All posts by Joanne

Cancer Prevention Tips

Community Health


Take the following steps to reduce your risk of colorectal and other cancers: 

Source: American Cancer Society

Getting active with regular physical activity most days of the week

Choosing vegetables, fruits, and whole grains; limiting red and processed meat

Quitting or avoiding smoking and other tobacco products

Limiting alcohol to no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women

Maintaining a healthy weight

To learn more about reducing risk see the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Guide for Men and for Women.

 

National Art Honor Society Impact Reaches Beyond Classroom

Area Education

small snn jpegby Erin Albanese, School News Network 

 

Kentwood Public Schools, MI – With the goal of winning money for the school’s art program, East Kentwood High School National Art Honor Society Club members recently worked in groups on a shoe design.

 

Freshmen Amber Swanson, Rebecca Olthoff, Isabella Williams and juniors Janelle Urena and Jayda Haynes considered how to express local flavor with style in a piece of footwear, adding elements of the Great Lakes and Michigan industries like cars and furniture into their sketch for the nationwide Van’s Custom Culture art competition.

 

Like many of the club’s projects, their work extends beyond the classroom. The popular club focuses on community service,

Club member junior Amanda Klassen works on a sketch. She has a piece that has advanced to the Michigan Art Education Association state competition for judging.
Club member junior Amanda Klassen works on a sketch. She has a piece that has advanced to the Michigan Art Education Association state competition for judging.

competitions, connections to careers and creating a strong art presence at school. About 50 students are involved, meeting after school once a week.

 Local Impact

The club created a jungle-themed mural at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum.
The club created a jungle-themed mural at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum.

 

Projects have included a huge jungle-themed mural at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, murals for Hamilton Early Childhood Center, and a whimsical wooden wishing well for the Kentwood Public Library. For children at the library, students also initiated Reading and Craft Hour, held monthly in June, July and August, and created cards for local nursing home residents.

 

 

For Jayda, it’s a chance to get involved in art with her friends.

 

“It’s really fun because I don’t have art (class) all year, so being able to do this keeps me included in the art community,” she said.

 

Art teacher, Le Tran, started the club in 2009 as a chapter of the National Art Honor Society. In 1978, the National Art Education Association began the NAHS program to inspire and recognize students who have shown an outstanding ability and interest in art, though it’s open to all students.

 

Advisers, Tran and East Kentwood Freshman Campus art teacher Adrienne DeMilner, said it’s a way to offer an extracurricular art opportunity outside of classes.

 

“Our mission is to make time for ourselves, to make art for personal enjoyment, for the community and for our school,” Tran said.

A mural at Hamilton Early Childhood Center smiles at students thanks to NAHS members.
A mural at Hamilton Early Childhood Center smiles at students thanks to NAHS members.

 

DeMilner said what students learn in the club translates to many different careers, even those that fall outside of art.

 

Senior Eileen Tran, a passionate student-artist, said the club is a great way to be involved in her craft.

 

“I like the close-knit family feel involved,” Eileen said. “It gave me more of an open community to share my ideas with.”

Club members created a wishing well for the Kentwood Public Library.
Club members created a wishing well for the Kentwood Public Library.

 

They travel to downtown Grand Rapids and Chicago to learn about art culture. These trips are new experiences for many students.

 

Students in the club and school-wide art classes also have the opportunity to enter many competitions. Kentwood students recently took home awards in the Michigan Education Association state and Region 9 competitions, and the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition.

 

There are many art offerings at East Kentwood High School, where the art program has produced numerous award-winning and professional artists. Tran teaches a dual-enrollment Kendall College of Art and Design class, for which students earn three credits.

 

Tran and DeMilner were also on a task force at Grand Rapids Art Museum last summer to create curriculum for educators.

 

CONNECT  National Art Honor Society

 

Spread the word!

Photos provided by School News Network.

Terra GR-Voted Best New American Restaurant in West Michigan

Local Entertainment, Local Food

By Colleen Pierson

TERRA GR 3

How does this sound? A local restaurant that has inspired handcrafted foods that nurture both body, soul and community. Or what about this– A farm to table dining spot where everything is fresh, the pasta is homemade, and the in-house meat processing makes every meat product a delicacy. This is enough to make Terra GR in Eastown an award winner!  The name itself means “from the earth.”

 

My husband and I recently visited the restaurant during Cool Brew- Hot Eats. A percentage of select entrees went to help out the non-profit organization Feeding America. At the time of our visit more than 110 families were being helped.

 

Executive Chef Abby Therrien is in perpetual motion. She always strives to perfect her craft and is passionate about what she does. “Everything is hand crafted—everything here is made with love,” she said. TERRA GR 4

 

“I like to make food approachable. I am able to explore and play around to use my creative side of cooking.” Abby also enjoys teaching her staff and is always experimenting, constantly learning to create new dishes.

 

“There’s not a day I don’t learn something!”she exclaimed enthusiastically.

 

Executive Chef Abby Therrien attended Johnson & Wales University-Culinary College in Providence Rhode Island and has worked at numerous restaurants. She was Sous Chef at Trillium Haven Restaurant, Kitchen Supervisor at JW Marriott Grand Rapids, Sous Chef at Gravity Bar and Grill, and Line Cook at Tapawingo—just to name a few.

 

She and her staff are warm and welcoming and have created a restaurant décor where the vibe is welcoming and fun. The warm lighting over the bar, wood décor from old barns, and earthy elements made us forget this Michigan’s horrific winter. Diners can watch many of their food items being created at a wood burning pizza oven and open kitchen.Terra GR 1

 

Some of their menu favorites: Seared Sea Scallops, handcrafted pastas, wood-fired pizzas, free range chicken, braised pork belly and miso kale salad. There are also vegan entrees. I have never frequented a restaurant where so much was made from scratch— pizza, sauces, breads, pasta, and their newly added specialty hamburger on a made from scratch brioche bun.

 

Their daily happy hours are from 3-6:00p.m.  This features deals on specialty cocktails, draft beers & wine by the glass, and half off salads and ten dollar pizzas.

 

Terra GR is located at 1429 Lake DR SE, Grand Rapids. All of their hours and events are posted on their website at Terra GR.com.

 

To sum it all up: The freshest, health-filled ingredients from the region’s most dedicated growers go into your meal. Definitely love at first bite!

TERRA GR 2

Two for One: Heart Healthy Foods that Reduce Cancer Risk

Community Health, Local Food, ,

By: Colleen Doyle, ACS Director, Nutrition and Physical Activity

 

Good news: Many foods not only are low in calories, they pack an extra wallop because of their ability to fight disease, including a variety of cancers. Not only that, a lot of these things can also be part of a healthy diet that can also reduce your risk of developing a variety of types of cancer. A two-for-one! Now who wouldn’t love that?

 

Beans and apples

 

You’ve probably heard that we should eat more fiber. There are two types of fiber: soluble fiber, which helps reduce serum cholesterol levels and is therefore good for your heart; and insoluble fiber, which helps keep a healthy GI tract, which is good for your colon! Oats, beans and apples – along with other fruits, vegetables – are great sources of primarily soluble fiber, but contain insoluble fiber, as well. Shoot for 25-30 grams of fiber each day.

 

Bananas, berries and broccoli

 

Eating more fruits and vegetables is important for reducing heart disease risk. Low in calories and bursting with nutrients, fruits and vegetables can help reduce high blood pressure (a risk factor for heart disease) and also may help with weight control – an important way to reduce your risk of both heart disease and cancer. Shoot for at least 2.5 cups of colorful fruits and vegetables each day. Sprinkle berries on your cereal, add lettuce and tomato to your sandwich or start your dinner with a salad topped with red peppers and carrots.

 

Brown rice, whole wheat pasta and….popcorn

 

Brown rice, whole wheat pasta, and yes, even popcorn, are whole grains – foods that are packed with fiber and other nutrients that help regulate blood pressure. This same fiber and other nutrients may also help reduce the risk of colon cancer, and eating whole grains is a key component of the ACS recommendation to eat a mostly plant-based diet. Shoot for at least half your grain sources during the day to be whole grain – kick off the day with a 100% bran cereal, snack on some popcorn (skip the butter!), wrap your fish taco at dinner in a corn tortilla.

 

Salmon, tuna and mackerel

 

These fish contain omega 3 fatty acids – a type of fat that may help reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and also blood pressure. (Other sources include walnuts, flaxseed and canola oil). The American Heart Association recommends that we eat fish – particularly these types – at least two times per week.

 

While it doesn’t appear that eating fish high in omega-3’s impact cancer risk, serving fish in place of red meat like beef, pork or lamb is a healthy swap, as red meat consumption is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer. So why not swap out a filet mignon with a filet of salmon sometime this week?

 

Colleen Doyle, MS, RD is a registered dietitian and director of the nutrition and physical activity program with the American Cancer Society. Her research stresses the importance of diet and exercise in managing and preventing chronic diseases. As co-author of the Great American Eat Right Cookbook, Doyle helps you create a culinary menu that’s both nutritious and delicious.

Cool Brews. Hot Eats. A Success at City Sen!

Local Entertainment

By Michele Aversa

City

How does Grand Rapids top the proud distinctions of being named Beer City 2013 and of being one of the most philanthropic cities in the nation? To combine them into the Cool Brews. Hot Eats. beer promotion, that’s how!

 

Cool Brews. Hot Eats. has just concluded its second successful year. For the past two weeks, area restaurants have been using local beers to create exciting new menu items which showcase the chefs’ talents, highlight local breweries — and feed the hungry.

 

Executive chefs all around town have been unveiling new dishes which are either paired with a locally brewed ale or use a local beer as a featured ingredient. When one of these dishes was ordered, the restaurant donated a meal to Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank.

 

One of these culinary creators is Chef Elijah Lopez. Although he was born in Texas, Chef Lopez grew up in southwest Michigan. His fascination with cooking started around age 17 and, thankfully for Grand Rapids, has turned into a full blown passion. He has been the Executive Chef at CitySen Lounge in the City Flats Hotel since it opened on July 13, 2011. Prior to joining CitySen, Chef Lopez worked at other fine Grand Rapids eateries such as Martha’s Vineyard and most recently Six One Six.

 

When creating a new dish, Chef Lopez first gets to know more about the individual ingredients, where they come from, how they are grown or produced and then the ideas come flooding. One of the dishes he created for the Cool Brews. Hot Eats. promotion was the Boozehound Chicken Sandwich – a pecan-crusted chicken breast topped with tomato jam, creamy goat cheese, fennel and mixed green salad all tucked in the middle of a thick onion roll. The sandwich is served with crisp hand-cut chips and can be paired with Espresso Boozehound Brown, which is brewed by the Hideout Brewing Company on Plaza Drive in Grand Rapids. Chicken sandwich

 

Of the many aspects about being an executive chef, Chef Lopez most enjoys “getting a chance to teach people and show people what I’ve learned.” The staff at CitySen Lounge has an excellent foundation and Chef Lopez takes immense pride in developing their talents. He keeps a tasters spoon in his pocket, always ready to verify the quality of his team’s food.

 

Lopez depends on his talented crew to share the busy load that starts around Mother’s Day and continues all through the summer, with festivals such as Rock the Rapids, Celebration on the Grand, Restaurant Week and ArtPrize.

 

While the festivals keep the staff on their toes during tourist events, they are still plenty busy the rest of the time as well. Many of the lounge’s clientele are from the downtown area, looking for a place to unwind after a workday. CitySen has a solid happy hour, which includes weekly specials such as “Wind Down Wednesdays.” Why come to CitySen instead of some of the other bars in the area? “People come here for the laid back environment,” says Lopez. “We have a different atmosphere than most of the other restaurants.” Lopez gestures to walls around him. Beige bricks, warm wood and soft lights lend themselves to the perfect environment in which to unwind.

 

The CitySen Lounge is in the lobby of City Flats Hotel, which is in the former Fox Jewelers Building. The five-story hotel was renovated by repurposing bricks, wood beams and other materials already on the site. Even the Fox Jewelers sign was saved from the trash heap and hangs above the bar in a tribute to the building’s history. The Grand Rapids hotel, along with its sister location in Holland, is owned by Charter House Innovations (CHI), a furniture company that created a line of sustainable furniture products. CHI built all the furniture in both locations as another way to showcase the skills of southwest Michigan’s craftsmen.

 

Lopez wants to keep City Flats Hotel moving forward. He doesn’t know what the future holds, but he is excited to be a part of it.

 

If you are interested in visiting either the Grand Rapids or Holland locations of City Flats Hotel, visit www.cityflatshotel.com for more information. And if you are looking for a relaxing way to unwind after a busy workday, drop in at CitySen and say hello to Chef Elijah!

Local Sports Schedule for March

Our Cities, Sports

by Mike Moll

Here are the highlights:

The spring sports schedules open up as baseball, softball, boys and girls track, water polo, girls soccer, boys lacrosse, and girls tennis have their first events of the year in March. Girls basketball continues its State tournament leading to the championship at Michigan State University, March 15.  Also at  Michigan State, the boys begin their championship quest on Monday, March 3 and concluding on March 22. Boys swimming and girls gymnastics conclude their season with State Finals at multiple sites on March 7 and 8 for swimming and at Plymouth on March 8 for gymnastics.

Support your local high school athletes by attending an event, but also check the listings for WKTV as they broadcast local teams and games each week at various days and times.

Monday March 3, 2014

Boys Basketball Districts

– East Grand Rapids @ East Kentwood

– Wyoming Lee @ Covenant Christian

– Godwin Heights vs Kelloggsville @ Kelloggsville

– Zion Christian vs Tri-Unity @ Holland Calvary

– Wyoming vs Grandville @ Grandville

Tuesday March 4, 2014

Boys Swimming Diving Regionals – @East Kentwood

Girls Basketball Regionals

– South Christian vs Holland Christian @ South Christian

– Wyoming vs GR Christian @ Grand Haven

– Potter’s House vs Martin @ Bloomingdale

Wednesday March 5, 2014

Boys Basketball Districts

– EGR/EK Winner vs Middleville T-K/Ottawa Hills winner @ Middleville T-K

– South Christian vs Godwin Heights/Kellogsville winner @ Kelloggsville

– Grand River Prep vs West Michigan Aviation @ Kelloggsville

– Wyoming Lee/Covenant Christian winner vs NorthPointe Christian @ Covenant Christian

– Zion Christian/Tri-Unity winner vs West Michigan Lutheran @ Holland Calvary

– Wyoming/Grandville winner vs Hudsonville @ Holland

Thursday March 6, 2014

Girls Basketball Regionalsbasketball

– South Christian/Holland Christian winner vs Muskegon

– Orchard View/Catholic Central winner @ South Christian

– Wyoming/GR Christian winner vs Muskegon/Greenville winner @ Grand Haven

– Potter’s House/Martin winner vs Athens/St Joe Lake Mich. Catholic

winner @ Bloomingdale

Friday March 7, 2014

Boys Basketball Districts

– Championship @ Middleville T-K

– Championship @ Covenant Christian

– Championship @ Kelloggsville

– Championship @ Holland Calvary

– Championship @ Holland

Boys Swimming – State Finals 

Division 1 @ Saginaw Valley

Division 2 @ Eastern Michigan

Division 3 @ Holland Aquatics

Saturday March 8, 2014

Boys Swimming – State Finals

Division 1 @ Saginaw Valley

Division 2 @ Eastern Michigan

Division 3 @ Holland Aquatics

Girls Gymnastics – State Finals @ Plymouth

Monday March 10, 2014

Boys Basketball Regionals

– Kelloggsville Champ @ Godwin Heights

– Middleville T-K Champ vs Holland Champ @ Zeeland East

– Covenant Christian Champ @ Blanchard-Montabella

– Holland Calvary Champ @ Portage Northern

Tuesday March 11, 2014

Girls Basketball Quarterfinals

Class A @ DeWitt

Class B @ Wayland

Class D @ BC Harper Creek

Wednesday March 12, 2014

Boys Basketball Regionals Championship

– @ Zeeland East

– @ Godwin Heights

– @ Blanchard-Montabella

– @ Portage Northern

Thursday March 13, 2014

Girls Basketball

– Class C Semifinals @ MSU

– Class D Semifinals @ MSU

Friday March 14, 2014

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ EGR Early Bird Tournament

Girls Basketball

Class A Semifinals @ MSU

Class B Semifinals @ MSU

Saturday March 15, 2014

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ EGR Early Bird Tournament

Girls Soccer – Scrimmage – @ East Kentwood

Girls Basketball – Class A, B, C, D Finals @ MSU

Tuesday March 18, 2014

Boys Basketball Quarter Finals

Class A @ Lansing Eastern

Class B @ Middleville T-K

Class C @ Sandusky

Class D @ Battle Creek Central

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Boys Track

– East Kentwood @ GVSU Invite

– South Christian @ GVSU Invite

Thursday March 20, 2014

Girls Track

– East Kentwood @ GVSU Invite

– South Christian @ GVSU Invite

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ Grand Haven

Boys Lacrosse – GR Christian @ South Christian

Boys Baseball

– South Christian @ Wyoming

– Wyoming Lee @ Holland Calvary

Girls Softball – South Christian @ Wyoming

Boys Basketball Semifinals

– Class C @ MSU

– Class D @ MSU

Girls Soccer – Saugatuck @ Godwin Heights

Girls Tennis – Zeeland West @ Wyoming

Friday March 21, 2014

Girls Tennis – Scrimmage – East Kentwood @ Riverview

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ Ann Arbor Pioneer Tourney

Boys Basketball Semifinals

– Class A @ MSU

– Class B @ MSU

Boys Baseball

– West Michigan Lutheran @ Godwin Heights

– Tri-Unity @ Godwin Heights

Girls Soccer – Wellsprings Prep @ Godwin Heights

Saturday March 22, 2014

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ Ann Arbor Pioneer Tourney

Girls Soccer – Scrimmage – @ East Kentwood

Girls Tennis – South Christian Sailor Invite

Boys Basketball – Class A, B, C, D Finals @ MSU

Monday March 24, 2014

Girls Soccer

– FH Central @ East Kentwood

– South Christian @ GR Christian

– Tri-Unity Christian @ Godwin Heights

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ West Ottawa

Boys Baseball

– Byron Center @ South Christian

– Cedar Springs @ Godwin Heights

Girls Softball

– Byron Center @ South Christian

– Cedar Springs @ Godwin Heights

Tuesday March 25, 2014

Girls Tennis – East Kentwood @ Caledonia

Boys Lacrosse – South Christian @ Caledonia

Girls Soccer

– Wyoming Lee @ Lakewood

– Tri-Unity @ Potter’s House

– Mona Shores @ Wyoming

Boys Baseball

– Wyoming Lee @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ Holland Calvary

