We hear a lot about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but sandwiched in between is probably the one shopping day that has the most impact on a local economy: Small Business Saturday.
Actually launched by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is designed to encourage people across the country to support small, local businesses. The reason is simple according to Bob O’Callaghan, president and chief executive officer for the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce.
“When you shop at a small business you help feed a local family and their tax dollars stay local,” O’Callaghan said.
According to a recent Forbes magazine article, there are 28 million American small businesses, which account for 54 percent of all U.S. sales.
“The backbone of any economy is the local brick and mortar buildings that belong to the small business,” O’Callaghan said, adding that the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce is made up of 75 percent small and local businesses.
Cheers to the holidays: Cascade Winery
According to Local First of West Michigan, by shifting 10 percent of your spending towards locally owned business helps create up to 1,600 new jobs. The American public appears to be making that shift since according to the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, commissioned by American Express and the National Federation of Independent Businesses, more than 95 million people shopped small business in 2015, which is an 8 percent increase from the 2014 Small Business Saturday. The survey also shows that more than 16 billion was spent at small independent businesses on the 2015 Small Business Saturday.
“Small Business Saturday is a great entry point to start learning about and supporting local businesses,” said LocalFirst Marketing Manager Mieke Stoub. “We hope that the community continues to support our local economy after the holidays and throughout the year.”
This fabulous Feline Leukemia-Positive boy had been none too healthy when he first arrived at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic on Aug. 29, 2016, as a transfer from Montcalm County. Born in the summer of 2012, it’s a mystery as to how he ended up homeless and in need of help as he is absolutely one of the most laid-back, lovable lugs to saunter on into the sanctuary.
Although he was intact, filthy, flea-ridden, loaded with internal parasites and sporting a nasty bilateral ear infection that caused his eardrums to rupture, he was extremely affectionate, trusting and wanting nothing more than to snuggle.
It didn’t take too much to get him spiffed up and sent on down to Big Sid’s, but after about 10 days there, he developed a rip-roaring temperature of 106.8 degrees and was rushed back out to the clinic. Lab work revealed a profound inflammatory condition but unfortunately, antibiotics were not enough to control the fever; Dr. Jen had to go big and hit him hard with steroids and that worked.
A few days later, she was able to discharge this happy camper and get him back where he belonged, where he coerced all of the volunteers into giving him belly rubs and head pats overtime they turned around. He made his gentle, sweet presence known.
Get ready to fall in love…
Galen made himself right at home, meshing with the resident population as if he had always lived amongst them. He is such an easy-going, easy-on-the-eyes guy that you are immediately drawn to him, and cats and humans alike find themselves enjoying his company immensely.
Galen’s middle ear infection is resolving nicely and he is doing exceptionally well at Big Sid’s. Stress can exacerbate underlying medical conditions so the fact that he acclimated with ease really helped speed up his recovery process. He is handsome, happy and now so much healthier than when he first came on board.
Galen is adoptable! Go here to read about the adoption process and then fill out an application form here. Get info about Feline Leukemia here.
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.
With only two days in Dublin, I set out to make the most of it. I’d tried repeatedly to book an affordable hotel, but there didn’t seem to be such a thing available and I’d not found any couch surfs, so I checked out my Air B&B app and was delighted to find an opening with two great guys in their 1930s home, with a cool old tiled fireplace and beautiful backyard deck. Plus, Brian and Oliver gave me lots of travel info, brochures and maps, and even helped me with ideas of where to go when I left Dublin.
I’ve wanted to go to Ireland and Scotland for years and despite the dismal weather predictions, I looked forward after tons of sun and the Mediterranean cultures of southern France, Spain and Italy — a completely different world from Ireland and the UK. It’s my heritage on both sides — great grandparents from Ireland, Scotland and England (plus the Netherlands and Germany, but those will have to wait for another trip), and a Scottish maiden name, Morrison (which I discovered in Ireland as well). I had heard from a friend’s daughter’s Irish boyfriend back in Australia that we Americans ALL seem to have Irish ancestry, so they poke a bit of fun at us for looking for our Irish roots.
First, I walked Henry Street to Grafton, the famous shopping street, which was lined with stores full of shamrock-studded souvenirs, Celtic jewelry, designer clothing and restaurants, pubs and more pubs. In fact, you’ll see charming pubs all over the city.
Buskers filled the street — lots of musicians as well as a very enterprising man with what looked like a little puppet stand but was actually a small stage with a curtain you stuck your head through, which made you look like a leprechaun. The beard even matched my hair.
I ended up in St Stephens Park, a lovely green space with duck ponds and flower gardens where hundreds of people, including many office workers in suits and ties, sat enjoying lunch in the sun (a rare warm day, from what I’ve heard — both Ireland and the UK have had a horribly cold, wet summer).
Growing hungry, I checked what’s nearby on my Trip Advisor app, a very handy tool for travel, and O’Donoughy’s Pub came up, where tourists and locals alike hang out. It’s a dark, cluttered place, a real authentic pub with messages from people all over the world tacked to the walls and basic fare like toasted ham and cheese sandwiches, and creamy pints of Guinness.
As you may know, Guinness is a staple in Ireland, and I read everywhere how good it is for you… that and Irish whiskey.
I stumbled (I mean walked) to Dublin Castle, enjoying the architecture and people-watching along the way, including lots of bridges (one is as wide as it is long) and colorful buildings. In fact, like many cities, one of the best things to do is put on your walking shoes and just see where your feet take you. You never know what sites you’ll see.
I noticed they seem to have a thing about trash in Dublin, encouraging a clean city.
I had just enough time left to go to the Beatty library before they closed, to see a special exhibit of ancient illuminated manuscripts from many different religions. It was quite interesting and free (but no photos were allowed inside).
Dinner was at Ireland’s oldest pub, Brazen Head, where there’s a lovely courtyard area outside for warm days like today, and dark, memorabilia-cluttered rooms inside for a cozier ambience. I chatted with a couple of nice Aussie girls at the next table — as I’ve mentioned, traveling solo doesn’t necessarily mean you spend much time alone.
That evening, my host Brian took me to the Ruby Sessions. Every Tuesday night at Doyle’s Pub, four different musical groups each play four songs, and sometimes famous people show up to participate. All of the 6-euro cover charges go to help the homeless in Dublin, so it’s a worthy cause as well. It’s a small, intimate venue, showcasing some amazing talent. Brian said not many tourists know about it; it’s mostly locals — another benefit of staying at an Air B&B. The Irish are all about music, as you’ll see in future posts.
The following day, I spent most of the morning arranging a car rental, as I was told by many that it’s the best way to see Ireland — that the trains and buses are fine if you only want to see the cities, but the small villages and coastal scenery are what drew me here. This is a word of advice to plan ahead. Usually, I do for something like this, but I hadn’t known I’d need to rent a car. At first it looked like I wasn’t even going to get one. They were all booked up, and I also saw that an automatic was about double the cost of a stick shift.
So if you’ve never driven a stick or are rusty, practice up a bit before coming to Europe as that’s mostly what you’ll find. I didn’t dare rent a stick as I haven’t driven one in decades, other than a few days in Europe in the countryside years before. It was just too much to contemplate in addition to driving on the left side of very narrow, winding roads, navigating roundabouts, and other traffic differences I wasn’t even aware of. I finally found a car and I was lucky — it was the last automatic.
When I finally got out of the house, I walked to see the Story of the Irish, a show I’d read about in the airline magazine. It’s quite informative, covering 10,000 years of Irish history in an hour or so, including the potato famine, where people were literally thrown out of their homes and left to starve. It takes the bits of Irish history I learned about in school (which wasn’t much) and stitches them together into a bigger picture. Two nice girls working at the front desk gave me lots of travel advice while I waited for the show to start.
I took a walk to Trinity College after the show, but the last tour of the campus, including viewing the famous Book of Kells, was over. Also, I was too late for the art museum, the cemetery tour and the gardens Brian had told me about. Oh well, can’t do it all.
I returned to my B&B to find Oliver’s brother and sister-in-law and their young son visiting, all at the table having tea. They asked me to join them and switched easily from speaking Irish to English to include me. It was nice being in a real Irish home, as opposed to staying in an impersonal hotel. Give Air B&B a try!
And if you can, spend at least three days in Dublin and have triple the fun!
About Lynn Strough
Lynn is a 50+ free spirit whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa Valley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.
“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”
All images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales
The holiday gift season is all about sales, frenzied shopping and maddening crowds — and Cyber Monday sales are projected to hit nearly $3.36 billion this year.
‘Tis the season, all right, and that season unfortunately includes online scams.
It’s a busy time of the year for the City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety (DPS)— they’re working hard to deter shoplifters and prevent retail fraud. The DPS wants you to be safe out there in cyberspace, too.
“These tips on cyber/online shopping safety are based on past scams and overall best practices,” said Lt. Timothy Pols, Wyoming DPS. “They are not necessarily related to specific cases that have been reported to the Wyoming DPS.”
Black Friday Deals
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the busiest online shopping days and the bad guys are out to get rich with your money. Don’t buy anything that seems too good to be true. Don’t trust a site or name you don’t know.
Complimentary Apple Watch
Watch out for the too-good-to-be-true coupons that offer complimentary watches, phones or tablets on sites all over the Internet. Don’t fall for it. Make sure the offers are from a legitimate company.
