Category Archives: Citizen Journalism

Training center helping more athletes through Midwest United Football Club

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Local Business, West Michigan, WKTV Featured sports, WKTV Journal In Focus, , , ,

By Philip Janowski

WKTV Contributing Writer

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 is about celebrating all people

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Going Local, Local Business, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

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.”

Explore the Michigan legends of Dogman and Bigfoot

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Great Lakes, Local History, Non-Profits, Upcoming Events, , ,

By Wayne Thomas
Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters

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!!!    

Sounds of Summer is set to return with a packed line-up

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , ,
  • Schlitz Creek performs July 7
  • That Beatle Thing is July 14
  • Frantic Kingdom is July 21
  • Brena performs July 28

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

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.”

This year’s series includes:

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.

Cardiac program provides better quality of life, control over care

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

By Emmanuel Hospice
EmmanuelHospice.org

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.”

To learn more about Heart & Soul, individuals can visit EmmanuelHospice.org/cardiac-program or call 616-719-0919.

Meijer Gardens’ Holocaust memorial designed as a place to remember, reflect

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Local History, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, West Michigan, , , ,

By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributing Writer

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.

Current GRAM exhibit definitely makes a colorful ‘impression’

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, , , ,

By Thomas Hegewald
WKTV Contributing Writer

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 linen
Mathias J. Alten, “California Sycamore” 1929, Oil on canvas

Wyoming police seeking information on recent carjacking

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

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.

West Michigan lighthouse map now available

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, , ,
Mackinaw City lighthouse.

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.

Boom! It’s July 4th weekend! Bring on the fireworks!

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Gonzo's Top 5, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

How do we go from spring to summer so quickly?

It’s Fourth of July already!

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/.

READ: What it is like experiencing the ‘Beyond Van Gogh’ exhibit

4. Ballpark Series: Red, White and Blues

Our friends at Fans of Valley Field bring 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

More details on the Facebook Event Page.

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.

READ: Join Kentwood for its annual 4th of July celebration

Other area July 4th activities:

July 2

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.

For more area July 4th celebrations and activities, visit Experience GR’s website.

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.

Up next for Kentwood summer concerts is Soul Syndicate

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

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.

READ: The Soul Syndicate performs at Wyoming Concerts in the Park

“We love to see the energy from the crowd,” said drummer Tom Taylor in an earlier interview with WKTV. ”It is really about seeing the people and having fun.”

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.

To learn more about Soul Syndicate and see a list of shows, visit www.thesoulsyndicte.com/shows. 

Also remember that the Kentwood Farmer’s Market takes place just before the concerts, from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

READ: Summer revs up with Kentwood concerts, farmers market combo

All concerts will be live streamed by WKTV Community Media. Watch the events live at: https://www.wktv.org/live25.html. If you miss a show you can watch it here at WKTV On Demand.

This year’s lineup includes

Join Kentwood for its annual 4th of July celebration

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Local Food, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The Fourth of July parade is set for 9:30 a.m. and will start at Crestwood Middle School. (Supplied)

The City of Kentwood has a day filled with activities for all ages planned on Monday, July 4 for its annual Fourth of July Celebration, including a pancake breakfast, 5K race, parade, carnival and fireworks show.

“Celebrating our nation’s independence by participating in Kentwood’s Fourth of July festivities has been a favorite family and community tradition for many decades. People of all ages enjoy these events, from pancakes and parades to 5Ks and fireworks,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “Come out and join us for a day filled with festivities when memories are made, and community is strengthened.”

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.

At 7:30 a.m., racers of all ages will gather next door at the Kentwood City Hall parking lot, 4900 Breton Ave. SE, for registration and packet pickup for the NN Mobile Solutions 5K Race & Fun Walk. The chip-timed race will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the start and finish in front of City Hall. Participants will loop through nearby neighborhoods before coming back on the paved East West Trail to finish. For the safety of all participants, roller skates, dogs and bicycles will not be allowed on the course. All participants will receive a finisher medal and shirt for this race. Shirts are only guaranteed for those who register before June 21.

Following the race will be a parade at 9:30 a.m. The parade route will start at Crestwood Middle School, 2674 44th St. SE, travel south on Walma Avenue SE to Breton Avenue SE, then turn west on 52nd Street SE and end at Challenger Elementary School, 2475 52nd St. SE. Organizations who would like to participate in the parade can visit kentwood.us/july4 and fill out the online form to register.

From 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., there will be a carnival behind city hall featuring rides and carnival games. (Supplied)

From 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., there will be a carnival behind City Hall featuring a variety of rides and carnival games for all ages. Individual tickets will cost $1 each. Wristbands will be available for $20. Tickets and wristbands will only be available at the event. The number of tickets required for each attraction will vary.

City Hall will also be the hub for the evening celebration 4-10 p.m., which will include community booths, a beer tent, food trucks and a fireworks show. A variety of bands, including Project 90, The Stone Soul Rhythym Band and Serita’s Black Rose, will take the stage to perform live music leading up to the fireworks show at dusk. The fireworks will be viewable from City Hall and surrounding areas.

A section of Walma Avenue near City Hall from Fire Station #1, 4775 Walma Ave. SE, to the roundabout will be closed all day to allow pedestrians to safely cross the street and take part in the activities. Guests who are parked at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch can take the roundabout out to Breton Avenue heading north or turn left out of the library’s parking lot onto Breton heading south.

A section of Breton Avenue in front of the library to the roundabout will be closed for the fireworks display. It will close 15 minutes before the show and reopen 30 minutes after the fireworks are done.

Fireworks will be at dusk. (Supplied)

The Kentwood Police Department and volunteers will be on-site to help direct traffic.

The City is seeking volunteers for its Fourth of July Celebration. Individuals who are interested are encouraged to sign up online or call 616-656-5270. More information about Independence Day activities in Kentwood can be found at kentwood.us/july4.

Other area July 4th activities:

July 2

Grand Rapids: Starting at 6 p.m., there will be family-fun activities, games, food, vendors, and live entertainment which will lead up to the firework show at 10:30 p.m.

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.

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 be include a pancake breakfast, parade with flyover, life music and fireworks at dusk.

Dorr: As usually, the Dorr July 4th Celebration will be the entire weekend, July 2-4 with the the parade and fireworks being on July 4.

For more area July 4th celebrations and activities, visit Experience GR’s website.

How to keep pets safe during the July 4th holiday

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

By BISSELL Pet Foundation
bissellpetfoundation.org

Tire your pets out by spending more time exercising them than normal to keep them calm. (pxhere.com)

With more pets running away on July 4th than any other day of the year, shelter intake rates are once again set to skyrocket after the holiday weekend. As Independence Day celebrations begin, BISSELL Pet Foundation is sharing tips to minimize fear and protect your pet from becoming lost.

According to 24Pet ShelterWatch data, July is consistently the highest month for intakes in our nation’s animal shelters. Shelters across the country are already in crisis with overcrowding and other significant obstacles such as longer length-of-stay for pets, seasonal high intake of puppies and kittens, lack of spay/neuter services during the pandemic, short staffing and slowed adoptions. BISSELL Pet Foundation is committed to fighting shelter overcrowding. One aspect of this is ensuring pet owners take all necessary precautions to keep their pets safe during celebrations to minimize the risk of a pet escaping and getting lost or ending up at a shelter.

“Shelters are full right now and space is limited. Please be proactive to keep your pet safe at home and ensure they are microchipped with updated information,” said BISSELL Pet Foundation Founder Cathy Bissell. “A microchip is not a GPS, but it will increase your chances of reuniting with your pet if they are ever lost.”

To keep pets safe during the holiday weekend, BISSELL Pet Foundation is encouraging pet owners to:

  • Keep pets indoors in a quiet place where they will feel comfortable. Give pets their favorite toy and check on them often to ensure they are calm. 
  • Be sure your pet has a microchip with up-to-date information.
  • Always keep ID tags on your pet and ensure the collar and tags are secure.
  • Tire your pets out by spending more time exercising them than normal to keep them calm.



As our nation’s shelters face unprecedented overcrowding, BISSELL Pet Foundation is doing its part to take homeless pets from kennels to couches with the longest-ever Summer National Empty the Shelters event! From July 11-31, adopt a dog or cat for a reduced fee from one of hundreds of participating shelters throughout the country. A full list of participating shelters will be available soon at https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/empty-the-shelters/.

