Carla Grant and her grandson show off the masks they made for the “Stay Safe” exhibit.
By Nathan Slauer WKTV Intern
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many families find themselves hunkering down inside their homes. When new community events pop up, people leap at the chance to participate.
One such person is Carla Grant, a retired certified public accountant, who created two of the masks included in the “Stay Safe” mask exhibit hosted by Mainstee’s Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts (RRCA).
When Grant received her masks, she brought her grandson to Hobby Lobby and scoured the aisle for feathers and paint. Upon returning home, the pair had a blast putting together their colorful creations.
“My grandson is so excited to see his art in an exhibit,” Grant said.
A close up of the mask created by Carla Grant. (Supplied)
Grant’s masks join more than 300 paper mache masks created by hundreds of participants from across Michigan. The masks express the experience of those who lived through the global health crisis and yearned for a period of normalcy.
Each paper mache masks is left blank, so it is left up to the artist to decide what their mask should look like. No two masks in the collection share an identical appearance, with decorations ranging from pasted multidimensional objects to colored crayon.
The “Stay Safe” mask exhibit originated with Patricia Innis, an artist and volunteer director for Michigan Legacy Art Park (MLAP), in August 2020. As interest in the project grew, Innis established a collaboration between MLAP and RRCA.
Word of the “Stay Safe” mask exhibit has spread nationwide, with contributions coming from as far away as Minnesota, Colorado, and California.
MLAP Managing Director Madeline Saucedo attributes the success of the “Stay Safe” mask exhibit to the dedication of Innis and RRCA Executive Director Xavier Verna and the creativity of the participants. She believes the masks gave people the opportunity to connect with one another even while remaining physically distanced.
“You’re not alone in your experience; other people had similar experiences,” Saucedo said. “Their project created a sense of togetherness.”
For those who want to create their own mask, MLAP provides instructions via a How-To blog. The blog allows those who seek an outlet to connect to a community of fellow artistic enthusiasts.
Mainstee’s Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts received more than 300 masks for the “Stay Safe” exhibit, some came from as far away as California. (Supplied)
“It is an emotional experience to reflect on the year,” Saucedo said. “People were not able to do as much, so people took up new hobbies such as learning Spanish, crocheting, or knitting. Working on these types of activities can be cathartic.”
The “Stay Safe” mask exhibit is open for public viewing at RRCA during Friday and Saturday until February 27. Those seeking to view the exhibit virtually can attend a free online tour with Innis and Verna on Friday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m.
Wyoming and Kentwood high school athletic directors wasted no time when the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced last week that high school winter contact sports could begin full activities this week, and the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) announced that member schools had the green light to being practice and competitions.
And while there is competitive basketball and hockey being scheduled and played this week, some on the first allowed day of Feb. 8, there are some almost COVID-19 Catch-22 restrictions and state health requirements — including many basketball teams required to wear masks on the court and wrestling teams being required to find rapid test options or not take to the mats.
David Kool, South Christian athletic director, on the set of WKTV Journal Sports Connection. (2020/WKTV)
“There are still some unknowns with the testing requirements and the mask requirements,” David Kool, athletic director at Grand Rapids South Christian High School, said this week to WKTV. “The MHSAA is hoping to give us more clear guidelines … (this) week before the first games. As of now, we know that the kids have to wear masks while competing and that is what we will stick to until we are told differently.”
Wyoming high will also begin the basketball season with masks on their basketball players.
“Wyoming is planning on masks at this point,” Ted Hollern, Wolves athletic director, said to WKTV. “That is what we have agreed on.”
And Hollern pointed out that even if testing were to be available, there would be the issue of what is the opponent is doing — “Both teams would need to do the same thing,” he said.
South Christian’s Kool echoed his Wyoming counterpart.
“If there ends up being a rapid testing option and it is a level playing field for all, that is something we will consider and look into,” Kool said. “Our main concern is that if there is a testing program, it needs to be equitable for every school.”
Girls and boys basketball, competitive cheer, ice hockey and wrestling could begin contact practice on Feb. 8 — “with some precautions to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19,” according to an MHSAA statement late last week. And while basketball and hockey were able to begin competition this week, competitive cheer and wrestling will not be able to compete until Feb. 12 a the earliest.
Those four winter contact sports have been able to practice since Jan. 16, but only with non-contact activities. So local athletic directors are excited about the start, if still piecing together how they will meet requirements — and responding to other consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on high school sports.
Lee High School athletic director Jason Faasse. (Supplied)
We are “glad that our winter athletes, especially our seniors have an opportunity to compete,” Jason Faasse, Lee high school athletic director said to WKTV. “We are thankful that the research has been done by both the MDHHS and MHSAA to know what precautions are needed to help protect our athletes and their families.”
But Faasse’s optimism is balanced by the knowledge that this 2020-21 high school sports season is unlike any other.
“Many of our athletes have opted not to play this season for one reason or another,” Faasse said. “Some have concerns about playing contact sports during a pandemic, others have been working more hours with the uncertainties surrounding the season. The quick turn around (to allow winter contact sports) doesn’t help us promote the restart to help get more athletes on our teams.”
Ultimately, however, most schools including South Christian are just glad to have a chance to play, starting this week.
“The coaches and athletes have been doing everything they can to ensure they get a chance to compete this season and all they wanted was an opportunity,” Kool said. “The quick turnaround definitely adds to the craziness of this season. The biggest thing we looked at with our coaches was the simple fact that the kids want to play games and they are as ready as they ever will be.”
State and MHSAA testing requirements, and warnings
“All four Winter contact sports also must participate with some level of masking and/or rapid testing,” the MHSAA announced last week. “All testing will be coordinated between schools and MDHHS or their local health departments. … Participants are defined as athletes, coaches and other team personnel active in practice and competition.”
For competitive cheer, teams may compete without testing or face coverings, but must wear masks at all times outside of active competition or stunting/tumbling practice.
For ice hockey, all participants must wear face coverings at all times – during all practices and non-game activities, and during games. The same testing and mask removal option exists for hockey as for basketball.
For wrestling, testing will be required but competitors will not be required to wear face coverings.
The same masking and testing requirements will be in place for all junior high/middle school teams wishing to participate in the four winter contact sports.
However, the state department of health is allowing school athletics to go ahead with some reservations — with or without testing.
“We are pleased at our continued progress in Michigan that has allowed us to take this step forward in a phased approach,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS, said last week. “As a parent and former student-athlete myself, I get how important athletics are to our children’s physical and mental health.
“However, parents and athletes need to understand the risk involved with contact sports if they choose to participate. Sports that require frequent closeness between players make it more difficult to prevent disease transmission even when mitigation measures are in place, including masks. Even when not required, we urge teams to implement a testing program to protect athletes, coaches and their families.”
The Gilmore Car Museum is offering families a day full of outdoor winter fun — with attractions ranging from vintage snowmobiles to ice carving — at its all-new Winter Motoring Meet, set for Saturday, Feb. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
With the standard daily admission, guests will have full access to both outdoor activities and to the indoor car collection of over 400 vehicles. The Winter Motoring Meet will include “open-aired” scenic “sleigh” rides around the campus using several of the museum’s antique cars — including comfy seats in the bed of a Classic Ford Model AA pickup truck.
The event is “a fun way for us to get outside and enjoy the winter season, in an outdoor environment with plenty of room for everyone to remain socially distanced,” Josh Russell, executive director of the Gilmore Car Museum, said in supplied material.
Rides will be one guest/family/group per ride. Masks will be required and vehicle seating will be sanitized between each ride. All museum visitors ages 5 and over are required to wear face masks. All COVID-19 health procedures apply.
The Gilmore Car Museum is located at 6865 W Hickory Rd, Hickory Corners (north of Kalamazoo). For more information, visit GilmoreCarMuseum.org. Standard admission at the Gilmore Car Museum is $16 for adults and seniors, $11 for age 11-14, free for Children 10 and under — and free for active military.
In November 2018, Kent County voters approved the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage to fund more than $5 million annually, from 2018-2024, to be directed toward community-based early childhood health and support programs. First Steps Kent was selected to lead the program.
In late 2020, the latest round of funding was approved by the Kent County Board of Commissioners, after First Steps Kent and its Resident Proposal Review Committee recommended funding 12 programs — including a focus on parental outreach and involvement.
