Category Archives: Citizen Journalism

Broadway Grand Rapids announces 2023-2024 season

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, , , , ,

By John Gonzalez
WKTV Contributor

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.”

For more information about events visit www.BroadwayGrandRapids.com

What is an irrevocable Life Insurance Trust, and how does it work?

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Finances

By Dave Stanley
Integrity Financial Services, LLC

“The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.” – Kalu Ndukwe Kalu

Created to own and control a life insurance policy or policies while the insured is alive, Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) are tools that are sometimes recommended by estate and planners. ILITS also manages and distributes proceeds from a policy when an insured dies.

ILITS have three components: a grantor (creator of the trust), a trustee (manager of the trust), and a beneficiary or beneficiaries. Beneficiaries are those who receive the assets of the trust when the grantor dies.

In an ILIT, the trustee purchases the policy or policies, and the trust becomes the owner. When insurance benefits are paid out upon the grantor’s death, the trustee collects those funds, pays any estate taxes due, along with outstanding debts such as legal fees and probate costs, then distributes the rest to the beneficiaries.

What are the benefits of an ILIT?

The primary reason most people consider an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is to help mitigate estate taxes. Over the past few years, the government has increased the estate and gift tax exemption to $11.58 million per individual. Since the majority of people don’t come anywhere close to that amount, the tax benefits of an ILIT are not as attractive as they once were.

Still, there are other reasons people choose an ILIT. These include:

· Beneficiary incapacity: If a life insurance beneficiary is incapacitated, having an ILIT can prevent the court system from controlling the proceeds.

· Provides cash to pay expenses: If there are estate taxes or other debts, an ILIT will provide immediate money to pay those expenses.

· More control: A properly-designed ILIT gives you more control over the policy or policies and the use of proceeds.

· Income for a spouse: An ILIT can provide Income to your spouse without that money being included in the spouse’s estate.

· Potential protection for heirs: Depending on the state in which you live, proceeds from life insurance payouts may have protection from creditors.

· Ability to include a “Spend-Thrift” Provision: If you have an heir or heirs who have issues managing money, your ILIT trust can contain a spend-thrift provision. A spend-thrift provision pays your beneficiaries monthly instead of giving them a lump sum upfront.

ILITS are not for everyone. They have some definite cons worth considering:

  • ILITS generally cannot be modified. The “irrevocable” part of an ILIT means that it is nearly impossible to make changes other than changing your trustee. Once you place a policy in an ILIT, you give up all rights to that policy. You cannot reassign it to a different trust or entity. ILITS are complex and nuanced legal vehicles requiring the expertise of an attorney who specializes in trusts. They are rather expensive to create and maintain, and you should consider these costs.
    • ILITs can be very expensive to create and maintain. An ILIT is not something you can do yourself with online software. It requires the often pricey services of an experienced estate planning attorney. In addition to setup costs for an ILIT, there are also ongoing expenses that can add up.

While an ILIT offers certain advantages for high-net-worth individuals, it is far from the only option. There are many different kinds of trusts. Each of these trusts are designed to solve specific estate issues.

If you are considering forming a trust, use an authorized professional and experienced trust designer (attorney) who understands your goals and unique financial situation to see if an ILIT is the best choice. Legal representation is important when considering an ILIT; never attempt this alone.

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

Wyoming hosts meetings on May millage proposal

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

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

Starting in March, City of Wyoming residents will have the opportunity to attend public informational meetings about the upcoming May millage proposal that would provide funding to support public safety needs including staffing.

In October, the Wyoming City Council approved a ballot proposal for 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 fire fighters.

 

“This would bring us back up to where the staffing was about 20 years ago,” said Chief Kim Koster. “While we have had an increase in population we have not kept up with that growth through our police and fire staffing.”

Various factors have impacted staffing

There are are number of factors that have caused this situation. About 20 years ago, the country faced the 2008 recession with the city reducing staffing across the board which included police and fire. During that period, the city also lost several major employers, such as Studio 28 and the 36th Street GM plant.

Chief Kim Koster (Supplied)

Another factor is the increased training requirements that have made it difficult for paid-on call firefighters to maintain required standards. The city has seen its paid-on-call staff go from 40 to 6. The Wyoming fire department also handles the highest number of calls in the area, around 265 per firefighter. The City of Grand Rapids averages 124 calls per firefighter while the City of Kentwood averages about 110 calls per firefighter. This sometimes means there is no city firefighters available to respond for calls for service with other cities such as Grand Rapids and Kentwood sending people to respond.

The calls for service are not just for fires, but for a variety of safety issues such as tree damage, wires down, vehicle crashes, gas leaks and medical calls.

On the police side, the city has about 1.3 police officers per 1,000 people which is below the national average of 2.4. This does impact response times. Koster also noted due to the volume, complexity and severity of calls for service, officers do not have the time for self-initiated, proactive activities. Just like the fire department, sometimes there are no officers available to respond to calls for service.

Increase staff = enhance crime prevention

The increase in police staff would enhance crime prevention and improve traffic safety, Koster said, adding that it also would result in faster police and fire response times to emergencies in the city.

There is about .36 of a firefighter for every 1,000 Wyoming residents. (Supplied)

The additional fire staffing would reduce the city’s dependence on mutual aid from other municipalities. In 2020, the city had to rely on other departments 140 times because its fire department was on another call. The additional staffing also would allow the city to fully staff its four fire stations 24/7, something that has not happened in a while, Koster said.

The city has seen some of those benefits with the hiring of 10 of the officers needed through the United States Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. Through the funding, which decreases every year over a three-year period, the public safety department was able to add an afternoon community police unit which has helped with safety of residents as well as problems in the neighborhoods and businesses, Koster said.

On the fire side, seven of the 13 firefighters have been hired, which has helped to reduce the city’s reliance — a little — on mutual aid and provide limited staffing to the stations that currently have none, she said.

Opportunity to meet those in the field

If the millage is passed, it would sustain those added positions along with adding four positions to police and six to fire.

According to City of Wyoming Communication Specialist Brianna Peña-Wojtanek, the first meeting, March 9, will be an informational format with Koster, Interim City Manager John McCarter, and Mayor Kent Vanderwood presenting information about the millage proposal and where the city is now for police and fire staffing. The other two meetings, March 27 and April 27, will provide information along with opportunities for residents to meet and talk to city police officers and firefighters.

For more about the millage, visit wyomingmi.gov/millage. At the information website site is a tax calculator for residents to determine how the proposed millage would impact their property taxes. 

Reward money increased to $5,000 for Santino Ysasi homicide

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Hard News,

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

Santino “Tino” Ysasi (Supplied)

“Protector.” That is the one word that Santino Ysasi’s sister said would best describe her bother.

“He was the big brother of seven,” said Christina Mller, of Greenville, adding there were eight children in their family. “He looked out for us. He mostly taught us what life was about. He was the protector.”

Ysasi, 46, was killed on Oct. 19 at around 3:30 a.m. behind the now closed St. James Catholic Church on Bridge Street NW. Someone discovered his body around 9:45 a.m. The Kent County Meidical Examiner ruled the death a homicide but has not shared how Santino “Tino” Ysasi died.

Family man

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Ysasi worked for his grandfather, Martin Morales, who owned Little Mexico Cafe on Grand Rapids’ West Side. He also worked worked at Adobe, Beltline Bar, and Casa Martina. He was a businessman, running a business removing personal items after an eviction. He also worked at Fence Consultants, running a crew for the company, and eventually did roadside service.

Recently, Ysasi had fallen on hard times and was homeless, living behind the St. James Catholic Church.

“He was not one to ask for help,”Miller said, adding that most of the family were unaware that he was homeless. “Living in Greenville, I would see him at family events and he never said anything about needing help.

“If I had known, I would have had him come up and stay with me. He would not have liked it because he was city boy,” she said with a small laugh, “but he didn’t say anything and I think it was because he didn’t want to put any stress on me.”

Along with leaving behind his siblings and mother, Ysasi was the father of five and the grandfather of two. Family was important to Ysasi, Miller said, adding he did everything he could to support his family.

Reward raised to $5,000

His family is hoping that a recent increase to reward money for tips to the person or persons responsible for the death of Ysasi, will help bring closure. The reward money for tips is now $5,000.

“It is really hard to move forward because we don’t know why,” Miller said. “It is the reason I decided to add the $1,800 to put the award at $5,000. The economy is a little tough right now and I am hoping this will help encourage people to come forward.”

From WOODTV, the video released by the Grand Rapids Police Department on a person of interest in the Santino Ysasi homicide.

Earlier this month, the Grand Rapids Police released video of a person walking around the scene and are hoping people will take note of how the individual is dressed and other features to help identify who the person is.

“No one can figure out why,” Miller said. “We have talked to those in the homeless community and they have told us Tino always keep things cool and tried to work things out between people.

“For now the focus is on gettin justice for Tino and proving the family with some peace.”

Anyone with information about Santino’s homicide and who is involved is urged to contact the Grand Rapids Police Major Case Team at 616-456-3380 or Silent Observer, safely and anonymously, at 616-774-2345 or at silentobserver.org. State law protects Silent Observer’s tips and records which assures anonymity. Silent Observer will pay the enhanced $5,00 reward for information given to one of its tip lines that leads to the killer’s arrest.

Hoping to make a difference

Miller said while the family can not rollback time and prevent what happened to Ysasi, they do recognize they can make a difference to those living on the street. It is why they are giving back to the homeless community by hosting a hot dog event in March.

“Having the opportunity to talk to so many people in this community and hear their stories, especially during the candlelight vigil for Tino, it really has changed my perspective on when I see someone on the street asking for a dollar,” Miller said.

Take a sneak peek at this week’s Friday Night Highlights show, Feb. 24

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, , , ,
Check out these highlights from the Lee boys win over Grand River Prep Tuesday. The Legends sealed their first conference championship in 43 years. (Videographer: WKTV/Alex Bernhardt)



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



Get an early glimpse of our WKTV Friday Night Highlights show right here! The Legends beat visiting Grand River Prep 89-68 Tuesday to win their first conference crown since 1980.

Be sure to watch the complete FNH show on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 and ATT U-verse Channel 99.

Turkey farms spared so far from avian flu

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Environment, Hard News, Health, Local Business, Local Food, , ,

By Dan Netter
WKTV Contributor

The avian flu has not harmed Michigan’s commercial turkey farms to date. (Photo by Mikkel Bergmann)

LANSING – While avian flu has disrupted poultry flocks in Michigan and spurred higher egg and chicken prices, turkeys in Michigan – wild and farmed alike – have been spared from the virulent disease, industry leaders and government officials say.

Megan Moriarty, a wildlife veterinary specialist for the Department of Natural Resources, said the agency conducted surveillance for avian flu last spring and fall, finding the virus primarily in swan, geese, ducks, vultures and eagles and, on a lesser scale, hawks and falcons.

Moriarty said no cases of avian flu among wild turkeys were found.

Turkeys have less risk factors

Turkeys are at less risk of infection than many other bird species because of a handful of factors, Moriarty said.