– Zion Christian @ Covenant Christian

Wednesday March 26, 2014

Boys Track

– East Kentwood @ Saline Spring Preview at U of M

– Tri-Unity @ Marcellus Invitational

– Wyoming @ Wayland

Girls Track

– East Kentwood @ Saline Spring Preview at U of M

– Tri-Unity @ Marcellus Invitational

– Wyoming @ Wayland

Girls Soccer

– South Christian @ East Kentwood

– Godwin Heights @ Covenant Christian

Girls Water Polo– East Kentwood @ East Grand Rapids

Boys Baseball

– Grandville @ South Christian

– Godwin Heights @ Coopersville

– Caledonia @ Wyoming

Girls Softball – Grandville @ South Christian

– Caledonia @ Wyoming

Boys Golf – Calvin Christian @ Wyoming

Thursday March 27, 2014

Girls Water Polo – Portage Central @ East Kentwood

Boys Lacrosse – Holland @ South Christian

Boys Baseball

– Zion Christian @ Wyoming Lee

– Tri-Unity @ Algoma Christian

Girls Soccer

– Wyoming Lee @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ Saugatuck

– Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids

Girls Tennis – Wayland @ Wyoming

Girls Softball – Lowell @ Wyoming

Girls Track – Wyoming @ Kelloggsville

Boys Track – Wyoming @ Kelloggsville

Friday March 28, 2014

Boys Baseball – Godwin Heights @ Zion Christian

Boys Golf – Fremont @ Wyoming

Saturday March 29, 2014

Girls Tennis

– East Kentwood @ Wayland Invite

– Wyoming @ Wayland Invite

– Kelloggsville @ Wayland Invite

Girls Soccer – East Kentwood @ Portage Northern Invite

Boys Track

– Wyoming Lee @ Sturgis

– Kelloggsville @ Allegan

Girls Track

– Wyoming Lee @ Sturgis

– Kelloggsville @ Allegan

Monday March 31, 2014

Girls Softball

– East Kentwood vs GR Christian @ Davenport

– Tri-County @ Godwin Heights

Girls Soccer

– GR Christian @ East Kentwood

– South Christian @ Hudsonville

– Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins

– Allendale @ Wyoming

– Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian

– Zion Christian @ Potter’s House

Boys Baseball

– East Kentwood vs GR Christian @ Davenport

– South Christian @ Jenison

– Wyoming Lee @ Union

– Tri-County @ Godwin Heights

– Holland Black River @ Tri-Unity

Girls Water Polo – East Kentwood @ FH Central

Girls Tennis – Wyoming @ Middleville T-K

Never Tested for Colorectal Cancer? What’s YOUR Excuse?

Community Health

By Durado Brooks, MD, MPH

 Embarrassing! Painful! Disgusting!

 

These are some of the words that come to mind for lots of folks when they think about getting tested for colorectal cancer. Let’s face it – this involves a part of the body and CCmon 2bodily functions that people don’t talk about in polite conversation. Hopefully I can convince you that they (and you) need to get past this attitude and get on with testing.

 

Cancers of the colon and the rectum (the last sections of the digestive system) are extremely common. In fact, they’re the third most common cancer in US men and women. The good news is the rates of this disease have been falling steadily over the past 20 years, and a big part of the decrease is directly related to testing for colorectal cancer. You see, not only can testing help find the disease early, when it’s highly treatable, but testing can actually help to prevent the disease! That’s because most colorectal cancers start as a small, non-cancerous growth called a polyp. Finding and removing these polyps stops cancer before it starts.

 

You’d think that with these proven benefits people would be lining up to get tested – yet 1 in 3 adults who should get tested are missing out on this life-saving opportunity. Why? There are a lot of myths about colorectal cancer that people use as excuses to avoid getting tested. The following are some of the myths about testing, as well as the facts people need to know.

 

Myth/Excuse: “No one in my family had colorectal cancer, so I don’t need to get tested.”

 

Fact: Most people who get colorectal cancer DO NOT have a family history of the disease. The most common reason for getting colorectal cancer is simply getting older. Risk starts to go up around age 50 and continues to rise for the rest of your life. If you have a family history of the disease your risk is even higher, but, family history or not, everyone 50 and older should get tested.

 

Myth/Excuse: “I’m not having any symptoms so I don’t need to worry.” 

 

Fact: Many people who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer have no symptoms, and people with polyps rarely have symptoms. If you wait to get tested after symptoms develop you might miss the chance to prevent the disease or to find it before it grows and spreads.

 

Myth/Excuse: “If I have cancer there is nothing they can do about it, so why bother getting tested?”

 

Fact: Colorectal cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. When the disease is found at an early stage (before it spreads outside of the colon) most people can be treated very successfully and go on to live long, full lives. Regular testing increases the chance that the disease will be found at this early, most treatable stage.

 

Myth/Excuse: “The tests are embarrassing and painful!”

 

Fact: There are actually a number of different tests for colorectal cancer. The most common tests are stool tests and the colonoscopy. Stool tests are used to look for small, invisible amounts of blood passed in a bowel movement that might indicate a polyp or cancer. These simple tests are performed in the privacy of your home. A colonoscopy is done by a specialist in a hospital or outpatient center. The test is done in a private room with no other patients around. A thin lighted tube is inserted into the rectum and allows the doctor to view the inner lining of your colon. Many people fear that this test will be painful. In fact, people who are having a colonoscopy are given medicine to help them relax; many people sleep through the exam.

 

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Take this opportunity to talk about it! If you haven’t been tested, talk to your doctor. If you’ve been tested, talk to your family and friends. Make sure they know the facts and encourage them to get tested.

 

To learn more about how to reduce your risk or find colon cancer early, call your American Cancer Society anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org/colon.

 

Dr. Brooks is director of prostate and colorectal cancers for the American Cancer Society.

Kent District Library’s special events for March

Area Education

Kent District LibraryThe Kent District Library always strives to bring exceptional programming for families and individuals.  Check out all of the activities for March:

This calendar contains program highlights. Most KDL branches offer additional programs including Book Discussions, Storytimes and a variety of computer classes. Please visit www.kdl.org for more information.

 

For Children and Families

African Folktales with Storyteller Miz Rosie
Miz Rosie involves her audience in a dramatic, energized storytelling experience. Young and old alike are swept up in African and African-American folktales. The engaging oral tradition performed by Rosie is accompanied by songs and instruments. Sponsored by the Friends of the Kentwood Library. For all ages.
Saturday, March 1, 2:00 PM – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch

 

Mario Kart Tournament for Kids
Many will enter, but only one will be crowned champion! Join us for a Wii gaming tournament for school-age kids featuring Mario Kart, prizes and more. Pre-registration is required and participant spots are limited. For grades K-5.
Saturday, March 1, 10:30 AM – Tyrone Township Branch

 

There’s a Mouse in the House
What could be more exciting than a mouse in your house? Celebrate all things “mousy” with stories, crafts, rhymes, fingerplays and puppets. For ages 6 and younger.
Tuesday, March 4, 10:30 AM – Sand Lake Branch
Thursday, March 6, 10:30 AM – Englehardt Branch
Wednesday, March 12, 10:00 and 11:00 AM – Caledonia Township Branch
Thursday, March 13, 7:00 PM – Caledonia Township Branch
Saturday, March 29, 10:00 AM – Krause Memorial Branch

Beyblades
Test your skills and have fun competing in KDL’s Beyblade Battles! Bring your own Beyblades and arenas, or train and compete using the library’s equipment. For ages 6 and older.
Saturday, March 8, 10:00 AM – Krause Memorial Branch
Wednesday, March 12, 6:30 PM – Grandville Branch
Monday, March 17, 4:30 PM – Cascade Township Branch
Saturday, March 22, 10:30 AM – Tyrone Township Branch
Wednesday, March 26, 6:30 PM – Englehardt Branch
Saturday, March 29, 10:30 AM – Sand Lake Branch

 

Rainbow Loom Creativity
Bring your Rainbow Loom and some friends to socialize and create. Rainbow Loom jewelry is fun, unique and great to give as gifts. The library will provide bands in a variety of colors. Don’t forget your loom! For ages 6 and older.
Saturday, March 8, 2:00 PM – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch

 

Spring Brings Very Hungry Caterpillars!
Enjoy stories and crafts featuring The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other familiar characters from the works of Eric Carle. For ages 6 and younger.
Sunday, March 9, 2:00 PM – East Grand Rapids Branch
Monday, March 17, 6:30 PM – Byron Township Branch
Saturday, March 22, 10:30 AM – Gaines Township Branch

 

Meet the Author: Luis Carlos Montalvan
Join us for a visit with Luis Carlos Montalvan, author of “Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him,” and his service dog, Tuesday, as they talk about animal-assisted therapy, the human/animal bond and their own heartwarming story. Sponsored by the Friends of the Plainfield Library. Book will be available for sale by Schuler Books and Music. For all ages.
Sunday, March 23, 2:00 PM – Plainfield Township Branch

 

Programs for Teens

Teen Writing Workshop
Aspiring authors can develop their talent in this new writing community. Inspiration and instruction is available online through videos featuring local authors, writing prompts and critique worksheets. Five in-person discussion sessions led by Grand Rapids Community College writing professor Rachel Lutwick-Deaner will be held throughout the year focusing on peer-to-peer feedback. Pre-registration is required and participant spots are limited. For more information, visit www.kdl.org/teens.
Sunday, March 2, 3:00 PM – East Grand Rapids Branch

 

Cosplay Costume Workshop
Meet up with other fans and begin designing your cosplay look. Supplies and equipment will be provided to help you rock the runway at JAFAX or the KDL Anime Festival.  For teens grades 6 – 12.
Saturday, March 15, 1:30 PM – Sand Lake Branch
Tuesday, March 18, 3:30 PM – Wyoming Branch
Thursday, March 20, 3:30 PM – East Grand Rapids Branch

 

For Adults

 

Early Childhood Essentials: Coping with Conflict
Learn how teachers and caregivers can use circle time, small group activities and unstructured interactions to teach emotional literacy and reduce aggression among children. This workshop includes lessons from the Incredible Years Dinosaur Social Skills and Classroom Curriculum Friendship Units. Session offers one hour of professional development. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited. Adults only please; child care is not provided. Sponsored by Great Start CONNECT.
Thursday, March 6, 6:30 PM – Plainfield Township Branch

 

Gardening from Soil to Bloom
Love of gardening is a seed that, once sown, never dies. Jeanne Hawkins of The Secret Ingredient will teach gardening fundamentals, including the basics of soil, plants, planting, weeds and how to tell good bugs from bad.
Monday, March 10, 6:30 PM – Krause Memorial Branch
Tuesday, March 18, 6:30 PM – Caledonia Township Branch

 

Invasive Species in Your Neighborhood
What is the impact of alien plants? Naturalists from the Stewardship Network will explain how to identify and eradicate invasive plant species that are affecting West Michigan.
Saturday, March 15, 2:00 PM – Gaines Township Branch
Sunday, March 30, 2:00 PM – Cascade Township Branch

 

Rivers and Rain Barrels
How do your daily activities affect the water quality of area rivers? The West Michigan Environmental Action Council will discuss what all of us can do to protect our treasured resources. Participants can also construct rain barrels for $30, which can be paid in cash or by check. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited.
Tuesday, March 18, 6:30 PM – Byron Township Branch

 

Early Childhood Essentials: Discovering Play
Christine Burns, Grand Rapids Children’s Museum trainer, identifies the valuable skills children learn during play and explains how to foster positive play interactions. This session includes different information and activities than the program previously offered in Winter. Session offers one hour of professional development. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited. Adults only please; child care is not provided. Sponsored by Great Start CONNECT.
Thursday, March 20, 6:30 PM – Byron Township branch
Monday, March 31, 6:30 PM – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch

 

Write Michigan Short Story Contest Awards Ceremony
Celebrate the Write Michigan short story contest winners! Kentwood-based novelist Kristina Riggle will present the keynote address. Copies of the 2014 Write Michigan Anthology published by Chapbook Press will be available for purchase, and many of the contest winning writers will be available for a book signing. The Write Michigan Award Ceremony is sponsored by Meijer. For all ages.
Saturday, March 22, 2:00 PM – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch

 

Celebrate the Mitten Writers’ Conference
Local authors and publishing insiders will share tips for new and aspiring authors, leading sessions on traditional and self-publishing, how to stay motivated and more. All genres and skill levels are welcome. Separate pre-registration is required for morning and afternoon sessions and participant spots are limited. Co-sponsored by Baker Books, Credo Communications and Publish Savvy.
Saturday, March 29, 9:00 AM – Cascade Township Branch

 

Early Childhood Essentials Mini Day of Learning: Autism Emphasis
Learn about autism spectrum disorders including early intervention techniques and practical advice. Earn 3 professional development hours. This program will take place at the First Reformed Church (3060 Wilson Ave. in Grandville.) Pre-registration is required and class size is limited. Adults only please; child care is not provided. Sponsored by Great Start CONNECT.
Saturday, March 29, 9:00 AM – Grandville Branch

 

Visit www.kdl.org for more programs and information.

Bar Divani dishes up delicious!

Our Cities, , , ,

My compliments to Chef Baird!

by Janice Limbaugh

 

It may be the dead of winter in West Michigan but that doesn’t mean it’s a buzz kill for fun and lively 100_0557excursions. Case in point – Cool Brews. Hot Eats. It’s the second year this celebration within a celebration attracts epicurean curiosities from around West Michigan by offering dates with dishes – very special dishes made up of locally crafted beer and fabulous food. After all, retaining the title of Beer City USA, also for the second year, gives greater Grand Rapids restaurateurs more food for thought. The abundance of craft beer varieties provide a greater menu of food pairings for area chiefs. One would think that for a chef, it’s like being a kid in a candy shop with all the possible choices. What comes first – the food or the beer? Time to ask the expert.

Bar Divani Executive Chef Jeff Baird presents his signature dish for Cool Brews. Hot Eats.
Bar Divani Executive Chef Jeff Baird presents his signature dish for Cool Brews. Hot Eats.

 

Bar Divani Executive Chef Jeff Baird has been on the local restaurant scene for over 23 years, creating culinary delight at well-known Grand Rapids establishments such as Gibsons, The Peninsular Club and Thornapple Village Inn along with SanChez and Rockwell/Republic.  For this GRCC culinary graduate,  choosing the beer first was a no-brainer. He and his Sous Chef had one month to come up with a Cool Brews. Hot Eats. signature dish. “We had our mind set on Dragon’s Milk from New Holland Brewery. It’s both our favorite beer.” Choosing favorites – that was easy!

