Category Archives: 3-bottom

Financial Perspective: Does your retirement account need rescuing?

3-bottom, Finances, Local Business, Senior Living

By Dave Stanley
Integrity Financial Services, LLC

Many people are shocked at how much of their tax-deferred balances will be erased by current taxes when funds are withdrawn. (Supplied)

Because of the accumulation benefits of tax deferral, many individuals have successfully created substantial IRA or 401(K) accounts or other qualified plans.

Many people are shocked at how much of their tax-deferred balances will be erased by current taxes when funds are withdrawn.  It is not uncommon for these accounts to have amassed seven figures of total dollars. It is also usually the case that little attention has been focused on what will happen to one’s hard-earned dollars when taking money out of the Plan.

Reductions Due To Taxes Can Be Dramatic


The tax-caused decrease in total assets going to family members can be dramatic. For example, we recently reviewed a client situation where the plan holder had a $6 million balance. The client wished to begin distributions at age 70 ½. Further, the client did not require any distributions to maintain their lifestyle and wanted all the funds to go to children. The client was disappointed to learn that, under the client’s current structure when distributed over 10 years, the $6 million would be slashed because of taxes by $2.6 million and only yield $3.4 million net proceeds to the beneficiaries.

The $2.6 million of asset erosion occurs because all funds coming out of a qualified plan are fully taxable as ordinary income. And, contrary to common belief, assets in an IRA do not benefit from a step-up basis when passed on. Thus, while this case was a reduction of some 43%, other plans can be crushed by as much as 75% because of income and estate taxes.

The existing Plan had other vulnerabilities, as well. One was the assets were all held inequities subject to significant drops in value. Over a lengthy period, the probability that such a reduction will occur is substantial.

How To Increase Net To Beneficiaries Without Risk


Fortunately, a solution that could produce guaranteed results was possible in this particular situation. We set up a plan where taxable distributions from the IRA will be used to purchase the appropriate type of life insurance with the family named as beneficiaries. The client and the client’s family can be much better off with this solution because:

  • Assets are shifted from taxable to non-taxed.
  • Total net after-tax assets to the family are significantly increased.
  • The increase in assets is immediate.
  • There is no need to enter speculative investments to achieve the gain.
  • The value of the account is not subject to market losses.
  • The results are guaranteed by some of the most substantial financial companies in the world.
  • The entire Plan can be implemented on a set-it and forget-it basis.

Implementing IRA Rescue For Your Qualified Plan


Each rescue of an IRA or 401K or other qualified plan is custom-made for your circumstances. For individuals with separate plans and assets, net benefits can increase from some 25% of asset value to many times the asset value. For married couples inheriting each other’s IRAs, the after-tax yield can be much higher than otherwise. IRA Rescue can be achieved by converting a client’s weakest assets – those with the most significant tax liabilities – to non-taxed assets.

And while a plan’s asset value is significantly increased immediately, the tax liability on distributions from the Plan is spread over time, much to the client’s advantage.

All plans can and should be coordinated with your accounting and legal, trust, and estate advisors, and we do that as a matter of course.

A complete solution is available with plan distributions able to be executed on schedule, trustees guaranteeing that policy premiums are paid as required, trustees delivering gifts to beneficiaries, and taxes able to be paid at the funding source. These solutions can truly be established to set and forget while delivering much more financial benefit to those for whom a client wished to provide financial security.

Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or  Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463  or click this link:  Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.com  Dave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management.

WOOD-TV’s Jack Doles featured guest at program at Marge’s Donut Den

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Recreation, Sports, ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Jack Doles (WOOD TV)

Life seems to be going along at a normal pace and then suddenly, bam everywhere you look its Olympics. And perhaps nothing was more fascinating than the 2022 Beijing Olympics with its figure skating drama and the ending of a career for a snowboard legend.

At the next Mr. Sid’s Video Series, set for Wednesday, April 20, veterans sportscaster Jack Doles, from WOOD-TV8, will be giving the inside scoop on his recent experiences covering the Beijing Winter Olympics, which was Doles’ 12th Olympic games. Other Olympics he has covered are Calgary, Seoul, Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Torino, Beijing, Sochi, Rio, Pyeongchang, and Tokyo.

Doles has more than three decades of covering sports, joining WOOD-TV in 1990. Besides the Olympics, Doles has covered  the Rose Bowl, the Super Bowl, the NBA and Stanley Cup Finals and the World Series. He’s been to multiple NCAA Final Four tournaments with Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, the Ryder Cup and two Major League Baseball All-Star Games.

The Mr. Sid’s Video Series meets at 2 p.m. There is a hymn sing at 1:45 p.m. The program is free to the public. Marge’s Donut Den is located at 1751 28th St. SW.

Upcoming Mr. Sid’s Video Series are:

May 4: Father Peter Vu pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church will describe his immigration to the United States after the North Vietnam Victory over the South on April 30, 1975.

May 18: Rick Vuyst from Fruit Basket Flowerland will help you prepare for spring planting – lawn care – wetting your plants, etc.

June 15: Cris Stevens, the Chaplain for the LPGA, will talk about the Pro golfers and the upcoming Meijer Ladies Charity Classic.

July 20: Peggy Maniates, the executive director of the USS Silversides Museum in Muskegon

‘Caregiver’ Mary Wisinski, county’s ‘Vaccine Queen’, to retire from Health Department this month

3-bottom, Community Health, Health, Local Faces, Local History, WKTV Journal In Focus, ,

By D.A. Reed, WKTV Contributing Writer

After 15 years serving Kent County at the helm of the Kent County Health Department’s vaccine program, and more than 45 years in the health care field, Mary Wisinski will retire from her position as Immunization Program Supervisor on April 15.

And while she is respectively and affectionally known as the “Vaccine Queen” by her colleagues — a title given well before the COVID-19 pandemic but made all the more important during the last two years — her career as a caregiver is much deeper that.

The oldest of seven children, Wisinski always viewed herself as a “caregiver,” she said recently to WKTV. So, it was natural for her to turn to a career in healthcare, though she did look at medical school before settling on nursing.

“The more I looked at it, the more I liked the ability to spend more time with my patients as a nurse and get to know them,” Wisinski said.

(Public Domain photo)

Wisinski began her career in the maternal and child health field, serving 12 years in neonatal intensive care in Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo caring for premature babies (preemies).

“I was a transport nurse and a transport supervisor for them. We picked up babies from different hospitals to bring them back to Bronson on either an ambulance or a helicopter,” Wisinski said.

Wisinski moved back to Grand Rapids to get married and found her new vocation and her new home at the Kent County Health Department (KCHD).

“I’ve been with the Kent County Health Department for about 20 years,” Wisinski said. “I spent three years doing resource (work) at the Butterworth neonatal intensive care unit, and then in 2003 I came back to the county, and then became the Immunization Supervisor in 2007.”

Always knew vaccines saved lives

It was during her first few years in the immunization program that Wisinski became passionate about public health, especially vaccines.

“My passion grew as I worked here and learned more about what public health really is,” said Wisinski. “It’s just a different focus on nursing.”

Wisinski said that what drew her toward public health was the objective of preventing disease versus treating ailments.

A Kent County Health Department nurse gives a COVID-19 vaccination shot. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

“When you work in a hospital or a physician office, many times you’re working with ill clients. You’re treating the symptoms of their disease and trying to make them better,” Wisinski said. “In public health, our main goal is to prevent disease. We try to anticipate problems. We assess the entire community, and then work and strategize together to keep people healthy versus treating them when they become ill.”

Wisinski’s knowledge of nursing and vaccines earned her the nickname “Vaccine Queen” as colleagues and counterparts came to her with their questions. But the birth of that moniker, she said, was a friend who had previously worked with her in neonatal intensive care and, when asked a question about vaccines, would respond: “Hold on a minute, I’ll call the Vaccine Queen from Kent County!”

The nickname persisted throughout the years.

Several different components and programs are included in the focus of Wisinski’s immunization and vaccine team, among which is the Vaccines for Children Program in Kent County, a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children.

“Even though our immunization rates are low, we have very dedicated providers in Kent, and we are in one of the top counties in the state for getting our kids vaccinated,” Wisinski said.

Teaching and serving, even in pandemic times

Two nurses on Wisinski’s staff, as well as Wisinski herself, are Immunization Nurse Educators for the State of Michigan.

“I see my role as a teacher in order to give the people the information that they need to do the best and safest job possible to provide vaccines for the kids and the adults who need them,” Wisinski said. “We are seen as people that they can trust and come to, and I’ve been very transparent that as a health department, I am a partner to … our providers and our community.”

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Wisinki and her staff have been the “boots on the ground” for testing and vaccinations. Wisinki was personally in charge of the long-term care testing and long-term care vaccinations.

“We went out not only to long-term care centers, but to adult foster homes, low-income senior housing, and (provided) vaccines for the homeless,” Wisinski said.

Kent County Health Department staff at a county COVID-19 testing station. (Kent County)

Though this is the longest vaccine outbreak Wisinski has been involved with, she chooses to look at the positive outcomes of the pandemic, noting the partnerships established in the community: “Many people here have committed to being part of that group … understanding what the health department is and does in the community.”

Bi-weekly meetings with the different community partners has allowed the health department to make sure they are working together and not “stumbling over each other, duplicating our efforts.”

Wisinski sees that as being a “tremendous achievement.”

Her and community moving forward

As Wisinski prepares to move on to the next part of her life’s journey, she wants the community to know that “public health works. Our job is to keep people safe and healthy as a community … I am extremely grateful to our scientists who have spent countless hours collaborating and cooperating with each other to come up with the best methods for vaccines and antiviral treatments.”

Wisinski says she hopes the community can, as we move forward, see the health department as an ally and not as an enemy.

“We did the best we could with the information we had at the time because we care about protecting people,” she said.

Though Wisinski says it is hard to leave because she loves serving her community, she is looking forward to some relaxation and time with her family. With weddings on the horizon for both her son and daughter, Wisinski’s immediate focus will be on plans for those festivities.

She does, however, plan to take a beach vacation and spend more time with her husband “because it’s been a little busy the last few years.”

BHSH System and GVSU join forces to offer new nursing scholar program

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Health, Local Business, Our Cities, West Michigan, , , , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Grand Valley State University and BCSH Systems, which includes Spectrum Health, have partner to offer a Nurse Scholar program. (Supplied)

Two of Michigan’s largest institutions have created what they hope will be a model for the nation in addressing the severe talent shortage in nursing. Leaders from BHSH System and Grand Valley State University have announced a partnership with the creation of the BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan Nurse Scholar program. The partnership is designed to increase the nursing talent pipeline by taking away financial barriers to college and smoothing the educational path to employment at BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan.

 

The health system is investing more than $19 million to provide infrastructure, start-up costs and resources for increased clinical placements, training and other support for students in the program. This includes grant dollars for all BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan Nurse Scholars. Grand Valley will increase infrastructure support for students in the areas of financial aid, curriculum enhancements, technology and equipment, student support services, simulation enhancements and clinical experiences.

The BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan Nurse Scholar partnership will create an opportunity for nearly 500 additional students to pursue a career in nursing over the next six years. The university will assume all future infrastructure costs and maintain a permanent increase in the number of students admitted to its Kirkhof College of Nursing, creating a lasting impact for our community, state and region. More than 92 percent of all GVSU graduates within the health professions stay in Michigan.

              

A federal workforce analysis shows Michigan currently has a nursing shortage for its population, and that shortage has been exacerbated by the burnout and stress caused by the pandemic. Leaders at BHSH System and GVSU say the creative solution they’ve designed will build a stronger talent pipeline, and the partnership can serve as a model and inspiration to enterprises, universities, communities and governments to solve the nation’s talent shortages.

“We challenged ourselves to be bold: What can we do, together with GVSU, to permanently increase access to education, strengthen nursing education programs and invest in talented, compassionate people who want to become nurses?” said Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO, BHSH System (formerly Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health). “Our teams delivered a joint, innovative proposal that expands opportunities for up to 500 future nurses and can be the model for others to emulate. We are incredibly excited about the nurse scholar program and the impact this will have in health care, for individual learners and for future generations.”