Wild turkeys are not scavengers, so they don’t get sick from eating infected animals. They also don’t travel together in colonies, meaning mass transmission of avian flu is unlikely, she said.

Avian flu, according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, has been found in domestic backyard flocks of poultry in 15 counties in the state.

No cases have been reported so far in 2023, according to the department’s communications director, Jennifer Holton.

Nancy Barr, the executive director of the Michigan Allied Poultry Industries, said avian flu has been spotted in one commercial flock of turkeys since the start of 2022, but turkey farmers have prevented its spread to other flocks since.

Barr said since that initial case in 2022, turkey farmers have implemented biosecurity measures like perimeter buffer areas that control which people and vehicles can enter a farm.

Not crossing the line

“They draw an imaginary line around the outside of the farm and they have certain restrictions for any vehicles or people that come across that line to make sure that they aren’t potentially bringing anything from the outside,” Barr said.

A more important biosecurity measure is the line of separation at a barn door, according to Barr.

That means only farmworkers can enter barns where turkeys are housed, she said. Those workers have had no contact with other poultry and change clothes and sometimes shower before going in.

“That’s probably one of the most primary things they do,” Barr said. “Equipment is cleaned or designated just for that house. So it’s thinking about every single thing that comes into that house to keep those birds healthy.”

Spring migration a concern

Barr said that turkey farmers are nervous about the upcoming northward migration of other birds from the South this spring.

According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, symptoms of avian flu in birds include sneezing, coughing, diarrhea, nasal discharge, swelling in body parts, loss of energy and appetite, discoloration and sudden death.

 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2021, Michigan ranked 10th in the nation for numbers of turkeys raised, with 5.1 million annually.

Ottawa and Allegan counties are the only two counties with more farmed turkeys than human residents, according to the USDA. Ottawa County produces 70% of Michigan’s commercially raised turkeys.

Protecting the local turkey industry

Ottawa County Emergency Management Director Louis Hunt, who handles avian flu matters, said the county takes the disease seriously because of the threat posed to turkey producers in the area.

He said when he has visited farms that have turkeys and other poultry, the precautions taken by the producers were “impressive.”

“First of all, you’re met with all the signs that these are biosecure facilities, and I guess that sounds intimidating,” Hunt said about his farm visits. “They have taken great pains to keep separated any potential vectors” of the disease.

On his visits, Hunt had to certify that he had no contact with any poultry in “multiple” days. He also had to be decontaminated and change his clothes.

 

He said owners of backyard flocks in Ottawa County have received information about what to watch out for and were ordered to immediately report any infection.

As for the upcoming migratory season, Moriarty said the DNR is preparing for a resurgence of cases in the spring and flu for wild birds, based on last year’s experience.

“Migration and large-scale movements of different bird species, it’s kind of a perfect scenario to have the virus be mixing and moving across the landscape,” he said.

Barr said Michigan is in the “Mississippi flyway,” a major bird migration route, producers will be watching their flocks diligently to ensure as little infection as possible.Most producers will assume the migrating birds are potentially infected. 

Dan Netter is a journalist who started at Michigan State University in 2019. His interest in journalism includes policy reporting, identity reporting and a little bit of news design. Other places where Dan’s work has appeared include The State News and 101.9 WDET-FM. His favorite song is “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye.

Byron Center will be the home of a new behavioral health hospital

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

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

A rendering of the front of the new Southridge Behavioral Hospital which will be located near the corner of 64th Street and Byron Center Avenue. (Courtesy, Trinity Health)

The groundbreaking of new 96-bed freestanding inpatient behavioral health hosptial located near the corner of 64ht Street and Byron Center Avenue is scheduled for this summer as plans for the facility progress.

Southridge Behavioral Hospital is a joint venture partnership between University Health Services and Trinity Health. In June of 2022, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a Final Order granting Havenwyck Hospital Inc., a subsidiary of University Health Services, a certificate of need approval for 60 adult psychiatric beds, allowing University Health Services and Trinity Health Michigan to move forward with plans for the new facility.

“We are excited for the future opening of Southridge Behavioral Hospital, because we know there is an incredible need for inpatient services in our community,” said Matt Biersack, MD, president of Trinity Health Grand Rapids. “The acquisition of the land and design development are key milestones to making our vision a reality. We are excited to break ground this year, when we will really begin to see the hospital take shape.”

Southridge Behavioral Hospital, which is scheduled to open in 2025, will accommodate up to 96 beds, which includes the 60 adult beds plus 24 geriatric beds previously approved by MDHHS. The facility will be located at 2145 64th St. SW near Trinity Health Medical Center in Byron Center. The location is just south of the City of Wyoming and Byron Center boundary.

The design of the new hospital incorporates modern, innovative, evidence-based care elements that focus on patient safety. Programming will be tailored to individual patient needs, with core psychiatric services and counseling supplemented by enrichment activities such as art therapy, music therapy, pet therapy, and outdoor activity.

 

The facility will employ approximately 170 full-time and part-time staff including physicians, nurses, therapists, mental health technicians, administration, dietary, and housekeeping personal.

The Southridge Behavioral Hospital is designed to tie into the growing network of behavioral health services in the area, including UHS-operated Forest View Hospital and Trinity Health Michigan’s new partnership with Network 180 to open a Behavioral Health Crisis Center for the rapid availability of assessment services on a walk-in basis.

For more about the Southridge Behavioral Hospital, visit www.soutridgebh.com.

After a two-hear hiatus, Walk for Warmth returns

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

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

The Kent County Community Action’s 2023 Walk for Warmth will take place March 4. (Pxhere.com)

On average, households will pay 12.7 percent more for home heating this winter, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association (NEADA), which means more people may struggle to pay their heating bills.

With that in mind, the Kent County Community Action will bring back its Walk for Warmth event, designed to raise awareness and funds for heating fuel assistance programs.

 

“All of the money raised from this event will go straight to people who need help in keeping their utilities on,” said Gustavo Perez, the director of the Kent County Community Action.

The Walk for Warmth is a statewide event with local communities usually hosting the walk in February. The Ottawa County Community Action Agency hosted its event at the beginning of February. The Kent County Walk for Warmth is set for March 4. Participants will meat at 8:30 a.m. at the Kent County Community Action (KCCA) offices, 121 Martin Luther King Jr. St., Suite 110. The walk starts at 9 a.m. and will travel the block around the KCCA offices, which is Martin Luther king Jr. Street to Sheldon Avenue to Sycamore Street to Jefferson Avenue.

According to a recent report from NEADA, the national rate of utility arrearages (the amount of money families are behind on their electric and gas bills) is at about $16.6 billion since the end of the last winter season. About 20.8 million households, that is about one out of six, owed an average of $791. This is up slightly from June 2022 when the total arrearage place stood at about $16.3 billion and the average amount owed was about $783.

Closer to home, Perez said he is still compiling the 2022 numbers however, in 2021, Kent County Community Action helped more than 4,000 houses with gas, electric and water.

The Kent County Community Action provides a number of programs to Kent County residents, one of which is the Utility Assistance Program. Residents do need to qualify for the assistance.

In the past, when people did no qualify, Walk for Warmth funds were used, however; due to the COVID pandemic, KCCA was not able to host the walk for the past two years with the Walk for Warmth fund currently unavailable to assist homeowners.

“What this allows is for raised funds to help close the gap for those who cannot keep the utilities on in their homes,” Perez said.

The goal for this year’s event is to assistant more than 20 households, which means the 2023 Walk for Warmth would need to raise around $10,000.

“We are working with people who are facing shut-off, so we are only helping them get caught up so they can keep the heat on,” Perez said. “We are not paying for a single home’s heat for a year, but only the amount to make sure the heat does not get turned off.”

Those interested in participating in the walk or donating can register online at accesskent.com/departemtns/communityaction/walk_for_warmth.htm or click here. 

Coping with the aftermath of the MSU shootings

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

By Starr Commonwealth

Dr. Caelan Soma (Supplied)

As Michiganders struggle to deal with the aftermath of the Feb. 13 shootings at Michigan State University, many are juggling conflicting emotions: anger, fear, sadness, rage, grief, helplessness and others.

That’s all normal in light of the trauma we collectively witnessed Monday night, according to Dr. Caelan Soma, the chief clinical officer for Starr Commonwealth in Albion, Mich. Many watched the search in real time for the lone gunman who terrorized the East Lansing campus, killing three and sending five to the hospital before turning the gun on himself.

And many, Soma says, are struggling for answers days later.

Soma says the first step is validating the feeling that this was a very scary situation that elicited an acute stress response for many of us, whether we had a student or loved one on the MSU campus or a child on a campus across the country or we are Michiganders without a direct connection.

“You begin to relate to what those kids experienced last night and put yourself in their position,” Soma  said. “Even if you are safe at home, understand the person is no longer a threat and logically know the danger has passed, you can take on a lot of those symptoms and reactions as well.”

Those stress hormones can continue to roil in our bodies for weeks, keeping us on a high state of alert with fear and worry. Soma notes the next step is to find things that make you feel safe – and that can have little to do with logic.

“Telling yourself that the police have the shooter, he can’t hurt anyone anymore, that everyone is safe and lockdown is over isn’t helpful,” Soma explained. “What you have to do is help your body return to a state of balance.”

That can differ person by person, but Soma says it often comes back to connecting with people – hearing the voice of a loved one, spending time with friends, being able to discuss what happened and how you are feeling and then hearing others are feeling the same way. Other body-based ways to help you feel comfort and safety might include cozying up to watch a movie, listening to music, baking cookies, going for a walk or anything that helps you get your body back in balance.

“Our stress response is intense anxiety, and telling people to chill out doesn’t help,” she says. “They need to feel their body is chilling out and experiencing a sense of safety. It doesn’t matter how old you are.”

Founded in 1913 as a home for runaway and homeless boys, Starr Commonwealth has grown and evolved over the decades to provide community-based programs, education and behavioral health services that create and promote universal hope, boundless love and limitless success for children. Starr recognizes that trauma is real – but it does not seal an individual’s fate.

For more information about Starr Commonwealth and its services, visit starr.org.

5 ways to keep your heart healthy in 2023

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

By Ronald Grifka
University of Michigan Health-West

The recent cardiac arrest of the Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin during a Monday Night Football game coincides with the beginning of American Heart Month, and the annual February focus on cardiovascular health. Focus is needed for any health plan to be a success, but executing that plan poses a distinct challenge.

With many new research studies, medications, supplements and therapies available, formulating a health plan that most adults can maintain throughout the year can be confusing. Here are five tips that should be both sustainable and successful.

1. Diet and exercise

The familiar trope ― more exercise, healthier diet ― remains the best place to start. The benefits to your heart of a healthy diet and exercise can fill a library of books.

 

Adding exercise is an important tool for a healthy heart. (Pxhere.com)

The typical American diet is riddled with too many calories, excessive carbohydrates, and the wrong type of fats. An unhealthy diet can lead to numerous health problems including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks, strokes and cancer, just to name a few. Billions of dollars are spent on these health problems caused by an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise.

