It’s not blues or classic rock that will take center stage at Tuesday’s Concerts in the Park series in Wyoming.
It’s not a punk rock or country band, either.
It’s a cellist, and his name is Jordan Hamilton, where he will play “a mix of mastery and maverick musicality,” according to his bio.
Jordan Hamilton performs on cello at the next Wyoming Concerts in the Park set for Tuesday. (Supplied)
In an interview with WKTV Journal, Hamilton – who is extremely humble – explained his style is not something you see every day.
“I have a hard time speaking about myself,” said the Kalamazoo-based vocalist and instrumentalist. “I have been told it’s an experience.”
Local music journalist John Sinkevics of LocalSpins.com agrees.
“Plucking, sawing, pounding and caressing the cello to extract sometimes other-worldly sounds; melding live looping with classical music interludes, hip hop, and jazz,” he said of Hamilton’s performance.
A native of Maryland who was classically trained on Western European composers, Hamilton, 29, started playing cello when he was 8-years-old. He learned all of the classics, but he was also introduced to a wide range of music by his dad, who listened to Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly and the Family Stone and Bobby McFerrin.
As he got older he would sneak off to listen to Nas, Fabulous and Jay-Z.
Still, he stayed focused on the cello.
After graduating from the Conservatory of Music at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, he earned a Master’s degree in cello performance in 2018 at Western Michigan University. Hamilton remained in Kalamazoo mainly because of steady gigs, but was forced to stay longer during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Eventually he will leave Michigan for other opportunities “when the time is right,” he said. But for now, he loves playing his music and introducing audiences to the cello because “cello is at the center of everything” he does, he said.
“You don’t see a lot of cellos doing concerts that are not outside of the symphony….It’s definitely unique. It’s a niche.”
He will perform as a trio in Wyoming, bringing a keyboard player and drum programmer. He will play mainly original songs, as well as a few covers.
“You can expect a little bit of soul vibes, jazz vibes, beat music vibes, some very spacy vibes, and all over the place kind of vibes,” Hamilton said.
According to his bio, Hamilton’s music is “emotional energy crafted from integrity, immaterial and immortal, experienced at the speed of sound, with a bit of bounce, groove by the ounce, and all the jump you’ll need to move.”
More directly, he said, just “come to the show, and you will leave with something more than you were expecting.”
And “be prepared to have open ears,” he added. “It’s going to be a wide range of music, but it’s all going to feel like it’s in place…If you like jazz piano, hip hop beats and cello, this is a show for you.”
August 2 – Grupo Latin – Latin Soul (13 piece band)
Can’t make it to the show? You can still enjoy the bands by watching WKTV-Channel 25 for the weekly airings at 5 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
If you’re a fan of soul singers such as Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers and Al Green, you’re going to love Nathan Walton & The Remedy.
Nathan Walton looks for to an evening of soul music at Wyoming’s Lamar Park. (Supplied)
“We play a lot of soul music, and soul covers. We got a pretty good size band….we’re just out to put on a good show for the community,” Walton said in an interview with WKTV Journal.
Walton and his rock ‘n’ roll soul band The Remedy will perform those songs – and may other covers – as part of Wyoming’s weekly concert series at 7 p.m. June 21 at Lamar Park. Admission is free.
The Tuesday night series continues through Aug. 2. See the list of shows below. All will be recorded and aired on WKTV.
If Walton’s name sounds familiar, maybe it’s because he was featured on TV’s “American Idol.”
The singer appeared on Season 3 of the ABC show, where he received a Golden Ticket and competed in Hollywood with talented vocalists from all over the country. Judge Lionel Richie called his voice “a cannon.”
Walton said his experience on “American Idol” in 2020 was “life changing.”
“It was incredible…for sure,” said Walton, who graduated in 2011 from Byron Center High School. “A friend of mine encouraged me to audition, and I’m glad I did. The next I knew I was in L.A. and hanging out with Lionel Richie. I became a Top 60 singer in America, which was pretty awesome.”
Since then Walton has gained a local following.
He was the “Staff Pick” for Best Solo Musician in Revue Magazine’s “2021 Best of the West” issue.
According to Revue contributing editor, Eric Mitts:
Nathan Walton will perform with his group The Remedy on Tuesday. (Supplied)
“Walton has shone bright. Sure, his powerful, soulful vocals draw most of the attention, but it’s his prolifically diverse songwriting and passion behind the scenes that make him an increasingly major part of the music scene, and an artist everyone should know.”
He’s also proud of his band The Remedy, which put out an album last spring. The seven-piece band also includes a jazz vocalist.
In addition, he is known for assembling a “supergroup” of well-known local multi-instrumentalists called King Possum. And he regularly lends his powerful voice to bands like Stone Soup and the Broken Teeth, and with special guests at his Greyline Brewing residency.
He also serves as music director for Elevator a GoGo, a West Michigan-based platform to discover music, the spoken word, and performance artists from America and around the world.
As for his upcoming gig, he’s just hoping for good weather. His band is ready to go!
“We’re just thankful we could be playing for the community,” he said, “that’s really what we’re happy about. We’ll get out to see some friends and hopefully put on a good show.”
August 2 – Grupo Latin – Latin Soul (13 piece band)
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
The first of four Summer Markets will be taking place this Saturday at HŌM Flats at 28 West, 1401 Prairie Parkway SW. The event is from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
At last year’s event, a customer looks over a flower arrangement from Wyoming-based Periwinkle Flor Co. (WKTV)
“We are excited to bring this opportunity back to the city,” said Brianna Peña, communications specialist for the City of Wyoming.
Last year, HŌM Flats had approached the city about hosting a public market, which city officials were also considering. The two groups decided to partner hosting two fall events which met with success.
Building off of that, it was decided to host four markets, all through the same partnership of the City of Wyoming and HŌM Flats.
“It is in preparation for the community to host and establish a consistency for these local markets in Wyoming,” Peña said for the reason of expanding the number of markets to four this year.
One of the goals of city officials is to establish a public market within the city limits. Some discussion has centered on using the northern portion of the Site 36, which the city retained after the sale of the property to Franklin Partners.
At each the markets there will be food trucks and artisan vendors offering an array of items such as handmade clothing, jewelry, keychains, and art.
At this Saturday’s event, the food trucks are Curry in a Hurry, which will be offering food selections form India such as Butter Chicken and Traditional Curry with Rice, and Simply Sweet Confections, which will be featuring a selection of its popular macarons.
Also on Saturday, there will be free ice cream to the first 200 attendees and face painting.
The remaining Summer Markets are set for:
July 16, 10 a.m. – 2 p.,. Pinery Park, 2301 DeHoop Ave. SW
Aug 19, 3-7 p.m., 28 West Parking lot, 1345 28 West Place, (near the former Lindo restaurant)
Sept. 16, 3-7 p.m., Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW
It was a chance meeting at lunch spot in Eastown that brought Serita Crowley and John Hayes together.
Discovering they both had a passion for music and after playing a few sessions together, the two local musicians not only became a couple but formed one of the area’s popular groups, Serita’s Black Rose.
Serita’s Black Rose, featuring John Hayes and Serita Crowley, will perform this Tuesday in Wyoming and on July 4 in the City of Kentwood. (Supplied)
The duo with its bandmates, bassist Robert Pace and drummer Mark Weymouth, will continue the music — or rather the funk — this Tuesday as they take the stage at Lamar Park, the second concert in the Wyoming’s Concerts in the Park series.
The popular local band will perform at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
A self-professed “Funkateer,” Crowley brings a raucous mix of funk, rock, blues, neo-soul, and Americana to the stage, according to the Serita’s Black Rose website. In fact, her voice his probably recognizable to many as she has done voices overs along with performed in the musicals “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Hair.”
As a duo, Hayes and Crowley perform many of the timeless classics of the 1960s and 1970s, although in a recent February 2022 article from Local Spins, Crowley said the band’s focus has been on a specific style: the blues.
“Blues music is a genre that we can focus on. It’s an accessible market for us to do really well in. I mean, blues is at the root of everything,” she told Local Spins.
The pandemic offered the duo a chance to work on new song ideas with a new release expected sometime down the road.
For now, Serita’s Black Rose has been busy performing. Last summer, the group opened for the classic rock band Kansas at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and its 80-plus gigs a year have the members traveling much of Michigan from Wyoming and Kentwood areas to Mackinaw Island.
Serita Crowley is know for her amazing vocal range. (Supplied)
No sweat if you miss Serita’s Black Rose’s performance on Tuesday. The group has a number of local performances scheduled including being part of the City of Kentwood’s Fourth of July celebration line-up. (That performance is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.)
A few years after Senior Sing A-Long started its life enrichment music programs for seniors, they began providing music therapy by licensed music therapists as well. (Courtesy)
Like many organizations, Senior Sing A-Long took a hit in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
With senior living communities on lockdown, the Wyoming nonprofit couldn’t schedule the life enrichment music programs the organization has been providing in West Michigan since 2004. The programs, offered for free or at a greatly reduced cost, use live performances to revitalize the minds and spirits of people living in long-term care communities.
The pandemic also made it hard to hold the types of in-person fundraisers that help pay for Senior Sing A-Long’s services, according to Development Director Sarah Dwortz.
But although they have had to reshuffle their priorities at times over the past two years, Senior Sing A-Long is still going strong. They recently received a $6,000 grant from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, which helped to fill a funding gap, Dwortz said.
“We work with about 70 musicians on our list, and communities have their favorites – they can pick from the list,” Dwortz said. “We can offer them at no cost or much below market cost thanks to funding like this.”
Senior Sing A-Long receives grants from many foundations, including the Wyoming Community Foundation, Keller Foundation and West Michigan Alliance for Veterans, as well as corporate sponsorships and private donations.
The organization was founded in 2004 by Ken and Hattie Van Haaften, and is now run by their daughter, Jill Dover. The Van Haaftens started the program after realizing that music programs were one of the only things that could cheer up Ken’s mother, Katherine, when she was living in a nursing home. After a visit from a musician who played songs Katherine remembered from her youth, she would brighten up and talk about her life and memories.
The Senior Sing A-Long program has about 70 musicians working with several communities. (Courtesy)
“It started out by Ken going to Marge’s and finding musicians who might help him out,” said Dwortz, of Ken’s visits to the popular Wyoming doughnut shop (Marge’s Donut Den) that hosts live music. “One thing led to another. Now there’s a wide array of musicians, and the volume has been much greater than Jill and her dad ever anticipated.”
A few years after Senior Sing A-Long started its life enrichment music programs for seniors, they began providing music therapy by licensed music therapists as well. The music therapy program consists of small groups of seniors creating music by playing instruments, and serves as a way to accomplish therapeutic goals.
“Right now we’re working with approximately 60 communities – some just for music therapy, some for life enrichment, and some for both,” Dwortz said.
If funding weren’t an issue, Senior Sing A-Long would love to serve more communities at no cost, Dwortz said. And they would love to add another music therapist to its staff.
