Newly appointed 1st Ward Commissioner Sheldon DeKryger takes the oath of office presented by Wyoming City Clerk Kelli VandenBerg. DeKryger’s family looks on.
The members of the Wyoming City Council openly admitted they had a tough decision between two potential candidates for the city’s open council seat but by the end of last night’s special meeting, the council made the unanimous decision to appoint business owner Sheldon DeKryger.
DeKryger will fill the 1st Ward Commission seat vacated by Bill Ver Hulst due to his resignation earlier this month. The appointment is through November when the seat is up for election.
“Looking over the resumes we received here, I said to my wife, we can’t go wrong with either one of them,” said Mayor Pro Ten Sam Bolt during discussions on the candidates, which were DeKryger and business owner and 18-year Wyoming resident Jennifer Franson.
Regardless of who was selected, Council member Dan Burrill said during the meeting, he hoped that both would continue to stay involved in the community.
DeKryger and his family have lived in Wyoming since 1995. He has three children attending Tri Unity Christian School, where he has been a board member for the past five years and was the building site coordinator for a recent addition at the school located on Wilson Avenue. He has one son attending Western Michigan University. He is a member of Resurrection Life Church, where he serves as a deacon and has been involved in the Powerhouse Ministry, an inner city Sunday school program that would set up at different sites in Wyoming, Kentwood, and the Grand Rapids area providing Bible lessons for local children.
DeKryger has a degree in economics from Calvin College and he currently owns and manages a residential building company that is based in Wyoming. According to DeKryger he got into construction due to his father-in-law and has enjoyed the field. He has served on the city’s Construction Board of Appeals for the last nine years.
He will serve out the remainder of the term which expires this fall at which time he plans to run for the seat.
“This is something that I have been taking about and my wife and I have gone back and remember a conversation I had with a person from six years ago,” DeKryger said during the his interview at the special meeting. “…we were talking about the city council back then and I don’t even know what seat it was for, but it was ‘hey, have you ever thought about running for City Council’ and it planted a seed and it is something that I’ve always wanted to do.
“I knew there was going to be opportunities this year so at that point I filed my paperwork. I was going to run this fall in the November election and the reason that I am here today is things got speed up and if I am running in November there is no reason I shouldn’t be sitting at this table hoping you guys will listen to me and try to get this appointment.”
DeKryger currently is the only candidate who has filed for the 1st Ward seat for the upcoming election. That area covers most of the eastern edge of the city which is Clyde Park Avenue to Eastern Avenue north of 36th Street and from Burlingame Avenue to Eastern Avenue south of 36th Street.
Beside’s the 1st Ward seat, two council member-at-large seats, currently held by Kent Vanderwood and Sam Bolt, and the mayor’s seat, currently held by Jack Poll, are up for election. Vanderwood, Bolt and Poll said they all plan to run for re-election for their current positions.
Those interested in running for any of the council or mayor seats need to file with the Wyoming City’s clerk office by 4 p.m. April 24. The clerk’s office is located in the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW. Candidate packets are available at the front desk.
By Melissa Fox, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
In Barolo, Matthew Gavin Frank takes readers on a trip to explore the food and wine of the Barolo Region of Italy. Frank stays in a tent in a friend’s garden and works at a vineyard, picking grapes for vintner Luciano Sandrone.
This book is rich with details of the history and process of wine making, the Piemontese region of Italy, and of the many people the author meets, restaurants he eats at, and friends he makes along the way.
Barolo is both travelogue and memoir, unique to its time and place in Frank’s life, so that only he could share these stories in this way.
“This Was My Land” (1990). Armand Merizon gave this painting to Dave and Muriel in exchange for a Lake Michigan painting he wanted back and destroyed. (Supplied)
“On An Overgrown Path” (1997). (Supplied. Collection of Sidney J. Jansma, Jr.)
Every person who knew the late West Michigan artist Armand Merizon has stories to tell — stories of a complex man’s triumphs and struggles, of a brilliant painter with a sometimes struggling career, but ultimately of an artistic life well lived.
And every person who has seen one of his paintings has his or her own story to tell: the story the acclaimed artist constantly worked to convey in just about every work he created.
Muriel Zandstra — friend, repeated interviewer, and artistic advocate of Merizon for five decades — has her own stories to tell, and she has told them, accompanied by the most complete visual review of the artist’s work, in a new book, “Armand Merizon: His Life and Art”.
Armand Merizon in studio (with image of musical influence Beethoven). (Supplied)
“The reason for producing the book, for all it involved, was more than just good friendship,” Zandstra said to WKTV. “It was an overwhelming belief in the man and his art. I think he’s not just a ‘good’ artist, but a ‘great’ artist and his legacy should live on. I strongly believe, as do all the art professionals who knew him, that Merizon is a significant 20th century American artist who needs to be elevated to his rightful position in the art world.”
The new book was not Zandstra’s first effort to shine a light on Merizon. She co-produced with Jennifer Dornbush a documentary about the artist, “ARMAND”, in 2005, when he was 85 and in ill-health with terrible arthritis in his hands and advanced macular degeneration in his eyes. He died in 2010.
“Since I had already done so much research on him for the documentary, I was the best equipped to take on the challenge of creating a book,” Zandstra said. “Though it was a natural, it was still an unexpected and unsought-after project for my retirement. I needed the help of many professionals to pull it off.”
What they pulled off — she credits the work of Jan Keessen and Randall VanderMey on the book’s dust jacket — was a 240-page, oversized hardcover “coffee table book” of such beauty, such comprehensiveness that it deserves a place of more prominence than a coffee table. It contains photographs of more than 200 of the artist’s works, beginning with an early work from 1932, “Fall Tree”, a stunningly mature pastoral work for a 12-year-old, to one of the last of his paintings, the abstract “In D Minor”, from 2009.
“After coproducing and broadcasting the documentary “ARMAND” in 2005, people wanted to see more of Merizon’s art and learn more about the genius behind them,” she said. “There was not any one gallery or museum where I could direct them to go since so many of his paintings are held in private homes. It seemed the only logical way to get his artwork out there was for someone to come up with a catalog art book. … It would be geared for the general public though also suitable for professionals and serious artists to study and learn from.”
For a short video review of Merizon’s work, and an on-air WKTV Journal interview with Zandstra, see the following video.
Author shares personal stories of artist
Zandstra tells many stories about her interactions with Merizon over the years, both in the book and sitting in the living room of the rural Reed City home she shares with her husband, Dave. Two stories tell of the depth of their relationship: one of a painting given and returned, and another of the artist and his model.
Merizon had a habit of giving paintings in exchange for others’ services rendered — just ask any of a number of local doctors who have Merizon paintings in their offices. In Zandstra’s case, it was a seascape given during the years she babysit for the family; a painting given and then returned and destroyed.
“That painting was a delightful, photographic kind of painting, I was thrilled with it,” she said. “But I could tell over the years that he was doing something deeper. … Even though everybody liked the painting, I was thinking there is something not quite right in this painting.
“One day I said, ‘Would you like to see your paintings that I have? You paint them and then they are gone and you need to see them again.’ He said, ‘Yes I would.’ … I brought them the next time and when he looked at that one he goes ‘Yuck! The horizon line is too close to the center. And the shoreline is washed out.’ He said the only redeeming thing are the clouds in the sky. He said you know, ‘Could I have it back?’ And I said, ‘Yep’. So I just gave it back to him.
“This Was My Land” (1990). Armand Merizon gave this painting to Dave and Muriel in exchange for a Lake Michigan painting he wanted back and destroyed. (Supplied)
“Then a couple months later, when I visited him, he said, ‘I would like to upgrade your collection. I want to give one that Dave would like, that he would relate too as well, he is a farmer, a teacher.’ And he gave me that one painting,” she said, pointing to a wall in her living room and to a ghostly, deeply moving painting titled “This Was My Land”.
Another story led to a painting of Muriel herself by Merizon, included on the book’s dust jacket’s front flap. It is called “Portrait of Muriel” from 1966; it is a delicate facial portrait of soft colors that looks unfinished by design.
“He was always trying new things, as I have said, always experimenting,” she said. “He was doing portraits a lot during he 1950s and ’60s, to make money. But he wanted to try something new. So, I was babysitting for him at the time and he said, ‘Would you mind coming over, I want to try a new technique. I want to just capture the eyes, nose and mouth, because everything else changes in a person — hair styles, your clothing — everything changes, but your facial features stay the same.’
“Portrait of Muriel” (Supplied)
“He did an ink sketch first, then he did this more soft painting. So he had these two done and he said ‘Which one do you like better?’ I looked at them both, and I like the more finished one, with the color in it. So I picked that one, and he said, ‘Well you can have it for $35 dollars’.”
Merizon, Zandstra points out, made a living off his art. And she had no problem paying for his works then, nor later in their relationship.
“What Merizon has given to me personally over the years is invaluable,” Zandstra said. “Besides gifting me several art pieces, he has taught me a real appreciation for the fine arts, a reverence for the natural world, and a deep ethical sense with which to live by. His integrity was impeccable.
“I can never give back to him what he has given to me. I collect his art because I feel it is timeless, thought provoking and a real inspiration to me. It brings joy and peace.”
Leafing through Zandstra’s book one gets the same sense: Timeless, thought provoking, inspirational.
“Armand Merizon: His Life and Art” can purchased the book off E-bay and Amazon, as well as in person at Merizon Studio, Baker Book House, Meijer Gardens, the Grand Rapid Art Museum, Mercury Head Gallery, Perceptions Gallery, Calvin College and Kendall College. For more information on Zandstra and the book visit merizonbook.strikingly.com .
Passion meets culture. Service is honor. The culture at Sunset empowers its staff to do the right thing and make a difference in the lives of their residents through exceptional customer service and a heart for their mission.
To hear what it’s like to work at Sunset, meet Carol.
I am so glad you asked! I believe our commitment and passion for our residents sets us apart. We go above and beyond every day to make sure they are loved, respected, safe, well taken of and comfortable.
We have 14 individuals who have outlived their resources. We will never turn them away from their home at Sunset. We fundraise over $300,000 a year to ensure they remain in their homes because as our CEO says “if we don’t care for them, who will?”
We have amazing employees who give so much of themselves to this company and our residents! We have tuition reimbursement for our students, excellent benefits for all full-time employees and an excellent work culture.
