After retiring from the United States Army in 2015 following 17 years of service, Kimberly Walker began searching for her purpose as an artist, which she eventually found in the form of sharing stories of sexual assault in the military through art.
During this year’s 10th anniversary of ArtPrize, Walker’s piece, “Locked and Loaded,” will be the sole entry located at the Eberhard Center on Grand Valley State University’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus.
The piece will consist of 46 military-issue duffle bags representing 46 cases of sexual assault in the military. Walker, an Ohio-based artist, said through her research, she discovered that none of the cases were disclosed to the general public.
Walker will discuss her ArtPrize entry, as well as her journey from soldier to artist, during a special presentation on Thursday, Sept. 20. “Finding Your Purpose With Art” will take place at 6 p.m. in room 716 in the Eberhard Center. A reception will precede remarks at 5:30 p.m. outside the Veterans Upward Bound office.
Following Walker’s remarks, Tim Marroquin, director of Veterans Upward Bound, and Krystal Diel, Victim Advocate in Grand Valley’s Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity, will discuss resources on campus available to veterans, current students, victims and survivors of sexual assault, and advocate community members.
“Locked and Loaded” was chosen by members of Grand Valley’s Art Gallery staff during an ArtPrize Pitch Night in May. These events provide artists in five different cities an opportunity to present to judges an idea for a piece of artwork that would be on display at a high-profile venue in Grand Rapids during the competition. The selected artists each received a $5,000 grant to bring their ideas to life.
As the fall color tour season begins to emerge, you’re invited to bring the family out to explore the back-country roads along the Lake Michigan shoreline stretching throughout Van Buren and Allegan Counties.
Nestled along a 30-mile stretch of Michigan’s “Fruit Belt” region lies a collection of orchards, farms, and vineyards known as Lakeshore Harvest Country. Taking full advantage of the “lake effect” climate delivered by the Great Lakes and Lake Michigan specifically, this shoreline area is rooted in agricultural and tourism heritage.
Visiting Lakeshore Harvest Country is a real family affair. In today’s fast-paced, technologically-focused world, it is more important than ever for families to spend quality time together reconnecting and making memories. There’s just something special about seeing kids visiting with the cows, goats, llamas and other animals; or enjoying a snack of fresh picked fruits or vegetables; or watching artists create beautiful pieces crafted from wood, clay, metals and other mediums. Fall also means corn mazes, trips to the pumpkin patch, wagon rides, haunted houses, and countless other family-friendly activities.
Now is the perfect time to stock your refrigerator, freezer and pantry for the upcoming cold-weather with locally-made jams and sauces, flavorfully blended spices, syrups, and honey and other culinary goodies. And, don’t forget locally-made cheeses, fresh-baked bread and pies, and award-winning craft beer, wine, and ciders. Freshly-picked fruits and vegetables are waiting to be canned or preserved for enjoyment throughout the coming months.
It’s also time to start thinking about autumn home décor—corn stalks, bales of hay, gourds, mums and more can dress up your porch, patio or hearth. And, don’t forget the pumpkins for carving as you prepare for Halloween.
Lakeshore Harvest Country publishes a brochure and map which identifies its members and provides additional information about the activities found at each. The map is available at any of the member locations, as well as at the Visitor Bureau offices in Saugatuck and South Haven and Welcome Centers around the state. It can also be downloaded online at LakeshoreHarvestCountry.com.
Lakeshore Harvest Country was launched with a grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture in 2006 and in 2009 the trail was awarded the “Community Vision” award by the Greater South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce.
By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
I was feeling rather sluggish and thought a good mystery would get my blood moving, so I decided to try something by an author I hadn’t previously read. I turned to bestselling authors to help with my selection.
Short Straw by Stuart Woods seemed to fit my criteria; Woods is a bestselling author and the synopsis promised an intriguing, fast-paced mystery, and I looked forward to diving into my first Stuart Woods novel. Unfortunately, this will also be my last Stuart Woods novel. While there were a couple of interesting twists in the plot, overall I found it to be very dull and predictable. The characters were flat and lifeless, and I found myself not caring what happened to any of them. In fact, I felt like they got what they deserved for the most part.
Apparently, a familiar character from an earlier book, Ed Eagle, resurfaces in Short Straw only to be taken to the cleaners by his soon-to-be-ex-wife. A pair of incompetent men, hired by Eagle, follow Barbara all over Mexico to prevent her from getting her hands on all of Ed’s money. If this is typical of his work, I certainly don’t plan to read any further.
On the other hand, I found Capital Crimes by Jonathan and Faye Kellerman to be just what the book jacket promised: “…a gripping pair of original crime thrillers…” This was my first experience with Jonathan and Faye Kellerman, also bestselling authors, and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this time I wasn’t disappointed.
Although I didn’t initially realize that Capital Crimes was actually two novellas combined under one cover, both stories stood well on their own, and I will definitely read more of their work. The characters were far more colorful than those in Short Straw, and the pace moved much quicker. I felt more involved with the stories and interested in the outcomes.
The only criticism I have is that the language in Capital Crimes was a little rough. While the usage of rough language was well within the boundaries of keeping in the voice of the character, I sometimes find it distracts from the story when the dialogue is spotted with conversational swearing. I didn’t find it distracting enough, however, to put this book down and recommend it for a taste of both Jonathan and Faye Kellerman.
South Christian High School’s football team has started the season playing well, standing at 2-1 following a tough loss to a good Wayland team last week. But as the Sailors take on the visiting Wyoming Wolves in Week 4 of the season Friday night, head coach Mark Tamminga is looking at the long game — the South Christian tradition of success.
The WKTV Journal caught up with Tamminga at a practice this week, and he talked about this week’s game, the team’s hopes of going back to the again playoffs this year, and why Tamminga thinks that he may have another team to continue South Christian’s tradition of winning football teams.
South Christian High School football head coach Mark Tamminga. (WKTV)
“We’re playing for all of those players who played before us and all of the great teams,” Tamminga said. “ We want to be remembered as one of those great teams and I think these kids are taking that to heart.”
After a Week 3 loss against Wayland, Tamminga looked at it as a learning experience.
“We stumbled a little against Wayland last week, but Wetland’s a great team. They have the size and they’re physical,” Tamminga said about the Wildcats.
This week, Tamminga knows Wyoming has strong and powerful athletes, and the Wolves will be looking to topple the Sailors this week at East Kentwood High School. However, he believes his Sailors are evenly matched.
“I think they have the size up front, but we’re big upfront too. So if we can win in the trenches, I think that we’ll be okay,” Tamminga said.
These and other sports events are cable broadcast either live, immediately after the event and/or in rebroadcast, on Comcast WKTV Channel 25 and on AT&T U-Verse Community 99.
WKTV’s featured football games are rebroadcast on the night of the game (Thursday or Friday) at 11 p.m. and Saturday starting at 11 a.m. See WKTVjournal.org/sports for complete schedules.
WKTV’s coverage of high school sports and select community events are also available on-demand within a week of the event at wktvondemand.com.
After opening the season with three 2017 playoff teams, Wyoming High School is looking to come out of Week 4 strong with a win over another playoff team, South Christian, this week. Both teams are coming off of Week 3 losses.
Wyoming (0-1 in OK-Gold/ and 1-2 overall) was able to capitalize two weeks ago with a win against Comstock Park, a team that went 7-4 with a playoff run last year.
Wyoming High School football coach Irvin Sigler. (WKTV)
“We came out of the gate with four playoff teams and so we have to be at that caliber of football right from the very beginning.” Coach Irvin Sigler said when WKTV visited the Wolves practice field this week. “The thing we did best against Comstock Park is how we started. We started fast, played really hard, and we were able to hold onto a win.”
Sigler has nothing positive things to say about his season so far. The Wolves had a well-synched defense in the first game against Holland and a well-played game on both sides of the ball in the second game against Comstock Park — both of which has shown what the Wolves are capable of.
“It’s really kind of finding our rhythm and make sure we’re doing things the way that we’re coached to do them,” he said. “We talk a lot to our kids about attitude and effort with those being the only things we can control.”
With the Wolves preparing for Friday nights game, it’s important to remember that Wyoming is a rebuilding program, with Sigler in his second year at the school. A win against South Christian Friday night could establish the Wolves as a team to watch this season.
“Well, they’re a playoff team, they’ve got a great tradition and they have a great coaching staff,” he said about the Sailors. “Their players have grown up believing in what they do, so it’s a great tradition (and) program and the kids always play very hard and do what they’re supposed to do, so we’re gonna have to do that and do it better if we want to win this game.”
These and other sports events are cable broadcast either live, immediately after the event and/or in rebroadcast, on Comcast WKTV Channel 25 and on AT&T U-Verse Community 99.
WKTV’s featured football games are rebroadcast on the night of the game (Thursday or Friday) at 11 p.m. and Saturday starting at 11 a.m. See WKTVjournal.org/sports for complete schedules.
WKTV’s coverage of high school sports and select community events are also available on-demand within a week of the event at wktvondemand.com.
