The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) continues the 2018 Concerts Under the Stars series on March 1 hosting one woman band Jes Kramer for a fully immersive audio and visual experience in the Chaffee Planetarium.
This concert will feature a custom light show on the planetarium’s dome that complements Kramer’s music. The recently renovated planetarium boasts state-of-the-art technology with 4k visuals and surround sound, for an amazing immersive concert experience.
Concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments, beer and other beverages will be available for purchase.
Tickets are $10 for GRPM members, $12 for non-members if purchased in advance, and $15 for non-members on the day of the concert. Tickets are currently on sale at grpm.org, by calling 616.929.1700 or at the Museum’s front desk.
The 2018 Concerts Under the Stars Series will continue March 22 with alternative folk by Dan Rickabus and April 12 with the alternative rock sounds of Major Murphy.
Alyssa Bauer as Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady” running through March 18.
By Anne Hillman
Grand Rapids Civic Theater has begun its production of My Fair Lady, and the production team and cast have brought this well-known story to entertaining life. This production marks the return of many faces who will be familiar to frequent attendees of Civic Theater’s past seasons: Alyssa Bauer as Eliza Doolittle, Michael Dodge as Colonel Pickering, Charles Hutchins as Alfred Doolittle, Kristen Pearson as Mrs. Pearce, and second time Civic alum John Girdlestone as Henry Higgins. Led by director Allyson Paris, joined by a strong ensemble, and supported by a fabulous orchestra, these volunteer actors present a professional level musical to the Grand Rapids community.
Wyoming resident part of Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s My Fair Lady cast. Click here to read the story.
Accents are central to the story-line as they mark the class distinctions which shape the prejudices and motivations of the main characters, and the choice to bring in dialect coach Spencer Tomlin paid off in the consistency and variety of accents used by the actors. While each actor obviously put in hard work, Alyssa Bauer’s deft transformation from Cockney-speaking flower seller to proper British lady is very impressive. She does an excellent job of keeping the two accents straight and managing to switch between the two during the time that Eliza is still learning her new manner of speaking.
Alyssa Bauer’s deft transformation from Cockney-speaking flower seller to proper British lady is very impressive.
My Fair Lady is a hard story to tell in our current context and yet an important one. Issues of class, power, privilege, and sexism are still relevant today, and this production does a good job of demonstrating the ways in which these forces shape the attitudes and expectations of the various characters. Henry Higgins, played exceptionally well by John Girdlestone, is not a particularly loveable personality. His continued arrogance and lack of empathy could have become frustrating for the audience, but the excellent background acting of the other characters in the scenes did a great job of conveying that the misogynist and classist rhetoric was not to be condoned.
The music is familiar to many veteran musical theater fans, but previous sessions of listening to soundtracks is not necessary to enjoy this production. The attention to diction extends from the work on accents to the clarity of the lyrics in each song. Each rhyme, each joke, each insight into a character’s motivation and personality is easily understood by the audience. And the quality of the singing is excellent. Soaring notes and beautiful harmonies are heard throughout the performance, creating a wonderful night out at the theater. Well done Civic Theater; I will be recommending My Fair Lady to all of my theater loving friends and looking forward to the next production.
My Fair Lady runs through March 18 at Grand Rapids Civic Theater, 30 N. Division Ave. Show times are 7:30 p.m Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m Sunday. Tickets are $18-$37. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit grct.org.
Like athletes at the starting line, Godfrey Elementary fourth-graders faced the challenge ahead: Make a Winter Olympics-event themed pictogram using Wikki Stix to create the picture. Do not cut the sticks. Use only three colors, with the main body form in black. Imagine if the Olympics were in Wyoming, Michigan. How can your picture reflect your community?
First-grader Joceline Nunez waves flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Now, go!
Following parameters set by Sarah Wood, district technology and media integration specialist, Godfrey Elementary students blazed through the Quickfire activity, busily twisting, molding and bending Wikki Stix into skiers, skaters, lugers and bobsledders to create their own “official” Olympic pictograms.
Districtwide, teachers took the Olympic theme and ran with it, with an opening ceremony, torch-lighting event (with a paper torch), curling in the gymnasium with teachers and students riding wheeled carts as the stone, ice skating and other events.
Teacher Allison Diaz’s fourth-grade students used the theme during a medal-worthy science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activity. Wood challenges students each week to complete an activity within set constraints and time periods, such as 30 minutes for the pictogram activity. Wood uses Quickfire at the high school level as well, adding connections with careers and occupations.
Center Olympics Day opening ceremonies
After learning about PyeongChang 2018 pictograms, which are based on Korean script, groups of students busily twisted, molded and bent their Wikki Stix into skiers, skaters, lugers and bobsledders. Their Olympic pictograms showed images of how they envision athletes in their local parks and recreational areas. It took brainstorming, quick thinking, collaboration, and a little research on events through links provided by Wood.
First-grader Videl Martinez holds up a Jamaican flag during the Early Childhood Center Olympics Day opening ceremonies
Think Fast
While many STEM activities are open-ended and allow for trial and error, Quickfire differs because it challenges students to go with their gut instincts. The time limit does not always allow for a full planning, design, redesign and explanation,Wood said.
Limiting tools adds difficulty.
“It’s hard at first because they want everything,” Wood said. “(It’s asking,)’If you take some things away, what can you do with as little as possible and still create something amazing?’ … It’s amazing some of the things they come up with.”
Julian Perez and his group added a “W M” for Wyoming, Michigan, to reflect the community in their pictogram
Said Diaz, the fourth-grade teacher, “They are working together toward a common goal, building community and respecting each other’s thoughts that may be coming from different places, and using that to work toward a common vision or theme.”
Fourth-graders Isabela Deleon-Magana and Arianna Escribano created a biathlete, combining cross-country skiing and rifle shooting into their pictogram. They said they are always nervous at the beginning of Quickfires, but are soon working at lightning speed.
“For me, it’s kind of hard. When we work in a group and get good ideas, that’s when it becomes easier,” Isabela said.
Added Arianna, “We work together and create something cool. Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we fail.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
John Mantalava and Chloe Sullivan work on their Wikki Stix athlete
Girls Choral Academy’s (GCA) mission of Giving Girls a Voice is accomplished by providing a safe place where girls of all ages regardless of race, religion, or socioeconomic status can gain a strong choral education. GCA has served over 2350 girls in the 20 years it has been in West Michigan with over 150 girls being served this year.
GCA is dedicated to creating quality performances and providing quality arts education, as well as providing a place where girls can form a positive sense of self as they experience the rewards of successful planning, hard work, and goal accomplishment. GCA encourages girls to develop self-esteem, self-confidence, and leadership skills through mentoring, opportunities to perform solos, as well as work as a team and building a community of like-minded artists.
Through its programs, both singers and audience members experience a wide range of musical styles, genres, origins, and cultures, including traditional, jazz, gospel, multicultural, classical, and contemporary music. GCA provides a safe, loving and nurturing environment for singers, and a high-quality artistic experience for its audience members, while contributing to a growing arts community in Grand Rapids.
Girls develop vocal technique, musical skills, creativity, expressive artistry, and an awareness of music from many cultures. The Campus Choir program encourages girls to respect the uniqueness of others, to take risks that foster individual growth, and to collaborate as a team and create something bigger than themselves. In addition to performance, girls have opportunities to attend choir camp and travel.
In 1999, the Grandville Avenue Girls Choir (GVA) was founded as a non-tuition after-school choir program for girls who attend Grand Rapids Public Schools in the southwest urban area of Grand Rapids. The three choirs that make up GVA Choir meet at Cesar E Chavez School, Southwest Community Campus School, and Buchanan School. Close to 100 girls participate in this structured after-school music education program on any given year. Our Grandville Avenue Girls Choir after-school programs give girls the opportunity to learn the values of perseverance, teamwork, commitment, respect, and friendship—all through the medium of excellent music-making in a nurturing, positive environment.
In addition to offering a high quality of vocal education, our mission further centers on personal growth due to exposure to new experiences through competitions and collaborations. In the most recent season, the choir programs’ programming included:
Participating in the Treblemakers’ Showtunes Showdown competition in the fall.
Participating in Celebrate! A Community Arts Day with the Artists Creating Together Choir and Drum Troupe and the Grand Rapids Youth Ballet.
Visiting Calvin College for campus tours.
Singing at Porter Hills and Clark Retirement Homes.
Singing the National Anthem at a Grand Rapids Griffins game.
Singing at the Roosevelt Park Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Taking a trip to the city of Chicago which included: attending My Fair Lady at the Lyric Opera Theatre, having pizza at Giordano’s and visiting Navy Pier.
Visiting Mackinac Island and performing at the Grand Hotel and the Little Stone Church.
Performing for various companies, organizations and fundraising events, including the University Club Scholarship Breakfast, the Kiwanis Club and Pridgeon & Clay.
On April 21, the GCA will collaborate with the Chicago Children’s Choir at St. Cecilia Music Center at 6:30pm to present “Voices Rising”, a concert open to the community. Then in May, the Grandville Ave Girls Choir will travel to Chicago for “Canto Latino” where they will sing with the Chicago Children’s Choir Humboldt Neighborhood Choir. They will also visit the Chicago Aquarium, and enjoy Giordano’s Pizza.
The Campus Choir program will have all 4 choirs, ages 6-18, perform their Spring Concert at First United Methodist Church (224 Fulton E) on May 21 at 3pm.
GCA is fortunate to have wide ranging financial support from foundations, corporations, and individual donors. Those funding us include among others: Amerikam, Amway, Cook Foundation, Douglas & Maria DeVos Foundation, Pridgeon & Clay, Sebastian Foundation, and Wege Foundation.
Singing and dancing on Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s stage is certainly a direct opposite of what Wyoming resident Kallie Piette does during the day.
She works for her family’s company, the Great Lakes EMS Academy on Division Avenue in Wyoming, where she works with new students coming in and also teaches CPR and first aid.
“It’s hard work to do a show,” Piette said. “It’s three months of Monday through Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. rehearsals and then you have the shows on top of that.
“But for me, it’s almost like play time because I get to pretend and I get to sing and dance along with being with friends.”
This week, Piette marks her 15th production with Grand Rapids Civic Theatre as part of the ensemble cast of the company’s winter production “My Fair Lady.”
“I love the music,” said Piette, who is a cockney woman and a servant maid in the production. “It’s classical musical theater and it has been awhile since anyone around here has presented it. What makes ‘My Fair Lady’ so unique is the music is complicated but it doesn’t sound difficult once you get it.”
The 1956 Broadway musical starred Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison, who would later reprise his role as Professor Higgins in the 1964 film which also starred Audrey Hepburn. The story centers on the snobbish phonetics professor Higgins who agrees to a wager that he can take a flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, and make her presentable in high society. The musical features one of the most famous lines in theater —which is also a song — “The rain in Spain falls mainly in the plane” along with such songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” Wouldn’t It Be Lovely?” and “Get Me To the Church on Time.”
“‘Ascot Gavotte’ is amazing,” Piette said of the songs in the musical, “That is one of my favorites.” The song features the ensemble, which Piette is part of, dressed to the nines at a horse race track where Professor Higgins presents Eliza for the first time.
“The talent is amazing,” Piette said. “The performers are incredible, and the costumes, well, from what I have seen, they are pretty amazing.”
At the time of this interview, Piette had not seen the full costumes but was scheduled to later in the evening. We both, however; agreed costumer Bob Fowle would certainly wow with “My Fair Lady” as it calls for some impressive designs.