What’s new or changing in 2018 for Sunset?
We are very excited to expand our memory care units in Ottawa County and to bring our excellent customer service to this underserved population in our community. We are intentionally focused on employee appreciation and internal promotions during this transition. Our employees are incredible and we want to help them grow in their health care career with us.
During an interview, what questions do you want an applicant to ask?
During an interview, I love when applicants ask:
What makes Sunset special?
Can I grow with this company?
What benefits do you have?
What’s your favorite staff event each year?
The Employee Recognition Banquet. This event recognizes all of our staff who have dedicated their lives to our residents and love what they do. Every five years of service, staff get to attend and receive a catered dinner at the Sunnybrook Country Club, a gift, a bonus for their years of service, recognition from our Executive Team, as well as fellowship with other co-workers and their families.
When I’m not at work, you can find me ________________.
When I’m not at work, you can find me reading about retention strategies, recruiting, knitting and caring for my family.
Sunset is hiring! See all their open positions here.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
The location of the new Consumers Energy headquarters.
By Roger C. Morgenstern
Consumers Energy
Consumers Energy’s investment in West Michigan continues with plans for a new $20 million headquarters in the city of Grand Rapids to serve the fastest-growing region of its company.
The building will house up to 275 employees who support the design and delivery of energy service in the Grand Rapids area, the company’s largest electric service area in Michigan.
Those to 275 employees currently are based at the company’s West Kent Service Center, 4000 Clay Ave. SW, Wyoming. The employees include the customer contact center, engineering, business customer care, human resources and customer experience. About 250 workers will remain at the Clay Avenue facility, including operating, maintenance and construction field employees, work management center for all dispatching and scheduling activities and electric system control. The current bill payment center will remain as well. Consumers Energy plans no changes to its East Kent service center in Kentwood or its North Kent facility in Sparta.
The six-story, 40,000 square-foot-building, including an onsite parking structure, will be located in the Circuit West area on the city’s west side. Circuit West is a 13-block hub of innovative electricity generation, distribution and storage and energy efficient building construction. Circuit West is led by Consumers Energy and Rockford Construction, which will serve as the new building’s construction manager. The energy provider recently closed on the sale of the property at 501 Alabama St. NW. A groundbreaking for the new headquarters is anticipated later this year with the building complete by 2020.
“Our Circuit West investment already includes work underway for an innovative, more responsive and reliable electric distribution system, energy storage and rooftop solar installations,” said Garrick Rochow, senior vice president of operations for Consumers Energy.
“Constructing this building within Circuit West shows our continued commitment to a prosperous, growing Grand Rapids and West Michigan region.”
Shown here is the finished roadwork at Second Street and Broadway Avenue.
Rochow said locating the building in the city’s West Side, a vibrant area seeing significant redevelopment centered on sustainability and walkability, is a promise to Consumers Energy’s employees of today and tomorrow.
“We are very focused on retaining and attracting the workforce of the future, which means providing a work environment that is connected within a community where people can work, live, and play.”
Rockford Construction’s corporate headquarters is less than a block west of the planned Consumers Energy building. Rockford has been closely involved with the recent Circuit West building boom.
“Our vision is to provide a safe, innovative, sustainable neighborhood on the West Side that is a magnet for people and commerce,” said Mike VanGessel, Rockford Construction’s chief executive officer. “We are pleased to welcome Consumers Energy as a new neighbor within Circuit West.”
The announcement comes less than a year after Consumers Energy dedicated its John G. Russell Leadership Center, an $11 million facility on Grand Valley State University’s Robert C. Pew Campus, immediately south of the L. William Seidman Center near downtown Grand Rapids. In June 2016, the company began commercial operation of its 3-megawatt Solar Gardens generating facility in nearby Allendale adjacent to GVSU’s main campus.
The new Circuit West building will be constructed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Consumers Energy has constructed all of its recent buildings to LEED standards, including a number in West Michigan, like the Russell Leadership Center and new service centers in Norton Shores and Hamilton.
“The Grand Rapids area is our largest electric service region and is seeing continued growth,” Rochow said. “This new building within Circuit West is in response to that growth and our continued commitment to our purpose of world class performance delivering hometown service.”
Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
An aerial view of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s apron reconstruction project and areas of construction shown in red. Photo courtesy of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Passengers traveling through the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) may notice a few more construction cones over the next several months, but not in the usual terminal building space.
Starting today, the Airport is beginning its apron reconstruction project, a $30 million project that will repair the terminal apron – the area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, and refueled. The construction will be completed in seven phases over the course of two years to allow for adequate gate space for air carriers as the busy summer travel months approach.
“Our goal is to do this project with as minimal impact to the passengers and our airline partners as possible,” said GFIA President & CEO Jim Gill. “We are due for an upgrade to our apron area and our staff has done a tremendous job of maintaining this pavement for years, but it is important to keep up on these repairs and excel in our operations.”
The project will remove existing aging concrete pavement, and replace it with 153,000 square yards of new concrete for future airport development and aircraft loadings. The amount of concrete being placed equates to a nearly 250-mile stretch of four-foot wide, four-inch thick sidewalk – enough to walk from GFIA to the Mackinac Bridge.
In addition to the apron repair, GFIA is installing all new LED lighting in the apron area to reduce energy usage, and upgrading the stormwater drainage system and underground utilities to accommodate for future airport development.
“We recently completed Phase One of our Gateway Transformation Project – giving an upgrade to the indoor part of our facility, now we move into the airside area upgrades,” said Gill. “Safety and security are our first priority and we are working closely with our all of our tenants, contractors, and staff to ensure a smooth transition.”
The construction is not expected to have an impact on passengers, but project updates are available on our website: www.grr.org/construction for curious onlookers that may notice the activity from the Airport Viewing Park, Indoor
The Easter Bunny is expected to arrive a day early this year, hiding colorful eggs on the lawn around Kentwood City Hall.
The City’s annual hunt will take place rain or shine on March 31 at 10 a.m. at the Kentwood City Hall lawn. Children and families are invited to attend this free event, which will offer candy and prizes to all.
“Easter egg hunts are a time-honored tradition with many families,” said Laura Barbrick of Kentwood’s Parks and Recreation Department. “At the City of Kentwood, we love to be a part of these traditions. We are crossing our fingers for great spring weather at this year’s hunt.”
Thousands of eggs will be hidden in the grass around Kentwood City Hall. Kids are invited to collect the eggs, which can be redeemed for candy. A few special eggs will contain a certificate that is redeemed for special prizes.
There will also be a special appearance by the Easter Bunny, who will be available to take photos with families. Those attending are asked to bring their own bags to collect their eggs.
The event is free and open to the public. Information is available www.kentwood.us.
Rockstar Teachers Series:There’s just something about certain teachers that draws students to them in droves and keeps them checking in years, even decades later. Here, we highlight some of these rockstars of the classroom, in a series proudly sponsored by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum.
Every Saturday, Godfrey Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Tom Wier spends about 90 minutes visiting two libraries and checking out about 40 books. He’s fulfilling requests his students made earlier in the week for books they can’t wait to read. He knows, come Monday, they will eagerly go “book shopping” for the coveted titles he brings to class.
Andrea Sanchez-Parada snaps her fingers during the Rain Dance
“I do everything I can to get the books in the kids’ hands,” said Wier, who has taught at Godfrey Elementary for 36 years. Many families in the low-income, Hispanic community are newcomers to the U.S. who appreciate Wier’s commitment to helping their children develop proficiency and a love for reading. “The students are so excited to get the books they really want to read,” he said.
Punctuating his point, fourth graders’ hands popped up, waving with excitement, to answer questions about the novel “Stone Fox,” by John Reynolds Gardiner, which Wier read in class. They yelled “No!” in unison when he reached the end of a chapter. Not one to end storytime without more discussion, Wier held up a map of the dog-sledding trail to help visualize the mushing journey.
Wier wants students to imagine and enjoy stories. He challenges them to predict what will happen next, adding to the suspense of the chapter to come.
Alexa Hernandez gets a chance to hoop
A Love for the Profession
Less tangible than books, Wier shares something else with his students that makes him so beloved at Godfrey Elementary. It’s the mutual respect that shines through in his steadfast work to engage students. “I try to put myself in their shoes,” he said, noting that he’s constantly working to improve his craft and asking, “What would I like to do if I was learning this?” His goal is for the students to feel cared for, and part of that is by making learning fun. It’s also his goal to reach every student, making sure all of them achieve what they need to in his class.
“What makes him a good teacher is he helps us with stuff and he gets us pumped up,” said fourth-grader Malik Burton.
Wier has spent all his teaching years (except one, when he moved up to fifth-grade) in his Godfrey Elementary fourth-grade classroom. The son of teachers grew up in Wyoming and attended Wyoming Park High School before pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Grand Valley State University and a master’s at Michigan State University.
Though he’s well into his fourth decade on the job, Wier said the idea of retiring makes him feel sad. “I love coming to school,” he said. “I try to bring my ‘A’ game every day. I love the challenge of it and it just doesn’t get old for me. I love what I do.”
Hands go up during discussion led by teacher Tom Winer about the book “Stone Fox,” including a map of the dog-sled map in the story
A ‘Privilege’ to Teach
Wier has a unique perspective on the profession because he knows what it’s like to miss it, he said. After his first three years teaching in the 1980s, the district was experiencing declining enrollment. He was laid off and took a job working with computers. When called back to his classroom three years later, it was an easy “yes.”
Estafani Martinez takes a shot during science basketball. “No dunking, Estafani,” Wier said
“I realize what a privilege it is. I don’t take one day for granted. To have a position like this, when people entrust you with their children, that’s a high calling and I never take it lightly.”
He loves the district, which has become much more diverse over the years, with students coming from many regions including Central America and South America. “I think that’s made us a lot better communicators as teachers, and broadened our scope as teachers,” he said.
Plus, he has flexibility to try new things to meet their needs. “One of the reasons I have passion for teaching is that I’ve had the freedom from the administration and the school board to explore, to take lessons where I want to take them. That is huge.”
Assistant Superintendent Carol Lautenbach said Wier is always thinking about what’s best for students.
“Tom leads from relationships, and he treats everyone with the utmost respect and kindness,” she said. “He is so good at seeing multiple points of view and being the calm presence that every school needs. He has seen every change, trend, initiative and focus that a school district can come up with over time, and he is one of the most enthusiastic learners in the district. If it’s good for students, Tom’s all in.”
