Category Archives: Citizen Journalism

LaFontsee Galleries sold to new owners

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Kent County, Local Business, West Michigan, ,

By McKenna Peariso
WKTV Contributor

A memory wall in LaFontsee Galleries shares its story. (WKTV/McKenna Peariso)

For the first time in nearly four decades, new leadership is taking hold at LaFontsee Galleries.

This month, founders Linda and Scott LaFontsee announced that Jason and Kate Meyer have bought the business. Artist Kate Meyer will take the lead on running the gallery, with Linda LaFontsee assisting her with the transition over the next six months.

“We found the right people,” said Linda LaFontsee. “We started thinking about it several years ago and I finally got to the point where I could entertain the idea of letting go of my baby.”

The LaFontsees have overseen growth of the art-hub enterprise for more than 36 years. From humble beginnings in 1987 as a small framing business to the award-winning 24,000 square foot gallery now located at 833 Lake Dr. SE.

In that time, LaFontsee Galleries has received many state and national recognitions. In 2022, the American Art Awards named it one of the top 20 galleries in America. The gallery also received the ArtServe Michigan Governor’s Award for Arts and Culture in 2004.

“Initially when the gallery started, there was not really much of an art scene in Grand Rapids,” said new owner Kate Meyer. “It really just started with a small framing shop and Linda and Scott showing a couple of pieces on the walls where they had a little bit of space from local artists and it grew from there.”

Growing its Grand Rapids

The tiny framing operation run out of Scott LaFontsee’s basement was fittingly named Underground Studio. As the area’s art scene began to take shape, the business moved downtown into the North Monroe Business District and rebranded to LaFontsee Galleries in 1994. Then in 2012, the founders reopened the gallery in its current home on Lake Drive.

LaFontsee Galleries started a a framing operation. During the May 24 open house, visitors will be a behind-the-scenes look at the business’s iconic framing department. (WKTV/McKenna Peariso)

“We have grown with the city for sure,” LaFontsee said. “It’s wonderful to be able to not only show their work but create a community with the artists as well.”

It’s estimated more than 60,000 works of art are stored at LaFontsee Galleries, with only a quarter currently decorating the walls. LaFontsee says the depth of the work the space holds for each of the artists is rather unusual, thanks to the building’s generous square footage.

The gallery’s entire collection including the current portfolio of more than 70 artists will be retained under the new leadership. Fifteen team members will also remain on staff.

An artist herself, Meyer has had her work displayed across Grand Rapids and has been featured at ArtPrize several times. She admires the gallery for its balance of a warm, welcoming environment with a professional caliber of fine art.

“It’s more than just a gallery,” said Meyer, “it really is a community space that has so many different facets to it.”

Just the Right Match

LaFontsee Galleries has a long history of involvement in local nonprofits and community events. Its list of collaborators include Frey Foundation, Gilda’s Club, Artists Creating Together and more.

LaFontsee Galleries has been an art-hub in Grand Rapids for 36 years. (WKTV/McKenna Peariso)

Connecting through non-profits is what originally brought the LaFontsees and Meyers together; Jason and Linda met while working with the Blandford Nature Center. Along with his advisory role with the gallery, Jason Meyer currently serves as executive director for the White Oak Initiative, a coalition addressing the decline of America’s white oak population.

Kate Meyer also has over a decade of experience in fundraising, event planning and leadership in environmental nonprofits and conservation. Her most recent role was associate director of development for the state’s chapter of the world’s largest conservation organization, The Nature Conservancy. She also previously served as the Kent County Parks Foundation’s executive director.

“They really hand-picked us and I think they see a lot of themselves in us and vice versa,” Meyer said.

Celebrating a New Era

Terms of the gallery’s transaction were not disclosed. The LaFontsees were advised by Calder Capital LLC on the deal. The Meyers used financial consultant DWH LLC as their advisors.

The gallery will host an open house on May 24 from 4 to 5 p.m. where the public can meet and greet with owners old and new. Attendees will also have the opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at the business’s iconic framing department and learn more about the process of preserving art.

Senior Expo returns to the Meijer Gardens

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, Senior Living,

By K.D. Norris
WKTV Contributor

The Senior Expo will take place on May 24 at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. (Courtesy, Frederik Meijer Gardens)

In many ways, a walk around the building and grounds of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is the perfect place for a bit of physical and mental health “me time” for local senior community members.

And what better time to visit than the return of the free-to-the-public West Michigan Senior Expo at Meijer Gardens on Wednesday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration to the expo also offers free admission to the Meijer Gardens indoor and outdoor art and gardens.

To pre-register for the event, visit here.

Local group attending focused on mental health

The range of senior — and senior caregiver — advocacy and service groups attending the Senior Expo is expected to include more than 50 Grand Rapids and West Michigan organizations that specialize assisted living, Alzheimer’s information, home care, Veterans benefits, mobility solutions, Medicare and much more.

More than 50 local and regional organizations will be present at the West Michigan Senior Expo at Meijer Gardens. (courtesy, Meijer Gardens)

For one local health-care organization, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, attending the expo and serving the senior community is a calling as much as a business opportunity.

“We view the seniors who turn to us for care as our friends, our grandparents, and our neighbors because that’s who they are,” Matt Hiskes, spokesperson for Pine Rest. “We value and offer a full continuum of services for seniors because they are an essential part of the community that makes West Michigan great.”

Hiskes also stressed that mental health is as important as physical health for seniors.

“Individuals often face some of the most challenging aspects of life during their senior years: housing changes, loss of family members and friends, individual medical concerns, loss of mobility, and changing family dynamics,” Hiskes said. “These issues can be incredibly impactful on a person’s mental well-being, yet many individuals never seek the help they need.

“It’s important for seniors to know that help is available, that there is no shame in seeking mental health care, and that people can live better, longer lives when they focus on caring for their mental health.”

Health care screenings and a stroll through art, nature 

The “rain or shine” expo will be held in-doors and will offer a variety of free health screenings — not to mention hourly prize drawings, giveaways and complimentary refreshments.

 

Among the groups and businesses expected to attend are BP Realty, Baldwin House, Battle Creek VA Media Center, Boichot Insurance Agency, Care Resources PACE (GR), Center for Vein Restoration, Eden Home Care, Estate Planning Legal Services, Grand Brook Memory Care, Health Alliance Plan, Hearing Life, Life EMS Ambulance, Lincoln Square Senior Living Holiday by Atria (GR), McDonald Hearing Services, National Benefit Plans, Neptune Society, Sentinel Pointe Retirement Community, St. Ann’s Home, United Healthcare, and Victory Financial Insurance Agency.

After the event, attendees can enjoy the recently opened indoor exhibit of “Cristina Iglesias: Under and In Between”. Running through September, the exhibition surveys 20 years of work from one of Spain’s most renowned artists. The exhibit includes the artist’s “Pozo XI”, recently installed in the Tassell–Wisner–Bottrall English Perennial Garden as part of Meijer Garden’s permanent sculpture collection.

And if you haven’t been on the grounds lately, a somber but powerful stop should be Jerusalem-born artist Ariel Schlesinger’s “Ways to Say Goodbye” located in the Holocaust Memorial Garden.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is located at 1000 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids. For more information visit meijergardens.org 

Local man’s memoir features never heard stories of WWII 1st Infantry Division

3-bottom, Books, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming,

By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributor

Joseph Olexa, circa 1941 (Courtesy, GVSU Veterans History Project)

Grand Valley State University Professor James Smither will be the first to admit that you never know where a veterans’ interview will lead you.

Such was the case when Smither, who heads up the GVSU Veterans History Project, interviewed World War II veteran David Zylstra, who mentioned that he had a manuscript of a memoir composed in the 1970s by his second wife’s late brother-in-law from her first marriage. Zylstra have been given the manuscript because he was the family member interested in history.

Released this year by University of North Texas Press and edit and annoyed by Smither, Death and Life in the Big Red One: A World War II Soldier’s Journey from North Africa to Germany, a memoir of World War II 1st Division combat infantryman Joe Olexa, offers insights into the experiences of an ordinary soldier in extraordinary situations.

Dr. James R. Smither will talk about his book Wednesday, May 17, at 2 p.m. at Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW.

When Smither looked through the large pile of papers stacked on Zylstra’s dining room table, “I realized right away that it should be archived and could probably be edited for publication.”

Smither got in touch with Olexa’s two sons still living in the Grand Rapids area, and they agreed to donate the manuscript and letters Olexa had written home during the war to GVSU and the Veterans History Project.

Smither took a sabbatical to edit the memoir and get it ready for publication.

The Challenge of Fact-Checking

“The real challenge to this was the fact-checking,” said Smither. “(Olexa) wrote the memoir largely from memory. I had to follow the story and check it against both published histories of the campaigns he was in, as well as military records for the unit he served in.”

Grand Valley State University Professor James Smither, head of the GVSU Veterans History Project (Courtesy, GVSU Veterans History Project)

Matching dates and places where the unit traveled and particular events Olexa mentioned in the memoir took hours of research.

“In some cases, his memory was faulty,” Smither said. “He was remembering the incidents pretty well but didn’t always have them in the right times and places. So I had to sort that out.”

Another challenge was the pseudonyms Olexa used for a lot of his characters. Ordinary combat soldiers didn’t always know each soldier’s name, often only knowing them by their nicknames.

“In (Olexa’s) case, he was going further than that. He was giving them nicknames especially if he didn’t like them,” said Smither with a laugh.

One of the most memorable nicknames was given to one of Olexa’s company commanders who he referred to as “Captain Jitters.” Smither had to find the real name of “Captain Jitters,” and the point Jitters was removed and sent to a psychiatric hospital as mentioned in the memoir.

A Vivid Account of Enlisted Life

Smither said he was impressed by Olexa’s writing style and ease of storytelling. “(The memoir) gives you a much more detailed and vivid account of what it was like to be a combat soldier than you get from most memoirs written by enlisted men,” Smither said. “Usually, it’s the officers that write the better memoirs because they are better educated and have a better idea of what was going on.”

Part of the charm of Olexa’s account of WWII was that he enlisted before the war had even begun.

“Olexa enlisted before the war started and got into the fighting as early as anybody did, and the Americans did in the European theater,” Smither said.

In 1942, Olexa was part of the invasion of North Africa—a portion of the war where there are not many firsthand accounts at all, and none from Olexa’s regiment of several thousand men.

Some Interesting Accounts

Smither said there are many incidents of Olexa’s unit that didn’t make it into history books because they were a “sideshow” for quite a while as a battalion off on their own, conducting small patrols in the southern end of the front in Tunisia.

Soldiers of L Company in Aachen, Germany. (Courtesy, GVSU History Project)

During the invasion of Sicily in 1943, Olexa was part of a small group of men who were trained to swim onto shore and flash signals to guide the landing craft in. “I had never seen anything about that,” said Smither. “I couldn’t find anything in the records indicating an army personnel ever did this. When I was burrowing around in the unit records, sure enough, I found a report on the activities of the unit he was in, and there he is, listed on the unit roster.”

The more Smither researched, the more he found that “a lot of the crazier stories turned out to be true.”

One such story involved chasing the girlfriends of soldiers out of the woods near the base in England where Olexa spent the last five months of the European war training replacement combat soldiers. The women would camp in the woods near the base and sneak in at night, or the men would sneak into the woods to spend time with them. Olexa had to organize a group of military police and make a sweep through the woods, chasing the women out.

Looking to Add a Website for the Book

University of North Texas Press wanted Smither to focus on the combat and front-line experiences of Olexa’s tenure in the war, forcing him to leave out some of the more eccentric stories.

“The original manuscript was simply too long to go into a print edition,” said Smither. Sections where Olexa is training or in the rear, various encounters with French soldiers in North Africa, and civilians he encountered away from the front were all areas Smither had to cut back.

However, the Press is allowing Smither to set up a website where he will post deleted material and any other supplemental items that he deems relevant. The plan is to include those sections of the text with indications of where they fit into the larger story in terms of pages of the book. Smither also plans to post some of the letters and interviews that he has done with veterans in some of the same places or with similar experiences as Olexa.

Once published, this supplemental website will be accessible from the Grand Valley History Department website via a link on GVSU’s Veterans History Project, which also gives access to other veteran interviews as well.

After the book is in print for three years, the Press plans to publish an ebook version that will have Olexa’s entire memoir so readers can find the whole story in one place.

Giving back to our veterans

Smither has worked at GVSU as a historian since 1990 and has specifically worked with veterans for more than 20 years.

“I always had an interest in military history, and I was able to develop a course in it,” said Smither, whose time outside of the classroom has been spent largely on conducting veteran interviews for the Veterans History Project (VHP).

Even though he does not have a personal military background, Smither said, “As a historian, sometimes you study things that are very far from your own experiences to try to understand them. And military history is compelling because it puts people into very difficult and unusual circumstances, and they have to figure out what to do and how to handle it. I think there is something about that that captures people’s imaginations.”

