The award-winning performance troupe Blue Man Group is coming back to Grand Rapids after six successful years taking their show on tour around North America, only 3 years since their last stop in the heart of the mitten. Boasting a program of “comedy, theatre, rock concert, and dance party all rolled into one”, the show will stop in at DeVos Performance Hall for two performances in early February as a last-minute addition to the Broadway Grand Rapids 2015-16 season lineup.
“We live in a fast-paced, ever-evolving world. The Blue Man character is a curious being who explores our cultural norms, our every-day objects, but he sees them with fresh eyes and an innocent perspective. As the world around us changes, we are constantly inspired to create new scenarios for the Blue Man to explore,” said Phil Stanton, Co-Founder of Blue Man Group.
“Plus, we really like to keep things fresh and vibrant. For almost 25 years, although the content within the show varies, the mission of every Blue Man Group show has remained the same – to bring the collective audience together with the Blue Men for a euphoric celebration, a heightened state of being alive,” added Co-Founder Chris Wink.
In addition to the bombastic antics involving a live rock n roll band, ludicrous props, and unbelievable acrobatics, Blue Man Group offers playful commentary that appeals to our innate humanity. They also have started taking into account the outliers in interested audiences, offering Autism-friendly shows, in support of Autism Speaks, in certain locations with subdued musical volume and slight modifications to accompany differences in audience interaction. No word yet on whether such a performance is part of the stop in Grand Rapids.
Tickets go on sale to the general public December 3rd at 10am. Performances will be at 7:30pm on February 2nd and 3rd, at DeVos Performance Hall on Monroe Ave. Pricing starts at $37.50. To purchase tickets, visit broadwaygrandrapids.com, call 616-235-6285 or charge by phone through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.
Big Screen Cuisine–a collaborative effort between UICA and Downtown Market–presents a complete culinary experience by pairing a favorite film with a meal from recipes featured in the film. Each event features a different menu and film.
On Sunday, December 6, attendees will enjoy a screening of Babette’s Feast at the UICA Movie Theater at 3 pm, and then travel to Downtown Market where the Market chefs at Downtown Market’s dining room will tempt the palette with the food featured in Babette’s feast, course-by-course.
That’s right: Enjoy a delectable chef’s dinner from soup to fabulous dessert, a special culinary treat on a brisk winter’s night. The Class and Dinner begin at 5:30 pm.
The event is $75 per person, which includes movie admission, a six-course Chef’s Dinner and drink pairings. Reserve your tickets today. And just what will the Chef’s Dinner feature? Feast your eyes on this menu:
– Potage a la Faux Tortue
– Amontillado
– Blinis Demidoff au Caviar
– Champagne
– Caille en Sarcophage
– Cotes de nuits
– Chicory & Walnut Salad
– Roquefort, papaya, pineapple, grapes
– Cognac
– Savarin au Rhum
About the film:
Beautiful but pious sisters Martine (Birgitte Federspiel) and Philippa (Bodil Kjer) grow to spinsterhood under the wrathful eye of their strict pastor father on the forbidding and desolate coast of Jutland, until one day, Philippa’s former suitor sends a Parisian refugee named Babette (Stéphane Audran) to serve as the family cook. Babette’s lavish celebratory banquet tempts the family’s dwindling congregation, who abjure such fleshly pleasures as fine foods and wines.
Does the holiday season weigh heavily upon your tender psyche? Depression get you down? Cold comfort in knowing that there are millions of people like you out there, right? No safety in numbers with this thing.
Many familiar with depression will agree: Sunny days are the worst. Yeah, sure, birds are chirping, kids are playing, and in the summer, you can hear the drone of lawnmowers in the distance. But with sunny days come obligations. You’re expected to be productive and enjoy the day. Let’s be real: Birds poop on your car, kids are loud and annoying, and freshly cut grass unleashes your hay fever. Yes, sunny days put a lot of pressure on a person.
Conversely, cold, rainy or snowy days are the best because you have a good excuse to stay in bed and cuddle up under the covers with cats sleeping by your feet. But someone has to feed them, and guess what? That someone is you. Only under threat of feline mutiny or family banishment will you venture out to the store to get cat food and holiday gifts, and that’s pure torture because the holiday season brings those awful chipper, happy people out in droves. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to bitch-slap the next beaming face.
It could be that you have a perfectly fine, supportive family. I know I do. They’re great folks. But in the throes of depression, it’s hard to see or appreciate that. And if you don’t have family or friends close by, the loneliness can be unbearable.
Depression is a many-faceted beast, and this article isn’t meant to be a cure-all. What we can offer here are some tips to help get you through the endless drudge of holiday parties, workplace gatherings and caroling, depression be damned. Twenty-five tips, one per day–think of it as a sort of depression advent calendar. If I had the energy, I’d paint a lovely picture for each day. Instead, Federico Castellon has captured the feelings of depression admirably. Learn more about the artist here.
Keep it real. Don’t compare your holidays to those portrayed in overly cheerful greeting cards; that’s just not reality. Greeting card companies have to make money somehow, and their business model requires selling never-ending tidings of joy. But you’re smart, and you know better. Life is not a bowl of cherries. And that’s OK.
Do something different. Don’t settle for being a sheep in the herd. Break out from the bahs. Who says you have to make an eight-course dinner for 15 family members? That’s the greeting card industry brainwashing you. Have Thanksgiving at a restaurant instead–yes, let someone else do the cooking. Spend Christmas day at the movies. Skip the traditional gift-giving and donate the money to a charity. Screw those greeting cards. What a bunch of hooey!
Reach out to friends and family. People who care about you want to know when you’re having a tough time. Your instinct may be to isolate yourself, but resist the urge to do so. At least keep in touch by phone. A friendly, empathic voice can work wonders. (Admittedly, I have a tough time with this one, but it is highly recommended anyway.)
Life isn’t perfect, and that’s OK. It’s easy to let your imagination run wild, but don’t automatically anticipate disaster. Take the holidays as they come. The greeting card industry has bestowed special powers upon some perfectly ordinary days to make a few fast bucks. It means nothing! Surely you can see through all that. (I’m not being paranoid. Am I? Wait.)
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Now, here’s a cliche for you! But, guess what–it’s good advice. Don’t feel obligated to compete with that idiot down the street. You know the one: Decorations up the wazoo, holiday music blasting at all hours of the day and night. The one whose house sticks out like a sore thumb with all those stinking–er, blinking–lights. Sure, he’s crazy, but don’t let him get to you. (That’s exactly what he wants.) Instead, think of how high his electric bill will be. On another note, so what if you don’t crack open that box of St. Nicholas figurines your grandma left you in her will. Yes, you promised her you’d display them proudly each year. But, guess what? They’re nice and cozy tucked in their box down in the basement (or up in the attic), and they won’t mind waiting another year. Seriously.
Help someone less fortunate than you. Maybe your life seems crappy, but just remember that someone always has it worse than you. That is not to discount what you’re feeling, but making a difference in someone else’s life can make you feel better about yourself. It takes your mind off its focus on you.
Don’t stress over seeing Uncle Bob (or other annoying family member). Don’t want to see him (or her)? Then don’t. Just don’t go there. Why put up with the stress of seeing someone you don’t like? Life’s too short. Go to the movies instead.
Ask for help. But be specific. Need help cooking or shopping? Ask a friend or family member. Tell them what sort of help you need. People aren’t mind readers, you know. We’re not that highly evolved yet.
Some things are beyond your control. Do Dad and Uncle Frank always fight over who gets to carve the turkey? Remember, it’s them, not you. First things first: If you can safely take away the sharp fork and carving knife, then do so. Next, go to another room, sit down and breathe deeply. Don’t worry. They’ll work it out. They always do, right? It’s impossible to control every situation or person (nor would you want to). Your own reaction–now that’s something you can control.
Create new family traditions. Maybe finding the pickle in the Christmas tree has reached its expiration date. It’s not fun anymore, is it? If you don’t enjoy the ritual, why keep doing it? ‘Tis the season to create a new one. As an example, my ex-husband and I used to celebrate LEON (NOEL, spelled backwards–we’re clever folk). Worked for us. The kids, not so much. After years of therapy, they’re fine–proof positive that kids can bounce back from just about anything. (Your healthcare insurance may provide coverage for just such an emergency. Read the fine print.)
Celebrate the memory of loved ones. Holidays can be tough when you’re reminded of someone who isn’t around anymore, but think of it as an opportunity to celebrate them in spirit. Toast grandma. Bring her photo with you when you go out to dinner at her favorite restaurant. Prop her photo up against the salt shaker, facing you. She’ll be smiling down upon you, that’s for sure. (Well, at least from across the table.)
Be picky. Don’t get overwhelmed by weeks and weeks of holiday festivities. Think about which parties you really want to attend. You don’t have to go to them all. Postscript: If you haven’t been invited to any parties, throw one for yourself and Puff. Living well is the best revenge. (Besides, who needs those people anyway?)
Leave when you want. If that means stopping in for just a few minutes to say hello, then so be it. Giving yourself permission to leave at any time helps curb the anxiety.
Safety in numbers. Arrange to arrive and leave with a friend, and that office party won’t seem so utterly awful. Having an ally and an escape plan can make all the difference.
The ‘perfect gift’ is a myth. Don’t stress over finding the best gift ever. If you don’t know what to get someone, get a gift certificate. That’s what those things are for. The greeting card industry got one thing right.
Shop online. One of my all-time favorite sports, shopping online is a godsend for people with depression. You don’t have to fight the crowds or waste time finding a parking spot. Best of all, you don’t have to put up with rude people and loud, smelly toddlers.
Follow thy budget. Know how much you have to spend before starting to shop. And stick to it. Nothing is more depressing than overspending.
Your normal routine is your best friend. Now is not the time to stay out late at parties or pull an all-nighter cooking or wrapping presents. The psyche can be a fragile thing. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Somehow that analogy fits here. I just know it.
Exercise. If you’re like me, then you hate even the thought of exercising. Unfortunately, exercise is often the best way to banish anxiety or depression, at least for a while. Walk instead of driving. Take a few extra laps around the mall (assuming anxiety doesn’t prevent you from getting there). Chase the cats around your apartment. Be creative!
Eat sensibly. Ha! Easier said than done, but it’s worth striving for anyway. All those holiday treats may be tempting, but overloading on sugar won’t help your mood, and you’ll only hate yourself more if you pack on the pounds. Having said that, don’t beat yourself up if you’ve just raided and emptied the cookie jar. Just get back on track tomorrow. Or wait until Lent (assuming you’re Catholic). That’s what Lent is for.
Holiday substances won’t lift your spirits. People over-imbibe during the holidays, but that doesn’t mean you should. Alcohol is itself a depressant and drinking too much will make you feel worse. And it may not be safe if you’re taking antidepressant meds. Just don’t go there. (If you do, certainly don’t drive.)
Sun lamps are golden. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) plagues millions of people during the shorter winter days. Consider getting a sun lamp. It could improve your mood.
Don’t miss your meds. Do not miss your meds. Do NOT miss your meds. If you’re like me and take antidepressant or bipolar meds–or both–don’t miss doses. Sure, it’s tempting, but that’s just another place you shouldn’t go. (Trust me on this one.) While you’re at it, make sure your refills are up to date, too. Now is not the time to run out.
Have extra sessions with your therapist (if you see one). The holiday season is tough on people. (Now, there’s a “duh” statement, if I ever saw one. But I wrote it, and I stand by it.)
Be kind to yourself. ‘Tis the season we dwell on our imperfections, mistakes, things we’re not proud of. Guess what? You’re human. Cut yourself some slack. Kindness and forgiveness goes a long way. Don’t forget to save some for yourself.
When all else fails, here’s the Suicide Hotline number: 1.800.SUICIDE (1.800.784.2433). I’ve called it myself. That’s what it’s there for.
The holidays are supposed to be joyous, but for those who are having trouble making ends meet, the season can be enormously stressful.
If you’re unsure you’ll be able to make your next house payment or if you think you’ll have trouble making future payments, know that you are not alone and that the City of Wyoming is here to help you.
Step one: Contact your lender immediately to see if you can work something out. You may be surprised. True story: During the height of the Great Recession, I was unemployed and having a very hard time with my budget. I asked my bank for help, and they refinanced my mortgage at a much lower interest rate and extended the loan to 40 years. While I can’t promise your lender will do the same, it’s worth looking into. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Step two: Contact the City of Wyoming here for a list of resources that can help.
Here are some of the resources that are available to you:
Home Repair Services offers foreclosure prevention help. They have well-trained foreclosure counselors who can give you valuable information concerning your situation. A foreclosure intake pack can be downloaded here.
Home Repair Services of Kent County
1100 South Division Avenue
Grand Rapids, MI 49507 616.241.2601
Foreclosure Response
This nonprofit group connects Kent County residents with various community resources to help with immediate foreclosure questions as well as information on foreclosure prevention. Their website has easy-to-understand information about foreclosure in Michigan.
Inner City Christian Federation (ICCF)
The Inner City Christian Federation is a nonprofit corporation that believes decent housing is a basic human need and an important building block for families and communities. ICCF provides high-quality, affordable housing and services for those who would not otherwise have this opportunity. For information specific to foreclosure counseling, refer to Housing Resources/Programs.
Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) received money from the federal government in 2010 to develop programs to assist Michigan homeowners with preventing foreclosure. MSHDA developed a website where applications can be taken right online. MSHDA’s program, Step Forward, has three different ways it can assist:
Unemployment Subsidy
If you are receiving unemployment, then MSHDA may be able to pay half of your mortgage payment, up to $750, for one year.