Grand Valley President Philomena V. Mantella said the agreement is a perfect example of how educational institutions and enterprises can partner quickly and efficiently to address talent shortages.

“These talent gaps hold us back or put us at risk,” said Mantella. “We have many dedicated and talented students who want to pursue nursing, but we needed the creativity and support of our partners at BHSH System to make the expansion of nursing possible and affordable for more talented and diverse students. This program is a huge leap forward and a model for other high need fields. I applaud the ingenuity and willingness of our teams to bring it to fruition.”

                                                                                                      

After all approvals and accreditation, the BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan Nurse Scholar program will be in place by January 2023. 

Reading program designed to get parents and children reading

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Education, Kids Activities, Recreation, , , ,
Video by WKTV volunteer Von Duff.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Recognizing that reading needs to be a focus year around, the Great Start Parent Coalition’s Nurturing Parent Power Workshop announced its One Book, One County initiative on the last day of the national March is Reading Month campaign.

“One County, One Book will distribute 9,000 books to families, particular families that are living in neighborhoods that are book desserts,” said Chana Edmond-Verley, the chief executive officer for Vibrant Futures and who also the co-chair of the Nurturing Parent Power Workshop.

“In addition, it is more than a book distribution,” Edmond-Verley said. “We have reading strategy kits so parents will know the strategies that they need to deliver this powerful book to their child.”

Started in 2016, the Nurturing Parent Power Workshop is part of the Great Start Collaborative of Kent County, which works to ensure that all children, from birth to age eight, especially those in highest need areas, have access to high-quality early learning and development programs and enter kindergarten prepared for success.

Members of the One Book, One County campaign hold up this year’s selection. (WKTV)

The Nurturing Parent Power Workshop is a group of parent leaders, systems influencers, and decision makers who work to cultivate the power of parents in helping their children succeed.

“Our goal is to provide early reading strategies in Kent County to get all families reading to their children and all children reading by the end of second grade,” Edmond-Verley said.

From the group came the Success Starts Early Basics which provides tips and information on how parents advocate for their children’s success. Edmond-Verley said it was the Nurturing Parent Power Workshop who came up with the idea for the One book, One County campaign.

The book selection for the campaign is Mary DiPalermo’s “The Caring Me I Want to Be!” because it offers engaging story illustrations, easy connections to real life, allows for problem solving, rhyming, and promotes brainstorming emotions, according to literature that was handed out.

Along with the book, the campaign will provide a calendar of activities parents can use to engage their child based on the book such as writing a letter to a friend telling them why you like them or going outside and counting all the different signs of spring.

A third component will be up to 7,000 licenses for a digital parent coach that will send daily activities straight to a parent’s phone.

“The digital parent coach has been a great tool,” said Nicole Notraio-Risk, who is a co-chair of the Nurturing Parent Power Workgroup. “You can customize the program based on your child’s age and mental ability and the program provides you with a daily routine of fun games and activities that you could do with your child.”

Research shows that children who are read to 20 minutes a day and are repeatedly exposed to books from birth exhibit strong reading abilities. Edmond-Verley said parents are key in helping students achieve.


“We are responding by equipping parents with the tools that they can use to assure that their children are successful,” she said.

More than 20 local organizations such as the Early Learning Neighborhood Collobatibes, Bright Beginnings, Head Start, Kent ISD, Vibrant Futures, and the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, are participating in the program. Those interested in learning more about the One Book, One County program can reach out to those organizations or visit www.successstartsearly.org. 

Inspirational stories run deep as City of Kentwood, Hanger Clinic host Limb Loss Awareness 5K April 30

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Community Health, Going Local, Health, Kids Activities, Local Faces, Recreation, Sports, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects, ,
The City of Kentwood is again partnering with Hanger Clinic to host the fourth Limb Loss Awareness 5K, all-ages and all-abilities event, on Saturday, April 30. (Supplied)

WKTV Staff


There will be plenty of inspirational people and inspirational stories running around the City of Kentwood later this month — including local woman and double leg amputee Beth Lowman — as the city will again host a special community event in recognition of Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month.

Kentwood is again partnering with Hanger Clinic, to host the fourth Limb Loss Awareness 5K on Saturday, April 30. The all-ages and all-abilities event will begin with packet pickup at 9 a.m. at Bowen Station Park, 4499 Bowen Blvd. SE, followed by the race at 10 a.m.

The event seeks to increase awareness of limb loss, build community and raise funds for Kentwood’s adaptive recreation programs. These programs “empower people with various disabilities to participate in athletic activities in an adapted way to allow for a safe and fun experience,” according to the announcement.

Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department program coordinator Katelyn Bush and one of her Adaptive Recreation participants at 2021 The Vibe event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

“Our Limb Loss Awareness 5K is more than a typical race,” Katelyn Bush, Kentwood recreation program coordinator, said in supplied material. “In addition to health and wellness, this run is focused on inclusivity, awareness, relationships and making a difference in our local community. We are thrilled this educational event has continued to grow in popularity since it began in 2018.”

All profits from the event will go toward improving and expanding the city’s adaptive recreation programs to encourage health and wellness, socialization and excellent quality of life for all. The programs – offered in collaboration with community partners – enable participants to enjoy the benefits that come with any athletic or recreational activity, such as a sense of camaraderie, improved confidence and new skills. To learn more visit kentwood.us/adaptive.
 

The accessible race route includes sections of the East-West and Paul Henry-Thornapple trails as well as a boardwalk — a “scenic spring route filled with woodlands, wetlands and wildlife.”
 

Online registration is available at RunSignUp.com. Registration is $35 through April 29. Race day registration is $45. Participants will receive a long sleeve t-shirt and swag bag as part of their registration. Packet pickup will also be available in advance of the event at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, during business hours beginning at noon Wednesday, April 27.
 

The kid-friendly event will also include a 1-mile fun run for children ages 12 and younger at 11 a.m. along the same route. The kids race costs $10 per child and includes a T-shirt and finisher ribbon. There is also a playground at the park for children to enjoy.

Beth’s story of resilience, resolve

Beth Lowman, a 35-year-old local woman who has experienced bilateral limb loss, will share her story at the Limb Loss Awareness 5K.

Six years ago, Lowman was an active, athletic mom whose life was turned upside down when she developed dystonia, a disorder that causes muscles to involuntarily contract, in her left foot and ankle, according to supplied material.

Beth Lowman, a 35-year-old local woman who has experienced bilateral limb loss, will share her story at the Limb Loss Awareness 5K. (Supplied)

She was unable to walk and, after several unsuccessful treatments, chose amputation. In February 2020, her left leg was amputated below the knee and she was able to walk for the first time in four years using a uniquely custom-designed bent-knee prosthesis fit by her prosthetic team at Hanger Clinic in Byron Center.

But after a fall in January 2021, Lowman developed dystonia in her right foot and ankle, and underwent the amputation of her right leg below the knee in July 2021. Despite the new challenge, she continued to push forward, learning to walk again on two prosthetic feet this time.

And on those two prosthetic feet, combined with personal goal and a support system around her, she plans to walk across the finish line at the Kentwood 5K.

Beth Lowman, with her family. (Supplied)

“I continuously remind myself that although my life turned out differently than I planned, my life as an amputee is still vibrant and active,” Lowman said in supplied material. “It is important to celebrate the small and large victories, because those are what makes life flourishing.

“I will forever see my life as a victory if I keep setting goals for myself and celebrating each step forward. The world wasn’t made for amputees, but it doesn’t mean we can’t flourish, cheer each other on and set the world ablaze with our successes!”

More than just a 5K run

Phil Tower, a West Michigan radio personality, amputee and advocate for people with disabilities, will serve as the DJ at the Limb Loss Awareness 5K.

Race organizers are also seeking volunteers for the event. Those interested may sign up at RunSignUp.com. Four first-place awards will be given to the first adult men and women amputees and nonamputees who cross the finish line. More information is available at kentwood.us/LimbLoss5K.

The City of Kentwood is again partnering with Hanger Clinic to host the fourth Limb Loss Awareness 5K, all-ages and all-abilities event, on Saturday, April 30. (Supplied)

This year’s event will also include educational components and a peer support table. These resources will enable participants and attendees to learn more about amputation, prosthetics and orthotics. They also will connect individuals who have experienced limb loss or limb difference with one another, enabling them to provide support and build relationships.

The event will also feature several informational booths from various sponsors, including ACV Centers, Airway Mobility and Rehab, Buist Electric, Creative Mobility Group, Hunt 2 Heal, ITC Incorporated, Life Beyond Barriers Rehabilitation group, Mercury Labs, Inc., Muskegon Surgical Associates, New Wave Prosthetics, Proteor USA, Spectrum Health Inpatient Rehabilitation Center and Summit Labs LLC.

“We want people who are experiencing limb loss or limb difference to know they are not alone,” Nikki Stoner, Hanger Clinic care coordinator, said in supplied material. “There is a community here to welcome them and support them through their journey. This event gives us an opportunity to raise awareness and connect those experiencing limb loss and limb difference with resources and others in the community.”

Hanger Clinic, a local prosthetic and orthotic patient care provider, will also feature a memorial activity for Winter, the dolphin with a prosthetic tail who made her movie debut in “Dolphin Tale” on Sept. 23, 2011. Winter lost her tail after it became entangled in a crab trap in 2005.

In 2006, Kevin Carroll, an expert prosthetist and vice president of prosthetics at Hanger Clinic, fit Winter with a prosthetic tail that allowed her to swim again.

Winter died in November 2021 following an intestinal abnormality. This year’s event will feature a card-making station to celebrate the dolphin’s life. The cards will be sent to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida where an ongoing memorial is offered to honor her legacy.

East Kentwood comes out on top at spring break FIRST robotics competition

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , , ,
  • Bringing home the title win was Byron Center’s Code Red, Gull Lake’s Twisted Devils, and East Kentwood’s Red Storm. (WKTV)
  • East Kentwood’s Red Storm robotics team not only snagged a win at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition, but also earned the Gracious Professionalism Award Advancement of FIRST Robotics. (WKTV)
  • Code Red Robotics, which is based in Byron Center, was one of the winning teams and also earned the Engineering Inspiration Award at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition. (WLTV)
  • The Wyoming Demons, far right, was one four teams to finish as a finalist at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition on March 31-April 2. (WKTV)
  • Hopkins’ Tech Vikes, which is sponsored by Wyoming’s GM Components, earned the Autonomous Award sponsored by Ford. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

When spring break is over, Kentwood and Byron Center Public Schools will have something to boost about.

For the first time in almost two years, robotics teams from around the state were able to compete at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition, traditionally held the first weekend of spring break, which this year was March 31-April 2.

“We do it at this time because the school is out on spring break which makes it easier for us to be able to use the gym for a full three days,” said Wendy Ljungren, who works with East Kentwood’s Red Storm, which hosts the competition.

This year it was the combined teams of East Kentwood’s Red Robotics (Team 3875), the all area-based team in Byron Center, Code Red Robotics (Team 2771), and Gull Lake’s Twisted Devils (Team 4381) that took top honors. The first place wins secured all three teams a spot in the state competition, which is set for April 14-16 at Saginaw Valley State University. Also moving on to state is Belmont’s That ONE Team-Our Next Engineers (Team 4967), which earned the coveted District Chairman’s Award.

The FIRST Robotics team resets the playing field at the East Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition, which was March 31-April 1. (WKTV)

Kentwood Superintendent Kevin Poston certainly could not contain his excitement as he sent out a Point of Pride notice on Monday, April 5, to announce the Red Robotics win and mentioning that the team also earned the Gracious Professionalism Award for the advancement of FIRST Robotics.

