The new chip protected credit cards are coming! As of the first of this month, stores were required to have a new credit card reader installed to complete this new and improved credit card system. With this new technology, you can expect improved security and reduced chances of identity theft. That’s because the new chip, or “EMV” cards, make it harder for thieves to counterfeit your card or steal the number for charging up fraudulent purchases.
There are just a couple hitches in the plan – namely most people haven’t received their new chip cards, and it’s certain most stores won’t have the new and improved chip card reader installed any time soon. Even if they did, banks will not require you to use a special pin number every time you use the card, which is the ultimate step to crime fighting credit card fraud. So what’s the big deal?
According to City of Wyoming Police Officer Lt. James Maguffee, the change is slow in coming, but can make a difference when it gets here. Especially in fraud cases he’s been involved with recently like credit card numbers being skimmed from gas pumps in the west Michigan area. “The new chip cards make it harder to get the card number, so skimmers or a server at a restaurant won’t be able to see it.” The chip card will protect the data that is currently easily readable on the magnetic strip, so accounts held by big box stores like Target and Walmart likely will be safer. Walmart already accepts chip-enabled cards at all of its locations thanks to chip card readers installed as of November of last year. But chip embedded credit card are still rare.
In the meantime, even if the store has no chip reader you will still be able to swipe your chip card, when it eventually arrives. But this also means you are still vulnerable to credit card theft. “The new credit card chip will have very little impact on consumers,” says Lt. Maguffee, “because without a pin number requirement, someone can still smash your window and steal your purse. They can still get the card number and use it at a store, even online.”
And by the time you actually have to use a pin number to activate the chip card, Maguffee predicts there will likely be even more sophisticated protections involving biotech systems currently being explored. This reminds us that identity and credit card theft prevention is something we should all be aware of while we wait for the future to arrive. The Wyoming Police make the following suggestions to help keep you from becoming a victim:
Check your accounts as often as you can, looking for unauthorized activity; daily if possible, and report any such activity to your bank immediately.
•Do not write passwords or PINs anywhere on or near your credit or debit cards.
•Protect your passwords and pins by using caution when entering or using them in a public place.
•Do not carry your social security card or number on your person. Memorize it and secure it at home.
•Never leave purses, wallets, ID, credit cards, etc. in your unoccupied vehicle.
•Never give out personal information over the phone to any source you are not absolutely certain is legitimate.
Lt. Maguffee says since the recent big bust of gas pump credit card skimmers in west Michigan, the number of fraud cases may have “dipped just a bit.” So good old fashioned crime fighting doesn’t hurt either.
The changing leaves and cool wind can only mean one thing; it is time for the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department´s annual free Pumpkin Path event for kids and families.
Pumpkin Path will be held on Oct. 10 at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. This year the event will be held from the spooky hours of 4-6 p.m. Local businesses, clubs and organizations will haunt spaces along the path and will hand out candy, coupons and other goodies.
“The Pumpkin Path was developed as a safe family focused celebration for the fall, providing an alternative to traditional Halloween events,” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, director of community services for the City of Wyoming. “Pumpkin Path gives families the perfect opportunity to interact with neighborhood businesses while enjoying the outdoors, Lamar Park and the beauty of the fall season.”
While attendees may come for the treats, they should make sure to save time to get a temporary tattoo, jump in the bounce house and play life sized games. Participants are welcome to come in costume or come as they are.
At the 2014 Pumpkin Path event, 70 local businesses and organizations served approximately 5,000 children and parents.
Pinery Park Little League was in jeopardy of losing its contract with the City of Wyoming and Pinery Park due to a lack of transparent bookkeeping and the loss of nonprofit 501(c)(3) status.
The League made tremendous progress ironing out those issues over the past two weeks.
“I guess it took some major deadlines in order to have this contract happen,” exclaimed Mayor Jack Poll at the October 5 City Council Meeting. “I think it’s a good agreement. It protects both the park and those involved with the PPLL.”
There is new leadership within the League as almost an entirely new board was voted in during the elections on September 30. Mayor Poll was in attendance and cast his vote for the League leaders.
It is clear the new board wants the new contract and agreement to work. The members are shouldering a large responsibility to meet the requirements of the contract. The new board will have to prepare and show financial statements to the fiduciary handling the league’s financials. The PPLL board will meet on a regular, scheduled basis to stay on top of happenings throughout the league.
One of the main hiccups was the loss of 501(c)(3) status for the League back in 2011. The IRS has received and is reviewing the PPLL’s application to reinstate that status. The League must now wait 60-120 days for an answer from the IRS.
“The Pinery Park Little League knows how to run a league, they’ve been doing it a long time,” said Mayor Poll.
Now the league, the City, the parents, and the players can focus on the most important aspect… PLAY BALL!
Northwood Awakening by Ann and Steve LovelessSteve Loveless took time to talk about ‘Northwood Awakening’
Round 1 of the ArtPrize Seven popular vote is out and there are 20 finalists hoping their piece snags the top prize!
Steve Loveless and his wife Ann took some time to talk to Wyoming Now Kentwood Now about their piece Northwood Awakening and the idea on photography as realism.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your piece you have here at ArtPrize.
I’m Steve Loveless from Frankfurt, Michigan. I’m here with my wife Ann Loveless at the Gerald R. Ford Museum with our entry entitled Northwood Awakening. It is a photofiber combination piece. It’s a photograph at one end of the composition and a textile at the opposite end.
What was the inspiration for your piece?
It’s a scene depicting the springtime woods, trillium, and flowers in Benzie County along M22. We like to have people look at our piece and feel like they could be there. It gives them a sense of placement and a sense of belonging in a specific location.
Ann utilizes textiles to complete the piece
Your piece starts as a photograph on one end. Talk a little bit about that.
Our piece also is communicating the concept of the realism of photography – the perceived realism of photography versus the interpretation of textile. So, as you view the quilt from one end to the other, it gradually transforms. Most people can’t even really tell the difference from the photography into the textile because it’s such a gradual transformation. The transformation is such that you question where does one end and where does one begin?
For myself, I ask the question, is there a difference? A difference where one ends and one begins? Because, photography arguably is a very interpretive medium in the first place, but we’re all taught to think of photography as realism.
I think you must be a little proud of your wife as she handles the crowd while you talk to us, talk a little bit about her.
I’m very proud of her. This is actually Ann’s fourth year exhibiting at ArtPrize. Two years ago, in 2013, she was the first place public vote recipient with her textile ‘Sleeping Bear Dune Lakeshore.’ We’re a great team and we enjoy sharing our work with the ArtPrize community!
Editor’s Note – The interview was held with Steve Loveless as his wife Ann talked to the ArtPrize crowd about their work.
In 2009, acclaimed director J.J. Abrams re-envisioned and re-invigorated the Star Trek franchise with a brilliantly casted ensemble, stunning visual effects and action-packed plot. Michael Giacchino’s thrilling, Grammy-nominated musical score contributed in no small part to the film’s success
At “Star Trek: Live in Concert,” the Grand Rapids Symphony orchestra will perform Giacchino’s score as “Star Trek” (2009) is screened simultaneously in high definition. Audiences will experience the film in true surround sound as they are transported into the futuristic world of Captain Kirk, Spock and the rest of the U.S.S. Enterprise crew. This Nestlé Gerber SymphonicBoom series concert is a highly anticipated, one-night only performance on Saturday, October 17, 8:00 p.m. at DeVos Performance Hall.
The orchestra will be led by Constantine Kitsopoulus, who has made a name for himself conducting in the worlds of opera, musical theater and symphony. Kitsopoulus is currently in his eighth year as Music Director of the Queens Symphony Orchestra and continues as General Director of Chatham Opera, which he founded in 2005.
“Star Trek: Live in Concert” is being presented in collaboration with Grand Rapids Comic-Con, a comics and popular arts convention to be held at DeVos Place October 16 – 18. Fun, family- friendly activities will surround “Star Trek: Live in Concert” in DeVos Performance Hall, including a space-themed photo booth and cocktails in the Keeler Lobby. Social media posts from audience members using the #grsymphony hashtag will be shared on hall screens.
Tickets start at $32 and are available at the Symphony office, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by calling 616-454-9451. Other ways to purchase tickets as follows:
• By phone in the evenings and on Saturday by calling 616-885-1241
• At the DeVos Place Box Office, weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Through Ticketmaster at 800-982-2787
• Ticketmaster outlets: select D&W Fresh Markets, Family Fare Stores and Walmart
• Online at GRSymphony.org
• On the day of the concert at the DeVos Place Box Office beginning two hours before showtime
Great news for Wyoming, Michigan-based nonprofits! The Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance (GWCRA) now awards grants several times a year, up from just once annually. And, it is much easier to apply. Gone is the lengthy, very detailed application.
The new application process now requires an initial ‘letter of approach,’ which may be submitted at any time. The letter may not exceed two pages, must include a description of the project, affirm the purpose/need addressed, identify a target population, and indicate the anticipated amount of the request.
GRWCRA’s Board of Directors will review letters on a timely basis and invite those organizations it wishes to consider funding to complete a full application. Letters of approach are only accepted via email to the attention of Rebecca Rynbrandt, Board Secretary at rynbranb@wyomingmi.gov.
The Board reserves the right to seek applications specific to any area of interest and/or target funding to specific initiatives at any given time. Types of support include equipment, seed money/program development and operating support. Grant amounts typically range from $500 to $3,000. Review the GWCRA’s grant history here.
If your organization is invited to submit a full application, it will be due two weeks from the date of invitation.
The GWCRA strives to support nonprofit organizations and grassroots charitable causes that improve the fabric of the community. Since 2011, the organization has awarded over $40,000 to area schools, nonprofits, neighborhood associations and grassroots organizations in support of educational programs, community projects, disaster response, scholarships and more. All of the donations received or fundraised by the GWCRA are awarded back into the community.
GWCRA is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the greater Wyoming community. The Alliance is established to provide a charitable outlet for citizens and businesses eager to make a sustainable and immediate impact to the very fabric of the community.
Inspired by nature, people and the relationships that they share, Craig Merchant creates art in multiple mediums, expressionistic color and juxtaposition of scale.
