Category Archives: 3-bottom

Saugatuck Center for the Arts pulls a few political punches with ‘Capitol Steps’

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, , , ,
Just in time for July 4, Capitol Steps comes to the Saugatuck Center for the Art.s
Kick off your July 4 celebration with a little political satire from ‘Capitol Steps’, which makes a stop at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts July 3.

Spend ‘An Evening with the Capitol Steps’ as they bring their sizzling political comedy to the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St., Saugatuck. On Sunday, July 3, at 8 p.m., the Capitol Steps take aim at both sides of the political aisle with their deliciously funny political satire. Tickets are $41 in advance or $43 at the door and can be purchased online at sc4a.org or call 269.857.2399.

 

Just in time for this fall’s presidential election, the troupe brings its current-event focused humor to the SCA’s boutique theatre. These former Capitol Hill staffers set out more than 30 years ago to satirize the very people and places that employed them.  The Steps were born in December 1981 when some staffers for Senator Charles Percy were planning entertainment for a Christmas party. Ronald Reagan was president when the Steps began, so co-founders Elaina Newport, Bill Strauss and Jim Aidala figured that if entertainers could become politicians, then politicians could become entertainers!

 

“The Capitol Steps are all about timing — political timing, comedic timing, and the timing it takes to write satire that’s right on top of the latest news, scandals, and polls,” wrote the Washington Post.

 

Since they began, the Capitol Steps have recorded more than 34 albums and have been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, and can be heard twice a year on National Public Radio. The group creates parodies and skits based on relevant topics after digging into political headlines.

 

Most cast members have worked on Capitol Hill; some for Democrats, some for Republicans, and others for politicians who firmly straddle the fence. No matter who holds office, there’s never a shortage of material. Troupe member Elaina Newport said “Typically the Republicans goof up, and the Democrats party. Then the Democrats goof up and the Republicans party. That’s what we call the two-party system.”

 

For information and tickets contact the SCA box office at 269.857.2399 or sc4a.org.

Time to Split, Croatia

3-bottom, architecture, Education, Entertainment, Holidays, Travel, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By Lynn Strough

Travelynn Tales

 

34

Welcome to this week’s chapter in the ongoing series by our world traveler, Lynn Strough. Here, Lynn takes us to Split, Croatia.

Split is a vibrant town on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, which is known for Diocletian’s Palace, a fortress-like structure erected by the Roman emperor in the 4th century. Now it’s full of restaurants, shops, cathedrals, hotels, and tourists.

38

Note that the cruise ships dump huge crowds here, but if you see the tour guides holding up a flag followed by the masses, just head the other direction. They usually go for the area with the most souvenir shops.

 

If you’re in the old town at the right time, you might bump into some men in metal or possibly even Santa Claus or Dumbledore.

 

You’ll notice many interesting architectural details both on the ground and up in the air if you climb the bell tower, which I have to say is a really high one! Inside the walls, you’ll find the beautiful Croatian National Theatre and just outside the walls, a colorful market.

 

 

[huge_it_slider id=”47″]

 

 

Speaking of walls, there is a fair amount of graffiti, but most of it is artistic and interesting. Oftentimes in Split, you’ll stumble on to a flea market, and you never know what you might find. And after the sun goes down, the colorful lights come on, if you’re into late nights with food festivals and free concerts… free, unless you care to donate some spare Kuna.

 

10

If you tire of old town Split, there are many day trip opportunities, like taking a ferry to the island of Brac (pronounced “Brach”), which is known for its very famous beach, Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape). This beach is a protected nature park and it changes shape under the influence of tides and waves.

 

If water and beaches aren’t your thing, there’s Trogir, another walled village a short bus ride away from Split. It has the usual fortress you can climb for a view, plus canals, shops, restaurants, churches and the like for you to explore. Or you can set up office with a pizza and free wifi, if you need to get a little travel blogging done.

 

IMG_0545-1024x768

Now, after a month in Croatia, it’s time for me to split Split and head to Slovenia. But looking back, what’s not to love about Croatia? I’d go back in a heartbeat, and highly recommend it for a beautiful, affordable, fun and sun-filled holiday for you.

 

About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something-year-old woman 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.

 

12

“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!”

 

 

 

travelynnlogoAll images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

‘Shout’ it out: Tears for Fears reschedules its Meijer Gardens concert

3-bottom, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , , ,

infoboxAfter being postponed as the June 6 opener of the Meijer Gardens concert season, Tears for Fears’ sold-out show, is back on the schedule with a new Sept. 26. If you already have tickets for the original show, you already are in. If not, there is still a chance.

 

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park announced last week that tickets purchased for the June  6 concert will be honored for the new date. Refunds of those June 6 tickets will be available at point-of-purchase until August 1 – when all tickets for the original June 6 date become non-refundable. Tickets purchased for the Sept. 26 date are all non-refundable. Ticket prices are $75 during the members-only presale, and $78 for members and $80 for the public.

 

Tears for Fears comes to the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture in September.
Tears for Fears comes to the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Sept. 26.

Meijer Gardens members may buy tickets for the rescheduled date during a members-only presale beginning at 9 a.m., Friday, June 24 through midnight, July 1. Tickets can be purchased in-person at Meijer Gardens Admission Desk during normal business hours with no handling fees, by phone at 800-585-3737 with a handling fee of $8 per order, or online at StarTickets.com with a handling fee of $8 per order.

 

If tickets remain available after the members-only presale, sales to the public will begin at 9 a.m., July 2, the same three ways.

 

Tears for Fears’ Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith previously announced they had postpone some shows due to “family” matters.

 

The UK band formed in 1981 and have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide to date.  They have released four albums as a group. Their platinum-selling 1983 debut “The Hurting” and 1985’s “Songs from the Big Chair” produced two massive hits, “Shout” and “Everybody Wants To Rule The World.” Orzabal and Smith released “The Seeds of Love” in 1989, and after a break, reunited to release “Everybody Loves a Happy Ending” in 2004. They are currently working on material for a new release scheduled for 2017.

 

While there are plenty of goodies in their catalogue, with a fair share of audience “sing-a-longs” to their eighties hits, last year at Bonnaroo they mixed the old with the new and even reportedly preformed a great cover of Radiohead’s “Creep.”

 

We can hope they will do the same in September.

 

Schedule and more info on ticket plan is available at meijergardens.org/calendar/summer-concerts-at-meijer-gardens.

 

— Kady

Work by Barbara Bjelland to be featured at Pine Rest’s Leep Art Gallery

3-bottom, Entertainment, ,

Bjelland_Creation_GroansA new exhibit titled, “Creation, Cross, People and Places: Scenes in Oil and Oil Pastel,” by local artist Barbara Bjelland opens at the Leep Art Gallery July 7. The exhibit is at the Postma Center on the Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services campus in Grand Rapids.

 

Bjelland’s broad theme encompasses many places and things she cares about and finds beautiful. “Creation is a good gift to us from God’s hand,” says Bjelland. “It is beautiful, but broken. Christ came to redeem all, and because of Christ’s work, we can share in God’s delight and care for the world and its people.”

 

Many scenes are from Minnesota, other scenes are from Bjelland’s travels, and from her new home in Michigan. Wherever she is, doing art helps her notice things around her in a new way. She shares this sense of imagination and mystery, of the divine world touching our own. Words and images flow together, and many of her paintings have a narrative sense.

 

Bjelland grew up in Minneapolis, Minn., and Cuernavaca, Mexico – places that gave her a lifelong love of sky-blue waters and richly-colored folk art. She has degrees in Ancient History, Spiritual Formation, and Commercial Art, and has studied at Minneapolis College of Art & Design. Her work can be seen in the collections of Gustavus Adolphus College and First National Bank in Saint Peter, Minn. Barbara also is an author and an adjunct chaplain at Pine Rest.

 

The exhibit will be on display at Pine Rest Postma Center located at 300 68th Street, SE, Grand Rapids, Mich., from July 7 until Oct. 4. There is an opening reception July 8, 6 – 8 p.m. The Leep Art Gallery is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 616/222-4530 or go to www.pinerest.org/events.

Art of Kids Helping Kids is Food for All

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, Kids Activities, Non-Profits, , ,

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

By: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

As Oriole Park Elementary fourth-grader Adam Lagerway painted a cardboard carrot, second-grader Allie Evans thought about how a local organization feeds hungry students. “Six thousand sack suppers!” she shouted, while transforming her own art materials into food shapes.

 

Students in teacher Laura Sluys’ special education class were making a sculpture out of recycled materials with a visiting artist from the organization Artists Creating Together.

 

Semia Hatambo carries trail mix
Semia Hatambo carries trail mix

The piece was donated to Kids’ Food Basket, a non-profit the class has worked all year to support.

 

Students presented the completed sculpture, a box with food flowing out of it like a cornucopia, to Brandy Arnold, KFB Kids Helping Kids coordinator. Painted brightly were cardboard, cans, toilet paper rolls, bottles and other items made into sandwiches, apples, juice boxes, bananas, celery and yogurt.

 

It was the culmination of a school year spent combining creativity, compassion and lots of trail mix. Sluys received a $200 Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation Service Learning Grant to fund the project with KFB, dubbed “Disabling Hunger.”

 

She also received a grant through Artists Creating Together, which provides artist-in-residencies for students with special needs across Kent County for her class to complete the project with artist Nora Faber.

 

Sluys said she decided to combine the two experiences for her students. “It helps them connect all the pieces of what they’ve been doing.”

 

Students raised money for Kids Food Basket by collecting pennies
Students raised money for Kids Food Basket by collecting pennies

Throughout the school year, Sluys’ students have completed monthly efforts for KFB. They led all Oriole Park students in decorating and donating 214 bags for Brown Bag Decorating Day.

 

They made and packed trail mix in 100 plastic sandwich bags. They collected pennies to donate.

 

A $300 Target stores field trip grant also funded a grocery-shopping trip to purchase food to donate, and students volunteered at KFB. “We put some pudding in baskets so they can give them to kids that are hungry,” said second-grader Jamiah Abron.

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

Farm Market Recipe of the Week: Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus

3-bottom, Entertainment, Food, , ,

bacon-wrapped-asparagusMakes 4 servings
Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minute

Ingredients

16 spears asparagus, (about 1 bunch), trimmed
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch of salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 very thin slices prosciutto, (about 1 ounce), cut in half lengthwise

Directions

1. Preheat grill to medium.

2. Toss asparagus with oil, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Wrap 1 length of prosciutto around the middle of 4 asparagus spears. Repeat, making 4 bundles. Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the asparagus bundles, turning once or twice, until the asparagus is tender and charred in spots, about 10 minutes.

