The City of Kentwood will host “Kentwood Remembers MLK – Our Community Comes Together” to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 18. The celebration will take place at the KDL Kentwood Branch Library at 4950 Breton Rd SE.
The first-time event, which runs from 10:00am – 11:00am, was only an idea two years ago and will kick off with a welcome from Jessica Ann Tyson, Event Visionary, and Kentwood Resident/Kentwood Business Owner.
“We wanted to focus on making the event authentic to our community, to Kentwood,” said Tyson in an interview with Wyoming/Kentwood NOW. “There are numerous other celebrations in other communities, but ours needed to be authentic. I love that our event is for everyone and not just people of color.”
The event will feature Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech as well as a number of essays and artwork from Kentwood ARCH students that highlight what MLK means to them.
Following Dr. King’s speech, Mayor Stephen Kepley will deliver a mission moment and proclamation. “It is said where there is no vision, the people perish,” explained Kepley. “Passionate and honorable visions, goals, and dreams empower people to live their lives that benefit all. The City of Kentwood is honoring one of those persons, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who passionately declared his vision with the inner-personal courage to defend his dreams that have forever influenced our values so all may live in peace and unity.”
“Kentwood Remembers MLK” is sponsored by a number of Kentwood businesses, with all proceeds raised to benefit the ARCH after school program. The ARCH program focuses on low-income families, families of color, special education students, and English language learners.
“Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that still lives on today. As the community of Kentwood comes together to remember his legacy, I can only pray that each citizen takes to heart what this day truly symbolizes; peace, hope, and a chance for everyone to live together in unity,” said Tyson. “It’s idealistic, but why not strive for it?”
Wyoming/Kentwood NOW and WKTV will provide coverage of the inaugural event!
The Wyoming 62A District Court received high satisfaction marks from the community in a survey administered by the Michigan Supreme Court and the State Court Administrative Office.
Every year, an annual satisfaction survey is given to courts throughout the state that asks court users questions about their levels of satisfaction. These surveys allow courts to see how their services are received and allow them to identify strengths, areas of improvement, and provide positive feedback to employees.
“Public input is vitally important because court users can help us make critical management decisions to improve the efficiency of court operations,” said District Court Administrator Chris Kittmann. “Public satisfaction is a critical measure of the success of court operations. Our court employees continuously strive to provide respectful and courteous service to the public.”
Across the board, 62A District Court in Wyoming received positive feedback from their court users. Not only were court users pleased with the accessible, timely, and fair service they received, but 67 percent said they received a favorable outcome in their case!
Here are some other numbers from the survey:
• 96 percent of court users said they were treated with courtesy and respect by court staff.
• 90 percent of court users said the judge or magistrate treated everyone with courtesy and respect.
• 94 percent of court users were able to get their business done in a reasonable amount of time.
The public satisfaction survey is part of a statewide initiative of the Michigan Supreme Court and the State Court Administrative Office to measure and report on court performance. The survey was developed with input from both judges and court administrators statewide.
With the start of a New Year comes resolutions and a promise of a brighter tomorrow. For those who lost a job or are looking for a different career path, a job fair can be a beacon of hope in the dense fog of uncertainty. Thanks to Kentwood Community Church and West Michigan Works!, there’s a bright, shining beacon every month right here in Wyoming, Michigan.
The Community Job Fair is held monthly at the Wyoming Campus of Kentwood Community Church. The event brings in 40 businesses looking to fill over 1,000 immediate openings! 2015 marked the first full calendar year of the event, and the results were eye-popping.
The shakers behind the KCC Job Fair: From left, Kristina Herron, Community Engagement Coordinator, Pastor Rich Avery and Jayne Lindblom with Michigan Works!
“Last year we hosted 161 local employers and over 1,800 job seekers,” explains Community Engagement Coordinator, Kristina Herron.
While those numbers are impressive in year one, there’s reason to believe they can go even higher… much higher.
“We’re hoping to double our number of job seekers,” adds Herron. “We just started advertising and putting out promos towards the end of last year. We ran our first ad in October and saw immediate feedback. We’re to the point where employers have to pay to attend and we have a wait list! I don’t think it’s a stretch to double our attendance.”
That type of growth is impressive, and it’s a testament to the work Kentwood Community Church and West Michigan Works! have put in.
The job fair is free for all job seekers regardless of age or experience level.
While no longer free for employers, it’s an inviting atmosphere that works in their best interest. Employers are offered coffee, a comfortable sized booth, and a bevy of potential employees all in one place. One employer was encouraged by their peers to join the Community Job Fair because “it’s the best in the area!”
There’s a reason a wait list exists.
“Back in June, we accidentally overbooked and had 50 employers,” recounts Herron. “I think that was the moment I realized ’This is big time, it’s here to stay.’”
It’s important for any job fair to get both employers and potential employees into the door, but what makes a job fair have staying power is its ability to create jobs. At the Community Job Fair, job seekers must come prepared to find a new job. Several employers have interviewed and hired right on the spot!
With all the success in 2015, not only is the job fair here to stay, but it’s future is brighter than ever. Make sure to stop by.
Who: Kentwood Community Church & West Michigan Works! What: Community Job Fair When: January 13 from 9:00am – 12:00pm Where: Wyoming Campus of Kentwood Community Church, 2950 Clyde Park Ave SW, Wyoming, Michigan 49509 Why: To find a job and build a new future!
It took awhile, but Michigan finally decided it was time to let winter out of the basement and into the living room. With winter comes a barrage of snow that accumulates because of our trusted old friend Lake Michigan and its gift of ‘lake effect’ weather.
With snow comes the need to keep our roads and sidewalks plowed in order to keep citizen traffic flowing smoothly. A snow shoveled sidewalk keeps citizens walking on the sidewalks and off of the roads. It’s going to be a team effort to keep the sidewalks snow free this winter.
In the City of Wyoming, the City has a contractor hired to keep the sidewalks cleared. However, if there aren’t at least two inches of snowfall by 10 p.m., the contractor has to wait until the morning to start clearing. During that time the snow can get packed down, making it difficult to clear.
While the City does hire a service to clear the roads and sidewalks, it’s also up to the citizens and the business owners to do their part to keep the sidewalks cleared! Even if you don’t use the sidewalks, your neighbors might, and it’s your responsibility to make sure your portion of the sidewalk is snow free!
Take pride in your sidewalk and help make the City of Wyoming a safer place this winter.
It is behind this north wall, an exact replica appearing here from the exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, where researchers have discovered the hidden chamber. Could the royal tomb of Queen Nefertiti be behind this wall?
By Tom Norton
With the exhibit of the Treasures of King Tutankhamen winding down in less than a month at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the latest news out of Egypt creates a new reason for revisiting, or catching the exhibit for the first time, what is likely one of the greatest exhibits ever to come to West Michigan.
3,300 years ago King Tutankhamen was laid to rest in what researchers now believe was a hastily constructed or modified tomb. Since its discovery in 1922, one nagging question remained unanswered; why was his burial tomb not fitting that of a ruling pharaoh?
Scores of reasons were supplied; the tumultuous period in Egyptian history when Tut lived and ruled was the most obvious. His father, the heretical pharaoh Akhenaton had recently been deposed and the 11-year-old Tutankhamen placed on the throne. DNA evidence today shows he was a sickly teen who died at the age of 19, but beyond all that there were tantalizing items in the tomb that didn’t add up. A number of the treasures didn’t appear to have ever been owned by the boy king. Treasures where the text has been erased altogether or altered to reflect the new “ownership” of Tut.
Now in 2016, the news coming out of Egypt could be as thrilling as it was in 1922 when the most famous Egyptian tomb ever was discovered.
The Egyptian government has now announced that it has a 90% certainty that there is a hidden chamber behind the north wall of Tut’s tomb. Far from being a storage room, researchers and Egyptologists believe the north wall of Tut’s burial chamber may have been built and painted over to conceal the entrance to the tomb of the fabled Queen Nefertiti, possibly an aunt of the boy king.
The north wall of the burial chamber shows the young King in the afterlife and going through the ritual known as the “opening of the mouth.” A ritual performed by the gods as the pharaoh enters the underworld. Strangely, however, some of the figures that were always assumed to be the boy king have certain feminine characteristics. Could these images have been originally been painted for Nefertiti?
If all this is true, the tomb of Tut that we know today would actually be merely the outer rooms to a much larger tomb built for the most famous Queen of Egypt.
The questions surrounding the strange size of Tut’s tomb would also be answered.
The results of the radar scans which discovered the hidden chambers will be announced in the coming few weeks. If an intact royal tomb is found within Tut’s tomb, it would be the most spectacular archaeological discovery of the last 100 years. All the more reason to take in the breathtaking exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum before it leaves at the end of January.
Karsten Creightney, ‘Crossroads’ 2010. Collage, water, acrylic, oil and wax on wood panel. Flint Institute of Arts
By Victoria Mullen
Treat yourself to a visual feast! Common Ground, an amazing exhibition of African American art, is a collaborative effort between the Flint Institute of Arts, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, and the Muskegon Museum of Art. The exhibition showcases the best of each museum’s renowned collections of African American works dating from the 19th century to the present–60 paintings, sculpture, and works on paper that chronicle a cultural history of nearly 200 years.
Five thematic areas—Examining Identities, New Self-Awareness, Towards Abstraction, Gaining Access and Political and Social Expressions—give a broad overview of African American art history from the talent and determination of the earliest artists to internationally acclaimed work by leading contemporary artists.
Charles Henry Alston, ‘Untitled (Couple)’ 1945-50. Oil on canvas. Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Artists represented include Charles White, Elizabeth Catlett, Henry Ossawa Tanner and Jacob Lawrence. Works by Michigan artists are included as well, among them Richard Hunt, Senghor Reid, Hughie Lee-Smith and Charles McGee.
The Muskegon Museum of Art is located at 296 W. Webster Ave., in downtown Muskegon. Hours are Sunday 12-5pm, Tuesday through Saturday 11am-5pm, Thursday 11am-8pm, closed Mondays.
