During World War II, great numbers of young men were being drafted into the armed services leaving managers, owners and fans at Major League Baseball parks across the United States concerned. In danger of low attendance and lack of quality players, a girls’ softball league called the All-American Girls Softball (later Baseball) Professional League (AAGBBL) was formed to provide a solution. The League emerged in the spring of 1943 and continued until 1954.
In Midwest communities such as Grand Rapids, Michigan, home to the AAGBBL team the Grand Rapids Chicks, the sport was immensely popular. Supported by leading business persons as spectator entertainment that was based on high moral and professional standards, the games attracted a diverse audience that appealed to all ages, classes and both sexes. The game was embraced as great family entertainment.
Want to try your hand at quilting? The Lakeshore Museum Center is providing residents with hand quilting supplies and a virtual hand quilting workshop Tuesday, March 23, at 6 pm to encourage those interested in picking up a fun new skill.
Participants will learn how to use a template, trace patterns, cut fabric, piece together blocks, quilt, and bind the final product. Everything will be done by hand and no machine is required. LMC’s own Interim Executive Director and avid quilter Melissa Horton will host participants via Zoom. Over the last 16 years, she has crafted 12 of her own quilts by hand and is eager to share her knowledge with the public.
“This event knits together our Who is Rosie Lee Wilkins? exhibit with a fun hobby anyone can enjoy,” said Interim Executive Director Melissa Horton. “This is a great spot for beginners to try their ‘hand’ at hand quilting and speak with others interested in the same hobby.”
The temporary exhibit, Who is Rosie Lee Wilkins, features a local quilter of the same name who created over 100 quilts in her lifetime. The exhibit is open through April 24. Unlike crochet or knitting, the art of quilting uses cut pieces of fabric to create patterns for a variety of quilts without the use of a machine. At the end of the workshop, participants will have constructed their own square to use as a potholder, doily or the first square of their very own quilt.
Participants can register for the workshop on Eventbrit www.eventbrite.com/e/hand-quilting-101-tickets-138800294417 for $20, or $18 for museum members. Supplies will be available for pickup beginning March 15 until the day of the event. For more information, call the museum at 231.722.0278.
While not the thousands of people it would normal host during Spring Break, the Salvation Army Kroc Center will be offering limited activities for the annual vacation time for families.
With the COVID-19 pandemic preventing many families from traveling during Spring Break, Kroc Center officials decided to step in and offer opportunities for families to get out of the house and have fun safely.
Families and groups are encouraged to sign up for a group session. (supplied)
“Spring Break is normally our busiest week of the year, but last year we were closed entirely as COVID was just starting to spread,” said Captain Bill Brutto, senior Kroc officer. “This year, we really want to give families a chance to take part in their favorite Kroc Center activities, while making sure safety is still the top priority.”
Each day, April 5–9, Kroc Center recreation areas will be available for exclusive private experiences between 12:30 and 2:30pm, when the rest of the building is closed to members for cleaning. Families are encouraged to gather with friends and relatives they feel comfortable creating a “pod” with to take advantage of the group activities.
The available activities include:
The Aquatics Center, including giant waterslide, lazy river, and more, with lifeguard supervision.
$350 for up to 35 total guests
The Gymnasium (two courts available), including several options for sports equipment, plus an attendant.
$125 for up to 15 total guests
The Worship and Performing Arts Center, including bounce houses and other games, plus an attendant.
$100 for up to 15 total guests
All guests will be expected to follow health and safety guidelines put in place by the State of Michigan’s epidemic orders while at the Kroc Center. This includes temperature checks and health screenings upon entry, along with requirements on face coverings during all activities (except swimming).
“While we would love to be able to offer the full Spring Break experience, it’s not possible with the capacity limitations we still have from the state,” Brutto said. “We felt this would be the next best way to give families opportunities to enjoy the Kroc in a way that helps them feel safe and comfortable.”
“This one looks good, but I like this one too,” said City of Wyoming Recreation Director Krashawn Martin as she looks through books on a table just outside of the WKTV Community Media Center’s studio.
“Well, you can read two,” said Wyoming’s Communication Specialist Amanda Moore.
Martin was one of almost a couple dozen City of Wyoming staff and leaders who came into the station to record reading books as part of a citywide celebration of March is Reading Month.
Amy Berridge holds up the book her sister, Stacy DeFord, wrote. (WKTV)
Some like Martin selected from books that were available and others, like Amy Berridge, who is in the city’s finance department, brought their own.
“This is actually a book written by my sister,” said Berridge as she displayed “The Fairy Painting,” written by Stacy DeFord.
“The story is about believing in yourself,” Berridge said, adding an important message she wanted to share with students.
Many of the stories selected had special meanings such as the first book Martin selected “Wilma Unlimited,” by Kathleen Knell, which tells the story of how Wilma Rudolph overcomes polio to become one of the world’s finest athletes.
Wyoming Recreation Director Krashawn Martin reads “Double Trouble in Walla, Walla,” by Andrew Clements. (WKTV)
“It shows the power of women,” Martin said. “It shows how girls can be told certain things, that they can’t do this. Yet, we see the bravery of them overcoming and not just settling. I love seeing a person breaking barriers.”
Other stories are just fun like Martin’s second choice “Double Trouble in Walla, Walla,” by Andrew Clements, which Martin said was a tongue twister at time.
“I think it is just fun,” Martin said about reading the stories. “It is a great way to interact with residents and provide some sort of fun and sense of community in the times that we are currently living in.”
City Council member John Fitzgerald enjoyed the opportunity to share his love of read. (WKTV)
Providing some fun and sharing his love of reading were the reasons City Council member John Fitzgerald wanted to participate.
“I love having the opportunity to read to children and young adults,” Fitzgerald said. “I hope it helps them find pleasure in reading as well. When I was in school, I discovered how valuable reading can be and I hope to share the good things that reading can bring to life.”
Fitzgerald selected the book “Who You Were Made to Be,” by Joanna Gaines, because it “talks about bringing forth your best effort.”
“I really liked how she spoke up about injustice and cared about the well being of other people in the world,” said Jill Beltmen about the book she selected “Malala’s Magic Pencil,” by Malala Yousafzai. Beltman works in the city’s community services with the TEAM 21 program.
Jill Beltman, part of the city’s community services team, showcased one of the 200 books that was donated to the TEAM 21 program from the RiverTown Barnes & Noble. (WKTV)
Beltman’s selection was one of about 200 books the TEAM 21 program received from Barnes & Noble at RiverTown Mall. Every holiday, the bookseller hosts a book drive where shoppers may purchase a book to donate. For the 2020 holiday season, the Grandville Barnes & Noble designated TEAM 21 as the recipient of its book drive.
“The store also donated tote bags, mini science kits, bookmarks and a few sets of flashcards and learning supports,” Beltman said. “We are thrilled to celebrate the March Reading Month in TEAM 21 with all these exciting new stories and gear.”
Some of the other books — all the books will be handed out to students in the TEAM 21 program later this year — from the Barnes & Noble donations were featured in the city’s reading program along with books in Spanish. All of the recorded programs can be viewed on the WKTV channels 25 and 26, at wktv.org or on the City of Wyoming’s Facebook page.
The words echo down the hall of the Wyoming Intermediate School “Push the doubt away.”
From the sounds, there is no doubt that the Wyoming Competitive Cheer team is back. Like many of the winter high school sports team, the group has had to weather delays as the state and Michigan High School Sports Association (MHSSA) grabbled with the COVID pandemic and the guidelines for social distancing. While floor routines, seen in Rounds 1 and 2, do not require cheerleaders to touch, stunting, often in Round 3, does, which had competitive cheer fall into contact sports.
In a typical year, tryouts for competitive cheer would happen in November, which they did for the Wyoming’s team, and competitions would have started right after the first of the year. Competitive cheer, along with other contact sports such as basketball and wrestling, were given the go ahead to resumed practice on Jan. 16 but it pushed the season back. Now post season will start on March 19 with the final competitions on March 26 and 27.
This was on top of the fact that there was a switch up in divisions for competitive cheer which started this year. The team was placed in the same league as powerhouse Muskegon Heights, which has consecutively headed to state finals. Rounding out the league is Zeeland East, Zeeland West, Muskegon, and Reeths Puffer.
“We have already had one meet this year and our scores where fairly close,” said Coach Ashley Kron, who took over the program last year. With a growing program and a young team, Kron said it will be tough for the group to bring home a district championship this year, but for many of the girls on the team, that’s OK. They are on the mats and have a season and that is all that maters.