Located in a shallow pond on the west bank of the Grand River, Merchant’s time-based ArtPrize entry, “Movement” comprises several “hands” fashioned of plastic gloves that are installed floating on the water. Inside each hand is a small mechanism that allows it to move and turn freely through space. Each hand is illuminated from within, providing another interesting element.
“The rhythmic motion of the hands can be heard as they move, creating a mesmerizing and hypnotic sound,” said Merchant. “It makes each viewer’s experience unique.”
Although the piece may take on a variety of interpretations, Merchant said that it was designed to represent a movement: A group of people working together to advance their shared political, social or artistic ideas. His artist statement includes a quote by Helen Keller: “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
“I hope the viewer is inspired to translate the artwork into their own life and current events in our society,” Merchant said.
The 28-year-old artist grew up in a secluded wooded environment and learned early on that all creatures play an important role. These early encounters may be seen in his artwork through large-scale depictions of insects, frogs and fish.
“I continued to expand on this idea by representing the relationships that are shared between man and the environment,” Merchant’s artist statement continued. “I often use subjective colors and distortion of scale to present an ordinary object in a unique way. It is my goal to connect with the viewer and create a kind of internal disturbance so that they are no longer viewing the art, they are experiencing the art.”
This is Merchant’s fourth year participating in ArtPrize and every year has been rewarding in its own way, he said. “I have had the opportunity to meet some great people and have had many constructive conversations about art. ArtPrize provides a unique platform to display artwork that would not normally be presented to the public on such a large scale.”
A graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree, Merchant currently lives in Grand Rapids. He studied printmaking and drawing, however his recent works include paintings, sculptures and installations. Merchant primarily exhibits in galleries throughout the state of Michigan and also has work on display in California as well as the United States Embassy in Botswana, Africa.
An aerial photo of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Stormwater/Glycol Treatment System
Winter air travel can be a hassle for everyone involved. Flights are delayed or cancelled due to bad weather, travelers escaping to warmer weather need to not only plan their wardrobe for the trip, but also for incoming weather on the return trip home, and most importantly – planes need to be taken care of!
During winter, planes need to be deiced frequently and that process can get messy for the environment. Fortunately, our local airport has a solution!
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) just recently completed a $20 million Stormwater/Glycol Treatment System, the first of its kind in the state of Michigan. The system is designed to eliminate the environmental risks from aircraft deicing procedures that are mandatory for safe winter air travel.
As part of the Airport’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit required prevention of deicing runoff caused during the winter months.
Part of the project design was to re-route the storm water from the north basin of the Airport to the Thornapple River, and re-configuring the Airport’s west apron storm water system to consolidate runoff from all aircraft deicing areas.
“The airport is committed to environmental stewardship and continuously improving our operations,” said GFIA Executive Director Brian Ryks. “The centerpiece of our new storm water management program is a natural treatment system that will significantly strengthen the airport’s environmental performance, protect and improve water quality in the Thornapple River, and help sustain the river system’s water quality, aquatic life and natural beauty.”
The new storm water treatment bed is an environmentally friendly design that uses gravity, vegetated beds, and natural organisms to treat the storm water with essentially no power consumption or residual waste.
For those who want to see Thornapple River kept clean, don’t worry, GFIA’s storm water management ensures the storm water reaching the river will be well within the State of Michigan’s water quality protection standards.
After serving over 2.3 million passengers last year, Michigan’s second largest airport is ready to keep up with the demand and diligent on cleaning up in a green and healthy way!
Round 1 of the ArtPrize Seven popular vote is out and there are 20 finalists hoping their piece snags the top prize!
Andy Sacksteder took some time to talk to Wyoming Now Kentwood Now about his piece REACH and SPLASH and experience with ArtPrize.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your name and where you’re from, and your piece you have here at ArtPrize.
My name is Andy Sacksteder and I’m from Port Clinton, Ohio. My piece is called REACH and SPLASH and it’s a tribute to youth and spontaneity.
REACH and SPLASH by Andy Sacksteder
How long did it take you to finish ‘Reach and Splash’?
For me to sculpt it into clay, it took about 8 months. After that I took it to a foundry to cast it into bronze. That process takes another 4 – 4 1/2 months.
What is the best part of seeing your work displayed here at ArtPrize Seven?
The best part is that so many people get to see and enjoy it. It’s also great hearing all the feedback from the people taking in the art here in Grand Rapids.
What is some of the feedback that you receive?
Being in the water really helps, it brings the piece to life. That brings a little more attention than maybe it would otherwise. So far, it’s still early, but all of the feedback has been positive!
Is this your first year at ArtPrize?
No, this is my third year at ArtPrize. Two years ago I was lucky enough to win a prize. Because of that, I had to skip last year. I was right here at the Ford Museum with my last two ArtPrize pieces as well.
Uplifting by Andy Sacksteder
What was your last piece of art here at ArtPrize?
The piece was called ‘Uplifting.’ It was a Native American man lifting up a Native American woman and they had water coming up through them and running over them.
So, will you be here the entire duration of ArtPrize?
I am. I’ll be here the whole time. It’s such a good time to connect with the people, and if the people connect with you, then they connect with your art a lot faster.
One last question, are you an artist by trade?
No, actually, I didn’t start sculpting until I was 52 and I just taught myself!
ArtPrize, the radically open international art competition decided by public vote and expert jury, today announced the twenty artist entries selected from among 1,550 eligible works during the first round of public voting that will move on to Round 2 Voting with the hopes of winning the world’s largest art prize.
Hundreds of visitors filled Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids on Sunday afternoon as ArtPrize Founder, Rick DeVos and Executive Director, Christian Gaines revealed the public’s top picks.
“The public vote is absolutely vital to the ArtPrize event, as year over year tens of thousands of visitors take the time to diligently explore hundreds of entries and discover their favorites,” noted Christian Gaines, ArtPrize Executive Director. “These deliberations reveal new layers of engagement — sparking an often intense and passionate dialogue around why art is important.”
Round 1 Voting closed Saturday night at 11:59 p.m., and 30,994 visitors had cast 377,302 votes for art, elevating five artist entries from each category — 2-D, 3-D, Installation and Time-Based. These twenty ArtPrize Seven entries will move on to the second round of voting, with the chance of winning over $200,000 in cash awards.
Balancing Act by Calvin Babich
“Every year the conversations surrounding the Public and Juried Shortlists evolve and grow and it’s incredibly inspiring to witness,” noted Kevin Buist, ArtPrize Exhibitions Director. “ArtPrize is a catalyst for debate and discussion and the dynamic between these differing opinions and selections is often where the most fruitful and intriguing conversations lie.”
The ArtPrize Seven Final 20 includes four prize-winning Artists from 2013, each of whom are displaying in the same venue as their 2013 entry.
In no particular order, the ArtPrize Seven Public Vote Final 20 are as follows:
Two-Dimensional
▪ As Above at Grand Rapids Art Museum, by Judith Braun from New York, New York
▪ Triple Play at Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, by Anni Crouter from Flint, Michigan, winner of the 2nd Place $75,000 public vote award at ArtPrize 2013
▪ michigan petoskey stone at DeVos Place Convention Center, by Randall Libby from Manistee, Michigan
▪ Northwood Awakening at Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, by Loveless PhotoFiber from Frankfort, Michigan, winner of the $200,000 ArtPrize 2013 Public Vote Grand Prize
▪ In a Promised Land… at DeVos Place Convention Center, by Shawn Michael Warren from Harvey, Illinois
Three-Dimensional
▪ Greatest Generation/Beta Team/November at Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, by Fred Cogelow from Willmar Minnesota
▪ The Race at DeVos Place Convention Center, by Kurt Swanson from Grand Rapids, Michigan
▪ Rolling Down at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, by Kroeze Krew from Grand Rapids, Michigan
▪ Seasons at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, by Robin Protz from New Hartford, Connecticut, winner of the 7th Place $5,000 public vote award at ArtPrize 2013
▪ MAYA 7624 at Kendall College of Art & Design / Fed Galleries at KCAD, by Seungmo Park from New Jersey City, New Jersey
michigan petosky stone by Randall Libby
Installation
▪ REACH and SPLASH at Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, by Andy Sacksteder from Port Clinton, Ohio, winner of the 3rd Place $50,000 public vote award at ArtPrize 2013
▪ Balancing Act at Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, by Calvin Babich from Toledo, Ohio
▪ TIME & AGAIN Grand Rapids at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, by Midge Bolt from Pepin, Wisconsin and Doreen Gunnick from Kentwood, Michigan
▪ SENSI at at Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, by Gianluca Traina from Ventimiglia de Sicilia, Italy
▪ The Grand Rapid Tape Drawing at TowerPinkster — Architects | Engineers, by The Tape Art Crew from Providence, Rhode Island
Time-Based
▪ Movement at Grand Rapids Public Museum, by Craig Merchant from Wyoming, Michigan
▪ Whisper at 250 Monroe, by Emily Kennerk from Zionsville, Indiana
▪ BREAKTHROUGH at DeVos Place Convention Center, by Breakthrough Team from Ada, Michigan
▪ Hometown Hero at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, by Pamela Alderman from Grand Rapids, Michigan
▪ Symphony of Gestures at Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, by Sara Dittrich and Benjamin Buchanan from Baltimore, Maryland
BREAKTHROUGH by Breakthorugh Team
The top three winners from 2013 once again stand the chance of winning a cash prize at ArtPrize Seven — with each returning to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum for this year’s competition.
Ann Loveless, ArtPrize 2013 $200,000 Grand Prize winner for her quilt Sleeping Bear Dune Lakeshore, returns to ArtPrize Seven alongside husband Steven Loveless with a collaborative piece.
Anni Crouter finished second in 2013 — taking home the $75,000 prize for her hyper realistic painting, Polar Expressed.
Andy Stacksteader took home the third place $50,000 prize in 2013 for his sculpture, Uplifting.
Robin Protz, who also collected a $5,000 prize in 2013 for Myth-or-Logic, is once again a public vote favorite at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.
ArtPrize visitors will have one more opportunity to voice their opinions and decide the winners of over $200,000 in prizes. Round 2 Voting will run through October 8 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Visitors can cast up to twenty votes, one per finalist — ArtPrize encourages visitors to consider voting for at least one entry in each category. The winners of both the public and juried awards totaling $500,000 will be announced at the Seventh Annual ArtPrize Awards on October 9.
