Tag Archives: Snapshots

Snapshots: WKTV local COVID-19 vaccination stories you might have missed

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Hard News, Health, Local Business, Newscast, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects, ,

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“Getting vaccinated does not say you have a free pass to travel. Nor does it say you have a free pass to put aside all the public health measures that we talk about all the time.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci

The COVID-19 vaccination effort is continuing to expand, including in West Michigan. (U.S. Government).

Local mass vaccine clinic seeks volunteers … who will get vaccinated

Hoping to push yourself up in the line for the COVID vaccine? Well the West Michigan Vaccine Clinic at DeVos Place maybe able to help. The clinic, which is operated by Kent County, Spectrum Health and Mercy Health in collaboration with Vaccinate West Michigan, is seeking community volunteers in non-clinical roles to support the vaccine clinic. Go here for the story.

Some ideas on how to get to mass clinic easily … and avoid parking fees

The new West Michigan Vaccine Clinic is up and running, but just how do you get here and, if you drive, where do you park? People can park below the facility with the first two hours of parking waived. But an even better idea is that The Rapid has several bus routes that provide service to or near DeVos Place. Go here for the story.

And more places and ways … including one-stop shopping

SpartanNash and other grocery stores with pharmacies have partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to offer the COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with the nationwide rollout plan. For SpartanNash, the vaccine will be administered at no cost to patients and will be available at each of SpartanNash’s 88 company-owned pharmacies. Go here for the story.

Fact … just a fact:

29 million

Since vaccine distribution began in the U.S. on Dec. 14, and through Jan. 28, more than 29 million doses have been administered, reaching 7.2 percent of the total U.S. population, according to federal data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Source.

Snapshots: Holiday music and more

Citizen Journalism, , ,

Santa Claus is anyone who loves another and seeks to make them happy; who gives himself by thought or word or deed in every gift that he bestows.

Edwin Osgood Grover, American publisher and educator, 1870 – 1965



By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org


Carillonneur, Julianne Vanden Wyngaard (Photo courtesy of GVSU)

Do you hear what I hear?

The annual GVSU Christmas Eve Carillon Concert will take place at 9:30 p.m. at the Pew Campus, 401 W. Fulton St., downtown Grand Rapids. Patrons are invited to drive-up and park in one of the lots near the carillon and listen to the performance by Carillonneur Julianne Vanden Wyngaard. The concert is free.


Chaffee Planetarium will present “Let It Snow” through Jan. 3, 2021. (Photo Courtesy of Grand Rapids Public Museum)

Look to the stars

The Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium at the Grand Rapids Public Museum has reopened and is featuring three different shows: “Let It Snow,” “Under Starlit Skies,” “Ice World,” and “Incoming!” which is narrated by “Star Trek’s” George Takei. For a full Chaffee Planetarium show schedule, visit grpm.org/planetarium. Also, the Public Museum will be open throughout the holidays. Visit grpm.org for the museum’s holiday schedule.


Bah-Humbug!

Get into the holiday spirit with the classic Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” currently being presented by the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. The company is live streaming the performance through Broadway On Demand through Dec. 31. Tickets are $9.99 for individuals and $24.99 for families. For more information, visit grct.org.


Fun Fact: Bells in Space

In 1965, “Jingle Bells” became the first song broadcast from space when the astronauts aboard Gemini 6 decided to play a prank on Mission Control and performed the song on a harmonica and actual jingle bells they had smuggled on board. Another fun fact about the song is that was originally composed as a Thanksgiving song by James Lord Pierport who premiered the piece as “One Horse Sleigh” at his church’s Thanksgiving performance.

Snapshots: Things to do this weekend

Citizen Journalism, ,

By Anna Johns
WKTV Intern



Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.

Oprah Winfrey



Scenes from Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition and events. (Supplied)

Holiday Traditions Continue

This weekend get into the holiday spirit with a visit to the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The Meijer Gardens currently has its Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition on display. This exhibit features 46 trees and displays representing countries and cultures from across the globe and 300,000 lights throughout the grounds. In addition from 1-4 p.m. on the Saturdays leading until Christmas Day, visitors will have the opportunity to visit the “Rooftop Reindeer” and pose for photos with them. For more information visit the Meijer Gardens webpage here.


Penn & Tell Fool Us Magician Richard Preston presents a virtual show. (Photo by Stuart MacDonald)

A little old-fashioned magic

Head back to the 1960s for a little bit of magic and wonderment as magician Richard Preston presents his virtual Christmas Capers Magic Show on Saturday, Nov. 28. During the show, Preston will entertain viewers with a theatrical show full of life and mystery. Though the show is virtual, Preston said there will be audience participation, anecdotes, jokes, and more. The show is 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 per household (and it doesn’t matter if you have 1 or 100 attending) and are available to purchase on Preston’s website. 


Mathias J. Alten (American, b. Germany 1871–1938). The Striped Skirt, 1917. Grand Rapids Art Museum, Gift in Memory of Eleanore Alten Gilleo by her Family. (Supplied)

Stickley and Alten

Stroll through the Grand Rapids Art Museum to check out the work of one of the most influential painters from Grand Rapids, Matthias Alten. “Mathias J. Alten: An Enduring Legacy,” features works from the late impressionist painter who was active iduring the early to the mid-20th century. The museum also celebrates Grand Rapids furniture heritage with “Hand and Machine in Harmony: Regional Arts & Crafts,” featuring works from furniture manufacturers Charles P. Limbert and Albert Stickley and artist Forrest Mann. The museum is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 12 to 6 p.m. and Thursdays from 12 to 9 p.m. For tickets and other information, visit the Museum’s website.


The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (Midtownguy 2012, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Everybody loves a parade

Did you know that the first Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade had live animals? The first parade took place in 1924. More than 250,000 people attended the parade that year but it was barely covered by the media. The parade included animals from the Central Park Zoo, floats, and bands. Today the parade has become the longest parade in the world and is three hours long. While this year’s parade was prerecorded (less cheering crowds), it is estimated that more than 50 million people watched the 2020 Macy’s Thanksgiving parade from the comfort of their homes.