 

Dragon’s Milk is a Bourbon Barrel Stout that New Holland describes as  ‘a stout with roasty malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones, all dancing in an oak bath.’  I’ve had this beer on occasion and can attest to that description – even the ‘dancing in an oak bath’ part.  I think that’s why I like it.

 

To create this signature dish, Chef Baird says he started off with flavors he appreciated in the beer then considered food flavors that were opposite fittings.

Bar Divani's Braised Short Ribs, Bourbon Glazed Root Vegetables, Red Dragon Cheddar Mashed Potatoes paired with New Holland's Dragon's Milk.
Bar Divani’s Braised Short Ribs, Bourbon Glazed Root Vegetables, Red Dragon Cheddar Mashed Potatoes paired with New Holland’s Dragon’s Milk.

 

“The beer itself tastes slightly sweet and slightly bitter; perfect for pairing with braised beef short ribs. It also calls for something intense, like the earthy and robust flavors of roasted root vegetables in a Bourbon glaze balanced with Red Dragon Cheddar Cheese mashed potatoes.”

 

This statement sent my mind and mouth on an imaginary flavor rush. I mentioned I’ve had this beer before on occasion. This would be another of those occasions. And without a doubt, Chef Baird knew what he was doing with this dish! The combined flavors of the braised beef rib and the Bourbon glaze lent itself perfectly to a Dragon’s Milk finish.  But the additional blend of the roasted root vegetables and cheddar mashed potatoes truly unified this pairing. The selection of flavors were deliciously complimentary and satisfying on a bitter cold evening. It was my first partaking in Cool Brews. Hot Eats. and I have to say it was an excellent epicurean adventure! My compliments to Chef Jeff Baird for making it possible.

Wyoming High School celebrates a first!

Local Faces, Sports

by Mike Moll

 

Friday night at Wyoming High School was “a night that could not have been scripted any better” according to Wyoming Athletic Director Ted Hollern.

SONY DSC
Wyoming High School honors alumni athletes.

 

He was referring to the evening’s events which started off with the Wyoming Wolves girls basketball team capping their perfect 10 win OK Blue season, to go along with 18 regular season victories against just 2 losses. They defeated Comstock Park (2-8, 4-16), by a final score of 63 to 18. That game sends the Lady Wolves into their district opener, Monday, February 24 against Zeeland East in a game that will be played at Zeeland East.

 

It was a chance for the big crowd Friday to show their appreciation to the senior girls basketball players as they were introduced at the conclusion of the game.

 

Immediately following is what many had come to see. The first Hall of Fame induction ceremonies since Wyoming High was formed last year, as it is a product of the merger between Wyoming Park and Wyoming Rogers. The inductees were each a star player from those schools.

Tonya Coates happy to be in the Wyoming High School Hall of Fame.
Tonya Coates happy to be in the Wyoming High School Hall of Fame.

 

Tonya (Yonkers) Coates was named Michigan’s Miss Softball for 2001 when she helped lead Wyoming Rogers to the Class B State title. That win culminated Rogers three consecutive state championship game appearances, having also won the title in 1999. Coates has the 19th most wins as a pitcher in the state’s history with 106, against 11 losses. She was an All State selection in each of her last three seasons during which she had a combined record of 100 wins and just 6 losses. Her teams won their Conference title and the District titles in each of her 4 years. They were Regional champs in 3 of those seasons. Some of her personal career statistics were giving up only 2.26 hits per game, an earned run average of 0.87, striking out 247 hitters, and giving up a measly 0.37 earned runs a game in her Senior year. Tonya today is a surgical technician in the state of Michigan.

Drew Neitzel (center) accepts Hall of Fame award.
Drew Neitzel (center) accepts Hall of Fame award.

 

Drew Neitzel was named Michigan’s Mr. Basketball for 2004 when he helped lead the Wyoming Park team to the state semi finals and a 23-4 record. That season Neitzel, in 27 games, not only scored 893 points (33.1 avg.) which is the 7th highest mark in Michigan history, but also had 240 assists (8.9 avg.) which is the 3rd highest season total in the state’s history and the school record. Drew was an All State Honorable Mention selection in 2001, an All State selection in each of his last 3 years at Park, the 2004 Class B Player of the Year, and a Parade All American in 2004. His teams won two Conference, District, and Regional championships. Neitzel still holds the school records of 57 points in a game, 2,462 career points, 692 career assists, which is also the 2nd highest state total, and the single game record of 15 assists. The 227 three-point baskets made in his career place him 10th in the state and his 467 made free throws are the 9th most in state history. Neitzel went on to play at Michigan State where he was the starting point guard for the 2005 Final Four team, and had more than 1,500 points and 500 assists during his tenure as a Spartan. Today, Drew is a Financial Advisor for Wells Fargo.

 

The last portion of the evening came as the Wolves boys basketball team avenged an earlier season loss to Comstock Park with an exciting 71 to 61 win. This was the first OK Blue loss of the season for Comstock Park (9-1, 16-2). It sends the Wolves into their Tuesday game where they host OK Red leader Hudsonville (7-2, 11-7) with a 2nd place conference finish at 8-2 league and an overall mark of 12-6.

Grand Rapids Civic Theater presents the classic Les Miserables

Local Entertainment

Le MisIt’s a must see and tickets are going fast.   Don’t miss this wonderful production as it takes the stage from February 28 – March 30 at Grand Rapids Civic Theater.

 

Les Misérables opened at the Barbican Theatre in 1985, to immediate success; so much success Community Theatres around the world have never been granted the rights to produce. That all changed in 2012, when Music Theatre International (MTI) made a call to the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and School of Theatre Arts. “The licensing company was interested in knowing if (community) theatres would want to produce this piece. Their first call was to our very own Civic Theatre,” beamed Executive and Artistic Director, Bruce E. Tinker. “Let me be clear, there was no hesitation in our saying YES.”

 

Accepting the challenge to produce a theatrical masterpiece is no small undertaking. The Theatre had a narrow window to produce (June 2013 – March 2014, due to a return to Broadway in March) and selected March 2014 as the treasured Spring Musical of an outstanding 2013/2014 season line-up.

 

“This play brings responsibility,” Tinker notes. “The community’s high expectations of such a well-known show will be met by the music and talent of our West Michigan singers.” More than 360 people auditioned for the 47 roles available. “We are so blessed to have so many talented West Michigan performers,” stated Tinker, “we could have cast this show with nearly everyone who auditioned.”

 

Based on the Victor Hugo 1862 French Novel, Les Misérables is a testament to the human spirit. The story follows accused hero Jean Valjean and his loving daughter Cosette through 1815-1832 France. Tinker states, “This play is a clarification of the story, rather than a reinterpretation, and we do this through the beauty of song”

 

The show opens on February 28th and runs through March 30th.

 

Ticket Prices $18 – $35

 See events calendar for specific days and times: http://grct.org/eventschedule.html

 For information on the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre or to purchase tickets, call 616-222-6650 or visit www.GRCT.org.

Jay Leno, Lily Tomlin and Chris Tucker will highlight 2014 Gilda’s Laughfest

Local Entertainment, Non-Profits

LaughFest veterans return:

Mike Birbiglia, Jim Gaffigan and Sinbad

by Tyler Lecceadone

The nation’s first-ever community-wide festival of laughter, Gilda’s LaughFest, has announced its line up of talent and shows for the festival’s fourth year to be held March 6 to 16, 2014. The headliners announced include: Lily Tomlin, making a special appearance in partnership with Broadway Grand Rapids; Chris Tucker; and LaughFest veterans, Mike Birbiglia, Jim Gaffigan and Sinbad. This year’s Signature Event will feature Emmy award winning comedian, longtime TV personality and late-night talk show host Jay Leno. Several other acts were also announced for LaughFest, along with a “$50,000 Challenge” by five local companies to raise funds specifically for Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids Children’s cancer, grief and emotional health programs. laughfest logo

 “As we enter our fourth year, we are thrilled to continue building upon such a great community festival,” said Joanne Roehm, festival director of LaughFest. “The first three years have given us a solid foundation and we’re continuing this tradition of laughter by featuring stand-up comedy, improv, music, dance, speakers, pets, children’s shows, free professional and amateur showcases and a variety of other acts to give everyone the opportunity to laugh together.” Roehm also noted that more announcements of talent and details will be made as the festival draws closer.

In addition to the headliners, who were announced, other acts coming to LaughFest 2014 include Netflix’s Arrested Development actress, Maria Bamford; YouTube sensation Miranda Sings with special guest Colleen Ballinger; comedy trio Todd Barry, Rory Scovel and Nick Thune; and stars of TruTV’s Impractical Jokers, The Tenderloins, made up of Sal Vulcano, Joe Gatto, James Murray and Brian Quinn.

Officials also detailed the Gun Lake Casino Presents National Stand-Up Comedy Showcase, which features two showcases with 10 seriously funny comics: Cameron Esposito, Aparna Nancherla, Johnny Pemberton, Baron Vaughn, Joe Zimmerman, Tone Bell, Kurt Braunohler, Carmen Lynch, Barry Rothbart, and Hampton Yount.

The Best of the Midwest Competition, underwritten by Wolverine Worldwide, will feature 10 Midwestern comics duking it out for the $2,500 cash prize. Competitors are Johnny Beehner, Kevin Bozeman, John Conroy, Maggie Faris, AJ Finney, Drew Frees, Mike Lebovitz, Matt McClowry, Bryan Morris and Ms. Pat.

Bissell Presents the Clean Comedy Showcase, underwritten by Blue Cross Blue Shield, features two showcases with eight comedians who specialize in bringing serious laughs without vulgarity. Performers include James P. Connolly, Tony Deyo, Robert Mac, Pat McGann, Andy Hendrickson, Michael Palascak, Louis Ramey, and Rik Roberts.

The Family Friendly Series, presented by Meijer, includes performances by Milkshake, a band on a mission to create great rock music for kids; Super Saturday Kids Zone, a themed carnival for all ages; and Saturday Nite Teen Zone, a 13 and up hangout for teens.

The Bud Light Presents Blue & Late Night Comedy Series features two great performers, 30 Rock’s Judah Friedlander, and author and Chelsea Lately writer and round table guest, Jen Kirkman.

 LaughFest’s Best will feature late night shows with little sampling of comedians from across the festival. And local comedy troupe River City Improv, representing Calvin College, will put on a show that weaves skits, games and songs with audience suggestions to create a unique entertainment experience.

 

Blackout Diaries is an interactive show featuring standup comedians and regular people telling true drinking stories, while the audience asks questions.

 

Carly Aquilino, Chris Distefano, and Andrew Schulz, of MTV’s hit reality comedy series, Guy Code, will focus in on the different codes that exist between girls and guys in a snappy and entertaining fashion.

 

New and returning activities include FUNderwear 5K presented by Universal Forest Products, Seriously Funny Family Adventure Challenge, and People and Pets.

Additionally LaughFest is expanding its presence in the West Michigan community, by bringing shows to Holland and Lowell, Mich. Holland shows will include Christian comic Jeff Allen, Kids Joke Night, Holland Chorale, Klompen Comedy, Laughter Yoga and community showcases. Shows in Lowell include PJ Walsh, Kids Joke Night, Laughter Yoga and community showcases.

As a way to raise funds specifically to support programs at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, five community sponsors have come forward to match funds raised through the “High Five” campaign. This year the campaign aims to raise $100,000 for children living with cancer or grief, and for in-school emotional health programs. Local companies Terryberry, Feyen Zylstra, Pioneer Construction, Eenhoorn, and American International Foods will match each $5 donation, up to $50,000. Individuals interested in donating to the “High Five” campaign may do so by purchasing a button at a participating restaurant or business in West Michigan, or by donating at www.laughfestgr.org.

“Last year we saw phenomenal success with our ‘High Five’ campaign,” said Wendy Wigger, president of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and LaughFest. “This year a stellar group of local companies has generously given us another matching grant for this campaign. Our goal is to secure $50,000 worth of five dollar gifts from the community and then these companies will match each gift, up to $50,000 worth of matching funds. The money generated from this campaign will directly benefit our children’s programs.

LaughFest 2014 will include 200 plus free and ticketed shows that feature over 60 artists at 40-plus venues in Grand Rapids, Lowell, and Holland during the 10 days of the festival. Festival ticket packages range from $60 to $175 and will be available to the public beginning Friday, November 15, 2013 at 9 a.m. online at www.laughfestgr.org or by phone at (616) 735-HAHA (4242).

Individual tickets are priced from $7 to $60, excluding the Signature Event. These will be available beginning Friday, January 10, 2014 at the VanAndel Arena Box Office or at Ticketmaster outlets through closing day of the Festival.

Make History for Gilda’s LaughFest!

Non-Profits, Our Cities

 West Michigan invited to set

New World Record Opening Night

SMILE LARGE

We’re fortunate enough to live in the nation’s first ever community-wide festival of laughter with Gilda’s LaughFest.  As in years past, you – the community – are invited to help kick off this year’s festival by attempting to set another Guinness World Record for the most people wearing sunglasses in the dark at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids. All whacky world-record participants will receive official LaughFest sunglasses supplied by Baudville. The hysterical record-setting event will also include giveaways and a photo booth for individual fun. The Guinness World Record attempt will be followed by opening night events at downtown restaurants and a free comedy preview show at the Pyramid Scheme (68 Commerce Ave.) at 10 p.m. The show includes a sneak peak of local, regional, and national comedians who will be featured during the 10-day festival. Meanwhile, back to the community contest…

 

The current Guinness World Record for largest number of people wearing sunglasses in the dark was achieved in July 2012 by 1,642 participants at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill. C’mon West Michigan – WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!

THURSDAY, MARCH 6

Laughfest Kickoff at Rosa Parks Circle, downtown GR

5:30/6 p.m. – Pre-kickoff activities, line-up 

7  p.m. – World record practice and preliminary instructions 

7:15 p.m. – Official attempt to break the existing record

 

“This is going to be seriously fun,” says Wendy Wigger, president of Gilda’s LaughFest and Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. “This free event will help set the stage for ten days of laughter for the health of it. And what better way to shun the winter blues than with the optimistic donning of bright yellow sunglasses!”

 

During last year’s kick off, 1,532 individuals put on false mustaches to set the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people wearing fake mustaches at a single venue. In 2012, 607 people wore chicken beaks and performed the chicken dance to set the record for the greatest number of people wearing animal noses. In 2011, 925 rubber chickens were tossed in downtown Grand Rapids, shattering the previous record of 265 set near Boston, Mass.

 

For the preview show, a suggested $5 donation to Gilda’s Club will be collected at the door. Fast passes are available for these shows at LaughFest Central, which will guarantee the holder a seat at the show as long as they are seated 15 minutes prior to start time. Tickets are also available for the Clean Comedy Showcase at The BOB at 8pm that night – tickets are $17.50 and $32.50 (includes dinner.)

 

LaughFest 2014 will be held in Grand Rapids, Lowell, and Holland from March 6 through March 16. LaughFest headliners include: Jay Leno, Jim Gaffigan, Lily Tomlin, Sinbad, Mike Birbiglia, and Chris Tucker. Other acts announced include: Maria Bamford, Miranda Sings, Todd Barry, Rory Scovel, and Nick Thune, The Tenderloins, Judah Friedlander, Jen Kirkman, Blackout Diaries, and the stars of MTV’s Guy Code. New and returning activities include FUNderwear 5K, Seriously Funny Family Adventure Challenge, and People and Pets. Showcases and competitions include: Best of the Midwest, National Stand-up Comedy Showcase, and Clean Comedy Showcase.

 

Gilda’s LaughFest was created by a team at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids in 2011. Since inception, LaughFest has averaged 55,000 attendees per year. Proceeds from the festival will go to support the free cancer, grief, and emotional health programs offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Visit www.laughfestgr.org, or call 616-735-HAHA (4242) to learn more about Gilda’s LaughFest.

 

Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids provides free emotional healthcare to children adults, families and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving the death of someone in their life due to any cause. The comprehensive program, delivered by licensed healthcare professionals includes education, structured sharing times, networking, lectures, workshops and social activities. Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is one of the largest and busiest of the 52 affiliates in North America. The organization runs entirely on charitable donations and currently serves more than 10,000 individuals each year at its clubhouses in Grand Rapids and Lowell, Mich., in various schools and in five community centers. For more information, visit www.gildasclubgr.org.

Art Display at Airport – Why Not?

