Come hear some of West Michigan’s most intriguing personalities share personal stories of failure, and stick around for an after party outside under our pavilion with music from Code West; there will also be local food vendors, and a cash bar. Failure Lab will be presented Sept. 21, 2019, at Saugatuck Center for the Arts. Doors open 6:30pm, show starts 7:30pm. Tickets are $25 and available at www.sc4a.org/failure-lab.
Head-shaking, eye-blinking moments of “what just happened?” that present some of the most powerful, transformative tales you’ll ever hear. This one-of-a-kind platform integrates storytelling and performance to reveal the vulnerabilities of influential people in order to eliminate the fear, stigma and isolation around failure.
With a refreshing environment of openness, Failure Lab paves the way for change by crushing the isolation and stigma around failure. Failure then takes its rightful place as the crucial first step to the next big thing.
USA Today says that Failure Lab, “Demystifies the process of innovation.” Listen to some words from a former winner of “Chopped” and current chef at Pennyroyal Cafe and Provisions in Saugatuck, Missy Corey.
Failure Lab presenters share adversities behind their success, allowing audience members to learn and grow from their powerful stories.
We’re thrilled to bring you stories from these West Michigan rock stars:
Missy Corey – Chef at Pennyroyal Café and Provisions
Michael Hyacinthe – Co-Founder of Has Heart, U.S. Navy Veteran
The Sept. 13 East Kentwood vs. Caledonia football game is available on-demand at WKTVlive.org. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
At East Kentwood High School Friday, the Falcons rallied for 13 points in the fourth quarter — on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Christian Tanner to Josh Ledesma and a 4-yard run by Ledesma — to overcome a 14-10 Caledonia advantage and gain a 23-14 win.
The East Kentwood win Sept. 13 pushed the Falcons to 2-1 on the season and began their OK Conference Red slate with a home win over the Fighting Scots (1-2). East Kentwood had posted a 10-0 first half lead on 25-yard field goal by Tanner and a 51-yard pass from Tanner to Colton Emeott. Tanner was 13-of-23 passing for 198 yards while Drapher Cribbs led the team in rushing with 56 yards on 15 carries.
The Caledonia at East Kentwood game was the WKTV High School Sports Featured Game, with on-demand replays of the game available at WKTVlive.org. This week’s featured game will be South Christian at Wyoming high.
South Christian also pushed their record to 2-1 with a 42-0 win at home over Wayland to open the Sailors’ OK Gold schedule. In the game, short runs by Daniel Possett and Chase Bradman, with extra point kicks by Jeff Heerema, staked South Christian to a 14-0 first half lead. Two more rushing touchdowns by Possett, the second a 29-yard scamper, and a short run by Eli Smith pushed the score to 35-0 to enter the fourth quarter.
Also on Sept. 13, Wyoming high (1-2) lost at Grand Rapids Christian (1-2), 54-14.
In other local football action, Godwin Heights (1-2) and Wyoming Lee (1-2) both gained their first wins of the season. The Wolverines defeated Wyoming Kelloggsville (0-3) 36-14 in the OK Sliver opener for both teams. (Due to three teams in the conference playing non-conference football schedules, the two teams will meet later in the season at Kelloggsville.) For more information on the Lee Legends win, see a story here.
Tri-unity Christian won a 8-Man Midwest Central conference game at Lawrence, 40-28.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
This past July, many communities, such as the City of Wyoming, observed National Parks and Recreation Month, an opportunity to showcase the many offerings parks and park programs provide.
WKTV was able to catch up with Wyoming’s Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt, who oversees the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department. Rynbrandt discussed some of the newest features at a couple of the city’s parks, such as the the new pickleball courts at Pinery Park and the playground at Marquette Park.
Rynbrandt also talked about how the department continues to change and grow to meet its residents’ needs and interests.
“We are seeing an increase of request from our citizens, our residents, to have more special events, like the Trick or Treat Trail, formerly known as the Pumpkin Path Trail; like the Miranda Park parties,” Rynbrandt said. “So you are going to see us increasing our investment in those large scale events that will really engage the entire community.”
The Trick or Treat Trail is Oct. 12 from 4-6 p.m. at Lamar park. The event is free, but children must be under the supervision of an attending adult.
Other popular Park and Recreation events coming up are:
The Veterans Day Breakfast is Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. at the Wyoming Senior Center. Cost is $10 per attendee and free for veterans.
The Great Candy Candy Cane Hunt and Lunch With Santa is set for Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Wyoming Senior Center. Cost is $5/residents, $7, non-residents. Best for children ages 3-10 but open to all ages.
For more City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation activities, visit wyomingmi.gov. Go to the “About Wyoming” tab for a scroll down menu that includes Parks and Recreation or visit the Facebook page, Wyoming Parks and Recreation.
Lee High School’s football team celebrating a win over Galesburg-Augusta, 18-12, at home Sept. 13. (Supplied)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Lee High School — after opening its non-conference season with two competitive losses when the offense scored but the defense struggled — defeated Galesburg-Augusta, 18-12, at home Friday as the Legends rode a big-play offense and a bend-but-not-break defense to the team’s first win while playing an independent schedule.
The visiting Rams actually out-gained the Legends in total yards, 258-230, and ran 81 offensive plays compared to Lee’s 39. But the Lee defense limited the Rams to just two scores and came up big in the fourth quarter.
“It was a huge test on the defensive side if you look at time of possession and number of snaps we played,” Lee defensive coordinator William Hollstein said to WKTV. “Over the first two games, we gave up big plays which put us in a tough spot. Going into Friday night, we really stressed limiting those big plays through a simplified scheme and getting pressure on passing downs.”
Lee High School freshman Elijah Beckwith had 97 yards and a touchdown in the win over Galesburg-Augusta on Sept. 13. (Supplied)
In the Legends’ win, freshman running back Elijah Beckwith scored on a 36-yard run and Ke’ontae Taylor caught a 45-yard scoring pass from Niko Mena in the first half. Beckwith totaled 97 yards on 12 carries to lead the Legends ground game.
After Galesburg-Augusta tied the score, 12-12, at the half, Taylor and Mena again hooked up, this time for a 47-yard pass in the third quarter, and the Lee defense made that score hold up for the win.
Senior Gumer Rodas was one of the stars on the Legends defense. (Supplied)
“During Galesburg’s final offensive possession, I was able to speak with the defense during a timeout,” Hollstein said. “It was all smiles in the huddle and I told the kids that this is why we play the games, for moments like this. They were fired up to play on 4th down and you could feel their confidence. As a team, our theme has been to ‘win the next down.’ As a coach, it’s rewarding when you see the kids come together and play for each other like that.”
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Beer, pie and books. Quite the combination? Well, Schuler Books and Music with the help of Creston Brewery will be putting that combination together Wednesday, Sept. 25, as it celebrates the recent release of author J. Ryan Stradel’s new book “The Lager Queen of Minnesota.”
The Sept. 25 event is at the Creston Brewery’s Golden Age, located above the Creston Brewery at 1504 Plainfield Ave. NE. It will feature pies from the Golden Age along with a beer selection from Creston Brewery. The author, Stradel, will be there to talk about his new book.
J. Ryan Stradal’s new book “The Lager Queen of Minnesota.” (WKTV)
“This event is really the kick off of Schuler Books reaching out and being more active in the community,” said Schuler Books and Music Events Coordinator Samatha Hendricks. “We are trying to find those community partners and community events to reach new customer bases and to show people that author events can really be a unique experience.”
Henricks said partnering with Creston Brewery made sense since the brewery is always doing things in the community while consistently thinking outside of the box.
“Our [Brewmaster Scott Schultz] is good at jumping outside of the box, playing with beers in a way that you won’t find anywhere else,” said Creston Brewery Manager Roger Haight. “You’ll find rhubarb in one of our beers or cardamon in one of the others. He does a good job at coming up with something creative and that is the big focus of his brewing here.”
Beer and pie are the key ingredients in J. Ryan Stradel’s new book and the featured items at the Schuler Books’ upcoming Pints + Pies. (WKTV)
The reason for the pie-and-beer theme is because Stradel’s book, “The Lager Queen of Minnesota” uses the combination as key ingredients in the story.
Edith Magnusson’s rhubarb pies are famous in the Twin Cities, where they were named the third-best in the state and the nursing home she works at has become the hottest dinner ticket in town. Her sister, Helen, has helped build the Blotz beer brand into a dynasty. But because of a few bad decisions, such as dismissing IPAs as a fad, that dynasty is starting to crumble.
However Edith’s granddaughter Diane takes the chance to learn all about the beer business from the ground up as the IPA revolution begins. She is launching her own brewpub but needs that one key item that will give her and her new baby a slice of security.
Tickets for the event are $55 and include six pie and beer tastings, and a signed copy of “The Lager Queen of Minnesota.” There are only 50 tickets available and you must be 21 or older to purchase a ticket. For more, visit the Everbrite link by clicking here.
While the Lee High School teams are still wearing old uniforms this season, they are already Legends. (Note: This football team t-shirt, worn here by head coach Tom Degennaro, is not the new official logo for Godfrey-Lee school district or its sporting teams). (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools announced this week two major donations for the rebranding of the district and high school’s mascot to become the Legends — including $98,000 from the Native American Heritage Foundation to “rebrand the current mascot from ‘Rebels’ to a new mascot and nickname that is culturally responsive.”