Michigan parents who wish to refuse immunization for their children can still do so, but the process got tougher this year. In the past, a waiver could be issued by a school secretary or a day care provider. But that led to a growing number of children who were not being vaccinated. Last year’s outbreak of whooping cough among children in Traverse City led to school closings. This year is different.
Any parent or guardian who wishes to prevent their child from receiving required shots before entering school must schedule a waiver request appointment with their local county health department. Last year, the Kent County Health Department received nearly 1400 waiver notices from schools and day care centers. This year by comparison, says Immunization Program Supervisor Mary Wisinski, only 800 waiver appointments were scheduled. But despite fewer numbers, the new law made a “big impact” on her office.
The waiver appointment lasts about 15 minutes to allow nurses to talk to parents or guardians about vaccines and the diseases they are intended to prevent. “And some of those people were very unhappy to be coming to the Kent County Health Department,” says Wisinksi. “Our 20 nurses really stepped up to the plate to handle the increased numbers.”
At the end of the session the parent or guardian must sign a form that states they understand the risk their child and others could face without vaccination. Wisinski says some parents ripped up the form rather than sign it. “The Center for Disease Control gave us training on how to conduct an immunization waiver appointment. It was a huge adjustment, but we think we changed some parents’ minds.” She noted that many parents are simply unaware of the science behind vaccinations. “We give them a handout on where to find information so they can access real research,” says Wisinksi.
Parents who wish to avoid multiple doses of vaccine administered to the child all at once may elect to stretch out the vaccination process. “It may be a bit more painful for the child, but it makes the parent feel better,” says Wisinki.
After the waiver appointment concludes, parents take a waiver certificate back to their local school or day care center to get their child admitted. The final total of immunization waivers won’t be known until after official numbers are reported. Totals from child care centers is due as of October 1, but public schools do not report the numbers of waivers they issued until November 1. Wisinski estimates that over all, the numbers of people requesting waivers amounts to somewhere between 2% to 4% statewide.
To find out how many waivers are granted by Michigan school districts, check out the link below:
If your mouth is watering for fresh apples, cider and doughnuts; the kids want pumpkins bigger than beach balls; and/or you want something to do on the weekend while we enjoy this fabulous fall weather, here’s a list of where to look.
Michigan’s most important commercial apple growing region, the area west of Grand Rapids, features orchards of apple trees in all directions. The slope of the land up from Lake Michigan make this area perfect for apple production. It’s not bad for pumpkins, either!
Karin Nelson’s 2015 ArtPrize Entry, ‘Red Awnings, McKay Tower’
Full-time artist, Karin Nelson, paints in acrylics. For the last couple of years, Nelson’s self-taught path has steered her to explore the interpretation of structures. It’s an addiction, she said.
Whether it’s stately city buildings or aged and weathered barns, Nelson is drawn to the masculine lines of manmade landmarks, which symbolize strength and protection. Her 2015 ArtPrize entry, ‘Red Awnings, McKay Tower,’ may be seen at the Women’s City Club, 254 East Fulton.
“This piece began with a wash of burnt umber, which I purposely allowed to show through in various areas, depicting the golden effects of sunlight,” Nelson said. “The contrasting edge where the shaded side of the building meets the sunlit side of the building is an oft-repeated theme in my paintings of both urban and rural structures.”
The acrylic-on-gallery-wrapped-canvas painting measures 40″H x 30″W.
Over 200 of Nelson’s paintings reside in public, corporate and private collections. She has received multiple awards, been accepted into many juried exhibitions, and has had multiple appearances on television, radio and press. She won Tulip Time’s 2014 Poster Contest. The owner of Lake Effect Gallery, Holland, Mich. described her winning piece, ‘Resilience,’ as “quite a departure from the posters of the past – very dramatic, no bright rainbow colors.”
Nelson lives in Wyoming, Mich. with her husband of 38 years. They have three grown children, a son-in-law and two granddaughters.
See more of her work here. Nelson welcomes visitors to her home gallery/studio by appointment. Call 616.723.6600.
Michigan residents have until Monday, Oct. 5, to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today.
“Of Michigan’s 83 counties, 74 will hold local November elections for cities and school districts,” said Johnson, Michigan’s chief election officer. “I encourage all Michigan residents qualified to vote to get registered and then cast a ballot on Election Day.”
The November election also features three state House special primary elections for districts representing Grand Rapids, and Allegan and Lapeer counties. The winners of the special primary will move on to the special general election March 8. A full list of jurisdictions with elections can be found online.
To register to vote, applicants must be at least 18 years old by Election Day and U.S. citizens. Applicants also must be residents of Michigan and of the city or township in which they wish to register. Polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To find out if their community is holding an election, voters can visit www.Michigan.gov/vote for more information.
Voters may register by mail or in person at their county, city or township clerk’s office or by visiting any Secretary of State office. The mail-in form is available at www.Michigan.gov/elections. First-time voters who register by mail must vote in person in their first election, unless they hand-deliver the application to their local clerk, are 60 years old or older, are disabled or are eligible to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
To check their registration status, residents may visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.Michigan.gov/vote. They can see their sample ballot and find their polling place. Residents also can find information on absentee voting, Michigan’s voter identification requirement, how to use voting equipment and how to contact their local clerk. The site can be easily viewed on a smartphone.
Voters who qualify may choose to cast an absentee ballot. As a registered voter, you may obtain an absentee ballot if you are age 60 or older; physically unable to attend the polls without the assistance of another; expecting to be absent from the community in which you are registered for the entire time the polls will be open on Election Day; in jail awaiting arraignment or trial; unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons or will be working as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.
Those who wish to receive their absentee ballot by mail must submit their application by 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Absentee ballots can be obtained in person anytime through 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. Voters who request an absentee ballot in person on Monday, Nov. 2, must fill out the ballot in the clerk’s office. Emergency absentee ballots are available under certain conditions through 4 p.m. on Election Day.
As a reminder, voters will be asked to provide identification when at the polls on Election Day or if obtaining an absentee ballot in person from the clerk’s office. They will be asked to present valid photo ID, such as a Michigan driver’s license or identification card. Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID or failed to bring it with them can still vote. They will be required to sign a brief affidavit stating that they’re not in possession of photo ID. Their ballot will be included with all others and counted on Election Day.
Voters who don’t have a Michigan driver’s license or identification card can show the following forms of photo ID, as long as they are current:
Driver’s license or personal identification card issued by another state.
Federal or state government-issued photo identification.
U.S. passport.
Military identification card with photo.
Student identification with photo from a high school or an accredited institution of higher education, such as a college or university.
Crave a sliver of the limelight? If you’re a Michigan filmmaker, here’s your chance to win big and have your film aired on Television.
Deadline to enter is October 16.
For the first time, Wyoming Kentwood Community Television and Media (WKTV) is teaming with the Saugatuck Center for the Arts (SCA), at this year’s Third Annual Saugatuck Shorts Film Competition. Professional and student filmmakers are invited to compete for $2,500 in cash prizes for their short films.
Films must be five minutes or less (including credits and fade time) and each film must have a Michigan ‘flavor’ (made in Michigan, filmmaker from Michigan, Michigan mentioned in the script, etc.).
“This is an exciting new partnership for Saugatuck Shorts,” said Kristin Armstrong, Executive Director of the SCA. “WKTV’s mission is to educate the community about how to create video content; through Saugatuck Shorts we are providing the station with an exciting outlet to highlight Michigan video. We couldn’t be happier to work alongside WKTV’s talented professionals and volunteers.”
For individuals entering the competition, another benefit of the WKTV partnership is the chance to be featured on the station. WKTV will broadcast the top ten juried films after they’re announced in late October.
“We thought this would be a great way to celebrate making the top ten,” said WKTV Executive Director, Tom Norton. “We’re giving those ten people just another sliver of limelight to get them excited for the live audience screening on Saugatuck Shorts’ night.”
In addition, there will be a live broadcast of the November 7 event on WKTV. For those living in Wyoming, Kentwood, or Gaines Township, the station’s programming is on Channel 25.
Student submissions (high school students and younger) are free, and adults (college and up) are $15.00 per entry. Video projects by schools, clubs, and religious organizations are eligible to enter. Registration for Saugatuck Shorts has been extended to October 16 and can be completed online.
Registration information and questions regarding Saugatuck Shorts can be found here or by calling 269.857.2399.
WKTV, which celebrated 40 years in 2014, is one of the oldest community television stations in the country still in operation. The station is located at 5261 Clyde Park Ave. in Wyoming, Mich.
The Saugatuck Center for the Arts, located at 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more vibrant lakeshore community in West Michigan and beyond. For more information about the SCA and upcoming events, visit SCA’s website or call 269.857.2399.
ArtPrize, the radically open international art competition decided by public vote and expert jury, hosted the fourth annual Jurors’ Shortlist Event at the ArtPrize HUB Theatre on September 28.
Four ArtPrize Seven category award jurors revealed their shortlists of five artist entries in the categories of 2D, 3D, Installation, and Time-based. These twenty finalists will be in the running to win their respective $12,500 category awards and ultimately the $200,000 Juried Grand Prize.
GANGRENE by John Haverty
A fifth category award juror selected five ArtPrize venues to compete for the $12,500 Outstanding Venue juried award. The juried category award and Grand Prize winners will be announced at the ArtPrize Awards on October 9.
The category award jurors are:
Justine Ludwig: Director of Exhibitions / Senior Curator at Dallas Contemporary (2-D)
Sarah Urist Green: Indianapolis-based curator, creator and host of The Art Assignment (3-D)
Shari Frilot: Los Angeles-based Senior Programmer of Sundance Film Festival and Curator of New Frontier at Sundance (Time-Based)
Robin Cembalest: Editor and Art Critic (Installation)
Steven Matijcio: Cincinnati-based Curator of the Contemporary Arts Center (Outstanding Venue)
“The ArtPrize Seven category jurors each bring a unique perspective to the event, and have nominated works to their shortlists that are relevant and of the time within their respective categories,” commented Kevin Buist, ArtPrize Director of Exhibitions. “The selected works will challenge visitors to look more deeply at the range of entries spread across this year’s event, as Round 1 of the public vote continues.”