Snapshots: Shopping, concerts and more

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By Anna Johns
WKTV Intern

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

Oscar Wilde 1854-1900
Photo courtesy sphere.com

Time for some Holiday shopping

This weekend take the opportunity to begin your holiday shopping. The Holiday Market on Main will take place in downtown Lowell within walking distance of parking, restaurants, and breweries. Shoppers will have the opportunity to visit a variety of stores from antiques to candy to clothing. The event begins on Friday, Nov. 20, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 22. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information visit https://www.discoverlowell.org/christmas-through-lowell/ 

The Grand Rapids Symphony has a virtual concert set for Friday, Nov. 20. (Supplied)

Listen to a Virtual Concert

Join The Grand Rapids Symphony for their virtual concert “PathWaves- A New World: Intimate Music from Final Fantasy”. The concert will feature themes from Final Fantasy and have surprises, battles, and characters from throughout the entire series. The concert will be directed by Eric Roth and feature the music of composer Nobuo Uematsu. This takes place on Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. This event is only available live and not available for replay. Tickets are $20 and are available for purchase here.

The “Wild Connections” is now open at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (WKTV/Anna Johns)

Visit the Public Museum

Take a chance to visit the Grand Rapids Public Museums’ new exhibit “Wild Connections”. This exhibit features more than 20 Lego sculptures that explore mankind’s relationship with nature. The exhibit is interesting for all ages and connects art and science. In addition to the exhibit, visitors have the opportunity to participate in interactive activities. They can pose for a Lego-themed photo or follow the animal tracks for a scavenger hunt.  Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for children with discounts for museum members and Kent County residents. Advanced ticketing is required and tickets can be purchased at https://www.grpm.org/legos/. 

The Michigan Triangle (mysteriousfacts.com)

Fun Facts: Michigan Triangle

You may have heard of the Bermuda Triangle – but did you know the Great Lakes has its own mysterious triangle? The Michigan Triangle spans from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to Ludington, Michigan, and south to Benton Harbor. Numerous unexplained shipwreck have occurred in this area dating back to 1891. In addition to the disappearances, there is even an area where divers discovered strange Stonehenge-like rock formations. Some say these tragedies are caused by high winds and rough weather while others claim paranormal forces are at work. 

Snapshots: For Auld Lang Syne

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Holidays, How-To's, Senior Living, , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

— The eternal optimist

Hope is a roof over your head

The 3:11 Youth Housing Program is for youth ages 18 to 24, to transition from homelessness to stability. They focus on that age range because it’s when people are entering adulthood. It now consists of eight rehabbed duplex-style homes in Grand Rapids, each with room for three to four youths and a mentor or mentor couple. More info here.

Still time

David Wiesner (American, b. 1956), Art & Max, 2010. (Supplied)

If you haven’t taken your kids to the Grand Rapids Art Museum yet during winter break, you’re still in luck. The GRAM will waive admission fees for visitors age 17 and under through Jan. 5.

Grieving the loss of a loved one?

The holidays can often serve as a stumbling block on the journey from grief to healing. The topic of grief is not often something anyone wants to talk about, especially at a time of year that, for most, is a time of great joy and happiness. Here are some tips on how to cope.

Fun fact:

It’s nothing new

Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) began the concept of celebrating the new year in 2000 BC. Back then, people observed new year in mid-March, around the time of the vernal equinox. See? We’re not so special.

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood (Santa) news you might have missed

3-bottom, Holidays,

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

They err who think Santa Claus enters through the chimney. He enters through the heart.

CHARLES W. HOWARD

Hey, Santa needs to eat too

Santa will make a stop at the Downtown Market Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15, when you can shop with the big guy himself! Bring your wish list to ensure you land on his ‘nice’ list this year. Go here for the story.

And Santa has to shop for the Mrs.

Photos with Santa, princess and Star Wars-themed events, live music and gift-wrapping fundraisers will deck the halls and help spread holiday cheer at Woodland Mall now to the new year. Go here for the story.

But even Santa needs a little help

The Santa Claus Girls’s history in Kent County dates from 1909 and these days they operate out of the Knoll Inc. building on 36th in Kentwood — from where they delivered more than 13,500 gift packages in 2018 and hope to meet or beat that number this year. See here for the story.

Fun fact:

$30

The average hourly rate for Santa actors is $30 an hour, but it ranges up to $75 an hour, according to Investopedia. Multi-lingual actors who work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day might make closer to $100. Source.




Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood stories you might have missed

3-bottom, Community Health, Crime Prevention, Going Local, Hard News, Holidays, Non-Profits,

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

It is good to learn from your mistakes. It is better to learn from other people’s mistakes.

Warren Buffett

Veterans tell their story

Federal, state, county and city government leaders and representatives listened to veterans telling their inspiring stories and express their concerns about government services Monday, Nov. 11, as the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum was fittingly held at Kentwood’s AMVETS Post 23. Get the link the video here .

Survivor tells his story

Eighty-one years have passed since the Kristainancht took place in Germany and Holocaust survivor Martin Lowenberg can still see the synagogues burning. Here’s the complete story.

Listening to others’ stories

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, we talk two members of Grand Rapids HQ, a drop-in center for youth ages 14-24 in housing crisis, including but not limited to LGBTQ-plus youth. And their first job is to listen. Find a like to the video here.

(Not so) fun fact:

650

The face of homelessness in Michigan is looking younger.  The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness reports more than 65,000 people in this state are homeless.  About one percent of those are unaccompanied minors.  And the number is slowly rising.

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know — weekend edition

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kids Activities, Local Business,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.”

Shirley Temple

Treat the kids to some
holiday fun this Sunday

This holiday season, the Holland Area Arts Council is reprising their partnership with Grand Rapids Ballet in two special performances for children ages 4 to 10 and their adult guests on Sunday, Nov. 17th. The gallery will be filled with the enchanting giggles of children as they experience the magic of music, dance and storytelling. Performances will be held at 12:30 and 2:30pm. Details are here.

It’s the most wonderful
time of the year (isn’t it?)

Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

Visiting family this holiday season? Or is grandma bringing Uncle Dave and the wild bunch to your place? Here are some life-saving tips on how to survive. Go here.

Miss the Nov. 10th Community
Conversation on Homelessness?

No worries, the podcast is available on-demand here.

Fun fact:

Santa Claus wasn’t
always fat and happy

You’d be brooding too if you had to lug something like this around (to be fair, this is probably an image of Father Christmas, a precursor to Santa)

We know, we know. It’s not even Thanksgiving and here we are talking about Christmas. Well, the malls have holiday decorations up, right? So, fair game.


