Halloween is a great time for kids. The Michigan State Police want to keep it that way. (Supplied)
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma joanne@wktv.org
Every year that Halloween falls on a Sunday, there is a debate as to whether trick-or-treating should be Saturday or Sunday. For most students, it’s a winner year because trick or treating is on both days and 2021 is no exception.
For most municipalities, trick or treating is not a city-sponsored event, however several do make a suggestion of the best time to celebrate.
According to Wyoming officials, the City of Wyoming does not dictate hours for trick or treating, so families and neighbors can decided what works best for them.
Checking through Next Door and the Wyoming Informed Facebook and it seems many Wyoming residents are preferring to have trick or treating on Sunday, Oct. 31. With that in mind, it is best to check with neighbors on which day they plan to have Halloween activities.
Wyoming’s neighbors to the south, Byron Center, have also not declared a date for trick or treating. Township officials are recommending that residents contact their neighborhood association or neighbors for trick-or-treating times.
The communities east and west of Wyoming — the City of Kentwood and the City of Grandville — are both recommending that trick or treating be done on Saturday, Oct. 30 from 6 – 8 p.m. This also is true for the Village of Caledonia and Cutlerville, which is option for Saturday, Oct. 30 from 6 – 8 p.m.
The City of Grand Rapids has decided to keep it traditional with trick or treating scheduled for Sunday from dusk to 8 p.m.
For a West Michigan trick-or-treating schedule, visit GRKids by clicking here.
According to local police, drivers should be extra alert on both Saturday and Sunday. According to the Safe Kids Worldwide, on average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.
Some trick-or-treat safety tips are:
Children of any age should be accompanied by a an adult.
Cross the street only at corners or crosswalks. Do not cross the street between parked cars.
Carry a flashlight. Wear light-colored or reflective-type clothing so you are more visible.
Accept treats at the door and never go into a stranger’s house.
Only visit homes that have the porch light on.
Stay in familiar neighborhoods. Plan your route and share it with your family and stay in a group.
Stay in populated and well-lit areas. Do not cut through back alleys or fields.
Make sure all costumes are flame retardant. Avoid walking too close to open fires, candles, and jack-o-lanterns.
Make sure an adult inspects all candy before eating it. Do no eat candy that is already opened.
The Salvation Army Kroc Center is bringing back its “Monster Mash” Halloween event on Friday, Oct. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m.
This free event will feature “trunk-or-treating” in the Kroc’s east parking lot, giving families a fun and safe alternative to trick-or-treating in their own neighborhoods. Multiple Kroc Center and other Salvation Army groups will be distributing candy and other information, along with other local businesses. This year’s event is being held in partnership with the Burton Heights Business Association.
The 2019 Monster Mash attracted more than 1,500 people. In addition to the trunk-or-treating, the Kroc Church youth group will be selling concessions (cash only, please). There is still time for businesses or community organizations to participate; interested groups should contact Jon Shaner atjon.shaner@usc.salvationarmy.org before Monday, Oct. 25.
“Monster Mash is one of our biggest events of the year,” said Major Carol Huffman, senior officer for The Salvation Army Kroc Center. “We love giving families the opportunity to enjoy time together in a fun and safe environment, as well as showing our support for other neighborhood businesses and organizations. I’m not sure who is more excited, the kids or our staff!”
While science suggests that outdoor events are generally safe, face coverings and social distancing are recommended for all participants in light of current COVID-19 rates in the community. The event will be cancelled in the event of heavy rain or lightning. Visit GrKrocCenter.org or call 616-588-7200 for more information.
Three Gatos in Wyoming opened in 2021, and aims to bring a taste of both European culture with a splash of Brazil to the Grand Rapids area. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
3 Gatos Brewery owners Linus and Renata De Paoli. (Photo provided by 3 Gatos Brewery, used with permission)
By Amy Sherman WKTV Contributing Writer
Take a lifelong dream, add in some time in Europe, and a hearty dose of Brazilian heritage, and you’ll brew up something awesome in Wyoming, Michigan. 3 Gatos Brewery recently opened, and is offering up something unique to the brewing scene here in West Michigan.
“The good thing here is that everybody is knowledgeable, everybody is passionate,” said 3 Gatos co-owner Linus De Paoli about the beer and brewery scene in West Michigan. He owns the brewery with his wife Renata. “There is great craft beer everywhere.”
Well, we couldn’t agree more.
“We just fell in love with it, with doing it and sharing it with people, and the whole history of beer, we were just drawn to it,” said Linus. “So we asked, could we make a living out of this?”
The couple took the leap, and purchased the former Ktizingen Brewery in Wyoming in 2020, after leaving their corporate jobs with Ford Motor Company.
“We just kept asking ourselves this question,” said Linus about turning brewing from a passion to a livelihood.
Sampler beers come in cute mini glasses at 3 Gatos Brewery in Wyoming. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
A classic Kolsch beer carrier can be found at 3 Gatos Brewery in Wyoming. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
3 Gatos Brewery is located in the former site of Kitzengen Brewery in Wyoming. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
Renata was a huge force in the development of the brewery, explained Linus, as her palate is spot on. She’s also “brutally honest” according to Linus. The couple, who formerly were both engineers, got transferred from their native Brazil to Koln (Cologne) Germany. The beer culture there grabbed their hearts, and through a series of events, they met the former owner of Kitzingen Brewery, and discussed purchasing the brewery. Linus came to visit Grand Rapids in February 2020, right before the pandemic hit. “It’s not the best time of year to visit,” said Linus about coming to GR during the cold weather months.
The brewery endured several pandemic induced delays to opening, but finally welcomed the public into their remodeled Wyoming storefront this past summer. It’s a bright and open space, located in an unassuming strip mall on the busy 44th street corridor. Gone are the heavy German decorations that used to grace the space, in are bright colors, and a simple, slightly modern design.
Linus comes to West Michigan with a ‘world’ of experience, having worked as a brewer’s apprentice in Germany, and eventually taking over the role of head brewer, working to refine both his technique and craft. He now offers a complete range of styles at 3 Gatos, from traditional German brews, to beers that are decidedly much more American.
Renata has helped guide what beers are brewed since the start. “She’s the best quality control I have,” he said. From classic German beers, like the stellar, crisp and clean Kolsch that I sampled, to more unique brews like the raspberry flavored Chartreaux, 3 Gatos offers a little something for everyone.
A staple at many breweries is the “wall of stickers”. 3 Gatos has just started their own. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
Another great thing that has developed from their Brazilian heritage plus time in Germany is the food menu that is available here. You can go simple snacking, and just get some of the freshly popped, and lightly salted corn that seems to always be going at the end of the bar. Or, peruse the menu for something more substantial, and decidedly Brazilian in flavor.
Try the Torta de Palmito, a popular, and unexpected offering, that is a pie made with hearts of palm, tomatoes and corn. Sandwiches are interesting, with a Mortadela made in the Sao Paulo style, or a Linguica featuring Brazilian sausage on a specially made Brazilian style roll baked just for 3 Gatos by Nantucket Bakery.
You can also grab brewery favorites like a soft pretzel with beer cheese, or an American style hamburger here.
3 Gatos “has been a dream of my wife and I” said Linus. “It’s been our dream for some years, since we started homebrewing.” I asked if his homebrew was really that good in the beginning. He replied “If I had to go back, I would probably not serve it to people. Some of the first ones, no, definitely not.”
They offer an amazing array of styles at 3 Gatos, using about 5 different yeast strains to brew their beers.
We joked about how being a brewer is really actually being a janitor, since so much of the job is about sanitation. “Totally,” Linus said. “If you look at my mug club mug, mine actually says ‘janitor’ on it. Brewing work is actually 99.5% cleaning.”
Linus is happy that he doesn’t have to explain certain beer styles to his mostly West Michgian clientele. “They’re knowledgeable about beer. I don’t have to describe to every person who walks in our bar what an IPA is, which was kind of the case in Germany. I’d bring beers I was brewing at the brewery in Germany to friends and they would ask, what’s this eeee-pa? Eeee-pa?”
“They know a lot about German-style beer, but not about what is coming from the outside,” Linus explained about the current brewing scene in Germany. “It’s hard to convince them to try something new.”
“There’s a small craft beer movement now,” in Germany, Linus said. “It’s gaining traction, with young consumers who are more aware of what’s happening outside of the country, and who are more curious to try different things. It’s a slow change that is happening over there.”
Not so here in Michigan. Linus has been impressed with our ability and interest in embracing the new. “That’s the good thing about the new world, we don’t have 1,500 years of tradition,” he said. “We can just go crazy and try everything, fusion, different types of food, different types of beer, and just get crazy with it.”
They are always popping fresh corn at 3 Gatos Brewery in Wyoming, a nice little snack to enjoy with one of their hand crafted beers. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
A staple at many breweries is the “wall of stickers”. 3 Gatos has just started their own. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
“I think it’s great,” said Beth Legate, a first time 3 Gatos customer, that I met at the bar during my visit. “They’ve really held onto some of the old German side of things. And I’m ok with German-style beers, but they’ve also introduced a variety now. I enjoyed it when I visited before, but now it’s even better.”
And while the space was friendly before, “it’s even friendlier now” said Legate, as she sipped a pint of Main Coon, a New England IPA from the brewery. She lives right nearby in Grandville, and had to give a shout out to her neighborhood brewery Osgood’s, where she has a mug club membership. “That’s my jam,” she said with a smile. She recommended Osgood’s pickle pizza, when you are not visiting 3 Gatos.
The biggest surprise of my interview was the fact that Linus is a proponent of the three tier distribution system here in Michigan…..which you don’t normally hear. While he’s not a big fan of all of the regulations around the sale of alcohol across the state, he does like that the system gives a little more power back to the little guys, as opposed to how things work in Europe. “There are positives,” Linus said about the system. “A bigger brewery cannot abuse its economic power to push beer to the detriment of the smaller breweries.”
Part of the draw to opening a brewery in a foriegn country was specifically the welcoming atmosphere of the West Michigan brewing scene. Beer City USA has done a great job of making these newbies feel welcome, according to Linus.
“Linus and Renata are wonderful people and they’ve done a lovely job of learning quickly and collaborating in the community,” said David Ringler, owner of Cedar Springs Brewing Company. “I think their Brazilian and European dual theme will serve them very well and we look forward to a “collaboration brew” on Bridge Street in the future.” Ringler recently took delivery for new brewing equipment for his new brewery location on the West Side of Grand Rapids, which will hopefully open in 2022 and will be called Kusterer Brauhaus.
Ringler continued, “I wish them the best,.” We can confidently say that all of West Michigan agrees. Good luck to you, 3 Gatos.
Wyoming Department of Public Safety Chief Kim Koster
A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive on Nov. 1, to examine all aspects of the Wyoming Department of Public Safety policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief Kimberly Koster announced today.
As a part of the on-site assessment, which will be done virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the public and agency employees are invited to offer comments on the agency’s services and overall performance at a public information session to be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Those wishing to attend the virtual town hall with the assessment team can email PD_Info@wyomingmi.gov to request the zoom link to attend and provide comments.
If for some reason, an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would like to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone. The public may call 616-530-7313 on Tuesday, Nov. 2, from 3 – 4 p.m.