The 3-D juried category award is generously presented by Haworth. Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University presents the $200,000 Juried Grand Prize at ArtPrize Seven.
Uplift by Jarrod Beck
The Public Vote, central to the ArtPrize event, is sponsored by Meijer. The public vote category awards are presented by Foremost Insurance Group (2-D), Amway (3-D), and DTE Energy (Time-Based).
The five category award jurors have revealed their shortlisted picks within their respective categories. In no particular order, they are as follows:
Two-Dimensional
GANGRENE at Boardwalk GR Condominiums, by John Haverty from Marion, MA
The ArtPrize awards structure brings parallel tracks of public vote and juried awards totaling $500,000. Two $200,000 awards are decided by public vote and expert jury, and an additional $100,000 in prizes is awarded to the top entries in each category. During the 19 days of the seventh annual event, 1,550 artist entries representing 48 countries and 42 U.S. states are competing for these entry prizes, while 162 venues across Grand Rapids vie for the Outstanding Venue juried award.
“The best summers of my life were spent in the cottage Pop had built on Lake Muskegon in 1908.” Buster Keaton in his autobiography, “My Wonderful World of Slapstick”
How did actors survive hot summers a 100 years ago, when theaters without air conditioning shut down for the season? About 200 of those performers chose to head to Muskegon where an artist colony of vaudeville performers flourished in the 1900s. Buster Keaton and his performing parents joined their fellow artists in card-playing, fun in the sun and the bracing waters of Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan.
Those glory days are celebrated this weekend with the return of the International Buster Keaton Society to the city Buster Keaton claimed as his hometown. The group numbers between 400 to 500 members, some from as far away as the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada. Annual attendance for the convention is usually between 50-100. 88 people are registered for the convention this year!
Society member Ron Pesch, who lives in Muskegon, will conduct a private tour for convention-goers to explore the neighborhood where Keaton lived, and other areas in the Bluffton community where the big names of the vaudeville circuit partied and sunbathed during their off-season.
1924: American comedian Buster Keaton (1895-1966) sitting in the funnel of a ship in a scene from the film ‘The Navigator’.
If you’re inclined to ask, “Who’s that?” when you hear Buster Keaton’s name, you can probably be forgiven. His star shone most brightly after vaudeville waned in the 1920’s. As a major star of silent film, Keaton’s comic routines and deadpan expression landed him equal billing with comic geniuses such as Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd–and if you’re still saying, “Who?” you probably like video games more than movies.
But Pesch says Keaton’s influence is cited by a number of major stars including Johnny Depp, Jackie Chan, and even Drew Barrymore. Pesch added, “The first ten minutes of the Pixar classic ‘Wall-E’ are filled with references to Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin.”
On Saturday night, October 3, 2015, at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30), two Buster Keaton films will be screened for fans, “The Railrodder” and “Battling Butler” at the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts. Director Gerald Potterton will attend, who actually directed Keaton in his film “The Railrodder.” Potterton is best known for directing the cult classic, “Heavy Metal.” Dennis Scott will perform on the Barton Theater Organ, and Pesch notes, “Anyone who experiences a silent film in that theater with the organ accompaniment will be a Keaton fan forever.” Tickets are $8 per person or $21 for the whole family. For more information, visit www.frauenthal.org .
An oil spill through the Straits of Mackinac could be devastating
U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today introduced the Pipeline Improvement and Preventing Spills Act to ban shipping of crude oil by vessel on the Great Lakes and require a comprehensive, top-to-bottom review of hazardous pipelines in the region. This legislation would also assess the current status of oil spill response and cleanup plans, require ice cover be part of worst-case scenarios in response plans, increase public information about pipelines for local communities, and require the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to consider new criteria for identifying areas at high risk for a pipeline spill. Peters serves on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which is expected to consider pipeline safety legislation this fall, and Senator Stabenow is Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force.
“After experiencing one of the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history, Michiganders know all too well that a pipeline break can have devastating consequences for our environment and our economy,” said Senator Peters, member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. “One can only imagine what a disaster it would be for a similar oil spill to occur in the Great Lakes, the world’s largest system of fresh surface water. This commonsense legislation will help us prevent an oil spill in the Great Lakes, whether it’s a tanker accident or a pipeline leak in the Straits of Mackinac, so that we can protect and preserve this ecological treasure for generations to come.”
“Another pipeline break like the one that dumped a million gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River would be devastating for our Great Lakes, waters, and wildlife,” said Senator Stabenow, Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. “This bill requires a thorough review and plan to minimize risks and prevent catastrophic oil spills. It will give the State of Michigan additional information to provide stronger oversight of oil pipelines to prevent potential spills and keep our waters safe.”
Enbridge Inc. is conducting an emergency response exercise this week for an oil spill at Line 5, the aging twin pipelines that run through the Straits of Mackinac and are now more than 60 years old. On Tuesday, PHMSA Administrator Marie Therese Dominguez accepted an invitation from Peters and Stabenow to attend the spill drill and see firsthand if we have the capacity to respond to an oil spill in the Straits of Mackinac. Participants in the exercise include the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan State Police, local law enforcement, and Native American tribes.
The Great Lakes are uniquely vulnerable to an oil spill – especially in the Straits of Mackinac, which experts have described as the worst possible place for an oil spill in the Great Lakes. Shifting currents would spread the oil quickly, contaminating waters, coastline and wildlife throughout Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. A spill in the Great Lakes would be complicated by the lack of research on impacts and cleanup of oil spills in bodies of fresh water, especially under heavy ice cover. Current methods of oil spill response and cleanup, such as oil dispersants and mechanical recovery, may not be as effective in large bodies of cold, fresh water. In an April 28th Commerce Committee hearing, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Paul F. Zukunft said he “is not comfortable” with current contingency plans for a worst-case scenario spill in the Great Lakes.
The Pipeline Improvement and Preventing Spills Act will protect the Great Lakes from oil spills by:
Banning the shipment of crude oil on tanker vessels and barges on the Great Lakes. Earlier this month, the State of Michigan and Enbridge reached an agreement not to transport heavy crude oil under the current configurations of Line 5. As we rapidly explore alternatives to Line 5, and as energy transportation increases in the U.S., this bill makes clear that shipping crude oil on the Great Lakes is an unacceptable transportation option. There is currently no crude oil transported by vessel on the Great Lakes, and this bill keeps it that way.
Mandating federal studies on pipeline risks in the Great Lakes, including alternatives to Line 5. The bill mandates analysis by the Department of Transportation and the National Academies on the risks associated with pipelines that run through the Great Lakes and other waterways in the region. The studies must deliver a report to Congress with safety recommendations related to reducing spill risks, including an assessment of alternatives to Line 5 and a comprehensive map of pipelines crossing waterways in the Great Lakes basin.
Improving oil spill response plans. The legislation requires the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies to independently assess the current status of oil spill response and cleanup activities and techniques. It would also amend current law to require response plans that address icy conditions, when waters affected by a spill are covered in whole or in part by ice. During the past two winters, maximum ice coverage in the Great Lakes has been well above normal levels. The Coast Guard has stated it does not have the technology or capacity for worst-case discharge cleanup under solid ice, and that its response activities are not adequate in ice-choked waters.
Increasing public information and transparency about pipeline risks. Corporate information on pipeline operating standards, inspection reports and other information related to safety is often kept secret, or difficult to access and understand. The bill ensures residents are notified about pipelines near their property and compels operators to maintain publicly available information.
Expanding PHMSA’s criteria for High Consequence Areas. PHMSA requires additional safety measures for hazardous liquid pipelines in High Consequence Areas, and this bill adds new criteria for making that determination. New considerations will include the age of the pipeline, type of oil being transported, whether the pipeline can be inspected using the most modern technology, and whether the pipeline crosses open waters of the Great Lakes.
There’s a new grocery store in Kentwood and its California roots and trading market atmosphere are going to make it one of the hottest places in town.
Trader Joe’s opened this past Friday on the south side of 28th street, across from Centerpointe Mall, and is the latest of Mayor Kepley’s ‘Fun Five’ to officially open its doors in Kentwood!
The 12,500 square-foot building possesses a Hawaiian theme with employees wearing Hawaiian shirts. The shelves and product presentation throughout the store give it a feel of your local ‘neighborhood’ grocer. Over 3,000 of the items on the shelf are Trader Joe’s own personal brand and it makes up around 80% of the store’s inventory.
What makes Trader Joe’s stand out, and a destination grocery store, is its original and unique food choices that can’t be found at other grocers. Trader Joe’s also hangs their hat on providing food that is GMO free and excludes other artificial ingredients. While trying Trader Joe’s unique food choices may be a little out of your comfort zone at first, don’t worry, it can be brought back for a full refund if you don’t like what you bought!
West Michigan had been starved for a Trader Joe’s until the recent grand opening. Michigan is now home to seven locations, but six of them are on the East side of the State! Their popularity bodes well for Kentwood.
“Trader Joe’s is a destination spot,” explained an excited Mayor Kepley, “It’s a store that customers will plan a trip around to fill out their grocery lists. It will bring a lot of business to Kentwood.”
Come check out what excitement is all about! Trader Joe’s is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
How to Make Dried Apples & Apple Chips in the Oven
It’s easy to make dried apples and their crispier cousins, apple chips, at home in your oven without a food dehydrator. A perfect addition to school lunches.
Makes: about 4 dozen apple slices or chips
Ingredients
2 large apples
4 cups water
1/2 cup lemon juice
Directions
Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 200°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Combine 4 cups water and 1/2 cup lemon juice in a medium bowl. (The lemon juice helps prevent browning.)
Using a sharp knife or a mandoline, slice 2 large apples as thin as possible, about 1/8 inch thick. (We skip peeling and coring because we like the look of the dried skins and the pretty pattern the core makes in the center.) Soak the slices in the lemon water for 30 minutes. Drain and pat the slices as dry as possible with paper towels or clean kitchen towels. Place on the prepared baking sheets in a single layer.
Bake the slices on the upper and lower racks for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and turn each slice over; return the pans to the oven. Bake 1 more hour for soft dried apples or about 2 more hours for crispy apple chips. (Timing depends on your oven, the type of apple and thickness of the slices; check periodically and reduce or increase the total time as needed.) Turn off the oven, crack the door and leave the apples in the oven until the oven cools completely, 1 to 2 hours. Store airtight for up to 1 week or refrigerate for up to 1 month.