General admission: $8 adult, $5 adult student with I.D, free for ages 17 and under and for MMA members. Free admission Thursdays, from 4pm to 8pm only, compliments of Meijer. More visitor information may be found here.
Another year has come and gone. Here at Wyoming-Kentwood NOW, we take a look back at the year that was with some of our favorite, and most memorable, stories from here in Wyoming.
After almost 15 years on the job, former Wyoming Deputy City Manager Barbara Van Duren retired. Her retirement was celebrated at the Wyoming Public Library to make room for all the people in attendance! 28th West, the re-development of 28th street, was a project close to Barbara’s heart. In the words of Barbara Van Duren, “28th streets needs a facelift.”
One Wyoming 1 on 1 offers mentors the opportunity to make a difference in children’s lives. Not only that, but the children will make just as big–if not bigger–of an impact on you! Deb Havens shares her story on mentoring Amber and the bond they’ve created.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety recognized their top employees. Among those honored was Jason Caster for Officer of the year, Brian Illbrink as Firefighter of the Year, Terra Wesseldyk as Civilian of the Year, and Lt. Kirt Zuiderveen received the Chief’s Award of Professional Excellence.
March is a special time for basketball lovers of all ages! The MHSAA playoffs kicked into full gear with multiple schools from the Wyoming area vying for a State Championship.
Harriet Sturim, a proud Wyoming homeowner since 1977, highlights some new and positive building in the city. From the new Veterans Clinic in Metro Village to the new businesses on 28th and 36th street, the City of Wyoming is continuing the city’s growth of vision and progress.
Wyoming’s, and most like Kent County’s, oldest home was put up for sale in 2015. For the first time in 179 years, the ‘Rogers Mansion’ was put on the market for someone outside the Rogers family. The house comes with the original skeleton key to unlock the front door. History is all around us.
General Motors used 2015 to invest in their Burton location with capital and full-time job opportunities. $119 million and 300 jobs were announced in June and another $43 million 55 new jobs were announced later in December! A reinvestment in West Michigan manufacturing is sometime to get excited about.
Wyoming continues to add new businesses to the area. Three new businesses found a home at the corner of Clyde Park and 44th Street. A four-story WoodSpring Hotel, a Fox Powersports, and a J&H Mobil Station with a Tim Horton’s right next-door broke in the dirt.
The Pinery Park Little League was in troubled water as they risked losing their contract to the fields at Pinery Park with the Wyoming City Council due to a lack of transparency and losing their 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. Fortunately, the league was able to get it together but will need to run more efficiently going forward.
Wyoming Public Schools found themselves on the winning side after election day with the passing of a sinking fund to help the school. The sinking fund works a little differently from a bond issue and will end up raising over $400,000 per year with little, if any, increase to Wyoming tax payers.
The Great Candy Cane Hunt had another successful season with Santa being delivered by the fire department and then leading the children on a candy cane hunt throughout Pinery Park. The event continued at the Wyoming Senior Center with “life-size” jenga and connect four that families could enjoy!
WKTV is home to Wyoming-Kentwood NOW. Sharing the stories in your community!
Every year stories are written and consumed by the masses, but here at Wyoming-Kentwood NOW we focus on the hyperlocal. More specifically, we focus on YOU and YOUR community.
As we say goodbye to 2015 and get ready to say hello to 2016, let’s take a quick look back at our ten most popular stories from the past year:
Don’t forget to make now.wktv.org a part of your daily routine, and if your interested in writing about the stories that surround you, we know just the people to talk to! Email us at news@wktv.org.
Long before the advent of written language, storytellers used the spoken word to preserve a record of past experiences from one generation to the next. Oral history was transmitted in song or speech and took on many forms: chants, folktales, ballads, sayings, or songs–knowledge shared without a writing system. This was especially key where people of a society were denied access to education or were afraid to leave a written record of their knowledge.
It is the rich, local history that Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives (GRAAMA) now seeks to preserve by interviewing the elders of a bygone era–the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s. It doesn’t really seem that long ago, but once the keepers of the stories are gone, the histories will be lost forever.
The new organization has recently launched a multimedia project called ‘Grandma’s Voice.’ Made possible in part by a $25,000 grant from The Michigan Humanities Council through funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the acronym is a play on the word, ‘Grandma,’ which conveys the museum’s core mission: to document the oral history from some of the area’s oldest living people–particularly women–who can offer insight into their long-ago experiences. Some people are 80 to 100 years old, so time is of the essence.
GRAAMA has teamed up with the Grand Rapids Urban League and the Kutsche Office of Local History at Grand Valley State University. The organization is looking for elderly folks who can tell the story of early Grand Rapids or the surrounding area.
You don’t have to be a grandma to share your stories. GRAAMA encourages families and individuals to inspire others by sharing skills, experiences, and knowledge with other creative minds. Call the elders of your family, and then email george@graama.org. The organization says that those who are interviewed will receive a small stipend. The finished audio/video disk will be the main attraction at Museum once it opens in 2016.
The holidays are a time of shopping for family and friends, but have you ever thought of shopping for a cause?
The War Chest Boutique, located in the Women At Risk, International headquarters at 2790 44th Street in Wyoming, offers an opportunity to do just that. The elegant and spacious storefront displays items produced or supported by women who have escaped sexual slavery or other at-risk situations such as domestic violence, substance abuse, and exploitation. The products include spa items, scarves, cards, bags, and beautiful jewelry made from items unique to their country of origin such as pearls, gems, paper, and nuts.
From its humble beginnings in the kitchen of founder and president, Rebecca McDonald, Women at Risk, International, or WAR Int’L, now has safe houses in 40 countries. These safe houses and related programs work to rescue women and children from the ravages of human trafficking and bring them to a place where they can enjoy job training, education, counseling, therapy, and mentoring. Stephanie Cozzolino, Retail District Manager, shared that recently the organization achieved a grant allowing WAR Int’L to increase the size of their program. Cozzolino asserts their excitement that lives can be restored and dignity reclaimed.
You may be thinking that WAR Int’L is a noble cause to help these women and children in foreign lands, but that human trafficking doesn’t have an effect on your life. Unfortunately, sexual exploitation not only exists overseas but indeed is thriving underground in small towns across America; Yes, even towns like Wyoming, Kentwood, and Grandville.
An estimated 2,400 children are living in slavery, exploited, or sold in West Michigan, according to the U. S. Department of State.
According to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Michigan ranks 13th in the country for the number of sex trafficking victims.
You may remember the recent news headlines when WCSG radio personality, John Balyo, was arrested and convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for arranging sexual encounters with minors. Internet child pornography is an ever-growing industry in our country. According to the FBI, “The new slavery…human trafficking, is the fastest growing segment of organized crime.”
“There is a misconception that all traffickers are men,” states Cozzolino. “It is surprising that women play a growing role in the trafficking and prostitution business.”
Large public events such as the Superbowl have become the largest incidents for human trafficking in the United States. Likewise, Cozzolino states local Grand Rapids events such as Art Prize have drawn similar crime. Many from out-of-town use internet sources like Backpage to obtain children and women for illicit purposes. War Int’L closely monitors these events, participating with groups like the S.O.A.P. project to offer rescue and assistance to those in need.
The S.O.A.P. project works to place bars of soap in hotel bathrooms (many times the only time the victim is away from her captor) with the number for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center imprinted on the wrapper. Aside from large events, intervention and assistance is also offered at bars, strip clubs, and red light districts within the city.
Traffickers are very adept at luring vulnerable teens with flattery, gifts, or the promise of love or riches before drugging them and selling their bodies to the highest bidders. Those victims who are able to escape are left with nothing but scars, both emotional and physical. That is where WAR Int’L comes in. Rescued and at-risk women can come to the WAR Int’L headquarters for protection and assistance. Safe houses offer “safe places to turn crisis into hope, where women can be rescued, restored, and empowered to walk with dignity.”
How can you help? Shop! That’s right, it’s as easy as visiting the War Chest Boutique in Wyoming (or its counterparts in Rockford, MI and Napierville, IL) and picking out an item, made with love by a woman who has overcome darkness and is on the path to independence. One hundred percent of the money from the product made by these women returns to them and their programs. Staff at WAR Int’L are compensated through donations.
Looking forward to the spring, Cozzolino explained that the current Winter Wonderland theme in the anteroom will be transformed into a café, staffed with baristas to make and serve fresh coffee and treats. Please take the time to stop in for a break and peruse the gorgeous products being sold in the name of love.
While donations are always appreciated, you can also host a War Chest party at your home, church, office, or at the War Chest Boutique. Please go to www.Warinternational.org for more information.
Kathy is a long-time employee with Spectrum Health. She has been married for 28 years to her wonderful husband, Duke. Together they have 2 children, Emily and Daniel. In her free time she enjoys volunteering with the Casting Bread Mobile Food Pantry at Kentwood Christian Church, making sandwiches at Kids Food Basket, and leading Ladies Bible Study on Thursday nights. Writing has been her passion since elementary school and she loves to write about how others enjoy what they are passionate about!
The renowned Moscow Festival Ballet company brings two of the most romantic Russian ballets to the stage. Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare’s classic tale of young star-crossed lovers, featuring the music of Tchaikovsky and the choreography of Marius Petipa (11 March 1818 – 14 July 1910), the French ballet dancer, teacher and choreographer, who is considered to be the most influential ballet master and choreographer in ballet history.
The evening also includes selections from another timeless classic, the fairy tale The Sleeping Beauty, also set to music by Tchaikovsky. Both performances feature exquisite costumes and lush scenery in the grand ballet style.
Founded by legendary dancer Sergei Radchenko, this acclaimed company features leading dancers from across Russia.
See it Friday, January 8, 8-10 pm at the Catherine Herrick Cobb Great Hall, Wharton Center for Performing Arts, 750 E. Shaw Ln., East Lansing, MI 48824. Email whartoncenter@gmail.com for more information or call 517.353.1982. Visit the website here.