“My Fair Lady” runs through March 18 at Grand Rapids Civic Theater, 30 N. Division Ave. Show times are 7:30 p.m Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m Sunday. Tickets are $18-$37. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit grct.org.
2017 Contest Winners: (top row, left to right) Faith Rogers, Appleview Elementary; Adeline Bender, Beach Elementary; (bottom row, left to right) Maria Huston, Saint Patrick Parnell; and Hritvi Mahajan, Orchard View Elementary
In support of National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) running April 9-13, the Kent County Road Commission and Kentwood Public Works Department invite third-grade students in Kent County to participate in the second-annual Work Zone Safety Poster Contest and help spread the message that Work Zone Safety Is Everybody’s Responsibility.
National Work Zone Awareness Week is an annual spring campaign held at the start of construction season. This year’s theme, “Work Zone Safety: Everybody’s Responsibility,” reminds drivers that we all play a role in maintaining safety during construction season. For motorists, this means using caution and care when driving through work zones.
For the poster contest, third-grade students are asked to design a “caution sign” that focuses on one of the following safety tips for driving through a work zone:
Avoid distractions. Dedicate your full attention to driving. Avoid using a phone or changing the radio station.
Pay attention to directions. Follow directions from work zone flaggers and pay attention to warnings posted on work zone signs.
Keep an eye out. Watch for construction workers and their equipment. Also, stay alert to the vehicles around you.
Students may use crayons, markers, colored pencils, pens and/or pencils to create their design. Posters (i.e. caution signs) will be judged on creativity, originality, and their ability to strongly convey a message.
Submission deadline is Friday, March 23: Educators will collect submissions from their students and submit the entries to the Kent County Road Commission, as directed.
Once again disc golf aficionados will be heading to the fields of Jaycee Park for the annual Freeze Fest Saturday.
Hosted by GR Hobby & Disc Golf, the event is a fund raiser for the Kentwood Parks & Recreation south Programs.
Participants should bring your own partner. It will be a best shot doubles tournament. On-site registration and check-in is at 9 a.m. with a player meeting at 9:45 a.m. The cot is $40 plus canned food donation per team. All for items will be collect for The Pantry.
Jaycee Park is located at 355 48th St. SE, Kentwood. For more information, call 616-656-5317.
A model of Beverly Pepper’s monumental sculpture “Galileo’s Wedge”, center, is one of the objects featured in the exhibit “Drawn Into Form: Sixty Years of Drawings and Prints by Beverly Pepper”. (WKTV)
There is a progression of development for an artistic institution, in some ways gaining a particular piece of art is only the beginning of an institution’s relationship with an artist and that artist’s legacy — often, the institution becomes part of the artist legacy.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s 2009 acquisition of Beverly Pepper’s monumental sculpture “Galileo’s Wedge” — a soaring steel object of visual beauty and, simultaneously, engineering mastery which rises nearly 40 feet into the sky and an undefined depth into the ground — led directly to it gaining more than 900 artistic items associated with the artist.
Some of those associated artistic items, part of a trove of prints and models and photos donated by the artist to Meijer Gardens, form the focus of the current featured exhibit at Meijer Gardens, “Drawn Into Form: Sixty Years of Drawings and Prints by Beverly Pepper”, which opened Feb. 2 and will run through April 29.
Those items, many of which are and will in the future will be of great interest to scholars and researchers delving into Pepper’s art and artistic process, are also an example of the ongoing progression of of Meijer Gardens from being a showcase of art to being an institution of art.
Joseph Antenucci Becherer, chief curator and vice president of Meijer Gardens, on the opening day of the exhibit. (WKTV)
“I think it is a natural progression,” Joseph Antenucci Becherer, chief curator and vice president of Meijer Gardens, said to WKTV. “We are a young organization, in many ways, but we are aging well and we are aging with some rapidity. And the idea that we have this enormous permanent collection, there is more than 300 sculptures in our permanent collection, that it is supplemented by prints and drawings is a natural progression.”
And that progression fits in naturally with the mission of Meijer Gardens.
“The mission of Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park has been its commitment to sculpture, and gardens and horticulture, and the arts,” Becherer said. “We are very fortunate because the vast majority of our permanent collection is out on display, all times of the year, all seasons, in the park. However, from the very beginning, we have also collected two-dimension works, prints and drawings, as long as that person was primarily recognized as a sculptor.
“We have prints by Henry Moore, we have prints by Louise Nevelson, we have prints by many of the other sculptors who are part of this collection,” he said. “But this group is incredible as a gift from Beverly Pepper, more than 900 works. This collection will be here permanently. It can be accessed with advance notice, by scholars, by people that are doing research. I would say that in the future, when our new building opens, it will be much easier for scholars to come in, to access the collection.”
And, of course, the Pepper collection also gives Meijer Gardens “the opportunity to work with sister organizations across the country, around the world, to loan objects,” he added. “So these prints and drawings would be available to them if they would want to show them, to participate in come kind of exhibition. So really it is a great resource for us, but it is a great resource for the world.”
Untitled; Studies for Stainless Steel Sculptures by Beverly Pepper. (Supplied)
Meijer Gardens, with acquisition, forms relationship with artist
Pepper’s donation, and the current exhibit, are also an example of both a unique opportunity for Meijer Gardens and a not-uncommon opportunity when an artist and an artistic institution have established a trusting relationship.
“What you see often time happening with major artists that don’t have their own museum or establish a big estate, or something along those lines, is that they make major gifts to cultural organizations,” Becherer said. “So we are sort of following in a time-honored tradition.”
And that relationship, that tradition, was touched upon in a statement by the artist herself.
“Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park has clearly demonstrated a strong commitment to my sculpture and I am enthusiastic to now have this major body of my work there.” Pepper said in supplied material. “To have in one location a space to study, compare and sequence my drawings and prints is an exceptional opportunity.”
Pepper was born 1922 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and now lives and works in Italy. Her works have been exhibited and collected by major arts institutions and galleries around the world, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., Les Jardins du Palais Royal in Paris, and The Museum of Modern Art in Sapporo, Japan.
Pepper is world-renowned for her “monumental” works — such as “Galileo’s Wedge” — which often incorporate industrial metals like iron, bronze, stainless steel and stone into sculpture of a monumental scale.
Associated with the exhibit will be several special events including a March 18 discussion on “Five Great Women Sculptors” by Suzanne Eberle, Professor of Art History at Kendall College of Art & Design. The talk will focus on important female artists — including Pepper, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Louise Bourgeois, Barbara Hepworth, and Louise Nevelson — who have worked in large scale.
More than ever before, it is important to protect yourself from identity theft. Individuals looking to steal or scam often like to target older adults. Why? In general, people who grew up between 1930 and 1950, were raised to be polite and trusting. They are less likely to hang up the phone than someone younger, and it is often presumed they have a hefty nest egg. And many times, older adults don’t report crimes, either because they don’t know who to call or out of embarrassment at being tricked.
How can you protect yourself? Being aware is key. The crimes outlined in this article happen over the telephone. However, it’s important to be on alert for anything that feels out of the ordinary over email or online.
The Grandparent Scam
Imagine picking up your telephone to hear someone say, “Grandma, guess who this is?” Your natural inclination would be to answer with the name of one of your grandchildren. But by doing so, you’ve just given the scammer on the other end of the line some very valuable and personal information. Generally, the scammer, now posing as the grandchild you just named, goes on to ask for money for some reason—they’ve borrowed from a friend and need to repay the loan, they’ve overdrawn their checking account or something else that will play on your sympathy. And they usually ask that you keep it confidential from their parents who might be angry or disappointed with them. You are then instructed, by your bogus grandchild, to send the money via a wire transfer service.
The Fake Accident Ploy
Again, in this scam you are contacted by phone, only this time the person calling claims to be contacting you on behalf of a relative who has been in an accident or is in the hospital and needs cash immediately. You are asked to send or wire money for that person, but there hasn’t been an accident and the money is going to wind up in the hands of the scam artist.
Charity Scams
Many phone scammers will call posing as a charitable organization. Some callers claim to be collecting money on behalf of the local police or fire department, or for veterans and military families. It’s natural to want to support these causes, but before you give a donation over the telephone, call the organization itself to verify that the call is legitimate.
Callers may trick you by thanking you for your pledge to donate—a pledge you don’t remember making. Don’t fall for it. If you can’t remember making the pledge, you most likely never did.
Be wary of charities that spring up after a natural disaster such as a hurricane, an earthquake or some cause that is currently in the news. Even if the organization is legitimately trying to raise money for those affected by the disaster, they often lack the infrastructure necessary to get the money to those in need. Instead, donate to organizations that have a solid track record like the American Red Cross.
Tips on how you can protect yourself from someone posing as a charity:
Ask the caller if they are a paid fundraiser and if so, how much of your dollar will actually go to help those in need.
Do your research and verify that the charity is legitimate before sending a check.
Don’t ever give your banking or credit card information to someone over the phone or email.
Make an annual donation plan and stick with it. Don’t allow a caller to pressure you into making a donation you hadn’t planned on.
You can check the legitimacy of organizations, as well as how their money is spent by going to an online site such as guidestar.org.
And, if anything feels unusual or suspect, hang up!
State Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker on the set of WKTV Journal: In Focus.
WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus, State Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, a Republican who currently represents the 26th District, which includes the City of Kentwood, talks with program host Ken Norris on a wide-range of topics, including the opioid crisis and her coming effort to become Michigan’s next Attorney General.
But in the wake of last week’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Sen. Schuitmaker also talks about her support of 2nd Amendment gun rights in general but also Senate bills she voted for in 2017 which, if approved by the state House of Representatives and Governor, would allow guns in gun-free zones such as schools and daycare centers.
“When you look at mass shootings, the good majority of them happen in gun-free zones,” Sen. Schuitmaker said to WKTV. “No amount of laws every really enforces these mass shootings from happening, because murder is against the law and we still see it every single day.
“I do support the 2nd Amendment and I am a CPL holder myself. I certainly believe I should be allowed to take precautions and protect myself, and my family and my home. As you saw, down in Texas, in that awful, terrible church shooting, it was a 2nd Amendment holder, a CPL holder, that actually stopped that gunman from more carnage. I certainly supported the legislation (Senate bills) that you referred to because I believe that if teachers that are certified and go through additional training, that they won’t be helpless in a classroom, and that in certain circumstances they might be able to prevent such carnage as what we saw there (in Florida), because our kids lives are at risk.”
Also on the episode, Kevin Polston, Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, talks about his school district’s upcoming request for public support of an extension of an existing sinking fund millage — an effort to improve safety, security and technology while allowing more general fund dollars to be spent in the classroom.
The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.
The episode will debut on WKTV cable channels on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 p.m., will again air on Thursday, March 1, also at 6:30 p.m., and will continue on the same days and times the week of March 5. But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.
Amina Mohamed’s English-language learner students read along with her during story time at Kentwood’s Glenwood Elementary.
“There was an old woman who swallowed a pie, a Thanksgiving pie, which was really too dry,” they read. The story continued, punctuated by giggles and expressions of concern at all of the things the old woman ate.
Books are one tool Mohamed uses to reach her students, first- through fifth-graders who come from 17 countries. While Thanksgiving is as American as apple pie, her classroom is a treasure trove of multicultural books, handpicked herself, that depict students’ countries and cultures. Mohamed sees children make connections as they turn the pages.
Editor’s note:This story contains an obscenity widely reported to have been used by President Trump. We regret having to use the word, but after much discussion decided it was necessary in order to convey the insult felt by Amina Mohamed, and her concern for the self-image of immigrant and refugee students.