Continuing WKTV’s coverage of the program and its efforts, and to bring you details of the latest funding and the program’s overall status, we will talk in studio with Joslyn Ward, a Kentwood parent serving on the review committee, and we welcome back to WKTV — this time via Zoom — Annemarie Valdez, First Steps Kent President.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) notified the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) over the weekend that the COVID-19 variant known as SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 — originally identified in the United Kingdom (U.K.) — has been confirmed in an unidentified Kent County resident.
According to a KCHD statement on Feb. 7, the variant “is concerning because it is associated with increased transmissibility.”
Compared to the original virus, the B.1.1.7 variant is approximately 50 percent more transmissible, leading to faster spread of the virus and potentially increasing numbers of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, according to the KCHD statement.
“Fundamentally this is a race for the coverage of our population; a race that pits vaccination efforts against the transmission of infections,” Dr. Adam London, KCHD director, said in supplied material. “While we work to minimize the impact of COVID-19 infections, the B.1.1.7 variant is giving the virus increased velocity.”
The presence of the quick spreading variant in Kent County illustrates the importance of preventing the spreading COVID-19, according to the county, with proper mask usage, social distancing and practicing good hand hygiene continuing to be the most effective measures in combating the spread of the disease.
The KCHD is also encouraging residents to limit their interactions with people who live outside of their own households.
The KCHD is encouraging testing of individuals who have traveled out of Michigan in last 14 days, especially to areas in which the new variants are widely circulating.
The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant is thought to have emerged in the United Kingdom and has since been detected in many countries and states. The MDHHS has identified 30 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant in Michigan.
While most of these cases have been found in the southeast portion of the state, the recent confirmation of a case in Kalamazoo and now in Kent counties illustrates the “fast-moving nature of the variant,” according to the KCHD statement.
In honor of Black History Month, Woodland Mall will host the first LOVE.ART.HISTORY. art exhibit as well as screenings of “In Between the Trees,” a documentary about African American history in the Michigan produced with the support of WKTV Community Media, over Valentine’s Day weekend, Feb. 12-14.
With themes of love, Black culture and Black history, the pop-up art exhibit by ArtXchangeGR, will “acknowledge and celebrate talented local artists of color, Black History Month and Valentine’s Day,” according to a statement from Woodland Mall.
Shoppers will be able to view original works of fine art and reproductions available for purchase during the three-day exhibit, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., starting Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12-13, and noon-6 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 14. The free show will be located in the mall’s center court.
“We are honored to host this timely pop-up art exhibit to lift up local artists of color,” Cecily McCabe, marketing manager for Woodland Mall, said in supplied material. “We appreciate the opportunity to showcase an amazing group of artists and their artwork, which will highlight Black culture and history.”
Artists who will be featured throughout the weekend include Olivia Thorns, Lowell Reynolds and Steven Reynolds. ArtXchangeGR will hold a reception for all participating artists at the mall from noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13.
Rare Idlewild photos collected by Rose Hammond. (Supplied)
Across the hall from the exhibit, Rose Hammond will be showing her documentary, “In Between the Trees,” multiple times a day. The film, which has just been selected to be shown at the Montreal Independent Film Festival, is loosely based on Hammond’s book “Idlewild & Woodland Park, MI (An African American Remembers).”
Hammond, who has a long history as a community volunteer and producer at WKTV, edited much of the film at WKTV.
Inspired by her grandparents’ stories, Hammond’s film shares what life in Idlewild and Woodland Park, Mich., was like for people of color “with the intent to educate youth and individuals of the African American history in our country,” according to supplied material.
“After seeing the racial justice events that occurred throughout our nation last year, many of us made a promise to educate ourselves,” McCabe said. “Presenting this documentary allows Woodland Mall to provide the opportunity for our community to continue engaging in these important conversations.”
Woodland Mall asks all guests to follow CDC pandemic recommendations by using the hand sanitizer stations located throughout the mall, wearing face coverings and practicing physical distancing.
In order to comply with Michigan health department requirements, occupancy numbers remain limited as the mall operates on reduced hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8 a.m., Friday through Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m., Sunday.
“Getting vaccinated does not say you have a free pass to travel. Nor does it say you have a free pass to put aside all the public health measures that we talk about all the time.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci
The COVID-19 vaccination effort is continuing to expand, including in West Michigan. (U.S. Government).
Local mass vaccine clinic seeks volunteers … who will get vaccinated
Hoping to push yourself up in the line for the COVID vaccine? Well the West Michigan Vaccine Clinic at DeVos Place maybe able to help. The clinic, which is operated by Kent County, Spectrum Health and Mercy Health in collaboration with Vaccinate West Michigan, is seeking community volunteers in non-clinical roles to support the vaccine clinic. Go here for the story.
Some ideas on how to get to mass clinic easily … and avoid parking fees
The new West Michigan Vaccine Clinic is up and running, but just how do you get here and, if you drive, where do you park? People can park below the facility with the first two hours of parking waived. But an even better idea is that The Rapid has several bus routes that provide service to or near DeVos Place. Go here for the story.
And more places and ways … including one-stop shopping
SpartanNash and other grocery stores with pharmacies have partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to offer the COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with the nationwide rollout plan. For SpartanNash, the vaccine will be administered at no cost to patients and will be available at each of SpartanNash’s 88 company-owned pharmacies. Go here for the story.
Fact … just a fact:
29 million
Since vaccine distribution began in the U.S. on Dec. 14, and through Jan. 28, more than 29 million doses have been administered, reaching 7.2 percent of the total U.S. population, according to federal data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Source.
President Donald J. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, shake hands as they meet for the first time, June 12, 2018, at the Capella Hotel in Singapore. (state.gov)
The World Affairs Council of West Michigan (WACWM) continues its virtual series of special discussions and its Great Decisions Global Discussions 2021 series this week, starting with the rescheduling of a special program on the future of Korea and its alliance with the United States.
The program “The Korean — U.S. Alliance”, originally scheduled to take place in mid- January, was rescheduled to Feb. 4. The program will feature the U.S. Department of State’s Dr. Jennifer Brannon, Sung-hoon Park, of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the U.S., and Korea Economic Institute vice president Mark Tortola. A program of the World Affairs Councils of America in partnership with the Korea Economic Institute, this will focus on broadening and deepening public understanding of Korea and the U.S.-Korea relationship.
While the program was available live is is also viewable as an archive on YouTube here.
The WACWM’s Great Decisions Global Discussions series will be live-streamed to YouTube Mondays from 6-7:15 p.m., starting Feb. 8 and running through March 29. The public is invited and the webinars will be viewable live and as archived on-demand. The cost to the public is $10 per discussion, $60 for a series pass, with prior registration required.
The February series dates, topics and guest speaker are as follows:
Feb. 8, “North Korea: Getting Diplomacy Back on Track” with Suzanne DiMaggio, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
After a historical summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in 2018, hopes of a change in relations have faded. Now, with a new president in the White House, landslide legislative victories in South Korea, and rumors of an unwell Kim, do new dynamics have the potential to change a perennially thorny situation?
DiMaggio is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Board Chair of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a new think tank she co-founded in 2019, and is currently directing a U.S.-DPRK dialogue that has included several visits to North Korea. As part of that process, she facilitated the first official discussions between the Trump administration and North Korean government representatives in Oslo in May 2017.
Feb. 15, “Have We Learned Anything about this Pandemic?” with Andrew Natsios, director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University.
COVID-19 took the world by surprise, but it shouldn’t have been surprising. The question remains how our global health systems can be more responsive and resilient to pandemics. Professor Andrew Natsios will discuss the structural problems in the World Health Organization that have created dysfunctions laid bare by COVID-19; the need for a global pandemic early warning system and how it might be achieved; and next steps in vaccine distribution in the developing world in light of great power competition and larger global health challenges.
Professor Natsios is an executive professor at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University and Director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs. He was previously a Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also the author of three books: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1997), The Great North Korean Famine (2001), and Sudan, South Sudan, and Darfur: What Everyone Needs to Know.
Feb. 22, “The European Union: The New Agenda Post-Brexit” with Tomas Baert , Head of Trade and Agriculture, European Delegation to the U.S.
Containing 5.8 percent of the world population but accounting for 18 percent of world GDP, the European Union holds enormous influence in the world, driving economic growth, advancing sustainable development, and championing peace and security by promoting democratic norms. While Brexit has been the focus, other key priorities of the Union remain: stabilizing transatlantic relations, continuing response to the COVID crisis, leading in the climate fight, and transforming the digital economy.
