All posts by Joanne

Grand Rapids Comic-Con

October 26, 2015Citizen Journalism, Local Entertainment, Our CitiesComic-Con, Grand Rapids Comic Con, Katelyn KohaneJoanne

By: Katelyn Kohane

“Your mission, should you choose to accept it” is to see what I accomplished at the Grand Rapids Comic-Con.

As some of you know I did attend the biggest Comic-Con this year in San Diego. So follow me through the Grand Rapids Comic-Con.

I heard attendance for Grand Rapids Comic-Con, was 6,000 people. Compared to San Diego is not much, but the good thing would be that all 6,000 would fit into Hall H!

I was only able to attend Grand Rapids Comic-Con on Friday for a few hours. I wandered the floor and ran across some pretty cool cars. I saw the Speed Racer Mach 5, the Starsky and Hutch car, Mater from Cars, and Tony Stark’s car from Iron Man.

There were a few people that dressed up. They had some neat costumes. There were a lot from Batman. I saw a Harley Quinn, The Riddler, The Joker and Harvey Dent. There were also the Ghost Busters, Indiana Jones and Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy.

Unfortunately, I was not able to attend any of the panels in Grand Rapids but they did have some neat ones that I would have liked. Such as “The Life of Being a Bad Guy”, “The World of Being a Stunt Man”, and “What is the 501st? 501st Legion of Stormtroopers.”

As I mentioned before from San Diego Comic-Con, The 501st and Rebel Legion are two groups that you can join and wear Star Wars costumes plus do volunteer work. They had a big booth at Grand Rapids Comic-Con.

As I also mentioned from San Diego Comic-Con, Ashley Eckstein of Her Universe had a Fashion Show and showed off some really cool outfits. While at Grand Rapids Comic-Con there was a girl who had on one of Ashley’s dresses that she designed. I also wore a sweatshirt that Ashley designed. It’s called the Ultimate Convention Hoodie. She thought of everything. It has pockets for posters, pockets for comics and even a pocket for a water bottle. She really does come up with amazing designs.

New York happened to have their Comic-Con a week before Grand Rapids. At the New York Comic-Con I heard that Back to the Future stars Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) met up. This is the 30th Anniversary of Back to the Future. They met up to discuss some of the predictions from the movie. Unfortunately, the Chicago Cubs just lost to the New York Mets, but they did get another prediction right about Star Wars Episode 7!

The cast from the Blindspot was also at the New York Comic-Con. I’ve been watching the Blindspot and it has an interesting twist. The Player, another series that was introduced, at San Diego Comic-Con, is about betting on crime and takes place in and around Vegas. Don’t forget SuperGirl will be starting soon!

I did buy some cool shot glasses from Grand Rapids Comic-Con. One has the two symbols from Star Wars, which are the Rebel Alliance and the Empire on it and the other had the Mandilorian symbol, which is Boba Fett’s symbol.

Hopefully next years Grand Rapids Comic-Con will just continue to get bigger and better. Signing off until next time. And in honor of “Back to the Future.” “If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour… you’re gonna see some serious shit.”

Katie works in the film industry as a camera operator and has worked on films like ‘All You Can Dream’, ‘Set Up’ and a TV show called ‘American Fallen Soldier.’ She loves helping WKTV with the Citizen Journalism team and working as a tech at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Katie loves working in the film industry and loves watching movies just as much!

Celebrate Michigan Apple Month with #PureMichigan Salted Caramel Apple

October 25, 2015Citizen Journalism, Local BusinessDianna Higgs Stampfler, Hudsonville Ice Cream, Promote Michigan, Salted Carmel AppleJoanne

By: Dianna Higgs Stampfler

Savor the flavors of the fall season in the Great Lakes State with the Limited Edition Pure Michigan Salted Caramel Apple flavor from Holland-based Hudsonville Ice Cream. With thoughts turned toward the colorful harvest season, this flavor gives a nod to the apple orchards that dot the rural landscape around the state.

“Ever since it was introduced as the 2012 winner of the ‘Pure Michigan’ online flavor contest, Pure Michigan Salted Caramel Apple has been a mouth-watering fall favorite,” says Raymond Sierengowski from Hudsonville Ice Cream. “With its combination of fresh Michigan apples folded into a special caramel-infused ice cream, it tastes just like caramel apples on a stick.”

According to the Michigan Apple Committee, Michigan is the third-largest apple producing state in the country (behind California and New York). In 2014, Michigan harvested about 24 million bushels of apples from 9.2 million apple trees in commercial production, covering 36,500 acres on 850 family farms. Michigan’s apple industry is valued at about $250 million, annually (contributing significantly to state’s overall $102 billion agricultural industry).

Other fall flavors from Hudsonville Ice Cream include:

-Cider Mill Donut — Starting off with apple cider flavored ice cream with a spiced-apple swirl throughout and real donut pieces. All the flavors of your local cider mill are delivered in one delicious scoop. What’s left of this popular flavor is out in the marketplace around the state.

-Fried Ice Cream — The weather may be turning cooler, but this flavor will warm your heart. Re-creating the fried ice cream experience from your favorite restaurants, this seasonal flavor takes cinnamon ice cream and mixes in pieces of cinnamon tostada crunch, with a honey caramel swirl. This flavor has flown out of the freezer cases, and remains available only in limited quantities.

-Pumpkin Pie — Michigan ranks #2 in the country for the number of pumpkins harvested each year, and this rich and creamy flavor pays tribute to its place in the state’s overall agricultural industry. Served alone or as the a la mode to your favorite pie, this flavor returns to the freezer case just in time for holiday celebrations. With its traditional pumpkin pie flavors and now with actual pieces of pie crust, it makes a wonderful compliment to your holiday dessert table. Look for this flavor in stores now!

Look for these “Limited Edition” flavors—distinguished by the red packaging—in grocery stores throughout Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois from through early November (while supplies last), alongside the All Season flavors and then Naturals line.

Started in 1895 as a farmers’ cooperative, the Holland-based Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream is the largest manufacturer of branded ice cream in Michigan. For more than 80 years, this Midwest company has been producing its creamy, delicious ice cream – using many of its original flavors, while at the same time creating refreshing new recipes inspired by the Great Lakes.

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!

Trunk-or-Treat gets accessorized with the Fall Festival (Note: Location Change!)

October 23, 2015Holidays, Local Faces, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming EventsFall Festival, Kentwood Parks and Rec Department, Mike DeWitt, Trunk or TreatJoanne

Children in costumes, candy coming through their ears, and laughter and smiles that can be seen from space!

Trick-or-Treating is an annual tradition around the nation on Halloween, but the City of Kentwood adds a little twist, instead of going door-to-door, the children go trunk-to-trunk. Why trick-or-treat when you can just as easily trunk-or-treat?

Trunk-or-Treat has become a holiday staple for the Kentwood Parks and Rec Department. It gives children an opportunity to dress up in their favorite costumes and trick-or-treat in a safe environment. The event is also a chance for those children who don’t live in neighborhoods to have a neighborhood brought to them!

This year, with a whole new staff running the event, the Kentwood Parks and Rec Department decided to add a little more fun to Trunk-or-Treat. Don’t think of it as a face-lift or a makeover, it’s more along the lines of accessorizing.

“We are excited about the new addition of the Fall Festival in conjunction with the Trunk or Treat event!” explained Lorraine Beloncis of the Kentwood Parks and Rec Department, “We’ve added hayrides, games, a bouncy house, music, cider & donuts and face painting along with our sponsored trunks handing out candy.”

The addition of the Fall Festival should only add more smiles to a fun-filled day that families and children of all ages can enjoy. On top of all the fun events previously mentioned, there will be pumpkin racing, Halloween Plinko, and pumpkin ring toss.

Oh! I almost failed to mention, the children aren’t the only ones who get to dress up and show off their creative side. It’s encouraged for all participants to decorate and vote on their trunks as well!

Don’t miss out on all the fun of the Fall Festival! This years event is Saturday, October 24 from 10am-noon. Because of the weather, Fall Festival has been moved from its original location at Veteran’s Park to the Garage at Kentwood’s Public Works Department. The address is 5068 Breton Road, between 44th and 52nd Street.

Halloween Fun in West Michigan: Northern Michigan

October 23, 2015Local Business, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Travel, Upcoming EventsChateau Chantal, Crystal Mountain Spooktacular Saturdays, Halloween, Mackinac Island, Northern Michigan, Shorts Brewing Company, St. Ignace, Traverse CityJoanne

There is so much to do in West Michigan to kick off the Halloween fun! This three part series will dive into different Fall and Halloween activities all throughout the West side of this Marvelous State. Northern West Michigan finishes the series. If you missed part one or part two on Southern Michigan and Central Michigan, be sure not to let it Fall to the wayside!

As Halloween approaches, all the little ghouls and goblins have one thing on their minds: Trick-or-Treating! To keep the kids’ minds off candy just a bit longer, kick off your Halloween fun early in West Michigan! Whether it’s family fun at the corn maze, or Halloween-themed pub crawls for the grown up ghouls, there are plenty of Halloween activities for all ages around West Michigan to get you in a Halloween mood!

Northern Halloween Fun in West Michigan

Chateau Chantal’s Naughty Apple Hard Cider

For those adults looking to pair their Halloween fun with a seasonal brew, you’ll want to check out Chateau Chantal’s Naughty Apple Hard Cider. Their brand new & wonderfully tantalizing Naughty Apple Hard Cider is fermented from a duo of Michigan Golden Delicious & Gala apples. Slightly sweet, serve chilled. Purchase in their tasting room or online at the Chateau Chantal web store.

While you’re visiting Chateau Chantal, enjoy a beautiful & elegant 7-course meal perfectly paired alongside a Chateau Chantal wine & created by the talented in-house chef. Learn from their knowledgeable staff about food & wine pairings while savoring exquisite creations & making new friends. Bring an eager palate, an inquisitive mind & an empty stomach! Your experience begins with an informative winery tour at 6pm with dinner seating in the winery’s beautiful dining room, with panoramic views of both bays, at 6:30pm. Seating is limited so book yours before it’s too late! Reservations & payment are required at least a day in advance. Reserve online here or call (231) 223-4110.

Short’s Brewing Company

Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire is hosting a Halloween Party on October 31st. The Private Stache bottle release will start at 11:00 am with other events like the costume contest taking place in the evening. You’ll also get to enjoy Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers play live on the pub stage (beginning at 9:00 pm), spooky food specials, a costume contest, Halloween themed draft beer, and a Bourbon Evil Urges Private Stache bottle release.

St. Ignace

St. Ignace puts a unique spin on Halloween fun at the annual St. Ignace Trunk or Treat on October 24, 2015. Parents decorate their ghoulish vehicles and dispense candy to those in costume directly from the trunk of the car. It’s tailgating for Halloween! Afterward, ride the hay wagon to the Haunted Woods and take a tour if you’re brave enough, or simply enjoy games and music. It all starts at the lot behind the Quality Inn. Prizes awarded for best costume, scariest costume and most original costume. Everyone’s invited!

Crystal Mountain Spooktacular Saturdays

Take in the autumn air during Spooktacular Saturdays on October 24th at Crystal Mountain. The whole family is sure to have a good time with activities for all ages to enjoy. Take advantage of specialty Fun Pass prices that provide a bundle of activities at a discounted rate. Participate in apple bobbing, wagon rides, face painting, and unlimited marshmallows at the campfire! Take in the leaves from the chairlift, or carve pumpkins to get into the Halloween mood. Bring your best costume for the Costume Parade at 5pm, with free entry and candy for all participants! If you’re feeling brave, head over to the Haunted Forest at the end of the night (recommended for ages nine and up).

Downtown Traverse City

October closes with a parade of little ghosts and goblins as Downtown Traverse City hosts costume clad children and their parents to trick or treat at participating stores throughout the Downtown area on Halloween. The event kicks off at 3:30 until 5 pm. For more information call (231) 922-2050 or visit www.downtowntc.com. While you’re there, watch out for running zombies, as the Zombie Run takes place that morning!

Mackinac Island

In the Celtic world, Samhain marks the end of summer and the beginning of the new year and a time to commemorate the souls of the blessed dead. With the rise of Christianity, it was changed to Halloween and remains a joyous time of family reunion.

On Mackinac Island, they celebrate both traditions with their Halloween Weekend October 23rd through 25th. Have fun with the kids Trick or Treating downtown, take the Haunts of Mackinac Tour and then gear up for some great grown up Halloween parties at the downtown pubs. This is also the time of year that the Island shops work hard to clear out their inventory with great discounts and sales. Be sure to browse on Main Street, Market Street and at the shops at Grand Hotel. This makes a perfect weekend to skip out on Black Friday and get a head start on holiday shopping.

For up to the day room availability, just call the Tourism Bureau 906.847.3783, and they hope to see you join in their tradition to pull out all the stops and celebrate the end of the Island’s main season.

West Michigan’s Best Color Tours

October 23, 2015Our Cities, Recreation, TravelColor tours, West Michigan Color Tours, West Michigan Tourist AssociationJoanne

The West Michigan Tourist Association compiled a list of the 26 best color tours in West Michigan. If you’re looking to get away and enjoy our beautiful State in its colorful state of mind, give these color tours your full attention!

Just how many ways are there to view this splendor of autumn’s pallet? West Michigan travelers have an abundance of ways to enjoy the show, either by car, train, boat, bicycle, hot air balloon rides, at festivals, hiking, on golf courses and luxury resorts, or historic highways. Many of these “old roads” cut through great forests of hardwoods and pines and make perfect color tours, and some are state-designated scenic routes. From 40 miles to 140 miles, there’s a day trip perfect for everyone. Read on to view a listing of 26 scenic driving routes and print detailed directions for each.

Color Tour One: Directions Starting from New Buffalo

Red Arrow Hwy north to Bridgman. I-94 north to Benton Harbor, M-63 north to Coloma Rd, east to Watervliet. I-94 east to Paw Paw (Exit 60), M-40 south to M-216 east in Marcellus, US-131 south to Three Rivers. M-60 west to Cassopolis, M-62 north to Dowagiac. West on M-62, south on M-140 to Niles, M-60BR to US-12, west to New Buffalo.

Color Tour Two: Directions Starting from Centreville

Klinger Lake Rd north (becomes Covered Bridge Rd) across Langley Covered Bridge. Covered Bridge Rd then becomes Silver St. North to M-60. East on M-60 through Mendon (becomes M-60/M-66) to Clarendon. South on 22 Mile Rd (becomes Clarendon Rd in Branch Co). Right on Jonesville Rd 1/2 mile, south on Quincy Ray Rd to California, then west on Southern Rd to Angola Rd. Turn left, then right to return to Southern. West through East Gilead to River Son Rd, right on Southern, right on Orland, then left to Southern. Left on Dutch School Rd, right at Round Lake Rd past Round Lake (becomes Fawn River Rd in St. Joseph Co). Left at second intersection to continue on Fawn River Rd. North on Klinger Lk Rd to return to Centreville.

Color Tour Three: Directions Starting from Jackson

South on M-50, west on Meridian, south on Stonewall. South on Horton Rd, south on Jackson Rd to Liberty. West on Hanover Rd, north on Pulaski Rd to M-60 heading northeast. West on Michigan Ave, north on Parma, north on Country Farm Rd, north on Rogers Rd, east on Benn Rd. North on Stepladder Rd, north on Springport Rd through Minard Mill where it becomes Minard Rd. South on M-50, south on US-127, east on I-94. North on Route 106 to Munith. South on Coon Hill Rd, east on Waterloo Munith Rd through Waterloo Recreational Area in the State Park. South on Clear Lake Rd (turns into Francisco Rd south of I-94). West on Michigan Ave back to Jackson.

