By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
The Kent County Recycling and Education Center is temporarily closed due to structural damage. (Courtesy, Kent County)
UPDATE: The Kent County Recycling and Education Center will reopen on Friday, March 24.
TheKent County Recycling and Education Center (REC), located at 977 Wealthy St. SW, is temporarily closed after an incident caused structural damage to the building on Monday afternoon. The damage occurred when bales of cardboard recycling built up and pushed through the building’s sidewall, damaging the exterior wall and a roof support beam. No one was injured and the incident is under administrative review to further understand the cause.
According to Steve Faber, public relations for the Kent County Department of Public Works, there have been structural engineers out looking at the facility last night and today. The engineers are assessing the extent of the damage and putting a plan in place for repairs.
“They will give us the plan on how things can be shored up and hopefully we will be back in operation soon,” Faber said, adding the ultimate goal is to have the facility up and running again as soon as possible..
For today, items coming to the recycling facility will be sent to the county’s Waste-to-Energy Facility, which serves as a back-up when the recycling has to close, Faber said. All tours and education programming at the REC are postponed indefinitely.
Residents wishing to make sure their recyclables head to the recycling facility are encouraged to hang on to items until next week, Faber said.
“The health and safety of our employees and customers is our number one priority,” said Dar Baas, director of the Kent County Department of Public Works. “We’re gathering a full assessment of the damage and will only reopen once repairs are made, and we know it’s safe for workers and visitors to enter.”
Kent County’s REC serves as the primary materials recovery facility for residential recyclables generated throughout West Michigan.
Wyoming community members will be among the first in West Michigan to use a new community engagement and feedback solution after an interaction with the Wyoming Department of Public Safety. This new service uses text messaging to contact community members after calls to dispatch or after receiving certain police services.
These text messages are sent shortly after the incident and will ask community members to take a quick survey about their experience with the dispatch and our officers. It will also allow them to provide comments, feedback, or words of gratitude after receiving public safety service. Text surveys will begin going out later this week.
This product, called PowerEngage, will send text message surveys to those whose number is recorded as part of a call for service or in an officer’s report. Community members can also take a text message survey and provide feedback even if they did not receive a text message. The department will soon be announcing a number dedicated to sharing feedback, and QR codes will be made available to scan and start that conversation.
Residents that do not want to participate can simply not respond or let the department know in advance by calling 616-530-7309 and the person’t number will never receive a survey. As with all texts, residents may reply with STOP and that will opt them out of all future text surveys from the department. It is important that everyone know that these surveys should not be used to report any type of emergency or crime. Call 9-1-1 for any emergency or to report any criminal activity.
“It is important for our department to hear from the community about how we are doing, especially from those that we have recently met,” said Wyoming Department of Public Safety Chief Kim Koster. “This new product, called PowerEngage, will give me access to community feedback in near real time, providing insights into areas where we can improve the service we provide to Wyoming. It also has potential to boost officer morale when positive feedback is provided.”
Members of the community may provide feedback to the Wyoming Department of Public Safety through the new survey option or at City’s website feedback option at https://www.wyomingmi.gov/Contact.
As of February 2023, the Biden Administration, in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), have plans to end the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 by May of 2023.
This will impact Kent County and its residents and the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) is continuing to learn more about the extent of these new measures but this is what is known so far:
How is COVID viewed now?
Even though the Public Health Emergency is being lifted, that does not mean that COVID-19 is no longer a health risk to you or your family. But, COVID-19 is not dramatically impacting the lives of millions each day as were reported in the months of 2020 and 2021. This is due to most of the population having some form of protection from the virus either from vaccinations or prior infections giving immunity.
Home COVID tests may no longer be covered under insurance. (WKTV/Maggie Carey)
Preventative measures such as at-home COVID-19 tests may no longer be covered by insurance. Under the Public Health Emergency, insurance companies were required to reimburse up to eight at-home tests per month for residents. Once the Public Health Emergency ends, insurers will be able to choose if they will reimburse those costs or not. For those on Medicaid, at-home tests and PCR tests ordered by a physician, will remain free until September 2024.
It is not recommended that individuals stock up on multiple tests due to the short shelf life of at-home tests. Rather the recommendation is to pick up one or two tests before the month of May.
What happens if you test positive for COVID?
As of March 9, 2023, if you have a confirmed positive test for COVID-19 is it recommended that you isolate yourself and stay home to rest, stay away from others, and recover. According to the CDC, Isolation should last for at least five days and then another test is recommended and if it comes back negative you may end isolation and if positive continue to isolate until a negative test is produced.
It is recommended that if you test positive for COVID, you should quranrinte for five days. (Pxhere.com)
Access to vaccines and treatments like Paxlovid will still be available but may no longer be free. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters will still be available at no out-of-pocket cost for those with private insurance as long as they receive those entities from an in-network provider. Medicare and Medicaid will continue to provide vaccine coverage.
Paxlovid, an oral treatment by Pfizer for COVID-19, will continue to be available and covered for people who have private health insurance. Paxlovid will be available for those on Medicaid until supplies last and there may be a change in out-of-pocket costs.
Telemedicine care
If an individual utilizes telemedicine (virtual visits with a doctor or healthcare provider) and receives written prescriptions via telemedicine appointments, those services will no longer be available after May 11, 2023. Individuals will be required to make in-person appointments for prescriptions after May 11, 2023.
For those on Medicare, recipients will still have access to extended telehealth services until the end of 2024.
How the pandemic has impacted health systems in Grand Rapids
A report from Grand Valley State University found that close to 40% of individuals delayed care in the United States during the pandemic. Erkmen Aslim, an assistant professor of economics for the Seidman College of Business and co-author of the report states that “delaying care not only increases morbidity and mortality risk associated with treatable and preventable disease, but it can also contribute to excess deaths directly or indirectly related to the pandemic.”
This report also found an unusual increase in outpatient visits to Grand Rapids hospitals while other regions had a decrease in outpatient visits during the pandemic. Daniel Montanera, another co-author of Health Check and assistant professor of economics at Seidman, theorized that Grand Rapids became a magnet for people from the Detroit area who couldn’t or wouldn’t visit hospitals that were grappling with spikes in COVID-19.
The Public Health Emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has created change for our American healthcare systems and even though it is coming to an end, new information and updates related to COVID-19 will be available for residents through the Kent County Health Department for the foreseeable future.
Additional information and updates related to COVID-19 will also be readily available through the CDC’s COVID information website.
By Emily Armstrong Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan
Oral health is an integral component of overall wellness. Yet access to dental services can be a serious barrier for older adults to maintain their oral health. Each year the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) partners with Grand Rapids Community College to host Senior Dental Day; an event that helps older adults in Kent County engage their oral health and find a new dental provider.
Last year, the event served 18 individuals, providing dental cleanings, x-rays, and exams conducted by GRCC dental program students. To qualify, seniors must be over 60 years of age and have not been to the dentist within the last 12 months. Held at Cook Academic Hall at GRCC’s downtown campus, the event will take place this year on Monday, March 20.
“We’re so thrilled to again offer the Senior Dental Day initiative. This is an event we look forward to each year and the partnership with Grand Rapids Community College gives us the chance to connect with high-risk seniors and connect them with services to support their health and independence,” shared Brandon Beck, Contract Administrator with the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan.
Locally, AAAWM supports oral health in a variety of ways. In Kent County, the Kent County Senior Millage (KCSM) network provides low-cost dental services to Kent County residents 60 years or older in partnership with Cherry Health and Exalta Health. AAAWM is also a member of the Kent County Oral Health Coalition, a group focused on advocacy and outreach in the West Michigan.
If you have any questions about this year’s event, you can reach out to Brandon at BrandonB@aaawm.org. If you’re an older adult in Kent County seeking dental services, you can contact the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at 616-456-5664 to be connected to resources.
On the anniversary of its inception, the Metro Pattern Crimes Task Force (MPACT) announced today that it has arrested 12 individuals believed to be involved with 22 burglaries throughout Kent County including the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood.
Since Jan. 30, MPACT has been investigating numerous business break-ins throughout Kent County. The suspects targeted marijuana dispensaries, liquor stores, and convenience stores that sold vape pens similar to the rash of break-ins that took place on Jan. 27 that included Wyoming’s D. Schuler. Officers did not state if the arrests was related to the Jan. 27 break-ins.
The investigation conducted three residential search warrants and recovered four stolen handguns and 12 stolen cars. It is believed that along with the cities of Wyomig and Kentwood, the cities of Grand Rapids, Walker Lowell and Cedar Springs and the townships of Solon, Cascade, Gaines, Plainfield and Byron has all been affected by these incidents.
“By having a unit like this that is under one roof representing several different areas, officers are able to identify developing behaviors and patterns and working together to solve significant crimes that stretch across Kent County,” said Lt. Andrew Koeller, the Wyoming Department of Public Safety public relations officer.
Focus on violent and serial crimes
The task force was created in February of 2022 to address not only violet crime, but also significant pattern crimes such as burglaries, purse snatchings and other incidents that often occur across multiple jurisdictions, within the county.
“The team runs under the radar but has helped with making a number of arrests in violent crimes such as homicides and shootings and serial crimes such as the stolen vehicles,” Koeller said.
Arrests for the business break-ins took place over the last several weeks with the last one on March 14. The adult and juvenile suspects have been arrested on charges ranging from Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Felony Firearms, Breaking and Entering with Intent, to Possession of a Stolen Vehicle. Several cases are still open as MPACT investigates and is exploring charges of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a 20-year felony.
Case still under investigation
The suspects range from 16 to 21 years old spanning rom the cities of Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Walker, Coopersville and Alpine Township. According to a press release, it is believed that the group could be responsible for burglaries outside of Kent County. The task force is coordinating with area law enforcement partners as the case unfolds.
“This investigation unit is the Swiss Army knife of the county for crime,” Koeller said. “These guys are amazing and extremely dedicated, working long hours to solve significant crime that is committed in our county.”
The task force consists of personnel form the Wyomig Department of Public Safety, Kentwood Police department, the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 16-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or at https://www.silentobserver.org.
For the first time, Red Storm Robotics earned the Engineering Inspiration Award at the St. Joseph competition. (Courtesy, Red Storm Robotics)Terence, the team’s robot, performed admirably. (Courtesy, Red Storm Robotics)
Red Storm Robotics FRC had a great opening tournament at the St. Joseph district competition on Friday and Saturday, March 9-10.
Red Storm finished the qualifier matches ranked 13 out of 39 teams and ended up the 8th Team Alliance Captain in the finals. Our finals alliance with the Woodhaven and Vicksburg teams did not make it beyond our two playoff matches, but our competition robot, “Terence” performed admirably with repeated successes in the autonomous portion of the competition, and the team is energized to improve Terence’s capabilities for the next competition in Battle Creek Lakeview starting Sunday, March 26.
