Category Archives: 3-bottom

Kepley wins bid for re-election, Bridson takes 1st Ward City Commission seat

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Election, Our Cities, Politics, , , ,
Mayor Stephen Kepley talks to supporters at Paris Cafe & Desserts, his headquarters for election night.

 

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

“I am a man who likes to cross the t’s and dot the i’s,” said Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley as he watched the poll numbers roll in from the 2017 election results at his evening campaign headquaters at Kentwood’s Paris Cafe & Desserts.

 

By 8:30 p.m., Kepley had a secure lead of 3 to 1 to his challenger Scott Urbanowski. It was a lead that Kepley never relinquished with him winning his bid for a second term with 2,116 votes to Urbanowski’s 696.

 

“I am really excited about the next four years,”Kepley said. “I truly love serving the citizens. I love the city, the residents and the neighbors.”

 

Kepley said he believes it is a team effort of the city managers and department heads who have made the positive decisions to push the city forward and he is excited about seeing the “positive changes we can make in Kentwood” over the next four years.

 

“Ultimately, I did not convince enough people that Kentwood needed change in the Mayor’s Office and that I was in the best position to make that change,” Urbanowski said in a released statement. “Nevertheless, I’m grateful to everyone who voted, volunteered, or donated in support of this young person with no elected experience or establishment support.

 

“I am glad that I was able to spark conversations about issues that matter; to help boost interest in local government; and to get to know Kentwood and its people even better.”

 

1st Ward City Commission Candidate Emily Bridson takes photos with supporters.

Challenger Emily Bridson had to wait a little longer before celebrating her victory last night. Bridson held a 2-to-1 lead over incumbent Gerald DeMaagd for most of the night with her winning the 1st Ward City Commission seat with 890 votes to DeMaagd’s 451.

 

“I am really excited about this opportunity,” Bridson said from her campaign celebration at Peppino’s South. “I have met so many people and made a lot of new friends. I have a greater understanding of a lot of priorities from what they love about our city and what they would like to see changed. I am going to work on a strategic plan to address those changes.”

 

Bridson said she is very honored to have gone through this process. “I want to thank Jerry for his service,” Bridson said. “I am excited and looking forward to to working with Mayor Kepley and the commission.”

 

In statement released this  morning, incumbent DeMaagd said:

 

“Emily Bridson has won the Kentwood 1st Ward City Commission seat by substantial margins. She conducted a textbook campaign, and executed well. She is smart, capable, and deserves the win based on her efforts.

 

“I think there is a further story here though, given the level of outside influence on both the mayoral and commission races which are officially non-partisan. The pre-election campaign reports filed with Kent County show that 53 of Bridson’s contributors were from other cities outside Kentwood, and only 5 from Kentwood (plus herself).  Post-election campaign reports aren’t due until Dec. 7. Allegedly she was endorsed by the UAW (United Auto Workers), although she did not advertise it. On the other hand, the mayoral candidate, Scott Urbanowski’s campaign literature does state that he was ‘ENDORSED by the Kent County Democratic Party’.

 

“Although these actions are  perfectly legal, it does show the amount of outside interest in what is essentially a local race.

 

“As a candidate, I received several calls from voters about my position relative to national issues. They say all politics is local… but I think that for Kentwood it’s actually the reverse: All local politics is now national!“

Adoptable pets of the week: Herrin, Chessy, Esmeralda & Diamond

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , , , , , ,
Meet handsome Herrin!

By Brooke Hotchkiss, Humane Society of West Michigan

 

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.

 

Herrin — Male Boxer/Bulldog Mix

I am a friendly and playful 1-year-old dog! I would do best in a home with no other pets or small children. I would do well with a family that has the time to play with me, take me for walks, and work on basic training. I’m a happy guy with a lot of love to give, if I sound like the right fit for you please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan!

 

More about Herrin:

  • Animal ID: 36092394
  • Breed: Boxer/Bulldog
  • Age: 1 year
  • Gender: Male
  • Size: Medium
  • Color: White
  • Neutered
Regal Chessy likes things on her own terms

Chessy — Female Domestic Short Hair Mix

I am a 5-year-old cat looking for my forever home! I need to be placed in a home with no dogs and no small children. I am social and playful, however, I am not very tolerant of being picked up or petted. I need an environment where I can approach people on my own terms and in my own time and have a space to hide when I need to be alone. I do enjoy playing with people, especially with wand toys once I have warmed up. Please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan!

 

More about Chessy:

  • Animal ID: 31798714
  • Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix
  • Age: 5 years
  • Gender: Female
  • Size: Small
  • Color: Grey
  • Spayed
  • Not declawed
A gorgeous girl sitting pretty — that’s Esmeralda!

Esmeralda — Female Pit Bull mix

I am a loving and laid-back, 2-year-old dog! I’m very sweet and social, and I love people. I would do best with respectful older children. I love going for walks and walk well on a leash. I’m a happy girl with a lot of love to give. If I sound like the right fit for you, please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan!

 

More about Esmeralda:

  • Animal ID: 36916972
  • Breed: Terrier, American Pit Bull/Mix
  • Age: 2 years
  • Gender: Female
  • Size: Large
  • Color: Grey/White
  • Spayed

 

Sweet, shy Diamond needs a home where she can shine!

Diamond — Female Domestic Short Hair

I am a 4-year-old cat looking for my forever home! I can be shy at first, but I’m also very sweet and enjoy the company of people. I need an environment where I can approach people on my own terms and have a space to hide when I need to be alone. Please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan!

 

More about Diamond:

  • Animal ID: 36365449
  • Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix
  • Age: 4 years
  • Gender: Female
  • Size: Small
  • Color: White/Brown
  • Spayed
  • Not declawed

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.

Protecting Ourselves from Fraud — Watch out for ‘fake bills’

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Non-Profits, Senior Living, , ,

 

By Regina Salmi, Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan

 

A few weeks ago, I came home to an envelope on my kitchen counter and a note from my mother-in-law, stating “I received this bill. I will pay it tomorrow.” It was a bill for $179.00. I called her immediately and told her not to pay the bill. Her response, “Well, I already put a check in the mail.”

 

My mother-in-law didn’t owe anyone $179.00. She knew there was something wrong with the bill, which is why she brought it to my house and left a note. In the two hours between the time she left my house and I returned her call though, she convinced herself it was something she must owe, wrote out a check and put it in the mail. It took several phone calls, a check cancellation fee, and three days to resolve the issue. At the end of it, my mother-in-law exclaimed, “Why I’ve never gotten into so much trouble for paying a bill!”

 

Of the many scams out there right now, one of them involves ‘fake bills’. Scammers produce mailings pretending to be companies like Consumers Energy, AT&T, and even the IRS — companies with whom most people would likely have an account. These mailings claim that there is a past-due amount and the bill needs to be paid immediately to avoid legal action.

 

These scams prey on values like stewardship, responsibility, trustworthiness, and honesty. They also prey on fear. People like my mother-in-law would be troubled to think they owe a utility company money and inclined to pay it immediately. When people pay these fake bills though, they lose more than money. In the process of paying, whether by check or credit card, they are releasing even more personal information to these criminals. In addition, because they fell for the scam, their information is sold to other unscrupulous people for future scams. An innocent person can become stuck in a terrible web of fraud.

 

It’s important that we begin to develop behaviors to protect ourselves from those who want to take advantage of us. There are actions we can take to avoid becoming their prey when we encounter these scams.

 

Don’t Panic. Even if something says, “Pay Immediately!” you can allow yourself 3-5 days to make sure the bill is legitimate. It is much more difficult to unpay a bill than it is to pay it.

 

Be skeptical. Did the bill come in a different envelope than your usual bill? Does the account information match your current account information? Do you owe this company money? Nancy Kropiewnicki, AAAWM Contract Administrator and Coordinator of the Kent County Elder Abuse Coalition, advises, “Being skeptical needs to be our first response when we receive these requests and we need to take the time to make sure it is legitimate before we send anyone our money.”

 

Check your records. Confirm the accuracy of the bill. Whether we write it down, keep a file of previous bills, use our bank’s bill pay service, or sign up for an online account with companies we do business with, we should be able to find out rather quickly whether we owe money.

 

If you’re questioning a bill, compare account numbers. Often the fake bill has a completely different account number than your actual account. Additionally, Kropiewnicki warns, “Do not call the phone number listed on the bill as it is most likely fraudulent. Look up the company’s phone number on a previous bill, the phone book or Google and call to verify the authenticity of the bill.” Calling the number listed on the bill could result in more scams coming your way.

 

Get another set of eyes on it. Do you have a friend or family member who would agree to be your go-to person for questionable bills/requests for payment? If you don’t have someone, you could ask your bank teller to review it, a staff person at your senior center, or trusted member of your church. It’s important to have another person look at it who might be able to notice oddities about the bill that you did not. 

 

Educate yourself. The Michigan State Attorney General website has a page dedicated to consumer alerts. You can also access help and resources from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

 

The bottom line is take your time. Kropiewnicki states, “Scammers use fear tactics to frighten people into paying phantom bills. They threaten legal action and arrest. Don’t fall for it!”

 

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, contact your local law enforcement agency for help. Financial exploitation can also be reported to Adult Protective Services at (855) 444-3911. If you’re not sure where to turn, you can also call Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at (888) 456-5664 or email us aaainfo@aaawm.org.

School News Network: Schoolyard watershed stewardship

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Kole James and Anaiah Dokes find creek critters

By Erin Albanese

School News Network

Oh, the creatures you’ll find in a creek!

Early Childhood Center students shrieked as they discovered the tiny inhabitants of Plaster Creek. “I got something! It’s got legs! It’s got legs!” one squealed as she scooped an insect from a mini-pond created over plastic inside a hula hoop.

Students explored, observed and connected with nature during Water Day, a celebration of Plaster Creek. It was organized by West Michigan Environmental Action Council and with participation from Plaster Creek Stewards with General Motors, Grand Valley State University, Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds, Kent County Department of Public Works and the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute.

Samantha Ramirez-Garcia learns about water bugs from WMEAC intern Brooke DeBaar

At themed water stations set up in the school’s Outdoor Learning Lab, students learned about the Plaster Creek Watershed, ecosystems, biodiversity, life cycles, and plastics and other pollutants.

It was all about taking care of their surroundings, said Jessica Vander Ark, director of environmental education for WMEAC. Even the district’s youngest students can be involved in taking care of the creek,  which flows through the ECC school yard.

“We think it’s so important that these students are finding out they have a creek they are partially responsible for. Their families and their actions all affect the watershed. We want to start teaching the whole idea of stewardship early… We want them to care about Plaster Creek and the Grand River Watershed.”

