Category Archives: 3-bottom

School News Network: Habla Español? Your community needs you

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, ,
Interpreter and translator Leonicia Rubio, left, talks with Alma Arvizu at the Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center.

By Erin Albanese

School News Network

 

Alma Arvizu sat down with interpreter and translator Leonicia Rubio at the Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center to talk about conferences and kindergarten next school year for her son, Eric, now a preschooler.

 

Arvizu, like many district parents, knows who to turn to for help: Rubio and the other bilingual interpreters.

 

“It helps me,” said Arvizu, an immigrant from Mexico, with Rubio translating. “I understand very little English. I can’t speak it. With Leonicia, I have very good communication with the teachers. I think a lot of parents that don’t speak English go to the interpreters.”

 

Needs for interpretation and translation are even greater than Rubio and the district’s other translators and interpreters can fill, so administrators are turning to a new volunteer site, ServeGR.com, for help.

 

The site was started by Grand Rapids-based Westminster Presbyterian Church, where Carol Lautenbach, assistant superintendent of teaching, learning and accountability, attends. It links potential volunteers with opportunities based on their strengths, passions and schedules to find the best fit both for volunteers and those who need them.

 

ServeGR site coordinator Heather Colletto said the goal is to fill long-term needs.

 

“What’s so great about the Godfrey-Lee opportunity is that for someone who has Spanish-speaking skills to put to use on behalf of the community, it’s a great lightbulb moment.”

 

For a school district, it’s a nice way to make outside connections, Lautenbach said. As of early March, five people had already expressed interest in serving as bilingual volunteers, which requires a background check. An orientation will be set in the near future.

 

Not only will it benefit the district to have more volunteers, Lautenbach said, but it will build awareness about Godfrey-Lee.

 

“We want to remove as many barriers as we can for people to come in and be involved in our schools. We are also hoping to show them what great schools we are. It’s good for us to showcase the good things we are doing and show that we are welcoming to everyone.”

 

Join an Awesome Team

 

Carol Lautenbach

Many ECC parents need help with communication on busy mornings and at dismissal time, Rubio said. There are often parents waiting for assistance. “It would be really nice to have someone else there to help them.”

 

Interpreters and translators Rubio; Susana Chapa, who works at Godfrey Elementary School; and community liaison Jaime Ramirez, who works at the Administration Building, serve as connection points for parents about their children’s education. They rely a lot on one another to fill the communication needs in the Spanish-speaking community.

 

“We have an awesome team right here,” said Ramirez.

 

In the district, 75 percent of families are Hispanic, and 40 percent of students are English-language learners. Rubio, Chapa and Rodriguez write notes and newsletters, make phone calls, and translate at conferences and other parent meetings. They help make sure parents understand complicated terminology on forms, and plan and promote events like Las Posadas, held in December.

 

Parents have varying levels of English, and basic skills aren’t always enough for parents to receive the information they need, Lautenbach said, especially when it is critical. It’s important they can communicate comfortably.

 

“If it’s an emotional issue, a child who’s not going to graduate on time, a medical issue, a fight that’s happened, we all want to default to what’s most comfortable for us,” she said, “even if we are fairly fluent in another language.”

 

She wants parents to receive the right information and provide as much input as possible. “We want to make sure we are providing opportunities for parents to have a full voice.”

 

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

 

Public Museum Beer Explorers, Brewery Vivant host ‘Beer The Change’

3-bottom, Beer, Upcoming Events, ,
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is partnering with Brewery Vivant to offer a special Beer Explorers class. (Supplied)

By The Grand Rapids Public Museum

 

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is partnering with Brewery Vivant to offer a special Beer Explorers class on Thursday, March 23, where participants will learn about the impact beer brewing has on the environment and what can be done to make it more Earth-friendly, while enjoying a special beer tasting.

 

The class will be led by Brewery Vivant’s owner and sustainability director Kris Spaulding, and “Wandering Monk” and certified cicerone Ryan Engemann.

 

The class begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held on the first floor in the museum’s Galleria. Admission to class includes three beer samples, as well as access to the museum’s first two floors. A cash bar will also be available.

 

Tickets for the event are $8 for members and $18 for non-members. Participants must be 21 and older. Tickets can be purchased at grpm.org

 

This Beer Explorers program will be the first of three with Brewery Vivant. On April 19, join the GRPM and Brewery Vivant for Pub Science at Brewery Vivant. Pub Science is free for participants age 21 and older. Registration is required. Please visit grpm.org/PubScience to register today. On May 11, the third class in the series will teaching participants about how to combine beer with cheeses. Tickets will go on sale in March for the May class.

 

Brewery Vivant is located in the East Hills neighborhood of Grand Rapids, in a renovated funeral chapel built in the early 1900s. It is the first commercial brewery in the nation to receive Silver LEED Certification, additionally they are 100 percent renewable powered, a silver-level Bicycle Friendly Business, and are a certified B Corporation.

 

Mason Street Warehouse summer line-up dazzles to celebrate SCA’s 15th Anniversary

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment

Mason Street Warehouse housed at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts (SCA) is celebrating its 15th Anniversary, bringing a dazzling lineup to the stage.  The lakeshore’s only professional Equity theatre, Mason Street is producing the Michigan premiere of “Memphis The Musical:” the hilarious comedy “Fully Committed;” and the fresh, modern musical comedy “It Shoulda Been You.”

 

Mason Street Warehouse (MSW) performances are at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. Season and individual tickets are now on sale at sc4a.org or 269-857-2399. 

 


MSW Founder and Artistic Director Kurt Stamm held auditions in New York City, Chicago, and various Michigan locations – Mason Street received more than 3,400 submissions in NYC alone this year.  Stamm says the strength of Mason Street’s brand means he’s bringing outstanding professional talent back to West Michigan this summer.

 

“Memphis is a huge song and dance show and we’ll be putting up the Michigan premiere. We had truly phenomenal talent audition for the production as well as for ‘Fully Committed’ and ‘It Shoulda Been You,’” Stamm said.  

 


“Memphis: The Musical” is the largest production Mason Street has produced in its 15-year history and was a very deliberate choice, Stamm said. “We had a tremendously strong season last summer and this year we’re celebrating our 15th anniversary. We’re pulling out all the stops and giving the community a seriously dazzling lineup!”

 


Stamm noted that this summer’s shows will feature professional actors making their Mason Street debuts as well as MSW “alumni.”  “We’re still nailing down our contracts, but I’m very excited about the possibility of welcoming back several fabulous actors who have been on the Mason Street stage before. It’s always wonderful to bring these professionals back to West Michigan.”


Individual and season tickets are now on sale, and season tickets to see all three shows can be purchased at a great discount. Mason Street also offers senior, student, and group discounts. Call the box office for more information: 269-857-2399

‘Walk for Warmth’ utility assistance program fundraiser surpasses goal

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, , ,

 

By ACSET Community Action Agency

 

For 21 years, ACSET Community Action Agency (CAA) has hosted the Walk for Warmth in Kent County. The Walk for Warmth is a statewide effort to raise funds to help low-income households pay their utility bills and avoid shut-offs. ACSET CAA surpassed their goal this year by raising more than $20,000. All money raised at the Kent County event will stay in Kent County to assist families through CAA’s utility assistance program.

 

“The funds raised by the walk are critical as they allow us to serve more Kent County residents and reach vulnerable households that might not meet the criteria of some of our other programs,” said Susan Cervantes, Associate Director of ACSET CAA.

 

Walk for Warmth donations make it possible for more families to get the help they need. These families won’t have to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table.

 

Consumers Energy is a longtime supporter of Walk for Warmth events across the state. A large group of their employees gathered pledges and joined the Kent County walk again this year. Consumers Energy then matched all individual pledges that were received. Dan Malone, the company’s senior vice president of energy resources participated in the walk.

 

“The Grand Rapids walk was one of over 30 that we are participating in across Michigan, and I was happy to be a participant. I was encouraged by our strong employee support and those in the community who took time during their Saturday morning to help others,” Malone said.
This year’s event took place on Saturday, Feb. 11. The date was officially proclaimed Walk for Warmth Day 2017 by Grand Rapids Mayor, Rosalyn Bliss, and Kent County Commissioner, Carol Hennessy who both attended the event.

 

Saugatuck Center for the Arts Hosts “Taste of Telluride” Screening March 24

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, , ,

 

By Angela Peavey

Saugatuck Center for the Arts

 

The acclaimed Telluride Film Festival is coming to West Michigan when the Saugatuck Center for the Arts presents a “Taste of Telluride” on Friday, March 24, at 7 p.m.  Reserved tickets for this special evening of film ($10/each; cash bar available) can be purchased at sc4a.org or 269-857-2399.

 

 

Hailed by Movie Maker Magazine as, “One of the Top 25 coolest film festivals in the world,” the SCA is presenting its “Taste of Telluride” screening as part of its special 15th Anniversary programming.

 

 

“The SCA is the only place in Michigan for people to experience films from Telluride,” said SCA Executive Director Kristin Armstrong. “We know West Michigan audiences love film; we’re really thrilled to bring this event to Saugatuck.”

 

 

Kitchen overseer Genghis Khan (aka Desert Dog) keeps an eye out for salami skins to dispose of and food pouches in need of a good licking. Photograph by Mary McIntyre

Armstrong said the SCA collaborated with the Telluride Film Festival to curate the films selected for its “Taste of Telluride” event. “Audiences are going to be blown away by these incredibly inspiring stories, including extreme sports and adventure, our environment, and foreign arts and culture.”

 

 

Films at the “Taste of Telluride” include “Angel Annihilates Alaska” (extreme skiing), “Ace and the Desert Dog” (backpacking and friendship), “When We Were Knights” (base jumping), “The Super Salmon” (environment), and “Mile 19” (marathoner & veteran Johnnie Jameson).