 

Without making changes, an unhealthy lifestyle can rob us from months and years of great life with our family and friends. Are those chips, dips and large sodas more valuable than another healthy year or two with your kids? Grandkids? Friends? Travel?

Let’s make 2023 the year we get off the couch, put down the remote control and cell phone, choose a small beverage (instead of the supersize) and get some exercise.

2. Drink more water

As we eat better and exercise more, another health problem comes into focus: chronic dehydration.

Drink plenty of water to make it easier for your heart to pump blood. (Pxhere.com)

Sixty percent of our body is water, so better hydration is beneficial to many bodily systems ― including circulation. Keeping the body hydrated helps the heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels to the muscles. It helps the muscles work more efficiently, effectively reducing the heart stress on well-hydrated individuals.

A myriad of problems results from dehydration, including muscle cramps, fatigue, headaches, and immune system dysfunction, just to name a few. Take your water bottle to work or school, fill it several times a day, and enjoy the benefits of drinking water. The cost is almost nothing, while the benefits are enormous.

3. Remember your annual check-up

Annual check-ups are important. (Pxhere.com)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many in-person health examinations and preventative studies were canceled. Now is the time to make sure you see your health care provider to get a thorough physical examination and recommended tests (blood work, x-rays, etc). These include screenings for diabetes, hypertension, and other diseases of the heart.

In addition to annual check-ups, don’t forget any important screening tests for your demographic group, such as a colonoscopy or mammogram. As the pandemic wanes, we are starting to see patients returning for evaluation. Unfortunately, we are detecting advanced health problems that were ignored during the pandemic. The treatment for these ignored problems will be more demanding, aggressive, expensive ― and possibly less successful.

 

See your healthcare provider soon to get a thorough physical exam, and recommended tests to prevent any avoidable health problems.

4. Quit smoking

Heart attacks are side affects from vaping and legalized recreational marijuana. (Pxhere.com)

The U.S. has done an amazing job to decrease cigarette smoking. The detrimental health effects of smoking are profound, well-documented, and affect every system in the body.

 

In the last few years, however, vaping and legalized recreational marijuana use have eroded our progress. Heart attacks are among the many side effects of smoking, which also include oral cancers, lung cancers, strokes and COPD (emphysema). Chemicals used in popular vape flavors like clove, mint and vanilla can harm blood vessel cells that help keep the heart healthy.

Make 2023 the year to not light up or vape.

5. Sleep

Getting seven to nine hours of sleet every night is another healthy step. (Pxhere.com)

One additional concern to mention: we all need 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. This might mean turning off the TV, not surfing the internet as long, or putting down our video games.

Studies show short sleep duration or poor sleep quality is associated with high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and atherosclerosis. Habitual short sleep increases the chance of cardiovascular events.

Sleep also keeps us alert and attentive for the following day. Get a good night’s sleep, so the following day is yours to conquer!

Ronald G. Grifka, MD, FAAP, FACC, FSCAI is the Chief Medical Officer of University of Michigan Health-West, and Cardiologist at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

Public Museum hosts new line-up of Saturday investigation programs

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Saturday Investigation Classes at the Grand Rapids Public Museum in March. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Public Museum)

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM)’s Saturday Investigation Classes will return during the month of March 2023, allowing curious minds to immerse themselves in exciting and educational labs and activities led by Museum educators.

Visitors aged 8 and older are encouraged to sign up for these small-group, hands-on educational classes to investigate history, science, and culture. Saturday Investigations transform the Museum into a learning lab, giving the public an exclusive experience through behind-the-scenes exhibit exploration, artifact investigation, engaging activities, and more. This experience is great for younger children to attend with their parents or guardians to work together, or for older kids to attend on their own.

Classes will take place on Saturdays from March 4 – 25 from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the GRPM. The registration cost for Saturday Investigations is just $2 with the purchase of a general admission ticket or $7 to attend the class only. As always, Kent County kids aged 17 and under enjoy free general admission to the Museum! Classes are limited to 24 registrants per session; registration is required. Once classes conclude, visitors who purchase the general admission option can also explore the Museum’s three floors of exhibits. For more information on Saturday Investigation Classes and to register today, visit grpm.org/EduClasses.

“Our popular Saturday investigations are back this spring to give learners of all ages the opportunity to dive deeper into the city’s science and history, through fun, hands-on artifact labs and brand new technology-rich experiences,” said Erin Koren, the GRPM’s Director of Education. “These small classes allow participants to fully engage with our educators and with hands-on activities to explore what piques their curiosity.”

Class offerings include The Paradox of Poison, Sustainable Fashion, Solar System Discovery & Sturgeon Excursion. Registrants can explore fascinating facts of poisons and their role in nature, human health, literature, and myth, find ways to innovate and reduce the harmful impacts of the fashion industry, choose their own adventure as they travel the solar system to visit planets and asteroids, or
play an exclusive augmented reality game that integrates with Museum exhibits and become environmental scientists while learning about the Grand River.

Saturday Investigations Classes are sponsored by Great Lakes Fishery Trust.

 

See The Power of Poison and the GRPM original exhibit Fashion + Nature for a limited time! Enjoy all three floors of the GRPM’s exhibits with the purchase of a general admission ticket to the Museum. Don’t miss this opportunity to catch The Power of Poisonbefore it’s gone, open only through April 16.  

Commentary: Mass shooting coverage shows crucial role of student journalists

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, , , ,

By Eric Freedman
Capital News Service

Eric Freedman (Supplied/Capital News Service)

LANSING – When the horrendous shooting occurred on the Michigan State University campus, student journalists rushed in to cover the tragedy, its impact on the university and community, the investigation and university security.

Their reporting and photos about the Feb. 13 attack that killed three students and seriously wounded five others has appeared prominently in local and national media.

For example, the majority of student correspondents for Capital News Service, our public affairs reporting practicum, were quickly on the job, reporting for The State News – the independent student newspaper – Lansing City Pulse, Impact 89 (WDBM-FM) radio and Michigan Advance.

Articles by another MSU journalism student have been featured in the Washington Post.

In my role as a journalism professor, I see their professional-caliber work as a vivid demonstration of the importance of training the next generations of news gatherers and storytellers.

That’s increasingly crucial in an era when traditional U.S. mainstream news media – magazines and newspapers, radio and television stations – are slashing staff, merging companies, even going out of business. The trend is depriving the public of timely, fair, ethical and accurate information and news.

One damaging result is the growing number of “news deserts” in the United States, counties without a newspaper of their own.

The nonpartisan Center for Community News has been researching the growth of university-led, student-staffed news services that give students real-world experience while providing communities with the news they need.

 

“Millions of Americans get their news from student reporters working in university-coordinated newsrooms, news labs and classes,” the center pointed out in a study released earlier this year.

 

Such collaborations “are high-touch programs in which faculty teach and mentor students, edit and assign work and coordinate with media partners — enabling local stories that would not exist otherwise,” according to the center, which is based at the University of Vermont.

I fully endorse the center’s assertion that “local news is more than just a trusted source of critical information: It’s an essential ingredient in a healthy democracy. Communities with dedicated local news organizations report higher levels of civic engagement, social cohesion, and effective problem-solving.”

The center says, “We connect student journalists at every stage of life with local news organizations to help build a world in which every community has access to reliable information by and for the people who live there.”

MSU has two such news services.

Credit: Asher Freedman

Students in Capital News Service, now in its 41st year, report on Michigan public policy, government and politics for about 45 newspapers and online news outlets across the state.

Our subscribing member news organizations range in circulation size from the Detroit News to small community publications such as the WKTV Journal. They range geographically from Iron Mountain to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula and from the Northern Lower Peninsula to Sturgis and Three Rivers in Southwest Michigan and Monroe, Blissfield and Adrian in Southeast Michigan.

Our second student-news service, Great Lakes Echo, reports on the environment – including energy, transportation, environmental justice and environmental health – in Michigan and the other Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces. Many of those stories are reposted by other news organizations in the region.

Elsewhere in the state, broadcast students at Eastern Michigan University partner with National Public Radio affiliate WEMU to produce audio stories, according to the Center for Community News.

Nationally, more than 100 colleges and universities have some type of academic-news collaborations, according to the center. In other Great Lakes states, there are also statehouse-focused programs run by the University of Illinois and by the State University of New York at New Paltz.

“Universities and colleges can provide leadership and resources to address the local news crisis,” the center’s January report said. “Many are doing something, but many could do more.”

They need to prepare students to cover the news that matters and the news that engages the public, whether it’s a mass shooting, the impacts of climate change, elections, pandemics, fluctuating gas prices, even the World Series and the Oscars.

As the center’s report puts it:“Democracy needs local news. Colleges and universities are part of the solution. Students are looking for meaningful experiences, and to learn by doing.”

Eric Freedman is the director of Capital News Service and the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University.

Photo of the Week: A fond farewell

Citizen Journalism
  • Wyoming Assistant to the City Manager Jennifer Stowell hands Curtis Holt a flag that flew over the city. (WKTV)
  • Wyoming City Manager Curtis Holt with former Grand Rapids Deputy City Manager Eric DeLong. (WKTV)
  • Former Wyoming mayor Jack Poll shakes Curtis Holt’s hand. (WKTV)
  • Wyoming’s Interim City Manager John McCarter shakes hands with Curtis Holt. (WKTV)

Wyoming City staff were joined by area residents and Holt family as they celebrated the retirement of Wyoming City Manager Curtis Holt. Former co-workers, such as Eric DeLong, who worked with Holt in Spring Lake, shared memories and stories about Holt, all emphasizing his commitment to the City of Wyoming.

Take a sneak peek at our Friday Night Highlights show

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, ,



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



Get an early glimpse of our WKTV Friday Night Highlights show with these exciting clips and interviews from our Tuesday Game of the Week: Mona Shores at Wyoming Boys. The Wolves beat visiting Mona Shores 71-58.



Be sure to watch the complete FNH show on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 and ATT U-verse Channel 99.

A passion to teach brings two new faces to Wyoming High

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Education, Local Faces, , ,

Meet Art Teacher Cassandra Lawson

Regan Mead
WKTV Contributor

Cassandra Lawson (Courtesy, Wyoming Wolf Pack Press)

Cassandra Lawson loves art, but she loves teaching even more. For her, enjoying the job is the most important thing.

“If you want to be an art teacher you have to love teaching even more than you love art because it’s even more important,” Lawson said. “I think there are a lot of people that go into education who do it cause they love the art, they love science or social studies.

“Still, they don’t love teaching as much and you have to love teaching, which I do you have to be a people person. You have to talk to people all day and you’re using your brain all day long.”

Lawson went to Macomb Community College for a year and then finished off her schooling at Grand Valley State University. She majored in art education and minored in ceramics. She student taught at Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Coit Creative Arts Academy and teacher assisted here at Wyoming High School.


Lawson wanted to be a teacher originally but she added art to the title as well. She talked about the WHS’s welcoming student body.

