By Mary Knudstrup, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
The idea of a multi-page questionnaire to weed out the unsuitable and find the perfect wife might seem terribly off-putting until you get inside the head of Don Tillman, a 39-year-old genetics professor who can’t seem to get past a first date. Don has, to put it mildly, a unique way of looking at life due largely to the fact that he has an undiagnosed case of Asperger Syndrome. Always socially awkward (he has only two friends), Don is searching for the perfect woman to complete his life, thus “the wife project,” sixteen pages to weed out the smokers, drinkers, and late-arrivers.
Enter Rosie Jarman, a total washout as far as Don’s questionnaire is concerned but beguiling in her own way. And she has a project of her own: tracking down the identity of her biological father, the perfect assignment for a genetics expert like Don. What follows is Don’s increasing self-awareness as he loosens up his micro-managed life in his effort to help Rosie. Don’s literal and unsubtle observations often don’t play well with those on the receiving end, but fill his narration with good-natured humor and sly insightful truthfulness.
The Rosie Project is a GR Reads pick that will keep you engaged and entertained as you watch Don being nudged away from his spreadsheet approach to life and into the spontaneous and unpredictable world of a totally unsuitable woman.
The Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce is busy this time of year, including advocating for business development in the area — Do you know what is happening at Wyoming’s 28 West Place? — as well as planning for its annual Santa Parade and its monthly Government Matters co-production with WKTV.
So it is only fit that chamber president Bob O’Callaghan, a regular guest to WKTV Journal: In Focus, sat down with host Ken Norris recently to discuss recent and upcoming chamber activities.
Also on the episode, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County executive director Bri McKee talks about her program’s religious foundations, its worldwide scope, but also its local neighborhood results.
The episode will continue Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 6:30 p.m., and will again air on Thursday on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.
The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.
Edward Aboufadel has been named a Fellow by the American Association of the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for his contributions to the advancement of science or its applications. Aboufadel is the first Grand Valley State University faculty member to be named an AAAS Fellow.
“My initial reaction to receiving this award was one of pleasant surprise, because I was not aware that I was a nominee,” said Aboufadel, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and professor of mathematics.
Aboufadel has been a member of AAAS since 1987, serving in a variety of roles, including secretary, an officer in the Mathematics Section of the organization, and task force chair.
Beyond his work with the AAAS, Aboufadel said he takes pride in his on-going program of scholarship in applied mathematics during his more than 20 years at Grand Valley. Much of his work has consisted of conducting research with undergraduate students. Some of his projects have included mathematically-based 3D printing designs, hiding messages in images, and the analysis of pollution in river systems using subway-like maps.
Aboufadel said he is most proud of a project through which he and two of his students helped develop an app called Street Bump. The app uses a wavelet-based algorithm to detect potholes within the city of Boston. Aboufadel and his students received a prize from the city for their work.
WKTV’s coverage of girls’ high school basketball in mid-December, but you can catch live action this week. (WKTV)
By Mike Moll
sports@wktv.org
The girls’ basketball season has started but WKTV featured basketball coverage is a couple weeks off as the first featured contest on our crew’s schedule will be a Tuesday, Dec. 12, contest when the Kelloggsville High School girls host Wyoming’s The Potter’s House.
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week, through the end of the month, are as follows:
Tuesday, Nov. 28
Girls Basketball
Godwin Heights @ Tri-Unity Christian
Saranac @ Grand River Prep
Wellsprings Prep @ Kelloggsville
Grand Rapids Christian @ East Kentwood
South Christian @ Forest Hills Northern
Grand Rapids Union @ Wyoming
Thursday, Nov. 30
Girls Basketball
Grand River Prep @ West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science (WMAES)
Mark Wood performs with the Kentwood Middle School Orchestras. (Photo from Electrify Your Strings)
An original member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Emmy Award-winning composer will perform with the Kentwood Public school students this week.
Mark Wood will perform with students in the Kentwood Middle School Orchestras at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at the East Kentwood Fine Arts Auditorium, located at the high school on 6230 Kalamazoo Ave. SE.
Wood, an international recording artist known as the creator for his revolutionary Viper electric violin, brought his groundbreaking music education program “Electrify Your Strings! (EYS)” to the district’s Crestwood, Valleywood, and Pinewood Middle Schools, turning the student musicians into a full-fledged rock orchestra.
“Mark Wood and the EYS program have taught my students the value of both playing music well and the importance of putting on a great performance,” said Kentwood Orchestra Director Ingrid Dykeman.
The EYS program – now in its 18t h year – is a music education experience. Wood and his team work directly with a school’s orchestra director to tailor-design a rock orchestra makeover complete with a public performance at the end of the experience. EYS builds on the strong foundation in traditional music provided by music teachers; creating a partnership with educators that inspires students and boosts their self-esteem and motivation on stage and off. EYS has been featured on “The Today Show,” “The CBS Evening News,” and many more.
Wood will be performing with the students on his handcrafted seven-string fretted electric Viper violin as part of the 2017-2018 Electrify Your Strings! “No Limits Tour.” The Friday performance will include some of Wood’s original material, as well as his arrangements of music by Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and more.
Wood is the owner and operator of Wood Violins, the premier manufacturer of electric orchestra string instruments worldwide. He studied under Maestro Leonard Bernstein, is a Juilliard-trained violinist and Emmy-winning composer. In addition to his solo career and his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Wood has worked with Celine Dion, Lenny Kravitz, Billy Joel and others.
To prepare for this concert, Wood will be teaching the students improvisation, composition, and personal expression on their violins, violas, cellos and basses. Utilizing Wood’s music arrangements that were sent to the district prior to this visit, the Kentwood Middle School Orchestras will perform in a live concert alongside Wood. The concert is open to the public with all profits going to the school music programs.
By Bert Cregg, Michigan State University Extension, Departments of Horticulture and Forestry
Michiganders that purchase a real tree for the holidays each year are likely familiar with many of the “tried and true” Christmas tree species that usually appear at tree lots and choose-and-cut farms such as Fraser fir, balsam fir, Douglas fir and blue spruce. Michigan Christmas tree growers are an innovative lot, however, and consumers may find exotic or lesser-known species as they’re looking for this year’s tree.
Why exotics?
Turkish fir. Photo by Bert Cregg, MSU.
Strictly speaking, an exotic is a tree species that is not native to our area. In Michigan, we grow some conifers that are native Christmas trees like balsam fir, white spruce and white pine, but also commonly grow other trees that are not native like Fraser fir and blue spruce. When talking about Christmas trees, the term exotic has morphed into meaning less common or unusual.
Growers produce exotics to give their customers a greater range of choices when they come to their farm or tree lot. In certain cases, exotics may be better adapted to certain soil conditions, such as high soil pH or wet soils, or more resistance to diseases. This allows growers to produce trees on sites they might not be able to otherwise. Some growers are interested in the botany of conifers and enjoy learning about and growing different and unusual species.
For consumers that like something outside the box, Michigan State University Extension suggests the following exotic or less common Christmas trees you may want to keep an eye for as you look for this year’s tree.
The Kent County Recycling & Education Center at 977 Wealthy St. SW is undergoing upgrades to improve recycling efficiency and add dairy cartons and juice boxes to its list of accepted materials. The upgrades will take place from Nov. 28 to Dec. 19. During this time, the facility will be closed and unable to accept materials for recycling.
“Periodic upgrades and equipment modifications like these ensure our recycling facility is up-to-date with the changing recycling needs of our community,” said Kristen Wieland, Communications & Marketing Manager for the Kent County Department of Public Works. “The Kent County Recycling & Education Center allows residents to easily recycle materials through a single-stream sorting process, and these equipment additions will allow us to accept even more types of materials and continue delivering high-quality services to the community.”
Equipment upgrades will include a new corrugated cardboard screen, additional optical sorting equipment and conveyor system refurbishment. The upgrades will allow the facility to accept paper cartons and mechanically sort corrugated cardboard to help keep up with the community’s growing recycling needs. Examples of cartons that will be recyclable include empty creamer, soy and almond milk containers, juice boxes, milk cartons and boxed water.
“Prior to having this equipment at our facility, paper cartons were not recycled because they’re a mixed material. They are coated in plastic and sometimes also have a metal layer. These layers make them great for storing food and beverages but makes them challenging to recycle,” explained Wieland. “Just think about the volume of juice boxes and milk cartons that come from school cafeterias that can be recycled now!”
The Kent County Recycling & Education Center is approaching its eighth year of processing single-stream recycling. Over the past seven years, the center has undergone periodic maintenance and upgrades to adapt to changes in community recycling habits. Kent County is investing $1.5 million into this round of upgrades. The center will begin taking cartons on Dec. 19.
“It’s important for residents and small businesses to remember that during these upgrades, material that would normally be sent to the Kent County Recycling Center will be diverted elsewhere, most likely to the county’s waste-to-energy facility. Those with the ability to do so should hold onto their recycling until after the updates are complete on Dec. 19,” said Daniel Schoonmaker, Executive Director of the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. “These upgrades are necessary to improve the system and will ultimately help us reduce waste in our community.”