Rescue Fund
If you are delinquent and just need your mortgage brought current so you can resume normal payments, then MSHDA may be able to assist with up to $10,000 towards the delinquency.
Principal Curtailment
If your lender is willing to contribute money to pay down your principal balance so they can do a modification to lower your payment, then MSHDA may be able to match that amount dollar for dollar up to $10,000.
There are more rules and restrictions on these programs than stated above. To get more information, feel free to contact a counselor at Home Repair Services at 616.241.2601 to set up an appointment or go directly to the Step Forward Michigan website to apply.
The Federal Housing Administration also provides many ideas about how to avoid foreclosure, available FHA loans, alternate ways to dispose of your house and other housing issues.
A lot of hard work goes into planning and executing a tree lighting ceremony.
We won’t go into specifics now (we will share some fun historical facts later), but do not miss the Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Kentwood Public Library, 4950Breton Rd. SE, on Wednesday, December 2 from 6-8 pm.
Please take note… this is a new location from years past.
Free for the whole family, the fun begins at 6 pm with a Candy Cane Hunt. Also beginning at 6 pm are Carriage Rides and Hay Rides, new this year. Enjoy light refreshments from 6-6:45, and then be sure to stick around for the main event at 6:45, the Tree Lighting Ceremony. It will put you in a festive mood, assuming you’re not already there mentally. And if you are, be prepared to get even more amped up, thanks to the music performed by the EKHS Jazz Band.
If you want photos with Santa–he’s a good sport, so be kind–bring your own camera. Even more fun awaits: From 4-8 pm, kids and adults are welcome to buy presents at the Elves Express Gift Shopwhere all gifts—suitable for all ages—are just $2 each.
Tree lighting ceremonies often go unappreciated, and that’s a shame. The custom harks back to 18th-century Germany when candles were used to decorate family Christmas trees in upper-class homes. I’ve often wondered how they got the candles to stay put without burning down the house. And then I found out: Those old-timey, creative geniuses glued the candles to a tree branch with melted wax or used pins to attach the candles. Still a hazardous proposition, in my opinion. It wasn’t until around 1890 that candle holders came into use and later, between 1902 and 1914, cute little lanterns and glass balls held the candles in place.
Christmas lights, holiday lights, twinkle lights, midget bulbs, Italian lights, mini lights (and in the UK, fairy lights)–a light by any other name still illuminates. Early electric Christmas lights came on the scene in the 1880s, no doubt preventing countless holiday fires caused by candles.
There is a dark side to holiday lights, alas, and it has to do with recycling. Amazingly, more than 20 million pounds of discarded holiday lights are shipped to the Christmas light recycling capital of the world, aka Shijiao, China. This unfortunate custom began around 1990 because of–you guessed it–cheap labor and dismal environmental standards. Details here.
We certainly don’t intend this as a downer, but it’s important to not take our holiday light consumption, er, lightly. Suffice it to say that safer techniques are now used to separate out the elements, and everything is recycled: Glass, copper, plastic and brass. Plus, each year, new-fangled, energy-efficient and even longer-lasting lights come on the scene. Perhaps there will come a day when very few need to be recycled.
“As a player, it says everything about you if you made the Hall of Fame. But, then again, boy… there’s something about winning a Super Bowl.” – Terry Bradshaw
By: Dianna Higgs-Stampfler
The Super Bowl will reach a milestone on February 7, 2016 with the observance of its 50th “Golden Jubilee” game to be held at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California—home of the San Francisco 49ers. In celebration of this milestone, Traverse City-based JKR Ventures has released a commemorative book focused on the long-standing history of “The World’s Greatest Entertainment Event.”
Super Bowl 50: Celebrating Fifty Years of America’s Greatest Game is written by acclaimed sportswriter Bethany Bradsher, with a foreword written by Super Bowl Champion and retired San Francisco 49er Dwight Clark. With 344 action-packed full-color pages, including more than 650 photographs, the book is bound to score with football fans around the world. This must-have book unveils the whole Super Bowl experience, one that most fans could never access.
Jerry Jenkins, founder and CEO of the publishing services firm Jenkins Group, and colleagues Brett Karis and Ron Harris, are investment partners for the book, under the JKR Ventures brand. They in turn partnered with Greenlight Marketing in Traverse City to create the book layout and design.
“I’ve seen a fair number of Super Bowl books over the years, and most of them were written for the football enthusiast,” shares Jenkins. “Not many images, too many statistics, and somewhat bland design and content. We wanted to create a book that not only covers the games, but also captures the cultural celebration that the Super Bowl has become.”
Through never before released anecdotes, photos and facts, Super Bowl 50: Celebrating Fifty Years of America’s Greatest Game brings readers behind the curtain to experience this spectacle in an unprecedented manner. It highlights the games, players and coaches, as well as the diverse activities and fun beyond the gridiron.
Story headlines like “The Clydesdales,” “Super Bowl Party Food,” “Media Frenzy” and “The Evolution of Halftime” illustrate how this book showcases elements of the Super Bowl to which even non-sports fans gravitate. Every page in Super Bowl 50 is guaranteed to bring back a Super Bowl memory (heartwarming or heartbreaking).
“What I first envisioned was a book not just for a sports nut, but for every person who watches the Super Bowl for the halftime shows, commercials, and the ceremony of it all,” says Jenkins.
With over 500 images, “Fun Facts,” a multi-page timeline of all 50 halftime acts, and even a salute to the beloved Detroit Lions (a no-show at the Super Bowl, if you’ve been keeping track), the book content will stand out against any other of its kind on bookshelves.
“We typically collaborate with clients who need marketing assistance – advertising, websites, branding, and the like,” says Kevin Gillespie, owner and creative director of Greenlight Marketing in Traverse City. “But this was a once-in-a-lifetime project, and our entire team of designers and project managers were on board.”
The Super Bowl is much more than just a game, and Super Bowl 50: Celebrating Fifty Years of America’s Greatest Game covers them all:
The Games
◦ Super Bowl I (actually called “The AFL-NFL World Championship”)
◦ Last season’s breathtaking game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots
The Players
◦ The stars (Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers)
◦ The ones who never made it to a Super Bowl (Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions)
The Coaches
◦ Vince Lombardi (Green Bay Packers)
◦ Bill Parcells (New York Giants)
The Halftime Show
◦ Michael Jackson
◦ Janet Jackson’s “Wardrobe malfunction”
The Commercials
◦ Apple’s debut in 1984
◦ Mean Joe Greene for Coca Cola: “Hey, kid, catch!”
The “oddities”
◦ The Chicago Bears’ “Super Bowl Shuffle”
◦ The “Blackout” game at the Super Dome
The Audience
◦ The international appeal, making the Super Bowl the #1 sporting event in the world
◦ Super Bowl Parties
Author Bradsher comprehensively narrates details about the Super Bowl and all the festivities and pomp around it, offering all fans unparalleled access. In Super Bowl 50: Celebrating Fifty Years of America’s Greatest Game, she’s analyzed the unforgettable plays, players and coaches; even researching how much beer, chips and dips are consumed (and what the consensus is for “Favorite Super Bowl Snack.”)
Two editions of Super Bowl 50: Celebrating Fifty Years of America’s Greatest Game are available: a commemorative hardcover edition, with football grain textured cover material, gold foil, and laces embossed on the spine ($49.95), and a softcover edition ($29.95). Both editions are timeless keepsakes, and were released in September to coincide with the kickoff of the 2015 NFL season. They are available in bookstores nationwide and at www.SuperBowl50Book.com.
This article was republished with permission from Dianna at Promote Michigan. We do our best to help with the promotion of the great State of Michigan!
If you had the choice of receiving a handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift or something that was mass-produced, which would you want? I know what I’d choose–something made from the heart, providing it is artfully made, of course. There is artful, and then there is “artful.” A family member once made me an “artful” sweatshirt. I still can’t talk about it.
Normally I make paintings specific to each gift recipient; it beats buying a soulless item from a big box store, although such gifts have their place. Back in the ’60s, my dad built a color TV from a kit–remember Heathkit?–but not everyone has the patience and expertise to do something like that. Plus, Heathkit is no more. And it wasn’t all that much fun for the rest of the family because Dad was overly picky and constantly adjusting the contrast and color on the TV even while we were watching it. This was especially devastating when Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom came on, and he wouldn’t quit until it was perfect. Which it never was.
Thinking back, I have a hunch he built his oscilloscope and tube tester from Heathkit kits as well. I was in love with that tube tester, but only rarely would he let me test any tubes, and only if I caught him testing some. He was so darn secretive about it.
Anyway, I digress. I usually make paintings for my special recipients, but this year I’m not; my paints and other art supplies are packed away because I’m moving soon. No problem, thanks to UICA’s fabulous Holiday Artists’ Market.
Here are only some of the cool things you’ll find this year: Beautifully crafted gifts and goods from dozens of regional artists—from jewelry, home goods, and fine art to holiday cards, accessories, and toys. Live music by The Kent County String Band Friday 6-8 pm for your enjoyment, and local food and beverage vendors both days while you shop… plus craft stations for kids and grown-ups, and a photo booth. You can even create your own gift wrap.
This year the UICA Holiday Artists’ Market is at the Steelcase Town Hall, 901 44th St. SE, Grand Rapids so you can browse, meet the artists and have more room to stroll. Admission and parking are both FREE at this two-day event.
It’s a win-win-win: Not only will your gift recipient be pleased and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you made someone feel very special, but you’ll be supporting local artists, too. Here are even more cool things you’ll find… and this by no means an exhaustive list:
– Woodcuts
– One-of-a-kind assemblages
– Handcrafted leather work
– Sculpture
– Earthenware
– Bonsai plant balls
– Pewter works
– Fine-art photography
– Paintings
– Decorative ceramic art
– Fiber arts
– Illustrated paper goods
– Functional ceramic art
– Ecological art
– Organic jewelry
Two days only. If you miss it, you’ll have to wait another whole year.
Friday, December 4th: UICA Member Preview: 5:30-6 pm
Public Welcome: 6-9 pm
Saturday, December 5th: Public Welcome: 10 am-7 pm
Community Awareness is a show produced at WKTV and hosted by Donna Kidner-Smith. The show acts as a conduit for people in the local community to share their stories. Donna’s latest series focuses on homeless teenagers and how they were able to cope.
Mortisha Olvera was found herself homeless at 17 years old, here is her story. The full interview can be seen in the view above.
Thank you for joining us to share your story.
Thank you Mrs Smith. I appreciate that a lot. I have been wanting this opportunity ever since I was a little girl, to tell my story because I have a really good one, and I would love for my story to help many other children out there. Because what I went through, I don’t want anyone else to go through too.
Mortisha, what is your earliest childhood memory?
When my mom, sister and I went to the park and we were having a really good time. My mom was barbecuing but my dad wasn’t around at the time. We were having a really good family time, and I miss that to this day.
How many sisters do you have?
I have four sisters.
Tell me a little bit about your family set up?
My mom and dad were married. They were together for nine years, but when I was three my father left. I actually just recently got to see him after 17 years! I was scared, I didn’t know what to say. He got to meet my little daughter, and I was happy for that. It was nerve-wracking because I don’t know what to say when I meet new people.
And where has your dad been since then?
He’s been in Florida the entire time.
What brought your father to Michigan?
To come see my 9 month old daughter. That one of the reason I wanted to see him. So he could meet a new member of the family.
So he was seeking a relationship with you?
Yes, he always has, but I’ve been too afraid to reach out and be willing to meet him. I don’t want to get hurt either.
Have you completed High School Mortisha?
I actually have not. I didn’t drop out, I quit in the 11th grade because I was in Comstock but going to school in Ottawa Hills. That was a long distance and very difficult to do.
So you were living in the Comstock Park area and you were enrolled at Ottawa Hills High School?
Yes I was. It was hard to make that transfer every day, and then my mom was also sick at the time. She has been sick almost her whole life, but it got worse and we started living at York Creek.
What do you think about school?
I like school. I like art. I think more kids should go than skip it to do drugs and the whole immaturity thing.
Tell us a little bit about elementary and middle school. What were some of the things that you enjoyed the most in school?
I liked the people. I liked the teachers. I got to know the teachers very well, they were like my friends because I didn’t have many friends in school. The teachers were my friends and they helped me through so much! Without them I wouldn’t have made it through any grades.
When you say they helped you through so much, are you speaking academically or otherwise.
Academically, physically and mentally because I was going through a hard time in those times.
Well then, let’s launch into that if it’s not too personal Mortisha. What were some of the issues that you were contending with, that you needed the teachers’ assistance with.
Well, I was in special ed because I had a really hard time reading and in math. When I was born my umbilical cord wrapped around my brain and the lack of oxygen killed some of my brain cells. I try to fight that because It’s a really hard difficulty to deal with, but I fight through it every day.
Now you mentioned that your mother has been sick most of your life.
Yes, she’s been sick ever since she came out of the womb because she has a hole in her heart, but the doctors never found it until 4 or 5 years ago. It’s been getting bigger too. She’s been doing okay, but she’s been getting worse.
As far as a home, tell us about your home life. Experiences or hobbies that you had. Maybe some activities you did as a family.
Well, my mom was never home because she always worked. She would get up at 5 in the morning and be home at 5 at night. So every day, she only had one day off, she would go to work and come home and relax. She worked as a housekeeper for Heather Hill Care Center for 10 years. She did for 10 years on top of taking care of us at the same time.
What was the dynamic like in your neighborhood? Were they neighbors to watch over you?
