By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety is seeking help to identify a person of interest in an assault case that took place at 800 Burton St. SW.
On Oct. 9, 2022, at 4:20 a.m. officers from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to a report of an assault that occurred at the Citgo Station located at 800 Burton St. SW.
A female store employee was allegedly assaulted by a male customers in the store. The male arrived with numerous individuals in black “party” bus. The male customer engaged in argument with employees and began throwing items in the store and at employees. The female employee was attempting to get the male to leave when she was stuck in the head causing her to fall. The male suspect returned to the bus which then left the scene.
The female store employee had significant but non-life threatening injuries from being struck and falling to the floor.
The male involved in this incident is described a a black male, 20-30 years old, 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a skinny build and short hair. He was seen wearing a dark-colored North Face hoodie sweatshirt with dark-colored jeans.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or 1-866-774-2345.
Kentwood Police
Last week, the Kentwood Police Department was able to identify a 16-year-old male believed to have been involved in the theft of a vehicle in which a 2-year-old was inside. A juvenile petition was forward to the Kent County prosecutor’s office and the following charges were issued: child abandonment, unlawful driving away of an automobile, lying/obstructing police and malicious destruction of property under $1,000.
Courtesy, Kentwood Police Department
“I would like to commend our Kentwood Police officers and the officers from our neighboring communities on their tireless work to identify and locate this individual,” Kentwood Police Chief Byron Litwin said. “I would also like to thank the bus drivers form Kelloggsvillee Public Schools for their quick actions in locating the missing child and returning him to his parents.”
On Oct. 4 at around 8:10 a.m., the Kentwood Police Department was dispatched to a stolen vehicle with a 2-year-old child inside. The vehicle was stolen form the area of 48th Street and Marlette Avenue in Kentwood.
According to media reports, the parents were able to flag down a Kelloggsville bus driver. The driver alerted 911 and then got on the bus frequency radio and alerted the other drivers in the area. Another Kelloggsville bus driver realized she had just seen a 2-year-old child wrapped in a blanket. The driver went back, picked up the child and returned the baby to its mother.
The stolen vehicles was found in the city of Grand Rapids shortly after it was stolen. Multiple agencies assisted the Kentwood Police Department including the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Department of Public Safety and the Grand Rapids Police Department.
During the mid-term elections, every school district within Kent County has board positions that will be up for election.
School board positions are non-partisan with terms either being four or six years. Several of the districts in the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming have partial term seats open as well. This means that a former board member had to leave their seat before his/her term has expired.
Both Godwin Heights and Kelloggsville each have a partial term seat that has no candidates running. In those cases, the district’s school board may appoint someone to fill the seat after the election, usually after Dec. 31 when the seat has expired. School boards have 30 days to fill an open seat.
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools
The Godfrey Lee Public Schools has two candidates running unopposed for two six-year terms on its board of education. The candidates are Josephine Coleman and Lynn D. Velthouse. Both currently are on the board. Velthouse is serving as treasurer and Coleman is a trustee.
Godwin Heights Public Schools
In the Godwin Heights Public School district, there are four candidates seeking two six-year terms for the district’s board of education. Those candidates are Adam Burley, Kathy Crow DeYoung, Megan Erskine, and Lee Ann Platschorre. Burley and DeYoung were appointed to the board in 2021. Platschorre is currently serving as vice president and has been on the board since 1991.
Colleen Anderson is the only candidate seeking one of the two partial terms that end on Dec. 31, 2024. Anderson was appointed to the board to the board this year.
Grandville Public Schools
The Grandville Public Schools district area includes those living in Wyoming’s panhandle. In that district, there are five candidates seeking two six-year term seats. Those candidates are Erica Abel, Joe Steffes, Trent Joseph Taylor, Bob Wondergem, and Cameron Zbikowki.
Abel is a a teacher at Byron Center Public Schools and is a third generation Grandville graduate.
Steffes is a retired lieutenant from the Wyoming Police Department. He has had two children who graduated from Grandville Public Schools and has two children currently in the district.
Taylor is a 1989 graduate of Grandville High School and is a partner at Miller Canfield. Taylor has had one child graduate from Grandville in 2022 and has two in the high school.
Wondergem is the only incumbent running, having been on the board for 21 years. He has two children who have graduated from Grandville Public Schools.
Zbikowski is a 2004 Grandville graduate and a graduate of Grand Valley State University, He is currently studying for a his masters in public administration at GVSU and has served as a substitute teacher in Grandville Public Schools.
For more on the Grandville Public School Board candidates, click here.
Kelloggsville Public Schools
The Kelloggsville Public Schools has two candidates running unopposed for two six-year term seats and no one officially is listed for a partial term that ends in four years on Dec. 31, 2026.
The two candidates seeking the two six-year term seats are Crystal Reidzas and Gladys Townsend. Both Reidzans and Townsend are on the board serving as trustees.
Kentwood Public Schools
For the Kentwood Public Schools, there are three four-year term seats and one two-year term seat that ends on Dec. 31, 2024.
Four candidates are seeking the three four-year term seats. Those candidates are Pete Battey, Sylvia A. James, James Lewis Jr. and Kim Taboada-Arzate.
Battey is currently serving on the board as the treasurer. He is the director of resident engineering at Steelcase and has two children in Kentwood Public Schools.
James is currently on the board serving as a trustee. She is a senior human resources manager and has two children who have graduated from Kentwood Public Schools.
Website: None
Lewis is currently on the board serving as a trustee. He is in retail management and has one child attending Kentwood Public Schools.
Website: None
Taboada-Arzate is a life-long Kentwood resident and graduate of East Kentwood High School. She is a community advocate and caregiver who is the parent of four Kentwood Public School graduates.
Tanya Powell-May is running unopposed for the two-year term seat.
Wyoming Public Schools
For the Wyoming Pubic Schools, there are two seats for a six-year term and one seat to finish an existing term that ends on Dec. 31, 2026.
There are only two candidates running for the two open six-year term positions. Those candidates are Jeff Norton and Audrey L. Zapata. Norton is currently serving on the board as the secretary and Zapata is also serving on the board as a trustee.
Two candidates are running for the four-year seat ending in 2026. Those candidates are Andrew Hanselman and Lisa Manley.
For the November election, City of Wyoming residents will be voting on five Kent County Commission seats while the residents of the City of Kentwood will be voting on three.
There are a total of 21 commission seats, all of which are up for election this year. All the seats are for two-year terms with the four-year rotation set to start in 2024. Through the redistricting, two new districts have been added to the board, increasing the total number of districts from 19 to 21.
The new districts are District 20, which was designed to represent the Hispanic community and encompasses the northern portion of the City of Wyoming (the Godfrey Lee Public School district) and a southern portion of the City of Grand Rapids. The other district, District 21, covers the southeast corner of the county include the Village of Caledonia up past the Gerald R. Ford International Airport into Cascade Charter Township.
All candidates running for county commission seats in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood were given the opportunity to do a We the People, where candidates may share why they decided to run, a little about themselves, and the issues the candidate feels are important.
All votes, in-person and absentee, must be cast by Nov. 8. Absentee votes must be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 8. Those voting in-person at the polls have from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to cast their vote. Remember to check your voter card or contact your local clerks office for you precinct since redistricting may have changed where you vote.
7th District Kent County Commission Seat
The 7th District encompasses most of the City of Grandville and a portion of the City of Wyoming with Burlingame Avenue, south of 28th Street is the eastern border and Wyoming Avenue, north of 28th Street, the eastern border. For a map of the district, click here.
Incumbent Stan Ponstein (R) is facing first-time candidate Sue Merrell, (D).
Stan Ponstein
Ponstein has been on the Kent County Board of Commissioners since 2008 and was recently elected to serve as president of the board of Michigan Association of Counties. He works for Costco.
The 8th District is contained in the City of Wyoming and includes the area between Burlingame and Clyde Park avenues south of 28th Street as well as the city’s panhandle area. For a map of the district, click here.
Incumbent Dan Burrill (R) is running for his second term on the Kent County Commission. He is facing challenger Jennie Chatman (D).
Dan Burrill
Before joining the Board of Kent County Commissioners, Burrill served on the Wyoming City Council. His occupation is a residential real estate and builder.
Chatman is the chair of the Michigan State Union Label & Services Trade Council.
Website: There is none.
9th District Kent County Commission Seat
The 9th District covers all of Byron Township and includes a section of the City of Wyoming between Clyde Park and Division avenues up to about Resurrection Life Cemetery, located north of 44th Street. For a map of the district, click here.
Incumbent Matt Kallman (R) is facing challenger Chip LaFleur (D).
Matt Kallman (R)
Kallman is the vice president of a Software Products at Compliance Systems, Inc.
Through redistrict, the 10th District is all of Gaines Township and a portion of the City of Kentwood that is bordered by Division Avenue to the west, Eastern Avenue to the east and 56th Street to the north. For a map of the district, click here.
Running for the seat is incumbent Emily Post Brieve (R). She is facing first-time challenge Julie Humphreys (D).
Emily Post Brieve (R)
Brieve has been on the Kent County Board of Commissioners since 2014 and currently serves as vice chair. She currently helps manage her family’s small business, FastoolNow.com.
The 12th District encompasses a portion of the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, which is mostly the Godwin Pubic Schools and Kelloggsville Public Schools. For a map of the district, click here.
Incumbent Monica Sparks (D) is seeking her third term on the board. She faces challenger Lee White (R).
Monica Sparks (D)
Occupation: Small business owner
Why did you decide to run for this seat? I love my community and I am not running to just sit in an office, however, I am running to continue as a servant leader; making sure all people living in Kent County have access to quality services and opportunities for a optimal future. I will continue to advocate for Veterans, Seniors, Children, Families and Individuals that live, work or play in Kent County.
What are a couple of issues you would want to address if elected? If elected by the people, I will continue as a servant leader to make sure the people that live work and play in Kent county have a quality of life and access to resources to reach their full potential with opportunities and resources everyone can access.I will continue to advocate for Veterans, Seniors, Children, Families and Individuals that live, work or play in Kent County. My priorities as a Kent County Commission are Mental Health care, Veterans and Senior Services and Early Childhood Readiness, Foster care and Adoption as well as Agriculture / Food Security for the future.
Lee White is a graduate of East Kentwood high School and has served many community organizations such as SKRA baseball, Wyoming, Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Michigan Jaycess and the West Michigan Veterans Branch.
The 13th District covers most of the City of Kentwood except for Districts 10 and 12 cover. For a map of the district, click here.
Incumbent Michelle McCloud (D) is seeking her second term on the board. She faces challenger Tom McKelvy (R).
Michelle McCloud
McCloud is an assistant dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Grand Valley State University and has volunteered with hospice, Meals-on-Wheels and on the board of directors for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Kent County.
Why did you decide to run for this seat? This was an opportunity to continue to serve the residents of Kentwood and to make sure their voice is heard at the county level. I believe that the role of a leader is to amplify the voices of the citizens and to find ways to empower them to improve their communities and their lives. I’m running to ensure that government isn’t the answer to the problems, but a resource to empower and support the residents of our communities.
What are a couple of issues you would want to address if elected? There needs to be a focus county-wide on improving safety in our communities. We need the leaders at the Kent County Commission to mobilize community leaders, citizens, and organizations to work in unison to address the increase in crime that all of us are witnessing. I also want to see a focus on long-term strategies that will prepare our young adults to be ready for the jobs of the future so that Kent County stays attractive to our youth for decades to come.
The 20th District is a brand new commission seat. It covers the northern portion of the City of Wyoming and a southern portion of the City of Grand Rapids. For a map of the district, click here.
The candidates are Ivan Diaz (D) and Eliza Rodriguez (R).
Ivan Diaz (D)
Diaz is a Grand Valley State University student who is from the Roosevelt Park neighborhood, which is represented by District 20.
“The Highlands” by Kathy Mohl (Courtesy, Blandford Nature Center)
Blandford Nature Center and LaFontsee Galleries are partnering to present Art is Second Nature– an art show and sale to benefit the ongoing efforts to restore The Highlands to a natural landscape. Art is Second Nature will be hosted on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Blandford Nature Center located at 1715 Hillburn Avenue NW.
