When we think of skilled nursing facilities, we tend to think of the nursing home where grandma went to live when she could no longer care for herself. Skilled nursing facilities are actually rehabilitation centers that cater to short-term stays, and function as a bridge between acute care or care in the hospital and a patient’s home.
What Skilled Nursing Facilities Provide
Many patients in skilled nursing facilities are recovering from an illness or injury or have had surgery such as a joint replacement.
“Hospitals are discharging patients earlier than ever, and some of those patients might need a few more weeks of skilled nursing or rehabilitation therapy,” said Sara Heethuis, Executive Director of Holland Home’s Breton Rehabilitation & Living Centre.
A skilled nursing facility can provide around-the-clock nursing care, as well as appropriate therapies —physical, occupational and speech. A skilled nursing facility can also provide specialized medical services such as wound care.
“Our main goal is to get the patient functioning well enough so that they can go back home. As a matter of fact, we begin planning for their discharge the minute they arrive,” said Heethuis. “We do have some long-term care patients, but most of our patients are only here until they are well enough to go home,”
Choosing a Skilled Nursing Facility
Family members are often faced with making the decision about a skilled nursing facility within days or hours of their loved one’s discharge from the hospital. It can be a confusing and frightening time.
One of the best places to start is at medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare. By plugging in your zip code or city, you can access information on all facilities in your area. All skilled nursing facilities are inspected and regulated by its state’s Department of Health Services and are given an overall rating, as well as ratings on health inspections, staffing and quality measures. The site also allows you to choose three facilities and compare them side-by-side.
“Breton Rehabilitation & Living Centre consistently receives four and five stars in all the areas measured. All of Holland Home’s skilled nursing facilities, including Raybrook Manor and Fulton Manor, receive four and five stars overall,” said Heethuis.
Another measure of the facility’s quality is their outcomes. Ask about the facilities’ discharge and re-hospitalization rates.
“Holland Homes’ outcomes are higher than the national average,” said Heethuis. “More of our patients are discharged to their homes, as opposed to needing re-hospitalization, than most other facilities.”
Amenities
Many facilities provide a wide range of amenities that may include catering to specific diet preferences, cable television, telephone, Wi-Fi throughout the facility, tastefully decorated private rooms, life enrichment activities and assisted excursions.
A stay in a skilled nursing facility can be a beneficial experience allowing you to return home with improved function and on the path to wellness.
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 June 13th, 2017, we took in this affectionate little girl, about 18 months of age (born in late 2015). As it turned out, Salsa was pregnant (and eating bird seed in her rescuer’s yard to feed her growing belly).
Salsa was very lucky that she stumbled into the yard of volunteer Sandy R, as she put food out for the darling calico until such a time that she could coax her into her good graces and bring her in to Dr. Jen. She recovered well from her spay surgery and was totally meshing with the other residents at Crash’s when she fell ill with Calici virus, a very contagious feline respiratory disease that strikes unvaccinated, immunocompromised kitties. Thankfully we were able to treat her successfully and she recovered fully.
Salsa has earned the nickname of ‘Sassy Salsa’ — she is a spitfire, but only in a totally endearing way. She has a lot of spunk in her teeny little body; for example, she will only eat wet food that she steals from other cats, even if you put the same food in front of her. She is not afraid to show her roommates who’s the boss and will smack them right across the face if she doesn’t like what they are doing. She will do very well in any home that has lots to do, but she would probably prefer to be the only cat.
Want to adopt Salsa? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
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.
When you live in poverty, you worry about being able to provide basic needs like housing, food and health care for your family. It is no surprise this can cause tremendous stress. Data show that the rate of adults experiencing any type of mental illness is greatest among those with family incomes below the federal poverty level (about $2,050 per month for a family of four).
Photo supplied
High levels of stress can damage both mental and physical health over the long term. This is the second installment in a series that will look at how living in poverty affects health and well-being.
Severe Mental Illness
Individuals living in poverty are at increased risk of experiencing trauma. This has been linked to increased mental illness, risk behaviors and challenges to daily life functions. Additionally, poor individuals typically experience greater work-stress because of low wages and the need to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Unfortunately, poor Americans are less likely to get the mental health help they need to manage illness and deal with excessive stress and trauma. This becomes even more tragic when you consider that individuals living in poverty are also more likely to have severe mental illness and serious thoughts of suicide. Between the physical health risks and potential of suicide, poverty is killing our neighbors.
Toxic Stress
Toxic stress occurs when a child experiences strong, frequent and/or prolonged hardship. When children are exposed to constant hardship, their bodies’ stress response is on all the time. They tend to have higher heart rates and blood pressure than their peers who aren’t living in poverty.
Long-term exposure to stress can have damaging effects on multiple organs, including the brain. Many adult illnesses, such as inflammatory diseases and increased risk for heart attack, stroke and diabetes, can be traced to toxic stress in childhood. Next week, we’ll look deeper into how poverty impacts children.
ACSET Community Action Agency’s (CAAs) mission is to fight the causes and circumstances of poverty by investing in low-income individuals and families. They do this by meeting emergency needs and assisting in areas of self-sufficiency. Through dedicated staff and community partnerships, ACSET CAA provides services, resources, education and advocacy to improve the quality of life for all residents of Kent County.
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org.
Tree work by the city will cause delays on 32nd Street Aug. 16.
By City of Kentwood
The City of Kentwood announced today, Aug. 15, that crews will be removing a fallen tree from 32nd Street midday on Wednesday, Aug. 16. The work will affect travelers using the road between Breton Road and Shaffer Avenue, and delays should be expected from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
During these times, motorists are encouraged to find an alternate route.
The 54th Annual Marshall Historic Home Tour on September 9th and 10th will feature six private residences including the Italianate-style home built in 1873 for prominent local merchant Jeremiah Cronin.
“The six tour homes reflect six different and distinctive architectural styles,” said Ray Lessnau, home tour co-chair. “The home of Jeremiah Cronin, which inspired the 1973 John Bellairs novel The House with a Clock in its Walls will be on the tour for the first time in almost 10 years. It now shows the beautiful interior design choices of the new owners.”
The nearby Queen-Anne-style home built in 1886 for Jeremiah’s brother Thomas Cronin also is on this year’s tour. It had been on two recent tours as under restoration.
The other tour homes are an 1857 Gothic-Revival-style home, an 1858 cottage, Marshall’s only Second Empire home built in 1870, and an early 1900s Craftsman-style house that was likely updated from a smaller pre-Civil War dwelling.
The tour will be 9am to 5pm on Saturday, September 9th, and 10am to 5pm on Sunday, September 10th. The Honolulu House Museum, 107 N. Kalamazoo Ave., again will be the focal point for home tour activities.
Anderson Home
The tour will include more than 20 sites including eight local museums and historic buildings at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds. Advance tickets cost $17 and are available through September 4th by going here or by calling 269.781.8544. Tickets will be $20 after September 4th. Tickets are good for both days. Parking is free downtown and at the fairgrounds. Free shuttle buses will run to the tour sites.
The Marshall Historic Home Tour began in 1964 and has grown into the longest-running home tour in the Midwest. The Marshall Historical Society uses the home tour proceeds to maintain and enhance its three museums and to support community efforts to preserve, protect and promote Marshall’s historic heritage.
WKTV will air Modern Ahabs Craft Beer Special on Monday, August 21 at 8:00pm; Tuesday, August 22 at 6:30pm; and Friday, August 25 at 7:30pm.
Craft beer enthusiast Jason Ley from Grand Rapids, MI, had been quietly brewing an idea for a TV show for almost two years.
The show, titled Modern Ahabs, explores the hunt for the world’s most elusive craft beer. With this generation’s boom in brewing, craft beer has become more than a casual pastime hobby. Like rookie cards in mint condition or vintage toys still in their original packaging, craft beer is a worldwide phenomenon — a drinkable collector’s item. Modern Ahabs dives into the unique fanaticism that steers the pursuit for these highly sought-after, coveted trophies — known to enthusiasts as “whales.”
The pilot episode features Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) by Founders Brewing Co., of Grand Rapids, MI.
Ley, who created the show, also wrote and produced the episode. He enlisted the help of director, Ben Wilke and his video production company, Deep End Films, to film and edit Modern Ahabs. The result is a non-staged, reality-style episodic series.