“I love it,” she said. “I really like the student body I feel like everyone here has a sense of community and family. Everyone is really friendly. I’ve worked in other schools where everyone is pretty self-sufficient but I feel like here everyone leans on each other in a good way.”

Regan Mead is a junior at Wyoming High School. Regan is a journalism student and member of the cheer team.

Meet English Teacher Elizabeth Schoof

By Matthew Czurak
WKTV Contributor

Elizabeth Schoof (Courtesy, Wyoming Wolf Pack Press/Elizabeth Schoof)

To get to know her students, English teacher Elizabeth Schoof spent the first week of school playing fun games and activities such as the Soup-Salad-Sandwich game, where students not only learned a little about each other but also about Schoof such as her favorite book is the “Twilight”series.

“It was a good week it’s good and it was nice to get to meet and know and learn about each other,” Schoof said..

A graduate of Aquinas College, Schoof strides to be nice to all of her students and is always helpful if they are stuck or confused.

Everyone has role models and Schoof’s was her English teacher. Schoof herself not only was a student teacher, but she was also at one point a student who wanted to be a teacher. I asked her her opinion on the best first steps to becoming one.

“Pay attention to what teachers now are dealing with in the classroom cause you will deal with it too,” she said as advice to those wishing to pursue teaching as a career. “And when you are in the classroom pay attention in college.”

Before entering the field, most teachers start as student teachers, studying under other teachers. From the experience, they understand how students will think and act. I asked Ms. Schoof what her experience was like as a student teacher and if she thinks “it’s better being your own teacher.”

“It has been fun. it’s nice to be able to teach my own way without someone else controlling the classroom I like the freedom” was her reply to the question she also was a student teacher under her English teachers.

I asked Ms.Schoof what she would like people to know about her this was her response.”I like to have fun I like to talk I like to have conversations about what is going on in the world, cultures, movies all sorts of stuff”

Matt Czurak is a freshman journalism student at Wyoming High School. Matt enjoys French class.

Proposed noncompete ban could affect patient care, says nurses’ union

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

By Dan Netter
Capital News Service

Eliminating noncompete agreements would allow nurses to be better advocate for patients, according to some in favor of the ban on noncompete agreements. (Pxhere.com)

LANSING – The Federal Trade Commission’s recent announcement that it is considering a ban on noncompete employment contracts will improve wages of health care workers, as well as care for patients, according to a policy expert for the nation’s largest nurses union.

FTC Chair Lina Khan said such contracts are bad for workers and prevent wages from raising. In a press release announcing the proposed ban, it was estimated that the change would increase wages by $300 billion a year.

Noncompete contracts are agreements between employees and employers that typically bar workers who resign from taking new jobs in the same industry in the same geographical area for a set period.

The proposed ban, which would bar employers from entering or continuing a noncompete contract, is now in a question and comment period which will last until March 20.

Giving employees more flexibility

Economic Policy Institute President Heidi Shierholz said noncompete contracts are typically used to keep workers from a source of power: quitting and taking another job.

Shierholz said because noncompete contracts prevent people from resigning to work elsewhere, they keep wages low and contribute to a mismatch in the labor market.

“Noncompetes keep people locked in jobs that aren’t necessarily the best job for them,” Shierholz said. “Our whole economy works better when there are good matches between jobs and workers.”

Shierholz, whose institute is a liberal-think tank in Washington, D.C., said about 45% of jobs that require a college degree use a noncompete contract.

According to Bloomberg Law, 45% of primary care physicians are bound by noncompete contracts.

Local case heading to court

Last week, it was announced that Trinity Health Michigan and four surgeons have filed in federal court seeking to have noncompete contracts with Orthopedic Associates of Michigan (OAM). According to the lawsuit, the four surgeons, who worked for OAM, are being prevented from working at Trinity Health Grand Rapids (formerly St. Mary’s) due to noncompete contacts.

As reported by MiBiz, Trinity and the surgeons are alleging that “monopolistic behavior by OAM, which will seriously disrupt care for patients needing orthopedic surgery in Kent County,” and cost Trinity Health Grand Rapids millions of dollars, according to court filings.

According to the lawsuit, OAM, through mergers with other orthopedic groups, has about 64 percent of the market share. It is estimated that Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) has about a 23 percent share with the rest held by private groups.

Noncompetes limit advocacy

The National Nurses Association, which is the nation’s largest registered nurses’ union, opposes noncompete contracts and similar agreements that prevent nurses from more easily leaving their jobs.

 

The Michigan Nurses Association, based in Okemos, is its state affiliate.

Brynne O’Neal, a regulatory policy specialist for the union, said noncompete contracts have consequences for patient care because nurses won’t be able to work locally for a period if they resign for any reason, including to protest unsafe patient conditions.

“Nurses are patient advocates,” O’Neal said. “That’s a very core part of their role.

 

“When employers hold nurses hostage as debtors, nurses can’t speak out about unsafe working conditions and can’t exercise the professional judgment required to provide safe and effective nursing care. Ultimately, patients suffer,” she said.

Other changes FTC is considering

In addition, the FTC is considering banning “training repayment agreement provisions” (TRAP) that require employees to repay their employers for training they underwent to work at the company unless they stay there for a set period of time.

O’Neal said TRAP contracts are a common way for employers to discourage employees from quitting, calling them “de facto noncompete clauses” because employees could incur major costs for leaving their job.

John Karasinski, the Michigan Health and Hospital Association senior director for communications, said the organization has no position about the possible ban on noncompete agreements but would like to see policy changes that bring more health care workers to the state.

The American Hospital Association declined comment on a possible ban, but pointed to a letter cosigned with other business groups which asked the FTC to extend the question and comment period to late April.

Shierholz said that if noncompetes are banned, workers who were subject to them will, over time, see their wages go up because they will more easily be able quit lower-paying positions and take ones with higher pay. 

O’Neal, of the nurses’ union, said that a ban will allow nurses to more easily encourage safe patient conditions and keep their jobs.

Joanne Bailey-Boorsma contributed to this story.

Dan Netter is a journalist who started at Michigan State University in 2019. His interest in journalism includes policy reporting, identity reporting and a little bit of news design. Other places where Dan’s work has appeared include The State News and 101.9 WDET-FM. His favorite song is “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye.

Wyoming’s longtime city manager set to retire this month

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming

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

Second from left, Wyoming City Manager Curtis Holt joined from left, CALEA Executive Director Craig Hartley, (Holt), Wyoming Public Safety Chief Kimberly Koster,, Wyoming Sergeant Jeremy Walter, Wyoming Captain Eric Wler, Wyoming Lt. Brian Look, and CALEA Commissioner Marcus Brown for the Wyoming Department of Public Safety’s recertification. (Supplied, CALEA)

Public administration was never a calling for Curtis Holt. In fact, when he entered Grand Valley State University in the 1980s, his goal was to become a certified public accountant.

“I got through my sophomore year and I thought, ‘Geez, I am not sure I want to do this anymore,” he said. “I took another semester and I thought I am pretty sure I don’t want to do this. So I kind of said I have a four-year scholarship [for football and wrestling] and I need to get out of school in four years. What fits all my classes?

“It was public administration.”

After being in public administration for 36 years, 26 in the City of Wyoming, Holt is retiring as Wyoming’s city manager on Feb. 16. The announcement of Holt’s retirement was made in October with the city currently conducting a search for his replacement. Current Deputy City Manager John McCarter will serve as acting/interim city manager until a city manager is appointed.

At Monday night’s council meeting, Holt was recognized by state and local leaders for his dedication and service to the City of Wyoming.

“Curtis is the only city manager I have ever known,” said Mayor Kent Vanderwood, who presented Holt with a watch as well reading a city proclamation thanking Holt for his years of service. “He is the only one I have ever worked under and he has taught me a lot in those 17 years, everything you need to know about city government and some.”

To watch the Feb. 6 Wyoming City Council meeting where the city honors Curtis Holt, click here.

Vanderwood noted that Holt has worked on numerous local, state and national boards. He was instrumental in helping the city construct its current city buildings, the city hall, public safety department and the 62-B District Court and for the sale of Site 36, where the former GM plant once was located. Holt also was a leader in consolidating area dispatches into the Kent County Dispatch Authority Board.

”I’ve had the privilege to work with City Manager Holt for the past 16 years, and he has always been an advocate for the City of Wyoming and our staff,” said former Mayor Pro Ten and city councilor Sam Bolt when Holt announced his retirement in October. “He is one of the hardest-working people I know and his commitment to our city and our residents is reflected in the caliber and consistency of his leadership.”

The trail to Wyoming

Holt hails from another West Michigan community, Spring Lake, and that is where he would start his public administration career, as an intern, working for a man who would become his mentor, then Spring Lake Village Manager Eric DeLong, who recently retired as deputy city manager for the City of Grand Rapids.

Wyoming City Manager Curtis Holt. (WKTV

“Eric taught me a ton and he put me on a bunch of projects and it kind of became fun,” Holt said. “The variety over accounting is what really attracted me [to public administration]. Sure there was accounting, but there was personnel and projects, and engineering and everything else. You kind of get a taste of so many different things and become an expert in none of them but you get to be a part of so much and that is what has been fun.”

After graduating from GVSU in 1985, Holt continued at Spring Lake with a two-year internship along with coaching football and wrestling and taking classes for his master’s degree. In 1987, he earned that master’s and landed his first job as assistant city manager at Cedar Springs. Two years later, he became the city manager of the City of Ostego.

“Within the city manager field, you’ve got to move up if you are going to be successful,” Curtis said. He interviewed for Wyoming’s deputy city manager position on a Wednesday and the next day, he interviewed for the city manager position in St. Joseph. Expecting a call back from St. Joseph on Friday, he instead received a call from then Wyoming City Manager Don Mason.

Friends and peers pointed out that the Grand Rapids area was a good opportunity because there were a lot of communities that were working and growing together. This meant that there would be lots of opportunities for partnerships and working together on issues in Lansing. So before St. Joseph could call back, Curtis decided to take the position in Wyoming.

Wyoming became home

“It became home,” Curtis said. “My kids went to [Wyoming] Rogers [now the Wyoming High School,] my wife worked at Rodgers. We’ve had really good councils. Councils that were very supportive of the staff and what we did. The staff itself, great staff members, really good people.”

Mayor Jack Poll with City Manager Curtis Holt (left) and City Clerk Kelli VandenBerg during a City Council meeting. (WKTV)

Holt leaves a mark not only on the City of Wyoming, but the community in general, noted State Rep. John Fitzgerald, who served on the city council for two years. During his state proclamation presentation to Holt at the Monday night meeting, Fitzgerald said along with the city facilities, Holt had overseen three master plans including the current “Re-Imagine” plan and improved the financial standing of the city.

“The biggest struggle I have had over the years is money,” Holt said. “Funding cities is a difficult business today— especially to adequately fund the services residents need.

“If you compare the City of Wyoming to virtually any other city in the state of Michigan, you will find that we are one of the leanest city’s out there, which is great because it means that we have been very judicious in people and things.”