 

 

The Telluride Film Festival bills itself as a celebration of the best in film — past, present and future — from all around the world. Guest Directors have included luminaries like Salman Rushdie, Buck Henry, Laurie Anderson, Stephen Sondheim, and Peter Sellars. Telluride audiences were the first in the world to laugh with “Juno,” to observe “The Lives of Others,” to visit “Brokeback Mountain,” to learn the secret of “The Crying Game,” and to experience “Blue Velvet.”  As Roger Ebert said, Telluride is, “…like Cannes died and went to heaven.”

 

 

The SCA’s relationship with the Telluride Film Festival has grown over the past five years as the two organizations have collaborated via the SCA’s Children’s Film Festival. “Our film festival for young viewers began 15 years ago,” Armstrong said. “In 2014 we reached out to the Telluride Film Festival to see if we could bring their award-winning films for young viewers to our festival. They loved the idea of reaching students in West Michigan so they agreed – and we’ve been growing our relationship ever since.”

 

 

Thanks to support from sponsors, the SCA makes its Children’s Film Festival available to West Michigan schools cost free, even including “bus money” if schools cannot afford transportation funding. “We typically serve 1,500 K-12th grade students during a week of screenings at the SCA,” Armstrong said. “This year we’re excited to announce a new partnership that is expanding the festival’s outreach tremendously.”

 

 

The Children’s Film Festival, which runs March 20-24 for partner schools, is going “on the road” to the Allegan Public Schools Performing Art enter for a day.   As a result, an additional 1,100 students will experience the Festival, and in total more than 2,500 students from Allegan, Ottawa, Kent, and Van Buren Counties will participate in the 2017 Children’s Film Festival.

 

 

Armstrong notes that SCA Education and Exhibition coordinator Whitney Valentine has created post-festival resources for educators so students can continue to benefit from the film festival experience long after the screening.

 

 

The Children’s Film Festival is a vital part of the SCA’s three-pronged mission of education, entertainment, engagement, Armstrong said. “The Children’s Film Festival hits all three of our key focus areas. The topics matter, and the experience gets kids thinking and learning in a different way.”

 

 

Reserved tickets for the “Taste of Telluride” screening and additional information can be found online at sc4a.org.  

 

Government Matters: Week in review, March 13-17

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Politics, , , , ,

Stabenow, Peters, Kildee introduce resolution opposing nuclear waste storage site in Great Lakes Basin

By WKTV Contributor

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Gary Peters (D-MI) and Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) have introduced resolutions, in both the House and Senate, expressing opposition to construction of a nuclear waste repository less than a mile from Lake Huron in Ontario.

“The Canadian proposal … could cause significant, lasting damage to the Great Lakes and undermine the progress we have made cleaning up the water quality in the Great Lakes Basin,” said Senator Peters.

“President Trump and Secretary of State Tillerson should make every effort to prevent the Canadian government from moving forward with this proposal and work to find an alternative solution that does not jeopardize the health of the Great Lakes.

“Surely in the vast land mass that comprises Canada, there must be a better place to permanently store nuclear waste than on the shores of Lake Huron.”

Over 40 million people in Canada and the United States get their drinking water from the Great Lakes and the highly toxic waste could take tens of thousands of years to decompose to safe levels. Ontario Power Generation is currently seeking approval from the Canadian Ministry of Environment to build a deep geologic repository to permanently store 7 million cubic feet of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste less than one mile from Lake Huron in Kincardine, Ontario.

Peters, Portman & Stabenow introduce bipartisan legislation to boost Great Lakes funding

Legislation would help modernize research capabilities, bring Great Lakes on par with ocean coasts

By WKTV Contributor

U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) have introduced bipartisan legislation to spur Great Lakes funding and research efforts and help support effective fishery management decisions.

The Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization (GLFRA) Act gives the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) the legislative authority to support the $7 billion Great Lakes sport and commercial fishery industry. Despite holding one-fifth of the world’s fresh water, the Great Lakes science program does not have the same funding authorization as science centers on saltwater coasts, and this legislation will close the resource gap between the Great Lakes Science Center and other fishery research centers across the country.

“Our Great Lakes and waterways are part of who we are and our way of life,” said Senator Stabenow, Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Task Force. “From water quality issues to invasive species, there are so many challenges facing our lakes and fisheries, which is why funding for cutting-edge research is so important.”

Peters statement on President Trump’s proposed budget

By Allison Green

U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee, released the following statement regarding President Trump’s proposed budget that dramatically cuts critical domestic programs:

Sen. Gary Peters

“President Trump’s proposed budget makes drastic cuts that will hit Michigan families and businesses in both urban and rural areas especially hard, including cuts to transportation services education, job training and programs that are essential for protecting the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes, which provide drinking water to 40 million people and support Michigan’s multi-billion dollar shipping, fishing and agricultural industries.

“I am particularly disappointed that President Trump still has not put forward a comprehensive strategy to grow our manufacturing industry and create jobs. Instead, his budget proposal eliminates or slashes funding for critical programs that support the small businesses and manufacturers that are our country’s greatest job creators. Instead of gutting programs that Michigan families, seniors and businesses rely on, the President should focus on making smart investments to boost innovation and American manufacturing, strengthen our infrastructure and ensure our country remains economically competitive.

“As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, I believe it is important for us to have a strong and innovative military, but we must also invest in our people to maintain our nation’s competitive edge. Congress has a responsibility to use taxpayer dollars efficiently and effectively, and members of both parties must work together to reduce wasteful spending and help shrink the deficit, but this proposal does more harm than good.”

Senator Stabenow statement on President Trump’s budget request that completely eliminates Great Lakes funding

Sen. Debbie Stabenow

By Miranda Margowsky

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget request, which completely eliminates funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative:

“It is outrageous that President Trump’s budget request completely eliminates funding to protect the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has always received bipartisan support and continues to be absolutely critical to protecting our Great Lakes, including fishing, boating, hunting, and fighting invasive species. Our Great Lakes economy creates 1.5 million jobs and are part of our Michigan way of life.

“I will continue working across the aisle to not only stop cuts to Great Lakes funding but  also to other important initiatives that are important to Michigan families, manufacturers, farmers, and small businesses.”

School News Network: Wyoming High students take tough topics with police

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, , , , ,
From left, Wyoming Public Safety Department Lt. Jim Maguffee, Sgt. Brian Look and Wyoming Public Schools Resource Officer Rory Allen talk to Wyoming High School students.

Erin Albanese

School News Network

 

It was a question teenage girls of color don’t often get to ask white police officers. “What do you think of the Black Lives Matter movement?” asked Wyoming High School junior Tracy Nunez-Telemin.

 

As part of a panel of police officers visiting high school students, City of Wyoming Lt. Jim Maguffee shared his thoughts.

 

Junior Tracy Nunez-Telemin asks officers for thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement.

“First of all I want to say that black lives matter,” Maguffee said. “That’s an important tenet to get across.” He said he doesn’t agree with everything the movement stands for because he thinks it draws incorrect conclusions about policing. Still, he sees its positives.

 

“I vehemently feel that public discourse is part of what makes America great,” he stressed. “The fact that people can come together and form a movement and call it Black Lives Matter and march in the streets and demand to be heard, man, that’s what makes us so strong. That’s not common around the world. That’s a great thing.”

 

No Subject Off Limits

 

In a country where hot-button issues have become increasingly divisive, Wyoming High School students and police officers sat down in the media center to talk about a variety of issues. Police brutality, illegal immigration and diversity on the police force were all addressed by officers queried by students. They said they have sworn to protect everyone in the community, regardless of immigration status. “We are everybody’s police,” Maguffee said.

 

Junior Tony Joliffi asks officers about experiences making quick judgment calls

The purpose of the panel was for students and officers to learn from each other, teachers said. Discussion spanned a whole school day with several groups attending hour-long sessions. Panelists included Maguffee, Sgt. Brian Look, Wyoming Public Schools Resource Officer Rory Allen and Officer Pam Keen.

 

It was part of the junior class’ annual book study, in partnership with the Kent District Library’s KDL Reads program. Students read “All American Boys,” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, a novel about a fictional African-American teenager who is assaulted by a white police officer. The event is witnessed by a white classmate. The repercussions that follow divide a school, community and nation.

 

For the past three years, juniors have participated in KDL Reads, and compiled essays to create their own book based on themes from the book study. This year, juniors are writing about social justice. “All American Boys” authors are scheduled to visit March 27.

 

Creating Community Dialogue

 

Including a visit from police officers in the book study was a way to offer different perspectives in a humanizing way, said English teacher Joslyn O’Dell, adding students often have negative perceptions of police.

 

“Having actual police officers come in here to create a positive interaction with them will help them move forward,” O’Dell said. “It’s so important we have open dialogue.”

 

“We wanted to open up the communication between our students and our local police so they can start to see those perspectives,” added media specialist Melissa Schneider, who helps coordinate the annual book project. “It was a hard (topic) because it’s controversial.”

 

Raul Valdez inquires about diversity on the police force

Wyoming High School has a very diverse student body and addressing racially charged issues can be difficult, she said. “That’s what we wanted to teach them, (that) there are ways to have those difficult conversations that can be meaningful versus just attacking and assuming.”

 

About Black Lives Matter, Maguffee said he hopes a result of the movement is progress in working together. “I think it’s great that they exist to the point that we can have a good conversation about how to make things better,” he said.

 

Junior Raul Valdez asked about diversity represented on the City of Wyoming Police Department. The police force is made up of a majority of white males, though there are black, Latino, female and officers of other ethnicities, officers said.

 

It’s always a drive to match the diversity of the department with the community, Allen told students. “In reality, you guys are the community and when we talk about diversity, ideally you want the police department to look like the high school here, and you’ve got a pretty diverse school.”

 

‘You Guys are Doing it Right’

 

As school liaison officer, Allen said he has to respond to very few problems at the high school where 25 countries are represented in the student body. “You guys are doing it right… For the vast majority, everybody plays nice together… It speaks a lot to you guys. Old people like us could probably take a lesson from you guys.”

 

Junior Tony Joliffi said he appreciated the officers’ visit. “It was a good experience for not only me but everyone in here to hear from police officers,” he said, noting that it reaffirmed his view of police as community protectors. “It was relieving to know that the view I wanted to have of police officers was actually true.”

