WKTV Journal

Join the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) for the final 2018 Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Concerts with special holiday music performances by Lance Luce on Friday, Dec. 21 and Saturday, Dec 22.

Luce will present holiday cheer this season bringing to life favorite holiday songs on the GRPM’s 1928 Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ. His performance will include White Christmas, Silver Bells, Winter Wonderland, Let it Snow, The Christmas Song, Sleigh Ride, Brazilian Sleigh Bells, Mary’s Little Boy Child and other carols.

These concerts are great for families during the holiday season! Tickets are recommended to be purchased early, as they are likely to sell out.

Lance Luce is an internationally acclaimed theatre organist, who has played hundreds of concerts all over the United States, Canada, England and Australia. In 2014 he was awarded Organist of the year by the American Theatre Organ Society. Most recently he became the head organist for the Detroit Red Wings at the new Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit. He has played concerts for numerous chapters of the American Theatre Organ Society and other affiliated theatre organ groups and clubs. He has played for National and regional conventions of the ATOS in the United States and TOSA in Australia.

Shows will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 22, in the Meijer Theater at the GRPM.

Tickets for individual concerts are $8 for Museum member adults, $4 for Museum member children, $10 for non-member adults and $5 for non-member children. Tickets are available by visiting grpm.org/Organ or by calling 616-929-1700.

Hipster Santa is coming to town, straight to the Grand Rapids Public Museum

November 27, 2018EntertainmentGrand Rapids Public Museum, GRPM, Hipster Santa, Streets of Old Grand Rapids, The People Picture CompanyJoanne

Hipster Santa makes a stop at the Grand Rapids Public Museum Dec. 8.

This holiday season, the Grand Rapids Public Museum, in partnership with The People Picture Company, Hipster Santa will be stopping by the Grand Rapids Public Museum on Saturday, Dec. 8, for photo opportunities.

“The Museum is excited to host Hipster Santa this holiday season,” said Kate Kocienski, VP of Marketing & PR for the GRPM. “It’s a perfect combination of your favorite backdrop with a new take on Santa.”

Hipster Santa will be set up in the Museum’s Streets of Old Grand Rapids exhibition’s Barrel Factory from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8. All ages are welcome to purchase picture packages, which are $65, to be printed on site, during their visit to the Museum.

“The People Picture Company is pleased to support institutions with community impact like the Grand Rapids Public Museum,” said founder and owner Adam Bird. “Hipster Santa is a fun, slightly different take on the holiday tradition of family Santa Claus pictures, making it a delightful activity for people of all ages.”

Leading up to Dec. 8, be sure to check out social media accounts for the Grand Rapids Public Museum and The People Picture Company for the 12 days of Hipster Santa, as Hipster Santa explores all that the GRPM has to offer.

Photo packages may be purchased in advance online at thepeoplepicturecompany.com/hipster-santa for $65. Visitors are also welcome to get a photo with Hipster Santa while at the Museum on December 8 on a first-come, first-served basis, photo package fees still apply. General admission to the Museum is required to have access to pictures with Hipster Santa.

For more information, please visit grpm.org/calendar.

On Tap: Whiskey pancakes, Pink Floyd landing and breakfast bourbon — all real things!

November 21, 2018Beer, Entertainment, Upcoming EventsBier Distillery, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grey Skies DistilleryJoanne

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By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

You can get a charge these days at Comstock Park’s Bier Distillery: you, your car and your pancakes.

Bier Distillery recently re-released its Redeemed Whiskey, and whiskey made from beer pulled off the tap. The original beer was a sour beer, we are told, so the whiskey will be “nothing like you’ve ever tasted before.”

Speaking of something never tasted before … The brewery/distillery also released a maple syrup that — and I quote — is a “barrel aged maple syrup (which) exclusively uses syrup from our local farms to provide a a wonderfully unique flavor. Aged in our own used Michigan white oak whiskey barrels, the syrup has been transformed with notes of brown butter, creamy vanilla, smokey oak, and caramel.” Warning: it is an very limited release. But can you imagine giving that as a holiday gift.

The final charge to be gained from the Bier Distillery is its electric car charging stations, which earlier this fall hosted a Tesla takeover.

“The number of electric cars on the road will only be increasing in the near future,” management previously said about the car chargers. “The cars need convenient places to recharge, and the drivers often need to recharge as well.”

Hey, a whiskey neat always recharges me.

For more information visit bierdistillery.com.

Dark Beer, Dark Side returns to GRPM on Black Friday

Can you think of a better way to end the day of craziness that is Black Friday than attending an evening music/light show performance at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) which, in partnership with Brewery Vivant, will host Dark Beer, Dark Side.

Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23, attendees will hear a brief 45 minute presentation from Ryan Engemann, the Wandering Monk from Brewery Vivant, on the differences between various dark beers including Brewery Vivant’s highly anticipated release of Tart Side of the Moon. After the presentation, visitors have the chance to grab another beer before entering the Chaffee Planetarium for the Museum’s original production, Dark Side: The Light Show, set to the music of Pink Floyd.

“Shine on your crazy diamond …” You either know it or you don’t.

Tickets include 3 beer samples and admission to the evening’s planetarium show. Beer samples will be Tart Side of the Barrel, Tart Side of the Moon and Velvet Stud. Tickets are $22 and $12 for Museum members. Must be 21 or older to participate.

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is located in downtown Grand Rapids, at 272 Pearl Street, NW. For more information visit www.grpm.org.

Grey Skies fall releases includes Breakfast Bourbon

Grand Rapids Grey Skies Distillery on Nov. 20 released its limited-edition Breakfast Bourbon, which was aged more than two years and bottled at 87 proof. According to supplied material, the bourbon spent time in two different barrels, starting in charred new, oak barrels before it was finished for 9 months in maple syrup casks.

“Breakfast Bourbon offers a playful twist on a typical bourbon whiskey,” Steve Vander Pol, co-owner of Gray Skies Distillery, said in supplied material. “We infused maple flavor into the whiskey by taking a traditional bourbon and finishing it for 9 months in a barrel that was previously used to age maple syrup … The maple finish amplifies the sweetness inherent in bourbon whiskey and imparts a creamy mouthfeel to the viscous finished spirit.”

For more information about Gray Skies Distillery please visit the Gray Skies Distillery website.

Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train on display at GRPM beginning Nov. 17

November 16, 2018Entertainment, Holidays, Kids Activities, Local FacesChildren's Train, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Herpolsheimer's, Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train, Peter F. SecchiaJoanne

By Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train is instantly recognizable to any baby-boomer resident of Grand Rapids. They remember riding in the train high above the toy department at the Herpolsheimer’s Department Store, which sat at the corner of Fulton and Division streets in downtown Grand Rapids. The monorail train debuted as “Santa’s Rocket Express” when the new Herpolsheimer’s Department Store opened in in 1949.

After passing through the hands of several department stores that succeeded Herpolsheimer’s, the train entered the Museum’s Collection in 2000 with a jungle-themed paint job. The Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train was gifted to the Museum’s Collection by The Peter F. Secchia Family.

In 2010, the GRPM contracted with David Winick to begin restoration of the train to its original theme. Using a December 1955 Life magazine photo as his guide, Winick removed the rocket nose added in the 1960s and replaced it with a replica of the original 1949 nose. As multiple layers of paint were removed, the original colors were exposed. The GRPM and Winick were able to complete the restoration of all three cars thanks to funds raised by community members at the Museum’s Collections & Cocktails event in the spring of 2018.

“We’re pleased to have this old favorite on display this holiday season,” said Dale Robertson, President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. “As the keeper of the community’s treasures and history, it is our job to preserve them and make them available to the public. We hope families will visit the Museum this holiday season to take a walk down memory lane.”

The Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train will be on display on the first floor of the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Van Andel Museum Center, and will be included with general admission to the Museum.

Holiday Displays and Snowflake Break

In addition to the Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train, the GRPM has its Streets of Old Grand Rapids exhibition fully decorated for the holidays, including a display of Santa Clauses from around the world.

Visitors are also invited to go on a Santa and Elf Hunt, to find 15 historic Santas from around the World in Streets of Old Grand Rapids, and 12 elves hidden throughout the three floors of the Museum. The Santa & Elf Hunt is included with general admission.

This holiday season, see historic Grand Rapids all built from LEGOs. The 1925-era display, complete with operating trams showcases what Grand Rapids looked like during the early 20th century, including a section of the Grand River, the Morton Hotel, and the Grand Rapids Community Foundation building – the former ice house for Anheuser Busch. Visitors to the Museum will be able to view this special holiday LEGO recreation from Nov. 18 through Jan. 18. It is on display in the Streets of Old Grand Rapids and included with general admission. Built by the West Michigan Lego Train Club.

Let it Snow Planetarium Show – Nov. 23, 2018 through Jan. 6, 2019

Let it Snow features a new variety of festive classics from Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee, and includes a stunnifng multi-media finale by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. The soundtrack is visually enhanced with thematic animation, laser imagery and special effects. Now playing at the Chaffee Planetarium at the GRPM through January 6, and tickets are $4 each with general admission to the Museum, free to Museum members and $5 each for planetarium only tickets. For more information and show times, visit grpm.org/planetarium.