What it is like experiencing the ‘Beyond Van Gogh’ exhibit

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

More than 300 works by Van Gogh are featured in the “Beyond Van Gogh” exhibit. (Photos by Thomas Hegewald)

By Thomas Hegewald
WKTV Contributing Writer

Vincent Van Gogh’s life story has been adapted to film in various iterations and there is widespread exposure to his masterpiece, “The Starry Night” and to his tragic life. A quick search yields that this Dutch, Post-Impressionist artist produced nearly 900 paintings within a ten year period. Yet, none of this prepares his admirers for an immersive experience of his life and artwork.

Through July 9, DeVos Place is currently hosting the immersive exhibit “Beyond Van Gogh,” featuring more than 300 of Van Gogh’s paintings. The exhibit is comprised of three rooms. In the first room, attendees weave through lit up panels with text – historical information on Van Gogh and quotes from his correspondence with his brother, Theo. Following this, attendees walk into the “Waterfall” room. Here, images and designs project onto the front-facing wall and then “pour” down onto and across the floor.

“Starry Night Over the Rhone” is just one of the many Van Gogh paintings featured. (Photo by Thomas Hegewald)

The third room contains the main gallery. Here, screens cover all four sides from floor to almost ceiling, with three additional, square columns in the center. While an instrumental soundtrack – of period or complementary pieces – plays, Van Gogh’s art flows across the screens. Digital animation and transitions enhance the illusion of the immersive quality by evoking a sense of being there as the brush strokes appear and the paintings fill and sometimes move across the screens. For one piece, a blank canvas is the initial image, then lines are drawn until a town square is fully rendered. Next, color flows into the piece filling in, between and around the lines until it is emblazoned with vibrant, complementary colors and brush strokes full of movement and vitality. 

A row of portraits transitions to landscapes then to flower bouquets and back to landscapes – showcasing Van Gogh’s style evolving and developing over time. Audience members stand, sit or walk around the space – looking in awe at the projected pieces. Are we viewing Van Gogh’s artwork with empathy, knowing his plight or are the pieces wrought with emotions to begin with? While “fear” doesn’t seem to be encased in any of the pieces, there is a sense of urgency, of something … emerging.

Several of Van Gogh’s self portraits are part of the exhibit as well. (Photo by Thomas Hegewald)

A detailed sketch of landscapes and farm fields fills the screens. Then an instrumental version of the Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun” plays through the speakers as color fills in – like pasture grasses and leaves on trees becoming lively shades of green. A sense of vitality sweeps through the room along with it. The screens darken for a transition. White dashes form swirls against a dark blue background – intensifying in quantity and motion as it evolves, fills in, and becomes … “The Starry Night.”

Numerous segments from paintings occupy the screens and floor – like different colored panels. Randomly, in each one, a signature appears, as though written as we watch, until all the panels bear the same, singular name, Vincent.

The “Beyond Van Gogh” exhibit is open 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the DeVos Place, Exhibit Hall A, 303 Monroe Ave. SE. Some (single) tickets are still available. Individual tickets are $23.99 – $83.99 depending on the package selected. The exhibit runs through July 9.

Kent County offers free testing for National HIV testing day

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

In honor of National HIV Testing Day, the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) is partnering with community organizations to offer “Wellness in the Park” at three parks in Grand Rapids. The KCHD will provide free HIV and STD testing and several other self-care related services including access to health care information and resources, outdoor games and activities, and free snacks and drinks.



The Wellness in the Park events will occur at the following locations and times:

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Park 1200 Franklin St SE, Grand Rapids
    Monday June 27, 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.
  • Heartside Park 301 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids 
    Wednesday, June 29, 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.
  • Garfield Park 250 Burton St SE, Grand Rapids 
    Thursday, June 30, 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.

National HIV Testing Day is June 27 and this year’s theme is “HIV Testing is Self-Care.” Self-care is critical to an individual’s physical and mental health. It is estimated that 13 percent of people who are infected with HIV do not know that they have the virus because they have never been tested. Getting tested and knowing one’s HIV status will equip residents with the information needed to keep them healthy and is an act of self-care.

Kent County has a higher-than-average percentage of people who are diagnosed with HIV at a later stage, meaning they have AIDS or Stage 3 HIV at the time they test. Testing for HIV is important because there are often no symptoms when someone has HIV. Once someone is diagnosed with HIV, medications will help bring the level of the HIV virus in their blood to a point where it is “undetectable,” meaning they are not able to spread the virus to others. With medications, people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives.

Free HIV testing is always available by appointment at KCHD’s Fuller Clinic by calling (616) 632-7171.  

How to stay safe when caught by a rip current

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Environment, Great Lakes, Health, How-To's, Recreation, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org


It is finally nice in West Michigan, which means lots of beach time, but as the recent scare this week at Grand Haven beach reminded many knowing how to handle a rip current is key to water safety.

Grand Haven State Park does not have lifeguards but does utilize a flag system to let beachgoers know conditions.

Under a new land use order that allows the Department of Natural Resources shutdown the Grand Haven State Park on Tuesday, June 21, after water conditions prompted several rescues. Under the new order, the DNR can prevent or fine a person who enters waters under their jurisdiction when certain conditions are present such as harmful bacteria, dangerous weather conditions or rough waves, as was such the case on June 21.

According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, there has been 46 possible great lakes drownings so far in 2022, of which 19 have been in Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is considered the deadliest lake of all the Great Lakes and one of the deadliest lakes in the United States due to the number of drownings.

One of the leading causes of those drownings are rip currents, channelized currents of water flowing away form shore at surf beaches.

To help raise awareness about rip currents, WKTV will be again airing the special “Respect the Power,” on June 28 at 9:30 a.m. and June 30 at 5 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25. 

If caught in a rip current, relax and don’t swim against the current. Rip currents do not pull people under the water.

The video was produced by the Great Lakes Beach & Pier Safety Task Force and was created in memory of Andrew Burton Fox and Daniel Reiss, both who were swept off the Grand Haven pier and drowned in Lake Michigan.

According to Grand Haven officials, rip currents and powerful breaking waves are common in the area of the pier. But education, including recognizing what a riptide looks like and what to do if you are caught in one, can increase the chances of a happy outcome.

From the “Respect the Power” website, it states that the Great Lakes are better understood as inland seas rather than lakes. Storms, not the lakes, can easily generate waves up to 30 feet in the most sever weather. However, even smaller waves can be dangerous.

When waves break, water is pushed up the slope of the shore. Gravity pulls this water back toward the lake. When the water converges in a narrow, river-like current moving away from the shore, it forms what is know as a rip current. Rip currents can be 50 feet to 50 yards or more wide. They can flow to a point just past the breaking waves or hundreds of yards offshore. You can sometimes identify a rip current by its foamy and choppy surface. The water in a rip current may be dirty from the sand being turned up by the current. The water may be colder than the surrounding water. Waves usually do not break as readily in a rip current as in adjacent water.

Moving at one to two feet a second, sometimes up to eight feet which is faster than any Olympic swimmer, a rip current can sweep even the strongest swimmer away from the shore.

According to both the “Respect the Power” and the National Weather Service websites, if caught in a rip current, try to relax. A rip current is not an “undertow” and will not pull you under. Do not try to swim against the current as this is very difficult, even for an experience swimmer. If you can, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current, then swim directly toward shore. If you are tired, tread water and float and call and wave for assistance. The current will carry you to the end or head of the current, where once rested you can swim back to shore.

Some other water safety tips:

1. Learn to swim.

2. Check with a lifeguard or with the park’s current conditions board before entering water.

3. Never swim alone.

4. Never dive headfirst into unknown waters or shallow breaking waves.

5. Piers are navigational structures and not designed as walkways, proceed at your own risk.

6. Do not jump or dive off pier structures.

7. Avoid piers when waves begin to spill over the pier surface.

8. To avoid rip currents, avoid swimming in areas that are discolored with sand and has a choppy or foamy surface.

9. If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to shore (about 30-50 yards) to get out of the rip current before swimming to shore.

10. Protect yourself from the sun. Use sun screen.

With surprising energy, cellist brings a ‘vibe’ to Wyoming concert

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

It’s not blues or classic rock that will take center stage at Tuesday’s Concerts in the Park series in Wyoming.

It’s not a punk rock or country band, either.

It’s a cellist, and his name is Jordan Hamilton, where he will play “a mix of mastery and maverick musicality,” according to his bio.

Jordan Hamilton performs on cello at the next Wyoming Concerts in the Park set for Tuesday. (Supplied)

In an interview with WKTV Journal, Hamilton – who is extremely humble – explained his style is not something you see every day.

“I have a hard time speaking about myself,” said the Kalamazoo-based vocalist and instrumentalist. “I have been told it’s an experience.”

Local music journalist John Sinkevics of LocalSpins.com agrees.