Color Tour Four: Directions Starting from Lansing

M-43 west through Grand Ledge, then south to M-89. East to Gull Lake Rd, north to C Ave. East to 40th St (becomes Kellogg Ave in Barry Co), north to Hickory Corners. East on CR-400 (Hickory Rd) to M-37, south to M-89 (W Michigan St), east to Raymond, north to Verona, east to McCallaster, north to ÒNÓ Dr to 16 Mile Rd (becomes 16-1/2 Mile Rd). South on Old US-27 to Marshall, east on Michigan Ave to Albion. North on M-99 through Springport (becomes M-50/M-99) to Lansing.

Color Tour Five: Directions Starting from South Haven

Phoenix Rd (CR-388) east to 46th St. Turn south, then east to return to CR-388 in Bloomingdale. CR-655 south to CR-380 east, 38th St north, then CR-388 east through Kendall. North to 12th Ave (CR-388, becomes D Ave in Kalamazoo Co). D Ave east to US-131, south to M-43, west to South Haven.

Color Tour Six: Directions Starting from Allegan

M-40/89 north to Monroe Rd (118th St), west to Allegan Dam Rd north (circles back east around Lake Allegan). Cross M-40/89 to head north on 36th St, east on Dumont Rd, then north on 122nd Ave. East on 127th Ave, east on 128th Ave through Hopkins to 12th St north. East across US-131 on 129th Ave (becomes CR-430 in Barry Co) around Gun Lake through Yankee Springs Recreation Area, then south on CR-611 to CR-428. West to CR-623, south to CR-426, west at Orangeville. South on Dennison Rd to 116th Ave (M-22), east across US-131 to Allegan.

Color Tour Seven: Directions Starting from Holland

BR-31 south to US-31. Take first exit (Saugatuck), then south on Blue Star Hwy (A-2) to 118th Ave. East to 62nd St, north to 122nd Ave. Wind east, then north to M-89 (124th Ave), east through Fennville to Old Allegan Rd north (parts are unpaved but maintained), east to 60th St north. East on 140th Ave, north on 66th St, west on Ottagan St to S Shore Dr, east to downtown Holland/US-31.

Color Tour Eight: Directions Starting from Grand Haven

Robbins Rd east to Mercury Dr past Grand River bayous to Riverside Park (becomes Green St, then North Cedar Dr). South on 104th Ave, east on Osborn St (becomes Warner). South on 68th St, east on M-45. South onto 48th St, east on Fillmore (becomes Cottonwood Dr). In Jenison, left on Baldwin, left on Chicago Dr. In Grandville, left on Wilson to M-11/28th St, left onto M-11 northbound. Left on Fennesey St (becomes Luce St, then Linden Dr). Left on Leonard St through Spring Lake to Grand Haven.

Color Tour Nine: Directions Starting from Grand Rapids

North on East Beltline (M-44), turns into Northland Dr through Rockford to Cedar Springs. West on M-46, south on CR-B35 (Ravenna Rd) through Ravenna to Coopersville. Left on Randall Rd, right on 48th Ave. I-96 east back to Grand Rapids.

Color Tour Ten: Directions Starting from Ada

M-21 east, south on Ada Dr, east on Bronson to view Ada Covered Bridge. Left on Thornapple River Dr, right on Ada Dr to M-21 east. North on Hudson (becomes Lincoln Lake Ave). East on Fallasburg County Park Rd, follow signs to cross Fallasburg Covered Bridge. Right on McPherson (becomes Potters Rd), north on Whites Bridge Rd (becomes gravel) across Whites Covered Bridge. East on Belding Rd (also M-44), north on M-91, east on M-46. South on M-66 to Ionia, west on M-21 to Ada.

Color Tour Eleven: Directions Starting from Big Rapids

Northland Dr north through Paris to Reed City. East on M-10BR to M-10 east to Evart. South on Main (becomes 85th Ave then curves to become 80th Ave) to Hill Corner. East on 20 Mile Rd, south on M-66, east on Taft Rd (becomes Airline Rd in Isabella Co). South on Coldwater Rd, east on Weidman, south on old US-27 (Mission Rd) to Mt. Pleasant. West on M-20 (High St then Remus Rd). South on Winn Rd, west on Blanchard Rd (becomes Jackson Rd in Mecosta Co). North on M-66 to Remus, west on M-20 (9 Mile Rd), south on 90th Ave, west on Buchanan Rd through Canadian Lakes. South on 130th Ave, west on 5 Mile Rd (CR-548). North on Northland Drive through Stanwood and back to Big Rapids.

Color Tour Twelve: Directions Starting from Fremont

M-82 west to M-120 north through Hesperia, east on M-20 to Dickinson Ave. North to 11 Mile Rd, east to Woodland Park, north on Bingham Ave to Bitely. West on Cleveland (13 Mile Rd), north on Osborn Ave, east on Coolidge Dr, north on Star Lake Tower Rd, west on Star Lake Dr (becomes Evergreen) around Big Star Lake. East on Carrs Rd (56th St) to Baldwin. South on M-37 (Woodbridge Dr) to White Cloud. East on Base Line Rd, south on Elm Ave. East on 36th St past the Hardy Dam, west on Hardy Croton Dr (becomes Croton Dr) to Newaygo. Left on Mason Dr (M-37), east on M-82. South on Cypress Ave to Ensley Center. West on 120th St to Ashland Center. North on Wisner Ave, west on 112th St to Bridgeton (becomes Warner Ave, then M-82) to Fremont.

Color Tour Thirteen: Directions Starting from Muskegon

US-31 north to westbound Whitehall-Colby St exit (US-31BR). Left on Mears, left on Main, right on Benston, right on Durham, right on Lakewood Rd. Left on Weber, right on Michillinda. Left on Nestrom, right on Duck Lake Rd, then left on Scenic Dr along Lake Michigan to Muskegon State Park. Left on Memorial Dr to Whitehall Rd/US-31BR (Seaway Dr). South to Laketon Ave (becomes Lakeshore Dr after curve) to Pere Marquette Park. Follow shoreline. Right on Beach St, left on Sherman Blvd, right on Lincoln, right on McCracken, left on Seminole. Right on Lake Harbor Rd (becomes Pontaluna Rd) to US-31 north to Muskegon.

Color Tour Fourteen: Directions Starting from Montague

North on US-31BR, north on Whitehall Rd through Rothbury. East on Cleveland Rd, north on 90th Ave, west on Arthur Rd, north on Oceana Dr through New Era, Shelby and Hart. West on Monroe Rd (becomes US-31BR) to Long Bridge Rd along Pentwater Lake. South on Ridge Ave (becomes Hazel Rd, then Silver Lake Rd at Silver Lake). South on 18th Ave, west on Buchanan, south on 16th Ave (becomes Scenic Dr, then Webster Rd). South on 48th Ave (becomes Lehman Rd in Muskegon County), east on Meinert Park Rd, south on Chase Rd, west on Hancock Rd and south on Old Channel Trail. East on Prospect Rd and follow the shoreline back to Montague.

Color Tour Fifteen: Directions Starting from Ludington

US-10 west, north on Lakeshore Drive to Hamlin Lake. East on Dewey Rd, north on Jebavy then right immediately on Angling Rd. East on Fountain Rd to Fountain. South on Reek Rd, east on Sugar Grove Rd, south on Benson Rd to Walhalla. East on M-10, then first right south onto Wallhalla Rd. West on Hawley Rd, south on Scottville Rd, west on Marrison Rd, south on Stiles to Bucks Corner. West on Washington Rd to West Oceana Dr, north on Lakeshore Dr past Bass Lake to Buttersville Park and Pere Marquette Memorial. Go back south on Lakeshore Dr, east on Iris Rd to US-31 north. Exit west on M-10 back to Ludington.

Color Tour Sixteen: Directions Starting from Clare

US-10BR northwest through Farwell. Northwest on M-115, east on M-61 to Harrison, south on Old US-27BR to Clare.

Color Tour Seventeen: Directions Starting from Cadillac

M-55 east to M-66 north through Lake City. West on M-42 through Manton to US-131 south. West on Boon Rd to Harrietta, south on 11-1/4 Rd. West on M-55, south on 7-1/2 Rd (becomes 48th Rd). South on 11-1/4 Rd to State Rd into Lake Co. East on Five Mile Rd, north on Skookum, east to Eight Mile (becomes 20 Mile Rd in Osceola Co), east to US-131, north to Cadillac.

Color Tour Eighteen: Directions Starting from Manistee

US-31 north to M-110 (Lakeshore Rd) to Portage Lake. East on Crescent Beach Rd, north on M-22 through Onekama. West on Potter Rd through Pierport, west on 13 Mile Rd to Lake Michigan. Backtrack 200 feet east. North on Lakeview Rd, east on Shaef Rd, north on M-22 through Arcadia. (Scenic Hwy), east on Grace Rd. South on M-31, south on M-115 past Thompsonville. South on Yates Rd, west on Nine Mile Rd, south on Highbridge Rd. West on M-55 (Caberfae Hwy), south on US-31 back to Manistee.

Color Tour Nineteen: Directions Starting from Frankfort

East on M-115 to Benzonia, northeast on US-31 through Interlochen. North on M-37/US-31 to Traverse City. To tour Old Mission Point, follow M-37 north. Backtrack to Traverse CIty via US-31 west. M-22 north through Suttons Bay to Northport. South on M-22 through Leland to Glen Arbor. South on M-109 through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. South on M-22 to Empire and back to Frankfort.

Color Tour Twenty: Directions Starting from Grayling

I-75 north to M-93 (exit 259) north past Hartwick Pines State Park. East on CR-612 to Lovells, south on CR-F97, south on M-18 through Roscommon. West on M-55 to Houghton Lake. North on Old US-27 back to Grayling.

Color Tour Twenty-One: Directions Starting from Kalkaska

North on US-131/M-66 to Mancelona. South on CR-571 (Tillie Rd in Antrim Co, Darragh Rd in Kalkaska Co) to Darragh. East on CR-612 (Manistee Lk Rd) around Manistee Lake to Frederick. South on Old US-27 to Grayling. West on M-72, north on US-131 back to Kalkaska.

Color Tour Twenty-Two: Directions Starting from Elk Rapids

North on US-31 to Eastport. East on M-88 toward Central Lake. North on CR-65, east on Mohrmann Bridge Rd, south on Rushton Rd (becomes Intermediate Lake Rd), south on Derenzy Rd to CR-620 through Bellaire. South on East Torch Lk Dr (CR-593) through Alden (becomes Crystal Beach Rd) and north to Kewadin (becomes Cherry Ave) then south again (becomes Cairn Hwy) back to Elk Rapids.

Color Tour Twenty-Three: Directions Starting from Gaylord

West on M-32 to East Jordan. West on Ellsworth Rd (CR-626) to Ellsworth. West on Atwood Rd (CR-48) to Atwood. North on US-31 through Charlevoix, Bay Harbor & Petoskey on to Alanson. East on M-68 to Indian River. South on I-75 back to Gaylord.

Color Tour Twenty-Four: Directions Starting from Petoskey

US-31 north to M-119, north through Harbor Springs to Cross Village. Left on Lake Shore Dr to Lakeview Rd (becomes Gill Rd at Sturgeon Bay). Left on Cecil Bay Rd, right on Wilderness Park Dr north to Mackinaw City. Pass under I-75 at the base of Mackinac Bridge. South on US-23 (Cheboygan Co. Scenic Route) through Cheboygan. South on M-27 through Indian River. East on M-68 to US-31 south to Petoskey.

Color Tour Twenty-Five: Directions Starting from Mackinac Island Ferry Docks

Left on Market St to Cadotte Ave, right to Huron Rd behind Ft. Mackinac to Arch Rock. Left on Rifle Range Rd, right on Sugar Loaf Rd, back to Rifle Range. Right to Garrison Rd past Skull Cave, left on Annex Rd to Cadotte, right to Market, left to docks.

Color Tour Twenty-Six: Directions Starting from Beaver Island Ferry Docks

Starting at the ferry dock in “downtown” St. James, turn right at the Ace Hardware. Turn left at the top of the hill onto The Kings Highway heading south out of “town”. Turn left on McCauley’s Road. Turn right on East Side Drive. At the south end of the island it becomes West Side. Don’t forget to stop and visit the Lighthouse just before Iron Ore Bay. Cross the 4-way intersection onto Paid Een Ogs Road. Turn left onto The Kings Hwy back to “town.”

Michigan Selected as Finalist for First-of-its-kind Mental Health Initiative

October 22, 2015Community Health, Non-Profits, PoliticsExcellence In Mental Health, mental health, Senator Debbie Stabenow, State of MichiganJoanne

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today announced that Michigan will be awarded $982,373 to compete in a nation-wide program to improve and expand access to mental health care. This first-of-its-kind initiative is based on Senator Stabenow’s Excellence in Mental Health Act, which is one of the most significant steps forward in community mental health funding in decades.

Selected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Michigan is one step closer to being chosen to be part of a new eight-state demonstration program to expand quality mental health care. This new program will offer patients increased services like 24-hour crisis psychiatric care, counseling, and integrated treatments for mental illness. Senator Stabenow’s bipartisan Excellence in Mental Health Act was cosponsored by Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) and signed into law by President Obama last year.

“Mental illness touches every family in some way,” Senator Stabenow said. “It is critically important that communities in Michigan have the resources they need to help everyone living with mental illness. We must continue to work together to make sure illnesses above the neck are treated the same as illnesses below the neck.”

Michigan is one of 24 states selected to work with interested community mental health centers, Federally-Qualified Health Centers, VA clinics, and other mental health organizations to design a state program that meets the new quality standards for Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers. The eight states chosen to participate in the demonstration program will increase funding for community mental health services and improve the quality of those services. This is the first step toward funding quality behavioral health services in communities nation-wide.

“We are excited to receive a planning grant for the State of Michigan to design and implement a structure that will further integrate and coordinate behavioral health and primary care, improve outreach to consumers in the greatest need and provide needed and effective coordination of care among providers in multiple settings throughout the state,” said Jeff Patton, CEO of Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Senator Stabenow has been a life-long advocate for quality mental health services. She authored the mental health parity provisions in the Affordable Care Act to stop discrimination in coverage between physical and behavioral health services. Senator Stabenow introduced the Excellence in Mental Health Act with Senator Blunt in 2013 to put mental health centers on a more equal footing with other health centers by improving quality standards and expanding access.

The law is supported by over 50 mental health organizations, veterans organizations and law enforcement organizations including: the National Association of Police Organizations, National Sheriffs’ Association, American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Council for Behavioral Healthcare, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health America, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and Give An Hour, among many others.

A full list of the 24 states awarded funding can be found here.

Halloween Fun in West Michigan: Central Michigan

October 22, 2015Local Business, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming EventsBlandford Nature Center, Central West Michigan, Chocolates by Grimaldi, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids Children's Museum, Halloween On Ice, Halloween West Michigan, John Ball Zoo, LowellArts!, Opera Grand Rapids, Our Brewing Company, Pentwater, Play Bytes by PlaywrightsJoanne

There is so much to do in West Michigan to kick off the Halloween fun! This three part series will dive into different Fall and Halloween activities all throughout the West side of this Marvelous State. Next up is Central West Michigan. If you missed part one on Southern Michigan, be sure not to let it Fall to the wayside!