“We always want to continue to provide service to communities that otherwise wouldn’t have it due to the budget they have available,” she said. “We believe it’s necessary. It’s basic quality of life. I see it bringing a lot of joy.”
Donations are always welcome – and so are musicians willing to play for the seniors in the communities.
“We are always happy to hear from people if they have a musical talent. We’re always looking for more musicians,” Dwortz said. “For a lot of them, it’s nice to make a little money during the day, and they’re pretty philanthropic at the same time. They’re giving every day they do it. People love them. I think they get something out of it.”
More information about Senior Sing A-Long is available on their website at seniorsingalong.org.
Spring cleaning is what many have been doing as the weather warms up to summer. Now the question is what to do with all that stuff?
The City of Wyoming will be hosting its annual Community Clean-Up event on June 4 at the Grand Rapids First parking lot.
Well the City of Wyoming will be helping out its residents once again with the return of its popular Community Clean-Up Day which is set for Saturday, June 4. The event will again take place in the parking lot of the Grand Rapids First, 2100 44th St. SW. It will open at 8 a.m. with participants encouraged to be in line by 1:30 p.m. to drop off items.
The traffic flow will have cars entering Grand Rapids First through the right lane of the eastbound 44th Street. Once in line, drivers should follow the directions to the northeast entrance off 44th Street.
An array of unwanted items will be accepted such as recyclables, scrap metals, and car batteries. Items NOT accepted are household hazardous waste; kitchen garbage; liquid latex paint; seal drums; liquid, biological, radioactive waste; propane tanks; refrigerants; and explosives.
Yard waste may be dropped off at the Yard Waste Drop-Off, which is located at 2600 Burlingame Ave. SW. The facility will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The facility is also open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. Yard waste should be sorted by leaves and grass and brush pile.
E. Martin Hennings (American, 1886–1956).
Two Summer Riders, c. 1930s. Oil on Canvas,
30 ¼ x 30 ¼ inches. Bank of America Collection.
At the Community Clean-Up event, there will be a fee for some items. While tires are $10 each, mattress or box springs are $15 each, tube and televisions that are 27 inches or smaller are $20, and tube televisions 27 inches or larger are $40.
To participate in the Community Clean-Up event, and to use the Yard Waste Drop-Off, residents must provide proof of residency which can be a photo ID, utility or credit card statement or bank statement within the last 90 days, a mortage, lease, or rental agreement, insurance policy, an issued license, or a Michigan vehicle registration.
The city started its Community Clean-Up in 2016 and it quickly became popular with the event averaging at least 300 vehicles coming through and disposing of items.
Memorial Day is a national holiday that honors fallen soldiers. (pxhere.com)
While for many it is the “official start of summer,” Memorial Day is designed to honor those who have fallen while serving during a war.
It originally was designated for those who had fallen during the Civil War and was observed only on May 30. However the custom grew and by the 19th Century, many communities across the country had Memorial Day celebrations. In 1971, the federal government declared “Memorial Day” a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday of the month of May. There was a splitting of ceremonies, with some municipalities choosing to celebrate on the last Monday of May while others deciding to keep with the traditional May 30 for Memorial Day activities.
Due to leap years and calendar configurations, every once in awhile, Memorial Day lands on May 30, which is what has happened for 2022. So there will be several Memorial Day events honoring fallen heroes throughout West Michigan.
Since it is a national holiday, government offices such as Kent County, the City of Kentwood, and the City of Wyoming, will be closed.
Kentwood Memorial Day Parade
Wreaths are laid during the Kentwood Memorial Day ceremony.
The D.W. Cassard Post, along with the Amvets Post, will host a parade in Kentwood at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 30. The parade kicks off from the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), near the corner of 48th Street and Eastern Avenue. From there, it will head west down 48th Street to Kentwood’s Veteran’s Memorial Park, located in front of the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. At the park, there will be a ceremony including the laying of the five wreaths, one for each of the branches of military service: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
WKTV will be taping the Kentwood parade and service which is scheduled to air at 12:30 and 8 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 and on wktv.org.
Wyoming Memorial Day Program
The City of Wyoming will be hosting its annual Memorial Day program Monday, May 30, from 7 – 8 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Garden, 2300 DeHoop Ave. SW. (This is located in front of the Wyoming Department of Public Safety building.)
The City of Wyoming will host its Memorial Day program at Veteran’s Memorial Garden. (Photo by Harriet Sturim)
Mayor Jack Poll will emcee and the Lee High School band is scheduled to perform. This year’s guest speaker will be Sean Moriarty. Moriarty is currently a student at Grand Valley State University pursing a degree in Applied Food and Nutrition from the College of Health Professions.
Moriarty enrolled at GVSU after serving eight years of active duty with the United States Coast Guard, where he was a medical corpsman. He sailed onboard the CGC Campbell in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, performing anti-terrorism duties with the Naval Support Activity in Manama, Bahrain, and providing clinical and emergency services at U.S. Coast Guard Base Boston in Massachusetts.
After coming to Michigan, Moriarty enlisted with the Air National Guard as a public affairs specialist where he currently serves in Battle Creek. He is accompanied by his wife, Justine, who is also currently enlisted with the U.S. Coast Guard in Grand Haven.
WKTV will be taping the Memorial Day program, which will air at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 and on wktv.org.
Other Memorial Day programs
The United States Air Force Band from Washington, D.C. has produced two solemn videos to honor the nation’s fallen heroes this Memorial Day. The first video features the Ceremonial Brass, one of the Band’s six ensembles, performing “Goin’ Home,” with narration by General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Chief of Staff of the Air Force. WKTV will air the “Goin’ Home” video at several times on Memorial Day. Those times are 9:28 a.m., 10:30 a.m, 12:27 p.m., 3:57 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 10:28 p.m.
The second video features stunning aerial visuals of the bugler, Technical Sgt. Jason Covey, as he solemnly performs “Taps” at Culpeper National Cemetery in Culpeper, Virginia. The unique perspective provided by the drone reveals the scope of sacrifice made by our military members over countless generations. The “Taps” video will air 9:55 a.m., 11:03 a.m., 1 p.m., 7:43 p.m., 9:11 p.m., and 12:08 a.m.
Both programs may be seen on the Comcast Channel 25 or on wktv.org.
When a new housing project is proposed in a community, the first thing most people think of is how will it impact the local schools. In truth, a new development may impact a community’s utilities — especially its fire department — even more.
“Whenever there is a new development, it means more people using your streets which in turn means more potential crashes and other safety issues,” said Wyoming Fire Chief Brian Bennett.
In the past 20 years, the City of Wyoming has seen several new developments such as HOM Flats along Prairie Parkway and The Reserve at 54th Street and Wilson Avenue, which has resulted in the city’s population increasing from 69,000 to 76,000. Within the first four months of 2022, the fire department has responded to 200 more calls than in the same period of 2021. Bennett noted that from 2020 to 2021, there was an increase of 600 calls and he expects 2022 to outpace 2021 in calls.
In that same 20-year time span, the department, due to state funding cuts and the 2008 recession, has decreased by eight full-time firefighters to 27 and, due to increase training requirements, paid-on call firefighters have gone down from 40 to 6.
Through two proposals on the May 3 ballot, the city hopes to double its current fire staffing from 27 to 54. The first proposal would be an income tax of up to 1 percent for city residents and up to .5 percent for non-residents such as commuters who work in the city. In the second proposal, the city is seeking to reduce the city property tax by about 58 percent, from around 12 mills to 5. Both proposals must pass to take effect.
“Our goal is to be more efficient at what we do,” Bennett said, adding the additional staffing would put the department in about the middle of the pack for staffing and calls per firefighter.
The Wyoming Fire Department has the highest calls per firefighter in the Greater Grand Rapids, averaging about 265 calls per firefighters. The department averages about 20 calls a day. (WKTV)
Currently the department has the highest number of calls per firefighters in the Greater Grand Rapids area with 265 calls per firefighter. The City of Grand Rapids averages about 124 calls per firefighter while the City of Kentwood averages about 110 calls per firefighters.
The calls are not just for fires, but for a variety of safety issues such as tree damage, wires down, vehicle crashes, gas leaks, and medical calls.
“A lot of people think that all a fire department does is respond to fires,” Bennett said, adding that fire calls are only a small portion of what the department handles. “But over the years, the fire department’s responsibility has expanded to include just about anything that involves safety.
“Basically, we are here to assure that the people who are in our community can safely operate while they are here.”
For example, if there is a crash on the expressway, the department not only responses to the accident but also must mitigate any gas spills to assure the gas does not enter the waterways so as not to contaminate the city’s water supply.
Because of the increase in calls, the result has been the City of Wyoming relying on neighboring communities. In fact, in 2020, the city had to rely on other departments 140 times because its fire department was on another call.
“With the increased number of calls, it makes our availability less and less,” Bennett said. “The result is we have to rely on our neighbors more to cover what we can’t get to.”
Bennett noted that the reliance on other departments does mean longer response times for those waiting for assistance.
Assuring the safety of its residents and visitors also means the department is responsible to review all the site plans for any construction project within the city to assure all the safety features are included in the overall design as well as handle safety inspections for business, restaurants and hotels.
“These safety inspections are suppose to be done every year but because of staffing, we are not able to get to all of them every year,” Bennett said.
With the expected news of what will be constructed on Site 36, commercial and residential development in the City of Wyoming does not look to be slowing down. In fact, there is a movement to revitalize Division Avenue and with new businesses and housing means more demands on the fire department. Bennett noted the city is divided into four fire districts with the busiest currently being Division, which has an unman station.
Two out of the city’s fire stations are manned 24/7. If the two May 3 proposals are approved, all four stations would be manned.
The cracks on the basketball courts at Marquette Park. (WKTV)
Walking up to Marquette Park’s basketball court and it’s not hard to see the cracks, partly because they are deep and repaired with a black resurfacer that stands out against the green-and-red-colored court floor.
Just looking at it, no one would deny the courts need to be replaced. That was a goal in 2018, with the city receiving a quote for a base coat and replacement at $72,000. All the City of Wyoming could budget from its Parks and Recreation 2019 budget was $35,500, so the courts got a crack fill and re-coat at $27,000.
“It shows how the price of things have gone up,” said the city’s Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt. “What you could purchase with a dollar 25 years ago is not the same as what you can purchase with a dollar today.”
An example of that is the playground at Marquette Park. From when the park was constructed more than 25 years ago, it had a playground. Eventually, because of the Michigan weather of freezing temperatures in the winter and humidity in the summer along with just regular use, the equipment had to be replaced. In 2001, the city replaced the playground at only half of its original size for about $20,000. Twenty years later and the cost to replace the playground equipment is $32,000.
Now multiply Marquette Park’s needs by 21 parks equaling more than 700 acres that have varying facilities and maintenance needs. For the City of Wyoming to meet its Capital Replacement Plan over the next nine years, it would need an average of $600,000 per year.