“Plucking, sawing, pounding and caressing the cello to extract sometimes other-worldly sounds; melding live looping with classical music interludes, hip hop, and jazz,” he said of Hamilton’s performance.

A native of Maryland who was classically trained on Western European composers, Hamilton, 29, started playing cello when he was 8-years-old. He learned all of the classics, but he was also introduced to a wide range of music by his dad, who listened to Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly and the Family Stone and Bobby McFerrin.

As he got older he would sneak off to listen to Nas, Fabulous and Jay-Z.

Still, he stayed focused on the cello.

After graduating from the Conservatory of Music at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, he earned a Master’s degree in cello performance in 2018 at Western Michigan University. Hamilton remained in Kalamazoo mainly because of steady gigs, but was forced to stay longer during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Eventually he will leave Michigan for other opportunities “when the time is right,” he said. But for now, he loves playing his music and introducing audiences to the cello because “cello is at the center of everything” he does, he said.

“You don’t see a lot of cellos doing concerts that are not outside of the symphony….It’s definitely unique. It’s a niche.”

He will perform as a trio in Wyoming, bringing a keyboard player and drum programmer. He will play mainly original songs, as well as a few covers.

“You can expect a little bit of soul vibes, jazz vibes, beat music vibes, some very spacy vibes, and all over the place kind of vibes,” Hamilton said.

According to his bio, Hamilton’s music is  “emotional energy crafted from integrity, immaterial and immortal, experienced at the speed of sound, with a bit of bounce, groove by the ounce, and all the jump you’ll need to move.”

More directly, he said, just “come to the show, and you will leave with something more than you were expecting.”

And “be prepared to have open ears,” he added. “It’s going to be a wide range of music, but it’s all going to feel like it’s in place…If you like jazz piano, hip hop beats and cello, this is a show for you.”

Hamilton performs at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 28 at Lamar Park in Wyoming. Admission is free. More info: Wyoming Concerts in the Park Facebook page.

The Tuesday night series continues through Aug. 2. All shows will be recorded and aired on WKTV. More info below.

READ: Wyoming Concerts in the Park return this summer

Learn more about Hamilton at jordanhamiltonmusic.com.

Wyoming Concerts Lineup

June 28 – Jordan Hamilton – Cellist 

July 12 – Randy McAllister – Blues and Soul 

July 19 – Monty Pride – Folk 

July 26 – Bernadette Kathryn – Country 

August 2 – Grupo Latin – Latin Soul (13 piece band)

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.

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.

‘Downton Abbey’ costumes are a delight to see in person

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The formal dining attire in the “Dressing the Abbey” exhibit is complimented by pieces from the Muskegon Museum of Art. (Photo by Thomas Hegewald)

By Thomas Hegewald
WKTV Contributing Writer

I was a little late in becoming a fan of the television series Downton Abbey. It was in its second or third season before I started watching it (from the beginning).

A detail look at the bearded silk of a debutante’s gown. (Photo by Thomas Hegewald)

Initially, it was the title sequence that pulled me in by capturing in carefully composed and choreographed shots the details of life in that time period and setting. I instantly knew that this was a high quality television production where everything, down to minute detail, would be accurate.

Once I started watching, the characters and storylines continued to hold my attention. An integral part of bringing those varied characters to life was the period clothes they wore. During that time period (and setting) people (especially women) changed their attire multiple times during the day to dress appropriately for an event or activity they were participating in. In Downton Abbey, the costumes themselves then played a large role in establishing each character’s personality which in turn helped to engage viewers in watching the series. 

“Dressing the Abbey,” a new exhibit at Muskegon Museum of Art, features 35 costumes from the Downton Abbey™ television series, which ran for five seasons, premiering in 2010. The costumes range from high formal (and intricately beaded), casual tweeds for outdoor or hunting, to humble servants’ uniforms. Exhibits Development Group, based in Minnesota, provided the exhibit components – which included the costumes on mannequins with a few accessories like a bike, horse saddle and rack (also featured in the television series).

Muskegon Museum of Art Director of Marketing Kristina Broughton told me how the museum searched through its permanent collection for period pieces of art to compliment the exhibit. As backdrop to exhibit vignettes, there are oil paintings, prints, Tiffany glassware as well as actual furnishings from the Hackley and Hume homes – on loan from the Lakeshore Museum Center.

Butler and head housekeeper attire. (Photo by Thomas Hegewald)

Muskegon Museum of Art also went as far as to paint an accent wall violet to complement one of the Dowager Countesses’ violet themed costumes. The end result of such thought and execution is that the inclusion of period pieces enhances the sense of being there. Where mannequins stand in formal attire of a tux or beaded gown, behind them are portraits of aristocrats in oil and an ornately carved wood table and chairs – giving a sense of a formal dinner party. Complimenting a display of less formal dresses, though no less intricately designed, are a number of Tiffany lamps and glassware.

Broughton also pointed out that the costume designers always sought to use period pieces when creating the custom-made clothing – like period fabric. In one piece, it is noted that the jacket for a dress ensemble was actually made out of a period tablecloth.

Each exhibit grouping features printed information regarding the character/scene in which the costume was worn as well as additional historical information regarding a particular setting or activity. Period pieces from Muskegon Museum of Art’s collection or on loan are also identified for inquisitive visitors, like me.

As a draw for younger attendees of the exhibit, Muskegon Museum of Art created a space focused on children’s toys at the time as well as a touch and feel area. Visitors of any age can test their tactile skills by feeling the difference between types of fabrics hanging from a wall.

 

“The Dressing the Abbey” exhibit runs through Sept. 12 at the Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 W. Webster Ave, downtown Muskegon. Check muskegonartmuseum.org for information on gallery hours and entry fee.

Photo of the Week: Studio 28

Citizen Journalism, ,

It was an iconic fixture on 28 Street for almost forty years and a big part of the City of Wyoming’s history. Studio 28 opened on Christmas Day in 1965 with a single 1,000-seat theatre ultimately expanded to become one of the largest movie theaters in the area, and the nation, featuring 20 screens by 1988. Studio 28 closed on Nov. 23, 2008, just a month short of its 41st birthday.  The building was demolished in 2014.

It is just one of the many places included in the new book “The Miracle Mile,” which follows the growth of 28th Street from Beals Road to becoming a major thoroughfare for the Greater Grand Rapids area. The book, released by Wyoming Historical Commission, is now available at the Wyoming History Room located at the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW. The History Room’s normal hours are 9:30 a.m. – noon Tuesdays and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of the month. The book also will be available during Metro Cruise Aug. 26 and 27. 

Gonzo’s Top 5: Summer is supposed to be fun any day of the week

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Entertainment, Gonzo's Top 5, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

I love being in downtown Grand Rapids on a Tuesday night when it feels like the weekend.

That’s what happened for the opening of Broadway GR’s “Mean Girls.” The city was buzzing with activity with people out and about for a variety of events, including a very funny show. More on that in a moment.

The truth is, as we get closer to the Fourth of July, summer is supposed to be fun, any day of the week.

If you’ve been reading my Top 5, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal, I often talk about events Friday, Saturday and Sunday. But throughout the summer I’ll add other weekday events, too.

Here we go!

Gonzo’s Top 5

Whorled (courtesy)

5. Deos Ballet, Wholred at The Stray Cafe

Check out this cool collaboration event at 7 p.m. Friday (June 24) when Deos Contemporary Ballet performs featuring live music from award-winning band Whorled! Deos works to uplift artists through a culture focused on diversity, wellness and empathy by partnering with community-based organizations. And Whorled! – a recent winner of a Battle of the Bands competition at The Stray – offers a unique World Fusion sound with a blend of Celtic, bluegrass, French Café and jazz influences. There is no cover charge, but donations will be accepted. More info on The Stray Facebook event page. The Stray is located at 4253 Division Ave S Suite A, Wyoming.

The Soul Syndicate performs at The Ballpark Series and then heads over to the Kentwood Summer Concert series on June 30. (Soul Syndicate)

4. Ballpark Series: The Soul Syndicate, Shimmie Pearl

You will love this old, historic ballpark that dates back to 1937, and located on the West Side of Grand Rapids. The Ballpark Series at Sullivan (formerly Valley) Field is one of many events spearheaded by a group called Fans of Valley Field. On Friday (June 24) you can check out two great acts, The Soul Syndicate and Shimmie Pearl. In fact, we interviewed “classic soul, R&B and funk” band The Soul Syndicate earlier this month about shows in Wyoming and Kentwood. Founder and guitarist Mike Coon said their music is meant to keep your toes tapping and the young at heart dancing. “It’s a party!,” said Coon, who leads the 10-piece band through a long list of songs everyone knows and loves. “It’s a fun band. You don’t sit in chairs and watch us.” The show begins at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $15. Learn more on the Fans of Valley Field Facebook page.

