A large percentage of Michigan nonprofit organizations face risks of a break in operational continuity due to a lack of cash on hand, according to an analysis of tax return data by the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University.
Researchers used data from 2015 and 2017 IRS 990 tax forms to set a baseline for where Michigan’s nonprofits began 2020 financially, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Using that data, they determined the median number of months of cash on hand for Michigan charitable nonprofits (excluding hospitals and college/universities) is two months. That number increases to five-and-a-half months counting cash and cash equivalents. Both figures are identical to the national average for U.S. charitable nonprofits.
According to the analysis, one-third of Michigan’s charitable nonprofits have less than one month of cash on hand. These organizations employ two-thirds of the sector’s employees: more than 163,000 people work for nonprofits with less than one month’s cash on hand. Those organizations pay $4.8 billion each year in salaries and benefits. Researchers say until nonprofits are operational again, Michigan’s return to “normal” employment will be at risk.
These same low-cash nonprofits reported engaging 431,622 volunteers, which is nearly half of the 1 million volunteers reported on all Michigan 990 tax returns. The report indicates that until volunteers feel safe returning to nonprofits, these nonprofits are facing multiple perils: low cash along with a large decline in labor force in the form of employees and volunteers.
“There are still many uncertainties about how COVID-19 will affect nonprofits in Michigan and elsewhere,” said Jeff Williams, director of the Johnson Center’s Community Data and Research Lab. “What we do know is that, in nearly all cases, recovery is not a single event. It will be messy, iterative, and it will likely take years to reach.”
With nonprofits at risk due to a lack of cash, some nonprofit experts are calling for private foundations, which are required by law to pay out 5 percent of their endowment value each year, to distribute more than that amount this year.
Williams and the Johnson Center data team ran a simulation to determine what might happen to endowments in different market and payout scenarios.
Their findings suggest that payouts from private foundations can double or triple in 2020, while still maintaining at least 80 percent of their current value by the end of 2024, unless the country faces a long recovery. Williams said if COVID-19 economic shocks pass through the financial markets even by the end of next year, increased payouts will have very little effect on a five-year outlook, and will largely be erased after 10 to 20 years of compounding earnings.
More details on the Johnson Center’s findings are available at JohnsonCenter.org.
According to the CDC website, cloth face coverings are recommended as “a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the cloth face covering coughs, sneezes, talks or raises their voice.”
“For outdoor gatherings, masking remains key in preventing transmission,” said Doreen Marcinek, manager of infection prevention at Spectrum Health. “If unable to mask for health reasons, social distancing of at least 6 feet is recommended.”
It’s all about the fabric
Light color masks will be cooler than dark as they do not absorb ultraviolet light. (WKTV)
During warms days, Marcinek recommends wearing a cotton mask as it may be more comfortable. Cotton is a more breathable option than other fabrics, but it can also absorb sweat, which could cause issues on hot and humid days. Marcinek said she encourages people to carry a couple of masks with them so they can switch the masks out if one does become saturated.
Another light weight option are masks made form bamboo. According to The Miami Herald, bamboo is 40 percent more absorbent that organic cotton fabrics and it can absorb up to three times its weight in liquid. Bamboo is known for its insulation properties, allowing it to be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. It is hypoallergenic and eco-friendly. Also because of its antibacterial properties, its is less likely to develop an order.
Remember that lighter colors, white and pastels, tend to reflect ultraviolet rays and will be cooler than wearing darker colors such as black or dark blue.
If you can’t breathe, remove the mask
According to the CDC, if a person is having trouble breathing, it is OK to remove a mask. When the mask is removed, the person should adhere to the six feet of social distancing.
In fact, the CDC recommends the following people not wear masks:
Children 2 and under
Anyone who has trouble breathing
Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance.
There are other reasons as well for people not to wear masks, such as those who are hard of hearing and rely on reading lips and those who work in manufacturing where the strings of the mask could get caught in the machinery. For the list, click here.
Skin care important
A mask should cover the nose and the chin. Megan VanderMaas, a physician assistant at Metro Health Cosmetic Treatment Center said there are no special tricks or ways to wear a mask without compromising the integrity and fit of it.
“Wearing a mask for long hours you are bound to get irritation, potential acne, redness, etc.,” VanderMaas said. One of the thing she would recommend is keeping the face clean and free of make up. The makeup can build up under the mask and clog the pores. Washing the face in the morning and night will help remove any dirt and oils from the day.
VanderMaas said after wearing a mask, try putting on products that will help soothe and calm any area with irritation. Also making sure the skin is well hydrated and try to avoid harsh products that may irritate the skin more, she said.
Wash and repeat
Make sure to wash you cotton masks. The CDC recommends that cotton masks be washed daily and allowed to dry completely before wearing again.
Many publications recommend that you wash your mask in hot water and use high heat to dry to eliminate as many germs as possible. Also ironing a mask after washing will help to eliminate germs as well.
Basic health tips in dealing with hot weather
Our health experts mentioned that when the heat and humidity are high to take the normal precautions to avoid overheating or heat stroke. From the Metro Health – University of Michigan Health website:
Stay indoors and away from the sun.
If you must work outdoors, drink plenty of water and take breaks in the shade.
Wear light colored clothing that is lightweight and loose fitting and wear a hat.
The City of Kentwood announced to WKTV this week that a dozen or so city vehicles will parade throughout the community on Saturday, July 4, as a way “to celebrate Independence Day safely in lieu of its traditional celebration activities this year.”
The city did much the same as a truck tour last month in celebration of national Public Works Week. See a WKTV video of the event here.
The July 4 parade will begin at 9 a.m. on the western border of the city, near the intersection of Division Avenue and Maplelawn Street, and travel toward the eastern border the city, ending about 11 a.m. near the intersection of Burton Street and Forest Meadows Court.
A small scale map if at the bottom of this story. The full parade route and tentative timeline is available online at kentwood.us/july4. The timeline is tentative as the parading vehicles will be traveling at a faster speed on main roads and at a slower speed on residential roads, according to the city’s webpage on the event.
Residents are invited to watch the parade from the nearest street to their home on the parade route but, according to the city statement, to practice physical distancing from others when they do so.
“The City of Kentwood is pleased to be able to offer a safe, alternate way of engaging with our community on the Fourth of July,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “It is our hope to inspire joy and celebration for America’s independence by bringing the traditional parade to residents throughout the Kentwood community.”
In early June, the City of Kentwood decided to join other communities in canceling this year’s annual July 4 celebration.
“Due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and restrictions on large group gatherings, the City Commission voted against hosting the event this summer out of an abundance of caution,” according to the city statement.
The fireworks show planned for July 4 has been postponed to the Kentwood Food Truck Festival this fall.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-134 on June 26 which extended the temporary suspension of evictions until July 15 and created the Eviction Diversion Program.
According to a statement from the state, the diversion program outlines a process for renters “to get fast rental assistance or establish a manageable payment plan” to keep residents in their homes. Rental assistance under the Eviction Diversion Program will be available beginning July 16.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (State of Michigan)
“No Michigander should have to worry about losing their home during a global health pandemic and, at the same time, landlords and management companies need rent from their tenants to sustain their businesses,” Gov. Whitmer said in supplied material. “This innovative new program will save lives, save money, and save businesses by keeping families in their homes and providing immediate financial relief to landlords for back rent they’re due.”
Under Executive Order 2020-134, $50 million of rental assistance will be made available in the form of lump sum payments to landlords in exchange for allowing tenants to remain in their homes, forgiving late fees and up to 10 percent of the amount due.
Tenants whose back rent is not completely covered by the Eviction Diversion Program will be entered into manageable payment plans facilitated by Supreme Court Administrative Order 2020-17.
The program was created following the passage of Senate Bill 690, which passed unanimously out of both the Michigan House and Senate on June 17. The legislation appropriated $60 million in Coronavirus Relief Funding to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity for the creation of a rental assistance program to assist tenants and landlords after the eviction moratorium concludes.
There’s no feeling like coming home after a long day. As seniors age, it becomes important to them that they have a home in which they can feel safe, relaxed, and secure. However, this can become a major sticking point that makes seniors unwilling to move to care communities like assisted living.
Many seniors want to age in place, or have a single home that they live in for as long as possible. For most, this means their family home. But, as they age, more and more older adults need assistance that they cannot provide for themselves—which makes staying at home difficult on themselves and their families.
Rather than aging in place at a family home, assisted living provides seniors with opportunities to age in a community that can provide them with care and personal services—along with other benefits—as needed, rather than moving multiple times when new care concerns arise.
Why seniors think they need to live at home
Seniors want to stay in their familiar homes for many reasons, which aren’t limited to but can include:
Not wanting to burden or trouble their families with a move to a senior care community
Guilt or shame about growing older
Wanting to avoid thinking about serious health concerns
Many seniors also have images in their heads of dull and dreary nursing homes, where they are confined to small rooms and lose all their self-sufficiency in a single day. There also is a common misconception about how much senior living costs. Aging adults might think staying at home is a less expensive option, when the opposite is often true.
Challenges that arise later in life
It’s a sad but true fact that many seniors experience a steep decline in their ability to care for themselves after they turn 70. In fact, over 75% of seniors have a serious chronic illness they likely need assistance with, and health concerns can’t always be addressed by a family member.
The longer a senior and their family wait to start looking at senior care options, the more limited their options become. It’s hard to find the right place to meet a seniors’ individual needs when:
You aren’t sure what care needs a loved one might need in the future
In addition, moving to senior living when there is no longer a choice can make things physically, emotionally, and mentally draining on both seniors and their families. And having in-home care when looking for living arrangements can become incredibly expensive.
Benefits of aging in assisted living
Assisted living communities understand the fears and reluctance that seniors have about leaving their family home. They work to provide a comfortable environment where seniors get the care they need as new conditions and needs develop over time.