If the two May 3 proposals for an income tax and reduction in property tax are approved, the city would provide $600,000 annual of the estimated $6 million annually generated for sustainable annual capital investment in the city’s park system. About $3.3 million would be used to hire about 27 additional firefighters for the fire department with $2.1 million for the police department, which plans to hire 13 police officers and one crime analyst.
“In 2020, when we received all the income from the parks and recreation millage, fees, and grants and then subtracted out all the expenses, we had about $30,000 left to roll into the fund balance for capital improvements,” Rynbrandt said. The Parks and Recreation millage, which is 1.5 mills, has not been increased in more than 20 years. It is used to fund recreation programs, maintenance services and basic facility upkeep.
In 2001, the City of Wyoming replaced Marquette Park’s playground at half the size of the original. (WKTV)
And while the parks and recreation fund balance is well over a million dollars, the balance is needed to leverage funds and grants to help with park redevelopment and capital improvement projects. This was the case for Ideal Park, which was devastated after two tornados and a flood. A $300,000 Department of Natural Resources Fund grant helped with the parks redevelopment with the city required to match $808,300 in the city parks and recreation millage. The total cost for the redevelopment of Ideal Park was about $1.673 million.
On average, the city needs to have somewhere between $600,000 to $900,000 in cash flow to get the matching grants, she said. It is through matching grants that the city hopes to help fund the cost for the redevelopment of Marquette Park, which the city is currently reviewing a new master plan for the park.
To help with park capital improvements, in 2017 Wyoming voters approved allowing the city’s library millage funding to be used on parks with Ferand, Jackson, Ideal, and Gezon parks receiving funding for redevelopment. Because the cost to fully redevelop a park can be in the millions, the city is only able to do the redevelopment projects in phases. Gezon’s first phase redevelopment is currently underway.
Because there are needs at the Wyoming library — the city owns the facility while Kent District Library owns the materials and handles staffing — per its commitment to residents, the city will use the library millage for the facility improvements.
“Parks are constantly in a state of maintenance and repair,” Rynbrandt said, adding that her team has done well in keeping the city’s parks in tip-top shape and meeting changing community needs such as in recent years, adding a dog park and community garden at Marquette Park.
“There will be needs and items that have to be replaced,”Rynbrandt said. “Just like a roof on a house, after 20 some years, it has to be replaced. So it is with the roofs on our park shelters and facilities.”
Tuesday, April 19, was the last day for candidates to file for the upcoming fall elections with the residents of both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming have several new faces, and a few familiar ones, to consider for federal, state, and local government positions.
City of Wyoming
Wyoming City Hall. (WKTV)
With Mayor Jack Poll’s announcement that he would be retiring at the end of his term, three candidates have put their hats in the ring for the City of Wyoming’s mayor position, which is a nonpartisan four-year seat. Two of the candidates are long-time council members, Kent Vanderwood and current Mayor Pro Tem Sam Bolt and the third is a newcomer, Cliff Tompkins, who owns the Wyoming business Hair by Cliff.
The top two candidates from the Aug. 2 primary will face off in the Nov. 8 general election. Also in November, Wyoming residents will be selecting two Council Members at Large, four-year terms, from three candidates, Robert A. Arnoys, Renee Hill, and Robert Kilgo. First Ward Council Member Sheldon DeKryer is running unopposed for his four-year term.
City of Kentwood
While there are no City of Kentwood seats open for this year’s election cycle, the city is seeking a permanent recreation and trails millage of one mill in the Aug. 2 primary. If levied, the additional 1.0 mill is estimated to raise $2,345,537 in the first calendar year of the levy.
Kent County Commissioners
The Kent County Board of Commissioners (from a 2019 meeting). (Supplied/Kent County)
Like the federal and state governments, the Kent County Board of Commissioners also completed a redistricting.
The redistricting adds two new district to Kent County for a total of 21 districts. One of those new districts, District 20, would encompass the norther portion of the City of Wyoming (Godfrey-Lee Public Schools area) along with some southern portions of the City of Grand Rapids, such as Roosevelt Park, Black Hills, and Burton Heights. It has been indicated by officials that the goal was to create a largely Hispanic district (the area is more than 50 percent Hispanic) to provide a voice to the county commission of the area’s largest minority group.
There are five candidates vying for the 20th District spot, two Democrats and three Republicans. The Democrats are Ivan Diaz and Charles Howe. The Republicans are Elisa Rodriguez, Alan Bolter, and Walter Bujak.
Other Kent County Districts that will be on the Aug. 2 Primary will be the 10th District, which through redistricting now includes a portion of the City of Kentwood, will be Republicans Emily Post Brieve (incumbent) and Bill Hirsch. The winner of the Republican race will face Democrat Julie Humphreys in November.
In the 12th District, Republicans Lee White and Adam R. Palasek will face off in the primary with the winner then moving on to face Democrat Monica Sparks (incumbent) in November.
The other Kent County district races within the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood have only one Democrat and Republican which means all those races will go straight to the November ballot. Those districts are:
7th District, which includes a western portion of Wyoming along with Grandville. Candidates: Republican Stan Ponstein (incumbent) and Democrat Sue Merrell.
8th District, which covers most of Wyoming. Candidates: Republican Dan Burrill (incumbent) and Democrat Jennie Chatman.
9th District, which includes a portion of southern Wyoming along with all of Byron Center. Candidates: Republican Matt Kallman (incumbent) and Democrat Chip LaFleur.
For a look at the district map of state and county, click here.
State House of Representatives and Senate
Both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming will be under the 29th District for the state Senate. (Supplied)
Redistricting has changed both the state’s Senate and House of Representative seats for the two cities.
For the Senate, both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood will be part of the 29th District state Senate seat which also includes Grandville and East Grand Rapids along with portions of Grand Rapids Township and Grand Rapids east of the Grand River and south of Fulton Street. Two Republicans have put in their names, Tommy Brann, who is terming out this year from the 77th District state House seat, and Andrew Kroll. The winner of the Aug. 2 primary will face Democratic incumbent Winnie Brinks in November.
For the state House, the City of Wyoming is split between two districts. Most of the City of Wyoming will be part of the 83rd District along with a north portion of Grand Rapids (the Roosevelt Park area) and the Cutlerville area. There are three Democrats and one Republican vying for the seat. In the Aug. 2 primary, the Democrats, John Fitzgerald, Jose Flores, and Keith Courtade will compete to advance to the November election, where the winner will then run against Republican Lisa DeKryger.
A portion of the eastern border of Wyoming is part of the 82nd District of the House of Representatives. There are three Democrats and two Republicans seeking nomination in the Aug. 2 primary. The Democrats are Salim Mohammed Al-Shatel, Kristian Grant, and Robert Womack. The Republicans are William Alexander and Ryan Malinoski.
The City of Kentwood will join Cascade and East Grand Rapids for the 80th District House of Representative seat. Two Democrats will be competing in the Aug. 2 primary, Lily Cheng-Schulting and Phil Skaggs. The winner will then run against Republican Jeffrey Johnson in the Nov. 8 election.
Voter Information
For more information on voter registration, absentee ballots, voting locations and how to apply to be an election worker in Kentwood, visit kentwood.us/elections or contact the City Clerk’s Office at elections@kentwood.us or 616-698-9610.
In Wyoming, visit click here or contact the City Clerk’s office at clerk_info@wyomingmi.gov or call 616-530-7296.
The Wyoming Spring Carnival will run from April 24 – May 1. (Supplied)
Just in time for the warmer weather at the end of this week, Wyoming’s Spring Carnival returns to Lamar Park on Friday.
The annual event event, only missing 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, will run through May 1 at the park located at 2561 Porter St. SW.
According to Corey Stamps, the special events and marketing programmer for the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation, the activities for this year’s Spring Carnival are the same as in the past.
The carnival will include various rides, games and food options. To help keep all participants, employees, and vendors safe, TJ Schmidt & Company will be operating under enhanced health and safety measures in response to COVID-19. Masks are not required at this year’s event, however the vendor is reminding everyone that there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place where people are present.
Because of the popularity of the Spring Carnival, security for the event has been increased as well.
The times for the Spring Carnival are similar to last year, 4 – 8:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 2 – 8:30 p.m Friday; and noon – 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Spring Carnival is weather dependent and before attending residents should check with the Wyoming Department of Parks and Recreation’s Facebook page for updates on the carnival.
Prices are $18 Monday – Friday and $23 Saturday. There are $3-off coupons are available for the unlimited wristbands.
There will be a number of carnival rides and food offerings at the Wyoming Spring Carnival. (Supplied)
A staple in the city city for more than 30 years, proceeds from the carnival support City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation services and the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance or GWCRA. Funds raised support youth scholarships and youth and family programming through the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department. The GWCRA distributes funds to the community its through annual grant awarding process.
The Spring Carnival is made possible through the work of the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation and TJ Schmidt & Company. For more information about the carnival, contact the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department at 616-530-3164.
Bringing home the title win was Byron Center’s Code Red, Gull Lake’s Twisted Devils, and East Kentwood’s Red Storm. (WKTV)
East Kentwood’s Red Storm robotics team not only snagged a win at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition, but also earned the Gracious Professionalism Award Advancement of FIRST Robotics. (WKTV)
Code Red Robotics, which is based in Byron Center, was one of the winning teams and also earned the Engineering Inspiration Award at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition. (WLTV)
The Wyoming Demons, far right, was one four teams to finish as a finalist at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition on March 31-April 2. (WKTV)
Hopkins’ Tech Vikes, which is sponsored by Wyoming’s GM Components, earned the Autonomous Award sponsored by Ford. (WKTV)
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma joanne@wktv.org
When spring break is over, Kentwood and Byron Center Public Schools will have something to boost about.
For the first time in almost two years, robotics teams from around the state were able to compete at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition, traditionally held the first weekend of spring break, which this year was March 31-April 2.
“We do it at this time because the school is out on spring break which makes it easier for us to be able to use the gym for a full three days,” said Wendy Ljungren, who works with East Kentwood’s Red Storm, which hosts the competition.
This year it was the combined teams of East Kentwood’s Red Robotics (Team 3875), the all area-based team in Byron Center, Code Red Robotics (Team 2771), and Gull Lake’s Twisted Devils (Team 4381) that took top honors. The first place wins secured all three teams a spot in the state competition, which is set for April 14-16 at Saginaw Valley State University. Also moving on to state is Belmont’s That ONE Team-Our Next Engineers (Team 4967), which earned the coveted District Chairman’s Award.
The FIRST Robotics team resets the playing field at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition, which was March 31-April 1. (WKTV)
Kentwood Superintendent Kevin Poston certainly could not contain his excitement as he sent out a Point of Pride notice on Monday, April 5, to announce the Red Robotics win and mentioning that the team also earned the Gracious Professionalism Award for the advancement of FIRST Robotics.
After a hard fought battle in the playoff rounds, Wyoming High School’s Demons (Team 858) came in as a finalist. Since there is one more district competition, set for April 8-10, Demons coaches said it will be about a week before they know if the team will advance on to the state competition. The Demons’ current ranking is 88th in the state.