“I always tell people that kids are very conscious of their backgrounds,” she said. “They are much more conscious than we think they are. I want them to see a book and be like, ‘Oh, that’s about me!’ and feel that sense of pride and empowerment in who they are.”
Mohamed knows the value of speaking many languages and having roots in more than one culture. She celebrates it with her students, immigrants and children of immigrants, many of whom are refugees. The message she continually conveys to them is: You are American. You are also Congolese or Burmese or Haitian or Mexican or Vietnamese or Chinese or Cuban or Nepalese. Apple pie pairs well with ethnic cuisine.
“I think there is a place to hold onto their culture and be part of this grand American culture,” said Mohamed. “It’s very much possible to do both. Success is not contingent upon the background that you come from. I try to be a living example of that.
“You don’t have to look a certain way or sound a certain way to be successful.”
Amina Mohamed introduces the story during story time.
Let’s Talk about How We Talk
Mohamed, who has taught at Glenwood for three years, grew up in Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab Emirates. Her mother is from Kenya and her dad from Somalia. She speaks English, Swahili, Barawa and Arabic.
“There is value in knowing another language,” she said, stressing that multilingualism is beneficial for more than just improving career potential. She wants her students to know English, but to keep using their native language too, because it is part of who they are: “There is value in that inherently, just by itself.”
But children are often embarrassed to speak their native language, she said.
“Even those who are born here in the U.S. are very aware that their home culture is very different than the culture of their classmates. They are not the dominant culture. They aren’t white students whose parents speak English. That’s the same background as me. I don’t speak English at home.”
Mohamed moved to Michigan, where she has relatives, in 2011 after her family was selected in the U.S. Green Card Lottery. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education at Grand Valley State University and will graduate from the GVSU master’s program in April.
“There are lots of parallels between my background and my students’ backgrounds,” she said. “Also, given my fluency in other languages, I knew (teaching ELL) was my calling and where I could make the biggest impact.”
Second-grade teacher Adam Munoz said Mohamed brings a unique background to Glenwood, and that she has challenged teachers to rethink instruction so ELL students, who spend a chunk of their days with Mohamed, grasp a deeper understanding of content.
“Miss Mohamed is a huge resource to our teachers, as well as our students,” Munoz said. “Her love and enthusiasm for her students is evident by the smiles, hugs, and high fives that they receive on a daily basis.
“Miss Mohamed is able to relate to her students because she has walked in their shoes, and is able to break down information in a way that students understand.”
Second-grade teacher Jessica Spence said Mohamed has brought important perspectives to the staff and is a “game changer” in education.
“Her background as an immigrant brings with it a passion to give students texts and experiences that are diverse and relatable,” Spence said. “I remember Amina telling about her experience as a reader thinking, ‘Where are characters with names like mine?’
“That is a powerful thought that I, as a white American, have had the privilege not to have to think about growing up. So many of the students we serve do not have this privilege.”
On the whiteboard, Amina Mohamed helps Ka Htoo figure out a math problem
Lifting Up Role Models
Last semester, Mohamed took the idea of challenging students to think deeper and started iLEAD, which stands for Institute for Leadership, Empowerment, Activism and Dialogue. Seventeen Kentwood Public Schools elementary students spent three months researching successful immigrants who have backgrounds similar to their own, including business people, musicians, politicians and activists. Local immigrants also visited to share their stories.
Students’ work culminated in a Student Wax Museum Exhibition, during which local immigrants judged their projects. She plans to start a second cohort of iLEAD.
‘I want them to see a book and be like, “Oh, that’s about me!” and feel that sense of pride and empowerment in who they are.’ — Amina Mohamed, teacher of English-language learners
Mohamed’s vision is to demonstrate that immigrants coming to the U.S. is not a new trend. They have been coming for centuries and many are excellent role models for her students.
“There are lots of people who have walked their paths and they have led very successful lives here in the U.S. Just because people don’t mention that Steve Jobs comes from a refugee background or that Barack Obama’s father was an immigrant, it doesn’t mean they don’t have that background. I wanted them to be able to see that.”
She also wants iLEAD to have a far-reaching effect: “for the larger community to see that immigrants and refugees have had a huge impact here in America. They are not deficient. They are not empty vessels for us to fill in with English and American culture. They have their own culture and they can also have American culture.”
Munoz said students are in awe of Mohamed and many say they want to become a teacher, just like her. “In a sense, they see themselves in Miss Mohamed and (she) knows what the students are challenged by. It is a perfect yin-and-yang relationship.”
Said second-grader Christina Soe, “Miss Mohamed inspires me to do good in school.”
“She’s kind. She’s nice and she helps me with my homework. She helps me learn,” said second-grader Melody Sang.
Third-grader Ruth Sang studied news anchor Betty Nguyen, an immigrant from Vietnam, for iLEAD. She said she now wants to become a news reporter herself.
Amina Mohamed loves to share stories with her students.
Teaching Immigrants During a Polarized Time
Mohamed said she tries to take an unbiased framework when teaching, while not glossing over issues and current events. She wants to teach students how to think, not what to think. But she realizes what she is up against, with anti-immigrant rhetoric and proposed changes to immigration law coming out of the White House.
“I would definitely not have been able to come into this country if it had not been for that lottery. A lot of people I know including myself would not be in the country if (newly proposed laws) would be implemented.”
“I come from a shithole country in his eyes,” she asserted. “We are not deficient. We are not shithole people. We have a culture and we have had an impact here in America. I am not going to wait for my students to say, ‘Do I come from a shithole country?’ I do not want them to get to that point where they ever feel like that.”
That and other current events surrounding immigration are tough issues to address with students, she said.
“What the president says is not a reflection of who they are,” Mohamed said. “Even at a very young age sometimes they are taking it as a joke, as many people do, but this man has power. He is changing laws and policies. I don’t think at this age they have fully comprehended the severity of what this man is doing and the effects of what he’s doing in the long run.”
It is no doubt a complicated, confusing time for immigrant students.
But in Mohamed’s classroom, where books show people’s stories matter and success comes from all ethnicities, religions and countries, students relate to a young teacher who sees herself in them — as they do in her.
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
On Feb. 20, the Grand Rapids City Commission unanimously approved the site plan for the 5.5-acre Plaza Roosevelt development located in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood in southwest Grand Rapids.
“One step closer,” said Mayor Rosalynn Bliss after the commission commenced a roll call vote to adopt the ordinance that will rezone several properties along Grandville Avenue, Graham Street and Rumsey Street SW.
The plan was unanimously approved by the City Planning Commission in January and reviewed by the Community Development Committee on February 6th. The project is scheduled to break ground in fall of 2018 with Habitat Kent’s affordable housing and a new Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) high school.
“Congratulations, this is an amazing process where a really deep dive was done with the community and I’m really pleased to move this forward tonight,” said Second Ward Commissioner Ruth Kelly prior to the vote.
Plaza Roosevelt is a neighborhood-driven mixed-use development which will enhance health, education, and economic opportunities for the Roosevelt Park neighborhood. Guided by resident leadership throughout the process, the development plan is the result of community-based organizations representing health, education, housing, and the arts coming together to bring neighbors’ vision for Roosevelt Park to life.
“We are pleased to be a partner in something that is going to bring such a good development project that is benefitting our neighbors and driven by our neighbors,” said Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association Director Amy Brower. “This is a step toward a bright and strong future for an already vibrant neighborhood.”
The site is situated in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood on two blocks on the east side of Grandville Avenue between Graham Street on the north and Franklin Street on the south. Named Plaza Roosevelt by neighbors, the development will provide future affordable homeownership and rental opportunities, expansion of Mercy Health St. Mary’s Clinica Santa Maria, the new dual-immersion GRPS high school, arts and cultural programming, community gathering space, after-school programming and other services and amenities to the area.
“Because of neighborhood leadership and guidance throughout the process, the development plan is the result of people coming together to bring the neighbors’ vision for Roosevelt Park to life” said Habitat Kent Executive Director BriAnne McKee. “I’d like to thank the Planning Commission, Community Development Committee, City Commission, and Mayor Bliss for approving the site plan and understanding the vision for the neighborhood.”
Partners in Plaza Roosevelt include the Neighborhood Partner Committee—comprised of neighborhood residents—and Habitat for Humanity of Kent County, Ferris State University, Dwelling Place, Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities, Grand Rapids Public Schools, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Clinica Santa Maria, and the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association.
For more information on the Plaza Roosevelt development, visit plazaroosevelt.org.
The Grand River continues to rise with it expected to reach 21 feet. Flood stage for the Grand River is 18 feet in Grand Rapids.
The National Weather Service has extended flood warnings this morning for the Grand River and the Thornapple River. The warnings extended include:
The Thornapple River is expected to rise to near 10.9 feet by midnight tonight. Flood state is 10 feet in Caledonia.
Thornapple River Near Caledonia: extended until Monday morning. Thursday the stage was 10.7 feet. Flood stage is 10.0 feet. The river will continue rising to near 10.9 feet by after midnight tonight. The river will fall below flood stage Sunday before midnight.
Grand River in Ada: extended from this evening to Tuesday morning. Thursday the stage was 18.7 feet. Flood stage is 20.0 feet. Moderate flooding expected, with levels to rise above flood stage by this evening and continue to rise to near 22.5 feet by Saturday morning. The river will fall below flood stage by Monday evening.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: extended until Tuesday evening. Thursday the stage was 15.5 feet (flood stage is 18.0 feet). The forecast calls for the river to rise above flood stage after midnight tonight and continue to rise to near 21.0 feet by early afternoon Saturday. The river will fall below flood stage by Tuesday morning.
Grand River at Lowell: until late Tuesday night. Thursday the stage was 15.1 feet; flood stage is 15.0 feet. Moderate flooding is expected as the river will continue rising to near 18.4 feet by tomorrow evening. The river will fall below flood stage Tuesday morning.
Staff from Kent County Emergency Management continue to work with communities and agencies for flood response. “The flooding in 2013 reached historic levels and taught us lessons that we are holding true to today,” said Jack Stewart, Kent County Emergency Management Coordinator. “If you live in an area that is flooding and feel the situation could become dangerous, evacuate immediately. We were fortunate nearly five years ago that while there was property damage, no one was injured. We anticipate the next few days to be the most critical during this event.”
County, State, or Federal funding is not available for those who suffer personal property damage. “Residents who experience property damage should contact their insurance company immediately,” said Kent County Drain Commissioner Ken Yonker. “We’ve heard from some residents who are confused about any funding, but the bottom line is homes that are built in low flood plains, drainage easements and natural water flow lands that are flooding are the responsibility of the home owner.”
Two sites are providing residents updates about flooding along with information and fact sheets:
“We continue to closely monitor the river levels and are using our fire department drone for daily observations of conditions,” Fire Chief John Lehman said. “We plan to post video from the drone on the City’s social media channels.” Grand Rapids residents with concerns about the water levels and questions may call the City’s 311 Customer Service at 311 or 616-456-3000.
Kent County Road Commission crews are investigating standing water and flooded areas and placing barricades and flashers where necessary. Please slow down and heed warnings and closures. “We are also collaborating with neighboring road agencies to coordinate emergency response efforts. Road closures and other vital information will be updated throughout the event and posted to kentcountyroads.net, Facebook and Twitter,” said Steve Warren, Managing Director. Crews will continue clearing catch basins, cleaning spillways, removing debris and patching potholes.
Again, reminders regarding flooding:
Turn Around, Don’t Drown. This National Weather Service motto reminds us of the danger of floodwaters. Just two feet of floodwaters can sweep away a car. If you see flood water in the road, or barricades/signs posted on roads, for your safety and that of first responders, please turn around and take a different route.