When seniors make the move to assisted living before their condition becomes dire, they have time to readjust to a new community. Most assisted living communities even provide catered living for seniors who don’t need specific care services yet, but want some of the messy parts of life like laundry and cleaning taken care of for them.
Assisted living provides a variety of services that don’t take independence away from seniors, but give help in needed areas. These areas include:
Bathing & dressing
Personal care
Moving around the community
Medication management
Housekeeping
Meal planning & cooking
Moving to assisted living also helps reduce the stress on family members. Living at a family home may seem like a great idea for seniors, until they need everyday help and a child or other family member has to put their career and personal life on hold to become a full-time caregiver.
Living independently and aging in place at Vista Springs
Assisted living communities like Vista Springs offer many benefits that seniors can’t get when they age at a family home. These include:
Vista Springs offers everything from catered living to skilled nursing care to hospice and palliative care for end-of-life services. With this wide array of options, seniors can find a new home and age in place at Vista Springs!
It’s important for seniors to feel comfortable and secure in their home as they age. But living at home can create problems down the line. When seniors move to assisted living before a situation becomes desperate, they can enjoy incredible benefits during their golden years.
Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.
Oh how we hate to start off by being the bearer of bad news, but according to state law, fireworks are allowed June 29 – July 4. So if you are planning to light up the skies this weekend, don’t. If you get caught, you could face upwards of a $1,000 civil fine. For more on the rules and how to prepare your pets, click here.
Give Some Love to Local Businesses
Independents Week starts Saturday. Hosted by LocalFirst, this special event celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit by supporting local businesses who could use a lot of love right now after being closed for 10 weeks or more. Starting on Monday are different themes each day to help inspire residents on how they can be supportive. For more information, click here.
Feeding the mind and the stomach
The KDL Kentwood, Kelloggsville, and Wyoming branches will all be offering the Meet Up and Eat Up program. a free lunch program for K-12 students. (WKTV).
The Kent District Library announced it has expanded the Meet Up and Eat Up summer food program for K-12 students. Students can visit one of 12 KDL branches such as Kentwood, Wyoming or Kelloggsville, and receive a free meal. Click here for more information. Kent ISD has announced the program Summer Brain Gain for students in K-12. The program is designed help students stay sharp over the summer and avoid the usual knowledge drain that happens when students are out of school for a long period of time. The program is offered through Aug. 7. For more, click here.
An early design to provide cool air to car passengers. (Wikipedia)
Fun Fact
When the temperatures and humidity are high, we all enjoy a little cool air as we drive around in our automobiles. We have Detroit’s Packard Motor Car Company to thank for this luxury. In 1939, the company was the first automobile manufacturer to offer an air conditioning option. Made by Bishop and Babcock (B&B) of Cleveland, Ohio, the units were large, taking up half the trunk space. The system also was not reliable and had no temperature control. The option was discontinued in 1941 with other companies eventually perfecting the air condition option for cars. While air conditioning (amongst other things) has become a standard on today’s automobile that was not always the case about 40 years ago. Air conditions partly become popular because it was more aerodynamic for the car windows to be closed while going down the road then opened to cool off the riders.
The Kent County Health Department is partnering with the Black Impact Collaborative and LINC UP to provide a free COVID-19 community testing today, Monday, June 29, from 2 to 7 p.m., at the Gallery at LINC UP located at 1167 Madison S.E., Grand Rapids.
The county announcement is also available in Spanish at the link at the end of this story.
In Kent County, members of the Latinx community account for 39.4 percent of the COVID-19 cases while comprising 10 percent of the population, while African Americans have 19.25 percent of the cases but make up 10 percent of the population.
Federal CDC-provided Coronavirus test kit. (KCHD)
“We know that COVID-19 has been disproportionately impacting the African American and Latinx communities, so the Black Impact Collaborative wanted to partner with Kent County to make sure that African Americans and Latinxs in our community have the opportunity to get tested,” Robert Womack, Kent County commissioner, said in supplied material. “This is such a needed resource for our community to allow anyone to get tested and we are thankful that the County put this testing day together.”
Any person, 6 months of age or older, can get tested, according to the county statement. Pre-registration for this event is encouraged by going online through this link or calling 616-632-7200 but walk-in testing is available.
The specific location of the free testing is based on county data.
“Our data is showing that 17 percent of our COVID-19 positive cases are located in the 49507 Zip Code and yet only six percent of Kent County’s population resides in this area,” Dr. Adam London, director of the Kent County Health Department, said in supplied material. “This type of data continues to inform our response to COVID-19 and ensures our resources are accessible to the most impacted neighborhoods.”
The county health department “will continue working to address the racial and ethnic health disparities by collaborating with community partners to offer testing in areas that are showing a higher prevalence of positive cases,” according to the county statement.
“We are excited to work with community partners like the Kent County Health Department, who recognize that racial health disparities exist and are actively working to address them by changing their practices,” Vincent Thurman, communications manager at LINC UP, said in supplied material. “COVID-19 has further revealed how stark these disparities are and how much needs to change.
“Partnering with KCHD is a great step forward to improving equity in healthcare. The data shows that Black and Brown communities are at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19 and we are happy to have free tasting available to residents in our neighborhoods.”
To learn more about Kent County Health Department services visit accesskent.com/health.
Krasl Art Center (KAC) has reopened its galleries and The Shop as of June 26. Policies for staff and guests are in place for the safety of all. KAC will operate under reduced hours and will announce opening of studios at a later date.
In the effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, KAC has adopted a Preparedness & Response Plan. KAC has adjusted office, gallery and shop hours of: Friday through Mondays: 11 AM – 5 PM; and open early at 9 AM on Saturdays. Krasl Art Center will be closed on July 4 in observance of Independence day.
In addition to a regimented cleaning schedule, all staff and persons who enter KAC must observe the following guidelines:
Use of face covering indoors is strictly required (Accommodations available for those who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons).
Wash or disinfect your hands upon entering the building, after using items touched by others, and when exiting the building.Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If unable to wash hands, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
A distance of no less than 6 feet must be maintained between people (both indoors and outdoors) who do not reside in the same household.
Guests will be required to sign in providing name, number in group and contact information.
No person-to-person contact such as shaking hands.
When sneezing or coughing, use the crook of your elbow or sneeze into a tissue, then dispose of the tissue.
Food and beverage consumption by guests is presently prohibited inside KAC buildings.
Do not touch your face, nose, and mouth, especially with unwashed hands.
KAC is thrilled to welcome the work of Charlie Brouwer whose sculptures have been installed at the corner of Pearl St. and along Lake Blvd. as part of a new outdoor exhibition: Human Interest: Four Figurative Sculptures, on view through Fall 2021.
Pieces by Charlie Brouwer have been installed for an outdoor exhibition.
Artist Charlie Brouwer brings to life poetry, whimsy and human emotion amidst the contemporary landscape through his figurative sculptures. He is an artist in search of the beautiful, true and good. These elements are evident in the four sculptures selected for this intimate outdoor exhibition, Human Interest: Four Figurative Sculptures, which draw upon childhood memories, rites of passage, and spirituality.
Brouwer and his wife Glenda live in Floyd County, Virginia. Living on 30 acres of land, they offer a mile-long sculpture trail to any who wish to make an appointment. It is his goal, especially in the current moment, that all enjoy the restorative qualities of art, the outdoors and contemplation. You can learn more about Brouwer’s work at krasl.org/art/exhibitions/
The indoor exhibitions, originally scheduled for March 13 through May 31 have been extended to August 31. Current exhibitions include Dex R. Jones: Storied Portraits in the main gallery and Barbara Cooper’s solo exhibition the artlab.
Influenced by the cultural richness of his Caribbean heritage and Pan-African studies, Dexter R. Jones unwaveringly removes the veil of self-conscious inhibition by eliminating preconceived notions of beauty. Instead, he masterfully reveals true splendor and regality, even amidst vulnerability. Jones relentlessly pushes the characterization of beauty not often seen.
Encompassing a mixture of texture, hues, flesh and heavy contrast in his editorial photography, his expertise in justly capturing women of vast shades is indicative of his strong matriarchal upbringing. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jones works on artistic projects, editorial assignments, and creative collaborations in both photography and film. Storied Portraits is Jones’ first solo show outside of New York and features 20 images produced in large-scale, further enhancing the vibrancy, strength and appeal of his artwork.
Artworks on view during Dex R. Jones: Storied Portraits are available for purchase through The Shop at Krasl Art Center. View a complete list of artworks for sale with pricing by visiting krasl.org. To make a purchase or for additional information, please email giftshop@krasl.org.
In the artlab, Chicago-based sculptor Barbara Cooper uses wood, books and glue to create elegantly structured artworks. Using nature as her starting point, the artist is inspired by the stresses and obstacles nature confronts. These evolutions in growth and form provide the foundation to her stunning sculptures.
Both exhibitions are available virtually at krasl.org.
The story of a 2019 cooperative project between the City of Kentwood police department and the Kentwood Public Schools Red Storm Robotics team, a robot that reached full operation in 2020, was a good news story early this year.
And despite Kentwood schools, and WKTV Journal, seeing big changes in how they did business starting in March due to the COVID-19 restrictions, it is still a good news story — a tool for Kentwood police to help them make better decisions in the field and an example of the high level of interaction between the city’s schools and city staff that Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley relentlessly advocates for.
“What I love about this is always investing in the next generation,” Mayor Kepley said in March when WKTV was producing a video project on the Red Storm Robotics project with the police department. “And this is just another opportunity, and really a great opportunity, to invest in the next generation. … The city working with the school, working with professionals, using technology, and more importantly investing in the very individuals who will be leading this community in the future.”