Tip

To oil the grill rack, oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.)

Nutritional Information

Per serving: 39 calories; 2 g fat (0 g sat, 1 g mono); 6 mg cholesterol; 3 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 3 g protein; 1 g fiber; 235 mg sodium; 134 mg potassium.

Remember the Metro Health Farmers Market is every Thursday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Metro Health Village, 5900 Byron Center Ave. SW.

Wyoming’s 28 West moving from concept to reality

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Hard News, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

 

The City of Wyoming took a giant step forward on its 28 West project by entering into a development agreement with Wyoming Mall Monday night.

 

The 28 West sign located in front of the former Studio 28 property. Construction for the 28 West project will actually start just east on the Wyoming Mall property.
The 28 West sign located in front of the former Studio 28 property. Construction for the 28 West project will actually start just east on the Wyoming Mall property. Above is the original 28 West marketing video.

In a unanimous vote, the Wyoming City Council accepted a $1.6 million agreement with Wyoming Mall, LLC, to facilitate the mall owner’s construction and demolition projects, and the relocation of city water, sewer and storm water lines and construction of a new public street. The actual cost to the city will be about $1.2 million for the relocation of city services and construction of the road. The developer’s costs is around $113,000 with there being a 25 percent contingency, around $322,000, for the entire project.

 

“The Wyoming Mall approached us about doing some major reconstruction/demolition on their property,” said Mayor Jack Poll during Monday night’s council meeting. Mall officials indicated they were ready to allow the city to put in a public road since they were planning to teardown the north end of the mall where Once Upon A Child is located and add a new structure along the northwest side of the building, Poll said.

 

City Manager Curtis Holt said the city is in active discussions with Loeks Theatre Inc. which owns the Studio 28 property just to the west of the Wyoming Mall. It is the goal of the city to acquire property for the proposed road to continue through with an egress across from Hook Avenue located on the north side of 28th Street between Applebee’s and Anzah Sands West. Proposed land acquisition and construction of the road on the Studio 28 lot is estimated about around $708,000. The entire project from Michael Avenue to Hook Avenue is estimated to be around $2.2 million.

 

Holt said the city plans to put the project out to bid with the goal of completing the entire road project from Michael to Hook within the next few months.

 

Because of the Wyoming Mall owners’ decision to move forward with construction, it gave the city an opportunity to officially start its 28 West concept which is a reimagining of the south side of 28th Street between Clyde Park and Burlingame into a mixed-use town center with new complete streets and compact blocks. Part of that plan features a curving slip street to be the center’s new “main street.” That street is proposed to start on the south side of 28th Street across from Hook Avenue to Jenkins Avenue, which runs next to the former Klingman/Rogers Department Store building. A portion of the road runs straight through the Wyoming Mall property which is bordered by the former Studio 28 site on the west side and Michael Avenue on the east.

 

Adopted in December of 2013, the 28 West plan has a form-based code, which is a land development regulation that fosters predictable built results and a high-quality public realm by using physical form rather than separation of uses. Form-based codes address the relationship between building facades and the public realm, the form and mass of buildings in relation to one another, and the scale and types of streets and blocks. 28 West calls for an increase in retail space with a mix of office and residential space.

 

City officials have been working on the 28 West concept for the past couple of years acknowledging that they knew it would take several years for the plan to materialize. With Wyoming Mall officials’ announcement that they had decided to remodel its facility at 28th Street and Michael Avenue construction of the first part of the 28 West could begin, Poll said.

Plans for Wyoming Mall include removing the north end of the mall and adding a new building to the northwest side of the current facility.
Plans for Wyoming Mall include removing the north end of the mall and adding a new building to the northwest side of the current facility.

 

City officials said this is a first good step on the project and they hope it will help encourage growth along the corridor and future development of the 28 West project.

 

Construction on the site should start soon, Holt said, adding that the city can not begin the road until the demolition at Wyoming Mall is completed . In fact, mall officials want construction to start on the new building so quickly that they are willing to build on top of existing utilities instead of waiting for the city to move those utilities. The council approved a second agreement with Wyoming Mall Monday night that mall officials assume any risk for doing this so that the mall could begin construction.

Metro Health to partner with U-M Health System

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Health, Our Cities, Tech Trends, , , ,

generic-metro-health

By: Mike DeWitt

Mike.DeWitt@wktv.org

 

Amongst all the medical facilities and providers in the greater Grand Rapids area, Metro Health Corporation can now be considered one of the ‘Leaders and Best’ after recently announcing their intent to join the University of Michigan Health System.

 

Both organizations signed a letter of intent to bring Metro Health’s hospital and network of doctors, nurses and other providers together with U-M (health system), expanding this academic medical center’s care in western Michigan.

 

“The U-M Health System is a top-ranked academic medical center with a world-class medical school, extraordinary hospitals and clinics, and groundbreaking research facilities focused on moving cutting edge discovery to patients’ bedsides in order to improve lives,” said Marschall Runge, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president of medical affairs and Dean of the U-M Medical School. “We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Metro Health’s expert physicians and health care professionals in stepped up ways.”

 

While Metro Health already partners with U-M for clinical services like radiation oncology, this affiliation agreement gives U-M its first hospital near Grand Rapids.

 

Michael Faas, President of Metro Health, added that joining with the U-M clinical enterprise will bring additional options for complex care to Metro Health patients and to the greater Grand Rapids community.

 

“It is no secret that U-M has some of the best providers in the state and country,” said Faas. “By joining the ‘leaders and best’ we can build on our existing expertise and provide our patients and community with enhanced access to specialized health care services, scientific discovery and advanced technology.”

 

The letter of intent signed by both organizations is not a sale and no layoffs are expected at either health system. Also not expected, a U-M satellite medical campus like Michigan State University has with Spectrum Health.

 

“There are currently no plans for a medical school to come as a result of the partnership,” said Metro Health spokeswoman Ellen Bristol.

 

The partnership with U-M comes a year after a proposed partnership with a for-profit Tennessee-based hospital chain dissolved. The Tennessee organization was to contribute between $100 to $125 million in capital to Metro Health.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime Monday

3-bottom, Education, Entertainment, ,

summer-solsticejpg-2cabd306fc85fbcaAh, yes. ’Tis no ordinary Monday, this.

 

If you’re anything like me (perish the thought), you’re not too fond of Mondays. Maybe you find it difficult to get out of bed after a nice, leisurely weekend. Or, perhaps it seems like the longest day of the week.

 

If it’s the latter, fear not, it’s not your imagination. Today marks the summer solstice, and since we live in the Northern Hemisphere, we will enjoy the most daylight of the year.

 

Yes, your greatest fear has come to pass: It’s the longest Monday of the year. (Heck, it’s the longest day of the year.)

 

Everywhere north of the equator will have at least 12 hours of daylight today. Here in West Michigan, we’ll have 15 hours and 21 minutes of daylight. Compare that to less than nine hours of daylight at the winter solstice in December. Put another way, today is 6 hours, 21 minutes longer than it will be on the December solstice.

 

strawberry moonSo, soak up the sun while you can. We West Michiganders are starved for daylight, so pardon me if I sound exhilarated.

 

But maybe 15 hours and 21 minutes of daylight just isn’t enough for you. Some people want even more daylight. Well, travel above the Arctic Circle, and you’ll have 24 hours of daylight. It’s called the Midnight Sun, but be forewarned: It could really mess with your circadian rhythm.

 

On the flip side, above the Arctic Circle, you can expect 24 hours of dark during the winter solstice.

 

There’s always a chance that some of you will find this information underwhelming. Fine. That’s your deal. But we’re not done here: The full moon and June solstice are both happening June 20 for the first time in decades. The last time was in 1948 and, according to EarthSky.org, this phenomenon won’t happen again until June 21, 2062.

 

So, yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.

 

‘Meh,’ you say? Well, how about this: Tonight’s moon is a full “strawberry” moon. It’s so named because it’s believed that strawberry-picking season is at its peak now. Which makes sense because my friend’s strawberry patch has been pumping out strawberries like you wouldn’t believe. Now, I love strawberries as much as the next person, but there is a limit. There are only so many strawberries dipped in chocolate than one can consume.

full-strawberry-moon

 

But I digress.

 

Apparently Algonquin tribes took the strawberry moon as a signal to gather ripening fruit. And they didn’t need a calendar to know it.

 

Who knew a Monday could be so awesome?

 

 

 

Maranda Park Parties kick off in Wyoming, include Kentwood location

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Entertainment, , , ,
Maranda (second from the right) and gang get ready to host the Maranda Park Parties, starting in Wyoming this Thursday.
Maranda (second from the right) and gang get ready to host the Maranda Park Parties, starting in Wyoming this Thursday.

You know its summer in West Michigan when WOOD TV’s Maranda kicks offer her Park Parties, which once again will start at Wyoming’s Lamar Park this Thursday, June 23.

 

“We are excited to kick-off the 2016 Park Party at Lamar Park in Wyoming,” said Maranda during a recent interview.  “It’s a beautiful park and we love working with the city officials.”

 

For more than 15 years, Maranda has hosted the annual summer Park Parties event, which run for a couple of hours with all activities being free. This year, Maranda is scheduled to visit six communities, two of which are Wyoming and Kentwood about a month later on July 21. Activities run from noon to 2 p.m. with a free lunch  starting at 11:30 a.m. available while supplies last to anyone 18 and younger.

 

For the past several years, the annual summer event has kicked off at Wyoming’s Lamar Park, 2561 Porter Ave. SW. According to Maranda, the park offers excellent parking, wide open space and the Splash Pad, which helps children and families cool off on hot summer days.

 

“The community is so supportive,” Maranda said. “We have record crowds each year and the city officials are amazing to work with. The convenient location and warm hospitality keeps us coming back year after year.”

 

There are a number of contests associated with the event with area children being able to pick activities that will be taking place. At the Wyoming June 23 event, the activity picked was a Zip Line. Also at the Wyoming event, will be the popular Super Slide and a 3D Climbing Wall.

 

At the Kentwood July 21 event, there was a tie for activities. so both the Zip Line and the Extreme Obstacle Course will be offered along with the Ferris Wheel and the 3D Climbing Wall. The Kentwood event takes place at East Kentwood High School, 6230 Kalamazoo Ave SE.