Central Halloween Fun in West Michigan

Opera Grand Rapids

Opera Grand Rapids is ramping up for its annual Night With The Opera fundraiser on October 30 surrounding the company’s season opening concert of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem.” Opera Grand Rapids invites the public to participate in an evening of unique cuisine and libations, live performances, and plenty of ghosts and ghouls at this year’s Halloween-themed event. All proceeds from the event support Opera Grand Rapids’ mission year-round, to foster and fulfill demand for high quality, live opera in West Michigan.

In keeping with tradition, Night With the Opera will treat guests to a festive evening packed full of live performances, along with the opportunity to join other advocates in support of live opera in the community. More information can be found here.

Pentwater

Pentwater has a number of opportunities to get outside and enjoy the Halloween season! October 31st heralds Halloween on the Green & the Spooktacular Parade! From 1pm through 5pm, bring the kids out in costume for fun activities, trick or treating with downtown merchants, the parade, and more Halloween fun.

Grand Rapids Children’s Museum

Bring your little ghouls and goblins in for a night of Trick or Treat fun at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum! Visit on Thursday, October 29th, from 5:00-8:00pm to create Halloween art, decorate a treat bag, and trick or treat throughout the museum! Entry is just $1.75 per person, and don’t forget your costume!

LowellArts! King Gallery

On display in the LowellArts! King Gallery is an exhibition titled “Things That Go Bump in the Night.” The exhibit is a group show of dark and mysterious themed artwork that was submitted through an open call for artists. Artwork on display embraces the concept of darkness, mystery, and fear in a thoughtful way. The show was juried to ensure that artwork fit the theme, and is appropriate for all viewing audiences. The exhibit will be on display October 1st through 31st. The gallery is open Tues-Fri 10am-6pm and Sat 1-4pm.

Frederik Meijer Gardens

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is getting in the Halloween mood with “Hallowee-Ones”! Hallowee-Ones takes place on Friday, October 23, from 10 am through 12 pm. Dress your child in costume and enjoy this special event designed for the youngest visitors. Children are invited to join in a costume parade and listen to Halloween-themed stories. This event is included with admission to Meijer Gardens.

Chocolates by Grimaldi

Few things can compare to a crisp autumn apple grown in Michigan’s fertile glacial soil, but if you’re the kind of person that likes your Halloween apples dripping in an extra layer or two, of deliciousness, then Chocolates by Grimaldi has the treat for you.

For a limited time the Grand Haven-based chocolate factory, is offering a special chocolate caramel apple. Their chocolatiers use complementary ingredients that allow the customer to experience layers of flavors. They start with crisp, hand-picked apples and drench them in their buttery, and creamy caramel. Next they coat them with their own delectable chocolate. Finally, the apples are dusted them with a layer of crunchy nuts or other toppings.

If you want one, you had better hurry, because the apples won’t last long. The limited edition apples will only be available through the fall at Chocolates by Grimaldi in Grand Haven or on their website.

Our Brewing Company

Our Brewing Company is hosting their annual Anniversary/Halloween Party on Friday, October 30, 2015. This will be their 3rd Anniversary party, as they opened November 1 of 2012. There will be live music, great beer, everyone dressed up in costumes, and great merchandise for sale, including their custom Anniversary shirts which will only be sold at this time! Party will start around 8:00 and go until Midnight.

John Ball Zoo

Visit West Michigan’s favorite trick-or-treat spot at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, where you’ll find over 20 booths, over-the-top decorations, and costumed characters! Your visit will include games, prizes, magic, music, special animal activities, and so much more. Bring your bees, pirates, princesses, and bears to Zoo Goes Boo on October 23rd-25th!

Play Bytes by Playwrights

Play Bytes by Playwrights is a production and competition of a collection of eight 10-minute plays written by playwrights and performed by emerging and established actors at LowellArts! Either drama or comedy, all the plays fit the theme: Things That Go Bump in the Night. A panel of judges will select one of the competing playwrights to win a $500 cash prize. Audience members will be invited to vote for their favorite short play, and the playwright winner of the People’s Choice and Juried Cash Award will be announced at the final production.

The Dinner Theater productions are held at Larkin’s Other Place, 301 W. Main Street on Friday and Saturday evenings at 6:30pm–October 23, 24, 30 & 31 with a Sunday matinee at 1:30pm–October 25. Show only tickets are available–play begins at 7:30pm on Fri & Sat and 2:30pm on Sunday. Advanced tickets are required for Dinner Theater ($25), and show only tickets ($13) can be purchased in advance or at the door. For ticket information, call 897-8545. More info here.

Lowell

What could be more fun than Lowell in October! They have a host of activities for you and the family to enjoy. Put on your walking shoes and enjoy the autumn air while visiting all the events throughout Historic Lowell! Participate in or view the Harvest Hustle 5K Run/Walk or the Outdoor Chili Madness Chili Cook-off at Larkin’s Restaurant, plus join them at the fairgrounds for the Autumn Marketplace, which will feature Arts and Crafts, Farmers Market, Flea Market, Pet Expo, Scarecrow-Building hoedown and live entertainment!

Halloween On Ice

Nancy Kerrigan’s Halloween On Ice is coming to Van Andel Arena on Friday, October 30th at 7:00 PM. Get ready for a night of family fun with Halloween-themed figure skating performances by a star studded cast of Olympic, World, and US National medalists including Nancy Kerrigan, Kurt Browning, Johnny Weir and many more!

The line-up of skaters is subject to change. Tickets are on sale now at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, Ticketmaster ticket centers, Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Groups of 12 or more save by calling 616-742-6185, emailing GroupSales@smggr.com or online.

Blandford Nature Center

Celebrate Halloween and the great outdoors at the same time at Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids. Visit on October 29th at 6pm for the “Beasts of Blandford” program. As the sun sets and the night animals become active, come creep through the enchanted Blandford forest. Enjoy a Halloween treat and participate in a craft.

Make sure to check out part 3 on Friday for Halloween activities in Northern West Michigan!

Bluegrass Concert to Benefit Education Foundation

October 21, 2015Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Upcoming EventsBluegrass, Downtown Market, Downtown Market Education Foundation, Education Foundation, Mark Lavengood, MipsoJoanne

The Grand Rapids Downtown Market will host a bluegrass concert featuring the Chapel Hill, N.C. band Mipso on October 22 at 7 p.m. to benefit the Education Foundation’s individual scholarship program.

Mipso is a southern bluegrass trio featuring fiddler and vocalist Libby Rodenbough along with Jacob Sharp on mandolin, Joseph Terrell on guitar, and Wood Robinson on bass.

Mipso’s 2013 debut album, with a mix of three-part harmony and Appalachian influences, rose to #8 on Billboard’s bluegrass charts. The band is currently touring the country in support of their newly released album, “Old Time Reverie.” Local bluegrass musician Mark Lavengood will open for Mipso, and perform with them throughout the evening.

The Downtown Market Education Foundation is a non-profit organization created to offer culinary and nutritional education, entrepreneur opportunities and a place for local food production. With the goal of creating a healthier community lifestyle, the organization supports access to, and promotion of, fresh healthy foods for all, including disadvantaged families and children.

To date, the foundation has given more than 3,000 scholarships and brought in nearly 40 community organizations for nutrition education, culinary and gardening classes, and training in entrepreneurship and food production. The Mipso concert will help fund additional individual class scholarships, and is underwritten by David and Judy Frey.

WHAT: Bluegrass concert featuring Mipso and Mark Lavengood to benefit Downtown Market Education Foundation. Cash bar will be available.

WHEN: Thursday, October 22, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Grand Rapids Downtown Market, 435 Ionia Ave SW, second floor

WHO: Mipso and Mark Lavengood

TICKETS: Purchase online for $10

Halloween Fun in West Michigan: South Michigan

October 21, 2015Beer, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Travel, Upcoming EventsColdwater Country, Cornwells Turkeyville, Crane Orchards & U-Pick, FireKeepers Casino hotel, Franke Center for the Arts, Gilmore Car Museum Spooktacular, Henderson Castle, Journeyman Distillery, Michigan Maritime Museum, South Haven, Stokes Homestead Farm Market, The Inn at Harbor Shores, West Michigan, West Michigan Beer ToursJoanne

There is so much to do in West Michigan to kick off the Halloween fun! This three part series will dive into different Fall and Halloween activities all throughout the West side of this Marvelous State. Part one and Southern Michigan comes down as the first leaf to hit the ground.

South Michigan Halloween Fun

Stokes Homestead Farm Market

Stokes Homestead Farm Market in Grand Junction is kicking off fall fun this season with their Shadow Hollow Haunt, a one-of-a-kind haunted trail, that will run every weekend in October! They’ll be throwing in some new twists, turns and scares this year. Check out all the details at stokeshomestead.com.

Cornwell’s Turkeyville

Cornwell’s Turkeyville in Marshall is preparing for their family friendly Fall season of fun, frights, and memories. Every weekend in October, Cornwell’s holds their family friendly “Haunted Adventures,” open from 12pm-8pm on Saturday’s and 12pm-5pm on Sundays. Some of the activities include a pumpkin patch, spooky hay ride, and Haunted Barn. Each year the owners alter the theme of the Haunted Barn to explore all of the aspects Halloween has to offer.

This year’s theme is reminiscent of the things that caused your imaginary night time fear of monsters: shadows! All of the walls have spooky shadows thrown across them; but participants be warned, there are things lurking in the shadows, so prepare to be spooked. The haunts found in the barn are appropriate for even young children, and employees willing to help out the most scared of kids. Wristbands last all day and include all activities. The cost for a wristband is ten dollars per person – excluding babes in arms. Cornwell’s Dinner Theatre will be performing Abra Cadaver, an interactive murder mystery, on October 30 and 31 for more spooky, entertaining, & delicious Halloween fun!

Franke Center for the Arts

Plan to visit the Franke Center for the Arts in Marshall on Saturday, October 24th at 8pm for a performance by Mind Reader & Illusionist Christopher Carter. Carter is recognized as one of the world’s greatest “mind-readers,” but he’s not psychic. He’s just an incredibly skilled observer of human behavior.

Starting at the age of eight, when an uncle allowed him to sit in on a poker game, Christopher began to realize that people broadcast their thoughts in ways beyond words. This led to a lifelong interest in non-verbal communication and ‘people reading.’ Although he pursued dual interests in psychology and theater in college, it wasn’t until he was doing graduate work that Chris finally put it all together: he blended his fast-paced, humorous theatrical style with stunning displays of psychological ability. The ovations and accolades have been coming ever since.

As an entertainer, Christopher has earned feature appearances on “The Martin Short Show” and the “Donny and Marie Show.” As one of the most popular performers on college campuses, he has been awarded the highest honor in the Campus Activities industry: Entertainer of the Year. Tickets for the show are $20 in advance and $22 at the door.

West Michigan Beer Tours

Get in the Halloween mood with West Michigan Beer Tours and their spooky tour featuring a brewery with a haunt, and of course, some great fall seasonal beers. Be prepared for a night of frights, flights and fun.

The Halloween tour will begin at Shakespeare’s Pub in downtown Kalamazoo where pumpkin ales, hard ciders, and other autumn classics will be on tap. The group will then make the short jaunt west to Paw Paw Brewing Co. where the crew will get you in the spirit of the season with fall ales and perhaps a few scary surprises.

From there, you’ll make way to Psycho Ward & Nightmares, one of Kalamazoo’s best haunted attractions tucked into the woods behind the Kalamazoo Speedway. Enjoy steeply discounted prices and VIP access to the freak fest. You’ll then conclude with a quick ride north to Plainwell’s Old Mill Brewpub. Owner and brewmaster Scott Zylstra plans to serve some of his first beers and offer a tour of the more than 100-year-old building known to be inhabited by a few ghosts. The Halloween Beer Tour takes place on October 30th and lasts for five hours. Book your spot directly through West Michigan Beer Tours.

Journeyman Distillery

Journeyman Distillery will be hosting the Three Oaks Pub Crawl on Halloween (October 31st) from 2-10. Tour the town’s drinking establishments and compete for a chance to win coveted Pub Crawl t-shirts. Costumes are encouraged and the best ones will be rewarded. Watch out for the spirits this Halloween!

Henderson Castle

Prepare for an evening of intrigue, lies, and deception at Henderson Castle in Kalamazoo as you try to unravel all the clues and solve a case of murder. All this while socializing with the cremé de la cremé of this city’s high society, friends, loved ones.

During the dinner, you get to know everyone, share what you know and find out what you can… you will need this to establish a motive… for murder. Who knows, you may be the murderer and not know it! The October Murder Mystery Dinner takes place the night before Halloween, on October 30th at Henderson Castle. The cost is $69 per person.

Michigan Maritime Museum

The Michigan Maritime Museum will host a free trick-or-treating event at the Museum for children ages toddler to 10 years on October 31st from 4pm-6pm. The event will have trick-or-treating stations around the Museum campus and aboard tall ship Friends Good Will. Children must be in costume to participate. Bring out the whole family! All children must be accompanied by an adult for this event.

FireKeepers Casino Hotel

Join FireKeepers Casino Hotel this Halloween for a weekend of fun and entertainment, including the annual Halloween Costume Contest, Here Come the Mummies Concert, and Halloween Slot Tournament!

The festivities start Friday, October 30th with the Halloween costume contest at 7pm on the casino floor. All those interested in participating in the costume contest will need to join the parade line beginning at 7pm. At 7:45pm the Top 10 will be announced and asked to come to the Money Keepers Mainstage for the next round of judging, where the top 3 will be selected for audience voting. All of the top 10 costume participates will receive a prize.

The 1st place winner will walk away with a cash and Red Hot Credit prize of $5,000! Continue the Halloween excitement with Here Come the Mummies. The concert will begin at 9pm in the event center and ticket are just $25. The Halloween Slot Tournament will begin at 10am on October 31st. To qualify, simply earn 31 points on your Red Hot Rewards Club Card starting at 9am on October 31st. The tournament will run from 10am-3pm with the top 4 from each hour advancing to the final. The top 20 finalist will share a total prize pool of over $40,000 in prizes, with the 1st place winner receiving $20,000 cash!

The Inn at Harbor Shores

The Inn at Harbor Shores in St. Joseph invites you to celebrate this Halloween with them in a variety of ways! Visit the weekend of Halloween for Happy Halloweekend at The Inn, which will incorporate a series of frightening events for all ages, beginning with pumpkin carving and ending with a costume bash to end all others!

On Wednesday, October 28th, the local library will present Scary Stories, and Artist Pumpkin Carving Begins. Vote for your favorite pumpkin in person or on The Inn at Harbor Shores’ social media. On Halloween, the pumpkin carving winners will be announced, and the Costume Ball will kick off at 8pm! Enjoy dancing, a DJ, snacks, a cash bar, and prizes for the best costume! Tickets are $20, or can be included in your overnight stay package.

Crane Orchards & U-Pick

Crane Orchards & U-Pick in Fennville offers a 20-acre Corn Maze through October 30th. A lot of creative energy goes into this project every year to make it the best corn maze anywhere! Adults are $7, Ages 6 years to 10 years are $5, and kids 5 years old and below are free! This is a family friendly corn maze, and be sure to catch a hayride or Cowtrain ride while you’re there!