“Godfrey-Lee Public Schools is proud to share the announcement of $120,000 in donations to support the district with the change of our mascot to the Godfrey-Lee Legends,” Kevin Polston, Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, said Sept. 17 in supplied material. “The support of our community through the transition has been critical to the success of the project.
“Financial contributions will ensure that operating expenses will be spent in the classroom to support our students. The donations will offset costs for a new logo design, athletic and performing arts uniforms, signage, murals, the electronic footprint of the district, and more.”
The grant from the Native American Heritage Foundation (NAHF) adds to a grant made by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, as well as other smaller donations.
Grand Rapids Community Foundation was established in 1922 and is Kent County’s philanthropic leader, according to a statement by the Godfrey-Lee district. “The Community Foundation creates partnerships to overcome inequities in West Michigan, supporting racial, social and economic justice for all.”
“We are committed to providing opportunity, prosperity and belonging for everyone who calls West Michigan home,” said Diana Sieger, president of the Community Foundation, said in supplied material. “A new Godfrey-Lee mascot will unify the school community and help students shift their focus to using their talents and creativity to fuel our shared future.”
The official receipt of the grant from the Native American Heritage Fund will take place at a check ceremony on Monday, Sept. 30, at the FireKeepers Casino-Hotel in Battle Creek.
The Native American Heritage Fund, established in 2016 as part of the Second Amendment to the Tribal-State Gaming Compact between the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) and the State of Michigan, allows for a portion of NHBP’s annual state revenue sharing payment to be distributed by the NAHF.
According to the NAHF, the fund “serves to promote positive relationships between public and private K-12 schools, colleges, universities, local units of government and Michigan’s federally recognized Native American Tribes. The NAHF provides resources to help improve curricula and educational resources related to Michigan Indian history, as well as to replace or revise mascots and imagery that may be deemed as offensive to or inaccurately conveying the culture and values of Native Americans.”
The district is still soliciting donations and individuals or organizations that want to contribute toward the district reaching its’ goal of $200,000, Polston said in supplied material.
Those interested can make a tax deductible contribution online via the District’s PayPal account (the link is found at the bottom of the district’s homepage (godfrey-lee.org) or by sending a check to the district’s administration building, 1324 Burton St. SW, Wyoming, MI, 49509.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced that tickets are now on sale for the return of the traveling exhibit, Bodies Revealed,opening Nov. 16.
The exhibition features real, whole and partial body specimens that have been preserved through an innovative process, giving visitors the opportunity to view the complexity of their own organs and systems like never before.
Admission to Bodies Revealed is $15 for adults, $10 for children, $12 for Kent County resident adults, $7 for Kent County resident children, $7 for Museum member adults and member children. Tickets include general admission to the Museum, and can be purchased online at grpm.org or by calling 616-929-1700.
Each ticket to Bodies Revealed will be stamped with a specific entry time. When buying tickets, visitors may make reservations for any time slot during the run of the exhibition.
Museum members can be the first to see the new exhibit at the members only preview on Saturday, November 16 from 8 to 10 a.m. Member preview tickets are available at grpm.org/Bodies.
This phenomenal exhibition about the amazing and complex machine we call the human body, showcases 10 real full bodies and more than 100 organs and partial body specimens. The exhibition respectfully displays each specimen to tell the story of the miraculous systems at work. With a reverent, academic approach, this display allows people of all ages to more closely observe the skeletal, muscular, nervous, digestive, respiratory, reproductive and circulatory systems, and to absorb information normally reserved only for medical professionals.
Many of the whole body specimens are presented in vivid athletic poses that allow visitors to better understand their own everyday motions and activities, while other specimens illustrate the damage that can be caused to organs by habits like over-eating, lack of exercise and smoking.
The human body specimens in the exhibition are preserved through a technique called polymer preservation. The process permanently preserves human tissue through the use of liquid silicone rubber that is treated and hardened. The result is a rubberized specimen, preserved to the cellular level, showcasing the complexity of the body’s many bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels and organs.
Bodies Revealed is brought to the GRPM by Experiential Media Group, LLC (E/M Group) and sponsored by David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation, Bank of America, Meijer, The Steve & Amy Van Andel Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Lacks Enterprises, Inc., BDO, Chris & Kim Branoff, David & Amy Leonard, Williams Kitchen & Bath, Media Place Partners, AMR of West Michigan, Hope Network Foundation and Old National Bank.
This exhibit is brought to you by the citizens of Kent County and the voter approved 2016 millage.
The 2019 West Michigan Freedom Cruise and Gold Star Family Honor Ride — an event intended to to “Remember Gold Star Families, Support All Veterans and Never Forget!” — will return to Fifth Third Ball Park in Comstock Park Sunday, Sept. 22.
This year, the annual event will honor fallen soldier U.S. Army Sgt. Chad J. Vollmer, of Grand Rapids, who while serving with the Army 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry, was killed in action in Iraq on Dec. 23, 2006.
Each year, the event, this year co-sponsored by West Michigan Veterans Coalition, honors a family with a ceremony unveiling a specially commissioned portrait of “their fallen hero” and then escorts the Gold Star Family (the family of a military man or woman killed in defense of the United States) and the portrait on an honor cruise.
The free-to-the-public Freedom Cruise and Gold Star Family Honor Ride event will begin at the ball park, 4500 West River Drive NE, with gates opening at 11 a.m., the Fallen Soldier Ceremony beginning at 2 p.m., and the Freedom Cruise beginning at 3 (to 3:15) p.m. and ending back at the ball park after a 25-mile motorcycle and classic car ride to Sparta.
The Stars & Stripes Cars & Bikes Freedom Cruise Honor Ride online pre-registration closes Friday, Sept. 20, at 8 a.m., with on-site Honor Ride registration at Fifth Third Ball Park on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
According to event organizers, including principal organizer Tom Antor and Capt. Paul J. Ryan, US Navy Reserve (Retired) and board member of the West Michigan Veterans Coalition, there will be many activities in addition to the ceremony and the ride.
There is a classic car and motorcycle show with 1,000 plus vehicles anticipated. An additional feature this year will be a “Veterans and Family Resource Fair” sponsored by the West Michigan Veterans’ Coalition. The resource fair providers will include organizations that assist veterans and their families in areas including housing, barriers to employment, legal issues, issues affecting female veterans, mental health, spiritual well-being/social support and transportation.
The West Michigan Veterans Coalition, according to supplied information, is a collaboration among local military-friendly organizations that provide support, information, and resources to veterans and their families, employers, and other organizations throughout West Michigan. It’s mission “is to improve the lives of veterans, their families, and anyone who served in the Armed Forces by connecting them to all available services and resources throughout West Michigan.
For more information and registration information visit the Freedom Cruise website at freedomcruisegr.com.
Michigan-born Carla Canales is a child of immigrant parents who uses her multi-cultural and multi-lingual upbringing in her day job as a world-traveling soprano. When she lands long enough in her current hometown of New York, she’s busy singing the praises of famous women, from Malala to Michelle Obama. Join us for this fascinating interview!
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
On Jan. 31, 2019, Dr. Jen received an email from Julie S. who befriended a cat that folks up the block from her dumped—and just as one of our nasty winter storms was blowing in. She was half-starved, shuddering and shivering and sporting a healing bite wound. Julie was kind enough to bring the kitty in out of the cold, but she wasn’t in a position to keep her, so she reached out to us. We were completely full and starting an intake waiting list, so Julie offered to house the kitty and get her the appropriate medical care in the meantime.
It took 2-1/2 months until we were able to open our doors, but by the time this 2-1/2 year old arrived (born in the fall of 2016), her caretaker was able to offer excellent insight on her personality, likes and dislikes:
“I have temporarily nicknamed her ‘Lady LongSpine’ because she stretches out soooo long when I hold her; I’m sure she will accept a name change easily. She likes being inside of a house, not outside. She prefers to explore space slowly and carefully, traveling around the edges of a room, pausing to check out the area; she tends to hide out under furniture until she feels safe enough to explore more openly. She likes to be where people are and once she has made their acquaintance, she enjoys the attention—in particular, she is fond of being stroked and cuddled like a baby. She’s a vocal girl, purring and talking to you quite a bit, letting you know if she is thirsty or hungry (again, like a baby). If she is in the mood for your attention or thinks it is time you tidied up her litter box, you will know it. She really likes to play with ‘da bird’ toy that is a bunch of feathers attached to a stick—I could swing that around for hours; she may be partial to stalking toys and chasing them around given her enthusiasm for this type of activity.
“Go easy on the nip, as she can get quite wild! She will be OK with a gentle dog that is slowly and properly introduced, and also has places to go to that a pup can’t reach. She’d also be alright with kids if they too are gentle, understand that she is timid at first and has had some hard times, and let her approach them until she gets to know them better. She may get along with other cats, but they would need a ‘getting to know you’ period of gradual adjustment. She will try to be the top cat in a home, so placement in a house of her own would suit her best; when she was on the streets she literally had to fight with other cats for food, and I believe she has a long memory of pain endured and a fear of dealing with felines she saw only as foes. Overall, she is very sweet and extremely cute—I wish I could keep her myself.”
Armed with this very detailed, helpful information, we set out to make Davina’s transition as smooth as possible, but first she needed Dr. Jen’s pre-program work-up to insure she was healthy; it was at that time Dr. Jen discovered that the bite wound Davina had suffered transmitted the feline leukemia virus. Sadly, this meant that she would not be going to Crash’s as planned, but thankfully she was going to become a resident of Big Sid’s, our sanctuary for virally infected kitties.
