All posts by Joanne

Meijer Gardens, county parks, Mackinac Parks begin reopening trend

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Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. (Supplied by FMG)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

It will take a while for West Michigan recreation and entertainment venues to begin their reopening process, and even longer for them to get back to normal, but local attractions such as Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and the Kent County park system — as well as tourist destinations including Mackinac Island Parks — this week announced reopening plans.

WKTV brings you a wrap of what’s opening, what will open soon, and what is still up in the early summer air.

Meijer Gardens

Meijer Gardens will reopen Monday, June 8, at 9 a.m., with new and enhanced safety procedures. There will be extensive signage and way-finding icons to help people social distance, according to an announcement made this week.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is set to reopen on Monday. (Supplied)

“Meijer Gardens first closed our doors to the public on Friday, March 13, due to the global pandemic. It has been an extremely long and painful three months without seeing our facility full of members and guests,” David Hooker, president & CEO of Meijer Gardens said in supplied material. “We are looking forward to welcoming back guests beginning on Monday and can’t wait for people to once again experience our masterpieces of art and nature.”

The planned, but delayed, exhibition “George Segal: Body Language” will open in approximately one week, according to Meijer Gardens. But due to current social distancing and safety guidelines, certain areas within the main building and outside grounds will remain closed for the time being.

“However, the most important part of complying with the rules and guidelines established by Federal and State authorities will be the voluntary compliance of our guests. We sincerely request all our guests comply for the safety and benefit of all,” according to the statement.

For the most current Meijer Gardens information regarding enhanced safety procedures and a map showing areas that are temporarily closed, visit MeijerGardens.org/COVID.

Kent County Parks

Kent County will have a staggered reopening schedule for its beaches, campground, open shelters, picnic areas, public restrooms and splash pad facilities. (Supplied)

The Kent County Parks has started a staggered reopening schedule for its beaches, campground, open shelters, picnic areas, public restrooms, and splash pad facilities, the county announced this week.

“We are excited to welcome visitors back to Kent County Parks and for them to experience the physical and mental health benefits of being outdoors,” Dan DeLooff, county parks superintendent, said in supplied material. “However, it is critical that visitors follow our new rules that prevent overcrowding and support social distancing to ensure our parks are safe for everyone.”

Opening immediately are swimming beaches at Long Lake Park, Millennium Park, Myers Lake Park and Wabasis Park;  all playgrounds; the Kaufman Golf Course; all restrooms, open shelters and group picnic areas. The Millennium Park Splash pad will open on June 8 and the Wabasis Lake Campground will open on June 12.

Enclosed shelters and recreational fields remain closed until further notice from the Governor’s Office. For up-to-date information visit kentcountyparks.org.


The Grand Rapids Public Museum has not announced an opening date yet. (WKTV)

Other Kent County, regional Attractions

Kent District Library

KDL is taking this phased approach to reopening, introducing those services that can be immediately provided while staff make adjustments within the facilities to ensure safety and compliance. All Kent District Library locations will have exterior book drops will open on June 8. Curbside service for picking up items will start June 15 with branches opening with limited service July 6. For details about KDL, visit kdl.org.

Zoos

The John Ball Zoo was scheduled to re-open in May but has postponed those plans with no specific date given on when the zoo might re-open. However, the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek. For details on Binder Park Zoo, visit binderparkzoo.org.

Museums

None of the local museums, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, or the Grand Rapids Public Museum, have announced opening dates yet. The announcements are expected soon.

Trails

While the facilities at Blandford Nature Center are closed, the trails are open. Actually many of the area parks have open trails.

Gilmore Car Museum

The Gilmore Car Museum, located at Hickory Corners, re-opens to the public on Friday June 12, but guests will “notice several new procedures, all mandated by the State of Michigan, and geared toward the Museum’s top priority of assuring the health and safety of their employees, volunteers and visitors,” according to a June 4 statement.

For details and more information visit GilmoreCarMuseum.organd the museum’s social media.

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse will open June 13. (Supplied)

State Openings

The state is also starting to open some of its parks. This week Mackinac State historic Parks announced it would be welcoming guests to historic sites and facilities starting June 12.

The first sties to be open in Mackinaw City will be Colonial Michilimackinac, the Colonial Michilimackinac Vistor’s Center, and the Michilimackinc State Park restrooms. Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse will open June 13 and the Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park and the David A. Armour Vistor’s Center will open June 15.

On June 19, the Mackinac State historic Parks will open its buildings and facilities on Mackinac Island. This includes: Fort Mackinac, The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac ArtMuseu, Historic downtown Mackinac (Benjamin Blacksmith Shop and the American Fur Company Store and Dr. Beaumont Museum, the Mackinac Island State Park Vistor’s Center and restrooms, Mission Church, Bark Chapel, Fort holmes Blockhouse, British Landing Nature Center and restrooms, Arch Rock restrooms, and the Station 256 Conference Room. The Biddle House feating the Native American Museum, will be open later due to construction delays during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re excited to get our historic sites open for the 2020 season and offer the world-class living history programs and activities for our guests,” said Phil Porter, Mackinac State Historic Parks Director. “We have developed, using our Visitor First philosophy, a set of guidelines that will safely welcome guests to our sites while allowing for a fun and educational time.”

For details on the openings and other schedules, visit mackinacparks.com.

WKTV Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma contributed to this story.

Wyoming temporarily expands outdoor restaurant seating

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Local restaurants like Lindo Mexico will be able to seek expanded outdoor seating due to an emergency order signed by the City of Wyoming mayor.

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The City of Wyoming has issued guidance that temporarily allows local restaurants to expand outdoor seating arrangements. Today, Mayor Jack A. Poll signed an emergency order that increases outdoor restaurant seating during the coronavirus pandemic. The order is designed to support local restaurants that are reopening with reduced indoor capacity.

To take advantage of the new guidelines, business owners will need to apply and be approved for the expanded seating area. Before submitting their application, applicants are encouraged to contact staff to discuss their plan and any questions they may have. The planning staff can be reached at plan_info@wyomingmi.gov or 616-530-7258, Monday thru Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once an application with relevant plans and information is submitted to the planning office, they will be promptly reviewed for approval. The full emergency order with application instructions can be found online at wyomingmi.gov/coronavirus.

“Wyoming is home to a variety of excellent restaurants that feature cuisines from around the world,” Poll said. “I’m excited to give restaurant owners an opportunity to jumpstart their businesses as we rebound from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. With the support of the community I know they’ll be successful. I welcome everyone in West Michigan to join us for a meal in Wyoming.”

Wyoming City Hall building will reopen to the public on Monday, June 8 with visitor requirements such as answering COVID-19 screening questions, wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19. In-person visitors will be able to access City Hall through the 28th Street, front entrance. Community members are encouraged to continue using online and drive-up window services to limit contact points. City Hall’s hours remain Monday thru Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

School News Network: Game changers

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Glenwood Elementary second-grade teacher Lauren Heald leads her class earlier this school year using the Capturing Kids Hearts model (School News Network)

Godfrey-Lee: Gaming club doubles membership its first season

The Godfrey-Lee’s first esports club grew from 18 students last fall to 40 middle and high schoolers competing in games such as Super Smash Bros., Ultimate, Fortnite, Overwatch and Mario Kart. In-person gaming clubs are growing in local districts and beyond. Other area esports teams include Catholic Central, East Grand Rapids, Lowell, Rockford, Sparta, Kentwood, West Catholic and West Michigan Aviation Academy. Aquinas College hosts sports competitions and West Michigan University has built an arena to accommodate esports. For more, click here.

Kentwood teachers are using KPS Remote Learning and Tech Talk as a go-to spot for tech tool instruction (School News Network)

Kentwood: Teachers tap into one another’s knowledge for remote teaching

Kentwood Public Schools educators have been sharing their knowledge and the tools they use in their classrooms with other teachers as the district quickly switched to remote learning due to the state-mandated closure of schools to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Just how did they accomplish this? Click here to learn more.

Director of Dining Services Monica Collier, far right, holds her statewide award for Breakfast Hero given to her by Mindy Grant, Michigan Breakfast Program grant manager, second from right. Lee Middle and High School student council members surround the breakfast cart Collier implemented (School News Network)

Godfrey-Lee: I’ll take that to go, please, for geometry class

With most of the students at Godfrey-Lee receiving free or reduce meals, you would think breakfast would be popular, but turnout was quite low for the morning meal. That is until Godfrey-Lee Dining Services Director Monica Collier created the breakfast cart program last fall, earning a state award for her idea in early March before the mandatory school closure due to COVID-19. To learn more about the breakfast cart program click here.

When life threw us COVID-19, Theatricks decided to make masks

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David Johnson, owner of Theatricks cuts strips of elastic for masks. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

As area theater companies began to cancel productions due to gathering restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, Theatricks owners David Johnson and Kateri Kline-Johnson went from making costumes to making masks.

“It was an easy switch,” said David Johnson during an interview at his costume shop Theatricks, 2136 Plainfield Ave. SE. “As theaters closed, we just went from making costumes to making masks. We didn’t think much of it. We figured we would probably make about 100 to 200 masks.”

About ten weeks and more than 2,000 masks later, Johnson said the shop has been able to make enough masks to stay open during the pandemic, keep the three employees — himself, his wife, and another employee — employed, plus cover all the building’s utility costs as well as the supply cost for the masks. Johnson owns the building that his business is located in.

Some of the masks available at Theatricks. (WKTV)

“We have not had to take out any government loans or layoff any employees,” Johnson said. 

The group decided to offer up a basic mask, made of two pieces of 100 percent cotton with non-adjustable elastic straps. This mask comes in small, for children 2-11, and adult regular and large. They also make a mask with a pocket to place a filter and adjustable elastic straps.

As surgical and N95 masks became harder to find along with the Michigan guidelines that residents should wear a mask while in public places, cloth masks became the answer. According to the Mayo Clinic, cloth masks can help reduce the spread of the coronavirus by people who have COVID-19 but don’t realize it.

“One of the hardest things we ran into was getting the supplies needed to make the masks,” Johnson said. With only word-of-mouth and social media as advertising for the store’s masks, Theatriks was inundated with requests.

This coupled with the fact that many had taken up making homemade masks, made getting the needed elastic for the masks tough. So the Johnsons innovated and started making masks with a tie made from corset lacing. 

Theatricks owner David Johnson with some the masks that are available at the Plainfield Avenue store. (WKTV)

Johnson said they listened to customers about specific needs such as how the elastic on a mask could start to hurt the ears after long periods of use. So they designed a mask with the elastic going over the head instead of around the ears.

Then a customer came in with the suggestion of making a headband with buttons on either side for the mask’s elastic band, which the store started making as well.

While costs for materials have gone up, Johsnon said the couple made the decision early on to keep the price for the masks low, which start at $3 for a basic mask and goes up for the speciality masks.

“We honestly, really did not think that it would take off as much as it did,” Johnson said, adding that they have had individuals come in to buy a few masks to churches and organizations ordering more than 100.

Having been in business for 39 years, Theatricks is known for building and providing costumes to community, college, and high school theater productions. The store staff also makes period pieces for those who participate in Civil War reenactments and Renaissance festivals.

“We actually have had a few people coming in to have costumes made for the Renaissance fairs for when they start back up again,” Johnson said, adding he usually has a booth at the fairs for costumes and other related items.  Johnson said he is hoping that the Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly, Mich., will still take place in late August.

Also over the past few weeks, local theater companies have been reaching out as well as they look ahead to their upcoming productions and the possibility of being able to open in the fall, Johnson said. 

Still it is quiet in the store with Johnson spending a portion of his time cutting elastic in the north corner of the shop that is filled with costumes, masks, wigs, make up and jewelry. The actually sewing area is a clean room with only those making the masks allowed in.

“It’s all done by hand,” he said with a laugh as he measured out the elastic strips. We chat for a few minutes and then I gather up my prize — five brand new masks.