Early images portray the bearded one as gloomy and brooding — even kind of scary. As he evolved, he gradually looked more approachable. Then, in 1931, Coca-Cola commissioned Michigan-born illustrator Haddon Sundblom to develop advertising images portraying Santa as wholesome, warm, friendly — not just a man dressed as Santa.


Today, Santa’s still fat, jolly, red-faced and, to be honest, a bit nosy. Right? How else does he know who’s been naughty or nice? Oh, wait. Alexa…

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Upcoming Events, , , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

I’m not big on fuzzy or fleecy slippers. I just don’t like the texture and the heat. It just gets to be too much.

Aidy Bryant

‘Code Blue’ helps keep homeless
neighbors safe and warm

In preparation for plummeting temperatures, Mel Trotter Ministries (MTM) is shifting into a “code blue” status to ensure men, women and children experiencing homelessness are safe. Various warming centers have been identified throughout the city, including at Mel Trotter Ministries | View complete warming center list. MTM is collecting new and like-new coats, boots and various other items for all ages and genders. Go here for the details.

Coffee aficionados, rejoice!

After tracking nearly 105,000 Danes for an average of eight years, researchers found that those who downed more than six cups per day of the world’s most popular beverage saw their gallstone risk drop by 23%. Here’s the story.

Happiness is warm jazz

Vocalist Ashley Daneman and her husband, trumpeter Benje Daneman, center. (Supplied)

Jazz standards, African-American spirituals and a little something new will be on the setlist as the Jazz in the Sanctuary concert series opens its sixth season Sunday, Nov. 17, in the acoustically inspiring sanctuary of Fountain Street Church in downtown Grand Rapids. Read all about it here.

Fun fact:

And now for a truly
warm, fuzzy fact

A group of wild rabbits is called a ‘fluffle’. It’s also called a ‘colony’, but does that really convey the essence of ‘bunny’ very well? We think not. So, fluffle, it is.


(A kerfluffle is an entirely different matter.)

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news — the much-anticipated weekend edition

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Education, Health, Kids Activities, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good.”*

Aristotle

*Aristotle probably would have said it this way: “Ποια είναι η ουσία της ζωής; Να υπηρετείς άλλους και να κάνεις καλό.” But in Ancient Greek and with waaaaay more accent marks.

Sounds like a dare

Ask Me Anything! is Nov. 2 at Kentwood Library. Learn about your community and your neighbors in a fun, relaxed environment. Visit the branch to “check out” different members of our community for a chance to learn from them and ask them anything. More info here.

In the ‘mark your
calendar’ category…

Courtesy Grand Valley State University

Zapatos Rojos | Red Shoes is an itinerant installation originally organized in 2009 by artist and architect Elina Chauvet in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Comprising 33 pairs of red shoes donated by the women of Ciudad Juárez — each pair representing a woman who had disappeared in that community — the piece is designed to draw attention to the fact that women were being killed without any consequences. Nov. 1, 2019-Feb. 28, 2020. Get the details here.

Do some good —
here’s how

The SpartanNash Foundation invites store guests to join the fight against hunger during its companywide fundraising effort, Oct. 23 to Nov. 3. The SpartanNash Foundation’s retail scan campaign supports more than 100 local food pantries and food banks, and 100 percent of dollars raised will support food pantry partners in eight states. Learn more here.

Fun fact:

Volunteering keeps you young

Volunteering not only engages your mind and body, but it can actually help you age well and reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.


Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Faces, , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.“  

Dalai Lama XIV

Say yes to saying no

Just say no

Do your part to keep prescription drugs out of our waterways and out of the hands of kids and teens — Oct. 26th is National Drug Take Back Day, and the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming are taking part. Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 469 tons (more than 937,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and almost 5,000 state and local law enforcement partners. The details are right here.

Lucky flag is going home

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) and OBON Society are in the process of returning a rare Japanese “Good Luck Flag” to its rightful family. OBON Society provides reconciliation between American and Japanese families through the return of personal items acquired during World War II. A Grand Rapids resident donated the flag, along with a WWII newsreel and a map of Iwo Jima, to the GRPM in 2015. The items were possessions of the donor’s deceased father, a former American soldier, who collected the flag during the war. Read all about it here.

Say ‘hello’ to
‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’

Elton John is coming to the Van Andel Arena on April 23, 2020, and tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Nov. 1 at 10am local time. But highfalutin American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Thursday, Oct. 24 at 10am local time through Monday, Oct. 28 at 10pm local time. Tickets and VIP packages can be purchased at EltonJohn.com. Don’t delay! More details here.

Fun fact:

>1,000

Elton John has over 1,000 pairs of shades. Rumor has it that he has to book a separate hotel room to accommodate all of them.

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know — weekend edition

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, , , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“Creativity takes courage.”

Henri Matisse

Tickling those ivories

Olga Kern, piano (photo supplied)

Russian-born pianist Olga Kern was the first woman in 30 years to win the Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She performs with the Grand Rapids Symphony Oct. 4-5. Story here.

Right en pointe

A scene from rehearsals of Ballet 5:8’s “Butterfly”. (Supplied/Ballet 5:8)

Ballet 5:8, the Chicago-based dance company known for providing audiences with “a unique opportunity to engage in conversation on relevant life and faith topics addressed in the company’s repertoire”, will return to Grand Rapids Oct. 5 with a program both emotionally heavy and delightfully spiritual. At the DeVos Center for Arts and Worship on Saturday, Oct. 5, starting at 7pm. Go here for more info.

Got leaves? Go here.

Beginning Oct. 5, the City of Kentwood will again offer its brush and leaf drop-off sites at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, located at 5068 Breton Ave. SE. The sites will run concurrently from Saturday, Oct. 5, through Saturday, Dec. 7, with open hours from noon to 8pm, Mondays through Saturdays, and noon to 6pm on Sundays. Here’s the info.

Fun fact:

A new trip for Alice

Mad Hatters Tea Party in the eye of a needle by Willard Wigand

Willard Wigand makes these teeny-tiny sculptures — so itty-bitty, in fact, that he uses a microscope to create them. Wigand enters a meditative state, slows his heartbeat and sculpts between pulses. And holds his breath, apparently — one time he inhaled Alice from an Alice in Woodland tableau he was working on inside the eye of a needle.

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Business, Local Faces, Voices, Woodland Mall

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“A drowning man will clutch at a straw.”      


