Category Archives: Our Cities

Cats in Crisis Need Your Help!

March 31, 2014Non-Profits, Our CitiesJoanne

by Michele Aversa

In February, we brought you Invisible Hero Rescues Invisible Population a story about local no-kill cat shelter Focus on Ferals (FOF). Due to the success of the shelter, they are bursting at the seams! Unfortunately, this success has put them at capacity and they’ve recently been forced to turn people away. There just isn’t enough space to house all the cats in need.

When Gina Marvin started FOF in 2005, she had no idea how desperate the community was for help. She began doing Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR consists of the humane trapping, sterilization, and return of feral cats to their familiar habitat) and then agreed to house in her garage some friendly stray cats for possible adoption. Before long, she had to find a new facility. Marvin found what is now the shelter’s adoption center on Knapp in Grand Rapids. But the desperate requests just kept coming. Recently, she received a call from someone who witnessed a kitten being thrown from a moving car. The witness saved the kitten and contacted Marvin for medical help and shelter.

Loki claims her place to stretch out. More space is needed to save the feral cat population.

FOF is currently a multi-location facility. The Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is done out of Lowell, the adoption center is in Grand Rapids, and there are foster families throughout West Michigan. Managing an organization spread throughout the community is a difficult task.

They have an chance to change that. A local businessman presented FOF with a fantastic opportunity to rent space in his building in the Byron Center area. Marvin explains, “This building is 2,600 plus square feet and would allow us to consolidate our TNR program (spay/neuter, rehab, and new intake services), along with our Adoption Center, into one amazing facility. We would have plenty of space for adoptables, a bathroom, a washer/dryer, office, heat/air, everything we need to be self-sufficient! We have long since outgrown our current Adoption Center. It only houses 25 cats comfortably. Yet we consistently have 50-100 cats in the program. And my home has served well as the TNR center.”

Clara's Colony turned to FOF for help. — Clara’s Colony turned to FOF for help.

Trap-Neuter-Return is the “less glamorous” aspect of the program, but just as vital. Marvin states, “we do the greatest good for the greatest number of ferals by stopping the cycle of reproduction.” One example is “Clara’s Colony.” Clara, who lives in the county, constantly had cats dumped on her property. The cats eventually started breeding, many were sick. She contacted FOF for help. In time 13 cats were fixed and returned to colony and 23 kittens were pulled for adoption.

But Marvin can’t do it alone. She is asking for help from the community – the community that wants and needs the services that FOF provides. Being a no-kill shelter, the cats that are in FOF’s program stay in the program for as long as it takes to get adopted –months or years if necessary. But this means Marvin cannot continue to accept cats in need unless she can secure this new facility.

With a deadline of April 15 looming, FOF is still under 50% of the goal and the clock is ticking.

“We are asking for your help in the form of on-going monthly donations. Even a small amount such as $10-20 each month will make this possible, if we have enough people to get on board.” The agency even has donation options of $2 and $5!

For as little as the price of one gourmet coffee a month, a tank of gas or a hamburger at McDonalds, you too could become a hero by helping out a hero. If you want like to help Marvin and the hundreds of cats each year that live safer and healthier lives because of her program, please go to this link: http://www.focusonferals.org/donate/monthly-donations-focus-ferals-no-kill-shelter/

For more information, visit their website: http://www.focusonferals.org

Or their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FocusOnFerals

Wyoming’s Changing Cityscape

March 27, 2014Local History, Our CitiesJoanne

Studio 28 is History

28 West is the Future

Studio 28 demolition is a loss for some; a relief for others.

by Janice Limbaugh

It's one last showtime for Studio 28 as cars line up to watch daily demolition process. — It’s one last showtime for Studio 28 as cars line up to watch daily demolition process.

As the demolition of Studio 28 began on Tuesday morning, cars filled with curious onlookers and sentimental locals paraded through the parking lot all day long. A line up of parked cars watching the demolition was reminiscent of an old drive-in theater – but on this day, the demolition of the world’s former largest movie theater was the main feature. Be advised that should you go, bring your own refreshments. This show is going to last about two-weeks and have plenty of intermissions. But it’s at the end this show when 20 acres of prime business property sit open and available that the suspense really begins. What will fill the void?

With her mouth still frozen from a dental appointment, a longtime Wyoming resident goes out of her way to pick up a piece of Studio 28 while her husband waits in the car.

A demolition worker says the debris from the theater has been a hot commodity. He's keeps a pile of bricks available for public pickins. — A demolition worker says the debris from the theater has been a hot commodity. He’s keeps a pile of bricks available for public pickins.

Here’s a preview of coming attractions or rather a long term vision for this area by the Wyoming Downtown Development Authority. Picture this: 28th Street as a walkable town center in the heart of Wyoming, economically vibrant and sustainable with businesses and shops, green space and landscaping, detailed building facades, town homes, condos, and convenient parking. This community effort is called 28 West! Click here to see what Wyoming’s future neighborhood may look like.

City of Kentwood helps local University!

March 25, 2014Local Faces, Our CitiesCity of Kentwood, Lake Superior State UniversityJoanne

Pictured left to right are Kentwood Fire Chief Brent Looman, James Schaefer, Ph.D., Life EMS Paramedic Paul Pladziewicz II, and Kentwood Police Officer Bill Olenzuk.

City of Kentwood donates hand held portable radios to Lake Superior State University

In a recent Kentwood City Commission action, approval was given to Fire Chief Brent Looman to donate 20 older hand help portable radios to Lake Superior State University’s Fire Science, Criminal Justice and Paramedic programs.

Receiving the donated radios was James Schaefer, Ph.D., Chair of the Fire Science, Criminal Justice and Paramedic programs. Lake Superior State University is the only state university in Michigan that offers Undergraduate degrees in all three of these professions.

The City of Kentwood has previously donated fire fighter turnout gear and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SBCA) to LSSU’s Fire Science program and they continue to be a partner with LSSU providing internships for individuals in the Fire Science program.

All of individuals in the picture are Alumni of the Lake Superior State University, along with several other police officers and fire fighters of the City of Kentwood.

GR Airport Serves as Film Location!

March 24, 2014Local Business, Our CitiesDavid Lipsky, Grand Rapids International Airport, Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg, Joan Cusack, The End of the TourJoanne

by Tara M. Hernandez

News of movie filming kept under wraps for security reasons. Photo courtesy of Gerald R. Ford International Airport

Grand Rapids, MI – The Gerald R. Ford International Airport had hundreds of extra visitors last week as the James Ponsoldt movie, “The End of the Tour,” was filmed on location. Due to security and contract regulations, the announcement was reserved until after filming commenced.

A crew of over 100 people worked for over fourteen hours at GFIA, and filmed in various locations throughout the airport. Locations included the economy parking lot, the parking ramp, the airfield, the Concourse B hallway as well as two vacant ticket counter areas. Grand Rapids was standing in as both the Minneapolis-St. Paul and Chicago O’Hare airports with two different scenes created among the location.

Film crew makes magic in airport parking garage. Photo courtesy of Gerald R. Ford International Airport

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport staff and security worked with the cast and crew for several weeks leading up to the filming to scout out locations, times for filming and acclimate “The End of the Tour” crew with strict security rules and regulations.

“We are excited to be featured in this film,” said GFIA Executive Director Brian Ryks. “We fully support the film industry and love to see the industry grow right here in West Michigan. It is a unique experience working with the cast and crew to transform our airport for their scenes.”

Actors Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Segel and Joan Cusack were at the airport for filming. “The End of the Tour,” is a biographical drama film based on David Lipsky’s 2010 book, Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself. Eisenberg is playing Lipsky while Segel was cast as David Foster Wallace, an American novelist.

“It was a really smooth shoot at GRR. Realizing that the airport’s first priority is its passengers and their safety and convenience, we wanted to show the airport we werewilling to accommodate and alleviate their concerns,” said “The End of the Tour” Location Manager John Johnston. “Once we met on that level, the airport administration welcomed us and made our work day flow smoothly. They were behind us 100% and the airport staff supported every move we had at the airport. We couldn’t have been in better hands. We really appreciate the hospitality and true enthusiasm of everyone at GRR. I look forward to coming back in the future.”

The actors and crew have also been utilizing the Gerald R. Ford International Airport for its main intention – travel. Location manager John Johnston as well as Director James Ponsoldt and other crew members have been in and out of Grand Rapids for several months leading up to filming to prepare and scout the city.

“Not only are we happy to host the cast and crew for filming, but we are happy they are flying in and out of our airport and bringing in money to support the local economy,” said Ryks. “They are flying in and out of Grand Rapids, grabbing a cup of Starbucks at our airport, staying in our hotels and eating in our restaurants. It’s wonderful for the entire West Michigan community.”

Words with Retired Fire Chief Austin

March 21, 2014Local Faces, Our CitiesCity of Wyoming, Wyoming Fire Chief Bob AustinJoanne

by Janice Limbaugh

Retiring Wyoming Fire Chief Bob Austin is surrounded by well wishers during his retirement party on March 3rd.

Retirements, as retirements go, are considered special milestones. But the March 3rd retirement of Wyoming Fire Chief Bob Austin went above and beyond the typical retirement party expectation, and for good reason. Chief Austin’s retirement not only celebrated his 37 years of service to the city of Wyoming, but it punctuated an incredible 85-year legacy of having one or more Austin family member working in the city’s fire department. The dedication that started with Chief Austin’s grandfather, Edward Tilma, in 1929 carried over to his father James Austin for 43 years, and on to Bob from 1977 to 2014. Each man serving as Wyoming Fire Chief.

Meanwhile, Chief Austin’s uncle, Robert Tilma, also served one year with Wyoming in addition to 29 years with the Grand Rapids Fire Department as Equipment Operator/Dispatcher. The family is proud to note that these four men have given 146 years of combined service to firefighting!

Gifts and memorabilia of years of service.

As if that tidbit of information didn’t make the day special enough, March 3rd was also, coincidentally, the Chief’s 55th birthday – Wyoming/Kentwood NOW couldn’t help but wonder, ‘It’s your birthday and your retirement day – was this your gift to yourself or a promise to your family?’

Chief Austin: This did turn out to be a gift to me but actually that was the date that I reached my retirement age and so, after 37 years with the department, it was just time to leave. I have always said that the Fire Service is a ‘young person’s job and when you reach retirement age, you should go, so I was practicing what I preached.

Friends and colleagues line up to add well wishes to the Chief's guest book. — Friends and colleagues line up to add well wishes to the Chief’s guest book.

Wyoming/Kentwood NOW: You had a heck of a turn out – how does that make you feel?

Chief Austin: I did indeed have a huge turn out which was truly overwhelming, and I was very humbled by it all…. sometimes you don’t realize the impact you have in your field.

Wyoming/Kentwood NOW: What would you say is your fondest memory of being Fire Chief?

Chief Austin: My fondest memory is reaching the goal of being Fire Chief – to be able to serve in a leadership position as my Father and Grandfather did and represent the Wyoming Fire Department, throughout the community as well as the State.

WKTV's Nate Diedrich (foreground) records Chief Austin's retirement presentation. Wyoming Police Chief Carmody speaks with Chief Austin beforehand. — WKTV’s Nate Diedrich (foreground) records Chief Austin’s retirement presentation. Wyoming Police Chief Carmody speaks with Chief Austin beforehand.

Wyoming/Kentwood NOW: So what are your plans for now?

Chief Austin: The first few weeks of retirement I am staying busy writing thank you notes! But I’m planning to stay involved in some of the regional committees that I have been a part of, and to enjoy the summer with my wife.

Wyoming/Kentwood NOW: When you spoke about your service, you said you couldn’t have done it without your wife Brenda. When duty called you had to drop everything and leave it in her hands –

Chief Austin: Yes, even the dinner check once!

Wyoming/Kentwood NOW: So she has been patiently waiting for this moment to arrive and it has. Now you’re off on a new adventure together! The only thing that I can think of that would make a perfect ending to a great story is if there Austin relatives stepping in to carry on the family legacy of serving the Wyoming Fire Department?

Chief Austin: No, not at this time.

ell it’s understandable that after 117 years of serving the Wyoming community, this family can step back and change course. All good thing must come to an end, but the long run has definitely been appreciated by the community. With that said, Chief Austin, his wife Brenda along with their grown daughters, Liz and Courtney, have the blessings of many to enjoy this new chapter of life together.

Pure Michigan Campaign Drives $1.2 Billion in Visitor Spending

March 20, 2014Local Business, Our Cities, RecreationPure MichiganJoanne

Pure Michigan Campaign Drives $1.2 Billion in Visitor Spending

Last year more than 4 million trips were made to Michigan by out-of-state visitors influenced by the Pure Michigan campaign, according to the 2013 report by Longwoods International. The economic impact of these trips for Michigan businesses was a record $1.2 billion.

Also trending upward was the 2013 return on investment of the award-winning Pure Michigan campaign. In 2013, $13 million was spent on out-of-state advertising for Pure Michigan. In return, the visitor spending generated $86.5 million in tax revenue received by the state, resulting in a return on investment of $6.66 – up from $5.76 in 2012. The cumulative return on investment since the Pure Michigan campaign began in 2006 is now $4.50, up from $4.10.

“The Pure Michigan campaign has been very successful in creating an positive economic impact in the state and showcasing the quality of life Michigan has to offer,” said Governor Rick Snyder. “These results demonstrate the effectiveness of Pure Michigan and provide a strong foundation for continued growth in Michigan’s tourism industry.”

In 2013, Pure Michigan attracted 2.4 million visitors from the Great Lakes region and 1.6 million visitors from distance markets nationwide. That is up from the 3.8 million out-of-state trips the campaign motived in 2012 – 2.3 million from the Great Lakes region and 1.5 million from distant markets.

Pure Michigan’s 2014 national advertising campaign will launch March 17. Last year’s national advertising campaign aired more than 5,000 times on 25 cable channels and had a total budget of $13 million.

As Pure Michigan’s national advertising efforts have grown, so to have efforts to increase international marketing. In 2014, Pure Michigan will advertise in the Toronto market for the first time and will increase its presence in Germany and Great Britain. Pure Michigan is also establishing a presence for the first time in China. On his recent investment mission to China, Governor Snyder participated in a tourism forum to introduce Pure Michigan to the Chinese tourism market and to encourage Chinese travelers to include Michigan in their visits to the United States.

“The investments we are making in our national advertising campaign and out-of-state marketing are bringing new travelers and more spending to Michigan,” said George Zimmermann, Vice President of Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “As awareness about Michigan as a national travel destination continues to grow, we are also laying the groundwork to be part of the conversation for international travelers planning to visit the United States.”

The results of the 2013 Longwoods Report were released today at the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism being held in Traverse City. The full report is available on michiganbusiness.org.

Longwoods International is a research firm specializing in tourism advertising return on investment.

Pure Michigan is a brand representing business, talent and tourism initiatives across Michigan. These efforts are driven by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which serves as the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business growth, jobs and opportunity with a focus on helping grow Michigan’s economy.

For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit: michiganbusiness.org. For Michigan travel news, updates and information, visit michigan.org.

Blue Star Mothers Welcomed!

March 13, 2014Local Faces, Our CitiesJoanne

Photos and story by Pat Moll

Pictured from left to right: Senator Mark Jansen, Senator Tonya Schuitmaker, Blue Star President Patty Alexander, Representative Winnie Brinks & Senator David Hildenbrand.

Nearly 75 people turned out Tuesday evening for the installation of MI-191 South Kent Blue Star Mothers branch. Honored guests included State Senators, Mark Jansen, Tonya Schuitmaker, David Hildenbrand, Representative Winnie Brinks, Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley & Wyoming Chief of Police James Carmody. A flagline was provided by the Patriot Guard Riders.

Rick Sturim lighting candle on the POW/MIA Table.