SMSet to coincide with a highly anticipated new album release, JOHN MELLENCAMP will embark on a 2019 tour of “The John Mellencamp Show” which will feature the rock icon’s classics plus some new material. Hailed by critics and fans alike as one of music’s most authentic and crowd pleasing concert performers, Mellencamp will begin the tour Feb. 7 in his home state of Indiana at South Bend’s Morris Performing Arts Center before stopping in Grand Rapids to play SMG-managed DeVos Performance Hall on Sunday, Feb. 17. Produced by AEG Presents, “The John Mellencamp Show” will start promptly at 8pm and will not have an opening act. Every ticket purchased online will receive a physical copy of Mellencamp’s forthcoming album “Other People’s Stuff” set for release on November 16th by Universal Republic.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, September 21 at 10 AM. Tickets will be available at the DeVos Place® and Van Andel Arena® box offices, online at Ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order. See Ticketmaster.com for all pricing and availability. DeVos Performance Hall email subscribers will have access to an exclusive presale on Thursday, September 20. Sign up to the email list by September 18 to receive the presale code!
Mellencamp’s live shows have garnered huge critical acclaim with the Hollywood Reporter calling it a “triumphant, career-spanning show” and a “superb performance…still full of fiery defiance” by the Boston Globe. His extensive touring and live shows have solidified the Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer’s place at the forefront of American music for the past 40 years.
Mellencamp’s career in music, spanning more than 35 years, has seen him transition from pop star to one of the most highly respected singer/songwriters of a generation. Mellencamp is incredibly acclaimed; he is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy winner, a recipient of the John Steinbeck Award, ASCAP Foundation’s Champion Award, The Woody Guthrie Award and Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and more recently, the Founders Award, the top honor assigned by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Additionally, he was recently inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this past June. He is also one of the most successful live concert performers in the world. In 1985, Mellencamp, together with Willie Nelson and Neil Young, created Farm Aid. The social activism reflected in his songs helped catalyze Farm Aid, the concert series and organization that has addressed the struggle of American family farmers for more than 25 years.
As well, Mellencamp journeyed into the darkness of coal mining life in his reverent cover of Merle Travis’ 1946 song “Dark as a Dungeon,” recorded in support of National Geographic’s acclaimed documentary about the mining industry, “From The Ashes,” produced by Michael Bloomberg, former NYC Mayor.
John continues to focus on another facet of his artistic expression: painting. His style has progressed over the years as evidenced by several gallery shows and published portfolios, and in recent years he has increased his output by completing over 100 new works. He had his second solo exhibition this past Spring in New York and has a current exhibit at the famed Butler Museum in Youngstown, Ohio from September 20ththrough January 19, 2019. His highly successful Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibit ran for nearly two years and is now at the Woodie Guthrie Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma from September 1st through January 5, 2019.
Mellencamp continues his journey as the walking embodiment of rock icon; passionate, plain-spoken, and a self-proclaimed rebel. John Mellencamp continues to live and work in Bloomington, Indiana.
The opening of High Five Co-op Brewery, with its storefront location at 3846 52nd St. SE in the city, is expected for sometime in 2019. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The brewing of beer at High Five Co‐op Brewery, which hopes to become the City of Kentwood’s first member owned and managed brewery, took a huge step forward in August when it signed a lease for a location just west of East Paris in the center of the “Shoppes at 52nd Street”.
The co-op recently signed a lease for a location just west of East Paris in the center of the “Shoppes at 52nd Street”. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The opening of the brewery, with its storefront location at 3846 52nd St. SE in the city, is expected for sometime in 2019.
“We still have to meet with the City of Kentwood for planning and approvals (scheduled for September),” Laura Barbrick, president High Five Co‐op Brewery, said recently to WKTV. “Once we get that, we will file for state and federal licenses. We’ve been told it can be a minimum of a 7 month process. We don’t plan to begin the buildout until some of these things are more of a sure thing. So we won’t be doing a ribbon cutting until hopefully sometime next year. In the meantime there will be lots of planning and paperwork.”
High Five announced the lease for their future brewery in August.
“Our members have been patiently waiting for this moment,” Barbrick said at the time in supplied information. “Our board of directors have been searching the real estate market in West Michigan for nearly two years. We believe this location offers a lot of great potential and is in a rapidly growing area. We are excited to bring our new cooperatively‐owned brewpub to Kentwood.”
According to Barbrick, the cooperative has more than 150 members and expects renewed interest in memberships now that a location has been secured. High Five member‐owners “share a passion for craft beer and a vision to introduce the cooperative brewing model to West Michigan,” she said.
The cooperative brewery is built on seven operating principles that include a focus on the community, cooperation with other cooperatives, education of its members, and democratic governance which allows all of its members to vote on the direction of the brewery, according to supplied information.
Cooperative member‐owners purchase a lifetime membership for a one‐time $150 fee.
While High Five pursues its local, state, and federal approvals, it will also focus on growing its membership and raising additional capital for the new brewpub, according to Barbrick.
Inspired by Black Star Co‐op Pub and Brewery in Austin, Texas. Black Star, the first co‐op brewpub in the United States, opened its doors in 2010, and since that time, more cooperatives have opened and several are in various stages of planning. High Five was born in 2011 when founder Dallas McCulloch took part in a 5×5 business competition and was awarded $5,000 in startup capital, according to supplied information.
According to the National Cooperative Business Association, more than 100 million people are members of cooperative businesses in the United States, ranging from agricultural co‐ops and credit unions to food, housing and worker co‐ops.
Downtown Market hosts ‘Cooking with Craft Beer’ class
The Grand Rapids Downtown Market will host a “Cooking with Craft Beer” class on Friday, Sept. 21, from 6-8:30 p.m.
“We’re lucky to live in the city with the best craft brews, so don’t just drink the good stuff — learn to cook with it too!” information on the class states. “This beer-inspired menu will include a refreshing seasonal salad with a pale ale vinaigrette, delicious brown ale-braised chicken, and rich chocolate stout cupcakes. Yes, beer in dessert!”
They had me at “beer”.
The cost for the age 21-and-older class is $90 per person. As you cook, beers selected to complement the meal will be available for purchase.
The Downtown Market is located at 435 Ionia Ave. SW. For more information on the class email classes@downtownmarketgr.com or call 616-805-5308.
U.S. News & World Report ranks Calvin College #1 overall among Midwest regional colleges in its 2019 Best Colleges Guidebook. This marks the third consecutive year Calvin has topped its category.
Released online today, the report helps prospective students and their families evaluate colleges and universities based on 16 widely accepted indicators of excellence, such as first-year retention rates, graduation rates, and the strength of faculty. The report also takes into account qualitative assessments by administrators at peer institutions.
“Calvin’s mission to equip students to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world remains our constant source of motivation,” said Michael K. Le Roy, Calvin College president. “It is encouraging when independent sources like U.S. News & World Report recognize the exemplary work of our faculty, staff, and students.”
In addition to sharing the top overall ranking among its peers with Taylor University in 2019, Calvin also garnered U.S. News’ #1 ranking among Midwest regional colleges on its “Best Undergraduate Teaching” list, and appeared in the top five of its lists of “Most Innovative Schools” and “Schools with the Most International Students.”
Calvin was also listed as a “Best Value School” by U.S. News & World Report, and the college’s engineering program received special recognition as one of the best undergraduate engineering program in the country. The college tied for 71st among schools whose terminal engineering degree is a bachelors or masters.
About Calvin College Founded in 1876, Calvin College is a top-ranked, liberal arts college that equips its more than 3,700 students from 45 U.S. states, 65 countries and five Canadian provinces to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Calvin is proud to offer 100+ majors and programs, including graduate-level offerings in accounting, education, and speech pathology and audiology. Calvin students engage in intensive internships, community-based service learning, and significant research that results in publishing and presenting alongside world-class faculty.
And the college’s 400-acre campus, located in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, serves as a launching pad for students who, in any given year, participate in 40 faculty-led off-campus programs on six different continents. Discover more at www.calvin.edu.
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is celebrating its 85th year as a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. USNews.com focuses on education, health, money, travel, cars, and civic, providing consumer advice, rankings, and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and advice. U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
An international group of scientists led by a pair of Grand Valley researchers is exploring the biological and chemical impact of microplastics in a West Michigan lake.
Alan Steinman, the Allen and Helen Hunting director of Grand Valley’s Annis Water Resources Institute, is leading an exploratory research study to find out what kinds of toxic chemicals and bacteria are attracted to tiny pieces of plastic that are increasingly being found in lakes and oceans worldwide.
“When a piece of microplastic winds up in the water, it generates a biofilm, a consortium of different organisms that tends to form on almost any surface that spends time in the water. Chemicals, which we refer to as persistent organic pollutants or POPs, can be either taken up by the microorganisms in the biofilm or attach to the biofilm layer. As the biofilm is eaten by other organisms, such as fish, they can work their way up the food web. We’re doing genomic and chemical analyses on what is associated with three different types of plastics that are often found in microplastic waste to see what kinds of materials they are absorbing and attracting,” Steinman said.
Evaluating three stages of plastics in the lakes
Plastics are becoming more controversial in communities across the U.S. as a handful of municipalities are taking small steps to ban certain plastic products from use, like shopping bags and straws, and as information about the global plastic problem in oceans becomes more widely known.