The telephone comments as well as those made at the public information session are limited to five minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the Commission’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Wyoming Public Safety Department. For further information, contact Lt. Brian Look at 616-249-3441.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Wyoming Department of Public Safety’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write:
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA)
13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320
Gainesville, Virginia, 20155
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety must comply with 463 standards in order to maintain accredited status. The assessment team is comprised of law enforcement practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies. The team will review written materials, interview individuals, tour the facilities, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed. Once their review is complete, the assessors will report back to the full Commission which will then decide if the agency is to be granted re-accredited status.
Accreditation is for the next four years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited. The Wyoming Department of Public Safety was originally accredited in 2012.
For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. please write the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155 or call 800-368-3757 or 703-352-4225 or e-mail at calea@calea.org
At many of its parks, the City of Wyoming has waste stations along with signage posted on dogs having to be leashed and owners required to clean-up after their pets. (WKTV)
Come next summer, Fido and friends will be able to visit the City of Wyoming’s Pinery Park.
In an unanimous decision, the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission voted to end the 24-year ordinance that excluded pets, such as dogs, to visit the park from May 1 to Oct. 1. The decision was made after reviewing a survey, listening to a resident comments, and following staff recommendations to discontinue the dog-free status.
The survey, which had 628 people complete it, showed a 56-44 split among residents with the majority in favor of allowing dogs at all of the city’s parks.
“This was how it was 24 years ago,” said Community Services Director Rebecca Rynbrandt. “What is surprising is that while the results are about the same, the attendance for this meeting is not.”
In fact, 24 years ago, when the proposal of making one of the City of Wyoming parks dog-free came up, the Parks and Recreation Commission had a full room of residents who wanted to share their thoughts. At its Oct. 13 meeting, which had been moved to the Wyoming Senior Center to accommodate a large crowd, there was only one person in attendance to speak about the dog-free ordinance.
Resident Tish Stevenson said Pinery Park is one of her favorite parks to visit and she would like to be able to bring her dog there. She stated she would like to see the ban lifted and believes that a focus needs to be made on educating dog owners on making sure their dogs are leashed and they clean up after them.
City parks and recreation staff will be removing the “No dogs allowed” signage at Pinery Park. (WKTV)
This was the same comments echoed by many from the survey who felt that there was more of a need to educate dog owners about the city and state ordinances. Rynbrandt said the city ordinance follows that of the state leash law.
According to Michigan’s leash law, which was established in 1919, dogs six months and older are required to be licenses and owners are required to hold “properly in leash” any dog that is not on their property.
The City of Wyoming requires that pets be on a maximum 8-foot leash and owners are required to clean up after their pets. Rynbrandt pointed out that the city does post signs informing animal owners of the rules and provides waste stations with baggies to dispose of animal waste.
The Parks and Recreation Commission decided to follow staff’s recommendation to discontinue the dog-free status at Pinery Park. The staff made that recommendation because of the difficulty of enforcing the ordinance.
“If a person is found to be in violation of the ordinance, then it requires a parks maintenance person to address the animal owner,” Rynbrandt said. “If the person continues to not follow the rule, then it migrates to trespassing and the police are contacted.”
Police categorize all calls with the most serious issues being addressed first which means by the time a police officer gets to Pinery, the person could be gone, she said. Because of staffing issues at both the parks and in the police department, staff felt the dog-free rule at Pinery Park should be discontinued, Rynbrandt said.
Rynbrandt noted that Pinery Park Little League could still enforce its own programming rule prohibiting dogs as part of its events which take place at the park. Also, service and police dogs are allowed to go to places regardless of existing rules.
With the decision to discontinue the dog-free status at Pinery Park, Rynbrandt said staff will begin the process of removing the “No dogs allowed” signs at Pinery Park and updating the park guidelines in preparation for next summer.
D.A. Blodgett-St. Johns Communications Specialist Allyssa Murphy stands with boxes of toys received in last year’s D.A. Blodgett-St. Johns Virtual Toy Drive. This year’s drive is being held through Nov. 22. (Supplied)
By Sheila McGrath WKTV Contributing Writer
With shortages happening now in everything from groceries to computer chips to toys, D.A. Blodgett-St. Johns is hoping donors will get in the holiday spirit a little early this year.
Due to Covid-19-related supply chain issues and shipping delays, the nonprofit agency is closing its annual toy drive on Nov. 22, a few weeks earlier than usual. The drive, which opened on Oct. 1, provides gifts for children receiving services from the agency.
DABSJ, a Grand Rapids-based agency, provides services like foster care, adoption, family preservation, and children’s residential treatment.
“We help around 7,000 kids each year, and about 500 of those are kids we provide holiday gifts for,” said Allyssa Murphy, communications specialist with the agency. “Some of them are in foster homes, so they are not with their biological families. Some are in low-income households. We work with each social worker on our team and figure out who is in need and exactly how we can help.”
Closing the drive early will help ensure the gifts get in the hands of kids before the holidays, Murphy said. The gifts need to be shipped to the organization, then distributed to social workers, who get them to the families they support.
This is the second year the toy drive is being held virtually due to the pandemic. Donors can log onto the Virtual Holiday Gift Drive through a website called Roonga to view the gifts that are needed and decide what they might like to donate.
Toys received in last year’s D.A. Blodgett-St. Johns Virtual Toy Drive await distribution to West Michigan children. (Supplied)
Murphy said the vendor they are working with through Roonga put a limit on the number of certain toys they could request due to item shortages. Also, their contact at Roonga suggested they end the drive early to make up for expected delays due to a shortage of delivery drivers.
The toy drive site features items for all ages and price ranges along with basics like socks, underwear and hygiene kits, which are especially important, Murphy said.
“They’re not necessarily the most fun items, but they are necessary, and the kids we support really do need them,” Murphy said. “Gift cards are probably the highest needed item. That really makes up the difference for some families.”
Through Roonga, DABSJ has partnered with a third-party vendor that provides all the toys at wholesale prices, Murphy said. DABSJ typically gives a $50 gift card and at least three gifts per child, depending on how many gifts are donated.
“Sometimes we get more, sometimes less, but we try to give as much as we can,” Murphy said.
DABSJ President and CEO Mary Muliett said many of the kids they help have experienced some type of trauma, and the pandemic has not made things easier.
“These kids need our help now more than ever,” Muliett said. “They deserve a positive and magical holiday season, just like any other kid. We need help making that happen.”
To donate to the holiday gift drive, visit the drive webpage or dabsj.org. For more information or to discuss donation options for businesses, contact Allyssa Murphy at amurphy@dabsj.org.
Dar Baas, director of the Kent County Department of Public Works, (center in yellow vest) discusses the proposed Kent County Sustainable Business Park in Byron Center with Liesl Eichler Clark, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, (Center in orange vest) on a tour Oct. 15. (Kent County)
Following the announcement of a $4 million appropriation from the State of Michigan, the director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy last week toured the South Kent Landfill and future site of the proposed Kent County Sustainable Business Park.
Also on the Friday, Oct. 15, tour were representatives from Kent County Department of Public Works, Allegan County and Dorr Township. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) recently included a $4 million appropriation in the 2022 state budget to support necessary infrastructure improvements at the site.
Dar Baas, director of the Kent County Department of Public Works, (in yellow vest) discusses the proposed Kent County Sustainable Business Park in Byron Center with Liesl Eichler Clark, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, (Center in orange vest) on a tour Oct. 15. (Kent County)
Approved in 2018, the Sustainable Business Park Master Plan lays out “a vision for transitioning away from landfilling waste in favor of placing value on components of the waste as feedstock for new products or fuel sources,” according to the county. The Master Plan calls for an anchor tenant that will receive the mixed waste currently going to the landfill and separate it for other future tenants to utilize.
“Kent County’s Sustainable Business Park is an important investment in sustainable materials management and growing a vibrant circular economy. This initiative puts Michiganders to work making new products from the materials residents take to their curb each week,” Liesl Eichler Clark, director of EGLE, said in supplied material. “This site visit is a chance to get a first-hand look at what’s planned with State of Michigan support for the project, and learn about the park’s potential to increase recycling, conserve natural resources, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
The Sustainable Business Park, planned for 250 acres adjacent to the South Kent Landfill in Byron Center, will be built on land that was initially purchased by Kent County to create a new landfill. The state funding will go to infrastructure improvements on the site such as utilities, roads and stormwater to prepare it for initial tenants. The first phase of infrastructure development is estimated to cost $19 million.
“The site visit by EGLE allowed us the opportunity to show how this project is moving us closer to our landfill diversion goals in Kent County,” Dar Baas, director of the Kent County Department of Public Works, said in supplied material. “The state funding will lay the foundation for additional private investment in the entire park.”
Kent County Land for planned Sustainable Business Park, aerial shot that includes the property adjacent to the landfill, with the landfill in the background. (Kent County)
South Kent Community and Senior Expo is set for Tuesday, Oct. 26, at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE.
By WKTV Staff joanne@wktv.org
Community members of all ages are invited to the fifth annual South Kent Community & Senior Expo on Tuesday, Oct. 26.
The free event, hosted by the City of Kentwood and Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, is set for 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. It will feature a variety of products and services from more than 35 local businesses, as well as health screenings, flu shots, door prizes and free food.
The free health screenings will include blood pressure, spine alignment and more. The flu shot clinic will be provided by Walgreens from 10 a.m.-noon. For individuals without qualifying insurance, the cost will be $35.99 for a regular-dose flu shot for ages 64 and younger, or $65.99 for a high-dose for ages 65 and older.
“The South Kent Community & Senior Expo provides community members with a great opportunity to connect with a broad range of businesses and organizations in southern Kent County,” said Bob O’Callaghan, president/CEO of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce. “We look forward to this event each year and showcasing local products and services.”
The City of Kentwood is proud to partner with the Chamber on the expo, said Recreation Program Coordinator Ann Przybysz.
“There’s something for everyone at this fun community event,” Przybysz said. “We encourage residents, businesses and organizations to join us for a great lineup of activities.”
Touchdown sponsors of the football-themed expo are Consumers Energy, Estate Information Services, Inc., St. Ann’s Home and United Healthcare. Field goal sponsors are Baldwin House of Grand Rapids, HealthBridge Post-Acute Rehabilitation, Mission Point Healthcare Services, Priority Health and The Care Team.
Michigan aid organizations are scrambling to provide housing and services for 1,300 Afghan refugees they’ve pledged to resettle, some of whom will be heading to Kent County.
To answer the call, Kent County has created the Gateways for Growth Welcome Plan Steering Committee, which is working to coordinate residents, businesses, organizations and funders to support the hundreds of Afghan refugees who will be arriving in West Michigan. These opportunities will address their essential needs, such as housing, supportive services, mental health care, and volunteers to help them adjust to life in the United States.
“Creating a welcoming community takes all of us coming together in support of our neighbors, whether its our long-time residents or individuals who just arrived,” said representatives from the Kent County Gateways for Growth Welcome Plan Steering Committee. “We are encouraging our community to join together to ensure these families have the resources and support they need to resettle in West Michigan.”
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
“These are really nice, hardworking and kind people,” said Kurt Richter, a Michigan State University associate professor who helped evacuate more than 70 Afghan staff and scholars from the country. “I would welcome them as my neighbors.”
And they also can be strong contributors to the state’s economy, said Richter, who ran the university’s Grain Research and Innovation Project in Afghanistan. The MSU refugees are in Albania where they await transport to the United States.
Also waiting are about 60,000 refugees who were evacuated to U.S. military bases for resettlement following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, said Judi Harris, the director of refugee development in St. Vincent Catholic Charities, a faith-based nonprofit in Lansing that has pledged to resettle 300 Afghan refugees in Ingham County.