Veterans History Project: More than Telling Stories

“It’s a way to give back to the people who serve,” Smither said. “Just by listening to them and taking them seriously, you are showing a certain respect for them.”

Smither believes his job is to help veterans tell their whole story, publishing the complete interviews on the VHP website instead of only releasing bits and pieces.

“It provides great raw material for future generations of historians, but it also does something for the veterans themselves,” Smither continued.

For many involved in conflict from Vietnam onward, Smither has found there is often a question of “Why were we there in the first place, and was it worth doing?” Recording their stories helps many veterans find clarity.

“What you see when you talk to (veterans) is (that) a lot of the experience for them is just with them and the people in their unit, and just trying to get by. They were not really as worried about the bigger picture of things,” Smither said. “Recording the stories helps validate the experience…and it helps them figure out what happened. Sometimes I interview a veteran and that’s the first time they actually tried to put their story together. Some of it starts to make sense a little bit better when they start to do that.”

Retired life

Olexa worked in a factory for a short time after retiring from the military but deemed it too noisy. The former infantryman was not squeamish about blood and became a meat cutter, with his last 10 years before retiring in 1981 serving as the meat manager at a Grand Rapids D&W supermarket.

“He was very much just a member of the community after that (military career),” said Smither.

Olexa married Agnes Van Der Weide July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes’s death in 1993. Olexa passed away December 3, 2000.

D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author

Hospice surfaces as special gift on Mother’s Day

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health,

By Emmanuel Hospice

Bea Blasingame (courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)

For Joan Mattson and her four siblings, it’s all about the subtle differences conveyed in such significant ways to define her mother’s journey with Emmanuel Hospice at her side.

Especially during this month, featuring Mother’s Day as a gentle touchstone.

“One of the Emmanuel Hospice aides, Tanya, always kisses the top of mom’s head before she leaves,” says Mattson, drawing a breath. “I mean, just that kindness. It means so much.”

Mattson’s mother, Bea Blasingame, is 87 and has been under Emmanuel’s care since late last year. Initially, it was difficult for Bea to accept and adjust, given her life-long sense of independence. She was also missing friends in rural Truman, Arkansas, where she and her late husband, Robert, spent most of their 67 years together.

These days, Bea resides in Mattson’s Grand Rapids area home following a series of seizures and discovery of a related tumor that have affected her speech, mobility and other aspects of her daily life.

With Mother’s Day coming up, Mattson relates that it’s bittersweet to wax nostalgic on how things used to be.

“My mom was a morning person,” Mattson recalls. “She might be up as early as four, and I can remember her going into the cold kitchen and standing on a rug by the register where the heat came up, saying her prayers and reading the Bible.

“And if you know how noise carries through those vents, well, her voice would come to me in my bedroom, and that’s just a very special memory.”

Mattson’s sister, Barb Raymond, says Emmanuel Hospice has been helping the family harvest and express those remembrances as they work to make their mother’s final months as comfortable as possible. In return, Bea personally thanks her Emmanuel Hospice care team – by name, when she can – during evening prayer.

One time, she couldn’t quite recall specifically one Emmanuel team member, but knew she was a spiritual caregiver. “The shepherd,” she managed to whisper. In another instance, she couldn’t conjure the name of a therapist who comes with her guitar and harp to sing hymns and more with her. “Bless the ‘music-maker,’” she offered.

Bea Blasingame makes a hand mold with the help of Emmanuel Hospice staff. (courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)

Indeed, music and prayer have always loomed large in Bea’s life. She led songs at her church, sang solos and played the accordion. Her favorite Bible verse is from Psalms: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Losing her husband – whom she married at 17 (she fibbed her age up to 18 on the legal document) – was tough four years ago. COVID made the grieving worse.

When Bea fell ill last winter, her son and four daughters helped her battle back, but eventually, it was decided hospice care would be best. The whole family shares their mother’s gratefulness for Emmanuel Hospice. In addition to providing medical care, the nonprofit has prioritized making space for opportunities to create lasting memories and have joyful experiences as they cherish time together.

“We don’t know where we’d be without Emmanuel,” Mattson says. “I think honestly that God has had a hand in all of this, in having Emmanuel beside us.”

Raymond adds: “We’re just floored with the quality of people at Emmanuel. What they provide is just beyond what any one of us expected.”

To learn more about hospice care, visit EmmanuelHospice.org.

Cool off this summer with the Public Museum’s newest exhibits

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Education, Entertainment, Kent County, Kids Activities, Recreation, , ,
“Ice Age: Michgian’s Frozen Secrets” features how Michigan landscapes looked thousands of years ago. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Public Museum)

By Adam Brown
WKTV Contributor

Have you ever wished to go back in time to the dawn of the Ice Age? Or look at the impacts of snow on a global scale? Now you can, with the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s new exhibits Ice Age: Michigan’s Frozen Secrets and Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact.

What Are the New Exhibits?

Set to run May 20 through Sept. 3, the new exhibits put a unique Michigan spin on global events. In addition, they continue the GRPM’s mission of educating the public through immersive and enriching displays. Of the GRPM’s new additions, Public Museum’s Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations Dustin Tyler noted, “Ice Age: Michigan’s Frozen Secrets and Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact are two incredibly unique and exciting exhibits that we are thrilled to bring to our community. We believe both exhibits will provide visitors with unforgettable educational experiences and inspire curiosity about Michigan’s history and the impact of snow on our environment.”

Ice Age: Michigan’s Frozen Secrets

Ice Age: Michigan’s Frozen Secrets localizes the historical period, focusing on modern-day West Michigan when prehistoric animals dominated the Earth. The exhibit depicts how the landscape looked thousands of years ago, with a chance to interact with some of the area’s native creatures. In addition, patrons can enjoy tactile experiences where they can handle actual fossilized bones and teeth from the era. The available bones come from a selection of a recently discovered mastodon in the Grand Rapids area.

Visitors will be able touch mastodon bones that were found in Grand Rapids. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Public Museum)

In August 2022, mastodon bones were uncovered during a construction dig at the Grand Rapids property of Michael and Courtney Clapp. Wanting to keep the artifacts local and accessible to the public, the Clapps donated their namesake Clapp Family Mastodon to the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The recovered bones form the basis of the Ice Age exhibit. In this fully immersive experience, visitors are encouraged to touch and observe the bones and teeth, connecting them to the life of early humans in the area.

Though designed to supplement material learned in the classroom, Ice Age: Michigan’s Frozen Secrets is geared toward all ages, per GRPM Marketing Manager Sara Olsen. People naturally question what their home state might have looked like in the prehistoric era. This exhibit is designed to answer those burning questions by allowing museumgoers to physically interact with what came before.

Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact 

Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact takes the opposite route, looking at snow globally and how it impacts worldwide climate systems. No matter where we live, snow impacts us all. In this exhibit, patrons can examine all the ways this natural weather phenomenon affects the globe.

“Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact” will look at how snow impacts worldwide climate systems. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Public Museum)

While new to the GRPM, Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact was initially developed by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland, Oregon. Like the GRPM, the OMSI is devoted to fostering learning and curiosity in its visitors through interactive experiments, exhibits, and demonstrations for a younger, school-age demographic.

In Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact, guests answer one fundamental question. What is snow? An immersive digital snowstorm enables visitors to interact with snow crystals, examining how each is truly unique. While all ages may enjoy the exhibit, the tactile games make the experience especially rewarding for the younger crowd by allowing them to take an interactive role in the process, per Olson. Guests can also listen to oral histories about snow from elders and culture leaders of the Inupiaq tribes to supplement the interactive game. These elements seek to educate the public about the importance of snow in the worldwide climate system and how each tiny crystal has a global impact.

Despite differing scopes and content, the GRPM designed Ice Age: Michigan’s Frozen Secrets and Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact to work in tandem with one another. Both offer glimpses into climate and weather patterns over time and allow patrons to interact with those patterns while building an understanding of the world around them.

 

Guests who purchase general admission tickets to the GRPM between May 20 and Sept. 3 can participate in the new exhibits, with free admission for those 17 and under. In addition, members can receive early access to the exhibits through an exclusive members only preview. Those interested may find information on museum hours and ticket prices at the GRPM’s official website.

Kentwood, Wyoming show off their big trucks during Public Works open houses

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , ,

By Tessa Schulz
WKTV Contributor

You might be able to climb into this truck during the Wyoming Department of Public Works’ open house on Monday, May 15. (WKTV/Tessa Schulz)

Have you ever looked outside on a snowy day, sipping a hot chocolate while flurries blow through the frosty air? On wintry days plow trucks keep us safe by providing salt for the streets and scraping snow from the roads.

The Public Works team is here for many seasons, whether it is the icy winter, leafy fall, or road construction.

 

The Wyoming Department of Public Works is hosting an open house this Monday, May 15, from 5-8 p.m. at the Public Works Facility located at 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW to educate the community on who they are and what they do.

The Kentwood Department of Public Works will be hosting its public works open house Thursday, May 18, 4-7 p.m. at the Kentwood Department of Public Works facility, 5068 Breton Ave. SE. The event is a joint venture with th eKent County

Both events are an early celebration of Public Works Week, May 21-27, which celebrates how public works connects a community through service and infrastructure.

Public Work professionals include engineers, public service, traffic, and fleet service workers. The Kentwood and Wyoming teams provide construction, maintenance, and repairs for streets, sidewalks, waterlines, sewer systems, traffic signs, city vehicles, and equipment.

During the events, community members will meet the public works team, check out demonstrations and climb into a public works vehicle.

Wyoming Public Works Day

“It’s a fun way to show off what we do for the city,” said Jay VanDyke, Wyoming Public Works assistant director. “It’s a great way for the community to come and meet the team who largely works behind the scenes. It’s a hands-on learning opportunity. It has something for every age. Many people never really grow tired of being fascinated by some of this larger equipment.”

The Wyoming open house will feature equipment, including a hydro excavator, dump truck, salt truck, boom truck, and street sweeper. In addition, guests may play games (hammer toss or Plinko) to win prizes or explore booths and displays, including the sewer jet flusher.

The Wyoming open house will serve hot dogs, chips, popsicles, and refreshments. In previous years, several hundred residents attended the city’s open houses.

“We hope that people walk away with a better understanding of the various responsibilities we have at the Public Works Department and the services we provide,” VanDyke said. “Some of these services include providing everyone clean, safe drinking water and a reliable, efficient sewer system. The nice thing about a reliable, efficient sewer system is if you never have to think about it, it’s working great!”

Kentwood Public Works Day

The Kentwood event will have hands-on activities, maintenance and repair demonstrations, and giveaways. All guests may take home free red maple and river birch tree seedlings. In addition, the event will have complimentary food and refreshments.

The Kentwood Department of Public Works will host an open house with the Kent County Road Commission on Thursday, May 18. (Supplied)

Semifinalists and finalists of the Work Zone Safety Poster competition will be recognized at 5:30 p.m. Sponsored by Kent County Road Commission and public works agencies throughout Kent County, the poster contest invited third-graders from across the county to design a caution sign focused on safety tips for driving through a work zone. A gallery of entries will be displayed during the event.

“The Kentwood Department of Public Works supports many aspects of our residents’ daily lives, from plowing roads to maintaining trails to repairing public safety vehicles,” Public Works Director Chad Griffin said. “We’re looking forward to connecting with the community to share more about what we do and display some of the equipment we use to get the job done.”

The Kent County Road Commission will also have team members and equipment on-site to share more about the department’s role in the community.

“Our team works collaboratively with public works departments throughout the county to serve residents by keeping roads safe,” said Steve Warren, managing director of the Kent County Road Commission. “We are excited to connect with community members and share more about our dedication to maintaining public infrastructure.”

 

The Kentwood Department of Public Works has five divisions that work together to maintain the City’s infrastructure, which includes more than 150 miles of pipes underground and more than 155 miles of streets above ground, as well as parks and grounds, buildings and vehicles. The five divisions are building maintenance, fleet services, grounds maintenance, streets maintenance and utilities (water and wastewater) services. To learn more about Kentwood DPW, visit kentwood.us/DPW.

The Rapid moves to being greener while expanding its route

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The Rapid is going green with EPA-certified renewable natural gas from the City of Grand Rapids’ biodigester. (Supplied)

The Rapid is moving to become more green with renewable natural gas (RNG) while expanding its routes to aid in employment opportunities.

In April, The Rapid announced it has begun receiving EPA-certified renewable natural gas from the City of Grand Rapids’ biodigester, which is a major milestone in a multi-year effort to create a partnership that upholds a shared commitment to sustainability.

“The partnership speaks to innovative ways that local governments can work with regional partners and support their sustainability goals while also reinforcing the City’s commitment to building a safe and healthy community,” said James Hurt, Grand Rapids’ managing director of Public Services.

The Rapid has been working to transition its bus fleet away from diesel fuel to lower-emission potions since 2017, and the new partnership will create a renewable fuel source captures methane from the decomposition process, converting it into usable vehicle fuel and redirecting the waste away from local landfills.