Filming took place in Grand Rapids, MI in March 2016 during KBS’s city-wide release festivities, KBS Week. Locations featured in the pilot episode include HopCat, Derby Station, The Winchester, The Meanwhile, and Founders Brewing Co.
Ley’s ultimate goal for Modern Ahabs is to partner with a major TV, cable or streaming network — to develop a series of multi-episode seasons, with each episode featuring a different national or international craft beer whale.
For more information, and to join the hunt, visit modernahabs.com.
City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley, second from right, was one of several government officials at this month’s Chamber Government Matters meeting. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Matters meetings brings together government leaders of all levels and a spectrum of topics, but often those attending the meeting — or watching WKTV’s rebroadcasts of the meeting — are given the rare opportunity to hear a wide-range of government voices on a single subject.
“There are really two things going on,” City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley told WKTV following the Aug. 14 meeting. “One is just to know what is going on at all the different government levels. I learn a lot just sitting with our leaders … The second is when there is a common problem, we hear about what other levels of government are trying to do to solve this problem. When we can come together … to do something, that is always good.”
Among the multi-level government discussions topics at the meeting were local and state work to control prescription opioid drug abuse, Great Lakes environment protection, and the funding crunch coming to local cities due to state funding policies.
The Chamber’s Government Matters meetings include representatives of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, Kent County, local Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, and, often, representatives of other State of Michigan and federal elected officials. The next meeting will be Sept. 11 at Wyoming City Hall.
The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Cable Channel 25. Replays are also available online at WKTV’s government meetings on-demand page (wktv.viebit.com) and on the chamber’s Facebook page.
For the first time in 40 years, the North American continent will experience a total solar eclipse, where the moon is between the sun and earth casting its shadow on the earth.
And depending where you are on Aug. 21 will determine how much of the solar eclipse you will see, according to David DeBryun, the president of the Grand Rapids Amateur Astrological Association.
“Bad news is we are not going to see a total eclipse in Grand Rapids,” DeBryun said during a special interview with WKTV’s Bre Wilson. During that interview, DeBryun said that the Grand Rapids area will experience about an 85 percent of the eclipse.
Bre Wilson with David DeBryun
He also noted that the Grand Rapids Public Museum, 272 Pearl St. SW, will be hosting a special Eclipse Day Party on Aug. 21 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The event will include hands-on solar related activity booths, multiple shows on the half hour of “Eclipses and Phases of the Moon” in the Chaffee Planetarium, and a live stream of the total eclipse will be shown int he Meijer Theater. All Eclipse Party activities will be included with general admission to the Museum. For more, visit grpm.org.
While several members of the GRAAA will be on hand at the Eclipse Day Party, DeBryun will not be one of them. He plans to be part of a group heading to Nebraska to see the eclipse. In fact, he has travelled the world to experience solar eclipses, which are a rare occurrence. The next total solar eclipse is July 2, 2019 and will across southern Africa.
DeBryun’s first solar eclipse was in 1963, when he was a young boy. “Boy do I remember that because that was the most dramatic thing I had seen in nature at that point,” he said. “It was just overwhelming. And it was the impetus for me to travel the far corners of the earth in the time since then to witness five of these total eclipses of the sun.”
With the total solar eclipse happening only about 70 miles away from the Grand Rapids area and going through such major cities as St. Louis and Nashville, DeBryun encourages residents to make the trip to experience the phenomenon especially since the next time a total solar eclipse will travel across West Michigan will be in the year 2099.
“I know I won’t make that,” he said with a a laugh.
If you plan to check out the solar eclipse, DeBryun encourages people to use the safe viewing glasses available at the Public Museum or to make an eclipse box. For other tips and more discussion about the solar eclipse, check out the interview with DeBryun airing on WKTV channel 25 at 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Aug. 14; 7 and 11 p.m. Aug. 15; 11:30 a.m. Aug. 16; and noon and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18.
State Rep. Tommy Brann on a the set of WKTV Journal’s “In Focus” public affairs show. (WKTV)
WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
On the latest episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus”, WKTV’s new public affairs show, we bring to the public a discussion with first term State Rep. Tommy Brann, as well as inviting in the director of a non-profit working to give alternatives to persons with mobility issues. And, with the high school football football season approaching, WKTV’s Ken Norris also talks with Wyoming High School’s new head coach and dean of students.
In the discussion with Rep. Brann, which will air twice a week on WKTV channels starting this week and running through Aug. 27, the businessman and legislator talks about his new “part-time” job in state government.
“I’ve only missed five nights at my restaurant, I come back from Lansing — we are only there Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday” in regular session, Brann told WKTV. “I do think it, possibly could be a part-time job. Right now, July and August, I only go one day a month. I mean, jeez, how is that right?
“Also, Sue (Brann, his wife) and I are giving half our legislative salary back to people in need, and that is a great part of the job, doing that.”
Michigan state representatives make $71,685 a year.
Also during the discussion, Rep. Brann discusses to of his efforts to pass legislation dealing with youth smoking and with the abuse of animals, as well as his and his brother’s well-known support for police and fire public servants.
“WKTV Journal: In Focus” will start airing on Tuesday, Aug. 15, the program will air on 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.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety is pleased to announce that two employees have successfully completed the process that awards the professional designation of “Chief Training Officer” (CTO). The Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) met on July 26, 2017, to confer the designations upon Wyoming’s Fire Lieutenant Dennis VanTassell and Firefighter Bradley Dornbos. VanTassell and Dornbos have become two of only 104 CTOs nationwide.
The Designation Program is a voluntary program designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate their excellence in seven measured components including experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement and technical competence. In addition, all applicants are required to identify a future professional development plan.
Captain Dennis VanTassell
The CTO designation program uses a comprehensive peer review model to evaluate candidates seeking the credential. The Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) awards the designation only after an individual successfully meets all of the organization’s stringent criteria. Achieving this designation signifies the commitment that VanTassell and Dornbos have made to their careers in the fire and emergency services.
This professional designation is valid for three years. Maintaining the designation requires recipients to show continued growth in the areas of professional development, professional contributions, active association membership and community involvement as well as adhere to a strict code of professional conduct.
The Commission on Professional Credentialing, an entity of the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. (CPSE) administers the Designation Program. The CPC consists of individuals from academia, federal and local government, and the fire and emergency medical services profession. To learn more about CPC, visit www.cpse.org.
The City of Wyoming Community Services Inspections Department will offer the ability to apply for permits online starting Sept. 5. The service, facilitated by the AccessMyGov.com website, will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and will provide a convenient method for residents and contractors to apply for various permits.
Currently, residents and contractors must apply for permits in person at the Inspections Department at Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St SW or through the mail. Following implementation of the new system, individuals seeking plumbing, mechanical or electrical permits will be able to apply directly online at any time of day using their computers or mobile devices. Common activities that require permits of these types include replacements of water heaters, furnaces, mast repairs, electrical service upgrades, additional plumbing fixtures and underground sprinkling. Permits that require detailed plans to be submitted as well as building permits are not eligible for this service and must still be applied for in person.
“We are excited to offer this online service as we know it will help save time and expense for local residents and contractors,” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, Director of Community Services for the City of Wyoming. “There is a lot of construction activity in the city and we want to facilitate growth in whatever ways we can.”
The Inspections Department will be holding two open houses at their office in Wyoming City Hall to train interested participants on the new system: Thursday, Aug. 24 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 8 a.m. to noon. Computers will be available for use and participants are also welcome to bring their own devices. For those unable to attend an open house, a step by step registration guide and video tutorial will be available on the City website beginning August 14, 2017.
This month, the International Space Station Experiditon 52 will feature a Russian Spacewalk with WKTV airing the six-hour event on Aug. 17 on channel 26.
The coverage of the spacewalk begins at 10:45 a.m. and is expected to last approximately six hours.
Expedition 52 is the 52nd expedition to the International Space Station. It officially started on June 2. It includes two cosmonauts from Russia, Fyodor Yurchikhin, who is serving as commander of the expedition, and Sergey Ryazansky, a flight engineer. There is one astronaut from Italy, Paolo Nespoli, who is a flight engineer. Rounding out the crew are three Americans, all serving as flight engineers, Jack Fischer, Randy Bresnik, and Peggy Whitson, who is the first woman astronaut to command the International Space Station twice and holds the record for most total days spent in space by amu NASA astronaut.
For more information on the spacewalk or the expedition, visit www.nasa.gov.