The police robot project is a prime example of not only engagement with the students but of also giving advanced students a lesson in real-world, on-the-job, design of robotic technology.
Of course, Red Storm was up to the challenge presented by the police department.
WKTV talked with Mayor Kepley, Kentwood Police Chief Richard Roberts and Sgt. Jeff Leonard, and instructors/parents of the Red Storm Robotics project, including Adam Veenendaal, Mark VanderVoord and Wendy Ljungern.
But most importantly, we talked with students of the program past and present, including Jason Gray-Moore, Kerim Puczek, Jacobi Thompson and Annalise Welch.
For more information on Kentwood Pubic Schools’ Red Storm Robotics program visit their website at redstormrobotics.com.
While fireworks and local community events may not be happening this July 4th, there is still a way for area residents to celebrate the nation’s birthday and give a little love to local businesses.
This year, LocalFirst has put together its first Independents Week, June 27 – July 4. The event, started by the American Independent Business Alliance or AMIBA, is designed to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirt by showcasing local businesses.
“We actually started working on this way before COVID,” said LocalFirst Marketing Manager Mieke Stoub during an interview with the WKTV Journal. “We had plans to make this something really big, but COVID had other plans.”
Area businesses have faced a lot of twists and turns as the state grappled with dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, which lead to many businesses being shutdown for at least 10 weeks. With public gatherings restricted and the future being decided on an almost day-by-day basis, LocalFirst staff were not certain if they could even host Independents Week.
“That has definitely been the name of the game – Pivoting in this fast past ever changing world when we don’ know quite what tomorrow’s news is going to be,” Stoub said. “We didn’t know that our businesses, if some of them would even be open at this point.”
The road has been rough for all businesses, especially the small locally owned ones.
“Our local businesses work on such thin margins,” Stoub said, adding that for restaurants, they need to be at a 100 percent capacity in order to make a profit. “So for the economy to come to a screeching halt that it has, it’s really a scary time for businesses and they need us to show up.”
With all the craziness and the fact that many businesses lost so much during the shutdown, LocalFirst recognized the need to host an event focused on independent business owners. So the work began to turn the Independents Week into a virtual event.
“We decided to make it super flexible, making it online as much as possible and really point people to local businesses and their social media to see the most recent updates,” Stoub said.
Show some love to a local business by visiting or purchasing a gift card. (Supplied)
To help area residents, LocalFirst created different themes for each day. Starting Monday, the themes are:
Monday, June 29: Show Love Today: This is a day to write a review for a local business, such as Wyoming’s Lindo Mexico or Kentwood’s Schuler Books & Music. You could also tag a local business in your social media to show your support.
Tuesday: June 30: Show Love Tomorrow: This is an opportunity to support to a business by purchasing a gift card to use in the future, especially a business, such as Celebration! Cinema, that has not opened yet. Stoub also suggested making a hair appointment with a local stylist or for those planning to do some decorating, contacting some of the local home decor businesses such as Grand Rapids’ Verhey Carpets.
Wednesday, July 1: Let Someone Else Cook: Who doesn’t like a night off from cooking? Well there are a lot of great local restaurants, such as Wyoming’s Lindo Mexico and Grand Rapids’ Daddy Pete’s BBQ, offering in-dining and takeout. Many area food trucks, such as the Patty Matters, also are operating and are easy to find through their websites and social media.
Thursday, July 2: Retail Therapy: The Greater Grand Rapids area also has many locally owned shops from Rockford’s Aunt Candy’s Toy Shop to the area’s longtime sports shop Bill & Paul’s Sporthaus. Head over to The Mudroom and make a plate, browse the shelves at Kentwood’s Schuler Books & Music, or grab a few cans from Kentwood’s Broad Leaf Local Beer.
Saturday, July 4: Grill Out: What is July 4th without grilling out? You could hit a number of the area farmers markets such as the Fulton Street Farmer’s Market or a family-owned one such as Belding’s Heffron Farms to collect up on your goodies. Byron Meats now offers the HarvestBox where you can order a selection of beef, pork, or chicken. Also there are a number of area businesses that offer packaged meals — both ready-to-cook and cooked — to making the day a little more relaxing. Remember with the holiday, you may need to pre-order items.
Stoub emphasized that Independents Week is really a launch pad to help inspire residents on ways they can support local businesses. Spending local is important, she said because for about every dollar spent, 68 cents stays within the community. This in turns helps produce more local jobs and creates economic stability.
“Our businesses are excited about Independents Week,” Stoub said. “They are excited about just being open.”
Many of the local business owners are nervous as the future still remains uncertain. They are also making sure to follow all Kent County Health Department and Center for Disease Control guidelines.
“The important thing is our businesses need us to show up and that is what we can do right now,”
For more about Independents Week, LocalFirst or how spending local benefits the community, visit localfirst.org.
The Kent Intermediate Superintendents’ Association, during a Tuesday, June 23, teleconference, released the results of a survey of more than 30,000 Kent ISD area parents asking questions related to the school reopening issues.
The bottom line of the extensive survey (link at end of story), according to a summary shared with media during the teleconference, is that while some parents seek continued distance learning for various reasons including their child’s safety, the majority desired “safe, in-school” education for their children.
“Most parents would like to see a return to school as normal in late August,” Ron Caniff, superintendent of Kent ISD, said in supplied material. “Our superintendents are working to ensure a safe opening, researching all information regarding the steps necessary to protect students and staff, and will remain connected with the health department and parents throughout the summer to ensure they are well informed about school re-opening plans.”
Kent ISD website photo. (Supplied)
The survey results come in preparation for the planned release June 30 of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap”, which is expected to set state directives for the reopening of schools in August.
The survey, commissioned by the Kent ISD on behalf of the superintendents’ association and administered by Gartner Marketing, was conducted from May 29 through June 10. The 30,000 responses represent parents from the 20 public school districts across Kent ISD but did not include any private or charter school parents, according to the Kent ISD.
The Kent Intermediate Superintendents’ Association (KISA) Future Learning Committee hosted the meeting. The speakers included Superintendent Caniff; Kevin Polston, Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, KISA Future Committee Chair and member of the Governor’s Return to Learn Advisory Council; Sunil Joy, Data Scientist at Kent ISD; and Ron Koehler, Education Consultant and former Kent ISD Assistant Superintendent.
The Kent Intermediate Superintendents’ Association represents the superintendents Kent ISD and each of the 20 school districts it serves.
Survey summary results highlights
Among the key findings of the survey, according to the KISA summary (link at end of story), is that parents want to see school open in the fall, in a traditional face- to-face setting; continued parental concerns about safety will likely necessitate an online option; and a hybrid option has many of the same challenges as an online learning option and “It is also not highly preferred by parents.”
Part of the reason for a hybrid option — where students would spend part of their time in school and part of their time at learning remotely — is that there would be little cost savings on the part of the districts currently facing possible loss of state funding due to COVID-19’s economic impact. (See a WKTV story on the possible funding losses here.) And there would be little difference between the costs of an in-person or hybrid option.
Kevin Polston, Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, KISA Future Committee Chair and member of the Governor’s Return to Learn Advisory Council. (Supplied)
“We know that hybrid and in-person costs are going to be very similar,” Superintendent Polston said during the teleconference, “because even though you may have fewer students back each day you still have your full compliment of staff the needs to be back each day.
“And, in addition, for a district like Godfrey-Lee, … we served more meals closed than we did open. That means for the students that aren’t at school each day are still going to need the nutritional services that schools provide. So we are going to need to allocate additional resources.”
The survey summary presented at the teleconference (link at bottom of the story) was, as explained by the Kent ISD’s Sunil Joy, a “stratified random sample of 800 respondents … (that was) … representative of the demographic makeup of our region.”
Sunil Joy, Data Scientist at Kent ISD. (Supplied)
“A random stratified sample just is a statistical method to ensure the respondents to the survey actually look like the county’s demographics,” Joy said to WKTV. “For example, if East Grand Rapids parents made up a significant percentage of all respondents — that wouldn’t be very representative of our county as only a small percentage of our county is from East Grand Rapids. So that’s why it’s a stratified sample — so it’s more representative of our districts as whole.”
The survey data was also “disaggregated by respondent groups (e.g. race/ethnicity, special education, income, etc.)”
“This simply means that I reported data not just ‘overall’ but also for different respondent groups,” Joy said to WKTV. “For example, in the question of whether childcare is an issue if school did not open 100 percent this fall, I included both what parents said overall, but also by different grade-levels. As no surprise, parents of younger kids had greater concerns with childcare if school didn’t open normally in the fall.”
In addition to the overall, county wide survey results released at the teleconference, each district has access to their own district-specific reports.
“Each district will share the results in the way they see fit with their constituents,” Joy said to WKTV. “The best way to get them is to contact the district directly, if it is not already available on their website or social media.”
School Re-entry Plan
At the teleconference, and using the results of the survey as part of their guidance, the superintendents’ association also released a School Re-entry Plan, in both English and Spanish. (See links to both at bottom of the story.)
Among the highlights of the plan are: a “desire” to return to full-time, face-to-face instruction, per state health requirements; the intent to provide a high-quality online learning option for students and families; districts will share best practices in virtual instruction to maximize efficiency and quality; families who choose an online option will have continued access to local district extracurricular and co-curricular activities.
The plan also makes clear that a a hybrid option — a mix of face-to-face and online learning — is “not preferred and will be implemented if it is the only way to have in-person instruction as mandated by state executive order.”
Superintendent Polston, in summing up the position school districts could be put in come June 30 and the result of the Governor’s “Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap” plan, said the best interest of the students must and will come first.
“Regardless of the model for teaching and learning, together we must be ready to meet the challenge that awaits,” Polston said. “And we will.”
A quick flip through Facebook and you know its fireworks season.