On October 6 and 7, local film aficionados will have the opportunity to meet a motion picture industry great: Jeannine Oppewall, a highly respected production designer, art director and Calvin College alum, will share her ideas and experiences as a motion picture production designer during a Q&A after the screening of Catch Me If You Can at Celebration! Cinema North on October 6.
The following evening, Oppewall will present ‘Design and Ideas in the Film Industry’ at Calvin College. Both events are free and comprise the Loeks Inaugural Lecture in Film & Media, co-produced by Calvin College and Celebration! Cinema. RSVPs are required for the film screening. (Go here.)
About Jeannine Oppewall:
Professional on set, modest in her personal life, and an engaging conversationalist, Oppewall makes magic by turning a director’s vision (or lack thereof) into a coherent whole. Meticulous attention to detail is just one of her hallmarks. She has received numerous accolades, including the Camerimage Award to Production Designer with Unique Visual Sensitivity in 2014. Photo credit: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Simply stated, Oppewall is responsible “for everything an actor walks in front of, sits on, drives through or picks up.” In addition, each item must be historically accurate, right down to the color and texture. She has worked on more than 30 movies in such roles as production designer, set decorator and set designer.
Depending on the project, Oppewall may or may not receive any overall direction. To illustrate the enormity of the job, each project may take up to nine months of her life, working 14-hour days.
“A large number of directors don’t have a vision,” she said. “Some are visual, some are verbal and some are not interested as long as I get the job done.”
For example, on Bridges of Madison County, Clint Eastwood was very hands off. On Tender Mercies, Oppewall received only five or six specifications on production design from director Bruce Beresford.
“It depends on the individual,” she said.
Overall, to succeed in her field, designs must be clean, neat and simple. For Oppewall, this is not a problem; design is in her genes.
“I came from family of designers and tried to intellectualize my interest in art, theater and culture,” she said. “I wanted to be the family intellectual, but the genes won out.”
In an industry dominated by high-powered males, Oppewall credits her years as editor of Chimes, the Calvin College student newspaper, for toughening her up; working with the big boys in Hollywood doesn’t intimidate her one iota.
“I was young and stupid and chaotic and idea-driven,” said Oppewall of her tenure at Chimes. “I was full of righteousness. But I learned how to assert myself and stand up for myself. I gave as good as I got, and I learned how to deal with males.”
And she does not cry. Ever.
“I get angry, but I do not cry,” Oppewall says. “I don’t know how to do it.”
On rare occasions, however, she may be rendered speechless. In her twenties, she worked for iconic American designer Charles Eames. She had lucked into the job by first touring the Eames studio and then asking a secretary if there were any positions open. Serendipity. There was.
“They needed someone to curate the slide library, black-and-white negatives and photos, and do reading and research for the National Council of Arts,” Oppewall said.
Another aspect of the job concerned film post-production. She knew she could handle everything but film post-production. She didn’t let that stop her.
“I made a few phone calls and contacted someone I knew who was knowledgeable about film post-production,” said Oppewall. “He told me to meet him at the Technicolor plant. ‘I will show you what your job is,’ he told me. ‘If you know your job, it will make my job easier.’”
Much later, during a conversation with Eames, “out of nowhere, he broke out singing, ‘Jeannine, My Queen of Lilac Time,’ the same way my mother did when I was a young girl,” said Oppewall. “I was flummoxed.”
She has this advice for newcomers to the film industry: “In Hollywood, you can find out everything about anyone,” she said. “All it takes is two well-placed phone calls, and you will know everything about everybody, if you know just whom to call. Find two people who like you and want to help you. That is how you begin.”
About the film: Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Catch Me If You Can is based on the true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., who worked as a doctor, a lawyer, and as a co-pilot for a major airline—all before his 18th birthday.
Abagnale (Leonardo DiCaprio) was a master of deception and also a brilliant forger, whose skill gave him his first real claim to fame: At the age of 17, Abagnale became the most successful bank robber in the history of the U.S. FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) makes it his prime mission to capture Frank and bring him to justice, but Frank is always one step ahead of him.
WHEN: October 6 at 7 p.m. WHERE: Celebration! Cinema North. Clickhere to RSVP.
About the lecture:
On October 7 at 7:30 p.m., Jeannine Oppewall will present ‘Design and Ideas in the Film Industry.’ Using illustrations and anecdotes, Oppewall will explain how she expresses color, shape, texture, location, and construction on a project.
“It’s something I do by instinct, and most people have no idea what I do,” said Oppewall.
The event is free and open to the public. WHERE: Covenant Fine Arts Center Recital Hall, Calvin College.
I was introduced to Disney’s Newsies, the movie, years ago, in a dance class that I took when I was younger. The song that my class was going to perform on stage was a jazz number called “Once And For All.” My little sister was also in a tap class at the same time and her class was performing “My Lovey-Dovey Baby.” We learned that both songs were from the Disney movie Newsies.
We decided to rent the movie and instantly fell in love with the story line and the characters.
Newsies takes place in New York City in 1899. It’s the story of the newspaper boys going on strike against newspaper tycoon Joseph Pulitzer. Pulitzer cut into the income the Newsies made by raising the price of the newspaper were bought and resold on the streets. So, the Newsies organized themselves and banned together against Pulitzer.
The main core of the Newsies team is Jack Kelly, Davey, Les, Crutchie, and Racetrack. Many other newspaper boys in the surrounding area of New York City join them. One of the more important areas to the strike was Brooklyn and their unofficial leader, Spot Conlon.
The play is incredible. The story does change a little from the movie to the play and those that know the story well will notice the differences. But, it is every bit as amazing as the movie
The set is a sight to behold. There are huge tower-like structures that move around for the cast to play on and the towers constantly change with each new song.
While the sight is eye-pleasing, it’s the talent of the cast that truly sets the stage. The choreography is tight, on point, and fun to watch. There is one number where they are actually dancing on newspapers!
Dan DeLuca plays “Jack Kelly”, the leader of the strike and the story’s main character. “Davey” is played by Jacob Kemp. Vincent Crocilla and Jonathan Fenton alternate in the role as “Les.” I’ve heard that the role of Les changes in each destination. “Crutche” is played by Zachary Sayle. Benjamin Cook takes on the role of “Racetrack” and “Spot Conlon” is played by Jeff Heimbroc.
My favorite numbers are “King of New York,” “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the day,” “The World Will Know,” and “Santa Fe.”
The set towers in the background during the performance at Devos Performance Hall
Speaking of Santa Fe, I have also spent some time in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was gorgeous and I love to go back. I know why Jack Kelly’s dream is to make it to Santa Fe.
On top of seeing the movie and the the play at Broadway Grand Rapids, I also saw Newsies in Chicago. At that time in the tour, they were not scheduled to come to Grand Rapids. I knew I had to see the play, and since I missed it in New York, I decided to see it in Chicago. Fortunately it came to Grand Rapids for a quick stint so I could indulge in it one more time!
Seeing it in Grand Rapids was no second fiddle. The performances shine through no matter the venue.
If you have the opportunity to see Disney’s Newsies on Broadway, take the time to see it. With the play already exiting Grand Rapids after a very limited engagement, check out the movie. They’re both brilliant and you won’t be disappointed!
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!
My earliest memories of my Grandpa include climbing into his lap so that he could read the “funny papers” to me out of the “Kalamazoo Gazette.” He smelled like Old Spice aftershave, Prince Albert pipe tobacco, and Clove or Teaberry gum – my choice, he always had sticks of both to offer me. He was balding with blue eyes that defined the term “twinkly,” hands that curved to fit naturally around any tool or the curve of an infant, a never-ending smile for his family, and a huge secret. I think my grandpa was a bigamist.
It’s true that I don’t know for sure, but all the evidence my mother found cleaning out his home after his death, years after my grandma had passed on, points to that conclusion.
Here is what I know about my grandfather. His name was Lyman Adelbert Havens and all our relatives called him “Del.” He was born in Byron Center, Michigan on September 27, 1898 and he died shoveling snow off his front walk on January 30, 1978 in Grand Rapids. He was 79 years old. I knew from childhood that he had grown up on a farm, because he had stories about bringing in hay, handling teams of horses, the hard winters. He loved to fish and hunt, and he taught me how to put a worm on a hook.
I knew that in 1919, he was 21 years old when he took a troop ship to Europe at the end of the First World War and changed his life. He went from simple farm boy to man of respect carrying precious cargo in an elegant machine.
General John “Black Jack” Pershing
He was a chauffeur for a number of officers, including (he claimed) General John “Black Jack” Pershing, who led the American forces to victory over Germany, a point of considerable pride for both him and the family. I know I loved him very much, and still do.
Here is what we found out about my grandfather long after he had died. While he was in Europe, he met a woman named Dora Gallner. Tucked away in a box long untouched, my mother found five pictures of Dora, one hidden in a frame behind a photo of himself. One of the Dora photos had words in German written on the back that shocked the family. Translated, they read “For my dear Dell – your abandoned bride, Dora.” One of the other Dora photos shows her staring mournfully at the camera. The text on the back reads, “A picture of myself in the month where I received my sad news from you. I nearly died from the heartache. Your lost bride, Dora. It is very sad.”
Dora Gallner
In addition, my mother unearthed three postcards written by Dora to my great-grandmother Grace, Del’s mother. The postcards are dated cryptically. One is headed “Frastang, 11. X 21.” It reads in English, “Dearest Mother! I shall fortnight ago of Bern to travel. It is excellent. Many greetings and loving kisses Dora” and something else we can’t read. Another reads, “Dearest Mother! From Feldkird, many greetings and loving kisses. Dora.”
So it seems he was indeed married. In May 1922, he was honorably discharged from the Army and returned home to Michigan from Europe, without Dora. One year later, he married my grandmother Ethel. In two words, what happened? But of course, a multitude of questions are huddled under that umbrella; was he denied permission to bring her home? Did my grandmother know about Dora? Could we have family in Germany we have never known?