By the way, The Soul Syndicate also performs Thursday (June 30) as part of the Kentwood Summer Concert series.

READ: Summer revs up with Kentwood concerts, farmers market combo

READ: The Soul Syndicate performs at Wyoming Concerts in the Park

3. Last Sundays Outdoor Market, Grand Rapids

Doing something on Sundays makes the weekend last so much longer! That’s why I love the concept of “Last Sundays,” which is a monthly outdoor market at Bridge Street Market in Grand Rapids. It features a variety of local makers, vendors, farmers, food carts, samplings and more. It takes place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday (June 26) on the corner of Bridge Street and Seward Avenue. Other dates: July 31, Aug. 28 and Sept. 25. More info at https://www.bridgestreetmarket.com/blog/2021/6/3/last-sundays-outdoor-market.

2. Van Andel Arena

As I said earlier, the weekends are busy in downtown GR, especially when the Van Andel Arena is hosting big events.

  • On Saturday (June 25): It’s the Outlaw Music Festival with Willie Nelson and Family, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Jason Isbell, Charley Crockett, Brittney Spencer and more. Doors open at 3 p.m. Particle Kid kicks it off at 3:50 p.m., followed by Brittney Spencer at 4:30 p.m.
  • On Sunday (June 26): The first-year Cheer Live 2022 stops in for a truly, one-of-a-kind live show from Emmy Award-winning Netflix docuseries “Cheer.” The live performance features 14-time National Champion coach and best-selling author, Monica Aldama alongside cheer stars such as Gabi Butler and Morgan Simianer. The show brings together fan favorites from the two most successful rival cheer programs in the country, Navarro College and Trinity Valley Community College.

More info on both shows at vanandelarena.com.

Get into the spirit when “Mean Girls” comes to DeVos Performance Hall next week. (Supplied)

1.”Mean Girls,” DeVos Performance Hall

Yes, I lived under a rock in the early 2000s. How else do you explain the fact that I never saw the popular 2004 film “Mean Girls”? Well, now I know what I missed: A truly hilarious, comedic and sometimes too-close-to-reality depiction of life in high school. Now an award-winning Broadway musical, “Mean Girls” opened Tuesday at DeVos Performance Hall as part of a national tour with performances through Sunday (June 26). Get all the details at https://broadwaygrandrapids.com/mean-girls. Earlier this week, WKTV Journal published my interview with Ann Arbor native Nadina Hassan, who plays the Queen Bee of Mean, Regina George, in the musical.

READ: Wearing pink, ‘Mean Girls’ take charge of the DeVos stage

Check out the full interview in my podcast “Then By All Means, Lead the Way.”

Listen to “Nadina Hassan says ‘Mean Girls’ is ‘pure joy'” on Spreaker.

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.

KDL designs award to find local literacy champions

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

KDL is looking for local champions in literacy for its KDL Literacy Champion award.

Jeopardy! champion James Holzhauer openly admits that it was the children’s nonfiction section of his library that helped him bring home big winnings and, as a thank you, he donated some of those winnings to local libraries in his area.

Country singer and musician Dolly Parton has always believed that not being able to read was what kept her own father from accomplishing his goals in life and for that reason she started Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in East Tennessee.

Former First Lady Barbara Bush’s work as an educator carried over into her public life as she became an advocate for literacy which lead to the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

Holzhauer, Parton, and Bush have been recognized as literacy champions, a person who has gone above and beyond to improve literacy within their own community.

The Kent District Library hopes to recognize and an individual and organization who have gone above and behind to improve literacy in the Kent County area through its newly created KDL Literacy Champion Award.

“Literacy is the foundation of all learning for our children and throughout life,” said KDL Executive Director Lance Werner. “There are many people and organizations who have exceptional passion for literacy, creating a profound impact on life in our community. The KDL Literacy Champion Award shines a light on and celebrates them.”

The award will be given to one individual and one organization who does or has done something exceptional to promote literacy. To find those individuals and groups, KDL has opened public nominations through July 31. Nominations may be submitted online at kdl.org/literacychampion.

Nominees should have demonstrated leadership and exceptional achievement in advancing reading. Individuals can be teachers, tutors, school librarians, authors, and others. Organizations can be schools, non-profit services, for-profit businesses, and government entities.

Nominations will be reviewed by a panel from KDL and its Board of Trustees. Winners will be publicly announced and celebrated on Sept. 15 at the eighth annual Literary Libations Gala. Each winner will receive $1,000 in cash, a crystal trophy and two tickets to the KDL’s Literary Librations Gala.

For complete details about the KDL Literacy Champion Award, visit kdl.org/literacychampion. 

NEA grant helps to shine light on the importance of the 49507 Project

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In an interview last year, the Diatribe Executive Director Marcel “Fable” Price and teaching artist Foster “AutoPilot” to discuss 49507 Project initiative. (WKTV)

By Sheila McGrath
WKTV Contributing Writer


The Diatribe relies on funding of all kinds to do its work.

But a recent $75,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts will give the nonprofit Grand Rapids arts organization more than just a financial boost.

“The reason this is such a huge deal is historically, NEA grants have gone to pretty large, prestigious organizations in the city of Grand Rapids,” said Marcel Price, founder and executive director of The Diatribe. “The NEA opening funding like this to organizations that are our size really gives us capacity, and allows us to show national as well as local funders alike how well we can be responsible stewards of federal dollars.”

“Enjoying the Roots of Our Positive Struggle,” by E’lla Webber, is located at 40 Acres Consulting, 703 Eastern Ave. SE. (Photo by Leda Theres for The 49507 Project.)

The funds will go to The Diatribe’s 49507 Project, which is in its second summer of bringing beauty and neighborhood pride to an underserved side of Grand Rapids. Last year, Black and Brown artists with the project created seven large-scale murals on buildings around south Grand Rapids. In addition to the murals, the 49507 Project features programming for young people, community listening sessions, and a youth-organized community art unveiling.

The Diatribe was one of 51 organizations across the country to get an Our Town grant from the NEA. The funding is designated for projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, or social outcomes.

“The arts contribute to our individual well-being, the well-being of our communities, and to our local economies,”  said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson. “The arts are also crucial to helping us make sense of our circumstances from different perspectives as we emerge from the pandemic and plan for a shared new normal informed by our examined experience.”

An NEA grant requires a higher level of bookkeeping and tracking than other types of funding, so The Diatribe’s  success with this NEA grant will help them secure additional grants from large donors in the future, Price said.

“A lot of people in Grand Rapids, when it comes to art, they believe there’s only one view of what art can be or where it can be,” he said.

This year, the group is bringing eight more murals to the 49507 zip code. Price met with city officials on June 20 to get approval for the design of the murals.

A key component to the 49507 Project is community engagement. (Supplied)

“All of the buildings have been primed and are ready. All of the artists have been selected and all the paint has been ordered for their murals, so this is the last step and then they’re off and running,” he said.

The murals will tell the stories of the area’s people, neighborhoods and businesses at a time when tensions continue to exist there, particularly with the April shooting death of Patrick Lyoya at the hands of former Grand Rapids Police officer Christopher Schuur. Price said that this a great year to show that residents of the 49507 zip code have the capacity to build the kind of neighborhood they would like to see.

“People in our listening sessions have been saying, ‘My kids seeing artists who look like them painting in our neighborhoods is inspiring beyond words,’” Price said.

The participating artists and locations of this year’s murals are:

  • Samaria J’s Salon Suite, 701 Grandville Ave SW; artist Arturo Morales Romero 
  • Load A Spud, 1721 Madison Ave SE; artist Edwin Anderson 
  • Farmers Insurance, 2435 Eastern Ave SE; artist Wanda Morena 
  • Mr. B’s Party Store, 1216 Kalamazoo Ave SE; artist Rryuhn Dotson
  • Aleman Auto Repair, 1801 Division Ave S.; artist Hugo Claudin 
  • Cisneros Tires, 800 Division Ave S.; artist Alynn Guerra
  • Office of Mary Malone, 1956 Eastern Ave.; artist Mila Lynn 
  • BareAll, 123 Hall St. SE; artist BakPak 

Kalamazoo band next up on the Kentwood Summer Concert series

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Local Food, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

It sounds like a story from an old blues song.

A bunch of students from West Michigan University gather in the basement of a bar, cut their teeth with local players and touring musicians, stay friends, and keep playing nearly 20 years later.

