By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
Due to redistricting in the state, there have been several changes for House of Representatives and Senate races.
A primary is when voters can indicate their preference for their party’s candidate. Therefore, a voter may only vote on either the Republican ticket or the Democratic ticket. A ballot where a voter has voted in both parties will be thrown out.
All absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. Aug. 2. In-person voters have from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to vote in their precinct. Make sure to check your current voter registration card or verify your precinct through your local clerk.
Note: In its We the People videos, WKTV invites all candidates to share why they decided to run and the issues the candidate feels are important. Below, are the candidates who participated.
80th State House of Representatives
For the State House, all of the City of Kentwood is now part of of the 80th District which includes Cascade and East Grand Rapids.
Two candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination: Lily Cheng-Schulting and Phil Skaggs.
Lily Cheng-Schulting is an attorney known for her disability rights advocacy. She is the founder of the Disability A-TEAM of West Michigan.
Phil Skaggs is currently the District 19 Kent County Commissioner serving southeastern Grand Rapids and East Grand Rapids. He also was a city commissioner in East Grand Rapids for five years.
82nd District State House of Representatives
For the State House races, the City of Wyoming has been split between two districts. A portion of the City of Wyoming’s eastern border is part of the 82nd District, which falls in the Godwin Heights Public Schools area. For a map, click here.
Three candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination: Salim Mohammed Al-Shatel, Kristian Grant and Robert Womack.
Al-Shatel is a co-owner of My Barefoot Wedding, based in Spring Lake, and also a real estate investor.
Kristian Grant is born and raised in the Grand Rapids area and has spent the past 15 years in public service and community. She is a real estate developer and trustee on the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education.
Robert Womack is currently the District 17 Kent Count Commissioner serving the southeast side of Grand Rapids and is CEO of 102.5 FM The Ride.
Republican candidates
Two candidates are seeking the Republican nomination, William Alexander and Ryan Malinowski.
William Alexander is born in Whitehall. He has lived in the Grand Rapids area for the last 28 years and is entrepreneur.
Most of the City of Wyoming will be part of the 83rd District. For a map, click here.
Two candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination, John Fitzgerald and Jose Flores.
John Fitzgerald is currently 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.
Jose Flores is a former educator who currently serves on the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education. He also is the owner of La Familia Market.
29th State Senate
The 29th State Senate race, which includes both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming along with Grandville and East Grand Rapids, only has one candidate for each party nomination. The Republican candidate is Tommy Brann and the Democrat candidate is Winnie Brinks.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
Earlier in the summer, the splash pad equipment was delivered to Gezon Park. (Supplied)
If you follow the tweets of Wyoming Director of Community Services Rebeca Rynbrandt, you know excitement is building for Gezon Park.
When construction started on the park, Rynbrandt noted that the opening of the park increases the city’s ability to provide equitable recreation and leisure services to one of its more populate areas. That reality comes true on Aug. 27 when the park will have a grand opening.
The redevelopment of Gezon Park is also one of the 2022 highlighted accomplishments of the Parks and Recreation Department, which Rynbrandt oversees, as the city marks National Parks and Recreation Month. Always in July, the month is designed to bring attention to how important parks and recreation are to a community.
The importance of parks
In fact, according to the National Recreation and Park Association’s 2022 The Economic Impact of Local Parks Report, local public park and recreation agencies in the United states generate nearly $218 million in economic activity and supported almost 1.3 million jobs that boosted labor income by more than $68 billion from their operations and capital spending in 2019.
In the city’s proclamation read by Mayor Jack Poll at the July 5 Wyoming City Council meeting, it was noted that the “park and recreation promotes health and wellness, improving the physical and mental health of people who visit parks increasing personal well-being, and alleviating illnesses such as depression, attention deficit disorders, and Alzheimer’s.”
The proclamation also notes how the park and recreation proves physical activities such as softball, baseball, biking, walking, hiking trails, playgrounds, and fitness trails along with the Wyoming Senior Center and the after school program TEAM 21. It also noted that “parks and recreation increases a community’s economic prosperity through increased property values, expansion of local tax base, the attraction and retention of businesses and crime reduction.”
Lamar Park was one of four to receive new playground equipment this year. (Supplied)
What Wyoming offers
The Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department oversees 21 parks that contain almost 700 acres of property and a diverse array of recreational amenities, natural settings, wildlife, and plant life. In its 2021 Annual report, it was noted that about $575 million were directed toward the parks with almost half of the money, about $3 million, toward facilities, capital improvements, and maintenance.
Rynbrandt has noted in the past that parks are in a state of maintenance and repair with her team working to keep those parks in top-top shape for residents. In fact this year, four of the city parks, Pinery, Hillcroft, Frog Hollow and Lamar park, all received new playground equipment.
There is also the challenge of meeting the evolving interests of residents which is reflected in the decision by the Parks and Recreation Commission to allow dogs at all parks. In 1998, the city had made Pinery Park a dog-free park. In the spring, the commission, with the support of residents, decided to end that policy.
Expanding special events
Residents also have wanted more special events that engage the community with the Parks Department has heard that call adding a number of special events.
Wrapping up next week will be the Concerts at the Park at Lamar Park. Performing on Aug. 2 is Latin soul group Grupo Latin.
But the park events have expanded beyond the popular concert series, which have included a summer market and Chalk the Park at Pinery Park earlier this month, the upcoming Aug. 20 Food Truck Rally (from 11 a.m to 5 p.m.) and the Oct. 8 Trick of Treat Trail at Lamar Park.
“Each day, our team worked hard, smart, and more innovatively to deliver programs and services to the residents of the Wyoming community,” said Rynbrandt in the 2021 Park and Recreation Commission Annual Report. “From reopening parks to honoring veterans in annual celebrations, helping seniors with meals and everyday necessities, and keeping Wyoming youth active and engaged through virtual programs an academic achievement, our parks and recreation team strives to bring the community together.”
Molly performs with After Ours on the first GRAM on the Green concert set for July 21. (Supplied)
Concerts return to downtown Grand Rapids this summer with the popular GRAM on the Green, a series that features some of the best local, regional and national acts.
The free summer concert series returns from 6-9 p.m. Thursday (July 21) in front of the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
“For over a decade, the Grand Rapids Art Museum has brought free summer concerts to the heart of downtown Grand Rapids,” said GRAM Communications Manager Elizabeth Payne in a release.
“In partnership with WYCE, we’re excited to continue our tradition of creating accessible arts experiences for our entire community to participate in and enjoy.”
The outdoor music events also include hands-on artmaking, food trucks and a cash bar.
Organizers added that you can “come for the music, and stay for the art, as the Museum is also open late for Meijer Free Thursday Nights.” Admission is free from 5-9 p.m.
2022 GRAM on the Green Lineup:
July 21: Molly + After Ours (Soul + Electronic Jazz)
July 28: Andrea Von Kampen + Brie Stoner (Indie Folk + Alternative Noir Pop)
August 4: The Music That Raised Us (History of Black Music – Spirituals, Motown and Modern Soul)
August 11: The Rachel Brooke Band + The Reverend Jesse Ray (Retro Rockabilly + Western Swing)
Artists are equally excited about the return of GRAM on the Green
“I have played at the art museum many times over the years with different groups, but GRAM on the Green has always had a special vibe to it because of the synergy between WYCE and the GRAM in getting people out to party on a Thursday night,” said Molly, who kicks off the series with mostly original tunes from her EP (available at mollymollymolly.bandcamp.com) and her forthcoming full-length record.
“We’re also thrilled to be sharing the evening of music with our South Bend, Indiana friends the very talented duo, After Ours.”
WYCE-FM (88.1), a non-profit, independent community radio station, is excited to partner with GRAM. And reps are excited to show off some great entertainment.
“The lineup this year offers up a diverse array” of talent, said WYCE music director and series curator Shane German.
“Whether it’s indie-folk, jazz, retro Americana, or a celebration of Black voices in music, we’re thrilled to welcome these incredible artists this year. There are really be something for everyone. We can’t wait to see everyone at the shows this summer!”
This week for the Mr. Sid’s Wednesday Afternoon series, Vietnam veteran and USS Silversides curator Don Kitchen will be the guest speaker.
The USS Silversides is located in the Muskegon Channel at the Pere Marquette Park. (WKTV)
The USS Silversides was one of the most successful submarines in the Pacfic Theatre of World War II with 23 confirmed sinking. The submarine and its crew were aware a Presidential citation an earned 12 battle stars.
The submarine and adjunct Naval Museum is located at the Muskegon Channel at the Pere Marquette Park.
Kitchen has given several lectures about the USS Silverside and the war in the Pacific. His presentation will be at 2 p.m. at Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW.
Up next for the series will be Terry Stevens, fountain engineer for the Grand Haven Musical Fountain. Stevens is scheduled to talk on Aug. 17. His presentation will be about the history o the largest musical fountain “of its kind” in the world and particulars about its operation.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
With the announcement that current City of Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll will be retiring from civic duty at the end of this year, three candidates have entered the election to be the city’s next mayor.
Poll has served the city as mayor for the past 13 years. Looking to fill his seat are current Mayor Pro Tem Sam Bolt, resident Cliff Tompkins, and council member Kent Vanderwood.
Along with council duties of adopting city ordinances, appointing members to boards and commissions, and approving an annual city budget, the mayor also serves as the the official head of the city, representing the city at various government functions on a local, state and national basis. The mayor position, which is a four-year term, is voted on by all registered voters in the City of Wyoming.
For information on voting in the City of Wyoming, click here.
Sam Bolt
Occupation: A retired finical advisor
Why did you decide to run in the position of mayor of the City of Wyoming?: I am running for mayor because I am very concerned with the financial future of Wyoming and with the other two people who are running.
In 50 word or less, please list up to two issues you wish to focus on as mayor: If elected, public safety will be my number one goal. I also will work to continue our progress on the 28 West project, and bringing jobs to the 36th Street property.
Why did you decide to run in the position of mayor of the City of Wyoming?: Per his website, “One of the reasons that triggered me into candidacy is that I could not believe what I was hearing and reading in the news. Our systems has lost control and our law enforcement is being seriously victimized. This will be a priority of mine, to help stabilize our Public Safety and work hard to bring in greater resources for our city, including stronger outreach programs.”
In 50 words or less, please list up to two issues you wish to focus on as mayor: Per his We the People video, Tompkins states that he would focus on public safety along with working to bring an e-government that is a full-time technology government that offers an array of services when the Wyoming City Hall is physically closed.
Occupation: I am semi-retired from my consulting company where I am still a partner. The Timothy Group provides fundraising consulting to non-profit organizations.
Why did you decide to run in the position of mayor of the City of Wyoming: This is a position being vacated by Mayor Jack Poll, but this vacancy is not the sole reason I am running. While Wyoming remains one of the preeminent cities in West Michigan, much remains to do. Born and raised in West Michigan, I have served the City of Wyoming for more than 16 years as council member-at-large. Every decision that I have made while in that role has been a result of my love for the city and desire to create an environment of good paying jobs and economic opportunity for our citizens. These decisions have always been based on the need for Wyoming to have modern infrastructure, a balanced tax and zoning environment, stable housing, low crime and quality schools.
In 50 words or less, please list up to two issues you wish to focus on as mayor: Maintaining our fiscal stability as a city, keeping our streets and neighborhoods safe, and supporting new business growth to fuel the economy and create jobs are issues that matter to all of us, and they are what motivate me to help lead Wyoming the next four years as your mayor.
Monte Pride is set to perform July 19 at the Wyoming Concerts in the Park. (Supplied)
By John Gonzalez WKTV Contributing Writer
Singer/songwriter Monte Pride has been inspired by some of music’s greats, including Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Gillian Welch, Townes Van Zandt and John Prine.
But he loves our Michigan musical heroes, too, saying artists such as Chris Bathgate, May Erlewine, Timothy Monger and Joshua Davis have been equally as important.
The music of Chris Bathgate, for example, is “unmistakable.”
“The atmosphere and ambience he creates in his songs, it’s … inspiring to my songwriting and song production,” Pride said.
From Erlewine’s “stage presence” and “strong sense of purpose and intention in her songs” to Davis’s guitar playing style have been inspirational to him.
He added that Monger’s songwriting, as well “creative branding and visuals he creates for promotion” also have made an impact on him.
“His song ‘Sleepless’ has become one of my favorites to cover in the last few years… I’ll likely share my version of it on Tuesday!”
By “Tuesday,” Pride is referring to his show as part of Wyoming’s weekly concert series, which is at 7 p.m. July 19 at Lamar Park. Admission is free.
The Tuesday night series continues through Aug. 2. See the list of shows below. All will be recorded and aired on WKTV.
A mellow approach
A 2014 graduate of Okemo High School, just east of Lansing, Pride said he’s looking forward to showcasing his original music.
Monte Pride is a folk singer-songwriter and finger-style guitarist from Lansing. (Supplied)
“I really enjoy having the opportunity to present original music, alongside my take on covers that work with my sound,” he said in an email to WKTV Journal.
“Over the years, I’ve leaned into my mellow approach to performance and song interpretation, always hoping to give folks something soothing that might help heal. I’ve also been expanding my sound into more ambient territory, incorporating it here and there to complement and serve the songs.”
Pride first dabbled into music when he played “Criminals” by The Tallest Man on Earth at his high school talent show, then ”began performing locally after that, having gained confidence in my voice and a taste for sharing music with people.”
He kept playing while attending Michigan State University, releasing two EPs in 2014 and 2015, and finally his first full length album in 2016.