Sir Thomas More (1478-1535)

Elements of survival

The VOICES Airstream parked at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Heartside

WKTV VOICES visited the Heartside district, and one of the many things we learned is that being homeless is exhausting. Go here to read and listen to what some Heartside residents and workers have to say about their experiences.

Time’s running out
to share your vision

City leaders are looking for community input on the future of the City of Wyoming, and will be hosting another Wyoming [Re]Imagined meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3 from 6-8pm at Godwin Heights High School, 50 35th St. SW, Wyoming. More details here.

Well, isn’t that grand?

Woodland Mall sketch new entrance Von Maur wing 2019 (Supplied/Woodland Mall)

This fall, shoppers will enjoy the long-anticipated grand opening of first-to-portfolio department store Von Maur and the expansion of what will be known as the Von Maur wing at Woodland Mall, along with The Cheesecake Factory as a new dining anchor. Read all about it here.

Fun fact:

232 years

He was a very good boy

The number of years by which Adwaita outlived Lord Clive.


Adwaita was an ancient Aldabra giant tortoise, who was ostensibly gifted to Robert Clive of the East India Company by British seafarers who captured it from Aldabra, an atoll in the Seychelles. 


Lord Clive later became an opium addict and committed suicide in 1774 at the age of 49.


Adwaita’s shell cracked in 2005, and he died from infection and liver failure in 2006. At the time of his death, he was estimated to be between 150-255 years old.


If the topmost number is to be believed, then Adwaita outlived Clive by 232 years.


Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know — weekend edition

3-bottom, Dream Wheels, Local Business, Local Faces, Recreation, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“Only one is a wanderer; two together are always going somewhere.”

Madeleine Elster/Judy Barton from ‘Vertigo’

The cars are here!
The cars are here!

Ladies and gentlemen, the days you’ve all been waiting for — this year’s Metro Cruise is Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23 and 24, and it’s packed with more to do and see, according to organizers. Started 15 years ago by the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce to encourage businesses and patrons to travel the “Sunset Strip of Grand Rapids,” the annual event has become a two-day car extravaganza with more than 100,000 people attending. Go here for the scoop.

Pick out your partner
and join in the fun

Admission is free to the Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival at Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center, this weekend Friday-Sunday, Aug. 23-25, and there will be plenty of inexpensive parking in Parking Lot Areas 7, 8, and 9 for those who don’t mind a short walk. Fun activities during the festival include music, dancing, authentic Polish food, the paczki eating contest, crowning of the busia queen and more. Learn all about it here.

Who’s the Faire-est one of all?

Courtesy Grand Rapids Public Museum

Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. It happens Saturday, Aug. 24 from 10am-5pm at the GRPM. More info here.

No Alabama tonight

Courtesy Alabama

Hey, they really wanted to continue their 50th Anniversary Tour at the VanAndel Arena tonight, but lead singer Randy Owen’s ongoing complications with cluster migraines and vertigo have laid him low. The group had hoped to continue its record-breaking 50-city tour, however, doctors have advised more time is needed for Owen to fully recover. Rescheduled dates for the tour will be announced in the coming weeks.

Fun fact:

Could be rocks in your head…
or a migraine

Jimmy Stewart in ‘Vertigo’

Alabama’s lead singer, Randy Owen joins roughly 69 million people—nearly one-third of people over the age of 40 in the U.S.—who experience vertigo at least once in their lives. Curiously, dancing can make it better. Hey! Hie thee down to the Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival this weekend and put it to the test.


Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, How-To's, Pets/Animals, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“Animals are such agreeable friends — they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.”

George Eliot

On a roll

Only recently, Margo Price “was a country underdog just trying to keep enough gas in the tank to get to the next gig,” but by the end of 2016, she was one of the genre’s most celebrated new artists with gigs on late night television and at major festivals around the world. Don’t miss her performance at Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park this Thursday, Aug. 1st. The Dawes with Margo Price concert will start at 6:30pm (5:15pm gates open), with a $50 general admission ticket price. For more information and tickets visit meijergardens.org. Go here for the story.

Precious cargo

National Heat Stroke Prevention day is July 31, 2019, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reminding everyone to “look before you lock.” It takes just 10 minutes for a vehicle in the sun to heat up by 20 degrees and become potentially deadly for a child left locked in a car. Go here for the story.

Tick tock

If despite your best prevention efforts, a tick still attaches to you, there’s a right and a wrong way to remove ticks. Don’t use matches or the tip of a cigarette to burn off ticks. This could cause them to transmit bacteria more quickly. The correct way to remove a tick is to lift it gently with thin forceps or tweezers. Here are more tips.

Fun fact:

A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top. You’re welcome.


Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know — the weekend edition

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, , , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“People leave traces of themselves where they feel most comfortable, most worthwhile.”

Haruki Murakami

This is not Kentwood

Road trip!

The City of Kentwood has released its tentative road construction and maintenance schedule for the summer. Go here for the details.

Audacious Hoops performs July 24 at the KDL Kentwood Branch

How audacious!

“Hooping” has become its own art form and perhaps no one has done more for it than Grand Rapids’s own Audria Larsen, the founder of Audacious Hoops. Here’s the story.

Courtesy Rumours: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show

Get your tickets now!

Tickets now on sale at the DeVos Place® and Van Andel Arena® box offices and online at Ticketmaster.com. See Ticketmaster for all current pricing and availability. Here’s the story.

Fun fact:

Only once

Seems hard to believe — especially with millions of albums sold — but the original Fleetwood Mac band had only one song top the Billboard Hot 100 chart at #1 — Dreams, from their 1977 album, Rumours. Thanks, Stevie.

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know — the weekend edition

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kids Activities, Local Faces, Our Cities

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org


Quote of the Day

“There’s no fear when you’re having fun.”

~ Will Thomas


Get your tickets

You won’t want to miss Circle Theatre’s Magic Circle Production of Rapunzel, an adaptation by Karen Boettcher-Tate, starting on Thursday, June 26 at 7pm inside the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College. Preceding the show at 5:30pm, join the cast for the Magic Circle Party. This one-night only event will feature refreshments, crafts, games, Storytime with the cast, and VIP seating for opening night. Tickets to the Magic Circle Party are $22 and can be purchased at circletheatre.org.



On sale now!

