Tag Archives: stories

Division Arts Festival to feature new interactive art walk for children

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The annual Division Arts Festival is set at the intersection of 43rd Street and Division Avenue (Courtesy photo)



By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


A new attraction for children will be available at the annual Division Arts Festival scheduled for Saturday, June 1.

All ages of children are invited to join in at the interactive kids art walk that will be set up in The Stray parking lot during the Division Arts Festival. Consisting of 8-10 stations, the art walk will feature a narrative called Ava and Leo’s Delightfully Different Day, written by local authors Lynn W. Francis, Elizabeth Meyette and Karen Van Klompenberg.

An interactive storybook

Author Lynn W. Francis (Courtesy, Lynn Francis)

“It’s almost like walking through a storybook,” said author Lynn Francis.

The story follows two young best friends and their dog Spot. They go through a day of trying different experiences, finding out what each of them does and does not like, and trying to find something they can do together.

As the story unfolds, there are different stations.

Each station contains a block of text that is part of the narrative, and a piece of art depicting the happenings of that scene. The station will also have actions for kids to complete that correlate to the story, such as spinning, dancing, or pretending to fly like birds.

“It will be this full story trail, and you can follow Ava and Leo’s journey as they go from here to there, try out the swing set and splash through a brook,” said Francis. “You just follow them through and reenact the story as you’re going along.”

A sketch of Ava and Leo from participating artist Brae Hoff (Courtesy, Karen Van Klompenberg)

The art walk narrative provides thought-provoking questions for children and parents to talk through while emphasizing the value of friends with different backgrounds than your own.

Though directed toward ages 5-13, the art walk is something all ages can enjoy.

“Personally, I’m planning on walking through myself as a grownup just because I think it’ll be fun,” said Francis. “It could appeal to real littles who are just listening, and then the more active ages where they want to be a part of the story, or even a little older who would just enjoy reading it.”

From inspiration to reality

The idea for the art walk came from Van Klompenberg, one of the narrative authors and part-owner of The Stray art cafe.

Notes from an art walk storyline meeting (Courtesy, Karen Van Klompenberg)

Wanting an activity specifically geared toward children, Van Klompenberg began brainstorming ideas.

“She had this vision in her mind beforehand of getting as many people involved as possible,” said Francis. “She brought myself, a couple other writers, and several artists who have work featured at The Stray together to work on this project collaboratively, which has been really cool,” said Francis.

Artists have been working together using shared color palettes and predetermined physical traits for the story’s characters and clothing. Character composites were formed and sketched by a sub group of artists. The pictured work in progress is by participating artist Alexis Hannah (Courtesy, Karen Van Klompenberg)

Van Klompenberg sat down with the group she had pulled together and said, “The sky’s the limit.”

“We got the storyline figured out, and then she took that to the artists,” said Francis.

A local chalk artist had the idea of kids completing motions at each station to help them stay engaged in the story.

“[Karen] really wanted this to be an immersive artistic experience,” said Francis. “This is a way to get [kids] involved, see the different art styles, and see the different mediums that these artists can use.

“And the story itself too, about how everybody likes and enjoys doing different things. Some people make art, and some people receive art. Both of those things are valuable. Without each person, nothing would happen.”

Overall, there are 11 contributors to the art walk project. Artists include Rebecca Rodriguez, Rebecca Senior, Juan Pimentel, Brae Hoff, Alexis Hannah, Amanda Fairbanks, Karen Van Klompenberg, Yohan Daza, and local woodworker John Stutzman.

“It’s been a really collaborative effort, and I’ve been very lucky to be a part of it,” said Francis. “I’m very excited to see it all together, honestly. I haven’t seen all of the art yet, so I’m quite excited to walk through and see everybody’s contribution.”

Experience all artistic walks

Francis urges the community to come out and enjoy the Division Arts Festival.

Set at the intersection of 43rd Street and Division Avenue, the event runs Saturday, June 1 from 2-9 p.m.