“After college I began traveling more and performing in cities throughout Michigan and the Midwest, releasing my latest album ‘Even in Absence’ in 2020,” he said.
“The pandemic forced me into a much needed hiatus, but I returned to performing with a new appreciation for all of it in Summer 2021.”
Happy to be performing
Those who attend his show on Tuesday can expect “a mellow, soothing evening of fingerstyle guitar and folk songs.”
“I’ll be sharing a handful of original songs along with ‘60s, ‘70s and contemporary folk covers,” he added.
Most of all, he’s just excited to perform outdoors.
“I love being able to feel the energy of the environment and crowd. It’s always special to hear birds, other wildlife, and even street noise when performing,” he said.
“It always feels like collaboration. Last Summer at an outdoor show I was playing one of my tunes called ‘Michigan’s Song.’ There’s a line that says, ‘I heard a robin’s call yesterday in the morning…’ As I was singing it, a robin flew over and sang with me.”
Pride’s “Even in Absence” was released mid-pandemic in August of 2020, which he said “presents healing songs to remind that experience, relationships, lives, their love and light persist, ‘Even In Absence.’
August 2 – Grupo Latin – Latin Soul (13 piece band)
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Wyoming Potter’s House Christian’s Lezawe Osterink (left) was a state champion in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs at last spring’s Division 4 track and field finals, and was a member of the winning 3,200-meter relay with teammates Ian Palacios, Jackson Rodriguez and Logan Swiney. Osterink also won the D-4 boys cross country individual title last fall. The boys team placed third at the track and field finals and 12th in cross country. (Courtesy of MHSAA)
Participation in Michigan High School Athletic Association sports rebounded tremendously during the 2021-22 school year, despite a slight decline in enrollment among the MHSAA’s 750-member high schools.
Big decline during COVID-19
The onset of COVID-19 during the spring of 2020 was followed by a significant decline in participation in sports during 2020-21. However, participation for the most recent school year concluding last spring saw an increase of 6.6 percent from 2020-21 to a total of 260,542 participants across the 28 sports for which the MHSAA sponsors postseason tournaments – even as statewide enrollment fell nearly 1 percent to 440,728 students this past school year.
Girls participation increased 6.8 percent to 109,128 athletes, while boys participation was up 6.5 percent at 151,414. The overall MHSAA participation totals count students once for each sport in which they participate, meaning students who are multiple-sport athletes are counted more than once.
“We’re excited to see participation beginning to rebound, and in a big way in a number of sports,” said Geoff Kimmerly, MHSAA communications director. “Something reaffirmed during the months of COVID-19 shutdowns and delays was the value of sports in our school communities, and we expect those participation numbers to continue to rise as more families feel comfortable and we continue to learn more and more about best practices for living and competing while the coronavirus remains with us.
“Something else to consider is how our participation has begun to bounce back even as enrollment in our member schools has continued to decline slightly. Michigan generally ranks higher in participation nationally than for student-aged population, and while we may not be at our pre-COVID levels yet, we do anticipate our numbers to keep growing during 2022-23.”
The Forest Hills Northern girls tennis team won the Division 2 state championship last spring. (Courtesy of MHSAA)
Track and field, boys skiing lead way
A total of 23 sports saw increases in participation during 2021-22 compared to 2020-21. Ten sports saw double-digit percentage increases, led by boys track & field (27.2 percent to 22,120 participants), girls track and field (22.4 percent to 15,594 participants), and boys skiing (22.4 percent to 1,001 participants).
Wrestling (17.1 percent) and boys bowling (16.2 percent) also saw double-digit increases, along with girls tennis (11.4 tennis), girls bowling (11.2 percent), girls competitive cheer (10.6 percent), boys golf (10.5 percent) and girls lacrosse (10 percent).
Girls boost wrestling numbers
Wrestling’s major boost came in part because of a nearly 300-percent increase in girls participants with 620 taking the mat for the first season of the MHSAA offering a girls championship division at its Individual Wrestling Finals.
Also enjoying increases in participation during 2021-22 from the previous year were girls golf (8.1 percent), girls skiing (7.6 percent), boys basketball (6.4 percent), girls soccer (6.3 percent), boys swimming and diving (6.1 percent), boys lacrosse (5.8 percent), softball (3.6 percent), girls basketball (3.1 percent), baseball (3 percent), boys tennis (2.8 percent), football (2.4 percent), girls volleyball (2 percent) and girls swimming and diving (1.2 percent).
Decreased participation
Five sports saw decreased participation in 2021-22, including boys soccer (0.21 percent with 28 fewer participants), girls cross country (1.4 percent), boys ice hockey (1.2 percent), boys cross country (3.9 percent) and girls gymnastics (4.6 percent).
Football highest participation
Football, with a combined 33,284 participants over the 11- and 8-player formats, remained the most-played sport during the 2021-22 school year. Boys track and field (22,120) and boys basketball (20,017) were next for total participants, followed by girls volleyball (18,798), the most popular girls sport, baseball (16,528) and girls track and field (15,594).
Golf and skiing enjoy high participation
While the majority of sports are still building back to their pre-COVID participation totals, golf and skiing posted some of their highest totals in some time. Boys golf (6,829) had its most participants since 2012-13, and girls golf (3,875) its highest total since 2003-04. The boys skiing total (1,001) was its highest since 2002-03, and the girls skiing total this past season (837) was the highest for that sport since 1998-99.
The participation figures are gathered annually from MHSAA member schools to submit to the National Federation of State High School Associations for compiling of its national participation survey. Results of Michigan surveys from the 2000-01 school year to present may be viewed on the MHSAA Website
This Friday, the West Michigan Whitecaps compete as Las Calaveras. (Supplied)
By John D. Gonzalez WKTV Contributing Writer
It’s that time of year when everything is happening.
In fact, it might be too much.
I’ll be at the West Michigan Whitecaps game on Friday as part of LMCU Night and the Whitecaps’ Copa de la Diversion series when they compete as Las Calaveras (ticket info at milb.com/west-michigan).
But on the same night I have two other events I would love to attend, and both of them are in my Top 5 list of things to do, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.
Here we go!
Gonzo’s Top 5
Kaufman Golf Course will be hosting a few tournaments this summer. (Supplied)
5. Kent County Amateur Golf Championship
Who loves to golf? And to compete? The beautiful Kaufman Golf Course in Wyoming will host a few tournaments this summer, including the Kent County Amateur Golf Championships July 16-17 (a few spots may still be open) and a 3-man scramble next weekend (July 23). You can register at 616golf.com. Registration is also available for the Kent County Senior Amateur (55+) at Kaufman on July 30-31. More info on West Michigan Golf Association events at golfregistrationnetwork.com.
The Mid-Life Crisis takes their final bow this weekend. (Supplied)
4. Mid-Life Crisis Band, Brews at the Bridge
It’s hard to believe, but it seems like yesterday that this popular cover band was jamming at private parties, charity events and even headlining their own shows. They all had day jobs as professionals, but they loved to hang out and jam on the weekends. The Mid-Life Crisis band officially calls it quits after 20 years with one last show, which is at Brews at the Bridge from 6-9 p.m. Friday (July 15) at Leonard Field, 7490 Thornapple River Dr. SE, in Ada. They invite all those who have been a part of their lives to come out for one last show. I know I have enjoyed writing stories and becoming friends with them over the years. “In the end, it’s all about the music and friendship, and it all kind of makes sense,” said Steve Bloom, who will join the group on percussion. Indeed, it is. Have a great retirement. More details on the Facebook Event Page. Leonard Field is next to the Ada Covered Bridge.
The Verve Pipe performs Friday at the Listening Lawn at Studio Park Piazza. (Supplied)
And, speaking of a local favorite, The Verve Pipe returns for a show Friday (July 15) at the Listening Lawn at Studio Park Piazza in downtown Grand Rapids. More info at listeningroomgr.com.
Tim Allen is at DeVos Performance Hall Saturday, July 16. (Supplied)
2. Comedy Night
And it’s a big weekend for comedy, too!
Stand up comedian Kevin Hart is on his Reality Check Tour, which makes a stop Saturday (July 16) at Van Andel Arena. Go to vanandelarena.com for ticket availability.
And the voice of Pure Michigan, Tim Allen,performs two shows at5 and 8 p.m. Saturday (July 16) at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids. These shows were originally scheduled for 2020. Go to devosperformancehall.com for ticket availability.
Circl Theatre presents “The Music Man” for the next three weekends. (Supplied)
1. The Music Man at Circle Theatre
The six-time, Tony Award-winning musical returns for a three-week run thanks to Circle Theatre. This family-friendly comedy is a classic! Who doesn’t love watching the drama, and comedy, unfold as fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill cons the folks of River City, Iowa into organizing a local band. Just as everything is going according to plan, life happens, and Hill falls for Marian, the local librarian. It’s a great show. Performances are July 14-16, 20-24 and 27-30 at the Performing Arts Center at Aquinas College. My lovely wife Pam and I hope to see the show because our nieces, Christina and Josie Gonzalez, are in this current production. Yes, we’re so proud of them! See you at the show. Ticket info at circletheatre.org/production/the-music-man/.
A couple more events taking place this weekend:
The Upheavel Festival, (featuring Breaking Benjamin, Disturbed and many others), isJuly 15-16 at Belknap Park in Grand Rapids. More info at facebook.com/UpheavalFestival.
And the 2022 BBQ Rib Cook-Off is July 16 in downtown Wayland. More info at downtownwayland.com.
That’s it for now.
As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Have a great, safe weekend.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
Pinery Park will be the place to be this Saturday as there will be several activities including the city’s second summer market, the Chalk the Park event, and an opportunity to engage in the city’s branding project.
The city’s second summer market is scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pinery Park, 2301 DeHoop Ave. SW.
“The first event went really well,” said Brianna Peña, communications specialist for the City of Wyoming. “At this event we will be having yard games, live music, engagement opportunities with our branding team and then the Chalk the Park will be going on as well.
“It will be just a great time for family and community to come out.”
The City of Wyoming is planning four summer markets this year, one in each month from June through September. At each of the markets there will be food trucks and artisan vendors offering an array of items such as handmade clothing, jewelry, keychains, and art.
The Saturday’s market has been coupled with an opportunity to meet with the city’s branding team, CivicBrand. For the past couple of months, CivicBrand has been meeting with residents, business leaders, and city officials to develop a community-wide brand that supports and elevates all city organizations, entities, businesses and residents.
“This is an opportunity for residents to share what they like to see in the city, what their thoughts are about the city, and how they see the city in the future,” Peña said.
While first there is a visual component, the branding project goes beyond just a logo design. Equally important is brand messaging, economic development strategies, how residents experience the brand in the environment and more. The goal is to capture the true identity that exists in the City of Wyoming and develop a brand platform and tools to help tell that story.
As a result, the key component in this process is engagement. The CivicBrand team has spent this week meeting with area residents and is cultivating its activities at the Summer Market to connect with residents, visitors and others to discuss such questions as:
What does Wyoming have to offer visitors?
What are the issues facing Wyoming in the next few years?
How do residents feel about living there?
What three words would you use to describe Wyoming?
Residents also can engage in the branding process at wearewyomingmi.com. At the site, community members may share thoughts through an online survey and/or recording a video responding to three questions.
Chalk the Walk
In addition to the market, from Friday through Sunday will be the Chalk the Park event at Pinery Park. Families and individuals are encouraged to come out and create masterpieces one the park walkways.
For those who sign up, supplies will be provided. To sign up, click here.
Future events
Additionally, the city will be hosting two more Summer Markets. Those markets are:
Aug 19, 3-7 p.m., 28 West Parking lot, 1345 28 West Place, (near the former Lindo restaurant)
Sept. 16, 3-7 p.m., Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW
Kalene McElveen opened Tasteful Vegan Frozen Desserts, 2265 Porter St. SW, on Memorial Day. (Supplied)
Kalene McElveen has put a new twist on the neighborhood ice cream shop concept.
Tastefull Vegan Frozen Desserts, 2265 Porter St. SW in Wyoming, opened Memorial Day weekend at a site that has long served sweet treats to neighbors in the summertime. Most recently, it was home to Debbie’s Twist and Shake.
But at McElveen’s new shop, the products are all vegan and “Top 8 Free,” meaning there are no allergens like dairy, eggs, gluten, soy, tree nuts, or peanuts in her products. She also steers clear of refined sugars in her treats, opting for natural sweeteners instead. A binder on site lists all the ingredients in each item on the menu.
Families from far and near have been coming to the shop to give their kids with food allergies a true ice cream shop experience.
“The need is greater than I had anticipated,” McElveen said. “People from Muskegon, Holland, and all across the lakeshore are traveling to come to this shop. For parents who have children who aren’t able to do ice cream shops because of cross-contamination issues, this is the very first time their kids can get anything they want off the menu, and everyone can eat together.”
A place to build her business
Although the ice cream shop is new, McElveen has been in business since 2020 creating her Tastefull Vegan desserts. She started out selling freeze pops at the Fulton Street Farmers Market in Grand Rapids. After attending a Black Entrepreneurs Expo at Woodland Mall, she gained additional outlets to sell her products, including Harvest Health Food stores, the Bridge Street Market and Forest Hills Foods.
McElveen was creating her desserts out of a kitchen at the Downtown Market when she saw that the ice cream shop in her neighborhood was for sale.
“I thought it would be nice to be able to make my product right around the corner from our house. Knowing I could also own an ice cream shop in the neighborhood where I live was a double bonus,” she said.