 

Maguffee said he it was important for him to attend. “I have an opportunity to come in and talk to these teenagers face to face, learn each other’s names and talk about this problem. Any chance we can do that, we’ve got to seize it, because that’s what’s going to fix things eventually,”

 

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

Kentwood 50 talent show gives out ‘Golden Tickets’ to finalists

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Going Local, Local Entertainment,
After an event at the City of Kentwood’s City Hall, the Kentwood 50’s Kentwood’s Got Talent contest now has 11 finalists for the August finals. (WKTV)

WKTV Staff
The field competing in the City of Kentwood’s Kentwood’s Got Talent event, a part of the city’s Kentwood 50 anniversary celebration, got a little smaller Wednesday as 11 finalists were given “Golden Tickets” and an invitation to the August finals.

 

WKTV was there filming the event, held in City Council chambers at City of Kentwood City Hall, and you can see the video here.

 

About 30 auditions — ranging from singing to dancing to comedy — were held prior to the deadline of Friday, March 3. The finals will be Aug. 11 at 7 p.m., at a community event outside at city hall.

 

For more information on Kentwood 50 celebrations, visit kentwood50.com.

 

Legacy Trust announces eighth annual competition for artists with disabilities

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Adult artists with disabilities have a chance to win $500 and have their artwork displayed in the Grand Rapids Art Museum and entered in ArtPrize 2017 – thanks to the Legacy Trust Award Collection.

 

Back for its eighth year, the Legacy Trust Award Collection is soliciting artwork from Michigan artists with disabilities for its popular mini-competition in advance of ArtPrize. Four winning artists will each receive $500 and sponsorship in ArtPrize, the radically open art competition, scheduled this year Sept. 20 – Oct. 8 in downtown Grand Rapids.

 

The statewide competition is open to all Michigan artists with disabilities and seeks paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, collages, mixed media and other works of art. Four winners will be chosen by popular vote, a panel of celebrity judges and the LTAC Advisory Committee.

 

Artists must register with LTAC by April 24 to be considered for the 2017 competition.

 

Sponsored by Grand Rapids-based investment advisory and wealth management firm Legacy Trust, LTAC will be held this year in the Grand Rapids Art Museum May 22-23. A private reception for all artists, judges and LTAC supporters will be held on the evening of Monday, May 22.

 

The public will have a chance to view and vote for its favorite entry May 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the GRAM, which is located in downtown Grand Rapids.

 

Winning artists will have their work displayed during ArtPrize at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. Last year, 101 artists from around the state submitted artwork to LTAC, its seventh straight year of growth.

 

 

Winners of LTAC 2017 will be announced May 30. Along with having their artwork entered into ArtPrize, the winning artists will each receive a cash prize of $500. All entry fees and promotion expenses for ArtPrize will be paid by Legacy Trust, which – for the fourth year – has secured DeVos Place venue for the winning artists during ArtPrize.

 

Artists from all genres are invited to participate in the competition. All artists must submit an artist registration to Legacy Trust by April 24. All artwork must be completed and available for showing in Grand Rapids by 5 p.m. on April 28.

 

Following is a list of guidelines for submitting artwork:

  • All participating artists must be a resident of Michigan and at least 18 years of age by April 3.
  • All artwork must be original, attributable to the applicant and completed within three years prior to September 21, 2017.
  • All artwork is subject to the “Official Rules for Artists-ArtPrize,” which can be found at www.artprize.org.
  • The top four artists will retain ownership and all rights to their artwork, subject to the rules and restrictions of ArtPrize 2017. The artists agree to make themselves and their artwork available to LTAC and all partnering agencies and sponsors prior to and during ArtPrize for promotions and marketing efforts.
  • The top four artists who receive the award will be entered into ArtPrize 2017 as a Legacy Trust Collection Award winner.
  • LTAC artists agree that if their artwork wins any ArtPrize award, they will donate 25 percent of any award to create a special Legacy Trust Endowment Fund to continue arts programs for adults with disabilities in greater Grand Rapids.
  • Winning artists will be notified by Legacy Trust by May 30 and will be entered into ArtPrize.
  • There are no restrictions on artists who are not part of the Collection from entering ArtPrize on their own.

 

Artwork may be delivered by mail, UPS, FedEx or in person to Legacy Trust, 99 Monroe, Suite 600, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503 by 5 p.m. on April 28. See the registration form for additional rules and details at http://ltacarts.org.

 

More information on LTAC is available at www.LTACArts.org. Join the conversation on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LegacyTrustAwardCollection and on Twitter with #LTAC.

Annual march honors legacy of Chavez

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, , , , ,
Committee to Honor César E. Chávez Chairperson Lupe Ramos-Montigny

By Michele Coffill

Grand Valley State University

 

Leaders from Grand Valley State University will join hundreds of college and K-12 students, community leaders and advocates at the 17th Annual César E. Chávez Social Justice March on Thursday, March 16.

 

• Details: The march will begin at 11 a.m. at the Cook Center Library, 1100 Grandville Ave. SW.

 

The march will cover the length of César E. Chávez Boulevard, celebrating the work and legacy of Chávez, and end with a community gathering at 11:30 a.m. at Potter’s House Church, 811 Chicago Dr., SW.

 

Grand marshals are President Juan R. Olivarez, Aquinas College, and President Steven C. Ender, Grand Rapids Community College.

 

Lupe Ramos-Montigny, committee chair, said the program is dedicated to “A Day Without Immigrants.”

 

Proceeds from a luncheon later in the afternoon will benefit a scholarship at Grand Valley that honors Ramos-Montigny.

 

Details are posted on Facebook, search for the Committee to Honor César E. Chávez.

Caledonia resident receives 55-year service award from Pine Rest

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Caledonia resident Ruth Helmholdt-Davis recently received her 55-year service award at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. Helping her celebrate is her daughter Sallie Nyenhuis, right, who received her 5-year service award and her niece Joan Hibma who received her 25-year service award. (Photo courtesy Pine Rest)

By Colleen Cullison

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

 

Ruth Helmholdt-Davis recently received her 55-year service award from Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. Helmholdt-Davis came to Pine Rest right after her graduation from high school in 1959; she had just turned 17. She came from Lucas, a small farming community near McBain, Michigan. Helmholdt-Davis really actually has 57 years of service, but 55 years consecutively.

 

She entered the nursing program and began work at the Retreat Center with children. It was a natural fit for her since she was the oldest of six kids and had done a lot of babysitting.

 

Helmholdt-Davis graduated the nursing program in 1961. She was in a group of nurses grandfathered in as licensed practical nurses by the State of Michigan. In her years of service she held many positions; she has been a nurse in literally all areas of Pine Rest, both past and present. On completion of her nursing bachelor’s degree, she became a unit manager in Child & Adolescent. In the late 1990s, she left full time employment until 2004 when she returned full time as clinical service manager of the Child & Adolescent Unit.

 

In 2007, she became the director of clinical practice of Hospital Based Services and terminated full-time employment in 2008, but still maintains part-time work with Pine Rest. She works on-call as an intake co-coordinator. Helmholdt-Davis also works in the nursing program at Detroit Mercy Nursing School.

 

Helmholdt-Davis is married to Ron Davis. She has two sons and a daughter, 16 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Her daughter, Sallie Nyenhuis, just received her 5-year service award and her niece Joan Hibma received her 25-year service award at Pine Rest.

 

Helmholdt-Davis spends her winters in Florida and still has time for her many hobbies. She enjoys interior decorating, flower arranging, reading, golf, gardening and spending time outdoors. She also enjoys spending time with her family especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

 

In Florida, she is currently teaching a Bible study on Nehemiah. She also volunteers at Manasota Care Net which is a pregnancy resource center.

A former Michigan native returns with new fantasy adventure book

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, , , , ,

By Whitney Spotts

Schuler Books & Music

 

Former Michigan native and author H.M. Bouwman is scheduled to visit Schuler Books & Music Monday, March 20, at 7 p.m. with her newest release “A Crack in the Sea.”

 

“A Crack in the Sea” is an enchanting historical fantasy adventure. No one comes to the Second World on purpose. The doorway between worlds opens only when least expected. The Raft King is desperate to change that by finding the doorway that will finally take him and the people of Raftworld back home. To do it, he needs Pip, a young boy with an incredible gift — he can speak to the fish; and the Raft King is not above kdinapping to get what he wants. Pip’s sister Kitchen, though, is determined to rescue her brother and foil the Raft King’s plans.

 

The book was a Winter 2016-2017 Kids’ Indie Next Pick and A Midwest Connections Pick for January 2017. “Publishers Weekly” wrote “through the captivating interwoven tales of these three sibling pairs — and with assistance from Shimizu’s powerful illustrations — Bouwman crafts a moving narrative about family, magic, morality, the power of storytelling, and the cyclical nature of history.”

 

Bouwman also received Thanhha Lai’s Newbery Honor for her 2011 “Inside Out and Back Again.”

 

The Schuler Books & Music free event will include a talk and signing. For more information, visit www.schulerbooks.com.

 

 

Wyoming Theater Company gets a little spontaneous with March production

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

You don’t have to head to LaughFest this weekend to get a few good laughs. The Wyoming Theater Company presents “Still No Need for Improv-ment?” Thursday – Saturday, March 16 – 18, a Dan Heintzleman Auditorium, located in the Wyoming Junior High School, 2125 Wrenwood Blvd.

 

The event also serves as a fundraiser for the Wyoming Theater Company, which for more than 20 years has provided students in seventh through 12th grade an opportunity to participate in theater productions. The program is one of the largest extracurricular student group in Wyoming High School and has involved more than a 100 students every year in all areas of the arts including acting, dance, voice, graphic design, costume, makeup, lighting design and more.

 

Ansleigh Hamilton, who portrayed Morticia in the company’s fall production of “The Addams Family,” said she has been performing with the company since seventh grade and has loved every moment. Matt Bulthuis, a senior this year and who played Lucas in “The Addams Family,” said being a part of Wyoming Theater Company has been an important aspect to his high school career.