Achieving that has not been an easy feat since the State of Michigan funds its cities at one of the lowest levels and is one of the strictest on its property taxes. This provides little options for cities to generate revenue, Holt said, adding while other states allow for local taxes or impact fees, Michigan cities can only raise money through property or income taxes.

There’s no ‘I’ in ‘we’

Still, the City of Wyoming has been able to provide many services other cities do not such as snowplowing the sidewalks, taking care of water lines including lines from the home to the main line, and even clearing debris for residents after the 2016 tornado.

“I say ‘we’ because this is not a Curtis idea but that it is something that staff has said is the right thing for the community because they are good people,” he said.

Proudest achievement: “The sexy thing would be to say we built these billings, but I don’t think that,” Holt said. “What I am most proud of is that we haven’t kicked any cans down the road for our future residents to pay for.”

This is because city staff has done its “due diligence” in maintenance and asset management, taking care of its roads, water, sewer, and city buildings and paying on its debts, he said

Time for the next level

Holt admits that there are other projects he would like to work on and see to completion, but he recognizes that now is a good time for him to retire. There are family things, a first granddaughter to be specific, and just wanting to do some adventuring, play golf and fish.

Curtis Holt address the audience during the Feb. 6 City Council meeting. (WKTV)

But mostly, he sees the city is going through a change. There is a new mayor and three new council members and the next generation has stepped into many of the city’s leadership roles, allowing him to leave the city in good hands.

“I know this that the people who are working here are 100 percent capable, 110 percent capable of taking this city, what we do and how we do it to the next level and you can trust them,” he said during Monday’ nigh’s meeting. “You can support them and you know that the first thing they believe in is it is about ‘we,’ not about me and that really is the way I have always lived my life.

“I believe that is the way that this city will go and that the ‘we’ will win and the ‘we’ will be better every single day.”

Engaging Wellness kickoff encourages community and fitness

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Health, Recreation, ,

By Emily Armstrong
Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan

We know how critical movement and strengthening classes are for older adults. Studies show that incorporating a balance and exercise program can help prevent falls, leading to maintaining independence. Throughout the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan’s nine-county region (Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola counties) evidence-based classes are offered through a number of partners. Recently, we have worked to encompass the entire area and it’s healthy aging classes into a cohesive and consistent branding through a new name: “Engaging Wellness.”

The Engaging Wellness community is comprised of the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, Grand Rapids Community College, Ionia County Commission on Aging, Ludington Senior Center, Mecosta County Commission on Aging, Osceola County Commission on Aging, The Salvation Army, Senior Neighbors, and St. Ann’s Senior Services. All programs are designed specifically for older adults and these partners are dedicated to helping them stay active and independent.

Engaging Wellness programs focus on aging with resilience for fun, fitness, falls prevention, and friendship. Wherever they live or take classes, we want participants to recognize they are part of this Engaging Wellness collective that is committed to the same set of standards and quality classes while meeting seniors where they are on their fitness journey.

Yoga is just one of the options offered in the Engaging Wellness. (Pxhere.com)

“We’re so thrilled to restructure our classes under the Engaging Wellness brand,” shared Barb Nelson Jandernoa, Healthy Aging Contract Administrator with the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan. “This will give older adults in our area a boutique fitness experience where they are understood, heard, and seen. These classes, our wonderful instructors, and, of course, our amazing seniors help make up the vibrant community of Engaging Wellness. We’re excited for what is to come.”

Engaging Wellness classes are offered throughout the region both in person and online so that participants can take classes that are the best fit for them. A Matter of Balance and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program will give folks just beginning to exercise, or those recovering from illness or injury, a place to start. Yoga, EnhanceFitness, Tai Chi, and Silver Sneakers Circuit are other classes that will help build endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. Class fees and Silver Sneakers certification vary by location.

Those interested should check out the classes in their area. For more information, call 616-588-2580 to be connected with the partner in your county. To participate in Engaging Wellness classes, participants must be over 60 years of age and live in one of the following nine counties: Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, or Osceola. 

Where’s Harriet? Eagle watchers wait patiently for answers

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

By Catherine Kooyers
WKTV Contributor

The eaglets, E21 and E22. (Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Foundation )

After surviving the devastating hurricane Ian, losing the entire nest, returning as a couple to rebuild one stick at a time, delivering two healthy eaglets and then fending off attacks by owls and other eagles, our cherished eagle, Harriet, has gone missing…her fate is unknown at this time.

She was last seen Thurs., Feb. 2 leaving the nest located on the Pritchett property as she has countless times. A typical day…until it wasn’t!  This time, she strangely has not returned. This is totally out of character and a sign something is very wrong. Meanwhile, M15 has been staying closer to the nest with the two eaglets doing double duties of both adult eagles. Many eagle watchers are deeply pained as we watch him so sorrowfully (yes, eagles speak in various tones with many meanings we recognize) calling out and looking for his loved mate. He even brought in her favorite treats, trying to entice her return.

Other eagles in the area

However, deeply concerning has been the presence of and attacks by other unfamiliar eagles entering the area, some as a grouping. After suffering through several brutal owl attacks in recent weeks, M15 bravely had to leave the eaglets unattended as he fought off three apparently invasive, attacking eagles at the same time. We held our collective breath wondering how one eagle could protect, feed and train two feisty eaglets alone…more so while fighting off multiple strange eagles at the same time. Yet, always amazing us, he has been doing all that and thankfully keeps returning so far.

While we pray and try to be positive, the attacking group of unfamiliar eagles is not a good sign, more so with Harriet’s mysterious, uncharacteristic absence. Did she try to fight them off? We know Harriet would not allow this and M15 can only do so much. Just leaving the babies unattended as he flies to get necessary food leaves the babies and nest vulnerable. It reminds eagle watchers of the horrific incident that took place during Christmas in the northwest area of Florida. After weeks of waiting, the shell broke open and the bird was almost out…but as the newborn was literally seconds from being completely out of its shell, an unknown eagle swooped down grabbed it, killed it in seconds in front of horrified eagle watchers. And we have not forgotten about Ozzie or how M15 came to the nest.

Leaving the nest alone

A 2016 photo of Harriet and M15 (Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Foundation)

Media and eagle groups are putting out much information. People in the area have been reminded of laws in place to protect eagles. Basically, reminding people the Pritchett family is allowed to have cameras up but laws to protect eagles and human property on which they nest will be enforced. There appears to be trouble with well intended people trespassing, disturbing the area as they search for Harriet and baiting. No one is allowed to bait the area (as it appears some have done) for many valid reasons. For instance, where did the meat come from, how was it handled, was it contaminated by salmonella or a creature that had eaten rodenticide, or hit with lead…things that could harm an eagle. Placing meat next to the road can be risky for the eagles as well as drivers. And, it can attract unwanted  competitors…like the more aggressive eagles seeking new territory.

It has been reported the Pritchett family and eagle watchers are distressed but not giving up yet. They reportedly have been out searching their grounds, working with media to ask people to be on the lookout, to call authorities immediately if Harriet or an injured eagle is located, but to please not venture onto their private property.

The search for Harriet

One unverified report I saw claimed a person in the area saw Harriet Thursday, the day she left, struggling to cast a pellet (undigestible waste) but could not because it appears she had swallowed fishing line with a hook…which could be treatable if she is found but fatal if not. (That would be a mankind created crisis which would legally allow human intervention and treatment.) Is that report true?  We do not know. Others question if an owl or unfamiliar eagle fought with her? She is a very old bird who has led a remarkable life…anything is possible.

I stated early on this season that territorial fights for food and nesting would be intense this year after Hurricane Ian came through the area. Just look at the photos of all the downed trees with nests in them!!! None of us, however, foresaw Harriet missing while M15 fought three eagles at once without her protecting their territory or babies. If Harriet can, she will return. If she cannot, we do know M15 will risk his life to save all and assume her duties. Can he continue doing that? It is rare, but has happened elsewhere and the season ended with strong birds.

 

One thing about this nest which continues to impress is how for years  it joins thousands of people across the globe together…how we share in learning, joy, pain and support. Today, we sadly brace for the worst but collectively hope and pray for another miracle.

More than 200 attend inaugural adaptive rec expo

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood,
  • Residents explore adaptive services. (WKTV/Nathan Slauer)
  • About 25 different vendors were at the expo. (WKTV/Nathan Slauer)
  • The event was about making connections.
  • More than 200 participants attended the expo. (WKTV/Nathan Slauer)
  • A family explores options at Mary Free Bed.

By Nathan Slauer
WKTV Contributor

The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department highlighted recreational opportunities during its inaugural Adaptive Recreation Expo on Thursday, Jan. 26. The community event featured 25 vendors and attracted more than 200 guests.

During the expo, local businesses and agencies spoke with attendees about adaptive services available for people of all abilities. Information booths provided information about sports ranging from hunting to karate.

City of Kentwood employees enjoyed opening the Kentwood Activities Center up to the public and creating an environment focused on learning and collaboration, said Ann Przybysz, recreation program coordinator for the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department.

“We’re highlighting Kentwood’s programs, but also our community partners,” Przybysz said. “This is a one stop shop for people to get involved. We have the space, and we want to be a jumping off point.”

The Adaptive Recreation Expo took place as part of an ongoing effort to promote healthy living in Kentwood. For more than two decades, the City of Kentwood has offered adaptive recreation programming to the public.

Young people ages 12 and up are the primary audience of the adaptive recreation program, although there are special events geared toward adults. Participants with physical, cognitive, and sensory disabilities can each find something to enjoy.

Dance, rock-climbing, and bowling rank among the adaptive recreation program’s most popular activities. Each week, the Leisure Club provides social activities such as cooking and arts & crafts.

During the summer, participants have the opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine. Kayaks are available for use, and many individuals leave their wheelchairs on the shore and paddle out onto the water.

For Przybysz, it is empowering to see people with disabilities challenging themselves and trying new things. Although many cities currently do not provide adaptive recreation programs, Przybysz said she believes it is possible to build a culture of physical activity for people of all abilities by establishing effective partnerships.

“See who you can partner with,” Przybysz said. “Are there organizations already serving disabilities? Support people who are already doing good work. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.”

Those who missed this year’s Adaptive Recreation Expo can still find ways to get involved. Volunteers are needed for the Valentine’s Day Dance on Feb. 9.

For more information about the City of Kentwood’s adaptive recreation opportunities, visit kentwood.us/adaptive.

Watch our latest WKTV Friday Night Highlights Show HERE, and don’t miss our Feb. 10 show!

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, , ,
WKTV Friday Night Highlights, Feb. 3 2023



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



Take a look at our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights, February 3!



Every Friday, we’ll bring you some great high school boys and girls basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.



Coming soon, we’ll have coaches and players stop by our studio after their games to chat on the show.


Thanks for watching, and see you next Friday!