Baert, Head of Trade and Agriculture for the European Delegation to the United States focuses on the future of the EU in this presentation. Prior to his work in the U.S., Baert was the Head of Unit for Trade Strategy at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade). From 2014 to 2016, he was an assistant to Director-General for Trade, advising on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and WTO negotiations.
In-person education will look a little different than in this 2018 photo from Godfrey-Lee High School, but a new state education council led by the district’s superintendent will guide what it will look like. (WKTV)
When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced this week the creation of an Student Recovery Advisory Council of Michigan to “provide guidance and recommendations to ensure Michigan students have the tools and resources they need to get back on track,” a local education leader was named to lead the committee.
Kevin Polston, superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, will be the chairperson of the council, established via the governor’s Executive Order 2021-02 and set to include 29 members from diverse backgrounds who are appointed by the governor and will be “housed” within the Department of Technology Management and Budget.
“It’s an honor to serve our students, families, and educators as the chairperson for the Student Recovery Advisory Council and advise Governor Whitmer,” Polston said in supplied material. “I look forward to serving alongside the talented team of engaged citizens as Michigan strategically plans the recovery from the effects of COVID-19.”
The council will guide the work for our education system to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 including, among other issues, academic recovery, social-emotional and mental health, and physical health and wellbeing.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Michigan hard, and our students, families, teachers, and school staff have all felt the strain,” Gov. Whitmer said in supplied material. “Still, our educators have worked tirelessly to teach our children during this pandemic under the most stressful conditions … (And) it is important to remember that schools also provide other services that students need to succeed including reliable access to the internet, nutritious meals, and mental health supports.”
The newly established committee follows others actions by the governor and state government to support Michigan’s education system.
In summer 2020, the governor launched the Return to School Advisory Council which “developed a framework to inform K-12 districts planning for the 2020-2021 school year,” according to a statement from the governor’s office. This past month, the state prioritized educators for vaccine distribution.
And this week, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced plans to offer a voluntary COVID-19 testing program that will provide weekly tests to educators. The MI Safe Schools Testing Program is part of he governor’s goal of having all Michigan school districts offer an in-person learning option for students by March 1.
“COVID-19 has exacerbated inequities in our education system, and we know more work is needed to address the significant impact this pandemic has had on our children,” Gov. Whitmer said. “This Council will be integral to ensuring our students and educators are equipped with everything they need to thrive.”
Polston was a member of the earlier Return to School Advisory Council as well.
“Last summer, this collaborative group of engaged citizens developed the MI Safe School Roadmap, which was vital to supporting in-person learning,” Polston said. “We look forward to ‘fixing the road ahead’ for the state of Michigan through a safe, equitable, and high-performance educational system that provides access and opportunity for each child to reach their full potential.”
Tasks, makeup of the new council
Among the goals of the council are to:
Develop and submit recommendations to the governor, state superintendent, and state budget director regarding student recovery.
Recommend actions to develop and improve systems for academic support for students who experienced learning loss due to COVID-19; actions to develop and improve systems for mental and physical health for students impacted by COVID-19; recommend actions to develop and improve systems to support high school students transitioning into postsecondary education; and recommend actions to develop and improve out-of-school time supports, including, but not limited to, summer school, before and after school programs, and extended school years.
Other goals are to assemble “critical voices from the education and public health communities to assist in identifying key challenges students face due to the pandemic,” providing other information or advice or take other actions as requested by the governor and report regularly to the governor on its activities and make recommendations on an ongoing basis.
The members of the council reflect “the diverse geographic and demographic composition of this state and representing parents, students, school leaders, educators, individuals with expertise in public health, pediatrics, mental health, and community members,” according to the statement from the governor’s office.
In addition to Polston, other West Michgian members of the group include: Nicholas J. Paradiso, III, of Grand Rapids, vice president of government relations for National Heritage Academies; Lisa M. Peacock, of Traverse City, health officer for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan; Bill Pink, Ph.D., of Ada, president of Grand Rapids Community College.
The council will also include four participating members of the Michigan Legislature: Sen. Wayne Schmidt and Sen. Dayna Polehanki and Rep. Lori Stone and Rep. Brad Paquette.
Within hours of Gov. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announcing that high school winter contact sports could begin full activities next week, the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) announced that member schools had the green light to being practice and competitions.
But there will be restrictions.
Girls and boys basketball, competitive cheer, ice hockey and wrestling can begin contact practice on Monday, Feb. 8 — “with some precautions to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19,” according to a MHSAA statement. Competition in those four sports can also begin, with basketball and hockey able to also start play Feb. 8, and cheer and wrestling able to compete starting Feb. 12.
Those four winter contact sports have been able to practice since Jan. 16, but only with non-contact activities.
“All four Winter contact sports also must participate with some level of masking and/or rapid testing,” according to the MHSAA statement. “All testing will be coordinated between schools and MDHHS or their local health departments. … Participants are defined as athletes, coaches and other team personnel active in practice and competition.”
For the Governor and the state health department, the action continues a gradual expansion of allowed activities driven by increasingly lower numbers of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, at a large January news conference. (State of Michigan)
“We are pleased at our continued progress in Michigan that has allowed us to take this step forward in a phased approach,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS, said in supplied material. “As a parent and former student-athlete myself, I get how important athletics are to our children’s physical and mental health.
“However, parents and athletes need to understand the risk involved with contact sports if they choose to participate. Sports that require frequent closeness between players make it more difficult to prevent disease transmission even when mitigation measures are in place, including masks. Even when not required, we urge teams to implement a testing program to protect athletes, coaches and their families.”
Sport by sport details
The MHSAA statement gives some detail on the masking and testing requirements, as well as competition limits, for the various winter contact sports.
WKTV’s coverage of high school basketball could be returning soon as local teams can begin play as early as Feb. 8. (WKTV)
For girls and boys basketball, all participants must wear face coverings at all times – during all practices and non-game activities, and during games. There will initially be a competition limit of up to three games per week. However, a testing requirement “may allow participants to remove masks while in active participation on the floor if they test negative that game day.”
More details of the testing option “will be provided to schools when confirmed,” according to the MHSAA.
For competitive cheer, teams may compete without testing or face coverings, but must wear masks at all times outside of active competition or stunting/tumbling practice. And teams may participate in 12 days of competition, not counting MHSAA tournament events.
For ice hockey, all participants must wear face coverings at all times – during all practices and non-game activities, and during games. The competition limit will allow teams play up to three games per week, but “teams also may play two games on one non-school day twice; during those two weeks, teams are allowed up to four games Monday through Sunday.” The same testing and mask removal option exists for hockey as for basketball.
For wrestling, testing will be required but competitors will not be required to wear face coverings.Teams may compete two days per week, with no more than four teams at a site, “with each individual (wrestler) competing in up to three matches per day,” according to the MHSAA.
The same masking and testing requirements will be in place for all junior high/middle school teams wishing to participate in the four winter contact sports.
The updated MDHHS epidemic order allowing for the resumption of winter contact sports remains in effect through March 29. at this point in time.
Positive results led to change
“We continue to make progress in reducing cases and hospitalizations, helping protect our families and frontline workers and saving lives,” Gov. Whitmer said in supplied material. “Michigan continues to be a national leader in fighting this virus, and we must continue using a fact-based approach so we can return to a strong economy and normal day-to-day activities.”
According to the MDHHS statement, the state “has been closely monitoring three metrics for stabilization or declines over the past several weeks, and Michigan continues to see improvements” in the following areas:
Hospital capacity dedicated to COVID-19 patients has been in 10-week decline, with current capacity at 6.6 percent for beds with COVID-19 patients. The number peaked at 19.6 percent on Dec. 4, 2020.
Overall case rates are currently at 159 cases per million after peaking at 740 cases per million on Nov. 14. The rate has been in solid decline for 24 days.
The positivity rate is currently at 4.9 percent and declining — the last time positivity was as low was mid-October.
Who would have guessed it would have taken more than a year for local theater to return? Not these actors. (WKTV)
After almost a year since the lights in area theaters went dark, there is a glimmer of hope that the stages may soon be filled with actors, antics and song.
Both Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and Circle Theatre have announced upcoming productions starting as early as April along with Coldwater’s Tibbits Opera House announcing that it too will host the Tibbits Young Audiences’ spring musical “The Nifty Fifties” and have a summer theater schedule.