During “Snowflake Break” from Dec. 22 through Jan. 6, the GRPM will host free with admission activities. Visit grpm.org for details.

Grand Rapids Public Museum hosts pizza parlor classics Mighty Wurlitzer Organ concerts

November 9, 2018EntertainmentBrett Valliant, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, Roaring 20's Pizza ParlorJoanne

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is hosting Pizza Parlor Classics on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Concerts on Nov. 16 and 17, as part of the 2018 Organ Concert Series.

The November concerts will feature Brett Valliant playing classic “pizza parlor” organ music including Maple Leaf Rag, In the Mood, Phantom of the Opera and Rock Around the Clock.

The November concerts will be taking the Wurlitzer Organ back to its roots. The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ spent two decades entertaining customers at the Roaring 20’s Pizza Parlor on 28th Street in Grand Rapids, before it was moved to its current location at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Brett Valliant is an American organist who is in high demand for his ability to perform many different genres of music on the instrument he loves. At fifteen, he played his first Wurlitzer and exhibited a natural talent for the popular music loved by fans of the theatre organ. He plays annually for several film festivals including the International Film Festival hosted by the American Film Institute, and has been a featured performer at national conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the American Theatre Organ Society. He has toured extensively as a solo artist, featured soloist with orchestras, and film accompanist abroad and throughout the United States. Critics have defined his performances as “exciting,” “refreshing,” “unorthodox” and “astonishing.”

Shows will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, in the Meijer Theater at the GRPM.

The third and final concert of the series will feature Lance Luce performing holiday songs, which includes favorites such as White Christmas, Silver Bells, and Let it Snow, on Friday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 22, at 2 p.m.

Ethnic Heritage Celebration at the Grand Rapids Public Museum this November

October 24, 2018EntertainmentAnishinabek, Ethnic Heritage Celebration, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Native American Cultural Days, The People of This PlaceJoanne

By Christie Bender
Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today the re-introduced Ethnic Heritage Celebration, combining the annual Native American Cultural Days and Ethnic Heritage Festival. This year’s Ethnic Heritage Celebration will bring cultural immersive experience to school groups during the week and culminate with a public Saturday celebration.

The City of Grand Rapids and the surrounding region have a long standing history of diversity and various cultural traditions dating back from early explorers and fur traders, to modern day cultural rituals from new residents of the region.

Ethnic Heritage Celebration will take place Nov. 1-3. Schools groups have signed up to attend Native American Cultural Days as part of the Celebration on Nov. 1 and 2, and then the public is invited to the Ethnic Heritage Festival on Saturday, Nov. 3.

Ethnic Heritage Festival is a day-long celebration of music, dance, crafts and food representing the various ethnic groups that call West Michigan home. Beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 3, the event features a variety of traditions, performances and presentations. The Museum Café will feature ethnic food selections. Event activities are included with general admission to the Museum. Colorful performances will take place throughout the day in the Meijer Theater starting at 10 a.m.

Visitors will be able to view the Museum’s exhibitions, with two specific exhibitions having a primary focus on diversity and culture: Newcomers: The People of This Place which highlights the ethnic groups that have settled the Grand Rapids area, and Anishinabek: The People of this Place which focuses on the Native American culture in the region.

Please visit www.grpm.org/EHF for additional information about the Ethnic Heritage Festival, and more on the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s exhibitions and programs.

Special Halloween-themed organ concerts at the GRPM Oct. 19 & 20

October 19, 2018Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming EventsCabinet of Dr. Caligarion, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Jeremy Witt, West Michigan Tourist Association, Wurlitzer OrganJoanne

By Jeremy Witt, West Michigan Tourist Association

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is hosting Halloween-themed Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Concerts with the silent film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligarion Friday, Oct. 19 and Saturday, Oct. 20.

Internationally known silent film organist, Dennis Scott, will be playing the GRPM’s 1928 Mighty Wurlitzer Organ accompanied to the silent film, for a thrilling, family friendly event.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a 1920 German thriller silent film. The plot twists when a group of friends visit the carnival and watch showman Dr. Caligari who uses hypnotism to control to his victims. When Dr. Caligari brings hypnotized Cesare out of a sarcophagus, Cesare predicts Alan will be dead by morning. When this predication comes true, Francis and Jane are left to find out answers. Considered one of the first chilling silent films, it has been praised by modern film critics and historians alike.

Dennis Scott first began accompanying silent films in the 1970s, when he started playing theatre pipe organs installed in pizza parlors in the Midwest and on the West Coast where he would accompany a couple of “two-reel” comedies every evening. His style has been compared to that of his legendary mentor, the late John Muri, who recorded numerous silent film scores for Blackhawk Films.

Suzanne Lloyd, granddaughter of the comic genius Harold Lloyd, dubbed Dennis the “Master of Magic Notes.” Scott is the house organist at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre, playing weekend intermissions, the annual Sing-Along Sound of Music, the annual Music Box Christmas Sing-Along, as well as several themed film festivals and special events.

Shows are being held at 7pm on Friday, Oct. 19 and at 2pm on Saturday, Oct. 20 in the Meijer Theater at the GRPM.

The second concert of the series will feature Brett Valliant playing classic “pizza parlor” organ music including Maple Leaf Rag, In the Mood, Phantom of the Opera andRock Around the Clock on Friday, Nov. 16 at 7pm and Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2pm.

The third and final concert of the series will feature Lance Luce performing holiday songs, which includes favorites such as White Christmas, Silver Bells, and Let it Snow, on Friday, Dec. 21 at 7pm and Saturday, Dec. 22 at 2pm.

The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ

The Wurlitzer Company of North Tonawanda, New York, manufactured and shipped Opus #1836, a “3 manual special”, to the Stanley Theater of Jersey City, New Jersey, on Feb. 9, 1928. The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ spent two decades entertaining customers at the Roaring 20’s Pizza Parlor on 28th Street in Grand Rapids, before it was moved to its current location at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Here’s a peek at some of what you will find at ArtPrize 10

September 18, 20183-bottom, Citizen JournalismArtPrize, Frederik Meijer Gardens, Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Public MuseumJoanne

WKTV Staff

ArtPrize 10 is here which means for the next two and half weeks much of the community will be focused on and discussing art.

WKTV will be joining the conversation with WKTV VOICES. Introduced at ArtPrize Nine last year, VOICES is housed in a 1958 Airstream trailer and collects stories. Last year, it focused on collecting the stories of artists. This year, the trailer will again return to the corner of Lyon and Monroe, across from the Amway Grand Plaza, collecting stories of artists but also hosting a Voters Feedback Booth, where voters are encouraged to share what they voted on and why.

And what should participants expect to see at this year’s ArtPrize? Well, a few of the venues reached out to us with information about who will be at their venue.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport

5500 44th St. SE

Visitors and passengers coming through the airport will be see 14 exhibits on display at the
Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Art at the airport is on display upstairs along the mezzanine, in the indoors observation deck area, and in the east end of the terminal building near the valet ticket counter and exit to rental cars.

“We are thrilled to once again serve as a gathering place for ArtPrize –as a venue, a sponsor, and as a way to welcome artists and visitors into our great city,” said GFIA President & CEO Jim Gill. “The Ford Airport strives to be reflective of the people and events in West Michigan, and we have a chance to brighten up our space with local and national artwork that showcases many different types of art. We hope people take advantage of the art on display here and visit us during the competition whether as a traveler or just a general visitor.”

Among the feature pieces is “1934,” by Amiri Farris, a portrait of a young President Gerald R. Ford and teammate Willis Ward. This large size painting depicts how President Ford overcame mounting adversity and racial discrimination to hep a friend. Artist Tom Howing, who is battling cancer, worked with his autistic son, Matthew, to put his views of the world into a 3-D format display titled “Matthew’s View.” Also artist Elizabeth Paul Healey fled her home in North Carolina this past weekend as Hurricane Florence approached and is here with her piece “Fear Less.”

Petra Kuppers, Salamander by The Olimpias. (Courtesy of the artist)

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park will host 16 contemporary sculptors in an innovative exhibition jointly organized by DisArt, a Grand Rapids based arts and cultural organization promoting the full participation of disabled people in and through the arts. The exhibition is titled “Process and Presence: Contemporary Disability Sculpture”.

Through examples of three-dimensional practice including sculpture, performance, installation and video art, this exhibition emphasizes the relationship between disability and the fundamental human experiences of change and embodiment. The exhibition offers audiences a survey of contemporary disability sculpture through artists whose work represents local, national and global perspectives on the experiences of living with disability.

“Process and Presence: Contemporary Disability Sculpture” will be free of charge during ArtPrize (Sept. 19 – Oct. 7). The exhibition areas will be open to the public during Meijer Gardens’ regular business hours. All other areas of Meijer Gardens observe regular hours and standard admission fees.

Arizona-based artist duo Lauren Strohacker and Kendra Sollars shed light on the displacement, reintroduction, and loss of wildlife in urban areas, and have collaborated with Blandford Nature Center to create their time-based entry, Animal Land.

Grand Rapids Art Museum

101 Monroe Center St. NW

The Grand Rapids Art Museum’s ArtPrize 10 exhibition will showcase a broad range of contemporary art by local, regional, national and international artists—competing in every ArtPrize category: 2D, 3D, Time-based and Installation. The total number of artists/artist pairs is 10. The exhibition includes outdoor installations and large-scale nighttime projections on the building’s exterior, and also contains sculpture, painting and interactive performance works.