This show and sale will consist of pieces by more than 40 artists, all of who have been inspired by the beauty of The Highlands. Piece sizes will vary and prices will range from $200 up to $4,500. All exhibited work will be for sale and proceeds will go towards returning the 121-acre former golf course into a natural space the public can explore and enjoy.
Once a golf course, now a nature preserve
“Walking through the sea of native wildflowers that now covers The Highlands in the summer, it can be hard to believe that it was a golf course just four years ago,” said Blandford’s President and CEO Jack Woller. “This property has become a center of species diversity and a staple in our community for people to enjoy nature, but there is more work to be done.”
Blandford Nature Center and the Land Conservancy of West Michigan teamed up in 2017 to purchase the former golf course. Today, The Highlands features native grassland covering 75 of the 121 acres, eight wetlands, and three miles of trails, including segments of accessible paved and crushed gravel trail. The proceeds from Art is Second Nature will go towards continuing the restorative work at The Highlands, but also maintaining the land for years to come.
“A lot has been accomplished on the property in the last few years. From here, we’re hoping to improve public access through infrastructure at The Highlands while ensuring the area continues to support biodiversity,” Woller continued. “We’re so grateful for LaFontsee Galleries and the participating artists for contributing to an event that will help us achieve our goal.”
Artists will be present for the duration of the show alongside their work, expressing their vision of and depicting scenes of The Highlands.
“When I visited The Highlands for the first time scouting out what I was going to paint, I was struck by the light. It blew me away,” said artist Stephen Duren. “There is ‘California light’ where I grew up, there is ‘Michigan light’, and now there is ‘The Highlands light’. I used colors that I have never used before in my work. I couldn’t do just one piece, I had to return to do more.”
Sharing their vision
This art show and sale will include names such as Stephen Duren, Kathy Mohl, Justin Kellner, Jason Quigno, Rachael Van Dyke, and more. A full list of participating artists can be found on Blandford Nature Center’s website.
Admission to this event is free and no registration is required to attend, but guests will have the option of making donations in support of the conservation efforts at The Highlands. Light refreshments will be provided and all ages are welcome.
Anyone unable to attend on Oct. 22nd will be able to view and purchase remaining pieces through Blandford Nature Center’s online gift shop until sold out. In-person viewings at Blandford Nature Center can be scheduled during normal business hours (Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) by calling the front desk at 616-735-6240. For more event details or to visit the online gift shop, attendees can visit www.blandfordnaturecenter.org.
Wyoming’s Demon Robotics and East Kentwood’s Storm Red battle during the Grand Rapids Girls Robotics Competition on Oct. 8. (WKTV/Jodi Miesen)
By Jodi Miesen WKTV Contributor
It was an intense battle for bragging rights for two local all-girls high school robotics teams that took part in a competition that focused on their abilities in a very male-dominated field.
The 2022 Grand Rapids Girls Robotics Competition was held at Wyoming High School over the weekend. Most high school robotics teams are co-ed but for this unique annual STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) event, only the girls were allowed to compete. GRGRC event coordinator Mallorie Edwards said the event was founded in 2016, by Wyoming High School teacher Richard Budden. Budden taught STEM and noticed female students were not as interested in it.
Edwards, who has been with the organization since 2017, said she’s passionate about the organization’s mission and was excited GRGRC could bring the competition back this year. This is the first time they’ve been able to hold the all-day event since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Turnout was lower this year than in the past with only 14 teams. The event is capped at 24 teams.
“I am hoping to grow the numbers that participate in the competition next year,” Edwards said. “A challenge I heard from many coaches that I reached out to was that they didn’t have enough girls on the team to compete. That is the exact reason why we are doing this event. To show girls that they can do these roles, be successful, and have fun.”
The key to success: the willingness to learn
The event drew robotics teams from high schools all over the state with two local teams, Red Storm (Team 3875) from East Kentwood High School and Demon Robotics (Team 858) from Wyoming High School.
Team Captain Abby Strait from Wyoming High School’s The Demons, stands next to the team’s robot. (WKTV/Jodi Miesen)
Through out the competition, teams form alliances with other teams to battled in complex two-minute games against other alliances. This all done with robots that the students have built and program. Wyoming’s The Demons and East Kentwood’s Red Storm ended up being on the same alliance and were fierce competitors, losing by just two points.
“You can do it! You don’t have to be super smart to be in robotics, you just have to be willing to learn,” said Abby Strait, a Wyoming High School senior and team captain. “Your team will teach you all that you need to know.”
Strait, who has been on robotics teams since 8th grade, was excited that her school was hosting an event that promotes girls to pursue science and math fields. She said she felt that far too often girls shy away from robotics thinking it will be too hard, but she hopes events like this will draw more female interest.
“I’m hoping to go to college for some sort of engineering, something really hands on, as opposed to just math behind the desk,” Strait said as she reflected on what career she might want to pursue in the future. “But this has definitely made me more interested in the STEM career field.”
Taking STEM by storm
Red Storm team captain Sarah Shapin, a senior at East Kentwood High School, is in her seventh year participating in the robotics program. Shapin said she started in middle school and plans to continue her interest in the STEM field in the future.
Team Captain Sarah Chapin from East Kentwood’s Red Storm stands by her team’s robot and displays the logo she designed for this year’s event. Casa Calvo Marketing designed the t-shirt. (WKTV/Jodi Miesen)
Shapin she too believes that women are under-represented in this area but said events like this can help bridge that gap.
“A lot of times women are on it,” Shapin said as she relayed an analogy told to her by her mentor. “And then a guy kind of takes a screwdriver out of her hands and doesn’t give it back. So, it’s not necessarily that women are blocked from it. However, it’s very male-dominated and so therefore, giving this opportunity like this competition allows for women to really get in there, get involved and push through.”
Shapin said she hopes to attend Michigan State University, double majoring in computer science and music. Her goal is to be a software engineer and continue playing the clarinet.
Breaking the stereotypes
According to Edwards, all that hard work pays off on competition day after seeing the students’ reactions and from the correspondence she receives after the event is over.
“The Grand Rapids Girls Robotics Competition is important to me, because of the letters I receive after the competition; expressing how happy they were to be able to participate in a role that usually a male teammate would be in,“ Edwards said. “And also, during the competition, I get to see the excitement exude from these kids. They love what they’re doing! They love STEM!”
The competition also featured a panel of guest speakers, “Ladies in Tech,” made up of women successful in the STEM fields.
Wyoming Team Captain Abby Strait gets help moving the Demons’ robot off the field. (WKTV/Jodi Miesen)The alliance of the Wyoming, East Kentwood, and Marysville teams gathers before the final competition. (WKTV/Jodi Miesen)
Tom Short, co-owner Decaydence Vintage, works on a display. (WKTV)
Just a couple of months ago, Tom Short and Jim Long weren’t planning to become the owners of Heartside’s newest vintage store. Then a thrift boom on South Division Avenue and a beautiful storefront put the couple on the fast track to launch Decaydence Vintage in a scant three weeks.
“I told him that he should really just open a whole store,” Jim said from behind the counter of the spacious vintage store stocked wall-to-wall with second-hand treasures. Jim gestured to Tom.
Laughing, Tom agreed: “It just sparked something in me … And now we’re here! It’s like a dream come true.”
After Tom and Jim moved to Grand Rapids from Lansing in 2020, Tom began selling vintage posters, toys and clothing from a 100-square-foot booth. But a retail space at the corner of South Division and Oakes Street got them thinking bigger.
Earrings created by Tom Short, co-owner of Decaydence Vintage (WKTV)
“We had looked at other spots, but after seeing this space, we knew we would fit in here. We just loved the vibe; it’s right next to the beautiful Harris Building at 111 S. Division, and the record store Vertigo Music at 129 S. Division. We signed the lease, and within days we had keys. We couldn’t believe it.”
There wasn’t much time to bask in their success, though, as they only had three weeks to open before ArtPrize 2022 kicked off on Oct. 15. Tom told ArtRat that he just did what he does best: initiating a search for the perfect pieces and picking out the design elements they needed to dress the shop.
A brick-and-mortar store presented a whole new set of challenges, from repairing the AC and hand-painting the bathroom to finding the right furnishings to complement the spacious show floor. “I found the golden clothing racks and glass cases online,” Tom said.
Picking the team
Owners Tom Short and Jim Long hand selected the vendors that are part of Decaydence Vintage. (WKTV)
Now that Decaydence was looking more like a real store, Jim and Tom sought out vendors to fill the space Tom’s original collection couldn’t. Ultimately, they handpicked five local vendors who met their criteria for both passion and quality.
“We don’t even know how they find some of this stuff.” Tom walked me over to the first rack in the store, telling me excitedly, “… Like, did you see this? A vintage Christian Louboutin nightgown — it’s got to be from the ‘60s or something!”
“We worked hard to curate our vibe, and keep our energy up,” Jim said. “We only selected vendors that we know take great pride in finding the best pieces, and who want to succeed.”
“We really feel so validated,” Tom added. “Since the moment we opened, we’ve been elated by the amount of love we’ve gotten. It has been nonstop.” Between the excitement of ArtPrize and a Sept. 24 shop crawl along the avenue, “we haven’t even found time to have our grand opening!”
(WKTV)
“This is the place I wished I had when I was a teenager,” Tom said proudly. “If there’s anything we want people to know, it’s that we are constantly changing! We move things every day. You can buy almost anything, even things straight out of your childhood memories.”
Head over to Decaydence Vintage for an amazing selection of vintage clothing, toys and home goods from local vendors as well as Tom himself. And stay tuned: Tom and Jim promise they will find time for that grand opening.
This article provided by ArtGallery, 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.
To date, the Kent County Health Department has received and tested double the number of bats than it did in 2021, which has local officials reminding residents about the dangers of bats and rabies.
The Kent County Health Department has received and tested 82 bats so far this season. (Courtesy, Kent County Health Department)
August through October are the busiest months for the department’s bat program as the mammals moved indoors to breed. The latest count for this year stands at 82 bats. In 2021, the department saw 41 bats which was about 20 less than 2020, which was 61.
Steve Kelso, a spokesperson for the Kent County Health Department, said county officials are not sure if the increase means there actually has been an uptick in numbers.
“It may just mean that people are more aware of the program and are bringing them in here,” Kelso said.
Bites and scratches from bats can go undetected
The concern over bats centers on the fact that they can transmit rabies to other animals and humans. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, rabies are mostly found in wild animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. The Kent County Health Department and the Kent County Animal Shelter work with the State of Michigan to perform necropsies – autopsies on animals – to identify and track the number of infected bats. This year, of the 82 bats brought to the Health Department, only five tested positive for rabies.
“I don’t know the status of those cases. If those people were bitten or scratched by that bat but there are five lives that we potentially saved through that program,” Kelso said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of human rabies in the United States is rare with about one to three reported annually. From 2009-2018, there have been 25 reported cases of human rabies in the United States. In Kent County, the last reported case of human rabies was in 1983.
While cases of rabies have been declining since the 1970s due to animal control and vacation programs as well as public outreach, the disease can be fatal if not detected.
Rabies is transmitted through bites or scratches. Because a bat’s teeth are very small, the animal’s bites can go undetected.
“You walk in the room and you see it for the first time, you likely haven’t been bitten or scratched, but if you wake up in the room and the bat’s in there, you don’t really know,” Kelso said, adding that if there’s even the slightest chance that you’ve been bitten, take it seriously.
What to do if you find a bat in your home
Guidelines from the Kent County Health Department recommend that if you find a bat in your home, you should try to capture it to get it tested, unless you are 100 percent sure you have not been bitten.
If you wake up and find a bat in your bedroom, it is recommended that you get the bat tested for rabies and you contact your health provider. (Courtesy, The Kent County Health Department)
To capture a bat, officials recommend wearing a layer of protective clothing, including leather gloves, to avoid being bit. Once you are prepared, place a box or coffee can over the bat and slide a piece of cardboard under the container. Kelso acknowledged he’s no expert at catching bats but he said the important thing is to take it seriously and limit possible exposure.
“If there were a bat in my house, I would be putting on an extra layer, coat, jacket, something,” he said. “I’d be doing anything I could to not come in contact with that bat.“
Adding with a laugh that “…if it were in my house, I’d probably put on a full face motorcycle helmet just because I have one handy.”
Prevention is the key, but there is a treatment as well
When capturing a bat, it is important to not damage the bat’s head as that is what is needed to do the testing. Also, if the bat is dead, keep it cool but don’t freeze it.