After a hard fought battle in the playoff rounds, Wyoming High School’s Demons (Team 858) came in as a finalist. Since there is one more district competition, set for April 8-10, Demons coaches said it will be about a week before they know if the team will advance on to the state competition. The Demons’ current ranking is 88th in the state.

There are about 541 Michigan FIRST Robotic teams. The state has 16 districts with about 26 competitions. Teams are required to participate in two robotic competitions for the season.

There are 160 team slots at the state competition. Those who have won a district competition or earned the Chairman’s Award or the District Engineering Inspiration Award advance to the state competition regardless of ranking. From there, the rankings fill in the rest of the spots.

“Sometimes a team can win more than one thing at an event or win two events,” said Ljungren. Such was the case of Byron Center’s Code Red, which was part of the winning alliance and also received the District Engineering Inspiration Award which celebrates the outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization and community.

“In that case, a spot would open up for another team to attend,” she said.

Ken Orsechowski, a coach for the Code Red Robotics team, gets interviewed by the WKTV team. WKTV will airing the East Kentwood Robotics competition at a later date. (WKTV)

For the World competition, which is set for April 20-23 in Houston, Texas, FIRST in Michigan will be sending 64 teams total. This includes the winning alliance from the state competition and the state Chairman’s Award, Engineering Inspiration Award, and Rookie All-Star Award winners. The number also includes any Hall of Fame teams, which is a team that has won the National Chairman’s Award in the past 10 years. In 2021, Novi’s Frog Force (Team 503) earned such an honor.

One West Michigan team expecting to head to the world competition is Hopkins’ Tech Vikes, which is sponsored by the GM Components plant located in the City of Wyoming. The plant also is sponsoring the Wyoming High’s Demons team. Tech Vikes, which earned the Autonomous Award sponsored by Ford at the East Kentwood competition, is currently ranked 23rd in the state.

Other West Michigan team state rankings are Forest Hills’ Comets (Team 3357), ranked third; Byron Center’s Code Red (Team 2771), ranked 45th; East Kentwood’s Red Storm, (Team 3875), ranked 51st; Grandivlle’s The RoboDawgs (Team 288), ranked 146th; and Lee Robotics (Team 7234), ranked 163rd. For a complete list of state rankings, click here. 

Financial Perspectives: Confused about retirement choices?

3-bottom, Finances, Local Business, ,

By David Stanley
Integrity Financial Services, LLC

Hurricanes to the weather can impact the U.S. economy. (pxhere.com)

Hurricane Ida, COVID- 19 and a February winter weather disaster in the United States and Mexico; many other catastrophes and worries abound. What issues currently confront the U.S. economy? The answer is multi-level but can be summed up as:

 1) The collapse of an economy (potential)

 2) Inflation

Are your important retirement dollars safe? If you have a fixed/indexed annuity, your money is still protected. Think of the simplicity the annuity brings to life. No fees, no loads, no market risk. It is not stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, which rely on fluctuating investment trends. It’s dependable fixed/indexed annuities that will fund Baby Boomer retirement.

Safety is not an issue with fixed annuities. The insurance company doesn’t borrow money to make risky or speculative investments. What keeps annuities safe? Think of it this way. Are you worried about your homeowners, auto insurance, life insurance company going under? No. Remember, annuities are not speculative investments, but deposit accounts backed up by cash on hand.

  

The insurance industry was “the last man standing” during the Great Depression when banks and investment firms failed. Then as now, this sector remains the last bastion of financial freedom. The fixed annuity company already has its portfolio to back these contractual guarantees. 

Annuities provide a level of economic security that cannot be duplicated by other investments like stocks, bonds, CDs, etc. Annuities relieve the consumer of the need to set aside additional money to offset potential risk and fees for managing the account.

If fear of managing your retirement accounts paralyzes you and causes you stress, simply pass it to a risk bearer, an insurance company. Let the annuity provide you with a safe and secure income.

Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or  Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463  or click this link:  Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.com  Dave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management.

Female veterans, facing often unfair conditions on duty and at home, have local advocates, support

3-bottom, Community Health, Going Local, Health, Local Faces, Local History, Our Cities, Upcoming Events, Veterans, WKTV Projects, , ,
  • Veteran Jurgen Nitzsche produced this work as part of veterans art project which led to the Yellow Ribbon ArtPrize entry. (Supplied/Pamela Alderman)
  • Zaneta Adams, Director of the MVAA, Judge Rosemarie Aqualina, and two attendees of Kent County Veterans Services’ 2021 Banquet for Female Veterans. (Supplied)
  • An attendee making art at one of Kent County Veterans Services’ women veterans events. (Supplied)
  • Colorful art and colorful veteran at one of Kent County Veterans Services’ women veterans events. (Supplied)
  • Local female veterans at a “female only” retreat early this year. (KC Veterans Services)

By D.A. Reed, WKTV Contributing Writer

Fair treatment for women serving on American military active duty, and as veterans, has been battle fought for decades — often with unsatisfactory results.

And while many local female veterans continue to fight against unfair treatment — including local veteran and advocate Theresa Robinson — several Kent County organizations and individuals strive to help female veterans and their families receive the acknowledgement and support they deserve.

Devoted specifically to supporting “all” veterans, Kent County Veterans Services (KCVS) has served the veterans of Kent County since 2008, connecting them with resources in the community as well as providing them with assistance in obtaining benefits they are entitled to from all levels of government.

And, in recent years, KCVS has focused heavily on female veterans and their needs.

“Our continued emphasis is going to be on making female veterans feel comfortable and welcome and helping them to recognize that they may be eligible for benefits, which is the primary part of what we do,” Martha Burkett, manager of KCVS, said to WKTV. “A lot of them don’t even know they have them.”

Burkett continued by saying that applying to the federal government for their benefits is often harder than the government claims. “It’s not easy to do the application process or follow it through. If they can deny you, they will deny you.”

Requests can be kicked back if forms are not filled out properly, for not providing adequate documentation, or not using the right words.

“That’s why the services we offer through our office are so important,” Burkett said. “The Veterans Services officers know all of that. They are trained and certified to do that work. We can do that for veterans on their behalf and make the process a lot smoother and easier for them.”

KCVS has been striving to expand their services to female veterans, not only assisting with benefits but providing help and engagement opportunities for veterans in different ways.

A semi-formal banquet in July celebrates female veterans annually, while a year-round wellness program offers yoga classes, art therapy, and various other opportunities for women.

Equine assisted therapy retreats with programing specifically for female veterans has also been made available since 2019. KCVS has also used grant money to facilitate a recreation program that includes kayaking, hiking, and other activities specifically for women.

For some, working to support veterans — all veterans — is personal.

  • Theresa Robinson at Kent County airport with other veterans welcoming home active duty military members. (Supplied)
  • Theresa Robinson, at Kent County Airport, arriving home from boot camp. (Supplied)
  • A veteran married to a veteran, Theresa and George Robinson. (Supplied)
  • Theresa Robinson, left, is active in many veterans organizations and efforts. (Supplied)
  • Theresa Robinson — veteran, veterans advocate, local businesswoman. (Supplied)

Individual issues but often common cause

Theresa Robinson, veteran, veteran advocate, and current realtor for 616 Realty, served her country in the U.S. Navy as a personnel specialist from 1974 through 1976, and has remained active in the efforts to bring fair treatment and recognition to women serving on active duty and to female veterans.

Robinson told WKTV she personally experienced the hardship of obtaining benefits, having a claim rejected and being told by other veterans that for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), “This is normal procedure … You just have to keep going back.”

“It’s sad because … any veteran deserves that care and earned that care,” Robinson said. “It should not be so hard.”

KCVS is also only one of many resources available to female veterans, Robinson pointed out, citing groups such as the American Legion, the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard, and the United Veterans Council of Kent County as great avenues for helping veterans and their families.

Robinson has served in all three organizations as a way to continue her service to other veterans and the country she loves.

“As a Vietnam Era veteran, I saw the treatment of veteran and active duty during that time in history and it motivated me to want to make a difference in how veterans are perceived to the public,” Robinson said. “Female veterans need to know if they go to the VA for health reasons, be it mental or physical heath, they can count on the VA being equipped to handle females and their needs.

“And female veterans need to know they are not alone … others that have served have experienced many of the same things they did and are there (to support) each other.”

Burkett also believes female veterans need to know there is support out there for them.

“Women have always been less likely to come forward,” Burkett said.

From fear of their careers being derailed if they speak up, to diving back into their civilian roles of mother and wife, to not realizing their problems could be combat-related, women have often kept silent.

“No matter the arena, women are less likely to present for treatment than men,” Burkett said.

Historic issues still present

Over the years, seeing so little change for women who serve is frustrating for Robinson.

“I should not be hearing from anyone 48 years after I served that behaviors unbecoming a military active member are still happening today,” Robinson said. “We and the military are better than this.”

To see that change happen, however, Robinson believes the community must get involved.

“It’s not only veterans that have to ask the VA and our government to be accountable to veterans. The general public needs to do that too,” she said. “The general public needs to tell their government officials that we belong — as human beings, as citizens of the United States of America.”

Robinson also thinks that despite changes, the VA system still needs improvement — “There has got to be a better system for reviewing claims when they come in.”

Most of all, it is important to Robinson that female veterans are “seen, recognized, and appreciated.” And that male and female veterans will be recognized as one group.

“I long for the day when I can speak on and about veterans,” Robinson said, “and not have to differentiate when speaking, female or male veteran.”

Some other groups support female veterans

Robinson speaks highly of the women veteran’s outreach campaign, She Is a Veteran.

“She Is a Veteran is all about empowering female veterans,” Robinson said. “We want female veterans to know they can make a difference in government, in real estate, in teaching, in their everyday lives.”

Women can also learn about advocacy for themselves and their community by attending the Michigan Women Veterans Conference in Lansing, scheduled for June 10-11, sponsored by the Michigan Women Veterans Coalition. Michigan Women Veterans Conference questions can be directed to Erika Hoover, Women Veterans and Special Populations Coordinator, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, 517-230-6090, HooverE2@michigan.gov.

Other resources and events for female veterans include:

“Woman Veteran Strong”

Theresa Robinson, Veteran and Advocate

Virtual Art Workshop with ArtPrize Artist Pamela Alderman

KCVS Events Calendar

Wyoming makes plans for its $13.1 million COVID relief funding

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Hard News, Our Cities, , , , , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Residents identified they would like to see ARPA (COVID) funding used for is on the city’s water and sewer system. (City of Wyoming)

It was a pretty exciting in the fall when the City of Wyoming, like municipalities across the state and country, learned it would be receiving $13.1 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding.

Similar to the most recent round of stimulus checks the U.S. government gave to American residents, the City of Wyoming’s $13.1 million also was part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) designed to rescue the economy. The federal government gave states about $350 billion dollars, of which Michigan received $250 million.

Deputy City Manager John McCarter said the city has received about $6.5 million of the estimated $13.1 million with the remainder expected to be paid out this year.

But like anything that comes from the federal government, there are a few strings attached to the money, such as what it can be spend not, when it needs to be spent and how cities must report expenditures. According to the U.S. Treasury, those guidelines are:

  • Revenue replacement for the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, relative to collection in the most recent fiscal year prior to the emergency.
  • COVID-19 expenditures or negative economic impacts of COVID, including assistance to small businesses, households, and hard-hit industries, and economic recovery
  • Premium pay for essential workers
  • Investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure

Source: National League of Cities

While cities can use the funding for premium pay for essential workers, according to the National League of Cities, Government Finance Officers Association , and the Michigan Township Association, the money cannot be used to relieve other payroll costs, deposited into any pension fund or used to cute taxes

The money must be used for COVID-related needs. An example given by the Michigan Township Association (MTA) is because of the COVID pandemic, a community’s parks had high usage which resulted in damage and higher than normal maintenance needs, the ARPA money could be used for those parks.

Also, according to the MTA, the ARPA money could be used to bring staffing back to pre-pandemic levels, but only if reductions were a direct result of the COVID pandemic.