The Festival will feature over 50 art and craft vendors, engaging games, creative art activities, a dedicated kids’ area, a variety of food trucks, delicious dishes from nearby international restaurants and live performances by local bands.

“All artistic walks are there,” said Francis. “It’s a really incredible experience. You can meet a lot of really cool local authors, artists, artisans and musicians.”

Beauty in diversity

A painting holder prototype by local woodworker John Stutzman (Courtesy, Karen Van Klompenberg)

More than just a fun event, the Festival brings the community together to celebrate differences, support local entrepreneurs, and envision a neighborhood where diversity thrives, businesses flourish, families feel welcomed, and everyone can enjoy the vibrant culture and spirit of the community.

And art, Francis believes, is a big part of bringing a community together.

“Art has that thing where it brings people together,” said Francis. “Where you can look at it and say, I feel that too. I live in that same world too, and I’m not alone.

“You can find such a community in appreciation of art or in the creation of art. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”

Francis went on to say that art is important to both artists and to those who enjoy the art.

“I think the biggest thing [art] does – because it does a lot – is it shows the beauty in our world,” Francis said. “It reflects the world that we live in – beauty, and pain, and sadness, and anger, and joy. It has everything broken down to this piece that you can look at and reflect on, and see a piece of the world, and a piece of yourself in it.”

More about the Festival

The Division Arts Festival is organized by the Division Avenue Business Association and generously sponsored by LMCU, Godwin Plumbing & Hardware, Rivertown Credit Union, Marge’s Donut Den, Brann’s Restaurant, Gordon Food Service, The King Family, The Stray and the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming.

The Festival is outside – sunscreen is advised!

For the lineup and more information, click here. Follow @division.fest on All Events in Grand Rapids for updates.

Write Michigan: The story behind the stories

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Write Michigan contest entrants reveal their inspiration and love for the written word (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

With over 1,200 submissions in 2022, Michigan’s statewide short story contest is already garnering new writers and seeing submissions from veteran entrants.

Open to Michigan residents of all ages, the Write Michigan (WMI) competition is accepting submissions through Nov. 30.


Author Joel Armstrong, and a WMI judge of the Adult English category, encourages all those with a love of writing to enter the contest.

“The beautiful side of [writing] is your story can affect people differently,” said Armstrong. “There could be people who are not drawn to the other stories, but really resonate with yours.

“That’s the really cool thing about putting your stories out there. Someone is going to read it and respond to it, they are going to be thinking about it, and that’s the whole point.”

The power of perspective

A publishing house content editor and product developer, Armstrong has written multiple novels, published short stories in science fiction and fantasy magazines, and has entered short stories in WMI for the last few years.

The written word draws people in different ways (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Armstrong said he has been writing since he was young.

“It’s always been what I’ve wanted to do,” said Armstrong, adding that the draw of the written word is “the ability to see different perspectives and worlds. I’ve personally always read fantasy and science fiction, partly because I want to get outside of my own perspective.

“I think it’s really the power of really putting yourself into someone else’s shoes, seeing the world from their perspective, and just understanding how different people’s lived experience can be.”

Wodehouse, Dante, and Shakespeare – oh my!

First time WMI entrant and Grand Rapids resident, Joshua Boers, said he entered the contest because he was looking for a new writing project, and “the contest will keep us accountable to actually finish a story.”

Boers likened his fantasy/humor/historical fiction submission as “P.G. Wodehouse meets Dante’s Inferno.”

Experimenting with different forms of writing can lead to great things (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“I was reflecting one day that Wodehouse’s stories are so relaxing because his characters are all obsessed with pointless, low stakes things, and I wondered what would happen if you gave a Wodehouse story the highest possible stakes,” said Boers.

Boers admits that he likes making people laugh, which has been the primary goal of his stories to date. Experimenting with tone and voice also intrigue the publishing editorial assistant.