“Visitors to ArtPrize 10 at GRAM will find the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s most ambitious presentation yet—dazzling installations adapted to interior and exterior public spaces, technology-based interactive experiences, monumental sculpture and more,” commented GRAM Director and CEO Dana Friis-Hansen.

Several themes can be found within the artwork on view—Venezuelan artist, Saskia Jordá, uses her work as a call to action to end violence and hunger. Michigan-based artist John Gutsokey addresses loss, grief, and the aftermath of hate crimes, as well as gun violence, homophobia, violence against people of color and the transgender community, and LGBTQ rights. Arizona-based artist duo Lauren Strohacker and Kendra Sollars shed light on the displacement, reintroduction, and loss of wildlife in urban areas, and have collaborated with Blandford Nature Center to create their time-based entry, Animal Land.

Grand Rapids Public Museum

272 Pearl St. NW

The Grand Rapids Public Museum will once again host an outdoor exhibition in which the work of 17 artists will visually lend itself to the setting of the Museum grounds. Each year the GRPM curates a rewarding experience with approachable art that is intriguing, distinctive and engages the viewer’s capacity for awe and curiosity. Located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids along the busy river walkway, the GRPM is able to offer a not-to-be-missed immersive, 24-hour experience.

During ArtPrize Ten the GRPM will be open with regular Museum hours and half off general admission fees. The GRPM will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays of ArtPrize. For more information about artists, exhibitions, special programming and tickets visit grpm.org.

Public Museum free Sept. 22 as part of Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day

September 18, 20183-bottomGrand Rapids Public Museum, Museum Day, Smithsonian MagazineJoanne

By Kate Kocineski

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) will open its doors free of charge to all Museum Day ticketholders on Saturday Sept. 22, as part of Smithsonian magazine’s 14th annual Museum Day, a national celebration of boundless curiosity in which participating museums emulate the free admission policy at the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington DC-based museums.

Museum Day represents a nationwide commitment to access, equity and inclusion. Over 250,000 people downloaded tickets for last year’s event, and Museum Day 2018 is expected to attract more museumgoers than ever before.

The theme of this year’s Museum Day is Women Making History, honoring women in society who are trailblazers in the arts, sciences, innovation and culture, and emboldening others to be pioneers as well.

“We are thrilled to be a part of Smithsonian Museum Day for the first time,” said Kate Kocienski, VP of Marketing and PR for the Grand Rapids Public Museum. “This is another way the Museum is working to be accessible to all.”

Museum Day tickets are available for download at Smithsonian.com/MuseumDay. Visitors who present a Museum Day ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues on September 22, 2018. One ticket is permitted per email address. A list of participating museums, which will be continually updated as more museums continue to register, can be found at Smithsonian.com/MuseumDay/Search.

For more information, please visit Smithsonian.com/MuseumDay.

Public Museum starts Saturday Curiosity Labs on Sept. 22

September 12, 2018Citizen Journalism, Entertainmentcuriosity labs, Grand Rapids Public Museum, watershed labJoanne

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) just announced new Saturday Curiosity Labs will be starting Saturday, Sept. 22. Curiosity Labs give visitors the opportunity to get hands-on with science during their visit.

Curiosity Labs will feature fun, hands-on activities themed around science for all ages. Highlights visitors can expect include: learning how a watershed works through the Museum’s water table and utilizing an Augmented Reality (AR) sandbox in which by moving and building the sand, visitors can create erupting volcanoes, rivers, oceans, mountains. Additional hands on activities will change week to week.

Saturday Curiosity Labs will be free with general admission take place every Saturday at the GRPM from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in an open house style format.

Labs begin Saturday, September 22 and will run through Saturday, May 18, 2019. For more information on Curiosity Labs and to see upcoming exhibits and programs at the Museum, visit grpm.org.

The GRPM’s Watershed Lab was funded by Great Lakes Fishery Trust and Wege Foundation. Saturday Curiosity Labs are funded by the Brookby Foundation.

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you need to know

September 7, 20183-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of WyomingBohemian Rhapsody, Godfrey Lee Schools, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Valley State University, mars, Queen, Rebels, Wyoming Lee footballJoanne

WKTV Staff

Quote of the Day

"You get to a certain age, where you know you can’t go over the wall, but I’ll never get to the age where I can’t go through it." - Actor Burt Reynolds, 1936-2018

Lending a Hand

Local nurses were on a hike at Dead River Falls, in the U.P.’s Marquette, but their day hike became a case of being in the right place at the right time. (Supplied)

When a group of local emergency nurses on vacation in Marquette, Mich., learned of an injured hiker they did what anyone with their training and background would do: they went to help. “I fully believe God placed nine ED nurses on that trail for a reason,” said Rylee Kuiphoff, one of the nurses in the group.

Are You Ready for the Challenge?

FIRST Power Up, the theme for the 2017 FIRST challenge, was based on a Mario game.

Hundreds of young technology enthusiasts will gather at Grand Valley State University September 8 to celebrate the beginning of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Tech Challenge season. The event is set for 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Eberhard Center and Keller Engineering Lab building on the Pew Grand Rapids campus. Competitions will take place in the winter.

The Rebels Who Are Turning it Around

Wyoming Lee faces NorthPointe Christian this Friday. The Wyoming Lee team has struggled in years past but last year, Coach Tom DeGennaro credited much of that success to the students: “It’s just the kids buying into the system, working out in the weight room and committing themselves to being here every day. It has nothing to do with coaching. All of the success goes to the kids.”

Killer Light Show

Well you have about a month and a half until “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the film about epic rock band Queen and its frontman Freddie Mercury, hits the theaters. Until then, the Grand Rapids Public Museum has got your Queen-fix as it will be opening “The Queen Light Show: From Mercury with Love” Sept. 15. The show will feature laser lights dancing to 10 of Queen’s greatest hits. And yes, that does include “Bohemian Rhapsody.” For more, visit grpm.org/Planetarium.

Fun Fact:

33.9 Million Miles

Or 54.6 million kilometers. That is the closest Mars and Earth come to each other. Still the distance has not discouraged a love affair with the red planet, which Grand Valley State University explores in its new exhibit "Mars: Astronomy and Culture." The exhibit is set to open Sept. 13 and will feature 140 photographs, drawings, movie posters, book covers and more spotlighting Mars.

New Queen Light Show at the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Chaffee Planetarium

September 4, 2018EntertainmentChaffee Planetarium, Freddie Mercury, Grand Rapids Public Museum, QueenJoanne

By Christie Bender

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) has announced that a brand new show will begin this fall in the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium line up! Beginning, Saturday, Sept. 15, The Queen Light Show: From Mercury with Love, “will rock you!”

New life is brought to the wildly popular classic rock light show format with an original production set to the music of Queen. Experience 10 of Queen’s greatest hits in this brand new show, including favorites like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites the Dust” and “You’re My Best Friend.”

The Queen Light Show: From Mercury with Love is brought to the Chaffee Planetarium from Longway Planetarium in Flint, MI.

The Queen Light Show will play at 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Planetarium tickets are $4 each with purchased general admission to the Museum, $5 each for planetarium-only tickets and free to Museum members. For more planetarium show times and to purchase tickets, visit grpm.org/Planetarium.

Labor Day weekend last chance to see ‘Zoo in You’ exhibit at Public Museum

August 30, 2018EntertainmentEcosystem, Grand Rapids Public Museum, microbes, Zoo in YouJoanne

Race the clock to build a DNA strand in the Public Museum’s next exhibit “Zoo in You.”

By Christie Bender

Visitors have their last chance to explore the fascinating and complex world inside our bodies in Zoo In You: Microbes, before it closes on Sept. 2. Trillions of microbes make their homes inside our bodies and Zoo in You allows all ages to discover our microbiome — a dynamic, adaptable and delicately balanced ecosystem much like any other found in nature.

At Zoo in You, learn who our constant microbial companions are, where they live, how diverse they are and in what ways scientists are discovering just how important they are to our personal health. Explore this vibrant world of our inner microorganisms through engaging, interactive, and bilingual exhibits and programs.

“Zoo In You has been wildly popular among visitors all summer long.” said Kate Kocienski, VP of Marketing & PR. “Featuring a variety of games, puzzles, video and digital experiences, this exhibit is hands-on and engaging for all ages to learn more about science. It’s a great way to keep the entire family entertained while learning.”

Zoo in You has three thematic areas: Meet the Microbes, Our Complex Ecosystems and Exploring our Microbiome:

Meet the Microbes

Go on an interactive journey to learn all about the four major types of microbes that live in and on us! From bacteria to archaea, fungi to viruses, these tiny non-human organisms outnumber our human cells ten to one. Through hands-on activities, learn about “good” microbes, watch how our microbiome reacts to every day occurrences, and manipulate a marble maze to learn how a newborn baby is first colonized by microbes.

Our Complex Ecosystems

Delve deeper into the lives of microbes with green screen technology to get a “weather report” on the climate conditions of your nose, mouth, gut or skin, and a touch-screen video game that challenges guests to keep gut microbes in balance. Adults and kids alike are invited to explore the eye-opening hand “washing” station to observe just how long it takes to be free of germs.