There are about 541 Michigan FIRST Robotic teams. The state has 16 districts with about 26 competitions. Teams are required to participate in two robotic competitions for the season.
There are 160 team slots at the state competition. Those who have won a district competition or earned the Chairman’s Award or the District Engineering Inspiration Award advance to the state competition regardless of ranking. From there, the rankings fill in the rest of the spots.
“Sometimes a team can win more than one thing at an event or win two events,” said Ljungren. Such was the case of Byron Center’s Code Red, which was part of the winning alliance and also received the District Engineering Inspiration Award which celebrates the outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization and community.
“In that case, a spot would open up for another team to attend,” she said.
Ken Orsechowski, a coach for the Code Red Robotics team, gets interviewed by the WKTV team. WKTV will airing the East Kentwood Robotics competition at a later date. (WKTV)
For the World competition, which is set for April 20-23 in Houston, Texas, FIRST in Michigan will be sending 64 teams total. This includes the winning alliance from the state competition and the state Chairman’s Award, Engineering Inspiration Award, and Rookie All-Star Award winners. The number also includes any Hall of Fame teams, which is a team that has won the National Chairman’s Award in the past 10 years. In 2021, Novi’s Frog Force (Team 503) earned such an honor.
One West Michigan team expecting to head to the world competition is Hopkins’ Tech Vikes, which is sponsored by the GM Components plant located in the City of Wyoming. The plant also is sponsoring the Wyoming High’s Demons team. Tech Vikes, which earned the Autonomous Award sponsored by Ford at the East Kentwood competition, is currently ranked 23rd in the state.
Other West Michigan team state rankings are Forest Hills’ Comets (Team 3357), ranked third; Byron Center’s Code Red (Team 2771), ranked 45th; East Kentwood’s Red Storm, (Team 3875), ranked 51st; Grandivlle’s The RoboDawgs (Team 288), ranked 146th; and Lee Robotics (Team 7234), ranked 163rd. For a complete list of state rankings, click here.
Mayor Jack Poll hinted at it in his Feb. 7 State of the City address and today, Franklin Partners LLC made it official: Site 36 has been sold.
Franklin Partners, which is based in Grand Rapids and Oak Brook, Ill, has purchased a large portion of the site, 74 of the approximate 92 acres, from the City of Wyoming. The purchase became official at the end of February.
“Wyoming thriving business community continues to grow as well,” Poll said in his Feb. 7 address. “Nicole Hofert, director of planning and economic development has lead serval exciting initiatives.”
One of those initiatives has been the sale of Site 36, located at 300 36th St. SW, just east of Clay Avenue on 36th Street with an eastern border of Buchanan Avenue. The property has been vacant since 2009, when General Motors closed its stamping plant.
“The developer hopes to be announcing businesses that will be coming to Wyoming in the coming weeks,” Poll said.
City staff indicated the city has retained the northern portion of the site which includes the former parking lot which is separated from the main property by 36th Street. This is where Godwin Heights Public Schools recently added its new athletic entrance which was completed last year.
Franklin Partners, which has been the main marketer for the property, said in a news release that the firm is looking to build manufacturing plants on the site, ranging in size from 150,000 square feet to more than one million square feet. City officials stated that the site will be broken into four or five parcels for development.
The former GM plant, which started as the GM Fisher Body stamping plant, also known in its early days as Plant No. 1, was built in 1936 on the former site and helped to push the construction of much of the city’s infrastructure. At one point, more than 2,000 people were employed at the plant. After 72 years of operation, GM decided to close the plant in 2009 citing the plant was too far away from GM assembly plants, driving up shipping and related costs.
The site was cleared of the two-million-square-foot plant a few years after the plant closing, but much of the infrastructure was retained including onsite utilities and the railway. The proximity of the site to US 131 is another added bonus.
“The day has been a long time coming, and we appreciate the confidence and faith Don (Shoemaker) and his team Franklin Partners have shown in Wyoming, in manufacturing and in our greater West Michigan community,” Wyoming City Manager Curtis Hold said in a statement. “We have long recognized what a jewel this property is – and what tremendous potential it has to attract manufacturers looking for a place to expand or consolidate operations.”
Sveden House Smorgasbord, located on 28th Street in Wyoming. (Wyoming Historical Commission)
Known for its chicken, Swedish meatballs, fried shrimp, bread pudding and glorified rice with marshmallows and cherries, the Sveden House Smorgasbord was staple in the City of Wyoming. Located at 1461 28th Street, it was the first to offer an all-you-can-eat buffet. The restaurant closed in the early 1990s and the building has since been torn down. It was national chain with restaurants all over the country and depending where you were at, it was sometimes spelled “Sweden.” The photo is from the Wyoming History Room collection.
Wyoming residents wanting to learn more about the city’s proposed income tax and millage reduction proposals will have the chanced at a series of informational meetings.
If approved, the proposed income tax generate enough funds for the city to add 27 firefighters and 14 police officers. (WKTV)
Starting tomorrow, Feb. 2, the city will be hosting seven public meetings in February, March, and April. The meetings are designed to provide information regarding the May 3, 2022 ballot proposals. The two proposals are an income tax that would be up to 1 percent for residents and up to .5 percent for non-residents. The second proposal would be for a city property millage reduction for property owners both homeowners and business owners. The millage would go from about 11.89 to 5 mills. The two proposals are tied together with both required to pass.
“It is my goal to make sure every Wyoming voter has the information they need to vote on May 3,” said Mayor Jack Poll. “The public meetings are a chance for residents and community members to learn more about the need and have their questions answered.”
The first meeting is set for Wednesday, Feb. 2, at Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW. The meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
The other meetings are:
Feb. 16, Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW
March 2, Gezon Fire Station, 2300 Gezon Parkway SW
March 9, Del Mar Community Room
March 15, Godwin Heights High School, 50 35th St. SW
March 24, City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW
April 19, KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW
In September, the Wyoming City Council approved the two proposes to be placed on the May 3 ballot. If approved, the proposals would minimize the overall tax burden to city residents while generating an additional $6 million in revenue each year. The revenue would be used to improve public safety and parks infrastructure for residents, businesses, and visitors.
The additional funds would allow the Wyoming Department of Public Safety to add 27 firefighter and 14 police positions, improving public safety by decreasing response times, enhancing crime prevention efforts and adding more proactive traffic enforcement.
The funding also would provide $600,000 in sustainable annual capital invest in the city’s park system. Many of the city’s parks were built between 1950 and 1970 and while the city has made great strides in developing park properties such as ideal, Frog Hollow, Jackson and Ideal, other parks such as Marquette Park, are 25-years-old or more and are in need of capital improvement. City officials have noted that the current parks millage does not have capacity to provide any funding for capital investment.
One of Wyoming’s Park and Recreation’s big accomplishments this year was the reopening of Jackson Park. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
If you wonder how much of a resource of health and public welfare the City of Wyoming’s parks have served during the pandemic, consider this: reservations at the parks was at 30,000 hours, a 77 percent increase over 2020.
This was part of the 2021 annual Community Impact Report released last week by the City of Wyoming Community Services Department’s Parks and Recreation.
“Today, access to recreation resources have never been more sought after or needed for public health and welfare,” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, director of community services for the City of Wyoming. “This report provides the public with the transparency needed to affirm we are investing tax dollars wisely, meeting, and in many ways exceeding, resident expectations in providing parks and recreation services during the pandemic.”
The community impact report highlights the ways parks and recreation programs from the past year promoted community health and wellness, child development, economic development, and provided many avenues to build unity and community strength.
Rynbrandt noted during the Dec. 13 city council work session that in 2020-2021 year, the department offered 251 programs. During the epicenter of the pandemic in 2020, it offered 158 programs.
“Of course we saw a significant increase in use of our parks and recreation resources and facilities because that is what [people] were encouraged to do, get outside in order to play,” Rynbrandt said.
Another example of increase parks and recreation was the softball program which had a record year of 1,200 participants during the spring and summer.
Rynbrandt said staff worked to adapt by offering virtual programs and working with outdoor programming. When programs were able to return inside, staff ensured that the required social distancing, mask requirements, etc, were met.
Many programs this past year were modified to ensure public safety during the pandemic and exemplified the ways that parks and recreation services are essential to community resiliency and sustainability. Once such an example of adaptability was the Rec at Home kits with families stopping by Wyoming’s city hall to pick up the kits.
“For those of you who may have been here we had people coming to the back door and picking up so that we were able to adapt and provide that family a positive time alternative they could do with their families in the presence of their home or they could go outside in a public park,” Rynbrandt said.
The City of Wyoming partners with Godwin, Godfrey, and Wyoming public schools for its TEAM 21 program. (courtesy photo)
Parks and recreation is critical to child development, Rynbrandt said. TEAM, 12, which is funded through the U.S. Department of Education’s 21st Community Learning Centers grant, provides summer and after school programs for students in Godwin, Godfrey-Lee and Wyoming public schools. The program served about 900 children this year, which was down from pre-pandemic, which would average between 1,200 to 1,400 students per year.
Despite the limitations due to the pandemic, the program had 121 children on wait lists, according to Rynbrandt.
“[TEAM 21] is one of the most important programs where we impact the mental, physical, social, and scholastic health of our community’s children, Rynbrandt said.
The city also has an impact on the senior population. Through its partnership with the Meals on Wheels program, the city was able to provide 7,488 meals for socially isolated older adults. Rynbrand noted that this was a drive through program at the senior center.
Vaccine clinics and tree plantings were other activities provided through the Wyoming Department of Parks and Recreation.
As for the financial overview, about 52 percent of the Parks and Recreation budget goes directly into park facilities and maintenance, six percent is in the senior center, eight percent into recreation, and about 20 percent into TEAM 21, which is through the grant program.
The city features 23 parks and recreation facilities, including the Wyoming Senior Center, located throughout the city’s 700 acres of parkland.
For more information about Parks and Recreation programs and events please contact the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation team by calling 616-530-3164, emailing parks_info@wyomingmi.gov, or visiting www.wyomingmi.gov
The brute force winds that came through West Michigan now has many residents looking for places to discard the yard waste. Fortunately, for those living in cities of Kenwood and Wyoming, they have options.
A past pile of leafs at the City of Kentwood Department of Public Works as the city’s leaf and brush drop-off programs returns this week to help with debris from the recent wind storm. (City of Kentwood)
City of Kentwood
Today, the City of Kentwood reopened its leaf and brush drop-off sites, which will be open through Dec. 18. The purpose is to help residents dispose of fallen leaves and tree debris.
“We’re reopening our drop-off sites to help residents clean up after Saturday’s windstorm as well as accommodate the late leaf drop this year,” Public Works Director Chad Griffin said. “With the warm temperatures expected this week, this is a great opportunity for residents to take care of the leaves, trees and branches that have fallen on their properties.”