 

Gabriel Quintino examines creek water

Vander Ark takes fourth-graders stream sampling for macro-invertebrates each spring through WMEAC’s program “Teach for the Watershed,” which is run through a partnership with General Motors. Water Day extends teaching about the creek and watershed into earlier grades. “We wanted to find a way to do more and involve more of the students at Godfrey-Lee,” she said.

Preservation and Restoration

Plaster Creek Stewards, a program operated through Calvin College, hosts projects and outreach events to restore the creek, polluted over the years by stormwater runoff that brings contaminants into the creek and excessive sediments.

Program assistant Andrea Lubberts said part of their mission is educating students about how they affect the 58 square-mile watershed and how to reduce water runoff and contamination.

Devin Golden examines what’s in the water

Calvin and Godfrey-Lee Public Schools are both in the Plaster Creek watershed. “We feel very responsible for the health of the watershed because we live here,” Lubberts said. “If students understand that we all live in the watershed and we all affect someone else, we can start taking action.”

Second-grade teacher Lindsay Blume said the day ties in with science standards, including bodies of water and landforms. She said learning about those things right in the school yard is impactful.

“I like when they get outside and learn about the community and see what there is to explore. I hope they get out of it a better understanding of water, and more respect for it.”

Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.

Michigan food specialist Lisa Rose talks medicinal plants, how to find them

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, , ,

With its wealth of botanical diversity, the Midwest provides an abundance of healing herbs accessible to all. Michigan food expert Lisa M. Rose will be visiting Schuler Books & Music to discuss how to forge and identify those plants.

 

Rose will be at Schuler Books & Music, 2660 28thSt. SE, on Friday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. Author of the popular book “Midwest Foraging,” Rose will be discussing her newest title, “Midwest Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harves, and Use 109 Wild Herbs for Heath and Wellness.” The book is designed for all levels to help them find, identify, harvest, and safely use wild medicinal plants.

 

Lisa M. Rose

The author is a herbalist, forager, urban farmer, and writer. Rose’s interest in ethnobotany and herbal medicine has taken her across the United States and into the Yucatan Peninsula, mainland Mexico, Nicaragua, and Brazil to study plants, people, health, and their connection to place. Rose leads foraging plant walks and teaches classes on edible and medicinal wild plants.

 

For more information about this program or other events at Schuler Books & Music, visit schulerbooks.com.

School News Network: Students put design thinking to use with voters

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, , ,

By Erin Albanese

School News Network

 

To learn about an upcoming school bond proposal, high school business students are zeroing in on their neighbors by using the Design Thinking process.

 

Challenged to work on something real in their own community, students in teacher Jon Bushen’s Business Marketing Management class needed to determine the needs and desires of voters, said Skylar Pichey, co-president and marketing director for the class. She and classmates each interviewed three neighbors by going door-to-door to hear their thoughts on the 18-year extension up for vote Tuesday Nov. 7. The request, if approved, would generate $79.5 million for district-wide facility improvements without raising the tax rate.

 

Students considered problems, obstacles, needs, insights and themes in creating a plan to reach voters with bond information

Part of design thinking is empathizing, getting to know what your users — in this case, voters– do, say think and feel. It’s an interesting process, Pichey said. Neighbors expressed support, indifference and some negativity when asked for their thoughts on the bond. Students wrote voter ideas and comments on sticky notes to capture what each person said. “We put them all together to examine their insights,” she said.

 

Teacher Jon Bushen attended a training on Design Thinking in the classroom offered by the the Kent ISD Career Readiness Department last summer. He plans to use it in several ways this school year, but started with the bond, an issue that affects his students directly. Now they have the chance to offer an important student voice in the bond process, Bushen said.

 

“Most of the students didn’t really know what the bond entailed in depth, so they had to sit with (Superintendent Thomas Reeder) and (Matt Lewis, assistant superintendent for finance and administrative services) and really ask the questions.”

 

Design Thinking involves creating a plan based on what you’ve learned about your user, and students are reaching out with information to voters. They passed out information and wristbands at the Homecoming Carnival; they are encouraging students who are old enough to vote with the incentive of free pizza if they head to the polls; they handed on Trick or Treat bags with bond information at the school’s Halloween Trunk or Treat event.

 

Skylar said she’s had to be straight-forward with people that passing the bond is personal to her. “You really have to make it seem like, ‘I really want this to pass. It’s very important to me.'”

 


Business student Chyna Johnson Pruitt helped pass out Trunk or Treat bags with bond information on the front

Hoping for a ‘Yes”

 

Skylar said she believes they are having an impact. Neighbors who first said they didn’t see a reason to vote, seemed to listen.

 

“I think the school really needs this,” Skylar said, pointing out the crammed hallways and poor climate control. “People look down on us because we don’t have money, because we aren’t Grandville and we aren’t Hudsonville (public schools) but we could be that way.”

 

Business student Albert Zamarripa said using the design-thinking process showed him it’s not simple to assess the community’s perspectives, and that’s taught him a lot about marketing.

 

“It’s been a great experience to have this as a project. I’ve never been a part of anything about this. To know you did something for this, it just makes you feel that much better.”

 

Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.

Veterans’ problems, solutions are center stage on latest WKTV Journal: In Focus

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Faces, Veterans, ,
Kent County director of Veterans Services Carrie Anderson on the set of WKTV Journal: In Focus. (WKTV)

WKTV Staff

news@wktv.org

 

With Veterans Day coming this week, and veterans issues important every day, the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus, WKTV’s public affairs show, finds program host Ken Norris talking with the Kent County director of Veterans Services, Carrie Anderson, about the problems faced by our region’s veterans and the county, state and federal efforts to provide possible solutions.

 

Also on this episode, first-term State Representative Steven Johnson talks about his busy first year in Lansing.

 

Kent County director of Veterans Services Carrie Anderson. (WKTV)

As part of the discussion with Anderson, a veteran herself, she discusses the alarming statistic that each day 20 veterans commit suicide in this country, available services — including help for homeless vets — and why her job is more than just a job.

 

The episode will debut this Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., and will again air on Thursday, and again next week on the same days and times on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.

 

For the video of Ms. Anderson’s at WKTV visit here.

 

For the video of Mr. Johnson’s at WKTV visit here.

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 6:30 p.m., on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel. This episode will have a special airing on Wednesday, Nov, 15, at noon on Comcast Channel 25.

 

November high school sports transition from fall to winter action

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Education, Kentwood Public Schools, Sports,
Girls high school basketball starts this month with a limited schedule late in the month. (The West Michigan Lutheran girls basketball team is shown here from last season). (WKTV)

By Mike Moll

sports@wktv.org

 

November will not only bring the Thanksgiving holiday, but also a closeout of the high school sports fall seasons.

 

The boys and girls cross country finals will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.  Girls volleyball is working their way through Regionals and are heading to the state semi-finals and finals at the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek on Thursday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 18, for all four classes.  Boys soccer state finals are also on the fourth at Rochester Hills Stoney Creek for divisions 1 and 3 and divisions 2 and 4 will be at Comstock Park.  Girls swimming and diving will also conclude with state finals on Nov. 17–18 at Oakland University, Holland Aquatic Center, and Eastern Michigan University. The last championships will be handed out on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving with football finals being played at Ford Field in Detroit.

 

The winter seasons also start up this month with boys hockey dropping the puck for the first time mid-month and WKTV will be there as East Kentwood entertains East Grand Rapids on Nov. 17.  Girls basketball tips off their season the last week of the month.

 

The 12th Annual Stubby Overmire Card Show and Auction will once again be at the Wyoming Lee High School Gymnasium on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 18-19.  As always, the highlight guest will be baseball’s last 30 game winner Denny McLain who compiled a 31-6 record as he was part of the 1968 World Championship Detroit Tigers team.  He will be joined by two other members of that world championship team as Mickey Stanley will once again appear along with first timer Tom Mathchick.

 

WKTV will again be bringing boys and girls basketball along with boys hockey to the viewers once again so be sure to check the weekly schedule for broadcast dates and times.

 

Currently, WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on  WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.

 

For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/

 

Local high school sports events this week are as follows:

 

Tuesday, Nov. 7

Girls Volleyball

Grant @ South Christian

 

Thursday, Nov. 9

Girls Swimming

East Kentwood @ Zeeland – MHSAA Diving Regionals

 

Lead poisoning on the rise in Kent County — 40% rise in zip code 49507

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

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

By Paul Haan, Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan

 

After a decade of decline, the number of lead-poisoned children in Kent County is rising. Recent data shows a 40 percent increase in lead-poisoned children in the 49507 zip code during the past two years. This Grand Rapids neighborhood leads the state in numbers of lead-poisoned children. In fact, more children were lead poisoned in 49507 than all seven Flint zip codes combined — before, during, and after the Flint water crisis.

 

According to data provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), 615 Kent County children had elevated blood-lead levels in 2016 — the year for which most recent data is available. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has established 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) as the reference level at which the CDC recommends public health actions be initiated.

 

Two out of every three lead poisoned-children in Kent County live in zip codes 49507, 49504 or 49503. These are high-poverty, high-minority neighborhoods in Grand Rapids. African-American children were lead-poisoned at twice the rate of white children in Grand Rapids in 2015, according to MDHHS data.

 

“Many people are unaware that lead exposure from dust in the house and soil in the yard is the culprit,” said Paul Haan, executive director of the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan and gubernatorial appointee to the state of Michigan’s Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission. 

 

It should be noted that lead in the water is not the cause here: The city of Grand Rapids water testing under the federal Lead and Copper Rule demonstrates that Grand Rapids has been in compliance since 2001. The amount of lead in Grand Rapids water is far below federal thresholds and is among the safest in the state.

 

Currently, houses in Kent County aren’t required to be tested for lead. A property owner can sell, rent or remodel a home without checking it for lead or lead hazards. The city of Grand Rapids last updated its housing codes in regards to lead in 2005.

 

“Many property owners and property dwellers may have no idea that dangerous lead exists in their home,” Haan said. “Even well-intentioned remodelers might not be dealing properly with lead and actually making the problem worse.”

 

Haan also said there is a correlation between the current housing crisis and the increase in lead poisoning. “With West Michigan’s robust real estate market, it’s harder now to find healthy homes to live in. The seller’s market is great for sellers but not necessarily good for buyers and renters.”

 

Last fall, Grand Rapids was awarded $2.9 million in HUD funding to fix homes with lead-based paint hazards. Typical “fixes” include new windows and exterior painting or siding. The HUD funding is available to eligible homeowners, landlords and tenants. 

 

The city of Grand Rapids  administers the funding locally. In September of this year, the city expanded program eligibility, making funding available to even more people.

 

Anyone who owns or rents a home in the city of Grand Rapids built before 1978 is encouraged to learn about funding eligibility. For more information, please call the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan at 616.241.3300 or visit www.GetTheLeadOutGR.org. Or, contact the city of Grand Rapids Community Development Department at 616.456.3030.