Auxiliary President Gloria Hall standing with President Patty Alexander.

Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley visits with a veteran.

Finding Local Help for the Homeless

March 13, 2014Non-Profits, Our CitiesSouth End Community Outreach MinistriesJoanne

By Patricia Riley

People live paycheck to paycheck these days. It is safe to say that some individuals are one paycheck away from being homeless. This is sad, but true and can be backed by
national statistics.

The Los Angeles Times reveals in a Dec 11, 2013 article that homelessness and hunger are climbing in U.S. cities according to the latest U.S. Conference of Mayors survey of 25 large and midsized metro areas. The article stated that according to U.S. Census figures, “last year’s national poverty rate of 15% is still near the Great Depression’s high of 15.1 percent.”

The 25 cities surveyed for the Annual Hunger & Homelessness report of the U.S. Conference of Mayors revealed a 3% increase in overall homelessness, and half of those cities expected the number of homeless families to increase this year. Cities that participated in the survey stretched across the country, including such Midwestern cities as Chicago, Cleveland, Louisville, Philadelphia, St. Paul, and Nashville.

In the greater Grand Rapids area, several ministries are dedicated to addressing the issues of the homeless. Besides being homeless, issues include hunger, child care, personal hygiene, short-term housing, and employment programs to name a few. Among the many ministries in our community that are helping to fight homelessness, this article will highlight two: South End Community Outreach Ministries and Guiding Light Mission. Although these ministries offer different types of programs, each one has dynamically empowered the community with their outstanding service.

Started in 1971, the ministry began when four Methodist churches gathered together to address the needs of the community. Once affiliated with the Methodist Church, SECOM is now a non-profit organization serving many Grand Rapidians, according to Katherine Brower, executive director of SECOM.

”The number of people we serve has increased tremendously over the past years,” Brower says. Today the ministry serves a little over 10,000 people. Brower relies on past and present reports of South End Community Outreach Ministries(SECOM) as a means of determining the services they now offer the community.

Stefanie Hosford, development director of SECOM believes that downtown Grand Rapids has a higher homeless population. “A lot of SECOM clients are people struggling to make ends meet. They struggle to pay rent or purchase food,” she says.

South End offers such services as:

• Food Distribution on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. They are closed on Thursday.

• Infant and Child Pantry open the first and third Monday each month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

• Free Pre-school Childcare

• Health Program

• Pride for Parents Program where clients can earn $75 in credit for Christmas gifts by volunteering 10 hours per child.

South End Ministry is open for donations whether it’s food, money, household goods or clothing. By making a donation, anyone can play a part in helping the homeless and hungry in their area. SECOM is located at 1545 Buchanan Ave, SW, Grand Rapids, MI. Contact number is (616) 452-7684. Office hours are from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Closer to the heart of downtown is Guiding Light Mission on South Division. The organization was started in 1929 by John Vande Water, a man who had compassion for the hungry in the community. Originally it was called West Fulton Mission that assisted people in urgent need of food. Years later, the mission extended services to help treat people with drug and alcohol addiction. That led to offering transitional housing and a substance recovery program called The New Life in Christ. Today the mission is more determined than ever to be that guiding light to the homeless in the area.

“We believe that God gave everyone talents,” says Stuart Ray, the mission’s executive director for the last five years. “We want people to use those gifts. The people housed here must be alcohol and drug free. In the last two years, we have put over 310 men back to work. We hold people accountable for what they say they are going to do. Here at Guiding Light, you must work and save your money.”

Ray explains that the mission manages two transitional houses and does not use money from HUD. It is a faith-based 501C organization that is privately funded. The staff consists of two care managers who create action plans, licensed counselors, social workers, mentors, fund development specialists, a pastor and many volunteers. The ministry is open 24/7 and works with males over the age of 18.

“Men come in all day long. We serve three meals a day, hold chapel every night and Bible study every afternoon. We also provide training for GED completion,” Ray says.

Keeping the hungry fed is the responsibility of Food Service Manager Josh VanOveren. “We work with other agencies to get food out into the community. We have a special relationship with Gordon Food Service, our largest donor, and Feeding America of West Michigan. We also receive individual donations,” Van Overin explains. Between July of 2012 and June of 2013, 46,850 free meals were served.

Other mission accomplishments for that year included providing 312 chapel services, 600 Bible Study classes, 18 thousand overnight stays, and 1300 small group and individual counseling sessions. The New Live for Christ program served 51 individuals who benefited from the rigorous drug and alcohol rehab and workforce readiness programs. Guiding Light also helped 78% of the men in rescue to obtain full-time jobs, establish savings accounts and move into independent housing.

To support and further these accomplishments, monetary and clothing donations are welcomed between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To Guiding Light Mission, SEMCO and other organizations helping the homeless and hungry in our community, our gratitude is with you.

Newest Wyoming Firefighter passionate about saving lives

March 12, 2014Local Faces, Our CitiesBryan Butcher, Kyle visserJoanne

By Pat Riley

Bryon Butcher is one of several new Wyoming firefighters. — Bryan Butcher is one of several new Wyoming firefighters.

From an early age Bryan Butcher knew what he wanted to do. His dream has become a reality as he was recently hired to be the newest firefighter with the Wyoming Fire Department.

“When I was a little boy I played with toy fire trucks. I would also visit the fire station and play on the real trucks, with the fire gear and hats,” he said enthusiastically.

His grandfather was the chief fireman in Kalamazoo and really played an important role in his life.

The urge to become a fireman grew stronger as he grew older. When Bryan became an adult, he tried to make his dream come true. Endeavored to keep his dream alive he landed a job in Denver, CO. He worked there for nine years before being hired at Wyoming. He also had jobs at a Nuclear Plant in Bridgeman, MI and was a State of Michigan Fire Safety Officer.

Bryan is an award winner. He has received numerous unit citations and merit awards for going beyond the call of duty.

“It’s really rewarding saving lives,” he said. “But you never know how many lives you would save until you start doing the job. Every firefighter has moments when people would die while we are in the line of duty. You could have rescued them out of the fire but the smoke from the fire would cause death.”

Bryan enjoys spending time with his family of two children and his wife Michelle. She has the same passion as he does for saving lives while being a nurse in West Michigan.

The Wyoming Fire Department is proud of their recent hire whose dedication, professionalism, and integrity are greatly appreciated.

“Everyone here at the station are family. We all have such a closeness,” he remarked.

He is grateful and thankful for his new position and hopes to remain there until he decides to retire.

The City of Wyoming also welcomed Kyle Visser–who was previously a fire fighter in Grattan Township and Plainfield Charter Township. Chris Velzen and Joe Jones were both promoted from the position of fire fighter to the position of fire lieutenant. Both Velzen and Jones have been with the City of Wyoming since 1995.

Kentwood Puts the F-U-N in FUNdraising!

March 11, 2014Local Business, Our CitiesJoanne

by Michele Smith-Aversa

Taste of Kentwood makes for an easy night out for busy families.

The Kentwood Activities Center hosted the 12th Annual Taste of Kentwood and Silent Auction last Thursday. This activity is one of seven fundraising events included in the Light the Spark campaign – created to raise money for the 4th of July celebration which includes the fireworks show, a 5k run, a parade, pancakes and more. The Light the Spark campaign’s goal, $30,000, has been met every year and it looks like 2014 will not be any different.

Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley and his wife Susan partake in the Taste of Kentwood.

Multiple vendors participating in the Taste of Kentwood marched through the lobby of the Kentwood Activities Center with warmers, containers of food, and bags of supplies to set up their wares at the food booths. The small culinary army readied themselves to hand out mouthwatering samples to the eager and hungry public – expected to number approximately 500 people, according to Jen Keith, Special Events Coordinator for the city of Kentwood. This number is up from 450 people last year says Keith.

Vendors in attendance included:

Boardwalk Subs – “We’re the only vendor that’s been in attendance every year since the Taste of Kentwood started,” said owner Chris Tallarico. Each year he sees some of his loyal customers and hopes to gain new fans. “We’re not freaky fast and we don’t want to be,” Tallarico said. “We’re like Cheers. We know the names of our customers. Come in around 12:30 and see.”

Peppinos – “This is a chance to get exposure to the community,” explained a Peppinos employee. “It’s also our opportunity to give something back.” Peppinos has attended the event for three years in a row.

Kevin Cook of Smash Burger dishes out smiles and great burger samples.

Smash Burger – General Manager Bennett Beason and Kevin Cook (pictured) manned their booth, proudly returning after winning the “Taste of Kentwood” last year. While Beason explained his desire to reach out to the community, Cook delivered the samples of 100% black angus beef burgers with a flourish.

Russo’s, Zoup, Tim Hortons, On the Border, Jets and Wing Dings rounded out the food booths.

These Kentwood friends have been attending the Taste ever since 2002.

Tim Horton's featured coffee and dessert. — Tim Horton’s featured coffee and dessert.

Tables full of philanthropic diners, many come every year. In addition to helping out their community – some having been in Kentwood nearly 40 years – it is opportunity to spend time with their friends and neighbors, try new foods and engage in a little frivolity.

The silent auction was the non-edible portion of the evening. Various items were up for bid, including the priciest item – an autographed picture of Utah Jazz basketball player Trey Burke, a framed picture of Tiger’s Stadium, a 6 bottle winetasting event by Wines for Humanity and a 12 pack of Victor Sinclair Legacy Toro Grande Connecticut Cognac cigars. Other items included packages for area golf outings, a day at the museum, or a stay at an area hotel.

In all, the 12th annual Taste of Kentwood and Silent Auction raised over $2,500 towards the goal!

Up for auction, a baseball signed by former Detroit Tiger Al Kaline.

So, keep putting the “f-u-n” in fundraising, Kentwood! The next event is a Zumbathon Friday, April 25, 2014. Get ready to sweat! For one donation, enjoy two hours of fun, fast paced Latin dancing!

If you would like to donate without breaking a sweat, visit http://www.gofundme.com/lightthespark.

For more information, call the Recreation Department for details at 616-656-5270 or contact:

Jen Keith, Special Events Coordinator

(616) 656-5272

keithj@ci.kentwood.mi.us

One Wyoming 1 on 1 Touches Lives

March 10, 2014Area Education, Our CitiesJoanne

New community initiative gains momentum

by Marie Baron

Mentor and Superintendent of Wyoming Public Schools, Dr. Tom Reeder, shares the importance of having a mentor in his life to Wyoming business professionals.

It’s a simple concept that could influence the lives of thousands in our community. That’s the power of mentoring and the message presented by One Wyoming 1 on 1 to business leaders at a recent luncheon held at the headquarters of Gordon Food Services. Over 80 attendees from local businesses such as YMCA, Spartan Stores, Grand Rapids Medical Center and Edward Jones to name a few, came to learn how they can make a difference in the lives of Wyoming students grades K through 12.

“Volunteering to be a mentor one hour a week during the school year is all it takes to make a positive impact,” says Jack Ponstine, coordinator for One Wyoming 1 on 1. “Not only does it make a huge difference in the lives of the students, but in the lives of the mentors as well. This is a great opportunity to build a legacy for our community.”

The organization’s first collaborative meeting was held over a year ago between city, school, church, and business leaders of Wyoming at Grace Bible College to focus on helping the youth of Wyoming. Officially, the initiative of One Wyoming 1 on 1 kicked off last last May with one focused goal: to connect 1100 students in Wyoming Public, Kelloggsville, Godwin Heights and Godfrey-Lee school districts with encouraging adult mentors. Ponstine says that since then, the program has attracted 560 mentors. “That’s a little over half and we are really excited about that!

Our goal is to have 10% of the students of Wyoming having a one on one mentor thatwill help them develop a stronger vision for a positive and prosperous future,” he states.

Chief Carmody sits with his mentee, Justice.

Helping to explain the project to employers were several local leaders including Dr. Tom Reeder, Superintendent of Wyoming Public Schools, Rev. Eddy Brewer, Executive Pastor of Grand Rapids First Assembly. Tommy Brann, owner of Brann’s Steakhouse, and Wyoming Director of Police and Fire Services, Chief James Carmody. Chief Carmody brought along a special guest – he mentee, Justice.

According to Chief Carmody, his mentee, Justice, wants to be a a Marine one day.

“I believe he’s the future of our community,” the chief explained. “When we first met, I asked him if it would hurt his reputation hanging out with me because I wore a uniform. He said, ‘No, I think it’s cool. Nobody bothers me.’

“I’ll be a part of his life for a long time to come,” says Carmody.

The process for becoming a mentor starts with deciding to commit to a student one hour of your time a week during the school day for one school year. Those interested are encouraged to visit the organization’s website and fill out an application. Individuals can choose the school and the age range of the child they’d like to mentor. All applicants are subject to a background check by the school they choose to serve. When approved, volunteers will undergo a brief training session before meeting their student. Once introduced, how to spend the mentoring time is typically up to the students.

One mentor said that with every visit, she grows closer to her sixth grade student who’s mother died last year. “We’re developing a very special bond that I want to continue after this school year. I’m going to request to be her her mentor until she graduates.”

For more information on this unique community program and to find out how to become involved, visit the One Wyoming 1 on 1 website.

We’re History BABY!!!

March 7, 2014Local Entertainment, Our CitiesGilda's Club Laugh FestJoanne

On the evening of March 6, 2014, Wyoming/Kentwood NOW helped make a NEW Guinness World Record for Laughfest for the most people wearing sunglasses at night 1,675 beating the former record by 33!!! Woohoo! Grand Rapids! What a great way to kick off Laughfest 2014!

Grand Rapids was honored to have Michael Radner, Gilda's brother, on hand to witness the event. "Gilda would love that you're doing this," he told the crowd prior to setting the record. Mayor George Heartwell stands in the background. — Grand Rapids was honored to have Michael Radner, Gilda’s brother, on hand to witness the event. “Gilda would love that you’re doing this,” he told the crowd prior to setting the record. Mayor George Heartwell stands in the background.

Michiganders of Grand Rapids unite for a great cause.

Colleen and Janice — Courtesy of M Live’s Photo Booth

The MLive photo booth was a huge success. Check it out on mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/photo booth from Laughfest.

Funny how glasses you can't see out of put everyone in a good mood! — Funny how glasses you can’t see out of put everyone in a good mood!

Professional happy guy - #1102 of the total 1675. — Professional happy guy – #1102 of the total 1675.

#1130 and #1131. We do what we can to serve our community.

Colleen Pierson super excited to be making history.

Local Sports Schedule for March

March 3, 2014Our Cities, SportsJoanne

by Mike Moll

Here are the highlights:

The spring sports schedules open up as baseball, softball, boys and girls track, water polo, girls soccer, boys lacrosse, and girls tennis have their first events of the year in March. Girls basketball continues its State tournament leading to the championship at Michigan State University, March 15. Also at Michigan State, the boys begin their championship quest on Monday, March 3 and concluding on March 22. Boys swimming and girls gymnastics conclude their season with State Finals at multiple sites on March 7 and 8 for swimming and at Plymouth on March 8 for gymnastics.

Support your local high school athletes by attending an event, but also check the listings for WKTV as they broadcast local teams and games each week at various days and times.