Area Education, Local Business

Ford Airport welcomes works of Kendall Students

by Janice Limbaugh

Light boxes once displaying advertising now feature photographic artwork from Kendall graduate Matt Gubanesik. Photo courtesy of Matt Gubanesik
Light boxes once displaying advertising now feature photographic artwork from Kendall graduate Matt Gubanesik. Photo courtesy of Matt Gubanesik

If you think about it, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) is a perfect venue for displaying artwork. With over 6000 visitors passing through its terminals annually, the airport naturally attracts streams of onlookers and passersby.  That’s what GFIA Executive Director Brian Ryks thought a little over  a year ago when the idea came to him to approach David Rosen, president of Kendall College of Art and Design, Ferris State University (KCAD) about having an exhibit at the airport.

Gubanesik's photo "Through the Wave" is created from petroleum jelly and lighting.
Gubanesik’s photo “Through the Wave” is created from petroleum jelly and lighting.

 

“It’s important for us to showcase West Michigan culture to the visitors who pass through here,” says Ryks. “Art is a certainly a big part of our culture with Grand Rapids hosting Art Prize every year. Like Art Prize, this installation is a great way to share the conversation of art with our guests. ”

 

According to KCAD’s curator, Tom Post, the new partnership allows the college the opportunity to curate art in a public exhibition area, an experience now open to all KCAD’s graduate and undergraduate students .

 

“As a college we’re excited! Not all of our students get the opportunity to work in public space,” Post says. “Now we can bring them here and say, ‘Let’s think of the area. Let’s think of the size. Let’s think of the content, and see what they come up with. It’s terrific!”Lake Mi

 

Ryks says the plan is to rotate art every three to four months on a seasonal basis throughout various spaces in the airport terminals, concourses and parking structures. Two dimensional and three dimensional works from a variety of both KCAD’s Undergraduate and Graduate Programs will be included in the displays.

Lauri Hunt
Laurie Hunt, KCAD graduate student has her print works displayed above the Grand Lobby.

 

The first installation is up now and features the work of Graduate Students Laurie Hunt and Matt Gubancsik. Hunt graduated from KCAD with a degree in graphic design and is currently working on her master’s in fine arts in print making. Her banners can be found hanging from the ceiling of the Grand Lobby. They depict Michigan lakes and speak of environmental concerns and the fragility of our delicate ecosystem. “This work is about the lack of connection we have, both physically and spiritually, with the natural world,” explains Hunt. To explain what’s going on to visitors,  information about the artist and her work are displayed on tabletops throughout the lobby.

Matt B
KCAD graduate student, Matt Gubanesik stands by one of his photographs displayed in the parking garage. He creates nature scenes from various materials. Photo by Matt Gubanesik.

Meanwhile, Gubancsik’s photos explore environments that are illusion and fabricated, but are informed by a sense of awe and the sublime as found in nature. His largeposter-size photos are displayed in light boxes along the walkways in the parking garage.

 

“We are a region where creativity is all around us, in our businesses, our institutions, our furnishings, our architecture, and even our foods and festivals,” says KCAD President David Rosen. “How wonderful that when we come home or someone new enters our home, the first sight is of this creativity that makes our region special. How wonderful that the last sight that travelers behold leaves an impression of our creativity. I feel honored that KCAD has been asked to help fashion those important impressions that remind us, and that tell others, who we are and what we stand for.”

Kent County Search and Rescue–Saving Lives one step at a time!

Local Faces, Our Cities

By Laurence Pierson

Kent County 4

It is two o’clock in the morning. The weather outside is cold and wet. The alarm on the cell phone goes off signaling that a search is getting underway. What type of person would leave the warm comfort of their home to begin searching a remote and sometimes treacherous area in order to find a missing child?  The type of person who is willing to make the sacrifice needed to save the life of a missing person– that’s the type of person that the Search and Rescue team of Kent County is looking for.

 

I have often wondered who the people were that I have seen on the local news conducting searches. I recently attended an open house for the Search and Rescue team to find out more about them. It was a certainly an eye opening experience. My contact person was Brian Toronyi. He has been a member for 4 years and is the deputy director and HR representative.     KC3

 

The group consists of about 70 volunteer members and they work in close coordination with the Kent County Sheriff Office. Last year they conducted 16 searches with an average team size of 50 people. The Kent County group is considered to be the best in the state and one of the Midwest’s leading organizations.  They set a standard of excellence and provide training for other Search and Rescue organizations.

 

Their searches are treated as a law enforcement matter and are held to a high degree of confidentiality. The missing people are often young children, or an elderly person suffering from dementia. Sometimes the missing subject is autistic, despondent or suicidal. In some cases the person is missing but does not want to be found. Before a search begins, the team needs to analyze the profile of the search subject in order to refine the search requirements. In fact there is a book, “Lost Person Behavior” that helps develop the search method for different types of individuals. A successful search may have a happy ending, or it may not. The subject might not be found alive or may be the victim of a crime. If an elderly person wanders off, there is only a 50-50 chance that they will survive for 24 hours. Search and Rescue is a very serious business conducted by highly trained and dedicated individuals.

 

The open house I attended is used to recruit new members who can strengthen the team.  Most of the folks in attendance wanted to find a way to help their community as an active participant. They were looking for a new challenge and new skills which could be put to use in helping others. However, you cannot just walk in and sign up. This is a very exclusive group looking for only the best people.         Kent county 3

 

Here are some of the first steps you will take on your way to becoming a team member. Upon passing a background check and gaining acceptance into the program, you are a considered to be a probationary member. You will become a licensed amateur radio operator,  will receive training in first aid, CPR, crime scene awareness, extraction and rescue and many other areas.  You will learn to work with their dogs. (The bloodhound Emma was in attendance at this meeting). You will take part in field exercises and earn many certifications. Eventually you may receive national certification. The initial probation period takes 3 to 6 months and usually requires 40 hours of training. If you think all of this sounds fun, you will love the activity coming up next month, winter survival training. How about a camp out in February–especially in the type of weather we have been having as of late.

 

The training is not easy, and it is not meant to be. This team needs people they can rely on, people who are truly dedicated to their mission. It will take about 18 months to become fully trained. At that point you are a full team member with many opportunities to continue with your training and growth in this challenging endeavor.

 

I came away from the meeting with a great sense of pride in the work these people do. These are the people who are willing to do the gritty work that often goes unrecognized. They take pride in themselves, their team and the work they do. They willing to take on a mission regardless of the conditions and work their hardest to accomplish the task. Although the demands are great, being part of this team is immensely rewarding. These members experience a sense of camaraderie and develop lifelong friendships. But most importantly, their dedication provides us with a resource we can rely on should a loved one be missing.

Ford International Airport Ranked Top Five Best Airports in the World

Local Business

By Tara Hernandez

Gerald R. Ford Airport without snow

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport provides first-class travel experiences and excellent customer services and amenities and those efforts have been recognized by the Airports Council International (ACI) as one of the best in the world.

ACI has announced that the Gerald R. Ford International Airport has been ranked among the top five airports in the “Best Airports by Size: 2-5 million passengers” category as a part of ACI’s 2013 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards.  Airports across the globe are evaluated via passengers’ views on 34 key service indicators and are an objective and accurate indicator of the top world-wide performing airports. Some of the key areas of judgment include cleanliness, parking, courtesy of staff, concessions and security screening.

“Customer service is a top priority for our entire team at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport and we are thrilled to be recognized as one of the top performers from ACI’s Airport Service Quality,” said GFIA Executive Director Brian Ryks.  “We are dedicated to ensuring continued progress in this area as we make significant investments in personnel, services and facilities that are focused on providing a first-class experience for the traveling public.”  

GFIA has continued to improve the customer experience from adding concession amenities like Starbucks, Bell’s Brewery and Restaurant and the new “Greens,” healthy dining option.  The airport also continues to improve on the passenger experience through technology upgrades including charging stations and business centers.  In addition, visitor information ambassadors, a therapy dog program and a partnership with Kendall College of Art & Design have improved the airport ambiance and customer service rankings.  

 “We listen to the growing West Michigan community both from the business and leisure side of travel,” said Ryks.  “We continue to make improvements at our airport to better serve those looking for comfortable, convenient and cost effective travel experiences.”

 ABOUT THE GERALD R. FORD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) is the second busiest airport in Michigan. The airport served over 2.23 million passengers in 2013 and over 6,000 travelers pass through GFIA each day.  The Gerald R. Ford International Airport offers non-stop service to 23 major market destinations with 120 daily non-stop flights.  The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is managed and operated by the Kent County Department of Aeronautics.  GFIA generates over $500 million annually in economic activity throughout West Michigan and employs over 1,800 people.  For more information on GFIA visit: www.flyford.org or follow the airport on Facebook and/or Twitter: @FlyGRFord.

Save time in line at Secretary of State offices starting now!

Local Business, Our Cities

By Gisgie Dávila Gendreau
Secretary of State office

Ever stood in line for hours at the Secretary of State office and  become frustrated, irritable and impatient?   Those frustrations can now be alleviated.

Don’t want to wait in person? MI-TIME Line allows customers to check in online, or by phone, to hold their place in line at their local branch Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today announced that 10 of the busiest Secretary of State offices will pilot innovative customer service technology to reduce wait times by letting customers schedule appointments and get in line from a home computer, with a phone call or via text message.

It will even call or send a text message when the customer is about to be called. Customers who don’t have a mobile phone can stop by the office, check in at a special MI-TIME Line kiosk and head out of the office to run errands while they wait.

“We all lead busy lives and we know that our customers’ time is important,” said Johnson. “Our MI-TIME Line service will revolutionize how we serve customers in our busiest Secretary of State offices. Now you can get in line online and come to the office just before you’re about to be called. Spend the time you save shopping nearby, running errands or being with family. We’ll let you know when it’s almost your turn.”

Johnson made today’s announcement at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where visitors can interact with the new technology at the Secretary of State display to see how easy it is to use.

The 10 offices that will be using the new system together handle more than two million transactions every year.

The system had a “soft launch” last week in the Flint Area SUPER!Center and the Capital Area SUPER!Center in Lansing and Secretary of State officials say it’s been well received by customers.

It will debut in the coming weeks in five other SUPER!Centers, which are among the largest and busiest offices, including Clinton Township, Detroit, Livonia and Pontiac. Offices in Southfield, Taylor and Troy also will shortly feature the service.

The Secretary of State’s website at www.michigan.gov/sos will have links to the participating offices and customers can also find participating offices on the Branch Office Locator by searching for “Get in Line Online” offices.

To offer this cutting-edge customer-service technology, the Secretary of State’s Office partnered with United States-based QLess, whose line-management service has been successfully used by other driver and motor vehicle agencies, amusement parks, shopping malls, and health care and educational facilities to reduce wait times.

“We are excited to have our service used in the busiest Michigan Secretary of State offices,” said QLess CEO and Founder Alex Bäcker. “QLess has saved customers across the globe more than 370 years from waiting in line, and we look forward to saving Michigan residents’ time and making their visits to a Secretary of State office more enjoyable. With the MI-TIME Line technology, people can get in line from home and be notified when it’s time to head in without waiting long in the lobby.

”The North American International Auto Show runs through Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Cobo Center. The Michigan Secretary of State display, including the full-service Mobile Office, is on the concourse outside of the Macomb Hall entrance. The Mobile Office is ready to serve customers at the show and will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends and noon to 6 p.m. on weekdays. On Sunday, the office will be open until 7 p.m.

The new technology is the latest in Johnson’s efforts to improve customer service. In 2011, she launched ExpressSOS.com to offer some of the department’s most popular services online. As part of ExpressSOS.com, customers can use the special Print-and-Go service that allows customers to print off a proof of purchase for tabs to carry until their tabs arrive in the mail.

Johnson also partnered with Michigan retail giant Meijer to install self-serve kiosks in two of their stores.

Cornerstone’s Little Women production provides grand entertainment!

Local Entertainment,

brett_wiesenaurThis past weekend, I had the privilege to see a preview of Cornerstone’s production of Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women.  In its brief length, I experienced truly memorable performances from an exceptional cast under the enviable direction of Nancy Wagner, a seasoned performer around Grand Rapids and theatre instructor at GRCC.   The production proves an entertaining escape from the worries and freezing of today, transporting viewers to a “simpler time” of adolescent love and that beneficial little thing called family.

The timeless story of growing up is given the premium treatment thanks to Wagner’s thoughtfully realistic approach to the performances which truly made the show.  The most popular adaptation of Alcott’s work remains the 1933 film starring the unquestionably iconic Katharine Hepburn as the passionate and temperamental Jo March.  Thankfully, Ms. Wagner doesn’t try to echo Hepburn’s scene-stealing characterization, instead going for a more theatrically appropriate approach: realism.  Portrayed by Skye Walker, Jo is passionate and temperamental but portrays such traits with mild restraint, as the play does take place during the American Civil War, well before the feminist movement even appeared.  The rest of the cast do a fine job of bringing such characters as Jo’s impulsive younger sibling Amy [Jory van Dyke], the frail yet gifted Beth [Rebecca Wierenga], the subtly graceful mother Marmee [Alexa Heeres], and many others the performances worthy of modern theatre, disconnecting perfectly from the popular film.  Here, characters aren’t portrayed as slots to be played by character actors in a Hollywood production; they feel like truly realized people which adds to rather than dilutes the heartbreak and sacrifice of the choices they make over the course of the show.

Tickets for the production are $12 for adults and $10 for non-Cornerstone students and Senior citizens.  The show plays at the Grand Rapids Theological Seminary this Thursday thru Saturday at 7.30 pm as well as a matinee Saturday at 2.30 pm.  There will be a talk-back Friday night with the cast and crew.  Don’t miss this one; it’s well worth your time and support.

Invisible Hero Rescues Invisible Population

Local Faces, Our Cities

by Michele Smith-Aversa

Rigsby Shoulder
Rigsby (on shoulder) gives kisses for a Selfie.

 

Since 2005, Gina Marvin has saved over 900 lives – for free. She is the voice for those who have been abused in ways many of us can’t imagine. She is an invisible hero to what she calls an invisible population.

 

Gina Marvin is the founder of Focus on Ferals Trap-Neuter-Return and No-Kill Adoption Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan (www.focusonferals.org). She is on a crusade to improve the quality of life for feral cats in West Michigan and humanely reduce and control their population through the process of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). TNR consists of the humane trapping, sterilization, and return of feral cats to their familiar habitat.

 

“I love feral cats.” Gina says. “I respect their wild nature. But feral cats breed unwanted kittens, who just breed more unwanted kittens. The way the public has dealt with this issue in the past is to kill the unwanted cats. The methods used are sometimes horrific.” Gina contends that reducing their birth rate is actually more cost effective – and humane. As a community working together, the problem can be eliminated.

A Typical Day

Kitties just want to be loved! Jake Owen (foreground), Belen (center), Brielle (right)
Kitties just want to be loved! Jake Owen (foreground), Belen (center), Brielle (right)

There is no typical day for Gina. “I can spend anywhere between one and five hours per day doing activities for Focus on Ferals (FOF). I like to say things get done in a ‘which fire is burning the hottest right now’ sort of way.”

 

Gina gets calls every day from people asking for help with anything from a stray cat to an abandoned litter of kittens. Some days she spends more time out in the field trapping feral cats (for TNR), giving them medical attention or food. Some days she is at the No-Kill Adoption Center on Knapp where stray adult cats and feral kittens are brought in, socialized and adopted out. And some days she is at home buried in the paperwork that comes with running a struggling non-profit organization.

 Another Hero

Gina received a distress call on an unusually bitter November evening in 2010. The caller was a soft spoken man who lived in an area hotel known for housing people on parole or probation. However, the hotel did not allow pets. This man, Norm*, told Gina that the management was tired of the feral cat problem around the hotel, had already rounded up 20 of the cats and taken them to an animal shelter – where feral cats do not make it out alive.

This handsome guy is Neville who is known to fetch and play growl. Photo by Rebekah Dietrache
This handsome guy is Neville who is known to fetch and play growl. Photo by Rebekah Dietrache

 

Norm spotted two kittens that were caught in a live trap. Worried that after several hours they would freeze to death, he snuck them into his room and called Gina. By the time she arrived, Norm had been forced to move the tiny kittens back outside to his rusted out pick-up truck because management was coming around for room checks. When Gina checked his truck, she saw a shoebox with litter, two tiny dishes with food and water, and even a few toys for the kittens to play with.

Charlize
Charlize is hoping for a family.

 

Gina was immeasurably moved. Norm had his own problems and very little money. But he rescued the condemned kittens because it was the right thing to do. Gina still smiles when she thinks of his selflessness. “These two kittens were headed for their deaths. But an ordinary person stepped in and changed that course.” The kittens were brought to the shelter, named Tater and Tot, and were eventually adopted out together.

