All posts by Joanne

Celebrate Thanksgiving in West Michigan

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Food, Holidays, Kids Activities, Recreation, Senior Living, Travel, Upcoming Events
File photo

By Jeremy Witt, West Michigan Tourist Association

 

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 22nd, and West Michigan is going all out in celebration. Enjoy delicious food at a buffet, or get a meal to bring home to your family. All of the classics will be there, from ham and turkey to stuffing and potatoes. If you have room for dessert, that will be served as well. There’s more to do after you eat, like holiday tours and early shopping. Enjoy a West Michigan Thanksgiving this month.

Dine in Southern West Michigan

Silo Banquets & Catering in Allegan offers their Thanksgiving Dinner to Go every year. The Silo has the largest catering kitchen in West Michigan, and each of the dinners that they prepare are ready to feed up to ten people. These dinners include everything that you need to have a family Thanksgiving meal, including turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, rolls, gravy, pie, and more. Make Thanksgiving dinner a breeze with these ready-to-serve meals.

 

Thanksgiving is a special time to express gratitude for all the blessings of the year. In honor of this celebration, Schuler’s Restaurant in Marshall serves turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, and all the trimmings. Make reservations to have a family Thanksgiving in Schuler’s beautiful dining room, or order ahead and pick up your feast on Thanksgiving Day to share with your family at home.

 

This Thanksgiving, give the cooks in your family a much-deserved break. Bring your family to the Boulevard Inn & Bistro in St. Joseph for their Thanksgiving Day Brunch Buffet on Thursday, Nov. 22nd. Just choose your favorites from the bountiful buffet, sit back, and enjoy being together.

 

The Bay Pointe Inn in Shelbyville is hosting a Thanksgiving Brunch Buffet and live music on Thursday, Nov. 22nd. The menu includes traditional Thanksgiving fare, like turkey, potatoes, and pumpkin pie, in addition to pastries, shrimp cocktails, mini mousse, and more.

 

You’ll find some of the freshest farm ingredients served for Thanksgiving when you visit Saugatuck. They have a variety of Thanksgiving specials and buffets throughout the area, many of which are on Thanksgiving day. Area restaurants will serve a traditional menu with a few added surprises.

 

Henderson Castle (file photo)

Henderson Castle in is hosting their annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 21st. Enjoy all the delicious food that you’ve come to expect from Henderson Castle during this festive season.

 

The Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo has two restaurants, each offering different Thanksgiving specials and events. Zazio’s is hosting a special Black Friday Brunch on Friday, Nov. 23rd. Over at Old Burdick’s Bar & Grill, they’ll be serving up a holiday-themed menu on Thanksgiving.

Dine in Central West Michigan

Double JJ Resort in Rothbury is once again hosting their popular Thanksgiving Buffet at the Sundance Restaurant. The annual buffet is a relaxing way to spend time with friends and family with the beautiful view from the Sundance. This delicious brunch buffet features a unique menu every year.

 

Chef Tim and his team at SE4SONS Gastropub at Muskegon Country Club will be preparing Thanksgiving dinners for you to take home and throw in the oven. All meals will be sent with cooking and reheating instructions, making it easy to put together your Thanksgiving feast. All orders must be placed by Thursday, Nov. 15th.

 

Both the JW Marriott and Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids are serving up Thanksgiving day brunches on Thursday, Nov. 22nd. Reservations are recommended.

 

Stop by Mt. Pleasant for Thanksgiving and leave the cooking to the professionals. They have both Thanksgiving buffets and easy dinners that you can take home to the family. Enjoy Thanksgiving-themed entrees, sides, and desserts without all the mess and clean up.

 

The Holland area is going all out for Thanksgiving. The area is home to dozens of restaurants, each with their own Thanksgiving traditions and menus. Check out what the Holland area restaurants have to offer, and find the perfect restaurant to suit your tastes and fit into your budget.

Dine in Northern West Michigan

The popular Thanksgiving Day Buffet at Grand Traverse Resort in Williamsburg is back. Enjoy a wide array of Thanksgiving-themed brunch treats as well as a special buffet for kids. The Thanksgiving buffet menu is available on the Aerie Restaurant website where you can also make your reservations.

 

If the thought of preparing an entire Thanksgiving meal for your family and friends has you stressed out, let Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire do the cooking and cleaning up. Call today to make reservations for the Thanksgiving Harvest Buffet at The Lakeview Restaurant. This buffet offers a delicious array of everything you’d expect a traditional Thanksgiving feast to include and more.

 

You’re invited to bring your family to the Thanksgiving Celebration at Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls. They have plenty of activities and entertainment for all ages. For your Thanksgiving meal, choose either the delightful buffet or have a complete meal, including all of the holiday favorites, prepared and delivered to your room.

 

Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville is hosting a Thanksgiving weekend full of family events and activities. Their Thanksgiving Reconnect Weekend runs from Thursday, Nov. 22nd to Sunday, Nov. 25th, kicking off with the 4K Turkey Vulture Trot. Afterward, enjoy a well-deserved traditional Thanksgiving buffet.

 

Charlevoix area (file photo)

Thanksgiving brings family and friends together, and Charlevoix welcomes you and your loved ones to come to celebrate this special holiday with them. During the long weekend, enjoy Thanksgiving feasts at local restaurants, including Stafford’s Weathervane Restaurant.

 

Get into the Thanksgiving spirit with a stop along the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula wine trail. Drop into one of the nine unique wineries for a wine tasting to decide which Michigan wines you will be serving this holiday season.

Pre-Thanksgiving Traditions

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Lansing is getting decked out with thousands of lights and holiday fun for the Silver Bells in the City celebration. Silver Bells in the City attracts over 80,000 people to the Capital City each year and takes place annually on the Friday before Thanksgiving. This free event brings family and friends together to kick off the holiday season.

 

Grand Haven Main Street provides a picturesque postcard start to this year’s holiday season. Downtown Grand Haven will be abuzz with festivities and cheer as Light Night gets you in a festive mood on Friday, Nov. 16th. Carolers will be strolling throughout downtown, roasted chestnuts, cider, and hot chocolate will be available to the public courtesy of Grand Haven Main Street and Grand Haven Tri-Cities Historical Museum.

 

Get in the holiday spirit in Mecosta County with the Festival of Lights parade on Saturday, Nov. 17th. This popular parade features 30 floats and groups of walkers loaded with Christmas lights, live reindeer, and a grand entrance by Santa and Mrs. Claus.

 

Stay at Hotel Walloon for the area’s holiday kick off! On Wednesday, Nov. 21st, the Village of Walloon will come alive with Christmas vendors, an appearance by Santa, the lighting of the village, kids activities, and more. Then, spend a relaxing weekend celebrating Thanksgiving in northern Michigan.

Events Over Thanksgiving Weekend

From Thursday to Sunday and throughout November, Thanksgiving events are taking over many parts of West Michigan. The extended weekend is the perfect time to get out with family and friends to enjoy the festivities.

 

The Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo has two restaurants, each offering different Thanksgiving specials and events. Zazios is hosting a Holiday Cooking Class on Wednesday, Nov.17th to teach you how to wow your guests this holiday season. They’re also hosting a special Black Friday Brunch on Friday, Nov. 23rd. Over at Old Burdick’s Bar & Grill, they’ll be serving up a holiday-themed menu on Thanksgiving.

 

The Holland area is going all out for Thanksgiving, with events, buffets, and ways to give back to the community. Before feasting upon one of the area’s many Thanksgiving buffets, lace up your running or walking shoes for the Turkey Trot 8K on Thursday, Nov. 22nd. Stop by the Kerstmarkt on Nov. 23rd and 24th, or enjoy a post-Thanksgiving concert at the Park Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 24th. From now through Dec. 22nd, the Holland Area Visitors Bureau is hosting a Winter Coat & Food Drive. Get in the holiday spirit and give back by dropping off new and gently used coats, hats, mittens, and scarves as well as non-perishable food items to the WHTC AM radio station or the Holland Area Visitors Bureau.

 

The Muskegon area has holiday events all month long. Just in time for Thanksgiving, the 14th Annual Festival of Trees at the Muskegon Museum of Art features themed trees and decor from Nov. 21st to Dec. 2nd. While the family is in town for Thanksgiving, take them on the Hackley & Hume Holiday Tour on Nov. 24th and 25th. Experience the Hackley and Hume homes by candlelight to celebrate the holiday season.

 

You’re invited to bring your family to the Thanksgiving Celebration at Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls. They have plenty of activities and entertainment for all ages. For your Thanksgiving meal, choose either the delightful buffet or have a complete meal, including all of the holiday favorites, prepared and delivered to your room.

 

Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville is hosting a Thanksgiving weekend full of family events and activities. Their Thanksgiving Reconnect Weekend runs from Thursday, Nov. 22nd to Sunday, Nov. 25th, kicking off with the 4K Turkey Vulture Trot. Afterward, enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving buffet. The Holiday Trail Celebration is Friday, Nov. 23rd, with a Christmas tree lighting the following day.

 

Thanksgiving brings family and friends together, and Charlevoix welcomes you and your loved ones to come to celebrate this special holiday with them. Before the holiday commences, sign up for the annual Turkey Trot 5K run along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix. During the long weekend, enjoy Thanksgiving feasts at local restaurants, including Stafford’s Weathervane Restaurant.

Thanksgiving Stays & Packages

Take a road trip to quiet Saugatuck and host your Thanksgiving dinner in a vacation rental from Lakeshore Lodging. Whether you have a larger group to host this Thanksgiving or you’re just looking for a change of scenery, choosing to host your Thanksgiving dinner in a vacation rental is a fresh way to do the holiday.

 

As a thank you to their guests, the All Season Hotel & Resort in Kalkaska is offering a free night when you purchase and stay one night between Nov. 20th and 30th.

 

The Thanksgiving Package at the Terrace Inn & 1911 Restaurant in Petoskey includes a two-night stay for two in one of their cozy cottage-style rooms on Nov. 22nd and 23rd.

What happened at school today? Nothing.

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Education, How-To's, Kids Activities,

By Shannon Lindquist, Michigan State University Extension

 

School is is session and all across the nation parents are asking their children the same question, “What happened at school today?”, and the majority of kids respond indicating that nothing happened at school. Where are the details? Parents want details!

 

Getting kids to share what happened during the school day can be difficult and frustrating. Child care expert Lynn Gibson, offers suggestions for starting conversations that will elicit more than a single word when you ask that important question. Putting all your questions on hold is the first order of business. Give your kids some breathing space when they first get home, they have been following different expectations all day and need to switch out of school mode. Be patient if your child has some ornery moments, eventually they will be ready to share their day.

 

The period of time between arriving home, having dinner and bedtime is very hectic. Take some time to allow your child to relax and catch their breath to benefit the remainder of the night.

 

When it comes to asking your kids questions about their day, first ask yourself if you have time to listen. Your child is not on the witness stand so refrain from firing one question after another at them. Less can be more when getting information about their day.

 

In addition to Lynn Gibson’s conversation starters mentioned above, a blog from Simple Simon & Company offers up a great list of 25 questions to ask kids, here are a few to get you started:

  • What was the best (and the worst) thing that happened at school today?
  • Who is the funniest person in your class and why is he/she so funny?
  • Tell me something that made you laugh today.
  • What word did your teacher say most today?
  • How did you help somebody today?
  • How did somebody help you today?
  • Is there anyone in your class that needs a time out?
  • Where do you play the most at recess?

Do not get in the habit of asking the same four questions every day or this important conversation will just stall out after the first few days of school and you are back to hearing that nothing happens at school.

 

Sherry Artemenko, MA-CCC, a Speech-language pathologist and founder of playonwords.com, suggests:

  • Art work and activity papers that come home are great conversation starters. In fact, a research study by Marvin and Privratsky (1999) showed that when four-year-old children brought home their art projects, they talked significantly more about school activities than when they did not bring home artwork.
  • Post a copy of the school schedule so you know which day is gym, library day or art. You can ask specific questions about each of those days to keep the conversation going. Example questions may be asking if your child picked out a new library book or asking what they played in gym.
  • Many kids won’t tell you much until they are all tucked in at night. If this is the case for your child, plan this into the schedule so you can enjoy this one-on-one time and discover what may be on your child’s mind.
  • Dr. Charles Fay suggests that kids are more likely to talk when they are engaged in something fun like playing a board game, going on a walk or helping in kitchen. The spot light is off the child to report school happenings and focus is on the activity, which helps them feel comfortable share what they experienced during school.

Providing opportunities for conversations, listening and asking the right questions will foster communication and enhance your relationships with your children. These skills will also help children make their way in the world. For more information on healthy relationships, communication and parenting skills, visit the Michigan State University Extension website.

 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Artists sought for wooden shoe decorating contest for Tulip Time

Entertainment, ,

Tulip Time Festival (www.tuliptime.com) announces Klompen Garden, a public art project celebrating the 90th Tulip Time Festival. Klompen Garden will showcase 45 pairs of artfully designed large wooden’ shoes installed in city parks and tulip beds throughout the downtown Holland area.