 

 

Kentwood 50: Comcast celebrates the city’s history with an eye toward the future

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For the past 15 years of Kentwood’s 50-year history, Comcast has been proud to serve the city’s residents and businesses with internet, TV and voice service. Like Kentwood, which prioritizes investing in services that matter most to the community, we also continuously invest in our network as well as new products and services so our customers can rely on the technology in their homes and businesses.

 

Most recently, we’ve introduced Xfinity Mobile, which combines the nation’s largest 4G LTE network with our expansive national WiFi hotspot network so that you can stay connected virtually everywhere you go in Kentwood, Michigan and across the nation.

 

We have been a proud supporter of many Kentwood community initiatives, including the city’s 50th anniversary celebration, the Summer Series and the Kentwood-Wyoming Chamber.

 

Comcast Cares Day

In addition to financial support, as a company we are deeply committed to volunteering in the communities where our employees and customers live and work. One example of our focus on volunteerism is our annual Comcast Cares Day where hundreds of thousands of Comcast employees and other community members come together to make change happen across Michigan and the nation. Started in 2001, Comcast Cares Day is Comcast NBCUniversal’s annual celebration of our year-round commitment to service. Comcast Cares day is the largest single-day corporate volunteer event in the nation, with more than 900,000 volunteers having given more than 5 million hours of service at nearly 9,000 project sites since 2001.

 

Another key philanthropic focus is our commitment to bridging the digital divide. Through the Internet Essentials program, we have connected more than 500,000 low-income families, or more than 2 million Americans, to the power of the Internet in their homes. Internet has the ability to transform lives, strengthen communities, and inspire a new generation of leaders.  It levels the playing field by creating greater access to education, health care, employment opportunities, news, information, and entertainment.

 

As Kentwood continues to grow and thrive, we look forward to being a part of the community’s ongoing success as a reliable technology provider. We’ll keep investing in our network, products and services, and our people who serve Kentwood residents and businesses so that you can continue relying on us for many of your technology needs. We also know that a superior customer experience at every touchpoint – in person, over the phone and online – is important to Kentwood residents and business owners. We’ll continue to work to make customer service our best product.

 

Ford Museum’s new political music exhibit speaks ‘Louder Than Words’

3-bottom, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Politics, Veterans,
(Supplied graphic)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

President Richard Nixon had his Elvis sighting; George W. Bush had his bond with Bono; Bill Clinton and Barak Obama had a ton of encounters with the politics of rock ’n’ roll music.

 

The constant is that since the 1960s, the songs and songwriters of rock have been a consistent voice on the political and social scene, and even presidents are not immune to the influence.

 

So, after opening at Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, and then spending early this year at the prestigious Newseum in Washington, D.C., the exhibit, “Louder Than Words: Rock, Power & Politics” — which explores the power of rock music to change attitudes about patriotism, peace, equality and freedom — will open at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum next week.

 

The exhibit will open Tuesday, Nov. 7 and run through Feb. 11, 2018. (It will then travel to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library in 2018, and then the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in 2020.)

 

Photo of exhibit with clothing related to war protest songs. (Supplied)

Using video, multimedia, photographs, periodicals and artifacts, “Louder Than Words” showcases the intersection between rock and politics. According to supplied information, the exhibit “explores how artists exercise their First Amendment rights, challenge assumptions and beliefs, stimulate thought and effect change.

 

“Beyond music’s influence on the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and gender equality, the exhibit also features other significant moments and figures, such as Bob Dylan, who rallied people against social inequality, the hip-hop music of the 80s that discussed police brutality in poverty stricken neighborhoods, and Pussy Riot, who utilized their music as an outlet for social activism in Russia.”

 

A supplied description of the exhibit goes on to say: “Whether you identify as red or blue, we all bleed rock and roll. Voicing political beliefs mixes its way into conversation and lyrics all the same. Whether you’re a fan of Jimi Hendrix’s “Star Spangled Banner” reinvention or Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’ ” insightful ballad, many musical artists have broached the subject of politics or have reacted to the current political and cultural climate through note and song. Inside of a song or performance, artists feel safe expressing their opinions and inviting fans to connect with their message regardless of party affiliation.

 

“Do those same established boundaries exist today? The stage has recently come under fire for openly expressing political critique, which prompts the question — is free speech still protected inside of a performance or song? Regardless of recent and future criticisms, artists will continue to fold political sentiments into their work, and we will continue to support those rock and rollers, unafraid of controversy, letting their music play louder than words.”

 

Photo of exhibit with clothing related to war protest songs. (Supplied)

The original exhibit included exclusive video interviews with Bono, David Byrne, Dee Snider, Tom Morello, Lars Ulrich, Gloria Estefan, Gregg Allman, Jimmy Carter and others to examine how music has both shaped and reflected our culture norms on eight political topics: civil rights, LGBT issues, feminism, war and peace, censorship, political campaigns, political causes and international politics.

 

Artifacts in the original exhibit include Joe Strummer’s Fender Telecaster, correspondence between the FBI and Priority Records regarding N.W.A’s “F*** the Police” song, original handwritten lyrics from Neil Young’s “Ohio” and artifacts related to the Vietnam war and the May 4, 1970 shooting at Kent State.

 

As part of the exhibition run, the Ford Museum will also present several special events:

 

A lecture, “The Meaning of the Vietnam War”, will be presented by Fredrik Logevall on Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at the museum. Logevall is the winner the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for his book, “Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America’s Vietnam.”

 

In his lecture, he will trace the path that led two Western nations to tragically lose their way in the jungles of Southeast Asia. Logevall is the Laurence D. Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and an author of numerous books on the Vietnam War.

 

A discussion, “Arlington and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier”, will be presented by Tom Tudor on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. at the museum.

 

Tudor will actually give a two part talk in one event. The first part focuses on Mr. Tudor’s personal connection with the historic cemetery as he recalls his time standing watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The second part gives the history of Arlington National Cemetery and discusses some of America’s finest who are laid to rest within the gates.

 

(An aside: remember that the museum will present its annual Outdoor Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. Always a grand kickoff to the holiday season.)

 

The Vietnam War Lecture Series will also continue on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. with Dr. Edward J. Marolda presenting “Admirals Under Fire: U.S. Naval Leaders and the Vietnam War”.

 

Marolda, before his retirement in 2008, served as the Director of Naval History and Senior Historian of the Navy at the Naval Historical Center, Washington, D.C. He has authored and coauthored numerous books with an emphasis on the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War.

 

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is located at 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids. For more information visit fordlibrarymuseum.gov .

 

(Supplied graphic)

For a YouTube video related to the exhibit, visit here.

 

WKTV reviews the candidates and millage proposals for the 2017 elections

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Tomorrow, Nov. 7, is election day and residents in both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming have items on the ballot.

 

City of Kentwood

 

In the City of Kentwood, residents will be electing their city officials for the next four years. Of the six city positions up for election in Kentwood, only two are contested.

 

The first race is for the office of mayor, featuring incumbent Stephen Kepley who will be facing challenger Scott Urbanowski. Kepley was elected to the mayoral position in 2013 having served as a city engineer. Urbanowski is president and founder of Humanoid Digital, a digital media company.

 

For more on the mayoral candidates, check out the We the People Mayoral candidate article or view the September mayoral candidate forum hosted by the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

The other contested race in the City of Kentwood is a 1st Ward City Commissioner seat with incumbent Jerry DeMaagd facing challenger Emily Bridson. For more on the candidates, see the We the People 1st Ward Commissioner article or view the September 1st Ward Commissioner candidate forum hosted by the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

There are also four races in Kentwood that are unopposed. Those are Dan Kasunic, for clerk, Laurie Sheldon, for treasurer, Betsy Artz, for commissioner at large, and Tom McKelvey, for 2nd Ward city commissioner.

 

City of Wyoming

 

Those in the Wyoming Public School District, the largest district in the City of Wyoming, will be voting on an extension of the district’s millage for $79.5 million to be used on infrastructure projects. For a detail look at the extension and what the money will be used for, check out the WKTV Journal article by K.D. Norris.

 

Cities of the Kentwood and Wyoming: The Rapid Millage

 

The Rapid is seeking a renewal of 1.47 mills. The millage, which has been active for the past seven years, is about a third of The Rapid’s total budget of $44 million, covering about $15.5 million. For more about the millage, see The Rapid millage story by WKTV Editorial Assistant Hannah Haviland.

 

 

Local legislators, parties weigh in on defeat of latest attempt at no-fault insurance reform

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The Michigan House of Representatives. (Supplied)

 

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

The House of Representatives defeated an overhaul of Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance system on a 45-63 vote Thursday night after 90 minutes of debate on the House floor but months of political bickering and conflicting advertising efforts.

 

The Nov. 2 defeat of the house bill also brought conflicting reactions from local and statewide officials.

 

Wyoming- and Kentwood-area representatives Tommy Brann (R-77th District) and Steve Johnson (R-72nd) split their votes on the issue, with Johnson voting in support and Brann in opposition.

 

“Tonight, I voted in support of reforming Michigan’s no-fault insurance system,” Johnson wrote in a supplied Facebook post explaining his vote. “Michigan drivers pay the highest rates in the nation for car insurance, which is why this is one of the top issues many of you discuss with me all across the district. While the proposed plan wasn’t perfect, it was a step in the right direction to provide coverage choice, reign in fraud, and lower rates for Michigan drivers. Unfortunately, a majority of my colleagues did not vote in support … (however, I) … look forward to seeing the conversation on this important and meaningful topic continue in the future.”

 

State Rep. Tommy Brann

While Brann said he thought “90 percent of the bill was good” he said the three-tiered approach to medical coverage limits was just not something he could go along with. “I have the obligation to my constituents,” Brann said to WKTV Friday. “An obligation to protect them and make the right decisions for them.”

 

He said he thought that if some families chose the lower medical limits and then were in an accident, it could be disastrous. “I’m thinking about the parent with a little girl, and they are in an accident and that little 10-year-old girl needs rehabilitation for the rest of her life.”

 

“This is important, and I hope we will continue to work on this,” he said. “But I just do not think it (this bill) would protect my constituents.”

 

Michigan’s high insurance rates in the nation, according to most critics, are because of the current no-fault insurance system’s unlimited medical benefits for people injured in car accidents, as well as insurance companies’ ability to charge different rates based on where people live — a particular problem for urban areas such as Detroit.

 

Few believed the packages of changes, House Bill 5013, was a complete fix for the many problems of the existing system, but some viewed it as a start in providing rate-payer relief from the highest auto insurance rates in the nation.

 

Supporters of the bill, including the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, said the bill “could” save motorists and businesses as much as $1 billion a year by allowing persons buying insurance choices on what amount of medical coverage they need buy. It also would have imposed price limits on medical providers who care for auto accident victims.