Postal Deliveries
Watch out for alerts via email or text that you just received a package from FedEx, UPS or the US Mail, and then asks you for some personal information. Don’t enter anything. The scammers are out to steal personal information. Think Before You Click.
Fake Refunds
There is a fake refund scam going on that could come from Amazon, a hotel or a retail chain. It claims there was a “wrong transaction” and wants you to “click for refund” but instead, your device will be infected with malware.
The Grinch E-Card Greetings
Happy Holidays! Your email has an attachment that looks like an e-greeting card, pretty pictures and all. You think that this must be from a friend. Nope. Malicious e-cards are sent by the millions, and especially at the office; never open these things as they might infect your workstation.
The Fake Gift Card Trick
Internet crooks promote a fake gift card through social media but what they really are after is your information, which they then sell to other cyber criminals who use it for identity theft. As an example: A Facebook scam offering a complimentary $1,000 Best Buy gift card to the first 20,000 people who sign up for a Best Buy fan page, which is a malicious copy of the original.
The Charity Tricksters
The holidays are traditionally the time for giving. It’s also the time that cyber criminals try to pry money out of people who mean well. Make donations to the wrong site and you could be funding cybercrime or even terrorism. So, watch out for any communications from charities that ask for your contribution, (phone, email, text and tweets) and make sure they are legit. It’s a good idea to contact the charity to make sure the request did in fact come from them. It is safest to only donate to charities you already know and refuse all the rest.
The DM-Scam
You tweet about a holiday gift you are trying to find, and you get a direct message (DM) from another twitter user offering to sell you one. Stop – Look – Think, because this could very well be a sophisticated scam. If you do not know that person, be very careful before you continue and never pay up front.
The Extra Holiday Money Fraud
People always need some extra money during this season, so cyber fraudsters are offering work-from-home scams. The most innocent of these have you fill out a form where you furnish confidential information like your Social Security number which will get your identity stolen. The worst of them offer you work where you launder money from a cyberheist which can get you into major trouble.
The Evil Wi-Fi Twin
Many people bring their laptop/tablet/smartphone to the mall to scout for gifts and check for cheaper prices online. But the bad guys are there too, shopping for your credit card number. They put out a Wi-Fi signal that looks just like a complimentary one you always use. Choose the wrong Wi-Fi and the hacker now sits in the middle and steals your credit card data while you buy online. When you use a Wi-Fi connection in a public place, it is better not to use your credit card.
The Wyoming Housing Commission, located at 2450 36th Street SW, will open its Public Housingwaiting list on Nov. 28, 2016, to accept applications for its public housing units only. The list will remain open through Feb. 2, 2017.
Applications will be accepted ONLY online. All pre-applications must be received by 5 pm Feb. 2, 2017, at which time the waiting list will be closed and no further pre-applications will be accepted. If you are unable to apply online because of a disability, please contact the office at 616.534.5471.
Note: No other applications are being accepted at this time.
Here’s how the process works:
Application submitted
Random lottery of all eligible applications
Randomly selected applicants notified by mail
Applicant completes and returns Waiver of Liability form and HUD form 92006 (included in the mailing)
Applicant placed on the Wyoming Housing Commission Public Housing Low Rent waiting list
The Wyoming Housing Commission (WHC) owns 195 public housing units. They are located at Westwood Apartments, Waldon Woods and at several other locations throughout Wyoming. Individuals and families pay rent based upon their income directly to the WHC.
The WHC administers approximately 1,100 Housing Choice Vouchers (Section-8) within Kent County and part of Ottawa County. The families and individuals who receive the vouchers pay a portion of their income for rent and the WHC pays the remainder (up to the limits set by HUD (Housing and Urban Development)) directly to the landlords each month.
The Housing Commission board meets every third Tuesday (except April and July) at 1 pm in the Community Room at Westwood Apartments, 2450 36th St. S.W.
The board members consist of Ronald Dressander, Chair; Bruce Robey, Vice-Chair; Patricia Larabel, Donald Dykstra and Paula Thompson.
Fans making their way to Van Andel Arena for the Stevie Nicksconcert on Wednesday night will notice something bright and shiny on the front of the arena.
The holiday season has arrived once again which means Van Andel Arena will have itself wrapped in more than just a busy schedule of events. A giant, red ribbon has been installed on the face of the arena to celebrate the holidays.
This will be the third season the ribbon, decked out in many red lights to shine a bright and stunning display throughout the night, has been installed on the arena. It is eight feet wide and spans across the front of Van Andel Arena, reaching 300 feet all the way across.
As it has the previous three years, the ribbon will remain displayed on the arena throughout the holiday season.
In lieu of a tree, arena staff decided to do something a little different to celebrate the holidays in 2014 by installing the ribbon. Christmas Décor by Lakeshore Lighting built the ribbon for the arena and installs it each year.
The Thanksgiving holiday is almost here, and that means travel, food, family and football. As motorists prepare to hit the highways, the Michigan State Police (MSP) are gearing up for the annual Operation C.A.R.E.(Combined Accident Reduction Effort) traffic safety initiative Nov. 23-27, 2016.
“We want every family to have a safe holiday and to enjoy time together,” said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the MSP. “We urge you to drive safely this Thanksgiving weekend by wearing a seat belt, designating a sober driver and avoiding distractions like texting or talking on your phone while driving.”
Thanksgiving is the second deadliest holiday in Michigan for traffic crashes. In 2015, there were 11 fatalities, five of which were pedestrians, during the holiday period. In 2014 there were six traffic fatalities during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the lowest number in more than 30 years.
Beginning Wednesday, troopers across the state will conduct high-visibility enforcement focusing on impaired driving, seat belt use, careless driving and speeding. Extra patrols are paid for with federal traffic safety funds coordinated by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.
Courtesy MSP website
Enforcement is supported by the Give thanks. Drive safely. public awareness campaign that includes a public service announcement available at www.youtube.com/michstatepolice. With the arrival of winter weather, motorists are also encouraged to take extra precautions when driving in snowy and icy conditions and to place an emergency preparedness kit in their vehicles. To learn more about creating a kit, go here.
Operation C.A.R.E. is a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing traffic crashes and fatalities on highways across the country. It began in 1977 as a collaborative effort between the MSP and the Indiana State Police. Today Operation C.A.R.E. is one of the nation’s longest running traffic safety initiatives and includes state and highway patrol agencies from all 50 states, as well as some American territories and Canadian provinces.
Joanne Voorhees has left the Wyoming City Council, having declined to run again for the 3rd Ward seat after nearly a decade of council service and decades of serving the community her and husband Harold call home. But don’t expect her to spend all her time with her grandkids and great-grand kids.
“As the mayor closes every session, he asks the citizens to stay informed and stay involved, so I plan to stay informed and stay involved,” Voorhees said Monday, Nov. 21, as she officially stepped off the council and the city welcomed two new members prior to its regular meeting.
“But I also have three children, 19 grandchildren and I have 14 great-grandchildren,” she said. “So I am going to spend time with family, but I will always be available and will do some volunteer work, hopefully, here in the city of Wyoming.”
At the Monday meeting, the council recognized Voorhees as well as long-time member Richard Pastoor for their service to the council and the city. The city also swore in returning member-at-larg councilman Dan Burrill, who ran unopposed in the Nov. 8 election for his second four-year term, and new council members Marissa Postler, elected to the city’s 2nd Ward seat, and Robert Postema, elected to the 3rd Ward seat vacated by Voorhees.
Wyoming City Manager Curtis Holt had nothing but praise for Joanne Voorhees’ service to the city.
“Rich and Joanne have been longtime fixtures in our community,” said Wyoming City Manager Curtis Holt. “They are known throughout the community for their good works in the community, whether it is working in the school districts, whether it is working as a state representative.
“Rich owned a radio station in our community and has that radio voice we all know. They are people who have dedicated their lives to our community and that dedication followed through to the city council, where they were always very supportive of the city and city projects. They were always dedicated to making our city better.”
Voorhees’ service includes much more than just a city council member, however. She previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives and joined the Michigan Republican Party leadership committee in 2011, to name just two high-profile positions.
“At one time I served as the chair of the Kent County GOP, before that I served six years as a state legislator, my husband was on there for six years and because of term limits I had the opportunity to run,” she said. “It was a natural fit for me, to not only serve the community as a state representative but then to serve the people here, in the city council room.
“The neat part about Harold and I is that he also served as mayor of the City of Wyoming. At that time, I could be called first lady, and I loved that position. … I have had very unique and very blessed opportunities.”
As you watched her talk to people before the ceremony Monday, at a reception in her’s and Pastoor’s honor, you could there was a sense of pride from Voorhees for being able to serve the city and the 3rd Ward.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve (the Wyoming community), it was a golden opportunity for me to be able to serve in this capacity,” she said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my nine years. We, as a council, have worked together for nine years … We blended. We understood each other. We knew were we were coming from. We did not always agree, but we would disagree very agreeably.
“It has been a tremendous experience, I just can’t say enough about what a blessing it is to have served the residents of Wyoming, particularly the 3rd Ward, who I really represent. I have gone door-to-door, so many times. I know many of them personally. I know their feelings. I truly feel like I’ve been able to represent them to the city more than maybe the city to them.”
Holt may have summed up the feelings of many attending the ceremony, saying:
“The time she has given to our citizens is significant and I am sure at the expense of her own personal priorities in some cases. … You can’t help but admire that dedication and the time she has given to serve the citizens of the City of Wyoming.”