Local schools gain MHSAA guidance on summer sport activities as pandemic uncertainty dominates talk of fall seasons

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Local high schools cannot yet open their weight rooms for summer student-athlete programs, but they now have guidance as to how the state’s sports governing body recommends such activities take place. (2019 photo from Lee High School by WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

As a clear example of what Lee High School athletic director Jason Faasse described as an “ever-changing time” in Michigan high school athletics, there was exactly three days separating the May 29 release of the MHSAA’s “Guidance for Opening School Sports” and its June 2 reopening update.

Last week, the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), the public school athletics governing body, issued its eagerly anticipated guidance on how summer preparations and possibly fall sports can take place in a time of COVID-19 related restrictions.

This week, the MHSAA updated its guidelines for reopening of school sports based on the lifting of stay-at-home order and further recommendations from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office, announced Monday, June 1. All Michigan schools halted winter and spring sports when schools were ordered shut April 3 to help decrease the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Wyoming High School AD Ted Hollern. (WKTV)

Even with a constantly changing environment, two local athletic directors were happy to at least have a starting point on the road to resuming athletics.

“Wyoming (Public Schools) is encouraged that the MHSAA has a universal plan in place for all school districts to follow,” Wyoming High School athletic director Ted Hollern said this week to WKTV. “It is a great blend of making sure we keep the kids safe while at the same time providing opportunities for our students to begin preparing for the upcoming athletic seasons.”

Stepped process and risk by sport

In the Guidance for Opening School Sports issued last week, the MHSAA “recommends a three-step process to returning to full athletic participation, and for each step outlines actions to be taken in five major areas: pre-workout/contest screening of athletes and coaches for sickness, limitations of the number of participants who may be involved in a gathering, proper cleaning for facilities, the use of equipment during activity and best practices for keeping participants safely hydrated.”

The plan also places sports into categories based on risk for transmitting the virus (low/moderate/high), with adjusted return-to-activity steps based on that level of risk. The MHSAA’s “Potential Infection Risk by Sport” is “modified from United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Sports Medicine recommendations, which was examined through the probability of respiratory droplet transmission/exposure.”

For example, in football, actual Friday night football games are currently considered high risk while common 7-on-7 summer practiced are considered moderate. Wrestling and competitive cheer are also high risk. Low risk includes cross country and most track and field events, swimming and golf.

While the risk assessment included in the MHSAA document may give hints as to what sports might be on — or off — this fall, both ADs Hollern and Faasse said the more important aspect was giving school athletics summer activities a path forward.

“I think the MHSAA is giving us best practices (for us to follow),” Faasse said this week to WKTV. “This is an uncertain time, ever changing time, and we have to be careful with the kids. … (But) our coaches and kids are eager get back to work … When the school is open, and that is a district decision, we can start some things.”

The June 2 MHSAA update reiterates Faasse’s point of sports being ready when school administrations approve openings of schools and school facilities.

Member schools may begin summer activities at school facilities as long as school administration has announced schools facilities are open to students and staff, and the academic school year (last day of online instruction/exams) has ended, the MHSAA update states.

In addition, indoor facilities, including gymnasiums and weight rooms, remain closed. This includes swimming pools, although outdoor pools may be used for athletic activities. Competition is not yet allowed because participants must continue to follow social distancing.

“We were excited and encouraged by Governor Whitmer’s announcements Monday,” Mark Uyl, MHSAA executive director said in supplied material. “The opportunity for outside gatherings of up to 100 allowed us to rework a number of guidelines that we had published Friday as part of the MHSAA/NFHS reopening document.

“Our schools have been cautiously eager to take this long-awaited first step. We will continue to provide updates in accordance with the Governor’s directives for reopening the state, always prioritizing safety for all involved in school sports programs.”

The Guidance for Opening School Sports, according to the MHSAA, is based primarily on direction provided by the MHSAA and National Federation of State High School Associations’ (NFHS) Sports Medicine Advisory Committees, in addition to reopening plans provided by the Michigan and federal governments and recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Concepts from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee also were consulted.

The MHSAA serves more than 1,500 public and private schools, including 750 high schools.

For the complete original MHSAA Guidance for Opening School Sports, see the document here. For updates on the MHSAA and school athletics, visit mhsaa.com.

Artists help to beautiful Grand Rapids with murals on boarded storefronts

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These boarded up store fronts will soon be decorated with art. (Supplied)

WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

CWD Real Estate Investment has partnered with Lions and Rabbits to bring vibrant murals to the boarded storefronts in Downtown Grand Rapids. The art will spotlight local artists while commemorating the comradery that took place during the clean-up effort this past Sunday.

After the events that unfolded late Saturday night, Downtown Grand Rapids was left with significant damage to prominent storefronts throughout the city. However, on Sunday morning, the community came together to help clean up the aftermath. By mid-afternoon, streets and sidewalks were swept of debris and storefronts were boarded up.

While the boards act as an effective temporary measure to protect the already damaged storefronts, they detract from much of the lively energy Grand Rapids has come to inhabit. To help restore some of this energy, CWD has partnered with Lions and Rabbits to bring back the artistic spirit our city embodies. Murals will be installed throughout the Downtown area’s damaged storefronts in an effort to inspire, invigorate, and remind the community of the city’s strength and unity.

“What happened here Saturday night was not unique to Grand Rapids. What happened next certainly was. On Sunday morning—literally before the sun was up, our community came out to repair the damage sustained,” said Sam Cummings, managing partner at CWD Real Estate. “The generosity and selfless beauty of what happened everywhere around our downtown inspired us again and again throughout the day. It is such a testament to what an amazing place West Michigan is.”

CWD is working to get windows cut and installed as quickly as possible, but until then, the firm wants people to feel comfortable being Downtown. With businesses beginning to re-open as a result of the Stay-At-Home orders being lifted, CWD wants to encourage people to continue supporting local businesses in and around Downtown Grand Rapids in their time of need.

As a result, the collaborative project will highlight some local artists while supporting the small businesses that were damaged, but above all, it will commemorate the tremendous display of community observed on Sunday.

Murals will celebrate the community effort to help clean-up downtown. (Supplied)

“We wanted to memorialize and perpetuate that spirit of community by turning to local artists who will use their talents to express that beauty on the temporary enclosures while we wait to return to normal downtown,” said Cummings. “We are grateful for their involvement!”

Murals will begin appearing throughout Downtown Grand Rapids starting Friday, June 5. The full list of CWD properties that will see mural installations include: 37 Ottawa, 40 Pearl, 50 Louis, 80 Ottawa, 111 Lyon, 125 Ottawa, 169 Monroe, 180 Ottawa, 201 Michigan and 250 Monroe.

The growing melanoma risk

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Melanoma from sun exposure and indoor tanning is most common among teens and young adults. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay


Cases of deadly melanomas on the head and neck rose more than 51% over two decades among young people in the United States and Canada, a new study reports.


Researchers found that the incidence of head and neck melanoma rose nearly 4% a year from 1995 to 2001 and 1.2% a year from 2001 to 2014 in children and young adults.


Using data from a North American cancer registry, the investigators looked at patients from infancy to age 39 who were diagnosed with head and neck melanoma between 1995 and 2014.


During that time, nearly 12,500 people were diagnosed with the cancer.


Of those, 55% were boys and men, and 91% lived in the United States, the study found.


“This is an important finding because melanoma in other parts of the body are usually more common in females than males,” said study co-author Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters. He is an assistant professor in the department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at St. Louis University School of Medicine.


“It is therefore important that melanoma prevention campaigns do not only focus on young women,” he explained.


The researchers zeroed in on melanoma of the head and neck because, although it accounts for only one in five melanoma cases, its survival rates are worse than for other melanomas.


“In fact, the five-year survival rate of head and neck melanoma is worse than the 10-year survival rates of other regions of the body,” Osazuwa-Peters explained in a university news release.


Also, while melanoma patients are diagnosed at an average age of 63, this type of cancer from sun exposure and indoor tanning is most common among teens and young adults.


Osazuwa-Peters said that the public can help spot melanoma early.


“For example, barbers and stylists might be the first to spot irregular skin on the scalp before the doctors do. It is therefore important to increase awareness about this cancer,” he said.


The report was published online recently in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



EPA re-establishes Great Lakes Advisory Board

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Alan D. Steinman, Ph.D., left, gives a tour of GVSU’s Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute to members of the EPA and local politicians on Wednesday, June 3 in Muskegon, Mich. where he is the director. Steinman was appointed to the EPA’s Great Lakes Advisory Board. (Supplied)

By Nate Hoekstra
Grand Valley State University

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the re-establishment of the Great Lakes Advisory Board (GLAB) at a news conference at Grand Valley’s Annis Water Resources Institute on June 3.

The GLAB serves to provide advice and recommendations on matters related to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and the implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the United States and Canada.

The GLAB was discontinued in 2018. Alan Steinman, director of the Annis Water Resources Institute, said the re-establishment of the board shows a commitment to the health of the Great Lakes by the EPA.

“When the board lapsed in 2018, there was concern about why we were losing the Great Lakes Advisory Board, does that mean that there’s a change in thought and process within the EPA. So coming back and re-forming it suggests, to me at least, that the commitment is there in the White House, it’s there in Region 5 of the EPA, and I think that’s an important message,” Steinman said.

Steinman was one of 14 experts tapped to serve on the re-established board. He previously served on a subcommittee of the board, and said he is keenly aware of the importance of the GLAB and the vital roles and responsibilities that it has in informing the EPA and Congress.

Wheeler said during the announcement that as a native Ohioan, the Great Lakes have always been important to him personally, as well as being important to the entire country.

“The advice received from the board in past years has been a critical part of the work EPA has done, and continues to do, to restore and protect the Great Lakes,” Wheeler said. “Our work cleaning up the Great Lakes is far from over, and GLAB’s future efforts will ensure needed expertise is available for environmental agencies to use both here in the U.S. and in Canada.”

The EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler speaks during a press conference at GVSU’s Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute on Wednesday, June 3 in Muskegon, Mich. Alan Steinman, director of AWRI, was appointed to the EPA’s Great Lakes Advisory Board. (Supplied)

U.S. Representatives Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) and Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) also spoke about the importance of the Great Lakes.

“These are big and powerful bodies of water, and they’re big and powerful not just ecologically, … but also economically,” Huizenga said. “With the GLRI and the partnership that has been going on with the state and locals and nonprofits and the federal government, we’ve proven that you can both support the ecology as well as the economy that’s attached to the Great Lakes.”

Huizenga said the lakes are too valuable to be wasted, so they need to be used properly, and protected properly as well.

Upton said having a formal advisory committee of experts from the Midwest who could alert the EPA and congressional delegations about potential problems is “really important.”

Steinman said that it has been great to be in Muskegon and see changes made by environmental restoration over time. 

“When we talk about improving the ecological health of these communities, we’re also talking about improving the economic vitality of these communities as well, and the community spirit,” Steinman said. 

Steinman said he has four main goals for his work on the board, including ensuring restoration efforts are based on sound science, soliciting meaningful community input, focusing on preservation instead of just restoration and taking a holistic and sustainable approach to restoration projects.

The members of the board will include:

Stephen Galarneau, director of the Office of Great Waters – Great Lakes & Mississippi River, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Co-Chair)

Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, chief executive officer, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (Co-Chair)

Scudder Mackey, chief of the Office of Coastal Management, Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Chad Able, administrator, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

James Williams Jr, chairman, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

Jeff Stollenwerk, director of government and environmental affairs, Duluth Seaway Port Authority

John Hull, founder and chairman, Hull & Associates Inc.