 

Artists living in Ottawa, Allegan, Kent, Muskegon and Kalamazoo counties are invited to submit a design concept and sketch for this one-of-a-kind art project. Submissions will be accepted through an online submission form until January 11, 2019 at 11:59 PM EST. Of the submitted concepts, 45 will be selected to create the Klompen Garden. Tulip Time will supply each selected artist or group of collaborating artists with a large pair (34”L x 12”W x 12”H) of ‘wooden’ shoes, through which artists are encouraged to bring their concept to life.

 

Upon completion of the 45 projects, a juror vote and public vote will determine the favorite klompen. The juror’s pick will be awarded a grand prize of $1,000 and will be announced at an artist reception to be held in April. The public will also have a chance to vote for their favorites of the remaining 44 klompen between May 1 – 11, 2019. The top three public picks will be announced on May 12. Of the public votes, first place will be awarded $500, second place will be awarded $300 and third place will be awarded $200. Visit www.tuliptime.com/klompen-gardenfor full entry details and competition information!

 

Not an artist, but interested in supporting this public art project at the 90thTulip Time Festival? Businesses, organizations and individuals can support Klompen Garden for a donation of $1,000. Donors will receive recognition on Klompen Garden collateral and will take home a pair of completed klompen after the festival.

 

For additional details, contact Elizabeth Wallace at elizabeth@tuliptime.comor 616.396.4221 x104. Follow this project now through the festival by using #klompengarden!

 

Join the dance as we “paint the town orange”at Tulip Time’s 90thAnniversary celebration May 4-12, 2019. Detailed program and event information for Tulip Time 2019 is available on www.tuliptime.com. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online at www.tuliptime.com, in person at the Tulip Time Festival Box Office located at 42 West 8thStreet, Holland, Michigan, or by phone at 800-822-2770.

ADHD Treatment Beyond Medication

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, How-To's, , , , ,
Courtesy of Cherry Health

By Dr. Nancy A. Pattison, FAAP, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Heart of the City Pediatrics and Westside Health Center

 

Parents need to understand the behaviors they see are not on purpose. Their kids aren’t acting “bad” on purpose. All kids are born “people pleasers” and are trying to do the best they can. When they are not acting the way you think is healthy, please find out why they are acting this way and what you can do to help them. A good child therapist can help if you need to change how you parent your child in order to get the best out of them. Without being rude, I would ask you to consider how dogs are taught to not potty in the house. You train them with kindness and attention to let you know when they need to go outside. The same goes for kids in many ways. As kids don’t come with an instruction manual at birth, getting “training” advice may be helpful! Here are some ways to keep your child healthy:

  • Make sure they get 8-10 hours of good sleep (if your child snores talk to their primary care doctor and get that fixed!).
  • Eat food that is pulled off a tree, off a bush or out of the ground – not out of a box. Processed foods (food out of a box like cereal and mac and cheese) are bad for the brain.
  • Eat good protein (eggs, nuts, beans, chicken, turkey and some fish) and good fat.
  • Avoid fast food.
  • Help them go out and play in a green space (and away from video games and TV).

If medication is prescribed, know that it will work better if you do all of these things listed! Enjoy your talented, think outside the box, creative child!

 

Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health.

School News Network: How to spark school spirit? Ask the students

Citizen Journalism, ,
Adriana Ruiz, left, and Abigail Parada complete the first part of a collaborative exercise at Lee High School

By Bridie Bereza

School News Network

 

Cosplay night. A raffle. “Reb Fest,” complete with music, food, go-karts, a dunk tank and bounce houses.

 

These were some of the ideas students proposed last week, as seniors in Jody Snyder’s English classes at Lee High School gathered in the second-floor media center to tackle an ongoing problem: poor student attendance at athletic events.

 

“We’ve never had really full crowds,” said Jason Faasse, now in his fourth year as athletic director for the Rebels. Faasse joined Snyder and Sarah Wood, technology and media integration specialist, to facilitate the exercise.

 

Students said they also have noticed the lack of school spirit.

 

“People mostly go to the homecoming game and that’s it,” said senior Brithany Reyes.

 

Snyder concurs that morale in the stands is lacking, and she would know: in addition to teaching English and elective courses like the senior capstone class, she coaches sideline and competitive cheer at the school.

 

“As coaches and teachers, we find that student involvement has been decreasing over the years,” she said “We decided that we needed to involve the students instead of just talking amongst the adults.”

 

Senior Angie Rodas discusses an idea to boost attendance at high school athletic events

The Process

 

Students opened their school-provided laptops and found a page with some questions: Do you play a sport? What keeps you from attending athletic events? What would make you want to attend? After answering and refreshing the page, they could see the anonymous responses of their classmates. A few responded that after-school jobs them from going to games. Others said they’d go if they knew more friends who did. The answers helped inform the next step: designing a gimmick to boost student participation on the sidelines and in the stands.

 

Parameters were broad: Students could make their solutions specific to one sport, or applicable to a variety of athletic events. They only needed to hatch a plan and share what kind of support they would need to get it off the ground. And there’s one more thing.

 

“You will be presenting your idea in front of the class,” said Wood, as groans and looks of disdain spread over the room.

 

“I’m a little scared” of standing up in front of the class, admitted Angie Rodas.

 

After all presentations were finished, the ideas were to be compiled and voted on by the entire senior class.

 

Sarah Wood, technology and media integration specialist at Lee High School, instructs students before Tuesday’s Quickfire activity

Tackling Concepts

 

On the surface the exercise was all about boosting attendance at school athletic events. But it’s much more, explained Wood. This type of exercise, known as a “quickfire,” meets the challenge of embedding the “6Cs” of collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation and confidence into the classroom.

 

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools has embraced the 6Cs, detailed in the book “Becoming Brilliant” as a basis for academic success.On the surface the exercise was all about boosting attendance at school athletic events. But it’s much more, explained Wood. This type of exercise, known as a “quickfire,” meets the challenge of embedding the “6Cs” of collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation and confidence into the classroom.

 

Wood said she learned about quickfire exercises at a conference at Michigan State University last fall. She took the method, used by MSU’s Master of Arts in Education Technology program, and tailored it for use in elementary, middle, and high school environments. Basically, students are given a problem and they must come up with a solution using limited resources and time constraints. Use of the quickfire for Lee High seniors, she said, was driven in part by the fact that they must complete a capstone course where they pick a career, do mentor interviews and gain hands-on experience.

 

Teachers had noticed that some students struggled with the elements required to complete the capstone.

 

“When that comes, they freeze,” said Wood. “It’s too many things coming at them. (Snyder) and I were talking last year and decided, ‘something’s got to help get them thinking this way. How can we embed those six C’s into everyday lessons?’ (With quickfire), they have to communicate, they have to collaborate, they have to be creative.”

 

The culmination, the presentation portion of the exercise, addresses another “C”, said Wood: confidence.

 

“Kids who wouldn’t speak up suddenly start speaking up,” said Wood. “They’re given that voice. So once they get used to it in a comfortable, relaxed, non-threatening activity like this, then you start seeing it more in the classroom. It’s not necessarily related to their capstone, but they’re forced to think that way.”

 

The benefit of the exercise is academic in nature, but the ideas that come out of it are major bonus points. Last year, said Wood, students did a quickfire exercise to propose after-school clubs. Some students took the ideas they’d developed in the classroom to the principal, who implemented them. She is hoping for a similar outcome with the latest exercise.

 

Left to right: students Jessica Rodriguez, Ijayla Banks, Marcus Nesbary, and Pablo Gasca pitch their idea for “cosplay night”

The Pitch

 

When it came time for students to share their solutions, they presented a range of ideas. Many involved food. Some were inexpensive and easy to implement. Others would require significant funding and permits.

 

Senior Erick Chavarria’s four-person group hoped to boost participation at soccer matches with an activity they called “Kick-a-Pumpkin”, where participants would get chance to kick a soccer ball at a pumpkin and win prizes for knocking it over.

 

“I really hope this project gives everyone a slap in the face,” said Chavarria, class president who plans to set an example and attend more events this year. “This is high school and this is one of the places you make the most memories. I want people to look back and say, ‘Yeah, I had a good time.’”

 

Snyder approved. “I think they’ve got great ideas. It’s nothing that we can’t do,” she said. “I think it’s just getting the right people involved and actually giving them ownership of their ideas. I think we can do some of these things, and I think we’ll see student involvement increase at sporting events.”

 

Faasse said there are many reasons students don’t come to games, including transportation and work schedules. While the implementation of ideas might not be able to capture all students, he hopes those who don’t attend because their friends aren’t there will change their tune.

 

Snyder said that it’s more fun for all of the students, especially athletes, if they have their peers there to support them and they hear them in the stands or on the sidelines.

 

“They play harder, they seem happier,” she said. “It’s just a better environment.”

 

Jody Snyder, a teacher and coach at Lee High School, discusses the assignment with her English students

And the Winner Is…

 

Two days after the quickfire exercise, all seniors had a chance to vote on their favorite idea to boost attendance at athletic events.

 

The winning idea was concocted by seniors Myesha Cross, Jacky Jaime, Anaisa Sanchez and Yuri Damian. The group called their idea “Rebel ID.” Under the proposal, students receive free admission to games if they show their student identification card.

 

After announcing the winning idea, Wood and Snyder reiterated to the students that this is a student-led project, so what happens next is up to them, said Wood. After the quickfire, she added, students came up with even more ideas to boost game attendance, such as Senior night and theme nights.

 

“They really took off with it,” said Wood.

 

Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.

This week, WKTV features launch of cargo craft to International Space Station

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, WKTV Projects, , ,
The Northrup Grumman “SS John Young” Cygnus CRS-10 Cargo Craft will head to space Nov. 15.

On Thursday, Nov. 15, WKTV will be featuring the launch of the Northrup Grumman “SS John Young” Cygnus CRS-10 Cargo Craft to the International Space Station.

 

The cargo craft, which is flying critical American science experiments and crew supplies to the ISS, has been named in honor of John Young, NASA’s longest serving  astronaut who passed away earlier this year.

 

Young began his impressive career at NASA in 1962, when he was selected from among hundreds of young pilots to join NASA’s second astronaut class, known as the “New Nine.” He walked on the moon during Apollo 16 and commanded the first space shuttle mission. In early 1973, he became chief of the Space Shuttle Branch of the Astronaut Office at Johnson Space Center. The following year, Young, who retired from the Navy as a captain in 1976 after 25 years of military service, was named chief of the Astronaut Office, a post he held until May 1987.

 

Coverage begins at 4:15 a.m., with the launch scheduled at 4:49 a.m. from the Wallops Flight Facility.

 

Stay tuned for coverage of the Solar Array Deployment beginning at 5:45 a.m.

 

Coverage of the Post-Launch News Conference begins at 7 a.m.

 

For more information on NASA TV or the International Space Station, log on to www.nasa.gov.

 

NASA TV can be seen on the WKTV 26 Government Channel on Comcast and AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99.

Meijer Gardens to host annual ‘Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World’ exhibition

3-bottom, Holidays, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Upcoming Events

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By Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park 

 

Experience the joy of the holidays at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park with the annual Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition on display from Nov. 20 through Jan. 6, 2019. Guests from all over the world visit Meijer Gardens to experience 42 Christmas and holiday trees and displays representing countries and cultures from across the globe. The always favorite and enchanting Railway Garden and the holiday wonderland that encompasses it will once again wind its way through three lush indoor garden spaces, including the recently renovated Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse.

 

Guests are invited to ring in the holiday season with our most beloved winter exhibition. It’s the season of joy! This year Meijer Gardens celebrates how our community and communities around the world joyfully commemorates the diverse and generations-old traditions that remain vibrant today. Visitors will experience a world of cultural celebrations, represented across 42 different displays that explore folklore and fact, past and present.

 

In many cultures, the holidays bring people together in distinct and memorable ways that are difficult to capture in a display. New this year, Meijer Gardens is presenting a wonderous original film, joy, that explores the diverse festive fabric that is holiday life across our local communities. This film will be shown continuously in the Hoffman Family Auditorium and is available on the Meijer Gardens YouTube channel as well.

 

“This year we take note of how our community joyfully commemorates the diverse, generations-old traditions that remain vibrant today though joy, a new film exploring the festive fabric that is holiday life across our local community.” said Maureen Nollette, Annual Exhibitions Assistant Designer.

 

Each winter, Meijer Gardens transforms into a botanic wonderland with fresh poinsettias, orchids and amaryllis. The smell of evergreens as visitors enter the building and the sounds of carolers make it a place to reflect and enjoy the holiday season. Indoors and out, trees sparkle with 300,000 colorful lights. More than 500 volunteers lovingly decorate the trees and displays.

 

The unique horticultural artistry of the beloved Railway Garden complements the model trolleys, trains and handcrafted buildings replicating 30 Grand Rapids landmarks. Visitors will find familiarity in the Fifth Third Ballpark replica building with its light posts made of willow, as well as striking hydrangea petals that make up the iconic glass tower of the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Five landmarks from Grand Rapids sister cities around the world are also represented in the Railway Garden.