On Jan. 5, the new Kent County Commission Board will be sworn in but because of the time, 8:30 a.m., not many of the general public will have the option of attending.
“When you consider the time of the Kent County Commission board meetings, 8:30 in the morning, you realize they really are not that accessible to most people,” said Betsy Melton, who was elected as the new 13th District Commissioner in the November general election.
While she does not know if the time of the meeting has every been discussed, Melton is interested in exploring it as a way of encouraging residents to participate and take an active role with the Kent County Commission.
“It is not very convenient for those who have to be at work in the morning or at home moms who are taking care of their families,” she said. “Then there are the Grand Rapids Community College students who are making their way to their first class and people trying to get to their businesses which does not make it easy to get to a meeting downtown.”
The board meeting time is one of two items Melton hopes to review with the commission as she steps into her new roll as 13th District Kent County commissioner. Melton defeated Republican candidate Jessica Ann Tyson to by 560 votes for the seat which is being vacated by incumbent Richard VanderMolen.
The 13th District covers most of the City of Kentwood except for the western portion of the city from about west of Kalamazoo, which is part of Distrct 12, the area Harold Mast is the commissioner for.
The other item she would like to review is the county’s fund balance, which has averaged around 47 percent, according to Melton. Having been on the Kentwood Public Schools Board of Education, Melton understands the need for having a fund balance but “as many of the dollars as possible were put back into the classrooms.”
Melton said the county has a very high bond rating, AAA, and reducing its fund balance would not impact that rating.
Of course there are other items facing the Kent County Commission including the recent approval of the 911 surcharge and the zoo/museum millage by voters at the November general election.
“It is going to be a little different membership, different tone,” said Mast, who won his bid for reelection this year. Melton is joined by two other Democrats, Robert Womack from District 17 (Grand Rapids) and Phil Skaggs from District 19 (East Grand Rapids) who beat out the Republican incumbent. All the other seats remained the same with there being 13 Republicans and six Democrats on the Kent County Commission.
Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness completes a cycle that the author began with Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood, and Scribbling the Cat: Travels with an African Soldier, spanning a time from the last throes of white-rule Rhodesia, to majority-rule Zimbabwe.
Cocktail Hour comes full circle, and instead of a child’s point of view of the family’s struggles, it’s the author as an adult, looking back on her parent’s long journey. How and why did they come to Africa? Did they really think that there was a place for them there?
“…[T]hose who shed our ancestry the way a snake sheds skin in winter… We white Africans of shrugged-off English, Scottish, Dutch origin…”
There were accidents, assaults, near death and actual death, all against the backdrop of the implacable African landscape, and laced with an extraordinary amount of alcohol.
If you like memoirs like The Glass Castle, Angela’s Ashes or All Over But the Shoutin’, this is another one of those rare tales of family hardship and pain, but also of love and courage, with a generous amount of black humor.
It can be a looooong way from when the first sentences are written to when a completed novel hits the shelves. Publishing is a journey often wrought with rejection and lots of revision, said MarcyKate Connolly, author of fantasy books for middle-grade and young adults.
“If there’s anything I want you to take with you today it’s that writing is rewriting,” Connolly told about 50 Lee Middle-High School students who attended the session because they have an interest in writing.
Connolly talked about the roadmap to publishing, which she learned by writing her books “Monstrous” and “Ravenous,” tales geared toward tweens that have been likened to Frankenstein and the Brothers Grimm.
Connolly, of Boston, made a stop at Lee while visiting Grand Rapids Comic-Con, the popular event where sci-fi, fantasy and comic book fans gather. She explained the quest of a writer, including spending many hours in her “writing cave,” the challenge of finding an agent to represent the book, the experience of rejection and the work that continues after a book is accepted for publishing.
And finally, the thrill of seeing the book at stores and in the hands of others.
MarcyKate Connolly signs a book for the Lee Middle-High School media center
A marketing professional by day, Connolly said her love for writing and storytelling kept her going despite more than 300 rejections from publishers. She wrote several books that were never published and received her first offer for publishing after four years of trying.
“Publishing is not something you get into thinking you are going to get rich quick or going to be a mega bestseller overnight,” she said. “You do it because you love it.”
Connolly had to re-assess her goals, at one point. “Why am I doing this to myself?” she recalled asking after getting rejection after rejection. So she continued writing for herself, making up the stories and characters she loved.
Kelly McGee, Godfrey-Lee district media specialist, said Connolly’s visit helped students think about writing as a career and the process of becoming an author. He said he hopes to start a student writer’s group. “I think we have a lot of writers here.”
He said he also wanted students to leave with the message that perseverance is required for accomplishing your dreams.
Connolly’s books were published through HarperCollins Publishers. Her next book, “Shadow Weaver,” is scheduled for release in winter 2018.
She encouraged students to find their “tribe” — other writers they can use for empathy, feedback and critique. And no matter how many failed attempts, she urged students to look at it as getting somewhere.
“Whatever words you write are not wasted,” she said.
Freshman Olivia Clark, who loves writing, said Connolly’s words resonated. “Don’t give up. You’ve got to be strong. There are harsh people out there.”
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
To promote enhanced safety during storm response and other road maintenance efforts, the Kent County Road Commission (KCRC)joins state, county and municipal transportation agencies throughout the state in installing green strobe lights on road maintenance vehicles. When motorists see green strobe lights, they are asked to slow down and be alert – a KCRC snowplow or road maintenance truck is performing work on the right of way.
“Our vehicles generally travel at speeds of 25-35 mph when conducting storm response efforts or other road maintenance activities. The ability for motorists to identify our vehicles quickly improves their own response time in reducing their speed, which provides the necessary space between vehicles and improves safety for both the motorists and our workers,” said Jerry Byrne, KCRC’s Deputy Managing Director of Operations.
Public transportation agencies advocate the use of green lights because they:
Improve the visibility of authorized public agency trucks while working in the right of way
Differentiate a public agency’s vehicles from other private motorists and companies using amber lights
For the past few years, KCRC has been advocating the use of green strobe lights on road maintenance vehicles. On September 7, 2016, an amendment to the Michigan Vehicle Code, Public Act 16 became effective, giving state, county and municipal transportation agencies the right to use green lights on their vehicles.
“Amber lights are used on vehicles performing all sorts of jobs: mail delivery, refuse pick-up, private plowing, even pizza delivery,” said Jerry Byrne, KCRC’s Deputy Managing Director of Operations. “By combining amber and green lights, public road agencies can differentiate themselves and, hopefully, motorists will learn to equate the green lights with storm response efforts or road repair. We think this will keep motorists, and our crews working along the right of way, safer.”
KCRC has been working with the Michigan Department of Transportation, the County Road Association of Michigan and other local road agencies to spread the word about the implementation of green lights on their road maintenance trucks.
“This winter, motorists will see the green strobe lights throughout the state,” said Byrne, “so it’s important we collaborate to get the message out: green strobe means go slow!”
What is Thanksgiving Day without football? Just turkey and mashed potatoes.
Again this year, WKTV will offer a day full of high school football coverage focused on teams from the Wyoming and Kentwood communities.
WKTV’s Channel 25 will run its 16th Annual Turkey Bowl, a 15-hour special starting at 9 a.m. that highlights high school football games from this past season.
Our schedule includes two East Kentwood high games during the team’s 4-5 season and two Wyoming high games, exciting October contests against Rockford and South Christian during the team’s 5-4 season, and the always exciting clash between Wyoming’s Lee and Godwin high schools. The day is capped off with Kelloggsville high capping off an outstanding 8-2 season (5-0 and a conference title in the OK Silver Conference) with its opening round playoff game against Allendale.
Times and teams:
9 a.m. Hudsonville vs. East Kentwood
11:30 a.m. East Grand Rapids vs. Wyoming
1:55 p.m. Wyoming vs. South Christian
4:30 p.m. East Kentwood vs. Rockford
7 p.m. Lee vs. Godwin
9:15p.m. Allendale vs. Kelloggsville
Ya, we know the Lions will be playing on Thursday, but why not blend a little high school action into your football day?
The holidays officially kick off not with Black Friday, or even with Thanksgiving eve, but when Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park unveils its annual Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition Tuesday, Nov. 22.
A model of the Chomeiji Temple in Omihachiman Shiga Prefecture of Japan.
The display, open through Jan. 8, presents more than 40 international trees and displays, as well as the railway garden and several special events and activities.
“This year we’re celebrating not only the various holiday traditions observed around the world, but also the folklore that makes these celebrations so unique,” Steve LaWarre, Meijer Gardens director of horticulture, said in supplied material. “Many of these traditions are rooted in horticulture and natural elements. … (including how) legendary folklore such as mistletoe, spider webs, olive trees and rosemary are important parts of holiday customs around the world.”
The exhibition will include narratives and special displays from Iceland, Ghana, Germany and other counties and cultures. The railway garden meanders through four indoor garden spaces, including the newly renovated Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse.
Another highlight will the return of the beautiful Eid ul-Fitr display, which celebrates the end of the Muslim holy period of Ramadan.
Meijer Gardens is open daily but is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. There will be extended holiday hours not just on Tuesdays as usual but also Dec. 19-23 and 26-30. There will also be special events such as The Original Dickens Carolers, Santa visits, Rooftop Reindeer, the Christmas Cabaret Gala, and winter-time walks and classes on select days and times.
A welcome home for West Michigan troops and other festivities are on tap for the Thanksgiving holiday, and one of the busiest days of the year at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA).