It will be like they are right there with you. BASE Hologram has announced North American tour dates for Roy Orbison & Buddy Holly: The Rock ’N’ Roll Dream Tour, a groundbreaking tour featuring the award-winning rock and roll legends, including a stop in Grand Rapids on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, at 7:30pm in SMG-managed DeVos Performance Hall. Tickets are on sale now. More info here.


Here’s an idea: Yoga

Start your summer weekends with an opportunity to connect to your body, breath, and nature at Blandford Nature Center. Classes are held outdoors, are accessible to all levels of experience, and start Saturday, July 13th, so don’t delay. Go here for details.


Fun fact:

421

That’s how many words Scotland has for “snow”. Some examples: sneesl (to start raining or snowing); feefle (to swirl); flinkdrinkin (a light snow).



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Quote of the Day

“I go to Costco every weekend. It’s my favorite part of the week.”

~ Jimmy Kimmel

Kicking off so you can
kick up your heels

Circle June 4th on your calendar. That’s the date Concerts in the Park kicks off with local favorite Midlife Crisis, a classic rock band that was formed in 2001. The free, nine-week summer concert series held at 7pm Tuesdays at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW, features a wide variety of musical styles, interactive themes, and local food vendors. More info here.

Summer reads
make me feel fine

Summer reading at KDL starts Monday, June 3 this year and runs through Saturday, Aug. 10. Sign up online at READsquared or pick up a paper form at your nearest KDL branch. Log your summer reading activity and earn prizes! Get more info here.

More active souls ought to check out the third annual Liquid Force Field Day on Saturday, June 1 at Action Wake Park, 3320 Hudson Trails Dr., Hudsonville, MI 49426. It’s a great opportunity to try Action Wake Park completely free of cost. Here is more info.

Fun fact:

25 years

Up to 25 years is the jail sentence you’ll get if you cut down a cactus in Arizona. Talk about harsh.

No respect. None. Zip. Zero.

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Quote of the Day

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain”

~Bob Marley
Tons of talent in one colorful exhibition

Dreaming, thinking
ready for my happy day*

‘Livin’ Is Easy’ summertime exhibition opens June 1st at LowellArts. Feast your senses on depictions of beautifully weathered objects; local Michigan waterways; animal and aquatic life forms; and whimsical figurative work. More details here. *Lyrics from Uriah Heep’s Easy Livin’.

Ready for some summertime fun?

Don’t settle for the
summertime blues

Soon the bell will ring on the end of the year and children will be home for the summer. Follow these handy-dandy tips to avoid the summertime blues. More here.

Look! It’s the International Space Station!

We are all made of stars

A gentle reminder that on Wednesday, May 29 (Hey! That’s tomorrow!), WKTV Government 26 will be featuring live coverage of the International Space Station Russian Spacewalk. Read all about it right here. Don’t miss it!

Fun fact:

3%

That’s how much more milk cows produce when they listen to relaxing music. Just ask the researchers at the University of Leicester. And then there is 2% milk, which is generally available at your local grocer’s. Has nothing to do with music, though.


(Do these look like Guernsey cows to you?)

The Ingenues, an all-girl band and vaudeville act, serenade the cows in the University of Wisconsin, Madison’s dairy barn in 1930. The show was apparently part of an experiment to see whether the soothing strains of music boosted the cows’ milk production. Go here to read the NPR story about it.
Angus B. McVicar/Wisconsin Historical Society



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Quote of the Day

“The Sixties are now considered a historical period,
just like the Roman Empire.“

~Dave Barry


The Vibe keynote speaker Josh George, a six-time Paralympic world champion and world record holder. (Courtesy/Josh George’s website)

I’m pickin’ up good vibrations

Get your tickets TODAY if you plan to attend The Vibe, a gala benefiting Kentwood Parks and Recreation’s adaptive recreation programs, on Friday, May 17. The Vibe will highlight the City’s adaptive water sports programs, which include kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, wake boarding and water skiing for all ages and abilities. Tickets for the semi-formal event are $100 per person and can be purchased online at kentwoodvibe.com or by calling 616-656-5270. More on the story here.


Tickets must be purchased in advance by Friday, May 10.


These boots are made for walkin’ (well…)

It’s not only elite athletes and experienced runners who are preparing for this weekend’s 42nd River Bank Run. For the ninth year, former and current residents of Dégagé Ministries Open Door Women’s Center will participate in the Amway River Bank 5k Walk. Dégagé’s walking group, the ‘Heartside All Stars for Health’, is a group of approximately 12 women who have overcome or are working to overcome things like poverty, addiction and homelessness. With the support of Dégagé’s staff and volunteers, the organization’s walking group totals nearly 30 people. For more information, go here.



Courtesy Air Zoo

Can’t get no satisfaction?
Check out these six destinations

Bored? Don’t be. The Air Zoo, Binder Park Zoo, Gilmore Car Museum, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, and the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) Bird Sanctuary and Manor House are partnering for the sixth year of the Southwest Michigan Cultural Membership Exchange. Guests presenting a valid membership card and photo ID from any of these organizations can enjoy free admission at any of the six destinations May 1–31. More here.


Fun fact:

$4,743

That’s what the average salary was in the U.S. in the 1960s. But then, a loaf of bread was 45 cents, the average new car cost $2,752, and gas was about 31 cents a gallon. Ah, yes. The good, old days.

1963 AMC Rambler American


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Quote of the Day

“There’s no fear when you’re having fun.“

~Will Thomas



A few wrinkles in time

Older Michigangians Day, on May 15th, is an opportunity for Michigan seniors to speak with a united voice about the issues that directly affect them. It is also an opportunity to meet new people and enjoy a beautiful day in our State’s capitol. Call Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan to register at (616) 222-7042. Go here for more info.



So good, you can’t
read just one

“You just really can’t replace putting a book in a kid’s hands,” said district Superintendent Kevin Polston at a recent celebration of literacy” at the Early Childhood Center in Wyoming. “There is something special about touching, feeling, seeing the pictures, and engaging with the book. We know there is value to that.” Read all about it here.



Life’s too short, so go on …
have some fun

Experience Grand Rapids (EXGR) invites locals to explore the Grand Rapids area during National Travel and Tourism Week through May 11th using EXGR resources such as Culture Pass GR and Vamonde. Check it out here.

Fun fact:

Details, details

There is actually a difference between coffins and caskets — coffins are typically tapered and six-sided, while caskets are rectangular.