South Haven

If you’re in the South Haven area on Halloween, dress up, come out and join all the witches, goblins, vampires, superheroes, princesses, skeletons, and all the scariest costume in between for a fun filled candy gathering extravaganza! South Haven Trick-or-Treating will take place from 5:30pm-7:30pm on Halloween. Be sure to have a big container to hold all your candy, and don’t forget the three magic words: “Trick-or-Treat!”

Coldwater Country

Celebrate Halloween in Coldwater Country with costumes, scares, and a parade! Adventure out for a spook-tacular time in the Haunted Forest at Rotary Park in Coldwater on October 29th. The younger crowd will enjoy the less scary time from 6pm-7pm for the true Haunted Forest, scare time is 7pm-9pm. Don’t miss out on the Haunted Halloween Parade on October 31st! The theme changes every year, and you’ll see entries from organizations, businesses, and individuals.

Gilmore Car Museum Spooktacular

The 4th Annual Gilmore Car Museum Spooktacular will take place at the Museum on Thursday, October 29th from 4:00-7:00pm! Fun for the whole family, the Spooktacular will feature cool cars throughout the Museum, trick-or-treat throughout the galleries for children 12 and under, a featured film in the theater, and special treats and samples from local businesses! Costumes are encouraged! Kids 12 and under are FREE – Adults $5.00/person (children must be accompanied by an adult at all times).

Make sure to check out part 2 on Thursday for Halloween activities in Central West Michigan!

Runaways and Homeless Children Tell Their Stories

October 21, 2015Area Education, Community Health, Crime Prevention, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Politics, Upcoming EventsArbor Circle, Deb Havens, homeless and runaway kids, National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, The Bridge, The Green Light ProjectJoanne

By: Deb Havens

West Michigan is known as a great place to raise kids, but every year an average of 2,000 young people run away from home. When you’re a homeless child, streets in West Michigan towns are as dirty and dangerous as any in a big city. As the weather gets colder, somewhere around 200 kids will be looking for food and a warm place to sleep every night. Chances are, wherever they land, safety may be a last consideration.

Fortunately, the non-profit organization Arbor Circle provides counseling and support for up to 21 days for young people ages 10 to 20 years old at the only emergency shelter in the community. Jenell Hill, Arbor Circle Community Engagement Coordinator says, “Many people don’t believe it.” So to spotlight these issues in honor of National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, Arbor Circle, located at 1115 Ball Ave NE in Grand Rapids, will host the Green Light Project in November:

The Green Light Project, Wednesday, November 4, 2015 – 5:30pm–8pm

Young people who have experienced living as a runaway and homeless who found shelter either at The Bridge or other service programs will host facility tours and share their stories. “Sometimes it’s not only therapeutic for young people but they are also a voice for their peers,” adds Hill. “Maybe other young people won’t have the same struggles.”

Without Arbor Circle, homeless, runaway, and street youth often become victims of abuse and neglect, sexual assault or trafficking, and get involved in substance abuse. They also tend to suffer from both physical and mental health issues, failure in school, and trouble with the law. These are the stories that Hill says are often overlooked when people think about the good life in West Michigan.

Hill stresses that all minor youth tour guides participate with permission of their parents, and those under 18 lead tours accompanied by Arbor Circle staff members. Hill says that budget cuts in Washington, D.C. have affected Arbor Circle resources. “We used to have a 15 seat bus to transport kids, but that broke down and we haven’t been able to replace it,” notes Hill. “We also rely on volunteers to help us cook meals.” Donations and volunteers are always welcome.

For more information on services for homeless or runaway children, contact Arbor Circle / The Bridge.

Gilda’s Club to Host Night of Gratitude to Honor Supporters

October 20, 2015Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our CitiesGilda's Club Grand Rapids, Night of GraditudeJoanne

On Nov. 12, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids will host its Night of Gratitude event to recognize the many supporters who help carry out the organization’s mission of providing emotional healthcare for those on a cancer or grief journey.

The 2015 honorees include:

•   Meijer – Corporate Engagement Award
This award is given to a corporate partner that demonstrates philanthropic support and encourages its employees, vendors, and community to engage with Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids through volunteerism, fundraising, leadership roles, and creating awareness of our mission and program.
•   GE Aviation – Service Award
This award is given to a group of any size that takes the word “service” to the next level through ongoing support of the Gilda’s Club mission, program, events, and most of all, our members.
•   Pink Arrow Project – Community Partner
This award is given to an organization or group that exemplifies what it means to support Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and the West Michigan community through innovative fundraising concepts, promoting the mission of Gilda’s Club in creative ways, and being genuine ambassadors of our organization.
•   Sister Sue Tracy, OP – Spirit of Gilda Award
This award is presented to an individual who has supported Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids through openly sharing our mission of cancer and grief support with his or her friends and colleagues, advocating for our organization with other leaders in the community, and doing so with the light-heartedness and laughter that embodied our namesake Gilda Radner.

“Gilda’s Club has so many wonderful supporters who help advance our cause. We hope that through the Night of Gratitude, we can show these organizations and individuals how thankful we are for their passion, innovation and vision,” said Wendy Wigger, president of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids.

Gilda’s Night of Gratitude will be held at New Vintage Place (889 Broadway Ave. NW, Grand Rapids) and will begin at 5:30 p.m. An awards ceremony for honorees will take place at 6:30 p.m. and a performance by the Pop Scholars, a four man Grand Rapids-based improv team, will follow.

Tickets to the Night of Gratitude can be purchased for $50 by contacting Ashley Owen at aowen@gildasclubgr.org or 616-453-8300 or by going to www.gildasclubgr.org/gildasnightofgratitude.

Payoff: Simply Beautiful

October 20, 2015Area Education, EducationAdrian Hirsch, Garden, Godwin Heights, Planting, School News NetworkJoanne

Marcia DeVos, center, orchestrated the recent beautification project

By: Adrian Hirsch – School News Network

School was out for the day, but students didn’t need to go far to get to their next project. On the West side of Godwin Heights High School, a variety of decorative plants and flowers were laid out in wait of the young green thumbs to put them in the ground.

“I just like to help the community, I love to plant stuff,” said student volunteer Vanessa Flores, who said she has a garden at home.

The beautification project was initiated by Marcia DeVos, a teacher in the Regional Emotionally Impaired program and a coordinator for Godwin’s Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports program (PBIS).

From left, Students Enida Jahaj, Juana De La Cruz, and Vanessa Flores

DeVos said the idea stemmed from the district’s recent improvements to security and building upgrades, made possible by a community-approved bond. “There hasn’t been money for anything but the essentials,” she said. “Beautifying an area of the school that has long needed it is part of our message of Godwin pride.”

Students delivered evidence of Godwin pride by getting their hands dirty on what was one of the last hot days of the season.

“I’m proud of how supportive Godwin Heights is with students and how positive and supportive everyone is with each other,” said student Felicia McCallum, while digging with her friends.

“It was so great to see our students take ownership of that project and put their time into it with no expectation of a reward other than helping our school look welcoming to the parents and community,” said DeVos after the event.

Arnell Scott, left, helps Katie Hoffman free a plant from its pot

Once again, the Godwin Heights community stepped up with anonymous donations for plant purchases. Kyle Groenink, an intern at the Fredrick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, volunteered to develop a landscaping plan and Mill Creek Farm Perennial LLC in Comstock Park sold plants to the school at cost.

Science teacher Katie Hoffman said the project was “all about building school culture,” and ties into an initiative by Principal Chad Conklin and other staff members to improve the school climate and involve students within the school community. “(DeVos) is a very hard worker, and probably doesn’t get enough credit for what she does,” added Hoffman about the project’s leader.

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

‘Sleepy Hollow, a Musical Tale’ puts a modern spin on a spooky classic Oct. 23-Nov. 1

October 19, 2015Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Upcoming EventsGR Civic Theatre, Halloween, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Sleepy Hollow, stage play, youth musicalJoanne

By: Victoria Mullen

A haunting classic has been updated and set to music. With a limited run from October 23-November 1, the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre (GRCT) presents ‘Sleepy Hollow, a Musical Tale.’ The audience will find a lot to love about this stage play as it combines comedy, drama, and music.

Based on Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow—originally published in 1819 with a collection of other short stories—the stage play, music and lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Freedman promises fun for everyone. Tickets are $10-$16.

“Our cast has approached this show as a blend between a Tim Burton film and a Scooby-Doo episode,” said Associate Director Allyson Paris. “The music in this play is outstanding, filled with modern pop-themed songs. Families can expect to see some of the most talented young people in West Michigan singing and dancing. You will be singing and dancing too!”

Set in New York within a 1790s Dutch settlement—nicknamed ‘Sleepy Hollow’—the original story’s protagonist is Ichabod Crane, a schoolteacher who meets up with the Headless Horseman after unsuccessfully proposing to a young lady. The Headless Horseman chases Crane through a haunted forest, only to be stymied by the river—ghosts cannot cross water. Instead, the horseman takes up his severed head and throws it at Crane, hitting his face. Even after all these years, Crane’s fate remains unknown.

As legend has it, the Headless Horseman was a Hessian soldier who was killed during the Battle of White Plains in 1776. Decapitated by an American cannonball, his body was whisked away by his comrades; the remains of his shattered head were left on the battlefield. Each Halloween night, he rises as a malevolent ghost, furiously seeking his lost head. For the sake of additional gruesomeness, modern lore has the ghost riding headless with his severed head resting on the pommel of his saddle.

GRCT’s updated spin begins in the present day on Halloween night as three modern-day children find themselves thrust into the mysterious village of Sleepy Hollow, in Colonial New England. The children encounter a variety of colorful characters and even have a confrontation with the infamous Headless Horseman himself. As the children sing and dance their way through the world of the 18^th century, they find the origins for traditions that are celebrated today as they unveil the haunting allure of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Recommended for children ages seven and older, Sleepy Hollow, A Musical Tale is great family fun with just a bit of a Halloween edge. Kids attending the October 31 matinee (2:00 curtain) performance are encouraged to dress in their Halloween costumes. Special treats will be given to the first 200 children.

Go here to purchase tickets or call 616.222.6650.

Hispanic Chamber After-Hours Event to be Held at WKTV

October 19, 2015Area Education, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Upcoming EventsAlan Headbloom, Feel Like You Belong, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, WKTVJoanne

Afro-Caribbean artist Erick Picardo talks with FLYB host Alan Headbloom at WKTV.

It’s time to fix your hair, check your make-up, and get ready to go under the television lights!

This October’s After-Hours networking event for the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will be co-hosted at WKTV with Alan Headbloom and his show Feel Like You Belong. WKTV is located at 5261 Clyde Park SW in Wyoming, MI.

In addition to networking, appetizers, and drinks, Chamber members and their guests will have a chance to learn about community access television from WKTV General Manager Tom Norton. Attendees will learn how to create Spanish-language content for local broadcast and get tours of the facility by WKTV staff.

To conclude the evening, a Chamber member will be interviewed in front of guests on the set of Feel Like You Belong, a program that tells immigrant stories. Afterwards, guests will have a chance to take photos on set with FLYB host Alan Headbloom.

The October 22 event kicks off at 5:30 and concludes at 7:00. Chamber members should RSVP online at www.hccwm.org. Potential members can call the Chamber office with questions at 616-452-3960.

Farm Market Recipe: Roasted Pumpkin Apple Soup

October 18, 2015Citizen Journalism, Community Health, How-To'sFarmers Market Recipe of the Week, Metro Health Farmer's Market, Roasted Pumpkin Apple SoupJoanne

Roasted Pumpkin Apple Soup

Makes: 12 servings, about 1 cup each
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients
•   4 pounds pie pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 2-inch chunks (see Tip)
•   4 large sweet-tart apples, such as Empire, Cameo or Braeburn, unpeeled, cored and cut into eighths
•   1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
•   1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
•   1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
•   1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
•   6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
•   1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts, toasted (see Tip)
•   2 tablespoons hazelnut oil

Directions

1.   Preheat oven to 450°F.
2.   Toss pumpkin (or squash), apples, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper in a large bowl. Spread evenly on a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring once, for 30 minutes. Stir in sage and continue roasting until very tender and starting to brown, 15 to 20 minutes more.
3.   Transfer about one-third of the pumpkin (or squash) and apples to a blender along with 2 cups broth. Puree until smooth. Transfer to a Dutch oven and repeat for two more batches. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and heat through over medium-low heat, stirring constantly to prevent splattering, for about 6 minutes. Serve each portion topped with hazelnuts and a drizzle of hazelnut oil.

Tips and Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave on High, covered, stirring frequently, or on the stovetop over medium heat.

Tips: Make it easier to cut a pumpkin, acorn squash or other winter squash: pierce in several places with a fork; microwave on High for 45 to 60 seconds. Use a large sharp knife to cut in half. Remove the seeds and stringy fibers with a spoon. To toast chopped nuts, small nuts and seeds, place in a small dry skillet and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

Nutritional Information

180 calories; 9 g fat (1 g sat, 7 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 25 g carbohydrates; 3 g protein; 6 g fiber; 525 mg sodium; 569 mg potassium.

Shedding Light on Michigan’s Haunted Beacons

October 18, 2015Area Education, Local HistoryDianna Higgs Stampfler, Great Lakes, Haunted Lighthouses, Lighthouses, Promote MichiganJoanne

By: Dianna Higgs Stampfler

I’ve been fascinated Michigan lighthouses since 1997, when I started working at the West Michigan Tourist Association (1997-2004). Did you know Michigan has more lighthouses than any state? And, that a fair number of those are rumored to be haunted? Although I’ve never experienced any of these ghostly encounters myself, I’m happy to share the stories that have been passed along to me by others. If you’d like to learn more about “Michigan’s Ghostly Beacons,” I invite you to attend one of my upcoming presentations on the topic. The schedule can be found here.

What is it about lighthouses that seem to attract spirits – most often than naught, the ghosts of former keepers? Maybe it’s a never-ending passion for what was more of a lifestyle than a job. These keepers often lost their lives during their service, protecting the sailors on the inland seas from the dangerous and rocky shores of the Great Lakes. Many served twenty, thirty, even forty years and beyond, raising their families along these freshwater coastlines, because it was the only life they knew.

Here in Michigan, we’re proud to claim more lighthouses than any other state – with 117. The first light was built here in the 1820s; the latest in 2006. Nearly two dozen of these lights are rumored to be haunted – in most cases, by former keepers or their families. Their spirits live on, dedication unfaltering – even after the lights, and their lives, have been extinguished.

White River Light Station, Whitehall (Lake Michigan)

When William Robinson and his wife, Sarah, first came to the Whitehall area in the 1860s, there was no lighthouse at the end of the White River to guide the many boats coming and going due to the area’s rich lumbering industry.

Robinson took it upon himself to walk the riverbank nightly and hang a lantern on a pole, marking the entrance to the river for those vessels coming in after dark. He also began the drawn-out process of commissioning the Lighthouse Service to have an actual lighthouse built at the site.

After several years, Robinson’s attempts were rewarded and in 1875, the White River Light Station was first lit. The ships captains, who had been coming in and out of Whitehall for those years under Robinson’s safe guidance, petitioned the service to have him appointed the first keeper. It was a position he held for 44 years, until 1919 when age forced him into retirement. The day before he vacated the light, Robinson passed away in his sleep.