Lisa Frede, director of regulatory affairs, Chemical Industry Council of Illinois

Larry Antosch, senior director, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation

Kay Nelson, director of environmental affairs, Northwest Indiana Forum

J. Val Klump, dean and professor of the School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin

Alan Steinman, director of Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University

Brian Miller, retired, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and Illinois Water Resources Center

Sylvia Orduño, organizer, Michigan Welfare Rights Organization

Kent County Health Department’s free COVID-19 testing available in Wyoming, Kentwood

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Kent County Health Department’s Wyoming location, The Potter’s House school, is a “walk-through” testing site is available Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon., until Aug. 1. (KCHD)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

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.

According to a June 3 statement, testing is available to individuals over the age of six months who live in a community impacted by COVID-19, have a known exposure to a person with confirmed COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19, or work in a job that puts them at high risk for exposure (jail, homeless shelters, nursing homes or assisted living facilities, food processing facilities, or any business that limits the ability to practice social distancing, or has repeated close contact with the public).

“Expanding COVID-19 testing in Kent County is important,” Christopher Bendekgey, the department’s community clinical services director, said in supplied material. “We wanted to establish sites in the geographic areas where we are seeing the highest incidents of positive cases and where individuals have less access to transportation.”

Federal CDC-privided Coronavirus test kit. (Kent County Health)

The Potter’s House “walk-through” testing site is located at 810 Van Raalte Dr. SW, and available Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon., until Aug. 1. The Kentwood “drive through” site is located at Kent County Health Department South Clinic, 4700 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. noon, until Sept. 1.

Other sites in the county which offer the tests include the drive-through Kent County Health Department Main Clinic, 700 Fuller Ave. NE, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, until Sept. 1; and the walk-through Baxter Community Health Center, 958 Baxter SE, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., until Sept. 1.


Registration for the testing is “strongly encouraged” and can be done by visiting accesskent.com/health or by calling 616-632-7200.

No insurance or identification is needed to receive the free test. However, people who have health insurance are asked to bring their insurance cards.

Individuals must wear a mask when arriving at a testing location. The test is administered by inserting a small swab into the nose and gently collecting nasal secretions from the back of the nose and throat. “It can cause mild discomfort but is a quick procedure,” according to the county statement.

Results should be available within three to five business days. If positive, individuals will receive further information from KCHD.

Part of the goal of the increased testing availability is “so we can get more accurate idea of the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” Bendekgey said. “It will not only protect individuals and their families but is an essential part of our overall strategy towards recovery.”

Kentwood City Commission acts to alter regulations to support city businesses, local economic recovery

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The Kentwood City Commission recently passed a resolution reducing regulations and expediting the site plan review process some local businesses. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood announced today that “in an effort to support Kentwood businesses and jumpstart the local economy,” the Kentwood City Commission recently passed a resolution reducing regulations and expediting the site plan review process for temporary outdoor retail, food, beverage and personal service uses.

Effective immediately and through Nov. 1, the resolution suspends time limits on temporary sign display and waives business license fees, according to a Wednesday, June 3, statement.

Retailers, restaurants and personal service businesses, such as training facilities, wanting to add expanded outdoor spaces for customers now have the opportunity to apply for such allowances through a streamlined administrative review process, the statement continues.

 “It goes without saying — COVID-19 and shelter-in-place requirements over the past three months have had tremendous impacts on our local businesses,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “As we look to restart the local economy, the City of Kentwood remains committed to being a help and not a hindrance for our business community, and has implemented a number of measures to assist.

“The resolution passed is intended to ease and expedite businesses’ abilities to serve customers in a manner that’s consistent with evolving public health recommendations.”
 

The review and approval of site plans for general retail sales, food, beverage and personal service establishments in the city seeking to utilize outdoor areas, such as exterior building aprons or parking areas, will be conducted through the Planning Department. Interested businesses are asked to complete the online application at kentwood.us/businessrestart for consideration.

Under the temporary sign moratorium, one temporary sign of up to 32 square feet in area is allowed per business. Other restrictions in the Zoning Ordinance applicable to temporary signs, such as sign placement and similar matters, remain in effect.

For the licensing year, city business license fees for all businesses located in the city will be waived with the exception of the following: transient, waste hauler, door-to-door, and snowplowing licenses, or hazardous material fees.

As part of the City Commission resolution, the city’s Economic Development Corporation and two members of the Planning Commission were tasked to review city ordinances and regulations and propose to the City Commission changes to enhance the local business environment during the state of emergency and to submit those recommendations to the City Commission for its consideration in an ongoing fashion until Nov. 1 or as further extended by the City Commission, according to the city.

  

2020 Metro Cruise cancelled, WKTV moves forward with Dream Wheels show

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

WKTV Community Media does plan to broadcast and live stream its Dream Wheels classic car show in August. (WKTV)

While the 2020 Metro Cruise has been cancelled this year, auto car enthusiasts still will be able to enjoy a host of classic cars as WKTV Community Media will be broadcasting its popular Dream Wheels classic car show in August.

The Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce announced today that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has made the decision to cancel the 28th Street Metro Cruise for 2020.

The event was scheduled to take place for its 16th consecutive year on Aug. 21-22 on the 13-mile long stretch of 28th Street from Grandville to Cascade Charter Township. The central hub of the event takes place at Rogers Plaza in Wyoming, which features the famous Collector Car Row, local bands, event merchandise and more.

“While it is very unfortunate the pandemic has affected our society and events in so many ways, WKTV Community Media is committed to helping to keep the home fires for Metro Cruise burning,” said WKTV General Manager Tom Norton. “We’ve been in the planning stages for the televised coverage of Metro Cruise for the last few months and will be shifting to a live and streamed classic car program for 2020.”

Dream Wheels has become a popular attraction during Metro Cruise hosting a number of rare cars and popular favorites. Norton said plans for this year’s show will again focus on lots of car classics.

“At this stage, we can say that the program will feature many classic vehicles from the region, but without general public attendance,” Norton said. “We encourage everyone to stay with WKTV Journal to get more updates on the program as they develop and we heartily encourage everyone to continue to follow all rules and guidelines so we can see the COVID pandemic in the rear view mirror.”

Metro Cruise was started in 2005 to help drive traffic to 28th Street after M-6 was opened. (WKTV)

Started in 2005 to help drive business to the 28th Street corridor when the M-6 highway system opened on the south end of Grand Rapids, the Metro Cruise has become a known and loved West Michigan’s premiere car event. The Metro Cruise typically draws more than 275,000 people annually from across the United States and includes approximately 15,000 vehicles such as hot rods, low riders, muscle cars, performance cars, classics, antiques and motorcycles, in additional to numerous live events. 

“This event has become a community tradition, and we always look forward to welcoming car lovers from around the country into our communities each year,” said Bob O’Callaghan, president and CEO the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce. “While it appears our state may begin to gradually reopen this summer, the event still poses a potential high risk of spreading COVID-19 in our community and beyond. 

“Out of an abundance of caution, the Chamber agreed it cannot risk a second wave of infection in a state that already has experienced enough loss. This was an extremely difficult decision for the Chamber to make, but the right one in light of health concerns for our community.”

The event is planned to return Aug. 20-21, 2021. For more information on the event, visit 28thstreetmetrocruise.com.

5 things assisted living communities do for you (that you don’t want to do)

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Senior Living,
Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living


Summertime means barbecues, lake trips and fun in the sun with family and friends but it can also mean lawn mowing, weed pulling, bug killing and other (not so fun) tasks to keep your home or yard in shape. While they are not fun for anyone, for aging adults these tasks can become increasingly difficult. Moving to an assisted living facility can mean exchanging tedious and arduous home tasks for simply enjoying everything the summer has to offer.


What do you give up when you choose an assisted living community? Things you don’t want to be doing anyway.  

Home maintenance

Never change a light bulb again. Don’t worry about that leaky faucet and definitely don’t climb up on that ladder to clean the gutters. All the stuff you dread doing around the house, repairs, cleaning, leaky faucets, is taken care of when you live in a retirement community with a full of life focus.

Plan trips & activities

It’s great to take trips; it’s not always great to plan them. The effort of searching for something to do, researching parking, finding food in the area and figuring out transportation can often take away the joy of visiting a new place. So, let someone else plan the logistics for you while you simply tag along for the fun. No driving, no parking, no fighting traffic, just a good time.

Watch your house while you’re gone

If it’s always been your dream to travel in your retirement years, you don’t want to be burdened by the requirements of home ownership. Leaving a home behind for extended periods means keeping it safe and locked up, planning for yard maintenance while you’re away and worrying about what might happen while it’s empty. If you’re traveling during the winter, it’s your responsibility to keep your sidewalks clear, and snow build up on your home can often cause damage if not tended to immediately. When you’re traveling, you want to enjoy your time away. When you live in a community like Vista Springs, your home is taken care of, no matter where are.

Cooking

An elaborate meal tastes great, but the before and after can be tedious. Preparation can take hours and doing the dishes sometimes makes the meal more of a hassle than a reward. A luxury living community means a variety of exciting, healthy meals that you can enjoy with friends or family, without the hassle of preparation or cleanup.

Yard work

From raking to snow shoveling, yard work can take its toll on your back and joints and can make owning a home as you age a painful burden. Rather than paying a neighbor kid to shovel the sidewalk every time it snows or watching the leaves pile up while you dread getting out the rake, depend on your community to create and take care of a lush and beautiful landscape.


Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.



Bottle, can deposit returns to be phased back in as ‘limited’ facilities access starts June 15

3-bottom, Beer, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Local Business, Recycling,
Deposit bottles and cans can be simply recycled as glass or metal, but with the return process being phased back in, there is probably some cash to be made. (Public Domain)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

The State of Michigan Department of Treasury, this week, issued a Notice Regarding Phased Reestablishment of Michigan’s Bottle Deposit Return Program, which includes instructions that beginning June 15 some retailers must reopen their bottle return facilities and resume the collection of returnable beverage containers and refund of customer bottle deposits.

The collection of returnable beverage containers was temporarily suspended by an Executive Order issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on March 23.

According to supplied material, this applies to retailers “with bottle return facilities located at the front of the store or housed in a separate area and serviced exclusively by reverse vending machines requiring minimal or no person-to-person contact.”

Retailers reopening their bottle return facilities must ensure those facilities comply with all state-mandated safety protocols and restrictions, the statement continues.

In addition, retailers may take any or all of the following steps:

— Limit the number of beverage containers that may be returned by a single individual per day to a deposit refund amount of $25.

— Establish special or limited hours of operation for bottle return facilities.

— Limit the number of available and operating reverse vending machines.

— Periodically close bottle deposit facilities as needed for cleaning and supply management.

— Implement such other procedures or restrictions as each retailer may determine are necessary or advisable to promote safety and/or efficiency.

The statement also points out that consumers have the option of recycling their returnable beverage containers if they choose not to return them to a bottle deposit redemption facility.

Boyne Theater becomes a community asset

Entertainment, ,

By Kelsie King-Duff
Boyne City Main Street

The lights of the Boyne Theater will shine again!

For the last 18 months a small group of community members have worked closely with Richard Bergman, owner of the Boyne City Taproom and the Boyne Theater, to find a new way to help bring the theater back to life. Bergman has a deep desire to restore the theater. He sees it not only as a benefit to his adjoining businesses but to the entire Boyne community. The Boyne City Main Street program shares his vision and his belief. Bergman recalls going to the Boyne Theater as a boy, and grew up hearing stories of his grandfather seeing Harry Houdini perform there.

Bergman invested thousands of dollars and countless hours consulting with experts and researching options to reopen the theater. Ultimately, he decided that to give the theater its best chance for success it should transition to those who can more directly focus on making the theater’s reopening a reality. On May 30th Boyne City Main Street purchased the theater for $350,000. Boyne City Main Street’s mission includes economic vitality and historic preservation which will, over time, realize the shared vision. Bergman is providing all of his research and plans to support the project. The City of Boyne City, acting in concert with Boyne City Main Street, purchased the adjoining parking lot north of the theater for $150,000. That lot and its 20 spaces are now fully open to serve the public. The effort to reopen the theater will take an estimated three to five years and a preliminary estimate of about $2.1 million to complete.

