The River County Chamber of Commerce, located in Newaygo, has announced that its scheduled 2020 Christmas Walk will be moved to a virtual experience.
Due to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services order, the Chamber, through a press release, stated that it is not allowed to have the Christmas Walk they way it is traditional down. The walk was scheduled for Dec. 4.
Instead, the group will do what many have done host a virtual event. The Christmas Walk traditions, including the honorary award, the Christmas tee lighting, Santa holiday greetings, and musical performances will be broadcast on the River County Chamber Facebook book page. The virtual event will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 4.
The Chamber announced to help its local businesses that it has launched the Shop Local, Save Local promotion which includes prize drawings for those who shop at local businesses and restaurants.
After careful consideration and consult with health professionals, including health partner Spectrum Health, Amway River Bank Run organizers have decided to transition the 2020 event to a virtual race. The safety of the runners, volunteers and supporters is at the center of this difficult decision. The social distancing required to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has forced the cancellation of many events nationwide, so the Amway River Bank Run is no exception.
Race organizers are still planning a celebratory event for participants of all the races (5K, 10K and 25K), however. Drive-thru festivities will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 at Millennium Park in Walker.
“We fully acknowledge the inconvenience that our initial delay from May to October and now the cancellation of the in-person event has caused, but we have been working tirelessly to ensure that the Amway River Bank Run can happen in some way, so we felt the virtual format was best,” said Russ Hines, owner, River Bank Events and Media, and owner of the run. “COVID-19 has forced us to rethink how we celebrate our runners’ accomplishments. We feel that the Millennium Park event will honor the tradition of the Amway River Bank Run.”
All virtual race participants who submit their race times at www.amwayriverbankrun.com are invited to participate in the celebration. Runners will receive a 2020 Amway River Bank Run participant shirt, finisher’s medal and other race swag. There will even be opportunities for participants to have their photo taken with a special Amway River Bank Run backdrop while remaining in their vehicle.
Amway River Bank Run race director David Madiol has been touched by the outpouring of support organizers have received from the community these past few months.
“Thank you to the West Michigan community for its ongoing support during this trying time,” said Madiol, who oversees all corporate social responsibility activities for Amway in addition to serving as race director. “Our partners at Spectrum Health and Fifth Third Bank have been so understanding of all the unfortunate pivots we’ve had to make this year, but they, along with so many other sponsors, elite athletes and vendors have all rallied around to make sure the spirit of the Amway River Bank Run continues forward in 2020.”
“If there is one thing we learned in the first 40 years, it’s that runners are dedicated to their sport and they show-up in sun, rain, sleet and snow,” said Scott Stenstrom, marketing and communications director at Fifth Third Bank. “I hope the spirit of this tradition will encourage them to complete their event virtually and join us at the drive-thru celebration.”
Spectrum Health President & CEO Tina Freese Decker shared that health and safety is a priority. “Spectrum Health is committed to the health and wellness of our communities. Spectrum Health and our orthopedic team encourage runners and walkers to safely participate in the virtual race this year, and we look forward to playing an integral part in future Amway River Bank Runs,” she said.
Individuals who registered for the Oct. 24 race will receive details on how to transfer to the virtual race or defer to the May 8, 2021, race.
By Kerri VanDorp City of Zeeland, Events Coordinator
For ten years the Zeeland Zoom has taken place downtown Zeeland with loads of runners and spectators, our eleventh annual Zoom will be a bit different, but no less fun. The Zeeland Zoom 5k is going virtual this year, run or walk the 5k anytime from June 23 (the original Zoom date) through June 30. The event is free to register for, or you can purchase a Zeeland Zoom shirt for $15.
Last year’s Zeeland Zoom was a lot of fun with over 1,000 participants ZOOMING their way through the streets of Zeeland! A great event for competitors and families alike! Enjoy running through Zeeland’s historic downtown and neighborhoods on the official Zoom route, or make your own!
Participants can choose any 3.1-mile route that is best for them. The official Zoom route is: Main in front of the Post Office (155 E Main). Runners will head East on Main to Fairview; Fairview South to Lincoln; Lincoln West to Elm; Elm North to Central; Central East to Division; Division North to Main; Main West to Finish.
Zeeland Zoom shirts can be purchased during registration for $15. If you register before June 17 you can pick up your shirt if weather permits, outside of City Hall (21 South Elm Street) from 4pm to 6pm on June 22 or in case of in climate weather inside of City Hall. If you register after June 17, shirt pick up will take place at City Hall on July 2nd from 4 to 6 p.m.