“Microplastics are a hot topic here in the Great Lakes and in our oceans, so we’re gathering information from three different kinds of plastic that we’re letting incubate underwater for periods of one month and three months at two different locations and two different depths in Muskegon Lake,” Steinman said. “We hope to see what kinds of organic chemicals attach to these plastics because that can be a source of toxicity for fish and other aquatic organisms.
“We also want to know what kind of organisms colonize these tiny plastic spheres because that kind of information is simply not known at present. We’re really going to see what’s attached to plastics, as opposed to most studies that sample the water or sediment to see what plastics are present.”
The team pulls out samples from the water.
Charlyn Partridge, the molecular ecologist at the Annis Water Resources Institute will perform genomic analysis on the samples, while samples will be sent to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for chemical analysis. Other samples will be sent to researchers in the United Kingdom for additional analysis.
“This experiment will help tell us what kinds of plastics are more toxic than others, and where that toxicity is coming from. Right now, we know they are a problem, but we don’t know the mechanisms by which they are a problem,” Steinman said. “There are direct impacts from plastics where animals might ingest them and clog their internal systems, or there can be indirect impacts where they’re taking up the plastics but the plastics have toxic chemicals attached to them, and it’s the chemicals that are actually impacting the animals. This will tell us how important those chemicals are that are attached to different kinds of plastics.”
Steinman said this study is attempting to build a baseline of understanding of the problem rather than testing a specific hypothesis. The study is being funded by the Allen and Helen Hunting Innovation Fund.
“We’re fortunate that we have the Allen and Helen Hunting Research and Innovation Fund to support this work because this kind of exploratory research is very difficult to get funded by traditional agencies,” Steinman said. “We’re trying to see what’s out there and from that information, we can generate testable hypotheses. That will allow us to pursue funding from more traditional sources, such as the US EPA, MDEQ, and NSF.”
Steinman is assisted in his research by Maggie Oudsema, research assistant in his lab at AWRI. Chemical analysis for the project is being completed by John Scott, senior analytical chemist at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
A couple of weeks ago, I received a text message and several phone calls from a friend frantically trying to reach me, “I got a strange notice on my computer saying I had to call or they would disable me!”
When I contacted her later, I was relieved to hear she refused to give them her credit card number and they hung up on her. Too often, people who receive these pop-up notices on their computers, tablets or phones fall prey to these scare tactics, losing hundreds of dollars and sometimes their identity as a result. Tossing your computer out the window or smashing your phone with a hammer are not the answer. You can take steps to avoid falling victim to malware.
What is malware? When most people call for help, they say “A virus got into my computer!”. The mess that malware creates can certainly make us feel sick, but it is not a computer virus in the traditional sense. Malware, also referred to as Adware or Spyware, is a type of software that is usually embedded in something else. Whether it is a ‘free’ app you downloaded to your tablet, a ‘free’ software you downloaded to your computer, or a ‘free’ game you play through your internet browser, most likely you clicked ‘OK’ and, buried in the fine print you agreed to having the malware files downloaded to your device. When it comes to apps and software, nothing is free.
When these files get downloaded to our devices, strange things begin to occur. Like my friend, a message window might randomly open up saying we have a virus or claim that our computer has been hacked and requires immediate attention. We open our internet browser and without touching a key, it will begin bringing us to websites we don’t want to go to or the screen suddenly fills with 100s of popup windows advertising everything under the sun. We could even find our inbox filling up with messages to buy things that normally require a prescription or even our phone begins to ring with telemarketers.
What can we do to protect our devices from these types of software?
First, don’t download anything unless it comes through an official app store like Google Play or Apple and even then, use caution if it says are there advertisements in the app.
When advertisements pop up in your browser, be careful where you click. Many of these are designed to fool you by including a ‘No Thanks’ button or even a fake X button usually on the opposite side of the window. Close the pop up using the X in the upper corner.
If you make a mistake and download some malware to your computer, stay calm and know that any threatening messages you receive are not real. Microsoft, Apple or Google will not send a warning message to your screen demanding you call them ‘or else…’. If you’re getting these messages, it’s most definitely fake.
Do not call the 800 numbers that appear on your screen, give out any personal information, or allow anyone remote access to your computer.
You can often get free assistance by going to the manufacturer of the device. For a Microsoft device you can get virtual assistance at support.microsoft.com, an Apple device support.apple.com or a Google/Android device go to support.google.com.
Sometimes we need more than help articles; there are services you can pay for help. Best Buy’s Geek Squad offers support in-home, in-store, 24/7 online and phone support at (800) 433-5778. HelloTech also offers in-home tech support, online support at hellotech.com and help over the phone (888) 485-9455. These companies are reputable, established companies unlike the 800 numbers offered in the popup windows. You may have local tech support companies in your community.
Stay in charge of your devices! While your son, daughter or grandchild may seem tech savvy and well meaning, unless they are a certified technology support specialist, they should not be trying to fix your computer, tablet or phone. People of every age fall victim to malware and internet scams and our well-intentioned relatives might make matters worse.
When we run into problems like these, our inclination may be to give up on technology all together, especially if we’re new to it. Technology is engrained in every part of our society though and can actually go a long way in helping us remain independent as we age. Today we can order our groceries and have them delivered to our home, call for a ride, see our doctor through a video call, pay all of our bills and connect with friends and family using a smartphone, tablet or computer.
It’s worth sticking with it and to learn more. Local libraries offer technology classes for adults, as well as many community and senior centers. If you’re a member of a group who would like a class on learning about how technology like tablets and smart phones can enhance your life, Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan will bring a class to your organization. You can contact us at (616) 456-5664 or aaainfo@aaawm.org for more information.
BySuzanne Pish, Michigan State University Extension
There has been a lot of controversy about whether or not young children should begin to play football. As a mother, it is hard to watch your child be under a pile of other players, wondering if they are going to get up and listening to coaches yelling at them. However, there are some great lessons learned from playing football that go far beyond the hitting and yelling. These young children are learning life skills that they can use the rest of their lives.
The social aspect of sports might be what entices children to play in the first place. Youth sports participation lets children spend time with friends in a safe environment while practicing social skills that are likely to last a lifetime. Aside from bonding with peers, kids learn to solve conflicts effectively, reach common goals and learn to be more assertive, all while getting much needed physical activity. A child’s communication skills are improved while playing a sport, giving a child needed life skills.
2. Competitive skills
Although there is such a thing as being too competitive, it’s important for a child to understand the positive aspects of competition. Adults are surrounded by competition, from getting a job to moving up in the work force. When children learn the basics of competition early, they have a better chance of succeeding. Sports participation helps children cope with competition in a friendly environment. Working to achieve a goal or being part of a team can help kids gain healthy competitive skills that they can use for the rest of their lives.
3. Sportsmanship
Sportsmanlike behavior is a lesson that children obtain from playing sports. Children learn to positively handle both the winning and losing aspect of playing a sport. Good sportsmanship is a trait that carries over from childhood to adulthood. Athletes who focus on mastering personal improvement have a good chance later on becoming good citizens and hard workers. A child who learns to be a good sport can translate that skill to better cooperating with others and making decisions based on their own morals rather than being ego-oriented individuals who behave badly, according to Education World, an online resource for educators .
4. Leadership abilities
Obtaining leadership qualities that range from being a good character to respecting others and being task oriented can be accomplished in both team and individual sports. A solid support system, such as a strong parental involvement and effective coaching can help mold a child into being a leader now, and later in life.
The coaching staff for my son’s team told them in the huddle that giving 100 percent on the field will help them to give 100 percent in whatever else they do in life. Do these boys understand that concept at this young age? Maybe not, but having the discipline to play as a team day after day and to give all they can to their team will certainly pay off for them in the long run as adults.
Finny, the finback whale skeleton, greats visitors as the enter the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) just announced new Saturday Curiosity Labs will be starting Saturday, Sept. 22. Curiosity Labs give visitors the opportunity to get hands-on with science during their visit.
Curiosity Labs will feature fun, hands-on activities themed around science for all ages. Highlights visitors can expect include: learning how a watershed works through the Museum’s water table and utilizing an Augmented Reality (AR) sandbox in which by moving and building the sand, visitors can create erupting volcanoes, rivers, oceans, mountains. Additional hands on activities will change week to week.
Saturday Curiosity Labs will be free with general admission take place every Saturday at the GRPM from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in an open house style format.
Labs begin Saturday, September 22 and will run through Saturday, May 18, 2019. For more information on Curiosity Labs and to see upcoming exhibits and programs at the Museum, visit grpm.org.
The GRPM’s Watershed Lab was funded by Great Lakes Fishery Trust and Wege Foundation. Saturday Curiosity Labs are funded by the Brookby Foundation.
Curious about Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrids? Join us for a opportunity to see some up close, talk to owners about living with them day-to-day, test rides, potential test drives, and get all your questions answered.
The National Drive Electric Car Week event is set for Thursday, Sept. 13 from 2 – 7 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Tesla Supercharger, 5531 28th St. SE.
Already an EV owner or want to volunteer? Register atdriveelectricweek.org
Enter “Grand Rapids” in the search bar and follow the instructions on the event info page.