On Wednesday, Nov. 23, airport volunteers, including therapy dog teams and the Patriot Guard Riders, will participate in “Operation Handshake,” an event to welcome home returning military members and veterans, and to thank them for their service.
Volunteers will staff both airport concourses from 9 am-7 pm, and airport staff will be passing out treats and trinkets to thank passengers for utilizing the airport during the busy time of year.
“We know that not every member of our military can make it home during the holidays, but for those returning to West Michigan we want to make it special and let them know we are thankful for their service,” said GFIA Acting President & CEO Phil Johnson.
“We appreciate the partnership with the Patriot Guard Riders of West Michigan, and their loyalty to serving our community through events like Operation Handshake.”
The event is free and open to the public.
“This is what Thanksgiving is really all about,” said VanGessel, Captain of the Patriot Guard Riders of West Michigan. “What we see each year is an inspiration. We get a thank-you from the military members, but it’s also heartwarming for the general traveling public around us to see what transpires.”
If you have a family member in the military, notify the Patriot Guard Riders of the returning military member’s arrival time and flight information. Please send the info to michigan@patriotguard.org or Tony VanGessel at 616.862.1984.
Please note: The Airport is currently under construction on its Gateway Transformation Project, and along with the busy holiday traffic, lines could be longer than normal. The Airport encourages passengers to arrive at least 90-120 minutes before their flight. TSA also encourages passengers to stay up-to-date on the latest travel notices and information about what you can or cannot bring on your flight by visiting: www.tsa.gov.
Brass Band of Battle Creek performs Dec. 2 at Van Singel Fine Arts Center.
The opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics. The White House. Carnegie Hall. Royal Albert Hall in England. This is a very short list of the places the internationally renowned musicians who comprise the Brass Band of Battle Creek have appeared. These musicians perform with some of the most prestigious ensembles in the world and are gathering, for one night only, in Byron Center, for a holiday concert set for Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Van Singel Fine Arts Center.
The 31-member Brass Band of Battle Creek has been described as an All-Star band of the brass and percussion world’s elite, attracting great musicians from around the United States and Europe to play two annual concerts in Battle Creek as well as a limited number of other engagements in handpicked locations in the U.S. and abroad. Though rooted in the British brass band tradition characterized by larger ensembles of strictly brass and percussion, (no reed instruments or strings) the BBBC also weaves in American elements such as jazz improvisation, pops and swing, resulting in a hybrid style that makes the BBBC truly unique among brass bands.
Created in 1989 by brothers, Jim and Bill Gray, podiatrists and amateur brass players from Battle Creek, the BBBC has grown to cult status in Battle Creek, where BBBC concerts are regularly sold out and waiting lists are created weeks in advance.
“This band represents the beginnings of a new music movement in America. It’s one of the most accomplished groups I’ve ever worked with in my entire career,” Trumpet legend Doc Severinsen, who has twice appeared with the band, says of the BBBC.
BBBC members come from American and European orchestras, colleges and universities, and U.S. service bands based in Washington, D.C. Most have impressive international solo careers. The band’s rotating roster includes some of the finest musicians in the world: Chris Jaudes, professor of trumpet at The Juilliard School and first call trumpet on Broadway; Richard Kelley, trumpet for the Boston Pops; Rex Richardson, internationally acclaimed soloist and Yamaha artist; Jens Lindemann , former member of the Canadian Brass and faculty member at UCLA; Scott Hartman, trombone, Yale Brass Trio, former Empire Brass member, renowned soloist; and Steven Mead, euphonium, internationally renowned soloist and Boosey & Hawkes touring artist.
In addition to its all-star lineup of world-renowned players, the BBBC has performed at several prestigious venues, including England’s Royal Albert Hall as the first non-British band to ever perform at the National Brass Band festival there. Following this event, the band toured UK, performing concerts in Wales, Birmingham and Manchester. The BBBC has also performed at the International Trumpet Guild’s Brassfest in Bloomington, IN., the International Trombone Association’s annual world meeting in Champagne, IL, as guest artist on the University of Kentucky’s Artist Series, and at the Interlochen Arts Society Series. The band was the first brass band to perform on The University of Michigan’s Musical Society Series. Following the performance in the 4,200-seat Hill Auditorium, the band set a record for CD sales in a Society sponsored event.
Join conductor Michael J. Garasi as he takes the podium for a program full of holiday classics and songs.
The concert will be held at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center on December 2, 2016 and will begin at 7:30 p.m. Get your tickets for this amazing holiday concert today! Tickets can be purchased online at www.bbbc.net or by calling 269-789-2222. Student tickets are only $20! A portion of the evening’s gate receipts will be donated to the Byron Center High School Band Boosters! To learn more about the Brass Band of Battle Creek visit our website: www.bbbc.net or follow us on Facebook and Twitter! You can listen on iTunes or watch the band on YouTube! The Brass Band of Battle Creek, “Where the World’s Top Brass come to play!”
It’s often hard to be the kid at school who’s different from the others. It could mean you’re the short kid, the chubby kid, the kid with an accent… or the kid with a different religion. These days, that feeling of isolation and “otherness” can extend into the adult world, especially for Arab Americans. Joining Alan in studio is Nadia El-Zein Tonova, Director of the National Network for Arab American Communities, to talk about community building and their new Take On Hate initiative.
Alan Headbloom hosts Feel Like You Belong, a show filmed at WKTV focused on sharing the life stories of immigrants, expatriates, and refugees to the United States.
Steven Johnson is up front on his conservative values platform as he gets ready to go work in the Michigan House of Representatives for the 72nd District – he stated his conservative values before his convincing Nov. 8 election victory and he restated them this week as he is fully immersing himself in his new job.
Rep. Steve Johnson, far right, on an outing with a youth group. (Supplied)
And he does not think Michigan’s Republican surge, led by the state support for President-elect Donald Trump, had very much to with his win either.
“I don’t think so – I live in a pretty conservative area, so I think I was going to win on my values, that I was going to follow the Constitution and our Judeo-Christian heritage,” Johnson, a Republican, said Thursday.
In the general election last week, Johnson defeated Democrat Steve Shoemaker with nearly 60 percent of the vote in a far-flung district that includes includes the City of Kentwood and Gaines Township in Kent County, and Leighton Township, Wayland Township, Dorr Township and the City of Wayland in Allegan County. The seat was held by Ken Yonker, who vacated due to term limits but was elected to the position of Kent County Drain Commissioner.
Johnson, 25, resides in Wayland Township, is unmarried, and served in the Air Force from 2009-2014. He had been working in construction but now considers himself a full-time representative of his district.
“This is my job now,” Johnson said. “I am preparing for office, familiarizing myself with policy and ready to understand the bills I will be voting on.”
Among the bills he hopes to be voting on are right-to-life bills, something he said should and can happen in the current political climate.
“Absolutely,” he said. “One of our most fundamental rights, as taxpayers, is to protect unborn life. I will absolutely be working on legislation to defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, as well as a life-at-conception act. Life begins at conception.”
Two other issues he will advocate for — or better stated: advocate against — is the federal Common Core education standards and tax breaks to attract business investment. During his campaign, he was critical of tax incentives given to lure Switch to take over the old Steelcase pyramid to create its Supernap data storage center in Gaines Township.
“First of all, Common Core is a federal program, a one size fits all, and it does not work,” Johnson said. “The federal government, the state government, should not be involved in education. That is best handled on the local school district level.
“Teachers and parents should be working together to decide on educational options. Nobody cares more about the job of education than the parents of the students. We need to get the bureaucrats out of the way when it comes to education.”
And as far as government tax breaks, he sees the problem is tax rates as much as breaks.
“Government should not be picking winners and losers, when it comes to businesses,” he said. “We need to have a low tax rate across the board, get the government to get out of the way. … Let the free market work, and whatever business and industry makes sense, locally or for Michigan, they will rise to the top.”
As for his thoughts, now that his election and his new job has sunk in as a reality?
“I’d like to just thank … (the voters) for their support and let them know that I will be leading the fight for following the Constitution and our Judeo-Christian values. That is why I ran.”
So today is the day that many Potter fans have been waiting for — the release of the newest movie in the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”
It’s been five years since the last Harry Potter film was released and coupled with the fact that “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Part 1” is not expected to be released until 2018, excitement over “Fantastic Beasts” has been building. For proof of that, we offer up this fact: you can’t even get a ticket to the Kent District Library’s upcoming “Harry Potter Party” set for next week at Celebration! Cinema North.
“I’m excited to see everything in it and if they’ll be any cameos from the original cast members,” said Wyoming High School 10 grader Maria Martinez.
The story actually takes place about 70 years — 1926 to be exact — before Harry and crew were even born. Infact, the new movie does not feature a single character from the original Harry Potter movies, although there are a few name drops such as Albert Dumbledore and that other dark wizard and Dumbledore’s former friend Gellert Grindelwald, who at this point is terrorizing the wizarding world.
“I am so excited to see a new installation of the Harry Potter fandom come to life in an entirely new and magical way,” said Abby D’Addario, who is a youth paraprofessional at the KDL Wyoming branch and will be seeing the movie at the KDL Nov. 21 event. “I always imagined what witchcraft and wizardry looked like outside the walls of Hogwarts – we barely caught a glimpse of that in the ‘Goblet of Fire.’ In this film we get the privileged of seeing the magic underworld of America. It is hard to imagine a magical world without Harry and Voldemort, but I can forgive Ms. Rowling because Eddie Redmayne is magical enough for all of us.”