Public Museum’s new game is a little ‘fishy’

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

By Adam Brown
WKTV Contributor

The sturgeon tank at the Grand Rapids Public Museum is located on the top floor with a window overlooking the Grand River. (WKTV/Adam Brown)

A new immersive experience for the whole family has arrived at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The Sturgeon Excursion, the first interactive virtual game built on the museum’s new PublicOS platform, is now open to the public.

The Sturgeon Excursion is an element of the larger aquatic exhibit known as Grand Fish, Grand River. Chief Curator Alex Forist said the exhibit tells the story of lake sturgeon and their unique role in the watershed and native culture of the region. In addition, Grand Fish, Grand River seeks to educate the public about threats faced by the lake sturgeon, including how they have become endangered due to overharvesting and what the public can do to help.

Sturgeon Excursion is a natural extension of that educational mission. Patrons may visit Grand Fish, Grand River to read about lake sturgeon, with the interactive game as an option for those visitors looking for a deeper dive and a way to interact personally.

“Human beings are social learners,” said GRPM Digital Strategist Josh Freeney. “We like learning with other humans, that’s why a place like a museum is so amazing.”

Simply put, a museum is a place to share a learning experience with others since we all experience the exhibits together. The digital game enhances that experience by immersing patrons in the exhibit’s distinct world.

What is the Sturgeon Excursion game?

To play the Sturgeon Excursion, GRPM guests can scan any of the QR codes around the exhibit with their personal devices. Then, players are given a virtual sturgeon and tasked with helping it swim to freedom by traveling down the Grand River into Lake Michigan. The game asks questions, which the player can answer by watching a brief video or reading the information around the room. Each correct answer gives the player a piece of virtual food to feed the sturgeon. Give the sturgeon enough food, and it will grow big enough to swim to freedom.

Screenshot of the online game available on the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s website. (WKTV)

The Sturgeon Excursion is not limited to Grand Fish, Grand River. To get enough food to free the sturgeon, players must also visit two other exhibits – West Michigan Habitats and Anishinabek: The People of This Place. Players learn about the sturgeon and answer questions through the context of these other exhibits, with the Anishinabek exhibit adding the historical factor.

There is a single-player option intended for members of the general public, where one patron plays the game on their own device. The game also features a multiplayer component that the GRPM designs for student groups from local schools. With this method, all players collaborate and share one sturgeon. Multiplayer encourages students to work and learn together to help the sturgeon get to Lake Michigan.

Per Freeney, the GRPM hopes to make the multiplayer version more accessible to the general public, which is why they encourage the public to play the game and give feedback on what works and what might not. In addition, the QR code method was designed to increase accessibility, allowing anyone with any device to play the game.

The Public Response

The public response to the Sturgeon Excursion game and greater Grand Fish, Grand River exhibit has been positive overall. Freeney highlights one instance of a school group acting particularly rowdy, then working together to help the virtual fish when given the tasks of the digital game. Also, when quizzed about what they learned at the end of the game, the group answered every question correctly.

Participants answer a series of questions to move through different levels in the game. (WKTV)

Freeney attributes this to the “game-ified” nature of the experience, as it is still a quiz but disguised as a scavenger hunt-type game. As a result, the students learn valuable information all through the lens of a fun, interactive virtual game.

All the information in the game is available around the exhibit’s room. However, it’s the presentation of that material that matters. Each person learns differently, and younger students learn better when playing a game versus reading books and facts.

What the Future Holds

Ultimately, Forist said he hopes that the game, coupled with the related exhibits and historical context, can one day be taken out of the museum into the community to increase public awareness.

“Eventually, this will help us break outside of the walls of the museum altogether. There’s all kinds of great content and learning opportunities in the community,” Forist said. “If we can still bring that museum quality experience to those, it’s unlimited where you could go with it.”

 

The GRPM’s digital platform allows for easy communication and collaboration between the museum, the local community, and other institutions sharing the same mission.

A remote version of the game is also available for those who cannot make it to the museum. Originally developed as a contingency after Covid-19 closed the museum, the remote game remains available and follows a similar setup as the in-person game. Schools can log on to the game remotely and work together to answer the questions, and single players can access the game from home, at work, or wherever they might be. The remote game features a virtual map of the museum, complete with models of the accompanying exhibits, so all of the information from the museum is accessible to those who cannot physically attend.

 

With the remote option, each person can learn in whatever way suits them best, whether by physically coming in or remaining in the comfort of their home. The public can access the remote version by visiting the Grand Fish, Grand River page on the GRPM’s website.

Kentwood Valentine’s Dash 5K set for Feb. 11; to benefit Little Free Pantry

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, West Michigan, ,
A photo from a previous Kentwood Valentine’s Dash. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)



By WKTV Staff

greer@wktv.org


The City of Kentwood will host its sixth annual Valentine’s Dash 5K at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 to benefit Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry, which provides food and personal care items to community members in need.

The 5K route will include a combination of trails and paved pathways starting and ending at Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE.

Participants are encouraged to wear Valentine’s Day-themed costumes. While intended to be a fun run, the race will be chip timed and awards will be given for the fastest runner overall and in each age group.

 

A photo from a previous Kentwood Valentine’s Dash. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)


An awards ceremony will follow in the library’s community room around noon, including Valentine-themed snacks, music and a photo booth.

“It can be difficult to find opportunities to run in the winter, especially races,” said Spencer McKellar, lead recreation program coordinator. “Our Valentine’s Dash provides a fun, festive opportunity to participate in a winter race, whether you’re an avid walker, first-time runner or a seasoned racer. All are welcome to come out and join us.”

Online registration is available until Feb. 10 and includes a long-sleeved shirt and other participant-packet goodies while supplies last. Racers should register by Jan. 26 to guarantee a shirt. Registration is $30 until Jan. 29, $35 from Jan. 30 to Feb. 10 and $40 on the day of the event. Runners who sign up as a couple save $5 each. Participants who bring a nonperishable item or monetary donation for Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry will be entered to win a special door prize.

Kentwood’s first Little Free Pantry opened to the community in 2017 at the Kentwood Activities Center, where it remains available year-round during business hours. The City launched a second pantry at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch in 2021. More information, including a list of suggested donations, is available atkentwood.us/LittleFreePantry.

There also are volunteer opportunities available for this event. Volunteers will help with racer check-in and registration, keep traffic off the race route and hand out water to runners during the race.

For more event information, visit kentwood.us/ValentinesDash.

Wyoming police investigating stabbing

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

Around 8:37 p.m on Jan. 31, officers from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the report of a stabbing that occurred inside Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille, 4157 S. Division Ave.

The initial investigation indicates that a physical altercation occurred inside the establishment between two patrons. One of the involved individuals, a 34 year-old male, was stabbed several times and transported to a local area hospital in a private vehicle prior to police arriving on scene. The individual is currently undergoing surgery and is in critical condition.

A person of interest in the stabbing, a 54 year-old male, was located a few blocks away from the restaurant and is being detained for questioning.

It is early in the investigation and detectives are working to learn the circumstances that led to the stabbing.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345

Potter’s House girls keep the wins coming, beat Orchard View 52-14 Tuesday

Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, ,
Anyieth Nhial had eight points, seven boards and three assists for Potter’s House Tuesday. (Courtesy, Jake Szetela: Riparea Videography)



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



The Potter’s House Christian girls basketball team won its seventh game in a row with a 52-14 win over Muskegon Orchard View Tuesday.

Coach Jake Hoogstrate said after a slow start to the game, his team got it rolling in the second quarter and “really turned it on in the third.”

“We wanted to pressure aggressively defensively and that finally started to turn into offense as the game went on,” Hoogstrate explained. “We had a season-high 16 assists in the game and really shared the ball well. Ten players scored in the game, also a season high.”

Isabelle Baez led the Pumas in scoring, in limited minutes, with 10 points and Anyieth Nhial added eight points, seven rebounds and three assists. Jordan Clark scored 6 points in her varsity debut, while Serenity Clark and Ivy Andreas each added five points. 

The Pumas are now 11-4 overall, 2-0 in the Alliance League.

“This group has been an absolute joy to coach,” Hoogstrate said. “We started the season with a challenging schedule and really learned a lot about who we were and what we were capable of. This team enjoys being around one another and isn’t afraid of a challenge.

“We brought a lot of players back from last year and have some great upperclassmen leading the team. They have bought in and established a great culture for our program. We have a lot of great opportunities ahead of us and we look forward to making the most of them the rest of the way.” 

Discovering the art of beauty in the Heartside district

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Recreation,

By Maddy Visscher
ArtrRat Gallery

Are you looking to make positive changes in the new year? Self-care is always a great resolution. If you’re in the market for styling and pampering, Grand Rapids’ Heartside neighborhood offers a palette of beautifying businesses within a five-minute walk of ArtRat Gallery (46 Division Ave. South).

Owner Laura Signore at Lilith’s Lair (Courtesy, ArtRat)

Like the neighborhood itself, Heartside’s salons and stylists offer everything from classic elegance to the cutting edge. Since it opened 10 months ago, Lilith’s Lair (25 Division Ave. S) has set the standard for coloring outside the lines. The rainbow-colored basement salon invites you to come as you are and connect with a look that expresses your identity.

Owner Laura Signore described the underground salon as “creepy cute. It’s basically a permanent spot for my Halloween decorations.”

In addition to nine independently contracted stylists, Lilith’s Lair provides shelf space for the products of half a dozen local artists, including adorably weird stickers, prints and handmade lashes. “It’s a total sensory experience,” Laura said.

“It isn’t about reinventing yourself,” Laura told ArtRat. “It’s about being who you have always been meant to be!

“I’ve seen people walk in here with natural blonde hair and leave with a head of rainbows. It may take nine hours, but it’s always a blast.”

“It isn’t about reinventing yourself,” Laura told ArtRat. “It’s about being who you have always been meant to be! (Courtesy, ArtRat)

The rainbow walls aren’t just for show: Every stylist in the shop is part of the LGBTQ+ community. (But Laura promises they “won’t check your gay cards,” and everyone is welcome.) 

The stylists at Lillith’s Lair offer options that range from natural or vivid color, voluminous layers, and short, spicy cuts; to hair and lash extensions; to tinsel and glitter spray. “There’s something for everyone!” Laura exclaimed.

The stylists at Lillith’s Lair offer options that range from natural or vivid color, voluminous layers, and short, spicy cuts; to hair and lash extensions; to tinsel and glitter spray. “There’s something for everyone!” Laura exclaimed.

Lilith’s Lair provides shelf space for the products of half a dozen local artists. (Courtesy, ArtRat)

“In 2022, we were so blessed to find stability, and in 2023 we want to do so much. We’re excited to participate in our community more and more. We want to interact with local organizations, like The Diatribe. We want to have more events, like we did on Halloween and New Year’s Eve, and to keep pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a sex-positive, gender-affirming, safe place for the queer community.”

Whether you need a short, masculine cut; lush natural color; or a rainbow mane, you can head to Lilith’s Lair’s Instagram and Facebook to peruse the salon’s work and find the perfect artist for your needs.