The event will be held in the Southwest corner of the Meijer at Cascade parking lot, near the Tesla Supercharger.
For many driving on Byron Center Avenue pass Ferrand Park, their reaction might be very similar to that of the wife of Wyoming’s Council Member Kent Vanderwood.
“So my wife and I have lived in Wyoming for 13 years and my wife and I were driving by [Ferrand Park] recently and she said there’s a park in there,” Vanderwood said during an August Wyoming Council meeting.
Ferrand Park is one of the oldest city park areas in Wyoming having been donated by the Ferrand family and dedicated in 1971. However a deed restriction did not allow the city to remove any of the trees, with the city leaving the park in a natural state with a small playground area.
The ribbon cutting ceremony at the Ferrand Park rededication.
“So you see the beautiful trees?” said City Services Director Rebecca Rynbrandt. “We can not remove a tree unless it is in imminent risk to the public. So for years, we have to wait for them to die a little bit of their natural death allowing us to have space in the middle, which opened up for play.”
Now some 40 years later, the city was able to invest more than $400,000 into the pocket park with money from the Parks and Recreation Fund and the Revolving Capital Improvement Fund. On Aug. 25, the city hosted a rededication.
“We are very excited to be rededicating Ferrand Park, one of our 21 parks in the city of Wyoming,” said Mayor Jack Poll. “We are excited for the major changes that have occurred in this park and we are most thankful for our citizens for once again supporting efforts in our parks that make them some of the most beautiful parks in all of West Michigan.”
The park features a number of new amenities such as a shelter, pathways into the park, architectural features that help to identify the park, and a new, expanded playground area.
The new, expanded playground at Ferrand Park.
“I personally love the dragonfly teeter-totter ,” Rynbrandt said. “We try to make something special and unique for each park.
“We also implemented the log and step rocks. We want this to be a marriage of the environment with the landscaping and then with the traditional land features. We added and expanded the playground that is available. There is climbing walls that they never had before. They have never had swing sets at this park, so we have provided an adaptive swing as well as a regular swing.”
Another important aspect is the accessible pathways into the park, Rynbrandt said.
“We have an accessible ramp into the park,” she said. “We have a sidewalk area and we have a crush aggregate, so we also have different textures.”
There are other details as well such as a table area near the park with a handicap accessible spot facing the playground area, making it easier for all to enjoy the playground space.
All of these changes are making residents take notice of the neighborhood park.
The butterfly teeter-totter at Ferrand Park.
“We have already seen an increase in dog-walkers, exercise walkers for health and wellness because now they know the park exists,” she said. “We put the architecture detail along the road of Byron Center so people are saying ‘hey what is there?’
“Before, the playground sat very low in the hollow in the area. So now people know there is a park and they are walking in, they have a safe route to access the playground and the shelter.
Now with Ferrand Park done, the City of Wyoming will turn its attention to its oldest park, Ideal Park, with work scheduled to start on that park soon and a grand reopening celebration set for 2019.
Inspired by numerous enjoyable escapes from harsh Russian winters, composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s love of Italy is reflected in his “String Sextet in D Minor, Op. 70 ‘Souvenir de Florence.’”
This musical tour of Italy will be performed by the internationally acclaimed Tesla Quartet and Grand Valley State University music faculty members during this year’s Fall Arts Celebration.
“An Italian Journey: Tesla Quartet performs Tchaikovsky’s ‘Souvenir de Florence’” will take place Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m., in the Cook-DeWitt Center on the Allendale Campus.
The Tesla Quartet will open the program with “Quartet in B minor, Op. 33, No. 1” by Franz Joseph Haydn, and then be joined by Paul Swantek, affiliate professor of viola, and Pablo Mahave-Veglia, associate professor of cello and Early Music Ensemble director, to perform “Souvenir de Florence.”
Best known as a master composer of symphonies and ballets, Tchaikovsky crafted this work through a rich blend of well-known Italian street songs and melodies.
“The music of Haydn is timeless and the music of Tchaikovsky opens us up to the romantic century which defined his compositions,” said Danny Phipps, chair of Grand Valley’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Department. “Having both of these masterpieces performed with a new and fresh perspective and vision will be an extraordinary treat.”
Formed at The Julliard School in 2008, members of the Tesla String Quartet include Ross Snyder (violin), Michelle Lie (violin), Edwin Kaplan (viola) and Serafim Smigelskiy (cello). The quartet regularly performs across North America and internationally, with recent appearances in Austria, Canada, China, Germany, Hungary, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
“What I think will stand out to our audiences is how much they love what they do,” said Phipps. “Their playing is virtuosic and brilliant, and they are very personable. All of this is apparent when they perform, adding to the audience’s enjoyment.”
The quartet has won numerous awards and prizes at international competitions, including the 2017 John Lad Prize; the Gold Medal at the 2012 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition; and Second Prize, Haydn Prize, and Canadian Commission Prize at the 12th Banff International String Quartet Competition.
The quartet’s first album, “Haydn, Ravel, Stravinsky,” debuted on September 7.
Community involvement and outreach are integral aspects of the quartet’s mission as they perform inspiring music at children’s hospitals, soup kitchens, libraries, retirement communities, schools and more.
For more information about Fall Arts Celebration, visit gvsu.edu/fallarts. All events are free and open to the public.
Grand Rapids Ballet Executive Director Glenn Del Vechicco, Festival of the Arts Executive Director David Abbott, and Grand Rapids Ballet Artist Director James SoFranko (Photo courtesy of Festival of the Arts)
Fifty years ago, the Grand Rapids Ballet made its professional debut at the Festival of the Arts. In 2019, the state’s only professional ballet company will be helping to celebrate the event’s 50th anniversary with the company’s Artistic Director James SoFranko and Executive Director Glenn Del Vecchio serving as honorary co-chairs.
“I don’t know if everyone understands it but this was one of the first performances we ever did as a professional company, dancing at Festival,” said Del Vecchio during a recent news conference early announcing the honorary co-chairs. “So to to bring it full circle 50 years later and be a part of Festival 2019 is so exciting to us.”
Festival Executive Director David Abbot said having honorary co-chairs is a big change for the organization which has have community individuals represent the leadership of Festival over its 49-year history.
“This year what we wanted to do in taking us into our next 50 years is always chose a pairing from a leading arts institution so that we can show the community that we are about collaboration in the arts and we are about partnering,” Abbot said.
Abbott said representatives from the Grand Rapids Ballet serving as honorary co-chairs seemed a natural fit given the organization’s history with Festival.
The 2019 Festival of the Arts will take place June 7, 8 and 9.
“They are leaders in the community for the arts and in the State of Michigan, this is the only professional ballet company,” Abbott said.
Festival of the Arts is a regional celebration of the arts that traditionally takes place the very first weekend in June. Next year it will be June 7, 8 and 9
“We are expanding back our Festival so it is on the full footprint of downtown Grand Rapids running from Calder Plaza all the way to Rosa Parks Circle,” Abbott said. “We will have six main stages as well as our five pop up stages that we had last year. So you are going to see performance and music in every corner of our Festival.”
And one of course, the Grand Rapids Ballet is already planning its performance for the 2019 Festival of the Arts.
“One of the things that we have always wanted to do is to bring a really high quality performance to Festival and so we are going to have our professional dancers dance at Festival, free to the public. It is going to be an unbelievable evening,” Del Vechicco said.
Abbott said Festival of the Arts recently has revamped is website, festivalgr.org, with application process for performance, art sales, the regional arts exhibition, and food sales expected to begin in November.
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).
When a Belding resident (and a rescuer herself) contacted us in early July 2018 about this injured little lady, Dr. Jen knew she had to make quick work of getting this kitty into our care; Kathy and the kitty’s caretaker noted this dainty girl’s wounded neck, called around for help and received no assistance locally. Upon arrival at the vet clinic, the cutie-pie (born in early 2016) proved to Dr. Jen that the quite nasty neck wound wasn’t about to dampen her spirit—she purred and trilled the entire exam! However Dr. Jen had to sedate kitty to take a closer look at what the heck was going on (a proliferative lesion known as an eosinophilic granuloma), debride the wound site of the exuberant tissue that was delaying skin healing, and treat it topically as well as systemically with antibiotics.
At that time Dr. Jen had noted a small upper lip ulcer, which can be common for this type of inflammatory condition, but it wasn’t until a few weeks later when Chanel No.2 developed another one (they are commonly called rodent ulcers) that Dr. Jen chose to treat the condition with injectable steroids. This seemed to do the trick in expediting skin repair, as did another gentle debriding at that time.
We also had to come up with creative ways to keep her neck covered so she wouldn’t excessively lick the tender skin as it slowly healed, but that proved to be quite the challenge. After trying (and failing spectacularly) with a sweater and stockinette, our cat care manager brought in a doll bib from home—and it foiled Chanel’s efforts to over-groom. Plus, she look absolutely adorable in it, though it was only needed for a few days.
The leaps and bounds of improvement Chanel made over the next few weeks were absolutely remarkable!