How ARPA funds impacts city staffing

The question of using the grant funding has been raised instead of the city seeking an income tax, which is one of two proposals Wyoming residents will vote on May 3.

The additional police and fire staffing that are required to address the community’s needs are a recurring expense that should be support by recurring revenue, McCarter said.

“When you consider the ARPA funding, it is a one-time payment, it will not support the recurring expenses that hiring additional staff includes.” McCarter said, adding that the leaders at the federal level have referred to the bill as a “once in a generation funding opportunity.”

“Because it is a one-time payment, using it to fund police and fire, which is an ongoing expenditure, would not be fiscally responsible as the city needs long-term funding to maintain staffing levels,” McCarter said.

The question of using the grant funding has been raised instead of the city seeking an income tax, which is one of two proposals Wyoming residents will vote on on May 3. The first proposal is the income tax, which would be up to 1 percent for Wyoming residents and .5 percent for non-residents, which according to state law, is the maximum cities are allowed to levy an income tax. City officials have stated that if passed, the income tax would be up to .8 for residents and .4 for non-residents.

The second proposal is to reduce the city’s property taxes for homeowners and businesses by about 58 percent, going from around 12 mills to 5. Both proposals must pass to take effect.

It is estimated that the city would generate about $6 million annually if the proposals are approved. The money would be used to fund 27 additional firefighters (doubling the department), 13 police officers and 1 crime analyst with $600,000 annually being dedicated to update and maintain the city’s parks.

 

The City of Wyoming is hoping to use its remaining ARPA (COVID) funds for large-scale capital projects. (Supplied)

City of Wyoming projects being considered for ARPA funding

The city has used $437,280 of the ARPA funding to make modifications at city hall which has included a drive-thru for the treasurer’s office, court building upgrades, a city hall kiosk, police flock cameras, and a police desk officer reporting system, McCarter said.

In November, the city did conduct a survey of residents to determine what they would like to see the funds used for. From that survey, residents indicated that their top priorities were equipping first responders and improvements to water and sewer systems. Also receiving strong support was construction of affordable housing and a community clean-up program. Other projects listed were improvements to city facilities to address public health, assistance with home repairs, improvements to parks and grants for improvements to businesses and mobile parks and recreation programs.

The remaining $10 million, which also must follow the ARPA use guidelines, will be used on large scale capital investments and matching funds for grants and other funding sources. City Council is scheduled to resume discussions about how to spend ARPA funding in June.

Municipalities have until Dec. 31, 2024 to obligate the ARPA funds and must spend the APRA money by Dec. 31, 2026. 

Sooner Rather Than Later: The Intent of National Healthcare Decisions

3-bottom, Community Health, Health, Non-Profits, Our Cities, , ,

By Emmanuel Hospice

It might be a stretch to say we celebrate National Healthcare Decisions Day, but to Erica Beitel, it’s certainly something she honors and observes.

It is important to have end-of-life care and death discussions so everyone understands your final wishes. (Supplied)

Though still shy of 30-years-old, she’s already had a conversation and drawn up documents in response to “the talk” about end-of-life care and death that many who are more than twice her age have not or aren’t willing to initiate.

“I had a loved one who was in a car accident,” she explained. “They couldn’t make their own decisions about healthcare. It was an unbelievably tragic episode that put the issue front and center for me.”

Beitel’s perspective is also unique because she works as a healthcare professional, serving as a social worker for Emmanuel Hospice. The role places her in front of people every day who are making tough decisions – and in many cases wishing they’d considered their futures much earlier.

That’s the whole point of National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16 – to encourage adults of all ages to plan ahead for a health crisis. It’s typically recognized during the same week that includes “tax day” in reference to Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote, “nothing is certain except death and taxes.”

“This day is an annual reminder for people to consider making healthcare decisions for a time when they may not be able,” Beitel said, “and that includes everything from making advance care directives to choosing an advocate to honor your decisions about end-of-life care.

“Sometimes the biggest barrier is when patients are ready to opt for the comfort and care route that includes hospice, but the caregiver isn’t on board. They feel the patient is giving up hope, but hope can be redefined and can look different depending on where you are on your journey.”

Beitel also points out that people avoid the talk because “it’s a vulnerable space to enter, or you don’t think death or dying is imminent.” Indeed, having a talk about final wishes acknowledges the tough topic of death itself. Even with groundbreaking books like Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ book, “On Death And Dying,” in 1969, which revolutionized the public’s perception of death, many of us avoid the subject.

Beitel noted that it’s arguably easier than ever to tackle such challenges, thanks to organizations and websites that exist solely to promote open dialogue, including TheConversationProject.org. The site and others like it provide step-by-step suggestions for how to prompt the conversation, what issues to confront and even where to stage the conversation, such as the kitchen table, at a restaurant or during a walk.

Beitel said she wishes more people would approach advance planning like they do in arranging for home and auto insurance or providing a friend a spare key to their home in case of an emergency. We spend countless hours planning weddings, but recoil at the thought of devoting the same energy to our last wishes.

After having the talk, the next step is to take action, arranging for an advocate and creating directives, a task eased by the availability of free forms from a host of sites, including CaringInfo.org. Lawyers will also assist, usually for a fee.

“What some family members sometimes don’t realize is that a patient might endure the medical system for so long that they’re just physically spent and want to be home to enjoy what they can of the time they have left – to spend it with family and friends.

“Making that wish, or other wishes, known can prevent an ambiguous situation ahead of time. It’s also a gift to your loved ones. It’s lifting a burden from their shoulders.”

Second storytelling night scheduled at The Stray for April

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

A storyteller takes the stage during the February WKTV Voices Storytelling Project. (WKTV)

A chance meeting. A lesson learned and applied. An observation.

 

These were all some of the stories that were shared during the first WKTV’s Storytellers Project that was held in February at Wyoming’s The Stray, 4253 S. Division Ave.

“I moved among the crowd to see their reaction and it was really nice to see how much people were enjoying themselves,” said founder and host Donna Kidner Smith.

In fact, The Stray was packed on that snowy, cold day in February, to listen to about 14 local storytellers share a 5-6 minute story from their life. It was such a success that a second storytelling event has been scheduled for Friday, April 15. The program will be at 7 p.m. and is open to the public.

The idea for the project came from Moth Radio Hour, which airs on NPR stations across the nation. The program features storytellers who share stories that honor both the diversity and commonality of human experience, and satisfies a human need for connection.

“This time there will be a theme,” Kidner-Smith said, adding that the theme is “That didn’t Go as I Had Planned.” There will be about 12 storytellers including Kidner-Smith.

The Stray’s menu features a selection of coffees and non-coffee items such as tea, hot chocolate and Brix soda. There is also a lunch menu of sandwiches and salads and in the evening, the offerings include flat breads and a selection of beer and wine.

For those who missed the February event or would like to get a sneak peek as to how it all goes, can watch the February WKTV Voices Storytelling Project at 9 p.m. Tuesday, 7 p.m. Wednesday, and 10 p.m. Saturday on Comcast Channel 25.

 

WKTV also will be recording the April 15 event as well.

In love and health: Dealing with spring allegeries

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Health, Local Food, , , ,

By Dr. Erik Johnson
Love & Health Chiropractic

Baby’s immune system can benefit from chiropractic, too. (Supplied)

Spring has sprung — and for a lot of folks here in Michigan, that means spring allergies. Before making a run to the local pharmacy to stock up on OTC allergy relievers, consider the root cause. It really isn’t the pollen’s fault. The reason why your body reacts to pollens and other allergens is that your personal immune system isn’t working as well as it should.

What can you do to boost your immune system? Well, first of all, avoid sugar. Cutting out cookies, candy, and sweetened beverages isn’t enough. Processed foods contain a lot of hidden sugars. Surprisingly, food we think is good for us often has more sugar than is optimal. For example, one serving of Yoplait Original Strawberry Yogurt has 19 grams of sugar. That’s 10 more grams of sugar than are in a Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie. To reduce the amount of sugar in your diet, read the nutrition information labels on the foods you buy.

Another reason your immune system may not be at its best is that you’re not drinking enough water. Dr. Jyothi Tirumalasetty, assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health in the department of clinical immunology and allergy states, “Water is vital for the functioning of all of your organs, and it’s a huge part of keeping your immune system functioning at an optimal level. We are made of 60 percent water. If we are dehydrated, the whole system of immunity could start breaking down.”

Proper hydration, along with adequate nutrition and sleep, is an essential component of a healthy immune system. Try to drink half your body weight in ounces of water a day. And remember, caffeinated beverages drive water out of your system. So, if you drink a lot of coffee or Coke, you’ll need to drink even more water every day.

Making other healthy lifestyle changes can boost your immune system, as well. In fact, the Harvard Healthbeat says, “Following general good-health guidelines is the single best step you can take toward naturally keeping your immune system working properly. Every part of your body, including your immune system, functions better when protected from environmental assaults and bolstered by healthy-living strategies.” These strategies include dos like eating lots of fruits and veggies, exercising, and getting a good night’s sleep as well as don’ts — quit smoking, drink alcohol only in moderation, and minimize stress.

Another way to boost your immune system is with regular chiropractic adjustments. An aligned spine helps your brain communicate with all of your organs and body systems. We’ve seen patients’ allergy symptoms dwindle and even disappear. And we can help you tune up your immune system, too!

Senior Living: Developing an aging plan

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

By Emily Armstrong
Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan

Photo from pxhere.com

Planning for any future endeavor can be overwhelming; a big trip, a long-distance move, making a large purchase or upgrade. Developing an aging plan isn’t any different, it can be difficult to navigate. As with anything, starting to research an aging plan is often the first step.

So why do you need an aging plan? It is important to recognize that you may not age exactly how you wish, but having this plan in place before barriers arise, allows you to have a peace of mind that your wishes are carried out how you want.

Where to Start: The Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) is a great place to get started on your aging plan. Area Agencies on Aging are a nationwide network of nonprofit agencies created by Congress in 1974 to be one-stop shops with information about programs and services to maximize the independence and dignity of older adults. At AAAWM, we serve a nine-county region that includes Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola counties, and we partner with local agencies, organizations, and Commissions on Aging to provide vital support to seniors and their caregivers.

Everyone ages differently, and no two situations are identical. The resources that could work to support one family may not be the best choice for another. When you call our Information and Assistance team at (616) 456-5664, they listen to your unique situation and can help you get started. Whether you have current care needs or are planning ahead, we can help connect you to resources that focus on the goal of maintaining independence. The Eldercare Locator tool (www.eldercare.acl.gov) from the U.S. Administration on Aging can also be a helpful online resource for those not in our region or if you are caring for a loved one out of state.

What to Consider: In thinking ahead to your aging plan and having these proactive conversations, you should first consider what you may need help with as you get older. As you share your hopes for aging at home with your family, there could be some support they can provide for you and other things they may not. The good news is that there are many services available in the nine-county region to help fill these gaps.

Here are just a few of the many resources and some questions to consider:

Safety: Is your home safe for you to navigate? What if you were to lose mobility? Some home modifications can be simple, such as adding a handrail, others can be more involved like building an entrance ramp. Programs in the region exist to help older adults make these updates or required repairs and oftentimes will conduct a home assessment to help determine if the home is safe for independence and what steps to take. In some cases, agencies are able to provide adaptive equipment such as walkers and other mobility aids.

Home Support: Can you take care of yourself? Are there some tasks you require support with? Services are available to provide help with routine daily tasks like laundry, shopping, and light housekeeping. If your needs are greater, specific programs like the AAAWM’s Care Management or MI Choice Medicaid Waiver are in place for those who require a higher level of care.

Transportation: If you lose your ability to drive yourself, what are some of your options? Assisted transportation is available to provide older adults with pre-scheduled rides to doctor’s appointments, senior centers, meal programs, and more. Discounted public transportation vouchers are also available.