Exploring Our Microbiome

Get up close and personal with microbes as they answer tough questions and use a microscope to examine real preserved specimens. Build your own viruses using puzzle pieces, assemble DNA strands as quickly as possible, and even try your hand at matching DNA patterns to the correct microbes. Plus, a unique photo opportunity allows you to imagine what they would look like as a microbe.

Zoo In You is free with general admission to the GRPM and runs through Sept.2. For more information, visit grpm.org/ZooInYou.

Zoo in You was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. This exhibit was made possible by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Call for makers for GR’s Mini Maker Faire has been extended

August 6, 20183-bottomGrand Rapids Public Museum, Mini Maker Faire, Two Guys BreweryJoanne

By Christie Bender

The Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire is back at the Grand Rapids Public Museum for a fifth year, on Saturday, Aug. 18, and Sunday, Aug. 19. There is still time for any makers interested in participating – the Call to Makers is now extended through Tuesday, Aug. 7.

Maker Faire celebrates community members who are making or creating things by inviting them to share with the public what they have made. Everyone is a maker, and unfinished products are also encouraged.

Part science fair, part county fair and part something entirely new, Maker Faire features both established and emerging local makers. The Grand Rapids Maker Faire is a family-friendly celebration featuring tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, hobbyists, engineers, artists, students and commercial exhibitors.

This year, the Grand Rapids Maker Faire will feature an official Maker Faire beer, made by local brewery Two Guys Brewing. See what a brew day looks like at the Faire with Rivertown Homebrewers, learn more about Two Guys Brewing and enjoy samples of various craft beers and hard seltzers at the cash bar.

Also new for 2018 will be the Young Makers Area, with makers geared to inspire kids of all ages! This area will be comprised of makers who will teach children new skills and answer questions, as well as some of our youngest makers to show off what they have created.

The Faire will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18, and Sunday, Aug. 19. Tickets are on sale at GrandRapids.MakerFaire.com.

Maker Faire is looking for participants who enjoy tinkering, hacking, building and designing new technology-based inventions. Any groups or individuals interested in participating in the Maker Faire should complete the application at GrandRapids.MakerFaire.com.

Spots are first come, first serve basis with openings inside and outside at the GRPM. Maker participation is free for those showcasing! Makers interested in selling products at their booth require a small commercial fee.

The Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire is being organized by a collaborative committee that includes members from: DTE Energy, The Geek Group, Great Lakes Makers Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Kent District Library, Kent Intermediate School District, Michigan Crossroads Council- Boy Scouts of America, WMCAT and the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Follow the development of the Grand Rapids Maker Faire on Twitter @makerfaireGR, as well as on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/makerfairegr/ .

Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire is independently organized and operated under license from Maker Media, Inc.

Grand Rapids Public Museum hosts special ‘Be the Astronaut’ planetarium evening

July 27, 2018EntertainmentChaffee Planetarium, Grand Rapids Public Museum, NASA, Space SchoolJoanne

By Christie Bender

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is hosting a special evening planetarium event Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Astronaut, including a special spotlighted showing of Space School and opportunities for attendees to relax, socialize and learn more in-depth about astronomy.

Take part in the full astronaut experience on August 2, Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Astronaut? will test your skills and knowledge of space flight. Start the evening in the planetarium watching Space School, a new documentary based planetarium show, to learn the incredible story of how astronauts train underwater to live and work in space. Missions will be given to participants to see if they can complete the tasks and reach their destination!

After Space School, visitors can take command of space vehicles through video game technology in the Museum’s summer exhibition, Be The Astronaut. In a special guided-tour with an expert, visitors will chart their course to the Moon, Mars and beyond. The exhibition features detailed digital recreations of actual places in the solar system built using data from NASA space probes.

Tickets are $8 for Museum members and $12 for non-members. GRPM doors open at 7 p.m., with the planetarium show beginning at 7:30.

The GRPM will host another evening planetarium show, Night Sky Trivia, on Thursday, September 6 to learn about the night sky and test your astronomy trivia knowledge!

September 6 – Night Sky Trivia

Explore the night sky inside and out! Start by learning end-of-summer constellations and current astronomy events in the GRPM’s Chaffee Planetarium. Participate in an extended version of the Under Scorching Skies live show to delve into the current astronomical events.

Following the planetarium show, venture outside for telescopic observations with the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association (GRAAA). See what you can find in the night sky above the city, with a star chart and astronomy experts to guide you. Participants can plan to see Saturn, Jupiter and Mars, as well as some of the very brightest stars such as those that make up the Summer Triangle.

*Outdoor observation is weather-dependent, and alternate indoor activities will include a trivia tournament in the newly renovated Meijer Theater.

Tickets for Night Sky Trivia are $8 for Museum members and $12 for non-members and can be purchased at grpm.org.

Grand Rapids Public Museum announces planetarium evenings

July 6, 2018EntertainmentChaffee Planetarium, Dark Side, Grand Rapids Public Museum, GRPM, Roger B. Chaffee PlanetariumJoanne

By Christie Bender

June 28, 2018Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentGrand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Valley State University, Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, Ralph W. HauensteinJoanne

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced that a special evening series of programs will take place this summer at the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium. Three evenings this summer will include a special spotlighted show, along with opportunities for attendees to relax, socialize and learn more in-depth about astronomy.

Special late-night Chaffee Planetarium evenings will be held on Thursdays on July 12, Aug. 2 and Sept. 6 with each program having a specific theme. GRPM doors open at 7 p.m., with the planetarium show beginning at 7:30 p.m.

On July 12, join the GRPM’s Chaffee Planetarium for a special one-night-only double feature of Dark Side: The Light Show and NEW! The Queen Light Show: From Mercury with Love!

Dark Side: The Light Show is the Museum’s first original planetarium production since the new generation of planetarium technology, and is set to the music of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon album. Experience this iconic album as never before in this one-of-a-kind light show, featuring stunning 4k visuals, brilliant LED sequences and incredibly clear 5.1 surround sound.

Experience ten of Queen’s greatest hits in this brand new show, including favorites like Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites the Dust and You’re My Best Friend. The Queen Light Show: From Mercury with Love is brought to the Chaffee Planetarium from Longway Planetarium in Flint, MI.

*These shows contain some adult language and dizzying effects. It is not recommended for individuals prone to motion sickness, seizures or light sensitivity.

Tickets for the July 12 light show double feature are free to Museum members, $5 for non-members and can be purchased at grpm.org.

Additional evening planetarium shows will take place August 2 and September 6.

August 2 – Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Astronaut?

Join the GRPM’s Chaffee Planetarium for a special evening for the full astronaut experience! Start the evening in the planetarium watching Space School, a new documentary based show, to learn the incredible story of how astronauts train underwater to live and work in space. Missions will be given to participants to see if they can complete the tasks and reach their destination!

After Space School, visitors can take command of space vehicles through video game technology in the Museum’s summer exhibition, Be The Astronaut! In a special guided-tour with an expert, visitors will chart their course to the Moon, Mars and beyond. The exhibition features detailed digital recreations of actual places in the solar system built using data from NASA space probes.

September 6 – Night Sky Trivia

*Outdoor observation is weather-dependent, and alternate indoor activities will include a trivia tournament in the newly renovated Meijer Theater.

Tickets for August 2 and September 6 are $8 for Museum members, and $12 for non-members and can be purchased at grpm.org.

Public Museum opens exhibit focused on local leader Ralph W. Hauenstein

By Christie Bender

The Grand Rapids Public Museum will be opening a brand new exhibition this summer, titled: Ralph W. Hauenstein: A Life of Leadership. The exhibition will open on July 21, and run through January 2019.

A Life of Leadership will explore the extraordinary life of Grand Rapidian Ralph W. Hauenstein. COL Hauenstein was a leader in the West Michigan community, remembered for his role as a journalist, his military and intelligence service, his dedication to the Catholic faith, his entrepreneurship, and his philanthropy in Grand Rapids. Hauenstein left a lasting legacy in the United States and around the world.

The exhibition will highlight Ralph’s extraordinary life, his contributions to our nation and community, and his legacy of leadership. Interactives will allow visitors to test out writing a headline for the newspaper on an antique typewriter and try their hand at cracking a secret code. Photography from around the world bring visitors face-to-face with Ralph’s impact globally.

“The family is thrilled to share Ralph’s rich history with our West Michigan community,” said Brian Hauenstein. “We hope his proactive lifestyle will encourage all generations to consider their lasting impact on their community and the environment around them.”

“On behalf of the Grand Rapids Public Museum, it was an honor to work with the Hauenstein Family and the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University to share the important story of COL Hauenstein’s life in public service and leadership,” said Andrea Melvin, Collections Curator at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. “The many artifacts and images gifted by Ralph himself to the GRPM and the Hauenstein Family will fascinate and inspire all who visit.”

Ralph W. Hauenstein: A Life of Leadership will be included with general admission to the Museum, and will be located on the Museum’s third floor.

This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of: The Hauenstein Family and The Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University. Images and objects on loan courtesy of Brian Hauenstein unless otherwise stated. The images in this exhibition were first digitized for public display by the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University. Thank you also to the National Cryptologic Museum, NSA, Washington D.C.