Wier is most of his students’ first male teacher, and he said it’s important to serve as a role model for them. From day one, he sets procedures and establishes routines, “getting them to understand my pace and setting those expectations high.”
He embeds character-building programs into his instruction, and does a lot of goal-setting with students — and with himself. “I try to be as open and honest as I can with my students, vulnerable at times… I tell the kids, ‘I’m learning. You’re learning.’
“With his management the students know his classroom rules, and they know they will be held accountable for following them,” said fellow fourth-grade teacher John Hovingh, who sees consistency in everything Wier does. “I have been teaching next door to him for 18 years, and he has only taken a half-day off for personal reasons or sickness. He is literally never absent.”
Over the years, Wier has gotten to know many students and parents. Now he often has the children of former students in his class. “One of the joys for me is having former students come back (to visit) and that happens all year,” he said. “That’s rewarding when they say, ‘You made a difference in my life.’”
Fourth-grade teacher Elizabeth English’s daughter was a student of, “and of all of the teachers, Mr. Wier was her favorite. Whenever she comes to school with me, she always goes down his hallway to say hello to him.”
Teacher Tom Wier gets the class up and moving, a way to keep them excited about school
Rain Dancing and Basketball, all in One Afternoon
It’s always a good idea to move before hitting the books, and in Weir’s class that means it’s time to rain dance, during which he leads students in twisting like tornadoes, clapping like thunder, and drip-dropping like rain.
While a recent dance produced smiles and laughs, it was just one lively activity that morning. A test-prep game of science basketball involved trivia and hoops. After answering correctly about animal adaptations and ecosystems, students had the chance to shoot a ball at a mini Nerf hoop. Successful shooters received a new pencil.
Students say his approach is a great way to learn. “Mr. Weir is a fun teacher because he does fun games with us,” said Abigail Herrera-Hernandez, who had just finished playing science basketball. “I learned more about animals.”
Teachers agree. “Mr. Wier has a calming demeanor and makes learning science fun. He fist bumps his students first thing in the morning to establish personal connections with each of them, and then, throughout the day, makes each student realize how special he or she is,” English said.
But, as in everything Wier teaches, science basketball goes a bit deeper than just test prep. He tailors his questions for each student, knowing their strengths and what will lead them, ultimately, to a nothing-but-net answer. That’s the goal.
“It’s all about making them feel successful.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum just announced the 2018 Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire dates for its fifth annual event, as well as the registration for makers is now open. This year’s Grand Rapids Maker Faire will take place August 18 and 19.
Maker Faire celebrates community members who are making or creating things by inviting them to share with the public what they have made. Everyone is a maker, and unfinished products are also encouraged.
Individuals and groups can now sign up at GrandRapids.MakerFaire.com. This year’s Maker Faire will be held at the Grand Rapids Public Museum and nearby Grand Valley State University’s Kennedy Hall of Engineering.
Maker Faire is looking for participants who enjoy tinkering, hacking, building and designing new technology-based inventions. Any groups or individuals interested in participating in the Maker Faire should complete the application at GrandRapids.MakerFaire.com. The Call for Makers will close on July 27.
Spots are first come, first serve basis with openings inside both the GRPM and GVSU as well as outside on the GRPM’s lawn. Makers participation is free for those showcasing. Makers interested in selling products at their booth require a small commercial fee.
Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering that celebrates community members who are making things. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned.
Featuring both established and emerging local “makers,” the Grand Rapids Maker Faire is a family-friendly celebration featuring tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, hobbyists, engineers, artists, students and commercial exhibitors.
The Faire will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 18 and 19. Tickets will go on sale in early summer.
The Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire is being organized by a collaborative committee that includes members from: DTE Energy, GR Makers, The Geek Group, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Kent District Library, Kent Intermediate School District, Michigan Crossroads Council- Boy Scouts of America, WMCAT and the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Follow the development of the Grand Rapids Maker Faire on Twitter @makerfaireGR, as well as on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/makerfairegr/ .
Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire is independently organized and operated under license fromMaker Media, Inc.
By Brenda Long, Michigan State University Extension
Mortgage foreclosure rates have significantly decreased during the past ten years, according to the ATTOM report in January 2018. The number of foreclosure filings in 2017 in Michigan decreased by 42.5 percent compared to 2016.
A common misconception for homeowners in foreclosure is that they have to move out of their house before the sheriff sale. When a county deputy or appointed county official posts a notice with the sale date near their door, many people think that is the last date they can stay. However, Michigan law says that those individuals have rights to occupy the house usually for six more months. Some homeowners abandon their property early, paying rent without making an informed decision.
Homeowners do have rights during foreclosure, which were discussed in my November 2015 article. After a property is sold at a sheriff’s sale, a foreclosure sale, there is a redemption period. For most properties it is a six month period. If the homeowner moves out and the property has been declared abandoned, the redemption period can be shortened to one month. For some large properties and those with a lot of equity, more than two-thirds of the loan has been paid, the redemption period may be longer.
During the redemption period, the homeowner(s) can continue to live in the property and are not required to make any mortgage payments. They can use this time to save funds and plan their next steps. The homeowner also has the right to sell the property to another person, but if the sale price is for less than the mortgage owed, the bank has to agree to the short sale.
If the homeowner can find funds to buy back the property then they can keep it. That is why this time is called a redemption period. At the sheriff’s sale, the purchaser paid a certain amount of money to purchase the property. Often the purchaser will be the homeowner’s mortgage company, although it could also be another third party. The amount necessary for the homeowner to buy back or redeem the property is the amount the purchaser paid plus some allowable costs and a daily interest rate based upon your mortgage loan interest rate. A homeowner can learn the sale price for the property by obtaining a copy of the sheriff’s deed from the Register of Deeds in the county where the property is located. They only have to pay the purchase price from the sheriff’s sale even if it is substantially less than the loan amount.
Before moving, if that is the choice, the homeowner should check with their county Register of Deeds office to be sure the property was actually sold.
Going through foreclosure is the right option for some Michigan homeowners. Knowing that they can continue living in their house with no mortgage payments for six months after the sheriff sale can keep a roof over their head and provide time to plan next steps. They should also know their rights during their redemption period.
Michigan State University Extension has released a toolkit, now in both English and Spanish, for homeowners who are experiencing or have previously experienced foreclosure. This toolkit will equip these individuals and families with tools to help them recover their financial stability in the case that a recovery of their home is not possible. The toolkit is available to download free at MIMoneyHealth.org.
For more information about foreclosure in Michigan, go to the housing link at www.mimoneyhealth.org or www.michigan.gov/mshda. Michigan State University Extension offices in several counties have certified foreclosure counselors you can talk to for free about your rights and assist you to think about your options in the foreclosure process.
FSU President David Eisler said Ferris is “extremely grateful to the Grand Rapids Community Foundation for its support of our Latino Business and Economic Development Center.”
By Craig Clark
Ferris State University has announced that the Grand Rapids Community Foundation awarded a three-year grant valued at $150,000 to the university’s Latino Business and Economic Development Center (LBEDC). The funds, awarded from the foundation’s Fund for Community Good, will be used for programming that helps address issues of workforce development, economic disparity, civic engagement, and overall leadership development in Grand Rapids’ Latino community.
“Ferris State University is extremely grateful to the Grand Rapids Community Foundation for its support of our Latino Business and Economic Development Center,” said Ferris President David Eisler. “This investment will help strengthen and support the work of (LBEDC Director) Carlos Sanchez with young professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs, creating opportunities for success both in the workplace and community.”
Carlos Sanchez
The Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s Fund for Community Good provides unrestricted funding to applicants who meet certain criteria.
“Grand Rapids Community Foundation is committed to working with community partners like Ferris State University to build an inclusive economy to grow a thriving community,” said Grand Rapids Community Foundation President Diana Sieger. “This program amplifies the ability for our region to thrive due to the focus on diversity. The bilingual, culturally-relevant and mentorship-based efforts of the LBEDC have proven to help young people gain workplace and community leadership skills and grow networks of support.”
With the increased funding, LBEDC leaders expect to add more programming and networking opportunities for its participants.
“The Grand Rapids Community Foundation grant will help fund programs that equip young Latino professionals with the skills, resources, and confidence needed to become leaders at work and in their own communities,” said Ferris Latino Business and Economic Development Center Director Carlos Sanchez. “Our Latino entrepreneurs will be more prepared to launch and expand successful businesses and empowered to take ownership of their future.” Sanchez is also a member of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation board of trustees.
This grant builds on the core priority of building partnerships and community development initiatives that Ferris State University and The Ferris Foundation outlined in its $80 million comprehensive campaign, Now & Always, which was publicly launched in November of 2017.
Under president David Eisler’s direction, Ferris State University has taken a leadership role in committing resources and encouraging economic growth in West Michigan by working to develop young Latinos into leaders. The university believes the entire West Michigan region benefits.
“The Latino community in the United States is rapidly growing and will continue to have a profound impact on society, culture, the workforce, our economy and our businesses,” adds Eisler. “By ensuring that we are developing strong leaders who understand themselves as professionals and the importance of civic engagement, Ferris is helping Michigan move forward.”
Since its inception in 2013, the LBEDC’s Latino Talent Initiative has graduated nearly 100 individuals and has seen 50 people participate in the 11-week Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative program since 2017.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) requested that the Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW) evaluate and test groundwater from up to 46 properties along Belmont Avenue and Montana Trail to the west, and along House Street, House Court, Crestview and Roguewood Drives south of the North Kent Landfill for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These homes were not previously within a Wolverine World Wide test zone. DPW agreed to do this testing after staff became aware of the then-legal disposal of waste that likely contained or was treated with PFAS and PFOS in the 1980s. The samples were collected for testing in February 2018. Test results show 11 of the 41 homes tested had detectable levels of PFAS. Concentrations of PFAS in all eleven homes fell below the MDEQ and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt); the highest registered at 58.6 ppt. Thirty homes had no detectable PFAS. The results of testing did not suggest a specific source of contamination, as some of the homes that had detections were not adjacent to the North Kent Landfill, and some properties which were immediately adjacent to the landfill had no detectable PFAS.
