Category Archives: Local Faces

Wyoming’s Two Guys is ‘Big City Dining’ with a personal touch

Beer, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Entertainment, Food, Local Business, Local Faces, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

Owners Tom and Amy Payne. Amy works in her garden every morning to pick vegetables for their kitchen. (John D. Gonzalez)

TwoGuys Brewing thinks of itself as “Big City Dining,” but without the hassles of driving and parking downtown.

Even when they put together a business plan in 2006 – 12 years before they opened – the owners always planned to offer quality, locally sourced dining for the community of Wyoming.

“Upscale is not even the word,” said former homebrewer-turned-head chef, Tom Payne.

It was always meant to offer a “downtown restaurant feel and quality of food for our neighbors here in Wyoming.”

Tom and wife/co-owner Amy are doing exactly what they set out to do, and they’re doing it in a remodeled 7-Eleven store at 2356 Porter St. NW. It’s a no-frills location, just great food and beer.

Quality that doesn’t break the bank

The quality of dining is what you might find in downtown Grand Rapids or other metropolitan cities, they said, but not at the same cost. Plus, they have free, on-site parking in Wyoming.

Burgers at Two Guys start at $11. (John D. Gonzalez)

“Pricing downtown is just exorbitant, and I understand, their rents are also much higher than ours in some cases,” Amy said.

“But we’re Gen-exers,” she added. “We don’t park six blocks away from where we’re eating.”

“I worked 16 hours today; I don’t want to walk,” said Tom with a laugh.

A burger downtown, for example, might cost as much as $18.

At TwoGuys, where burgers are ground fresh every day, it will cost $11, unless you customize it with a lot of add-ons, like one online customer who built a half-pound burger with multiple toppings that came in at $19.

One of Tom’s priciest creations, a Poutine Burger, which was a special in July, cost $14. It was Prime rib, ground fresh from English cut roast shoulders.

It might cost a little extra, “but we touched every part of that burger, from the condiments on it, to the grinding of the beef,” Tom said.

“And it had hand-cut fries on it,” Amy said.

Foodies and others are taking note

Since opening in 2018, TwoGuys has established itself as “a great place for delicious eclectic food and great Michigan beers. Family-friendly with a great neighborhood feel!,” which it says right on their Facebook page.

That’s where most of their 13,000-plus followers keep up to date on food specials, new beer releases and community causes.

Two Guys Brewing is located in a remodeled 7-Eleven store at 2356 Porter St. NW. (John D. Gonzalez)

Just take a look at their food photos online, and you will immediately have a craving for one of Tom’s creative creations.

Along with a team of dedicated employees, they’re hard work is paying off and putting Wyoming on the map. Foodies everywhere are taking notice.

With a national tourism conference in town last week, Experience GR had some nice things to say about them in a blog post offering a “Locals’ Guide to Breweries with Great Food,” saying TwoGuys is a “must visit” for craft beer and food enthusiasts “due to its decadent food, dessert and craft beer selections.”

It added:

“TwoGuys makes most of its items in house, to the extent of house-smoking beef, corned beef and turkey, hand-dredging chicken and hand-cutting potatoes for fries. The menu emphasizes shareables, from tacos, fried pork rinds and wine-braised mushrooms to cheese curds, charcuterie boards and chorizo fundido, a sausage-and-beer cheese combo.

You can also count on a tantalizing special or two, always made with the freshest local ingredients.”

The silver lining of COVID

The praise is heart-felt by the couple, who work countless hours, but always put their staff and customers first.

“There are some weeks we don’t take home a paycheck,” Amy said. “And we’re OK with that.”

They were humbled during Covid when locals flocked to their restaurant to pick up pre-packaged, family meals that Tom said was “real honest food that you didn’t have to do the hard part.”

To borrow a couple of overused words at the height of the pandemic, they learned to “pivot” and make the best out of an “unprecedented” period in our country’s history.

In a weird way, it was Covid that put TwoGuys on the map outside of Wyoming.

“We have regulars now who would not have come in here except for that,” Tom said on an episode of our radio show “Behind the Mitten with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez.” “So although COVID has been a pain in the ass, it’s been a blessing.”

Feeling the love of its community

They were humbled again this summer when a smoker caught fire and caused damage to the exterior of their building, which led to a GoFundMe Page. On Facebook they posted:

Damage from the smoker fire that took place earlier this summer. (John D. Gonzalez)

“We could use your help if you’re so inclined.

“We DO have insurance. Anything donated above the deductible and immediate costs to repair, replace, and clean up will be donated to a local charitable organization supporting women, pregnancy, and infants. It has always been our mission to support our local community and we will do that through this as well!”

They asked for $2,500, which the community nearly doubled in less than a month.

It wasn’t an easy ask for a couple that, like the community itself, prides itself in hard work and pulling themselves up by the bootstraps.

They were overwhelmed.

The extra money will go to charities they support and align “with our values.” But they’ll do it quietly without making a big deal about it.

“When you do something good, sometimes you just have to shut up and let people notice,” Amy said.

“There are a lot of good restaurant owners in this community, but you’re never going to miss the fact they are doing good. That takes a little bit away from (the fact) you’re doing good if you’re using it as a marketing plan.”

More than a family affair

Married in 1990, the couple met in 1988 at Village Inn Pancake House on 28th Street (now New Beginnings). He was 18. She was 16.

Seeing their restaurant full is one thing that keeps Two Guys Brewing owner Tom Payne going. (John D. Gonzalez)

Today they are the parents of three adult daughters (Meghan, Zoe and Abigail). They live only a few blocks away from TwoGuys.

As local business owners, the couple just wants to make an honest living, support the community, and make great food and beer.

Amy works in her garden every morning to pick vegetables for their kitchen. When he needs a little “alone time,” Tom creates beautiful tie dye shirts across the street in the production facility to sell in their merchandise shop.

What keeps them going every day?

“Seeing this place full every night,” Tom said.

“Coffee and Ibuprofen.” Amy said.

‘Just be good’

In all seriousness, they hope popular beers, seltzers, sangrias, along with hand-cut fries, New Orleans-inspired food, burgers, tacos and other specialties will keep people coming back. It’s been a dream of the couple “forever.”

“But it’s never been a selfish dream,” said Tom, referring to the jobs they’ve created for their family and employees.

“We’ve got 20-some families of those that work here whose lives are better because we’re here,” he said.

That fits with their core values, which is to make a difference and “just be good.”

“Be better than you were yesterday,” Amy said.

“Change the world one pint at a time,” Tom said.

“We’ve really worked hard to try to make this corner of Wyoming better,” Amy said. “We’re hoping that ripples into other corners of Wyoming.”

Learn more about TwoGuys Brewing at https://twoguys-brewing.com/.

To make a charity contribution: https://gofund.me/69d17608 

Listen to the TwoGuys Brewing interview on “Behind the Mitten with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez.”

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

With help from friends, local business expands in new direction

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Faces, Local Food, Recreation, Restaurants, , , ,

By Sheila McGrath
WKTV Contributing Writer

Malamiah Juice Bar owners, from left, Jermale Eddie, Kris Mathis and Randy Otterbridge pose for a photo at the Studio Park location of Malamiah Juice Bar. The mural behind them features Eddie’s three sons – Malachi, Nehemiah and Josiah. (Supplied)

With a little help from some friends, Jermale Eddie has taken his business, Malamiah Juice Bar, to the next level.

After bringing in two new owners this spring, Malamiah Juice Bar opened its second location on July 11.

 

The new juice bar in the downtown David D. Hunting YMCA, 475 Lake Michigan Drive NW, will serve up made-to-order items like smoothies and bowls, as well as a variety of juices and grab-and-go items. Hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Until now, the business had been operating one retail juice bar and eatery in the downtown Studio Park development, 122 Oakes St. SW, while also distributing their juices to about 20 grocery stores in Grand Rapids, Lansing and Kalamazoo.

But Eddie said he had been thinking over the past couple of years about adding some business partners.

In the beginning, there was two

He started Malamiah Juice bar with his wife, Anissa, in 2013, taking the name for the business from the names of the couple’s three sons – Malachi, Nehemiah and Josiah.

The two operated the business togther for a while, then Eddie became a “solopreneur” after his wife returned to work in a different job, he said.

“I knew at one point that we had taken this business as far as we could by ourselves,” he said. “I had to think about what are the elements that are missing? What do we need? Who do we need to come in to help us get to the next level? We didn’t want to plateau.”

A little help from his friends

Malamiah Juice Bar opened a new location in the downtown YMCA on July 11. Pictured, from left, are owner Jermale Eddie, area manager Adam Smallman, who manages both Malamiah Juice Bar locations, owner Kris Mathis and owner Randy Otterbridge. (Supplied)

That’s where his friends Randy Otterbridge and Kris Mathis came in. Both had backgrounds in marketing, and Eddie had known them for a long time through business connections and community events.

“I knew their business savviness, I knew their care and love for the community and their honesty and integrity, which is big,” Eddie said.

Mathis, the new chief of operations, is a self-described “serial entrepreneur.” He owns Raise a Glass Wine and Beer tours, coaches at SpringGR, and owns Blue Water Lake House, a short term vacation rental.

Otterbridge, the new chief marketing officer, has been teaching entrepreneurship at SpringGR for the past eight years and previously worked in the nonprofit sector for the Grand Rapids Urban League. He said he saw “massive opportunities” in the e-commerce and digital marketing space for the business.

An eye toward the future

In addition to opening more locations, the three are focused on growing the company in terms of the customer experience, the staffing experience and the community experience, Eddie said.

“Those are three areas of importance to us,” Eddie said. “It boils down to having the right systems in place and growing our systems.”

“The other part of our business model at both locations is, who do we take along with us on the journey? How do we support local as a local business? So you’ll find products from local entrepreneurs such as Ferris Coffee and granola bars from Granola Goddess,” Eddie said.

As they look to open more locations, Otterbridge said they’re focused on finding places with good synergy.

“We think about where can we place ourselves that already has foot traffic where we can be of service to the clients there,” he said.

Mathis said they’re also hoping to increase their retail footprint in their existing locations where things are already going well, as well as selling their products in more stores. They have a few other ideas in the works, such as after-hours activities for entrepreneurs, he said.

“If there is anyone interested in working with us in collaboration or partnership, or even opening another location of Malamiah, just reach out to us,” Mathis said. “Send us an email. We’re always open to entertaining ideas and possibly collaborating and seeing where it can take us.”

Malamaiah Juice Bar can be reached at juicy@malamiahjuicebar.com.

Wyoming to attend open houses for National Night Out

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

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

During a recent summer market, a Wyoming firefighter sends a message about safety. (WKTV)

Former Wyoming resident Nancy appreciated that her neighbors cared enough to come over and tell her that they saw people taking stuff out of her garage while she was at work.

“It turned out to be OK because I had given the charity group permission to do so, but I appreciated knowing that my neighbors were watching out for me,” she said.

Knowing your neighbors and being familiar with your neighborhood is a key component to fighting crime. Neighbors who are aware of each others activities, such as when they work or go on vacation, are able to identify when something or someone looks suspicious.

“It is not only nice to know your neighbors but it gives you a responsible feeling for your community,” said Lt. Brian Look with the Wyoming Public Safety Department. “With that connection to your community, you notice when things are out of place or when someone may need help.”

Getting to know your neighbors and building that connection to community is what National Night Out is all about. Always the first Tuesday in August — this year it is Aug. 2 — the annual event encourages people to “turn their porch lights on” and come out to meet their neighbors.

A rundown of activities

Give me five: A residents gives a Wyoming police officer a high-five. (WKTV)

Several of the Wyoming neighborhoods will have block party events, Look said. The Wyoming Department of Public Safety will be attending as many as possible Tuesday evening as well as several events that will be be open to the public.

The Department will join the Consumer’s Energy annual kick off event which starts at around 5:30 a.m. at Consumer’s Energy Grand Rapids Service Center Grand Rapids Service Center, 4000 Clay Ave. SW. Along with Wyoming, departments from Grand Rapids, Walker, and Kentwood will be in attendance. Consumer’s Energy staff will be handing out free energy efficient light bulbs to passersby. At 7:15 a.m., the mayors from Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Walker, and Wyoming will present a proclamation to commemorate the day.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Wyoming Department of Public Safety will join the Kent County Sheriff’s Department at the RiverTown Celebration! Cinema, 3728 Rivertown Parkway, in the RiverTown Mall. There will be children’s activities and safety information.

From 5 – 7 p.m., officers and firefighters will be at Grace University, 1011 Aldon St. SW. This event is open to the public and will include food, games and an opportunity to check out the SWAT vehicle, firetruck, police vehicles and meet members of the K-9 unit. Bonus, there is usually a large waterslide as well.

Officers and firefighters will be traveling to other neighborhood parties throughout the city.

Mayor Jack Poll offers a few words about the 2021 National Night Out event and its importance to the community. (WKTV)

Rebuilding after COVID

National Night Out was introduced in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch and is now observed throughout the United States and Canada. The recent COVID pandemic did have a toll on the event as people were not able to host events, however several Kent County police organizations hosted National Night Out parades during that time to remind residents the importance of keeping in touch with each other.

The Wyoming Department of Public Safety, which has been participating in National Night Out since the mid-1990s, hosted two public open houses. Due to interest in having neighborhood block parties, the department’s community resource division decided to do a hybrid event this year of open houses and attending neighborhood parties.

“Like many things after COVID, the program fluctuated as we dealt with pandemic,” Look said. “We are in the process of rebuilding.”

Learning about community resources

For the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, the annual event also gives residents the opportunity to meet the officers and learn what resources are available to the the community, Look said.

“It never hurts for community members to get to know who the police officers are out there patrolling your roads and the firemen who are out helping residents,” he said. “Learning more about who is out there in your community can help when there is a need and helps us be able to serve them better.”

For anyone who is hosting a neighborhood party on Aug. 2 and would like fire and police to stop by the event, email Sgt. Dave Hunt at huntd@wyomingmi.gov.

Gezon is featured as 2022 park and rec highlight

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Kids Activities, Local Faces, Recreation, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

Earlier in the summer, the splash pad equipment was delivered to Gezon Park. (Supplied)

If you follow the tweets of Wyoming Director of Community Services Rebeca Rynbrandt, you know excitement is building for Gezon Park.

When construction started on the park, Rynbrandt noted that the opening of the park increases the city’s ability to provide equitable recreation and leisure services to one of its more populate areas. That reality comes true on Aug. 27 when the park will have a grand opening.

 

The redevelopment of Gezon Park is also one of the 2022 highlighted accomplishments of the Parks and Recreation Department, which Rynbrandt oversees, as the city marks National Parks and Recreation Month. Always in July, the month is designed to bring attention to how important parks and recreation are to a community.

The importance of parks

In fact, according to the National Recreation and Park Association’s 2022 The Economic Impact of Local Parks Report, local public park and recreation agencies in the United states generate nearly $218 million in economic activity and supported almost 1.3 million jobs that boosted labor income by more than $68 billion from their operations and capital spending in 2019. 

