“A museum is a place where nothing was lost, just rediscovered …”
Nanette L. Avery
Bodies Revealed is one of the exhibits currently at the Grand Rapids Pubic Museum. (GRPM)
Grand Rapids Public Museum
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) officially reopened to the public last week, and it has extended the Bodies Revealed exhibition to Sept. 27. Go here for the story.
Iconic works of art, Blue Lily by Deborah Butterfield in front of Tornado Over Kansas by John Steuart Curry (Supplied/MMA)
Muskegon Museum of Art
The Muskegon Museum of Art has reopened with “Shaping the Future, Celebrating the Past,” an exhibition that highlights and explores the various facets of its internationally recognized permanent collection in all of its galleries through the summer and fall of 2020. Go here for the story.
The Gilmore Car Museum’s Green Book Diorama. (Gilmore)
Gilmore Car Museum
While many people saw the Academy Award winning movie “Green Book”, visitors to the Gilmore Car Museum can now learn more about the book and its role in black travel in an exhibit which opened in 2014 and has since gained much praise. Go here for the story.
Fun fact:
155 million
The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at nearly 155 million, of which nearly 146 million are scientific specimens at the National Museum of Natural History. Source.
When the State of Michigan allowed local craft brewing establishments — along with most Lower Peninsula restaurants — to reopen to inside seating in June, there were and still are some “socially distant” capacity limitations which make sit-down business hard to turn a profit on.
Thank God for beer gardens.
And, in some cases, thanks to various city leaders allowing parking areas and other outdoor spaces to become beer gardens, outside seating has become very important part of local businesses’ recovery plans.
WKTV visited three local craft brewers — Two Guys Brewing, Broad Leaf Local Beer and Railtown Brewing Company — to see how they were making the move outside.
Railtown Brewing is located at 3595 68th St. SE, in Dutton but just across the border with Kentwood. (WKTV)
For Railtown Brewing, an existing wrap-around deck area was already in place and required very little changes. For TwoGuys Brewing, they worked with the City of Wyoming to be able to use parking spaces until a new back deck area is finished and approved.
For Broad Leaf Local Beer, working with Kentwood city leaders allowed them to expand into a grassy area onsite and into their parking lot — but that is just the beginning of a cooperative effort, including making the place a little more dog friendly.
(For a video report on Broad Leaf Local Beer’s outdoor spaces, doggie-friendly attitude — and the assistance they have received from the City of Kentwood — see the WKTV YouTube video at the top of this story.)
Railtown andTwoGuys
Railtown’s fairy new facility was perfectly suited for the new rules, and both have continued to garner community/customer support in changing conditions.
“We’re not expanding our space in any way. We’re actually in a fairly unique position to have a lot of space as it is,” Railtown Brewing Company’s Justin Buiter said to WKTV in June. “Inside, we’ve removed many tables, chairs and bar seats to get everyone spaced out appropriately. Outside, our tables were already socially distant, so there wasn’t much change necessary out there.
“In general, the support has continued to be amazing. As most folks are experiencing, face masks are the hot button issue. We really haven’t had any issues to speak of and folks have been generally understanding.”
Two Guys is actually working to offer permanent outside seating while it utilizes temporary outside seating.
Two Guys Brewing is located at 2356 Porter St. SW, Wyoming. (WKTV)
“We have taken advantage of the ‘Temporary Outdoor Space’ and are able to use part of our front parking lot until October 31,” TwoGuys Brewing’s Amy Payne said to WKTV. “We have a permanent patio space in the back that is in the works and will, hopefully, have approval soon for that. … Inside we have reduced our number of tables by half and bar stools by just over half, making sure that all guests are a minimum of 6 feet from the next guest.
“Folks have been very understanding and have followed the rules fairly well. Support has been amazing with many of our neighbors and regulars making sure they come in at least once a week. They want us to be around when this is all over!”
Two Guys Brewing is located at 2356 Porter St. SW, Wyoming. For more information visit twoguys-brewing.com.
Railtown is located at 3595 68th St. SE, in Dutton but just across the border with Kentwood. For more information visit railtownbrewing.com.
Broad Leaf Local Beer is located at 2885 Lake Eastbrook Blvd., Kentwood. For more informant visit broadleafbeer.com.
Bell’s Brewery to join Black is Beautiful initiative
Bell’s Brewery recently announced it has joined the Black is Beautiful initiative, an effort to help “bring awareness to the injustices many people of color face daily,” with the planned August release of a special brew.
The Black is Beautiful initiative originated with Marcus Baskerville, founder and head brewer at Weathered Souls Brewing based in San Antonio, according to supplied material. Originally planned as a Weathered Souls-only release, Baskerville was encouraged to expand his reach and make the recipe and label artwork available to more craft brewers — and so Bell’s plans to step up to the bar.
“We all have some work to do, Bell’s included, and we are committed to that,” Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery, said in supplied material. “It starts on an individual level. We all have a responsibility to do what we can to continue this conversation and help drive real change.”
There are currently more than 700 breweries from across the globe committed to this initiative.
Bell’s version of the Weathered Souls Imperial Stout recipe will be released in 6-pack bottles exclusively at Bell’s General Store in downtown Kalamazoo and Upper Hand Brewery Taproom in August. Upper Hand Brewery is a division of Bell’s Brewery and is located in Escanaba.
As part of this initiative, Bell’s will make donations to two local Black-led organizations, the Kalamazoo NAACP and Face Off Theatre.
This collaboration brew, “while sharing some of the same values,” is not part of Bell’s Celebration Series, according the Bell’s statement. That series, which empowers different groups within the company that makes Bell’s what it is, will continue later this year with another beer designed and brewed by Bell’s employees. That next release, which will come from and celebrate Bell’s Black and African American employees, will be released in the fall.
Previous brews have celebrated International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day, the LGBTQ+ community and veterans.
For more information on Bell’s Brewery visit bellsbeer.com.
“And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air … Gave proof thru the night that our flag was still there … Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave … O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”
The Star Spangled Banner
The day it all got started
In honor of the 244th 4th of July since American independence was declared against Great Britain, WKTV Journal is sharing with you a Youtube clip from the HBO miniseries, “John Adams” that features the reading of the Declaration after it’s passage on the steps of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
(City of Kentwood)
Watch a parade from your (Kentwood) lawn
The City of Kentwood announced to WKTV this week that a dozen or so city vehicles will parade throughout the community on Saturday, July 4, as a way “to celebrate Independence Day safely in lieu of its traditional celebration activities this year.” Go here for the story.
(Kent County Animal Shelter)
Take care of your pets when things go ‘boom!’
The Kent County Animal Shelter has published a video with steps on how to help pets cope with fireworks.
Catch some fireworks, but play it safe
4th of July fireworks and other “responsible fun” is available this weekend. Go here and here for stories.
Fun fact:
150 million
According to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, on the Fourth of July alone, 150 million dogs get consumed – enough to stretch between L.A. and Washington, D.C., more than five times. Source.
The City of Kentwood announced July 1 that beginning Tuesday, July 7, Breton Avenue will be closed for at least two days between 29th and 32nd streets while CSX Railroad repairs a railroad crossing.
Drivers are asked to plan ahead as the work will require a full closure with a posted detour from 29th Street to Shaffer Avenue to 32nd Street and back, according to the city’s statement.
Due to the deterioration of the crossing, CSX will be replacing the entire concrete crossing, ties and repaving the asphalt at that intersection.
The work is expected to be completed within two days with the road reopening on the evening of Thursday, July 9, but a third day of work may be necessary for unforeseen circumstances, according to the city.
The City of Kentwood announced to WKTV this week that a dozen or so city vehicles will parade throughout the community on Saturday, July 4, as a way “to celebrate Independence Day safely in lieu of its traditional celebration activities this year.”
The city did much the same as a truck tour last month in celebration of national Public Works Week. See a WKTV video of the event here.
The July 4 parade will begin at 9 a.m. on the western border of the city, near the intersection of Division Avenue and Maplelawn Street, and travel toward the eastern border the city, ending about 11 a.m. near the intersection of Burton Street and Forest Meadows Court.
A small scale map if at the bottom of this story. The full parade route and tentative timeline is available online at kentwood.us/july4. The timeline is tentative as the parading vehicles will be traveling at a faster speed on main roads and at a slower speed on residential roads, according to the city’s webpage on the event.
Residents are invited to watch the parade from the nearest street to their home on the parade route but, according to the city statement, to practice physical distancing from others when they do so.
“The City of Kentwood is pleased to be able to offer a safe, alternate way of engaging with our community on the Fourth of July,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “It is our hope to inspire joy and celebration for America’s independence by bringing the traditional parade to residents throughout the Kentwood community.”
In early June, the City of Kentwood decided to join other communities in canceling this year’s annual July 4 celebration.
“Due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and restrictions on large group gatherings, the City Commission voted against hosting the event this summer out of an abundance of caution,” according to the city statement.
The fireworks show planned for July 4 has been postponed to the Kentwood Food Truck Festival this fall.
The Kent County Health Department is partnering with the Black Impact Collaborative and LINC UP to provide a free COVID-19 community testing today, Monday, June 29, from 2 to 7 p.m., at the Gallery at LINC UP located at 1167 Madison S.E., Grand Rapids.