On Saturday, December 19, children near the Godfrey-Lee school district right here in Wyoming, MI received a surprise gift sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. Thanks to the 11th annual Elves & More West Michigan project, 1,800 kids went home as brand-new bike owners.
Each year, organizers of Elves & More decide on an area of need in West Michigan, and bring Christmas joy to families by giving away bikes to kids age 3-16. The location is kept secret until the morning of the giveaway, and then the message is released in a hurry! Families in the Godfrey-Lee area were alerted by a last-minute text through the school district, and the Wyoming police and fire department rolled through neighborhoods announcing the giveaway from their loudspeakers.
This year, 300 volunteers unloaded a bevy of bikes from semi-trucks and set up at Lee Middle and High school off of Havana Avenue.
Elves & More is a non-profit organization devoted to bringing hope to children. They do this by raising funds to purchase, assemble and deliver high-quality bikes and treasure boxes to 1,000 children each holiday season.
In the past 11 years, Elves & More West Michigan has provided 11,800 new bikes and helmets to children in need around Grand Rapids.
Last year, 1,500 bikes were donated in Southeast Grand Rapids.
If you’re looking to get involved for next holiday season, visit Elves & More West Michigan! A donation of $65 buys one lucky child a bike and a helmet. This past year, 13 corporate donors helped provide the 1,800 bikes now tearing up the black top in Godfrey-Lee!
Marshmallow-y, chocolatey Snowman Soup, Tic-tac-toe games packaged in burlap bags, colorful ornaments, glass magnets and other crafty items will fill the stockings of parents and siblings of Gladiola Elementary students, thanks to some business-savvy students.
The school recently was transformed into the “Wolves Warehouse” Christmas marketplace, as students from kindergarten to fourth-grade classes sold items they created to students and parents.
Homemade crafts for sale covered tables at the marketplace
It was a school-wide lesson in economics as well as a way to share holiday cheer, said fourth-grade teacher Mindy Harris. Rather than offer an adult-run holiday gift shop, students learned grade-level concepts of running a business, like producers and consumers, supply and demand and opportunity cost.
“It’s a real-world connection to economics instead of just spending money,” Harris said.
Each class chose an item to make, set the price and created advertising. Donations and teachers covered initial costs, and each class got to choose how to spend its profits.
Harris’ fourth-graders very quickly sold out of the glass magnets they made and peddled for 50 cents each. Student Dion Idrizi was excited.
“It feels good because everyone wants to buy our magnets, and we will get some money and make a profit,” Dion said.
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
Ever wonder why building inspectors are so darn picky? Think building codes are just plain pesky? Common mindsets, to be certain, but rest assured, it’s nothing personal—there are valid reasons why houses, commercial buildings, and entire cities must adhere to strict building, safety, and fire codes.
Why should I give a @#$! about building codes? First, watch your language. Second, there are several reasons why you should give a @#$!. Here are just four:
The house that Nikolai Petrovich Sutyagin built
For the safety of you, your family and your guests.
To reduce potential spread of fire and disease and thus, ensure the economic health of the community.
To conserve energy.
To assure future home purchasers that the home they buy will be safe.
We’re all in this together: Whether in our homes, stores, schools, offices, factories, or places of entertainment, we rely on the safety of structures that surround us in our everyday life. General deterioration, fire, and structure collapse are all potential disasters that modern codes try to prevent.
So, what is a building code? Practically, it is the government’s official statement on building safety. Technically, it is a collection of minimum safety standards arranged in a systematic manner (codified) for easy reference. It includes all aspects of building construction––mechanical, electrical, structural, fire, and plumbing. Source.
What some code violations look like
In addition, the modern building code is legally binding and–believe it or not–it’s a part of the same legal system that protects our constitutional rights.
Every year, new hazards are discovered, or an invention or process is found to prevent a hazard, so building codes are constantly changing. Even if a building complies with the code one year, it may not comply the next. They may be the same from one year to the next, or certain requirements may be intensified or removed completely.
They’re everywhere! They’re everywhere! Today, most of the United States is covered by a network of modern building regulations that encompass fire and structural safety, health, security, and energy conservation.
Architects, engineers, contractors, and others in the building community can utilize the latest technological advances these codes provide and pass on the savings to the consumer. Well, in an ideal world, anyway.
How many code violations can you spot in this photo?
For codes to be effective, everybody has to work together––homeowners, developers, urban planners and designers, and others in the construction industry. Codes correlate with the government’s need to protect the public and also keep pace with rapidly changing technology, without sacrificing due process.
Yeah, yeah. So, how reliable are building codes anyway? Valid question, but there’s no need to be rude. The answer is, they are as reliable as the people who enforce them. Most aspects of building construction–electrical wiring, heating, sanitary facilities–can be hazardous to building occupants and users, and building codes act as safeguards. Although no code can eliminate every single risk, reducing risks to an ‘acceptable’ level does help.
Just think: Without building codes, this guy could have been your neighbor Long, long ago (well, back in 1992), in a land far, far away (Arkhangelsk, Russia, specifically), a man began constructing a 13-story house. Nikolai Petrovich Sutyagin was a builder, so he was familiar with the concept of construction. How familiar is not known, but we can hazard a guess.
Without codes, this could be the house next to yours
Enthused by a tour of wooden houses in Japan and Norway, the eager entrepreneur couldn’t wait to build the world’s tallest house–and, by god, it would be wood! So what if he had no formal plans or a building permit. He was a builder, dammit!
Driven to inspiration by his formative years spent in a Soviet communal flat, Sutyagin felt lonely living by himself. As you read this story, you will realize that it made absolutely no sense for him to feel that way.
Regardless, building began in 1992 and was only supposed to reach two stories high (taller than those of his neighbors to flaunt his position as the city’s richest man), but then he noticed that he had not used enough roof space efficiently enough and decided to keep building. Source.
During a 2007 interview with Adrian Blomfield of U.K.’s The Telegraph, Mr. Sutyagin explained, “First I added three floors but then the house looked ungainly, like a mushroom. So I added another and it still didn’t look right so I kept going. What you see today is a happy accident.” Source.
Happy accident, indeed.
Neighbors considered the building, variously, a:
1. monstrosity
2. glorified barn
3. fire hazard, and
4. an eyesore.
All valid assessments, but we’re not here to judge.
In 1998 Mr. Sutyagin was sentenced to four years in prison, his third jail stint, on racketeering charges. He says he was set up. Source. Well, maybe he was. Again, we’re not here to judge, nor can we afford the room for a commentary on criminal law, specifically RICO.
Not even Archangel Michael (protector of the City of Arkhangelsk) could save Sutyagin’s House from demolition
What’s important to note is that while Mr. Sutyagin was languishing in prison, his magnificent structure fell into disrepair.
Perhaps the house could have accommodated the 18 executives of his own construction company, but the unfortunate builder ended up living with his wife in four poorly heated rooms at the bottom of his structure. Which begs the question: if he was married, why was he so lonely? Limited space prevents a thorough exploration of the psychology of this endeavor.
In 2008, Mr. Sutyagin’s amazing, yet unappreciated house was condemned by the city as a fire hazard. I, too, was surprised to learn that the small town of Arkhangelsk, Russia could be so picky.
After a legal battle, the courts ordered the world’s tallest wooden house to be fully demolished by February 1, 2009. On December 26, 2008, the tower was pulled down. The remainder was dismantled manually during the next several months. The remaining four-story structure burned to the ground on May 6, 2012. Source.
Lest you worry about falling into the same trap that ensnared Mr. Sutyagin, rest assured that Kentwood’s building codes will never allow that to happen. Load off your mind, right?
Building codes are nothing new
Back in Hammurabi’s day, lawyers pulled their own weight
As far back as 1772 BC, the Code of Hammurabi provided harsh punishments for construction failures. What’s so notable here is the accountability placed on the code violator:
229. If a builder build a house for some one [sic], and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built fall in and kill its owner, then that builder shall be put to death. [Emphasis mine.]
230. If it ruin goods, he shall make compensation for all that has been ruined, and inasmuch as he did not construct properly this house which he built and it fell, he shall re-erect the house from his own means. [Emphasis mine.]
233. If a builder build a house for some one, even though he has not yet completed it; if then the walls seem toppling, the builder must make the walls solid from his own means.
Why law school is so expensive
Even the Bible contains building codes. Deuteronomy 22:8 stipulates that parapets (i.e., low protective walls along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony) must be constructed on all houses to prevent people from falling off. Not necessarily because people are stupid (well…), but because gravity is not our friend when it comes to falling from heights.
Still not convinced we need building codes? Here are some preventable disasters that should change your mind.
Great Fire of Chicago: During
The Great Chicago Fire: October 8-10, 1871 The Chicago Fire of 1871, a/k/a Great Chicago Fire, destroyed thousands of buildings and caused an estimated $200 million in damages. Mrs. O’Leary’s cow has gotten a bad rap over the years, but it has never been proven that she kicked over a lantern in the O’Leary barn.
Whatever the cause, the fact remains: One simply cannot build wood houses willy-nilly and too close together and expect things to be just dandy, especially in dry weather.
And so it was that in October 1871, dry weather and way too many wooden buildings, streets and sidewalks made Chicago as flammable as a tinder box and thus vulnerable to fire. Once it began, the fire quickly grew out of control and spread north and east toward the city center.
Three days later when the embers had died down, the final tally was 300 people dead and 100,000 homeless.
Great Fire of Chicago: After
Amazingly, despite the fire’s devastation, much of Chicago’s transportation systems and other infrastructure remained intact. Rebuilding began quickly; architects created a modern city with the world’s first skyscrapers. In the end, the fire spawned unprecedented economic development and population growth, not to mention a plethora of new building codes.
Postscript: In 1997, the Chicago City Council passed a resolution exonerating Mrs. O’Leary, who died in 1895, and also exonerating her cow, whose name has never been revealed, at least not to my knowledge. More than a century late, but that’s bureaucracy for you.