 

“We’re fueling a cleaner fleet and significantly reducing our carbon footprint,” said Deb Prato, CEO of The Rapid. “This innovative partnership represents the creativity and collaboration that is necessary to develop strategies across multiple sectors to create better outcomes for the climate and the community.”

RNG fuel is considered carbon-negative, producing the lowest carbon intensity of any on-road vehicle fuel. The Rapid will be able to utilize this fuel immediately in the fleet without the need for massive infrastructure changes or investments.

The Rapid’s fleet currently consists of 133 buses, 102 of which will have the capacity to run fully on RNG. Diesel buses will continue to be retired and replaced by RNG vehicles, in a continued effort to reach zero emissions by 2023.

Starting this week, The Rapid announced its Route 8 Prairie/Rivertown will now have two weekday trips serving Michigan Turkey Producers.

 

“Our diverse workforce represents a large community of people in West Michigan with a wide range of transportation needs,” said MaryAnne McCaffrey, Vice President of Human Resources at Michigan Turkey Producers. “A stop at our location will ensure a safe and reliable commute for our employees.”

 

Route 8 will have two weekday trips, the first trip departing from Rapid Central Station at 6:45 a.m. and the second trip departing from Michigan Turkey at 4:58 p.m. The 6:45 a.m. trip will follow its regular route to Rivertown, continuing to Michigan Turkey Producers on Chicago Drive. The 4:58 p.m. trip will take a left on Burlingame and travel directly to Michigan Turkey Producers, before returning to Godfrey and then to Rapid Central Station. All previous stops along Route 8 will continue to be served.

“We are dedicated to improving the lives of our community across the six cities by offering reliable transportation options that improve access to employment opportunities and effectively remove barriers,” said Deb Prato, CEO of The Rapid. 

Wyoming investigates crash, Sheriff recovers stolen vechiles

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Crime Prevention, Kent County, , , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Wyoming

On May 9, at approximately 7:30 a.m., police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety and Grandville Police responded to the area of 28th Street near Clydon Avenue on a report of a head-on collision involving two vehicles.

When officers arrived they located two patients, an unresponsive 7-year-old female and a 31-year-old male both with serious injuries. The uninjured driver remained at the scene to speak with police. the injuries driver and child were both transported to an area hospital in critical condition.

The Wyoming Department of Public Safety’s Accident Investigation and Forensic Services Units are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.

Kent County Sheriff’s Department

At 2:30 a.m. this morning, a homeowner called 911 stating three suspects were checking car doors in the neighborhood along South Park Drive SW. Deputies arrived in the area and located the vehicle described by the homeowner and attempted to stop it. The vehicle fled from deputies but ran over spike strips just down the road. A pursuit continued up Kalamazoo Avenue nail the driver lost control and came to a stop along Kalamazoo Avenue near 52nd Street.

One occupant ran away and a second was arrested in the vehicle. The vehicle itself was stolen form Plainfield Township on May 3. Inside the deputies located two pistols along with cash and other items stolen from vehicles. An 18-year-old Grand Rapids man was arrested on charges related to the case. The other suspect remains outstanding.

This follow a similar incident Monday morning in Byron Township. At 6 a.m., KCSO dispatch received multiple calls of suspects breaking int o cars in the area of Marshwood Court SW. Two vehicles fled from deputies, which were later found at 68th Street and Clyde Park Avenue. As deputies closed in they located four suspects running form the cars, who were all apprehended (ages 15, 16, and two 17-year-old males from Grand Rapids). Three stolen vehicles in total were recovered.

According to a statement released by the Kent County Sheriff’s Department “We continue to see the brazen action of these suspects continue. Please keep your firearms, keys, and cash out of your vehicles. All areas of Kent County are being targeted.”

Meet Ray, an advocate for special needs pets

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Pets/Animals, , ,

By Janet Vormittag
WKTV Contributor

Fig and Friends founder Julie Beukema with Ray (courtesy, Janet Vormittag)

Julie Beukema monitors Michigan Urgent Cats on Facebook, where cats in desperate circumstances are posted with the hope someone can assist. Last November, she spotted a listing regarding a tiny kitten with infected eyes and knew she had to help. A volunteer drove the six-week-old kitten from the Detroit area to Grand Rapids.

Beukema is the founder of Fig and Friends Pet Rescue, a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit that relies on foster homes, volunteers and donations. The rescue takes in owner surrendered pets as well as cats and dogs from crowded shelters. The nonprofit works closely with the Calhoun County Animal Center and shelters in Southeast Michigan.

When the black and white kitten was delivered to Beukema, he was immediately rushed to a veterinarian. The diagnosis wasn’t good—both eyes were ruptured and tissue was becoming necrotic. Surgery to remove the eyes was recommended.

Other than his eyes, the one-pound kitten was healthy and purred up a storm.

“We felt we had to give him a chance,” Beukema said.

The total vet bill for Ray including surgery followup, neuter, vaccines, and microchip was close to $2,000. A Facebook fundraiser was created.

Ray, the Entertainer

Beukema named the longhaired kitten Ray Charles after the blind singer. Being blind didn’t hinder the entertainer and it hasn’t hampered his namesake.

“He’s the most social and curious kitten I’ve ever seen,” Beukema said.

At first glance, Ray’s missing eyes are not noticeable as the fur on his face is black. (Courtesy, Janet Vormittag)

At first glance, Ray’s missing eyes aren’t noticeable. The fur on most of his face is black and his longhair gives him a shaggy look as if his eyes are merely hidden.

Ray is now seven-months-old and is the official greeter at the Happy Cat Café, 447 S. Division Ave. Beukema recently partnered with the café, where cats from Figs and Friends are featured in the café’s adoption room.

Happy Cat Café has collaborated with numerous rescues since they opened and have adopted out close to 700 cats.

The Socialite

Ray is not available for adoption. He had been adopted, but allergies forced his return. Beukema then decided to adopt him herself. Because the blind kitten was so social, she thought to try him at the café. It turned out to be a good fit.

Ray is thriving at the café. He interacts with people, plays with toys and was the first cat to figure out how to run on an exercise wheel — picture a carpeted, four-foot tall hamster wheel.

Ray navigates through sound, scents and his whiskers. He chases and bats around toys like any sighted cat and leaves guests in the cat room amazed at his abilities.

 “He’s doing phenomenal. He’s an advocate for special needs cats,” Beukema said. She added if she ever notices Ray isn’t enjoying himself at the café, she’ll bring him home.

Janet Vormittag started Cats and Dogs, a Magazine Devoted to Companion Animals in 2006 as a monthly publication. It’s geared towards West Michigan readers and features pet-related advertisers, animals available for adoption, and articles about animal rescues and pets. In 2018, Cats and Dogs transitioned to a quarterly publication. The print edition is free and can be found at local libraries and businesses.

Circle Theatre spells success with its opening production

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By Colleen Pierson
WKTV Contributor

Circle Theatre presents the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” through May 20. (Courtesy, Circle Theatre)

How do you spell S-U-C-C-E-S-S?  One only has to be in the audience for Circle’s musical comedy to find out. The season opener is successful with tremendous audience appeal, superior talent, innovative staging and musical delights.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee follows six nerdy and eclectic tweens who are definitely quirky, interesting and share their life stories with effortless humor and emotion.  It’s a small cast with big voices.

  

“What is the language of origins?”  “Can you use that in a sentence?”  “What’s the definition please?” These phrases take us back to some of the spelling bees of our school days. But what is the most memorable are the life stories of every cast member. The stories emotionally connect us throughout.

Kudos to co-directors Chris and Jenna Grooms for directing what seem to be young characters, but has a cast of all ages portraying that specific age group. They all try to spell their way through words like “capybara,” qaymaqam” “Cystitis” and other words I have never heard of.

Who will win the spelling championship of a lifetime? Audience members are on the edge of their seats just waiting to find out. There is no intermission which just adds to the suspense of the plot.

The show was a winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book. Well-deserved as the jokes, storylines, and content are relatable, emotional, funny and as clever as the characters themselves.

 

Zachary Avery, in the role of Leaf, doesn’t know how to spell, but when he goes into a trance, the results are correct and humorous. (Courtesy, Circle Theatre)

Another interesting aspect of the show is four audience members are called upon to compete in the bee. This provides an audience immersion delight and tests the casts’ improvisational techniques.

 

Each cast member has their own unique way of competing to win the spelling bee. Braden Bacon, portraying the role of Barfee, spells the word out on the ground with his foot. He gets the visual and then speaks it. Zachary Avery, in the role of Leaf, doesn’t know how to spell, but when he goes into a trance, the results are correct and humorous.

Usually there are stand out performers in musicals. This cast are all stand outs. Impeccable comedic timing, excellent voice and diction skills, in depth characterizations and gifted singers make this show one of the best I have seen in a long time.

Choreographer Mary Lohman and Music Director Scott Patrick Bell should also be commended on their creative efforts and in-depth talents.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee runs at Circle Theatre through May 20. Tickets and information available at circletheatre.org.  The show runs May 4-6, 10-14 and 17-20, with May 14 being a matinee showing. Tickets are available for $26 – $30 at circletheatre.org. This season, Circle Theatre will present “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Blithe Spirit,” “Pippin,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”  Definitely a winning season and one that we have just come to expect from Circle Theater.

Area school districts get individual proposals approved

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Education, Election, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

Along with the passage of the Wyoming Public Safety millage, districts in and around the cities of Wyoming and Kenwood also had positive outcomes on individual ballot proposals.

Kelloggsville Public Schools – non-residential operating millage

Kelloggsville Public Schools, which is in both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, was seeking a renewal of its non-residential (non-homestead) operating millage, would generates about $3.7 million or 13% of the district’s annual operating budget. The request was renewed for two more years with 544 to 340 in favor.

Kelloggsville Public Schools’ non-residential millage request was approved by voters for another two years.(WKTV)

“On behalf of the Board of Education, Kelloggsville Administration, and all of our staff members, we sincerely thank you for supporting this millage,” said Kelloggsville Assistant Superintendent Eric Alcorn to a letter to the community. “Your support demonstrates a commitment to our schools and the education of our students. We are fortunate to have such dedicated staff and community members who value education and understand the importance of investing in our schools.”

The money will be used for the day-to-day operations of the Kelloggsville schools such as staffing costs, instructional programs, instructional materials, transport and maintenance. 

Grandville Public Schools – non-residential operating millage

Grandville Public Schools, which includes the Wyoming panhandle, also was seeking a renewal of its non-residential (non-homestead) operating millages. The proposal was for the 18-mills on non-homestead property plus one additional mlll, for a total of 19 mills, for four years.

GPS has had a “Headlee Rollback” for the past seven years, with its millage now 16.8 mills. The additional mill will offset up to one mill of Headlee Rollback and make up the different over the four years to keep the district as close to 18 mills as possible.

The proposal passed 3,422 to 2,112.

Caledonia Community Schools – supplement bond proposal

Caledonia Community Schools’ supplemental bond proposal for $61 million pasted by a small margin, 2,790 to 2,715. The funding will be used to complete the 2020 vision that voters approved a bond issue on in that same year. Due to construction costs, the district needed to seek the supplemental bond issue.

The funding will be used for construction of a new Dutton Elementary, football stadium renovations, repairing roofs, upgrading parking lots, and providing parking and youth athletic fields at Calplex.

“We want to thank the voters in our community for supporting this bond proposal,” said Dr. Dedrick Martin, superintendent of Caledonia Community Schools. “Our continued investment in our schools will help Caledonia stay competitive and enable our students to receive real-world, hands-on experiences in upgraded facilities so they can better compete in the global marketplace.” 

The Caledonia School Bond, which is located south of the City of Kentwood, will not raise tax rates for residents. It is a fiscally responsible investment in which all funds will be available on CCS’ website to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and transparently. All bond funds will be subject to regular independent audits to promote accountability and the best fiscal practices. 

Wyoming voters pass public safety millage

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Hard News, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

Left, Mayor Kent Vanderwood and Chief Kim Koster, chat in front of the city’s retired aerial fire truck. Through the millage that was passed Tuesday, the city will be able to purchase a new one. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

Wyoming Public Safety Chief Kim Koster admits there is a lot of work ahead for her department — postings, recruiting, and the purchase of a new fire truck — and it’s thanks to the city’s residents who by 64% approved a public safety proposal on Tuesday.

“I’m extremely grateful to our community for their support,” Koster said during a press conference at the city’s Division Avenue Fire Station. “They really looked forward and could see how an increase in personnel would have an impact on community safety.

She added that this is especially true for the fireside as increased personnel will help decrease response times and allow the city to fully staff its Division Avenue fire station, which has never been open on a regular basis.

Voters showed their support

In a vote of 4,987 to 2,803, Wyoming voters approved a 1.5 mill increase that would be dedicated to the public safety department. The millage would raise about $4 million annually allowing the city to maintain 17 public safety positions and add 10 more. 