 

“This holiday season, guests have a special opportunity to see how our community joyfully celebrates a variety of traditions from centuries ago that remain vibrant today,” said Steve LaWarre, Director of Horticulture. “These traditions are wonderful, celebratory aspects of West Michigan’s diversity and community.”

 

Mainstays of the exhibition include the Germany tree, adorned with handmade glass ornaments and homemade springerle cookies, the England tree—with antique Christmas cards and mistletoe—and the beautiful Eid ul-Fitr display, which celebrates the end of Ramadan.

 

A variety of family-friendly activities are offered throughout the exhibition.

 

Exhibition Activities

 

Extended Holiday Hours: Open until 9 p.m. on December 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28 and 29. (Meijer Gardens is CLOSED on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day).

 

The Original Dickens Carolers: Tuesdays: Nov. 20 and 27, Dec. 4, 11, 18, 6-8 p.m.
Santa Visits: Tuesdays: Nov. 20 and 27, Dec.4, 11, 18, 5-8 p.m.
Rooftop Reindeer: Saturdays: Nov. 24, Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 1-4 p.m.

 

Christmas Cabaret Gala: Thursday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m. (RSVP required)

 

Winter-Time Walks: (Nov. 20-Jan. 5, 2019) Tuesdays 10:15 and 11:15 a.m., Saturdays 11:15 a.m. Winter in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden can be chilly, but fun! Bundle up and join us on an outdoor interactive discovery walk to investigate the Children’s Garden in new ways. We’ll explore different winter themes and gather in a cozy spot to learn about winter with stories, kid-friendly conversation and other activities.

 

And Christmas and Holiday Themed Classes: Enjoy festive learning opportunities for adults and families. Fees apply.

 

Visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for more information.

 

Carbon Monoxide safety and awareness important year-around

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

 

By Consumers Energy

 

With fall’s colder temperatures across Michigan signaling the start of the deadliest season for carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings, Gov. Rick Snyder and Michigan’s two largest energy providers last week urged residents to protect themselves against toxic gas known as the “silent killer” because it is colorless, odorless and tasteless.

 

“Carbon monoxide can be deadly and is the leading cause of unintentional poisoning in the United States and we applaud Gov. Snyder for declaring Nov. 5 – 11 Carbon Monoxide Safety and Awareness Week in Michigan,” said Charles Crews, vice president of gas operations for Consumers Energy.

 

“At Consumers Energy safety is our top priority. We are committed to helping families stay safe by sharing information to prevent this life-threatening hazard that can occur almost anywhere – including homes, businesses, RVs, hunting blinds and when using portable generators,” Crews said.

 

Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, provides natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

 

CO poisoning occurs when appliances and consumer products are improperly operated or vented and fuel does not burn properly – including oil, propane, natural gas, wood, charcoal, gasoline, kerosene and diesel. December, January and February are when the most carbon monoxide poisonings occur because furnaces are operating and buildings are more airtight.

 

“DTE urges families to protect themselves against CO poisoning by installing an Underwriters Laboratory (UL)-approved audible carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Businesses should install carbon monoxide alarms in main areas to protect their employees and customers,” said Dan Brudzynski, vice president of Gas Sales & Supply for DTE Gas.  “We also recommend interconnecting all CO alarms, so that when one alarm goes off, they all will sound.”

 

Common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often flu-like and can include headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath and stinging or burning of the eyes. Prolonged exposure can cause loss of consciousness and even death.

 

Anyone experiencing these symptoms and suspects carbon monoxide poisoning should leave the affected home or building immediately, call 9-1-1 for medical attention and stay out of the building until the problem has been corrected. Other important tips to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning include:

 

Inspect furnaces annually, and have regular tune-ups performed by a qualified service professional.

 

Change or clean furnace air filters at least once a month (more if pets are present) during the heating season.

 

Inspect chimneys and vent pipes regularly to be sure they are free of obstructions like leaves and animal/bird nests.

 

Keep generators at least 25 feet away from enclosed areas and away from doors, windows and fresh air intakes. Never use a generator in a basement, enclosed garage or covered porch.

 

Vehicles, power lawn equipment and snow blowers should only be operated where there is adequate ventilation, never in enclosed spaces.

 

Never use gas stoves or charcoal grills for heating a room. Never leave a supplemental heater or fireplace unattended.

 

To learn more about carbon monoxide visit ConsumersEnergy.com/cosafety

 

Developing family rules

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Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Kylie Rymanowicz, Michigan State University Extension

 

Setting family rules is the first step to establishing boundaries for your child’s behavior. Rules tell your children what you value, what is important to you and your family. When rules are enforced, it is an opportunity for children to practice making decisions and dealing with the consequences of their choices. Boundaries that you set will help guide your child’s behavior.

 

Michigan State University Extension has some tips to help set and enforce family rules.

 

Keep the rules simple. The more complicated a rule, the harder it is to remember. Keep your rules short and simple so it is easier for young children to learn and remember. Rules for young children should be very easy to understand and there should be as few rules as possible.

 

Make sure rules are enforceable. Rules or boundaries should be connected to consequences, or what will happen if the rule is broken. Set consequences that are fair and reasonable and give your child the opportunity to learn to make better choices in the future.

 

Enforce rules consistently. If a rule is only enforced some of the time, your child will notice and they will learn that the rule doesn’t need to be followed. Make sure you enforce rules consistently and as soon as possible. This helps build a cause-and-effect relationship for your child (if I do this, then this will happen). This will help them learn to make better choices in the future.

 

Remind the rule. Kids need lots of reminders about rules and boundaries. Post a picture chart for your family rules in the house where your child will be able to see them regularly. Remind your child of the rules often, and give the warnings so they have the opportunity to change their behavior before facing consequences.

 

Remember that rules are for everyone. If you set a rule for your family and you break it, you are sending a message to your child that you do not value that rule. It’s important to practice what you preach and impact upon your child that the rule is so important, even you will follow it.

 

Family rules can help calm the chaos and set limits that will help your child understand boundaries and learn to make good choices.

 

For more articles on child development, academic success, parenting and life skill development, please visit the Michigan State University Extension website.

 

To learn about the positive impact children and families experience due to MSU Extension programs, read our 2017 impact report. Additional impact reports, highlighting even more ways Michigan 4-H and MSU Extension positively impacted individuals and communities in 2017, can be downloaded from the Michigan 4-H website.

 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Enroll now for health insurance in 2019

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By Brenda Long, Michigan State University Extension

For more information contact Brenda Long.

 

Health insurance helps provide financial protection. It is for managing the risks of very high medical expenses for potential future health problems. Plan your choices during health insurance open enrollment for 2019. If you obtain health insurance from your employer, ask about the enrollment dates and options. The information below is for people buying health insurance on their own.

Changes for 2019 include the following:

1. Premiums have flattened out for 2019 Health Insurance Marketplace plans after several years of spikes, according to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Consumers should find more affordable, more comprehensive coverage. In Michigan, nine companies will be competing for policy holders to purchase Qualified Health Plans in the Michigan Health Insurance Marketplace:

  • Blue Care Network
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of MI
  • McLaren Health Plan Community
  • Meridian Health Plan of MI, Inc
  • Molina Healthcare of MI
  • Oscar Insurance Company
  • Physicians Health Plan
  • Priority Health
  • Total Health Care USA

2. The repeal of the individual mandate requirement to pay for health insurance is still in effect in 2018 but will not be included in 2019. This means when you file federal income taxes for 2019, you will not pay a penalty for not having health insurance.

 

3. Short-term, limited-duration plans are allowable to cover an initial period of less than 12 months with renewal options, and up to 36 months total. This provides for new, more affordable options. These plans can provide coverage for people transitioning between jobs, students taking time off from school, and middle-class families without access to subsidized ACA plans. These plans offer lower premiums than comprehensive health insurance, but also cover less. They do not have to take people with pre-existing medical conditions. They may not cover maternity, mental health, prescription drugs and substance abuse treatment. Read the fine print if you are considering this coverage.

 

Not new but important to mention are Health Savings Accounts (HSA), which can be set up through your employer or by an individual. These tax-exempt accounts can be used to pay for eligible out-of-pocket health care expenses not covered by traditional health plans.  HSAs must be established with a high deductible plan so that the HSA pays for routine health expenses and the health plan for more significant costs. Individuals can go to many banks and credit unions in Michigan to set up an account.

 

Here are 5 things to get ready to enroll for health insurance:

  1. Know the dates of the Open Enrollment period. The Health Insurance Marketplace has a 45-day enrollment period from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, 2018. The Medicare open enrollment period is different from the Marketplace time frame, from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2018. If you qualify for the Healthy Michigan Plan, Medicaid or MiChild, you can enroll at any time of the year.
  2. Ask your employer if it offers health insurance as a benefit. Some employers make use of the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) for employees. If not, you may need to get coverage through the Marketplace, or directly from a health insurance agent or company.
  3. Make a list of questions before it is time to choose your health plan. Do you want to stay with your current doctor? Will the plan provide coverage when you are travelling? This will help you compare multiple plans. Have you received a notice from your current health plan about changes to its provider network, co-pays, co-insurance, or prescription drug coverage and what does this mean for you? Read the notice carefully.
  4. Gather your household income information. With the Marketplace, many people qualify for tax credits to save money based on family size and income. Find your most recent W-2, pay stubs or tax return.
  5. Set your budget. You need to figure out how much you can afford to spend on premiums each month. Think about your health care needs, how often you visit the doctor, the number and cost of prescriptions. If you expect frequent visits, prescriptions or medical services, you might want a plan that has higher monthly premiums but pays more medical costs when you use them, so you have fewer out-of-pocket costs. For more information about managing plans with high deductibles, see my February 21, 2017, news article.

This is also a good time to do a financial check-up. Be sure to check out Michigan State University Extension and MIMoneyHealth.org for great tips on many financial topics plus programs in the Events column.

 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Kenny Chesney gets intimate at Van Andel Arena, dates TBA

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, ,
File photo

By Hilarie Carpenter, SMG

 

Having set and often broken his own records with 2018’s Trip Around the Sun Tour — including over a million fans at Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium and becoming the single biggest-seller at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium — Kenny Chesney wanted to change things up. He knows his massive stadium shows are a rite of summer, playing to over a million people on every single tour, but the 8-time Entertainer of the Year wanted a little more intimacy for 2019 by taking the music to where the fans are.
“I wanted to change it up,” says Chesney. “Last year was so intense, and amazing. No Shoes Nation took it to a whole other level, and they blew all of us away. It was the kind of energy you don’t take for granted. So when we started thinking about next year, they made me wanna come to them. Rather than the massive two-day set-up, make everyone come to a stadium away from their homes, I wanted to go to where the fans live… strip things back a bit, and do make it a little more intimate.”
“I love reaching to the very top, the very back of a football stadium, but I also love the idea of really being able to see the back of the room.”
So, after much speculation, Kenny Chesney announces his Songs for the Saints 2019 Tour. Initial dates include Champaign, Illinois, Grand Rapids, Michigan and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, making Songs for the Saints 2019 Tour a decidedly different kind of tour. Focusing on the heartland, MidAtlantic and South over the course of three months, it’s a chance for the songwriter/superstar from East Tennessee to get into several cities without stadiums — and Chesney is fired up about the prospects.
“Sometimes it’s about stripping things back, and creating a different kind of experience,” says the only country artist on Billboard’s Top 10 Touring Acts of the Last 25 Years. “Making Songs for the Saints really showed me the power of bringing things closer to the heart. For me, I wanted 2019 on the road to get the music to the fans, right where they live, and as always, my team figured out exactly how to help me do that.”
For Chesney, the man Variety called “Country music’s only true long-term stadium act” and about whom USA Today hailed, “Chesney’s charisma stretched to the back rows of the stadium,” Songs for the Saints 2019 Tour makes good on everything his career has been built on. Having spent 2018 writing and recording Songs for the Saints, spearheading island recovery efforts in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands through his Love for Love City Fund, playing 19 stadiums and 43 dates, his focus has been on how music makes a difference.
“This is the kind of thing you do for passion,” Chesney explains. “To rein things in a bit, change up the way we present the music, I know these songs will show us things they don’t when we’re in those massive stadiums. I never worry about the energy or the passion, but I think the songs are different depending on where you play them. So I’m fired up for 2019.”

19th Annual Kick-Off Classic Synchronized Skating Competition at Wings Event Center Nov. 17-18

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, ,
Photo courtesy Greater Kalamazoo Skating Association

 

By West Michigan Tourist Association

The Greater Kalamazoo Skating Association (GKSA) will host the 19th Annual Kick-Off Classic Synchronized Skating Competition at Wings Event Center Nov. 17–18.

The weekend-long event will feature:

  • Over 130 teams

  • Approximately 1,700 skaters

  • Teams competing who will represent Team USA at international competitions

  • Team critiques

  • A judge’s school

“There’s something so special about watching as many as 16 skaters performing intersections, wheels, traveling circles, jumps, and daring lifts to a variety of music with creative and innovative choreography. It’s an incredible experience to witness whether you’re a skater or not, and we love being able to share that with the community,” Kristen Crandle, Chairperson of Kick-Off Classic, said.