Kalamazoo’s Out of Favor Boys take the state this Thursday for Kentwood Summer Concert series. (Supplied)

“We grew up, musically, hosting blues jams in Kalamazoo,” said Joel Krauss, one of the founding members of the Out of Favor Boys. “We’re rooted in that Chicago-style blues but we also have a lot of influences from rock, old soul and jam bands.”

Those roots of the Kalamazoo blues scene from the late 1990s and early 2000s have served them well. Today the lineup includes four of the original members, who moved to Kalamazoo from the east side of the state to go to school, but stayed here for jobs, their friendships and love of the blues.

The lineup includes: Krauss (vocals and guitars), Tony Sproul (saxophone, vocals), Tim Brouhard (bass), Tommy Ufkus (drums) and Dan Ouellette (guitar), who leads the band on calling out the songs each night.

The Out of Favor Boys perform Thursday (June 23) as part of the Kentwood Summer Music Series on the lawn behind City Hall. The concert is at 7 p.m. Admission is free. (See the lineup below.)

READ: Summer revs up with Kentwood concerts, farmers market combo

All concerts will be live streamed by WKTV Community Media. Watch the events live at: https://www.wktv.org/live25.html. If you miss a show you can watch it here at WKTV On Demand.

This year’s lineup includes

Playing in the basement of Mr. Wonderful’s back in the day (on the southside of Kalamazoo), the band had to rely on each other to learn their craft through “jam sessions,” said Tony Sproul.

“You had to be on your toes as much as possible,” he said, and that became almost “addictive.”

To this day, those jam sessions and knowing how to feed off each other on simple cues and gestures, has become an “accidental strong point” to the band’s longevity.

“For us…there is never a night that you’re bored or say, ‘Oh, I gotta play that song again?’ None of us ever have that moment. It stays fresh all the time.”

Today’s sound is a “mix of soul and funk and blues,” Sproul added.

“It’s danceable with a slight mix of funk and old soul, with a blues foundation that we have had over the years.”

The band has released four CDs of original music.

“I would say that (if you) look at them one at a time you’ll see quite a bit of growth between each of them. We started out really raw and live on our first CD,” Krauss said. 

The group has been together for almost 20 years, having released four CDs of original music. (Supplied)

“We actually recorded the whole thing in one night. And by the time you get to our last CD, which we released in 2017, you can see that we’ve become much more focused on writing solid songs. We’re starting to pull songs together for a new recording, which we’ll start working on later this year.”

Along with playing the clubs, the band has also played big festival stages.

“Community music events are sort of a nice middle ground for us – and we play a lot of these things across southern Michigan and into northern Indiana. People who come to these shows are there to hear music,” Krauss said.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to play our own songs to people who are there to listen. There can be some give and take between the band and the audience when everyone’s paying attention like that. Plus, they’re usually small enough that we have time to meet a lot of people between sets and after the show. We’ve made a lot of great connections and gotten a lot of great gigs from meeting people at shows like these.”

When they perform Thursday in Kentwood, fans can expect them to “play a mix of cover songs and original music.”

You’ll be sure to have a good time with familiar songs by some of their favorite blues artists such as Robert Cray, Tab Benoit, Larry McCray and Tommy Castro, Krauss said.

“We play some classic rock, some blues, some soul and give our crowds lots of opportunities to dance,” he added.

Learn more about the band https://outoffavorboys.com/.

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

Film Review: Seth Rogan’s ‘Superbad’ never gets old

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Movie Review, , ,

By Ethan Gough
WKTV Community Contributor

Christopher Mintz-Plasse as McLovin; Jonah Hill as Seth; and Michael Cera as Evan. (Columbia Pictures)

It looks like this week is finally the week I’m right about a film that most people have probably seen. I guess it had to happen sometime. This article is about what is possibly the most iconic comedy film of the 2000s, a movie that catapulted its two leads into the spotlight, and established the now Oscar-winning Emma Stone as a bright new star to be reckoned with. This article is about the 2007 raunchy teen comedy Superbad.

This movie is a right of passage for every teenager in an American high school. It’s rare that a comedy that’s so unashamedly crass and immature successfully balances its juvenile sense of humor with genuine heart and poignancy. People may be attracted to this movie because of its edgy jokes and innuendo, but they return to it because of its likable characters and relatable story.

Superbad had been forming in the minds of its creators, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, since they were both teenagers. Its authenticity can be accredited to the fact that the two men based it on their own experiences of being seniors in Vancouver (a conclusion easily reached when you realize that the main characters are named after them). It’s those personal elements that distinguish Superbad from other thinly plotted, raunchy comedies of the 2000s. This movie wasn’t made by people who go by the “Adam Sandler Method” of hiring moderately prevalent comedians to stand in front of a camera and speak and act out nonsense. It was made by people who had a genuine story to tell and a message to share about growing up. Many of the film’s most memorable moments, such as the period blood on Seth’s leg and Mcclovin’s whole personality, apparently find their origins in the real lives of Rogen and Goldberg.

Seth and Goldberg clearly took a lot of their cues from past coming-of-age classics like American Graffiti and Dazed and Confused, but the screenplay doesn’t feel derivative. Neither of those movies chose to include a subplot that involves the dorky sidekick befriending two man-child police officers and causing more public endangerment than your average radical terrorist. On a more serious note, none of them were as adept in their approach to adolescent friendship. American Graffiti comes close, but that film is more about individual growth. Superbad, however, is all about how we grow through our relationships with our friends; and how that growth inevitably causes us to grow apart from each other. Seth and Evan are portrayed as having been friends their whole lives. They’ve been through everything together, and love each other despite the fact that their antics (mostly Seths) constantly derail their lives. That’s an incredibly sweet and relatable theme for a movie that’s mostly about three guys trying to score booze to impress some attractive girls that (for whatever reason?) already liked them anyway.

If nothing else, the film succeeds in what it sets out to do, it makes us laugh. I’ve seen it many times now and most of the scenes still send me into hysterics, even when I’m watching it by myself. I don’t love every movie that has Seth Rogen’s name attached to it. I find many of them to be subpar gross-out comedies with a few solid laughs and absolutely no brains, but this was clearly a very personal story for him and Goldberg, and that human element puts it above all the other entries in the genre.

Ethan Gough is an Independent filmmaker and film critic pursuing his passion for cinema at Motion Picture Institute in Troy, Michigan this fall. He received the award for Best Live Action Short at the 2020 Kent County Teen Film Festival for his film Summer Days. He had two films in the 2022 Kent County Teen Film Festival, Bros Night and Alone. Ethan also written from Reel Rundown and Hub Pages.

Dégagé to focus lens on homelessness through film series

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Hard News, Health, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

 Dégagé Ministries is excited to host Unhoused, a film series on the causes, realities, and solutions to homelessness. The event series will include two films shown at Wealthy Theater on June 22 and July 20 from 6-9 p.m., followed by an outdoor community celebration at Dégagé Ministries, 144 Division Ave S, on Aug. 10 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

US AND THEM from Krista Loughton on Vimeo.



To register, attendees can visit https://www.classy.org/event/unhoused-a-film-series-on-the-causes-realities-and-solutions-to-homelessness/e406342, or contact Kacey Spencer at 616-454-1661 ex. 227, or kacey@degageministries.org with any questions.

Each film will be followed by a Q&A with representatives from various organizations, including Mel Trotter Ministries, Family Promise, and Network180. Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Kyd Kane will moderate all sessions.

The film series will culminate in an Outdoor Community Celebration on Aug. 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., outside Dégagé Ministries at the corner of Cherry and Sheldon Avenue. This celebration will feature local food trucks and a live poetry reading by Kane. Food and drink will be available for purchase at all three events, but are otherwise free for the public.

 

The first film featured, Us & Them, documents ten years in the lives of four individuals facing homelessness. Directed by Krista Loughton and Jennifer Abbott, the film explores the challenges of homelessness, and the powerful transformations created through human connection.

The second film, The Public, continues the theme by retelling a story of civil disobedience in Cincinnati, as people turned to a public library for shelter from the outdoor elements. Both films seek to explore and educate the general population about the complexities of homelessness in our community, and wider society.

“Homelessness is a multi-faceted issue with widespread effects in our city,” says Dégagé Ministries Executive Director Thelma Ensink. “Our goal is to bring the complexities of homelessness to light, and promote education and conversation in our community.” 

It is Elder Abuse Awareness Month: Know the signs

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

By Emily Armstrong
Area Agency of Aging Western Michigan

Make sure to check in with your older adult regulars to make sure their needs are being meet. (pxhere.com)

June is World Elder Abuse Awareness month! This month works not only to educate people on the topic of elder abuse, but also to increase reporting numbers as elder abuse is under-reported and start discussions on how to recognize and prevent this abuse. The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations (UN) launched the first World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2006 in an effort to unite communities around the world in raising awareness about elder abuse.