Commissioners Emily Brieve and Stan Ponstein (Photo courtesy of Emily Brieve)
By Lisa LaPlante
Kent County
Commissioners Emily Brieve, Stan Ponstein and Robert Womack joined more than 50 county commissioners from across Michigan on Aug. 8 at a White House Conference to discuss greater cooperation between local and federal leaders. The Commissioners were invited by the Trump administration to share their views on public policy challenges facing local governments.
Commissioner Brieve, who serves District 10 part of Caledonia Township and Gaines Township, said it was an informative visit. “Communicating with the various levels of government can be like playing a game of telephone. This meeting was important because it gave us, at the County level, a direct line to the White House,” Brieve said. “We were able to communicate our role in local government and bring light to issues important to counties in Michigan. This opportunity has allowed us access to departments that provide funding for core services to Kent County residents.”
Commissioners Ponstein and Brieve (in back) with the rest of the county commissioners from Michigan. (Photo by Emily Brieve)
Commissioner Ponstein felt honored to receive an invitation. “No one with the Michigan Association of Counties has ever known of the White House inviting County Commissioners to appear before them to speak of shortcomings of the Federal Government. I am glad I had the opportunity, along with two other Kent County Commissioners, to have our voice be heard,” Commissioner Ponstein of District 7 which is Grandville and part of Wyoming, said after the visit. “I was asked often, ‘What does the public really think?’; I simply stated that in Kent County, when residents see a problem, they work together to find a solution; they don’t feel that way about the Federal Government; they feel the system is broken and it no longer works for the people.”
The evening before the conference, the Commissioners attended a briefing from the Michigan Association of Counties and National Association of Counties on “Matters of Importance to Michigan.” “The engagement of Michigan commissioners in this event is highly encouraging,” said Stephan W. Currie, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Counties. “There’s nothing more valuable in the development of strong public policy than to have local elected officials giving their on-the-ground assessments to federal leaders.”
Peters Honored as Legislator of the Year by Vietnam Veterans of America
Peters Recognized for Fairness for Veterans Provision to Help Service members with PTSD
By Allison Green and Zade Alsawah
Senator Gary Peters
U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) was recognized by the Vietnam Veterans of America as a Legislator of the Year and delivered remarks at the organization’s annual national convention. Peters was recognized for his efforts to pass bipartisan legislation to help veterans who may have been erroneously given a less than honorable discharge from the military due to negative behavior resulting from mental traumas such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Peters, a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced the Fairness for Veterans legislation in 2015, and it was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act in December 2016.
Peters Statement on Release of Brandon Road Study to Limit Spread of Asian Carp
Study Outlines U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Plan to Prevent Invasive Asian Carp from Reaching the Great Lakes
By Zade Alsawah and Allison Green
U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) has issued the following statement on the release of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Brandon Road Draft Integrated Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement, which seeks to prevent the spread of invasive Asian carp into the Great Lakes:
“The Great Lakes power Michigan’s economy, supporting our multi-billion dollar commercial shipping, fishing, tourism and agricultural industries, and we must move quickly to ensure the Great Lakes are protected against invasive Asian carp that can disrupt this important ecosystem. I urged the Trump Administration to swiftly release this long awaited report, and I’m pleased we can now move forward with the public comment period and work with stakeholders to determine the next actions needed to prevent the spread of this harmful invasive species and keep our economy growing.”
Earlier this year, Peters introduced legislation with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow to require the Trump Administration to immediately release the Brandon Road Study. Peters also joined with Stabenow and other Great Lakes Senators in a letter calling on President Trump to release the study and expedite potential measures to stop Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes. In June, a silver carp was discovered within nine miles of Lake Michigan and beyond an electric barrier designed to prevent invasive species from entering the Great Lakes.
Senator Stabenow Highlights Great Lakes Restoration Success Stories Across Michigan, Importance of Federal Funding
By Miranda Margowsky
Senator Debbie Stabenow
This month, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow is highlighting Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) success stories throughout Michigan and the importance of federal funding to protect our lakes and waterways.
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative provided $196,000 in federal funding to the Kalamazoo Nature Center to restore wetlands and prevent erosion and runoff into the Kalamazoo River. The GLRI funding has led to increased economic activity in the area, giving more people the opportunity to enjoy paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, and boating on the river. Arcadia Ales, a locally owned brewery, opened a new location on the Kalamazoo River, allowing patrons to take advantage of the riverfront.
According to the University Research Corridor, more than 700,000 Michigan jobs, one in five in the state, are tied to water. GLRI is critical to cleaning up our Great Lakes, beaches, and waterways for swimming, boating, and fishing; fighting invasive species like Asian carp, and protecting our Michigan way of life. Michigan projects have received more than $400 million in funding from the GLRI since its establishment. Michigan has an estimated 2,850 miles of coastal water trails as well as an estimated 1,280 miles of inland water trails. Our canoe and kayak industry annually contributes $140 million to our state’s economy.
Senator Stabenow Announces More Than $3.5 Million to Expand Double Up Food Bucks throughout Michigan
By Miranda Margowsky
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, has announced more than $3.5 million in new federal funding to expand the successful Double Up Food Bucks program in Michigan. The funds come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive grant program, which Stabenow authored in the 2014 Farm Bill. The grant will be matched by private funding, totaling to $7 million in new investments.
Double Up Food Bucks makes it easier for low-income families in Michigan to eat healthy by doubling the value of food assistance dollars spent on fresh, regionally grown produce. This has helped families stretch their food budget while supporting Michigan farmers and rural communities.
Fair Food Network will utilize the new funds to expand the Double Up Food Bucks program to more farmers market and grocery stores throughout Michigan. Additionally, funding will be used to expand new technology to make purchases easier for families and farmers, and expand year-round rather than seasonal programming at farmers markets and groceries.
Senator Stabenow Announces Medicare at 55 Act
By Miranda Margowsky
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has introduced the Medicare at 55 Act, which provides an option for people between the ages of 55 and 64 to buy into Medicare. There are 1.4 million people in Michigan between the ages of 55 and 64, and many of them are burdened by high insurance premiums, unaffordable deductibles and limited options.
People in the 55-64 age group face unique health challenges and especially high health care costs. The average person in this age group pays more than $1,200 in annual out-of-pocket costs and is at a greater risk of suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes or arthritis and medical emergencies such as heart attack and stroke.
Under the Medicare at 55 Act, an individual between the ages of 55 and 64 who buys into Medicare would receive the same benefits and protections as an individual enrolled under Medicare parts A, B, and D.
Senate Commerce Committee Approves Peters-Young Legislation to Update Environmental Sensitivity Index Maps for Great Lakes
Maps Help Assess Ecological Risks of Oil Spill & Natural Disasters; Great Lakes Maps Have Not Been Updated in Over 20 Years
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee has approved bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Todd Young (R-IN) to update the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps in the Great Lakes. ESI maps are used to assess coastal resources that could be at risk in the event of an oil spill or natural disaster, including endangered and threatened species, sensitive shoreline habitats, and human-use resources like beaches, parks and boat ramps. The Great Lakes region ESI maps have not been updated since between 1985 and 1994, though maps for the East coast, West coast, and Gulf coast have seen updates within the last five years.
ESI maps, which are administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), are used to document the potential ecological impacts to natural and human-use resources from risks such as oil spills, natural disasters, and resource damage assessments. The maps are also used in disaster planning and recovery, research and restoration efforts. ESI maps must be regularly updated to ensure they are providing an accurate representation of vulnerable locations and areas that require protection in the event of a disaster. Updates would also improve the accessibility of the ESI maps by making them available in searchable formats.
Peters, Grassley & Feinstein Call for Increased Transparency in Administration Ethics Disclosures
Letter Urges Administration to Make Ethics Waivers Immediately Publicly Available
By Allison Green
U.S. Senators Gary Peters, Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) sent a letter urging Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney to ensure that any executive branch ethics pledge waivers granted by the Trump Administration are immediately provided to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and made publicly available.
On January 28, 2017, President Trump signed Executive Order 13770 requiring all incoming political appointees to sign an ethics pledge as a condition of their employment in the federal government. The Administration’s ethics pledge places certain restrictions on appointees’ participation in matters directly related to their former employers, clients, or matters on which the appointee lobbied prior to their appointment.