But in the end, does it really matter?



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Quote of the Day

“Do not put all your eggs in one basket.”

― Warren Buffet

Hop to it!

Make them funny bunny photos
(and why not?)

Sheesh. Was that a long winter or what? Time to get out and celebrate — and here are some fun ideas. The Mad Hatter Tea Party, an Enchanted Spring Party with Mermaids and Unicorns and family pet photos with the bunny are all in store at Woodland Mall — and the fun starts this weekend. Shoppers will also find the latest spring fashion trends to freshen their wardrobes. Read more here.



Expande tus horizontes

Mark your calendar for April 4-5 — and get down to Wealthy Theatre for Grand Rapids Latin American Film Festival (GRLAFF). This year, GRLAFF will showcase eight feature-length films from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic, plus​ Una mujer fantástica (​A Fantastic Woman), a 2018 Oscar-winning film from Chile. More info here. En español aqui.



Give the kids a break

Rock climbing, art, bounce houses, swimming, and fitness are just a few of the family–friendly activity options available at The Salvation Army Kroc Center during Spring Break 2019. More here.


Fun fact:

1904

The first year scientific literature described fainting goats.





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Quote of the Day

“I don’t really go out partying, but I’m definitely a social butterfly.”

~ Eliza Doolittle



Well, hello, gorgeous!

Excuse us? We’re dressing!

The fluttering you hear at Meijer Gardens this time of year? It isn’t your heart beating with excitement — it’s the butterflies! There’s still time to get a good dose of gorgeous — the winged ones are on display until April 30 during the 24th Annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition. More here.



They call me MISTER Robot

Big things have small beginnings

Hope you’ve cleared your calendar for this weekend. About 40 teams will compete at the FIRST Robotics event this Friday and Saturday. This includes host team East Kentwood’s Red Storm, Wyoming High School’s Demons, Potter House’s Tactical Hams, and the community team Code Red the Stray Dogs. Fun stuff! Go here for further details.



Ready for Act II

And so begins a new chapter in Gina Mancha’s life

Gina Mancha was displaced from a long career in automotive manufacturing and needed to find a new career. As a dislocated worker, Gina was eligible for services through Michigan Works!. Read her success story here.



Fun fact:

Goblin sharks might be the closest
we’ll ever get to a real alien

See?



Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you ought to know — weekend edition

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Quote of the Day

“If people did not love one another, I really don’t see what use there would be in having any spring.”

― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

Spring forward!

Yup, it’s time to change your clocks this weekend.

Spring is right around the corner. Really, it is, and the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department points to its Spring Activities Calendar as proof. Check out all the fun things you can do here.

The best things in life are free

The Grand Rapids Public Museum offers free admission March 10.


The Grand Rapids Public Museum offers fun, hands-on learning opportunities for all ages through a variety of core and traveling exhibits. Visitor favorites include the Streets of Old Grand Rapids, an immersive exhibit that transports visitors back to 19th century of downtown Grand Rapids, and West Michigan Habitats, that showcases the vast wildlife found in West Michigan. More info here.



Live and let live

That’s it, in a nutshell.

Domestic violence abuse attorney Kinza Khan

A presentation on Monday, March 11 at Grand Valley State University will explore the importance of encouraging young people to grow in their interfaith understanding in order to become positive religious leaders of the 21st century. Kinza Khan, a domestic violence attorney, will be the featured speaker during the 2019 Rabbi Phillip Sigal Memorial Lecture. More info here.



Fun fact:

85%

The percentage reduction in the number of children named ‘Katrina’ after Hurricane Katrina.

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Quote of the Day

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.



Meet a musical treasure

“Music has always been a big part of my life,” said Bruce Ling, who began playing slide guitar when he was 4 years old and whose father and uncle are both professional musicians. “When I was 8, my band made $5 playing in a basement for a birthday party. I’ve been playing ever since.” Read the story here.



Just the facts, folks

The latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus offers two discussions focused on important topics: improving Michigan’s prison environment and how Calvin College is reaching out to inmates with education and life-changing opportunities, as well as the current opioid abuse and addiction public health crisis and how Kent County is working to address that crisis locally. Go here to read the story.



Common ground… troubled crossroads

Grand Valley’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies and the university’s Division of Inclusion and Equity will host a discussion about how Americans can work toward finding common ground for the common good, especially at the troubled crossroads of race and American memory this Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7pm. More info here.



Fun fact:

One month

The time it would take a sloth to travel one mile (.15 mph). Road trip!

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Quote of the Day

"It is never too late to be what you might have been.”

                                                     —George Eliot 

Only 354 days until Christmas!
Now, about that tree…

Don’t let your Christmas tree dry out — drop it off at a designated site

Wondering what to do with that Christmas tree? If you’re a resident of Wyoming, there is a drop-off site at 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW. Kentwood residents can drop off their trees at the city’s Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE from 7:30am-4pm Monday-Friday, through Jan. 31. Get the details here.

No. 89… No. 89… Oh, wait…

Cool, old-timey photo of the Grand Rapids Symphony in the 1930s

The Grand Rapids Symphony officially organized on Jan. 11, 1930, making it 89 in 2019. Coincidentally, the Symphony has a concert performance on Jan. 11. So to celebrate its 89th birthday, one of the featured pieces is Hayden’s Symphony No. 89. Pretty clever, no? Go here for more info.

And now, a blast from the past

Remember them now?

Hey! Remember S&H Green Stamps? No? Maybe your mom does — well, your grandmother definitely does. You can trace the roots of Meijer’s MPerks and Hallmark’s Gold Crown Rewards back to about 1896, when Sperry & Hutchinson (the S&H — get it?) started to offer its loyalty retail program to supermarkets, gas stations and stores in the form of small green stamps. Managing editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma dishes on this once-ubiquitous homemaker staple here.



Fun fact:

45%

That’s the percentage of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions. The top resolutions are: to lose weight, get organized, to spend less and save more, to stay fit and healthy, and to quit smoking. While nearly half of all Americans make resolutions, 25 percent of them give up on their resolutions by the second week of January. That’s next week, y’all.

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Quote of the Day

"It doesn't matter where you came from. All that matters is where you are going.”

                                                     -- Brian Tracy                                          

It’s been an interesting year.
Let’s take a look back.

Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus rehearses its holiday music.