Do not try to walk or swim through flood waters. River and creek waters can move fast and carry debris that can be dangerous. Six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock people off their feet.
If you have water in your home/basement, it could be contaminated with pollutants. Handle items that come in contact with flood waters with care, either by disposing of wet items or when possible, cleaning wet items with a disinfectant.
Keep pets away from flood waters.
If you live in an area prone to flooding, make sure personal identification items (i.e. passports and birth certificates) are protected. Back up computer files and keep them in a safe place or store them in a cloud-based service.
Stay tuned to alerts via TV, radio or weather apps for your phone.
If you are in need of shelter, contact American Red Cross at 616.456.8661.
KCRC Roads Closed Due to Water over Road (February 2, 2018 at 9:30 a.m., subject to change)
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Big Sid’s Sanctuary. 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).
Shortly before Christmas, 2015 the wonderful Sara Y. from the Humane Society of Kent County, contacted Dr. Jen to see if she would be able to help with a fabulous Feline Leukemia-positive boy that their executive director found out in Caledonia. The (then) two-year -old (born in December of 2013) intact male happened across the absolute right path, as he was scooped up and carted away for safekeeping: neutered and vaccinated; and best of all, doted upon by all of the employees and volunteers who cared for him over the holidays.
The first thing that struck Dr. Jen when she laid eyes upon this happy, handsome little camper was just how darn outgoing and affectionate he was—he simply couldn’t get enough one-on-one time with her at the clinic! Every single time she walked by his cage she had to stop, pet him, fill his bowl and rub his pretty little face; he repaid her actions by bestowing the sweetest of head rubs and allowing her to tickle his tummy to her heart’s content.
Then it was down to the business at hand, which consisted of baseline blood work and treatment of an ear infection secondary to ear mites. Lab work unfortunately revealed a potentially life-threatening depletion of one of the key white blood cells his body needs to fight off infection, so Dr. Jen hit him hard with heavy-duty antibiotics, rechecking his parameters on a bi-weekly basis until they normalized.
Love me, pet me!
Since he does have FELV+, he is immuno-compromised, and this type of blood cell abnormality can be common—and devastating, so we kept a very watchful eye on this gregarious, gorgeous guy, inside and out!
Once at our sanctuary, boisterous Brendan could not wait to meet everyone (understatement of the year)! He was quickly dubbed a ‘belly-monster’ as his penchant for this activity is rivaled only by his fondness of laying on his back (Surrey-style) and gazing up lovingly and longingly at the volunteers!
We are enjoying our Brendan-time immensely and are so thankful that he was sent our way. This guy right here is by far one of the most outgoing, affectionate, happy-go-lucky cats to saunter around the sanctuary, soaking up his surroundings and charming the socks off of everyone who stops to snuggle him!
WE LOVE HIM TO PIECES!
More about Brendan
NOTE: A $825 grant from Lil BUB’s Big Fund for the ASPCA will enable Crash’s Landing & Big Sid’s Sanctuary, to fund comprehensive exams for five Big Sid’s Sanctuary cats before going to their new home. Each exam would include a full blood panel, dental care, radiographs, urinalysis, antibiotics and pain medication, if needed. Big Sid’s caters exclusively to cats who test positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) or FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus). FIV and FeLV are viruses that can, if they flare up, suppress a cat’s immune system. The shelter takes cats with FIV or FeLV from all over Michigan.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
It would have been easy for Metro Health-University of Michigan Health to just dispose of the huge banners created as temporary building signs when the two health care providers joined in 2016. But that’s not their way of doing business.
So, when permanent signage was placed on the healthcare providers’s hospital, located at 5900 Byron Center Ave SW in Wyoming, the temporary signs were put into storage and discussions started on how to recycle them in some way.
That is when Metro Health Foundation’s impACT Board, and a burgeoning relationship with Mel Trotter Ministries, came up with the answer — make blankets to help the homeless in our area.
On Feb. 16, a total of 145 weather-resistant blankets, along with several bags containing personal care items, were delivered to Mel Trotter Ministries in the Heartside of downtown Grand Rapids.
Dean Herried, Mel Trotter Ministries (WKTV)
“These blankets are going to be utilized by individuals and families here to help keep them warm during these cold winter months in Michigan,” Dean Herried, chief engagement officer for Mel Trotter Ministries, said to WKTV. “We are so thankful for our partnership with the impACT Board, with the University of Michigan Health Foundation, with Metro Health Hospital Foundation, for their generous donation of these blankets. We would not be able to do this without their help and assistance.”
The four original banners were made to be weather-proof — they hung on the hospital for more than six months and took a lot of beating — and, with the addition of the felt, the blankets now can provide some protection from the cold as well. Some of the material was also turned into bags to be filled with a blanket and other personal needs, also to be given out to the homeless through Mel Trotter Ministries.
“This really helps Mel Trotter fulfill our mission of showing the compassion of Christ through programs of restoration and rescue in our community,” Herried said.
In a different way, the donation — and the work put into turning banners into blankets — fulfills the mission of Metro Health-University of Michigan Health.
Trevor Mier, Metro Health-University of Michigan Health. (WKTV)
“This donation really came about as a result of us having a long history of sustainable practices at the hospital,” Trevor Mier, Support Services administrator for Metro Health-University of Michigan Health, said to WKTV. “We hated to think about these temporary banners being thrown away once we are done with them. So we came up with the idea of recycling them into something, but we were not exactly sure what that was going to be.”
The healthcare provider had some discussions, decided it would be a good idea to establish a relationship with Mel Trotter Ministries, through the impACT Board, to support the ministries’ efforts to help the homeless. And the idea was born.
“What if we took those banners and turned them into blankets for the homeless at Mel Trotter?” Mier said. “So we reached out to a vender we had used before in the past, and they cut up the banners into 3(foot) by 5(foot) sections, sewed a little bit of felt onto them, and turned them into these great blankets for those in need downtown.”
The goal of the Metro Health Hospital Foundation’s impACT Board, according to its website, is “Mobilizing community through change-makers, who use their skills and careers to drive vital change. … Many people want to make a difference, but turning good intentions into tangible impact can be hard. With the Foundation impACT Board, professionals and community do-gooders become the most effective change-agents they can be by taking on community health projects, volunteering at organizations with like causes and building a strong network of brand ambassadors for Metro Health Hospital Foundation.”
With the amount of rain that has happened over the last couple of days, flooding has become a concern in most of Kent County.
Kent County Emergency Management, along with numerous agencies, continues to monitor and respond to flooding emergencies being seen throughout the area. Floodwaters are having a dramatic impact on transit and housing. The waters will likely continue to rise through Saturday, causing many additional concerns for businesses and residents.
“The Sheriff’s Office and I are working closely with the National Weather Service, State and County agencies, the City of Grand Rapids, other impacted communities, as well as American Red Cross and Salvation Army,” said Kent County Emergency Management Coordinator Jack Stewart. “Our primary goal is the safety and well-being of our residents and first responders. While the levels are not expected to be as high as they were in 2013, we still need to be as diligent in our response.”
In the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, flooding has been reported on Patterson Avenue (28th Street to Burton Avenue) along eat right lane in both directions; the northbound US-131 off ramp to 54th Street and the northbound US-131 off ramp to 28th Street. For a current list of flooded roads, check the bottom of this story or visit the Kent Count Road Commission’s Facebook page.
The City of Grand Rapids is working closely with Kent County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service on monitoring water levels and is prepared to activate its flood plan, Fire Chief John Lehman said.
“We are working to communicate to all parties directly impacted if flooding occurs and who have flood protection measures in place,” Lehman said. “We are well-prepared to respond if flooding occurs.” The City’s upgraded flood wall system provides protection up to 25 feet of river crest. Grand Rapids residents with concerns about the water levels and questions may call the City’s 311 Customer Service at 311 or 616-456-3000.
The Kent County Road Commission (KCRC) is updating information on road closures regularly on its website as well as social media accounts. “KCRC crews continue to investigate standing water and flooded areas and are placing barricades and flashers where necessary. We are assessing roads and are closing/opening them as conditions warrant. Motorists are asked to slow down and heed warnings and closures,” said Kent County Road Commission Managing Director Steve Warren. “Today, our crews will continue clearing catch basins, cleaning spillways, repairing washouts and patching potholes. In these conditions, heavy grading equipment would worsen conditions on gravel roads. Therefore, crews will grade gravel roads when dryer conditions allow.”
Again, reminders regarding flooding:
Turn Around, Don’t Drown. This National Weather Service motto reminds us of the danger of floodwaters. Just two feet of floodwaters can sweep away a car. If you see flood water in the road, or barricades/signs posted on roads, for your safety and that of first responders, please turn around and take a different route.
Do not try to walk or swim through flood waters. River and creek waters can move fast and carry debris that can be dangerous. Six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock people off their feet.
If you have water in your home/basement, it could be contaminated with pollutants. Handle items that come in contact with flood waters with care, either by disposing of wet items or when possible, cleaning wet items with a disinfectant.
Keep pets away from flood waters.
If you live in an area prone to flooding, make sure personal identification items (i.e. passports and birth certificates) are protected. Back up computer files and keep them in a safe place or store them in a cloud-based service.
Stay tuned to alerts via TV, radio or weather apps for your phone.
If you are in need of shelter, contact American Red Cross at 616.456.8661.
KCRC Roads Closed Due to Water over Road (February 21, 2018 at 8 a.m., subject to change)
On Feb. 20, at approximately 9:31 p.m., officers and firefighters from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to a train derailment which occurred underneath the 28th Street overpass just east of US-131. Two engines pulling the northbound train overturned when they reached a section of track that had been washed out due to recent heavy rain combined with snow melt. Emergency personnel rendered aid to two railroad employees who were injured as a result of the derailment. One patient was subsequently transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The derailment resulted in an unknown amount of fuel being spilled from the engine. Emergency crews worked with Young’s Environmental Cleanup Inc. and Wyoming Public Works personnel to contain and mitigate the spill. No other chemicals or cargo spilled and there were no hazardous materials being carried in the train cars. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Natural Resources were notified.
This incident resulted in 28th Street and 32nd Street being shut down overnight. 28th Street has reopened, however, 32nd Street remains closed at this time. It will remain closed until the train can be moved later today. The incident is still under investigation and the public is being asked to avoid the area.
By Vivian Washington, Michigan State University Extension
Early childhood development experts have long discouraged using corporal punishment on children. Corporal punishment is when an adult deliberately hits, spanks or causes pain when trying to correct a child’s behavior. Adults often confuse physical punishment with discipline. They do not understand how trauma from physical punishment affects the child.
According to the American Psychological Association’s article, “The case against spanking,” physical punishment can lead to increased aggression, antisocial behavior, physical injury and mental health problems for children. Spanking may stop the child’s misbehavior in the short term, but is ineffective in producing positive, long-term results.
University of Missouri researchers have found that physical discipline experienced during infancy can negatively impact temperament and behavior among children in the fifth grade and into their teenage years. This was especially true for African American children who experienced severe punishment at 15 months of age. They were more likely to exhibit increased aggressive and delinquent behaviors and less likely to show positive behaviors. European-American children did not show a link between punishment and negative emotions. However, if these children were displaying negative emotions, such as irritability, then their long-term behavior was similar to African American children.
Michigan State University Extension offers the following guidelines to caregivers of children. These positive discipline tips will help to develop the desired behaviors to children:
Give clear directions.