Since the location had always been home to a typical dairy ice cream shop, she worried that neighbors wouldn’t be interested in vegan offerings. But that hasn’t been the case.
A historic spot
According to information provided by the Wyoming History Room, the tradition of serving ice cream from the 2265 Porter St. SW site goes back 50 years.
The Viking Cone Shop was at the Porter location from 1972-1974. (Wyoming Historical Room)
Although it hasn’t continuously served ice cream since then, the bulk of the last 50 years have been devoted to desserts of one kind or another.
The Viking Cone Shop operated at the site from 1972 to 1974, after which the building was vacant until 1976, when Jake’s Donuts moved in.
The building was again vacant in the late 1970s until the Duthler Insurance Company moved in and stayed until the mid 1980s. In 1986, Porter Junction Ice Cream operated there, and in 1990 it became Bill’s Kreamy Cone. In 2008, Porter Street Ice Cream was in operation at the site. Before being purchased recently by Kalene McElveen for her Tastefull Vegan Frozen Desserts shop, Debbie’s Twist and Shake was in the building.
The current building went up in 1928. The first business in it was Wilson & Chalmers real estate and if you on the north side of the building, you can see the original marker for the 1928 business.
Prior to that, a wooden structure had stood at the site since 1911, serving as both an office and an interurban railroad stop. The building once faced the interurban tracks on the north, but was spun around to face west in 1922.
Response has been positive
The shop is open three evenings a week – Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 3 to 9 p.m. – and in one month, she went through a box of 800 of the spoons she uses for flurries, one of the most popular items on the menu.
Kalene McElveen opened Tasteful Vegan Frozen Desserts, 2265 Porter St. SW, on Memorial Day. (Supplied)
Although people have been asking her to open up every day, she said she’s still learning every weekend, and wants to make sure she can adequately provide enough products before taking that step.
“I don’t want to overcommit myself and underdeliver,” she said.
McElveen said she and her family moved to Wyoming in 2013, and the shop she now owns is the one she took her kids to when they first moved to the neighborhood.
“It’s been kind of nice to be a part of keeping it going,” she said.
Being part of the community
McElveen serves on Wyoming’s Community Development Committee, and she’s proud to bring a business to the city that is the first of its kind in Michigan – a minority woman-owned vegan, allergy-free ice cream shop.
“I enjoy helping make decisions about different events and different organizations that help the city of Wyoming, and now I feel like I’m one of them. And that’s a good feeling,” she said.
West Nile virus has been detected in a recent mosquito trapping by the Kent County Health Department. (CDC.gov)
The recent news that West Nile virus has been detected in Kent County reminds everyone the importance of preventing mosquito bites.
The Kent county Health Departments (KCHD) Mosquito Surveillance Team has detected West Nile virus in mosquitos. This part of the ongoing tracking that takes place through the country every summer. The discovery comes after testing pools of mosquitoes that were trapped by KCHD in the 49519 zip code, which is in Wyoming.
“The discovery is important because it lets us know that this season’s mosquitoes are now carrying the virus and it could spread to humans,” said KCHD Public Health Epidemiologist Paul Bellamy. “It is important for people to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites as much as possible.”
The Mosquito Surveillance Team traps large amounts of mosquitoes in various locations in Kent County. The team then collects the pools of mosquitoes and begins the process of testing the insects for presence of West Nile virus. The information the team gathers is shared with the municipalities where West Nile virus is found. Those agencies can then use that information to inform that mosquito mitigation strategies.
Tips for keeping safe
There is no vaccine or cure for West Nile virus so the best treatment is prevention. KCHD recommends the following measures:
Cover exposed skin when able
Wear a mosquito repellant that contains 10 to 35 percent DEET (read and follow product directions)
Wear light colored clothing and stay indoors
Remove or refresh water in bird baths, children’s wading pools, water bowls for your pets, and empty other small containers that can collect water in your yard.
Repair missing, damaged or improperly installed screens.
Only about 20 percent of the people infected with West Nile virus notice symptoms that may include headache, body aches, joint pains, and fatigue. Most people with West Nile virus completely recover, but fatigue may linger. About one in 150 people infected develop severe illness that can affect the central nervous system. Recovery may take several months. Some damage to the central nervous systems can be permanent. In race instances, the disease can lead to death.
According to a 20 year review of the West Niles virus (it was discovered in the United States in 1999), a total of 51,702 cases of WNV have been reported to Center for Disease Control’s ArboNET, including 25,227 (48.8%) WNND and 2,376 (4.6%) deaths.
Zika Virus
The mosquito species that carry the Zika virus are not currently present in our area. However, the Zika virus is still a worldwide concern and can be contacted through out-of-state travel.
Kent District Library is accepting submissions for the KDL Coaster Art Contest with the theme “Library Love.” Entries are accepted at kdl.org/coaster-art through August 8. Artists 18 and older are encouraged to submit their original artwork online; one entry per person.
Five winners will be selected by a panel of judges within KDL’s Marketing & Communications Department. Each of the winning designs will be featured on 2,500 coasters that will be distributed to the KDaLe brewery partners. Coasters will be available at the breweries in September during Library Card Sign-Up Month.
“West Michigan has an almost embarrassing amount of artistic talent,” said Josh Mosey, KDL’s digital marketing strategist and creator of the coaster art contest. “Many of our libraries have art walls dedicated to display local artists. We wanted to tap into that spirit and showcase some artists who love the library like we do.”
A fun partnership
Justin Buiter, co-founder of Railtown Brewing Co., added, “We’ve enjoyed a great working history with KDL. Their group continues to come up with fun and innovative ways to highlight the amazing services the library has to offer. The Coaster Art Contest is going to be a wonderful complement to the already successful KDaLe program. We’re excited to see what we expect to be some awesome entries!”
KDaLe is a library series that encourages adults to interact with local brewers and learn about the industry while tasting some delicious beverages. KDaLe also includes a homebrew competition.
Just a few rules
Submissions must be original and can not copy someone’s else idea.
Entries should not contain copyrighted material.
Submissions must not contain material that is threatening, harassing or discriminatory and must not promote illegal activities.
All work must be submitted digitally.
KDL is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen work.
Judging will be based on several criteria such as creativity and originality of the theme, quality of artist composition and overall design based on the theme, overall impression of the art, color and image quality, and quality and completeness of written submission materials.
Winners will be noticed via email or phone within five days after selection.
Par-llo Connection performs on Thursday in Kentwood. (Supplied)
After a brief break for the Fourth of July holiday, the Kentwood Summer Concert Series is back with Par-llo Connection show band. A band with a message.
PAR-LLO stands for “Peace All Races – Live Love Others.”
“Who would have thought 40 years later it’s what the world needs today,” said original drummer Phil “Tapp” Morrow, in an email to WKTV Journal. “We always wanted our name to mean something.”
It also means “fun”!
The group performs at 7 p.m. Thursday (July 14) on the lawn behind City Hall. Admission is free.
Morrow said the band performed from 1979 -87 in the heyday of the local music scene and opened for local band Switch, which featured Bobby and Tommy DeBarge of the famous DeBarge family in Grand Rapids, as well as the Bar-Kays at the Civic Auditorium. Par-llo even opened twice for Zapp at the DeVos Performance Hall, Morrow said.
“(We) got back together in 2017 not knowing what direction we were headed, more less just to catch up. Although we stayed in touch with each other,” Morrow said.
Influenced by Earth Wind Fire, Cameo, Prince, Kool & the Gang, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Gap Band, Commodores, and so many others, the group might even surprise with a little Bruno Mars or Mary J. Blige.
They love to entertain.
The band performed from 1979-87 and reformed in 2017. (Supplied)
“(We) give a show,” said Morrow, which means several sets, changed outfits for each set, a fog machines, flash boxes, etc.
They want to “create a one of a kind experience,” Morrow said.
What to expect
The band performed from 1979-87 and reformed in 2017. (Supplied)
Although the Kentwood show is an outdoor concert, which is a little different than a nightclub, he said “people can expect energized ‘Old School’ with a new twist R&B Funk Band.”
“Playing outside is like being at a free, old-school style concert,” he said. “Outside creates natural energy to share your gift.
“The reason I love playing in this band, because we are family on and off the stage, all self-taught. We just have fun because we know we are blessed to be able to get back together.”
The current band line up includes:
Phil Morrow (Tapp) Drummer, Vocals, Original Member
Leonard Burney (Toot) Bass, Vocals, Original member
Anthony Jones (Ant) Guitar, Vocals, Original Member
Tone Mosley (Tone) Lead Vocals, trumpet, trombone, Original Member
Dana Mosley (Dane) Keyboards, vocals Original Member
Isaac Rogers (Ike) Sax, Vocals Original Member
Chuck Johnson (Chuck) Keyboards, Guitar
Tina Flowers (Tina Marie) Lead vocal
Concerts take place from 7-8:30 p.m. on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. Admission is free. A variety of food trucks also will be on hand.
Kentwood summer concert info
Parking for shows will be limited at both City Hall and the Library, according to the city’s website. Additional parking is available at the Kentwood Justice Center (4740 Walma SE), Kentwood Public Works (5068 Breton SE), Kentwood Baptist Church (2875 52nd St), and there is street parking in nearby neighborhoods.
The Kentwood Farmers Market takes place next door from 4:30-7 p.m. in the parking lot behind City Hall.
The IRS restricts specific investment options for an IRA.
These restrictions do not allow investment in collectibles, antiques, and other assets. Here is a list: If an IRA invests in collectibles, the amount invested is considered distributed in the year invested. The account owner may have to pay a 10% additional tax on early distributions.
Learn what a prohibited investment in an IRA is important in retirement planning. (pxhere.com)
Here are some examples of prohibited assets held in an IRA: • Artwork • Rugs and other home furnishings • Antiques • Precious metals, some exceptions for gold bullion • Gems, diamonds, other precious stones • Stamps and coins as collections • Alcoholic beverages • Certain other tangible personal property based on the exact nature of the asset • A partnership or company that owns sells or buys these items could be a named asset within an IRA. • Insurance products are also not allowed except for annuities.
Assets that are allowed to be held in an IRA include: • Stocks • Bonds • Mutual funds • Real Estate Investment Trusts • Brokerage accounts • Banks products such as CDs and savings account • Insurance company annuities
If your IRA is engaged in any prohibitive practice, you may be exposed to being taxed as a distribution and also be liable for a 10% penalty.
Remember that an IRA is just a tax-deferred receptacle for invested assets. Almost any category of investment can be placed there, and different IRA custodians make their money by selling and managing these assets. If you open one at a bank, you’ll be able to invest in CDs or savings accounts. If you open it at an insurance company annuity could be a viable option. If you select to open an IRA at a brokerage and mutual fund company, you’ll be able to invest in mutual funds, stocks, bonds as well as other options.
Always make sure your IRA matches up with your goals, and if you do not fully understand the investment options available to you, get a second opinion. Owning an IRA can be a massive advantage to you in later years, make certain your IRA is designed for your specific period and goals.
Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463 or click this link: Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.comDave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management
The Boucher family welcomes Janne from Germany to West Michigan. (Supplied/iE-USA)
Leaving home for an extended period of time is never easy. Yet a growing number of students from around the world are making West Michigan their home away from home.
More than 100 families across the Greater Grand Rapids area have welcomed an exchange student through International Experience (ie-USA), an organization dedicated to fostering cross-cultural interactions.
From iE-USA coordinator Sarah Boucher’s perspective, the chance to introduce someone from another country to their home can be an eye-opening opportunity. It often nudges people outside of their comfort zone and encourages them to check out their own backyard with a renewed sense of appreciation.
“Seeing the world through another lens and being a ‘hometown tourist’ can be amazing,” Boucher says.
A little bit about the process
Participants, who range between 14 to 18 years of age, take an English proficiency exam before entering the iE-USA program. Once accepted, they travel to the U.S. for five or 10 months.
Although participants undergo the same rigorous application process, they come from highly diverse cultural backgrounds. Countries of origin span Asia, Europe, and South America.
What participants share is a distinct sense of curiosity, adventure, and a desire to try something new. Visiting the U.S. brings the chance to learn about a different way of doing homelife, school, and community.
A year of “firsts”
“What’s amazing is experiencing so many ‘firsts’ with exchange students,” Boucher says. “It’s the first time having a bonfire, eating s’mores, owning clothing that has the logo of the school on it, attending a formal dance at school, going fishing, and so many more!”
Many events create fun selfie opportunities. (Supplied/iE-USA)
Exchange students are not the only ones to encounter “firsts.” Hosts often experience wanderlust and end up traveling themselves.
The Boucher family was no exception. After hosting a student named Arturo in 2017, they visited Arturo’s family in Spain the following year.
Many hosts establish ties with students and their families that last long after the end of formal requirements. During the summer of 2022, the Bouchers invited their former exchange students Janne and Johanna from Germany back for a visit. Their house is now filled with gifts from former students, a favorite being a handcrafted and painted clay globe.
The learning curve
The adjustment for both exchange students and host families involves a learning curve. In many cases, the first night after the student’s arrival at the airport can be filled with nervous energy, according to longtime host Chris Ford.
“Usually, there’s culture shock involved and a lot of jet lag,” Ford says. “Students are so excited to come that they stay up all night.”
Seeing this transition still delights Ford, who has been a host for the last eight years. Her fourteen students traveled from locations ranging from Finland to South Korea.