The film is directed by Potter alum David Yates who reportedly brought with him several former Potter crew members. Also J.K. Rowling did write the screenplay — her first — and adapted it from her 2001 book of the same title.
Of course, “Fantastic Beasts” is set to be a series of movies — recently announced to be five — so there are already predictions that Dumbledore will be making an appearance. Probably not too far off since Johnny Depp recently was tapped to play Grindelwald.
Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander.
“I’m excited to just see Eddie Redmayne!” said Wyoming High School 10th grader Alondra Soto. Well who would not be excited to see Redmayne? He won an Oscar for Best Actor for the 2014 film “The Theory of Everything” and was nominated for the 2015 film “The Danish Girl.”
“I can’t wait to see the attitudes of the new characters and how Eddie Redmayne will be!” said Wyoming Middle School seventh grader Harlei Schovey.
Redmayne plays Newt Scamander, who has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. He intends to make a brief stopover in New York, but as we all know, nothing is ever brief when dealing with magical creatures.
Scamander meets up with No-Maj — American for Muggle — Jacob (Dan Fogler). There are lots of other new characters such as Tina Goldstein who is a former Auror and who works for the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA); Percival Graves (Colin Farrell), an Auror with a mean streak; Queenie (Alison Sudol), Tina’s sister and a mindreader: and Credence (Ezra Miller), an introverted orphan whose adopted mother is leading a group of non-magical people in a witch hunt.
“The intense CGI and the new story line,” said Wyoming High School 12th grader Matt Bulthuis. “The old with the new really gets me excited!”
From early reviews its sounds like few will be disappointed with the new film. “The Chicago Tribune” said “Eddie Redmayne and company make magic in Potter prequel” and from “The Guardian,” “The entertainment enchanter J.K. Rowling has come storming back to the world of magic in a shower of supernatural sparks — and created a glorious fantasy — romance adventure, all about the wizards of prohibition-era America and the diffident wizarding Brit who causes chaos in their midst with a bagful of exotic creatures.”
If you want to learn more about world of Harry Potter or “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” to prepare for your movie adventure, visit Rowling’s site Pottermore.com or the Harry Potter Lexicon at hp-lexicon.org.
You can “Jump!” in teacher Jeff Patin’s introduction to video production class, or “Walk like an Egyptian,” or go “Dancing in the Dark.”
As part of the class, ninth- through 12th-grade students harked back to the “I want my MTV” decade by creating music videos as they existed when the craft started out. While practicing camera shots, angles and movements, they also learned a little about totally ’80s hair bands and the corny lyrics teenagers rocked to three decades ago.
Godfrey-Lee High School Senior Aracely Quinones records with senior Miguel Lemus
Patin said the project was a way to practice and showcase their video production skills — and, to some extent, entertain him and other Godfrey-Lee Public Schools staff members who remember the decade well. The students recently presented their finished videos to the Board of Education.
“It’s different,” said senior Humberto Gallarzo, about the music from Patin’s generation. Humberto helped produce the video, “Oh Sherrie” by Steve Perry.
Why the ’80s? “That’s my decade,” Patin joked. “Why do something really cinematic when you can do something really cheesy?”
Students are unfamiliar with the songs, he said, and have to take time learning the lyrics. “I chose the ’80s because verbally they are safe (not explicit) and it puts everybody on the same playing field because they don’t know the songs,” Patin explained.
New Tech for Retro Remakes
Unlike in the ’80s, students in the class make their videos with their smart phones and use the Apple program iMovie for editing. The results are shot-for-shot remakes of some of the most memorable songs from 30 years ago, from jumping like Eddie Van Halen to crooning like Rick Springfield over “Jessie’s Girl.” In editing, the original video appeared in the corner of students’ remakes to show how closely they match. “It was hard to stay serious,” said senior Aracely Quinones, who served as camera operator for the “Oh, Sherrie” video.
“It’s fun and you’re learning at the same time,” said senior Johnny Lopez, who edited the video. “It gets people out of their comfort zone.”
Because of the music video and other projects in the class, students said they now watch TV and movies in a new way, paying attention to the angles, framing, movements and other elements.’
“I can’t watch a simple show without thinking about this class,” said senior Miguel Lemus.
There’s a small family farm in Belding, Mich. where a wide variety of vegetables and an ever-expanding selection of fruit grow. It’s called Full Hollow Farmand it’s an understatement to say that owners Jamie Wibraham and Brad Smith aren’t afraid of hard work. They use only earth-friendly, sustainable growing practices, and biodiversity is encouraged. The farm is working towards Organic Certification.
Over the years, Wibraham and Smith have worked on seven different vegetable and fruit farms. They began their farming career in Michigan, moved through Kentucky and Pennsylvania, and eventually returned to West Michigan. Now in its second year, Full Hollow Farm is well-rooted and thriving. You can see, smell, touch and taste their produce at the Rockford Farmers Market when the market is in season.
Check out Full Hollow Farm’s website for photos, recipes and more. To visit their Facebook page, go here.
Tree Lighting at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
Once again the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum will get the holiday festivities kicked off with its annual tree lighting ceremony set for Thursday, Nov. 17, at the museum, 303 Pearl St. NW, downtown Grand Rapids.
The event is at 7 p.m. with the outdoor tree being lighted followed by some activities which will include the announcement of the 2016 Community Tree Awards.
The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre opens its production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” with director Allyson Paris promising the show will be full of all the magic one has come to expect with the story.
The show opens Nov. 18 at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, 30 N. Division Ave., downtown Grand Rapids, and runs through Dec. 18. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $18 – $34 and are going fast, according to Grand Rapids Civic Theatre officials. Visit www.grct.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
Pretty lights
Get a preview of the Christmas Lite Show at Fifth Third Ballpark, 4500 W. River Dr. NE, by participating in either the bike ride Friday, Nov. 18, or the run/walk Saturday, Nov. 19.
Marking its 20th year, the Christmas Lite Show is one of the largest in Michigan. It has more than 40 animated light displays that cover about two miles.
This family-oriented event was started by Bill Schrader, who a veteran himself having served 28 years in the army, is a supporter of the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. A portion of the light show proceeds are donated to the Home.
For more information about the Christmas Lite Show, which opens up to vehicular traffic Nov. 23, visit www.christmasliteshow.com.
Wine, food, fun
The Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer, and Food Festival returns to DeVos Hall Thursday, Nov. 17, for its ninth year.
The event, which runs through Saturday, will feature about 1,600 wines, beers, ciders and spirits from various local, regional and national organizations. The event is broken down into three sections. The Vineyard will feature more than 1,200 wines from dry to sweet red, white, rose or sparkling varieties. The Beer City Station feature a variety of brew masters along with craft beers, imported and domestic brews, hard ciders, flavored malt beverages and food that pairs with both. One of the fastest growing craft beverages is hard cider. Cider Row will feature more than a dozen cider producers from Michigan and nationally-known brands.
Individual tickets are $15/Thursday, $20/Saturday and Sunday and $40 for a 3-Day Pass. Sampling tickets are 50 cents per ticket and sold on site. Attendees must be 21 or older to enter the Festival. For more information, visit showspan.com.
I went for the arts in Kilkenny, and instead I found a witch!
It’s an hour and a half drive from Dublin south to Kilkenny, a medieval town, with a castle built in 1195. Picking up my rental car in Dublin, I was a bit nervous, since driving is on the left side of the road here but it was fine. After all, I’d had three weeks of practice in New Zealand, although that was almost seven months ago now. I headed straight to the tourist office and spent about two hours there, as they tried to help me find rooms for the next three nights — it appeared there were none left anywhere near the places I wanted to go.
People had told me not to worry about booking ahead at this time of the year — late August — as the kids are headed back to school, but they were off by a week. They finally found me some rooms although they were definitely over my budget. Just a reminder to double-check the area you’re traveling to for special circumstances. Sometimes it’s beneficial to just arrive at a place, as a lot of the nice, smaller places don’t use booking sites, and are also willing to bargain on price. On the other hand, if it’s a busy time, without booking ahead, you might find yourself sleeping on the proverbial park bench.
The tour office lady asked if I wanted to join the walking tour that was about to start. Sure! It’s a great way to get an overview of a town. We saw Butter Alley, where they used to sell butter in medieval times; the Black Abby, which dates back to the 13th century; and Smithwick’s brewery building, where they no longer brew beer (that’s moved to Dublin) but you can pay a chunk of change to stop in their visitor’s center to shop for merchandise if you choose (I chose not to).
Kilkenny is known as an arts and crafts town, and includes the Medieval Mile, with many shops lining its winding lanes along the River Nore. I just missed the annual arts fair, which was probably just as well, since accommodations were hard enough to come by post-festival.
You can tour the castle for a fee, or just have a wander around the grounds for free. With notoriously gray skies and many buildings made of gray stone, the Irish find other ways to brighten their cities including flowers, graffiti, paint and lights. Kilkenny is not a town that’s too worried about safety — check out the security system on their kegs…
And about that witch…
In the middle of town, there is a restaurant called Kyteler’s, which was once a stone house owned by a woman whose four husbands all died under mysterious circumstances. She was tried and convicted as a witch, but she was rich (from her four husbands), and her wealthy friends helped her escape to England. Her maid was not so fortunate, and the punishment was carried out on her — she was whipped through the streets and burned at the stake, supposedly the first in Europe. Quite a sad tale.