In the city’s proclamation read by Mayor Jack Poll at the July 5 Wyoming City Council meeting, it was noted that the “park and recreation promotes health and wellness, improving the physical and mental health of people who visit parks increasing personal well-being, and alleviating illnesses such as depression, attention deficit disorders, and Alzheimer’s.”

The proclamation also notes how the park and recreation proves physical activities such as softball, baseball, biking, walking, hiking trails, playgrounds, and fitness trails along with the Wyoming Senior Center and the after school program TEAM 21. It also noted that “parks and recreation increases a community’s economic prosperity through increased property values, expansion of local tax base, the attraction and retention of businesses and crime reduction.”

Lamar Park was one of four to receive new playground equipment this year. (Supplied)

What Wyoming offers

The Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department oversees 21 parks that contain almost 700 acres of property and a diverse array of recreational amenities, natural settings, wildlife, and plant life. In its 2021 Annual report, it was noted that about $575 million were directed toward the parks with almost half of the money, about $3 million, toward facilities, capital improvements, and maintenance. 

Rynbrandt has noted in the past that parks are in a state of maintenance and repair with her team working to keep those parks in top-top shape for residents. In fact this year, four of the city parks, Pinery, Hillcroft, Frog Hollow and Lamar park, all received new playground equipment.

There is also the challenge of meeting the evolving interests of residents which is reflected in the decision by the Parks and Recreation Commission to allow dogs at all parks. In 1998, the city had made Pinery Park a dog-free park. In the spring, the commission, with the support of residents, decided to end that policy.

Expanding special events

Residents also have wanted more special events that engage the community with the Parks Department has heard that call adding a number of special events.

Wrapping up next week will be the Concerts at the Park at Lamar Park. Performing on Aug. 2 is Latin soul group Grupo Latin.

But the park events have expanded beyond the popular concert series, which have included a summer market and Chalk the Park at Pinery Park earlier this month, the upcoming Aug. 20 Food Truck Rally (from 11 a.m to 5 p.m.) and the Oct. 8 Trick of Treat Trail at Lamar Park.

“Each day, our team worked hard, smart, and more innovatively to deliver programs and services to the residents of the Wyoming community,” said Rynbrandt in the 2021 Park and Recreation Commission Annual Report. “From reopening parks to honoring veterans in annual celebrations, helping seniors with meals and everyday necessities, and keeping Wyoming youth active and engaged through virtual programs an academic achievement, our parks and recreation team strives to bring the community together.”

Par-llo brings ‘old school’ to the Kentwood concerts

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

John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

Par-llo Connection performs on Thursday in Kentwood. (Supplied)

After a brief break for the Fourth of July holiday, the Kentwood Summer Concert Series is back with Par-llo Connection show band. A band with a message.

PAR-LLO stands for “Peace All Races – Live Love Others.”

“Who would have thought 40 years later it’s what the world needs today,” said original drummer Phil “Tapp” Morrow, in an email to WKTV Journal. “We always wanted our name to mean something.”


It also means “fun”!

The group performs at 7 p.m. Thursday (July 14) on the lawn behind City Hall. Admission is free.

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

A little band history

Morrow said the band performed from 1979 -87 in the heyday of the local music scene and opened for local band Switch, which featured Bobby and Tommy DeBarge of the famous DeBarge family in Grand Rapids, as well as the Bar-Kays at the Civic Auditorium. Par-llo even opened twice for Zapp at the DeVos Performance Hall, Morrow said.

“(We) got back together in 2017 not knowing what direction we were headed, more less just to catch up. Although we stayed in touch with each other,” Morrow said.

Influenced by Earth Wind Fire, Cameo, Prince, Kool & the Gang, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Gap Band, Commodores, and so many others, the group might even surprise with a little Bruno Mars or Mary J. Blige.

They love to entertain.

The band performed from 1979-87 and reformed in 2017. (Supplied)

“(We) give a show,” said Morrow, which means several sets, changed outfits for each set, a fog machines, flash boxes, etc.

They want to “create a one of a kind experience,” Morrow said.

What to expect

The band performed from 1979-87 and reformed in 2017. (Supplied)

Although the Kentwood show is an outdoor concert, which is a little different than a nightclub, he said “people can expect energized ‘Old School’ with a new twist R&B Funk Band.”

“Playing outside is like being at a free, old-school style concert,” he said. “Outside creates natural energy to share your gift.

“The reason I love playing in this band, because we are family on and off the stage, all self-taught. We just have fun because we know we are blessed to be able to get back together.”

The current band line up includes:

Phil Morrow (Tapp) Drummer, Vocals, Original Member

Leonard Burney (Toot) Bass, Vocals, Original member

Anthony Jones (Ant) Guitar, Vocals, Original Member

Tone Mosley (Tone) Lead Vocals, trumpet, trombone, Original Member

Dana Mosley (Dane) Keyboards, vocals Original Member

Isaac Rogers (Ike) Sax, Vocals Original Member

Chuck Johnson (Chuck) Keyboards, Guitar

Tina Flowers (Tina Marie) Lead vocal

Concerts take place from 7-8:30 p.m. on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. Admission is free. A variety of food trucks also will be on hand.

Kentwood summer concert info

Parking for shows will be limited at both City Hall and the Library, according to the city’s website. Additional parking is available at the Kentwood Justice Center (4740 Walma SE), Kentwood Public Works (5068 Breton SE), Kentwood Baptist Church (2875 52nd St), and there is street parking in nearby neighborhoods.

The Kentwood Farmers Market takes place next door from 4:30-7 p.m. in the parking lot behind City Hall. 

Get more information at kentwood.us.

This remaining lineup includes:

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

July is busy with food trucks, music, and more

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

By John D. Gonzalez

WKTV Contributing Writer

How’s the summer treating you?

I’ve been enjoying the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City with fireworks, concerts and cherries, of course.

If you still want to make the trip up north, the festival continues with many activities like the cherry pie eating contest, and the big Cherry Royale Parade at 11:15 a.m. Saturday. The remaining concerts feature 1964 The Tribute on Thursday (July 7), ZZ Top on Friday (July 8) and Boyz II Men on Saturday (July 9). Learn more at cherryfestival.org.

What are you doing this weekend?

If you’re staying close to home, here is my Top 5 of things to do, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.

Here we go!

Gonzo’s Top 5

5. “Seven Brides For Seven Brothers,” Barn Theatre

Summer is a great time to take in a play. Whether it’s community theater or a Broadway touring musical, you can usually find something taking place in the region. One unique destination is the Barn Theatre School in Augusta, about 50 miles south and just east of Kalamazoo. In its 76th season, the school’s advanced theater training program promotes the concept that artists, performers, designers, technicians, stage managers, and everyone should have broadly based experiences through an apprentice program. And each summer they put on a variety of shows where the students produce every aspect of the experience. They are parking attendants, ushers and even the bartenders. Along with celebrity guest actors, the school has also featured future stars such as Jennifer Garner, Dana Delany, Lauren Graham and many more. My lovely wife Pam and I recently saw the first show of the season, “Seven Brides For Seven Brothers,” a musical based on the classic MGM 1954 film about settlers in 1850 Oregon. The show was great, but so was the whole experience of a show set in a barn. Get a pizza or drink before the show or stay after each performance for a special “Shed Bar Show” where the actors and guest actors come to entertain in the Rehearsal Bar. Advance reservations are encouraged for those productions. Performances of “Seven Brides For Seven Brothers” continue through Sunday (July 10). More details at barntheatreschool.org/events. Some of the other shows this season: “Cinderella,” “GroundHog Day,” “Rock of Ages,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Misery,” “Escanaba in da Moonlight” and “Doubt.”

4. LAUP Fiesta, Holland

Another great weekend destination is Holland for the annual LAUP Fiesta at the Holland Civic Center. It always features great food, car show, and Latino musical acts. There will be activities for children, a bar for adults and mercado (artisan market). It always ends with a big baile (dance). The party begins at noon. Check out the festival’s Facebook Event page for more information.

Food Truck Friday at Riverside Park

3. Food Truck Friday, Riverside Park

Have you been out to the popular “Food Truck Fridays” at Riverside Park this summer? Every week from 5-9 p.m. (through Sept. 2) you can expect anywhere from 12-17 food trucks. In its 6th season on the north side of Grand Rapids you can expect some of the area’s best-loved food trucks, as well as new ones, too. New this year is a Frequent Fridays Card that will offer you the chance to win prizes based on how many FTF you frequent. More details at https://www.facebook.com/GR8FoodTruckFridays/.

Wyoming’s Concerts in the Park return Tuesday, July 12. (WKTV)

2. Randy McAllister, Lamar Park

Blues and Soul artist Randy McAllister will headline the next Wyoming Concerts in the Park show, which takes place each week at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Lamar Park in Wyoming. Admission is free. The remaining shows include folk artist Monty Pride (July 19), country singer Bernadette Kathryn (July 26) and 13-piece Latin soul band Grupo Latin (Aug. 2) More info: Wyoming Concerts in the Park Facebook page. Can’t make it to the show? You can still enjoy the bands by watching WKTV-Channel 25 for the weekly airings at 5 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday. More info at wktv.org/concerts.

READ: Wyoming Concerts in the Park return this summer

1. Downtown Concerts

It’s another busy weekend in downtown Grand Rapids:

Death Cab for Cutie, the popular indie band from the early 2000s is back on the road and releasing a new album this fall. You can check them out Friday (July 8) at GLC Live at 20 Monroe Live in Grand Rapids. Ticket information at livenation.com.

The Doobie Brothers, the legendary band from the ‘70s and ‘80s, are on their 50th anniversary tour with Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons and John McFee on the road together for the first time in nearly 25 years. The band has sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide. The show is at 7:30 p.m.Sunday (July 10) at Van Andel Arena. Fans can expect to hear “Listen To The Music,” “Takin’ It To The Streets,” “Long Train Running,” “Black Water,” “What A Fool Believes,” “China Grove,” “Minute By Minute,” “It Keeps You Runnin’,” “Jesus Is Just Alright With Me” and many more. More details at vanandelarena.com.

That’s it for now.

As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Have a great, safe weekend.

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

Wyoming police, fire honored during annual ceremony

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Crime Prevention, Local Faces, Our Cities, , , , , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Using GPS tracking on phones to recover stolen merchandise and vehicles. Pulling trace evidence from the inside of a driver door’s handle to identify a suspect. Risking their lives by entering into the flood waters of Buck Creek to save a civilian. Making sure a vulnerable resident has a safe place to stay at a local hotel.

These were the stories – the ones often not told – that were shared at the annual Wyoming Department of Public Safety Employee Recognition Ceremony last week as the department recognized about 80 officers and civilians for their actions in crime prevention, recovery, and rescue.

Office Brady Heckman was named the 2021 Office of the Year. (WKTV)

“In light of all the events that have taken place over the past few years that have impacted not only our profession but our personal lives, I think it is more important than ever that we celebrate each other,” said Wyoming Department of Public Safety Chief Kim Koster. “It is imperative that we acknowledge all of the accomplishments of our fellow police officers and firefighters. We can not let the stories of our compassionate service and heroic actions go untold. The work we do matters and it does make a difference.”

An officer whose work certainly has made a difference is that of Officer Brady Heckman. A five-year veteran on the force, Heckman received a number of accolades, including a certificate of merit and individual commendation for his work in locating illegally possessed firearms, taking violent criminals off the streets, and his care for victims. For his dedication, Heckman, who is a field training officer, a tackle bike team member, and operator on the tack team, was named the 2021 Officer of the Year, which is chosen by a panel of sworn officers.

“Heckman has earned a reputation as an outstanding police professional with a keen ability for catching criminals and a heart for serving this community,” said Capt. Timothy Pols who with Fire Deputy Chief Dennis Vantassell served as master of ceremonies. “He is valued by co-workers and supervisors alike as a consistent teamplayer. He is an outstanding representative of the law enforcement profession in general and the Wyoming Police Department in particular.”

From his peers, it was noted that Heckman “makes being proactive a priority and sets an example for young officers to do the same,” as well as for his work in locating stolen vehicles, seeking out criminals and making arrests, and volunteering to help new recruits.

Celia Rhodes was named the 2021 Civilian of the Year. (WKTV)

The department’s civilian employees also form a panel to select a civilian of the year, which for 2021 is Celia Rhodes. Rhodes, who has served as a forensic science technician with the department for four and half years, has become an expert in evidence storage and operating the BEAST (Bar Coded Evidence Analysis Statistical Tracking) evidence management system.

“Celia is well known and respected for her upbeat attitude and true passion for helping others in need,” Pols said. “No matter what she is working on, Celia never turns away from aiding someone else, whether it be explaining policy or procedure to a fellow employee or talking to a citizen about their case. She always does so with a smile and genuine care for whomever she is working with.”

Another officer recognized for his investigation work on child sexual abuse was Det. Dan Vlietstra, who received the Chief’s Award of Professional Excellence. For the past two years, Viletstra has been the department’s liaison with the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County, where he works with a multidisciplinary team and coordinates the investigation of abuse allegations.

“Through his work, Dan has been able to stop the abuse, identify the perpetrators, hold them accountable, and support the victim and their family on a path of recovery and healing,” Koster said.

Also receiving the Chief’s Award of Professional Excellence were Fire Inspector Brad Dornbos, Lt. Chris Velzen, Equipment Operator (EO) Brandon Travis, and firefighter (FF) Matt Frazee, for their work in recruiting, interviewing and training new firefighters.

Also honored was Mayor Jack Poll, who received the Chief’s Award of Excellence for his dedication to the Public Safety Department during the past 13 years he has served as the city’s mayor. Poll will retire from public service at the end of this year.

“I have lived in Wyoming now for 67 years and I can tell you that I have never gone to bed at night that I was concerned about my safety because we have such stellar leaders in our community,” Poll said.

Police officers receiving the individual commendation award. (WKTV)

Koster said what was presented at the recognition ceremony is only the tip of the iceberg as to what officers and firefighters have done.

“There is not a day that goes by that someone doesn’t tell me a story about a way a police officer or a firefighter has served them in a capacity that amazed them,” Koster said. “There are a lot of stories that officers don’t tell about what police officers do and firefighters who go above and beyond.”