Del and Ethel Havens Married May 1923
This is the story my sister, Lynette, and I have decided to research. We are using the resources of the WKTV Digital Guild, which meets Tuesday, September 29 and continues every 2nd Tuesday thereafter from 7pm-9pm at WKTV, 5261 Clyde Park Avenue SW, Wyoming. If you have a story to tell, come check out this program. Get all the support you need as you think about how to tell your story and how to use the equipment you need. WKTV awaits!
Chinese students Zheng “Kelly” Haohua and Guo “James” Kaixiang chatted with Band Director Jane Detweiler about playing instruments in the Wyoming High School band. Brazilian student Gabriel Lopez Alves quickly alternated his arms in a fast up-and-down motion using battle ropes in gym class, and Thai student Noparrat (Mint) Likhithattaslip and German student Veronika Rieks settled into their seats in English class.
It was a typical day at Wyoming High School. But this school year, the already diverse student body has gotten even more so thanks to new agreements with international student-exchange agencies. Thirteen students from 10 countries recently arrived to attend Wyoming High School for up to two years.
Five students from Guangzhou, China, are attending through the Weiming Education Group. Eight others come from Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Germany and Turkey, coordinated through Educatius International and other study abroad companies.
Several plan to attend college courses next school year through the Wyoming Middle College, a dual-enrollment program with Grand Rapids Community College.
Brazilian student Gabriel Lopez Alves experiences physical education in America
“I want to learn English really well,” said Chinese student Xie “Niko” Wei, from China, who is interested in economics and business. “I hope I can graduate this year. I want to enjoy every second in America. I want to learn all about the culture of Americans and how this country works. As we know, America is the strongest country in the world. There are a lot of different things we can learn.”
Spanish student Lucia Oliveros-Rodrigues said she’s come to develop her language skills and learn about America.
“I came here because I wanted to change my life and improve my English,” she said. “I want to learn six different languages.”
Why Wyoming is a Perfect Fit
Weiming Education Group coordinators approached Wyoming administrators about hosting Chinese students because of Wyoming High School’s diverse student body and strong English Language Learner support system, said Superintendent Tom Reeder. The student body already represents 20 different birth countries with a large EL population. Flags from every country line a hallway by the main office.
Standing out because of one’s nationality just doesn’t happen at Wyoming, said Superintendent Tom Reeder.
“We thought, ‘Why not bring even more diversity?'” Reeder said. It is the first time in several years that Wyoming has enrolled international exchange students.
Weiming has partnerships with several Michigan high schools including East Kentwood, Rockford, Traverse City, Byron High School in Byron Area Schools, Oxford High School in Oxford Community Schools, and Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills Schools.
Nopparet “Mint” Likhithattaslip, from Thailand, exchanges phone numbers with Veronika Rieks, from Germany
“The exchange students are fitting in real well,” said Dean of Students Jesus Hernandez, who is helping coordinate the program. “They will need support in the building, and the staff stepped up and want to help.”
The district receives $10,000 per student from Weiming Education Group and $4,000 per Educatius student, in addition to state per-pupil aid, Reeder said.
All in the Family
The students are living with local host families, who are introducing them to culture through food, travel and customs. Senior Vanessa Cage’s family is hosting Chinese student Zhu “Mike” Zicheng. Since his arrival, they’ve gone to a water park, shopping and on other excursions. Other students have visited the lakeshore, taken bike rides and gone camping with host families.
“It’s really fun. Mike’s really funny,” Vanessa said. “He taught us a lot of Chinese words. I know my name in Chinese.”
As a student, Vanessa sees the international program as a positive.
“I think it’s better for the whole school,” she said. “I’ve gone to four different schools and they weren’t diverse. That’s why I love this school. Everybody’s nice here. I haven’t met anyone who puts people out for what they are.”
Hernandez and Reeder said they are hopeful the program will expand over the next few years.
“It’s that whole piece of understanding each other, understanding people from different parts of the world who our kids can gain knowledge from. I think it’s part of the Wyoming dream to see this expand. Absolutely,” Hernandez said.
Three familiar voices will share their experiences making audiobooks at the Grand Rapids Public Library on Wednesday September 30. Audiobook superstars Kate Rudd, Tanya Eby and Amy McFadden have together narrated over 800 books. They will read from their most popular works and give a behind the scene look at the audiobook industry.
Kate Rudd narrated the massive hit and Odessey and Audie-award winning “The Fault in Our Stars,” by John Green. She is a multiple Audie award finalist and recipient of Audiofile Magazine Earphone awards. Kate has narrated over 250 titles over a variety of genres.
Tanya Eby is the voice of the Rizzoli and Isles series by Tess Gerritsen. She’s recorded over 200 audiobooks, including romance series for Lisa Kleypas, Susan Mallery, Elizabeth Reyes, and Sheryl Woods. She is an Earphone winner and has been nominated for an Audie award.
Amy McFadden is known for her comedic timing and was nominated for an Audie for “Amy Falls Down.” She has narrated over 150 titles in many different genres, with a focus on comedic fiction, romances, and young adult fiction. Amy has been praised for her character work, and finding the emotional truth in comedy.
Voices Behind the Books will be held from 7:00 – 8:30 pm on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 in the Ryerson Auditorium at the Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library St. NE. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 616-988-5400 or visit our website at www.grpl.org. The Grand Rapids Public Library connects people to the transforming power of knowledge.
Are you passionate about promoting racial equity? This is your chance to make a difference in the life of a student!
Calling All Colors has an urgent need for volunteers to facilitate a small group dialogue at our upcoming middle and high school conferences. It’s fun! It’s easy! It’s rewarding!
Volunteers are provided with all dialogue materials and may be paired with a co-facilitator if preferred. Just 2.5 hours of your time will have a lifetime impact on a middle or high school student.
Invite your friends, family and co-workers to get involved!
Calling All Colors fosters inclusive school communities through a year-long program that features two conferences, creates a safe place to talk about race, and provide tools for increasing positive racial impacts for middle and high school students.
Volunteers are needed at the following fall conferences from 9 – 11:30 a.m.:
Lakeshore middle school conference – Monday, October 5, Hope College, Holland
Lakeshore high school conference – Tuesday, October 6, Hope College, Holland
Kent County high school conference – Tuesday, October 20, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids
Volunteers are welcome to assist at one or more conferences.
To better prepare for the small group dialogue, volunteers are encouraged to attend a training session. Alternative training is available if you are unable to attend a training session.
Monday, September 28, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Hope College, Holland
Wednesday, October 14, 5;30 – 6:30 p.m., Aquinas College, Grand Rapids
Click here to sign up to volunteer or email program director Sarah Salguera at program@ethnicdiversity.org, or call 616.846.9074.
Born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), 25-year-old Ty Dykema uses an electric wheelchair to get around. His activities may be restricted, but that doesn’t stop him from creating bold, colorful portraits. Physically unable to use a paintbrush, Dykema uses a Wacom tablet and ArtRage Studios painting and drawing software to create his works of art.
“Art is my purpose in life, and I have been actively creating for as long as I can remember,” Dykema said.
Dykema’s ArtPrize entry, “We Can’t Walk; So What!?” comprises three portraits printed on high-quality photo paper from ProLab Express and custom-framed for ArtPrize by Merizon Studios. Each framed piece measures 16″W x 20″H.
Born and raised in Wyoming, Michigan, Dykema thought the most appropriate project to enter would be a series of stylized portrait paintings of some of his peers.
“Each subject of the paintings uses a wheelchair in everyday life because they have SMA,” Dykema said. “They are important members of their communities and are exceptional in their respective crafts.”
Adam Davis is a hip-hop DJ from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Tess Hazenberg is an MSU graduate currently doing social work in North Carolina. And Shane Burcaw is the CEO of the non-profit organization, Laughing At My Nightmare based out of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
“The theme of this project is simple—pay respects to and shine some much-deserved light on my people while showing the world what we CAN do, not just what we’re limited to,” said Dykema.
As Autumn approaches in West Michigan, it’s time to start celebrating the harvest! West Michigan offers a wide variety of ways to celebrate, whether it’s stopping by a cider mill, attending a special harvest dinner, or heading out to the local fall festival. However you like to get into the feeling of fall, West Michigan has you covered.
South: West Michigan Harvest Celebrations
Fenn Valley Vineyards believes that wine should be approachable, and their tours have been designed to help take the mystery out of making world class wine. Fenn Valley is offering fall vineyard tours on Saturdays and Sundays through October 18th. They aim to strike a balance between education and entertainment. Luckily, the subject matter always keeps things interesting! Their tours are pretty in-depth. They run about 1:45 in length, and involve wine tasting throughout to illustrate the various points being made.
In the fall, the tours go into the vineyard where the emphasis is on how wine grapes are grown and the kinds of operations that Fenn Valley performs to grow their premium grapes. Reservations required and accepted on the Fenn Valley website.
This fall South Haven has a variety of events to offer for young, and slightly mature audiences. South Haven boasts a 20-acre Corn Maze; a lot of creative energy goes into this project every year to make it the best corn maze anywhere! The corn maze is open through October 30th, from 10am-6pm on weekdays and from 12pm-6pm on weekends.
September is apple time at Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire Michigan. Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm has over 250 different varieties of apples on their farm, and many of the heritage varieties date back to the 1700s. The market is open to the public Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays after Labor Day from 10am to 6pm. Plan to stop by for some free apple tasting! You can sample all of their varieties on hand, and then go to the orchard and pick your own fruit. Enjoy one of their cherry waffle boats, apple pie squares, taffy apples, or hot apple cider, or bring your own picnic to enjoy in the family picnic area with playground.
St. Joseph is a must-stop if you’re looking for fall fun in West Michigan! Kick things off with a visit to the Farmers Market in Lake Bluff Park, and then head downtown on September 25th and 26th for their Fall Festival! Plan on a weekend filled with fun events for all ages, including the Great Bed Race! Downtown shops will also be hosting a block party on Friday, and Saturday will see a Critter Barn petting zoo, a musical instrument petting zoo, and the Great Pumpkin Festival!