“It’s really important that you do not smash the head of the bat…That you don’t crush the brain because that brain is what has to be tested in necropsy.” Kelso said.
If you’ve been exposed to rabies, it’s important to contact a doctor immediately, Kelso said, adding the earlier the treatment, the better. The CDC noted that there has been less than 20 documented cases of people surviving rabies.
The treatment for rabies is Post Exposure Prophylaxis which is a series of four shots. The shots are usually given in the arm for adults and in the thigh for children. A welcome change from the days when the shots were administered in the stomach.
To contact the Kent County Health Department, call 616-632-7200 during regular business hours, which are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Captured bats should be taken to the Kent County Animal Shelter, located at 740 Fuller NE. The shelter is open from 1 – 7 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday.
By Dave Stanely WKTV Contributor Integrity Financial Services LLC
(Pxhere.com)
Did you know that you have a valuable asset that is often overlooked and may not be included in conversations regarding your financial portfolio? It’s your life insurance policy. Many people are not aware that a life insurance policy is an asset that can be sold with some of the terms being set by the owner.
All too often, life insurance owners surrender their policy to the insurance company instead of getting a quote in the “secondary” market for what it’s actually worth. The market value of a life policy can be as much as eight times more than the surrender value. If you have a life policy that is unwanted, unneeded, or has become unaffordable, you can get a quote for the cash value in the open market. Typically, you will have several choices as to the disposition of your policy.
One option is to settle for an all-cash offer and surrender any and all ownership of the policy. Another option is to take a reduced death benefit with a partial cash payout and never pay another premium. This is the equivalent of owning a “paid-up policy” for a reduced death benefit which will still be paid to your beneficiary upon the death of the insured.
Older retirees can sometimes find themselves in need of a lump sum of cash later in life due to health circumstances (i.e., long-term care expenses), divorce, or even debt. These are some of the primary reasons why seniors opt to sell their policy and use the money for these needs. It’s your cash and can be used for any purpose. Other examples include investing the cash to generate monthly income, paying for college expenses of grandchildren, or perhaps funding a long-desired family vacation.
One other point to make about selling a life insurance policy in this manner is that this type of sale is not a “viatical settlement.” You may have heard this phrase before but not fully understood its meaning. A viatical settlement is where a person with a terminal illness sells their life insurance policy for less than its mature value to benefit from the proceeds (cash) while the insured is still alive. You do not need to be terminally ill to sell your life insurance policy in the open market. However, it is true that if you have impaired health or you are in your mid to late 80s or 90s, your policy can be worth more due to these factors. However, it is not necessary to be ill to take advantage of selling one or more of your life insurance policies. Do yourself a huge favor, get a quote from a qualified insurance agent, and know your options and the value of your policy before you surrender it to the life insurance company.
Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463 or click this link: Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.comDave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
This fall, the residents of the City of Wyoming will decide who will fill two open spots on the Wyoming City Council.
Current Mayor Pro Tem Sam Bolt announced he would not seek re-election to his at-large council seat. Current Council Member-at-Large Kent Vanderwood was elected mayor during the August primaries as he received more than 50 percent of the overall vote.
Three candidates, Robert Arnoys, Renee Hill and Robert Kilgo, are seeking to fill those seats. Also, Sheldon DeKryger is running unopposed for his First Ward seat.
Robert Arnoys
Occupation: A life-long resident of the City of Wyoming, Arnoys is the vice president of treasury management for Lake Michigan Credit Union. Along with having more than 30 years of banking experience, Arnoys has served on a number of community boards and is currently on the City of Wyoming Planning Commission.
Tell us a couple of issues you want to focus on if elected: If elected, Arnoys will focus on public safety, working with officers in providing them the resources needed to keep Wyoming safe. Because of his background in finances, Arnoys plans to help keep Wyoming fiscally responsible. He also will focus on planned development, ensuring the city has a strong master plan that will put the right uses in the right places as well as supporting an environment for small businesses to prosper.
Occupation: Hill has lived in the City of Wyoming for more than 27 years. She is a doctor of physical therapy. She does home care. She also served on the city’s Enrichment Commission.
Tell us a couple of issues you want to focus on if elected: Hill’s main concern is the wise use of citizen’s tax money and is dedicated to making sure every dollar honors the trust of the citizens. She also supports prudent property management and keeping Wyoming residents safe.
Website: There is no website for this candidate.
Robert Kilgo
Occupation: Kilgo moved to the City of Wyoming when he decided to attend Grace Christian University. He now is the assistant to the president of Grace Christian University. He also has served as a mentor to at-risk students in Wyoming.
Tell us a couple of issues you want to focus on if elected: Kilgo believes that the city is in a good position financially and he wants to continue that for the future. He also recognizes the need for a well-funded public safety initiative and safe neighborhoods and is looking to help add to the public safety department and reduce the city’s dependence on its neighbors especially for fire services. He also wants to work on addressing the housing shortage, expand access to city services and focus on maintaining the city’s parks.
Energy costs may offset lower costs in other areas. (pxhere.com)
The West Michigan economy appears to have flattened, but has not yet contracted into a recession, according to the latest monthly survey data released by Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
The September survey of purchasing managers conducted by Brian Long, director of supply chain research at GVSU, found steady demand among automotive suppliers offsetting more negative news about orders coming from sectors like the office furniture industry.
“Of our cyclical industries in West Michigan, our automotive parts producers are continuing to stay fairly busy, but not so much so with our office furniture companies and anything related to capital equipment where the markets are starting to soften — not collapse — just soften,” Long said.
Lower commodity prices for goods like metals and plastic resins will take months to find their way into consumer prices, while energy costs could offset lower costs in some areas, he said.
For the survey, released Oct. 10, the sales/new orders index was flat in September after going into negative territory in July and August.
Production levels were also flat, with a majority of survey respondents reporting output being the same as it was in August.
Long said he’s about 80 percent certain the region is sliding into a “shallow recession,” based on the national trends and feedback he hears from inside the region’s industrial employers.
“The confidence situation has clearly worsened the short-term business outlook index for September,” he said. “However, the long-term business outlook, which queries perceptions for the next three to five years, still remains positive, just not nearly as strong as it was six months ago.”
The loading dock at one of Lacks Enterprises manufacturing facilities. (WKTV)
Lacks Enterprises Inc. is hosting a Career Fair where the automotive supplier and one of West Michigan’s largest family-owned employers plans to interview candidates to fill a variety of open positions.
Lacks’ Career Fair is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, and from 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Lacks Enterprises Employment Center, 4949 Broadmoor Ave. SE in Kentwood.
Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Lacks Enterprises provides interior and exterior plastic trim components and innovative wheel trim systems to the top global automotive manufacturers.
At its Career Fair, Lacks will conduct on-site interviews to fill a variety of general manufacturing, shipping and receiving, and skilled trades positions in its Grand Rapids and Kentwood facilities.
Attendees are encouraged to bring documentation to complete an I-9 form should they be offered a position. I-9 Forms provide documentation to the employer to confirm their identity and authorization to work. The list of documents can be found at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents.
Employment is subject to the successful completion of Lacks Enterprises’ pre-screening activities, which includes drug testing, a background check and a physical. Lacks Enterprises will coordinate the physical.
For more information, contact the Lacks Enterprises Employment Center at (616) 554-7812 or visit Workatlacks.com.
Lacks Enterprises is the fourth largest privately held employer in West Michigan and has more than 2,500 people at facilities in Kentwood and Novi, as well as Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea. Lacks business units—Lacks Trim Systems, Lacks Wheel Trim Systems and Plastic Plate, LLC—specialize in applying Lacks’ innovative décor finishes, production experience and testing capacity to the unique needs of its customers.
A little girl apparition has been reported at the Alvah N. Belding Memorial Library. (Wikipedia/Andrew Jameson)
By Wayne Thomas Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters WKTV Contributor
Some areas and buildings seem to be more likely to be haunted than others. Places more often reported as haunted include battlefields, old houses and buildings, including hotels, especially former brothels, hospitals, schools, museums, ships, churches, castles, cemeteries, and libraries. Libraries hadn’t made my original list of possible haunted locations but research reveals haunted libraries across the United States and around the world, as well as right here in Michigan.
After discovering testimony of witnesses reporting seeing and hearing apparitions in the children’s section of Belding’s Alvah N. Belding Memorial Library, Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters decided to investigate. Clues going in were a little girl apparition seen in the children’s section and many witnesses hearing her laughing. Additionally, music and a girl’s voice were heard when nobody was in the library and people spoke of feeling a presence, and electrical/computer disturbances.
Alvah Norton Belding (Public domain/By Unknown author – The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume XVIII, 1922, pages 416–417, Public Domain)
The disastrous fire of 1893 swept Belding’s Main Street and burned out the library. After the library was temporarily relocated a couple times, Alvah N. Belding of the silk manufacturers Belding & Brothers Company decided to build and give a library to the city of Belding. On March 21, 1917, the Belding City Council accepted the offer and agreed to “maintain the building in like beauty and form as a library for all time.”
This unique contract as outlined creates a scenario of unfinished business ”for all time.” This majestic structure is made of brick, slate, marble, and limestone and stands like a castle along the Flat River. The kinetic energy of the flowing river water combined with the building materials creates a perfect storm to record and store residual energy. With a residual haunting, there is no spirit involved, simply energy stored in the fabric of its surroundings, being played over and over in a loop, same time same place. Apparitions do not acknowledge the living, they are emotional imprints locked in time. The majority of reported hauntings are of this residual type as opposed to contact with spirits.
During the first investigation of the Belding Library, our recordings were typical of most cases, faint and few with “Get out” and “Go” repeated. We heard both male and female voices and an interesting child’s voice say, “Mommy I’m scared.” More importantly these ghost voices seemed to be spirits that were interacting with our questions or what ghost hunters call an intelligent haunting. We returned the following year and learned of the 100th anniversary of the library and the opening of a time capsule that had been cemented in an outside wall. Could spirits be attached to these newly discovered historic items?
During this second investigation we recorded a class “A” electronic voice phenomenon (EVP), of a very loud whistle that everyone present could easily hear with just their ears. Does Alvah N. Belding patrol the premises to ensure the building is being “maintained in like beauty and form as a library for all time?” While this castle of stone appears to be a trap to record both routine energy and traumatic events surrounding people’s everyday lives or untimely deaths, evidence points to an intelligent or spiritual haunting.
An article written in 2011 by Rich Newman in “The Ghost Hunter’s Guide” discussing the Belding Library states, “Most believe the haunting involves the land the library is situated upon, or perhaps a past building/home that resided in the location prior to the library’s existence.”
Newman also spoke of an apparition of a young girl that has been heard by many. To that, I say to the little girl ghost “Go in peace and be freed from your suffering, seek out the light.”
Jack-o-Lantern World at Millennium Park in Walker. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
For the month of October, Jack-o-Lantern World has taken over Millennium Park. About 17 different displays featured thousands of pumpkins that have all been hand-carved. It is about a 45-minute walk through the trail, which is well marked with lights.
There are only three Jack-o-Lantern World events taking placed in the United states. The other two are near Chicago and in Nebraska. The Grand Rapids “world” is open Thursday – Sunday. Times vary each day. Tickets are $15/$16 for those 3-12 and under, depending on day, and $22/$24 for those 13 and older, depending on day. For more information, visit jackolanternworld.com. Millennium Park is located at 1415 Maynard Ave. SW.
A new season for Broadway Grand Rapids kicks off Tuesday (Oct. 11) with a laugh-out-loud, hilarious musical sure to set the tone for another smashing season for Broadway lovers across West Michigan.
Payton Reilly as Sandy Lester in the National Tour of TOOTSIE. Reilly is from Michigan and a graduate of Western Michigan University. Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.
“‘Tootsie’ is a modern comedy classic,” said Jennifer Pascua, BGR’s new marketing director, who took over for Meghan Distel. Distel was named president & CEO when Mike Lloyd retired earlier this year.
Pascua said the musical production is the same “Tootsie” you love and remember from the movies, but updated.
“People can expect catchy songs with humor and heart. It’s funny, but sincere,” she added.
The week-long run continues through Sunday, Oct. 16, with eight performances at DeVos Performance Hall.
