Tag Archives: WKTV Snapshots

Snapshots: Sunny days and hot nights for Wyoming, Kentwood

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Going Local, Health

By WKTV Staff

Ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“The heat is on (oh yeah) … The heat is on, Burnin’ burnin’ burnin’ … It’s on the street, Woo, hoo … The heat is on”

Glen Frey, lyrics from the song “The Heat is On“
(U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera)

Be smart, beat the heat

The heat is on, but Kent County has some common advice: spend as much time as possible in a temperature-controlled cool environment; stay in the shade with a good breeze or air flow to decrease felt temperatures; remain well hydrated by drinking water — as opposed to alcohol drinks that can be counter-productive and dehydrate the body; and, finally, know the signs of heat exhaustion and watch out for each other. For the complete story, visit here.

Here Comes the Sun

The 25th annual summer season of D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops continues in July and while it may be late to make plans for Here Comes the Sun: A Tribute to the Beatles at 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 19, you can be early for Dancing in the Street: Music of Motown and More at 7:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday, July 25-26. For a complete preview story, visit here.

Hot, sleepless, nights

If you were up all night due to the heat, you might ache all over the next morning and your lack of sound slumber might be to blame. Cant do nothing about the heat, but knowledge is power. For the story, visit here.

Fun fact:

67 degrees

In general, the suggested bedroom temperature should be between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal sleep. Source

Snapshots: Kentwood, Wyoming news you need to know this week

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Local Faces, Politics

By WKTV Staff

Ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

Knowledge is Power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.

Kofi Annan
(From right) Kentwood City Commissioner Emily Bridson, State Sen. Winnie Brinks, Sandy Swanson, Past President of the Kentwood Women’s Club.

Pink Tax. Don’t get it? Get it!

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal’s In Focus series of podcasts, we discuss the various aspects of what is sometimes called the Pink Tax, public policies including taxation that are often viewed as discriminatory toward females. For the complete story and link to Podcast, visit here.

Watch out for Kentwood roadwork

The City of Kentwood has released its tentative road construction and maintenance schedule for the summer. The City Commission approved the resurfacing and maintenance program, which includes improvements to 30 miles of major and local roads, at a cost of $1.4 million. For the complete story and a map, visit here.

(Our) Government Matters

Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-28th District) offered his views on the status of Michigan’s current budget problems and West Michigan’s pending mental health services changes as part of a wide-ranging inter-governmental leaders meeting at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters meeting. For the story and a link to the video, visit here.

Fun fact:

81 cents on the dollar

In 2018, the ratio of women’s to men’s median weekly full-time earnings was 81.1 percent, a decrease of 0.7 percent since 2017. Source

Snapshots: Kentwood and Wyoming ‘lessons’ for this week

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Recycling, Upcoming Events

By WKTV Staff
Ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn't prevent you doing well, and don't regret the things it interferes with.”
 
                                                  ― Stephen Hawking
The City of Kentwood is offering the second annual Limb Loss Awareness 5K race on Saturday, April 27. (Supplied/City of Kenwood)

A lesson in running (and walking)

In conjunction with Limb Loss Awareness Month, the City of Kentwood is offering the second annual Limb Loss Awareness 5K race on Saturday, April 27. Open to people of all abilities, the family friendly event will continue to raise funds for Kentwood’s adaptive recreation programs. For the complete story, visit here. For a video interview with the director of the city’s adaptive recreation program, visit here.



Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll reads the proclamation at a previous year’s Arbor Day event. (WKTV)

A lesson in Mother Earth awareness

The City of Wyoming Tree Commission, “The Tree Amigos,” is partnering with Wyoming Lee High School Ecology Club in the City’s 2019 Arbor Day Ceremony set for 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 26 at the high school located at 1335 Lee St. SW. For the complete story, visit here.


Electronics, some but not all, can be recycled at local community clean-up days. (Supplied)

A (community) lesson in recycling

The City of Wyoming’s Community Cleanup Day, Saturday, April 27, is designed to encourage Wyoming residents to maintain their properties and dispose of unwanted items in a responsible manner. For the complete story, visit here. (And the City of Kentwood will do the same thing next week; see story here.)



