Tag Archives: bricks

John Ball Zoo hosts an adult night out Aug. 27

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, , ,
Take a break from the little ones and hang with the adults of the John Ball Zoo. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

By Darci David
John Ball Zoo

John Ball Zoo is hosting their second Adult Night Out of the season on Thursday, August 27th for those aged 21 and up looking for a fun date night or friend’s night out.

Adult Night Out gives attendees the opportunity to experience the Zoo at night, with adult beverages, and without any kids. Zoo staff will rotate throughout the Zoo in front of animal habitats helping guests learn more about the animals and the Zoo during the evening. To allow proper social distancing, no scheduled programming will occur.

Attendees can also enjoy the summer evening with beer selections, specialty drinks, and delicious food options, including the recently launched JBZ beer in partnership with Brewery Vivant.

The Thursday, August 27th Adult Night Out is 5:15 – 9:00 p.m. Limited tickets are available so the Zoo highly recommends reserving tickets before the event. The Zoo offers four times to enter at 5:15 p.m., 5:45 p.m., 6:15 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. to help with space for safe social distancing.

The John Ball Zoo is hosting an Adult Night Out event Aug. 27. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

Tickets can be purchased online for $18 for members or $20 for non-members at jbzoo.org/AdultNightOut. Tickets could be available for those who walk-up but the Zoo cannot guarantee these will be available. The Zoo notes that the July Adult Night Out did sell out days in advance.

Masks will be required for those medically able when visiting their indoor habitats, and for outdoor areas where a 6 feet distance is not possible between other guests. The Zoo asks for guests to bring their own mask. John Ball Zoo is located on Fulton Ave., one mile west of downtown Grand Rapids. For questions or for more information, visit www.jbzoo.org, call (616) 336-4301 or email info@jbzoo.org.

Brick by Brick: Tributes placed in Cancer Center garden

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, , , ,

Photo supplied

 

By MetroHealth-University of Michigan Health

 

One of the most devastating words in the English language is “cancer”. Even more sobering is the fact and 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime (according to the American Cancer Society).

 

Pat Holland knows this pain firsthand. His dear wife, Peggy, lost her battle against cancer in 2014. Holland wanted to memorialize his wife and her 18-month journey at The Cancer Center at Metro Health Village.

 

“Peggy was everything to me, everything I could want in a wife and best friend,” said Holland. “I wanted to do something substantial to help celebrate her memory; something people would notice for a long time.”

 

Holland worked with the Metro Health Hospital Foundation and came up with a plan to install tribute bricks in the Cancer Center garden. A campaign was held offering anyone touched by the Cancer Center a chance to plant a brick in memory of a loved one. More than 30 people did so, purchasing bricks by making a donation to the Cancer Center via the foundation. Though most bricks are memorials, some bear message of hope from Cancer Center survivors.

 

Photo supplied

Last summer, a few dozen family members, friends and former patients gathered in the garden to dedicate  the first round of bricks, which raised more than $7,000 for the Cancer Center.

 

“It’s a little piece of tranquility,” Holland said of the garden, which is visible through a wall of windows from the chemotherapy infusion chairs. “Peggy and I found comfort in the view during difficult times.”

 

If you are interested in including your message to the garden, a gift of $100 or more will add a brick with your message of hope and celebration to the path in the Cancer Center Garden. Contact Foundation to make your gift today at 616.252.5000 or foundation@metrogr.org.

Final arch added to Wyoming’s Veteran’s Park

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The new memorial arch at Wyoming's Veteran's Memorial Garden.
The new memorial arch at Wyoming’s Veteran’s Memorial Garden.

The final memorial arch was installed this week at the City of Wyoming’s Veteran’s Memorial Garden.

 

The installation marked the end of a more than 10-year project for the Veteran’s Park. Started as a vision of local veterans groups, in 1995, through the support of the community, the city was able to complete the first phase of the project by dedicating the Walk of Honor to all military branches. Over the course of the past several years, the city has been adding elements to the park. This week, the city completed the project with the installation of the last of the three arches. The new arch will be recognized during the city’s annual Memorial Service set for the observed holiday, May 30 at 7 p.m.

 

Rebecca Rynbrandt, director of community services for the City of Wyoming, said the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department received a $6,475 grant from the City of Wyoming Community Development Block Grant to fund the final memorial arch. This included the casting and placement in the Veteran’s Park, Rynbrandt said.

 

“We invite the community to visit the park located at 2300 DeHoop Avenue to view its three arches heralding Honor, Duty, and Country and reflect upon the service of our veterans,” she said. The Veteran’s Park is located right in front of the Wyoming Department of Public Safety and across from Pinery Park.

 

There are no current plans for any other additions to the park. Rynbrandt said. Memorial bricks for those who served are still available along the Walk of Honor. Bricks are placed in the spring for Memorial Day and in the fall for Veteran’s Day. Bricks are $40. For more information on purchasing a brick, click here or call the City of Wyoming offices at 616-530-7272.