“While the levels are lower than the health advisory for drinking water, we are still concerned for the eleven homes where PFAS was detected,” said Dar Baas, Director of the Department of Public Works. “It is difficult at this time to determine where the contamination is coming from, but we want to act in the best interest of our neighbors. We are taking immediate steps to purchase and install whole house filters in eleven houses where PFAS was detected in the water as a precautionary measure.”
DPW began discussions with the MDEQ in November 2017 regarding tannery waste disposed at the North Kent (Ten Mile) Landfill in the 1980s. Disposal of Wolverine Worldwide waste at the County landfill site was in compliance with State and Federal regulations at the time, and only after the material had been tested and deemed non- hazardous. DPW will continue to work with MDEQ, Plainfield Charter Township, Algoma Township, and our neighbors to determine if the detected PFAS is coming from materials disposed of in the North Kent Landfill or from another source, as well as what steps might need to be taken to remedy the issue.
By Lisa Boss, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
How to explain the soothing yet buoyant effect that Barbara Pym’s two best novels have on one? Excellent Women and Some Tame Gazelle are both wonderfully therapeutic reads for people fed up with modern life. And also for those who just love relationship novels laced with dry humor. I re-read Excellent Women every ten years or so since it is so enjoyable, and I was delighted to see that cutting-edge literary critics have decided that Barbara Pym is once again making a comeback. She’s made a couple of comebacks since her books were published in the ’50s, as new generations discover her subtle charm.
Set in post World War II England, Excellent Women lets us share in the joys and disappointments of one Mildred Lathbury, who leads a mild-mannered life, as one of those “excellent women” who is always helping out in the parish. There are many uncomfortable life situations that Mildred is drawn into that she believes exceed her experience of men and relationships, but she carries on admirably, much to her surprise.
From the gently mysterious beginning to the satisfyingly concluded ending Excellent Women is a wonderful throw-back of a story.
The Wyoming City Council is scheduled to interview and select a resident of the city’s First Ward to fill a vacated seat on the council Monday, March 26. WKTV will be broadcasting the interviews and swearing in of the new council member on WKTV Channel 26.
The special meeting is set to start at 5 p.m. with the interview of Jennifer Franson. The interview session will be about 30 minutes followed by a 10-minute break and the second interview with Sheldon DeKryger will take place at 5:40 p.m.
After the second interview, there will be a short discussion session with the council scheduled to selected one of the two candidates to fill the seat. The candidate is scheduled to be sworn in that night, said City Clerk Kelli VandenBerg.
William VerHulst
In January, William VerHulst announced he would not be seeking re-election to his 1st Ward seat due to health concerns. His current term is up in the fall. About a month later, he sent in his resignation from the council. With the vacancy, the council is obligated to fill the seat, VandenBerg. said. The person selected at Monday night’s special meeting will serve in the seat until November when the term expires.
Whoever is elected in November will then take over the seat. Any candidate seeking the 1st Ward seat must live in Wyoming’s 1st Ward. That area covers most of the eastern edge of the city which is Clyde Park Avenue to Eastern Avenue north of 36th Street and from Burlingame Avenue to Eastern Avenue south of 36th Street.
VandenBerg said that currently only DeKryger has filed a petition seeking to be on the ballot for the vacated seat. She added that several packets have been taken out. For the August primary, Aug. 7, and the general election, Nov. 6, the city will have several council seats up for election. Beside’s VerHulst’s 1st Ward seat, two council-member at large seats, currently held by Kent Vanderwood and Sam Bolt, and the mayor’s seat, currently held by Jack Poll, are up for election. Vanderwood, Bolt and Poll said they all plan to run for re-election for their current positions.
Those interested in running for any of the council or mayor seats need to file with the Wyoming City’s clerk office by 4 p.m. April 24. The clerk’s office is located in the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW. Candidate packets are available at the front desk.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners voted this morning to approve the addition of two full-time Public Health Epidemiologist positions in the Health Department; one to assist with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), vapor intrusion and other environmental issues, and the other to address the opioid epidemic.
In 2017, the Health Department became aware of an investigation by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) regarding contaminated groundwater in the Belmont area. Water in a number of homes in that area is contaminated with PFAS. “The staff at the Health Department have been on the front lines of informing and educating residents regarding test results, the known health consequences of PFAS, and ways to limit exposure,” said Jim Saalfeld, Chair of the Kent County Board of Commissioners. “As more areas of contamination are discovered, it is clear we need to adjust staffing levels to meet the needs of our residents.”
The person hired for this Epidemiologist position will be expected to provide subject matter expertise, conduct health surveillance, coordinate specimen collection, exercise legal authorities when applicable under direction of the Health Officer, communicate with residents and health providers, and be the primary intermediary with other agencies. In addition to PFAS, this role is also necessary to assist in the investigation and response of other environmental public health threats such as vapor intrusion.
The second position will provide leadership and administration of the Kent County Opioid Task Force (KCOTF). This Task Force convened three years ago under the coordination of the Red Project. “In Kent County, the rate of overdose deaths has increased four-fold since 2000, with 70 opioid-related deaths and over 680 opioid overdose-related Emergency Department visits in 2016,” said Adam London, Administrative Health Officer for Kent County. “In 2017, Kent County reported 93 opioid-related deaths with an average age of 39 years old, and we still are awaiting toxicology reports on a number of suspicious deaths. The staff of the Health Department are in a unique position to provide leadership in efforts to address education, prevention and access to recovery services.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently called the opioid issue “the largest man-made epidemic in the history of the world.”
The cost of both full-time positions will be funded by General Funds previously appropriated to the 2017-18 Health Fund budget for Emerging Issues. The Board is continuing to work with State lawmakers to make additional funding for these issues a priority in the 2019 Michigan budget.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently advised the Kent County Health Department of contamination of fish from Freska and Versluis lakes, both of which are located in Plainfield Township. MDHHS caught and tested fish in the lakes last year for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and mercury. Staff set “Eat Safe Fish” guidelines for fish caught in these lakes to protect everyone, including children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with existing health problems such as cancer or diabetes.
Eat Safe Fish recommendations are provided as “MI Servings.” Think of the Michigan mitten shape: one MI Serving for adults is 6-8 ounces of fish (about the size of an adult’s hand). For children, one MI Serving is 2-4 ounces of fish (about the size of an adult’s palm).
FRESKA LAKE: Bluegill, sunfish, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass filets were collected from Freska Lake in 2017 and tested for PFAS and mercury. PFAS and mercury was found in all the fish species. MDHHS issued the following recommendations for eating fish from Freska Lake:
Versluis Lake
VERSLUIS LAKE: Northern Pike were tested from Versluis Lake in 2017; PFAS and mercury were detected.
MDHHS issued the following recommendations for eating fish from Versluis Lake:
An advisory has been added on the Kent County PFAS information pages at www.accesskent.com/PFAS.
Due to popular demand, a sixth, additional concert has been added to this year’s Concerts Under the Stars at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Local band Mertle will be playing in the Chaffee Planetarium May 15.
Visitors can sit back, relax and enjoy the fully immersive audio and visual experience, with live band and live visuals on the planetarium dome.
Mertle is a local alternative, indie pop/rock band comprised of Max McKinnon (vocals, and keys), Kendall Wright (guitar), Connor Wright (drums) and Jared Demeester (bass). Mertle has opened for The Shins, as well as other shows in the Lansing and Grand Rapids areas, including at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
This concert will also feature visuals by Meghan Moe Beitiks.
“We are excited to be adding an additional band to this year’s line-up,” said Kate Moore, VP of Marketing and PR for the GRPM. “The concerts have continued to be popular and sell out before each date, so we are bringing another opportunity for the community to experience music in the Chaffee Planetarium.”
The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments, beer and other beverages will be available for purchase.
Tickets are $10 for GRPM members, $12 for non-members if purchased in advance, and $15 for non-members on the day of the concert. Tickets are currently on sale at grpm.org, by calling 616-929-1700 or at the Museum’s front desk.
The remaining 2018 Concerts Under the Stars Series continues with Major Murphy on April 12 and will close with Mertle on May 15.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) is preparing for its busiest time of year with helpful travel reminders, and a bit of fun mixed in.
Due to additional passenger volume beginning this month and continuing through April, parking lot demands will be greater, and airport facilities are expected to be busy. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects longer security lines and urges passengers to arrive at the Airport at least two hours prior to departure time.
In order to expedite the security screening process, passengers should carefully consider the contents of their checked luggage and carry-on bags. The TSA recommends wearing shoes that are easy to remove, having identification and boarding passes ready to present at security checkpoints, removing all items from pockets, avoiding bedazzled and jeweled clothing, limiting heavy jewelry, and ending all cell phone conversations prior to screening. In addition, removing heavy food items such as cheese and fudge, along with granular and powdered items like sugar, from your carry-on bag, will also greatly speed up security screening.
“We are looking forward to another Spring Break season, which is our busiest time of the year. Because of that, it is important for those traveling – especially if you haven’t flown recently – to review TSA’s website,” said GFIA President & CEO Jim Gill. “Our TSA staff does a wonderful job, and the more prepared travelers are, the smoother the screening experience will be for everyone.”
Passengers traveling through GFIA on select Spring Break travel dates will be treated to the annual Passenger Appreciation Days, compliments of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Board. This bon-voyage celebration will take place from Thursday, March 29th through Saturday, March 31st each day from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the Airport’s Grand Hall Meet & Greet area. Passenger Appreciation Days events include free refreshments, food, giveaways, prize drawings, contests, and more!
“Our Spring Break travelers who return year after year know how much fun you can have prior to your vacation with our Passenger Appreciation Days,” said Gill. “This is one of the ways we are thanking our community for supporting our airport, and our passengers will have some fun before heading out on their trips.”
For passengers wanting to partake in the Passenger Appreciation Days festivities, the Airport encourages them to allow even more travel time. GFIA is coming off a 2017 year which saw a record 2.8 million passengers, and high volumes continue into 2018.
The TSA also encourages passengers to utilize the 3-1-1 rule with liquids, gels and aerosols. Put all liquids in containers with a 3.4 ounce maximum capacity, and place them in a clear, plastic one- quart zip-top bag.
Additional 3-1-1 Information:
• Deodorant: Stick deodorant is not limited to 3.4 ounces or less, but gel or spray deodorant is.