Easy on the ‘nip there, kitty. Wait! This is the resident imposter, Donut. See what happens when you succumb to the ‘nip?
After a few days of loving her up at the clinic, we sent her down to settle in. At the writing of her bio a month after her arrival, here are the insights the cat care team has about our lovely little gray-and-white girl:
“Davina—she was very shy when she first arrived but is slowly starting to be a little more social. She loves being up high on a tall cabinet until she sees people enter the room, then she’s right there asking for her well-deserved attention. She LOVES her wet food, treats, and back scratches. She’s still a bit wiggly when picked up, but will sit in your lap once you sit down. She does have a feisty side to her towards the other cats, though she’s not mean or aggressive—just a girl who needs her space. She has gotten a little more brave and has been spending a lot more of her time on the windowsill watching the birds and squirrels. She would do best with only one other cat, or as the only cat. Dogs are probably too much for her.”
We couldn’t agree more with their assessment of this darling little lady, and since the virus is transmissible AND she really would like to be the queen of her very own castle, it will be our goal to secure for her the type of home life she has long been dreaming—and deserving— of.
More about Davina:
Domestic Short Hair
Gray & White
Adult
Female
Medium
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Spayed
Prefers to be an only cat
Want to adopt Davina Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Ready, set, glow! Area runners and walkers are invited to come together and “illuminate the night with glow wear and lights” during the City of Kentwood’s first-ever Glow in the Park 5K on Saturday, Oct. 12.
The lighthearted run will begin just before dusk with check-in, on-site registration and packet pick-up slated to take place between 6 and 7 p.m. at Pinewood Park, located at 1999 Wolfboro Drive SE.
Participants and supporters are encouraged to wear brightly colored and glow-in-the dark clothes and accessories for the race, which runs through Pinewood Park trails and nearby neighborhood roads.
Volunteers in glow wear will help light the way, while neighborhoods along the route are welcomed to decorate their homes with colorful splashes of light for the occasion.
“We’d love to see area neighbors get involved in our first Glow in the Park 5K, which is our only organized after-dark running event to date,” said Spencer McKellar, race organizer. “Whether you’re an avid runner, casual jogger or walker, this 5K is intended to be a fun opportunity to dress up, get out and do something active this fall with family members, neighbors and friends.”
As the participants near the finish line, the path will be lit with glow-in-the-dark sticks and other colorful lights. An awards ceremony and party at Pinewood Park including music, games and refreshments will immediately follow the race. The route is fully paved and accessible.
Individuals interested in racing can register online. Those who register by Oct. 1 will receive a t-shirt and race pack with glow supplies.
Registration costs $30 until Sept. 30, after which the price will increase by $5 increments leading up to $40 for race-day sign-ups. Proceeds will go to support the City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department’s Youth Scholarship Fund, which allows recipients to receive up to 50 percent off of one program per season.
The Parks and Recreation Department is seeking volunteers for the Glow in the Park 5K. Those who are interested may sign up online.
“Parenting is hard, especially trying to be patient with little versions of impatient you.”
Anonymous
Parenting is work, but there are some tools to help.
Parenting ain’t easy
Sometimes, parents can send their children mixed messages by the ineffective commands they give them and lack of consistency with routines and household rules. Go here for more info.
Soft lights and light reading helps.
Sleeping ain’t easy
Exposure to bright light in the hour before bedtime can make it difficult for kids to fall asleep, family health experts warn. Go here for more info.
Kids carry the weight too.
Lugging books ain’t easy
Thousands of children each year suffer from a variety of backpack-related injuries, including back and neck pain, shoulder pain, muscle strains and spasms, nerve damage and headaches. Go here for more info.
(Not-so-) Fun fact:
As much as 7 pounds
Hardcover textbooks weigh between 2 and 7 pounds … a burdensome load of information that students have to haul around school five days a week. Source.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) just announced its partnership in the 15th annual Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day on Saturday, Sept. 21, offering the opportunity for free general admission to Museum Day ticket holders.
The annual Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day is a national celebration of boundless curiosity in which participating museums emulate the free admission policy at the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington D.C.-based museums. Museum Day represents a nationwide commitment to access, equity and inclusion. More than 450,000 tickets were downloaded for last year’s event, and Museum Day 2019 is expected to attract more museumgoers than ever before.
Participants must download free Museum Day tickets to receive free general admission from the GRPM. Museum Day tickets are available for download at Smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present a Museum Day ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues on Sept. 21. One ticket is permitted per email address.
This year, Museum Day will celebrate the Smithsonian Year of Music, an institution-wide initiative celebrating the Smithsonian’s vast musical collections and resources through 365 days of music-related programming. Music is not only a reflection of human creativity and innovation, but also a key method of communication and cross-cultural exchange and understanding. The Smithsonian Year of Music crosses disciplines, bringing together music-related resources in art, history, culture, science and education.
On Saturday, Sept. 21, Museum goers to the GRPM can explore three floors of core exhibits focused on history, science and culture, along with the current temporary exhibits TOYS! and Changing America as part of their admission.
TOYS! is an interactive, multi-generation exhibition of toys and games to rekindle childhood memories and spark the creation of new ones.
Baby Boomers loved Paper Dolls, Erector Sets, and Mr. Potato Head, Gen Xers preferred Holly Hobbie and Hot Wheels, and Millennials have never known a world without Super Mario or My Little Pony. Some toys, like Barbie and G.I. Joe, have adapted to appeal to different generations and remain popular today. Toys and games have changed over time, but the desire to imagine, compete, and create has not.
The exhibit, designed and curated by the GRPM staff, features toys and games from the Museum’s Collections and on loan from community members. Visitors will imagine, compete and create, while going on a journey of toys through generations.
Through the design process of the exhibition, the Museum worked with several experts from the community making sure the design was as inclusive as possible so everyone visiting can enjoy it. The exhibition is being presented in both English and Spanish, and also includes Braille.
Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863, and the March on Washington, 1963, examines the relationship between two great people’s movements, which both grew out of decades of bold actions, resistance, organization, and vision. One hundred years separate them, yet they are linked in a larger story of liberty and the American experience – one that has had a profound impact on the generations that followed.
In addition to artifacts from the GRPM Collections, many artifacts on display are on loan from the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives. Local stories are told through the eyes of our community and oral histories will be presented. The exhibition also includes a place for visitors to share their own stories. Shared stories will be added to the GRPM’s digital archive found at grpmcollections.org.
Created by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of American History, the exhibit was toured nationwide by the American Library Association’s Public Program Office. The Changing America exhibit is now a possession of the GRPM.
If you’re a runner who wants to make sure you are eating right before, during and after a race, Spectrum Health dietitian Kristi Veltkamp has two words for you: whole foods.
“You don’t need to buy pricey supplements,” she said. “Whole foods are the best way.”
They focused on protein and carbohydrates and how they are readily available in the form of whole foods.
Complex carbohydrates—plentiful in whole grains, fruits and vegetables—are great for athletes, Veltkamp said. But don’t confuse them with the simple carbs like those found in a white bread, sodas and French fries.
And don’t think that all your protein must come from meat, Veltkamp added. Edamame, beans, chickpeas and nuts are great options. Keep in mind that one cup of edamame contains a whopping 18 grams of protein.
Here are a few other options for a nutrient-rich diet:
The nitrates found in celery, leafy greens and beets convert to nitric oxide in the body, which increases blood flow and improves aerobic endurance.
Vitamin D regulates the way your body responds to inflammation. Foods high in Vitamin D are fatty fish, egg yolks and fortified dairy products.
Foods high in omega 3, including salmon, tuna, walnuts and chia seeds, support brain health and reduce inflammation.
Consuming fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamins C, E and A reduce the imbalances in the body caused by exhaustive exercise. These include dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, avocado, broccoli, berries, citrus, tomatoes, carrots and sweet potatoes.
Herbs and spices such as ginger, turmeric, garlic, cinnamon and rosemary contain antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.
Spectrum Health Culinary Medicine chef Elizabeth Suvedi teaches people about the power of whole food dishes. (Photo by Taylor Ballek, Spectrum Health Beat)
“I hope people leave here inspired and wanting to cook,” Suvedi said as the group prepared Moroccan-spiced salmon, chicken salad with apples and raisins, coconut pecan date rolls, purple cabbage and edamame salad and several other dishes. Then they sat down to enjoy them.
As Suvedi prepped the dishes, she queried runners about their training leading up to race day, sharing that she’ll be running the 5K with her husband and sons. It will be her first-ever race.
“After I run I feel so good,” Suvedi said. “I feel like I have accomplished something big.”
When summer fruits and vegetables start to disappear from grocery stores and the action shifts indoors to watching sports and munching on unhealthy snacks, it helps to have a diet plan in place to avoid weight gain.
First, remember that farmers’ markets are still open across the country. You can buy local as long as you make the shift from summer crops to fall ones.
That means tomatoes and cucumbers give way to offerings like root vegetables, including carrots, parsnips and turnips and the wide variety of squashes such as acorn, butternut, Hubbard and kabocha.
These are all great for hearty, cook-ahead soups and stews for dinners and brown bag lunches.
Vegetables in the orange family, including sweet potatoes, are rich in vitamin A.
But don’t overlook nutrient-dense dark, leafy greens like varieties of chard and bok choy.
Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables may be abundant in your area and they taste great roasted with a slight drizzle of olive oil and finished with a splash of balsamic vinegar—hearty enough for a vegetarian meal.
Though local melons, stone fruits and many berries may be gone, explore sweet fall fruits like apples, pears and grapes, as well as the more exotic pomegranates, persimmons and quince, the season’s first cranberries and even fall raspberries.
Have fruit salads ready to snack on instead of greasy chips and crackers, or make a batch of baked apples or poached pears to satisfy a sweet tooth.
Music Director Marcelo Lehninger believes it’s the Grand Rapids Symphony’s job to serve its community.
Naturally, that means playing music people want to hear, but it also means taking the orchestra out into the community to play for people where they live.
Grand Rapids Symphony returns for the second season of its Neighborhood Concert Series with Symphony on the West Side, aFREE concert, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, in John Ball Park, 1300 W. Fulton St.
While the concert isfree admission, tickets are required for the program that’ll be held in the park west of downtown Grand Rapids.
Music Director Marcelo Lehninger will lead the Grand Rapids Symphony in such popular favorites as Rimsky-Korsakov’s explosive Flight of the Bumblebee and Tchaikovsky’s lovely Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker Ballet.
Cellist Zachary Earle, from East Kentwood High School, will be joining the Grand Rapids Symphony for the Sept. 21 free performance. (Supplied)
Grand Rapids Symphony Associate Concertmaster Christina Fong will be soloist in the Autumn Concerto from Vivaldi’s highly popular The Four Seasons. Cellist Zachary Earle, a 17-year-old student at East Kentwood High School, will be soloist with the beautiful Swan from Camille Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals.
The concert also includes Aaron Copland’s El Salón México, and Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture, an arrangement of musical themes from George Gershwin’s folk opera.
Come early for pre-concert entertainment from vocalist Kathy Lamar plus pre-concert activities for kids.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. for Symphony on the West Side. Free parking is available at John Ball Park. Guests can bring food and beverages including alcoholic beverages.
If the concert cannot be held due to inclement weather, Symphony on the West Side will be held the following day at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, in John Ball Park.
GR Associate Concertmaster Christina Fong will be a soloist in the Sept. 21 free performance. (Supplied)
It’s the second season of the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Neighborhood Concert Series, a new initiative launched with help from the Wege Foundation.
“A symphony orchestra in the 21st century has become a service organization,” said Marcelo Lehninger. “We’re here not only to entertain our audience but also to serve our community.”
In 2018, the Wege Foundation awarded the Grand Rapids Symphony a $1 million grant to enhance initiatives in diversity, equity and inclusion to engage a broader audience and share live orchestral music with everyone in its community.
Last year, the Grand Rapids Symphony held its first Symphony on the West Side in John Ball Park in July 2018 followed by Lasinfonía navideña, a Spanish-flavored Christmas concert, in Wyoming in December at the Dan Heintzelman Fine Arts Center at Wyoming Junior High School.
In November, the Grand Rapids Symphony plans to present a second free concert, La sinfonía navideñaat 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Kroc Center, 2500 S. Division Ave.
Associate Conductor John Varineau will lead the orchestra in holiday favorites. Admission is free but tickets are required for entrance. Call the Grand Rapids Symphony for details.
Though concerts in DeVos Performance Hall remain central to the orchestra its audience, new programs in new places are important for the continued growth of the Grand Rapids Symphony.
“I have a passion and a mission to reach the hearts and souls of everyone in this community,” said Lehninger said. “Sometimes people feel they don’t belong. We’re trying to show them that, yes, they do belong. Hopefully, they’ll understand that’s it’s their orchestra too.”
Tickets
Admission is free for “Symphony on the West Side” but tickets are required for entrance.
Free tickets are available GRS ticket office, weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across from the Calder Plaza). Call 616.454.9451 x 4 or go online to GRSymphony.org for more information.
Tickets also are available at John Ball Zoo, 1300 W. Fulton St. Call (616) 336-4300 or go online to jbzoo.org.
A quick look at the ingredients will tell you which foods to avoid. If it sounds like a chemistry experiment, steer clear. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Eating healthy has become one of the most confusing and frustrating tasks of 21st century life.
Many products are no longer made of actual whole food ingredients. Instead they include chemicals, additives and preservatives, or they’re simply “food-like” products. In some cases whole foods have been processed into added ingredients.
How can we ever know what is best to buy at the store?
To get you started, here is a list of ingredients to avoid:
1. Sodium nitrates/nitrites
Sodium nitrates and nitrites are found in processed meats as a preservative. Processed meats include deli meats, sausages, bacon, hotdogs and the like. This preservative has been strongly linked to cancer. Look for “nitrate or preservative-free” meats, or better yet, fresh meats.
2. Hydrogenated oils, aka trans fat
Hydrogenated oils are vegetable oils that have been processed in such a way that the foods they’re in—and the oils themselves—are more shelf-stable. It’s good for food companies but not for your body. Trans fat increases cholesterol and your risk for heart disease and diabetes. It is found mostly in fried foods and bakery products.
Keep trans fat as low as possible and beware—labels can say “0 grams trans fat per serving” and still have up to half a gram of trans fat in the product. Look at the ingredients to be sure!
3. Sugar in all its forms
Sugar comes in many forms—high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, agave nectar, honey, maple syrup, dextrose sucrose, rice syrup, cane juice crystals, maltodextrin, fruit juice concentrate and so on.
And I think we are all aware of the dangers of too much sugar—diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and the like. But it can get tricky with all the various names. Sugar is used as a preservative and, of course, a flavor enhancer. It can even trick your mind into wanting to eat more. It comes in many forms on ingredient labels and it’s almost impossible to eliminate.
Women should keep their intake of added sugar below 24 grams and men should keep it below 36 grams.
4. Artificial flavors and colors
These include any flavorings that say “artificial” or that list colors such as blue, lake, red, yellow 1, 2, 3 and caramel color. The research findings on artificial flavors and colors are mixed, but many people find they are sensitive to these ingredients with various side effects.
The fact is, they are artificial. This means they’re not made from food products that are meant to go in the body. They are also a good sign that the food product is highly processed and does not contain other healthy ingredients.
5. Artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners—sucralose, aspartame, saccharin, etc.—are many
times sweeter than sugar, without the sugar. Research on artificial
sweeteners has also been in high debate, with most unsafe effects coming
from very high doses.
However, there is no way to draw a line on a safe amount and, again, they are artificial and not a natural food. This only raises questions about how the body can handle it.
Research has looked into links to cancer, migraines, weight gain, craving sweets, increased risk of metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Artificial sweeteners may even alter the good bacteria in your gut. And that’s just to name a few of the possible side effects!
6. Oils: Corn, vegetable, soy bean
These oils contain more of the omega-6 fats than most other oils. While these oils are an essential part of our diet, too much can be problematic. Omega-6 fats lead to inflammation, and inflammation leads to a host of other illnesses, including heart disease.
Most Americans get too much oil, as it is such a common ingredient in packaged foods. These oils can also be damaged (oxidized) if not processed and stored correctly, which leads to more damage inside your body.
7. Enriched wheat
This flour has been processed to remove the bran and endosperm of the
wheat grain, leaving you without essential nutrients such as fiber, B
vitamins, vitamin E and minerals. Look for whole wheat as the first
ingredient in any grain product.
8. Carrageenan
Carrageenan is a food additive extracted from seaweed. It is used to help thicken foods and is commonly found in low-fat dairy products and dairy alternatives to make them feel creamier. Research has linked it to gastrointestinal diseases (Crohn’s disease, abdominal pain, etc.) and inflammation, which then leads to heart disease, cancers and diabetes with constant inflammation.
9. Potassium or sodium benzoate
Potassium and sodium benzoate are preservatives added to soft drinks and juices to inhibit the growth of mold, bacteria and yeast. This chemical is not very harmful in this form, but when paired with vitamin C, as well as light and heat, it can form benzene, a strong carcinogen. Therefore, take caution not to buy drinks with both vitamin C and benzoate. Better safe than sorry!
10. Bisphenol A, aka BPA
BPA is not necessarily a food ingredient, but is found in the epoxy resin lining aluminum cans, the lining of some glass jar lids, cash register receipts and some plastic bottles and containers.
The FDA has banned it in baby bottles and infant formula containers, but it’s still allowed in the others.
There is more and more research linking BPA to many reproductive disorders, such as infertility, cancer and abnormalities in child growth. Look for BPA-free cans and containers and avoid microwaving in plastic.
Seasonal allergies are nearly a year-long affair these days—from spring tree pollen to fall weeds. Learn how to battle back. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
They can travel 130 miles per hour, packing enough force to break blood vessels, and shooting as many as 100,000 germs up to 30 feet away.
No, these aren’t sledgehammers of slime; they’re the common, everyday, ordinary sneezes, brought on this time of year by some sinister seasonal allergies.
But while fall brings with it a powder keg of pollen and an all-star lineup of other allergy instigators, there are ways to fight back from a firestorm of seasonal sneezing.
“I had a patient yesterday that said, ‘I sneezed 300 times in a row,’” said allergist Karyn Gell, MD. “They get these sneezing fits, from everything in the air right now. But that’s the problem with allergies, it’s always more than one thing.”
Here are Dr. Gell’s 4 keys to fighting seasonal sneezing:
Allergy avoidance. “Keep your windows in your car and your home closed,” Dr. Gell said. “However, you’re going to want to go outside, so if you’re doing a big job like mowing the grass, wear a mask and perhaps glasses or goggles.”