The county announcement is also available in Spanish at the link at the end of this story.
In Kent County, members of the Latinx community account for 39.4 percent of the COVID-19 cases while comprising 10 percent of the population, while African Americans have 19.25 percent of the cases but make up 10 percent of the population.
Federal CDC-provided Coronavirus test kit. (KCHD)
“We know that COVID-19 has been disproportionately impacting the African American and Latinx communities, so the Black Impact Collaborative wanted to partner with Kent County to make sure that African Americans and Latinxs in our community have the opportunity to get tested,” Robert Womack, Kent County commissioner, said in supplied material. “This is such a needed resource for our community to allow anyone to get tested and we are thankful that the County put this testing day together.”
Any person, 6 months of age or older, can get tested, according to the county statement. Pre-registration for this event is encouraged by going online through this link or calling 616-632-7200 but walk-in testing is available.
The specific location of the free testing is based on county data.
“Our data is showing that 17 percent of our COVID-19 positive cases are located in the 49507 Zip Code and yet only six percent of Kent County’s population resides in this area,” Dr. Adam London, director of the Kent County Health Department, said in supplied material. “This type of data continues to inform our response to COVID-19 and ensures our resources are accessible to the most impacted neighborhoods.”
The county health department “will continue working to address the racial and ethnic health disparities by collaborating with community partners to offer testing in areas that are showing a higher prevalence of positive cases,” according to the county statement.
“We are excited to work with community partners like the Kent County Health Department, who recognize that racial health disparities exist and are actively working to address them by changing their practices,” Vincent Thurman, communications manager at LINC UP, said in supplied material. “COVID-19 has further revealed how stark these disparities are and how much needs to change.
“Partnering with KCHD is a great step forward to improving equity in healthcare. The data shows that Black and Brown communities are at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19 and we are happy to have free tasting available to residents in our neighborhoods.”
To learn more about Kent County Health Department services visit accesskent.com/health.
The story of a 2019 cooperative project between the City of Kentwood police department and the Kentwood Public Schools Red Storm Robotics team, a robot that reached full operation in 2020, was a good news story early this year.
And despite Kentwood schools, and WKTV Journal, seeing big changes in how they did business starting in March due to the COVID-19 restrictions, it is still a good news story — a tool for Kentwood police to help them make better decisions in the field and an example of the high level of interaction between the city’s schools and city staff that Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley relentlessly advocates for.
“What I love about this is always investing in the next generation,” Mayor Kepley said in March when WKTV was producing a video project on the Red Storm Robotics project with the police department. “And this is just another opportunity, and really a great opportunity, to invest in the next generation. … The city working with the school, working with professionals, using technology, and more importantly investing in the very individuals who will be leading this community in the future.”
The police robot project is a prime example of not only engagement with the students but of also giving advanced students a lesson in real-world, on-the-job, design of robotic technology.
Of course, Red Storm was up to the challenge presented by the police department.
WKTV talked with Mayor Kepley, Kentwood Police Chief Richard Roberts and Sgt. Jeff Leonard, and instructors/parents of the Red Storm Robotics project, including Adam Veenendaal, Mark VanderVoord and Wendy Ljungern.
But most importantly, we talked with students of the program past and present, including Jason Gray-Moore, Kerim Puczek, Jacobi Thompson and Annalise Welch.
For more information on Kentwood Pubic Schools’ Red Storm Robotics program visit their website at redstormrobotics.com.
The Kent Intermediate Superintendents’ Association, during a Tuesday, June 23, teleconference, released the results of a survey of more than 30,000 Kent ISD area parents asking questions related to the school reopening issues.
The bottom line of the extensive survey (link at end of story), according to a summary shared with media during the teleconference, is that while some parents seek continued distance learning for various reasons including their child’s safety, the majority desired “safe, in-school” education for their children.
“Most parents would like to see a return to school as normal in late August,” Ron Caniff, superintendent of Kent ISD, said in supplied material. “Our superintendents are working to ensure a safe opening, researching all information regarding the steps necessary to protect students and staff, and will remain connected with the health department and parents throughout the summer to ensure they are well informed about school re-opening plans.”
Kent ISD website photo. (Supplied)
The survey results come in preparation for the planned release June 30 of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap”, which is expected to set state directives for the reopening of schools in August.
The survey, commissioned by the Kent ISD on behalf of the superintendents’ association and administered by Gartner Marketing, was conducted from May 29 through June 10. The 30,000 responses represent parents from the 20 public school districts across Kent ISD but did not include any private or charter school parents, according to the Kent ISD.
The Kent Intermediate Superintendents’ Association (KISA) Future Learning Committee hosted the meeting. The speakers included Superintendent Caniff; Kevin Polston, Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, KISA Future Committee Chair and member of the Governor’s Return to Learn Advisory Council; Sunil Joy, Data Scientist at Kent ISD; and Ron Koehler, Education Consultant and former Kent ISD Assistant Superintendent.
The Kent Intermediate Superintendents’ Association represents the superintendents Kent ISD and each of the 20 school districts it serves.
Survey summary results highlights
Among the key findings of the survey, according to the KISA summary (link at end of story), is that parents want to see school open in the fall, in a traditional face- to-face setting; continued parental concerns about safety will likely necessitate an online option; and a hybrid option has many of the same challenges as an online learning option and “It is also not highly preferred by parents.”
Part of the reason for a hybrid option — where students would spend part of their time in school and part of their time at learning remotely — is that there would be little cost savings on the part of the districts currently facing possible loss of state funding due to COVID-19’s economic impact. (See a WKTV story on the possible funding losses here.) And there would be little difference between the costs of an in-person or hybrid option.
Kevin Polston, Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, KISA Future Committee Chair and member of the Governor’s Return to Learn Advisory Council. (Supplied)
“We know that hybrid and in-person costs are going to be very similar,” Superintendent Polston said during the teleconference, “because even though you may have fewer students back each day you still have your full compliment of staff the needs to be back each day.
“And, in addition, for a district like Godfrey-Lee, … we served more meals closed than we did open. That means for the students that aren’t at school each day are still going to need the nutritional services that schools provide. So we are going to need to allocate additional resources.”
The survey summary presented at the teleconference (link at bottom of the story) was, as explained by the Kent ISD’s Sunil Joy, a “stratified random sample of 800 respondents … (that was) … representative of the demographic makeup of our region.”
Sunil Joy, Data Scientist at Kent ISD. (Supplied)
“A random stratified sample just is a statistical method to ensure the respondents to the survey actually look like the county’s demographics,” Joy said to WKTV. “For example, if East Grand Rapids parents made up a significant percentage of all respondents — that wouldn’t be very representative of our county as only a small percentage of our county is from East Grand Rapids. So that’s why it’s a stratified sample — so it’s more representative of our districts as whole.”
The survey data was also “disaggregated by respondent groups (e.g. race/ethnicity, special education, income, etc.)”
“This simply means that I reported data not just ‘overall’ but also for different respondent groups,” Joy said to WKTV. “For example, in the question of whether childcare is an issue if school did not open 100 percent this fall, I included both what parents said overall, but also by different grade-levels. As no surprise, parents of younger kids had greater concerns with childcare if school didn’t open normally in the fall.”
In addition to the overall, county wide survey results released at the teleconference, each district has access to their own district-specific reports.
“Each district will share the results in the way they see fit with their constituents,” Joy said to WKTV. “The best way to get them is to contact the district directly, if it is not already available on their website or social media.”
School Re-entry Plan
At the teleconference, and using the results of the survey as part of their guidance, the superintendents’ association also released a School Re-entry Plan, in both English and Spanish. (See links to both at bottom of the story.)
Among the highlights of the plan are: a “desire” to return to full-time, face-to-face instruction, per state health requirements; the intent to provide a high-quality online learning option for students and families; districts will share best practices in virtual instruction to maximize efficiency and quality; families who choose an online option will have continued access to local district extracurricular and co-curricular activities.
The plan also makes clear that a a hybrid option — a mix of face-to-face and online learning — is “not preferred and will be implemented if it is the only way to have in-person instruction as mandated by state executive order.”
Superintendent Polston, in summing up the position school districts could be put in come June 30 and the result of the Governor’s “Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap” plan, said the best interest of the students must and will come first.
“Regardless of the model for teaching and learning, together we must be ready to meet the challenge that awaits,” Polston said. “And we will.”
Woodland Mall recently welcomed the reopening of the Apple Store, joining the Macy’s, J.C. Penney and Von Maur anchor stores and dozens of other stores and restaurants.
And while the customer experience is now a little different from the time before the COVID-19 shutdown, the efforts of Woodland Mall management company PREIT make clear that safety and cleanliness is now an important part of that experience.
WKTV talked with Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing director, to detail some of those measures.
For the latest WKTV Journal story on the re-opening of Woodland Mall, including the Apple Store, visit here. (The Apple Store is now asking customers to make appointments for service at the store at apple.com/retail/woodland.)
Safety, cleanliness at the Mall
In order to comply with Michigan requirements, occupancy numbers are limited as the mall operates on reduced hours — Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. (Some stores may limit those hours.)