 

“The Wyoming Theater Company is very excited to bring you four awesome and unique IMPROV events this March,” according to director Jeremy Schnotala. The troupe of improv actors (7th-12th grade) have been working since December to prepare for these outlandish, fun evenings of original IMPROV comedy, he said.

 

“We will have you laughing all night as our troupe of twelve make up scenes on the spot from audience suggestions,” Schnotala said. “Each evening is made up of over a dozen different improv activities or games– ALL completely unique, fresh, and improvised right before your eyes!”

 

The first three events are special engagements–food, beverages, and entertainment included. The final evening show on Saturday, March 18, is general admission. Tickets to the three special engagements are $15 each (staff event passes not accepted for these events) and have limited seating as there is a “behind the scenes” cafe-style performance space, replete with mood lighting, comfortable lounge seating, cafe tables and more. Each event will also have three special drawings for prize packages worth anywhere from $75 to $200. See information below for details:

 

Thursday, March 16 at 7 p.m.:  COFFEE HOUSE IMPROV–tickets are $15 to this special engagement. It will be two hours of entertainment, specialty coffees, various desserts, and salty snacks.

 

FRIDAY, March 17 at 7 p.m.:  DINNER THEATER IMPROV–tickets are $15 to this special engagement. It will be two hours of entertainment, dinner, beverages, snacks, and dessert.

 

SATURDAY morning, March 18 at 11 a.m.:  PAJAMA PERFORMANCE–tiickets are $15 to this special engagement. It will include two hours of entertainment, breakfast and beverages. Coming in your pajamas is optional.

 

SATURDAY evening, March 18 at 7 p.m.:  GENERAL ADMISSION IMPROV SHOW–tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, 18 and under. Seating will be general admission. The show will last approximately two hours.

 

Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling 616-530-7590, ext. 2367 or at the door of the Dan Heintzlman Auditorium. For more information about the show or the Wyoming Theater Company, visit www.wyomingtheatercompany.com.

 

Kentwood woman accepted for national philanthropy program

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Johngerlyn “Jonse” Young

By Roberta F. King

Grand Rapids Community Foundation

 

Grand Rapids Community Foundation recently announced that Director of Philanthropic Services Johngerlyn “Jonse” Young, CAP, has been selected to participate in the Council on Foundations’ 2017 Career Pathways program. This intensive, year-long leadership development program is designed to foster diverse talent and excellence among the philanthropic sector’s senior executives. Participants will graduate from the program with the knowledge, experience, and professional networks needed to be more effective in their current roles and more deliberate in their contributions to the field of philanthropy more broadly, positioning them to compete successfully for senior-level foundation positions.

 

“We’re honored and excited that Jonse was selected for the Career Pathways program. Her leadership skills have always been evident here at the Community Foundation and we’re pleased that she’ll have the opportunity to be involved nationally,” said Diana Sieger, president of Grand Rapids Community Foundation.

 

The Council is committed to a diverse and inclusive agenda for the field of philanthropy. Career Pathways is just one program in a suite of activities offered by the Council that is focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through the Career Pathways program, the Council seeks to increase the number of candidates from diverse backgrounds in the leadership pipeline and strengthen the capacity of the philanthropic sector to grow and retain diverse talent.

 

Young will participate in virtual and in-person learning, networking events and career training facilitated by expert faculty representing senior executives and trustees in the field of philanthropy as well as experts from other sectors.

 

“This was an extraordinarily competitive year for the program, and the 2017 Career Pathways cohort is truly outstanding” said Council president and CEO Vikki Spruill. “These 24 individuals are remarkably talented and have shown themselves to have a deep commitment to the principals of diversity, equity, and inclusion and a calling to be of service to the field of philanthropy. Career Pathways will prepare them to be the next generation of leaders who will drive the sector’s efforts to improve lives and build vibrant communities.”

Adoptable Pets of the Week: Buddy & Sheik

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Sheik (left) and Buddy must be adopted together as a bonded pair

Each week WKTV features adoptable pets from area shelters. This week, we focus on a couple of cuties from West Michigan Ferret Connection.

 

By West Michigan Ferret Connection

 

Is there a ferret in your future? Since December 22, 1994, ferrets have been legal to own in Michigan. They make very fun pets, but they’re a lot more work than one might think.

 

First, ferrets can live up to 10 years old. That means you’ll need to make a commitment. Then there is the little matter of a very busy and curious little creature who requires mental stimulation and plenty of exercise in ferret-proofed surroundings. Ferrets also need annual vaccinations against distemper and require a rabies shot as well. They are also accident prone, will often eat things they shouldn’t and will need ideally half-yearly health checks with their vet. This can all add up and you may incur similar costs to having an outdoor cat.

 

There are several ferret breeders out there, but the sad fact is, for every ethical breeder there are many backyard breeders who don’t have the animals’ welfare at heart.

 

“In my opinion, ferrets are best obtained by rescue, not from a pet store where ferrets are ‘sold’ specifically for profit,” said Dee Gage, founder of West Michigan Ferret Connection. Featured for adoption this week are Buddy, a one-year-old male chocolate ferret and Sheik, a two-year-old black sable.

 

Dee Gage with her “ferret bouquet”

“I do not ‘sell’ ferrets. I ‘re-home’ them,” said Gage. “They’ve already been ‘dumped’ once and I want to make sure they are not dumped again. The ferrets under my care deserve to have a safe and secure ‘forever’ home and I do everything I can to guarantee that.”

 

There are no “breeds” of ferrets. There ARE, however, 38 different colors and patterns.

 

Established in October 2001, West Michigan Ferret Connection re-homes an average of 50 ferrets per year. Visit their Facebook page here.

 

Is a ferret the right pet for you?

“Ferrets aren’t for everybody and I can’t stress strongly enough that you should do your research,” said Gage.

 

A group of ferrets is called a “business”

Buddy and Sheik must be adopted as a bonded pair. If you’re interested in adopting these cuties, Call WMFC at 616.447.2978 or email wmfc2001@sbcglobal.net.

 

The West Michigan Ferret Connection is a home-based ferret rescue providing rescue services, boarding, adoption & education.

Employment Expertise: The power of words

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By West Michigan Works!

 

A résumé should display your unique skills and abilities. A strong résumé should make you stand out from the crowd, so try to show your work history and abilities in an interesting way. One way to do this is using action-oriented words to describe your individual talents.

 

Choose words that show employers real activities with measurable results. Words like “was” or “became” do not say much about what you actually did. Instead, choose verbs that lead to questions such as “how,” “how many,” “how much,” “when,” “where,” “who” and “why.” Good words should make you want to include more details and make the reader want to know more.  You can provide the specifics on how you achieved your results during the interview.

Example of weak word choice:
“I became Lead Scheduler after six months with the office.”

Example of strong word choice:
“I reduced the number of unfilled appointments by 30% in my first 6 months with the office.”

Here are 20 action verbs to consider using in your résumé:

  • Accomplished
  • Arranged
  • Assisted
  • Collaborated
  • Completed
  • Delivered
  • Generated
  • Improved
  • Managed
  • Monitored
  • Operated
  • Planned
  • Processed
  • Produced
  • Reduced
  • Reported
  • Scheduled
  • Screened
  • Tested
  • Updated

Take the time to review and re-write your résumé to include strong action verbs. This will clearly show the employer the value you will offer as an employee. You want your résumé to make a good first impression so you’ll get the interview!

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

School News Network: Drive-up DNA Lesson delivers STEM to school’s front door

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Lisandra Yimenez and Isabelle Crotser complete the experiment

By Erin Albanese

School News Network

 

Inside a 40-foot mobile classroom parked outside their school, Southwood Elementary students got to the “true core” of their food — its basic building blocks — by extracting DNA from wheat germ. The activity followed a multi-step process and ended with little bits of goo on paper clips fashioned into hooks.

 

Resulting in “oohs,” “ahhs” and looks of both fascination and disgust, they had successfully separated DNA using a mix of water, alcohol and detergent.

 

Kyle Olsen and Zack Myers work together

During the lesson taught by Lindsay Grasman, a science lab educator at Food, Agriculture & Resources in Motion (FARM), fifth-graders learned about agriculture, and how genetics play a role in all living things including the crops raised by Michigan farmers.

 

Kentwood Public Schools is piloting the FARM program through the Michigan Farm Bureau’s Agriculture in the Classroom program. It is the brainchild of a group of farmers working with 26 Michigan county farm bureaus. The pilot program continues through June with 26 schools in Kent and Oakland counties.

 

The purpose, Grasman said, is to help teach students about how food gets to the table and the role of agriculture in their lives. The mobile lab is equipped with tablets, where students work in lab spaces, and other technologies for presenting lessons tied to Next Generation Science Standards, a set of teaching guidelines for kindergarten through 12th-graders.

 

In Michigan, agriculture is the second largest industry in contributing more than $101 billion to the state’s economy, according to the Michigan Agriculture in the Classroom website. Michigan produces more than 300 commodities, making it the state with the second most diverse agriculture industry in the nation, behind California.

 

Hector Rodriguez adds the wheat germ

Every Living Thing

 

“It helps them learn more about where their food and fiber comes from,” Grasman said. “We want them to have a more informed consumer base.”

The genetics lesson had students’ interest piqued.

 

“I thought it was very cool to learn that DNA is actually in every living thing, even wheat,” said Kyle Olsen.

 

Added Breanna Duron: “I didn’t know wheat had DNA. I thought only animals did. I like how they didn’t just show us in a movie. They had us do it ourselves and see it with our own eyes.”

 

The lab offers several other activities, including making plastic out of corn starch, measuring contaminants in water, making soy-based crayons, and food safety.

 

Nancy McKenzie, the district’s STEM coordinator, requested Kentwood be included in the pilot program. Seven district elementary schools participated. “I’m sure most of them don’t know where food comes from before the grocery store,” she said. “This gives them a little insight into that, one little part and parcel of the agricultural business, but it also fits with all our science standards.”

 

Alissa Minaker looks at the DNA she extracted from wheat germ

“I love to see the excitement they get when they go through the whole process and get to the end product. It’s fun to see them excited about working in a lab setting.”