Senior Maddie Dewey has been looking forward to cheering in her senior year. (WKTV)
The stress of waiting to know the future of this competitive season was hard and just when she had thought it would not happen is when senior Maddie Dewey learned that MHSSA had given the go ahead.
“This is something that I have been looking forward to since forever,” said Dewey, who has been cheering since sixth grade. “Even though it is going to be different, I am happy that I am here and that we do have a season.”
There are challenges such as the requirement of wearing masks while competing, which can make it difficult to breathe, but the chance to complete her senior year as cheerleader is worth it, she said.
Tenth grader Amya Brown also has had a passion for cheer since the seventh grade.
Sophomore Amya Brown said she enjoys the connection to her teammates and the coaches. (WKTV)
“I am really glad for this opportunity,” Brown said. “It makes it fun and you have this family, a connection to the girls and the coaches.”
There are still COVID concerns, Brown said, but the fact that the team is having a season demonstrates how much people have followed the guidelines.
The team has four total meets this season. Except for the masks, most of the rounds will not look that different. There are some guidelines on stunting for Round 3. The rules also only allow for each participant to have up to two spectators at each meet. Anyone who has been to a competitive cheer meet knows that the spectators shouting back is part of the fun.
“It may not be as loud,” Dewey said, “but it will still be fun.”
For the Wyoming Competitive Cheer Team, being back on the mats and having a season are the most important things. (WKTV)
While recognizing the accomplishments of the Kent Country Dispatch, the Wyoming City Council expressed concern over the funding of the dispatch authority and decided to only approve a one-year renewal agreement for dispatch services at the council’s Monday night meeting..
Mayor Jack Poll said the concern is with Kent County dispatching its Sheriff Department personal to areas in townships without any payment by the townships.
“This is in addition to the county essential providing those townships some free services from the Sheriff Department, some townships pay for enhanced services, and charging the townships for jailing persons committing crimes in townships and paying the costs for courts that serve townships,” Poll read from a discussion that took place about dispatch funding.
Poll noted that cities like Wyoming must pay for most of the same services with Wyoming residents paying county taxes to support services for the townships while also playing city taxes to the city so it can pay the county to provide those services to the city residents.
City Manager Curtis Holt, who was the chairman for the Kent County Dispatch for 14 years, said funding has been a concern with the authority. The county does view the issue differently in that it the sheriff provides police services for those communities as part of the dispatch which is part of the county taxes.
“The difference is is in 75 percent of the nation dispatch authorities stand separate and are not part of the sheriff’s department,” Holt said during the city council meeting. “We have actually voiced a desire to look at this as an independent agency and the county continues to resist that as a potential solution.”
Holt said longterm funding of the dispatch authority is something that will have to be considered in the near future.
The county was seeking a five-year renewal for dispatch services. Poll said under the approved agreement, the city could opt out if a better solution is found.
Council members did note that over the years, the services provided to both residents and officers through the dispatch have improved greatly. This included eliminating the number of call transfers from residents to local police departments and bringing online a new 800 megahertz countywide dispatch system that will make it easier for the different departments to communicate with each other.
Palmer field set to get new lights. (WKTV)
Palmer Park
At its Monday meeting, the City Council approved a $277,137 bid by Buist Electric for new field lights and a net at the Palmer field. Buist Electric was the lowest bidder.
Wyoming Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt said that many people do not realize that the Palmer field is located on Kent County land. The ball field is located on the edge of Kaufman Golf Course, which is operated by the county and the 44th Street Armory. The city has had a relationship with Kent County specific to the Palmer softball field since the 1960s.
That agreement, according to Rynbrandt, is that the city is responsible to operate and maintain the field and its related facilities such as the parking lot, restrooms, lights and retention wall.
According to Poll, the lights at the park are 35-years-old with the electrical service in the park being antiquated and need of upgrades to meet code. The project was noted as a priority with the city’s 5-year community Recreation Plan. The new netting would be added to the left field fence with the height being raised to help prevent balls being hit onto 44th Street. The work is scheduled to be done this year.
The total costs came in higher than the estimates of $175,000 partly because of the decision to use LED lighting which uses a fraction of the energy relative to other lighting sources. LED lighting also has a 25-year warranty , which provides a savings in maintenances and repair costs. The LED lights will reduce the light spilling into the surrounding neighborhood.
Due to the age of the equipment and the transition to an LED product, the city is seeking a reimbursement of some funding through a Consumers Energy program. The Council did approve an amendment to the budget of $130,000.
[Re]Imagine Wyoming Master Plan
After 16 months of work and numerous meetings with community members, the Wyoming City Council approved its new master plan, which will provide a framework for city growth over the next 15 – 20 years.
Stop sign added
The council also approved a new stop sign for the intersection of Goldcrest and Mulligan drives. Drivers on Goldcrest Drive will now need to stop at the intersection before entering onto Mulligan Drive.
Appointments
The City Council approved Nancy Quero-Ramirez to the Community Enrichment Commission and Audrey Zapata to the Planning Commission.
Did you know that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month? According to the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, 58,500 Michiganders will experience a brain injury during 2021. Ranging from mild to fatal, brain injuries happen to people of all ages. Those due to congenital abnormalities or from degenerative disease like Alzheimer’s are called acquired brain injuries. The kind of brain injuries that you can help prevent are traumatic brain injuries—TBIs.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services found that 30% of TBIs in Michigan are caused by car crashes. TBIs can happen if you are in an automobile accident, you fall and hit your head, you dive into shallow water, or you’re hit by a hard ball during sports activities. One type of TBI you’ve probably heard of, a concussion happens when you bump or receive a hit to your head that moves your head rapidly back and forth.
The CDC has put together this list of ways you can prevent traumatic brain injuries:
On the road
Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.
Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Wear a helmet when you ride a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile, scooter, or use an all-terrain vehicle.
Tots and tykes
Install window guards to keep young children from falling out.
Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
Go to playgrounds with soft material like mulch or sand under swings and slides.
Never shake a baby or child.
Playing sports
Wear a helmet when you play sports—contact sports, skating or skateboarding, running bases, riding horses, skiing or snowboarding.
Jump in first to check water depth in rivers and lakes. Obey “no diving” warnings at pools.
As you age
Review your prescription and over-the-counter medicines—can they make you dizzy or sleepy?
Ask your healthcare provider about vitamin D.
Do exercise, like tai chi, to strengthen your legs and improve your balance.
Get a vision check-up at least once a year.
In your home, remove trip-and-fall hazards like small rugs; install grab bars by the tub or shower and next to the toilet; put railings on both sides of stairs; and keep your home well-lit, including nightlights.
If you or a loved one experience a hit to the head followed by nausea, unsteadiness, headache, or difficulty concentrating, go to your primary care doctor, urgent care, or emergency room right away. Prompt treatment can mean the difference between life and death—or a life lived with severe impairments.
Depending on how serious a TBI is, recovery can be a slow and painful process. Those with serious brain injuries may survive, but never completely recover. A report on the National Institute for Health website states that traumatic brain injuries provide “a unique target of opportunity for complementary and alternative medicine.” The report explored modalities like acupuncture, meditation, and mindfulness.
When one of my patient’s sons was seven years old, his brother accidentally threw a screwdriver at his head. After emergency surgery and nine days in a Grand Rapids hospital, doctors said he might never be able to read or walk very well. During each of those nine days, his chiropractor visited and gave him gentle adjustments. After discharge, the little fellow began music therapy. Throughout high school, he was first-string quarterback—and graduated as valedictorian. Today, he is a successful architect.
That said, the best course of action is to take care of your noggin. Buckle up! Wear a helmet! Avoid falls! In other words, use your brain!
The Kent District Library 2020 Annual Report tells the story of a year of drastic change and major accomplishments. The annual report is available for download at kdl.org/AnnualReport, and highlights numerous community needs that were met during unprecedented times, including:
In response to having to cancel all in-person events, 1,402 live-streamed events were created to bring the library into homes and viewed 471,809 times.
While branches were closed to in-person visits, curbside service delivered 432,582 items for 125,024 pickups.
Though the circulation of physical materials decreased, the circulation of digital materials increased by 31%, to 1.7 million items.
800 new Mobile WiFi Hotspots were added to the collection to meet the needs of at-home students and workers, and were checked out 2,888 times.
On January 24, 2020, the Men of Color Read initiative was launched in Kent County. Over 25 men met at the Martin Luther King Leadership Academy to read to small groups of children. The pandemic put a pause on in-school visits, but MOCR is continuing with a live-streamed program.
Talking Book & Braille Center circulation increased by 38%.