About 1.300 Afghan refugees are scheduled to come to Michigan with several hundred expected to be relocated to Kent county. (pxhere.com)
One family was recently settled in West Michigan by Samaritas, according to Rev. Bill Danaher, who is a board member of the faith-based social service agency. Samaritas has pledged to support 350 refugees. The West Michigan location was chosen because of the existing Afghan community there, Danaher said, adding that beyond housing, it is important to find the refugees a welcoming environment, which is why there are efforts to help settle refugees near other Afghan families.
Representatives from Samritas along with representatives from Kent County, City of Grand Rapids, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce comprised The Gateways for Growth Welcome Plan Steering Committee. The committee has worked with local partners to compile a list of prioritized needs and ways the broader community can contribute.
A Place to Call Home
The most immediate need is housing. An Afghan Housing Resource survey was created for Kent County to capture housing resources people can offer, such as access to a rental property or extra rooms in their homes.
Harris said, for future arrivals, permanent options may be limited. They may need temporary housing in hotels.
The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has secured $500,000 to assist in these costs. The funding came from an existing Michigan State Housing Development Authority fund for rent assistance open to non-citizens.
Such support is important as resettlement can be expensive and require lots of work, said the Rev. Bill Danaher, of Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills. It costs about $57,000 a year to support a family of seven. Most of these costs are handled by community organizations.
“The government only does so much,” Danaher said. “We know there will be significant costs despite the government funding we are receiving.”
Other needs that the Kent County The Gateways for Growth Welcome Plan Steering Committee has identified are:
Mental Health – Mental health practitioners are invited to complete the Mental Health Provider survey to learn how they can support the wellness of New Americans, also known as immigrants and refugees.
That’s why D-Birmingham Rep. Mari Manoogian’s resolution, which the House adopted Oct. 14, is important, he said. It can help address apprehension some Michigan residents may have to Afghan refugees.
This welcome should not be limited to communities with Afghan populations. such as Grand Rapids and Lansing, Danaher said. These refugees will be resettled across the state.
“Your voice matters,” Danaher testified during a hearing on the resolution. “The state of Michigan needs to say that these refugees are welcome.”
Despite the intense vetting, some people might have unfounded fears regarding Afghan refugees, Danaher said. Therefore these state level efforts help support work at the community level.
Helping to Build a Better Economy
Welcoming Afghan refugees to the state is not just the right thing to do, but the smart one, Danaher said. Refugees in Michigan have generated about $200 million of new businesses and jobs in the economy.
Three-quarters of refugees are self-sufficient within six months of resettlement, Danaher said. It normally takes 10 volunteers to help host a family for six months, he said.
Samaritas is looking for volunteers to help, he said. Danaher said he hopes support from the state and legislators will help bring attention and energy among Michigan residents.
Michigan has also set up a webpage to gather donations and volunteers for the organizations involved. Local residents are encouraged to visit the Kent County Gateways for Growth website or follow its Facebook page to view the list of ways to support local Afghan refugees and to learn more about the Welcome Plan’s goal and objectives to foster a sense of belonging in Kent County.
The football stadium at Wyoming High School, which will be filled with fans Friday as the school and the community honors Jack VerDuin, who coached football at Wyoming Park High School. (WKTV)
If you ask someone in the Wyoming-area high school football community to name a few people whom long-time Wyoming Park coach Jack VerDuin impacted as a coach, teacher, friend and mentor be prepared for a long list.
And, as Wyoming High School is set to honor the late VerDuin by naming its new field in his honor this week, it is probably no coincidence that the first two people who talked to WKTV were more than happy to do so and are also now respected educators.
A photo of Jack VerDuin when he coached football at Wyoming Park High School. (Supplied/Wyoming High School)
“For me, it was a lot of things outside of football … as a teacher and an athletic director,” said Oogie LaMar, who was on VerDuin’s state title football team and is currently Director of Adult Education and Community Relations at the Kent ISD. “Many of my memories of him were the times off the field. Back in the day, in study hall. He was my study hall teacher, and so a lot of the discussions we had were just about life and team-ship — being a good person, being a good teammate. Being committed to principals … about the team, but (also) families and how to treat other people.”
VerDuin, who rolled up a 243-118-6 record with the Wyoming Park Vikings before the school merged with Wyoming Rogers into Wyoming high in 2012, was given many honors in his lifetime and after he died in 2007.
He coached the Vikings for 38 seasons beginning in 1962. During the years, Wyoming Park won 19 conference championships and the Class B state championship in 1984, a 33-20 victory over Monroe Catholic Central. The Vikings were then the state runner-up in 1985.
VerDuin is a member of the Wyoming Hall of Fame, Grand Rapids Hall of Fame, Michigan High School Hall of Fame and the Michigan Football Hall of Fame.
But maybe the honor he would appreciate the most would be the special place he occupies in so many of the young people he influenced, on and off the football field.
“Jack influenced me as a person by helping me grow up. He had high expectations and a belief that if we all follow the process, we will all be champions,” said Thom Vander Klay, who played for VerDuin as well and is now a coach and teacher at Wyoming high. “He rarely let his kids believe they were anything but unbeatable … and he was right.”
Teaching how to coach, how to succeed off the field
Vander Klay, to a large extend, also learned how to coach and how to lead an athletic program, from VerDuin.
“He was way ahead of his time regarding finding the right fit for positions for the football team seven years down the road,” Vander Klay said. “For example, he would watch the 7th grade sporting events (not just football) and find who he wanted for each position on his football teams. We generally all played the same position in the same system on both sides of the ball for 6 years. After that long people get pretty good at what they are trying to do.
“He was not concerned with younger teams’ records as it was all about getting better within the system,” he said. “I have worked as a coach to use Jack’s work ethic, attention to detail, and ways to work with each student athlete from where they come from in order to create synergy and teach them they can achieve when they believe in the process. Not just in athletics but when they are adults and are carrying out their plans.”
That idea, often-used these days, of “planning your work and working your plan” was just part of VerDuin caring more about his students as people than simply as athletes.
“Jack was a consistent professional and had great passion for kids and working hard,” Vander Klay said. “He was a big picture guy that would not accept excuses for falling short of his best.”
LaMar told much the same story — “He really just wanted us to do our best … he always expected that.”
Intentional or not, VerDuin was unique
Of course, Coach VerDuin was not without his (occasional) mistakes, with his teams and with his style of dress, as both LaMar and Vander Klay reluctantly talked about.
“I do remember when I was coaching with Jack and he came back from Florida (he coached in Naples, Fla., for two seasons) and he thought he could have the same type of pregame speech to a team we had that was just outmatched that year,” Vander Klay said. “He told them how bad our opponent wanted to beat us and how hard they had prepared and how they were so ready for us. The problem was our kids, who were not that experienced and (were) young that year, believed him and we got drilled.
“We said ‘Maybe you can’t use that same speech for a bit coach’ and he smiled and said ‘I get it.’ Two years later he led Park to another championship.”
And that style of 1980s’ coaching attire?
“He did have those white shoes that he wore, the turf shoes,” LaMar said. “As I look back, and see he and all our coaches in their tight shorts, back in the day, but I guess that was just maybe the style.”
WKTV’s Feature Game crew will be at Wyoming high this week as the Wolves host Grand Rapids Union and also a special celebration for the school’s new stadium being named in honor of Jack VerDuin. The celebration — which will also be 1971-72 Team Reunion Night, Community Night and Senior Night — includes free admission. There will be a Wyoming High School open House at 6 p.m., then the Jack VerDuin Stadium Dedication at 6:45 p.m., followed by game kickoff at 7 p.m.
The winning City of Kentwood team at this year’s 2021 American Public Works Association Midwest Michigan Snowplow Roadeo and Equipment Show. (City of Kentwood)
For the second year in a row, the City of Kentwood’s Department of Public Work snowplow team has won the local Snowplow Roadeo.
On Oct. 6, the City of Wyoming Department of Public Works hosted the 2021 American Public Works Association Midwest Michigan Snowplow Roadeo and Equipment Show. The event featured a timed obstacle course where drivers from across Michigan competed to test their skills.
The event featured a timed obstacle course where drivers from across Michigan competed to test their skills. (City of Wyoming)
The roadeo provides an opportunity for public agencies to prepare for winter snow removal operations by training drivers, networking with each other and viewing a variety of useful products and services. More than 28 public agencies competed in this year’s Roadeo. Public administrators and elected officials, as well as other local celebrities were invited to operate snow removal equipment in a non-working/non-emergency atmosphere.
This year the Kentwood team of Jeff Bremer and Zach Wolford won the roadeo with Wolford also being named the top driver. The city also took home first place in the “Pride of the Fleet” competition.
“It is wonderful to celebrate Jeff Bremer and Zach Wolford as the winning driving team of this year’s Snowplow Roadeo,” said Kentwood Public Works Department Director Chad Griffin. “We look forward to the Snowplow Roadeo and Equipment Show each year as part of our training for winter snow removal operations. Placing well in the competition demonstrates the quality of our training and our commitment to excellence in the public works profession.”
Griffin along with Mike Kaminski won the 2020 Snowplow Roadeo and went on to compete in the national competition held annually in Loveland, Colorado. Bremer and Wolford will represent the APWA Midwest Michigan area at the national competition in October 2022.
The City of Kentwood’s Pride of the Fleet winner. (City of Kentwood)
University of Michigan Health – West Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. Lance M. Owens discusses patient care while the Dragon Ambient eXperience program takes notes. (Supplied)
University of Michigan Health-West (formerly Metro Health – University of Michigan Health) is the first system in the state to pilot automated documentation in the exam room, allowing health providers to focus on the patient rather than the computer.
The AI-powered Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience (DAX) is an ambient clinical intelligence solution that captures and contextualizes every word of the patient encounter and automatically creates clinical documentation.
The pilot at University of Michigan Health-West began earlier this year with 13 providers, throughout primary and specialty care settings.
“We have already discovered multiple advantages to suggest that Nuance DAX could become a transformative innovation for our organization,” said Dr. Lance M. Owens, Chief Medical Information Officer, who is leading the pilot. “This technology captures documentation automatically and removes the computer as a barrier between providers and their patients and enables better patient- provider engagement. It is yet another way we are relentlessly pursuing our vision to deliver innovations that change care and care that changes lives.”
University of Michigan Health – West Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. Lance M. Owens has been leading the pilot on ai-powered documentation. (Supplied)
“University of Michigan Health-West is a model for the deep partnerships needed to transform healthcare delivery and empower physicians with the advanced technology they need to provide personalized patient care,” said Diana Nole, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Nuance Healthcare. “Nuance DAX works seamlessly in the background unlocking the physician from the burden of administrative tasks and enables them to focus solely on the patient. This was our vision when introducing Nuance DAX, and now, together with our customers like the University of Michigan Health-West, we are bringing that vision to life by delivering an enhanced patient-provider experience.”
In initial surveys at pilot sites, when asked to compare their visit to previous healthcare encounters, patients overwhelmingly agreed with several performance indicators, stating:
“My visit felt more like a personable conversation.”
“The provider seemed to be more focused on me during the visit.”
“The provider spent less time typing on their computer.”
“The benefit to patients is becoming readily apparent,” Owen said. “By reducing the documentation burden, we allow providers to focus on delivering the best care for their patients and stronger patient-provider relationship.”