There are other companies, such as Broadway Grand Rapids, which have made the announcement that its 2020-2021 season has been moved to the 2021-2022 season. Actors Theatre Grand Rapids has productions listed but dates have not been announced.
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Last month, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre announced the Ten for All Festival, a playwriting contest that will feature original 10-minute plays from local playwrights.
“We are thrilled to present this unique festival as we move back toward in-person performance in 2021,” said Grand Rapids Civic Theatre executive and Artistic Director Bruce Tinker. “We are taking advantage of this unique opportunity to open our stage to the many talented playwrights we have right here in West Michigan.”
Submissions are open from now until Feb. 26. From those submission, 12 semi-finalists will be selected, three each from four categories: comedy, drama, youth, and wildcard. During the semi-finals, which will take place March 18 – 21, the 12 selected will be featured in Zoom readings and scored by celebrity judges from around the community. The top-scoring play in each of the four categories will move on to the finals and be publicly performed on stage at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre the week of April 9 – 11.
The finalists will be performed back-to-back as one hour-long program at the Meijer Majestic Theater. Audience members will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite piece and one play will receive the honor of Audience Choice. Cash prizes are being offered for the Audience Choice winner, finalists, and semifinalists.
“West Michigan is home to so many truly gifted artists and playwrights,” said Civic’s Associated Director Allyson Paris. “We are eager to lend their voices a platform and to open our space to them. Our community is the core of our mission, and this is a unique opportunity for us to showcase that.”
Details on submissions and future contest information is available at www.grct.org/tenforall.
Circle Theatre kicks off its season with a series of concert performances. (Supplied)
Circle Theatre
Last fall, Circle Theater announced its plans to host its 69th Main Stage season. The company’s season will kick off with live concert performances in May that will run throughout the summer and fall.
“Right now we are hopeful that we will be able to open our first production,” said Circle Theatre Executive and Artists Director Lynne Brown Tepper, “even if it is with reduced capacity. However, as is the case with the other area arts organizations, we will adapt as necessary with any restrictions that may occur at or around that time.”
John Kander’s 1966 musical “Cabaret” will be added to Main Stage season running from July 15 – 31. Set in 1931 Berlin during the waning days of the Weimar Republic as the Nazis are rising to power, the musical focuses on the hedonistic nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub and revolves around American writer Cliff Bradshaw’s relations with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles.
Next up will be Michael Frayn’s farce “Nosies Off,” which follows the backstage antics as the actors and crew put on a performance. “Noises Off” runs Aug. 12 – 28.
In September will be the iconic musical “Hair,” which follows the hippie counterculture and sexual revolution of the late 1960s. One of the musical’s most famous numbers is “Age of Aquarius.” “Hair” is Sept. 9 – 25.
Also in September will be the Annual Season Party, “American Graffiti: In Concert, which will be Sept. 12.
Virtual concert and performance opportunities are available. All performances are at the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center, 1703 Robinson Ave. SE. Tickets and membership packages are on sale. For more information, visit circletheatre.org.
Tibbits Opera House
Tibbits will offer a spring youth performance and a summer theater program. (Supplied)
The Tibbits Summer Theater will take place at The Ponds event pavilion in Coldwater. The location, according to Tibbits Opera House officials, will provide social distancing and mask-wearing while offering an outdoor venue.
“If we are outside again, we wanted to capitalize on the beautiful setting and choose shows that fit well in that setting, and if we are able, can just as easily move back to the theatre,” said Artistic Director Peter Riopelle.
The summer line-up for Tibbits is “The Best of Broadway,” June 16 – 23; “The Fantasticks, June 30 – July 7; “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, July 14 – 23; and “On Golden Pond,” July 29 – Aug. 6.
For more information, call 517-278-6029 and tibbits.org.
Kent County Black Caucus is offering two scholarships to African American students attending college. (Pxhere.com)
By Monica Sparks Kent County Commissioner
In celebration of Black History Month, the Kent County Black Caucus is offering two $250 scholarships to any African American student currently attending college or a skilled trade center.
The scholarship is designed to help cover the cost of books.
To be considered for the scholarships, tag or post on the Kent County Black Caucus on Facebook. Include your name and where you attend school and use #knowledgeispower in your post.
This week’s Traffic Tuesday was about parking in the handicap spot.
You’re running into a store for a quick second to drop something off or pick something up. The closest open spot is a marked handicapper, van accessible parking spot. What’s the maximum amount of time that you can park in marked spot designated for people with disabilities, without a visible plate, placard, or sticker?
0 minutes; you must have a visible plate, placard, or sticker
10 minutes
15 minutes
30 minutes
I’m not sure, I’ll check back on Thursday
The answer is 1) 0 minutes; you must have a visible plate, placard, or sticker
Emily Brieve (left), pictured with Kent County Commissioner Stan Ponstein while visiting Washington D.C., was recently appointed to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. (Supplied)
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority announced Kent County Commissioner Emily Brieve has joined its board of directors for a three-year term.
In her new role, Brieve will join six other board members in the general oversight of the Ford Airport, the second busiest airport in Michigan. The Authority has undertaken numerous projects to enhance the guest experience in the past years. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it introduced its Fly Safe. Fly Ford campaign to restore confidence in the flying public.
Board Chair Dan Koorndyk and Vice Chair Floyd Wilson, Jr. also were re-elected to their roles. Birgit Klohs was newly elected as board secretary. Koorndyk has served on the Authority Board since 2017, including three years as chair. He previously served on the board from 2003 to 2006. Wilson has served on the board since 2009, including two years as vice chair. Klohs has served on the board since 2013.
“I’m honored to join the board of the Ford Airport, which is a cornerstone of our region,” Brieve said. “The Airport serves a critical role by connecting West Michigan to the world and by serving as an economic catalyst for our region. I look forward to contributing to the board as we continue to establish the Ford Airport as an industry leader.”
In her role as a Kent County commissioner, Brieve has represented the 10th District, serving Gaines Township and a portion of Caledonia Township, since 2014. She serves as vice chair of the Finance and Physical Resources Committee as well as chair of the Board of Public Works and Community Health Advisory committees. Additionally, she serves as a trustee of the Grand Rapids Public Museum and is a member of the West Michigan Sports Commission.
“As the Ford Airport continues to re-engage travelers during COVID-19, having strong leaders like Emily will be key to our success,” Koorndyk said. “Her background in public service will be an asset to our board, as will her strengths in business. Our entire team welcomes Emily to the Ford Airport.”
Outside of her roles in public service, Brieve works for her family’s small business, FastoolNow.com, selling construction and industrial tools and supplies. Previously, she worked as a legislative assistant in the Michigan House of Representatives.
Brieve is a graduate of Calvin University, where she studied business and communication. She lives in Caledonia with her husband, Mark, and their two young sons, Jonah and Micah.
iHeart West Michigan Radio and Dégagé Ministries will once again partner this year on a daylong fundraiser, the fourth annual “Day of Hope”, to raise money for those in need in Grand Rapids. The radiothon raised more than $80,000 in 2020. In conjunction with the fundraiser, Dégagé will also feature some of its patrons in an outdoor exhibition called “Project Hope” to raise awareness of increasing homelessness in Grand Rapids.
Day of Hope will be held Friday, Feb. 5, from 5 a.m to 5 p.m. This year, the broadcast will feature on-air personalities from WOOD Radio from 5 a.m. to noon, as well as personalities from BIG 101.3 FM from noon to 6 p.m., who will share stories of hope from the men and women served at Dégagé.
Dégagé also will host its second public exhibition in the past six months, Project Hope, in conjunction with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.’s World of Winter event and Day of Hope. Project Hope will activate displays at nine sites around the downtown Grand Rapids area and will feature life size photos and stories of homelessness and hope from Dégagé patrons. Project Hope follows up Dégagé’s successful 2020 art installation, the Pillowcase Project, which featured more than 4,700 pillowcases representing the women who have stayed at the organization’s Open Door Women’s Center since 2003. Dégagé hopes to educate more of the Grand Rapids community on issues related to homelessness, as well as provide stories of hope from those the organization serves. Project Hope will be on display through Feb. 26.
“The pandemic has only increased the many needs and burdens of the men and women Dégagé serves,” said Dégagé Ministries Executive Director Thelma Ensink. “But Dégagé is a place of hope, and we are grateful to iHeart Media, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. and the City of Grand Rapids for the opportunity to share our stories of hope with the Grand Rapids community.”