The cast of the National Tour of TOOTSIE. Photo by Evan Zimmerman for
MurphyMade.
In case you don’t recall the 1982 film with Dustin Hoffman, Sydney Pollack and Jessica Lange, “Tootsie” tells the story of a talented but volatile actor (Hoffman) whose reputation as a perfectionist makes him difficult. He adopts a new identity as a woman in order to land a job, and, well, that’s when things get pretty funny. The original movie revolved around a daytime soap opera, while the musical involves a Broadway musical.
Tickets are available for all shows, and “rush tickets” were just announced for students, educators and veterans, Pascua said.
Rush tickets are available for all performances. A valid school ID is required, and the limit is two tickets per person. All tickets are subject to availability. Tickets may be purchased in-person one hour prior to the performance at the DeVos Performance Hall Box Office, 303 Monroe Ave NW.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. The final show is at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Accessible performances: American Sign Language Interpreted at 2 p.m. Saturday. Open Captioning and Audio Description at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Matthew Rella
“Tootsie” has received a lot of praise. The Hollywood Reporter called it “the most uproarious new musical in years!” Rolling Stone said “in these turbulent times, when the world seems out of balance, we need a place to let the good times roll….musical comedy heaven.”
Pascua said the Broadway tour coming to Grand Rapids features two cast members from Michigan:
Payton Reilly a native of Howell who plays friend Sandy Lester, and Matt Kurzyniec from Livonia who is an ensemble member. Both are graduates of Western Michigan University. They are engaged.
The rest of Broadway Grand Rapids 2022-2023 Season includes:
SIX January 10 – 15, 2023
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st century girl power.
MY FAIR LADY April 11 – 16, 2023
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
Lerner & Loewe’s My Fair Lady boasts such classic songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “On the Street Where You Live.” It tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a linguistics professor who is determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady.” But who is really being transformed?
HADESTOWN May 9 – 14, 2023
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
Hadestown intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back.
DISNEY’S FROZEN July 11 – 23, 2023
Week 1: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
Week 2: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
From the producer of “The Lion King” and “Aladdin,” “Frozen,” the Tony-nominated Best Musical, is now on tour across North America. Heralded by The New Yorker as “thrilling” and “genuinely moving,” Frozen features the songs you know and love from the original Oscar-winning film, plus an expanded score with a dozen new numbers by the film’s songwriters, Oscar-winner Kristen Anderson-Lopez and EGOT-winner Robert Lopez.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s new. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also has a YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Pictured is an Emmanuel Hospice patient receiving massage therapy, which is one of the nonprofit’s complementary therapies that can be used to reduce pain, lower stress and manage fatigue. (Courtesy, Emmanuel Hospice)
For caregivers and survivors left in the wake of some six million who died during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s more than grief and anxiety to consider.
That’s the message from organizers of World Hospice & Palliative Care Day, celebrated Saturday, Oct. 8, to commemorate and support hospice and palliative care around the world with one voice advocating quality of life and equitable healthcare for all.
It’s also an opportunity to help people understand the difference between hospice care and palliative care, emphasizes Michele Siegel, a social worker for Emmanuel Hospice.
“A lot of people group the two together, but there are distinct differences,” she points out. “The biggest one is that with palliative care, you typically don’t have a life expectancy of six months or less to qualify for symptom management.”
At Emmanuel and other hospices, the primary emphasis is on providing holistic care and support for someone seeking to live as pain-free and alert as possible throughout a serious illness. Medications, equipment, supplies and care relate to pain and symptom relief.
That contrasts markedly from palliative care, where the patient is likely still fighting their illness and continues employing strategies tied to the prospect of cures.
“Does hospice provide palliative care?” Siegel poses. “In a sense, yes. We provide palliative care in the sense that our goal is to provide comfort and care. But with hospice, you also have a terminal diagnosis, and so you’re not seeking curative treatments.”
Sometimes, people suffering from the same maladies can be receiving either hospice or palliative care. They often include those diagnosed with cancer, heart disease and other chronic conditions. The care they choose to receive determines whether they’re receiving palliative or hospice care. If they’re fighting their condition with therapies or clinical trials or other options designed to sustain life, that’s palliative care. If they’re mostly managing pain and symptoms and focused on “making the best of the time you have left,” says Siegel, that’s subscribing to hospice care.
According to Siegel, it’s important to rely on healthcare workers you trust – as well as friends or family members who may be serving as caregivers – to both understand and act on options available. In either case, she says, it’s important to find someone who wants to “coach but not force” decisions affecting care.
The organization supporting World Hospice & Palliative Care Day – online at theWHPCA.org – offers a digital toolkit on its website to help inform and educate those interested in the annual observance.
Siegel applauds such measures, noting that individual hospice care providers like Emmanuel also go to great means to educate people on who they are, what they stand for and the services they provide.
“We’re always just a click or a phone call away, and eager to inform people wondering about their options,” she says. “It’s not always easy wading through all the information available. We’re here to help with that.”
The residents of the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood will be helping to select three candidates for the state House of Representatives.
There are two house seats covering the City of Wyoming, 82nd and 83rd districts, and one house seat, 80th district, in the City of Kentwood.
Note: All candidates who are running in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood were invited to participate in the We the People videos, where candidates may talk about why they decided to run and the issues they want to address.
80th District State House of Representatives Seat
The City of Kentwood is now under the 80th District State House or Representatives along with the City of East Grand Rapids, Cascade Township, and a portion of Grand Rapids Township. To view the map, click here.
The candidates running for the seat are Phil Skaggs (D) and Jeffrey Johnson (R).
Phil Skaggs (D)
Occupation: Skaggs is currently the Kent County Commissioner for District 19, which covers southeastern Grand Rapids and the City of East Grand Rapids. Before that, Skaggs served as a East Grand Rapids City Commissioner for five years.
Issues: Skaggs will defend women’s reproductive freedoms, including the right to choose. He will support children and schools by making sure they have the quality teachers they need. He supports small businesses, livable-wage jobs with good benefits, collective bargaining rights, and well-built infrastructure along with getting the cost-of-living under control so families can afford what they need. He also will support families by working for universal access to affordable healthcare, paid sick and parental leave, and access to affordable childcare and housing.
Occupation: Johnson has spent more than 30 years in hi-tech field managing teams of innovators and working with inventors to develop new products. Johnson also spent significant time serving non-profits involved in helping families and children and crime victims.
What are a couple of issues you would want to address if elected? First is inflation. I am committed to encouraging production of energy and small business growth to provide relief to families. And until we get this sorted out, we need a gas tax holiday to provide consumers relief. Next is public safety. We need to provide law enforcement the resources and tools they need to get well-trained officers on the street who are familiar with their communities and have their respect. And we need to get violent offenders off the streets, and keep weapons out of the hands of children.
An eastern portion of the City of Wyoming, which is in the Godwin Heights Public School District, is now part of the 82nd District State House of Representatives. To view the map, click here.
Kristian Grant (D) and Ryan Malinoski (R) as the candidates running for the seat.
Kristian Grant
Occupation: Grant is in real estate development. She is currently a board member-at-large on the Grand Rapids School’s Board of Education and has worked on the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority.
Issues: Per her website, she is for funding public education, women’s reproductive rights, and safe, attainable and affordable housing, gun safety reform, police reform, and economic development that supports small businesses.
Occupation: An events service manager at Aramark, a food service, facilities, and uniform services provider.
Issues: According to his website, Malinoswki will focus on economic development, government transparency and accountability, fiscal responsibility, pro-life, supporting public safety, affording housing, and supports schools of choice.
The 83rd District House of Representatives covers all of Wyoming along with a small portion of Byron Township. (Note, there is a small portion of Wyoming in the east that is part of the 80th District. Please see above.) To view the map, click here.
Running for this district is Lisa DeKryger (R) and John Fitzgerald (D).
Lisa DeKryger
Occupation: DeKyrger is part-owner with her husband Sheldon of Sheldon DeKryger Building, Inc. She also has worked for UPS.
Issues: Protecting parents’ rights and working on the education system, keeping citizens safe by supporting police and fire departments, helping to get trades back into the high schools to build the workforce and inflation.
Occupation: Fitzgerald currently is a Wyoming City Council member. He is a commercial insurance broker and has served on several community boards such as Ele’s Place West Michigan and The Clark Foundation Board.
Issues: Creating and attracting better jobs to the community, strengthening the public education system, job training, expanding healthcare services, supporting a women’s right to choose, and creating safe communities.
The cities of Wyoming and Kentwood will join the cities of Grandville, East Grand Rapids, and the southern portion of the City of Grand Rapids in selecting the next 29th District State Senator.
Running for the seat is incumbent Winnie Brinks (D) and current State Rep. Tommy Brann (R).
Note: All candidates who are running in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood were invited to participate in the We the People videos, where candidates may talk about why they decided to run and the issues they want to address.
Tommy Brann (R)
Occupation: The current 77th State Representative, Brann has been a restaurant owner, Brann’s Steakhouse, for more than 50 years.
Why did you decide to run for this seat?
I decided to run because as an owner of a blue collar restaurant, I see and feel the struggles of my employees, customers, and neighbors. I want to address those struggles as your next state senator. I am good at this job. As a small business owner and a legislator, I know how to bring people together to solve the big problems we are facing. I know our district, I’ve lived and worked here my entire life. I know our values and I want to preserve and protect our way of life here in West Michigan.
What are a couple of issues you would want to address if elected?
I would like to address inflation, public safety, and the state budget. I know what it takes to manage a budget having done so for 51 years at my restaurant. As a state legislator for six years, I’ve managed that state budget being responsible with YOUR tax dollars. The state budget has a $5 billion surplus, the government is living too well. With rising costs, people need relief. I support measures to lower the income tax, increase the Earned Income Tax Credit, and suspend the gas tax. I also support fully funding the men and women of law enforcement. The nation is experiencing a crime wave. We need to defend our police and equip them with the training and resources needed to keep our communities safe.
Brinks has served in the state senate since 2018. Before that she, she served in the state House of Representatives for six years. She is graduate of Calvin College (now Calvin University), where she earned a bachelor’s in Spanish with a concentration in sociology. Before joining the state house, she was a caseworker for The Source, a non-profit employee support organization based in the City of Wyoming.
The Wyoming Trick or Treat Trail will be taking place this Saturday at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. The event runs from 4 – 6 p.m.
Reservations are not required. Costumes are encouraged. Area businesses will be handing out candy at various stations along the trail. It is estimated that about 2,500 people will attend the annual event.
“It takes a village to make this possible and we are very grateful for our sponsors and volunteers,” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, the city’s director of community service.
The Kentwood Public Schools recently received two awards recognizing its commitment to its community.
Heart of West Michigan United Way 2021-2022 Top Campaign trophy. (Courtesy, Kentwood Public Schools)
In September, the district was presented with the Heart of West Michigan United Way 2021-2022 Top Campaign trophy. According to Superintendent Kevin Polston, the impact the staff has made in the community this past year through the district’s campaign was significant.
“You (KPS) have gone the extra mile to advocate for our mission and for those struggling in our community,” according to The United Way. “On behalf of the United Way team, we are incredibly grateful for all support and efforts to create a thriving community for all.
“Thank you for being someone our community can count on!”
Challenger Elementary was the recipient of the MI Heart Safe School award. Challenger was recognized for its efforts to help prevent sudden cardiac death by creating a safer learning environment for students and staff.
Polston noted that with help from its partnerships with Spectrum Health, the students and staff demonstrated knowledge of our cardiac emergency response plan, ability to identify symptoms of cardiac arrest, CPR, and the use of defibrillators.
The award is given on behalf of the Michigan Department too Health and Human Services, Michigan Department of Education, American Heart Association, Michigan High School Athletic Association, and Michigan Alliance for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young.
Get serious about your retirement: If your employer matches your 401(k) contributions, you need to take advantage and max out your contribution. Your employer’s share is “house money,” which means using their contribution as part of your 401(k) plan as an employee benefit. Many 401(k) plans allow for conversion to a guaranteed retirement income which can be used as a lifetime benefit. Ask your benefits manager to see if it is included in your plan. It would help if you also planned at what age you would like to retire. If you have had a loss in investment returns in your 401(k), ask yourself how you can gain that back. Your asset allocation in your 401(k) can be changed as you get closer to retirement age. Most plans allow you to move the money as a rollover to a self-directed IRA, which provides the option of using an annuity with an “Income Rider” attached to provide desired guarantees. If you have an IRA and are not contributing annually, start this year; contributions made before April can be deducted from the previous year’s income.