 Rescues Despite Risk

Gina has executed her share of covert rescues to protect and save a cat. In this economy, foreclosures have become a reality for an increasing number of families. When they leave their homes, they abandon their memories, clothing and sometimes even their pets. Gina remembers one cat in particular named Ellie. When the family left, they locked Ellie in the house with broken furniture, trash, moldy food and no useable litter box. An animal cannot survive for long in those hazardous conditions. Gina felt that she had no other choice; she broke a window, climbed into the house and saved Ellie’s life.

Meet Porkchop. He has his own page on www.petfinder.com. Photo by Rebekah Dietsche
Meet Porkchop. He has his own page on www.petfinder.com. Photo by Rebekah Dietsche

 

Getting a pet is a long-term commitment. Unfortunately, some people do not take the commitment seriously. “As a nation,” Gina says, “we still have the mentality that animals are disposable.” Gina works to change that mentality, but the animals’ safety and welfare always come first.

 No end in sight

If Gina lost everything she owned, she would still continue her crusade. The shelter demands supplies, paperwork, volunteers, building maintenance, public relations – and money. Lots of it. But she will never lose sight of the big picture. Improving the lives of cats and kittens is the mission. She struggles with the knowledge that she can’t save them all. But that makes her more determined to do everything she can for the ones she does save.

 

There is a sign in the shelter that expresses exactly how Gina feels –

“Saving the life of one animal may not change the world, but the world will surely change for that one animal.”

 

Visit our website http://www.focusonferals.org/ if you:

 

Are interested in making a donation/sponsoring a cat or want to obtain an adoption application.

 

See our available cats and kittens http://www.focusonferals.org/our-kitties/

 

Visit our No Kill Adoption Center Thursdays 6-8pm and Sundays 12-2pm http://www.focusonferals.org/our-adoption-center/

 

Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/FocusOnFerals where you can read success stories and see photos and videos of the kitties at the Adoption Center!

Seriously…Spring IS Coming!

Our Cities

by Sue Dixon

Okay, so we got 6 inches of snow two days ago. And yes, the snow mound in front of my house is almost as high as the roof on the front porch, but I saw FIVE robins just the other day when I was driving to the mall!

It’s difficult to remember what green grass looks like I know, but the recent days have been sunnier and this week we are supposed to have a high temperature near 40! These are all good signs that Spring is on its way.

So put on a coat, and go stand outside today just for a few minutes. Don’t clean your car off, or shovel your walk. Just stand and let the sun shine on your face. Listen for the birds; they are becoming more vocal now. Breathe in and remember what it smells like when the earth is warm and a gentle rain has just fallen. Imagine the buds erupting on the trees. Remember how bright green the new grass is and how everything just looks so fresh and new. Open your eyes and maybe say “hi” to a neighbor or the mailman.

Spring IS Coming. Yes, before we know it……..we just have to be patient!

Local First Sponsors Forum 2014 – The Power of Economic Opportunity

Local Business, Non-Profits

maggie_anderson

Morning keynote Dr. Maggie Anderson will speak about the economics of how black buying power can impact black communities!

 

By Samantha Vanderberg

 

Local First is sponsoring Forum 2014, an event held by the Partners for a Racism-Free Community.

 

Dr. Maggie Anderson will be the morning keynote speaker. In her recent book Our Black Year, she delves into racial equity issues in her community by chronicling her family’s year-long effort to shop at only black-owned businesses.

 

Dr. Anderson’s work is values-aligned with Local First’s mission in that both consider the role locally-owned businesses (and individual purchasing devisions) play in creating jobs, building a vibrant community, and maintaining a high quality of life. Dr. Anderson’s thesis shows that spending money at black-owned businesses allows money to circulate in black neighborhoods, which would in turn strengthen the community and create jobs. Local First similarly knows that when people in Kent County spend their money at locally-owned businesses, that money stays in our community at a rate of 73% and directly impacts job growth.

 

In her book, Dr. Anderson reveals shocking statistics about black buying power. On average, black businesses receive only 2% of the $1 trillion of black buying power, which is two cents of every dollar. A dollar circulates among banks, shopkeepers, and other businesses for nearly a month in some ethnic groups, whereas in the black community: six hours. Black businesses are also the greatest private employer of black people, thus the lack of support impacts unemployment in the black community. Dr. Anderson frames these issues as opportunity for change: small shifts in purchasing habits toward black businesses can improve the current situation.

 

“We are so glad to be sponsoring this event. We are a community that understands the significance of ownership. Maggie’s work spotlights an issue that is important for us to understand and address in order to achieve racial and economic equity in our community. Her personal examination of the role of local ownership within the black community will expand our perspective,” said Emily Loeks, Vice-Chair of both the Local First Board and the Local First Educational Board, and Director of Education & Community Partnerships at Celebration! Cinema. Loeks will be introducing Dr. Maggie Anderson at Forum 2014.

 

Forum 2014 will be held on Friday, February 21 at the Eberhard Center at GVSU Downtown Campus. Registration and breakfast will begin at 8:00am. Tickets cost $55 and are available at localfirst.com/events/forum-2014 or prfc-gr.org.

Grassroots ‘Warmth Warriors’ Offer Comfort to Downtown’s Homeless

Local Faces, Our Cities, , , ,

by Janice Limbaugh

 

These are the kind of stories I love to share – humble, inspiring, and motivational. It’s a call, or rather a scream, to action to help others.

Warmth Warriors taking it to the streets of GR last Thursday.
Warmth Warriors taking it to the streets of GR last Thursday.

 

The “others” in this story are the  homeless of downtown Grand Rapids.

 

It’s hard for anyone to ignore the harsh conditions we’ve experienced this winter. The brutal weather over the last couple months has had little positive impact on most people’s lives in West Michigan. I’m sticking with the positive notion that all this bluster will eventually raise the lake levels. But between all the accidents and slide offs, the round-the-clock snow removal routine, and the cabin fever epidemic, there’s been little good to say about the season.  Until now.

 

Kerri Banyas of Hudsonville and Rhiannon Bosse of Rockford are two Facebook friends who paid close attention to the weather like everyone else. But with every mind-numbing forecast they thought of something else – the survival of the homeless.

 

“Every time a storm would hit, I’d wonder and worry, how are they ever going to survive?” says Banyas, admitting it was God’s whispers to her heart that finally made her take action.  “I got tired of wondering so I talked about it with my Facebook friends and the obvious came up – ‘Let’s go hand out blankets!”

 

That was three weeks ago. Coincidentally (or not as God does work in mysterious ways), one of the women, Amber Brooks, has a photography studio called 87 Orange Photography on Division near Degage Ministries – a perfect location for the  troops to rally. For now, Thursday evenings seem to be a good meeting time for the Warriors to gather and distribute protection from the cold. So far, these volunteers are all women, most of them moms, who come from all parts of greater Grand Rapids, plus Holland and Cascade, to distribute cups of hot coffee while offering blankets, hats, gloves and socks to the homeless along Division.

 

“At first, we gave away things we weren’t using at home,” explains Banyas. “I, myself, only had two blankets to donate. We knew we had to get more items to give out every week in order to keep this effort going.”

 

That’s when Bosse, the social media expert of the bunch, dedicated a Facebook page to the effort of “Warmth Warriors.”

 

Now Banyas says it is taking off.

Donations to Warmth Warriors have to be sorted and organized before distribution. Photo by Kerri Banyas
Donations to Warmth Warriors have to be sorted and organized before distribution. Photo by Kerri Banyas

 

“The word is getting out and people from all over Grand Rapids have been contacting us, asking how they can contribute. We’ve been able to collect coats, blankets, socks, hats and gloves to pass out to people in the area.

 

“Now all this effort is based on other people giving. It’s amazing how much other people want to help!”

 

She explains that because Warmth Warriors is based on social media, donations are being picked up by the volunteers. Every Thursday afternoon, the group meets to sort out the donated items, make coffee to hand out, and divides clothing into categories to distribute.

 

“They are so grateful for anything we give them,” Banyas says. “Often we meet a person wearing rags, certainly not appropriate for this weather, and offer them something warmer and they say, ‘Oh no thanks, I know someone who needs that more than I do  – but I’ll take a coffee.’ My heart just goes out to these people – It is so humbling.”

New socks are welcomed by the homeless.
New socks are welcomed by the homeless.

 

Warmth Warriors has been established for just three weeks and is growing in popularity every day. Banyas admits she doesn’t know where this will all lead, but for now, they are thrilled to be contacted to pick up donations. She recently added a link on their Facebook page to gofundme.com a fundraising web source for charitable organizations. Banyas says it helps them securely track donations from people wanting to help monetarily. “I’m fine if no one donates money though,” adds Banyas. “We’d rather have blankets, hats and gloves – and socks! They love warm socks! So many are wearing shoes that are worn out and filled with holes – a pair of warm socks really helps.”

 

Banyas points out that Warmth Warriors is not out to undermine the downtown ministries that are already there, nor do they want to enable homelessness. “There a a lot of great ministries here but they can’t do it all and they know that. We’ve actually been encouraged by Downtown Ministries for what we’re doing – basically walking down the street handing out coffee and blankets. We hope we can inspire others to do the same.”

 

For now, Warmth Warriors are focusing on assisting the homeless downtown, but that doesn’t mean that’s where they’ll stay. “As a matter of fact, we are trying to locate other areas where homeless  people gather to reach out to them. This effort can really go any where there is a need,” Banyas says.

 

To find out more and how you can become involved in this effort, visit the Warmth Warriors Facebook page.

Metro Health Expands with New Construction

Community Health, Local Business, Our Cities

New Services Better Serve Patients and Families

by Ellen Bristol

Metro Health is growing again.

The award-winning leader in community healthcare has four expansion projects in the works including breaking ground on a new construction project, building out another facility designed to meet the growing needs of patients, families and physicians, and opening a new office building. Metro Health also opened its new outpatient surgery center late last month in the Metro Health Park East.

When all four projects are completed, Metro Health will have added more than 230,000 square feet of new space for surgery, family and specialty practices, urgent care, medical and staff offices, conference rooms and additional needs.

“This investment in new convenient and accessible facilities will allow us to accommodate our continued growth,” said Mike Faas, president and CEO of Metro Health. “Our new Metro Health Park East location, which joins our network of neighborhood outpatient centers and a surgery center in downtown Grand Rapids, exemplifies our philosophy of meeting patient needs close to their homes.

“Anchored by our hospital and Village in the South, Metro Health continues to add facilities, programs and specialty practices to provide our community with choice in where – and from whom – to receive healthcare services. Our new facilities will give us room to grow in the coming years.”

The new projects are:

Metro Hosp 2
Photos provided by Metro Health

• Metro Health Park East, which will initially occupy 20,500 square feet – or a quarter of the existing facility at 4055 Cascade Road in Grand Rapids – with its new ambulatory surgery center. The new facility, which will hold an open house for the public and employees on Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 3-8 p.m., features three surgical suites, 23 pre- and post-op beds and space for additional growth. Later this year, Metro will open its second Wound Healing Center in the new facility as well as its first urgent care center. By the close of 2016, Metro will have moved into the remaining space as the sole occupant of the facility, which was built in 2007.

• Expansion of the current Professional Building at the Metro Health Village in Wyoming. Metro plans to break ground on a new 99,400-square foot building later this month and anticipates a move-in date in early 2015. Located at 2122 Health Drive SW, the expansion will join the existing 60,000-square foot Professional Building, which is home to medical services such as neurology and neurosurgery, pulmonology, spine care, infectious disease and the original Wound Healing Center. In addition to medical facilities, the building also houses many support functions for the hospital, including risk management, legal, marketing, development, volunteer services and physician services.Metro Hosp 1

• Relocation of the Metro Health Community Clinic to a new facility it will share with Hope Network at 781 36th Street SW in Wyoming. The Community Clinic currently provides comprehensive medical services to the under-served in West Michigan, including low-income women and immigrants. It is also home to Metro’s residency programs, which has 40+ doctors in family medicine, internal medicine, ob-gyn, general surgery and urology. When completed in May, the Community Clinic will occupy more than 16,000 square feet of space in its new location and continue to provide ultra-sound, X-ray, urology and other healthcare services. The Community Clinic offers a maternal-infant health program, emergency food pantry, on-site social worker, prescription assistance program and others. Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Hospital will provide dental services at the location, while Ferris State University provides hands-on teaching experience for its pharmacy students.

Additionally, in December, Metro Health moved into its new Innovation Center at 985 Gezon Parkway SW in Wyoming. Metro has signed a long-term lease for 33,320 square feet of office and conference room space in the new facility, which is a short drive from Metro Health Village. The Innovation Center will allow Metro to consolidate support functions such as information technology, billing and patient financial services, the professional health organization and medical group operations, among others.

“We are committed to partnering with other innovative leaders to provide healthcare services to our patients, and the relocation of the Community Clinic is testament to that,” Faas said. “We are also committed to expanding our geographic footprint to better serve our growing patient base and are in the position of strength to do so. These new locations help us focus on how healthcare should be delivered in the future, as well as making sure the healthcare of today is accessible, high quality and financially efficient.

“We posted strong financial results in 2013. We added new patients and physicians, expanded our services, posted excellent outcomes and gave back to the community. We have made ourselves ready to tackle the new challenges of healthcare reform and are investing in the people, equipment and facilities that will help us remain a healthcare leader in West Michigan.”

Support groups for cancer and diabetes patients available through Metro Health!

Community Health

Metro Health recognizes emotional health and social support are key components to one’s overall health and well-being. Take advantage of the support group and series we offer in partnership with other community organizations to achieve your maximum health and happiness.

Look Good…Feel Better


This is a free program that teaches beauty techniques to women cancer patients in active treatment to help them combat the appearance -related side effects of Cancer treatment.

Second Wednesday of every month
9:30-11:30 a.m.
The Cancer Center at Metro Health Village

Online registration is NOT available. For more information or to register call (616) 252-8100

 

 

hispanic women WEB
Diabetes support groups available

Diabetes Support Group

 Meet others facing similar life challenges with diabetes and who understand what you’re going through.

Meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.

Online registration is not available. Please contact the Diabetes Education Department at (616) 252-8339.

Location Metro Health Southwest
2215 44th St SW
Wyoming MI .

family bonds donor bubble

Metro Health Cancer Center is partnering with Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids.  There are two groups, one for cancer patients and the other for family members or caregivers. Dinner is provided at 5:30pm and the groups meet from 6:00-7:30p.m.

Tuesdays

Online registration is not available. To register or find out more information call (616)-252-8152

Wherefore Art Thou St. Valentine?

Local Entertainment

happy-valentines-day-2014by Janice Limbaugh

Valentine’s Day manages to be one of the biggest holidays in the U.S. Over 62% of Americans celebrate it, spending an average of $20 billion in the process. Millions of couples make it their wedding day. So I wondered, how did this humble 5th century tradition morph love into a huge money-making industry?

Grade school was probably the last time I did any kind of report on St. Valentine and the holiday. Because my memory is rather fuzzy about the details, I decided to search the Internet on the subject. WHOAH! Be careful what you search for –  it might lead to TMI – too much information – Enough to blow the socks off an innocent little cherub just wanting to spread the love!

For example, did you know that Valentine’s Day has its origins from the heyday of  the Roman Empire where on February 14th they honored Juno, Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses? The real fun started the very next day on the Feast of Lupercalia, to honor the God of Fertility. It was the one day of the year when teenage boys and girls were allowed to mingle with each other.  The names of all the girls were written on pieces of paper the night before the festival and placed in a jar. The boys would randomly select  a girl by pulling her name out. The pairs were allowed to hang-out together during the festival and throughout the entire year. As human nature would have it,  many of the young couples fell in love and would eventually marry.

That was all fine and good until Emperor Claudius II – a.k.a. – Claudius the Cruel – outlawed all marriages because he believed the men would refuse to leave their loving wives to fight in battle. But despite the law, Claudius couldn’t stop love. Couples still fell in love and wished to be married so they took the issue to the Catholic Bishop Valentine.

Now this is where the story gets interesting.

Apparently Bishop Valentine had a soft spot for love because he began to marry couples secretly. But when Claudius the Cruel found out, the bishop was arrested and ordered to be put to death. Fortunately for Bishop Valentine, his sentence took some time to be carried out, probably due to bureaucratic paperwork. While he waited for his execution, he began exchanging letters with the jailer’s daughter and fell in love with her. Now that’s what I call bad timing. According to my Internet source, the bishop wrote his love one last note on the day he was to be beheaded and signed it: From Your Valentine!

Perhaps this is where Hallmark got the idea?