“Last year certainly brought its challenges, but we never allowed those challenges to stop us from serving our communities – our impact continued,” said Executive Director Lance Werner. “Our branches were closed for a time, but the library never closed.”
For more detailed information, including a breakdown of statistics by branch and municipality, check out the 2020 Impact Report at kdl.org/ImpactReport.
Kent District Library is pleased to launch a 2021-2023 Strategic Plan. The plan will guide KDL’s purpose to further all people by highlighting three strategic focuses: 1.) Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 2.) Engagement and Service and 3.) Sustainability. Details of the new strategic plan can be viewed at kdl.org/strategic-plan.
You can’t go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending.
Author C.S. Lewis
The Lakeshore Art Festival will be June 26 and 27. (Supplied)
Calling all artists
Several local and regional art organizations are preparing for summer exhibits and now is the time to apply to be in them. Some of the organizations are Urban Institute for Contemporary Art, Lakeshore Art Festival, and Ramsdell Center for the Arts. For more, click here.
Ansel Adams (American, 1902-1984), “Half Dome, Merced River, Winter from The Photographs of Yosemite Suite” (Silverprint photograph, 1938. Gift of the Friends of Art, 1989)
Marking a 100 years
The Muskegon Museum of Art is celebrating 100th anniversary of the Friends of Art, an independent non-profit organization established in 1921 that promotes the study of art and supports the museum. The museum, located in downtown Muskegon, is featuring two exhibits “Friends of Art: 100 Years” features almost 30 artworks donated by the “Friends” to the museum and “Ansel Adams: The Photographs of Yosemite Suite” which features 24 iconic images taken in the 1940s of Yosemite National Park. Both exhibits run through the beginning of May.
(Photo from Pxhere.com)
Plan your summer
The West Michigan Tourist Association announced it will be hosting a series of virtual travel expos for area residents to explore different travel options. The series starts March 8 with a golf expo, followed by a March 22 women and family expo, and wraps up April 5 with a travel expo. Or residents can just snag one of the WMTA’s tour guides to get an early start on planning their summer adventures. Visit wmta.org.
The Eben Ice Caves in Hiawatha National Forest
The Frozen Caves of Michigan
Kentucky may have the Mammoth Caves, but Michigan has ice caves — specifically the Eben Ice Caves, also known as the River Rock Canyon Ice Caves. About 20 miles south of Munsing, Michigan, in the upper peninsula, the ice caves form every winter. Basically, it is the water seeping from the rock above that freezes into sheets of ice, forming the “cave” between them and the cliff. The entire area is less than 50 yards long but it brings visitors all over to see this marvelous miracle in nature that is only found in Michigan.
Social isolation has effected us in so many different ways. Some have chosen to take advantage of this pandemic to spend time with family, focus on themselves or take a vacation, while social isolation and other COVID-19 related life changes has lead to an increase in use and abuse of alcohol.
Social media outlets have made memes about “quarantinis” and COVID drinking, making light of a truly serious condition. Unwinding with a “quarantini” or a glass of your favorite spirit might seem like a good way to cope with the stress of this pandemic, but for some people, too much alcohol is a problem.
Quarantini memes make fun of a serious concern.
Consuming alcohol can weaken your body’s ability to fight off infections leading to depression, anxiety, obesity and liver disease. In addition, excess alcohol many lead to such conditions as hypertension (high blood pressure), strokes and heart attacks. ti also could lead to increase susceptibility to contracting COVID-19.
Instead of going down the road of the misnomers of alcohol abuse, let’s take a look at what happens when you actually stop abusing alcohol.
1. Improved health with decreased sicknesses. Alcohol impacts your immune system’s ability to fight off disease.
2. You will dodge accidents and fatal injuries. Even cutting back your drinking by a third can lower the number of injuries and sick days.
3. Your heart gets healthier. Reducing your alcohol intake may lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels and nay decrease your chances of stokes and heart attacks.
4. The liver heals. The live is responsible for helping your blood clot along with breaking down fats, proteins, and sugars.
5. Weight loss. Alcohol accounts for so many empty and non-nutritional calories.
6. Ease depression and anxiety. Alcohol is actually a downer working as a depressant to slow down vital bodily functions.
7. Decrease your cancer risk.
8. Improve your libido. In women, reducing alcohol use may improve vaginal lubrication and in men, it may decrease erectile dysfunction.
9. Restful nights/daytime sleepiness. Alcohol disrupts rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage that is essential in learning and making or retaining memories.
10. Clearer thinking. As mentioned above, reducing your alcohol intake increases your ability to retain and make memories.
Always be mindful of your alcohol intake and drink responsibly.
Boat captain, pilot, chauffeur, band leader, businessman, and family man — Herman E. Curtis was a man of many talents. Immortalized in the book “Bud, Not Buddy,” Curtis would open one of the first African-American businesses in Wyoming, located on Buchanan across from the former GM plant on 36th Street. Curtis’s grandson, Michael Curtis, a Grand Rapids firefighter and board member of the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives, shares his grandfather’s story in a special WKTV VOICES presentation airing on Channel 26 at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.24; 8:05 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26; and noon Saturday, Feb. 27.
The Rapid is proposing changes to reduced and discounted fare programs for institutional partners, as well some changes to the Wave card system. These changes are intended to simplify and standardize programs in order to make them easier to navigate for riders and partners.
The meetings will take place on three consecutive days, starting on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021:
Monday, Feb. 22 – 6- 7 p.m. Live on The Rapid’s Facebook page o Available via Zoom
Tuesday, Feb. 23 – Noon to 1 p.m. Live on The Rapid’s Facebook page o Available via Zoom
Wednesday, Feb. 24 – 9 to 10 a.m. Live on The Rapid’s Facebook page o Available via Zoom
These virtual meetings will provide an informational overview of the proposed changes, as well as an opportunity for Q&A with Rapid staff members. The proposed changes are as follows:
These virtual meetings will provide an informational overview of the proposed changes, as well as an opportunity for Q&A with Rapid staff members. The proposed changes are as follows:
1. Reduced, Donation, and Discounted Rate Programs The Rapids currently manages programs designed specifically for non-profit organizations, organizations that directly serve people experiencing homelessness, organizations that directly serve people experiencing homelessness, organizations that directly serve people experiencing homelessness, and discounted rates for educational institutions. The proposal would combine these programs and standardize the discounted fare at $1.25 per ticket. This will simplify the programs available to non-profits and post K-12 educational institutions, eliminate multiple discounts or donations programs, and create a more equitable standard for providing discounted cares. The program would be open to the following organizations:
1. 501(C)3 designated organizations
2. Post K-12 Educational Institutions
2. Fare Capping Structure As part of the implementation of the Wave fare system, a fare capping structure was put in place that enables riders to “earn” a 1-day pass, 7-day pass, and a 31-day pass on a rolling basis in accordance with how often rides are taken. The proposal recommends a change to monthly capping system, which will cover one calendar month. This change would eliminate the 7-day capping option and keep the one-day and monthly caps. The fare capping will reset on the first day of each new month. This change would simplify fare capping to make it easier to use and understand for all customers.
3. Negative Balance Elimination The implementation of the E-Fare system was initially configured to enable the Wave cards to allow for a negative balance of up to -$1.74. The proposal recommends the elimination of a negative balance allowance on Wave cards. This change will maintain equity among the Wave card categories and improve the ease of use of the Wave care for customers.
4. Shipping Fee The Rapid is proposing a flat shipping fee of $2.50 for all online fare purchase orders being mailed to customers to cover postage fees.
For any members of the public that are unable to attend next week’s meeting, additional options are available to provide feedback and comment:
Via email to comment@ridetherapid.org
Via phone at 616-774-1235
Via mail to:
300 Ellsworth Ave. SW c/o Communications Department Grand Rapids, MI 49503
At Monday night’s City Council meeting, the council approved the last measure to allow food truck vendors in the city along with paving the way for a bike trail along Plaster Creek and the city’s Spring Carnival.
In an unanimous decision, the council approved a new fee structure for food truck vendors to operate within the city. The new fee is $300.
“I have had a conversation with a food vendor outside the city,” said Council member John Fitzgerald. “I can tell you that there is excitement about the opportunity to come into the city of Wyoming which I thought was spectacular.”
Fitzgerald said he was asked if a food truck would be able to use its approved inspection from another city, which City Planner Nicole Hofert said yes.
“This helps as they are only going through the process onetime and streamlining it so it all follows the same code,” Hofert said, adding that the fee was structured in consideration of whether a full inspection or review was needed.