Stylist Lindsey Williams admits she cringing when she saw the pictures of home haircuts and coloring coming across her social media.
After months of waiting, people had just had enough, and like CNN’s Anderson Cooper, taking scissors to their bangs and seeking out at-home color kits. Hair salons had seemingly become the speakeasies of 2020 with a few people sneaking off to a hairstylist working out of his/her home or having one swing by and cut their hair on the back porch.
When Williams, owner of East Grand Rapids’ Bang Blow Dry Bar and Salon, 2180 Wealthy St. SE, received a call from a customer asking about over-the-counter color kits, she knew she had to come up with a new way to help meet the needs of her customers.
“I offered to put together a color kit, drop it off, and then have a virtual session with her to talk her through applying the color,” Williams said. And bam, Williams’ had joined the growing list of virtual hair stylists.
As noted by NPR, in several major cities, such as New York and Los Angeles, virtual haircuts and styling have become increasingly popular as people seek relief from their hair. In fact, tech entrepreneur Greg Isenberg recently launched the app You Probably Need a Haircut, where customers are paired with freelance hair stylists who, for a fee, will talk the client through on cutting his/her hair.
Williams said during Michigan’s state of emergency, she has done several virtual counseling on bang trims and blow drying for customers. She also has a package where she will put together a color kit, deliver it, and schedule a time to meet the customer on FaceTime or Google Meet to walk the customer through the steps. The average session length is between 20 – 30 minutes with totally time depending on the customer.
“One of the biggest feedbacks I get from doing these is that it allows people to connect with someone, “Williams said. “It is kind of hair therapy, where you get to sit and talk to someone who is outside of your family.”
Stylist Lindsey Williams talks to her daughter, Willa, about hair care during a Google Meet virtual meeting. (WKTV)
While Williams has not been charging for her services, except for the color kits, as most of her virtual clients have been regulars. However, as word-of-mouth has spread, Williams said she probably will need to determine price structure for the virtual services.
While most stylists in the Greater Grand Rapids area have made their hair products available online, Williams appears to be one of the few people the area to offer virtual hair services, but she suspects that some salons or hair stylists may include it in their offerings to clients.
“Hair salons were one of the first businesses to close,” Williams said. Many hair salons started shutting down about a week before the Stay Home, Stay Safe order went into effect on March 24. Because of the close contact to clients, having to touch a person’s head and hair, Williams said the styling business probably will be one of the last to reopen.
Williams is hoping she will be able to reopen her salon on May 28, when Michigan’s state of emergency ends. This week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that sections of the state would reopen with Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan set to open this Friday. The governor has not put any restrictions on specific businesses opening in those areas.
Even with reopening, Williams said her team will need to clean all the surfaces. The salon has three chairs and Williams said they will be making sure that the chairs are at least six feet apart along with complying with other social distancing guidelines.
“We are going to try and make customers as comfortable as possible,” Williams said, but she acknowledges that there will be some not willing to come to a salon for a haircut. Coupled with the facts that there are many people who hope their first venture out is to a salon and once you open the Pandora box on a new idea it tends to stay, Williams said her future plans may include offering virtual cuts and styles for a while.
“Life is going in a different direction,” Williams said. “I’ve always tried to be forward thinking in what we can offer our customers and this is an opportunity to provide a service that could meet the needs of some of them.”
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) will offer its Camp Curious summer camp programs will be offered virtually to ensure the safety of the community due to the current COVID-19 situation. This summer, kids pre-K through ninth grade can use the Museum as a virtual learning lab, right from their home, to explore the wonders of science, history, culture and more through a variety of camp offerings. Virtual Camp Curious is set to begin on Monday, June 15.
“Although camps will look different this year, we’re thrilled to continue offering favorites online to the community,” said Rob Schuitema, Director of Public Programs for the Museum. “We’re eager to present this unique experience for curious minds this summer, while continuing to share the Museum’s digital resources and the expertise of our staff to create an engaging experience for our campers.”
Summer camps are divided by school grades with different options for each age group. The GRPM offers options for one-day or three-day camps with a variety of themes, including Slimy Science, Fossil Hunters, Dream it, Build it LEGO® Bricks, Young Wizards Academy and more. These virtual programs allow campers to explore and investigate through hands-on experiments and activities, while using common items in their homes as well as artifacts and specimens in the GRPM’s Collections.