A couple hundred years later when Christianity had taken over and pagan festivals were outlawed, Pope Gelasius set aside a day in February to honor the martyr St. Valentine. However, some other research I came across states there were three Christian clerics named Valentine, each martyred and deserving rights to St. Valentine’s Day. Love can be so confusing!

flower heart

But through the ages, one thing is for sure: Mankind loves to be in love! It’s symbolism reaches back to the Roman Gods. Take the epic red rose for example. The rose was sacred to Venus, the Goddess of Love. Giving red roses at any time of the year is regarded an act of love. Then there is the heart of Valentine’s Day. It was once believed that the heart was the center of all emotion. People believed that when they gave a heart, they were truly giving all of their love and emotion to another. During the Middle Ages, men would pull a woman’s name out of a bowl to be his Valentine. To show his devotion, the man would wear the woman’s name on his sleeve for a week, eventually coining the phrase, “wearing your heart on your sleeve.” And if Valentines-day-that wasn’t enough to warm the cockles of one’s heart, Cupid would do the job. Cupid is a Roman God and the son of Venus. Cupid, through a love story of his own, used an arrow to pierce hearts and awaken them to love.

This time around doing my Valentine’s research, I learned that Hallmark didn’t invent the holiday after all. The custom of giving cards, candy, flowers and kisses on Valentine’s Day has been around for generations. Madison Avenue just knows how to play on our emotions and turn a large profit. So I ask, what does love have to do with it? EVERYTHING!

Click on the following links to find love in all the right places around West Michigan.

http://www.grnow.com/valentinesday/

http://t.living.msn.com/love-relationships/love-sex/tips-on-giving-the-best-valentines-day-gift-ever

City of Wyoming Announces 2014 Citizens Academy

Our Cities, ,

Wyoming Seal by Erin Nemastil

The City of Wyoming is accepting applications for participation in the 2014 Citizens Academy – a unique opportunity for residents to learn about the City of Wyoming government including how it works and how it impacts neighborhoods. Residents will gain knowledge that will help promote leadership in the community while City administrators gather feedback to consider when making decisions that impact Wyoming residents.

 

This four-week course will take place on Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. from March 18 through April 8. Classes will be held in various locations across the city including City Hall, the Department of Public Safety Building and the City Public Works Facility. Each class will focus on specific areas of City operation. Participants will learn from and make connections with City of Wyoming subject-matter experts including Mayor Jack Poll, City Manager Curtis Holt, Director of Public Safety James Carmody and others.

 

Topics will include:

• Tuesday, March 18 – City Administration

• Tuesday, March 25 – Public Safety

• Tuesday, April 1 – Public Works and Utilities

• Tuesday, April 8 – Community Services

• Monday, April 21 – Recognition Ceremony

 

“Graduates” of the Citizens Academy will receive a certificate of completion and be recognized at the April 21 City Council Meeting.

 

Interested residents should contact Jennifer Ballard to RSVP by phone at 530-7272 or by email at ballardj@wyomingmi.gov. Include your name, address, phone number and email address. For further information, call the City of Wyoming at 530-7272, or visit the City website at www.wyomingmi.gov. You can find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofWyoming, and on Twitter @WyomingCityHall.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport Launches Customer Rewards Program

Local Business

By Tara M. Hernandez

 Airport

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) has partnered with “Thanks Again,” and will be the first airport in Michigan to offer airport travelers valuable rewards when they park, shop and dine at the airport.

 

This program allows airport passengers to automatically earn more frequent flyer miles or hotel points when they park, shop and dine at the airport. Once enrolled, travelers can also earn the same benefit at more than 160 airports and 20,000 neighborhood businesses across the U.S that are also program participants.

 

Enrollment in the program is free and easy. Passengers simply register any credit or debit cards at thanksagain.com/GRR and then use those cards for purchases at participating locations to earn one mile or two hotel points for every dollar spent. Points and Miles automatically accrue and new members will also receive 100 bonus miles when they enroll with a mobile device by texting FLYGRR to 82257.

 

“We are excited to offer our passengers the ability to earn rewards when they park, shop and dine at our airport,” said Gerald R. Ford International Airport Executive Director Brian Ryks. “It is important we recognize our passengers and thank them for their decision to fly locally.  These are rewards that travelers know and like, and can redeem for tickets, flight upgrades and countless other retail items. We are happy to be the first in our state to offer such a benefit and demonstrate that we are fully committed to providing an excellent customer experience.”

 

In addition to the airport, local merchants can also participate in this program and allow these same passengers to earn miles and points at their place of business.

 

“Our best passengers tend to be core customers of many merchants outside of the airport. We see an opportunity for the airport to further extend its reach into the community by allowing local merchants to participate in this program and allow these same passengers to earn rewards at their local establishment. This opportunity is seamless, easy to implement and beneficial to everyone,” said Ryks.

 

“We are excited to partner with the Gerald R. Ford International Airport and kick off a seamless airport-wide loyalty program,” said Jay Ellis, SVP Network Development of Thanks Again®.  This partnership with the Gerald R. Ford International Airport brings additional value to both the passenger and our network of airports and merchants as a whole. We are happy launch the program within the state of Michigan with the forward thinking team at GRR.”

Cool Brews. Hot Eats.

Local Business, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Upcoming Events

By Emily Richett

Beer City USA will once again host foodies and beer lovers from all over Michigan and the country to celebrate Cool Brews. Hot Eats. in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The second annual event runs from February 17 to March 1 at more than 50 restaurants and breweries in the Grand Rapids area. Cool Brews. Hot Eats. encourages talented local chefs and master brewers to collaborate, creating beer-infused dishes using beer as an ingredient, or meals with complementary beer pairings. The event returns after a successful launch in 2013 with participating businesses reporting a 20-60 percent sales increase during the event.

“While the inaugural event in 2013 was a very successful venture for us and those who participated, we expect an even better outcome in 2014,” says Doug Small, president and CEO of Experience Grand Rapids. “The Grand Rapids area beer scene has thrived over the past year and with that, our ever popular dining scene continues to tempt foodies from throughout the region; together, these two cultures collide to give even the most experienced beer aficionado and most discriminating culinary fans a wonderful experience.”

Cool Brews. Hot Eats. blends craft beer and fantastic food- two things that make Grand Rapids a popular destination. Thousands of visitors are expected to travel to Grand Rapids during the two-week long event and many will celebrate at Beer Week and the sold-out 9th Annual Winter Beer Festival on February 22. Visitors can also plan a self-guided craft beer tour on the Experience GR website’s “Beer Page” to experience why Grand Rapids was named one of the Top 10 Best Vacation Cities for Beer Lovers.

“Grand Rapids continues to evolve as a city that is being recognized as a destination that caters to a wide range of visitor interests,” says Doug Small, president and CEO of Experience Grand Rapids. “Events such as ArtPrize attract nearly half a million visitors annually. In addition, we have a celebrated earth-to-table restaurant scene, an award-winning craft beer culture, vibrant art and cultural communities and easy access to the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. This gives our destination a vibe that is usually reserved for much larger cities.”

For a list of all the participating restaurants and menus:

http://www.experiencegr.com/events/brews-eats/

Craft beer tour map:

http://www.experiencegr.com/things-to-do/tours/beer/

Jesus Christ Returns–To the Silver Screen that is– in Son of God

Local Entertainment

Roma Downey and Mark Burnett visit Grand Rapids to promote upcoming film

by David Specht

Son_of_God_film_poster

 

Having one of the largest Christian populations in the U.S., West Michigan might seem an unlikely choice for the promotion of an upcoming major motion picture – until taking a closer look at the film’s target audience.    On Thursday, Dec. 5, producers Mark Burnett and wife Roma Downey visited Celebration Cinema North to promote and host a private screening of their latest work – a full-length film that explores the life of Jesus Christ from birth to resurrection, titled “Son of God.”

 

Their visit to Grand Rapids was hosted by the Dove Foundation, a non-profit group known for its film reviews, ratings, and endorsements of movies deemed appropriate for family audiences.

 

The film is not the couple’s first attempt at producing Biblical related media for the masses, as their recent television miniseries “The Bible” aired on The History Channel in March. Based on the success of the miniseries, which has been seen by over 100 million viewers worldwide making it the number one new series on cable television, the couple believes that when it is all said and done, the film will be seen by over 3 billion worldwide.

 

“You know, Jesus has not been on the big screen for a decade,” said Downey who is not only a producer of the film, but also plays the role of Mother Mary.   “And then, the story was just about three days in the life of Jesus. This is the whole story of Jesus’ life from the nativity right through the ascension. And we just think there’s an opportunity here to reach people who maybe have never heard the story of Jesus. You know, the potential for it to go out across America and for it to inspire people, because he was an extraordinary man and it is an extraordinary message.”

 

The couple’s film, produced by Burnett’s own Lightworkers Media and distributed by 20th Century Fox, is set to release nationwide on Feb. 28, 2014. The film received an MPAA rating of PG-13, and will later be released with Spanish subtitles. With a budget of just $22 million, Downey and Burnett are travelling the U.S., looking to the Christian community to help promote the film.

 

“It’s okay to be noisy about your faith,” said Burnett.    “And we obviously don’t have the marketiDowneyng budgets compared to The Hobbit, or Thor, or Hercules. The only way this movie survives and thrives, is by the Christian community standing together, and coming to the movie, and being noisy. Also, bring someone with you to the movie that maybe is on the fence about his or her faith. If they see this movie, they’ll absolutely want to be thinking about Jesus – there is no question about that. And if you feel that you’re a leader, and you feel like you want to be a theater captain, you want to motivate a group to go see it, then go to SonOfGodMovie.com and absolutely we’re looking for young leaders to step up and lead the way and motivate groups to go see this movie.”

 

Though the couple wishes to separate their work from that of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” (2004) was the highest grossing R-rated film in U.S. history, grossing an excess of $600 million during its theatrical release, making it difficult for critics to avoid drawing comparisons. Though centered on the same subject, producers Downey and Burnett believe that their film stands apart in more than one way from any previous works based on the life of Jesus Christ.

 

“I think the way we’ve approached Son of God is with a young cast,” said Burnett.    “And the actor playing Jesus, Diogo Morgado, who’s Portuguese, loves Jesus. He said he couldn’t prepare for the way he portrayed Jesus,  he had to just let the spirit come through him. It’s the most beautiful portrayal of Jesus I’ve ever seen. And the disciples are a bunch of young guys – it could be you. They didn’t know they were in the Bible. They were just living their lives and following a charismatic leader.  Later on it was revealed to them who he was – the Son of God. And then Roma, who plays the mother of Jesus – this incredible portrayal of a woman who’s given a miraculous birth of the son of God, but he’s still human, and loves him as her child, and then has to watch him go through the trial and the crucifixion. But knowing it had to happen for humanity, it didn’t make her pain any less. The movie is real. This is not a donkeys and sandals 1960s version of the Bible. This is real. This is 2014. And young people can really relate to how gritty, and real, and present, and now this story is.”

 

A key difference between the release of “Son of God” and the release of “The Passion of the Christ” is that, social media networks such as Twitter did not exist and were therefore not utilized during the release of Mel Gibson’s film, both Twitter and Facebook are key marketing tools for the debut of “Son of God.”

 

“It is our hope that social media is our greatest tool,” said Downey.    “My husband is always teasing me that I spend way too much time on Twitter. But clearly it’s a way to reach people, and we have a Twitter handle at Son Of God Movie. And I would just encourage that everyone let people know it’s coming, and that opening weekend is critical for the movie. It sends a message out across the nation, and to Hollywood, that there is an audience here, and that the audience is hungry for this kind of faith material. And is there anymore wonderful a story than the story of Jesus? It is just a great way to reach people. A great way to make awareness.”

 

While the budget for the film may have been, as Burnett put it, much less than that of “The Hobbit,” one area of filmmaking that the producers aren’t lacking in is experience. With Burnett having produced commercially successful television series such as “Survivor” (2000- present) and “The Apprentice” (2004 – present), along with Downey’s role in the CBS series “Touched by an Angel,” the couple certainly has pull in the industry.

 

“Together, when we decided to take on “The Bible” series and the movie “Son of God,” we were able to use our Hollywood careers to get it made,” said Burnett.    “Not easy to be able to make a movie called “Son of God,” and to the story of Jesus. But we’ve earned that privilege, and we’re out front and center, and we love it. And really, we’re the lucky ones, because we get to spend all day every day around the story of Jesus – like swimming in an ocean of faith, all day every day. It’s all we talk about.”

 

After the private screening of Son of God, both Downey and Burnett spoke with various moviegoers who had just watched the film, which included prominent figures in the West Michigan community, such as local clergy and other church leaders. One such individual in attendance was Dick Rolfe, CEO of the Dove Foundation, who said that he found the film to be accurate on levels that other similar films had not reached – something that Burnett seemed to agree with.   “You see from a Jewish perspective, we were really clear,” said Burnett.

 

“Jews didn’t kill Jesus. A Jew and a small group of his followers killed Jesus. When Roma was with Jesus at the end in the tomb, how they sang Yiddish, they would’ve done that – he was a Jew. There were no Christians. And that’s why the Jewish community has been supportive. And if anyone comes out and says anything, the answer would be: ‘Are you kidding?’”

 

Noelle Jacobs, a citizen journalist, was invited to the theater to speak with the producers. Though she was not able to view the film, she was able to meet with both Downey and Burnett before the screening.    “Mark Burnett and Roma Downey are among the most devout Christians I have ever met,” said Jacobs.    “They are truly inspiring human beings who love the Lord and desire for others to experience the radical love of God that they do. Which is, in part, why they produced “The Bible” series, and now “Son of God,” to create a gateway to Christ for those who do not believe. They will leave viewers with something to think about. Mark and Roma’s marriage is completely rooted in Christ and it is the reason why they have been able to work together so beautifully. They share the same passion and walk the same life path. Together, they make a tenacious team that is capable of impacting the lives of millions of people.”

 

Although the couple may be, understandably, weary about the success of their upcoming release, it seems that they are less worried about the film’s profit, and more concerned with the film’s message.    “It’s the best decision we ever made,” said Burnett.  “We love Jesus, we love this film, and we’re so happy to share it. It can be difficult to ask someone to go to church. It’s easier to ask them to go to a movie. We hope that this movie can help find the lost and bring them home.”   The movie will be released locally at the end of February.  Make sure to go see it!

Roma and Marc
WKTV staff members were able to spend time with Roma and Mark and learn more about the upcoming movie.

Local Sports Schedule for February

Our Cities, Recreation

by Mike Moll

Basketball bannerThere is still a full month of boys basketball before March Madness begins and the girls have three regular season weeks remaining before beginning their version of March Madness the last week of February. There are many make up games as a result of the weather cancellations so check out our schedules to see when and where your school is playing. Hockey, wrestling, girls competitive cheer, and bowling all have their state tournaments this month to conclude their 2013 – 2014 seasons. Support your local high school athletes in person if possible but also check the listings for WKTV to see the various sporting events brought to you each week at various days and times.