Award Recipients

Life Saving Award

Ofc. Tony Jacob

Ofc. Russ Kamstra

Lt. Chris Velzen

EO Bradley Bennett

EO Brian Ilbrink

EO Tom Marsman

FF Ken Eppink

FF Matt Frazee

FF Jason Hanlon

FF Andrew Johnson

FF Michele Kelly

FF Jesse May

FF Alex Parsons

FF Dan Rettig

FF Jason Richardson

FF Dan Royce

Police officers and community members being recognized during the Wyoming Department of Public Safety Employee Recognition Ceremony. (WKTV)

Certificate of Merit

Sgt. Julie Haverkamp

Sgt. Corey Walendzik

Det. Aaron Gray

Ofc. Jake Bylsma

Ofc. Jason Caster

Ofc. Marc Donker

Ofc. Aaron Freeman

Ofc. Brady Heckman

Ofc. Rus Kamstra

Ofc. Ryan Patterson

Ofc. Daniel Sanderson

Ofc. Blair Shellenbarger

Ofc. Adam Sherman

Ofc. John Westra

Ofc. Logan Wieber

Ofc. Tyler Zbikowski

EO Tom Marsman

FF Zach Johns

FF Matt Young

United Commendation
Accident Investigation Team

Lt. Mark Easterly

Sgt. Aaron Brooks

Det. Rachel Clore

Det. Dan Vlietstra

Ofc. Jen Eby

Ofc. Pam Keen

Ofc. Erich Staman

Field Training Officer

Ofc. Marc Donker

Ofc. Kelsey Eisen

Ofc. Brady Heckman

Civilian Commendations

Ian Carmichael

Richard Hungerford

Tom Norton (WKTV)

Individual Commendation

Cpt. Eric Wiler

Lt. Brian Look

Sgt. Aaron Brooks

Sgt. Andrew Koeller

Sgt. Michael Nachtegall

Ofc. Christian Bomer

Ofc. Anthonee Carringer

Ofc. Jason Caster

Ofc. Kelsey Eisen

Ofc. Gavin Filkins

Ofc. Eric Grunewald

Ofc. Brady Heckman

Ofc. Ben Hecksel

Ofc. Zachary Jackson

Ofc. Brandon Knowling

Ofc. Chad Lynn

Ofc. Kesha McConaha-Schultz

Ofc. Shad McGinnis

Ofc. Ryan Patterson

Ofc. Scott Rittenger

Ofc. Dan Sanderson

Ofc. Adam Sherman

Ofc. Jack Tromp

Ofc. Logan Wieber

Julie Coon

Kasey Kaufmann

Todd Masula

Monzerrat Perez

Marcy Schaller

Outstanding Police Administrative Service Award

Kate Gardner

Top Shot Award

Ross Eagan

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

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

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

With everything from bluegrass to music of the Beatles, this year’s Sounds of Summer concert series at Cutler Park in Cutlerville will feature “a little something for everyone,” according to organizers.

“Not everybody likes the same kind of music,” said organizer Patty Williams. “We try to hit every genre we can in the four-week period. We try to do something for everyone.”

This year’s series includes:

Concerts begin at 7 p.m. Cutler Park is located just east of U.S. 131 off 68th Street.

Patty Williams with her son Lare Williams (left) and a guest. (Supplied)

“The best part about all of these shows is the price tag,” said Lare Williams, Patty’s son whose company LW Studios helps produce the shows each summer. “They are all absolutely free thanks to our friends at Byron Township.”

It’s a great family event, he added.

“Bring your lawn chairs, bring you blankets, bring the whole family,” Williams said. “Kids are welcome. There’s a big playground there, and they can run around and play ’til their heart’s content.”

“The series has brought fun and livelihood to Cutler Park,” he added.

The Sounds of Summer concert series started in 2008 at Bicentennial Park in downtown Byron Center by Patty Williams, who is a WKTV producer and volunteer and runs her independent P. Williams Productions.

They migrated to Cutler Park in 2015, Lare Williams said.

Lare Williams handles the sound board during one of the Sounds of Summer concerts. (Supplied)

The shows have gathered a following, he added.

“The picnic setting has brought up to 500 guests from the neighborhood and other states to the concerts,” he said.

What’s the reason for its success?

Patty Williams said it’s because they know a little bit about the entertainment business being part of The Williams Family, a local group popular in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s known for its bluegrass music.

She said Lare, for example, is a well-seasoned musician who has recorded CDs of his own. and has been on stage since he was 2-years-old.

It’s the reason why locals love Sounds of Summer, she said, because they always add “a personal touch to each week’s concert.”

“You are entertained from the moment you set up your lawn chair,” she said. “There’s not a dull moment. There is always something going on.”

They might play Sounds of Summer trivia, give away CDs and interact with the audience.

“People love that. It really puts a personal touch on it where they actually feel like they own this concert series. When people come here they say, ‘This is ours.’”

Participants often bring a picnic meal to the popular Sounds of Summer which is at Cutler Park in Cutlerville. (Supplied)

Other highlights: Ken’s food cart will be vending beverages and hotdogs this summer, and “we have the local ice cream truck make an appearance,” Lare Williams said.

Already looking ahead to next year, Patty Williams said they hope to expand the series and include the month of August, possibly back at Bicentennial Park. The concerts in Cutler Park would remain in July.

Regardless, she’s proud of what she started 14 years ago. She remembers the idea came to her when she was touring with The Williams Family band.

“We used to perform at these little town festivals, and I would say ‘Why doesn’t Byron Center have anything like this? We’re a wonderful community. We have beautiful parks.’” 

It’s been good for the community, she said.

“It brings a lot of people out, and families, too,” she said. “People love it!”

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

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

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

By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributing Writer

Alissa VanderKooi said that her grandfather, Henry Pestka, would not often speak of his past life as a Jew in Nazi-occupied Germany.

 

“On that rare occasion that he would speak of this dark period of his life, his focus was never on the darkness but always on the light. His ability to see the light through the darkness is something that we pass on from generation to generation,” VanderKooi said. 

“Ways to Say Goodbye”by Ariel Schlesinger. (Photo by D.A. Reed)

One such story Henry chose to tell his granddaughter was of a paint store worker who would offer him a piece of bread when he was brought in by Nazi soldiers to buy paint. Even after a soldier threatened to kill her, the worker worked out a signal with Henry so she would know if, depending on who his guard was that day, it was safe to give him the bread.

“This memory that my grandfather chose to share with me was one of the kindness of a stranger during the darkest of times,” said VanderKooi.

In honor of Pestka and the millions of Jews who perished in the Holocaust the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park through a partnership with The Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids recently dedicated the Holocaust memorial Ways to Say Goodbye. The piece, which was made possible through a donation from Pestka family, was created by artist Ariel Schlesinger in 2019 and was originally on display in the United Kingdom.

“As time goes on and memories of the Holocaust fade, it is important to remember the barbarity human beings are capable of,” said Steve Pestka, son of Henry Pestka. “It is equally important to contemplate the strength of the survivors and their ability to continue and rebuild their lives. It is our hope that this work of art will promote an appreciation of our shared humanity and a reminder that hatred and intolerance continue to this day and the consequences of the ultimate dehumanization of human beings.”

Henry’s Story

During World War II, the Pestka family were prisoners of Auschwitz, a concentration camp in Poland. Both of Henry’s parents and all of his siblings perished during the Holocaust. Henry was the sole survivor of his family and attributed his survival to being given a job as a painter.

Henry Pestka’s son, Steve, speaks to the crowd during the June 30 dedication. (Photo by D.A. Reed)

After surviving the Holocaust, Henry lived for a short time in Paris before joining his only living relatives, an aunt and uncle who had moved to New York City before the war. He was not a fan of the big city and remembered one of his father’s friends, Sam Weissman, who had moved to America from Poland before the war and came to live in Grand Rapids. Henry wrote a letter to Weissman and asked if there would be any work for him in Grand Rapids. Weissman assured Henry he would be able to make a living in West Michigan.

It was in Grand Rapids that Henry found the family and community he previously lost.

“He felt embraced by the people here and the sense of community he so desired,” VanderKooi said. “He never spoke of the hardship of learning a new language or being an outsider. Instead, he always spoke of the warm embrace he received from his community and the opportunities made available to him.”

Henry married Weissman’s niece Beatrice Bergman and began a family. He built a very successful real estate development business becoming known as a pillar of the community. Henry passed away in 2013 at the age of 93, and the sense of belonging he found in Grand Rapids is what prompted the Pestka family to choose West Michigan as the place to honor his memory and those of the six million Jews lost in the Holocaust.

“We are deeply grateful for this gift adding such an important work of art to our permanent collection,” said David Hooker, President & CEO of Meijer Gardens in supplied material. “Our community will forever benefit from this extraordinary gift which serves to educate and promote peace.”

Saying Goodbye

Artist Ariel Schlesinger speaks to a guest after the June 30 dedication. (Photo by D.A. Reed)

Ways to Say Goodbye, a 20-foot-tall aluminum cast of a fig tree with shards of glass inserted among the branches, can be found in the Garden’s outdoor Sculpture Park and is considered an exceptional work of contemporary sculpture dealing with themes of profound loss and grief. Modeled after a living fig tree in northern Italy, Schlesinger chose this metaphor of the Jewish people and their history because of its symbolism of the Jewish struggle for survival both during and after the Holocaust. While appearing fragile and clinging to life, the fig tree is also representative of great endurance.

The shards of glass in the tree represent Kristallnack, or Night of Broken Glass, which took place on Nov. 9-10, 1938. On those nights, the Nazi regime encouraged Germans to riot against Jews and nearly 100 Jewish people died.

During the ceremony, Schlesinger, who is most known for his public sculpture outside the Jewish Museum in Frankfurt, posed the question: “How is it possible to relate to complete horror through artistic representation?” The artist admitted the weight of his task, “which is (to) acknowledge traumas, grief, and losses in the form of public remembrance.”

“While this is not an act of representation, but rather recognition…of an important aspect of our beings,” Schlesinger continued. “To celebrate humans’ resilience even after catastrophe. Here, people will come, look, and survey this dream. The images reflected in the viewer’s eyes will also include sky, clouds, the trees around. Everyone sees what their heart and soul see. With our past, imagining a better future for all.”

A place to remember, reflect

Frederik Meijer Gardens CEO David Hooker with Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids Executive Director Nicole Katzman (Photo by D.A. Reed)

Meijer Gardens and the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids see Ways to Say Goodbye as a gathering place for the Jewish community of Grand Rapids, offering a place to reflect, pray, and remember, while also being a teaching tool for educators both locally and nationally to address the Holocaust and its legacy.

“For our generation, (the Holocaust) is unfathomable,” said Pestka family friend, Shannon Gales. “So it’s wonderful that they are doing this and honoring the memory to continue to remember.”

David Alfonso, MD and JFGR Board Chair said, “It is incumbent upon us, as well as the generations that will follow us, to tell their stories so that we may embody the saying, ‘Never Again.’ We hope that this sculpture will serve as a beacon of light, a means of inspiration and education, for future generations that will view it and carry on its message of hope and remembrance.”

VanderKooi agreed: “History, the good and the bad, has a way of repeating itself and it is our responsibility, not just as Jews, but as a society, to educate ourselves about the bad in order to prevent it from being repeated or denied.”

Cantor Rachel Gottlieb Kalmowitz ended the ceremony with these inspirational words: “Let the pain of our memories and the love of those lost spur us to educate and inspire, to mourn and to hope, and to do all that we can to ensure the voracity of our words when we say, ‘Never Again.’”

To learn the stories of Henry Pestka and other West Michigan Holocaust survivors, visit West Michigan Holocaust Memorial, a Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids website made possible by the Finkelstein Brothers Endowment.

Join Kentwood for its annual 4th of July celebration

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

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

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

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

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

The events will begin with a pancake breakfast at Kentwood Fire Station 1, 4775 Walma Ave SE. The $5-per-person breakfast will be served 7-9:30 a.m. and include pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee. It’s free for ages 5 and younger.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fireworks will be at dusk. (Supplied)

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

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

Other area July 4th activities:

July 2

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

Gun Lake: Fireworks are scheduled for July 2 with a rain date of July 3. Fireworks began at dark.

July 2 and 3

LMCU Ballpark: The West Michigan Whitecaps will have fireworks for both games against the Fort Wayne Tin Caps. Game times are 6:35 p.m July 2 and 6 p.m. July 3.

July 3

Caledonia: The Caledonia Independence Day Celebration will include a parade at 11 a.m. Fireworks will be at dusk and can be seen from Duncan Lake Middle School, CalPlex, or Holy Family Catholic Church.

July 4

Grandville: The Grandville July 4 Celebration will be include a pancake breakfast, parade with flyover, life music and fireworks at dusk.

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

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

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

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

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

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

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

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

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

Here we go!

Gonzo’s Top 5

Whorled (courtesy)

5. Deos Ballet, Wholred at The Stray Cafe

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

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

4. Ballpark Series: The Soul Syndicate, Shimmie Pearl

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

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

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

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

3. Last Sundays Outdoor Market, Grand Rapids

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

2. Van Andel Arena

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

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

More info on both shows at vanandelarena.com.

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

1.”Mean Girls,” DeVos Performance Hall

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

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

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

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

That’s it for now.

As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Have a great, safe weekend.

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

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

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

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

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

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

That’s what makes it so much fun.

Everyone can relate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Her advice to those who are on the same path?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First Wyoming Summer Market to open on Saturday

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

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The remaining Summer Markets are set for:

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

Aug 19, 3-7 p.m., 28 West Parking lot, 1345 28 West Place, (near the former Lindo restaurant)

Sept. 16, 3-7 p.m., Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW

Musician Max Lockwood excited about returning to Kentwood

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

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

Max Lockwood opens the Kentwood Summer Concert series on Thursday. (Photo by Pia Lu)

At an early age, singer/songwriter Max Lockwood knew the stage was his calling.

It came when he was on stage at his 8th grade talent show.

His band, The Wealthy Homeless, played an original song and Green Day cover.

“I was extremely excited for (the talent show), and I have been playing ever since as much as I can,” said the 32-year-old Lockwood.

He’s not joking.

At age 16 he was playing with the local band Sweet Japonic, and after two years of upright bass performance classes at DePaul University, the Wayland native took time off to tour with Michigan band the Ragbirds.

He eventually went back to school to get a creative writing/literature degree from the University of Michigan. His debut record, “Outrider,” served as his senior thesis at the University of Michigan for his degree in creative writing.

“I guess you could say that 50 percent of my lifetime has been playing professionally,” Lockwood told WKTV Journal. “…At this point I feel very comfortable and natural. I enjoy performing very much.”

Max Lockwood will be performing original music at Thursday’s concert. (Photo by Pia Lu)

Lockwood and his band will kick off the Kentwood Summer Music Series on Thursday (June 16) on the lawn behind City Hall. The concert is at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

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

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

Lockwood will perform his original music, which is “rooted in songcraft and heartfelt lyricism and bound with elements of rock and roll, folk and pop,” according to his website bio. 

His musicianship, songwriting and experience will shine through, whether playing original or cover songs.

Those originals explore the themes of “love, adversity and growth,” in a powerful voice, akin to the likes of Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen.

In fact, he’ll play a couple new songs that were just released, including “Nothing to Fight” and “Lonely Gods.”

Both were recorded in Grand Rapids and feature many local musicians, including members of his side project band, The Insiders, a Tom Petty tribute band that he fronts.

He’s excited to return to Kentwood where he has performed with another band he used to front, psychedelic folk-rock band Big Dudee Roo.

“It’s fun, out on the lawn,” he said of the outdoor series. “Hopefully the weather will be great.”