“I believe the key this time around is that we kept the message very simple,” said Mayor Kent Vanderwood, who recited his slogan throughout the campaign. “Ask the residents for only what is needed and for no longer than needed.”

Vanderwood said the city asked for the right amount making it clear it would be dedicated to the public safety department for staffing and the purchase of needed equipment. He also felt putting a time frame of five years on the millage gives residents the control over whether they see the need or not to continue with the millage. Vanderwood added that the five years gives the city time to explore other options for funding.

“I am grateful to the business community who came forward and supported this,” Vanderwood said. In fact many, such as the 36th Street Palermo Pizza, handed informational flyers.

As the vote rolled in on Tuesday, Vanderwood said the tallies came in two groups. The first was the absentee voters, which were around 4,800. Absentee ballots showed 68% in support of the millage.

 

A total of 7,700 of the city’s approximate 58,000 registered voters cast a vote in Tuesday’s election. This is about 15% of the city’s registered voters, which is on par for the entire county and usually the percentage for a May election.

Remodeling and Recruiting

The press conference was in front of the 1994 aerial fire truck that has been out of commission for about a year and half, Koster said. Through the new bond proposal, the city will purchase a new aerial truck, which she noted is needed as the city has more multi-floor buildings along with allowing firefighters to safely reach the roof of a home during a fire. Since the trucks are made to specifications, it will take about a year for the new truck to arrive.

Through the millage and for the first time in the city’s history, the city’s Division Avenue Fire Station will be fully staffed. This summer it will be renovated and updated. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

Koster said postings for six fire positions went out the day after the election and that they will begin recruiting for the four police officer positions. Because it does take time to find the right candidates, Koster said they hope to have some of the positions filled by fall.

Through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the Division Avenue Fire Station will be remodeled which will include five bunk rooms for staff along with other updates. The station was primarily operated by volunteer/paid-on call and does not currently have sleeping quarters. This remodeling is scheduled to take place this summer, Koster said.

“I can only echo what the mayor and Chief Koster have said in that we are grateful to the community and we will follow through on the commitments we have made,” said Interim City Manager John McCarter.

The Spring Nature Makers Market returns to Blandford

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Solistice Handmade by Dayna Walton (Courtesy, Blandford Nature Center)

The annual Spring Nature Makers Market at Blandford Nature Center returns this weekend, running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Blandford Nature Center, 1715 Hillburn Ave. NW.

The Nature Makers Market highlights local artists and vendors from the Grand Rapids area who create products inspired by nature or use natural, sustainable materials. This year’s spring market will feature 25 local artists who will be selling textiles, prints, ceramics, glassworks, jewelry, stationery, stickers, and more. There will be a variety of styles and a wide selection of items available — all of which are created with nature in mind.

Vendors include: Jillian Braid Stained Glass, Jewel of the Forest, Birds of the Air Gifts, Red Hydrant Press, Querkus Creative, Runaway Press, Smiling Bird Studio, Knot Ur Mothers Macrame, Wildship Studio, Lucky Shoe Arts Collective, Busy Hands Studio, Nature Walk, Ghost Forest Resin Works, Silverthorn Pottery, J6R6 LLC, Redbriar Studio, My Lovely Muse, Sue Van Dame Jewelry, E-Scape Art Glass, PsyanoForest Cyanotype Studio, Solstice Handmade, Gathered Botanicals, Wendy Erin Withrow, and Honeydew Wood Working.

“We’re so happy to be hosting another Spring Nature Makers Market just in time for Mother’s Day,” said Camilla Voelker, community programs coordinator at Blandford Nature Center. “But whether you’ll be celebrating the holiday or not, this is a great opportunity for our community to connect with local artists and appreciate the natural world.”

Shopping will include the Blandford Nature Center Gift Shop, where guests can purchase limited edition Wildlife T-shirts with all proceeds going towards supporting more than 40 rehabilitated wildlife ambassadors. Visitors can also check out the R.B Stilwill Blacksmith Shop and request custom projects from Blandford’s volunteer blacksmith, Lori Beck. Coffee from Lazy Dazy Coffee Camper will be available for purchase for guests to enjoy while shopping.

Admission to the Nature Makers Market is free and no registration is required to attend. Visitors can learn more about the vendors and see a preview of what might be available by visiting Blandford’s Community Calendar at: www.blandfordnaturecenter.org

Long distance bus lines expand in Grand Rapids

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Business, Travel, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

Within only a couple of months of an announcement that long distance bus service would be available from Grand Rapids, offerings have expanded.

FlixBus just added routes for Muskegon and Chicago. (Courtesy, FlixBus)

FlixBus, which was the first to announce it would be expanding its long distance service to Grand Rapids. Since that expansion in March, which was a route to and from Detroit with a stop in East Lansing, FlixBus has added routes for Muskegon and Chicago.

The Muskegon route will run five days a week, excluding Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Morning trips will depart from Detroit at 10 a.m. and afternoon trips will depart from Grand Rapids at 3:20 p.m. The Muskegon stop is at the Muskegon Laundromat, 1490 E. Apple Ave.

 

The Muskegon route will include stops in Grand Rapids (downtown), at the downtown Burger King, 410 Pearl St. NW, near the downtown YMCA; Grand Rapids (East) at the Cascade Meijer, 5531 28th St. Ct. SE; East Lansing, near the Frandor Shopping Centers; and the final stop is Detroit at Grand Circus Park, 501 Park Ave.

This month, FlixBus also including a Chicago Route that will start and stop in East Lansing and stoping at both the Grand Rapids downtown and Grand Rapids east locations. The northbound scheduled will leave from Chicago at 9:30 a.m. from the Chicago Bus Station, 630 West Harrison St., Chicago. It will stop at 1:45 p.m. at Grand Rapids downtown and 2:10 p.m. at Grand Rapids east. IT will conclude in East Lansing at 3:25 p.m.

The southbound trip will leave from East Grand Rapids at 4:30 p.m., stopping at Grand Raids east at 5:40 p.m., Grand Rapids downtown at 6:05 p.m., and arriving in Chicago at 8:25 p.m.

Tickets for the routes range from $29.99 to $13.99 depending on departure and length. For more about the new FlixBus line and tickets, visit FlixBus.com or the FlixBus app

Megabus

In April, Megabus, an intercity bus service of Coach USA/Coach Canada, and Indian Trails, a family owned transportation company based in Michigan, announced a partnership to offer daily trips to 26 locations from the City of Grand Rapids.

In April. Megabus announced it would be connecting Grand Rapids to 26 Michigan cities. (Courtesy, Megabus)

Operating from the Grand Rapids Rail Station at 440 Centre Ave., Megabus will be stopping at cities such as Benton Harbor, Big Rapids, Cedar Springs, Detroit, East Lansing, Flint, Holland, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Mackinaw City, Petoskey, Reed City, Rockford, South Haven and Traverse City.

 

Tickets range from $14 to $53 depending on destination. A complete list of cities and schedules are available at us.megabus.com.

The Joe Show must go on, but new camera operator needed to make it happen

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Health, Non-Profits, ,
WKTV volunteer Joe DeJong has been the host of The Joe Show for the past three years. He is now looking for an assistant to help operate the camera and edit his show. (WKTV)

Editor’s Note: This story ran previously. The current producer needed to step away with The Joe Show now searching for a new camera operator/producer. If you are interested, contact WKTV Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma at joanne@wktv.org or call the office 616-261-5700.

By Sheila McGrath
WKTV Contributing Writer

Joe DeJong is not a guy who gives up easily.

For the past three years, DeJong has hosted a podcast called The Joe Show – Connecting All Abilities, which airs on WKTV and can also be found on Apple Podcasts and WKTV’s The Whole Picture Podcasts Facebook page.

The podcast discusses many issues around living with a disability, including ways the community can be more inclusive, as well as the dreams, needs and goals of people with disabilities.

But DeJong, who is blind, has been unable to produce new episodes of the show for the past few months because he lost his camera operator.

Joe DeJong with Erin App, the choir director for the Action Choir. (WKTV)

Now, he’s looking for a new camera person who can also provide transportation to the WKTV studio in Wyoming and help him line up guests.

“I can’t run the cameras because of my visual impairment. I can’t do it myself,” he said. “It’s disappointing to me to not be doing the show right now, but I’m a very patient person. I’m willing to wait until I can get somebody.”

DeJong, 28, has hosted 40 episodes of The Joe Show, featuring guests from the Special Olympics, the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Center, Disability Advocates of Kent County and many more. State Rep. Tommy Brann was a guest on one of his early podcasts in 2020.

DeJong has many ideas for where he’d like to take the show, but first, he needs to find someone to help run the camera.

Hiring the new person would be facilitated through GT Independence, a service that helps people with disabilities hire community-based caregivers of their choosing.

In addition to running the camera and providing transportation to and from the studio, DeJong envisions that the new assistant would also help him narrow down possible guests for the show by researching people and businesses that would be a good fit. DeJong would make the phone calls to book the guests, he said.

The time commitment would be a few hours a week, including driving to and from the studio, setting up and taping the half-hour show, and doing a little additional research to find guests.

Joe DeJong said he hopes to keep his show about abilities running but needs an assistance to do so. (WKTV)

“If we can find someone, then we can go from there, and give them the training on how to work the camera,” he said.

“I’m a guy that’s going to keep punching and keep advocating and keep fighting,” he said. “I’m not quitting.”

Anyone interested in working with DeJong on the show may contact him through WKTV at 616-261-5700 or by emailing WKTV Managing Editor, Joanne Bailey-Boorsma at joanne@wktv.org.

More information about GT Independence is online at gtindependence.com, or they can be reached by phone at 1-877-659-4500.  

Victims of crime remembered at candlelight vigil

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming,

By McKenna Peariso
WKTV Contributor

Community members gathered outside the 63rd District Court, 1950 E. Beltline NE., on the evening of Thursday, April 27, to honor and remember those killed by violent crime.

The candlelight vigil is an annual event hosted by the Kent County Victim Witness unit and public safety organization Silent Observer. It is a part of National Crime Victims’ Rights week.

Many groups in attendance wore T-shirts and carried posters bearing the names of loved ones lost due to violence. Photos of victims were also displayed on dozens of placards surrounding the courthouse.

Speakers at the event included local law enforcement, victims’ rights advocates and community members who have been affected by crime. Grand Rapids resident Jerline Riley, who lost her son to homicide, prayed for peace and safety in the community. All were in agreement that the violence must stop.

“No more victims,” said Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker. “Too many families have gone through just absolute horror.”

More than 130 names of crime victims were read allowed at the community vigil, a bell tolling for each and every one. Several more names were added by people in attendance.

Families of victims were thanked by speakers for their continued determination to get justice for their loved ones. And reminded that efforts to keep the memory of victims’ alive make a real difference.

“I’m so inspired to see all of you once again standing up for your family,” said Becker. “Don’t let it end here today. Go out, be an advocate. Talk to your legislators, talk to your neighbors. Spread the word.”

This year Silent Observer marks 50 years of aiding police through anonymous tips. Silent Observer promises those wishing to report information on a serious crime can do so without having to reveal their identity. The organization promotes strong community responses to crime to ensure victims receive both respect and justice.

“It doesn’t matter what the crime is, there is always a victim associated with that crime,” said Chris Cameron, former Executive Director of Silent Observer. “Silent Observer’s mission is all about removing dangerous criminals from our streets and helping victims of crime see justice.”

Anyone who has witnessed a crime can submit tips anonymously by phone at 616-774-2345, or online.

Residents come out in support of Wyoming’s public safety millage

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Hard News,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

Residents and community leaders show their support of the Wyoming public safety millage which is on Tuesday’s ballot. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

A group of Wyoming residents and community leaders came together on Sunday to show their support of the city’s public safety millage, which is on Tuesday’s ballot.

The city is seeking a millage of 1.5 mills for a period of five years. If approved, the millage would generate an additional $4 million in revenue each year. The revenue would help fund 27 public safety positions, 14 police officers and 13 fire fighters.

“I don’t know what would have happened if we hadn’t had Wyoming PD and Wyoming fire department there, because neither my husband or I had the tools nor did we have the expertise that the first responders did and that is something that I will forever be grateful for,” said Wyoming resident Lauren Gohlke, whose son Emmett suffered from a silent reflux instance on Jan. 10, 2022 that caused him to stop breathing.  Through the first responders quick response, they were able to revive the infant.

Only a few days later, on Jan. 25, 2022, Lisa Postema received a call from her neighbor that her family home at 5335 Canal St. SW, where the press conference was at, was on fire. 

A picture of 5335 Canal Avenue sits in front of the remains of the building. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

“There was a snowstorm going, so driving home was crazy,” Postema said, adding that her brother was home at the time of the fire and was able to get the slider open so her animals, a cat and two dogs, could escape safely. “I actually found the cat a few days later in our barn. We thought we had lost him but he was there. His whiskers were all burned off but he was OK.”

 The house had been built in 1968 and Postema remembers the family moving in when she was 9-years-old. The family was getting ready to sell the home when the fire broke out. It was determined that the electrical wiring was the cause of the fire.