 

In general, the bill was also supported by auto insurance providers, but opponents often pointed out that there were not guarantees that insurance rates would go down — something one local insurance agent did not agree with.

 

“While there are no guarantees, anytime you install a reimbursement schedule that caps charges at a lower rate than today it would seem a good thing” for rate payers, Pat Curran, managing agent of Wyoming’s Precision Insurance Agency, said to WKTV. “One of the hardest parts in insurance pricing is knowing what your costs are going to be. Under the current system there is no such pricing structure.”

 

In general, the bill was opposed by the state’s medical providers and trial lawyers, but it also was opposed by lawmakers and others who pointed out that there was no guarantee that insurance providers would lower rates as a result of the changes.

 

“The Michigan Health & Hospital Association has been adamantly opposed to House Bill 5013 throughout deliberations on the bill, and we are encouraged by the fact that the Michigan House of Representatives opted to vote down what was simply a bad bill,” Brian Peters, CEO at the MHA, said in a statement released on their website Thursday night.

 

“We know that Michigan drivers want lower rates when it comes to their auto insurance premiums, and we would welcome the opportunity to work with legislators if and when they decide to go back to the drawing board when it comes to meaningful rate relief for drivers that protects benefits available to those seriously injured in auto accidents.”

 

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce also reacted to the defeat of the bill, saying in a statement that it was disappointed in the “63 of the 110 members of the Michigan House who turned their backs on Michigan drivers today and voted ‘no’ on reforms to the state’s broken and costly auto insurance system.”

 

“Lawmakers had a real opportunity today to drive down Michigan’s highest-in-the-nation auto insurance premiums,” Rich Studley, chamber president & CEO, said in the statement. “Unfortunately, 63 members of the Michigan House chose to turn their backs on their constituents and the state’s 7.1 million drivers and side with a handful of greedy ambulance-chasing personal injury attorneys and hospitals that profit from the status quo.”

 

“Even though the vote today failed, these lawmakers will need to explain their no vote to their constituents,” Jim Holcomb, general counsel for the chamber, said in the statement. “We remain confident that the drivers of our state won’t find these lawmakers’ excuses acceptable and force them back to the table to tackle the very real problem of Michigan’s highest-in-the-nation auto insurance costs and its primary cost-drivers.”

 

Environmental, weather satellite set to launch this month

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Joint Polar Satellite System

The first Joint Polar Satellite System will launch this month with WTKV featuring coverage of the launch on Friday, Nov. 10. The launch will be from the Vandenberg Air Force Base. Coverage will begin at approximately 4:15am.

The launch will air on NASA TV which can beset on WKTV 26 Government Channel on Comcast and on AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99.

 

JPSS (short for Joint Polar Satellite System) is a series of high tech satellites that will keep an eye on the weather and environment. These satellites will circle the Earth from North Pole to South Pole 14 times each day as the planet spins below. This allows JPSS to see the whole Earth twice every day!

 

JPSS-1—the first satellite in the JPSS series—has a suite of advanced instruments to collect information about what’s happening in the atmosphere, on the land, and on the surface of the oceans. From its orbit 512 miles above Earth, JPSS-1 will help:

 

  • Create more accurate weather forecasts up to 7 days in advance.
  • Track how the weather affects plants, including forests and the crops that grow our food.
  • Monitor ocean health by taking detailed measurements of water temperature and color.
  • Keep tabs on the atmosphere to create earlier warnings of severe weather.
  • Watch for volcanoes and forest fires around the world to monitor air quality and enhance public safety.
Also on Saturday, Nov. 11, WKTV will be featuring the launch of the Orbital ATK Antares/Cygnus on the CRS-8 Mission to the International Space Station. Coverage begins at 7 a.m. with the launch scheduled for 7:37 a.m. Cygnus will deliver vital equipment, supplies and scientific equipment to the space station.
On Monday, Nov. 13, WKTV will be featuring coverage of the Rendezvous and Capture of the Orbital ATK Cygnus CRS-8 Cargo Craft at the International Space Station. Coverage starts at 4:15 a.m. with the grapple scheduled for 5:40am. Installation of the Cargo Craft starts at 7 a.m.
For more information on NASA TV or the International Space Station, log on to www.nasa.gov.

One of the most decorated Michigan veterans keynote speaker at Wyoming’s Veterans Day event

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Captain Paul J. Ryan of the United States Navy will be the keynote speaker at the Veterans Day Ceremony

The City of Wyoming will hold its annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Garden, 2300 DeHoop Avenue SW.

 

Captain Paul J. Ryan of the United States Navy will be the keynote speaker for the event. Captain Ryan is one of our most decorated Michigan Veterans, having received many awards, most notably the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. Captain Ryan retired from active duty in 2005 and is currently the Vice President and Senior Trust Officer for Fifth Third Bank. The Lee High School band will perform at the event along with the Wyoming Department of Public Safety Honor Guard; Mayor Pro-Tem Sam Bolt will host the ceremony.

 

“The City of Wyoming is committed and proud to recognize those who have served, and continue to serve our country in the armed forces and protect our freedoms,” according to Rebecca Rynbrandt, Director of Community Services for the City of Wyoming. “Our Memorial Day and Veterans Day Ceremonies are a tribute to that service and protection.”

 

The Wyoming Department of Public Safety, 2380 DeHoop Avenue SW, will also be accepting donations for the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans during the month of November, Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. Items sought for donation include $25. gift cards for local fast food restaurants, Meijer, Wal-Mart, Dollar Tree, Gordon Food Marketplace, etc., candy bars, pens, batteries, stamps, grooming/hygiene items, and clothing that is new or gently used.

 

Kentwood 50: City hosts first-ever Ugly Sweater 5K

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It’s time to pair your running shoes with your favorite ugly sweater for Kentwood’s Ugly Sweater 5K Cross Country Run.

 

The race will begin at noon on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Stormy Creek Golf Course, 3460 36th St., Kentwood. The course will wind through the golf course, making for a fun and challenging run. The City, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2017, is inviting runners and walkers to join this unique type of race.

 

“This is the first time the City has offered a cross country race. Participants will get to run on grass and gravel, cross bridges and even be challenged with a couple of hills,” said Laura Barbrick, marketing and events coordinator of Kentwood’s Parks and Recreation Department. “The ugly sweater aspect adds a fun twist that the whole family can enjoy.”

 

Runners and spectators are encouraged to dress up for this fun 5k and show off their ugliest sweater. After the race, there will be an awards ceremony for both runners and the ugliest sweaters.

 

Registration is $35 and includes a knit beanie. For more registration information, visit www.kentwood50.com.

56th Street, Wilson Avenue rezoning proposal pulled from Wyoming City Council agenda

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The rezoning request for the proposed Reserve at Rivertown PUD has been pulled from the Nov. 6 meeting.

Per the request of the developer, a proposed rezoning for the 56th Street and Wilson Avenue area has been taken off the Wyoming City Council’s agenda for the upcoming Monday night meeting.

 

The Granger Group had been seeking a rezoning of an an additional 98 acres to a development on Wilson Avenue and 56th Street. The additional acreage would have been combined with an approved 2001 current planned unit development (PUD) for that area bringing the PUD to a total of 211.2 acres.

 

Granger spokesperson David Jackiewicz, with First & Main Corporate, confirmed last week that Granger was requesting the city council postpone the hearing on the rezoning so as “to allow the Planning Commission to review an updated PUD plan we recently submitted…” Jackiewicz confirmed that on Oct. 19, Granger Group did submit an amendment to its original 2001 PUD that would include a mix of condominiums, townhouses, and single family homes.

 

Granger started the rezoning process in August. In that proposal of the 211.2 acres, there would have been zero office space but about 3.57 acres of retail space and 686 total housing units. Those units would be 316 single family lots and 370 apartments with no multi-family housing. The Planning Commission had recommended denial of the rezoning request to the Wyoming City Council, which has the final decision on rezoning.

 

The rezoning request had meet with much opposition from residents currently living in and around the development. At a Sept. 5 City Council meeting, at the Granger Group’s request, the council decided to delay a decision until its Nov. 6 meeting. Company officials stated at the meeting that it was their desire to work through the issues and come up with a plan that would have a mutually satisfying conclusion.

 

Some of the concerns expressed by residents were:

  • decrease value to existing homes
  • density too high in one spot
  • increase traffic along 56th Street
  • violation of current property owners’ rights
  • developer does not need to max out the density on the PUD
  • residents should have input on changes
  • growth assumptions of 1 percent are too low
  • putting a strain on local police and fire services
  • there already are lots of other options for luxury apartments
  • other developments such as The Haven have not open and the full impact of those on school and community resources remain an unknown

 

“It [was] higher right now with M-6, I get that,” said Wyoming resident Jason Gillette, who was discussing the traffic on 56th Street. “Even without that, it is very high traffic in the area. In the evening, I’ll be coming and have to wait 20 minutes…depending on what time you come through.”

 

Gordon VanMeulen, who is with the Wyoming Citizens for Planned Progress, said everyone understands that there will be development in the area, but it needs to be sensible and balance.

 

“The 2020 Land Use Plan and Wilson Corridor Report recommended multi-family housing on the northland as a buffer to the RiverTown Crossing and single family homes on the southend,” VanMeulen said. He stated his group is not in favor of the rezoning because of current issues with the Granger Group’s Rivertown Valley, density and number of multi-family units and the failure to follow the 2020 Land Use Plan and the Wilson Corridor Report.

 

In a staff report presented to city officials, staff said that the proposed rezoning does comply with the 2020 Land Use Plan falling under the 4 units per acre overall density. The proposal called for 3.66 units per acre.

 

“When you buy some property next to some vacant land you should really understand can and might be done there,” said 3rd Ward Council Member Robert Postema at the Sept. 5 City Council meeting. “And when we have a PUD in place that is exactly what has been done. Those homeowners have a right to expect what was going to be built behind them. It was all planned out in the PUD. The exact nature of the building may not have been built as it was but the idea that they would have some condominiums behind them, some open space, and then apartments way up by Wilson that was pretty well established.”

 

Employment Expertise: Five Strengths Veterans Bring to a Job

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By West Michigan Works!

 

Veterans leave the military with a set of skills valuable to employers. Here are five skills essential to every job-seeking veteran’s resume:

  1. Strong work habits — Veterans in the workplace are known for completing projects in a timely, efficient manner. These work habits are a result of maturity, integrity and self-confidence learned during the service.
  2. Flexibility and adaptability — Individuals in the service are trained to meet the changing needs of their environment and are quick to adapt to the new working environment.
  3. Initiative — Veterans bring with them the ability to create a plan of action that translates into the ability to solve problems quickly and independently.
  4. Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines — Military service requires a job done right the first time. Service members can prioritize, adjust and deal with stress in a positive manner.
  5. Ability to give and follow directions — People in the military understand accountability and how to work well with others. They’re respectful yet direct when making sure a job is well done.