Residents may drop off brush, sticks, tree limbs, logs, loose leaves and loose grass clippings through Saturday, Dec. 18 at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE. The drop-off sites are open noon-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
The service is available to Kentwood residents only. Staff will be on-site checking for proof of residency and appropriate materials. Materials that cannot be accepted include paper and plastic bags, trash, dirt, concrete, asphalt, tires, rocks, stones, construction materials, glass and metal.
Residents may report downed tree limbs and other debris obstructing city streets to the Department of Public Works at 616-554-0817 or 911. Non-emergency street or sidewalk concerns can be reported online at kentwood.us/psr/index.php.
City of Wyoming
The City of Wyoming operates a year round leaf and yard waste disposal site at 2600 Burlingame Ave. SW.
Winter hours for the site are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Thursday. The site is closed on Sunday.
Yard waste should be sorted in leaves and grass piles and brush piles which may include sticks, branches less than eight-fee long, bushes, and stumps less than three-feet in diameter.
The site does not accept leaf bags , plastic bags, sod, rocks, stones, sand, treated wood, fencing, shingles, concrete, asphalt, furniture, carpet, glass, garbage or basically anything that is not naturally grown in a yard.
There is an attendant at the site with residents having to show proof of residency.
Power outages can be reported to Consumers Energy online or by phone at 800-477-5050. In the case of an emergency, such as a downed power line, call 911.
There was so much hope at the start of the 2021 school year as school started with in-person learning but 13 weeks in and the toll of the year is starting to have an impact.
Wyoming Public Schools announced it would be closed Monday and Tuesday, giving students and staff a full five days off for the Thanksgiving holiday.. (WKTV)
Rising COVID cases and teacher shortages have forced both Wyoming and Grand Rapids Public Schools to take “wellness days” in November and December.
“Over the past year and a half, I have encouraged our families, students, and staff to find time for self-care, as you are all continuously riding a rollercoaster of changes, challenges, and opportunities,” wrote Wyoming Superintendent Craig Hoekstra. “In thinking about how to drive encouragement and a way to put my words into action, we have decided to close the entire week of Thanksgiving.”
The district was scheduled to be open only two days next week, Nov. 22 and 23, but will now be closed the entire week. Kelloggsville Public Schools, on its school page, also has made the announcement that it will be closed those days as well due to rising COVID cases and staff shortages.
Earlier this week, Grand Raids Public Schools announced it would be closed two Fridays in December, Dec. 3 and 10 due to a combination of factors related to COVID.
No other schools in the Wyoming or Kentwood communities have made any announcements of closing for mental health or wellness. Godfrey-Lee officials stated they have been asked but have not made any decisions at this time. Kentwood officials stated they are planning to be open Monday and Tuesday the week of Thanksgiving.
Cases on the rise
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Michigan now leads the country in community spread of COVID. Nationwide, the cases per 100,000 are 176 where in Michigan it is 503. In Kent County, it is 591 cases per 100,000, higher than both the state and the national numbers. The 7-day positive rate is 21 percent in Kent County while it is between 10 – 14 percent in the state and about 7 percent nationwide.
According to a letter from the Region 6 Healthcare Coalition, which Kent, Ottawa, Newaygo, Muskegon, and Ionia counties are a part of, the health care systems within the region are at a tipping point. The hospitals and EMS systems in the region are operating at extremely high capacity and have been for weeks.
According to the CDC, Michigan leads the nation in community spread of COVID. (pxhere.com)
“It is important to note that the strain on our systems is due to the COVIDE-19 response, plus the many other demands our teams are facing to care for seriously ill patients,” said Jerry Evans, MD, MMM, FACEP, medical director for the Region 6 Healthcare Coalition. “If more people were vaccinated, that would help reduce the number of COVID-19 patients, as most of the COVID-19 patients in the emergency department and admitted remain unvaccinated.
“This is impacting our ability to care for those who are seriously inured in a car accident, suffer a heart attack, stroke, or experience another medical emergency issue.”
Another concern is a wave of influenza with hospital officials encourage people to get the influenza vaccine along with any COVID vaccines and boosters that are available. Residents are encouraged to wash hands frequently, wear a mask when indoors or outdoors when unable to socially distance and practice healthy behaviors such as socially distancing, getting good sleep, eating well, and exercising.
Working to stop transmission
In his letter to parents, Hoekstra said that by closing Wyoming Public Schools for the week of Thanksgiving, it is the hope that it will help to interrupt COVID transmission.
“This is especially important as we deal with continued challenges brought on by COVID-19, including staffing shortages in the classroom,” Hoekstra said.
In fact, Grand Rapids school officials said they selected Friday dates for its wellness days because finding subs for Fridays and Mondays can be challenging. There is a nationwide teacher shortage — along with bus drivers and support staff — with school districts putting out signs in front of facilities along with ads, job fairs, and other talent searches to fill vacancies.
Wyoming, Kelloggsville, and Grand Rapids are not alone in the decision to have wellness days. Schools in Muskegon also have announced decisions to be closed over the Thanksgiving holiday. Schools that due decide to close for mental health and wellness are pulling from their six stated-allotted emergency days, which are usually used for snow days. According to Rep. Tommy Brann, while open to the idea of adding emergency days, it is too early to determine if the state will do so to help schools.
Residents of the City of Wyoming joined those in northern Kent county to determine the next 28th District state senator. In the unofficial results, Republican Mark Huizenga took the seat with 25,735 votes, which was about 10,000 more than his closet competitor, Democrat Keith Courtade, who had 15,683 votes. Libertarian Alex Avery received 611 votes and U.S. Taxpayer candidate Theodore Gerrard received 420 votes.
District 28 encompasses the townships of Plainfield, Byron, Alpine, Algoma, Cannon, and Sparta and the cities of Grandville, Rockford, Walker, Wyoming and the Village of Cedar Springs. Kent County is reporting about a 20% turnout of it registered voters, which is higher than the 12.24% in 2019, the last non-president and non-governor election.
Within the City of Wyoming, which had a voter turnout of about 7,000 out of its 55,703 registered voters (12.57%), Huizenga was the top pick receiving about 800 votes more than Courtade.
Huizenga officially takes over the 28th District senate seat on Jan. 1. Formerly held by Peter MacGregor, who vacated the seat when he became the Kent Country Treasurer last year, Huizenga will fill the remaining one-year of MacGregor’s term. Huizenga has indicated that after the districts are redrawn, he does plan to run again for a senate seat in the Walker area.
Huizenga has served as the mayor of Walker and currently is the 74th District State Representative, which covers Rockford, Cedar Springs, Algoma Township along with the cities of Walker and Grandville. His state house representative seat would be up in the 2022 elections. State house representative seats are two-year terms with a term limit of three terms. The state senate seats are for four-year terms with a term limit of two terms.
Huizenga owns Mark Huizenga Systems Consulting, a consulting firm, and is the managing partner for Key Green Solutions, a software company.
From left: Mark Huizenga, when serving as mayor of Walker with Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll, Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley, and Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss at a previous National Night Out event. (WKTV)
Sign in front of City Hall (Wyoming Historical Commission)
We are estimating that sometime in the 1950s, the City of Wyoming had its own “weather ball” system of informing residents about the number of traffic deaths. 28th Street was at its height of usage back then with the Wyoming Fraternal Order of Police sponsored this sign to encourage people to be safe on the road. Located on the northeast corner of DeHoop Avenue and 28th Street, red was for a traffic death, yellow was for traffic injury and green was for no death or injury. The goal “Keep the Green Light going.”
The image is supplied by the Wyoming Historical Commission. The commission operates the Wyoming Mich. Historical Room at the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW. The history room is open every Tuesday from 9:30 – noon. For more about the Wyoming Historical Commission, visit the organization’s Facebook page.
The first Tuesday of November is election day with residents in both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming having candidates to consider as well as a $11.3 million bond proposal from Kelloggsville Public Schools.
Kentwood Elections
The City of Kentwood residents will be voting on several Kentwood City seats. The races that are contested are Mayor, 1st Ward Commissioner, 2nd Ward Commissioner, and a Commissioner-at-large seat. Click the links below for the candidates.
The City of Wyoming residents will be joining those in the northern Kent County communities to determine who will be the next state senator for the 28th District. Four candidates are vying for the spot left by Peter MacGregor who became the Kent County treasurer last year. Those candidates are Alex Avery (L), Keith Courtade (D), Theodore Gerrard (US Taxpayers), and Mark Huizenga (R). For more on the candidates, click here.
Kelloggsville Bond Propoal
Residents living in the Kelloggsville School District will be voting on a $11.3 million bond proposal that will allow the district to build a S.T.E.M. building at the high school as well as other building and technology projects. For more information on the bond proposal, click here.
Three Gatos in Wyoming opened in 2021, and aims to bring a taste of both European culture with a splash of Brazil to the Grand Rapids area. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
3 Gatos Brewery owners Linus and Renata De Paoli. (Photo provided by 3 Gatos Brewery, used with permission)
By Amy Sherman WKTV Contributing Writer
Take a lifelong dream, add in some time in Europe, and a hearty dose of Brazilian heritage, and you’ll brew up something awesome in Wyoming, Michigan. 3 Gatos Brewery recently opened, and is offering up something unique to the brewing scene here in West Michigan.
“The good thing here is that everybody is knowledgeable, everybody is passionate,” said 3 Gatos co-owner Linus De Paoli about the beer and brewery scene in West Michigan. He owns the brewery with his wife Renata. “There is great craft beer everywhere.”
Well, we couldn’t agree more.
“We just fell in love with it, with doing it and sharing it with people, and the whole history of beer, we were just drawn to it,” said Linus. “So we asked, could we make a living out of this?”
The couple took the leap, and purchased the former Ktizingen Brewery in Wyoming in 2020, after leaving their corporate jobs with Ford Motor Company.
“We just kept asking ourselves this question,” said Linus about turning brewing from a passion to a livelihood.
Sampler beers come in cute mini glasses at 3 Gatos Brewery in Wyoming. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
A classic Kolsch beer carrier can be found at 3 Gatos Brewery in Wyoming. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
3 Gatos Brewery is located in the former site of Kitzengen Brewery in Wyoming. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
Renata was a huge force in the development of the brewery, explained Linus, as her palate is spot on. She’s also “brutally honest” according to Linus. The couple, who formerly were both engineers, got transferred from their native Brazil to Koln (Cologne) Germany. The beer culture there grabbed their hearts, and through a series of events, they met the former owner of Kitzingen Brewery, and discussed purchasing the brewery. Linus came to visit Grand Rapids in February 2020, right before the pandemic hit. “It’s not the best time of year to visit,” said Linus about coming to GR during the cold weather months.
The brewery endured several pandemic induced delays to opening, but finally welcomed the public into their remodeled Wyoming storefront this past summer. It’s a bright and open space, located in an unassuming strip mall on the busy 44th street corridor. Gone are the heavy German decorations that used to grace the space, in are bright colors, and a simple, slightly modern design.
Linus comes to West Michigan with a ‘world’ of experience, having worked as a brewer’s apprentice in Germany, and eventually taking over the role of head brewer, working to refine both his technique and craft. He now offers a complete range of styles at 3 Gatos, from traditional German brews, to beers that are decidedly much more American.