 

Monday February 3, 2014

Coed Bowling

– Grandville @ East Kentwood

– Rockford @ Godwin Heights

– Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins

– Forest Hills Northern @ Potter’s House

– Wyoming @ Sparta

– NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville

Girls Gymnastics – East Kentwood @ Rockford

Girls Competitive Cheer – Godwin Heights / Kellogsville @ Wyoming Lee

Boys Baskeball – Wyoming @ Cedar Springs

Girls Basketball – Cedar Springs @ Wyoming

Tuesday February 4, 2014

Boys Swimming – Holland Christian @ South Christian

Coed Bowling

– South Christian @ Unity Christian

– Grand Haven @ East Kentwood

– Grandville @ Wyoming

Boys Basketball

– Wayland @ South Christian

– Grandville @ East Kentwood

– Hopkins @ Godwin Heights

– Kent City @ Wyoming Lee

– Potter’s House @ Zion Christian

– Calvin Christian @ Tri-Unity

– West Michigan Lutheran @ Kalamazoo Heritage Christian

– Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian

Girls Basketball

– South Christian @ Wayland

– East Kentwood @ Grandville

– Godwin Heights @ Hopkins

– Wyoming Lee @ Kent City

– Potter’s House @ Zion Christian

– Hudsonville @ Tri-Unity

– Wyoming @ Calvin Christian

– NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville

Wednesday February 5, 2014

Coed Bowling

– East Kentwood @ Rockford

– Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian

– Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian

Boys Wrestling – Team Districts

– East Kentwood @ Wyoming

– Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville

Girls Basketball

– West Ottawa @ East Kentwood

– Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee

Boys Basketball

– West Ottawa @ East Kentwood

– Godwin Heights @ Spring Lake

– Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins

– Grattan Academy @ West Michigan Lutheran

Girls Competitive Cheer

– East Kentwood @ Grandville Bulldog Invite

– Godwin Heights / Wyoming Lee / Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian

– Wyoming @ Comstock Park – OK Blue Jamboree

 Thursday February 6, 2014

Coed Bowling – South Christian @ Middleville T-K

Boys Swimming – Grandville @ East Kentwood

Girls Basketball

– Tri-Unity @ Western Michigan Christian

– Covenant Christian @ Grand River Prep

Boys Basketball – Covenant Christian @ Grand River Prep

 Friday February 7, 2014

Girls Basketball

– South Christian @ Catholic Central

– East Kentwood @ Grand Haven

– Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee

– Freedom Christian @ Potter’s House

– Wyoming @ Belding

– Heritage Christian Academy @ Zion Christian

– Covenant Christian @ Grand River Prep

Boys Basketball

– South Christian @ Catholic Central

– East Kentwood @ Grand Haven

– Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee

– Freedom Christian @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ Western Michigan Christian

– Black River @ West Michigan Lutheran

– Wyoming @ Belding

– Heritage Christian Academy @ Zion Christian

– Covenant Christian @ Grand River Prep

Boys Swimming

– East Kentwood @ TBD – MISCA Meet

Boys Hockey – East Kentwood @ TBD – MHSHPS

 Saturday February 8, 2014

Boys Basketball

– Caledonia @ South Christian

– Kent City @ Godwin Heights

– Zion Christian @ Wellsprings Prep

Girls Basketball

– Caledonia @ South Christian

– Kent City @ Godwin Heights

– Zion Christian @ Wellsprings Prep

Boys Swimming– East Kentwood @ TBD – MISCA Meet

Coed Bowling

– East Kentwood / Wyoming Lee / Potter’s House @ West Catholic Invitational

– Potter’s House @ Ravenna

– Wyoming @ Hudsonville Invite

Boys Wrestling

– Individual Districts – East Kentwood / Wyoming @ Grand Haven

– Godwin Heights / Kelloggsville @ Portland

Boys Hockey – East Kentwood @ TBD – MHSHPS

Girls Competitive Cheer – East Kentwood / Wyoming @ Deltaplex – PR Cheer

 Monday February 10, 2014

Coed Bowling

– Catholic Central @ South Christian

– East Kentwood @ Hudsonville – OK Red Jamboree

– Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee

– Forest Hills Eastern @ Potter’s House

– Coopersville @ Wyoming

– Kelloggsville @ Kent City

Girls Basketball

– East Kentwood @ Union

– Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville

– Kent City @ Wyoming Lee

– WM Academy Of Environmental Science @ Zion Christian

– Grand River Prep @ Freedom Christian

Boys Basketball

– Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville

– Wyoming Lee @ Kent City

– Grand River Prep @ Freedom Christian

Girls Competitive Cheer

– Wyoming Lee @ FH Central

– Kelloggsville @ Hastings

 Tuesday February 11, 2014

Boys Basketball

– Zeeland West @ South Christian

– Catholic Central @ East Kentwood

– Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights

– Kalamazoo Heritage Christian @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ West Catholic

– West Michigan Lutheran @ Freedom Christian

– Coopersville @ Wyoming

– Holland Calvary @ Zion Christian

Girls Basketball

– South Christian @ Zeeland West

– Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee

– Kalamazoo Heritage Christian @ Potter’s House

– Wellsprings Prep @ Tri-Unity

– Wyoming @ Coopersville

– Holland Calvary @ Zion Christian

Coed Bowling – OK Red Jamboree @ East Kentwood

 Wednesday February 12, 2014

Girls Gymnastics – Kenowa Hills @ East Kentwood

Boys Wrestling – Team Regionals

– East Kentwood @ Caledonia

– Godwin Heights @ TBD

Boys Hockey – Muskegon Mona Shores @ East Kentwood

Coed Bowling

– Hopkins @ Godwin Heights

– Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian

– Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian

Girls Competitive Cheer – Godwin Heights / Wyoming Lee / Kelloggsville @ Hopkins

Girls Basketball – Wyoming @ Comstock Park

Boys Basketball – Wyoming @ Comstock Park

 Thursday February 13, 2014

Coed Bowling

– NorthPointe Christian @ South Christian

– East Kentwood @ Grand Haven – OK Red Jamboree

– Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights

Boys Swimming – East Kentwood @ Holland Tri Meet

Girls Basketball – Tri-Unity @ Holland Black River

 Friday February 14, 2014

Girls Basketball

– Ottawa Hills @ South Christian

– East Kentwood @ West Ottawa

– Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian

– Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee

– Wyoming @ Allendale

– Kelloggsville @ Kent City

– Freedom Baptist @ Zion Christian

– Western Michigan Christian @ Grand River Prep

Boys Basketball

– Ottawa Hills @ South Christian

– East Kentwood @ West Ottawa

– Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian

– Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee

– Potter’s House @ West Michigan Lutheran

– Wyoming @ Allendale

– Kelloggsville @ Kent City

– Freedom Baptist @ Zion Christian

– Western Michigan Christian @ Grand River Prep

Coed Bowling – East Kentwood @ Rockford – OK Red Jamboree

Girls Competitive Cheer – Districts

– @ East Kentwood

– Godwin Heights @ TBD

– Kelloggsville @ Coopersville

Girls Gymnastics – East Kentwood @ Rockford

Boys Hockey – Catholic Central @ East Kentwood

 Saturday February 15, 2014

Coed Bowling – OK Gold

– Green @ Middleville T-K

– Wyoming Lee / Kelloggsville @ Hopkins

– OK Blue @ Grand Valley Lincoln Lanes

Boys Wrestling – Individual Regionals

– East Kentwood @ Rockford

– Godwin Heights @ TBD

Girls Basketball – East Kentwood vs Caledonia @ Davenport University

Boys Basketball – East Kentwood @ FH Northern

Boys Hockey – East Kentwood @ Catholic Central

Girls Competitive Cheer – Wyoming Lee @ Evart

– Districts – Wyoming @ Grand Rapids Christian

 Monday February 17, 2014

Coed Bowling – Wyoming Lee @ Potter’s House

Girls Basketball – Zion Christian @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ Muskegon Catholic Central

– Grand River Prep @ NorthPointe Christian

Boys Basketball

– Zion Christian @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ Muskegon Catholic Central

– Grand River Prep @ NorthPointe Christian

 Tuesday February 18, 2014

Girls Basketball

– South Christian @ Hastings

– East Kentwood @ Rockford

– Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights

– NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee

– Lansing Christian @ Potter’s House

– Tri-Unity @ Fruitport Calvary Christian

– Wyoming @ Sparta

– Kelloggsville @ Hopkins

– Algoma Christian @ Zion Christian

– Grand River Prep @ Western Michigan Christian

Boys Basketball

– Hastings @ South Christian

– Rockford @ East Kentwood

– Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian

– Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian

– West Michigan Lutheran @ Fruitport Calvary

– Wyoming @ Sparta

– Hopkins @ Kellogsville

– Algoma Christian @ Zion Christian

Boys Hockey

– East Kentwood @ Grand Haven

Coed Bowling – Godwin Heights @ Wyoming

 Wednesday February 19, 2014

Boys Hockey – Grand Haven @ East Kentwood

 Thursday February 20, 2014

Boys Swimming – OK Red Conference Diving Prelims @ Rockford

Boys Basketball – Martin @ Potter’s House

 Friday February 21, 2014

Girls Basketball

– South Christian @ Middleville T-K

– East Kentwood @ Hudsonville

– Godwin Heights @ Kent City

– Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins

– Tri-Unity @ Grand River Prep

– Potter’s House @ TBD – Alliance League Cross Over

– Comstock Park @ Wyoming

– Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian

Boys Basketball

– South Christian @ Middleville T-K

– East Kentwood @ Hudsonville

– Godwin Heights @ Kent City

– Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins

– Tri-Unity @ Grand River Prep

– Zion Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran

– Comstock Park @ Wyoming

– Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian

Coed Bowling

– Team Regionals @ Grand Haven

– Potter’s House @ Muskegon Reeths Puffer

– Kelloggsville @ Battle Creek

Boys Swimming – OK Red Prelims @ Rockford

Boys Wrestling – Team State Semi Finals

– East Kentwood @ TBD

– Godwin Heights @ TBD

Boys Hockey

– East Kentwood @ East Grand Rapids

 Saturday February 22, 2014

Coed Bowling – Individual Regionals @ Grand Haven

– Potter’s House @ Muskegon Reeths Puffer

Girls Competitive Cheer – State Regionals

– East Kentwood @ TBD

– Godwin Heights @ TBD

Boys Swimming – OK Red Conference Finals @ Rockford

Boys Wrestling – State Finals @ TBD

Boys Basketball – Michigan Lutheran @ West Michigan Lutheran @ Davenport University

 Monday February 24, 2014

Girls Basketball – Districts

– East Kentwood vs TBD @ Middleville T-K

– Wyoming Lee vs TBD @ Ravenna

– Potter’s House vs Freedom Christian @ Zion Christian

– Wyoming @ Zeeland East

Boys Basketball – Potter’s House @ Lansing Christian

 Tuesday February 25, 2014

Boys Basketball

– South Christian @ Byron Center

– East Kentwood @ Caledonia

– Godwin Heights @ Grand Rapids Christian

– Wyoming Lee @ Algoma Christian

– Wellspring Prep @ Potter’s House

– Hopkins @ Tri-Unity

– Hudsonville @ Wyoming

– Middleville T-K @ Kelloggsville

– West Michigan Aviation Academy @ Zion Christian

Boys Swimming – East Kentwood @ Grand Haven – 2nd Shave Meet

 Wednesday February 26, 2014

Girls Basketball – Districts –

– East Kentwood vs TBD @ Middleville T-K

– @ Godwin Heights vs TBD

– Wyoming Lee vs TBD @ Ravenna

– Potter’s House/Freedom Christian vs Tri-Unity @ Zion Christian

– Kelloggsville vs Godwin Heights @ Godwin Heights

Boys Basketball – West Michigan Lutheran vs Gratten Academy

 Thursday February 27, 2014

Boys Basketball

– South Christian @ East Kentwood

– Godwin Heights @ Holland

– Potter’s House @ TBD – Alliance League Crossover Game

– Covenant Christian @ Tri-Unity

– Wyoming @ Holland Christian

– Hamilton @ Kelloggsville

– Muskegon Catholic Central @ Grand Rapids Prep

Boys Wrestling – State Individual Finals

– East Kentwood @ TBD

– Godwin Heights @ TBD

Boys Hockey – State Pre-Regionals @ East Kentwood

 Friday February 28, 2014

Coed Bowling – Individual State Finals @ Battle Creek

Boys Hockey – State Pre-Regionals @ TBD

Boys Wrestling – State Individual Finals @ TBD

Girls Competitive Cheer – State Finals @ Deltaplex

Girls Basketball – Districts

– East Kentwood vs TBD @ Middleville T-K

– @ Godwin Heights vs TBD

– Wyoming Lee @ Kent City

– @ Zion Christian

Boys Basketball

– Wyoming Lee @ Black River

– Wellspring Prep @ West Michigan Lutheran

 

Safety tips during extreme winter weather from the City of Wyoming.

Our Cities

By Erin Nemastil

The City of Wyoming Michigan would like residents to take particular care as severe weather conditions continues throughout the year.

The Wyoming Department of Public Safety is asking City residents to stay off of roadways by limiting their travel to immediate need situations when the roads are terrible. Residents should avoid exposure to the cold by limiting their time outdoors. Residents are also being asked to check on neighbors, especially the elderly, who may have a more difficult time dealing with the cold.

When the snow is very heavy the drivable area of streets and roads is already diminished. This causes difficulty not only for plow trucks but for emergency vehicles as well. First responders, police officers, fire fighters, and plow truck operators have requested if at all possible that cars not be parked on the street. If cars must be parked on the street, it is imperative residents comply with the odd-even parking ordinance.

Odd-even parking rules are as follow:

Park on the side of the street in which addresses that are odd or even align with the date being odd or even.

After midnight, your vehicle must be parked on the correct side of the street for that date.

Parked cars will not be ticketed from 7 p.m. to midnight. At any other time, cars must be parked on the correct side of the street according to that day’s date.

Odd-even parking rules apply to all streets in Wyoming that are not already designated “no parking.”

The large volume of snow has required plow trucks to be equipped with a front plow in addition to the underscraper. Front plows throw snow higher and farther. This force can be enough to cause damage or dents to mailboxes, and may even cause a mailbox to be knocked from a post. If a resident’s mailbox has been damaged by this thrown snow, they should contact the Wyoming Department of Public Works at 530-7260.

Drivers should be aware of their surroundings at all times when driving. Motorists who have to travel are reminded to maintain a safe distance behind plow trucks and other vehicles on the roadway.

Children should at no time play on, build forts or make tunnels in snow piles created by plows. Any tunnel or hole in a snow pile may be quickly filled in by snow shifting, being compacted or added.

If you see a fire hydrant that is inaccessible, please report it to Wyoming Fire Services at 530-7250. If residents are able, Wyoming Fire Services has requested assistance in clearing fire hydrants. Attached images show the difficulty of accessing a snow-covered fire hydrant, Fire Fighter Dan Deppe and Lt. Joe Jones demonstrating how to properly clear a fire hydrant and an image that illustrates a properly cleared fire hydrant.

To avoid freezing pipes in a home that has lost power or heat, residents may consider running cold water very slowly and keeping basements warm. In the case of a prolonged loss of power and heat, residents should turn off the water at the meter and open all taps in order to avoid damage caused by freezing pipes. If residents are unsure of this process, they should contact the Utility Billing office at 530-7389 for assistance.

In the event of widespread power outages, City officials have put together contingency plans to open a number of City facilities as temporary warming shelters. Those locations will be later identified if the need arises.

For further information, visit the City website at www.wyomingmi.gov. You can also find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CityofWyoming, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/WyomingCityHall.

New Sights for Michigan Visitors

Local Entertainment, Recreation

2014 Opens up Inviting New Venues Statewide

by Michelle Grinnelluntitled

LANSING – With 2014 underway, visitors to Michigan can look forward to a wide range of new and improved lodging options, dining spots, and activities this year, including milestone anniversary celebrations.

What’s New to See
Attractions

  • The new LEED-certified Downtown Market Grand Rapids includes retail shops, a rooftop greenhouse, a commercial kitchen and the country’s first hands-kitchen for kids.
  • Bijou by the Bay, a new 150-seat movie house created by the Traverse City Film Festival, has opened in the historic Con Foster building in Clinch Park.
  • Now open for business all year, visit the Historic Vogue Theatre in downtown Manistee.
  • Kinderbell interactive outdoor music area will be added to the current Cadillac Sound Garden and Sun Dial.
  • After 70 years, the Flint Farmers’ Market is returning to downtown Flint in the former Flint Journal printing facility.
  • The village of Clinton will have a Farmer’s Market from May-October on Fridays.
  • Binder Park Zoo is making a home in “Wild Africa” for their new cheetah exhibit, as well as welcoming three Alaskan bear cubs into a new home with plenty of shade and a water feature.
  • Nelis’ Dutch Village is adding a vintage Dutch Ferris wheel to this 4th generation family-owned attraction.
  • Castle Farms in Charlevoix introduces a new garden, “The Dragon Lair,” featuring Norm the Dragon, originally introduced at ArtPrize.

Museums

  • See the New USS Flier (SS 250) Exhibit at the USS Silversides Submarine Museum in Muskegon.
  • The Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum is expected to open in summer 2014 on the grounds of the Gilmore Car Museum.
  • A new exhibit at Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse in Mackinaw City will detail the history of shipping on the Straits of Mackinac.
  • The Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibit “Gridiron Glory” will be on display at The Henry Ford this fall.
  • Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame will open their museum in the Castle Museum in Saginaw.
  • A new German Christmas Museum, located within the Old Christmas Station in Frankenmuth, reflects on the history of Christmas decorating and the Brewery Museum focuses on the city’s brewing history.
  • The Dream it, Build it Exhibit opening March 1 at the Grand Rapids Public Museum will feature architectural masterpieces recreated with LEGO© bricks by Certified Lego Professional Adam Reed Tucker.