Monday March 3, 2014

Boys Basketball Districts

– East Grand Rapids @ East Kentwood

– Wyoming Lee @ Covenant Christian

– Godwin Heights vs Kelloggsville @ Kelloggsville

– Zion Christian vs Tri-Unity @ Holland Calvary

– Wyoming vs Grandville @ Grandville

Tuesday March 4, 2014

Boys Swimming Diving Regionals – @East Kentwood

Girls Basketball Regionals

– South Christian vs Holland Christian @ South Christian

– Wyoming vs GR Christian @ Grand Haven

– Potter’s House vs Martin @ Bloomingdale

Wednesday March 5, 2014

Boys Basketball Districts

– EGR/EK Winner vs Middleville T-K/Ottawa Hills winner @ Middleville T-K

– South Christian vs Godwin Heights/Kellogsville winner @ Kelloggsville

– Grand River Prep vs West Michigan Aviation @ Kelloggsville

– Wyoming Lee/Covenant Christian winner vs NorthPointe Christian @ Covenant Christian

– Zion Christian/Tri-Unity winner vs West Michigan Lutheran @ Holland Calvary

– Wyoming/Grandville winner vs Hudsonville @ Holland

Thursday March 6, 2014

Girls Basketball Regionals

– South Christian/Holland Christian winner vs Muskegon

– Orchard View/Catholic Central winner @ South Christian

– Wyoming/GR Christian winner vs Muskegon/Greenville winner @ Grand Haven

– Potter’s House/Martin winner vs Athens/St Joe Lake Mich. Catholic

winner @ Bloomingdale

Friday March 7, 2014

Boys Basketball Districts

– Championship @ Middleville T-K

– Championship @ Covenant Christian

– Championship @ Kelloggsville

– Championship @ Holland Calvary

– Championship @ Holland

Boys Swimming – State Finals

Division 1 @ Saginaw Valley

Division 2 @ Eastern Michigan

Division 3 @ Holland Aquatics

Saturday March 8, 2014

Boys Swimming – State Finals

Division 1 @ Saginaw Valley

Division 2 @ Eastern Michigan

Division 3 @ Holland Aquatics

Girls Gymnastics – State Finals @ Plymouth

Monday March 10, 2014

Boys Basketball Regionals

– Kelloggsville Champ @ Godwin Heights

– Middleville T-K Champ vs Holland Champ @ Zeeland East

– Covenant Christian Champ @ Blanchard-Montabella

– Holland Calvary Champ @ Portage Northern

Tuesday March 11, 2014

Girls Basketball Quarterfinals

Class A @ DeWitt

Class B @ Wayland

Class D @ BC Harper Creek

Wednesday March 12, 2014

Boys Basketball Regionals Championship

– @ Zeeland East

– @ Godwin Heights

– @ Blanchard-Montabella

– @ Portage Northern

Thursday March 13, 2014

Girls Basketball

– Class C Semifinals @ MSU

– Class D Semifinals @ MSU

Friday March 14, 2014

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ EGR Early Bird Tournament

Girls Basketball

Class A Semifinals @ MSU

Class B Semifinals @ MSU

Saturday March 15, 2014

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ EGR Early Bird Tournament

Girls Soccer – Scrimmage – @ East Kentwood

Girls Basketball – Class A, B, C, D Finals @ MSU

Tuesday March 18, 2014

Boys Basketball Quarter Finals

Class A @ Lansing Eastern

Class B @ Middleville T-K

Class C @ Sandusky

Class D @ Battle Creek Central

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Boys Track

– East Kentwood @ GVSU Invite

– South Christian @ GVSU Invite

Thursday March 20, 2014

Girls Track

– East Kentwood @ GVSU Invite

– South Christian @ GVSU Invite

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ Grand Haven

Boys Lacrosse – GR Christian @ South Christian

Boys Baseball

– South Christian @ Wyoming

– Wyoming Lee @ Holland Calvary

Girls Softball – South Christian @ Wyoming

Boys Basketball Semifinals

– Class C @ MSU

– Class D @ MSU

Girls Soccer – Saugatuck @ Godwin Heights

Girls Tennis – Zeeland West @ Wyoming

Friday March 21, 2014

Girls Tennis – Scrimmage – East Kentwood @ Riverview

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ Ann Arbor Pioneer Tourney

Boys Basketball Semifinals

– Class A @ MSU

– Class B @ MSU

Boys Baseball

– West Michigan Lutheran @ Godwin Heights

– Tri-Unity @ Godwin Heights

Girls Soccer – Wellsprings Prep @ Godwin Heights

Saturday March 22, 2014

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ Ann Arbor Pioneer Tourney

Girls Soccer – Scrimmage – @ East Kentwood

Girls Tennis – South Christian Sailor Invite

Boys Basketball – Class A, B, C, D Finals @ MSU

Monday March 24, 2014

Girls Soccer

– FH Central @ East Kentwood

– South Christian @ GR Christian

– Tri-Unity Christian @ Godwin Heights

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ West Ottawa

Boys Baseball

– Byron Center @ South Christian

– Cedar Springs @ Godwin Heights

Girls Softball

– Byron Center @ South Christian

– Cedar Springs @ Godwin Heights

Tuesday March 25, 2014

Girls Tennis – East Kentwood @ Caledonia

Boys Lacrosse – South Christian @ Caledonia

Girls Soccer

– Wyoming Lee @ Lakewood

– Tri-Unity @ Potter’s House

– Mona Shores @ Wyoming

Boys Baseball

– Wyoming Lee @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ Holland Calvary

– Zion Christian @ Covenant Christian

Wednesday March 26, 2014

Boys Track

– East Kentwood @ Saline Spring Preview at U of M

– Tri-Unity @ Marcellus Invitational

– Wyoming @ Wayland

Girls Track

– East Kentwood @ Saline Spring Preview at U of M

– Tri-Unity @ Marcellus Invitational

– Wyoming @ Wayland

Girls Soccer

– South Christian @ East Kentwood

– Godwin Heights @ Covenant Christian

Girls Water Polo– East Kentwood @ East Grand Rapids

Boys Baseball

– Grandville @ South Christian

– Godwin Heights @ Coopersville

– Caledonia @ Wyoming

Girls Softball – Grandville @ South Christian

– Caledonia @ Wyoming

Boys Golf – Calvin Christian @ Wyoming

Thursday March 27, 2014

Girls Water Polo – Portage Central @ East Kentwood

Boys Lacrosse – Holland @ South Christian

Boys Baseball

– Zion Christian @ Wyoming Lee

– Tri-Unity @ Algoma Christian

Girls Soccer

– Wyoming Lee @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ Saugatuck

– Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids

Girls Tennis – Wayland @ Wyoming

Girls Softball – Lowell @ Wyoming

Girls Track – Wyoming @ Kelloggsville

Boys Track – Wyoming @ Kelloggsville

Friday March 28, 2014

Boys Baseball – Godwin Heights @ Zion Christian

Boys Golf – Fremont @ Wyoming

Saturday March 29, 2014

Girls Tennis

– East Kentwood @ Wayland Invite

– Wyoming @ Wayland Invite

– Kelloggsville @ Wayland Invite

Girls Soccer – East Kentwood @ Portage Northern Invite

Boys Track

– Wyoming Lee @ Sturgis

– Kelloggsville @ Allegan

Girls Track

– Wyoming Lee @ Sturgis

– Kelloggsville @ Allegan

Monday March 31, 2014

Girls Softball

– East Kentwood vs GR Christian @ Davenport

– Tri-County @ Godwin Heights

Girls Soccer

– GR Christian @ East Kentwood

– South Christian @ Hudsonville

– Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins

– Allendale @ Wyoming

– Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian

– Zion Christian @ Potter’s House

Boys Baseball

– East Kentwood vs GR Christian @ Davenport

– South Christian @ Jenison

– Wyoming Lee @ Union

– Tri-County @ Godwin Heights

– Holland Black River @ Tri-Unity

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ FH Central

Girls Tennis – Wyoming @ Middleville T-K

Bar Divani dishes up delicious!

February 27, 2014Our CitiesBar Divani, Chef Jeff Baird, Cool Brews. Hot Eats., Dragon's Milk, New Holland BreweryJoanne

My compliments to Chef Baird!

by Janice Limbaugh

It may be the dead of winter in West Michigan but that doesn’t mean it’s a buzz kill for fun and lively excursions. Case in point – Cool Brews. Hot Eats. It’s the second year this celebration within a celebration attracts epicurean curiosities from around West Michigan by offering dates with dishes – very special dishes made up of locally crafted beer and fabulous food. After all, retaining the title of Beer City USA, also for the second year, gives greater Grand Rapids restaurateurs more food for thought. The abundance of craft beer varieties provide a greater menu of food pairings for area chiefs. One would think that for a chef, it’s like being a kid in a candy shop with all the possible choices. What comes first – the food or the beer? Time to ask the expert.

Bar Divani Executive Chef Jeff Baird presents his signature dish for Cool Brews. Hot Eats.

Bar Divani Executive Chef Jeff Baird has been on the local restaurant scene for over 23 years, creating culinary delight at well-known Grand Rapids establishments such as Gibsons, The Peninsular Club and Thornapple Village Inn along with SanChez and Rockwell/Republic. For this GRCC culinary graduate, choosing the beer first was a no-brainer. He and his Sous Chef had one month to come up with a Cool Brews. Hot Eats. signature dish. “We had our mind set on Dragon’s Milk from New Holland Brewery. It’s both our favorite beer.” Choosing favorites – that was easy!

Dragon’s Milk is a Bourbon Barrel Stout that New Holland describes as ‘a stout with roasty malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones, all dancing in an oak bath.’ I’ve had this beer on occasion and can attest to that description – even the ‘dancing in an oak bath’ part. I think that’s why I like it.

To create this signature dish, Chef Baird says he started off with flavors he appreciated in the beer then considered food flavors that were opposite fittings.

Bar Divani's Braised Short Ribs, Bourbon Glazed Root Vegetables, Red Dragon Cheddar Mashed Potatoes paired with New Holland's Dragon's Milk. — Bar Divani’s Braised Short Ribs, Bourbon Glazed Root Vegetables, Red Dragon Cheddar Mashed Potatoes paired with New Holland’s Dragon’s Milk.

“The beer itself tastes slightly sweet and slightly bitter; perfect for pairing with braised beef short ribs. It also calls for something intense, like the earthy and robust flavors of roasted root vegetables in a Bourbon glaze balanced with Red Dragon Cheddar Cheese mashed potatoes.”

This statement sent my mind and mouth on an imaginary flavor rush. I mentioned I’ve had this beer before on occasion. This would be another of those occasions. And without a doubt, Chef Baird knew what he was doing with this dish! The combined flavors of the braised beef rib and the Bourbon glaze lent itself perfectly to a Dragon’s Milk finish. But the additional blend of the roasted root vegetables and cheddar mashed potatoes truly unified this pairing. The selection of flavors were deliciously complimentary and satisfying on a bitter cold evening. It was my first partaking in Cool Brews. Hot Eats. and I have to say it was an excellent epicurean adventure! My compliments to Chef Jeff Baird for making it possible.

Make History for Gilda’s LaughFest!

February 25, 2014Non-Profits, Our CitiesJoanne

West Michigan invited to set

New World Record Opening Night

We’re fortunate enough to live in the nation’s first ever community-wide festival of laughter with Gilda’s LaughFest. As in years past, you – the community – are invited to help kick off this year’s festival by attempting to set another Guinness World Record for the most people wearing sunglasses in the dark at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids. All whacky world-record participants will receive official LaughFest sunglasses supplied by Baudville. The hysterical record-setting event will also include giveaways and a photo booth for individual fun. The Guinness World Record attempt will be followed by opening night events at downtown restaurants and a free comedy preview show at the Pyramid Scheme (68 Commerce Ave.) at 10 p.m. The show includes a sneak peak of local, regional, and national comedians who will be featured during the 10-day festival. Meanwhile, back to the community contest…

The current Guinness World Record for largest number of people wearing sunglasses in the dark was achieved in July 2012 by 1,642 participants at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill. C’mon West Michigan – WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!

THURSDAY, MARCH 6

Laughfest Kickoff at Rosa Parks Circle, downtown GR

5:30/6 p.m. – Pre-kickoff activities, line-up

7 p.m. – World record practice and preliminary instructions

7:15 p.m. – Official attempt to break the existing record

“This is going to be seriously fun,” says Wendy Wigger, president of Gilda’s LaughFest and Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. “This free event will help set the stage for ten days of laughter for the health of it. And what better way to shun the winter blues than with the optimistic donning of bright yellow sunglasses!”

During last year’s kick off, 1,532 individuals put on false mustaches to set the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people wearing fake mustaches at a single venue. In 2012, 607 people wore chicken beaks and performed the chicken dance to set the record for the greatest number of people wearing animal noses. In 2011, 925 rubber chickens were tossed in downtown Grand Rapids, shattering the previous record of 265 set near Boston, Mass.

For the preview show, a suggested $5 donation to Gilda’s Club will be collected at the door. Fast passes are available for these shows at LaughFest Central, which will guarantee the holder a seat at the show as long as they are seated 15 minutes prior to start time. Tickets are also available for the Clean Comedy Showcase at The BOB at 8pm that night – tickets are $17.50 and $32.50 (includes dinner.)

LaughFest 2014 will be held in Grand Rapids, Lowell, and Holland from March 6 through March 16. LaughFest headliners include: Jay Leno, Jim Gaffigan, Lily Tomlin, Sinbad, Mike Birbiglia, and Chris Tucker. Other acts announced include: Maria Bamford, Miranda Sings, Todd Barry, Rory Scovel, and Nick Thune, The Tenderloins, Judah Friedlander, Jen Kirkman, Blackout Diaries, and the stars of MTV’s Guy Code. New and returning activities include FUNderwear 5K, Seriously Funny Family Adventure Challenge, and People and Pets. Showcases and competitions include: Best of the Midwest, National Stand-up Comedy Showcase, and Clean Comedy Showcase.

Gilda’s LaughFest was created by a team at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids in 2011. Since inception, LaughFest has averaged 55,000 attendees per year. Proceeds from the festival will go to support the free cancer, grief, and emotional health programs offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Visit www.laughfestgr.org, or call 616-735-HAHA (4242) to learn more about Gilda’s LaughFest.

Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids provides free emotional healthcare to children adults, families and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving the death of someone in their life due to any cause. The comprehensive program, delivered by licensed healthcare professionals includes education, structured sharing times, networking, lectures, workshops and social activities. Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is one of the largest and busiest of the 52 affiliates in North America. 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 in five community centers. For more information, visit www.gildasclubgr.org.

Kent County Search and Rescue–Saving Lives one step at a time!

February 22, 2014Local Faces, Our CitiesKent County Search and RescueJoanne

By Laurence Pierson

It is two o’clock in the morning. The weather outside is cold and wet. The alarm on the cell phone goes off signaling that a search is getting underway. What type of person would leave the warm comfort of their home to begin searching a remote and sometimes treacherous area in order to find a missing child? The type of person who is willing to make the sacrifice needed to save the life of a missing person– that’s the type of person that the Search and Rescue team of Kent County is looking for.

I have often wondered who the people were that I have seen on the local news conducting searches. I recently attended an open house for the Search and Rescue team to find out more about them. It was a certainly an eye opening experience. My contact person was Brian Toronyi. He has been a member for 4 years and is the deputy director and HR representative.

The group consists of about 70 volunteer members and they work in close coordination with the Kent County Sheriff Office. Last year they conducted 16 searches with an average team size of 50 people. The Kent County group is considered to be the best in the state and one of the Midwest’s leading organizations. They set a standard of excellence and provide training for other Search and Rescue organizations.

Their searches are treated as a law enforcement matter and are held to a high degree of confidentiality. The missing people are often young children, or an elderly person suffering from dementia. Sometimes the missing subject is autistic, despondent or suicidal. In some cases the person is missing but does not want to be found. Before a search begins, the team needs to analyze the profile of the search subject in order to refine the search requirements. In fact there is a book, “Lost Person Behavior” that helps develop the search method for different types of individuals. A successful search may have a happy ending, or it may not. The subject might not be found alive or may be the victim of a crime. If an elderly person wanders off, there is only a 50-50 chance that they will survive for 24 hours. Search and Rescue is a very serious business conducted by highly trained and dedicated individuals.