From the get-go, charming lil’ Chanel was a heart-stealer. Not one to ever grumble or hiss at another cat (or human, for that matter, as her lesion was tended to), this perfect little purr-machine lives for belly rubs, and absolutely craves attention. She acts as if she has always been around other kitties and received tons of attention from whomever had her at one point, so it would be to our extreme liking if we could place her in a home that would continue to treat her like a princess, as she really thrives on the pampering she has been receiving. We all have no doubt that once her bio hits the internet, we are going to be receiving inquires and applications almost immediately for our lovely, kittenish girl.
We are known for thinking outside of the box when necessary—and we certainly have a crew of creative folks working with our fur-kids! We will do whatever it takes to get our feline companions up to par so that we can ultimately send them off into loving, long-lasting homes of their own!
More about Chanel No.2:
Medium
Domestic Short Hair; Black & White/Tuxedo
Adult
Female
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Spayed
Not declawed
Good in a home with other cats, children
Want to adopt Chanel No.2? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
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.
Not only is the correct seat important, but also the correct buckling of seat and young passenger.
By Michigan State Police
The Michigan State Police is seeking to educate parents about how to choose the right car seat and how to install and use it correctly.
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children one to 13 years old, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers.
“Car seats, booster seats and safety belts save lives, but their misuse by well-intentioned parents and caregivers is far too common,” said Community Service Trooper Martin Miller of the Rockford Post. “Be proactive — get your child’s car seat or booster seat checked to ensure their safety.”
Car Seat Recommendations:
On Aug. 30, 2018, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) published an update to its 2011 child passenger safety policy statement and technical report. The most significant change is modified language around how long children should remain rear-facing. Instead of recommending rear facing to at least age 2, the updated policy statement recommends children remain rear facing until they reach the weight or height limit allowed by their seat. Most current car safety seats will accommodate children rear facing to age 2 or more.
Further recommendations by the AAP:
All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat (CSS) as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their CSS’s manufacturer. Most convertible seats have limits that will permit children to ride rear-facing for 2 years or more.
All children who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their CSS should use a forward-facing CSS with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by their CSS’s manufacturer.
All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their CSS should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle lap and shoulder seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 ft 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use lap and shoulder seat belts for optimal protection.
All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection.
For more information on child car safety and to find a free car seat check event near you, go to safercar.gov/parents.
Where do I belong? This is the question asked by immigrants and expatriates for as long as human beings have migrated. Alan interviews Brazilian-born Marcos Bragança, an expat with a widely dispersed family. His American-born son Thomas talks about the ebb and flow of language and culture growing up in the United States.
"The person who says something is impossible should not interrupt the person who is doing it."
~Chinese Proverb
Good things come in threes
Three well-deserving organizations recently received grants from the GM Foundation: the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance, West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), and Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank. Read all about it here.
The dude abides (er, rides)
Kentwood resident and bicyclist-on-a-mission Ken Smith, after a brief stop at home for his anniversary and time with family, quietly headed off from downtown Grand Rapids this week as part of a 3,500-plus west coast-to-east coast trip to raise funds for his grandson, Jakob, and awareness of all persons with neurological damage. More here.
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Beam me up, Scotty
Well, maybe healthcare technology isn’t quite that advanced, but still…
Not only are physicians and other healthcare professionals becoming more accessible, but personal health information, billing, and care instructions have also become easier to find thanks to electronic health records and healthcare portals. Before electronic health records, or EHRs, patients had to request physical copies from their healthcare providers’ offices, an inconvenient process that meant that most people only received their records when they were absolutely required. Read all about it here.
Fun Fact:
A sneeze travels about
100 miles per hour.
We're not sure who clocked it or why. Maybe some things are best left unknown.
Grand Valley State University’s annual DeVos Medical Colloquy will focus on “The Ethics of Health Care Access” as presented by a respected philosopher and a well-known journalist-documentary filmmaker.
Larry S. Temkin, distinguished professor of philosophy at Rutgers University, and Thomas R. (TR) Reid, author and filmmaker, will highlight the event set for Monday, September 17, from 6-8 p.m. in the Eberhard Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Thomas R. (TR) Reid
Sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Health, the event is free and open to the public; register online at gvsu.edu/colloquy. The colloquy will be webcast live, participants who register will receive a link several days in advance of the event.
Continuing education credits will be offered for nursing and medical education.
Temkin is the author of Rethinking the Good: Moral Ideals and the Nature of Practical Reasoning (2012); his 1993 work, Inequality, has been touted as an important contribution to analytical political philosophy. Temkin’s individualistic approach to inequality has been adopted by the World Health Organization and the Gates Foundation in their measurements of the global burden of disease.
Reid is among the nation’s best-known reporters and a contributor to the Washington Post and NPR. He is the author of many books including The Healing of America, a national best-seller that spurred two PBS “Frontline” documentaries. Reid’s recent PBS documentary, “U.S. Health Care: The Good News,” is airing on affiliate stations across the country.
Carl E. Ver Beek, labor and employment attorney for Varnum Law, will serve as moderator. VerBeek has served as chairs for the boards of Holland Home, Health Net of West Michigan, Jellema House and Bethany Christian Services.
The DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy is held twice per year. Grand Valley began hosting this series in 2015, after receiving a gift from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation.
After Delainey Smyth saw her beloved great-grandmother thrive in a nursing home, she decided she would do her best to ensure that all patients with dementia have a similar experience.
Now, an education method many associate with early childhood learning is giving her that opportunity.
The first year speech-language pathology master’s degree student is expanding on collaborative research that included Central Michigan University at a Grand Rapids’ Clark Retirement Community, a long-term care community. The study applied Montessori methods tailored to nursing home patient care, including meaningful interactions and greater communication.
Results showed that, after a year, residents were significantly more positive and had more feelings of self-esteem and belonging. Staff job satisfaction rose, too.
Natalie Douglas works with a resident from Clark Retirement Community
Douglas and her CMU team of two speech-language pathology master’s degree students presented their findings in July at an international Alzheimer’s conference in Chicago.
“If you can help someone communicate, you can help their overall well-being,” Natalie Douglas, director of the division of speech-language pathology.
Taking the next steps
Smyth plans a similar study this year at two Mount Pleasant-area nursing homes that will be the basis of her master’s thesis.
Before Montessori introduction at the Grand Rapids facility, residents typically spent their days eating, watching television and doing irregularly scheduled group activities that were not based on anybody’s particular interests or strengths, Douglas said.
A Clark Retirement Community resident works on sorting tools.
The team’s goals were to change the environment and practices to enable residents to be as independent as possible, make meaningful contributions to their community and to grow their self-esteem.
To achieve those goals, the teams helped rearrange the facility — creating spaces for more free movement and activity, making the environment visually organized, adding aspects of nature, and creating wayfinding cues and invitations for engagement. And they instituted Montessori for Aging and Dementia methods.
Those methods include enabling residents of mixed abilities to work together while encouraging them to do as much for themselves as possible. Residents are offered choices of activities that have meaning and purpose and are given uninterrupted blocks of activity time with specialized materials that they can freely choose. The staff also is trained in Montessori methods.
An experience of love and life
Learning from the Grand Rapids study and modifying some of those strategies, Smyth said she wants to add nursing home activities that residents normally would do in their own homes, such as cooking, gardening and laundry. Those tasks help the residents reconnect to their life experiences through all of their senses, she said.
Residents set a table.
Douglas said part of the cycle of dementia is that as people start to lose memory, they lose communication skills. As a result, they talk to fewer people and do fewer things, which leads to having fewer things to talk about.
When nursing home residents do familiar activities, Smyth explained, they are more joyful and freely talk to others about them. If you stop and listen to their stories and tailor care to each person’s experience, they will thrive.
“When my great-grandmother entered the nursing home, her experience was one of love and life, rather than sadness and death. I understand that many people don’t feel that way, and I’d like to change that,” she said. “It’s a challenging goal, but people in nursing homes are delightful if you just try to communicate with them.”
A view of a Kounotori from the International Space Station.
Kelly Taylor
WKTV Staff
On Friday, Sept. 14, WKTV will be featuring the Rendezvous and Capture of the JAXA “Kounotori” HTV-7 Cargo Craft at the International Space Station. Coverage will begin at 6 a.m., with the capture scheduled at 7:40 a.m. Stay tuned for the installation of the cargo craft at 11 a.m.
The Kounotori is an unmanned cargo transporter. It is designed to deliver up to six tons of supplies including food, clothes, and experiment devices to the ISS in orbit at an altitude of about 400 kilometers and return with spent equipment, used clothing, and other waste material.
The Kounotori with waste material is incinerated when it makes a re-entry into the atmosphere. This transport operation involves a rendezvous with and docking to the ISS, in a situation requiring a highly reliable transfer vehicle.
A Kounotori cargo craft
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.
By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch
When Betty Mahmoody’s story first came to light, the United States was confronted with a problem of epic proportions: international parental abduction. Countless parents around the county were finally heard. Author Livingstone wrote Rescue My Child to help inform an entire generation of the cruelty these parents face every day.
Livingston focused on Corporate Training Unlimited (CTU), an organization composed of ex-Delta Force commandos, who would intervene in international cases. This book tells of four such cases. The stories detail the rescues of five children and one mother from various countries and situations. Laurie Swint Ghidaoui and her daughter Leila were rescued from Tunisia. Lauren Mahone was recovered in Jordan. Brittney Chowdhury was located in Bangladesh while Jeremy Hefner and his sister Amy were rescued in Ecuador.