Here are some more choice cuts from Heartside’s salon district:

Pure Vanity (3 Oakes St. SW) is your destination for wigs (both synthetic and human hair); tape-in extensions; and beautiful balayage. In English or Spanish, owner Paloma Maldonado offers customers an “ever-evolving” resource for hot new Heartside hair talent — whether you’re looking to bring some life back into your mane, picking out the perfect lace front, or seeking a stylist que tiene los mejores chismes, Pure Vanity has you covered. Appointments 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday, and 12-5 p.m. on Sunday.

Blonde Theory (64 Division Ave. S) is a small, sultry and sophisticated boutique focused on creating a luxurious, individualistic salon experience. Blonde Theory can take you from a brunette bob to 12” platinum blonde. Blonde Theory is available by appointment only. Visit  the salon’s website.

Avenue Barber Shop (123 Division Ave. S) is a “grassroots-as-you-get” homage to the classic barber shops of the ‘40s and ‘50s. Grand Rapids native Chris Lapham opened the shop in 2017, where he cuts hair and trims beards with a staff of three. Ask about bookings for wedding parties! Appointments 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (lunch break at 2 p.m.),11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday.

Posh Nails and Spa (38 Commerce Avenue SW) After fighting tooth-and-nail through 2022, why not stop in for a mani-pedi? Posh offers both dip powder and acrylic options as well as a variety of aromas for your pedicures. Whether you prefer a Lavender Field Escape or to be Pampered by Pitaya in state-of-the-art massage chairs, Posh promises “everything it takes to restore your energy and revitalize your spirits.” Appointments 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m,. and Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

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.

Photo of the Week: The Dynamic Duo

Citizen Journalism
Tommy Brann and Marge Wilson (Courtesy, Jerry DeGood)

At the Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony, longtime Wyoming businessman Jerry DeGood stated that he has long said that “Wyoming wouldn’t be Wyoming without Tommy Brann and Marge Wilson.” He recently was able to capture the two business leaders together at an event.

In 1971, Tommy Brann opened Brann’s Steakhouse and Grill, 4157 Division Ave. S. Wilson opened Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW, in 1975. The two have been staples in the community ever since. Both are known for their generosity to the community from helping area students with various projects to contributing to community events such as the city’s National Night Out and Wyoming Gives Back campaigns. Brann recently wrapped up service as the area’s state representative and joined the Wyoming City Council as its newest council member.

An evening of fellowship as the chamber celebrates award winners

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

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

  • Mixing and mingling at the annual Chamber Meeting and Awards Dinner. (WKTV)
  • Incoming Chamber Board Chair Valerie Cook (WKTV)
  • From left, Kentwood Commissioner Betsy Artz with Kentwood City Tresurer Laurie Sheldon (WKTV)
  • From left, Chamber President and CEO Keith Morgan, Summer Vasquez, incoming Board Chair Valerie Cook, and outgoing Board Chair Tony Marino (WKTV)
  • RoMan Manufacturing members take a few minutes in front of the photo screen. (WKTV)
  • The Santa Clause Parade Committee which was honored at the awards banquet. (WKTV)
  • Chamber members at the annual Chamber Meeting and Awards. (WKTV)
  • From left, Wyoming Councilor Renee Hill, Wyoming Deputy City Manager John McCarger, and Chamber President and CEO Keith Morgan. (WKTV)
  • Bob O’Callaghan talks to WGVU’s Shelley Irwin (WKTV)
  • Marge Wilson (center) (WKTV)

It was an evening of fun and fellowship at the Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting and Award Dinner, which was Jan. 27 at Kentwood’s Viewpond Banquet Hall.

Chamber President and CEO Keith Morgan noted it has been a year of change as he took over the Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce in the beginning of January 2022. New programs, such as the BIPOC committee, have been formed, along with the Chamber continuing to build relationships and connections. This has included an expanded footprint for the annual Metro Cruise which now has stages at both Wyoming’s Rogers Plaza and Kentwood’s Woodland Mall.

At the banquet, Morgan pointed out that it was another night of celebrating change as Board Chair Tony Marino was stepping down with Valerie Cook having been named the new board chair.

Hosted by WGVU’s Shelley Irwin, the Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony recognizes three chamber businesses along with presenting the volunteer of the year, distinguish service, and committee of the year awards. 

Manufacturer of the Year

RoMan Manufacturing

861 47th St. SW, Wyoming



Started in 1980, RoMan Manufacturing is a producer of water coolant transformers for the resistant welding business and has sine expanded into other markets. The company made Wyoming its home because of “convenience.” According to Chief operating Officer Nelson Sanchez, many of the employees who started with the company lived in Wyoming and it was close to the highway. 

Service Business of the Year

University of Michigan Health-West
Main campus: 5900 Byron Center Ave. SW, Wyoming



University of Michigan Health-West is a progressive, innovative hospital system in Wyoming, serving all of the West Michigan with about 30 sties in four counties. University of Michigan Health-West was founding in 1942 by a group of physicians. Seeing the potential growth in the the southern area of Kent County, the main hospital was moved to the Wyoming area in 2007.

Retail Business of the Year

B2 Outlet Stores
Various locations
962A 28th St. SW, Wyoming
350 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids



B2 Outlet stores started with a father and son duo, Duane and Matt Smith, who were purchasing liquidation items for an online auction. The pair opened a store in Hudsonville in 2015 and from there the retail business grew to 21 stories including 1 in Illinois and 1 in California. B2 stands for benefit twice: the first benefit is for the customer who receives the great values and the second benefit is to the various local nonprofits that B2 has supported. 

Other Award Recipients

Rich Wadsworth received the Distinguished Service Award. (WKTV)
Amanda Villa receives the Volunteer of the Year Award. (WKTV)
Jerry Good accepts the Committee of the Year Award on behalf of the Chamber’s Santa Claus parade. (WKTV)

The Gerald E. Fessell Distinguished Service Award was given to Rich Wadsworth, a financial advisor for Edward Jones in Wyoming. Wadsworth was recognized for his years of service on the Chamber board, most recently serving as the executive vice chair for community relations. He has been the lead mentor volunteer for the last few Metro Cruise events and has helped to grow the footprint of the event.

The Daniel VanDyke Volunteer of the Year Award went to Amanda Villa, from The Source. Villa found the Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce through the Chamber’s Young Professionals group. When the Young Professionals group needed a committee role to be filled, she volunteered. She shared the information she had learned from the Chamber with her employer, who also became a Chamber member.

The Daniel McLaren Committee of the Year was the Chamber’s Santa Parade Committee, with committee member Jerry DeGood accepting the award on the committee’s behalf. The committee was recognized for its dedication in hosting the annual event, which was cancelled in 2021 due to high winds. The committee honored all 2021 sponsorships and was able to raise additional funding to help with other costs. The committee also smashed its goal of 45 participants by having more than 60 in the 2022 parade.

For more about the Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce, visit its website southkent.org.

With an ‘I can, too’ attitude, Wyoming student starts her own jewelry business

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Education, Entertainment, Local Business, Recreation, , ,

By Isabelle Mosher
WKTV Contributor

During the pandemic, Isabella Diaz-Borrello branched out starting her own jewelry business. (Courtesy, Wyoming Wolf Pack Press)

Over the past couple of years, a Wyoming high school student has worked to develop her own line of alternative jewelry, Dusk Shoppe, that is affordable to all.

In 2020, during the first quarantine, Isabella Diaz-Borrello decided to start up a business as a way to make money and express herself through jewelry. It all started when her father gave her money and told her to “make something out of this, try to double what I gave you and make more.”

While brainstorming ideas, she came across videos on TikTok of other people making handmade jewelry.

She felt inspired.

“I thought, I can do that too,” she said. Dusk Shoppe came to life at this moment. Originally, Dusk Shoppe started off as just an earring business: charms, toys, and other accessories. Eventually, Isabella expanded to wire-wrapped earrings, more intricate designs, polymer clay earrings, and resin earrings as well.

As her business evolved, Isabella started to experiment with other types of accessories. She now makes beaded necklaces with chain details and charms, bracelets, keychains, and stickers (which are her very own design). There may be more additions as well.

“I hope to make and sell ceramic at my shop sometime soon,” she said.

For handmade jewelry, her products are fairly priced. Resin earrings are $10, polymer clay earrings are $15, wire-wrapped earrings are $8, necklaces are $25, bracelets and keychains are $6, and her stickers are $3.

The challenges of having your own business

Although her business has grown, there have been struggles. Advertising has been one. She advertises on Instagram and TikTok through her business accounts.

Earrings created by Isabella Diaz-Borrello (Courtesy, Dusk Shoppe)

“I tried making a TikTok once, but it didn’t work out,” she stated.

Isabella hopes to advertise Dusk Shoppe more in the new year through Instagram and TikTok posts. She is also planning more advertisements about her Depop shop and looking at other art markets.

Advertising has not been a huge hit, but her art markets have. At art markets, her business can run itself.

“I’ve only been doing art markets for a year, I did about six last year,” she said.

She hopes to do way more art markets this year, but her real goal is to partake in a market at the yearly Pride Festival.

“There was a booth that was selling jewelry, but it looked like mass-produced jewelry,” she said. “It had a huge line.”

She believes her business needs to grow in size and get better at advertising, that’s the milestone.
“It can be expensive and you need a lot of products,” she said.

Dusk Shoppe has had its ups and downs, but Isabella has succeeded in her past goals. Stay updated on new additions to her shop, and remember, if you’re wanting to start a business, think of the wise words of Isabella: “I can do that too.”

Isabelle Mosher is a senior journalism student at Wyoming High School. She plans to study biochemistry at Michigan State University. 

Nine new members inducted into Wyoming Hall of Fame at WKTV Game of the Week Friday

Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, ,
(WKTV)



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor



The Wyoming Hall of Fame introduced nine new members in between the girls and boys basketball games against Zeeland East on Friday,

The new members include Pam and Jim Brower, long-time Wyoming Public Schools Boosters who volunteered at multiple athletic events.

K’Brio Kimble, one of the all-time best basketball players at Wyoming Park who finished with 1,252 career points.

Emily Holt Wallace, one of the best all-around athletes to come out of Wyoming, who lettered in five different sports.

Orlando Villarreal, A multi-sport athlete at Wyoming Park who was a standout on some of the best baseball teams in Wyoming Park history.

Whitney Hudson Sharkey, a three-sport athlete who was a two-time, all-state softball player and led the Rogers softball team to the 2005 state championship.

Shawn Veenstra, a three-sport athlete at Wyoming Park who was a member of the 1994 state semifinal basketball team and was one of the best baseball players in school history.

Justin Vasquez, a three-sport athlete who was one of the best swimmers in school history and holds career records in baseball for strikeouts and wins.

Jeff Klomparens, a three-sport athlete at Rogers who stood out in football, wrestling and baseball.            

Local comedian show celebrates diversity with special performances

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Sunday Night Funnies will host shows honoring Black History Month and Women’s History Month. (Courtesy, Sunday Night Funnies)

The Sunday Night Funnies standup comedy show celebrates diversity by hosting both a special February Black History Month show and a March Women’s History Month performances.