By Matthew Makowski, Grand Valley State University
The annual holiday concert featuring the GVSU Brass Quintet is an Arts at Noon tradition. The ensemble comprises Grand Valley State University music faculty, including Alex Wilson (trumpet), Richard Britsch (horn), Mark Williams (trombone), Paul Carlson (tuba) and visiting performing Paul Hardaker (trumpet). Each year, the quintet also performs multiple outreach concerts, and facilitates master classes and coaching sessions at high schools throughout Michigan.
When: December 6 at noon
Where: Cook-DeWitt Center, located on the Allendale Campus
Arts at Noon
Arts at Noon brings nationally and internationally-known musicians to Grand Valley State University for 14 performances each academic year. All Arts at Noon concerts will take place in the Cook-DeWitt Center, located on the Allendale Campus. They will begin at noon and last approximately one hour. Every concert is free and open to the public. For more information about Arts at Noon, visit gvsu.edu/artsatnoon or contact Henry Duitman, series coordinator, at duitmanh@gvsu.edu.
For more information about Music, Theatre and Dance Department events, contact 616.331.3484 or visit gvsu.edu/mtd.
Every weekday at about 1:30 p.m., Sheila Gurd arrives at West Godwin Elementary School to deliver hundreds of sack suppers from Kids’ Food Basket to classrooms, making sure no kindergartner through fourth-grader will go hungry at night.
By the time she arrives, Gurd’s likely already been volunteering at the Godwin Middle School, helping with fundraisers or Popcorn Day. At West Godwin, she recently popped 200 bags of popcorn for Family Night.
Gurd, whose children are second-grader Camblouw and eighth-grader Aidan, is the “go to” parent volunteer at West Godwin, which currently lacks a Parent Teacher Organization, said secretary Kristi Bast. At the middle school, Gurd is on the PTO.
A humble person who said she doesn’t ever want a title, Gurd just likes to help out.
Sheila Gurd delivers sack supper to students at West Godwin every school day
“I love seeing the kids’ faces every day. I love to help and deliver the Kids’ Food Basket food,” she said. “I’ve been here from Day One, very involved. I want to show other parents I want to be involved. I like to do it.”
She also likes to be present in her children’s school day. “Knowing that they know I’m in the building, if they have the problem, I’m right there to assist them.”
Gurd, a Wyoming native who graduated from Wyoming Rogers High School (now Wyoming High School) in 2000, is also a gold medalist in the pentathlon for Special Olympics Michigan.
Bast said Gurd is filling a big need at the school, which has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.
“(Without Sheila) we would not be able to get by, honestly,” Bast said. “We don’t have enough staff members. There’s not extra money or extra people. She’s been very good about coming in and being a volunteer with us.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
The 2017 elections have come and gone with Kentwood residents re-electing Stephen Kepley to a second term as mayor and Emily Bridson as the new First Ward City Commissioner. The rest of the Kentwood City positions, including newcomer Tom McKelvey as Second Ward City Commissioner, were unopposed. Also both The Rapid’s and the Wyoming Public School’s millage proposals were approved. Passage of The Rapid millage means continuing bus service in both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood. The Wyoming Public School’s millage will allow the district to invest $79.5 million in infrastructure over the next two decades. Fall has arrived and the big question on everyone’s mind now is what to do with all those leaves.
If you live in the City of Wyoming, you have a number of options for disposing of leaves and other yard waste materials. One is curbside pick up with takes places Dec. 2 in the City of Wyoming. All items must be placed in paper bags and be out by 6 a.m.
We are quickly moving into the holidays which are full of many sweet delights. One of those cooking up something tasty is Wyoming’s Master Arts Theatre. The company has partnered with the Van Singel Fine Arts Center to present “Willy Wonka the Musical,” which will run Nov. 30 – Dec. 2. Visit www.vsfac.com for more information.
And another holiday favorite is the annual Santa Parade hosted by the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce. This year’s parade will be Dec. 2 starting at 10 a.m. on South Division Avenue from 34th Street to Murray Street. Santa will be available for pictures at Brann’s Sizzlin’ Steaks & Sports Grill at 4132 S. Division.
Other annual holiday events are Wyoming Gives Back set for Dec. 7 at the Rogers Plaza Mall; the Kentwood Tree Lighting Ceremony set for Dec. 8 at the Kentwood Richard L. Root Library and Wyoming’s Great Candy Cane Hunt set for Dec. 9 at the Wyoming Department of Public Safety.
WKTV Journal’s newscast premiers biweekly on Monday at 8 p.m., and then is broadcast at various times and dates on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 25 and 26, and on AT&T Channel 99 Community channel. Stay connected to your community by visiting wktvjournal.org.
You took a minimum wage job because you needed an income. But, now you feel stuck.
While it might not seem like it, every time you go to work you are one step closer to a fulfilling career. You’re improving soft skills and gaining experience to add to your resume. Use your current job as a launch pad to the career you want. Here’s how:
Build your network. Regardless of where you work, you are building relationships with coworkers and supervisors. They could be your connection to a new job or career. Even if they leave their current position, stay in touch with them through LinkedIn or Facebook.
Learn skills. Treat your current job like you’re already in a career. Give each shift 100% effort and, in turn, you will strengthen skills that all jobs require (soft skills): work ethic, timeliness, communication, problem solving and integrity. The experiences from your current job will make for great examples to share in an interview too.
Get a paycheck. It’s easier to job search while you are employed. You have a positive outlook on your job search because you don’t have overdue bills looming overhead. You can take some time to find an organization and job that fit your skills and interests well. You also don’t have to explain an employment gap to employers.
If you want to move from your job into a fulfilling career, West Michigan Works! can help you identify skills, improve job search techniques and connect you to potential training scholarships.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
Do you know someone in a service industry job who goes above and beyond their expected role? Do they take pride in their vital, yet under-appreciated job? Nominate them for an Essential Service Award.
By Lisa Boss, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
Krakauer’s book is just what we expect from him and more, as he tackles another of his “enigma wrapped in a mystery” stories of the human heart going up against timeless, unforgiving odds. He’s the perfect author to tell Pat Tillman’s tale, weaving the personal story of the man, alongside the history of Afghanistan, and how the U.S. came to play a part in their politics, and the ensuing historical and political ramifications.
The book sorts through mountains of information, all indexed with their sources, distilling it into an intensely readable story with a Greek tragedy feel, where the characteristic that brings Tillman down is his heroic virtue. Krakauer gives us a “warts and all” portrait of Tillman, because that is what the man would have wanted above all. A man who was good, honest, patriotic and loathed deception.
But, “Inwar, truth is the first casualty.” The night of Tillman’s death, against standard operating procedure, his clothes, body armor, and his private journal were all ordered burned, “to prevent security violations, leaks, and rumors”. The two chief medical examiners refused to sign the completed autopsy, due to the fact that the missing uniform was considered crucial forensic evidence. This was just the beginning of a complex cover-up. Tillman’s family was incensed at their treatment and determined to learn the facts, despite the additional pain and suffering it caused them.
“Where Men Win Glory:” reveals why that would have been so important to Pat.
From the time of Art Tatum, though the years Oscar Peterson led what some consider the perfect jazz trio (with Ray Brown on bass and Ed Thigpen on the sticks), into the modern jazz era with the likes of Brad Mehldau, there are many different instrumentations used in “a jazz trio” but when people think of “the jazz trio” you know what they are talking about.
The piano-bass-drum jazz trio is, with little argument, the quintessential jazz group.
Back in 1996, pianist Mehldau released the first of a series of recordings titled “The Art of the Trio” — a recognition of the historic and continuing perfection of the piano-bass-drums jazz combo by a multi-Grammy nominated performer who’s career has never strayed far from the format.
And while a Nov. 30 visit to St. Cecilia Music Center’s Jazz Series by Mehldau’s latest trio may well be a must-see concert this year — a concert where he will undoubtedly continue to prove the adage — there are local jazz performers bouncing around Grand Rapids music scene that also offer proof just about every night of the week.
Steve Talaga, on keyboards, in trio at a local venue. (Supplied).
“Most of the great jazz pianists going back to the mid-1940s have performed and recorded in this format, so each succeeding generation of young musicians has been exposed to, and influenced by, these artifacts,” said Steve Talaga, a pianist with a long history in the area jazz scene and currently an adjunct professor of music at Hope College.
“This trio format is also a situation which offers a perfect blend of interaction and freedom. You have multiple musicians contributing musical ideas to the ‘stew,’ but not so many that things get muddled,” he said. “Once drums are paired with piano, the bass range can sound a little weak, so adding a string bass reinforces the low register, creating a perfect musical scenario.”
Robin Connell, also a local pianist and music instructor, likens the musical range of the piano jazz trio as being a “group discussion.”
Robin Connell, with bassist Chris Kjorness’ River North Trio, at The Old Goat in Grand Rapids. (Supplied)
“In terms jazz as an art form, the best jazz trios musically interact continuously so that their performance can be likened to listening to a group discussion,” she said. “Just as in listening to three people talking together, conversation can flow easily and equally and be heard by listeners. Larger groups rely either on more written music — less improvisation, taking turns improvising, or music that is simple harmonically.”