Woodland Mall asks guests to follow CDC recommendations, make use of the several hand sanitizer stations located throughout the mall, wear masks and practice physical distancing.
In addition to Woodland Mall carefully reviewing policies and procedures, and thoroughly cleaning the mall using CDC-recommended disinfectant, common area furniture and other elements where physical distancing cannot be enforced have been removed. While the play area also remains closed indefinitely, food court seating is now available at reduced capacity.
A complete list of venues open at the mall, as well as updates on safety and cleanliness protocols, can be viewed on Woodland Mall’s website.
West Michigan’s Gilmore Car Museum, in promotional material for its exhibit “The Negro Motorist Green Book”, retells an often-told story about travel for African-Americans in the United State’s deep south in the middle years of the 1900s.
In the spring of 1946, Jack Roosevelt Robinson, former multi-sport standout at UCLA and a U.S. Army veteran, and his bride of two weeks were flying from Los Angeles to Florida for baseball’s spring training season — twice along the route they were bumped from flights so their seats could be occupied by passengers with white skin.
Historic photo identifying restaurant as for “White Trade Only”. Location and date unknown. (Library of Congress)
During a stopover in New Orleans, they were not allowed to eat in the “whites only” airport restaurant. After arriving in Florida, the driver ordered them to sit in the back of the bus.
But the Robinsons, Jackie — soon to wear the Brooklyn Dodgers’ No. 42 on his back — and Rachel, were not alone. African-Americans faced discrimination in many aspects of life, including lodging, dining, when trying to find a drinking fountain or a restroom or even when trying to buy gasoline for their cars.
And that era is the backdrop of the Gilmore’s exhibit “The Negro Motorist Green Book” comes into the picture — an exhibit focused on the book series “The Negro Travelers’ Green Book”.
History of the Green Book
According to supplied information, Victor Hugo Green published “The Negro Travelers’ Green Book” with a listing of places — some commercial, some private homes — where dark-skinned people could stay and eat, where they could buy gas and even which towns to avoid for their own safety.
The 1954 Green Book. (Gilmore)
Green, an African-American mail carrier in New York City started the series in the mid-1930s and his company kept it going until passage of civil rights legislation in the 1960s.
Green and his wife were from Virginia and as they traveled to visit family, they encountered Jim Crow Era restrictions. He got the idea to start the series when a Jewish friend showed Green a guidebook used to avoid “gentile-only” establishments and Green started his Green Book. He enlisted mail carriers across the country to help him compile and update the listings.
Decades after the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment ended slavery, African Americans continued to suffer unequal treatment, especially in the Deep South. Jim Crow Laws discriminated against blacks in nearly every aspect of public life, including travel.
The Gilmore exhibit
While many people saw the Academy Award winning movie “Green Book”, visitors to the Gilmore Car Museum can now learn more about the book and its role in black travel in an exhibit which opened in 2014 and has since gained much praise.
The Gilmore Car Museum’s Green Book Diorama. (Gilmore)
David Lyon, automotive historian and author, recently pointed out that Gilmore’s display is likely “the only Green Book exhibit at an automobile museum in this country, and perhaps the world,” according to the Gilmore.
The exhibit includes the life-like museum figures of a mother and daughter and — the Gilmore being a car museum after all — a classic and restored two-tone 1948 Buick sedan parked at an Esso filing station. Information panels provide details, a large video plays interviews with African-Americans who experienced discrimination while traveling and a copy of the Spring 1956 edition of a Green Book is there for museum visitors to examine.
“It’s a story that had been pretty much forgotten,” Jay Follis, Gilmore museum curator, said in supplied material. “We’ve had a tremendous number of people seeing it and saying, ‘I’ve never heard of this.’”
There’s a reason the gas station in the Gilmore museum diorama has an Esso pump. Esso was a brand of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company.
The 1942 Green Book. (Gilmore)
Follis explained that Esso had a program to help African-Americans buy and operate its service stations. Esso also provided offices and support for the staff that helped Green produce and publish his guides.
The Green Book diorama is one of two cultural exhibits that are a permanent part of the Gilmore museum’s display. The other — “The American Exodus” — focuses on the hardships of the Depression-era migration from the Midwestern “Dust Bowl” to the promised-land on the West Coast.
In addition to the Gilmore’s nearly 400 vehicles, many of them housed in historic buildings and re-created automobile dealerships, its 90-acre campus includes a vintage gasoline station and authentic 1941 Blue Moon Diner that serves lunch daily.
The Gilmore Car Museum is located at Hickory Corners, between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, for more information visit gilmorecarmusuem.org or call 269-671-5089.
In recognition of both a desire to honor Wyoming High School’s 2020 graduating seniors, and the importance of allowing the school staff and Wyoming community the opportunity to join the celebration, Wyoming Public Schools held a WHS Senior 11 Night Celebration Parade Monday, June 15.
In addition, Wyoming High School is scheduled to host its Class of 2020 commencement ceremony on July 28 at Grand Rapids First.
Prior to the parade, WKTV caught up with WPS Superintendent Craig Hoekstra and asked about how the parade came to be, and the desire of he and the entire school community to make sure the seniors time of graduation was not “defined” by COVID-19 shutdown.
“This will end. As stressful and devastating as it is, it will end. We are all in it together as a global community, and I do see the light at then end of the tunnel.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, in a June interview with UK newspaper The Telegraph
Kent County Health Department
The Kent County Health Department’s efforts to make COVID-19 testing more widely available to specific segments of the public has expanded by the opening of community testing sites, including ones at the Wyoming’s The Potter’s House school, and in Kentwood at the Kent County Health Department South Clinic. Go here for the story.
Metro Health
COVID-19 has exposed large health inequities both nationally and locally, resulting in devastating, even life-and-death consequences. In Michigan, over 40 percent of the deaths from COVID-19 were African American. Metro Health is working to address that issue. Go here for the story.
Mercy Health’s Clinica Santa Maria
Mercy Health Saint Mary’s is offering free COVID-19 testing for 1,000 residents of Grand Rapids’ Roosevelt Park Neighborhood, thanks to funding made available through the federal CARES Act grant to Kent County. Go here for the story.
Just the (sad) facts:
4,156 and 115
The Kent County Health Department has almost daily updates of Kent County and State of Michigan statistics. On May 18, they reported 4,156 total cases of COVID-19 but only 115 deaths. Source.
The City of Kentwood and its Public Works Department has an annual tradition during National Public Works Week of inviting the pubic into its buildings to see all the impressive equipment and big trucks that serve the community.
But, in this time of social distancing, and in lieu of a traditional open house for National Public Works Week, city vehicles and crews gave the community a parade of big trucks — and smiles — in late May.
WKTV was there to record it.
The Kentwood community appreciated the big truck parade, and said so. (Supplied/Kentwood DPW)
WKTV is pleased to offer four full-time internships to students this June through December.
Over the next six months seniors at Ferris State University are joining the WKTV Journal Community Newsroom; WKTV’s Television and Digital Cinema department and WKTV’s Podcasting Studio.
Welcome to Matt, Rachael, Cole and Tyler. If you are interested in an internship, contact tom@wktv.org or joanne@wktv.org.
On Wednesday, May 20, the WKTV Government 26 channel will be featuring live coverage of the launch of the JAXA/HTV-9 cargo ship from Tanegashima, Japan, to the International Space Station.
Coverage, which is provided by NASA TV, will start at 1 p.m. with the launch scheduled for 1:30 p.m. The JAXA.HTV-9 is an automated cargo spaceship used to resupply the International Space Station and the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module.
Live coverage will continue on Monday, May 25, at 6:45 a.m .for the rendezvous and capture of the cargo ship to the International Space Station. The capture is scheduled to the place at 8:15 a.m.
For more information on NASA TV or the International Space Station, log on to www.nasa.gov.
NASA TV can be seen on WKTV 26 Government Channel on Comcast and AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99.
A sign at the City of Wyoming City Hall informs people intending to drop off absentee ballots for the May 5 local school district funding votes. (WKTV)
Michigan’s, and so both Wyoming’s and Kentwood’s, voting process for the upcoming May 5 local school funding proposals may — or may not — be foreshadowing how the hugely important 2020 election cycle will play out in August if not also in November.
But one thing for sure, the Kent County voting process, put in place in the aftermath of current COVID-19 restrictions and Michigan Secretary of State directives, will be unlike any the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood city clerk’s offices have ever seen.
The bottom line, according to the Kent County Elections Office, is that registered voters within the precinct boundaries of two local school districts with funding measure requests — Kelloggsville Public Schools and Godwin Heights Public Schools — should have automatically received absentee ballot applications.
While applying for absentee ballots, and using them, is the “preferred” voting means May 5, “each jurisdiction is required to have one polling place open where individuals can vote in-person,” Robert J. Macomber, Kent County Chief Deputy County Clerk, said to WKTV. “It won’t be a typical polling place as it would operate on election day normally.
“Anyone who walk-in on election day will be given a ballot and an envelope to put it in and it will be grouped in for counting with those that voted absentee prior to election day. It’s essentially in-person absentee voting.”