The Iroquois Theater Fire (Chicago): December 30, 1903
Iroquois Theater: Before
The Iroquois Theater in North Chicago opened on November 23, 1903, advertising itself as “Absolutely Fireproof” on its playbills. Fate took that as a dare. Nine years later, Titanic would boast itself as unsinkable, and we all know what happened then. But we’re not here to talk about Titanic.
On December 30, 1903, about 2,000 people packed the Iroquois theater, expecting a lovely afternoon while on holiday from school or taking a respite from daily chores. During a matinée showing of the popular musical Mr. Bluebeard starring Eddie Foy, an arc light shorted out and ignited a muslin curtain. The resulting fire quickly spread to the backdrops, high above the stage, where painted canvas scenery flats hung. Source. It took only 20 minutes for the blaze to kill 602 people in the deadliest single-building fire in U.S. history.
Iroquois Theater: After
A thorough investigation uncovered a great deal of code violations, plus some things that needed to be codified: The theater was not built to sustain fire and many of the fire exit doors in the auditorium were hidden behind curtains and not marked. Source.
Further, the metal doors of the fire exits were equipped with ‘bascule locks‘ that required using a small lever. Europeans would have known how to use them, but Americans had no clue. Most of the lobby doors were locked, and the balcony stairs were blocked by locked gates. The unfinished fire escapes of the six-story tall building prevented many people from escaping alive. Source.
After this fiasco, the fire code was changed to require theater doors to open outwards, to have exits clearly marked and fire curtains made of steel, among other requirements. Source.
Station Nightclub Fire, West Warwick, Rhode Island: February 20, 2003
This is how fast these things can happen: One minute, you’re cheering as Jack Russell’s ‘Great White’ band begins singing “Desert Moon” and the next thing you know, the nightclub erupts in flames after the band sets off illegal pyrotechnics that ignite flammable sound insulation foam in the walls and ceilings around the stage.
In the mother of all ironies, after a stampede within a Chicago bar (what is it with Chicago?) earlier in the week that killed 21 people, a TV cameraman and reporter drove to The Station to do a story about nightclub safety measures. The disaster was caught on tape. Source.
On that cold February night, it didn’t help that nightclub patrons at first thought it was all part of the act. Twenty seconds after the pyrotechnics ended, the band stopped playing and lead vocalist Jack Russell calmly remarked into the microphone, “Wow… that’s not good.”
Aside from this astute observation, there were no automatic sprinklers.
The aftermath
The fire moved so quickly that the club was engulfed in only 5 1/2 minutes. Fire trucks arriving on the scene 4 1/2 minutes after the fire began were already too late. Thick, toxic smoke made visibility impossible and many people died of smoke inhalation. In the mad crush to exit the building, some people were stuck half in and half out of the front doors.
When all was said and done, 100 people were killed by the heat, stampede of people toward the exits and toxic smoke. Another 230 were injured. Only 132 escaped uninjured.
After this fire, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) enacted tough new code provisions for fire sprinklers and crowd management in nightclub-type venues. Source.
What does the future hold?
Time Warp: What would building codes be like in George Jetson’s world?
Hotel fires, factory fires in Bangladesh, nightclub fires, devastating earthquakes… there are far too many instances of preventable modern disasters. You get the idea.
The climate crisis is a game-changer. We can expect to see building codes continue to evolve as climate change becomes an increasing threat. Weather-related safety and environmental impact building codes will become stricter as storms increase in intensity and soil, air, and water quality become more of a public concern.
And, of course, the day-to-day code inspections will help keep us safe from fire, seismic activity, and other disasters. Source.
Looking for some great, last minute, local ideas to share with the people on your “Nice” list this year? If you like waiting until the last second to do your shopping, we can help! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite West Michigan gift ideas below, broken down by category to help make your last second holiday shopping this year a breeze.
Gifts for Foodies
Gift Idea: Spice Merchants offers a Taste of Asia gift box ($29.95), which includes Asian spice blends: Chinese Five Spice, Thai Coconut, Korean BBQ and Teriyaki Ginger. Many other themed sets to choose from are available, including flavored sugars, curry spices, and sea salts. Another great option is a Himalayan Salt Slab (beginning from $29.95), ideal for cooking vegetables, meats, and seafood, or chill to serve sushi, sashimi, fruits cheeses or desserts. Himalayan Salt Slabs enhance the flavor of your food while delivering the benefits of 100% raw salt, and they are a unique and fun way to cook and serve your food.
Gift Idea: Give the gift of Essence this holiday season, with gift cards to Bistro Bella Vita,The Green Well, and Grove: the perfect stocking stuffer for any foodie. For a limited time, you’ll receive a complimentary Essence Cocktail Book when you purchase a gift card in store only. Prefer to shop online? You can also purchase gift cards through their new and improved, user friendly online system! They’ll even deliver it to your special someone on the date you choose. Complimentary cocktail book is only available with in-store purchase.
Gift Idea: Buy a stainless steel ($35) or glass ($5) growler from Slows Bar-B-Q and fill it up with your gift recipient’s favorite beer. Pairs well with some Slows-branded pint glasses ($8) or a gift card!
Gift Idea: Shop online at MiBeer.com for a variety of logoed items from the Michigan Brewers Guild. You’ll find everything from apparel, backpacks, tote bags, drinkware, eyewear, flags, license plates, beach balls, bottle openers, patches, pins, stickers, tin tackers, umbrellas and more. Michigan Brewers Guild Enthusiast Memberships also make great gifts, providing a year of benefits like pre-sale dates for the four official festivals and one hour early admission to each, dollar-off pint options at participating breweries, special brewery tours and an official Enthusiast t-shirt — all for just $55.
Gift Idea: Members of the Grand Rapids Public Museum who purchase or renew their membership now through December 31 will be entered to win one of 4 Family 4-pack tickets to the special opening event for our newest exhibit, The Robot Zoo in March! Tickets will be on sale in February for the event and members will have discounted admission to the event. Members also get into the new exhibit for free, with all our other great perks!
Gift Idea: Visit the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Curiosity Shop for your holiday shopping! The shop offers a variety of unique, toys, trinkets and gifts for both children and adults. Find the perfect gift, that is from Grand Rapids or the Michigan made.
Gift Idea: Treat your gift recipient to a night out at Opera Grand Rapids! Now through December 21st, take advantage of these two special offers: Buy two premium orchestra tickets to Orpheus & Eurydiceor Romeo & Juliet. and get 25% off additional tickets, or a free ticket to Beethoven’s String Quartet #1, Op. 1. Second offer: Buy a $100 gift card and get one half-price ticket to Beethoven’s String Quartet #1, Op. 18. Subscriptions make great gifts too!
Gift Idea: Give the gift of Live Entertainment! Tickets make the perfect Holiday Gift! Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s phenomenal musical success, The Phantom of the Opera, will come to DeVos Performance Hall as part of a brand-new North American Tour. Hailed by critics as “bigger and better than ever before,” this production boasts many exciting special effects including the show’s legendary chandelier, new scenic and lighting designs, new staging and choreography. The beloved story and thrilling score – with songs like Music of the Night, All I Ask Of You and Masquerade – will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this Phantom one of the largest productions now on tour. Don’t miss this two week engagement when it premiers in Grand Rapids May 18-29.
Secretary of State Ruth JohnsonBy Secretary of State Ruth Johnson
(with a little help from Victoria Mullen)
Hey, State workers are people, too, and they deserve holidays off just like the rest of us. So here’s a heads up to take care of any Secretary of State business (i.e., renewing driver’s licenses, ID cards, license plates, etc.) before the holidays. The closures are:
Thursday, Dec. 24, Friday, Dec. 25, and SUPER!Centers will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 26 for Christmas.
Thursday, Dec. 31, Friday, Jan. 1, and SUPER!Centers will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 2 for New Year’s.
(See what we did there? Festive, no?)
You know the drill: The Department of State mails notices to motorists 45 days before their driver’s license or license plates expire to give them ample time to renew. Licenses and plates that expire on a day when state offices are closed, such as a holiday or weekend, can be renewed the following day without penalty.
Most people renewing license plates, driver’s licenses and ID cards can do business online at www.ExpressSOS.com or by mail. Easy-to-follow instructions can be found with the renewal notice. Additional services can be done online, too.
License plate tabs can be renewed at Self-Service Stations, many of which are available around the clock. Visit the Branch Office Locator at www.michigan.gov/SOS to find a Self-Service Station near you.
With the exception of holidays, offices are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Smaller offices may close for the lunch hour. On Wednesdays most offices are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with those in city centers open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PLUS offices and SUPER!Centers are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. SUPER!Centers also provide Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to noon.
College costs and career options being what they are, students heading toward higher education would do well to keep a few basics in mind. After all, even President Obama’s daughter Malia has big decisions to make as she chooses which college to enroll in next fall.
Sure, you should scope out possible scholarships well ahead of time, and make sure to fill out that FAFSA form. But do you know how to study properly so you don’t bomb out of Intro to Western Civilization halfway through first semester?
Those are a few of the thoughts offered by area higher-education officials who agreed to provide School News Network with advice for college-bound students. We asked admissions officers to name three things they wish more students knew about college in order to be better prepared for it.
Following are their responses, on everything from making the most of your campus visits to getting your academics up to snuff. Happy college hunting!
Jodi Chycinski, director of admissions, Grand Valley State University
So often students who do well in high school get to college and find the environment very different from the environment in high school.’ – Jodi Chycinski, GVSU
1. Many colleges and universities provide academic scholarships based on the student’s cumulative high school grade-point average and standardized test scores. Beginning with the student’s freshman year, they should be focused on achieving academically as well as they can to give themselves as many opportunities as possible for college in the future.
2. Successful students in college take advantage of resources available to them. So often students that do well in high school get to college and find the environment very different from the environment in high school. It is really important to use services such as tutoring, writing centers and talking with faculty before you feel like you are struggling!