Ralph W. Hauenstein

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1912, Ralph’s family moved to Grand Rapids when he was 12 years old, where he graduated from Central High School in 1931. He was a public servant from his early years starting as a boy scout. Ralph was curious, inquisitive, and an exceptional storyteller, which led him to his first job as a police reporter for the Grand Rapids Press and later as a city editor with the Grand Rapids Herald.

Ralph joined the U.S. Army in 1935, serving first with the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1941 he began working as an intelligence officer in Iceland and rose to the rank of colonel. During World War II, he was promoted to Chief of Intelligence for the European Theater of Operations under General Dwight D. Eisenhower. An important part of his experience was the liberation of the German concentration camp at Dachau. His WWII experiences opened his eyes to the need for ethical, effective world leaders.

Ralph saw first-hand that many countries face food shortages. After the war he returned to Grand Rapids and became an entrepreneur in international trade and food equipment manufacturing, designing equipment to make Goldfish Crackers. His success in business allowed for substantial philanthropic contributions in Grand Rapids. He gave generously to many local causes and established the Grace Hauenstein Library at Aquinas College, Mercy Health Hauenstein Neuroscience Center and the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University.

5 Local Things You Need to Know: For the weekend, to start next week

June 1, 20183-bottom, Citizen JournalismChick-Fil-A, East Kentwood High School, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Melaine Morrison, Schuler Books, Shrek! The MusicalJoanne

By WKTV Staff

Kentwood: East Kentwood teacher is Shrek

East Kentwood High School is Shrek in Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s upcoming production of “Shrek! the Musical,” which starts its two-week run Friday, June 1. The show runs through June 17.

For more on the story, click here.

Wyoming: Touch-a-Truck event

Wyoming’s Chick-fil-A will be hosting a Touch-a-Truck – Wyoming Emergency Vehicles on Saturday, June 2, from 2- 5 p.m.

For more on the story, click here.

Kentwood: Author comes to Schuler Books

Social justice educator, author, and activist Melanie S. Morrison comes to Schuler Books & Music, 2660 28th St. SE, on Monday, June 4. Morrison will be discussing her new book “Murder on the Shades Mountain: The Lynching of Willie Peterson and the Struggle for Justice in Jim Crow Birmingham.”

For more on the story, click here.

The Porters are set to open the Wyoming Concerts in the Park series.

Wyoming: Concerts in the Park start Tuesday

The kid friendly group The Potters kicks off the Wyoming Concerts in the Park Tuesday, June 5, at Lamar Park. The event is free and starts at 7 p.m.

For more on the story, click here.

All-American Girls Professional Baseball Uniform League Uniform, circa 1952

Kent County: Public Museum host pop up exhibit

Grand Rapids Public Museum will host a pop-up experience this weekend only, June 1 and 2, featuring its Fashion Collection. This opportunity will allow visitors to see how the Museum photographs, catalogs and documents artifacts for the Museum’s online database, grpmcollections.org.

For more on the story, click here.

Grand Rapids Public Museum’s pop up exhibit showcases fashion collection

May 31, 2018Citizen Journalism, EntertainmentGrand Rapids Public Museum, GRPMJoanne

By Christie Bender

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today that it will showcase pieces from its Fashion Collection in a special pop-up experience this weekend only – Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2. This pop up experience, will showcase the Collections process of photographing, cataloging and documenting artifacts for the Museum’s online database, grpmcollections.org.

The GRPM’s artifact photography station, used behind-the-scenes on a daily basis, will be brought to the main floor Galleria at the Museum’s downtown location. GRPM curatorial staff will be taking high-quality digital images for a portion of the Museum’s historic clothing collection that will include swimsuits, athletic wear and children’s clothing. These images will be immediately available on grpmcollections.org.

Visitors will get to learn about the process of researching the garment to find out how it was worn and can assist staff with dressing mannequins for photography, getting a close up look at some of the Museum’s clothing treasures. Curatorial staff can answer questions about the process, as well as the Collections in general.

Normally photographing the Collections is a behind-the-scenes task. Improving the cataloging content supports GRPM’s interpretive programs, increases primary source learning resources for teachers and students, and expands research opportunities through grpmcollections.org

This pop up experience will be in the Museum’s Galleria from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 1 and June 2, 2018 and will be included with general admission to the GRPM. For further details, visit grpm.org/calendar.

This project part of an inventory and cataloging project of 5,600 clothing objects made possible with the support of the Institute of Museums and Library Services: Museums for America grant program.

Identified in the GRPM’s long range preservation plan, the GRPM’s historical clothing Collection has long been recognized as one of the Museum’s most fragile assets. The IMLS grant in is significantly improving the physical management of the Collection by consolidating it into the GRPM’s climate-controlled collection storage facility and re-housing individual pieces as needed. This is a matching grant, in which the GRPM matched the IMLS contribution.

Since the GRPM began collecting in 1854, it has amassed a comprehensive Collection of clothing items, with strengths in fashionable garments from the 19th and 20th centuries. The Collection is especially strong in the areas of women’s clothing, wedding attire, military uniforms, items with local provenance, as well as unique special function items such as women’s athletic wear.

Grand Rapids Public Museum gets microscopic in newest exhibit

May 30, 20183-bottombacteria, Grand Rapids Public Museum, hand washing, Hauenstein, interactive, microbes, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Zoo in YouJoanne

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

For the summer, the Grand Rapids Public Museum is taking a look at some of the smallest organisms known to man – microbes.

In May, the Museum opened one of three summer exhibits, the “Zoo in You: Microbes.” The exhibit was put together by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the same group behind last summer’s Mindbenders exhibit. So visitors can expect the “Zoo in You” to be just as interactive, said Grand Rapids Public Museum Marketing Director Christie Bender, adding there is lots to do for all ages

“Kids from 6 to 15 will get a lot out of this exhibit and really understand the concepts,” Bender said.

The “Zoo in You” has visitors explore these microbial companions in three thematic areas: Meet the Microbes, Our Complex Ecosystems, and Exploring Our Microbiome.

“There are trillions of microbes all over every person and this exhibit lets you get hands on and interactive to explore more about them,” Bender said. “This exhibit takes you all the way down to our microscopic level of our microbes that are actually all over our body.”

A marble maze shows how microbes colonize.

Activities include a race-the-clock game to complete a DNA strand to a marble maze game that shows how a newborn baby is colonized by microbes. There is a touch-screen video game along with green screen technology all designed to allow visitors to explore the world of microbes from bacteria to archaea.

“There is a hand washing station that teaches us how important it is to wash our hands correctly as well as how long we are doing it and I think most people will be surprised to learn that they probably aren’t washing their hands long enough,” Bender said. “Everything is in game form like puzzles. Very interactive and its makes this exhibit special. You don’t even realize you’re learning while you’re in there.”

This exhibit is free with general admission which means those from Kent County who are 17 and under are always free. The exhibit is here through Sept. 2 and it is bilingual which means there are Spanish and English texts throughout the exhibit.

On June 16, the Grand Rapids Public Museum will open “Be the Astronaut,” which teaches about the concepts, challenges and excitement of spaceflight, and on July 21, the Museum opens “Hauenstein: A Life of Leadership,” which explores the life of former Grand Rapids resident Ralph W. Hauenstein.

For more on activities and exhibits, visit www.grpm.org.

WKTV’s Joshua Kennedy contributed to this story.

5 Local Things You Need to Know: Headlines for the Week

May 29, 20183-bottom, Citizen JournalismActive Commute Week, ArtPrize, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Lee High School, Roger B. ChaffeeJoanne

Roger B. Chaffee By NASA/photographer unknown – NASA [1] Great Images in NASA Description, Public Domain

Wyoming and Kentwood: WKTV Journal Newscast

The latest WKTV Newscast takes a look at the new Roger B. Chaffee statute that was dedicated in May along with celebrating Older American Month with Holland Home. To get residents ready for the summer, we take a peak at the summer concerts in the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming and look at the summer exhibits that have opened at the Grand Rapids Public Museum and the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

For the full broadcast, click here.

Wyoming: Lee High School’s Top Ten

University of Michigan, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, these are just some of the places that that the top 10 of Lee High School’s Class of 2018 are heading.

For more on the story, click here.

Wyoming: Active Commute Week Challenge

It’s that time again when many area residents will take the challenge and leave their vehicle at home. June 11 – 15 is Active Commute Week, where commuters are encouraged to consider how they get to work and seek other ways that help benefit the environment.

For more on the story, click here.

Viewed from left and right, “Let Go” by Pamela Alderman. (Courtesy of the artist Alderman)

Kent County: ArtPrize Top 25 artists donates piece

When Pamela Alderman created “Let Go” for ArtPrize in 2017, she was looking to impact the audience with a large interactive piece. Alderman‘s work, an ArtPrize Top 25 finalist, is a beautiful seascape on five large wood panels that includes three Plexiglas figures that transform as you move around the artwork. The work was installed this month on the fifth floor of the Kent County Courthouse.

For more on the story, click here.

Kent County: Students get the chance to be the change

A local radio group is teaming up with local organizations and businesses to provide Grand Rapids area students with funding, resources and mentors to implement the change they want to see in their community.