Rescue My Child endeavored to alert the world about international parental abduction at a time when such a crime was hardly imaginable. CTU risked much to be able to help these families: prison, injury and even death. Had these men and women been discovered while on foreign soil and in possession of a child of a citizen, the United States could not have helped them. It is a reminder that some children do come home and also a reminder that some are still missing.
With more than a 1,000 traffic fatalities in the state of Michigan, distracted driving has certainly become a concern with law enforcement.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety, through a recent grant from the GM Foundation, hopes to educate area students about the dangers of distracted driving from alcohol to cell phones.
“We are going to be going into all of our local high schools partnering with them and bringing in the Save a Life tour. We will have some presentations and hopefully some interactive displays with the teenagers there just showing them the potential of distracted driving and the consequences that could be,” said Wyoming Chief Kim Koster.
An interactive display from Save a Life.
The Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance, which received the grant, plans to help the Wyoming Department of Public Safety bring in the program Save a Life, an international campaign designed to get the message out about the dangers of distracted driving. The program includes highly advanced impaired and distracted driving simulators that give participants a completely realistic, sober perspective on the effects of driving while impaired or distracted.
“We are receiving generously from General Motors a check that will be used specifically by our police department for distracted drivers,” said Mayor Jack Poll, who was at the opening ceremonies or the 28th Street Metro Cruise where the grants were presented. The 28th Street Metro Cruise is usually the last weekend in August.
For the past several years GM has recognized and supported local organizations that help with a number of projects within the community. The GM Community Grants program, funded by the GM Foundation, is providing about $2 million to hundreds of organizations in 48 communities where GM employees live and work. Of that amount, $30,000 was awarded to the GM Components Holdings LLC in Wyoming to give to local organizations.
GM Foundation awards three grants totaling $30,000 recently at the 2018 28th Street Metro Cruise.
That amount was split between three organizations, the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance, the West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), and Feeding America.
WMEAC will use most of its grant money toward its Teach the Watershed program at Godfrey Lee Elementary School, said WMEAC Director of Development Mary Robinson.
“We work specifically with fourth graders to teach them about the watershed and air pollution and how then can be actors in stopping pollution,” Robinson said. “We will also have a fall water festival that will include kids from the elementary school but also from the early childhood center.”
The last group was the Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank which will utilize the grant to help support 14 school mobile pantries feeding more than 14,000 families. One of the locations is Wyoming’s Parkview Elementary.
After a minor scare from July’s reading of -3 for new orders, the West Michigan economy has returned to a normal pattern of slow growth, 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 August.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) came in at +21, up significantly from -3. The production index tapered to +16 from +23. The index of purchases edged higher to +15 from +13, and the employment index came in unchanged from last month at +21.
“After last month’s lackluster report, slow growth has returned to most sectors in the West Michigan economy,” said Long. “At least some of the fears of the trade war have been moderated, and the automotive sector appears to be exempt from some of the tariffs.”
Long said auto sales continue to soften in the traditional sedan sector, but the light truck/SUV segments are doing well. He said the office furniture business continues to benefit from the new tax structure, so the outlook for most firms remains positive. The local firms producing capital equipment are also back on track after last month’s hesitation, Long said, and business conditions for industrial distributors remain seasonally flat.
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.”
For over 28 years, Dr. Brian Long has edited a survey of local purchasing managers for both the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids areas, which has proved to be a major indicator of current and future business conditions. This survey appears in many local newspapers and national business publications, including the Grand Rapids Press, MiBiz, and the Grand Rapids Business Journal. The survey is also a component of the Federal Reserve’s bimonthly survey of business conditions.
Are you prepared for an emergency at your house, such as a fire? A countywide program will offer help in planning. (Supplied)
By Kent County
September is National Preparedness Month, so …
Do you have a plan if you had to leave your home for an extended period of time due to a disaster? Do you know what to do if you have a house fire? What is your plan if the power goes out?
The Emergency Preparedness Initiative of Kent is offering a free fun and educational expo for both kids and adults focused on keeping homes and families safe.
Operation: Safe and Secure will be held Tuesday, September 18, from 4-8 p.m., at the DeltaPlex, 2500 Turner Ave NW in Walker.
“Operation: Safe and Secure is an ideal way for people to have fun and learn at the same time,” said Karla Black, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator of the Kent County Health Department. “Our involvement is just another way we collaborate with the many wonderful community partners who are dedicated to the safety and well-being of our families across the County.”
Presentations include hands-on safety activities for all age groups, drones and the Fire Safety Trailer from the Grand Rapids Fire Department, Walker Fire Department’s ladder truck, American Red Cross presenting Disney’s Pillowcase Project, safety tips for people with disabilities, what to do in an active violence event, free refreshments, giveaways and much more.
At the event, there will be vendors and presenters who will provide information on how the community can be better prepared against emergencies.
“Kent County has had many emergency situations and severe weather over the past few years,” said Jack Stewart, Kent County Emergency Management Coordinator. “We have seen tornadoes throughout the County in recent years, and we had a massive flooding incident in February that led to a State of Emergency declaration. House fires and accidents are regular occurrences. How you and your family respond in those initial moments can certainly mean the difference to avoid serious injury.”
The Emergency Preparedness Initiative of Kent (EPIK) is made of the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Kent County/Grand Rapids Emergency Management, Kent County’s Sheriff Department and Health Department, Grand Rapids’ Police and Fire Departments, Walker Fire Department, Kent ISD, Salvation Army, WOTV Operation Save a Life, E.S.C.A.P.E., neighborhood associations and others.
“EPIK thanks the DeltaPlex and the partners involved for offering support and sponsorship,” said Leslie Montgomery-Bean of American Red Cross. “There has been a great amount of community involvement in the planning process. People who attend the event will gain information and ideas to be more prepared for emergencies and disaster that they may face at home or in their communities.”
As a former smoker, Hasart qualified. He remembers the day 50 years ago he caught his older brother smoking.
“He made me start so I wouldn’t tell Dad,” Hasart said.
A few days after his appointment with Dr. Litt, Hasart went to Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial Hospital in Fremont for his CT scan. Within 24 hours, Dr. Litt’s office called. They had found a suspicious nodule.
It was an early catch, which is a big advantage in fighting lung cancer.
“The idea with the screening is that we can diagnose it when it’s more treatable,” said Marc McClelland, MD, a Spectrum Health pulmonologist.
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
Lung cancer tends to have poor outcomes because it usually gets diagnosed at an advanced stage, Dr. McClelland said. The disease typically does not have any symptoms until it has advanced beyond stage one or two.
Since its creation in 2015, the lung cancer screening program has identified 33 cases of lung cancer and nine cases of other kinds of cancer, including kidney and liver. Nineteen of the lung cancer cases were found in the earliest and most treatable stage, stage one.
The program is currently following 728 patients with annual CT scans.
Harvey’s journey
A few days after receiving the bad news, Hasart met with the Lung Mass and Cancer Care Multispecialty Team. The group of cancer specialists includes a diagnostic radiologist, medical oncologist, pathologist, pulmonologist, radiation oncologist, thoracic surgeon, nurse and social worker, all coalescing to offer coordinated care for patients like Hasart.
The next step, a PET scan, revealed the nodule and a lymph node looked suspicious and needed biopsy.
Hasart’s case grew more complicated yet. Within days of his PET scan, he experienced chest pain on the golf course. He ended up needing a heart stent and he had to regularly take a blood thinner.
The multispecialty team thought it best to admit Hasart to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital for the biopsy, which allowed them to switch blood thinners and monitor his heart closely, Dr. McClelland said.
The results of the biopsy held more bad news: small cell lung cancer.
Small cell lung cancer makes up only 10 to 15 percent of all lung cancers. It is known for growing rapidly and spreading quickly, although it typically responds well to chemotherapy and radiation.
Dr. McClelland said the fact that Hasart’s cancer was small cell rather than the more common non-small cell cancer surprised him and the other specialists on Hasart’s team. It didn’t appear to be small cell originally, he said.
“That’s the beauty of the lung (multispecialty team),” Dr. McClelland said. “As long as I have been doing this, no case is the same as any other case. There’s no textbook in the world that could include the extensive variety and depth of what we see, so that’s why the team is so valuable.”
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
The team meets together on a regular basis to discuss each case, allowing for effective communication and more streamlined care. This ultimately means patients get answers faster, sometimes with same-day biopsies and results, Dr. McClelland said.
The week after Thanksgiving, Hasart started four rounds of chemotherapy at Spectrum Health Cancer Center. The day after Christmas, he started radiation. Both steps were successful fighting the cancer in his lungs.
When a scan then revealed a small lesion on his brain, the multispecialty team opted for him to receive radiation treatment to his brain, Hasart said. It’s common for small cell lung cancer to spread to the brain. In early May, a post-radiation brain scan showed the lesion was gone and there was no more evidence of cancer.
Serendipity
Hasart’s girlfriend, Deb Bisel, has been at his side throughout this journey. The two met online when Hasart lived in Wisconsin and Bisel in Newaygo, Michigan. They dated long distance a few years before Hasart retired and moved to Newaygo in November 2016.