And it is up to local clerks, such as the city clerks of Wyoming and Kentwood, to receive and county the absentee ballots on election day — including the ones dropped off at or walked into the clerk’s on that day.
A voting day unlike any other
This voting process “is certainly different, because all ballots will be processed as an absentee ballot,” Kentwood City Clerk Dan Kasunic said to WKTV, whose office has posted specific May 5 voting process information on the city’s website.
And while both Wyoming City Clerk Kelli A. VandenBerg and Kasunic will be busy on that day counting ballots, VandenBerg also hopes to have few people actually needing to walk in to register and/or vote.
“We have seen a steady stream of ballot requests and a return of voted ballots,” VandenBerg said to WKTV. “While ‘day of’ voting is an option, we are strongly encouraging voters use the absentee process as much as possible.
And extension of the existing City of Wyoming drop off (and usually drive-up) city business customer convenience, the city clerk will now collect absentee ballots via a drop box. (WKTV)
“We have received guidance from the (state) Bureau of Elections and we continue to working closely with both county and city staff to ensure we have a safe election for voters and workers. … Anyone entering a public building will need to have a mask, so we will be prepared to address that. One feature we look forward to is a new drop box that will allow voters to drop off ballots without having to leave their vehicle.”
VandenBerg also pointed out that “While some voters have experience with absentee voting, this concept is new to many others. I often hear concerns from voters about whether absentee ballots are counted. And absentee ballots are absolutely counted. They are not held in case there is a tie, they are counted each and every time.
For Spanish language voters, a sign at the City of Wyoming City Hall. (WKTV)
“Also, I would ask that voters have patience if they do need to visit city hall on election day. My staff and I want to help any and all voters who wish to vote, but we also want to do so while maintaining safety for everyone.”
She also urged voters to check their registration status at mi.gov/vote, where they can verify registration, view a sample ballot and check the status of their absentee request.
Highlights of Kentwood’s voting process includes confirming that “All registered voters in Precincts 1-4-5 (Kelloggsville Schools) have been mailed an application for an absentee ballot,” according to the city website page.
Also, the registration process, if absentee ballot requests were not received, include the person wishing to register prior to the May 5 election day should make an appointment at the city clerk’s office and provide proof of residency.
In person voting — dropping off absentee ballots — and voter registration on May 5 will be at Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave SE, with the office open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. After registration, voters will be given absentee ballots to fill out and hand back — but “in person interaction will be conducted in adherence to social distancing and health safety measures,” according to the city website page.
A new WKTV cable television show, “Cooking and Kids”, may be just the thing to help housebound parents and children bond over food — and who doesn’t like bonding over food?
“Cooking and Kids”, produced by Vlada Vladic and Vlada’s Seeds of Life, is a “fun family cooking program created to reconnect families through sharing the love not only for quality food, but also for the enriching experiences attained when children are engaged in the process of bringing that food to the table,” according to supplied material.
The show will debut Friday, May 1, on WKTV Community Media cable Channel 25 (in Wyoming and Kentwood), at 10:30 a.m. and again at 6 p.m.
The program’s mission is to “educate, enable, energize, and engage families to reconnect through a shared passion for quality family time, healthy food and healthy lifestyles utilizing the natural and community resources available to them.”
The premier week’s episode is Lets’ Bake a Cake!, where viewers will learn to make a lemon cake.
“Preserving and passing onto kids one of the oldest arts of baking,” it states in supplied material. Step by step, Vlada and her daughter Mikaela will share how to make a homemade cake using homegrown ingredients.
“Spending time in the kitchen with kids is great opportunity for kids to learn various cooking and living skills as well as to bond with parents and friends,” Vlada says in supplied material. “Baking was one of the essential activities over which families bonded for centuries. In this episode, we are teaching and passing on this important skill onto younger generation.”
Complete schedules of programs on WKTV is on the WKTV web site at www.wktv.org.
To say that the students in East Kentwood High School’s Red Storm Robotics program are ‘industrious’ would be a high-tech understatement. But the lessons they learn about robotics design and manufacture are only part of the curriculum.
Faced with a hiatus of the program in the light of COVID-19 school and social restrictions, one parent volunteer and Red Storm student looked around, saw a specific need for front-line medial workers, and realized they and the Red Storm community could be part of the solution.
A great first day. (Supplied)
The result, as of late last week, was the production and delivery of more than 1,200 protective face masks and ear guards (a comfort device for face masks) — at not cost to the users. The results are also another lesson for the Red Storm students about real-world applications for high-tech imaginations.
“It became clear early on that there was a shortage of PPE (personal protective equipment) in Michigan,” Trista Vandervoord, a mentor for the middle school program and parent to Red Storm student Ethan, said to WKTV. “We knew people were 3D printing PPE, and as a robotics team we have multiple 3D printers. It was an easy way to do our part. We borrowed five 3D printers from our robotics space, set up a print farm in the basement, and got to work. Once we identified the need, we felt we had to help if we could.”
The persons being helped include health care workers and other essential “front line” staff, almost all of them local in West Michigan but a few sent as far away as Tennessee.
A team effort to ‘do something good’
Trista and Ethan Vandervoord, getting a milestone delivery ready.(Supplied)
Trista and Ethan, an East Kentwood sophomore, started the project in early April by 3D printing themselves but also setting a community project with a dedicated website, a user request and distribution system, donation requests, and getting our drop site at the Kentwood Public Schools Administration Building.
Then the “Red Storm Cares: Operation Face Shield” 3D print army came charging in.
“More than a dozen Red Storm Robotics students are involved in a safe way, by punching holes in the transparencies, delivering face shields, writing emails to request support, writing thank you notes to our generous donors, and spreading the word,” Trista said. “It is a true team effort.”
The scope of production; shown are the ear guards (a comfort device for face masks). (Supplied)
The team effort is a coordination of volunteers, headed by team members of Red Storm Robotics, who are coordinating the effort independent of one another physically, “but united in spirit and drive to do something good,” according to supplied material.
“We are primarily providing face shields, which are composed of a 3D printed headband and a transparency sheet,” Trista said. “We have a 3D print army of individuals and robotics teams all over West Michigan who are printing in their own homes or businesses.
“To date, we have provided 1,200 face shields and 1,200 ear guards … and receive more requests each day. We have provided to hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, group homes, court bailiffs, pharmacists, community food distributors, COVID-19 test sites, and more.”
Some of the Red Storm Cares face shields were delivered to Rite Aid Pharmacy for use of the frontline workers. (Supplied)
The list of local places where the face shields have been put to good use include Cherry Health, Rite Aid Pharmacy, CareLinc Medical Equipment and Supply, and Pilgrim Manor Senior Living.
While their focus is in West Michigan, they also sent five to doctors at University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville, “due to special request from a friend,” Tristia said.
The production lines; the supply chain
As with any Red Storm Robotics project, there were so initial design and production work to be done.
Ethan Vandervoord. (Supplied)
“We are using five 3D printers … and they are in production around the clock (literally),” Ethan, who is in his fifth year with Red Storm Robotics, said to WKTV. “We are using a tested shield design from Operation Face Shield Ann Arbor, who got us started in this effort. My dad is our technician, and he has learned a lot about 3D printing through this project.”
The project’s “top need now” is for additional members to join our 3D print army, Trista said. “We have filament, we just need people to turn it into useful items using their 3D printers. Beyond that, we have an Amazon Wish list at redstormcares.com for the community to purchase filament and transparencies for this project.”
The Wish List items are mailed directly to the home shop, and they also have a material donations drop site at KPS Administration Building, 5280 Eastern Ave. But, Trista stressed, no cash donations can be accepted.
For more information about Red Storm Cares: Operation Face Shield, visit their website or their Facebook page.
The 44th Street Dog and Dairy walk-up eatery, located just east of U.S. Highway 131 in Wyoming, opened just about its normal time of mid-April. But is it not entirely “business as usual” due to current restrictions on restaurants.
Owner and manager Joel Ruark, who opened the business in 2012, says is some ways his business is perfect for the COVID-19 restrictions — 44th Street Dog is a walk-up, not a walk-in, and there is very little direct contact between employees and customers.
But he also worries about the impact of not being able to allow customers to sit on his brightly colored bench tables and eat as the weather gets warmer.
“Pretty much normal opening time for the season,” Ruark said to WKTV last week. “We got to the 15th (of April), which is when we usually open, and we said, ‘Well, we qualify. We’re a take-out.’ And we do a lot of take-out food. (Where people pick it up and drive away).”
The 44th Street Dog and Dairy walk-up eatery, located just east of U.S. Highway 131 in Wyoming, opened just about its normal time of mid-April. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
44th Street Dog and Dairy, like many similar businesses, offer various styles of hotdogs, hamburgers and ice cream treats. But for the time being, they can not offer a place to sit and eat — as evidenced by the majority of his bench tables being stacked on the side of the building with only a couple available for those waiting for food.
“You can’t use those tables,” Ruark said. “I’ve been having to kick people off of them continuously. But they are very understanding. I think it is ridiculous. A family can’t event sit on the tables and eat together. They don’t want that. … I don’t love it. Especially in the summer, we have people who love to sit out here.”