Robotics competitions are more than robots on the challenge field as demonstrated by our team members who decorated and supplied our pit booth, readied the robot, cheered on all the teams, and prepared and presented to the competition judges for other awards.
Red Storm walked away with an award they have not won before, the Engineering Inspiration award. This is the second-highest team award, just shy of the ultimate judge’s award, the Impact Award. We are so proud to be recognized for our work in building a competition-ready robot and for bringing engineering and STEM to the community.
Our robot performed well, our judged presentations won an award, and our Red Storm marketing team had a great weekend passing out cards and buttons, leading cheers, and documenting our performance. A great start to our competition season and surely a sign of great things to come.
The Red Storm Robotics will be hosting the Kentwood District tournament March 31 and April 1. For more information about the home tournament, visit https://firstinmichigan.us/FRC/miken/.
The 2023 Red Storm Robotics Team (Courtesy, Red Storm Robotics)
The high dose tutoring program is currently a pilot at the district’s Townline Elementary School. (Courtesy, Townline Elementary)
Following the proverb that “It takes a village to raise a child,” the Kentwood Public Schools has reached out to the community seeking volunteers for its new high dosage tutoring program.
Superintendent Kevin Polsten in a communication to families and the community stated the district has designed plans to support a comprehensive student recovery program due to the impacts of COVID and the school shutdowns. Through that, the district has sought out evidenced-based practices from research and best practices from the field.
“Our strategy for academic recovery has been multifaceted and in addition to sound core instruction has included a robust K-12 summer school, after school learning, instructional coaching and high quality professional learning for educators, parent engagement, and tiers of intervention for students,” Polston said in a statement.
As part of that plan, the district recently added high dosage tutoring to its approach in partnership with the Michigan Education Corps. High dosage tutoring is usual a one-to-one or one-to-two mentor-student ratio.
Expanding program
The program is a pilot at Townline Elementary School with district officials hoping to scale the strategy across the district.
“Partnerships are key to our success at Kentwood Public Schools and we have been fortunate to have so many long standing partners across sectors of our community,” Polsten stated, adding that the district is seeking assistance from business, non-profits and individuals interested in volunteering to help expand the tutoring program.
Tutor volunteers are asked to serve at least three hours a week at a consistent time. It could be three hours in one day or broken up across multiple days. Volunteers must attend training on academic strategies and pass a background check.
Volunteers could be college students, retirees, individuals from businesses or non-profits participating in a corporate social responsibility program.
Those who are interested in participating, or simply want to learn more, should contact Jason Lawson, executive director of elementary education at Jason.Lawson@kentwoodps.org.
A combination of medical care and complementary therapies can be used to provide physical comfort in hospice. (Courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)
Sometimes, it’s what the patient shares by simply speaking. But a hospice practitioner can also make inroads by what patients express with a turn of the hand, the way they’re sitting, a look on their face.
“In treating the body, we’re listening in a lot of different ways,” says Joan Blessings, a licensed massage therapist at Emmanuel Hospice based in Grand Rapids. “Sometimes, you can feel patients relax and, in that way, they’re communicating. And ultimately, that helps us help them live their best lives.”
Blessings has been a massage therapist some two decades, nearly half of those years in a hospice setting.
“At first, I really didn’t know if I wanted to do this,” she says, “because our patients pass away. But what I find joy in is giving them comfort. It can be a simple foot or hand massage, but that can create a huge difference for them.
“We believe our patients are more than just their diagnosis. So, we’ll make available all kinds of complementary therapies aimed at treating them in a truly holistic way.”
It’s remarkable, she continues, the way in which the body responds to music, to scents, to time with a pet – and of course, her specialty – massage.
At times, that can mean a light touch to someone experiencing generalized pain. In other cases, it might call for zeroing in on anything from facial muscles to the entire spine. The benefits can manifest themselves in increased mobility, reduced inflammation and more.
It takes time and practice to focus on the physical needs of each patient.
“Every patient is different,” she says. “When I go in for the first time, I am seeking to meet their expectations, and working hard to understand what those are.”
While she focuses on massage, she’s also paying attention to how else that patient might benefit from others on the care team. During the massage, they might talk about craving a spiritual connection. Perhaps they want to visit the beach or a flower garden. Another might want to sing or listen to hymns.
Blessings makes detailed notes of those desires into a digital logbook that everyone else attending to that patient can discover and then act on. A variety of complementary programs can be used alongside pharmaceutical approaches to provide physical comfort and support other health needs.
“We are so team-oriented,” Blessings says. “And everything we do is integrated on behalf of the patient, so they get everything they need from everyone with whom I work. It’s a very important part of their care program, and when a situation changes, we’re all aware of it.”
The rewards are many: “I served a woman the other day who said to me, ‘I’m 94-years-old, and I have never had a massage.’ I was able to smile and tell her, ‘Well, after I walk out that door, you won’t be able to say that anymore.’”
A poem by Patricia Clark, professor emerita of writing and former poet laureate of Grand Rapids, is slated to be launched to the moon as part of the “Lunar Codex” project.
The poem, “Astronomy ‘In Perfect Silence,'” will be part of a time capsule headed to the moon in 2024. Lunar Codex project leaders say they are using surplus payload space for multiple moon missions to archive the works of more than 30,000 artists from around the world on the moon.
Clark’s piece, which will be stored on archival technology, is part of the “Polaris” collection, which is scheduled to launch in November 2024. The poem is also in an anthology named “The Polaris Trilogy: Poems for the Moon.”
An invitation for her piece to “go to the moon”
She was invited by an editor soliciting poems for the project to contribute a piece, an invitation that Clark eagerly accepted. She learned that her poem was chosen with an email that opened with, “You’re going to the Moon! Well, to be more precise, your poem is.”
For Clark, who was poet laureate for Grand Rapids from 2005-2007 and also served as Grand Valley’s poet-in-residence, it is a thrill for her poem to be included in the payload carrying artistic material that is set to stay at the moon in perpetuity.
“My husband says he’s going to look up there and think about my poem,” Clark said.
Poets were asked to tell the judges if they were writing about the moon, stars or sun. Clark said she chose a form called abecedarian, which is a 26-line poem where each line starts with a letter, A-Z, in order of the alphabet (and with a little poetic license where necessary, as Clark did with the line starting with “X.”).
A celebration of astronomy and teaching
The poem is a celebration of astronomy and the wonder of space.
Her inspiration was an astronomy professor from her undergraduate time at the University of Washington whose enthusiasm for the subject stayed with her even though she never pursued the discipline professionally.
“When I saw the call for work, I was immediately excited because I thought, ‘This will give me a chance to write about this experience I had.’ I thought I’d start writing about the experience of the class and see what I get to,” Clark said.
A key reason she knows that class stuck with her is because she still has the book, one of the few from college that she saved after multiple decades and many moves. She valued the star charts, too.
Though the poem notes that Clark had forgotten the professor’s name, she contacted her alma mater to see if they could figure out who the professor was. She soon learned that the professor was George Wallerstein, who had sadly died in recent years.
But the poem is a testament to his inspiration as a teacher and the importance of a well-rounded education, she said. While she didn’t dig deeply into the field, she has a deep appreciation of it because of this teacher.
“It might not be something you spent your life on, but it mattered to you. That’s what liberal education is all about,” Clark said. “The magic of space and the wonder of it all is still there because of this class and this professor who was so jazzed about it all.”
The Grand Rapids Ballet presents ‘Jumpstart” March 24-26. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Ballet)
Grand Rapids Ballet (GRB), Michigan’s first professional ballet company, is gearing up for its annual one-weekend performance, “Jumpstart 2023,” taking place March 24-26 at Peter Martin Wege Theatre. “Jumpstart” is an annual production at GRB, each year bringing new artistic elements to the forefront, and this year features ten world-premiere performances.
In preparation for “Jumpstart 2023,” GRB’s dancers are challenged to refocus their creative energies, moving into the role of choreographer and building works for other company dancers, apprentices, and trainees. “Jumpstart 2023” also will feature an excerpt of “Three Offerings” by sought-after choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie.
“Not knowing what to expect when you sit down at a Jumpstart performance is exactly what is so great about it. You can only prepare to be surprised and inspired! Our dancers are so talented, and they get to show a different side of themselves when they step into the role of choreographer,” said James Sofranko, artistic director at GRB.
GRB’s company dancers, consisting of 30 professional dancers, Apprentices, and Trainees, are eager to share these works with the community. The choreographers include Isaac Aoki, James Cunningham, Anna Hughlett, Adrien Malof, Yuka Oba-Muschiana, Emily Reed, Nigel Tau, Alexandra Meister Upleger, Adriana Wagenveld, and Nathan Young.
“I am amazed every year when I see the amount of creativity and energy poured into these brand-new works. Jumpstart reinvigorates my thoughts about my own choreography and challenges me to think differently,” Sofranko added.
“Jumpstart 2023” takes place March 24-26 at Peter Martin Wege Theatre, with tickets starting at $26 online, via phone at 616-454-4771, ext. 110, or in-person at GRB’s Box Office. “Jumpstart 2023” is sponsored by The Rosemary and David Good Family Foundation and Dave Schmidt and Robert Oracz.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
FlixBus will be operating a new route from Grand Rapids to Detroit and back. (Courtesy, FlixBus)
Starting this week, bus service that goes beyond the Kent County area will now be available in Grand Rapids.
FlixBus announced this week that it is bringing long distance busing back to the Grand Rapids area by starting a route that will travel to and from the Detroit area with a stop in East Lansing.
Having been present in the North American market since 2018, Munich-based Flix SE acquired Greyhound Lines In. in 2021. Recently Flix North America Inc., the Dallas-based entity overseeing operations for both Greyhound and FlixBus across North America, announced a co-integration of both brand’s booking platforms. This will allow passengers to purchase both Greyhound and FlixBus tickets on each brands’ websites to more than 2,300 destinations across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Currently only FlixBus will be serving the Grand Rapids area, said FlixBus Public Relations Manager Sean Hanft.
“If passengers make the trip to Detroit for example, they can transfer to Greyhound buses throughout the U.S., transfer to FlixBus’ domestic network in Canada and more,” Hanft said. “So it s a great expansion in local service for Grand Rapids’ travelers, as well as giving them access to connections in metropolitan areas like Detroit to more destinations across North America.”
The new route, which officially starts on Thursday, March 16, will have four stops. Two are in Grand Rapids: Grand Rapids (East) is the Cascade Meijer, 5531 28th St. Ct. SE, and Grand Rapids (Downtown) is at the downtown Burger King, 410 Pearl St. NW, near the downtown YMCA. The East Lansing stop is at 3121 E. Saginaw St, near the Frandor Shopping Center. The Detroit stop is at Grand Circus Park, 501 Park Ave.