The #GRSummerProject is open to area students from sixth grade to college freshmen. The project is a collaboration led by Townsquare Media and includes the support of Level One Bank, Start Garden, Experience Grand Rapids, Amplify GR and Grand Rapids area schools.

For more on the story, click here.

5 Local Things You Need to Know: For the weekend, to start next week

May 25, 20183-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Education, Health, Holidays, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, Veterans5 Local Things, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Memorial Day, Metro Health, summer camp, West Michigan Tourist Association, Woodland MallJoanne

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Memorial Day ceremonies planned for both Kentwood, Wyoming

Many communities will be honoring those who have given their lives to serve this Memorial Day, set for May 28, including the communities of Wyoming and Kentwood. More details here.

Woodland Mall’s ongoing redevelopment includes viewing wall, relocations

The redevelopment of Woodland Mall is in full swing, and shoppers will soon be able to get a front-row seat to the construction at a new viewing wall. Read all about it here.

West Michigan Tourist Association offers up a few unique summer camps

Some families probably already have their children’s summer camps selected, but in case you do not, West Michigan Tourist Association Marketing Manager Jeremy Witt offered a few suggestions during a recent visit visit to the WKTV Journal. Learn more here.

Museum school students create new exhibit ‘Revolution: The Story of America’

Check out the new exhibit created by GRPS Museum School students, titled Revolution: The Story of America, at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM). It opened May 23. (The Museum is closed Monday, May 28th.) More here.

Register now for June 4 Sibling Class at Metro Health

Have kids and expecting a new addition to your family? Register for this class. Children practice caring for a baby using dolls, make a card for their new baby, and have fun with a short tour, which includes a visit to a mom with her real newborn baby. Next class is coming up fast: June 4th. Go here to learn more and where to register.

Museum school students create new exhibit ‘Revolution: The Story of America’

May 23, 2018EntertainmentAfrican Americans, American Revolution, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Native AmericansJoanne

The Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Supplied)

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) and Grand Rapids Public Museum School announced a new exhibit created by GRPS Museum School students, titled Revolution: The Story of America, opens today, May 23.

The exhibit is a combination of student work from the Grand Rapids Public Museum School’s 7th grade social studies classes and art classes.

Visitors will see various sections highlighting important women, African Americans, and Native Americans and their roles in the American Revolution. It also includes a flag replica display, in which the students researched flags from the American Revolution, drew replicas, and completed summaries about their flag and its role.

In art class, Museum School students “musees” researched military uniforms, sketched them out, and then wrote a letter from the perspective of a soldier during the Revolutionary War, using special ink.

“The Museum is excited to showcase students’ work through the partnership between the GRPM and GRPS,” said Kate Kocienski, Vice President of Marketing & PR at the GRPM. “The Museum School allows students a deeper learning experience through place based learning and design thinking, while using the Museum’s Collections of more than 250,000 artifacts and specimens.”

This new exhibit will be free with general admission and be on display for a short time, through June 8. Visitors can find Revolution: The Story of America on the Museum’s second floor.

New show ‘Space School’ coming to the Chaffee Planetarium

May 21, 2018Citizen Journalism, Entertainmentastronaut, Chaffee Planetarium, Grand Rapids Public Museum, NASAJoanne

Jonathan Bird filming astronauts in NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL), Houston, TX for the production of Space School.

By Christie Bender

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is pleased to announce that it will open a new show in the Chaffee Planetarium on Saturday, June 16. The show, titled Space School, is a new documentary style show that features astronauts training underwater for working in space. The show will begin in conjunction with the Museum’s summer traveling exhibition – Be the Astronaut.

Space School will provide visitors with a rare glimpse of NASA astronauts training for walking and working in space by spending time in underwater environments here on Earth to learn how to manage and work in the microgravity of space. Visitors will see a breathtaking close up view of astronauts training for what promises to be the greatest of human adventures – traveling to distant planets and exploring other worlds – in our continuing effort to discover who we are and where we came from.

Space School will be part of the regular show schedule at the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, beginning on Saturday, June 16. Space School can also be reserved for school groups and field trips. Planetarium shows are $4 with general admission and $5 for planetarium only. Museum members receive free admission to planetarium shows.

The Making of Space School

Filmmaker Jonathan Bird, host of the syndicated Public Television series Jonathan Bird’s Blue World, shot the film for projection in full dome theaters using the latest technology from RED, the ultra-high-definition 6K RED Dragon. With the cooperation of NASA, Bird and his team filmed astronaut Chris Cassidy training for space walks at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab in Houston, and astronaut Jeannette Epps practicing techniques for exploring distant asteroids and planets at the Aquarius Reef Base in Florida.

At the Neutral Buoyancy Lab in Houston, Cassidy and fellow astronaut Jeff Williams are lowered into a giant pool while wearing a full size space suit, breathing through an umbilical tube, as they would in space. Divers adjust each astronaut’s weight so they achieve neutral buoyancy inside the pool. Here they practice repairs to the International Space Station on life size mockups. Working in this environment, astronauts can practice maneuvering in their awkward space suits using the same tools they would use during an actual spacewalk, anchoring themselves, as they must in space to gain leverage and prevent themselves from floating away.

In Florida, Jeannette Epps spends over a week living with other astronauts in the Aquarius Reef Base. Here astronauts learn to live together in isolation for long periods of time, a requirement of space missions. At Aquarius the astronauts practice going on excursions and use specially designed drills to gather soil and rock samples, practicing methods required to explore distant planets and asteroids.

Aquarius is like a space mission in another important respect. Astronauts cannot simply leave and go home when they want. The reason, in the underwater environment, is a phenomenon called nitrogen saturation. After just a few hours underwater, the astronaut’s blood becomes saturated with nitrogen held there by water pressure. If the astronauts were to suddenly go to the surface where the pressure is less, the nitrogen would come bubbling out of their system to disastrous consequences. To safely make it to the surface, divers must be slowly decompressed to allow the nitrogen to dissipate.

Space School is among the first digitally-filmed live action dome format films. The RED Dragon is the first commercial camera to offer high-resolution images suitable for projection on a dome. The film was also shot at 60 frames per second, more than twice the frame rate of conventional film, creating an amazingly life-like experience. “Live action in the dome format at a high frame rate is just like being there,” says filmmaker Bird. The film is distributed by Sky-Skan, the world’s largest full dome film distributor.T

Statue of former astronaut Chaffee to be unveiled this Saturday

May 17, 20183-bottom, City of WyomingApollo, Chaffee, Grand Rapids Children's Museum, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Kennedy Space Center, Michigan Military Preservation Society, MMPS, NASA, Roger B. ChaffeeJoanne

On the far right is Astronaut Roger B. Chaffee with his crew. Photo courtesy of NASA

By David Thompson

A full-sized bronze statue of Apollo Astronaut Roger B. Chaffee will be unveiled in his hometown of Grand Rapids at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 19. Chaffee’s widow Martha and daughter Sheryl Lyn plan to attend the event, taking place at the corner of East Fulton Street and Sheldon Avenue NE, near the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum.

Chaffee was born and raised in Grand Rapids, where he was a 1953 graduate of Grand Rapids Central High School. He went on to become a U.S. naval aviator who flew missions during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1961.

In 1963, NASA selected Chaffee for its third group of astronauts. In 1966, he joined the crew of AS-204 (Apollo 1), which was to be NASA’s first three-man flight. Chaffee, along with his crewmates Virgil “Gus” Grissom and Ed White, died on January 27, 1967, in flash fire during a launch pad test at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

His parents, Donald and Blanche Chaffee, had moved to the City of Wyoming where the former Kent County Airport landing strip was renamed the Roger B. Chaffee Boulevard. Also the American Legion Roger B. Chaffee Post 154 is located in City of Wyoming.

The Michigan Military Preservation Society (MMPS), together with the Lowell American Legion Post #152, raised the funds for the statue. MMPS is a non-profit organization of veterans whose vision is to honor historical contributions made by West Michigan vets.

CMDR David L. Thompson, USN (Ret.) chaired the project, with MMPS board members Dan Pfeiffer and Bud Vierson. This group chose respected sculptor and Grand Rapids native J. Brett Grill to undertake the project.

“We conducted a nationwide search to find the absolute finest possible sculptor to handle this commission,” said Thompson. “We wanted an artist who worked in bronze, and who could create a lifelike work of art. To our delight, we found Brett Grill, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the final product.”

Roger B. Chaffee Photo courtesy of the Grand Rapids Public Museum

Grill has become a highly sought-after sculptor, who recently returned to his hometown to open a Grand Rapids studio. In recent years, Grill has sculpted several likenesses of President Gerald R. Ford, on display in Grand Rapids and distinguished locations around the country.

Additional commissions, including Amway co-founder Jay Van Andel, Michigan Football Coach Glenn E. “Bo” Schembechler, L. William Seidman and others are displayed in well-known locations in Grand Rapids and around the state.

“I was deeply humbled to receive this commission,” said Grill. “Roger Chaffee is a hometown hero whose sacrifice helped ensure that mankind successfully reached the Moon. While a street and a building in Grand Rapids bear his name, his story may be less well known. For these reasons I’m immensely proud to be a part of its telling.”