Meals: Are you able to prepare your own meals? Are you eating nutritious foods? For seniors who are able to still shop for their own food, a wide variety of nutrition services exist from food pantries to the Community Food Club. For the social older adult, congregate meals are a great option to have regular meals with others. Homebound seniors can still have the freedom to choose their own meal options and prepare their own meals through home delivered meals programs.

Health: Are you staying connected socially to peers and your community? Are you prioritizing your physical and social health as you age? Senior centers offer a wide variety of activities to help you stay engaged in your community including specialized programs and activities from woodworking to crafting and bingo. Evidence-based healthy aging classes are designed specifically for older adults to improve their balance and strength to avoid future falls.

Caregiver Support: If you care for an aging loved one, you likely require support from time to time. Services such as adult day, respite, and caregiver education programs are in place to walk with you on the caregiver journey and relieve some of this burden.

In many cases, you can choose the best options for you and what your needs are. It is important to note that in the case of some of these programs, based on age, financial, and medical criteria, some co-pays, or cost-sharing could be required. Call the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at (616) 456-5664 to begin the conversation on how to get connected to the resource options in your community and develop your aging plan!

City of Kentwood, Georgetown Seniors to host annual ‘Spotlight on Seniors Expo’ April 19

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Community Health, Going Local, Health, Local Business, Non-Profits, Recreation, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects, ,
Graphic from City of Kentwood promotional material.

By WKTV Staff

The City of Kentwood and Georgetown Seniors are inviting community members to have lunch and celebrate successful aging by connecting with resources from as many as 50 vendors, as well as free health screenings, at the 23rd annual Spotlight on Seniors Expo on Tuesday, April 19.

The free indoor event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. For more information visit kentwood.us/events. Vendor space is still available. For more information, contact Ann Przybysz at 616-656-5284 or przybysza@kentwood.us.

The vendors will include a variety of senior-oriented businesses, the free health screenings will include blood pressure, posture, grip strength and mental health, and there will be door prizes as well as free snacks and lunch.

“The Spotlight on Seniors Expo is a meaningful way for seniors and other community members to come together in celebration of successful aging and to learn about local resources that support healthy lifestyles,” Kentwood Recreation Program Coordinator Ann Przybysz aid in supplied material. “Our partnership with Georgetown Seniors and our event sponsors is key to the long-term success of this community favorite.”

Participating vendors include professionals knowledgeable in everything from physical therapy and assisted living to home improvement and health care.

“Staying active, healthy and connected is paramount to our senior neighbors,” Pam Haverdink, director of the Georgetown Senior Center, said in supplied material. “We are pleased to partner with Kentwood Seniors and we are grateful to the vendors who help make it happen.”

It’s a robots rumble as teams gather at East Kentwood High School

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Education, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Red Storm Robotics will hosts its first competition in two years. The delay was due to the pandemic. (Supplied)

After two years away from the battlefield, robotic teams from around the state will once again enter the East Kentwood High School gym to face off for honors and a chance to compete at the state level.

The East Kentwood FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition, hosted by East Kentwood’s Red Storm Robotics, will take place this Friday, and Saturday. There are 34 teams scheduled to compete. Among the local teams are Kentwood’s Red Storm Robotics, Wyoming High School’s Demons, and Potter’s House’s Tactical Hams. The event also will be recorded by WKTV and aired on Comcast Channel 25 along with being available on the WKTV on-demand site.

This year’s competition is called “Rapid React,” hosted by Boering. The purpose of the competition is to have teams look at today’s global challenges related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #9. Teams are focused on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.

 

“By encouraging FIRST participants to think about future transportation sustainability, we’re also empowering them to be the next generation of leaders and innovators, tackling the world’s toughest challenges,” according to the FIRST Robotics website.

Teams had six weeks to build a robot that would be able to load and move basketballs to designated areas. In the final part of the competition, robots must be able to demonstrate climbing abilities by moving through a series of bars. Through the competition, the teams will demonstrate skills in mechanical engineering, computer-aid design, electrical engineering, programming, systems integration, website building, animation, and fabrication/machining.

Thursday is when the pits officially open and inspections take place. The action starts on Friday, with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. and qualifying matches starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday the big day with opening ceremonies again at 9 a.m. and qualifying matches starting at 9:30 a.m. Alliance selections will take place at 12:30 p.m. with playoff matches set for 2 p.m. and awards around 5 p.m.

 

One of the FIRST robotics teams carries its robot off to the pits. (WKTV)

Each team is required to attend two district competitions. Those teams that earn enough points or certain awards, then advance to the state competition which will be April 13-17 with the national competition set for April 20-23 in Houston.

The event is free and open to the public. Masks are required for all participants, volunteers, and spectators. Participants and those in the pits are required to wear safety glasses.

The East Kentwood High School is located at 6230 Kalamazoo Ave. SE.

Started in 1992, FIRST is an international high school robotics competition founded by inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen — the man behind the Segway — and MIT professor emeritus Woodie Flowers. In fact, Kamen often has stated that FIRST is the invention he feels most proud of.

Women’s History Month: Local businesswoman finds passion by taking a trip

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Business, Our Cities, Recreation, Senior Living, Travel

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Lillian Vander Veen has been a business leader in the City of Wyoming for several years. She is the owner of Lenger Travel. (Supplied)

For Lillian Vander Veen, her career in the travel business started with a trip to Hawaii.

“It was our 25th anniversary and it was something that we really wanted to do,” Vander Veen said, adding that before the trip she had quit a job working at Northern Air, which had been located at the then Kent County Airport (which later became the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.)

It was on that trip that she would meet Sid and Bertha Lenger, a couple well-known for their travel tours and owner of Lenger Travel.

Sometime after that trip – which Vander Veen noted was wonderful – Sid Lenger approached her with an offer, would she be interested in working for the travel agency? 

“I was surprised but Sid kept saying he knew of my previous work experience and thought it would be a good fit,” she said, adding she had worked for two different companies at the airport and was familiar with airline travel.

It not only was a good fit, but an opportunity to see the world, Vander Veen said, adding she has been able to visit Hawaii, Alaska, and Florida several times along with seeing parts of Europe.

“Lenger Travel was the first to book a DC 10 and a [Boeing] 747 for tour groups,” Vander Veen said.

Vander Veen would help to open an office at the now defunct Grand Village Mall that was located on Fairlanes Avenue in Grandville.

Lillian Vander Veen

The agency, which at one time had several offices in the Greater Grand Rapids area, went through some rough patches. The Lengers eventually retired from the business selling it to another couple who Vander Veen would purchased the businesses from.

“It was through John VanSingel that I was able to bring the agency to Byron Center,” Vander Veen said, adding that VanSingel offered her a spot in the bank he was operating. She eventually moved Lenger Travel to its current location at 2551 84th St. SW.

“You don’t get into the travel business to become rich,” Vander Veen said. “You do it because you love to travel. I think that for that reason it makes it more of a women’s field. It is often women who are planning the vacations.”

That isn’t to say that Vander Veen didn’t have challenges as a working woman in the 50s and 60s.

“The issue I had was not because I was a woman,” Vander Veen said. “Rather it was when I was living in Georgia at the time with my family. I was working for a company and I had befriended an African-American woman and it really bothered me that we couldn’t do anything together outside of work.

“We could only be friends at the office. It was 1953.”

Vander Veen still owns Lenger Travel and mostly oversees the books. Through the years, she has seen a lot of changes in the travel industry, but one thing remains constant: people like to travel. Lenger Travel has changed with the times, now offering assistance with destination travel to such places as Disney World and cruise ship adventures.

While Vander Veen is not in the office very much, she is active in the community she loves, the City of Wyoming, and attends many of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce events, including volunteering for Metro Cruise.

March is Reading Month: The Lying Game

3-bottom, Books, Local Entertainment, Recreation, , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March has been designated as Reading Month. To celebrate and encourage reading, we are asking local officials, residents and WKTV staff and volunteers to tell us about a book that they enjoy. Happy Reading!

Today’s reading selection is from Alyson Presser, the marketing manager for Woodland Mall in Kentwood.

Book: The Lying Game
Author: Ruth Ware
Genre: Thriller

I can recommend “The Lying Game” by Ruth Ware. It’s a great suspenseful novel that throws unsuspecting twists and turns at the reader. Ruth Ware’s storytelling sucks you in and keeps you hooked until the very last page.

Group remembers migrant leader with social justice march

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Upcoming Events, , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Participants in a previous César E. Chávez Social Justice March which is on César E. Chávez Avenue.

The Committee to Honor César E. Chávez will host its annual remembrance march and luncheon today.

The event, Forward Together Down the César Chávez Avenue, kicks off at 11 a.m. with the social justice march down the newly named César E. Chávez Avenue. Staging is at the Cook Library Center, 1100 César E. Chávez Ave. SW. The march is free and open to the public.

There is a community gathering at Potter’s House Chapel and Unity Luncheon, which does require reservations to attend. At the Potter House event, GVSU President Philomena V. Mantella and former GRCC President Bill Pink, who has been selected as the new president of Ferris State University, will be honored. Chávez’s grandson, Andrew Chávez, director of strategic initiatives for the César Chávez Foundation, will be the special guest at the luncheon.

Eyeing needs at junior high, Wyoming Public Schools seek district voter approval of ‘no property tax increase’ bond

3-bottom, Area Education, City of Wyoming, Education, Election, Going Local, Local History, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects, , ,
Wyoming Public Schools graphic of changes planned for the junior high building. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

In November 2017, Wyoming Public Schools district voters approved a bond proposal which transformed Wyoming High School, and accomplished much needed modernization of other schools and district buildings.

Wyoming Public Schools high school building classroom after the 2017 bond funded improvements. (Supplied)

With those priority projects done, or set to be done this summer, the district is looking at more needed district infrastructure work, especially at Wyoming Junior High School, and not just needed upgrades but again “transforming” the educational setting for district students.

To do that, the district is seeking a bond renewal on the May 3, 2022, ballot which would allow it to gain additional funds while having no property tax increase over the current rate for district residents.

(District property tax payers could actually see a decrease in total property tax with passage May 3 of the City of Wyoming’s Proposals 1 & 2, which are the city’s proposed income tax and millage reduction proposals for funding of the Wyoming’s Police, Fire and Parks & Recreation Departments.)

Wyoming Public Schools Superintendent Craig Hoekstra. (Supplied)

“If approved, the current (WPS bonding renewal) proposal would provide an additional $24.9 million for comprehensive renovations and the partial reconstruction of Wyoming Junior High School, a facility that has not seen major structural improvements in nearly forty-three years,” Wyoming Public Schools Superintendent Craig Hoekstra said district informational material on the bond proposal. “And just like in 2017, if passed, this proposal will not raise the property tax rate above the current rate. The current millage rate (which has remained the same since 2016 and is currently lower than 14 of 20 Kent County school districts) would be extended into the future.”

The 2017 bond, according to Superintendent Hoekstra, “paved the way to remodel and reconstruct outdated buildings throughout the District; bring them up to code; and improve security, air quality, and technology.”

But with funds set aside from the 2017 bond approval, the district could only lightly renovate portions of the junior high.

“Having experienced the successful transformation of the High School, the District is asking the community to consider improvements to the Junior High as extensive as those made at Wyoming High School,” Hoekstra said.

 

Wyoming Public Schools photos of some of the problems with the junior high building. (Supplied)

Renovations and improvements to the junior high to be funded by the bond renewal include, according the district, modern learning environments, new furniture, and integrated technology; adequate lab spaces and equipment; improved air quality; replacement of failing building systems (such as roofing, plumbing, and electrical) to become energy efficient and meet modern building codes; and site improvements to traffic flow, aging parking lots, and athletic facilities.

To learn more about the 2022 bond proposal, and to see images of the work completed to date with funds from the 2017 bond, visit wyomingps2022.com.

According to ballot information from the Kent County Elections Office, the estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2023, is 0.94 ($0.94 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a 0 mill net increase over the prior year’s levy.