But jazz people will tell you that not only is the piano jazz trio a jazz club mainstay for musical reasons, there are also logistical and economic reasons as well.
Robin Connell
Economics “enter the picture, although not as much for established artists of international stature,” Connell said. “Very few places anywhere in the U.S. pay a living wage for live music unless the venue is booking ‘name’ artists. This is true for jazz as it is for all other live music. I imagine the history of the jazz trio includes that reality and certain combinations, such as piano/bass/drums, became standard.”
Talaga agrees, but knows economics has never overshadowed the music.
“Economics do play a role, of course. More so all the time,” Talaga said. “With this combination, you have a complete ensemble capable of creating the most exciting music, but the paycheck only has to be split three ways.”
But “for me, the piano/bass/drums format is the dream band, both in terms of listening and performing. If you get the right combination of inventive, sensitive, and capable musicians, it’s pure magic.”
And most local jazz lovers are expecting magic with Mehldau’s return visit to St. Cecilia Music Center as part of the center’s Encore Jazz Season, celebrating over ten years of some of the finest jazz musicians in the world playing the venue.
“The jazz trio format is the classic format for a jazz combo — but what’s so interesting about all jazz programming is that, even if the instruments are the same in two groups, two shows are usually never alike in the hands of consummate musicians,” said Cathy Holbrook, executive director of St. Cecilia Music Center.
Brad Mehldau, in trio format, will be coming to St. Cecilia Music Center NOv. 30. (Supplied)
“We’ve had the piano/bass/drum trio at St. Cecilia Music Center many times over the past ten years, but the musician leading the group can take it in many different directions,” she said. “When Brad Mehldau brings his trio, we will hear a night of improvisation vs. jazz standards — they may start out with a standard but it goes into their imagination and comes back out again.”
For those with only a casual relationship with the jazz trio, but looking for a deeper dive, an essential acquisition would be the Oscar Peterson Trio’s 1963 recording “Night Train”, the Ahmad Jamahl Trio’s 1958 recording “But Not For Me – At The Pershing” and/or Mehldau’s “The Art of the Trio” series, re-packaged and re-released as a 5-Disc box set by Nonesuch in 2011. And you probably have to look no farther than Grandville’s The Corner Record Shop for any of them.
For more information and tickets for Brad Mehldau, visit scmc-online.org
The Steve Talaga Roots of Jazz Trio, among other gigs, will play at the 18th Amendment in Muskegon, Dec. 23 from 8-11 p.m. Visit his website at stevetalaga.com .
Robin Connell, among other gigs, will be playing in trio format at One Trick Pony in Grand Rapids, Jan, 11 from 8-11p.m. Visit her website at robinconnell.com .
For more information on local jazz available, visit wmichjazz.org .
Southeast Kelloggsville teacher Lynnea Roon lifted up a vial containing water that had turned a bright blue, taken from a portion of Buck Creek that flows through the schoolyard.
Jimmy Nguyen examines a feather through a microscope. (All photos courtesy of School News Network.)
“That’s a lot of phosphate!” a fifth-grader observed.
Next she showed a vial of water tested for nitrates that had turned a light shade of pink. “It’s not crazy bright red, so that’s good,” Roon said.
On a recent sunny fall day, fifth-grade students trudged along the squishy creek bottom to collect water samples for analysis in Roon’s new Science Lab class. Roon received a $1,000 grant from the Michigan Water Environment Association and American Water Works Association Michigan Section for water-related activities. She purchased 13 pairs of rubber boots, 13 nets, microscopes and water testing kits.
“When we test water we are testing the health of the something called the watershed,” Roon told her students. “We want to make sure the watershed is healthy. We want to make sure water entering the watershed is healthy.”
She introduced them to sources of water contamination like pesticides and fertilizers, water runoff from city streets and lots, factories, landfills and hazardous waste dumps.
Roon said the creek study ties in with a fifth-grade standard of learning about environmental impacts, and teaches students about being good stewards of the planet.
With net in hand, Karissa Cummings walks through the creek
After collecting samples from the creek, students looked at them, and other items like leaves, feathers and creek creatures, through microscopes and tested the water for dissolved oxygen, nitrates, phosphates and pH level.
“What I like is I got to see if we could find anything weird in the creek that is affecting it,” said fifth-grader Oscar Ramirez. “It’s like we’re mini-scientists!”
They also learned the Buck Creek Watershed is part of the Grand River Watershed, which eventually flows to Lake Michigan. “What happens here continues down the river to Lake Michigan,” said fifth-grader Abram Merdzinski.
“I learned that if you put garbage in the water it can make all the animals sick and their species could die out,” said fifth-grader Denaly Hill.
Reviving the Science Lab
Science Lab was reintroduced to the school last year after being cut five years earlier. The focus is on bringing to students hands-on, out-of-the-classroom experiences that align with Michigan K-12 Science standards, which are based on Next Generation Science Standards. Each class of third-fifth graders takes the course for one hour a week to enhance the science curriculum. They have also completed flower dissection, made marble roller coasters and will soon tend a greenhouse with tomatoes, cilantro and other vegetables.
“We are trying to make science come alive,” Roon said. “There are so many students who don’t know jobs exist (in the science field) and that they can get out there and experience these things.
“They definitely get excited,” she added. “You can see it through and through with their smiles.”
A favorite phrase of Roon’s is, “When you do, you remember.”
“I try to give them experiences they take with them and remember,” she said.
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
Students raised money for Kids Food Basket by collecting pennies
Kids’ Food Basket has recognized a large need to begin serving more students in West Michigan. Their goal is to raise $60,000 to build enough capacity to take three schools off their immediate waiting list, one in each of their West Michigan locations.
For the third year in a row, Kids’ Food Basket staff and their families will be personally matching online donations made on #GivingTuesday dollar for dollar, up to $5,000. Their goal is to inspire enough people to donate this #GivingTuesday so that they will have the ability to begin servings hundreds of students here in West Michigan. Kids Food Basket serves several schools in the Kelloggsville, Godwin Heights, and Godfrey Lee public school districts.
“Removing three schools from our waiting list means hundreds of children – hundreds of children that are currently waiting for their sack supper. Hundreds of children that leave school to homes that simply do not have adequate food. Hundreds of children who eat lunch as their last meal of the day,” Bridget Clark Whitney, Executive Director, shared.
“The need for our services is tremendous, and we know firsthand the impact that Sack Suppers can make. Data proves that children who have access to consistent nourishment have higher test scores and better academic achievement, less truancy, less sickness and less behavioral issues,” Clark Whitney explained. “The Kids’ Food Basket team and our families so deeply believes in this work that we are coming together again to provide a Staff Match for the third year in a row.”
Occurring on Nov. 28 this year, #GivingTuesday is an international day of giving fueled by social media that was born as a result of well-known shopping days, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Kids’ Food Basket currently serves 7,500 children at 42 elementary schools in Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Holland. More than 240 volunteers each day help prepare, pack and deliver Sack Suppers, a well-rounded evening meal that provides nutrition critical to the development of the brain and body.
Kids’ Food Basket is a nonprofit organization empowering communities to attack childhood hunger so young people can learn and live well. Through the Sack Supper program, kids get well-balanced evening meals, filling a gap that schools and families often can’t meet. To learn more, or see how you can make a difference, please visit www.kidsfoodbasket.org.
Each week WKTV features adoptable pets from area shelters. This week, we focus on three pets, Isabella, Chessy and Cinnamon, all available for adoption through the Humane Society of West Michigan.
Queen Isabella – American Blue Heeler/American Pit Bull Terrier Mix
I am a 4-year-old, happy and playful girl looking for my forever home! I would do best in a home with older/respectful children. I get along with other dogs, but would do best living with male dog who is playful but respectful. I have a lot of love to give to my new family! If I sound like the right fit for you, please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan!
More about Isabella
Animal ID: 36757121
Breed: American Blue Heeler/Terrier, American Pit Bull
Age: 4 years
Gender: Female
Size: Medium
Color: White/Red
Spayed
Chessy
Chessy – Female Domestic Short Hair
I am a 5-year-old cat looking for my forever home! I need to be placed in a home with no dogs and no small children. I am social and playful, however, I am not very tolerant of being picked up or petted. I need an environment where I can approach people on my own terms and in my own time and have a space to hide when I need to be alone. I do enjoy playing with people, especially with wand toys once I have warmed up. Please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan!
More about Chessy
Animal ID: 31798714
Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix
Age: 5 years
Gender: Female
Size: Small
Color: Grey
Spayed
Not declawed
Cinnamon
Cinnamon
Animal ID: 37126751
Species: Rabbit
Breed: Rex/Mix
Age: 1 year
Gender: Female
Size: Small
Color: Orange
Spayed
Cinnamon is currently fostered at PetSmart.