If you don’t have a will, see an attorney and make one. If you have a current will make sure it is up to date.
Name an executor for your estate. Use caution in the selection, and make sure you have asked the executor for permission to use them. Based on the valuation of your estate and your state of residence, the use of a trust can assist the executor in their responsibilities. Ask your attorney for ideas and help. Never buy a trust from anyone other than an attorney licensed to practice law. Often life insurance is used to provide funds for any taxes or debts that may be due at your death, have a professional insurance review the policies, and make sure the ownership and beneficiary decisions are up to date.
Create an emergency fund for situations that come up, such as a hole in your roof or an unplanned car repair. Only 28% of people have an emergency fund, according to a 2022 Bankrate.com survey.
Take a close look at your investments and review them for changes. Remember, as we get older, we have less time to make up losses in our investments.
Start paying down debt. Debt can be a drag on your retirement; once the debt is retired, stress becomes less, and your options for life increase.
Budgeting and following a monthly plan can help. There are numerous studies about budgeting; one thing is for sure, people who follow a budget have less stress. Make a budget and stick to it.
Life should be enjoyed. Use these simple 7 financial tips as the first step to regaining financial freedom and reducing stress.
Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463 or click this link: Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.comDave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management
Meijer is joining with The Rapid for a job fair on Wednesday. (Supplied)
This “Roll With Us” fair will run from 4 – 8 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 5 on The Rapids’ Central Station and will help job seekers explore working for The Rapid and job opportunities at partner locations along bus routes. The fair will include West Michigan’s two largest employers, Spectrum Health and Meijer, as well as opportunities with Mary Free Bed, Kellogg’s, Gerald R. Ford Job Corps, and Hope Network.
“We are so excited to partner for this job fair,” said Micalah Webster, talent selection manager with Spectrum Health. “It’s a great opportunity to connect with the community, share information with job seekers, and highlight many of the positions we have available, from patient-facing roles delivering care to roles behind the scenes that help keep our business running. Many of the positions we are hiring for are in locations served by The Rapid.”
Hosting the fair at Rapid Central Station makes attendance more accessible to people without personal vehicles. Attendees can take Routes 1 through 15 and the Silverline directly to the job fair. For job seekers traveling by car, free parking will be available in the lot in front of Rapid Central Station at 250 Cesar E. Chavez with the entrance on Williams Street.
The Rapid will be offering on-site interviews and making offers for bus operators and vehicle technicians at the “Roll With Us” job fair. The transit agency offers paid training, great benefits, and the opportunity to work with a group of people who take pleasure and pride in making an important difference in the lives of others.
Spectrum Health also has many opportunities available for job seekers. “We offer a wide variety of opportunities, including entry-level positions with on-the-job training,” Webster said. These positions offer a great way to get started in healthcare, even if an applicant does not have experience, and can lead to long-term careers.”
The job fair will feature Mexcellente, a local food truck, to give participants a chance to purchase food while exploring career options.
The Rapid is hosting a job fair at its Central Station on Wednesday. (Supplied)
Although The Rapid has hosted job fairs in the past, this is its first venture inviting partners to participate. Employers choose to invest in this community because it provides transportation options for its employees. Public transit serves as an economic engine and partnerships are fundamental to the success of transit and growing a more sustainable community.
“The Rapid provides more than just transportation – we create opportunities and connections within our community,” The Rapid CEO Deb Prato said. “We’re excited to welcome our partners to the Roll With Us job fair to connect transit riders with transit-friendly employers. I’m also excited to meet the people who choose to join our team as operators and technicians. The people in these roles are the backbone of our organization and community.”
What was once was 84 comedians is now down to 18 as the Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy competition enters its semifinal round.
Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy contest runs through the month of October. (SNF)
The contest started June 5 with its first of twelve qualifying rounds then it was onto the six quarterfinal rounds which ran Aug. 28- Oct. 2. Now it’s the three semifinal rounds on Oct. 9, 16, and 23 with the finals being held on Oct. 30.
Each week of the semifinals, six comedians are given eight minutes to perform. The line-up order is drawn as the show progresses, so the comedians have no idea of when they’ll be going on stage — it could be first, it could be last. Before the show begins, the audience members are given a ballot. After the last comedian in the competition performs the that night’s audience will pick three comedians they feel should advance to the next round. The ballots are counted while a comic not in the competition performs and the comics moving on in the competition are announced at the end of the show.
“The Kingpin of Comedy competition is a blatant rip-off of the Funniest Person in Grand Rapids contest”, said Brian B. (Brian Borbot), creator & master of ceremonies of the Sunday Night Funnies. Borbot is referring to the successful annual event at Dr. Grins comedy club inside The B.O.B. downtown Grand Rapids.
“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought it deserved its own stand-up comedy competition with the overall winner getting a prize package worthy of the title most humorous human in Wyoming,” Borbot said.
The Sunday Night Funnies is a weekly live stand-up comedy performance featuring a variety of comics from Michigan and around the country. The Sunday Night Funnies is a free admission show. The new fall/winter start time is 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The Sunday Night Funnies is located inside Wyomng’s Spectrum Entertainment Complex, 5656 Clyde Park SW.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
At Monday night’s Wyoming City Council meeting Mayor Pro Tem Sam Bolt announced that the city’s long-time city manager will be retiring.
At the Wyoming City Council meeting, it was announced that Wyoming City Manager Curtis Holt will be retiring in the winter. (WKTV
Reading from a prepared statement, Bolt announced after a career of public service of more than three decades, City Manager Curtis Holt announced that he will retire from his role this winter.
“Curtis has served as City Manger in Wyoming for more than 26 years and has fostered a culture of strong community service and fiscal responsibility,” Bolt said.
Curtis joined the Wyoming city staff in 1996 as the deputy city manager and was named as Wyoming’s city manager in 2000. Before coming to Wyoming, he was the city manager of Otsego from 1989 to 1996, and assistant city manager of Cedar Springs from 1987 to 1989.
According to Holt’s bio on the City of Wyoming’s website, he also serves as a board member of the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, and is chair of the Greenstone Insurance, which is a captive held by the MMRMA. He is a board member and past chair of the Regional Geographical Information Service (REGIS) agency of the Grand Valley Metro Council, and is vice-chair of the Grand Valley Regional Biosolids Authority. He is the past chairperson of the Kent County Dispatch Authority and a past commissioner of the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).
Bolt said he would be working closely with Mayor-elect Kent Vanderwood and council members to deliver a process to fill the position and that information on the next steps will be shared in the coming months.
“Thank you very much for your commitment to the City of Wyoming, our staff and community members,” Bolt said. “We’re excited for your next steps.”
Through that story, Kooyers was pleasantly surprised at the number of Michiganders who mentioned that they have visited those nests and/or continue to monitor them.
The eagle cam operated by Florida-based Dick Pritchett Real Estate, Inc. has gone down due to Hurricane Ian. Neither Harriet or M15 have been seen since the storm. (Courtesy, Pritchett Real Estate, Inc.)
As many know, Hurricane Ian hit Florida earlier this week. This was listed as a category 4 storm meaning that well-built houses could sustained substantial damage such as lost of roofs or exterior walls and that trees could be snapped in half or uprooted with debris being a serious hazard.
Hurricane Ian landed near the Ft. Myers area, where one of nests was located. Kooyer did some research and discovered that the people in Ft. Myers have “put brave boots on” posting updates and photos.
Kooyer provides us with an update:
Some nests survived, others did not
Early reports show Sanibel Island devastated and it is unlikely nests survived but the teams remain hopeful.
The northeast Florida site reported their nest survived.
The southwest Florida nest on Pritchett property as well the residence took a direct hit from Hurricane Ian. The residential property and buildings are reportedly flooded and damaged but crews were starting repairs already. They had three cameras up and ready for the new season.
It was reported that one tree fell. The camera attached maybe salvageable. One tree and camera survived the hurricane. However, the saddest part is the main tree which contained the gigantic eagle nest took a direct hit. The highly observed nest is gone and many key branches are gone.
Those who have viewed the nest may have recalled that it was was huge, weighed tons and was several feet deep. I recall a person being lifted by crane into the nest to retrieve ill eaglets. The size of that nest was mind-blowing and now, it is simply gone. In the photos, it is nowhere to be seen.
What happened to the eagles?
The eagles, Harriet and M15, were last photographed and seen hours before Hurricane Ian hit landfall. I have not seen a report of any sightings of them since, but we retain hope they hunkered down someplace safe and will be back. If they survived and If they are well enough, there is reason to believe they will rebuild. One person even offered to load and deliver a truck of eagle-nest-size branches so the eagles would have the supplies they need to rebuild. But if the eagles do decide to rebuilt, whether it will be in the same location is uncertain.
The two eagles had started a second nest last year, but it was taken over by owls for a very vicious period. The territorial fights between the eagles and owls had us all holding our breath. Given all that, the team will wait to see which cameras are workable, if and when the eagles can come back and where the eagles do build. With all the missing trees and nests, past experiences showed there will be intense wildlife competition for remaining trees to rebuild in as the new nesting season begins.
An amazing season to start bird watching
In short, it is hard saying goodbye to that special nest that held so many stories and memories. Stories that amused us, taught us life lessons and motivated us to be better people with more understanding of the creatures that share our planet. I am not ready to write off Harriet or M yet. They are resilient and strong. Maybe their offspring survived and will return.
I do believe this would be an unusually amazing season to watch or start watching Florida Eagle cams and forums. It is fascinating watching the way they build homes that survive most hurricanes, then the new life cycle starts as they team up to provide for, protect and train the next generation of birds. I pray Harriet and M15 come back. But if they do not, I do suspect another eagle pair or owl will show up to entertain, educate and motivate us.
A word of thanks
Meanwhile, my heart goes out to the humans who went through so much and have much ahead. I have been advised a lot of help is there and coming. A special thanks to the Pritchett family which shares its eagles and property even as they themselves rebuild. A deep gratitude to the photographers who go to that site in all weather to share so many views, events perspectives with us who are miles away. And how super amazing are the people who set up the websites and forums hours after the hurricane. And it takes a brave person to mount and maintain the cameras with protective eagles nearby. Whatever happens in the next days and weeks, we appreciated times and memories past, but we also move forward.
If it helps, I watch the Pritchett Family live cams and forums. I also recommend highly the Hancock Wildlife Foundation live cam links. They have links to many cams of other species as well.
Aerial view of Sullivan (Valley) Field (Courtesy, Paul Soltysiak)
Even though temperatures are cooling off in West Michigan, competition heats up at the annual Grand Rapids cook-off recently renamed Chili Cook-Off at the Ballpark.
Historic Sullivan (formerly Valley) Field will host Grand Rapids’ annual chili cook-off on Saturday, Oct. 1, with all proceeds benefiting Fans of Valley Field and the organization’s renovation and restoration project of the ballpark.
Saving a historical gem
Called a historical gem of the West Side, Sullivan Field has been actively used often throughout the years, from ball games to concerts and symphony performances, and much more.
Baseball legend Jackie Robinson shakes hands with former Negro League player and Grand Rapids Black Sox manager Ted Rasberry. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Public Museum Collections)
“It’s fallen into disrepair,” said Dan Verhil, former Cottage Bar owner and Master of Ceremonies for the upcoming chili cook-off. “It needs a lot of TLC (tender loving care) to bring it back.” Verhil said the purpose of the cook-off is to help “raise the funds to restore this classical West Side beauty.”
Cottage Bar had hosted annual fall chili cook-offs since 1981, but “hit pause” in 2018 when Dan and his wife Lisa decided to sell the restaurant. Cottage Bar cook-off proceeds were donated to several different charities, with donations reaching approximately half a million dollars over 36 years.
In an effort to raise funds to renovate Sullivan Field, Fans of Valley Field approached the Verhils in 2021 and asked if Dan and Lisa would be willing to resurrect the chili cook-off if Fans of Valley Field did the legwork.
Passing the torch
“(Lisa and I) met with them, and we liked their sincerity and their integrity and said, ‘Let’s do it!’” said Verhil.