Plaster Creek Trail
The City Council unanimously supported the construction of a Plaster Creek Trail along the south side of Plaster Creek Boulevard from Division Avenue to Buchanan Avenue. The project is estimated to be around $604,000, with a portion of the expense for a retaining wall that will be needed. Once constructed, trail users will go under Division Avenue following Plaster Creek. The trail also will provided sidewalk to the Kroc Center and The Rapid bus stop.
The council approval was need for the city to seek a $385,000 Transportation Alternative Grant for the construction, which is scheduled for 2022.
Spring Carnival
The city is planning its Spring Carnival with the Council unanimously approving waiving the city fees for the event which is scheduled for April 23 – May 2 at Lamar Park.
Mayor Jack Poll noted that the city has waived the fees since the city’s Park and Recreations Department has sponsored the event and the funds raised are used to provide scholarships and operations support for the department programs and community grants, and funds for the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance.
Appointments
Alexander Fera was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission and LeighAnn TeBos was appointed to the Community Enrichment Commission.
St. Cecilia Music Center has announced its 2021 recipient of the now annual Helen DeVos Legacy Award, with Karen Henry Stokes the third person so honored. However, the annual gala event to honor Stokes, originally scheduled for March, has been postponed until March 5, 2022, due to the pandemic.
“We are thrilled to honor Karen Henry Stokes with the next Helen DeVos Legacy Award, but sad that we have to wait to do so until 2022,” Cathy Holbrook, executive and artistic director of St. Cecilia Music Center, said in an email announcement. “We felt it was the best option to ensure that people felt safe attending a gala ceremony and dinner event. We wanted as many people to attend and pay tribute to her as possible and March of 2022 felt like the best choice.”
St. Cecilia started the Helen DeVos Legacy Award in 2019 to pay tribute to the late Helen DeVos for her support of and involvement in the arts.
Last year’s recipient, the late Stella Royce, “embodied the same spirit of giving and love of the arts,” according to the announcement. “Karen Henry Stokes is the perfect person to receive the next Helen DeVos Legacy Award as she has demonstrated exemplary service within the arts community and her efforts have helped expand the cultural landscape of West Michigan.”
Stokes has been involved with many arts organizations in the region, as a board member, trustee and committee member, including the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, Grand Rapids Symphony, Opera Grand Rapids, St. Cecilia Music Center, as well as other organizations such as Grand Valley State University, Hospice of Grand Rapids, Gilda’s Club and Hope Network.
Stokes, also a pianist, was a member of the piano faculty of Grand Rapids Baptist College (now Cornerstone) from 1974 to 1981, as well as a member of the piano faculty of Calvin College from 1981 to 1989. She holds performance degrees from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and the University of Manitoba.
She has lived in Grand Rapids since 1970, was married for 28 years to the late Paul B. Henry and has three grown children and four grandchildren. Additionally, she was married for 20 years to the late James L. Stokes. gaining five more children and eight more grandchildren through that marriage.
“Karen’s true connection to SCMC is our partnership with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center,” according to the announcement. “She is a dedicated subscriber, and when we launched the series in 2012, Karen helped us spread to the word to other classical music lovers in the community.”
Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters host Wayne Thomas with co-host Brandon Hoezee
By Wayne Thomas Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters
On our WKTV podcast we asked viewers and listeners to keep an open mind about things they might not easily believe as we explore the mysterious. Some of the areas that we have examined include astronomy, cryptozoology, demonology, numerology, ufology, reiki, tarot reading, witches, psychic mediums, seers, coptic healers, and ghost hunters. Many of our podcast guests are multifaceted with complicated layers and simple labels can’t adequately describe them. Mama Mary Bassett falls into this category of spookiness.
For Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters episode no. 2, we welcomed Mary Bassett and step daughter Sara Bassett. This unique duo works together ghost hunting and podcasting as Paranormal XL with their alias names Mama Mary and GG. During this episode of our podcast, we examined some crystals and discussed the seven Chakras or energy zones with Reiki Master Bassett. Mama Mary offers meditation for spiritual awakening and a monthly astrological forecast. Bassett’s mission is to bring love, light, and healing to those who need it most.
Mama Mary Bassett
During episode no. 25, Bassett offered predictions of a New World Awakening, demonstrated her Hang Drum, and did a Tarot reading for co-host Kim Kolean. On episode no. 36 we revealed how Bassett became “a light to my path” after cancelling six consecutive WKTV podcasts due to COVID pandemic restrictions.
Reaching a point where everything seemed trivial to surviving the virus, questions of whether we should shut down the show emerged. Mama Mary sensed my despair and wasn’t having any of it. She suggested we move forward and start a Blog Talk Radio show. She would set it up, produce it, and co-host. My job was to find spooky people to interview and host the show that became known as Cryptic Frequencies, which currently has 13 episodes into it now. Bassett produces other podcasts on her page Spiritual Voices Across the Golden Veil.
Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters podcast featured Bassett as our special guest on episodes no. 21 & 25, and recently on episode no. 36; she also joined us as a guest co-host on episodes no. 28 and 37. Bassett describes herself as a psychic channeler that she achieves through meditation, automatic writing, and messages from Spirit Guides, angels, and loved ones. If that’s not spooky enough, she is a Reiki Master, energy healer, and has been doing Tarot readings for more than 20 years. Her wish is to help people feed their soul so they can grow spiritually.
On episode no. 36, Bassett introduced us to her Singing Chakra bowls that she uses to help clear certain energy centers so people might integrate with their true self. Bassett has made some bold predictions on imminent alien encounters. If you’re looking for help with your path to enlightenment, visit Bassett’s shop in Hastings.
Producer of “In Between the Trees,” Rose Hammond stands outside her display at Woodland Mall. “In between the Trees” will screen just kitty corner from the central Starbucks court until Sunday evening. (WKTV)
By Tom Norton
Like any story about anyone who faces adversity and struggles, slowly at first, to overcome it; Rose Hammond seems to know that slow and steady wins the race.
If anything could be said about her latest documentary, “In Between the Trees,” a story of the African American community in Idlewild, Michigan and the nearby Woodland Park is that her motto fits this pattern perfectly.
Hammond went from standing on her mother’s front step “with six bags of dirty laundry and a baby” to becoming an author and documentary filmmaker through a slow and steady process that in the course of it, brings to life another story (this time not her own) of a community also with no where else to go.
While America’s story of race is certainly long and complicated, one thread through that story is constant; for more than a century the black community was identified as “the other.” Consequently denied many fundamental rights in American society, the black community also very rarely enjoyed something so many took for granted; the concept of a “vacation” or a “getaway” and the ease with which so many of us plan a vacation.
Like a sprinkling of other recreational communities across the country, Idlewild became a place where black people could go to relax and escape not only the Jim Crow south, but also the segregated and outright racist attitudes that existed in many parts of the country.
Hammond originally grew up in the area around White Cloud with its small lakes and simpler life. This allowed her to hear the stories of black Americans traveling to Idlewild as a safe place for a vacation. Eventually that place called Idlewild had grown to become the largest African American resort in the United States. Like a sprinkling of other recreational communities across the country, Idlewild became a place where black people could go to relax and escape not only the Jim Crow south, but also the segregated and outright racist attitudes that existed in many parts of the country, including Michigan. Starting in the 1920s and continuing all the way through the mid 1960s, African Americans from the far away big cities would navigate their way to the small resort and from those decades, Hammond’s book and eventually documentary film would be born.
“Well, blacks couldn’t attend white night clubs then and
we also couldn’t go to any resorts. We had to have our own
resort because it (Idlewild) was the only place you could go
and not be insulted.”
-Rita Collins from “In Between the Trees”
While no one could characterize this time for black Americans as the best of times, the adversity the black community faced also brought out the tight bond that helped so many communities of color endure the racial discrimination of the era. In Idlewild, music from the best musicians in Chicago and Detroit would drift out from the summer nightclubs over the small lake nearby. Residents and visitors of Idlewild spoke of a time of being able to relax without the constant fear that you might be stepping out of some invisible boundary that was a part of daily life once they returned to the cities. It was the recipe that let Idlewild thrive for decades.
For Hammond, her generation grew up after the effects of the civil rights acts and Supreme Court rulings were beginning to be felt in daily life. This meant that education, housing and voting; elements of daily life most people naturally take for granted were no longer just things that black Americans wished for. They were things Hammond’s generation was now doing without a second thought.
But it didn’t change the fact that Hammond was starting over in life and living back in White Cloud. Once back she realized she couldn’t escape the history of the area and her own memories. Other family members would talk of originally traveling to the north from the southern states; of taking back roads all the way to avoid any “trouble.”