 

The Wyoming and Kentwood Maranda Park Parties are the only ones for the Greater Grand Rapids area. The other parties are June 30 at Muskegon’s Smith Ryerson Park; July 7 at Kalamazoo’s Upjohn Park; July 14 at Holland’s Kollen Park and wrapping it up is July 28 at Battle Creek’s Northwestern Middle School.

 

For more information about the Maranda Park Parties, click here.

‘Million Dollar Quartet’ Rocks Mason Street Warehouse’s Stage

3-bottom, Entertainment, , , , ,
James Sheider, Shawn Platzker, Justin Figueroa and Joe Carroll in "Million Dollar Quartet."
James Sheider, Shawn Platzker, Justin Figueroa and Joe Carroll in “Million Dollar Quartet.”

Mason Street Warehouse kicks off its 2016 season at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck, with the Tony-winning musical “Million Dollar Quartet.” The show opens Friday, June 24 and runs through July 10. Tickets for adults, seniors, and students are available online at sc4a.org, at the SCA box office, or at 269-857-2399.

 

Rock ‘n roll, R&B, gospel and country hits raise the roof in this musical about the legendary recording session that brought Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins together for one night only.  Inspired by the true story of one of the greatest jam sessions of all time, “Million Dollar Quartet” brings to life a poignant, funny and irresistible tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal and celebrations with iconic hits like “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “That’s All Right,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “I Walk the Line,” “Hound Dog,” and more.

 

New York Magazine calls the show, ““A dazzling, raucous spectacle that sounds like a million bucks!”

 

Mason Street Warehouse brings Broadway Equity acting talent to West Michigan every summer, and the cast of “Million Dollar Quartet” is loaded with talent. The show features Joe Carroll as Elvis Presley, James Sheider as Jerry Lee Lewis, Shawn Platzker as Carl Perkins, and Justin Figueroa as Johnny Cash.

 

Carroll, a Grand Rapids native, got his start with Mason Street Warehouse after his senior year of high school, ultimately doing five shows on the MSW stage including starring in Avenue Q just after graduation from the University of Michigan.  “This was really my first theatrical home, first professional home,” said Carroll, “I owe this place so very much.”  After Avenue Q, Carroll earned his Equity Card and membership in the Actor’s Equity Association and moved to New York City. After only one month in the Big Apple, Carroll got his first Broadway role in the Tony-award winning musical Once – and he has never looked back. From there he went to Romeo and Juliet, and most recently Roger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella before coming home to Mason Street.

 

Sheider, who hails from New York City, has been starring in “Million Dollar Quartet” for the last ten years. He originated the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in 2006, with the Village Theater Festival of New Musicals, where he then joined the cast of the original Chicago Company and the original Broadway cast. Sheider went on to join the national tour, making this show at the SCA his first regional production. “This has always been an exciting role for me,” said Sheider, “You’re not just a part of a show, because every different incarnation of the show that you do, you get to build a different band.”

 

Platzker, also from New York City, is a singer-songwriter and actor making music and performing at New York City venues such as The Bitter End and Prohibition. He currently has original singles on iTunes. Figueroa, living in Los Angeles, has performed at the Center Theater in Los Angeles, the Public Theater in New York, the Sacramento Music Circus, and has recently performed “Million Dollar Quartet” with Norwegian Cruise line and the original Broadway cast.

 

“Murder for Two” and “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” round out MSW’s sizzling summer lineup. For more information and tickets visit sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399. Tickets are selling as hot as an Elvis performance at the county fair – grab yours before they’re gone.

No local millage increase with Wyoming’s 2017 budget

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Hard News, , , ,

cityhallBy Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

 

Through planning and controlling costs over the past several years, the City of Wyoming had good news with its 2017 budget: the city is recovering from the economic downturn the state experienced about six years ago.

 

The City of Wyoming, like many Michigan municipalities, faced challenging times when the housing market decline that caused the city’s taxable value to drop. Coupled with the fact that the State of Michigan has diverted state money away from Michigan municipalities since 2002 – about a $2 million lost annually for the City of Wyoming – city officials have worked to provide the same level of services to its residents with less income.

 

And the city has succeed in doing just that, according to City Manager Curtis Holt. The 2017 budget is about $105.4 million, a 4.7 percent increase over last year with no scheduled increases in the local millage and sewer and water rates. In fact, the city’s millage will remain the same as it has been for the past two years at 11.9073 mills.

 

“Compared to similar cities we maintain a very low cost per capita for the services we provide,” City Manager Curtis Holt said. “The leaning of the organization hasn’t stopped service delivery, though. We’re committed to investing in technology and training to continue to provide better service and greater value while ensuring the safety of residents and city employees. This year’s budget reflects our work to maximize every tax dollar we receive.”  

 

In fact, staffing levels have decreased from 2006’s 402 to 345.5, but this does include the addition of five and half new positions to the city including a part-time firefighter program introduced in 2016, which continues to provide significant overtime cost savings, while improving response times and firefighter coverage.

 

Other positive factors impacting the city’s 2017 budget include the state’s 17 percent increase in road funding which will allow the city to spend down some of its reserves in its street funds; the relocation of the Wyoming’s public safety dispatch operations and the refinancing of two water bonds and the anticipated payoff of one water bond.

 

Residents will see an increase in property tax of about 1.97 percent, which is actually less than the 5.6 percent assessed value. The reason for this is that in 1994, Michigan voters approved Proposal A, which is designed to limit the growth in property taxes by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) until ownership in the property is transferred. The CPI is a statistic calculated by the State of Michigan that tracks the cost of living in Michigan.

 

Most property taxes are based on a capped value multiplied by the CPI or 5 percent, whichever is lower which has crimped how quickly Michigan municipalities such as Wyoming can recoup from when property values dropped in 2009. In fact, even with the slight property tax increase, making the city’s taxable value around $2.35 billion, the city’s overall taxable value is still about $338 million below the highs of 2009, when the housing market crashed. This represents a lost of about $1.6 million in revenues to the city, said Deputy Finance Director Rosa Ooms as she presented the council the 2017 budget at a meeting last month.

 

The lost of taxable value also has hit Wyoming’s Downtown Development Authority, whose budget was also approved by the council in May. While the council has adjusted the amount the DDA can capture, the current funding has limited what the authority has been able to do, Holt said.

 

Despite the fact that the city probably will not see its taxable values return to the levels of 2009 for about another 14 years, Wyoming residents will see several improvement projects taking place in the upcoming year such as work at several of the city parks including Palmer, Kelloggsville, Lemery and Pinery along with improvements at the Wyoming Senior Center, the reconstruction and widening of 56th Street from Ivanrest Avenue to Byron Center Avenue and upgrades to the Kent District Library Wyoming branch.

 

Mayor Jack Poll cited the City’s tradition of maintaining its fiscal stability and commended Holt for his work and commitment to balancing the budget. “Our city runs extremely efficiently thanks to the good work done by the city manager and our city employees,” Poll said. “They serve our community admirably while working to maintain a healthy and sustainable financial position.”  

 

For further information, call the City of Wyoming at 530-7272 or click here.

Heavenly Hvar, Croatia

3-bottom, Education, Entertainment, Holidays, Local Faces, Recreation, Travel, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By Lynn Strough

TravelynnTales

 

1

Welcome to this week’s chapter in the ongoing series by our world traveler, Lynn Strough. More Croatia is in store…

Hvar is glitzy and high-rolling, and it’s where the yachting crowd comes to see and be seen. On Hvar, you might go for a morning stroll and be so mesmerized by the scenery, that you’re still in the same spot at sunset. The Hula Hula Bar offers comfy lounge chairs for a pittance, with a view to die for.

 

I stopped for a breakfast orange juice, stayed for a salad for lunch, and found myself sipping a glass of wine watching the sun sink into the sea several hours later, and I wasn’t the only one. I met lots of people from all over the world who were also tethered to their chairs for the day, other than to periodically take a dip in the crystal clear, freezing cold water.

 

20

If you prefer to be on the water, rather than in it, there are plenty of opportunities, from ferries to water taxis, power boats to boats powered by wind. Sailing is my preference, so my new friend Roma (from California) and I headed out for a half-day sail. They take up to 10 passengers on this 35′ racing boat modified as a cruiser, but we got lucky as it wasn’t peak season, and had the boat and Captain Bronco all to ourselves.

 

The gods provided great wind, and at 15 knots we were sailing. It was blowing 30 knots farther out, but Captain B decided to keep it a little less exciting and more comfortable, as it turns out Roma had never sailed before.

 

We sailed to a nearby tiny island, to Palmizana on San Clemente, for lunch. It’s a gorgeous spot, with a beautiful harbor to protect the yachts, and a few small restaurants. It’s a real life Garden of Eden, where if you look carefully, you might even spot Adam and Eve.

 

15Back on Hvar, we got ambitious and climbed the hill to the fortress for some spectacular views of the harbor and rooftops below. Hvar is a medieval city, with walls started in 1278. There’s a strong Venetian influence in the architecture, as the Venetians ruled here on more than one occasion.

 

Besides the walled old town and famous harbor, Hvar is also known for its vineyards and wines, olive groves, and especially its lavender fields, and it’s one of the sunniest islands. With a population of over 11,000, it’s the fourth most populated of the islands of Croatia.

 

 

[huge_it_slider id=”46″]

 

 

As with all of the water I’ve seen in Croatia — inland lakes, rivers and waterfalls, as well as the sea — it’s crystal clear and the most breathtaking shades of blues and greens.

 

You can spend a small fortune staying at one of the fancy hotels, or a very affordable $50 per night for a good-sized room that sleeps three, if you’re willing to stay out of town and walk a bit. I stayed at an “apartman,” a room in a guest house, about a 15-minute walk from the center of town, but I didn’t mind as the walk was along the sea with scenic views the whole way.

18

 

And this location put me about half-way between the old town in one direction, and another fabulous beach in the other direction, also with a scenic walk to get there.

 

The town itself is filled with great little restaurants and shops, full of enticing things. Other than food, my one souvenir was a couple of little sachets of fragrant dried lavender to tuck into my well-worn hiking boots, a big improvement in their scent.

 

There are plenty of night clubs and bars if you want a vibrant night-life. And on Hvar, as in all of Croatia, I felt very safe, even walking around alone after dark, with the moon and stars and lamplight to guide me back to my temporary home.

 

31About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something-year-old woman 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!”

 

 

 

travelynnlogoAll images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

Meijer Gardens Japanese Garden: drum beats signal continued growth on first anniversary

3-bottom, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , ,

meijergardensOne part of the newest slogan for Meijer Gardens is “Always Growing” – which is apt on the upcoming first anniversary of The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, considering much of the landscaping of the garden is filling in beautifully in its second growing season under public viewing.