The bronze statue alone stands over seven feet tall. Sitting atop a stone base adds another 36 inches. “Roger Chaffee will stand tall over this high traffic intersection in the heart of Grand Rapids for generations to come,” added Thompson.

The MMPS has also commissioned a documentary produced by West Michigan filmmaker Daniel Joel Deal. The program will track the arc of the project, starting with selecting Grill as the artist. It includes Grill’s detailed research of Chaffee and his lifelong passion for flight, visiting the NASA archives, creating the initial clay sculptures, right through to the foundry casting and installing the final bronze work.

MMPS plans to make the film available to schools, and talks are underway to air this fascinating story on television.

“For a statue of this caliber, it was critically important to me that every detail is accurate,” added Grill. “For a space suit that never flew on a mission, that meant doing some serious digging to learn some of the details needed to recreate Roger in his pressure suit and holding his helmet.”

This accuracy can only add value to a statue that will reside on the NW corner of East Fulton Street and Sheldon Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids, near the entrance of the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. Beginning on May 19, children and adults alike will have a chance to see the man from Grand Rapids who played an important role in achieving humanity’s goal of walking on the moon.

Grand Rapids Public Museum launches new garden workshops in partnership with Urban Roots

May 7, 20183-bottomgardening, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Urban Roots, workshopsJoanne

By Christie Bender

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today, in partnership with Urban Roots, they will offer a series of five urban gardening workshops! Each workshop will offer different gardening information ranging from what to plant, how to harvest and what to make in the kitchen.

The first workshop will kick off this series on May 19 with Real Life Gardening 101 to teach what to plant and the best tips for a successful garden. Participants will spend time in the GRPM’s urban garden located outside of the Museum on the bank of the Grand River, as well as be hands on in the Demo Lab of the Museum.

The five workshops will be held May 19, June 23, July 28, August 18 and September 8. They will begin at 11 a.m. and last approximately one and a half hours.

Workshops are open to 20 participants each month, and are $12 for general public and $4 for Museum members. Tickets include admission into the Museum for the full day and can be purchased at grpm.org.

May 19 – Real Life Gardening 101

If you’ve ever considered having a garden but didn’t know where to start, this is a great class for you. Join us as we learn about what having a garden can look like no matter where you live. Participants will learn about how Michigan’s growing season works, how to design a garden that works for them, what to plant when, what to expect throughout the season, and tips & methods for maximizing small spaces.

June 23 – Gardening is Supposed to be Fun! Right?!

It’s about to be the best weather of summer! If you have a garden and want to learn how you can keep it thriving (with less work), join this class! Cultivate more time for the beach, camping and fun, and learn about methods to make your garden lower maintenance. Participants will learn about the benefits of mulch, setting up a low cost mechanized irrigation system, trellising, teaming up and more!

July 28 – Kids in the Garden! A Family Friendly Workshop

It will be up for debate who likes this class more, your kid or you! Young and older learners alike will come together in the GRPM garden to explore, taste, touch, smell, see, experiment and enjoy being outside connecting to nature and each other.

August 18 – Pickling & Fermenting

This cooking class will be a delight for foodies and nutrition advocates alike! Join us as we learn about tried and true methods of food preservation and the health benefits of consuming naturally probiotic foods. This make-and-take cooking class will be fun, lighthearted, and delicious!

September 8 – Garden Salsa & Hot Sauce Making (and Tasting)

Join us as we partake in the best part of growing food, eating! In this class prepare garden fresh salsa, harvested entirely from the garden, and learn how to capture the heat of summer by making fresh red and green hot sauces that will last all winter.

5 Local Things You Need to Know: For the weekend, to start next week

May 4, 2018Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Food, Kids Activities, Recreation, Senior Living, Travel, Upcoming EventsGrand Rapids Public Museum, Lamar Park, Lighthouse Map, live mermaid, Tulips, West Michigan Tourist Association, Wyoming's Spring CarnivalJoanne

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Wyoming: Spring Carnival wraps up this weekend

Wyoming’s celebration of spring, its annual carnival at Lamar Park, is wrapping up its final days. The carnival runs through Sunday, May 6. The carnival features entertainment for all ages, including games, prizes, and carnival fare favorites. A spectrum of rides will be available for carnival-goers, from crowd pleasers, such as a carousel and Ferris Wheel to the adrenaline-inducing Mega Drop and Wipe Out.

Time for the Tulips

Buff up those wooden shoes and head toward Holland as the city gears up for the annual Tulip Time festival. There will be Dutch dancing, parades, a carnival, an artist market, performances of all kinds, five million tulips in bloom, and more Dutch dancing. The official activities kick off Saturday, May 5, and run through May 13.

For more, click here.

‘Dust-Off’ Metro Cruise kicks off May 5

‘Dust Off’, the precursor to the annual Metro Cruise, kicks off this Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s become a favorite tradition, with car owners revving up for the summer car show, finally being able to show off what has been stored under those tarps.

30th anniversary edition of Lighthouse Map now available

Lighthouse lovers, get ready to plan your next lighthouse adventure! The West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) is excited to announce the release of the 2018 Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map & Circle Tour. This is a free poster-sized publication which details all of the lighthouses located on the shores of Lake Michigan, as well as the Circle Tour driving route to guide motorists around the lake.

Live Mermaid to return to Grand Rapids Public Museum

Admission to Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids is $12 for adults, $7 for children, $9 for Kent County resident adults, $4 for Kent County resident children, and $2 for all Museum members! Tickets include general admission to the Museum, and can be purchased online at grpm.org or by calling 616.929.1700.

Live mermaid to return to Grand Rapids Public Museum

May 3, 2018Entertainmentdragons, Grand Rapids Public Museum, live mermaid, Unicorns and MermaidsJoanne

Phantom the Mermaid returns to the Grand Rapids Public Museum May 5 and 6.

Back by popular demand, the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) will be bringing a live mermaid back to the Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaidsexhibit on May 5 and 6!

For this special weekend, visit Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids to explore the various mythical creatures of the world and meet Mermaid Phantom! Mermaid Phantom will be in the exhibit from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. both May 5 and 6. Visitors can talk to Phantom, ask her questions about mermaids and mythical creatures, touch her tail and take photos with her!

Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids features models and replicas of preserved specimens as well as cast fossils of prehistoric animals to investigate how they could have, through misidentification, speculation, fear or imagination, inspired the development of some legendary creatures.

Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids offers many interactive stations throughout the exhibition. Visitors can build their own dragon on an engaging touch-screen and watch it come alive before their eyes in a virtual environment.

Visitors will touch casts of a narwhal tusk to discover how they lent credence to the centuries-old belief in the unicorn. Hands-on stations also include the lower jaw of Gigantopithecus (extinct group of apes) and a life-size reproduction of the talon of a Haast’s eagle.

This exhibit is located on the Museum’s third floor and runs through May 20, 2018.

Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (amnh.org), in collaboration with the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney; Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau-Quebec; Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta; and The Field Museum, Chicago.

Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids is sponsored by The Steve & Amy Van Andel Foundation, David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation, Meijer, Bird + Bird Studio, Harder & Warner, Hope Network Neuro Rehabilitation, Lighthouse Group, Media Place Partners, Adventure Credit Union, The Jant Group, Chris & Kim Branoff, Grand Rapids Griffins, The Knickerbocker – New Holland Brewing and Spectrum Health. Media sponsors are WoodTV8, Star 105.7 and WGVU Public Media.

This exhibit is brought to you by the citizens of Kent County and the voter approved millage.

Astronaut Nicole Mann to visit the Grand Rapids Public Museum

May 3, 20183-bottomGrand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association, Grand Rapids Public Museum, NASA, Nicole Aunapu Mann, Roger B. ChaffeeJoanne

Nicole Aunapu Mann Photo courtesy of NASA

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is pleased to partner with the Roger B. Chaffee Scholarship Board and the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association (GRAAA) to bring one of the members of the latest class of NASA astronauts to Grand Rapids on May 9 and 10. Nicole Aunapu Mann, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S Marine Corps, was among eight candidates selected for future space missions in 2013. She completed Astronaut Candidate training in 2015 and is now qualified for assignment.

On Wednesday, May 9, Lt Col Mann will give a presentation titled “The Sky is Not the Limit” at 7:30 p.m. in the Meijer Theater at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The event is free and open to the public.

In the presentation, Mann will recount pre-astronaut experiences that put her on a path to the appointment, and then turn to the rigorous training required to fly into space. Mann has undergone intensive instruction about International Space Station systems, robotics, and space walking in the event she is assigned a mission to the orbiting laboratory. Mann is currently training to be part of an Orion mission to the moon in 2022, the first human flight back to the Earth’s satellite in a half century. She will also look ahead to proposed missions to Mars. For more information, please visit grpm.org.

Visitors will have a second opportunity to hear Lt. Col Mann at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 10. Mann will be the featured speaker at the annual banquet in honor of the 51st recipient of the prestigious Roger B. Chaffee Scholarship, this year honoring Patrick Clark Morgan of East Grand Rapids High School. In this talk, Mann will highlight her upcoming space travel in “Back to the Moon and Beyond.” Tickets to the banquet are $55 and can be reserved by calling 800-237-0930 by April 28, or e-mail: dave@mpi-invest.com.