Kick-Off Classic Skating Competition

This synchronized skating competition began in 1999 with 11 teams.  The competition now hosts more than 130 teams (more than 1700 skaters) from throughout the Midwest and sometimes even Canada.  Competitors from beginners to senior levels, youth to adults, participate in the event.  Additional features of this competition include team critiques and a judges’ school.

What is Synchronized Skating?

Synchronized skating is a team sport in which 8-20 skaters perform a program together. It uses the same judging system as singles, pairs, and dance and is characterized by teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences. As with the other disciplines, all teams perform a free skate with required well-balanced program elements. In addition, teams at the junior and senior level perform a short program consisting of required elements.

Elements in synchronized skating include blocks, circles, wheels, lines, intersections, move elements, creative elements, no holds elements, spins, and pairs moves. The variety and difficulty of elements require that each team member is a highly skilled individual skater. The typical senior-level athlete has passed a senior or gold test in at least two disciplines.

Kick-Off Classic will feature synchronized skating teams of 8-16 skaters ranging in age from 4 to adult with team levels from beginner to those qualifying for international Team USA assignments. Competition begins at 8:30am both days. Tickets are available at Wings Event Center Box Office. A detailed schedule may be found on www.greaterkzooskate.org under Special Events.

Grand Rapids Public Museum hosts pizza parlor classics Mighty Wurlitzer Organ concerts

Entertainment, , ,

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is hosting Pizza Parlor Classics on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Concerts on Nov. 16 and 17, as part of the 2018 Organ Concert Series.

 

The November concerts will feature Brett Valliant playing classic “pizza parlor” organ music including Maple Leaf Rag, In the Mood, Phantom of the Opera and Rock Around the Clock.

 

The November concerts will be taking the Wurlitzer Organ back to its roots. The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ spent two decades entertaining customers at the Roaring 20’s Pizza Parlor on 28th Street in Grand Rapids, before it was moved to its current location at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

 

Brett Valliant is an American organist who is in high demand for his ability to perform many different genres of music on the instrument he loves. At fifteen, he played his first Wurlitzer and exhibited a natural talent for the popular music loved by fans of the theatre organ. He plays annually for several film festivals including the International Film Festival hosted by the American Film Institute, and has been a featured performer at national conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the American Theatre Organ Society. He has toured extensively as a solo artist, featured soloist with orchestras, and film accompanist abroad and throughout the United States. Critics have defined his performances as “exciting,” “refreshing,” “unorthodox” and “astonishing.”

 

Shows will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, in the Meijer Theater at the GRPM.

 

Tickets for individual concerts are $8 for Museum member adults, $4 for Museum member children, $10 for non-member adults and $5 for non-member children. Tickets are available by visiting www.grpm.org/Organ or by calling 616-929-1700.

 

The third and final concert of the series will feature Lance Luce performing holiday songs, which includes favorites such as White Christmas, Silver Bells, and Let it Snow, on Friday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 22, at 2 p.m.

Snapshots: Kentwood, Wyoming weekend news you need to know

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WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

On Veteran's Day: "It’s about how we treat our veterans every single day of the year.  ... It’s about serving all of you as well as you’ve served the United States of America.”."
                                           - President Barack Obama

 

Wyoming to host Vets Day breakfast

Veterans lay a wreath during Wyoming’s 2017 Memorial Day ceremony.

This year, the City of Wyoming has decided to switch things up when it comes to its annual Veterans Day program, replacing its outdoor evening ceremony for a morning breakfast event. Set for Nov. 12 at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW, the breakfast is free for veterans, $5 for non-veterans. For the complete story, click here.

 

Santa and more headed to Mall

There will be plenty of photo ops with Santa for kids at Woodland Mall this holiday season.
As the holiday season nears, Woodland Mall is preparing for Santa’s arrival, setting up decorations and hosting a series of events to help shoppers spread holiday cheer this winter. And all the fun starts this weekend. For the complete story, click here.

 

A weekend of holiday cheer near

Scenes from the Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival, returning Nov. 15-17 to downtown Grand Rapids. (Supplied)
It doesn’t matter if your a chardonnay sipper or a porter pounder, there will probably be something to your taste at the 11th Annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival, returning Nov. 15-17 to DeVos Place downtown, with food, beverage and culinary-themed entertainment presented by area chefs, restaurants and purveyors of the spectrum of libations — including of the caffeinated variety. For the complete story, click here.

 

Fun Fact:

2,252 brewpubs

At the end of 2017, there were more than 6,266 craft breweries subdivided into 2,252 brewpubs, 3,812 microbreweries and 202 regional craft breweries. (Source)

School News Network: Student: Emphasis on values changes school culture

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Carolina Rodriguez and Edgar Aguillon pair up during an icebreaker in Katie Hoffman’s third-hour advisory class, which is focused on respect on this particular day

 

By Bridie Bereza

School News Network

 

Twice a week, science teacher Katie Hoffman spends third period teaching not biology or physics, but civility. Last week, after some icebreakers to get students talking and a brief video on respect, she asked her students how they could make respect a habit.

 

When you see someone, offer “a smile and a hello,” said one student.

 

“Instead of saying, ‘Hey you, hey you,’ say their name,” suggested another.

Keymoni Williams shares an answer during a lesson about respect

 

The character-building curriculum, developed in part by Hoffman and a team of Godwin Heights administrators, teachers, counselors and support staff, is taught around the school during what’s known as advisory period.

 

The curriculum focuses on what students should do instead of what they shouldn’t: as in, yes to holding the door, picking up trash on the floor and welcoming a new student at the lunch table.

 

It has the obvious benefit of teaching students important life skills and values like self-control, integrity, responsibility and perseverance.

 

But since its implementation last year, the program’s effects on student behavior in the school have been nothing short of amazing, said Assistant Principal Mike Porco. And the proof is in the data.

 

Plummeting Problems

 

The advisory period has been around for some years at the high school, but a grant to participate in Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative made it possible to develop the current decorum-focused curriculum. Once implemented, the payoff was almost immediate.

Senior Laciana Gonzalez has seen a positive change in student behavior and attitudes since her freshman year

 

“After the first week or two, this was just a different place,” said Porco, who quickly noticed less noise in the halls and less traffic in the office. “There’s a feel to data, and then there’s the real data. We tried to match that feeling with numbers, and were staggered on how big of a change that really was.”

 

The goal was to reduce by 5 percent discipline referrals in each of five categories: disrespect, disruption to the educational process, fighting, insubordination and verbal confrontation.

 

After one semester, the school saw drops of 45, 54, 52 and 32 percent, respectively, in the first four categories. Verbal confrontation, which had the lowest number of all categories to begin with, increased from the same semester the previous year, from 12 to 30.

 

By the end of the year, the school had seen double-digit decreases in disciplinary referrals for three of the five categories.

 

A poster created during an advisory period is one of many that outlines behavioral expectations

Less Disruption, More Learning

 

“It has definitely impacted my job,” Hoffman said of the curriculum. “Although we do still have disciplinary incidents, there are many less than in years’ past.”

 

Focusing on character education, she says, gives her more time to spend on teaching. It also allows teachers to walk alongside students and encourage them to make positive choices that will impact their future — lessons, she says, that will last a lifetime.

 

Students see the difference too. “Freshman year, everybody was goofing off and yelling at teachers because they thought it was cool,” recalled senior Laciana Gonzalez.

 

But the introduction of the curriculum and the school’s emphasis on values known throughout the school by the acronym “PRIDE” (Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, Engage), have changed the whole culture, she said. Now, incoming freshmen catch on pretty quickly.

 

Science Teacher Katie Hoffman high-fives student De’Amontae Clark during a discussion on respect

“PRIDE teaches kids to be a little bit more mature, and once one person shows it, everybody else kind of follows,” Laciana said. “You see someone holding a door for you, and you hold it for the next person. You don’t think about it; you just do it. It’s something you’re expected to do.”
So what happened over the summer? Have the lessons of last year stuck?

 

While Porco hadn’t yet crunched the numbers for each focus category, he was encouraged to see that, at a glance, disciplinary referrals were down again from the first few weeks of last year.

 

“So far, so good,” he said.

 

Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.

 

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Sound mind: A matter of degrees?

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Earning a degree in your later years isn’t just a matter of career advancement or personal achievement—it’s another way to stay sharp. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Shawn Foucher, Spectrum Health Beat

 

Researchers have long held that a heart-healthy diet and an active mind are among your best defenses against dementia.

 

But evidence continues to mount that you should also strive for a life of learning.

 

Recent studies suggest that mental stimulation at any age—from teens to post-retirement—is apt to improve the odds of enjoying a sound, healthy mind well into your twilight.

 

JAMA Neurology recently published results from a Minnesota study that found people ages 70 and older could decrease their risk of developing mild cognitive impairment by engaging in activities such as books, crafts, computers, games and socializing.

 

Interestingly, crafts and computers were especially associated with a decreased risk, according to the study.

 

Perhaps more compelling, however, is a separate JAMA Internal Medicine study that found an increase in educational attainment when you’re young may lead to a healthier brain in later ages.

 

Helmed by professor Kenneth Langa, the study reinforces what other researchers have been noticing—an unexpected but encouraging decline in dementia rates among the aging population in the U.S.

 

Langa and his team uncovered the association between dementia and educational attainment.

 

They measured dementia rates in two groups, one with an average age of 75 in 2000, the other with an average age of 75 in 2012. They found the dementia rate at 11.6 percent in the first group, 8.8 percent in the second group.

 

While those in the first group had attained about 11.8 years of education, on average, those in the second group attained about 12.7 years—almost a full additional year.

 

Coincidentally, the increasing value Americans have placed on education is borne out in the historical data. Prior to World War II, about 38 percent of those ages 25 to 29 had completed high school. By 1960, more than 60 percent in this age group had completed high school.

 

In comparing earlier generations to subsequent ones, it may suggest a greater return than expected on education: brain health benefits.

 

The notion that education could promote longer-term brain health is certainly not lost on the legion of gerontologists and neurologists responsible for treating some of the 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, and millions more suffering from various forms of dementia.

 

“We know from other studies that education does appear to be a protective factor, so folks with more education are less likely to develop dementia,” said Maegan Hatfield-Eldred, PhD, a neuropsychologist with Spectrum Health.

 

“The idea is that education, learning new things, stimulates the parts of the brain that produce new cells and grow connections between cells,” Dr. Hatfield-Eldred said. “So people with more education have more brain matter that they can lose, and still maintain normal functioning.”

 

The implication here, of course, is that this brain stimulation and development occurs in youth and continues to benefit people into old age.

 

The takeaway: Brain health isn’t something to ruminate post-retirement.

 

It’s something parents should keep in mind for themselves and their children from the get-go, with consistent emphasis on education and intellectual development.

 

“It really emphasizes the importance of thinking about brain health over your lifespan,” Dr. Hatfield-Eldred said. “This isn’t something you should think about when you turn 70. It’s really a lifetime thing. The things you do over your lifespan impact whether you may develop dementia down the road.”

Ponder it

A question remains: What can you do now, as an adult, to increase the chances you’ll have a healthy brain into your 70s, 80s and beyond?

 

While age is the biggest determinant in the development of Alzheimer’s and forms of dementia, genetic factors also play a substantial role. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, although some medications can alleviate the symptoms.

 

“The No. 1 risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is your age,” said Iris Boettcher, MD, chief of geriatrics for Spectrum Health. “The older you get, the higher the risk.”

 

You can’t change your genes, but you can change your lifestyle.

 

Activities that require mental concentration are all apt to help with cognitive function, Dr. Boettcher said.

 

“The advice I give, even once the diagnosis of dementia is made, is we know that regular mental stimulation is helpful in reducing the progression of the disease,” she said.

 

Dr. Boettcher is especially keen on discussions and activities that encourage higher-level thinking.

 

“People say reading, and reading is OK, but it’s really discussing what you have read,” she said. “You can read things over and over again, but it’s not necessarily constructive brain stimulation.”

 

While that’s no call to run out and enroll in the physics track at your local university, it is a call to challenge yourself mentally.

 

“It’s not a cure-all,” Dr. Hatfield-Eldred said. “But in general, we know that people who stay (mentally) active have lower (dementia) rates. It may prolong the onset of dementia if you are someone who was going to develop dementia. Maybe you’ll get it later than you would, or maybe it will progress more slowly than it would have without those activities.”

 

Drs. Hatfield-Eldred and Boettcher also emphasize the importance of regular exercise—at least three times a week, about 20 to 30 minutes each time—and a heart-healthy diet such as the Mediterranean diet.

 

“It’s been shown in multiple studies: It reduces the progression of dementia and it’s healthy for the brain,” Dr. Boettcher said. “You don’t have to be a marathon runner or work out in a gym. It’s very simple.”

 

The take-home message from these studies: “There’s no one magic activity,” Dr. Hatfield-Eldred said.