Central: West Michigan Harvest Celebrations
Not quite ready to say goodbye to the summer days of ice cream yet? Welcome fall in summer style with the limited edition ice cream flavor of Cider Mill Donut from Hudsonville Ice Cream. Apples are the largest and most valuable fruit crop in Michigan, and with apples, come donuts and cider. “This flavor starts off with apple cider flavored ice cream, with a spiced-apple swirl throughout and real donut pieces,” says Ray Sierengowski, director of product development for Hudsonville Ice Cream. “All the flavors of your local cider mill are delivered to you in one delicious scoop. You’ll FALL for this tried-and-true combination.”
Look for Cider Mill Donut and other “Limited Edition” flavors—distinguished by the red packaging—in grocery stores throughout Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois from mid-September through early November (while supplies last).
Learn some new ways to bring the harvest into your home this fall with an apple cooking class from Downtown Market Grand Rapids! This family cooking class is titled “Bushels of Apples,” and will focus on this classic fall snack. You’ll learn how to make an Overnight Baked Oatmeal, Apples Bavaria, and an Apple-Butternut Squash Soup, all of which are filled with bushels of flavor! The class takes place Saturday, October 17th from 10am-12pm and registration is available on the Downtown Market’s website.
Post Family Farm is the place to be this fall, with their annual Fall Festival taking place every Saturday from through October 31st. They offer hayrides out to the u-pick pumpkin patch, corn maze, kid’s activity area with crafts and games as well as a new and improved play area for 2015. Their famous homemade pumpkin donuts are available Monday-Saturday starting at 8:00 am and can be pre-ordered.
What better way to welcome fall than by spending some quality time in the great outdoors. Nothing beats a float trip in a drift boat during the Salmon run on the Pere Marquette River in the Fall. The Fall colors and watching the Salmon spawn are something you can’t find anywhere else, whether you like to fish or not. If you do like to fish, it’s the best time of the year to wet a line.
There are few fish that live up to their name, but the King Salmon in the Pere Marquette River certainly do! Red Moose Lodge is located right off the river, and is the perfect place for a fall weekend fishing trip, whether you’re simply looking for a place to stay, or want to book a guided fishing trip down the river.
Rockford’s 39th Annual Harvest Festival is September 25, 26 & 27th, 2015. The Harvest Festival will feature a classic car show, chili cook-off, Rotary Pork Barbeque, children’s activities including Trick or Treating & Costume Contest, crafts, an antique tractor show and parade, and much more. There is also a Farm Market, Museum Auction, Make-it and Take-it Scarecrow Building (which continues the following 2 weekends), Entertainment Tent, and Outdoor Movie. Find more information on the Rockford Chamber’s website.
North: West Michigan Harvest Celebrations
Castle Farms in Charlevoix invites you to celebrate the harvest with them at their upcoming annual Harvest Festival on September 27th! Visit the ‘Mini Farmer’s Market’, with vendors exhibiting and selling homemade items, including maple syrup and caramel popcorn. Take home a snapshot from the photo booth! Horse-drawn wagon rides, arts & crafts, games and prizes, face painting, magic show and fire spinning are just some of the spectacular activities for the whole family. Enjoy free cider and donuts with additional food available for purchase. $10 admission includes full access to the Castle, plus family friendly activities for all ages. Purchase your tickets at the door or in advance on the Castle Farms website.
Pentwater is holding their annual Fall Fest on the Village Green on September 26th and 27th this year. Experience the beauty of fall at their annual Arts & Craft Festival, where over 100 vendors provide hand-made crafts, a special skill or art, a skilled trade, or antiques on the Village Green. Enjoy live music on the green as well. This is a fall weekend in Pentwater not to be missed! Fall Fest runs from 10am through 5pm on Saturday, and 10am through 3pm on Sunday.
Chateau Chantal
Share the excitement of the harvest with Chateau Chantal at their 16th Annual Harvest Day on October 3rd from 12pm-4pm. Mark & Brian’s cellar and still will be open to smell wines, stomp grapes, and tour. Stop by at 1pm for a Mini Slurpin’ Seminar where you can learn the basics of wine tasting, at 2pm for some good old fashioned grape stomping, and at 3pm for a distillation seminar. The tasting room staff will be serving wine tastes and taking private label orders. Also take advantage of special pricing on full case orders of any one varietal of wine!
The Traverse City area knows how to get in the mood for Fall, and has plenty of options if you’re looking to kick off the autumn season. Head to Bellaire for their 17th Annual Harvest Festival & Scarecrow Extravaganza on September 26th, and enjoy a Short’s Beer tent, live music, a craft and flea market, and hands-on educational booths for the kids.
The Acme Fall Festival falls on the same day (September 26th), and features a farmers market, bake sale, craft show (with live demonstrations), kids activities, Michigan children’s offers, and more fun for all ages. Then get your taste buds ready for a family-style feast at Harvest@theCommons on October 10th. Your feast will be prepared by Traverse City’s own Harvest restaurant using the finest local ingredients honoring the farmers of the region. Enjoy local libations and authentic bluegrass tunes by Billy Strings and Don Julin during your meal as well.
Michigan is special because it fully experiences all four seasons. Make sure you take advantage of fall and the beautiful change in color and temperature around West Michigan!
It’s every little leaguer’s dream, that perfect game-ending situation that runs through a ballplayer’s mind: At the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, the bases are loaded with your team down a score. Three balls and two strikes, a full count and it’s do or die.
There’s nowhere to hide. It’s just you at the plate. A chance to be the hero.
For Pinery Park Little League (PPLL), the game is winding down and it’s time for the league to step up to the plate so that its contract with the City of Wyoming and Pinery Park isn’t terminated.
After 60 years of organizing youth baseball here in Wyoming, the PPLL is in jeopardy of losing its home.
The problems started back in 2011 when the PPLL lost its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status with the IRS due to a lack of transparent bookkeeping and financial information. Since the loss of 501(c)(3) status, the City of Wyoming has asked the PPLL to take the necessary steps to get the nonprofit title back with the IRS.
Four years later that still has not been accomplished. That’s just the tip of the iceberg for an organization that has proven to be run very inefficiently.
Electrical and maintenance bills haven’t been paid on time. Board meeting dates are flimsy with sometimes only a couple of days’ notice before a meeting. Board election positions are posted with the minimal amount of notice (two weeks) mandated by the league’s bylaws. Umpires are paid in cash out of the concession stand register with no paper trail to follow. And the League has been unable to present their financials at the request of the Wyoming City Council.
“This league is extremely, extremely unorganized,” exclaimed Mayor Jack Poll in a heat of passion and disappointment at the City Council Meeting on September 14. “And, if they can’t have the leadership to run this league on our fields with the requirements that we have, then it’s time to change direction.”
The Wyoming City Council had a very long discussion about what to do with the PPLL and whether or not the contract should be terminated. By the end of the meeting, they decided on a few next steps:
The PPLL must turn over all financials, bank statements and loose pieces of paper
The PPLL lawyer and the City lawyer will draw up a new contract that has some teeth
The new contract will designate the Community Resource Alliance as the fiduciary for the finances of the PPLL
The PPLL will form a separate committee to field complaints from league participants
The new contract must be submitted by September 30 so that it can be placed on the October 5 meeting’s agenda. If no agreement is reached, the contract will be terminated on October 5, and the Parks and Rec Department will charter youth baseball.
I am about to take a very special journey into the past thanks to the new WKTV Digital Cinema Guild that launches at the WKTV Community Media Center on September 29, 2015 and continues every second Tuesday thereafter at 7:00 pm at the station on 5261 Clyde Park Avenue SW in Wyoming. This will be a very personal journey despite the fact that I have worked as a Citizen Journalist Editor for the station, and have shared a number of articles on this website. But the Digital Cinema Guild is an all-new experience.
I’ve always known that WKTV offered everyone in the community access to a vast array of equipment. However, the key word there is “vast,” and it seemed way too complicated to me to get the hang of all that gear. Ironically, for someone in the media business, I actually dreaded to even try making my own film – and by the way, when I use the word “film” I’m really talking digital media in various storytelling formats from long form narratives or shorts, and/or documentaries.
But that was then.
Lyman Adelbert “Del” Havens, age 16, Eighth Grade Graduation, White Creek School, Cedar Springs, MI
A secret about my grandfather came to light a few years ago, several years after his death, and suddenly the WKTV Digital Media Guild was right here, as though the Universe was saying to me, “Do this!” I have the perfect opportunity to actually create a documentary film project exploring this secret and it’s impact on our family with my sister Lynette. We’re going to work/play on this together, but the cool thing is we are not on our own!
For just $20 apiece, we are going to be guided through the film making process under the direction of successful digital film experts and industry leaders using WKTV’s state-of-the-art digital cinema equipment with coaches standing by! Even better, there are three different programs that deal with various aspects of film making:
1) Pre-production & Script writing (developing the story and figuring out how to tell it)
2) Production (using the WKTV gear to shoot the project)
3) Post-production (editing!)
At the end, WKTV will broadcast our finished project to the area communities. WOW!
Helping us along the way are two of the area’s most experienced filmmakers:
Barbara Roos, founder of Grand Valley State University’s Film & Video Program, brings more than 40 years’ experience as a scriptwriter, film maker and professor of film. She joined academia from an award-winning career in public broadcasting, both television and radio.
Girbe Eefsting, film producer for advertising agencies, corporations, governmental agencies, NGOs and NPOs, including ten years with Grand Rapids Community Media Center. In 1996, Girbe founded the Grand Valley Summer Film Program. In 2010, he founded Film Farm, specializing in media production, education and preservation.
Barbara, Girbe and WKTV will also engage established local and national filmmakers to bring their expertise to the program. I can’t wait!
I’ll be sharing my experience with the Digital Cinema Guild as Lynette and I go through the film making experience. But why not join us? We need all the brainstorming buddies we can find as we start imagining how to tell this story…and I’ll let you in on the secret as we go along.
Thunder Over Michigan is an amazing experience. I went on Sunday, which happens to be the final day. The event took place at the Detroit Metro Willow Run Airport. There was an incredible line up of military air planes and helicopters.
Of course, they saved the best for last, the United States Navy Blue Angels.
The entire days was chalked full of events to keep you busy and occupied. The total number of aircrafts was jaw-dropping.