Rumor has it that neither he, nor his beloved wife – who had died many years prior – have ever really left White River Light Station.

The current resident keeper, Karen McDonnell, has reported multiple ghostly occurrences in her 20+ years of service. Content that it is the Robinsons, she simply shares the stories with visitors to the museum. Captain Robinson is frequently heard walking around upstairs in the former bedrooms and lantern room.

It’s Sarah’s spirit that is a bit more interesting. Karen says one day, she’d been upstairs dusting the museum display case when the phone rang. She set her dusting supplies down and went down to answer the phone. When she returned a short time later, she was startled to find her dusting supplies had moved and the display case was void of dust. Knowing of Sarah’s reputation as a meticulous housekeeper, Karen was amused. Over the years, Karen reports that attempts to recreate that incident have only succeeded on that original display case in an upstairs room which once was the nursery. A place Karen believes Sarah holds dear to her heart.

Seul Choix Point Lighthouse, Gulliver (Lake Michigan)

Captain Joseph Willy Townshend was an avid cigar smoker, and it is widely believed that his death in 1910 was the result of lung cancer. The fact that his body was embalmed in the basement of the keeper’s home and that his body lay in state for an extended period of time awaiting family from far away to pay their last respects, probably didn’t do much to help ease his mind as he left this world. So much so, that he opted to stay and keep watch on his majestic beacon.

The Gulliver History Society, which maintains this lighthouse, has kept detailed records of each ghostly occurrence at the lighthouse. Whether it be sight, sound, smell or just an eerie feeling, each is recorded in a log book which has more than 300 entries thus far. Faces in mirrors, the pungent odor of cigar smoke, rocking chairs moving on their own, pictures with hazy figures, images in windows – these are all common at Seul Choix (Shish-Shwa).

One of the most commonly told stories begins when the alarm at the lighthouse goes off in the middle of the night, sending an emergency call to both local law enforcement and the head of the historical society. The officers arrived first, and access the situation by walking around the lighthouse checking for any foul play.

One officer reportedly heard the sound of a chair moving across the floor and a man’s voice coming from the kitchen. When this account is shared with the museum administrator, it is met with a chuckle and a brief history of the resident ghost. Inside the house, no one is found – however, one of the kitchen chairs is pulled away from the table. The lighthouse is locked up and all parties depart.

A few weeks later, the scene repeats itself. The same two officers, the same museum staffer. Again, no one is found inside. The lighthouse is locked up tight and everyone heads out.

As the squad car makes its way down the long, dark, narrow roadway, it is approached by an oncoming car. Curious as to why anyone would be headed to the lighthouse at such a late hour, the police turn on their lights and exit their car to investigate. The oncoming vehicle is full of drunken teenagers, who are subsequently believed to be responsible for a series of break-ins and vandalizing acts in the area (one on the night of the original tripping of the alarm).

Turns out Captain Townshend was watching out for his lighthouse, making sure authorities were there to prevent any damage from occurring.

Saginaw River Range Light, Saginaw (Lake Huron)

When Peter Brawn was appointed the eighth lighthouse keeper at Saginaw River Range light in March, 1866, little did he know that his tenure would be short-lived. The next year, Peter suffered an unrecorded injury or disease and became incapacitated as a result.

His wife, Julia, took over the duties on an unofficial basis. In March 1873, Peter finally succumbed to his illness and passed way. Ultimately, Julia was finally appointed the official keeper after serving seven years in an interim position.

In 1875, Julie remarried – a man named George Way, who in addition to the title of her husband was appointed head keeper, with Julia demoted to serving as assistant. By 1882, the assistant position was abolished all together and Julia was left with no official title or duty. The following year, George himself passed away. However, before Julia was able to resume her duties as head keeper, she disappeared from lighthouse service – never to serve again.

While there is no proof that Julia actually had anything to do with the deaths of her two husbands, it is quite a coincidence that any time she lost her position as head lighthouse keeper the husband lost his life. Rumors of ghostly occurrences at this light are attributed to the two former keepers who died there, whether of natural causes or at the hands of their wife, Julia Brawn Way.

For more about Michigan’s lighthouses – haunted or otherwise – visit the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association at www.gllka.com.

Ghostly Beacons

St. Joseph Keeper’s Residence
South Haven Keeper’s Residence
White River Light Station*
South Manitou Island*
Grand Traverse Lighthouse*
Beaver Head Island Light*
Squaw Island Light
St. Helena Island Light*
Waugoshance Shoal Light
Seul Choix Point Light*
Sand Pointe Lighthouse*
Eagle Harbor Light
Rock of Ages
Big Bay Point Lighthouse B&B
Crisp Pointe Lighthouse
Point Iroquois*
Old Presque Isle*
New Presque Isle*
Thunder Bay Island Light
Sturgeon Bay Light
Tawas Point Light
Saginaw River Range Light
Point aux Barques

*Open for tours

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!

Michigan Sales Tax Arrives Online

October 16, 2015Local Business, Politics, Senior LivingDeb Havens, Michigan sales tax, Online shopping taxJoanne

By: Deb Havens

If you’re a heavy-duty online shopper, you’ve already discovered that as of October 1, you’re paying a Michigan sales tax when you check out.

The end of a tax-free zone on the Internet has raised a howl of protest from some who charge that the state is imposing yet another new tax. That’s just not so, says Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce President, Bob O’Callaghan, “Some people are against any kind of taxes, but this is not new. It’s always been a law, it just hasn’t been enforced because there was no good way to track it.”

The original legislation required Michigan residents to keep records of their online purchases and make a tax payment to the state. “But of course no one did,” notes O’Callaghan. So like many other states, Michigan now requires online companies to collect and forward the sales tax.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder estimates that somewhere around $60 million in new revenue will be added to the state’s treasury.

While O’Callaghan says there is no way to predict how much of that amount will find its way into the Wyoming-Kentwood community, he is an enthusiastic cheerleader for brick and mortar businesses here that must charge sales tax. “I think it’s a great idea,” he says. “Businesses here have the same products, so all things being equal, we want people to shop here because it keeps our tax dollars supporting our community services.” O’Callaghan points out that local taxes are key to essential public services such as police and fire protection, adding that local businesses also provide jobs for residents.

O’Callaghan says people forget that many online businesses are owned or operated outside the state of Michigan or even internationally. That means dollars spent online usually end up far from home, a fact that does not strike Bob O’Callaghan as fair to Michigan business or to other residents. “People who live here and shop here pay taxes here. It’s only fair that if you live here, you pay the same tax if you shop online.”

Cuteness Overload! Need Acorns, ASAP

October 16, 2015Non-Profits, Pets/Animalsacorns, animal rescue, cuteness overload, Northern Michigan, squirrelsJoanne

By: Victoria Mullen

The cuteness cannot be denied. But all that cuteness comes with a price: Acorns. Lots of acorns.

A Northern Michigan animal rescue needs donations of acorns after taking in 18 orphaned baby squirrels who are too young to make it through the winter in the wild.

The Association to Rescue Kritters (“A.R.K.”), a wildlife rehabilitation facility in Maple Valley, cares for a variety of injured and orphaned creatures throughout the year. Each year, well-meaning individuals or tree cutters bring several orphaned young squirrels to animal rescues.

Squirrels typically have two litters of two to four young each year; the first is in the spring, the second in late summer. The second litter spends the winter with the mother.

It’s an unromantic life; the male leaves the female after mating and she is left alone to raise the babies. For the eastern gray squirrel, gestation is approximately 45 days. Born naked, toothless, and blind, the young are weaned at around seven to ten weeks of age and stay with the mother for several more weeks to learn the ways of the wild.

This year has seen a bumper crop. The new little arrivals–all 18 of them (so far)–are no more than a month old, far too young to survive in the wild. Volunteers are providing foster homes where the little guys receive bottle feedings and 24/7 care. Once they are more than a month old, they will be moved to a larger indoor space at A.R.K. Next, they will transition to an enclosed outdoor area with nesting boxes to adapt to the cold. Shivering stimulates fur growth; the goal is to grow a nice, thick coat to keep warm.

Feasting on a diet of monkey biscuits (grape-sized grain pellets), sunflower seeds and acorns, 18 hungry, fast-growing little squirrels aren’t cheap to feed. Donations of acorns and sunflower seeds are desperately needed to get these guys through the winter.

Bring your donation to A.R.K. at 3878 S. Maple Valley Road in Saint Helen, Mich. 48656 and leave it by the door if no one is around at the time. Financial donations are welcome, too, and may be mailed to the same address.

The A.R.K. Association to Rescue Kritters helps rehabilitate animals in Roscommon, Crawford, Ogemaw, Gladwin, Clare and Missaukee Counties.

Grandville Man to Cycle 3,500 Miles for Wounded Warrior Project

October 15, 2015Local Faces, TravelBicycling, Troops, Wounded WarriorsJoanne

Grandville resident Grant Bergsma will ride his bicycle more than 3,500 miles, from California to Florida, to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). The five-week, cross-country adventure will begin November 1 in Los Angeles and is slated to conclude in Marco Island, Florida on December 7.

“It’s going to be a long trip but it’s a short amount of time compared to troops that will suffer from battle wounds mental and physical for the rest of their lives,” said Bergsma. “I am honored to have the opportunity to raise awareness and funds for this amazing charitable organization.” Photos courtesy of Grant Bergsma’s Facebook page.

WWP offers 20 holistic programs to wounded service members and their caregivers completely free of charge. To complete his goal, Bergsma plans to ride his bicycle approximately 100 miles per day. At night, the 30-year-old, Grandville native plans to sleep in a tree hammock and, whenever possible, stay with hosts he meets during his journey.

Bergsma’s interest in riding stemmed from turning a negative into a positive.

“I started riding about five years ago, out of necessity, after an irresponsible personal situation,” said Bergsma. “It was a tough time in my life, but through biking, I was able to create the necessary positive momentum to turn my life around.”

In 2013, Bergsma rode more than 1,400 miles from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Gainesville, Florida in an effort to raise money for the ALS Association. The charity was selected to honor a longtime family friend who died from Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2007.

Bergsma will be tracking his progress on social media. Donations can be made through GoFundMe or the WWP website.

Saugatuck Shorts Film Competition Announces Judges and Sponsors

October 15, 2015Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Upcoming Events, WKTV ProjectsAnthony Griffen, Curt Anderson, Doug Remtema, Elizabeth Merriman, Joel Paul Reisig, Joseph Voss, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, SCA Saugatuck ShortsJoanne

The Saugatuck Center for the Arts is shining a spotlight on Michigan film with the help of filmmakers and industry professionals who will be judging this year’s Saugatuck Shorts Film Competition. The 2015 panel of judges is made up of six individuals who will decide the winners of the $2,500 cash prize in the student and adult categories.

The Saugatuck Shorts competition is accepting admissions until Friday, October 16; the public screening will take place on November 7 at the SCA.

Judges for this year’s competition include a mix of independent filmmakers, a film professor, and an entertainment lawyer. The judges were chosen based on their familiarity with the entertainment industry and their ability to provide credible, constructive feedback.

The first filmmaker taking the judge’s seat is Joel Paul Reisig. Joel is the owner of Be Your Own Hollywood, a two-day film school that focuses on financing, distributing, and shooting films on a budget. Reisig has produced films such as American Scream King, Fraternity House, and Deadly Karma. With over two decades of producing and acting experience, Reisig has worked with stars Dean Cain, Dustin Diamond, Richard Karn, and more.

Co-founder of the Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival and owner of UnSAFE Film Office, Anthony Griffin, will be another judge for this year’s competition. UnSAFE Film Office has produced and shot multiple documentaries, short films, music videos, and commercials over the last decade and Griffin has served on the board for the West Michigan Video and Film Alliance and the Grand Rapids Community Media Center.

Compass College of Cinematic Arts alumni relations specialist and producer, Elizabeth Merriman, will also be serving as a judge on this year’s panel. Merriman is a graduate of Compass College of Cinematic Arts and also owns and operates her own production company, Happy Hats LLC.

Doug Remtema of Sonlight Films will also be serving as a judge at this year’s competition. Remtema started Sonlight Films in 2003 and works on producing films and television shows that revolve around positive and uplifting material.

Curt Anderson of Pine Creek Films. Pine Creek Films is a non-profit organization in Byron Center, Michigan that is dedicated to empowering amateur filmmakers by getting them involved in filmmaking.

The sixth and final judge for this year’s competition is Clark Hill attorney Joseph Voss. Voss leads the Entertainment Industry Team at Clark Hill where he represents the financing parties for film and television productions.

“We couldn’t ask for a greater group of people,” said SCA Marketing and Sales Director, Angela Peavey. ”Film is one of my passions, and to see these professionals willing to offer their time and talents is absolutely amazing. We’re very fortunate to have them.”

Peavey also announced sponsors for this year’s film competition. “We are thrilled to welcome the West Michigan Film and Media Office as a Gold Sponsor and the West Michigan Film and Video Alliance as a Bronze Sponsor. We’re also working with media sponsor WKTV.”

The Saugatuck Shorts Film Competition will take place on November 7, 2015 with a cash bar at 6:30 p.m. and the screening beginning at 7:15 p.m. More information and ticket purchases can be made at sc4a.org or by calling 269.857.2399.

New Michigan Law Helps Ex-Cons Return to Work

October 15, 2015Crime Prevention, Local Business, Senior LivingCertificate of Employability, jobs for former felons, work for ex-consJoanne

By: Deb Havens

The American system of justice has at least two basic tenets: a person is innocent until proven guilty, and if found guilty, the punishment should fit the crime. But far too often, even after a person has served time and earned release from prison, the punishment can go on and on.

Recently, the Michigan legislature recognized that people with a prison record are less likely to return to jail if they can get work and reintegrate with society. Eric Givihan, 42, knows only too well the burden an ex-con carries when looking for work. “It’s not just the job,” he says. “Most apartments or housing won’t let you rent. That was hard on my daughter.”

New Michigan law creates a process to grant a “certificate of employability” to some one who leaves prison with a good record of behavior and completion of training or course work. Legislators hope the new law will encourage businesses to give a second chance to those truly reformed by their sentences, a move that could reduce recidivism and save tax dollars.

Givihan was driving when he was arrested in 2000. Police found a pound of marijuana in his car along with an unregistered gun. Four years later, he emerged from Marquette Branch Prison with actual letters of recommendation written by the correction officers there. Unfortunately, that was 11 years before the state’s new legislation. The letters meant nothing in the face of companies with policies that simply do not permit hiring of anyone with a prison record.

A big man, Givihan ended up cage-fighting to support his daughter, who eventually begged him to quit the ring.

Givihan started his own security business a year ago and sells scrap metal to tide him over between jobs. His daughter is now poised to graduate from high school.

“I have to continue to try to make it,” he says. “We took “can’t” out of our vocabulary.”

Now married with a blended family of seven children, Givihan says when times are tough, his family is the only thing that keeps him from making a wrong choice, adding, “They keep me grounded.”

Editors Note: Ex-Felon was changed to Ex-Con in the story. Our previous phrasing gave the impression that all ex-cons were also felons. That is not true. We apologize for any misunderstanding.

Fall Yard Services Available to Wyoming Residents

October 14, 2015Our Cities, Upcoming EventsCity of Wyoming, Leaves, Yard WasteJoanne

The City of Wyoming has several yard waste services available to help keep yards looking neat as leaves begin to fall.

The yard waste drop off-site at 2660 Burlingame S.W. is open to residents Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through December 12.