 

Just eat right, exercise and study hard.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Six tips when freezing meat – including storage chart

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Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Jeannie Nichols, Michigan State University Extension

 

You found a great sale on meat and bought more than you can use within a day or two. You can preserve it by canning, drying or freezing. Freezing is by far the simplest method of preserving meat. Michigan State University Extension has some helpful tips when freezing meat.

  1. You can freeze fresh meat and poultry in its supermarket wrapping if you will use it in a month or two. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends that you add a second wrapping for long-term storage to maintain quality and prevent freezer burn. Overwrap the package of meat with airtight heavy-duty aluminum foil, freezer paper or place the package inside a freezer bag. While it is safe to freeze fresh meat or poultry in its supermarket wrapping, this type of wrap allows air to pass through, which can lead to freezer burn. Foods with freezer burn are safe to eat, but will be dry and may not taste good.
  2. Keep your freezer at 0º Fahrenheit or lower. Put no more food in your freezer than can get frozen in 24 hours.
  3. Spread out the bags of meat in your freezer when you are first freezing them. You can neatly stack and organize them in your freezer once they are completely frozen.
  4. Do not stuff any kind of meat or poultry before freezing it. Harmful bacteria can grow in the stuffing before it gets completely frozen and then it can once again grow when it is being thawed.
  5. Thaw all meats in the refrigerator for the very best quality. Cook the meat once it is thawed.
  6. Freeze meat in meal size portions. Label the package with the kind of meat, the amount in the package and the date it was frozen.

Freezing keeps food safe almost indefinitely, but the quality and nutritional value decreases over time. Recommended storage times from the United States Department of Health and Human Services are for quality only.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Tickets go on sale Nov. 9th for May 15-19, 2019, Cirque du Soleil at Van Andel Arena

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Kids Activities, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , ,

By Mike Klompstra, SMG

Cirque du Soleil’s CRYSTAL—the first acrobatic performance on ice—comes to Van Andel Arena for seven performances May 15-19, 2019

Cirque du Soleil is thrilled to return to Grand Rapids, Michigan with its coolest arena show yet—CRYSTAL. This one-of-a-kind arena production blends circus arts and the world of ice skating in a stunning new production that will take the audience on a journey into a whimsical frozen playground where figure skating mingles with acrobatics and aerial feats. CRYSTAL will perform at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena from Wednesday, May 15 through Sunday, May 19, 2019, for seven performances only.
Photo by Matt Beard

Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, Nov. 9 at 10am. Tickets will be available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, online at Ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. See Ticketmaster.com for all pricing and availability. A purchase limit of 11 tickets will apply to every order.

 
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
  • Wednesday, May 15, Thursday, May 16 & Friday, May 17 at 7:30pm
  • Saturday, May 18 at 4pm and 7:30pm
  • Sunday, May 19 at 1:30pm and 5pm
More about CRYSTAL—A Breakthrough Ice Experience
Directed by Shana Carroll and Sebastien Soldevila, Crystal, our misfit heroine, takes you on an exhilarating tale of self-discovery as she dives into a world of her own imagination. Feel the adrenaline as she soars through this surreal world to become what she was always destined to be: confident, curious, and creative. CRYSTAL invites you to suspend reality and glide into a world that springs to colorful life with astounding visual projections and a soundtrack that seamlessly blends popular music with the signature sound of Cirque du Soleil. CRYSTAL is suitable for all ages.
The show CRYSTAL is about looking at things from fresh angles, peeking through the veneer of everyday life, reframing one’s daily reality to see what one might have missed. Sometimes the only way to appreciate things is to look at them sideways. Discovering one’s individuality and uniqueness requires venturing out on thin ice.
CRYSTAL is Cirque du Soleil’s 42nd original production since 1984. The company has brought wonder and delight to more than 180 million spectators in more than 450 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has over 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from 50 different countries.

Finding history in West Michigan, Part 4

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism,

By Jeremy Witt, West Michigan Tourist Association

Historic Areas

Many of West Michigan’s towns, cities, and counties have their own rich history. While you’re traveling throughout West Michigan, take the time to learn more about the area you’re staying in or visiting.

Historic Areas in Southern West Michigan

Long known as “the art coast of Michigan,” the Saugatuck community traces its creative roots back 100 years to the day when The Art Institute of Chicago established its Ox-Bow School in the area. Today, dozens of working painters, sculptors, ceramicists, and other artists call it home, enriching the community with an open-minded outlook and an appreciation of art that spills over into the galleries around town.

 

Courtesy Saugatuck/Douglas

As the capital of the state, the Greater Lansing area is filled to the brim with history. One of the big attractions in downtown Lansing is the Michigan History Center which houses the Michigan Historical Museum, the State Archives, and the Library of Michigan. In the historical museum, visitors can find three floors of Michigan History, strolling through eras beginning in the prehistoric times and finishing up in the Motown days in Detroit.

 

With 19th century architecture showcased in the town, you’ll find hundreds of year’s worth of history in Coldwater. To put everything in one place, check out their historic walking tours with over 20 stops. One must-see location is Tibbits Opera House, the second oldest operating theatre in Michigan. Built in 1882, Tibbits serves as the arts and cultural center of Branch County and the surrounding area.

 

Battle Creek’s cereal history exhibit is a great place to learn about Cereal City USA. Located across the street from the Battle Creek Welcome Center, the exhibit has pieces from Post and Kellogg, including old advertisements, collector plates, memorabilia, and much more.

 

Find and create your own history in Southwest Michigan. The area is home to many antique markets. Visit towns like Baroda, where you’ll find buildings filled with an assortment of antiques, including a parts department for do-it-yourselfers. You’ll even find vintage and antique garments, hats, purses, and shoes from the late 1800s through 1970.

Historic Areas in Central West Michigan

Rich in history, Lake County has a historical society that has gathered historical items from all over the area. This includes the Marlboro Cement Plant, Idlewild, and nearby logging towns. They also put on a free program once a month about the notable citizens of Lake County and the area’s upbringing.

 

The best history in Mecosta County can be easily found in a few notable areas. The local historical museum shows how the area has changed, with most of its inventory donated from locals. Two more unique spots are the Old Jail in Big Rapids and the Jim Crow Museum located within Ferris State University.

 

The Muskegon area has thousands of years of history for you to discover. The Lakeshore Museum Center is preserving and interpreting the history of Muskegon through exhibits, education, and programs. Located in nearby Whitehall, the Lakeshore Museum Center’s Michigan’s Heritage Park has over 10,000 years of history that you can walk through. Jumping forward quite a ways, the USS Silversides Submarine Museum takes you inside a restored WWII submarine and a Prohibition-Era Coast Guard Cutter. Self-guided tours let you experience what it was really like to sail a sub trolling the waters of the South Pacific 60-plus years ago.

 

Courtesy USS Silversides Museum

The Mt. Pleasant area was established in 1831, and since then, they’ve developed a rich Native American history and culture. The Treaty of 1855 relocated the Native American Ojibwa (Saginaw Chippewa Tribe) from Saginaw, Swan Creek, and Black River to land in Isabella County. Today, Mt. Pleasant is home to the popular Soaring Eagle Casino, Ziibiwing Cultural Center, and many other American Indian cultural aspects. With celebrations like the Annual Saginaw Chippewa Pow Wow, the area continues to celebrate the rich history and culture of the American Indian.

 

If Ludington was your favorite vacation spot in the late 1970s, it’s time to come back. On the same property as Ludington’s first Holiday Inn is the new Holiday Inn Express & Suites, featuring much of the original infrastructure and offered amenities. As advertised in the Ludington Daily News in 1975, stay in one of 116 beautiful, tastefully decorated, carpeted rooms featuring a color TV, in-room telephones, and individually controlled heat or air conditioning. Today, each room has the modern conveniences of a microwave, mini fridge, coffee maker, and, of course, free WiFi.

Historic Areas in Northern West Michigan

Unique history and architecture can be found throughout Charlevoix. The Mushroom Houses, designed by Earl Young, have received high praise and recognition for their natural beauty and amazing characteristics. Self-taught builder Earl Young began building houses in 1919 and continued his work until the 1970s. Young created over two dozen homes, buildings, and structures using natural materials. Earl Young’s houses feature wide, wavy eaves, exposed rafter tails, and a horizontal emphasis in design. These buildings are creatively known as Gnome Homes, Mushroom Houses, or Hobbit Houses.

 

Located throughout Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island, all four of the Mackinac State Historic Parks’ sites have their own history. A visit to any of these four locations, Colonial Michilimackinac, Fort Mackinac, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, are sure to be a hit for any family looking to learn about the history of northern Michigan on their next trip.

See animated short ‘The Snowman’ on the GR Symphony stage, Nov. 17

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Holidays, Kids Activities, Upcoming Events, ,
The Snowman – Grand Rapids Symphony (Photo supplied)

 

By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk, Grand Rapids Symphony

 

Back by popular demand, The Snowman, the classic animated film, returns to Grand Rapids to inspire children of all ages and open the Grand Rapids Symphony’s 2018-19 DTE Energy Foundation Family Series.

 

The hour-long concert, which has sold-out past performance by the Grand Rapids Symphony, features the well-known animated film, projected onto a 40-foot screen while accompanied by the musical score performed live at 3 p.m., Saturday, November 17, in DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW.

 

Hailed as “iconic and ethereal” The Snowman wordlessly tells the story of a boy who builds a snowman who comes to life and leads him on a wide-eyed and wondrous adventure to meet Father Christmas.

 

Led by Associate Conductor John Varineau, the Grand Rapids Symphony will perform the magical score by Howard Blake as the snowman and his young friend adventure through darkened woods, over rolling mountains, and above quiet ocean waves in the film that garnered an Academy Award nomination in 1982.

 

With plucky violins and xylophones for mischief, reflective piano melodies for soft, falling snow, and deep bass notes for night-time flight – it is an invitation for children ages 8 to 13 and adults to savor the simple joys of the holiday season.

 

The program features other popular holiday melodies including Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” and “Let it Go!” from the Walt Disney film Frozen along with the performance of The Snowman.

 

Come early for pre-concert activities beginning at 2 p.m. Children can experience the joy of making music with an instrument petting zoo and keep their creative juices flowing with crafts inspired by the playful snowman they’ll soon see in the show.

 

Originally published in 1978 by famed children’s illustrator Raymond Briggs, The Snowman has become one of the world’s most popular children’s books, selling in excess of 8.5 million copies worldwide, with translations into 15 different languages.

 

Adapted for screen by producer John Coates, the 30-minute film first premiered in the United Kingdom in 1982 on a British public television station. The film quickly became a beloved staple of the Christmas season in Great Britain, and later found a home in America, with the help of an introduction by rock icon David Bowe. The film has since been broadcast on a global scale, and garnered an Academy Award nomination and a BAFTA TV award.

 

First performed by Peter Auty, a choirboy at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, the song, “Walking in the Air,” provides the only dialogue in the otherwise wordless film. The startlingly beautiful melody with an almost haunting orchestration will be performed by singers of the Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Chorus’s select ensemble, Mandala.

Tickets

Tickets are $15 adults and $5 children, available at the Grand Rapids Symphony box office, weekdays 9 am-5 pm at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across from the Calder Plaza), or by calling 616.454.9451 x 4. (Phone orders will be charged a $2 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum.)

 

Tickets are available at the DeVos Place box office, weekdays 10am-6pm or on the day of the concert beginning two hours prior to the performance. Tickets also may be purchased online at GRSymphony.org.

 

Full-time students of any age are able to purchase tickets for only $5 on the day of the concert by enrolling in the GRS Student Ticket program.

Special Offers

Students age 7-18 also are able to attend for most concerts for free when accompanied by an adult. Free for Kids tickets must be purchased in advance at the GRS Ticket office. Up to two free tickets are available with the purchase of a regular-price adult ticket. Go online for more details.

 

Symphony Scorecard provides members up to four free tickets for most Grand Rapids Symphony concerts. Member of the community receiving financial assistance from the State of Michigan and members of the U.S. Armed Forces, whether on active or reserve duty or serving in the National Guard, are eligible. Go online for information on signing up with a Symphony Scorecard Partner Agency.

 

A two-concert package also includes a performance of The Conductor’s Spellbook, the magical story of Tony Stradivarius, who takes a field trip to a symphony and finds a powerful book of spells that he’s able to use to control the orchestra. The narrated concert is at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2018 in DeVos Performance Hall. Tickets for the two-concert package are $27 adults, $10 children.

 

A three-concert package adds a performance of the Wolverine Worldwide Holiday Pops, featuring the Grand Rapids Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus and Youth Chorus joined by vocalist Justin Hopkins and Embellish handbell ensemble. The show eligible for the package is at 3 p.m. Saturday, December 8. Tickets for the three-concert package are $60 adults, $15 children.

Winter is coming

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, How-To's,
Asthma can be a bear, particularly during winter. But there are ways to keep flareups at bay. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Spectrum Health Beat Staff

 

There are many things to love about winter. Sledding, skiing, building snowmen … you get the idea.