The establishment is supposedly haunted and there are photos someone took hanging on the wall that show a mysterious shadow climbing up the stairs. There is also a curious story of an artist and an author related to the Kyteler’s witch tale (see The Spooky Story below).
Haunted or not, it is a spooky place but in a fun way, and both my tour guide and my B&B host said to go back there for dinner, for good food and free music after 6. I followed their advice and dined on traditional Irish stew — a hearty bowl full of meat, potatoes and carrots and after, enjoyed a lively room full of music and laughter.
My B&B Mena House, was a nice, big old house with lots of rooms, walking distance to town. I ended up talking to Catherine, the proprietress, for quite a while. She was friendly and funny and said she’d love to do what I’m doing — travel the world alone — but wouldn’t dare.
“You’re very brave,” she told me. I keep hearing that and at first didn’t think it was true as I find traveling fun and exhilarating, not scary. But the more people I meet around the world, the more I see how everyone has dreams, and most don’t follow them out of various fears.
I’m not sure doing this makes me brave, but I do feel fortunate, for my many misfortunes, like divorce, losing my job and my home, that led me to make this journey. To me, the brave ones are those who quit their good-paying jobs in order to follow their dreams.
Leaving Kilkenny, I made a brief stop at The Rock of Cashel, which local mythology says originated in a mountain called the Devil’s Bit, when St. Patrick banished Satan from a cave, resulting in the Rock landing here. I spent a couple of hours exploring the ruins of the cathedral, which was built between 1235 and 1270, and its graveyard with spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
It was especially nice when I bypassed a giant tour group that was listening outside to their guide while I got to slip into the tiny chapel, all dark and damp, completely alone. And also when I headed out, to the strains of Celtic music as three young guys played their hearts out.
Ireland is full of historic sites scattered throughout the country, so a road trip is an ideal way to see it, as you can stop at will wherever you fancy. I was about to spend the next two and a half weeks doing just that, much of it along the famous Wild Atlantic Way.
About Lynn Strough
Lynn is a 50+ free spirit whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa Valley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.
“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”
All images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales
Truck believed to be involved with the October theft of a trailer owned by Koleaseco, Inc.
A reward is being offered for information about a 53-foot trailer that was stolen from from MC Sports Warehouse in Kentwood.
Kentwood police suspect the Wabash Reefer Trailer, which belonged to Koleaseco Inc., was stolen on Oct. 22 from the warehouse at 3070 Shaffer Ave. SE. The trailer was labeled with the company name and logo, along with a trailer number of L16030. It also had a Maine registration plate of 201526C.
Authorities have released photos of the vehicle suspected of taking the trailer, which is a blue Freightliner tractor with no visible license plate or decals.
Koleaseco Inc. is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the theft and the return of the trailer.
Anyone with information is requested to contact Silent Observer at 800-774-2345 or the Kentwood Police Detective Bureau at 616-698-6580.
Eligible students cast their ballots for the presidential election and several state positions.
First-Time Voters Reflect on Presidential Election
By Erin Albanese, Charles Honey and Linda Odette
School News Network
For 18-year-old high school students, last Tuesday’s election was their first chance to cast a ballot for president. School News Network asked several students from Kent County-area public schools what their first vote for president meant to them, what they learned from it and whom they voted for. Here we share the views of three of those students, from East Kentwood, Godwin Heights and Byron Center.
Esteban Nunez
Esteban Nunez, Godwin Heights High School
“To me it was something really important, especially in society today and the way things are going. I like to show my opinion along with understanding how it feels to be part of something and knowing something I say matters,” said Estaban Nunez.
He said the electoral process was “kind of confusing at the beginning, but later on I caught on.
“I voted for Gary Johnson. Generally, I encourage the idea of moving forward instead of staying with what the Republicans and Democrats are doing.”
Gregory Perhamus (Facebook photo)
Gregory Perhamus, East Kentwood High School
“For lack of better words it was really kind of cool. My mom always took me voting with her ever since I was little. … So now, for me to add a vote to this election and to be a part in the say and do my duty as a citizen was something I found very interesting. I felt really honored and proud to be part of the population.
“My mom teaches education at Grand Valley State University, so I was always in the know, so I don’t know if I learned anything new.” He said he took time to study the local elections. “I got more education on that perspective.
“I voted for Hillary, not totally in support of Hillary, but I guess against Trump. I think a lot of people did that. It was a rough election to have as a first election. When I look back at it in 20 years and someone asks who I voted for, I won’t be proud to say either one. I don’t know if anyone will, but it is what it is. We have four years. Hopefully next election we will have someone better.”
Maria Cotts, Byron Center High School
“I really liked it because I took a government class last year and I liked how I was able to vote this year. I liked that I could get involved and exercise my right to vote after learning about it for so long.”
Maria said she felt armed with knowledge about how voting works from her Advanced Placement government class. “I know lots about it, why it works, why it was put in place. I learned about the whole voting process and how it works at the polls.”
Still, it was a new experience. “I had never seen the ballot before,” she said.
“I voted for Hillary Clinton. … It should be interesting today,” she said the day after the election.
The sweet potato — a perennial holiday meal favorite — is one of only a few cultivated vegetable crops with origins in the Americas. Traced back to 8000 B.C. Peru, it’s neither a potato nor a yam but a rooted tuber and member of the morning glory family.
Prep
To prepare sweet potatoes, simply scrub the skin clean using a vegetable brush and running water to remove any dirt and grime. Then cut away any damaged areas.
Store
Store sweet potatoes in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place for up to several weeks. Do not store in plastic or refrigerate. Temperatures below 50 degrees will cause off-flavors, and excess moisture will encourage sweet potatoes to rot or sprout prematurely. Resist the urge: Do not scrub clean or wash until just before preparation.
Cook
Sweet potatoes taste great baked, boiled, steamed, grilled or mashed.
Interested in trying new sweet potato recipes?
Highlighted this week: roasted pumpkin and sweet potato pilau, crispy sweet potato wedges, curried sweet potato apple soup and honey-roasted sweet potatoes with honey-cinnamon dip. Below is the recipe for Extra-crispy Sweet Potato Wedges. Get the other recipes.
Extra Crispy Sweet Potato Wedges
Ingredients
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled (or unpeeled, if you like skin) and cut into wedges
2-½ tablespoons olive oil
1-½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon black pepper
Preparation
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with tinfoil (shiny side up); place baking rack onto prepared baking sheet; set aside. Peel the sweet potatoes (if preferred) and cut off the pointy ends. Slice the sweet potatoes in half (lengthwise), then cut each piece into wedges. Place the sweet potato wedges in a large bowl, then add in the olive oil, salt, sugar, seasoning, and black pepper.
Mix well, making sure each wedge is coated with oil and spices. Arrange the sweet potato wedges in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, then turn on the broiler and bake for another 3-5 minutes, or until they’re well browned and crispy. Keep an eye here – it’s easy to burn when the broiler is on! Cool wedges on pan for 5 minutes, then serve at once.
WKTV is pleased to announce that each week we will feature 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).
Caspian
Just look at this handsome mug!
Not only is Caspian gorgeous, but more importantly, he is a genuine sweetheart who loves to snuggle — and is very good at it. This chubby-cheeked, squinty-eyed (former) Tom cat was welcomed into Big Sid’s this past Aug. 2 after being transferred from the Humane Society of SW Michigan.
Although he had seen a veterinarian three days after his arrival at the Humane Society in mid-July, the condition causing his lower eyelids to roll inward and rub on his corneas was not diagnosed, so the appropriate treatment was not undertaken; by the time Dr. Jen got her hands on this fabulous ‘fat-head’ (born in the summer of 2012), his right eye had suffered scarring and both lids were incredibly swollen and painful. He was FIV-positive and Dr. Jen also discovered that he had torn a toenail back to the base and was sparse in the hair coat department due to a flea infestation that has since been successfully treated.
Once at the sanctuary, Caspian immediately took to wooing the ladies; his heavy-lidded, half-closed glance made it appear as if he was gazing longingly at those who stepped into his line of sight, so the volunteers couldn’t help but swoon, swoop in and scoop him up for some major cuddle time — and at 13 pounds of muscle, he is quite an armful!
At his recheck exam on Sept. 6, Dr. Jen was dismayed to see that Caspian’s FIV test was still a firm positive, but since he was having a blast in his new home she had no worries. He had a second surgery on his eyelids and, as he did before, Caspian bounced back with flying colors, sporting fancy purple sutures once again for the next week.
He left the clinic with eyes wide open — something he hadn’t really done up to this point — weighing in at 14 pounds and showing off his lustrous, almost luminous coat that good nutrition and parasite control had afforded him.
Caspian still has a tiny scar remaining on his right eye but his vision isn’t impaired in the least; he can look deep into your soul with those baby blues and you will absolutely, paws-itively MELT!
Want to adopt Caspian? Go here to read about the adoption process and then fill out an application form here.
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.
The Avett Brothers, Nov. 12, at Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Mi.
In an October interview prior to the band’s visit to West Michigan, Scott Avett said of the musical philosophy of The Avett Brothers band: “The fact that we run the gamut, that we are inspired by a lot of different types of music, that has always been us. That is always something that we just naturally do. We have never had to think about it.”