 

The Michigan lab was modeled after the Mobile Science Activity Center from Kentucky’s Department of Agriculture, which visited North Godwin Elementary, in Godwin Heights Public Schools in 2015 at the request of Michigan Farm Bureau.

 

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

River City Water Festival celebrates role of Grand River

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By Dottie Barnes

Grand Valley State University

 

The third annual River City Water Festival, a community event celebrating the Grand River and its role in shaping the city of Grand Rapids, will be held March 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

 

The free event is sponsored by the Groundswell initiative through the College of Education at Grand Valley State University in partnership with the West Michigan Environmental Action Council.

 

The festival will feature hands-on, educational activities designed to engage participants about the need to protect water resources. Participants will learn how small actions at home can make a big difference in the quality of the Grand River.

 

An awards ceremony at 11 a.m. will be held to honor the top three winners of the Water Superhero Poster Contest that was open to area 5th, 6th and 7th grade students. The grand prize went to Jolene Barcelo, a 5th grade student at Grand Rapids Montessori. The top 20 posters will be on display at the museum during the festival.

 

Festival activities will be led by Grand Valley’s Annis Water Resources Institute, the Blandford Nature Center, John Ball Zoo, Plaster Creek Stewards, the City of Grand Rapids Environmental Services Department, Kent Conservation District, Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, and more.

 

Financial support for the event comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, as well as Grand Valley’s College of Education.

 

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is located at 272 Pearl St. NW. For more information visit http://groundswellmi.org/river-city-water-festival.

Kent County Board approves funding for mental health court study

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By Lisa LaPlante

Kent County

 

Mental health issues are perhaps one of the largest contributing factors to recidivism. Providing much-needed treatment to those suffering from mental health issues could help offenders recover and stay out of the justice system, while alleviating the strain on the courts and jails. The Board of Commissioners recently voted to accept a $33,000 Mental Health Court Planning Grant from the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) be appropriated to the 2017 Special Projects Fund budget.

 

The State Legislature created the mental health court statute in 2013, enabling trial courts in Michigan to develop and operate mental health courts.  A mental health court is a specialized court docket for certain defendants with mental illness that substitutes a problem-solving model for traditional criminal court processing.  The SCAO makes funds available annually for planning and implementation of mental health courts.

 

The 17th Circuit Court, in collaboration with Network180, received the funding to evaluate the need for a mental health court within Kent County and how these services would best be delivered.  As required by the grant, staff representing the 17th Circuit Court, local district court, Network180, County Prosecutor, Sheriff’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, mental health services providers and County Administration will participate in the project planning committee.

 

“We simply cannot operate in silos when it comes to the mental health system and the justice system,” said Judge Donald A. Johnston, 17th Circuit Court Chief Judge. “By working together, we hope to enhance public safety and make a difference in the lives of individuals who are trapped in an endless cycle of illness and jail.”

 

Grant funds will be primarily used to contract with a consultant to serve as the Mental Health Court Planning Coordinator. The coordinator will work with the project planning committee to determine whether implementation of a mental health court in Kent County would reduce recidivism, enhance public safety, and improve outcomes for mentally ill citizens.

 

“When we treat mental health issues successfully, we will save money that would be spent on court costs and incarceration,” said Jim Saalfeld, Chair of the Board of Commissioners. “Our Board is hopeful that this study will result in development of a program into the future.”

 

James Hughes, former Regional Administrator for the Michigan Supreme Court, will coordinate the effort on a contractual basis under the direction of the 17th Circuit Court Administrator Andrew Thalhammer.  “Kent County has a great opportunity to improve outcomes for persons with serious mental illness who become involved in its criminal justice system.  I plan to identify the best practices from other Mental Health Courts in Michigan that could be started here in Grand Rapids,” Hughes said.

 

The study is expected to be completed by September 30, 2017 to allow development of a proposal for an implementation grant during FY 2018 if recommended by the planning committee and accepted by the court and appropriate funding unit.

 

“Treatment is a much more cost-effective way to deal with mental health issues, but it is also a more holistic course of action,” said Scott Gilman, Executive Director of Network180. “I look forward to the work we can do and the lives we can positively impact through this planning period.”

Holocaust survivor to visit Grand Valley State University

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Magda Brown

A woman who survived the Holocaust and escaped imprisonment will give a presentation at Grand Valley State University on March 15, as part of Women’s History Month.

 

In 1944, Magda Brown, from Hungary, was sent to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland, where she was separated from her family. She spent time at a work camp before escaping with several other prisoners during a march to Buchenwald. They were discovered and liberated by American soldiers. Brown, now 89 years old, moved to the U.S. in 1946. She is a great aunt of Samantha Murray, a Grand Valley student who is president of the university’s Hillel chapter.

 

Brown’s presentation will take place from 7-9 p.m. in room 2250 of the Kirkhof Center on the Allendale Campus.

 

Magda Brown at a younger age.

Hillel member Robin Hutchings said Brown’s presentation will be recorded and donated to Grand Valley’s archives for future campus community members to watch.

 

“Magda loves presenting to university students because she feels we have a great ability to make change in our societies,” said Hutchings.

 

Brown was united with her brother, Miklos Brown, in 1962. For 40 years, Brown worked in a physician’s office as a certified medical assistant. She is an active member and past president of the American Association of Medical Assistants, Illinois Society. She is also a member of the Speaker’s Bureau of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. Learn more about Brown at www.magdabrown.com.

Acclaimed environmental documentary to be shown at Saugatuck Center for the Arts

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Leonardo DiCaprio in the documentary “Before the Flood.”

By Angela Peavey

Saugatuck Center for the Arts

 

Academy Award-winning film-maker Fisher Stevens and Academy Award-winning actor, environmental activist, and U.N. Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio delve into the science and impact of climate change in their acclaimed documentary “Before the Flood.” The film is part of the Saugatuck Center for the Arts’ Real to Reel Series and set to screen March 16 at 7 p.m.

 

According to DiCaprio, “This documentary shows how interconnected the fate of all humanity is—but also the power we all possess as individuals to build a better future for our planet.”

 

This film, presented by National Geographic, follows DiCaprio as he travels to five continents and the Arctic to witness culminate change firsthand. He goes on expeditions with scientists uncovering the reality of climate change and meets with political leaders fighting against inactions. He also discovers a calculated disinformation campaign orchestrated by powerful special interests working to confuse the public about the urgency of the growing powerful special interests working to confuse the public about the urgency of the growing climate crisis.

 

“This is one of many documentaries about climate change; many aren’t much fun, but with DiCaprio at its center, this one offers crucial, current information, as well as a measure of hope,” says Common Sense Media.

 

With unprecedented access to thought leaders around the world, DiCaprio searches for hope in a rising tide of catastrophic news.

 

Saugatuck Center for the Arts is located at 400 Culver St., Saugatuck. General admission tickets are $5 for members and $7 for future members. For more information on this event please visit sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

 

 

The Public Museum’s newest exhibit goes dark, allowing the creatures to light the way

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This slideshow requires JavaScript.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

Fireflies dancing across the night sky. Jellyfish floating gracefully through a sea’s current. Each of these offer a colorful display of light in the darkness.

 

That generation of light by living things is called bioluminescence, which is created by chemical reactions. And it is not produced for beauty but used to attract a mate, lure unsuspecting prey and/or defend against a predator. These creatures who use bioluminescence are the focus of a new Grand Rapids Public Museum exhibit, “Creatures of the Light.”

 

“This is a very different exhibit for us,” said Kate Moore, the Public Museum’s vice president of marketing and public relations, adding that is partly because the exhibit is in very low light as to better showcase the bioluminescence of the plants and animals featured. “It is a different topic then what we have offered in the past and it has an emersion feel that you experience as you travel through the exhibit.”

 

Opening on Saturday and running through July 9, “Creatures of the Light,” starts by exploring the living things that are on the ground that utilize bioluminescence, such as mushrooms, or fly through the air, such as fireflies. From there, it travels to Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand where visitors can feel what it is like to view the worms in the caves.

 

The recreated Waitomo Glowworm Caves of New Zealand. (Photo courtesy of the Grand Rapids Public Museum)

Then the exhibit heads to open water, where a majority of bioluminescence creatures live. “In the depths of the ocean, there is complete darkness so the animals living there survive using bioluminescence,” Moore said. Think of “Finding Nemo,” when Dory and Marlin, swimming in complete darkness, see a light and follow it almost right into the hungry mouth of a angler fish.

 

But before you can get to the depths, you must first explore the ocean’s surface where plankton organisms called dinoflagellates will follow your movement and creating a glowing halo around anything that moves. From there, is the Bloody Bay Wall, lit up by coral and fishes followed, of course, by jellyfish. And then finally, you are where almost 90 percent of the bioluminescence animals live, 2,200 feet below sea level in darkness, where the angler fish is waiting to greet you along with some other interesting animals.

 

While the exhibit is dark, it is not scary, Moore said with Public Museum’s Marketing Communications Manager Christie Bender liking it to a ride at Disney World that has little or no light. “It’s a fun experience,” Bender said. “It has that Disney ride, magical sense.”

 

Elements such as the illuminated floor with the dinoflagellates will easily entertain along with the wonderment of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Adding to the exhibit, will be a pop-up store by the entrance into the exhibit offering glow sticks, as well as other items, allowing participants to “glow” as they move through the exhibit.

 

“Creatures of the Light” is one of two new spring/summer exhibits at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Opening in May will be “Mindbender Manson,” which will feature 40 brain teasers and five group activities.

 

“The Museum is excited to bring in these two new, innovative exhibits that encourage our visitors to explore more about the world around us, as well as test knowledge and
skills in puzzle solving,” said GRPM’s President & CEO Dale Robertson. “’Creatures of Light’ reveals some of the most magical, wondrous, and truly extraordinary creatures and phenomena to be found in the natural world, and ‘Mindbender Mansion’ is a family friendly way to learn and adapt constructive thinking skills.”