How and when to vote on the bond renewal

All registered voters can either vote in person on Election Day or send in an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots became available March 19, and must be returned by May 3 at 8 p.m. You can request an absentee ballot by contacting the City Clerk’s Office online or by phone.

In-person voting will take place on May 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the polling location designated by the city. You will need to bring your voter ID.

If you’re not registered to vote, you have a few options to become registered to vote in this election: By mail on or before April 18; online at michigan.gov/vote on or before April 18; in person at the City of Wyoming City Clerk’s office through May 3.

Financial Perspective: Are you comfortable with risk you are taking?

3-bottom, Finances, Local Business, Our Cities, Senior Living, , , , ,

By Dave Stanley
Integrity Financial Service, LLC

“Risk can be a hard concept to calculate, remember, it is not a calculated risk if you haven’t calculated it.” – Dave Stanley

Photo from Pxhere.com

In the 2009-2010 NFC Championship Game, the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints were tied 28-28 late in the fourth quarter, with the Vikings close to field goal range. Vikings quarterback Brett Favre took the snap, rolled to his right, and saw about 30 yards of open field in front of him. Even though he had injured his leg in the third quarter, all Favre had to do was lurch forward for 10 yards, fall down, and have a first-and-10 inside field goal range.

Instead, Favre reverted to what has made him a legendary hero (and sometimes a goat) many times in his Hall of Fame career. He planted his foot and threw cross-field where Tracy Porter intercepted him at the 22-yard line. At that moment, Minnesota’s fine season, Favre’s great comeback, and Vikings fans’ hope for a Super Bowl were thrown away. The Saints ran out the clock and kicked a field goal on the first possession of overtime.

What happened? In a pressure situation, with everything on the line, instead of making the high percentage play, a superstar did what felt familiar and comfortable – not what was safe.

You see the analogy coming. Quarterbacking a football team and managing your retirement portfolio are wildly different activities. It is doubtful that we will ever achieve a “Brett Favre” status within your success. Yet, a failure on our part to “read the field” could be more devastating to a family than the shock and disappointment felt by the players, coaches, and fans after that heart-breaking loss.

It is common for us as individuals to be the “quarterback.” If that’s the picture we are projecting, who is the head coach and team owner? Making all of the decisions in your planning can be very difficult, but help is often needed.

We have moments when we cannot handle any more risk (take the first down!). We know we do not want to lose another dime (just get me into a good field position!). It does not make any difference if you are convinced you can choose the stocks, funds, IPO’s, REITs, or whatever will right their portfolio and make you look like a hero. Most of us may not be ready to take that step with you.

During that game, there were millions of people watching. Some of those people were former NFL players. Some were Hall of Famers. Some were even Hall of Fame quarterbacks. But, when Favre planted his foot, there was no one on the planet more comfortable than he was. A lifetime of training, conditioning, practice, big games – even Super Bowls, had prepared him for that throw. It was the most comfortable thing in the world until Tracy Porter.

We may have the knowledge and experience but being all things in all situations just isn’t possible any longer. We all need a “Coach” to make sure we call the correct play. The disappointment over a lost opportunity while “going for field position” will be nothing compared to the fury if you try to “force a throw” they did not want you to make in the first place.

In plain English, we should never be comfortable with risk unless we know and understand all your options.

Dave Stanley is the host of Safe Money Radio WOOD1300 AM, 106.9 FM and a Financial Advisor and Writer at Integrity Financial Service, LLC, Grandville, MI 49418, Telephone 616-719-1979 or  Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463  or click this link:  Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.com  Dave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management.

March is Reading Month: Leaders Eat Last

3-bottom, Books, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, Recreation, Reviews, , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March has been designated as Reading Month. To celebrate and encourage reading, we are asking local officials, residents and WKTV staff and volunteers to tell us about a book that they enjoy. Happy Reading!

Today’s book selection is from TJ Norris. Norris is a financial controller for an international manufacturing company.  She is also a serial volunteer for non-profit boards and organizations and loves seeing teams work together to accomplish amazing goals.

Book: Leaders Eat Last
Author: Simon Sinek
Genre: Business/self-help

In this era of “The Great Resignation,” retaining employees can make or break a company. Sinek’s book, though originally written in 2014, is as timely today as it was then. Filled with wonderful examples of what has worked for various companies, it’s not only a book about keeping your best employees, but it is also about keeping them happy, motivated and loyal. But read a little deeper. Substitute “company” for family, church group, or civic organization, and let the “aha! moments” kick in. This book is consistently on lists of the 10 best business books and, as the author himself states, “Leaps of greatness require the combined problem-solving ability of people who trust each other.”

Take the leap into making your team better, stronger, happier.

May 3 proposal could double fire department staffing, reduce response times

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Crime Prevention, Hard News, Our Cities, WKTV Projects, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Currently there are 27 Wyoming firefighters. The department is down by 8 employees from 2000. (WKTV)

In the early morning hours of Jan. 25, the Wyoming Fire Department was called to a house fire on Canal Ave and shortly after, the department received a second call of a fire at the 28th Street Taco Bell.

“Thankfully another shift was on,” said Wyoming Chief Kim Koster. “The Taco Bell fire occurred at 6:30 a.m. Our next shift came on at 7 a.m., so we did have another shift of firefighters who could respond, and they were assisted by other departments.

“But what if we didn’t have that other shift coming on at that time?”

More than likely, a department from a neighboring city, such as Grandville, Grand Rapids, or Kentwood, would have been called. In fact, the City of Wyoming has had to call on those three cities 165 times in 2021 while in the same year providing return assistance 23 times.

The tide needs to turn, Koster said, adding “We need to provide mutual aid in the same manner that we receive it.”

The City of Wyoming is hoping to double its firefighting staffing from 27 to 54 and added 13 police officers and a crime analyst through two proposals on the May 3 ballot. The first proposal would be an income tax of up to 1 percent for city residents and up to .5 percent for non-residents such as commuters who work in the city. In the second proposal, the city is seeking to reduce its property tax by about 58 percent, from around 12 mills to 5. Both proposals must pass to take effect.

The passage would generate about $6 million for the city, of which $5.4 million would be dedicated to the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, which houses the city’s police and fire.

 

How would the city gain revenue if the property tax would go down? According to City Manager Curtis Holt at the March 24 income tax public information meeting, according to the U.S. Census there are about 34,000 non-Wyoming residents who work in the City of Wyoming who currently contribute zero toward the city roads or services. Through the first proposal, those residents would contribute up to a .5 percent of their income. City staff has estimated the total revenue raised from the income tax would be about $6 million annually with $3.3 million dedicated to the fire department, $2.1 million to the police department, and $600,000 to the parks.

With the additional $3.3 million, the City of Wyoming would be able to hire an additional 27 firefighters. This would add about 9 firefighters per shift and the city would be able to fully staff all four of its fire stations. Currently only two of the stations, Gezon and 36th Street, are fully staffed; however emergency calls are evenly distributed throughout the city, Koster said.

The city received about 7,155 calls in 2021, which is about 265 calls for service per firefighter. With the additional firefighters, calls for service per firefighter would decrease to around 133. In neighboring Kentwood, calls for service per firefighter is about 121. Kentwood has 42 firefighters serving a population of 51,898. The City of Grand Rapids has 195 firefighters serving a population of 201,013 with calls for service per firefighter around 123. Holt pointed out that this shows that Wyoming’s firefighters are answering a lot of calls.

The Wyoming Fire Department answered 7,155 calls in 2021, averaging 265 calls for service per firefighter. (WKTV)

The additional 27 firefighters would allow the city to fully staff all four of its stations, Koster said, adding that in return this would mean faster response times.

“Right now, we have to send our resources to where the calls are,” Koster said during the March 24 informational meeting. “Sometimes we have to send them all away across the city and then a call comes out from where they just came from. So then again, we have to send a unit from this side of the city all the way back. So our response times are higher that way.”

There would be more firefighters on each shift, again increasing response times along with providing enough officers to answer more than one call at a time. More officers not only increases the safety of residents but of the firefighters as well.

“Right now, we don’t have enough firefighters in the City of Wyoming to enter a burning building,” Koster said, adding that the rule is you have to have two out for the two going in a burning structure so the two out can rescue the two in if something happens.

Lastly, the increased staffing would reduce Wyoming’s dependence on mutual aid.

“It won’t eliminate it,” Koster said, adding that there will be times when another city’s department has to be called.

“It would increase the number of firefighters on each shift so when we have those structure fires we can handle them alone or at least leave some of those units available for some of those medical calls,” she said.

To learn more about the two May 3 proposals, visit wyomingmi.gov/FundingFortheFuture. The next informational meeting on the two proposals is April 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW. 

March is Reading Month: Firekeeper’s Daughter

3-bottom, Books, Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, Recreation, , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March has been designated as Reading Month. To celebrate and encourage reading, we are asking local officials, residents and WKTV staff and volunteers to tell us about a book that they enjoy. Happy Reading!

Today’s reading selection comes from Grand Rapids Public Museum’s educator Katie Bilby.

Book: Firekeeper’s Daughter
Author: Angeline Boulley
Genre: Young Adult Fiction/Mystery/Thriller

Aspiring doctor, Daunis Fontaine is a biracial, unenrolled tribal member on the brink of adulthood. After witnessing a murder, she’s recruited for an undercover investigation into a harmful new drug. Now Daunis must combine her knowledge of modern medicine and traditional practices to save her community and become a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman).

 

Set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, this thriller directly connects to the GRPM’s Anishinabek: The People of This Place exhibit. As a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, author Angeline Boulley spent ten years researching how illegal drugs have impacted the Ojibwe people. Her self-proclaimed “Indigenous Nancy Drew story” is as educational as it is exhilarating.    

Area residents invited to give input on access to Ford Airport

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Business, Travel, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

The Grand Valley Metro Council is looking at access to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. (Supplied)

How much does having busing services impact you when heading to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport? Do you find it easy to be dropped off at the airport? What improvements would you suggest for access to the Ford Airport?

These are just some of the questions residents and stakeholders are being asked to on an Airport Access Study survey hosted by the Grand Valley Metro Council and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

The project is in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Transportation, Kent Conty Road Commission, City of Kentwood, Cascade Township, and engineering firm AECOM. The study is designed to investigate ways to improve access to the airport as well as the surrounding local road and freeway systems. Rapids growth and develop at the airport, and in the Greater Grand Rapids Area, makes now an import time to consider how best to provide access in the airport area into the future, according to organizers of the study.

“While labeled ‘Airport Access,’ this study focuses on transportation through a broader lens, looking at what modes of transportation are needed, how people get to and from the airport and its surrounding area, and how it can be improved upon,” said Laurel Joseph, GVMC Director of Transportation Planning. “Dating back to efforts made in the 80s and 90s, we recognize the far-reaching impacts this project will have.”

The study will examine current transportation needs and changing travel patterns including airport passenger and cargo traffic, road connections and access, traffic operations and safety, bike and pedestrian circulation, transit service, railroad connections, airport security, and terminal access redundancy. The study also will evaluate different airport access alternatives, leading to a recommended alternative (or alternatives) and an accompanying implementation and action plan.

The start of this project will be the survey which will ask residents and stakeholders to consider the type of travel they did before the pandemic, how frequently they visited the airport, what modes of transportation they took, and the ease of access to the airport. Participants will be asked if shuttles, biking, walking or parking impact access to the airport. Participants also will have an opportunity to identify airport access areas they feel need improvement. Filling out the survey takes about five to 10 minutes.

“Out communities continue to grow and change, attracting national talent in various industries,” Joseph said. “ Our airport and its connecting transportation system need to not only meet our current needs but also projected growth. The goal is to find ways to improve the accessibility, functionality, safety, and efficiency of the transportation network for years to come. we cannot do that without the essential input of those traveling to, from, and through the area today.”