Medication. “Wonderfully, they’ve all gone over the counter, so you don’t need to see a provider or get a prescription anymore,” she said. “There are several over the counter: Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec and Benadryl. Or generics are just fine, too. That’s the antihistamines. Decongestants, now those can help beautifully to decongest all that mucus and plugging. They are behind the counter for safety as side effects may occur. And then we have eye drops, like Zaditor. You don’t want the ones that say ‘Get the red out,’ it’s addictive, and you don’t want to use that for four to six weeks of allergy season. If you drop decongestants in the eye, or spray it in the nose, it’s addictive. That’s the caution on anything decongestant.”
Irrigation. Dr. Gell says products like SinuNeb and others can help clean you out by flushing your sinuses.
Prescriptions. “When your symptoms require medication you would like to avoid, or begin adding up to 30% of days a year, we can identify exactly what you’re allergic to, how to avoid it, and how to treat it,” Dr. Gell said. “Prescription therapy is associated with an 80% success rate for your allergies.”
One strategy Dr. Gell says won’t work is waiting for allergy season to end. That’s because there really is no end to allergy season.
“Each person’s immune system is so unique, and often with allergies there are multiple,” she said. “Early spring allergens come from mostly trees, but still to come: grasses. …When rain hits, you’ll have mold, which is present whenever there is no blanket of snow on the ground, and peaks summer through fall. Pretty soon, the weeds come! And all season we have dust mite and animal dander.
“That’s the nice thing about finding out what you’re allergic to, the more you learn, the more you can make good choices about what you do.”
Researchers suspect there may be a social stigma with snoring among women, leading some to withhold information about their snoring habits. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
New research shows that snoring is not the sole domain of men.
“We found that although no difference in snoring intensity was found between genders, women tend to underreport the fact that they snore and to underestimate the loudness of their snoring,” said lead investigator Dr. Nimrod Maimon. He is head of internal medicine at Soroka University Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, Israel.
“Women reported snoring less often and described it as milder,” Maimon said in a news release from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
The study included more than 1,900 people, average age 49, who were referred to a sleep disorders center.
Snoring was found in 88% of the women, but only 72% reported that they snore. Both rates were about 93% in men in the study group.
Among people who snored, the average maximum loudness was 50 decibels among women and 51.7 decibels among men. While 49% of the women had severe or very severe snoring, only 40% rated their snoring at this level, the researchers found.
The study authors noted that there is a social stigma associated with snoring among women, so women may not be truthful when asked about snoring. More troubling, this may contribute to the underdiagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in women.
Snoring is a common warning sign for obstructive sleep apnea, in which the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and other health issues.
“The fact that women reported snoring less often and described it as milder may be one of the barriers preventing women from reaching sleep clinics for a sleep study,” Maimon said.
When screening women for obstructive sleep apnea, health care providers should consider other factors in addition to self-reported snoring, he suggested.
For example, women with sleep apnea may be more likely than men to report other symptoms, such as daytime fatigue or tiredness.
The study was published online recently in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
If anyone understands the need to eliminate plastic it would be Martha Vermeulen.
As one of the organizers of the Friends of the Buck Creek Annual Clean Up, which took place in August, Vermeulen and the team have pulled out lots of plastic along with styrofoam and tires out of the river.
“We estimate we pull about a half ton of trash out of the creek every year,” Vermeulen said.
Unfortunately, plastic, styrofoam, and tires are not the only items the volunteers have found. In the past there have been a dryer, partial dishwasher, drums of mysterious liquids, and tennis balls.
“Lots of balls seem to make it in the river,” Vermeulen said. “This year’s most unusual item was a volunteer thought there was a body in the water as it was floating face down. It turned out to be a doll.”
First started by Trout Unlimited, the clean up has been taking place about seven years. The group primarily focuses on the Buck Creek in the Grandville and Wyoming area, selecting about seven sites along the river with a mix of brand new and repeat locations.
And while every year it can seem frustrating on the amount of trash removed, the positive is the number of people who come out each year to help with the clean up.
“We had more than 100 people come out this year,” Vermeulen said. “The better benefit is having people come out and see what is in the river. What our throwaway society does to our watershed.
“Hopefully they begin to reuse things more. Maybe they say this is the year I get that water filter and refill a stainless water bottle.”
The Buck Creek, which is one of the few cold water creeks that runs through a municipality, empties into the Grand River, which the West Michigan Environmental Action Council’s 16th Annual Mayor’s Grand River Cleanup is set for Saturday, Sept. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event starts at the 6th Street Park in Grand Rapids. Refreshments before the event and a light lunch after with a beverage garden (must be 21 or old with ID) will be hosted by Founders Brewery and Cascade Blonde.
Did that mannequin just blink? Downtown Holland’s windows will come alive tonight, Friday, Sept. 13 from 7–8:30pm when Live Mannequin Night returns for another year! Tonight, dozens of community members will pose perfectly still like mannequins in the windows of over 25 different Downtown businesses all depicting this year’s theme — movies. From classics film to popular flicks and Disney movies, there’s something for every movie fan at Live Mannequin Night.
Be sure to visit GDK Park during the Live Mannequin for fun giveaways from sponsor Greenridge Realty and Downtown Holland’s new movie theatre, Sperry’s Moviehouse. To make it easier to view the windows during this popular event, attendees should look for the directional signs in the windows of the participating businesses and the signs on the street to ensure they are walking in the correct direction. Attendees are also encouraged to visit the businesses in the new development spanning River Avenue to Pine Avenue to check out the displays in their windows.
Thriller! Chiller! International Film Festival in partnership with ASIFA Central (The Association Internationale du Film d’Animation), Central Midwest Chapter announce that Tom Sullivan will be a visiting artist offering a lecture on Special FX history and the Evil Dead film series on Oct. 12 beginning at 6:30pm at the Wealthy Theatre.
A screening of director Sam Raimi’s Michigan-filmmaker-made cult horror comedy The Evil Dead will immediately follow the lecture. The screening is scheduled for 7:30pm. Tickets to both the lecture and film screening are $8 and will go on sale on Friday the 13th of September at the Wealthy Theatre box office or online at wealthytheatre.org.
Tickets on sale NOW for series makeup, props, and SFX artist Tom Sullivan (with Evil Dead film screening), Saturday, Oct. 12.
Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival All Access Passholders and Saturday Day Passholders will be able to attend the event at no additional charge.
Thriller! Chiller! International Film Festival will return to screen the best in indie Action, Sci-fi, Suspense, and Horror movies this Oct. 8-12 at the Wealthy Theatre.
The Association International du Film d’Animation, Central Midwest Chapter was founded in France by a group of professional animators and chartered by UNESCO in 1960. ASIFA’s goal is to encourage the art of animation and further promote international understanding and goodwill through the medium of the animated film. There are about 4500 members and 30 chapters worldwide, including seven in the USA. ASIFA Central sprouted in Chicago, Illinois, in 1975 and has expanded to include many professional and independent animators in the Midwest.
About Thriller! Chiller!
The action, sci-fi, suspense and horror-themed film festival will screen five cult classic movies, as well as 63 international independent film selections over five days in October. Specific screening details on independent films are available at thrillerchiller.com
The Event: Thriller! Chiller! International Film Festival — Independent & cult classic Action, Sci-fi, Suspense, and Horror movies
When: Oct. 8-12, 2019; Tuesday to Saturday
Where: Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI. *Festival Hub and screening venue in its 400-seat main theatre, and 60-seat micro-cinema
Pricing: Entry is priced two ways for maximum access: All Access to the entire festival; or all access by the day in the form of a Day Pass. There will be no tickets to individual screenings available except for the Evil Dead screening and lecture sold separately at $8.
All-Access Festival Pass, $50
All screening, events, and private passholder only party + select online screening access. On sale now at www.wealthytheatre.org.
Day Passes:
Tuesday, Oct. 8: $12 for all-evening access to all movies.
Wednesday, Oct. 9: Private party + screening for All Access Passholders only. Must purchase All Access to attend Wednesday events.
Thursday, Oct. 10: $12 for all-evening access to all movies.
Friday, Oct. 11: $12 for all-evening access to all movies.
Saturday, Oct. 12: $20 for all-day access to all movies
Overview of Thriller! Chiller! Festival events
63 Movies from 8 countries: (Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Republic of Korea, Sweden, U.S., UK)
Including 13 Features; 40 Short films; 10 Michigan Movies and 5 Cult Classics will screen at Thriller! Chiller! 2019.
Schedule by the day
Tuesday, Oct. 8 — Thriller! Chiller! Presents a zomcom Double Feature Night of the Living Dead + Shaun of the Dead as part of the Meanwhile Film Series 8 pm & 10pm. $12 general admission to both films. Or, Free with Thriller! Chiller! All Access Pass
Wednesday, Oct. 9 — All Access Passholders party + private screening
Thursday, Oct. 10 — Michigan Movie Night + Godzilla! Michigan Movies at 6pm. Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, 8pm. There will also be Thriller! Chiller! indie movies in the Micro-cinema at 6pm and 8pm. $12 Day Pass. Free with Thriller! Chiller! All Access Pass to all movies.