Camp participation will require access to the internet and the use of a device to watch presentations and receive daily instructions. The Camp Curious program will utilize the virtual platform SeeSaw, featuring a live kick-off and wrap up with instructors each day of camp via Zoom. Most activities will take place off-line. Screen time is dedicated for directions and questions for the instructors, with the primary focus of the program being on the hands-on activities. Recordings of each live session will be posted to the SeeSaw classroom following the stream, to allow flexibility for campers to learn at their own pace.
Camp Curious sessions are designed for campers to do projects independently; the Museum recommends that parents of young children (pre-K – 3rd grade) be present. Camp supplies include common items from around your home, and can be interchangeable based on what campers have access to. Recommended lists can be found at grpm.org/CampCurious.
Pricing for camps vary, starting as low as $20 for one-day camps and $40 for three-day camps, with discounts available for Museum members. For more information on Camp Curious and to register today, visit grpm.org/CampCurious. Early registration is recommended. Once registered, campers will be contacted by the Museum with specific instructions for each camp. Camp Curious runs from June 15 through August 7.
While we are not yet able to gather for concerts, go to the ballet, or walk through art galleries, Festival of the Arts and the other 20 cultural organizations that make up the Grand Rapids Arts Working Group are working together to host a Virtual Arts Festival. This special event will stream live on WOODTV.com 10 am-9 pm Friday, June 5, with an encore showing on Saturday, June 6 – the traditional weekend Festival of the Arts would take place in downtown Grand Rapids.
“Partnering with over twenty arts and culture organizations, the production/design team of Sidecar Studios and Well Design, and hundreds of artists and performers on the Virtual Arts Festival, showcases the collaborative spirit of our community,” says David Abbott, Executive Director of Festival of the Arts. “The recent restoration project of Alexander Calder’s La Grande Vitesse celebrates the restorative power of the arts for us all!“
This virtual event will highlight the Grand Rapids’ area local talent, including performing, visual, and culinary arts, along with performances from the Grand Rapids Symphony, Ebony Road Players, Grand Rapids Ballet, Opera Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, and more.
“People need the arts now more than ever as we begin to process this epidemic and move forward. The ingenuity of Festival of the Arts by creating this virtual event signals a wonderful opportunity for healing in our community,“ says Emilee Syrewicze, Executive Director of Opera Grand Rapids.
“It’s been a privilege for the Grand Rapids Symphony to serve as honorary co-chairs for Festival of the Arts this past year. Though it won’t be the same, we’re just as thrilled to share our gift of music with the community at the Virtual Arts Festival,” said President and CEO Mary Tuuk. “Music not only is one of our greatest joys, it’s one of our greatest sources of comfort in trying times. When we need it, we can count on music to nourish our soul and lift our spirits.”
Performers interested in submitting work for consideration may send a recorded video to festivalgr.org/virtual-art-festival by May 15th. Submissions must be original work or public domain to be considered.
Visual artists can upload a photo of artwork to fs22.formsite.com/festivalgr/mvn9edyis8/index to apply to be featured in the online Regional Arts Exhibition, which will be included in the streaming Virtual Arts Festival as well as housed on the Festival of the Arts website. Submissions must be received by midnight May 14th.
The 11-hour streaming event will culminate in a showcase presentation including Mayor Rosalyn Bliss and City Manager Mark Washington, leaders from Grand Rapids Arts Working Group organizations, and a performance from the Grand Rapids Symphony.
While visitors can’t feed the giraffes at Binder Park Zoo right now, they can watch them return to the zoo’s savanna area through its ZooCam. (Supplied)
Although Binder Park Zoo is closed to guests, the resident animals are making their way back to their outdoor habitats to celebrate the return of spring and the 2020 zoo season, and visitors are invited to join them digitally.
Animals who call the zoo’s 18-acre savanna exhibit in Wild Africa home are returning to the outdoor area for the first time this season. Binder Park Zoo has recently installed a new live web camera (“ZooCam”), which allows people to view the zoo’s savanna from their homes.
The ZooCam will offer viewers remote access to watch giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, addra gazelle, addax and bontebok, as well as ostrich, vultures, and storks enjoy the great outdoors in real time. Animals are typically arriving on the savanna in the morning between 9-10:30 a.m. and return to their overnight accommodations later in the afternoon. Inclement weather and cooler temperatures are factors that may prevent some African animal species like the giraffe from going on exhibit, so using the weather forecast as a guide may offer better animal sightings.
Check out the zoo’s live camera for real-time views to see what the animals in Wild Africa are up to, and stay tuned to Binder Park Zoo’s website at www.binderparkzoo.org and Facebook page for announcements regarding the zoo’s opening date for the 2020 season.