The open house I attended is used to recruit new members who can strengthen the team. Most of the folks in attendance wanted to find a way to help their community as an active participant. They were looking for a new challenge and new skills which could be put to use in helping others. However, you cannot just walk in and sign up. This is a very exclusive group looking for only the best people.

Here are some of the first steps you will take on your way to becoming a team member. Upon passing a background check and gaining acceptance into the program, you are a considered to be a probationary member. You will become a licensed amateur radio operator, will receive training in first aid, CPR, crime scene awareness, extraction and rescue and many other areas. You will learn to work with their dogs. (The bloodhound Emma was in attendance at this meeting). You will take part in field exercises and earn many certifications. Eventually you may receive national certification. The initial probation period takes 3 to 6 months and usually requires 40 hours of training. If you think all of this sounds fun, you will love the activity coming up next month, winter survival training. How about a camp out in February–especially in the type of weather we have been having as of late.

The training is not easy, and it is not meant to be. This team needs people they can rely on, people who are truly dedicated to their mission. It will take about 18 months to become fully trained. At that point you are a full team member with many opportunities to continue with your training and growth in this challenging endeavor.

I came away from the meeting with a great sense of pride in the work these people do. These are the people who are willing to do the gritty work that often goes unrecognized. They take pride in themselves, their team and the work they do. They willing to take on a mission regardless of the conditions and work their hardest to accomplish the task. Although the demands are great, being part of this team is immensely rewarding. These members experience a sense of camaraderie and develop lifelong friendships. But most importantly, their dedication provides us with a resource we can rely on should a loved one be missing.

Save time in line at Secretary of State offices starting now!

February 20, 2014Local Business, Our CitiesMichigan's Secretary of State officesJoanne

By Gisgie Dávila Gendreau

Ever stood in line for hours at the Secretary of State office and become frustrated, irritable and impatient? Those frustrations can now be alleviated.

Don’t want to wait in person? MI-TIME Line allows customers to check in online, or by phone, to hold their place in line at their local branch Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today announced that 10 of the busiest Secretary of State offices will pilot innovative customer service technology to reduce wait times by letting customers schedule appointments and get in line from a home computer, with a phone call or via text message.

It will even call or send a text message when the customer is about to be called. Customers who don’t have a mobile phone can stop by the office, check in at a special MI-TIME Line kiosk and head out of the office to run errands while they wait.

“We all lead busy lives and we know that our customers’ time is important,” said Johnson. “Our MI-TIME Line service will revolutionize how we serve customers in our busiest Secretary of State offices. Now you can get in line online and come to the office just before you’re about to be called. Spend the time you save shopping nearby, running errands or being with family. We’ll let you know when it’s almost your turn.”

Johnson made today’s announcement at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where visitors can interact with the new technology at the Secretary of State display to see how easy it is to use.

The 10 offices that will be using the new system together handle more than two million transactions every year.

The system had a “soft launch” last week in the Flint Area SUPER!Center and the Capital Area SUPER!Center in Lansing and Secretary of State officials say it’s been well received by customers.

It will debut in the coming weeks in five other SUPER!Centers, which are among the largest and busiest offices, including Clinton Township, Detroit, Livonia and Pontiac. Offices in Southfield, Taylor and Troy also will shortly feature the service.

The Secretary of State’s website at www.michigan.gov/sos will have links to the participating offices and customers can also find participating offices on the Branch Office Locator by searching for “Get in Line Online” offices.

To offer this cutting-edge customer-service technology, the Secretary of State’s Office partnered with United States-based QLess, whose line-management service has been successfully used by other driver and motor vehicle agencies, amusement parks, shopping malls, and health care and educational facilities to reduce wait times.

“We are excited to have our service used in the busiest Michigan Secretary of State offices,” said QLess CEO and Founder Alex Bäcker. “QLess has saved customers across the globe more than 370 years from waiting in line, and we look forward to saving Michigan residents’ time and making their visits to a Secretary of State office more enjoyable. With the MI-TIME Line technology, people can get in line from home and be notified when it’s time to head in without waiting long in the lobby.

”The North American International Auto Show runs through Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Cobo Center. The Michigan Secretary of State display, including the full-service Mobile Office, is on the concourse outside of the Macomb Hall entrance. The Mobile Office is ready to serve customers at the show and will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends and noon to 6 p.m. on weekdays. On Sunday, the office will be open until 7 p.m.

The new technology is the latest in Johnson’s efforts to improve customer service. In 2011, she launched ExpressSOS.com to offer some of the department’s most popular services online. As part of ExpressSOS.com, customers can use the special Print-and-Go service that allows customers to print off a proof of purchase for tabs to carry until their tabs arrive in the mail.

Johnson also partnered with Michigan retail giant Meijer to install self-serve kiosks in two of their stores.

Invisible Hero Rescues Invisible Population

February 19, 2014Local Faces, Our CitiesJoanne

by Michele Smith-Aversa

Rigsby Shoulder — Rigsby (on shoulder) gives kisses for a Selfie.

Since 2005, Gina Marvin has saved over 900 lives – for free. She is the voice for those who have been abused in ways many of us can’t imagine. She is an invisible hero to what she calls an invisible population.

Gina Marvin is the founder of Focus on Ferals Trap-Neuter-Return and No-Kill Adoption Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan (www.focusonferals.org). She is on a crusade to improve the quality of life for feral cats in West Michigan and humanely reduce and control their population through the process of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). TNR consists of the humane trapping, sterilization, and return of feral cats to their familiar habitat.

“I love feral cats.” Gina says. “I respect their wild nature. But feral cats breed unwanted kittens, who just breed more unwanted kittens. The way the public has dealt with this issue in the past is to kill the unwanted cats. The methods used are sometimes horrific.” Gina contends that reducing their birth rate is actually more cost effective – and humane. As a community working together, the problem can be eliminated.

A Typical Day

Kitties just want to be loved! Jake Owen (foreground), Belen (center), Brielle (right)

There is no typical day for Gina. “I can spend anywhere between one and five hours per day doing activities for Focus on Ferals (FOF). I like to say things get done in a ‘which fire is burning the hottest right now’ sort of way.”

Gina gets calls every day from people asking for help with anything from a stray cat to an abandoned litter of kittens. Some days she spends more time out in the field trapping feral cats (for TNR), giving them medical attention or food. Some days she is at the No-Kill Adoption Center on Knapp where stray adult cats and feral kittens are brought in, socialized and adopted out. And some days she is at home buried in the paperwork that comes with running a struggling non-profit organization.

Another Hero

Gina received a distress call on an unusually bitter November evening in 2010. The caller was a soft spoken man who lived in an area hotel known for housing people on parole or probation. However, the hotel did not allow pets. This man, Norm*, told Gina that the management was tired of the feral cat problem around the hotel, had already rounded up 20 of the cats and taken them to an animal shelter – where feral cats do not make it out alive.

This handsome guy is Neville who is known to fetch and play growl. Photo by Rebekah Dietrache

Norm spotted two kittens that were caught in a live trap. Worried that after several hours they would freeze to death, he snuck them into his room and called Gina. By the time she arrived, Norm had been forced to move the tiny kittens back outside to his rusted out pick-up truck because management was coming around for room checks. When Gina checked his truck, she saw a shoebox with litter, two tiny dishes with food and water, and even a few toys for the kittens to play with.

Gina was immeasurably moved. Norm had his own problems and very little money. But he rescued the condemned kittens because it was the right thing to do. Gina still smiles when she thinks of his selflessness. “These two kittens were headed for their deaths. But an ordinary person stepped in and changed that course.” The kittens were brought to the shelter, named Tater and Tot, and were eventually adopted out together.

Rescues Despite Risk

Gina has executed her share of covert rescues to protect and save a cat. In this economy, foreclosures have become a reality for an increasing number of families. When they leave their homes, they abandon their memories, clothing and sometimes even their pets. Gina remembers one cat in particular named Ellie. When the family left, they locked Ellie in the house with broken furniture, trash, moldy food and no useable litter box. An animal cannot survive for long in those hazardous conditions. Gina felt that she had no other choice; she broke a window, climbed into the house and saved Ellie’s life.

Meet Porkchop. He has his own page on www.petfinder.com. Photo by Rebekah Dietsche

Getting a pet is a long-term commitment. Unfortunately, some people do not take the commitment seriously. “As a nation,” Gina says, “we still have the mentality that animals are disposable.” Gina works to change that mentality, but the animals’ safety and welfare always come first.

No end in sight

If Gina lost everything she owned, she would still continue her crusade. The shelter demands supplies, paperwork, volunteers, building maintenance, public relations – and money. Lots of it. But she will never lose sight of the big picture. Improving the lives of cats and kittens is the mission. She struggles with the knowledge that she can’t save them all. But that makes her more determined to do everything she can for the ones she does save.

There is a sign in the shelter that expresses exactly how Gina feels –

“Saving the life of one animal may not change the world, but the world will surely change for that one animal.”

Visit our website http://www.focusonferals.org/ if you:

Are interested in making a donation/sponsoring a cat or want to obtain an adoption application.

See our available cats and kittens http://www.focusonferals.org/our-kitties/

Visit our No Kill Adoption Center Thursdays 6-8pm and Sundays 12-2pm http://www.focusonferals.org/our-adoption-center/

Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/FocusOnFerals where you can read success stories and see photos and videos of the kitties at the Adoption Center!

Seriously…Spring IS Coming!

February 19, 2014Our CitiesSpringJoanne

by Sue Dixon

Okay, so we got 6 inches of snow two days ago. And yes, the snow mound in front of my house is almost as high as the roof on the front porch, but I saw FIVE robins just the other day when I was driving to the mall!

It’s difficult to remember what green grass looks like I know, but the recent days have been sunnier and this week we are supposed to have a high temperature near 40! These are all good signs that Spring is on its way.

So put on a coat, and go stand outside today just for a few minutes. Don’t clean your car off, or shovel your walk. Just stand and let the sun shine on your face. Listen for the birds; they are becoming more vocal now. Breathe in and remember what it smells like when the earth is warm and a gentle rain has just fallen. Imagine the buds erupting on the trees. Remember how bright green the new grass is and how everything just looks so fresh and new. Open your eyes and maybe say “hi” to a neighbor or the mailman.

Spring IS Coming. Yes, before we know it……..we just have to be patient!

Grassroots ‘Warmth Warriors’ Offer Comfort to Downtown’s Homeless

February 17, 2014Local Faces, Our CitiesBe the change, grassroots, homeless, ministries, Warmth WarriorsJoanne

by Janice Limbaugh

These are the kind of stories I love to share – humble, inspiring, and motivational. It’s a call, or rather a scream, to action to help others.

Warmth Warriors taking it to the streets of GR last Thursday.

The “others” in this story are the homeless of downtown Grand Rapids.

It’s hard for anyone to ignore the harsh conditions we’ve experienced this winter. The brutal weather over the last couple months has had little positive impact on most people’s lives in West Michigan. I’m sticking with the positive notion that all this bluster will eventually raise the lake levels. But between all the accidents and slide offs, the round-the-clock snow removal routine, and the cabin fever epidemic, there’s been little good to say about the season. Until now.

Kerri Banyas of Hudsonville and Rhiannon Bosse of Rockford are two Facebook friends who paid close attention to the weather like everyone else. But with every mind-numbing forecast they thought of something else – the survival of the homeless.

“Every time a storm would hit, I’d wonder and worry, how are they ever going to survive?” says Banyas, admitting it was God’s whispers to her heart that finally made her take action. “I got tired of wondering so I talked about it with my Facebook friends and the obvious came up – ‘Let’s go hand out blankets!”

That was three weeks ago. Coincidentally (or not as God does work in mysterious ways), one of the women, Amber Brooks, has a photography studio called 87 Orange Photography on Division near Degage Ministries – a perfect location for the troops to rally. For now, Thursday evenings seem to be a good meeting time for the Warriors to gather and distribute protection from the cold. So far, these volunteers are all women, most of them moms, who come from all parts of greater Grand Rapids, plus Holland and Cascade, to distribute cups of hot coffee while offering blankets, hats, gloves and socks to the homeless along Division.

“At first, we gave away things we weren’t using at home,” explains Banyas. “I, myself, only had two blankets to donate. We knew we had to get more items to give out every week in order to keep this effort going.”

That’s when Bosse, the social media expert of the bunch, dedicated a Facebook page to the effort of “Warmth Warriors.”

Now Banyas says it is taking off.

Donations to Warmth Warriors have to be sorted and organized before distribution. Photo by Kerri Banyas

“The word is getting out and people from all over Grand Rapids have been contacting us, asking how they can contribute. We’ve been able to collect coats, blankets, socks, hats and gloves to pass out to people in the area.

“Now all this effort is based on other people giving. It’s amazing how much other people want to help!”

She explains that because Warmth Warriors is based on social media, donations are being picked up by the volunteers. Every Thursday afternoon, the group meets to sort out the donated items, make coffee to hand out, and divides clothing into categories to distribute.

“They are so grateful for anything we give them,” Banyas says. “Often we meet a person wearing rags, certainly not appropriate for this weather, and offer them something warmer and they say, ‘Oh no thanks, I know someone who needs that more than I do – but I’ll take a coffee.’ My heart just goes out to these people – It is so humbling.”

Warmth Warriors has been established for just three weeks and is growing in popularity every day. Banyas admits she doesn’t know where this will all lead, but for now, they are thrilled to be contacted to pick up donations. She recently added a link on their Facebook page to gofundme.com a fundraising web source for charitable organizations. Banyas says it helps them securely track donations from people wanting to help monetarily. “I’m fine if no one donates money though,” adds Banyas. “We’d rather have blankets, hats and gloves – and socks! They love warm socks! So many are wearing shoes that are worn out and filled with holes – a pair of warm socks really helps.”

Banyas points out that Warmth Warriors is not out to undermine the downtown ministries that are already there, nor do they want to enable homelessness. “There a a lot of great ministries here but they can’t do it all and they know that. We’ve actually been encouraged by Downtown Ministries for what we’re doing – basically walking down the street handing out coffee and blankets. We hope we can inspire others to do the same.”

For now, Warmth Warriors are focusing on assisting the homeless downtown, but that doesn’t mean that’s where they’ll stay. “As a matter of fact, we are trying to locate other areas where homeless people gather to reach out to them. This effort can really go any where there is a need,” Banyas says.

To find out more and how you can become involved in this effort, visit the Warmth Warriors Facebook page.

Metro Health Expands with New Construction

February 17, 2014Community Health, Local Business, Our CitiesJoanne

New Services Better Serve Patients and Families

by Ellen Bristol

Metro Health is growing again.

The award-winning leader in community healthcare has four expansion projects in the works including breaking ground on a new construction project, building out another facility designed to meet the growing needs of patients, families and physicians, and opening a new office building. Metro Health also opened its new outpatient surgery center late last month in the Metro Health Park East.

When all four projects are completed, Metro Health will have added more than 230,000 square feet of new space for surgery, family and specialty practices, urgent care, medical and staff offices, conference rooms and additional needs.

“This investment in new convenient and accessible facilities will allow us to accommodate our continued growth,” said Mike Faas, president and CEO of Metro Health. “Our new Metro Health Park East location, which joins our network of neighborhood outpatient centers and a surgery center in downtown Grand Rapids, exemplifies our philosophy of meeting patient needs close to their homes.

“Anchored by our hospital and Village in the South, Metro Health continues to add facilities, programs and specialty practices to provide our community with choice in where – and from whom – to receive healthcare services. Our new facilities will give us room to grow in the coming years.”

The new projects are:

Metro Hosp 2 — Photos provided by Metro Health

• Metro Health Park East, which will initially occupy 20,500 square feet – or a quarter of the existing facility at 4055 Cascade Road in Grand Rapids – with its new ambulatory surgery center. The new facility, which will hold an open house for the public and employees on Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 3-8 p.m., features three surgical suites, 23 pre- and post-op beds and space for additional growth. Later this year, Metro will open its second Wound Healing Center in the new facility as well as its first urgent care center. By the close of 2016, Metro will have moved into the remaining space as the sole occupant of the facility, which was built in 2007.