African Americans from the far away big cities would navigate their way to the small resort called Idlewild and from those decades, Hammond’s book and eventually documentary film would be born.
“They came here with the hopes that life would be easier, if not better,” Hammond said. “I do remember that my mother wanted that better life for us. She didn’t want us to pick onions or cherries or clean houses every day for a living.”
That lesson from her mother was that education was how you stayed out of the fields and soon Hammond found herself enrolled at Ferris University learning skills that would one day place her on course to tell the story of Idlewild and the tenacity she inherited from her mother would be just as valuable.
As Hammond heard the stories told in the area around White Cloud about the thriving community populated during the summer months by black Americans from cities like Chicago, Detroit, Grand Rapids and Indianapolis she recognized this was a story that needed to be told. Her first effort was the typical goal that most people would set to tell a story; to write a book.
“The ski club was up from Detroit to ski some of the local slopes
and made reservations to stay in a motel. On arrival they (the motel)
discovered they were black and so told them they had no reservations.
The group drove to Idewild where they found lodging at the Morten Motel.
…there are some things that you will never forget.”
– John Meeks from “In Between the Trees.”
“My mother was the one who encouraged me,” recalled Hammond. “I knew nothing about how to publish a book, but she told me to just learn how and start by doing research, so I did.I thought I needed an agent to get a book published and I tried that, but no one would help, so I followed my mother’s advice and just did it myself.”
It was her first time writing a book. By this time she was living and working in Grand Rapids, but Hammond started making weekend trips up to Idlewild where she interviewed residents; drove home, hand-typed a transcription of the interview and then submitted it back to the subject for approval. It was a painstaking process, but she was doing it the only way she knew how and from that process, gradually a diary like book began taking shape.
“…it was just so humiliating. To think that I had my little children…
we already had our bread buttered and now they said they couldn’t
serve us. I just didn’t know what to say (to the children.) We just left
and they never did figure out why because I just didn’t want to tell them.
I guess I was just too close to tears.”
– Rita Collins from “In Between the Trees.”
And it wasn’t long before another idea for telling the Idlewild story came to mind. After years of working on the book, Hammond was living in Wyoming and came across WKTV Community Media. She had an idea of creating a documentary and so with cameras and crew people in tow, Hammond began making the return trips to Idlewild. Like the book she was also working on, it was a slow and painstaking process. It would be several years before both the book and the documentary were completed, but the dream of a book and documentary together pushed her on and a very important goal began to develop.
“In the process of writing the book, I visited several junior high schools and noticed that there are a lot of young black people who don’t know much of their own history,” Hammond said. “I wanted them to learn about black history that is right in their own backyard.”
And to get that word out, Hammond takes every opportunity so that not only young people, but people everywhere can learn that just north of Grand Rapids, there was a place called Idlewild that offered itself as a haven for the black community in times when places like it were too few and far between. Now complete, the documentary film was recently accepted at the Montreal Independent Film Festival and is also featured at multiple showings on WKTV and in the metro Grand Rapids region.
Because of the ups and downs of life, it took Hammond several years to finish both the documentary and the book, but now years after she started, she appears to have honored her late-mother’s original admonition to “just learn how.” From standing on her mother’s step with a baby and about to start over to finishing a project that tells the story of the community she originally grew up in, Rose Hammond appears to have won the race the only way she knew how.
The documentary, “In Between the Trees” is now available on WKTV On Demand by visiting wktv.org/programming/ondemand. More information on the companion book for “In Between the Trees” is now available at Barnes & Noble booksellers, Amazon or this weekend at the Woodland Mall Black History Month event.
In Idlewild, music from the best musicians in Chicago and Detroit would drift out from the summer nightclubs over the small lake nearby.
While some may enjoy all the winter activities, there are others who are facing some of the darkest periods of the year.
These are people who may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that is related to changes in the season. SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. For most, it starts in the fall and well into the winter months although some can have the verse of Spring and Summer Affective Disorder.
This past year has been one like no other with stress brought on by the COVID pandemic, an election and unprecedented movements such as the Black Lives Matter movement which may have further complicated those dealing with SAD.
Not able to adhere to exercise routines or to take a trip to sunny or warmer climates or just having access to the therapist presents obstacles.
Don’t brush off your feelings as a case of the winter blues or just being in a funk. If you find you are losing interest in what you enjoy doing, can’t focus or are even having suicide thoughts, make sure to tell someone.
It is normal to have some sad days but if those days outweigh the good, then you should talk to someone. Remember, you matter.
One of the oldest businesses in the Wyoming area is Tommy Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille. Home to Michigan’s “Original Sizzle,” Brann took over the Division Avenue restaurant in 1971 and has been running consecutively for 49 years. Brann also serves as the 77th District State Representative, which covers the City of Wyoming and Byron Center Township. He has often said that being a restaurant owner has given him a unique perspective into what people face everyday, especially during the COVID pandemic where he has championed for support for those in his industry.
Name: Tommy Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille
What is your business? Steakhouse
How long has your business been operating? Been in business 49 years at same location 4157 S. Division Ave., Wyoming.
How did your business get started? My dad lent me $30,000 dollars at age of 19 after working for him since 13. He saw my hard work ethic and we bought the Southern Restaurant July 5, 1971 on a land contract. I had a $5,000 a month payment at the age of 19.
Friendly staff are ready to serve at Tommy Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille now that restaurants have been reopened by the state. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Why did you decide to locate your business in the Wyoming/Kentwood area? The Southern Restaurant was up for sale at that time in Wyoming. Also, we had a motel one time on the property and I stayed there also.
What has been the greatest challenge for your business? The biggest challenge was to show that a 19-year-old kid can do it and they saw me working from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. right off the bat and for more than 20 years with that work schedule so I could make my $5,000 dollar a month payment.
What is the most popular product/item at your business/restaurant? Popular item is our sizzler steak.
What is a Wyoming/Kentwood business you like to visit during your free time? Cherry Health, 2929 Burlingame Ave. SW, in Wyoming. It is a non-profit but they do so many great things.
Did your New Year’s resolution to lose 2020’s COVID weight gain stall out by the end of January? Maybe you need a new approach. I’ve been impressed with the macro approach to weight loss. You only have to think about the three macros, short for macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are the nutrients your body needs in smaller amounts. Whether you follow a vegan, paleo, Mediterranean, or USDA MyPlate diet, you can make macros work for you.
With a macro diet, you focus on getting a certain number of grams from each of the three macros. This approach helps ensure that you are getting the nutrients your body needs—the best way to use macros to lose weight is to choose healthy, whole foods.
Fats have gotten a bad rap but your body actually needs them – but hold the fries. Healthy fats help your body convert calories to energy, support organ health, and cell growth, and enable your body to absorb vital nutrients. Chow down on avocados, tree nuts, and seeds. (We love pepitas—pumpkin seeds.) Cook with olive or grapeseed oil. Experts now tell us that bacon fat is OK, as long as the bacon is uncured, preferably from free range pork, and has no harmful additives like nitrates and nitrites.
Healthy carbs provide fiber, naturally. Dig deep on the grocer’s shelf for 100% whole grain breads. Fresh fruits and veggies are also fiber-rich carbs, especially dark, leafy greens. Cook up a pot of black beans and brown rice with a side of home-cooked collards or kale. Now we’re talking healthy carbs.
When you think “protein,” your first thought might be meat. And you’re right. Lean cuts of chicken, turkey, or beef and fatty fish (think salmon or mackerel) are great meat-based proteins. Eggs, milk, and cheese also provide a good amount. Plant-based protein options offer an inexpensive way to meet your body’s protein needs. Legumes (like black beans or unsweetened peanut butter), tree nuts, tofu, and seitan are a few examples.
So how do you count your macros? How much do you need of each? That depends on your weight loss goals and physical activity. You can find a great macro calculator at FreeDieting.com that even lets you figure in the kind of diet you want to follow, e.g., keto. In general, you should eat 30% fat, 30% protein, and 40% carbs if you exercise an hour or less every day. Those numbers shift to 25% fat, 30% protein, and 45% carbs if you exercise one or two hours every day.
Maintaining your ideal weight and eating nutrient rich foods are two ways you can achieve optimal health. But sometimes, doing those two things can be difficult, especially if you have other health concerns. Before you start any diet, check in with your medical doctor or a certified nutritionist to get the go-ahead. And don’t forget to get adjusted by your chiropractor on your journey to better health. An aligned spine improves the function of your nervous system and supports the health of your body’s organs, which in turn can impact your metabolism and cravings.