For more information on the Day of Hope or Project Hope events, visitdegageministries.org.
The City of Kentwood and Great Lakes Disc will again partner to host the 6th annual Freeze Fest doubles disc golf tournament — a best-shot doubles competition open to all levels of golfers — on Saturday, Feb. 20. The event is also a food drive with all proceeds supporting Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry.
The tournament will be at Jaycee Park, 1088 Gentian Drive SE, with on-site registration beginning at 9 a.m. and the first round of the tournament at 10 a.m. Pre-registration is encouraged online at kentwood.us/freezefest. The cost is $40 and one canned food donation per team.
Whatever the weather, disc golf is in season; and donating to the Kentwood food bank is also always in season. (Wikimedia Commons)
“It’s always incredible to watch community members come together in support of Kentwood initiatives,” Lori Gresnick, Kentwood recreation program coordinator, said in supplied material. “The disc golf community is no exception. We are grateful so many disc golfers join us at our annual tournaments for some friendly competition and to generously restock the Little Free Pantry.”
The Freeze fest has become an annual winter tradition in Kentwood but for all West Michigan disc golfers.
“Great Lakes Disc is happy to host the Freeze Fest with the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department for our sixth consecutive year,” Shea Abbgy, owner of Great Lakes Disc, said in supplied material. “We’re excited about this event’s continued growth, which allows us to give back to the community in a very tangible way.”
A City of Kentwood Little Free Pantry, now one of two, is in the Kentwood Activities Center. (City of Kentwood)
The Kentwood Little Free Pantry initiative began in 2017 as a community service project in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. The small food pantry is open to all community members year-round and is designed to fill an immediate and local need. It offers non-perishable food and personal care items. Anyone can utilize or donate to the pantry. No application is required and no questions are asked.
The demand for Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, has steadily increased since it opened, and even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement from the City of Kentwood.
To help meet the growing need, the City of Kentwood recently launched another Little Free Pantry at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. More information is available at kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.
Hoping to push yourself up in the line for the COVID vaccine? Well the West Michigan Vaccine Clinic at DeVos Place maybe able to help.
The Clinic, which is operated by Kent County, Spectrum Health and Mercy Health in collaboration with Vaccinate West Michigan, is seeking community volunteers in non-clinical roles to support the vaccine clinic.
According to officials, when the vaccine is available for the clinic to open at full capacity, approximately 150 volunteers are needed per 4-hour shift. Volunteers may assist with greeting clinic attendees, providing directional assistance, escorting attendees who need help, sanitizing and organizing supplies, performing temperature checks and more. Volunteers need not have prior healthcare experience.
To begin the volunteer process, community members ages 18 and older are asked to complete this survey with Kent County Emergency Management, which is partnering to assist with volunteer management at the clinic. Additionally, volunteers must not have any felonies or misdemeanors within the last ten years, have a valid driver’s license with no suspensions in the past five years, and not had a fever or symptoms of the COVID-19 virus for at least 14 days prior to volunteering. The survey will include authorization for a routine background check. Upon completion, eligible volunteers will receive a confirmation email and instructions for signing up for available shifts.
“Vaccinating our community is a huge undertaking. Just as our organizations are working together, we believe that the West Michigan spirit in so many of our community members will draw people to this volunteer opportunity,” said Dr. Adam London, administrative health officer at the Kent County Health Department. “We are all in this together, and we believe the COVID-19 vaccine provides great hope for us to be able to return to normal and enjoy being with our families and friends again.”
Volunteers who sign a commitment promising at least 20 hours of service at the West Michigan Vaccine Clinic will become eligible for vaccination as a health care volunteer and part of critical infrastructure. These vaccinations will be made as soon as reasonably possible given the limitations of available vaccine supply and clinic schedule.
Volunteers will not receive pay for their time or travel; however, they will receive free parking in designated nearby parking structures and light refreshments will be provided.
Volunteers will receive training for their role immediately prior to their shift. Also, all volunteers will be required to wear a mask for their entire shift and must complete the CDC Facilities COVID-19 screening survey within four hours prior to the start of their shift.
Clinicians who are interested in volunteering are invited to complete the survey and may serve as general support volunteers. At this time, clinical roles are being staffed through partnering healthcare organizations and healthcare education partners. Should clinical volunteer shifts become available, clinical volunteers may be contacted with opportunities to fulfill such assignments.
As vaccine clinics expand and open within all west Michigan counties and with a focus on historically underserved communities, additional volunteer opportunities will arise here and with other vaccine providers.
One of the oldest businesses in the Wyoming area is Tommy Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille. Home to Michigan’s “Original Sizzle,” Brann took over the Division Avenue restaurant in 1971 and has been running consecutively for 49 years. Brann also serves as the 77th District State Representative, which covers the City of Wyoming and Byron Center Township. He has often said that being a restaurant owner has given him a unique perspective into what people face everyday, especially during the COVID pandemic where he has championed for support for those in his industry.
Name: Tommy Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille
What is your business? Steakhouse
How long has your business been operating? Been in business 49 years at same location 4157 S. Division Ave., Wyoming.
How did your business get started? My dad lent me $30,000 dollars at age of 19 after working for him since 13. He saw my hard work ethic and we bought the Southern Restaurant July 5, 1971 on a land contract. I had a $5,000 a month payment at the age of 19.
Friendly staff are ready to serve at Tommy Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille now that restaurants have been reopened by the state. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Why did you decide to locate your business in the Wyoming/Kentwood area? The Southern Restaurant was up for sale at that time in Wyoming. Also, we had a motel one time on the property and I stayed there also.
What has been the greatest challenge for your business? The biggest challenge was to show that a 19-year-old kid can do it and they saw me working from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. right off the bat and for more than 20 years with that work schedule so I could make my $5,000 dollar a month payment.
What is the most popular product/item at your business/restaurant? Popular item is our sizzler steak.
What is a Wyoming/Kentwood business you like to visit during your free time? Cherry Health, 2929 Burlingame Ave. SW, in Wyoming. It is a non-profit but they do so many great things.
You’re running into a store for a quick second to drop something off or pick something up. The closest open spot is a marked handicapper, van accessible parking spot. What’s the maximum amount of time that you can park in marked spot designated for people with disabilities, without a visible plate, placard, or sticker?
0 minutes; you must have a visible plate, placard, or sticker
10 minutes
15 minutes
30 minutes
I’m not sure, I’ll check back on Thursday
For the answer, make sure to check back on Thursday.
American Boxer Buster Mathis (right) in Sweden. (Wikipedia/Public Domain)
In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford encouraged the nation to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” This month, Photo of the Week will celebrate Black History Month with a weekly spotlight on contributions from Black Americans from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas.
Above is a picture of American boxer Buster Mathis, who lived in Wyoming. Mathis had a successful career as an amateur heavy weight and qualified for the 1964 Olympics. He had to bow out due to an injury with Joe Frazier taken his place. Frazier would win a gold medal during those Olympic games. Mathis turned profession in 1965 and faced Frazier for the New York State Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Title. Frazier won on a 11th-round knockout. Mathis retired in 1969 but came out of retirement to fight Muhammad Ali in 1971. Mathis suffered from several health issues and died in his Wyoming home in 1995. He was 51.
Did your New Year’s resolution to lose 2020’s COVID weight gain stall out by the end of January? Maybe you need a new approach. I’ve been impressed with the macro approach to weight loss. You only have to think about the three macros, short for macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are the nutrients your body needs in smaller amounts. Whether you follow a vegan, paleo, Mediterranean, or USDA MyPlate diet, you can make macros work for you.
With a macro diet, you focus on getting a certain number of grams from each of the three macros. This approach helps ensure that you are getting the nutrients your body needs—the best way to use macros to lose weight is to choose healthy, whole foods.
Fats have gotten a bad rap but your body actually needs them – but hold the fries. Healthy fats help your body convert calories to energy, support organ health, and cell growth, and enable your body to absorb vital nutrients. Chow down on avocados, tree nuts, and seeds. (We love pepitas—pumpkin seeds.) Cook with olive or grapeseed oil. Experts now tell us that bacon fat is OK, as long as the bacon is uncured, preferably from free range pork, and has no harmful additives like nitrates and nitrites.
Healthy carbs provide fiber, naturally. Dig deep on the grocer’s shelf for 100% whole grain breads. Fresh fruits and veggies are also fiber-rich carbs, especially dark, leafy greens. Cook up a pot of black beans and brown rice with a side of home-cooked collards or kale. Now we’re talking healthy carbs.