No, I was an alone child. My sisters went off and did what they wanted to do. I stayed by myself. I didn’t go around anyone. I’m still that way today. Being around people scares me sometimes. I don’t know what to expect when I see a new person.
What would you say is your number 1 challenge? Being the age that you are, you are now 19 years old, what would you say is your number 1 challenge?
My daughter. She is a blessing because I never thought I could have kids. Being a first time mother, every day is different and I don’t know what to expect. Every day she’s changing. Everyday she’s growing and eating different things. It’s hard because you don’t know what she wants and since she’s only 9 months old she can’t speak. So all she does is run around on her little toesies. I went to he doctor yesterday. She’s 9 months, 20 pounds and 29 inches. So she’s a pretty good, healthy baby.
Is the father involved in her life?
No. I was tired of the abuse. I was tired of the mental abuse. I was tired of always being put down and called names. I was with him for 2 years, and for those 2 years I was going through some major, harsh stuff. For those 2 years I was homeless, pregnant, abused, and raped. I just pray everyday that I don’t have to see him ever again. I’m personally scarred. I have PTSD from this man and I can’t deal with it.
You mentioned that you were homeless. Are you currently homeless?
No, it’s my first place that I’ve ever had that I can call my own. I’ve never had that and I pray to God that I will have it until the end.
May I ask what caused the homelessness?
My mom got evicted from York Creek by the baby daddy because he was causing issues. My mom and my baby sister left to go live with my older sister. I had to get left behind because there wasn’t enough room in the car, but they said if there was enough room in the car I would’ve been taken with them. So, they left and I got left behind. Still, to this day, my mom cries and says she wishes she would’ve taken me that day. When they left I became homeless. I didn’t know where to go or what to do. I was 17 at the time. A little baby in the streets not knowing what to do.
So, you’re left there in the parking lot. What what the first step after that?
To find somewhere to stay. I was worried about when I was going to eat again because I didn’t have food stamps or state ID. I left with nothing.
And where did you go?
I stayed on the street. I stayed in a park, under a tree, hoping that it was not going to rain because it looked a little cloudy that night.
So you went from York Creek in the Comstock Park area to Downtown Grand Rapids area?
Yes, and that’s where I stayed for two years. Then I met this awesome place called Unlimited Alternatives. It is a rehab center, but they took me in. They have washers, dryers, showers, computers, stove, a kitchen, and a food pantry. That place really helped me out when I was homeless. I went there everyday. It was open from 8am to 4pm. So it was a very good time for me to stay warm.
In the evening, when those doors closed, what happened?
I went down to Rosa Parks Circle and I would spend my time there. Or I would go to the library or I would go to GrandLAN, which is a video game place. When those places closed I would find a place to stay in an abandoned apartment. Through two summers, fall, and winters that’s where I stayed. That abandoned apartment.
Were there others there with you? Or were you alone?
It was just me and the baby daddy. We stayed in the abandoned apartment. Just somewhere we could stay warm and put our stuff. Everyday I was always scared because I didn’t want to wake up to guns pointing in my face telling me to get out or getting arrested for trespassing. But I didn’t want to stay outside. I wanted to be safe. So I took my own risk and stayed in the abandoned apartment.
Did your family know you were homeless?
I didn’t inform my family of any of it. I didn’t want them to worry. If my mom has a little bit of stress, it could kill her. I didn’t want my mom or sisters to feel any stress or worry about me. I didn’t want them to feel bad for me. I need to be strong and I don’t need anyone to feel bad, because they need to be strong too.
What are your plans for the future Mortisha? You’re sitting here and you’re 19 years old, you’ve completed the 11th grade, but as you look ahead with the responsibility of a child, what do you envision as of next year?
I’m going to Youth Build which is a place that helps you with your GED. My sister just graduated from there. From her whole process being there, she’s now a certified construction work, she’s a first aid, she got her driver’s license and her GED. That’s what I want to do. I want to become a construction worker, I want to become a first aid, I want to get my driver’s license. That would be something really cool. But then when I get done with school, I want to go into cosmetology for horror films. I love horror films. That’s something I’d love to do. Doing makeup for horror films. Dead skin and blood.
Mortisha, you mentioned a few minutes ago about being homeless, having a baby and having a boyfriend. Walk us through that. That is something that has impacted you and will carry forward through your adult life. Here you are in Grand Rapids, a homeless teenage, tell us about that.
After my mom left when I was 17, I had to find a place to stay. I found different places to stay on different nights. A year and a half after being homeless I found out I was pregnant. Remember, I stayed with my boyfriend for two years. When I found out I was pregnant, I thought that was going to change him and make things better, but it actually made things worse. He constantly told me I should get an abortion and that we weren’t ready, but I’m not going to kill a kid just because I’m not ready and you’re gonna be selfish. I’m going to have this kid and I’m going to do everything I can to make this right. Well, nine months later, here comes my daughter. I had to have a C-section because she got stuck in my pelvic bone. Being a first time mom and never having a C-section was scary.
He would never help me. My boyfriend never helped me with the baby. At that time, I was taking care of two families. The family I was living with had three kids that I was taking care of because the mother didn’t do anything besides sit on her bed and be on Facebook. So I took care of their kids and my newborn baby. My baby daddy didn’t help out with the our baby either because the crying would get to him and he would go insane and not take care of her.
Elaborate on your boyfriend a little bit. You mentioned that he beat you.
Yes, he beat me everyday. When I was 4 months pregnant, he raped me because he was blackout drunk. He told me he didn’t remember, but I told him I did. I wasn’t the one doing drugs or getting blackout drunk. I remember all of it. I was sober for nine months. He constantly called me a liar and denied what he did.
So why did you stick with this guy?
I didn’t know where to go. He said he was homeless before. That’s one thing I can say that he did. He kept me safe, he made sure I ate everyday, and he kept me warm. That’s the only positive thing that happened when I was homeless.
Were you afraid?
I was scared! I was so scared because I didn’t know if I was going to get jumped, raped, or die. Especially during the winter. These past two winters were crazy with all the snow.
So what was the turning point? You found an apartment and had your daughter, but you lived there until that fell apart and you had to get out.
Yeah, after that I stayed in Mel Trotters for three months and from there I found this amazing guy. I never knew a guy as amazing as him existed. He helped me through so much and got me out of situations that I couldn’t get myself out of. I am very blessed that I met this man.
When you look back on your childhood Morticia, what is your saddest memory?
That would have to be when my baby sister was raped. That was the saddest thing because I was in still in school at the time and my sister brought me into the bedroom and said that grandpa is downstairs with Nina doing dirty things. So I went downstairs to the basement and said something and he got off of her. I told Nina to get upstairs and we locked ourselves in the bedroom until my mom got home from work.
Was he your mother’s father?
Yes.
Was this a first time event or something that happened before?
I heard it happened in the past but I had never seen it firsthand. So, when I got home from school and saw it, I was furious. I also felt guilt on myself because I felt I could’ve stopped it.
And then what happened? Did anyone tell on grandpa?
No.
Do you know if anything like that happened again?
No, after a little while my grandpa got really sick. His muscles and bones basically stopped working. He was a lot like a vegetable. So, me and my sisters had to help take care of him. We had to pick him up from the chair and carry him to the potty. I helped take care of this man who hurt my family.
So nobody told your mother what he had done?
No, we all told her. My sister actually took my other sister to a movie to get her out of the house so we could tell our mom one on one.
How did your mother receive that?
She was scared and furious. My grandpa was 70 at the time so she didn’t feel like she could really do anything.
Besides what happened with your grandpa, is there anything you wish didn’t happen with your family?
I don’t know, more than anything I wish my family was back together. I want my family to be back together so bad. Our family is spread out everywhere do to living arrangements. We don’t get to see each other much, but now that I have my own place, my younger sister comes over every now and then to get together. She’s actually coming over today!
You’ve walked us through your plan for the immediate future, and those are all great goals and I hope they workout, but where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?
I see myself running my own horror shop that has makeup and costumes. Something like the Kostume Room, but a little different from that. I’ve also always wanted to run my own gothic, metal bar. That’s something that I really want to do because I’ve never seen one of those in Grand Rapids.
Mortisha, thank you for sharing your story with us today. You have a lot of responsibilities and some lofty goals for yourself. If you keep your nose down and have people around you who encourage you, you’ll be able to reach them all. We wish you nothing but the best!
The YA film community has finally hit its last hurrah. The Hunger Games, the flagship of their current generation, after Harry Potter, and Twilight, has finally run its course.
Personally, I am glad. I found the series as a whole to be resoundingly hollow.
I have a bone to pick with the author and screenwriter’s intents with Katniss, the character that has entered the same lexicon as Charlie Brown and Voldemort. Everyone knows Katniss. She’s the bad-@$$ with the bow and arrow. This finale to the series just proved how little I cared for the concept and characters that came with. Here Katniss is still recovering from the PTSD acquired during the events of the first two flicks as well as the harrowing denouement of Mockingjay Part I, but for this reviewer, I just felt as she probably felt: empty. She sees or hears about bad things that happen to those around her and then she shoots bad guys with arrows. The gratifying moments just don’t ring true.
Jennifer Lawrence is not to blame here. The director and screenwriters messed it up, she’s just dealing with what she’s given.
My other massive problem with the movie deals with Gale (Liam Hemsworth). The other Hemsworth that has had trouble finding success outside of his big brother’s shadow. Every moment he appeared on screen was punctuated by a massive yawn. Whoever cast this man should have been fired. So much of this movie concerns a bloody love triangle between him, Katniss, and Peeta that anyone with a third-grade education can call from frame 1.
This does not necessarily mean the movie is a total disaster. Donald Sutherland milks every moment he has on screen to fill the air with menace as well as charming sociopolitical intrigue. [SPOILERS] His final moments are among the most chilling in the whole series. [END SPOILERS]
I have always considered myself a little biased against The Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins created a series and concept that was lauded by critics and readers as wholly original and earth-shattering… except for the tiny fact that the title centerpiece is a clear adaptation of cult classic Battle Royale, a gory satire from Japan.*
I don’t like plagiarists, I despise plagiarists who don’t admit when they’ve been caught. I don’t respect people who lie to avoid blame getting caught in the cookie jar. Quentin Tarantino has been accused of this as well. Reservoir Dogs can be interpreted as an American remake of a Hong Kong film called City on Fire. And his use of the word homage to escape lawsuits is borderline theft.
The action was middling, the music okay, the settings standard dystopian action fare, I just felt bored the entire movie. Every other reviewer mentions the stunning homage to ALIENS halfway into the movie. Yes, I caught it. James Cameron still did it better. Heck, I was getting FURY ROAD flashbacks when albino xenomorphs started popping out of the walls for a bloodless^ massacre in the sewer. Every supporting character we followed felt expendable, which surprise, surprise, they were! This series would have been much more interesting told from the point of view of the psychotic Johanna (Jena Malone). At least there would have been bursts of giggling fury from her.
*Isn’t it funny? Hunger Games steals from Battle Royale, then Divergent outright steals from Hunger Games. The wheel of cinematic inbreeding continues to spin.
^I really dislike “edgy” PG-13 action films that showcase carnage and horrific things, only escaping the dreaded R-rating by excising all the blood. Stop it, Hollywood. This is getting annoying.
The challenge was to build the tallest Eiffel Tower. After they twisted and tied pipe-cleaners, Endeavor and Meadowlawn fifth-graders’ structures stood straight and high.
Natasha Sirrine, a Grand Valley State University School of Engineering graduate student, was impressed. “I’ve never seen four really good ones, ever,” she said, eyeing the colorful towers. “These are fabulous.”
Fifth-grader Melanie Delvalle helped construct the winning tower. “I like engineering because you can build things, and I like creating new things,” she said.
Nearby, Amoria Taylor-Smith tinkered with the gears of a unmanned aerial vehicle, also known as a drone, brought in by Kent ISD STEM consultant Ebiri Nkugbu. The youngster was amazed to learn what the aircraft can do, like take photos of crops up close.
“I want to be what he is,” said Amoria, pointing to Nkugbu. “I think it’s cool that he can build stuff.”
Natasha Sirrine, Grand Valley State University School of Engineering graduate student watches Melanie Delvalle construct a pipe-cleaner Eiffel Tower
It was the final of four events hosted to expose Kentwood Public Schools fifth-graders from 10 elementary schools to the world of science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. Through hands-on activities, students got to thinking about jobs in the field, which went way beyond looking through a microscope.
“It’s exciting to see and learn about stuff I never knew before,” said student Vedad Vila. “I kind of want to be a computer engineer.”
Led by Experts in the STEM Field
Endeavor and Meadowlawn students broke into 25-minute sessions hosted by representatives from GVSU, Kent ISD, Hope Network, Open Systems Technologies, Kent Career Tech Center, and architecture and engineering firms Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. and Progressive AE.
Students spent the morning focused on “seeing, doing and learning,” to become exposed to jobs like scientist, arborist, nutritionist and architect, said Nancy McKenzie, Kentwood Public Schools STEM coordinator. Last year, McKenzie organized girls-only STEM events because of the under-representation of females in STEM jobs, but this year they were open to all students.
Checking out an unmanned aerial vehicle
“It’s planting a seed, giving them a glimpse into the career world, the STEM world,” she said. “Hopefully, during the rest of their years at Kentwood they will continue to hear more about STEM, attend more activities like this, take classes at the high school in engineering and CAD.”
Another goal is skill development. Group work, problem-solving and goal-setting skills translate into what students will need in adulthood.
Jobs of the future — many of which don’t even exist today — are likely to involve technology, said Jeremy Wise, managing consultant for Open Systems Technology, who taught basic programming concepts on cardboard. Students were challenged to teach their “robots” three ways to move on the board.