 

Even more than the Japanese Garden’s next-door neighbor, David Nash’s Sabre Larch Hill – which will take several years to show its true artistic pedigree as the patterned tree palette fills in – the tranquil growth of the oriental landscape is evident to even the casual observer.

 

The taiko drummers of “Ongaku: The Echoes of Japan,” who will be performing in the amphitheater at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. (Supplied photo)
The taiko drummers of “Ongaku: The Echoes of Japan,” who will be performing in the amphitheater at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. (Supplied photo)

To celebrate the oriental garden’s continued growth, and the first anniversary of its opening, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park on Tuesday, June 21, will offer a full day of family-friendly activities, music and dance performances, and demonstrations and lectures focused on horticulture and sculpture. All events are included in admission for the public.

 

The events, within and outside the oriental garden itself, include: showings of “The Journey Begins: The Making of The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden,” a 30-minute run time; several concert performances of “Ongaku: The Echoes of Japan,” featuring taiko drummers, singers and dancers from Japan; Ikebana floral design art demonstrations; lectures by Meijer Gardens chief art curator Joseph Becherer; lectures on Japanese garden horticulture by Meijer Gardens director of horticulture Steve LaWarre; as well as tours of the Japanese tea house.

 

Zhang Huan’s “Long Island Buddha,” in the Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. (Supplied photo)
Zhang Huan’s “Long Island Buddha,” in the Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. (Supplied photo)

The Japanese Garden, created by renowned designer Hoichi Kurisu, features sculpture by Anish Kapoor, Jenny Holzer and Guiseppe Penone, among others.

 

On that day, one will likely not even need to be in the amphitheater to hear and feel the drums providing a heartbeat to Meijer Gardens in general and the Japanese Garden in specific. While I may check out the drumming up-close, I plan to experience a moment inside the Oriental garden contemplating the view of Zhang Huan’s magnificent “Long Island Buddha.”

 

Zen anyone?

 

— Kady

 

Do you have a passion? How about a hobby? Then write about! Become a citizen reporter with WKTV. For more information, email Mike DeWitt at Mike.Dewitt@wktv.org

Wyoming grants deferral on revocation of abatement for Grand Rapids Plastics

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Hard News, , , ,
Grand Rapids Plastics, 4220 Roger B. Chaffee Blvd. SW., Wyoming, recently announced it was laying off 85 employees.
Grand Rapids Plastics, 4220 Roger B. Chaffee Blvd. SW., Wyoming, closed in April after Fiat Chrysler pulled its contracts.

Joanne Baiey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

 

A Wyoming business which was forced to close after Fiat Chrysler pulled its contract will have until Aug. 15 before the city will revoke its existing tax abatements.

 

Grand Rapids Plastic, with a home address of 4220 Roger B. Chaffee in Wyoming, closed its doors April 15. The decision came after Fiat Chrysler sent notice it would end its contracts with the company. Those contracts made up more than 50 percent of the company’s business. Chemical Bank took over the company’s buildings, equipment and other assets and is currently seeking a buyer.

 

“[Chemcial] Bank has control and is actively seeking a buyer for the business and is hoping that any buyer will qualify for the tax abatements that the city has for the business and property,” said Tim Hillegonds, from Warner, Norcess and Judd, the law firm representing Chemical Bank. The bank, Hillegonds said, believes in the economic development of the City of Wyoming, “which is why it is seeking a buyer that will actually reopen the business.”

 

By having the existing abatements revoked, both representatives of Chemical Bank and the former owners of Grand Rapids Plastics felt that it could chill any potential sale, Hillegonds said.

 

Grand Rapids Plastics had three abatements. One that was amended in 2007 for $1.2 million for personal property and another one that was for $1 million for personal property in 2008. Both of these were for 12 years. There also is a full abatement for $615,931 granted in 2011 for 10 years for personal property accusation. The total taxes owed to the city is about $212,000, $180,00 is the abatement taxes and around $33,000 is the personal property taxes for 2016.

 

Tax abatements have become a common tool for cities to attract and maintain businesses. Through a tax abatement, taxes for an industry can be forgiven or deferred depending what the business is requesting. Most businesses seek abatements for new plants, expanding existing plants, renovating aging plants or adding new machinery and equipment. The maximum length for an abatement is 12 years. There are specific guidelines for the business outlined in the abatement that can include the addition of employees and staying within the city for the length of the abatement.

 

City Manager Curtis Holt said the city, like many other municipalities, began to put clawback agreements in the abatements in the mid-2000s. A clawback allows the city to collect on taxes deferred from an abatement if a business did not meet what was outlined in the abatement agreement.

 

A municipality could forgive an abatement if there was an unforeseen circumstance which Hillegonds said they felt Fiat Chrysler pulling its contacts fit that criteria. However; Sandra Hamilton, from the law firm Clark Hill and who has worked with the city’s treasurer’s office and the state treasurer’s office on tax collection issues, said that an unforeseen circumstance is not necessarily a financial crisis but is often associated to something like a fire or natural disaster.

 

Hamilton said that as of the May council meeting, where the abatements were considered, there had been no indication or written interest in the business. She said the state treasurer’s office already has filed jeopardy assessments against the company for taxes. Her office recommended that the city revoke the current abatements and then if a new business does take over the facility, grant new abatements based on that business’s needs and requirements.

 

Holt said the city has not been contacted by anyone about the property. He also noted that a business has up to six months after starting to seek an abatement with the process taking a minimum of 45 days. Holt noted that the buildings are at a premium and the city has been quite liberal in working with businesses on abatements.

 

“The opportunity for a buyer here I think is rather high, but what they will do, I can’t tell you,” Holt said.

 

Mayor Jack Poll said the new business has to match the blueprint exactly to Grand Rapids Plastics.  He added that the 16 years he has been on the council, the city has never turned down a business for an abatement once all the numbers came in.

 

After determining that that there was no time frame required for the city to revoke the abatement, several of council members expressed that they were not ready to vote on the matter and were willing to give Chemical Bank the 90 days. The motion to revoke the abatements was deferred until Aug. 15 with the city maintaining access to the buildings to check that the equipment remains in the facility.

 

Larry DeHaan from Chemical Bank said the bank is only asking for the 90 days. If a buyer is not found within that time, DeHaan acknowledged the bank realizes it would be in the same situation that it is now. If a buyer is not found, the bank probably will put the equipment up for auction and sell the buildings.

Review: Of Monsters and Men at Meijer Gardens

3-bottom, Entertainment, , , ,
Of Monster and Men recently performed at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
Of Monster and Men recently performed at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

30-second Review

 

Of Monsters and Men, June 13 at Meijer Gardens amphitheater.

 

After opening act Cub Sport (Inbound from Brisbane; think Justin Beeber blurred with Talking Heads), OMAM played almost non-stop for 90-or-so minutes, opening with “Thousand Eyes” and closing with “Dirty Paws” as second encore. In between, the Icelandic alt-folk/rock band played songs you know – we all remember “King and Lionheart” – blended with songs off their latest recording, 2015’s “Beneath the Skin,” including the excellent “Wolves Without Teeth.” Surprising number of songs the audience knew and reacted to, considering they really only have two studio recordings in their catalogue. Songs from the new album are intriguing, but played live their big-drum sound can sound a little too similar when played one after another after another.

 

May I have more, please?

Maybe the best example of how Of Monsters and Men is an acquired taste was their two-song encore Monday night.

 

First lead singer/guitarist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir (just Nanna, please) comes out with the sparse, haunting “Organs” off their 2015 recording, then with co-singer-guitarist Raggi Þórhallsson (just Raggi) and the entire band  (all impossible to pronounce in English) belted out “Dirty Paws,” from the band’s 2012 release “My Head is an Animal” – with the trademark “big drum” sound pounding the audience.

 

Nanna can whisper out a song; but the band – with she and Raggi alternating or sharing vocals – can rip it up.

 

For the most part, the band rolled out its set at Meijer Gardens with precision and passion, often going from one song to another with the only break a quick guitar change. There was very little talk, very little audience interaction many bands use to catch their breath, and very little to disappoint the longtime fan or the OMAM newcomer. At least the crowd – mostly young, mostly female and couples; lots of selfies with the band in the background destined for Facebook or hipper – did not seem to be disappointed and stood on their feet for the entire set.

 

It was actually great to hear them at a small venue – they first hit the big time in 2012 at venues named Lollapalooza and Coachella and Bonnaroo. And this year they will be touring with Florence and the Machine at big venues with similar names. The music, though, may have overwhelmed the vocals a bit.

 

I have heard, and liked from a distance, some of the band’s earlier songs not only off their first recording but on the soundtracks of films “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, and TV’s “The Walking Dead.” After hearing most of the tracks off the new release, I may have to spring for the CD.

 

— K.D. Norris

 

Looking Ahead

What’s up next with the Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: tickets (some limited numbers) still available for Tedeschi Trucks Band on June 17, Michael Franti & Spearhead on June 22, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros on July 17, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force Band on July 20, The Goo Goo Dolls on July 27, Jay Leno on July 28, War and Los Lonely Boys on Aug. 10, and Seal on Aug. 26.

 

Schedule and more info here.

 

For info on free concerts on Tuesday nights (starting in July), go here.

Wyoming sets aside a day to say ‘thanks’ to its police, fire departments

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Upcoming Events, , ,
Steves Antique Auto Repair is the first business to host Appreciation Day for Wyoming police and fire fighters.
Steves Antique Auto Repair is the first business to host Appreciation Day for Wyoming police and fire fighters.

Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Realizing just how much the Wyoming Public Safety Department officers do for businesses, Harriet Sturim and her family, which owns Steve’s Antique Auto Repair, Inc., have been hosting the Wyoming Public Safety Appreciation Day, an event – with the help of Wyoming businesses – they are now making a community-wide celebration.

 

“When we started it, it was during a time when officers really weren’t being given the credit for what they do,” Sturim said during a recent phone interview. “As a business owner, we recognize the amount of time the officers take to check the businesses throughout the night, leaving their card to let owners know when they came by, and we just wanted to say thank you for that.”

 

This year, the Sturims along with the Wyoming Business Leaders, the business association the Sturims are a part of, decided to make the event a community “thank you” by having it Saturday, June 25, at the lodge at Pinery Park, 2301 DeHoop Ave. SW. The event will run from 2 – 4 p.m.