Mundane aspects of American life can become fodder for selfies and videos on homemade YouTube channels. Streets filled with yellow school buses, trucks, and motorcycles burst with thunderous noise, and local grocery stores look massive.
“Many students shop at markets everyday, and they are floored by the size of Meijer,” Ford says. “There’s a whole aisle dedicated to cereal. That is shocking.”
Experiencing American schools
Participating in school activities is a big part of the exchange year experience. (Supplied/iE-USA)
The educational aspect of the exchange visit brings its own surprises. Completing homework assignments and attending five or six classes instead of a single subject in a school day challenges some European students.
“Our education system is definitely different than the traditional European system,” Ford says. “Americans want to see students succeed. In the European system, there is a lot more pressure on the students, and European kids are expected to be smart, dedicated, and focused.”
Many students use the trip to practice their English skills, often with humorous results. One of Ford’s students mixed up the word “vibe” with “wipes.”
Exploring the Great Lakes state
One of Ford’s favorite parts of being a host comes from visiting the Great Lakes with her students. Beyond the fun evenings spent playing board games and cooking delicious meals, Ford loves sharing a natural beauty that will become a lifelong memory.
“I always take them to see Lake Michigan,” Ford says. “It’s like a large ocean. They see it in geography, but it’s a whole different thing for them to see it and put their feet in it. It’s so fun to see them check out a lighthouse and climb up a dune.”
The process to host an exchange student begins with filling out an online form, completing a background check, and waiting to be matched up. The application process is simple and straightforward, and Ford’s advice to new hosts is to simply dive in and not be afraid to help learn along the way.
“How could you not want them to be here?” Ford says. “It’s life changing.”
About 100 students are currently available through iE-USA. More information can be found at ie-usa.org.
This summer John Ball Zoo has welcomed two new temporary residents: two-year-old Iluka and four-year-old Noorundi.
The half-brothers, who are koalas, are part of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Koala Conservation and Education Loan Program. For more than 30 years the conservation program has maintained the largest koala colony and most successful breeding program outside of Australia.
The goal of the program is to generate funding to support research and conservation efforts such as habitat mapping and studying koala biology. The organization works closely with the Australian government to ensure the protection of koalas and their habitat so they can thrive for generations to come.
Meeting the brothers
Earlier this year Jamie Racalla, a supervising zookeeper at John Ball Zoo, traveled to California to train at the San Diego Zoo. There she learned how to properly care for the koalas before their arrival.
“A lot of people focus on how much they sleep, which is a huge part of their day, but when they are awake, they are full of personality,” Racalla said.
Noorundi is the older of the two. He is described as a calm gentleman while his half-brother Iluka is full of spunk and energetic. The best way to tell them apart is by their fur. Noorundi has a brownish tint to his fur while Iluka does not.
Fun facts about the koalas
They are not bears. Koalas are classified as marsupials. Marsupials are mammals that are born not completely developed and typically carried in a pouch until developed.
The best time to see the koalas are feeding times which are 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
They call Australia home. Koalas are found in Southeastern and Eastern Australia.
Marsupials can be found in the United States. While the majority of marsupials live in Australia, New Guinea, and the surrounding islands, the United States does have one: the possum.
Eucalyptus leaves are their food of choice. Eucalyptus leaves are poisonous if eaten, however koalas digestive system is able to breakdown the food. To do so they sleep a lot.
Taking an 18-hour power nap. Koalas are known to sleep up to 20 hours a day due to their low energy and the amount of energy it takes to digest the eucalyptus leaves.
Koalas are an endangered species
Because the creature’s nest in the eucalyptus trees of their native bush lands and forests, their habitat has shrunk over time because of tree-clearing for agricultural and urban development.
In February 2022 koalas were declared an endangered species in parts of Eastern Australia. Their population has been severely impacted by floods, drought, and widespread bushfires. Aside from natural causes, human development is the primary cause threatening the iconic marsupials.
“It’s a lot easier to care about something you’ve connected with than something you hear about happening around the world,” Racalla said.
According to the World Wildlife Fund in Australia, almost 60,000 koalas were killed or impacted by severe wildfires from 2019 to 2020. Because these animals are endangered, John Ball Zoo is one of ten places Koalas can be viewed in North America.
Where to find Iluka and Noorundi and when to visit
Iluka and Noorundi’s temporary habitat is across from the Frogs and Friends exhibit. Koalas are not social animals and generally only tolerate each other when breeding. For this reason, their shared exhibit is separated by a metal fence.
The brothers are fed twice a day, once around 11 a.m. and again at 3 p.m. Also, according to staff, the koalas are active between 1 and 3 a.m. and can be viewed on the koala cam.
Iluka and Noorundi will be at the John Ball Zoo through Labor Day, Sept. 5. John Ball Zoo is located at 1300 Fulton St W. Hours are 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information visit https://www.jbzoo.org/.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
A total of 17 women participated in this year’s Miss Metro Cruise preliminaries. (WKTV)
Miss Annie Wilde had an outfit picked out for the Miss Metro Cruise preliminary competition, but as fate would have it, she ended up having to demonstrate one of the key traits of being a pinup: how to make lemonade out of lemons.
“I had two outfits picked out and well, I spilled coffee on my first outfit this morning,” said Miss Annie Wilde (Olivia Anne McCoy). “So I went with my second choice which I love because it is a romper and I love rompers because they are so cute and it has polka dots. I feel the whole outfit expresses my fun personality.”
In the back, the other contestants shouted and clapped in support as McCoy finished her question about how she selected her outfit for the preliminary event. About 17 women came out to the Wyoming Moose Lodge this past Saturday (July 9) to participate in the Miss Metro Cruise preliminaries, which narrowed the field down to the top 10 who advanced to the finals. Those finals will take place on the Metro Cruise main stage at Rogers Plaza Aug. 27.
This year’s top 10
Each contestant had the opportunity to show off her individual style by greeting the crowd and then answered a selected question presented by host Kent County 13th District Commissioner Monica Sparks. The judges included 2021 Miss Metro Cruise Dr. Jules Kelvin (Juliette Brown). The panel of three scored the contestants on a number of factors such as pose, interaction with the audience, and positivity.
“I participate in Miss Metro Cruise because it is a wonderful platform to spread messages of encouragement and strength for women and strength for education as well,” said Aurora Re’Belle (Erin Wiseman-Parkin). “Education and beauty can go hand-and-hand and we love that.”
Aurora Re’Belle is one of the finalists who will be at the Metro Cruise. The other contestants include BeBe Von Schweetz (Molly Sheehan), Miss Pusskatt (Cassie Truskowski), Teena Marée (Krystina McNamara), Gigi Martini (Sarah Gillman), Victoria Jean (Cathy Swanson), Fiona DeVille (Erin Sarber), Bunny Hopps Von Schweetz (Amy Holland), and Ms. Adella Mae (Alisha Metz).
Being part of the sisterhood
“This is actually my first time,” said Bunny Hopps Von Schweetz (Amy Holland). “I do this because of my best friend Molly, BeBe Von Schweetz. She has been having a great time and really enjoying the community and the sisterhood, so I thought I would give it a try because why not find some wonderful people and spend some great time with them.”
BeBe Von Schweetz (Molly Sheehan) said she enjoys being a part of a sisterhood that is so supportive towards each other and in people in general.
“We are all in this together. If are a little nicer to each other, give a little more smiles with a little bit of that sass and we will all do a little better,” BeBe Von Schweetz said.
While she did not make the top ten, Miss Annie Wilde found lots of encouragement after the competition. Other contestants, including Miss Metro Cruise 2021 Dr. Jules Kelvin, were there to offer tips and support, which Miss Annie Wilde said she appreciated. She also plans to return for next year’s competition.
“I did Miss Metro Cruise because I love the Grand Rapids area,” she said. “I have lived here most of my life. So coming back to the city and really being able to dive into something I love has really been a great opportunity for me.”
The Kent County Health Department (KCHD) was notified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services that the first probable case of Monkeypox was identified in Kent County.
The patient is currently isolating and does not pose a risk to the public.The KCHD is identifying and monitoring any close contacts for symptoms and no additional cases have been identified at this time. To protect patient privacy, no further case details will be provided.
Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious disease that has an incubation time of one to two weeks after exposure. Symptoms of monkeypox include headache, fever, muscle aches, and exhaustion followed by a rash and lesions often beginning on the face one to three days after the onset of illness. The illness typically lasts two to four weeks. The virus is spread from person-to-person by direct contact with bodily fluids or monkeypox lesions. Less common routes of transmission include respiratory droplets from prolonged face-to-face contact or contact with contaminated materials such as clothing or bedding. The KCHD recommends anyone experiencing monkeypox symptoms to contact their healthcare provider.
There are no treatments specifically for MPV infections. However, MPV and smallpox viruses are genetically similar, which means that antiviral drugs and vaccines developed to protect against smallpox may be used to prevent and treat MPV infections. Most people don’t need a monkeypox vaccine right now. However, if you have had contact with someone who has the disease you should contact your healthcare provider.
So far, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported 767 cases of Monkeypox. there have been three other cases, besides the one in Kent County reported in Michigan, two in Oakland County and one in Detroit.
Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research. Despite being named “monkeypox”, the source of the disease remains unknown. However, African rodents and non-human primates (like monkeys) may harbor the virus and infect people.
The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970. Since then, monkeypox has been reported in people in several other central and western African countries. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, nearly all monkeypox cases in people outside of Africa were linked to international travel to countries where the disease commonly occurs, or through imported animals.
On Tuesday, those interested in driving for Dean Transportation can meet representatives at the Radisson Hotel Grand Rapids Riverfront. (Supplied)
To meet the increased demand for safe, reliable and efficient school transportation services ahead of the upcoming school year, Dean Transportation is hosting a hiring event in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, July 12, to interview qualified applicants for school bus driver and school bus attendant positions supporting routes with Grand Rapids Public Schools and Kent Intermediate School District. The event will take place at Radisson Hotel Gran dRapids Reiverfront, 270 Ann St. NW.
“Dean Transportation is the perfect place for anyone looking for a fresh start with a great job opportunity where you can make a difference in our community,” said Victoria Hopkins-Speicher, hiring coordinator at Dean Transportation. “We’ll be holding on-the-spot interviews for qualified candidates to help safely transport students across Grand Rapids and Kent County, so please join us at Dean’s hiring event to learn more about rewarding jobs at our family-driven company.”
Attendees will learn about the culture of care, compassion and safety at Dean Transportation and its comprehensive benefits, paid training and flexible scheduling. For GRPS and Kent ISD positions, Dean is offering wages up to $21 per hour and a sign-on bonus up to $750 to qualified candidates.
For more information about the event or positions at Dean Transportation, visit deanjobs.com.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
Looking to provide housing for young professionals, the Wyoming City Council, in a split vote of 4-3, approved the rezoning of the northeast corner of 52nd Street and Byron Center Avenue to allow for multi-family housing.
American Kendall Properties is looking to put a mixed use of commercial and multi-family housing on 11.79 acres located near the corner of 52nd Street and Byron Center Avenue. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
American Kendall Properties asked for the properties at 5160 and 5190 Byron Center Ave. SW to be rezoned from B-1 Local, which allowed commercial use, to B-2 General, which would allow for commercial use with multi-family housing. Mixed use is only allowed in the city’s B-2 zoning and through a planned unit development (PUD).
The project, called The Retreat, would be on 11.79 acres. Developers have proposed 6,000 square feet of commercial retail space with 178 dwelling units. The units would be housed in 15 buildings which includes two floors of apartments above the commercial space. The site also would include a pool for its residents, an expansive green space, and 372 parking spaces. The development would need a special use permit for the multi-family units and the entire project will need to have a site review and approval.
City Council decision
“It is consistent with the Wyoming [re] imagine master plan, the land use plan, the housing needs assessment,” said Mayor Jack Poll. “We are in the midst of a housing shortage in Wyoming, as well as across the country. Studies have shown the city has additional needs for thousands of rental units at various price points.”
Poll said this included the need for high-end apartments in the panhandle as proposed for the northeast corner of 52nd Street and Byron Center and felt this was an opportunity for the city to provide that.
Mayor Pro Tem Sam Bolt, and councilmembers John Fitzgerald and Marissa Postler joined Poll in approving the rezoning, citing they felt that it met the land use and adapted [re] imagine master plan criteria.
Council members Kent Vanderwood, Sheldon DeKryger and Robert Postema were opposed to the rezoning, stating they did not believe it fit the adapted master plan, especially the definition of a neighborhood commercial center as stated in the plan.
“The master plan calls for this to be neighborhood commercial with surrounding multi-family so we are not getting what the master plan called for,” Postema said. “It does not call for multi-family on the corner with a little sliver of commercial inside one of the buildings.”
Neighbors not in favor
Several residents with homes close to the project attended the July 5 council meeting as well as two Planning Commission meetings to voice their objection. Their concerns were increased traffic, increased crime, the upcoming possible development of the Pines Golf Course (located next to the property), the density, and that the proposed zoning did not fit the city’s current [re] imagine master plan.
The corner of Byron Center and 52nd was rezoned to B-1 Local in 2002 and has sat vacant since. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
At its April meeting, the Wyoming Planning Commission voted, 5-4, to recommend denying the rezoning because of density concerns, not fitting the land use or master plan, the B-2 zoning was not a good fit for the area, and concerns over the type of businesses allowed under the B-2 zoning.
“I believe the planning commission got this right,” Vanderwood said. “I believe there is no overwhelming or compelling reason to rezone the property from B-1 to B-2.”