The executive order also includes a provision allowing the President or his designee to issue a waiver to any individual appointee from any of the ethics pledge’s requirements, though there is no specific requirement that the waiver be issued prior to an appointee’s first day of employment.
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga visited the set of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” this week and sat down for a wide-ranging discussion. (WKTV)
WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
One-time U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, Jr., famously said “All politics is local,” and current Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) delves into the balance of local and national politics in a special edition of “WKTV Journal: In Focus”, WKTV’s new public affairs show.
Rep. Huizenga, whose Michigan 2nd District includes portions of Wyoming and Kentwood in Kent County, as part of a wide-ranging discussion with WKTV’s Ken Norris, said “That is the balancing act … but first and foremost, I am responsible to the people of this district. This is home. My family is here, I am from here. Those are my bosses.
“Every two years get a very public job review. A couple hundred thousand people come out and say ‘You know, you’ve been doing a good job’ or ‘You know what, we want to go in a different direction’.”
In the discussion, Rep. Huizenga also discusses his work for Michigan, both partisan and nonpartisan, as well as his continuing but cautious support of President Donald Trump.
Rep. Huizenga’s discussion on “WKTV Journal: In Focus” will air Friday, Aug. 11, at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 12, at noon on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.
The first day of school is two weeks earlier than the traditional post-Labor Day start for many districts, and administrators are working to make sure families are aware of the change.
First days vary across Kent ISD’s 20 public school districts, with the earliest beginning Monday, Aug. 21. Kent ISD received a waiver from the state for its member schools to begin prior to Labor Day, and districts set their own start dates. They are as follows:
Monday, Aug. 21: Grandville Public Schools, Comstock Park Public Schools, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, Godwin Heights Public Schools, Kent Career Tech Center and Kent Innovation High
Tuesday, Aug. 22: Wyoming Public Schools, Thornapple Kellogg Schools, Lowell Area Schools and Kentwood Public Schools
Wednesday, Aug. 23: Kent City Community Schools
Monday, Aug. 28: Caledonia Community Schools, Forest Hills Public Schools, Grand Rapids Public Schools, Kenowa Hills Public Schools, Northview Public Schools and Rockford Public Schools
Tuesday, Sept. 5: Byron Center Public Schools, Cedar Springs Public Schools, East Grand Rapids Public Schools, Kelloggsville Public Schools and Sparta Area Schools
ArtPrize, the independently organized art competition recognized as the world’s largest annual public art event, announced 2017 registration details for its Volunteer program, presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union. ArtPrize seeks volunteers—who through their energy and commitment provide the framework essential to the visitor experience—to join the 1,000 plus individuals who collectively work nearly 4,000 shifts and upwards of 12,000 hours of service each year, while welcoming visitors from near and far to the event this fall. The ArtPrize Volunteer season will officially commence at the annual Volunteer Kick-Off Party on August 10. ArtPrize Nine is slated to take place in Grand Rapids, Michigan from September 20–October 8, 2017.
“Volunteers play an invaluable role on the ArtPrize team—their enthusiasm and support make ArtPrize the success it is,” said Katherine Hagman, ArtPrize Volunteer Program Manager. “They are the face of the event, interacting with visitors from near and far, helping to tell the ArtPrize story, offering practical suggestions and encouraging visitors to explore, learn and vote for art that moves them throughout the 19-day event.”
Volunteers help visitors to navigate through the event with ease while experiencing everything ArtPrize has to offer. Whether it be as individuals, groups, families or friends, volunteers bring the community together with their willingness to devote and share their time with ArtPrize.
Online self-registration opens Friday, August 11, allowing volunteers to sign up and register for shifts that will suit their interests and availability. The volunteer program has added ongoing training modules for volunteers in 2017, allowing volunteer registration to stay open throughout the 19-day event. This replaces the previous system of incorporating a cut-off date for shift sign ups.
Volunteer Kick-Off Party
Volunteers and community members are invited to join the ArtPrize staff in celebrating the beginning of the ArtPrize Nine season at the Volunteer Kick-Off Party, held at 200 Monroe Avenue from 6 to 8 p.m. Friends and supporters of ArtPrize will enjoy music, food and activities throughout the night. Information about what is to come for ArtPrize Nine this season will be highlighted as well as the opportunity to learn about specific volunteer opportunities and sign up for an volunteer account.
Volunteer Training
Volunteers must take part in a training session prior to their shifts. In-person training sessions will take place the week after Labor Day, offering weekday, weekend and evening options throughout the week. In addition to in-person training, volunteers are also given the option of learning through a series of online orientation videos.
Image from Google Creative Commons
Through training, volunteers will hear from ArtPrize staff and partners on the event’s history, how it works, and specifics about shifts and what to expect during the event. This will provide new and returning volunteers with a strong foundation so they are fully equipped to provide assistance throughout the course of ArtPrize Nine.
Volunteer Opportunities
There are an array of volunteer opportunities available during ArtPrize Nine to fit everyone’s interests and schedules. Wayfinders, stationed around the ArtPrize district, serve as ArtPrize tour guides and ambassadors of downtown Grand Rapids. Equipped with guides and resources to welcome visitors, they provide directions, answer questions and promote activities and Venues in the surrounding area. Education volunteers assist with family events, activities and school programs – with positions ranging from lead docents to facilitators in our drop-in art studio spaces and STEAM Village. Some volunteer opportunities may require additional training. A full listing of volunteer opportunities can be found at artprize.org/for-volunteers.
Volunteer Artist Hosting Program
Volunteering to host an artist in your home can be an equally rewarding opportunity. With nearly 30% of artists coming to ArtPrize from locations outside of Michigan, the Artist Hosting Program has become a crucial aspect of the ArtPrize experience for artists visiting from out of state or another country. Whether it’s just for a few days or for a longer stay, by hosting an artist volunteers make it possible for artists to experience ArtPrize. Previous award winners who took advantage of the temporary housing arrangements include Stacey Kirby, Beili Liu, Mia Tavonatti, Adonna Khare, Young Kim and Anila Quayyum Agha. Interested volunteers are encouraged to email the ArtPrize team at exhibitions@artprize.org for more information.
Volunteer Rewards
Volunteers will enjoy a variety of benefits for dedicating their time to the event including: a free event guide, a Metro Pass—good for 10 free rides on The Rapid’s fixed routes and unlimited use of the Silver Line during the event—access to the Volunteer Lounge at the ArtPrize HUB/HQ, access to volunteer-only events and weekly raffle entry for prizes. Volunteers will enjoy discounted ArtPrize merchandise for every three shifts completed and a special “fifth shift” gift for completing five shifts throughout the 19 days.
Additionally, ArtPrize Nine volunteers will be offered a discount on pre-sale tickets to the Ninth Annual ArtPrize Awards—including the Ceremony, powered by the DTE Energy Foundation, and the official after party, details to be announced soon. Volunteers will also be given an exclusive ArtPrize Nine word poetry magnet set.
For more details on the ArtPrize Volunteer Program and how to register, visit artprize.org/volunteer. ArtPrize Nine is slated to take place September 20-October 8 in downtown Grand Rapids, transforming three square miles of downtown Grand Rapids into an open playing field where 1,346 entries at 175 venues will vie for a combination of public vote and juried awards totaling $500,000 in prizes.
In addition to the skills listed in a job description, one of the most important attributes an employer looks for in a candidate is a genuine interest in the job.
A great way to show this is by being knowledgeable about the industry, the company, its leadership and culture.
Doing some research and showing up to the interview with the following information will set you apart and increase your chances of getting hired:
1. Know the basics. Believe or not, employers have reported interviewing people that didn’t know even the name of the company! In addition to the company name, know the location of your company’s headquarters, where they do business, how many people they employ, what products or services they provide.
2. Find out who’s in charge. Know the names of the CEO and top management. You can generally find this information on the company’s about page. If you know who is going to be interviewing you and who you would be reporting to, do some research on them as well. Armed with a name and company, you can look them up on LinkedIn to learn more about their background and interests.
3. Get a feel for the company culture. Check the company’s website for its mission statement and see what they’ve written about their values. Read their blog if they have one; is it stiff and formal or casual and lighthearted? A company’s social media pages are a good place to learn more about their culture.
4. Learn about the industry. What are the current trends? Who are the top competitors? Are there any economic factors affecting or influencing the industry?