• Expansion of the current Professional Building at the Metro Health Village in Wyoming. Metro plans to break ground on a new 99,400-square foot building later this month and anticipates a move-in date in early 2015. Located at 2122 Health Drive SW, the expansion will join the existing 60,000-square foot Professional Building, which is home to medical services such as neurology and neurosurgery, pulmonology, spine care, infectious disease and the original Wound Healing Center. In addition to medical facilities, the building also houses many support functions for the hospital, including risk management, legal, marketing, development, volunteer services and physician services.

• Relocation of the Metro Health Community Clinic to a new facility it will share with Hope Network at 781 36th Street SW in Wyoming. The Community Clinic currently provides comprehensive medical services to the under-served in West Michigan, including low-income women and immigrants. It is also home to Metro’s residency programs, which has 40+ doctors in family medicine, internal medicine, ob-gyn, general surgery and urology. When completed in May, the Community Clinic will occupy more than 16,000 square feet of space in its new location and continue to provide ultra-sound, X-ray, urology and other healthcare services. The Community Clinic offers a maternal-infant health program, emergency food pantry, on-site social worker, prescription assistance program and others. Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Hospital will provide dental services at the location, while Ferris State University provides hands-on teaching experience for its pharmacy students.

Additionally, in December, Metro Health moved into its new Innovation Center at 985 Gezon Parkway SW in Wyoming. Metro has signed a long-term lease for 33,320 square feet of office and conference room space in the new facility, which is a short drive from Metro Health Village. The Innovation Center will allow Metro to consolidate support functions such as information technology, billing and patient financial services, the professional health organization and medical group operations, among others.

“We are committed to partnering with other innovative leaders to provide healthcare services to our patients, and the relocation of the Community Clinic is testament to that,” Faas said. “We are also committed to expanding our geographic footprint to better serve our growing patient base and are in the position of strength to do so. These new locations help us focus on how healthcare should be delivered in the future, as well as making sure the healthcare of today is accessible, high quality and financially efficient.

“We posted strong financial results in 2013. We added new patients and physicians, expanded our services, posted excellent outcomes and gave back to the community. We have made ourselves ready to tackle the new challenges of healthcare reform and are investing in the people, equipment and facilities that will help us remain a healthcare leader in West Michigan.”

City of Wyoming Announces 2014 Citizens Academy

February 13, 2014Our Citiescitizen academy, City of Wyoming, leadershipJoanne

by Erin Nemastil

The City of Wyoming is accepting applications for participation in the 2014 Citizens Academy – a unique opportunity for residents to learn about the City of Wyoming government including how it works and how it impacts neighborhoods. Residents will gain knowledge that will help promote leadership in the community while City administrators gather feedback to consider when making decisions that impact Wyoming residents.

This four-week course will take place on Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. from March 18 through April 8. Classes will be held in various locations across the city including City Hall, the Department of Public Safety Building and the City Public Works Facility. Each class will focus on specific areas of City operation. Participants will learn from and make connections with City of Wyoming subject-matter experts including Mayor Jack Poll, City Manager Curtis Holt, Director of Public Safety James Carmody and others.

Topics will include:

• Tuesday, March 18 – City Administration

• Tuesday, March 25 – Public Safety

• Tuesday, April 1 – Public Works and Utilities

• Tuesday, April 8 – Community Services

• Monday, April 21 – Recognition Ceremony

“Graduates” of the Citizens Academy will receive a certificate of completion and be recognized at the April 21 City Council Meeting.

Interested residents should contact Jennifer Ballard to RSVP by phone at 530-7272 or by email at ballardj@wyomingmi.gov. Include your name, address, phone number and email address. For further information, call the City of Wyoming at 530-7272, or visit the City website at www.wyomingmi.gov. You can find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofWyoming, and on Twitter @WyomingCityHall.

Cool Brews. Hot Eats.

February 11, 2014Local Business, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Upcoming EventsCool Brews. Hot Eats.Joanne

By Emily Richett

Beer City USA will once again host foodies and beer lovers from all over Michigan and the country to celebrate Cool Brews. Hot Eats. in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The second annual event runs from February 17 to March 1 at more than 50 restaurants and breweries in the Grand Rapids area. Cool Brews. Hot Eats. encourages talented local chefs and master brewers to collaborate, creating beer-infused dishes using beer as an ingredient, or meals with complementary beer pairings. The event returns after a successful launch in 2013 with participating businesses reporting a 20-60 percent sales increase during the event.

“While the inaugural event in 2013 was a very successful venture for us and those who participated, we expect an even better outcome in 2014,” says Doug Small, president and CEO of Experience Grand Rapids. “The Grand Rapids area beer scene has thrived over the past year and with that, our ever popular dining scene continues to tempt foodies from throughout the region; together, these two cultures collide to give even the most experienced beer aficionado and most discriminating culinary fans a wonderful experience.”

Cool Brews. Hot Eats. blends craft beer and fantastic food- two things that make Grand Rapids a popular destination. Thousands of visitors are expected to travel to Grand Rapids during the two-week long event and many will celebrate at Beer Week and the sold-out 9th Annual Winter Beer Festival on February 22. Visitors can also plan a self-guided craft beer tour on the Experience GR website’s “Beer Page” to experience why Grand Rapids was named one of the Top 10 Best Vacation Cities for Beer Lovers.

“Grand Rapids continues to evolve as a city that is being recognized as a destination that caters to a wide range of visitor interests,” says Doug Small, president and CEO of Experience Grand Rapids. “Events such as ArtPrize attract nearly half a million visitors annually. In addition, we have a celebrated earth-to-table restaurant scene, an award-winning craft beer culture, vibrant art and cultural communities and easy access to the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. This gives our destination a vibe that is usually reserved for much larger cities.”

For a list of all the participating restaurants and menus:

http://www.experiencegr.com/events/brews-eats/

Craft beer tour map:

http://www.experiencegr.com/things-to-do/tours/beer/

Local Sports Schedule for February

February 7, 2014Our Cities, RecreationJoanne

by Mike Moll

There is still a full month of boys basketball before March Madness begins and the girls have three regular season weeks remaining before beginning their version of March Madness the last week of February. There are many make up games as a result of the weather cancellations so check out our schedules to see when and where your school is playing. Hockey, wrestling, girls competitive cheer, and bowling all have their state tournaments this month to conclude their 2013 – 2014 seasons. Support your local high school athletes in person if possible but also check the listings for WKTV to see the various sporting events brought to you each week at various days and times.

Monday February 3, 2014

Coed Bowling

– Grandville @ East Kentwood

– Rockford @ Godwin Heights

– Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins

– Forest Hills Northern @ Potter’s House

– Wyoming @ Sparta

– NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville

Girls Gymnastics – East Kentwood @ Rockford

Girls Competitive Cheer – Godwin Heights / Kellogsville @ Wyoming Lee

Boys Baskeball – Wyoming @ Cedar Springs

Girls Basketball – Cedar Springs @ Wyoming

Tuesday February 4, 2014

Boys Swimming – Holland Christian @ South Christian

Coed Bowling

– South Christian @ Unity Christian

– Grand Haven @ East Kentwood

– Grandville @ Wyoming

Boys Basketball

– Wayland @ South Christian

– Grandville @ East Kentwood

– Hopkins @ Godwin Heights

– Kent City @ Wyoming Lee

– Potter’s House @ Zion Christian

– Calvin Christian @ Tri-Unity

– West Michigan Lutheran @ Kalamazoo Heritage Christian

– Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian

Girls Basketball

– South Christian @ Wayland

– East Kentwood @ Grandville

– Godwin Heights @ Hopkins

– Wyoming Lee @ Kent City

– Potter’s House @ Zion Christian

– Hudsonville @ Tri-Unity

– Wyoming @ Calvin Christian

– NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville

Wednesday February 5, 2014

Coed Bowling

– East Kentwood @ Rockford

– Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian

– Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian

Boys Wrestling – Team Districts

– East Kentwood @ Wyoming

– Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville

Girls Basketball

– West Ottawa @ East Kentwood

– Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee

Boys Basketball

– West Ottawa @ East Kentwood

– Godwin Heights @ Spring Lake

– Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins

– Grattan Academy @ West Michigan Lutheran

Girls Competitive Cheer

– East Kentwood @ Grandville Bulldog Invite

– Godwin Heights / Wyoming Lee / Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian

– Wyoming @ Comstock Park – OK Blue Jamboree

Thursday February 6, 2014

Coed Bowling – South Christian @ Middleville T-K

Boys Swimming – Grandville @ East Kentwood

Girls Basketball

– Tri-Unity @ Western Michigan Christian

– Covenant Christian @ Grand River Prep

Boys Basketball – Covenant Christian @ Grand River Prep

Friday February 7, 2014

Girls Basketball

– South Christian @ Catholic Central

– East Kentwood @ Grand Haven

– Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee

– Freedom Christian @ Potter’s House

– Wyoming @ Belding

– Heritage Christian Academy @ Zion Christian

– Covenant Christian @ Grand River Prep

Boys Basketball

– South Christian @ Catholic Central

– East Kentwood @ Grand Haven

– Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee

– Freedom Christian @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ Western Michigan Christian

– Black River @ West Michigan Lutheran

– Wyoming @ Belding

– Heritage Christian Academy @ Zion Christian

– Covenant Christian @ Grand River Prep

Boys Swimming

– East Kentwood @ TBD – MISCA Meet

Boys Hockey – East Kentwood @ TBD – MHSHPS

Saturday February 8, 2014

Boys Basketball

– Caledonia @ South Christian

– Kent City @ Godwin Heights

– Zion Christian @ Wellsprings Prep

Girls Basketball

– Caledonia @ South Christian

– Kent City @ Godwin Heights

– Zion Christian @ Wellsprings Prep

Boys Swimming– East Kentwood @ TBD – MISCA Meet

Coed Bowling

– East Kentwood / Wyoming Lee / Potter’s House @ West Catholic Invitational

– Potter’s House @ Ravenna

– Wyoming @ Hudsonville Invite

Boys Wrestling

– Individual Districts – East Kentwood / Wyoming @ Grand Haven

– Godwin Heights / Kelloggsville @ Portland

Boys Hockey – East Kentwood @ TBD – MHSHPS

Girls Competitive Cheer – East Kentwood / Wyoming @ Deltaplex – PR Cheer

Monday February 10, 2014

Coed Bowling

– Catholic Central @ South Christian

– East Kentwood @ Hudsonville – OK Red Jamboree

– Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee

– Forest Hills Eastern @ Potter’s House

– Coopersville @ Wyoming

– Kelloggsville @ Kent City

Girls Basketball

– East Kentwood @ Union

– Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville

– Kent City @ Wyoming Lee

– WM Academy Of Environmental Science @ Zion Christian

– Grand River Prep @ Freedom Christian

Boys Basketball

– Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville

– Wyoming Lee @ Kent City

– Grand River Prep @ Freedom Christian

Girls Competitive Cheer

– Wyoming Lee @ FH Central

– Kelloggsville @ Hastings

Tuesday February 11, 2014

Boys Basketball

– Zeeland West @ South Christian

– Catholic Central @ East Kentwood

– Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights

– Kalamazoo Heritage Christian @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ West Catholic

– West Michigan Lutheran @ Freedom Christian

– Coopersville @ Wyoming

– Holland Calvary @ Zion Christian

Girls Basketball

– South Christian @ Zeeland West

– Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee

– Kalamazoo Heritage Christian @ Potter’s House

– Wellsprings Prep @ Tri-Unity

– Wyoming @ Coopersville

– Holland Calvary @ Zion Christian

Coed Bowling – OK Red Jamboree @ East Kentwood

Wednesday February 12, 2014

Girls Gymnastics – Kenowa Hills @ East Kentwood

Boys Wrestling – Team Regionals

– East Kentwood @ Caledonia

– Godwin Heights @ TBD

Boys Hockey – Muskegon Mona Shores @ East Kentwood

Coed Bowling

– Hopkins @ Godwin Heights

– Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian

– Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian

Girls Competitive Cheer – Godwin Heights / Wyoming Lee / Kelloggsville @ Hopkins

Girls Basketball – Wyoming @ Comstock Park

Boys Basketball – Wyoming @ Comstock Park

Thursday February 13, 2014

Coed Bowling

– NorthPointe Christian @ South Christian

– East Kentwood @ Grand Haven – OK Red Jamboree

– Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights

Boys Swimming – East Kentwood @ Holland Tri Meet

Girls Basketball – Tri-Unity @ Holland Black River

Friday February 14, 2014

Girls Basketball

– Ottawa Hills @ South Christian

– East Kentwood @ West Ottawa

– Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian

– Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee

– Wyoming @ Allendale

– Kelloggsville @ Kent City

– Freedom Baptist @ Zion Christian

– Western Michigan Christian @ Grand River Prep

Boys Basketball

– Ottawa Hills @ South Christian

– East Kentwood @ West Ottawa

– Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian

– Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee

– Potter’s House @ West Michigan Lutheran

– Wyoming @ Allendale

– Kelloggsville @ Kent City

– Freedom Baptist @ Zion Christian

– Western Michigan Christian @ Grand River Prep

Coed Bowling – East Kentwood @ Rockford – OK Red Jamboree

Girls Competitive Cheer – Districts

– @ East Kentwood

– Godwin Heights @ TBD

– Kelloggsville @ Coopersville

Girls Gymnastics – East Kentwood @ Rockford

Boys Hockey – Catholic Central @ East Kentwood

Saturday February 15, 2014

Coed Bowling – OK Gold

– Green @ Middleville T-K

– Wyoming Lee / Kelloggsville @ Hopkins

– OK Blue @ Grand Valley Lincoln Lanes

Boys Wrestling – Individual Regionals

– East Kentwood @ Rockford

– Godwin Heights @ TBD

Girls Basketball – East Kentwood vs Caledonia @ Davenport University

Boys Basketball – East Kentwood @ FH Northern

Boys Hockey – East Kentwood @ Catholic Central

Girls Competitive Cheer – Wyoming Lee @ Evart

– Districts – Wyoming @ Grand Rapids Christian

Monday February 17, 2014

Coed Bowling – Wyoming Lee @ Potter’s House

Girls Basketball – Zion Christian @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ Muskegon Catholic Central

– Grand River Prep @ NorthPointe Christian

Boys Basketball

– Zion Christian @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ Muskegon Catholic Central

– Grand River Prep @ NorthPointe Christian

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Girls Basketball

– South Christian @ Hastings

– East Kentwood @ Rockford

– Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights

– NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee

– Lansing Christian @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ Fruitport Calvary Christian