There is no limit on the size of branches or shrubs accepted at the site. However, residents must be able to unload the yard waste themselves. If yard waste materials are delivered in bags, totes or boxes, the containers must be removed from the facility.

Leaf removal containers are available through November 25. A container is delivered to a home and picked up the next business day for a delivery to the yard waste site. Containers are 11 feet long, 6 feet wide and 3 feet high, or 7.5 cubic yards. The cost of container delivery and rental is $10 for a weekday and $20 for a weekend. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance. Reservations can be made by phone with a credit card by calling 530-7260. Residents may also visit the office to pay with cash or a check.

A curb-side leaf pick up will be held on Saturday, December 5. Leaves must be in paper yard waste bags by 6 a.m. Saturday. There is no limit to the number of bags residents can put out. Branches that are tied together in bundles less than four feet long will also be picked up.

For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 530-7260.

Special Family Fun Fest at the DeltaPlex

October 14, 2015Community Health, Education, Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, Recreation, Senior Living, VolunteersDelta Plex event, Family Hope Foundation, Special Needs Fun Fest, Special needs respite, volunteer opportunitiesJoanne

Children with special needs create special families. Five years ago, some of those family members got together to create the Family Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting not only their own children, but all special families. They’ve hit on a sure thing: the Special Families Fun Fest, returning for its 4th year at the DeltaPlex Arena on Saturday, October 17 from 10am-4pm. Lara Kitts is in charge of the event. “Some of us who have special needs family members know how hard it is to get the family out the door together. This is fun and there’s nothing else like it.”

Admission $5 per person, which includes 10 carnival game tickets (ages 2 and under free!). Tickets are available here.

Kitts says the Fun Fest provides a wide variety of events set up to provide physically and emotionally safe environments without stress, including carnival games, crafts, a petting zoo and a number of other activities—all without waiting in line. Even better, no one has to stay behind to take care of the special needs family member. “We have amenities such as a sensory room to provide family support if a child is overstimulated,” says Kitts. “We have volunteers who cover every exit to make sure a child doesn’t dart away. We’ve pretty much thought of everything.”

Those concerned that the Special Families Fun Fest may not have anticipated their particular need are invited to call in advance at 616-780-3839. Visit the Family Hope Foundation to learn more about this very special organization. For more information about Fun Fest activities, check out the event. If you would like to volunteer, Kitts says she would be pleased to find you a special role to fill at the event, sure to fill a special place in your heart.

What Does It Mean to be a ‘Real Man’

October 14, 2015Area Education, Community Health, Non-Profits, Upcoming EventsCelebration Cinemas, The Mask You Live In, YWCA, YWCA West Central MichiganJoanne

In our society the expectation for a boy to be a “real man” is centered on stifling emotion, physical strength, violence, sexual conquest, and economic success. The Mask You Live In is a film dedicated to spreading the word that being a “real man” is so much more.

In a screening hosted by the YWCA West Central Michigan, The Mask You Live In seeks to expand how we define American masculinity. The film lays out the devastation wrought on both boys and girls when the cultural definition shies away from authentically connecting young men to those around them; the very thing that makes us human.

Here are some facts:

•   Three or more boys commit suicide every day and suicide is the third leading cause of death for boys
•   Boys are two times more likely to flunk or drop out of school
•   Boys are two times more likely to receive special education
•   Boys are four times more likely to be expelled
•   93% of boys are exposed to internet porn before age 18
•   21% of young men use pornography every day

While the masculinity crisis hurts boys, it touches on girls as well. The well-being of girls and women is inextricably tied to the well-being of boys and men.

•   1 in 5 women are raped
•   1 in 4 women are abused by their intimate partner
•   1 in 6 women has had a stalker threaten her
•   64% of mass murder victims are women and children; 94% of their killers are male

Nationally recognized for its expertise and effectiveness, the YWCA West Central Michigan is our community’s most comprehensive provider of domestic and sexual violence services.

The Mask You Love In will be screened this Thursday, October 15 at Celebration Cinema South. Check in starts at 6:30 p.m. with the film starting at 7. A panel discussion with representatives from the YWCA, The Men’s Resource Center and Family Futures will immediately follow the film.

The event is free, but reservations are required! RSVP Here or contact lsikkema@ywcawcmi.org.

Feelin’ Groovy: ‘Give Peace a Chance’ Fundraiser is Oct. 15

October 13, 2015Local Business, Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, Upcoming EventsDispute Resolution Center of West Michigan, DRCWM, fundraiser, Give Peace a Chance, The B.O.B., THE BOBJoanne

If you grew up in the ’60s or ’70s, you’ll be very familiar with the phrase, “Give Peace a Chance.” Even if you’re a tad younger, chances are you’ve heard the phrase or even the famous song written by John Lennon while he was still one of the Beatles. The words became an anthem for anti-Vietnam War protesters, but this year the phrase has been revived as the theme of the Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan‘s (DRCWM) second annual fundraiser celebrating International Conflict Resolution Day.

The “Give Peace a Chance” event is slated for Thursday, October 15 from 7-9 pm at the B.O.B.-EVE, 20 Monroe Ave. NW, Rapids, MI 49503. Tickets are $35. The Main Street Dueling Pianos will provide a flashback to freer times with ’60s music, and you’ll want to dress to match the theme for extra fun. Two local peacemakers–Judge William Kelly and Peter Letzmann–will be honored at the event for their outstanding service to the community.

If you’re not involved in a lawsuit or major conflict at the moment, you may not see the relevance to your GPAC-Poster-791x1024 life. However, perhaps it’s time to ponder another old saying, “Into each life a few (or many) raindrops fall,” which has nothing to do with the weather. Rather, the phrase is our cultural shorthand for a simple fact: No one escapes conflicts in life. The question we all ask ourselves at some point is, “How do I deal with it?”

Chris Gilman, the nonprofit’s Executive Director, says, “Conflict is unavoidable, but we can use it as an opportunity for growth.”

Every year about a thousand people experiencing conflict visit the DRCWM. They sit down with a trained mediator and talk about the problem(s) they face. They don’t just talk, they also listen. Then they create a solution that works for the parties involved, whether the conflicts involve marriage, divorce, employment, a neighbor, or just about anything else. The DRCWM reaches out to a seven-county area, providing low- or no-cost mediation services to people of modest means. Some cases are referred to the center by the court.

The process is cheaper than hiring an attorney, because you do the work yourself; but this is one DIY project where a trained coach is vital, and that takes money; the investment in creating peace is significant. So rummage around for your old fur vest, rose-tinted glasses, love beads, and maybe old army fatigues. Hang out at the B.O.B., practice your peace sign and “Give Peace a Chance.” It’s hip to feel groovy.

For more information, visit the DRCWM’s website or call 616.774.0121.

Looking for a new taste sensation?

October 13, 2015Local Business, Local Entertainment, Local Food, Non-Profits, Recreation, Upcoming EventsChinese food, Dim Sum, GlobalConnections, Wei Wei Palace, World Affairs Council of WMJoanne

How about Dim Sum? If you have no clue what it is or what it tastes like, and especially if you do, you’ll want to schedule lunch at Kentwood’s Wei Wei (pronounced “Way Way”) Palace, on Saturday, October 17, 2015, at 4242 South Division.

Similar in concept to the tapas style of presenting a number of dishes to a group, Dim Sum is a shared meal of traditional Cantonese small plates. Attendants push carts from table to table to make your choice easy. The cuisine is placed in the table center on a revolving tray for diners to sample. Options feature steamed, baked, and fried variations of Dim Sum. “There’s a little bit of everything,” says Ashley Kassuba, Marketing Assistant for the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan. “Shrimp, vegetables, and rice are often mixed together, but there are some meat dishes and some veggie dishes, too.”

The cost is $20 per person, and includes tea and a selection of Dim Sum options brought to your table.

Reservations must be paid in advance by credit card or check. RSVP online or call the World Affairs Council office at 616-776-1721 by Tuesday, October 13.

The event is an adventurous concept in furthering cultural understanding, says Kassuba. Ping Liang, former Board President of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, will be on hand to explain the history of Dim Sum, along with chopstick etiquette and other fun facts.

Sponsored by GlobalConnections, the newest group for young professionals (and “the young at heart”) at the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, the luncheon is the first of planned interactive events scheduled throughout the upcoming year.

More social networking is planned at the end of November through December 4 to encourage fair trade shopping. Global Gifts, a non-profit specialty-item store that sells Fair Trade products, will host at 2055 28th St. (Located in the Grand Central Plaza).

But for now, the focus is on food. We understand that “Wei Wei” is a fun way to claim “the best, the VERY best” taste awaits you. Check it out at the Wei Wei Palace!

Haunted West Michigan

October 13, 2015Local Business, Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming EventsForest of Fear, Halloween, Haunted Houses, Haunted West Michigan, The Haunt, West Michigan HauntsJoanne

Watching a scary movie is one thing, but the real horror begins when you live it. To safely help you live the scary movie experience, the haunted houses of West Michigan have you covered! Enjoy terrifying scares as you cautiously check around every corner, making sure that there isn’t somebody – or something – following you.

Central

The Haunt

The Haunt has been generating screams for 15 years and they’re excited for another year! Their 20,000 square foot land is filled with all things scary! Expect even more Hollywood level sets, lighting, and special effects as you run from ghosts to clowns to everything in between. New features and side attractions help The Haunt continue to serve Michigan with their annual Halloween of scares!

Forest of Fear

The Forest of Fear is West Michigan’ premier outdoor haunted attraction which has been frightening and entertaining thrill-seekers of all ages for years! Located just south of Grand Rapids in Caledonia, the Forest of Fear is an interactive, self guided walk though tour through five chilling acres of haunted woods and swamps inhabited by ghosts, monsters, and other terrifying creatures. As you walk along the dimly lit and winding trails of the Forest of Fear you will face one spine-tingling jolt after another in an experience unlike any other haunted house!

South

Haunted Campus at Michigan Maritime Museum

The Haunted Campus event at the Michigan Maritime Museum takes place October 30 and October 31 from 8pm to 11pm. This event transforms the entire campus into a terrifying new locale and challenges visitors to navigate through the horror around them. This event is only for those ages 14 and up and all minors must be accompanied by an adult.

If learning about ghostly spirits is more your speed, make sure to check out the Michigan’s Ghostly Beacons presentation at the Michigan Maritime Museum! Nearly two dozen lights in Michigan are rumored to be haunted by their previous keepers. The stories of these lights will entertain all ages! Dianna Stampfler, who has contributed to a plethora of publications, will present with all the proceeds benefiting the Save the Light campaign.

Haunted Trail at Stokes Homestead Farm Market

Hop on a wagon at Stokes Homestead Farm Market and take a ride on the haunted trail highlighting the history of the “Shadow Hill Asylum.” The haunted forest and apple orchard are inhabited by the patients of Shadow Hollow so watch out! They may even climb onto the wagon and try to bring you back with them!

Haunted Forest and Temple Coldwater Country CVB

Take an adventure around the Haunted Forest at Rotary Park in Coldwater! Taking place October 26, 27, 29, and 30, kids will enjoy the less scary 6pm to 7pm activities while the real scary things come out from 7pm to 9pm!

The basement of the Masonic Temple gets real scary on October 20, 21, 23, 24, 27, 28, 30, and 31! Filled with all the things that go bump in the night, don’t miss a chance to experience Halloween scares in this building that is over 140 years old.

Niles Scream Park

Offering five unique main attractions that are carefully and professionally designed, Niles Scream Park is here to scare the “yell” out of you! This years feature attraction is an homage to Steven King featuring a clown in your sewer, escaping the wrath of Johnny, and seeing first hand Carrie’s prom night! This is in addition to four other great haunted attractions that you don’t want to miss!

Haunted Adventures at Cornwell’s Turkeyville

Every weekend in October, Cornwell’s holds their family friendly Haunted Adventures from 12pm to 8pm on Saturdays and 12pm to 5pm on Sundays! Activities include a pumpkin patch, spooky hay ride, and Haunted Barn. The theme for the Haunted Barn this year is “shadows” so watch out for what is lurking about!

Haunted Forest at Covert/South Haven KOA

Enjoy two weekends of Halloween fun with Covert/South Haven KOA! On the weekends of October 2 and 9, enjoy some great family activities including trick-or-treating, a haunted forest, games, pumpkin decorating, and more! With all these great things to do, you may want to come back for both weekends!

Haunted Corn Maze & 3D Barn at Crane Orchards

Prepare yourself for Crane Orchards’ Haunted Corn Maze and 3-D Barn! The 20-acre corn maze features plenty of spooky interruptions and terrifying surprises as your navigate through it. New to this year’s fall preview is the 3-D Barn which begins at dusk to 10pm.

The Haunted Hallow at Olde World Village

The Old World Village’s largest annual event, The Haunted Hallow, is right around the corner! Supporting the regions charities, The Haunted Hallow features everything scary on a half mile trail going through the woods with over 25 scenes. All this and the Maze of Despair are set up to make sure that you are properly scared! Open every Friday and Saturday night during the month of October form 8pm to midnight. This is not recommended for those under 17.

North

Haunted Forest at Crystal Mountain

Are you brave enough to make it through Crystal Mountain’s Haunted Forest? Hang out by the fire where you’ll hear the screams surrounding the mountain. Carefully maneuver down the haunted trail and watch out for what lurks around every corner. Tickets available at the Park at Water’s Edge on October 17, 23, 24, and 30!

Haunted Trail at Grand Hotel

See the Grand Hotel as you’ve never seen it before! The weekend begins Friday, October 30 with a Welcome Reception, five-course dinner, and Haunted Trail! A scary movie will be presented Friday evening as well! Saturday includes a Bloody Mary bar, pumpkin carving contests, free admission to the Haunted Theatre downtown, and Haunted Afternoon Tea. Another five-course dinner will be served Saturday evening followed by the Grand Halloween Party! There will be live music and all beer, wine, and snacks are included at the party.

Haunts of Mackinac Island Tour at Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island is going to be filled to the brim with great activities! Don’t miss the kids Trick or Treating downtown, Haunts of Mackinac Island Tour, and Halloween parties at the downtown pubs! This a great mix of family fun and grown up entertainment!

SICARIO: A Bleak, Suspenseful Pill to Swallow (R)

October 13, 2015Citizen Journalism, Movie Reviewat the movies, Brett Wiesenauer, In Theaters Now, Serious Drama, SICARIOJoanne

Escalation.

That’s a major part of what makes SICARIO, the latest from Denis Villeneuve, the director behind Enemy and Prisoners, a true Villeneuve experience. Tension starts to coil in your stomach, your heartbeat slows, then quickens as your breath gets caught in your throat. The droning score from Jóhann Jóhannsson only amps up the tension provided by the careful composition of suspense in the film proper. I have never been more terrified of a single place on Earth than I was during each excursion into Juarez, Mexico.

Image Credit: ©2015 Lions Gate UK Limited. All Rights Reserved. - — Image Credit: ©2015 Lions Gate UK Limited. All Rights Reserved. –

The story here involves an FBI tactician played by Emily Blunt, who specializes in kidnappings. After a routine raid in Arizona reveals a grotesque site of cartel activity and depravity, she is roped into accompanying a team of elite military agents over the border into Mexico to “shake the tree” of the cartels and provoke some chaos. Through the film, our protagonist struggles to balance by-the-book activities with surviving in an oppressively male-oriented society of violence, strong-arm tactics, and drug-fueled paranoia with varying rates of success.