When Thelma Ensink decided to step down as the administrator for Calvin Christian Schools, all she knew was the calling to go back to her roots and work with the most vulderable population.
Within a few months, the Wyoming resident would discover a possible direction as Marge Palmerlee, the longtime executive director for Dégagé Ministries, had announced her plans to retire.
“When I did hear about that position opening up, I thought this is the right fight,” Ensink said. “This is the type of organization I wanted to serve in this next chapter of my career.”
Born and raised in South Africa during apartheid, Ensink said her experiences ignited “a passion for social justice because I grew up around racial injustice.” Her family immigrated to the United States, settling in the Grand Rapids.
Ensink attend Calvin University and through a friend’s suggestion became a paramedic, which introduced her to Dégagé Ministries, where she learned the residents’ stories were not that much different form her own.
“In may ways they were living lives just like mine until there was a tragic event or maybe they served in the military and that sent their life into a very different course,” she said. “All of sudden they find themselves experiencing poverty, being without a home, being without the resources and relations to be in a stable place.”
Ensink did not forget those stories through her career which included working at a rural Ionia medical practice and serving as a teacher and administrator for Calvin Christian Schools.
Heeding the call to work with the most vulnerable population, Ensink decided to leave Calvin Christian Schools last spring.
“I just knew I wanted to work in that field, so I kind of took a step of faith, stepping away from the education world and really seeking the right opportunity,” Ensink said.
Now in the Dégagé director position for about a month, Ensink said she is enjoying the opportunity to work with the staff and volunteers.
She admits it has been an interesting time to step into the role as many, because of the pandemic, are facing hardships for the first time.
“We are focused right now on the immediate needs and looking forward to when we can welcome our volunteers back and host community events,” Ensink said.
Also this past October, Degage broke ground on a new $6 million project that will expand services to the area’s homeless and low-income families. Part of that project includes a sleeping area for those who are on third shift and a recovery area for those who had surgery.
For more on Dégagé Ministries, its projects and needs, visit degageministries.com.
With gyms and parks closed and people sheltering in place, it is easy to see how people have been able to gain weight during the pandemic.
Obesity can aid in worsting the effects of COVID as well as lead to diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
But now is the perfect time for people to make healthy lifestyle changes, according to Dr. Afriyie Randle, the host of WKTV’s Medical Moments.
They key to doing this is scheduling a routine: plan your bedtime, your meals and everyday, wake up and dress for success.
Cook new foods and add fruit, vegetables and grains to your diet. Try a new form of exercise such as yoga or tai chi.
Now is a good time to access your lifestyle and make some healthy changes. Get to know you again. Remember losing weight is possible in this pandemic, just create a plan and do it.
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health’s newest outpatient office is now open, bringing more services, including heart and vascular specialists, to East Grand Rapids, Cascade and surrounding areas.
Metro Health Beltline, at 1310 E. Beltline Ave. SE, just north of Lake Drive, replaces a smaller clinic on Cascade Road. All the providers from that office are relocating to the East Beltline site, and their phone numbers will not change.
The building’s modern design emphasizes a patient-centered concierge atmosphere. Nurse triage spaces provide convenient access for walk-in patients. The office is equipped with technology that allows self-rooming and self-checkout to reduce patient wait time and promote safety.
“As we enter a new world of healthcare delivery, this office is an example of Metro Health’s commitment to finding new and innovative ways to deliver quality care to our patients,” said Dr. Rakesh Pai, Chief Population Health Officer and President of the Medical Group.
At 30,500 square feet, the office is Metro Health’s largest primary care site. It has the capacity to accommodate up to 20 providers and 55 staff, caring for between 400 and 500 patients a day.
The office’s comprehensive services include family practice, sports medicine, internal medicine, behavioral health and diabetes education. Additionally, with adult and pediatric heart and vascular specialists, patients will have the choice of seeing their cardiologist at the main hospital or the East Beltline location. Heart and vascular services offered include chest x-rays, electrocardiograms (EKG / ECG), stress echocardiogram exercise or medication, graded exercise tests (GXT) and continuous portable telemetry monitoring.
With two patient care levels, the building also includes on-site x-ray and laboratory services. The office is open 7am to 5pm weekdays, with walk-in visits accepted. Call 616-252-1500 or visit Metro Health’s website for more information.
“We’re all looking forward to maintaining a relationship with our existing patients in this new location, where they will have convenient access to a wider range of services,” said Dr. Edwin Kornoelje, Metro Health Beltline Site Director. “At the same time, we look forward to adding new patients to the Metro Health family.”
By Office Jenni Eby Wyoming Department of Public Safety
This week’s Traffic Tuesday question focused on accidents and what information to collect.
During snowstorms when there are a lot of minor crashes and long police response times, drivers are sometimes “ordered in” to the police department after a crash. That means that if both vehicles are driveable and no one is injured, the drivers are asked to exchange information and come in to the police department to make a crash report on another day. What information do you need to exchange for both drivers?
Only driver names
Only names and phone numbers
Only names, phone numbers, and vehicle information
Names, phone numbers, vehicles information, and insurance information
I’m not sure, I’ll check back on Thursday!
The answer is 4) Names, phone numbers, vehicle descriptions and insurance information.
Make sure to get the first and last name of the other driver, their phone number, the name of their insurance company and the policy number, and the vehicle description. Remember CYMBAL for the vehicle description: Color, year, make/model, body style (2 door/4 door/pickup/van, etc), additional (damage, bumper stickers, things that make it unique), and license plate number.
As part of its continued efforts to ensure the well-being and safety of its family of associates, customers and communities during the coronavirus pandemic, SpartanNash has partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, along with state programs in all states the company operates in, to offer the COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with the nationwide rollout plan.
The vaccine will be administered at no cost to patients and will be available at each of SpartanNash’s 88 company-owned pharmacies, such as Family Fare, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery, Family Fresh Market, and Forest Hills Foods. SpartanNash operates stores in Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Store guests may sign up to be notified when the vaccine is available at their nearest SpartanNash pharmacy atshopfamilyfare.com/covid19vaccine.
“With multiple COVID-19 vaccinations approved and ready for broad distribution in the coming months, SpartanNash and our family of retail pharmacies are here for our store guests, and we are committed to providing them with a safe, clean environment to receive this important vaccine,” EVP and Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer Lori Raya said. “Our pharmacists have and will continue to play an important role in the fight against the coronavirus, providing critical care for the communities we serve. You can trust us to provide safe access to the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available.”
To ensure the safety of both store guests and pharmacists as well as the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, customers will schedule an appointment and complete a health screening prior to receiving the vaccination. These measures ensure low wait times and appropriate social distancing efforts, as well as allowing customers to receive their second dose in a timely manner.
During the scheduled vaccination appointment, the pharmacist will administer a contact-free temperature reading, and both the pharmacist and the customer will be required to wear a medical grade face mask, provided by SpartanNash as an additional safety measure.
Following the COVID-19 vaccination, customers will be visually monitored by the SpartanNash pharmacist who administered the vaccine for a brief period of time.
To maximize access to COVID-19 vaccines for all Americans, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced the U.S. government’s partnerships with large chain pharmacies and networks that represent independent pharmacies and regional chains. Through the partnership with pharmacy chains, this program covers approximately 60 percent of pharmacies throughout the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The area’s most famous road is 28th Street which runs through both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming. This aerial view shows 28th Street heading east from the City of Wyoming. The Woodland Mall is located on the right about midway on the photo. The photo was probably taken in the early 1970s.
If you have have old photos of the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, please contact historical commissions for either of those communities. For Kentwood, click here. For Wyoming, click here.
There are lots of incredible businesses and restaurants right in our own backyard which is why WKTV has partnered with the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce to bring this series focused on businesses right here in the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming.
Starting the series is Tomato Pie. which was recently purchased Chef Joseff VanHorn, owner of YoChef’s Catering Company and YoChef’s Café.
Name: Tomato Pie, 5301 S. Divison Ave.
What is your business?
A restaurant serving wood fired thin Napoli-style pizza, with a wonderful bubbly crust. Combining high quality ingredients with unique flavor combinations. Also serving hot subs and specialty salads.
How long has your business been operating?
I took over the pizza business November 16, 2020 from Sam D’Angelo (open a total of 18 months)
How did your business get started?
Sam D’Angelo had a vision of what pizza should be (hand tossed dough made from scratch and a red sauce that was made from scratch but not too sweet. Sam & I have been friends for years and in the middle of 2020 we both had to make a move. Catering was at an all time low for me and Sam needed someone he could trust to keep his vision alive and take it to the next level! I excepted the challenge and have been using my 30-plus years of operating many kitchens to bring Tomato Pie to the next level.
