By Cris Greer
WKTV Managing Editor
It was a chilly, festive and activity-filled event at Kentwood’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Light Parade last Thursday at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch.
The festivities included carriage rides, children’s crafts, food trucks, live music, a visit from Santa, a performance by the Michigan Ballet Academy, and the main events: the parade and tree lighting, of course.
One of the highlights of the night was grand marshal Clara Wells, a fifth grader at Brookwood Elementary, who was in the same float in the parade with Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley and later helped him light the Christmas tree in front of the library.
Wells achieved the honor by winning a new student essay competition among Kentwood students/residents from ages 5-18. Participants were asked to write a 1,000 word essay entitled, “Why do you love living in Kentwood?”
“It really was a good essay about what makes Kentwood so special,” said Mayor Kepley of Wells’ composition. “She talked about our parks and trails, and the schools.”
(Courtesy, DK Photography/City of Kentwood) 
(Courtesy, DK Photography/City of Kentwood) 
(Courtesy, DK Photography/City of Kentwood) 
(Courtesy, DK Photography/City of Kentwood) 
(Courtesy, DK Photography/City of Kentwood) 
Kentwood Police Chief Bryan Litwin (left), Deputy Chief Stephanie Morningstar at the Kentwood Tree Lighting, 2022. (Courtesy, DK Photography/City of Kentwood) 
Kentwood Parks and Recreation staff pose with Santa. Bottom row, from left: Spencer McKellar and Shelby Henshaw. Top row, from left: Ann Przybysz, Laura Barbrick and Lori Gresnick. (Courtesy, DK Photography/City of Kentwood)
When asked what he loves about Kentwood, Kepley said he loves it “because it’s a taste of heaven … because the world has come to Kentwood.”
A city of diversity
“It has such diversity, and to be able to have such diversity and live in peace and love with one another is just a wonderful thing,” Kepley continued. “I live in a neighborhood with 13 homes, and those 13 homes represent the world. We just feel blessed because we have relationships with our neighbors. You see how it can work with different backgrounds.
“A lot of people living in Kentwood weren’t born and raised in the United States, including my lovely wife Susan, who was born and raised in Kenya.”
All in one
Kepley talked about the unity of having all the City’s events in one area, compared to having them spread around in years past.
“We have really focused on bringing everything here (around the library), centralizing things, whether it’s the tree lighting, July Fourth, all our events like the concert series, food truck rallies, the parade, the farmers market.
“We really don’t have a downtown, but we’re trying to create this place around the library and City Hall where people can create traditions and memories.”
Kentwood’s Free Little Pantry
Tree Lighting attendees also had the opportunity to donate non-perishable food items to Kentwood’s Free Little Pantry. For more info, check out this site: kentwood.us/LittleFreePantry.