Factors for rezoning
However, staff recommended approval of the rezoning. Nicole Hofert, the city’s director of planning and economic development, said when reviewing a rezoning request, staff considers several factors. Those factors include consistency with the current adopted master plan, compatibility with existing and future land uses, capability of property to be served by public utilities, ability of property to be used as currently zoned, and appropriateness of all uses allowed within the proposed district at the property.
Hofert said the adopted 2021 Wyoming [re] Imagined plan identifies the parcels as future neighborhood commercial with the proposed use consistent with the future envisioned use.
Conditions on the property
Hofert said the property has stood vacant since 2002 when it was rezoned to B-1 which indicates the zoning could be impeding the potential development. Also, B-2 fits the overall area with the developer agreeing to conditions that would restrict what would be allowed on the site.
American Kendall Properties’ conditions for rezoning would restrict such businesses as automobile gasoline and service stations, adult businesses, new or used mobile home sales or service, excavation, equipment sales or service, machinery or farm implant sales and automobile, truck, motorcycle, trailer, recreation vehicle or boat showrooms.
The need for diverse housing
Through the master plan process, one of the stated goals was to provide equitable, diverse, and geographically dispersed housing.
The proposed site plan for the northeast corner of 52nd Street and Byron Center Avenue. (Supplied)
“That included not only the distribution of single family homes throughout our community but also including multi-family that we also refer to as missing middle housing, the duplexes, the triplexes, the quad-plexes,” Hofert said.
According to theImpediments to Fair House Choice and Housing Needs Assessment, there is a demand for 2,010 units among high income renters earning 80 percent of area median income, which would be more than $50,000. The master plan also states that this is a shift in development pattern that may require increased density and a more varied housing stock on existing vacant sites than what has been historically accommodated in the city. The site’s density would be 15 homes per acre with medium density at 13-15, Hofert said.
“We have often heard, and we have had The Right Place come here and talk about not only the need for more housing units in our community but that we need housing units that attract young and talented workers,” Hofert said. “This is in order to bring, for example technical workers, high skill workers, etc. These are types of individuals who may not be ready to buy a home yet but need somewhere to live.
“Oftentimes what we see is that when a person is moving out of an apartment they are moving into the larger community when it feels really welcoming to them.”
Lifestyle change among young professionals
Representatives from The Right Place also have discussed with the Planning Commission how employers are looking for communities offering a variety of available housing for their employees. Currently the City of Wyoming has a ratio of 39.3 percent of single family detached homes, 4.3 percent of multi-family homes, and 1.6 single-attached homes.
“You can’t attract the people that you want to your community and the businesses you want to your community if there is no place for them to [live],” said Tim Mroz, senior vice president of community development for The Right Place.
Mroz said the desire to have a single-family home also has decreased significantly over the past several years. In fact, according to a rent.com survey, 85 percent of millennials, 18- to 34-year-olds, are renting for several reasons including being more mobile, changing jobs, and settling down later in life.
“I will admit that there is enough gray in my hair and my beard that I am still part of the single-family home generation and from what I have seen in terms of housing demand and what I have seen in terms of community, I am going the way of the dodo bird,” he said.
“My younger colleagues don’t want a lawn, they don’t want an acre and a half. They want that closer sense of community where their families can grow up together.”
Addressing the concerns
Other concerns raised were traffic, which Hofert said through engineering studies it has been determined that Byron Center Avenue could sustain the additional traffic. If a grocery store, similar to the Family Fare on Burlingame Avenue, was constructed on the site, which is allowed under the current zoning, it could have up to an additional 370 vehicles per peak time. A residential development would have about 64.
“Commercial developments generate higher traffic volumes than residential developments,” she said.
Several residents raised concerns about increasing student numbers for the school. Mayor Jack Poll said he learned that at The Haven, another American Kendall Properties located at 52nd and Wilson, there were only six additional students added to the Grandville Public Schools.
Grandville Public Schools Superintendent Roger Bearup sent a letter in support of the development stating “This project is tentatively scheduled for the Fall of 2022. This timeline fits well with the construction and reconfiguration within Grandville Public Schools as our new middle school will open in the Fall of 2023, our old middle school will be renovated for our fifth and sixth graders and open in 2024, which will create space within the district buildings to address any potential growth from this project. We should have plenty of space to welcome new families to our excellent schools.”
Concerns were raised about crime, which Hofert said statistically, where there is more people, there is more crime and it is not related to the type of housing in the area.
The site still needs to go through review for the special permit and site plans. If the project is not under construction by Dec. 31, 2023, the properties will revert back to the B-1 zoning.
I’ve been enjoying the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City with fireworks, concerts and cherries, of course.
If you still want to make the trip up north, the festival continues with many activities like the cherry pie eating contest, and the big Cherry Royale Parade at 11:15 a.m. Saturday. The remaining concerts feature 1964 The Tribute on Thursday (July 7), ZZ Top on Friday (July 8) and Boyz II Men on Saturday (July 9). Learn more at cherryfestival.org.
What are you doing this weekend?
If you’re staying close to home, here is my Top 5 of things to do, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.
Here we go!
Gonzo’s Top 5
5. “Seven Brides For Seven Brothers,” Barn Theatre
Summer is a great time to take in a play. Whether it’s community theater or a Broadway touring musical, you can usually find something taking place in the region. One unique destination is the Barn Theatre School in Augusta, about 50 miles south and just east of Kalamazoo. In its 76th season, the school’s advanced theater training program promotes the concept that artists, performers, designers, technicians, stage managers, and everyone should have broadly based experiences through an apprentice program. And each summer they put on a variety of shows where the students produce every aspect of the experience. They are parking attendants, ushers and even the bartenders. Along with celebrity guest actors, the school has also featured future stars such as Jennifer Garner, Dana Delany, Lauren Graham and many more. My lovely wife Pam and I recently saw the first show of the season, “Seven Brides For Seven Brothers,” a musical based on the classic MGM 1954 film about settlers in 1850 Oregon. The show was great, but so was the whole experience of a show set in a barn. Get a pizza or drink before the show or stay after each performance for a special “Shed Bar Show” where the actors and guest actors come to entertain in the Rehearsal Bar. Advance reservations are encouraged for those productions. Performances of “Seven Brides For Seven Brothers” continue through Sunday (July 10). More details at barntheatreschool.org/events. Some of the other shows this season: “Cinderella,” “GroundHog Day,” “Rock of Ages,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Misery,” “Escanaba in da Moonlight” and “Doubt.”
4. LAUP Fiesta, Holland
Another great weekend destination is Holland for the annual LAUP Fiesta at the Holland Civic Center. It always features great food, car show, and Latino musical acts. There will be activities for children, a bar for adults and mercado (artisan market). It always ends with a big baile (dance). The party begins at noon. Check out the festival’s Facebook Event page for more information.
Food Truck Friday at Riverside Park
3. Food Truck Friday, Riverside Park
Have you been out to the popular “Food Truck Fridays” at Riverside Park this summer? Every week from 5-9 p.m. (through Sept. 2) you can expect anywhere from 12-17 food trucks. In its 6th season on the north side of Grand Rapids you can expect some of the area’s best-loved food trucks, as well as new ones, too. New this year is a Frequent Fridays Card that will offer you the chance to win prizes based on how many FTF you frequent. More details at https://www.facebook.com/GR8FoodTruckFridays/.
Wyoming’s Concerts in the Park return Tuesday, July 12. (WKTV)
2. Randy McAllister, Lamar Park
Blues and Soul artist Randy McAllister will headline the next Wyoming Concerts in the Park show, which takes place each week at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Lamar Park in Wyoming. Admission is free. The remaining shows include folk artist Monty Pride (July 19), country singer Bernadette Kathryn (July 26) and 13-piece Latin soul band Grupo Latin (Aug. 2) More info: Wyoming Concerts in the Park Facebook page. Can’t make it to the show? You can still enjoy the bands by watching WKTV-Channel 25 for the weekly airings at 5 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday. More info at wktv.org/concerts.
It’s another busy weekend in downtown Grand Rapids:
Death Cab for Cutie, the popular indie band from the early 2000s is back on the road and releasing a new album this fall. You can check them out Friday (July 8) at GLC Live at 20 Monroe Live in Grand Rapids. Ticket information at livenation.com.
The Doobie Brothers, the legendary band from the ‘70s and ‘80s, are on their 50th anniversary tour with Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons and John McFee on the road together for the first time in nearly 25 years. The band has sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide. The show is at 7:30 p.m.Sunday (July 10) at Van Andel Arena. Fans can expect to hear “Listen To The Music,” “Takin’ It To The Streets,” “Long Train Running,” “Black Water,” “What A Fool Believes,” “China Grove,” “Minute By Minute,” “It Keeps You Runnin’,” “Jesus Is Just Alright With Me” and many more. More details at vanandelarena.com.
That’s it for now.
As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Have a great, safe weekend.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Gerald R. Ford International Airport to receive nearly $8.7 million for terminal improvements. (Courtesy)
The Federal Aviation Administration funding, announced by U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, was made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Signed into Law Last Year
“This funding will support eight new passenger boarding bridges in 2023 to further enhance the guest experience and provide growth opportunities for airline service in West Michigan for years to come,” said Torrance Richardson, president and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. ”We are thankful for the investment in community infrastructure by Senator Stabenow and Senator Peters, which allows the Gerald R. Ford International Airport to compete nationally for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding to invest in our passenger terminal.”
This funding is from the Airport Terminal Program. Senators Stabenow and Peters helped secure these funds in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“Having reliable and safe air service is crucial for tourism, commerce, and economic development,” Senator Stabenow said. “This funding is another critical piece of the infrastructure investments coming to our state and will improve customer experiences at our airports.”
Gerald R. Ford International Airport. (Courtesy)
The Airport Terminal Program is one of three aviation programs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The law provides $1 billion annually for five years for Airport Terminal grants.
“Airports play a critical role in boosting Michigan’s economy by connecting communities and businesses to important destinations and resources,” Senator Peters said.
“I was proud to help secure this federal support through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help Gerald Ford International Airport make necessary upgrades to critical infrastructure, ensuring it can continue to welcome and transport travelers safely and efficiently for years to come.”
The Airport also will receive a $3.6 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for infrastructure improvements. The funding will go toward expanding the airport’s snow removal equipment building, as well as reconstructing existing airport service roads, runway lighting systems and the aircraft rescue and firefighting building.
First and foremost, I want to let you know that I would never try to sell you on anything. I have learned in my 40 years of experience that if I try to talk you into something, anybody can come right along and talk you out of it so, that is not my objective. However, with math, science, and reason, I would like to reaffirm some very important facts and figures about your retirement planning:
Math and science are key in helping with retirement planning. (pxhere.com)
1. We all know the market is cyclical, it goes up, and it goes down. We have had the longest upmarket, “Bull Market,” in the history of the stock market; over the last nine years. Thus, Reason alone, tells us that we are due for a market correction, “Bear Market.” Math and science prove that we are due for a soon coming market correction. Just to name a few of the catalysts of a possible Bear Market, but not limited to, are these indicators:
• The most significant “Buyback” in the history of the market took place in the last quarter of 2018. A “buyback” is essentially corporations run out of ideas to increase stock market shares and dividends of their company. They are buying back their stock held in foreign countries and inflating their profits. As of October of 2018, there were over $800 billion in stock buybacks, a stock market record. Corporations used funds from $2.6 trillion dollars sitting overseas.
• The tariffs imposed on foreign countries in June 2018.
• The housing market, as interest rates increase, so will adjustable rate mortgages increase. A Zerohedge chart reflects that home-builder stocks are already dropping as lumber prices forecast a drop in the housing market.
• Interest rates tend to go up when the federal reserve unwinds its balance sheet and adds to the supply of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities on the market. When interest rates go higher, stock valuations need to go down with a lower P/E ratio. (Profit /Expense ratio)
• Federal Reserve policy. A JP Morgan study reflects that the Federal Reserve is decreasing its balance sheet of treasuries and mortgage-backed securities by $50 billion a month, which is known as Quantitative Tightening, which is projected to continue to at least the end of 2020.
• Valuations. The United States Stock Market is the most expensive in the world at this moment. The Buffett indicator is flashing red with a total market capitalization vs. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of 150%. Studies reflect that any ratio above 115% is an indicator that the market is significantly overvalued.
2. Historically the S&P time-line for recuperating from market corrections is between 13 to 22 years. Studies reflect that 64% of the time, the S&P is either losing ground or making up losses. Let me ask the question, “Going into retirement, do you want the 64% chance of a market correction and taking 13 to 22 years to recuperate the retirement savings you’ve accumulated over your lifetime?”
Mortality tables reflect that one retiring at age 65 will live 20 to 25 years.
3. Mathematically, it’s a proven fact that if a retiree experiences double-dipping (losing value in their account and drawing income from their account simultaneously) at the beginning of their retirement, they will outlive their retirement funds before they outlive their retirement life. This is known as the “Sequence of Returns.” Also, add the devastating fact of fees, the account now has triple dipping!
4. Psychological studies prove that retirees with a guaranteed, known, and predictable source of income live a much happier, stress-free, and worry-free retirement life.
5. The Fixed Indexed Annuity (FIA) relieves merely the risks of outliving one’s money and the burden of trying to manage and chase market returns and trying to avoid market losses of managing a retiree’s portfolio. It gives a guaranteed, predictable income for life as well as a projected income, based upon only upside market growth. It automatically tracks this upside market growth.
I trust that the above information on math, science, facts, and figures will assist in journeying into a peaceful, stress-free, worry-free retirement.
Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463 or click this link: Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.comDave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management.
Using GPS tracking on phones to recover stolen merchandise and vehicles. Pulling trace evidence from the inside of a driver door’s handle to identify a suspect. Risking their lives by entering into the flood waters of Buck Creek to save a civilian. Making sure a vulnerable resident has a safe place to stay at a local hotel.
These were the stories – the ones often not told – that were shared at the annual Wyoming Department of Public Safety Employee Recognition Ceremony last week as the department recognized about 80 officers and civilians for their actions in crime prevention, recovery, and rescue.
Office Brady Heckman was named the 2021 Office of the Year. (WKTV)
“In light of all the events that have taken place over the past few years that have impacted not only our profession but our personal lives, I think it is more important than ever that we celebrate each other,” said Wyoming Department of Public Safety Chief Kim Koster. “It is imperative that we acknowledge all of the accomplishments of our fellow police officers and firefighters. We can not let the stories of our compassionate service and heroic actions go untold. The work we do matters and it does make a difference.”
An officer whose work certainly has made a difference is that of Officer Brady Heckman. A five-year veteran on the force, Heckman received a number of accolades, including a certificate of merit and individual commendation for his work in locating illegally possessed firearms, taking violent criminals off the streets, and his care for victims. For his dedication, Heckman, who is a field training officer, a tackle bike team member, and operator on the tack team, was named the 2021 Officer of the Year, which is chosen by a panel of sworn officers.
“Heckman has earned a reputation as an outstanding police professional with a keen ability for catching criminals and a heart for serving this community,” said Capt. Timothy Pols who with Fire Deputy Chief Dennis Vantassell served as master of ceremonies. “He is valued by co-workers and supervisors alike as a consistent teamplayer. He is an outstanding representative of the law enforcement profession in general and the Wyoming Police Department in particular.”
From his peers, it was noted that Heckman “makes being proactive a priority and sets an example for young officers to do the same,” as well as for his work in locating stolen vehicles, seeking out criminals and making arrests, and volunteering to help new recruits.
Celia Rhodes was named the 2021 Civilian of the Year. (WKTV)
The department’s civilian employees also form a panel to select a civilian of the year, which for 2021 is Celia Rhodes. Rhodes, who has served as a forensic science technician with the department for four and half years, has become an expert in evidence storage and operating the BEAST (Bar Coded Evidence Analysis Statistical Tracking) evidence management system.
“Celia is well known and respected for her upbeat attitude and true passion for helping others in need,” Pols said. “No matter what she is working on, Celia never turns away from aiding someone else, whether it be explaining policy or procedure to a fellow employee or talking to a citizen about their case. She always does so with a smile and genuine care for whomever she is working with.”
Another officer recognized for his investigation work on child sexual abuse was Det. Dan Vlietstra, who received the Chief’s Award of Professional Excellence. For the past two years, Viletstra has been the department’s liaison with the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County, where he works with a multidisciplinary team and coordinates the investigation of abuse allegations.
“Through his work, Dan has been able to stop the abuse, identify the perpetrators, hold them accountable, and support the victim and their family on a path of recovery and healing,” Koster said.
Also receiving the Chief’s Award of Professional Excellence were Fire Inspector Brad Dornbos, Lt. Chris Velzen, Equipment Operator (EO) Brandon Travis, and firefighter (FF) Matt Frazee, for their work in recruiting, interviewing and training new firefighters.
Also honored was Mayor Jack Poll, who received the Chief’s Award of Excellence for his dedication to the Public Safety Department during the past 13 years he has served as the city’s mayor. Poll will retire from public service at the end of this year.
“I have lived in Wyoming now for 67 years and I can tell you that I have never gone to bed at night that I was concerned about my safety because we have such stellar leaders in our community,” Poll said.
Police officers receiving the individual commendation award. (WKTV)
Koster said what was presented at the recognition ceremony is only the tip of the iceberg as to what officers and firefighters have done.
“There is not a day that goes by that someone doesn’t tell me a story about a way a police officer or a firefighter has served them in a capacity that amazed them,” Koster said. “There are a lot of stories that officers don’t tell about what police officers do and firefighters who go above and beyond.”
Award Recipients
Life Saving Award
Ofc. Tony Jacob
Ofc. Russ Kamstra
Lt. Chris Velzen
EO Bradley Bennett
EO Brian Ilbrink
EO Tom Marsman
FF Ken Eppink
FF Matt Frazee
FF Jason Hanlon
FF Andrew Johnson
FF Michele Kelly
FF Jesse May
FF Alex Parsons
FF Dan Rettig
FF Jason Richardson
FF Dan Royce
Police officers and community members being recognized during the Wyoming Department of Public Safety Employee Recognition Ceremony. (WKTV)
Local husband and wife business owners Daimond Dixon and Regina Russell-Dixon have landed a big win with their training company.
Alpha Human Performance, located at 3233 Eastern Ave., has been named the official Preferred Sport Performance Training Partner for the Midwest United Football Club. That’s the football that’s commonly known as soccer.
Alpha Human Performance co-owner Daimond Dixon stands alongside portraits of visiting athletes. (Philip Janowski)
Alpha Human Performance (Alpha for short) trains athletes from a variety of sports, including American football, basketball, softball, swimming and volleyball.
“We are excited to get the opportunity to help so many soccer players reach their potential,” said Daimond, who was a walk-on member of the University of Miami 1991 national championship football team. “Our programs use various methods of training along with cutting edge technology while focusing on our Four Pillars: Mindset, Training, Performance and Recovery.”
As Director of Operations, Daimond is responsible for training and Alpha’s fitness programs. Regina, a GVSU grad with a business degree, runs the administrative and business side of the company. The couple met in Michigan and has been together for nearly 20 years.
“Going into business with my wife was great; she’s very smart,” said Daimond, who played more than a decade of minor league football for several Midwest teams. “She set up the entire business side. I know training, I know performance. I’ve done it for two-and-a-half decades.
“So, we came together and crafted out an ideal formula for how we can take the training and actually make it into a business.”
Daimond began his training career in 1995, and since then has worked with teams and individuals at every level from high school to the professionals. Today, Alpha collaborates with local businesses such as Athleta, Clean Juice and Xtreme Cryo.
Becoming a Preferred Sport Performance Training Partner means offering direct training to Midwest United Football Club members. Alpha has become the standard for how Midwest United trains its athletes, and Midwest’s teams will be coming to Alpha to train.
Athletes train in Alpha Human Performance’s open turf area. (Philip Janowski)
Midwest United, which began in 1990 under the moniker GRASA (Grand Rapids Area Soccer Association), was the first youth select soccer club in Grand Rapids. The initial registration was 60 players from around the area and it was from these humble beginnings that it has evolved into one of the Midwest’s top clubs.
Alpha’s 6,500 square foot facility includes several options and opportunities for training. A Full Strength area includes up-to-date strength training and conditioning equipment. The open turf area is dedicated to movement-based training and sports performance. Upstairs is the recovery lounge, providing the latest tools for rest from the rigors of training and performance.
Motivation and mindset are key parts of Alpha’s training. Alpha works with a journaling program called Win the Mental Game, a journal for athletes. Mindset involves building a competitive mindset, and being aware moment-by-moment during a game.
“It’s all about intrinsic motivation,” Daimond summarized. Alpha isn’t about traditional training where athletes are constantly given orders on what to do next. Athletes should be motivated to pursue better and better personal performance by their own energy.
Alpha Human Performance co-owner Daimond Dixon (lower right) trains athletes at his facility on 3233 Eastern Ave. (Philip Janowski)
Notable local athletes that Alpha has trained include NBA players Xavier Tillman of Michigan State and the Memphis Grizzlies, as well as Duane Washington Jr. of Ohio State and the Indiana Pacers. American Football player Mike Brown of the Minnesota Vikings has worked with Alpha, and in volleyball Aubrey O’Gorman of Michigan State.
Alpha offers programs for non-athletes as well, in Adult Performance Programs. Classes are similar to those that the pros follow, with an easier start, of course.
“It’s about human performance,” Daimond said. “Push, pull, rotate, squat, lunge. We train in things which every single person needs. Before you’re an athlete, you’re a human. We all do the same things.”
Daimond noted that he trained a lot of area trainers when they were kids.
“My wife says I should get a shirt that says ‘I trained your trainers’.”
For more information on Alpha, log on to alpha-hp.com
Miss Metro Cruise 2021 Dr. Joules Kelvin was out encouraging people to participate in the 2022 Miss Metro Cruise competition during May’s Metro Cruise Dust-Off. (WKTV)
Dr. Jules Kelvin (Juliette Brown) admits when she is dressed up in her retro ’50s attire of a white dress accented with large pink flowers, attendees often are surprised to learn she is an actual doctor.
When that happens, the 2021 Miss Metro Cruise cheerfully explains how it is possible to do both — be a scientist and a pinup.
“I have always been underestimated when I look pretty but that is unfortunately something that happens,” she said. “So, the nice thing about the pharmaceutical industry is that it is less judgmental in that way. People can be a little quirky and flashy and still be taken seriously. Ultimately, as a scientist we are judged on our body of work that we accomplish and so it is a little different in pinup, because people judge you on what you look like.”
This weekend, Kelvin will be doing the judging as she helps find her replacement at the Miss Metro Cruise preliminary contest, which will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Moose Lodge, 2630 Burlingame Ave. SW. The preliminary contest, hosted by Kentwood’s JA PR Group, will feature classic cars with the contest narrowing the contestants down to the final 10 who will compete at the Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s 17th Annual Metro Cruise, set for Aug. 26 and 27.
“I love to plan an outfit and go through all the effort of getting everything just right in my appearance,” Kelvin said of participating in pinup contests like Miss Metro Cruise. “What I love most is sharing the experience with other pinups that I meet.
“I think it is a really accepting and inclusive group in a way that other things based on appearance are not.”
Participating in pinup contests was not even on Kelvin’s radar until a couple of years ago. She was working on doctorate in neuroscience at Michigan State University.
“To be totally honest I was sort of a late bloomer academically,” Kelvin said. “I had tried every different major you could think of except for science. I think I let it intimidate me when I was younger. It always seems scary and overwhelming like ‘That is a lot of math.’
Dr. Joules Kelvin, from Lansing, at the 2021 Miss Metro Cruise preliminary contest. She was named 2021 Miss Metro Cruise at last year’s event. (WKTV)
“As I had my daughter, it was time to be somebody’s role model so I decided to rip the bandage off and go back to school and take a chemistry class and it turned out I was really good at it.”
She earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Saginaw Valley State University because she wanted to go into the medical field. While attending grad school at Michigan State University, she met people in the pharmacology school and found they were “my people.” She earned a doctorate in neuroscience where most of her research has focused.
She also met some other people who connected to another side of her personality.
“I tend to be the more quirky one among the scientists,” she said. “I tend to be a little bit more fashionable then a lot of my colleagues. I like being flashy on the weekends and I have always enjoyed being kind of girlie.
“I think people think you can’t be both, which is just not true.”
It all clicked and after the workshop, Kelvin began to look for photo opportunities working with photographers and attending car shows.
“I have to say the people I meet during pinup are the most diverse, motivated and powerful group of women I’ve encountered,” she said, adding that the group represents different ages, body types, sizes, and aesthetics.
“I always say that my favorite part of the pinup is the sisterhood,” she said.
But the pageants were intimidating because, as Kelvin put it, “not only do you have to put it all together but you have to get up in front of people and be clever.”
In fact, Miss Metro Cruise is the second pageant title she has won in the couple of years of participating. She admitted that the event seemed overwhelming since it was in two parts and featured several well-established pinup artists.
“When I got there everyone was so kind and it was just really welcoming and nice,” she said. “Actually, I think it was lower pressure than other pageants because they do their best to make sure that everyone feels like they are included and they encourage new people to come and do it.”
The win encouraged her to participate in Detroit’s Autorama competition last February, where she again surprised herself by taking home the title.
Kelvin has her sights on a couple of competitions in March of 2023, but for now she is enjoying a break from competing.
There will be plenty of classic cars at the Miss Metro Cruise preliminary contest this Saturday. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
“I just like going, being positive, and supporting other people who are competing, especially people who are newer,” she said. “And it is nice going and not competing sometimes because I am dealing with a little bit less pressure.”
Along with supporting those competition, she also hopes to have the chance to break the stereotype that scientists are not that interesting by talking to children and young adults about her career path.
“I would like to tell people that they shouldn’t let science intimidate you,” she said. “Scientists are in general very excited about science. If you are curious, come chat us up because we will tell you anything you want to know and some things you don’t.
“I love talking about what I do and how I got there but also the same goes for pinup. Pinup can seem intimidating and overwhelming from a distance, but if you just go talk to a pinup they will tell you their experience of getting there and how it scared them a little bit at first and if you are curious about it you should absolutely try it. We all support each other.”
Bigfoot sightings go back centuries with documation of feet and hand prints. (pxhere.com)
Bigfoot vs. Dogman!!! We proposed that question as our “Final Thought” on episode 42 of Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters Podcast. Offering insights and opposing opinions was our featured guest Linda Pomranky of Michigan Sasquatch Experience and the lead investigator of the Michigan Chapter of North American Dogman Project Shetan Not was our guest co-host.
We learned that Michigan offers equal opportunity for both Bigfoot and Dogman as our prime real estate includes dense forests, swamps, vast farmland, plenty of fresh water, and abundant small game. Roughly 53% of Michigan is forest with more than 19 million acres considered timberland. With three national forests and six state forests we have the largest state forest system in the nation. Our state borders four of the five Great Lakes and with all our rivers, streams, and inland lakes we are never more than six miles from fresh water.