“We are very excited to partner with Michelle Cortright and the Boyne Theater Revival Team to transition this wonderful historic asset to a new community- owned facility. This transition will move this project forward to a new future of an operating theater again. The grants and abatements afforded to non-profit organizations will allow this project to move forward more effectively and with a great team to set the new direction. Congratulations to the Boyne Theater Revival Team and Boyne City Main Street for a great new initiative for Boyne City,” Bergman said.

Boyne City Main Street has long seen the rebirth of the Boyne Theater as a key element in the long-term success for the community. A previous Boyne City Main Street plan from years ago shared the vision that a key element of a successful downtown was ‘The lights of the Boyne Theater shining again!’ That vision has now taken a first major step forward with the purchase of the property.

Boyne City Mayor Tom Neidhamer shared his thoughts regarding the theater: “Boyne City has a very significant longtime emotional and historical relationship with our downtown theater. This acquisition is the first step for our community to have the opportunity to become involved in the economic redevelopment of our theater, create an economic engine in our downtown, and encourage the historic preservation of a landmark. In my opinion, this is a wise long term investment. This commitment is a testimony to our community’s resolve and past successes. Yes, we can do this!”

The roots of the Theater run long and deep in the Boyne community. The original building was constructed in 1903 by C.I. Bellamy as the Bellamy Opera House, owned by William J. Garland.

It was renovated into a theater in 1915-1916. In 1926 the building was acquired by Mr. Heaton and renamed the Boyne Theater. Another remodeling was completed in 1938, and featured a seating capacity of 578. For decades movies were shown, and later a dance club was added. A second story was constructed in 1994 as a club room, and the auditorium was split into two theaters. During the 1990s the small theater space was used as an adult theater. The Boyne Theater operated until 2003 and has been closed since that time. The theater is a contributing structure to downtown Boyne City’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been the site of many local and school performances. Many memories have been made there.

Laura Krizov, Manager, Michigan Main Street Program at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, has been alongside Boyne City since the Main Street program took shape. “This project is key in the continued efforts to revitalize downtown. The Boyne City Main Street Program focuses on fulfilling the economic development and historic preservation values that are important to the work of Main Street,” she said.

Michelle Cortright took her son Michael to his first movie at the Boyne Theater. “We went to see The Lion King and he sat on my lap, enthralled. Such a precious memory,” she said.

City Manager Michael Cain had another type of memory however, one of opportunities missed.

“Our family had just moved to Boyne and I was thinking how great it would be for our four girls to go and see movies there. Our oldest was in 6th grade and the youngest in preschool. Jillian, our youngest, is graduating from High School this month. For all my girls, and most of their Boyne City classmates, the Boyne Theater has always been dark and not the safe local option for hometown fun and memories they could have had. This is our best chance to turn that around and create a new economic draw right here in Boyne City.”

For years, several owners of the theater had hopes to reopen it. About a decade ago there was a very serious and productive Main Street and community effort to acquire and restore the theater.

Under the direction of then-Main Street Manager Hugh Conklin, and local event producer Bill Aten, they worked with then-owner Paul Mitchell to donate the theater to the community.

Community volunteers cleaned out nearly a decade’s worth of accumulated odds and ends. A draft agreement between the parties with drafted in 2012. However, those plans did not work out when the adjacent Thirsty Goat restaurant closed and the properties, including the theater and parking lot, were put up for sale together. That cycle has repeated itself several times, under various owners, since the theater closed.

However, during that earlier theater effort Boyne City Main Street learned a lot and made good connections. Visits made to other northern Michigan theaters have underscored the positive impact theaters have on their communities, both socially and economically. Such impacts can readily be seen at the Vogue in Manistee, the State in Traverse City and the nearby successful theaters in Charlevoix and Harbor Springs.

“Boyne City Main Street has always strived to assist in the preservation of historic buildings, as reflected in years of goal planning sessions. A planning session from almost a decade ago listed multiple key buildings in the downtown to preserve, including the Boyne Theater. With the purchase of the theater we can now finally check the last building on that list off, and get to work on restoration and revival,” said Rob Swartz, Boyne City Main Street Chairman.

Now that reoccurring cycle has been broken and a new path forward can be charted. The restaurant can move forward without the burden of the closed theater and the theater can move forward on its own. Finding the right recipe for the theater’s success is now Boyne City Main Street’s top priority.

Boyne City Main Street Executive Director Kelsie King-Duff has community theater experience from her prior role with the City of Allegan’s Regent Theatre.

“I’ve been able to see first-hand the impact a community theater can have on a downtown. The revival of the Boyne Theater is going to serve as a catalyst for the future of downtown Boyne City. This will be another project to that will make our community proud!” she said.

While it will likely take several years for the Boyne Theater to open, a first priority will be to get the marquee lights shining again as a symbol of what is to come. During this time, looking ahead with hope and vision is just what we need. The Boyne Theater is now owned by the Boyne City community and its’ future is up to us.

If you have questions, ideas, stories or even artifacts from the Boyne Theater please contact Boyne City Main Street Executive Director Kelsie King-Duff at 231.582.9009 or mainstreet@boynecity.com

Local enterpreneur offers a taste of Africa – virtually

3-bottom,

By Mirabel Umenei
Motherland Cooking Xperience

Motherland Cooking Xperience was founded with the aim of providing a platform for immigrants with ties to Africa to showcase their talent, through food, music, art, and storytelling in an effort to bridge the cultural gap between African immigrants, their families and their communities of residence. We also want to empower them financially and foster faster integration and participation in their communities.

At Motherland Cooking Xperience, we are passionate about showcasing the diverse and exciting cultures of Africa through delicious food, cooking demos, beverages, and music from Africa.

Due to the quarantine, the program has now gone online with the next event, “African Cooking in Quarantine 4: Chicken Pepper Soup, Peanut Soup with Rice, and Banana Puff, Puff,” set for June 5 from 5 – 7 p.m. To check out this show or any of the cooking experiences, go to motherlandcookingexperience.com.

Like to try it on your own? Below is the recipe for Plantain Porridge or Born House Plantains or Sese Plantains. This is a delicious savory Cameroonian dish usually prepared for a new mom and her guests.

Here are the ingredients I used:

Green Plantains

Medium Onions, garlic, ginger

Country onions

Tomatoes

Bitter leaves

Fresh Turnip greens

Fresh Kale Smoked fish and turkey

Salt Seasoning cube

Smoked crawfish 4-5 unripe plantains peeled and cut in halves

1/2-1 cup palm oil

1 pound smoked fish and meat of choice. – I used home smoked turkey and fish.

1/2 cup crayfish

2 teaspoons of bouillon powder

2 tablespoons blended garlic and ginger optional

1 habanero (hot) pepper optional

1 teaspoon contri onions or rondelles (optional)

Salt to taste 4-8 handfuls green leafy vegetable – I used rehydrated dry bitter leaf, Turnip greens and kale.

Instructions Cut the smoked turkey in smaller pieces and put them in the pot with plantains at the same time. Once the plantain is in the pot, add in all other ingredients. Let it cook for about 30 minutes until the plantain is cooked. Add more water if necessary. Turn off the heat and serve warm.

Local suppliers, county work to fill PPE gap as businesses begin to open up

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , ,
Several local manufacturers are making personal protective equipment such as masks and hand sanitizer. (Public Domain)

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Before many businesses can open, owners first must secure personal protective equipment with two local agencies stepping up to the challenge to help owners find and purchase what they needs.

This week, Kent County announced the Kent County Back to Work initiative where the Kent County Board of Commissioners has allocated $2 million of the County’s CARES Act funding to provide person protective equipment at not cost to qualifying small businesses and other employers. Available PPE includes eye and face protection, gloves, hand sanitizer and thermometers.

“We need to focus on getting our economy back on track, making sure employers have what they need to safely reopen and employees fee safet to go back to work,” said Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Mandy Bolter. “Our Board listened to countless business representatives who were concerned about the ability to source PPE. We ant to remove that roadblock and use the County buying power to help where we can.”

To quality, employers must be located in Kent County and must employ 100 people or fewer. Qualified employers may place PPE requests either online or by calling the PPE fulfillment center at (616) 245-3636 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Calls will be taken in English or Spanish.

All qualifying requests received by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, June 4 will be entered into a random selection process. The first-round selection will take place on Friday, June 5, and a third-party fulfillment center will begin filling requests on that date.

Those selected in the first-round selection process will be contacted after their requests are filled, and they will be told where they can pick-up their order. Requests not picked up by employers within five business days of notification will be returned to inventory.

The program will continue accepting employer requests and running daily random selection process as long as program funding is available. If an employer is not selected in the initial drawing, they will remain eligible either until they are selected or until funding is no longer available.

Face shields are another PPE product available from local manufacturers.

Local PPE manufacturers

The Right Place, Inc. has developed and launched the West Michigan PPE Supplier Directory. This directory features West Michigan manufacturers who are producing high-demand PPE supplies, along with contact information to procure the supplies.

As West Michigan begins the process of a phased reopening, including today’s restart of manufacturing operations, companies can use this directory to fulfill their critical PPE supply needs and ensure a safe workplace reopening.

“As the region’s employers begin the process of restarting operations, we are proud to offer this resource to assist them in securing PPE from local manufacturers,” said Birgit Klohs, President and CEO, The Right Place, Inc. “The depth and breadth of the PPE available showcases the manufacturing prowess of our region. We are still a community who makes things, and this expertise has served us well as the community navigates this crisis.”

Companies can use the directory to source a wide variety of commonly needed types of PPE such as face masks and shields, gowns, googles, gloves, sanitization products, thermometers and more. More than 60 local companies are featured in the directory.

The West Michigan PPE Supplier Directory lists several Kentwood and Wyoming business that are making PPE productions. Some of the Kentwood and Wyoming businesses listed and the products they have are:

Kentwood’s 3D Printed Parts is offering this comfort strap for masks.

3D Printed Parts, 4355 Airwest Dr. SE, masks, face shields, and comfort straps for masks

Ladder 34, 4980 Kendrick St SE, masks and face shields

Bluewater Technologies, 4245 44th St. SE, digital signs, face shields

Nutra Foods, 4683 50th St. SE, masks, face shields, gloves, goggles, protective suits (not gowns)

Winners Brand, 5090 Kendrick Ct. SE, masks, face shields

Laird Plastics, 3839 E. Paris SE, face shields

Superior Business Solutions, 3615 29th St. SE, gloves, goggles, safety signage, thermometers

Southern Lithoplate, 4150 Danvers Ct. SE, hand sanitizer

Total Plastics, 1652 Gezon Parkway SW, face shields, medical mobile carts

Rapid-Line, 1475 Gezon Pkway. SW, hand free door pulls

Wyoming’s Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, environmental and health consulting

Additionally, products and manufacturers are being added on a regular basis.

If you are a manufacturer producing PPE and would like to be added to the list, contact The Right Place at PPEequip@rightplace.org​​.

City of Kentwood announces 40 miles of summer road projects, with detailed map

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Going Local, ,
Roadwork in April on 44th Street in the City of Kentwood, headed east just before Breton Avenue. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood on Monday, June 1, released a tentative road construction and maintenance schedule for the summer, including a map of varied levels of work and possible impact on commuters. (See map at end of story.)

The City Commission has approved a resurfacing and maintenance program which includes improvements to 40 miles of major and local roads, at a cost of $695,982.

The projects are funded through the Michigan Transportation Fund, which is supported by taxes on the sale of gasoline and diesel fuel as well as fees collected by the Secretary of State for vehicle registrations.

“We appreciate the patience of residents and businesses as we work to maintain and improve this important infrastructure, which is critical for a safe and functioning community,” Brad Boomstra, Kentwood city engineer, said in supplied material. “While we understand the short-term inconvenience of road construction can be frustrating, quality roads offer many benefits in the long run. Crews will work as quickly as possible to minimize impacts on commuters.”