 

Several area businesses, such as Tommy Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille, Fresh Coast, and Marge’s Donut Den, have donated items from food to kids activities. More donations are welcomed and anyone interested can contact Sturim at 616-540-7675.

 

Depending on the needs of the city for that day, the Wyoming Public Safety Department and the Fire Department will have equipment on hand as well. Also scheduled to make an appearance is the K9 Unit.

 

“This is a great way to meet your police department,” Sturim said. “In this day and age, we feel it is really important for the young people to realize that these officers are friends and that if they need them for something, they are there for them.”

 

The entire event is free and open to public.

ArtPrize sees an increase in artists, venues for 2016 event

3-bottom, Entertainment, , , ,
More than 2,100 artists have registered for ArtPrize Eight.
More than 2,100 artists have registered for ArtPrize Eight.

With artist registration officially closed, ArtPrize has announced a huge increase in both artists and venues for the upcoming event set for Sept. 21 – Oct. 9.

 

About 2,124 artists or artist teams have registered about 2,008 entries in hopes of competing for a combination of public vote and juried awards totaling $500,000 this fall. That is about 475 more than last year’s number of artists, which totaled around 1,649.

 

Also the number of venues have increased by 20 over last year coming in at 182 venues for the 2016 event. Last year, there was a 162 venues that participated. The 182 number includes 38 new spaces within the three-square-mile jurisdiction of downtown Grand Rapids. Venue registration closed April 7.

 

The numbers for 2016 do not reflect the final tally as registered artists and venues have until June 23 to connect.

 

We took a quick look at those that have been matched noting there are several from the Kentwood and Wyoming areas such as dancer Morgan Fraiser of Wyoming, who will be presenting a time-based piece at the newly reopened Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW; and James Schneider, of Kentwood, who will have his piece “Systems of Reception” at DeVos Place Convention Center, 33 Monroe Ave. NW.

 

To a view a continuously updated list of connected entries, visit artprize.org/entries.

 

ArtPrize is one of the largest art competitions in the world. More than $500,000 are awarded out with the largest prizes being for the grand prize winner in the public vote, which receives $200,000 and the juried grand prize winner which receives $200,000. Cash awards are also given in the categories of two-dimensional, three-dimensional, installation and time-based. For more information about ArtPrize, visit www.artprize.org.

Ride Along with Mayor Jack Poll

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Local Faces, Our Cities, Recreation, , , ,

Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll is looking to have his first bike cruise through Wyoming, and you’re invited!

 

“The Mayor does a neighborhood walk every summer in the community, so it’s the same concept, just with bikes.” said Jennifer Stowell, administrative assistant to the city manger.

Screenshot (6)


The two-mile bike ride starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 16, from the Women at Risk parking lot, 27900 44th St. SW and concludes at 7:30 p.m. at Monelli’s Italian Grill and Sports Bar, 5675 Byron Center Ave. SW. After the ride, all participants are invited to join Mayor Poll for food, drinks, and mingling with other Wyoming residents.

 

“It will be a leisure bike ride through the neighborhood. The mayor will be stopping throughout the ride, periodically, to talk and greet people,” said Stowell.

 

Participants are encouraged to bring their own bikes and protection, such as helmets, as there will be no bikes available for rent or borrowing. During the bike ride, there will be limited t-shirts and bike lights given out to those who attend. You must have a bike In order to receive a bike light.

 

“If it is a successful turnout, it will most likely become an annual event added to the community walks that happen yearly in the community,” Stowell said.

 

For more information on the bike ride with Mayor Jack Poll event, visit http://wyomingmi.gov/ or call the City of Wyoming’s City Hall at 616-530-7226.

Captivating Croatia: Zadar and Krka

3-bottom, Education, Entertainment, Local Faces, Travel, , , , , , , , , ,

By Lynn Strough

Travelynn Tales

 

5

 

Welcome to this week’s chapter in the ongoing series by our world traveler, Lynn Strough. It’s time for more Croatia…

Renting a car in Croatia is one of the best ways to see the countryside and get around. The roads are good, and directions are easy to follow. My friend Beth and I drove from Plitvice Lakes National Park a couple of hours down to the small city of Zadar, which is near another national park called Krka (yes, that’s how it’s spelled, although it may seem to us English speakers to be missing a vowel or two).

 

Zadar is filled with beautiful churches and other old buildings, as well as some interesting Roman ruins. It’s lovely old town is a great place to wander around in, just meandering through the alleyways. It’s small enough where you can’t really get lost, and if you do, the sea is right there to reorient you.

 

10
‘Greeting to the Sun’ by Nikola Basic

There are two points of special interest overlooking the sea, both by the same artist, Nikola Basic. The sea organ is a sculptural musical instrument played by the tides (water pushes air out of tubes under long cement stairs) where you can sit and listen to what the sea has to say, while watching the sunset. Also created by Basic is Greeting to the Sun, a solar-powered interactive piece that you can walk (or dance!) on, made up of hundreds of solar panels that soak up the rays during the day, and put on a colorful moving light show at night.

 

 

 

[huge_it_slider id=”39″]

 

 

As far as accommodations go, you’ll find there are more “Apartmans” than hotels or B&B’s in Croatia. An apartman is usually a room in somebody’s home, or sometimes a whole apartment, and they are quite affordable. Both in a village near Plitvice and in Zadar, we were able to find two-bedroom apartments that could easily sleep four (or more if someone sleeps on the couch) for a total of around $55 per night. So if you’re traveling on a budget, Croatia is a very affordable place to visit. (I also think Apartman is secretly a new superhero waiting to be born — picture a guy with limbs that pull apart, similar to those toys with elastic strings.)

 

15Not far away is the small town of Skradin, which is a gateway to Krka National Park. Skradin is worth an hour or two on its own, with charming narrow streets hugging the hillside, a church worth a look inside, and restaurants and shops that tumble down to the sea, where you can catch a boat up the river to Krka.

 

There is much debate about which national park is preferable, Plitvice or Krka, and I have an easy solution–go see both. They’re both stunningly beautiful, full of bright, blue-green waterfalls, but they’re also very different. For one thing, you can swim at Krka right near the falls, which is forbidden at Plitvice, although you aren’t allowed to jump from the bridge.

 

Zadar and Kryka are affordable and gorgeous. Consider a visit there. I think you’ll love what you’ll find.

 

IMG_7244-1024x768About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something-year-old woman 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!”

 

 

 

travelynnlogoAll images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

Construction work scheduled for 44th street, near airport

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Hard News, , , ,

44thmap

Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

 

Those heading to and from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport might want to add a few extra minutes to their travel time. Starting July 5, the City of Kentwood will be working on 44th Street between Broadmoor Avenue (M-37) to Patterson Avenue.

 

“Forty-fourth Street is the entrance way to Kentwood and the region,” said Kentwood’s Assistant City Engineer Dan VanderHeide, who noted that anyone who has driven on that section of road recently would have noticed it was in poor condition. “We want it to be welcoming to folks to the area.”

 

VanderHeide said one lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained at all times with patrons having access to the airport during the entire construction project. The project is scheduled to be completed in September.

 

The almost $1.9 million project will include milling out the full eight inche of asphalt and replacing it with a new concrete surface. An extended right-turn lane will be added on westbound 44th Street at Broadmoor Avenue and irrigation will be added to the existing median islands. VanderHeide said irrigation will help to green up the medians and there are plans in the future to add trees.

 

The project also includes improving the entrance way to Hearthside Food Solutions. The company applied for and received a $64,444 in Category A Transportation Economic Development Funds (TEDF) from the Michigan Department of Transportation.

 

“Because we oversee 44th Street, we are the ones who will handle the work for Hearthside,” VanderHeide said. “It is just a coincidence that both projects [Heartside Food Solutions and the 44th Street rehabilitation] came to be at the same time.”

 

About a million dollars of the project will be funded through the FHWA in Surface Transportation Program Fund with the City of Kentwood paying for the remaining $758,283. Kentwod-based contractor Kamminga & Roodvoets was awarded the work by MDOT.

 

“I am proud of our team and our community partners who successfully gained the necessary capital which will allow for a major corridor within our community to be greatly improved,” noted Mayor Stephen Kepley.

 

Forty-fourth Street was made a boulevard in 1979. It was last rehabilitated in 2004.

 

VanderHeide said other than the 44th Street project this summer, the city does have scheduled the replacement of four traffic lights at the intersections of 32nd Street and Shaffer Avenue; 52nd Street and Eastern Avenue; 44th Street and Kalamazoo Avenue; and 44th Street and Breton Avenue.

 

Kentwood just completed a rehabilitation project on Walnut Hills Drive from 44th Street to Pffeiffer Woods Dr. SE.

City of Kentwood continues to manage the bumps in the road of finances

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Hard News, , ,
xxxx
Kentwood City officials presented its 2016 – 2017 budget to residents showing the city to be on solid financial ground.

By: Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

 

All budgets – whether personal or business – have challenges. The City of Kentwood’s budget is no different, however; through good planning, Kentwood officials have been able to weather many challenges leaving the city on solid financial ground.

 

City officials presented the City of Kentwood’s 2016 – 2017 budget last month during a special presentation to residents with WKTV scheduled to rebroadcast that presentation on the WKTV Government Comcast 26 and AT&T U-verse WKTV Government 99 at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, June 8 and 10, and noon Sunday, June 11.

 

Or to see the entire program, click here.

 

Kentwood Finance Director Tom Chase said the city has a strong track record for being financially well run with city officials being good stewards of the city’s money. By planning ahead, officials have been able to keep good on promises to its citizens while balancing the always changing financial environment.

 

“We have safe infrastructure, clean water and the highest rated quality-rated roads in West Michigan,” said Mayor Stephen Kepley. Add to that a AA bond rating and 96-percent funded pension plan, all of which demonstrate how well city officials have been able to navigate the challenges that over the years have impacted the city’s funding sources such as property taxes.

 

The city’s fiscal year starts July 1. City staff and the commission work on the budget over several months with the City Commission approving it in the spring.

 

The city projects to break about even with revenues coming in around $30,813,100 and expenses slightly lower at $30,786,800.

 

Most of the revenue generated for the city comes through taxes. The city of Kentwood levies a 9.6066 mills with two-thirds of it going towards police and fire. Since the city is mostly service oriented, most of its expenses is in personal, Kepley noted. In fact 72 percent of the city’s budget, a little more than $22 million, is on personal.

 

What staff has worked toward, according to Kepley, is to make sure that the millages levied cover the city’s expenses. When determining a millage, officials try to project out enough to cover expenses for several years, Kepley said. Eventually expenses will exceed what is raised by a millage, he said.

