Retirement Board, Grand Valley Metropolitan Council, West Michigan Regional Planning Commission, Kent County Waste to Energy Advisory Committee and Family Network of Wyoming.
Sam dedicated many years of service to the residents of Wyoming, worked daily toward the betterment of the community, and always put Wyoming residents and staff first when making decisions.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Christian Reformed Conference Grounds, 11253 Lakeshore Dr., Grand Haven MI 49417.
GRB is delighted to welcome the West Michigan community to the Summer Dance Festival. Individuals can enjoy two evenings of world-class dance, tasty food and beer tents outside Peter Martin Wege Theatre.
“Last year, our Summer Dance Festival was such a success that we knew we wanted to bring it back again this year,” said James Sofranko, Artistic Director at Grand Rapids Ballet. “This community-focused event showcases the art and talent that lives right here in Michigan, on one stage, celebrating our dance community.”
Performances in a variety of styles
The Summer Dance Festival features a variety of dance styles (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Ballet)
Audiences will enjoy performances in several styles each evening. Dance styles range from classical to contemporary, and ballroom to hip-hop. This specially curated, one-of-a-kind event begins at 5:30 p.m.
In addition to Grand Rapids Ballet dancers and Grand Rapids Ballet School students, attendees can enjoy performances by professional companies and dance ensembles from across Michigan.
A dancer performs onstage during Summer Dance Festival (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Ballet)
“This event is so special to me because it brings together dance enthusiasts, art lovers and people from all over Michigan to celebrate dance together,” said Sofranko. “There’s nothing else like it.”
A new addition to GRB’s Festival this year is a children’s tent featuring games, crafts, face painting, and Gracie the Clown. Attendees are encouraged to bring friends, family and a chair, and enjoy an evening of outdoor performance.
Frederik Meijer Gardens Performance
On Aug. 29, Grand Rapids Ballet returns to the outside amphitheater at Frederik Meijer Gardens. Performance tickets are free for Meijer Gardens members and included in general admission on performance day for guests.
A large crowd gathers to watch an outdoor ballet performance (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Ballet)
Featured works at Frederik Meijer Gardens include Elemental Brubeck with choreography by Lar Lubovitch, music by renowned jazz composer Dave Brubeck, and the return of Who Cares? from their 2022-23 season. With choreography by George Balanchine featuring the entire company and romantic pas de deux set to Gershwin tunes such as “I’ve Got Rhythm” and “The Man I Love,” the performance will surely be entertaining for attendees of all ages.
“I love providing new and unique experiences for our audiences by stepping outside the traditional theater, hopefully reaching new audiences along the way,” said Sofranko. “These events present the perfect opportunity for any member of our community to experience the ballet, and dance, in a new light.”
For a complete list of dance festival performers, performance times, and more information about the ballet’s Summer Series, visit grballet.com.
Wyoming Police Department (Courtesy, Deborah Reed, WKTV Staff)
By WKTV Staff
Contents provided by Wyoming Police Department
Wyoming Police arrested three individuals for carrying a concealed weapon in 12 hours resulting in the seizure of four handguns and narcotics.
At approximately 12 p.m. on Aug. 15, officers from the Wyoming Police Department responded to the 5500 block of Byron Center Avenue on the report of a retail fraud at a local business. The suspect in the retail fraud had fled the scene and was located by officers a short time later.
The 18-year-old male resident of Wyoming was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun. The male was arrested and brought to Kent County Jail for carrying a concealed weapon.
Seven hours after the first weapons arrest, officers from the Wyoming Police Department conducted a traffic stop near 44th Street and Clyde Park Avenue to arrest a subject wanted for a felony warrant.
The individual, a 50-year-old male Kentwood resident, was arrested without incident for an outstanding warrant. The suspect was found to be in possession of two loaded handguns at the time of his arrest. The male was taken to Kent County Jail on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, possession of cocaine, and a felon in possession of a firearm.
(Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
Just after 12 a.m. on Aug. 16, Wyoming officers responded to the 2600 block of Spring Hill Street on the report of a suspicious vehicle. The occupied vehicle was located shortly after officers arrived in the area.
The occupant of the vehicle, a 22-year-old male Benton Harbor resident, was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun. The suspect was taken to Kent County Jail for carrying a concealed weapon.