And despite the current restrictions, Ruark says his business is starting pretty much as it always starts: very weather dependent.
“It is too early to tell what the impact is,” he said. “So far, I think it has been promising, maybe. It’s hard to say, the weather may have more (of an impact on business) than the restrictions.”
One thing for sure, Ruark said, his seasonal employees were ready to get back to work.
“My employees were just beating down the door, saying ‘We want work’,” he said.
44th Street Dog and Dairy is located art 521 44th St SW. For more information, visit their Facebook page @44thStreetDogandDairy.
Using a donated, temporary-use facility at Catholic Central High School, Kent County and City of Grand Rapids Emergency Management Divisions have partnered with the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, Mel Trotter Ministries, and The Salvation Army to create a “safe shelter” for women experiencing homelessness and who are presumed negative for COVID-19.
The facility, according to a statement Friday, April 24, from Kent County, will allow permanent shelters in the area to reduce their daily populations so individuals experiencing homelessness are better able to socially and physically distance.
Catholic Central High School (Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids)
“We are called as Catholics to care for our brothers and sisters, especially the most vulnerable among us,” Greg Deja, principal/CEO of Catholic Central High School, said in supplied material. “While we’ve all been sheltering at home for the past month, many of our Heartside neighbors do not have that same option … Our decision to open our gymnasium as a dormitory reflects one of our core values at Catholic Central to serve — through which we come to know and love Christ more fully.”
The Catholic Central gymnasium can hold up to 75 women and provides shower facilities, food services provided by The Salvation Army, and other essential services. It will be primarily staffed by Kent County volunteers, the City of Grand Rapids Homeless Outreach Team, and Mel Trotter Ministries staff.
“This is an example of the entire community coming together to care for some of the most vulnerable in our community and do all we can to keep them safe. We are truly all in this together,” Dennis Van Kampen, CEO, Mel Trotter Ministries, said in supplied material. “My hope is that after this pandemic we will have created connections and work groups that continue to work together to solve some of our communities most urgent issues.”
The announcement for the county stresses that the facility use is not intended to be a long-term solution, and there are still staffing needs for the daily operation of the shelter. Volunteers for all shifts are needed and will not be in direct contact with known positive COVID-19 patients. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit kcest.org/volunteer.
“All of us who are working at the shelter have been moved by the strength of these women,” Lt. Lou Hunt, Kent County emergency manager, said in supplied material. “It has truly been a blessing and our privilege to serve this vulnerable yet highly appreciative population.”
Hankerin’ for a dinner of TwoGuys Brewery’s prime rib and beer? TwoGuys managing partner, brewmaster and all-around craft-brew guru Tom Payne shows off a take-home option. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Three Wyoming and Kentwood area craft breweries and brew pubs — TwoGuys Brewing, Broad Leaf Local Beer and Railtown Brewing Company — are doing what they can to keep their taps flowing in these times of COVID-19 restrictions.
Like most restaurants, they are offer take-out and delivery of food from their kitchens. Like most breweries, they offer to-go craft beer choices from their brewers. And like any good pub, they offer the kind of optimism that any good bartender will offer up to customers contemplating the worst over a cold pint.
Broad Leaf reports they are brewing up a Super Wonderful Happy IPA, “named to contrast the times and keep people thinking positively,” they say.
But despite a barkeep’s optimism, there is a healthy outpouring of concern about the future.
Railtown Brewing Company. (Supplied)
“It’s been a long road so far. Sadly, we’re in the early part of a marathon not a sprint,” Railtown’s Justin Buiter said to WKTV. “We were one of the first industries to see forced shutdowns and we’ll be one of the last to re-open. We’re planning for the worst and hoping for the best.”
TwoGuys also has some concerns about what might happen with a “slow opening” of establishments like theirs.
“As far as plans for when things open back up, we aren’t really sure,” TwoGuys Brewing managing partner Amy Payne said to WKTV. “We are prepared to pivot once again as necessary but have discussed that until all restrictions to regular business are lifted we will, most likely, continue to operate as we currently are. Opening our taproom at half capacity (if that should be the next phase) would definitely be detrimental to sales so keeping with the current model would keep us closer to our goal numbers.”
A bright spot has been community support
Despite the current hardships, the three breweries have been thankful for the support of the community during these times.
“The community support has been amazing,” Railtown’s Buiter said.”We see a lot of familiar faces every week. Folks genuinely care about us and want to see us through this, and that means more than we can put into words.”
For Broad Leaf and its mother ship, Grand Rapids’ Brewery Vivant, their thankfulness includes community support of employees whose jobs were impacted by the closures.
“All gratuities at both locations are being put into an emergency fund for our hourly staff,” Broad Leaf and Brewery Vivant co-owner and president Kris Spaulding said to WKTV. “We have been amazed at how generous our community is. Through those guests, we have built up a meaningful fund that will surely help out some of our staff who are struggling.”
Broad Leaf is also being a little old-school resourceful when it comes to labeling their to-go beer cans and their brewing choices.
Broad Leaf Local Beer offers door pick-up of beer-to-go, and merchandise, at the Kentwood location. Much of the pub’s usual food fare is available through the mother ship, Grand Rapids’ Brewery Vivant, by pick-up or delivery. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“People may notice our simple war-time style labels printed on address stickers as we make do with what we have on hand,” Spaulding said. And “We have been going back to old school methods and are all pulling together to be able to share what we all love with the amazing public that has been going out of their way to support us.”
Also “Super Wonderful Happy IPA … is sort of an old-school IPA made with Mosaic and MI Chinook hops … Bananicula is a pastry stout with Count Dracula Chocolate cereal, banana, vanilla, and marshmallow that we bottled by hand on a homebrew counter-pressure filler contraption our head brewer Jacob cobbled together.”
Man, and woman, does not live on beer alone
That adapting with the times is also at play in to-go food selections.
Much of Broad Leaf’s eclectic fare — including their appropriately named “Drunken Noodles” — is available for pick up and limited-area delivery out of Brewery Vivant’s Eastown kitchen. (The actual Broad Leaf location has curbside pick up of beer and merch, as well as beer delivery.)
TwoGuys, in contrast, has made some changes to adapt.
“In order to stay relevant in the current situation we took a look at what our guests, and hopefully folks new to TwoGuys, would be looking for as the social distancing seemed like it was going to carry on longer than officials were suggesting,” Payne said. “What we decided was, although hot take-out food is great for some, many were traveling across town to get back home if they worked near us or wanted to support us even though they lived across town. Take-out hot food just isn’t as good when it has travelled for a while. So, we began to work on ‘Take N Bake’ options.”
Currently they offer casseroles, lasagna, mac and cheese — and prime rib meals — purchased in tins ready to be put in the oven when they got home.
Desserts have also been “huge,” she said. “Pans of brownies full of all kinds of delicious additives … Nothing like brownies when the world is full of uncertainty.”
(The take-and-bake fruit cobblers looked too good to pass up when researching this story! And their TwoGuys IPA hits the pale ale spot.)
Railtown Brewing Citra Warrior IIPA. (Supplied)
At Railtown, they are open for pick-up and carryout of beer, cider and much of their regular menu food for lunch and dinner, daily except Sunday. Ordering is by phone only. And they do have some special brews unexpectedly available.
“Due to COVID-19, we had to cancel our Warrior Unleashed party which is a celebration of our Imperial IPA, Citra Warrior,” Railtown’s Buiter said. “The result is, we have a ton of beer selections on tap currently. We released 4 variations of Citra Warrior — Midnight Warrior (Black Imperial IPA), Soulless Warrior (Ginger Imperial IPA), Tiki Warrior (Pineapple Imperial IPA), and Tiki Torch (Pineapple and Cayenne Pepper Imperial IPA).”
Keeping with that barkeep’s optimism, they also have a new “Shutdown Brown”, a hazelnut brown ale.
Railtown is located at 3595 68th St. SE, in Dutton but just across the border with Kentwood. For food and beer information, call 616-881-2364 or visit railtownbrewing.com.
TwoGuys is located at 2356 Porter St. SW, in Wyoming. For food and beer information, call 616-552-9690 or visit twoguys-brewing.com.
Broad Leaf is located at 2885 Lake Eastbrook Blvd, in Kentwood. For food and beer information call 616-803-0602 or visit broadleafbeer.com.
Local public school’s plans for remote learning differ, but all meet state guidelines and goal that “teaching and learning must continue.” (Public Domain)
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, early this month, ordered all K-12 public school buildings to close for the remainder of the school year but urged the continuation of education through remote learning — in fact part of her order included funding the use of public school facilities by public school employees and contractors for the “purposes of facilitating learning at a distance.”
Many Wyoming and Kentwood school districts, along with the Kent ISD, anticipating the governor’s order, had already been working on remote learning plans. But the governor’s order set a deadline of this week for remote learning plans to be submitted and approved by the Kent ISD, and required “all schools to begin providing learning opportunities for all students no later than April 28, 2020. Districts who are able to begin their plans earlier are encouraged to do so.”
Most local schools districts are already “doing so.”