3. Many freshmen share that they do not know how to study when they get to college. They were able to successfully get through high school, but the demands of college quickly make them aware of their own limitations. High school students should spend some time understanding about their own personal learning style. There are many quick assessments online to help them figure it out. Once they know their learning style, they should begin to adjust their study habits in high school and utilize techniques specific to that style that they can carry into college.
Eric Mullen, associate dean of enrollment management and financial aid, Grand Rapids Community College
‘Many eligible students mistakenly believe they won’t be eligible for financial aid.’ – Eric Mullen, GRCC
1. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)! Too many students don’t. Many eligible students mistakenly believe they won’t be eligible for financial aid because their families make too much money. Big mistake! In 2013, students who didn’t fill out their FAFSA missed out on over $2.9 billion in available Pell grant funds — over $90 million in Michigan alone. In addition, many colleges and universities use FAFSA data to make both merit and need-based awards. Not completing it can mean not being considered for these awards. Need help filling out the form? Just ask the institution you’ve applied to!
2. Is a four-year degree right for all students? Not necessarily. However, having a post-secondary credential is important for all students. Our regional economy requires skilled training and a strong knowledge base. GRCC offers many one- and two-year programs that equip students with the in-demand skills needed to fill great jobs. Also, having a post-high school credential greatly increases your lifelong earning potential and quality of life. Our Career Coach tool can help you explore your options.
3. The basics still matter! No matter what kind of degree or career you want to pursue, being able to read, write and use math will serve you well. Make sure you work with your high school counselor to select classes all the way through your senior year that will help you build this foundation. Need to brush up? A new partnership between Kahn Academy and The College Board provides free SAT preparation and can help boost your academic skills to college-ready levels.
Jessica Simon, coordinator of communications and visitor services, Ferris State University
‘Most importantly, you figure out if a campus feels enough like home to make it yours.’ – Jessica Simon, FSU
1. Ferris does a good job of letting people know that our application is completely free. But we wish students knew just how much other free help is available to them. From tutoring and student groups to counseling and helping you get a job, Ferris and most other institutions offer great resources to help you be successful.
2. You have a lot of choices when figuring out where to go to school, so we always tell students to visit as many of their options as they are able. Ferris offers an admissions presentation, a campus tour and free lunch during our visits, and we also can help schedule a meeting with a program adviser. You get so much out of a campus visit, but most importantly, you figure out if a campus feels enough like home to make it yours.
3. In terms of financial aid and scholarships, we wish parents and students knew to be as proactive as possible. There is a scholarship for just about anything — for example, being left-handed can qualify you for scholarships! Ferris has some great internal academic scholarships, and also has plenty of links to outside scholarship search engines.
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
GM announced today they will be investing another $43.35 million for power train components at the 1600 Burton Street location. The new investment will create 55 new jobs while retaining 15 jobs.
“This investment signifies a commitment to the men and women of Grand Rapids Operations and their dedication to produce precision machined automotive components to support numerous GM product applications used in a variety of Buick, Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac vehicles,” said Grand Rapids Operations Plant Manager Rick Demuynck.
The plant currently employs 530 employees , 400 hourly and 130 salaried.
“This commitment not only reflects confidence in the Grand Rapids team, along with the leadership of the UAW, but also showcases the sense of ownership and pride our employees have in the products they build,” explained Demuynk.
Investing in manufacturing here in West Michigan is a win for the entire community.
Santa waiting to spread Christmas cheer to all the Children ready to hear!
Cars full of kids made their way to the Kentwood Activities Center this past Friday night. It was chilly, but the weather was clear of any wet particles falling from the sky, and everyone was bundled up as needed for a brand new event held by the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department. Instead of the children and their families hustling out of the vehicles and darting towards the activity center, they stayed in the car as the event was brought to them.
How often does Santa take the time to meet with you from the warmth of your own car on a cool December evening? Since we know all about his vehicle of choice (a sleigh) and the horse…er… deer power that pulls it from chimney to chimney, Santa decided to take an interest in the cars of the citizens of Kentwood. The big man greeted all those willing to see him with a HO HO HO!
However, Santa wasn’t the only one eager to meet new people, everyone’s favorite snowman Olaf was there as well. Yes, I would like to build a snowman!
In the end, over 100 kids experienced a new way to interact with Santa. It was one more time for the children to share their Christmas wishes with Santa and also make mention of their yearlong good behavior. No coal for anybody this Christmas![huge_it_slider id=”23″]
Calling West Michigan’s best and brightest producers, directors, actors, writers, and film makers to submit their entries for the 2015 Eclipse Awards.
The Eclipse Awards honors content creators for Excellence in Craft in the disciplines of film, television, video, acting, sound, music and writing. Created by WKTV Community Television and Media as a means of empowering the West Michigan “voice” of content creators, the Eclipse Awards has become the big event for the creative community.
“There really are a large number of content creators here who are either fully established and enjoy the recognition, or who are just starting out and have that spark of genius with a great idea,” said Tom Norton, General Manager of WKTV.
Last year marked a new record with 70 entries for the 4th installment of the awards. This year, the event is expecting around 100 entries
With the West Michigan Film & Video Alliance as the judging sponsor, judges from London, England, Toronto, Canada, New York City and Los Angeles will pour over this year’s entries and select nominees in each category.
“We’re tremendously pleased to be working with the WMFVA,” said Norton. “They really believe in the importance of West Michigan having regional awards recognition to help foster the creative spirit. The democratization of media over the last few decades has really given voice to a much wider array of creativity and WKTV wants to see it grow and expand.”
Entries are being accepted now through March 11, 2016. More information can be found on the website at www.theeclipseaward.com or by calling 616-269.5700. Entries are $35/Adults and $15/High school students.
The nominees will be announces on March 28, 2016. The awards show will be televised live at the City Flats Hotel Ballroom on Thursday, April 28.
It happens every December and January, we take a look back at the year that was and focus our eyes towards what the New Year could bring.
One of the things ready to come out in mass production is the compilation of lists. The top-10 whatever of 2015. While most of these are frivolous and used for click-bait on the internet sometimes the can be fun, funny, and informative. It’s a formula so routine a New Year without them would be a shock to the system.
I find myself skipping over most of these lists to dive deeper into the vast abyss of the internet. A top-10 list only stands to slow me down. However, there is one exception that I always make sure to take a gander at, baby names.
Ever since I read Freakanomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, my mind has a different way of processing a name. While it might seem names can set you up for a future of success, in fact, it’s the opposite, your name says more about where you came from. A name offers a deeper insight into where the parents and their life situation than it says about where the child is going to end up.
If you want more details and specifics, make sure to read Freakanomics, but the basic pattern is this: When a name becomes popular amongst high-income, highly-educated parents, it trickles down the socioeconomic ladder. For example, in 1990 the names Lauren and Madison started out as names used by the upper end of the socioeconomic spectrum. By the new Millennium it was one of the top-10 names overall. Names like Heather and Amber started as a high-end name in 1980 and twenty years later found themselves among the low-end names.
Once a name becomes popular on a national scale, those on the high-end start looking for something new. Eventually it becomes so common that low-end parents start to abandon it as well and go looking for names already broken in by those at the top of the socioeconomic ladder. That’s how names are cycled.
It all revolves around the idea of parents wanting to set their children up for long-term success. If a name is associated with success, it’s more likely to be duplicated.
About those baby lists mentioned at the beginning, on December 10, Spectrum Heath released their annual top-10 baby name list. To date, the Family Birthplace at Butterworth Hospital as delivered over 8,550 babies – more than any other hospital in Michigan.
Where will these names be in 10 years? We’ll have to wait and see.
Some quick observations from 2014 to 2015:
Girls
• Olivia holds onto the top spot for girls
• Elizabeth, Evelyn, and Natalie came in at sixth, seventh, and eighth after not making the list in 2014
• Abigail, Avery, Ella and Nora rounded out the top-10 in 2014 but failed to make the list in 2014
Boys
• Liam bumped up from fourth to first for guys
• Levi surged up to second after not appearing on the list in 2014
• Noah took a tumble from first to seventh while William went from third to unranked
“I can’t wait for my visit to the Secretary of State!” – Said no one, ever.
A visit to the Secretary of State is a mystery and a hassle. It’s impossible to know exactly how long the wait will be or what to expect upon arrival. A trip to renew a drivers’ license was seen as a burden with no sense of convenience… until the Secretary of State introduced MI-TIME back in February of 2014.
The popular “get-in-line-online” service was installed in the 10 busiest offices around the state starting in February 2014. The revolutionary service was added to eight more offices late this summer, boosting the number of users to 2 million. For the first time at Secretary of State offices, customers now can make appointments for transactions.
“Customers love this service because it’s all about convenience,” stated Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. “You can sign up for an appointment online, by phone or from the office, and then go about your business until it’s almost your turn. The feedback has been tremendous.”
About that feedback, one happy customer took to social media to call MI-TIME Line, “The greatest idea, since the bottle opener, is the online wait-in-line function at the @MichSoS. 13 minutes and out the door.”
When you sign into MI-TIME Line, it estimates your wait time, and if you have a phone or texting capability, the system will call or text you when your turn is coming up. You can also ask for more time if you’re not ready to come into the office when alerted.
When a transaction must be made in person, such as first-time license application or a title transfer, you can save time by going to an office that offers the MI-TIME Line service. Customers can get in line online in Genesee, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Macomb, Oakland and Wayne county.
You can find out specific MI-TIME Line locations here. If the service isn’t offered in your area, the Branch Office Locator will show you locations and hours of operation for nearby Secretary of State offices.
This Saturday, December 12, a multitude of children will find themselves waiting patiently at Pinery Park in hopes that Santa will arrive. However, instead of appearing on his sleigh pulled by reindeer, Santa will be coming in hot thanks to the Wyoming Fire Department!
After the spirited arrival, the real fun can begin with Santa leading the children on a Great Candy Cane Hunt throughout the park. Immediately following the hunt, the adventure continues as the group scampers across the street to the Wyoming Senior Center to play board games, color, eat lunch, and sit down with Santa to share their holiday wish list.