5. Listen to what others are saying about the company. Content on a company’s website is a great way to learn how the company wants to be seen. But how are they perceived by their employees, competitors and customers? At Glassdoor, a job search and recruiting site, you can find company reviews and other details that can’t be found on the employer’s website. A simple Google search may bring up news articles and reviews about the company and/or their leadership.
There is no such thing as being too prepared for a job interview or too knowledgeable about a prospective employer. Happy researching!
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
Senator Gary Peters will once again take a ride through Michigan.
U.S. Senator Gary {eters (MI) today announced his second #RideMI Motorcycle Tour that will take him across the Upper Peninsula and West Michigan to meet with constituents and discuss his work on their behalf in the U.S. Senate. Peters, an avid motorcycle rider, will be making stops in even counties over the course of the five-day tour, where he will discuss his efforts to help grow Michigan’s small businesses, bolster the manufacturing sector and expand critical infrastructure. Peters is a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Armed Services Committee and Join Economic Committee.
The #RideMI tour begins on Monday, Aug. 14, in Marquette County. He will be making additional stops throughout the week in Baraga, Ontonagon, Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson, and Oceana counties.
“Michigan is home to some of the most breathtaking sights n the world, and I couldn’t be more excited to be riding through more of our great state this summer,” said Senator Peters. “As I ride from the Upper Peninsula to West Michigan, I look forward to meeting with veterans, business owners and constituents to hear directly from Michiganders about the issues they face and how we can work together to boost economic growth, create jobs and support Michigan middle class families.”
Last year, Peters, announced his first #RideMI Motorcycle Tour, which took him to stops in 12 counties in the Lower Peninsula. In April, Peters helped form the first-ever bipartisan Motorcycle Caucus in the U.S. Senate with Senator Join Ernst (R-IA). The Motorcycle Caucus advocates for a range of issues on behalf of both motorcycle riders and manufacturers.
As part of the tour, Peters, a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, will present 50th anniversary commemorative lapel pos to Vietnam Veterans in the Upper Peninsula in honor of their service in the Vietnam War.
“Michigan is home to more Vietnams War veterans than any other era, and it is an honor to be able to express our appreciation to these veterans and their families for their service on behalf of a ireful nation,” said Senator Peters. “Vietnam Veterans endured overwhelming difficulties, sacrificed so much and served with courage and honor – a service that must never be forgotten.”
A warning sign on a fence surrounding the inactive, but methane producing, Kentwood Landfill. A city building is shown in background. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
by K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
As part of its continuing efforts to test for and mitigate methane migration outside the boundaries of the inactive Kentwood landfill site, the Kent County Department of Public Works beginning this month will place additional gas monitoring probes as well as a second “flare” — a system to burn off escaping methane gas.
About 150 property owners within 1,500-feet of the landfill’s western boundary are being notified of the expansion of the county’s efforts, which will start later this month and should be complete in early October. Property owners will also be reminded of free on-site testing for methane continues to be available. So far, only eight of the property owners have had their homes tested.
“Testing has consistently shown that the methane is not entering the (city or residential) buildings,” Dar Baas, Kent County DPW Director, said in a supplied statement. “Public safety continues to be our priority and we will continue monitoring for methane indefinitely.”
The 72-acre municipal landfill site was closed in 1976. It continues to be designated a federal Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) Superfund site. It is bordered by the City of Kentwood City Center, library, and the City of Kentwood Public Works facility to the west; the City of Kentwood Justice Center to the northwest; and Plaster Creek and open ravine areas to the north, east and south.
Since August 2016, Kent County and City of Kentwood have been monitoring the air quality inside the city buildings on the west side of the landfill.
One of the landfill monitor wells at the site of the Kentwood Landfill. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
According to the county DWP, methane gas forms naturally in landfills. In 2015, the county DPW had installed a series of collection wells and a flare to contain the methane on-site to limit migration. During routine monitoring in 2016, the county DPW discovered migration of methane gas to the west of the landfill. So, according to the supplied statement, “it was clear that a larger system would be needed.”
“To increase the effectiveness of the existing landfill gas collection system, additional gas collection wells will be installed in nine locations along the west edge of the landfill beginning in August 2017,” the county statement continues. “Seven additional gas monitoring probes will also be installed to the west of the landfill, and a second flare will be installed next to the existing flare southeast of the library.”
Funding for this project and other Kentwood Landfill remediation efforts comes from the Kent County Solid Waste Surcharge. The county has contracted with a third-party firm — Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. — to provide the free residential testing.
For more information on the free on-site methane testing available to property owners, call the Kent County DPW at 616-632-7920. Project updates will be posted to Kent County’s website at accesskent.com/kentwoodlandfill.
In collaboration with PBS Stories of Service, WGVU Public Media, ArtPrize, and West Michigan Whitecaps announce LZ Michigan 2017. LZ Michigan is a “Landing Zone” to Remember, Honor, and Celebrate our community’s veterans and their families.
“On July 3, 2010 at the first LZ Michigan, WGVU said loud and clear Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans,” said Michael T. Walenta, WGVU Public Media General Manager. “During the event we challenged our community to continue the mission of LZ Michigan, to work to Remember, Honor, and Celebrate our community’s veterans and their families. I am continually asked when we are going to host another LZ Michigan event. WGVU Public Media along with PBS, NPR, ArtPrize and the West Michigan Whitecaps are honored to announce LZ Michigan will be happening on Sept. 23.”
LZ Michigan will consist of several community events and activities beginning in May and continuing through December 2017. Events include the kick-off of ArtPrize 9 and an all-day event at Fifth Third Ballpark on Saturday, Sept. 23. On Friday, Sept. 22, as part of the ArtPrize Cinema Series, WGVU Public Media, PBS, and Florentine Films will host a preview screening of “The Vietnam War,” a film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with special guests.
As part of ArtPrize 9, there will be a Veterans Art Competition with public and jury voting deciding on the winner. The veterans participating in ArtPrize will be celebrated at the LZ Michigan event on Saturday with the winners being announced at the ArtPrize Awards Ceremony by WGVU Public Media and the Veterans Category sponsor The Stow Company.
“ArtPrize celebrates freedom of expression and freedom of speech. These freedoms cannot be taken for granted, and we are proud to partner with LZ Michigan to support and honor those who serve the Armed Forces of the United States of America,” said ArtPrize Director of Communications Todd Herring.
Saturday, Sept. 23, will be a day-long celebration at Fifth Third Ballpark, 4500 West River Dr. NE, that will feature military displays, historical artifacts, the LZ Michigan Vietnam Big Map, Veteran World Map, guest lectures, and performances by local music artists. “We are extremely honored to be part of LZ Michigan in 2017. The first event, in 2010, was memorable and we are proud to be the host site for this worthy event,” stated West Michigan Whitecaps President Scott Lane. The evening will culminate in an event to Remember, Honor, and Celebrate our community’s veterans and their families inside the Ballpark.
As part of the celebration of Michigan Veterans, LZ will be holding a Female Veterans Expo. The concept of “Not Every G.I. Is A Joe” resonates deeply within the female veteran community. The expo will feature information and outreach from the Grand Rapids Chapter of Team Red, White, and Blue, the VA, and the only totally female American Legion Post in Michigan. There will also be the opportunity for female veterans and their family members to paint combat boots as a memorial to the female veterans in their lives. The Female Veterans Expo serves to highlight the commitment and sacrifices that women make in order to serve their country. Our desire is that Yvette Petti, PhD, APRN-BC, Women Veterans Program Manager from the Battle Creek VA, will be on site at the Female Veterans Expo to disseminate information regarding female specific services that the VA has to offer.
LZ Michigan led by WGVU Public Media, is a “Landing Zone” to Remember, Honor, and Celebrate our community’s veterans and their families.
Through this partnership, GRPM members can visit GRAM during the month of August and receive free general admission and discounts in the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s store. GRAM members can in return visit the GRPM and receive free general admission, free planetarium shows, free carousel rides, and FREE admission to the special exhibit “Mindbender Mansion!”
Grand Rapids Art Museum (supplied).
As an added benefit GRAM members will receive member pricing to the Grand Rapids Maker Faire, hosted by the GRPM, taking place August 19th & 20th. Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to scientists to artists and crafters, Maker Faire is a venue showcasing inventions, creations and more.
“It’s a great time to be a member of the GRPM!” said Kate Moore, VP of Marketing and PR for the Grand Rapids Public Museum. “We are thankful to the Art Museum for their partnership, making it possible for us to offer even more to the community.”