The Max Lockwood Band consists of Max on guitar and vocals, Justin Dore on guitar, Eric O’Daly on bass and Daine Hammerly on drums.

Learn more about Max Lockwood, including new releases and tour schedules at https://www.maxlockwoodmusic.com/.

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

‘Star Wars’ author, Grand Rapids native set to release memoir trilogy

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributing Writer

Having sold two million Star Wars books for kids (Darth Vader and Son and Jedi Academy) and considered a pioneer of 21st-century graphic memoir, award-winning author and Grand Rapids native Jeffrey Brown is inviting readers to explore the intimate and timeless tales that first launched his career.

Arthur Jeffery Brown (Supplied)

Loved And Lost: A Relationship Trilogy, produced by Top Shelf Productions, is set to debut Tuesday, June 14. These three honest and adult-oriented memoirs, written 20 years ago and now compiled into one work, capture timeless insights into love, intimacy, and vulnerability that make them authentic and relatable to readers.

“(I wanted) to make work that expressed whatI was feeling,” Jeffrey Brown told WKTV in a recent interview. Creating works that related to everyday life was important to Brown. “I thought to myself: The complete opposite of something super-conceptual would be to write something about real life and be as brutally honest as I could possibly write.”

While attending the School of the Art Institute, Brown began doodling comics in his sketchbooks about everyday awkward moments. “There was something about making those that felt very full-filling,” Brown said. The author went on to say that those comics, when he showed them to friends and family, were what seemed to connect with people.

Brown began recording his memories of a recent long-distant relationship in a sketchbook, revealing the emotional frailty of young lovers in writing and art. That first book, Clumsy, struck a chord with readers and prompted Brown to create his second and third graphic memoirs, titled Unlikely and Any Easy Intimacy.

The response to his work, Brown revealed, was unexpected. “These things I was writing about were more universal than I realized,” said Brown. “It’s comforting to know that other people can read something and tell you, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve been there,’ and appreciate that you’ve been there too. It’s a two-way street of connecting with readers.”

Putting himself in a vulnerable position by divulging aspects of his personal life didn’t come easily but was worth it to Brown. “As an artist, I’m trusting people with myself, with my stories,” Brown said. “By and large, that trust is rewarded. I find that when someone opens up and is vulnerable, people’s instinct…is to be empathetic and return that vulnerability with their own vulnerability.”

Collected into one volume for the first time, Love And Lost: A Relationship Trilogy reminds readers of real life joy, heartbreak, and humor that marks every life.

Brown revealed that he is curious to see what readers think of the memoirs 20 years after they were written. “It’s interesting to look back. Obviously,the world is very different,” Brown said, “but hopefully there’s still something in there for people to find value in.”

Over the last 20 years, the author and artist has released numerous titles and won several awards, including the Ignatz Awardin 2003 in the category of Outstanding Mini-Comic for I Am Going To Be Small, and back-to-back Eisner Awardsin the category of Best Humor Publication for Darth Vader And Son (2013) and Vader’s Little Princess (2014).

When asked what is next for the author, Brown said that he does have a few projects in the works, but that he has also begun an epic fantasy adventure book, something he has always wanted do. “I try not to overthink how I’m approaching things and just follow what I feel like I what I want to make next,” said Brown. 

To find out more about author and artist Jeffrey Brown, click here: Jeffrey Brown Comics. To order a copy of Loved And Lost: A Relationship Trilogy, click here: Top Shelf Productions.

Rare, unique automobiles on display Saturday at Downtown Market

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

By WKTV Journal
joanne@wktv.org

Cars & Coffee Grand Rapids returns to the Grand Rapids Downtown Market for the seventh year, hosting the season’s first event on Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Cars and Coffee returns to the Grand Rapids Downtown Market on Saturday. (Supplied)

Show cars will be in the Downtown Market parking lot adjacent to Ionia Avenue, and under the covered Market Shed. Spectators can stroll through the impressive array of automobiles from around the region during the event.

Vehicles on display will include sports cars, exotics, tuners, muscle cars and classics.

The Downtown Market will be open from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Saturday for a variety of food and beverage options from Market Hall merchants. Parking is available on-site, and in the nearby McConnell Ave. lot during the event.

East Kentwood graduate receives $15,000 scholarship from Northwood

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Local Faces, , ,
Kelsey Depault (Supplied)

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org


An East Kentwood High School graduate has been awarded the Northwood University Presidential Scholarship.

Kelsey Depault is the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, which awards $15,000 per year for four years for students living on campus, and $13,500 for those residing off campus.

Depault, play softball at East Kentwood and the club team Caledonia Chaos, signed to play softball at Northwood University last fall. She was a shortstop and on the outfield. Depault also tied the school record for most hits in a season. She got 75.

The Presidential Scholarship recognizes leadership, determination, personal freedom/responsibility, and academic excellence along with experience in volunteerism, resilience, entrepreneurship and/or cross-cultural impact.

Students are selection for consideration based on the information they provide in their Northwood application.

Northwood University is a private institution in Midland, Michigan. It opened in 1959 and has had more than 33,000 graduates. Among some of its most notable graduates are Dick DeVos, former U.S. Congresswoman Candice Miller. current U.S. Congresswoman Lisa McClain, and the first African-American woman to be named Miss USA, Carole Gist.

Division Avenue hosts first annual festival on June 18

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

By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributing Writer

The Division Avenue Business Association (DABA), will be hosting the Division Ave. Art & Culture Festival on June 18, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Craft vendors will be part of the upcoming Division Ave. Arts & Culture Festival. (Courtesy The Stray)

This family-friendly event will be held in the neighborhood surrounding Division Avenue and 43rd Street, and will include food and craft vendors, live music, Pacific Island dancers, interactive art, a colorful dragon parade, fun prize giveaways, and more.

The Art & Culture Festival was brought into being after a study was done by Division United and in cooperation with The Rapid.

“They were looking at what this neighborhood would need to grow and better the people who live here and the people who work here,” Hunter VanKlompenberg, music and arts manager of The Stray, a coffee house participating in the Festival. “We thought it would be cool to have an annual summer festival that is for the local neighborhood and supported by local artists and gets the involvement of all the different businesses.”

Along with independent artists, musicians, and vendors from the greater Grand Rapids area, several local Division Avenue businesses will be participating in the Festival, including The Stray, Café Boba, Quest Fitness, and Natural Maya. A portion of 43rd Street will be closed down to accommodate the Festival.

Pacific Island dancers will be part of the entertainment at the Festival. (Courtesy The Stray)

“We are going to have artist tents outside,and space for live music,” VanKlompenberg said. “We have the support of Wyoming and Kentwood city governments, and they are putting in a temporary crosswalk so that it (the Festival) is easy for people to access.”

While it isn’t the most well-known area of Grand Rapids, the Wyoming and Kentwood areas are vastly multi-cultural with specialty shops, including the Kim Nhung Superstore, that are sought out by West Michigan community members.

“A lot of people will drive over an hour to come visit because there are ingredients you just can’t get anywhere else,” VanKlompenberg said of the Asian grocery store across the street from The Stray.

Owners of Café Boba, Yiuli and ted Bonarski are also excited to be part of the upcoming Festival.

Cafe Boba is known for its bubble tea and other delights. (Supplied)

“We’re so happy to be involved in planning and participating n this event,” the couple said in a recent interview. “It’s not widely known that South Division is a hotbed of hole-in-the-wall, diamond-in-the-rough small businesses, but it truly is the place in Grand Rapids for authentic food and art from a huge variety of cultures around the world. We’re thrilled to be helping to promote small, owen operated businesses; they are the lifeblood of a healthy community for people, by the people.”

Café Boba offers customers a wide selection of boba tea, smoothies, slashes, coffee drinks, and sweets treats — and will be offering a new summer menu.

Ray Shonk, owner of Quest Fitness on Division Street, will also be participating in the Art and Culture Festival and looks forward to the opportunity to meet more members of the community.

“Fitness isn’t meant to be for the super-wealthy,” Shonk said. “It should be for everyone.”

Ray Shonk, owner of Quest Fitness, said fitness should be for everyone. (Supplied)

Shonk has experience training many different levels of fitness enthusiasts, from those stepping into a gym fo rat first time, to professional athletes and Olympic competitors.

To help raise awareness and encourage fitness discussions, Shonk will be offering free fitness assessments throughout the entire Festival where community members can meet Quest Fitness trainers and discuss their goals. “Fitness is not one-size-fits-all. It has to be custom-fit to each person,” said Shonk.

Shonk is a firm believer in offering affordable fitness options for everyone while also providing unique experiences. “I am having to draw on 30-plus years of martial arts experience to put that together,” Shonk said with a laugh.

The Stray also hopes to bring the Wyoming an dKentwood area something unique and virtual to West Michigan.

A family-owned café, The Stray’s goal since conception has been to bring diversity and community to a place of comfort and creativity. They accomplish this by offering a relaxing venue for both coffee enthusiasts and artists of the surrounding area. The Stray’s own unique blend of creative talent and delicious coffee helps cultivate the welcoming atmosphere The Stray strives to bring to Grand Rapids.

The Stray is a family-owned business that opened last fall. (Supplied)

“There is a definite deficit of accessible venues for music and arts,” said VanKlompenberg of the Grand Rapids area. “Having an (accessible) place was definitely needed.”

Included in the live music line-up are American Folk band Wilderlove, and musician Kevin Murphy, and Jeff Troutman and the Parachute Adams Band.

Division Avenue store owners invite adults and children alike to explore the Division Ave. Art & Culture Festival on June 18 and experience all the community has to offer.

For full Art & Culture Festival event information and updates, visit the event’s Facebook page.

There is still availability for vendors who would like to get involved. Those who would like to participate can fill out the Involvement Interest Form or send an email to the team@thestraycafe.com.

Wyoming Concerts in the Park returns June 7

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

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

The Soul Syndicate kicks off the Wyoming Concert series on Tuesday, June 7. (Supplied)

The Wyoming Concerts in the Park kicks off with Soul Syndicate, which is one of the most recognizable bands in the area known for its horn section that cranks out classic soul, R&B and funk tunes meant to keep those toes tapping and the young at heart dancing.

“It’s a party!,” said founder and guitarist Mike Coon, who leads a 10-piece band through a long list of songs everyone knows and loves. “It’s a fun band. You don’t sit in chairs and watch us.”

Soul Syndicate opens the Wyoming weekly concert series at 7 p.m. June 7 at Lamar Park. Admission is free.

The Tuesday night series continues through Aug. 2. See the list of shows below. All will be recorded and aired on WKTV.

Coon said performing in front of fans at outdoor concerts like Wyoming, Meijer Gardens (June 28) and Kentwood (June 30) really brings out a wide range of ages. That’s the great thing about these classic songs by Aretha Franklin, Sam and Dave, KC and Sunshine Band and Chicago, he said, everyone knows them.

“These songs seem to transcend over a lot of ages, particularly in the outdoor shows like Kentwood and Wyoming where you got, literally, all ages,” Coon said.

Younger people know these songs from parents and grandparents or they’ve heard them in advertisements.

The Soul Syndicate performs at the Frederick Meijer Gardens June 28 followed by a summer performance at Kentwood on June 30. (Supplied)

“The younger people are like ‘Yeah, I know that song,” he said. “And the older people remember it when it was on the charts.”

“These songs just sort of resonate…. Nobody is hearing that old classic rock song that’s been in their head for 30 years. (Our show) is different. It’s refreshing.”

That was the goal when the band started in 2013. Even though the beginnings of the band had started, it was the urging of friend Juliet Dragos of WZZM-TV (Channel 13) who reached out to Coon, asking if he could put a group together for a Special Olympics event.

From there they started doing special events, corporate shows, outdoor festivals and casinos.

The premise has always been the same: To entertain crowds with music they know and love and keep them dancing and clapping along.

Their popularity took off because not a lot of bands had horn sections playing these classic songs, he said.

“I couldn’t think of anybody that really did that,” Coon said. “A lot of other bands had one Stevie Wonder song in their set. We had four of them. It set us apart, and the horns made it snap.”

The group consists of: Mike Coon, guitar; Tom Taylor, drums; Katie Sarb, vocals and backup; Matt Fouts, bass; John Neil, keyboards; Tim DenBesten, trumpet (horn leader); Nate Hansen, sax; Jeff Carroll, trombone; and Colin Tobin, lead vocalist.

They also have a couple other musicians who play sax and rotate through the band, Coon said.

They perform about 50 shows a year, which might not seem like a lot, but Coon emphasized that they’re not a “tavern band.”

“We’re all pros.” he said. “No matter the venue we’re given we seem to be able to adapt quickly and make it work.”

But it’s the horn section that really distinguishes the band from others.

“When they’re all in sync it adds that energy to the show, and the audience really responds to them,” Coon said.

“Everybody in the band is an accomplished soloist. Anybody, whether keyboards, bass, drums, anybody in the section can step up and rip your head off on a solo….When the horns  are on and in sync, it just blows your hair back. It’s cool.”

Learn more about Soul Syndicate and see a list of shows at https://www.thesoulsyndicate.com/shows.

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

Concerts Lineup

June 7 – Soul Syndicate – Covers – Rock 

June 14 – Serita’s Black Rose – Funk, Rock, Blues 

June 21 – Nathan Walton Band – Soul, Rock 

June 28 – Jordan Hamilton – Cellist 

July 12 – Randy McAllister – Blues and Soul 

July 19 – Monty Pride – Folk 

July 26 – Bernadette Kathryn – Country 

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

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

Storytellers weave their tales in third event for WKTV VOICES

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Faces, ,

By Aaron Robins
WKTV Community Contributor

A California trip that led to a hike into Mexico, an adventure to find Bigfoot, and a close call with a crime syndicate were just some of the stories shared at a recent WKTV Voices storytelling event.

WKTV Voices held its third public speaking event at Wyoming’s The Stray Café on Friday, May 6. Storytellers, Cody Dewindt, Sherryl Acey, John D. Gonzalez, Steve Zaagman and Timothy Kelly graced the stage to share their tales with cafégoers. Close to 20 people listened as the participants told them about some of their life experiences.

The WKTV Voices event was hosted by WKTV contributor John D. Gonzalez. Each speaker had about six minutes to share their unique and personal stories. The goal of the event is to reconnect us all in a shared storytelling experience. 

“There’s been all sorts of stories short, long, sentimental, you know, funny and different things like that,” said The Stray Music Manager Hunter VanKlompenberg said. “And some people definitely try and put there like, the moral of at the end, and some people just kind of tell you what happened and that’s what their story is. And I enjoy both when they’re done right.”