The line will run five days a week, excluding Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It departs daily at 10:15 a.m. from Detroit, arriving at 1 p.m. in Grand Rapids. It leaves from Grand Rapids at 3:20 p.m. and arrives in Detroit at 6:30 p.m.
“Whenever FlixBus enters a new market, college students are typically among our biggest fans who need affordable, convenient transportation for holidays, weekend trips and more, that is a major factor that we take into account with every expansion,” Hanft said, adding that FlixBus is a compelling option for college students throughout the region looking for sustainable, budget-friendly travel options.
Tickets for Detroit to Grand Rapids trips start at $37.99 and Grand Rapids to East Lansing start at $25.99.
Just like other transportation options such as airlines and trains, FlixBus passengers have the option to pick a seat or select to not have a neighboring passenger for an additional fee. Passengers are allowed one carry-on and one stowaway luggage item with additional luggage being added for a small fee.
As FlixBus builds its Michigan network, it hopes to add new connections to other destinations such as Chicago, Hanft said.
There is an old saying about life insurance: “you buy life insurance because you either owe someone or you love someone.”
The life insurance industry has changed, with the introduction of the internet, access to information has increase as well as the options to acquire it and manage it. For many people life insurance is just a commodity and frankly it is until….. until the insured dies. Then it becomes a lifeline to security, income and family continuation.
Working with a licensed and authorized insurance agent can help you decipher the insurance road. Still many people want to look behind the hood for themselves. If you are one of those people, here are some tips.
Shop around and compare quotes from multiple insurers. Different insurers may have different rates for the same coverage, so it’s important to compare quotes from multiple companies to find the best deal.
Consider term life insurance. Term life insurance is generally less expensive than permanent life insurance, such as whole life or universal life. With term life insurance, you pay a premium for a specific period of time (the “term”), such as 10 or 20 years. If you pass away during the term, your beneficiaries will receive a death benefit. If you outlive the term, the policy will expire, and you will no longer be covered.
But, term insurance is like renting, you only can keep it for a specific period of time. Permanent (whole life) insurance will protect you for your entire life.
Consider your coverage needs. The amount of coverage you need will affect the cost of your policy. Determine how much coverage you need based on your financial goals and the needs of your beneficiaries, and choose a policy that provides the right amount of coverage at a price you can afford.
Consider your health. Insurers will consider your health when determining the premium for your policy. If you have good health, you may be able to qualify for lower premiums.
Consider your lifestyle. Insurers may consider factors such as your occupation, hobbies, and whether you smoke when determining the premium for your policy. If you have a high-risk occupation or engage in risky hobbies, you may pay more for life insurance. If you smoke, you may also pay more for life insurance.
Considering working with an independent insurance agent. An independent insurance agent can help you compare quotes from multiple insurers and find a policy that fits your needs and budget.
Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463 or click this link: Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.comDave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety is investigating two unrelated crashes involving pedestrians being struck by vehicles.
On March 14 at approximately 6:40 a.m., police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the area of 32nd Street and South Division Avenue on a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle.
When officers arrived, they located an unresponsive male lying in the roadway. This male was pronounced deceased at the scene. The initial investigation indicates the pedestrian was crossing South Division Avenue, outside of the crosswalk, when he was struck by a southbound vehicle. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene to speak with police.
The deceased is a 67-year-old Wyoming man, and his name is not being released at this time.
On March 14 at approximately 6:55 a.m., police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the area of 44th Street SW and Byron Center Ave SW on the report of a juvenile pedestrian struck by a vehicle. When officers arrived, they located a juvenile male with serious injuries. The juvenile was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The juvenile is a 13- year-old male and remains in critical condition.
Initial investigation indicates that the male was in the roadway on Byron Center when he was struck by a northbound vehicle. The driver of the vehicle remained onscene to speak with police.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety the Accident Investigation and Forensic Services Units are continuing to investigate both incidents. The southbound lanes of Division Avenue south of 32nd Street remain closed while officers investigate the fatal crash. The north and southbound lanes of Byron Center Avenue north of 44th Street remain closed while officers investigate the serious injury crash.
In light of these accidents, the Wyoming Department of Public Safety does encourage both motorists and pedestrians to follow Michigan’s traffic laws, which are put in place to assist both those on foot and in a vehicle in arriving to their destination safely.
“Michigan law does require if there is a crosswalk, the pedestrian should use it,” said Lt. andrew Koeller, Wyoming police’s public relations officer. “If pedestrians choose to walk before daylight hours I would strongly encourage them to wear a reflective vest. If there are pedestrian signals in place, they should be followed for the safety of all those on the sidewalk and roadway.”
Nicole Timmer was a substitute teacher for Grand Haven Public Schools until the pandemic hit.
To help fill the substitute shortage needs, some districts have turned to staffing services and college students to help fill substitute teaching gaps. (pxhere.com)
“It wasn’t worth it,” she said.
As the need for substitute teachers increased after the pandemic, private placement companies have become more essential to grow school districts’ sub pools.
Timmer, a former stay-at-home mom, was trained by Edustaff, a private staffing service based in Grand Rapids. Its website says the company works with more than 550 K-12 districts nationwide.
However, she and a handful of other Grand Haven subs were “grandfathered” into the substitute teaching system. She used Edustaff’s portal to see her assignments, but there was a special asterisk next to her name meaning she was a district employee.
With the asterisk came the perks of being involved in the school district on an ongoing basis.
Feeling like you are part of a team
She was able to form relationships with other teachers, be involved in her children’s education and choose whom to substitute for.
Before the school year started, she often had a calendar full of dates she was needed in the classrooms.
The full-time teachers “were spending the most time with my children during the day,” Timmer said. “So it was a really cool insider look to see what was going on in the times that I wasn’t around. Being a stay-at-home mom, it was very interesting.”
She said she was lucky to be able to follow her kids as they got older.
Her brother, Joe Nelson, taught at the Grand Haven High School. She once texted him after having a problem with one of his students.
“A kid was being kind of mean to me, and I literally just took a picture of him and sent it to Joe and said, ‘This kid’s being a jerk,’” Timmer said. “Joe emailed him right then and there, (saying) ‘Stop being a jerk.’”
Timmer said she’s still friends with many teachers she subbed for, and having such connections helped solidify her position in the district.
For other outsourced substitutes working for Edustaff, Timmer said it could be difficult to develop and maintain such relationships in an unfamiliar district. But she said these subs should also make an effort to “make a name for themselves.”
Filling the substitute teacher need
Brian Dunn, the Edustaff director for Michigan, said the company has seen a 10% spike in teacher absences this school year.
“We’re also filling in more classrooms, which is exciting because it means more people are working more often,” Dunn said.
He said anyone who meets the 60-semester credit hours and background check requirements can apply to Edustaff.
Stay-at-home parents are the biggest group of Edustaff’s subs, Dunn said. Other large groups include retired educators and college students.
While Edustaff services can fill some gaps left by the teacher shortage, some districts are reaching out to education colleges to ask if their students can fill paid long-term substitute positions.
Reaching into the future educators pool
Marcia Fetters, the director of teaching education at Western Michigan University, said long-term sub positions can be valuable for some students because of the pay.
Most internships for education majors at Western are student teaching positions with a mentor teacher. Fetters said she encourages traditional student teachers to train through Edustaff so they can cover the classroom if the mentor is absent for the day.
Long-term sub positions are different because students don’t have a full-time teacher to coach them in the classroom.
Fetters said Western often works with a district to set up additional mentoring opportunities for students who take on long-term substitute jobs.
“Long-term subbing as an internship has its pros and cons,” Fetters said. “I’ve worked with students who have done it both ways. Some excel at it and some just want a little bit more support.”
Nathan Hannum (standing) with his donor, Kyle Hess. (Courtesy, Trinity Health)
Some years ago, Nathan Hannum received the diagnosis that he had IgA nephropathy, also sometimes called Berger’s disease, that occurs when an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA) builds up in the kidney resulting in inflammation that can hamper the kidneys’ ability to filter waste from your blood.
It was a slow decline of kidney function, taking about 18 years for Hannum to drop to about 80% function and then in 2020, the decline started to take a steep dive, with him losing about 20% of functionality.
“So it was a pretty steep deal, but at the end of the year I was in a better position than a lot of other patients in that even though my function had gone down so far, I didn’t have to have dialysis,” he said.
When Hannum and his family moved to Grand Rapids about 15 years ago, he discovered there was only one renal kidney doctor’s office in Grand Rapids at that time, which was associated with the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center.
“I had been told I would probably want to get it done there just because it’s close to home,” Hannum said. “There are other options. We could have gone to the University of Michigan or Detroit or Chicago, but the ability to have the facility close to home was a big part of the decision.”
Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center marks its 50th anniversary this year. (Courtesy, Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center)
Marking a golden anniversary
The Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center in Grand Rapids marks its 50th anniversary this year. There are six such centers in the state of Michigan with Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center (formerly theMercy Health Saint Mary’s Kidney Transplant Center) being the only adult kidney transplant center on the west side of the state.
Since its opening in 1973, more than 2,800 kidney transplants have occurred, improving the lives not only of the patients but of their loved ones and caregivers.
“Our team takes great pride in reaching this 50-year milestone,” said Jill McNamara, MSN RN, Transplant services liaison for the Kidney Transplant Center. “One of the ways we are celebrating is to reflect on the patient stories that show our team just how many people have been touched by their care.”
Hannum admits he was one of those patients who benefitted from that expert care.
“You know sometimes you go in for procedures and they just start working on it and don’t really tell you what is going on. They might ask you what your name is to make sure they’re working on the right person,” Hannum said. “(The Trinity) nurses were fantastic at explaining ahead of time what was going to happen and why they were poking me for this and why they were asking me about that and the doctors were the same way.”
Hannum’s story
Hannum’s process started a couple of years before his surgery with doctors encouraging him to start compiling a list of potential donors. Having been a pastor for the past 25 years, Hannum, who is currently serving at Jenison Christian Church, has a network of contacts.
Left, Nathan Hannum with his donor, Kyle Hess. (Courtesy, Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center)
In 2022, the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center became the only adult transplant center in Michigan to partner with the National Kidney Register (NKR), the largest paired donation program in the world. The NKR has the largest living donor pool, making the likelihood of finding a match potentially faster than other paired programs.
“I sent a big ask to my friends and family and said if you are still interested, here’s the number to call and I was fortunate that a lot of them did,” Hannum said. “There were at least two matches and I think there were probably more than that for me.”
Once a donor was found, the next step was a series of tests, blood and others, to assure there were no underlying issues. It was through those tests, Hannum learned he had prostate cancer. While appreciative that it was discovered, especially since Hannum had no cancer symptoms, the diagnosis was a setback for Hannum, but only a couple months.
Finally cleared for the transplant surgery, Hannum said the next biggest hurdle was scheduling. The surgery took place in December of 2021.