“GRAM’s proud to partner with the Grand Rapids Public Museum for the third year in a row,” commented Juliana Nahas-Viilo, Membership Manager of the Grand Rapids Art Museum. “The Grand Rapids Public Museum is one of the many outstanding cultural institutions in our city, and we are excited to offer this reciprocal benefit to our members.”
For more information on the reciprocal membership benefits or to become a member of the GRPM, please visit grpm.org/membership.
Grand Rapids Maker Faire
Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire gathers all-ages to learn and teach about new ideas and collaborations! Interactive stations and inventions will be showcased by tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned. Visitors to this year’s Grand Rapids Maker Faire can expect to see and interact with more than 100 maker booths.
Join the family-friendly celebration of tech enthusiasts, crafters, hobbyists, engineers, artists, and commercial exhibitors. Visitors will be hands-on driving robots, being a part of an iron pour, testing renewable energy sources, seeing 3D printing and more!
The Faire will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19 and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, August 20th. More information and tickets available at GrandRapids.MakerFaire.com.
Eclipse Party
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is hosting a special Eclipse Day Party on August 21st between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to celebrate the total eclipse that will span the continental United States. The Eclipse Day will include hands-on solar related activity booths, multiple shows on the half hour of “Eclipses and Phases of the Moon” in the Chaffee Planetarium, and a live stream of the total eclipse will be shown in the Meijer Theater.
Activities as part of the Eclipse Party will be included with general admission to the Museum. GRAM and GRPM members be FREE for this event. Activities will take place outside, weather permitting. Visitors attending the Grand Rapids Maker Faire on August 19th and 20th, will receive free admission to the Eclipse Day Party by wearing their event wristband! Visit grpm.org for more information.
Former Kentwood mayors Richard Clanton, Jerry DeRuiter, and Bill Hardiman; former mayor Richard Root’s wife Karleen, Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kelley, and first mayor Peter Lambert’s son Richard at the Kentwood 50th anniversary kick-off in February.
There will be music, food trucks, and lots of fun behind the Kentwood City Hall as the city hosts its community-wide “Celebrate Kentwood” event in honor of its 50th anniversary.
Since February, the city has been marking its 50th anniversary with a series of events with this weekend, Aug. 11 and 12, being the big two-day celebration.
The 50th anniversary ale, the Golden Beeraucrat brewed by Railtown Brewing, will be available during “Celebrate Kentwood.” (Supplied)
“Everyone is welcome,” said City Treasurer Laurie Sheldon, who has headed up the Kentwood 50th committee which has organized a year-long celebration that includes this weekend’s event. “We have tried to make this as inclusive as possible. We wanted to make it family friendly and affordable, so please come join us and have a great weekend with us.”
Activities will kick off on Friday behind the Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE, and next to the KDL Kentwood Library Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. From 5 – 8 p.m. will be a classic car show. Starting at 7 p.m. will be the Kentwood’s Got Talent featuring 10 talented local performers who will be singing, dancing and even beatboxing.
“The kick off with the Kentwood’s Got Talent, we have some amazing individuals competing for a grand prize, and they are pretty excited to be a part of it as well,” Sheldon said. “We have a panel of local celebrity judges who will actually pick the winner. Some of the judges are Mike Knuble, an East Kentwood graduate who is now with the Griffins and Rachael Ruiz, also a Kentwood graduate, will be our MC.”
The other judges include WZZM reporter Angela Cunningham, dance instructor Deavondre Jones of Dancespire, and Vonda Poll from Unique Models & Talent.
Immediately following Kentwood’s Got Talent, WKTV will be premiering the documentary “Kentwood – A Place Called Home,” which covers the city’s first 50 years.
The music starts at 3 p.m. and goes throughout the night with the Mega 80’s wrapping up the evening.
The activities continue on Saturday at 9 a.m. with the Breton Street Fair and the Kentwood Farmers Market. Throughout the day there will be inflatables, carnival games, cultural events, and community booths along with activities at the KDL Kentwood Library Branch.
For the adults, there will be a beer tent featuring the 50th anniversary ale, the Golden Beeraucrat brewed by Railtown Brewing. Also available will be several food trucks such as B.D. BBQ, Doughnuts, the Maine Dish Munchie Snack, The Nordic Grill, and The Olive Branch, will be on hand as well.
The music will start at 3 p.m. with Tom Cutts & Friends. At 4 p.m. is The Isaac Norris Project, followed by Cabildo at 5:30 p.m. Wrapping up the music is the Michigan-based Mega 80’s at 7 p.m. The night will be capped off with fireworks.
“We’re building a Kentwood-centered tradition that we want all of West Michigan to enjoy,” said Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley. “The event will be family-friendly giving West Michigan a wonderful opportunity to gather with neighbors and enjoy a weekend of free activities.”
“The entire year, we are celebrating Kentwood’s 50th anniversary with a series of special events. We’ve grown greatly as a city in the past 50 years, and we look forward to our community improving upon its solid foundation.”
The Kentwood 50 celebration will continue until the end of year with the End of Summer Food Truck Festival Sept. 16; the Fall Festival featuring Trunk or Treat Oct. 21, the Ugly Seater 5K Nov. 8, and the Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 8.
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 a new forever home. 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.
Aurora
Aurora — Female American Pit Bull Terrier Mix
Meet Aurora! She is a 1-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix. Aurora is house-trained and knows several commands. She loves to cuddle up in her bed and get pets from her favorite people. Aurora seems to do well with respectful children and walks well on a leash. She may be too stressed currently to go home with another dog. If you’re interested in her, please visit HSWM!
I’m a 6-year-old cat that was brought to Humane Society of West Michigan in April. I arrived in rough shape with severe hair loss, scabbing, and bleeding skin. It is believed that I have severe allergies and my skin has seen vast improvements since my intake with a customized diet and TLC. While I still have some scabs, I am on the road to recovery and can finally be placed into a forever home! I need a home willing to provide the TLC I need to continue to improve. Please come meet me to see if I am the right fit for your home!
The staff at HSWM told me that I’m one of their favorites (not to tell anyone this, but I’m going to tell you!). I am 5 years old and so social and sweet. I love rolling around in the kiddie pool in the dog park here at HSWM. I love belly rubs, meeting new friends, and playing around. I do really well with other dogs, but I do prefer to play with male dogs (I currently am roommates with a male dog). I also get along well with children. My friends at HSWM think I’m such a cute and sweet dog and they can’t believe I haven’t been adopted already. Please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan and see if we are the right fit!
I’m a gentle 4-year-old cat looking for my forever home! I can be a little shy at first, but after some time I warm up to new people and have so much love to give. I would do best in a home with older/respectful children. I want my new family to let me approach them in my time and have some safe spaces in the home where I can snuggle up. I would be a great fit for a relaxed home.
A test for heartworm disease (if six months or older)
A first series of vaccines including DHLPP (distemper combo), Bordatella (kennel cough) vaccine, and rabies (if older than 14 weeks of age)
Spay/Neuter Surgery
Treatment for internal parasites
One dose of flea preventative
One dose of heartworm preventative
The organization 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.
Over 43 million Americans fall at or below the federal poverty level. This means that a family of four is living on $24,600 a year (or $2,050 a month). Being poor in the US also means living 10-15 years less than the richest Americans. This is the first installment in a series that will look at how living in poverty affects health and well-being.
The Environment
Poor communities typically have outdated infrastructures. Flint, Michigan is a close-to-home example of how those who live in poverty are exposed to environmental toxins through no fault of their own. Unacceptable levels of lead in the water were poisoning residents of the city.
Inadequate housing is another environmental concern for many low-income individuals. Lack of insulation and air leaks can expose residents to extreme temperatures. Faulty furnaces can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Too much humidity can cause mold to grow. These issues can lead to health problems ranging from respiratory disease to death.
Nutrition
When you’re poor, there are times when there just isn’t enough money to put food on the table. And unfortunately, the cheapest food is also high in calories and fat. Even if there is money for healthier options, many poor neighborhoods exist in food deserts – areas where there isn’t access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
It is difficult to eat well when healthy options aren’t available or are too expensive. Obesity and unhealthy diets lead to increased risk for heart disease and diabetes. It is not surprising that people living in poverty are much more likely to experience these health issues.