Pavement management decisions are made in accordance with industry principles based on hard data, such as the PASER ratings obtained each year. According to the statement from the city, Kentwood maintains one of the highest-rated major street networks in Kent County according to data compiled by the Grand Valley Metro Council.

Major streets scheduled for maintenance include: East Paris Avenue from 52nd Street to 60th Street, 52nd Street from Division Avenue to Kellogg Woods Drive, and 29th Street from west City limits near Breton Avenue to 28th Street.

Street resurfacing and maintenance projects currently underway include: 44th Street from Breton Avenue to Shaffer Avenue, reconstruction of Roger B. Chaffee Memorial Boulevard, and other preventative street maintenance work throughout the city, including routine street marking, crack sealing and patching.

A number of neighborhood roads will receive cape seal treatments in June and July. According to the statement, a cape seal is a multiple component treatment designed to create a smooth surface with increased durability. Cape seal projects will take two non-consecutive days on each segment of road, and no street parking will be available while the work occurs. Affected homeowners will be informed via direct mailing.

The City aims to have its resurfacing and routine maintenance completed by the end of September. Message boards on major streets will give commuters advance notice of when closures will begin. Commuters can also receive updates via the city’s social media channels Facebook and Twitter. For more information, including another version of the map, visit www.kentwood.us.



Pack the right footwear for summer vacations

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, How-To's, Kids Activities, Recreation, Senior Living, Travel, ,
Excessive foot pronation increases the stress at the knee and hip joints, which can create problems in the foot, ankle, knee, hip and lower back. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay


When packing for your summer vacation, be sure to include the right footwear, a podiatrist advises.


“The type of vacation you go on will determine the type of shoe you need,” Dr. Ronald Lepow, an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine’s department of orthopedic surgery, in Houston, said in a school news release.


If you’ll be doing a lot of walking, wear shoes with good support and consider where you’ll be going. For example, if you’ll be strolling on uneven cobblestones, the flexibility of your shoes will be more important than if you’re visiting a location with smooth, level walkways.


If you’re going to the beach, bring flip-flops or clogs, Lepow said. Don’t walk barefoot on hot sand because doing so can cause blisters. Be sure to put sunscreen on your feet, he added.


Athletic shoes can be a good choice for evening walks along the beach, and water shoes can help prevent injuries from stepping on objects or uneven surfaces under the water.


If available, use foot showers to wash off any potential contaminants from your feet, Lepow advised.


At pools, wear shoes or flip-flops when not swimming to protect yourself from athlete’s foot, nail fungus and warts, he said.


And if you’re going hiking, you should wear hiking boots. They are well-insulated and provide good heel, arch and ankle support.


Finally, if you buy new shoes, be sure to break them in a couple of weeks before your trip. Walk around the house in them, bend them and use shoe inserts to stretch them, Lepow suggested.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.


Got stuff to dump, recycle? Options are becoming available

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , ,
Video of Kent County Dump. (Mike Boorsma)
Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

“Hmm, how to purge when you can’t donate, garage sale, and somethings are weird to post on Facebook Marketplace,” a friend posted on her Facebook page.

During the few months of quarantine, I have seen a lot of people, including my own family, cleaning out whether it be the garage, the entire house, or cleaning up the lawn. And now that we may come to the end of the trail — maybe — the question is what to do with all this stuff?

“We’ve seen a lot more stuff coming from the residential area,” said Russ Boersma, general manager for Arrowaste, of collection during the lockdown. Arrowaste is a garbage and trash removal company located in Jenison. “On the flip side of that is that we have seen a lot less from the commercial areas.”

He added that it depends on the commercial route as some of those routes do include apartments.

And most waste haulers like Arrowaste have tried to be accommodating about the extra refuse. Boersma has encouraged customers to leave the lid open with a couple of bags on top.

Arrowaste trucks, like most in the trash haul business, are automated with the driver not having to leave the vehicle to remove trash. An arm comes out of the truck and lifts the waste container upside down so the contents fall into the truck. Boersma said it is up to each hauler’s discretion if they feel comfortable about picking up items that are placed next to the trash container.

“I tell people that if they have a couple of extra bags, they can use leave the lid open and stack the bags on top,” Boersma said, adding that Arrowaste did open its yard waste program in April, which runs through November.

Sticks, yes; Stones, no

According to state law, yard waste such as grass clippings, leaves, and trimmings, must not be mixed in with garbage and many communities, such as the City of Kentwood, do not allow the burning of yard waste. To help residents, both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming offer yard waste drop off options free to cities’ respective residents.

At the end of April, the City of Wyoming opened its Yard Waste Drop-Off site, located at 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW. There are social distancing guidelines in place with addresses ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, ,7) may drop off on Monday and Wednesday and those with addresses ending in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8), may drop off on Tuesday and Thursday. Friday and Saturday are open to all residents. The hours for the site are 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. One thing to remember, if it does not come from the yard naturally, it is not accepted at the Wyoming Yard Waste Drop-Off.

Also remember to bring your ID as the site is monitored.

The City of Kentwood will be opening its brush and leaf drop-offs sites June 6. The sites are located at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, 5068 Breont Ave. SE. The sites will be open for about a month, closing on July 11.

The brush drop-off site will accept brush, sticks, tree limbs and logs. Materials not accepted are plastic bags, trash, dirt, concrete, asphalt, tires, rocks, stones, construction materials, and glass or metal. The leaf drop-off site will accept loose leaves and grass clippings. 

But what to do about that old sofa?

Jill Wallace, Goodwill ow West Michigan’s chief marketing and communications officer, can also attest to the fact that people have been spring cleaning. The first few weeks of the statewide shutdown and most of the Goodwill locations had items stacked in its donation area, all of which the organization had to have hauled away.

“During that time period we were closed and were not accepting items,” Wallace said. “It was so sad because we were really going to need those once we did reopen.”

For the past several weeks, Goodwill of West Michigan has been working to reopen stores. Currently the Kentwood and Wyoming locations remain closed but the organization has open drop off in several areas such as Allendale, Cedar Springs, and Coopersville, according to the organization’s website.

Those planning to donate are ask to do so during business hours, which are 11 a.m. – 5 p.m .Tuesday — Saturday. Because there is a touch-less system in place and all items will be stored for 72 hours, Goodwill is asking that donors bag and box their times and then place the donations inside the provided carts. Many of the stores are not accepting large furniture items right now. For specific details on what is being accepted, call the the individual stores.

Many Wyoming and Kentwood residents have the opportunity during the spring to rid themselves of unwanted trash and junk through community clean-up days. Due to the governor’s State Home, Stay Safe executive order, both cities were forced to delay the popular community events.

The City of Kentwood moved its annual Community Clean-Up Day to June 6. It will run from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Kentwood Public Works facility, 5068 Breton Ave. SE. Residents must have picture identification to bring items to the event and according to city officials, there will be social distancing guidelines to follow.

The City of Wyoming moved its Community Clean-Up Day to the fall, Oct. 6. The popular annual event will be at Grand Rapids First, 2100 44th Street and run from 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Residents must provide proof of residency which can be a photo ID or a utility or credit card statement.

If you are really desperate to get rid of items, there is always the South Kent Landfill located at 10300 S. Kent Dr. SW. The landfill is open 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle

The Kent County Recycling Center reopened at the beginning of May. This includes curbside recycling services that come to Kent County Recycling Center to be sorted and the residential Recycling Drop-Off Stations. The North Kent Recycling & Waste Center opens 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. for solid waste disposal and residential drop-off recycling services.

Also the county’s SafeChem program has resumed regular hours as of May 18 but the SafeSharps and SafeMeds programs are still closed.



One local business goes virtual to help residents cut “those bangs”

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Stylist Lindsey Williams admits she cringing when she saw the pictures of home haircuts and coloring coming across her social media.

After months of waiting, people had just had enough, and like CNN’s Anderson Cooper, taking scissors to their bangs and seeking out at-home color kits. Hair salons had seemingly become the speakeasies of 2020 with a few people sneaking off to a hairstylist working out of his/her home or having one swing by and cut their hair on the back porch.

When Williams, owner of East Grand Rapids’ Bang Blow Dry Bar and Salon, 2180 Wealthy St. SE, received a call from a customer asking about over-the-counter color kits, she knew she had to come up with a new way to help meet the needs of her customers.

“I offered to put together a color kit, drop it off, and then have a virtual session with her to talk her through applying the color,” Williams said. And bam, Williams’ had joined the growing list of virtual hair stylists.

As noted by NPR, in several major cities, such as New York and Los Angeles, virtual haircuts and styling have become increasingly popular as people seek relief from their hair. In fact, tech entrepreneur Greg Isenberg recently launched the app You Probably Need a Haircut, where customers are paired with freelance hair stylists who, for a fee, will talk the client through on cutting his/her hair.

Williams said during Michigan’s state of emergency, she has done several virtual counseling on bang trims and blow drying for customers. She also has a package where she will put together a color kit, deliver it, and schedule a time to meet the customer on FaceTime or Google Meet to walk the customer through the steps. The average session length is between 20 – 30 minutes with totally time depending on the customer.

“One of the biggest feedbacks I get from doing these is that it allows people to connect with someone, “Williams said. “It is kind of hair therapy, where you get to sit and talk to someone who is outside of your family.”

Stylist Lindsey Williams talks to her daughter, Willa, about hair care during a Google Meet virtual meeting. (WKTV)

While Williams has not been charging for her services, except for the color kits, as most of her virtual clients have been regulars. However, as word-of-mouth has spread, Williams said she probably will need to determine price structure for the virtual services.

While most stylists in the Greater Grand Rapids area have made their hair products available online, Williams appears to be one of the few people the area to offer virtual hair services, but she suspects that some salons or hair stylists may include it in their offerings to clients.

“Hair salons were one of the first businesses to close,” Williams said. Many hair salons started shutting down about a week before the Stay Home, Stay Safe order went into effect on March 24. Because of the close contact to clients, having to touch a person’s head and hair, Williams said the styling business probably will be one of the last to reopen.

Williams is hoping she will be able to reopen her salon on May 28, when Michigan’s state of emergency ends. This week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that sections of the state would reopen with Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan set to open this Friday. The governor has not put any restrictions on specific businesses opening in those areas.

Even with reopening, Williams said her team will need to clean all the surfaces. The salon has three chairs and Williams said they will be making sure that the chairs are at least six feet apart along with complying with other social distancing guidelines.

“We are going to try and make customers as comfortable as possible,” Williams said, but she acknowledges that there will be some not willing to come to a salon for a haircut. Coupled with the facts that there are many people who hope their first venture out is to a salon and once you open the Pandora box on a new idea it tends to stay, Williams said her future plans may include offering virtual cuts and styles for a while.

“Life is going in a different direction,” Williams said. “I’ve always tried to be forward thinking in what we can offer our customers and this is an opportunity to provide a service that could meet the needs of some of them.”

Godfrey-Lee district, superintendent issues statement on George Floyd death, anti-racism activism

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Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Polston, center, addresses the State Board of Education, in this undated photo. (Supplied)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, in the wake of the death of George Floyd and resulting protests in Grand Rapids and across the county, on Monday issued a statement through the district superintendent’s office condemning both racism in any form but also anti-racism protest violence in any form.

The statement not only commented on the death of Floyd, an African-American, while in custody of Minneapolis, Minn., policemen, but also on the district’s own ongoing efforts to combat racism. (A Spanish language version of the statement is available at the end of this article.)

 

“Our hearts go out to the family of Mr. George Floyd as they mourn his tragic death,” the June 1 statement from the Godfrey-Lee Public School’s Superintendent Kevin Polston reads. “Many in our country are hurting as Mr. Floyd’s death is yet another reminder of the impact systemic racism has on people of color in America.

“It is the responsibility of those with privilege and power to create change to utilize their influence for the betterment of our society. We cannot continue on the slow trajectory we are on and expect to achieve equality. Change must happen now and we call on protesters to continue to demand change, but to do so in a peaceful manner.”