Fun fact:

142,000 computers, trashed, daily

According to a recent report by the EPA, every day, we are to get rid of over 416,000 mobile devices and 142,000 computers either by recycling or disposing of them in landfills and incinerators. (Source)

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you need to know

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming

By WKTV Staff
Ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“No matter at all, I replied; for the point is not who said the words, but whether they are true or not.”
 
                         ― Plato, The Dialogues of Plato, Vol 1
The Lee High School’s current mascot is a caricature of Confederate soldier. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

To change or not to change the Rebel

When the Godfrey-Lee Board of Education announced it was going to host forums to discuss whether to change or keep its Rebel mascot, the goal, according to school officials, was to have an open and honest discussion among students, parents, staff and the community. For the complete story, visit here.

Young people can get too much screen time, no matter what they say. (Pexels)

Study finds kids at risk for myopia

Nearsightedness, also called myopia, is on the rise worldwide. And kids, who spend long hours playing on smartphones and tablets, might be at greater risk for vision problems, a new study suggests. For the complete story, visit here.

An Allegiant Airlines plane at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (Supplied/Ford International Airport)

And the beat goes on at Ford airport

The Right Place, Inc., in collaboration with the Gerald R. Ford International Airport and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, announced that Allegiant Air, LLC will be opening a new base at GRR in Grand Rapids. This expansion will result in the creation of at least 66 new jobs and a capital investment of $42.8 million. For the complete story, visit here.



Fun fact:

2 hours, 19 minutes

Average screen time of an American child under 8 years old in 2017. (Source)

Wyoming, Kentwood kick off the holiday season in a big way

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Holidays, Kids Activities, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects, , ,

The lights are up on houses all over the place, and this week the city’s of Wyoming and Kentwood officially begin sharing their Holiday spirits. (publicdomainpictures.net)

 

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

Most people think Black Friday after Thanksgiving is the official start of the Christmas Holiday season in Wyoming and Kentwood. We beg to differ. The season starts, this, the first full week of December with activities Thursday to Saturday, Dec. 6-8. And we have all you need to know.

 

Oh, and by the way, WKTV  will be at each event. Stop by and say “Hello”.

 

Thursday: Wyoming Gives Back

Mayor Jack Poll near the truck during a previous Wyoming Gives Back event.

The 8th annual Wyoming Gives Back is set for Thursday, Dec. 6, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Rogers Plaza Mall. Residents are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the event and every person who does, will receive raffle tickets for prizes provided by local businesses. There will be holiday cookies, music and the biggest gift-giver, Santa, is planning to attend. For more information click here.

 

 

Friday: Kentwood tree lighting

Kentwood city officials accompanied by carolers previously conduct the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. (WKTV)

The City of Kentwood invites the community to begin the holidays with its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Light Parade, slated for Friday, Dec. 7. Centered around the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, the free event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. The evening will be filled with festive activities, including a parade, live holiday music and carriage rides, as well as caroling and a tree lighting ceremony. Hot chocolate and cookies will be offered, and Santa, of course, will be there to take pictures with families.  For more information click here.

 

Saturday: Chamber Santa Parade

Area high school bands performing at a previous year’s Santa Parade. (WKTV)

Santa is coming to town. How do we know? Because the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, along with the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, is hosting the 12th annual Santa Parade Saturday, Dec. 8, along Division Avenue. The parade, which starts at 10 a.m. and lasts about 45 minutes, will feature more than 50 participants including five school bands. Participants will travel down South Division from 33rd Street to Murray Avenue. For more information click here.

 

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you need to know

3-bottom, Area Education, Local Business, , ,

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

Quote of the Day

"In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And, if they don't have the first, the other two will kill you."
  
                                                  ~ Warren Buffet

From California to Kentwood — new company, new jobs move in

 

 

The Right Place, Inc., in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the City of Kentwood, announced that Arcanum Alloys will be relocating from Silicon Valley to the City of Kentwood.  This will result in the creation of 25 new high-tech jobs and a capital investment of $693,000.