“Creatures of Light” is part of the museum general admission which is $8 for adults, $5 for  Kent County resident adults; $7 for seniors, $3 for Kent County resident seniors, and $3 for students.  “Mindbender Manison” will be $10 for adults, $5 for children, $7 for Kent County resident adults and $2 for Kent County resident children, and free for Museum members.

For more information about exhibits and programs at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, visit www.grpm.org. The Grand Rapids Public Museum is located at 272 Pearl St. NW.

Government Matters: March 6-10 week in review

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Peters named Ranking Member on Senate subcommittee overseeing U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA

“Next to our people, the Great Lakes are Michigan’s most precious resource and play a central role in our state’s economy, environment, and way of life,” said Senator Peters.

“As Ranking Member of this subcommittee, I look forward to continuing my bipartisan work to protect and preserve the Great Lakes and strengthen our economy by advancing commercial shipping, fishing and tourism industries. These efforts take on a new urgency and importance in light of reports outlining President Trump’s proposed cuts to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other important programs — cuts that pose a threat to our Great Lakes.”

NOAA provides research, information, and services to support decisions that affect recreation, the environment, public health and safety, and the economy of the Great Lakes. Their Office of Marine Sanctuaries manages the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary to protect the unique history preserved by more than 100 discovered shipwrecks within the sanctuary while also maintaining responsible and sustainable recreational and commercial uses in the area.

As a member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force and Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Peters has made the protection and preservation of the Great Lakes a top priority. His efforts include:

  • Co-authored legislation that was signed into law to increase federal pipeline safety and oversight by designating the Great Lakes as a high consequence area, improving oil spill response plans to address ice cover and require critical reviews of pipeline age and integrity.
  • Worked to secure authorization for a new icebreaker in the Great Lakes as part of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015. In the winter of 2014-15, ice cover on the Great Lakes contributed to an estimated 3.2 million ton decrease in cargo, costing nearly $355 million in lost revenue and 2,000 lost jobs.
  • Passed a provision requiring the USCG to conduct an assessment of oil spill response activities for cleanup in fresh water, especially under heavy ice cover.
  • Introduced the Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act to provide better federal funding opportunities, update technologies and create new research projects to benefit the Great Lakes. Despite the size of the Great Lakes and the value of the fishery, the Great Lakes science program does not have the same funding authorizations as science centers on saltwater coasts.
  • Led delegation of Great Lakes Senators in urging Department of Transportation to take a leadership role in the implementation of a first-ever regional strategy for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence maritime transportation system (MTS). Currently, the Great Lakes MTS is a major regional and national transportation asset, but is significantly under-utilized and operating at an estimated 50% of its full capacity.

Peters, colleagues urge Trump Administration to stop cuts to Coast Guard

Proposed 12 percent cut would severely restrict Coast Guard’s national, economic security operations on the Great Lakes

U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Commerce Subcommittee overseeing the U.S. Coast Guard, helped lead a bipartisan group of 23 Senators in a letter urging Office of Management and Budget Administrator Mick Mulvaney not to make a $1.3 billion dollar cut to the budget of the U.S. Coast Guard.

According to reports, the FY 2018 Presidential Budget Request could amount to almost 12 percent of the service’s budget being cut. The U.S. Coast Guard plays a critical role in protecting our Northern border along the Great Lakes, conducting counter-terrorism patrols and law enforcement operations, and ensuring the smooth flow of goods on Great Lakes year round.

The Coast Guard is responsible for patrolling 721 miles of Michigan’s northern border to protect national security and combat drug and human trafficking. In Michigan, they operate a fleet of six cutters, three air stations and two Aids to Navigation teams that support critical ice-breaking operations, conduct search and rescue missions and provide navigation support to ships on the Great Lakes.

Senators Peters, Perdue reintroduce ‘No Hero Left Untreated Act’

U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and David Perdue (R-GA) have reintroduced the No Hero Left Untreated Act to enhance medical care for America’s heroes. The bipartisan legislation would create a pilot program to test an innovative treatment called Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy for veterans to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other mental health issues. Peters and Perdue are both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Peters is a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Sen. Gary Peters

“Veterans suffering from the devastating effects of PTSD, traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma deserve to have the best, most cutting-edge treatment available,”said Senator Peters, a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

“Incorporating innovative new treatment options like Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy technology into VA medical centers has the potential to improve treatment for veterans and create meaningful change in their lives.”

The No Hero Left Untreated Act would establish a pilot program at two medical centers within the VA network and enroll up to 50 veterans in Magnetic EEG/ECG-Guided Resonance Therapy (MeRT) for a one-year period.

Huizenga testifies before Congress on Great Lakes economy

Congressman Bill Huizenga, Co-Chair of the U.S. House Great Lakes Task Force, testified before the House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee on the importance of properly using funds collected in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and water infrastructure across the Great Lakes. Congressman Huizenga discussed the strong bipartisan effort he has led to hold Washington accountable and make the federal government live up to its promise of dredging harbors across the Great Lakes. Huizenga also warned of the negative economic consequences including fewer jobs and fewer American products being exported should the federal government fail to live up to its obligation.

Peters urges FCC to protect Internet access for rural, high-poverty schools & libraries

U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) joined his colleagues in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to protect the E-Rate Program, which ensures the neediest schools and libraries — especially those in rural and high poverty areas — have affordable Internet access. The E-Rate Program has given students across Michigan access to modern teaching tools that expand their knowledge and prepare them to enter the 21st century workforce. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s recent decision to retract a report detailing the E-Rate Program’s success has stirred concern that the new Administration will not support the vital program.

“E-Rate helps schools and libraries in every state by supporting access to modern communications and the Internet. Such access is critical if we are a country that is serious about preparing and educating our children for the digital age,” the Senators wrote.

Peters joined U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tom Udall (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Al Franken (D-MN), Jeffery Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bob Casey (D-PA) in signing the letter.

In a neighborhood next door, comes a comedian of Jedi portions

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Charles Ross in Edinburgh (Supplied by Charles Ross)

By Kathy Richards

Van Singel Fine Arts Center

Like many, many others, Charles Ross spent much of his childhood watching and re-watching (and re-watching again) the Star Wars Trilogy. The result of his deep love and appreciation for the film series is his hilarious show One Man Star Wars, presented by the 2016-2017 Chemical Bank Series on Thursday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m.

In the show, Ross single-handedly plays all the characters, sings the music, flies the ships fights the battles and condenses the plots into one fun show for all ages. He does so with no props, sets or light-sabers. It’s evokes the films famous scenes, dialogue and musical themes but also allows the audience to use its imagination.

Officially endorsed by Lucasfilm Ltd, and produced by the same company as Evil Dead! The Musical and Potted Potter, Ross’ energetic performance has toured to London’s West End, Off Broadway, Dubai and the Sydney Opera House.

SPIN magazine called the show “funnier than you can possibly imagine.” Conan O’Brien praised its accessibility and the Chicago Sun Times saluted Ross on his “impressive Star Wars run in less than 12 parsecs!”

Reserved seats are $24.50 for adults and $16.50 for students (high school and younger). Reserve tickets in person at the Van Singel box office or by calling 626-878-6800, Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are also available online at www.vsfac.com.

The Van Singel Fine Arts Center sits at the east end of the Byron Center High School complex, located at 8500 Burlingame SW (84th Street and Burlingame SW) in Byron Center, just 1.5 miles west of US-131. The Van Singel features free, easy parking and curbside handicap parking is available.

Spring Ahead: 5 warm weather prep ideas to save energy and money

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By ACSET Community Action Agency

Daylight savings time begins at 2 am, Sunday, March 12 this year. Did you know daylight savings time began in the U.S. to increase daylight hours and decrease candle usage to save money? Instead of looking at spring’s annual time change as the loss of an hour of sleep, consider using it as reminder to make your home more efficient for the spring and summer.

ACSET Community Action Agency (CAA) currently has funds available to help qualifying individuals weatherize their home. Weatherization services not only reduce heating costs in the winter but help keep your home cooler in the summer. Learn more about the Weatherization Assistance Program here and contact us to see if you qualify at 616.336.4000.

Here are five more ways to save energy and money this spring and summer!

  1. Change your furnace filter. If you haven’t done this in a while, now is a great time. After running more to heat your home over the winter, your furnace will thank you. Not only will it improve the air quality in your home, it will help your furnace run more efficiently — saving you money!
  2. Check your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. This is a task that is easily forgotten but incredibly important for your family’s safety. Test all of your detectors and swap out old batteries. Need a new detector? Many fire departments have free smoke detector installation programs; contact yours to find out more.
  3. Tune up your AC. Your air conditioner needs upkeep to work as efficiently as possible this upcoming summer. Changing the filters will improve efficiency and save money, but having a professional check your system before the weather heats up is an even better idea.
  4. Redirect ceiling fans. Did you know that in the winter you should set your ceiling fans to rotate clockwise to distribute warm air? Likewise, set your fans to rotate counter-clockwise in the spring and summer. This can keep your rooms cooler in warm weather, limiting the need to run the air conditioner.
  5. Dust. Over the winter dust can accumulate in nooks and crannies. Do some spring cleaning to remove dust from electronics that may be forcing them to work harder. Dust air vents to allow for maximum efficiency and circulation. Vacuum your refrigerator coils. The dust that settles there can cause your fridge to work harder and cost you more money.

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

Wyoming public safety personnel, civilians honored at ceremony

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Crime Prevention, Going Local, Hard News, , , , , , ,
The City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety honored its police and firefighter personnel, as well as civilians, at an award ceremony late last month. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Wyoming Department of Public Safety Director James Carmody, addressing a standing-room-only crowd at the department’s annual award ceremony late last month, made clear his feelings on the role his police and fire personnel have in the Wyoming community.

 

“Tonight you will hear stories of unselfish acts of bravery, generosity, compassion and guy-wrenching determination,” Carmody said at the Feb. 23 event at the Wyoming Senior Center. “The events we speak of tonight are just a few of the many thousands of times that our men and women step into the breach of danger and work to keep our city a safe and comfortable place to live, work and play.”