What’s New to Do

Adventure and Recreation

  • Rent a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard from the Tecumseh Paddling Company and take a guided, or self-guided, tour of the River Raisin Run, a looped water trail.
  • The Ludington State Park features a renovated Beach House on Lake Michigan and a handicap accessible fishing platform.
  • Great Wolf Lodge has added a whitewater rafting element to its waterpark.
  • Traverse City has completed a nearly $3 million renovation of Clinch Park, including  a new terraced lawn area with stone sitting walls, interactive playground equipment, a kayak launch and a splash pad.
  • The Traverse Tall Ship Company, operators of the schooner Manitou, have added a new vessel – the cutter Scout – to their Traverse City fleet.
  • Visitors will be able to zip-line, climb and navigate five different courses in the new Frankenmuth Adventure Park.
  • Find adventure on the new 460′ Zip Line at Three Ponds Nature Preserve in Coldwater.
  • Holland is now home to BAM! family fun center offering bowling, laser tag, and more.
  • Try the new Laser Tag and Indoor Bounce Area at the Adventure Zone in Coldwater.
  • Rolling Hills Water Park in Ypsilanti features a new water slide structure and other improvements.
  • The Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail offers 6 miles trail that will link the Musketawa State Trail with the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park.
  • Eight miles of trail surface improvements and improvements to the bridge over the Grand River have been completed on the Grand River Valley Rail Trail from Ionia to Saranac.
  • The new Burt Lake trail near Indian River starts at Maple Bay Campground and runs 5.1 miles along West Burt Lake.
  • A new 7 mile section of the Northwestern State Trail connecting Petoskey and Mackinaw City has been paved from M-119 to Alanson.
  • Visit Serenity Massage and Hypnotherapy in Indian River for some much needed relaxation.
  • Construction is underway transforming the Globe Building in Detroit along the riverfront to a DNR Outdoor Adventure and Discovery Center.
  • The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will have a new hunting, fishing license and ORV permit structure in 2014.

Tours and Classes

Sports and Events

  • The first ever Big Ticket Festival “Snow Jam” will take place March 14 & 15, 2014 at Treetops Resort in Gaylord.
  • The Detroit Electronic Music Festival will be a free event at Campus Martius Park and will be held in conjunction with the Federation of Electronic Music Technology (FEMT) festival being held at Ford Field July 4-6, 2014.
  • Harbor Shores will host the 2014 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, May 20-25, 2014.
  • The Great Lakes Bay region will host the Woodcutter’s Ball Women’s Professional Lumberjack Festival June 14-15, 2014 at the Auburn City Park.
  • Marquette will host the first Downtown Showdown Ski and Snowboard Rail Jam on February 15 in conjunction with the UP200.
  • Max & Emily’s Eatery is introducing their first Winter Concert Series in downtown Mt. Pleasant.
  • The Shivering Shamrock Challenge in West Brach is new3K walk/run obstacle course on March 15, 2014.
  • Rendezvous in the Sault along Historic Water Street at the City Hall Grounds and at the Historic Homes.  More than 115 visiting historical re-enactors, musicians, entertainers and merchants will set up camps and displays with presentations and demonstrations.

Shopping

What’s New to Eat or Drink

Wineries – New wineries opened or opening in Michigan include: The Season of the North (Indian River), Hawthorne Vineyards (Old Mission Peninsula), Crooked Vine Vineyard & Winery (Alanson), Grand River Marketplace (Jackson).  In wine trail news, West Branch is now part of the Sunrise Side Wine and Hops Trail and the Bay View Wine Trail will include wineries in the Little Traverse Bay region.

Breweries­ – Michigan’s craft beer scene continues to grow with the opening of the following breweries: Brewery Terra Firma, Big Toe Brewery, Workshop Brewing Company, Rare Bird Brew Pub (Traverse City); Pigeon Hill Brewing Company (Muskegon), Fetch Brewing Company (Whitehall); Rupert’s Brew House and Tibb’s Brewing, Boatyard Brewing Co. (Kalamazoo); Big Lake Brewing Co. (Holland); Shed’s Brewing Company (Jackson); Elk Brewing (Grand Rapids); Biercamp (Ann Arbor); Gravel Bottom Brewery (Ada); Lexington Brewing Co. (Lexington); Old Mill Brewpub & Grill (Plainwell); Pleasant House Brewing Co. (Three Oaks); Stormcloud Brewing (Frankfort); Tapistry Brewing (Bridgman); Upper Hand (Escanaba); Griffin Claw Brewing Company (Birmingham).

Other Spirits – Two James Spirits and Detroit City Distillery (Detroit), Barley & Rye (Ludington), The Peoples Cider Co. (Grand Rapids).

Restaurants

Expansions & Improvements

Ski Resorts – Michigan’s winter is in full gear, and ski resorts throughout the state are featuring new improvements in 2014.  Mt. Brighton, now owned by Vail Resorts, recently underwent more than $10 million in improvements, including new snowmaking equipment, new chairlifts, a new terrain park and hills expansions. Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire will be offering new rental equipment, additional ski school options, more mid-day slope grooming and extended hours.  Caberfae Peaks has new snowmaking equipment and towers, new backcountry terrain as well as renovations at the MacKenzie Lodge and Beatie’s Bar & Grille.  Traverse City’s Mt. Holiday ski area is expanding, adding a new zip line that will run almost 400 feet down and back from the lodge.  Snow Snake in Harrison is offering new drop-in classes this year.  Treetops Resort has new snow equipment, a Boarder X course, and is now open 7 days a week.

Hotels

Resorts

  • Beppi’s courtyard at The Homestead Resort  in Glen Arbor received a facelift and now offers outdoor dining and two gas fired bonfire pits.
  • Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark at Boyne Mountain has added The Big Coulior, dropping and spinning riders through a four-story tube at 38 feet per second.
  • Grand Traverse Resort and Spa has installed a new 15-person outdoor hot tub and the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City is adding a “Ten Paw Alley” and expanding it’s Scoops Kid Spa.
  • Zehnder’s Splash Village expansion in Frankenmuth includes 32 additional guest rooms, a new 29,000 square foot to the waterpark and new amenities.

More expansions & improvements

What’s New in Lodging & Meetings

  • Michigan’s first Aloft Hotel, will be located along Woodward Avenue in the historic David Whitney Building. Opening in 2014, the hotel will offer 136 rooms.
  • Cobo Center’s new Grand Riverview Ballroom and Atrium features a 40,000 square foot Grand Riverview Ballroom and offers 21,000 square feet of meeting space directly below.
  • Elvyn Lea Lodge in Petoskey (formerly the Boyne Valley Lodge) has remodeled their 22 guest rooms to offer a quality rustic group accommodation experience.
  • Cherry Grove Convention Center in Cadillac will open in February with the ability to host over 1,000 people
  • The new Hilton Garden Inn in Benton Harbor is expected to open in the spring of 2014.
  • Courtyard by Marriott has opened in Kalamazoo.
  • Marquette now offers a Settle Inn (previously the Super 8), and a new Staybridge Suites is scheduled to open in 2014.
  • The former Holland Inn & Suites is now the Best Western Holland Inn & Suites.

Milestones & Anniversaries

160 Years
Ingham County Fair

125 Years
City of Mt. Pleasant

120 Years
The Whitney, Detroit
Frankenmuth Woolen Mill, Frankenmuth

115 Years
Perry Hotel, Petoskey

110 Years
The Inn at Stonecliff, Mackinac Island

85 Years
The Henry Ford, Dearborn
The Inn at The Homestead, Glen Arbor
Tulip Time Festival, Holland

50 Years
The Ford Mustang
Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs
Capri Drive-In, Coldwater
DeZwaan Windmill imported to Holland, MI
Gerald R Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids

40 Years
Chateau Grand Traverse Winery, Traverse City

30 Years
Silver Bells in the City, Lansing
Michigan Challenge Balloonfest, Howell

25 Years
Cherry Republic, Glen Arbor (Ann Arbor, Charlevoix, Traverse City)
Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, Kalamazoo

15 Years
Black Star Farms (Inn and Tasting Room), Suttons Bay
Annual Michigan ElvisFest, Ypsilanti

For a complete list of what’s new in 2014 visit michigan.org.

 

Love at First Flight!

Senior Living

Contest seeks couples married 50-plus yearsGR airport logo

2014 marks the 50th anniversary of The Gerald R. Ford International Airport. As part of the year-long celebration, airport officials want to honor a couple that is also celebrating 50 (or more) years of marriage! Simply tell them your love story or the love story of someone you know in two pages or less. In that space, explain why the marriage has lasted 50 years or more, and why the happy couple deserves a night on the town! And what a night – the winners will receive a one-night stay at the Amway Grand Plaza on Valentine’s Weekend, a $100 gift card for the Gilmore Collection, a pair of Griffins tickets & a signature floral design by Eastern Floral. The Runner-up couple will receive a $75 Gift Card at The Essence Restaurant Group and a pair of Griffins tickets.

 

On the entry, be sure to include your name, the couple’s names, email, phone and address. Submit entries online to flygrandrapids@gmail.com. The deadline is Monday, February 10th, 2014.

All the Write Stuff

How-To's, Local Faces, Our Cities, , ,

by Kathryn Gray

 

Have you ever considered the idea of writing an article, a short story, or the Great American novel?

Susie Finkbeiner
Susie Finkbeiner

 

I believe that for many of us there is a writer inside just dying to come out. For many, however, the idea of putting pen to paper remains just that…an idea. Susie Finkbeiner is a local author who followed her dream, having had her first novel “Paint Chips” published in January 2013, who is eagerly awaiting the release of her second book”My Mother’s Camomile” on February 15 this year.  I met with Susie to discuss her path to authorship and the secret of her success.

 

When I think of the word “author” it conjures up images of a wizened old Ernest Hemingway, a primly dressed Jane Austen, or an eerily smiling Stephen King. The image includes the person in a locked office, hunched over a desk with an overflowing ashtray, pounding out page after page on an old typewriter. As a modern writer, Susie Finkbeiner is able to write practically anywhere her laptop can travel; everything she “pens” can be edited and submitted quickly electronically. You will usually find her daily at a local coffee shop, at which she has earned Gold Card status, researching, blogging, or writing her next book. She is disarming with a heart-shaped face, striking blue eyes, and a welcoming smile.

 

Susie Finkbeiner has always had a love of reading and writing. She began writing children’s plays and adult drama skits in her spare time for her church while serving as the Children’s Minister. Finkbeiner had one of her plays “Merry Chrismukkah” published in 2006 by Eldridge Plays. The impetus for writing her first book evolved from life experience. Through her work with groups like Better Way Imports and the Michigan Abolitionist Project, Finkbeiner became passionate about the young women caught up in the world of human trafficking.

 

“I didn’t set out to write a social issue book, “ explains Finkbeiner. The story evolved from being educated about sex trafficking as well as meeting and working with women who had first-hand experience with this modern form of slavery.

 

“Paint Chips” deals with the issues of abuse, betrayal, abandonment, and ultimately redemption. Her extensive character development gave a face and a voice to the manyPaint Chips cover anonymous victims of this crime; exposing this crime takes place not just in far off lands but many times in the community in which we live.When asked if she wrote her first book to evoke a response from her readers, Finkbeiner shakes her head. “I don’t want people to react; I want to encourage thoughtful response and start a dialogue.”

 

After being published by WhiteFire Publishing in January 2013, first as an electronic book, then as a paperback , it seemed that Finkbeiner’s love of writing as a hobby was becoming something more.

My Mother's Chamomile Front

 

Finkbeiner’s second novel, “My Mother’s Camomile ,” was born out of the death of her husband’s grandmother. For Finkbeiner, the entire small-town experience of her husband’s grandmother being ill in the hospital, coming home to die, and the rituals of the whole funeral process were a “growing experience.” Unlike the trafficking issue, everyone has to deal with death. Her research into the life and commitment of funeral directors captured her mind.

 

“These men and women are so caring. They work very hard, in most cases 365 days a year, 24 hours a day on call, to ease the pain of each family’s experience.“ It is not a usual job. Even on a social level people shy away from morticians. They are reminders of the fact that death exists. They see people at their worst, both physically and mentally. Even they see themselves as “different” or “other.”

 

Finkbeiner is a self-described idealist and an eternal optimist. She explains that it comes from her upbringing and the experiences her own family lived through. Her Christian faith plays a strong role in dealing in subject matter that may be challenging or evoke a negative response.

 

“I write from a position of what is and what can be. I am training myself to see hope and beauty in what is,” she explains. Her philosophy is much like that of author Luis Alberto Urrea which is to “find God in the muck and mire.”

 

“You have to look for sweetness in the bitterness. In situations that leave you dry and parched, God will provide an oasis of water; just enough to get you through when you again face the dryness that surrounds you.” Mercy, Finkbeiner believes, is the comic relief that enters no matter what the situation or issue. As with her bright personality, Finkbeiner’s writing does include humor, emotional breaks, and human foibles woven through well-thought out characters.

 

Susie Finkbeiner is a large supporter of others who enjoy writing. She is a founding member of the Kava Writer’s Collective; a group of writers of various backgrounds, ages, and genres who meet to share works in progress and encourage each other. She also has a blog that she contributes to on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She is the first to admit that her path to getting published was unconventional . After sending manuscripts to many publishers and suffering the multiple rejections that many new authors face, it was her blog that actually attracted WhiteFire Publishing. “I was actually contacted by WhiteFire.” says Finkbeiner, “They have a wonderful staff that helped me immensely.” With two books under her belt Finkbeiner is now better equipped to help others approach a career in writing.

 

As a modern day writer, Susie Finkbeiner wrote her first novel as a stay-at-home mom with 3 children under the age of six. “I would just write while they were playing. When it was nice out I would take the laptop with me when we went outside to play.” While writing “My Mother’s Camomile” Finkbeiner took on the task of home schooling her children. An admitted coffee snob, she would grind her own beans, make a pot of coffee, feed the kids, and start their school lessons. With the little ones set up with their assignments and projects, Finkbeiner would go to her office to write. With the full support of her husband, Finkbeiner laughs as she describes her writing as a family effort. “My kids are my biggest cheerleaders!” Today’s authors come from many walks of life, some with busy careers, some who can devote large chunks of time to their craft.

 

When asked if she has advice for others who would like to write, Susie smiles like the Cheshire Cat.

 

1. Read. Read a ton. Read your genre. “If writers don’t read, our craft becomes flabby. Nobody wants flabby prose. Chubby poetry. Muffin-top essays.

 

2. Write. Get it out! Write something every day, even if it is just the word “something.”

 

3. Join a writing community. There are many on-line or in-person.

 

4. Go to conferences. Network with publishers and other writers.

 

5. Research the market. Find out who publishes your genre.

 

Susie Finkbeiner acknowledges that she has grown as a writer exponentially in the past several years. She has also gained valuable insight into the publishing industry. Her confidence is evident in her frank discussion style and her passion to do her best. When asked if the she has another book in the works, Finkbeiner is purposely coy. “I do have a book that was partially written before I started to work on My Mother’s Camomile, but I am not mature enough as a writer to do it justice quite yet.” It is this sense of professionalism and patience that impresses me the most. For Susie Finkbeiner her writing is a continuing journey. From the success of Paint Chips to the anticipated release of My Mother’s Camomile it is clear that writing is no longer a hobby for Susie Finkbeiner, it has become a vocation.

Are Micro-Breweries a Fad, or Here to Stay?

Local Business

By Chef Oliver Hale

Harmony Brewing Company

 

There’s a new fad in town that centers around beer. But is it really a fad?  Micro-Breweries are the center of a great deal of attention and commotion and are spreading all across West Michigan. In the past few years, new breweries have opened up in Comstock Park, Holland, Hudsonville, Rockford and in Grand Rapids. Even Bell’s Brewery, the largest beer-maker in Michigan, opened up  a bar in Grand Rapids in an unusual location– the Gerard R. Ford Airport.  Even more, GR was voted 2013 BEER CITY USA.

 

So to ease my mind, I went out to a micro-brewery to test the new in-thing. I stopped by a small brewery named HARMONY BREWING CO. at 1551 Lake Dr. GR, SE. I was introduced to the Brewery Manager, Ben Isbell. Ben has been with Harmony for a 1 ½ years and they carry 10 different beers on tap. So I asked him to educate me on why micro-brews are growing!

 

“People love to drink beers and micro-brews offer so many different flavor of beers,” Ben said. “We use different melted barely and hops to make our beers very tasty.” he exclaimed.

 

HARMONY BREWING COMPANY also offers an outstanding family menu. When the owners, Jackson and Sandie Van Dyke, started putting together the brewery, they wanted an environment that would attract families to come and enjoy themselves.

 

Grand Rapids is drawing a lot of people from many other states to attend events like Art Prize, Laughfest, and many others. With that in mind, the 2013 Beer City USA is ready for them and going to be around for many years. Micro-Breweries are here to stay!