– Wyoming @ Sparta

– Kelloggsville @ Hopkins

– Algoma Christian @ Zion Christian

– Grand River Prep @ Western Michigan Christian

Boys Basketball

– Hastings @ South Christian

– Rockford @ East Kentwood

– Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian

– Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian

– West Michigan Lutheran @ Fruitport Calvary

– Wyoming @ Sparta

– Hopkins @ Kellogsville

– Algoma Christian @ Zion Christian

Boys Hockey

– East Kentwood @ Grand Haven

Coed Bowling – Godwin Heights @ Wyoming

Wednesday February 19, 2014

Boys Hockey – Grand Haven @ East Kentwood

Thursday February 20, 2014

Boys Swimming – OK Red Conference Diving Prelims @ Rockford

Boys Basketball – Martin @ Potter’s House

Friday February 21, 2014

Girls Basketball

– South Christian @ Middleville T-K

– East Kentwood @ Hudsonville

– Godwin Heights @ Kent City

– Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins

– Tri-Unity @ Grand River Prep

– Potter’s House @ TBD – Alliance League Cross Over

– Comstock Park @ Wyoming

– Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian

Boys Basketball

– South Christian @ Middleville T-K

– East Kentwood @ Hudsonville

– Godwin Heights @ Kent City

– Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins

– Tri-Unity @ Grand River Prep

– Zion Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran

– Comstock Park @ Wyoming

– Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian

Coed Bowling

– Team Regionals @ Grand Haven

– Potter’s House @ Muskegon Reeths Puffer

– Kelloggsville @ Battle Creek

Boys Swimming – OK Red Prelims @ Rockford

Boys Wrestling – Team State Semi Finals

– East Kentwood @ TBD

– Godwin Heights @ TBD

Boys Hockey

– East Kentwood @ East Grand Rapids

Saturday February 22, 2014

Coed Bowling – Individual Regionals @ Grand Haven

– Potter’s House @ Muskegon Reeths Puffer

Girls Competitive Cheer – State Regionals

– East Kentwood @ TBD

– Godwin Heights @ TBD

Boys Swimming – OK Red Conference Finals @ Rockford

Boys Wrestling – State Finals @ TBD

Boys Basketball – Michigan Lutheran @ West Michigan Lutheran @ Davenport University

Monday February 24, 2014

Girls Basketball – Districts

– East Kentwood vs TBD @ Middleville T-K

– Wyoming Lee vs TBD @ Ravenna

– Potter’s House vs Freedom Christian @ Zion Christian

– Wyoming @ Zeeland East

Boys Basketball – Potter’s House @ Lansing Christian

Tuesday February 25, 2014

Boys Basketball

– South Christian @ Byron Center

– East Kentwood @ Caledonia

– Godwin Heights @ Grand Rapids Christian

– Wyoming Lee @ Algoma Christian

– Wellspring Prep @ Potter’s House

– Hopkins @ Tri-Unity

– Hudsonville @ Wyoming

– Middleville T-K @ Kelloggsville

– West Michigan Aviation Academy @ Zion Christian

Boys Swimming – East Kentwood @ Grand Haven – 2nd Shave Meet

Wednesday February 26, 2014

Girls Basketball – Districts –

– East Kentwood vs TBD @ Middleville T-K

– @ Godwin Heights vs TBD

– Wyoming Lee vs TBD @ Ravenna

– Potter’s House/Freedom Christian vs Tri-Unity @ Zion Christian

– Kelloggsville vs Godwin Heights @ Godwin Heights

Boys Basketball – West Michigan Lutheran vs Gratten Academy

Thursday February 27, 2014

Boys Basketball

– South Christian @ East Kentwood

– Godwin Heights @ Holland

– Potter’s House @ TBD – Alliance League Crossover Game

– Covenant Christian @ Tri-Unity

– Wyoming @ Holland Christian

– Hamilton @ Kelloggsville

– Muskegon Catholic Central @ Grand Rapids Prep

Boys Wrestling – State Individual Finals

– East Kentwood @ TBD

– Godwin Heights @ TBD

Boys Hockey – State Pre-Regionals @ East Kentwood

Friday February 28, 2014

Coed Bowling – Individual State Finals @ Battle Creek

Boys Hockey – State Pre-Regionals @ TBD

Boys Wrestling – State Individual Finals @ TBD

Girls Competitive Cheer – State Finals @ Deltaplex

Girls Basketball – Districts

– East Kentwood vs TBD @ Middleville T-K

– @ Godwin Heights vs TBD

– Wyoming Lee @ Kent City

– @ Zion Christian

Boys Basketball

– Wyoming Lee @ Black River

– Wellspring Prep @ West Michigan Lutheran

Safety tips during extreme winter weather from the City of Wyoming.

February 6, 2014Our CitiesWinter Safety tipsJoanne

By Erin Nemastil

The City of Wyoming Michigan would like residents to take particular care as severe weather conditions continues throughout the year.

The Wyoming Department of Public Safety is asking City residents to stay off of roadways by limiting their travel to immediate need situations when the roads are terrible. Residents should avoid exposure to the cold by limiting their time outdoors. Residents are also being asked to check on neighbors, especially the elderly, who may have a more difficult time dealing with the cold.

When the snow is very heavy the drivable area of streets and roads is already diminished. This causes difficulty not only for plow trucks but for emergency vehicles as well. First responders, police officers, fire fighters, and plow truck operators have requested if at all possible that cars not be parked on the street. If cars must be parked on the street, it is imperative residents comply with the odd-even parking ordinance.

Odd-even parking rules are as follow:

Park on the side of the street in which addresses that are odd or even align with the date being odd or even.

After midnight, your vehicle must be parked on the correct side of the street for that date.

Parked cars will not be ticketed from 7 p.m. to midnight. At any other time, cars must be parked on the correct side of the street according to that day’s date.

Odd-even parking rules apply to all streets in Wyoming that are not already designated “no parking.”

The large volume of snow has required plow trucks to be equipped with a front plow in addition to the underscraper. Front plows throw snow higher and farther. This force can be enough to cause damage or dents to mailboxes, and may even cause a mailbox to be knocked from a post. If a resident’s mailbox has been damaged by this thrown snow, they should contact the Wyoming Department of Public Works at 530-7260.

Drivers should be aware of their surroundings at all times when driving. Motorists who have to travel are reminded to maintain a safe distance behind plow trucks and other vehicles on the roadway.

Children should at no time play on, build forts or make tunnels in snow piles created by plows. Any tunnel or hole in a snow pile may be quickly filled in by snow shifting, being compacted or added.

If you see a fire hydrant that is inaccessible, please report it to Wyoming Fire Services at 530-7250. If residents are able, Wyoming Fire Services has requested assistance in clearing fire hydrants. Attached images show the difficulty of accessing a snow-covered fire hydrant, Fire Fighter Dan Deppe and Lt. Joe Jones demonstrating how to properly clear a fire hydrant and an image that illustrates a properly cleared fire hydrant.

To avoid freezing pipes in a home that has lost power or heat, residents may consider running cold water very slowly and keeping basements warm. In the case of a prolonged loss of power and heat, residents should turn off the water at the meter and open all taps in order to avoid damage caused by freezing pipes. If residents are unsure of this process, they should contact the Utility Billing office at 530-7389 for assistance.

In the event of widespread power outages, City officials have put together contingency plans to open a number of City facilities as temporary warming shelters. Those locations will be later identified if the need arises.

For further information, visit the City website at www.wyomingmi.gov. You can also find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CityofWyoming, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/WyomingCityHall.

All the Write Stuff

February 3, 2014How-To's, Local Faces, Our Citiesnovel, Susie Finkbeiner, writer, writingJoanne

by Kathryn Gray

Have you ever considered the idea of writing an article, a short story, or the Great American novel?

I believe that for many of us there is a writer inside just dying to come out. For many, however, the idea of putting pen to paper remains just that…an idea. Susie Finkbeiner is a local author who followed her dream, having had her first novel “Paint Chips” published in January 2013, who is eagerly awaiting the release of her second book”My Mother’s Camomile” on February 15 this year. I met with Susie to discuss her path to authorship and the secret of her success.

When I think of the word “author” it conjures up images of a wizened old Ernest Hemingway, a primly dressed Jane Austen, or an eerily smiling Stephen King. The image includes the person in a locked office, hunched over a desk with an overflowing ashtray, pounding out page after page on an old typewriter. As a modern writer, Susie Finkbeiner is able to write practically anywhere her laptop can travel; everything she “pens” can be edited and submitted quickly electronically. You will usually find her daily at a local coffee shop, at which she has earned Gold Card status, researching, blogging, or writing her next book. She is disarming with a heart-shaped face, striking blue eyes, and a welcoming smile.

Susie Finkbeiner has always had a love of reading and writing. She began writing children’s plays and adult drama skits in her spare time for her church while serving as the Children’s Minister. Finkbeiner had one of her plays “Merry Chrismukkah” published in 2006 by Eldridge Plays. The impetus for writing her first book evolved from life experience. Through her work with groups like Better Way Imports and the Michigan Abolitionist Project, Finkbeiner became passionate about the young women caught up in the world of human trafficking.

“I didn’t set out to write a social issue book, “ explains Finkbeiner. The story evolved from being educated about sex trafficking as well as meeting and working with women who had first-hand experience with this modern form of slavery.

“Paint Chips” deals with the issues of abuse, betrayal, abandonment, and ultimately redemption. Her extensive character development gave a face and a voice to the many anonymous victims of this crime; exposing this crime takes place not just in far off lands but many times in the community in which we live.When asked if she wrote her first book to evoke a response from her readers, Finkbeiner shakes her head. “I don’t want people to react; I want to encourage thoughtful response and start a dialogue.”

After being published by WhiteFire Publishing in January 2013, first as an electronic book, then as a paperback , it seemed that Finkbeiner’s love of writing as a hobby was becoming something more.

Finkbeiner’s second novel, “My Mother’s Camomile ,” was born out of the death of her husband’s grandmother. For Finkbeiner, the entire small-town experience of her husband’s grandmother being ill in the hospital, coming home to die, and the rituals of the whole funeral process were a “growing experience.” Unlike the trafficking issue, everyone has to deal with death. Her research into the life and commitment of funeral directors captured her mind.

“These men and women are so caring. They work very hard, in most cases 365 days a year, 24 hours a day on call, to ease the pain of each family’s experience.“ It is not a usual job. Even on a social level people shy away from morticians. They are reminders of the fact that death exists. They see people at their worst, both physically and mentally. Even they see themselves as “different” or “other.”

Finkbeiner is a self-described idealist and an eternal optimist. She explains that it comes from her upbringing and the experiences her own family lived through. Her Christian faith plays a strong role in dealing in subject matter that may be challenging or evoke a negative response.

“I write from a position of what is and what can be. I am training myself to see hope and beauty in what is,” she explains. Her philosophy is much like that of author Luis Alberto Urrea which is to “find God in the muck and mire.”

“You have to look for sweetness in the bitterness. In situations that leave you dry and parched, God will provide an oasis of water; just enough to get you through when you again face the dryness that surrounds you.” Mercy, Finkbeiner believes, is the comic relief that enters no matter what the situation or issue. As with her bright personality, Finkbeiner’s writing does include humor, emotional breaks, and human foibles woven through well-thought out characters.

Susie Finkbeiner is a large supporter of others who enjoy writing. She is a founding member of the Kava Writer’s Collective; a group of writers of various backgrounds, ages, and genres who meet to share works in progress and encourage each other. She also has a blog that she contributes to on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She is the first to admit that her path to getting published was unconventional . After sending manuscripts to many publishers and suffering the multiple rejections that many new authors face, it was her blog that actually attracted WhiteFire Publishing. “I was actually contacted by WhiteFire.” says Finkbeiner, “They have a wonderful staff that helped me immensely.” With two books under her belt Finkbeiner is now better equipped to help others approach a career in writing.

As a modern day writer, Susie Finkbeiner wrote her first novel as a stay-at-home mom with 3 children under the age of six. “I would just write while they were playing. When it was nice out I would take the laptop with me when we went outside to play.” While writing “My Mother’s Camomile” Finkbeiner took on the task of home schooling her children. An admitted coffee snob, she would grind her own beans, make a pot of coffee, feed the kids, and start their school lessons. With the little ones set up with their assignments and projects, Finkbeiner would go to her office to write. With the full support of her husband, Finkbeiner laughs as she describes her writing as a family effort. “My kids are my biggest cheerleaders!” Today’s authors come from many walks of life, some with busy careers, some who can devote large chunks of time to their craft.

When asked if she has advice for others who would like to write, Susie smiles like the Cheshire Cat.

1. Read. Read a ton. Read your genre. “If writers don’t read, our craft becomes flabby. Nobody wants flabby prose. Chubby poetry. Muffin-top essays.

2. Write. Get it out! Write something every day, even if it is just the word “something.”

3. Join a writing community. There are many on-line or in-person.

4. Go to conferences. Network with publishers and other writers.

5. Research the market. Find out who publishes your genre.

Susie Finkbeiner acknowledges that she has grown as a writer exponentially in the past several years. She has also gained valuable insight into the publishing industry. Her confidence is evident in her frank discussion style and her passion to do her best. When asked if the she has another book in the works, Finkbeiner is purposely coy. “I do have a book that was partially written before I started to work on My Mother’s Camomile, but I am not mature enough as a writer to do it justice quite yet.” It is this sense of professionalism and patience that impresses me the most. For Susie Finkbeiner her writing is a continuing journey. From the success of Paint Chips to the anticipated release of My Mother’s Camomile it is clear that writing is no longer a hobby for Susie Finkbeiner, it has become a vocation.

Local First Presents LocalMotion Awards

January 29, 2014Local Business, Our CitiesJoanne

Fourth annual awards went to local businesses and individuals that made a significant positive impact on West Michigan’s economy and community in 2013.

by Samantha Vanderberg

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Local First awarded exemplary businesses and individuals with the LocalMotion Awards at their Annual Meeting, presented by Eastern Floral and held at the Goei Center. The LocalMotion Awards were created to recognize businesses and individuals leading the way in building a vibrant, sustainable community. They’re a tool to help shift the “norm” towards sustainable business practices and to educate the community on the unique ways locally owned businesses impact our region. The awards were presented by Local First board members Andy Guy and Emily Loeks.

The winners:

The Triple Bottom Line, Up & Coming Business

This award is presented to a locally owned company that demonstrates a strong commitment to the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) – either through successful outcomes or innovative programs. The compnay must be in business between two and five years. Previous winners include: Brewery Vivant, Dwelltech Solutions, MadCap Coffee. This year’s winner: CityFlatsHotel

CityFlatsHotel, winner of the 2014 Triple Bottom Line Up and Coming Business LocalMotion Award (photo credit: Noun Studios).

Since it’s founding in 2011, CityFlatsHotel Grand Rapids has demonstrated their commitment to the Triple Bottom Line – especially through their building practices. Their recent LEED Gold certification makes them the second hotel in Michigan to receive this prestigious award. Beyond their commitment to the environment, CityFlatsHotel also works to increase their economic impact on the community by sourcing product and food locally as much as possible.

The Triple Bottom Line, Longstanding Business

This award is presented to a locally owned company that demonstrates a strong commitment to the TBL– either through successful outcomes or innovative programs. The company must be locally owned, in business longer than five years, and demonstrate a strong commitment to the TBL– either through successful outcomes or innovative programs. Previous winners include: Founders Brewing Company, Gazelle Sports, Curtis Cleaners. This year’s winner: TerraTrike

TerraTrike, winner of the 2014 Triple Bottom Line Longstanding Business LocalMotion Award (photo credit: Noun Studios).

The world’s largest manufacturer of recumbent tricycles, TerraTrike tries to give back to the earth more than what they take. They are strongly dedicated to Grand Rapids’ future and are a change agent in the community. With both larger buyers and individual customers, and through the product section of their storefront, Terra is an ambassador for West Michigan local businesses. Not only is their product promoting a green lifestyle, their day-to-day business operates in a way that reduces their carbon footprint. They pay their employees living wages and provide a safe & fun work environment.

The Mover & Shaker Award

Spoonlickers-20-2 — Spoonlickers, winner of the 2014 Mover & Shaker LocalMotion Award (photo credit: Noun Studios).

Awarded to the business that demonstrated a significant shift in their supply chain to local over the past twelve months. Previous winners include: Essence Restaurant Group, Ninth Bridge, Wealthy Theatre. This year’s winner: Spoonlickers

Spoonlickers prides themselves on producing 100% all-natural yogurt, exclusively sourced from a local dairy farm. In essence, they’ve created a brand new supply chain. When it’s in season, they purchase local produce for toppings and they create almost all of their toppings in-house. They use local distributers for their other product needs. Not only do they strengthen the relationships between others in our local food system, they increase consumer awareness about the importance of local food here in West Michigan.