Utilizing technological innovations
Robotic live donor nephrectomy has created even more opportunities for live kidney donation. (Courtesy, Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center)
For patients like Hannum, Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center offer one of the latest technological innovations, robotic live donor nephrectomy. This process has created even more opportunities for live kidney donation. A live kidney donation is when a kidney is removed from one healthy patient and donated to a patient who has renal/kidney failure. Previously, these nephrectomies were performed laparoscopically, using small incisions, with the surgeon using his hands during the procedure.
“With a robotic procedure, we still make incisions into the abdomen, but instead of using two hands, a surgeon has four robotic arms available at one time to also control the instruments and camera,” said Joel Stracke, DO, surgical director of the Kidney Transplant Center. “The nice thing about this approach is that we are able to make the large incision needed to remove the kidney much lower on the patient’s abdomen – under the pant line.”
The robot not only offers remarkable precision during surgery, but studies have shown that following a robotic donor nephrectomy, patients experience less pain and less need for narcotics.
Feeling like your 15 years younger
Every person responds differently to their transplant, Hannum said, adding that in his case, aftercare was mostly routine.
“The moment I woke up from my surgery, I felt better and my wife even told me even before I said anything. She said ‘Your eyes are brighter, and your skin color is different and it’s just amazing,’” he said. “ I can’t describe what it was like to be out of the ‘kidney fog’ just when you wake up.”
While there have been bumps along the way, a year later, Hannum said he feels 100% better, adding that he has felt 15 years younger this past year, “which is pretty fantastic.”
“Our main priority is to provide our patients with individualized, compassionate and expert care,” McNamara said. “Over the last 50 years, our program has become one of the largest and most successful community hospital-based transplant programs in the country. As we look forward to the next 50 years and beyond, we will continue to focus on our patients and their families, offering advanced surgical techniques and innovative donor options that offer more hope to our patients.”
The Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center currently has six surgeons and five nephrologists. In 2022, it completed 102 transplant surgeries: 37 living donor recipients and 65 deceased donor recipients. There are approximately 300 patients at the center currently on the waiting list, 155 which were added last year.
The classically-trained Detroit resident has been elbow-deep in traditional American music since their first lessons at the age of five with Kentucky native Robert Oppelt. Their concerts take audiences on a journey through the back roads of American old time and folk music, with detours through ragtime and early jazz. Lewis has taken blue ribbons at the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, WV, and at the Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax, VA, the country’s oldest and largest fiddlers convention.
Your musical path has included both classical and traditional American music. Can you describe your musical origins and artistic progress?
It all started when my grandfather brought a full-size viola to the house when I was three years old. According to family lore, I would pull it out from under the piano every day and open the case up and say “I want to play it.” So when I was a little older I started taking violin lessons, and I made it as far as Interlochen Arts Academy for my junior and senior years of high school. After high school, I decided that I was done with the violin, and soon after that I met a musician from Virginia — Aaron Greenhood — who introduced me to bluegrass. I wasn’t especially interested but it turned out to be very fun and challenging, and we became close friends. I ended up moving to Virginia and started a band with him. Aaron introduced me to Ben Belcher, who gave me my first banjo and the inspiration to want to play, and from bluegrass I started exploring its origins and influences, old time, blues and other styles from the early 20th century, early jazz and country.
Aaron Jonah Lewis (Courtesy of the artist)
When I think about the musical decisions I’ve made in my life, they have always been informed by my relationships with people. Some people decide what kind of music they want to play and then look for people to play with and learn from. For me, it’s the other way around — I find people who inspire me and who I like to spend time with, and I end up getting into whatever they’re into. If Aaron Greenhood had been into samba or polka or reggae, I probably would be in a very different place right now!
Aaron Jonah Lewis was classical training. (Courtesy of the artist)
You’re a virtuoso of banjo playing rooted in 19th-century classic fingerstyle. What distinguishes this discipline from other banjo styles?
In this style, the banjo is set up with nylon strings and played with bare fingers picking up, as opposed to bluegrass picking in which steel strings and finger picks are used, or clawhammer, which uses a down-stroke with the right hand. Much of the repertoire exists in written form, as this style was popular before audio recording technology was widely available for commercial use.
I do get a thrill reading a piece of banjo music for the first time that’s never been recorded before, knowing that I’m having the same experience as someone 120 years ago would have had, discovering the music without any audible reference. For more information about classic banjo, I highly recommend this excellent resource — classic-banjo.ning.com — and to answer this specific question in detail, classic-banjo.ning.com/page/f-a-q#whatisclassicbanjo.
You play music from a variety of musical genres and traditions. Does your classical training in violin, for example, inform your traditional playing, or vice versa?
Yes, it certainly goes both ways! My Suzuki training encouraged learning by ear, and that has served me very well in the oral traditions of old time, jazz, bluegrass, country, blues, et al. I’ve found that when I play classical I bring a lot more to the table than I did in my younger years, thanks to my experience with improvisation and diverse traditional musics.
I did have to unlearn some of my classical training in order to be able to relax and get into improvisation; let go of rigid ideas of what it means to be “in tune”; and to develop a strong sense of rhythm, which is often overlooked in classical training. The training I had in my youth gave me a solid technical foundation, which made it easier for me to pick up new musical ideas and run with them, but I also had to let go of ideas of what was “right” or “good” and get past the endless quest for excellence and perfection that can distract from what is useful and meaningful in the moment.
In addition to your solo career, you’re a founding member of The Corn Potato String Band. What distinguishes your solo repertoire from your work with Corn Potato?
Not much! My solo work is missing the musical input and voices of my longtime collaborators Lindsay McCaw and Ben Belcher, and I can’t bring the same level of variety and excitement to a solo performance as I can with Ben and Lindsay. On the other hand, I am able to get a little more into the storytelling side of things and sharing historical context when I’m on my own. With Corn Potato, we try to keep the hits coming, and in my solo shows I have a bit more space and intimacy to share the stories behind the music.
What do you like about performing in downtown GR?
The people! Anywhere I perform, it’s the people who make the show. I absolutely can’t do it on my own, and folks in GR continue to demonstrate a real dedication and love for music, both new and old, familiar, and obscure.
This article provided by ArtRat, located at 46 Division Ave. S. For more about ArtRat, visit the gallery’s website at www.artrat.us. To join ArtRat Gallery’s mailing list of events and exhibits, email matthew@artrat.us.
On March 13, 1992, then Wyoming’s Roger High School, now Wyoming High School, had a very special visitor, then Democratic presidential contender Bill Clinton. To a packed school library, Clinton talked about what he would do if president, focusing on the trade deficit with Japan. Clinton secured the Democratic nomination and went on to be elected the nation’s 42nd president.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
Residents listen to the presentations on the May 2 millage proposal for a 1.5 mill increase. (WKTV)
On Thursday, the City of Wyoming hosted the first of three public meetings on its May 2 millage proposal that would be dedicated to fund police and fire.
About 35 residents and community and city leaders were at the meeting which took place at the KDL Wyoming branch. The city is seeking a millage rate increase of 1.5 mills for a period of five years. For a $200,000 residential home, which has a taxable value of $100,000, the additional cost would be about $150 annually.
If approved on May 2, the proposal would generate an additional $4 million in revenue each year. The revenue would help fund 14 police officers and 13 firefighters.
Mayor Kent VanderWood, Chief Kim Koster, and Interim City Manager John McCarter discussed the number of factors, such as the 2008 recession, lost in revenue sharing, and the decline of paid-on call volunteer firefighters that have impacted the funding of police and fire. Koster noted the city currently has 1.3 officers for every 1,000 city residents which is below the national average of 2.4. If the millage passed, the city would be at 1.6 officers per 1,000 residents. Koster said the police department has handled 3,583 cases, which have doubled in the past seven to eight years, and that fire has responded to 7,900 calls, which is about 645 calls per firefighter.
McCarter pointed out that the city has not had a millage rate increase since 2010 when the current dedicated millage for public safety was approved. The city’s current millage rate is 11.89 mills. That millage was renewed in 2014 and made permanent in 2018. The city did seek a request to be able to use some of its library funds for park improvements in 2017 and sought an income tax in 2022 for public safety and park improvements, which failed.
Residents asked a variety of questions about the millage, what it will fund and how the additional funding would impact the city. Some of those questions are summarized below with the responses from city officials.
The state of Michigan has a $9 billion surplus, so does it have more money available to fund more firefighters and police officers for the City of Wyoming?
Interim City Manager John McCarter: The City of Wyoming receives funding from property taxes and state shared funding. Within state shared funding, there are two types: constitutional, which is money that always comes to the city and the state cannot touch it; and statuary, which has been cut over the years. Governor Gretchen Whitmer in her budget has a 7% increase on that statuary just for public safety. The amount is about $55,000 with it costing about $130,000 for a fully funded police officer.
We have reached out to the state to see if there is any other money available that we are not aware of and we have been told there is not. We are grateful for what we are receiving and we appreciate that increase but we really can’t rely on the state to get us to that $4 million-level that we are needing.
What about grants?
Interim City Manager John McCarter: The city utilized the United States Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program to hire six officers about a year and half ago. The trouble with grants is that they sunset. The COPS grant steps down. It is 75% the first year, 50% the second year, and then about 25% the third year, and then with that grant you not only have to cover all those costs but you have to retain all those officers one year after the funding is done. So the grant funding is temporary and it always has strings attached.
So we have sought grant funding and we continue to. We have sought out on the fireside as well. We haven’t been successful, but we are still trying.
To clarify on the (COPS) grant that is expiring: if this millage does not get passed, how many officers would the city be at risk losing?
Chief Kim Koster: It would be 10 officers. We have to maintain that staffing for at least two and half years and then that funding would be gone. The grant covers 50% the second year and about 25% the third year for those six officers and there is an additional four that the city is covering.
Mayor Kent VanderWood talks to residents after the meeting. (WKTV)
Interim John McCarter: In our general fund, we carry a fund balance for emergencies and we have a policy minimum, and we can go about two and half more years and support the staff that we have now, assuming that property values come back to earth and do not continue to climb the way they are. So we can support them that long but we have to seek other sources after that.
Mayor Kent VanderWood: When we decided at the council level to accept that grant to hire those additional officers, we knew it would come time that we would have to fund those within our budget and not the COPS grant. It is kind of like when you buy something on a credit card, you know the bill is going to come. So that is kind of what we are facing right now.
So it is 17 public safety officers that are not being funded by the current public safety millage. These are being paid out of our general fund surplus right now. So what this millage will allow us to do is continue to staff at that level plus add 10 more public safety officers.
Are you counting those ones you may no longer have after the grant funding in the millage proposal?
Chief Kim Koster: Yes, so there are 10 current police officers and we would add four through the proposed funding. (For a total of 14 police officers.) On the fireside, it would be 13, seven are already hired and we would hire six additional.
How many total police officers and firefighters does the City of Wyoming have?