Managing editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma has rounded up the most popular stories of 2018 and corralled them into one spot. Go here to see what readers read the most.

Everybody has a profile.
Even Kent County.

Cool, fun graphic

Counties have profiles? You bet! Thanks to the Kent County Administration and their most excellent bilingual survey, the secret is out: Kent County’s median age of 34.9 years old is more than five years younger than Michigan as a whole and 50 percent of the population of about 648,594 is 35-years-old or younger. Go here for the cool details.

Get ahead of the game.

Wouldn’t it be fun to pay your tax bill with Monopoly money?

You know that big tax cut we’ve all been hearing about? The one that has corporations so excited? Well, there’s a tiny bit of relief for single people and families, too. Standard deductions for single taxpayers nearly double from $6,350 for 2017 taxes to $12,000 for 2018 taxes (the ones you file in 2019). It might get confusing, but there’s free tax help here. Take advantage of it.


Fun fact:

April 11, 1954 

According to Cambridge computer scientist William Tunstall-Pedoe and his search engine project, ‘True Knowledge’, that’s the ‘Most Boring Day in History‘. After sifting through and analyzing 300 million facts, ‘True Knowledge’ divined that on April 11, 1954, a general election was held in Belgium, Turkish academic Professor Abdullah Atalar was born, and an Oldham Athletic footballer by the name of Jack Shufflebotham died. That’s it. Nothing else that matters happened.

Hey, kudos, dude.

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Quote of the Day


“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”  

                            ―      Dr. Seuss

A celebration of
holiday times past

Blandford Nature Center welcomes West Michigan families to join us at our Annual Pioneer Holiday Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 8th, 2018, from 12-4pm located at 1715 Hillburn Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. The program is the perfect way to kick off the Grand Rapids holiday season with festive favorites and holiday traditions for guests of all ages to enjoy. Go here for more info.

Gentlefolk, mark
your calendars!

Calvin College’s 2019 January Series lineup features numerous noteworthy people, including Mary Robinson, president of Ireland from 1990-1997; Nicholas Kristof, a columnist for the New York Times and winner of two Pulitzer Prizes; and Rachael Denhollander, an advocate and educator who became known internationally as the first woman to file a police report and speak publicly against Larry Nassar. Go here for the details.


Give a kid a
(temporary) home

The goal of the Host Home Program is to connect young people with caring adult volunteers who are able to provide them with safe, temporary housing while they have time to repair relationships or make decisions about other housing options with the support of Arbor Circle staff. This community- and volunteer-based approach is available to young adults, ages 18-20, who are seeking to increase stability in their housing. Go here for more info.

Fun fact:

If you kept yelling for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days, you would produce enough sound energy to heat up a cup of tea.


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Quote of the Day

"It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not." 

                                                  Andre Gide

Oh, boy. No. 3,000,000
is in for a big surprise

This woman is not the 3,000,000th passenger

If you’re the 3,000,000th passenger on Dec. 5th, you’ll be feted with a surprise. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport had a total of over 2.7 million passengers served through the end of October. November and December seat totals and flight information are forecasting the three millionth passenger to arrive around 11am on Dec. 5.

 

There will also be a reception to include surprises and giveaways for passengers flying that day. More here.

 

Proof that science really exists!

This launch could not happen without science

Tuesday, Dec. 4, WKTV will be featuring the launch of the SpaceX CRS-16 Cargo Craft to the International Space Station. SpaceX CRS-16 will be filled with supplies and payloads including critical materials to directly support the science and research that will occur during the current expeditions.

 

Coverage continues on Thursday, Dec. 6, for the rendezvous and capture of the SpaceX CRS-16 at the ISS at 4:30am, with the capture scheduled for approximately 6am Installation of the cargo craft begins at 7:30am. Go here for more info.

 

 

You say “tomayto”, I say “tomahto”

Gleaves Whitney will tackle a thorny topic

We all have our differences. But the 2016 election of Donald Trump, Kavanaugh hearings, and 2018 midterm elections have stirred up deep emotions about what kind of nation America is and should be. Conservative and progressive debates over the meaning of these events have opened old wounds and created new injuries in our body politic.

 

On Wednesday, Dec. 5, Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University, will address the divide in the country, and explain why failure to resolve our most difficult challenges is not an option. Go here for more info.

 

 

Fun Fact:

The footprints on the moon will
be there for 100 million years

The Moon has no atmosphere, which means there is no wind to erode the surface and no water to wash the footprints away. This means the footprints of the Apollo astronauts, along with spacecraft prints, rover-prints and discarded material, will be there for millions of years.

 

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Quote of the Day

“November; Crows are approaching - Wounded leaves fall to the ground.” 

                                    ~ Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann

 

Make Sundays special

The Cascade Township Branch brings concerts inside for ‘Sunday Afternoon Live’, eight concerts from October 2018 through April 2019 featuring your favorite local artists. Sponsored by Cascade Charter Township, Cascade Downtown Development Authority, Cascade Community Foundation, Friends of the Cascade Township Library and Kingsland Ace Hardware.

 

Go here for more info.

 

 

‘Tis the season… for season tickets

Season tickets and mini ticket plans for the 2019 West Michigan Whitecaps baseball season are now on sale. Season ticket holders receive special perks ranging from a free luxury suite, discounted hot dog/soda vouchers, discounted preferred parking plans, souvenir shop discounts, a ticket buy-back and exchange program, early entry into the ballpark, guaranteed giveaway items and more (not all perks are included in all ticket packages).

 

Go here for more info.

 

Wait — only five?

With West Michigan being home to the Fruit Ridge — one of the best fruit-growing regions in the world — there is an abundance of orchards and farms to explore and plenty of apples and fresh cider to enjoy during the fall season.

 

Here are five ways to enjoy fall in West Michigan. We’re sure there are many more, but here’s five.

 

Fun fact:

Hmmm, I don’t think so

Nicholas Cage bought a pet octopus once because he sincerely thought it might help with his acting.

 

 

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Quote of the Day

"Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives."

                                              ~William Dement

 

It’s now or never

Veteran head coach Don Galster knows his Rockets need a win Friday night against NorthPointe Christian keep alive realistic hopes of his team getting to the playoffs for the third year in a row. But a disappointing loss to Godwin Heights last week isn’t going to stop these Rockets from taking off.

 

Kelloggsville is now 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the OK Silver conference. Last season, the Rockets defeated NorthPointe, 36-21, as part of a 9-0 regular season.