Give directions one at a time or in age-appropriate doses.
Help children see how their actions affect others.
Focus on the desired results.
Expect the best from the child.
Notice and praise good behaviors.
Say “yes” as often as possible.
Show you care.
Set a good example—be a good role model.
Encourage children to express their feelings in words.
Understand child development and age-appropriate expectations.
Have a plan for anticipated problems.
Develop routines.
Listen to children.
Be age appropriate.
Make rules simple and enforceable.
Make as few rules as possible.
Enforce rules consistently.
To learn about the positive impact children and families experience due to Michigan State University Extension programs, read our 2016 Impact Reports: “Preparing young children for success” and “Preparing the future generation for success.” Additional impact reports, highlighting even more ways Michigan 4-H and MSU Extension positively impacted individuals and communities in 2016, can be downloaded from the MSU Extension website.
Two candidates, one from Wyoming, have joined forces to host a statewide rally Thursday, Feb. 22, calling for tough measures to stop gun violence.
Dr. Rob Davidson, a verteran emergency department physician and a candidate for the Second Congressional District, and Robert Vankirk, a community activist in Wyoming and candidate for State House District 77, spearheaded the event which is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. at the state Capitol building in downtown Lansing.
The event feature Kalamazoo Central High School students who developed a petition that has gone viral, families and concerned citizens, and political leaders. The rally also will call upon state and federal legislators to sign a multipart pledge that calls on them to support safeguards to reduce gun massacres, for more mental health resources and funds for school security to tough restrictions on assault weapons and bans on high-capacity magazines.
Gezon Park is not the only City of Wyoming park property that will be seeing some improvements in the near future. At its Monday night meeting, the Wyoming City Council approved work to three city parks, Ferrand, Buck Creek, and Lamar, totaling about $624,366.
All of the improvements were part of the city’s 5-Year Community Recreation Master Plan, with one project falling under the 2017 approved library millage proposal for .16 of the .39 library millage money tube used for park improvements.
Ferrand Park was one of four parks that was part of the 2017 library millage. Gezon Park and its master plan process was another park under this proposal along with Ideal and Jackson parks. Ferrand Park is a small pocket park located off of Byron Center Avenue that serves a very dense residential area, according to city staff. Staff added that the park has not had any improvements or new equipment in a number of years. It currently has no shelter, pathways or swings and outdated play equipment.
At its meeting, the Wyoming City Council unanimously approved a contract for $344,376.70 to the lowest bidder, Denny’s Excavating, Inc., for work on the park. This work would include accessible pathways, shelter, new and expanded play equipment that would include swings, and improved turf conditions.
The current restroom facility at the Buck Creek Nature Preserve.
Also unanimously approved by the city council was a bid for $136,990 by by low bidder Vancer Kodde Construction for the replacement of the more than 30-year-old restroom at the Buck Creek Nature Preserve. The Buck Creek Nature Preserve entrance is located just north of the Burlingame and 44th Street intersection on Burlingame Avenue. The city had initially budgeted about $115,000 for the new restroom, adding another $64,290 to the over budget — now totaling $189,290 — to help cover the difference plus other costs associated to the project.
The city staff noted in its report that the city was able to save money on the project by re-using the architectural plans for the Frog Hollow restroom. Those plans, which were designed by Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr and Huber, Inc., were modified for construction in a floodplain. The facility will be converted from wood to brick to ensure a longer life as well as reducing a fire hazard. The new restroom also will meet ADA requirements and will be located in the general footprint of the current building.
The city council also approved a bid of $143,000 for LED sports lighting equipment to Musoc Sports Lighting, LLC. The lighting will be for the north softball field at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. By going through a national bid process, the city was able to save about 15-20 percent on the purchase of the lights. However, staff is expecting an increase in costs for installation as “contractors are busy.” The overall cost for the project is estimated to be around $362,730. A bid process is underway for the general contractor to install the lights.
The Wyoming City Council meets the first and third Mondays of the month at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW. The meetings are broadcast live on WKTV Channel 26 and rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays.
Due to the rain and snow, area rivers such as the Grand River, are expected to rise and cause flooding in some areas. This is along the walkway of the Grand River.
Kent County Emergency Management is working closely with the Grand Rapids Office of the National Weather Service to monitor potential flooding over the coming days. Watches and warnings are in effect throughout Kent County for the Grand River, Rogue River and Thornapple River. Comstock Park, Rockford and Lowell could experience flooding issues, especially in low-lying areas near the rivers.
Kent County Emergency Management says the recent snow melt, coupled with the forecast of 1-3” of rain, are points of concern. “Our Emergency Operations staff will continue monitor the situation throughout the week,” said Kent County Emergency Management Coordinator Jack Stewart. “Right now, it appears the biggest risk will likely be in basements or in homes closest to the rivers.” If you have water in your home/basement, it could be contaminated with E coli. Handle items that come in contact with flood waters with care, either by disposing of wet items or when possible, cleaning wet items with a disinfectant.
Stewart says there are a few items to keep in mind regarding flooding:
Road closures are possible in some areas. Just two feet of floodwaters can sweep away a car. If you see flood water in the road, or barricades/signs posted on roads, for your safety and that of first responders, please turn around and take a different route.
Do not try to walk or swim through flood waters. River and creek waters can move fast and carry debris that can be dangerous. Six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock people off their feet.
Keep pets away from flood waters.
Prepare in advance. If you live in an area prone to flooding, make sure personal identification items (i.e. passports and birth certificates) are protected. Back up computer files and keep them in a safe place or store them in a cloud-based service.
Stay tuned to alerts via TV, radio or weather apps for your phone.
Kalina Reese is researching rare diseases alongside Calvin biology professor Amy Wilstermann
By Hannah Ebeling, Calvin College
One in ten people is affected by a rare disease in some way, explained Rachael Baker, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Calvin College. “Because there are 7,000 different rare diseases, everyone is probably going to know someone, a friend or family member with a rare disease at some point,” she said. “We want to raise awareness about what that looks like.”
Rare diseases and real stories
On March 3, 2018, Calvin and the Rare Disease Research Group will hold the first Rare Disease Symposium. This event will provide individuals the opportunity to learn about current research efforts in rare diseases that affect members of the local community. It will also allow local patients and their families to talk about living with rare diseases. February 28 is Rare Disease Day. Across the country on that day, people gather to recognize rare diseases.
“We wanted to have our symposium as close to rare disease day as possible,” said Baker.
“In West Michigan currently there does not seem to be any sort of rare disease community,” said Amy Wilstermann, biology professor. “There are families in the area that are affected by rare disease, people doing research on rare disease, medical professionals that are treating patients, and we have a lot of our students that are headed into medical professions. The goal of the Rare Disease Symposium is to bring all of these people together so that they can talk to one another and build some support networks and connect people to resources that they might not even be aware of.”
A community for those affected by rare disease
“Rare diseases are very important for just understanding health and the human body, but we didn’t want our students to only think of them in that context,” said Baker. “We wanted them to have a bigger vision for who is affected in this community and understand how can we speak to and minister to those people as we research.”
“Being sick is not a unique experience, but having a rare disease is,” said Baker. “When you have a rare disease, you’ve probably never heard of it before, you probably don’t know anyone else who has had it before, your doctor has probably never even diagnosed it before.” In the case of one of the symposiums’ speakers, their child is the only person in the world who has this specific disease. Things like ‘How will the disease progress as my child ages?’ is an open question for many families.
“Because of those factors, it can take a long time to get a diagnosis, and once you get a diagnosis, it can feel very isolating,” said Baker. “But, there are some very common emotions and experiences that are shared by many families that are diagnosed with rare diseases even if they don’t have the same rare disease. We think it is important to help them gather together and meet each other.”
A space to connect and learn
“Studying rare diseases is really important to me, because as a Christian I place a lot of importance on being a steward of all God’s people, especially the ones who are in the minority,” said Kalina Reese, a biochemistry and music double major, assisting in the symposium’s planning. “This experience has made me seriously consider the availability of disability research and the importance of making public areas accessible to those with diseases and disabilities.”
“I think the symposium fits into Calvin’s mission in a lot of ways,” said Wilstermann. “We are thinking about acting justly and living wholeheartedly.” In the rare disease community, because there are so many rare diseases that so few people have, there is not a big emphasis on research, she explained.
“I think one of the ways we feel that we are living out the mission is seeking out some of those areas of God’s kingdom that are neglected and devoting time to them.”
“We are hoping a lot of students attend the Rare Disease Symposium,” said Wilstermann. “Many will be working with people who are affected by rare disease at some point, and I would hope that they get a greater sense of the prevalence of rare diseases and understand the challenges, but also the resilience of some of these families at the event.”
“If someone comes in from the community who has a rare disease or is caring for someone that does, I hope they walk away from the symposium seeing Calvin as a new resource,” said Baker. “We are hoping the symposium will be the beginning of new relationships with a lot of community members affected by rare disease.”
St. Cecilia Music Center will bring husband and wife duo Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn to Royce Auditorium on Friday, Feb. 23. as part of the center’s Acoustic Café Series. This will be the duo’s first appearance together in Grand Rapids.
Tickets are still available.
Fleck and Washburn have been called “the king and queen of the banjo.” On stage, they will perform pieces from their 2016 Grammy-winning self-titled debut album, as well as their new record, Echo in the Valley.
Fleck is a 15-time Grammy Award winner who has taken the instrument across multiple genres, and Washburn is a singer-songwriter and clawhammer banjo player who re-radicalized it by combining it with Far East culture and sounds.
Echo in the Valley is the follow up to Fleck and Washburn’s acclaimed, self-titled debut that earned the 2016 Grammy for Best Folk Album. “This time around, the mission was to take our double banjo combination of three finger and clawhammer styles to the next level and find things to do together that we had not done before,” says Fleck. “We’re expressing different emotions through past techniques and going to deeper places.”
The Acoustic Café Series, in partnership with the syndicated radio show of the same name, will round out the season with the band Asleep at the Wheel on April 12, as well as singer/songwriter, banjo and fiddler Rhiannon Giddens on May 17.
Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn tickets are $45 and $50 and can be purchased by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224 or visiting the box office at 24 Ransom Ave. NE. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.scmc-online.org. A post-concert party with a cash bar will be offered to all ticket-holders.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of Wyoming and Kentwood sports events and government meetings, including the monthly Government Matters meeting. (WKTV)
WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org
The WKTV sports truck heads out twice this week for featured game coverage. First, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, It will be boys varsity basketball as Tri-unity Christian (12-4 overall, 7-1 in Alliance League as of Feb. 17) will host Muskegon Oakridge (5-10 overall, 7-8 in the West Michigan Conference) in a non-league tilt.
Then on Friday, Feb. 23, it’s an OK Gold varsity doubleheader with both boys and girls basketball being covered as Wyoming hosts East Grand Rapids. First up will be the Wolves girls team (9-10; 5-6 conference as of Feb. 16) against the Pioneer girls (15-3; 8-2). After that game will be the Wolves boys (14-4 overall, 10–1 conference as of Feb. 16) against the Pioneer boys (10-6 overall, 5-4).
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com .