Healthcare
People living in poverty in the US are fighting a losing battle when it comes to preventing and treating illness. In 2015, the National Center for Health Statistics found that poor individuals were three times more likely to avoid needed medical care due to cost. Poor Americans are also less likely to see a doctor for preventative care.
While the number of individuals who have health insurance has increased since 2013, there are still many who can’t afford medications to treat chronic health issues or specialized services like dental and vision care.
In 2015, it was estimated that over 91,000 Kent County residents were living at or below the federal poverty level. ACSET Community Action Agency is working to address the causes and effects of poverty. They offer programs that provide home weatherization, emergency food assistance and help applying for health insurance. All of these services can help improve the health of those living in poverty in our community.
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org.
More than 40 students with cognitive or other impairments from districts across Kent ISD’s service area worked at 11 job sites this summer, earning money while learning skills. Coached employment wrapped up its second year this week at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, JW Marriott and the Downtown Market Grand Rapids, plus three area YMCAs and select school buildings.
Max Froozley, left, of Kenowa Hills High School, and Dustin Wheeler, of Wyoming High School, clean windows at Kent Innovation High
The students are part of Kent Transition Centerand CORE, hands-on learning, career exploration and occupational training programs of Kent ISD. In partnership with Michigan Rehabilitation Services, those who are selected for the eight-week program earn paychecks by working four hours a day, four days a week.
“We make the experience as real as possible, and it’s amazing to see their growth,” said Michael Spagnuolo, program director. “On day one they introduce themselves to their manager, and by the end of the program they’re ready. This fulfills our long-term vision, which is to secure and maintain employment and to provide opportunities for growth.”
At the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Transition Center students have been involved in school-year career exploration in exchange for credit for more than two decades. Former Transition Center students have been employed at the hotel for as many as 21 years.
“We have Transition Center students who have become supervisors,” said Employment Manager Patrick Fritz. “We’re a great place to work, but we have rules and the work is not easy. So it’s pretty cool when you walk down our halls and see the people who got a chance and made it (and were hired).”
Partnering with the Transitions Center is “one of those things that needs to be a no-brainer for employers,” Fritz said. “I would highly recommend other employers try this.”
National Night Out offered neighborhood interaction with local police and fire departments. (WKTV file photo)
WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
WKTV Journal’s biweekly video newscast premiers its newest episode today with segments on the Wyoming and Kentwood’s National Night Out events, the annual Metro Cruise, and Buck Creek Nature Preserve’s new braille trail.
WKTV Journal’s newscast premiers biweekly on Monday at 8 a.m., and then is broadcast at various times and dates on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 25 and on AT&T Channel 99 Community channel. This week, it will run on WKTV 25 Tuesday, Aug. 8, at the following times: 11:58 a.m., 4:55 p.m. and 5:52 p.m., and on Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 1:06 a.m. This week it will run on WKTV Channel 26 on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 6:58 p.m. and 9:52 p.m.
“WKTV Journal: In Focus” looks at local non-profits including the Exalta Health healthcare provider this week and, starting next week, Alternatives in Motion, with Coleen Davis, executive director the group, shown. (WKTV)
WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
One of the goals of “WKTV Journal: In Focus”, WKTV’s new public affairs show, is highlighting the work of local non-profits working to serve the Wyoming and Kentwood communities.
Continuing this week is a program including a discussion with the leaders of Exalta Health, a healthcare provider serving some of the most underserved of our community. Visit here for a YouTube video of the segment.
Starting next week, In Focus will present a discussion with Coleen Davis, executive director of Alternatives In Motion, a Grand Rapids based non-profit focused on providing mobility equipment to persons in need. Visit here for a YouTube video of the segment.
“WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on 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.
Also in the current episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” is a discussion on the VoiceKent survey of Kent County critical public health concerns, and a discussion with member of the Kentwood Police Department detailing a crime-reporting website.
At its Monday night regular council meeting, the Wyoming City Council accepted more than a half a million dollars from the Department of Natural Resources Natural Resources Trust Fund.
The city first applied for the fund in March of 2016 with it taking about a year and half for the state to release the funding, said the city’s Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt at the Aug. 7 council meeting. Rynbrandt said the funds were officially released on July 14 when the Governor signed the authorization.
The grant, totaling $508,300, is a 63 percent match to the city’s $300,000. The total $808,300 along with an additional $68,150 for capital outlay will be used for improvements at Ideal Park, which was severely impacted by two tornados, one in 2014 and a second one in 2016. The 2014 tornado caused extensive damage which included the lost of the park’s playground, tennis and basketball courts and a majority of the trees.
The money will cover the first phase of reconstruction for the park, which is located at 5843 Crippen Ave SW. Included in the plan is the construction of a shelter, playground and basketball court, reforestation, traffic control improvements for vehicle and pedestrian safety, and non-motorized trail improvements including the establishment of a trail head and improved connection to the Inter-ubran trail and Kent County trail system.
Upgrading lights to LED
Also at the Aug. 7 council meeting, the City of Wyoming Council approved the expense of $253,000 to upgrade 1,081 Cobra Head street light fixtures from mercury vapor and high pressure sodium to LED.
The city actually has more than 4,422 existing Consumer Energy mercury-vapor and high-pressure-sodium street lights that the city is looking to upgrade to LED light fixtures. The main reason for this, according to a report from the city’s Director of Public Works William D. Dooley, is that it would reduce energy usage which is a benefit to the environment and a cost savings to the city.
Of the existing lights, most are the Cobra Head lights totaling about 3,391. The total cost to replace all the Cobra Head lights is about $1.4 million or an average of $410 per light. The new LED fixture will reduce the energy use by an estimated 64 percent and save Wyoming approximately $300,000 a year. According to Dooley’s report, the city would recoup the cost of the replacements in less than five years. The cost for upgrading these lights to LED reflects a large discount from Consumers Energy because the company can avoid its scheduled upgrade.
In April, the City Council had decided to move forward to upgrade the Cobra Head lights to LED fixtures. The replacement will be done in four phases. At the Monday night meeting, the council approved the expense for the first phase of about $253,000.
The first area to receive the upgrade will be the northwest section of the city, from about north of 36th Street and west of Burlingame Avenue.
The Wyoming City Council meets the first and third Mondays of the month at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW. The Aug. 21 meeting will be on the lawn at the Metro Health Village. The meetings are broadcast live on WKTV Channel 26 and rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays.
The Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire is back on Aug. 19 and 20 for its fourth and biggest year yet. Held at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) and nearby Grand Valley State University’s Hall of Engineering, Maker Faire combines a traditional science fair with innovation, technology and creativity.
Maker Faire is a community celebration of people who make things from prototyping and inventing, to those with unique trade skills, and more. Each booth offers a unique, hands-on opportunity to see how things are made and to learn how to do it on your own. Visitors to the Grand Rapids Maker Faire will see more than 100 maker booths ranging from robotics and 3D printing, to drone races, glass blowing, blacksmithing, wood turning, and even be a part of an iron pour during the two-day event! For more information and to see all of this year’s makers, visit GrandRapids.MakerFaire.com.
The Faire will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19 and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20.
Grand Rapids Maker Faire tickets are on sale now.Two-day passes are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $8 for children, and single day passes are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and $5 for children. Kent County residents receive discounted tickets and Museum members are only $1 per day! Visit GrandRapids.MakerFaire.com for tickets and more information.
Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire gathers all-ages to learn and teach about new ideas and collaborations! Interactive stations and inventions will be showcased by tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned. Visitors to this year’s Grand Rapids Maker Faire can expect to see and interact with more than 150 maker booths.
Featured Maker
This year the Grand Rapids Maker Faire will see a special Maker, the Chicago Crucible, doing the first ever iron pour on the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s lawn! Visitors are able to purchase a small cast to carve, and see the casts be poured during the event on Saturday, August 19! The casts will cool overnight, and be available for pick up at the event on Sunday, August 20!
The 4th annual Grand Rapids Maker Faire is sponsored by MAKE, DTE Energy Foundation, JR Automation Technologies LLC, Wood News Radio, Allegra Marketing, Print and Mail, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Kent Intermediate School District, Lloyd Mandelbaum Director at Chicago Crucible LLC, James Foerch, Koops, Inc., Open Systems Technologies and WGVU Public Media.
