Tag Archives: Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce

State action on auto insurance reform leads Chamber’s October WKTV Government Matters discussion

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Local state Sen. Peter MacGregor was one of the state lawmakers who discussed no-fault insurance law reform at Monday’s chamber Government Matters meeting. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

The Michigan House of Representatives and Senate are both at work tackling reform of the state’s no-fault auto insurance law, but there are no quick fixes or easy solutions local legislators said at the October’s Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Matters meetings.

 

The monthly meeting brings together government leaders of all levels to discuss issues of importance and presents those discussions through WKTV’s live, delayed and on-demand broadcasts.

 

At the Monday, Oct. 9, meeting at Kentwood City Hall, state representatives Tommy Brann and Steve Johnson, and state senators Tonya Schuitmaker and Peter MacGregor, each discussed the issue as part of a session that included a local insurance businessperson addressing the government panel.

 

“I have been working on this issue since 2011,” MacGregor said. “It doesn’t seem like it is complicated, but it is … it is a battle.”

 

Among the competing interests in any overhaul of the current auto insurance system, which has produced some of the highest rates in the country, are not only the cost to the average insurance customer but also the sometimes conflicting interests of insurance companies, medical providers and trial lawyers. And the problem what to do with uninsured, unlicensed motorists hangs over the reform efforts as well.

 

At times, the issue seems almost too big to handle in a single act of reform, but, MacGregor pointed out: “Maybe we eat this elephant one bite at a time.”

 

Among the other multi-level government discussions topics at the meeting were the the status of federal tax reform, the planned grand opening of the City of Wyoming’s 28 West development (set for later this month), and the Kent County and the State of Michigan’s emergency management plans.

 

The Chamber’s Government Matters meetings include representatives of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, Kent County, local Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, and, often, representatives of other regional, State of Michigan and Federal elected officials. The next meeting will be Nov. 13 at Kentwood City Hall.

 

The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Cable Channel 25. Replays are also available online at WKTV’s government meetings on-demand page (wktv.viebit.com) and on the chamber’s Facebook page.

 

The Rapid, talking millage, visits Chamber’s September WKTV Government Matters meeting

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Local government leaders prepare for the Sept. 11 Chamber Government Matters meeting at Wyoming City Hall. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

A status report on a planned millage renewal for The Rapid regional public transit system took centerstage at the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Matters meeting, which brings together government leaders of all levels to discuss issues of importance and presents those discussions through WKTV’s live, delayed and on-demand broadcasts.

At the Monday, Sept. 11, meeting at Wyoming City Hall, representatives of The Rapid explained some of the details of its millage renewal request set to appear on the Nov. 7 ballot. Among the points made were that it is not a new millage — increasing local property taxes — but the renewal of an existing millage which was passed in 2011; that the transit system, like may systems nationwide, is experiencing a decrease in ridership; and that the loss of local financial support would lead to the loss of state matching-funds support.

 

The bottom line, as explained by Peter Varga, Chief Operating Officer of The Rapid, is that “there is no good recovery” from the service cuts required due to the loss of local and state funds.

 

“We would start thinking about cutting services radically,” Varga said. “We would start having public hearings on how much service would be lost. Frankly, the prospect would be dissolution of the regional framework for transit.”

 

Among the other multi-level government discussions topics at the meeting were the value of the $30 million spend annually for the Pure Michigan tourism advertising program, the county Friend of the Court system and its working with child support problems, and the Secretary of State’s new efforts to implement the Federally required “Real ID” compliant state drivers licenses.

 

The Chamber’s Government Matters meetings include representatives of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, Kent County, local Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, and, often, representatives of other regional, State of Michigan and Federal elected officials. The next meeting will be Oct. 9 at Kentwood City Hall.

 

The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Cable Channel 25. Replays are also available online at WKTV’s government meetings on-demand page (wktv.viebit.com) and on the chamber’s Facebook page.

 

Metro Cruise hits the teens as it marks its 13th year this weekend

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The Pin Up Contest takes place at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Main Stage at Rogers Plaza.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

It’s gonna be cars, cars and more cars this weekend as the 13th Annual Metro Cruise takes place this Friday and Saturday along 28th Street.

 

Once again, the epicenter of it all will be Rogers Plaza with cars, vendors and food along with WKTV on site to record the two-day event.

 

“It has grown into quite a large event,” said Bob O’Callaghan, the president of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, which ha hosted the annual event. “The original thought process was to get a few cars and a couple thousand people at Rogers Plaza to highlight 28th Street and last year we have about 250,000 people and about 16,000 collector cars.”

 

New to this year’s event is the Blessing of the Cars which takes place Thursday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. at Wesley Park United Methodist Church, 1120 32nd St. SW. The lot will open for cars starting at 6 p.m. Cars should enter off of 32nd Street or Michael Avenue.