Veteran Appreciation Week

All ten service centers in West Michigan are celebrating veterans and their spouses during Veteran Week from Nov. 6-9.

 

Events include:

  • Veteran Priority Day: receive on-demand services such as resume development, career exploration, interviewing skills. Appointment not needed.
  • Early Veteran access Hiring Events: meet with employers looking for new talent before everyone else.

See the list of all events here.


Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.

Geopolitics, security threats, Russian power on World Affairs Council discussion agenda

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In this 2014 U.S. Army photo, and Army of the Republic of Macedonia soldier confers with a U.S. Army officer. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Cody Harding)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Soft power in the Balkans, specifically from the point-of-view of the Republic of Macedonia — if any of that was unclear, you need the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan.

 

The Grand Rapids-based chapter of the World Affairs Council is often the local go-to information source for up-to-date information on an ever-changing world and America’s military and political place run it.

 

Starting next week, with a discussion by Vasko Naumovoski, Ambassador to United States from the Republic of Macedonia, titled “Soft Power in the Balkans”, the council will be offering three open-to-the-public discussions in November.

 

Ambassador Naumovoski’s talk will be Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 6-7 p.m., with a social hour starting at 5:15 p.m., at the University Club, on the 10th Floor at 111 Lyon St. NE, in downtown Grand Rapids.

 

The event is $15 for members and guests, to be paid at the door. No RSVPs are needed but an email would be appreciated if one plans to attend as there will be a cash Bar and light hor d’oeuvres (and the count will help with ordering food).

 

There is free parking in the 5th/3rd bank lot if you park after 5 p.m. (The lot entrance is off Ottawa Avenue between Michigan and Lyon streets.)

 

Other events in November include U.S. security, Russia

 

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, the council will present “Top Five Threats to America’s National Security”, with Dr. Lori Murray, former Endowed Chair for National Security U.S. Naval Academy. Murray will address the five threats to the U.S. that Secretary of Defense James Mattis identified in June, 2017: North Korea; Russia; China; terrorist groups; and Iran.

 

The discussion will be from 7-8:30 p.m., with time for a Q&A, and will take place at  Western Michigan University Grand Rapids at 2333 E. Beltline. The event is $15 and no RSVPs are necessary.

 

On Tuesday, Nov. 14, the council will present “Russia 2018: Putin’s Last Act?”, with John Beyrle, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia. Beyrle is a graduate of Grand Valley State and has been back to speak several times to speak on topics at the council. For more information see the council’s website.

 

Primer on the Balkans, the Nov. 7 speaker

 

The countries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia — collectively known as Balkans — are adjacent to Russia and the European Union.

 

However, from ancient time until today, it has been difficult for one power to control the Balkans, according to information from the council’s website. This intense geopolitical competition makes the Balkan region one of the most contested and conflict-prone regions in the world, and part of that rivalry is unfolding through soft power and cultural diplomatic means.

 

Ambassador Naumvoski has been an ambassador since 2014. He is also a professor of international relations at the department of law at the St. Cyril and Methodist University in Skopje, where he earned his bachelor, master’s and doctoral degrees. From 2009 to 2011, he was deputy president of the government of the Republic of Macedonia and in charge of European affairs. In that post he began the process for Macedonia’s entry into the European Union. Macedonia is currently listed as a “candidate country,” in the process of integrating E.U. legislation into national law.

 

For more information these events and World Affairs Council of Western Michigan in general, visit worldmichigan.org

 

Grand Rapids Com Con 2017 was bigger, better with more to celebrities

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This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Photos and article by  Katelyn Kohane, a WKTV community contributor

 

“Your mission should you choose to accept it…” is to follow me through the 2017 Grand Rapids Comic-Con.

 

“This deal is getting worse all the time.”- Lando Calrissian

 

Oct. 20-22 was Grand Rapids Comic-Con. I attended Friday and Saturday this year and was pleased to see that the event has been getting bigger and better since I attended a few years ago. It seems to have a lot more booths and better-known celebrities in attendance this time around, and there were also a lot more people as well.

 

Both days I was able to see one of my favorite actors Billy Dee Williams, who is well known for his roll as Lando Calrissian in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” Another roll of his was Harvey Dent in the 1989 “Batman.” I waited a few hours in line Friday to see Williams. I always find it fun waiting because you get to talk to a lot of cool people who also are waiting and you get to hear some of their stories. I actually first met Williams seven years ago while I was working at Areosmith Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster during “Star Wars” weekends at Walt Disney World. So fast forward to last weekend and I saw him and his manager again and his manager remembered me from Areosmith Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster. That was pretty cool he remembered me!

 

Williams’ line at the Grand Rapids Com-Con was as long as the last time I saw him and when It was finally time to see Williams, he was just as nice as I remembered him to be. It was great to see him again.

 

Above, the author with Billy Dee Williams. Below, a signed photo from Williams.

 

The Grand Rapids Com-Con had a number of other celebrities too. Those also in attendance were Gates McFadden from “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Kane Hooder from “Jason X,” Julian Glover from “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” and “James Bond,” and Catherine Sutherland from “Turbo: A Power Ranger Movie. Friday” I also walked around and checked out some of the booths and cool costumes.

 

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Saturday, I sat in on three panels in the main hall. The panels I attended were Jim Sterarko, “Batman,” and one featuring Williams.

 

The “Batman” panel was for the animated series, which of course I had watched. In attendance for the panel was Adrienne Barbeau who played Catwoman. Loren Lester who played Robin. Diane Pershing who played Poison Ivy and Clive Revill who played Alfred. It was a reunion for them since most of them had not seen each other in 20 years.

 

One of the questions I remember them being asked was “what where their favorite episodes?” Lester mentioned the episode “Sub Zero,” while Pershing mentioned “Home and Garden.”

 

Adrienne Barbeau, Diane Pershing, Loren Lester,  and Clive Revill during a panel discussion at the 2017 Grand Rapids Com Con.

 

In between the panel discussions, the 501st Legion gave an award to Julian Glover to honor his participation in The Star Wars Saga all these years, which was cool to see.

 

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Then it was finally time to attend the program featuring Williams. It started with a few clips from his greatest performances to get the crowed pumped up to see him. His manager came on stage to introduce Williams and also served as host. They started a question-and-answer discussion right away.

 

The first person in line mentioned that during his wedding his wife and he had an argument over whether or not the gentleman in a bridal magazine was Williams. Williams confirmed it was indeed him. His manager then had the gentleman call his wife on the phone and she spoke with Williams so he could tell her too. Later in the discussion, Williams’ manager found the photo from the magazine and put it up on the screen so everyone could see it.

 

A few people asked him if he thought race was ever an influence in whether or not he got a roll, and his answer, which I thought great, was he really had never thought how that affected him at all.

 

A few people asked him about any new and upcoming part for the “Star Wars” franchise. He did not say too much about the franchise but did mention that he had had lunch with Donald Glover, who plays young Lando Calrissian in an upcoming Hans Solo film set to be released next year. He also mentioned that he gets along well with the entire “Star Wars” cast.

 

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I actually had to leave about 15 minutes early so I could go to my photo op with Williams. When he was finished with the panel, he came over to the photo op. It was so nice to see him again.

 

After the photo op, I walked the booths and took a few photos. Overall, it was a great weekend at the 2017 Grand Rapids Comic-Con

 

“May the force be with you.”

Michigan author Jim C. Hines releases new book, heads to Schuler for visit

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Jim C. Hines

Michigan author Jim C. Hines returns to Schuler Books & Music this month to kick off his  new sci-fi series, “Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse.”

 

The first book in the series, “Terminal Alliance,” introduces the audience to some unlikely heroes who may just save the galaxy: a crew of space janitors. Marion “Mops” Adamopoulos is surprisingly bright (for a human). As a Lieutenant on the Earth Mercenary Corps Ship Pufferfish, she’s in charge of the Shipboard Hygiene and Sanitation team. When a bioweapon attack by an alien race wipes out the command crew and reverts the rest of the humans to a feral state, only Mops and her team are left with their minds intact.

 

Escaping the attacking aliens—not to mention her shambling crewmates—is only the beginning. Sure, Mops and her assortment of space janitors and plumbers can clean the ship, but flying the thing is another matter. As they struggle to keep the Pufferfish functioning and find a cure for their crew, they stumble onto a conspiracy that could threaten the entire alliance of all the sentient species.

 

Hines, who is known for his humorous fantasy “Jig the Goblin” novels and the “Magic ex Libris” series, will be at Schuler Books & Music, 2660 28th St. SE, Monday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.

 

Hines is an active blogger and won the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer. He lives in mid-Michigan with his family.

 

For more information about this program or any other Schuler Boos & Music events, visit schulerbooks.com.

 

 

Kentwood 50: Bloom Sluggett PC carries the city attorney legacy

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, , , ,
Cliff Bloom and Jeff Sluggett from Bloom Sluggett PC

Kentwood City Attorney Jeff Sluggett has some understanding of what Kentwood’s founding fathers — especially then-attorney Walter Freihofer — went through in facilitating Paris Township incorporation as a city. He faced similar challenges in helping Kentwood get a revised charter approved in the mid-1990s.

 

“It was initially defeated,” Sluggett said of the revised charter. “I had never gone through something like that. The charter commission did make some changes to the charter and it eventually was approved by the voters.”

 

The passion and commitment the residents and city leaders have for improving their city and maximizing city dollars is something that still impresses Sluggett, who has served as the Kentwood City attorney for more than 15 years.

 

“I like working in the public sector,” said Sluggett. “It is interesting to me, and often you are working with volunteers who have an energy and a passion to help make their home, their community, better.”

 

His firm, Bloom Sluggett, PC, located at 15 Ionia SW, is one of very few in the state specializing in public sector law. With a total of five attorneys, including former 61st District Judge Mike Christensen, the firm serves as general counsel to roughly 50 different municipalities which includes cities, villages, and townships and also does specialized work for about a dozen more.

 

“You have firms that have attorneys who focus on public sector law, but the entire firm is not dedicated to that,” said Cliff Bloom, Sluggett’s partner. Public sector law covers a broad spectrum of law from drafting ordinances to bankruptcies, Bloom said with Sluggett adding that it is focused on a very limited pool of clients, specifically municipalities.

 

Bloom, as well, has deep roots in public sector law. He worked alongside Freihofer, who was considered the dean of municipal attorneys.

 

“He was well loved,” Bloom said of Freihofer. “He would comment a lot on how much the area had changed. It has changed some from when I worked with Freihofer in the 1980s, but my impression is that it changed significantly during the 1960s and 70s, going from rural to suburb.”