The truth of Scott’s words were clearly evident Saturday night during a 25-or-so song, 2-hour-20 set for a large, boisterous, appreciative but not-overwhelming or sold-out Van Andel Arena crowd – the band’s now decade-old set list runs from North Carolina bluegrass with a yodel or two thrown in, to straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll with lead guitarist Seth Avett up on a speaker shredding on his electric.
And, you know, it appears they did not have to really think all that much about it. The two hours just flowed by and the audience was left with a collective sigh and a feeling that they just heard a great band in their prime.
With no opening act – and none needed or desired – The Avett Brothers took the stage like men at work, opened with the banjo-focused “D Bag Rag” before sliding into the understated and melancholy “Down with the Shine” and then reaching full voice and stage presence with “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise.”
From there, with very little talk from the stage, the brothers took turns at the mic and at the forefront – with ample chorus and instrumental solo support from each other and from core band members bassist Bob Crawford and cellist Joe Kwon. Each brother also welcomed and encouraged audience sing-a-long on several more well-known tunes. They played their songs and played to their audience.
May I have more, please?
Highlights of the night, this being my first time seeing the band live and being a fairly new acolyte, was “Head Full of Doubt” early, “True Sadness”, “Ain’t No Man” and especially “Fisher Road to Hollywood” off their newest release, and a sweet, simple ode to the recently and dearly departed Leonard Cohen with “Hallelujah”.
And, of course, closing with “I and Love and You” — a perfect song to end a concert for family and friends — was a perfect encore ending.
It may be just grabbing for a lifeline in these troubling times, but it also struck me as I listened to “Head Full of Doubt” that I may be listening to the song which, 10 years down the American Road, will bring back the days of President Trump.
“There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light/In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right/And it comes in black and it comes in white/And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it”
Yes, the song was written almost a decade ago and released in 2009, so it was not and is not some political or social statement by the band. But that does not stop people from taking a current meaning from it — or the band giving a current meaning to it.
No singer/songwriter likes to be labeled, but when people say Langhorne Slim sings from a “folk punk” background they probably better not say it to his face. He tends, as they say, speak his mind and sing his mind.
“Maybe everybody’s scared to be a freak. But when you live as a freak it’s so much more fulfilling,” he said, in supplied material. “I don’t want to tame myself. I want to be wild. If I can continue to refine the wildness but never suffocate or tame it, then I’m on the right path.”
Langhorne Slim — born Sean Scolnick in Langhorne, Pa. in 1980 — will be be crossing paths with a local audience this week when he comes to St. Cecilia Music Center’s Royce Auditorium for a solo acoustic concert Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Acoustic Café Folk Series. Tickets are still available.
Slim moved to Brooklyn at 18, and has literally traveled all across the nation but currently calls Nashville home. He has played major festivals like Newport Folk Festival, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and Bonnaroo, and has toured with The Lumineers, The Devil Makes Three, and the Avett Brothers. He will most recent recording is 2015’s “The Spirit Moves”. The New Yorker described him as having “Leadbelly’s gift for storytelling and Dylan’s ability to captivate crowds.”
“Great musicians are those who speak to us on a deep emotional level and Langhorne Slim has that unique quality,” said Cathy Holbrook, SCMC executive director.
To say the least, Slim is “unique.”
SCMC’s Acoustic Café Series is hosted by Rob Reinhart, of the Ann Arbor based Acoustic Café radio program which is syndicated to over 100 commercial and non-commercial stations throughout the country. A post-concert “Meet-the-artist” reception with a cash bar will be offered to all ticket-holders giving the audience the opportunity to meet Langhorne Slim and obtain signed CDs of his releases.
For more information call 616-459-2224 or visit scmc-online.org
What’s Next:
Additional concerts in the 2016-17 Acoustic Café Series include St. Louis based Pokey LaFarge on Feb. 9, Grammy nominated Texas-trio Los Lonely Boys on March 14, country soul sensation Margo Price on April 6, and Grammy Award winning Marc Cohn — of the 1991’s Grammy winning ballad “Walking in Memphis” — on April 13.
It can be challenge to take a well-known animated film such as “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” and bring it to a theater stage.
“How do you create the flames in Lumiere’s hands as he raises and lowers them,” said Grand Rapids Civic Theatre Allyson Paris, who is directing Civic Theater’s production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.”Or how does Mrs. Potts push the tea cart when she doesn’t have any hands?
“And then there is Chip. He is suppose to be small but still has to move around the stage. You have to solve all of those problems as you are putting on a show.”
Kathleen Johnson with the Cogsworth costume.
Apparently many want to see just how Civic Theatre does create the magic as tickets for the upcoming show are selling quickly, according to Grand Rapids Civic Theatre Director of Development and Community Relations Nancy Brozek. “So if people want to see the show, they are going to want to snap up tickets soon.”
As to solving the problems Paris mentioned, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s costume wizard Robert Fowle knew just who to call to help build some of that theater magic, friend and colleague Kathleen Johnson.
“Building costumes for a production of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ has been on my bucket list,” said Johnson, who has more than 16 years of experience in musical theater, dance, radio and film as a costume and prop designer.
Originally from Grand Rapids and now based out of Chicago, Johnson saw the potential of using her background in mascot building to help create costumes designed for mobility.
“When you construct a costume for a mascot, it has to be done so that the person wearing it can move easily,” Johnson said. “The same is true for the costumes on stage. The actors have to be able to move easily while wearing the large costumes.”
Cogsworth’s human clothes much match his clock costume.
Once the “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” show was cast, Johnson said she measured all the performers and headed back home to begin construction of the various pieces such as the wardrobe for Madame de la Grande Bouche which had to have a drawer that opens along with doors to show offer her “jewelry.”
To help reduce the weight of the costumes, Johnson turned to a variety of foams used in mascot construction which are also much easier to mold into “dancing” dishes and “entertaining” flatware.
There are still challenges for the actors wearing the costumes as Jason Morrison who plays Cogswoth pointed out.
“We have no peripheral vision, so we can’t see straight down or tell where we are walking,” Morrison said, adding that there will be assistants for the actors to help them move around backstage. “Also, I have to be careful as Cogswoth has a key sticking out his back so when turning I do not hit someone with it.”
Draws open, keys turn and Johnson has even planned out just how Lumiere’s candlestick will light when he raises his hands.
“Most people think of the fans that blow up the paper flames to make it appear like the sticks are burning,” Johnson said. “I have something a little better that will make them look like real candlesticks.”
As to how that theater magic happens, Paris said people will just “have to be our guest and come and see the show.”
Avoid the madness and come help the folks at Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve plant a new section of the ever-expanding Saul Lake Prairie — one of the longest-running and most successful prairie restoration projects in Michigan. Located east of Rockford, Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve was established in 1989 and comprises 123 acres.
Convenient parking and over a mile of meandering trails allow visitors to appreciate the bog, prairie, forests, and fields — and the diversity of wildlife they support — in all seasons. Participants should wear appropriate clothing for outdoor work, including long pants and sturdy shoes. A great family activity, appropriate for ages 12 and up. Learn More.
Event:Black Friday Prairie Planting
Saturday, November 25 | 10:00am – 12:00pm | Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve, 10471 Six Mile Road, Rockford, MI
Contact Justin Heslinga at 616.451.9476 or by email to register.
Chad Boprie, the new director of the Wyoming Senior Center, has been at the facility for two weeks now but his history with the center actually goes back more than 10 years.
Boprie, a graduate of Grand Valley State University’s Therapeutic Recreation program who most recently worked a supervisor of therapeutic recreation services for Hope Network, did a student placement at the Wyoming Senior Center in 2006.
“So I am familiar with the programming, with the City of Wyoming,” he said Monday. “I really enjoyed my time there.”
But he is still in the early phases of his learning mode this time around, after starting Oct. 31.
“It has been good,” he said. “I have been learning the processes the program. Getting to know the members and the participants. As I go along, I will look for things we can make better, but right now I am just learning.”
Part of the City of Wyoming’s Parks and Recreation Department, Boprie will oversee recreation programming for older adults as well as facility operations center.
“The Center is an invaluable community asset that greatly impacts our residents,” Boprie said in supplied material. “I look forward to contributing to its continued success.”
The WSC is an 18,000-square-foot facility that serves more than 200 daily, and offers participants fitness, creative arts, technology, and social activities.
For more information, please contact the city’s Parks and Recreation Department at 616-530-3164 or parks_info@wyomingmi.gov or visit wyomingmi.gov/ParksRec/parks-recreation
Unlike the City of Wyoming, Kentwood does not have odd/even parking during the winter — in fact, street parking rules are even stricter.
From Nov. 15-March 15 of each year, no parking of any vehicle is permitted on either side of any Kentwood city street between the hours of1 am and 8 am, or at any other times when on-street parking could impede snowplowing, cleaning or maintenance operations.
Blame it all on Sec. 66-61. – Parking is prohibited during hours that could impair or impede snow removal. Go here for more info. (Code 2004, § 66-61; Comp. Ords. 1987, § 20.278)
The City of Wyoming will return one familiar face to the City Council after Tuesday’s election but there will be two newcomers, including Marissa Postler, who is just 23 years old and will be a student at Grand Valley State University while representing in her district on the council.
Councilman Dan Burrill, who ran unopposed and was re-elected for his second four-year term as council member-at-large, gained a final unofficial total of 18,474 votes.
New to the council will be Robert D. Postema, who defeated Rusty Richter for the 3rd Ward seat vacated by Joanne Vorhees, 5,168 votes to 3,683 votes; and Postler, who defeated incumbent Richard K. Pastoor for the 2nd Ward seat, 3,479 to 2,873.