This cast is fantastic. Emily Blunt makes a solid impression as our undermined protagonist, Josh Brolin is great as the fast-talking recruiter, it’s nice to see Victor Garber in things again, Jon Bernthal is great in a crucial, menacing scene, and then, there’s Benicio del Toro.

Benicio del Toro in SICARIO Photograph: Allstar/Lionsgate

Benicio is the true star of the film. At first appearing burnt out and barely alive, his Alejandro rumbles with a rage that hasn’t been seen onscreen since the days of yore when Reb Brown was still active. He’s part Splinter Cell, part interrogation specialist, and part Doberman Pinscher. I can’t believe he was acting, as I was sure he was just being Benicio: raw and intimidating, to put it mildly.

I have a single issue with the film in that it sets up a character to play a role later which feels almost shoe-horned in, a la Syriana, but it didn’t ruin the film. I just felt it gave a minor character more screen time than necessary for the machinations of the storytelling.

SICARIO is a fascinating cross between a war film, a south-of-the-border western, and the grittiest police procedural ever made. There are no real good guys or bad guys in this world, everyone has a bit of both in them. This movie is not for everyone. If you as viewers cannot stomach chilling, HARD-R content such as torture and absurd levels of tension, I would recommend you check out something else, The Martian, for instance.

But if you’re willing to take a chance and tunnel down the cartel equivalent of a rabbit-hole, you’ll be rewarded with one of the best dramas of the year.

Surprise! Good Vision and Learning are Linked

October 12, 2015Education, Local Business, Local FacesCharles Honey, Erin Albanese, Linda Odette, Paul R. Kopenkoskey, School News Network, Vision TestJoanne

School News Network Vision Test — Kent County Health Department vision and hearing technician Denise Knight asks Murray Lake Elementary kindergartener Marley Beauchamp what the dots on a page look like to her.

By: Paul R. Kopenkoskey, Charles Honey, Erin Albanese and Linda Odette – Schools News Network

Marley Beauchamp slips on a pair of 3-D glasses, but it’s not because she plans to munch popcorn while watching a popular animated film.

Instead, Kent County Health Department vision and hearing technician Denise Knight holds in front of the Murray Lake Elementary kindergartener a book that shows a page with a seemingly random array of dots printed on it. Knight asks Marley what she sees, but she is hesitant to answer. Knight then asks if she sees a butterfly. Can she touch the wings on the page? Marley shakes her head “no.”

Known as the Butterfly Stereo Activity Test, this is one of a battery of eyesight evaluations the health department conducts. The screening does not diagnose a potential vision problem, but may refer a student to an eye-care professional for further examination.

“For her to pass the test, she has to see a butterfly,” Knight said. “It pops out as a 3-D image.”

Michigan law requires hearing and vision screening prior to admission to kindergarten. Once a child is in school, free screenings continue on a regular basis, specifically between ages 3 and 5, and then first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth grades. Screenings are provided at no cost to families, and are conducted by a local health department, usually in school.

Seeing is Learning

Whether it’s learning how to read or do fractions, good vision and learning are connected. Experts say around 80 percent of what a student learns in school is from information presented visually.

Students who can’t see properly don’t have a learning disability, but it can be a sign of possible eye health and refractive problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or color blindness, among others. And that can make it tough to understand and remember what was taught.

Those are key reasons why the Kent County Health Department’s vision program, which provides screenings in all schools in Kent County, checks for several things: visual acuity, eye muscle function, nearsightedness, farsightedness and symptoms of other possible eye problems.

In Kent County, of the 52,427 children screened during the 2014-15 school year, 4,620 were referred to an eye-care provider.

Of those, 2,202 students did go to an eye-care provider for an evaluation and treatment, if needed, said Chris Buczek, public health supervisor for KCHD’s hearing and vision screening programs.

Parents may also schedule to have their children screened by appointment at the KCHD, 700 Fuller Ave. NE. They usually choose this option if:

They or school staff have a concern and the student was absent when the KCHD was at the school
The family is new to the area
The child will be entering kindergarten and was not in a preschool or Head Start, where they would have been screened
The student was unable to follow the directions for a successful eye screen when a KCHD technician was at the school

“Often, parents may not even be aware we have been there at the school unless the child does not pass,” Buczek said. “We are required to send letters to parents of all students who do not pass. Some schools will publish in their newsletter that we are coming.”

School News Network Vision 2 — Vision screenings are essential, experts say, because students may not be aware they can’t see correctly, which can snowball into other problems.

Vision screenings are essential because students may not be aware they can’t correctly see, which can snowball into other problems.

“It is not uncommon for students to have some behavior issues, such as lack of concentration or listening, if they cannot see,” Buczek said. “And students may be able to see better with one eye than the other. This could be amblyopia, where one eye does the work of both, and the ‘not-as-good eye’ is in danger of shutting off. This is the main concern for preschool-aged children, since if it is caught early, treatment can be done to diminish the issue.”

Steve Jepson, president and chief operating officer of Michigan-based Rx Optical, says increased screen time is also being researched for long-term effects on the eyes.

“Many believe that this damage is similar to an accelerated aging of the retina, which is irreversible and has the potential to significantly compromise vision at much younger ages,” he said.

Districts, Professionals Lend a Hand

Sometimes it’s a financial struggle for parents to have their children checked out by an eye-care professional or to pay for glasses. In those cases, school districts can often help bridge the gap.

Forest Hills Public Schools participates in a program called VSP Sight for Students, which covers the cost of an eye exam and glasses for those with no insurance who can’t afford the services and meet specific income guidelines.

If students at Byron Center Public Schools need glasses and parents can’t afford them, they’re referred to BC Ministries. The local group assists families with paying for a more thorough examination and, if needed, glasses through one of the local optometrists.

The Godfrey-Lee district has Cherry Street Health Services come to the schools for a period of time during the school year. The independent nonprofit only assesses students whose parents have completed a form for services through Cherry Street, regardless of whether they have had glasses in the past.

Cherry Street will test students for vision, refer to them to a specialist if needed and furnish glasses for those who need them or need their current prescription updated. They also test for glaucoma, while the district’s nurse, Rebecca Quigley, also inquires about other diseases.

Students age 10 and older can also be seen any time during the school year by appointment in any of the district’s school-based health centers, which are housed at Ottawa Hills High School, Union High School and City High School, as well as Burton Elementary/Middle School. Grand Rapids Public Schools nurses and health department staff work to help families receive follow-up care for students who fail their screenings. Some of GRPS’ schools take part in the See to Succeed Program, provided through Cherry Health Services, which provides dilated eye exams, vision screenings and glasses, if required.

“Parents are notified by their individual school buildings of upcoming screenings via school newsletters and other forms of communication,” said Laura Martzke, GRPS nursing supervisor.

Kelloggsville participates in Cents for Kids, which is funded entirely by the district’s employees through payroll deduction or one-time donation, said Tammy Savage, director of instruction.

Local Businesses Step Up

Dr. Troy LeBaron, owner of Professional Eyecare of West Michigan in Kentwood, has provided free eye exams, frames and lenses to students who are referred by Kent School Services Network, a Kent ISD effort that brings health and human services directly into schools.

Last year, LeBaron’s help amounted to at least $25,000 in exam costs and materials, including repairs or replacement of broken or damaged glasses, he said.

“Over the past few years we have roughly seen around 400 students, and that feels really good,” he said.

LeBaron sets aside time to serve students who can’t afford glasses, as identified by KSSN coordinators. He fits in emergency appointments as well. Students must be referred through school.

“My reward is helping these students become productive members of our community and the many thank-you cards that we have received,” LeBaron said.

He’s expanded his services, which started with low-income students in Kentwood two years ago, to other districts that notify him about a student. He said more people have learned the importance of annual vision and heath exams as a result.

“Teachers are becoming very good at detecting vision-related learning disorders,” he said.

Sparta Area Schools works in tandem with the health department, the Sparta Lions Club and a local optometrist. Vision screenings are done first by the KCHD, usually in the fall at the district’s school. If it’s determined a student needs glasses, they are referred to Sparta-based optometrist Dr. David Harkema.

If parents have financial challenges, registered nurse Amy Roelse coordinates with the Lions Club to pay for the cost of glasses.

“We don’t want finances to be an issue for students,” Roelse said. “If they do not have insurance to cover glasses and can’t afford glasses, I take care of that whole process. I work with Dr. Harkema and the Lion’s Club to get approval for the glasses. The Lions Club picks up the bill, and the organization has never told me ‘no’ in 15 years.”

Connect

To schedule a hearing or vision screening call the Kent County Health Department at (616) 632-7047, or click here.

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

SCA’s Real to Reel Series Features an Oscar Nomination

October 12, 2015Local Entertainment, Movie Review, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming EventsReal to Reel Series, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Sebastião Salgado, The Salt of the EarthJoanne

The Oscar nominated documentary The Salt of the Earth is coming to the big screen at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts (400 Culver Street) on Thursday, October 15, at 7:00 p.m. The documentary is being shown as part of the Real to Reel Series.

For the last 40 years the photographer Sebastião Salgado has been travelling through the earth’s continents, in the footsteps of an ever-changing humanity. He has witnessed some of the major events of our recent history; international conflicts, starvation and exodus.

From stunning images of the gold mines of Serra Pelada (“I had travelled to the dawn of time”), to the horrors of famine in the Sahel and genocide in Rwanda (“We humans are a terrible animal… our history is a history of war”), and ultimately to the rebirth of the “Genesis” project, The Salt of the Earth finds Salgado revisiting and confronting his turbulent past.

In this lush, moving film Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and Wim Wenders co-direct a look at the career of Juliano’s father, Sebastião, as he embarks on the discovery of pristine territories, of wild fauna and flora, and of grandiose landscapes as part of a huge photographic project which is a tribute to the planet’s beauty.

Juliano says the film, “tells the story of an entire cycle, of a living land that dies and is then reborn. That is also more or less the story of Sebastião, who reached a breaking point and had to reinvent himself, so it was a very powerful thing. And to tell the truth, we only realized that in the editing room.”

The Salt of the Earth was named as an official selection at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and the 2014 Telluride Film Festival. General admission is $5/Members; $7/Future Members.

Farm Market Recipe: Oven-Roasted Squash with Garlic & Parsley

October 11, 2015Citizen Journalism, Community Health, How-To'sFarm Market Recipe, Metro Health Recipe, Oven-Roasted Squash with Garlic & ParsleyJoanne

Oven-Roasted Squash with Garlic and Parsley

Makes: 10 servings, about 3/4 cup each
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

▪   5 pounds winter squash (such as butternut, buttercup, kabocha or hubbard), peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks (see Tip)
▪   2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
▪   1 1/2 teaspoons salt
▪   1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
▪   3 cloves garlic, minced
▪   2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Toss squash with 4 teaspoons oil, salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spread evenly on a large baking sheet. Roast, stirring occasionally, until tender throughout and lightly browned, 30 to 45 minutes (depending on the variety of squash).
Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant but not brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Toss the roasted squash with the garlic and parsley. Taste, adjust the seasoning and serve.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Cut squash up to 1 day ahead; store airtight in the refrigerator.

Nutritional Information

104 calories; 3 g fat (0 g sat, 2 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 21 g carbohydrates; 2 g protein; 6 g fiber; 357 mg sodium; 555 mg potassium.

Prohibition is Still Alive at the Grand Rapids Public Museum

October 11, 2015Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, RecreationAmerican Spirits, Dianna Higgs Stampfler, Grand Rapids Public Museum, ProhibitionJoanne

By: Dianna Higgs Stampfler

American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition graces the galleries of the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) through January 17, 2016. This exhibit explores America’s most colorful and complex constitutional hiccup, spanning from the inception of the temperance movement, through the Roaring ’20s, to the unprecedented repeal of the constitutional amendment.

The world of flappers, bootleggers, temperance lobbyists, and organized crime legends comes to life in the American Spirits exhibition. This extensive collection will showcase over 100 rare artifacts, including: temperance propaganda, flapper dresses from the Roaring ’20s, Carry Nation’s hatchet used during her barroom-smashing raids, and authentic items used for making moonshine and other illegal potent liquors.

Interactive elements and immersive environments will bring to life the sights, sounds, and experiences of the time period. Visitors have the chance to take a quiz to find out if they are a “wet” or a “dry,” learn the Charleston in a re-created speakeasy and play the role of a federal Prohibition agent chasing rumrunners in a custom-built video game.

At the end of the exhibition visitors will explore the legacy of Prohibition in today’s regulatory landscape. Displays will show why and how laws differ from state to state and how the idea of drinking responsibly evolved.

American Spirits is a national touring exhibition created by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and curated by Daniel Okrent, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. The exhibition includes 17 artifacts on loan from the Collection of the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

The GRPM will offer a variety of engaging community and educational programs to complement the exhibition. Programs vary from free with admission to an additional cost to participants.

Bathtub Gin Kit

Long Road Distillers, Grand Rapids’ first craft distillery, has created a special Prohibition-themed “bathtub gin” kit to commemorate the exhibition, which will be available at the distillery located at 537 Leonard Street NW, Grand Rapids (while supplies last). The kit includes a bottle of Long Road’s signature vodka, crafted from Michigan grain, botanicals for infusing, a second jar with a special edition Prohibition label, and instructions for infusing your gin at home. Long Road Distillers opened in early June of 2015 and is the first craft distillery in the history of the City of Grand Rapids.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the Grand Rapids Public Museum on this exhibit commemorating such a unique period in American history. The rise and ultimate fall of prohibition changed the landscape for American distilleries and breweries, and only now, over 80 years later, are we seeing the resurgence of the local, craft beverage makers. The Long Road Bathtub Gin Kit is a great way to honor the ingenuity of those who tried to make the most of what they had available at the time” said Kyle Van Strien, owner, Long Road Distillers.

Long Road Distillers is proud to be part of the exciting revitalization that is taking place in the West Side neighborhood they call home, as well as being an active member of the thriving craft spirit culture around Michigan. Staying true to its name, Long Road takes no shortcuts in crafting their spirits, using thousands of pounds of grain each week from a family farm located less than 25 miles from the distillery to produce vodka, gin, whisky and other uniquely Michigan spirits.

Long Road’s spirits can be enjoyed by the taste or in one of their carefully crafted cocktails and paired with a farm-fresh meal in their bar and restaurant. If seeing the production area through the floor to ceiling windows from the bar doesn’t satisfy your curiosity, distillery tours are offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Cocktail Classes

For the first three Tuesdays in October (October 6, 13, and 20), join the GRPM and New Holland Brewing for hands on cocktail classes in the Museum. Each class will be themed around a different Prohibition era spirit. Tickets are $10 and include general admission (Members receive discounted price).

Budweiser Clydesdales

The famous Budweiser Clydesdales will visit Grand Rapids in October in conjunction with the exhibit, on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 from 11 am to 1 pm on the grounds of the GPRM and the Holiday Inn Downtown parking lot. Guests can interact with the hitch team and take photographs with the iconic horses. Seeing the Budweiser Clydesdales is free of charge. The appearance is weather permitting. The event will take place as part of the partnership with Anheuser-Busch for the exhibition; the exhibit also includes Anheuser-Busch artifacts from the Prohibition era.