Originally only the Wyoming Department of Public Safety was called that day in the early morning hours, but due to the fact the house was fully engulfed, fire departments from Grandville, Byron Center and Georgetown were also called.  In 2020, the City of Wyoming had to rely on assistance from neighboring communities 140 times because the department’s staff was on other calls. In a Kentwood Fire Department’s 2022 Fire Report, under the mutual aid section, Kentwood responded to mutual aid calls in Wyoming 50 times, while Wyoming responded to mutual aid calls in Kentwood twice.

“Our public safety department is operating with fewer individuals than they were in 2000 and our population has grown 10 percent,” said Mayor Kent Vanderwood at the press conference, which was hosted by the Safe Wyoming Coalition. According to statistics, the City of Wyoming has 1.3 police  officers for every 1,000 residents with the national average being 2.4 officers for every 1,000.

 

In 2022, Wyoming police investigative department was assigned 3,583 cases and the patrol division responded to 46,486 which included 2,005 traffic accidents. The Wyoming fire department responded to 7,090 incidents in 2022, which average 645 incidents per firefighter, Vanderwood said. Calls for service have increased by 8 % with the current average emergency response time being 5.16 minutes, he said.

“I am here today to remind us just how valuable and important it is to have fire and police available in less time,” said Pastor Rick Pilieci for Grace University and who serves as the public safety department’s chaplain. “Being the chaplain, I have been able to do ride alongs for the last five and half years and each of those ride longs I am just amazed to see how much need we have in our community.

“Quite often, we will find fire and police at the same scene. I have witnessed first-hand lives being saved right before my eyes and I have witnessed also where we were just a few minutes too late where something had happened.”

Vanderwood said that the funding would provide for 27 positions, help decrease response times, dedicated safety patrols, and would allow the city to staff all four of its fire stations. Currently only two are staffed full-time.

For more about the millage, visit wyomingmi.gov/millage.

Wyoming’s carnival set to open on Friday

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Food, Non-Profits, Recreation,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

There will be a number of carnival rides and food offerings at the Wyoming Spring Carnival. (Supplied)

This Friday is the official kick off of activities in the City of Wyoming as city’s annual Spring Carnival returns for 10 days.

“This kicks off the season for us,” said Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director Krashawn Martin. “The carnival is the start of our events such as the concerts and we have some pop-up activities planned for July.

“So here is to beautiful weather and smooth sailing into summer for Wyoming.”

The carnival runs April 28 through May 7 at the Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. Hours are from 4 – 8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 2-8:30 p.m. Friday and noon-8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The carnival is free however there is a cost for rides and food. At the city’s website, there is a coupon for $3 off an unlimited ride wristband.

 

“This is usually the first event for TJ Schmidt & Company, which runs the carnival,” Martin said. “They always have some fun and new rides and this is the opportunity to explore them. I am not sure exactly what they will be, so people will have to come see for themselves.”

A staple in the city city for more than 30 years, proceeds from the carnival support City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation services and the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance or GWCRA. Funds raised support youth scholarships and youth and family programming through the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department. The GWCRA distributes funds to the community its through annual grant awarding process.

Last year, the carnival raised around $15,000.

The Spring Carnival is weather dependent and before attending residents should check with the Wyoming Department of Parks and Recreation’s Facebook page for updates on the carnival.

 

The Spring Carnival is made possible through the work of the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation and TJ Schmidt & Company. For more information about the carnival, contact the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department at 616-530-3164. 

How to manage the transition into retirement

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Finances, Senior Living, , ,

By Dave Stanley
Integrity Financial Service, LLC

Pxhere.com

Retirement can be a time of great joy and relaxation, but it can also be a time of stress and anxiety. Transitioning from working life to retirement can be challenging, and the loss of routine, identity, and social connections can be difficult to navigate. Moreover, retirement can bring new financial and health-related concerns, adding to many retirees’ stress.

One of the main sources of stress in retirement is financial uncertainty. Many retirees worry about whether they have saved enough money to support themselves in retirement and fear running out of money before the end of their lives. This fear can lead to anxiety and can make it difficult for retirees to enjoy their retirement years. Moreover, unexpected expenses, such as medical bills or home repairs, can further exacerbate financial stress and add to retirees’ worries.

Retirement can also bring changes to social connections, which can be stressful for many people. Retirees may miss their daily interactions with colleagues and feel disconnected from the workplace and the sense of purpose that work provides. Moreover, retirement can lead to changes in relationships with family and friends, as retirees may find that they have more time on their hands than their loved ones do.

In addition to these social and financial concerns, retirement can also be stressful from a health perspective. As people age, they may face new health challenges, such as chronic illness, that can impact their quality of life and add to their stress levels. Furthermore, retirement can lead to a more sedentary lifestyle, which can contribute to a decline in physical and mental health.

There are several strategies that retirees can use to manage stress and navigate the transition to retirement more smoothly. One of the most important is to maintain a sense of purpose and engagement in life. Retirees can find new hobbies or interests, volunteer, or take on part-time work to stay engaged and connected to others. This can help alleviate the sense of loss and disconnection that many retirees feel.

Another strategy is to stay socially connected. Retirees can stay in touch with former colleagues, join social clubs or groups, or participate in community activities to maintain a sense of connection and purpose. This can help prevent social isolation and loneliness, which can be detrimental to both physical and mental health.

Moreover, retirees can take steps to manage their financial concerns by creating a budget, working with a financial advisor, and exploring different retirement income sources, such as Social Security or annuities. This can help alleviate financial stress and provide a sense of security and stability.

Finally, retirees can take steps to maintain their physical and mental health by staying active, eating well, and seeking medical care when needed. Engaging in regular physical activity can help improve mood, reduce stress, and prevent or manage chronic illness.

In conclusion, retirement can be a time of stress and uncertainty, but there are strategies that retirees can use to manage these challenges and enjoy a fulfilling and healthy retirement. By maintaining a sense of purpose and engagement, staying socially connected, managing finances, and prioritizing physical and mental health, retirees can navigate the transition to retirement more smoothly and enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding retirement.

Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or  Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463  or click this link:  Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.com  Dave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management.

Wyoming’s Arbor Day observance will expand community orchard

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Environment,

By Tessa Schulz
WKTV Contributor

Pictured above is the Beverly Bryan Community Orchard, where the Wyoming event will occur. (Photo, Tree Amigos)

Arbor Day celebrates the gift of trees this Friday, April 28. The holiday is a day dedicated to encouraging individuals to plant trees, which are essential for our ecosystem, are a renewable resource, and offer many benefits to communities.

 

This year, the City of Wyoming Tree Commission, “The Tree Amigos,” is partnering with Wyoming’s West Elementary, 1840 38th St. SW, for its 2023 Arbor Day ceremony set for 10:30 a.m. The event will take place in school’s Beverly Bryan Community Orchard.

West Elementary students will share poetry, art, and songs at the event. The city will plant two fruit trees in the orchard to celebrate Arbor Day.

Mayor Kent Vanderwood, who was ab advocate in establishing the tree commission in 2015, will open the event with the Arbor Day proclamation.

“We are a group of citizen volunteers who want to improve the tree canopy for our city because it is so important to the health of the people that live here,” said Estelle Slootmaker, board member of The Tree Amigos.

The event will also recognize the City of Wyoming’s eighth consecutive year as a part of Tree City USA.

ArborFest celebrations will also occur this weekend, April 28-29, in Grand Rapids. During this event, the community will plant 200 trees and give away 150 in the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood.

Arbor Day originates from the Latin word “arbor,” meaning tree.

 

“Trees are as important to a healthy city as the water supply, the public works department, or the police force. Our job is to educate people so they (trees) are valued, planted, and maintained more,” Slootmaker said.

This holiday has been around for centuries, dating back to 1872 when journalist Julius Morton proposed a day to encourage his fellow Nebraskans to plant trees.

Morton filled his property (160 acres) with trees to enrich the desolate planes of Nebraska. He wrote for the Nebraska City News, where he encouraged community members to learn about the ecological importance of trees.

Morton’s articles resonated with the public. The agriculture board approved his proposal for a holiday, and community members planted more than a million trees on the first Arbor Day.

“We still have a mindset that trees are decorations, but they are so integral to our way of living,” Slootmaker said.

Trees play many roles in our lives. They provide oxygen for us to breathe. They are a renewable resource giving wood and paper. Trees provide fruit for food and are a habitat for wildlife. Trees can reduce air and noise pollution in busy neighborhoods and reduce heating and cooling bills. The benefits of trees extend long past a tree’s lifetime.

“We can reduce the impacts of climate change on neighborhoods. We can improve their air quality and reduce asthma rates,” Slootmaker said. “Trees have been proven to reduce crime and boost our mental health. There are lots of good reasons to plant trees.”

The Tree Amigos needs more board members. It is required to be a Wyoming resident. Any volunteers or inquiries can contact: treeamigoswyoming@gmail.com

Kelloggsville seeks renewal of non-homestead, impacts businesses, second homes

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Hard News, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

The renewal of the 18 mills will support Kelloggsville’s day-to-day operations . (WKTV)

Residents in the Kelloggsville Public School District are being asked to renew the district’s non-residential (non-homestead) operating millage, which would generate about $3.7 million or 13% of the district’s annual operating budget.

“The operating millage provides critical funds to support the day-to-day operations of our schools, including, but not limited to staffing costs, instructional programs, instructional materials, transportation and maintenance,” said Kelloggsville Assistant Superintendent Eric Alcorn.

The proposal would renew taxes on business properties and second homes. It would not cost the owners of a primary residence any additional taxes.

If approved, the proposal would allow the district to continue to levy its full 18 mills and restore millage lost by the reduction required by the Headlee amendment to the Michigan Constitution. 

Headlee Amendment

Passed in 1978, the Headlee Amendment created a process for the reduction of mileage rates (the Headlee Rollback) to ensure that total municipal tax revenue could grow only at the rate of inflation, plus new construction.

In 1994, Michigan voters approved Proposal A that structured public school funding as six mills on all properties and 18 mills on non-residential properties, such as second homes and businesses. Voter approval is required for a district such as Kelloggsville to levy the full 18 mills on non-residential properties.

Failure to authorize the operating millage proposal would decrease Kelloggsville’s state School Aid Foundation allowance by an approximate $3.7 million dollars. The State of Michigan will not replace the lost funding due to a non-approval.

Kelloggsville voters reauthorized the non-homestead millage in 2021 for two years. The May 2 proposal would reauthorize the millage through 2025.

April busy as sheriff office investigates vehicle break ins, arrest five in car chase

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kent County, Our Cities

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

On Tuesday, April 18, between 5 and 6 p.m., three suspects broke into vehicles at Planet Fitness parking lots in Alpine and Byron Townships.  According to witnesses at both fitness centers, the suspects were three younger males with hooded sweatshirts pulled around the face and all three were wearing surgical masks.  The suspects fled in an SUV after breaking into one vehicle along Alpine Avenue and two vehicles along 68th Street.

  

The common theme was the victims left their purses and other property behind in the vehicles while inside Planet Fitness. The suspects smashed out the rear passenger side windows in each vehicle.  Credit cards, cash, and wedding rings were among some of the items stolen and used at area stores in an attempt to make purchases. Some property and a laptop were recovered along US-131 near 44th Street and appeared to have been thrown out of a car window.

 

The KCSO has investigated different rashes of vehicle break-ins that occur throughout the community during the night and daytime hours. As a reminder to the public, remove personal belongings from vehicles or at least lock them in the trunk to hide the items out of sight.

 

Any with information about the break-ins are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 616-632-6125 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 to report information safely and anonymously.

Teens arrested after chase

On April 10 just after 9 p.m., deputies spotted a stolen Kia sedan in the area of 60th Street SE and Kalamazoo Avenue, in the Gaines Township area.

The vehicle fled from officers and due to traffic conditions at the time the pursuit was ended.  Around 1:15 a.m. this morning, another deputy spotted the vehicle traveling along Woodfield Drive SE (Eastern Avenue and 60th Street). The vehicle again fled, however, due to traffic conditions at the time, the pursuit continued west along 60th Street. The vehicle ran over spike strips and turned south on Division Avenue.

  

The vehicle continued to flee along Division and drove behind and around a business. Eventually, the vehicle stopped on Regal Ave, and five teenagers were taken into custody. In the car were two 15-year-old males, two 17-year-old males, and one 16-year-old female all from the Grand Rapids area. The Kia was recently stolen out of Jenison.

This pursuit is an example of what deputies encounter on a regular basis. The Kent County Sheriff has continued to report a significant uptick in stolen cars over the past few years. Dangerous driving, stolen vehicles used in additional crimes, and the young age of the individuals involved are common factors.

This incident remains open and will be reviewed by the prosecutor’s office.  

Will your student loan debt last into retirement?