The last of the February featured broadcast schedule is:
Saturday, Feb. 24 — Boys Hockey: FH Central at East Kentwood
Following is the complete schedule of all local high school sports action this week. For any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Monday, Feb. 19
Boys/Girls Bowling
Wyoming Lee @ Potter’s House
Tuesday, Feb. 20
Girls Basketball
South Christian @ Middleville T-K
NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights
Potter’s House @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Aviation @ Algoma Christian
Western Michigan Christian @ Grand River Prep
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Belding @ Kelloggsville
West Michigan Lutheran @ Wellsprings Prep
Boys Basketball
Middleville T-K @ South Christian
Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian
Potter’s House @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Aviation @ Holland Black River
Western Michigan Christian @ Grand River Prep
Rockford @ East Kentwood
Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee
Kelloggsville @ Belding
West Michigan Lutheran @ Algoma Christian
Muskegon Oakridge @ Tri-unity Christian – WKTV Featured Event
Boys/Girls Bowling
Wyoming Lee @ Potter’s House
Wellsprings Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian
Wednesday, Feb. 21
Girls Basketball
Benton Harbor @ Godwin Heights
West Michigan Aviation @ WMAES
Boys Basketball
Benton Harbor @ Godwin Heights
West Michigan Aviation @ WMAES
Thursday, Feb. 22
Boys Swimming
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven
Friday, Feb. 23
Girls Basketball
South Christian @ Wayland
Potter’s House @ Algoma Christian
Holland Black River @ Zion Christian
Grandville @ East Kentwood
East Grand Rapids @ Wyoming – Coaches vs Cancer – WKTV Featured Event
Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian
WMAES @ West Michigan Lutheran
Holland Calvary @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys Basketball
South Christian @ Wayland
Algoma Christian @ Potter’s House
Creative Technologies @ West Michigan Aviation
Holland Black River @ Zion Christian
Grandville @ East Kentwood
Wyoming Lee @ Belding
East Grand Rapids @ Wyoming – Coaches vs Cancer – WKTV Featured Event
Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian
West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES
Holland Calvary @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys Hockey
South Christian vs West Ottawa @ Griffs Ice West
East Kentwood @ East Grand Rapids
Boys Swimming
South Christian @ TBA – O-K Conference Meet
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven
Boys/Girls Bowling
Godwin Heights @ Muskegon Mona Shores – Team Regionals
East Kentwood @ Battle Creek Lakeview – Team Regionals
Northview school resource officer Deputy Andy Kozal stands in the security vestibule of Northview High School, one of many Kent County schools that have poured millions into security upgrades (SNN file photo)
By Charles Honey, Erin Albanese and Allison Kaufman
Wednesday’s shooting in a Florida high school that killed at least 17 people sent shudders through students, staff and parents in West Michigan, as the nation once again deals with a mass shooting in a school. The massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County brought to more than 400 the number of people who have been shot in more than 200 such shootings since the 2012 murder of 20 first-graders and six adults in Newtown, Connecticut, according to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive.
Expelled student Nikolas Cruz, 19, was charged Thursday with 17 counts of premeditated murder using a semi-automatic rifle legally purchased. His rampage revived issues of school security, mental health and access to deadly weapons and brought to mind the horrific Columbine massacre of 1999.
School News Network asked local superintendents to reflect on two questions: what their schools have done to protect students and staff from the possibility of a shooter; and what else needs to be done at the state and national levels to reduce the incidence of mass school shootings. They responded in interviews or prepared statements.
Ron Caniff
Ron Caniff, Kent ISD
“As a response to the first question, the issue requires a two-pronged approach: prevention and preparedness. What’s the root cause of the action or behavior? School districts in our area are doing a great job with addressing underlying mental health concerns of students. Resources are best invested in strengthening relationships with all students and building connectedness, but for those who need extra assistance, it’s essential to provide that for them on a proactive basis.
“Preparedness is also absolutely critical. School staff undergo training for active shooter scenarios but obviously hope and pray that they will never have to experience that crisis. In these situations, mere seconds have the opportunity to save lives, so staff members need to know how to react and respond ahead of time so their training kicks in. Schools are also addressing security issues through design and protocols, such as secure vestibules, surveillance cameras, and restricting visitor access.
“As for the second question regarding state and national policy, in Michigan, it seems policy makers believe that the solution may in part rest with allowing open carry of pistols in schools. I wholeheartedly disagree with that approach.
“It’s common knowledge that these tragedies are occurring in America at a rate that far, far exceeds other countries. Why is that? Based on what I’ve read and heard, the biggest contributing variable is the abundance and accessibility of guns. If you don’t believe this statistic, just Google it.
“So for me, the answer is simple: we need fewer guns, not more of them.”
William Fetterhoff
William Fetterhoff, Godwin Heights Public Schools
Fetterhoff said security and training in the district are consistent with what many schools have implemented, including secured entrances, security cameras and mandated school lockdown drills.
But he doesn’t think facility preparedness is at the center of the issue. “First, prayers to the families,” he said, in reaction to Wednesday’s shooting. “That’s 17 more mothers who lost their babies.”
This and other school shootings should no longer be a matter of politics, Fetterhoff said.
“We need to not politicize this and instead look at it as a moral issue in our country,” he said.
Fetterhoff said schools need more financial resources to build relationships in communities, and provide students with access to mental health support and counseling. Youth are faced with huge amounts of pressure and mental illness is rampant, he said. He said the Florida shooter showed many disturbing behaviors.
“The schools need to become a platform for providing and acknowledging support for students to know it’s OK to talk about how you are feeling and what you are thinking,” he said. “We understand that necessity as our communities lean on us.”
Teaching today requires much more than instruction and schools need financial support in attracting “the best teachers that understand teaching today is a holistic endeavor.”
“And for the goodness of society we need to identify individuals (with mental health issues that could pose a danger to others) and pass laws and legislation so they cannot accrue weapons,” he said.
Teresa Weatherall Neal
Teresa Weatherall Neal, Grand Rapids Public Schools
“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers go out to all the students, parents, staff, and the entire Broward County community.
“Any time there is a tragic incident like this, it is good to reflect on all the training, technology, policies, procedures, and facility-related measures that our district has in place to ensure safe and secure school environments.
”We at GRPS take great pride in being a national leader on school safety and security. Our own chief of staff and executive director of public safety and school security, Mr. Larry Johnson, is the chair of the board of directors for the National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officers. In 2008, Mr. Johnson helped secure a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to implement a comprehensive training on critical incidents and crisis management.
“The trainer model led GRPS to host a series of trainings for staff from public and private districts throughout the region. This grant also led to an assessment of egress points at our schools, complete with installation of new entryway identifications. GRPS conducts multiple school safety trainings and school safety drills throughout the year.
“Additionally, thanks to the voter-approved bond (for $175 million in 2015), GRPS is in the process of implementing more than $10 million in facility and security improvements including renovations to main offices/entryways, security cameras, and other security technology.”
Michael Shibler
Michael Shibler, Rockford Public Schools
Shibler sent an open letter to district staff and families (as did other superintendents) noting the many steps the district has taken to increase safety. Those include the Developing Healthy Kids initiative supporting mental health awareness and suicide prevention; student peer listeners to help classmates; and the statewide OK2Say system for reporting suspicious behavior or bullying. The district’s nine security personnel vigilantly monitor school buildings, he said.
Shibler also pointed to the $11 million spent on security upgrades from a 2014 bond approval, including first-floor shatterproof glass and entryway vestibules that require visitors to be buzzed into the main office. He said the vestibules would have prevented the Florida incident from happening here because a shooter would not be allowed into the building.
“If this guy came into our vestibule, he would certainly be recognized as a person who was expelled from our school” and therefore not admitted, Shibler said.
Nor would anyone be allowed into a building carrying a weapon, as Rockford schools are designated gun-free zones, he said. He supports a complete legal ban on carrying weapons into schools or other public arenas by anyone other than law enforcement, and testified before a Senate committee before the full body in November approved a bill allowing concealed-carry in schools. The bill is now before the House of Representatives.
“We have certainly contacted our representatives to let them know this is unacceptable,” he said. “I can’t imagine they’ll bring it up now.”
However, he sees the No. 1 issue behind school shootings as mental health, which he called an illness that “needs to be treated, just like heart disease.” For students, he added, the problem has been exacerbated by technology.
“Kids today can be bullied and harassed through a cell phone, by people who have no respect for dignity, or courage.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
Many local residents — as well as those around the world — will be celebrating the Vietnamese New Year, or set, this weekend. And by doing so, will usher in the year of the Dog. What are the meanings behind the Asian zodiac signs. Community member Adrian Dang offers us some insight.
The Asian Zodiac was originated in China unknown number of millennia ago. Some people believe that it came about during the Han’s Dynasty. Some folks call it “the Chinese Zodiac,” which is not inappropriate. Although the Chinese people invented it, much of Eurasia observes the Asian Zodic which includes such countries as Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. It is an astrological system or scheme to assign an animal sign to each year following the sequence of 12 animals. The 12 animal signs in proper sequence are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit/Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat Monkey Rooster, Dog, and Pig/Boar. For example: if this year is the year of the Rat, next year will be the Ox to follow the proper order.
There are 10 modifiers, let us call them Mods for lack of an accurate translated term, to prefix the signs. These Mods serve to modify the signs in much of the way an adjective modifies a noun. For example: a Canh Rat is different from a Tan Rat. The Mods are as follows in proper order: Canh, Tân, Nhâm, Quý, Giáp, Ất, Bính, Đinh, Mậu, Kỷ.
As the sign changes each year, the Mod also changes in the right sequence to give unique characteristics to the sign and the year under the subject sign. For example, if this year is Canh Rat, next year will be Tân Ox, the following year will be Nhâm Tiger, and so on and so forth… In a cycle of sixty (60) years, the same Mod and Sign will repeat again. For example: the year of 1960 was Canh Rat; We will see Canh Rat again in year 2020.
This 12-animal system is also employed to identify time of the day in 2-hour increments. The first time-period is the Rat Period beginning with 23:00 (or 11:00 PM) and ending at 00:59 (or 0:59 AM). Incidentally, the next time period is the Ox Period running from 1:00 AM until 2:59 AM. The last is the Pig Period from 9:00 pm TO 10:59 PM.
The Time Diagram
• Rat Period: 23:00 to 00:59. This is the time when Rats are most active in seeking food. Rats also have a different number of digits on front and hind legs, thus earning Rat the symbol of “turn over” or “new start”.
• Ox Period: 01:00 to 02:59. This is the time when Oxen begin to chew the cud slowly and comfortably.
• Tiger Period: 03:00 to 04:59. This is the time when Tigers hunt their prey more and show their ferocity.
• Rabbit/Cat Period: 05:00 to 06:59. This is the time when the Jade Rabbit is busy pounding herbal medicine on the Moon according to the tale.
• Dragon Period: 07:00 to 08:59. This is the time when Dragons are hovering in the sky to give rain.
• Snake Period: 09:00 to 10:59. This is the time when Snakes are leaving their caves.
• Horse Period: 11:00 to 12:59. This is the time when the sun is high overhead and while other animals are lying down for a rest, Horses are still standing.
• Goat Period: 13:00 to 14:59. This is the time when Goats eat grass and urinate frequently.
• Monkey Period: 15:00 to 16:59. This is the time when Monkeys are lively.
• Rooster Period: 17:00 to 18:59. This is the time when Roosters begin to get back to their coops.
• Dog Period: 19:00 to 20:59. This is the time when Dogs carry out their duty of guarding the houses.
• Pig Period: 21:00 to 22:59. This is the time when Pigs are sleeping sweetly.
This system is also assigned to seasons of the year.
Spring: Tiger, Rabbit/Cat, and Dragon.
Summer: Snake, Horse, and Goat.
Autumn: Monkey, Rooster, and Dog.
Winter: Pig/Boar, Rat, and Ox.
The Asian Zodiac signs also serve to determine directions and bearings on the compass.