Here’s how to adopt Cinnamon from the Humane Society of West Michigan:
Browse the adoptable animals at Humane Society of West Michigan either in person or online
This holiday season relax and recline as the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s (GRPM) Chaffee Planetarium celebrates the holiday season with the holiday show, Let it Snow, beginning Friday, Nov. 24.
Let it Snow features a new variety of festive classics from Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee, and includes a stunning multi-media finale by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. The soundtrack is visually enhanced with thematic animation, and special effects, making it a must see this season for both adults and children.
The program is a fun and entertaining experience for all ages, especially families. Tickets are $4 each with general admission to the Museum, free to Museum members and $5 each for planetarium only tickets. For more information and show times, visit grpm.org/Planetarium.
The recently renovated Chaffee Planetarium offers brand new shows featuring the latest Digistar projection technology and immersive surround sound for an unbelievably rich and realistic experience. The Chaffee Planetarium reopened in March 2014 after a major renovation, including all new technology, sound system, full dome and seating. The renovation was made possible through the generosity of our donors, including the lead gift from The Wege Foundation.
The Chaffee Planetarium is named for Grand Rapids native, Roger B. Chaffee, who died with fellow Apollo 1 astronauts Gus Grissom and Ed White during a pre-launch test in 1967. The Planetarium was originally opened in 1994 and underwent a multi-million dollar renovation fall 2013 to spring 2014.
As West Michigan gears up for the holiday shopping season, the City of Kentwood is again offering a unique program with a track record of keeping crime down – and retailers happy.
Operation P.R.I.C.E. (Preventing Retail Theft Through Initiative, Collaboration & Enforcement) is a collaborative effort by Kentwood Police and local businesses along the 28th Street corridor to discourage shoplifting and to educate employees and store owners on ways to decrease crime during the holiday season. In 2016, retail theft cost U.S. retail industry an estimated $48.9 billion. Programs like Operation P.R.I.C.E aim to reduce these numbers and, ultimately, improve the shopping experience in the Kentwood community.
Kentwood Police, Woodland Mall and other local store owners partner together to increase police presence in stores and on the streets. Kentwood Police also provide education to store employees on spotting the warning signs of a potential crime and what to do when someone is caught.
The program was started in 2014 in order to help educate business owners and their employees on ways to reduce retail fraud in their stores.
In 2016, over 70 businesses participated in the program. The Kentwood Police Department anticipates just as many stores partnering with them this year.
The key, says Kentwood Police Chief Thomas Hillen, is working collaboratively with business owners.
“The partnership between officers and store owners is powerful,” Hillen said. “Since 2014, we have worked to build relationships and a mutual respect with retailers. Ultimately, we are working towards the same goal – reducing theft and crime in our community.”
Kentwood Police offer education opportunities for businesses to learn more about warning signs of shoplifters. In the past four years, calls for services have increased, which means store owners and employees are using the police as a resource – and keeping theft down.
“The more employees know about the warning signs of a shoplifter, the more empowered they feel to call us for assistance,” Hillen said.
Woodland Mall has certainly seen positive impacts of Operation P.R.I.C.E. since its inception. This year, Kentwood Police will be more visible than ever in the mall.
“We appreciate how proactive Operation P.R.I.C.E. and the Kentwood Police have worked to keep retail fraud down during the busy holiday season,” said Lyndsey Hicks, director of marketing at Woodland Mall. “More than just the visibility of seeing officers in and around the mall, store owners have expressed gratitude about the education provided to spot potential shoplifters. The personal connection between officers and employees makes it easy to call for help when suspicious activity is spotted.”
In addition to focusing on retail theft, police presence is increased on the roadways, which also reduces speeding and traffic incidents.
Operation P.R.I.C.E will run from Nov. 24 – Jan. 5. During this time, shoppers will see police officers in stores near the Woodland Mall and along 28th Street, West Michigan’s prime retail corridor.
Future doctors conferred with practicing osteopathic physicians recently on some critical topics in the North Godwin Elementary gymnasium.
A healthy lifestyle leads to a strong body and brain, good for pursuing a career in medicine, students learned during Mini-Medical School, where they listened to doctors explain what they do every day and why it’s important.
First- through fourth-graders in the after-school program TEAM 21 visited six stations manned by osteopathic physicians representing the Family Medicine Residency program at Metro Health – University of Michigan Health’s Community Clinic and members of the Michigan Health Council.
“I learned that your kidneys are in your back,” said fourth-grader Hunter Longstreet, as he posed for a photo while holding a “Mini Medical School Graduate” certificate that gave him the title “Future Doctor.”
Hunter Longstreet earns his certificate
Donning doctor’s coats, students examined X-rays and learned about bone health, tested medical instruments, practiced hygiene using hand sanitizer to kill germs, affixed Velcro organs to an anatomy apron, and received lessons in nutrition and exercise.
“We learned how to use the equipment,” said student Laura Munoz-Castillo. “When your skin gets ripped you can get germs inside. That’s why you should wear a Band-Aid.”
Brandess Wallace, community engagement and education coordinator for the Michigan Health Council, said the mission of the event is multi-faceted.
“One goal is to take the mystery out of and alleviate the fear that might go with visiting the doctor; another is to show kids what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle and, finally, we want to expose these kids to medicine as a potential career,” Wallace said.
Ellen Hensel, TEAM 21 site coordinator, said career exploration is an important component of the enrichment program.
“This is just something new they might not be able to fit into the school day that we can provide after school,” she said. “A lot of them might not have thought about being a doctor some day, but now it’s on their radar.”
From left, Sabrina Reeder, Adrian Vital, Yeinier Collazo and Barnard Davis, Jr., use hand sanitizer
By Lisa Boss, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
Chast’s graphic memoir focuses on a time in her parents’ lives, when, after living in the same apartment in Brooklyn for 48 years (not hip Brooklyn, but Deep Brooklyn), they have come to the point where they are, “slowly leaving the sphere of TV commercial old age … and moving into the part of old age that was scarier, harder to talk about, and not a part of this culture.”
Going into their nineties, the trip they’ve shared together is about to hit rough seas. And reality wallops their only daughter in the form of an after-midnight phone call. From the hospital.
Fans of Roz Chast (I’m in the “rabid” category) will recognize the skewed wit and unique, pulsating, line style from her cartoons that have been featured in the New Yorker since the ’70s. But the depth of conflicting emotions, and the insights into human hope, love, and frailty are simply breathtaking, as she has taken her work to a whole new level.
The first few pages contain the clues to the Gordion’s Knot underlying the psychological gestalt of this family. No wonder people have been so anxious in Chast’s cartoons in the New Yorker for over 30 years.
The book’s scope is daunting: one’s identity vis-a-vis one’s parents, the hopes and dreams that were not–could not–be met, and then, suddenly, the role-reversal of the child-parent relationship. It’s a pretty deep look at some of the toughest challenges of the human condition, and Chast handles the material straight on. The humor she finds in these situations (I often laughed out loud) is painful, but kind of therapeutic. Because despite the constant deluge from the self-help industry, a resonant theme in literature continues to involve our issues with the past.
Why do things happen? What could I have done differently? Why won’t the dead leave us alone?
Deeply moving, absurdly funny, it’s a book you just can’t forget.
Everyone has his/her favorite candy, but have you ever heard of how good the scrumdidlyiscious candy bar is? You will if you come to the upcoming production of “Willy Wonka” the Musical at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and 2.
The musical is a fun-filled burst of kids, candy, and song, but it’s also a major milestone for the Van Singel Fine Arts Center and the Master Arts Theatre company. The two organizations came together to combine the skilled direction of Master Arts Theatre with the magnificent stage of the Van Singel. Both groups were excited about the partnership, and look forward to other possibilities.
“This one is unique and not because we don’t have community theatre, because we have several which is cool,” said Chris Knoblock who portrays Willy Wonka in the holiday offering. “This is a special conglomeration when you take two different organizations and they blend their strengths. You’ve got Master Arts Theatre bringing us the script and the direction and then you’ve got Van Singel bringing us everything they have to offer with the Dan Pfieffer stage and all of the set pieces and all of their expertise.
“It is going to be really, really cool and anyone who comes is going to enjoy it.”
When choosing their holiday production, the directors wanted something family friendly and community oriented. They wanted families from the community to be able to come to the shows with their children in tow and walk out with everyone singing the same cheerful songs.
“[When selecting the show, we wanted] something that was going to be appropriate for the season with the holidays coming up and one that was really going to strike a cord that families could enjoy and come and see together,” Master Arts Executive Director Timothy Van Bruggen.
The musical is based on the beloved children’s book by Roald Dahl, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which has had two films, a 1971 version with Gene Wilder as Wonka and the 2005 version with Johnny Depp as Wonka. (Note, Knoblock said he is channeling his inner Gene Wilder for the upcoming production.) The story follows a very poor boy, named Charlie, who is one of five lucky children to find a golden ticket giving him a once-in-a-lifetime chance to tour the elusive Wonka factory and receive the ultimate reward: lifetime supply of chocolate…or is it?
Nate Knoblock, who plays Phineas Trout, and brother Chris, who plays Willy Wonka.