Renata has helped guide what beers are brewed since the start. “She’s the best quality control I have,” he said. From classic German beers, like the stellar, crisp and clean Kolsch that I sampled, to more unique brews like the raspberry flavored Chartreaux, 3 Gatos offers a little something for everyone.
A staple at many breweries is the “wall of stickers”. 3 Gatos has just started their own. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
Another great thing that has developed from their Brazilian heritage plus time in Germany is the food menu that is available here. You can go simple snacking, and just get some of the freshly popped, and lightly salted corn that seems to always be going at the end of the bar. Or, peruse the menu for something more substantial, and decidedly Brazilian in flavor.
Try the Torta de Palmito, a popular, and unexpected offering, that is a pie made with hearts of palm, tomatoes and corn. Sandwiches are interesting, with a Mortadela made in the Sao Paulo style, or a Linguica featuring Brazilian sausage on a specially made Brazilian style roll baked just for 3 Gatos by Nantucket Bakery.
You can also grab brewery favorites like a soft pretzel with beer cheese, or an American style hamburger here.
3 Gatos “has been a dream of my wife and I” said Linus. “It’s been our dream for some years, since we started homebrewing.” I asked if his homebrew was really that good in the beginning. He replied “If I had to go back, I would probably not serve it to people. Some of the first ones, no, definitely not.”
They offer an amazing array of styles at 3 Gatos, using about 5 different yeast strains to brew their beers.
We joked about how being a brewer is really actually being a janitor, since so much of the job is about sanitation. “Totally,” Linus said. “If you look at my mug club mug, mine actually says ‘janitor’ on it. Brewing work is actually 99.5% cleaning.”
Linus is happy that he doesn’t have to explain certain beer styles to his mostly West Michgian clientele. “They’re knowledgeable about beer. I don’t have to describe to every person who walks in our bar what an IPA is, which was kind of the case in Germany. I’d bring beers I was brewing at the brewery in Germany to friends and they would ask, what’s this eeee-pa? Eeee-pa?”
“They know a lot about German-style beer, but not about what is coming from the outside,” Linus explained about the current brewing scene in Germany. “It’s hard to convince them to try something new.”
“There’s a small craft beer movement now,” in Germany, Linus said. “It’s gaining traction, with young consumers who are more aware of what’s happening outside of the country, and who are more curious to try different things. It’s a slow change that is happening over there.”
Not so here in Michigan. Linus has been impressed with our ability and interest in embracing the new. “That’s the good thing about the new world, we don’t have 1,500 years of tradition,” he said. “We can just go crazy and try everything, fusion, different types of food, different types of beer, and just get crazy with it.”
They are always popping fresh corn at 3 Gatos Brewery in Wyoming, a nice little snack to enjoy with one of their hand crafted beers. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
A staple at many breweries is the “wall of stickers”. 3 Gatos has just started their own. (Amy Sherman | For WKTV Journal)
“I think it’s great,” said Beth Legate, a first time 3 Gatos customer, that I met at the bar during my visit. “They’ve really held onto some of the old German side of things. And I’m ok with German-style beers, but they’ve also introduced a variety now. I enjoyed it when I visited before, but now it’s even better.”
And while the space was friendly before, “it’s even friendlier now” said Legate, as she sipped a pint of Main Coon, a New England IPA from the brewery. She lives right nearby in Grandville, and had to give a shout out to her neighborhood brewery Osgood’s, where she has a mug club membership. “That’s my jam,” she said with a smile. She recommended Osgood’s pickle pizza, when you are not visiting 3 Gatos.
The biggest surprise of my interview was the fact that Linus is a proponent of the three tier distribution system here in Michigan…..which you don’t normally hear. While he’s not a big fan of all of the regulations around the sale of alcohol across the state, he does like that the system gives a little more power back to the little guys, as opposed to how things work in Europe. “There are positives,” Linus said about the system. “A bigger brewery cannot abuse its economic power to push beer to the detriment of the smaller breweries.”
Part of the draw to opening a brewery in a foriegn country was specifically the welcoming atmosphere of the West Michigan brewing scene. Beer City USA has done a great job of making these newbies feel welcome, according to Linus.
“Linus and Renata are wonderful people and they’ve done a lovely job of learning quickly and collaborating in the community,” said David Ringler, owner of Cedar Springs Brewing Company. “I think their Brazilian and European dual theme will serve them very well and we look forward to a “collaboration brew” on Bridge Street in the future.” Ringler recently took delivery for new brewing equipment for his new brewery location on the West Side of Grand Rapids, which will hopefully open in 2022 and will be called Kusterer Brauhaus.
Ringler continued, “I wish them the best,.” We can confidently say that all of West Michigan agrees. Good luck to you, 3 Gatos.
It’s October, which means fall festivals, corn mazes, trips to the apple orchard and unpredictable weather. It’s Michigan, and we love it.
I’m John Gonzalez, and for more than two decades I have offered up my “Gonzo’s Top 5” list of events and things to do. I’m excited to publish my Top 5 once again, thanks to WKTV.
My goal, as always, is to give you a fun list of local happenings, as well as throughout the region. I welcome your input and recommendations.
Also, follow me on all the Social Media channels (listed below), and I’ll be sure to give you a shout out if I use one of your suggestions.
Have a great, safe weekend.
Here we go.
Gonzo’s Top 5
5. Greater Grand Rapids Fall Train Show
If you have a train enthusiast in your family — young or old — check out the return of the Greater Grand Rapids Fall Train Show presented by the Grand River Valley Train Club. The show features 80-plus vendoors, a Thomas the Train play area for kids, a huge Lego display and a drawing for a Lionel Thomas the Train set. The show is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 9) at HSB, Inc., 5625 Burlingame Ave. SW, in Wyoming. Tickets are $5 for adults and free for those 12 and under. More details at grvrrc.org.
4. Wise Men Distillery Fall Fest
Food, fun and cocktails, oh my!
Our friends at Wise Men Distillery are offering a fall fest with outdoor dining, cornhole, live music and tasty cocktails, of course. Check out new fall releases, as well as seltzers and special tours. Hours are noon-10 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 9). Food trucks include Arcane Wood Fired Pizza (2-9 p.m.) and Patty Matters Hamburgers (3-9 p.m.) Tours are at 3 and 6 p.m. Wise Men Distillery and Cocktail Bar is located at 4717 Broadmoor Ave SE, in Kentwood. Learn more about the event on the Wise Men Distillery Facebook page.
3. Downtown Grandville Fall Fest
A first-year beer garden, the opening of the Grandville Library renovation and the annual fall festival make for a fun time this weekend in Grandville. The annual lighted pumpkin trail will be set up around the KDL building from 5-10 p.m. Friday (Oct. 8). It is for walking only. No carriage rides will be available this year. Also, the Grandville-Jenison Chamber is hosting a beer garden in the library lot with live music and food, and KDL is having its grand re-opening open house and a kid’s craft. Michigan Moonshine, Osgood Brewery, Beecher’s Pretzel Truck and Tippy Cow Root Beer Floats will be on hand.
On Saturday (Oct. 9), on the west side of the KDL Lot and along Washington Avenue, attendees can expect traditional horse drawn wagon rides, scarecrow voting, kid’s pedal tractor pulls, The Critter Barn petting farm, pumpkin decorating, a mechanical bull, a giant corn box, pedal tractors, fall themed games and more. Food trucks include Tamales Mary, Street Frites, Beecher’s Pretzel Truck, Big Ed’s BBQ, Hot Dog Cart and more. KDL is located at 4055 Maple St. SW, Grandville. Details at cityofgrandville.com or the Downtown Grandville Facebook page.
2. Wyoming Trick or Treat Trail
Formerly the Pumpkin Path, Wyoming’s Trick or Treat Trail is set for 4-6 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 9) at Lamar Park. It features about 70 businesses who pass out treats on the tasty trail. Parents are encouraged to bring the whole family, offering candy (of course!), games, face painting, bounce houses, a DJ, and more. Admission is free. Halloween costumes are optional, but always a good idea. Organizers said “all children at Trick or Treat Trail must be with a supervising adult.” Also WKTV will be “on the trail” recording fall greetings. More information on the City Parks and Recreation Center Facebook page.
1. Downtown Holland Fall Fest
It’s going to be a beautiful weekend, which means it’s a perfect time to visit Holland for its annual Fall Fest, known for its professional pumpkin carving and beautifully decorated downtown. They even have a 949-pound pumpkin on the way! The two-day event — Friday (Oct. 8) and Saturday (Oct. 9) — celebrates fall with professional pumpkin carving, children’s activities, community tulip planting, an artisan market at Windmill Island Gardens, fall walking tours, and a Farmers Market.
On Friday, eight of the nation’s best professional pumpkin carvers, including Food Network alumni, will appear from 3-7 p.m. carving jack-o-lanterns all along 8th Street. At 7 p.m., the jack-o-lanterns will be lit from within and will remain on display until 10 p.m. (Community Tulip Planting is from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m.-noon Saturday. More info at tuliptime.com.)
On Saturday, professional pumpkin carvers will appear from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Holland Farmers Market. Children also can paint their own pumpkins to bring home. Cost is $1 per pumpkin. The Farm Market opens at 8 a.m. Saturday.
The annual Holland Fall Festival is organized by Downtown Holland, the Holland Farmers Market, the Holland Visitors Bureau, Tulip Time, and Windmill Island Gardens. See the schedule of events at hollandfallfest.com or check out the Downtown Holland Facebook page.
That’s it for now. As I said earlier, email me if you have an event you want to promote.
Be safe everyone.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He’s an early adopter of Social Media and SEO expert. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
One of the most popular events in the City of Wyoming is taking place this weekend, the Trick of Treat Trail. The event is set for 4 – 6 p.m. at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW.
About 2,500 children are expected to attend to the annual free event which has local businesses, such as Weller Self Serve, Bloom Credit Union, Godwin Plumbing and Hardware, and Hom Flats, handing out candy. WKTV also will be there filming fall greetings from area children on different seasonal backgrounds.
There is no pre-registration for the event, with families encouraged to come. With that in mind, we caught up with Wyoming’s Special Events and Marketing Programmer Corey Stamps to get the scoop on a few things you should know before you go.
The community comes together at Wyoming’s Trick or Treat Trail. (Supplied)
Entering and Parking: Participants should enter from the Byron Center East gate (see map above). This is also where they can park.
Costumes: Costumes are not required but encouraged to add a little more fun to the event. Parents can dress up as well.
Adult supervision: Children must have a supervising adult with them to participate.
Event time: The event will start right at 4 p.m. and go until 6 p.m. There is no additional time before or after the event.
The pathway: Once participants park they will be directed to the path. The actual path goes in a complete loop around the Lamar Park parking lot. Along the way participants will be greeted by our table host and be able to participate in different activities.
Kids Area: There will be a kids area with crafts, face painting and tattoos.