These incidents are just a small example of the exemplary work that Wyoming officers engage in daily. Wyoming Police Department’s commitment to safety in the community is unwavering and will continue to be the utmost priority.
The Wyoming Police Department has seized 63 firearms in 2023.
The Business Diversity Council is part of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
By Deborah Reed
deborah@wktv.org
With a combined 130K residents, Wyoming and Kentwood are the two largest neighboring communities to Grand Rapids, and represent one of the most diverse areas of West Michigan.
Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber’s Business Diversity Council continually works to uncover issues and concerns for those in the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities of Wyoming, Kentwood, and surrounding south Kent County areas.
The Business Diversity Council met Aug. 9 to discuss how to prepare for an international workforce and new American neighbors (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
The Council recently met to discuss how local companies can best receive and support international employees and new American neighbors.
The meeting included presentations of cross-cultural training by Laura Cronin, Director of West Michigan Friendship Center, and Natasha Mueller, Community Engagement Director, that worked to give businesses ideas and tools that would help them navigate language barriers, religious considerations, transportation, cultural differences, and much more.
Also touched on during the meeting was the importance of continuous efforts to understand and learn about those in our communities.
In a supplied statement, Mueller said that she believes “curiosity is key to cultural understanding.”
Mueller has put that belief into action over the years as she worked with leadership from various Latin American countries, the Cuban and Haitian refugee communities at Bethany Christian Services, and now as part of a multicultural team that represents each continent and more than 5 countries.
Cronin’s time teaching in under-resourced neighborhoods and directing international mission work has taught her that “valuing the individual is good for cross-cultural relationships and good for business.”
The Kent County Welcome Plan website states that “Grand Rapids and Kent County are home to everyone who lives here, and it should feel like it too.”
The site went on to say that creating a “welcoming and inclusive environment for new Americans, immigrants, and refugees in Kent County is not only the right thing to do, it also contributes economically to the area’s well-being.”
Beacon Hill Residents at Summer Celebration (Courtesy, Beacon Hill)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
Beacon Hill at Eastgate is inviting members of the community to enjoy live music and curated food during its Summer Celebration, an annual culinary showcase and appreciation event featuring hand-held bites prepared by the retirement community’s award-winning chefs.
The annual event, which has been a tradition for more than 50 years, will take place 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24 on the front lawn at Beacon Hill at Eastgate, 1919 Boston St. SE. Booths will line the parking lot, inviting foodies to enjoy cuisine from the retirement community’s kitchens and gardens that includes everything from global fusion and plant-based delights to bold flavors and gourmet comfort food.
The Moonrays, a Grand Rapids-based band that has opened for B.B. King and other prominent artists, will play a blend of instrumental surf, rock and blues with incredible vintage tone.
Beacon Hill’s food truck, The Traveling Plate, will also be on-site serving dishes from its rotating menu as a part of several dining stations. The Traveling Plate is serving up a culinary adventure this summer 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. each Wednesday outside Beacon Hill.
“The Summer Celebration is one of our favorite ways of thanking our residents, their loved ones and the surrounding community for their support,” Beacon Hill at Eastgate Marketing Director Ashley Edwards said. “Our culinary team has prepared an incredible selection of dishes for this year’s event – and what better way to come together with our neighbors than through carefully curated dishes made using ingredients grown in our own backyard.”
Beacon Hill Summer Celebration (Courtesy, Beacon Hill)
Last year’s event welcomed over 800 attendees. The event is open to the community, and food and beverages are free. Limited on-site parking is available; street parking is available and carpooling is encouraged.
This year’s showcase will feature over a dozen handpicked dishes made from scratch by Beacon Hill’s award-winning chefs and will include a variety of flavors and locally sourced ingredients. Menu items will include homemade mac and cheese bites, freshly prepared smoked sausages, Thai noodle salad, panzanella salad, meatballs, watermelon and berries, a full dessert station and much more.
Beacon Hill has a strong commitment to local ingredients, relying on its half-acre community garden to supply produce for its imaginative and appetizing meals that are acclaimed by guests and visitors alike. When the Beacon Hill chefs can’t produce ingredients themselves, they source from local purveyors, such as AP Baked Goods, Field and Fire, Louise Earl Butcher and Rowsters.