The new council members will be sworn in at the Nov. 21 meeting.
Youth was served; will serve
Maybe the most startling result was the 2nd Ward win by Postler, who not only unseated a 15-year veteran of the council but also expects her youth to be an asset to the council and the city as much as it was an asset to her campaign.
“I definitely think my youth and energy played a part” in the win, Postler said Wednesday. “This election season, we’ve seen a lot of support from both Democrats and Republicans for the idea of an outsider candidate. Bernie Sanders really excited young liberals and Donald Trump, of course, found a lot of support among more conservative voters. While these two men (and myself) have very little in common, there is definitely that common thread of people wanting something different from what they’ve had forever.
“In the case of our (2nd Ward) residents, I think I’m probably the first 23-year-old girl who has ever knocked on their door trying to talk about politics and city issues. I had a lot of older folks tell me how glad they were to see someone from the younger generation ready to step up and take the torch.”
Postler works at Costco in addition to being a college student seeking a music education degree leading to a teaching position.
The 2nd Ward area covers the northern portion of the City of Wyoming from Chicago Drive in the north to Prairie Parkway down Burlingame Avenue over 36th Street and up along 32nd Street on the south. The ward’s western border is Wentworth and the eastern border is the city limits.
Part of Postler’s campaign had her advocating for more local engagement and local opportunities for Millennials.
“Considering we’re the second largest city in the metro Grand Rapids area, I definitely don’t think it’s crazy for us to try attracting young professionals, Postler said. “The thing is, though, we don’t have a ton of jobs they want right here in Wyoming. On the upside, we do have affordable homes and a 10-minute drive downtown. I think especially if this 28 West project works out, we could definitely become a more attractive area for people who want that city proximity but at a more affordable cost.
“One thing we need to continue being careful about is making sure the businesses who fill our many empty spaces are going to add value to the community and make us appealing. No more dollar stores, check cashing places, or vape shops, please! That is a sentiment that I’ve heard from several residents and wholeheartedly agree with myself.”
Not only is Postler not your usual city council candidate, she found out about the win in a most unusual way.
To be honest I was half asleep when I found out, so it took a moment to sink in,” she said. “I gave up and went to bed around 12:30 (in the morning … with no results yet, and somehow managed to fall asleep despite the excitement and nervousness. Then my boyfriend woke me up at 4 a.m. with the news as he was leaving for work and I saw I had 20 notifications on my phone! … I just want to thank the voters so much for their support and invite them to reach out to me with any ideas or concerns.”
(Postler’s email address is marissapostler@gmail.com.)
Back to work; working at large
Burrill, who was reelected for a second 4-year term as council member-at-large, ran unopposed and still gained nearly 18,500 votes — as well as a few ribbings — from constituents.
Joking aside, he says he is grateful not only for reelection but for the confidence in this work and work ethic shown by city voters.
“I do hope (the high number of votes he gained) says that folks recognized that I do a nice job for the city,” Burrill said. “I put the community’s best interest at heart. I put a lot of time and effort in that position, so I hope it says, ‘This guy is doing a pretty good job.’ Some of these (public service) positions can be pretty thankless sometimes, and I think that people are thankful that someone is doing it and putting forth effort on it.”
Burrill also said he takes pride representing the entire city as member-at-large, but he stressed that all the council members really represent the entire city.
“We have such a diverse community, and I think that is totally awesome,” he said. “When I think about our community, I see it from so many directions. It is such a great place to live. I do think I look at it as that I do not represent just one area, one ward, you do feel a sense of duty to the entire community.
“Of course, I know the ward commissioners do the same. Sure they represent their ward, but they also are looking for what is best for the people throughout the community. I know in those wards, they all of have a good sense of community for the entire community. Not just their area. You have to look at Wyoming as a whole. The decisions you make on the north end can affect the south end, so you have to look at the community as a whole.”
Of course, Burrill said, being well-known and accessible to the voters can have it’s, ah, moments.
“This past election, I had more people text me and say ‘Dan, I voted for you.’ Of course, some of them joke around: people that know me said ‘Hey, we had a tough choice but we voted for you anyway.’ When you get those text messages, those calls, from people it makes you feel really good. More than anything, this election made me feel really good; it gave me a lot of confidence in what I am doing.”
Postmen has ties to local community and local business
Postema — please call him “Rob,” he says, to avoid any confusion with his father and brother, both Richard — has a long history in Wyoming and, while he sees the many strengths of the city, he sees things he wants to make better.
“Wyoming has a lot going for it,” he said this week. “Good infrastructure, strong neighborhoods and great citizens. City services have generally remained stable and the city is good financial shape despite some difficult economic times. But there are opportunities for improvement in many areas.
“I’d like to see both public safety departments strengthened,” he said. “The DDA area (28th Street area) is an area we should continue to look for improvement. The DDA appears to be a great tool to compound investment in the area without any added tax burden. Wyoming’s DDA suffers a bit from unlucky timing with the economic downturn and several large business closures that have left it struggling for funding. The 28 West project, hopefully, will spur some positive momentum and as that momentum builds I think we could see some real positive change in this area of the city. I think there is opportunity along the Division corridor for positive change as well.”
Postema said his initial focus, however, will be in not only representing his ward but in “gaining a greater understanding” of the city and the working of the City Council.
“My exposure to city government from my work on the Planning Commission and BZA is an asset, as is my experience running a business,” he said. “But I recognize there will be some issues I do not yet fully understand and need to learn.”
Postema works for Richard Postema Associates PC, an architectural and engineering firm which moved to the city in 1981. It is a family business, named after his father, but both his father and his brother are “Richard” and his brother — who goes by “Rick” — is also part owner. “It can be confusing,” Postmen said.
Postema, 49, grew up in Wyoming, attended South Christian High School, graduated from Calvin College with an engineering degree. He is married, to Shelley, with two daughters, one a graduate from Hope College and in the nursing field, and the other just starting study at Calvin.
His becoming a city council member is just starting to sink in, however.
“Running for election is a humbling event,” he said. “It seems cliché to say so, but it really is an honor to have people place their faith in you to represent them in such an important role. I am so very thankful to everyone who placed their faith in me. I will do my best to honor that faith and follow the commitments I made to everyone when running for office.”
Manuel Ochoa’s face lit up in a smile. He had just learned he will exit the middle school’s new School within a School Program at the end of the marking period. After several years working to get on track academically, he will return to the regular classroom.
For the past few weeks in the SWAS intervention program, Manuel has excelled. The seventh-grader covered a lot of ground in history and language arts classes, and had achieved an 80 percent overall score. “I just worked,” he said, explaining his progress. “It has helped me a lot.”
Led by teacher Joe Marsiglia, SWAS has eight students enrolled and is located in a classroom at the end of a quiet wing of the school. Students who have been identified for failing grades and behavior problems– most have been suspended at least once this fall– work on subjects on computers, regularly getting help from Marsiglia. They are together all day, even for lunch.
“We have some students flying through the coursework, which is pretty awesome,” Marsiglia said. “They get to own their learning.”
Students are working at their own pace, most making steady gains.
Eighth-grader Gage Sims recently learned he is on track to exit the SWAS intervention program.
“We are finding behavior is better,” said Assistant Principal Beth Travis. “They are focusing on their work. A lot of the students like the fact that they can put on the headphones and get lost in the academics and shut out the outside influences.”
SWAS addresses several issues to break the all-too-common cycle of poor grades, poor attendance and poor behavior.
“We are trying to think outside of the box,” Travis said. “We need something that’s going to help our students. We are finding it’s a frustrating cycle when they act out and make a poor decision in class. They get sent home for their actions; they come back the next day and they are already behind in their schoolwork, so they act out again.”
The class is the most intensive part of a three-tier system the middle school uses to help at-risk students. At the beginning of the school year, teachers began monitoring students’ grades and behavior if they showed signs of academic, attendance and behavior problems. Marsiglia met weekly with those who showed a continued pattern of problems, discussing behavior goals and grades.
Finally, he met twice a week with students facing suspension and failing grades, even sitting with them during classes to get to know them. From there, staff identified eight students who were most at risk to start SWAS.
Each student has a chance to enter or exit the program each quarter. Three, including Manuel, are now on track to exit, which will open up three new spots for at-risk students.
After eighth grade, Travis said, students with academic and behavior problems sometimes switch to alternative schools. “Our hopes are to keep the students here at school to teach them better behavior choices, and to get them to pass the classes and get them the knowledge they need to move on to the next grade.”
While the program is not punitive, returning to the regular classroom can be a strong incentive for students. “They want to be with their friends,” Travis said. “It’s middle school. They are very social.”
Added Attention Helps
Signs of success include more content students. “Since this has started, none of these students have been suspended,” Travis said. “We have not had one student with one discipline referral.”
Marsiglia said the 1-to-8 teacher-student ratio allows him to get ahead of any potentially bad behavior. “(SWAS) takes them out of a class where they want to be the king or queen. Instead of being the focus of attention, they all have their own individual attention, with me.”
Seventh-grader Teron Collier said SWAS has helped him get better grades.
“There aren’t a lot of kids in the class, so I get help from the teacher more,” he said.
The school’s community coordinator also spends an hour in the classroom each day to provide added support.
There have been other success stories, he said. One student discovered she really likes history and geography. “She didn’t know it until she was in here. Now, she’s so far ahead in that class,” Marsiglia said.
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