“Honestly, everything is software-driven, from programming to calculators, to cell phones,” Wise said. “I think the next generation needs to understand how they work and be able to tell them what to do.”
After building his own miniature wooden car during a session led by Joe Phillips, an instructor for KCTC’s Design Lab, student Joseph Amani let it zoom down a ramp to see how far it would go.
“It can go farther than any other car,” he said. “I think it’s awesome.”
Phillips said his goal was to help students learn design, and how it’s a process of trial and error.
After students tested their cars on the makeshift ramp in the auditorium, he challenged them to make their vehicles even better. That’s what engineers do, he explained.
“Now you can take it back, redesign and rethink how you want to do.”
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
The nation’s largest privately-held baking company is planning on adding to the local job market thanks in part to a grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Hearthside Food Solutions, LLC, est. 2009, specializing in grain-based foods and snacks, announced that due to the generous grant, the company would be able to add as well as train 66 positions to their 3225 32nd Street baking line location. The grant came in order to offset higher energy and operating costs in Michigan, compared to a site they considered in Kentucky.
Based out of Illinois, Hearthside currently employs over 1700 full-time employees in West Michigan, operating four plants, including the 32nd Street location, as well as one on Shaffer Avenue, one on 44th Street, and one on Oak Industrial Drive, off of Michigan St NE. The specific baking line location on 32nd Street was the former Meridian Auto Systems plant before said company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2005.
WKTV reached out for comments from Hearthside, but they could not be reached.
Smushed in-between Halloween and Christmas, Thanksgiving sometimes feels like a lost holiday. The constant Christmas creep paired with shopping extravaganzas can give Thanksgiving the feeling of “meh.” Coupled with a forced inclusion of family and conversation topics that are sure to touch on sure-fire small talk such as religion and politics, Thanksgiving can seem like a hassle.
Seriously, Thanksgiving has been pushed so far down the list of holidays that it has become a placeholder, a pre-game if you will, for football, America’s favorite holiday no matter which day it’s on!
That’s why I’m here, to fight for Thanksgiving and its rightful place at the table next to Christmas instead of banished to the children’s table and forgotten about.
Thanksgiving, you are a beautiful and under appreciated holiday, and I am thankful for you! Here are some things to think about next time your mind flutters towards Christmas with Thanksgiving still on the horizon. Seriously, Christmas music BEFORE Thanksgiving!? Have you no shame…
Food
Let’s address the elephant in the room right away. I don’t have the true numbers right in front of me, but I took a completely unscientific poll this morning on my walk into work and came away with the indisputable proof that food is the best part of Thanksgiving for 98.8 percent of people. The other 1.2 percent laughed at me and walked away. That’s basically an answer for food, moving the results to 100 percent. Don’t even try to prove me wrong, you cannot win.
So, about the food! Thanksgiving is the one day a year where it is completely acceptable to eat as much as you want, and if anyone even thinks about judging you, tell them to stuff it – with stuffing of course. Stuffing is amazing and should be enjoyed by all. They were just judging you because they wanted your stuffing anyway.
But what about the guilt? Oh, yes, the guilt. I have met some people in my day who feel guilty that they’re eating so much. They’re on a diet and trying to lose weight, maybe they’re in the presence of a new significant other and her family and don’t want to look like a pig, or possibly the wife keeps nagging her poor husband about the tire around his stomach that continues to expand.
I have one phrase for everyone even feeling slightly guilty or judged… “Cheat Day.”
A cheat day is the greatest phrase in the world. You see, the world’s best athletes and body builders have them in their schedule, so you can too, right? The concept of a cheat day is simple, you stick to a strict diet for a week and you get one cheat day to eat whatever the heck you want. One day doesn’t kill you, whereas eating poorly over a long period of time will.
Thanksgiving is the ultimate cheat day! Start your diet tomorrow or just tell people you started a week ago. Whatever, it doesn’t really matter. All you have to say is “cheat day” and everyone will immediately dismount from your back. This is your day. Enjoy it. If it’s good enough for the most in-shape people on planet earth, it’s good enough for you.
Family
This one can be a big holdup for a lot of people. Your family can be great and awful for the same reason: There is absolutely no filter. Aunt Sally is going to talk politics no matter what and she doesn’t care which side of the aisle you’re on. Someone is definitely bringing up religion, positively or negatively. On top of those big two, you’re going to be asked about your lack of a significant other, if you’d be interested in so-in-so’s friend, why you don’t have a better job, when you’re moving closer to home, and on and on it goes.
Instead of stressing about the impending questions of doom, switch gears in that dome of yours and revel in the fact that you have the opportunity to show off the best of your creative skills! These aren’t necessarily lies, they’re a part of being a thespian on Thanksgiving. How outrageous can an answer be while also keeping it believable?
“What happened to Taylor? I thought you two were so great together!”
“You see Grandma, within the past year I learned to fly. That’s not a metaphor either, I can actually, literally, fly. The fact that she couldn’t fly held me back. Why should I be with someone who can’t fly? I used to be at the bottom with the other lobsters, now I’m in the sky like birds and helicopters.”
Creative? Maybe. Use of song lyrics to confuse Grandma? Check. Believable? Depends on how much wine she’s enjoyed. Did it end the immediate conversation and any future questions pertaining to the situation? Absolutely. Mission accomplished? MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Work
Thanksgiving always lands on a Thursday, and since most jobs give Thanksgiving off, it makes for a long weekend. Not having to work is always a net positive. Also, since it’s a National Holiday, if you do have to work you’re (hopefully) being paid time and a half. That’s never a bad thing!
However, if you have to work on Black Friday or at a location that runs one of those “Black Friday” sales that actually start in the evening on Thanksgiving, then bless your soul. I’m sorry for your loss, but I’m also thankful I don’t have to work and attempt to corral the madness.
Everyone avoiding working on Black Friday, extend your thankfulness to someone in need, and then shove them over on your way to that new big screen marked over 50-percent off!
Football
This is a lost cause for all us Lions fans. There is no hope. There is never hope. It’s impossible to be thankful for the pit of doom and despair that is the Detroit Lions.
If you aren’t a Lions fan, be thankful… be very thankful.
Friends
With the new phenomenon called “Friends-giving” you have all the actual joys of Thanksgiving but with the added benefit of being around people you actually want to see. An old soul once gave me great words of wisdom, “Choose your wife wisely, she’s the only member of your family you have that luxury with.”
A friends-giving is an excuse to celebrate the holiday with those that you choose to be around! No excessive travel, no stressful questions, and no real commitment if something comes up. Be thankful for Thanksgiving because it brought us the notion of a friends-giving.
From the Citizen Journalism Team here at WKTV, everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Our neighbors moved last summer. My children were very upset by the news, not because we were particularly close but because every December they put a leg lamp in their front window. The leg lamp, made famous in the iconic ‘80s movie A Christmas Story, symbolized victory for the little guy and also made us giggle every time we passed their house.
Civic theater has brought a spectacular rendition of A Christmas Story to its stage. From beginning to end, the audience was engaged, laughing and tapping their toes along to the music. The solos, ensembles and choreography blended well with the storyline. Each character was well played and so enjoyable to watch.
Ralphie (Alex Sullivan) gave such an impressive performance that although you know that he will eventually shoot his eye out, you still want him to get that Red Ryder Carbine-Action BB Gun. When he sings “Ralphie to the Rescue!” he imagines himself saving his teacher Miss Shields (Aimee Workman) from a villain, classmates from bank robbers, and his brother Randy (Ben Lowen) from a prisoner. His daydream is a compelling display of the many reasons he needs a Red Ryder BB Gun.
Once again David Duiven impresses on stage as the Old Man, Raphie’s father. His mutterings about the neighbor’s dogs and the famous tire changing scene brought big laughs from the audience. When the leg lamp arrives, the Old Man sings “A Major Award”, beaming with pride and finding the perfect front window display for his prize. The audience went wild when the Old Man and the cast broke into a leg lamp chorus line with the children holding little leg lamps.
At school Ralphie perfects his Christmas list essay, hoping that if he impresses Miss Shields, she will convince his parents that he should have the Red Ryder BB Gun. His essay seemed to do quite the opposite. Miss Shields transforms from sweet teacher to Broadway starlet, singing “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out”. The audience was dazzled as her big voice delivered the crushing news. The tap dance ensemble added extra drama to this already jazzy number.
A Christmas Story, The Musical combines love and humor, reminding us all of the moments that make the holidays special. This hilarious rendition of a Christmas classic plays on Civic Theater’s stage November 20 – December 20, 2015. Make sure to check out GRCT.ORG for tickets and more details.
After holding off until deep in November, planet Earth decided it was finally time to switch over to winter and bring down the snow from above. While the temperature drop necessary to bring on a nice snowfall usually keeps people indoors, it didn’t stop dog owners and the City of Kentwood from opening the city’s first dog park!
On Saturday, November 21, Mayor Stephen Kepley lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new dog park located in Kelloggwoods Park at 275 Kellogg Woods Drive. What ensued was doggy heaven as the pups quickly began socializing with their new furry friends in the winter wonderland.
The park has designated off-leash areas for dogs both big and small, dog-waste bins, water spigots and benches.
Dog owners, and citizens of Kentwood, look forward to having a dog park so close to home. Pets are family members too, and watching them play is enjoyable for everyone involved.
Mayor Kepley said it best, “Our dogs can now have just as much fun in the City of Kentwood as the adults do.”
On Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 a.m. Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s first ever community-wide festival of laughter, will announce a selection of artists performing at the 2016 10-day festival, which runs March 10 – 20. The announcement for the sixth annual festival will be held in the Cook Auditorium at the Grand Rapids Art Museum and is free and open to the public.
Ticket packages for LaughFest 2016 will go on sale to the general public at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4. Individual ticket sales will be available beginning Jan. 15. Individuals who purchase a $100 LaughFest Friends membership before Dec. 3 can purchase ticket packages and individual tickets before the general public. All ticket packages and LaughFest Friends memberships can be purchased at laughfestgr.org, or by calling 616-735-HAHA (4242).
WHAT: LaughFest 2016 Lineup Announcement WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 3, 7:30 a.m. WHERE: Grand Rapids Art Museum – Cook Auditorium, 101 Monroe Center NW, Grand Rapids, Mich. COST: Free and open to the public
Getting old can really suck if you’re not in the greatest shape. Aching, stiff joints. Decreased mobility. And moving from one’s beloved, long-time home into a retirement community or assisted living facility isn’t a pleasant thought either. For some, this transition is especially traumatic. My mom’s experience was no different: It’s an understatement to say that she wasn’t too keen on moving to a retirement community.
“I don’t want to live around a bunch of old people,” she repeatedly said. At the time, she was 80 years old, but I knew what she meant. Mom is very young at heart. After months of persuasion, though, she finally acquiesced, and we found a fabulous community for her. Now she wishes that she would have moved there sooner. On the day she moved in, she met the love of her life, and these days she reassures me often with, “It’s never too late to find a man.”
Uh, thanks, but I’m fine. Really.
Granted, people normally don’t transition to a senior community and find their true love; my mother’s experience is the exception. But it serves to illustrate that life is full of surprises and one should approach this huge milestone with an open mind.
Back in 2006, when I was searching for a retirement community suitable for my mother’s needs, First & Main, 5812 Village Drive SW, Wyoming, Mich.–the upscale residential component of Metro Health Village–was still being developed. Gary Granger, president and CEO of Granger Group, had been planning the community since 2003 and this past September 23, the Wyoming senior community welcomed its first resident.
“Care is a very important piece of every assisted living community because that is the foundation of what makes this so necessary,” said Granger in a press release. “We try to do that maybe in a little bit different way. … Even though the average age is in the mid-80s, people still want to feel valued and feel like they are tied into the community. The wellness component of our program is probably going to be the biggest area of emphasis for us, because the two most important things for wellness and health are diet and exercise.”
First & Main is a 102-unit senior living community with a 170-resident capacity. It is designed with a marketplace atmosphere that is evocative of a town center. The first two floors provide assisted-living options and the third floor is for memory care.
The 180-acre healthcare village is not only home to the first suburban hospital in the region, it’s an entire community of support services, retail shops, a grocery store, restaurants and more with Metro Health Hospital at its core. There are also an in-house chapel, theater, salon, bistro and patio, fitness center, and a courtyard with a putting green and raised gardens.
I had noticed components of Metro Health Village slowly appearing over the years—doctors’ offices, the Pain Clinic, Metro Health Hospital, and now the most recent addition, the residential community. There’s also Family Fare grocery store, which I thought had been an odd placement, but now it all makes sense.
Every building in Metro Health Village is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, focusing on energy conservation, recycling and storm water management. The village also integrates the natural environment to provide a healthy, calm, healing setting to serve patients, families and neighbors nearby.
First & Main boasts some newfangled technology that makes life easier for its residents. Instead of door keys, residents use digitally encoded, radio-frequency wristbands to unlock their suites. Also featured is interactive engagement software called ‘It’s Never Too Late,’ which can be used for a variety of activities such as trivia games, vintage radio shows, and using Street View to tour a resident’s hometown.
“The wellness program, hospitality and community engagement are part of the goal to support residents’ lifestyles,” according to Granger. “Several of the programs and services offered in the new development will incorporate third-party providers, such as hair stylists in the salon, bringing in health experts for diet and exercise training classes, and yoga and fitness instructors.”
Other amenities include 24-hour staffing, transportation to physician appointments, housekeeping, activities and wellness, chef-prepared meals, apartment and suite maintenance, assistance with digital communication and reminders and assistance to dinner.