“Willy Wonka the Musical” was also chosen because of the special way it involves kids, according to the show’s director Cathy VanLopik, adding it gives adult actors a chance to work with and mentor the next generation. In fact, Knoblock said it was his daughter, Kylee, who wanted to try out for a musical with her dad that brought Knoblock to Van Singel for the July auditions.
“My own father tried out with me for a musical when that wasn’t even his thing and we got to be in a musical together when I was a kid and I thought what fun to do it with my own daughter,” said Knoblock who actually got an extra treat with brother Nate being casted as reporter Phineas Trout.
More than 100 people tried out for parts in the production with residents from a number of areas, including Wyoming and Kentwood, being cast. Being this is a first-time venture, Van Singel Fine Arts Center Managing Director Sara Pass said they were pleasantly surprised at the turnout along with how well tickets have been selling at the box office.
“We figured we could not go wrong with anything that involves kids, candy, and song especially too because Willy Wonka is so timeless,” Pass said.
Showtimes for “Willy Wonka the Musical” is 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and 2 and 2 p.m Dec. 2 at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center, 8500 Burlingame Ave. SW. The Van Singel is adjacent to the Byron Center High School at the corner of 84th Street and Burlingame Avenue. Tickets are $22 for the prime seating (which is selling fast for all shows) $19 for all others, $17 for students and seniors and $8.50 for children 10 and under. For more information call 616-878-6800 noon- 5 pm. Monday-Friday or visit www.vsfac.com.
After a hectic Black Friday, looking for something to do on Shop Local Saturday? The 3rd Annual Cedar Springs Pub Crawl will take place Saturday, Nov. 25, starting at 5 p.m.
Cedar Springs Brewing is the host of the event, with the two other venues in town being The Gun tavern and the American Legion Glen Hill Post 287 — Cedar Springs Brewing has great German beer and food — been there, done that; and I’m a member of the Cedar Springs’ American Legion, so I can vouch for the patriotic local color.
Oh, and by the way, speaking of Shop Local Saturday, CS Brewery’s home brew business next to the pub is have a sale on home brew supplied.
First, always have a designated driver when your pub crawling. But, second, if your more in the mood to get your Beer City Brewsader Passport book stamped, after a visit to Cedar Springs Brewing, there is also a couple of other north-of-Grand Rapids brew pubs worth a visit: the Rockford Brewing Company in … wait for it … Rockford; and the recently relocated and expanded Cellar Brewing Company in Sparta.
For more information on Cedar Spring Brewing and the pub crawl, visit csbrew.com . For more information on Rockford Brewing visit rockfordbrewing.com and for Cellar Brewing visit cellerbrewingco.com .
Keith Morgan, owner of All Clean Again and Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce. (Supplied)
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
Why shop local and shop small businesses, on Small Business Saturday and all year long? There are both sound statistics and personal stories to answer the question, according to Wyoming businessman Keith Morgan.
“As a small business owner and chamber leader I see the value of buying local from two different perspectives,” Morgan, owner of All Clean Again janitorial services and Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce board member, said to WKTV. “The business owner in me understands that buying locally helps build communities. When local communities support their local businesses, the dollars spent tend to stay in the community a lot longer. … In layman’s terms, a dollar spent local stays local.”
He pointed out multiple studies by the consulting firm Civic Economics which show the effects on dollars spent locally. One study showed each dollar spent at an independent business returns 3 times more money to the local economy than each dollar spent at a chain business — and almost 50 times more than buying from an online mega-retailer.
But he also says quality of service, and supporting one’s community, are reasons to shop locally.
“If quality and service is what you are looking for, it may be in your best interest to test the local business waters,” Morgan said. “When it comes to local business, almost all cases involve an owner who is dependent upon the success of their business to provide for their livelihood. This tends to get you a more attentive business individual, when shopping locally because you are vitally important to their business.”
Morgan points out that small businesses are also able to react to the customer more directly — when a decision is needed, the consumer wants an answer and resolution now, he said.
“When someone deals with a local business, they get the feeling of giving back to their community in a tangible way,” Morgan said. “Buyers who shop locally may likely be helping to support their neighbors put food on the table, helping send another’s children to the local community college, or helping provide yet another family the means to support the local mission that feeds the needy.”
The orphans in “Annie” perform “It’s a Hard Knock Life.”
By Carol A Hillman
Community Contributor
“Annie,” the iconic Broadway Musical, 40 years young is a Tony, Grammy, and Drama Desk Award-winning production. It has graced the Grand Rapids Civic Stage four previous times, including a summer run after a season successful run in 1984.
Miss Hannigan is played by Noddea Moore Skidmore, Rooster and Lily are portrayed by Jon Calkinsand Emily Ambs respectfully.
Saturday night’s performance of the opening weekend was a wonderful rendition with strong set, pit, costuming, and engaging character portrayals. The well known songs were such a pleasure to hear in context with some of the best diction and pitch accuracy performed. Not one primary character was weak in both acting and voice capability. Of Course, Annie, played by Ellie Brower, was the character all wondered how a young person can “sell” the role. Ellie does not disappoint in the least. Her acting and singing are spot on. You forget she is acting, but brings Annie alive to the audience. Her emotional involvement in the role is engaging. Whether singing a solo, with her capable fellow orphans, or duets with Oliver Warbucks, played by Jason Morrison, she is entertaining and believable.
Every lead in this production is a joy to “live” through while weaving this familiar story to adults wanting to introduce this story to the younger set. Many children were in the audience and watching their engagement and applause demonstrated an understanding of the presentation. Applause was spontaneous frequently during well-done choreography, songs, and line delivery.
Staging for this year’s return of “Annie” is very engaging as well. There is a beautiful meld of realizing you are in the New York of December 1933, and the use of today’s technology to bring authentic portraits of the New York landscape of that era. Not wanting to give away how this is done, you will need to attend to fulfill your curiosity. The actors, themselves, are involved in the transitions between scenes with seamless and interesting to watch scene shifts. Props were accurately portraying the era as well.
Ellie Brower plays Annie and Abbie plays Sandy.
Speaking of the 1930s, the costuming, hairdos, and sets were very reflective of the time. The shoes were very complimentary to the dress of each character. Hairdos were delightfully apropos and Wigboys is to be congratulated for their great selections.
Not to disappoint, a live dog portrays Sandy. Any consideration of live animals on stage is not to be taken lightly. The choice of Abbie from the Playford family was well done. She was comfortable on stage. Just as the other actors are volunteer and dedicated with many hours of rehearsal and subsequent performances, Abbie rose to the occasion.
It would be easy to dedicate a full page on each actor involved in this production. Suffice it to say, that the orphans and their additional ensemble was a treat to watch. Miss Hannigan played by Noddea Moore Skidmore, Rooster and Lily played by Jon Calkins and Emily Ambs respectively, Oliver Warbucks portrayed by Morrison, and Grace Farrell played by Kira Alsum, (for a story on local resident Alsum, click here) all in demanding roles both in their own right, but also because the roles are so familiar to many over these many years, deserve accolades galore. Such confirmation in their acting abilities to put their own theatric savvy in to their roles without delivering nothing less than stellar renditions must be mentioned here. Bravo! In addition, those involved in the scenes at the Radio Station and the White House were comic with great line and song delivery. Applause was genuine for all involved.
It is a pleasure to write this revue. So much so, I may return “Tomorrow”……”Maybe”, just for the joy this production emits. Do not hesitate to purchase tickets as “I Think You’re Going to Like it Here.”
Jason Morrison is Oliver Warbucks and Kira Alsum is Grace Farrell.
When someone says Habitat for Humanity, people might think of President Jimmy Carter pounding nails in some far away foreign county, or of volunteers working in low-income urban areas of this country. Habitat for Humanity is that, but it is also so much more — including recent efforts to assist local veterans with their housing.
Habitat for Humanity of Kent County executive director Bri McKee visits the set of WKTV Journal: In Focus to talk with program host Ken Norris. (WKTV)
On the latest WKTV Journal: In Focus, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County executive director Bri McKee talks with program host Ken Norris about her program’s religious foundations, its worldwide scope, but also its local neighborhood results.
Also on this episode, Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce president Bob O’Callaghan, a regular guest to In Focus, talks about the recent grand opening of 28 West Place — a redevelopment on 28th Street that was the result of a focused public-private partnership — but that is just a highpoint in recent and upcoming chamber activities.
The episode will debut Tuesday, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m., and will again air on Thursday, and again next week on the same days and times on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.
The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.
Sleigh bells are ringing, can you hear them? Well, you certainly will in the next couple off weeks as both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood host several popular holiday events.
Santa Parade
Kicking things off will be the annual Santa Parade hosted by the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce. The parade is set for Saturday, Dec. 2, with step off at 10 a.m. The parade runs down S. Division Avenue starting at the 34th Street Mall Parking Lot (formerly Hope Network) to Murray Street (Chase bank).