 

On the east end of 28th Street will be the Cascade’s Metro Cruise Warm Up from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Thornapple Center, 6797 Cascade Rd SE. (near the Cascade Road and 28th Street intersection.) Along with lots of cars, there will be food trucks, live music from the band Decades, kids’ activities, and a dunk tank to benefit the Kent County Sheriff’s Department’s K9 Unit. The event is sponsored by the Cascade DDA, Cascade Community Foundation and the Forest Hills Business Association.

 

Other new additions to this year is expand hours for the event with it running from 4 – 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, and 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, said O’Callaghan, noting the closing times are about an hour later than in previous years.

 

For Friday, Aug. 25, food and vendors will be at Rogers Plaza along with a variety of cars. Main Stage entertainment will feature Big Boss Band at 4 p.m. followed by local country singer Kari Lynch at 7 p.m.

 

While the event starts on Friday, which O’Callaghan noted organizers have seen increase attendance Friday night over the past several years, the official opening ceremonies take place at 9 a.m. Saturday. During the ceremonies, the GM Foundation presents checks to several local charities.

 

At a 11 a.m., about eight ladies will compete in the annual Pin Up contest, which is an era-type contest with the ladies involved dressing according to the era they represent, O’Callaghan said,

 

“The belief before people get to know Pin Up is that it’s just women perpetuating the old school idea that women should be beautiful and something that men should look at,” said Amanda Miehle, who is Victory Belle and will be competing in this year’s contest. That women can’t be more than a pretty face but Pin Up is so much more than that. It is empowering. Women took something with a stigma and a label that was once almost degrading to women and they reclaimed it. These women are amazing. They are strong. They are empowering. They are uplifting to other women. They are not afraid to get on a stage and show the world they are beautiful.

 

“It’s kind of like taking something and making it our own.”

 

There is more music starting at noon on Saturday with blues group Out of Favor Boys followed by country group Stolen Horses at 3:30 p.m. and JetBeats wrapping up the evening with a performance from 7 – 8:45 p.m.

 

Of course there are activities all along 28th Street at various businesses and car dealerships. One such event that takes place through the entire month of August is the Art Cruise. Similar to ArtPrize, local artists are matched with 18 Wyoming businesses where the artists’ work is featured for the month.

 

For a complete list of the businesses — or for more about this year’s Metro Cruise — make sure to pick up a brochure at the event or visit 28thstreetmetrocruise.com.

Chamber’s August WKTV Government Matters meeting mixes city-to-federal voices

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City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley, second from right, was one of several government officials at this month’s Chamber Government Matters meeting. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

The Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Matters meetings brings together government leaders of all levels and a spectrum of topics, but often those attending the meeting — or watching WKTV’s rebroadcasts of the meeting — are given the rare opportunity to hear a wide-range of government voices on a single subject.

 

“There are really two things going on,” City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley told WKTV following the Aug. 14 meeting. “One is just to know what is going on at all the different government levels. I learn a lot just sitting with our leaders … The second is when there is a common problem, we hear about what other levels of government are trying to do to solve this problem. When we can come together … to do something, that is always good.”

 

Among the multi-level government discussions topics at the meeting were local and state work to control prescription opioid drug abuse, Great Lakes environment protection, and the funding crunch coming to local cities due to state funding policies.

The Chamber’s Government Matters meetings include representatives of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, Kent County, local Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, and, often, representatives of other State of Michigan and federal elected officials. The next meeting will be Sept. 11 at Wyoming City Hall.

 

The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Cable Channel 25. Replays are also available online at WKTV’s government meetings on-demand page (wktv.viebit.com) and on the chamber’s Facebook page.

 

Annual Metro Cruise Dust-Off event helps everyone to cruise into summer

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The deadline for entries for the annual Metro Cruise annual Pin Up Girl Contest is June 23.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

The signs of woodies and rag-tops, steel wagons and coupes. Roadsters running the length of 28th street and big-block V8s growling as they pass by. And of course we can’t forget the chrome, lots and lots of it sparkling in the sun.

 

Believe it or not, but the annual kick off to one of the area’s biggest car cruising events is this weekend. The annual Metro Cruise Dust-Off takes places from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Wyoming Moose Lodge #763 located at 2630 Burlingame Ave. SW.

 

The event has become an annual tradition and a kick off to the summer car shows with car owners finally being able to show off what has been stored under those tarps.

 

“We hope to have 100 – 150 cars at the Dust Off on Saturday,” said Bob O’Callaghan, president/CEO of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the annual event. O’Callaghan added that the first 50 collector car owners get a free Dust-Off shirt, which have become a collector’s item.

 

And while the Metro Cruise itself — which is Aug. 25 and 26 — is still about four months away, planning and preparation for the annual event, which marks its 13th year this year, have been well under way with several deadlines fast approaching.

 

The popular Art Cruise hosted by the Wyoming Business Leaders has already put a call out for artists for this year’s show. Similar to Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize, several Wyoming businesses feature the work of various local artists during the month of August, the same month as the Metro Cruise.

 

Interested artists have until June 1 to sign up to participate. The cost is $10, which is used to help cover marketing materials. For more information or to sign up, contact Donna Kuba, who runs Instant Cash Advance, at 616-261-4500 or email her at artcruisewyoming@gmail.com.