 

The company produces 20-ton coils for some of the world’s most well-known manufacturing companies. Arcanum Alloys chose West Michigan over other competing locations to be closer to its production partner, suppliers and manufacturing customers. This location will function as both a new headquarters and R&D center. The company will be locating at 4460 44th St. SE, Kentwood. Read more here.

 

Kent ISD names new director of Special Ed program

 

Paul Dymowski was enthusiastic when asked about being chosen as director of the center-based Special Education program that is transferring to Kent ISD from Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS). “It’s a really exciting opportunity to build off the work Grand Rapids has already done,” he said after he was named to the new job on Wednesday, Oct. 3.

 

Dymowski, who currently serves as transition coordinator, part of the Special Education Department at Kent ISD, was chosen from a field of 28 applicants, according to Superintendent Ron Caniff, who announced the appointment. Read more here.

.

Local fast food restaurant goes all high-tech

 

The McDonald’s restaurant at 6095 Kalamazoo Ave. SE in Gaines Township is inviting guests to experience McDonald’s in a new way with a greater level of choice, engagement and service.

 

The restaurant, which is located near East Kentwood High School and the Kalamazoo Avenue exit off of M-6, recently underwent extensive renovations and upgrades both inside and outside.  These renovations include new self-order kiosks, table service, updated ways to pay and a redesigned seating area. Read about it here.

 

 

Fun Fact:

After Subway (about 43,000) and McDonalds (37,000), Starbucks has the third most locations in America (29,000).

That is a lot of caffeine. Source.

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood (holiday) news you need to know

Going Local, Holidays, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, ,

 

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

Quote of the Day

“Without music, life would be a mistake.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

WKTV offers marathon of local concerts on cable 

 

Delilah DeWylde’s shows are always a blast, as her visit to Wyoming this summer proved. (Supplied)

WKTV community media will once again host its Wyoming Concerts in the Park Marathon this Labor Day, Sept. 3. The program will air on WKTV Comcast Channel 26 and AT&T Channel 99, starting at 9:30 a.m. and ending after midnight. For more information, click here.

 

Labor Day weekend music at Founders

 

Looking for a little live music, and maybe a brew or two? Jam out at Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids this Labor Day weekend with live performances on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, click here.

Last Meijer Gardens summer concert is Monday, Labor Day 

 

+Live+ is alive and kicking out the jams. (Supplied)

The Meijer Gardens Summer Concert Series finishes its season Monday, Sept. 3, and the +Live+ concert still has tickets available. The multi-platinum band from Pennsylvania have sold over 22 million albums worldwide and earned two number one albums. +LIVE+ has been and remains today a global concert juggernaut. For more information, click here.

 

And today’s fun fact:

14,320,000

 

Rounded to 14.32 million, the number of vinyl albums sold in 2017, a Nielson Music-era high, up 9 percent from the previous one-year high — 13.1 million in 2016.

 

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood fun news you need to know

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation

 

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

Quote of the Day

“Lighten up, just enjoy life, smile more, laugh more, and don’t get so worked up about things.”  — Kenneth Branagh, British actor

 

Celebrate Kentwood with all sorts of talent

Hannah Rose and the GravesTones. (Supplied)

Kentwood City Hall and the surrounding area will be buzzing with activity on Aug. 11 as the community’s Celebrate Kentwood event returns for a day of fun and celebration and music from both professionals and amateurs, as also returning to the annual festival will be Kentwood’s Got Talent. Modeled after the popular TV show, the talent competition will feature singers, dancers and other performers from the community. Show time is set for 7p.m. For more information, click here.

 

Tourist Association seeks help in photo contest judging 

 

The West Michigan Tourist Association is inviting the public to vote on the Top 50 finalist photos in the West Michigan Photo Contest. The 2018 West Michigan Photo Contest received over 900 photo submissions showcasing West Michigan during the month of July, and WMTA has narrowed the entries down to the top 50 photos, which the public is invited to vote on to help select the winning photographs. To get the details, click here.