The district statement points out that earlier this year, the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Board of Education approved an equity policy to guide our work in creating an equitable education system for each member of our school family. (The policy is available here.)

A key action from the policy pointed out in the statement is as follows:

“Interrupt and dismantle harmful or inequitable practices and policies, eliminate implicit and explicit biases, and create truly inclusive, culturally responsive, antiracist school environments for adults and children.”

Superintendent Polston then closes the statement this way:

“This is our promise to the community,” Polston said.” You have my full commitment to use the access, voice, privilege, and authority I have to create change. … To use an analogy, there is enough food at the table for everyone to eat, but that means some will have to eat less so that all can be nourished. … The future of our children is at stake, we cannot stand by and watch.”

Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Camp Curious program goes virtual for Summer 2020

Entertainment,

By Kate Kocienski
Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) will offer its Camp Curious summer camp programs will be offered virtually to ensure the safety of the community due to the current COVID-19 situation. This summer, kids pre-K through ninth grade can use the Museum as a virtual learning lab, right from their home, to explore the wonders of science, history, culture and more through a variety of camp offerings. Virtual Camp Curious is set to begin on Monday, June 15. 

“Although camps will look different this year, we’re thrilled to continue offering favorites online to the community,” said Rob Schuitema, Director of Public Programs for the Museum. “We’re eager to present this unique experience for curious minds this summer, while continuing to share the Museum’s digital resources and the expertise of our staff to create an engaging experience for our campers.”

Summer camps are divided by school grades with different options for each age group. The GRPM offers options for one-day or three-day camps with a variety of themes, including Slimy Science, Fossil Hunters, Dream it, Build it LEGO® Bricks, Young Wizards Academy and more. These virtual programs allow campers to explore and investigate through hands-on experiments and activities, while using common items in their homes as well as artifacts and specimens in the GRPM’s Collections.

Camp participation will require access to the internet and the use of a device to watch presentations and receive daily instructions. The Camp Curious program will utilize the virtual platform SeeSaw, featuring a live kick-off and wrap up with instructors each day of camp via Zoom. Most activities will take place off-line. Screen time is dedicated for directions and questions for the instructors, with the primary focus of the program being on the hands-on activities. Recordings of each live session will be posted to the SeeSaw classroom following the stream, to allow flexibility for campers to learn at their own pace.

Camp Curious sessions are designed for campers to do projects independently; the Museum recommends that parents of young children (pre-K – 3rd grade) be present. Camp supplies include common items from around your home, and can be interchangeable based on what campers have access to. Recommended lists can be found at grpm.org/CampCurious.

Pricing for camps vary, starting as low as $20 for one-day camps and $40 for three-day camps, with discounts available for Museum members. For more information on Camp Curious and to register today, visit grpm.org/CampCurious. Early registration is recommended. Once registered, campers will be contacted by the Museum with specific instructions for each camp. Camp Curious runs from June 15 through August 7. 

2020 Lowell Showboat Summer concerts cancelled

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The 2020 Lowell Showboat Summer concert season has been cancelled.

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

In mid-May LowellArts and Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce sent out a survey to gauge responses from its community on whether to move forward with this summer’s Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts. There were more 350 replies with comments. 

“We know that these concerts provide summer fun and times to gather with friends, celebrate our fantastic regional musicians and provide an opportunity to dance and engage with the performers,” Lorain Smalligan, executive director of LowellArts.

 

The Boards of Directors of both organizations have made the imperative decision to cancel the 2020 series because of COVID-19. The boards strongly trust the decision is a way of honoring health providers, vulnerable community members and visitors. 

“We are saddened, because this decision has not come easily; we have weighed both sides of the scenario through a thoughtful and heartfelt process. Our organizations have a responsibility to follow Executive Orders set forth and we owe it to everyone to keep our community whole.” said Liz Baker, Executive Director of the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce.  Both organizations look forward to returning in 2021, twenty years since launching this series together in 2001.

Musicians scheduled for 2020 have been placed at the top of the list for consideration for the 2021 lineup.

‘Like musicians everywhere, Soul ACCESS is saddened by the recent inability to make music together,” said Roger MacNaughton of Soul ACCESS. “We were so looking forward to bringing joy to the Lowell crowd this summer, but fully realize that it is far better to err on the side of safety during this pandemic. Hopefully, we will be back making music for our Lowell friends sooner rather than later.”

School News Network: What will will school look like in the fall?

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For the past couple of weeks, our partners at School News Network have provide an depth look at the fall school planning that is taking place. School officials are looking at several different options. Weighing into all of this is financial concerns with districts looking at almost a $700 shortfall per pupil in funding.

Below is a round up of the stories written by School News Network’s Erin Albanese. For more on this story or what is happening in local schools, visit schoolnewsnetwork.org.

School and business leaders talk about collaborating to reopen schools safely. (School News Network)

What will school look like in the fall? Community leaders prepare for various scenarios

Last week several school leaders and community partners hosted a May 28 virtual press conference to discuss what school might look like in the fall. Instruction will likely start with a hybrid model of in-person and virtual instruction using staggered schedules to ensure a safe return, said Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Polston, who hosted a Kent Intermediate Superintendents’ Association. The KISA is working on plans for all Kent ISD districts to utilize for reopening schools. They are collaborating with and learning from many key community partners, including Kent County Health Department, Spectrum Health, Black Impact Collaborative, and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. To learn more about the fall plans, click here.

Superintendents are calling for more revenue from the state and federal government as they address budget shortfalls expected to be far worse than experienced in the recession over a decade ago (School News Network)

Superintendents face massive budget cuts that would dwarf those in Great Recession

This is the first in a two-part series on how superintendents are preparing for budget cuts due to the coronavirus pandemic, while lobbying for financial relief from state and federal legislatures. As students and teachers wrapped up school, Michigan education leaders were looking ahead to the challenges they face in reopening this fall. They must do so safely while addressing financial holes they have ever imagined as budget shortfalls could be far worse than experienced during the Great Recession. For more, click here.

As many counties across the state see the coronavirus curve plateau or recede, fears about illness are fast becoming eclipsed by fears about budgets, and how schools will manage (School News Network)

School officials join legislators calling for federal help with pandemic-induced state budget shortfalls

In the the second of the two-part series, School News Network takes a look at how skyrocketing unemployment and shuttered businesses will impact the school districts’ bottomline. Reports by economists at the May 15 Michigan Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, a biannual meeting where officials from the Michigan Treasury Department, Senate Fiscal Agency and House Fiscal Agency confer on revenue projections, indicated revenues collected for the Michigan School Aid Fund would fall $1.3 billion short of previous projections. That means cuts to schools could amount to $700 per pupil, a hit much larger than $470 per-pupil reduction in 2011-12 during the Great Recession. To read more, click here.

Kentwood announces Community Clean-up Day, brush and leaf drop-off

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The City of Kentwood will continue a yard debris drop-off site this summer. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood announced today that it will again offer its annual Community Clean-up Day, and open its brush and leaf drop-off sites for Kentwood residents, beginning Saturday, June 6, with brush and leaf drop-off available through July 11.

This year’s Community Clean-up Day will accept yard waste, trash and general debris for disposal, and electronics for recycling at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, located at 5068 Breton Ave. SE, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. (See site map below.)

Following Community Clean-up Day, the city’s brush and leaf drop-off sites, also located at Kentwood’s DPW facility, will remain open through Saturday, July 11. Hours of operation for the drop-off sites will be from noon to 8 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

“The Department of Public Works is grateful to be able to continue to provide convenient leaf and brush drop-off sites and the annual clean-up day for Kentwood residents,” John Gorney, director of Public Works, said in supplied material. “We encourage residents who have been looking forward to decluttering their homes and property during this time to take advantage of these free collection services.”

Red Creek Waste Services will be on hand at the Community Clean-up Day to accept general debris and trash for disposal.

Comprenew will also be present to recycle electronic waste, such as mobile telephones, computers and fax machines. Individuals with questions about other electronics that can — and cannot — be accepted are asked to call their toll-free number at 833-266-7736.

The City of Kentwood will accept yard waste — including brush, sticks, tree limbs and logs — at the brush drop-off site, as well as leaves and grass clippings at the leaf drop-off site. Leaves should be loose when dropped off, not left in bags.

Items for donation and household hazardous materials will not be accepted during this year’s clean-up event.

The clean-up day and drop-off services are available to Kentwood residents only.

Anyone wishing to participate is asked to enter the drive off Breton Avenue where staff will check for residency and direct traffic flow to maintain physical distancing. For the safety of City staff and community members, all participants are asked to adhere to CDC guidelines, including staying at least six feet from other people and wearing cloth face masks.

For more information visit kentwood.us.

Grand Rapids Public Museum launches ‘Keeping it Curious’ blog

Entertainment,

By Christie Bender
Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today the official launch of its Keeping it Curious blog. Online visitors of all ages can enjoy written content and vlogs with behind-the-scenes stories, in-depth looks at pieces from the GRPM’s Collection, theories behind the design of the Museum’s educational programming and more. 

“We’re excited to share a more in-depth perspective of the Museum with the community,” said Kate Kocienski, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations. “We hope to pique the interest of all ages, while further connecting them to the unique stories of Grand Rapids and beyond.” 

The Keeping it Curious blog will include content written by the GRPM staff as well as guest bloggers. Readers can access the blog online at grpm.org/blog. 

The GRPM is temporarily closed due to COVID-19 and the current State of Michigan executive orders. In addition to the Keeping it Curious blog, 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.

Understanding Social Security benefits

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Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Scott Matteson, Michigan State University Extension


A majority of us go to work every day and probably never stop to think about when we are going to retire, let alone if we will ever collect Social Security when we do. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA) there are currently 173.5 million people working and paying social security taxes. Of the money being collected through the tax, 85 cents of each tax dollar is paid to the 62 million people currently receiving benefits of which 46 million are retirees and their families. In addition, 15 cents of each tax dollar goes into a trust fund and less than one penny per tax dollar is spent to manage the program.


How do you qualify for Social Security? First, you should apply for a social security number if you do not already have one; this allows the SSA to track your earnings while you are working and to track your benefits when you start receiving them. Qualification is based on a credit system. You earn one credit for $1,200 in earnings per year up to a maximum of four credits per year. It takes 40 credits to qualify for benefits; in other words, ten years of work.


How do you determine what your full retirement age is? Most people will tell you they think full retirement age is 65 but it’s not quite that simple. According to the SSA if you were born in or prior to 1943, congratulations! You are considered to be at full retirement age and can draw a full retirement. If you were born from 1943 to 1960, your age of full retirement increases gradually as shown in the following chart:

When should you begin taking SSA Benefits? It really comes down to how comfortable you feel and what you can afford to live on. You can elect to begin receiving benefits as early as age 62. For example, if you begin receiving benefits at age 62 and your retirement age is 66 you can expect your benefit to be 30% less than if you would have waited. The opposite is true if you wait until age 70. If you delay receiving benefits, they will increase by a certain percentage depending on date of birth as shown in the chart below.

For further help in determining when you may want to begin taking SSA benefits visit www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount and sign up for a free account. The site will give you estimated figures for early, full and delayed benefits. Along with this you will be able to see disability benefits if you were to become disabled and survivors benefits when you die.


For additional information the Social Security Administration has two great publications they can be found at the following links: Retirement Benefits and When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits.


Michigan State University Extension offers financial management and home ownership education classes. For more information of classes in your area, visit MI Money Health.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).



Lyme-bearing ticks more widespread in U.S. than thought

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The most commonly encountered ticks—the deer tick, the western black-legged tick and the lone star tick—carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay


Think you live in a place that’s free from disease-carrying ticks? Don’t be so sure.


Citizen scientists found ticks capable of transmitting Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses in dozens of places across the United States where the pests had never previously been recorded, a new study reports.