Nestled in the heart of the vibrant Eastgate neighborhood, Beacon Hill at Eastgate is home to four restaurants, which include an upscale Dining Room, Club Room, Garden Café and Bistro – all featuring world-class cuisine made using ingredients grown on-site. Each one has favorite dishes that are always available, as well as ever-changing daily and seasonal specials. Beacon Hill’s Garden Café and Bistro are open to the public.
Beacon Hill Residents at Summer Celebration (Courtesy, Beacon Hill)
Beacon Hill’s Summer Celebration started in the 1970s as the Strawberry Festival, a fundraising event organized by the Women’s Auxiliary of Michigan Christian Home, the name under which Beacon Hill at Eastgate was originally established. The Strawberry Festival raised thousands of dollars for the retirement community through the sale of homemade strawberry shortcake, sundaes and other treats. Since then, the Strawberry Festival has shifted to a culinary showcase paid for by Beacon Hill to thank its residents, their loved ones and the community for their support.
“What started as a fundraiser organized by a small group of volunteers has blossomed into a community-favorite tradition that has brought together thousands of new and old friends for evenings full of great food and entertainment,” Edwards said. “Decades later, the Summer Celebration upholds the original event’s mission of using exceptional, homemade food to build community and enrich the lives of our residents and neighbors.”
To learn more about Beacon Hill’s Summer Celebration, click here.
About Beacon Hill at Eastgate
Beacon Hill at Eastgate is home, family and security, dedicated to engaging seniors in an active and fulfilling retirement. Its state-of-the-art campus is a life plan retirement community that offers the complete continuum of care on one campus, including independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Beacon Hill integrates a more highly defined service model characterized by best practices in the areas of social and clinical services with excellence in hospitality.
The WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is coming soon, along with our in-depth Journal coverage of the Wyoming and Kentwood area football teams. Our FNH host will walk you through highlights from most of the local games every single Friday night throughout the season and into the playoffs.
By Cris Greer
WKTV Managing Editor
greer@wktv.org
With the first week of high school football practice in the books, games under the lights are just about here. This means our in-depth coverage of WKTV Games of the Week, Journal web stories and our exciting Friday Night Highlights show will all be here shortly as well.
We plan to bring you another great season of local high school football, covering your favorite teams from Wyoming and Kentwood, including East Kentwood, Wyoming, Godwin Heights, Lee, Kelloggsville, South Christian and Tri-unity.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream. See GOW sked below.
WKTV Journal Website
Don’t miss our large footprint of local high school football on the WKTV Journal website.
Continuing from last season, we’ll have a huge presence with local high school football. Beyond our fantastic Game of the Week truck coverage, every week our sports staff will post football game stories, features, roundups and final scores and stats on most teams in the Kentwood/Wyoming area on our Journal website.
We plan to give you the stats and highlights in our game stories … explaining the details of how your team marched to victory.
WKTV Friday Night Highlights show coming soon!
Friday Night Highlights will be back soon. Just like we did during basketball season, every Friday we’ll bring you many great high school football clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute program.
As a bonus, we’ll have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and occasionally have them come into our studio for a live interview as well.
You won’t want to miss all our great local coverage. Thanks for tuning in!
WKTV Game of the Week Truck Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 31 (7 p.m.) Byron Center at East Kentwood
Friday, Sept. 8 (7 p.m.) Kenowa Hills at South Christian (EK Falcon Stadium)
Friday, Sept. 15 (7 p.m.) Grand Rapids Sacred Heart at Lee
Friday, Sept. 22 (7 p.m.) Union at Wyoming
Friday, Sept. 29 (7 p.m.) Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights
Friday, Oct. 6 (7 p.m.) TK at South Christian (EK Falcon Stadium)
Friday, Oct. 13 (7 p.m.) Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Oct. 20 (7 p.m.) West Ottawa at East Kentwood
Families are getting ready for the start of a new school year (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
Woodland Mall and The Salvation Army in Kent County are helping local students get ready to go back to school with a fun event and food drive 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19.
The event will serve as a fundraiser for The Salvation Army’s emergency food pantry. It will also feature a variety of activities for all ages to enjoy in Woodland Mall’s Macy’s Court.
On a monthly basis, The Salvation Army feeds 550 people, including 145 children, and that number is increasing daily.
“We used to provide people with enough food to last three to five days,” said Victoria Arnold, director of Kent County Social Services. “Due to increased demand, we now provide enough food for six days. And we predict we will need another $10,000 alone to stay at that level, just for the next year.”