Elder abuse is widespread. Every year an estimated five million, or one in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. And that’s only part of the picture: Experts believe that elder abuse is significantly under-reported, in part because so many of our communities lack the social supports that would make it easier for those who experience abuse to report it. This is where you can help by knowing the warning signs and reporting abuse when you suspect it. When we come together, we can prevent elder abuse from happening.

Some Warning Signs of Abuse

Elder abuse includes financial abuse/scams, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Kent County Elder Abuse Coalition Coordinator Cassie Caple, who is also the contract administrator with the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, explained a few of these warning signs.

“Whether you are a professional with an older adult client, or a family member checking in on a loved one, a few physical things you can look out for include unexplained bruises, reports of recent falls, and sudden weight loss,” Caple said. “Or if you are having a conversation and they mention something along the lines of unpaid bills, feeling lonely, or perhaps not taking their medication, these can be signs of abuse as well. So, it is really good to check in, ask what they might need, and have that heightened awareness.”

Taking the time to intentionally check in with the older adults in your life is a great first step. It is recommended that you have this conversation with the older adult alone so they can feel safe in sharing any concerns.

Reporting Abuse

Once you are educated on what to look out for, and feel that abuse may be occurring, it is time to take action. If you have concern that an older adult in your life is not in a safe and healthy living situation, you can report this to reputable agencies. Below are a few reliable places to start:

  • Adult Protective Services investigators protect vulnerable adults and staff will investigate allegations within 24 hours after the report is received. APS has a 24/7 Hotline: 855-444-3911 where anyone is able to make a report.
  • Long Term Care Ombudsman advocate for residents in long term care facilities: 1-866-485-9393 or visit www.mltcop.org
  • Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Complaint Hotline takes complaints against various state licensed and federally certified health facilities, agencies, and programs: 800-882-6006 or visits www.Michigan.gov/lara



If you’d like further resources on elder abuse, the Kent County Elder Abuse Coalition at www.protectkentseniors.org specializes in compiling up-to-date information on scams, advocating for seniors, and remaining dedicated to the elimination of elder abuse in Kent County and the surrounding areas. The Michigan Elder Abuse Task Force through the state of Michigan at www.michigan.gov also shares a number of resources. And lastly, the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan can connect you with community resources at (616) 456-5664. 

‘American Idol’ contestant headlines Wyoming’s next Concert in the Park

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

If you’re a fan of soul singers such as Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers and Al Green, you’re going to love Nathan Walton & The Remedy.

Nathan Walton looks for to an evening of soul music at Wyoming’s Lamar Park. (Supplied)

“We play a lot of soul music, and soul covers. We got a pretty good size band….we’re just out to put on a good show for the community,” Walton said in an interview with WKTV Journal.

Walton and his rock ‘n’ roll soul band The Remedy will perform those songs – and may other covers – as part of Wyoming’s weekly concert series at 7 p.m. June 21 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.

If Walton’s name sounds familiar, maybe it’s because he was featured on TV’s “American Idol.”

The singer appeared on Season 3 of the ABC show, where he received a Golden Ticket and competed in Hollywood with talented vocalists from all over the country. Judge Lionel Richie called his voice “a cannon.”

Walton said his experience on “American Idol” in 2020 was “life changing.”

“It was incredible…for sure,” said Walton, who graduated in 2011 from Byron Center High School.  “A friend of mine encouraged me to audition, and I’m glad I did. The next I knew I was in L.A. and hanging out with Lionel Richie. I became a Top 60 singer in America, which was pretty awesome.”

Since then Walton has gained a local following.

He was the “Staff Pick” for Best Solo Musician in Revue Magazine’s “2021 Best of the West” issue.

According to Revue contributing editor, Eric Mitts:

Nathan Walton will perform with his group The Remedy on Tuesday. (Supplied)

“Walton has shone bright. Sure, his powerful, soulful vocals draw most of the attention, but it’s his prolifically diverse songwriting and passion behind the scenes that make him an increasingly major part of the music scene, and an artist everyone should know.”

He’s also proud of his band The Remedy, which put out an album last spring. The seven-piece band also includes a jazz vocalist.

In addition, he is known for assembling a “supergroup” of well-known local multi-instrumentalists called King Possum. And he regularly lends his powerful voice to bands like Stone Soup and the Broken Teeth, and with special guests at his Greyline Brewing residency.

He also serves as music director for Elevator a GoGo, a West Michigan-based platform to discover music, the spoken word, and performance artists from America and around the world.

As for his upcoming gig, he’s just hoping for good weather. His band is ready to go!

“We’re just thankful we could be playing for the community,” he said, “that’s really what we’re happy about. We’ll get out to see some friends and hopefully put on a good show.”

Learn more about Nathan Walton on his website nathanwaltonlive.com/.

Listen to tracks of his latest album at nathanwalton.hearnow.com.

Wyoming Concerts in Park 2022 are all at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park. Admission is free. More info: Wyoming Concerts in the Park Facebook page.

Upcoming Concerts:

June 28 – Jordan Hamilton – Cellist 

July 12 – Randy McAllister – Blues and Soul 

July 19 – Monty Pride – Folk 

July 26 – Bernadette Kathryn – Country 

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.

Local organization partners with Woodland Mall to encourage reading

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Kids Activities, Local Business, , , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

This year’s One Book, One County featured book is “The Caring Me I Want to Be!” (WKTV)

A local organization and Woodland Mall have partnered to promote reading through the One Book, One County initiative.

“Meeting families where they are has always been important to us,” said Family Futures Partnership Coordinator Susi Alonso. “Our partnership with the Woodland Mall is allowing us to better serve our Kent County families by being present somewhere they can easily access us.”

The nonprofit Family Futures will be distributing the book “The Caring Me I Want to Be” by Mary DiPalermo on select Fridays and Saturdays in June. There is a limited supply of the books.

The One County, One Book initiative was kicked off by the Great Start Parent Coalition’s Nurturing Parent Power Workshop at the end of March. The goal of the initiative is to distribute 9,000 books to families.

Along with the book, the campaign provided a calendar of activities parents could use to engage their children based on the book such as writing a letter to a friend telling them why you like them or going outside and counting all the different signs of spring. The calendar will be available during the book distributions at Woodland Mall.

More than 20 local organizations participated in the program to help distribute the books, which includes Family Futures, a nonprofit that works to create communities in which all children are supported to achieve their full potential. The organization does this by supporting families with children ages 0-5. Family Futures works with parents to understand their children’s development, supporting them every step of the way and connecting them to resources when needed.

Members of the One Book, One County campaign hold up this year’s selection. (WKTV)

Family Futures and Woodland Mall have been working together since April. Family Futures has been tabling at different locations throughout the mall and handing out sensory bottles, toys, and connecting families to Connections and Healthy Families Kent County, it’s two main programs. Family Futures was also the recipient of a $1,000 donation from the Woodland Mall from a social media fundraising effort.

“We are fortunate to have an ongoing partnership with Family Futures, an organization that provides great programming for families,” said Woodland Mall/PREIT Interim Senior Marketing Director Mike Ross. “We are thankful that they are able to provide experiences for our shoppers and we love hearing the laughter and seeing the smiles from the children in the mall when they are engaging with the families.”

Support Sheldon House by donating your items for upcoming sale

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, How-To's, Non-Profits, West Michigan, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Clean and usable items may be dropped off on June 25 and 26 at 2929 Ottawa Ave. SW, Grandville. (Supplied)

Have some unwanted items that need a new home? Cherry Health is looking for gently used or new items for an upcoming community thrift sale in support of the Sheldon House, a program focused on breaking the stigma of mental illness.

Cleaned and usable items may be dropped off from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26, at 2929 Ottawa Ave. SW, Grandville. Items that will not be accepted are mattresses, sleeper sofas, cribs/car seats, tube TVs, stuffed animals, and hazardous chemicals/waste.

If you are looking for assistance in cleaning out, Moxie Life Organizing, which is partnering with Cherry Health for the sale, offers serves from life consulting to full-service decluttering, organizing, and staging.

The sale will be at the same location, 2929 Ottawa Ave., SW, on Wednesday, June 29, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday, June 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Half price items will be available starting at noon on June 30.

Sheldon House is a clubhouse model program that provides support, opportunity and resources to adults with mental illness in Kent County. With the help of personal staff, members attending Sheldon House have a place to feel accepted, needed and supported. Other benefits include gaining skills, obtaining employment, pursuing education opportunities and building a support system.