Already having the rules and framework for the cook-off in hand from previous years, Dan and Lisa shared their information with Fans of Valley Field. True to their word, Fans of Valley Field has done the legwork for both the 2021 and 2022 chili cook-offs, allowing Dan and Lisa to simply help guide the cook-off committee.
“Lisa and I are pretty much Master of Ceremonies now,” Verhil said. “Which is great because we can walk around and talk to friends, have fun, and MC the event.”
The first revival of the cook-off occurred in November of 2021 and was a big success even though it was late in the season, and Fans of Valley Field expect a good turnout again this year. The Chili Cook-off of the Ballpark boasts four live bands, 40 cooks—and some unique recipes.
Verhil said that, though all ingredients must be commercially processed for safety reasons, unique ingredients such as rattlesnake have been incorporated into recipes.
Discovering Grand Rapids’ own ‘Field of Dreams’
Learning about Sullivan Field has been enjoyable for Verhil. Though Verhil grew up in Grand Rapids, he lived on the southeast side and admitted that he never attended a game at Valley Field or knew much about the ballpark. When he joined Fans of Valley Field, however, that all changed.
Visitors to last year’s chili cook-off look over memorabilia of Sullivan (Valley) Field. (Courtesy, Paul Soltysiak)
“I researched it and explored the stadium,” said Verhil. “It’s just full of so much history, I became enraptured with the history of the project. It’s like a mini Wrigley Field. It’s really old school, but it’s old school cool.”
Verhil continued, “It was built in 1937 and, over the years, 95 MLB players have come through the system through Valley Field.” Included in that count of MLB players are Kirk Gibson, Al Kaline, Dave Rozema, and Mickey Stanley.
Verhil admitted that there were a lot of facts he did not know before joining Fans of Valley Field, and those facts are widely unknown throughout the Grand Rapids community. The purpose of restoring and revitalizing Sullivan Field is to help people become more aware of the stadium’s presence and all it offers the community.
For years, Valley Field has been used for city league and high school baseball games. “It’s still an active baseball field,” said Verhil. “It’s the home field for Union High School.”
In the past, Valley Field was also the home field for the famous Sullivan’s Furniture amateur baseball teams which won four national titles in the 60s and 70s. Before that, it was home to the Negro Leagues’ Grand Rapids Black Sox in the 40s and 50s.
A love for everything baseball
Howard J. Houghton (1936-2011) of Sheridan, Michigan, played baseball on Valley Field several times in the 60s. His daughter, Betsy Klingensmith of Fenwick, Michigan, said baseball was definitely a passion for her father.
Howard Houghton’s player pass for Valley Field. (Courtesy, Betsy Klingensmith)
“He played in high school and played on several leagues over the years,” Klingensmith said. “He did a lot of coaching while he was still playing. He loved to share his love and knowledge of baseball. We still have people he coached tell us about how much he helped them.”
Houghton not only shared his passion for baseball with people in the community, but with his family as well.
“When my oldest sister was old enough for Little League and came home upset that she couldn’t play baseball, Dad and Mom started a girls’ softball league and ran it for 13 years,” Klingensmith said. “He went back to (coaching) boys so he could coach my brother. He came out of retirement from coaching to coach with my sister for her daughter’s age group a couple of years before he passed.”
Klingensmith herself was only a couple weeks old when she attended her first baseball game.
Sharing their stories
“It’s a classic West Side gem,” said Verhil. “The West Side people are so passionate about this place. Most of the small, locally-owned businesses are all contributing something (to the cook-off). Everyone is so onboard to renovate this stadium because it seems like everybody has a story about Valley Field.”
When asked about his own personal Valley Field story, Verhil responds, “You guys are creating my story.”
To learn more about Chili Cook-Off of the Ballpark, click here: Chili Cook-Off
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author
Kent County Sheriff Deputations Krystal Stuart with her former K9 partner, Axel. (WKTV/Jodi Miesen)
It was after a mom approached Kent County Sheriff Officer Krystal Stuart that she knew just how much K9 officer Axel had meant to the community.
Axel died of an undiagnosed heart condition while tracking a suspect in August of 2021. The mother tracked Stuart down in the sheriff department’s parking lot. She told Stuart that her nine-year-old son cried when he saw the news about Axel because he thought of Axel as “their dog.”
“And that just broke my heart because it wasn’t just me that was feeling it,” Stuart said. “It was all these other people that were upset and crying over my dog. You know, and when you have a personal dog, you have your friends and family and people that are sad about it.
“But on such a large scale. I could never have thought that that would have ever happened, that he touched so many lives.”
Not a match made in heaven
Because of her love for animals, Stuart was intrigued by the Kent County K9 Unit and joined in 2019. She had no idea what that was going to entail.
One of Deputy Krystal Stuart’s favorite photos of Axel. (Courtesy, Deputy Krystal Stuart)
Then came the 63-pound German Shepard named Axel. He was just 16-months-old at the time and what many would call a second-time handler dog, not one that a first-time handler such as Stuart should have been assigned. Axel was to be the first explosive detection dog for the Kent County Sheriff’s Department.
However the handler and the K9’s relationship was a rollercoaster from the start.
“The beginning was horrible,” she said. “I had not picked Axel. Axel was actually my third pick. I passed him up because he came into the testing site just digging his claws into the dirt and letting out this Banshee cry…I was like, ‘Wow, I don’t want to deal with that. I’m not gonna. I don’t have the patience to deal with that dog’. So, I passed him up.”
But in the end, Axel became her dog. She was stuck with him. Now came the part of figuring out how to work with each other.
Building the team
“He was a very dominant dog, a very aggressive dog,” she said. “We had to figure out how to respect each other. It wasn’t going to be me ruling over him or him ruling over me. We had to have this mutual respect and I didn’t know how to do that in the beginning. So, him and I battled for the first six months.”
Working dogs such as Axel come with a high drive which is necessary for police work. That drive also comes with its own set of challenges.
“We want dogs that are not going to give up,” she said. “Dogs that are going to continue working until basically we tell them to stop, or they are forced to ‘stop.’
“These dogs are constantly doing something. So, when they’re not working, they can get naughty, because they just want to be working.”
‘Not what I signed up for’
By December of 2019, things got so bad Stuart began questioning if she wanted to continue as a handler. She had experience with dogs, grew up with them and even had two at home before she added Axel to the mix. She also had a husband and two small children, ages 2 and 5, at the time.
“It was just a lot on my family,” she recalled. “It was a lot on me because he wasn’t a good house dog. He didn’t use too much energy to be around the kids. He didn’t get along with my husband very well. And I was like, ‘Yeah, this is not what I really thought I was signing up for.’”
Stuart said the two were living and working together, 24 -7. They were always together. Unlike with a regular partner, who gets to go home at the end of the day, they never got a break from each other. What made things worse is Axel identified Stuart with the job. He always wanted to be working and he didn’t know how to turn it off.
“We have some dogs on our team that when they come home, they can just be couch potatoes and just lay down and relax,” she said. “Axel was not one of those dogs. Because when he saw me, he was like, ‘What are we doing?’, and he was always on it. And I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, we are literally just going outside to go to the bathroom, like just calm down.’”
The turning point
But December also was a turning point as Stuart got some help from trained professionals.
“I talked to a trainer and it was kind of like a come to Jesus moment,” she said. “They really helped me understand how to work with a dog like that in a way that I understood. And once I started applying the things that he had taught me; had told me about. We started building from there.”
By the time Axel passed away, Stuart said the pair were coming together and neither had to think about what the other was doing. They were working as a team. Stuart acknowledged that Axel still tested her patience, but things weren’t as hard anymore.
He did what he loved
It was in August of 2021, while working the first call of an overtime shift, things went bad very quickly. Stuart and Axel had responded to a call in Sparta about a possible home invasion. The suspect had fled the scene and Axel with Stuart began to track.
“It was very hot out that day,” she said. “We found one shoe. So, I knew we were on it. I don’t know, a couple 100 yards and we found the other shoe and I’m like we’re still on it. (The suspect is) stripping clothes, you know, either losing them in the thick brush or just stripping down.”
The team made it to an open area of a lawn and Stuart could tell that Axel was hot. She got water from some people in the area. Recognizing that they were closing in on the suspect and knowing another dog was on its way to relieve Axel because of the heat, Stuart said she felt OK wrapping up the track. They were eight minutes into it.
“After he got water, he jumped back up and start tracking again,” Stuart said. “And I was like, ‘Hey’ I’m like, ‘We’re done.’ So, we had to get out to the field.He picked up the track again and started tracking up the field. And I was like, ‘Dude, we’re done like stop.’ So, I yelled at him and was like, ‘stop!’
“But these are those dogs. They want to finish the game and they want to keep working. So, after I told him to stop, he collapsed.”
An undiagnosed condition found to be the cause
Stuart didn’t know what had happened until a necropsy, an animal autopsy, was performed. She was later told he died of an undiagnosed heart condition. Axel was three-years-old and weighed 96 pounds when he died. He had grown into a strong, muscular, powerful German Shepard.
There was nothing that could have done to prevent it. Stuart said it was explained to her that it was similar to when an athlete dies unexpectedly after vigorous activity. In the end, Axel died doing what he loved.
Stuart says she took his passing hard. He was more than a pet. Axel was such a big part of her life and for that reason, there were no breaks from the grief.
“I was at home and then I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I feel him here. I want to go to work.’” she said. “And then I have an empty cruiser…I couldn’t get away from it.
“And so that was one of the hardest things I think I had to deal with.”
An outpouring of love from the community
Axel was connected to the community. Every morning in the field he could have been seen doing obedience training or just playing ball. A week before Axel’s death, Stuart was working as a school resource officer for the Cedar Springs School District for the district’s first week of school.
Kent County Sheriff Deputy Krystal Stuart stands with artist Kathie Van Hekken next to a portrait Van Hekken drew of former K9 officer Axel. (WKTV/Jodi Miesen)
Because of Axel’s connection to the community and being part of the Kent County Sheriff’s Department, the toughest part for her children was that Axel’s death was so publicized.
“When our personal dog passed away, it was hard because that was their dog,” she said. “But then when Axel passed away, everybody in the community knew. And so, teachers, principals, friends were all coming up to them.”
That outpouring included a Rockford artist, Kathie Van Hekken, who offered to create a 44- by 44- color pencil drawing of Axel, which is on display at this year’s ArtPrize at First (Park) Congregational Church, 10 E. Place Pl. NE. Part of the exhibit includes educating the public about the Kent County Sheriff’s Department’s K9 Unit, which is donation based.
A little about working dogs
There are currently 10 K9s covering all of Kent County for the sheriff’s department. Stuart said the department relies on the K9 Unit to make situations less dangerous and more hands on for officers. They can detect explosives, track suspects, secure buildings, or be used as a compliance tool with Stuart adding some people are more likely to comply when you get a dog out and they start barking.
“And it helps officers in different situations as well, especially with people who are trying to run or fight, you know, our deputies,” she said. “So they do a lot in the community. And I think with Axel passing, we really saw how much the people in the community recognize that.”
The new partner: Meet Kai
Stuart decided to stay on with the K9 Unit and this May a German Shepherd Belgian Malians, weighing in at 20 pounds less than Axel, named Kai became her new K9 partner. She started training Kai in July and he has been on the road with her since the beginning of August.
“He has more energy than Axel, which I didn’t think was possible, because Axel was crazy!,” Stuart said. “This dog is just as crazy! And both of them are bulls in a China shop.”
There is also a bit of resemblance.
“We just took pictures for our calendar fundraiser that we’re doing for 2023,” Stuart said. “I have a picture of Axel in the background and I have Kai on a table and they look oddly familiar, like similar. If you didn’t know, you would think it was almost the same dog,” then quickly adding, “Kai, he is his own dog.”
Axel left his mark, helping her to be a better handler for Kai, whose is progressing in his training. It usually takes about two years of training before a dog like Axel or Kai are solid work dogs.
“He set me up for success with my new dog,” Stuart said of Axel. “He taught me patience, how dogs tick. How they work. What to let them get away with and what not to let them get away with. He taught me all that and so I wouldn’t be the handler I am today without the experiences that I went through with Axel.”
Axel may not have been the dog Stuart wanted but he ended up being the dog that left his mark on the heart of his community as well as his handler.