Friday, Oct. 11 — Friday-Night Freak-out + Bridezilla! The wildest, bloodiest, most offbeat movies screen on Thriller! Chiller! Friday nights for Thriller! Chiller! Friday Night Freak-out which starts at 6pm. Bride of Frankenstein, 8pm. Including a Best of Bride of Frankenstein cosplay & fashion show. There will also be Thriller! Chiller! indie movies in the Micro-cinema at 6pm and 8pm. $12 Day Pass. Free with Thriller! Chiller! All Access Pass to all movies!
Saturday, Oct. 12 — The best of indie filmmaking in the genres of Action, Sci-fi, Suspense and Horror all day Saturday, Noon-10pm. The Evil Dead event begins at 6:30pm. Makeup, props and SFX artist for The Evil Dead series, Tom Sullivan, visiting lecturer. 7:30pm — The Evil Dead screening. $20 Day Pass for all-day Saturday. Free with Thriller! Chiller! All Access Pass to all movies! Or, $8 to attend only the Evil Dead lecture and screening.
“Never miss a party… good for the nerves — like celery. “
F. Scott Fitzgerald
¿But will there be a piñata?
La Fiesta Mexicana will run Friday-Sunday, Sept. 13-15, at the Calder Plaza, 300 Monroe Ave. NW. The three-day event is packed with music with two mariachi bands scheduled to perform on Saturday. Don’t miss it! Info here.
Food & music to ease into the end of summer
A variety of for trucks will be at Kentwood’s End of Summer Food Truck Festival. (WKTV)
The City of Kentwood and GR8 Food Trucks invites foodies and families to explore cuisine from nearly 30 vendors during the fourth annual End of Summer Food Truck Festival on Saturday, Sept. 14. The free-to-attend community event will run from 11am to 8pm in the parking lot of the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard. L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. In addition to a cornucopia of food trucks, the event will also feature live music and a beer tent. More here.
Fountain Street Church’s birthday bash is Sept. 15 — and we’re all invited!
Cool old postcard
Fountain Street Church honors its past during its 150th anniversary year, a multi-event celebration reaching its peak Sunday, Sept. 15, with its Grand Celebration Street Party. The public is invited. Get the scoop here.
Fun fact:
A real party pooper
He’s not trying that hard.
The mantis shrimp attacks its prey by punching them really, really hard and really, really, really fast with fist-like appendages that can boil the water around them and split your finger to the bone. Not someone you’d invite to a party — especially on Friday the 13th.
WKTV and The Kamla Show, a show known for “authentic conversations with real people,” will present a special episode focused on director Stanley Nelson’s new documentary “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool”, with three airings the week of Sept. 16.
The episode of the The Kamla Show will be shown on WKTV Monday, Sept. 16, at 3 p.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 11:30 a.m.; and Friday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m.
“Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool”, according to supplied material, “makes for an absorbing watch” as Nelson uses rare archival footage, photos and interviews with musicians to paint a complex picture of this famous and complicated musician and composer.
The film is named after the 1957 seminal album “Birth of Cool”, which is considered an important milestone in the history and evolution of modern jazz. The film highlights the high and low points, as well as his complicated relationship with the women in his life.
“Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool” screened at the 2019 SFFILM festival, which is where the producers of The Kamla Show caught up with Erin Davis (son of Miles Davis) and Vince WIlbrun Jr. (nephew of Miles Davis).
“We spoke to them about their memories of Miles Davis, what music meant to him, his love for technology and his fondness for cooking,” the producers of the show state.
“Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool” releases in September in the United States.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
In its nearly 90 yearhistory, the Grand Rapids Symphony has welcomed such guest artists as violinist Itzhak Perlmanand Midori, cellists Yo-Yo Maand Janos Starker, and pianists Van Cliburn, Emanuel Ax and Leon Fleisherto its stages. Many have played here more than once.
A few truly outstanding artists who’ve captured the hearts of the Grand Rapids Symphony’s fans and supporters and who have commanded the respect of its conductors and musicians have returned again and again. Possibly none have appeared more times with the Grand Rapids Symphony than Grammy Award-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich.
The German violinist makes his sixth appearance in Grand Rapids to open the Grand Rapids Symphony’s 90th Anniversary Season with Hadelich Plays Beethoven on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13-14.
Music Director Marcelo Lehninger, will lead the first concerts of the 2019-20 Richard and Helen DeVos Classical series at 8 p.m. in DeVos Performance Hall. Spectrum Healthis the Concert Sponsor. Guest artist sponsor is theEdith I. Blodgett Guest Artist Fund.
Lehninger leads the Grand Rapids Symphony in music including Samuel Barber’s Overture to The School for Scandaland Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor.
“It’s a very special season,” said Lehninger, who begins his fourth season as GRS Music Director.
Augustin Hadelich, named Musical America’s 2019 Instrumentalist of the Year, will be soloist in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto.
Tickets
Tickets for Hadelich Plays Beethovenstart at $18 adults and are available at the Grand Rapids Symphony box office, weekdays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across the street from Calder Plaza). Call (616) 454-9451 x 4 to order by phone. (Phone orders will be charged a $2 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum).
Tickets are available at the DeVos Place ticket office, weekdays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. or on the day of the concert beginning two hours before the performance. Tickets also may be purchased online at GRSymphony.org.
East Kentwood High School’s football team at practice this week. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
There was no shame in East Kentwood High School’s season opening game loss at Muskegon Mona Shores — a team that went 12-2 last year, losing only to state power Muskegon high during the regular season and then in the Division 2 state playoff finals.
There were some lessons to be learned in the loss, however. And those lessons were evident last week when the Falcons rolled to a 39-6 road win at Grand Ledge Sept. 6.
East Kentwood football coach Anthony Kimbrough working with the team at practice. (WKTV)
“I always say you learn more from a loss than you do from a win. We did some things uncharacteristic of ourselves (against Mona Shores), but we got back to basics and tightened up some things, and it showed against Grand Ledge,” Falcon head coach Anthony Kimbrough said to WKTV. “We had a better overall execution on offense and defense. Just doing the little things.”
But coach also knows his team will face another challenge this week against OK Red Conference foe Caledonia — the Fighting Scots.
“It is right in their name, the Fighting Scots,” Kimbrough said. “They fight you, man. They play hard, they play physical, they run around. They do some good things and they are well coached. … We really have got to come to play.”
In last week’s win, the Falcons (1-1) jumped out to a 25-0 first half lead on a 40-yard run by Josh Ledesma and a 13-yard pass from Christian Tanner to Colton Emeott in the first quarter, and then a 39-yard run by Willie Berris and a 22-yard run by Tanner. They did not let up much in the second as they ran the score to 39-0, on an 82-yard touchdown pass from Tanner to Jamoni Jones, and a short run by Carter Selby.
The Fighting Scots (1-1), last week, also had an impressive win, defeating Cedar Springs (10-2 last year) at Caledonia by the score of 19-12, after falling on opening night at Holt, 35-17. Caledonia was 2-7 last year, 1-5 in conference play.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Bilal Muhammad is the new supervisor of 54th Street Academy, the district’s alternative high school. The role is similar to a principal.
Other positions you have held in education:
Student services coordinator at Kelloggsville Middle School
Middle School athletic director at Grand Rapids Public Schools
How about jobs outside education? I worked in customer service for JC Penney Catalog for seven years.
Bilal Muhammad and wife Stacy; daughter Illiana, 14; and son Amir, 8. (School News Network)
Education/degrees: Bachelor of social science and master of education from Ashford University
Spouse/children: wife, Stacy; son, Amir, 8; and daughter Illiana, 14
Hobbies and Interests: I like sports. I coach basketball and I still play basketball. I like to travel.
What kind of kid were you at the age of students at this new school? I was big into athletics. I played basketball and I ran track. Academically, I was stellar, I got the work done.
The biggest lesson you have learned from students is… I feel students want to know you have their best interests at heart. They won’t really learn from you if you don’t build that positive relationship with them.
Finish this sentence: If I could go back to school I would go to grade ? because…I kind of feel like everything happens for a reason so I wouldn’t change anything I went through, because I learn from my experiences. I wouldn’t go back to a grade, because everything I’ve been through made me who I am.
For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Sometimes, parents can send their children mixed messages by the ineffective commands they give them and lack of consistency with routines and household rules. Parents will often shout out commands, such as:
Be quiet!
Stop bugging your sister/brother.
Quit shouting!
Stop running.
All of these commands are telling children what not to do. Perhaps parents should tell them what they want them to do instead. “Be quiet,” could be restated as, “Please use an inside voice,” and, “Stop bugging your sister,” could be restated as, “Go play in the other room.”
Often times when parents give ineffective commands children will cease the undesirable behavior for a short period of time and then go back to doing the same thing. Younger children may not understand that their parents want them to stop a behavior for good, unless they are told to. They may think their parents want them to be quiet at that given moment. Keep in mind how literal young children are.
On average, a parent gives one command or correction every minute. This often becomes a problem because parents will give commands and not follow through and be consistent. This can be very confusing for young children because there may be times when the parent really means what they are commanding and other times they may not care if the child complies. Hearing a lot of ineffective commands can be overwhelming for children, so they stop trying to comply.
Learning how to use effective commands and establishing clear limits, household rules and routines will make life a lot easier for everyone. Children will feel more confident about themselves and less apt to misbehave. Clear-cut expectations and routines make children feel safe and secure. Some children will do things that are “wrong” because they have never been told what is right or there has been a lack of consistency and they just don’t know. When parents do what they say they’re going to do, children will trust what their parents say is the truth.