That particular urge is satisfied by writing Shakespearean sonnets based on random Wikipedia articles once a week with his wife and cousin.

Taken hostage by voices

Frankfort resident, Maggie Roberts VanHaften, will be entering WMI for the second time this year.

“I enter to get used to putting my work out for review and judging by people I do not know,” said VanHaften. “It is important to be comfortable with the fact that the judges may not be drawn to my style. Also, because I write from my heart, it is important for me not to take rejections personally.”

Creativity from the heart can inspire others (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

And writing from the heart is what drives VanHaften to put pen to paper as she gives voice to others who are unable to find words to express their stories.

“Many of my short stories are about people who have faced challenges and found a way through them,” said VanHaften.

“I write because I have to,” VanHaften continued. “I don’t have a choice, really. My stories generally come to me as my head hits the pillow, with a voice saying ‘write my story,’ and I can’t rest until I get it written down.”

VanHaften admitted that she has tried to give up writing at times, feeling she “wasn’t any good.” But “the hiatus has never lasted long. I just need to do it.”

Addicted to creativity

Full-time writer and artist, Mary Jane Pories of Grand Rapids, says she enters writing contests because it is one more way for her to get her writing out into the world and receive feedback.

The creative process is an opportunity to learn and grow (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Reading the work of contest winners also helps Pories “gain insights into how to craft my work and discover what stories/poems are moving readers.”

Though Pories hasn’t yet decided on her WMI submission genre, she says her works usually fall among the literary fiction, bildungsroman, or realistic fiction/creative nonfiction categories.

“Mostly, I write because I am addicted to the creative process because when I create, I learn things about myself and my world,” said Pories. “At the very least, the process raises more questions and increases my empathy for others.”

But Pories admits that her connection with writing often borders on a love/hate relationship.

“It can be hard and confusing at times,” said Pories. “But when a piece works, or surprises me, or makes a reader laugh, cry, or discover something about themselves or the world, writing can be immensely gratifying.”

Understanding chaos through stories

Teacher and previous WMI Reader’s Choice Award recipient, Marcie Woods, has entered the WMI contest every year since its inception in 2012.

The written word can be cathartic (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“I took advantage of it to teach a short story unit with my accelerated middle school class,” said Woods. “And I believe in writing along with my students, so I wrote one, too.”

Woods said she loved reading student writing, especially student narratives, as a teacher.

“They are honest in their writing,” said Woods. “They pour out their souls on paper, and that is an awesome responsibility to read and to comment on.

“I myself love to write to help understand the chaos of my thoughts, to organize my life, and to tell myself stories.”

Winning the WMI Reader’s Choice Award, Woods said, was a boost to her spirits, but the real honor was knowing that “no one, without showing a good deal of quality and talent, can get into the semi-finals. [It was] sort of vindication of my right to teach writing.”

A WMI judge of Youth and Teen categories, Woods will judge in the Adult category this year as well.

The magic in our own backyard

Judging WMI contest submissions has been interesting and challenging for Armstrong, who currently works with non-fiction pieces every day. But Armstrong says he enjoys the contrast in genres.

“Fiction can be more subjective,” said Armstrong. “It’s more about how the story hits you emotionally. It’s an interesting change of pace from my normal work.”

The community aspect of the WMI contest and its submissions is why Armstrong looks forward to participating as a judge.

“Paying attention to what’s happening locally, and thinking about the writing that is happening in my own ‘backyard,’ is very exciting to me,” said Armstrong. “A lot of the writing is Michigan-specific, and it shows up in a lot of different ways. It’s interesting how location shows up for different writers, and what about Michigan they want to highlight.”

Believing the experience

Though there is a rubric for judging based on certain themes – such as character, themes and passion – Armstrong says for him, it’s all about believability.

Human connection is a large part of believability in writing (Courtesy Photo)

“Do I understand why the characters are doing what they are doing, do I understand their feelings…do I have that human-to-human connection with the people in the story?” said Armstrong. “And even if I don’t share their experience in the story – if I haven’t had what happened to them, happen to me – if I feel like I can experience it along with the characters, that’s often what I find most important in the story.