An increasing number of families are in need food during the school year (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
Attendees are encouraged to bring shelf-stable food donations to the event or make a monetary donation online to support Salvation Army Kent County Social Services, which provides food pantries, warm meals and sack lunches for community members in need. Personal care items, household products, clothing and baby essentials are also accepted.
“Countless families struggle to access nutritious food, and most affected are children,” said Mikia Ross, interim Senior Marketing Director for Woodland Mall. “To help address this issue, we’re focusing on promoting nutrition for children and families during this year’s back-to-school season and encouraging the community to participate by donating to our charitable partner, Salvation Army. Together, we can help students get the fuel they need to start their academic year out strong!”
Suggested items for donation include:
Canned goods, including meats, fruits and vegetables, with a pop top.
Pasta and pasta sauces.
Ramen noodles.
Macaroni and cheese.
While supporting the nonprofit, event attendees will be able to meet special characters like Princess Tiana and Captain America, enjoy DJ music and games, get their faces painted, make friendship bracelets, view back-to-school fashion displays and get makeover consultations. Those who make a monetary or food donation will also be able to capture memories with a photo booth.
At approximately 6:02 a.m. on August 14, 2023, the Kentwood Police Department responded to the intersection of 54th St. SE and Division Ave. SE for an unknown injury crash involving a vehicle and pedestrian. The pedestrian was treated on-scene by AMR ambulance and Wyoming Fire personnel and was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentwood Police Department at 616-698-6580. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or SilentObserver.org.
Old World Christmas has over 1,500 ornament designs, and adds more each year (Courtesy, Old World Christmas)
By Deborah Reed
deborah@wktv.org
Old World Christmas is the country’s premier ornament brand (Courtesy, Old World Christmas)
As Christmas in July ends and the countdown to Christmas begins, premier ornament brand Old World Christmas® is looking to give back – with help from communities nationwide.
“Old World is looking for a family or an individual who needs a little extra cheer this holiday season,” said Sarah Dyne, Master Decorator for Old World Christmas and owner of Sarah Dyne Creates. “By giving somebody a tree that brings them joy, looks beautiful, and is something that they can hold on to for years to come is one way to do that.”
Old World Christmas is asking for nominations of families or individuals in need of holiday cheer to receive the ultimate in-home Christmas tree treatment, where Dyne will “deck” the halls of their home in Christmas cheer.
Something for everyone
With over 1,500 different ornament designs bearing Old World Christmas’ signature colorful blown glass and glitter accents, there is something for everyone.
“It is a stunning array you can choose from,” said Dyne. “You can find something for anybody. Truly unexpected and interesting things.”
Dyne went on to say that even though each ornament is uniquely different, together they all create a cohesive look.
“Even with a wide variety of interests and objects and colors, it all somehow works together because it’s a similar style throughout,” said Dyne.
Giving back and making memories
A lifelong personal fan of Old World Christmas ornaments, Dyne is excited to work with the company to provide this special experience for a deserving family or individual.
Travel tree design with Old World Christmas ornaments by Sarah Dyne Creates (Courtesy, Sarah Dyne)
“I’ve been involved with lots of different volunteer work over the years, and this combines two of my favorite things – giving back and decorating for the holidays,” said Dyne.
President and CEO of Old World Christmas, Neal Applefeld, said that the company’s ornaments are all about making memories and putting smiles on people’s faces.
“No matter what is going on in the world or in someone’s personal life, we truly believe that everyone deserves a little Christmas cheer,” said Applefeld.
How to nominate someone you know
Nominations are open through Aug. 20. Upload a video, photo or written entry about why you think a family in your life is in need of some holiday cheer. Old World Christmas will select one family to receive the ultimate Christmas tree treatment from Dyne, and five lucky finalists will receive a $100 Old World Christmas prize package.
The Reverend Jesse Ray sings with soul at Ramshackle Brewing in Jonesville (Courtesy, Paul Jensen)
By Deborah Reed
deborah@wktv.org
The Reverend Jesse Ray will wrap up the Concerts in the Park summer series with an Americana Rock N Roots experience at Lamar Park in Wyoming on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.
Patty Matters – Food Truck will have gourmet burgers available to purchase during the concert, and attendees are invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the summer evening and live music.