Steve Zaagman
Timothy Kelly
Sherryl Acey
Cody Dewindt
The storytellers

Dewindt, of Wyoming, was the first to speak, telling the crowd a comedic story about when he was a wedding DJ and had a close encounter with a local crime syndicate. Acey, also from Wyoming, was the second speaker, recounting a time she landed a big job and almost got in trouble because she was told she made a mistake (she approach the accusation head-on to find a solution). Gonzalez, of Comstock Park, spoke third, about a time when he was in Upper Penisula and a man brought him and his wife to a cottage to see bigfoot (he said he never saw him while there). Zaagman, of Byron Center, a former journalist, spoke fourth, sharing four unique stories about a snow globe, a woman losing her hearing, a child selling a rabbit and an organ. Kelly, of Grand Rapids, spoke last, talking about a time when he visited a friend in California and ended up going on a hike that led him to visit Mexico. 

The storytellers had several things they wanted to impart to cafégoers from their tales of life. Some wanted people to have a good time while others wanted them to not give up and take the bull by the horns when challenges arise. 

John D. Gonzalez, a WKTV contributing writer, was the host for the May 6 event. (WKTV/Aaron Robins)

“So say yes more than no, and an opportunity comes, if you see an opportunity to do something, to tell a story – I just say just take the leap and do it. It’s so easy to say no, but I’m telling you the best parts of life are when you say yes. So say yes to the opportunity if some says tell a story because I truly believe everyone has a story,” Zaagman said. 

To watch the performance and learn more about WKTV Voices, visit wktvvoices.org. The Stray Café is located at 4253 Division Ave S Suite A in Wyoming.

Navy officially changes status of 13 USS Indianapolis sailors lost during World War II

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Local Faces, Senior Living, Veterans, ,

By WKTV Staff
greer@wktv.org

The USS Indianapolis sank on July 30, 1945 after being struck by two Japanese torpedoes. One of the sailors, Seaman 2nd Class George David Payne, was from Grand Rapids.

The Navy has officially changed the status of 13 sailors lost when the USS Indianapolis (CA 35) was sunk in 1945 from “unaccounted for” to “buried at sea,” Navy Casualty announced on May 27.

The change in status is the result of extensive research between Naval History and Heritage Command, Navy Casualty Office, the USS Indianapolis Survivors Association, the USS Indianapolis Legacy Organization, and the Chief Rick Stone and Family Charitable Foundation.

The announcement helps bring closure to the families of these sailors who lost their lives at the end of a secret mission which helped end World War II.

The USS Indianapolis sank on July 30, 1945, after being struck by two Japanese torpedoes.

The sailors whose status changed are:

Seaman 1st Class George Stanley Abbott – Bedford, Kentucky

Seaman 2nd Class Eugene Clifford Batson – Kansas City, Kansas

Gunner’s Mate 1st Class William Alexander Haynes – Homedale, Idaho

Seaman 2nd Class Albert Raymond Kelly – Cleveland, Ohio

Seaman 1st Class Albert Davis Lundgren – Washington, D.C.

Fireman 1st Class Ollie McHone – Mars Hill, Arkansas

Seaman 2nd Class George David Payne – Grand Rapids, Michigan

Storekeeper 3rd Class Alvin Wilder Rahn – Hamlet, North Carolina

Ship’s Cook 3rd Class Jose Antonio Saenz – Edinburg, Texas

Coxswain Charles Byrd Sparks – Birmingham, Alabama

Radioman 2nd Class Joseph Mason Strain – Creston, Iowa

SSML3 Angelo Anthony Sudano – Niles, Ohio

Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Floyd Ralph Wolfe – Turner, Oregon

Approximately 300 of the ship’s 1,195 Sailors went down with the ship, and some 900 men were set adrift. Only 316 survived. Due to administrative errors, many Sailors who were recovered from the ocean and buried at sea from responding vessels were misclassified as “missing in action “or “unaccounted for.”

According to Rick Stone, who previously served at NHHC, he initiated the USS Indianapolis Burial at Sea Project to determine if any Indianapolis casualties met this criteria. Following his retirement from government service, he established the Chief Rick Stone and Family Charitable Foundation to continue the project and located documentation proving the 13 Sailors were misclassified.

According to the foundation’s USS Indianapolis Burial at Sea Project web page, “recovering a lost sailor, giving their loved ones and family closure, is the greatest gift we can imagine and the greatest way to celebrate and thank the sailors who lost their lives aboard the USS Indianapolis.

“One of my favorite quotes is ‘Poor is the nation that has no heroes but shameful is the nation who, having heroes, forgets them,’” Stone said. “Our foundation will never forget the heroes of the USS Indianapolis and are proud of our role in helping 13 families learn that the Navy went to great lengths to honor them soon after their deaths.”

Capt. Robert McMahon, director of the Navy Casualty Office, said bringing closure to families of those lost at sea is a “solemn duty and obligation” he takes to heart.

“Nothing is more important to me than giving families that knowledge when the unthinkable happens,” he said. “No amount of time lessens the loss, however, if we can bring some certainty to loved ones, even seven decades later, we are keeping faith with those we lost.”

One of those family members, William Baxter, nephew of Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Wolfe, was notified April 26 of the change in status. Sailors from Naval Medical Readiness and Training Command Beaufort, South Carolina, arrived at his door with a certificate and flag to recognize Wolfe’s sacrifice.

Baxter, an Okatie, South Carolina, native, said while he did not know his uncle, “it’s nice to finally have some closure to what actually happened to [him]. Thank you all for going above and beyond for me and my family. I wasn’t expecting all of this, but thank you.”

Change of Topic: Tune in on Memorial Day to our special annual program involving the USS Silversides ceremony titled, “The Lost Boat Ceremony at the USS Silversides in Muskegon.”

MEMORIAL DAY AIR TIMES:

WKTV 25: 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.

WKTV Government 26: 6:30 p.m.

Local band Whorled starts off year with being crowned first Battle of the Bands winner

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

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

Whorled won the March Battle of the Bands at The Stray. (courtesy)

Playing a style of music they call “World folk” has paid off for Whorled.

The critical praise has been huge, and the band won a Battle of the Bands in March at The Stray Café in Grand Rapids.

Local Spins recently described Whorled (pronounced “world”) as follows:

“The world folk band stole the stage with a set that was less of a performance and more of an experience. Many of its songs weaved through various genres — starting as an Irish highland tune, then transitioning to a traditional Japanese song and ending with a bluegrass swing.”

That makes sense when you consider the trio draws from celtic, gypsy jazz, Brazilian, bluegrass and classical influences, said Thom Jayne of Whorled. The group is known for playing a variety of instruments, including violin, accordion, guitar, banjo, whistles, and occasionally a didgeridoo, which is a wind instrument.

The band also consists of multi-instrumentalist Keala Venema and accordionist Marika Venema.

Jayne answered a few questions from WKTV.

WKTV Journal: How did you come up with your band’s name?

Jayne: The name signifies the diverse backgrounds and musical influences that each of us bring to create our signature “Whorled” sound.

WKTV: When did you form?

Jayne: 2020. We formed during the Covid period and have only been playing out in public during the past year.

WKTV: What do you hope to accomplish with your music?

Jayne: To create a unique sound that is both true to the traditions that we draw from and also to integrate them together in fresh ways.

WKTV: Has it been easy or difficult to break into the West Michigan music scene?

Jayne: We’re just starting out, so still finding out.

WKTV: What makes you stand out, outside of playing all those instruments?

Jayne: We have a strictly Celtic set, but most of our material features a variety of styles sprinkled with spontaneous improvisation so that no two Whorled shows are the same. Our show is high-energy, good-feeling, and crowd-interactive.

Upcoming Performances:

We’re playing at Meijer Gardens on July 12, opening for the Accidentals at the Saugatuck Jump into Summer Festival on June 17, and are being featured in the Sparta Irish Music Festival on August 12-13.

Learn more about the band at https://www.whorledband.com/videos.

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

A leap of faith started music source Local Spins, which marks its 10th anniversary

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Business, Local Faces, Recreation, , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

Amy Sherman, John Sinkevics, and John Gonzalez. (John Gonzalez)

Ten years ago, John Sinkevics took a leap of faith.

As the former music critic for The Grand Rapids Press, he knew there was a “robust” music scene in West Michigan, and he also knew he had the connections, credibility and drive to build a website dedicated to music news, interviews, album releases and concert coverage.

He started LocalSpins.com, which this week is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a series of seven shows over six days.

Sinkevics, who is based in Rockford, and also performs with his band the Honeytones with another Press alum, former religion editor and features writer Charley Honey, said starting the website was a pretty scary endeavor.

“When I started this it was like jumping off a cliff,” he said on our radio show and podcast Behind the Mitten, which aired this weekend. (Listen to the whole show below or here.)

But he also had support from the local music community, including musicians and venues such as Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill and The Intersection. “They spurred me on,” he said.

It was the scene’s quality of music that also made him confident he could start something new in West Michigan.

“I knew this music scene was a robust scene. It was growing. It had incredible talent from Traverse City to Kalamazoo to the Lakeshore to Grand Rapids, and it really felt good. I knew there was something happening here that needed to be covered.”

It didn’t take long before he was hiring photographers, freelance writers and other journalists to help him out.

The line up for the celebration. (John Gonzalez)

“Before you knew I was careening along at 60-70 hours a week, just making it happen. But because there was so much to cover and there was so much beautiful music being made here that it paid off in the long run.”

The pandemic changed things for musicians, obviously, who didn’t have venues or crowds to support them. That also had an impact on publications like Local Spins.

“A lot of readers stepped up and before you knew it I could still keep things rolling, and we found ways to cover the albums that were being released,” he said. “Musicians didn’t stop, they just couldn’t perform live.

“Now we’ve reached that 10-year milestone…, I’m ready to celebrate.”

In addition to the series of upcoming concerts, Local Spins has special merchandise to commemorate the anniversary and a collaboration beer release with Rockford Brewing Company called the Local Spinsation Ale. It’s on tap now.

Get more details at LocalSpins.com.

Local Spins Fest concerts are through May 21. Details provided by LocalSpins.com:

• TUESDAY, MAY 17 – Listening Room: A special Local Spins edition of “Songtellers, Stories & Songs” hosted by Nicholas James Thomasma with rock multi-instrumentalist Patty PerShayla, hip hop cellist Jordan Hamilton, punk rock guitarist Julio Gomez and singer-songwriter Eric Engblade, 7 p.m., $10, tickets on sale here.

• WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 – SpeakEZ Lounge: Earth Radio and the return of The Concussions, 8 p.m., free. Donations accepted.

• THURSDAY, MAY 19 – The Pyramid Scheme: Local Spins 10th Anniversary Hip Hop Showcase with Les Creatif, J. Rob & Bedrock and Wuzee & Samil, 8 p.m., $8 advance, available online here.

• FRIDAY, MAY 20 (Early Show) – Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill: Blues Night with Jake Kershaw and Hank Mowery & The Hawktones, 7 p.m., $10, tickets available online here.

The Accidentials perform May 21. (Photo by B. Hockensmith Photography)

• FRIDAY, MAY 20 (Late Show) – The Intersection: Desmond Jones and The Legal Immigrants at Elevation, 9 p.m., $10, tickets on sale now at sectionlive.com.

• SATURDAY, MAY 21 – LOCAL SPINS FEST AT STUDIO PARK (Downtown Grand Rapids)

2 p.m. – Doors open

3 p.m. – DJ SuperDre

4 p.m. – Cabildo

5 p.m. – Hannah Rose Graves

6 p.m. – Full Cord

7 p.m. – Public Access (wsg Emilee Petersmark of The Crane Wives)

8:30 p.m. – The Accidentals

Refreshments, merchandise and sponsor booths will be part of the event. General admission tickets are just $20 and on sale now at listeningroomgr.com.

Behind the Mitten

Listen to me and co-host Amy Sherman talk to John Sinkevics about his 10-year anniversary, as well the summer outdoor music concert season across West Michigan. We also learn more about Rockford Brewing Company through general manager Matt Valleau.

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

Annual Heritage Hill Weekend Tour of Homes is back and welcomes visitors

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

By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributing Writer

Jim Payne and Char Kruzich’s College Avenue home will be part of this year’s Heritage Hill Tour. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)

The annual Heritage Hill Weekend Tour of Homes is excited to welcome visitors May 21-22 after a two-year hiatus.

One of the country’s oldest urban historic districts, Heritage Hill has been heralded by “This Old House” as one of the country’s “Best Old House Neighborhoods.” The Heritage Hill Association encourages guests to explore seven homes of families who have courteously opened their doors, as well as two public buildings recently restored by Grand Rapids Community College.

More than 1,300 homes dating from 1843 compile Heritage Hill, and represent nearly every style of American architecture, from Greek Revival to Prairie. Since 1969, a varying line-up of seven to eight private homes and two to three historic buildings have been opened to the public each year with guides who share each building’s unique story and special features.

“This tour is a great opportunity to take a walk back in time,” Jim Payne, owner of Heritage Hill home located at 27 College Avenue NE, told WKTV. “Visitors get to experience different types of architecture and art and reflect on another era.”

The wood in the home is reflective of the original molding and floors. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)

Jim Payne and Char Kruzich opened the doors of their Heritage Hill home to this WKTV writer, willingly giving a tour of their well-loved and rehabilitated house. Built in 1882 and sporting the American Craftsman Style, 27 College Ave. is on the must-see list of homes on the Heritage Hill Tour.

Both freelance artists themselves, Jim and Char had a hand in every renovated detail, working closely for the more than 14 years with architect Mitch Witkowski and carpenter Tim Karsen and incorporating their own unique designs and artwork into their home. A distinctive integration into the residence are two art studios on the third floor, allowing the owners to “create while living in a work of art.”

Though almost all of the interior is new, Jim and Char kept the original floors of the home and even the original newel post to the staircase leading to the upper floors. “We kept the post and modeled the rest of the room and staircase around its original design,” Jim said.

A unique piece of history was found inside the walls of their historic home during the renovation. “There was a piece of trim from 1909, signed by the carpenter, inside the wall,” said Jim. “He had taped coins from that year to the wood.”

“Our carpenter did the same,” Char said with a smile. “He signed a piece of wood and then taped current coins to it before closing up the walls.”

While the inside of the home has been drastically altered, allowing better movement from room to room and improved airflow throughout the residence, the exterior has been restored to its original architectural design. Dormers and gables provide a complex façade and emphasize the Craftsman Style’s natural materials and fine craftsmanship.

When asked about restrictions for renovating their home due to the historic nature of the residence, Jim and Char said the only boundaries the Historic Preservation Commission, (HPC),  imposes on homeowners is in regard to the exterior of the homes.

“Color of paint is not restricted, but things that would alter the exterior of the home like windows, doors and railings, require HPC approval,” Jim said. “That way construction of decks and sliding glass doors, things that aren’t true to the era of the homes, are avoided.”

  • The exterior of the home at 27 College Ave. NE
  • The entrance
  • The dining area
  • The living room
  • Living space
  • Office space
  • Living area
  • An original post and molding

While there might be restrictions on outside renovations, Jim and Char said HPC has no boundaries on the interior of the home. This allows historic homeowners to preserve the exterior architecture while creating an interior that suits their personal tastes.