There was no easy answer, no cookie-cutter answers given individual district goals, needs and even the logistics of working to verify students’ ability to access the internet and to distribute the technology necessary to reach as many students as possible.
So every district’s plan is unique but, in the words of the Kent ISD Continuity of Learning and COVID-19 Response Plan Application instructions, “although schools are closed and not providing in-person instruction, teaching and learning must continue.”
To look at just one plan, after getting approval of the district’s plan from the ISD, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools this week shared their plans with their community, and WKTV.
“Today marked a new beginning for Godfrey-Lee Public Schools as the district responded to the suspension of in-person learning and shifted to distance learning for the entire district,” Kevin Polston, superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, said to WKTV early this week. “District staff have prepared for this reality over the past few weeks to provide students and families necessary supports to continue meaningful learning for the remainder of the school year. New student learning begins today and will continue through the remainder of the school year ending on May 29.”
Some of the highlights of the Godfrey-Lee remote learning plan include providing almost 1,500 computer/tablet devices and contacting families individually to check on internet access — the district reports 93 percent have such access. For more detailed information on the Godfrey-Lee plan, visit here.
“While the means of delivering learning has changed, the district’s vision, mission, and values remain constant,” Godfrey-Lee’s Polston said. “I am confident that our students will have an excellent experience during our Continuity of Learning Plan, and our staff stands ready to support any student or family member in need.”
Also like other school districts in the Wyoming-Kentwood area, remote learning is only one part of Godfrey-Lee schools’ efforts during a spring of closed schools.
“The district has also continued to support the basic needs of families, social-emotional wellbeing of students, and health and wellness of families through Kent School Services Network (KSSN) support,” Polston’s stated. “It is the expectation that each student will have contact with a district staff member every week. … (And) the district implemented a structure to target students that aren’t in contact to offer assistance and support.”
Godfrey-Lee, also undoubtedly like other local school districts, has also gained support in their remote learning activities.
“The district is thankful for the generous support of individuals, community partners, and philanthropy during this crisis,” Polston said.
A Michigan Department of Transportation project has begun that will reduce 44th Street to one-lane traffic each way between Breton Avenue and Shaffer Avenue until late July.
The $1,553,000 project, according to the City of Kentwood Public Works Department webpage, is scheduled to last from mid-April to late July.
The beginning of roadwork in early April on 44th Street in the City of Kentwood, headed west just before Shaffer Avenue. (WKTV)
The scope of work includes replacing the top four inches of asphalt on 44th Street from Breton to Shaffer, and replacing the intersection of Shaffer with full depth concrete, according to information provided to WKTV. Traffic will be maintained with a single lane in each direction throughout the project.
A construction notice was mailed to all residents that live adjacent to that section of 44th Street.
The 2020 election cycle, the August primary and the November general elections, will have a wide spectrum of officeholders for Wyoming and Kentwood voters to decide upon.
The 2020 election cycle, the August primary and the November general elections, will have a wide spectrum of officeholders for Wyoming and Kentwood voters to decide upon — from Kentwood’s District Court judge to President of the United States.
As the candidate deadline for the filing for partisan positions on the fall primary and November ballots passed today, April 21, at 4 p.m., a review of the Kent County Elections Office list also includes three local developments of special note.
Three candidates will vie for the Kent County Board of Commissioners 8th District seat, which is entirely in the boundaries of the City of Wyoming, but current commissioner and long-time public servant Harold Voorhees will not be one of them.
And current State Sen. Peter MacGregor (Republican, 28th District) is running for Kent County Treasurer, an action that if successful would require him to resign from his senate seat two years before term limits would force him to do so.
Both Commissioner Voorhees and Sen. MacGregor talked to WKTV briefly today about their decisions.
For Commissioner Voorhees, this is just the right time.
Commissioner Harold Voorhees
“At the end of 2020, I will have served 30 years in elected office. I think this is the right time for someone else,” Voorhees said. “I have been blessed to be able to serve people in three different elected offices … (and) my wife and I are in our 80s and we are blessed with good health. So why not spend more time with our six children, 19 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. We have lots of visiting to do.”
The new county commission’s 8th District commissioner, to be decided in November, will be either the sole Democrat to file, Sarah Chatterley of Wyoming, or the winner of an Aug. 2 Republican Party primary between current City of Wyoming City Council Member-at-large Dan Burrill and Grandville’s Denise Kolesar.
Additionally, in the county commission’s 13th District (Kentwood), incumbent Democrat Betsy Melton filed early but then removed her name late in the process, so fellow Democrat Michelle McCloud and Republican Levi Cipcic, both unopposed in the primary, will face off in November.
As far as Sen. MacGregor’s decision, he told WKTV that his love of public service — he has more than 11 years as a state representative and now state senator — and looming term limits are what drove him to the decision.
State Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-28th District)
“I truly love serving the people” of Kent County, he said. “Maybe I can use my skill set to continue serving this way … (and) this is kind of a free shot to test that.”
If he does not win the treasurer seat, Sen. MacGregor would continue to serve his final two years in the senate.
Also seeking the county treasurer job, and running in the Democratic primary, are José L. Reyna and Beth White, the winner of which will face MacGregor in the general election.
City of Wyoming City Council
City of Wyoming voters will have three seats on the City Council to be voted on, all three on the November ballot and two of the three unopposed at this point. Incumbents Marissa K. Postler and Robert Postema have filed for the 2nd Ward and the 3rd Ward council seats, respectively. Rob Arnoys and John Fitzgerald have filed for a Commissioner-at-large seat.
Kent County Board of Commissioners
In other Kent County Board of Commissioners contests, in the 7th District (Grandville/part of Wyoming), Republican incumbent and Grandville resident Stan Ponstein and Democrat and Grandville resident Jane Newton will run unopposed in August and face off in November.
In the 9th District (Byron Twp./part of Wyoming), incumbent Republican Matt Kallman will be opposed by Keith Courtade (D) of Wyoming, while in the 12th District (Kentwood/part of Wyoming and Grand Rapids) incumbent Democrat Monica Sparks of Kentwood and Grand Rapids Republican Ryan Malinoski will run unopposed in August and face off in November.
Kent County-wide elections
Current Kent County District Attorney Chris Becker (R) will run for reelection unopposed this election cycle, but current Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young (R) will be opposed Democrat Marc Burns.
Current county Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R) will also be opposed, by Wyoming resident Devin Ortega-Furgeson (D). And current Drain Commissioner Ken Yonker (R) will be opposed by Elaine Isely (D).
Part of the Kent County Court System, Kentwood’s current 62 B District Court Judge William G. is bared from running again due to a state law setting an age limit of 70. Running for the non-partisan seat is Amanda Sterkenburg and Joe Jackson, both of Kentwood.
According to the Kent County Elections Office, local judicial candidates will only be on the November candidate listing unless they are forced into a primary (if more than twice the number of candidates file for the number of seats to be elected). If that happens, there will be a primary on the August ballot.
Wyoming’s and Kentwood’s state, federal elected positions
In the Michigan State House of Representatives 72nd District, which includes Kentwood, incumbent Rep. Steven Johnson (R) of Wayland will run unopposed in the primary but in November will face the winner of a Democratic primary between Lily Cheng-Schulting of Grand Rapids and Cade Wilson of Kentwood.
The state house 77th District (which includes Wyoming) will have incumbent Tommy Brann of Wyoming running unopposed in the Republican primary and, in November, he will face the winner of an August Democratic primary field of Bob Smith of Byron Center and Dana Knight of Wyoming.
In Michigan’s 2nd U.S. Congressional District (which includes Wyoming and Kentwood) incumbent Rep. Bill Huizenga (R) and Rev. Bryan Berghoef (D) will also run unopposed in August and face off in November.
Wyoming and Kentwood voters will in November also select between incumbent U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D) two Republicans running in the August primary, John James and Bob Carr.
According to the Kent County Elections Office, “Candidates without party affiliation have until 4 p.m. on July 16 to file petitions to appear on the November ballot.” So independents could still file for offices.
WKTV Community Media is all about the communities of Wyoming and Kentwood, as well as our community volunteers who live all over West Michigan — community people who bring life to our building and to our work. So in these days of social distancing we at WKTV wanted to keep us a little more connected.
So, we asked people to “Tell us how are spending your time?” How has your life and work changed due to the COVID-19 restrictions? What has stayed the same in your life. What advice would you give to the other WKTV community members, and the public at large?
Leslie Vaas, high school sports remote, in-studio crew
“I’m working from home now, and since my coworkers normally do most of their work face-to-face with students at their schools, we’re cancelling everything we had planned for the spring and summer and figuring out new ways to continue providing services. So that’s been a challenge,” Vaas said to WKTV in an email.
Leslie Vaas
“But not all the changes to my life have been bad. It’s just as easy to video chat with a friend in New York as a friend in Michigan, so I’m seeing a lot more of people I don’t normally make weekend plans with. I also attended my first ever online birthday celebration, for a friend in Chicago who decided to host his party on Zoom. So even though it’s a bummer not to be able to spend time with people in person, it’s cool to see how creative people are getting.