Artist Kathie Van Hekken and Kent County Sheriff Officer Krystal Stuart shown with the portrait of Axel created by Van Hekken. (WKTV/Jodi Miesen)
When Rockford resident Kathie Van Hekken learned about the death of Kent County Sheriff K9 officer Axel, it spurred her into action.
“I saw it on TV the day he died,” said the 76-year-old artist of Axel, who died from an undiagnosed heart condition while tracking a suspect in August of 2021. “And I love dogs. I love pets. I know I have the skill to draw them…And I thought you know what? I could take something so sad and I can do some good with this.”
Her something good was the creation of a 44- by 44-inch color pencil portrait of Axel that is currently part of the 2022 ArtPrize exhibit. The piece hangs at the First (Park) Congregational Church, 10 E. Park Place NE.
A late bloomer in art
Van Hekken discovered her passion for art later in life, after stumbling upon it about seven years ago. Her mother was an artist who dabbled in oil paintings. Van Hekken had inherited her mother’s art supplies when she passed away in 2005, but it wasn’t until years into her retirement that Van Hekken finally got them out.
Artist Kathie Van Hekken admits her passion for art started several years after she retired as an engineer. (WKTV/Jodi Miesen)
“I went to one of those wine and women kind of things,” she said. “I took my paintings and I showed them to the teacher, and I asked if he could teach me what I was missing. And that’s when I started learning.”
She shared her desire to be “good enough” someday to be an ArtPrize artist and with encouragement from that teacher it happened in 2015 when Van Hekken entered her hand drawn, nine feet tall sunflowers.
Making a connection
Through a mutual acquaintance, Van Hekken reached out to Axel’s handler, Kent County Sheriff Officer Krystal Stuart about getting permission to create the piece.
“She told me how big it was going to be and I was like, ‘What?’” Stuart said. “Like, I didn’t even know that was possible, especially for like color pencil, like a drawing, you know. I was like, ‘How is this even going to be a thing?’”
Van Hekken admitted once she got Stuart’s permission, the project was a little nerve wracking as she wanted to do “a really good job.” Stuart was with her every step of the way, coming over regularly to see the piece as it progressed in its various stages and to let Van Hekken know she was heading in the right direction.
“The first conversation we had, we talked,” Van Hekken said. “She told me stories. I’ve learned that I have to know what I’m drawing. If I have an emotional attachment, it will come out. You know, when people say that I captured Axel, that’s because she made sure I knew Axel, even though I had never met him.
‘Hi, Axel’
Through this process and utilizing one of Stuart’s favorite pictures of Axel, slowly he emerged through the drawing.
The portrait of Axel that artist Katie Van Hekken used for her piece. (WKTV/Jodi Miesen)
“I think I had his ears and a little bit of his face,” she said. “And I had sketched in his mouth and I could see him for the first time for me, other than a photograph. And it was like, ‘Hi Axel.’ And I cried for him. It was just really emotional. It still is.”
It took Van Hekken about seven months to complete the massive art piece and as soon as it was, the first person she had to see it was Stuart.
“She was quiet,” Van Hekken said. “She just stood quietly and looked at it. It was very, very touching.”
And for Van Hekken, Stuart’s reaction was payment enough.
“She did a phenomenal job capturing his essence,” Stuart said. “He had that, like I say, twinkle in his eye, which sounds so cliché, but he really did when he was not in work mode. He had this goofy, like ‘I’m a big doofus look in his eye.’ And then when he was working, it just went black.”
Celebrating Kent County Sheriff’s K9 unit
Van Hekken said she chose Axel not only to honor him, but to raise awareness and money for the donation-based K9 Unit. Currently, there are 10 Kent County Sheriff K9s covering most of the county. The animals are trained to detect explosives, track suspects, secure buildings, or may be used as a compliance tool. Axel was the department’s first explosive detection dog.
Van Hekken said she had cards made with Axel’s portrait on them that she handed out when people visit her exhibit. The cards include a QR code to make a donation directly to the Kent County K9 Unit.
“She wanted to tell Axel’s story,” Stuart said. “She wanted to explain what the process was of getting Axel, what happened to Axel, the work that we put in and how much these K-9s actually do for our community.
“Because it’s not just having them and showing off and whatnot. I mean, they find missing children, they find vulnerable adults, suspects in places that we won’t. They protect our officers in different everyday situations.”
Sharing with the community who loved him
After ArtPrize, VanHekken will give the piece to Stuart, who hopes to donate it to the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. Stuart said she wants to share Axel with the community since he was “everybody’s dog.” Stuart is hoping to get approval to have it installed in the new North substation, which is scheduled to open in 2023 in Cedar Springs. Stuart said the location is fitting since northern Kent County was their home base “and those are the residents that had seen him the most.”
Van Hekken said she’s proud to be a part of the project. For her, it was a labor of love.
“I never entered ArtPrize thinking I would win, she said. “I just wanted to do something good. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to call attention to the K9 Unit and Axel.”
And with a satisfied smile adding. “I’m already the winner.”
Kentwood Justice Center, 4740 Walma Ave. SE. (Courtesy, City of Kenwood)
By WKTV Staff
The Kentwood Police Department is inviting individuals who are interested in a career in law enforcement to attend its recruitment event on Thursday, Oct. 13.
The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. and include two one-hour sessions at the Kentwood Police Department, 4742 Walma Ave. SE. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about KPD’s sponsored police recruit position and other employment opportunities, connect with current officers, tour the department and more.
Kentwood Police Chief Bryan Litwin (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
The informational sessions will be held at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., beginning with an overview about working for the department. Attendees only need to attend one of the sessions, which will cover the same information. Tours, networking and opportunities to learn more about specialized units at KPD will follow. Refreshments also will be provided.
“As a midsized police department, we provide both a family-like atmosphere and ample opportunities for growth,” Kentwood Police Chief Bryan Litwin said. “We’re seeking passionate, community-driven individuals to join our team. We look forward to connecting with potential recruits at this event and showcasing the great culture we have at Kentwood.”
The event will feature information about all department employment opportunities, with a special focus on the sponsored police recruit position. Selected police recruit applicants will receive a full scholarship from KPD to attend the Grand Valley State University Police Academy or another approved police training program in spring 2023.
In addition to the police academy sponsorship, recruits also receive competitive pay throughout the academy, comprehensive health insurance, life insurance, a 9 percent employer retirement plan contribution and continuing education and training. Individuals who successfully complete the academy and other required certifications and training will be sworn in as patrol officers with the Kentwood Police Department. No prior law enforcement experience is necessary to apply for this position.
“Our recruit position provides a path for individuals to become full-time Kentwood police officers with a full sponsorship to a local police academy,” Litwin explained. “This position has been an important part of our efforts to recruit both traditional and non-traditional students and to hire individuals who are representative of Kentwood’s diverse community.”
No pre-registration is required for KPD’s recruitment event and no prior law enforcement experience is necessary to attend. Attendees should plan to bring something to take notes with.
Individuals who are interested in working for KPD but cannot attend the event can receive more information by contacting Recruitment Officer Ryan Smith at smithr@kentwood.us. More information about the event can be found at kentwood.us/KPD2022. To find current job openings at the Kentwood Police Department and apply, visit kentwood.us/employment.
This photo comes from longtime Wyoming resident and Wyoming Planning Commissioner Chris Hall snapped this photo while heading down 28th Street in Wyoming on Monday. His comment says it all “28th Street in all its glory.”
Be sure to check out Kentwood’s Glow in the Park event held on Oct. 15. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
By WKTV Staff
Community members are invited to brighten the night with the City of Kentwood’s Glow in the Park event from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.
Kentwood’s Glow in the Park 2021. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Taking place at Pinewood Park, 1999 Wolfboro Drive SE, the event features a variety of glow-themed activities, including light-up playground games, a dance party, costume contest, fun run/walk, food, and more.
Participants and supporters are encouraged to wear brightly colored and glow-in-the-dark clothes and accessories.
“We’re excited to get the community together and get our glow on at this special fall event,” said Shelby Henshaw, recreation program coordinator. “With an abundance of glow-in-the-dark materials and activities, it’s sure to be a fun night for everyone.”
Kentwood’s Glow in the Park 2021. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Glow in the Park kicks off with check-in at 7 p.m. The lighthearted race will start at 7:30 p.m. Participants can choose either a 0.3- or 1-mile run/walk along a park path that will be lit with glow sticks and other colorful lights. There also will be a costume contest at 8:30 p.m.
Light-up playground games and crafts, music and snacks will be available throughout the event. The fun run will be followed by an after party with dancing. The evening will conclude at 9 p.m.
Two levels of registration are available online at kentwood.us/GlowInThePark. For entry to the event and glow supplies, registration costs $5. For individuals who also want an event T-shirt, registration costs $20 and includes a goody bag with glow materials. Participants selecting the $20 option should register by Sept. 30 to guarantee an event T-shirt.
September 18-24 was Falls Prevention Week, a nationwide effort to raise awareness that falls are preventable. As we get older the chance of our suffering a fall increases, in fact according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA) 1 in 4 Americans aged 65+ falls each year.
To help with walking, find a good balance and exercise program. (pxhere.com)
Relying on your body to catch you and keep you steady, and then losing this ability, can be a serious downfall to your mobility and morale. Sometimes the fear of falling can be such an all-consuming worry that you may start retreating from doing the things you used to love. However, just because you are noticing a drop in your confidence, movement levels, and strength, does not mean that you can’t improve upon these things and live a fulfilling life. The key to fall prevention is that because we know which factors contribute to falls we can work to prevent them. The National Council on Aging recommends a number of steps you can take to prevent a fall and build your confidence along the way!
Exercise is the key
The first is to find a good balance and exercise program. This is vital because building up your body’s flexibility, strength, and balance enables you to avoid falling in the first place, and if you do happen to fall, you’ll have the ability to get up safely. The Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) offers a variety of evidence-based falls prevention classes through its Healthy Aging partner programs such as A Matter of Balance and EnhanceFitness. There are a number of evidenced-based programs available throughout West Michigan, and you can learn more by calling AAAWM at 616-456-5664 or visiting www.aaawm.org. YouTube can also be a great online resource for finding free at-home exercise classes at a level that is best for you.
Advice from the expert
Talking to your health care provider is the second step to fall prevention. It is helpful to go over your medical history and if you’ve experienced falls in the past. Your provider also has the ability to assess your risk level for a fall and what can be addressed to lower this risk. The third measure you can take to prevent a fall can also be done with your doctor, and this is to regularly review your medications. Some medication’s side effects can increase your risk of falling, and of course, you should take medications only as they are prescribed by your doctor. Step four of fall prevention is to get your vision and hearing checked annually. Proper sight can help you avoid trip hazards and obstacles, and abnormalities in your inner ear can also negatively impact your balance. Treat your health as a top priority to fall prevention and check in with your doctor on these three steps to ensure your well-being.
It all starts at home
The fifth step that NCOA recommends to avoid a fall is to keep your home safe by removing hazards that are commonly overlooked, but easy to fix. A few things to look for: Do you have a clear pathway through your rooms? Look for rugs, cords and wires, and bulky furniture that may be in your way. Assess your stairs; if steps are uneven or broken this can cause you to fall, and make sure that your stairway is well-lit and has a handrail.
In the kitchen, it is best if items are not on kept high shelves, and that your step stool is sturdy if you must use it. In your bedroom, you should have a light close to the bed within easy reach, as well as a well-lit path to the bathroom. Lastly, your bathroom should have some sort of support for you to rely on when using the toilet and bathtub, and if you have a slippery shower floor, add a non-slip rubber mat.
Systems and programs that can help
Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) can also bring peace of mind to individuals and can be a vital line of support. A PERS program often provides a cellular in-home unit in the form of either a necklace or wristband that can call dispatch at the press of a button. Users have the freedom to set who they would like to receive the emergency notification from dispatch to send help, whether family, friend, neighbor, or ambulance. Currently PERS are available in the region, you can call AAAWM at 616-456-5664 to learn more. All are helpful things to keep your home safe.
A little help from your friends
The last step in fall prevention is to enlist the help of your family and friends. Let them know that you are worried about falling and would appreciate their help in making your home a safe space. They can provide an extra set of eyes and hands to rid your house of obstacles. They are also likely to help you navigate talking to your doctor, checking your vision and hearing, and reviewing your medications. Having their help will make the process less overwhelming for you. Often those around you are eager and willing to help, you just need to ask.