Some features may take getting used to, especially for people who are used to being self-sufficient. For example, ‘Point of Care Solution,’ a handheld mobile device, provides real-time documentation for staff so that more time can be spent with residents; ‘Quiet Care’ determines residents’ nighttime behavior patterns and alerts staff when that pattern changes; ‘Real Time Location Service Pendants’ alert staff to a resident’s location if assistance is needed; LG CNS Electronic Health Records and Medication Management Systems provide a detailed electronic record for each resident; and special spectrum lighting helps reset the natural Circadian rhythms for memory care.
Metro Health Village is a groundbreaking concept and the first of its kind in the nation. Granger has plans to build similar villages in other areas of Michigan as well as in Ohio. We can thank the Baby Boomer generation for this trend as more and more cohorts from that population transition to retirement communities.
For more information, call 616.622.2420 or visit the website.
Before the summer blockbuster took over the box office in the 1970s with the likes of JAWS and Star Wars, Christmas was the big pull for movie-goers, and in many ways it still is. Most of the big awards contenders are sometimes pushed back to take advantage of the bustle of consumer behavior accompanying the holiday season. In recent years, at least since the successful debut of Toy Story in 1995, Thanksgiving has also become a hallmark holiday to milk for movie releases, often spawning plenty of family-friendly fare for the close-knit holiday. Looking ahead, this article is to spotlight big movies being released through Christmas.
CREED (Thanksgiving)
First up this Thanksgiving is a spin-off from the ever-popular Rocky Balboa franchise, this time focusing on the son of Rocky’s ally and rival from the first four films, Apollo Creed.
The movie follows Adonis, Creed’s son, who decides to step into the ring to prove something to his family, Rocky, and maybe himself. The films is being helmed by Ryan Coogler, who previously directed star Michael B. Jordan in Fruitvale Station, a ripped-from-the-headlines tragedy about the last day of Oscar Grant, an Oakland native who became a victim of police brutality. The film is a different direction for the franchise giving Stallone’s Balboa a supporting turn in the vein of Burgess Meredith’s Mickey.
Reviews have been favorable so far, so hopes are this underdog can be the long shot to steal the weekend from the likes of Pixar and the monstrous Frankenstein reboot.
THE GOOD DINOSAUR (Thanksgiving)
Information is rare on this other Pixar movie being released on Thanksgiving. All we know for sure is that it revolves around a slightly altered pre-history where a meteorite didn’t wipe out the beasts that ruled the Earth pre-humanity and the interactions between a gentle dinosaur and his feral human companion. Trailers haven’t related much of a story, only images of beauty reminiscent of AVATAR and interactions reminiscent of The Land Before Time. Comic and social media artist Patton Oswalt seemed to enjoy it! The most likely winner of the Thanksgiving weekend, overall.
Saw THE GOOD DINOSAUR last night. Superb. Yummy cinematography, gut-punch laughs & heart, plus a trippy/hilarious "drug" sequence.
This is a movie I don’t think anyone saw coming. A Frankenstein movie starring rebooted Professor X as a whimsical, rebellious Doctor Frankenstein and Harry Potter as Igor, the overwhelmed assistant. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious after seeing the trailer. Mayhaps it has a chance, gobble gobble…
Macbeth (December TBA)
Being released sometime in December, Michael Fassbender takes on the Bard in the upcoming adaptation of Shakespeare’s most notorious tragedy, The Scottish Play. -sorry, my theatrical background is keeping the superstition alive- While Shakespeare has proven to be hit or miss when it comes to film adaptation, this one has a quality actor at the front as well as a unique artistic approach to authenticity that could bring in the crowds.
Krampus (December 4th)
This will be the second horror film released this year featuring a cast of people known primarily for their comedic work: Adam Scott (Parks and Rec), David Koechner (Anchorman+2), Allison Tolman (FARGO), Toni Collette (United States of Tara)… all signed on for a film not about Santa, but the other supernatural creature associated with the Christmas season, that fewer people are aware of. That being is Krampus, a Christmas demon of sorts who does not come bearing gifts, but horror and terror. Hopefully, it’ll be in better taste than Silent Night, Deadly Night…
In the Heart of the Sea (December 11th)
Ron Howard makes movies that I enjoy watching, personally. His latest, RUSH, was an exhilarating drama about a rivalry that made me care equally for both parties. Now, he’s decided he wants to adapt the true-life tale that inspired Moby Dick, that contender for the title of The Great American Novel. And it’s got Chris Hemsworth and Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins). Even though it’s been pushed back multiple times this year, I really can’t wait to see what the mastermind behind A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13 has in store for his audience.
Episode VII (December 18th)
Yes, yes, the movie we’ve all been waiting for is less than a month away. And it’s going to make more money than organized religion in general has seen in the last decade. Do I really need to add anything…besides the fact I already have my IMAX tickets? -sigh- I am a disgrace to objective cinema journalism.
Don’t disappoint us, Jar Jar Abrams. Some of us still remember what happened the last time you went into space…
*A brief mention regarding Sisters, the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler comedy vehicle that’s decided to challenge The Force Awakens for a spot on December the 18th: It Doesn’t Have A Snowball’s Chance…
**A word on The Road Chip: no.
Concussion (Christmas)
Will Smith’s controversial drama putting the NFL under the radar is aiming for the Christmas crowd. I guess it’s a better spot than Thanksgiving, considering…
My dad will wanna see this. A better pick than Draft Day, I suppose.
The Hateful Eight (Christmas)
Quentin Tarantino really has a thing for releasing his glorified exploitation films at Christmas. Since Jackie Brown in 1997, he has gleefully enjoyed subverting the typical Christmas fare with his bloody, ironic takes on cinematic language, genre, and uproarious content. His second western in a row, he has promised The Hateful Eight will be “the funniest snow western ever made.” Since his crowd-pleasing movies are ridiculous in content and often hilarious as well, don’t write off the holidays as completely in the hands of Jar Jar Abrams and his space opera playset.
Point Break (Christmas)
If it were up to the author, this summary would be limited to “No Keanu? No Swayze? No thank you!” Alas…
It looks like it’ll cater to the adrenaline junkies crowd with portrayals of extreme (!) action sports like quad racing against avalanches, wingsuits flying through mountain forests, and an epic bromance between Edgar Ramirez and Luke Bracey. Yeah, I never heard of him either. Don’t expect this one to sweep the audience from their Tarantino gunplay and the continuing adventures of Han Solo and Co.
It looks like it’s going to be a very Star Wars Christmas after all.
No sooner did the ghost and goblins of Halloween get back to their homes to feast on their newly acquired sugar collection that Sleigh Bells started ringing. That’s right, the big push of the last holidays are upon us, and wow has technology changed the ways we celebrate.
The holidays seem to require three important ingredients – Shopping, Food, and Family.
First, let me start off by saying that I have never, ever participated in the Black Friday Madness. I have witnessed it but I haven’t woken myself up at 3am to make it to a store that was opening at 5am so I could buy a $50 Blue-ray player for $15. I will admit to looking through the black Friday ads and even looking them up online ahead of schedule. In fact, there is a website you can visit that is fully dedicated to Black Friday Ads that not only posts the ads for Friday’s event, but also the toy books that retailers put out and other deal specific items. Extra Kohls cash anyone?
While a lot of people still trek out on that Friday, more people are opting out and staying in for Cyber Monday. The first Monday after Thanksgiving is now dedicated to an online shopping bonanza of epic proportions. Many of your favorite retail stores will put on extra sales on Monday as well, but the online retail giants make a serious play for your holiday cash.
With Amazon being one of the biggest names in online shopping, the company makes Cyber Monday a big, big, BIG event. Certain deals highlighted and change hour after hour. It’s enough to make even the most seasoned shopper spin around with glee.
Smack in the middle of Black Friday and Cyber Monday is now known as Small Business Saturday. A day in the weekend where your local small business owners hope to attract and entice you. This can be done in a physical location as well as through a website. Just a quick search using the “shop local” option on Etsy.com allows you to see what some of your own neighbors have brilliantly made themselves.
When all your shopping is done, the focus goes back on the two most important parts of the holidays, food and family! It seems like a no-brainer that you’re going to need food. Food that you can make while you host the holiday at your home, or something a little easier to transport as you go through the woods to Grandmother’s house.
Then there’s family. It’s suppose to be the most important ingredient in the holiday recipe. While technology can help, it can also hinder. Sure, through the power of Skype or FaceTime you can video chat with your niece or nephew who is serving overseas. However, is will also keep your 14-year-old niece or daughter from looking up the entire time you’re at Aunt Kathy’s.
So, a holiday challenge for you. Can you and yours set aside technology for the holiday gathering and have little to no smart phone or tablet use while you are surrounded with extended family? No Facebooking, no tweets to be sent, and no text to be read?
Some may find this hardly a challenge at all while others will struggle not to pick up their phone when there is lag in the conversation. Putting the technology aside might be tough at first, but the end result will be lifetime memories with family and friends!
Deidre owns and operates Organisum: Technology Services, a business serving the West MI area. In her free time she likes to hike & bike local trails with friends and family when she isn’t pinning, instagram’ing or Netflix’ing.
A quick reminder that all offices and the Office of the Great Seal will be closed during Thanksgiving this upcoming week.
All offices will be closed on Thursday, November 26 and on Friday, November 27. SUPER!Centers will be closed on Saturday, November 28 as well.
Don’t worry if you need to renew any license plates or driver’s license over the weekend. The Department of State mails notices to motorists 45 days before those expire to give ample time to renew. If your license or license plates are set to expire on a date when the state offices are closed, like a holiday or weekend, they can be renewed the following business day without penalty.
Most people renewing license plates, driver’s licenses and ID cards can do business online at www.ExpressSOS.com or by mail. Online users renewing their tabs, driver’s license or ID card will find the system’s “Print ‘N Go feature” beneficial. It allows them to complete their transaction, print off a receipt and carry the receipt until their tabs, license or ID card arrives in the mail. Easy to follow instructions can be found with the renewal notice. Additional services can be done online as well. License plate tabs can also be renewed at Self-Service Stations, many of which are available around the clock. Visit the Branch Office Locator at www.michigan.gov/sos to find a Self-Service Station near you.
With the exception of holidays, offices are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Smaller offices may close for the lunch hour. On Wednesdays, most offices are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with those in city centers open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PLUS offices and SUPER!Centers are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. SUPER!Centers also provide Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to noon.
With Thanksgiving coming up, here are 15 great ways to take advantage of what this great state has to offer! Cook healthy, eat hearty, and enjoy family and friends.
This article was republished with permission from Dianna at Promote Michigan. We do our best to help with the promotion of the great State of Michigan!
Which sounds better: Freshly made truffle fries from local potatoes or slightly-soggy fries that have been sitting out too long after being pulled out of the freezer at the local fast food joint?
Maybe that’s an extreme comparison, but it showcases the heart of the farm-to-table movement, which is well respected at dining locations throughout West Michigan.
Farm-to-Table means your food has traveled from a local source, maybe even as nearby as the garden out back (instead of being frozen or canned and transported hundreds of miles), and was freshly prepared, which means no thawing in the microwave or sitting under heat lamps for days. Farm-to-Table dining promises you a delicious and healthy meal that is truly of West Michigan.
Read on for some of our favorite Farm-to-Table dining options in West Michigan, and our apologies in advance if this causes your stomach to start rumbling.
Grove
Grove restaurant, located in Grand Rapids, is a tribute to the bounty of the earth’s harvest and how Grove brings that to the table with impeccable service, natural ingredients and innovative cuisine. Their seasonal, frequently changing selections hint at the classics with natural sauces and a slant toward sustainable seafood. They responsibly source as many ingredients as possible from local, family and sustainable farms and prepare each dish to demonstrate their respect for how these farmers raise or grow their products.
Grove carefully pairs their daily, innovative menus with the best modern wines. Their beverage menu also includes eclectic and top-shelf liquors, their own housemade infused spirits, craft beers, pour-over coffee and espresso. They’re located in the heart of East Hills at 919 Cherry Street.
Terra
Inspired, handcrafted foods that nurture both body and community. At Terra in Grand Rapids, they follow their passions – and the seasons – for only the freshest, health-filled ingredients from the region’s most dedicated growers. They pride themselves on distinctive fare, expertly crafted with passion, intellect and culinary skill. You’ll enjoy handcrafted meals that honor the purest ingredients from the finest regional farms and fields. Terra’s focus on seasonal offerings means they only use fresh, honest ingredients bursting with the flavors of each season. Not only will you find delicious dining at Terra, but also a community dedicated to the promotion and rewards of a health-conscious lifestyle.
Twisted Rooster
Satisfyingly savory and always fresh, using Michigan made products with a twist—that’s what you can expect when dining at the Twisted Rooster in Grand Rapids. Twisted Rooster’s Executive Chef and his culinary team work with local vendors and suppliers to provide guests with a decidedly tasty twist on classic American fare. Twisted Rooster’s mantra is to provide each guest with “Simply Impeccable Food & Drinks with Uncommon Hospitality.” Their locally sourced, scratch made menu is full of local flavor and includes vendors such as Byron Center Meats, R.W. Bakers, Faygo and Founders Brewing Company. Ogren said their menu is meant to emphasize their twisted “Commit to the Mitt” motto.