The Local Hero Award

This award is presented to an individual or family who has demonstrated a significant shift towards local purchasing and sustainable living. Previous winners include: Christine Helms-Melatic, Julie and Pat Wise, Steve Faber. This year’s winner: Jamiel Robinson

Jamiel Robinson, founder & CEO of Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses, winner of the 2014 Local Hero LocalMotion Award (photo credit: Noun Studios).

As the Founder/CEO of Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses, Jamiel connects business owners together and provides support to businesses trying to become more sustainable. His family shifted their purchasing to support businesses in underserved black neighborhoods, and the Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses created the “30 days 30 dollars” challenge in order to encourage people to spend money at locally owned black businesses. Jamiel has played an integral role in promoting economic equity in black neighborhoods through championing local businesses.

The Change Agent Award

The Change Agent Award is presented to a locally owned business or organization that is growing successfully and can be accredited for revitalizing a neighborhood or business corridor. Previous winners include: LINC, Welcome West, Atomic Object. This year’s winner: 616 Development

616 Development, winner of the 2014 Change Agent LocalMotion Award (photo credit: Noun Studios).

616 Development redevelops buildings and fosters community in urban neighborhoods in and around downtown Grand Rapids. Currently, 616 Development and sister company 616 Lofts operate four full mixed-use historic buildings in downtown Grand Rapids, each of which was renovated from a dilapidated state. Building community is part of their mission – 616 works hard to connect those that live and work in their buildings to the locally-owned businesses nearby, fostering a sense of community self-reliance through each physical redevelopment.

The Guy Bazzani Local Legacy Award

Founders-Laurie-1 — Laurie Beard, President & CEO of Founders Bank & Trust, recipient of the 2014 Guy Bazzani Local Legacy LocalMotion Award (photo credit: Noun Studios).

Recognizing lifetime achievement, this award honors an individual or business dedicated to promoting locally owned businesses and sustainable business practices in West Michigan. Previous winners include: Jaye Van Lenten, Amy Ruis, Rob McCarty & The Image Shoppe. This year’s winner: Laurie Beard, president & CEO of Founders Bank & Trust.

President & CEO of Founders Bank & Trust, Laurie is an outspoken advocate for Local First and local business. With Laurie’s leadership, Founders Bank & Trust has been a charter member of Local First, and she has incorporated Local First ideals into the culture Founders. Laurie’s belief that the bank should seek to enhance life for the community and those who live in it has made Founders Bank a community staple. Laurie is not only an advocate for locally owned businesses, she is a champion of their success.

Nominees were selected through an open call to the public. Any business that is locally owned, locally headquartered, and not publicly traded was eligible for nomination. Individuals eligible for an award must reside in West Michigan. Once nominations were closed, nominees were asked to complete an application and then an independent committee comprised of past winners and community sustainability leaders chose the winners. Over 100 businesses were nominated for the awards with 80 nominees completing the application process.

Local First is a non-profit organization that fosters the development of an economy, grounded in local ownership, which functions in harmony with our ecosystem, meets the basic needs of our people, encourages joyful community life, and builds wealth. For more information on Local First and its efforts to promote a local living economy in West Michigan, please visit www.localfirst.com.

The Dove Foundation – Wyoming’s Hidden Gem

January 28, 2014Non-Profits, Our CitiesThe Dove FoundationJoanne

By Colleen Pierson

Parents are concerned about what their children watch. Whether it is a movie, video, or DVD, there seems to be a lack of family-friendly films and programming elements.

Enter Dick Rolfe, cofounder and CEO of the Dove Foundation. He first started the Dove List in 1990 which had parents review and assign their own ratings to films. Family-friendly is the name of the game.

“We wanted to find clean, pure wholesome entertainment. We started the Dove List and circulated it. Before we knew it an AP reporter got a copy of the list. The Wire service picked it up and our beginnings were written about in 165 newspapers nationwide. We had over 2,00 phone calls,” he explained.

And from there, the project exploded.

The list was such a hit that they decided to expand the idea and created the non-profit Dove Foundation dedicated to advocating for families and moving Hollywood in a more family-friendly direction. The Dove reviews, posted online at www.dove.org, are based on traditional Judeo-Christian values. There is a content chart and descriptions that gauge six criteria: Sex, Language, Violence, Drug and Alcohol use, Nudity and Other.

The Dove Seal is what the non-profit is probably best known for. Motion picture studios strive to be endorsed by the Foundation as it leads to bottom line improvements in video rentals and movie tickets.

The non-profit runs with three people on staff. Rolfe said that people are constantly asking them where their national corporate offices are. “We are right here in West Michigan–Wyoming to be exact. We have grown through a series of divine mistakes,” he laughingly said.

Dick said that they review about 40 films and DVD’s a month.

The Dove website is visited by parents like Vickie Vermeer. She logs on to www.dove.org for guidance when it comes to choosing which movies her kids can see. Ten times out of ten she says she’ll trust Dove’s scorecard review over one written by a film critic in the general media.

“When we read a review in our local paper or in the NY Times, the reviewers are coming from a different perspective,” says Vermeer. “They’re looking more at the quality or artistic value of the film. They have more tolerance for the violence or language or sexual content for the movie; whereas The Dove Foundation’s guidelines are more in line with our own family’s values and that makes us feel comfortable when choosing our entertainment.”

Plans for the future, according to Rolfe, are to have the general public become more aware of the Dove Seal and what it means.

Pure Michigan has #1 Website for Seventh Year in a Row

January 25, 2014Our Cities, RecreationPure MichiganJoanne

By Michelle Grinnell

LANSING – For the seventh year in a row, michigan.org was the most visited state tourism website in the country, according to the independent online measurement company Experian Hitwise.

According to Hitwise, michigan.org’s market share of 6.12 percent of all the web traffic to state tourism websites was the best in the nation, with Virginia, Florida, Arkansas and Hawaii rounding out the top five. Michigan’s official travel and tourism website recorded more than 9 million web visits in 2013 – up from 8.8 million web visits in 2012.

“The michigan.org website has always been, and continues to be the flagship of the Pure Michigan campaign,” said George Zimmermann, Vice President of Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “For many visitors, michigan.org is one of their first introductions to the state. We have worked hard to make it a place with an abundance of information, terrific visuals and most importantly a helpful place to plan a Pure Michigan vacation.”

In addition to the 9 million web visits, consumers used the site an average of nearly 25,000 times per day. Click-through rates from michigan.org to other Michigan tourism industry sites averaged nearly 13,000 clicks per day and 4.7 million clicks for the year.

In addition to the national and regional advertising campaigns, Pure Michigan’s social media channels also drive traffic to the michigan.org site. The Pure Michigan Facebook page, with more than 550,000 fans, is one of the top ten drivers of traffic to michigan.org. Pure Michigan’s social media presence has been ranked as the best in the nation among all state destination marketing organizations by Think Social Media in 11 out of the last 17 quarters.

“Our social media efforts provide a terrific platform to reinforce our advertising campaign by directly engaging with fans and guiding them to michigan.org,” Zimmermann said.

With more than 76,000 followers, Pure Michigan has the number one state tourism Instagram account, and is within the top states for followers on Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ and Facebook. Pure Michigan was also recently named one of the Top 10 Destinations to Follow on Twitter by SuccessfulMeetings.com.

For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit: MichiganBusiness.org. For Michigan travel news, updates and information, visit michigan.org.

Local Sports for January

January 14, 2014Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Senior Living, SportsJoanne

Lots of Action Takes Away Mid-winter Chills

If you’re starting to get a little stir crazy staying warm indoors, check out one of the local sports events this month. There are plenty of games to chose from and it might just be the ticket to getting your mind off the cold. Fire up your competitive spirit and chase the chills away!