Bisel lost her husband of 26 years, Ned, to lung cancer in 2011. By the time they found his cancer, it was too late to do much.
In a serendipitous twist, Bisel works for Spectrum Health as the manager of cancer program compliance. In this role, she helped develop the lung mass and cancer multi-specialty team. Bisel also helped plan a symposium for primary care physicians to learn more about cancer screening, including lung cancer. Dr. Litt attended that symposium.
“We are so thankful (Dr. Litt) ordered the CT scan, and we think it saved his life,” Bisel said. “This validates how important this stuff is.”
Those eligible for the screening program are active smokers with a history of 30 or more pack years and former smokers who have quit within the past 15 years. (Pack years is calculated by multiplying packs per day by years smoked.)
Patients with lower risk who do not meet those guidelines may speak with their doctors about whether they would benefit from screening outside of the program, Dr. McClelland said.
Patients like Hasart, who have quit smoking, can sometimes be forgotten, Dr. Litt said.
“This reinforces my faith in primary and preventive care,” Dr. Litt said. “You want to intervene before things go out of control, before things go in the wrong direction.”
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
Dr. Litt grew humble when she heard Hasart credited her with saving his life.
“I was doing my job as any good primary care physician should be doing,” she said. “I’m grateful and thankful he thinks highly of me, but mostly I am grateful he is doing well.”
Hasart is now focused on enjoying his retirement. He works part-time driving cars to the east side of Michigan for auto dealers. Most of the time, however, you will find him on the golf course or in the kitchen baking or cooking.
His last day of chemotherapy treatment was Valentine’s Day. He couldn’t wait to get home to make lobster dinner for Bisel.
That day, Bisel’s assistant, Diane Ivy, came down from her office in the cancer center with a celebratory gift for Hasart—a mix of cookies, a chocolate rose, a teddy bear and other goodies.
“I just wanted to come and see you for the last day,” she said.
The teddy bear, she said, was for “whenever you need a hug and Deb is not there.”
As Hasart readied to leave, a nurse wished him well and asked how he felt.
Advancements in medical technology have defined the practice of healthcare since a concept of healthcare has existed, from bandages to penicillin to MRIs. Today, we think of technology as digital, and it has permeated practically every aspect of our lives. It’s natural, therefore, that some of the biggest news in healthcare is related to technology and access. The tech that we use every day–our phones, the internet, computers–is transforming how people think about and receive healthcare, making it more convenient and accessible overall.
Telemedicine
One of the most talked-about trends in healthcare access today is telemedicine, which is the use of devices connected to the internet to provide clinical services. Originally, the goal of telemedicine was to make healthcare more accessible in rural regions of the United States, but after numerous studies showed these efforts to be hugely beneficial to both patients and healthcare professionals, healthcare technology companies began to develop more and more applications for telemedicine.
Telemedicine has vastly improved patient care capabilities for inpatient healthcare facilities such as small hospitals and for increasing access to specialists, who may not always be on-premises when they’re needed. A recent study from the CHEST Journal reported a reduction in patient transfers in intensive care units (ICUs) that had telemedicine systems in place, buying valuable time and providing specialized care that would have otherwise required a transfer.
The more highly discussed and visual aspect of telemedicine is the rise of applications and services that allow primary care physicians, psychologists, pediatricians, and more to examine patients without either person ever setting foot in an office. Doctor shortages around the country have made wait times for appointments longer, forcing sick people in highly-populated and rural areas alike to either pay high bills for urgent care or forgo a doctor visit altogether. Telemedicine has excelled at providing care for minor but time-sensitive health issues such as ear infections and stomach problems, meaning more convenience at a lower cost.
Healthcare portals
Not only are physicians and other healthcare professionals becoming more accessible, but personal health information, billing, and care instructions have also become easier to find thanks to electronic health records and healthcare portals. Before electronic health records, or EHRs, patients had to request physical copies from their healthcare providers’ offices, an inconvenient process that meant that most people only received their records when they were absolutely required.
Today, practices from primary care physicians to hospitals are making EHRs easily accessible through online patient portals. Visibility into personal healthcare records empowers people to be more active in their healthcare. In addition, some patient portals have other functions, such as a form of telemedicine where patients can ask their care providers questions on a secure platform, or billing statements that people can reference whenever they need to. This increased visibility into the process of healthcare offers people both convenience and insight, giving them the knowledge to make informed decisions about their health.
Personal and remote monitoring
About 45% of adults in the United States are living with at least one chronic disease; for seniors alone, that number rises to almost 80%. Managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and dementia is a constant part of everyday life, and for many people, chronic conditions mean more frequent visits to doctors and specialists. Healthcare appointments can be stressful for anyone, but for people with limited mobility or debilitating pain, they can be close to impossible.
Today, connected devices such as blood pressure and glucose monitoring devices make it easy to track health conditions and determine when intervention is necessary. Devices for home use are usually designed to be easy-to-use and offer clear insights in order to be as useful as possible to patients and caregivers. Some, such as heart rate monitors built into smartwatches and fitness trackers, are even wearable.
The ability to connect to the internet also means that remote monitoring is possible. Remote monitoring allows healthcare professionals to track a patient’s biometrics, rather than the patient tracking their condition themselves. While this may seem somewhat invasive, it is a real boon for people with serious conditions, or those who live alone or in an isolated area. Early detection of problems can help patients get the attention they need, sometimes even before they realize they need it.
Technology has always been integral to healthcare, but now, convenient healthcare technology is accessible to everybody. Services such as telemedicine and remote monitoring are still relatively new, and studies are still being done on the long-term benefits and drawbacks, but improvements to healthcare accessibility are ensuring better health for people all over the country.
Kentwood resident and bicyclist-on-a-mission Ken Smith, after a brief stop at home for his anniversary and time with family, quietly headed off from downtown Grand Rapids this week as part of a 3,500-plus west coast-to-east coast trip to raise funds for his grandson, Jakob, and awareness of all persons with neurological damage.
Smith, 70, whose father was a fireman and son is a fireman, is riding from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean — Seaside, Oregon, to Boston, Massachusetts — in hopes of raising $30,000 to provide for possible care of and therapy for Jakob.
Along the way firemen and fire departments have been offering support, including a welcome home last week at the City of Kentwood Fire Department Station 1 and a send-off Wednesday, Sept. 5, from the Grand Rapids Fire Department’s central station.
As Smith took off, he prayed with his wife, hugged a granddaughter. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
As Smith took off, he prayed with his wife, Jan, hugged a granddaughter and was buoyed by the time he was able to spend and support he was able to gain while at home.
“First of all, the arrival at Kentwood Fire Department took me totally boy surprise,” Smith told WKTV as he prepared to ride out of town. “Friends came over to the house, to meet me. They all said ‘Well, you lost a little weight.’ I lost about 10 pounds.
“Relatives called, just to say, ‘Boy, that’s great, I could never have done it. The fact that you did is really making a statement for Jakob.’ The family is excited that I am continuing, that I can continue.”
Smith estimated he had about 1,000 miles remaining on his trip, which will now take him across Michigan, across Ontario, and into New York State and Massachusetts. He estimates about 20 days for this leg of the journey.
Jakob’s parents — Ken’s son Jason and daughter-in-law Sue, live in Ontario and Jason is a firefighter in London, Ontario, Canada.
Jakob, Ken explains, was supposed to die at age 2 but is now 16 years old. He can walk but cannot speak, and requires 24/7 care. The goal of the cross-country trip is, partially, to raise funds to support Jakob’s needs including speech therapy.
WKTV will follow Ken Smith as he posts to his Facebook account and will provide continuing coverage.
On Thursday, Sept. 6, Smith wrote from the road, as he crossed Michigan:
“I left St. Johns at 8 am and decided to take the rail trail to Owosso to get off hwy 21. It was a good ride on gravel. The trail from Owosso to Flint was not a good trail. Much of it was mud, a walking trail along the river very narrow but it did get me to some county roads. This slowed me down tremendously. My goal was to get past Flint and get as far as I could to hopefully get to the ferry to Canada by tomorrow night. Will see. Total miles travelled today 81 for a total distance of 2563 + 81 for 2644 miles. … I’m looking forward to the ride across Ontario to Buffalo next week.”
"You get to a certain age, where you know you can’t go over the wall, but I’ll never get to the age where I can’t go through it." - Actor Burt Reynolds, 1936-2018
Lending a Hand
Local nurses were on a hike at Dead River Falls, in the U.P.’s Marquette, but their day hike became a case of being in the right place at the right time. (Supplied)
When a group of local emergency nurses on vacation in Marquette, Mich., learned of an injured hiker they did what anyone with their training and background would do: they went to help. “I fully believe God placed nine ED nurses on that trail for a reason,” said Rylee Kuiphoff, one of the nurses in the group.
Are You Ready for the Challenge?
FIRST Power Up, the theme for the 2017 FIRST challenge, was based on a Mario game.
Hundreds of young technology enthusiasts will gather at Grand Valley State University September 8 to celebrate the beginning of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Tech Challenge season. The event is set for 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Eberhard Center and Keller Engineering Lab building on the Pew Grand Rapids campus. Competitions will take place in the winter.