The Green Well
At The Green Well they serve honest fayre with local flair in a neighborhood setting that keeps customers coming back. Their innovative gastro pub is green beyond its name: Their LEED® certified building is environmentally safe, ultra efficient and leaves behind the smallest possible carbon footprint. “Gastro pub” is British for a public house that specializes in high-quality food served in a relaxed atmosphere. The Green Well’s creative menu features a global range of eclectic flavors prepared with ingredients from local farmers. Over 20 rotating taps focus on Michigan brews, as well as a vast selection of bottles, ranging from local and American craft to traditional European styles. The wine list features creative flights that encourage multiple wine flavors paired with food. Classic cocktails are also available. Their greenness also spills over to their guests who benefit from affordable prices and outstanding service by a fun, welcoming staff. Located at 924 Cherry Street in East Hills, Grand Rapids.
Bistro Bella Vita
At Bistro Bella Vita, they go above and beyond to deliver the ultimate dining experience with top-notch, personable service, whether it’s a simple pizza and beer with friends, or an elegant chef’s table meal perfectly paired with appropriate wines. Their vision is to be West Michigan’s most respected restaurant destination. Guests enjoy Bistro Bella Vita’s unique downtown atmosphere and their creative cuisine made exclusively from fresh, natural, ingredients purchased daily from local farmers in season. The culinary team creates authentic, scratch-made recipes that blend the delicious flavors of the Mediterranean countryside with a perfectly paired beverage offering served by a devoted staff whose passion is to ensure your complete satisfaction. They’re located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, just west of the Van Andel Arena on Grandville and Weston.
San Chez Bistro
Stop by San Chez Bistro for the most unique dining and entertainment venue in Grand Rapids. San Chez Bistro offers a blend of authentic European and Mediterranean cuisine in a fun, laid-back, and artful atmosphere. Take a break from fast food with breakfast and lunch by San Chez Café, made with the finest local ingredients, and prepared to order fresh seven days a week. Enjoy omelets, scrambles, pastries, bagels, yogurt, fresh fruit, or the best sandwiches and soups in town. Appreciate gourmet fair-trade coffee and whole leaf organic tea while you linger with free Wi-Fi, or hold a breakfast meeting in our comfy café.
Six.One.Six
The JW Marriott Grand Rapids‘ signature restaurant, six.one.six, offers the breathtaking blend of sophisticated urban ambience, palate-pleasing cuisine, and the finest wines and perfectly poured cocktails. But more than just a “pretty face,” six.one.six. takes its cuisine seriously. Dedicated to the concept of buying local, the chef’s pantry is bursting with locally grown ingredients, some of which are picked just a few feet away at the JW Chef’s Garden. The six.one.six. kitchen also participates in Sort, a recycling and composting program coordinated with Zeeland-headquartered Spurt Industries, which helps turn food scraps into top-quality soil for area parks. You’ll find dishes sourced from New Holland Brewery, Black Star Farms, Founders Brewery, and many more when you dine at six.one.six.
Downtown Market
Downtown Market Grand Rapids offers farm to table dining, and everything in between. Visit in the spring and summer for their outdoor farmers market, where the best of everything fresh and local will be on display for purchase. The indoor Market Hall is open year-round, and offers everything from local produce, fish, meats, and cheese to restaurants serving tacos & thai food sourced from local ingredients. Downtown Market offers regular cooking classes & demonstrations to help you bring that fresh and local taste right into your own kitchen.
Reserve Wine & Food
Michigan’s award-winning Reserve Wine & Food in downtown Grand Rapids is the epitome of a farm-to-table experience, in a classy, urban setting just a short drive from the rural countryside which provides the bounty for the menu. Reserve fills its kitchen with foods raised by their friends—local farmers, growers and harvesters with a passion for fresh flavors. Chef Josh Adams cooked throughout his childhood with his mom and grandmother, who encouraged his creativity and curiosity. Applying progressive techniques to pristine ingredients, Adams seeks to preserve and accentuate the natural properties of the ingredients through precision cooking. “With the development of each dish, I take into consideration the aroma, taste, texture, temperature, color, shape and arrangement to bring about the best possible result for the customer,” he says. Opened since September, 2010 and celebrating its 5th year, Reserve Wine & Food has been recognized by Grand Rapids Magazine, OpenTable, Food & Wine Magazine, the James Beard Foundation and Wine Spectator. Located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids at 201 Monroe Avenue NW, Reserve Wine & Food offers a world-class menu fully embracing the West Michigan farm-to-table philosophy in an elegant yet casual fine dining setting.
The City of Kentwood will officially have its first dog park this Saturday, November 21 after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.
The park, located in Kelloggwoods Park at 275 Kellogg Woods Drive, was an idea brought by residents to the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department. Together, the community was able to identify a need for a dog park and Kentwood Parks and Rec put together a business plan back in March to make it happen.
The park cost $15,650 and was funded through the park millage. Featured at the park are off-leash areas for both big and small dogs, dog-waste bins, water spigots and benches.
Mayor Stephen Kepley will give a speech at the grand opening. The ceremony will start at 10 a.m.
Don’t forget to bring your pooches and puppies!
Make sure to stop by the site next week to check out footage from the event.
As the holidays approach, you may be planning a gift list for those special people in your life. You may also be worrying about adding to your already sizeable credit card balances. In America today, carrying some debt is unavoidable, and even desirable, for most households. But between mortgages, car payments and credit cards, many Americans find themselves over their heads — unable to dig out from under a debt burden that consumes an ever-growing portion of their resources.
The median U.S. household owes $3,000 in credit card debt. Credit card companies have made running up that balance deceptively easy. But what’s lost when you are racking up big credit card balances is the realization that paying off your debt can be costly, in terms of its impact on your cash flow as well as your overall financial health.
Assessing Your Debt
How much debt is too much? The figure varies from person to person, but in general, experts agree that your debt-to-income ratio should be no more than 43%. A debt-to-income ratio is commonly used by lenders to assess an individual’s ability to repay the money he or she has borrowed.
To calculate your debt-to-income ratio, add up all your monthly debt payments (including mortgage, car and other non-housing debts) and divide that sum by your gross monthly income — i.e., income before taxes and other deductions are taken out. Mortgage lenders, in particular, use the 43% debt-to-income ratio as a benchmark to determine whether or not an individual is a good candidate for a mortgage.1
Other signs that you may be carrying too much debt include not knowing how much you owe, constantly paying the minimum balance due on credit cards (or worse, being unable to make the minimum payments), and borrowing from one lender to pay another.
Create a budget and choose where your money goes
If you find that you are overextended, don’t panic. There are a number of steps you can follow to eliminate that debt and get yourself back on track. Working your way out of debt will, of course, require you to adjust your spending habits and perhaps be more judicious in your spending.
Begin With a Budget
The first step in eliminating debt is to figure out where your money goes. This will allow you to see where your debt is coming from and, perhaps, help you to free up some cash to put toward lowering that debt.
Track your expenses for one month by writing down what you spend. At the end of the month, total up your expenses and break them down into two categories: “Essential,” including fixed expenses such as mortgage/rent, food and utilities, and “Nonessential,” including entertainment and dining out. Analyze your expenses to see where your spending can be reduced. Perhaps you can cut back on food expenses by bringing lunch to work instead of eating out each day. You might be able to reduce commuting costs by taking public transportation instead of parking your car at a pricey downtown garage. Even utility costs can be reduced by turning lights off, making fewer long-distance calls or turning the thermostat down a few degrees in winter.
Three Steps to Reduce Debt
Once you have a handle on your budget, you can begin to attack existing debt with the following steps.
Pay off high-rate debt first. The higher your interest rate, the more you wind up paying. Begin with your highest-rate credit cards and eliminate the balance as aggressively as possible. For example, assume you have two separate $2,000 balances, one charging 20% interest, the other 8%, on which you can pay a total of 6% per month. If you were to pay 4% per month on the higher-rate card and 2% on the lower-rate card (which is typically the minimum monthly payment), you would save $961 in interest and 18 months of payments over allocating 3% to each balance.
Transfer high-rate debt to lower-rate cards. Consolidating credit card debts to a single, lower-rate card saves in interest costs over the life of the loan. Comparison shop for the best rates, and beware of “teaser” rates that start low, say, at 6%, then jump to much higher rates after the introductory period ends. You can find lists of low-rate cards online from sites such as CardTrak and Bankrate.
If you can only find a card with a low introductory rate, maximize the value of that low-interest period. By paying off your balance aggressively, you will reduce the balance more quickly than you will when the rate goes up.
You can also contact your current credit card companies to inquire about consolidation and lower rates. Competition in the industry is fierce, and many companies are willing to lower their rates to keep their customers. Even a percentage point or two can make a difference with a sizable balance.
Borrow only for the long term. The best use of debt is to finance things that will gain in value, such as a home, an education, or big-ticket necessities, like a washing machine or a computer that will still be around when the debt is paid off. Avoid using your credit card for concert tickets, vacation expenses or meals out. By the time the balance is gone, you will have paid far more than the cost of these items and have nothing but memories to show for it.
By analyzing your spending, controlling expenses and establishing a plan, you can reduce — and perhaps eliminate — your debt, leaving you with more money to save today and a better outlook for your financial future.
This article was prepared by Wealth Management Systems Inc. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal adviser.
Lori Hayes is finishing up math and science courses in the Wyoming Public Schools Adult Education Program to earn her GED. Once in awhile, she has to bring her 10-year-old daughter, Chloe, to class with her.
One day, after listening to a lesson led by teacher Justin Van Etten, Chloe walked up to the white board and correctly finished a math problem. “That’s why I’m doing this,” said Hayes, who has two other daughters, ages 17 and 15. “I didn’t really see how important this is until I saw her up there doing what I was learning. It was inspiring.”
Hayes, 37, is among thousands of adults statewide working to earn GEDs, improving their basic literacy and math skills or learning English in state-funded adult education programs. They are seeking brighter futures, better paying jobs, college degrees and careers. Many, like Hayes, also hope to give their children a better chance at their own dreams.
Hayes and Jeremy Showell, also a Wyoming student, served as first-hand voices on the impact of adult education programs and the need for improved investment and resources. They joined fellow students from across the state in addressing legislators and key policymakers during “FamilySpeak: Building Family Literacy Through Adult Education” at the State Capitol in Lansing.
The event was hosted by Michigan’s Children, a nonprofit organization focused on the needs of the most challenged children from birth to adulthood and their families, and the Michigan Association of Community and Adult Education, which works to provide a framework for community education at the local, state and federal levels.
Bob Steeh, president of MACAE, said state aid for adult education was reduced in the 1990s from $80 million to $22 million, forcing many programs to close. Now allocations total about $25 million, and students in state-funded programs, usually run through school districts, have dropped from 80,000 to 29,000 per year. Programs decreased from 175 to 75.
Fewer locations mean many students make long daily treks to get to class.
“It all equates to how you can access programs. My biggest argument is if we want to curb poverty and change the lives of families, we have to do something about that,” Steeh said.
As the state is pushing to improve third-grade reading proficiency, investment needs to target the entire family, said Michele Corey, vice president of programs for Michigan’s Children. Statewide, 42,000 people ages 18-34 have less than a ninth-grade education.
“There’s a lot of evidence that talks about how connected the kids’ educational success is with their parents’ educational success,” she said.
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
It’s truly a stunning facility. A seven-story, 670,000-square-foot, research facility shaped like a pyramid. Even the ancient Egyptians would be envious.
Much like the Egyptian pyramids, the $111 million building commonly known as the Steelcase Pyramid–it acted as the company’s headquarters since the building’s inception in 1989–has been a tomb since 2010. A massive slab of granite and architectural beauty sitting on 125 acres of property just looking for a purpose.
Enter Switch, a data company that intends to purchase the pyramid and build a $5 billion SUPERNAP data center on its campus.
The 2-million-square-foot data center would be the largest in the Eastern United States. The inland location of the pyramid places the data center within millisecond protocols of major markets without the risk of natural disasters that come with having a facility on the coastline.
“SUPERNAP Michigan will be 2 milliseconds from Chicago and 14 milliseconds from New York,” said the company’s announcement. “The prime campus locations have low millisecond access to the largest people hubs in the U.S. without being burdened with the high power prices, taxes, and earthquake/hurricane risks associated with those cities.”
There’s one potential hangup here with Switch moving into the pyramid, and it has to do with taxes. No building has been sold, no one has been hired, and nothing has been signed until Michigan legislature is wiling to give data centers a tax break.
West Michigan legislators introduced three bills in the Michigan House and Senate last week. Rep. Ken Yonker from Caledonia is leading the charge.
The purchase of the pyramid would be a huge boon for technology and information economic development in West Michigan. Switch not only brings a wealth of big name companies in its client base including Google, Amazon, eBay, Time Warner, Sony, Dreamworks, Shutterfly, and Boeing, but the new data center would also bring 1,000 new jobs within ten years.
If the purchase is finalized, jobs will be created, economic and technological development will be brought to the area, and one of West Michigan’s most unique buildings has a purpose once again.
“This is the most amazing building I have ever seen,” explained property manager Jim Faunce to WKTV back in August after moving from Colorado to head the project. “I am in total awe of it!”
So are we, and it’ll be an honor to see the building put to use once again.
What comes to your mind when you think of Thanksgiving? Do you think of time spent with the family in front of the TV watching football? How about the food? Oh my goodness, yes, the food! Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and so much more. Thanksgiving is a time to carb-o-load and slip into a deep food coma.
For a holiday meant for giving thanks, it’s one that can easily be taken for granted.
One in seven people in our region are affected by food insecurity, or an unreliable access to healthy food. Those who are considered food insecure regularly have to skip meals or buy cheaper, less nourishing food because of a lack of funds.
After 34 years and counting, Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank is looking to end that problem.