Astrologer with knowledge of both the Western and Eastern Zodiacs sometimes match them together to decipher a person’s future or the outcome of an event or situation with more details. They also attempt to match the signs of the Asian Zodiac with the signs of the Western Zodiac.
Each sign has its own characteristics and personality that may affect the people born under it. The details of a person’s personalities and his/her pre-conceived destiny would depend on many other aspects such as exact time of birth and positions of satellite planets, and the like. This article does not focus on horoscope; the author intends solely to share overall information about the Asian Zodiac.
There are four groups of signs that are similar in characteristics who are, therefore, compatible. These groups are also known as “trines.” These signs are the fourth slot from each other as we go around the circular pattern of the Zodiac. For example: the Rat – – – the Dragon – – – the Monkey would be in the same trine.
The First Trine: includes the Rat, the Dragon, and the Monkey. The signs in this trine are believe to be powerful, intelligent, dynamic, charismatic, authoritative, manipulative, persuasive, and confident; they make great leaders. On the softer side, these signs can be artistic, charming, magnanimous, and jealous.
The Second Trine: consists of the Ox, the Snake, and the Rooster. The characteristics of the signs in this group show energy, endurance, energy. They are detailed oriented, meticulous in planning, but they tend to be opinionated. These signs are intelligent, diligent, industrious, philosophical, egoistical, vain, judgmental and narrow or small-minded. On the soft side, they can be good-hearted, modest, morally sound, and loyal.
The Third Trine: has the Tiger, the Horse, and the Dog. The three signs in this trine tend to seek true love, humanitarian causes; they try to be idealistic in their own ways. These signs are independent, engaging, dynamic, honorable, loyal where they choose to be; they are sometimes overly protective of their loved ones to the point of being dictatorial and controlling. On the more unfavorable side, these signs may be rash, argumentative, quarrelsome, nervous, disagreeable and/or stubborn.
The Fourth Trine: includes the Rabbit/Cat, Goat and Pig/Boar. The three signs of this trine are believed to be calm in nature; they have a somewhat reasonable approach. They are artistic and seek beautiful things. They possess good manners and are compassionate, yet they may be detached and resigned to their condition. These signs are obliging, caring, self-sacrificing, sensible, empathetic, tactful and prudent. On the negative side, people under the signs of this trine may be naïve, inflexible, insecure, selfish indecisive, or pessimistic.
There are also three groups of four signs that are incompatible. Any two signs that are opposite of each other on the chart would be highly incompatible. The other two signs in the foursome are also not compatible, but they do not clash seriously as the two opposites. For example: the Rat is directly across the chart from the Horse; these two do not get along and are not kind to one another. The Rabbit/Cat and the Rooster are also in the same group of four signs; they are not compatible to the Rat and the Horse but not grave as the Rat vs the Horse.
Compatibility does not only mean personality clash. It may also mean that the people under these signs may experience one or more, or all of the following. They:
• Cannot stand each other’s personalities.
• Cannot reside together.
• Cannot do things together such as running business or sharing a project.
• Cannot be married.
• Cannot go into investment together, including gambling together, bad luck!
• Cannot have mutual agreement, cannot have a peaceful conversation.
The First Incompatible Quartet: This group include the Rat, the Horse, the Rabbit/Cat, and the Rooster. The Rat is the opposite of the Horse, and the Rabbit/Cat is the opposite of the Rooster.
The Second Incompatible Quartet: This group include the Tiger, the Monkey, the Snake, and the Pig/Boar. The Tiger is the opposite of the Monkey, and the Snake is the opposite of the Pig/Boar.
The Third Incompatible Quartet: This group include the Ox, the Goat, the Dragon, and the Dog. The Ox is the opposite of the Goat, and the Dragon is the opposite of the Dog.
For the past six years, “lake effect” has had a new meaning with several local theater companies coming together to host a month-long celebration of local theater called the Lake Effect Fringe Festival.
Running through March 2, the event features a plethora of productions ranging from musicals to improv.
TJ Corbett and Mary Beth Quillin at the WKTV station.
“You are going to see works that are not produced in the larger theaters in town or works by local playwrights,” said Mary Beth Qullin, one of the organizers. “There is a lot of comedy or improv that goes on during the Festival. It is something different almost every weekend.”
The Lake Effect Fringe Festival features smaller productions of two character shows, musicals and improvisational pieces with the audience almost sitting in the round with seating on three sides of the stage.
“We have a very vibrant theater company, but this is a way to kind of bring to the forefront some of the small more edgy groups that not many people know about,” Quillin said.
TJ Corbert, of Hole In the Wall Theatre Company, said he bugged organizers to let his company perform at the annual event, because you couldn’t get more “fringer” than with the Hole in the Wall Theatre Company. The company performs commedia dell’arte, a form of theater characterized by masked types. The style began in Italy in the 16th century and was the first time actors — and actresses — make a living through the theater by traveling from town-to-town performing improvised shows based on sketches or scenarios.
“It is similar to Looney Tunes in that you might see Yosemite Sam, where in one he might be a sheriff and in another one he might be a sultan,” Corbett said. “But he is always Yosemite Sam. He behaves a certain way. He has that certain personality.”
On Feb. 24 and 25 — which by the way Feb. 25 is Commedia dell’Arte Day — Hole in the Wall Theatre Company will present the original comedy “Yes, We’re Closed,” one of the first shows the company ever produced. The story centers around a shopkeeper who is suddenly locked out of his store with the money he owns to a vicious loan shark locked inside and the entire neighborhood getting pulled into the madness. Hole in the Wall Theatre Company also is hosting the 10 Minute Play Festival on Feb. 22 and 23 featuring short plays written by local playwrights.
Qullin is actually one member of the two-person theater team GEM Theatrics. Her husband, Gary E. Mitchell and her will present “2 Across: A Comedy of Crosswords and Romance,” by Jerry Mayer, who worked on such TV shows as “M*A*S*H,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Tabitha,” “Punky Brewster,” and “The Facts of Life.” The GEM Theatrics production is this weekend, Feb. 16 – 18.
All performances take place at Dog Story Theater, 7 Jefferson Ave. SE. For more about the Lake Effect Fringe Festival, visit lakeeffectfringe.com.
The City of Kentwood, after city commission action at its Feb. 6 meeting, approved an Industrial Development District and a tax abatement request that will bring an expanding industrial robotics company to the city.
Axis Company LLC, which has a current facility in Walker, intends to built a new 67,000 square foot facility at 4195 44th Street SE, with a total cost of the new facility of about $4 million and with the intent to hire 50 new local jobs, according to the city.
Axis Company is a robotic automation systems programmer, according to information supplied by the city. The company uses advanced technologies to conceptualize, design, integrate, deploy, and service custom factory automation systems.
“We look forward to working with Axis Company in the coming months as it expands into Kentwood,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said to WKTV. “We’re excited that another advanced manufacturing company is moving into our community. The skilled workforce and our diverse community make Kentwood a great place for any business to call home. Axis Company’s decision is another testament to Kentwood being open for business.”
The action by the city commission followed a public hearing on the proposed city actions. Other than city staff, Boyd Vor Broker, CEO of Axis Company, was the only person to speak at the public hearing.
An Industrial Development District allows local governments to allow exemption of certain taxes as an incentive to industries to build new facilities in the city. The $4 million project will have about $3,750,00 eligible for property tax abatement.
According to the city, the city will forgo approximately $9,005 in the first year of the abatement as a result of the project.
Complete information on the Axis Company action, and all actions planned and taken by the Kentwood Commission, can be read as part of the city Commission’s informational package for the Feb. 6, 2018 meeting. The Commission’s agendas, meeting information packages and meeting minutes are available on the city’s website .
Each week, WKTV features an adoptable furry friend (or few) from various shelters in the Grand Rapids area. This week, we focus on Humane Society of West Michigan, located at 3077 Wilson Dr. NW in Grand Rapids.
Humane Society of West Michigan’s mission is to rescue hurt, abused and abandoned animals and find them new, forever homes. The 501(c)3 non-profit organization helps over 8,000 animals annually and is 100% donor-funded by caring individuals and businesses in the community. Additional programs help reduce pet overpopulation, provide assistance to low-income pet owners, behaviorally assess animals and reunite lost pets with their owners.
Gorgeous Coco is looking for a nice, relaxed home
Coco — Female American Staffordshire Terrier Mix
I am a 2-year-old dog who was recently transferred to Humane Society of West Michigan from a shelter in Arkansas. I am a sweet girl who is stressed and would do best in a relaxed home. My shelter in Arkansas reported that I do well with other dogs, but due to my stress I will do best as the only dog in the house to start. I would do best with older/respectful children. I love going for walks, snuggling up to my favorite people, and being pet. If I sound like a good fit for you, please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan!
More about Coco:
Animal ID: 37690066
Breed: Terrier, American Staffordshire/ Mix
Age: 2 years
Gender: Female
Size: Large
Color: Tan/White
Spayed
Momma — Female Domestic Shorthair Mix
I’m a stunning, 11-year-old, senior kitty who is looking for a relaxed environment where I can live out my golden years surrounded with love and affection. I’m a sweetheart and will shower you in purrs. Come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan!
Meet the sweetest kitty you’ll ever know — Momma
More about Momma:
Animal ID: 37489400
Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix
Age: 11 years
Gender: Female
Size: Small
Color: Grey/Brown
Spayed
Not Declawed
Humane Society of West Michigan is open Tuesday-Friday 12pm-7pm and Saturday-Sunday 11am-4pm.
The Humane Society of West Michigan automatically microchips all adoptable animals using 24PetWatch microchips, which include FREE registration into the 24PetWatch pet recovery service. For more information visit www.24petwatch.com or call 1-866-597-2424. This pet is also provided with 30 days of FREE ShelterCare Pet Health Insurance with a valid email address. For more information visit www.sheltercare.com or call 1-866-375-7387 (PETS).
Humane Society of West Michigan is open Tues-Fri 12-7, Sat & Sun 11-4.
Mohammad “Mo” Ehsani came to the U.S. in the 1970s to study technology. After a distinguished career as professor of civil engineering, he is off to tackle some of the world’s biggest problems. An indefatigable engineer with the wrap on very important solutions!
West Michigan abounds with kid-friendly activities to stave off cabin fever and boredom — there are plenty of things to enjoy from resorts and parks worthy of a ‘staycation’ (or vacation) to area museums and arts centers.
Kids Activities in Central West Michigan
The Grand Rapids Treetop Adventure Park has seven courses that are broken into four different skill levels. Each course takes 30 to 45 minutes to complete, but you have three hours to do as much or as little as you please! They have activities for kids of all ages with a mini zipline course designed for kids ages 4 to 6, and a main deck which starts with kids that are 7 years old. You may have a hard time getting your kids to come back to the car when you visit this outdoor adventure park!
A visit to Catch Air in Grand Rapids is sure to have your kids jumping for joy! Their indoor adventure park has inflatable slides, jungle gym, bounce castle, and more. Catch Air is also the perfect place for a birthday party! Throw the most memorable and enjoyable party ever without lifting a finger. Whether you’re stopping by for an afternoon of fun, or celebrating a birthday, Catch Air is always a hopping place to be!
The Tri-Cities Historical Museum in Grand Haven is the perfect place for young learners who don’t want to be limited to just reading. Instead, step in, see, touch, and even smell all things history. Each exhibit is housed in a structure that is appropriate for the era. For example, the Woodland Era of Native American history is found inside an authentic birch bark wigwam. While The Tri-Cities Historical Museum is open to all ages, parents and guardians typically find 1st grade and above to be the most invested in the exhibits, though highly engaged parents will find something teachable in each exhibit!