Joseph said the goal is to collect as much community input as possible. To help with that, survey participants many enter into a $50 gift card drawing. There will be two winners. The survey will be open until the end of April.

For more information about the project, click here. To take the survey, click here. (Survey is available in both English and Spanish.)

Driving habits, shopping around can help gas money go farther

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By Sheila McGrath
WKTV Contributing Writer

With everything going on in the economy and the world today, it’s hard to know what price you’ll see the next time you pull up to the gas pump.

While drivers can’t make the price of gas go down, they can take several steps to make each tank last longer.

Removing excess cargo in a car will help with making your gas last longer. (pxhere.com)

The U.S. Department of Energy has several tips online at fueleconomy.gov to help drivers stretch their gas dollars:

  • Slow down. Each 5 mph driven over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.30 per gallon for gas, according to the site.
  • Don’t drive aggressively. If you’re speeding and rapidly accelerating  and braking, you’re lowering your gas mileage by 15% to 30% on the highway and 10% to 40% in the city. 
  • Get excess weight out  of your car. If you’re carrying an extra 100 pounds of unneeded stuff in your trunk or your back seat, you could be lowering your gas mileage by 1%. Carrying cargo on your roof is also a sure way to lower your mileage. Remove cartop cargo boxes when they’re not in use – at highway speeds, they could reduce your gas mileage by 10% to 25%.
  • Turn the car off when you’re idling. It takes much less gas to restart your car than to leave it idling, which can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour.

Buying gas on days when it’s a few cents cheaper per gallon is another way to save.

According to GasBuddy, an app that provides real-time gas price information, Mondays and Fridays are the most economical days to buy gas in Michigan, followed by Sundays.

Thursday is the worst day to fill up in Michigan, followed closely by Wednesday.

In years past, Friday was one of the most expensive days. But that hasn’t been the case since 2021, according to GasBuddy analysts, who said the pandemic may have shifted people’s buying habits, affecting supply.

Oil and filter changes are key in helping your car maintain good gas mileage. (pxhere.com)

Regardless of which day you’re buying gas, it pays to check around for the best price.

  • The GasBuddy app and the AAA Mobile App both offer drivers a way to search for the best price in their vicinity.
  • According to AAA, some gas stations offer discounts for paying cash instead of using a credit card.
  • Enroll in gas station savings programs. If you like to visit the same station instead of shopping around for the best deal, enrolling in a savings program at one of the major gasoline providers can save you anywhere from 2 cents to 5 cents per gallon. The Penny Hoarder offers a rundown at https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money/fuel-rewards-programs/

Keeping your car in optimal running condition can also increase your mileage. Autozone offered several tips in a recent news release to increase gas mileage by taking good care of your car.

  • Change your oil filter. A dirty oil filter makes the engine work harder, reducing power and fuel efficiency.
  • Keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure. You can improve your fuel economy immediately by up to 3.3% just by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure, according to Autozone. The correct pressure can be found in your car’s manual or on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jam.
  • If you’re due for an oil change, get it done. Oil changes prevent oil breakdown and the buildup of sludge over time. Some types of oil are designed to improve engine efficiency. Ask for an oil marked “Energy Conserving.”

Local man shares passion of ghost hunting to help educate, understand

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Recreation, Volunteers, WKTV Projects, , , ,

By Wayne Thomas
Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters

Wayne Thomas with Brandon Hoezee on a past episode of the Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters. (WKTV)

South West Michigan has a rich history when it comes to haunted locations, ghost stories, local urban legends, and paranormal folklore. Certain people and groups have separated themselves from the public mainstream, dedicating their time to chasing shadows during long nights of tedious investigations.

Many of the people pursuing the paranormal have had mysterious experiences at an early age. Brandon Hoezee had his first paranormal experience as an adolescent in his own home. It was there he saw haunting shadowy apparitions and it wouldn’t be the last time he would see ghosts. Hoezee began researching the paranormal early on and progressed to co-founding Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters, where he spent more than a decade investigating 100-plus private and residential locations.

Wanting to be more than a ghost hunter and recognizing the historical significance of some of the haunted locations, Hoezee created another team called Kent County Paranormal. This team adopted a vision with the intent of training new members to investigate not only ghosts but UFOs, Bigfoot, Dogman and other cryptids, lake monsters, and even elemental entities.

For the last two years Hoezee has gone to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for Bigfoot training with Rich Meyer and Jim Sherman of UPBSRO or the Upper Peninsula Bigfoot Sasquatch Research Organization. Currently Hoezee is producing and hosting WKTV’s, Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters Podcast as well as Hoezee Paranormal History Productions YouTube channel.

Brandon Hoezee has received training from the Upper Peninsula Bigfoot Sasquatch Research Organization. (pxhere.com)

As a ghost hunter, Hoezee reports his top three favorite haunted locations and investigations were at Nick Fink’s in Comstock Park, the Old Allegan County Jail Museum, and the LST 393 World War II Navy Ship, docked in Muskegon.

Nick Fink’s, the oldest bar in Grand Rapids and part of the Gilmore Collection, was first established in 1888 as Riversite Hotel but it has been a bar, hotel, barber shop, post office, and rumored to be a brothel as well as wakes being performed at the location. Another rumor has it that Al Capone would frequent Nick Fink’s and his name can be found on an old registry. It was also rumored that Nick Fink’s was haunted. Hoezee and the Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters have investigated Nick Fink’s several times, provided guided tours, ghost dinners, presentations, and annual Halloween parties.

Through the years, Hoezee has compiled several ghost voices, EVP’s or electronic voice phenomenon at this location. Team members names were often heard as EVP’s and several recordings suggest one spirit talking to another spirit and Hoezee even heard “Help” with just his ears, no electronic device used to enhance it. Recorded evidence suggests multiple ghosts may be haunting Nick Fink’s; one male (Larry or Ed), one older woman (Maggie or Clair), one child ghost with the Fink family name “Michael.” Ghosts have even been recorded whistling the song “Oh Susanna” at Nick Fink’s.

Just rumors right?  Be careful not to offend, judge, or disrespect the noisy dead!  

West Michigan native, Kentwood favorite, singer/songwriter to perform in Kentwood’s final Winter series concert March 31

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Going Local, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Local Food, Recreation, Restaurants, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, WKTV Projects, ,
Nicholas James Thomasma will bring his VW van full of music to Kentwood’s Winter Concert Series this week. (He won’t actually bring the van into the library!) (Supplied)

By D.A. Reed, WKTV Contributing Writer

Singer-songwriter Nicholas James Thomasma, no stronger to the stage of Kentwood city concerts, will bring his family-friendly mix of Americana, folk, country, and rock music to the final Winter Concert Series show this week.

The City of Kentwood’s free-to-the-public concert is set for Thursday, Mar. 31, at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE.

The songwriter, talking to WKTV, said he plans to combine stories and songs, creating an atmosphere that can be enjoyed by all ages.

“What we do, as musicians … everything centers around gathering people together for experiences,” Thomasma said. “My music is applicable to, and can appeal to, all ages.”

The concert will take place in the library’s Community Room, from 6:30-8 p.m., and guests are invited to bring their own beer, wine, or nonalcoholic beverages to enjoy during the show. Also available will be food from El Jalapeño, a local food truck featuring Mexican cuisine.

Though the singer frequently plays with a 6-piece band, The Bandwagon, Thomasma will be performing as a solo artist at the Kentwood show, incorporating acoustic guitar and harmonica into his performance, often playing both instruments at the same time.

Nicholas James Thomasma with his big band, Bandwagon. (Supplied)

A singer/songwriter’s journey

Thomasma’s journey into the music world began when the artist was in his twenties. Working as a radio DJ, Thomasma’s conversations with other musicians led him to the realization that he was on “the wrong side of the board.”

“What I really wanted to do was play music,” said Thomasma. “I started learning guitar. Almost as soon as I started learning how to play guitar, I started writing my own songs.”

When asked what inspires the songwriter and shapes his music, Thomasma said that he never forces his songs into a particular category.

“When I write songs, I try to treat them how they want to be treated,” he said. “Sometimes it’s a jazz song, sometimes it’s a folk song, sometimes it’s a country song, sometimes it’s a rock song. I just let that happen depending on what the song wants to be.”

Nicholas James Thomasma (Supplied)

Thomasma said he often jokes around at his shows that “This next song is a love song. Spoiler alert: they’re all love songs!”

Because of the emotions put into his work, Thomasma said there is a lot of love in all his songs.

“I’m writing songs from my heart, and whether they are love songs or not, they are often inspired by my real life.”

Keeping busy in unusual ways

Always looking for paying gig, Thomasma said he also creates custom songs upon request. And while he has written songs for various occasions, he said weddings are the most popular request.

“People will contact me shortly after they get engaged and say they want a song for their wedding,” Thomasma said, and that these songs create special moments that no one else has. “Other people can listen to it (the song), but the couple knows it is their song.”

Another unique service Thomasma offers music lovers and listeners are driveway concerts.

Nicholas James Thomasma, and his traveling VW van show. (Supplied)

“Driveway concerts are a pandemic pivot,” said Thomasma. “I’ve been playing house concerts as long as I’ve been performing, but during the pandemic we kind of switched to taking the house out of the equation.”

Thomasma said he doesn’t need a building to make music, traveling to outside venues and homes in his trademark orange 1973 Volkswagen Bus.

“I’ll pull up in your driveway, I’ll have the sound system, you invite your friends and your neighbors, and we’ll all sit in your front yard and have a good time,” said Thomasma, adding that the idea of driveway concerts has really taken off.

Finding various ways for community members to enjoy music isn’t the only way Thomasma honors his love of music. Future goals include helping other musicians find their footing in the music world as well.

Thomasma is currently enrolled in Grand Rapids Community College, working toward a degree in marketing.

“My goal is to help other artists survive similar to the way that I do,” he said. “I want to understand business and how the music business works so well that I can teach other artists how I do what I do in the hopes that they then can be successful on their own.”

To find out more about Thomasma and his music, visit nicholasjamesthomasma.com.

The public at Kentwood concerts are urged to follow current public health guidelines if attending the concert.

Sign of spring: Kentwood to resume brush and leaf drop-off for city residents

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Going Local, Recycling, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects,
A sign at the City of Kentwood Department of Public Works as the city’s fall leaf and brush drop-off programs returns in April. (City of Kentwood)

By WKTV Staff

The City of Kentwood has announced it will resume its brush and leaf drop-off services beginning Saturday, April 2, when residents can drop off brush, sticks, tree limbs, logs, loose leaves and grass clippings at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE.

Drop-off is available noon to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, through May 27.

The services are available to Kentwood residents only and proof of residency is required, according to the announcement. Materials that cannot be accepted include trash, paper and plastic bags, dirt, concrete, asphalt, tires, rocks, stones, construction materials, glass and metal.

A past pile at the City of Kentwood Department of Public Works as the city’s fall leaf and brush drop-off programs returns in April. (City of Kentwood)

“This winter’s high winds and heavy snow have left behind tree debris that, if unchecked, can clog our roadways and storm drains,” Public Works Director Chad Griffin said in supplied material. “The City of Kentwood’s brush and leaf drop-off services provide residents with an easy and convenient way to clean up their yards and help keep our community’s infrastructure running smoothly.”

In addition to making yard maintenance easier, leaf and brush drop-off services also help residents stay in compliance with city ordinances, according to the city announcement. The accumulation of leaves and debris on a property or in the right-of-way is prohibited in the City of Kentwood, as well as burning leaves and brush.

More information about the City’s brush and leaf drop-off services is available at kentwood.us/BrushLeafDropOff.

Robotics competitions kick off at GVSU, WKTV gets ready for E. Kentwood event

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Kentwood’s Redo Storm Robotics will hosts its first competition since 2019 on April 1 and 2. (WKTV)

FIRST Robotics competitions kick off this weekend when 36 teams, two from Wyoming, competed in the district event at Grand Valley State University.