After using Nuance DAX, one University of Michigan Health-West provider saw a decrease in 31 minutes per day in documentation. Another provider saw an average reduction of 5 minutes of documentation time per appointment. One particularly efficient provider decreased time per note from two minutes to 1.9 minutes, totaling a significant decrease in documentation time overall. In addition to helping providers stay on schedule and spend more time with patients, the system improves accuracy and thoroughness of documentation because providers don’t have to divide their attention between patient and computer.
“As we continue to track key metrics during the pilot, we plan to roll out the system for all primary care physicians over the next year,” Owens said. “We see potential to expand for specialty use, in the Emergency Department and nursing settings in the near future.”
For more about University of Michigan Health-West and its innovation initiatives, please visit www.uofmhealthwest.org.
Voters in the Kelloggsville Public Schools district will be asked to approve an $11.3 million bond proposal on the Nov. 2 ballot which will allow the district to build a S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) building at the high school as well as other building projects.
Kelloggsville students would gain technology space and equipment. (Supplied)
“Our goal is to give our students an exceptional facility that will provide opportunities for S.T.E.M., robotics, and business classes,” according to a statement on the district website. The additions “would expand opportunities for our students to explore technology through an updated media center, S.T.E.M. building, and (to) participate in our robotics program.”
The last day to register to vote by mail for the November ballot is Oct. 18. See here for a map of the school district, which has voters in both Kentwood and Wyoming.
Passage of the bond measure would not increase residential take above the current tax rate, also according to district supplied material, “it would simply continue with the existing debt levy.”
The funds from the bond measure will allow for the construction and addition of a S.T.E.M. building at the high school complex, a new media center at Southeast elementary, continue efforts to “provide and update safe and secure entrances” throughout the district, and well as technology upgrades to “enhance instruction.”
In addition to Kelloggsville High School, the district includes Kelloggsville Middle School, Southeast Kelloggsville Elementary, Central Kelloggsville Elementary, West Kelloggsville Elementary, Kelloggsville Virtual School and the Kelloggsville Early Childhood Learning Center.
One of the concerns raised in 1997 was pet owners and handlers not controlling their animals. That same concerned was raised in a survey conducted this year. (pxhere.com)
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma joanne@wktv.org
A recent survey on whether the City of Wyoming should have at least one city park be dog-free during the summer came in with very close results, 56 percent opposed and 44 percent in favor.
The Wyoming Parks and Recreation Commission is set to review the dog survey results at its meeting set for Wednesday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW.
The results, which can bee seen on the Parks and Recreation page of the City of Wyoming’s website. A total of 628 responses were collected of which 565 were Wyoming residents.
City of Wyoming Community Services Director Rebecca Rynbrandt said during a recent Marquette Park master plan discussing that the results were close especially given the current climate of acceptance of people having pets at events, restaurants, and stores.
At Wednesday’s meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission will consider two questions: whether the city should keep one park dog free from May 1 to Oct. 1 and which city park that would be. Rynbrandt noted that the second question of which park will only be considered if the commission moves forward with maintaining one park as dog free.
From the survey results, Pinery Park was the first choice of both Wyoming and area residents to have the dog restriction. For the past 24 years, Pinery Park has been the designated dog-free park for the city. At the time the restriction was put in place, there were concerns over certain breeds being perceived as aggressive, allergies to dogs and dander, pet owners who allow dogs to run off leash and were not controlled by their handlers, and frustration with pet owners who did not pick up after their dogs.
From the survey, those same reasons were given as to why the city should maintain at least one dog free park during the summer months. Many picked Pinery Park for that designation because of its has had the restriction and also because of its one-mile trail and the number of student activities that take place at Pinery Park.
The city does have a designated dog park at Marquette Park. The dog park does have a membership requirement. Also in the master plan for Battjes Park, also located on the northland of the city at at 1655 Blandford SW, there are plans to include a dog park/area.
Engagement is a key component for the Parks and Recreation, Rynbrandt said, adding she encourages people to attend the park and recreation meeting to express their thoughts. The parks department also has had several surveys about program offerings and the future design of Marquette Park.
A member of the Migrant Legal Aid staff gets a vaccine. (Supplied)
By Sheila McGrath WKTV Contributing Writer
A Sparta health clinic that went above and beyond the call of duty to vaccinate West Michigan farm workers will be honored at Migrant Legal Aid’s annual Harvest of Justice Luncheon this month.
The event, designed to share client success stories with donors and the community, will be held at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 13, at the Eberhard Center on GVSU’s downtown campus.
Clinics held at the Mercy Health Physician Partners office in Sparta last March vaccinated more than 500 migrant workers against COVID-19, according to Mary Bennett, CFO Of Migrant Legal Aid.
The clinic did an exemplary job organizing its vaccination site so farm workers could get in and out quickly without standing around waiting, according to Teresa Hendricks, executive director of the organization.
“It was an incredible logistical feat,” she said.
Migrant Legal Aid, a nonprofit that advocates for migrant workers’ rights, has assisted at several vaccination clinics in hopes of getting as many of the workers vaccinated as possible. The state doesn’t keep numbers on how many farm workers have been vaccinated for the virus, Hendricks said, but Migrant Legal Aid has assisted with vaccinating 625 people so far.
They’re not done with the work yet, and they hope to persuade more migrant workers to get the vaccine through a video recently produced by WKTV. In both English and Spanish, the video dispels common myths surrounding the vaccine and presents the facts. Appearing on the video are Spanish-speaking doctors who have gotten the vaccine themselves.
“We realized a peer-to-peer video speaking about the importance of it was going to be key,” Hendricks said.
(Right) Mirgrant Legal Aid Executive Director Teresa Hendricks shows off her vaccine shot with a staff member. (Supplied)
The video will be shared on Migrant Legal Aid’s website and YouTube channel along with other social media sites. It will also go out to listservs (a mailing list) for other migrant providers, Hendricks said.
The video can also be used at migrant camps, where Migrant Legal Aid staff can show it on an iPad when they’re visiting, Hendricks said. At future vaccination clinics, they can have it playing on a loop while people wait to get their shots.
The Harvest of Justice luncheon is an important event to spread the word about what Migrant Legal Aid does, Bennett said. In addition to the award presentation, the luncheon will feature highlights of the work the organization has done over the past year.
“We have table hosts we ask to bring guests who might not be familiar with our program and what we do. That grows the community awareness as well as our donor base. Most of them, after they hear what we do, are eager to help,” she said.
Last year’s luncheon was held online at the WKTV studio due to the pandemic. The online version got a wide audience and raised the interest of people who are excited to come in person this year, Bennett said.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Charlie LeDuff, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and investigative journalist.
In his research for articles about farm workers, LeDuff has embedded himself with migrants crossing the border and working in the fields in California to see what they go through. He nearly died while crossing the border during his investigative reporting, Hendricks said.
Tickets to the luncheon are free, but there will be an “ask” for donations, Bennett said. For tickets, go to www.migrantlegalaid.org.
As the Wolverines prepare for the annual Kelloggsville rivalry game, 1st-year Godwin Heights football head coach Sydeon Harvey talks with WKTV about his young team’ s progress this year — what has worked (his senior captains) and what do they need to get better at (penalties, penalties, penalties). (WKTV)
Godwin Heights High School’s 1st-year head football coach Sydeon Harvey is pretty sure his senior-led but still young team will continue to improve this week when the Wolverines host Kelloggsville. He is absolutely sure his team will be pumped-up for the cross-town rival Rockets.
While records don’t really matter in a game like this one — Godwin Heights is 2-3, 0-3 in OK Conference Silver action while Kelloggsville Rockets is 2-4 and 1-2 — bragging rights do, now and in the future.
Godwin Heights High School head football coach Sydeon Harvey. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“The records mean nothing. That’s really true,” Harvey said to WKTV this week at a team practice. “This is my first here here but I’m not an idiot. When you have a rivalry, that’s what it is all about. That’s the one game that, when you look back 20 years, you’ll say ‘We won that game!’ A lot of these kids are just like a stone’s throw away” from Kelloggsville.
“This will be a big game this week. I expect both teams to play really hard, but I’m confident we’ll do well. … We are on the cusp. I feel really confident about this week against Kelloggsville. They are not going to lay down for us, but it’s homecoming, it’s a rivalry. I think our guys are going to be up for that.”
The “big game” between Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights — which is also the Wolverines’ Homecoming game — is this week’s WKTV Feature Game, on Friday, Oct. 8, with cable television and on-demand replays available.
Godwin Heights, after a week off from action, returned to the field and OK Conference Silver acton last week but lost a tight road game at Sparta (4-2, 2-1 in conference). Kelloggsville has seen their offense in high gear for three straight weeks, the last two being wins, as they followed up a win at Calvin Christian in conference action with a non-conference road win at Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard.
After last week’s action, OK Silver standings have Comstock Park (6-0) as the only undefeated in OK Silver action at 4-0, with Hopkins (3-3) at 3-1 and Sparta (4-2) at 2-1 in conference. While a conference crown is not likely for either Godwin or Kelloggsville, either could finish with five wins and a possible playoff birth.
Young, improving team is senior led
“The thing we are doing really well is that the kids are getting better every week,” Harvey said, looking at his team’s up and down season so far. “We are getting better doing some of the little things — better with our discipline, penalties are going down. But we are not penalty free yet.
The Godwin Heights High School football team will be out to protect their house against Kelloggsville. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“You talk about stuff we can be better at, we have to be better at those little things. We can’t have penalties at critical times. But that is part of being a young team. We got 31, 32 guys on varsity and 10 of them are seniors. We are pretty much a young team. But I have been really pleased that we are getting better at all the little things, running the ball, throwing the ball, getting everybody involved.”
Another thing coach is pleased with is his senior captains.
“All our captains are playing really, really well,” he said. “Kaleil (Harris) is a two-way player, he plays rover (on defense) and plays wide out (on offense) — he’s made a lot of real good plays for us. Jeremiah (Drake), our starting quarterback — he was missing for three games and that hurt us a little bit, it was just a change. He’s a great leader, and been doing really well for us.
“Javeon (Lyons), who is our defensive captain, has played really well for us. And then there is Jabari Crump(-Moore), he’s great leader for us and been playing extremely well for us. We have four captains and they have played great as captains, they’ve been great leaders and they’ve been great on the field.”
The Godwin Heights High School football team at practice this week preparing for a game against Kelloggsville. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Where and when to see WKTV game replays
WKTV featured games will be on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of football and other fall prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
One of the most popular events in the City of Wyoming is taking place this weekend, the Trick of Treat Trail. The event is set for 4 – 6 p.m. at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW.
About 2,500 children are expected to attend to the annual free event which has local businesses, such as Weller Self Serve, Bloom Credit Union, Godwin Plumbing and Hardware, and Hom Flats, handing out candy. WKTV also will be there filming fall greetings from area children on different seasonal backgrounds.
There is no pre-registration for the event, with families encouraged to come. With that in mind, we caught up with Wyoming’s Special Events and Marketing Programmer Corey Stamps to get the scoop on a few things you should know before you go.
The community comes together at Wyoming’s Trick or Treat Trail. (Supplied)
Entering and Parking: Participants should enter from the Byron Center East gate (see map above). This is also where they can park.
Costumes: Costumes are not required but encouraged to add a little more fun to the event. Parents can dress up as well.
Adult supervision: Children must have a supervising adult with them to participate.