The upcoming sale proceeds will be used to support Sheldon House’s members who are aspiring to achieve their personal goals and contribute to the communities they live in. Cherry Health’s Sheldon House program is one of 47 Clubhouse Programs in Michigan and among hundreds of clubhouses worldwide. The accredited program provides strong outcomes, including improved physical and mental health, decreased hospitalizations, reduced incarcerations, greater employment opportunities, and increased overall quality of life for those living with mental illness.

For more about the Sheldon House project and the sale, visit the Sheldon House website.

Moxie Life Organizing helps turn this into…
…an organized space that looks like this.

Wearing pink, ‘Mean Girls’ take charge of the DeVos stage

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

“Mean Girl” rules: Regina, played by Nadina Hassan (second from right) lays down the rules. (Supplied)

“Mean Girls” is such an iconic movie that just about everyone has seen it or has heard lines from the film without even knowing it.

That’s what makes it so much fun.

Everyone can relate.

Whether it’s flashbacks to high school days or even in your current work environment, “Mean Girls” draws you in.

“This show is so relatable because every single person can see themselves in this show,”  said Ann Arbor native Nadina Hassan, who plays Regina George in the Broadway touring musical that stops June 21-26 at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids.

“You don’t even have to be a girl. …You find somebody that you relate to, that you may have been in high school or knew somebody in high school or even in your workplace now, you recognize these behaviors.

“Everyone leaves connecting with one or more of the characters.”

“Mean Girls” is a hilarious hit musical from an award- winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey – yes, that Tina Fey, from hit movies and the “30 Rock” TV show, as well as composer Jeff Richmond (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist Nell Benjamin (“Legally Blonde”) and director Casey Nicolaw (“The Book of Mormon”).

It tells the story of Cady Heron, who grew up on the African savanna, but now has to adjust with life in suburban Illinois. She falls prey to a “trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung,” according to the show notes.

The hardest part for Cady is that she “has to navigate all these clicks,” Hassan said.

And her character is at the center of the “mean.”

“Regina is head of the Plastics and they basically rule the school….They are untouchables,” Hassan said. She is the “meanest of the mean girls.”

Get into the spirit when “Mean Girls” comes to DeVos Performance Hall June 21-26. (Supplied)

If you loved the movie, which was released in 2004 and starred Lindsay Lohan as Cady and Rachel McAdams as Regina, then you’ll love the musical, Hassan said.

All the classic lines from the movie “we keep in the show,” she added. “And we’ve updated things to include social media, which is a big part of our lives these days.”

Growing up in Ann Arbor, Hassan fell in love with theater while acting in productions at the Pioneer Theatre Guild and attending Skyline High School. After graduation she picked up her studies in theater performance at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, near Cleveland. She graduated in 2020.

“I’m glad I went away to college,” she said. Baldwin Wallace “is a small liberal arts university where you have no choice but to stay super focused. I feel I left college ready to take on this kind of job.”

She did some Regional theater, performing in “Tick, Tick… BOOM!” (Susan), “West Side Story” (Maria) and “Be More Chill” (Brooke).

But “Mean Girls” is her first major Broadway tour. She actually auditioned during the pandemic from her bedroom while in Ann Arbor.

She calls landing the gig “a dream come true.”

“I’m so lucky, I never expected this. It happened so fast,” Hassan said.

Her advice to those who are on the same path?

Stepping out on the DeVos Performance Hall stage is “Mean Girls.” (Supplied)

“I know it sounds cheesy, but doing material that you genuinely like performing makes all the difference,” she said. “It opens up a lot of creative avenues for you.”

Right now she loves being in her home state of Michigan where “Mean Girls” wraps up on Sunday at the Fischer Theatre in Detroit before heading to Grand Rapids.

Along with having family and friends come to almost every show, she was able to visit on her day off some of her favorite foodie places like Café Zola, Blank Slate Creamery and Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor.

“I brought back sandwiches for the cast,” she said.

It’s a great cast, she added, and people will enjoy the show.

“I can guarantee you will laugh, you will cry, and you will be cheering,” Hassan said. “It is the most fun you’ll have at a theater performance. It’s 2 ½ hours of straight joy. You will leave much happier than when you arrived.”

Listen to “Nadina Hassan says ‘Mean Girls’ is ‘pure joy'” on Spreaker.

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.

Gonzo’s Top 5: Garden tour, the LPGA, and Juneteenth

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Gonzo's Top 5, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Local Food, Recreation, Restaurants, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

Most schools are out for the summer, which means families are looking for things to do with the kids. Maybe even things to do with dad, since it’s also Father’s Day on Sunday.

Well, you’re in luck! I have a few ideas – some for kids, some for adults – in my Top 5, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.

5. Beer & Brat Street Festival, Sparta

If you’re up for a little road trip to Sparta, this first-year event looks like a lot of fun. Presented by the Sparta Chamber, the Beer and Brat Street Festival is a two-day street party with games, live music, shopping and – you guessed it, beer and brats! Hours are 4-11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday. Learn more on the Sparta Chamber Facebook event page.

Heritage Hill Garden Tour will feature 10 private gardens and two organization gardens in this year’s event. (Supplied)

4. Heritage Hill Garden Tour, Grand Rapids

Take a pleasant walk along streets of Heritage Hill where 12 historic homes will open their gardens from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday (June 18).  “From showy displays in front gardens bursting with color to hidden gems waiting behind a home to warmly welcome guests, the possibilities of what a garden can be will inspire you,” according to press material.

On this self-guided tour, some of the gardens you will find include:

  1. President Gerald Ford’s boyhood back yard now filled with statuary and rare plantings.
  2. Wonderland over 40 years in the making that surrounds an enchanting home. 
  3. A serene and elegant backyard setting that includes a complete outdoor kitchen.
  4. A stately brick home perfectly surrounded by beautiful plantings.  
  5. A small but artfully designed garden that makes wise use of every space.
  6. A front yard garden that catches the eye of everyone who passes by.
  7. Free-flowing flower garden on Prospect Avenue that wears new colors for every season.
  8. Formal fountains galore surrounding a home on College Avenue.
  9. Peaceful natural water feature that accents a shade garden. 
  10. A sweet little garden on Paris Avenue.
  11.  Vibrant annuals and perennials at the Voigt House tended by volunteers.
  12.  Formal gardens at the Meyer May House that are reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architecture.

Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 on the day of the tour. Tickets are available for presale through midnight on June 17 at heritagehillweb.org.


More:Heritage Hill to host colorful garden tour this Saturday

Asian-Pacific Festival returns to downtown Grand Rapids this weekend. (Supplied)

3. Division Ave Arts & Culture Festival

Speaking of things to do with the family, this is perfect! According to WKTV contributing writer D.A. Reed, the Division Ave. Art & Culture Festival features “food and craft vendors, live music, Pacific Island dancers, interactive art, a colorful dragon parade, fun prize giveaways, and more.” She adds that several local Division Avenue businesses will be participating in the festival, including The Stray, Café Boba, Quest Fitness, and Natural Maya. A portion of 43rd Street will be closed down to accommodate the Festival. It is presented by the Division Avenue Business Association (DABA) and takes place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday (June 18). Learn more on the Facebook Event page. Or read her story.

READ: Division Avenue hosts first annual festival on June 18

2. Meijer LPGA Classic

The LPGA Tour is back in Belmont for the eighth playing of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. All seven previous winners are in the field at Blythefield Country Club, including defending champion Nelly Korda, two-time winner Brooke Henderson and former world No. 1 So Yeon Ryu. In addition, foodies will delight in the new premium hospitality experience offered by J Brewers, is named in honor of the financier who purchased the land where Blythefield now stands. Located on the fourth fairway , J. Brewers will feature more than a 20,000-square-foot pavilion with elevated food and beverage pairings curated and prepared by local and minority-owned restaurants. Daily tickets for access to the J Brewers pavilion cost $75, but gives you front-row views of the on-course action, television viewing areas, great seats and all-you-can-eat access to food and beverage items, featuring local vendors and premium cocktails. General admission tickets are $10 Thursday through Sunday. Kids, ages 17 and under, will receive free admission with a ticketed adult. General admission tickets include general grounds access to the tournament, public viewing area and various Grand Taste viewing and concessions areas located throughout the course. The Golf Channel will show play from 3-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday. All the details of the Meijer LPGA Classic at meijerlpgaclassic.com.

1.Juneteenth Celebration

On June 19 we celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States. But this weekend we celebrate and pay homage to African American freedom with celebrations throughout the area. Experience Grand Rapids has an extensive list, and our friends at WZZM also have a list that includes Muskegon Heights, Holland and virtual events.