Social distancing and Mask wearing: Since there will being a large number of participants, we encourage everyone to try and keep a safe distance from one another. Masks are not required at this event but participants are more than welcome to wear one.
What if it rains?The event will take place rain or shine. Please pay attention to our Facebook page if there happens to be a weather concern.
For more information about Parks and Recreation programs and events please contact the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation team by calling 616-530-3164, emailing parks_info@wyomingmi.gov, or visiting www.wyomingmi.gov
The City of Wyoming’s efforts to collect as much input from residents about Marquette Park continues as the city hosts two public meetings this week.
The first meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Godfrey Lee Early Childhood Center, 961 Joosten St. SW, and the second one is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW.
“We need the facility of Marquette Park to align, not only with the community needs of today, but well into the future,” said Wyoming’s Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt. “We really look to our community and area residents to guide this process so Marquette Park can be exactly what is needed for the neighborhood and city overall.”
The 40-acre Marquette Park, which is located at 1414 Nagel Ave. SW, is one of the city’s oldest parks. The eastern section, which includes Kimble Field and the Dog Park area, was originally purchased in 1938 when the city, which was a township at the time, paid $2,800 for sewage disposal site from the estate of William F. Keeney. The western portion of the property, which currently features soccer fields, the Grand Rapids Rifle and Pistol Club, and a playground, was added to the park in 1946. Marquette Park was officially designated as a city park in 1971.
The park is surrounded by an ethnically diverse, dense residential neighborhood and adjacent to industrial properties. Plaster Creek flows through the northeast corner of the park and the park generally serves the city residents attending the Godfrey Lee Public School district.
“With a significant increase in Spanish speaking residents, the City has taken steps to move language barriers in this process,” Rynbrandt said. All public meetings will have simultaneous Spanish interpretation services in addition to English presentation.
The September meetings are the first round of community input the city will be having for Marquette Park. The city also is conducting a 15-question survey, which is in both English and Spanish. For the survey, click here.
At its Monday night meeting, the Wyoming City Council approved two proposals to be placed on the May 2022 ballot that, if approved, could minimize the overall tax burden to city residents while providing public safety and park needs and helping to make the city more financially sustainable.
“After carefully reviewing our options, the City Council has agreed that an income tax is the most equitable way to fund these needs and ensure a sustainable economic future for Wyoming,” said Mayor Jack Poll.
The first ballot proposal would allow the City to levy an income tax on residents, business and non-residents who work in Wyoming. Under this proposal, the City would levy an income tax of .8% for residents and businesses and .4% for non-residents. This would be the lowest income tax rate charged by any city in Michigan that currently has an income tax.
According to the U.S. Census, the average median income for a household in the City of Wyoming, for 2019, was $54,328, which would pay $434.63 for the proposed income tax.
This City of Wyoming chart shows that Wyoming firefighters on average responded to 100 calls more than their counterparts in other cities. For more information, visit wyomingmi.com/FundingForTheFuture. (Supplied)
The second ballot proposal would decrease the City of Wyoming property tax millage by more than half. The current Wyoming milage rate is 11.89470 mills. If approved, property owners would see a decrease of 4.3497 mills in the summer 2022, with the rate being about 7.54 mills and an additional decrease of 2.5450 mills in summer 2023, with the rate being just under 5 mills.
According to the U.S. Census, the median price in 2019 for a home in the City of Wyoming is $127,000 with under the city’s current millage, paying $755.50. If the proposal is approved, the 2022 property millage for the home would be about $478.79, which is about a $276.11 savings. In 2023, the property millage will be $472.50, which will be $438 savings from the current millage rate.
Under the language, both proposals must be approved by voters.
“These proposals support the City of Wyoming’s commitment to community, safety and stewardship,” Poll said, adding that the Wyoming Department of Public Safety has seen an increase in the frequency and complexity of calls for service and surveys of residents have clearly illustrated a need for additional, proactive traffic enforcement and community policing. At the Sept. 20 council meeting, a resident presented the council with a petition signed by 36 residents along with letters in support of the income tax proposal because of the need for increase fire personal.
Another need, Poll noted was the city parks. Many of the parks were built between 1950 and 1970 and while the city has made great strides in developing park properties such as Ideal, Frog Hollow, Jackson, and Ideal, other parks, such as Marquette Park, are 25-years-old or more and are in need of of capital improvement. The current parks millage does not have capacity to provide any funding for capital investment.
The funding generated by income tax would allow the Wyoming Department of Pubic Safety to add 27 firefighter and 14 police positions, improving public safety by decreasing response times, enhancing crime prevention efforts and adding more proactive traffic enforcement. The funding also would provide $600,000 in sustainable annual capital invest in the city’s park system.
There are 21 other Michigan cities that levy an income tax of which four are located in West Michigan: Grand Rapids, which is 1.5% for residents and .75% for non-residents, and Walker, Muskegon, and Muskegon Heights, which all levy 1% for residents and .5% for non-residents.
I’m not afraid of werewolves or vampires or haunted hotels, I’m afraid of what real human beings do to other real human beings.
American writer Walter Jon Williams
Wyoming’s First Public Market
Well after months of anticipation, the City of Wyoming’s first Public Market is this Saturday. The event is set for 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at HOM Flats, 1401 Prairie Parkway SW. The event is free to attend and will feature a number of local artisans and a selection of food trucks. No sweat if you miss this Saturday’s event as a second Public Market is scheduled or Sept. 25 at Wyoming City Hall.
Retired Chaplain John Hooglund, from Holland Home at Breton Woods, produced this work as part of veterans art project which led to the Yellow Ribbon ArtPrize entry. (Supplied/Pamela Alderman)
It’s back
After two years, partly due to COVID, ArtPrize returns with artists taking over downtown Grand Rapids. There is sculpture. There is paintings. There is a lot to see, so spend the weekend — with weather reports all showing it to be beautiful — checking out some amazing art and get boned up on the new voting system.
Executve Chef Josef Huber at Gun Lake Casino shows off the popular burger, which comes with two 4.5-oz. patties. (Photo by John D. Gonzalez)
Now Open
WKTV Contributing Writer John D. Gonzalez gives us the inside scoop on the new restaurants at the Gun Lake Casino. Located just off the US 131, the restaurants include the SHKOÉ Chophouse, CBK, and the 131 Sportsbar & Lounge, which offers floor-to-ceiling LED video walls and 180-degree panoramic views For more, click here for John’s story.
Seattle’s Great Wheel (Wikipedia)
Fun Fact: Ferris Wheels
“Pleasure wheels” as Ferris Wheels were called date back to the early 1600s, however the one we are most familiar with is George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.’s creation for the 1863 Chicago’s World Fair. Designed to rival the 1,063-foot Eiffle Tower that was the center piece of the 1889 Pairs Exposition, the “Chicago Wheel” was 264 feet and the tallest attraction at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. After the fair, the wheel was rebuilt on Chicago’s North Side, near Lincoln Park, where it rain from 1895 to 1903. It was then shipped to St. Louis for the 1904 World’s Fair and destroyed after that event. The Ferris Wheel returned to Chicago in 1995 at the Navy Pier and in 2016, the Navy Pier opened the Centennial Wheel as part of its 100th anniversary celebration. Today Ferris Wheels are more commonly called Observation Wheels, pre the one in England. The tallest Ferris Wheel in the world, the High Roller, stands at 550 feet and is located in Las Vegas.
Continuing on its pathway of park improvements, the City of Wyoming is requesting input from residents about what they would like to see at the city’s most northern park, Marquette Park.
“The park’s current development is considered outdated and needs to be updated to address the evolving needs of the City and the immediate neighborhood,” said Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt.
The playground area at Marquette Park. (WKTV)
The 40-acre Marquette Park, which is located at 1414 Nagel Ave. SW, is one of the city’s oldest parks. The eastern section, which includes Kimble Field and the Dog Park area, was originally purchased in 1938 when the city, which was a township at the time, paid $2,800 for sewage disposal site from the estate of William F. Keeney. The western portion of the property, which currently features soccer fields, the Grand Rapids Rifle and Pistol Club, and a playground, was added to the park in 1946. Marquette Park was officially designated as a city park in 1971.
According to Rynbrandt, the park is nestled in a culturally diverse, densely populated residential area that is located to along the park’s southern and eastern boarders with industrial properties to the north and west.
The 15-question survey, which is in both English and Spanish, asks how often a person visits the City of Wyoming Parks, how often they have visited Marquette Park, and lists a number of activities, such as basketball, a community garden, gathering places, splash pads, tennis and walking paths, that survey participants might be interested in seeing at the park. Rynbrandt said the goal is for about 2,000 survey responses noting that the city received 1,800 survey responses for Jackson Park when that project was in the planning phase.
Because the community near the park is largely Spanish speaking, Rynbrandt said they wanted to make sure that residents were able to provide input which is why the survey is in both English and Spanish. There also will be Spanish interpreters available at the upcoming master plan meetings for the park which are Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. at Godfrey Lee Early Childhood Center, 961 Joosten St.; and Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW.
The City of Wyoming’s park system was predominately built between 1950 and 1970. Over the last 15 years, the city has made great strides in developing park properties such as Ideal, Frog Hollow, Jackson, Ferrand, Lamar, Battjes, Prairie, and Oriole parks into contemporary facilities.
“We strive to ensure each park has its own character and, to the extent practicable, based upon proven resident demands, limiting duplication of facilities,” Rynbrandt said, adding that to foster unity and social connections while leveraging its limits financial resources, the city’s park system has moved away from pocket parks to regional parks that have unique identities but serve all of the city’s residents.
Currently the city is working on Gezon Park which is located in the panhandle between Gezon Parkway and 52nd Street. The first phase of construction has started at Gezon with it expected to be reopen next spring.
The City of Wyoming Tree Commission, “The Tree Amigos,” is celebrating some great news for the city’s tree canopy. For one, not only did the DTE Energy Tree Planting Grant Program approve their grant application, but the foundation is awarding an extra $1,000 above the requested $2,000. As The Tree Amigos has budgeted $1,000 of its own funds for the planting, $4,000 is now available for the purchase and delivery of up to 25, eight-to-ten-foot trees. The Tree Amigos has more than a dozen residents signed up to receive a tree but is still looking for a few more. Volunteers will plant the trees the mornings of October 2 and 16. Residents will receive a tree free of charge but are required to help plant it and commit to maintaining the tree.
In addition, the new City of Wyoming Master Plan calls for the city to set a tree canopy goal. City planner Nicole Hoffert asked for the Tree Commission’s recommendation. The commission requested Wyoming’s goal be 40%, the same goal as many cities have set, including the City of Grand Rapids. Currently, Wyoming has an approximate tree canopy of 13.5%, as determined by an iTree survey that looks at aerial photographs.
The Master Plan also calls for a more rigorous tree survey to be done in the future. Having a comprehensive survey will provide the City with data needed to plan not only where to plant more trees, but also how to develop a maintenance plan that preserves the mature trees already growing here. The survey will also provide data on the economic value that Wyoming’s trees provide when it comes to stormwater retention, pavement life, energy savings, reducing carbon footprint, and removing toxins from the air.