Chef Joseff VanHorn just put a wood fire pizza into the oven. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Why did you decide to locate your business in the Wyoming/Kentwood area?
Sam owned a car lot on which the new building stands. I have another business in Kentwood – YoChef’s Catering Company & YoChef’s Café so it was a perfect fit to be located right around the corner.
What has been the greatest challenge for your business?
Keeping our business open during 2020. COVID-19 and all the rules and regulations that have affected the hospitality business has made it almost impossible to stay open.
Tomato Pie’s Crazy Greek features fresh spinach, roast artichokes, red onion, roasted red pepper, feta, mozzarella and Kalamata olives. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
What is the most popular product/item at your business/restaurant?
Specialty pizzas that you can’t find anywhere else separate us from the standard pizza place. We slice to order a lot of specialty meats and cheeses to make your pizza just the way you like it. People have told us the Margherita, four cheese, & aged prosciutto pizza are the best in town.
What is a Wyoming/Kentwood business you like to visit during your free time?
I have not had much free time. Mostly my away time is spent shopping for local products, meats and cheeses. I really enjoy Lee’s Market for Asian and the Mediterranean Island Market for the hard to find specialty meats and cheese like Suho Meso and Sudeka (smoked beef products).
Hopes for 2021:
We hope to get Tomato Pie open and profitable where people enjoy dine-in or take out food for lunch or dinner. You can not tell from the street but when you walk inside Tomato Pie it is a GREAT place to dine-in. We have an open kitchen where guests can see us toss the dough by hand in the air and make their lunch/diner right in front of them. It is all about the show!
By Officer Jenni Eby Wyoming’s Department of Public Safety
Rhis week’s Traffic Tuesday question was about snow plows. Do you know what year the first snowplow designed to be used with motor equipment built?
A flyer from the Good Roads Machinery Company which is unofficially credited with creating the first snowplow.
A. 1898
B. 1905
C. 1913
D. 1920
The answer is 1913. in New York City. The Good Roads Machinery Company is unofficially credited with creating the first snowplow for the very specific standards of the New York City Cleaning Bureau.
“It was nice to see all the people walking around,” wrote a Facebook friend as we discussed visiting downtown Grand Rapids to see the World of Winter Festival.
Hosted by Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. (DGRI) and the City of Grand Rapids, the annual event is designed to encourage area residents to get out and enjoy the winter weather. Wanting to make the event special, especially with everyone dealing with the pandemic, the city’s DDA added to its initial $150,000 contribution with an additional $155,000 to expand the festival. This allow organizers to increase the number of outdoor sculptures .
The festival runs through the end of February with different activities and sculpture pieces being installed.
“HYBYCOZO” is on display at Ah-Nab-Awen Park. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Currently on display is “HYBYCOZO,” a series of large-scale installations and artworks that investigate geometric exploration and patterns through light, shadow, and perception. The piece is located at Ah-Nab-Awen Park, which is in front of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW.
Between the Blue Bridge and Pearl Street will be “Grand Illuminations” featuring light and color along the Grand River.
“Winter Tumbleweeds and Grasses,” on the Blue Bridge, is an interactive art installation made out of more than 5,000 pool noodles. The installation features five large tumbleweeds, three small tumbleweeds and for groves and two anemones.
Near the Grand Rapids Public Museum, 272 Pearl St. NW, is the “Path of Encouragement,” which features positive saying and messages such as “It’s OK to no be OK.”
“Path of Encouragement” is located near the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Look to the sky to see the 20-foot inflatable dancing tube persons on top of 10 buildings throughout downtown Grand Rapids. Part of the “Color the Skyline,” the bright colorful characters can be seen from the downtown sidewalks as well as from US-131 and I-196.
Being added on Friday is “Impulse,” an interactive art installation that consists of 15 seesaws that light up and create sound when put into motion by people. “Impulse” is located on Monroe. At Canal Park is “The Singing Tree,” a lighting experience that transforms traditional displays into interactive experiences. Participants will be able to sing, clap, or yell to create an unforgettable and magical experience.
Another installation, set to run Jan. 29 – Feb. 2 is the “Ice Luminaries.” Featuring 10 giant icicles with lights frozen in the center, the Ice Luminaries will light the way along the Gillett Bridge located near Ah-Nab-Awen Park.
“Winter Tumbleweeds and Grasses” on the Blue Bridge. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
On Feb. 1, the “Elevated Love Language” project, led by Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Ericka “Key Kane” Thompson, will be installed. In this exhibit, short poetic expressions from local artists will be placed on billboards or projected onto buildings throughout the city.
Also in February, every Saturday and Sunday night, will be “Projection Mapping” by Live Space, which will light up the front of the Civic Auditorium, located on Lyon Square across from the Amway Grand Plaza.
More than 80 ice sculptures will be part of the Valent-ICE, which will take place Feb. 12 – 14. Grand Rapids Running Tours will be offering Ice Sculpture Walking Tours and self-guided tours also will be available.
Many of the past group experiences will not be taking place at this year’s event, however DGRI is planning to live-streaming dance performances at two installations. Also during the six-week event, there will be walking tours such as The Chilly Challenge: the Heartside Walking Tours and Black History Walking Tours as well as pop-up performances, tribal storytelling, outdoor ice games, and a scavenger hunt.
Every year, Mackinac State Historic Parks sends historic interpreters into classrooms throughout the state to share the diverse historic and natural history of the straits area with the students of Michigan. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in-classroom outreach has been suspended. However, Mackinac State Historic Parks is excited to debut its lineup of six virtual offerings, headlined by the award-winning Historic Mackinac on Tour program.
“Our new online education programs allow us to reach students across the state, regardless of whether they are learning in the classroom or at home,” said Mackinac State Historic Parks’ Chief Curator Craig Wilson. “Additionally, our new programs significantly broaden the scope of MSHP’s educational offerings, allowing us to address a variety of curriculum standards across multiple grade levels.”
All programs will be offered via Zoom, allowing for students to interact with the historic interpreters. Programs cost $20 each and can be booked fully online. Programs available for the 2020-21 school year include: Historic Mackinac on Tour, Slavery in Colonial Michigan, Women at Michilimackinac, The Revolutionary War in Michigan, Weathering the Climate: Science and Gardening at Michilimackinac, and Challenges to Expansion: The War of 1812 in Michigan. Full descriptions and availability of each program can be found at mackinacparks.com/education.
Historian Craig Wilson talks about the Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse. (Mackinac State Parks)
Mackinac State Historic Parks’ education outreach programs are made possible, in part, by the generosity of Mackinac Associates, the friends group to MSHP.
Mackinac State Historic Parks, a family of living history museums and parks in northern Michigan’s Straits of Mackinac, is an agency within the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Its sites—which are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums—include Fort Mackinac, Biddle House, Historic Downtown Mackinac, The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, and Mackinac Island State Park on Mackinac Island, and Colonial Michilimackinac, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, and Michilimackinac State Park in Mackinaw City. Mackinac State Historic Parks is governed by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, established in 1895 to protect, preserve and present the parks’ rich historic and natural resources for the education and recreation of future generations. Visitor information is available at (231) 436-4100 or online
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) and Grand Valley State University announced today that the annual Roger That! conference and event is returning on Friday, Feb. 19, and Saturday, Feb. 20. Roger That! celebrates space exploration and the life of Grand Rapids native, Roger B. Chaffee, with a multi-day virtual experience, hosted by both organizations.
“The Museum is thrilled to partner with GVSU for the fifth year to celebrate the life of Roger B. Chaffee and space exploration through a series of free public events,” said Rob Schuitema, the GRPM’s Director of Public Programs. “Although the celebration is virtual this year, attendees are going to be fully engaged and intrigued by the incredible lineup of guest speakers and presentations that address space, science, art and more.”
GVSU will host a virtual academic conference consisting of a diverse lineup of panelists including meteor scientists, engineers, artists, experts on virtual reality, physicists, space collection curators and astronauts. Registration required. For more information on GVSU’s guest lecture lineup, schedule and to register, visit gvsu.edu/rogerthat.
Roger Chaffee died with his fellow astronauts in a training exercise. (Grand Rapids Public Museum)
“Going virtual has allowed us to include speakers from around the country and around the world (Australia and Vatican City) and will also allow conference participants to tune in from everywhere,” said Deana Weibel, event co-organizer and GVSU professor of anthropology. “For instance, we have a visual effects panel composed of Hugo, Emmy and Oscar awardees. Since this year’s event is virtual, we felt it was important to include discussion from members of an industry that helps take us where we can’t be.”