Legacy Awards Gala

Join the GRPM for the 7th Annual Jay & Betty Van Andel Legacy Awards Gala on Thursday, November 12 starting at 5:30 pm. In celebration of the exhibition “American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition” this event will be set in the era of flappers, bootleggers, temperance lobbyists, and organized crime legends. As the GRPM’s annual fundraiser, the community comes together to recognize three individuals for their dedication and commitment to bettering the quality of life in the region. Attire is roaring 20s fashion. Co-chaired by Dave & Carol Van Andel and Jim & Sue Williams. Tickets may be purchased by calling (616) 929-1754.

“Spirited Women” a Presentation by the Grand Rapids Women’s History Council

On November 17 at 6 pm join the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council at the Grand Rapids Public Museum for a presentation, “Spirited Women: Grand Rapids and the Push for Temperance.” Presented by council members Ruth Van Steele and Julie Tabberer, this program will take a look at the local scene during 13 years of speakeasys and bathtub gin, reviewing the role the area women during the massive national temperance movement and the long push for women’s rights.

Repeal Day

December 5, 2015 marks the 82nd anniversary of the 21st Amendment, repealing the laws of Prohibition. Visit the Museum to take part in special Repeal Day activities including meeting characters who were important in passing the first and only amendment to repeal another amendment ever. The Museum’s Galleria will be filled with adult and children hands on activities to both celebrate and learn about our country’s history.

Join the Museum for a special soda making workshop from 10 am to 11:30 am for a special Repeal Day activity, also on December 5. This workshop will take place in the demo lab at the Grand Rapids Public Museum and can accommodate up to 20 people. Pre-registration is required, all ages welcome, recommended for ages 6-12. The workshop is $12 per person and includes general admission to the Museum.

Extra Events!

“Party Like it’s 1933” Repeal Day party at SpeakEZ

Step back in time to the first legal drinks after Prohibition at the Speak EZ Lounge on Saturday, December 5. Starting at 9 pm the Lounge will turn into 1933 with guests and staff partying to celebrate the 21st amendment. The event will include a live band, as well as ticket giveaways to the GRPM’s American Spirits exhibition! No advanced tickets necessary.

Prohibition style beer and food pairing dinner – exclusive tickets!

On January 12, 2016 in conjunction with the GRPM’s American Spirits exhibit, join Brewery Vivant for an exclusive prohibition beer and food pairing dinner. Tickets are limited and will go on sale later this year.

Last Call! Closing Weekend

Join us first the last call and last chance to see the exhibit on January 16 & 17, 2016. January 17 marks the 95th anniversary of the 18th amendment. On this weekend meet historic figures such as Wayne Wheeler and Carry Nation who helped bring about this constitutional amendment. As you journey through the history of Prohibition in American Spirits, hear in depth talks about the era, the culture and the changes that were seen in 1920. Saturday, January 16, join Speak EZ Lounge in the Meijer Theater at 3 pm for an exclusive mixology presentation.

1920s Era Family Activities:

Make your own marbles at the Grand Rapids Public Museum on November 14 from 10 am to 11:30 am. Learn how to make your own marbles out of clay, and while they bake play some of the original marble games that were popular in the 1920s! This workshop will take place in the demo lab at the Grand Rapids Public Museum and can accommodate up to 20 people. Pre-registration is required, all ages welcome, recommended for ages 6-12. The workshop is $12 per person and includes general admission to the Museum.

This holiday season, visit the Grand Rapids Public Museum for a variety of family friendly crafts and events during the annual Snowflake Break. Make your own themed snowflakes and punch tins, play a variety of board games, dress paper dolls in the Museum’s 1920’s fashion straight from our Collections. Activities are free with general admission. Visit the Museum on December 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, and 30 and enjoy late nights in The Discovery of King Tut and American Spirits!

For a full schedule of events, please visit grpm.org.

Admission to American Spirits; The Rise and Fall of Prohibition will be included with general admission to the GRPM. This exhibit is free to Museum members.

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!

Grand Valley State University hosts Secretary of State Mobile Office

October 9, 2015Education, How-To's, Politics, Upcoming EventsMichigan's Secretary of State offices, Mobile Office, Secretary of State, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, Voting RegistrationJoanne

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today that the Mobile Office is offering voter registration and other services during a stop at Grand Valley State University in Allendale on Wednesday, Oct. 14 and Thursday, Oct. 15.

“College students often have questions about where to register to vote or how to get an absentee ballot,” Johnson said. “For these reasons I encourage students to stop by the Mobile Office while it’s on campus. In addition, they, as well as faculty, staff and members of the public, are welcome to come by to take care of any business they may have with the Secretary of State’s office.”

The Mobile Office will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. near the Translink statue by the Arboretum, 1 W. Campus Drive, Allendale.

“It’s important that we bring the Mobile Secretary of State Office to campus because it gives more students access to reliable, convenient voter registration information,” said Maddie Cleghorn, president of the GVSU Student Senate. “Students are much more likely to engage in the democratic process if the resource is on campus, because it eliminates the step of actually driving to an office. With 2016 coming up as such an important election year, I think it is our responsibility to make sure students have access to the tools that will help them become engaged, informed voters.”

The Mobile Office is a full-service office and visitors can take care of other Secretary of State business at this event, including renewing driver’s licenses, getting instant titles or joining the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.

Don’t forget to visit the online Michigan Voter Information Center, a single, comprehensive source designed for voter convenience at www.Michigan.gov/vote . The site contains sample ballots, as well as information on absentee ballots, polling locations, voting systems and candidates. A mobile version is also available.

A Cornucopia of Halloween Activities Offer a Fun-filled Bounty

October 9, 2015Holidays, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming EventsFall Activities, Halloween, Victoria MullenJoanne

‘Tis the season for really bad autumn references, and we apologize. As writers, we’re expected to be witty (or die trying).

But it’s with the spirit of sharing in mind that we’re here to tell you about several fun Halloween- and autumn-themed events. Consider it a consolation prize for the shorter days and colder nights. Heads up: These events span the spectrum of activities, from music to a Zombie Beer Fest, to hayrides… perfect for adults. And kids. And sometimes both.

In order of appearance:

Now through October 31 – Haunted Hall
Haunted Hall at Muskegon Fairgrounds, 6621 Heights Ravenna Road, Fruitport, Mich., Fri. and Sat. 7 pm. Go here for more information.

Now through November 7 – Post Family Farm Activities
The 80-acre Post Family Farm is overflowing with pumpkins, squash, gourds and more. U-pick pumpkins, hayrides, bonfires, homemade (peanut-free) pumpkin donuts, corn mazes, the list goes on. Fun Farm Days are Monday-Thursday, noon-7 pm; Friday noon-6 pm through Nov. 7. Fall Festivals are every Saturday 10 am-6 pm through October 25. 5081 Bauer Rd. Hudsonville. Call 616.669.1964 or visit the website for info.

Now through winter – Hayrides and Sleigh Rides
Fruit Ridge Hayrides and Sleigh Rides (courtesy of Zeke & Zoey, the team of Belgian draft horses), 11966 Fruit Ridge Ave Kent City. Fall hayrides* are $7/person. Call 616.887.5052 or visit the website for more info. *Hayrides are wheelchair accessible.

October 9 – Opening day of The Haunt
Celebrating 15 years of fear at 2070 Waldorf NW! New themes, the latest technology and one of the largest casts in the state. Visit the website for dates and times. General admission is $20. NOT recommended for kids under 12. Children 5 and younger will not be allowed in any attraction.

October 9-22 – ‘Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon’
Biography/comedy. The film screens at 8 pm each evening at the UICA.

October 9-31 – ‘Forest of Fear’
Fundraiser for the Kentwood Jaycees. Are you afraid of the dark? This West Michigan haunted attraction has been entertaining thrill-seekers for over ten years. Interactive, self-guided walk through five chilling acres of haunted woods and swamps. Tickets: $15/person. Fast Pass: $5/person. Go here for dates and times. 8758 Patterson Ave. SE, Caledonia, MI.

October 10 – Music at Pyramid Scheme
Pentagram, Electric Citizen, and Satan’s Satyrs perform at the Pyramid Scheme, 68 Commerce SW, 8 pm.

October 17 – Backroads Barry County Bike Ride
Saturday from 8 am to 1:30 pm. The ride begins and ends at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 701 W. Cloverdale Rd. Hastings. Visit the website for more info.

October 17 – Second Annual Zombie Beer Fest and Costume Contest
At the Calder Plaza, 250 Monroe Ave. NW. The fun starts at 4 pm. Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winning costumes. Tickets are $39-$49. Call 616.485.6637 for more info.

October 17 – Ballpark Ale Fest
At Fifth Third Ballpark, 1-5 pm, 4500 West River Dr. NW. More than 80 craft beers will be featured.

October 20 – Meanwhile Movie, “The Exorcist”
At the Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St. SE at 8 pm. Go here for more info.

October 22-24 and October 29-31 – Horror-themed Musical Parody: Halloween!
The Stark Turn Players’
7^th Annual Halloween Classic Horror-themed Musical Parody: Halloween! based on the 1978 John Carpenter independent thriller at Dog Story Theatre, 8 pm Oct 22-24 and 29-30; 3 pm Oct 25 & 31. 7 Jefferson SE. Tickets: $12/adults, $8/students and seniors. For more info, call 616.425.9234 or visit the website. BONUS: There’s a Halloween party and costume contest following the October 31 show!

October 24 – Bissell Howl-O-Ween Hoof and Woof
A howlin’ good time for the whole family. Get ready for an afternoon of wag-worthy fun to raise awareness for animal adoption and celebrate the special bond between dogs and families. FREE 12-3 pm, Gainey Athletic Field, 1661 East Paris Ave. SE. Go here for more info.

October 27 – Meanwhile Movie, “The Shining”
At the Wealthy Theatre, 8 pm.

October 30 – Casino Parade and Costume Contest; “Here Come the Mummies”; Photo Contest
Firekeepers Casino parade and costume contest, 7 pm. Top 10 costumes win a share of $9,750 in cash and red hot credits. 1^st place $2,000 cash and $3,000 in red hot credits. 11177 East Michigan Ave., Battle Creek, MI. Get the rules here.

“Here Come the Mummies” at Firekeepers Casino. Doors open at 8 pm, show begins at 9 pm. Purchase tickets here.

Firekeepers Photo contest Oct 30-Nov 1. Upload your best shot taken at Firekeepers for a chance to win $500 in red hot credits. Get the rules here.

October 30 – Dia de los Muertos
The Grand Rapids Main Library at 111 Library St. NE, observes the Mexican tradition “Dia de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead). Community members will honor deceased loved ones with altars that will be on display for three days at the library.

October 30 – Monster Bash
Monster Bash: Ferrysburg Fire Department, 6-8 pm, 17290 Roosevelt Rd., Ferrysburg, MI. Call 616.843.5028 for more info.

October 30 – Museum Trick or Treat – Booseum Center
Kids, come in your Halloween costumes and trick-or-Treat at the Museum. Lakeshore Museum Center, 430 W. Clay, Muskegon, 4-5 pm. Visit the website for more info.

October 30 – Glow in the Park
Glow in the Park, 7-10 pm in Beery Field, Downtown Douglas, Mich. Music, food, drink, plenty of glow-in-the-dark activities for the kids. Come in full glowing costume or get your glow on when you get there with face painting, glow balloons, black light areas, and a merchandise booth. Proceeds go to City of Douglas Halloween Fund to pay for the big parade and other Halloween activities.

October 31 – Founders Halloween Party
9 pm at Founders Brewing Co., 235 Grandville Ave SW.

October 31 – Douglas Nighttime Halloween Parade for Adults
Leave the kids with the sitter and don’t miss the rise of the Pumpkin King from the ashes at 10 pm! This event draws thousands of people from Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin. Get your freak on at the Halloween Parade for Adults, 9:30 pm. Downtown Douglas, 35 South Main St., Douglas. Visit the website for more info.

Kentwood Public Schools Seeking New Bond on November 3rd

October 8, 2015Area Education, Hard News, Upcoming EventsBond Proposal, City of Kentwood, Kentwood Public Schools, Mike DeWitt, November 3 electionJoanne

In May of 2015, the proposal on the Kentwood school bond narrowly failed. After months of gathering feedback and re-evaluating district needs, the bond is being resubmitted for vote on November 3rd.

The revised proposal calls for the residents of Kentwood School District to vote on a $64,860,000 school bond that will enhance safety, improve technology, and increase operational efficiency over a ten-year period. For a homeowner, the proposal would cost about 72 center per week (an increase from 3.5 mills to 4.25 mills) for every $100,000 in market value of your home.

As a Kentwood resident, here’s where your money will be going if the new bond is passed:

Safety and Security (27% of bond)

•   School entryways will be remodeled, ensuring a friendly lobby for our families, while providing limited access to our students and classrooms.
•   Enhanced security measures will be implemented in all schools. Cameras and ID monitoring will provide remote access for security purposes.
•   Pedestrian and vehicle traffic challenges will be addressed to create safe, more efficient environments for students and parents as they travel to and from the Kentwood facilities
•   Building-wide communications systems will be brought up to date.
•   Aging school buses will be gradually replaced, as need. The district currently has a fleet of 43 buses, but only 38 are operational. Bus purchases have been deferred for the last four years and has cost the District by doubling bus routes and maintenance expenses. If approved, bus replacements will begin during this school year.
•   Playgrounds will be updated to meet current safety standards.

Technology (25% of bond)

•   Purchasing new computers and devices to replace outdated technology.
•   Upgrades to the District’s network infrastructure and modernizations at each school location to support and serve more wireless technology.
•   Remodeling media centers with technology updates.
•   The creation of flexible Collaboration Center spaces which will focus on state-of-the-art technology and large group instruction throughout the District.
•   Replacement of obsolete student technology devices. If approved, will begin during this school year.

Operational Efficiency and Building Renovations (48% of bond)

•   Plumbing, mechanical, electrical and building systems that require investment will be upgraded to extend their useful life and improve operational efficiency.
•   Aged doors and windows will be replaced where necessary to improve building efficiency.
•   Building finishes will be refreshed with new carpet, ceilings and other interior improvements, such as furniture.
•   Parking lots and paved areas will be improved and expanded as needed.
•   All elementary school media centers will be renovated, including new technology and furniture.
•   Collaborative, multi-purpose learning centers will be created in each school in order to support 21st century education practices.
•   A per-student allocation of funds for furniture upgrades and replacements for all elementary, middle school and high school students.
•   Meadowlawn Elementary renovations, including the addition of a gymnasium, that will bring it up to District-wide standard.
•   New community entrance for after-school and recreation programs (youth arts and athletics) will be built at Valleywood Middle School.
•   Locker room remodeling and upgrades will take place at Pinewood and Valleywood Middle Schools for use by students and community.
•   Fine arts classrooms at East Kentwood High School will be renovated.

The previous bond came through on every project that was promised to the community and also did so under budget on 90% of the projects!

Three public information forums will be held at different locations leading up to the election on November 3rd. Those dates and locations are as follows:

•   Thursday, October 8 at 7:00 p.m. at Kentwood High School in the West Wing Commons
•   Tuesday, October 20 at 9:00 a.m. at the KPS Main Office, 5820 Eastern Avenue
•   Thursday, October 29 at 5:00 p.m. at Challenger Elementary

Specific building project listings and renderings for each school are on display at kentwoodps.org.

More information can be found on the Facebook pages for Kentwood Public Schools and Kentwood Friends for Education.