 

Go ahead; go all rubber ducky 

 

The 31st Annual Rubber Ducky festival kicks off on Monday, Aug. 13 in Downtown Bellaire and runs through Sunday, Aug. 19. The festival features several week-long events, including Bay Area Big Band, Community Paddle Event, Commission on Aging Picnic and Car Show, Duck and Glow 5k Run/Walk and 1 Mile Kiddie Dash, Corn Hole Tournament, Kids Activities, and Rubber Ducky Parade and Race. For more on the event, click here.

 

And today’s fun fact:

2,583

 

The total number of rubber ducks included in the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest collection of rubber ducks, as awarded to one Charlotte Lee in 2007 (according to a 2010 report). It is unclear if Ms. Lee was/is married.

 

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you need to know

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Election, Local Entertainment, Politics, Recreation

Tuesday was primary election day in Michigan. (Photo by Jeff Miller/UW-Madison)

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

Quote of the (Primary Election) Day

 

“Trust is not something that’s given because you win an election; it is something you have to earn.”  — Tom Perez

 

Dead people should not vote 

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, left, with new voting equipment.(Supplied/SOS office)

The Michigan Department of State recently detailed that as part of the state’s election security readiness, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and the state’s Bureau of Elections have cleared the state’s voting registration rolls of about 1.2 million names since 2011, including more than 500,000 dead people. To get the details, click here.

 

 

Some got talent; some …

Asamu Johnson and The Associates of The Blues. (Supplied)

Kentwood City Hall and the surrounding area will be buzzing with activity on Aug. 11 as the community’s Celebrate Kentwood event returns for a day of fun and celebration and music from both professionals and amateurs, as also returning to the annual festival will be Kentwood’s Got Talent. Modeled after the popular TV show, the talent competition will feature singers, dancers and other performers from the community. Show time is set for 7p.m. For more information, click here.

Give the gift of life, give blood

 

(U.S. Air National Guard photo)

Metro Health-University of Michigan Health will hold a blood drive Tuesday, Aug. 14, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Manistee Community Room of the Metro Health Professional Building at 2122 Health Dr., Wyoming. For more on the drive, click here.

And today’s fun fact(s):

 

38 and 10

 

Approximately 38 percent of the national population is eligible to donate, but annually less than 10 percent actually does. Each year, 4.5 million Americans would die without blood transfusions.

 

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

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Upcoming Events

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced that a special evening series of programs will take place this summer at the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium. (Supplied)

 

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

Fun in Space: Learn more about the night sky, rain or shine 

 

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced that a special evening series of programs will take place this summer at the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium.

 

For the complete story, click here.

 

Community activities: Swing dance for all in downtown GR

 

Enjoy free swing dancing at Rosa Park Circle this summer while listening to live music! Every Tuesday through October. Fun for all ages. Lessons are offered during the first half hour.

For the complete story, click here.

 

WKTV YouTube Videos: Looking for something to do nearby? 

West Michigan Tourist Association’s Jeremy Witt sits down with WKTV to talk about fun, educational adventures West Michigan residents can enjoy this summer.

 

 

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you need to know

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Recreation, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects

 

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

Kentwood: City continues extensive effort to gain public input on parks 

 

The City of Kentwood continues to seek public input for improving its Parks and Recreation Department programming as part of a series of Parks Master Planning events. The next in the series will take place Thursday, July 19, at the City of Kentwood Summer Concert series concert, but there are several other opportunities as well.

 

For the complete story, click here.

 

Wyoming and Kentwood: Calvin College works in Plaster Creek watershed

 

Calvin Students at Plaster Creek (Photo by Amanda Impens)

The environmental project is in collaboration with the Plaster Creek Stewards, with a group of Calvin faculty, staff, and students have been working over a decade on the restoration of the Plaster Creek watershed, which includes both cities.

For the complete story, click here.

 

WKTV on YouTube: Wyoming Public Safety millage informational discussion

The City of Wyoming’s request to renew its existing public safety millage on the Aug. 7 primary ballot. Millage renewal approval would provide a permanent annual collection of 1.25 mills for the operation, maintenance and administration of city police and fire services. Discussion the request is City of Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll and Chief Kim Koster, Wyoming Public Safety Director.