 

But if you suffer from asthma, winter can be one of the most challenging times of the year.

 

John Schuen, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, sees lots of kiddos and young adults with asthma-related issues.

 

He echoes the sentiment that cold weather is particularly tough on lungs and provided some of his top advice for how to stay active.

4 easy ways to help combat the wheeze:

1. Cover your mouth and breathe through your nose

Before heading outside make sure to cover your mouth with a scarf, turtleneck, neck gaiter or whatever you prefer. Covering you mouth helps warm up the outside air before it enters your lungs.

 

Dry and cold air is a prime trigger for airway narrowing, notes the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and focusing on warming and humidifying the air you breathe is key.

 

Breathing through your nose helps.

 

That may sound like a request from Ms. Manners, but breathing through your nose will help warm the air before it enters your lungs.

 

“We prefer that children stay active and involved in sports, even in the winter,” Dr. Schuen said.

 

He works with kids and teens who have cold-induced asthma to avoid issues when braving the outdoor temps. Sometimes that means suggesting the use of inhalers and medications “before going out into the cold Michigan winter.”

 

“This is in addition to covering your mouth with a scarf or face mask,” he added.

2. Take your exercise inside

Up to 90 percent of people with asthma encounter breathing difficulties while exercising. When you exercise, you generally breathe through your mouth, and the symptoms will only get worse if you’re breathing in cold or dry air.

 

For some people, this might include limiting activities like shoveling snow or playing outside in the winter months.

 

Consider taking your exercise indoors. Join a gym, invest in indoor exercise equipment, or learn some indoor routines that will keep you feeling great.

 

Definitely talk with your doctor about what you can do to prevent flareups while working out, such as warming up, pacing yourself, taking your medication prior to exercising, or the specific types of exercise you might want to consider. Sometimes short bursts of exercise or more leisurely exercise like walking or swimming work best.

3. Skip the cozy wood fires

We all know that cigarette smoke irritates asthma but did you know that fire smoke can have the same effect?

 

Wood smoke contains benzene, formaldehyde, acrolein and methane. Small particles from the smoke can lodge inside the lungs, sometimes deep, aggravating asthma and causing other breathing issues.

 

Gas fireplaces are a bit better, but they still release nitrogen dioxide, which can irritate the lungs.

 

Smoke is smoke and there’s no getting around the fact that it causes problems for people with asthma.

 

Another note in this area: Make sure to replace your furnace filter and vacuum your indoor space frequently during the winter to keep allergens such as smoke particles, mold and pet dander low.

4. Keep germs at bay

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, as many as eight out of 10 asthma attacks in children and four out of 10 in adults are triggered by viral infections.

 

Between RSV, the common cold, and the flu, winter is rife with viral hurdles. Get vaccinations, when possible. Wash your hands frequently, use hand sanitizer frequently, and try to steer clear of those who are sneezing or coughing around you.

 

Sometimes an infection can’t be avoided, so if you start to fall ill, stay home and keep yourself well-hydrated. Talk with your doctor about when you should seek medical care, or consider a MedNow video appointment so you can get treatment while at home. Try to keep your cold from turning into something more serious.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

School News Network: Local companies find solutions in high school seniors while they explore careers

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming,
Alvin Hughes, a 2017 graduate, gained work experience in the die shop during his senior year and now works part time in the CAD department at Mark-Maker while attending Davenport University.

 

By Bridie Bereza

School News Network

 

Alvin Hughes sat at his desk at Wyoming-based Mark-Maker Co. Inc., and explained how he uses computer-aided design to ensure that dimensions are correct before die preparation begins on a customer’s product.

 

“I didn’t know any of this before I came in here,” said Hughes, a 2017 graduate of Kelloggsville High School.

 

It was on-the-job training for Hughes, who was among the first KHS students to participate in a program that lets seniors forgo their three elective courses to earn credit – and an hourly wage – at work.

 

Kelloggsville’s work-based learning program began with four students, one employer, and John Linker – then a high school science teacher – who coordinated the program during his lunch breaks and planning periods. Now, just two years later, it has 20 students and  seven employers. Linker is still there, but is no longer volunteering his breaks: the district hired him as the full-time work experience coordinator.

 

Kamrin Zube, a senior at Kelloggsville, spends mornings in the classroom and afternoons in the die shop at Mark-Maker Co. Inc.

A well-timed call

 

The idea to start this work co-op style program began with a conversation between Linker and two colleagues.

 

“We said, ‘We’ve got all these companies in the area – why don’t we partner with them?’” Linker said. “As fate would have it, two or three days later Mark-Maker called us up and said, ‘We have an older workforce… What are the chances of us partnering up?’”

 

And that’s what the school has done, adding new employers and more students each year. The work-based learning program requires participants be on track to graduate. Furthermore, employers who want to hire a student agree to do so only after the student receives a high school diploma.

 

While the goal is to get students who want to work hired, “It’s definitely not a given” that they will get a job offer, Linker said.

 

Initially, he thought it might be geared toward students who were not college-bound, but he’s since discovered it’s for anybody. Some of the employers retain students after graduation and offer tuition reimbursement. This is the case with Hughes, who receives tuition-reimbursement from Mark-Maker for his courses at Davenport University.

 

Mark Fellows (Kelloggsville High School class of 1981) pitched the idea to Mark-Maker, his employer of 35 years, to recruit talent from his alma mater

The real world

 

This year, 37 of the 150 seniors in the class of 2019 expressed interest in the work-based learning program. The placement process is methodical as Linker assesses student interests, arranges tours of participating companies, and matches students and employers for interviews. Twenty students found a match this fall, and more hope to be matched next semester.

 

All positions are paid, Linker said, at $11 to $13 hourly.

 

“I’ve yet to have a student that doesn’t enjoy it. The chance to get into the workforce and be paid to do something and learn a skill…? It’s a huge plus,” he said.

 

Linker said that as students learn the job, they often realize the answer to an age-old question asked in classrooms: “How is this going to help me in the real world?” They begin to see how geometry and mathematics skills can be applied on the job. The students have embraced the work opportunity, he said.

 

“I really like it. It’s fun coming in here every single day. I could definitely turn this into a career,” said Kamrin Zube, a KHS senior working in the die shop at Mark-Maker.

 

Austin Schmidt, a 2018 graduate of Kelloggsville, found permanent employment at Mark-Maker after being placed with the company as a senior

A nice long courtship

 

Employers give the work-based learning program high marks, too.

 

Mark-Maker consultant Tom Stanfield made the well-timed call that started the partnership at the suggestion of diemaker Mark Fellows, a 1981 KHS graduate and 35-year employee of the company.

 

“Hiring somebody in the normal fashion is almost like getting married on a blind date,” Stanfield said. “You spend two or three hours together and say, ‘Hey, come spend the rest of your life with me.’ It’s kind of stupid. With an internship or in this case, a co-op, you get a whole semester or maybe two, and they know if they like us and we know if they’ve got the right skill sets — it’s such a better way to hire.”

 

Mark-Maker’s entry-level turnover rate has gone from 80 percent to zero since the partnership began, Stanfield said. They no longer need to recruit, as they have found plenty of talent through the program. Having students in the building has also been great for morale, he said.

 

“You get all that youth and all that energy. Yeah, they have to learn some things — you’ve got to come to work on time, you don’t text in the middle of the day — but the kids are learning constantly and I love the way they energize the older employees.”

 

Kelloggsville’s Work Experience Coordinator John Linker with Tom Stanfield of Mark-Maker

More growth in sight

 

Linker believes we’ll see more of these sorts of programs in the near future, thanks to Michigan’s Marshall Plan for Talent, signed into law in June. The plan devotes $100 million to career-oriented school programs and training students for high-demand jobs in fields like manufacturing, trades, IT, and healthcare, including $59 million in innovation grants. Linker said Kelloggsville is part of a talent consortium that is applying for some of those funds.

 

He anticipated placing  30-40 students in the program next semester. While the focus so far has been manufacturing and skilled trades, he hopes to make inroads in technology and health services.

 

“I see it taking off and doing really well.”

 

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Finding history in West Michigan, Part 3

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Kids Activities, Local History, Recreation, Senior Living, Travel,

By Jeremy Witt, West Michigan Tourist Association

Events & Happenings

Experiencing history and learning from the experts is one of the best ways to learn. Check out these events happening in November and beyond. Don’t forget to check WMTA’s event calendar for a full list of upcoming events.

 

Grab your girlfriends and jump back in time to the 1950s with the Women’s Only Weekend in South Haven from Nov. 8th to 11th. The bash includes rocking music, a sock hop, poodle skirts, and more. Purchase your tickets and plan a whole weekend of retro fun.

 

Entice your senses with the Encore Tea & Whiskey Weekend at Hart House Bed & Breakfast. Colleen Connon, an expert on tea, and Patrick Cannon, an expert on whiskey, will present their stories and tips on Nov. 9th and 10th. The two-night event includes a welcome reception and tasting, with packages available for your stay.

 

Courtesy Tulip Time Festival

Enjoy a delicious meal and learn something new at the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings and their upcoming Lunch & Learn event on Thursday, Nov. 15th. Titled Reading Between the Lines: Looking for Michigan’s Treaty Lines, the event looks at the reservations and boundaries of the early 19th century that are seemingly gone. If you look carefully, you can still see the marks that are left on the landscape. Historian John Gorentz will guide you on a photographic journey to some of these historical places in Michigan and other states of the Old Northwest.

 

Henderson Castle in Kalamazoo is one of the most haunted places in Michigan. Listen to the scary stories of yesteryear at the Haunted History Dinner & Tour on Friday, Nov. 16th. The tour will include a rare opportunity to hear some of the spooky tales of this 123-year-old castle. You may even meet a ghost!

 

Celebrating its 89th year in 2018, Tulip Time has grown over the years to be so much more than a flower festival. Back in 1929, the City of Holland planted its first crop of 100,000 tulips. The overwhelming number of visitors over the years as the festival took shape resulted in the addition of programs, pageantry, costumes, parades, and the popular Dutch Dancers. Each year, Tulip Time strives to showcase all that Holland, Michigan has to offer.

Museums, Cultural Centers & Historical Societies

West Michigan’s many museums, cultural centers, and historical societies dedicate themselves to cataloging and promoting history in fun and unique ways. The main goal of these organizations is to help their communities and visitors from all over learn something new each and every time they visit.

 

If you visited downtown St. Joseph this summer, you may have noticed that the Krasl Art Center yard was undergoing a major face-lift. This $1.7 million project, known as Sculpting Community, is the third major renovation project since the building’s genesis in 1979. After years of improving the lives of its community, the Krasl Art Center is thrilled to invite you this new, historic project, providing residents and visitors a space to come together and connect with nature, art, and each other.

 

The Heritage Museum & Cultural Center in St. Joseph prides itself in sharing stories about the community. This museum houses the area’s history, its artifacts, and an archival collection, alongside a research library. It presents stories in spacious exhibit halls and creates new memories in elegant banquet facilities. Come journey into the area’s past, see the present, and receive a deeper understanding and thrill at the possibilities for the future.

 

The Holland Museum tells the stories and history of the both the Holland area and of the greater West Michigan area. By promoting engagement and change instead of simply dictating information, the Holland Museum has been creating a community with a better and brighter future. Upcoming events in November include a skills workshop to teach the skills of Holland’s early settlers and a landing party for the Mars Lander.

 

Courtesy Harbor Springs Area Historical Society

The Harbor Springs History Museum, home of the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society, is located in the former city hall building. As the first of two permanent exhibits, the Local History Gallery guides visitors through a multi-layered chronology of the Harbor Springs region. The Discovery Gallery is the second of these permanent exhibit spaces and is filled with hands-on activities for children and their families or teachers. Serving as the museum’s temporary exhibit spaces, the main and north galleries host both traveling exhibits and temporary exhibits from the HSAHS collection.

 

Historic Charlton Park is located in the Hastings area, and features a recreated, turn-of-the-century historic village and the Irving D. Charlton Memorial Museum. The museum is open until December, giving you plenty of time to stop by yet this year.

 

LowellArts began with the enthusiasm of community volunteers and funds raised through a visit to Lowell by Artrain USA in November 1976. Originally called the Lowell Area Arts Council, the organization was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1977. In September 1977, LowellArts became the sponsor of the Fallasburg Arts Festival, a two-day outdoor art and music celebration. Today, LowellArts is creating their own space in downtown Lowell with the help of individual community donations and the Lowell Area Community Fund.

 

The S.S. Milwaukee Clipper has been transporting people between Muskegon and Milwaukee since 1941. In 1904, the Erie & Western Transportation Company, better known now as the Anchor Line, commissioned a 361-foot passenger and package freight steamer. After years of traveling the waterways of the United States, the vessel found a home in Lake Michigan. On June 2nd, 1941, her name was changed to S.S. Milwaukee Clipper. After a long hiatus that included name changes, new locations, and different owners, the ship returned to Muskegon. Today, the S.S. Milwaukee Clipper stays put in Muskegon Lake as a national landmark and museum.