The Rebels Who Are Turning it Around
Wyoming Lee faces NorthPointe Christian this Friday. The Wyoming Lee team has struggled in years past but last year, Coach Tom DeGennaro credited much of that success to the students: “It’s just the kids buying into the system, working out in the weight room and committing themselves to being here every day. It has nothing to do with coaching. All of the success goes to the kids.”
Killer Light Show
Well you have about a month and a half until “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the film about epic rock band Queen and its frontman Freddie Mercury, hits the theaters. Until then, the Grand Rapids Public Museum has got your Queen-fix as it will be opening “The Queen Light Show: From Mercury with Love” Sept. 15. The show will feature laser lights dancing to 10 of Queen’s greatest hits. And yes, that does include “Bohemian Rhapsody.” For more, visit grpm.org/Planetarium.
Fun Fact:
33.9 Million Miles
Or 54.6 million kilometers. That is the closest Mars and Earth come to each other. Still the distance has not discouraged a love affair with the red planet, which Grand Valley State University explores in its new exhibit "Mars: Astronomy and Culture." The exhibit is set to open Sept. 13 and will feature 140 photographs, drawings, movie posters, book covers and more spotlighting Mars.
The one and only Cher is set to hit the road with the HERE WE GO AGAIN Tour beginning Jan. 17, in Ft. Myers, FL. The tour will visit Grand Rapids at Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, May 8, at 8 p.m.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 14 at noon. 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. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order. See Ticketmaster.com for all pricing and availability. U.S. and Canadian residents who purchase tickets online will be able to redeem (1) physical or digital copy of Cher’s new album “Dancing Queen.” All albums must be redeemed by May 19, 2019.
Citi® is the official presale credit card for the HERE WE GO AGAIN Tour. As such, Citi® card members will have access to purchase U.S. presale tickets beginning Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. local time until Thursday, Sept. 13 at 10 p.m. local time through Citi’s Private Pass®program. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com.
Following the recent global success and rave reviews for Cher’s role in the Mamma Mia 2 – Here We Go Again film, the multi-award winning singer, actress and show-stopping performer will be crossing the U.S. for the first time in five years. Cher is expected to perform many of her hits along with some new songs from the Dancing Queen album – Cher’s tribute to the music of ABBA – out September 28th. Dancing Queen is currently available for pre-order. The Oscar, Emmy, Cannes Film Festival and Grammy Award winning icon is scheduled to be honored at the Kennedy Center later this year. She is also co-producer of The Cher Show, the upcoming Broadway musical opening December 3rd and is currently touring Australia and New Zealand. Cher is currently doing a series of residencies in Las Vegas.
Congressman Bill Huizenga announced the start of the 2018 Congressional App Challenge (CAC). The CAC is a competition aimed at encouraging middle and high school students to learn how to code by creating their own applications. The Challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education.
As of last week, the Congressional App Challenge had reached 10,000 students signed up to code an original, functional app since the program began less than three years ago. The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representative, where Representatives challenge students in their respective districts to create apps.
“The Congressional App Challenge is the largest series of student coding competitions in the world,” said Tim Lordan, Executive Director of the Internet Education Foundation, which was appointed as the CAC’s official sponsor by the U.S. House Of Representatives. “For students, it’s the most prestigious prize in computer science.”
So far this year, over 200 Members of Congress have launched an App Challenge to inspire students in their districts.
“By encouraging and recognizing our nation’s young programming talent, Congress can help shine a light on the growing importance of these skills,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “Today’s economy is rapidly changing and we need to ensure students across West Michigan are equipped with the tools to succeed. I believe the Congressional App Challenge can foster that development and I look forward to seeing the innovative and creative apps West Michigan students come up with.”
“Students from 43 states have created apps which address on an array of themes, including bullying, food waste, health and safety, search and rescue, learning and education, and gaming,” said CAC Director Rachel Décoste. “The only limit is the student’s imagination and commitment to learning computer programming.” Apps can be submitted in any programming language (such as Python, Java, JavaScript, C++, Ruby, “block code”, etc.) using any platform (PC, web, tablet, robot, Raspberry Pi, mobile, etc.)
The winner(s) of each Congressional district receive:
recognition from their Member of Congress,
their app is displayed in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC,
The 2018 Congressional App Challenge is currently accepting registrations from middle and high school students across the nation.
This competition is open to all students who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of coding experience. Students of all skill levels can participate. Students are encouraged, but not required, to register online by Sept. 10. Interested students should submit their app by the noon, Oct. 15 deadline.
To learn more about the competition or to submit an app, visit the Congressional App Challenge’s website. Questions regarding the Congressional App Challenge may also be directed to Congressman Huizenga’s office in Grandville by calling 616-570-0917.
Throughout the years, Mars has been depicted in multiple forms as societies around the world have gazed at the Red Planet.
During this year’s Fall Arts Celebration at Grand Valley State University, the “Mars: Astronomy and Culture” exhibit will bring together 140 photographs, drawings, movie posters, book covers and more spotlighting Mars. The exhibit will also include a showcase of Martian-themed toys and collectibles from a private collection based in Chicago.
A special exhibition reception will take place September 13 from 5-7 p.m. in the Art Gallery (room 1121), located in the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts on the Allendale Campus. The exhibit’s time at Grand Valley will conclude on October 31 with a Martian-themed Halloween event where guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite Martian.
During the reception, guests will be able to use a virtual reality simulator for an immersive experience on the surface of Mars. The “Mars 2030” experience was produced by Fusion Media Group in partnership with NASA and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s AeroAstro Lab. “Mars 2030” allows users to wander around 15 square miles of the Red Planet’s landscape while planting a flag on the surface, picking up rocks, driving a rover and visiting a habitat.
Joel Zwart, Art Gallery curator of exhibitions, said the exhibit is the perfect blend of astronomy and popular culture.
“A visitor can learn about the geographic features of Mars and history of its exploration while at the same time discover how Martians have become such a huge part of science fiction, literature, film and culture,” he explained. “Where else can you engage with beautiful panoramas of the Martian landscape, ‘War of the Worlds’ memorabilia, a historic photo of the first landing on Mars, an alien drinking cup, an image of the largest known volcano in the solar system and a Mars VR experience?”
Portions of the exhibition will be hosted at both the Center Art Gallery at Calvin College and the Holland Museum. The exhibit will be on display at Calvin College through October 20, and the Holland Museum September 20-December 29.
This exhibition was curated by the Pasadena Arts Council for the Williamson Gallery, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California. It is a project of the Pasadena Arts Council’s EMERGE Fiscal Sponsorship Program.
For more information about Fall Arts Celebration, visit gvsu.edu/fallarts. All Fall Arts Celebration events are free and open to the public.
Multiple free events will occur in the Art Gallery in conjunction with this Fall Arts Celebration exhibit.
Curator Talk and Reception
September 13, at 2 p.m.
Visiting art and astronomy curator Jay Belloli will talk about how the “Mars: Astronomy and Culture” exhibit was created to foster an understanding of Mars’ impact in societies around the world.
“The War that Never Was: The 1938 Radio Broadcast of ‘The War of the Worlds'”
October 17, at 1 p.m.
This presentation will explore the impact of H.G. Wells’ science fiction classic within the historical context of the infamous radio adaptation and how it continues to be popularized in film, television and music.
“Confronting the Martian: Humanity’s Changing Concepts about Life on the Red Planet”
October 18, at 1 p.m.
Deana Weibel, professor of anthropology and religious studies at Grand Valley, will take an anthropological look at humanity’s fascination with life on Mars, from ancient civilizations to popular culture, and explore what this reveals about societies around the world.
For more information about exhibition-related events, visit the Art Gallery website.
Color coordinated fans are ready to cheer on their team at GVSU’s FIRST Robotics competition held last spring.
By Leah Twilley
GVSU
Hundreds of young technology enthusiasts will gather at Grand Valley State University September 8 to celebrate the beginning of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Tech Challenge season.
More than 400 area middle school students will gather on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus to learn about this year’s spaced-themed challenge and game, Rover Ruckus.
FIRST — a national program founded in 1989 — challenges teams of students to work together to design, build, program and test robots to play a floor game. Teams are guided by coaches and mentors while developing STEM skills and practicing engineering principles. The kick-off event at Grand Valley is one of 13 events in Michigan taking place on Saturday.
FIRST Tech Challenge Kick-off
Saturday, September 8
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Eberhard Center and Keller Engineering Lab building, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
At noon, the challenge will be revealed in the Eberhard Center, room 215. After the reveal, students will head to the Keller Engineering Laboratories building see a replica of the game arena and network with other teams. In the morning and afternoon, students will participate in several workshops to discuss planning and strategy for this year’s competition.
Sara Maas, outreach coordinator for Grand Valley’s Padnos College of Engineering and Computing, said the event is an opportunity for students to experience what it’s like on a college campus.
“For some, it may be their first time on a college campus, and for others, it allows them to see and work in a real-life engineering space,” she said.
The West Michigan teams will compete in regional tournaments in November and December to advance to the national championship in Detroit in April.