The Critter Barn in Zeeland is a nonprofit educational farm spanning three acres. Their curriculum focuses on promoting an understanding of agriculture, food sources, animal care, animal science, volunteer initiatives, and the farmer’s role in feeding the world. They have an authentic learning environment with many friendly animals! Working on a farm, even visiting a farm, develops character and deepens an appreciation for the world around us.
Marshall Museum of Magic
Beat the winter blues with a family fun trip to the Holland Museum! Here, you can grab a special hands-on “Meet Me at the Museum” backpack, filled with activities designed to get kids moving through the galleries while completing kid-friendly challenges and activities. The backpack is free to check out with paid museum admission, and is appropriate for children ages 3 to 8 years old.
Families with children love Muskegon County for its wide variety of kid friendly attractions and events! Michigan’s Adventure is Michigan’s only major theme park! From the heart-pounding rush of Thunderhawk and Shivering Timbers roller coasters to the family fun of Lakeside Gliders and the Swan Boats, the amusement side of this 250 acre complex offers thrills of all sizes and fun for all ages. Wildwater Adventure features towering slides, refreshing wave pools and splash pads and your admission ticket covers both parks!
The Muskegon Winter Sports Complex offers exciting annual events and outdoor sports facilities for families. This beautiful venue inside Muskegon State Park has one of only four publicly accessible luge tracks in the country for kids eight and up! You can also cross-country ski, snowshoe, snowboard or sled on five miles of groomed track day or night!
Michigan’s Heritage Park at Hilt’s Landing is a perfect family activity, promising an outdoor adventure for all ages. Your tour will take you through 10,000 years of Michigan History in a natural woodland setting “Make and Take” vintage crafts such as candle dipping are part of the experience, or become a paleontologist and help unearth a mastodon at the dig site. Kids and adults alike will cherish their time in Muskegon!
Bring the kids to Ludington to learn all about the area’s maritime history. The newest jewel in Ludington’s museum-tourist attraction crown is the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. Visitors can experience piloting the car ferry Pere Marquette 22 into Ludington’s harbor via a virtual reality experience, learn the unique light signals of Lake Michigan’s many lighthouses, and experience many authentic artifacts used in the story of the Ludington’s celebrated harbor and by many of its famous Coast Guardsmen and car ferry sailors.
The Mt. Pleasant area is home to fun for kids of all ages. The indoor waterpark at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort is sure to be a hit with the whole family. The waterpark features a lazy river, indoor surfing pool, climbing wall, and more. There’s more to see in Mt. Pleasant, including museums and indoor play areas, where your kids will love to learn and burn off some energy!
Take a lap or two around the ice rink at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids
Kids Activities in Southern West Michigan
The Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings is part of the Hastings Public Library’s Creative Science Night on February 21st. Join the institute and other local organizations in hands-on science demonstrations and activities geared towards preschool through 5th grade students.
The Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven is a great place to bring the whole family! Kids will enjoy the hands-on exhibits, all while learning about maritime history. Step aboard on the museum’s tall ship, Friends Good Will, for a Pirate Chaser Sail, where your family is part of the crew as you chase down pirates on Lake Michigan and recapture treasure. Make history come alive for your family at the Michigan Maritime Museum!
Coldwater Country is home to an abundance of things to see and do. Ride the rails of an authentic 100-year-old steam engine train, or have a family fun day driving go karts, or playing paintball and laser tag.
Timber Ridge Ski Area in Gobles has activities and events all winter long, including an array of programs for kids to learn to ski or snowboard. They also have tubing open on the weekends for those looking for an easygoing ride down the hills. Stop by from February 23rd to 25th for their Winterfest Family Fun event, which includes activities for the whole family. If you’re looking for winter fun, look no further than Timber Ridge!
Tri-Cities Historical Museum
The February First Adventures with Nature events at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek are perfect for children ages 2 to 5 years old. First Adventures with Nature can help you engage in your child’s learning, while increasing their understanding of the natural world around them. The zoo’s experienced leaders are dedicated to connecting and inspiring the next generation of wildlife enthusiasts!
Looking for a fun and educational way to get outside with your family this winter? Visit the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary in Augusta to see and learn about a variety of bird species, including Trumpeter Swans, a native species that the Sanctuary helped to reintroduce to the Midwest. Walk one of the trails around beautiful Wintergreen Lake to see waterfowl, birds of prey, game birds, and songbirds. The sanctuary also offers educational programs for children and adults year-round, with a full calendar of events available on their website.
Hastings’ Playing at the Spray Plaza program offers free music, entertainment, and educational programs for children between preschool and 12 years old. The program is hosted every Thursday and lasts for nine weeks, from June 14th to August 9th. Don’t forget to bring the kids’ swimsuits, so that they can enjoy playing in the spray plaza before and after the show!
The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts offers free admission for kids through age 12, and admission for adults is only $5 (students are $2). Ten galleries filled with art include a “Please Touch” Kids Corner, recently updated with a black light alcove, music making stations, art books, and more. Their Art Detectives programs for kids 4 to 8 with an adult introduce the youngest among us to the art museum, with a story, gallery stroll, and art-making.
The Air Zoo in Kalamazoo is a highly charged, multi-sensory atmosphere that goes beyond anything you’ve ever seen. It’s like no place else on Earth! Voted the “Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners” and “Best Place to Spend a Day with Your Family” three years in a row, the Air Zoo features more than 50 rare and historic aircraft, amusement park-style rides, Full-Motion Flight Simulators, and RealD 3D/4D Missions Theater, as well as historical exhibits and educational activities.
The Marshall area is filled with fun for your kids. From hands-on museums and farms to the great outdoors and conservation, your whole family will learn something new when they visit. Plan your next trip using the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance’s trip planning resources.
East Lee senior Mitzi Hernandez holds a proclamation by the Grandville City Council declaring January “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month”
East Lee High School (part of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools) students recently served as a voice for the millions of victims of human trafficking worldwide, including thousands in West Michigan, by making a presentation to the Grandville City Council in support of a proclamation.
Seniors Mitzi Hernandez and Jadon DeBri delivered research prior to the Grandville City Council’s unanimous approval of a declaration proclaiming January “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month.” Justin Noordhoek, the students’ social studies teacher, is a council member.
Mitzi and Jadon’s presentation was the result of a study last school year on the Holocaust, which Noordhoek and English teacher Sarah Byrne use as a launching point into a collaborative unit on Modern Crimes Against Humanity. Students at the alternative high school chose to study human trafficking, blood diamonds, child soldiers, life in North Korea, and genocide in Darfur.
Mitzi said human trafficking is an issue many need to know more about.
“It’s a situation we don’t see and we don’t think it is happening, but it really is,” Mitzi said. “It’s crazy how many boys and girls are impacted by this. I felt like it was important for me to go to the City Council because I feel like there should be more awareness about what’s going on.”
The students presented the facts, based on estimates from Women at Risk International, which has locations in Wyoming and Rockford, including that 2,400 minors are being trafficked in West Michigan at any time. Michigan ranked second in 2015 for most incidents of human trafficking because its international border makes it ideal for traffickers. It remains in the top 10.
People are trafficked for prostitution, forced labor, illegal adoption, forced marriages, drug trafficking and even organ transplants. The average cost of a slave is $90.
Making A Difference
For their Modern Crimes Against Humanity projects, students researched facts and news articles, studied the perspective of individuals affected and created newscasts. Noordhoek and Byrne use project-based learning in their teaching, which involves making community connections and working to help solve problems. Noordhoek said his connection with the council offered a great platform.
“They can directly connect what they are learning in school to the real world,” he said. “They saw that actual process in action of, ‘Wow, this actually went somewhere. Government is recognizing this topic we are studying and I played a role in that.’
“For the City Council,” he added, “I just think it’s really fantastic when you have students, young people, acting as leaders and bringing attention to a topic to people in position of leadership that maybe otherwise no one would be a voice for.”
For Mitzi, she’s gained the confidence to address other issues she feels strongly about.
“We should do more and bring out more awareness of many things,” she said. “We should be united. We have to start small to make something big.
“This is making me a stronger person, showing me I can make a change and encouraging me to do more.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
A former City of Wyoming dump truck has found new life as a crash attenuator vehicle for the City’s Public Safety Department – Fire Division. The refurbished attenuator, which would have cost $127,000 if purchased new, was built by City staff for less than half the cost.
The crash attenuator is a safety device that reduces the damage to structures, vehicles and motorists resulting from a motor vehicle collision. It is also designed to redirect vehicles away from hazards on the road. In the event of a crash or emergency situation on a roadway, the attenuator will be set up to protect the scene from passersby, thereby ensuring safety for public safety officials, emergency technicians, pedestrians and victims. The vehicle will also be used by the Public Works Department staff while performing repairs on major streets, protecting both staff and equipment. This type of vehicle has not been a part of the City’s fleet in the past.
Prior to its transformation, the crash attenuator truck was used as a dump truck by the City’s Public Works Department. For over 15 years the dump truck hauled debris, assisted in water and sewer emergencies and plowed roads. When it became apparent that its usefulness was coming to an end, staff proposed the transition to a crash attenuator rather than sending the vehicle to auction. Thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA), the vision quickly became reality.
“The safety of our staff is paramount, but the high price of equipment can be a constraint,” said City Manager Curtis Holt. “We’re fortunate to have a team of smart, visionary people who are constantly coming up with innovative, cost-effective solutions. The grant funding from MMRMA was also integral to making this happen, and we’re grateful for their support.”
Ted Seil, fleet supervisor for the City of Wyoming, led the project and oversaw the truck’s transformation. “Converting the dump truck into a new use was a unique project for the fleet services technicians. We’re pleased with the results and the cost-savings, and we’re happy to know our colleagues will be safe out on the road when responding to emergencies.”
Since the completion of the attenuator truck, it has been used six times. In each case Wyoming public safety officials and staff have remained safe while responding to emergency situations.
Wine tourism is a relatively new industry, at least in the scale that it exists today. A new show being aired on WKTV Channel 25 will take a look at the people who make the wine, host the guests, and work daily to create the wine country experience.
The show, “Wine Country @ Work,” will air at 8 p.m Mondays, 5 p.m. Tuesdays, and 7 p.m. Fridays on WKTV Channel 25.
The most visited wine region in the world is San Francisco’s north bay, including Napa and Sonoma counties. The small populations in these agricultural regions host millions of international visitors, most of whom are inebriated. Yet they do that gracefully and graciously. What’s their secret? That is the question that leads the hosts of Wine Country @ Work, local tour guides, to go behind the scenes into a wide variety of workplaces, discovering what talents and skills are necessary to create a great wine tourism destination. The people who work there come from all over the world, drawn to this icon of wine, to learn, to work and to enjoy. The show enjoys beautiful scenery, unique locations and wonderful stories. Taken together it offers interesting lessons about what we call hospitality, lifestyle, and success.
As fits Wine Country this is a very fun, relaxed show, that looks deeply into how people make things work and create a life style they enjoy. This is not a wine country confection interviewing wealthy owners who visit their “wineries” twice a year. The people featured here are the ones that make the wine, host the guests, and work daily to create the wine country experience. It makes them easy to relate to and people can see themselves in those roles.
Many local residents — as well as those around the world — will be celebrating the Vietnamese New Year, or set, this weekend. And by doing so, will usher in the year of the Dog. What are the meanings behind the Asian zodiac signs. Community member Adrian Dang offers us some insight.