“My family continues to get along well even though we’re all spending a lot more time at home, and so far we’re all still healthy. And as I already mentioned, I’m still able to do things with friends and family outside my household, thanks to technology. I’ve always done my workouts either at home or outside, so that required no change. I can still read books, and write stories, and continue watching a lot of my favorite movies, shows, and YouTubers, so most of my solo free time activities are still possible. And of course, Michigan’s weather remains as unpredictable as ever.”
And her words of wisdom:
“Whether you’re super busy now or have more free time than you know what to do with, try to find at least a little bit of time for things that help you stay sane or help brighten someone else’s day (while still maintaining social distancing). These are crazy times, but like High School Musical says, we’re all in this together. Stay safe, be kind, and hang in there, everyone.”
Thank you Leslie, for all you do.
Interested in learning more about WKTV Community Media, maybe getting involved with our volunteer community? Visit https://wktv.org.
WKTV volunteer Leslie Vaas in station’s remote coverage truck during a 2019 high school sports event. (WKTV)
“My mother is an incredibly beautiful woman who has laughed at every single thing my father’s ever said. At a young age, my brother and I understood that if you can make girls laugh, you can punch well above your weight class.”
Seth Meyers (From whom we stole the headline!)
Love in the time of coronavirus
April is a big time for weddings and like many couples, Melanie Bork and Bradley Wernette were looking forward to their special day on April 17 in Petoskey, Mich. However, one uninvited guest — COVID-19 — crashed the party before it could even get started. Go here for the story.
Boardman Brown, on stage at a July 2019 Wyoming Concerts in the Park. (WKTV)
A summer concert, from your ‘stay at home’ couch
The members of Boardman Brown, a West Michigan band that lit a little musical bonfire at a Wyoming Concerts in the Park summer series gig last summer, are working their way through the COVID-19 restrictions just like everyone else — at home. Go here for the story/videos/on-demand concert.
A virtual walk in Australia’s Outback
The most iconic element of Australia’s Red Center, Uluru is sacred to the indigenous Anangu, who finally succeeded in having hiking banned on the rock late last year. But even walking around the perimeter (which is still allowed) is a staggering experience—particularly at sunrise or sunset, when the rock takes on a preternatural glow. Go here for a virtual tour video.
Fun fact:
883
… and each with at least one bad joke!
The current total number of Saturday Night Live eposides. Trivia bonus fact: On the very first episode of SNL, host George Carlin comes down from the balcony and discusses the differences between football and baseball, using the language associated with each sport. See Carlin’s monologue here.
About two weeks before the governor’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order went into effect, more than 100 people gathered at the WKTV station, located at 5261 Clyde Park Ave. SW, to celebrate another great year of community programming.
At the annual Volunteer Banquet, which was held at the WKTV station, giving volunteers an opportunity to check out the recently finished construction work that added a new facade to the station’s main control room along with creating a second floor above Studio A. In fact, the new meeting space already has been used for a video shoot in February.
WKTV also added to its offerings with the creation of a new podcast room where about 20 shows are taped and filmed with the video housed on the Whole Picture Podcast Facebook page and the podcasts also can be found on the WKTV Journal website.
As always, the annual banquet is designed to recognize the many amazing contributions of the WKTV volunteers.
From left: Anne Cope with Scott Baisden (Pat Moll)
This year’s Volunteer of the Year, Scott Baisden, has spent plenty of time at the WKTV station, clocking in more than 1,000 volunteer hours while also editing and producing shows. Baisden has done a number of handyman jobs from various construction projects to landscaping. He also has lent his expertise to several WKTV productions and podcasts.
Far right, Mike Moll, with the rest of the WKTV Sports crew Mark Bergsma, Ron Schultz, and Paul Kabelman. (Photo by Pat Moll)
This year’s Community Service Programming recipient also is no stranger to WKTV. Mike Moll has been a WKTV volunteer for nine years and he might be a familiar face to many as he is one of the hosts for the WKTV Sports program. Moll also has written sports articles for the WKTV Journal and served as a host for a number of WKTV projects.
Recognition was given to volunteers for both years of volunteer service as well as hours of service in 2019. Following is a list of those recognized as well as their programs or volunteer areas for those honored for years of service.
From the left, Latesha Clay and Bernadine Francis were recognized as new volunteers. (Photo by Pat Moll)
From left, Cynthia Johnson and Randy Galaszewski received their Five-Year Awards. (Photo by Pat Moll)
Becci Schumaker received the 10-year-Award. (Photo by Pat Moll)
Allen Wegener received the 20-Year Award.
20 Years
Allen Wegener – Variety of shows throughout the years
10 Years
Beccie Schumaker – Sports/Concerts
5 Years
Cynthia Johnson – Sports/Parades
Randy Galaszewski – Anything Goes/Sports/Concerts
New Volunteers
Cynthia Best – Volunteer
Latesha Clay – L.I.P. Street Team
Bernadine Francis – Studio Productions
Dana Knight – Productions Involving Arts and Culture
WKTV Community Media is all about the communities of Wyoming and Kentwood, as well as our community volunteers who live all over West Michigan — community people who bring life to our building and to our work. So in these days of social distancing we at WKTV wanted to keep us a little more connected.
So, we asked people to “Tell us how are spending your time?” How has your life and work changed due to the COVID-19 restrictions? What has stayed the same in your life. What advice would you give to the other WKTV community members, and the public at large?
Dan Stevens, long-time WKTV volunteer, video partner (and humorist)
Dan Stevens is a man of many skills, including making sweets for WKTV’s volunteer potluck. (WKTV)
“With the crisis, there are no (sports) officiating opportunities thanks to schools being closed for the rest of the year, which doesn’t affect me much as I was not planning officiating high school sports this spring anyway. Thanks to my 25 months spent on active duty with the military, 19 of which involved recovery from two shoulder surgeries, I have enough money saved to support myself while I wait for summer recreation leagues to start providing me income again.
“Until that happens, though my shoulder isn’t 100 percent, it still works well enough to allow me to get lots of exercise by playing with a small (yet growing) group of outdoor pickleball enthusiasts (and yes we ARE maintaining awareness of social distancing when we play!) who like to play for 2-4 hours a day, 2-3 days a week. We all enjoy it as it keeps us sane and in good shape in the midst of these troubling times.”
And his words of wisdom:
“When I’m not out playing pickleball, I’m focusing on writing books, which I was planning on doing even without the pandemic, learning about stock market investing, learning a 2nd language, taking care of my adorable kitty Hobbes, and laying the foundation for starting my own business training future sports officials, so that when this pandemic blows over — and I have faith it will blow over — we can all get back to doing what we enjoy: reconnecting with work, friends and ESPECIALLY our WKTV family! So keep your chin up, everyone, we’ll all be seeing each other again very soon!”
Thank you Dan, for all you do.
Interested in learning more about WKTV Community Media, maybe getting involved with our volunteer community? Visit wktv.org.
The members of Boardman Brown, a West Michigan band that lit a little musical bonfire at a Wyoming Concerts in the Park summer series gig last summer, are working their way through the COVID-19 restrictions just like everyone else — at home.
While more fortunate than some other local musicians struggling without the income from local gigs, Boardman Brown member’s day jobs are keeping most of them busy — if more than a little starved for human interaction — as they await the opportunity to get back in front of a crowd.
“It’s a bizarre time, that’s for sure,” Shelagh Brown said to WKTV. “Boardman Brown is a side gig for everyone in the band, so thankfully we are all able to manage. (Husband and musical partner) Robbie (Koets) has a full time job, and I have a couple part time jobs that we are both able to do from home. I’m incredibly thankful for the technology that we have that makes it possible.
“And, late summer, fall, I think I can speak for everyone in the band that we’ll be ready to get out there again, make more music, and see people in person.”
Until then, if you’re a fan or soon-to-be fan, WKTV caught up with Boardman Brown on in July 2019 as part of our coverage of the City of Wyoming’s summer concert series. And the Boardman Brown concert is on demand here as part of WKTV’s “From Your Couch” concert series.
Boardman Brown, on stage at a July 2019 Wyoming Concerts in the Park. (WKTV)
The country-rock-pop band features three lead singers, some great guitar play by Adam Newton and Brian Fraaza, and some great covers stretching from County-2000s hitmakers like Drake White (“Let it Ride”) to Pop-2000s hitmakers such as Adele (“Could Have Had it All”). In addition to Brown and Anna Joy Tucker supplying the female vocals, and keyboards, Fraaza brings the more “manly” vocals, with Koets on bass and Jeff Hale on drums.
From the live concert, I particularly liked the cover of Lord Huron’s “The Night We Met” featuring the harmonies of Brown, Tucker and Fraaza, and their version of the new-alt-something artists The New Respects’ lovely song “Trouble” — available both in the WKTV concert and an even better version on the band’s Facebook page.
And speaking of their Facebook page … When you go, defiantly make a stop at their version of the great (and recently late) John Prime’s classic “Angel From Montgomery”. Worth the visit all by itself.
Had to ask: What about that name?
“The band name?” Brown said. “We had previously written music together at a cabin up north, outside Traverse City, and the cabin is on the south branch of the Boardman River. After a bit of thinking and coming up with many names, Boardman Brown was the one that stuck!