The teams from the Wyoming area competing are Lee High School’s robotics team and Potter House’s Tactical Hams robotics team.

Opening ceremonies are set for 10:30 a.m. with matches running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m .on Friday. Saturday, opening ceremonies are set for 9 a.m. with matches beginning at 9:30 a.m. and playoff rounds running from 2-5 p.m. Teams are guided by teachers and industry mentors. Under strictrules, limited time and resources, teams are challenged to raise funds, design a brand, hone teamwork skills and build and program competitive, industrial-size robots.

All events take place at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena on the Allendale campus. Events are free and open to the public, however per GVSU and FIRST Robotics COVID-19 guidelines, participants, volunteers and visitors must wear face masks.



Next week, WKTV will be filming the FIRST Robotics competition at East Kentwood High School. The free event follows the same rules and guidelines of the GVSU one.

There will be 33 teams at this event including the local teams of Potter House’s Tactical Hams, Kentwood’s Red Storm Robotics, and Wyoming High’s Demons. Events will start on Friday with play-offs taking place on Saturday.

Wyoming Chief Koster appointed to state law enforcement standards board

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Chief Kim Koster

Wyoming Director of Public Safety Kimberly Koster has been appointed to the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Serving the residents of Michigan through the promotion of public safety since 1965, MCOLES provides leadership through setting professional standards in education, selection, employment, licensing and funding in law enforcement and criminal justice in both the public and private sectors.

Koster was selected to represent the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police on MCOLES for a nearly three-year term that ends Dec. 31, 2025. She succeeds recently retired Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Payne.

Wyoming Chief Kim Koster with former Kentwood Chief Thomas Hillen during a National Night Out event. (WKTV)

“I am honored to be appointed to the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and to represent my fellow police chiefs on this esteemed board,” Koster said. “I look forward to continuing the exemplary work of MCOLES to ensure our communities are safe, our officers are well-trained and our criminal justice system is supported.”

Koster has been Wyoming’s director of public safety for nearly four years, leading a team of 151 full-time personnel that includes 99 sworn police officers and 29 full-time firefighters.

Before becoming chief, Koster served as a captain within the department for eight years. In this role, she assisted with the formation of the Public Safety Department through the administrative consolidation of police and fire services, created a new staffing model, facilitated dispatch operation transitions and led a collaborative effort in the development of the department’s five-year strategic plan.

Prior to that, she worked her way up through the ranks to detective, sergeant and lieutenant. A 26-year veteran of the department, she began her career with Wyoming as a school resource and community policing officer. In this role, she worked with neighborhood groups and organized community events to bridge gaps and build solidarity among neighbors.

Wyoming Chief Kim Koster reads “Valenstiens” by Ethan Long during the 2021 March is Reading Month celebration. (WKTV)

Throughout her career, Koster has been recognized with several commendations, including the Life Saving Award, Chief’s Award of Excellence and Outstanding Young Public Safety Officer.

She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has completed the Leadership Institute training hosted by Grand Rapids Police Department and the Police and Staff Command training hosted by Northwestern University.

Koster received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Grand Valley State University and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Ferris State University.

Watch WKTV for tonight’s Wyoming City Council special meeting on proposed income tax and property tax decrease proposals

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By WKTV Staff

Wyoming City Council will hold a special session tonight, Thursday, March 24, at 7 p.m., to inform voters about the May 3 vote for Proposals 1 & 2, the city’s proposed income tax and property tax decrease proposals for funding of the Wyoming’s Police, Fire and Parks & Recreation Departments.

Watch it live on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on WKTV’s Comcast Channel 26 or on Facebook at the WKTV Community Media Facebook page.

Adventure on Mt. Kilimanjaro: Michigan woman reflects on climb with team of kidney donors

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As part of WKTV’s special coverage of World Kidney Day, which was March 10, we are presenting a series of stories, first about a Michigan donor leading an active lifestyle; then a West Michigan recipient living a lively future thanks to another; an adventure of a lifetime, for a cause — a climb of Africa’s tallest mountain; and finally — here — a first-hand story from a Michigan woman on the climb.

  • Michigan’s own Emily Polet-Monterosso, a member of the Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) national group, was part of a team of “One Kidney Climbers” which climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in early March. The mountain, the tallest on the continent, is shrouded in the background. (Supplied by Emily Polet-Monterosso)
  • Members of the Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) group on the trail leading up to Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in early March. It was a multi-day trek to get to the mountain and then a multi-day climb. (Supplied by Emily Polet-Monterosso)
  • Members of the Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) group climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in early March. The mountain is the tallest on the continent. (Supplied by Emily Polet-Monterosso)
  • Members of the Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) group climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in early March. The mountain is the tallest on the continent. Shown is the group at the entrance to the Tanzania National Park. (Supplied by Emily Polet-Monterosso)
  • Members of the Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) group which climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in early March. Shown is the evening meal tent on the mountain trail. (Supplied by Emily Polet-Monterosso)
  • Members of the Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) group climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in early March. The mountain is the tallest on the continent. (Supplied by Emily Polet-Monterosso)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org


Adventures — even one for a cause — often do not turn out the way one plans, the way one envisions. But that does not lessen the adventure, or the importance of the cause.

Michigan’s own Emily Polet-Monterosso, a member of the Kidney Donor Athletes national group, was part of a team of “One Kidney Climbers” which, with support both in-country and back home, climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro.

On the morning of March 10, in Africa, on World Kidney Day, the Kidney Donor Athlete team reached their goal — the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro. (Supplied)

After a multi-day hike to the mountain and then a multi-day climb, most of the team summited the continent’s tallest peak on World Kidney Day, March 10. Emily got to the mountain, but not the summit.

WKTV has been following Emily’s African adventure, and as she returned from the trek, she talked about her effort, and how while she was disappointed fate denied her the peak of Kilimanjaro, the cause for which she and her companions got blisters for remained fulfilled.

“Out of 22 kidney donors from our group who made the climb, only 20 summited,” Emily wrote in a March 16 email. “Myself, and our President Bobby McLaughlin, did not summit. Bobby had a fever on summit night which prevented him from making it to the top, and I struggled with altitude sickness for most of the climb and was going on four days without any food at the time that the group attempted the summit … (the climb leaders were) not going to allow me to summit for safety reasons.”

(McLaughlin pointed out that “The fever I picked up had nothing to do with the climb itself — it was a random bug picked up somewhere, possibly even the day before the climb began.”)

Instead, Emily said, she waited at Barafu base camp  — still at approximately 15,000 feet above sea level — for her teammates to return from the summit so that they could all descend together.

“Neither my nor Bobby’s inability to summit had anything to do with our status as one-kidneyed people — both situations were a result of circumstances relating to the difficulty of the climb that could have been experienced by any other two-kidneyed climber.”

The climb was the first coordinated event by Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) to bring attention to the need for living kidney donors and that those who donate can be “healthy and thrive” with one kidney.

According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), more than 97,000 people in the U.S. are on the waiting list for kidney transplants. Over 3,000 new patients are added to this list every month. With fewer donors than there are those in need, 13 people die every day waiting for a kidney.

“Our mission was to prove to ourselves and anybody watching us that you can donate a kidney and still experience life fully and without negative health consequences,” Emily said. “We believe we accomplished that mission, and our deepest hope is that someone heard about it and considers donation themselves.

“If even one life is saved as a result of our efforts, every ounce of difficulty we navigated will have paid off, and then some.”

The cause and the adventure

Emily Polet-Monterosso lives in Metro Detroit, but grew up in Holland, until 15 years old, and “still have lots of family there,” she proudly says. And she is a kidney donor — having donated one of her two healthy kidneys to someone badly in need — she also proudly says.

Emily is also a kidney donor athlete, and a member of KDA, founded by ultra-athlete Tracey Hulick who donated her kidney in 2017. Emily’s team, climbers from 16 metro areas across the United States and Canada, left on Feb. 28 for Tanzania, where their group will prepare for their climb.

The One Kidney Climber team had about 110 support staff in porters, guides and cooks helping them up the mountain, a 42-mile 8-day expedition led by hired experts on the mountain. Embark Exploration Company out of Portland, Oregon is the guide company.

Emily Polet-Monterosso was fit before donating a kidney, but she now is even more an athlete. (Supplied)

And while athletic endeavors are nothing new to Emily, her African endeavor for a cause she has come to really believe in, and believe in enough that she pushed herself to her physical limits — limits that most persons with two kidneys would only dare to do.

“Not having summited does not in any way negatively impact the experience I had,” Emily said. “I still engaged in the most challenging physical feat of my life for eight days, and I feel nothing but pride in what I’ve accomplished.”

And she made friends for life.

“I also feel extreme pride in my teammates for the effort and attitude they all brought forth,” she said. “I have never spent such a large amount of time in intimately close quarters with a more encouraging, upbeat, inspirational group of people.

“Additionally, the support staff from our guide company, Embark Exploration Co, deserves the highest praise for the job they did in getting us all safely up and down the mountain again.”

More information on KDA

For more information on the Kidney Donor Athletes climb, and other resources, visit kidneydonorathlete.org.

Founded in 2018, Kidney Donor Athletes is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to promote the gift of life through living kidney donation among active individuals and athletes by building a community that inspires, supports, and educates people about the experience.

March is Reading Month: Taste for Truth

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March has been designated as Reading Month. To celebrate and encourage reading, we are asking local officials, residents and WKTV staff and volunteers to tell us about a book that they enjoy. Happy Reading!

Today’s book selection comes from Nancy Jacobs, co-owner of the Apple Spice Box Lunch Delivery and Catering Co. Apple Spice is located at 701 68th St. SW and offers a variety of box lunches and catering services.

Book: Taste for Truth: A 30-Day Weight Lost Bible Study
Author: Barb Raveling
Genre: Self-help, Christian

I really love the message behind the book about how to lose weight you have to be in the right place. The book is designed to help readers face the lies that make people eat and focus on the truth that will help them be free of the control food has on them.

Spring arrives at Woodland Mall with photos with a fun bunny, special Tea Party

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A spring bunny will be available for photos and visits at Woodland Mall starting this weekend. (Supplied)

By WKTV Staff

Photos with Santa are always a winter holiday family treat at Woodland Mall, and now a spring fling in the same vein is returning as starting March 26 photos with a big, fun “Springtime” bunny will be available through April 16.

And that is not all of the local family springtime events as the Mad Hatter Tea Party is set to return on Saturday, April 9.

“Seasonal family portraits are a beautiful way to capture memories of your loved ones,” Alyson Presser, marketing manager for Woodland Mall, said in supplied material. “You can either pose with the bunny or choose a spring-themed portrait area for a seasonal photo with your family, friends and pets.”

Pets can have their photo taken with a springtime bunny at Woodland Mall. (Supplied)

Bunny and family photos will be available in the Macy’s Court from noon to 7 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 6 p.m., Sundays. (For the last weekend before Easter Sunday, there will be extended hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16.

Pets can join in for photos noon-7 p.m. every Monday. Feathered and whiskered pets of all kinds are welcome as long as they are kept on a leash or in a carrier at all times. (Owners must also sign a release.)

Reservations are encouraged and can be made online. Walk-up visits are permitted when space is available.

And that Mad Hatter Tea Party

On April 9 guests are invited to attend the Mad Hatter Tea Party from 10 a.m. to noon. The Alice in Wonderland-themed event will include special appearances by the Mad Hatter himself, as well as Alice and the Red Queen. There will also be spring-themed crafts, snacks and games.

The event is free and open to the public. Those who attend the tea party are encouraged to reserve their bunny photos the day of to win a $10 gift card to The Children’s Place, a children’s specialty apparel retailer.

“Our Mad Hatter Tea Party makes celebrating the arrival of spring and taking photos with the bunny all the more magical,” Presser said. “We welcome everyone to enjoy this fun and interactive take on a Lewis Carroll classic story with activities that bring out the child in all of us.”

Mall hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. For more information visit shopwoodlandmall.com.