To mention a few of the planes: the Heavy Hitter Avro Lancaster, which made its debut in 1942 as the strategic bombing in Europe began during World War 2; The End All Be All Fifi B-29 Superfortress, this was one of the planes to drop nuclear bombs during World War 2 and was also used in active duty during the Korean War; Patrolling the skies Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer, which was a patrol bomber for the United States Navy during World War 2 and the Korean War.
They had a number planes on the ground that you could take a tour through, but I wound up skipping out on the plane tours and took a slightly more adventurous experience. I ended up going for a ride in a UH-1 Huey Helicopter.
The tour in the Huey required a signed waiver and $75. It was worth every penny!
I sat in the gunner seat on the outside of the Helicopter. The view, and the entire experience, was incredible. If you’ve never taken a ride in a helicopter, I would highly recommend it. The air show makes for an easy and comfortable environment to give it a try.
The helicopter ride took one thing off the Bucket List; what will I ride in next year!?
As I mentioned, the show was great and the ride was amazing but they saved the best for last; the United States Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration squad.
The Blue Angles makes their home in Pensacola, Florida and they perform across the country throughout the year. They are on the road from the middle of March until late November putting on a showcase in aircraft handling. After November, the Blue Angels head back to Florida for the winter.
The US Navy Blue Angels began in 1946 as a desire to keep the public interested in Naval Aviation. The original Blue Angels team flew a Grumman F6F Hellcat aircraft. The team now flies an F/A 18 Hornet.
Maintenance crews for the Blue Angels fly with them in the US Marine Corps C-130 also known as “Fat Albert.” This year the team is lead by their Flight Leader/ Commanding Officer Captain Tom Frosch, who is from Michigan. Another cool tidbit about the team this year, they now have their first female pilot. Her name is Katie (not me though! I wish!).
The team puts on a highly choreographed, high-octane performance with a lot of stunts. They have the four-plane Diamond Formation and also the six-jet Delta Formation where the planes fly as close together as 2 meters.
Performing with massive machinery with such as eloquent grace is a slight to behold. The Blue Angels keep getting better every time I see them. At the end of their show, the team came out the field where everyone was sitting and talked to the audience and signed autographs. It’s always fun to go and talk to the pilots. They really do put on a high-octane performance in the air and with the fans afterwards.
Enjoying my ride in the UH-1 Huey
I have been fortunate enough to experience their demonstrations at the Air Base in Pensacola many times, and would highly recommend this. The Blue Angels are a true marvel in the sky.
Make sure to check out Thunder Over Michigan next year. You won’t be disappointed!
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!
Schools should be gun-free zones, just like daycare centers, athletic stadiums, bars, casinos, churches and college dormitories. With the exception of armed law enforcement officers, schools should be able to prohibit anyone — students, staff, parents and all others — from carrying a gun on the premises.
If you go to the Michigan State Police website, schools are listed as “pistol free” areas. Unfortunately, a glitch in state law regarding pistol-free areas prohibits gun owners from openly carrying guns in schools unless they have a concealed carry permit. Then they cannot carry a concealed weapon, but they can carry it openly.
Yes, you read that right. Open carry is prohibited in schools. So is concealed carry. But if you have a concealed carry license, you can carry openly. The obvious answer is to just close the loophole so schools — the very first entity listed on the list of pistol free areas — are truly gun-free zones, right?
Wrong. After Columbine, after Sandy Hook, after so many horrible school shootings that there are just too many to remember — if you don’t believe that, check out this list of school shootings — Sen. Mike Green (R-Mayville) believes the best way to close the loophole is to allow anyone with a concealed carry permit to bring their weapons into schools.
SB442 would allow those with a concealed carry permit to bring their guns to parent-teacher conferences, board meetings, daddy-daughter dances, basketball games, any activity in a school.
This is the point in the column where I’m required to cite the data on suicides, homicides and accidental deaths related to the prevalence of guns in our society. There is no shortage of data. I’d encourage readers to visit the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence web page to review the staggering evidence the exaggerated extension of our right to bear arms to virtually every venue is deadly, destructive and costly.
But this is also where the Second Amendment advocates make the claim that an armed society is a polite society. That the presence of guns would have prevented many of the murders, murder-suicides and outright massacres cited in the Wikipedia list of school shootings cited earlier.
Data tortured will confess to anything.
Here’s what I ask of you. If you believe schools should be “pistol-free zones,” as originally intended in state law, and the only people who should carry guns in schools are sworn law enforcement officers, please contact your legislator and your school board member to make your opinion known.
To borrow a famous phrase from the past, I suspect you’re part of the silent majority. There’s no shortage of Second Amendment advocates willing to test their right to carry weapons, but those who believe otherwise would rather avoid the fight. We live in a state where hunting is part of our lore, where the first day of firearm deer season is virtually a state holiday. Suggesting we should limit the right to own and bear arms is almost sacrilegious.
I’m not saying gun owners shouldn’t have the right to own guns, to protect themselves, their families and to use them for recreational purposes. I’m just saying they don’t belong in schools. I suspect most of you agree.
Please contact your legislator to let him or her know how you feel. If you’re from Michigan, click here.
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
The Kentwood Fire Department will be receiving a nice little gift from Congress thanks to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters grant program. These grants help fun professional training programs, update equipment and facilities, and provide new supplies to help first-responders handle hazard efficiently and effectively.
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters announced that the Kentwood Fire Department would be receiving $114,949 to help improve its operations and boost safety in the community.
“Our firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep our families, homes and communities safe,” said Senator Stabenow. “These new resources will help the Kentwood Fire Department safely protect their community.”
Senator Peters added, “First responders are on the front lines when emergencies strike in their communities, and it is important they have the resources needed to protect themselves. With these funds, firefighters in Kentwood can be better equipped to make their neighborhood a safer place to live.”
The Assistance to Firefighters Grand program is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
It’s a phrase that’s said with power by every politician leading up to an election. Your vote counts, so make sure you hit the ballots and let your voice be heard!
However, what’s often not voiced as loudly is the need to REGISTER in order to vote. Here’s your friendly reminder to register!
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is commemorating today, Tuesday, September 22, as National Voter Registration Day by calling eligible voters in Michigan to get registered or update their information.
“Registering to vote is fast and easy, and it’s the best way to celebrate our democracy,” Johnson said. “National Voter Registration Day reminds eligible voters to get registered – or change their address – now so they can not only vote in the local elections on November 3, but also in the presidential election in 2016.”
In order to vote in the November local elections, voters must be registered by October 5.
The Secretary of State Mobile Office will be making several stops at colleges and universities throughout the State to encourage voter registration from students. Northwestern Community College in Traverse City is the first stop on the tour.
Here are some other ways to participate in National Voter Registration Month:
• Get registered to vote. You can do so in five easy steps.
• Update your information. This is essential if you’ve recently moved, changed your name, or had voting rights restored. You can make the changes when you update the address on your driver’s license or ID card – either online or at an SOS branch. You can also fill out a Michigan voter registration/change of address form and mail it in.
• Sign up for election reminders. You can subscribe to the Secretary of State newsletter.
• Use social media to spread the word. On Twitter and Facebook, send friends here, which has helpful information about how to register and where and when to vote. On Sept. 22, use the hashtag #CelebraeNVRD.
How about winning up to $1,000 on top of the excitement of seeing your film short (five minutes or less) on a big screen? If those are the kind of thrills you seek, the Saugatuck Center for the Arts (SCA) has just the contest for you. The SCA is registering filmmakers for the third annual “Saugatuck Shorts” film competition. Registration is open now until October 9th, and can be completed online at the link below. Winners will be screened on November 7, 2015 at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, located at 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck.
If you’re young enough, your entry is free. However, keep in mind your short has to include some sort of Michigan “flavor,” whether the film is set in Michigan or simply contains a reference to a unique Michigan feature such as “Yoopers.”
The two basic filmmaker categories come with different entry fees:
Student—Age 18 and Under; Film Entries are Free
Adult—Age 19 and Up; Film Entries $15.00
“Saugatuck Shorts” is the only film competition in West Michigan that offers a cash prize for short film submissions in three categories: one for adults and one for students where winners are determined by a panel of judges; those ten shorts will be shown at the November screening of “Saugatuck Shorts.” A separate prize will be awarded at the end of the evening to recognize the “Audience Favorite” out of both juried categories. Winner of the “Audience Favorite Prize” will be awarded $1,000. Another $1,000 prize will be awarded to the Adult Winner and $500 goes to the Student Winner.
“Over the past three years, the SCA’s “Saugatuck Shorts” competition has brought in filmmakers from across the state for a wonderful night of engaging entertainment on the big screen,” said Kristin Armstrong, SCA Executive Director. “The competition is a great way for students and professionals alike to get their work in front of the community. We are very excited to bring this special competition back!”
More information and registration details for “Saugatuck Shorts” can be found at Saugatuck Center for the Arts or by calling 269-857-2399.
The new chip protected credit cards are coming! As of the first of this month, stores were required to have a new credit card reader installed to complete this new and improved credit card system. With this new technology, you can expect improved security and reduced chances of identity theft. That’s because the new chip, or “EMV” cards, make it harder for thieves to counterfeit your card or steal the number for charging up fraudulent purchases.
According to City of Wyoming Police Officer Lt. James Maguffee, the change is slow in coming, but can make a difference when it gets here. Especially in fraud cases he’s been involved with recently like credit card numbers being skimmed from gas pumps in the west Michigan area. “The new chip cards make it harder to get the card number, so skimmers or a server at a restaurant won’t be able to see it.” The chip card will protect the data that is currently easily readable on the magnetic strip, so accounts held by big box stores like Target and Walmart likely will be safer. Walmart already accepts chip-enabled cards at all of its locations thanks to chip card readers installed as of November of last year. But chip embedded credit card are still rare.
eventually arrives. But this also means you are still vulnerable to credit card theft. “The new credit card chip will have very little impact on consumers,” says Lt. Maguffee, “because without a pin number requirement, someone can still smash your window and steal your purse. They can still get the card number and use it at a store, even online.”
Check your accounts as often as you can, looking for unauthorized activity; daily if possible, and report any such activity to your bank immediately.
Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery
I knew that in 1919, he was 21 years old when he took a troop ship to Europe at the end of the First World War and changed his life. He went from simple farm boy to man of respect carrying precious cargo in an elegant machine.