After the parade, Santa will be available for photos at the Brann’s Sizzlin’ Steaks & Sports Grill, 4132 S. Divison Ave. to meet with families and for photos, so make sure to bring a camera, said Chamber President Bob O’Callaghan.
For the seventh year, the City of Wyoming will come together to host the annual community event Wyoming Gives Back. The event is Thursday, Dec. 7, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Rogers Plaza Mall, 972 28th St. SW.
Participants are encouraged to donate a new, unwrapped toy to the Salvation Army Tree. Last year, more than 400 toys were collected. Each attendee who bring a new, unwrapped toy as a donation will receive a raffle ticket in exchange for a chance to win prizes donated by Wyoming businesses. Last year, the city raffled off nearly $5,000 in prizes.
There will be hot chocolate, music by local choirs and bands, and of course, a visit from Santa.
For more information on the event, visit www.wyomingmi.gov or call 616-530-7272.
Kentwood Tree Lighting Ceremony
As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the City of Kentwood will host its annual community tree lighting ceremony Friday, Dec. 8. The evening starts with a holiday light parade at 6 p.m. along Breton Avenue followed by caroling and lighting of the tree at 6:30 p.m. lead by Mayor Stephen Kepley. From 6 – 8 p.m., the Elves Express Gift Shop will be inside the KDL Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SW. There will also be hay rides, hot chocolate, cookies, live music, caroling, and of course a visit from Santa.
The entire event has free admission. For more information, visit kentwood50.com.
Wyoming’s Great Candy Cane Hunt
The City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department will host the Great Candy Cane Hunt, Saturday, Dec. 9, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The event begins outdoors in the front of the Wyoming Police Department, 2300 DeHoop Ave. SW, where Santa Claus will lead kids on a scavenger hunt for the many hidden candy canes outside. Activities will then move indoors to the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW, for lunch, games and crafts.
The event is for children 3- 14 years-old. The cost to participate is $4 resident, $6 non-resident. Additional family members who are 15 or older may attend and have lunch for $2. Pre-registation is required. To register, call 616-530-3164 or www.wyomingmi.gov/PRRegistration.
Godwin Heights will be featured on two of the repays of high school football games covered by WKTV this season. (WKTV)
By Mike Moll
sports@wktv.org
The winter sports seasons have started, and WKTV was there last week as East Kentwood entertained East Grand Rapids in a televised hockey game. While there will be no new coverage this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there are some local sports on the schedule, and the finals of the fall football playoffs will be this weekend.
And, of course, WKTV will offer up a feast of fall football game rebroadcasts on Thanksgiving Thursday.
WKTV’s 17th Annual Turkey Bowl is a 15-hour special, starting at 9 a.m., with rebroadcasts of the high school football games from this past season, all on WKTV’s Comcast Cable channel 25.
Beginning with the Aug. 31 game of White Cloud at Wyoming Lee at 9 a.m., followed by the Sept. 8 game of Calvin Christian at Godwin Heights at 11 a.m., the Sept. 22 game of Grandville at East Kentwood at 1:40 p.m., the Oct. 6 game of South Christian at Wyoming at 4:20 p.m., and the Oct. 13 game of Belding at Kelloggsville at 6:20 p.m.
The final game of the night will be the the Oct. 27 playoff game of Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville at 8:30 p.m.
Currently, WKTV weekly sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Wednesday, Nov. 22
Boys Hockey
South Christian @ Kenowa Hills
Friday Nov. 24
Boys Basketball
Tri-Unity Christian @ Fennville – Scrimmage
Boys Hockey
@ East Kentwood – Falcon Thanksgiving Classic
Boys Football
Division 8 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 10 a.m.
Division 2 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 1 p.m.
Division 6 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 4:30 p.m.
Division 4 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 25
Boys Hockey
@ East Kentwood – Falcon Thanksgiving Classic
Boys Football
Division 7 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 10 a.m.
Division 1 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 1 p.m.
Division 5 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 4:30 p.m.
Division 3 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 7:30 p.m.
One of the most famous eagle cams is owned and operated by Florida-based Pritchett Real Estate.
I AM SOOOOO excited to tell you that Harriet, the famous Fort Myer eagle mom, laid her first egg of the season at 3:24 p.m. Nov. 19. M15, the famous eagle dad, arrived shortly after to cover her in grasses and check out the newest addition.
As April the giraffe did and many animals do, she delivered very quickly and very quietly, so as not to attract predatory attention. About an hour later, dad (M15) eagle arrived at the nest, took over, and was incubating the egg while mom flew to the nearby pond to take a bath and regroup. Typically, she will lay another egg (could even be two!) any moment to any day now. She has historically delivered an egg on Nov. 22. Juliet, the Northern Florida eagle mom, delivered her first egg of the season Nov. 2…also a bit early this year.
It is not that the Kent County Clerk’s office, or city clerks in both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, were expecting issues with the county’s new election equipment in the system’s debut Nov. 7 — an election dominated by local millage requests and city elections of little controversy.
But the election day did produce the as-expected small voter turnout while also revealing a few issues with the new equipment now easily remedied before elections of more state and national interest, and higher voter volume, come in 2018.
“Any time there is a transition as large as this — the first change in equipment and learned practices and procedures in over a decade — there are going to be challenges and areas to improve upon,” Robert Macomber, Chief Deputy County Clerk, said to WKTV Friday, slightly more than a week after the recent voting day, and after that day’s meeting between the county clerk’s office and local city clerks. “This ‘off-year’ election offered the county a tremendous opportunity to implement the changes when turnout was smaller, but still having elections in a large number of precincts and varying size of municipalities.”
Vote turnout was small, with only 11.2 percent of Wyoming’s 49,658 registered voters doing so, and 12.8 percent of Kentwood’s 35,178 registered voters doing so.
The voting system issues exposed on Nov. 7 were also small, according to Macomber, City of Wyoming City Clerk Kelli VandenBerg, and City of Kentwood City Clerk Dan Kasunic — most notably delays in reporting results from the precinct level to the county level, and inability of some voters to use new “adaptive” ballot marking devices.
Voting machines in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood looked similar to ones voters were used to. (Supplied)
After more than a year review and selection process, Kent County Clerk and Register of Deeds Lisa Posthumus Lyons early this year selected Dominion Voting Systems, Inc. as the vendor for Kent County’s new election equipment and local firm ElectionSource for associated software. The plan for the new voting machines was to have them used by all voting bodies in Kent County starting with the November election.
Some clerks across the state planned to use their new machines at the August 2017 election, and all municipalities are required to have the new machines in place by the August 2018 election.
Some experiences familiar, some were new
It appears the new machines — which still feature individual manual voting cards and stand-alone tabulators not connected to the internet — worked as expected and it was pretty much the same voter experience as with the old equipment. But a new system by which precinct totals are uploaded to a new county-controlled interactive precinct map experienced some delays, and, at least in Wyoming, special needs voters experienced some issues.
“Anytime you have change, there will be some reconciliation between what you expect to happen and what actually happens,” VandenBerg said to WKTV. “The equipment is new, but the concept or function of the new equipment is essentially the same. I think our poll workers responded very well and I did not receive any complaints from voters.
Kent County’s new voting machines operated much like the ones the public is familiar with — and they are never connected to the internet. (Supplied)
“For the average voter who marks and casts a ballot in the tabulator, I doubt their experience differed from previous elections. For voters using the adaptive equipment — ballot marking device, the difference would have been more notable. I am aware of a couple of instances where the selections made by voters or poll workers did not enable the audio on the adaptive devices. Based on required testing before each election, I know the audio works and so I know this is a topic that we will spend more time on in future trainings.
VandenBerg said she has “shared some recommendations (with the county on the issue) … but also have some training strategies in mind if those recommendations cannot be incorporated.”
In Kentwood, Kasunic also saw and dealt with a few small issues.
“As with any new equipment, it is expected to have some challenges, all of which were dealt with quickly and without any interruption of the election process,” he said to WKTV. “All of these have been addressed with the state, county and vendor.”
Kasunic added that he thought “all of the reporting went better than we thought, with a couple slowdowns because we have new equipment and procedures.”
Those “slowdowns” in reporting are probably getting the most attention by the clerks.
“One area that I thought might be problematic was the transmission of results at the end of election night,” VandenBerg said. “This equipment allows each precinct to modem results directly to Kent County and only 2 of Wyoming’s 26 tabulators were unable to modem results. Neither was the result of equipment failure, but rather an oversight by the poll workers adapting to a new process. In these cases, each (local) clerk has been provided equipment to allow for the transmission of results and I did so within a few minutes of receiving the necessary information from the precinct.”
New county system for rapid reporting of results
The changes to reporting are part of a new county system of quickly getting results out the public as well as to county, state and — eventually — federal officials.
“Election night reporting is the area where we’ve made the most noticeable change to the public,” Macomber said. “In previous elections, Kent County voters would often not have access to complete results in some instances until midnight, and that data was in non-interactive form. With our new equipment, the precincts modem the results to the county and on election night we had our first results within minutes of the polls closing.”
The new reporting system allows for public access through an interactive, map-based reporting feature developed by ElectionSource and accessible via the county’s website: accesskent.com.