Event time: The event will start right at 4 p.m. and go until 6 p.m. There is no additional time before or after the event.
The pathway: Once participants park they will be directed to the path. The actual path goes in a complete loop around the Lamar Park parking lot. Along the way participants will be greeted by our table host and be able to participate in different activities.
Kids Area: There will be a kids area with crafts, face painting and tattoos.
Social distancing and Mask wearing: Since there will being a large number of participants, we encourage everyone to try and keep a safe distance from one another. Masks are not required at this event but participants are more than welcome to wear one.
What if it rains?The event will take place rain or shine. Please pay attention to our Facebook page if there happens to be a weather concern.
For more information about Parks and Recreation programs and events please contact the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation team by calling 616-530-3164, emailing parks_info@wyomingmi.gov, or visiting www.wyomingmi.gov
Kelloggsville head football coach Brandon Branch talked to WKTV this week about his team’s impressive offensive production and what the keys have been … hint, hint … getting his two best athletes the ball. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Two things are just about locks when it comes to this week’s OK Conference Silver football contest when Kelloggsville High School visits Godwin Heights in their annual cross-town clash.
The first is the two team’s records don’t really matter in rivalries like this one, and the second is the Rockets’ dynamic duo of senior Jabari Campbell and junior Camron Townsend will get their touches.
Both teams come into the contest with up and down seasons: The Rockets are 2-4 overall and 1-2 in conference, the Wolverines are 2-3 and 0-3. But Kelloggsville has won two in a row after last week’s 34-24 non-conference road win at Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, while Godwin has played tough teams really tough, including last week’s 29-14 loss at Sparta, in a game what was tight until the fourth quarter.
Both could also still could get to five wins and have a shot at the playoffs.
The Kelloggsville High School football team in practice this week as the Rockets prepare for Godwin Heights. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
So, of course, the Friday, Oct. 8, contest — which will also be Godwin’s Homecoming Game — will be this week’s WKTV Feature Game. With local cable television and later on-demand replays available.
“Records don’t matter,” Kelloggsville head football coach Brandon Branch said to WKTV at a practice this week. “It’s like playing your brother in pick-up basketball. You always want to win, regardless of the score, regardless of the age difference, regardless of everything that has happened before. This game is the most important one. It’s doesn’t matter what the records are coming into this one.”
For Branch, who has brought stability and now emerging success to the Rockets program in, this, his second season leading the program, the key factor this week as it has been all season — keeping his high-scoring offense in high gear to keep them in games.
Led by Campbell and Townsend, who each have 500+ yards and at least 8 touchdowns receiving, and junior quarterback Zachary Zerfas, who has thrown for 1,500+ yards, Kelloggsville’s offense has scored 26+ points in five of six games.
“Jabari and Cam are our best athletes, by far,” Branch said. “Those are the guys we are trying to get the ball to. We try to find as many unique ways to get the ball to them as we can. Zach does a great job finding them, but he’s not just staring those guys down. He’s spreading the ball round pretty good. … but I’d be lying if I said we were not trying to get Jabari and Cam the ball.”
And sometimes Townsend just takes the ball himself — he has three touchdowns on interceptions while playing defense this season.
A combined effort of players, coaches
There is a lot more happening on the Rockets offense than simply pitch-and-catch between the three leaders, however.
The scoring success is “really just taking advantages of the strengths that we have. We use our strengths to expose the other team’s weaknesses as well,” Branch said. “I’m the offensive coordinator, but really it is coaching by committee,” pointing out assistants James Gentile, quarterback coach, and Justice Wright, receivers coach. “They get those players in the right place to make plays.”
Assistant coach Will Gooch, center, works a drill with the Kelloggsville High School football team in practice this week as the Rockets prepare for Godwin Heights. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
And the offensive line coaches, including Rob Fron and Will Gooch, are seeing their work paying off as the season has progressed — “Our offensive line has really grown in the last couple weeks.”
Branch pointed out junior tailback Brendon Tuinstra and junior center William Howard II as also being key to the offense.
And other players are playing well but don’t have the stats to show it, Branch said, including sophomore Jeremie Tsoumou and junior DeMarreon Rodriguez.
“Those guys play positions on offense that because they are running their routes tough, the safeties have to make a decision. So if the safeties have to make a decision that makes it an easier decision for Zach,” Branch said. “Because those guys, the nine other guys besides Jabari and Cam, are working their butts off each week, those two have the opportunity to do what they do.”
The Kelloggsville High School football team in practice this week as the Rockets prepare for Godwin Heights. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The Kelloggsville High School football team in practice this week as the Rockets prepare for Godwin Heights. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The Kelloggsville High School football team in practice this week as the Rockets prepare for Godwin Heights. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Team is young but not too young
As the Rockets have started to see success, so has the entire program started to see success.
The current varsity has nine seniors, 13 juniors suited up, a sign that the program is growing but young players are not being rushed to play varsity too soon.
“I definitely think we are headed in the right direction,” Branch said. “ Our numbers are growing. We have the biggest JV team we’ve had in a long time this year. 26-27 kids coming out every week. And our kids are doing the job in the classroom, making sure they are staying eligible and able to play.
“Having those nine senior and 13 juniors just make it easier (for the coaches) because we can just pick the one or two sophomores that are ready. … We are able to let those (other underclassman) continue maturing.”
Can’t be there live? Catch it on WKTV
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of football and other fall prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
One highlight the 2012 Color Tour’s Eastern Kent County Route, and the three historical covered bridges in that area, is the Fallasburg Covered Bridge which is celebrating its 150-year anniversary. (Kent County Road Commission)
The Kent County Road Commission knows the county’s rural roads really, really well. So who better to give residents advice on where to venture to parts of the county they might not normally think to explore our local annual color tour?
The county recently unveiled the first two routes of its annual color tour, with additional routes to be announced soon.
The road commission began producing the color tour in the 1950s and continued for over 30 years before being discontinued. While the reason for the suspension is not clear, the color tour was revived again in 2016 with much excitement and success.
“The Color Tour has really taken off in popularity over the past couple of years, so we definitely look to add new stretches for our repeat travelers,” Maura Lamoreaux, Communications Manager for the Kent County Road Commission (KCRC), said to WKTV.
Lamoreaux said that, while KCRC does make adjustments from year-to-year, the routes remain similar. The road commission tries to avoid any late-season construction and keeps a close eye on the project schedule. Part of the reason the tour routes are revealed in stages is not only to maximize an area’s particular peak color, but to make sure the roads are free of construction when possible.
One highlight the 2012 Color Tour’s Eastern Kent County Route, and the three historical covered bridges in that area, is the history Ada Covered Bridge. (Kent County Road Commission)
The initial KCRC list has chosen to highlight the Eastern Kent County Route and the three historical covered bridges in that area during the 2021 Color Tour, with the Fallasburg Covered Bridge holding a special place of honor as it celebrates its 150-year anniversary.
Similar to the Fallasburg Bridge, the Ada Covered Bridge and Whites Bridge were also constructed using Brown truss design, with all three bridges being built within four years of each other. While Fallasburg Covered Bridge and Whites Bridge are open to vehicular traffic, Ada Covered Bridge welcomes only pedestrian traffic.
The Western Kent County Color Tour Route showcases apple orchards and the fall harvest over 35 miles of road. Drivers must exercise caution as they may encounter slow-moving farm equipment moving from field to field, so patience is requested as motorists enjoy an unhurried drive.
The White Pine Trail is also accessible from the western route with miles of scenic enjoyment for cyclists and those wishing to participate in a leisurely stroll or nature hike.
The 2012 Color Tour road ways are filled with rural roads soon to be bursting with color. (Kent County Road Commission)
All routes provided by the KCRC can be driven individually for shorter trips or connected if a longer outing is desired. As day trippers enjoy the beautiful vistas and diverse topography throughout Kent County, they can stop at nearby public parks for nature walks and picnics or partake in the many other local stops and activities.
This fun and inexpensive outing is one that residents can enjoy alone or with family and friends, according to the road commission. KCRC also urges motorists to utilize the color tour as a way to visit parts of the county they have not yet seen.
“Personally speaking,” Lamoreaux said, “I threw my dog in the car and drove the entire color tour last year. We walked the parks and stopped for cider and donuts. I was simply amazed at the beauty of the county and how much fun it was to experience all corners of it.”
Kent County Road Commission hopes the color tour routes will help infuse a sense of pride for the gorgeous county that residents call home, and also for the road network that leads them to their destinations.
For more information on Kent County’s 2021 Fall Color Tour and maps detailing the various routes, visit here.
LANSING — Children’s health advocates are pushing to install drinking water filters in Michigan schools and child care centers to protect them from lead poisoning.
The project, named Filter First, would provide schools with filtration stations that reduce lead in drinking water instead of requiring the costlier periodical testing of water for lead.
The move could cost about $55 million in the first year, said Charlotte Jameson, a water policy program director for the Michigan Environmental Council.
That’s still cheaper than the “test and tell” method that includes testing of all drinking water fixtures and then replacing those that test positive for lead above a set action level, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council and Safe Water Engineering.
Estimating the cost of two approaches to protecting children from water contaminated by lead. Chart by Natural Resources Defense Council and Safe Water Engineering.
The testing strategy costs about $81 million a year and doesn’t guarantee clean water because lead releases from time to time, Jameson said.
“One school did the testing regime just on their own.” she said. “They got a sample from the water fountain that didn’t contain any lead. Then they went back a month later and tested that same water fountain and it had a very high lead release.”
Other states following the testing approach spend a lot of money going out to test the water in schools, Jameson said.
“We have seen other states doing tests and we learned from them,” she said.
Test and tell is used in 24 states, according to Governing, a publication that reports on and analyzes state policy.
It is expensive and doesn’t guarantee clean water, Jameson said. Filtration is cheaper and provides water free from lead.
The “test and tell” method requires constant testing and money for sampling, analyzing and replacement fixtures with high levels of lead.
Test and tell is a technique that would cost $497 million for Michigan in the first 10 years. That’s much more than the $166 million for filtration strategy even though it requires ongoing costs that include replacing the unit’s filters and sampling water to verify performance, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council and Safe Water Engineering.
“Schools and day cares are meant to be places for children to thrive,” said Becca Maher, the director of strategic campaigns at the Michigan Environmental Council. “But when lead, a harmful neurotoxin, gets into the drinking water of these institutions leached from plumbing, fixtures, and fittings, it presents a grave risk to the development of young bodies and minds.”
It’s unclear how many schools have a lead problem, Maher said. “But given the age of our school building stock and the fact that even fixtures labeled “lead free” still have lead in them, we expect all Michigan schools are at risk of lead leaching into drinking water.”
And the threat is significant, experts say.
“There is no acceptable level of lead for children,” said Larissa Miller, the associate executive director of Nursing and Government Affairs for the Michigan Nurses Association. “Any level of lead exposure is unsafe. Any exposure to lead can cause hearing loss, slow development of teeth and bones.
“Also, it can cause anemia and that’s a lack of adequate hemoglobin,” she said. “That means that kids may not have the oxygen they need to physically run or play or participate in childhood activities. With lead exposure the impacts are permanent and they are lifelong and can’t be reversed.”
The Senate Appropriations Committee is considering appropriating $85 million next year for grants to install filters. A package of bills was introduced in the Senate to regulate drinking water standards and filter use in schools and day cares.
If bills pass the legislative process next year, schools will have filtration stations installed by the 2025 school year, Jameson said.