• Suntan & Sun Block Lotion: Lotions fall under the 3-1-1 procedures mentioned above. As well as the aerosol spray lotions. Sunblock sticks do not fall under this rule.
• Makeup: Any liquid makeup cosmetics such as eyeliner, nail polish, liquid foundation, etc. should be placed in the baggie. That goes for perfume as well. Powder makeup is fine.
• Beverages: Wine, liquor, beer, and all of your other favorite beverages are permitted in your checked baggage. You can also bring beverages packaged in 3.4 ounces or less bottles in yourcarry-on bags in the 3-1-1 baggie.
• Sporting Goods: Golf clubs, tennis rackets, baseball bats (including the mini slugger bats), cricket bats, lacrosse sticks, bows and arrows, hockey sticks, scuba knives, spear guns, etc. are all prohibited from being carried onto the plane. However, you can have them checked as luggage.
Questions about TSA procedures and upcoming travel can be addressed to the TSA Contact Center at 1-866-289-9673 or @AskTSA on Twitter.
The Gerald R. Ford International (GFIA) Airport continues an upward passenger trend, and February was another record-setting month.
February saw 251,680 total passengers – up 16.31-percent from February 2017. Combined with a January that saw 13-percent growth, this now puts GFIA up 14.76-percent for 2018. February 2018 also goes down as the busiest February in airport history.
“That’s a pretty great feat considering February is the shortest month of the year!” said GFIA President & CEO Jim Gill. “We are seeing our 2017 record-breaking year trends continue into 2018, and we are still early in the year. We are about to head into our busy spring break season and we foresee breaking more records in our first quarter and into the summer.”
In 2017, 2,811,622 passengers flew in and out of GFIA, an increase of 5.95-percent from 2016. The Airport had growth in 11 of 12 months in 2017, and with January and February 2018 has now had 55 months of growth over a 62-month period.
The progression over the last five years started in 2013 with a passenger total of 2,237,979. In 2014, that number jumped to 2,335,105. In 2015, GFIA broke its own record once again with a passenger total record of 2,550,193 – a 9.21% year-over-year increase, and in 2016 the Airport served 2,653,630 passengers. The Airport has recorded the strongest growth in its 54-year history, serving over 12.5 million passengers from 2013-2017. Since opening its doors at its current location on 44th street, GFIA has served over 73-million passengers.
“Our tremendous milestones are results of our local passengers continuing to utilize our facilities, and all of our airline partners and airport tenants who have invested in more routes, and larger aircraft,” said Gill. “We will continue to grow, continue to see our airline partners invest in Grand Rapids, and continue to see a healthy, stimulated competitive market as long as we all work together as we have for the last several years.”
March 2017 is still the record-setter as the single busiest month in Airport history with 256,880 total passengers traveling through GFIA, breaking an all-time monthly record from July 2016.
GFIA has invested in new facilities to accommodate the growing traffic by recently completing Phase One of the Gateway Transformation Project – an upgrade in space, retail, food and beverage, restrooms, finishes, amenities, and customer service offerings. The project’s main feature is the consolidated passenger security checkpoint which centralized and combined security screening to one main checkpoint in the Airport. Construction also included new terrazzo flooring, lighting fixtures, pre and post security business centers, a military welcome center, kids play areas, and much more.
Phase Two of the Gateway Transformation Project is slated to begin in Fall 2018 with construction taking place at the airline ticket counters, baggage claim area, and ‘front of house’ area.
“As we continue to grow in traffic it is imperative that our facilities keep up with our passenger demand,” said Gill. “Our passengers keep coming back because we listen to their wants and needs, and as they do we will continue to do our part to improve our amenities, technology, customer service and infrastructure. We are excited to see what the future holds, and we hope to add more growth in the years to come. Our 2020 Vision is to hit the three million passenger mark.”
I used to think I wasn’t a good enough person to volunteer. People who volunteer are happy, generous, full of energy and compassion among a myriad of other things. I always looked up to these people, and still do. I never saw myself as capable of joining such a group of wonderful individuals because I didn’t meet the criteria for what I thought I needed to be to volunteer, and more importantly, make an impact in my community. Then I learned about Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding, a nonprofit organization located in Rockford, Michigan, just 20 minutes north of Grand Rapids.
Equest Center is a therapeutic horse farm that provides riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities. Their mission is to “improve quality of life through equine-based therapy to physically, mentally and socially/emotionally challenged individuals.’’ Equest has a unique program that integrates academic, social and physical skills, using the horse as a catalyst. Kids and adults alike, from ages 2-102 have all benefited from the strength, confidence and skills that come from riding horses.
There are many factors that go into providing these incredible people with what has been lifesaving therapy for some of the riders. Funding, facilities, horses and staff all play a vital role in the operation of the Equest Center, but what stands out the most are the volunteers. I am fortunate enough to be a part of this incredible organization and know many of the volunteers who commit their time to bettering the lives of others.
I never had a great desire to volunteer, and my reason for doing so was selfish. I came to Equest to pad my resume so I looked better to potential employers, plain and simple. Little did I know how much it would impact my life. In order to understand why volunteering at Equest impacted me so much, let me share a little about myself.
Growing up I was smart and athletic, and seemingly happy. I carried a 4.0 in school, achieved every academic award you could think of, started every single basketball game of my high school career and seemed unbreakable from the outside looking in. Ironic, considering how broken I was. Yes, I was smart and yes, I was athletic. I was responsible, I was loyal, and I was a good friend, but I was fighting every single day not to succumb to the anxiety and depression that had a grip so tight on me that I struggled at every breath. Each morning my eyes opened from the restless night before felt like a curse rather than a blessing.
It was my senior year of high school when I had given everything I had to combat the war my own mind was waging against me. I was drowning. I had shame that blanketed my entire being, weighing me down at every step. I put on a facade every day just to keep people at bay, never hinting that anything was wrong.
I forgot to mention, I am stubborn. I shouldn’t be here today, but I refuse to lose.
I packed my bags and moved myself, my scars, my shame and what was left of my pride half way across the country. Some said I was running, but I didn’t care what I was doing as long as I was starting over. I arrived in West Michigan knowing very few people and had plans to work hard and go to school. I instantly began working hard that summer and the next few years as I worked towards completion of my undergrad career. It was my last semester when I realized I was in no way ready for the “real world”. Those forsaken thoughts of not being good enough and the fear of failure crept back into my mind. Over the past few years I have learned to shut them out, but sometimes they were just too loud. I could not go back down that path.
I met with an advisor who assured me my freak out about entering the real world was completely normal. She gave me some tools for success, some internships to look into and left me with the suggestion that I add some volunteer work to my resume. I walked out of the office fully intending on pursuing the tools she gave me as references and the internships she suggested, but thought I would save the volunteering for the happy, generous, full of energy and compassionate people. I was still pretty sure I wasn’t a good enough person to volunteer.
Little did I know.
I found about Equest through a friend and decided to give it a shot. Probably the best decision of my life. Equest is a place that is therapy disguised as fun, and the riders are some of the most fantastic people ever. They have every excuse to quit, yet they persevere in the relentless pursuit of personal and physical growth. It is one of the most inspiring things to witness, and such an honor to be a part of. I’ve crafted relationships with these riders, the beautiful horses, and the absolutely amazing staff and volunteers. Most people think about volunteering as something we give to an organization, but in this case, Equest gave me so much more than I could ever return the favor for. It changed my perspective and gave me a fresh outlook on life. It gave me encouragement, hope and joy. It is a fact that the Equest Center is therapeutic for the riders, but I am here to tell you that it is just as therapeutic for the volunteers.
There is a never-ending need for volunteers at the Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding located in Rockford, and everyone is welcome to come help. No horse experience is necessary, they will teach you! Don’t make excuses, the experience of contributing to this paramount therapy and meeting the tenacious riders who benefit from it is something that you do not want to pass up on. Volunteers are vital to Equest, considering there are just two full time staff members and over 180 riders who come out weekly. There are over 85 volunteers needed to help at Equest each week. Just a few hours of your time will not only contribute to a great cause and enable riders to get the crucial therapy they need, but it just might change your life like it did mine. To learn how you can become a part of this incredible organization go to www.equestcenter.org. You won’t regret it!
DeRuiter’s team, which included two students, delivered a workshop at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and allowed the students to develop meaningful connections with influential researchers. (Photo courtesy Calvin College)
By Hannah Ebeling, Calvin College
“The underlying motivation of our work and research is always inquisitiveness and wonder at animal ecology,” said Stacy DeRuiter, professor of mathematics and statistics at Calvin College. “We can learn so much about creation by exploring.”
DeRuiter has for years studied marine animals, using bio-logging technology.
Recognizing a need
“Bio-logging studies, where data on animal movements are collected using small, animal-borne devices that either store or transmit sensor data, are growing rapidly in numbers and in scope,” said DeRuiter.
As the technology advances, there are more opportunities to track longer and more frequent data sets of animal behavior. Instead of tracking the animal once every few seconds, researchers are now receiving feedback multiple times a second. However, this means there is much more data to account for and sort through, explained DeRuiter.
“While these tags offer exciting opportunities to observe animal behavior in unprecedented detail, there is a desperate need for freely available, easy-to-use, flexible tools to facilitate proper analysis and interpretation of the resulting data,” DeRuiter said.
Developing accessible and efficient software
“We thought it would be worthwhile to spend a year making better software that would be more accessible, as well as creating documentation and a workshop to make it easier for people to use in general,” she said.
Throughout summer 2017, DeRuiter led a collaborative project developing software tools for analysis of data from animal-borne movement-sensors. Her team included two students, who developed tools and delivered a workshop at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, introducing researchers to the tools and providing hands-on practice.
Before DeRuiter made the proposal for the project she received more than 30 letters from other researchers, who would benefit from her work, in support of the idea.
“It was amazing having the support of the community that really wanted this to happen but either did not have the time or funding to make it possible,” she said.
Gaining meaningful experience and connections
This project allowed students to develop some meaningful connections with influential researchers, explained DeRuiter.
“That is part of the reason I wanted them to come to Scotland and the University of St. Andrews,” she said. “They had done such great work and software development, and I wanted them to see the workshop play out.”
“The thing I enjoyed most was participating in the international workshop at the end of the summer,” said David Sweeny, a student researcher. “It was amazing to see how many different kinds of research topics from around the world are using the software functions that we have developed and translated.”