Camping fun doesn’t need to end once the kids are back to school and the leaves begin to change. If anything, fall camping offers participants unique opportunities to appreciate a new perspective on camping.
“Even though we like to think RVing and camping is never out of season, RVing and camping after Labor Day gives families a different impression of the activity,” said Darren Ing, director of Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds, (MARVAC).
In Michigan, the camping season usually goes until the end of October, with many campgrounds hosting special events for Halloween, or other fall-themed activities.
“We love when families make reservations after the typical camping season because it gives them the opportunity to enjoy our campground and stunning sunsets over Lake Huron when it is less crowded,” said Anthony Gallo, owner of Sunset Bay Marina and RV Park in Bay City, Michigan.
Fall camping has more benefits other than increased availability of sites, said Ing. Cooler temperatures mean better sleeping conditions, more active natural wildlife and fewer mosquitos and traffic. Area attractions and trails are also typically less crowded then the summer season.
There are also unique excursions and events that only happen in the fall including leaf-peeping color tours, harvest festivals, farmers markets and more. Check activities at www.michigan.org.
As if another reason to try fall camping is needed, many MARVAC campgrounds offer reduced rates in the waning months of the year. “While there may be more availability after Labor Day, it is still strongly suggested to call and make a reservation, as opposed to just showing up,” said Ing.
To find a MARVAC-member campground, visit www.marvac.org. Multiple campgrounds will also be at the 30th Annual Fall Detroit RV & Camping Show Oct. 2-6 at Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi.
Many will be taking reservations for the 2020 camping season. The Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC) is a statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging growth in the recreation vehicle and private campground industries while contributing to the quality of Michigan tourism. For more information, visit MARVAC’s website, www.marvac.org. MARVAC, 2222 Association Drive, Okemos, Mich. 48864-5978; 517.349.8881.
Circle Theatre’s 2020 Main Stage season will entertain audiences with a season of throwbacks, belly laughs, and iconic productions. The newly announced season will launch with Circle Theatre’s Season Kickoff Event, American Graffiti In Concert on April 19 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College. The one night only fundraising event will include a silent auction, costume contest, dance contest, and more.
2020 celebrates Circle’s 68th year of producing plays and musicals for West Michigan audiences. Upcoming 2020 Main Stage productions include:
Disaster! (musical): Earthquakes, tidal waves, infernos and the unforgettable songs of the ’70s take center stage in Broadway’s side-splitting homage to classic disaster films. What begins as a night of boogie fever quickly changes to panic as the ship succumbs to multiple disasters. As the night turns into day, everyone struggles to survive and, quite possibly, repair the love that they’ve lost… or at least escape the killer rats. Musical by Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick. This new Broadway show runs May 7-9, 13-16, and 20-23 at 7:30 p.m. and May 17 at 5 p.m.
Moon Over Buffalo (play): In the madcap comedy tradition of Lend Me a Tenor, the hilarious Moon Over Buffalo centers on George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950s, who are on tour in Buffalo with a repertory consisting of Cyrano de and Noel Coward’s Private Lives, when they receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom: Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee! Unfortunately for George and Charlotte, everything that could go wrong does. Play by author Ken Ludwig. Moon Over Buffalo runs June 4-6, 10- 13, and 17-20 at 7:30 p.m. and June 14 at 5 p.m.
Always… Patsy Cline(musical): Always…Patsy Cline, based on the true story of country superstar Patsy Cline’s friendship with Louise Seger, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in 1961, and continued a correspondence with Cline until her death, is more than a tribute to the legendary country singer, it’s the journey of friendship and strength of two women through some of Cline’s most unforgettable hits. Musical created and originally directed by Ted Swindley. Always… Patsy Cline runs July 16-18, 22-25, and July 29-Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and July 26 at 5 p.m.
Noises Off (play): Called “the funniest farce ever written,” Noises Off presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called Nothing’s On. Doors slamming, on and offstage intrigue, and an errant herring all figure in the plot of this hilarious and classically comic play. Play by Michael Frayn. This hilarious play takes the Circle stage Aug. 13-15, 19-22, and 26-29 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 23 at 5 p.m.
HAIR(musical): This American tribal love-rock musical celebrates the ‘60s counterculture in all its barefoot, long-haired, bell-bottomed, beaded and fringed glory while exploring the ideas of identity, community, global responsibility and peace. HAIR remains as relevant as ever as it examines what it means to be a young person in a changing world. Book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado. Music by Galt MacDermot. This toe-tapping musical runs Sept. 10-12, 16-19, and 23-26 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 20 at 5:00pm.
2019 Magic Circle | Goldilocks and the Three Pigs(family play): Goldilocks and the three… PIGS?! The action in this playful romp finds Goldilocks and the three Chop brothers, with help from the Squeal sisters, hiding from the witch who’s chasing them. Toss into this hilarious fractured fairy tale the Big Bad Wolf, his French weasel friend Oui Oui, and two very different witches, then mix in a classic chase scene and a little bit of a moral and watch the mayhem that ensues! Play by Larry Damico. Catch Goldilocks and the Three Pigs on the Circle stage June 29 at 7 p.m., June 30 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and July 1 at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 7 p.m.. Magic Circle Party will be June 29 at 5:30 p.m.
Circle’s unique and diverse Summer Concert Series performances include Hits of the ‘80s: Vol. 2 (May 11, July 20, September 14), Hello Sunshine: Songs of Summer (June 15, August 24), ABC: Boy Band Evolution (June 8, August 17), and Freebird: Classic Rock of the ‘70s(May 18, July 27, September 21). All performances will be held at Circle Theatre, located at the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College, on select Monday evenings throughout the summer.
Season Flex Passes and Concert Bundles for the 2020 season give patrons the best value for purchasing multiple tickets while also allowing for flexibility when plans change. Flex Passes and Concert Bundles are now available for purchase! For more season details, ticket packages, and audition information please call the box office at 616-456-6656 or visit Circle’s website at circletheatre.org.
Scene from 2018’s City of Kentwood End of Summer Food Truck Festival. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The City of Kentwood, always looking for unique ways to get its community together for a little fun, has had a busy summer with playground improvements, road runs and community sand volleyball tournaments.
But the summer is not quite over yet and Kentwood will host its fourth annual End of Summer Food Truck Festival on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the parking lot of the Kent District Library, Kentwood (Richard. L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE.
The event, with music, family activities, a beer tent and — for course — eats and sweets from nearly 30 vendors, will be both an opportunity for city to offer residents and guests a fun community activity as well as an opportunity for food truck vendors to network and maybe show off a little.
“The food truck rally has been really well received by the public. This is an open even so anybody can come and you can spend the entire day here,” Lori Gresnick, City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department, said to WKTV. “This is our fourth year. So we’ve grown from just a couple food trucks to now we have over 30 food trucks — not only food trucks but that includes desert trucks.”
For more discussion from Gresnick and well as the operator of a Kentwood-based food truck, Rock Dandeneau, of Taste Buds Kitchen Concepts and the Pressed in Time food truck, see a video here.
Live music will start at 11 a.m. with The Bootstrap Boys, followed by DJ Snax, Molly and Last Gasp Collective. A beer tent featuring craft beer and cider will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
While entry to the festival is free, cost for food and beverages varies by vendor. For more information visit kentwood.us/foodtruckfestival .
When Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opens its next exhibit, “Rebecca Louise Law: The Womb”, on Sept. 20, the Gardens horticultural staff and community volunteers might be excused if they feel a little ownership of the artwork.
After all, the site-specific exhibition includes about 10,000 flowers and plants gathered from the Gardens’ massive gardens and strung together in delicate wire strings by local volunteers and staff, and then added to Law’s existing collection of approximately 1 million flowers and plant material.
The resulting newly created sculptural works, as well as painted works, will be on display within, and in spaces preceding, the main gallery in an exhibition which will run through March 1, 2020.
While the British installation artist has gained international acclaim for her works and her use of natural materials, the ability to have such a wide range of local material to select from and work with is a little unusual but very pleasing to the artist.
British installation artist Rebecca Louise Law. (Supplied by the artist)
“It was amazing to have a dedicated team that would daily harvest flora from an abundant garden,” Law said to WKTV. “I felt spoilt by the horticulture team as I’ve given them my preferences and guidance as to what will work best in this installation.”
While some of new exhibit is based on previously produced material, the initial stringing of local materials by a variety of local volunteers does present the artist with a kind of variance, of randomness, that plays into her final artistic decisions as the exhibit comes together.
“I am strict with the method of wiring each flower and we prepare the flowers according to size and tone,” Law said. “Apart from this, I allow the volunteers to work naturally. I have always loved the artwork involving many hands, what makes the installation beautiful to its core is all the handmade twists of copper.”
A close-up of part “Still Life” by British installation artist Rebecca Louise Law. (Supplied by the artist)
The titles of some of Law’s other works seem to reflect or hint at a place and time in nature — “Life in Death” for example. So we asked if “The Womb”, which uses seeds or pods or early roots as well as flowers and other plant material, reflects or hints at an early stage of nature.
“‘The Womb’ studies the start of life and the human cocoon in nature,” Law said to WKTV. “I wanted to study the womb as a vessel and the first human relationship with nature. I have always had the fantasy of being enveloped in nature and through studying the womb, this artwork is the closest I have got to creating an essence of this experience.”
Law’s use of natural materials, mainly floral, will “encourage guests to experience the relationship between humanity and nature. The natural decay of the plant material makes this exhibit time based and encourages frequent visits to observe the process of drying,” according to supplied material.