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”
Albert Einstein
Pulaski Days is the celebration of Polish/Lithuanian culture held every fall in Grand Rapids since 1973 . (Supplied)
Two words: Pulaski Days
After a year off due to COVID, Pulaski Days returns this weekend with three days packed full of fun. There are eating contests, a Saturday parade, a Sunday mass and of course plenty of food and drink. A total of 14 halls will be open offering an array of activities, food, and souvenirs. For more, check out John D. Gonzalez’s latest story.
Who could resist? (KC Animal Shelter)
Expand the Family
The Bissell Pet Foundation’s fall national “Empty the Shelters” adoption event, running Oct. 4-10, is a quarterly effort that has helped more than 61,787 pets in shelters find their “forever homes” by sponsoring reduced adoption fees for $25 or less. This fall’s event will be hosted in more than 180 shelters in 38 states, including about 11 in West Michigan such as the Kent County Animal Shelter and Crash’s Landing. So this weekend is a perfect time to start looking for that new family addition.
One Last Look
ArtPrize officially closes on Sunday, which means you have a few more days to check out the pieces, including the winners, which will be announced on Friday. There are items both inside and outside. A popular spot has been the Grand Rapids Public Museum, which features a number of outdoor pieces including the one pictured above, or just travel along Monroe Avenue and Monroe Center for some great “eye candy.”
Fun Fact: The Polish/American Hero
Kazimierz Michal Wladyslaw Wiktor Pulaski or Casimir Pulaski, was a Posh nobleman, solider and military commander. After being driven into exile for helping with an uprising in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Pulaski came to America at the recommendation of Benjamin Franklin. He would help in the American Revolutionary War, first by saving the life of George Washington and second helping to create the American cavalry. Pulaski died in the Battle of Savannah in 1779. He is buried in Monterey Square, Savannah, Georgia. Today, many events and places have been named after this war hero, including Grand Rapids’ Pulaski Days.
Residents go over an existing master plan for Marquette Park with designers from the architect and landscape company MCSA. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
A pool. A splash pad. An ice rink. Heated shelters. Expand the community garden. Expand the dog park. Add more soccer fields.
These were just some of the ideas that area residents and community members offered when asked what they wanted to see at Marquette Park. The City of Wyoming hosted two meetings this week, on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the goal of getting input from residents and stakeholders for a new master plan for the park.
“This is the time to dream big,” said Wyoming’s Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt to those in attendance. “If the sky was limit, what would you want to see at Marquette Park?”
Rynbrandt said all of the suggestions from the meetings are added to the Marquette Park survey input with the ideas being mentioned the most considered for the park. Not every idea will be possible, she noted. For example, putting a pool at Marquette Park would be difficult as the park is in a flood zone, restricting what can be built. Also, the park has a former gypsum mine on it which does not provide the stability that a pool facility would require.
The keywords that came from the first meeting.
The keywords from the second meeting.
At the two meetings, attendees were asked to write down a word or two that best described what they wanted at Marquette Park. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
But the pool suggestion still has potential if residents really want it as the city owns 21 parks with one possibility being able to accommodate a pool or community center. In fact, Rynbrandt mentioned that at Lamar Park, land has been set aside for a possible community center.
The meetings were focused on the desires and wishes for Marquette Park, with those in attendance offering a number of suggestions.
At Tuesday’s meeting, there was some focus on the community garden at the park, which is a cooperative between the United Church Outreach Ministry (UCOM), University of Michigan Health-West (formerly Metro Health) and the city. Established in 2014, the community garden serves several residents by allowing them to grow fresh fruits and vegetables. The garden also provides fresh produce to UCOM’s Health Choice Food Pantry, which provides food to those in need.
UCOM representative Trisha Belbot said she would like to see the garden expand and possibly have the garden boxes on a cement slab to help reduce weeding. Another resident also stated her support for the garden but asked if the city had ever considered winter activities such as an ice rink.
Wyoming’s Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt talks to residents about ideas for Marquette Park. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Others at Tuesday’s meeting talked about a splash pad, a paved trail, benches near the playground, and more trees especially along the the north and west borders, where an industrial area is located.
Some mentioned activities such as soccer and pickle ball. Sporting activities were high on the list of the online survey, which is still open for those interested in adding their input. More than 100 survey responses have been collected so far with about half of those respondents living a mile or less from the park. The survey showed a strong interest in a variety of sporting activities such as baseball, basketball, football, pickle ball, and a skate park. The park current houses Kimball Field, a basketball court, and soccer fields.
There also was strong support for facilities that accommodate groups such as family reunions and neighborhood parties as well as festivals and cultural events.
The survey also indicated that respondents liked a mixture of natural spaces and developed recreation facilities, which those at the meetings also indicated they preferred.
At Wednesday’s meeting, there was a group representing the Wyoming Dog Park, which is housed at Marquette Park. For the dog park, the group suggested better lighting, a larger parking lot, heated sidewalks, heated bathroom, a shelter, a second entrance, and better access for those with disabilities. The group also said they would like to see the dog park expanded into the wooded area to allow patrons to let their dogs run off lease in the woods. The Wyoming Dog Park does require a membership to use it.
Another group was from the Grand Rapids Rifle and Pistol Club. The club predates the park and has a long-term lease with the city, according to Rynbrandt. Members said they would like to see better lighting and parking. Another group was in support for expanding the community garden and a fourth group, the Michigan Power Futbol Academy, said it would like to see revitalization of the soccer fields, perhaps with turf, and better lighting so the fields could be used at night.
Rynbrandt said the city will continue to collect input from residents. Once that process is complete, the master plan process will begin. Those plans will be provided for input from residents before going through the approval process.
Kent County Animal Shelter’s Angela Hollinshead with “George” — who has since found a home. But there are many more like George awaiting. (KC Animal Shelter)
The Kent County Animal Shelter’s staff members are always enthusiastic about participating in the Bissell Pet Foundation’s “Empty the Shelters” fall event, which starts next week, not only for the funding provided to support the adoption event but also for the publicity to make people aware of the event.
But they also know there is always a need for sheltering needy animals, and a year-around need to support current and possible future animal lovers in finding their perfect housemates.
“Bissell is wonderful in that they provide all the resources shelters need through media sites to make people aware of the event, as well as funding it,” Angela Hollinshead, division director of the Kent County Animal Shelter, said to WKTV. But “we will always need adopters. There will always be a need for people willing to adopt the pets that come through our door.”
Who could resist? (KC Animal Shelter)
The Bissell Pet Foundation’s fall national “Empty the Shelters” adoption event, running Oct. 4-10, is a quarterly effort that has helped more than 61,787 pets in shelters find their “forever homes” by sponsoring reduced adoption fees for $25 or less. This fall’s event will be hosted in more than 180 shelters in 38 states, including about 11 in West Michigan, including the Kent County Animal Shelter.
Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, Bissell Pet Foundation began its “Empty the Shelters” campaign in 2016 by sponsoring adoptions across the country and in Canada.
“Shelters are in dire need of support in the wake of natural disasters and overcrowding due to obstacles such as increased length of stay and slowed adoptions for mid-to-large sized dogs,” Bissell said in supplied material. “Our fall ‘Empty the Shelters’ will support the adoption of thousands of pets across the country, helping shelters in this time of crisis. Opening your home to a shelter pet will save a life and create space to give another pet a chance.”
Among the participating West Michigan shelters are Al-Van Humane Society, Crash’s Landing, Faithful to Felines, Harbor Humane Society, Heaven Can Wait Animal Haven, Humane Society of West Michigan, SPCA of Southwest Michigan, Van Buren County Animal Control and Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance.
Because every shelter is not participating for the full event, potential adopters are encouraged to visit the “Empty Shelters” website to find the nearest participating shelter and confirm their adoption day details.
Animal rescue, adoption efforts are year-round
“The pets who come to us are not broken or damaged, oftentimes coming to us through circumstances that are no fault of their own,” Hollinshead said. “We have met some truly wonderful animals.”
While the pet intake numbers fluctuate from month-to-month, Hollinshead said that they take in approximately 142 animals per month.
Need a little, or big, companion while working from home? Kent County Animal Shelter may have a perfect match awaiting. (KC Animal Shelter)
“These events help us a lot because we don’t turn away stray animals,” she said. “The reduced adoption fee helps us find homes for pets who have been here longer.”
Since 2019, Hollinshead has also noted a 48 percent decrease in pets coming into the shelter due to resources they are now able to offer current pet owners. Some of the resources available include spaying and neutering, food resources, and a behavior specialist who can help pet owners with training for their animals.
“These options allow us to focus more on each individual pet and its needs and provide better outcomes,” Hollinshead said.
If an individual or family is not able to adopt, Hollinshead also encourages community members to consider fostering shelter animals, volunteering at the shelter, and raising awareness of the need for continued help from the community.
Located on Fuller Avenue in Grand Rapids, the Kent County Animal Shelter will be participating for the full duration of the event, Oct. 4-9. Potential adopters may contact the shelter at 616-632-7300 if they have any questions.
Kent County Land for planned Sustainable Business Park, aerial shot that includes the property adjacent to the landfill, with the landfill in the background. (Supplied/Kent County)
Kent County’s efforts to reduce use of landfills has gained a big vote of support — in the form of a $4 million state allocation — as the county’s Department of Public Works announced this week that its Sustainable Business Park plans will now have initial funding for infrastructure improvements.
The Sustainable Business Park, planned for 250 acres adjacent to the South Kent Landfill in Byron Center, will be built on land that was initially purchased by Kent County to create a new landfill for Kent and Allegan counties. The goal of the park plan is to attract businesses which will lessen landfill use by diverting waste streams.
Trash being dumped at the Kent County landfill. (Supplied/Kent County)
The state funding will go toward infrastructure improvements on the site such as utilities, roads and stormwater to prepare it for initial tenants. The first phase of infrastructure development is estimated to cost $19 million, according to the county.
“The state investment in this important project will vastly reduce Kent County’s landfill usage and contribute to a circular economy, ,” Baas said in supplied material. “Landfills are not the legacy anyone wants to leave for future generations and this investment is an acknowledgement that we’re on the right path toward a more sustainable future.”
The $4 million coming to Kent County is an appropriation in the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) budget. The Michigan Legislature approved a $69.9 billion fiscal year 2022 state budget last week.
“We want to thank our elected leaders,” Baas said, “including state Reps. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, and Bryan Posthumus, R-Cannon Township, and state Sens. Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, and Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, for their support of this project and moving us closer to our landfill diversion goals.”
Approved in 2018, the Sustainable Business Park Master Plan lays out a vision for transitioning away from landfilling waste in favor of placing value on components of the waste as feedstock for new products or fuel sources, according to the county announcement.
The Master Plan calls for an anchor tenant that will receive the mixed waste currently going to the landfill and separate it for secondary and tertiary tenants to utilize. The state funding will lay the foundation for additional private investment in the entire park.
This photo is from the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s collections. It is part of a set of photos featuring American Seating Company stadium chairs installed in 1937. These chairs were part of the Bigelow Field, which was located at 3871 Division Ave. South, then Wyoming Township. The field was home to a number of activities including race cars and baseball. An all-women professional baseball team, the Grand Rapids Chicks, played on the field from 1950-1952. The stadium burned down in 1952.
The Kent County Health Department announced this week that it will begin making Pfizer BioNtech COVID-19 booster shots available to eligible individuals on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at all three health department clinic locations.