According to folklore, the Michigan Dogman was first witnessed by Lumberjacks in 1887 in Wexford County and was described as seven foot tall with blue or amber eyes with a dog’s head and human body and a chilling scream like a person. The legend was popularized in 1987 by a radio personality from WTCM radio. An abbreviated version of Steve Cook’s song says, “A cool summer morning in early June, is when the legend began, at a nameless logging camp in Wexford County where the Manistee River ran.” It goes on to say a logger named Johnson chased what they thought was a dog into a log, poking it with a stick. It let out an unearthly scream and came out of the log, and stood upright. The song goes on to say, “Somewhere in the north-woods darkness, a creature walks upright, and the best advice you may ever get is never go out, at night.” Artistic renditions of Dogman portray a fierce beast and are truly frightening.
Artistic depictions of Bigfoot are not nearly as ominous. Bigfoot sightings go back centuries, are worldwide and in every culture and continent except Antarctica. It’s believed sightings often go unreported. Bigfoot sightings have been reported as close as Grand Rapids and Kent County as well as Ottawa, Muskegon, Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Jackson, and Oscoda counties. “Hot Spots” in Michigan appear to be Cheboygan/Black River, West Branch/Rifle River, Traverse City, and the western part of the Upper Peninsula. Michigan ranks in the top 10 among other states for Bigfoot sightings, sometimes as high as fourth.
Bigfoot sightings have been documented all over the world. (pxhere.com)
According to the experts, Sasquatch assets include the defensive abilities to blend in with the landscape completely camouflaged and an infrasound stunning roar that has a paralyzing effect. Communication is achieved through a language of whistles, knocks, growls, whoop howls, and high pitched screams. It’s said they talk to each other with a kind of “Samurai chatter.” Bigfoot evidence is compelling and extensive, including: encounters/sighting many by hunters, footprints, vocalizations, broken branches, beds, nests, musty/moldy smell, thousands of photos, footprint castings, hand prints, hand castings, body impressions, scat, and hair.
Sasquatch has many names depending on the area; “hairy giant” on the Pacific Northwest, Ohio Grassman, Florida Skunk Ape, Himalayan Yeti/Abominable Snowman, “Chinese Wildman”- Ojibwa “Wildman”, “Stinky Beast”, and perhaps the Kentucky Bearilla. My Bigfoot people tell me you might smell a Sasquatch before you see it so “Skunk Ape” may provide the best description.
While Bigfoot appears to be omnipresent, luckily according to the Legend of the Michigan Dogman, it will only visit every 10 years or years ending in seven, so we are good until 2027. “Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?” Check back in about six years!!!
With everything from bluegrass to music of the Beatles, this year’s Sounds of Summer concert series at Cutler Park in Cutlerville will feature “a little something for everyone,” according to organizers.
“Not everybody likes the same kind of music,” said organizer Patty Williams. “We try to hit every genre we can in the four-week period. We try to do something for everyone.”
Concerts begin at 7 p.m. Cutler Park is located just east of U.S. 131 off 68th Street.
Patty Williams with her son Lare Williams (left) and a guest. (Supplied)
“The best part about all of these shows is the price tag,” said Lare Williams, Patty’s son whose company LW Studios helps produce the shows each summer. “They are all absolutely free thanks to our friends at Byron Township.”
It’s a great family event, he added.
“Bring your lawn chairs, bring you blankets, bring the whole family,” Williams said. “Kids are welcome. There’s a big playground there, and they can run around and play ’til their heart’s content.”
“The series has brought fun and livelihood to Cutler Park,” he added.
The Sounds of Summer concert series started in 2008 at Bicentennial Park in downtown Byron Center by Patty Williams, who is a WKTV producer and volunteer and runs her independent P. Williams Productions.
They migrated to Cutler Park in 2015, Lare Williams said.
Lare Williams handles the sound board during one of the Sounds of Summer concerts. (Supplied)
The shows have gathered a following, he added.
“The picnic setting has brought up to 500 guests from the neighborhood and other states to the concerts,” he said.
What’s the reason for its success?
Patty Williams said it’s because they know a little bit about the entertainment business being part of The Williams Family, a local group popular in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s known for its bluegrass music.
She said Lare, for example, is a well-seasoned musician who has recorded CDs of his own. and has been on stage since he was 2-years-old.
It’s the reason why locals love Sounds of Summer, she said, because they always add “a personal touch to each week’s concert.”
“You are entertained from the moment you set up your lawn chair,” she said. “There’s not a dull moment. There is always something going on.”
They might play Sounds of Summer trivia, give away CDs and interact with the audience.
“People love that. It really puts a personal touch on it where they actually feel like they own this concert series. When people come here they say, ‘This is ours.’”
Participants often bring a picnic meal to the popular Sounds of Summer which is at Cutler Park in Cutlerville. (Supplied)
Other highlights: Ken’s food cart will be vending beverages and hotdogs this summer, and “we have the local ice cream truck make an appearance,” Lare Williams said.
Already looking ahead to next year, Patty Williams said they hope to expand the series and include the month of August, possibly back at Bicentennial Park. The concerts in Cutler Park would remain in July.
Regardless, she’s proud of what she started 14 years ago. She remembers the idea came to her when she was touring with The Williams Family band.
“We used to perform at these little town festivals, and I would say ‘Why doesn’t Byron Center have anything like this? We’re a wonderful community. We have beautiful parks.’”
It’s been good for the community, she said.
“It brings a lot of people out, and families, too,” she said. “People love it!”
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Despite frequent doctor, ER and hospital visits for those with end-stage heart disease, many eligible patients don’t receive palliative or hospice care to improve their quality of life – but Emmanuel Hospice wants to change that.
With care guidelines developed by the American Heart Association, Emmanuel Hospice professionals are helping patients living with end-stage heart disease achieve better quality of life and control over their care. (Supplied/Adobe Stock)
Hospice professionals like Melissa Schmidt are working to help more patients with advanced congestive heart failure access the enhanced care they deserve.
“Even though heart disease is the nation’s top cause of death, hundreds of thousands of patients with heart failure die alone in hospitals, never utilizing end-of-life care and support,” says Schmidt, who serves as Emmanuel Hospice’s director of clinical services. “Hospice care can help manage or even prevent symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease and keep patients out of the hospital.
“This not only puts patients and families in better control over their care, it also saves money and reduces the stress of repeated hospitalizations.”
At Emmanuel, care is provided to patients wherever they call home. With the nonprofit’s Heart & Soul Advanced Cardiac Care Program, patients have access to a robust care team – nurses, physicians, spiritual caregivers and complementary therapists, all of whom are specially trained in heart failure and in collaborating with outside care providers.
Made possible through the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, or NPHI, Heart & Soul relies on care guidelines developed by the American Heart Association for individuals living with end-stage heart disease.
“Our advanced cardiac care program enables patients to be cared for in a way that works alongside their diagnosis,” Schmidt explains. “We’re able to look at innovative ways to care for patients in collaboration with their cardiologists or other physicians to support the whole person – mind, body and soul.”
Among the unique ways Emmanuel Hospice can support people living with advanced cardiac disease are its complementary services, which can be used alongside pharmaceutical approaches or as alternatives for holistic end-of-life care. In particular, music and massage therapy have proven to be successful in the management of symptoms for Heart & Soul patients.
For example, Emmanuel Hospice’s music therapists aid in anxiety relief for patients living with heart disease through music-assisted relaxation to influence heart rate, enhance breathing and support management of stress.
The use of massage therapy can help reduce painful swelling of feet, ankles and legs that comes with end-stage heart disease. For one of Schmidt’s patients, this service helped avoid an increase in medication, enabling him to remain comfortably at home until his death.
The additional support and education hospice can provide is ideal for patients who wish to avoid repeated trips to the emergency room.According to NPHI, advanced cardiac care programs like Emmanuel’s have already helped lower hospitalization rates in the last year by 23% for patients during their last 30 days of life. Patients who are a part of these programs visit the ER nearly half as much as those not receiving hospice care.
“The decrease in emergency rates is remarkable because patients with heart failure are known to need frequent visits to the doctor’s office, emergency room and hospital due to breathing difficulties, fatigue and other worsening symptoms,” Schmidt says. “Reducinginpatient and emergency services reduces stress, which can improve both mental and physical health outcomes.”
Avoiding trips to the ER or hospital also helps save patients money. The average cost of care in NPHI advanced cardiac care programs is 20-35% lower for patients than those who aren’t in hospice care.
While this is promising data, Schmidt says there’s more work to be done in overcoming myths about hospice care and encouraging families and caregivers to reach out sooner to seek this invaluable service.
“Many people think that hospice is just for your last couple of days or weeks or that calling hospice means giving up,” she says. “Hospice is holistic care and support for people who have been given a physician prognosis of six months or less to live and want to maximize that time.
“We want to help these individuals and families know it is absolutely OK to utilize hospice to supplement other medical care that’s already being provided. Our entire team is trained and ready to walk alongside you with individualized care for your end-of-life journey.”
Alissa VanderKooi said that her grandfather, Henry Pestka, would not often speak of his past life as a Jew in Nazi-occupied Germany.
“On that rare occasion that he would speak of this dark period of his life, his focus was never on the darkness but always on the light. His ability to see the light through the darkness is something that we pass on from generation to generation,” VanderKooi said.
“Ways to Say Goodbye”by Ariel Schlesinger. (Photo by D.A. Reed)
One such story Henry chose to tell his granddaughter was of a paint store worker who would offer him a piece of bread when he was brought in by Nazi soldiers to buy paint. Even after a soldier threatened to kill her, the worker worked out a signal with Henry so she would know if, depending on who his guard was that day, it was safe to give him the bread.
“This memory that my grandfather chose to share with me was one of the kindness of a stranger during the darkest of times,” said VanderKooi.
In honor of Pestka and the millions of Jews who perished in the Holocaust the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park through a partnership with The Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids recently dedicated the Holocaust memorial Ways to Say Goodbye. The piece, which was made possible through a donation from Pestka family, was created by artist Ariel Schlesinger in 2019 and was originally on display in the United Kingdom.
“As time goes on and memories of the Holocaust fade, it is important to remember the barbarity human beings are capable of,” said Steve Pestka, son of Henry Pestka. “It is equally important to contemplate the strength of the survivors and their ability to continue and rebuild their lives. It is our hope that this work of art will promote an appreciation of our shared humanity and a reminder that hatred and intolerance continue to this day and the consequences of the ultimate dehumanization of human beings.”
Henry’s Story
During World War II, the Pestka family were prisoners of Auschwitz, a concentration camp in Poland. Both of Henry’s parents and all of his siblings perished during the Holocaust. Henry was the sole survivor of his family and attributed his survival to being given a job as a painter.
Henry Pestka’s son, Steve, speaks to the crowd during the June 30 dedication. (Photo by D.A. Reed)
After surviving the Holocaust, Henry lived for a short time in Paris before joining his only living relatives, an aunt and uncle who had moved to New York City before the war. He was not a fan of the big city and remembered one of his father’s friends, Sam Weissman, who had moved to America from Poland before the war and came to live in Grand Rapids. Henry wrote a letter to Weissman and asked if there would be any work for him in Grand Rapids. Weissman assured Henry he would be able to make a living in West Michigan.
It was in Grand Rapids that Henry found the family and community he previously lost.
“He felt embraced by the people here and the sense of community he so desired,” VanderKooi said. “He never spoke of the hardship of learning a new language or being an outsider. Instead, he always spoke of the warm embrace he received from his community and the opportunities made available to him.”
Henry married Weissman’s niece Beatrice Bergman and began a family. He built a very successful real estate development business becoming known as a pillar of the community. Henry passed away in 2013 at the age of 93, and the sense of belonging he found in Grand Rapids is what prompted the Pestka family to choose West Michigan as the place to honor his memory and those of the six million Jews lost in the Holocaust.
“We are deeply grateful for this gift adding such an important work of art to our permanent collection,” said David Hooker, President & CEO of Meijer Gardens in supplied material. “Our community will forever benefit from this extraordinary gift which serves to educate and promote peace.”
Saying Goodbye
Artist Ariel Schlesinger speaks to a guest after the June 30 dedication. (Photo by D.A. Reed)
Ways to Say Goodbye, a 20-foot-tall aluminum cast of a fig tree with shards of glass inserted among the branches, can be found in the Garden’s outdoor Sculpture Park and is considered an exceptional work of contemporary sculpture dealing with themes of profound loss and grief. Modeled after a living fig tree in northern Italy, Schlesinger chose this metaphor of the Jewish people and their history because of its symbolism of the Jewish struggle for survival both during and after the Holocaust. While appearing fragile and clinging to life, the fig tree is also representative of great endurance.
The shards of glass in the tree represent Kristallnack, or Night of Broken Glass, which took place on Nov. 9-10, 1938. On those nights, the Nazi regime encouraged Germans to riot against Jews and nearly 100 Jewish people died.
During the ceremony, Schlesinger, who is most known for his public sculpture outside the Jewish Museum in Frankfurt, posed the question: “How is it possible to relate to complete horror through artistic representation?” The artist admitted the weight of his task, “which is (to) acknowledge traumas, grief, and losses in the form of public remembrance.”