Mann was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in United State Marine Corps in 1999. She began her active flying career in 2004 and was involved in a number of high profile test flights and missions. She accumulated more than 2,000 flight hours in 22 types of aircraft, 200 carrier arrestments and 47 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

During her two-day visit to Grand Rapids, Mann will also be speaking to students at Innovative Central High School, the same building where Roger Chaffee attended high school in the early 1950s, Burton Elementary, and the Grand Rapids Public Museum School.

Summer Camps in West Michigan offer myriad fun activities

May 2, 20183-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Kids Activities, Upcoming EventsCompass College, Critter Barn, Downtown Market, Fun activities, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Ballet, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Jeremy Witt, summer camp, West Michigan Tourist AssociationJoanne

Photo courtesy of Compass College of Cinematic Arts

By Jeremy Witt, West Michigan Tourist Association

It’s nearly that time again! Get your child involved in some fun and meaningful activities — consider a summer camp!

Make a movie this summer with the Film and Acting Summer Camps at the Compass College of Cinematic Arts in Grand Rapids! Learn from professionals how to act on camera and make films when the camp runs from June 18th to 22nd for ages 13 to 18. Film Camp students will write, shoot, and edit your own short film with guidance from seasoned filmmakers. In Acting Camp, you’ll learn on-camera acting techniques with a film actor as your coach and then star in a film produced by Film Camp. At the end of the week, walk the red carpet at the film’s premiere for family and friends on the big screen!

The Downtown Market in Grand Rapids has three-day and four-day summer camps for the young foodie in your life. Each camp has a distinct theme, ranging from Michigan’s fruits and vegetables to creating and utilizing a backyard farm. Sign up today for what Downtown Market cleverly calls their “Simmer Camps”!

Tiny dancers at the Grand Rapids Ballet dance camp (photo courtesy of GR Ballet)

The Grand Rapids Ballet has a variety of camps that are all centered around dance. Their Ballet School has programs for ballet, young dancers, boys ballet, and summer intensive training. They also have two Adaptive Dance programs: Explorer Dance (for children with Down syndrome) and Dancing with Parkinson’s (for adults with Parkinson’s disease). These Adaptive Dance classes allow students to experience the joy of dancing who may otherwise not have the opportunity to do so. Summer camps at the Grand Rapids Ballet are both fun and accessible for everyone!

The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre has summer camps that give students the chance to spend an entire week learning about theatre while having a blast making new friends. They’ve made some fantastic additions to their extremely popular summer camp program this year, so you’ll want to take a look at their new offerings for the season. Camps range from age 4 all the way through high school!

Summer fun happens at the Grand Rapids Public Museum! Join them and explore the wonders of science, history, culture, art, and fun! For nine weeks this summer, kids ages 4 to 14 can use the museum as a learning lab, experimenting and growing, all while having a great time in one of the area’s most history-rich and “cool” environments.

At The Critter Barn (photo courtesy of Critter Barn)

The Critter Barn in Zeeland offers a one-of-a-kind Critter Camp class for students who are eager to engage in animal care. Work through the entire farm with the barn’s staff and return to volunteer throughout the entire year. These camps are available for ages 8 to 15.

5 Local Things You Need to Know: Headlines for the weekend

April 20, 20183-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kids Activities, Our Cities, Recycling, Upcoming EventsAnia Powell, Community Clean-Up Day, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Record Store Day, Tree Amigos, Water's Extreme JourneyJoanne

Wyoming: Community Clean-Up Day Saturday

One of the events the City of Wyoming hosts is its annual Community Clean-Up Day.

The City of Wyoming, through the support of the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance, will have its annual Community Clean-Up Day Saturday at Grand Rapids First, 2100 44th St. SW.

The site will be open form 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Residents need to have a picture ID with them or proof of residency. Residents will enter east off of 44th Street to the northeast entrance of the church. For the full store, click here.

Wyoming: Flamingo Avenue to get trees

Mayor Jack Poll reads a proclamation at last year’s Arbor Day event.

This Saturday, the Tree Amigos and student volunteers will plant 24 street trees in the City of Wyoming. Planting will begin 9 a.m. in the 4200 block of Flamingo Avenue SW where ten Wyoming residents have signed up for the project. For more on this story, click here.

Kentwood: EK student makes her stage debut

East Kentwood student Ania Powell makes her Civic Theatre debut with “Akeelah and the Bee.”

Ania Powell makes her Grand Rapids Civic Theatre debut in “Akeehal and the Bee,” which opens on Friday and runs through April 29 at the Civic Theatre, 30 N. Division Ave. For more on the story, click here.

Wyoming and Kentwood: Record Store Day is Saturday

This Saturday, April 21, is the annual Record Store Day in the Grand Rapids area and, quite literally, around the world. It is a day to celebrate small music stores but also to celebrate records — music on vinyl. For more on the story, click here.

Public Museum: “Water’s Extreme Journey” coming to a close

Water’s Extreme Journey is open now at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) taking visitors on a quest for clean water through an experiential maze! But the exhibit is only open through April 29. For more on this story, click here.

Last chance to visit ‘Water’s Extreme Journey’ at the Grand Rapids Public Museum

April 18, 2018EntertainmentGrand Rapids Public Museum, Water's Extreme JourneyJoanne

By Kate Moore

Water’s Extreme Journey is open now at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) taking visitors on a quest for clean water through an experiential maze! Visit only through April 29 for this wild adventure.

Water’s Extreme Journey turns visitors into a water droplet to explore the watershed and learn about why conservation of water is so important.

Experience firsthand the science behind the water cycle. Through powerful interactives and local messaging, visitors realize that daily decisions can immediately improve the watershed in their own backyard.

The maze begins by visitors entering a watershed, an area of land where water drains and collects into a shared reservoir. To explore the exhibition watershed, visitors voyage through rivers, lakes, wetlands, and even their homes, eventually reaching the healthy ocean.

Water drops face many hurdles as they interact with humans. Does the farm they encounter use pesticides? Did someone get messy changing their oil? Clean choices keep our drops healthy and moving toward a clean ocean. Dirty choices send our drops down the urban storm drain to the unhealthy ocean, where they evaporate, condensate, and precipitation for another try.

The GRPM has included a special addition to the exhibit all about the Grand River restoration. Six banners show and tell all about the Grand River, including the history of where the rapids went and the future plans for the River.

Admission to Water’s Extreme Journey is free with general admission to the GRPM.

This exhibit is brought to you by the citizens of Kent County and the voter approved millage.

Grand Rapids Public Museum returns as West Michigan Hub for MSU’s Science Festival

April 16, 20183-bottomBrewery Vivant, GRAAA, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Michigan State University, MSU Science Festival, Veen ObservatoryJoanne

Statewide Astronomy Night will be at The James C. Veen Observatory in Lowell on April 20.

By Christie Bender

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is once again the West Michigan Hub for Michigan State University’s Science Festival. Join the GRPM and the rest of the state in this science month celebration with special events hosted in West Michigan.

The Museum will host two special science events in the month of April, including a Statewide Astronomy Night and Pub Science at Brewery Vivant! Entrance is FREE for these events.

The MSU Science Festival is a month long of statewide events highlighting and celebrating the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM). The MSU Science Festival features talks, demonstrations, tours, open houses, guest speakers, and hands-on activities for lifelong learners of all ages. The MSU Science Festival is proudly coordinated and produced by Michigan State University, working together with professionals and educators across the state to bring Michigan communities an opportunity to experience “Science Live.”

On Friday, April 20, experience Statewide Astronomy Night at the Veen Observatory in nearby Lowell. Presented by the GRPM’s Chaffee Planetarium, there will be tours of the facility, hands-on activities and telescope demonstrations. Assisting with the event will be members of the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association (GRAAA), who operate the observatory with support from the Museum. The observatory houses three large telescopes (including one that can be operated robotically), and portable telescopes will also be set up on the grounds for visitors to use. Special sky observations will take place from 8:30 -11:30 p.m. to observe the moon, Jupiter and other sky objects. Telescopes will be weather dependent; all other activities will take place regardless.

Pub Science will be April 18 at Brewery Vivant.

Pub Science will take place on Wednesday, April 18. Participants will tour behind the scenes at Brewery Vivant to see how beer is made, as well as partake in a discussion all about the science of making beer. Pub Science begins at 7 p.m. and limited to 30 participants. Participants must be 21 and older, and can reserve a spot at grpm.org/calendar.

For more information on MSU’s Statewide Science Festival, please visit www.sciencefestival.msu.edu/. For information regarding Grand Rapids specific events please visit grpm.org.

The GRPM continuously offers astronomy events in conjunction with the GRAAA. On Thursday, April 19, join the GRAAA public meeting to hear Star Stories from Michigan from Mary Stewart Adams, Star Lore Historian, open and free to the public. This presentation begins at 7 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Chaffee Planetarium.

On Saturday, April 21, join the GRPM and GRAAA for International Astronomy Day. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., view the sky through telescopes at the GRPM. Inside the Museum will be additional hands-on activities, free with general admission.

For more information on upcoming astronomy events please visit grpm.org/Calendar or graaa.org.

‘Be the Astronaut’ tickets on sale at Grand Rapids Public Museum

April 16, 20183-bottomastronaut, Grand Rapids Public Museum, NASA, STEMJoanne

By Christie Bender