This year, the Wyoming Senior Center will have some new “life-size” games for the everyone to enjoy. Enlarged Jenga pieces and giant Connect Four boards are sure to bring some extra magic to an event already beaming with it.
The Great Candy Cane Hunt is a timeless Wyoming tradition and a kick-off to the ensuing Christmas and Holiday seasons.
“I plan a lot of events, but this event is special,” exclaimed City of Wyoming Recreation Programmer Kenny Westrate. Westrate has planned the Great Candy Cane Hunt for the past eleven years. “You get to see the smiling faces of the kids during the hunt and when they see Santa. You get to see families playing board games and enjoying each other. You don’t always see that with other events, but it’s guaranteed every December.”
Come on out to Pinery Park this Saturday for a fun-filled day of laughs, smiles, family, and Santa!
Date: Saturday, December 12 Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Location: Pinery Park for the hunt followed by lunch at the Wyoming Senior Center Age: All ages Cost: Ages 3-14 – $4 Resident, $6 Non-Resident (All others – $2)
Remember, the Great Candy Cane Hunt is outdoors, so dress accordingly!
Technology makes everyday life go faster. Automobiles and airplanes allow us to travel much quicker than horses and boats, the internet keeps us up to date on daily events at the drop of a hat, and cell phones allow communication to flow quickly and effortlessly. The need for speed creeps into all aspects of everyday life, including visiting Santa.
Wait a minute, visiting Santa?
Here comes Drive-Thru Santa Claus, an event put on by the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department. Visitors have the opportunity to drive to the “North Pole” and get a picture taken with Santa from the comfort of their own car! From there you can talk to Santa, take a selfie, and then drive safely out of the lot and on your merry way.
A new tradition bound to make a quick, effortless, and unique Christmas experience.
If the idea of a Drive-Thru Santa piques your interest, make sure to stop by the Kentwood Activities Center from 6-8pm on Friday, December 11. The cost is $3 per car, cash only, and the last car will be admitted at 7:45pm.
Santa takes time out of his busy day to fly his sleigh to your house on Christmas, the least you can do is drive your car to see him. Make sure to bring your selfie stick!
Since the early 1800s, families have hung stockings from the mantel on Christmas Eve in anticipation of a visit from St. Nicholas. As you plan for this year’s holiday season, look to the Mitten State for unique and inexpensive stocking stuffers for everyone in the family.
HER
Dress up any outfit with a handcrafted, Michigan-shaped piece of jewelry from Ferndale-based Glass Action, found at Little Luxuries on Mackinac Island or Posey in Royal Oak. A series of celebrity-inspired nightlights, as well as personalized custom pieces, are also available online.
Pampering never felt so good as with Bizzy Fizz bath and body products, handmade in Macomb. Choose from body scrubs, oils, lotions and lip balms in a variety of shapes, textures, colors and fragrances. Find a selection of options at Celtic Sisters in New Buffalo and the Made in Michigan store at Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls.
Grocer’s Daughter in Empire creates mouth-watering chocolates including truffles, caramels, bonbons, bark, bars and puddles. Vegan and gluten-free options also are available. Shop online or at finer retail outlets around the state including Detroit Mercantile Co. and Food Dance in Kalamazoo.
HIM
Never be left without an opener for your favorite craft beer or soda. The Michigan-shaped bottle openers (both Upper or Lower Peninsula shapes) from Kalamazoo-based Michigan Bottle Opener are so thin they fit in your wallet. Find them online or at Essence on Main in Clarkston and NorthGoods in Petoskey.
Pick up a tin of Beard Balm made with ingredients like beeswax, lanolin, grapeseed oil and eucalyptus oil to help men keep a full beer smooth and fragrant. Developed in Detroit’s revitalized Corktown District, these products are available at Rail & Anchor in Royal Oak or Taylor & Colt in Birmingham, as well as online.
Start a new trend in 2016 by sending handwritten notes on the stylish monogrammed cards from Detroit-based Shinola. The 5.5-by-8.5 cards come in a packet of five with envelopes. Shop online or stop into one of the three locations in southeast Michigan.
THE KIDS
“Good Night Michigan” is a mini-book by Adam Gamble, with illustrations by Anne Rosen. It features notable locales throughout the state, including Sleeping Bear Dunes, Tahquamenon Falls, Detroit, St. Joseph and many others. Find it at bookstores around the state, as well as the gift shop at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.
Keep the kids warm and stylish with a cap from Dearborn-based Carhartt. The girls pink Trapper Hat and boys duck yellow Bubba Hat are sherpa lined and have a hook-and-loop chin strap closure.
Rebuild a tradition with handmade wooden blocks from Uncle Goose in Grand Rapids. You’ll find nostalgic gifts to entertain kids and parents alike, from classic alphabet blocks in dozens of languages to nursery rhyme blocks, as well as pull wagons to canvas bags. Find them at dozens of locations across the state.
FOUR-LEGGED KIDS
Dress up your dog’s appearance with a colorful Michigan Paw Bandana from Pup North. Shop online or stop by My Secret Stash or Suhm-Thing in downtown Traverse City. Then, pop into the D.O.G. Bakery (dogbakeryonline.com) just down the road for a four-pack of mitten-shaped Iced Cherry Chews for your pooch’s snacking enjoyment.
Keep your cat entertained with a catnip toy from Lake Orion-based Fat Pyewacket. The best parts of organic catnip, minus fillers, are stuffed into natural cotton sacks reinforced for hours of kitty play. Pick up these toys at The Pet Beastro in Madison Heights or Pets ‘n Things in Saline.
THE FOODIE
Handcrafted kitchen utensils from Loon Hardwoods in Dorr make the perfect gift for the chef on your list. Select from a cheese slicer, strainer, spatula, recipe box or utensil holder, all made from maple and finished with Tung oil for a beautiful luster. Look for items at Calico Cat in Grand Haven or Old Town General Store in Lansing.
A Michigan-shaped cookie cutter makes for lots of family fun throughout the winter months. Find both the upper and lower peninsulas at stores around the state, including Heart of Michigan in Howell or The Zany Kitchen in Cheboygan or online at puremichiganstore.org.
This article was republished with permission from Dianna at Promote Michigan. We do our best to help with the promotion of the great State of Michigan!
Editors note: Article was reprinted from the winter 2015 issue of Michigan BLUE Magazine.
Oh, boy. Now they’ve done it. The cat’s out of the bag, and what a wild one it is.
Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s first-ever community-wide festival of laughter, has announced its selection of artists performing at the 2016 10-day festival, which runs March 10-20.
The formal announcement for the sixth annual festival is happening this evening at 7:30 pm at the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s Cook Auditorium and is free and open to the public. So, read about it here, and then hie thee down to GRAM and schmooze to your heart’s content.
So, what’s the big deal, you may ask? Well, for starters, last year, 45,000 people attended LaughFest. So, yeah, it’s a huge deal.
This time around, Seth Meyers, an Emmy Award-winning writer and former Saturday Night Live cast member, who currently hosts NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers headlines the Signature Event on March 12 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.
Two-time Emmy and Grammy Award-winning comedian, writer, producer and television personality, Kathy Griffin is also headlining the event. And then there’s Marlon Wayans, an actor, producer, comedian, writer, and film director–who will be starring in the upcoming comedy spoof Fifty Shades of Black.
Could these people be any more multi-talented? OK, stupid question.
Returning LaughFest veterans include Anjelah Johnson, who has guest starred on shows such as The Shield, Ugly Betty and Curb Your Enthusiasm; and Roy Wood Jr. from the hit show Sullivan & Son.
We could just list them all here, but where’s the fun in that when you can go directly to the website and see photos of the funny people. While they are all worth mentioning here, cash is king and anytime we see a cash prize listed, we write about it.
The Best of the Midwest Competition, underwritten by Wolverine Worldwide, will feature eight Midwestern comics battling for a $2,500 cash prize. Competitors are Sydney Adeniyi, Chris Bowers, Kate Brindle, Jim Flannigan, Rob Jenkins, Chris Knutson, Paul Strickland, and Russ Williamson.
New this year, LaughFest is collaborating with DisArt to bring in recent runner up on America’s Got Talent, Drew Lynch. DisArt, a nonprofit arts and culture organization based in Grand Rapids, works to promote community growth by leveraging the best examples of contemporary, Global Disability Arts. Their 2015 DisArt Festival was one of the largest festivals of its kind, bringing in talented visual artists and performers from several different countries.
Additionally, ticket packages will include the LaughFest’s Best shows, which will feature comedians from across the festival, and shows from local comedy troupes Pop Scholars and River City Improv.
LaughFest 2016 will include more than 200 free and ticketed shows featuring over 100 artists at more than 40 venues in Grand Rapids and Lowell, Michigan during the 10 days of the festival. Ticket packages start at $32 and will be available to the public beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4 online or by phone at (616) 735-HAHA (4242).
Tickets for Meyers’ performance during the Signature Event are currently available for purchase.
Hey! Want a table sponsorship? Several are available for $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 for tables of 10. Individual tickets are available for $250 (and $100 of the individual ticket cost is tax deductible).
During LaughFest, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids will again raise funds to support its children’s programs through the “High Five” campaign. Money raised through this campaign will go towards children living with cancer or grief, and for in-school emotional health programs. Want to donate to the “High Five” campaign? Just purchase a button for a $5 donation at participating restaurants and business in West Michigan, or through the LaughFestwebsite.
Individual tickets are priced from $7 to $57.50, excluding the Signature Event. These will be available beginning Friday, Jan. 15, 2016 at the Van Andel Arena Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, LaughFest Central, when it opens in mid-February, through the closing day of LaughFest, and at ticketmaster.com.
Gilda’s LaughFest was created by a team at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids in 2011 to celebrate laughter for the health of it. Past LaughFest headliners have included George Lopez, Wanda Sykes, Billy Gardell, Jay Leno, Lily Tomlin, Mike Birbiglia, Margaret Cho, Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg, Rodney Carrington, Martin Short, Kevin Nealon, Wayne Brady, Joel McHale, Lewis Black and Brian Regan.