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Finances, Local Business

By Dave Stanley
Integrity Financial Service, LLC

Pxhere.com

Student loan debt is a growing problem in the United States, with many people struggling to pay off their loans well into their retirement years. According to a report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the number of older Americans with student loan debt has quadrupled over the past decade, with more than two million people aged 60 and over holding student loan debt. This trend has serious implications for older Americans’ financial security and wellbeing.

One of the main challenges facing older Americans with student loan debt is the impact on their retirement savings. Many people who are still paying off student loans may not be able to contribute as much to their retirement savings as they would like, leaving them vulnerable to financial insecurity in retirement. Moreover, some older Americans may have to continue working well into their retirement years to pay off their student loans, which can be physically and emotionally challenging.

Additionally, student loan debt can impact older Americans’ access to credit and other financial products. Many lenders may be reluctant to extend credit to people with high levels of debt, which can limit older Americans’ ability to obtain credit cards, mortgages, and other financial products. This can have serious implications for their ability to purchase homes, cars, and other assets and impact their overall financial wellbeing.

Older Americans with high levels of debt may be more likely to delay or forego medical treatment or other essential services due to financial constraints. This can seriously affect their health and wellbeing and lead to higher healthcare costs in the long run. Moreover, student loan debt can also impact older Americans’ ability to access healthcare and other essential services.

There are several strategies that older Americans with student loan debt can use to manage their debt and protect their financial security. One of the most important is to explore options for loan forgiveness or other forms of relief. Depending on the type of loan and the borrower’s circumstances, loan forgiveness or discharge options may be available, which can help reduce or eliminate the debt burden.

Moreover, older Americans with student loan debt can explore options for refinancing or consolidating their loans. By consolidating their loans, borrowers may be able to obtain a lower interest rate and reduce their monthly payments. Additionally, refinancing may be an option for borrowers with good credit who are able to obtain a lower interest rate.

Another strategy for managing student loan debt is to prioritize payments and create a budget. By prioritizing loan payments and creating a budget, borrowers can better manage their finances and ensure that they are making progress in paying off their debt. Moreover, older Americans can work with financial advisors to explore other strategies for protecting their financial security, such as investing in retirement accounts or exploring other income sources.

In conclusion, student loan debt is a growing problem for older Americans, with serious implications for their financial security and wellbeing. However, there are several strategies that older Americans can use to manage their debt and protect their financial security. By exploring options for loan forgiveness or relief, refinancing or consolidating loans, prioritizing payments, and working with financial advisors, older Americans can better manage their debt and achieve greater financial security and wellbeing in retirement.

Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or  Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463  or click this link:  Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.com  Dave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management.

U-M Health-West shares tips on preventing tick infections

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health,

By Dr. Del DeHart
Infectious Disease Specialist

University of Michigan Health-West

A combination of outdoor activity and warmer weather makes it more likely for residents to be exposed to ticks. (Pxhere.com)

Spring is here, and with warmer weather people are outside much more, which is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately, ticks feel the same way and the combination of outdoor activity and warmer weather makes tick exposure more likely. With National Lyme Disease Awareness Month approaching in May, if you plan to spend time outdoors this spring and summer, there are things you should know about ticks and the diseases they spread.

Exposure risk:

  • Ticks are active from early spring to fall, and they like woodlands and grassy areas
  • Ticks vary in size as they develop over the year
  • While we think of exposure when we are out in the woods or grassy areas, many to most bites occur around our homes
  • Ticks are moving into some areas where they were not common in years past
  • Tick-borne diseases can be regional, so it is helpful to know common ticks or infections in your area
  • Use tick prevention for dogs too

Tick exposures and tick bites:

  • Preventing exposures is the first line of defense
  • When trekking in areas of higher risk wear tight-fitting clothing and tuck pants into socks
  • Check for ticks on clothing and on skin periodically
  • Remove any attached ticks quickly with tweezers
  • If a tick is engorged or has been attached for more than a few hours keep it for possible identification
  • Most common tick-borne infections are not transmitted quickly, but towards the end of the blood meal so early removal is very helpful
  • Rashes and bites may not be in an area where it will be noticed, and bites are often painless

When to seek medical advice:

  • If you develop a rash or fever after a bite or exposure to high risk area
    • In areas with high risk of Lyme disease and clear high-risk tick bite, prophylactic antibiotics may be prescribed
    • Save the tick: If the tick can be identified it can help with identifying specific infection risk. Tick identification can be helpful, but testing the tick for pathogens is a waste of money and time
      • Many commercial labs will nevertheless do this testing for lots of money
      • Any given tick may carry several pathogens
      • Infected ticks don’t regularly, or even commonly, transmit infections
    • Be aware the tick you find may not be the one that bit you, or the only one to which you were exposed

Resources

Recent video from the New England Journal of Medicine about ticks and tick diseases:

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2302440https://youtu.be/YQpOxlGCMYg

Excellent and comprehensive information for consumers and clinicians at the CDC can by found by clicking here.

Lastly, state health departments often offer information and help as well. For example, Michigan has a

free tick identification service with links available online.

About Del DeHart, MD

Dr. Del DeHart is an infectious disease specialist with University of Michigan Health-West.

About University of Michigan Health-West

Time to purge Wyoming as city hosts annual clean-up day

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Hard News, Recreation, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

Residents are encouraged to line up by 1:30 p.m. as the line will close at 2 p.m. (WKTV)

There is something about when the earth tilts pushing the northern hemisphere closer to the sun that not only brings a freshness to the air that causes people to open the windows but also vacuum behind the furniture and clean out garages.

Spring cleaning has become a worldwide phenomenon and this Saturday, Wyoming residents will have the chance to get rid of their unwanted items in bulk during the city’s annual spring cleaning event set for Saturday, April 22.

“We are really excited to have this event,” said Nicole Hofert, the city’s director of community and economic development. “We have a wonderful group of volunteers who always help us every year and we are very thankful to have all of those people join us in this event.

“This really is an opportunity for Wyoming residents to clear out some of that stuff they have been thinking about all winter long. We are proud to offer it and hope we have another really great turnout.”

The event will be at Grand Rapids First Church, 2100 44th St. SW, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Plummer’s Disposal will provide the refuse hauling.

Guidelines for the Clean-Up Day

For participating in the annual spring clean-up, here are a few things you should know:

1. People may start line up at 7:30 a.m., doors open at 8 a.m.

Participants are asked to be in the right-hand lane of eastbound 44th Street. When arriving at the event, residents will enter the parking lot through Grand Rapids First’s northeast entrance off of 44th Street and follow the relevant signage.

2. Make sure to bring ID that shows you are a resident of Wyoming

Hofert said a water bill, a credit card statement that has your name and address, your driver’s license  or your vehicle registration will work for proof of residency. “Just something to show that you are a Wyoming resident,” she said.

3. Be in line by 1:30 p.m. as the event does close at  2 p.m.

Unlike in years past, household hazardous waste such as paints, aerosols and other hazardous liquids will not be accepted. People wishing to dispose of those items should visit Kent County’s reimaginetrash.org, and under the Safe Home section, there is a list of sites and instructions on how to properly dispose of those items.

What to Bring

Other items that will not be taken are propane tanks and refrigerators. A completed list of items that will be accepted and items that will not be accepted is available at wyomingmi.gov/cleanup.

The City of Wyoming will be hosting its annual Community Clean-Up event on April 22 at the Grand Rapids First parking lot. (WKTV)

“We see a lot of furniture that comes through,” Hofert said. “If you have the broken recliner or a couch that you have recently replaced, bring it in.”

Construction materials are another good thing to get rid during the cleanup, Hofert said, adding that people often have done renovation projects during the winter with some materials left over that they need to dispose of.

Some items, such as tires and mattresses, will have a modest disposal fee of $12 and $22 respectively.

Yard waste will be accepted at the Yard Waste Drop-Off site, located at 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW, will be open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. There are no limits to size of branch or shrubs accepted at the site; however, residents must unload the yard waste themselves and all containers must be removed from the facility.

Event Info

Those who come to the event will get in line, an attendant will check your ID, you will come through the site to the dumpster location. Participants will get out to the car and attendants will instruct the person where what dumpster to dump you stuff in. Once done, the participant will get back into the car and then head back out through the exit.

For more information about the Wyoming Community Clean-Up Day, visit wyomingmi.gov/cleanup or call 616-530-7226. 

The masks come off at many local health providers

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

Emergency medical staff from Trinity Health Michigan photographed removing masks following an announcement that many local hospitals would be relaxing their mask requirements for employees, patients and visitors. (Courtesy, Trinity Health Michigan)

Starting today, many area health organizations are taking the masks off.

University of Michigan Health-West and Corewell Health have announced masks will be optional in most areas starting today with Trinity Health Michigan starting optional mask wearing on Monday, April 17.

For the facilities, the decision was made after reviewing recent COVID-19 medical data, and much considerations and conversations with leaders at other health systems. The move comes as the number of COVID-19 infections in West Michigan continues to decrease, and many community members have some level of immunity from immunization or prior infection. 

University of Michigan Health-West

Patients and visitors will not be required to wear masks in UMH-West facilities except when they are seeking medical care for respiratory symptoms of COVID-19, visiting patients in precautions for COVID-19, or if a household contact has COVID-19. The discontinuation of the mask mandate applies to both inpatient areas and ambulatory centers.

There are several situations in which healthcare team members will be required to continue masking, including interacting with patients who have an immunodeficiency, who have received a transplant, residing in long-term care facilities, have an acute respiratory illness, or who request the healthcare team to wear a mask.

“After more than three years since the pandemic changed our lives in many ways, we want to thank all of our patients, their families, and our staff members for their commitment to keeping each other safe by masking every day. The decision to discontinue the mask mandate is in recognition of the low number of COVID-19 patients and the immunity level of many community members,” said Dr. Ronald Grifka, Chief Medical Officer at UMH-West.

The UMH-West leadership team encourages everyone to continue to practice good hygiene habits, including covering coughs and sneezes and handwashing. Additionally, the hospital system continues to monitor COVID-19 cases closely and will take appropriate measures as needed to protect the health and safety of its patients, visitors, and staff members.

Trinity Health Michigan

Starting on April 17, there will be optional masking for patients, visitors and colleagues at hospitals, outpatient facilities, home health, and physical offices, except for senior living communities.

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

As of Thursday, April 13, employees and visitors are no longer required to wear a mask except in 24/7 patient care settings and specialty care units. Patients will continue to be screened/tested for COVID-19 at admission and are not required to mask unless endorsing symptoms f illness or diagnosed with COVID-19 infection.

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation

Starting today, masking is recommended but optional for patients, visitor and clinical teams at the Grand Rapids hospital campus, West Michigan outpatient locations, and Mary Free Bed Orthotics and Prosthetic+Bionics locations. The Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation program will continue to require masks for patients, visitors and staff. 

Trinity Health Michigan does have a list of what health organizations are doing. To see that list, click here.

GVSU summit explores non-violent solutions to political flashpoints

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Hard News, Our Cities, Religion, Upcoming Events

By K.D. Norris
WKTV Contributor

Former U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer

What do former U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer and current Kent County Health Department’s Administrative Health Officer Dr. Adam London have in common?

Both have seen first-hand the dangers of political polarization in today’s society. Both will be offering West Michigan Perspectives on Political Violence as speakers at the Progressive/Conservative Summit 2023 presented by Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University.

The Hauenstein Center event, presented as part of its Common Ground Initiative, will take place Wednesday, April 19, from 2-8 p.m. at GVSU’s Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public but reservations are required and available here.

 

Meijer and London will talk on their experiences as leaders working in our current divisive sociopolitical world, and likely the costs they paid for their actions on political flashpoint issues. Meijer, who was one of a few Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump, lost his his re-election bid for the Michigan 3rd Congressional District, which was won by Democrat Hillary Scholten. London received repeated verbal attacks and even personal threats for his department’s handling of COVID-19 restrictions.

Kent County Health Department’s Administrative Health Officer Dr. Adam London

“We believe that all elected, appointed, and professional government officials at all levels of government should be able to carry out their duties without threat of violence against themselves or their friends, families, and colleagues,” said Kahler Sweeney, Common Ground Initiative program manager. “While we all have public servants who we disagree with, we must advocate against violence as a means of political action.

“By sharing the stories of these elected officials, we hope to showcase the harm that political violence has on our political system and learn what can be done to promote a politics of nonviolence.”

In addition to Meijer and London, other speakers at the event include Professor Javed Ali, former Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent and former Michigan State Rep. David LaGrand.

“Of course, there is the political divide we are all familiar with, that between Democrats and Republicans, progressivism and conservatism, but we also recognize the diversity of ideologies that our speakers and audience represent,” Sweeney said. “This event will offer insight on the topic of political polarization and political violence from various viewpoints, including practitioners and scholars, Democrats and Republicans, and a diversity of lived experiences.”