The beginning of it all
The Reverend Jesse Ray has always enjoyed music, singing with his mom and grandparents as a child and learning to play the ukulele under the tutelage of his paternal grandfather (who Ray called “Gumpy”) at 8 years old.
“It’s the ultimate form of self-expression,” said Ray about music.
Ray moved on to guitar at age 12, when “Gumpy” showed him that guitar chords were quite similar to ukulele chords.
The Reverend Jesse Ray performs in Grand Haven (Courtesy, Jeff Brinn)
Ray went on to say that his mother accompanied him to bars in the evenings that same year so he could participate in open mic nights.
His music repertoire moved on to include playing trumpet in high school jazz band, marching band, and concert band. For his senior year of high school, however, Ray decided to join choir and play guitar in the jazz band instead.
“That was a riot,” said Ray. “I really liked trumpet, but I really wanted to keep singing.”
“I would do open mics as a senior three or four days a week, and then go sleep in my car during lunch period,” said Ray.
College brought experiences in street performance and an interest in rockabilly blues and roots music, leading Ray to start the high-energy band, Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish, in 2013.
A life pivot
When asked if he pursued a degree in music, Jesse responded, “I was a music major for one whole day. The next day I skipped all of my classes, went to the counselor, and said no, we’re going to focus on history.”
Ray said that he felt unable to focus on what he wanted to do musically while being a music major. With a love of history as well, Ray pursued that interest during his college tenure instead.
“I really like American History,” said Ray. “I’ve been fascinated by it since I was a kid, how things got to be the way that they are. You can understand a lot if you look into the past.”
However, “I kept music as my love, my passion,” said Ray.
Lyrics and secrets
Ray said that a lot of his music stems from personal experiences, and that he tends to hide things in his song lyrics, some of them personal.
The Reverend Jesse Ray performs at outdoor venue in Grand Haven (Courtesy, Jeff Brinn)
“Some people get it, some people don’t,” said Ray. “Sometimes it’s a joke, and sometimes it’s something really deep and personal.”
Ray went on to say that music helped him process events and experiences in his life when he was younger.
“I write a song and put it out there, and then I feel a lot better when I walk away,” said Ray.
The Reverend: master of his own destiny
Always looking for new and creative musical opportunities, Jesse Ray brought forth The Reverend Jesse Ray, an Americana Rock N Roots experience.
But the moniker did not feel natural at first.
Coined “The Reverend” by a studio producer and then by band drummer Dingo, Ray said he didn’t care for the nickname. However, the nickname stuck as a way to set his music apart from other musicians bearing the name Jesse Ray.
“There were lots of Jesse Rays, but no Reverend Jesse Ray,” said Ray.
The Reverend Jesse Ray was born, and performs at venues all across Michigan.
Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish are also going strong with plans to release a new album Sept. 29th, and with at least 30 tour dates already in place across the United States.
Stauffer and Breton intersections along 52nd Street SE will reopen in a limited capacity starting Monday, Aug. 14.
Travelers heading south along Breton and Stauffer avenues will now be able to turn left onto eastbound 52nd Street. However, 52nd Street will be closed to traffic approaching from the south on Stauffer. Eastbound traffic on 52nd Street will now be able to turn left at Stauffer. Westbound traffic on 52nd Street will be required to turn right onto Breton.
Westbound 52nd Street will remain closed from Breton to Kalamazoo Avenue, and drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians will need to follow posted detours using Breton Avenue, 44th Street and Kalamazoo Avenue.
Eastbound traffic on 52nd Street will continue to be maintained, but will be shifted to northern lanes. To prevent backups, left turns for eastbound 52nd Street onto Breton Avenue will be prohibited.
The 52nd Street reconstruction project began in May and includes a new water main on the north side of 52nd Street, new asphalt pavement surface on the roadway and a new traffic signal at the intersection of 52nd Street and Stauffer Avenue. It is expected to be completed by Oct. 3.
Community members who want more information or have questions about these closures are encouraged to contact City Engineer Brad Boomstra at boomstrab@kentwood.us or 616-554-0740.
Brian Long is a local business forecaster. (Courtesy, GVSU)
Local manufacturers are seeing the West Michigan economy flatten as sales across some industries have slowed and market demand has stabilized, according to a monthly survey conducted by Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research at Grand Valley’s Seidman College of Business.