When you think “protein,” your first thought might be meat. And you’re right. Lean cuts of chicken, turkey, or beef and fatty fish (think salmon or mackerel) are great meat-based proteins. Eggs, milk, and cheese also provide a good amount. Plant-based protein options offer an inexpensive way to meet your body’s protein needs. Legumes (like black beans or unsweetened peanut butter), tree nuts, tofu, and seitan are a few examples.
So how do you count your macros? How much do you need of each? That depends on your weight loss goals and physical activity. You can find a great macro calculator at FreeDieting.com that even lets you figure in the kind of diet you want to follow, e.g., keto. In general, you should eat 30% fat, 30% protein, and 40% carbs if you exercise an hour or less every day. Those numbers shift to 25% fat, 30% protein, and 45% carbs if you exercise one or two hours every day.
Maintaining your ideal weight and eating nutrient rich foods are two ways you can achieve optimal health. But sometimes, doing those two things can be difficult, especially if you have other health concerns. Before you start any diet, check in with your medical doctor or a certified nutritionist to get the go-ahead. And don’t forget to get adjusted by your chiropractor on your journey to better health. An aligned spine improves the function of your nervous system and supports the health of your body’s organs, which in turn can impact your metabolism and cravings.
When Thelma Ensink decided to step down as the administrator for Calvin Christian Schools, all she knew was the calling to go back to her roots and work with the most vulderable population.
Within a few months, the Wyoming resident would discover a possible direction as Marge Palmerlee, the longtime executive director for Dégagé Ministries, had announced her plans to retire.
“When I did hear about that position opening up, I thought this is the right fight,” Ensink said. “This is the type of organization I wanted to serve in this next chapter of my career.”
Born and raised in South Africa during apartheid, Ensink said her experiences ignited “a passion for social justice because I grew up around racial injustice.” Her family immigrated to the United States, settling in the Grand Rapids.
Ensink attend Calvin University and through a friend’s suggestion became a paramedic, which introduced her to Dégagé Ministries, where she learned the residents’ stories were not that much different form her own.
“In may ways they were living lives just like mine until there was a tragic event or maybe they served in the military and that sent their life into a very different course,” she said. “All of sudden they find themselves experiencing poverty, being without a home, being without the resources and relations to be in a stable place.”
Ensink did not forget those stories through her career which included working at a rural Ionia medical practice and serving as a teacher and administrator for Calvin Christian Schools.
Heeding the call to work with the most vulnerable population, Ensink decided to leave Calvin Christian Schools last spring.
“I just knew I wanted to work in that field, so I kind of took a step of faith, stepping away from the education world and really seeking the right opportunity,” Ensink said.
Now in the Dégagé director position for about a month, Ensink said she is enjoying the opportunity to work with the staff and volunteers.
She admits it has been an interesting time to step into the role as many, because of the pandemic, are facing hardships for the first time.
“We are focused right now on the immediate needs and looking forward to when we can welcome our volunteers back and host community events,” Ensink said.
Also this past October, Degage broke ground on a new $6 million project that will expand services to the area’s homeless and low-income families. Part of that project includes a sleeping area for those who are on third shift and a recovery area for those who had surgery.
For more on Dégagé Ministries, its projects and needs, visit degageministries.com.
A winter run for a good cause with costumes — sounds like another fun day in Kentwood.
The City of Kentwood will host its 4th annual Valentine’s Dash 5K — with Valentine’s-themed costumes encouraged — on Saturday, Feb. 13, to benefit Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry, which provides food and personal care items to community members in need.
“We’re excited to roll out a new route for this year’s Valentine’s Dash 5K that features a great combination of trails and paved pathways in two Kentwood parks,” Spencer McKellar, race organizer, said in supplied material. “Whether you plan to run with your sweetheart or run solo, this 5K is a great way to kick off the holiday weekend and foster a love for running.”
The 5K route will include a combination of trails and paved pathways starting and ending at East Paris Nature Park, 5995 East Paris Ave. SE. The course will take participants from East Paris Nature Park to Paris Park via the Paul Henry-Thornapple Trail and back to the finish line.
COVID-19 precautionary measures will be in place, including staggered start times beginning at 11 a.m., required face coverings at packet pickup and physical distancing.
While intended to be a fun run, the race will be chip timed. Awards for the fastest men and women in six age categories and overall will be available for pickup at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, the week after the event or can be mailed upon request.
Online registration is $25 until Feb. 12 and includes a long-sleeve shirt while supplies last. Day-of registration is $35. Runners who sign up as a couple save $5 each. If participants bring a non-perishable item or monetary donation for Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry, they will be entered to win a special door prize.
The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department is seeking volunteers to assist with the event. Those interested can sign up online.
Kentwood’s first Little Free Pantry opened to the community in 2017 at the Kentwood Activities Center, where it remains available year-round during business hours. The City recently launched a second pantry at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch. More information, including a list of suggested donations, is available at kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.
Every visit to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a different experience than any other — there is always something new blooming in the gardens, or up on the art gallery’s walls, or a sculpture placed in a new or changed setting in the nearly 160 acres of land encompassing the West Michigan entertainment and cultural landmark.
And the last three years, there has even been even more changes to the Gardens’s buildings and grounds as part of a massive expansion — changes that are near completion with the recent opening of the new Welcome Center.
The WKTV Journal In Focus team recently visited for a special interview with David Hooker, president & CEO of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
We talked about the Gardens nearing the end of its multi-year expansion, the successful completion of a $115 million dollar capital campaign that funded it all, as well as keeping the doors open in 2020 despite pandemic restrictions.
Mr. Hooker also discussed the beautiful mystery that is the future of the Garden’s “natural area” — a one-time golf course but at this time unplanned area of donated land adjacent to the current park.
Fred and Lena Meijer portraits hanging at the gardens.
And Mr. Hooker has plenty of stories about Fred and Lena, but did you ever hear the story about his beginning experience at Meijer Gardens? Bet it is not what you think!
For more information about Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, visit meijergardens.org.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Pretty Lights
The wintery fun continues downtown with the exhibit “Ice Luminaries” running this weekend only, Jan. 29 – Feb. 2. The exhibit features 10 giant icicles with lights frozen in the center that will light the way along the Gillett Bridge located near Ah-Nab-Awen Park. While out and about, make sure to check out the other exhibits such as HYBYCOZO,” a series of large-scale installations and artworks that investigate geometric exploration and patterns through light, shadow, and perception, located at Ah-Nab-Awen Park. For more, click here.
We are suppose to be getting a snowstorm on Sunday, which means you might have some downtime. If so, the Kent ISD Board of Education is asking community members for their input on Kent ISD’s next superintendent. The 14-question survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete, asks participants to rank skills, character and education traits in determining what qualities would make a good superintendent. Surveys must be turned in by Jan. 31.
William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse on Detroit’s Belle Isle Park. (Wikipedia/Public Domain)
Fun Fact
Michigan has the distinction of the state with the most lighthouses and perhaps one of the most unique is the William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse, which is made entirely of George marble. Located on Detroit’s Belle Isle, the marble was selected because the builders knew that it would have to withstand Michigan weather. The 58-foot structure has a 47-foot shaft with a bronze light at the top that still functions today. It was completed in 1930 at the cost of about $100,000. William Livingstone was a prominent Detroit resident who was best known for his shipping accomplishments on the Great Lakes, including the creation of a deep-water channel in the lower Detroit River which became known as the Livingstone Channel. For a peek inside the lighthouse, click here.
With gyms and parks closed and people sheltering in place, it is easy to see how people have been able to gain weight during the pandemic.
Obesity can aid in worsting the effects of COVID as well as lead to diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
But now is the perfect time for people to make healthy lifestyle changes, according to Dr. Afriyie Randle, the host of WKTV’s Medical Moments.
They key to doing this is scheduling a routine: plan your bedtime, your meals and everyday, wake up and dress for success.
Cook new foods and add fruit, vegetables and grains to your diet. Try a new form of exercise such as yoga or tai chi.
Now is a good time to access your lifestyle and make some healthy changes. Get to know you again. Remember losing weight is possible in this pandemic, just create a plan and do it.
The Tri-unity Christian boys basketball (shown here in a 2019 practice) is one of the many local sports teams currently unable to hold full-contact practices or compete. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Anybody hoping for the rapid resumption of high school winter contact sports such as basketball and wrestling — athletes, coaches, parents and fans — after the successful state-approved fall sports rapid testing pilot program, are going to be disappointed.