 

While working with Freihofer, Bloom served as the prosecuting attorney for Kentwood in the mid-1980s and he also worked alongside Kentwood’s second city attorney, Robert Cooper. Several years later, Cooper would eventually work with Sluggett, with Sluggett becoming Kentwood’s third city attorney upon Cooper’s retirement in the early 2000s.

 

Sluggett said they have seen Kentwood grow and prosper through the years. “I think the reason for that is, first, Kentwood has had some very good people running it,” he said. “They have some of the best department heads we have worked with throughout the state.

 

“Second, they are willing to take risks and anticipate what is coming. It is very much a team approach. For a city that size — more than 50,000 — they are not afraid of moving forward.”

 

And with that leadership and passion, Sluggett said he believes Kentwood will continue down that path of growth and prosperity.

 

Holland Home’s Nov. 8 event focuses on providing person-centered care for those with dementia

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Non-Profits, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , ,
Teepa Snow

By Alison Clark

 

Holland Home will host world-renowned dementia expert and educator, Teepa Snow, for a free seminar on dementia on Wednesday, Nov. 8. ‘Dementia 360°:  Seeing it from all Directions’, will cover dementia from a variety of perspectives, and is ideal for caregivers, family members and healthcare professionals.

 

Snow will provide a comprehensive analysis and care perspective on dementia, including its impact on the person living with it. She will discuss the disease process, how a person experiences a change in brain ability and the effects on the family and support networks.  Snow is an advocate for those living with dementia and has made it her personal mission to help families and professionals better understand how it feels to live with various forms of dementia. The seminar aims to help participants gain a deeper knowledge of dementia and learn key strategies for how to best relate to and provide care for those suffering with the disease.

 

“Dementia has a profound impact on each person it touches,” said Mina Breuker, CEO & President of Holland Home. “Holland Home is a leader in memory care and we want to equip caregivers and family members with information and tools to provide compassionate care for individuals living with the disease. We’re excited to host Teepa Snow, and learn from her personal experience with and professional expertise on dementia.”

 

Snow’s philosophy and education reflect her lifelong journey with dementia. Her person-centered approach has evolved to meet the complex and unique needs of individuals with the disease. Snow strives to grow an appreciation of differences with seminar participants that will lead to better care and support of those living with changing abilities.

 

The seminar will be held at Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin College, 1795 Knollcrest Circle SE in Grand Rapids, from 7 to 9 pm. No RSVP is necessary. More information can be found at hollandhome.org/events or by calling 616.235.5000. 

Sen. Peters presents Michigan WWII veteran’s local family medals, honors

3-bottom, Politics, Veterans,
U.S. Senator Gary Peters presents medals and honors to the family of Army Private Frederick Ash. (Supplied)

By Sen. Gary Peters office

 

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mi.) last week presented nine medals and honors to the family of U.S. Army Private Frederick Ash. Ash bravely served in the European Theater in World War II and passed away in the 1950s. Peters helped obtain the commendations after Mr. Ash’s daughter contacted his office to ensure his contributions to our nation were properly honored.

 

Peters is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

 

“Private Ash was part of the Greatest Generation, fighting in the trenches of Europe in defense of our country, our allies and our shared democratic values under threat from a fascist dictator,” Peters, a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, said. “Private Ash suffered through harsh conditions and distinguished himself through meritorious conduct in the fight against tyranny, and today we honor his patriotism and valiant service on behalf of a grateful nation. While some of the details of his story have been lost to history, I hope that with these medals his heroic actions will live on in the memories of his children and grandchildren who are here today.”

 

The awards presented to the Ash family include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Double Bronze Star Attachment, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, and Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II.

 

Frederick Ash was born and raised in West Michigan, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in the Spring of 1942 at Fort Custer — shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in the as an infantryman in the European Theater during World War II. Following his honorable discharge in 1945, he returned to West Michigan and started a family. He worked as a commercial fisherman in Saugatuck, and was tragically killed in a boating accident in the 1950s.

 

All records of Ash’s service were destroyed in a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center. Due to the fire, records regarding the extent of Private Ash’s actions, including those that earned him the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, are no longer available.

 

Cat of the week: Nigella

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , , , ,
Beautiful Nigella

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

On July 11th, 2016, Dr. Jen received this email from a wonderful gal, Kate, who is doing her part to help out the homeless cats in her neighborhood:
“Hi, Dr Jen, I feed a feral colony and end up attracting friendly strays from time to time. I’ve brought some to you in the past and I swear the minute I bring in one, another one appears. I always wait to see if they hang around or seem to have a home, but for the past 6 weeks this grey female has been basically living on my porch. At first she was scared but now she is very friendly; she has been looking more and more sickly with her fur very unkempt, and also she’s getting skinnier … she’s not doing well and she is not comfortable in my house. …”
It took a few weeks before we had an opening, but in the meantime, Kate combed an entire cat’s worth of matted fur off of her 3-year-old rescue (born in the summer of 2013) and managed to fatten her up a bit. Dr. Jen discovered the reason why kitty wasn’t eating or grooming herself that well was because she had two bad teeth that needed to be extracted AND she was also losing weight from having chronic diarrhea. Tests revealed she was internal parasite-free, so Dr. Jen suspected the loose stools were from the fact that kitty was eating more soupy canned food versus dry kibble. In any case, Dr. Jen was able to get the kitty’s medical issues under control, and a few days after her arrival, this incredibly sweet but painfully shy girl made her way down to Crash’s.

Nigella has a soft, gentle purr and is quick to roll over for belly rubs once she feels comfy, but as soon as anything startles her she high-tails it back to her safe place. It goes without saying that Nigella will need a very quiet, stable home environment to flourish in; she will require a person with patience to allow her to come into her own at the pace she sets for herself. She will need a room to herself, at least initially, as Nigella is all about taking baby steps towards her goal of becoming a brave soul.

Nigella, after a good brushing

After a month at the shelter, she still wasn’t ready to leave the cozy confines of our intake suite, so we let her guide us as to when she was ready to roam. The nice thing about our facility is that there are no time limits or constraints, and every single cat can acclimate and adjust according to his or her own comfort level.

We strive to make the Crash’s experience a positive one for everyone, tailoring it to meet individual needs. It doesn’t matter to us how long it takes.

More about Nigella

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

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.

WKTV Journal: In Focus offers discussion on local school, transit millage requests

3-bottom, Area Education, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Education, Election,
Wyoming Public Schools, shown here in a photo supplied by the district. (Supplied)

WKTV Staff

news@wktv.org

 

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus, WKTV’s public affairs show, program host Ken Norris talks with Wyoming Public Schools Superintendent Tom Reeder about a Nov. 7 local ballot measure that would modernize district infrastructure and radically alter the high school. Then a representative of The Rapid public transition system talks about the importance of his organization’s request for continued public support.

 

Wyoming Public Schools superintendent Thomas Reeder’s district is seeking to modernize its buildings and other infrastructure. (WKTV)

Reeder’s district is asking for voter support for what will eventually be an investment of about $79.5 million into district infrastructure. The current approved millage would not increase or decrease, but passage of the request would extend the current millage rate for 18 more years — and would “set up the district for the next two decades,” Reeder says.

 

Michael Bulthuis of The Rapid public transit system. The Rapid is seeking a renewal of the system’s current 1.47 mil local property tax millage. (WKTV)

Michael Bulthuis, Marketing and Communication Manager for The Rapid public transit system, talks about the request to voters in Wyoming and Kentwood for renewal of the system’s current 1.47 mil local property tax millage. Wyoming and Kentwood are two of the six greater Grand Rapids community which are provided public transit and which would pay the millage. Mr. Bulthuis talks about his organization’s current services provided, its funding sources, and to give us some details on the renewal request.

 

The episode will air twice this week on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.

 

For the video of Dr. Reeder at WKTV visit here.

 

 

For the video of Mr. Bulthuis at WKTV visit here.

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 6:30 p.m., on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

School News Network: A $1.48 Trillion Problem

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$1.48 trillion is the amount of college debt owed by U.S. citizens who’ve had to borrow to attend college

By Ron Koehler

School News Network

 

$1.48 trillion.

 

It’s a big number. And it’s a huge problem.

 

$1.48 trillion is the amount of college debt owed by U.S. citizens who’ve had to borrow to attend college. It’s a debt that’s growing at the rate of $2,726 every second, according to the business publication MarketWatch, which makes it likely it will be closer to $1.5 trillion by the time you read this blog.

 

For comparison purposes, U.S. credit card debt is nearly a half trillion less, pegged by MarketWatch at $1.021 trillion.

 

So just how much is $1.48 trillion? Enough, Forbes reports, to amount to $4,920 for every person in the United States. If we were to extend this debt worldwide, it would amount to $194 for every human on the planet, or about a third of the annual per capita income in the Central African Republic or the Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

Michigan’s share of that debt is approximately $5,330 per person. Nationwide, Forbes estimates more than 1.1 million people have college loans between $100,000 and $150,000.

 

“Houston, we have a problem.” Yes, you do. Texas loans amount to $4,510 per capita.

 

How can it be that we have accumulated this much in debt and still have businesses groaning about a talent shortage?

 

That’s a good question.

 

Some who bear the debt are asking it themselves. Forty-five percent of 1,500 respondents concluded college was not worth the cost when Americans with student debt were surveyed by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

 

It’s this mountain of college debt and the rapidly changing job market that prompted nine in 10 respondents to regional surveys conducted by Kent ISD last year to say they wanted greater connections between K-12 education and the world of work.

 

We’re not alone: 82 percent of the nearly 1,600 adults surveyed for the 49th annual Phi Delta Kappa International Poll of the Public’s Attitudes toward the Public Schools said they “support job or career skills classes even if it means some students might spend less time on traditional academics.”

 

Does that mean students should no longer aspire to attend college?

 

No.

 

“College graduates, on average, earned 56% more than high school grads in 2015, according to data compiled by the Economic Policy Institute,” according to USA Today, using the most recent figures available. “That was up from 51% in 1999 and is the largest such gap in EPI’s figures dating to 1973.”

 

And, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fastest growing jobs over the next decade will require post-secondary certifications or college degrees of varying durations.

 

What it does mean is everyone choosing to go to college should have a solid career path in mind.

 

College is not an end. College is a means to an end. Just half of students entering college leave with a degree after six years. None of those who leave without a degree are prepared for the fastest growing jobs cited in the Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

 

What Schools Can Do

 

How can schools help? We can connect students to the world of work, to help them understand the jobs available, to create relevance in their education, and to help them make better choices in their educational and career pursuits after they graduate high school.

 

Kent ISD school districts, and the school districts in Ottawa and Muskegon area ISDs, are working with the Talent 2025 CEO group to help students make these connections.