Proceeds from the festival will go to support the free cancer, grief and emotional health programs offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Visit laughfestgr.org, or call 616-735-HAHA (4242) to learn more about Gilda’s LaughFest.
About Gilda’s Club Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is a free emotional health support community of children, adults, families and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving the death due to any cause. The organization runs entirely on charitable donations and currently serves more than 10,000 individuals each year at its clubhouses in Grand Rapids and Lowell, Mich., in various schools and community centers. For more information, visit their website.
Imagine, if you will, a singing Christmas tree. That’s right, a 67-foot-tall Christmas tree festooned with 240 young singers stacked from tip to toe. (The remaining 35 singers perform from under the tree.) It’s a strange sight and an unforgettable experience, so you won’t want to miss the Mona Shores Singing Christmas Tree at the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, 425 W. Western Ave., #200, Muskegon, MI 49440, December 3-5.
I have questions, and maybe you do, too, such as: How do the singers stay in place? Do they get vertigo? What happens if one should faint? Are there singers in the back of the tree and, if so, do they mind that no one sees them? And how do the singers get up there anyway? These questions–and more–will not be answered here because Christmas is magic and so are this tree and this choir.
As a consolation prize, here are some quick, fun facts:
The person at the top of the Tree is known as “The Tree Angel” and is always a high school senior, selected by the director. This hard-working choir student exemplifies the spirit of the Mona Shores Choir.
Over 1,500 linear feet of electrical wiring runs throughout the tree to more than 25,000 colored lights, and
over 5,000 linear feet of special greenery imported from Germany is “fluffed” and put on the tree prior to the
decorations.
More than 200 volunteers started working on this year’s production in early October. Many worked around the clock from Sunday morning through Monday evening to prepare for technical rehearsals and get the tree presentable for its annual performance. Now that’s dedication!
The first Singing Christmas Tree ever created happened 50 years ago in Southern California. It was 16 feet
high and held 25 singers. Many communities across the world have Singing Christmas Trees, but none are as
tall as this one.
This is the thirty-first anniversary of the Mona Shores Singing Christmas Tree. There are only three days of performances, so get with the program quickly: Thursday, Dec. 3at 7 pm; Friday, Dec. 4at7 pm; and Saturday, Dec. 5 at 3 pm &7 pm.
Tickets are $15.00 and $10.00 on sale through Star Tickets and the Frauenthal Box Office.
The holidays are supposed to be joyous, but for those who are having trouble making ends meet, the season can be enormously stressful.
If you’re unsure you’ll be able to make your next house payment or if you think you’ll have trouble making future payments, know that you are not alone and that the City of Wyoming is here to help you.
Step one: Contact your lender immediately to see if you can work something out. You may be surprised. True story: During the height of the Great Recession, I was unemployed and having a very hard time with my budget. I asked my bank for help, and they refinanced my mortgage at a much lower interest rate and extended the loan to 40 years. While I can’t promise your lender will do the same, it’s worth looking into. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Step two: Contact the City of Wyoming here for a list of resources that can help.
Here are some of the resources that are available to you:
Home Repair Services offers foreclosure prevention help. They have well-trained foreclosure counselors who can give you valuable information concerning your situation. A foreclosure intake pack can be downloaded here.
Home Repair Services of Kent County
1100 South Division Avenue
Grand Rapids, MI 49507 616.241.2601
Foreclosure Response
This nonprofit group connects Kent County residents with various community resources to help with immediate foreclosure questions as well as information on foreclosure prevention. Their website has easy-to-understand information about foreclosure in Michigan.
Inner City Christian Federation (ICCF)
The Inner City Christian Federation is a nonprofit corporation that believes decent housing is a basic human need and an important building block for families and communities. ICCF provides high-quality, affordable housing and services for those who would not otherwise have this opportunity. For information specific to foreclosure counseling, refer to Housing Resources/Programs.
Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) received money from the federal government in 2010 to develop programs to assist Michigan homeowners with preventing foreclosure. MSHDA developed a website where applications can be taken right online. MSHDA’s program, Step Forward, has three different ways it can assist:
Unemployment Subsidy
If you are receiving unemployment, then MSHDA may be able to pay half of your mortgage payment, up to $750, for one year.
Rescue Fund
If you are delinquent and just need your mortgage brought current so you can resume normal payments, then MSHDA may be able to assist with up to $10,000 towards the delinquency.
Principal Curtailment
If your lender is willing to contribute money to pay down your principal balance so they can do a modification to lower your payment, then MSHDA may be able to match that amount dollar for dollar up to $10,000.
There are more rules and restrictions on these programs than stated above. To get more information, feel free to contact a counselor at Home Repair Services at 616.241.2601 to set up an appointment or go directly to the Step Forward Michigan website to apply.
The Federal Housing Administration also provides many ideas about how to avoid foreclosure, available FHA loans, alternate ways to dispose of your house and other housing issues.
The nation’s largest privately-held baking company is planning on adding to the local job market thanks in part to a grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Hearthside Food Solutions, LLC, est. 2009, specializing in grain-based foods and snacks, announced that due to the generous grant, the company would be able to add as well as train 66 positions to their 3225 32nd Street baking line location. The grant came in order to offset higher energy and operating costs in Michigan, compared to a site they considered in Kentucky.
Based out of Illinois, Hearthside currently employs over 1700 full-time employees in West Michigan, operating four plants, including the 32nd Street location, as well as one on Shaffer Avenue, one on 44th Street, and one on Oak Industrial Drive, off of Michigan St NE. The specific baking line location on 32nd Street was the former Meridian Auto Systems plant before said company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2005.
WKTV reached out for comments from Hearthside, but they could not be reached.
After holding off until deep in November, planet Earth decided it was finally time to switch over to winter and bring down the snow from above. While the temperature drop necessary to bring on a nice snowfall usually keeps people indoors, it didn’t stop dog owners and the City of Kentwood from opening the city’s first dog park!
On Saturday, November 21, Mayor Stephen Kepley lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new dog park located in Kelloggwoods Park at 275 Kellogg Woods Drive. What ensued was doggy heaven as the pups quickly began socializing with their new furry friends in the winter wonderland.
The park has designated off-leash areas for dogs both big and small, dog-waste bins, water spigots and benches.
Dog owners, and citizens of Kentwood, look forward to having a dog park so close to home. Pets are family members too, and watching them play is enjoyable for everyone involved.
Mayor Kepley said it best, “Our dogs can now have just as much fun in the City of Kentwood as the adults do.”
The City of Kentwood will officially have its first dog park this Saturday, November 21 after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.
The park, located in Kelloggwoods Park at 275 Kellogg Woods Drive, was an idea brought by residents to the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department. Together, the community was able to identify a need for a dog park and Kentwood Parks and Rec put together a business plan back in March to make it happen.
The park cost $15,650 and was funded through the park millage. Featured at the park are off-leash areas for both big and small dogs, dog-waste bins, water spigots and benches.
Mayor Stephen Kepley will give a speech at the grand opening. The ceremony will start at 10 a.m.
Don’t forget to bring your pooches and puppies!
Make sure to stop by the site next week to check out footage from the event.
It’s truly a stunning facility. A seven-story, 670,000-square-foot, research facility shaped like a pyramid. Even the ancient Egyptians would be envious.
Much like the Egyptian pyramids, the $111 million building commonly known as the Steelcase Pyramid–it acted as the company’s headquarters since the building’s inception in 1989–has been a tomb since 2010. A massive slab of granite and architectural beauty sitting on 125 acres of property just looking for a purpose.
Enter Switch, a data company that intends to purchase the pyramid and build a $5 billion SUPERNAP data center on its campus.
The 2-million-square-foot data center would be the largest in the Eastern United States. The inland location of the pyramid places the data center within millisecond protocols of major markets without the risk of natural disasters that come with having a facility on the coastline.
“SUPERNAP Michigan will be 2 milliseconds from Chicago and 14 milliseconds from New York,” said the company’s announcement. “The prime campus locations have low millisecond access to the largest people hubs in the U.S. without being burdened with the high power prices, taxes, and earthquake/hurricane risks associated with those cities.”
There’s one potential hangup here with Switch moving into the pyramid, and it has to do with taxes. No building has been sold, no one has been hired, and nothing has been signed until Michigan legislature is wiling to give data centers a tax break.
West Michigan legislators introduced three bills in the Michigan House and Senate last week. Rep. Ken Yonker from Caledonia is leading the charge.
The purchase of the pyramid would be a huge boon for technology and information economic development in West Michigan. Switch not only brings a wealth of big name companies in its client base including Google, Amazon, eBay, Time Warner, Sony, Dreamworks, Shutterfly, and Boeing, but the new data center would also bring 1,000 new jobs within ten years.
If the purchase is finalized, jobs will be created, economic and technological development will be brought to the area, and one of West Michigan’s most unique buildings has a purpose once again.
“This is the most amazing building I have ever seen,” explained property manager Jim Faunce to WKTV back in August after moving from Colorado to head the project. “I am in total awe of it!”
So are we, and it’ll be an honor to see the building put to use once again.
What comes to your mind when you think of Thanksgiving? Do you think of time spent with the family in front of the TV watching football? How about the food? Oh my goodness, yes, the food! Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and so much more. Thanksgiving is a time to carb-o-load and slip into a deep food coma.
For a holiday meant for giving thanks, it’s one that can easily be taken for granted.
One in seven people in our region are affected by food insecurity, or an unreliable access to healthy food. Those who are considered food insecure regularly have to skip meals or buy cheaper, less nourishing food because of a lack of funds.
After 34 years and counting, Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank is looking to end that problem.
Feeding America West Michigan is a nonprofit organization that supplies food to more than 1,100 food pantries, youth programs, and other hunger-relief agencies in 40 of Michigan’s 83 counties. The food bank acts as the main supplier to the front lines of hunger all across West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
When it comes to food, Feeding America West Michigan can pack a punch – and a lunch! Last year, in 2014, the organization distributed over 26.5 million pounds of food. That food serves around 492,100 people, with at least 119,400 of them being children.