Long said his August report shows several key indicators from July have flattened after fluctuating from the previous few months.
“Our most important index in our survey of purchasing managers is new orders,” Long said. “When new orders are coming in strong to just about any firm, they start buying more materials, more equipment, more industrial services and eventually of course, hiring more people, but the impact on the financial and employment statistics may not show up for weeks or even months.
“So right now, with most of our recent orders indexes turning in flat or stable, we have to declare that the West Michigan economy is stable, neither expanding or contracting.”
While the strong demand for cars and light trucks is helping the automotive industry prosper, suppliers in the office furniture sector are seeing their segment soften, Long said.
“Statistically, this month’s survey of purchasing managers in West Michigan is about as flat as it can possibly be,” Long said. “However, it is our automotive parts producers that are holding us up. Other industries like office furniture are softening, but again, I say softening and not collapsing like we would expect in a recession.”
Here is a look at the key index results from July’s survey of West Michigan manufacturers:
New orders index (business improvement): 0 versus +9 in June
The City of Wyoming Marquette Park playground. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
With 700 acres of park property distributed among 21 parks within the City of Wyoming, developing and maintaining facilities and programs has always been a high priority for the Parks and Recreation Department.
As they look to update their five-year master plan, the Parks and Recreation Department is inviting residents, business owners and community members to provide input on the vision of its future.
Sunshine peeks through the trees at a City of Wyoming park
The master plan, which will be used to guide growth and development in the park system will be shaped by community input. The feedback received will help the department prioritize where and how to make investments in parks, facilities and programs.
Residents and business owners are being encouraged to share their thoughts through an online survey, in English and Spanish, designed to allow users to share areas where they feel there are opportunities for growth, improvement or areas that they enjoy within the City.
“We are excited to hear from the community as they help us shape the future of our parks and programs,” Director of Parks & Recreation Krashawn Martin said. “The plan will consider long-range goals for our community as well as recommended actions to guide updates and land use for the future.”
Residents interested in participating in the survey may do so online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WyomingParks or in person at Wyoming City Hall and the Wyoming Branch of Kent District Library. The survey closes on Aug. 31.
Wyoming Parks & Recreation will soon announce community meetings as part of the process of updating its master plan. Visit www.wyomingmi.gov for more information.
Ford International Airport broke ground Aug. 9 on its new $14.5 million aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) facility. Construction is expected to be completed by February 2025. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
By WKTV Staff
greer@wktv.org
Gerald R. Ford International Airport broke ground Aug. 9 on its new aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) facility. This $14.5 million project will further enhance passenger safety and aircraft operations.
The 25,000 square foot facility will include larger bays for advanced firefighting vehicles, specialized equipment and expanded training spaces for ARFF personnel. Construction is expected to be completed by February 2025.
“We are grateful to celebrate this momentous occasion as we break ground on this new innovative facility,” said Tory Richardson, President and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. “This investment is a testament to the Airport’s commitment to providing world-class safety and security measures to our passengers, partners and community members.”
An artist’s rendering of the Ford International Airport aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) facility. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
This facility will support the Airport Authority’s 19 member ARFF team. Staffed 24/7, the team is specially trained to respond to aviation accidents and incidents, which includes rescuing passengers and crew members, minimizing property damage and salvage operations.
This new center also will be used for training and supporting the Ford International Airport’s mutual aid partners.
“Our team does an excellent job maintaining the highest level of safety, and they look forward to a new building that supports enhanced functionality and efficiency,” said Lisa Carr, Public Safety and Operations Director for the Ford International Airport Authority. “By investing in cutting-edge infrastructure and advanced training for our firefighting teams, we can further prepare for any potential emergencies or incidents that happen at the Airport or surrounding areas.”
No local taxpayer dollars will be used to finance any of the Airport’s projects; the construction of the new facility is funded by a combination of federal and state grants, municipal bonds issued by the Airport and user fees.
The FAA has committed two-thirds of the project funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, specifically from the Airport Improvement Grant program. The involvement of the FAA and Michigan Department of Transportation signifies a strategic investment in the community and further supports the expansion of Airport operational activities.
“The unprecedented funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allows airports like Gerald R. Ford International Airport to make key investments to improve safety and operations,” said Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E., FAA Associate Administrator for Airports. “This new facility will enhance the emergency response capabilities of the firefighting teams to better support travelers of Grand Rapids.”