“I would like to say thank you to the [person] lighting off fireworks and causing our dog to go crazy. I hope that you are pleased with causing the neighborhood dogs to freak out …”
“OMG. This is worse than the Fourth of July. STTTOOOOPPPPPP! The dogs are freaking! I have come to detest fireworks.”
“Our neighborhood was like a war zone last night and the 4th is still two weeks away.”
While no one can blame people for wanting to have some fun after being cooped up for 10 weeks or more, if you are shooting off fireworks before June 29, you are doing so illegally in most areas. Those who get caught could face up to $1,000 in civil fines.
In 2011, Michigan approved the sale and use of consumer-grade fireworks and in 2018, the state amended the law to allow local governments to restrict the use of fireworks, except around certain holidays, such as July 4.
If fireworks are being displayed outside of those times, it is recommended that residents contact their local police departments even if they do not know the exact location of where the fireworks are being set off.
“Dispatch will put out a broadcast to all cars of ‘fireworks in the area of …'” said Lt. Eric Wiler, of the Wyoming Department of Public Safety. “As call volume permits, officers will check the area of any violations of the firework ordinance.”
Wiler added that in the according to the state law, fireworks are not permitted on public property such as roads and parks, schools, churches, or the property of another person without their permission.
Helping Our Four-legged Friends
So how do we help our dogs get through all the noise and commotion of fireworks? We checked in with local rescue Mosh Pit Rescue for some tips.
Keep your dog INSIDE in a closed secure room with no open windows.
Use a TV, a white noise machine, your laundry, your dishwasher, a fan, your bathroom fan EVERYTHING to provide familiar noises.
Double check your dog is wearing a collar with tags and your contact information is current on the pet’s microchip.
Contact your vet about medications – there are meds that can help ease anxiety.
Make sure your pet is exercised during the day and take them out just before dusk again so the dog is tired and ready for a calm nap.
Many dogs like a kennel with blankets over the kennel as a secure safe space.
Consider a Kong with Frozen Peanut Butter or other feeder puzzle toy or chew toy to keep your dog occupied and distracted.
Have current photos of the pet in case they go missing.
Woodland Mall recently welcomed the reopening of the Apple Store, joining the Macy’s, J.C. Penney and Von Maur anchor stores and dozens of other stores and restaurants.
And while the customer experience is now a little different from the time before the COVID-19 shutdown, the efforts of Woodland Mall management company PREIT make clear that safety and cleanliness is now an important part of that experience.
WKTV talked with Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing director, to detail some of those measures.
For the latest WKTV Journal story on the re-opening of Woodland Mall, including the Apple Store, visit here. (The Apple Store is now asking customers to make appointments for service at the store at apple.com/retail/woodland.)
Safety, cleanliness at the Mall
In order to comply with Michigan requirements, occupancy numbers are limited as the mall operates on reduced hours — Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. (Some stores may limit those hours.)
Woodland Mall asks guests to follow CDC recommendations, make use of the several hand sanitizer stations located throughout the mall, wear masks and practice physical distancing.
In addition to Woodland Mall carefully reviewing policies and procedures, and thoroughly cleaning the mall using CDC-recommended disinfectant, common area furniture and other elements where physical distancing cannot be enforced have been removed. While the play area also remains closed indefinitely, food court seating is now available at reduced capacity.
A complete list of venues open at the mall, as well as updates on safety and cleanliness protocols, can be viewed on Woodland Mall’s website.
This week’s photo comes from the Wyoming Historical Commission. The photo is of the former South Wyoming United Methodist Church that once stood on the southwest corner of 54th Street and Byron Center Avenue. The property was sold some years ago so that the CVS store — that is currently on the property — could be built.
Do you have a photo to be considered for Photo of the Week? Send it to WKTV Journal Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma at joanne@wktv.org.
A term all-too familiar to educators is “Summer Brain Drain” — that students tend to regress in their educational skills over the summer school break. It is expected to be even more of problem with the final months of the 2019-20 school year moving to online learning instead of in-class learning, the so-called “COVID Slide”.
According to a 2019 article by GreatSchools.org, teachers spend an average of 4-to-8 weeks every fall reviewing materials students have studied but lost mastery of over the summer, and most fall behind particularly in math and spelling.
But again this summer, educators across Kent ISD are collaborating with partner organizations — including the Kent District Library — to turn a brain drain into a brain gain, and to keep learning going all summer for all students through the ISD’s free Summer Brain Gain program.
The program provides online learning, resources students can engage with on their own and printable packets available to students in grades K-12 in Kent County and beyond.
Registration for instructor-led courses is available by grade level for all public, private and homeschooled students began June 15. These courses and other learning opportunities continue to begin June and July and conclude Aug. 7.
“We have brought together experts in curriculum and instructions from all around Kent ISD to create courses, gather learning opportunities and connect families with resources appropriate for their students at every grade level,” Kelli Brockway, Director of Teaching and Learning at Kent ISD, said in supplied material. “The idea is to bridge the learning gap between June and the start of the new school year.”
Preliminary estimates suggest additional learning losses due to the pandemic, or “COVID slide” as it’s been called.
A report by Dr. Megan Kufeld and Dr. Beth Tarasawa for the Collaborative for Student Growth at NWEA suggests learning loss may range from 30 percent in reading, to more than 50 percent in math and in some grades, according to supplied material. It also suggests when students return in the fall, learning may be nearly a full year behind what likely would be observed in normal conditions.
Summer Brain Gain programs offered include GRASP, the Grand Rapids Public Schools Program for math and reading that is free for Kent ISD students this summer.
Connections to vetted online apps, resources and links to learning that children and teens can engage in on their own are also part of the program, according to Kent ISD. Summer Brain Gain also links students and families to educational offerings by area cultural and community organizations who are School News Network Education Everywhere partners such as John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Van Andel Institute, Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park and more. All resources are located at kentisd.org/SummerBrainGain.
Printable packets and links to Kent ISD’s Summer Brain Gain program are available through partnerships with Kent District Library, Grand Rapids Public Library and Literacy Center of West Michigan. Packets can be ordered for printing and pick up at library locations throughout Grand Rapids and Kent County.
Through the Kent District Library partnership, students can order printed packets from their local KDL branch and KDL will print it and have it available for them to pick up. For more information visit here.
Registration is now open but the deadline to register for GRASP is June 30. Summer Brain Gain materials and connections will be available through Kent District Library, Grand Rapids Public Library and Literacy Center for West Michigan starting this week, on June 22.
Kent ISD is a regional educational service agency that provides instructional and administrative services to more than 300 schools, 20 public districts, three non-public districts, and many public school academies and non-public schools within the ISD’s boundaries.
For more informant about the Kent ISD, visit their website kentisd.org.
School News Network hosts the series “Grads with Grit,” sponsored by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. The series offers inspiring stories of seniors who have faced considerable obstacles on the way to graduation day and yet, with perseverance and determination, have made it to the finish line. Below are some of the Grads with Grits from the Kentwood and Wyoming areas.
For more stories on our local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Milton Brown by his Class of 2020 graduation sign. (School News Network)
Godwin Heights: ‘There’s no replacing Milton’
After being told he was “bad” in first grade, it is not surprising that Milton Brown’s attitude was not pleasant when he entered Godwin Heights Public Schools. But a teacher turned mentor and another at the Boys and Girls Club lead Milton down a different path, going from mentee to mentor. Click here to read Milton’s story.
Kelloggsville High School’s Naudia Potts. (Supplied/School News Network)
Kelloggsville: She’s ‘small but mighty’
Despite a time of homelessness in ninth grade, and the COVID-19 school closure as a senior, Kelloggsville senior Naudia Potts is set to graduate and set to soar at Central Michigan University where she will major in social work. Click here, to learn more about Naudia.
While graduation looks different this year, Quyen Tran is still celebrating. (Supplied/School News Network)
Kentwood: While embracing her roots, student leader steps forward
Wanting to bring the diverse backgrounds, customs, and traditions of Asia together, East Kentwood graduate Quyen Tran, an officer and original member of the Asian Student Union, organized the Asian Festival. This 4.33 grade point average student now has her sights on Harvard where she plans to be active with student groups and happenings. To read this student leader’s story, click here.
Adjy Jean smiles with two teachers at East Kentwood High School (courtesy/School News Network)
Kentwood: ‘Following a map and the sky’
Adjy Jean spent years as an unaccompanied youth, displaced and moving from country to country. Now after three years settled in Michigan, he will graduate from East Kentwood High School and start his next chapter at Grand Rapids Community College. Click here to learn more of Adjy’s story.
Rodrigo Lopez-Ruiz said he gets inspiration from friends and teachers at Wyoming (School News Network)
Wyoming: ‘I had to push myself’
While his family moved back to Mexico, Wyoming graduate Rodrigo Lopez-Ruiz decided to stay in the United States. Being largely on his own and taking responsibility for himself has been challenging, Rodrigo said, but the graduate wrapped up school by completing three dual enrollment courses while working at Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital. For Lopez-Ruiz’s story, click here.
Marco Guzman with his parents, Veronica and Juan Guzman, in front of Kelloggsville High School (School News Network)
Project NorthStar/Kelloggsville: ‘So many doors have opened’
It was the birth of his daughter Leilani inspired Marco Guzman to graduate. “The moment I saw her, I knew I had to kick it in gear,” Marco said. “I had messed up my school and I wanted to change. I had to change, because I wanted her to know that she could succeed.” Learn how Kent ISD’s Project NorthStar helped Guzman graduate, get a driver’s license and find a job by clicking here.
Each year, the Hudonville Chamber of Commerce recognizes local businesses and business leaders. Last year, Hult, Inc received the Business Excellence Award. (Supplied)
A local business with offices in Wyoming and Kentwood was recognized by the Hudsonville Area Chamber of Commerce for being an outstanding business that has excelled in its industry while contributing to the Hudosnvile Community.