The Grand Rapids Maker Faire is being organized by a collaborative committee chaired by DTE Energy Scotty Kehoe, along with the GR Makers Mark Van Holstyn, The Geek Group Lis Bokt, Grand Rapids Community College Moss Ingram, Grand Valley State University Dr. Wael Moktar and Samhita Rhodes, Kent District Library Craig Buno, Kent Intermediate School District Rick Mushing and Ebiri Nkugba, Camp Newaygo Scott Lakin and Engine Matt Gryczan, Michigan Crossroads Council- Boy Scouts of America Bridget Knight, WMCAT Trudy Ngo-Brown and the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Follow Grand Rapids Maker Faire on Twitter @makerfaireGR and on Facebook at facebook.com/makerfairegr.
Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire is independently organized and operated under license from Maker Media, Inc.
You may wonder why you have to complete an application if you are also submitting a cover letter and resume. The answer is, employers use applications to ensure that they collect the same information from each applicant. Instead of viewing the application as another hoop to jump through, make it an opportunity to stand out from the rest. Check out these tips to make your application shine!
Be prepared.
Consider creating a master application to work from. This should include basic contact information, education and work history, salary and references.
Read the Instructions.
Don’t make any assumptions about what an employer wants. Read the instructions carefully before you start. If the application doesn’t provide submission instructions, visit their website to find out their preferred method. Some employers will only accept applications through email.
Make it relevant.
If you have been in the workforce for 20+ years, it isn’t necessary to include every job you’ve ever had. Include your most recent experiences and those that highlight skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
Double-check everything.
Proofread your application to ensure there are no grammatical or spelling errors. Make sure there are no typos in your contact information. You want them to be able to get a hold of you!
Make it easy to read.
Many applications are online these days, but there are still some employers who prefer hard copies. If possible, use a digital form and fill it out on a computer. If you must fill it out by hand, use good penmanship and blue or black ink. Keep information brief, clean and easy to read.
Highlight your skills.
If there is space, include skills that show your qualifications for the job. For example, typing speed of 45 wpm, Microsoft Word, Adobe Creative Suite, first aid certification, second languages, etc.
Be Specific.
Clearly describe your former jobs. Don’t rely on the job title to explain your responsibilities. Instead, provide a brief job description and include specific numbers or statistics if possible. For example, managed five support staff members or increased sales by 25%.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
After six months of disappointing car sales, the impact on local auto parts suppliers is finally being felt by the West Michigan economy, a Grand Valley State University expert said.
Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in the Seidman College of Business, said: “It’s not a collapse, just a modest tapering of the growth rate. Growth is still growth.”
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of July.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) came in at +8, considerably below last month’s +31. The production index eased to +6 from +26. The index of purchases tapered to +12 from +22, and the employment index is still very positive, falling slightly to +20 from +23.
Long said business conditions for the auto parts suppliers have turned mixed, based on the specific car or truck lines companies are supporting. Some have been forced to cut production because of slow vehicle sales.
“For the sixth straight month, auto sales for July are lower,” said Long. “The 6.9 percent drop is the largest so far this year, although most of the decline came from a 15 percent drop in the sale of sedans (regular cars) verses a 1.9 percent drop in light trucks and SUVs.”
With the production of 2017 models now finished, Long said analysts are still worried about the bloated dealer inventories which are much higher than they were before the Great Recession. Compounding the problem is the large number of vehicles coming off lease.
Long said the office furniture industry is still stable while the capital equipment market remains mixed, and the slowdown in the auto parts industry has resulted in the cancellation of further expansion by some firms. He said many segments of the West Michigan tourist industry are poised to have a record year, and the agricultural industry will have a good year as well.
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
For over 28 years, Dr. Brian Long has edited a survey of local purchasing managers for both the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids areas, which has proved to be a major indicator of current and future business conditions. This survey appears in many local newspapers and national business publications, including the Grand Rapids Press, MiBiz, and the Grand Rapids Business Journal. The survey is also a component of the Federal Reserve’s bimonthly survey of business conditions.
South Haven will be seeing blue —as in blueberries — next week as the community marks the 54th Annual Blueberry Festival Aug. 10 -13.
In honor of that, WKTV will be airing several specials on blueberries leading up to the big event. The shows are South Haven Blueberry Festival airing at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 7; 6:30 p.m. Aug. 8; and 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 11. This special highlights some of the activities at the annual event which includes a craft show, mud run, 5K/10K race, parade, and lots of blueberry fun.
The popular “Cooking with Angus” show on cooking with blueberries will air at 7:30 p.. Aug. 7; 5:30 p.m. Aug. 8; and noon and 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Chef Angus Campbell is a retired professor from Grand Rapids Community College Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. “Cooking with Angus” is a series that follows the chef and two GRCC students as they learn about food preparation first-hand in Italy and Scotland.
Finally, “Celebrating Life & Food” with local chef Donna Sawyer will air at 6 p.m. Aug. 8 and 12:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Sawyer is a TV cooking show host, blogger and event coordinator with her own website, celebratinglifeandfood.com.
It was a race against the clock for Wyoming Police Chief James Carmody: more than a dozen neighborhoods hosting National Night Out events and his mission was to visit them all within a three-hour time period.
By 8 p.m., Carmody admitted as he left the Cross Creek Green Condos, where they honored him for being named the top Michigan Police Chief by the Michigan Association of Police Chiefs, he probably would not make it to them all.
For Carmody and many officials from both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, the day started off at the annual Consumers Energy kick off for National Night Out. Starting at 5:30 a.m. yesterday, Consumers Energy had two of its large trucks with extended buckets 75 feet above U.S. 131 to help draw attention to the national event designed to encourage residents to get out and meet their neighbors.
Kentwood Police Chief Tom Hillen and Wyoming Police Chief James Carmody
Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley and Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll were part of a group of governmental leaders and law enforcement officials on had from six different communities in Kent County for the early morning event. Also in attendance was Carmody and Kentwood Police Chief Tom Hillen. A proclamation was read and Consumer Energy employees handed out LEDs to those driving by the Consumers Energy office at 4000 Clay Ave. SW in Wyoming.
“We appreciate the support we receive from our cities and law enforcement agencies not only for the annual event, but during every day of the year to keep our communities cross Michigan safe,” said Consumer Energy Vice President of Electric Operations Guy Packard. “This event heightens awareness of crime and drug prevention and helps provide citizens the tools they need to stay safe at home and in their neighborhoods.”
For 34 years, communities across the nation participate in National Night Out. Created by the National Association of Town Watch, the annual event, which always takes place on the first Tuesday in August, is designed to build relations between neighbors and local law and safety personal as a way to help deter crime.
Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll and Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley
“National Night Out is a way to get everybody together,” said Kentwood Police Sgt. James Connell, who was at the Kentwood community-wide event at Woodland Mall. “It’s a way to get neighbors out of their houses and talk with their neighbors. A lot of people don’t know their neighbors anymore as we’ve gotten kind of closed off.”
Many of the activities were in the evening including the City of Wyoming’s last Concert in the Park series at Lamar Park which featured a variety of activities and the country band Union Guns.
For more about National Night Out, make sure to check out WKTV Channel 26 for a special report on the event.
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).
In honor of Cinco de Mayo 2017, Dr. Jen opted to give all of the ‘newbies’ for the month names of Hispanic origin; we had already had a Cinco (and Dr. Jen is saving Mayo for a white kitty). So, here’s a little bit about Tostada, one of May’s magnifico kiddos that became a Crash Cat.
Shy Tostada was lurking about behind our shelter when he was live trapped (we were attempting to capture two calicos that had been hanging around for weeks). We think that someone dumped him off and drove away since he hadn’t ever been spotted in the neighborhood before; when he saw an open door and food awaiting, he got himself caught in the hopes of earning a better life for himself.
Dr. Jen guesstimates he was born in the spring of 2012 and was ear-tipped prior to arrival, which means he was a participant in a low-cost spay/neuter program (thankfully). His nails were frayed from being caged (and then deciding he didn’t care for it once the food was gone), his right ear was torn, and he sported a small puncture on his left foreleg.
For the first month at Crash’s, Tostada pretty much spent all of his time hiding inside of a cave-type bed, but he is slowly and surely coming out of his shell at the writing of his bio in July and learning what being brave is all about. He enjoys napping on one of our many toddler beds, but prefers to fly solo, so finding him a home where he can laze the day away in peace and solitude would be best for our handsome orange and white guy.
Want to adopt Tostada? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
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.