Feeding America West Michigan is a nonprofit organization that supplies food to more than 1,100 food pantries, youth programs, and other hunger-relief agencies in 40 of Michigan’s 83 counties. The food bank acts as the main supplier to the front lines of hunger all across West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
When it comes to food, Feeding America West Michigan can pack a punch – and a lunch! Last year, in 2014, the organization distributed over 26.5 million pounds of food. That food serves around 492,100 people, with at least 119,400 of them being children.
The majority of food donated comes from corporations, manufacturers, grocery stores, distributors, and farmers. In all, over 220 companies donate to Feeding America West Michigan. A handful of those companies donate over a million pounds a year.
In order to run efficiently and make sure all that food is delivered on-time and in good shape, the Food Bank makes fine use of its volunteers. On average, 40-50 volunteers help at the Food Bank each day. Volunteering opportunities include processing donated food, filling orders, cleaning, and re-packaging the food that arrives. If you can’t donate your time, there are other ways as well, every dollar donated provides four meals.
Volunteers repackaging cereal
“The need is not going away. We still see more people needing help,” explained Feeding America West Michigan CEO Ken Estelle on the need for a food bank and food donations. “It’s a lot of working families. We see folks that have jobs, that are working trying to make ends meet but they just get to the point where at the end of the month there’s just not enough to pay all the bills.”
Year to date, Feeding America West Michigan is on pace to distribute more food this year than ever before.
The inability to pay the bills and afford healthy, nutritious food is a struggle for a large majority of the family that utilize the food pantries that Feeding America West Michigan supplies. Over 30 percent of client households had at least one adult member working for pay within the past four weeks before visiting a food pantry.
Here are some other numbers to chew on:
• 72% of client households choose between paying for food and utilities
• 72% of households choose between paying for food and transportation
• 65% of households choose between paying for food and medical care
• 58% of households choose between paying for food and their rent or mortgage
• 23% of households choose between paying for food and education
This Thanksgiving season, remember to give thanks for what you have and to give back to the communities you live in!
For more information on volunteer at Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank, click here.
Black IPAs have been a staple of an annual tradition at Founders Brewing Co. – the Black Party – a celebration of experimental dark beers. Project PAM was born out of this tradition and is the third Backstage release of 2015; a Black IPA whose hop combinations and malts have been perfected and balanced over several years.
This beer is brewed with a cornucopia of hops including Chinook, Nugget, Centennial, Amarillo, El Dorado and Mosaic, balanced with Crystal and Midnight Wheat malts, then aged in maple-bourbon barrels.
“Project PAM refers to the code name we used in the cellar.” explains the head of the brewery’s barrel-aging program, Jason Heystek. “As with a lot of our barrel-aged beers, each one gets a code name to keep things fun and maintain some mystery. With Project PAM, the maple-bourbon barrels provide sweetness to keep the hop bitterness in check, but also impart the flavor complexity of an oak bourbon barrel.”
Founders’ Backstage Series is made up of boundary-pushing, experimental beers. They are the brewers’ playground. The intent of the series is to take the die-hard Founders fan experience to a wider audience—though all of the beers are released in limited batches.
Since its introduction in the summer of 2011, Founders’ Backstage Series beers have quickly become some of the most sought-after releases in the industry.
Project PAM will be available in 750-ml bottles in our taproom starting on November 20 and across Founders distribution network beginning late November 2015 with a suggested retail price of $14.99.
Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Co. are back with style in The Peanuts Movie.
I was worried when I heard Blue Sky had acquired the rights to make the next theatrical PEANUTS movie, at first. Blue Sky tends to make movies that look presentable, but rely on too much bathroom humor and irritating characters to really trust with – what I believe to be – the cornerstone of golden age comic strips.
Thank goodness for the father-son writer-producers of Bryan and Craig Schulz to keep the inherent warmth and pathos of PEANUTS intact, able to be enjoyed by children and adults all around.
The Peanuts Movie turns out to be a crowning achievement of storytelling that would make Charles Schulz proud and just a little bashful. Mr. Schulz was a notoriously humble man who simply enjoyed giving others joy with his characters and comics.
The story is split up into two separate, yet joined story-lines involving Charlie Brown and his incorrigible dog, Snoopy. Charlie Brown spots a newly moved-in neighbor, the cutest Little Red-Haired Girl you’ve ever seen, and immediately falls in puppy love. He spends the rest of the film trying to discover ways to build up his self-confidence, from visiting the local psychiatric booth to modern dance lessons. Meanwhile, Snoopy is inspired by his master’s lovelorn behavior and sets off into the skies as his Flying Ace alter ego to rescue a beautiful poodle flying ace from the clutches of the nefarious Red Baron.
There are uniquely wonderful moments provided in this movie, from Charlie Brown daring to fly a kite in the middle of winter to spite the Kite-Eating Tree to his sister Sally’s rodeo demonstration at the school talent show.
The gang is all here to perform as well, with Lucy being fuss-budgety as always, Linus providing moments of childish, philosophical clarity, and Schroeder being the compulsive soundtrack artist we know he is, even providing the iconic 20th Century Fox theme we expect. The filmmakers realize that the best PEANUTS adventures focus equally on both Charlie Brown’s struggles as well as Snoopy and Woodstock’s shenanigans.
Of the five features made of the Peanuts canon, this is certainly one of the best, alongside A Boy Named Charlie Brown and the truly under-appreciated Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown, whose only sin was being released the same year as a little movie called Star Wars.
I really adored this movie. It presented a fresh slice of PEANUTS lore, with plenty of literary callbacks, heartfelt character interactions, and surprisingly well-mounted aerial sequences that more than live up to the past specials and films. The gags are awesome and inventive, the cast uniform and charming all around, and the direction is pretty spot-on, if I should say so myself.
I hope it gets an Animated Feature nomination, because it’s really deserving, just for adapting the Schulz animation style, updating it, while not radically altering the design and lining of the world. Also, kudos for not trying to “update” the material or setting. PEANUTS should stay timeless. Please make more of these, Blue Sky!
*If I could make one suggestion: ditch the modern music and bring back the classy jazz soundtrack. It just works better that way.
Every year as the chills of fall set in, seniors compete in the coveted Bayberry Farms Village Chili Cook-Off. The steaming hot pots of chili presented for the October 23, 2015 competition included white and tomato based chilies, hot to mild.
This year’s lighthearted competition was judged by a team of jovial, yet highly-respected, Wyoming Firefighters. The winner of the 2015 Annual Bayberry Farms Village Chili Cook-Off was Ms. Ruby Roberts. After winning Second Place for two years in a row, Ruby tweaked her delicious white chili recipe to make it become the favorite chili of the day! Her mixture of chicken, white beans, cheeses and secret ingredients was the hands down favorite. Congratulations, Ruby!
Ruby intends to keep her recipe secret at this time as she is determined to win future competitions!
However, another big hit and highly requested recipe was “Catherine’s Cornbread.” It is not dry like a typical cornbread and not as fluid as a corn casserole. When firefighters ask for the recipe, you know it is good!
Catherine’s Cornbread
Ingredients:
Two Jumbo Eggs (Or Three Large Eggs)
1 Can Cream Corn
1 Can Drained Whole Corn
¼ Cup Sugar
2 Packages Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
Splash of Milk
Directions:
Mix the eggs, both corns and sugar together until well blended. Stir in the corn muffin mix. If too thick, add a splash of milk.
Pour into a greased 9 x 11 dish.
Bake at 350 (325 for glass dish) until toothpick in center comes out clean (around 20 or so minutes) and top is golden brown.
Do not over bake.
Featured at the Sundance Film Festival and slated as a contender for the 2015 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Best of Enemies is up next in the Real to Reel series at Saugatuck Center for the Arts (400 Culver Street) Thursday, November 19, 7:00 p.m.
The New York Post calls the film, “wickedly entertaining,” and Rolling Stone says, “modern television starts here.”
In the summer of 1968, television news changed forever. Dead last in the ratings, ABC hired two towering public intellectuals to debate each other during the Democratic and Republican national conventions. William F. Buckley, Jr. was a leading light of the new conservative movement. A Democrat and cousin to Jackie Onassis, Gore Vidal was a leftist novelist and polemicist.
Armed with deep-seated distrust and enmity, Vidal and Buckley believed each others political ideologies were dangerous for America. Like rounds in a heavyweight battle, they pummeled out policy and personal insult – cementing their opposing political positions. Their explosive exchanges devolved into vitriolic name-calling. It was unlike anything TV had ever broadcast, and all the more shocking because it was live and unscripted. Viewers were riveted. ABC News’ ratings skyrocketed. And a new era in public discourse was born – a highbrow blood sport that marked the dawn of pundit television as we know it today.
General admission is $5/Members; $7/Future Members.
The Saugatuck Center for the Arts, located at 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck, is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a more vibrant lakeshore community in West Michigan and beyond. For more information visit www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.
It’s not easy to quit smoking. Studies show that cigarettes are more addictive than heroin, and the first three weeks after you quit can be the most difficult. If you stumble along the way to giving up smoking, don’t punish yourself. Just try again.
Now is a great time to kick the habit and celebrate more birthdays with the American Cancer Society during this year’s Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 19. If you or someone you love needs help quitting this year, here are 10 tips on how to break free from a smoking addiction.
Don’t keep it a secret. Include your friends and family in your quitting process; they can offer much-needed support.
You’re not alone. More and more people are trying to break free from cigarettes and there are lots of support options available. Many communities, employers, and health care organizations have free or low-cost counseling and support available to help you quit. Call your American Cancer Society at 1.800.227.2345 to find out what’s available in your area.
Consider using medication to help you quit. There are prescriptions and over-the-counter medications that can help you deal with withdrawal symptoms or even help to reduce the urge to smoke. You’ll want to talk to your doctor first, but some medicine could help.
Dump the memories. Clear the places where you usually smoke of anything that reminds you of cigarettes – like lighters, ashtrays, or matches. Also ask other smokers not to smoke around you, and clean your house and car thoroughly to remove the smell of cigarettes.
Avoid places where smokers gather. Go to the movies or other places where smoking is not allowed.
Stay calm and stay busy. You may feel some nervous energy but it can be countered by physical and mental activities. Take long strolls and deep breaths of fresh air, and find things to keep your hands busy, like crossword puzzles or yard work. There are a lot of leaves on the ground at this time of year.
Talk to your doctor. Before you begin any plan for quitting smoking you should check with your doctor to see what might be the best approach for you. Remember, quitting smoking is very personal and there isn’t one perfect method.
When the urge to smoke strikes, do something else. If you feel a craving for a cigarette coming on, take a deep breath, count to 10 and then do something else. Call a supportive friend. Do brief exercises such as push-ups, walking up a flight of stairs, or touching your toes. Anything that will take your mind off your cravings.
One will hurt. Many people fall into the trap of thinking that if they only have one cigarette it’s okay. But even that one smoke can get you back in the habit of smoking full time. Keeping a supply of oral substitutes like carrots, apples, raisins, or gum handy can help.
Water, water everywhere. Drink lots of fluids to help curb cravings. Water is the best for this, and you’ll want to pass up on coffee and alcohol if they trigger your desire to smoke.
Cigarette smoking is the major single cause of cancer mortality in the United States, and tobacco use is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths each year in the U.S. Because cigarette smoking and tobacco use are acquired behaviors, smoking is the most preventable cause of death in our society.
Contact the American Cancer Society 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1.800.227.2345, or visit their website here.
When it came time to celebrate my dad’s birthday on October 9, only one place was on my radar. I began plotting the secret gathering before Labor Day and there were times I was so excited I almost blurted it out to him or shared something publicly on my Facebook.
My dad is a long-time lover of history and a dedicated genealogist. The summer between my fourth and fifth grade years, our summer vacation trip was spent traveling in our boat-of-a-Buick through Pennsylvania and New York, visiting libraries, town halls and cemeteries in search of tidbits tied to our family tree. At the time, I loathed the experience, but now…35 years later, it is one of my favorite childhood memories.
In 1998 or 1999, my brother and I received a great Christmas gift from our dad: detailed albums full of photos, histories, maps, scans of our family tartan and other pieces tied to our family history…both on his side of the family and my mom’s. It is still one of my most treasured possessions.
When I launched Promote Michigan in 2004 my “Speaker’s Bureau” provided the ideal opportunity for me in presenting programs at libraries, senior centers and museums around the state. My dad’s passion for history had finally caught up with me (that, and a genetic propensity for public speaking).
With my growing interest in culinary and agriculture, it made sense that “Made in the Mitten: Savoring Michigan’s Rich Foodie & Agricultural Heritage” be among my offerings. Ironically, the night before this birthday dinner, I gave this exact program at the Otsego History Museum. Several members of my family attended, including my dad—who hadn’t seen me speak publicly since the late 1980s.
Years ago, as I began researching the economic impact and history of a variety of crops like asparagus, carrots, peaches and the like, my dad shared with me the story of George Taylor—a Scotsman who settled in Portage (south of Kalamazoo), who was the first person to grow commercial celery in America. An historical marker celebrating this contribution stands in that community today. Recognized as “Celery City,” it is also home to Celery Flats Interpretive & Historic Area.
Taylor was also responsible for introducing chefs at the Burdick Hotel—now the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo—to this rare vegetable. It is said they considered it a curious crop, but soon it found its way into recipes in the fine dining establishment at the turn of the century.
If you were not aware, in the mid-to-late 1800s, celery was considered a delicacy—much like caviar or escargot. Only the well-to-do served it in their homes, displayed in elegant dishes filled with ice water to keep the stalks tall and crunchy.