 

Northview is an example of a school district that is making employability skills a measure of student performance. Things like punctuality, the ability to work as part of a team, to communicate and think critically and creatively about real-world problems are among the challenges that will face students in college, in careers, and in the curriculum Northview is developing.

 

The Kent Career Tech Center is working on a “talent transcript” to house the employability skills, college credits and other credentials earned by students during their high school careers. Kent ISD is also working to bring a career portal to students that will match their knowledge, skills, aptitudes and career aspirations with the region’s employers, so they can match their interests with opportunities.

 

It’s not the total answer, but it’s a start. You’ll be reading much more about these initiatives and others in School News Network over the next year.

 

We have to do something. None of our students, nor society, can afford six years in college and six-figure debt without the promise of a high-wage career awaiting their graduation.

 

Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.

Public comment welcomed as Wyoming’s Public Safety Department seeks accreditation

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, , ,

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive on Monday, Nov. 6, to examine all aspects of the Wyoming Department of Public Safety policy and procedures, management, operations and support services, Chief James Carmody announced today.

 

“Obtaining confirmation that the Wyoming Department of Public Safety meets the standards set forth by the Commission is part of the process by which we achieve professional excellence.  Accreditation is consistent with our mission to ‘efficiently and effectively manage our resources to deliver the highest level of police service to the Citizens of Wyoming’”, Carmody said.

 

As a part of the on-site assessment, the public and agency employees are invited to offer comments on the agency’s services and overall performance at a public information session to be held at 5:30 on Tuesday, Nov. 7,  at the Wyoming Senior Center building located at 2380 DeHoop Avenue SW.

 

If, for some reason, an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would like to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone. The public may call 616-530-7313 on Tuesday, Nov 7, between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m.

 

The telephone comments as well as those made at the public information session are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the Commission’s standards.  A copy of the standards is available at the Wyoming Public Safety Department.  For further information, contact Lt. Mark Easterly at 616-530-7308.

 

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Wyoming Department of Public Safety’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write:  Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155.

 

The Wyoming Department of Public Safety must comply with 484 standards in order to maintain accredited status. The assessment team is comprised of law enforcement practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies. The team will review written materials, interview individuals, tour the facilities, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed. Once their review is complete, the assessors will report back to the full Commission which will then decide if the agency is to be granted reaccredited status. Accreditation is for the next four years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited. The Wyoming Department of Public Safety was originally accredited in 2012.

 

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. please write the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155 or call 800-368-3757 or 703-352-4225 or www.calea.org.

GVSU interfaith conference: building healthy relationships with global neighbors

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism
R. Scott Appleby

By Matthew Makowski

Grand Rapids Valley University

 

Fear, division, skepticism and assumptions are the foundations of many national and global headlines, but the annual Academic Consortium Conference will encourage attendees to build healthy relationships with their neighbors.

 

The 2017 Academic Consortium Conference will take place Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 1-8:30 p.m., in the Donnelly Center at Aquinas College. The event is sponsored by Grand Valley State University’s Kaufman Interfaith Institute and Interfaith Academic Consortium.

 

The conference is free and open to the public, but registration is required by Nov. 7. The registration deadline for an optional lunch and dinner is Nov. 1. To register, and for more information about the conference, visit http://gvsu.edu/s/0zG.

 

“We often lose the capacity to see one another as humans who collectively have something to offer to our communities,” said Kyle Kooyers, Kaufman Interfaith Institute program manager. “Simply saying that our region or country is diverse is not enough. True community is achieved only when that diversity is engaged positively through collaboration, service, dialogue and understanding.”

 

R. Scott Appleby, dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame and expert on global religion, will present two keynote presentations during the conference. “When Religions Collide: Sources of Intra-Religious and Inter-Religious Conflict,” which will take place at 1 p.m., will focus on the barriers to religious collaboration, including conflict within and among religions, as well as external factors that inhibit cooperation.

 

Appleby’s evening lecture, entitled “When Religions Collaborate: Models of Religious Cooperation for Peace and Justice,” will take place at 7 p.m. It will explain the capacity that various religions have to collaborate with one another.

 

As an expert on global religion, Appleby focuses on its relationship to peace, conflict and integral human development. He currently co-chairs the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Task Force on Religion and the Making of U.S. Foreign Policy. Appleby’s research examines the various ways in which religious movements and organizations shape, and are shaped by, national, regional and global dynamics of governance, deadly conflict, international relations and economic development.

 

Appleby has written 15 books, including The Fundamentalism Project (co-edited with Martin Marty), The Ambivalence of the Sacred: Religion, Violence and Reconciliation, and The Oxford Handbook on Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding (co-edited with Atalia Omer). He also serves as the lead editor of the Oxford University Press series, “Studies in Strategic Peacebuilding.”

School News Network: When Monsters Call and Teachers Read, Students Listen

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, , , , ,
Teacher Shantel VanderGalien reads a passage from that cracks up some of her eighth-graders

By Erin Albanese

School News Network

 

The shared love of a book was on display in English teacher Shantel VanderGalien’s eighth-grade honors class as she read aloud from “A Monster Calls.” Creating a monster voice with a plummy British accent, VanderGalien revealed her theatrical side.

 

The young teens, seated in a circle around VanderGalien, interjected with observations like “foreshadowing!” and “simile!” as they listened closely to the narrative.

 

VanderGalien is devoting about 15 minutes of class time for several days over the next few weeks to read the award-winning book, written by Patrick Ness and illustrated by Jim Kay, to her Wyoming Junior High School students. Riveted, they recently reacted to a chapter-ending cliffhanger at the end of class as if it was /// torture to stop. “Ahhh! No!” they cried, realizing they would have to wait until the next day to know what happened next.

 

“Everybody likes to be read to,” VanderGalien said.

 

VanderGalien’s class is among more than 2 million students in 25,000 locations throughout the world signed up for Global Read Aloud, a project started in 2010 with the goal of using one book to connect the world. The premise is to read a book aloud to children during a six-week period and make as many global connections, via online tools, as possible, sharing the book and thoughts. This year, middle school groups had three books to choose from, including “A Monster Calls” — a novel that’s hard to keep on the shelves, VanderGalien said.

 

“What I wasn’t able to anticipate is the depth of my students’ love for the story,” she said. “Every single time I stop reading, they are like, ‘What! You can’t stop there!'”

 

Global Rad Aloud connects students around the world through the share loved of books, like “A Monster Calls,”

Picture This

VanderGalien, a 14-year-teacher, said she’s learned over the years why students of all ages connect so well with being read to. It’s made her realize the need to teach vocal inflection and pauses in connection with dialogue and punctuation.

 

“Students say, ‘I can’t see it in my head when I read, but when you read to me, I can see it,'” she said. “More of how I teach grammar is now embedded in us investigating the reading.”

 

Students said they enjoy VanderGalien’s dramatic reading.

 

“I can see it a lot better when she reads it because she does all the voices,” said eighth-grader Aubray Palma. “She is pretty much like a little kid. How she talks like the monster does, that’s what I see in my head.”

 

Neveah Morofsky said she loves the raspy, scary voice of the monster and the imagination involved.

 

“I’m a really big reader,” the eighth-grader said. “I read a lot, but it’s a lot of fun having Mrs. VanderGalien read to us. We are thinking of getting her an alphabet rug like we had in kindergarten.

 

“I really like her reading to us because she does all the voices. She has a lot of fun with it and so do we.”

 

“We get to learn together as more of a class,” added student Logan Boukma. “For us to be read to, we can understand it better. (VanderGalien) uses cool accents to make it more enjoyable and relatable.”

 

Another goal is challenging students to summarize, determine themes, analyze texts and complete other required standards using “A Monster Calls.” Students will also use the book in argumentative writing.

 

A Global Book Club

Global Read Aloud also has a big-picture piece involving universal themes. VanderGalien is hoping great conversations result in connecting online with students in different parts of the world through platforms like Write About.com, Flipogram.com and Google Classroom.

 

“I really emphasize having a voice in global citizenship. When they start evaluating the themes in the novel and seeing that people halfway around the world are getting the same messages, that’s when global themes become more concrete.”

 

Students said they look forward to hearing what other students think of the book.

 

“Everybody gets a different experience from the book and we can talk about it and see where everyone is coming from,” Neveah said.

 

“They say you should put yourself in other people’s shoes,” Aubray said. “We get to do that and experience what other people think.”

 

Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.

Students sit in a circle to listen the teacher Shantel VanderGalien read

 

Kentwood Police seeking assistance in identifying suspect in home invasions

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, ,
The coat the possible suspect could be wearing.

A series of home invasions in the area of 52nd Street and Eastern Avenue have the Kentwood Police Department asking for the community’s help to identify and locate the suspect(s) who may be responsible.

 

According to a recently released police report, the suspect is an unknown male who may be wearing the jacket seen in the accompanying photos.

 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentwood Police Department at 616-698-6580 or Silent Observer at 800-774-2345.

 

In addition, the Kentwood Police Department is also reminding its citizens to keep their doors locked, exterior lights on and their garage doors shut at night and to call the local police department if they see or hear anything suspicious.

On tap: Share a brew with a boo, beer fest in Kalamazoo, and GR cocktail week 

3-bottom, Beer, Local Entertainment, Local History, ,
Beer and cocktails — and drinking responsibly — will be the center of attention in November as several special events come to West Michigan. (Courtesy New Holland Spirits)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Mitten Brewing Company — located in an old firehouse at 527 Leonard St. NW, in Grand Rapids — reportedly has ghosts with a taste for beer. But even spirits need to be 21 years of age to get a cold one, you know.

 

According to supplied information,, one night in 2012, during the second week of being open, brewery owner Chris Andrus was the last person to leave the Engine House after doing the final floor mop, at 2 a.m., and the first to open the next morning. The story goes, as he inspected the taproom, he noticed footprints left in the dried mop water on the floor.

 

“At first, Chris thought nothing of it,” we are told. “But after a few minutes of going about his business, he realized no one else had been in the building between his leaving and return, and that the prints were made by bare feet. He returned to the footprints and made a perplexing discovery: they were the footprints of a child.”

 

More footprints would show up over the years, as did shadows, silhouettes and — of course — noises.

 

The Mitten’s tap house is the Engine House No. 9 building: built in 1890, a former West Side Grand Rapids firehouse and one of the city’s few remaining Victorian landmarks. It remained an active firehouse until 1966. It was purchased and restored by The Mitten Brewing Company in 2012. So, it  would not be the first haunted firehouse.

 

So, in case you are into such things, the next time you’re in for a beer, ask the bartenders about the ghosts, or just keep watch.

 

For more information, visit mittenbrewing.com .