“While this is not an act of representation, but rather recognition…of an important aspect of our beings,” Schlesinger continued. “To celebrate humans’ resilience even after catastrophe. Here, people will come, look, and survey this dream. The images reflected in the viewer’s eyes will also include sky, clouds, the trees around. Everyone sees what their heart and soul see. With our past, imagining a better future for all.”
A place to remember, reflect
Frederik Meijer Gardens CEO David Hooker with Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids Executive Director Nicole Katzman (Photo by D.A. Reed)
Meijer Gardens and the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids see Ways to Say Goodbye as a gathering place for the Jewish community of Grand Rapids, offering a place to reflect, pray, and remember, while also being a teaching tool for educators both locally and nationally to address the Holocaust and its legacy.
“For our generation, (the Holocaust) is unfathomable,” said Pestka family friend, Shannon Gales. “So it’s wonderful that they are doing this and honoring the memory to continue to remember.”
David Alfonso, MD and JFGR Board Chair said, “It is incumbent upon us, as well as the generations that will follow us, to tell their stories so that we may embody the saying, ‘Never Again.’ We hope that this sculpture will serve as a beacon of light, a means of inspiration and education, for future generations that will view it and carry on its message of hope and remembrance.”
VanderKooi agreed: “History, the good and the bad, has a way of repeating itself and it is our responsibility, not just as Jews, but as a society, to educate ourselves about the bad in order to prevent it from being repeated or denied.”
Cantor Rachel Gottlieb Kalmowitz ended the ceremony with these inspirational words: “Let the pain of our memories and the love of those lost spur us to educate and inspire, to mourn and to hope, and to do all that we can to ensure the voracity of our words when we say, ‘Never Again.’”
To learn the stories of Henry Pestka and other West Michigan Holocaust survivors, visit West Michigan Holocaust Memorial, a Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids website made possible by the Finkelstein Brothers Endowment.
When I hear Impressionism as it relates to an artistic style, I envision compositions void of heavy, straight lines and solid colors. Instead, a multitude of colors are layered on one another, applied using short, quick brush strokes. Up close the image looks like a flurry of colors, from a few paces away, the colors blend, conveying an almost self-illuminating piece.
Philip Little, “Untitled (Fishing Boats),” 1938, Oil on canvas
The Grand Rapids Art Museum currently features a new exhibit, “In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870-1940.”The Bank of America Collection, comprised of 130 pieces of art – paintings, drawings, and prints – shows the progression of the impressionist style. The pieces are grouped according to their region, where different art colonies helped to influence and shape the impressionist style.
Starting with Hudson Valley aesthetics where serene, pastoral views, aglow with golden light set the stage for idealized landscapes. Next came the artists influenced by Barbizon painters of France who painted outside – en plain air – and had a looser style in their brushwork. Here, the landscapes are less romanticized, there are views of buildings, industry and ordinary people, and the weather is not so fair. Amidst these, I found some with the style aesthetics I had in mind. Untitled (Fishing Boats) by Philip Little, is more like how I imagined the impressionist style to appear. There is an “impression” of people in the boats with barely refined features. The overall color is achieved by combining dabs of many colors to impart value – shadows, highlights – and thus, depth, up close, the painting looks like a lot of little bits – of colors and brush strokes. From afar, the piece is atmospheric. The identity of the fishermen and their location is less important than the feeling of the moment. Their dark forms sitting in little row boats, are lit slightly by the setting sun as they’re set adrift in water that immediately blends into the horizon and sky.
“Winter Stream” (detail), by Emile Gruppe, c.1935-1945, oil on linen
In another regional grouping is Winter Stream by Emile Gruppe who, still an impressionist, exhibits a slightly different style of application. Here the snow-covered banks are painted in long brush strokes. The setting is much more defined albeit conveyed in a number of colors as well, that we, the viewers, blend together to “see” shadows and highlights. There’s less of a frenetic pace of painting in this piece, instead it emits a sense of solitude, slower pace and reflection.
White is also conveyed as mix of colors in Lawton Silas Parker’s, First Born. Both mother and child are dressed in white which is comprised of blues, greens, yellows, and pinks to create the different tonal values. In contrast, and to compliment the central subjects in the piece, the background is awash in layered, jewel-toned colors. There is a return to soft lines and lighting in this piece, another compliment to the subject matter.
Included in the exhibit is a display of the various schools and artist colonies which dotted across the United States. Artists traveled to Europe where they studied abroad for a time, influenced by emerging styles and movements, then returned to the U.S. and started teaching here – starting a school or colony to teach others.
The “In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870-1940” exhibition at the Grand Rapids Art Museum runs until Aug. 27 at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, located at 101 Monroe Center NW. Check artmuseumgr.org for information on gallery hours and entry fee.
Alexander H. Wyant, Untitled (Landscape), c. 1865-1873, Oil on linenMathias J. Alten, “California Sycamore” 1929, Oil on canvas
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety is seeking information on a carjacking that took place on Thursday, June 30, in the early morning hours of the 3200 block of Woodward Avenue SW.
According to the public safety department’s press release, at approximately 5:53 a.m. on Thursday, June 30, 2022, officers responded to the 3200 block of Woodward Avenue SW on the report of a person who was assaulted by suspects attempting to steal her vehicle. When officers arrived on scene, they located a 41-year-old female with a head injury sustained during the attack. She was initially treated at the scene by medical personnel and then transported to a local hospital for her injuries.
Information obtained from the victim and witnesses aided the officers in quickly apprehending one of the juveniles, that ran from the scene. A male juvenile was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. He was arrested in connection to the attempted stolen vehicle and felonious assault. The identity of a second suspect is unknown and the suspect that was captured is not cooperating by providing information on the second suspect. Wyoming Detectives and other members of the multijurisdictional Combined Auto Theft Team are actively investigating the incident to identify that person.
The suspect that police arrested is an 11-year-old male from Grand Rapids and was lodged at the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center for the carjacking. His name is being withheld due to his age.
The vehicle that was attempted stolen is a Kia Sorento. At this time, it is unknown if this incident is related to any other vehicle thefts of the same manufacturer.
Anyone with information in regards to this case are being asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 66-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or 1-866-774-2345.
The West Michigan Tourist Association’s (WMTA) 2022 Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map & Circle Tour is now available. This is a free poster-sized publication which details all of the lighthouses located on the shores of Lake Michigan, as well as the Circle Tour driving route to guide motorists around the lake.
To accompany this year’s map, WMTA has released 24 new free, digital jigsaw puzzles showcasing this year’s Featured Lighthouses. These digital jigsaw puzzles may be accessed on WMTA’s website at the following URL: https://www.wmta.org/west-michigan-digital-jigsaw-puzzles/
The cover of this year’s map features an aerial photo of South Haven Lighthouse, courtesy of Dan Zeeff. Dan is a professional landscape, aerial, and architectural photographer based near Grand Rapids, Michigan. His growing Michigan landscape photography collection includes hundreds of photos of Michigan lakes, lighthouses, coastal towns, and more! Check out his website at danjzeeff.com.
The full circle tour driving route around Lake Michigan is available online, and website visitors may also download a PDF of this year’s Lighthouse Map, or request that a free copy be mailed to them here: www.wmta.org/lake-michigan-lighthouse-map-circle-tour/
Vacationers have been looping the lake for generations, but the official “Lake Michigan Circle Tour” route was not established until the 1980s when the Michigan Department of Transportation teamed up with West Michigan Tourist Association to create the route and its official guidebook. Along the way, travelers will find more than 100 lighthouses, countless islands, unique attractions, parks and natural areas, miles of glorious beaches, quaint harbor towns, and one “modern marvel” – the Mackinac Bridge.
While a loosely-organized “circle route” around Lake Superior was promoted by local tourist organizations as early as the 1960s, the first official (and signed) Great Lakes Circle Tour was the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. The only single-nation Circle Tour (Lake Michigan being the only Great Lake completely within the US), the Lake Michigan Circle Tour also has the most mileage of any Circle Tour in the state.Working in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Transportation, the West Michigan Tourist Association helped to make the first of the official Great Lakes Circle Tours a reality and the first publication was released in 1988 as a 52-page guide book. The guide book was transformed into a map in 2007, and the Circle Tour driving route can now be found online.
Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map & Circle Tour publications are also available in bulk quantities; please contact Travel@WMTA.org for more information.
I’ll be in the Traverse City area all weekend long for the National Cherry Festival, and I’m looking forward to meeting up with friends, checking out the local food scene and maybe hitting up a few breweries.
You can read my coverage if you go to my social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
What are you doing this weekend?
If you’re staying close to home, here is my Top 5 of things to do, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.
Here we go!
Gonzo’s Top 5
“Starry Night Over the Rhone” is just one of the many Van Gogh paintings featured. (Photo by Thomas Hegewald)
5. “Beyond Van Gogh,” Grand Rapids
This immersive experience by the artist Vincent Van Gogh has been getting a lot of media attention. Opening night was canceled because of some technology issues. And on Wednesday a person felt faint and grabbed onto a pipe and drape that caused some art to fall on patrons? It did not cause the exhibition to close. The exhibition features the artist’s work on a larger-than-life scale as visitors see at least 300 of Van Gogh’s famous artworks through projection technology. It continues through July 9 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. Check ticket availability at vangoghexpo.com/grand-rapids/.
Our friends at Fans of Valley Fieldbring back their popular Ballpark Series with a show Saturday (July 2) at Sullivan (formerly Valley) Field, a Michigan landmark with a history that dates back to 1937. It is located on the West Side of Grand Rapids. Tickets are $10 at the door or $5 in advance. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. The lineup:
•12:00-12:45pm – Teddy Brewer
•1:00-2:00pm – Larry Mack Band
•2:15-3:15pm – Rochelle and The Spoilers
•3:30-4:30pm – Hannah Rose Graves Band
•4:45-6:15pm – Asamu Johnson and The Associates of Blues
Sheryl Crow’s Meijer Gardens show is sold out but there are plenty of other Meijer concert options. (Supplied)
3. Sheryl Crow, Meijer Gardens
The “All I Wanna Do” singer – better known as Sheryl Crow – performs a sold out show Sunday (July 3) at Meijer Gardens. But you can still see Corinne Bailey Rae with Michigan act War & Treaty on July 6. Tickets information for all remaining concerts as well as availability can be found at meijergardens.org/calendar/summer-concerts-at-meijer-gardens. By the way, if you still want to see Sheryl Crow, you can join me on Saturday (July 2) when she performs at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City. Ticket information at cherryfestival.org/.
Grand Rapids July 4th celebration will be July 2.
2. Grand Rapids Fireworks
Activities begin at 6 p.m. Saturday (July 2) with games, food, vendors and live entertainment, which will lead up to the fireworks at 10:30 p.m. at Ah-Nab-Awen Park in downtown Grand Rapids (next to the Ford Museum). The Stone Soul Rhythm Band performs at 8 p.m. More info at https://4thofjulygr.com.
Kentwood pulls out all the stops for its annual Fourth of July celebration set for July 4. (Supplied)
1.4th of July Celebration, Kentwood
Kentwood plans a full day of activities, including a pancake breakfast, 5K race, parade, carnival and fireworks show. The events will begin with a pancake breakfast at Kentwood Fire Station 1, 4775 Walma Ave SE. The $5-per-person breakfast will be served 7-9:30 a.m. and include pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee. It’s free for ages 5 and younger. The NN Mobile Solutions 5K Race & Fun Walk begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Kentwood City Hall parking lot, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. The parade is at 9:30 a.m. A carnival is planned from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. behind City Hall, which is also the site for the 4th of July celebration from 4-10 p.m. with community booths, a beer tent, food trucks and a fireworks show. More information about Independence Day activities in Kentwood can be found at kentwood.us/july4.
Gun Lake: Fireworks are scheduled for July 2 with a rain date of July 3. Fireworks began at dark.
July 2 and 3
LMCU Ballpark: The West Michigan Whitecaps will have fireworks for both games against the Fort Wayne Tin Caps. Game times are 6:35 p.m July 2 and 6 p.m. July 3. More details at whitecapsbaseball.com.
July 3
Caledonia: The Caledonia Independence Day Celebration will include a parade at 11 a.m. Fireworks will be at dusk and can be seen from Duncan Lake Middle School, CalPlex, or Holy Family Catholic Church.
July 4
Grandville: The Grandville July 4 Celebration will include a pancake breakfast, parade with flyover, life music and fireworks at dusk.
Dorr: As usual, the Dorr July 4th Celebration will be the entire weekend, July 2-4 with the parade and fireworks on July 4.
As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Have a great, safe weekend.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
The Soul Syndicate performs this Thursday at the Kentwood Summer Concert series. (Soul Syndicate)
Popular local band Soul Syndicate returns to the area this week as the group performs at the Kentwood Summer Concert series on Thursday.
The free Kentwood Summer Concerts are located on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE.
No stranger to the area, Soul Syndicate opened the Wyoming Concerts in the Park series earlier this month. Through the years, the group has performed with such artists as The Temptations, The Spinners, The Countours, Kansas, The Guess Who, The Beach Boys, Edgar Winter, Natalie Cole, Rosemarie Clooney, Elvis Presley Jr., and the U.S. Navy Commodores Band.
The group is not small, with up to a 11 musicians. Besides Taylor, there is Mike Coon on guitar, Matt Fouts on bass, and John Neil on keyboard. Male lead vocal is Collin Tobin, who has performed win several Grand Rapids Civic Theatre productions, and female lead vocal is Katie Sarb a. Rounding out the group is Nate Hansen on sax and Tim DeBesten on trumpet, and Jeff Carroll on trombone.