 

The Tri-Cities Historical Museum has been cataloging Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and Ferrysburg history for visitors to the area. The museum is made up of comprehensive exhibits that cover many different eras of the area’s past, from prehistoric rocks and fossils to common dry goods shop from 1940s Grand Haven. Each exhibit is housed within a structure accurate to the time it represents. Inside many of the exhibits, learners of all ages are often invited to touch and explore recreations of artifacts in order to make history more relatable.

 

Courtesy Kingman Museum

The Coopersville Area Historical Society was founded in 1980 to preserve area history for the enrichment of both visitors and local residents. During the Historical Society’s early days, its members met in the town’s former interurban railway depot. In 1987, the Historical Society acquired use of the building from the City of Coopersville. The facility was then open seasonally as a museum with some regular and special exhibits. The historical society and museum continue to support the community with education and preservation.

Woodland Mall’s holiday season begins with Santa, pups and lots of fun

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, Woodland Mall
Woodland Mall in Kentwood.

By Woodland Mall

 

As the holiday season nears, Woodland Mall is preparing for Santa’s arrival, setting up decorations and hosting a series of events to help shoppers spread holiday cheer this winter.

 

SantaFest, storytime at Barnes & Noble, a menorah display and family pet photos are just some of what is in store for the holidays at Woodland Mall, as well as an exclusive PREIT Perks Member Weekend and, of course, special shopping deals on Black Friday.

 

“It’s exciting seeing Woodland Mall transform for the holiday season,” said Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing director. “As our decorations are put up and all the festivities come to fruition, it’s easy to feel the holiday spirit.”

 

Guests will have the opportunity explore Woodland Mall’s Arctic Forest again this year, home to the man in red himself. The forest will be surrounded by decorated trees stretching up to 22 feet, snow-covered islands and icicle archways, as well as Ursa, an enormous 12-foot polar bear.

 

Santa photos for you and your pet

 

Seated in the heart of the Arctic Forest will be Santa, ready to take photos with shoppers of all ages from Nov. 10 through Dec. 24 during regular mall hours. Families are welcome bring their “fur babies” with them for photos with Santa on Mondays from Nov. 12 through Dec. 17.

 

Pet photos with Santa will be offered every Monday until Dec. 17 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. All pets are welcome, as long as they are kept on a leash at all times. Families with pets should use the east and west entrances closest to Macy’s.

 

“Seven out of every 10 American households have pets who are integral members of the family,” said McCabe. “We recognize their importance and are setting aside a special time to encourage families to bring their dog, cat or other animal to be part of a photo with Santa.

 

“This is just another way we are helping the community create fun holiday memories at Woodland Mall.”

 

With every pet photo purchase, families will receive a pet handkerchief for their furry friends while supplies last.

 

Santa will be on-site during regular mall hours for family photos without pets through Christmas Eve.

 

SantaFest, Jewish holiday, and much more

 

SantaFest, a celebration of everything wonderful about the holiday season, will kick off at the mall at 10 a.m. on Nov. 17. The event will feature live music, games, crafts and holiday gift giveaways through 1 p.m. While the event is free to attend, pre-registration beginning Nov. 8 at shopwoodlandmall.com is recommended.

 

Woodland Mall is once again partnering with Chabad House of Western Michigan to display a 6-foot tall menorah for Hanukkah from Dec. 2 until Dec. 10. A Hanukkah story will be read during Barnes & Noble’s storytime event at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6.

 

“It means a lot to have our Jewish faith represented in the mall,” said Rivka Weingarten, program director of Chabad House of Western Michigan. “It’s always very touching for us to have a menorah displayed publicly, and to be able to take pride in our Jewish community here.”

 

Woodland Mall is also partnering with Artists Creating Together, an organization that brings the arts and art projects to children, youth and adults with disabilities, to present a holiday concert at the mall from 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 3.

 

“Our concert at Woodland Mall is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our students’ skills and the joy they get out of participating in our programming,” said Krista Prischner, ACT program coordinator. “It is really exciting for our students to perform in a public space, and especially at the mall during the busy holiday season.”

 

Musicians from the organization’s drum and choir groups will perform a few holiday songs, some of which will include an opportunity for audience participation. The performance is free and open to the public to enjoy.

 

“This is truly a magical time of year for all the retailers at the mall,” said McCabe. “We’re delighted to be working with organizations such as ACT and the Chabad House to offer a variety of holiday activities for all our shoppers to enjoy.”

 

The mall will be open on Thanksgiving evening from 6 p.m. to midnight and on Black Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Woodland Mall will have special holiday hours to ensure that guests are able to get all their shopping completed before the holiday. The Woodland Mall website has a full list of updated hours.

 

Several seasonal stores offering gift items for the holidays are open now at Woodland Mall. For custom ornaments, shoppers can visit Christmas Treasures in the Von Maur Wing. For toys and handmade goods from Michigan-owned businesses, there’s Roeda Studio and The Glove in the Macy’s Wing, and Toysaro in Center Court.

 

GVSU, Grand Rapids Ballet School to reintroduce famous baroque music through performances

Entertainment, ,

By Matthew Makowski

GVSU

 

Grand Valley State University Opera Theatre, Early Music Ensemble and Department of Visual and Media Arts will join forces with the Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company to reinvigorate baroque music for modern audiences during “Masquerade: A Baroque Extravaganza.”

 

Performances will take placeFriday and Saturday, Nov. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Ballet’s Peter Martin Wege Theatre, 341 Ellsworth Ave SW, Grand Rapids. Tickets are available through the Grand Rapids Ballet’s box office at (616) 454-4771, extension 10.

 

Dale Schriemer, GVSU Opera Theatre artistic director and professor of voice, said his goal with these performances is to reintroduce music from 1690-1750 in a visually stunning way.

 

“We are taking the music of the baroque era with singers, instrumentalists and dancers, and layering 3D projection design over those performances,” said Schriemer. “The end result is reminiscent of the Disney film ‘Fantasia.’”

 

More than 20 students from the Visual and Media Arts Department will create the projection designs for the performance that will accompany the music of composers such as George Frideric Handel, Henry Purcell and Claudio Monteverdi.

 

“It has been so exciting for them to take their work from the computer to a stage and see how that becomes and immersive environment,” said Schriemer. “They, as well as the singers, are learning to make older music feel fresh and alive for the 21st century, and I’m excited about that.”

The unbreakable link

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Education, Health, How-To's, Recreation, Senior Living, , , ,
Researchers recommend exercising about 150 minutes each week, including some strength-training exercises. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Kim Delafuente, Spectrum Health Beat

 

New studies continue to add credence to the critical link between good brain health and regular exercise.

 

A recent study by researchers in Texas, for instance, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, found an association between higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and better “fiber integrity” in the brain’s white matter.

 

This correlated to better “executive function performance” in patients with mild cognitive impairment, according to the study.

 

These types of contemporary findings abound, with researchers perpetually seeking to understand the connections between brain health and physical activity.

 

What we do know is that physical activity is proven to reduce stress, improve mood, increase self-confidence, improve memory, reduce symptoms of depression and reduce the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease by up to 50 percent.

 

But what’s really going on under the hood? Let’s take a look at some known areas.

Hippo power

The area of the brain responsible for memory formation, the hippocampus, shrinks as a normal process of aging. In people who are physically active, however, the hippocampus can actually increase. This tells us exercise aids in the growth of brain cells in certain areas of the brain.

Neural nitrogen

Physical activity increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which acts as something of a brain fertilizer. It is essential to learning and memory. The increase here not only helps with brain cell interconnectivity, it also aids in the growth of new brain cells.

Anti-depressant

In some cases, exercise can generate the same effect as an anti-depressant in those with mild depression. Research shows that active people tend to be less depressed, which means that exercise may benefit those who suffer from depression.

Brain-building

Physically active children may reap the benefits in a number of areas, including better performance on tests, fewer behavioral problems and improved retention of information.

Stress, anxiety reliever

Exercise can help the body respond better to anxiety disorders. A study by researchers in Chicago also found modest evidence to support the notion that “regular exercise protects against the negative emotional consequences of stress.”

 

Exactly how much physical activity is needed to reap brain benefits?

 

As it applies to healthy adults, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week, as well as some muscle-strengthening activities two days a week.

 

The activity should be hard enough to increase your breathing and heart rate.

 

One recent study found that people who exercised more than an hour each day had healthier brain characteristics compared to people who exercised less.

 

But you don’t have to dive in headlong. If you are currently inactive, start with just a 5- or 10-minute walk each day. Something is always better than nothing. A small amount of exercise can be enough to put you in a better mood and increase your energy.

 

But keep in mind that the level of fitness and endurance may matter in the long run. A higher endurance level is related to better cognitive abilities.

 

The more exercise you do, the greater the benefits!

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

On the shelf: ‘The Magician’s Elephant’ by Kate DiCamillo

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, , , ,

By Mary Davis, Grand Rapids Public Library, Ottawa Hills Branch

 

Kate DiCamillo became one of my favorite authors for children after publishing her first novel, Because of Winn-Dixie. She writes in a soothing, almost comforting voice, and she never talks down to her intended audience. She often blends realism with a sort of fantastical or magical twist. In her newest, The Magician’s Elephant, she casts another spell. She tells the story of Peter Augustus Duchene. Peter, a young boy in the care of a former soldier, believes that he will grow into a soldier as well.

 

One day the old soldier gives him money to buy bread and fish. Instead, a fortune teller’s tent catches Peter’s eye. She reveals to him that his sister, believed to be dead, lives and the elephant will lead him to her. This seems unbelievable until a visiting magician mysteriously and mistakenly conjures up an elephant.

 

DiCamillo weaves beautifully together the story of the elephant and how she leads Peter to his sister, a new future, and an interesting cast of characters. Yoko Tanka’s illustrations help define the time and place and bring depth to the storytelling. The Magician’s Elephant would make a lovely read-aloud to most elementary classrooms or just to share with any child in one’s life.

Employment Expertise: Honoring those who serve

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Non-Profits, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , ,

 

By West Michigan Works!

 

During the week of Nov. 12, West Michigan Works! service centers will honor those who served in the military by offering job search services and events with a focus on veterans.

 

“We serve veterans every day, but we want to set aside this special time to highlight their service and their specific career needs,” said Brittany Lenertz, West Michigan Works! talent solutions director. “From offering coffee and displaying the flags of the Armed Forces in our centers to providing access to veteran-friendly resources, we want to show our gratitude to the men and women who served our country.”

 

Workshops

 

The week’s schedule of free workshops will include information to address veterans’ job search needs. For example, the resume workshop will help veterans convey their military experience with civilian language that hiring managers can easily understand.

 

“So many of the skills learned during military service transfer to civilian life—it’s all in the language used when you talk or write about them,” said Karen Riggs, a talent development instructor with West Michigan Works!

 

Community Resources

 

Several of the service centers will hold resource fairs that will highlight community resources for veterans. This may include anything from entrepreneurship workshops through the Small Business Development Center to assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services.

 

Hiring Events

 

Veteran-friendly employers will be in the service centers as either an Employer of the Day or a part of a larger multi-employer hiring event. As always, veterans and their spouses receive early access to Michigan Works! hiring events.

 

Veterans can participate in any of these activities by visiting a West Michigan Works! service center Nov. 13-16 (the service centers will be closed on Monday, Nov. 12). Dates and locations of the Veterans Week hiring events as well as service center locations can be found on the West Michigan Works! website at westmiworks.org/vetweek.

 

Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.

 

Eating and being physically active during the holiday season

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Food, Health, Holidays, How-To's, Senior Living, , ,
Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Tyler Becker, Michigan State University Extension

 

As the days draw shorter and temperatures decrease, we know that the holiday season is upon us. Not only do we usually indulge ourselves during this time, but we also become less physically active.

 

It is not surprising that the average American gains about a pound this time of year.

 

There are numerous reasons for this weight gain, especially the overall busyness we tend to have, with parties and preparing for them. Outside of the usual overindulging we go through with at the table, these busy schedules often cause us to reach for more convenient options that are not necessarily the most nutrient-dense.

 

What are some approaches we can use year round, but especially at this time of year to minimize or prevent weight gain?

Methods to Utilize When Eating This Holiday Season

There are numerous techniques that can be employed to help us enjoy eating during the holiday season, while not going overboard by eating too much. One of these options is to utilize mindful eating practices, as described in previous articles. Mindful eating allows you to checking in with yourselves to see if you are actually hungry, gives you time to appraise and admire your meal, encourages slowing down your eating, lets you savor and taste every bite and helps you stop when you are full.

 

Another method is to substitute foods with lower calorie options. This could include using sugar substitutes during baking to maintain the sweet taste we enjoy in our desserts, but reducing the number of calories we consume. Other options could be using low fat or fat-free substitutes. One could also load up on more nutrient-dense foods such as fruits and vegetables, but also include some dessert. Other helpful hints for eating during the holiday season can be found here.