The Hudsonville Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy, which its Wyoming office is a member of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, was a finalist for the Hudsonville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Award. Also a a finalist was Healthy Choice Family Chiropractic with Farmhaus Cider Co. receiving the 2020 award fr its excellent innovation, unique business model and community involvement.
Each year the Hudsonville Area Chamber of Commerce chooses two business, and two individual as recipients o nth eBusiness Excellent, Spark, Leadership, and Chamber Champion Awards.
The Spark Award serves to recognize businesses/organizations who serve as a catalyst for growth and innovation in the Hudsonville Community. This year’s finalists included 317 Coffee, City2Shore Real Estate, and 4G Athletic. 317 Coffee received the Spark Award as they have a strong mission, and are truly spark-ing growth in Hudsonville.
The Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have excelled professionally and support the development of the Hudsonville business community. This year’s nominees included Patrick Waterman, Henry Samaniego, and Kris Keegstra. Kris Keegstra received the award for being an active volunteer in our community.
The Chamber Champion Award recognizes individuals who have personally contributed to the success of the Hudsonville Chamber. Adam Locker was recognized as the 2020 Chamber Champion as he is constantly going above and beyond to benefit both the Chamber and the Hudsonville Community.
The Lakeshore Art Festival in partnership with the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce will honor the festival’s 2020 theme “The Art of Recycling” through the PADNOS Public Art Project. Lakeshore Art Festival 2020 was slated to take place July 3 and 4 in downtown Muskegon but was cancelled due to health concerns over COVID-19.
Lakeshore Art Festival and PADNOS, a regional recycler of metals, plastics, paper and electronics, have partnered to create an exhibition of four public sculptures in downtown Muskegon. A celebration to unveil the sculptures will take place at Olthoff Stage in downtown Muskegon on Wednesday, June 24 at 4:30 p.m. The sculptures will be prominently placed outdoors along Western Avenue until Fall 2020. All of the sculptures created for this unique exhibit have been constructed from at least 90% recycled materials donated by PADNOS.
“PADNOS is thrilled to be a partner on this project and help bring awareness of the power of recycling to the Muskegon community,” said Ben Irwin, President of PADNOS Muskegon Recycling. “This project supports our mission of community outreach and seeing possibility in expendability.”
Four artists were selected through a jurying process. The selected artists are Larry Sybesma, Chip Vander Wier, Sherri Balaskovitz and EA-Craftworks, which is comprised of four artists: Mark Schentzel, Alex Kallio, Tom Hutchins and Jack Cantu. Artists will receive a stipend to produce the public art piece and if chosen to be a permanent art display in downtown Muskegon, additional funds will be paid as the purchase price of the sculpture. Artists will also have the opportunity to sell their work.
Cindy Larsen, President of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce commented, “We are excited to still have a portion of Lakeshore Art Festival live on this year. This project will bring additional public art to the Muskegon Lakeshore community that both residents and visitors can enjoy this summer.”
The PADNOS Public Art Project is funded in conjunction with PADNOS, Quality Tool & Stamping, Clifford Buck Construction Company and through a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.
About Lakeshore Art Festival
Lakeshore Art Festival is a project of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce and features a unique blend of 350+ fine art and craft exhibitors, street performers, specialty food booths, interactive art stations, children’s activities and so much more in beautiful Downtown Muskegon, Michigan. Local businesses interested in supporting this locally and nationally recognized festival through sponsorship can contact Lakeshore Art Festival at artfest@muskegon.org. For more information visit lakeshoreartfestival.org.
Nearly 13 million Americans will have dementia by 2040—nearly twice as many as today, a new report says.
The number of women with dementia is expected to rise from 4.7 million next year to 8.5 million in 2040.
The number of men with dementia is projected to increase from 2.6 million to 4.5 million.
Over the next 20 years, the economic impact of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia will be more than $2 trillion.
Women will shoulder more than 80% of those costs, according to a report released recently at the 2019 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit in Washington, D.C.
“Longer life spans are perhaps one of the greatest success stories of our modern public health system,” said lead author Nora Super, senior director of the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging.
“But along with this success comes one of our greatest challenges,” she added in an institute news release. “Our risk of developing dementia doubles every five years after we turn 65; by age 85, nearly one in three of us will have the disease.”
With no cure on the horizon, reducing the risk of dementia and its cost must be the focus, Super noted.
“Emerging evidence shows that despite family history and personal genetics, lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise and better sleep can improve health at all ages,” she said.
The report recommends expanded research, programs to maintain and improve brain health, increased access to testing and early diagnosis and services and policies that promote supportive communities and workplaces for people with dementia and their caregivers.
“As this important new report shows, dementia is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time,” said Sarah Lenz Lock, the AARP’s senior vice president for policy and brain health.
“It also demonstrates that we have the power to create change, whether by helping consumers maintain and improve their brain health, advancing research on the causes and treatment of dementia, or supporting caregivers who bear so much of the burden of this disease,” Lock said in the news release.
By Kerri VanDorp City of Zeeland, Events Coordinator
For ten years the Zeeland Zoom has taken place downtown Zeeland with loads of runners and spectators, our eleventh annual Zoom will be a bit different, but no less fun. The Zeeland Zoom 5k is going virtual this year, run or walk the 5k anytime from June 23 (the original Zoom date) through June 30. The event is free to register for, or you can purchase a Zeeland Zoom shirt for $15.
Last year’s Zeeland Zoom was a lot of fun with over 1,000 participants ZOOMING their way through the streets of Zeeland! A great event for competitors and families alike! Enjoy running through Zeeland’s historic downtown and neighborhoods on the official Zoom route, or make your own!
Participants can choose any 3.1-mile route that is best for them. The official Zoom route is: Main in front of the Post Office (155 E Main). Runners will head East on Main to Fairview; Fairview South to Lincoln; Lincoln West to Elm; Elm North to Central; Central East to Division; Division North to Main; Main West to Finish.
Zeeland Zoom shirts can be purchased during registration for $15. If you register before June 17 you can pick up your shirt if weather permits, outside of City Hall (21 South Elm Street) from 4pm to 6pm on June 22 or in case of in climate weather inside of City Hall. If you register after June 17, shirt pick up will take place at City Hall on July 2nd from 4 to 6 p.m.
The KDL Kentwood, Kelloggsville, and Wyoming branches are among 12 branches that will be offering the statewide summer food program, Meet Up and Eat Up, which runs through Aug. 14.
Last summer, the KDL Kelloggsville branch, located in the Kelloggsville High School, 4787 S. Division Ave., offered the free program through a partnership with Kelloggsville Public Schools and Feeding America. The Kent District Library has again, partnered wth Feeding America to offer the program.
“Feeding the minds, imaginations and spirits is something that we have always done at KDL, but through this program we are literally feeding hungry people,” said KDL Executive Director Lance Werner.
Students 18 and under can visit any of the branches on specific days to receive a free lunch. The items offered variety but our mostly non-perishable such as beef sticks, granola, a granola bar, crackers with cheese, fruit snacks and water.
The KDL Kentwood branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE, will be offering lunch weekdays from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The KDL Kelloggsville branch, 4787 S. Division Ave., will be offering Meet Up and Eat Up program weekdays from noon – 1 p.m. The KDL Wyoming branch, 3350 Michael SW, will be offering the Meet up and Eat Up program weekdays from 1 – 2 p.m.
With the Meet Up and Eat Up program, students, 18 and under, will be able to pick up a free lunch at 12 different KDL branches including Wyoming, Kentwood, and Kelloggsville. (WKTV)
Any police officer will tell you that when you have been with a certain partner for awhile, you just know their little quirks.
So when Wyoming Officer Kelsey Eisen came to some train tracks on her first week out without her K9 partner Dutch, she missed his familiar bark.
“It was a little strange not to hear it,” Eisen said. “I was so use to it and then to go over the tracks and it not be there.”
Officer Kelsey Eisen with Dutch. (Supplied)
After nine years of service — three as Eisen’s partner — Dutch officially retired from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety on June 7. As with any officer, he was given a full send off complete with cake — doggie approved — and the final 10-42 call announcing his retirement.
“Yeah, now he gets to hang on the couch and get all the treats that he wants,” Eisen said with a laugh. This means Dutch has moved from his kennel to inside Eisen’s home while Eisen’s new partner, a two-year-old Belgium Malinois named Kovu, settles into the kennel and starts his training as the new “dog” on the force.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety is one of a few area departments that has a K9 unit. Wyoming has four K9 officers, Chase who is with Officer Ryan Patterson, Azar who is with Officer Daniel Sanderson, Jett who is with Officer Chad Wells, and now Kovu who is with Eisen.
High flying’: Dutch shows off his jumping skills. (Supplied)
While a dog can be trained for a single purpose, such as tracking or narcotics, all the Wyoming K9 dogs are dual purpose meaning the animals are cross trained for narcotics, building searches, evidence recovery and people searches such as tracking suspects to missing persons.
“One of my favorite searches with Dutch is when Kent County called,” Eisen said. “They had stopped a car and the suspect had taken off on foot. They had chased him a little bit into a wooded area. They lost him and called for Dutch and I. [Dutch] started to track and he tracked probably a good 10 to 15 yards to a swamp and he started to track into the swamp. We lit the swamp up and Dutch was about a foot away from the guy submerged trying to hide.
It’s the couch life and treats
Now the only searching Dutch has to do is to locate the couch.
Dutch helps out collecting cans for Officer Eisen’s new partner, Kovu. (Supplied)
“My son and daughter are extremely excited that he gets to come into the house and hang out for more than a few minutes here and there,” Eisen said with a laugh.