The majority of food donated comes from corporations, manufacturers, grocery stores, distributors, and farmers. In all, over 220 companies donate to Feeding America West Michigan. A handful of those companies donate over a million pounds a year.
In order to run efficiently and make sure all that food is delivered on-time and in good shape, the Food Bank makes fine use of its volunteers. On average, 40-50 volunteers help at the Food Bank each day. Volunteering opportunities include processing donated food, filling orders, cleaning, and re-packaging the food that arrives. If you can’t donate your time, there are other ways as well, every dollar donated provides four meals.
Volunteers repackaging cereal
“The need is not going away. We still see more people needing help,” explained Feeding America West Michigan CEO Ken Estelle on the need for a food bank and food donations. “It’s a lot of working families. We see folks that have jobs, that are working trying to make ends meet but they just get to the point where at the end of the month there’s just not enough to pay all the bills.”
Year to date, Feeding America West Michigan is on pace to distribute more food this year than ever before.
The inability to pay the bills and afford healthy, nutritious food is a struggle for a large majority of the family that utilize the food pantries that Feeding America West Michigan supplies. Over 30 percent of client households had at least one adult member working for pay within the past four weeks before visiting a food pantry.
Here are some other numbers to chew on:
• 72% of client households choose between paying for food and utilities
• 72% of households choose between paying for food and transportation
• 65% of households choose between paying for food and medical care
• 58% of households choose between paying for food and their rent or mortgage
• 23% of households choose between paying for food and education
This Thanksgiving season, remember to give thanks for what you have and to give back to the communities you live in!
For more information on volunteer at Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank, click here.
Every year as the chills of fall set in, seniors compete in the coveted Bayberry Farms Village Chili Cook-Off. The steaming hot pots of chili presented for the October 23, 2015 competition included white and tomato based chilies, hot to mild.
This year’s lighthearted competition was judged by a team of jovial, yet highly-respected, Wyoming Firefighters. The winner of the 2015 Annual Bayberry Farms Village Chili Cook-Off was Ms. Ruby Roberts. After winning Second Place for two years in a row, Ruby tweaked her delicious white chili recipe to make it become the favorite chili of the day! Her mixture of chicken, white beans, cheeses and secret ingredients was the hands down favorite. Congratulations, Ruby!
Ruby intends to keep her recipe secret at this time as she is determined to win future competitions!
However, another big hit and highly requested recipe was “Catherine’s Cornbread.” It is not dry like a typical cornbread and not as fluid as a corn casserole. When firefighters ask for the recipe, you know it is good!
Catherine’s Cornbread
Ingredients:
Two Jumbo Eggs (Or Three Large Eggs)
1 Can Cream Corn
1 Can Drained Whole Corn
¼ Cup Sugar
2 Packages Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
Splash of Milk
Directions:
Mix the eggs, both corns and sugar together until well blended. Stir in the corn muffin mix. If too thick, add a splash of milk.
Pour into a greased 9 x 11 dish.
Bake at 350 (325 for glass dish) until toothpick in center comes out clean (around 20 or so minutes) and top is golden brown.
Do not over bake.
When it came time to celebrate my dad’s birthday on October 9, only one place was on my radar. I began plotting the secret gathering before Labor Day and there were times I was so excited I almost blurted it out to him or shared something publicly on my Facebook.
My dad is a long-time lover of history and a dedicated genealogist. The summer between my fourth and fifth grade years, our summer vacation trip was spent traveling in our boat-of-a-Buick through Pennsylvania and New York, visiting libraries, town halls and cemeteries in search of tidbits tied to our family tree. At the time, I loathed the experience, but now…35 years later, it is one of my favorite childhood memories.
In 1998 or 1999, my brother and I received a great Christmas gift from our dad: detailed albums full of photos, histories, maps, scans of our family tartan and other pieces tied to our family history…both on his side of the family and my mom’s. It is still one of my most treasured possessions.
When I launched Promote Michigan in 2004 my “Speaker’s Bureau” provided the ideal opportunity for me in presenting programs at libraries, senior centers and museums around the state. My dad’s passion for history had finally caught up with me (that, and a genetic propensity for public speaking).
With my growing interest in culinary and agriculture, it made sense that “Made in the Mitten: Savoring Michigan’s Rich Foodie & Agricultural Heritage” be among my offerings. Ironically, the night before this birthday dinner, I gave this exact program at the Otsego History Museum. Several members of my family attended, including my dad—who hadn’t seen me speak publicly since the late 1980s.
Years ago, as I began researching the economic impact and history of a variety of crops like asparagus, carrots, peaches and the like, my dad shared with me the story of George Taylor—a Scotsman who settled in Portage (south of Kalamazoo), who was the first person to grow commercial celery in America. An historical marker celebrating this contribution stands in that community today. Recognized as “Celery City,” it is also home to Celery Flats Interpretive & Historic Area.
Taylor was also responsible for introducing chefs at the Burdick Hotel—now the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo—to this rare vegetable. It is said they considered it a curious crop, but soon it found its way into recipes in the fine dining establishment at the turn of the century.
If you were not aware, in the mid-to-late 1800s, celery was considered a delicacy—much like caviar or escargot. Only the well-to-do served it in their homes, displayed in elegant dishes filled with ice water to keep the stalks tall and crunchy.
Soon the rich soils of the Kalamazoo area were cultivated with celery seeds and the industry was born (and now flourishes in the Zeeland area, in neighboring Ottawa County).
Taylor and his family settled throughout the Kalamazoo area. His niece, Mary Taylor, inherited an undeveloped plot of land just west of downtown—high on a bluff adjacent to the campus of Kalamazoo College. It is there that she and her husband, Frank Henderson, set down roots.
Henderson was one of early Kalamazoo’s most successful businessmen—the owner and president of the Henderson-Ames Company, which made uniform regalia for secret societies, fraternal organizations and the military.
A man of grand ideas, Henderson dreamt of building an expansive suburb on this land and in 1888, he enlisted the help of surveyors, engineers and landscape architects to plot the land and create Kalamazoo’s first “natural site plan” development. The first building to be erected was to be a 25-room, Queen Anne-style house designed by C.A. Combert of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Frank and Mary would reside.
The $72,000 building costs included seven baths (one with a 13-head shower), an elevator and a third-floor ballroom. The castle’s exterior was constructed of Lake Superior sandstone and brick. The interior wood included mahogany, bird’s eye maple, quartered oak, birch and American sycamore. The home—Henderson Castle—exemplified the most expensive tastes of the time.
The Henderson’s had a grand housewarming party in 1895 at the completion of the castle’s construction. One could only imagine who graced the halls and shared in the hospitality of the day. Yet, Frank’s years in the grand home were short-lived, as he passed away in 1899. Mary died in 1907, and both she and Frank are buried across the street from their beloved castle, in Mountain Home Cemetery.
Over the years, nine parties have owned Kalamazoo’s famous castle on the hill. In 1957, the house was purchased as the future site for the Kalamazoo Art Center. However, when the Institute of Arts remained in downtown Kalamazoo, the castle became the property of the renowned liberal arts school at Kalamazoo College (which lies adjacent to the castle’s grounds).
Henderson Castle—which now operates as a bed-and-breakfast and French-inspired restaurant—has been featured in three movies (all of which were horror films) and has also been featured on the Discovery Channel and House Hunters. It’s the topic of many newspaper and magazine articles as well.
Now, back to MY family and the reason for this local history lesson…
George Taylor was one of four brothers (the others included Andrew and James, who also lived in the Kalamazoo area). Mary Taylor Henderson was the daughter of James Taylor, George’s brother. The fourth brother Alexander, remained in Scotland. He was my great-great-great-great grandfather on my dad’s mother’s side of the family.
So, when it came time to choose the setting for my dad’s surprise birthday celebration, it only made sense to secure the private dining room at Henderson Castle for a gourmet, 7-course dinner (for 10). It was his first visit to the castle. In fact, it was the first visit for everyone in the family (other than myself…I had toured it some 15 years prior).
Our evening started with a tour, led by a charming young man named Drakkar Hill. The Western Michigan University student (go Broncos) had only been “on the job” three months, but his knowledge end passion for the castle’s history was impressive. He also had a great personality, and was engaging with the family. He shared his stories, indulged us with our questions and photos, and was genuinely excited to hear of our “family ties” to the building and its original residents.
When our three generations finally settled in for our dinner, everyone was full of family pride…especially my dad.
Just before the first course was served, the current owner—Chef Francois Moyet—stopped by to say hello and happy birthday. He shared a bit more of the castle’s history and his plans to secure it as an historic site for future generations (which made us all happy). My dad shared our connection to Mary Taylor Henderson.
Soon, our server, Andrew, was plating our first course: a colorful and flavorful bruschetta crustini with a delicious homemade balsamic drizzled on the plate (officially, called “amuse bouche”). Next, it was a fresh garden salad, followed by a warming bowl of the soup de jour: creamy potato.
Entrees included Steak Diane, Chicken Marsala, Drunken Shrimp, Steamed Flounder and Roasted Pork Loin (wrapped in bacon), each with warm rolls and butter. Between the 10 of us, we had at least one of each dish and sample bites on forks were passed among the group upon request.
Dessert was a light and airy tiramisu, followed by a post-dessert tart with a bit of cream cheese and chunks of melon and grape slices. Two bottles of Henderson Castle wines, made locally, were paired with our meal—the unwooded Chardonnay and the ruby-red Meritage.
Those who know me, know my love of good food and company as I travel around Michigan (and, sometimes, beyond). But nothing compares to sitting around the table with your parents, adult children and siblings to celebrate a loved one’s birthday. And, there’s nothing better than when you—as daddy’s girl, even at age 46—make daddy smile!
Safe Travels!
This article was republished with permission from Dianna at Promote Michigan. We do our best to help with the promotion of the great State of Michigan!
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