“Establishing the 40% canopy goal and having a comprehensive tree survey commissioned are two items at the very top of our wishlist. We are thrilled that the City is taking action on these,” says Estelle Slootmaker, chair, The Tree Amigos. “We also look forward to sharing insights with Nicole as the city develops a new tree ordinance that will better preserve the beautiful mature trees that we have and create a blueprint for planting more trees.”
Cities around the world are recognizing the important role of trees in mitigating climate change, maintaining storm sewer systems, making neighborhoods safer, increasing property values, and reducing health impacts of air pollution and stress.
“Wyoming’s slogan is ‘City of vision and progress.’ Only when we have a true vision of the important role trees play as part of our city’s infrastructure will we, as a city, be able to make sustainable progress environmentally and economically—and create a safer, healthier, happier place to live and work,” Slootmaker says.
Next summer, area residents could be enjoying a new splash pad as construction is set to start this fall on Gezon Park.
At its Aug. 16 meeting, the Wyoming City Council awarded the bid for the phase one development of the park to Katerberg Inc, which has worked on the redevelopment of Ideal Park and Jackson Park. The amount for the project is $2,091,500.
“The redevelopment of Gezon Park increases our ability to equitably provide for recreation and leisure services to a significant, highly populated area of our community,” said Director of Community Services. “We continue to work to invest in our community and our residents through projects like Gezon Park.”
The current playground at Gezon Park, located near the 52nd Street. (WKTV)
Purchased in 1966 for the city’s water system, Gezon Park is 94.04 acres located between Gezon Parkway and 52nd Street. The park has entrances on both streets. It borders a densely populated residential area of the community which includes multi-family and single-family homes. The southernmost portion of the park has been developed as an athletic complex featuring baseball, softball, and football fields. The northernmost portion has been developed with a small shelter, playground, and basketball court.
Through extensive input from the community, a master plan for the park was created and approved in 2018 by the City Council. This plan includes expanded parking on the south end and more modern recreational amenities in both the north and south ends. The total cost for the entire project is around $6 million.
In 2020, the council authorized an agreement for professional services with Johnson Hill Land Ethics Studio and Fishbeck to prepare construction drawings and bid materials for the first phase of the expansion. That first phased will include a large-scale splash pad, expanded parking, restrooms, and shelter on the southend of the park located off of Gezon Parkway. These items will be placed closer to the existing trail head and gravel parking area with no impact on the current baseball and football fields. The first phase improvements also include walking and biking paths that will provide expanded pedestrian and bike connection to the Metro Health Village and the M-6 bike trails, which are both located across the street from the park on Gezon Parkway.
“We’re excited to bring the ideas of residents to reality,” said Mayor Jack Poll. “The redevelopment fo Gezon Park has been highly anticipated by our community.”
In the master plan. the central area of the park has generally remained unchanged. In a later phase, the north end of the park will have a play area, restroom, pickle ball and basketball courts.
The pedestrian and bicycle paths at Gezon Park will be expanded to the Metro Health Village and M-6 trails. (WKTV)
Funding for the Gezon Park is through the Library Maintenance Millage. In 2017, the city residents approved re-allocating about .16 of the .39 library maintenance millage to help with park improvements. The nearly $800,000 per year raised is used to pay a 15-year bond of $4.4 million. The bond money was dedicated to four parks: Ferrand, Ideal, Jackson, and Gezon.
Ferrand, a pocket park located off Byron Center Avenue, was completed in 2018. Ideal Park, the city’s oldest park which had sustained damage from tornadoes and flooding, was completed in 2020. Jackson Park, located next to Wyoming Intermediate School and also had a splash pad added, was reopen in 2021.
The city is expected to open up the process for resident input on the future of Marquette Park, the city’s most northern park located at 1251 Marquette SW. Rynbrandt said the city is looking for information from residents on what they want to see at Marquette Park, whether they would like to keep it in its natural state or see a splash pad, pavilions or other amenities.
The Wyoming Police are seeing information on an assault that took place in the 4400 block of Herman Avenue on Aug. 23 at around 12:30 a.m.
The incident, according to police, stemmed from an altercation involving four individuals who were known to each other and resulted in all four of them receiving injuries requiring medical treatment at a local hospital. According to police, the injuries were sustained from being stabbed or assaulted with a blunt object. One of these individuals sustained life-threatening injuries and is in critical condition at a local hospital. One individual has been traded and released, one has been treated and then lodged at Kent County Correctional Facility on charges related to this incident, and one remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation is ongoing, and detectives are working to determine the role of each person involved in the incident. The individual who was lodged at Kent County Correctional Facility will be held pending review of changes by the Kent County prosecutor.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or 1-866-774-2345.
Have an idea for a program you would like to see the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department offer? Cannot live without adult softball? Now is the time to share your opinions.
Do residents enjoy participating in pickle ball? The Wyoming Parks and Recreation is asking for residents’ opinions on what the city should offer. (Supplied)
This week, the city’s Park and Recreation Department has released a survey seeking input from residents on what type of programs they would like to the see the city offer.
“We really want to get a better idea of what residents love and can’t live without and what programs they would like to see the city add,” said the city’s Recreation Supervisor Krashawn Martin.
The survey is 19 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Questions includes what programs residents find valuable such as adult kickball, adult softball, youth dance, youth gymnastics, pickle ball, ceramics, line dance, tumble and play and special events such as Trick or Treat Trail, Daddy Daughter Dance, and the Candy Hunt. Other questions ask what programs residents would like to see for different age levels.
Martin noted the Parks and Recreation Department has not had such a survey in awhile with city officials wanting to learn what residents would like to see.
“Do they want the leagues or maybe they want more special events such as the Trick or Treat Trail,” she said. “This is to help us plan what we will be doing and where we will be going.”
Residents have until Aug. 16 to complete the survey, which can be found here. The results of the survey will impact the 2022-2023 season, Martin said, adding that the city is already in fall program mode.
In fact, registration for fall programs officially has open. For more information on fall programs, click here.
This Saturday, Wyoming residents have the opportunity to participate in the citywide Community Clean Up Day. Residents, with proof of residency, may bring items, free of charge for most items, to Grand Rapids First, 2100 44th St. SW. Hazardous waste will not be accepted this year. The site will be open from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and participants must be in line by 1:30 p.m to drop off items. For more information, visit wyomingmi.gov/cleanup.
Photo taken by Tom Schillaci of Muskegon (WMTA)
Make Your Vote Count
Voting is now open for the West Michigan Photo Contest hosted by the West Michigan Tourist Association. More than 1,800 photos were submitted to the competition with WMTA narrowing down the photos to the top 50. Now Michigan residents have the chance to vote on who will be the winners. The top 50 photo entries are posted in a photo album on the West Michigan Facebook page, also available at https://bit.ly/WestMIPhotoContest2021. Visitors to the photo album may cast votes for any photos by “liking” or “reacting” to each photo. Votes may be cast for multiple photos. The winners will be announced on August 16.
Gary E. Mitchell as John Adams and Mary Beth Quillin as Abigail Adams in “My Dearest Friend.” (Photo by Scott Baisden)
The Original Adams Family
“My Dearest Friend,” the story of John and Abigail Adams, will run this weekend and next at the LowellArts, 223 W. Main St., Lowell. “My Dearest Friend,” written by local playwright Mary G. Kron, is based on the letters between John and Abigail Adams, played by Gary E. Mitchell and Mary Beth Quillin from GEM Theatrics. Prolific letter writers, the couple’s story is told through flashback as they witness the American Revolution and the birth of a nation. For tickets, call 616-897-8545.
Fun Fact: The Butterfly Files
Every year, the Monarch butterfly makes the 1,900-mile trip from Northern America to Mexico. One of its stop off points is Peninsula Point in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Many of the insects make a pit stop there before taking the long journey across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin. The best time to see this “monarch madness”? Early September.
Police cars, K9 officers, food, and a slip-n-slide were all part of the Wyoming National Night Out event which took place Tuesday, Aug. 3.
This year, the city had two main National Night Out events, one at Grand Rapids First and the other at Grace Christian University. Sgt. Brian Look said the department wanted a location in the northland of the city and one in the south to make the event as accessible to as many residents as possible.
“We love the engagement with the community,” said Rick Pilieci, Grace Christian University pastor and chaplain for the Wyoming Public Department of Safety. “We have a strong partnership with the department because officers do come into our criminal justice program.
“We believe in the message that the city is focused on for this event, communicate safety. It is just a great opportunity for us meet our neighbors and the community.”
At the Grace Christian University event, there was hot dogs, popcorn, and donuts from Marge’s Donut Den. Also on site was the Clyde Park Church of the Nazarene, which provided cotton candy and snow cones. Activities included the game nine-square and a slip-n-slide. The Wyoming Department of Public Safety had police cars, motorcycles, the tactical truck and K9 Chase was wowing the crowd.
Meanwhile, the newest member of the K9 unit, Max, was busy meeting Wyoming residents at Grand Rapids First, which also had police cars and motorcycles along with a fire truck. Visitors enjoyed cool treats while checking out the vehicles and talking to officers about safety tips.
“It is an opportunity for our community to get together with our public safety people and show appreciation both ways, our public safety people for what our citizens do for them and certainly what they do for us in keeping us safe,” said Mayor Jack Poll. “It gets everybody talking and communicating and the more we know our neighbors, the safer our community is.”
In the 1990s, country music was changing to a more modern sound with such songs as “Achy Breaky Heart” leading the way. Coupled with the start of country station B-93 in Grand Rapids and local venues started looking for bands who could perform the new country style.
Already on the scene was Grand Rapids Mustang Band, which had been performing country classics since 1994.
“It was not difficult to change gears and move toward the modern sound,” said band founder Eric Vander Stel. From there, the Mustang Band carved out a niche in offering country music from the classics of Johnny Cash to the current artists such as Jason Alden.
“We play some rock ‘n’ roll,” Vander Stel said, “but mostly it is country, just about anything from now to the past.”
It will be mostly country music Tuesday, Aug. 3, as the Mustang Band wraps up the Wyoming Concerts in the Park series. The performance is at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW.
Like many local bands, Mustang Band has been performing regulary since the start of summer when many of the COVID restrictions were relaxed.
“We are very responsive to our audience and people have just been very happy to have music,” Vander Stel said.
The band members, which are Wendy Allen on lead vocals, Steve Bouchard on bass, Stacy Hill on drums and Vander Stel on vocals and guitar, work hard to incorporate the audience in the show. Vander Stel mentioned at a recent show they had an audience member playing spoons with the group.
“With everything that has happened over the last summer, I think people are just making up and enjoying this summer,” Vander Stel said, adding the Mustang Band is happy to be part of the fun.
All of the Wyoming Concerts in Park are recorded by WKTV and rebroadcasted on Comcast Channel 25 at 5 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday.