For the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, when a K9 dog retires, it traditionally comes home with the trainer/handler.
“I don’t know what I would do if someone said I couldn’t keep Dutch after working all those many training hours and working the road ,” Eisen said. “You literally spend more time with the dog than you do with your family. So if someone was to tell me that I couldn’t take him afterwards it would be devastating and I would be heartbroken that I couldn’t give him that special treat afterwards for how much work he has done in the city and couldn’t spoil him in retirement.”
Eisen admitted she’ll have lots of help spoiling Dutch — who had a reputation for visiting City Hall and looking for goodies — which is probably a good thing since Eisen will be spending most of her time training Kovu.
The new dog on the force
Knowing that the Wyoming Department of Public Safety would be needing to purchase another K9, the department partnered with the K-911 Foundation. The cost for a police dog is around $8,500 with the department putting in half. The other half was raised through a can drive, which due to COVID are still waiting to be returned, with the aid of the K-911 Foundation.
Kovu is the new K9 recruit and Officer Eisen’s partner. (WKTV)
After visiting with several dogs at Shadow Creek Kennels, Eisen said Kovu’s “drive and confidence is what won us over with him.”
Kovu, who originally came from the Czech Republic, spent the first two weeks bonding with Eisen, getting to know her and building a relationship of trust. He will spend eight weeks training with Eisen with the goal being for Kovu to officially go on patrol in August. Eisen added that he definitely will be ready to meet everyone at National Night Out, which, due to COVID-19, is set for Oct. 6 this year.
“Obviously the dog is a tool for us but he is not just a tool,” Eisen said. “He is our partner, our family. There is that special bond that goes with all the training and all the blood and sweat and tears that you work toward a partnership and it’s all about that partnership.
“It’s not just the dog that does all the work. You have to be able to read the dog and the dog has to be able to rely on you and there’s that balance and confidence working as a team to get to that goal that you want to achieve, whether it’s getting the bad guy, finding the missing person, a building search or anything else like that.”
As people age, the odds of having a sleeping disorder rise dramatically. Many older adults either can’t fall asleep at night, wake up too often, or can’t breathe properly while trying to sleep. In fact, 40% of seniors struggle with serious health problems as a result of poor sleeping habits and a general lack of sleep.
What are the senior health problems that arise from not getting a good night’s sleep? And what can you do to help combat sleep deprivation? Look through this blog to get the information you need about seniors and sleep—along with ideas on how you can fix your sleeping habits before bedtime tonight.
What constitutes a ‘good night’s sleep’?
There’s a common misconception that seniors don’t need as much sleep as other adults, which has likely arisen due to the large number of seniors who struggle to get enough sleep. However, that’s just not true. Seniors need the same amount of sleep as they did when they were younger. All adults over 20 years of age need somewhere between 7-9 hours of sleep per day.
Why seniors don’t get enough sleep
The main causes of sleep deprivation in seniors can usually be linked to two different sources—insomnia or sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder that occurs when breathing patterns are interrupted during sleep. This limits the flow of oxygen to the brain, which in turn causes you to wake up in order to correct the breathing error. While there are certain groups of people who are more likely to have sleep apnea, it generally becomes more common as you age.
If you suspect you might have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor. They might be able to give you tips on lifestyle changes that will reduce your overall risk, or help you get a CPAP machine or other device that can help open up your airways.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleeping disorder characterized by an inability to fall asleep or an inability to stay asleep. Seniors often get insomnia from:
Side effects of medications needed for other health problems
Anxiety and stress about aging
Other health-related issues such as chronic pain
The dangers of sleep deprivation on senior health
The number one danger of sleep deprivation is daytime fatigue, a condition that makes people extremely tired throughout the day—although they don’t fall asleep as a result of their sleepiness. Instead, they suffer from:
With sleep deprivation being such a dangerous issue for seniors to contend with, it’s important that immediate steps are taken to fix sleeping habits. Try avoiding taking sleep medication if you can—it can be expensive, habit-forming, and comes with its own side effects. Instead, use mediation and prescriptions as a last resort and first try natural ways to improve your sleep.
Create a sleeping routine
A nighttime routine can help signal to your brain that it’s time for bed, which is especially helpful if you struggle with insomnia. A routine can include things like:
Taking a warm bath before bed
Drinking a glass of water
Winding down with some light reading and relaxing music
Turning off all lights
Going to bed at a consistent time (and waking up at the same time each day)
Avoid certain behaviors at night
Sometimes engaging in certain behaviors or activities before bed can hurt your chances of getting a good night’s sleep. Things to avoid before bed include:
Watching TV or using smartphones and other electronics
Drinking anything with caffeine or alcohol before you try and sleep
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol during the day
Smoking right before bedtime
Exercising at night
Optimize your room for sleep
There are simple changes you can make in your apartment and bedroom that can help you improve your sleeping habits, such as:
Making your room dark
Keeping the temperature cooler at nighttime
Taking electronics and TVs out of the bedroom
Creating a noise level that lulls you to sleep—usually either silence or a soft white noise
Removing distracting or unnecessary lights and sounds in your room
Using your bed only for sleeping, not for relaxing in during the day
It’s essential that seniors get to sleep at night, or you can risk coming down with some serious health problems. By being aware of how much sleep you should be getting and taking immediate action steps, you can improve your sleeping habits and get the right amount of rest as you age.
West Michigan’s Gilmore Car Museum, in promotional material for its exhibit “The Negro Motorist Green Book”, retells an often-told story about travel for African-Americans in the United State’s deep south in the middle years of the 1900s.
In the spring of 1946, Jack Roosevelt Robinson, former multi-sport standout at UCLA and a U.S. Army veteran, and his bride of two weeks were flying from Los Angeles to Florida for baseball’s spring training season — twice along the route they were bumped from flights so their seats could be occupied by passengers with white skin.
Historic photo identifying restaurant as for “White Trade Only”. Location and date unknown. (Library of Congress)
During a stopover in New Orleans, they were not allowed to eat in the “whites only” airport restaurant. After arriving in Florida, the driver ordered them to sit in the back of the bus.
But the Robinsons, Jackie — soon to wear the Brooklyn Dodgers’ No. 42 on his back — and Rachel, were not alone. African-Americans faced discrimination in many aspects of life, including lodging, dining, when trying to find a drinking fountain or a restroom or even when trying to buy gasoline for their cars.
And that era is the backdrop of the Gilmore’s exhibit “The Negro Motorist Green Book” comes into the picture — an exhibit focused on the book series “The Negro Travelers’ Green Book”.
History of the Green Book
According to supplied information, Victor Hugo Green published “The Negro Travelers’ Green Book” with a listing of places — some commercial, some private homes — where dark-skinned people could stay and eat, where they could buy gas and even which towns to avoid for their own safety.
The 1954 Green Book. (Gilmore)
Green, an African-American mail carrier in New York City started the series in the mid-1930s and his company kept it going until passage of civil rights legislation in the 1960s.
Green and his wife were from Virginia and as they traveled to visit family, they encountered Jim Crow Era restrictions. He got the idea to start the series when a Jewish friend showed Green a guidebook used to avoid “gentile-only” establishments and Green started his Green Book. He enlisted mail carriers across the country to help him compile and update the listings.
Decades after the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment ended slavery, African Americans continued to suffer unequal treatment, especially in the Deep South. Jim Crow Laws discriminated against blacks in nearly every aspect of public life, including travel.
The Gilmore exhibit
While many people saw the Academy Award winning movie “Green Book”, visitors to the Gilmore Car Museum can now learn more about the book and its role in black travel in an exhibit which opened in 2014 and has since gained much praise.
The Gilmore Car Museum’s Green Book Diorama. (Gilmore)
David Lyon, automotive historian and author, recently pointed out that Gilmore’s display is likely “the only Green Book exhibit at an automobile museum in this country, and perhaps the world,” according to the Gilmore.
The exhibit includes the life-like museum figures of a mother and daughter and — the Gilmore being a car museum after all — a classic and restored two-tone 1948 Buick sedan parked at an Esso filing station. Information panels provide details, a large video plays interviews with African-Americans who experienced discrimination while traveling and a copy of the Spring 1956 edition of a Green Book is there for museum visitors to examine.
“It’s a story that had been pretty much forgotten,” Jay Follis, Gilmore museum curator, said in supplied material. “We’ve had a tremendous number of people seeing it and saying, ‘I’ve never heard of this.’”
There’s a reason the gas station in the Gilmore museum diorama has an Esso pump. Esso was a brand of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company.
The 1942 Green Book. (Gilmore)
Follis explained that Esso had a program to help African-Americans buy and operate its service stations. Esso also provided offices and support for the staff that helped Green produce and publish his guides.
The Green Book diorama is one of two cultural exhibits that are a permanent part of the Gilmore museum’s display. The other — “The American Exodus” — focuses on the hardships of the Depression-era migration from the Midwestern “Dust Bowl” to the promised-land on the West Coast.
In addition to the Gilmore’s nearly 400 vehicles, many of them housed in historic buildings and re-created automobile dealerships, its 90-acre campus includes a vintage gasoline station and authentic 1941 Blue Moon Diner that serves lunch daily.
The Gilmore Car Museum is located at Hickory Corners, between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, for more information visit gilmorecarmusuem.org or call 269-671-5089.
In recognition of both a desire to honor Wyoming High School’s 2020 graduating seniors, and the importance of allowing the school staff and Wyoming community the opportunity to join the celebration, Wyoming Public Schools held a WHS Senior 11 Night Celebration Parade Monday, June 15.
In addition, Wyoming High School is scheduled to host its Class of 2020 commencement ceremony on July 28 at Grand Rapids First.