 

The good news for Kentwood residents is that city officials have done a good job in keeping expenses low by managing health care expenses and the city’s pension funds and through strategic staffing. In return, staff has been able to move back when the lines between millage revenue and expenses will cross.

 

Kentwood’s Depty Finance Director Lorna Neniarini said part of this is because the city takes a “five-by-five” approach when preparing a budget. This is a process where officials try to look into the future to see where there might be trouble and how best to help the city save.

 

“When we are looking at savings, we are not looking at savings in one year, but really looking at what is the savings in five years,” Kepley said. “So if you are able to save $50,000 a year that is good, but in five years that is $250,000. If we are able to save $100,000 in a given year, in five years, that is half a million.

 

“So we are looking at five years ahead, so that when we save money that pushes the crossing of the lines farther away. That is all we can do. That is all any municipality can do.”

 

Chase added that “…picture yourself driving your car. The idea is not to look at your hood ornament as you are almost certain to get into an accident, What we are trying to do is we are trying to raise our vision up so that we are looking further down the road, making sure to take in consideration what is coming at us.”

Visit a Senior, Meet a Pilot or a Teacher, or an Artist

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, Senior Living, Volunteers, , ,
Kelloggsville High School senior Thu Nguyen plays bingo with a resident
Kelloggsville High School senior Thu Nguyen plays bingo with a resident

By: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

High school students have learned many interesting tidbits about the residents they are getting to know at American House Senior Living Community in Kentwood.

 

Each resident has a story, they’ve learned: Betty Reynolds was the first teacher at Battle Creek Christian School; Lois Laffey was a pilot. Margie Halstead is an artist who has 10 children, 35 grandchildren and 53 great-grandchildren. Margaret Gazella’s husband had to leave on their wedding day to fight in World War II.

 

“I love talking to the residents,” said Kelloggsville freshman Miles Thomas-Mohammad, while crafting glittery cardboard flowers with several ladies, and learning even more details about their lives. “They are so nice.”

 

They’ve learned other things as well while joining residents for crafts, games and snacks. Kelloggsvile senior Thu Nguyen, who is from Vietnam, said special moments happen over Bingo and just getting to know each other. “I want to make them feel happy so they don’t feel lonely,” she said.

 

And residents like it too. “It makes you feel young again,” said Elaine Wigger.

 

Added Ginger Kay, “It’s nice to have young people here, because they are so positive.”

 

Kelloggsville freshman Miles Thomas-Mohammad sets up crafts for senior citizens
Kelloggsville freshman Miles Thomas-Mohammad sets up crafts for senior citizens

A group of about eight Kelloggsville students, many who are English-language learners, visit the assisted-living and memory-care facilities monthly to spend time with seniors. Coordinated by EL teacher Susan Faulk, the volunteering opportunity is a way for students to give back and step out of their comfort zones and get to know others.

 

“The students gain patience and confidence as they work with the seniors,” Faulk said. “Many students are really shy and feel awkward around the seniors at first. I see their confidence grow as they realize that they are able to help someone else. I also see them having to learn patience, as a game of Skip-Bo and Rummikub can take a long time with a senior who has to think for a long time before taking action.”

 

For the past two years, Faulk has also coordinated a volunteer group at Women At Risk International Volunteer Center, a Grandville-based nonprofit organization that unites and educates women and children in areas of human trafficking and sexual slavery.

 

American House staff said the visits are very meaningful to residents.

 

Kelloggsville High School senior Dim Ciin eyes her Bingo board
Kelloggsville High School senior Dim Ciin eyes her Bingo board

“It’s always exciting to see people cross age barriers relationally,” said Susan Faulk’s husband, Steven Faulk, American House chaplain.

 

Activities assistant Betty Torres said the residents “love relating to the younger crowd. They have a lot of good stories to tell, our residents. They get so exited about a group coming in. It fulfills their whole being.”

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

Power to rival a laptop? The iPad Pro leads the way

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Tech Trends, , , ,

iPad Pro

By: Deidre Doezema-Burkholder

 

Apple debuted the iPad Pro last September. A full size tablet with a 12.9-inch screen made it nearly the size of the laptop that I use on a daily basis. However, the iPad Pro came with a more beautiful Retina display for a crisper and cleaner viewing experience.

 

After it was introduced, my business partner – and husband – and I took the time to look into the tech specs and read hands-on reviews from other tech experts. When we completed our research, we looked at each other and thought: Is this the iPad we’ve been waiting for? The iPad Pro seemed powerful enough, and the drawing features kicked it up a notch from finger painting to a much more detail oriented Apple Pencil.

 

You see, it isn’t that we haven’t had an iPad before. We had bought the original iPad the year it was released, and we (me) liked it, but a full-sized laptop was still a better option to suit our needs. Fast forward to 2016, and we are again talking again about an iPad. While the both of us are heavy computer users, we started to find it almost necessary to have something just as powerful but more compact. We have our phones, but even on the largest phone screen it can be frustrating at time for our needs.

 

iPad ProEnter the iPad Pro… but smaller?

 

A few months ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced the iPad Pro….again…this time with a smaller, more manageable, 9.7-inch screen. The size was certainly attractive, but Apple doesn’t just take the same product and shrink it down. Along with a smaller size, the smaller iPad Pro also added better features including a 12-megapixle camera in the back and a 5-megapixle camera on the front. With the better cameras came the ability to shoot 4K video and still work with the Apple Pencil.

 

So, we caved and bought a space grey 9.7 inch 128GB iPad Pro from $750, and it fits right in with our Apple family. Setup was easy and it seamlessly  integrated into our daily lives. Now I don’t have to pack up my laptop when going to clients. My purse is big enough to slide in and carry it around.

 

After purchasing our new work tool, the next logical step involved purchasing the Apple Pencil to take advantage of one of our favorite features – writing and drawing on the tablet. The pencil, costing $99, has some girth and feels like holding a nice, heavy pen. The touch sensitivity allows me to quickly change the pressure with how I write. I can change from a nice fine tip ball point pen with just a light touch to the screen to a much thicker line much like a sharpie when I press harder. Both the pencil and the iPad share by a lightning cable and charge quite quickly. The pencil requires bluetooth to function properly but I find that it lasts several days between charges.

 

Apple PencilOf course, once we purchased and had the device in our hands, it was natural to set out to find apps that were designed specifically for the iPad Pro. Drawing/Design and writing apps dominated the types of apps we searched for. When looking for a drawing/design app, we went to Adobe for our first choice.

 

Adobe Photoshop Sketch creates expressive drawing and painting without opening sketchbook. The artwork can be sent to Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator via the Creative Cloud.  So, if you are already a member of the Creative Cloud family, it’s a pretty handy app to have.

 

Adult Coloring books have become a recent trend and of course there’s an app for that. My favorite is Pigment. Pigment is a free app comes with several coloring “books.” Each book allows 3 free coloring pages, additional pages can be purchased with either a monthly or yearly membership. I’m currently making my way through the 135 free coloring pages.

 

When it comes to writing, searching for a note taking app wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Several of the free apps felt clunky and unrealistic to writing on a sheet of paper. While part of the challenge comes from writing on the smooth glass surface of the iPad Pro, the other difficulty is completely unrelated to the writing surface and deals with finding an app with the right type of features. A few of the apps gave me the option of just writing on a piece of plain white boring scratch paper. It took me about four different apps before I settled on one designed by Evernote called Penultimate.

 

Penultimate states that it “combines distraction-free, natural handwriting and sketching with the power of Evernote’s sync and search.” While an Evernote account is needed to utilize their ‘sync and search’ feature, you don’t need to have an account to use the basic program. Penultimates gives many options for writing like note taking, daily planners, graphing paper, music scoring, and even classic games like tic-tac-toe and hangman.

 

In the weeks since we brought the iPad Pro home, it has become integrated into our daily lives. By day, the iPad Pro is a tool of the trade for an executive assistant (me) to help clients near and far. When the sun sets, it’s becomes a release for my creative side!

 

Deidre owns and operates Organisum: Technology Services, a business serving the West Michigan area. In her free time she likes to hike & bike local trails with friends and family when she isn’t pinning, instagram’ing or Netflix’ing.

Grand Rapids Public Museum explores the science of beer

3-bottom, Entertainment, , , ,
Brewery Vivant teams up with the Grand Rapids Public Museum for a series of classes on the science of beer.
Brewery Vivant teams up with the Grand Rapids Public Museum for a series of classes on the science of beer.

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM), in partnership with Brewery Vivant, will offer a series of three Beer Explorers classes inspired by the new exhibit Earth Explorers, and in conjunction with ongoing Science Tuesdays programs. Each class will offer a different scientific approach to the brewing and tasting of beer.

 

The three classes will be held June 21, July 19 and Aug. 16. Classes begin at 6 p.m. and will be held in the Barrel Factory on the 1st floor of the GRPM. Admission to each class includes general admission to the Museum as well as three beer samples. A cash bar will also be available. Tickets for the June and July classes are $5 for members and $15 for non-members; tickets for Aug. 16 are $8 for members and $18 for non-members.

 

Classes will be led by Ryan Engemann, Wandering Monk Sales Representative at Brewery Vivant. Ryan has a vast knowledge of all things beer, first having worked for Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City and then Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire. While working for Right Brain, Ryan became the first Certified Cicerone® in Northern Michigan.

 

June 21 – Science of Beer

 

Beer has been there from the beginning of the scientific revolution. From providing sanitary nourishment to the development of modern medicine, beer has been an integral influence on the development of science. Join the GRPM and Brewery Vivant to explore this fascinating topic, over a beer of course. This class will cover the history of science and beer, as well as examining how science is used in a modern brewery.

 

July 19 – Science of Flavor with a guided tasting

 

Explore the science of flavor to learn how taste and aroma combine for the delicious flavor you love, all in the context of and while sampling some wonderful craft beers. The event will conclude with a guided beer tasting in the style of a traditional beer judging contest.

 

Aug. 16 – Yeast Science/Wild Fermentations

 

Explore the microbiome of beer with a full-time beer brewer. This class will explain how microorganisms in the natural world are able to make the beer you love. This event will feature rare sour and wild fermentation ales from Brewery Vivant’s new Plein De Vie series.

 

Science Tuesdays

 

Science Tuesdays is an ongoing educational experience, offering science programming based on changing themes each month. Every Tuesday in June visitors engage with activities with the theme of Exploration! Science Tuesdays take place throughout the day every Tuesday at the Museum and include a variety of activities and interactive displays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Activities are free with general admission to the Museum.