 

Entries for the annual Pin Up Girl contest are also being accepted. The Pin Up Girl contest will take place July 8 at the American Legion Post 154, 2327 Byron Center Ave. SW. The final competition will take place during Metro Cruise on Aug. 26, rain or shine according to O’Callaghan who said this year space has been reserved in Rogers Plaza for the contest if the weather is not cooperating.

 

Application deadline is June 23. All contestants must provide a head shot and full body shot with costume and makeup. Those interested should email the JA PR Group at staff@japrgroup.com.

 

For details and up-to-date information, make sure to visit 28thstreetmetrocruise.com or visit the Metro Cruise Facebook page at Facebook.com/metrocruise.

Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce recognizes businesses, volunteers at annual event

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By Bob O’Callagahn

Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce

 

The Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 36th Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner Jan. 27 at Grand Rapids’ Crossroads Conference Center 6569 Clay Ave. SW.

 

Guests were welcomed by music from the East Kentwood High School Jazz Combo and a slide presentation with pictures from 2016 Chamber Events.

 

A strolling dinner and silent auction started the evening off. The nights program started with a welcome from President/CEO Bob O’Callaghan. O’Callaghan then introduced State Senators Tonya Schuitmaker, Peter MacGregor, and State Representative Tommy Brann. Mayor Stephen Kepley then updated the guests on activities in the City of Kentwood. City Councilmen Kent Vanderwood shared the accomplishments in the City of Wyoming in 2016.

 

The Awards portion of the Program started with Lacks Enterprises receiving the Manufacturer of the Year honors. Craig’s Cruisers was selected Retail Business of the Year. The final business award went to the Service Business of the Year Valorous Circle. Each award was preceded by a video of the winning business, prepared by WKTV.

 

The Daniel McLaren Committee of the Year Award went to the Annual Meeting Committee.

 

The Daniel Vandyke Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Keith Morgan from All Clean Again.

 

The Chamber’s final award, The Gerald E. Fessell Distinguished Service Award went to Terry Merriman, owner of PCO Associates, and the 2015 and 2016 Chairman of the Board. The 2017 Board of Directors were introduced and the meeting adjourned.

Craig’s Cruisers named Retail Business of the Year by Chamber

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Go-carts are still a big attraction at Craig’s Cruisers.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

It’s the place where “the fun never ends,” and this year, that place of fun, Craig’s Cruisers, also is the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Retailer Business of the Year.

 

“The community really welcomed us with open arms,” said Cait Thrasher, group sales and marketing manager for Craig’s Cruisers.

 

After twenty years of the first Craig’s Cruisers opening in Silver Lake, the company began to look for a location in the Greater Grand Rapids area. It already had expanded into the Muskegon location in 1990 and Holland in 1994, and with each expansion, came a new addition. For Muskegon, it was an indoor area to host birthday parties and for Holland, it was a restaurant that served pizzas.

 

The restaurant at Craig’s Cruisers features a pizza buffet.

When looking in the Greater Grand Rapids area, the owners knew they wanted enough space to be able to grow the business and they found a three-acre parcel on Clyde Park Avenue in Wyoming that fit the bill. In 1999, Craig’s Cruisers opened with outdoor activities that today include two 18-hole mini golf courses, bumper boats, kiddie carts, go-carts, and two large pavilions. A little more than half the building is dedicated to arcade games, including a giant crane game, laser tag, and the first indoor go-cart track that remains very popular today.

 

“We have a number of team building events utilizing the go-carts,” Thrasher said, adding that the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce has had events at the facility for its members that have included the go-carts.

 

The biggest change for the Wyoming Craig’s Cruisers location came 10 years after it opened when a 700-seat capacity restaurant – the largest seating capacity restaurant in Kent County – was added to the facility increasing the building to 85,000 square feet. The restaurant features a pizza buffet that also has salad, pasta, and desserts, which yes, includes dessert pizza. Thrasher said it opened a whole new door for Craig’s Cruisers in allowing the facility to host an array of different groups from corporate team building events to lock-ins for church programs and schools.

 

More than half the facility at Craig’s Cruisers houses the arcade, laser tag and go-carts.

In fact, Craig’s Cruisers has become a popular place for senior all night parties and hosts a huge New Year’s Eve event for teens. It also remains popular for birthday parties as well as a place to escape for a few hours of fun.

 

“We are happy that we are helping to make memories and proud to be the place that people do that,” Thrasher said.

 

Community is important to the owners and staff of Craig’s Cruisers because “without community we wouldn’t be here,” Thrasher said, adding that having community connections and being able to network with others is vital in today’s marketplace, and a key in making those connections has been the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

“It is very exciting – and flattering – to know that what you are doing is so appreciated by the community that you are in,” Thrasher said. This year’s award is extra special in it is the second-time Craig’s Cruisers has received Retail Business of the Year, she said.

 

“There is so much that brings people here and we are happy to be one of those places that bring them,” Thrasher said. “We also are thankful that the city of Wyoming has allowed us to grow here.”