All told, disease-carrying ticks were detected in 83 counties where they’d never been found before across 24 states.


The numbers reflect a rise in tick populations across the country, said study author Nate Nieto. He’s an associate professor with Northern Arizona University’s department of biological sciences.


“People should be aware of ticks and tick-borne disease, even when they may think there’s not a recorded incidence of a tick in a county,” Nieto said. “These things, they’re not obeying borders. They’re going by biology. If they get moved there by a deer or bird or people or pets, they’re going to establish themselves and start growing.”


The massive nationwide study also provides evidence that ticks are born carrying infectious diseases, rather than picking germs up from the animals upon which they feed, said Wendy Adams, research grant director for the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, in California.


All life stages of the most commonly encountered ticks—the deer tick, the western black-legged tick and the lone star tick—carried the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, Adams said.


“That’s important, because that would say that a tick doesn’t need to acquire an infection from a blood meal. It’s born with the infection,” Adams explained.


These findings are the result of an unexpectedly successful effort by the Bay Area Lyme Foundation to collect tick samples from across the country.


Between January 2016 and August 2017, the foundation and Northern Arizona University offered free tick identification and testing to the general public. People were encouraged to send in ticks they found on themselves, their pets or around their communities.


The scientists’ original goal was to collect about 2,000 ticks. They wound up with more than 16,000, sent in by people from every state except Alaska.


“We got such a phenomenal participation,” Nieto said. “Two weeks in May, we got almost 2,000 packages per week. That is just powerful data.”


People found ticks in areas not represented in tracking maps maintained by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the researchers discovered.


Most of these new areas were right next to counties with known tick populations, Adams said.


“Ticks are spreading. Tick populations have exploded,” Adams said. “This is good data to show the extent of that. It’s a message to people that even if you think ticks aren’t a problem, they could be.”


The 24 states that contain counties with newly documented populations of deer ticks or Western black-legged ticks are Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.


Further, ticks were found in states where they simply weren’t supposed to be, Adams said. Lone star ticks were found in California and black-legged ticks were found in Nevada, both for the first time ever.


People also found ticks carrying Babesia—microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells and cause the potentially life-threatening disease babesiosis—in 26 counties across 10 states in which the public health department does not require physicians to report cases of the disease.


The new study “highlights the geographic variability of ticks and the pathogens they carry,” said Dr. Paul Auwaerter, clinical director of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.


“Surveillance is increasingly important as we see climate and environmental changes, because we do see expanding ranges of ticks. We’ve seen that with Lyme disease. We’ve seen that with babesiosis,” said Auwaerter, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.


Adams agreed, suggesting that more funding should be directed to these sorts of crowd-sourced tracking efforts.


“We have to invest federal dollars to examine the spread of ticks,” she said.


In the meantime, the Bay Area Lyme Foundation suggests that people protect themselves from ticks by:

  • Wearing light-colored clothes to make ticks more visible.
  • Do regular tick checks after being in a tick-infested area, and shower immediately after to wash away ticks that might be crawling on you.
  • Consider using tick repellents like DEET for skin and permethrin for clothing.
  • Talk with your doctor if you develop any symptoms following a tick bite.

The new study was published online in the journal PLOS One.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.


Fountain Street Church’s new senior pastor — ‘Rev. Mariela’ — sees ever-lasting beauty in today’s challenging world

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Rev. Mariela Pérez-Simons, with Fountain Street Church in background. (Dean Pérez-Simons)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

After an 18-month search by Grand Rapids’ Fountain Street Church for its next senior minister, the congregation today confirmed the calling of the Rev. Mariela Pérez-Simons, who made clear in her first sermon that, despite the challenging times, there is hope and beauty in the world.

The Rev. Pérez-Simons, who most recently served at the All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will be taking the pulpit held by the Rev. W. Frederick Wooden for 15 years. In so doing will she becomes the 11th senior minister of the historic church of “liberal theology” — and becomes not only the first female to hold the post but also the first person of color.

The Rev. Christopher Roe, left, and the Rev. Mariela Pérez-Simons. (YouTube screenshot)

Opening a mostly prerecorded Sunday morning virtual church service, the Rev. Pérez-Simons, joined the Rev. Christopher Roe, Minister for Spiritual Life and Learning, offered reaction today to the weekend’s first peaceful — and then, separately, violent — local protests spurred by the social injustice in the country.

“Beloveds, we are shocked, we are heartbroken, we are angry, we are confused, we are ready for change, we are ready for justice,” the Rev. Pérez-Simons said, in a glimpse of her passion for social action. “And we pledge to be part of the solution.”

Following the virtual church service, the results of congregation voting were announced at a virtual meeting of church members. The Rev. Pérez-Simons — “Rev. Mariela”, as she often asks to be addressed — has spend the last few weeks meeting with various church committees, groups and individuals in virtual setting.

But the church’s Senior Minister Search Committee previously conducted extensive and in person interviews with the church’s new senior minister.

 

“During the long and thorough interview process, the Search Committee has been impressed by Rev. Mariela’s intellect, insight and sensitivity. We are moved by her personal story,” according to an April statement to the church members announcing Rev. Pérez-Simons as the final candidate and detailing the mail-in confirmation voting process. “Rev. Mariela was born in Cuba into a life of extreme poverty. As a child, she sought solace in nature and in the Catholic Church.”

Seeing beauty in troubling world 

While Rev. Mariela’s religious journey led her from the Catholic Church to the Unitarian Universalist Association church, she has never wavered from her love of nature — as evidenced by a discussion with WKTV about her views of beauty in a world even during troubling, even ugly, times.

Cabin in the Woods. (Mariela Pérez-Simons)

Part of the discussion included her work in art photography — she has an on-line gallery at fineartamerica.com and samples on her personal website  — specifically discussed was a 2014 photograph she titled “Cabin in the Woods”, taken in New Hampshire.

“I took that photo one early morning, right after an overnight snowstorm,” Rev. Mariela said to WKTV. “It was a powder-like snow, shimmering in the morning light. And everything was so quiet, the air so crisp. January in New England. My husband is from New Hampshire. I was just taking a walk, and that cabin caught my attention right away …

“Beauty — in nature, in art, etc. — is a huge part of not only my theology, my work as a minister, but also my social justice work. In fact, that was what I preached on for my ordination, because it’s a pillar of who I am and what I do.”

She then referenced a recent sermon in which she discussed her finale paper in seminary.

“I wrote about the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6 verses 25-31, where Jesus asks us to consider the lilies of the fields, to look at the birds of the sky,” she said in an April 26, 2020 sermon in which she talked about the beauty of nature. “He was pointing us towards the beauty of creation, towards the heaven that is here and now. The most beautiful Earth.

“Beauty has been a fascination of mine since I was a very small child, living in poverty in Cuba. And, naturally, it became a theological focus.”

(The online video sermon, “The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible” is available here.)

The Rev. Pérez-Simons’ history

In the statement of introduction by Fountain Street Church’s search committee, Rev. Mariela described herself this way:

“I am a religious naturalist — someone who falls on their knees with reverence for things like hurricanes, or sunrises, or perfect cumulus clouds. … this period of my life shaped my ministry today and my understanding of what ‘church’ is and how it can change the lives of individuals, particularly those who are suffering due to social injustices.”

According to supplied material, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Instituto Superior Pedagogico in Havana while studying elementary education. In 1995, she and her family entered the United States as asylum seekers.

Rev. Mariela Pérez-Simons with husband Dean and daughter Lulu (Supplied)

During the next two decades, she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing/Literature from Bennington College and started a web design and photography firm. She is married, to Dean Pérez-Simons, and is the mother of Christopher, age 23, and Lucia (Lulu), age 13.

While volunteering at her UUA church, leading women’s circles, working at an eco-spirituality sanctuary and creating a garden at a homeless day center, she “felt a strong pull to the ministry,” according to the Fountain Street Church announcement.

“The call was perfectly clear, the longing was excruciating, but I needed a few more years of inner work to feel worthy of being a minister,” she said in supplied material.

In the aftermath of “the election of 2016”, she received “the final push.”

The Meadville Lombard Seminary, the Unitarian Universalist seminary in Chicago, offered her a full-ride Presidential Scholarship. The school is one of only two UUA seminaries in the world, has an historical relationship with the University of Chicago — which Fountain Street Church, and several of its past ministers, have ties to — and is a member of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools.

Rev. Mariela graduated at the top of her class with a Master of Divinity after her ordination at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Tulsa — the largest UUA church in the world.

And now her next stop on her religious journey will be in West Michigan.

Fountain Street and social action

“I like that Fountain Street is an urban church … a church that is open to possibilities and wants to grow with me: in health, in vitality, in enthusiasm, in diversity and in numbers,” she said in supplied material.

Social action, already a huge focus of Fountain Street, will be another focus of its new minister, as “Rev. Mariela’s social justice work shows a special passion for marginalized communities, bi-lingual rights, refugee reform and diversity in every form,” according to the announcement.

“I approach social action from a strong theological and spiritual place — from a place of abundance,” she said in supplied material. “I come to this as an asylum seeker, so I am uniquely qualified. But it’s not about me; it’s about us. I can’t do what I’m passionate about if the congregation isn’t involved.”

And in the difficult days in which Rev. Mariela takes leadership of Fountain Street Church, social action has never been more important.

For more information on Fountain Street Church visit here.

Due to the weather, America’s first rocket launch moved to Saturday

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By Kelly Taylor
kelly@wktv.org

The scheduled Wednesday launch from Kennedy Space Center was canceled due to weather with NASA quickly announcing that it was targeting for Saturday at 3:22 p.m. For the first time since 2011, American astronauts will fly in an American spacecraft launched from American soil to the International Space Station on Wednesday.

Dubbed Launch America by NASA, this is the first time since 2011 American astronauts will fly in an American spacecraft launched from American soil to the International Space Station. Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken will be aboard for this history making flight which will be lived broadcast on the WKTV Government 26 channel and AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99. Coverage starts at 11 a.m. Saturday with live views of the Space X/ Falcon 9 rocket on Launch Pad 39, with the launch scheduled for 3:22 p.m. Saturday. Residents can also watch the live stream by clicking here.

The launch is the first in the NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, where NASA has been working with the American aerospace industry that are developing and operating a new generation of spacecraft and launch systems capable of carrying crews to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station. Commercial transportation to and from the station will provide expanded utility, additional research time and broader opportunities for discovery on the orbiting laboratory.

Demo-2 will be SpaceX’s final test flight to validate its crew transportation system, including the Crew Dragon, Falcon 9, launch pad and operations capabilities. During the mission, the crew and SpaceX mission controllers will verify the performance of the spacecraft’s environmental control system, displays and control system, maneuvering thrusters, autonomous docking capability, and more. 

Astronaut Robert “Bob” Behnken (NASA)

Live coverage continues on Sunday with the 10 a.m. for the docking of the SpaceX//DM-2 Crew Dragon to the International Space Station.

The hatch opening will at around 12:45 p.m., followed the welcoming ceremony for the Space X/DM-2 Crew Dragon crew at 1:05 p.m. Behnken and Hurley will be welcomed aboard station and will become members of the Expedition 63 crew. They will perform tests on Crew Dragon in addition to conducting research and other tasks with the space station crew.

Although the Crew Dragon being used for this flight test can stay in orbit about 110 days, the specific mission duration will be determined once on station based on the readiness of the next commercial crew launch. The operational Crew Dragon spacecraft will be capable of staying in orbit for at least 210 days as a NASA requirement. 

Astronaut Doug Hurley (NASA)

Upon conclusion of the mission, Crew Dragon will autonomously undock with the two astronauts on board, depart the space station and re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Upon splashdown just off Florida’s Atlantic Coast, the crew will be picked up at sea by SpaceX’s Go Navigator recovery vessel and return to Cape Canaveral.