 

In June, science stations including using telescopes, learning how astronauts work in Space, learn about underwater explorations utilizing scuba gear, learn about terrestrial navigation through hands on compass activities and explore how airplanes fly. Kids can try out their hand at flight by making their own paper airplanes and competing in flight contests against other Museum visitors.

 

Future Science Tuesdays programming will be themed around activities happening at the Museum. For upcoming months’ themes and activities please visit grpm.org.

 

Participants will come face-to-face with a Great White Shark in "Earth Explorers" exhibit at the Grand Rapids Publc Museum. (Christopher Gannon/Gannon Visuals) -- shot by Christopher Gannon on 9/25/13 in Des Moines, IA Shot for GES
Participants will come face-to-face with a Great White Shark in “Earth Explorers” exhibit at the Grand Rapids Publc Museum. (Christopher Gannon/Gannon Visuals) — shot by Christopher Gannon on 9/25/13 in Des Moines, IA Shot for GES

Earth Explorers

 

Organized around Earth’s eco-zones, Earth Explorers brings the unparalleled adventures of National Geographic to life. Earth Explorers allows visitors to let their imaginations run wild as they become explorers and embark on an adventure to discover new species, study animal behavior and learn about the important roles technology, innovation and ingenuity play in making and documenting these discoveries. The exhibit is free with Museum admission and will be on display through Sept. 4..

Hands-On Film and Acting Summer Camps at Compass College of Cinematic Arts

3-bottom, Education, Recreation, Upcoming Events, ,

Compass College of Cinematic ArtsBy: Jessie Kooyers

 

This June, Compass College of Cinematic Arts will open its campus for an action-packed week of filmmaking and acting summer camps. These fast-paced, hands-on camps give high school students a glimpse into the real world of multimedia production.

 

Both camps run June 20-24, and registration is open to teens ages 13-18.  In the film camp, students work with industry professionals and state-of-the art film equipment to write, direct, and edit their own short films. Meanwhile, students in the acting camp are cast in these films, and spend the week refining their on-camera acting skills. At the end of the week, the films are screened for friends and family in the theatre at Compass College.

 

“Film camp was a great first look at the industry,” said John LeFan, former film camper and 2013 Compass College alumnus. “It’s a great starter program to get your feet wet. I was immediately hooked.”

 

The camps are designed for students with little to no film and acting experience. The instructors at Compass College work to make the process fun and as similar to a real-life production set as possible.

 

“It’s a great opportunity,” said Joshua Courtade, film camp instructor and award-winning screenwriter, “The film students get to collaborate with the acting students and the results are some very fun short films.”

 

Over the years, campers have had the opportunity to Skype with Hollywood actors and producers like Beau Wirick, Mark Clayman, and Ralph Winter who have worked on the sets of shows like NCIS, The Office, and Arrested Development, and produced feature films like, Pursuit of Happyness, X-Men, and X-Men Origins.

 

Space in the camps is limited so early registration is recommended.  For more information, call Compass College at 616-988-1000, or visit online at www.compass.edu.

Four LUCAS Life Saving devices are now in Kentwood

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Health, Our Cities, , , , , ,

By: Barri Tiggle

A $115,000 grant may have given the Kentwood Fire Department an edge in saving a life.

 

lucas cpr
The LUCAS Chest Compression System

The Kentwood Fire Department recently received a big hand with the help of LUCAS.

 

The 2014 FEMA Assistance to Firefighter grant – which totaled $114,949 – was used to purchase four LUCAS chest compression devices. These devices are designed to allow CPR to be done without human help, outside the first initial 15 – 20 seconds it take to set up the device

 

“The LUCAS devices will be a great asset to the Kentwood Fire Department and the community,” said Kentwood Fire Department Deputy Chief Greg Ginebaugh. “Having the LUCAS CPR device allows more time for airways to be made on the patient, as well as starting IV’s and completing all other needs on the patient.”

 

The idea for the CPR assisted mechanical device derived back in 1991 by Norwegian paramedic Willy Vistung. Years later, the  first LUCAS was created and has since progressed throughout the years.

 

The LUCAS device is used during pre-hospital treatments, in-hospital treatments, and even percutaneous coronary intervention (also known as a PCI, a non-surgical procedure used to open narrow or blocked coronary arteries). LUCAS is equipped with 10 accessories that allow it to work to its full function.

 

It takes a maximum of 20 seconds to set up and adjust LUCAS correctly on a patient. LUCAS is intended to save time for first responders to help in other areas the patient may need, or lack assistance, during manual CPR.

 

Manual (human to human) CPR requires first responders to rotate performing CPR on the patient every two minutes. Since CPR can sometimes last up to 30 minutes, the availability of a LUCAS can save precious time for help in other areas.

 

As of right now the Kentwood Fire Department has four LUCAS devices. There are three fire stations with four primary vehicles and one LUCAS device is placed in each vehicle. There are currently no future plans to receive additional LUCAS devices.

Music, movies, food — Kentwood has it all for its Summer Entertainment Series

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Entertainment, , , , , ,
The Crane Wives opens the Kentwood Summer Concert Series tonight.
The Crane Wives opens the Kentwood Summer Concert Series tonight.

This summer, Kentwood has got it all the bases covers – music, movies, food – with its Summer Entertainment Series set to kick off tonight with the wildly popular Grand Rapids-based The Crane Wives. The concert is set to start at 7 p.m. behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE

 

“I think we did pretty well this year,” said Kentwood Parks and Recreation Marketing/Events Coordinator Laura Barbrick, as she looked over the 2016 line up. “We really targeted toward a younger crowd, kind of varying it with what is popular right now.”

 

Locally, no group could be as popular with the younger crowd as The Crane Wives. The local indie-folk band, which includes founders Kate Pillsbury ad Emilee Petersmark along with Dan Rickabus and Ben Zito, had a huge 2015 with the release of its album “Coyote Stories,” which earned the group another Jammie, and the opportunity to open for the Avett Brothers at ArtPrize. The group recently released “Foxlore,” it’s sister record to the “Coyote Stories.”

 

Rockabilly/honky tonk band Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys is June 14.
Rockabilly/honky tonk band Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys perform July 14.

According to John Sinkevics from localspins.com “Foxlore” certainly represents another bold step forward for this ultra-likable and increasingly popular Michigan act. “Down the River” even features a drum solo of sorts, buoyed by a throbbing, jam-band vibe. That’s followed closely by the airy and atmospheric “Ribs,” with an almost-jazzy milieu, morphing into the slow-cooking, uber-psychedelic, banjo-and-strings balladry of “Can’t Go Back” and the old-timey, clarinet-fueled swing of “Curses.”

 

The rest of Kentwood Summer Entertainment Series musical line up includes Tailshaker, June 16; Vox Vidorra, June 30; Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys, July 14; Big foot Buffalo, July 28, and The Accidentals, Aug. 11.

 

But the Kentwood Summer Entertaiment Series isn’t just about music. The city has combined it with its Movie in the Park programs starting with “Back to the Future” June 23; followed by “Frozen” July 21 and wrapping up Aug. 4 with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

 

“In the past, the Movies in the Park have been at Pinewood but it seemed a little bit separated from the other pubic events,” Barbrick said. “So we decided to bring it out to the same venue as the concert series.

 

Because of the music line-up and movie selections, it was decided the series needed more space so it was moved to the lawn area behind city hall. This also provided another opportunity in bringing in local food trucks to the event.

 

“We really wanted the food truck operators to know that they are welcomed at our events and it provides an easy way for guests to grab dinner, dessert, or coffee to enjoy during a concert or later for a movie,” Barbrick said.

 

Food trucks will vary but the ones lined up for this year’s event include Gettin’ Fresh, A Moveable Feast, Daddy Pete’s BBQ, What the Truck and River City Cup and Cake.

 

“With the new venue, several headlining acts, fun family movies, and food trucks, we anticipate this year’s crowds to be the largest to date,” said Parks and Recreation Director Val Romeo. Guests are invited to bring a blanket or chair, kick back and relax with a favorite snack, local craft beer or wine and enjoy the show.

 

For more information, visit the City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department Facebook page or their website at www.yourkprd.org.

Kentwood adds a couple new ‘Neighhhh’bors at the old Tassell Ranch

3-bottom, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Pets/Animals, , , , , , ,

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

By: Mike DeWitt

Mike.DeWitt@wktv.org

 

From a new roof to a brand new smile, 3 two Ranch and Equine Assisted Development are creating new beginnings.

 

As Karen Strayer stood on the property and evaluated the future site of 3 two Ranch, she recognized the staggering need for immediate renovation. The old Tassell Ranch in Kentwood, once filled with exotic animals such as zebras and cheetahs, had been abandoned for 25 years and the neglect was evident in the damaged and dilapidated state of the barns.

 

The exteriors of the barns were wasted and worn away, the roofs worked better as sieves, and an unseemly pink and turquoise color scheme from the previous regime insulted the walls.

 

In only four short months, the improvements to the old property have been moving forward steadily. Along with much-needed manual upkeep, a new roof on the stall barn was installed to keep the water out, and the pink and turquoise came off the walls to bare the beautiful wood hidden underneath. As renovations continue, 3 two Ranch will bring in more organizations to help aid in its mission.

 

“The organizations we want involved here at 3 two Ranch will have a mission focused on helping people,” said Strayer, director of 3 two Ranch.

 

In addition to the physical renovations, 3 two Ranch acquired its first partner organization — Equine Assisted Development of the Great Lakes (EAD). EAD was founded in 2009 with a focus on using non-riding horses to help people, especially children, grow and heal from damaged and warped views of themselves — the organization works with alternative high schools, human trafficking victims and other troubled youth. EAD also works with a number of other organizations and groups.

 

Equine Assisted Development 8Deb VanderBand, co-founder of EAD and an equine specialist, noticed that kids could get lost amongst the shuffle of everyday life. They needed help and a purpose. She can relate. “I was a misfit and an outcast as a child. I was always struggling to find a way to fit in. I knew in life that I needed to find a way to help kids who feel that everyday.”

 

While it may seem unconventional to use horses for therapy, horses have the same emotion base that humans do. When it comes to connecting with kids, these animals can break down walls and make strides where adults can’t. A horse’s memory only lasts six seconds, which allows the animal to see a child for who he or she is in that particular moment, whether positive or negative.

 

Deb gave me a personal therapy session so I could better understand.

 

 

Kade in "The Office"
Kade in “The Office”

As I walked into the 140-foot barn better known as “The Office,” Deb brought in three horses — Coe, Cora and Smartie — behind me.