Sweeny said he is interested in this research because it gives him an insight into the lives of magnificent marine creatures during the times and in places that he otherwise would not be able to observe were it not for tags.
“This research provides so many ways to learn how we can best protect these animals,” he said. “Given that I care a lot about protecting the environment, this work is really important to me.”
Opening the door to future research
“One of the most important things that the Reformed tradition tells us about being Christian is that we don’t do it alone; we do it in community. Science, for example, proceeds by the careful work of many, many hands,” said DeRuiter. “The goals of the project were to democratize this kind of research and level the playing field for those who don’t have the same mentorship, training, or funding to buy software.”
This software will help DeRuiter track whale and dolphin behavior as well as open the door for other researchers to non-intrusively explore other animal habits.
“The availability of this software will only enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of current and future work being done around the world,” said Sweeny. “It will allow for increased collaboration between scientists which will have many different kinds of benefits in the future.”
Gray Skies Distillery will release its first straight bourbon whiskey March 22. It will be available for purchase exclusively in the distillery’s downtown Grand Rapids tasting room. Subsequent releases beginning fall 2018 will be available through licensed retailers, bars, and restaurants around Michigan via statewide distribution. Michigan Straight Bourbon Whiskey was aged in charred new, oak barrels for more than two years and bottled at 90 proof. Following Gray Skies’ Breakfast Rye and Single Malt Whiskey, Michigan Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the third American whiskey the distillery has released.
Michigan Straight Bourbon Whiskey, like all Gray Skies whiskey, is crafted from grain, double pot distilled and aged in the Grand Rapids-based distillery. Michigan Straight Bourbon Whiskey is truly a craft whiskey created from scratch in 500-gallon batches.
“Michigan Straight Bourbon Whiskey is simply named to highlight what it is – straight bourbon distilled and aged in Michigan,” said Steve Vander Pol, co-owner of Gray Skies Distillery. “The straight designation signifies the bourbon was aged at least two years and has no additional flavors added. Grain, water, yeast, oak and time were the only ingredients used to create this exceptional whiskey. Our recipe is 70 percent corn, 15 percent rye and 15 percent malted barley creating a classic bourbon profile that uses time to balance grain with oak and produce hints of caramel and vanilla familiar to bourbon enthusiasts. The increased presence of barley in the recipe adds notes of coffee and chocolate that make for a versatile whiskey that drinks well neat and stands out in cocktails.”
“This is one of many whiskey releases planned in 2018,” said Vander Pol. “As our whiskey stock continues to mature we are excited to follow our straight bourbon with a straight rye release. The second batch of our Single Malt Whiskey was bottled in March and our popular Breakfast Rye returns this summer. We plan to follow Breakfast Rye with a rich maple flavored Breakfast Bourbon for the holidays.”
Gray Skies Distillery was named Michigan Distillery of The Year in 2016 at the 7th annual New York International Spirits Competition on the strength of its gold medal-winning Barrel Finished Gin. The Gray Skies Distillery line up of spirits are currently available in hundreds of licensed retailers, bars, and restaurants around Michigan. Distribution is currently limited to Michigan but the distillery plans to expand into additional states with future whiskey releases.
In this edition of the WKTV Journal, we take a peek inside Wyoming’s Craig’s Cruisers to look at some of its newest attractions.
As WKTV prepares for its live coverage of the FIRST Robotics competition at East Kentwood High School, WKTV’s Allison Biss gives us a look at the high school’s robotics team and the work that goes into building a robot for the big event.
Then host Donna Kidner-Smith sits down with Grand Valley State University professor Jim Smither, the coordinator for the GVSU Veterans History Project, to discuss an April 2 event that features the special screening of the documentary “Unforgotten.” The film focuses on what happened to many Vietnamese after the fall of Saigon and life in the re-education camps. The film’s director and co-producer Diem Thuy also joins Kidner-Smith to talk about the film.
We also take a look at what is next for the Gezon Park master plan and discover what happened to all those banners that announced the Metro Health – University of Michigan Health merger.
Don’t forget, the City of Kentwood’s annual Easter Egg Hunt is on March 31 at 10 a.m. at the Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SW.
He was the only boy in the local dance school, and in the Dominican Republic, that can leave you open to teasing. But Ednis Gomez fell in love with the self-expression of movement, practiced hard, and danced himself into a full-time career. After four years in Michigan’s only professional dance company, the American Midwest is starting to feel like home.
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Big Sid’s Sanctuary. 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).
This dashing and debonair buff beauty gave Dr. Jen quite the runaround for months as he dined and then darted, hiding out in a hole in the cement foundation of her front porch. For weeks on end, Dr. Jen and her son tried to no avail to coax him into their care, tempting him with treats, kibble and canned food, but the wary and worried tom cat (born in the spring of 2013) would have nothing to do with them.
Every time Dr. Jen caught sight of Pumbaa hanging out in the shrubbery, she told him that he would have ‘no worries for the rest of his days’ if he would only allow her to take him in, but it wasn’t until he became ill from a horribly abscessed ear (cat fight) that he begrudgingly allowed her to lay her hands on him. Armed with broth packets, she laid down on her porch and hand fed him bits of shrimp and fish until she was finally able to gently reach out, scruff him and place him into an open carrier. Surprisingly, he didn’t fight her on this until she zipped the top shut, then all hell broke loose as he, well, tried to break loose. A discussion ensued, with Dr. Jen explaining how things were going to be, and he agreed to settle down for the car ride to the clinic so she could tend to his wounds.
Once at the office, Dr. Jen and Pumbaa got down to business: she anesthetized him in order to surgically drain his wounded left ear, neuter him, remove an engorged tick from his back, run lab work (he was anemic), implant his microchip, vaccinate him and treat for external and internal parasites (he was loaded with intestinal worms). Given how long he had been out and about fending for himself, it was no shock when he tested positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) — it was a darn shame, but not unexpected as intact males are always getting themselves into trouble due to surging hormones.
Looking for a home that encourages lounging
Dr. Jen kept the former porch kitty in her half-bath at home since it was Memorial Day weekend and she didn’t want him to feel abandoned if he spent too much time alone in a strange place. However, the first two nights he spent quite a bit of time trying to get out the window that Dr. Jen had the foresight to reinforce with duct tape. He also scratched the paint on her door and windowsill. However, by day three, Pumbaa was ready to accept head rubs and didn’t protest too much when Dr. Jen cleaned his draining abscess. He spent the first few days of the following week at the clinic with her, then once she was certain he wasn’t going to flip out due to sensory overload, she packed her boy up and sent him down to our sanctuary.
At first Pumbaa was afraid of his own shadow, preferring to hunker down in an open-door cage, but after being on the receiving end of continuous cuddle sessions and tender handling, he soon became putty in the volunteers’ hands. In fact, the transformation from frightened and semi-feral to comfortable and laid-back was absolutely astonishing; not only does Pumbaa enjoy the spotlight now, but he simply adores being the center of attention as verified by his striking supermodel pose for his photo op here!
We could not be more proud of our emblazoned, bold boy who not only seeks out affection but brazenly demands it! Every single time we gaze upon his serene face we are thankful that he trusted Dr. Jen to care for him. Patience paid off as he is now living a life that suits him perfectly and we are sure it’s better than he ever could have imagined possible!
More about Pumbaa
NOTE: A $825 grant from Lil BUB’s Big Fund for the ASPCA will enable Crash’s Landing & Big Sid’s Sanctuary, to fund comprehensive exams for five Big Sid’s Sanctuary cats before going to their new home. Each exam would include a full blood panel, dental care, radiographs, urinalysis, antibiotics and pain medication, if needed. Big Sid’s caters exclusively to cats who test positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) or FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus). FIV and FeLV are viruses that can, if they flare up, suppress a cat’s immune system. The shelter takes cats with FIV or FeLV from all over Michigan.
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.
A new exhibit titled, “A view of my artistic journey from the past to the present,” by local artist Larry Blovits, opens at the Leep Art Gallery on April 4 at the Postma Center on the Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services campus in Grand Rapids.
Blovits’s artistic career has centered around his love for painting in oil and pastel portraits, landscapes, and teaching. Receiving numerous awards and honors in national shows ever since 1962, Blovits has achieved signature status in many prestigious national art organizations around the country.
“The primary goal of my artwork has always been to go beyond the important technical and fundamental aspects of painting in my quest to capture the essence of the scene, or the person;” says Blovits. “With homage to the Great Masters, I continue to emulate and carry on the tradition of ‘academic’ painting because that’s what drives me, and what I love to do. “
Blovits received his bachelor and master of fine arts degrees from Wayne State University in Detroit in 1961 and 1966 respectively. His artwork is represented in the collections of several local art galleries, museums and many private collections.
The Pine Rest Leep Art Gallery exhibit will be on display at the Postma Center located at 300 68th Street, SE, from April 4 until June 29. The Leep Art Gallery is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 616.222.4530 or go to www.pinerest.org/leep-art-gallery .
By Kristen Krueger-Corrado, Grand Rapids Public Library
In 1920, Frankie Pratt graduates from high school and receives a scrapbook as a gift. Intent on becoming a writer, she attends Vassar College, and finds work in New York and Paris. Told through Frankie’s eyes, the life of a young woman trying to find her place in the world comes to life. The remarkable thing about this book, however, is the way the story is told.
The entire book is formatted as Frankie’s scrapbook. It is filled with ephemera such as postcards, letters, magazine ads and more. The story of her life is told through her scrapbook entries and the style of the 1920s is vivid. The reader wants to be able to touch the items in the scrapbook, to ask Frankie questions, and to see the story from the viewpoint of other characters. But this is Frankie’s story and we see her world only from her perspective through what she shares in her scrapbook. This is a fun book and a quick read, but you will linger, looking at the beautiful and detailed layout of each page.
Wyoming Junior High eighth-graders considered what is arguably the most debated sentence in the U.S. today: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”
Like in many discussions surrounding interpretation of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, students’ questions and comments focused on the words “militia” and “well-regulated” and what they mean in relation to the rest of the sentence. Their definitions varied concerning the intention of the amendment.
Prior to the March 14 student walkout protesting gun violence in schools, Wyoming Junior High eighth-graders read and discussed different perspectives — right, left and center — on the amendment, gun rights and what measures should be taken to stop mass shootings.