Schedule of speakers/topics/events

2-3 p.m. — Contemporary Political Violence & New Policy Approaches with Professor Javed Ali 

3:30-4:30 p.m. — Public Service in Polarized Times with former Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) (virtual) and former State Rep. David LaGrand (D-MI)

4:30-6 p.m.— Reception with hors d’oeuvres and beverages

6-7:30 p.m. — West Michigan Perspectives on Political Violence with former Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) and Dr. Adam London

7:30-8:15 p.m. — Community conversations and dessert 

Virtual attendance available

To attend a digital alternative for the summit visit gvsu.edu/hc for the livestream that starts about 30 minutes before the event or join via a zoom link, which is provided in the confirmation email after registering.

The Common Ground Initiative, according to its website, reinforces the Hauenstein Center’s mission to “raise up a new generation of men and women committed to the ethical, effective leadership and public service that Ralph W. Hauenstein exemplified throughout his life.”

Wyoming set to interview four candidates for city manager position

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming,
Jen DeHaan
John McCarter
Mark Meyers
John Shay

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

This Thursday and Saturday, Wyoming City officials will be interviewing four candidates for the city manager position.

About 48 municipal leaders from around the country applied for the position following the retirement of former City Manager Curtis Holt in February after 27 years of service. The City Council narrowed the number down to four for interviews.

The City Council will host those candidate interviews Thursday, April 13, from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW, in the Council Chambers.

Candidates for the position include:

Jen DeHaan

Jen DeHaan, who currently serves as the assistant township manager/superintendent of Plainfield Charter Township and as the executive director of the Kent County Dispatch Authority both since 2018. DeHaan also has prior experience in Michigan serving as deputy county administrator for Grand Traverse County and as a management analyst for Kent County. DeHaan started her career as an intern for the City of Wyoming.




John McCarter

John McCarter, who currently serves as interim city manager for the City of Wyoming. McCarter has served as Wyoming’s deputy city manager since March 2021. Prior to that, he served in several roles as interim finance director, assistant finance director and budget and procurement manager for the City of Pearland, Texas. Prior Michigan experience also includes serving as a management analyst for the City of Novi.




Mark Meyers

Mark Meyers, who currently serves as the city administrator for the City of Norton Shores since May 2004. Prior to that, he served as the director of administrative services/assistant to the city administrator since beginning work in Norton Shores in 1995. Meyers also worked in Michigan as an assistant city manager for the City of Grand Haven from March 1992 to May 1995.




John Shay

John Shay, who most recently served as county administrator for Ottawa County from August 2021 to January 2023. Shay also served as deputy county administrator from July 2018 to August 2021. Additional Michigan experience includes serving the City of Ludington as city manager from February 2003 to July 2018, and prior to that was the village manager of Almont from August 1998 to January 2003.

 


Baker Tilly, an executive recruitment firm, is overseeing the search process. Baker Tilly has provided candidate application materials to the city manager search subcommittee comprised of Mayor Kent Vanderwood, Mayor Pro-Tem Rob Postema and 2nd Ward Councilmember Marissa Postler. 

The Council hopes to fill the position based on the interviews held on April 13 and 15. Candidates’ resumes are available upon request. Interviews are open to the public.

The City Council hopes to have a new city manager selected and an employment agreement approved by the end of May 2023. 

State Rep. Skaggs pushes for redesign of state’s flag

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Great Lakes, ,

By Andrew Roth
Capital News Service

Michigan’s state flag is based on the state’s 1835 coat of arms. Credit: State of Michigan

LANSING – Step out onto your front porch and count how many state flags you see flying in the wind.

For many Michigan residents, the answer is likely zero, even at homes that proudly display the U.S. flag or a flag affiliated with their favorite college sports team.

That’s a problem, according to state Rep. Phil Skaggs, D-East Grand Rapids – and one that he hopes can be addressed with a new design.

“Michigan is a unique and special state, and we need to have a flag that itself is unique and special so that we can rally behind it,” said Skaggs, whose district includes the City of Kentwood. “A good flag with strong symbolism that’s meaningful to people creates a common sense of purpose. That’s something that we need in Michigan right now.”

Flag is Just a ‘Seal-on-a-bedsheet’

Rep. Phil Skaggs
State Rep. Phil Skaggs

The heart of the issue is that there is nothing that makes the current flag – which consists of the state coat of arms set against a plain blue background – stand out, Skaggs said.

“The current flag harkens back to 150 years ago when most state flags were simply what are called SOB flags: seal-on-a-bedsheet,” Skaggs said. “The seal on our flag makes sense as a seal, when it’s on a piece of paper or a podium, but it doesn’t make sense as a flag that’s flying at a distance.”

Michigan’s coat of arms dates back to 1835, according to the Michigan Department of State, and features a shield held by an elk and a moose. It includes the Latin phrases “Tuebor,” meaning “I will defend,” and “Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice,” meaning “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” It also includes the national motto “e pluribus unum” which means “out of many, one.”

Key to a Good Flag: Simplicity

Skaggs intends to introduce a bill at the end of April to coincide with the current flag’s anniversary.

It would create a commission to create a design for the Legislature to vote on after taking public input and working with design experts.

There are five characteristics of a good flag, according to a 16-page guide: “Good” Flag, “Bad” Flag. The guide pulls from the expertise of 20 vexillologists (people who study flags) and vexillographers (people who design flags).

Those five elements are: simplicity, with the flag being simple enough for an elementary school child to draw it from memory; using only a few colors, preferably two or three that contrast with each other; including meaningful symbolism through images, colors and patterns; not using lettering or seals; and being distinctive enough to stand out from other state flags.

The flags of the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Togo and South Africa follow these rules, Skagg said.

Creating a Sense of Connection

People often don’t feel a sense of connection to the flag or view it as something they identify with, as evidenced by the lack of residents embracing the current design, Skaggs said.

“One of the ways that you can tell the flag lacks meaningfulness for Michigan citizens is that you rarely see it flown at a house, or on someone’s backpack, or their water bottle,” he said. “If you go to Chicago, you see that Chicago city flag everywhere, and it creates an incredible sense of civic pride. We just don’t see that in Michigan with our current flag.”

Skaggs said other states with ineffective flags are also beginning to change. Illinois, Massachusetts and Minnesota all have active or planned legislation to change the design of their state flags.

And Utah recently approved a new flag design, which Skaggs said “changes it from a very basic seal-on-a-bedsheet flag to one that really has meaningful symbolism for that state.”

It features a jagged white ribbon in the middle, representing snowy mountains, cutting into red rocks at the bottom and a blue sky at the top. In the center, there is a beehive (Utah is known as the beehive state) inside a hexagon, and it also includes a guiding star to represent Utah’s tribal nations.

Utah traditional state flag was redesigned. Credit: State of Utah.
Utah’s new state flag is inspiring other states to take another look. Credit: State of Utah.

Care Resources promotes healthy independence for West Michigan seniors

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Senior Living

By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributor

Everyone wants to age at home.

An activity area in one of the day centers operated by Care Resources. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)

“There is nothing like coming home, putting your key in the door, and opening it and smelling your smells and understanding where you are…and feeling comfortable. We all want that. We can help make that dream come true longer,”  said Veronica Horsley-Pettigrew, Community Outreach and Marketing Supervisor at Care Resources. 

A 2021 AARP Home and Community Preferences Survey showed that 77 percent of adults 50 and older want to remain in their homes for the long term, a number that AARP noted has been consistent for more than a decade.

As noted by the National Library of Medicine, culture plays a role in shaping individuals’ attitudes toward elder care. Asian cultures have emphasized family elder care at home and as a result, 50 years ago the Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly or PACE was created. 

In 1994, Michigan became one of the first pilot programs and today, the state has 14 PACE programs at 21 centers and nationwide, there are 273 sites in 32 states.

“We are committed to our participants,” Horsley-Pettigrew said. “We are an aging society, and we need to take care of each other.”

Growing Interest Creates a Growing Demand

The second PACE program to launch in the state of Michigan was Care Resources, which has been helping to keep West Michigan seniors out of nursing homes since 2006.

The “Four Seasons” art was created by staff and participants. It took almost two years and was made entirely of crayons. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)

A community-based program for people 55 years or older, Care Resources provides comprehensive care to the senior citizens of Kent County,  as well as portions of Allegan, Barry, Ionia, and Ottawa counties, while promoting healthy, independent living and helping prevent nursing home placement.

Care Resources has grown over the years. In 2018, to meet expansion needs, the organization renovated the former John Knox Presbyterian Church, 4150 Kalamazoo Ave. SW, with the express purpose of caring for the aging community of West Michigan.

“We are the glue,” said Tom Muszynski, chief operating officer of Care Resources. “Overall, we are their case managers. We always look to family first, because family generally wants to know what is going on and be a part of it, but if there is no family available, then we take that piece of it too.”

Since opening its Kalamazoo Avenue headquarters in 2019, Care Resources is looking to expand yet again, having almost doubled its service area in November 2021 due to an ever-increasing need for care of local senior citizens.

In 2022, Care Resources served 374 participants, provided 3,048 meals, distributed 702 activity bags, traveled 349,569 miles transporting participants, and totaled 36,554 home care hours for an average 46 months of participant care.

Interest in PACE programs continues to grow with some discussion of adding more programs in Michigan’s Northern Lower Peninsula and expanding into the Upper Peninsula, where there currently are no programs.

Locally, interest in Care Programs has increased with Muszynski stating there are plans to open a second location in Grand Rapids with Care Resources planning to seek federal and state approval at the end of June.

‘Bingo’ and More

Care Resources provides transportation with a fleet of 20 vehicles; an on-site physician, medical clinic, and 2,200 square-foot pharmacy; vision, dental, audiology, and foot care services; laundry and shower facilities; an extensive therapy gym; and grocery shopping services.

Also at its Kalamazoo Avenue location is a fully-staffed day center, which currently serves about 100 participants at various levels. There are various activities, such as stretching programs, classic car shows, and visiting animals along with two outdoor courtyards, a meditation room, and a walking trail.

“Our goal is to really treat people with dignity, but to also get them up and moving,” said Muszynski. “The building is specifically designed to be spread out, so they have to get up and move a little bit.”

The highlight, however, is Bingo.

“They can purchase items at our Bingo store,” Muszynski said as he opened a room lined with shelves and stacked to the brim with an assortment of items. “Fun items, as well as items they can’t get with their Michigan Bridge Card.”

Eligibility

Care Resources PACE eligibility requirements include being 55 or older, meeting the nursing facility level of care, being able to be safe in their home with PACE services at the time of enrollment, and qualifying for Medicaid according to PACE Medicaid requirements.

The Care Resources therapy room. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)

“When they first enroll in the program, they have to be deemed safe in the community with PACE services,” said Muszynski, adding he encourages people to think about when they might need PACE services and strive toward early identification. “PACE is not crisis intervention—there is a process to get into the program. With Medicaid, it could be 30 days or so because we can only enroll on the first of the month. Without Medicaid, it could potentially be a couple of months.”

Muszynski also said to remember that there are several factors that qualify people for skilled nursing, and that it is not always an extreme of going from a hospital to a bed-ridden state. It could include a myriad of things from forgetfulness to treatment such as feeding tubes or dialysis.

Horsley-Pettigrew agreed that having a medical assessment completed is vital before making long-term decisions on care. “It could simply be coordination of care and medication that is needed, and that person may not need to be put in a nursing home,” said Horsley-Pettigrew. “The coordination of care and the proper medication really keep away some of the seriousness of (issues) escalating.”

Continuing to Build Awareness

One of the benefits Muszynski said he has seen in Care Resource participants is a sense of belonging.

“They get involved in our program, and people who weren’t even getting dressed are now getting dressed and doing their hair because they are coming to see their friends,” he said. “It really allows them to get involved in the community and get out of the house.”

One of the the Care Resources’ vehicles. (WKTV./D.A. Reed)

Muszynski and Horsley-Pettigrew are continually meeting and working with state legislators to keep them educated on the benefits of PACE programs. In May of 2022, the PACE Association of Michigan (PAM) hosted its Day at the Capitol in Lansing, allowing PACE staff and participants to share their personal stories about how the program is impacting their lives.

“We’ve got some real champions in Lansing,” said Muszynski. “That’s part of (our) success in Michigan, is the support of the state. It’s phenomenal.”

 To find out more about the Care Resources PACE program, visit Care Resources PACE. Volunteer opportunity inquiries at Care Resources can be directed to Karen Altom at 616-913-2036 or karen.altom@careresources.org.


Pure Michigan updating brand to reach younger audiences

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Non-Profits, Recreation,

By Andrew Roth 
Capital News Service

LANSING – Long associated with calm music, soothing landscapes and the soft tones of Tim Allen’s voice, Michigan’s campaign to promote tourism will get an update to appeal to younger audiences.

David Lorenz, vice president of Travel Michigan, said the updated campaign  marks the first time Pure Michigan has targeted young individuals.

“They’re more interested in experience than stuff,” he said. “Mostly Baby Boomers and Gen Z are looking for experience rather than the bigger TV set or the nicer car. That provides a great opportunity for the travel industry.”

The new ads will be more vibrant, Lorenz said. “You’ll see more people and more activity in the ads. The music is more uptempo.”