Prior to the parade, WKTV caught up with WPS Superintendent Craig Hoekstra and asked about how the parade came to be, and the desire of he and the entire school community to make sure the seniors time of graduation was not “defined” by COVID-19 shutdown.
“This will end. As stressful and devastating as it is, it will end. We are all in it together as a global community, and I do see the light at then end of the tunnel.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, in a June interview with UK newspaper The Telegraph
Kent County Health Department
The Kent County Health Department’s efforts to make COVID-19 testing more widely available to specific segments of the public has expanded by the opening of community testing sites, including ones at the Wyoming’s The Potter’s House school, and in Kentwood at the Kent County Health Department South Clinic. Go here for the story.
Metro Health
COVID-19 has exposed large health inequities both nationally and locally, resulting in devastating, even life-and-death consequences. In Michigan, over 40 percent of the deaths from COVID-19 were African American. Metro Health is working to address that issue. Go here for the story.
Mercy Health’s Clinica Santa Maria
Mercy Health Saint Mary’s is offering free COVID-19 testing for 1,000 residents of Grand Rapids’ Roosevelt Park Neighborhood, thanks to funding made available through the federal CARES Act grant to Kent County. Go here for the story.
Just the (sad) facts:
4,156 and 115
The Kent County Health Department has almost daily updates of Kent County and State of Michigan statistics. On May 18, they reported 4,156 total cases of COVID-19 but only 115 deaths. Source.
Woodland Mall’s Apple Store reopened this week, joining the three anchors and dozens of other stores and restaurants in again welcoming shoppers and diners. (Supplied)
Woodland Mall’s Apple Store reopened this week, joining the three anchor stores and dozens of other stores and restaurants in again welcoming shoppers and diners while still maintaining safety and cleanliness protocols, according to a statement from the mall management.
Apple, Macy’s, J.C. Penney and Von Maur are among the 80 retailers and restaurants that have reopened since June 1. A complete list of venue open at the mall, as well as updates on safety and cleanliness protocols, can be viewed on Woodland Mall’s website.
“We are so pleased that much of the mall has reopened and is ready to serve West Michigan again safely,” Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing director, said in supplied material. “It’s a true pleasure to again welcome shoppers and diners from across to region back to Woodland Mall. The response over the first few weeks has been very positive, and we are delighted to welcome back more of our community.”
In order to comply with Michigan requirements, occupancy numbers remain limited as the mall operates on reduced hours — Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. (Some stores may limit those hours.)
Woodland Mall asks guests to follow CDC recommendations, make use of the several hand sanitizer stations located throughout the mall, wear masks and practice physical distancing.
Guests will notice some changes for their safety, as well as the safety of employees, according to the statement. In addition to its rigorous cleaning and sanitizing schedule, Woodland Mall managment company, PREIT, has carefully reviewed policies and procedures and thoroughly cleaned the mall using CDC-recommended disinfectant. Common area furniture and other elements where physical distancing cannot be enforced have been removed. While the play area remains closed indefinitely, food court seating is now available at reduced capacity.
Woodland Mall recommends shoppers visit individual retail or restaurant websites for the most current information and services including curbside pick-up, appointments and reservations. Retailers participating in the mall’s Mall2Go: Contact-Free Pickup program can be found on its website.
Continuing to provide some clarity to what K-12 public school education might look like in the fall — including a possible return to in-person learning — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced June 17 that she plans to announce on June 30 a “Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap” that will provide details on “what will be required and what will be recommended” for schools to reopen.
“Our students and educators have made incredible sacrifices these past few months to protect themselves and their families from the spread of COVID-19,” Gov. Whitmer said in supplied material. “I am optimistic that we will return to in-person learning in the fall … (but) schools must make sure to enact strict safety measures to continue protecting educators, students, and their families.
Gov. Whitmer also said her office is working with the Return to Learn Advisory Council and leaders in health care “to ensure we get this right,” but that the state also needs more flexibility and support from the federal government.
“This crisis has had serious implications on our budget, and we need federal support if we’re going to get this right for our kids,” Gov. Whitmer said.
On May 15, Gov. Whitmer, buy executive order, created the COVID-19 Return to School Advisory Council. On June 3, the governor announced a group of 25 leaders in health care and education to serve on the advisory council. Local persons on the council include Kevin Polston, superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, and Nicholas J. Paradiso, vice president of government relations for National Heritage Academies.
The advisory council was created to “identify the critical issues that must be addressed, provide valuable input to inform the process of returning to school, and to ensure a smooth and safe transition back to school,” according to the governor’s statement.
“The most important thing we can do when developing a return to school plan is closely examine the data and remain vigilant in our steps to fight this virus,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services chief deputy for health, said in supplied material. “I will continue to work closely with Governor Whitmer and the Return to Learn Advisory Council to ensure we continue to put the health and safety of our students and educators first.”
The weather has been hot which has begged the question from several people on Facebook about when the City of Wyoming’s splash pads will be open.
The City of Wyoming’s Park and Recreation Department has announced it will open its splash pads on July 6. Wyoming has three splash pads, one at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW; one at Oriole Park, 1380 42nd St. SW., and the third is at Southlawn Park, 4125 Jefferson SW.
The splash pads are open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be social distancing guidelines put in place for the splash pads. More information about those guidelines will be coming soon. For more information, visit wyomingmi.gov and click on Parks and Recreation.
The splash pads at Kentwood’s Pinewood Park and Veteran’s Park are now open. (Kentwood)
Kentwood is now open
The City of Kentwood’s splash pads are open. Kentwood has two splash pads, one at Pinewood Park, 1999 Wolfboro Dr. SE, and a new splash pad at Veteran’s Park, located next to the Kentwood Activities Center at 355 48th St. SE.
The splash pads are open to the public from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Participants are encouraged to follow CDC public health guidelines, including staying at least six feet away from others not in their household. For more about the parks in Kentwood, visit kentwood.us/exploreourparks and click on City Departments and then on Parks and Recreation.
Millennium Park splash pad is now open. (Kent County)
Millennium Park is open as well
Kent County also has opened the splash pad at Millennium Park, located behind Johnson Park at 1415 Maynard Ave. SW.
Due to COVID-19, the Millennium Park splash pad is limited to 50 percent capacity which is about 50 people. Currently the splash pad is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with hours reducing after Aug. 4 to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The splash pad is located next to the six-acre sand beach at Millennium Park.
Millennium Park does have an entrance fee which is $4/adults, $3/seniors (63 and older), $2 children (ages 3 – 15) and free for children two and under. For more information, visit kentcountyparks.org.
The Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA) announces its intention to relocate from its 2 Fulton West space to the Woodbridge N. Ferris Building, 17 Pearl Street, on the campus of Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, in Spring 2021. All in-person UICA programming, which has been paused due to COVID-19, will continue to be on hiatus until the organization reopens in the Ferris Building.
The decision was finalized June 17 by the Ferris Board of Trustees.
The UICA identity and mission will remain when it reopens in the LEED-Gold certified Ferris Building, which, until 2007, was the home to Grand Rapids Art Museum. One of the biggest questions that came to light with the announcement is what would happen to the alternative movie offerings at UICA. According to officials, UICA is working on outdoor movies, movie panel discussion opportunities, and potential upcoming partnerships.
“The impact of COVID-19 has led us to rethink how we work and provide programming in the future, and I’m confident our re-envisioning of UICA will help it succeed,” said Kendall Interim President Tara McCrackin. “We realize this is an unexpected announcement, but we believe it is a necessary move to ensure UICA continues to be a leading cultural arts destination in Grand Rapids.”
UICA Executive Director Miranda Krajniak has been actively participating in this process and believes that UICA’s future stability enhances, not diminishes, its commitment to the community, and strengthens its connection to Kendall.
“We believe a smaller footprint and associated expenses will allow UICA a more stable foundation going forward,” said Krajniak. “Additionally, for some time now, UICA has been managing Kendall’s student art exhibition spaces, so the move will provide for more efficient operations and present a stronger alignment between Kendall and UICA.”
After a University-wide review of all programming, and subsequent conversations between Ferris, Kendall and UICA leadership, it became apparent that UICA’s current location, the 2 Fulton West building, is too large and expensive for the University to maintain going forward.
The intent is to immediately begin adjusting the space at the Ferris Building to accommodate UICA. The building offers a world-class space that will easily allow UICA to re-envision its public offerings including activating an outdoor area for the downtown and student community.
Although the location will be different, UICA’s exhibitions and programs will continue to present the voices of those who have been oppressed, marginalized and exploited by society.
“We pledge to continue to work to recognize and act against the inequities that systematically hurt artists, neighbors, and diverse communities and to show work that reflects our entire community,” Krajniak added.
“We look forward to enhancing our partnership with UICA and the arts in West Michigan,” said Ferris President David Eisler. “The UICA plays an important role in the Grand Rapids community, and Ferris State University is pleased to see the relationship strengthened with Kendall College of Art and Design.”
The West Michigan Jazz Society is partnering with Amore Trattoria Italiana and Kaczmarski Hearing Services to present a “Jazz in the Park(ing Lot)” music festival on Friday, June 19, from 4-7 p.m.
Clif Metcalf Organ Trio (Supplied)
Jazz fans will be able to order one of Amore Trattoria Italiana’s dinners — and even a bottle of wine — for takeout with curbside service, while you wait in your car and hear live jazz in the parking lot.
“Since we cannot host our traditional Monday night summer series, ‘Jazz in the Park’, we will be sponsoring local musicians and jazz venues in West Michigan to host safe and socially distant outdoor concerts,” according to a WMJS statement.
The schedule of bands include GR Groove (4-5 p.m.), Clif Metcalf Organ Trio (5-6 p.m.), and In The Blue Jazz Ensemble (6-7 p.m.)