“They want you to be able to rehabilitate these homes,” Char said. “They want you to be able to raise families here. To live here, not just reside here.”

Jim agreed. “The Historic Preservation Commission was a great help during the remodel.”

The homeowners revealed that their neighborhood is like a second family. Moving to College Avenue in 1981, they rented a home for five years before buying their current home in 1986, giving them 40 years in their current community.

“Owners or renters, it doesn’t matter,” said Char. “We are all treated like family and are all close.”

The neighborhood even formed the North College Block Club, with families gathering socially many times a year. “Our own kitchen has seen a lot of action,” Char said as she tapped the counter next to her.

Jim and Char urge community members to come out and experience the masterpieces compiling Heritage Hill.

 

Advance tickets are $18 and can be found at www.heritagehillweb.org. To obtain tickets by check, send to the Heritage Hill Association, 126 College SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Tickets purchased on the days of the tour are $25.

Proceeds benefit the Heritage Hill Association’s programs that support the historic preservation of this unique neighborhood and assist with land use, planning, engaging neighbors and community resources, and crime prevention.

More information about the annual tour and the homes and businesses opening their doors can also be found at www.heritagehillweb.org or by calling 616-459-8950.

Metro Cruise Dust Off set for this Saturday

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

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

The weather is supposed to be perfect, sunny with a high of 64, which means the covers will be coming off and the engines will be revving for the Metro Cruise’s annual Dust Off event.

Miss Metro Cruise 2021 Dr. Joules Kelvin will be offering tips for the upcoming Miss Metro Cruise competition at the Metro Cruise Dust Off on Saturday. (WKTV)

The event runs from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Wyoming Moose Lodge #763, 2630 Burlingame Ave. SW. The annual event is the first spring opportunity for classic car owners to roll their rides back down the street and park at the Moose Lodge to be admired. The first 75 classic car participants to this year’s Metro Cruise Dust Off will receive a free t-shirt.

Those interested in coming early, the Moose Lodge will be offering a breakfast. From 11 a.m.-4 p.m., the Moose Lodge will be offering build-your-own hamburgers and hot dogs.

Also Miss Metro Cruise 2021 Dr. Joules Kelvin will be on hand for those interested in the Miss Metro Cruise competition. Potential contestants for Miss Metro Cruise will have the chance to have photos taken from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. with Dr. Joules Kelvin meeting with contestants 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Moose Lodge. The annual Miss Metro Cruise has a preliminary competition on July 9 that narrows the contestants down to 10 finalists who compete at Metro Cruise in August. To learn more about the Miss Metro Cruise competition, visit the Miss Metro Cruise Facebook page.

This year’s 28th Street Metro Cruise is set for Aug. 26 and 27 with events happening at the main stage at Rogers Plaza and a second location at Woodland Mall. The annual event features classic cars of all types. Returning this year will be the Dream Wheels red carpet event hosted by WKTV. The show features unique and rare classic cars.

For more about the 28th Street Metro Cruise, visit the 28th Street Metro Cruise Facebook page.

Gonzo’s Top 5: Sting, Star Wars, Storytelling and Tulip Time

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

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

It’s been a heck of a week!

We celebrated Star Wars Day and Cinco de Mayo, which were so much fun. And this weekend is the beginning of a beautiful stretch of weather as the forecast calls for 80-degrees next week.

We may as well keep the party going.

Lucky are the hundreds who will be attending this weekend’s sold out Taco & Tequila Festival at LMCU Ballpark. I was just asked to be a judge, so you know I’ll be having a good time.

What else is going on? Let’s run down my Top 5 picks, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.

Gonzo’s Top 5

The Stray Cafe, located at 4253 Division Ave., Wyoming, is where the WKTV Voices’ Storytelling Project will take place on Feb. 24. (Supplied)

5. WKTV Voices Storytelling Night at The Stray Café

Do you love stories? Hanging out with friends? Meeting new people? Tonight is the return of the WKTV Voices Storytelling Night at The Stray Café in Grand Rapids. We have several people already signed up to tell their story. In 6 minutes they will share a tidbit about their lives. It could be funny, inspiring or compelling. It’s up to the storyteller. We’re also taking last-minute signups at the event. It’s free to attend. Come on out. I’ll be there. The event begins at 7 tonight (May 6) at The Stray, 4253 Division Ave S Suite A. More info at https://wktvvoices.org/voices-storytelling-at-the-stray/.

Brooks & Dunn perform at Van Andel Arena. (Photo by Gage Skidmore)

4. Van Andel Arena Concerts

Two big shows are on tap this weekend:

Brooks & Dunn return tonight (May 6) with a boot, scootin’ boogie good time with opening acts Jon Pardi and Tyler Booth. With 20 No. 1 hits stretching back to 1991, you’ll know all the songs, including “Believe,” “My Maria,” “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” and many more.

Sting is back for a show on Saturday (May 7) with special guest Joe Sumner. I’m not sure what to say. It’s Sting! That means every song is memorable. According to press material, Sting’s “’My Songs’ concert is an exuberant and dynamic show featuring his most beloved songs written throughout the 17-time Grammy Award winner’s illustrious career, both with The Police and as a solo artist.” That also means classics such as “Fields of Gold,” “Roxanne,” “Every Breath You Take,” “Message In A Bottle” and many more.

Learn more about each show at www.vanandelarena.com.

3. Star Wars Day at John Ball Zoo

Good news, “Star Wars” Fans. Even if you forgot to wear your favorite shirt on May the 4th (I know two people who did that), you can still celebrate this weekend with a special event on Saturday (May 7) at John Ball Park Zoo in Grand Rapids. Organizers said: “Dress as your favorite character from the Star Wars saga to come learn about the creatures in our galaxy and if you’re lucky, you might just see Luke Skywalker roaming the Zoo.” Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. for Star Wars Day at the Zoo! More info at https://www.jbzoo.org/starwarsday.

2. Tulip Time Festival

It’s time to celebrate Dutch heritage, and tulips, in Holland as Tulip Time returns over eight days with activities in different locations, most within a 4-mile radius of downtown Holland. Tulips can be seen for no charge in public parks and along downtown streets. Overall, more than six million tulips are blooming throughout the city and area attractions. Several ticketed events also are planned, too. Plus, they have parades! To see a complete schedule go to https://www.tuliptime.com/. It runs through May 15.


Stephen Christopher Anthony as Evan Hansen and the North American touring company of “Dear Evan Hansen.” (Photo by Matthew Murphy)

1.“Dear Evan Hansen”

Yes, it’s contemporary, which means references to social media, viral videos, the Internet, chats, etc. But to me, this show is about the basic human nature to be loved, needed and valued as a person. It’s the story about a teenager, Evan Hansen, who doesn’t fit in at school or at home. He struggles mightily. And he gets caught up in a spiral of events that could be his breaking point. In an interview with Meghan Distel of Broadway Grand Rapids, which is presenting the show through Sunday (May 8) at DeVos Performance Hall, she said the musical drama has a “lasting impact” on you. She’s spot on. Even if you can’t attend, find someone who did. Do some research. Stream it on TV. Someone out there needs you. It could be you. Learn more about the show at broadwaygrandrapids.com.

READ: Find why Broadway’s latest sensation has resonated with so many

That’s it for now.

As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Have a great, safe weekend.

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

Empowering messages through music, meet the Epitones

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

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

The Epitones was one of three finalists in The Stray Cafe’s first Battle of the Bands competition held in March. (Courtesy/The Stray Cafe)

Original music should tell a story in a “unique way,” says drummer Matt DeRuiter of the Epitones.

“We strive to share empowering messages and love through our music, along with creating an environment for people to express themselves while listening,” he says in a recent email to WKTV Journal.

His band was one of the three finalists in a recent Battle of the Band competition at The Stray Café located in Wyoming.

Influenced heavily by Pink Floyd and Umphrey’s McGee, DeRuiter says the self-taught trio from Grand Rapids describe their sound as “Psychedelic Rock.” The group also includes lead guitarist/vocalist Chris Gill and bassist Colin Darling.

DeRuiter answered a few other questions about the band.

WKTV Journal: How did the band get its name?

DeRuiter:  We spent quite a long time trying to settle on a name and decided on this as both of our guitarists are tone junkies, continue to experiment with new techniques and tones, and are consistently refining their sound. We got the idea from “Epic Tones” and then combined it to be Epitones.

WKTV: How did you get together?

DeRuiter: We formed as a three-piece in 2018, though we have all been friends playing together on and off casually and in different projects since 2012.

WKTV: What are the band’s goals?

The Epitones formed in 2018. (Courtesy/The Stray Cafe)

DeRuiter: We hope to wrap up a few singles this year and to continue playing larger shows. This is our first year playing festivals such as Cowpie, so we hope to continue playing more festivals, new venues, and to work with bigger bands in the area.

WKTV: How do you describe the West Michigan music scene?

DeRuiter: Being relatively new to the scene it has been somewhat difficult to gain traction, especially during Covid. Though as we continue to play more shows we have gained a steady following and are starting to get some more recognition as a band. This Battle of The Bands was a great way to share our music and network with fellow musicians.

Upcoming Performances:

Playing at the Deck in Muskegon June 26 and July 24, playing Dunesville Music Festival, Cowpie Music Festival, and Walk the Beat in Grand Haven.

Learn more about the band on its Facebook Page.

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

Building on last year’s success, The 49507 Project embarks on second summer

3-bottom, Going Local, Local Business, Local Faces, Our Cities, West Michigan, , , ,

By Sheila McGrath
WKTV Contributing Writer

Art will be in bloom again this summer on Grand Rapids’ south side.

The 49507 Project, launched in 2021, has lined up another summer of public art, education and listening sessions to change the narrative about the neighborhood in southeast and southwest Grand Rapids and help current residents claim it as their own.

Last summer saw the creation of seven new murals throughout the 49507 ZIP code, mostly at businesses with Black and Brown owners.

“Seven incredibly beautiful murals were brought to life by seven different Black and Brown artists,” said Marcel “Fable” Price, executive director of The Diatribe, the nonprofit that is spearheading the project. “We did mural unveilings for those, and the community really came out and showed up.”

Last year’s murals were painted at La Casa De La Cobija, Public Thread, Boost Mobile, 40 Acres Headquarters, The South East Market, Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses and The Old Goat.

“I think we all had our eyes opened to our neighborhood in a way  that we didn’t see before,” Price said. “More importantly, we showed people that projects like this are possible, and that we can make our neighborhoods look like we live here.”

The 49507 Project is being funded by a coalition of nearly a dozen businesses, foundations, neighborhood groups and city organizations. It is slated to run through 2023.

As part of the project, Petersen Research Consultants conducted a survey of community attitudes both before and after The 49507 Project began to assess whether perceptions of the neighborhood might change. According to a news release, a survey after the first year showed that residents felt the art represented how “we see things – colorful, vibrant, and a beautiful side of our culture.”

Business owners reported an improvement in perceptions of the neighborhood and saw increased foot traffic, the survey showed. Media results revealed an increase in positive news stories about the 49507 ZIP code within a year.

This summer, eight more murals are in the works and should be completed by August, Price said. They will be painted at the following locations:

  • Samaria J’s Salon Suite, 701 Grandville Ave SW 
  • Load A Spud, 1721 Madison Ave SE 
  • Farmers Insurance, 2435 Eastern Ave SE 
  • Mr. B’s Party Store, 1216 Kalamazoo Ave SE 
  • Aleman Auto Repair, 1801 Division Ave S. 
  • Cisneros Tires, 800 Division Ave S. 
  • 1956 Eastern Ave. 
  • 1935 Eastern Ave.

Art is just one aspect of the 49507 project. Listening sessions for both adults and young people were held last year, and several more of those events have already taken place this spring.

Educational sessions at Ottawa Hills High School, the Southwest Community Campus and Grand Rapids Public Museum School taught young people about the history of their neighborhoods, including the history of redlining, and about their fair housing rights.

Organizers hope that the 49507 Project will have a positive reach and if all goes well may extend into the Wyoming and Kentwood communities. (Supplied)

“We encourage them to get involved civically in their neighborhoods and teach them about ways that they can create change, get involved in the community and really share their voice and opinions,” Price said.

He said one of the things they have learned from listening sessions is that young people are looking for more activities in their neighborhoods. They’d love to see an amphitheater for concerts, and just more things to do in general.

In the community listening sessions, Price said he hears elders talk about all the programming and activities available for young people in days gone by.

“Now, when it comes summertime and there’s violence, we’re so up in arms, like ‘Why is this happening?’” he said. “We’re not continuing to offer programs, solutions, outlets, and invest in the community in the way we have in different points in time.”

Anyone who would like to get involved in The 49507 Project can learn more about volunteer opportunities and events on the website at thediatribe.org/the49507project/.

Price also encourages people to spread the word about the project on social media, and visit the area often.

“Come and enjoy the art but also support the businesses,” he said. “There’s some incredible food and incredible culture in our neighborhood, so please, immerse yourself.”

Gonzo’s Top 5: Theatre, rock ‘n’ roll, a book sale, and a party with Quillbur

Citizen Journalism, Education, Entertainment, Environment, Going Local, Gonzo's Top 5, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Recreation, , , , , , , ,

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

Finally it feels like Spring, and just in time for Earth Day.

 

This weekend’s Top 5 includes theater, rock ‘n’ roll, a book sale and a special Earth Day Party with Quillbur?

Want to learn more? Check out my Top 5, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.

Gonzo’s Top 5

Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish (Courtesy Photo/Paul Jensen)

Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish

Grand Rapids rock, blues and rockabilly duo Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, celebrates the release of a new album with a show Saturday at Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids. The new, self-titled album “is quite different from other releases as it has more instruments and attitude,” Jesse Ray said in an interview on John Sinkevics’ localspins.com. “Where (2016’s) ‘Angry’ was just angry for the sake of a young man’s anger, the new record is more complicated and emotional with the occasional outburst.” The bill also includes Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps and The Local Commuters. Tickets are $15 and available online. Doors open at 7 p.m. More info on the Facebook event page.

Van Andel Arena

Downtown Grand Rapids is going to be busy this weekend with a couple big shows at Van Andel Arena. Comedian Katt Williams ( “The House Next Door; Meet the Blacks 2,” “Meet the Blacks”) performs at 8 p.m. Saturday (April 23) and rock band Shinedown performs at 7 p.m. Sunday (April 24). More details at vanandelarena.com.

Both KDL Kenwood and Wyoming libraries are hosting book sales this Saturday.

Friends of the Library Used Book Sale

The Kent District Library Kentwood Branch and Wyoming Branch both feature book sales from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday (April 23) where book enthusiasts will find bargains galore. The Kentwood Branch is located at 4950 Breton SE. The Wyoming Branch is located at 3350 Michael Ave. SW. More details at kdl.org.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Master Arts Theatre in Grand Rapids is presenting “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” with shows April 21-23, April 28-30 and May 5-7. Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame showcases the film’s Academy Award-nominated score, as well as new songs by Menken and Schwartz. According to Master Arts, “Peter Parnell’s new book embraces story theatre and features verbatim passages from Hugo’s gothic novel.” Learn more at www.masterarts.org.