“For this past election we unveiled an initial version, with the fully-functional version being ready for 2018’s elections,” Macomber said. “The public response to the faster, user friendly reporting feature has been very positive.”
But, VandenBerg added, it is not just night-of reporting which should be looked at: “I do think there is room for improvement on the reporting side, especially as it relates to canvassing and archival purposes. … I have shared some recommendations on that as well.”
And, Kasunic also advocated for a reporting tweak: “The county is working with the vendor to add features to the reporting to provide percentage of turnout of voters on election night.”
The lessons learned from the Nov. 7 election, and the results of the meeting with local clerks, will likely lead to some changes at the county level.
“This election provided the county and local clerks the ability to implement and identify the ways our internal procedures and controls conform to — or are challenged by — the new system,” Macomber said. “Where there were challenges, we’ll be working with our vendors, the state elections bureau, and our local clerks to implement changes that ensure consistency, security, and transparency.”
It will have about the same number of attendees as the Super Bowl. It has its own Snapchat filer, and is perhaps rarer than the Olympics being hosted in the United States. It is tomorrow’s beatification mass for the Venerable Father Solanus Casey.
More than 400 area residents will be part of the 70,000 expected to attend the Catholic Church’s beatification mass at 4 p.m. at Detroit’s Ford Field. The event, which is free, sold out in minutes, but area residents can still see the entire mass live on Eternal World Television (EWTN) Network (click here for a channel finder) or may go to http://solanuscasey.org/beatification-live or the Father Solanus Casey Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/FatherSolanusCasey.
Bishop David J. Walkowiak
“With great joy, we join the Capuchins, the people and clergy of the Archdiocese of Detroit, and Catholics around the world in celebrating this historic moment,” said Bishop David J. Walkowiak of the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids in a released statement. Bishop Walkowiak will be participating in tomorrow’s beatification mass. “Father Solanus lived the Gospel message through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. He spent time counseling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, and caring for the poor. His life’s work embodies the mission we are all called to as disciples – a life of service to others.”
Father Casey was born in 1870 to an Irish immigrant family in Oak Grove, Wis.. He spent 20 years in Detroit as a member of the Capuchin Franciscan Order of St. Joseph. The Capuchin priest was known as the “friar at the door of the monastery, who welcomes your spiritual need but also answers to your physical needs or material difficulties,” according to Father Carlo Calloni in a Catholic News Agency article. Because of his humility and good counsel, people began to seek out Father Casey for spiritual guidance.
An emoji of Father Solanus Casey that is available through the Solanus Casey Center. Click here.
“There are a lot of people in our community who have some sort of connection to Father Casey,” said Annalise Laumeyer, Director of Communication for the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids. “Whether it was grandparents who visited him in Detroit or grandparents who have prayed to Father Casey and passed that down through generations.”
Parishioners from Kentwood’s St. Mary Magdalen and Wyoming’s St. John Vianney and Holy Name of Jesus will be among officials from the Vatican to Father Casey’s family members from Ireland who will make the trip for the beatification. In fact, the expected attendance to the beatification mass is just shy of the number who attended the 2017 Super Bowl.
The reason being is that a beatification is not common.
Before a person can be beatified, the Catholic Church has to investigate and make sure that all of the person’s writings show “purity of doctrine” and that all of the person’s actions were motivated by virtue. If the person passes through those stages, he or she is called “venerable.” To be beatified, the Church also has to prove that either you were martyred or that you caused a miracle after your death. In the case of Father Casey, it was determined a woman who prayed at his gravesite was cured of a genetic skin disease. Father Casey died in 1957 of the skin disease erysipelas.
Another emoji of Father Casey available through the Solunas Casey Center. Click here.
Beatification is a step toward sainthood in the Catholic Church. To become a saint, a miracle must be attributed to him after being beatified. While the Catholic Church has made 11 people saints for their work in what is now the United States, only one other American-born male has been beatified, the Blessed Father Stanley Rother, who was martyred in Guatemala. Rother’s beatification mass took place earlier this year.
There is also the potential for another beatification as the Diocese of Marquette has been working toward this for the Venerable Bishop Frederic Baraga. Baraga actually has a connection to Grand Rapids. According to Laumeyer and the Diocese of Marquette’s website, Bishop Baraga was in the Grand Rapids area from 1833 – 1835 before moving his mission to the Marquette area.
“As we commemorate this step along Father Solanus’ journey to sainthood, let us reflect on his life and how we can live the Gospel of mercy in our own lives,” said Bishop Walkowiak. “We pray for the intercession of Father Solanus and the blessing of his grace and wisdom.”
Christian McBride Trio, Nov. 16, at St. Cecilia Music Center, Grand Rapids, Mi.
60-second Review
Christian McBride (Supplied)
If you came to St. Cecilia’s Royce Auditorium Thursday night expecting a typical jazz trio, with bassist extraordinaire Christian McBride leading the standard group through the standard repertoire and his taking the lion’s share of lead in the standard solos, you were both beautifully satisfied and, yet, a little blissfully surprised.
McBride — a multiple Grammy-winning jazz man at heart but willing and able to play where the spirit moves him — is famous for his ability to slide into any musical genre where a bass of any form is at home, as he is for not only sharing the stage with young, talented musicians but showcasing them.
So it was McBride being McBride in his return gig at St. Cecilia when, along with young pianist Emmet Cohen and equally young guitarist Dan Wilson, he invited the audience to explore with him in a nine-song, roughly 90-minute musical conversation that ranged from the classics (“I’m Afraid the Masquerade is Over” and Duke’s “Sophisticated Lady”) to 1980s pop (Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed”).
My favorite conversations of the night — jazz songs really are a conversation among players who speak the improvisational “language of jazz” — were two tunes written by Cohen: “Three of Us” and “You Already Know”. I think that’s their titles; they are new and announced from the stage!
(The “language of jazz”, as an aside, is a term taught to me by no-less an authority than Ellis Marsalis Jr. — father of the Marsalis jazz family — when I interviewed him a decade ago and asked a dumb question about playing a new tune with musicians for the first time and he gently gave a reporter a brief jazz masterclass.)
Whether it was McBride fighting off a blister on a finger, as it appeared, or just his feeling like showcasing the very talented Cohen, the bassist gave the pianist not only got his fair share of solos but the majority of the spotlight. The addition of Cohen’s second composition, in fact, was an admittedly unrehearsed decision which was musical proof of trio’s ability to speak the “language of jazz”.
McBride — blister, or whatever, and all — and Cohen were uniformly good in their fluid solos and able accompanying efforts, but Wilson’s guitar may have been the most unique part of the show — while his solos were tight and, often, experimental, his work as an accompanist gave the trio a rarely heard sonic landscape.
May I have more, please?
These days, an electric (or at least amplified) guitar is completely at home in the jazz genre — has been from the time of the classic Wes Montgomery (and anybody else you care to name), to the more modern George Benson and Russel Malone (and anybody else …), to the youthful Gilad Hekselman (and …)
But it wasn’t always so.
Jazz historians, an often argumentative lot they are, will often point to Charlie Christian as the groundbreaker for bringing the electric guitar to the jazz stage. In his short life — 1916-1942, a life cut short by tuberculosis in the years before any cure or even real treatment were known — Christian was a key figure in the popularity of swing jazz, the early development of bebop and, some argue, even the infancy of cool jazz.
His teaming of the guitar with amplification pushed the instrument out of the rhythm section of big bands and front stage as a solo jazz instrument. His day-job swing-jazz work with the Benny Goodman Sextet and his late night bebop sets in Harlem in the years before his death made him a legend among guitarists of all ilk — so much so that in 1990 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an “early influence”.
Whatever. The man could, like McBride, speak the language of jazz.
McBride’s visit was the beginning of St. Cecilia’s annual jazz series, which will include the Brad Mehldau Trio on Nov. 30, and singers Gregory Porter on Feb. 22, 2018, and Kurt Elling on March 22, 2018. For information on tickets and more information visit SCMC-online.org.
Losing a job is one of the most stressful things that can happen to someone. In fact, it is ranked among the top 10 most stressful life events.
Job loss brings many emotions including sadness, fear, anxiety, anger and embarrassment. Many times you will cycle through these emotions. For example, if you just lost your income and you get a bill in the mail, you may feel anxious; this then becomes fear, then embarrassment, which turns to anger and leaves you sad.
These feelings are normal. There is no right way to feel when faced with a job loss and no timeline for feeling better. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help boost your mood when you’re feeling stuck in a low spot.
Take a break. But not for too long! A short break will leave you feeling rested and ready to start your job search.
Get up and move. Physical activity is a great way to reduce stress and avoid depression. Use your new found freedom to take a walk, go for a hike or try a yoga class. Have a dog? Take them with you! Pets can reduce stress and depression, too.
Make a schedule. After your short break, try to settle into a routine. Set your alarm as if you were going to work. Schedule time for physical activity, relaxation and of course, working to find a new job.