 

Kalamazoo Craft Beer Festival to have 250+ brews on pour

 

Talk about the ultimate tasting room …

 

More than 80 breweries will have more than 250 brews favorite and special up for sampling at the Wings Event Center Saturday, Nov. 4, as the Kalamazoo Craft Beer Festival — and while Michigan brews will, as always, be the focus of the event but  there will also be brews and breweries from all over the United States in attendance.

 

Among the special brews of note, according to supplied information, are Imperial Voodoo Vator in celebrate of Atwater Brewery’s 20th anniversary, Roak Brewing’s Cucumber IPA, and Hazy Sunset, a New England IPA from Kalamazoo’s own Boatyard Brewing Co.

 

Since man (or woman) does not live on beer alone — despite what Guinness stout’s makers might say — there will be food trucks on-site at this year’s festival.

 

The Kalamazoo Craft Beer Festival also is offering ways to make sure everyone gets home safe and sound, so while designated drivers are encouraged, taxis, Ubers, and Lyft rides are also available to and from the event— and cars left at Wings Event Center over-night will not be ticketed. Mobile homes can park and stay in the Wings Event Center parking lot, but there are no hook ups to electrical or water.

 

For more information, ticket options, and a complete brewery and beer list, visit kalamazoocraftbeerfestival.com .

 

Hemingway cocktail expert at GR ‘Wine, Beer & Food’ event

 

Drink what Hemingway drank …

 

The 10th Annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival at Downtown Grand Rapids’ DeVos Place will host Philip Greene, who has studied and written about the influence of cocktails on the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winning author Ernest Hemingway (among countless others notables) as part of the festival.

 

The festival runs Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 16-18.

 

Greene is the author of “The Manhattan: The Story of the First Modern Cocktail” and will release “The Drinkable Feast: A 1920s Paris Cocktail Company” in 2018 — named in honor of Hemingway’s posthumously published work, “A Moveable Feast”.

 

Greene’s program, “To Have and Have Another” will be presented Friday at 9 p.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m. There is no charge for these demonstrations and cocktail samples will be provided to the audience. He’ll also present four workshops throughout the course of the using spirits from Holland-based Coppercraft Distillery.

 

The Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival will coincide with the final weekend of Cocktail Week GR, presented by Experience Grand Rapids.

 

For more information on the festival, visit devosplace.org . For more information on Cocktail Week GR, visit experienceGR.com .

 

 

Taste of Redwater event to benefit CASA child advocacy group

 

Party for a good cause …

 

West Michigan’s Redwater Restaurant Group will host an evening of “food, philanthropy and fun” — their words, not mine — with food, wine and beer samples available and a portion of the proceeds going to CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children in Kent County program which “empowers everyday citizens to stand up for vulnerable children in the family court system.”

 

To be held Saturday, Nov. 11, from 6-9 p.m., at Redwater’s Work Wine & Grille, located at 500 Cascade Road SE, Grand Rapids, the event costs $40 per person with $5 per person going to CASA.

 

According to supplied information, attendees will taste appetizers, entrees and desserts prepared onsite by the Chefs from Reds at Thousand Oaks, FireRock Grille, Rush Creek Bistro, Cork Wine & Grille, Vintage Prime & Seafood, and Gravity Taphouse, as well as RedWater’s pastry chef. Live music will be prepared by the band Oxymorons.

 

For more information visit corkwineandgrille.com/specials/

 

Jonathan Peavey to take Home the “Moving People Forward” Award

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Jonathan Peavey is selected as the 6th Annual AIM High Endurance Awards “Moving People Forward” recipient from Alternatives in Motion. The award is given to an individual who demonstrates strength and endurance while inspiring, motivating, and encouraging others to reach their full potential. The award ceremony is to take place on Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Golf Club. More information about the ceremony can be found at www.aimhigh.aimgr.org.

 

Thirty-three years ago the doctors told Peavey’s parents not to expect him to live long. Born with cerebral palsy, practically mute and perpetually challenged, what’s a man to do?  Everything.

 

Jonathan Peavey

Peavey’s life has been a constant struggle to survive dismal expectations, little support outside of his immediate family, and an often insensitive medical community, aside from the care of one doctor who never failed to believe; yet he has continually influenced those around him, sometimes before they’ve met and often with live-changing results.  What many would consider to be a winless battle is simply “normal” to a man who has survived more than three decades beyond what anyone in the “delivery room” expected.

In 1992 surgery took part of his legs. In 1996 a feeding tube took his ability to taste.  In 2006 a tracheotomy took his voice. Each time he was given the option of surviving by giving up a physical part of himself or letting go.  In each case, Jonathan chose to live. In 2010 he participated in his first marathon.

 

“Jonathan’s life is a living testimony that when society says you can’t do something, you can” said Angela Peavey. “He’s participated in over 30 endurance events, raised a lot of money for charities worldwide through a documentary about his life, educated people about living with a disability; and in the end he wants nothing but to share encouragement, hope, and joy to other ‘Jonathan’s’ around the world.”

 

West Michigan is home to great leaders, coaches, race directors, mentors, charities, sponsors, and volunteers that make our endurance events possible. A.I.M. High awards focus on the people who have made the commitments and sacrifices to challenge themselves and do something most people will never even try.

 

“In 24 years serving and empowering thousands of persons with disabilities we have created a stronger healthier community today” said Coleen Davis, Executive Director of Alternatives in Motion. “We’re excited to invite the community to get to know us and our vital mission, in addition to honoring this year Awardees.”

Employment Expertise: Why a Seasonal Job is Great for Your Job Search

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By West Michigan Works!

 

With the holiday shopping season right around the corner, retailers are growing their staff to meet customers’ needs. Last year more than 640,000 seasonal jobs were filled. This year even more openings are projected.

 

If you’re looking for a job, consider a temporary, seasonal position. Here’s why:

 

Gives you experience. Whether you’re providing customer service in a store or fulfilling online orders in a warehouse, you will encounter opportunities to problem-solve. You can use these situations as examples in future interviews.

 

If you aren’t working right now, this job can fill in an employment gap on your resume.

 

Provides a referral. Before your last day, ask your supervisor (or a colleague) to be a referral for future jobs. Consider exchanging personal email addresses and phone numbers so you can keep in touch if they move to a different company.

 

Leads to future opportunities. Treat your seasonal job like a permanent one. Impress your supervisor by being on time and working hard. If you are interested in long-term employment with the company, let your supervisor know. Ask them to keep you in mind for future opportunities.

 

Expands your network. Build a relationship with your coworkers and let them know you’re looking for a permanent job. Keep in contact with them after your position ends via social media, email or phone calls.

 

Ready to look into a seasonal position? Here are four openings to get you started in your search:

Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.

With city and commercial cooperation, grand opening of 28 West Place more than ribbon-cutting 

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At the ribbon cutting, from left, Megan Sall, City of Wyoming assistant city manager and Downtown Development Authority director; Bob O’Callaghan, President of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce; Joshua Weiner, CEO Meyer C. Weiner Company; Tom Swoish, Southern Michigan Bank & Trust; and Matthew McDade, Meyer C. Weiner Company. (Supplied/City of Wyoming)

 

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

The 28 West Place parking lot and sidewalks were a buzz of activity Saturday, Oct. 21, when the business-focused City of Wyoming and its business partners held the official grand reopening of the shopping center once known as Wyoming Village Mall.

 

But there was much more of a crowd going into and out of several businesses than there are watching the usual ribbon-cutting — and that was just fine with everybody getting their pictures. Making the shopping center much more attractive and easier to access was what their efforts were all about.

 

“The last time we had a grand opening here was 1978, when we had renovated the shopping center,” Joshua T. Weiner, of mall owner Meyer C. Weiner Company, said to WKTV Journal. “It has been from 1978 until now, really, that this shopping center had gone through a major transformation.”

The mall first opened in 1962, when it was called Southland Plaza. It was dedicated to Weiner’s grandfather, Harry, “who was a haberdasher on Ionia Street in Grand Rapids, who predicted the growth of this area,” Weiner said.

 

And over the years, through good times and not-so-good times, businesses have come and gone from the location, but Weiner said two things remained constant.

 

“The one constant, of Wyoming and this particular location, on Michael Avenue (SW), is 28th Street,” he said. “28th Street has always had great traffic, great volumes, and has made this location a viable one for over 50 years. The demographics have changed, in the marketplace, over that time, and in order to meet the needs of the marketplace we’ve had to change with those times in terms of the merchants who are here and the development we have. We think we have done that.

 

“The other constant has been a close working relationship with the City of Wyoming itself. The founding fathers — and founding mothers — of Wyoming, both the elected officials and the professional staff, have worked with us hand-in-glove over the years. And (did so) this particular public-private partnership, of putting in 28 West Place, the street.”

 

A key part of the redevelopment of the center was the city purchasing land and putting in a special street  — 28 West Place Street — to allow better access to the businesses.

 

“Back in (20)08 I first got involved in this, when Carol Sheets was mayor, and we started to talk about it,” Sam Bolt, Wyoming Mayor Pro Tem, said to WKTV Journal. “When the developers wanted to get onboard, at that point, we had it pretty well laid out as to what we wanted.

 

Overview of the new 2 West Place with the 28 West Street.

“When the mall decided they wanted to go ahead with it, we bought the property … to get the street in,” Bolt said. “Last year at this time we got the street in, now we are breaking ground on it. It is just a beautiful project. It has revitalized this area. I think we have added 20,000 square feet to the mall already.”

 

28 West Place Street bisects the mall’s property to connect 28th Street to Michael Avenue. The new road is part of the City of Wyoming’s master plan to transform its downtown area into a pedestrian friendly oasis of shopping, dining, entertainment and housing, according to the city.

 

The public-private partnership to help redevelop 28th Street is in keeping with the city’s business-friendly outlook.

 

“Today we have a mindset, in the city, that we want to work with developers and retail people to revitalize the area,” Bolt said. “We work with them, not stand in their way, trying to make it a one-stop-shop, so that when they come in with a project that they want to do, they don’t have to talk to 10 different people, they talk to one person. They get their questions answered, and we go forward. … We know they have money on the line, and every day a project is not going forward is costing them dollars.”

 

The Oct. 21 with a ribbon-cutting and grand re-opening celebration was hosted by the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce as well as the Downtown Development Authority.

 

In partnership with the city, the Meyer C. Weiner Company has completed construction of its multi-million dollar redevelopment on this mall property, according to the city. In 2016, work began to demolish approximately 58,000 square feet of vacant, obsolete building space. Construction began in 2017 to add 20,000 square feet of new energy efficient building space and two out-lot buildings of approximately 11,000 square feet, along with significant property improvements to upgrade the existing retail center and its surface parking lot.

 

Since the changes took place, three new tenants have moved in: CSL Plasma, Mr. Alan’s clothing store, and Simply 10 clothing store. Additional space is available for lease, including another 5,500-square-foot pad building with visibility along 28th Street.