In The Blue Jazz Ensemble (Suppied)
“This event is going to be a great event, primarily focused on the music, but also it will be serving as our WMJS membership drive. We are encouraging attendees to purchase a meal from Amore, watch (and listen to the jazz) for a brief time slot while they enjoy their meal … and then to leave the event to allow for social distancing and to limit the size of the crowd.”
A portion of restaurant sales and musicians’ “earplugs” profit during the event will be donated back to WMJS from both Amore and Kaczmarski Hearing Services. Dr. Beckie Kaczmarski will be onsite for walk-up appointments and will be fitting for custom musicians’ earplugs, according to supplied material.
The event will also be live streamed from the WMJS Facebook page, if you are not comfortable with attending in person, according to the statement. A digital donation jar to show your support for WMJS is also available here securely through PayPal.
The City of Kentwood’s Master Plan update, which WKTV has covered in detail over the last year and which is nearing completion, is revisited on the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus.
Through a series of community engagement efforts called “Plan Kentwood”, the city has gained public input to help shape a long-range vision for growth, land use, development and open space conservation in the city. High on the list of areas to have updated plans are development near and along the extension of Breton Avenue south of 52nd Street, as well as the Division Avenue and 28th and 29th streets business districts.
With us to catch us up on the process from the City of Kentwood are Terry Schweitzer, Community Development Director, and Lisa Golder, Economic Development Planner.
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 (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
We hike, swim and paddle. We run until we’re breathless.
We get close to nature, inhale fresh air and gaze at the stars.
All those outdoor activities require fuel. And with a little planning, the camping menu can be just as healthy—and fun—as a day at the beach, says Angela Fobar, RDN, a Spectrum Health dietitian.
A mom with three young children, Fobar has spent many nights at campgrounds with her family, both in a tent and a camper. They roast marshmallows over the campfire and eat their share of s’mores.
But as a dietitian with Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital, Fobar also looks for ways to eat healthy on vacation. In her pre-trip grocery shopping, she opts for kid-friendly foods that deliver good nutrition.
And simplicity is key.
“It’s camping,” she said. “You want to spend your time relaxing, hanging out and doing activities—and not spend an hour making an elaborate meal.”
She shared three tips for keeping nutrition on track, even when you’re sleeping in a tent or camper.
One-pot (or packet) meals
“We like to cook a lot of our meals over the fire,” Fobar said. “To do that, I think, takes a little planning.”
She creates foil packets that combine some form of protein—chicken or shrimp, for example—with assorted vegetables, olive oil and spices.
A favorite packet dinner combines turkey sausage with potatoes and green beans. You can vary the spices, adding Italian seasonings or a fajita flavor.
“I think that’s the fun of it,” she said. “You can mix and match whatever you want.”
The ingredients can be cut and prepared at home before the trip. You can assemble the packets at home or at the campground. (Combinations suggested below.)
And if you don’t want to make individual servings, you can combine the ingredients in a cast-iron skillet and cook the dinner over a fire.
If she uses a camper and has an electric hookup, Fobar often prepares one-pot soups and stews in a Crock-Pot.
This recipe for Six-Can Tortilla Soup, found on allrecipes.com, works especially well for a camping trip because the ingredients don’t require refrigeration. The tasty soup combines canned chicken with beans and other ingredients.
Because some canned goods are high in sodium, she advises looking for salt-free or low-sodium options.
Fire-grilled pizza
Using a cast-iron pizza pan over a campfire, Fobar makes pizza dinners that her family calls “hobo pies.”
Using bread as the crust, they layer pizza sauce, cheese and a variety of toppings. She usually makes hers meatless, but the toppings available can vary with a family’s tastes.
“It’s fun because the kids get involved,” she said. “They can choose whatever ingredients they want to add.”
Fruits and veggies
Even when camping, you can still get at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, Fobar says.
“I like to cut up fruit ahead of time so I have tubs of fruit available,” she said.
She also keeps a tub of veggies on hand. Often, she chooses ones that require no prep—carrots, baby tomatoes, sugar-snap peas.
Having a stockpile in the cooler or a camper fridge makes it easy to add fruits and veggies to every meal.
Packet meal recipe
Use one of these combinations for a one-pot or foil packet meal. Or feel free to vary them and concoct your own.
Turkey sausage or kielbasa, red skin potatoes, onion and green beans. Season with salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary.
Apple chicken sausage, sweet potatoes, red onion and Brussels sprouts. Season with salt, garlic, thyme and cinnamon.
Chicken, onion and red, yellow and green peppers. Add fajita seasonings.
All veggie: broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, onion and summer squash. Season with salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary or thyme.
Directions
Prep for packets can be done while camping or at home and taken to the campsite in your cooler or fridge.
Think size when cutting your items. Items that take longer to cook can be cut smaller than items that cook in a shorter time.
Assemble packets. You will need a square of foil, 12 by 12 inches, for the top and bottom of each packet.
Build with desired chopped ingredients.
Add olive oil—2 tablespoons per packet, to prevent sticking.
Add seasoning.
Fold each side of the packet two or three times to make sure they are secure when flipping over the fire.
Cook on a grate or grill over a bed of hot coals for about 40 minutes. Check the temperature of any meats with a meat thermometer prior to serving.
In early May, Kentwood resident Gerald DeMaagd was strolling through Kentwood’s Paris Park when he came across these two ducks enjoying the beautiful, quiet day. Paris Park is located in the southern region of the city at 3213 60th St. SE. Nestled in the Plaster Creek watershed, the park is a nature preserve featuring many trails.
Do you have a photo you would like considered for Photo of the Week? Then send it to WKTV Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma at joanne@wktv.org.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today that it will officially reopen to the public beginning in July. From July 1 to July 3 the Museum will welcome its members, with the general public welcomed back on Monday, July 6.
The Museum will be extending the Bodies Revealed exhibition to Sunday, September 27, and has shifted Sean Kenney’s Wild Connections Made with LEGO® Bricks exhibition to open in November this year. Museum guests will need to purchase tickets in advance using the Museum’s online ticketing system to ensure contactless entry to the Museum upon arrival. Visitors may purchase tickets online at grpm.org.
“We look forward to welcoming our community back to our space after nearly four months of being closed,” said Dale Robertson, President & CEO of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. “Our team has taken many steps and precautions to limit risks associated with COVID-19 transmission in our spaces. Visitors will see new procedures, including at the Museum’s entry, and throughout our exhibition spaces.”
“Bodies Revealed” will run through Sept. 27 at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Supplied)
Visitor Experience The GRPM visitor experience will look different in many ways, including capacity limits. While visitor favorites will continue, the Museum has temporarily removed high touch point areas and experiences. Touch screen and virtual reality experiences will not be available immediately following re-opening. Signage has been added for entrance into the Museum, as well as throughout the building to remind guests about maintaining a 6’ distance from other groups.
Cleaning efforts have been increased in accordance with health department suggestions and regulations. The GRPM has also added hand sanitizing stations and are implementing more frequent and detailed cleaning protocols to the already comprehensive cleaning schedule.
GRPM staff and guests will be asked to wear face masks, unless an individual is medically unable to tolerate a face covering. Locally-made face masks and hand sanitizer will be available for purchase at the Curiosity Shop.
The Museum will close for the Independence Day holiday on July 4 and Sunday, July 5 for cleaning. The general public will be welcomed back to the Museum with normal operating hours beginning Monday, July 6. The Museum Cafe will reopen on July 6 with pre-packaged snacks and beverages and capacity limits. The Curiosity Shop will also reopen on July 6, following retail guidelines with limited capacity.
Bodies Revealed Bodies Revealed features real, whole and partial body specimens that have been preserved through an innovative process, giving visitors the opportunity to view the complexity of their own organs and systems in a way that’s normally reserved for medical professionals. The exhibit features 10 full body specimens as well as over 100 organs and partial specimens. Bodies Revealed allows visitors to learn about their own bodies and ultimately, teaches the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Advance ticket purchases are recommended. Open through Sept. 27.
TOYS! The TOYS! exhibit will reopen when the Museum opens in July and will remain on display until mid-August. TOYS! is an interactive, multi-generation exhibition of toys and games to rekindle childhood memories and spark the creation of new ones. This GRPM original exhibit features toys and games from the Museum’s Collections and on loan from the community, allowing visitors to imagine, compete and create, while taking going on a journey of toys through generations. Through the design process of the exhibition, the Museum worked with several experts from the community making sure the design was as inclusive as possible so everyone visiting can enjoy it.
Wild Connections Sean Kenney’s Wild Connections Made with LEGO® Bricks, an award-winning and record-breaking exhibition that uses beautiful creations made from simple toy blocks to explore animal endangerment, the balance of ecosystems, and mankind’s relationship with nature, is opening Nov. 7. Produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Wild Connections depicts important topics that the New York artist, Sean Kenney, holds dear, from protecting an animals’ habitat, to planting a garden, or using a bike instead of a car. Wild Connections shows that just as LEGO® pieces interconnect, everything in nature is interconnected in a delicate balance. The narratives, along with the intricate displays, explore the importance of conservation, the balance of ecosystems, predator/prey relationships, as well as the relationships between humankind and the natural world. Most importantly, the exhibition allows visitors to appreciate both nature and the sculptures as something beautiful and inspires them to go home and create something wonderful themselves.
GRPM Digital Resources The Museum has a variety of fun, educational resources available online for free, at grpm.org/HomeMuseum. All ages can engage with Virtual Discovery Kits and online Collections Scavenger Hunts, as well as explore and curate their own digital exhibits on the Museum’s Collections database (grpmcollections.org), enjoy at-home experiments from the Museum’s YouTube channel (youtube.com/GRMuseum), coloring pages of artifacts, as well as tuning into see the Museum’s two live Lake Sturgeon! For more information visit grpm.org.