 

Read more here.

 

 

Get your silver bullet here

Thanks to the tremendous response from fans, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band’s show at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018, has SOLD OUT. As a result, a second show has been added for Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, at 8pm.

 

Tickets for the Jan. 5 date will go on sale Friday, Oct. 5 at 10am. Go here for details.

 

 

Start planning

Before you know it, the bright fall foliage will be here.

 

Go here for some great fall tour ideas.

 

 

 

Fun Fact:

Weight gain around this time of year may not be from all the food.

Researchers have found that lack of vitamin D reduces fat breakdown and triggers fat storage. So, the lack of sunlight has more to do with the extra gain than all the pumpkin spice lattes. Well, at least some of it.

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Quote of the Day

“It’s relatively easy to act nice and normal in front of a crowd, or in public. The tricky part is doing it in private.”
  
                                                  ~Robert Black

Where are they coming from?
Where are they going?

We really want to know.

 

After serving more than a quarter-million passengers in the month of July, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) topped that with an August that served close to 300,000 passengers.

 

August marks the eighth record-breaking month in a row for 2018, and the airport has seen growth in 61 of the last 68 months. August 2018 was the busiest August ever, with passenger numbers up 17.8-percent year-over-year.

 

Through August 2018, GFIA has already surpassed its annual total reached in 2012, with 2,176,525 passengers served in 2018. Read more here.

 

It’s about time:
Kent County appoints
first female sheriff

Kent County administration announced Thursday that Undersheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young has been appointed Sheriff to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff Larry Stelma, who retires on Nov. 1 of this year.

 

Two individuals applied for the position — Undersheriff LaJoye-Young and Lt. Marc Burns. Kent County Chief Probate Judge David M. Murkowski chaired the statutorily mandated selection appointment committee and served along with Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker and Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus-Lyons. The committee’s decision was unanimous. Read more here.

.

Secrets revealed

Manufacturers throughout West Michigan are holding  community open houses and student tours that  showcase their facilities and career options. The tours are part of Manufacturing Week 2018, which runs through Oct. 5, 2018. More than 100 manufacturers are hosting more than 1,000 students during this year’s event.

 

According to Talent 2025’s 2017 West Michigan Talent Assessment and Outlook, manufacturing is the largest industry in West Michigan, accounting for more than 20 percent of all jobs in the region. Manufacturing has added more than 38,000 jobs since 2009, a growth rate of 33.3 percent. Read about it here.

 

 

Fun Fact:

51% of people think stormy weather affects cloud computing.

You mean... it doesn't? Source.

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Quote of the Day

"If you can't tolerate critics, don't do anything new or interesting."

                                                  ~Jeff Bezos

Food, glorious food!

Blue Spoon will again be at Kentwood’s End of Summer Food Truck Festival. (WKTV)

And there will be food trucks galore! The free-to-attend event will run from 11am to 10pm, on Saturday, Sept. 15 in the parking lot of the Kent District Library — Kentwood (Richard. L. Root) Branch. Throughout the day, there will be live music, a beer tent and a variety of local eats.

 

Find out more here.

 

 

Well, hello, gorgeous!

The new, expanded playground at Ferrand Park.

Ferrand Park got quite the facelift, and Wyoming residents are thrilled. The park features a number of new amenities such as a shelter, pathways into the park, architectural features that help to identify the park, and a new, expanded playground area. 

 

Go here to learn more.

 

Hey, there’s an app for that

Gerald R. Ford International Airport has launched a new app that features real-time flight departure and arrival information, updates on parking availability at the airport, and security wait times. Additionally, amenities such as food and beverage locations, kids play areas, nursing rooms, and the military welcome center are featured on the app.

 

Click here.

 

Fun Fact:

A cow-bison hybrid
is called a “beefalo”

You can even buy its meat in at least 21 states.

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Quote of the Day

"The person who says something is impossible should not interrupt the person who is doing it."

                                                  ~Chinese Proverb

Good things come in threes

Three well-deserving organizations recently received grants from the GM Foundation: the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance, West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), and Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank. Read all about it here.

 

 

 

The dude abides (er, rides)

Kentwood resident and bicyclist-on-a-mission Ken Smith, after a brief stop at home for his anniversary and time with family, quietly headed off from downtown Grand Rapids this week as part of a 3,500-plus west coast-to-east coast trip to raise funds for his grandson, Jakob, and awareness of all persons with neurological damage. More here.

 

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Beam me up, Scotty

Well, maybe healthcare technology isn’t quite that advanced, but still…

 

Not only are physicians and other healthcare professionals becoming more accessible, but personal health information, billing, and care instructions have also become easier to find thanks to electronic health records and healthcare portals. Before electronic health records, or EHRs, patients had to request physical copies from their healthcare providers’ offices, an inconvenient process that meant that most people only received their records when they were absolutely required. Read all about it here.

 

Fun Fact:

A sneeze travels about
100 miles per hour.

We're not sure who clocked it or why. Maybe some things are best left unknown.

Snapshots: Fun news you need to know from Wyoming and Kentwood

3-bottom, Books, Citizen Journalism, Food, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

 

Quote of the Day

"It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course."

~ Hank Aaron

 

And we hardly knew ye…

Buh-bye, fatty

 

After 10 hearty seasons, 12,000 brave challengers and nearly 58 million gut-busting calories, the Fifth Third Burger is officially retiring on Saturday, Sept. 1. Get ’em while they’re still hot.

 

Remembering the People’s Princess

A class act

In honor of the anniversary of the death of Princess Diana, WKTV 25 will be airing a special half hour memorial tribute “Princess Diana: A Tribute To England’s Rose.”

 

The show will air Monday, Aug. 27, at 9:30 a.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 28, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. and Friday, Aug. 31 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

 

Save a place on your
dance card for Kate Daniel

Gladys Ewing’s dance card, circa 1912

The husband-and-wife team behind the New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels series will be visiting Schuler books & Music at the end of August. The couple is touring for the release of Magic Triumphs book 10  and the final book in the Kate Daniel series. They will be at Schuler Books & Music, 2660 28th St., at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30.

 

 

Fun fact:

In 1518, a “dancing plague” took
over the town of Strasbourg, France.

One woman started it, and others joined her. Within a month, there were 400 people involved. Many died from pure exhaustion.