County clinic locations and hours can be found here. Appointments can be made by calling 616-632-7200; persons may also use this number to schedule a first dose of vaccine for those who have not already had it.
“Note that these boosters are only for people who have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. We expect other boosters from other manufacturers to be coming soon,” according to the announcement. “In the meantime KCHD continues to strongly encourage anyone who has not yet received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to do so as soon as possible.”
The Kent County Health Department (KCHD) action follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently recommending a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in certain populations and for those in high risk occupational and institutional settings. This recommendation only applies to people who originally received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months ago.
The CDC recommends the following groups should receive a booster: people 65 years and older, residents in long-term care settings aged 18 years or older, and people aged 50-64 years with underlying medical conditions.
Additionally, the CDC recommends that the following groups “may” receive a booster based on their individual benefits and risks: people aged 18-49 years with underlying medical conditions, people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of their occupational or institutional (residential) setting. (This groups includes adults aged 18-64 years who work or reside in settings such as health care, schools, congregant care facilities, correctional facilities, or homeless shelters. This group also includes front line essential workers such as first responders — firefighters, police, and EMS — as well as food and agriculture workers, manufacturing workers, U.S. Postal Service workers, public transit workers, and grocery store workers.)
The county health announcement also states that after reviewing data in the coming weeks, the CDC is expected to make recommendations about the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines.
Booster vice ‘third dose’ difference explained
In the meantime, there have been reports about a “third dose” of the COVID vaccine that is now available. The third dose is different than a booster and has been approved by the FDA and recommended by the CDC specifically and exclusively for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. These individuals have a medical condition or are on a medication that limits the strength of their immune systems and, therefore, they may not receive the same level of protection from a regular course of vaccination.
People who are immunocompromised may receive a third dose of either the Moderna or the Pfizer vaccine as soon as 28 days after the second dose. There is no additional dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine currently recommended.
“Again, the third dose should not be confused with a booster,” according to the county announcement. “A vaccine booster is an additional shot that is given to previously vaccinated people as the immunity provided by the original dose(s) has started to decrease over time. A booster is administered to help maintain the level of immunity in the future.”
The Wyoming Tree Commission is looking for a few more people to help with tree plantings this weekend and next.
Plantings are set for the morning of Oct. 2 and 16, which are both Saturdays. For more information on helping, email treeamigoswyoming@gmail.com.
Recently, the Tree Commission received a DTE Energy Tree Planting Grant of $3,000. With an additional $1,000 from the commission’s funds, was able to purchase about 25 8-foot and 10-foot trees. More than a dozen residents have signed up to receive a tree. The trees are free to residents but they are required to help plant it and commit to maintaining the tree.
The city’s recently revised Master Plan calls for the city to set a tree canopy goal. the Tree Commission recommendation was a goal of 40%, the same goal as many cities have set such as the City of Grand Rapids. Currently, Wyoming has an approximate tree canopy of 13.5%, as determined by an iTree survey that looks at aerial photographs.
The Tree Amigos is a volunteer City of Wyoming commission seeking to improve the city’s overall tree canopy. They meet every second Monday of the month at 12:30 p.m. at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW.
Last week, in Week 5 of the 2021 high school football season, East Kentwood High School broke into the win column in a big way with a 37-20 home win over Holland West Ottawa. And WKTV’s Feature Game coverage team was there, with Wyoming and Kentwood cable television and on-demand replays available.
In other local action, South Christian stayed in the OK Gold title hunt with a 62-20 conference win at Wayland, and Kelloggsville also broke in the win column with a 70-22 win at Granville Calvin Christian.
The Week 6 schedule of local teams will find WKTV at East Kentwood this week for a WKTV Featured Game, but this time for a “home” game for South Christian as they host Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills on Oct. 1.
Jack VerDuin. (Supplied)
Upcoming games on the WKTV Featured Game schedule include the Friday, Oct. 8, Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights traditional cross-town rivalry game; and the Friday, Oct. 15, Union at Wyoming high game — which is scheduled to be a special celebration as the high school’s new stadium is named in honor of Jack VerDuin, who rolled up a 243-118-6 record with the Wyoming Park Vikings before the school merged with Wyoming Rogers to become Wyoming high in 2012.
The final week of the regular season, on Friday, Oct. 22, WKTV will select a game of more importance to local fans.
Other WKTV Featured Games available on-demand include the Aug. 26 Forest HIlls Northern at Wyoming High game, the Sept. 1 NorthPointe at Lee 8-man game, and the Sept. 10 Middleville T-K at South Christian game (played at East Kentwood).
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of football and other fall prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
Team-by-team update
East Kentwood
The East Kentwood Falcons —1-4, 1-2 in OK Conference Red action after the win over West Ottawa (0-5, 0-3) — will be on the road this week, playing at Hudsonville (2-3, 2-1).
After last week’s action, Caledonia (5-0 overall) and Rockford (5-0) are both 3-0 in OK Red standings, with Hudsonville and Grand Haven (3-2) at 2-1.
Remaining on the Eagle’s schedule after Hudsonville is Grandville (2-3, 1-2) away on Oct. 8, at home hosting Grand Haven on Oct. 15, then closing out the regular season at Jension (0-3, 1-4) on Oct. 22.
Wyoming high
The Wyoming Wolves (0-5) last week hosted OK Conference Green co-leader, and always tough, Muskegon (4-1) and lost 0-62.
After last week’s action, Muskegon (4-1) and Muskegon Mona Shores (4-1) are each 3-0 in OK Green action. The Wolves are 0-3 in conference, with a road game this week at Zeeland West (2-2, 1-2) on Oct. 1.
After this week’s game, Wyoming will be on the road at Zeeland East (3-2, 2-1) on Oct. 8, at home for the final time this season facing Grand Rapids Union (3-2, 1-2) on Oct. 15, and then close out the season at Mona Shores on Oct. 22.
Grand Rapids South Christian
The South Christian Sailors (3-2, 2-1 in OK Conference Gold) will be at home (at East Kentwood) in Week 6 hosting Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (2-3, 1-2) in OK Gold action.
After last week’s action, Grand Rapids Central Catholic (5-0) and Cedar Springs (4-1) are both 3-0 in OK Gold action, with the Sailors one game behind. South Christian played and lost to Catholic Central on Sept. 17, but still have a home game against Cedar Springs to be played.
After this week’s game against Kenowa Hills, South Christian will host Ada Forest Hills Eastern (2-3, 1-2) on Oct. 8, travel to Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (2-3, 1-2) on Oct. 15, then finish the regular season against Cedar Springs on Oct. 22.
Godwin Heights
The Godwin Heights Wolverines (2-2) had a week off from action last week but will return to the field and OK Conference Silver acton this week with a road game at Sparta (3-2) on Oct. 1.
After last week’s action, Comstock Park (5-0) is the only undefeated in OK Silver action at 3-0, while Belding (4-1) and Hopkins (2-3) are each 2-1 in conference. Godwin remained at 0-2 in conference while Sparta is 1-1.
After this week’s game at Sparta, the Wolverines will host cross-town and conference rival Kelloggsville (1-4, 1-2) on Oct. 8, then travel to Belding on Oct.15, before finishing the season at home against Grandville Calvin Christian (1-4, 0-2) on Oct. 22.
Kelloggsville
The Kelloggsville Rockets (1-4) saw their offense in high gear two weeks in a row last week as they followed up a 38-point effort Sept. 17 in a 38-42 loss to Hopkins with the 70-22 road win at Calvin Christian in OK Conference Silver action.
After last week’s action, Comstock Park (5-0) is the only undefeated in OK Silver action at 3-0, while Belding (4-1) and Hopkins (2-3) are all 2-1 in conference. Kelloggsville is 1-2 in conference.
Kelloggsville will be at Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (2-3, 2-0 in Catholic High School League Intersectional #1) in a non-conference game this week, Oct. 1, before finishing the season with conference games at Godwin Heights (2-2, 0-2) on Oct. 8, at Comstock Park on Oct. 15, and then at home to face Sparta (3-2, 1-1) on Oct. 22.
Lee (8-man football)
The Lee Legends are playing a non-conference 8-man schedule which includes both 8-man varsity and junior varsity games.
The City of Wyoming’s efforts to collect as much input from residents about Marquette Park continues as the city hosts two public meetings this week.
The first meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Godfrey Lee Early Childhood Center, 961 Joosten St. SW, and the second one is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW.
“We need the facility of Marquette Park to align, not only with the community needs of today, but well into the future,” said Wyoming’s Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt. “We really look to our community and area residents to guide this process so Marquette Park can be exactly what is needed for the neighborhood and city overall.”
The 40-acre Marquette Park, which is located at 1414 Nagel Ave. SW, is one of the city’s oldest parks. The eastern section, which includes Kimble Field and the Dog Park area, was originally purchased in 1938 when the city, which was a township at the time, paid $2,800 for sewage disposal site from the estate of William F. Keeney. The western portion of the property, which currently features soccer fields, the Grand Rapids Rifle and Pistol Club, and a playground, was added to the park in 1946. Marquette Park was officially designated as a city park in 1971.
The park is surrounded by an ethnically diverse, dense residential neighborhood and adjacent to industrial properties. Plaster Creek flows through the northeast corner of the park and the park generally serves the city residents attending the Godfrey Lee Public School district.
“With a significant increase in Spanish speaking residents, the City has taken steps to move language barriers in this process,” Rynbrandt said. All public meetings will have simultaneous Spanish interpretation services in addition to English presentation.
The September meetings are the first round of community input the city will be having for Marquette Park. The city also is conducting a 15-question survey, which is in both English and Spanish. For the survey, click here.
Today’s the day that Metro Health — University of Michigan Health’s name officially changes to University of Michigan Health – West.
The new name, announced earlier this year, serves two purpose. It describes the organization’s role as part of the state’s top-ranked health system, University of Michigan Health. And it emphasizes a focus on West Michigan, where the organization had been working to advance healthcare for eight decades.
Peter Hahn, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Metro Health – University of Michigan Health (Supplied)
Visible changes will be gradual as physicians and staff receive new lab coats and uniforms, and correspondence and signage are updated for multiple sites across West Michigan. The transition is expected to continue into 2022. Throughout the process, the experience for patients will be seamless. Patients will not need to change anything in the way they connect with services.
“University of Michigan Health-West will have the same progressive, patient-focused culture as when we were known as Metro Health or Metropolitan Hospital or Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital,” said Dr. Peter Hahn, president and CEO, University of Michigan Health-West. “Our founding physicians would be proud of our identity today, as part of one of the world’s greatest health systems.”
Metro Health was found in 1942 as the Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital with a home on Lake Drive converted to serve the new facility. In 1957, the hospital moved to Boston Street in Grand Rapids. In 1985, the hospital’s name was changed to Metropolitan Hospital.
In 2003, construction began on the the Metro Health Village in Wyoming and in 2005 the hospital changed its name to Metro Health.In 2007, the Metro Health Village was open and two years later, the hospital began relationships with the University of Michigan Health in several areas: cancer, neurosciences, pulmonology, cardiology, endocrinology, pediatric cardiology and pediatric endocrinology.
The former Metro Health became the premier affiliate of University Michigan Health on Dec. 15, 2016.
“As we approach the fifth anniversary of the affiliation, the name change reminds us of what our relationship with University of Michigan Health has made possible,” said Hahn. “Sept. 27 will become another important milestone of our long, proud legacy of innovation, compassion and excellence.”