Friday January 3, 2014

Boys Ice Hockey

-East Kentwood @ Muskegon Mona Shores

Girls Basketball

– South Christian @ Calvin Christian

– Kelloggsville vs Grand River Prep @ Potter’s House Tournament

– Wellspring Prep vs Potter’s House@ Potter’s House Tournament

– Wyoming Lee @ Holland Christian Christmas Tourney

– Kenowa Hills @ Wyoming

Boys Basketball

– South Christian @ Calvin Christian

– Bridgman @ Godwin Heights

– Tri-Unity Christian @ Cornerstone Invitational

– Wyoming @ Kenowa Hills

– Grand River Prep @ Covenant Christian

Saturday January 4, 2014

Boys Ice Hockey

– East Kentwood @ Muskegon Mona Shores

Boys / Girls Bowling

– East Kentwood @ Grandville

– Kelloggsville @ Fruitport Invitational

– Potter’s House @ Fruitport Invitational

Girls Gymnastics

– East Kentwood @ Rockford

Girls Competitive Cheer

– East Kentwood @ Grandville

– Godwin Heights @ Muskegon Mona Shores

Boys Wrestling

– East Kentwood @ Lakeland

– Godwin Heights @ Pine River

– Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Invitational

– Wyoming Lee @ Orchard View

– Wyoming vs TBD @ Wyoming Invitational

Boys Swimming

– East Kentwood @ East Grand Rapids Pioneer Invite

– South Christian @ East Grand Rapids Pioneer Invite

Girls Basketball

– Western MI Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian

– Kelloggsville vs TBD @ Potter’s House Tournament

– Potter’s House vs TBD @Potter’s House Tournament

– Grand River Prep vs TBD @ Potter’s House Tournament

– Wyoming Lee @ Holland Christian Christmas Tourney

Boys Basketball

– Western MI Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian

Monday January 6, 2014

Boys / Girls Bowling

– Hudsonville @ East Kentwood

– South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian

– Kent City @ Godwin Heights

– Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville

Girls Gymnastics

– East Kentwood @ Rockford

Girls Basketball

– Tri-Unity @ Holland Calvary

Tuesday January 7, 2014

Girls Basketball

– East Kentwood @ Union

– South Christian @ Zeeland West

– Hopkins @ Godwin Heights

– Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian

– Kent City @ Wyoming Lee

– Zion Christian @ Potter’s House

– Wyoming @ Calvin Christian

Boys Basketball

– Byron Center @ East Kentwood

– Zeeland West @ South Christian

– Godwin Heights @ Hopkins

– Zeeland East @ Tri-Unity Christian

– NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville

– Zion Christian @ Potter’s House

– Calvin Christian @ Wyoming

Boys Swimming

– Northview @ South Christian

Boys / Girls Bowling

– Middleville T-K @ South Christian

Wednesday January 8, 2014

Boys / Girls Bowling

– East Kentwood @ Grand Haven

– Godwin Heights @ Potter’s House

– Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian

– Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins

Girls Competitive Cheer

– East Kentwood @ Hudsonville

– Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville

– OK Silver Jamboree @ Kelloggsville

– Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville

Boys Hockey

– East Kentwood @ Rockford

Boys Wrestling

– Grandville @ East Kentwood

– Godwin Heights @ Hopkins

– Kelloggsville @ Hopkins Tri

– Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian

– Wyoming @ Coopersville

Thursday January 9, 2014

Boys Swimming

– Grand Haven @ East Kentwood

Boys / Girls Bowling

– Unity Christian @ South Christian

Girls Basketball

– Grand River Prep @ Western Michigan Christian

Friday January 10, 2014

Girls Gymnastics

– East Kentwood @ Forest Hills Central

Boys Basketball

– TC Central @ East Kentwood

– Holland Christian @ South Christian

– Tri-Unity Christian @ Godwin Heights

– Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville

– Zion Christian @ Heritage Christian Academy

– Potter’s House @ Freedom Christian

– Belding @ Wyoming

– Grand River Prep @ West Michigan Lutheran

Girls Basketball

– East Kentwood @ TC Central

– Holland Christian @ South Christian

– Tri-Unity Christian @ Godwin Heights

– Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville

– Potter’s House @ Freedom Christian

– Zion Christian @ Heritage Christian Academy

– Belding @ Wyoming

Saturday January 11, 2014

Boys Swimming

– East Kentwwod @ Rockford

Boys Wrestling

– East Kentwood @ West Catholic – Dunneback Invite

– Godwin Heights Tourney

– Kelloggsville @ Fruitport Tournament

– Wyoming Lee @ Flushing Invite

– Wyoming @ Brandywine

Girls Competitive Cheer

– East Kentwood @ West Ottawa

– Godwin Heights @ Comstock Park

– Kelloggsville @ Comstock Park Invitational

– Wyoming Lee @ Comstock Park Invitational

Boys Hockey

– East Kentwood @ FH Central

Boys Basketball

– Cedar Springs @ Kelloggsville

– Holland Black River @ Zion Christian

Girls Basketball

– Holland Black River @ Zion Christian

Monday January 13, 2014

Girls Gymnastics

– Lowell @ East Kentwood

Boys / Girls Bowling

– NorhtPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights

– Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee

Girls Basketball

– Godwin Heights @ Fruitport

Tuesday January 14, 2014

Girls Comp Cheer

– East Kentwood Falcon Invite

Boys Basketball

– East Kentwood @ Grandville

– South Christian @ Wayland

– Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee

– Tri-Unity Christian @ Grant

– Covenant Christian @ Kelloggsville

– Potter’s House @ Kalamazoo Heritage Christian

– Wyoming @ Coopersville

Girls Basketball

– Grandville @ East Kentwood

– Wayland @ South Christian

– Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights

– Grant @ Tri-Unity Christian

– Kelloggsville @ Covenant Christian

– Kalamazoo Heritage Christian @ Potter’s House

– Coopersville @ Wyoming

Boys Swimming

– Holland @ South Christian

Boys / Girls Bowling

– South Christian @ Wayland

Wednesday January 15, 2014

Boys / Girls Bowling

– East Kentwood @ Grandville

– Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights

– Kent City @ Kelloggsville

Girls Gymnastics

– FH Central @ East Kentwood

Boys Wrestling

– West Ottawa @ East Kentwood

– Godwin Heights @ Kent City

– Kelloggsville Tri @ Kelloggsville

– Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee

– Wyoming @ Sparta

Girls Competitive Cheer

– OK Silver Conference Meet @ Godwin Heights

Thursday January 16, 2014

Boys Swimming

– East Kentwood @ Rockford

Boys / Girls Bowling

– South Christian @ Ottawa Hills

Girls Basketball

– Grand River Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian

Friday January 17, 2014

Boys Basketball

– Grand Haven @ East Kentwood

– Catholic Central @ South Christian

– NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights

– Grand River Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian

– Kellooggsville @ Kent City

– Zion Christian @ Freedom Baptist

– West Michigan Lutheran @ Potter’s House

– Allendale @ Wyoming

Girls Basketball

– Grand Haven @ East Kentwood

– Catholic Central @ South Christian

– NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights

– Kelloggsville @ Kent City

– Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian

– Zion Christian @ Freedom Baptist

– West Michigan Lutheran @ Potter’s House

– Allendale @ Wyoming

– Grand River Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian

Boys Hockey

– Clarkston @ East Kentwood

Saturday January 18, 2014

Girls Competitive Cheer

– East Kentwood @ Rochester Royal Rumble

– Godwin Heights @ Catholic Central

– Kelloggsville @ Allendale Invitational

– Wyoming Lee @ Allendale Invitational

Boys / Girls Bowling

– East Kentwood @ GR Union Red Hawk Invitational

– South Christian @ GR Union Red Hawk Invitational

– Kelloggsville @ GR Union Red Hawk Invitational

– Wyoming Lee @ G Union Red Hawk Invitational

Boys Wrestling

– East Kentwood @ East Kennedy

– Godwin Heights @ Lakeview

– Kelloggsville @ Unity Christian Invitational

– Wyoming Lee @ Unity Christian Invitational

– Wyoming @ West Ottawa

Girls Gymnastics

– East Kentwood @ Lowell Invite

Boys Hockey

– Marysville @ East Kentwood

Girls Basketball

– Zeeland East @ East Kentwood

– Grace Christian @ Zion Christian

Boys Basketball

– Grace Christian @ Zion Christian

Boys Swimming

– South Christian @ East Grand Rapids Invite

Monday January 20, 2014

Boys / Girls Bowling

– Rockford @ East Kentwood

– Godwin Heights @ Hopkins

– Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville

– NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee

Girls Gymnastics

– East Kentwood @ Kenowa Hills

Girls Basketball

– Tri-Unity Christian @ NorthPointe Christian

Girls Competitive Cheer

– Kelloggsville @ Comstock Park Invitational

Tuesday January 21, 2014

Girls Basketball

– East Kentwood @ Lowell

– Forest Hills Central @ South Christian

– Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian

– Hopkins @ Kelloggsville

– Algoma Christian @ Potter’s House

– Wyoming @ GR Union

Boys Basketball

– Holland @ East Kentwood

– Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights

– Kelloggsville @ Hopkins

– West Michigan Lutheran @ Zion Christian

– Algoma Christian @ Potter’s House

– GR Union @ Wyoming

Boys Swimming

– South Christian @ Hamilton

Boys / Girls Bowling

– Byron Center @ South Christian

Wednesday January 22, 2014

Girls Competitive Cheer

– East Kentwood @ Grandville

Boys / Girls Bowling

– East Kentwood @ Hudsonville

– Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights

– Kent City @ Wyoming Lee

Girls Gymnastics

– Rockford @ East Kentwood

Boys Wrestling

– East Kentwood @ Hudsonville

– Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee

– Kelloggsville @ Kent City

– Allendale @ Wyoming

Thursday January 23, 2014

Boys Swimming

– West Ottawa @ East Kentwood

Boys / Girls Bowling

– Wyoming @ Potter’s House

Friday January 24, 2014

Girls Basketball

– West Ottawa @ East Kentwood

– South Christian @ Ottawa Hills

– Kent City @ Godwin Heights

– Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian

– Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian

– Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee

– Calvary Schools Of Holland @ Zion Christian

– Potter’s House @ Fruitport Calvary Christian

– Wyoming @ Comstock Park

– Grand River Prep @ Muskegon Catholic

Boys Basketball

– West Ottawa @ East Kentwood

– South Christian @ Ottawa Hills

– Kent City @ Godwin Heights

– Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian

– Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian

– Potter’s House @ Fruitport Calvary Christian

– Wyoming @ Comstock Park

– Grand River Prep @ Muskegon Catholic

Boys Hockey

– Grand Haven @ East Kentwood

Saturday January 25, 2014

Girls Competitive Cheer

– LMCCOA Invite @ East Kentwood

– Kelloggsville @ LMCCOA @ East Kentwood

Boys Wrestling

– East Kentwood @ Lakewood Viking Team Duals

– Godwin Heights @ Okemos

– Kelloggsville @ Grand Rapids Christian Tournament

– Wyoming Lee @ Kalamazoo Central Maroon Giant Invitational

– Wyoming @ Montague

Boys / Girls Bowling

– East Kentwood Invitational

– South Christian @ East Kentwood Bowling Invite

– Godwin Heights @ East Kentwood Bowling Invite

– Kelloggsville @ East Kentwood Bowling Invite

– Wyoming Lee @ East Kentwood Bowling Invite

Girls Gymnastics

– East Kentwood @ Kenowa Hills Invite

Monday January 27, 2014

Boys / Girls Bowling

– Grand Haven @ East Kentwood

– Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights

– Hopkins @ Kelloggsville

– Wyoming Lee @ Potter’s House

Girls Basketball

– Grand River Prep @ NorthPointe Christian

Tuesday January 28, 2014

Girls Competitive Cheer

– East Kentwood Falcon Invite

Boys Basketball

– East Kentwood @ Rockford

– South Christian @ Hastings

– Comstock Park @ Godwin Heights

– Kelloggsville @ Allendale

– Calvary Christian @ Zion Christian

– Holland Black River @ Potter’s House

– Wyoming @ Cedar Springs

Girls Basketball

– Rockford @ East Kentwood

– Hastings @ South Christian

– Godwin Heights @ Comstock Park

– Allendale @ Kelloggsville

– Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian

– Calvary Christian @ Zion Christian

– Holland Black River @ Potter’s House

– Cedar Springs @ Wyoming

Boys Swimming

– South Christian @ Byron Center

Boys / Girls Bowling

– Catholic Central @ South Christian

Wednesday January 29, 2014

Girls Gymnastics

– East Kentwood @ Lowell

Boys Wrestling

– East Kentwood @ Rockford

– Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights

– Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee

– Wyoming @ Belding

Boys / Girls Bowling

– Godwin Heights @ Kent City

– Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee

Girls Competitive Cheer

– Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee

– Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee

Thursday January 30, 2014

Boys Swimming

– East Kentwood @ Hudsonville

Boys / Girls Bowling

– Wayland @ South Christian

Girls Basketball

– Muskegon Catholic Central @ Tri-Unity Christian

– Potter’s House @ Holland Calvary

Friday January 31, 2014

Boys Wrestling

– East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – OK Red Conference Meet

– Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian – OK Silver Conference Meet

– Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian – OK Silver Conference Meet

– Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian – OK Silver Conference Meet

Girls Basketball

– Hudsonville @ East Kentwood

– Middleville T-K @ South Christian

– Kelloggsville @ Godwin HeightsKelloggsville

– Zion Christian @ Holland Black River

– Potter’s House @ Holland Calvary

– Sparta @ Wyoming

Girls Competitive Cheer

– East Kentwood @ Rockford

Boys Hockey

– Grandville @ East Kentwood

Boys Basketball

– Hudsonville @ East Kentwood

– Middleville T-K @ South Christian

– Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights

– Muskegon Catholic Central @ Tri-Unity Christian

– Zion Christian @ Holland Black River

– Potter’s House @ Holland Calvary

– Sparta @ Wyoming

WKTV Presents…Spend an Evening with Tom Rademacher

January 14, 2014How-To's, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Our CitiesTom RademacherJoanne

Beat the Winter time Blues!

By Colleen Pierson

Tired of being cooped up? Have a bad case of the winter doldrums? Now is the opportunity to beat the winter time blues:

WKTV presents the opportunity to Spend an Evening with Tom Rademacher. He is a nationally award-winning author and a Grand Rapids columnist. Tom will be offering a free writer’s workshop to the public. He was just recognized for the third time as being the best feature reporter in the country. Imagine getting writing advice from the best! That is reason enough to attend. He will also help you share life stories, and learn the best ways to become an effective writer.

Learn from the best and become a citizen journalist in your community:

When: 6:30-8:00p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Where: Wyoming Public Library at 3350 Michael Ave., in Wyoming Michigan

R.S.V.P. with your name and phone number to janice@wktv.org

2014 Eclipse Awards Open for Entries

January 13, 2014Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, Our Cities, WKTV ProjectsJoanne

Looking for the Best of West Michigan’s

Film, Video, and Television Work

The third annual Eclipse Awards are calling for entries now until March 14, 2014. The Eclipse Awards showcase the best in West Michigan’s film, video, and television community. Sponsored by WKTV with the West Michigan Film Video Alliance, an Eclipse is awarded to locally produced media for outstanding work in the crafts and several primary categories. The mission of the Eclipse event is to inspire and enhance the West Michigan “voice” in mediums of television, film, sound, and web, and to be recognized for excellence among international, national, and regional judges.

An Eclipse in a particular category is awarded after nominees for that category have been chosen. To reach nomination level in the first round, judges in New York, Toronto, Los Angeles and London screen each submission and decide by a process of scores, which work receives a nomination for the 2014 Eclipse.

In Categories, judges nominate based on the overall excellence of the work submitted, such as the technical excellence, but also on the treatment of the content. In other words, if the subject matter presented in a manner that is above the ordinary.

After the Nominees announcement on April 14, all nominated works are eligible for the Eclipse People’s Choice Award. These will be available on the Facebook site for viewing and voting by the General Public. The Eclipse People’s Choice Award is new this year and will have one winner.

In the second round, the nominees in each category are selected by the judges for the final award. The results of the tabulation from all judges are kept secret until the night of the awards ceremony on Thursday, May 1, 2014. The “Excellence in Craft” Awards Ceremony will be televised live by WKTV from City Flats Ballroom on Monroe Center in Grand Rapids.

Visit www.theeclipseaward.com for categories, entry forms, rules, FAQs, payment, and additional information.

Home page photo by Dan Irving

Meet Kentwood Novelist Kristina Riggle

January 10, 2014Local Faces, Our CitiesJoanne

New book reading and author signing set for Monday

From the looks of her, you’d never guess that local author and Kentwood resident Kristina Riggle is in her late 30s. On the contrary, she appears to be twenty-something. It’s hard to believe she’s a mother of two children, ages 11 and 6, in addition to being an author of five novels. Her latest novel, The Whole Golden World, hit the shelves of Schuler’s, Barnes and Noble, and Target in November.

Riggle_2011 — Kristina Riggle of Kentwood is currently working on her sixth novel.

“I have to credit my mother for the youthful genes,” she says, laughing, “I used to hate it that I didn’t look my age, but the older I get, the more I appreciate it!”

Don’t let her fresh face fool you. Riggle, who’ll be discussing The Whole Golden World Monday evening at Kent District Library, is clear, confident and conscientious about being a novelist.

“Human behavior fascinates me,” Riggle says of her motivation. Her keen observations translate into intriguing and authentic characters living life on the pages of her novels.

“In all of my stories, I like to create characters with different and valid perspectives. I think about telling the same story from each perspective. Each is valid and tells a different story,” explains Riggle.

For example, for writing The Whole Golden World, Riggle says she was inspired by a newspaper article she read several years ago about a male high school teacher with criminal sexual conduct for his affair with a 17 year old female student.

“What got me was the reporter describing the court scene and noting, in the article, that the victim chose to sit behind the defendant and not with her parents. I thought, ‘clearly that’s telling a different story from the victim’s perspective. She supports the defendant.”

Riggles novel unfolds from there with three main characters presenting their perspectives of a controversial relationship that shocks family members and the community. Individually, they take the reader through the delicate phases between childhood and adulthood, challenging love and manipulation, marriage and motherhood, and consent and responsibility.

“I’d like to think it’s my best work yet,” she says modestly, adding that bloggers are saying it is her best work ever. “I’m very grateful for that. It’s my intention to be a better writer with each book I write.”

Recognized as a respected local novelist, Riggle has been invited to speak at the Write Michigan awards ceremony on March 22 and write the Foreword for the 2014 Write Michigan Anthology, a request she says she is “quite honored to do.”

Riggle credits her fifth grade teacher, Janet Dykema, (now retired), for encouraging her in the craft. “She recognized that writing was important to me. She didn’t dismiss that I was serious about it in fifth grade. She gave me writing advice that you’d give an adult. I’ll never forget it.”

A 1992 graduate of East Kentwood High School, Riggle went through the journalism program at Michigan State University. Her first job was as a reporter for the Grand Haven Tribune covering education and school board meetings.

“Yes, those can be time consuming meetings with a lot of material to digest, “she answers, responding only to the expression on my face. “But what I was able to learn was to look at all that information from my reader’s viewpoint and pull out the nuggets of news that would impact them.”

Now years later and after subsequent positions at The Bay City Times and The Grand Rapids Press, Riggle considers herself a “recovering journalist.” Her newspaper career decisively changed directions with the birth of her first child coupled with job burnout.

“You know it’s true how kids change everything,” she says. “I wanted to be home with my baby but I knew I wasn’t good at being domestic or with isolation. So I started freelancing and doing more creative writing.”

As Riggle became more serious about writing a novel, she read books about writing and the publishing process. The result was the publication of her first book, Real Life & Liars, that holds a special place in Riggle’s heart. Now, she manages to raise her young family and produce a new novel every 12 to 15 months, careful not to discuss her work in progress because “it’s just too fragile.”

Kristina Riggle will do a reading from The Whole Golden World at the Kentwood branch of the Kent District Library at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 13. A book-signing will follow.

What to Know about Your Roof and Snow

January 10, 2014How-To's, Our CitiesJoanne

by Don Segavac

I have to think that most home owners haven’t put a lot thought into how their roof is designed. The structural integrity of your roof is engineered right down to how many pounds per square foot it can sustain. We call this the snow load. Your roof and its snow load will differ depending on where you live.

Local building codes dictate the amount weight a roof must hold up. The code in Atlanta Georgia will be different from that of Chicago Illinois.

As of this writing there is about 15” of snow on my roof, I live just outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. At the same time there is over 24” on the roofs in Holland Michigan, due to lake effect snow. But not to worry, these roofs have been designed to withstand this much snow. Tomorrow’s forecast is rain and the snow will absorb this rain which will increase the weight on your roof. Yet once again your roof has been designed to handle this. Using a roof rake, which is a blade perpendicular to a long pole, to remove the snow from your roof is always a good idea. They can be purchased at most hardware or big box stores. I used one today to remove the snow from the eves of my house.

One problem with snow on your roof is when it causes ice dams at the eves. If your roof is not properly insulted and vented, ice dams will build up on the edges. No matter how much insulation you have there is going to be certain amount of heat that is going to escape and this is where proper venting comes into play. You want this heat to escape out though the roof vents. If it does not, it warms your roof, the snow melts and the water runs down to the eves where it freezes, causing ice dams. As this continues eventually the water will back up and your roof will begin to leak.

If you live in an older home that can’t be properly vented more insulation may not help. You can install a type of hot wire along the edges of your roof that heats up just enough to melt the snow. This will prevent ice dams from occurring. If you have large icicles hanging off of your roof, you should try to remove some of the snow and you may want to contact an insulation contractor to take a look at your home. As always think safety when working on your home. Never use a roof rake near the electrical wires leading into your house and be careful when using ladders.

Write Michigan Semi-finalists Announced

January 10, 2014Our Cities, ReviewsJoanne

The Second Annual Contest Attracts More Entrants

And your vote counts!

by Morgan Jarema

Kent County, Mich.—Kent District Library, Capital Area District Libraries, Schuler Books & Music and Pooh’s Corner announce the semi-finalists in the second annual Write Michigan Short Story Contest. Nearly 900 Michigan writers from all over the state entered the contest – nearly double the number who entered in its inaugural year.

“For the second Write Michigan contest, we added a teen category and that proved to be the most successful, with nearly 400 entries,” said Heidi Nagel, KDL communications manager. “The diversity in topics and writing style is amazing. My favorite story in each category changes every time I read them.”

Winners will be chosen by public voting at www.writemichigan.org from January 8-31 for the $250 Readers’ Choice award, and by a panel of judges for the $250 Judges’ Choice and $100 Judges’ Choice Runner-up awards. Winners will be announced February 3 and honored at an awards ceremony on March 22 at 2:00 PM at KDL’s Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branch, 4950 Breton SE, Grand Rapids. Novelist Kristina Riggle will speak at the event, and write the Foreword for the 2014 Write Michigan Anthology to be published by Chapbook Press.

The semi-finalists are listed according to category:

Adult

· Ann Kammerer, “Fluffy,” East Lansing

· Anne Brandt, “Alumnae Tea,” Benton Harbor

· Connor Newton, “Enduring Youth,” Waterford

· Eric Dobson, “The Wake,” Ypsilanti

· Jourdan Rodammer, “Blind Grace,” Fennville

· Marshall King, “Terminus,” Grand Rapids

· Michael Pearson, “Lost in the So Forevers,” Hudsonville

· Oscar Bee, “By Lantern Light,” Chelsea

· Richard Fowler, “Brute Art,” Wyoming

· Robert Vander Lugt, “Mornings Like This,” Caledonia