The Black History Month show features an all-African American lineup of comedians on Sunday, Feb. 5. Besides that night the two other Sunday Night Funnies performances on Feb. 19 and 26 will feature African American comics who didn’t perform on Feb. 5. Note, there is no show on Feb. 12 because of the Super Bowl.

March 5 will be the March Women’s History Month show featuring an all women lineup of comedians for the first time in the fourteen-plus-year history of the Sunday Night Funnies.

“Both of these special shows are something that I’ve been wanting to do for a while,” said Brian B. producer and MC of the Sunday Night Funnies. “Because of Covid, we were off for close to two years and didn’t start back up again at Spectrum Entertainment Complex till late February of 2022. Now that we’ve been back a year, I felt the time was right to do them both the right way.

“Besides these two special performances I plan on doing more like these throughout the year. Those are in the planning stages right now and will be announced at a later date.”

Brian B. said since he started the Sunday Night Funnies back in the fall of 2008, one of his goals for the show was to be able to offer a stage to a diverse lineup of comedians.

“I think it’s much more interesting for the audience to hear from people of different races and ethnicity, gender, as well as age ranges,” he said.


Since the start of the Sunday Night Funnies in the fall of 2008, more than a 1,100 different comedians have performed at the show.

“We’ve had a great spectrum of comedians perform from pretty much every type of background imaginable,” Brian B. said. “Also, I’m happy to say that I’m seeing a lot more women doing standup now than we did in the past which is great. As far as age ranges go, we’ve had a wide span of performers- everything from a nine-year-old girl to man in his mid-seventies and everything in between.”

About the Sunday Night Funnies: The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. (Brian Borbot.) It’s a weekly live stand-up comedy performance featuring a variety of comics from the Midwest and around the country. The Sunday Night Funnies is a weekly free admission show that starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Spectrum Entertainment Complex, 5656 Clyde Park SW.

Free movies featured at Speciation Cellars

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Recreation,

WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Looking for a new resolution for the New Year? How about a beer and free movie?

B-Movie Euphoria hosts free movies the last Sunday of every month. This Sunday, Jan 29, the featured flick will be the 1983 classic “D.C. Cab,” which starred Gary Busey, Mr. T, and Irene Cara. The film was directed by Joel Schumacher, who would go on to direct “Lost Boys” and “Batman Forever.”

Show time is at 8 p.m. at Speciation Cellars, located at 928 Wealthy St. SE.

“D.C. Cab” is a greasy classic about a bunch of street-wise loser cabbies working at a rundown Washington D.C. cab company and the madness that ensues.

To see what is coming up next. visit B-Movie Euphoria’s Facebook page.

Vanderwood delivers his first State of the City address

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

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

In his first State of the City address, City of Wyoming Mayor Kent Vanderwood called it a “season of change” for the city as he highlighted several successes from 2022 and looked to the future at upcoming projects.

 

Mayor Kent Vanderwood presented his first State of the City address on Jan. 16. (WKTV)

“Change can be scary. With change comes new opportunity. With new leadership comes fresh eyes and energy,” Vanderwood said at the Jan. 16 City Council meeting where he presented the State of the City address. “Building on the legacy of those who have come before, Wyoming is a city with a proud history and a bright future…and I say with confidence that the best days are in front of us.”

Representing that “season of change,” Vanderwood noted that three of the six current city council members are new along with a new mayor pro tem, Rob Postema, as well as himself having been seated as mayor in December. Vanderwood recognized guests State Rep. John Fitzgerald, State Majority Senate Leader Winnie Brinks, whose district includes the cities of Wyoming and Kenwood, and Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Keith Morgan. He also recognized City Manager Curtis Holt, who will be retiring in February after 23 years of service, along with all the city staff, for their dedication to the city. 

Public Safety Remains a Main Priority

Safety remains the city’s top priority, Vanderwood said. Like most cities, Wyoming saw a sharp increase in crime in 2020 but has seen a reduction in violent crime over the past two years due to the leadership of Chief Kim Koster and her team, Vanderwood said.

The Wyoming Police Department hired 10 additional police officers and has been able to increase crime analysis efforts to help in preventing and solving crime. The team continues to work in removing illegal guns off the street and to help with the opioid and mental health crisis, he said.

The fire department responded to more than 7,000 calls in 2022, Vanderwood noted. To help the increase in call volume, the city has added quick response, a training captain, radio upgrades, and restructured the commend service, he said.

Vanderwood also noted that Wyoming is a growing community, with more than 2,000 building permits, adding about $108 million in construction value. The city has seen about 1,300 new housing units constructed in the past few years. To help with city development, planning, economic development and inspections were placed under one department with Nicole Hofert now serving as the director of community and economic development.

Looking to Meet the Needs of a Growing City

To continue to meet up with the growth of the city, residents will be asked in May to approved a dedicated 1.5 mill that will be used for police, fire, and first responders, Vanderwood said. The millage proposal has a five-year capped which he said would give the city time to look for other ways to fund the staffing needs.

“The reality is clear, we do not have the longterm resources to support our current staffing levels in the police or fire department and our current staffing levels are not adequate to address the current needs of the city,” Vanderwood said, adding that the city has had to rely on surrounding communities for emergency assistance.

“Our city continues to grow but our police department has shrunk nearly 45 people since 2000,” he said.

The millage, which would generate about $3.9 million annually, would allow the city to hire additional police and fire which in turn would increase public safety by decreasing response times, enhancing crime prevention efforts and traffic safety, Vanderwood said, adding that the additional funding would allow fire staff to operate out of all four of the city’s fire stations. Currently, only two stations are staffed.

 

The city will host three public meetings about the millage, the first on March 9 at the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW. More information about the millage can be found at wyomingmi.gov/future.

Other 2022 Highlights

The Parks and Recreation Department has new leadership with Krashawn Martin taking the helm. This department runs more than 250 sports and activity programs, along with 12 after school TEAM 21 sites and special events that include the summer concert series, the spring carnival, Memorial Day events, the Trunk or Treat Trail and several other programs. Along with that, the department lead the improvements at Jackson and Gezon parks, which included new playground equipment and splash pads.

 

Vanderwood said the City of Wyoming’s infra structure continues to grow with the city adding its third main for water service along with a new $8 million ultraviolet disinfection facility, which is a cost effective, safer way to clean water.

Looking Ahead

In economic development, residents will see the start of the City Center project this spring with the construction of a new pedestrian bridge on 28th Street and 3.1 miles of new trails that will connect to existing trails within the city. Vanderwood noted that the project was made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The city received $6 million from the county’s ARPA Funds distribution and has put $10 million of its own ARPA Fund monies toward the project.

Also breaking ground in the spring will be the public market at the former Site 36 location, Vanderwood said. The city kept the northern portion of the site with Franklin Partners purchasing about 74 acres with plans for development of the site.



Also in 2023, the city will be unveiling its branding project that involved many focus groups and community events, Vanderwood said.

“At the outset, I said we are in a season of change,” Vanderwood said. “You have the opportunity to work with us to shape the future of this city. I encourage you all to stay connect, serve on boards and commission and participate in elections.

“As I begin my time as mayor, I look forward to working with city staff, residents, community members, surrounding municipalities and organizations. I am committed to making Wyoming a better place to live, work and play.”

For the complete State of the City address, visit click here.  

Clothes, coffee and more are all part of Heartside’s OTONO

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Business, Local Entertainment, ,

By Maddy Visscher
ArtRat Gallery

The new lounger’s area features a commercial-grade espresso machine. (Courtesy, ArtRat)

Since it opened in November 2021 at 317 Division Ave. S, OTONO hasn’t stopped innovating. The second-hand store doubled its floor space in August when it expanded into a neighboring storefront; now owners Emmanuel Ibarra and Alana Sawicki have carved out a space for visitors to gather for conversation and caffeine.

OTONO’s new lounge area features a commercial-grade espresso machine and comfortable seating.

Drinks are on the house (although the team gratefully accepts tips). According to Emmanuel, the space creates a much-needed hangout for visitors to OTONO and the other SoDiv businesses near Wealthy Street.

“I wanted to share something that I love, as well as add to the experience of OTONO,” he said. “We love selling clothes, but we also want to offer something more. Being associated with coffee helps us build up our reputation. People can get to know us and grow with us as we work to become a full-fledged, licensed cafe.

What Started as Pop-Up Grew Into Something More

The new lounge space at OTONO is a much-needed hangout for visitors. (Courtesy, ArtRat)

“OTONO started as my pop-up project,” Emmanuel continued. He started hosting pop-ups in 2019 at a variety of spaces, including Heartside’s own Lantern Coffee Bar and Lounge, 100 Commerce Ave. SW. In the process, he crossed paths with Alana, whose handmade spoon rings are featured at their shop. “She has amazing taste and style,” Emmanuel said.

Alana told ArtRat she looks to another Heartside merchant for business advice: Her older sister, Melissa Looman, owns Echo Salon at 24 Sheldon Ave. SE. “I’m inspired to push further than expectations, and to take risks.”

OTONO prides itself on fitting all sizes and budgets — with clothing that ranges from XXS to 4X, frequent sales and a $5 rack. Its curated second-hand clothing includes tons of basics, neutrals and unique finds as well as name-brand activewear and home goods. “We do our best to keep our prices affordable,” Alana told ArtRat. The shop also hosts free events such as mending workshops with Betel Box Design.

The Power Duo of Alana and Emmanuel

Alana said the new coffee area helps promote OTONO’s mission to create community. “When we opened OTONO, it was partially because we wanted to be interconnected, to meet the cool young people of Grand Rapids,” she said. “After the pandemic, we felt our sense of community had suffered. And I missed talking to people!”

Alana and Emmanuel in the new OTONO lounger. (Courtesy, ArtRat)

With Alana and Emmanuel working side by side, OTONO has grown “faster than expected,” Emmanuel told ArtRat.

“We had to work hard, to learn how to communicate with each other, how to work together, ” Alana said. “There were a lot of growing pains — but it worked out. 

“We both have our roles that we play, our responsibilities, our strengths. Emmanuel does all the paperwork and the hard stuff, and I do the social media and keep positive relations with our sellers, always making sure we have stock,” Alana said. “We can’t believe we get to do this,” Emmanuel exclaimed. “This would not be possible without both of us.”

Future Plans Include Growth

Looking ahead, OTONO’s plans include additional seating and a possible new business venture.

“We’re excited to grow into a more formal cafe, and to spark more conversations and create new experiences.” Emmanuel said.

OTONO is open Thursday 4-8pm, Friday and Saturday 12-6pm, and Sunday 12-4pm. It shares SoDiv’s vintage district with Zabház (222 Division Ave. S), Decaydence Vintage (71 Division Ave. S) and Second Vibess (13 Division Ave. S). OTONO is on the same block as Cocoon Art Space (327 Division Ave. S) and a 5-minute walk from ArtRat Gallery (46 Division Ave. S).

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.