While learning that much is up to interpretation when it comes to constitutional gun rights, students studied the history behind the amendment and reflected on how they feel it should apply to society today. They then wrote letters to legislators, adding their own voices to the debate.
Brian Juarez-Diaz jots down his thoughts
Considering Various Views
English teacher Shantel VanderGalien said she felt it was important to bring the topic into her curriculum, rather than avoid something on the forefront of students’ minds on days leading up to the National School Walk Out. She used a Mass Shooting Unitcreated by teacher, author and consultant Kelly Gallagher, with sources including articles both supportive and against stricter gun laws. They listened to a podcast, shared in groups to hear different opinions, and considered pros and cons of each side of the gun-control debate.
“I feel like we have to create time and space for our students to reflect on important issues,” VanderGalien said. ”If there is a way I can get them to read, write and think critically about those issues, I want to give them that time and space.”
She said she hopes the unit encourages students to keep up with the news, learn facts surrounding issues, and listen to varying points of view.
“I want them to be informed and make their own decisions,” in an age when people tend to avoid or “unfriend” those with whom they disagree, she said. “I feel it’s important that we don’t hide, shy away or shun people who think differently, but instead we need to to lean into that discomfort, ask questions and seek to understand instead of isolate.”
Eighth-grader Lizzie Ochoa listens to perspectives on the Second Amendment
Penning their Perspectives
Students wrote letters to local politicians including Rep. Tommy Brann (R-Wyoming), President Trump and Governor Rick Snyder.
Researching different sides of the debate provides a better foundation of information, said eighth-grader Trista Werkema, noting, “This is real-life stuff that can happen at any point in our school.”
She said she planned to emphasize in her letter that students’ perspectives matter.
“Just because we are kids doesn’t mean we don’t have knowledge about what’s going on,” Trista said. “We may even be more educated than our parents on it because they’re not reading all these articles and stuff like we are.”
Neveah Morofsky writes a definition of the Second Amendment
Added Marissa Menard, “As we get older, things will progress, social media will progress and that influences the way we think about things, so it’s important for us to know what’s going on in the world.”
She said she planned to push for increased gun restrictions in her letter.
“If this is the world we have to grow up in, it’s not going be a very safe world and we deserve the same opportunity as everyone else had.”
Eighth-grader Aleena Allen said it’s not enough to address just guns. She said her letter would support better resources for mental health.
Aiden Curtis takes notes on editorials about the Second Amendment
“It’s important to learn both sides so we can form our own opinions about what we think about this very controversial topic, so we can say, ‘Hey, this is what we think and we will argue our case and find out what other people think,’” she said.
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
Former Wyoming City Council member and longtime Wyoming resident Richard Kent Pastoor died Sunday, March 18. He was 79.
Pastoor had lived in Wyoming most of his life, noting in a 2016 interview that “he could remember back before Wyoming was a city because I was living here in the Second Ward.”
He served on the Godfrey Lee Public Schools Board of Education and the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Commission. In 2001, he was appointed to fill the seat of Jack Magnuson, longtime council member and former mayor who died during his term. Pastoor was re-elected three times to the Wyoming City Council serving the Second Ward.
During his 2016 re-election campaign, Pastoor said in his “We the People” segment that “I love this city. I make no bones about that. I have seen so much growth and we have such wonderful people in administrative positions in the city and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to serve you…” He said the people of Wyoming had proven that by working together, all things are possible and he was proud of the opportunity and growth within the city.
“Richard [Pastoor] was a true severant and leader of the City of Wyoming,” said Mayor Jack Poll. “His heart was always with the City of Wyoming. He did a wonderful job representing his district.
“Of the many things, it was his very positive nature that for the city and those who knew him will remember.”
At Monday night’s regular city council meeting, several council members echoed the mayor’s thoughts about Pastoor, sending prayers and thoughts to family and friends.
Pastoor worked in broadcasting and sales. He started with the Children’s Bible Hour as a teenager and later was an announcer on WFUR and WMAX. He co-hosted the Polka Pops for nearly 20 years on WYGR. He also was a longtime member of the Eighth Reformed Church.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret “Maggie” Pastoor, and his sister, Faith Heinrich. He is survived by his children, Scott Pastoor and fiancée, Beth Carroll, Kevin and Susan Pastoor, Deb and Bob Hoyle; seven grandchildren, his nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.
Visitation with the family is from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, at Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home, 4145 Chicago Drive SW, Grandville. There will be a visitation from 10-10:45 a.m. before the funeral service which will be held on Thursday, March 22, at 11 a.m. at Eighth Reformed Church, 841 Burton St. SW, Wyoming. Rev. Harry Koops will be officiating. Interment will be at Rest Lawn Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eighth Reformed Church Radio Fund. For more information or to send condolences, visit www.mkdfuneralhome.com.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) continues the 2018 Concerts Under the Stars series in the Chaffee Planetarium on March 22 hosting Dan Rickabus and his 9-piece band.
Drummer, producer and songwriter Dan Rickabus spends his days crafting sounds for The Crane Wives, Public Access, Seth Bernard and many others in Michigan’s beautiful music community. Last summer, he released a new collaborative solo record called “Void / Journal” – an album of cosmically conscious, existentially charged, groove-oriented dream-folk that explores what it means to be alive and breathing amidst the limitless beyond.
Dan has gathered a 9-piece band of his friends and collaborators to perform the vibrant, immersive music of “Void / Journal” in the mystical setting of the planetarium.
Dan Rickabus will be joined by a nine-piece band of friends.
“This performance is an honor and a dream come true for us,” Rickabus said. “We can’t wait to share this artistic adventure with you.”
This concert will feature a custom light show on the planetarium’s dome by Nate Eizenga. Nate is a Grand Rapids native who moonlights as a video artist, focusing on accompaniment for live musical performances. By using controllers intended for digital music production to create, mix and manipulate video in real time he crafts a visual experience that toes the line between artistic spontaneity and musical synchronicity. Since his first public show in 2015 Nate has performed for numerous events, including past Concerts Under the Stars shows.
The recently renovated planetarium boasts state-of-the-art technology with 4k visuals and surround sound, for an amazing immersive concert experience.
Concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments, beer and other beverages will be available for purchase.
Tickets are $10 for GRPM members, $12 for non-members if purchased in advance, and $15 for non-members on the day of the concert. Tickets are currently on sale at grpm.org, by calling 616-929-1700 or at the Museum’s front desk.
The next 2018 Concerts Under the Stars will take place on April 12 with the alternative rock sounds of Major Murphy.
A 90-minute drive … replaced by a single click. Thanks to Google, the course catalog is expanding, and students at three colleges, separated by 100 miles, are learning together.
“This isn’t happening anywhere else on this scale,” said Roman Williams, assistant professor of sociology at Calvin College.
Leading the way
In collaboration with Google, the Michigan Colleges Alliance is piloting the Google Course Share Collaboration, a new approach that aims to expand course options at smaller private colleges, while still retaining the faculty-driven teaching model.
Calvin, Alma, and Albion are participating in the pilot in spring 2018, each offering one course available to all three campuses.
“The whole idea is to offer courses that might not otherwise be offered because they are so specialized that student interest on one campus might not be enough to achieve the desired level of enrollment,” said Williams, who is teaching his Visual Toolkit course on Monday nights to six Alma, seven Albion, and six Calvin students. “Adding compelling technology to the mix amplifies students’ experiences.”
Powered by Google
How it works? Each campus is making a Google Extended Classroom available, complete with Hangouts Meet—Google’s video meeting software—and Jamboard—Google’s 55-inch, 4K interactive display, which is spurring collaboration through linking up digital whiteboards across the colleges. And each student has been given a Chromebook from their respective institution.
“The Jamboard is an interactive whiteboard that you can all share,” said Emma Chung, a junior digital communications major at Calvin who is taking “Media Theory and Culture” via Google Course Share through Albion College. “So, if Albion students are writing on it, we can see what they are writing, kind of like a Google Doc in a portable whiteboard form, but it’s still treated like a whiteboard. It’s pretty neat.”
The classrooms have two large monitors, each showing students from the other two participating colleges. Steelcase, the largest office furniture manufacturer in the world, has also joined the effort, and will be outfitting each classroom with comfortable seating and in helping create collaborative spaces for students to thrive.
Collaborating across colleges
Learning how best to collaborate from a distance takes a little time, says Williams. But, he says that students having the unique experience of helping pioneer a new way of learning, combined with the novelty of working with “cool technology,” are already going a long way in producing higher levels of student participation, engagement, and enthusiasm about these courses.
Students agree.
“I think it’s a really enriching experience. You get a chance to interact with students from another campus that isn’t yours, who you haven’t spent four years with,” said Taylor Hartson, a junior sociology major at Calvin. “It’s also a good experience for people considering going to grad school. ‘How do I interact with strangers for the first time? How do I adjust to a class that isn’t taught in a way that’s the way I’ve been taking the last several years?’”
Hartson, who is taking Williams’ class, is looking forward to more opportunities to hear from classmates representing various disciplines and multiple institutions. “It’s interesting to hear the perspectives of those not in this field on an up-and-coming methodology, to kind of explore that together, to see what it looks like to use this methodology in communications or in biology. It’s cool to hear all these perspectives.”
Opening more options
The pilot program is testing the viability of an academic-resource-sharing model between colleges, giving students and faculty more access to resources. The Michigan Colleges Alliance represents an ideal platform for launching a new course delivery system like this one. The MCA consists of 14 smaller private institutions. But, collectively, the alliance comprises the third largest student body in the state of Michigan.
What Google Course Share allows is for private institutions to keep their student-centered learning and close faculty interaction—hallmarks of the experiences they currently offer—all while expanding their course options for students.
One Calvin student wrote in her reflection after the first class, ‘I LOVE THIS TECHNOLOGY! That’s all I have to say for now. I feel like I’m living in the future.’
“On many levels she is correct,” said Williams, “she is living into the future. Increasingly a company’s workforce is spread across multiple locations and using meeting/collaboration technology like Google’s Jamboard and Hangouts Meet are the norm. A student who experiences a course like the ones we’re offering gains aptitudes and skills for thriving in the global economy.”
Calvin College’s Center for Social Research (CSR) has been tasked by MCA with evaluating the pilot program. Through surveys, focus groups, and research, CSR will provide an evaluation by the end of April 2018. The plan is to publish these results after the final evaluation.