Physical Activity During the Holidays

Although the holiday season is upon us, this is not a reason to give up on your current physical activity habits. The best recommendation is to maintain your current physical activity schedule, whether that is going to the gym or outside for a run. However, the busyness of this time of year, plus changes in the weather, are not necessarily conducive to performing physical activity. There are approaches to this dilemma. For example, if you currently run outdoors, you may have to make some modifications such as running on an indoor track, or taking up cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.

 

To prevent extra weight gain, the simplest method is to burn, or expend, more calories. This could be as simple as adding an extra workout day, or encourage some family bonding time and going for walks. Remember, although you may miss a workout or two, it is not the end of the world nor the most important part of the holiday season.

 

This time of year, we usually consume more foods, especially the sweet ones, and perform less physical activity, however, there are numerous methods we can employ to help us still enjoy the holidays, without gaining that extra pound of body weight. This could be changing the way we eat, or performing extra physical activity. Regardless, we should also utilize these methods throughout the year.

 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Tulip Time tickets go on sale starting today

Entertainment, , ,
Jay Leno will headline the Tulip Time entertainment line-up for 2019.

Tulip TimeFestival (www.tuliptime.com) announces their festival entertainment tickets are going on sale Thursday, Nov. 8, beginning at 9 a.m.. Tickets can be purchased online at www.tuliptime.com, in person at the Tulip Time Festival Box Office located at 42 West 8thStreet, Holland, Michigan, or by phone at 800-822-2770.

 

Highlights of the 2019 Tulip Time entertainment program include Jay Leno, who will be performing on Friday, May 10, 2019 at Central Wesleyan Church.Premium Seating tickets (rows 1 through 12) are $87/person; General Seating tickets are $70/person.

 

“We are so thrilled to host Jay Leno at Tulip Time in 2019,” stated Gwen Auwerda, Tulip Time Executive Director. “Since the announcement was made on November 1, we have had an overwhelmingly positive response.”

 

Other acts joining the Tulip Time entertainment line-up for the first time in 2019 include Hotel California®– The Original Eagles Tribute Band, New Odyssey Guy featuring Gary Todd, and Swing and a Miss! With  Cici Gramer and Friends. Back by popular demand will be The Texas Tenors, FiddleFire for their 7thyear and Walt Matzke’s Four Pianos.

 

The Local Arts & Culture Series will highlight a wide variety of performances including everything from music to comedy.

 

There’s still a lot of planning going on at Tulip Time. Watch for more program announcements on the festival markets, art parties, culinary events and other fun ways to celebrate Tulip Time!

 

Join the dance as we “paint the town orange”at Tulip Time’s 90thAnniversary celebration May 4-12, 2019. Detailed program and event information for Tulip Time 2019 is available on www.tuliptime.com. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online at www.tuliptime.com, in person at the Tulip Time Festival Box Office located at 42 West 8thStreet, Holland, Michigan, or by phone at 800-822-2770.

Wyoming’s Public Safety hosts drive to raise awareness about Veterans Home

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, ,
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety’s Honor Guard with some of the veterans at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

What started as a request from a City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety officer to visit the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans led to the department hosting its 12th annual donation drive for the Home.

 

The members of the department’s Honor Guard, which many residents may have seen in parades or special events such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day, work to reflect on why many of the officers join a police force, choosing to serve their community. The Honor Guard visits various places, working with veterans and other groups.

 

“One of the officers in the Honor Guard had requested we visit the Veterans Home because his father was there,” said Officer Pam Keen. Once there, the officers saw a need.

 

“It was a reminder that this was a nursing home and that many of these guys were in need of things such as shampoo or body wash or diabetic socks. Basically items that mean the difference of just surviving to making life comfortable.”

 

Items sought for donation include $25 gift cards (local fast food restaurants, Meijer, Wal-Mart, Dollar Tree, Gordon Food Marketplace, etc.), candy bars, pens, batteries, stamps, grooming, hygiene items and clothing (new or gently used.)

 

So after that 2007 visit, the Honor Guard decided to host a donation drive. In the past couple of years, the drive has become a citywide event, however; most of the donations come from city staff, Keen said.

 

“It is more to raise awareness of the Home,” Keen said. “We saw a need and we are trying to help fill it. We hope others will see it and help too.”

 

Donations will be collected through the month of November and can be dropped off at the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, 2300 DeHoop Ave. SW.

GVSU economist: Strong October for West Michigan

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Brian Long, photo from gvsu.edu

By Dottie Barnes

GVSU

 

The economic pace for West Michigan was strong in September, but October was even stronger, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.

 

Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of October.

 

The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) rose confidently to +36, from +28. The production index edged up to +30, from +29. The index of purchases rose to +29, from +21, and the employment index came in at +24, down from +29.

 

Long said auto sales numbers continue to surprise many economists. “After all the talk about auto sales softening, the October sales report from Automotive News posted a minor gain of 0.4 percent,” Long said. “The seasonally adjusted sales rate (SAAR) rose to 17.59 million vehicles from 17.44 in September.”

 

Long said year-over-year unemployment rates continue to fall; Kent County is at 2.6 percent, Ottawa County is at 2.5 percent and Kalamazoo County is at 3.0 percent.

 

The current economy is about as good as it gets, Long said. “Hiring and retaining new workers continues to be a big problem for some firms, so we can’t expect much more expansion.”

 

Long said there has been an interesting twist on the tariffs. “Because of some Chinese firms experiencing declining business, they have been willing to cut prices enough to cover the cost of the tariffs,” he said.

 

The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”

We the People: Election Results

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Politics, ,

By WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

 

Kentwood City Clerk Dan Kasunic was spot on with his prediction of 50 percent voter turnout for the Nov. 6 general election.

 

All across the state, there was record turnout at the polls with the state indicating that the numbers could break previous records set in the early 1980s. The City of Kentwood had a 57.2 percent voter turnout with 20,509 of the 35,865 registered voters casting their vote in the mid-term elections. The City of Wyoming has a 53.5 percent turnout with 26,961 of its registered 50,378 voters coming to the polls.

 

The Democrats swept away the state’s top three spots, Governor, state Attorney General, and Secretary of State. Both incumbent Bill Huizenga (R), for the 2nd District of the U.S. House of Representatives, and incumbent Justin Amash (R), for the 3rd District of the U.S. House of Representatives, were able to retain their seats by narrow margins. For complete statewide results, click here.

 

Here is the outcome of the local races:

 

Incumbent Sheldon DeKryger when he took the oath of office earlier this year. DeKryger retained his seat for another four years.

City of Wyoming

The only contested race for the City of Wyoming was the 1st Ward seat with incumbent Sheldon DeKryger and challenger Pete Ricketson both vying for the seat. The race was fairly close with DeKryger only having a 300-vote lead for most of the night. A 2 a.m., DeKryger said he got a text stating he had retained his seat with almost a 500-vote lead over Ricketson. The vote count was 3,220 to 2,709.

 

“I’m really excited that the residents spoke out in my favor,” DeKryger said in a Wednesday morning phone interview. “I am looking forward to representing the people and being their voice on the city council.”

 

DeKryger, who was appointed to the seat earlier this year after longtime Councilor Bill Ver Hurst stepped down due to health concerns, said he enjoyed getting out and talking to residents, discussing all that is happening within the city.

 

“It is a exciting time for the City of Wyoming,” DeKryger said. “There is a lot of great things going on in our city.”

 

The rest of the candidates, Mayor Jack Poll, and Councilors-at-large Kent Vanderwood and Sam Bolt, ran unopposed.

 

Democrat Monica Sparks will take over the 12th District seat from Harold Mast who did not seek re-election.

Kent County Board of Commission

 

With the announcement that incumbent Harold Mast would not seek re-election, there were a lot of people who threw their hat into the ring for the District 12 seat, which covers a portion of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming. Early in the evening, with only 15 percent of the county election results having been reported, Democrat Monica Sparks was leading by more than 1,100 votes over Republican candidate Jill Martinez. Sparks hung on to that lead the rest of the night beating out Martinez 5,393 to 4,171.

 

“It feels amazing,” Sparks said last night as she celebrated with supporters. “What pulled me through was my faith, my family and my friends.

 

“I just felt it was the right thing for me to do. It is a right time and for the right reasons. It is just meant to be.”

 

In the rest of the Kent County Commission races, the incumbents defeated any challengers. According to the Kent County election results:

 

District 7
Incumbent Stan Ponstein (R) 6,439
Challenger Mike Johnson (D) 5,072

 

District 8
Incumbent Harold Voorhees (R) 9,199

 

District 9
Incumbent Matt Kallman (R) 9,725
Challenger Bob Smith (D) 5,037

 

District 10
Incumbent Emily Brieve (R) 10,801

 

District 12
Challenger Monica Sparks (D) 5,393
Challenger Jill Martinez (R) 4,171
Challenger Charolette Aikens (Green) 312

 

District 13
Incumbent Betsy Melton (D) 7,504
Challenger Jessica Ann Tyson (R) 5,817

 

Republican Aric Nesbitt is the new 26th District State Senator.

State Senate

A Republican incumbent and a Republican with a history of state government service will be representing Wyoming and Kentwood in Lansing next year. In the 26th District of the State Senate, which includes the City of Kentwood along with all of Allegan and Van Buren counties, Republican Aric, who has been a state representative and served in Gov. Rick Snyder’s cabinet, will replace term-limited Republican Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker. In the 8th District of the State Senate, which includes the City of Wyoming as well as the cities of Walker, Rockford and Cedar Springs, Republican incumbent Peter MacGregor finished with a strong lead over his challengers.

The results are:

 

26th District

Challenger Aric Nesbitt (R) 61,509

Challenger Garrett Lewis (D) 43,293

Erwin Haas (L) 2,374

Robert M. Alway (Green) 1,153

 

28th District
Incumbent Peter MacGregor (R) 68,744
Challenger Craig Beach (R) 45,937
Challenger Nathan Hewer (L) 3,059

 

State House of Representative

 

Both incumbents for the 72nd District, which covers a portion of the City of Kentwood, Cutlerville, and parts of Allegan County, and the 77th District, which covers a portion of Wyoming, Byron Center, and Cutlerville, retained their seats. The results are:

 

72nd District

Incumbent Steve Johnson (R) 21,373

Challenger Ron Draayer (D) 17,271

Challenger Jamie Lewis (L) 1,184

 

77th District

Incumbent Tommy Brann (R) 22,514

Challenger Dana Knight (D) 13,820

Patty Malowney (L) 866

Brandon Hoezee (US Taxpayers) 398

 

Cat of the week: Asha

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , , , ,

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

 

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

In early September 2018, Caledonia resident Amanda T. came across this lovely young lady (born in early October of 2017) roaming around her property. She and her husband considered giving her a permanent home as she was exceptionally friendly and affectionate but weren’t quite sure what their resident cat would think. So they took Asha into their vet to get her checked out a few weeks later and discovered, much to their dismay, that she tested positive for Feline Leukemia. Since the virus is transmitted through the sharing of bodily fluids like saliva, they didn’t want to risk their kitty contracting it.

 

After contacting Dr. Jen and explaining the situation, the good doctor offered to take the darling girl they named Asha into our program at Big Sid’s, our sanctuary for kitties with FELV and FIV. Her name means ‘hope’, which we thought was very appropriate.

 

After spaying her (Amanda had gotten her set with deworming and vaccines prior to her arrival), Dr. Jen sent adorable little Asha on down to meet the rest of her roommates, and after a few days of rest and recovery, she dove right into the thick of things. She adores being smack dab in the middle of the action as she is young, vibrant and oh-so curious.

 

Asha finds bird watching a fantastic way to pass the time, and she is absolutely thrilled to let you rub her belly for hours on end. Initially, this little kitty was too busy to be held for very long, but over time she has discovered just how warm and tingly snuggling makes her feel. She gets along famously well with all of the other residents and is extremely playful, so a household with a few kids would really tickle her fancy!

 

Since Asha is so very fond of attention, she would be the perfect companion for someone who is home a lot and would be more than happy to offer up a lap for her to lounge on. She really is one of our sweetest girls—and considering she IS a calico that says a LOT! It’s a shame that she tested positive for the virus, though on her retest one month after her arrival she was only a faint positive, and since some cats with strong immune systems can clear the virus and not harbor the infection, Dr. Jen will be checking her again in mid-November. Fingers crossed!

 

Asha is truly an amazing cat and we are so thankful we were in a position to help out when it was most needed. There are vaccines that can be given to non-infected cats to help decrease the risk of transmission, so adoption is a very viable option in this case. It would be a shame to not let our cutie pie know the wonders or comfort of a cozy, loving home of her own. Don’t get me wrong, our place is AWESOME, but it is meant to be a stepping stone for bigger and better things. And what could be better than waking up to this fabulous feline face every single morning, or drifting off peacefully each night with her dainty paw touching your hand as you gently stroke her tummy fur, eliciting the purest purrs of contentment than you have ever heard? NOTHING is going to beat that.

More about Asha:

  • Medium
  • Calico
  • Adult
  • Female
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Spayed
  • Not declawed
  • FELV+
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Asha? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

 

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

 

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.