Blandford Nature Center hosts a birthday party for Quillber, a North American Porcupine. (Supplied)

Blandford Nature Center – Earth Day

As part of Earth Day Week, Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids is having a Birthday Party for two of its wildlife ambassadors – Archimedes, who is a long-eared owl, and Quillber, a North American Porcupine. In a program from 1-2 p.m. Saturday, you’ll hear their stories and learn about what makes each of them special. Organizers said you can “snap a close-up of silly Archimedes before heading out on the trails to take Quillber for a birthday stroll through the woods.” Admission is free this month to Blandford, but admission to the party is $7 for members, $10 for non-members and free to those ages 2 and younger. You can register at https://www.blandfordnaturecenter.org/events/earth-day-birthdays/?occurrence=2022-04-23.

Blandford Nature Center is located at 1715 Hillburn Ave NW. Learn more about Blandford nature trails an http://blandfordnaturecenter.org/

That’s it for now.

As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Have a great, safe Easter weekend.

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

Local non-profit, long an advocate for persons with disabilities, gains grant to expand service coverage

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  • Before and after — wheelchair access to homes is often an issue for disabled persons, according to Disability Advocates of Kent County. (Supplied)
  • Before and after — wheelchair access to homes is often an issue for disabled persons, according to Disability Advocates of Kent County. (Supplied

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org


Disability Advocates of Kent County, set to open a new headquarters in the new Special Olympics of Michigan campus in Byron Township and already one of the region’s leaders in advocacy for persons with disabilities, is set to become even more of a force for good in the region.

Disability Advocates has received a $975,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that will enable the organization to make “safety and functional home modifications and limited repairs to meet the needs of low-income senior homeowners that allow them to age in place,” according to an announcement from the non-profit.

The three-year grant will help 150 seniors in Allegan, Ionia, Mecosta, Montcalm, and Osceola counties — and there is anecdotal evidence that keeping seniors in their home environments longer is better for the seniors mental and physical health.

David Bulkowski, executive director of Disability Advocates of Kent County. (Supplied)

“While we do not have direct evidence for this, it would be safe to suggest that it is so as low-income folks have fewer financial resources to address the barriers themselves and would be more stressed by simple barriers in their homes and could lead to feelings of loneliness and despair,” David Bulkowski, executive director of Disability Advocates, said to WKTV.

Disability Advocates was the only organization in Michigan out of 32 nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and public housing authorities nationwide to receive an award from HUD’s $30 million “Older Adults Home Modification Program”, according to the announcement.

The national goal is to deliver home modification services to more than 5,000 qualified beneficiaries in primarily rural areas.

The move to expand its services into more rural areas of West Michigan is part of a natural growth for the group.

“Our work began in Kent County and almost only in the Metro Six cities as we were pretty small back then,” Bulkowski said. “From there we spread out throughout the county and especially with Senior Millage funding in Kent County.
 

“As for other counties, we would ‘sneak out’ into Ionia and Montcalm and Mecosta and Osceola to a lesser degree through the years as much as our funding allowed. This new grant has enough capacity that we can assertively market the services availability in those four counties and Allegan.”

And while Disability Advocates offers a wide range of advocacy and services, facilitating often simple but often very necessary home improvements and repairs has always been one of its goals.

Grant-funded services and qualifications

Examples of the home modifications which are available through Disability Advocates include installation of grab bars, railings, and lever-handled doorknobs and faucets, as well as the installation of adaptive equipment, such as non-slip strips for tub/shower or stairs, according to the announcement. These enhancements will enable older adults to remain in their homes — to “age in place” — rather than move to nursing homes or other assisted care facilities.

Working with persons with disabilities, for Disability Advocates of Kent County, is often just listening to client’s issues such as wheelchair access, and the working on solutions. (Supplied)

The HUD grant was awarded in August 2021. For the past several months Disability Advocates has been finalizing its project plan and is now sharing the information in the rural counties to find senior homeowners that could benefit from these services.

To qualify, recipients need to be age 62 or older, have proof of ownership for the dwelling they live in, and have income that does not exceed 80 percent of the median income for their area. For more detailed information visit Disability Advocates of Kent County at dakc.us.

“This is an exciting endeavor for our organization because, as our name implies, we focus on Kent County, but the same needs apply to our friends in neighboring counties, so we are eager to expand our reach with this programming,” Bulkowski said in supplied material. “We are very grateful to our state representatives who guided as through the application process.”

One of the governmental advocates for the Disability Advocates’ grant was Kent County’s U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer.

“I am pleased that HUD recognized the good work Disability Associates of Kent County does for our community, and I know their organization will use this award to improve the lives of seniors right here in West Michigan,” Rep. Meijer said in supplied material.

New facility but same goals

Providing home assessments and independent living solutions have long been a “cornerstone” of the 41-year-old organization and will continue to be a major portion of the services it intends to offer at is soon-to-open new headquarters.

In September 2021, Disability Advocates announced the Building Opportunities, Creating Independence campaign, a $2.5 million fundraising effort to move their headquarters to the Special Olympics campus. To date, the campaign has reached 90 percent of its goal and plans to move into its new space in late April 2022.

“We are on track to open for operations at SOMI (Special Olympics of Michigan) on May 2 … our community open house and ribbon cutting is May 12 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.,” Bulkowski said.

The opening of the new headquarters will also be the opening of a new Home Accessibility Center program.

The organization is using “a sizable portion of the campaign funding” to help cover construction of its Home Accessibility Center program, which will be the area’s first space where people with disabilities can explore ways to renovate and retrofit their homes so they can be more independent.

Peggy Helsel, development director for Disability Advocates of Kent County. (Supplied)

It will serve as a “test space” and showroom where persons with disabilities, their families, healthcare, and design professionals and building contractors to “explore options for a safer home, including models and adaptive equipment,” according to supplied material.

“The Home Accessibility Center is a response to a demonstrated need,” Peggy Helsel, development director for Disability Advocates, said in supplied material. “Often people ask, ‘What does that mean?’ when we talk about universal design and the home, we are giving people a real-life model home to experience what a universally-accessible space can look like.”

‘Caregiver’ Mary Wisinski, county’s ‘Vaccine Queen’, to retire from Health Department this month

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By D.A. Reed, WKTV Contributing Writer

After 15 years serving Kent County at the helm of the Kent County Health Department’s vaccine program, and more than 45 years in the health care field, Mary Wisinski will retire from her position as Immunization Program Supervisor on April 15.

And while she is respectively and affectionally known as the “Vaccine Queen” by her colleagues — a title given well before the COVID-19 pandemic but made all the more important during the last two years — her career as a caregiver is much deeper that.

The oldest of seven children, Wisinski always viewed herself as a “caregiver,” she said recently to WKTV. So, it was natural for her to turn to a career in healthcare, though she did look at medical school before settling on nursing.

“The more I looked at it, the more I liked the ability to spend more time with my patients as a nurse and get to know them,” Wisinski said.

(Public Domain photo)

Wisinski began her career in the maternal and child health field, serving 12 years in neonatal intensive care in Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo caring for premature babies (preemies).

“I was a transport nurse and a transport supervisor for them. We picked up babies from different hospitals to bring them back to Bronson on either an ambulance or a helicopter,” Wisinski said.

Wisinski moved back to Grand Rapids to get married and found her new vocation and her new home at the Kent County Health Department (KCHD).

“I’ve been with the Kent County Health Department for about 20 years,” Wisinski said. “I spent three years doing resource (work) at the Butterworth neonatal intensive care unit, and then in 2003 I came back to the county, and then became the Immunization Supervisor in 2007.”

Always knew vaccines saved lives

It was during her first few years in the immunization program that Wisinski became passionate about public health, especially vaccines.

“My passion grew as I worked here and learned more about what public health really is,” said Wisinski. “It’s just a different focus on nursing.”

Wisinski said that what drew her toward public health was the objective of preventing disease versus treating ailments.

A Kent County Health Department nurse gives a COVID-19 vaccination shot. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

“When you work in a hospital or a physician office, many times you’re working with ill clients. You’re treating the symptoms of their disease and trying to make them better,” Wisinski said. “In public health, our main goal is to prevent disease. We try to anticipate problems. We assess the entire community, and then work and strategize together to keep people healthy versus treating them when they become ill.”

Wisinski’s knowledge of nursing and vaccines earned her the nickname “Vaccine Queen” as colleagues and counterparts came to her with their questions. But the birth of that moniker, she said, was a friend who had previously worked with her in neonatal intensive care and, when asked a question about vaccines, would respond: “Hold on a minute, I’ll call the Vaccine Queen from Kent County!”

The nickname persisted throughout the years.

Several different components and programs are included in the focus of Wisinski’s immunization and vaccine team, among which is the Vaccines for Children Program in Kent County, a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children.

“Even though our immunization rates are low, we have very dedicated providers in Kent, and we are in one of the top counties in the state for getting our kids vaccinated,” Wisinski said.

Teaching and serving, even in pandemic times

Two nurses on Wisinski’s staff, as well as Wisinski herself, are Immunization Nurse Educators for the State of Michigan.

“I see my role as a teacher in order to give the people the information that they need to do the best and safest job possible to provide vaccines for the kids and the adults who need them,” Wisinski said. “We are seen as people that they can trust and come to, and I’ve been very transparent that as a health department, I am a partner to … our providers and our community.”

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Wisinki and her staff have been the “boots on the ground” for testing and vaccinations. Wisinki was personally in charge of the long-term care testing and long-term care vaccinations.

“We went out not only to long-term care centers, but to adult foster homes, low-income senior housing, and (provided) vaccines for the homeless,” Wisinski said.

Kent County Health Department staff at a county COVID-19 testing station. (Kent County)

Though this is the longest vaccine outbreak Wisinski has been involved with, she chooses to look at the positive outcomes of the pandemic, noting the partnerships established in the community: “Many people here have committed to being part of that group … understanding what the health department is and does in the community.”

Bi-weekly meetings with the different community partners has allowed the health department to make sure they are working together and not “stumbling over each other, duplicating our efforts.”

Wisinski sees that as being a “tremendous achievement.”

Her and community moving forward

As Wisinski prepares to move on to the next part of her life’s journey, she wants the community to know that “public health works. Our job is to keep people safe and healthy as a community … I am extremely grateful to our scientists who have spent countless hours collaborating and cooperating with each other to come up with the best methods for vaccines and antiviral treatments.”

Wisinski says she hopes the community can, as we move forward, see the health department as an ally and not as an enemy.

“We did the best we could with the information we had at the time because we care about protecting people,” she said.

Though Wisinski says it is hard to leave because she loves serving her community, she is looking forward to some relaxation and time with her family. With weddings on the horizon for both her son and daughter, Wisinski’s immediate focus will be on plans for those festivities.

She does, however, plan to take a beach vacation and spend more time with her husband “because it’s been a little busy the last few years.”

Inspirational stories run deep as City of Kentwood, Hanger Clinic host Limb Loss Awareness 5K April 30

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The City of Kentwood is again partnering with Hanger Clinic to host the fourth Limb Loss Awareness 5K, all-ages and all-abilities event, on Saturday, April 30. (Supplied)

WKTV Staff


There will be plenty of inspirational people and inspirational stories running around the City of Kentwood later this month — including local woman and double leg amputee Beth Lowman — as the city will again host a special community event in recognition of Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month.

Kentwood is again partnering with Hanger Clinic, to host the fourth Limb Loss Awareness 5K on Saturday, April 30. The all-ages and all-abilities event will begin with packet pickup at 9 a.m. at Bowen Station Park, 4499 Bowen Blvd. SE, followed by the race at 10 a.m.

The event seeks to increase awareness of limb loss, build community and raise funds for Kentwood’s adaptive recreation programs. These programs “empower people with various disabilities to participate in athletic activities in an adapted way to allow for a safe and fun experience,” according to the announcement.

Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department program coordinator Katelyn Bush and one of her Adaptive Recreation participants at 2021 The Vibe event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

“Our Limb Loss Awareness 5K is more than a typical race,” Katelyn Bush, Kentwood recreation program coordinator, said in supplied material. “In addition to health and wellness, this run is focused on inclusivity, awareness, relationships and making a difference in our local community. We are thrilled this educational event has continued to grow in popularity since it began in 2018.”

All profits from the event will go toward improving and expanding the city’s adaptive recreation programs to encourage health and wellness, socialization and excellent quality of life for all. The programs – offered in collaboration with community partners – enable participants to enjoy the benefits that come with any athletic or recreational activity, such as a sense of camaraderie, improved confidence and new skills. To learn more visit kentwood.us/adaptive.
 

The accessible race route includes sections of the East-West and Paul Henry-Thornapple trails as well as a boardwalk — a “scenic spring route filled with woodlands, wetlands and wildlife.”
 

Online registration is available at RunSignUp.com. Registration is $35 through April 29. Race day registration is $45. Participants will receive a long sleeve t-shirt and swag bag as part of their registration. Packet pickup will also be available in advance of the event at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, during business hours beginning at noon Wednesday, April 27.
 

The kid-friendly event will also include a 1-mile fun run for children ages 12 and younger at 11 a.m. along the same route. The kids race costs $10 per child and includes a T-shirt and finisher ribbon. There is also a playground at the park for children to enjoy.

Beth’s story of resilience, resolve

Beth Lowman, a 35-year-old local woman who has experienced bilateral limb loss, will share her story at the Limb Loss Awareness 5K.

Six years ago, Lowman was an active, athletic mom whose life was turned upside down when she developed dystonia, a disorder that causes muscles to involuntarily contract, in her left foot and ankle, according to supplied material.

Beth Lowman, a 35-year-old local woman who has experienced bilateral limb loss, will share her story at the Limb Loss Awareness 5K. (Supplied)

She was unable to walk and, after several unsuccessful treatments, chose amputation. In February 2020, her left leg was amputated below the knee and she was able to walk for the first time in four years using a uniquely custom-designed bent-knee prosthesis fit by her prosthetic team at Hanger Clinic in Byron Center.

But after a fall in January 2021, Lowman developed dystonia in her right foot and ankle, and underwent the amputation of her right leg below the knee in July 2021. Despite the new challenge, she continued to push forward, learning to walk again on two prosthetic feet this time.

And on those two prosthetic feet, combined with personal goal and a support system around her, she plans to walk across the finish line at the Kentwood 5K.

Beth Lowman, with her family. (Supplied)

“I continuously remind myself that although my life turned out differently than I planned, my life as an amputee is still vibrant and active,” Lowman said in supplied material. “It is important to celebrate the small and large victories, because those are what makes life flourishing.

“I will forever see my life as a victory if I keep setting goals for myself and celebrating each step forward. The world wasn’t made for amputees, but it doesn’t mean we can’t flourish, cheer each other on and set the world ablaze with our successes!”