These six steps come together to help you avoid falls, so you can continue to do the things that you love. Getting older doesn’t mean a loss of independence; it simply means adapting your environment to best fit your needs so that you can flourish. Be sure to use the resources around you; from your doctor to a family member or friend, to help you take these preventative measures.
Reeths-Puffer quarterback rushes into the end zone during a win over Wyoming Friday. (WKTV/Nathan Piers)
By Cris Greer, WKTV Managing Editor
Muskegon Reeths-Puffer beat Wyoming 55-7 in the WKTV Game of the Week Friday.
The Rockets led 8-0 to end the first quarter and 29-7 at halftime.
Reeths-Puffer improved to 4-1 overall, while Wyoming fell to 0-5.
Reeths-Puffer beat Wyoming 55-7 Friday in the WKTV Game of the Week. (WKTV/Nathan Piers)
WKTV Game of the Week
Our Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream. Watch at home on your Smart TV in brilliant HD.
The Wyoming Wolves huddle up during a 55-7 loss to Reeths-Puffer. (WKTV/Nathan Piers)
Thursday afternoon, Mobile Defenders and eduPARTS held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their new building near Kentwood. (Courtesy, Mobile Defenders)
Thursday afternoon, Mobile Defenders and eduPARTS held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their new building near Kentwood. Mobile Defenders, which provides wholesale cell phone replacement parts around the world, and eduPARTS, which offers Chromebook and iPad parts for school districts, students and businesses, moved into the location this summer to handle growing demand and growing staffs.
The 89,430-square-foot structure was built by Veneklasen Construction and is located at 6155 East Paris Ave. SE, near M-6 and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Mobile Defenders and eduPARTS share ownership and employ more than 50 people total. Those employees were joined by leadership from both companies, Veneklasen Construction and representatives of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce at the ribbon cutting. Company ownership says the new space is perfect to allow them to serve their customers quickly and successfully.
“Having this new home allows our teams to efficiently and effectively work together to quickly meet our customers’ needs,” said Erich Baum, vice president of Mobile Defenders. “In our industry, speed is everything and our new location close to the airport allows us to have a workspace that people enjoy and get products out the door quickly.”
The building includes both office and warehouse space. The office space is setup to facilitate teamwork while having easy access to leadership. The workspace includes sound-masking artwork that hangs from the ceiling. There is also a modern, spacious break room and electric car chargers in the parking lot for employees and customers to use.
The new 89-430-square-foot building includes office space and a warehouse (pictured above.) )Courtesy, Mobile Defenders)
“It’s been exciting to work with Mobile Defenders on a building that gives them exactly what they need both now and in the future,” said Julie Byrne, president of Veneklasen Construction. “Our team was able to remain flexible during the construction timeline which allowed us to complete the work in a timely manner of a building we’re very proud of.”
“Serving schools and businesses locally and nationwide is our core focus at eduPARTS. This new facility has provided us with space to expand our warehouse to better provide them with the Chromebook and iPad repair parts they need. Since moving, I’ve seen an improvement in efficiency, enthusiasm, and teamwork, ” said Cole Manning, managing director of eduPARTS.
Construction on the $7.5 million project began in summer 2021. Mobile Defenders and eduPARTS currently occupy more than half of the space, with other tenants scheduled to move in later this year.
Some Michigan communities are trying to accommodate aging residents – and it’s not just the gray-haired population that benefits, advocates say.
Age-friendly communities allow seniors to be independent and continue to do things they love such as shopping. (pxhere.com)
More than 18% of the state’s population is 65 or older, according to the U.S. Census. It ranks 14th among the states for the largest population of people over 65.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in June approved a plan to make the state age-friendly.
It focuses on communication and information, respect and social inclusion, health services and community support, social participation and transportation.
That comes after announcing an initiative in 2019 with the AARP and the World Health Organization to make Michigan an age-friendly state.
Building an age-friendly community
An age-friendly community is a place where people of all ages can live comfortably, according to AARP, a nonprofit organization that advocates for Americans who are 50 or older.
Since then, nine cities have come up with an age-friendly community plan.
Auburn Hills was the first in Michigan to join a national network of such communities in 2013. It was followed by Highland Park and Lansing in 2015; East Lansing and Southfield in 2017; Grand Rapids in 2018 and Royal Oak and Jackson in 2019. Oak Park joined just this year.
Age-friendly communities allow seniors to be independent and continue to do things that they love, like going to the grocery store and visiting their grandchildren within their community, said Paula Cunningham, the state director for AARP Michigan.
They offer benefits to others, too, Cunningham said. For instance, longer crosswalk times help seniors with walkers, but also help those using wheelchairs and parents pushing strollers, she said.
Grand Rapids focuses on making information available
The City of Grand Rapids started working on its age-friendly community plan in 2016, according to Jay Steffen, assistant planning director for the City of Grand Rapids. After meeting with more than 500 area seniors, hosting several meetings, and talking to leaders in the community, the city’s efforts culminated into The Grand Rapids Age-Friendly Action Plan that is focused on four areas: communications, housing, outdoor spaces, and transportation.
The accessible walking trails is one the amenities that makes the City of Grand Rapids’ Mackay-Jayvee Park an age-friendly park. (Courtesy, City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation)
Through the communication program, the city established a webpage designed to provide information on the four main topics along with connecting residents to services such as United Way’s 211, Network 180, and Senior Neighbors.
“It has been an interesting and challenging process because of the pandemic,” Steffen noted. “We do feel that the more readership we have along with working with the many other agencies that we are doing a fairly good job at getting the word out.”
The city’s parks and recreation department has contributed to the site by providing a list of 28 parks that are the most age-friendly based on a number of amenities such as restrooms, drinking fountains, parking, accessibility to walking paths, and seating.
Steffen said the city also has reached out to Senior Perspectives magazine, which focuses on providing information for seniors, to have the publication available in Grand Rapids.
City of Wyoming discusses age-friendly in master plan
While the City of Wyoming has not formally adopted an age-friendly community plan, its new [re]imagine master plan, does recognize that the city has experienced a “significant increase in the proportion of older adults aged 65 years and up…”
Under the Traditional Residential section of the plan’s Land Use recommendations, the master plan encourages expanding housing options for older adults seeking to age-in-place.
By providing such options, it makes it easier for a family to provide daily care to aging members as the family can moved closer to that member or have the member move closer to the family, said Nicole Hofert, the city’s director of planning and economic development.
What they are doing on the other side of the state
East Lansing community leaders strive to make the city accessible to young and old, said Thomas Fehrenbach, the director of planning, building and development for the city.
“Throughout the plan, we are very intentional on addressing not just seniors but people of all ages and all abilities,” said Fehrenbach, a member of East Lansing’s Age-friendly Community Committee.
The city’s plan focuses on housing, transportation, communications/information, social participation, respect and social inclusion, community support and health services, outdoor spaces and buildings, civic participation and employment. It was approved by the AARP in 2020.
The community plan for Southfield is similar.
The city has already achieved many goals, like placing more benches at bus stops and across the city, said Kendall Murphy, the immediate past chair of Southfield’s Commission on Senior Adults.
“With the rapid aging of baby boomers, we needed to make sure that we were prepared for that population to start being retired,” Murphy said. “We wanted to make sure that people were supported as they are aging. ”
Michigan was the first state in the Midwest and fifth in the country to join the network of age-friendly communities.
Janelle James is a sophomore at Michigan State University. She is pursing a double major in journalism and political science. James aspires to one day secure a position as an investigative journalist, white house correspondent, or politician. She is the state government reporter at The State News and has an internship with HOMTV, the government access channel for meridian Township. At HOMTV, James anchors live new shows, conducts interviews and covers local government.
Artwork submitted to the “Voices” project (WKTV/D.A. Reeds)
“Dreams” is the piece artists Pamela Aldern and Michael Hyacinthe submitted. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
A close-up of the ribbon wall in the “Voices” exhibit. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
“Dreams” by Pamela Alderman and Michael Hyacinthe (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
By D.A. Reed WKTV Contributing Writer
From aesthetics, to healing, to raising awareness of important global issues, ArtPrize 2022 offers something for everyone.
“Elephant Chunko” by Kristina Libby (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
“It’s well known that (people) can create a piece of art and…speak through the art, tell the story, tell the emotion, tell the journey through the art. That can be a very healing thing,” Pamela Alderman, artist and 12-year ArtPrize participant, told WKTV.
Since its inception in 2009, the international art competition ArtPrize has drawn millions of people to Grand Rapids and sparked endless conversations about art and why it matters.
Through Oct. 2, visitors have a chance to experience art in ways they never have before. During the 18-day event, art is exhibited throughout Grand Rapids, from public parks and museums, to galleries and vacant storefronts, to inside bars and on bridges.
Taking a stroll to see what can be seen
This particular reporter spent an enjoyable afternoon scouring the streets and venues of downtown Grand Rapids for art and found much more than was expected.
During her walk, the tutor meet Desert Storm veteran Aaron Ball who is showing his piece at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
In a city already immersed in art, with performance halls, event arenas, and ground-to-rooftop murals decorating several outside walls of businesses and apartment buildings, ArtPrize enhances what Grand Rapids already has to offer.
As I walked from one end of the city to the other, gazing at incredible displays of art of every genre imaginable, I also tuned in to the people. Excitement dominated each venue and exhibit, with art enthusiasts alternating between intensity as they studied the exhibits and displays to gasps of amazement and delight. ArtPrize visitors ranged from young to old, and sported school groups, guests tightly clutching maps while trying to find their way, and others who were clearly natives to the area, striding with confidence and purpose.
But visitors are not the only ones to gain something from ArtPrize.
Using art to give people a ‘voice’
Veterans, led by artist and veteran wife Alderman, and veteran and entrepreneur Michael Hyacinthe, have found healing through art and community.
“Sometimes, when people are traumatized, they can’t put that trauma into words,” Alderman said, “but they can help work through that trauma through an art experience or creative opportunity.” Alderman went on to explain how stress is stored in the mind, but creative outlets can help release that stress.
“Art may not heal the whole person, but it certainly is instrumental in helping to begin that healing journey, or help to continue that healing journey,” said Alderman.
This collection of art by veterans can be found at Veterans Memorial Park and is titled Voices. Partnered with Kent County Veterans Services, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, and Hyacinthe’s non-profit Has Heart, Alderman and Hyacinthe’s Voices project is raising awareness for veterans while simultaneously providing a pathway to healing and creating a place for veterans to experience hope.
But Alderman and Hyacinthe wanted to do more. “We wanted to inspire dreams, to inspire kids to keep dreaming, keep thinking big, keep reaching for the stars,” Alderman said.
Inspiration knows no age
While venue curators of Voices, Alderman and Hyacinthe also entered ArtPrize as contestants. Their exhibit, Dreams, allowed children to send in drawings that the artists then turned into a large mural.
“The way children communicate also inspires adults. They’re so vulnerable, so honest, and so innocent that they also end up inspiring adults,” said Alderman.
It inspired this reporter. Veterans Memorial Park was my first stop, and I was not disappointed. Among the opportunity to view breathtaking artwork, I was able to meet and chat with Desert Storm veteran Aaron Bull, and also write a note on a yellow ribbon and tie it to a wall with hundreds of others that would later be distributed in care packages to active-duty soldiers.
Animals, quilts and more
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum hosts artist and mother Luba Sordyl, creator of Help Us. Sordyl created the acrylic painting containing 17 intertwined animals after learning about how chemicals in the water impacted the health of animals and the environment in general. She hopes to raise awareness about this important environmental issue with her artwork.
“United We Stand” by Andrew Lee at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Also displayed at the museum were handmade quilts titled Shock and Awe & United We Stand by veteran Andrew Lee. In visiting with viewers, Lee said that he created quilts as a way to heal after his two deployments to Iraq. Each quilt is made up of hundreds of individually cut squares of fabric and then given away to veterans once completed.
All ages will find something to enjoy at ArtPrize, with several interactive exhibits that delight both adults and children. Among these are scavenger hunts, mailbox cubbies ready for exploration, large, chunky animal sculptures with colorful bodies called Chunkos, a 12-foot fort, and a display where visitors can write and share their dreams.
To learn more about ArtPrize and find tips to make the most of your visit, click here: ArtPrize 2022.
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author