Chief Kim Koster discusses why the city needs to increase its police and fire staffing. (WKTV)
Chief Kim Koster: We have 99 sworn police officers, which includes myself, and with the additional four that would make 103. On the fireside, for those in fire suppression, meaning these are firefighters who go out and fight fires and are not assigned to other duties, we have 33 and it would be 39 if we hire the additional six.
So a total of 10 additional public safety officers (and seven firefighters) who are not funded by the current public safety millage who would be part of the 27 officers who would be funded under the proposed millage.
Can you describe what the dedicated traffic enforcement would look like?
We have a crime analyst that was part of the COPS grant. She would be able to identify high intersections for traffic crasheswhere we could deploy some of our community service officers there to run red light violations or radar in other areas where we get complaints. A lot of neighbors complain about speeding traffic. So if we receive many of those complaints around an area, we would respond.
Some of the response times and rates that you mentioned, if this passes and in a year, if we want to see how this is doing, are those response times listed anywhere?
Earlier in the meeting, Koster stated that the response times are 5.16 minutes when the first vehicle arrives on the scene. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the standard is four minutes, which the department hopes to achieve with the additional fire staff funded by the proposed millage.
Chief Kim Koster: We do an annual report so you would get to see it in the annual report which usually comes out at the end of February or March. Note: The report is also available at the city’s website, under the “Public Safety – Police” tab.”
The next meetings are March 27 at 7 p.m. at the Gezon Fire Station, 2300 Gezon Pkwy. SW, and April 27 at 7 p.m. at the Wyoming Police Station, 2300 DeHoop Ave. SW. Koster said both events will be more meet-n-greets with opportunities for the public to talk with police officers and firefighters.
Brian Long is a local business forecaster. Credit: GVSU
The “back-to-work euphoria” of January has faded and economic indicators edged back into negative territory in West Michigan during February, according to the latest survey from Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
The Current Business Trends survey of West Michigan manufacturers released March 8 found key indexes sliding as new orders and production soured after an unexpectedly rosy outlook in January.
“Overall we had expected business conditions to soften in 2023 and this month’s report is a confirmation of that trend,” said Brian Long, director of supply chain management research at the Seidman. “We expect interest rate-sensitive industries to retreat, but are still expecting that the pent-up demand for automotive will keep the West Michigan economy positive.”
Based on responses from the survey, Long said he also expects a positive outlook from aerospace firms, while the prospects for the office furniture business “remain far less certain.”
“However, even if the markets for office furniture remain soft, a major collapse like we’ve seen in other downturns is unlikely,” Long concluded.
Both the short- and long-term business outlook indexes slid back into negative territory after showing a more upbeat outlook in January.
Broader indicators are showing the world economy proving resilient despite the war in Ukraine, Long said.
“The world economy is not as grim as you might imagine,” he said. “The J.P. Morgan international survey of purchasing agents indicates that we are absolutely at break-even now. Some countries are down, but enough countries are up right now that the average is at a break-even point.”
GVSU’s Current Business Trends survey indexes are tracked based on whether survey respondents report “up,” “same,” “down” or “N/A” to questions about business conditions.
Here’s a look at some key indexes:
Sales (new orders): -17 in February vs. +18 in January
Production: -7 in February vs. +21 in January
Employment: +17 in February vs. +18 in January
Lead times also improved in the survey, which Long noted was a strong indicator that supply chains are continuing to loosen up, despite continued shortages and high prices for specific commodities.
The 60th anniversary memorial event that took place on 2022. (Wreath Across America)
Sixty-one years ago on March 16, 1962, Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 (FTLF 739) and its crew, departed on a secret mission sanctioned by the President John F. Kennedy, to fly to Vietnam. This secret Vietnam reconnaissance mission went missing with no trace of the plane or its passengers ever found. Onboard were 93 United States Army soldiers and 11 civilian crewmembers.
On Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 12pm ET, national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) will be holding a special live ceremony to remember all those lost that day and honor their families.
Very little is known about what happened to FTLF 739, its crew and passengers, and due to the circumstance surrounding this mission, the names of those lost have not yet been added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. However, today many families and loved ones of these heroes still fight to have their loved ones recognized for their contributions to our freedom and shared history.
Of the 93 soldiers who were on the flight, two were from Michigan: Specialist James Taylor from Olive Branch and Private Stanley McEntee from Detroit.
Presently, the only monument that bears the names of these American heroes was erected by a private citizen, Wreaths Across America founder Morrill Worcester, on his balsam tip land in Columbia Falls, Maine.
“When I first heard the story about this mission, I was shocked to learn that nothing has been done for these families,” said Morrill Worcester. “I said that day, that we would do something to make sure these people are honored and remembered, and to hopefully give some closure to these families.”
The inscription on the FTLF 739 monument in Maine reads:
“Missing in action; Presumed dead. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 went missing on March 16, 1962, with 93 U.S. Army soldiers on board. These men and their flight crew perished in what would become one of the biggest aviation mysteries out of the Vietnam War era.
“The names of those who gave their lives and who remain missing are inscribed here so the they will be said aloud and their memory will live on.”
The Jeep recovered by Kent County Sheriff’s Department. (Courtesy, Kent County Sheriff’s Department)
Just before 1 a.m. March 8, deputies received information that a Jeep stolen out of Kalamazoo was in the area of Byron Township. Kent County Sheriff units closed in and attempted to stop the vehicle near 84th Street and U.S. 131.
The Jeep fled from deputies, but nearby units were able to use spike strips along U.S. 131 at 100th Street. The vehicle continued to flee until it stopped along U.S. 131 near the Dorr exit. The Allegan County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Kent County Sherrif deputies in taking two suspects into custody.
More than 100 pieces of stolen mail were found inside the vehicle. This includes multiple credit and debit cards, checks, and other assorted mail. The mail was stolen from the Kalamazoo area, Ottawa County, and Byron Township.
Mail found in the stolen car. (Courtesy, Kent County Sheriff’s Department)
A 40-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman, both from Kalamazoo, are lodged at the Kent County Jail on charges related to the stolen vehicle, flee and elude, and possession of burglary tools. Kent County Sheriff detectives are still sorting through the mail to contact victims. Kent County Sheriff has been in contact with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for the possibility of a federal investigation.
Mailboxes are protected by federal law and crimes against mailboxes (and the mail inside) are investigated by Postal Inspectors. Mail theft is a serious crime; although it’s considered a lesser offense than mail fraud. Under federal law, mail theft is penalized by up to 5 years of imprisonment.
As the end of winter nears, Woodland Mall invites guests to celebrate the start of spring with its whimsical Mad Hatter Tea Party and springtime bunny photo opportunities.
The Mad Hatter Tea Party will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 18. The Alice in Wonderland-themed event will include special appearances by Alice and the Mad Hatter himself.
There also will be spring-themed crafts, snacks and games until 1 p.m. The event will mark the return of seasonal photo opportunities, available through Saturday, April 8.
(Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
“Our Mad Hatter Tea Party is a fun and interactive twist on the classic Lewis Carroll story with activities that are entertaining for the child in all of us,” said Mikia Ross, interim senior marketing director. “Children can create their own Mad Hatter hat, enjoy tea and cookies and take family portraits as part of the fun.”
Photos with the bunny will be offered in the Macy’s Court from noon to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. For the last weekend, extended hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. will be offered on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8.
(Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
Beginning March 20, pets can join in for photos from noon to 7 p.m. every Monday through April 3. Feathered and whiskered pets of all kinds are welcome as long as they are kept on a leash or in a carrier at all times. Owners also must sign a release prior to visiting.
Digital photo packages are available with add-ons such as prints and frames. Reservations are encouraged and can be made online. Walk-up visits are permitted when space is available.
More information on the Mad Hatter Tea Party can be found at ShopWoodlandMall.com.
Guests sample some of the maple sugar in front of Blandford’s sugar shack. (Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Blandford Nature Center is marking the sweet arrival of spring by bringing back the popular Sugarbush Festival centered around all things maple-syrup for a 53rd year.
The event will take place March 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Blandford Nature Center, 1715 Hillburn Ave NW, Grand Rapids.
It features the opportunity to explore and learn along Blandford Nature Center’s Sugarbush Trail. Festival attendees can visit stations along the trail where they will learn to identify and tap Sugar Maple trees, explore historic sugaring techniques of Native Americans and Pioneers, and get an inside-look at Blandford’s Sugarhouse and syrup making process.
This fun-filled event will also include wildlife encounters, a petting zoo, games, crafts, food trucks and concessions including Mon Cheri Creperie and Lazy Dazy Coffee Camper, historical building tours, live music and performances by Beaver Xing and Blandford Environmental Education Program Students (BEEPS), blacksmith demonstrations, and more.
“This is the first full-scale Sugarbush Festival we’ve been able to have since 2020,” said Community Programs Coordinator Camilla Voelker. “Our team is so excited to be opening this event up to more people and offering some of the Sugarbush Festival favorites that have been missing in the most recent years, like our Maple Cotton Candy.”
Pre-registration is not required to attend the Sugarbush Festival, but is recommended to avoid the line during check-in. Attendees can pre-register and purchase tickets ahead of time at blandfordnaturecenter.org or walk-in registration will be available at the door. Tickets are $7 per member and $10 per non-member. Children ages 2 and under are free, but registration is still necessary. Check-in will be in front of the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center with overflow parking at The Highlands, the Blandford Nature Center Farm, and CA Frost Elementary School.
Along with the Sugarbush Festival, there will be other sugarbush-themed programs happening during the month of March.
“We have so many fun things happening outside of the festival,” Voelker sai. “Our Tap a Tree or Journey to the Sugarhouse programs give families and children the opportunity to explore and learn about the sugaring process, and our Blandford Date Night: Sunset on Sugarbush orBackyard Sugaring programs are great activities for adults looking to experience the nostalgia of the sugarbush season or learn about sugaring at home.”
Guests can view a full list of programs on Blandford’s Community Calendar at blandfordnaturecenter.org. Blandford’s Sugarhouse is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 pm from March 1-31. A general admission fee of $3 per person is required for non-members which includes access to the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center and Wildlife Education Center as well as over eight miles of trails.
Our parents and grandparents both taught us that making mistakes was part of life.
Some mistakes are easier to recover from than others. But when it comes to money and time, the closer you are to retirement, the less time you have to recover from bad money moves. My advice is not to take any chances you can’t afford. As you near retirement, you’ll need to spend more time creating an investment approach that aligns each account to its specific goal for cash flow requirements during retirement. The worst times for your investment portfolio to take a hit are somewhere in the five years before and five years after you retire. Some have called this the red retirement zone. Lose money in this segment, and it will significantly impact how you spend and withdraw money throughout your retirement years.