 

While the evening honored all of the long list of winners of Certificates of Merit, Certificates of Achievement, Life Saving Awards and individual and unit commendations, the highlights of the evening were the five personnel who gained special honors. (See complete list here.)

 

Ofc. Carmen Morales was honored as Officer of the Year, Firefighter Lance Bowman was recognized as Firefighter of the Year, Milt Zaagman was honored as Civilian of the Year, and Det. D.J. VerHage and Firefighter Brad Dornbos each received the Chiefs Award of Professional Excellence.

 

Each of the five had their stories told and, afterword talking with WKTV, reacted to their awards.

 

Officer of the Year

 

Ofc. Morales has been with the department for more than 20 years, serving as a patrol officer, a detective and now in the warrant unit. She has been a long-serving member of the peer support group and awards boards. Carmody, in supplied material, described her as “passionate about bringing justice to the victims of crime and believes in the dignity of all. Her unwavering commitment to professional policing, her fellow officers and the community makes her someone we can all be proud to represent us as our Officer of the Year.”

 

Ofc. Carmen Morales (WKTV)

The award “means a lot to me,” Ofc. Morales said. “Number One: I was chosen from my peers. … I have been with the city of Wyoming for 25 years, so I have dedicated myself to this department for 25 years, even though I consider them my family. It means a job well done, for me. I have been in so many units in this department, that I have to say I am glad I was chosen for this award and not for one specific thing I have done for the city of Wyoming but for a collaboration of things.”

 

“Tonight’s special honorees have been recognized by their peers, this is a peer-driven process,” Carmody said of the award process. “The awards you see tonight are recommended and voted on by their peers.”

 

Firefighter of the Year

 

Firefighter Lance Bowman (WKTV)

Firefighter Bowman has served as the director of the Wyoming Public Safety Fire Divisions Quarter Master Program since its creation in 2014. He is responsible for providing clothing and equipment for full-time, part-time, dual trained and on call firefighters. Of Bowman, Carmody said, in supplied material: “We commend him for his bravery and thank him for his service. His commitment to the department and his continued display of courage in emergencies serves as an exemplary role model for his peers.”

“I am very pleased to accept this award from my peers that I work with everyday,” Bowman said.

 

Civilian of the Year

 

Milt Zaagman is congratulated by Wyoming Department of Public Safety Director James Carmody (WKTV)

Zaagman, a building maintenance worker for the City of Wyoming, has served the community for over 40 years and remains an integral part of keeping the department operating successfully. “Milt defines responsibility,” a release by the Pubic Safety Department stated. “He is often seen before the sunrises and on days off shoveling the sidewalks or sweeping leaves from garages, according to a peer panel evaluation. He is highly respected among his peers. His name is synonymous with kindness, respect, service and selflessness throughout the department.”

 

“I have 41 years with the City of Wyoming, with the police department,” Zaagman said. “Back in the ’60s, when I was in the military, I understood exactly what a brotherhood and sisterhood was, and I have felt accepted and felt that same thing with all these years with the Wyoming police department.”

 

Chiefs Awards of Professional Excellence

 

Firefighter Brad Dornbos (WKTV)

Dornbos, the fire divisions emergency medical technician coordinator, established a mutually supportive relationship with Metro Health. This partnership led to a $10,000 grant, which allowed the department to purchase advanced medical equipment and fund the training of their full-time firefighters as EMTs. “Brads dedication to improved service has been instrumental in enabling our department to save more lives,” Carmody said in supplied material. “The ability to provide improved services to our residents and our community is because of his hard work.”

 

“It is an honor to receive the award,” Dornbos said. “It’s definitely a team effort amongst my lieutenant, chief, and our crew that we all work together… it’s a reaffirmation that we’re doing the right thing and moving forward to help the citizens of Wyoming and hopefully save more lives with the upgraded licensure and with the future accreditation coming forward.”

 

Det. D.J. VerHage (WKTV)

VerHage has served on the department for 24 years and has been forefront on many of its most important criminal cases. “Detective VerHage has been a top candidate of this award many times, but this year was his year,” Carmody said in supplied material. “Each day he embodies our values of honor, courage, duty and trust through his determination and dedication.”

 

“It is very humbling. The chief was very gracious, by what he said,” VerHage said. “I am very thankful and grateful for my coworkers, everybody I get to work with. This is a team effort and anything that I did is only possible because of my coworkers and everybody that helps out with every case. Every complaint, everything that comes into the police department from our civilians, to all of our police officers, detectives, and the admin as well. It’s very nice what he said and very gracious and there’s many many more deserving of this award, so, thank you.”

 

For more information on the City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety, visit the city’s new website at wyomingmi.gov .

 

WKTV Newscast: Highlights from the Wyoming Athletic Hall of Fame

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Deadline for 2017 Eclipse Award entries fast approaching 

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By WKTV Staff

 

Calling the best and brightest producers, directors, actors, writers, and filmmakers to submit their entries for the 2017 Eclipse Awards! Entries are accepted until March 27th, 2017.

 

The Eclipse Awards honor content creators for Excellence in Craft in the disciplines of film, television, video, acting, sound, music and writing. Created by WKTV Community Television and Media as a means of empowering the West Michigan “voice” of content creators, the Eclipse Awards has become the “big event” for the creative community.

 

“There really are a large number of content creators here who are either fully established and enjoy the recognition or who are just starting out and have that spark of genius with a great idea,” said Tom Norton, General Manager of WKTV.

 

Tom Norton, General Manager of WKTV Community Television and Media

In the first round of voting beginning right after March 27th, voting members from Michigan select the nominees. Nominees are then announced at 7 pm EST on Monday, April 17th and streamed live on the WKTV Youtube Channels. A link will be available on The Eclipse Awards website, theeclipseaward.com. A second round of voting begins following the announcement and this time, voting members are joined by industry peers across the US and in Europe.

 

The tallies from those votes then decide from the list of nominees who will be the recipient of The 6th Annual Eclipse Award in each category and craft.

 

The Hyperion Award — a leadership award given to outstanding leaders in TV, Film and the Arts — is voted on by the Eclipse Awards Board of Governors. The name “hyperion” refers to the light that exists behind an eclipse and this is the leadership that The Hyperion Award honors; the individual in West Michigan who by example and leadership encourages others to excel and contribute to an already thriving community of content creators.

 

The 2017 Hyperion Award recipient will be announced on the day the Eclipse Nominations are announced and will be presented at the 6th Annual Eclipse Awards Ceremony televised live from City Flats Ballroom on Thursday, May 18th.

 

NEW to the Eclipse Awards this year, Los Angeles distributor FairwayFilm Alliance, through their Rogue Arts label, is offering a first look to the 6th Annual Eclipse Award winners in the feature film and documentary category. Following the night of the awards ceremony, when the winners are known, the connection between Fairway Film Alliance and the winner(s) in these categories will be arranged.

 

“We’re tremendously pleased to be working with all of our sponsors,” said Norton. “They really believe in the importance of West Michigan having regional awards recognition to help foster the creative spirit. The democratization of media over the last few decades has really given voice to a much wider array of creativity and WKTV wants to see it grow and expand.”

 

Here are the important dates:

  • Friday, March 27th at 5pm — Entry Window Closes
  • 1st Round of Voting Begins
  • Nominations Announcement 7pm on Monday, April 17th
  • Hyperion Award Recipient Announcement Monday, April 17th 7pm
  • 2nd Round of Voting Begins with National Judges
  • Nomination Certification Party, Monday May 15th
  • The 6th Annual Eclipse Awards Excellence in Craft Award Ceremony, Thursday, May 18th 7pm

 

More information can be found on the website www.theeclipseaward.com or by calling 616.261.5700. Entries are $35 for content creators and $20 for students, however there is no student criteria for voting by the judges.

 

The 6th Annual Eclipse Awards is sponsored by WKTV Digital Cinema, the West Michigan Film Video Alliance, West Michigan Film Office, Compass College of Cinematic Arts and Ferris State University.

 

Employment Expertise: 5 reasons to say “Yes!” to a temporary job

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By West Michigan Works!

 

Nearly 3 million people hold temporary jobs. The number is expected to increase as employers struggle to meet growing demand for goods and services. The trend is seen in a variety of occupations and pay levels, in all industries and at companies, large and small.

 

Temporary employment appeals to employers for obvious reasons, but there are advantages for employees as well. While temporary jobs are just that —temporary — taking a short-term position can be a smart career move.  Here are five reasons to seriously consider a temporary job:

  1. Temporary work can be a great opportunity to develop new skills or open the door to a new industry you hadn’t considered. You can also use the opportunity to sharpen your current skill set. Many staffing companies provide training to their temporary workers.
  2. Whether the position turns into a permanent job or not, you’ll meet new people. You’ll leave the job with new personal and professional connections. An expanded network can only improve your job search.
  3. If you’ve been unemployed for a long time, you may feel restless or hopeless. A temporary job can provide much-needed structure and purpose to your day.
  4. Temporary work often leads to permanent employment. A good work ethic and positive attitude will capture any employer’s attention. Treat everyday like an audition; if the employer is looking to hire full-time, you’ll be a front-runner.
  5. “A” job is better than “no” job. A temporary job beats a large gap in employment history on your resume. Many recruiters and employers will see your temporary work as a positive sign of your ambition and work ethic.

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

Cat of the week: Kate Spayed

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , , , ,
By Sharon Wylie
Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

 

It is infuriating when so-called ‘pet-owners’ move out and leave their cat (or dog behind), but when winter is in full force and they toss their pet outside to fend for themselves, well we find that selfish act unforgiveable. Luckily a rescuer was hot on the trail of a homeless tail attached to a very striking and saucy girl who wanted back indoors in the worst kinda way. She scooped her up, creating a cozy bed for her in the garage for the night (she has over a dozen kitties of her own so it wasn’t feasible to bring her into her actual home) until she could bring her to the clinic on Dec. 6, 2016.