The Demo-2 mission will be the final major step before NASA’s Commercial Crew Program certifies Crew Dragon for operational, long-duration missions to the space station. This certification and regular operation of Crew Dragon will enable NASA to continue the important research and technology investigations taking place onboard the station, which benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future exploration of the Moon and Mars starting with the agency’s Artemis program, which will land the first woman and the next man on the lunar surface in 2024.

Snapshots: WKTV ‘Good News’ stories you might have missed

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Food, Going Local, Health, Kids Activities, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Local Food, Recreation

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“Good news is rare these days, and every glittering ounce of it should be cherished and hoarded and worshiped and fondled like a priceless diamond.”

Hunter S. Thompson

Good News — ‘Small Victories’ in dark days

WKTV recently hosted Kentwood Commissioner Emily Bridson and her guests for a casual conversation over Saturday morning coffee to “Celebrate the Small Victories” during the global pandemic. The discussion included insights from community leaders who have a broad perspective of local businesses, non-profits and our thriving New American community. Go here (and scroll down a little) for the video podcast on WKTV’s The Whole Picture podcast page, and here for the WKTV In Focus audio only podcast.

Good News — Arts Festival’s virtual weekend

While we are not yet able to gather for concerts, go to the ballet, or walk through art galleries, Festival of the Arts and the other 20 cultural organizations that make up the Grand Rapids Arts Working Group are working together to host a Virtual Arts Festival. Go here for the story.

Good News — Farmers Markets are open/opening

Get out in the sun and find the bounty of spring farm produce and so much more, as many area farmers markets such as the Metro Health Farm Market and the City of Kentwood Farmers Market are or will soon be open. Go here for the story.

Fun fact:

2.3 billion

The number of people who are active daily on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger, sharing news good and bad. (That compares to about 2.2 million watching Fox News (average in April 2020). Source.

98-year-old Kentwood WW II veteran honored in special ceremony

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, , ,
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Russell Spearow salutes World War II veteran Aldean Mason. (WKTV)
Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

The rain ended and the clouds parted just in time for a special pinning ceremony to honor 98-year-old World War II veteran Aldean Mason on Friday.

Hospice of Michigan and Azpira Place of Breton, located in Kentwood, teamed up together to recognize Mason, who service as a nurse in the United States Army during World War II.

Aldean Mason comes out to a warm welcome for a Hospice of Michigan We Honor Veterans program. (WKTV)

“Aldean is a loving, kind, wonderful person,” said Azpira Place of Breton Executive Director Jenny Osentoski. “To know that she gave hands on care to survivors of the Holocaust and then went on to lived a lovely life even after all that is amazing.”

About a dozen residents and staff along with the media attended a short ceremony outside the main doors of Azpira Place of Breton where representatives from Hospice of Michigan gave Mason a pin featuring the American flag and a flag for hospice and a certificate. Family members not able to attend joined via Zoom.

Mason was born on Oct. 24, 1921 in the state of Washington. She was one of seven children and assumed the role of mother when her mother passed away. Upon completion of nursing school, Mason joined the 120th Evacuation Hospital Unit as part of General George Patton’s 3rd Army. She arrived in France in 1944 and began treating wounded U.S. soldiers.

Aldean Mason served in 120th Evacuation Hospital Unit as part of General George Patton’s 3rd Army. (Supplied)

The following year, Mason’s unit was sent to an area near Buchenwald Concentration Camp, located on Ettersberg hill near Weimar, Germany. It was one of Germany’s first and largest concentration camps in the country’s 1937 borders. Lack of food and poor conditions along with executions lead to 56,545 deaths of the 280,000 prisoners housed at Buchenwald and its subcamps. The camp was liberated by the U.S. 89th Infantry Division.

In Mason’s story, read by staff, her unit thought they were heading to Germany to continue to treat more American soldiers. Instead, they would witness the horrors of a conception camp as they helped those who suffered from severe malnutrition, typhus and other diseases. As the famous American journalist Edward R. Murrow wrote in an April 15, 1945 report about Buchenwald, “We walked out into the courtyard, a man fell dead. Two others, they must have been over 60, were crawling toward the latrine. I saw it, but will not describe it.”

According to staff, Mason recalled how distraught she and the other nurses were to discover the realities of concentration camps. One survivor, Jack Pinto, credited Mason for giving him the desire to live. “I did not want to live,” Pinto said in an Los Angeles Times story about the two reuniting in 1995. “She sat on my bed, many times, talking.”

Mason would marry a doctor from the unit, Walter, who she did not meet until after the war, and the two would raise a family. The two were married for 57 years when Walter passed away in 2006. Mason has lived at Azpira Place of Breton for the past nine years.

Aldean Mason (in the red circle) and her unit went to Buchenwald Concentration Camp to help Holocaust survivors. (Supplied)

Mike Nitz, director of Community Relations for the Azpira Place of Breton, said the senior living facility has about eight World War II and Korean veterans as well Vietnam veterans. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are about 300,000 U.S. World War II veterans alive with the U.S. losing about 348 veterans per day.

“I try to come to as many of these as possible,” said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Russell Spearow who presented Mason with a coin from his battalion, the 3rd Battalion of the 333rd Infantry. The battalion has a long history with its members also serving in World War II. “I think it is so important to be able to witness living history.”

The event was part of the Hospice of Michigan’s We Honor Veterans, which honors men and women who served the United States and help educate and provide care for the specific needs of veterans. It is estimated that one in four Americans dying is a veteran.

“Coming off of Memorial Day, we felt it is so important to recognize our veterans,” Nitz said, adding that it is especially true as quarantine orders have prevented loved ones from being able to have face-to-face visits.

“It has been so hard for the residents and their families not to be able to come in contact,” Osentoski said. “We see the residents everyday and are part of their daily lives. During our parade [last weekend] where families decorated their cars and past by, we could actually see the tears in residents’ eyes and their families’.”

Osentoski said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Azpira Place of Breton has been fortunate in being able to provide community activities such as the special pinning for Mason, helping to keep their residents engaged and connected. 

Wyoming, Kentwood area Secretary of State branch offices to reopen June 1 by appointment only

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health,
The State of Michigan’s Secretary of State branch offices will reopen on June 1. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

The State of Michigan Secretary of State’s office announced May 28 that currently closed branch offices will reopen June 1 “by appointment only for essential transactions not available online.

“While the offices were closed to the public we conducted more than 3,000 emergency appointments for essential workers and planned and implemented protocols so that we could reopen in a way that ensures the safety of employees and all Michiganders,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in supplied material. “Customers can be confident they’ll be able to conduct their business with us safely and efficiently.”

Beginning the week of June 1, all 131 branch offices in Michigan — including two in the Wyoming and Kentwood area — will be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for appointment-only services for transactions including: driver licenses and state ID transactions that must be done in person; title transfers; operator, CDL, chauffeur, mechanic and motorcycle testing; and seasonal commercial vehicle renewal.

The Wyoming branch office is located at 1056 Rogers Plaza SW, and the Kentwood area branch office is located at 3601 28th St. SE.

According to the Secretary of State’s announcement, branch staff will follow strict health and safety protocols, including wearing masks, standing six feet apart, using desk shields, and continuously disinfecting shared or common surfaces. Branch doors will be locked, and each branch will have a greeter to let customers with appointments in at scheduled appointment times.

In addition to preparing to reopen branches, the Michigan Department of State began sending updated renewal forms this week, color-coded based on the type of transaction needed and with streamlined information to explain how best to conduct the transaction.

 

To schedule an appointment visit Michigan.gov/SOS or call 888-SOS-MICH. Advance appointments can be made up to 180 days ahead of time. Same-day appointments become available 24 hours prior to the appointment time.

West Michigan’s post COVID-19 housing market changes, millennial top buyers

3-bottom, Local Business,
Data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau shows nationwide sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 0.6 percent in April. (Supplied)

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

In the wake of COVID-19, newly-released data shows an increase in new single-family homes, suburban development and millennial home buyers in West Michigan – a sign that the local economy is on the rebound.

Data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau shows nationwide sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 0.6 percent in April, according to the National Association of Home Builders. More positive signs for West Michigan’s housing market: Improvenet.com earlier this week cited Grand Rapids as the second-highest market for millennials, and today, USA Today reported a growing number of new homes sales are happening in less crowded communities.

John Bitely, president of Rockford-based Sable Homes, West Michigan region’s third largest home builder, said internal data closely tracking the local home purchasing market is in line with these national and demographic home-buying trends.

“Throughout the past couple years, we’ve seen a continuing trend among new home buyers who want to build homes in areas outside the city of Grand Rapids,” he said. “Communities like Sparta, Byron Center, Newaygo, Caledonia and Cedar Springs are becoming the new hot spots for young home buyers. As we look ahead to the future, I think we’re going to see that continue.”

A survey by the National Association of Realtors found that 5 percent of members said the coronavirus pandemic was causing their clients to shift their sights away from cities to the suburbs, USA Today reported.

According to John Bitely, president of Rockford-based Sable Homes, areas outside of the City of Grand Rapids, such as Sparta, Byron Center, Newaygo, Caledonia and Cedar Springs, are becoming the new hot spots for young home buyers. (Supplied)

Sable Homes’ Country Meadows neighborhood in Sparta and developer North Ritchie LLC’s phase one of the new Genevieve Plat in Sand Lake, which Sable Homes will be the builder, are prime examples.

“We’ve had a great response from potential home buyers as they look for affordable housing in suburban neighborhoods, like Country Meadows in Sparta and the Genevieve Plat in Sand Lake,” Bitely said. “As more and more people continue to work out of their home, there is going to be a greater interest to live in suburban and rural areas.”

Karin Kay, sales manager at Sable Homes, said they are seeing another home buying trend: An increase in millennial home buyers.

Improvenet.com, an online resource for homeowners, cited metro Grand Rapids as the second-highest market for millennials with 19.5 percent of homes owned by those between the millennial age group (26-40 years old). Clarksville, Tennessee, led the pack with 23 percent of millennial home owners, while Sioux Falls, South Dakota, trailed behind Grand Rapids with 18.2 percent.

“Even as COVID-19 hit West Michigan, several of our 42 home purchases were by millennials,” Kay said. “There is a new housing demand throughout the country for young home buyers and we are definitely seeing that here in West Michigan.”

Additionally, Grand Rapids was found to be the seventh city having the most single millennial homeowners with 3.8 percent. Larger metropolitan cities like Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Boston were the top areas for single millennial home buyers. On average, this demographic group makes up about 2 percent of homeowners nationwide, according to Improvenet.

Oliver Art Center hosts ‘Make a Mask, Make a Difference’ contest

Community Health, Entertainment,
Oliver Center for the Arts is looking for the most creative masks in its Make a Mask, make a Difference contest. (Public Domain)

By Elizabeth Lane
Oliver Center for the Arts

 Oliver Art Center is helping give back to our frontline workers and healthcare professionals. They have created a ‘Make a Mask, Make a Difference’ contest for handmade masks. Now through July 6, they are accepting donations of handmade masks from crafters, designers, seamstresses, and artists of all ages. The masks need to be latex free, made of breathable fabric, and washable. Both elastic and tie versions are accepted. Submissions will be judged on overall creativity and originality. There will be both a youth and adult bracket with cash prizes! Adults first place receives $250 and Youth first place receives $75. Prizewinners will be announced July 13 and then the masks will be donated to local organizations that need them for employees or volunteers.

“COVID-19 has impacted so many people and we would like to support all of the health professionals and essential workers going to work for us while risking not only their health but that of their family as well,” said Kelly Winter, OAC board member and project coordinator.

“We are hoping to gather 200 masks during this contest. Cash prizes have been donated by an anonymous donor to help encourage folks to create masks as well as provide financial assistance to local creators in a small way. We are always saying how art is beneficial to your health, and this contest is bringing that to light,” says Mercedes Michalowski, Executive Director of Oliver Art Center. Once the masks are collected, they will be photographed and featured in an online exhibition via the art center.