Here’s a new retirement approach. It’s not about being rich; it’s about having the income needed to have peace of mind. We may never tire of discussing lessons from The Great Recession, which hit two groups especially hard–teens who saw their parents lose a home or job, and boomers who saw their savings depleted precisely at the wrong moment in life. So proper financial planning for retirement is crucial to your success. Boomers need to learn that they are leaving the accumulation phase of their life and now will be focusing on asset protection, sustainable income, and distribution of their assets over the next 30+ years.
Many people are in this category express extreme insecurity regarding the reality of ever retiring and having a sufficient income stream during their retirement years. So what can Worry-Free retirement income solutions offer you? Our planning provides a retirement income trifecta.
First is a guaranteed sustainable way to maintain income in retirement.
Second, are potentially higher income payments than you can achieve anywhere else.
A third is a reduction of some of the market risk from your overall portfolio before and during the years of your retirement when you can’t afford to endure the consequences of a market downturn. It may be true that money can’t buy you love, but it can buy happiness in retirement, as sufficient amounts of guaranteed income equal a happy retirement.
Planning with certainty is the new strategy for retirement income. For nearly two decades, financial advisors subscribed to the notion that their clients could spend 4% annually of their accumulated savings in retirement and not run out of money. No more. Between market volatility, inflation, volatile interest rates and an uncertain economy, advisors are questioning the traditional approaches to retirement income. Of course, what you consider an uncertain economic environment depends on who is reporting the news and what day it is. But it doesn’t matter if you’re properly planned.
Simply put, today’s retirement portfolios demand a smarter balance of growth and safety to effectively achieve a stream of lifetime income. The good news is that the answers to the challenge are emerging in the form of improved strategies that promise to generate more income at less cost and with less market risk.
Don’t be like Scarlet O’Hara, who said, “I can’t think of that right now. If I do, I go crazy. I’ll think about it tomorrow.”
It would be best if you thought about it today.
Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463 or click this link: Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.comDave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management.
Six random strangers are stuck in a room until they figure out how to come to a consensus. In today’s polarized world, one wonders how that is even possible. Yet, if a system based on law is to function properly, then much depends upon agreeing to follow it. And democracy – where all citizens are considered equal under the law – needs a system based on law to exist. But when it comes right down to it – the system and the law – well, those are two distinct things to consider.
This is the dilemma that Petty Crimes, written by local playwright Kristin Andrea Hanratty, explores in its 90-minute world premiere production this week at Actors’ Theatre.
Veteran actor Greg Rogers is Clayton, the older white male stepping sincerely and assuringly into the role of jury foreman. (Courtesy, Actors’ Theatre)
The crime itself is minor, a simple misdemeanor requiring only six jurists; it should be a quick deliberation and then everyone gets back to their own lives. But the characters and the context complicate things.
The play takes place in one setting, a cramped room that serves as an alternate deliberation space due to a much bigger trial happening at the same time. The other trial has overtaken the regular facilities as well as the public imagination, and with it a disruptive media frenzy. This displacement reveals but one layer of context that counteracts the idea of equal justice. The jurors are uncomfortably (even if for some, just physically) aware of what garners attention in society, and what is overlooked, as their deliberations proceed.
While instructed to dutifully fulfill their part of the legal process and follow the narrow parameters of the law, real life and lived experiences creep in through the cracks of their contained environment (as do the flies). Much like the mismatched chairs in the room that each negotiate for their own, perspectives and privilege sorts itself out.
The cast nimbly understands the broader representation each role brings to the table, including veteran actor Greg Rogers as Clayton, the older white male stepping sincerely and assumingly into the role of jury foreman; Bryanna Lee as Becca, the enthusiastic young legal student fascinated and distracted by the process; and Ruth Ann Molenaar as Eileen, a mature Black woman whose agency resides in keenly knowing how to read a room filled with all the others.
Ruth Ann Molenaar is Eileen, a mature Black woman whose agency resides in keenly knowing how to read a room filled with all the others. (Courtesy, Actors’ Theatre)
Interesting how a single, comfortable new office chair can say so much about dominant ideology, its hegemonic gestures of equality, and its actual heir apparent in this system we uphold, for better or worse.
This production is a respectable debut of an original work, and it is a play that deserves to live on in future interpretations by theatres across the country. Kudos to Actors’ Theatre in Grand Rapids for recognizing this and initiating the launch.
By Brandon Beck Contract Administrator Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan
When a person retires, they may lose their dental insurance making it difficult to keep up on oral health care. (Pxhere.com)
Oral Health is an integral component of overall health. Diseases of the mouth are closely linked to other serious health conditions in the body. Yet access to dental services can be a serious barrier for older adults to maintain their oral health. Dental coverage is a benefit often linked to an employer, so coverage can change significantly after retiring. Advocacy at the national, state, and local levels are working to reform oral health and increase access for older adults.
Locally, the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) supports oral health in a variety of ways. In Kent county, the Kent County Senior Millage (KCSM) network provides low-cost dental services to Kent County residents 60 years or older in partnership with Cherry Health and Exalta Health. AAAWM is also a member of the Kent County Oral Health Coalition, a group focused on advocacy and outreach in the West Michigan. Each year, AAAWM partners with Grand Rapids Community College to host Senior Dental Day; an event that helps older adults engage their oral health and find a new dental provider. For more information on Senior Dental Day 2023, taking place on March 20, email brandonb@aaawm.org
Within the rest of the AAAWM region, made up of nine counties: Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola the recently created Oral Health Plan applies. At the state level, Michigan has created the 2025 Michigan State Oral Health Plan that consists of three goals to improve the oral health of Michigan residents. Each goal is supported by implementation strategies and activities for healthcare providers and advocates to utilize. The three goals are as follows:
Michiganders understand the value of daily oral health care and preventative dental care and have the tools to care for their mouth every day.
Michigan citizens, dental professionals, and medical providers understand the connection between oral health and overall health.
Michiganders have access to preventative and restorative oral health care because the state has developed the necessary infrastructure to effectively serve everyone.
Nationally, the 2021 report Oral Health in America by The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) calls for a policy that mandates dental coverage in Medicare, stating it would reduce health inequities by assuring older adults have access to preventative and other oral health services. Most individuals lose their employee provided dental insurance after retirement, putting their oral health at risk. Additionally, adults are living longer than ever before, increasing their risk for chronic health conditions. Accessing dental services can be especially challenging for older adults who are disabled, homebound, or cognitively impaired as services cannot be provided in the home.
There is much work to be done in oral healthcare reform, and there are numerous ways you can show your support and advocate for these important issues. For more information about local efforts, visit the Kent County Oral Health Coalition’s website or follow them on Facebook. For more information about oral health advocacy in our region, contact AAAWM Advocacy Coordinator Sherri Harris at sherrih@aaawm.org
Local police are investigating two Saturday incidents at separate hotels, one in Wyoming and the other in Kentwood.
Fight at Hampton Inn
UPDATE: The Wyoming Department of Public Safety Investigative continues to investigate this incident. the facts of this case were presented to the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office. After reviewing thefts of the incident, the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office issued a warrant for Austin Custsinger of Tennessee on the charge of Involuntary Manslaughter. Chutsinger was arraigned at the Wyoming 62A District Court on March 7.
The deceased individual involved in this incident has been identified as 35-year-old Joshua Willow of Pennsylvania.
Detectives have confirmed tight physical altercation occurred between Curtsinger and Willow. During this physical altercation, Willow sustained injuries that provide to be fatal.
Wyoming police officers responded to a fight in progress involving multiple individuals at 12:20 p.m Saturday, March 4.
According to the police report, when officers arrive, they located an unresponsive male in the parking lot. Despite lifesaving efforts, the male was pronounced deceased at the scene. The initial investigation indicates that the deceased became unresponsive during the course of the physical altercation. Other individuals involved in this incident were identified and interviewed by investigators. The circumstances surrounding this incident remain under investigation.
The deceased is a 35-year-old male from out of state. His name has not been released.
Detectives are continuing to investigate this incident. The police report stated that although it is early in the investigation, it is believed all individuals involved in this incident have been located and there is no threat to the public.
Shooting at Delta Hotel
(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
UPDATE: The Kentwood Police Department has released the identify of the individual of the shooting death as Jaquarrie Garrett, 22, from Georgia. The medical examiner has ruled his death a homicide with the cause being multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators are still actively working this case. No further information is being released at this time.
The Kentwood Police Department is investigating a shooting that resulted in a homicide.
Officers responded to a call about a shooting at the Delta Hotel, 3333 28th St. SE, Saturday, March 4. Officers located at 22-year-old male that despite Kentwood Police officers and Fire Department personal attempted first-aid along with EMS, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident is currently being investigated with the police report stating that the Kentwood Police Department does not believe there to be any immediate threat to the public at this time.
Community Action Statement
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the respective police departments. Wyoming Police may be reached at 616-530-7300. The Kentwood Police Department Detective Bureau may be reached at 616-656-6604.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or SilentObserver.org
“This award is a reflection that people use and place a high value on the services that they get from Kent District Library,” said Katie Zuidema, marketing communications specialist for KDL.
Money saving opportunities
One of the reasons KDL has surpassed previous engagement numbers is due to patrons realizing they can save hundreds of dollars each year by using free KDL resources instead of purchasing those same resources by other means.
KDL offers a number of programs. KDL Outreach and Programming Specialist Susan Erhardt reads to children. (Courtesy, Kent District Library)
“People are increasingly finding that many of the things they pay hard-earned dollars for are already available at the library—magazines such as Consumer Reports, training from LinkedIn Learning, streaming movie services and more,” said Randy Goble, KDL’s director of engagement, in supplied material. “It adds up to a huge savings.”
In 2022, the average KDL user saved $1,348 by checking out physical and digital items, and digital resource checkouts are more popular than ever.
“Technology is so accessible,” Zuidema said, “and some people’s reading habits changed during the pandemic when libraries were closed for a time.”
Reader usage of digital resources has grown every year, in part to a large collection that serves community members of all ages and interests, and also due to 24/7 access to that collection.
“Where the Crawdads Sing” was the most checked out book from KDL in 2022.
“Digital access continues to be the fastest growing segment of public library resources,” stated KDL’s Executive Director Lance Werner in supplied material. “We’re thrilled to be able to meet people wherever they are, to provide them with books, movies, audiobooks and more.”
Finding popular and current books and resources is also an appealing aspect of KDL.
The highest circulating title KDL readers borrowed in 2022 through KDL’s digital collection was Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, topping both ebook and audiobook categories. The book was a 2022 film starring Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Other popular ebook and audiobook titles borrowed were Verity by Colleen Hoover, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, The Maid by Nita Prose, and The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles.
How can patrons experience these resources?
Readers in Kent County just need a valid KDL library card to access digital books from KDL’s OverDrive-powered digital collection—compatible with any major device—and many other physical and digital resources.
“It’s a great time to sign up for a KDL library card,” Zuidema said. “When someone signs up for a library card, they now select their interests from 14 categories, including music, movies and writing. This information helps staff members share what services might be most exciting or useful to the new patron.”