In an intimate acoustic setting, Boardman Brown sings John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery”, one of the band’s Facebook videos. (Supplied/Boardman Brown)
“We had all played together at church in the worship band, and had been friends for long time through that. Throughout that time, I had a local country band (the Shelagh Brown Band) … Anna Tucker and Brian Fraaza also have a duo called Criminals of Eden. The band came together for the first time when the Shelagh Brown Band was competing in B93’s Battle to the Bash quite a few years ago. … After making it to the finals in the contest, we all agreed that this combination of musicians was something special.”
As far as getting through the current COVID-19 time of isolation, Brown is working through it like everybody else but also sees it being a time of possible growth for herself and the band.
“We haven’t gotten to original music as Boardman Brown, yet. We’ve written together and separately for other projects. And have plans to write together as a band,” she said. “I believe that as we walk through this time apart, and look back from the other side of this, that we will have lots to talk about and write about.”
If your locking for more great “From Your Couch” concerts, WKTV has a bunch of recent concerts covered by WKTV Community Media and available on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
The State of Michigan, like most governmental agencies, puts out press releases to media sources on a wide-range of issues almost daily. Some are important for the public to know; some are just routine governmental business. Some make the news and some do not.
We at WKTV have decided that in these times of COVID-19, of often-filtered news, we’d let the state departments say what they want to say to the pubic a little more directly. Following are links to State of Michigan releases from Monday and Tuesday, April 13-14 — with a little emphasis given by our staff on what we found interesting.
State expanding COVID-19 testing criteria, access
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced Monday it is expanding testing criteria for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) to include individuals with mild symptoms, and has published a COVID-19 test site finder at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus to help Michiganders locate a testing site near them.
“Expanded testing is needed to learn more about how COVID-19 is spreading in our state,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health, said in supplied material. “We want to make sure people know that if they have symptoms, they should work with their medical provider to be tested.”
Michigan’s testing priority criteria now includes: hospitalized patients, symptomatic healthcare workers and expanded list of “patients in congregate facilities with symptoms,” including those at:
“In Between the Trees”, Rose Hammond’s 2019 documentary film about the historic African-American resort towns of Idlewild and Woodland Park, was more than simply a community project supported by WKTV Community Media.
It is a prime example of a community-led project which WKTV prides itself in being an advocate for and a partner with. And the film will be on display next week as it begins a short cable-television run on WKTV Community Channel 25.
“As Rose went through he process of producing this documentary, we all found it fascinating that she was uncovering this amazing story of local history,” said Tom Norton, general manager of WKTV Community Media. “WKTV is happy and proud that she chose to use this facility to realize that storytelling goal.”
WKTV will air “In Between The Trees Monday, April 20, at 9:30 a.m.; Tuesday, April 21, at 7 p.m.; and Friday, April 24, 10 a.m.
Idlewild was started in 1912 by white investors who created a resort for black vacationers during the Jim Crow era — when most resorts would not allow blacks to book stays. Woodland Park came a few years later.
Rose Hammond at WKTV Community Media for the premiere of her film “In Between the Trees”. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The film about the history of the towns — produced, substantially filmed, and edited at WKTV by Hammond — is based on her 1994 book “Idlewild & Woodland Park, Michigan (An African American Remembers)”.
“I was attracted to the story when coming home and our family went up north to visit our grandpa’s old house,” Hammond said to WKTV. “While in Woodland Park all I heard were the stories of how it used to be. I then decided that someone needed to put a collection of interviews together to maintain the historical value of the community.
“No matter what becomes of the two communities they will always be known as an outlet for thousands of African Americans to entertain and vacation like their counterparts. It will always be Idlewild and Woodland Park.”
For the complete WKTV Journal story, visit here. The trailer for the documentary can be viewed here and another here. For a WKTV video interview with Rose Hammond while the film was in process, visit here.
The new Expedition 63 crew joined the Expedition 62 crew a board the International Space Station. (Front row from left) NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner. (Back row from left) NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir. (Credit: NASA TV)
On Wednesday, April 15, the WKTV Government 26 will feature the live NASA coverage of the Expedition 62-63 Change of Command Ceremony as Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka hands over the command of the International Space Station to NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy. The ceremony is scheduled for 4:55 p.m.
Live coverage continues on Thursday, April 16, for the Expedition 62 farewells and Soyuz MS-15 hatch closure as NASA astronauts Andrew Morgan and Jessica Meir and cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka prepare to return to earth. Coverage begins at 6 p.m., with the hatch closure scheduled to take place at approximately 6:35 p.m.
Stay tuned for the de-orbit burn and landing coverage starting at midnight Friday, April 17. The de-orbit burn is scheduled for approximately 12:22 a.m., with the landing near Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan expected at 1:17 a.m.
For more information on NASA TV or the International Space Station, log on to www.nasa.gov. NASA TV can be seen on the WKTV 26 Government Channelon Comcast and AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99.
The State of Michigan, like most governmental agencies, puts out press releases to media sources on a wide-range of issues almost daily. Some are important for the public to know; some are just routine governmental business. Some make the news and some do not.
We at WKTV have decided that in these times of COVID-19, of often-filtered news, we’d let the state departments say what they want to say to the pubic a little more directly. Following are links to State of Michigan releases from April 6-7 — with a little emphasis given by our staff on what we found interesting.
Michigan Attorney General warning online sellers about price-gouging
Four online sellers conducting business through Amazon were told to stop taking advantage of consumers by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel after her office found credible reports of price-gouging in violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCPA), according to a State of Michigan press release.
Nessel’s office on Monday sent cease and desist letters to the Amazon storefronts operating under the usernames Dealz N-KY, Happy Small Hands, HotDealz73 and ZXL Distribution Group.
“As we continue to work through this COVID-19 pandemic together, my office will keep protecting consumers from price-gougers – and that includes online retailers,” Nessel said in supplied material. “This public health emergency is not an excuse for businesses to take advantage of people and profit from fear, and those who try will be held accountable.”
In an example provided by the Attorney General’s office, the Dealz N-KY storefront operator sold a two-pack of hand sanitizer for $89, plus shipping. The same product typically sells for $8.85 at other online retailers.
The State of Michigan, like most governmental agencies, puts out press releases to media sources on a wide-range of issues almost daily. Some are important for the public to know; some are just routine governmental business. Some make the news and some do not.
We at WKTV have decided that in these times of COVID-19, of often-filtered news, we’d let the state departments say what they want to say to the pubic a little more directly. Following are links to State of Michigan releases from April 3-4 — with a little emphasis given by our staff on what we found interesting.
State takes action to protect quarantined workers rights
Governor Gretchen Whitmer last week signed an executive order prohibiting all employers from “discharging, disciplining, or otherwise retaliating against an employee for staying home from work if they or one of their close contacts tests positive for COVID-19 or has symptoms of the disease,” the order states.
“People who are prioritizing the health and safety of their families, neighbors, and loved ones during this crisis should not be punished by their workplace,” Gov. Whitmer said. “Staying home and staying safe is one of the most important things we can do to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan, and this executive order will ensure more people can do so without facing discrimination from their workplace.”
Most state parks are open, but there are restrictions
A vast majority of State of Michigan parks and recreation areas, state-managed trails and boating access sites remain open to provide local opportunities to get outdoors, but most locations have modified services or closed amenities. And the situation could change if there are abuses of social distancing and crowd avoidance requirements.
Recently, according to a state press release, Tippy Dam Recreation Area in Manistee County was closed until further notice due to high numbers of visitors, lack of improper social distancing and people traveling long distances to reach the park.
“In order to continue to keep state parks and trails open, we expect everyone to follow effective social distancing practices, to not litter and not travel long distances to enjoy the outdoors,” Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, said in supplied material. “If concerns continue to build, the DNR will have to look at closing or further limiting access to our state-designated trails, state parks, boating access sites and other outdoor locations.”
“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.”
Voltaire
Meijer Gardens horticulturist Laura Worth leads a virtual tour of the back greenhouses at the Gardens. (Meijer Gardens)
Let’s meet at The Gardens when all this is over
Can’t wait for working in the garden? Meijer Gardens works the year around. Take a tour with horticulturist Laura Worth as she leads a tour of the back greenhouses, where the horticulture team stores and grows many of the plants that make Meijer Gardens beautiful. Go here for the video.
National Museum of Natural History. (Supplied)
Look at the tusks on that elephant!
One of the world’s most visited museums for good reason, the National Museum of Natural History branch of the Smithsonian is magic at keeping kids of all ages entertained and learning. Go here for the virtual tour.
“All the Small Things” video remix 2020 by MDs vs COVID (YouTube) 2020
A little music, just for the fun of it …
In late March, a group of students at Harvard Medical School created “FutureMDs vs. COVID” and, as young people are want to do, created a video with an update of Blink 182’s “All The Small Things”. A little silly, a little good advice, a little heart. Go here for the music video.
Fun fact(s):
Winning at Go Fish
Playing a lot of card games with your kids? Tired of letting them win or, worse, them accidentally winning? Here is how to reach your kids how to beat you at Go Fish. Winning at Go Fish.