Connect with your network. Did you put off spending time with a friend or family member because life was too busy while you were working? Make time to sit down with them now. You will feel better after spending time with people you love. You can also let them know you are looking for a new job and ask if they have any ideas.
Volunteer. This is a great way to stay active and positive. People who regularly volunteer are less likely to become depressed. Who knows? Your volunteer work might turn into a paying job!
If you or a loved one are having trouble coping with the stress and emotions of losing a job, you are not alone. Unemployed Americans are more than twice as likely to be depressed. Depression is a common condition that can be treated and there is help. Network 180 provides mental health and substance abuse services to residents of Kent County. Learn more on their website: http://www.network180.org/.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
When Dana Friis-Hansen interviewed for the position of director and chief executive officer at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, he already knew how special the white and glass facility at 101 Monroe Center NW was.
The building, constructed in the early 2000s, was the world’s first LEED Gold certified art museum, setting a standard that only a few have achieved such as the Boston Children’s Museum, San Diego Natural History Museum, and East Lansing’s Eli and Edith Broad Art Museum. Friis-Hansen also knew of the work of London-based Munkenbeck+Marshalls Architects which designed the building and of architect Kulapat Yantrasast of wHY Architecture who completed the project.
Grand Rapids Art Museum Director and CEO Dana Friis-Hansen talks to a visiting student.
“It was the first purposed building for the art museum,” Friis-Hansen said during a recent phone interview. At the time, the Grand Rapids Art Museum was housed in what is now the Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University’s Fed Galleries on Pearl Street. The GRAM building was designed to serve many functions with the 125,000-square-foot building having three floors of gallery and exhibition space, an auditorium, education area, store, and lobby.
“In the lobby area, we could have a classical works program and it can also host a wedding,” Friis-Hansen said as an example of the facility’s multiple uses. “The auditorium provides space for various programs, community events, and activities.”
Simply put: the GRAM building when opened in 2008 had many taking notice of what Grand Rapids had to offer and its commitment to the arts.
It has been 10 years since the facility was open and this Saturday, Nov. 18, the art museum is hosting a party, “10 at 101: Celebrating GRAM’s Tenth Anniversary at 101 Monroe Center.” The free event will include a variety of activities:
10 a.m – 4 pm.: party hat making in the GRAM’s lobby
10 a.m. – noon: birthday cake in GRAM’s Auditorium
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.: screen printing in GRAM Studio
There also will be two Drop-in-Tours to explore the GRAMs newest exhibition with a museum docent at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The exhibit is “Andy Warhol’s American Icons,” which runs through Feb. 11 and also celebrates the museum 10th anniversary since a Warhol exhibit was the first exhibition in the building when it opened.
The 2007 official ribbon cutting at the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
“When the idea was first brought up to have a Warhol exhibit, the response was people have already seen that,” Friis-Hansen said. “As we discussed it further, we felt as if there was a whole generation who had not seen the show and perhaps had never seen a real Warhol.”
The “American Icons” was organized by GRAM and is designed to be a celebration of America by bringing together a selection of Warhol paintings, prints, and photographs. Among those items is Warhol’s famous “Campbell’s Soup” silk-screen and two screen prints from a 1967 series of Marilyn Monroe.
Also at the GRAM is “Christian Marclay: Video Quartet” through Jan. 14. Marclay is an international artist who has spent the last 30 years exploring the fusion of fine art and audio cultures. In this exhibit, he has taken more than 700 individual film clips in which characters play instruments, sing, or make noise in one form or another.
One of the goals of the GRAM with its current facility has been to provide the community with a broad spectrum of art such as the visual art of Marclay, the pop art of Warhol, the fashion work of Iris van Herpen, the prints of Grand Rapids artist Reynold Weidenaar, the pottery of Newcomb, and the popular exhibition “Diana – A Celebration” featuring the Princess of Wales’ wedding dress.
Looking at the next 10 years, do not expect the GRAM to slow down. On the horizon is the contemporary painter Alexis Rockman exhibit “The Great Lakes Cycle” which takes a look at the past, present and future of North America’s Great Lakes and next fall, “Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History, 1843 to the Present,” which will feature more than 200 images from the past 175 years of sports photography. Friis-Hansen said the GRAM also will have an exhibit called “What Happen Here?,” which will explore how the land the museum currently sits on has changed from a place where American Natives gathered to become the site of the world’s first green museum.
Note: While GRAM does not offer parking, there are many public parking lots located directly adjacent to the museum. Various city lots do offer the first hour of parking free, and the closet is the Monroe Center Parking Ramp, located on the corner of Louis Street and Ionia Avenue.
Kira Alsum is very familiar with the show “Annie” as it is one of her favorites. In fact, she loves it so much, that when the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre opens its production of the world’s most famous red-headed orphan this weekend, it will be Alsum’s third time in an “Annie” show.
“It is such a different show for its time, and now,” Alsum said of the musical based on Harold Gray’s comic strip “Little Orphan Annie.” “She is such an optimist in a very dark time, the Depression, and I think everyone needs a little ‘the sun will come out’ at some point, especially right now.”
From the Kentwood area, Alsum portrays Grace Farrell, a part she first performed at her high school alma mater Grand Rapids Christian.
“Not only do I love the music of ‘Annie,’ I love Grace Farrell,” Alsum said, adding she really became familiar with the character during her Grand Rapids Christian performance. “She is a strong woman and is one of the few in musical theater.”
It is Grace Farrell who comes to the orphanage run by Miss Hannigan for the purpose of selecting an orphan who will be the guest of billionaire businessman Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks for the holidays. It is Grace Farrell who stands up against Miss Hannigan to take Annie and against Warbucks who was expecting a boy orphan. And finally, it is Grace Farrell who helps Warbucks open his heart to Annie and Annie to find a place to call home.
“The Civic production of ‘Annie’ has all of the songs and moments that you love and remember from childhood, but updated technology in our building – including projections and LED lights – have given this production a fresh new energy,” said Director Allyson Paris.” It is a charming show – the thing Holiday memories are made of.”
The musical is peppered with familiar songs such as a “Hard Knock Life,” “Little Girls,” “Easy Street,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” and of course “Tomorrow.”
“While working on this production, I’ve heard so many people –neighbors, friends, family members – say that they grew up watching and listening to ‘Annie,’” Parsons said. “They always say this with a wistful smile, and I’m sure that’s because the message of optimism and hope resonates with people of all ages and from all walks of life.”
Alsum encourages everyone to come just to see the orphans.
“I am amazed at how talented the orphans are,” she said, adding that the adult cast is incredible too but you expect adults to have a certain level of professionalism. That level can be seen in even the youngest cast members of the show she said, adding, “They are amazing singers and actors.”
Alsum, who graduated from Hope College with a degree in theater and vocal music, said she credits the encouragement of young talent to the strong support of theater at local high schools such as Grand Rapids Christian and East Kentwood and programs like the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s School of Theatre Arts, where she got her start.
Alsum’s interested in theater began in third grade and by high school “it had deep roots as I knew it was something I did not want to stop doing.” She has volunteered with Civic Theater over the years and was in the past production of “Holes.” She also has volunteered with other companies such as Circle Theater and was part of Circle’s “Annie” crew. She most recently completed a marketing internship at a professional theater company in Rhode Island and has performed with Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company. Her next great production after “Annie” will be getting married.
But first comes the 27 performances for the show, which being that it is Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s holiday offering, tickets are selling quickly.
“So ask me after the 27 performances if I still love the show,” Alsum said with a laugh. Leapin’ lizards, we’re betting just as the sun will come out tomorrow, she sure will.
“Annie” runs Nov. 17 – Dec. 17 at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, 30 N. Division Ave. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m .Wednesdays – Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. (There is no matinee performance on Nov. 18.) Tickets are $18-$37. There is a give thanks special not eh Wednesday, Nov. 22, before Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, performances with tickets being $15/students and $27/adults. For more information, call 616-222-6650 or visit grct.org.
Pianist Steve Talaga, at right (shown with a jazz trip), will team with Grand Rapids Symphony strings to present two works written by Talaga in a Nov. 26 concert at the GRAM. (Supplied)
The Grand Rapids Art Museum’s Sunday Classical Concert Series, a series of 16 performances during the fall and winter each year, will present a special program featuring local pianist Steve Talaga on Thanksgiving weekend.
“String Fling: The Music of Steve Talaga”, will be presented Sunday, Nov. 26, at 2 p.m. at the museum.
“An ensemble of virtuoso string players from the Grand Rapids Symphony will perform my string quartet and a new quintet for piano and strings, “From Darkness into Light”, Talaga said to WKTV. “This will be the world premier (of the second work) and I’ll be joining them at the piano.”
Talaga wrote the string quartet when was written in 1990 when he was a graduate student at Western Michigan University.
The setting of the concerts is one of the GRAM’s beautiful, natural light filled spaces which showcase the buildings architecture and galleries as well as the music. The concert is open to the public with general admission, and free for all GRAM members. Seating is first come, first served.
The GRAM is located in downtown Grand Rapids. For more information visit artmuseum.org .
By Mary Knudstrup, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