Soon the rich soils of the Kalamazoo area were cultivated with celery seeds and the industry was born (and now flourishes in the Zeeland area, in neighboring Ottawa County).
Taylor and his family settled throughout the Kalamazoo area. His niece, Mary Taylor, inherited an undeveloped plot of land just west of downtown—high on a bluff adjacent to the campus of Kalamazoo College. It is there that she and her husband, Frank Henderson, set down roots.
Henderson was one of early Kalamazoo’s most successful businessmen—the owner and president of the Henderson-Ames Company, which made uniform regalia for secret societies, fraternal organizations and the military.
A man of grand ideas, Henderson dreamt of building an expansive suburb on this land and in 1888, he enlisted the help of surveyors, engineers and landscape architects to plot the land and create Kalamazoo’s first “natural site plan” development. The first building to be erected was to be a 25-room, Queen Anne-style house designed by C.A. Combert of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Frank and Mary would reside.
The $72,000 building costs included seven baths (one with a 13-head shower), an elevator and a third-floor ballroom. The castle’s exterior was constructed of Lake Superior sandstone and brick. The interior wood included mahogany, bird’s eye maple, quartered oak, birch and American sycamore. The home—Henderson Castle—exemplified the most expensive tastes of the time.
The Henderson’s had a grand housewarming party in 1895 at the completion of the castle’s construction. One could only imagine who graced the halls and shared in the hospitality of the day. Yet, Frank’s years in the grand home were short-lived, as he passed away in 1899. Mary died in 1907, and both she and Frank are buried across the street from their beloved castle, in Mountain Home Cemetery.
Over the years, nine parties have owned Kalamazoo’s famous castle on the hill. In 1957, the house was purchased as the future site for the Kalamazoo Art Center. However, when the Institute of Arts remained in downtown Kalamazoo, the castle became the property of the renowned liberal arts school at Kalamazoo College (which lies adjacent to the castle’s grounds).
Henderson Castle—which now operates as a bed-and-breakfast and French-inspired restaurant—has been featured in three movies (all of which were horror films) and has also been featured on the Discovery Channel and House Hunters. It’s the topic of many newspaper and magazine articles as well.
Now, back to MY family and the reason for this local history lesson…
George Taylor was one of four brothers (the others included Andrew and James, who also lived in the Kalamazoo area). Mary Taylor Henderson was the daughter of James Taylor, George’s brother. The fourth brother Alexander, remained in Scotland. He was my great-great-great-great grandfather on my dad’s mother’s side of the family.
So, when it came time to choose the setting for my dad’s surprise birthday celebration, it only made sense to secure the private dining room at Henderson Castle for a gourmet, 7-course dinner (for 10). It was his first visit to the castle. In fact, it was the first visit for everyone in the family (other than myself…I had toured it some 15 years prior).
Our evening started with a tour, led by a charming young man named Drakkar Hill. The Western Michigan University student (go Broncos) had only been “on the job” three months, but his knowledge end passion for the castle’s history was impressive. He also had a great personality, and was engaging with the family. He shared his stories, indulged us with our questions and photos, and was genuinely excited to hear of our “family ties” to the building and its original residents.
When our three generations finally settled in for our dinner, everyone was full of family pride…especially my dad.
Just before the first course was served, the current owner—Chef Francois Moyet—stopped by to say hello and happy birthday. He shared a bit more of the castle’s history and his plans to secure it as an historic site for future generations (which made us all happy). My dad shared our connection to Mary Taylor Henderson.
Soon, our server, Andrew, was plating our first course: a colorful and flavorful bruschetta crustini with a delicious homemade balsamic drizzled on the plate (officially, called “amuse bouche”). Next, it was a fresh garden salad, followed by a warming bowl of the soup de jour: creamy potato.
Entrees included Steak Diane, Chicken Marsala, Drunken Shrimp, Steamed Flounder and Roasted Pork Loin (wrapped in bacon), each with warm rolls and butter. Between the 10 of us, we had at least one of each dish and sample bites on forks were passed among the group upon request.
Dessert was a light and airy tiramisu, followed by a post-dessert tart with a bit of cream cheese and chunks of melon and grape slices. Two bottles of Henderson Castle wines, made locally, were paired with our meal—the unwooded Chardonnay and the ruby-red Meritage.
Those who know me, know my love of good food and company as I travel around Michigan (and, sometimes, beyond). But nothing compares to sitting around the table with your parents, adult children and siblings to celebrate a loved one’s birthday. And, there’s nothing better than when you—as daddy’s girl, even at age 46—make daddy smile!
Safe Travels!
This article was republished with permission from Dianna at Promote Michigan. We do our best to help with the promotion of the great State of Michigan!
Director Guillermo del Toro shows off the set of Crimson Peak.
Too many audiences are making a key mistake when they go to theaters to see movies. When the Crimson Peak trailer debuted, audiences simply assumed from the imagery and the booming score that this was just another period-piece, horror movie. The old adage still holds true: Trailers Always Lie!
They are half-right. It is a period piece. I don’t expect audiences to do research studies before going to see a movie, but a little reading has never really hurt, has it?
The director himself, Guillermo del Toro has even come out in various interviews explaining that the marketing is out of his hands, as his movie is a Gothic romance; just “a story that has ghosts in it”, not necessarily a ghost story. And the man is right, after all, he made the movie.
To describe this movie in simplest terms is if Hitchcock’s best Gothic romances (Suspicion, Rebecca, & Notorious) were all pureed by Dario Argento and topped with delicious Guillermo del Toro frosting.
The story concerns a troubled young American socialite, Edith Cushing, played by Mia Wasikowska of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland reboot fame, who yearns to explore the world and become a writer of stories. To escape the literal ghosts of her past, she falls for brooding inventor and land baron, Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston, The Avengers), but is forbidden to love him by her concerned father (Jim Beaver, Deadwood). After her father’s mysterious death, Sharpe whisks her off to England to reside in the family manor, a decrepit house occupied by Sharpe and his curious sister, Lucille (Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty). Little does Edith know of the dark past of the manor and its occupants, but she’s about to find out the price of loving mysterious men.
The cast here is truly top-notch. Hiddleston is basically playing a combination of Laurence Olivier’s Heathcliff and Michael Fassbender’s Rochester, with both turmoil and conviction. Wasikowska is a brilliant stand-in for the Joan Fontaine type. Charlie Hunnam is a charming character, for once, as the optometrist who has an interest in detective work. Jim Beaver, as Edith’s father, is not a stubborn fire and brimstone man as much as a cautious father, protecting his kin from what he perceives to be trouble. Even Burn Gorman in his brief appearance instills a sense of professional quality and resolve in his private investigator.
Spooky, Scary Jessica Chastain in Guillermo del Toro’s gothic chiller, Crimson Peak.
And then Jessica Chastain appears.
The fire that powers this woman is terrifying. Apparently possessed by the enraged spirits of both Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, all eyes are on her whenever she enters the story frame. There is a definite feeling of unease when she shares the screen with anyone, especially Hiddleston and Wasikowska. Brrrr! Just remembering every scene she has brings a shiver and a smile. It’s that chillingly good! Even when she’s simply playing the piano, she’s intimidating, and yet ridiculously alluring at the same time. like if Lauren Bacall played Mommie Dearest…or maybe that’s just me.
Everything else is quite up to snuff. The production design and costumes are equally lush and epic in construction. The music is on point, although sometimes plays to horror conventions much too easily for my taste. The sound design is downright masterful, echoing the likes of Robert Wise’s classic The Haunting as well as the under-appreciated Legend of Hell House.
I gotta admit: I am in love with Guillermo’s oeuvre. The man is a cheerful storyteller whose geek flag is flying high with every movie he makes. 2013’s Pacific Rim was his love letter to kaiju movies of the 1950s as well as mecha anime of the 1990s. His Academy-Award winning Pan’s Labyrinth was an ode to fairy tales and mythic creatures of Mexican lore. This movie is his love letter to both the Gothic romance genre, the works of Brontë and Daphne du Maurier as well as classic haunted house fare like The Old Dark House (James Whale, 1932). The man truly appreciates western and eastern pop culture equally, which y’all would know if you follow him on twitter. The man has near-encyclopedic knowledge of culture going back 150 years, nearly.
If you haven’t fear of witnessing what would happen if a classy story of ghosts, murder, and romantic intrigue was given a solid R-rated treatment, feel free to check out Crimson Peak before it leaves theaters, forever.
With the time-honored tradition of opening day just around the corner, sportsmen and women are gearing up for the hunt across Michigan. More than 540,000 hunters are expected to participate in the upcoming firearms season beginning Sunday, November 15.
While the sport is steeped in tradition and aspirations, it is also a driver of Michigan’s economy. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates hunting in Michigan generates more than $2.3 billion in economic impact in the state, including expenses related to food and lodging and $1.3 billion spent on equipment.
“Hunting is one more way that Michigan’s rich natural resources are helping to drive the state’s economy and contributing to our overall quality of life,” said Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Steve Arwood. “With the opening of firearms season for deer we will see more than 20,000 licensed hunters from outside of the state come to Michigan and more than half a million residents traveling to get to deer camp or their perfect spot, providing a boost to local communities along the way.”
While the deer harvest was down in 2014 – following trends seen across the Midwest – the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expects 2015 to provide an increased success rate – especially in the Northern and Southern Lower Peninsula. To combat decreased deer herds across the Upper Peninsula, the result of several consecutive years of harsh winters, the DNR has brought together a U.P. Habitat Workgroup to develop detailed deer winter range habitat strategies including management plans for individual deer wintering complexes throughout the U.P.
The workgroup – comprised of natural resource professionals, private landowners and sportsmen’s groups – is led by Natural Resources Commission member J.R. Richardson of Ontonagon and Jim Hammill of Crystal Falls, a wildlife management consultant who is also a retired DNR biologist. With an estimated 80 percent of the winter deer habitat in the U.P. managed by entities other than the DNR, the U.P. Habitat Workgroup will work cooperatively with these other stakeholders to improve deer winter range strategies across all land ownerships in the region.
Helping to manage healthy herds and habitats to ensure a successful hunt has important implications for Michigan’s economy. In 2014, an estimated $85 million was spent specifically on leisure travel related to hunting activities in the state according to data from D.K, Shifflet. Hunting and fishing leisure travel spending combined for $342 million in Michigan last year.
“Deer hunting is an iconic and defining Michigan tradition,” said DNR Director Keith Creagh. “Whether harvesting a big buck in the woods or just spending time at camp, the deer season offers one more great way for people to experience Michigan’s world-class natural resources while connecting with family and friends. We hope hunters throughout the state have a safe and successful season.”
Currently, Michigan ranks No. 3 in the nation for the number of licensed hunters statewide and 650,000 hunters are expected to purchase a deer hunting license in 2015. The DNR estimates more than 90 percent of Michigan hunters will pursue deer this year, with hunters spending an average of 14 days afield during the season. In Michigan, 60 percent of hunters only hunt deer making the upcoming firearm season an especially important driver of the state’s hunting economy.
To promote the hunt in Michigan – both for deer and other species, including grouse – Pure Michigan and the DNR collaborated again this year on a targeted marketing campaign to reach hunters both in-state and in neighboring states, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.
“This year we were especially interested in targeting active hunters and active anglers that have the potential to crossover and participate in both sports,” said Dave Lorenz, Vice President of Travel Michigan. “Ultimately this benefits the entire state by increasing hunting and fishing revenue – funding that goes back into efforts to create world-class recreational opportunities to be enjoyed by all residents and visitors.”
The Michigan Department of State yesterday released the 2016 presidential primary candidate list. The list is available online.
Under state law, the department is required to create a list of presidential candidates “generally advocated by the national news media to be potential presidential candidates” for the Republican and Democratic parties for the presidential primary election.
The chairs of the Michigan Democratic and Republican parties now have until 4 p.m., Nov. 17, to add names of other candidates to the candidate list for their party. A candidate on the list who wishes to withdraw has until 4 p.m., Dec. 11, to notify the department that he or she is not a presidential candidate.
Candidates not placed on the list by the department or the party chairs may collect signatures to be placed on the ballot.
The Michigan presidential primary will be March 8, 2016. Besides the candidates listed on the ballot, voters also may choose “uncommitted” as an option. In addition to the presidential primary, residents in some communities also may be voting on local ballot proposals or for special elections to fill vacancies.
Voters will be able to view their March 8 sample ballot online closer to Election Day to review any other elections occurring that day.
. Skip the traditional gift-giving and donate the money to a charity. Screw those greeting cards. What a bunch of hooey!
e basement (or up in the attic), and they won’t mind waiting another year. Seriously.
he kids, not so much. After years of therapy, they’re fine–proof positive that kids can bounce back from just about anything. (Your healthcare insurance may provide coverage for just such an emergency. Read the fine print.)
Free for the whole family, the fun begins at 6 pm with a Candy Cane Hunt. Also beginning at 6 pm are Carriage Rides and Hay Rides, new this year. Enjoy light refreshments from 6-6:45, and then be sure to stick around for the main event at 6:45, the Tree Lighting Ceremony. It will put you in a festive mood, assuming you’re not already there mentally. And if you are, be prepared to get even more amped up, thanks to the music performed by the EKHS Jazz Band.
There is a dark side to holiday lights, alas, and it has to do with recycling. Amazingly, more than 20 million pounds of discarded holiday lights are shipped to the Christmas light recycling capital of the world, aka Shijiao, China. This unfortunate custom began around 1990 because of–you guessed it–cheap labor and dismal environmental standards. Details 
– Handcrafted leather work