 

At first the red patch tabby (born in the summer of 2013) was none too pleased being temporarily caged at the clinic, so Dr. Jen let her acclimate overnight, which helped adjust her cattitude immensely. Canned food proved to be the gateway to her soul, and by the next morning Dr. Jen was able to work her up to get her program-ready. With the exception of fleas, Kate Spayed, as Dr. Jen dubbed her, was a pretty healthy girl—thank goodness!

 

Once at Crash’s the diva that is Kate surfaced — she grumped, grumbled and groaned when any other inquisitive feline got too close to her personal space. One-on-one with the humans is another story — she is delightful, possessing the charm and manners of a sophisticated lady, but in the presence of those of her own kind, Kate tends to show her less than purrsonable side, getting overwhelmed quite easily and issuing warning bites so everyone knows to leave her alone. For that reason, we feel that our gorgeous gal should go into a home without any other cats or small children who may not understand her cues when she has simply had enough.

 

Don’t get me wrong, as she is a lovely cat who wants nothing more than to be loved—and to love on her person once again; she doesn’t understand why she was tossed out like trash, she doesn’t understand why her people chose not to love her anymore. What Kate DOES understand is that she is currently bunking with over 40 other cats who want to tickle her whiskers, snuggle up beside her and make friends, but she simply doesn’t have that desire in her. Plain and simple, she just wants a person to cherish her and make her feel comfortable and secure again—and we feel that is not too much to ask for at all; after all, Kate deserves to be a valued furry family member!

Want to adopt Kate Spayed? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

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.

UCOM benefit concert a ‘great way’ to discover what it is all about, according to director

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

United Church Outreach Ministry, or UCOM, is the secret that is not a secret, according to its Executive Director Dr. Bruce Roller.

 

For more than 30 years, the organization has provided resources to those in the community who are low income, “trying to give them the hand that they need, whatever that hand is, to help them move to a better quality of life,” Roller said.

 

For the clientele, what UCOM provides is no secret. This has included providing food and clothing for immediate needs along with programs such as financial, health, and workforce development. One of those programs has been “tutoring and mentoring in public schools so that the children get the eduction they deserve and are able to move on in that next generation,” Roller said, adding that could include perhaps going to college, which for some may have not been an option.

 

However, for those not in need or having never needed services like what UCOM offers, the organization may seem like the “best kept secret in town.”

 

“I don’t really like to say that,” Roller said with laugh, “as it is my job that it isn’t.”

 

Julianne Howe-Bouwens, seen here rehearsing for a Grand Rapids Civic Theatre production, will perform at this year’s 14h Annual Friends of UCOM Benefit Concert. (Photo by now.wktv.org)

One of the best ways UCOM representatives have found to share with its community about its mission and work is through the 14th Annual Friends of UCOM Benefit Concert which is Sunday, March 12, at Plymouth United Church of Christ, 4010 Kalamazoo Ave. SE. Tickets are $25 with the event starting with a silent auction at 5 p.m. and a concert following at 6 p.m.

 

“This is a good place for people to jump in and begin to see what we do, Roller said. “They may begin to want to get involved in the work that is going on here.”

 

“This fundraiser, this effort, these people are so amazing,” said Julianne Howe-Bouwens, a local actress and singer who will be performing at Sunday’s Friends of UCOM Benefit Concert. “They help the community in so many ways by providing for people who are in need and it is such an honor for me to be a little part of that effort.”

 

Howe-Bouwens, who starred in Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s “Sister Act” last year, will be joined by the area’s longest continuing choir, The Schubert Male Chorus. The entire program is coordinated by Phil Pletcher, who has lended his expertise to all of the benefit concerts these past 14 years, according to Roller.

 

The Schubert Male Chorus

UCOM was started in 1969 by the women of Smith Memorial Congregational United Church of Christ. The group began with a food collection and hot lunch program for students at neighboring Hall Elementary School, now Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School. As the group learned about its community needs, the program expanded and changed to fit them, with UCOM becoming what it is today. UCOM is now located 1311 Chicago Dr. SW, Wyoming and is part of the All County Churches Emergency Services System (ACCESS), serving those in southwest Grand Rapids, Grandville, and Wyoming.

 

Roller said he hopes through programs like the benefit concert that UCOM will continue to expand its efforts to meet the needs of those it serves.

 

For more about the 14th Annual Friends of UCOM Benefit Concert or UCOM, visit www.ucomgr.org.

National author Jonathan Friesen brings his message of acceptance to the Greater Grand Rapids area

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Jonathan Friesen

Teens need messy books, according to author Jonathan Friesen.

 

“Messy books raise questions, without providing spoon-fed solutions,” Friesen wrote in an opinion piece for Fox News. “Messy books mimic life with their messy characters who muddle and fail — sometimes with finality.”

 

In reality, Friesen goes on to say, that “life simply unfolds. One moment we ride a good wave, and the next we are swept under.” Friesen knows this first hand since from adolescents, he has had to deal with Tourette syndrome, panic attacks and epilepsy.

 

So Friesen’s writes messy books, which is OK because “messy stories are good medicine” and they also remind us that we are not alone in what we what feel and deal with, according to Friesen.

 

Friesen, who is an international speaker, comes to Grand Rapids this month making a stop at the Barnes & Noble at Woodland Mall March 10. He scheduled to speak at 7 p.m.

 

Friesen has used his Tourette syndrome and epilepsy as a motivating force in his stories. His books, which include Jerk, California, The Last Martin, Aquifer, and Both of Me, give readers the opportunity to see life through the eyes of someone who is in some way disabled and struggling to be accepted and appreciated in their community. All of Jonathan’s books, which have earned him The American Library Association’s 2009 Schneider Award for Best Book for Teens and the Editor’s Choice Award, feature a lead character or protagonist with a physical or mental health condition.

 

His latest release, “Unfolding,” is a magical story of a child “dropped from the the Oklahoma sky” during a tornado. Her name is Stormi and she is the most perfect girl the narrator, Jonah, has ever met. Jonah has scoliosis and is debilitated by epileptic seizures, which he calls Old Rickety. And despite warnings from her grandfather, Stormi becomes Jonahs’s best friend and the two seek out the town’s biggest secret.

 

Friesen is the keynote speaker for the annual Michigan Reading Association Conference and a regular speaker at large and small events worldwide. He seeks to motivate and inspire young adult readers and writers through his personal story and message of accepting others for who they are, regardless of differences or disabilities.

Workshop combines ‘Practicing Inclusivity’ principles and conscious relaxation

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As part of its Women of Color Convening series, Our Kitchen Table offers “Setting Intention for Inclusivity,” 6 to 9 p.m. March 16, 23 and 30 at Sherman Street Church, 1000 Sherman St. SE. Wyoming resident, Stelle Slootmaker, a trained Yoga Nidra facilitator, will lead the three-part workshop. An OKT staff member, she has completed training in Practicing Inclusivity. Each session will combine Yoga Nidra guided relaxation and dialogue based on the principles of Practicing Inclusivity, a paradigm shift in how we, as change agents, can create a better world for all.

 

“Virtually everyone knows about Inclusivity … We all have a common need to be connected to others for our own wellbeing. However, our differences and viewpoints get in the way. It’s only by being aware of and practicing Inclusivity that we can overcome our current situation and satisfy this common need … We can actually transform our complex societal problems through Inclusivity – but only if we practice it,” says Shariff Abdullah, consultant, author and founder of Commonway Institute for Societal Transformation.

 

Yoga Nidra does not involve exercise — anyone can take part. The practice turns one’s attention inward where the consciousness can function at a much deeper level of awareness. In this deep state, you can achieve deep rest, inspire creativity and set your intentions deep within the subconscious where they may more easily take root and grow. This workshop will help you set a successful intention that guides you in your work for change and powerfully unites you with others holding the same intention.

 

Stelle Slootmaker

“Personally, Yoga Nidra has been a great help in my life,” Slootmaker said. “On those days when I am super busy, overwhelmed or exhausted, taking 20 to 30 minutes to practice Yoga Nidra refreshes my body and calms my mind so I have energy for the rest of the day’s tasks. The practice has also helped me realize some very important intentions.”

 

OKT invites its constituents, community members and all those working for social justice and inclusivity to attend. Space is limited to 20 participants. The cost of $60 to $175 (sliding scale) includes workbook, “Practicing Inclusivity.” OKT constituents currently involved in OKT programming attend for free. For information, email media@OKTjustice.org.

Video: Kentwood kicks off 50th anniversary celebration

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Didn’t get a chance to attend the 50th anniversary kick off celebration for the city of Kentwood? Here is the WKTV broadcast of the event which is currently airing on the station.

 

Business Matters: Steelcase and Microsoft design technology-enabled spaces to enhance creativity

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Photo provided by Steelcase Inc.

Steelcase and Microsoft Corp. have joined forces to explore the future of work, developing a range of technology-enabled spaces designed to help organizations foster creative thinking and better collaboration. These spaces seamlessly integrate the best of Microsoft Surface devices with Steelcase architecture and furniture. Today the companies unveiled five new “Creative Spaces” showcasing how Steelcase and Microsoft can help organizations unlock creativity for every employee.

 

Additionally, Steelcase and Microsoft announced:

  • That Microsoft is expanding its partner network into the world of design by bringing in select Steelcase dealers as authorized Surface Hub resellers.
  • Steelcase and Microsoft are working together to develop technology-enabled workplace solutions built on Microsoft Azure IoT technology.

“The problems people face at work today are much more complex than they used to be. They require a new creative way of thinking and a very different work process,” says Sara Armbruster, vice president of strategy, research and new business innovation for Steelcase.

 

“We believe that everyone has the capacity for creative thinking, and people are happier doing creative, productive work. Together, Microsoft and Steelcase will help organizations thoughtfully integrate place and technology to encourage creative behaviors at work.”

 

The companies’ exploration of creative work found that creativity is a process in which anyone can engage and requires diverse work modes as well as different types of technology. People need to work alone, in pairs and in different size groups throughout a creative process, and they need a range of devices that are mobile and integrated into the physical workplace. Additionally, spaces should inspire people without compromising performance.

 

For more information on Creative Spaces and the partnership between Microsoft and Steelcase, go here or here.