Despite the touted success of the recent testing of football and volleyball players engaged in contact sports, in a dual effort of both the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), the testing protocol will not be used for winter sports. And, so, current plans are that it will be at least Feb. 21 before prep basketball, hockey, wrestling and competitive cheer can begin competition.
“The purpose of the pilot (program) was always to ease the pathway to expanded use of antigen testing to support school reopening, which is the state’s priority given limited testing resources,” Bob Wheaton, MDHHS public information officer, said to WKTV this week.
The MHSAA “also have said all along that MDHHS told us testing would never be an option for winter sports,” Geoff Kimmerly, MHSAA assistant director for communications, said to WKTV. But the state governing body for high school sports still touts the success of the program and advocates for the beginning of winter contact sports, even without rapid testing.
The South Christian High School football team returns to practice Wednesday, Dec. 30, after mandated COVOD-19 testing was completed. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“This past weekend the MHSAA concluded its remaining Fall tournaments with 11-Player Football Finals,” a Jan. 27 statement from the MHSAA reads. “Earlier this month, Girls Volleyball, Lower Peninsula Girls Swimming & Diving and 8-Player Football Finals were competed to conclude those seasons.
“All four were allowed to complete their seasons because those teams took part in the MDHHS rapid testing pilot program. Results of that program were overwhelmingly positive. A total of 5,376 individuals (athletes, coaches, team personnel, cheerleaders, etc.) were tested, and 57 — or 1 percent — tested positive at some point in the pilot. Nearly 30,000 rapid antigen tests were administered — and 99.8 percent were negative.”
(According to the statement, the statistics were through Jan. 19, and were provided to the MHSAA by the MDHHS.)
And MHSAA leadership clearly believes not allowing Michigan athletes to return to the basketball courts and wrestling mats is unfair and could be putting the athletes at a greater risk of COVID-19 infection.
“Each week, we see hundreds of examples of children and families competing in non-school competition, both in-state and out-of-state,” Mark Uyl, MHSAA executive director , said in the Jan. 27 statement. “This not only is in violation of current MDHHS orders, but sending all of these families into different states will only become an impediment to getting students back in school full time.
“But we can contribute to students returning to in-person learning by allowing MHSAA member schools to begin full activities, participating locally and against more local competition, and under the guidance of trained, professional educators,” Uyl said.
State’s goal is safe communities and schools, first
“Counties around the country have faced outbreaks of COVID-19 associated with sports teams,” MDHHS’s Wheaton said to WKTV. “In Michigan, there were 42 outbreaks associated with athletics (K-12 schools, professional, collegiate, and commercial venues) in August and September 2020 before restrictions on contact sports were implemented … Outbreaks of this magnitude have the potential to affect not just a sports team, but the community in which the players and coaches reside as well.”
Competitive cheerleading is just one of several high school winter sports on hold at this time. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Sports that require “frequent closeness between players” — including basketball and wrestling — make it more difficult to prevent disease transmission, according to the MDHHS. And the risk of COVID-19 transmission is increased by the number of individuals a player physically interacts with, as well as the intensity and duration of that interaction.
“The arrival of the new B.1.1.1.7 variant also means even more caution must be taken so we avoid the rapid rise in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths that other countries that have seen this variant have experienced,” Wheaton said.
“Even with mitigation measures in place, such as wearing of masks, disease transmission cannot be completely prevented when players are in prolonged or intense contact,” Wheaton continued. “These risks are even greater for indoor contact sports where there is not natural ventilation to mitigate the close proximity of participants. Teams that can implement robust public health measures may be able to decrease risk, but risk remains elevated.”
And when asked about when contact sports might be able to begin in 2021, Wheaton said that is at unknown at this time — for several reasons, including the lack of resources to implement a more widespread rapid testing program.
“Contact sports can be more safely played at this time when teams undertake significant infection control steps that include testing participants at least three times a week on alternating days, ensuring no social contact outside of school and the team, and supervision by medical staff,” Wheaton said. “It is not easy to meet these standards, and typically requires institutional support from a college or university, or professional sports organization, to have sufficient resources and infrastructure to comply.
In the fall sports pilot program, about 200 schools that allowed several thousand high school athletes to safely complete their fall volleyball, football, and swimming and diving championships under these protocols, according to the MDHHS. But the enhanced testing during this pilot uncovered dozens of positive cases that could have otherwise spread to the rest of the team and their communities.
“We will continue to carefully watch the data to assess what other activities can be permitted,” Wheaton said in conclusion.
And the MHSAA will be ready when — and if — the state allows winter contact sports to begin.
“We have said from the start of the 2020-21 school year that we would do everything possible to have three seasons, and play all three to completion,” Uyl has previously said. “Our strong advocacy for all sports and seasons — and especially winter sports —continues every day.”
Kent ISD Ron Caniff retired in December. (Supplied)
Do you feel the next Kent ISD superintendent should have a doctorate degree? Should he or she have been a principal? Should he or she be a good listener?
These are just some of the traits that the Kent Board of Education is asking the community to weigh in on the Kent ISD Superintendent Search Stakeholder Survey. The data from the survey will be compiled to build a profile that will be used in the superintendent search, which is being facilitated by the Michigan Association of School Boards.
The survey consists of 14 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. It asks participants to consider and rate the education level, experience, expertise, skills, and characteristics they feel are important to have in a Kent ISD superintendent. The anonymous survey is open to all community members — residents, business leaders, teacher, and Kent ISD staff.
Kent Intermediate Superintendent Ron Caniff retired in December after more than 30 years in education, the last eight as the superintendent for the Kent ISD. Ron Koehler is serving as interim superintendent.
Applications for the Kent ISD superintendent are being accepted through March 15. The Kent ISD Board of Education hopes to have a new superintendent in place by July 1.
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health’s newest outpatient office is now open, bringing more services, including heart and vascular specialists, to East Grand Rapids, Cascade and surrounding areas.
Metro Health Beltline, at 1310 E. Beltline Ave. SE, just north of Lake Drive, replaces a smaller clinic on Cascade Road. All the providers from that office are relocating to the East Beltline site, and their phone numbers will not change.
The building’s modern design emphasizes a patient-centered concierge atmosphere. Nurse triage spaces provide convenient access for walk-in patients. The office is equipped with technology that allows self-rooming and self-checkout to reduce patient wait time and promote safety.
“As we enter a new world of healthcare delivery, this office is an example of Metro Health’s commitment to finding new and innovative ways to deliver quality care to our patients,” said Dr. Rakesh Pai, Chief Population Health Officer and President of the Medical Group.
At 30,500 square feet, the office is Metro Health’s largest primary care site. It has the capacity to accommodate up to 20 providers and 55 staff, caring for between 400 and 500 patients a day.
The office’s comprehensive services include family practice, sports medicine, internal medicine, behavioral health and diabetes education. Additionally, with adult and pediatric heart and vascular specialists, patients will have the choice of seeing their cardiologist at the main hospital or the East Beltline location. Heart and vascular services offered include chest x-rays, electrocardiograms (EKG / ECG), stress echocardiogram exercise or medication, graded exercise tests (GXT) and continuous portable telemetry monitoring.
With two patient care levels, the building also includes on-site x-ray and laboratory services. The office is open 7am to 5pm weekdays, with walk-in visits accepted. Call 616-252-1500 or visit Metro Health’s website for more information.
“We’re all looking forward to maintaining a relationship with our existing patients in this new location, where they will have convenient access to a wider range of services,” said Dr. Edwin Kornoelje, Metro Health Beltline Site Director. “At the same time, we look forward to adding new patients to the Metro Health family.”
By Office Jenni Eby Wyoming Department of Public Safety
This week’s Traffic Tuesday question focused on accidents and what information to collect.
During snowstorms when there are a lot of minor crashes and long police response times, drivers are sometimes “ordered in” to the police department after a crash. That means that if both vehicles are driveable and no one is injured, the drivers are asked to exchange information and come in to the police department to make a crash report on another day. What information do you need to exchange for both drivers?
Only driver names
Only names and phone numbers
Only names, phone numbers, and vehicle information
Names, phone numbers, vehicles information, and insurance information
I’m not sure, I’ll check back on Thursday!
The answer is 4) Names, phone numbers, vehicle descriptions and insurance information.