Zuidema noted that KDL branches offer more than just books and movies. PerkPass program has complimentary guest passes to area attractions. Items such as Nintendo Switch game consoles, GoPro Cameras and Wi-Fi hotspots are available through Beyond Books Collection and KDL offers a variety of free programs for all ages.
Programming continues to be a priority in all 20 KDL branches. In 2022, KDL hosted 4,403 online and in-person programs with 181,265 in attendance.
“Our communities are showing up and expressing appreciation for our free, engaging and impactful programs for all ages,” Zuidema said.
What if you don’t have a KDL library card?
Zuidema was adamant that everyone is welcome in all KDL branches.
Attending KDL programs does not require a library card, and guest passes are available for usage of the library’s computers. The KDL Cruiser bikes are also available for checkout without a library card.
Readers with a card from Grand Rapids Public Library and other libraries part of the Lakeland Library Cooperative can place 15 items on hold through KDL, while KDL cardholders can place up to 70 items on hold.
KDL’s digital collection, databases, PerkPasses, and Beyond Books items like hotspots, Switch consoles, iPads, etc. do require a library card.
“KDL exists to further all people,” said Zuidema. “We truly offer something for everyone. No matter what you are looking for within our walls or on our website, we want you to find it. No matter who you are, you are welcome here.”
Connecting with patrons
A resident recently thanked KDL for saving her money by having a recently-released novel. (Courtesy, Kent District Library)
Zuidema said they love hearing from patrons, whether in-person, via email—or by notes left inside returned books.
One KDL librarian found a note thanking them for saving that reader $29 by having a recent Janet Evanovich book on the shelf.
Some items, however, are left accidentally.
“Once a staff member found a $100 bill inside of a returned book and worked diligently to find the owner,” Zuidema said. “I think they will use cheaper bookmarks from now on!”
How to get started
Visit kdl.org/ecard to apply for a KDL library card. Download the Libby app or visit kdl.overdrive.com to get started borrowing ebooks, audiobooks, and more. Visit KDL’s Spring Kaleidoscope page for new programs and offerings, and kdl.org for more information on all KDL services and resources.
Many shelters in the U.S. struggle to feed the pets in their care and communities, especially as inflation impacts food costs and donations. Throughout March, BISSELL Pet Foundation is raising awareness to encourage community support for shelters with its “Feed the Shelters®” campaign. The foundation is calling on pet lovers nationwide to donate food to their local shelter to make a lifesaving difference for a hungry pet.
Volunteers donate food items to the Kent County Animal Shelter. (Courtesy, BISSELL Pet Foundation)
“Donating food to your local shelter makes a difference for pets in need—whether it fills bowls in the shelter or for pets in need through community food assistance programs,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation.
Resources are stretched thin at Michigan shelters—and shelters nationwide—as these organizations experience longer stays for pets, increased owner surrenders and staffing issues. Shelters are community assets dedicated to keeping people and their pets together. Whether open admission or private, shelters support their communities through pet food assistance programs, free and low-cost community clinics, obedience classes, reuniting families with stray pets, and much more. At BISSELL Pet Foundation, we are committed to supporting shelter, and our “Feed the Shelters” campaign allows us to spread the love for all that shelters do and raise awareness to drive food donations.
“We hope our “Feed the Shelters” campaign will get community members through the doors of their local shelter to not only make a lifesaving food donation, but to also learn more about getting involved at their shelter,” said Bissell.
Participating in “Feed the Shelters” is easy:
Find your local shelter’s wish list and see what food they need.
Visit your shelter and take a photo or video of you dropping off your donation.
Share your donation photo/video on social media with #FeedTheShelters and tag @Cathy_Bissell and @BISSELLPets
Tag your friends and family to participate!
All year long, BISSELL Pet Foundation receives requests to help hungry pets from our network of more than 5,700 shelters and rescues. BISSELL Pet Foundation keeps bellies full by providing Feed the Shelters program grants to animal welfare organizations across the country. Grant recipients can then offer meals to their pets and donate meals to the neediest pets in their communities through pet food pantries and other lifesaving pet food resources. Since the program’s inception in 2020, the foundation has provided 1,850 904 meals to hungry pets.
Fentanyl testing strips are used “off label” to detect dangerous fentanyl in street drugs. (Courtesy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
LANSING – New dollars distributed to groups fighting substance abuse can be used to purchase strips that test whether drug dealers cut heroin or other street drugs with often-deadly fentanyl.
The simple paper strips are illegal in some 20 states.
But fentanyl test strips, along with sterile needles and opioid overdose reversal medication called naloxone, are among a wide range of “harm reduction” tactics the Department of Health and Human Services supports. The department recently announced it was distributing the first funds from national lawsuits settled in 2021 against prescription opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and three distributors.
“We are actually saving lives with these supplies,” said Lauren Hodson, a harm reduction analyst for the department who, until recently, worked in prevention services with the Detroit Recovery Project. “We get that direct feedback from people using the substances.”
Often mixed with other street drugs
Fentanyl is a cheap, synthetic opioid often found in street drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine and fake prescription pills. It’s also manufactured legally as a painkiller.
Its potency has driven a dramatic rise in overdose deaths across the nation and in Michigan.
According to Health and Human Services, the state had 3,096 overdose deaths in 2021, up from 2,738 in 2020.
Deaths have grown tenfold since 2000, and each year outpace deaths from car crashes, the department notes.
Fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more than morphine, according to the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC reports it as a major contributor to both fatal and nonfatal overdoses.
Reversing course on testing strips
Fentanyl testing strips initially were used to test urine for illicit drugs. They cost about $1 per strip.
For several years, they’ve been used “off label” to test street drugs, using a tiny amount of the drug mixed with water before dipping in the strip.
A June 2022 report from Legislative Analysis Public Policy Association, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit that drafts model state laws on substance use, found that using fentanyl strips is legal in 25 states, including Michigan, but illegal under laws in other states prohibiting drug paraphernalia.
Since that 2022 report was released, more states – Ohio, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana and Pennsylvania, according to news reports – legalized the strips and still more are debating legalization.
Some opponents argue that the testing strips promote drug use, but many states are reversing course as fentanyl-related overdoses rise.
Michigan never outlawed the testing strips though it has a law dating back to 1978 that criminalizes drug paraphernalia. The law applies only to those selling drugs, according to the association’s study.
Settlement used for ‘syringe service programs’
The opioid settlement will total nearly $800 million to the state and local governments over 18 years as part of a $26 billion national settlement. As part of the first $39 million received by the state, Health and Human Services said it’s distributing $3.9 million to 34 nonprofits and health departments operating “syringe service programs” offering clean needles and other supplies to those using street drugs.
Those groups have grown from five in 2018 to 34 today, according to Lynn Sutfin, a department public information officer. Many have distributed fentanyl testing strips using private donations because they weren’t allowed to buy syringes, testing strips and other supplies with federal drug prevention dollars until the Biden administration approved it in 2021.
Sutfin said the state’s approach to addiction is supportive and promotes “change at your own pace.”
“Get some of these individuals in the door, and maybe they are ready at some point to take that next step,” she said.
The movement in Grand Rapids
Steve Alsum, the executive director of the Red Project in Grand Rapids, said his syringe services group serves six counties: Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Lake and Allegan. It offers naloxone in three more counties: Mason, Oceana and Montcalm.
From October to December 2022, the group served 3,300 individuals and distributed 4,800 fentanyl testing strips.
“First and foremost, fentanyl testing strips are a tool that enables people to have a greater degree of knowledge of what they’re putting in their body. People can then use that to make decisions to reduce the risk,” he said.
He supports the use of fentanyl testing strips but said they aren’t perfect.
For example, they can’t identify all forms of fentanyl. Because fentanyl has grown so pervasive in heroin, most heroin samples test positive, he said.
The strips have been more useful in recent months to identify fentanyl contamination in cocaine and methamphetamine, he said.
What is happening up north
Kelly Rumpf, a health educator at the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department in the Upper Peninsula, said fentanyl strips, along with sterile needles, naloxone, sharps containers and alcohol wipes, are at the health department office in Kingsford.
The service, which helps 150 to 200 people a year, depends on word of mouth because local officials have shied away from promoting it, fearing public backlash, Rumpf said.
“People look at it like we’re enabling,” she said.
But it’s needed because the area has a high hepatitis C rate that can be spread by sharing needles, she said.
“It’s building momentum,” Rumpf said of the syringe services program.
What is happening at the state’s capital city
Julia Miller, the executive director of Punks with Lunch Lansing, said she views testing strips as one way to remind substance users to be careful and think about recovery. Her group feeds people who lack housing, provides warm clothing and staffs an office at a former church called the Fledge where syringe services are offered.
Fentanyl testing strips are a routine part of the outreach to about 35 people a week.
“It’s making more people aware of what they are using,” she said.
Miller added that getting a test that is positive for fentanyl doesn’t mean users throw those drugs out.
“Most of them tell me they make sure they use a little less of it or make sure they have someone with them,” who could administer overdose aid, she said.
Motor City joins the fight
Community Health Awareness Group in Detroit enrolls about 2,500 people in its syringe service program, said Barbara Locke, its director of prevention programs.
Fentanyl testing has been used for a few years, she said, and her group has worked on educating drug users on how to use the tests.
“Knowledge is power,” Locke said. “Fentanyl is so dangerous. We don’t want them to overdose. They don’t want to overdose. Nobody wants that.”
The ballet, with choreography by Junior Company Artistic Director Attila Mosolygo, follows the story of the original book “The Wonderful Wizard of OZ” written by L. Frank Baum, yet follows the same storyline of the well-known movie, directed by Victor Fleming, throughout the ballet. Follow Dorothy as she travels to the Land of Oz, meets three faithful friends, confronts the Wizard of Oz, and fights off the Wicked Witch of the West.
“I am excited to see all of the GRBS Junior Company students showcase their talents as we bring this classic story to the stage,” Mosolygo said. “The students have been working hard the last two and a half months.”
Rehearsals for Wizard of Oz began in December. Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company members have been attending class weekly at Grand Rapids Ballet’s Meijer Royce Center for Dance, and in many cases, depending on the role they are cast as, rehearse multiple days per week leading up to the performance. “The production involves more than 50 dancers of the Junior Company. As you can imagine, it can be challenging at times to bring that big of a cast together,” Mosolygo said.
Premiered initially in 2018, Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company is excited to bring back this well know the classic tale. Although the props and set design are the same, you may see some differences in the choreography, “As I revisit the ballet, I do tweak each scene and make changes as we go along,” Mosolygo said, “the sets and the costumes were originally created when the premiere happened in 2018. I designed and built the sets myself, based on my interpretation of the story.”