A few of note locally:

John Ball Zoo is hosting Juneteenth Fest, which is a community BBQ with live music, food grilling, people dancing, kids playing, people shopping and hanging out. It takes place 2-7 p.m. Saturday (June 18). Admission is free.

Support local Black creatives and vendors at the Baxter Juneteenth Celebration  held June 18 in Joe Taylor Park . It’s all about family, food, fun, education, empowerment and entertainment.

The 2nd annual Justice 4 All Juneteenth Jam is Sunday at Rosa Parks Circle and includes live music, Black-owned food and business vendors, a graffiti art showcase and more. It is sponsored by the city and local African American apparel company Justice 4 All.

The 5th annual Grand Rapids Juneteenth Dundunba  at Dickinson Buffer Park begins with a parade and segues into an afternoon of live entertainment, raffle giveaways and more. June 19.

Enjoy food, fun and entertainment at two Juneteenth “pop-up” events: June 18 at Rosa Parks Circle and June 19  at Martin Luther King Park.

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.

Fulton Street Market to host solstice event on Tuesday

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Food, Local Food, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The Fulton Street Farmers Market will host a Summer Solstice Celebration! on Tuesday. (Supplied)

The Fulton Street Farmers Market will be hosting its Summer Solstice Celebration! Tuesday, June 21, from 4-8 p.m.

We welcome everyone to come celebrate 100 years of food, farming, art, and community. This event is a non-market event, meaning there are no vendors besides concessions as this is a celebration we want our farmers, food producers, and artisans to attend and enjoy themselves while mingling with each other and the community.

This is a family-friendly event for all ages, featuring a kid’s craft activity hosted by The Monstorium, an artisan market vendor. There will be live music by four musicians throughout the evening who are regular performers at the Saturday markets. Fae Floral are making a flower archway for participants to pose for selfies and group shots to capture the fun of the evening.  There will be beer, seltzer, and cider available for purchase as well as the release of the market’s signature centennial beer the Solstice Sambucus created in collaboration with two market vendors and crafted by Speciation Artisan Ales. The Solstice Sambucus is an elderberry basil Saison.

 

The following concessions will be available during the event: Street Chef Shaw, Los Jalapenos, Agua Fresca, Momma D’s Kitchen, Around Baking Company, Ollie’s Donuts, Any Colour You Like Popsicles, and Tor’s Tonics.

There is no charge to attend the event, and everyone is welcome.  The market is located at 1145 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids. For more information check out the Fulton Street Farmers Market website at: www.fultonstreetmarket.org. 

The history of 28th Street celebrated in Wyoming book

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Local Business, Local History, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

From being a dirt road to being a major thoroughfare, 28th Street is a roadway of history in the Greater Grand Rapids, especially for the City of Wyoming.

So much so, that the Wyoming Historical Commission has spent the last year compiling a new book “From Beals Road to 28th Street, a History of The Miracle Mile.” The book is being released this Saturday with copies available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wyoming Historical Room, located inside the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW.

“We like to think of ‘The Miracle Mile’ as a scrapbook that not only outlines the commercial history from South Division Avenue to Byron Center Avenue but will likely jog many found memories for our readers,” said David Britten, who headed up the project. “It should be a valuable addition to anyone’s local history collection.”

The project is the result of conversations held during Metro Cruise last August as visitors stoped at the Historical Commission’s booth in the Rogers Plaza area, Britten said.

Studio 28 was the first megaplex and one of the largest movie theaters in the world. It was located along 28th Street.

The result is 122-page, 8-1/2by-11 inch book containing more than 200 photos and dozens of advertisements and articles from the earliest years.

In “The Miracle Mile” book, there are three sections detailing the growth of the commercial corridor from 1946 through 1973. A section titled “The Early Years” outlines the changes over time in the road, itself, the Rogers School, and the first few businesses in what was then a rural, farming section of Wyoming Township.

During that time period, 28th Street has been called many names, Beals Road, the Sunset Strip of Grand Rapids and of course, The Miracle Mile.

For around 90 years, 28th Street has served as the southern gateway helping residents and travelers move east and west, serving as the southern border of the Beltline, a bypass route around the city. At one time it was the second busiest highway in the State of Michigan and home to so many hamburger joints, it was said you could have a different one every day and not eat at the same place for three months.

In 1957, US-131 was completed with direct access on and off of 28th Street. It immediately caused change along the roadway. 

In the fifties, McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in the West Michigan area along the stretch of 28th Street in Wyoming. Rogers Plaza would open in 1961 followed by Southland (now 28th West Plaza). Rogers Plaza was the first major modern shopping center in Kent County and caused a tremendous change in metropolitan area shopping.

And just what Rogers Plaza did for shopping, Studio 28 did for movie attendance as Studio 28 was the first megaplex and one of the largest movie theaters in the world.

It was in the Rogers Plaza parking lot during the 2021 Metro Cruise that the idea for “The Miracle Mile” book came about. Rogers Plaza was the first shopping center in Kent County and it is located on 28th Street. (WKACC)

More stores sprouted up on 28th Street, which was widened to five lanes, and that was about the time the nickname “The Miracle Mile” was attached to the street. According to “A City of Wyoming – A History,” also produced by the Wyoming Historical Commission, Fred Eardley’s Trading Post at Burlingame Avenue anchored The Miracle Mile on the west, and Ben Duthler built a supermarket at Clyde Park at the east end anchor. Other new stores were Stone’s Shoes, Rogers Department Store (which would become the largest department store in the county), Feighner Drugs, TerMeer Hardware, Suburban 5 and 10 Store, Meijer, Eberhards food stores, Holiday Lanes, and several gasoline stations.

The book also includes a short biography of Abram J. Longstreet, a forgotten pioneer of Rogers Heights community. In fact, Fruit Basket/Flowerland is located on the original Longstreet farm and Clyde Park is actually named after the Clydesdales that were once located on the farm. The Wyoming High School football field is named after Longstreet.

Books are $20 and beside Saturday, will be available during Metro Cruise, Aug. 26 and 27, and during the History Room’s normal hours which are 9:30 a.m. – noon Tuesdays and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of the month. For more information, visit the Wyoming Michigan History Room’s Facebook page. 

Local group to host Black Men and Mental Health program

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

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Grand Rapids African American Health Institute will host a program about Black Men and Mental Health tonight. (pxhere.com)

The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute will host the second in a series of community conversations focused Black Men and Mental Health on Thursday, June 16.

The event is from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Center for Community Transformation, 1520 Madison Ave. SE. The program will look at such issues as systemic racism, policing, health inequities, complex trauma, and a myriad of other struggles. The series of community conversations will equip youth, families, community members and other key support systems with information on how to address these issues in the Black community.

Trained professionals will present information and teach need skills from a place of health, wholeness, and strategy to help participants put into action the change they want to see in their communities and homes.

To register for this event or future Community Conversations, click here. The third Community Conversation — Black Women and Mental Health — will be on July 21. For more information about the program, visit GRAAHI.com.

First Wyoming Summer Market to open on Saturday

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Food, Kids Activities, Local Business, Local Faces, Local Food, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

The first of four Summer Markets will be taking place this Saturday at HŌM Flats at 28 West, 1401 Prairie Parkway SW. The event is from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

At last year’s event, a customer looks over a flower arrangement from Wyoming-based Periwinkle Flor Co. (WKTV)

“We are excited to bring this opportunity back to the city,” said Brianna Peña, communications specialist for the City of Wyoming.

Last year, HŌM Flats had approached the city about hosting a public market, which city officials were also considering. The two groups decided to partner hosting two fall events which met with success.

Building off of that, it was decided to host four markets, all through the same partnership of the City of Wyoming and HŌM Flats.

“It is in preparation for the community to host and establish a consistency for these local markets in Wyoming,” Peña said for the reason of expanding the number of markets to four this year.

One of the goals of city officials is to establish a public market within the city limits. Some discussion has centered on using the northern portion of the Site 36, which the city retained after the sale of the property to Franklin Partners.

At each the markets there will be food trucks and artisan vendors offering an array of items such as handmade clothing, jewelry, keychains, and art.

At this Saturday’s event, the food trucks are Curry in a Hurry, which will be offering food selections form India such as Butter Chicken and Traditional Curry with Rice, and Simply Sweet Confections, which will be featuring a selection of its popular macarons.

Also on Saturday, there will be free ice cream to the first 200 attendees and face painting.

The remaining Summer Markets are set for:

July 16, 10 a.m. – 2 p.,. Pinery Park, 2301 DeHoop Ave. SW

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