“That’s what is going to keep me reading and interested.”

To find out more about the WMI contest, or for guidelines on submissions, visit Write Michigan. The deadline for all submissions is Nov. 30.

Two sisters share the stories of haunted Michigan

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Great Lakes, Local Entertainment, Local History, Travel, , ,

By Wayne Thomas
Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters

While dinning at a restaurant called The Whitney in Detroit, Beverlee Rydel took a photo that remains unexplained. The paranormal possibilities of this photo fueled a passion that lead to a 12-year crusade, often traveling tens of thousands of miles per year across Michigan to research paranormal activity. Rydel and her sister Kathleen Tedsen shared the adventure as they bravely ventured into a world of the unknown.

This paranormal pilgrimage and their tedious historical research culminated in Rydel and Tedsen becoming the award winning authors of “Haunted Travels of Michigan.” This three book series is a unique book and website interactive experience. Each story has its own “Secret Room” offering audio, video, and behind the scene colored photos online, where evidence can be reviewed. Rydel and Tedsen included several of Michigan’s top paranormal investigating teams at many of the haunted locations. Their common goal was to separate fact from fiction when it comes to ghost stories, urban legends, folklore, and myth. 

Beverlee Rydel

Honorably, if the authors were investigating a location and “no ghostly activity was identified,” they made it clear, “didn’t turn up any paranormal evidence,” and were not afraid to say “no ghosts” here at this time. Hunting ghosts can be a hazardous hobby with inherent risks and real dangers and is not recommended for amateurs. The serious side of the supernatural is explored as Rydell and Tedsen detail accounts of demons and deliverance. Deliverance is needed when obsession nears possession and can be defined as an exorcism.

Rydel and Tedsen followed their highly successful “Haunted Travels of Michigan” book series with their final book, a collaboration titled “Stepping Into Darkness.” Gone but never to be forgotten, Rydel passed away before the book was completed. Tedsen completed the project with chapter one covering Eloise Psychiatric Hospital, considered to be one of Michigan’s top ten most haunted sites. The author’s special connection introduces the reader to “Mark” a patient at the hospital. The personal insights are astonishingly detailed and descriptive.

Kathleen Tedsen

Another chapter is titled, “Lost Boy of Mackinac Island.” In this story the sisters put together clues from the previous year and are able to encourage the spirit of a young boy to cross over to the other side. Channeling peace to the living and the dead is the ultimate goal of ghost hunters. According to Rydel and Tedsen, “Something does exist out there…Something that can’t be explained…Something paranormal.”

Disclaimer: Since my last article on Mackinac Island, I interviewed Todd Clements and he no longer supports the details of “The Drowning Pool” story.  

‘The Reading Train’ returns with old favorites, special COVID-19 message

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Some students know Judy Bergsma from her work at the Kelloggsville High School counseling office, but a lot of students who went to Kentwood and Wyoming, Bergsma is more well known as the host of the popular local children’s program, “The Reading Train.”

For more than 20 years, “The Reading Train” has spread the love of reading with Bergsma, who also is the producer of the show, reading books and talking to students about reading. In fact, over the years, more than 12,000 West Michigan school children have enjoyed visiting the WKTV studios and been apart of “The Reading Train” audience. 

“If you talk to someone that is a little order and grew up going to one of the elementary schools in Wyoming, Kentwood or Gaines area, they might of heard of ‘The Reading Train,’” Bergsma said during a recently taped show. “They might have been on a show. Their class might have taken a class trip and been in the audience or they might have watched a show.”

Bergsma returned to the WKTV studios this month to tape about 20 more segments.

Judy Bergsma, the host and producer of “The Reading Train.” (WKTV)

“With the children being out of school, we started production again,” Bergsma said, noting that due to the Stay Home, Stay Safe order, the recent tapings did not have an audience. Bergsma said she felt that it was a great time to again spread the love of reading along with providing positive messages of friendship, hope, and learning.