This facility will be an addition to the recently completed Airport operations center, which consolidated key teams such as operations and communications; and included a new emergency operations center (EOC). By strategically positioning the ARFF facility and operations center together the Airport can increase response times, reduce potential hazards and mitigate risks effectively.
Adult and nymphal spotted lanternfly on tree-of-heaven in Pennsylvania. (Courtesy, Heather Leach/Michigan State University)
By K.D. Norris
WKTV Contributor
The list of invasive species disrupting West Michigan’s land and water is eerily long, and seemingly a battle ordinary people can only stand by and watch. Whether it’s the garlic mustard weed choking out forest floors and backyards or the spotted lanternfly attacking grape vines and apple crops, the feeling could be: “What can I do?”
Turns out there is a lot that people can do, starting with keeping an eye out for the much-in-the-news spotted lanternfly, reporting sightings to the proper authorities, and doing a bit of back-yard eradication if you find one and are not squeamish about squishing them.
WKTV went to Michigan’s own “invasive” pest experts, Michigan State University’s renown Agriculture Department, for information on the “SLF” and two other invasions impacting local residents and homeowners: the cancerous spread of the garlic mustard plant and the tree-killing appetite of the emerald ash borer.
And in all the cases, the public can play a role in the battle against the invasives.
The City of Kentwood, the Kent County Conservation District, and other local groups are harnessing community action and volunteers to battle garlic mustard though education and sweat equity.
And while MSU and other institutional “best minds” are studying ways to battle the ash borer, local land management companies now have the ability to “inoculate” ash trees to give them a fighting chance against the pest.
Aiding local agriculture by being aware, vengeful
The spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive first found in Pennsylvania in 2014 before spreading to New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, as detailed in an MSU article. In 2022, a small breeding population was found in Oakland County, Michigan.
The spotted lanternfly are most often seen in tree-of-heaven (an invasive, fast-growing tree found sporadically throughout Michigan), wild and cultivated grapevines, as well as silver and red maple, black walnut, butternut, birch, willow and sumac. But there is concern about long-term impact on orchard crops such as apples.
“SLF is also considered a significant nuisance pest in residential landscapes in regions where high populations exist,” authors Heather Leach and Julianna Wilson state in the above mentioned March 2023 MSU article. But the presence of the spotted lanternfly in Michigan “poses a significant threat to the Michigan grape industry and we are asking all growers to be on the lookout for this important new pest.”
Help stop the spread
But the MSU article also lays out how the general public can get involved.
The MSU article details how to spot and report SLF sightings, including reporting findings to Eyes in the Field, a website monitored by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, or through Kent County’s local MSU Extension Office.
And if a member of the public is not squeamish, there is another possible action.
“If you see only a few SLF, they are easy to kill by squishing adults or immature stages and scraping to remove egg masses,” the article by Leach and Wilson states.
Likewise, according to the Michigan Invasive Species section of Michigan.gov, in order to help stop the spread of the spotted lanternfly, you must:
Take a picture
Squish it
Report it
Garlic mustard: see ‘em, pull ‘em! Eat ‘em?
The first step in battling garlic mustard is recognizing it, and recognizing when and how to attack it — and knowing where to go to for help and support.
Garlic mustard growing along roadways can be spread by mowing crews. (Rebecca Finneran/Michigan State University)
“A native to Europe, garlic mustard was originally introduced in North America by settlers for its ‘proclaimed’ medicinal properties and use in cooking,” Rebecca Finneran, Michigan State University Extension, writes in the article. “Unfortunately, because of its invasive habit, garlic mustard is rapidly dominating the forest floor, changing woodland habitat for plants and animals alike. Given the chance, it will also invade the home landscape and even take over patches of existing groundcover.”
“It’s a continuing battle and we encourage our park stewards and residents who are confident they can identify the plant to remove it early in the spring before it has a chance to drop its seeds,” said Spencer McKellar, Kentwood Deputy Parks and Recreation Director/Project Manager. “We know it’s a problem at a few locations but this spring we spent time at both the Kentwood Community Garden property (next to Veterans Memorial Park/Kentwood Activities Center) and at Stanaback Park.”
But, he pointed out, this is not a one time fix “but an ongoing and yearly effort that will be needed to keep this particular invasive specie at bay.”
