Tag Archives: Kentwood Library

Kentwood kicks off holiday season with tree lighting

City of Kentwood, , , , ,

Get ready to kick off the holiday season with Kentwood’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, slated for Friday, Dec. 8.

 

Everyone is invited to attend an evening filled with festive events, which include a Light Parade, live holiday music, hay rides, and pictures with Santa. To fight off the winter chill, there will also be hot chocolate and cookies.

 

The free event will be held on Friday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Kentwood Public Library, 4950 Breton Ave. SE in Kentwood.

 

“2017 has been an exceptional year for our residents as we celebrated throughout the year our City’s 50th anniversary with spectacular events,” said Mayor Stephen Kepley.  “We are ending the year with a memorable tradition for our residents, the Tree Lighting Ceremony.”

 

The night begins at 6 p.m. with a Light Parade between Kentwood’s Department of Public Works at 5068 Breton Ave. SE and The Kentwood Justice Center at 4740 Walma SE. The official tree lighting is slated for 6:30 p.m. in front of Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch. Following the tree lighting, there will be caroling and live holiday music from East Kentwood High School Jazz Ensemble. Throughout the evening, guests can hop on the hay ride, sip some hot chocolate while eating cookies and get a photo with Santa. There will also be the Elves Express Gift Shop, open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with gifts starting at $1.

 

Please be aware that Breton Avenue and Walma Avenue near City Hall will be temporarily closed from 5:50 p.m. to 6:25 p.m. for the parade.

 

Information is available on the City of Kentwood’s website, www.kentwood.us or by calling the Parks and Recreation Department at 616-656-5270. You can also follow the City of Kentwood on Facebook for the most up-to-date information regarding city events.

February brings popular daddy-daughter dances to both Kentwood, Wyoming

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , , ,

February has rolled in and with it the opportunity for dads to celebrate the little princesses in their lives as both the Wyoming and Kentwood Parks and Recreation Departments host Daddy-Daughter dances.

 

The Wyoming Daddy-Daughter Dance is set for Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop SW. It is set to start at 6 p.m. and run until 8 p.m. The cost to participate is $8 per person for a Wyoming resident and $12 per person for non-residents. The event is open to girls 3 – 15 years of age and their adult date.

 

To participate you must register by Thursday, Feb. 2. To register, click here or call the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department at 616-530-3164.

 

Kentwood’s Daddy Daughter Dance is the following week, Friday, Feb. 10, at the KDL Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton SE. The event is from 6 – 8 p.m.

 

Since the Kentwood event is so close to Valentine’s Day this year, the Daddy-Daughter Dance theme is a sweetheart dance. Cost is $20 per couple and $5 for each additional person. Pre-registration is required for this dance as well. To register, call the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department at 616-656-5270.

 

 

Citizen Journalist Eyes on MLK Jr. Celebration

Citizen Journalism, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our Cities, , , ,

brett_wiesenauerThe Kentwood library held a celebration of the life and teachings of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the community room, consisting of readings from lead organizer Jessica Ann Tyson and Mayor Stephen Kepley, a fact-filled PowerPoint, a powerful and moving musical solo, and food and drink for guests. This celebration was an inaugural event in Kentwood’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day plans, in the works for now two years.

 

Lead organizer Jessica Ann Tyson led the proceedings, initially admitting she neither knew the late Rev. King or had actually participated in his rallies or demonstrations, but she was determined to keep his ideals alive through the celebration and remembrance of the iconic civil rights leader.

 

After the introduction came a presentation by the Kentwood ARCH program, the program helmed by Kentwood Public Schools in an effort to aid disadvantaged youth in the bottom 30% of the schools. ARCH stands for academics, recreation, community and health, and it allows students to focus on excelling in the classroom by connecting learning to their everyday lives. Later on, Mrs. Tyson gave out awards to student essayists and artists alike who made contributions to the celebration proceedings. It was a great choice to get the younglings involved in the celebration proceedings, so as to spur on their talents and imaginations with the universal topics Dr. King’s work can provoke.

 

Mayor Stephen Kepley spoke on how influential the Rev. Dr.’s I have a Dream speech was on his perspective and life choices. A Proclamation was performed by various personnel from around the area of varying ages, cultures, and viewpoints, all in the name of simultaneous equality and diversity.

 

Craig Tyson performed a song for the guests that was most effective. All present truly felt the emotion of his musical plea for leadership. Tears welled, guests cheered, and this here reporter cannot deny the passionate power of his simple musical interlude.

 

Passion is a powerful thing; ’tis something that can inspire, unite, employ the emotions of your surroundings to further a cause, and all present at the MLK Jr. celebration knew exactly how to utilize these feelings for the betterment of the community at large. This day speaks to not just persons of color, but to all populations, black, white, brown, pale, dark, big, and small, who believe in justice, equality, and the power of ordinary people in (extra)ordinary times.

MLKjrDayHappy Birth Anniversary, Dr. King.

Touch a Truck Event in Kentwood Proved to Be A Hands-On Success!

Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Our Cities,

The visuals tell this story well.  The Kentwood Public Library was the site for the second Touch a Truck Event.  It was a brilliantly sunny day to house the crowd of more than 500 people.  Everywhere you looked, families were experiencing the fun of the daColleen and Mike 1y.  Check out the video for a sense of all the hands-on excitement!