GRBS Junior Company is hosting Dorothy & Friends’ Tea Party on Sunday, March 12, at The Rutledge on Ionia. At the events, families will make themed crafts, pose for the photo booth, and meet and greet with characters from the Wizard of Oz; along with having brunch.
“Wizard of Oz” runs March 10-12 and 18-19, at Peter Martin Wege Theatre. Tickets are $20 online, via phone at 616-454-4771 ext. 110, or in person at GRB’s Box Office. Tickets to Dorothy & Friends’ Tea Party are available for $54 per person on the Grand Rapids Ballet’s website.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
The Soul Syndicate returns to Wyoming’s Concerts in Park on Aug. 1. (Supplied by the band)
There is about 103 days until the first Wyoming Concert in the Park takes place, but who’s counting?
Certainly not the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department.
“We are thrilled to be able to announce the concert series and help everyone think about those warmer days that are ahead,” said Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director Krashawn Martin.
The Parks and Recreation Department has taken over the coordination of the annual free concert series, which will run every Tuesday from 6—8 p.m. at Lamar Park, 2561 Park St. SW, from June 13 to Aug. 8. (Note: There are no performances during the week of July 4.) All concerts will be recorded by WKTV and aired on Comcast Channel 25 and streamed at WKTV.org.
“This year we are bring some traditional favorites along with some fresh fun to our concert series,” Martin said. “We also are incorporating some different elements to this year series as well.”
Returning favorites The Reverend Jesse Ray (June 13), Cabildo (June 27), and The Soul Syndicate (Aug. 1) will be joined by series newbies Michael Hulett (June 20), La Furia Del Ritmo (July 25) and Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps (Aug. 8) (For a complete rundown of the performers, music, and dates, go to the end of this story.)
Along with the main stage performers, plans are underway for pre-show entertainment and activities that will be for all ages.
Local food trucks will be on-hand with the the Parks and Recreation Department currently taking reservations for the concert spots.
Cabildo also is returning with a performance on June 27. (Supplied)
“We are focusing on local food trucks of the Greater Grand Rapids area,” Martin said, adding the food truck line-up will be announced at a later date. “We are hoping to provide a space that brings people together to enjoy local bands and local food trucks.”
Concertgoers may bring their own food, however alcohol is not permitted in the park. Attendees also may bring blankets and chairs to sit on while enjoying the performances.
“We’re excited to see the bands and to see everyone happy, enjoying the summer weather and our parks,” Martin said.
The Concerts in the Park 2023 Lineup:
June 13: The Reverend Jesse Ray is a one-man band, rock ’n’ roll experience.
June 20: Michael Hulett is a musician and vocalist who performs a variety of music such as jazz, R&B, pop, rock, and a sprinkling of country music.
June 27: Cabildo is a West Michigan-based alternative Latin rock collective that brings a unique blend of cambia, ska, folk, and other genres of music from Latin America.
July 11: Sarena Rae is a Grand Rapids based vocalist covering a variety of musical genres.
July 18: Klay N’ The Mud is a West Michigan-based cover band.
July 25: La Furia Del Ritmo will perform Latin music.
Aug. 1: The Soul Syndicate offers up classic soul, R&B and funk.
Aug. 8: Patty Pershayla & The Mayhaps features a former small-town pageant queen who has turned into a rock ’n’ roll powerhouse.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proposed a new $160 million for school lunches to help close the hunger gap created when federal funding ended. (Pxhere.com)
LANSING – Michigan schoolchildren may be at risk of going hungry due to the federal government eliminating funding for free meals in public schools after the pandemic.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is now pushing a new $160 million proposal to close the hunger gap created when federal funding ended. If passed, Michigan would be the fourth state to offer free meals to all public school students.
“Regardless of the community, there are always hungry kids,” said Daniel Connors, the director of food and nutrition services at Chippewa Valley Schools in Macomb County.
Free meals were part of COVID relief
In July 2022, statewide free meals were no longer federally funded in Michigan. This school year, free and reduced meals programs are limited to families who cannot cover the costs.
The previous funding was provided through COVID-19 relief from the federal government. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says families have to go back to the way things were pre-pandemic.
According to the Michigan League for Public Policy, around 715,000 kids in the K-12 public school system qualified for free and reduced meals in 2021, based on household income.
Access to all
Overall, about 1,443,456 children were enrolled in public schools in the 2021-22 school year, according to Michigan School Data.
Offering free meals for all students “removes the burden of worrying about paying for school meals, both for students and families. It also removes the stigma that may be associated with eating school-provided meals and removes the stress of filling out paperwork from parents,” said Mary Darnton, the food service director for Jenison & Hudsonville Schools in Georgetown Township, between Grand Rapids and Holland.
Connors said children who cannot afford a meal and don’t receive benefits may be given an alternative meal in some districts. When that happens, it may add to the stigma surrounding free and reduced meals.
“It is comforting at every level for teachers, parents, administrators and lunch workers. We just want to be able to feed our students and have that be the focus without worrying about paperwork and signatures,” Darnton said.
Connors said a lot of teachers keep snacks in their classroom cabinets. If children are getting school-provided meals, that weight is lifted off of teachers.
Not everyone meets the qualifications
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s guidelines use household size and gross income to determine eligibility.
Darnton said, “The thing with the guidelines is that they are set at the federal level. If a family is $1 over the income limit, we can’t extend the benefits. On paper, it may look as though the family does not qualify, but in real life the money for school meals may not be in that family’s budget.”
Whitmer has proposed that the state spend $160 million, which will cover free breakfast and lunch for 1.4 million students at K-12 schools, in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.
If free meals become available to all public school students again, Darnton said the main challenge will be learning how to work within the new system.
Darnton said that providing free meals during the pandemic helped prepare school districts to do so again.
“Challenges for food service directors, like me, will be knowing participation will rise and making sure we can get supplies, staffing and training. We will have to learn how to feed students for free,” she said.
What is happening across the country
California, Maine and Colorado have moved away from traditional eligibility-based free and reduced meal programs and now offer free meals to all students.
According to the Food Research and Action Center, located in Washington, D.C., California and Maine passed legislation in 2021 to continue providing free meals even after the federal support ended.
In 2022, Colorado voters passed a proposal that raised taxes for incomes over $300,000. The added revenue will fund the Healthy School Meals for All Program to offer free lunch in public schools, said the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Michigan would become the fourth state with free school meals for all students if lawmakers adopt Whitmer’s proposal.
With rising inflation, grocery bills have been adding up, Darnton said, and enabling kids to eat breakfast and lunch at school five days a week will ultimately improve household financial situations.
Darnton said, “This is money that gets to stay at home and in the household.”
That means families can use that money for things like rent, utilities and everyday necessities, Darnton said.
“No matter what socioeconomic background, if it means smoother mornings, kids who are ready to learn and fewer discipline issues, schools are here and ready to feed those kids,” she said.
Sophia Brandt is a journalism major with a concentration in writing, editing and reporting. She expects to graduate from Michigan University in spring 2024. Her goals include publishing impactful stories and working for a newspaper in a big city.
Broadway Grand Rapids President and CEO Meghan Distel and Bob Bucci from Broadway Across Grand Rapids announces the 2023-2024 season. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Not one, but two Michigan premieres highlight a “thrilling”new season for Broadway Grand Rapids, which announced its 2023-2024 shows on Monday as part of a preview at DeVos Performance Hall.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary, BGR will bring the Michigan premiere of Broadway’s most Tony Award-winning new show of the season, “MJ,” and the musical comedy revival of “Funny Girl,” announced president and CEO Meghan Distel.
Other shows include: “Disney’s Aladdin,” the entertaining “TINA- The Tina Turner Musical,” and the critically acclaimed new play, Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.” In addition, patrons will have the option to add the ever-popular “Les Misérables” and “Wicked.”
“We are thrilled to celebrate our 35th anniversary season with such a stellar line-up” Distel said. “From ‘MJ’ to ‘Aladdin,’ the season is diverse, wildly entertaining, and truly offers something for everyone. It’s the very best of Broadway, adds vibrancy to our city, and keeps Grand Rapids on the map as a cultural destination.”
Ticket Prices
Five-show season packages which include “Funny Girl,” “TINA-The Tina Turner Musical,” “Disney’s Aladdin,” “To Kill A Mockingbird,” and “MJ,” start at $225 and are available now at BroadwayGrandRapids.com/Subscribe, at the Broadway Grand Rapids box office located at 122 Lyon St NW (Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) or by calling the dedicated subscriber hotline at 1-866-928-7469 (Monday – Friday 10a.m. – 5 p.m.).
Season ticket holders have the option to add “Les Misérables” and “Wicked” to their package now. All subscribers are guaranteed the same seats for each show in the five-show package and receive exclusive benefits including interest free payment plan, flexible exchanges, online ticket management, and ability to auto-renew year after year.
For current season ticket holders, the deadline to renew is Monday, March 27.
All performances will be presented at DeVos Performance Hall in downtown Grand Rapids.
Subscription Series
Broadway Grand Rapids President and CEO Meghan Distel and Bob Bucci from Broadway Across Grand Rapids announce that “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” will be part of the 2023-2024 season. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
FUNNY GIRL – Featuring one of the greatest musical scores of all time, including classic songs “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People,” this bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
TINA – The Tina Turner Musical – “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” is the triumphant story of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits. “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” presents Tina’s journey against all odds to become one of the world’s most beloved artists of all time. Featuring her much loved songs, “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” is written by Pulitzer Prize award-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd.
Disney’s ALADDIN – Discover a whole new world at ALADDIN, the hit Broadway musical. From the producer of The Lion King comes the timeless story of ALADDIN, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle. It’s an extraordinary theatrical event where one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite.
Jacob Dickey, who stars as Aladdin in the Broadway production of Disney “Aladdin.” performs during the season announcement event. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – All rise for Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork. The New York Times Critic’s Pick TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is “the most successful American play in Broadway history” (60Minutes). New York Magazine calls it “a real phenomenon. Majestic and incandescent, it’s filled with breath and nuance and soul.” With direction by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD has quickly become “one of the greatest plays in history” (NPR).
MJ – The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to Grand Rapids. MJ, the multi–Tony Award-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status.
Package Add-Ons
LES MISÉRABLES – Cameron Mackintosh presents the acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Tony Award- winning musical phenomenon. LES MISÉRABLES. Set against the backdrop of 19th century France. LES MISÉRABLES is a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries and 22 languages. LES MISÉRABLES still undisputedly “one of the greatest musicals ever created” (Chicago Tribune).
WICKED – WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin — smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story that USA Today cheers is “a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry, and think.”
The original altar at St. John Vianney Church (Courtesy, Earl Jourden)
Pictured is the original altar of St. John Vianney Church, located at 4101 Clyde Park SW. In the 1970s, the church was renovated to its current layout. The church hosted a Eucharistic Celebration on Feb. 9, 1975.