Public events hosted as part of Roger That! include a livestream of a 1925 sci-fi silent film “Our Heavenly Bodies,” accompanied by the acoustics of the GRPM’s Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ; a webinar led by Dr. Brent Bos, who is a West Michigan native and NASA scientist; and a science fiction panel discussion featuring Hollywood special effects artists. To learn more about public presentations taking place as part of Roger That! visit grpm.org/RogerThat.
Public Virtual Events
The GRPM will kick off its public celebration on Friday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m. with a special virtual presentation of the 1925 sci-fi German silent film, “Our Heavenly Bodies,” accompanied by the dynamic sounds of the 1928 Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ. This performance will be live streamed from the GRPM’s Meijer Theater and will be available to watch via a Zoom link. Tickets are free, but must be reserved in advance due to limited spots. Tickets are available by visiting grpm.org/RogerThat.
On Saturday, Feb. 20, at noon Dr. Brent Bos, West Michigan native, senior research physicist at NASA Goddard Flight Center, and camera operator of the OSIRIS-REx asteroid mission, will host a webinar titled Bombshells at Bennu: Revelations from NASA’s First Asteroid Sample Return Mission. This webinar will be live streamed from the GRPM’s Meijer Theater and will be available to watch via a Zoom link. Tickets are free, but must be reserved in advance due to limited spots. Tickets are available by visiting grpm.org/RogerThat.
The celebration will conclude with a panel discussion, Art and Special Effects in Science Fiction, on February 20, starting at 3 p.m. The panel will be led by four Hollywood special effects artists: Vincent Di Fate, Ron Miller, Robert Skotak and Rick Sternbach. This group of artists have produced Oscar, Emmy and Hugo winning achievements, and will discuss the role of art in science fiction, while focusing on the introduction of special effects in silent films. The panelists will reflect on Friday’s silent film of “Our Heavenly Bodies” as well as share their own stories, experiences and artwork. Q and A will follow. The panel discussion will be available to watch via a Zoom link. Tickets are free, but must be reserved in advance due to limited spots. Register at gvsu.edu/rogerthat.
Visitors are encouraged to continue celebrating space exploration by visiting the GRPM’s Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, which features a new show Incoming! that explores asteroids, comets and meteors. A live show, created by the GRPM, will accompany the movie portion of Incoming! in partnership with NASA scientist Brent Bos. In addition to the show, the GRPM also partnered with Brent Bos and created a set of new interactive experiences outside of the Chaffee Planetarium. These include a lunar crater station, meteors under a microscope and a meteor pinball machine.
The Planetarium lobby also features an exhibit with Roger B. Chaffee related artifacts that tell a detailed story of his life.
The GRPM is open during regular business hours with capacity limits. Advance tickets are required for entry. Planetarium lobby interactives and displays are included with general admission. Planetarium shows are an additional cost and can be purchased at grpm.org/planetarium.
Roger B. Chaffee and the Apollo Tragedy
On Jan. 27, 1967, tragedy struck NASA’s Apollo program when a flash fire occurred in command module 012 during a launch pad test of the Apollo/Saturn space vehicle being prepared for the first piloted flight, the AS-204 mission. Three astronauts, Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom, a veteran of Mercury and Gemini missions; Lt. Col. Edward H. White, the astronaut who had performed the first United States extravehicular activity during the Gemini program; and Grand Rapids Native Roger B. Chaffee, an astronaut preparing for his first spaceflight, died in this tragic accident. The Grand Rapids Public Museum renamed its planetarium to the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium the same year. The Planetarium was originally opened in 1994 and has gone through renovations to provide the best experience for Planetarium visitors.
Roger B. Chaffee, born in Grand Rapids, MI, was an American naval officer and aviator, aeronautical engineer, and NASA astronaut in the Apollo program.
Next time you pass by the intersection of 36th Street and South Division, try to imagine this one room school house that once occupied the northeast corner for many decades. As the local population grew in the mid 1800s, there soon was a demand for a new schoolhouse. The brick building was constructed in 1867 and stood until 1924. Hand pumped water, a wood burning stove, and outdoor toilet facilities were the standard accommodations during its operation. The first school teacher employed was Charley Howard, making a dollar a day. At the time of its construction, railroad transportation was just starting to develop in Michigan. What is now Division Avenue was then an unpaved road that served as a high-trafficked main highway linking Grand Rapids with areas to the south.
This photo is part of the Wyoming Historical Commission collection. If you have photos or memorabilia of the City of Wyoming and would like to share it with the historical commission, email wyominghistoryroom@yahoo.com.
If there was a word for 2020 it would be collaboration, said Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll as he presented his 12th State of the City address at the City Council’s Jan. 18 meeting.
Through the annual address, Poll reflects on the past year while taking a look at the future.
“We did not see 2020 coming,” Poll said. “No one did.”
But despite the challenges faced by many, the residents of the City of Wyoming came together to help each other.
“Our community stepped up together,” he said. “I could spend an entire evening highlighting the ways in which we worked collaboratively to overcome challenges and create a brighter future for all who live, work and play here in Wyoming.”
As the state went into lockdown, businesses were forced to close their doors — some permanently — and employees who could worked remotely did. But cities like Wyoming, Poll noted, are not able to shutdown and the Wyoming City staff “without missing a beat” developed a response plan to ensure the safety of residents, business, and visitors.
Due to social distancing, many activities did not take place and others were moved to virtual. More than 2,400 people participated in virtual programs, Poll said, adding that the Wyoming Senior Center staff has worked with Senior Meals on Wheels to prove more than 6,800 senior meals and in a drive-thru format for personal care items.
Poll noted a number of other successes:
More than 78 percent of the residents self-responded to the U.S. Census, which was nearly a six percent increase over the 2010 U.S. Census. Through in-person follow-up, the city had a 100 percent participation once the 2020 U.S. Census was completed.
At the November presidential election, 65 percent of the registered voters in Wyoming cast ballots with more than half of these ballots being absentee. That is a 420 percent increase in absentee voting over the last presidential election.
The city’s Department of Public Works added more than a mile of new waterman in two separate projects and repaired more than 40 waterman breaks including repairng a major water transmission line in just nine days so that more than 230,000 West Michigan residents could receive clean water.
One of the highlights for 2020 was the grand re-opening of Ideal Park. (WKTV)
In 2020, the city issued more than 580 building permits at a value of more than $105 million in construction.
The Wyoming Planning Commission reviewed more than 40 projects such as the new residential development with multiple buildings to businesses near Burlingame and 60th Street and another new resident developments that included the addition of single family, multi-family and dedicated senior living homes.
Restoration of the Burlingame water tanks
More than 14 miles of streets were resurfaced.
The city celebrated the grand re-opening of Ideal Park and began construction work to improve Jackson Park.
The city invested more than $663,000 in Community Block Grant funding with more than $140,000 spent on housing rehabilitation programs and support services and $79,000 spent on additional public services to prevent homelessness.
The Wyoming Housing Commission participated in a venture with developers to help complete applications to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority which lead to the Housing Commission passing eight resolutions to help increase affordable housing options in Wyoming.
The Department of Public Safety assisted the City of Grand Rapids during several protests. The police responded to 28,500 calls for service and fire responded to about 6,500 calls for service in 2020. Public Safety also responded to 900 calls for confirmed or suspected cases of COVID.
As the city looks toward the future, Poll said the city will have to consider how to maintain its current financial stability.
“Today, our city is in a solid financial place, but we cannot rest on those laurels nor rely on this to continue to grow,” Poll said. “We have to anticipate our future growth and the corresponding future needs of our community.”
Wyoming must continue to address its community needs, such as the staffing of the Department of Public Safety which is understaffed compared to other similar sized communities, Poll said.
“The council and I will be working with city staff to evaluate financial options we hope to bring to residents for review in the coming months,” Poll said.
The city expects to see more development of 28 West in 2021. (WKTV)
Poll said there are many exciting events set to take place in 2021:
The hiring of the city’s next deputy city manager
Working with local developers and continuing to identify the right tenant for the Site 36 property.
Additional retail development along 28 West as the city welcomes nearly 400 new residential units on the site for the former Studio 28
Approving the city’s new master plan
Continuing to work with the cities of Kentwood and Grand Rapids and The Rapid in the Division United study to help the growth of the Division Avenue corridor.
Poll encouraged residents to get involved and mentioned that there were openings on several of the city’s boards and commissions such as development, community enrichment and others.
“Let’s make 2021 a year where we ll are commit to be involved and be informed,” Poll said.