“For 17 years, we’ve always used the music from Cider House Rules, we’ve used Tim Allen’s voice, we’ve had this very calm, subtle approach,” Lorenz said. “That reaches the older folks, but we really felt by lifting up the spirit and showing the diversity in this way, we’re going to be more appealing to younger people as well.”

Grand Rapids Included In New Spots

The campaign, billed as “Keep it Fresh,” will include spots focusing on Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Traverse City, “using the sights, sounds and artistry that reflect the range of unique experiences and stories to be found in Michigan,” according to a news release from the office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

“We know that people, when they come to Michigan, expect to see beautiful nature. They’re going to find that,” Lorenz said. “But now they’re also starting to realize they can find vibrant, interesting cities.”

“It’s unbelievably cool. I never thought Detroit would come back the way it is in my lifetime,” he said.

The new campaign will mark Pure Michigan’s return to national airwaves, with spots airing on Discovery, Food Network, HGTV and Magnolia Network, and in local regions throughout the Midwest.

Digital portions of the “Keep it Fresh” campaign launched in late February, with TV ads beginning in March.

The New Pure Opportunity campaign. (State of Michigan)

New Business Marketing Campaign

The council also launched Pure Opportunity, a business marketing campaign touting the state’s skilled labor pool, freshwater resources and top ranking in climate change preparedness.

That campaign will feature images of Michigan companies like Pfizer in Portage, Orbion Space Technology in Houghton, Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire, Daddy Dough Cookies in Grand Rapids and Detroit Denim.

“Michigan is a place that will drive the world forward through grit, our world-class workforce, and stunning natural resources,” Whitmer said in a news release. 

Modernized music

One of the first changes people may notice in the new campaign is more upbeat music.

“We were limited because of the slow, soft, beautiful, emotionally evocative music style of Cider House Rules,” Lorenz said. “It’s kind of hard to say, ‘Hey, let’s go snowmobiling!’”

Nicole Churchill, a co-founder of Assemble Sound, the Detroit company that developed the new score, said they wanted to refresh the music without completely deviating from what people have grown to know and love.

“That Cider House Rules score that’s been used for so long has become such a connection with the brand, I think the biggest challenge was how you maintain the integrity and pay homage to that while still bringing a little bit of newness and youth, and how you get people who are across different generations to like the same thing,” Churchill said.

Julian Wettlin, director of creative licensing for Assemble Sound, said “It was kind of a tightrope to walk between this modern, kind of poppy, electronic, indie-rock world that they wanted to play in with keeping the sincerity that Cider House Rules has.”

It’s All Michigan

The company used all Michigan talent for the demos, and the score that was selected was composed by Ann Arbor native Ben Collins.

Detroit Poet jessica Care moore joins Tim Allen as the voice in the new Pure Michigan campaign.

Wettlin said he didn’t allow the project to overwhelm him while working on it.

After seeing rough cuts of the spots, he thought to himself “Oh, right, this will live for a very long time.”

While the state only contracted for one song, Wettlin said it was designed to be adaptable enough to fit multiple spots.

“We basically gave them a toolbox of sounds,” Wettlin said. “When they get into mix, they can take down some of the bass and let the synths live a little higher in the mix on the more nature ones, and the nightlife ones maybe pull some of that sentimental quality and bring up more of the fun quality.”

A new voice

Another auditory change people are likely to quickly latch onto: the introduction of a new voice, Detroit poet jessica Care moore.

Moore, whose first and last name are not capitalized, came to national prominence after winning “It’s Showtime at the Apollo” a record-breaking five times in a row.

Oprah shared in 2022 one of moore’s poems, “Her Crown Shines,” which was written for then-Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson following her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Lorenz said the Michigan Economic Development Council had looked at introducing a second voice for years, but “they just didn’t seem right until we found jessica.”

“We’re using her in a different way. We’re using her writing talents as well as her voice,” Lorenz said. “I love her kind of grainy, granular, earthy voice. It’s going to blend really well with Tim.”

Focus on diversity

Highlighting diversity is one way the new campaign will appeal to younger audiences, Lorenz said.

“We have a lot to be proud of with our diversity, and we think that’s very appealing to a lot of people right now,” Lorenz said. “With our TV and radio ads, you’re going to hear an additional voice with Tim Allen this year – you’ll hear a woman. That, in itself, demonstrates in a subtle way that we’re not the same old state you think we were. We’re so much more.”

But he acknowledged that  some audiences may feel that capitalizing on diversity may seem superficial or opportunistic. It’s a concern that they considered.

“That’s one of the reasons why it’s taken us a while to really take this approach, because we felt that it had to be genuine. It had to be authentic. It had to be real,” Lorenz said.

“We tell the truth about things that are important to people, and things that we know are gaining importance in the future,” he added. “The state has changed in the last 17 years, and we’re trying to represent that change.”

Everyone Is Welcomed

Moore joins Allen in the campaign, who has faced backlash in recent years. After attending the inauguration of former President Donald Trump, Allen told Jimmy Kimmel that, “You get beat up if you don’t believe what everybody else believes. This is like ‘30s Germany.”

Asked whether that factored into the decision to introduce a new voice, Lorenz emphasized that “Tim is not our spokesperson, he’s our voice,” and that he is not being replaced, but rather joined, by moore.

Marketers have to be careful with  political debates, he said. “It’s really important that we stay out of that, because we’re in a very divided time politically.”

 

But it’s tricky.

”Everything seems to be perceived as being political these days,” Lorenz said. But he isn’t concerned about backlash to a more diverse campaign.

“As long as we’re doing the right thing and we’re trying to do our best to articulate that we’re trying to make sure that all persons of goodwill know that they are welcome here, that’s what counts.” Lorenz said. “If there are others out there who take that as some kind of a political statement, they just don’t understand.”

The classic ‘My Fair Lady’ comes to DeVos Performance Hall

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Recreation, ,
Left, Jonathan Grunert as Professor Henry Higgins, Madeline Powell as Eliza Doolittle and John Adkison as Colonel Pickering in The National Tour of MY FAIR LADY. Photo by Jeremy Daniel

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributor

Madeline Powell remembers the first time she saw the film version of “My Fair Lady,” the acclaimed Broadway show from the golden era of musicals.

She was nine-years-old and saw it with her grandparents.

“I remember very vividly watching it, and where we were sitting,” the Texas native said in a recent WKTV Journal interview.

“I remember the parts of the movie that caught my eye, and that I was most fascinated by.”

Now she is reliving those memories every night, playing the lead character of Eliza Doolitte in the national tour of the Broadway musical. It’s her first major role after graduating in 2021 from Oklahoma City University.

She is thrilled to be playing the iconic role in an iconic play, adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play and Gabriel Pascal’s motion picture “Pygmalion,” which later became “My Fair Lady,” with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe.

A Star from the Golden Age of Theatre

It premiered on Broadway on March 15, 1956 and won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The classic songs include “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “On the Street Where You Live.”

The current tour is Lincoln Center Theater’s production of Lerner & Loewe’s “My Fair Lady,”  and winner of five Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards. The production premiered in the spring of 2018 at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater.

It has impacted generations, Powell said.

“I have always held (‘My Fair Lady’) in such high esteem because of that experience with my grandparents,” she said, “and knowing how much they loved it, and what it meant to so many of their friends and so many people in the generations between us.

“It has been at the forefront of my mind, too, when I have been revisiting it in this context of being in the show.”

“My Fair Lady,” as most musical enthusiasts know, is a rags-to-riches story about a Cockney flower girl – flippantly referred to as a “guttersnipe,” in the production – who meets linguist Henry Higgins. He vows to turn her into a “lady” in just six months by teaching her the proper way to speak, as well as dress and act.

Mastering that Cockney Accent

It’s a show with a lot of dialects and accents, which Powell knows a little bit about.

“I had my own little Eliza Doolittle experience when I went to college and learned to neutralize the accent I didn’t realize I had,” said Powell, who is originally from Lubbock, Texas, where she began singing at age four.

Michael Hegarty as Alfred P. Doolittle (center) and The Company of The National Tour of MY FAIR LADY. Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Before the tour opened last fall, the cast worked with a dialect coach because of accents that range from Scottish to various ones in central London. It’s all “very specific because of the importance of the plot,” she said.

The excitement for language has made for a lively cast and crew.

“We have so much fun,” she said. “We can honestly never shut up talking in the accents when we’re not performing, too.”

That excitement comes across on stage where local audiences will get an opportunity to see it over eight performances, April 11-16 at DeVos Performance Hall.

Tickets are available for all shows, including special educator/student rush tickets for only $30, available only one hour before each show. More details at broadwaygrandrapids.com.

Keep an Eye on the Ensemble Cast

Along with the beautiful costumes, Powell said local audiences may want to pay special attention to the ensemble cast, which is “super fun to watch” in big scenes such as the opening number and “Get Me to the Church on Time.”

“It’s all kinds of chaos,” she said. “…They’ve got some interesting relationships they created, and they’re really setting up the world and dynamic for the principal characters. They’re doing all kinds of intentional things. I would keep an eye out for them.”

Overall, she said audiences should be prepared to be really entertained and inspired by the story of Eliza Doolitte.

“It’s a long show, but it doesn’t feel like a long show,” she said. “It’s super packed with interesting and intentional moments. Hopefully that will be impactful for new audience members, and for returning audience members, too.”

That impact, she said, is the transformation of a young woman.

“I can’t think of another character who has such a broad arc,” Powell said. “She is always shown to be really gritty and really smart and she knows exactly what she wants and what she needs to get those things.

“But we really watch her blossom emotionally and become comfortable with feeling her emotions…which is really powerful. We often don’t see women written to be that sure of themselves in musical theater or entertainment at all. It is an honor to do that every night.”

Show Info

Tickets are available online at BroadwayGrandRapids.com or at the Broadway Grand

Rapids box office located at 122 Lyon St. NW. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by

calling 616-235-6285.

Remainder of the 2022-2023 BGR season includes: 

HADESTOWN, May 9-14, 2023

FROZEN, July 11-24, 2023

More info, including season ticket information for the 2023-2024 season, at https://broadwaygrandrapids.com.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Upcoming forum looks at the future of mobility in West Michigan

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Upcoming Events, , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Disability Advocates of Kent County will host a Kent County Transportation Forum on Monday. (WKTV)

Disability Advocates of Kent County will host the Kent County Transportation Forum on Monday, April 10 in the Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, 160 68th St. SW. This event will bring together stakeholders to discuss options for countywide mobility.

“There is so much planning going on for the future of mobility in our community,” said David Bulkowski, executive director of Disability Advocates of Kent County. “We need to make sure people are informed about plans being considered and organized to deliver the best outcomes.”

In Michigan, 19% of people with disabilities live within the federal poverty rate and 48% of people with disabilities struggle to afford basic costs of living. Unemployment remains a driving factor behind this high level of economic instability; only 34% of adults with disabilities in Michigan have a job. Those who have a position often work part-time without a living wage.

Expanding Transportation Options

One way to address financial hardship among people with disabilities is to expand accessible public transportation options. Many individuals rely on public transit for their work commute and other common destinations.

Public transportation access remains scarce outside of the six cities in The Rapid service area: Grand Rapids, East Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Walker, Grandville, and Kentwood. Those who live in places like Cedar Springs, Rockford, and Lowell often struggle to find a bus route and must rely on specialized services like Hope Network, but usually options are limited to expensive rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft, assuming these services can even be found in these areas.

Community Organizer Michael Williams, who leads the Concerned Citizens for Improved Transportation (CCIT) advocacy work group, believes the community could deliver better results for people with disabilities. He calls for greater connectivity between transportation systems in cities instead of having a series of distinct, fixed bus routes.

“There is not one perfect solution to this challenge,” Williams said. “However, solutions start at aligning current efforts to better compliment each other, rather than repeating each other.”

Building on the past work of Faith In Motion and CCIT and a strategy session conducted during Disability Advocates’ Disability Awareness Day, Williams will host the Kent County Transportation Forum. State and local elected officials, municipal organizations such as Mobile GR, and transportation providers such as Hope Network will have a presence at the forum.

Everyone Welcome to Join the Discussion

The Kent County Transportation Forum seeks to coordinate local, state, and federal approaches toward achieving countywide mobility. Representatives from the City of Grand Rapids, the Grand Valley Metropolitan Council, The Rapid, and Kent County Mobility Task Force will discuss their transportation plans and seek ways to find agreement between plans. Kent County recently appointed its County Wide Mobility Task Force. Connecting current efforts will better help identify the needs for Kent County’s new team.

“We’re bringing riders, transportation providers, and planners to one place,” Williams said. “How can we work together and connect people in Kent County and beyond? This forum is a fantastic opportunity to align current planning processes into a coordinated regional effort.”

Those interested in learning more about accessible transportation or getting involved with CCIT can contact Michael Williams at michael.w@dakc.us.

More information can be found at www.dakc.us/event/transportation-forum.