More than just a 5K run

Phil Tower, a West Michigan radio personality, amputee and advocate for people with disabilities, will serve as the DJ at the Limb Loss Awareness 5K.

Race organizers are also seeking volunteers for the event. Those interested may sign up at RunSignUp.com. Four first-place awards will be given to the first adult men and women amputees and nonamputees who cross the finish line. More information is available at kentwood.us/LimbLoss5K.

The City of Kentwood is again partnering with Hanger Clinic to host the fourth Limb Loss Awareness 5K, all-ages and all-abilities event, on Saturday, April 30. (Supplied)

This year’s event will also include educational components and a peer support table. These resources will enable participants and attendees to learn more about amputation, prosthetics and orthotics. They also will connect individuals who have experienced limb loss or limb difference with one another, enabling them to provide support and build relationships.

The event will also feature several informational booths from various sponsors, including ACV Centers, Airway Mobility and Rehab, Buist Electric, Creative Mobility Group, Hunt 2 Heal, ITC Incorporated, Life Beyond Barriers Rehabilitation group, Mercury Labs, Inc., Muskegon Surgical Associates, New Wave Prosthetics, Proteor USA, Spectrum Health Inpatient Rehabilitation Center and Summit Labs LLC.

“We want people who are experiencing limb loss or limb difference to know they are not alone,” Nikki Stoner, Hanger Clinic care coordinator, said in supplied material. “There is a community here to welcome them and support them through their journey. This event gives us an opportunity to raise awareness and connect those experiencing limb loss and limb difference with resources and others in the community.”

Hanger Clinic, a local prosthetic and orthotic patient care provider, will also feature a memorial activity for Winter, the dolphin with a prosthetic tail who made her movie debut in “Dolphin Tale” on Sept. 23, 2011. Winter lost her tail after it became entangled in a crab trap in 2005.

In 2006, Kevin Carroll, an expert prosthetist and vice president of prosthetics at Hanger Clinic, fit Winter with a prosthetic tail that allowed her to swim again.

Winter died in November 2021 following an intestinal abnormality. This year’s event will feature a card-making station to celebrate the dolphin’s life. The cards will be sent to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida where an ongoing memorial is offered to honor her legacy.

Female veterans, facing often unfair conditions on duty and at home, have local advocates, support

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  • Veteran Jurgen Nitzsche produced this work as part of veterans art project which led to the Yellow Ribbon ArtPrize entry. (Supplied/Pamela Alderman)
  • Zaneta Adams, Director of the MVAA, Judge Rosemarie Aqualina, and two attendees of Kent County Veterans Services’ 2021 Banquet for Female Veterans. (Supplied)
  • An attendee making art at one of Kent County Veterans Services’ women veterans events. (Supplied)
  • Colorful art and colorful veteran at one of Kent County Veterans Services’ women veterans events. (Supplied)
  • Local female veterans at a “female only” retreat early this year. (KC Veterans Services)

By D.A. Reed, WKTV Contributing Writer

Fair treatment for women serving on American military active duty, and as veterans, has been battle fought for decades — often with unsatisfactory results.

And while many local female veterans continue to fight against unfair treatment — including local veteran and advocate Theresa Robinson — several Kent County organizations and individuals strive to help female veterans and their families receive the acknowledgement and support they deserve.

Devoted specifically to supporting “all” veterans, Kent County Veterans Services (KCVS) has served the veterans of Kent County since 2008, connecting them with resources in the community as well as providing them with assistance in obtaining benefits they are entitled to from all levels of government.

And, in recent years, KCVS has focused heavily on female veterans and their needs.

“Our continued emphasis is going to be on making female veterans feel comfortable and welcome and helping them to recognize that they may be eligible for benefits, which is the primary part of what we do,” Martha Burkett, manager of KCVS, said to WKTV. “A lot of them don’t even know they have them.”

Burkett continued by saying that applying to the federal government for their benefits is often harder than the government claims. “It’s not easy to do the application process or follow it through. If they can deny you, they will deny you.”

Requests can be kicked back if forms are not filled out properly, for not providing adequate documentation, or not using the right words.

“That’s why the services we offer through our office are so important,” Burkett said. “The Veterans Services officers know all of that. They are trained and certified to do that work. We can do that for veterans on their behalf and make the process a lot smoother and easier for them.”

KCVS has been striving to expand their services to female veterans, not only assisting with benefits but providing help and engagement opportunities for veterans in different ways.

A semi-formal banquet in July celebrates female veterans annually, while a year-round wellness program offers yoga classes, art therapy, and various other opportunities for women.

Equine assisted therapy retreats with programing specifically for female veterans has also been made available since 2019. KCVS has also used grant money to facilitate a recreation program that includes kayaking, hiking, and other activities specifically for women.

For some, working to support veterans — all veterans — is personal.

  • Theresa Robinson at Kent County airport with other veterans welcoming home active duty military members. (Supplied)
  • Theresa Robinson, at Kent County Airport, arriving home from boot camp. (Supplied)
  • A veteran married to a veteran, Theresa and George Robinson. (Supplied)
  • Theresa Robinson, left, is active in many veterans organizations and efforts. (Supplied)
  • Theresa Robinson — veteran, veterans advocate, local businesswoman. (Supplied)

Individual issues but often common cause

Theresa Robinson, veteran, veteran advocate, and current realtor for 616 Realty, served her country in the U.S. Navy as a personnel specialist from 1974 through 1976, and has remained active in the efforts to bring fair treatment and recognition to women serving on active duty and to female veterans.

Robinson told WKTV she personally experienced the hardship of obtaining benefits, having a claim rejected and being told by other veterans that for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), “This is normal procedure … You just have to keep going back.”

“It’s sad because … any veteran deserves that care and earned that care,” Robinson said. “It should not be so hard.”

KCVS is also only one of many resources available to female veterans, Robinson pointed out, citing groups such as the American Legion, the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard, and the United Veterans Council of Kent County as great avenues for helping veterans and their families.

Robinson has served in all three organizations as a way to continue her service to other veterans and the country she loves.

“As a Vietnam Era veteran, I saw the treatment of veteran and active duty during that time in history and it motivated me to want to make a difference in how veterans are perceived to the public,” Robinson said. “Female veterans need to know if they go to the VA for health reasons, be it mental or physical heath, they can count on the VA being equipped to handle females and their needs.

“And female veterans need to know they are not alone … others that have served have experienced many of the same things they did and are there (to support) each other.”

Burkett also believes female veterans need to know there is support out there for them.

“Women have always been less likely to come forward,” Burkett said.

From fear of their careers being derailed if they speak up, to diving back into their civilian roles of mother and wife, to not realizing their problems could be combat-related, women have often kept silent.

“No matter the arena, women are less likely to present for treatment than men,” Burkett said.

Historic issues still present

Over the years, seeing so little change for women who serve is frustrating for Robinson.

“I should not be hearing from anyone 48 years after I served that behaviors unbecoming a military active member are still happening today,” Robinson said. “We and the military are better than this.”

To see that change happen, however, Robinson believes the community must get involved.

“It’s not only veterans that have to ask the VA and our government to be accountable to veterans. The general public needs to do that too,” she said. “The general public needs to tell their government officials that we belong — as human beings, as citizens of the United States of America.”

Robinson also thinks that despite changes, the VA system still needs improvement — “There has got to be a better system for reviewing claims when they come in.”

Most of all, it is important to Robinson that female veterans are “seen, recognized, and appreciated.” And that male and female veterans will be recognized as one group.

“I long for the day when I can speak on and about veterans,” Robinson said, “and not have to differentiate when speaking, female or male veteran.”

Some other groups support female veterans

Robinson speaks highly of the women veteran’s outreach campaign, She Is a Veteran.

“She Is a Veteran is all about empowering female veterans,” Robinson said. “We want female veterans to know they can make a difference in government, in real estate, in teaching, in their everyday lives.”

Women can also learn about advocacy for themselves and their community by attending the Michigan Women Veterans Conference in Lansing, scheduled for June 10-11, sponsored by the Michigan Women Veterans Coalition. Michigan Women Veterans Conference questions can be directed to Erika Hoover, Women Veterans and Special Populations Coordinator, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, 517-230-6090, HooverE2@michigan.gov.

Other resources and events for female veterans include:

“Woman Veteran Strong”

Theresa Robinson, Veteran and Advocate

Virtual Art Workshop with ArtPrize Artist Pamela Alderman

KCVS Events Calendar

Suzanne Ramljak, UM grad with Guggenheim experience, joins Meijer Gardens as chief curator

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Susanne Ramljak, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Chief Curator. (Supplied)

By WKTV Staff

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has appointed a new Chief Curator: Suzanne Ramljak, “a seasoned curator and art historian,” and a graduate of University of Michigan who has worked at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the institution announced Tuesday, March 29.

Ramljak, who started work March 28, will oversee Meijer Gardens’ expanding exhibition programing and acquisitions for the permanent collection. She joins an art team at the Gardens which includes Laurene Grunwald, Director of Sculpture, Art Collections, Exhibitions. Jochen Wierich, Assistant Curator and Researcher, has resigned his position as of the end of April, according to Meijer Gardens.
 

“In this newly created position, she (Ramljak) will lead our efforts to acquire and site sculpture and to curate engaging sculpture exhibitions,” David Hooker, Meijer Gardens President & CEO, said in supplied material. “Ramljak is ideally suited to help us realize Fred Meijer’s desire to create a world-class sculpture program. In addition, in this role she will serve as an officer of the institution.”

Ramljak comes to Meijer Gardens from the American Federation of Arts in New York City, where as curator for 10 years she organized numerous traveling museum exhibitions. Her own exhibition projects have centered on modern and contemporary sculpture, including “Natural Wonders: The Sublime in Contemporary Art”, “Case Studies: Art in a Valise” and the forthcoming “Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld.”

Ramljak has also worked in the curatorial departments of the Guggenheim, as well as the Detroit Institute of Arts and University of Michigan Museum of Art.

“I am delighted to join the outstanding team at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park to advance the mission of inspiring appreciation of sculpture and the natural environment,” Ramljak said in supplied material. “It is my fortune to be arriving during a time of impressive growth at Meijer Gardens and at a moment in our culture when the bracing forces of art and nature are more essential than ever.”

Meijer Gardens recently underwent a major $115 million expansion project that adds new major architectural features and renovations to current facilities.

A Michigan native, Ramljak earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in art history from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she also served as arts writer for the Ann Arbor News, according to the Meijer Gardens announcement. Ramljak pursued doctoral work and earned a Master of Philosophy in art history from the Graduate School, City University of New York, with dissertation research on the Venus de Milo in 20th-century art.

Along with her broad curatorial background, Ramljak has extensive publishing and writing experience. She was editor of Sculpture magazine for five years and held the editorship of Glass Quarterly and Metalsmith magazines. Ramljak has published widely on contemporary art.

Her writing on sculpture includes monographic essays on artists Louise Bourgeois, Michele Oka Doner, John Grade and Beverly Penn, among others. She has authored several books including “On Body and Soul: Contemporary Armor to Amulets” and, most recently, “Loaded: Guns in Contemporary Art”.

West Michigan native, Kentwood favorite, singer/songwriter to perform in Kentwood’s final Winter series concert March 31

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Nicholas James Thomasma will bring his VW van full of music to Kentwood’s Winter Concert Series this week. (He won’t actually bring the van into the library!) (Supplied)

By D.A. Reed, WKTV Contributing Writer

Singer-songwriter Nicholas James Thomasma, no stronger to the stage of Kentwood city concerts, will bring his family-friendly mix of Americana, folk, country, and rock music to the final Winter Concert Series show this week.

The City of Kentwood’s free-to-the-public concert is set for Thursday, Mar. 31, at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE.

The songwriter, talking to WKTV, said he plans to combine stories and songs, creating an atmosphere that can be enjoyed by all ages.

“What we do, as musicians … everything centers around gathering people together for experiences,” Thomasma said. “My music is applicable to, and can appeal to, all ages.”

The concert will take place in the library’s Community Room, from 6:30-8 p.m., and guests are invited to bring their own beer, wine, or nonalcoholic beverages to enjoy during the show. Also available will be food from El Jalapeño, a local food truck featuring Mexican cuisine.

Though the singer frequently plays with a 6-piece band, The Bandwagon, Thomasma will be performing as a solo artist at the Kentwood show, incorporating acoustic guitar and harmonica into his performance, often playing both instruments at the same time.

Nicholas James Thomasma with his big band, Bandwagon. (Supplied)

A singer/songwriter’s journey

Thomasma’s journey into the music world began when the artist was in his twenties. Working as a radio DJ, Thomasma’s conversations with other musicians led him to the realization that he was on “the wrong side of the board.”

“What I really wanted to do was play music,” said Thomasma. “I started learning guitar. Almost as soon as I started learning how to play guitar, I started writing my own songs.”

When asked what inspires the songwriter and shapes his music, Thomasma said that he never forces his songs into a particular category.

“When I write songs, I try to treat them how they want to be treated,” he said. “Sometimes it’s a jazz song, sometimes it’s a folk song, sometimes it’s a country song, sometimes it’s a rock song. I just let that happen depending on what the song wants to be.”

Nicholas James Thomasma (Supplied)

Thomasma said he often jokes around at his shows that “This next song is a love song. Spoiler alert: they’re all love songs!”

Because of the emotions put into his work, Thomasma said there is a lot of love in all his songs.

“I’m writing songs from my heart, and whether they are love songs or not, they are often inspired by my real life.”

Keeping busy in unusual ways

Always looking for paying gig, Thomasma said he also creates custom songs upon request. And while he has written songs for various occasions, he said weddings are the most popular request.

“People will contact me shortly after they get engaged and say they want a song for their wedding,” Thomasma said, and that these songs create special moments that no one else has. “Other people can listen to it (the song), but the couple knows it is their song.”

Another unique service Thomasma offers music lovers and listeners are driveway concerts.

Nicholas James Thomasma, and his traveling VW van show. (Supplied)

“Driveway concerts are a pandemic pivot,” said Thomasma. “I’ve been playing house concerts as long as I’ve been performing, but during the pandemic we kind of switched to taking the house out of the equation.”

Thomasma said he doesn’t need a building to make music, traveling to outside venues and homes in his trademark orange 1973 Volkswagen Bus.

“I’ll pull up in your driveway, I’ll have the sound system, you invite your friends and your neighbors, and we’ll all sit in your front yard and have a good time,” said Thomasma, adding that the idea of driveway concerts has really taken off.

Finding various ways for community members to enjoy music isn’t the only way Thomasma honors his love of music. Future goals include helping other musicians find their footing in the music world as well.

Thomasma is currently enrolled in Grand Rapids Community College, working toward a degree in marketing.

“My goal is to help other artists survive similar to the way that I do,” he said. “I want to understand business and how the music business works so well that I can teach other artists how I do what I do in the hopes that they then can be successful on their own.”

To find out more about Thomasma and his music, visit nicholasjamesthomasma.com.

The public at Kentwood concerts are urged to follow current public health guidelines if attending the concert.