“It is fun to do them and I am excited to do them again,” Bergsma said. “The stories never grow old. You can always be telling stories and they are good for all ages/ I hope the adults enjoy them as must as the kids.”

 

Each segment features Bergsma introducing a theme for the show and then reading some of her favorite stories such as “The Glassmakers of Gurven,” by Marlys Boddy and “Charlie’s Checklist,” by Alison Bartlett and Rory S. Lerman. The camera moves from Bergsma reading to illustrations in the book to give a more interactive experience.

“We’re back for some very special episodes,” Bergsma said, with one of those programs focused on the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dr. Laura Bennett, a limited license psychologist in the Greater Grand Rapids area, wrote the script for Bergma’s special message to kids during this time of COVID.

“It’s important to know that there are lots of smart doctors and scientists and your parents or caregivers working to make this sickness go away and keep you safe and healthy,” Bergsma said during “The Reading Train.” “Its important to know that you won’t have to stay away from your friends or school forever. Just for a while. We don’t know exactly when yet, but in time you will go back to school and playing with your friends and things will feel more normal.”

As Bergsma does with every show, she offers fun activity suggestions for students such as inventing a new game, drawing a picture, visit with a friend or grandparents via the phone or video chat and or trying something new such as reading a new book.

 

Since 1997, “The Reading Train” has been a part of the WKTV broadcast lineup and can be seen on the WKTV Channel 25 and AT&T 99 at 4 p.m. Monday, 4:30 p.m. Friday, and 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The show is available through WKTV’s live stream at wktv.org. 

‘VOICES: a community history project’ rolls out red carpet at ArtPrize Nine

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local History, Our Cities, Veterans, WKTV Projects, , , , ,

By Victoria Mullen, WKTV

 

With the second weekend of ArtPrize in full swing and people casting last-minute votes for their favorite works of art, Wyoming-Kentwood Community Media’s VOICES: a community history project powered by WKTV rolled out the red carpet and welcomed scores of visitors to tour our renovated 1958 Airstream® mobile studio and learn more about the oral history project.

 

VOICES collects, preserves, and shares the stories of West Michigan people from all backgrounds and beliefs, with a focus on Wyoming, Kentwood and the greater Grand Rapids area. 

 

VOICES is a free public service, offering a comfortable video recording studio with a relaxed atmosphere. High-tech video and audio equipment records the stories of our neighbors, friends and family — any story from anyone — that make up the fabric of our lives and our community. Participants tell their stories of hardships and successes, of what shaped them and their families into the kind of people they are today. Our lives, experiences, joys, sorrows, triumphs and tragedies are what make us all human.

 

Interviews usually take place between two people who know and care about each other. They can be friends, family or mere acquaintances. At the end of each 40-minute recording session, participants receive a complimentary DVD of their interview. Each recording is also archived with the Library of Congress.

 

Interviews can be “life reviews,” conducted with people at the end of their careers. Or they can focus on a specific period or a specific event in people’s lives, as with war veterans or survivors of an earthquake, flood or hurricane.

 

VOICES is available year-round. Our mobile studio will be at ArtPrize Nine again, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 6-7 from 10am-8pm*. Thereafter, it will travel to other locations.

 

To reserve a time to tell your story, go here.

 

Upcoming dates at other locations:

 

Monday-Friday, Oct. 16-20 — Wyoming Public Library (3350 Michael Ave SW, Wyoming, MI) from 10am-8pm*, and Monday-Thursday, Oct. 23-Oct. 26, from 10am-8pm*.

 

Monday-Thursday, Nov. 6-9 and Monday-Thursday, Nov. 13-16 — Kentwood Public Library (4950 Breton Rd SE, Kentwood, MI), from 10am-8pm*.

 

*Last appointment of the day is 7pm.