Make sure to get the first and last name of the other driver, their phone number, the name of their insurance company and the policy number, and the vehicle description. Remember CYMBAL for the vehicle description: Color, year, make/model, body style (2 door/4 door/pickup/van, etc), additional (damage, bumper stickers, things that make it unique), and license plate number.
As part of its continued efforts to ensure the well-being and safety of its family of associates, customers and communities during the coronavirus pandemic, SpartanNash has partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, along with state programs in all states the company operates in, to offer the COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with the nationwide rollout plan.
The vaccine will be administered at no cost to patients and will be available at each of SpartanNash’s 88 company-owned pharmacies, such as Family Fare, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery, Family Fresh Market, and Forest Hills Foods. SpartanNash operates stores in Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Store guests may sign up to be notified when the vaccine is available at their nearest SpartanNash pharmacy atshopfamilyfare.com/covid19vaccine.
“With multiple COVID-19 vaccinations approved and ready for broad distribution in the coming months, SpartanNash and our family of retail pharmacies are here for our store guests, and we are committed to providing them with a safe, clean environment to receive this important vaccine,” EVP and Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer Lori Raya said. “Our pharmacists have and will continue to play an important role in the fight against the coronavirus, providing critical care for the communities we serve. You can trust us to provide safe access to the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available.”
To ensure the safety of both store guests and pharmacists as well as the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, customers will schedule an appointment and complete a health screening prior to receiving the vaccination. These measures ensure low wait times and appropriate social distancing efforts, as well as allowing customers to receive their second dose in a timely manner.
During the scheduled vaccination appointment, the pharmacist will administer a contact-free temperature reading, and both the pharmacist and the customer will be required to wear a medical grade face mask, provided by SpartanNash as an additional safety measure.
Following the COVID-19 vaccination, customers will be visually monitored by the SpartanNash pharmacist who administered the vaccine for a brief period of time.
To maximize access to COVID-19 vaccines for all Americans, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced the U.S. government’s partnerships with large chain pharmacies and networks that represent independent pharmacies and regional chains. Through the partnership with pharmacy chains, this program covers approximately 60 percent of pharmacies throughout the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Wyoming Public Schools Athletic Director Ted Hollern could not give a specific timeframe for replacing Wolves head varsity football coach Irv Sigler Jr. — who resigned his coaching position last week after four seasons — but there is a sense of urgency.
The Wolves need a head coach “as soon as possible,” Hollern said this week to WKTV. “We need him now.”
Sigler, who will continue as Dean of Students at Wyoming High School, spent four seasons coaching the Wolves as part of a 30-year coaching career including work at Cadillac (1993-1997), Grandville (1998-2004), Kell High School in Marietta, Ga., (2005-2007) and Jenison (2008-2012). Prior to coming to Wyoming, he served as the offensive coordinator at Hope College.
“I just decided this is a good time after 30 years of coaching,” Sigler said this week to WKTV. “There are some other things I’d like to do. I’m not completely done coaching but this is more of a pause. I love working at (Wyoming high) and look forward to it every day.”
And his work at Wyoming high is certainly appreciated by the Wolves community.
Wyoming High School AD Ted Hollern. (WKTV)
“Just want to say how grateful Wyoming Public Schools is for everything (Sigler) has done for our kids … and I know people out in the community do also,” Hollern said. “He has done a tremendous job, there is no question about it.”
As far as the process of hiring a new head football coach, Hollern said “right now, we are reaching out to our stakeholders, to get as much input as we possibly can. The kids, the parents, the coaches … to find out what they want in the leadership of our football program.”
Then they will post the job and start the interview and hiring process.
As Sigler steps away for the sidelines, for however long, he does so with appreciation for his four seasons leading the Wolves.
“I want to thank everyone in the Wyoming community, school district, teachers administration and especially the young men who’ve played in our program,” Sigler said in a reported statement last week. “Our coaching staff has served with honor and dignity — our assistant coaches are the finest people.
“It has been my honor to be a Wolf. I spent a lot of time in thought and prayer, and this is a good time to turn the page.”
Wyoming was 1-4 this 2020-21 season, and lost two weeks of games in the middle of the season due to pandemic issues. Earlier in 2020, Sigler was honored as the West Michigan Officials Association Coach of the Year in 2019.
“I feel very honored, but it is truly a reflection of our program, players and assistant coaches,” Sigler said to WKTV about the Coach of the Year honor. “It is more significant than any award I’ve received in coaching. … It means so much to me, because officials have the chance to see coaches at our best and our worst. To know that I’ve earned the respect of this group of men tells me that we are doing things right as a team and program.”
Sigler’s other coaching accomplishments include MHSAA Regional Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2003 while at Grandville, the MHSFCA Community Service Award in 2009. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Adrian College in 1990 and his Master of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan in 1992.
LowellArts announces the debut of a new music program for 2021 – Featured Artist Series: Connecting You with the People Behind the Music – that offers audiences a personal, insider’s view into the current music scene from the perspective of West Michigan’s talented performers. The new program features one artist each month on the LowellArts website. Each Featured Artist of the Month consists of an in depth live-recorded video interview with the artist, an artist profile, and links to past performances. The program series will launch its first feature on Monday, Feb. 1, with Ryne Clarke of The Ryne Experience, who just released a new album called “The Onion Tree.”
The LowellArts Music Committee created this program as a way to support the local music community during the pandemic and beyond. Designed to further the LowellArts mission of connecting artists and audiences, this new series will give West Michigan listeners a chance to meet the people behind the music who have performed at LowellArts events.
Criteria for selecting performers for the series is that the artists must have previously entertained audiences at a past LowellArts event such as a LowellArts Gallery Concert, a Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concert, or at the LowellArts Fallasburg Arts Festival. Artists that participate in the program will be eligible to sell CD’s, albums, and digital downloads in the LowellArts gallery as part of a soon-to-be established Gallery Music Store and On-line Store.
The interviewer will ask the artist to talk about a variety of topics such as: how the break from performing due to the pandemic has affected them; how music has changed since they first started performing or recording; and/or how they feel the relationship between artist and listener is evolving in the age of digital streaming services. The interviewer will also invite the artist to perform a song, live for the video interview.
In addition to the Featured Artist of the Month being highlighted on the LowellArts website and social media outlets, the vision is to reach a wider audience by collaborating with media partners. LowellArts is seeking media partners who, upon making a formal commitment, will have the rights to re-publish the content of the feature including; the video interview, article text, photos, pre-pandemic performance video links, and links to the artist website and merchandise. Please contact LowellArts at 616-897-8545 or lorain@lowellartsmi.org if you are interested in becoming a media partner.
The new West Michigan Vaccine Clinic is up and running and within the first day vaccines about 800, according to officials.
The new venture, which is a partnership between Spectrum Health, Kent County Health Department, Mercy Health St. Mary’s, the new clinic is designed to provide a central location to area residents with the goal of vaccinating up to 20,000 people a day.
Currently, clinic is vaccinating to the amount of vaccine that is made available. For the first week, the hope is to vaccinate 8,500 people, according to Spectrum Health Public Relations Corporate Manager Ellen Bristol.
One of the concerns has been parking, which according to Spectrum Health Chief Operating Officer Brian Brasser, who is overseeing the West Michigan Vaccine Clinic, said people can park below the facility with the first two hours of parking waived. This will be enough time for a person to go through the line and receive the vaccine, Brasser said.
This week, The Rapid announced it has several bus routes that provide service to or near DeVos Place.
The routes with direct service is Lake Line, Silver Line, Route 11, and DASH North.
Bus routes that have stops near DeVos Place are Route 9 (Alpine), Route 13 (Michigan/Fuller) and DASH West.
Also, GO! Bus riders can call to schedule a ride to DeVos Place at 616-454-6141.
To view bus schedules and plan a trip, visit ridetherapid.org or call 616-776-1100 with questions.
By Office Jenni Eby Wyoming Department of Public Safety
During snowstorms when there are a lot of minor crashes and long police response times, drivers are sometimes “ordered in” to the police department after a crash. That means that if both vehicles are driveable and no one is injured, the drivers are asked to exchange information and come in to the police department to make a crash report on another day. What information do you need to exchange for both drivers?
Only driver names
Only names and phone numbers
Only names, phone numbers, and vehicle information
Names, phone numbers, vehicles information, and insurance information
I’m not sure, I’ll check back on Thursday!
Check back at the wktvjournal.org on Thursday for the answer.