In early September 2017, the ownership and management of Hickory Creek Winery in Buchanan officially changed hands from previous owners Eric and Jayne Wagner to Adam McBride of Grand Rapids. Hickory Creek is featured on the
and sits on a picturesque 38-acre farm and vineyard in Southwest Michigan.
New owner and winemaker McBride is energetic and optimistic about Hickory Creek’s future, while respectful of its past. He explains, “Eric and Jayne built a brand that focuses on a classic European winemaking style featured in a postcard picture setting at Hickory Creek Winery. I hope to maintain the reputation they worked hard to build over the past few years. As a winemaker, I know Eric has prided himself on making elegant wines featuring the varietals this part of Michigan is known for. And Jayne has created a welcoming feel in both the tasting room and the cottage. I want to continue what they have started.”
McBride, a Grand Rapids native, describes his purchase of the winery as a long-time dream becoming a reality. After college, he served for nearly a decade on active duty in the Air Force before returning home to West Michigan. He explains, “My passion for wine and my dream of owning a winery started over ten years ago while traveling across Europe and living in German wine country during my last duty assignment. The dream has always been in the back of my mind since then.”
Hickory Creek Winery is located at 750 Browntown Road, Buchanan.
After completing his military service, he spent several years building his professional skill set while directing logistics and transportation operations for two of Michigan’s most prominent manufacturers; first for Steelcase and then Stryker. He explains, “My civilian logistics career was amazing. I learned so much about leadership, operations management, lean principles, and six-sigma methodology. But I never lost my passion for wine and my dream of getting into the field full-time someday. I really started positioning myself to take this leap a couple years ago. It’s sometimes hard to believe it actually happened.” McBride completed his master’s degree in Business Administration at Michigan State University in 2016 to prepare himself for the rigors of starting and operating his own business. He followed that up by taking on his formal wine education in California, studying at the Napa Valley Wine Academy under winemakers, sommeliers, brand managers, and other industry experts. He now holds a Level 3 Award with Distinction from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust based in London. And his education continues, as he is currently taking classes through Lake Michigan College’s Viticulture and Enology degree program.
The transition of the business from the previous owners was just the beginning of the hard work for the 41-year old father of two. As both owner and winemaker, McBride faced a steep learning curve from the very start. Just days after completing the sale of the winery, the grape harvest started in full force. McBride bought as many grapes as he could get his hands on, more than 36,000 pounds that had to be processed by hand. His goal was to process enough grapes to return Hickory Creek’s storage tanks and barrels to full capacity, a necessity after the brutal winters of 2014 and 2015 devastated grape harvests and depleted the winery’s inventories. McBride notes, “The 2017 harvest was incredible. The fruit quality was amazing and the yields were excellent. I was able to get almost everything on my wishlist from the local farms.”
The local winemaking community has shown its support for the newcomer over the past few months. Experienced winemakers and local business owners have guided McBride on many aspects of the business. In addition to providing technical expertise and advice, multiple wineries signed on to supply fruit for the 2017 harvest. The collaboration between the local wineries in Southwest Michigan is unique according to McBride, something he hasn’t witnessed between competitors during his time in the corporate world. “I’ve been amazed by the support of the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail and its 21 member wineries. The Makers’ Trail has been a huge help as well. The other winemakers and winery owners have welcomed me into the community with open arms. They all want to see Hickory Creek do well and they genuinely want to help me get started on the right track as the new guy. The collaborative spirit is refreshing. Everyone is pulling together to set us up for success.”
When asked about his vision for the winery, McBride’s plans are simple. “I want to continue Eric and Jayne’s legacy of crafting high-quality small batch wines in the classic European style. I want customers to see our products and wine overall as approachable and our staff as welcoming and authentic. I also want a visit to Hickory Creek to be enjoyable and educational. Hopefully, our customers have fun, but also learn something from their visit.”
Hickory Creek features a selection of red, white, and rosé wines. Many of the red wines feature Cabernet Franc either as a varietal or in Bordeaux-style blends. White wines feature Riesling and Chardonnay, both as varietals and in blends. They range from dry to semi-sweet. The Hickory Creek tasting room is located on the winery premises at 750 Browntown Road in Buchanan, Michigan. It is open daily from May to October (Monday and Thursday 11am-5pm, Friday 11am-6pm, Saturday 11am-7pm, and Sunday noon-6pm). From November to April, it has limited opening hours (Monday 11am-5pm, Friday 11am-5pm, Saturday 11am-6pm, and Sundays noon-5pm). The property also features a 2-story cottage available for rent through Airbnb and VRBO. Details for the tasting room and cottage can be found at hickorycreekwinery.com and on the Hickory Creek Winery Facebook page.
By Maram Hekhuis, Outpatient Therapist at Heart of the City Counseling Center
Many people either do not recognize or are in denial that they have mental illness, even though mental illnesses are very common and widely spread in our society. This can be due to fear and anxiety about being judged or stigmatized by others, not being prepared to cope with learning that they have a mental illness, or their loved one has a mental illness. Many people fail to recognize that mental illness does not define who you are! You have a diagnosis of mental illness, but you are not your mental illness.
You are not schizophrenic, autistic, or depressed. You have diagnosis of schizophrenia, autism, or depression. Having a mental illness does not mean you are robbed of the opportunities to have a quality life such as having a job, being in a relationship, building a family, having safe housing, having access to health care and/or being affiliated with a certain group. It is important to recognize that even though you have a mental illness and some challenges associated with your mental illness symptoms, you still have many strengths and abilities that help you move forward in life to achieve your goals and dreams. There is nothing to be ashamed of for having a mental illness. Having a mental illness is like having a medical problem. It is your body’s way of telling you something is off, and it is time to do something about it by seeking help.
Mental illness is treatable! Most people with mental illness continue to function in their daily lives and are able to live a fulfilling life. If you feel you are unable to manage your mental illness, experiencing significant symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment in social, work, or other important areas of functioning, then seek professional support. There is nothing to be ashamed of for seeking support. When you get the flu and a high fever for a couple of days, you will seek medical attention, so when you are feeling mentally exhausted and sick, then make sure to seek mental health attention.
When we think of an inventor, we don’t normally think of a Hollywood bombshell who was mostly self-taught.
But Hedy Lamarr, known for her role as Delilah in the Cecil B. Demille’s “Samson and Delilah,” the highest-grossing film of 1949, was both the bombshell and the inventor. With composer and pianist George Antheil, she developed a device that allowed for frequency-hopping to keep the signals of torpedoes from being tracked or jammed. This system would become the basis of cell phone and bluetooth technology.
Lamarr’s life is the subject of the 2017 documentary “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story.” The film’s writer and director Alexandra Dean sits down with Kamla Bhatt from “The Kamla Show” to talk about the film and Lamarr’s life. This edition of “The Kamla Show,” which is being aired by WKTV in honor of Women’s History Month, will air on WKTV 25 at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20; 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 21; and 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 23.
“I made this film because when we close our eyes and think of an inventor we don’t think of a woman,” Dean said. “We don’t typically think of anything but a very certain type of man. We even might think of his pocket protector and the look on his face. We have a very specific idea of the people who shape our world and made it the way it is today.”
Lamarr, who was the inspiration for Snow White and Cat Woman, emigrated from her home in Austria to escape a bad marriage. Before coming to America, she was already known for the scandalous European film “Ecstasy.” She became a Hollywood icon starring with such legends as James Stewart and Cary Grant.
But being pegged as a seductress and with limited speaking parts, Lamarr was bored and turned to inventing. Her first husband had been an arms dealer and so she was familiar with weapons like torpedoes. An ad for the Inventors Council encouraged her to think about how she could help her adopted home of the United States and she eventually paired up with Antheil. In her later years, Lamarr became a recluse, impoverished and almost forgotten.
Dean said she was looking for a person who broke the mold of the traditional “inventor” and found Richard Rhodes book “Hedy’s Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Women in the World.” The book lead to Dean finally finding not only an inspiration to her movie but to life as well.
“Someone said to me that ‘Hedy Lamarr wasn’t only thinking outside of the box, she didn’t even know the box existed,’” Dean said. “That is how Hedy Lamarr inspires me. Why do we care that there is even a box. Why not just live outside the box. That is the message she gave me.”
The “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” has won awards at the Tribeca Film Festival, the Nantucket Film Festival, San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, and Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival. For more on the film, visit click here.
Sandra Uwiringiyimana, author of How Dare the Sun Rise, will be visiting the Wyoming Branch of Kent District Library at 6:30 pm on Monday, March 26. Uwiringiyimana will tell the story of her survival, of finding her place in a new country, of her hope for the future and how she found a way to give voice to her people. A book sale and signing will follow.
“After reading Sandra’s heart-wrenching tale of survival, loss, family, love and ultimately hope, we are reminded of all the beautiful things that make our lives full – family, friends, freedom, safety, home, and the peace of mind this country brings,” said Abby D’Addario, youth librarian at the Wyoming Branch. “Refugees are our neighbors, and an intrinsic part of our lives. And refugees are people with real stories that need to be heard.”
Uwiringiyimana was just ten years old when she found herself with a gun pointed at her head. She had watched as rebels gunned down her mother and six-year-old sister in a refugee camp. Remarkably, the rebel didn’t pull the trigger and Sandra escaped. Thus began a new life for her and her surviving family members. With no home and no money, they struggled to stay alive. Eventually, through a United Nations refugee program, they moved to America, only to face yet another ethnic disconnect. Uwiringiyimana may have crossed an ocean, but there was now a much wider divide she had to overcome.
How Dare the Sun Rise, a profoundly moving memoir, is the remarkable and inspiring true story of a girl from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who tells the tale of how she survived a massacre, immigrated to America and overcame her trauma through art and activism.
This author visit is a part of the Grandville-Wyoming Community Reads 2018 program, which focuses on the challenges for refugees around the world who are seeking safety and a better life. A schedule of upcoming activities, which are open to the public and free, can be found athttp://kdl.org/communityreads/.
Community Reads sponsors include Grandville Education Foundation, Friends of the Grandville Library, Grandville Public Schools, Tegna Foundation, Wyoming Community Foundation, Wyoming Public Schools, Godwin Heights Public Schools and Mars Hill Bible Church.