The city, and its effort partner the Kent Conservation District, has held educational workshops and hands-on work parties to help battle not only garlic mustard but the bittersweet vine as well — “This is another one of those troublesome plants that we will have to watch for and note where it’s found for further treatment,” McKellar said.
Mowing not effective
One of the problems with garlic mustard in public places is that mowing often simply cuts them, leaves the roots in place, and can even spread seeds if mowing occurs at the wrong time of the year.
People, though, can battle garlic mustard on their own land and in their own backyard as well, but there are some dos and don’ts.
“Smaller garlic mustard infestations can be controlled with a watchful eye and rigorous hand pulling during spring before other vegetation greens up, with early spring before flowering being ideal,” MSU Extension’s Finneran writes in her article. “The plants are relatively easy to pull, but they are brittle, so be sure you are lifting the entire plant out of the ground and not just breaking off the top.”
Bagging and disposing of pulled plants with municipal waste headed to a landfill or incinerator is allowed in Michigan.
And what is killing my Ash tree?
American ash, or white ash, are local versions of a tree species that have a long cultural history in Europe after likely originating in Africa and Asia Minor, and have been a staple in American woodlands, according to another article published by Michigan State University.
But the invasive emerald ash borer — native to Russia and North eastern Asia, and first discovered in the United States and Michigan in 2002, likely through the import of wood and wooden shipping pallets from those regions — has been spreading and killing local Ash trees in droves for two decades.
The emerald ash borer. (Courtesy, Michigan State University)
There is work being done on ways to help nature control the insects, as happens in its native habitats and as detailed in the MSU article. But the infestation is so new that extensive studies must come before effective remedies are deployed.
The emerald ash borer is “considered the most destructive and costly forest insect to ever invade North America.”
The emerald ash borer (EAB) “is now in 35 states, five Canadian provinces and is considered the most destructive and costly forest insect to ever invade North America,” Deborah McCullough, MSU forest entomology professor, states in the article.
“In the case of EAB, there was very little known about this insect when it was discovered, and in many ways, we started from scratch,” McCullough said. “We needed to learn the life cycle of the insect and develop methods to survey it, control it, and to tell people confidently what they could expect about impacts.”
What is known, however, is that there is a usually effective treatment available from local arborists and landcare companies to inoculate trees with minor infections.
Pressurized trunk infusion to the rescue
“TREE-äge (Emamectin Benzoate) came to the rescue in our fight to save ash trees from the emerald ash borer,” Nick Clement, an arborist with All Season Lawn Care, said to WKTV. “The chemical is delivered via a pressurized trunk infusion. Holes are drilled into the base of the trunk of the tree and self-sealing injection ports are installed. The injection needles are then inserted into the ports and the chemical is pushed into the cambium of the tree.”
Once the tree has been treated, the chemical provides two seasons of residual control in the tree, he added.
For more information
For general information about Michigan’s invasive species, visit michigan.gov/invasives.
For more information on local invasive species and how to get involved with the Kent Conservation District’s efforts, visit here.
Family resource organization Great Start Collaborative of Kent County is hosting a free in-person event to help parents learn more about the importance of play and developmental screening in children.
Taking place Saturday, Aug. 12 at Alger Head Start in Grand Rapids, the 4th annual “Books, Blocks and Balls” event will offer fun activities for the entire family from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m..
Participants will receive a goodie bag filled with items proven to help with child development. Every child that attends, regardless of age, will receive a free book.
Families will also have the opportunity to complete a developmental screening onsite, which can help parents know what to look for at certain ages and stages in their children.
(Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)
There will be a variety of activities, food options and family fun onsite, including: raffles for free prizes every 30 minutes, food trucks offering free food to participants, games and movement activities with The Zumba Lady, face painting and balloon twisting, interactive activities at each vendor table, and more.
Participating alongside Great Start Collaborative will be dozens of community organizations providing additional giveaways and resources to families in attendance.
One such organization is First Steps Kent, an independent non-profit that works to strengthen and coordinate the system of early childhood services through research and innovation.
First Steps Kent is leading a community-wide effort to develop a system of support for children ages 0-5 (and their families) that ensures every young child in Kent County will enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and in life.
This event was made possible because of the generosity of Kent County taxpayers and the voter-approved Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage that provides dedicated and sustainable funding for programs that improve the health, school readiness, and well-being of children under age five in Kent County.