A close-up of part “Community” by British installation artist Rebecca Louise Law. (Supplied by the artist)
The installation is also described as “an intimate exploration into the relationship between humankind and nature, and explores the sensation of being cocooned in nature, and the fantasy of being naturally enveloped.” The artworks surrounding the installation look in detail at the womb as a natural cocoon.
Although photography will be allowed in specific areas, Law encourages guests to “put aside their cell phones and cameras and fully engage with the exhibition,” she said in supplied material.
An advocate of sustainability, Law frequently reuses dried plant materials that have been displayed in her previous installations.
“I like to capture and treasure small, beautiful natural objects to create an artwork that can be observed without the pressure of time,” Law said in supplied material. “Preserving, treasuring, celebrating and sharing the beauty of the earth with the world is what drives me.”
That advocacy for the natural world combined with artistic vision fits in perfectly with Meijer Garden’s vision.
“We have been aware of Rebecca’s work for some time, and are very excited to be working with her,” Laurene Grunwald, Director of Sculpture, Art Collections, Exhibitions & Installations at Meijer Gardens, said in supplied material. “Her concern for the environment and practice of sustainability is a perfect fit for us along with the literal combination of sculpture and horticulture, which directly mirrors our mission.”
The exhibition will include several free-with-admission special “drop-in” programs, including:
A Director’s Walk will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m., led by Grunwald and Steve LaWarre, Director of Horticulture, as they explore one of the places where this combination of nature and sculpture is emphasized — the wildflower meadow with Mark di Suvero’s sculpture “Scarlatti” at its center.
A lecture, “The Secret Symbolism of Flowers”, will take place on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m., with Suzanne Eberle, Professor of Art History, Kendall College of Art and Design. Eberle will discuss how flowers often contain a symbolic meaning that is sometimes specific to the period of art, region or artist from which it was created.
A lecture, “The History of Environmental Art”, on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m., with Billie Wickre, Professor of Art History, Albion College. The Environmental Art movement began in the 1960s and early ’70s as a way to appreciate nature. Over time, it has become a way for artists to address the endangering of ecosystems. Wickre will highlight some important works of art in the Environmental Art movement that have been intended to evoke change in the ways in which we understand and interact with our surroundings.
Exposure to bright light in the hour before bedtime can make it difficult for kids to fall asleep, family health experts warn.
As day changes to night, the body increases production of a sleep-inducing hormone called melatonin. But exposure to artificial light from light bulbs or electronic devices can disrupt melatonin production, according to a news release from the Family Institute at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Recent research into the effects of light on preschool-age children found that youngsters are particularly sensitive to light exposure in the hour prior to bedtime.
“According to some researchers, evening light exposure, with its melatonin-suppressing effect, may increase the likelihood of sleep disturbances in preschool-age children,” the institute explained.
Reading bedtime stories in a brightly lit room can make it difficult for a child to fall asleep, the organization pointed out. And kids who walk into a brightly lit area to get a drink of water or tell their parents they heard a strange noise may also have trouble getting back to sleep.
Parents can help induce sleep by dimming lights in the child’s room and any areas they might walk into if they wake up, the institute suggested.
In addition, mobile electronic devices are a significant source of light exposure. As many as 90 percent of preschool-age youngsters use such devices, often during the hour before bedtime.
Research shows that melatonin remains suppressed for nearly an hour after the lights go off. The investigators suggested making the hour before their child’s bedtime a device-free period, or having the brightness on their handheld electronics set to the lowest level.
The study, by Lameese Akacem and colleagues at the University of Colorado, Boulder, was published online recently in Physiological Reports.
Experience the warm West Michigan hospitality of a Bed & Breakfast on your next getaway. Whether you’re looking for a cozy, romantic getaway, a quaint historical charmer, or a luxurious weekend away, West Michigan has a Bed & Breakfast for you.
Bed & Breakfasts in South West Michigan
Courtesy Yelton Manor Bed & Breakfast
In Marshall, the National House Inn, built over 170 years ago, is the oldest operating inn in Michigan. It originally welcomed stagecoach travelers and offers the same gracious hospitality with luxuries and conveniences of today.
Luxurious and lakeside,Yelton Manor Boutique Hotel B&B is the closest B&B in South Haven to the beach. It’s walkable to everything, blissfully tucked away from the noisy harbor, festivals, and nightspots.
Greater Lansing is home to a number of wonderful Bed & Breakfasts. In trendy Old Town Lansing find the Cozy Koi Bed & Breakfast, while in downtown East Lansing, the charming Wild Goose Inn sits just a block away from Michigan State University campus. For a retreat in style, choose The English Inn for quaint-yet-modern cottages and deliciously elegant rooms in the manor house. For something a bit different, head out to Williamston and commune with some llamas and alpacas at the Willowicke Inn or head to Dimondale to stay in The Legend Inn. The area’s newest B&B is found in the northern neighboring community of St. Johns. The Nordic Pineapple is a charming inn with five rooms with all the amenities, right in the heart of St. Johns.
Visit the Muskegon area and stay at one of the numerous Bed & Breakfasts in the area such as White Swan Inn Bed & Breakfast in Whitehall. Come to White Swan Inn Bed & Breakfast for the hospitality, stay for the incredible location. This charming inn is within walking distance of stores and restaurants, across the street from a historic performing arts center, one block away from the bike trail, just up the hill from White Lake, and a short drive to the fantastic sunsets at Lake Michigan.
The Lamplighter Bed & Breakfast, situated along Ludington Avenue in Ludington, is just five blocks from shopping, antiquing, restaurants, breweries, ice cream, and entertainment. Each of the five rooms and suites offer private baths and a comfortable night’s sleep. Enjoy Michigan’s spring and summer seasons and wander outside to enjoy the beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces. You’ll also find many other charming bed & breakfasts and other accommodations in Ludington for your next stay.
Mecosta County has a plethora of bed & breakfasts (and more) for visitors to enjoy. Whether you’re interested in cabins, cottages, or bed & breakfasts, Mecosta County has a place for you to rest your head.
Feel at home on vacation on one of Isabella County’s bed and breakfasts: Enjoy convenient access to Downtown Mt. Pleasant, home to museums, restaurants, boutiques, and more. Or take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and relax in a country-side cottage. Whichever you prefer, the unique area bed & breakfast accommodations have what you seek. Learn more about Isabella County’s unique bed & breakfast options at the Mt. Pleastant Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Enjoy a relaxing weekend on the Leelanau Peninsula. Visit the Inn at Black Star Farms for a weekend of luxury, featuring a farm-fresh breakfast each morning of your stay. What are you waiting for? Book your next up north getaway!
More North Region and Upper Peninsula Bed & Breakfasts:
Many gardeners are calling the Michigan State University ExtensionLawn and Garden Hotline and uploading photos to our Ask an Expert resource wanting to know if what they’re trying to identify is a weed. A weed is a subjective human classification usually indicating a plant out of place, but identifying a plant you see as a problem is a great first step in finding the right solution for your yard or garden.
For help in identifying weeds, check out the MSU Weed Diagnostic resource for proper weed identification and management tactics, contact the Lawn and Garden Hotline at 888-678-3464 or upload your photos at Ask an Expert. Once you have properly identified what plant it is, then you can more efficiently decide on the best plan of attack. Read on to discover ways to outsmart these unwanted plants.
When do weeds flower?
It is always encouraging to hear a gardener’s “ah ha” moment when realizing weeds have specific life cycles, i.e., they mature or set seed at different times throughout the year. Some are summer annuals, winter annuals, biennials or perennials—review the “Spring blooming lawn and garden weeds” article from MSU Extension to understand this better. Determining a weed’s life cycle will help you manage them better and possibly prevent future occurrences. For example, if you can eliminate the weed prior to seed production or before seed dispersal, then you have made a great effort toward elimination.
Throughout the growing season, take notice of unwanted plants in your garden or yard and remove them immediately. After all, an amazing adaptation of weeds is that they produce many seeds. For example, one common mullein plant can produce at least 200,000 seeds, and one purslane plant can produce two million seeds! No wonder it may seem like you can never get rid of them. Many seeds can live for years within the soil in what is called the seed bank, so it is not only the current year but also past year’s practice that plays a role in how many weed seeds are present. For more reading, MSU research explains “Weed Seedbank Dynamics.”
Weeds have multiple survival tactics
Once you have properly identified the weed, search out its different survival tactics. For example, not only will weeds produce many seeds, but they will also have different ways in which the seed may be carried or transported away from the original mother plant, resulting in less competition among seedlings, thus better survival rates.
Reproduction may also occur vegetatively for some, which means if you leave a portion of a root or rhizome or stolon (i.e., below and aboveground creeping stems, respectively) in contact with the ground, this part will continue to live and regrow. Dandelion, Canada thistle and creeping bentgrass, respectively, are examples with these survival tactics.
Do not dispose these vegetative parts in your compost pile, as they can resprout and be reintroduced back into your garden. Also, try to avoid placing any weed seeds back into your compost. Unless you are actively managing your pile at temperatures of greater than 140 degrees, they may survive and be reintroduced back into your garden.
Weeds have useful properties, too
Weeds can be frustrating, but by better understanding their specific life cycles and adaptations, you are better armed to defend your garden and landscape against them. Be mindful that many of what we term “weeds” were actually brought here because they had useful properties that served human civilization over time, such as food sources, nutrients and medicinal properties.