Gradual changes will take place with new signage and other details. (Supplied)
Recent years have see the addition of multiple services and capabilities, including more outpatient care sites, certification as a comprehensive stroke center, and groundbreaking regional partnerships to advance cancer and cardiovascular care. Earlier this year, the state grand approval to launch Michigan’s first new open-heart surgery program in nearly 20 years.
“These accomplishment are bringing world-class care close to home for the patients we serve across West Michigan,” Hahn said. “This really is a testament to the dedicated staff across our organization, as well as visionary leadership through the years that made us who we are today. Together, they have set the stage for an even brighter future as University of Michigan Health-West.”
The 208-bed acute-care osteopathic teaching hospital serves 250,000 patients and 61,500 emergency patients a year, with more than 500 physicians on staff. UM Health-West operates 30 neighborhood outpatient centers and offices in West Michigan.
It appears this Saturday will be another beautiful day to stroll through the City of Wyoming’s second public market set for 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW.
The first public market was held last Saturday at HŌM Flats with several vendors showcasing items from plants to coffee. Some of those vendors, such as Wyoming-based Runyon Coffee Company and Periwinkle Flower Co., will be returning to this Saturday’s event along with a number of vendors that will be offering an array of items.
Ed Runyon, owner of Runyon Coffee Company, said he plans to be at this Saturday’s public market. (WKTV)
“The City of Wyoming is very excited about its partnership with HŌM Flats and the new public markets,” said Wyoming’s Planning & Economic Development Director Nicoe Hofert.”One of the City’s economic development goals identified in its master plan, Wyoming [re]imagined, is to work with and support local businesses to showcase local talent and support their growth and investment in our community.”
Hofert said events like the HŌM Flats Public Market provide exactly this opportunity, adding that “the City believes these markets create a vibrant environment where people can interact and connect. We hope that these events lead to an expanded market with additional dates next year.”
HŌM Flats approached the city about hosting a public market at its location, 1401 Prairie Parkway SW, with representatives learning that city officials were also looking at a similar idea. According to Jaylyn McCloy with Magnus Capital Partners, which owns HŌM Flats Flats at 28 West, it only made sense for the two organizations to partner.
The result was the two-weekend event. Last Saturday, the market was tucked into the HŌM Flats, with residents strolling through checking out items. Both city and HŌM Flats officials said they were pleased to see the first event launch and building upon it.
Most people think of the YMCA as being focused on healthy bodies through exercise, programs and classes. Yes, but healthy eating is also a key part of promoting healthy bodies.
On Monday, Sept. 27, residents of Kentwood’s Tamarisk Apartments will gain the opportunity for both healthy food and healthy ideas when they get a visit from one of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids’ Veggie Vans as part of its ongoing regional tour of Y’s new community program.
On board the van will not only be fresh, healthy food but also information on other YMCA efforts, and available social programs, designed to help underserved residents live a more health lifestyle.
The YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids’ new Veggie Vans offer up fresh produce and other healthy foods. (YMCA GR)
“Eating healthy is a critical part to having a healthy body,” Belisa Melton, GR YMCA community collaborations director, said to WKTV. “That is why the Veggie Van also promotes the YMCA’s Healthy Corner Stores initiative, which connects small-scale growers and distributors with urban corner stores to increase the fresh fruits and vegetables to households across West Michigan.
“The goal is to bring healthier and more affordable food options to communities that often have limited fresh options by making local produce more readily available at neighborhood markets.”
And the is just part of the YMCA’s offerings.
“The Veggie Van also provides visitors with opportunities to learn about and engage with the YMCA’s free community fitness programs and nutrition education classes,” Melton said.
The Veggie Van will also serve up conversation and education about how to use the produce or benefits such as Double Up Food Bucks or SNAP.
“The knowledge of these programs and the opportunity to learn more from a trusted resource is important,” according to a recent YMCA announcement.
The Veggie Van’s September schedule for Kentwood-Wyoming includes a stop at Tamarisk Apartments, 4520 Bowen Blvd. SE, Kentwood, from 10-11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 27.
Goal: fresh veggies; fresh ideas
YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, knowing farmers markets are a summer favorite for many West Michigan residents but not everyone has access to one, developed the Veggie Van as the region’s first mobile farmers market.
The YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids’ new Veggie Vans offer up fresh produce and other healthy foods. (YMCA GR)
The YMCA Veggie Van delivers locally grown, top-quality fruits and vegetables at cost directly to apartment complexes, senior living facilities and other locations in Grand Rapids and Muskegon, according to the recent announcement. The Veggie Van’s two vehicles run year-round, making stops in neighborhoods to provide “vulnerable communities with access to locally sourced produce when in season or sourced from local grocers.”
On a weekly basis, the YMCA supplements local produce suppliers to stock the vans by growing its own produce in a greenhouse and in raised beds at the Mary Free Bed YMCA branch.
Access to healthy, fresh food continues to be a significant issue for community members across the region, according to the announcement. While the pandemic has heightened awareness for the food deserts in our communities, the critical need for food security existed prior and continues now. Access to quality food can lead to improved work and school performance, healthy bodies and minds and stronger communities all while preventing chronic disease.
“The Veggie Van is a physical representation of health, wellness and community building,” Nicole Hansen, district executive director of community engagement and youth development, said in supplied material. “Through the availability of nutritious food, our teams help create access and success for those seeking to improve healthy habits.
“We believe strongly in building positive experiences with fruits and vegetables that lead to the consistent consumption of healthy meals by individuals and families throughout all neighborhoods in West Michigan.”
The YMCA Veggie Van is sponsored by the David and Carol Van Andel Family Foundation, Spectrum Health, Nelson Neighborhood Association and The Mart Dock.
At its Monday night meeting, the Wyoming City Council approved two proposals to be placed on the May 2022 ballot that, if approved, could minimize the overall tax burden to city residents while providing public safety and park needs and helping to make the city more financially sustainable.
“After carefully reviewing our options, the City Council has agreed that an income tax is the most equitable way to fund these needs and ensure a sustainable economic future for Wyoming,” said Mayor Jack Poll.
The first ballot proposal would allow the City to levy an income tax on residents, business and non-residents who work in Wyoming. Under this proposal, the City would levy an income tax of .8% for residents and businesses and .4% for non-residents. This would be the lowest income tax rate charged by any city in Michigan that currently has an income tax.
According to the U.S. Census, the average median income for a household in the City of Wyoming, for 2019, was $54,328, which would pay $434.63 for the proposed income tax.
This City of Wyoming chart shows that Wyoming firefighters on average responded to 100 calls more than their counterparts in other cities. For more information, visit wyomingmi.com/FundingForTheFuture. (Supplied)
The second ballot proposal would decrease the City of Wyoming property tax millage by more than half. The current Wyoming milage rate is 11.89470 mills. If approved, property owners would see a decrease of 4.3497 mills in the summer 2022, with the rate being about 7.54 mills and an additional decrease of 2.5450 mills in summer 2023, with the rate being just under 5 mills.
According to the U.S. Census, the median price in 2019 for a home in the City of Wyoming is $127,000 with under the city’s current millage, paying $755.50. If the proposal is approved, the 2022 property millage for the home would be about $478.79, which is about a $276.11 savings. In 2023, the property millage will be $472.50, which will be $438 savings from the current millage rate.
Under the language, both proposals must be approved by voters.
“These proposals support the City of Wyoming’s commitment to community, safety and stewardship,” Poll said, adding that the Wyoming Department of Public Safety has seen an increase in the frequency and complexity of calls for service and surveys of residents have clearly illustrated a need for additional, proactive traffic enforcement and community policing. At the Sept. 20 council meeting, a resident presented the council with a petition signed by 36 residents along with letters in support of the income tax proposal because of the need for increase fire personal.
Another need, Poll noted was the city parks. Many of the parks were built between 1950 and 1970 and while the city has made great strides in developing park properties such as Ideal, Frog Hollow, Jackson, and Ideal, other parks, such as Marquette Park, are 25-years-old or more and are in need of of capital improvement. The current parks millage does not have capacity to provide any funding for capital investment.
The funding generated by income tax would allow the Wyoming Department of Pubic Safety to add 27 firefighter and 14 police positions, improving public safety by decreasing response times, enhancing crime prevention efforts and adding more proactive traffic enforcement. The funding also would provide $600,000 in sustainable annual capital invest in the city’s park system.
There are 21 other Michigan cities that levy an income tax of which four are located in West Michigan: Grand Rapids, which is 1.5% for residents and .75% for non-residents, and Walker, Muskegon, and Muskegon Heights, which all levy 1% for residents and .5% for non-residents.
Katie Pew Wolters admitted she thought raising $40,000 was a monumental task for the dream of having a model apartment that showcased how people with disabilities can live independently.
“Now they are raising $2.5 million,” said the former executive director of the Grand Rapids Center For Independent Living which became Disability Advocates of Kent County.
The $2.5 million is for the Disability Advocates’ new expanded headquarters which the organization celebrated the start of construction on Sept. 14. The 8,600-square-foot facility, located in the future Special Olympics Michigan facility, 160 68th St. SW., will including a new Occupational Therapy home accessibility center.
Kate Pew Wolters, the first executive director for Disability Advocates, said she remember the challenges of raising $40,000 for the organization’s first model apartment. (WKTV)
“The $40,00 we raised was for a model apartment which was a corner of our office,” Wolters said. “It is nothing like what is being planned now. It had a bed and a very small kitchen but it was designed so people with disabilities would learn about being independent.”
The new Occupational Therapy home accessibility center builds on the initial concept that Wolters and her staff had in the early 1980s. (Diability Advocates was founded in 1981). The center will be a place where people with disabilities explore ways to renovated and retrofit their homes so they can be more independent. It will serve as a “test space” showroom where persons with disabilities, their families healthcare, and design professional and building contractors can explore options for a safer home, including models and adaptive equipment, something that is not offered anywhere in the region.
Disabilities Advocates Executive Director David Bulkowski said the center will be a national model where people can come “hang out and try new things to make themselves more independent.”
“The Home Accessibility Center is a response to a demonstrated need,” said Disabilities Advocates Development Director Peggy Helsel. “Often people ask, ‘What does that mean?’ When we talk about universal design and home, we are giving people a real-life model home to experience what a universally-accessible space can look.”
Through corporate sponsors and private fundraising, Disability Advocates have raised $1.75 million of the $2.5 million for the project. The organization launched its public campaign for the remaining $750,000 on Sept. 14. Bulkowski noted that they have received a matching challenge grant of up to $50,000 from the Frey Foundation to help get things rolling.
Disability Advocates of Kent County’s new headquarters will inline the Occupational Therapy home center. (WKTV)
“Dreams can come true even from 36 years ago,” Wolters said. “I am very excited about this opportunity. We knew we needed to keep going until we got it done.”
Disability Advocates will be one of nine disability organizations occupying the former South Christian High School, which is currently being transformed into the largest Special Olympics trading and inclusion center in the world. Special Olympics launched its own public phase of capital campaign in July to raise $20 million for the retrofitting and construction of the 127,000-square-foot facility that was once the South Christian High School.
Wolverine Building Group is the general contractor with Disabilities Advocates allocating 40-percent of its construction budget on engaging with local minority-owned contractors which include DHE Plumbing, Monte Christo Electric, and Grand Rapids Fire Suppression. Mathison l Mathison Architects is the architect. A move-in date has been set for April 22.