 

Coe owned the place and he knew it. His laid-back demeanor wasn’t going to be affected by the new face in the room, and his control over the situation and the other horses didn’t waiver.

 

Cora was a follower and stayed close to Coe, finding comfort in being a friend to the leader. Smartie was the smallest of the three and easily the most spastic. He never seemed comfortable.

 

The therapy began with an outward analysis of the horses.

 

“Which one is your least favorite?” asked Deb.

 

Smartie, him being uncomfortable made me uncomfortable.

 

Deb followed up quickly, “Which one is your favorite?”

 

Coe, obviously.

 

Coe, Cora and Smartie all lined up
Smartie, Cora and Coe all lined up

Deb dug deeper, “Is Coe your favorite because you see yourself in him or because you wish you were more like him?”

 

Three questions in and I’m already in deep thought… I don’t know, maybe a little bit of both?

 

As I stood there answering followup questions, the horses accepted the vibe I was putting off and started to make their way from one end of the barn to the other.

 

“I’ve never seen them do this before, you give off a very calming presence,” said Deb. “They feel comfortable.”

 

I could feel the confidence rise and I started to puff out my chest. The horses weren’t a fan of the ego as they quickly removed themselves from the situation. That six-second memory wiped clear any positive vibes I was giving off earlier.

 

After the self-evaluation, it was time to jump into action. Along with Karen and Deb’s son Kade, we were to build an obstacle course for the horses to walk through. Sounds easy enough. However, the horses had to walk through the obstacle course with us and we weren’t allowed to touch them.

 

Teamwork and communication would be paramount.

 

The obstacle course of imagination and teamwork
The obstacle course of imagination and teamwork

Armed with our creativity, imagination, lawn chairs, trash bins, and pool noodles, we set forth on building an obstacle course. Initially, as the course was being artfully crafted, the horses kept their distance. The tide began to turn once the horses felt like they were missing out on the positive environment we were creating by working together and enjoying the task at hand.

 

In fact, all three horses lined up unprompted at the beginning of the course, and I now had some new skills to bring back to the station here at WKTV.

 

 

One of Deb’s favorite moments involves one student in particular from Kentwood’s Crossroads Alternative High School.

 

“The young man bonded with one of the horses and was having a blast,” recounts Deb as if the event happened just an hour ago. “One of the teachers walked up to me and said, ‘We have never seen his teeth before. We have never seen a face other than anger.’ That’s the power these horses can have on a child.”

Happy birthday! GR Children’s Museum celebrates its 19th year

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Education, Entertainment, Kids Activities, Non-Profits, Upcoming Events, , , , ,

grcmMy, how time flies — in a blink of an eye, The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum is all grown up.

 

The self-styled ‘advocate for the value of play’ celebrates its 19th year with a Birthday Party Celebration on July 31st. Festivities will include carnival games, bubbles, face painting and more as GRCM shows its appreciation to hundreds of faithful supporters.

 

The event dovetails with GRCM’s newest exhibit, BOXES, which opened May 24.

 

Paying tribute to the first traveling exhibit the GRCM ever hosted, BOXES lets kids and their adults build anything they can think of out of cardboard. There are boxes of all shapes and sizes — some that can be stuffed and weighted to use as a base for a bigger structure, some that can be cut and ripped, and some remnant cardboard pieces that can be colored, cut, torn and added on to any special creation.

 

cardboard dragon
It’s a dragon!

“BOXES embodies the infinite open-ended play style that The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum Mission advocates,” said Jack Woller, Associate Director of the GRCM.

 

“Guests can build cardboard armor, cities, games and anything that their imagination can come up with.”

 

As with all exhibits and programs at the museum, this new exhibit is designed to let kids (and their adults) learn through play and stretch their creative muscles.

 

mosaic on grcm

“Creativity is important to child development, and kids need to be empowered to explore and develop their creativity,” said Woller. “The exploration and experimentation in exhibits like BOXES supports a foundation for learning, invention and scientific discovery throughout life.”

 

BOXES runs through August, kicking off a year of special events celebrating the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum’s 20th anniversary.

 

For more information, contact Adrienne Brown at 616.235.4726 ext 204 or visit the website here.

In love with Croatia: From A to Zagreb

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Travel, ,

By Lynn Strough

Travelynn Tales

 

34

Croatia is one of my new favorite countries. Its capital, Zagreb is a gateway into a country 26full of beautiful scenery, interesting history and kind people. It’s a great mix of old and new, including old peeling walls, beautiful churches and a bustling square.

Art appears everywhere, spilling out into the streets, and great graffiti graces the walls. It’s also a city full of museums. If you’re looking for something a little different, check out the Museum of Broken Relationships, sad, funny and heartening all at once, a glimpse of the human condition that most can relate to.

 

 

[huge_it_slider id=”45″]

 

 

 

Great restaurants abound in Zagreb. So do places to grab a snack, and there are plenty of shopping opportunities as well as lots of green space. It’s easy to get around on the local blue trams and other forms of transportation.

 

30

My friend Beth from Michigan flew into Zagreb to join me for a week of travel in Croatia, and we spent two lovely days here. She said her time in Croatia was one of her best trips ever!

 

So if you’re looking for a destination that’s full of history, charm, art, architecture, good food and good people, with an affordable price tag, consider Croatia. Come on along for the ride, and then book your own ticket.

 

 

About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something-year-old woman 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.

 

16

“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!”

 

 

 

 

travelynnlogoAll images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

Local ministry makes a ‘ripple’ in the Flint Water crisis

3-bottom, ,

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Recently, The Ripple Effect ministry worked to make a difference in the Flint Water Crisis by delivering hundreds of cases of bottled water.

 

The group, which operates out of Hudsonville’s Chapel Pointe, collected more than 400 cases and a 100 gallon jugs of water which were donated to the South Baptist Church in Flint. To transport the water, the Ripple Effect was able to utilize the WKTV trailer.

 

There is still a need for bottled water for Flint. Recently, the city switched from area fire stations to neighborhood community centers for distribution.

 

The state has set up a website, helpforflint.com that under the “Take Action” button offers information on how people can help the residents of Flint. The Community Foundation of Greater Flint, the Genesee County United Way, and the American Red Cross are accepting monetary donations.

 

The site also contains guidelines for water and filter donations. Catholic Charities Center for Hope, 810-232-9950, ext. 325, is accepting donations of a 100 cases of water or less. The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, 810-239-4410, is accepting donations of a 100 cases of water or more.

 

Commercially packed water, no loose bottles, and commercially sealed gallons (or larger) bottles of water will be accepted. All donations must have an expiration date of six months or more.

 

Volunteer opportunities also exist. For more information, visit helpforflint.com.

 

Brandon Patterson is a volunteer producer at WKTV. If you have a story to share or would like to write for WKTV, email mike.dewitt@wktv.org.

Sniffing Out the News is Elementary

3-bottom, Area Education, City of Wyoming, Education, Kids Activities, , , , ,
Students work on stories (credit: Lysa Stockwell)
Students work on stories (credit: Lysa Stockwell)

By: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

Gladiola Elementary School students sat around a table and discussed what lead — that’s journalistic jargon for introduction — would be best for this School News Network article about their new student newspaper, Gladiola Wolf Tracks.

 

“Meet all the students that made the first Gladiola Wolf Tracks newspaper,” said third-grader Megan Sivins.

 

“This is four out of 16 of the kids that came up with the Wyoming newspaper called Gladiola Wolf Tracks,” suggested fourth-grader Quinton Gebben.

 

And, “Meet the Gladiola Elementary students who came out on top and made the first Gladiola newspaper in the whole Gladiola school history,” said fourth-grader Brady Flint.

 

Fourth-grader Maddy Lee considered the best possible lead. She decided Brady had already nailed it.

 

Sixteen students in the after-school enrichment program at the Wyoming Public Schools building recently launched the newspaper after learning the basics of journalism from fourth-grade teacher Lysa Stockwell and by interviewing teachers, peers, staff members and even community officials, such as Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll.

 

They’ve covered events and school programs, with cameras and notepads in hand, learning to get details centered around the who, what, when, where and why questions for their stories. They use technology, including Google Docs, and keep current on what’s going on in the building

 

“They’ve interviewed all the staff members in the building, from teachers to custodians to parent volunteers. It’s been really, really exciting because the more they do the more excited they get,” said Principal David Lyon.

 

Elile Silvestre and Madeline Pauline interview Wyoming Police Officer Rory Allen (credit: Lysa Stockwell)
Elile Silvestre and Madeline Pauline interview Wyoming Police Officer Rory Allen (credit: Lysa Stockwell)

Wolves or News Hounds?

 

The ace cub reporters recently completed the second edition of their newspaper, with plans for another and monthly publications next school year. Lyon said the almost entirely student-written newspaper will incorporate the school’s newsletter.

 

Parents can donate $5 to have a message to their child published in the newspaper, supporting the costs of publication.

 

In class, students studied examples of journalism, heard from a local reporter who shared tips and experiences, and learned about interviewing skills, bias and plagiarism.

 

They also learned the fun they can have with journalism, Stockwell said.

 

“Generally, kids don’t have the chance to have their writing published and for them to have that opportunity has really been exciting for them,” Stockwell said.

 

“Writing has become really authentic for them,” Lyon added. “Plus, they are far more alert now to things going on in the building.”

 

When a story presents itself, Wolf Tracks reporters have jumped at the chance to grab a notepad. For example, they took the initiative to cover a sneak-peek performance of the Wyoming High School musical.

 

Brady said he enjoyed writing a story about teacher Kimberly Swiger called “Mrs. Swiger: The Inside Story.” In it she talks about her favorite books, and that she’s spent 25 years teaching, has 10 nieces and nephews and attended Gladiola herself.

 

“Mrs. Swiger told the best stories,” Brady said. “I really liked being an interviewer and reporter and writing the articles. I am a social butterfly.”

 

Pinky Nguyen and Dion Idizi are busy with the news (credit: Lysa Stockwell)
Pinky Nguyen and Dion Idizi are busy with the news (credit: Lysa Stockwell)

Back to the Headlines

 

Discussion around the table continued after the students had found their lede. They talked about their favorite interviews with the art and music teacher and other staff members.
“I like when I interviewed Mr. Lyon. He can ride a unicycle,” Quinton said.

 

Further conversation led to the fact that Lyon can also juggle, prompting a follow-up question from Brady: “Can he juggle while riding a unicycle?”

 

Now, there’s a nose for news.

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!