Crowds continue to pack Cutler Park as the third Sounds of Summer concert series took place July 15 and featured country music with the Bootstrap Boys.
Line dancing and singing along with some old country favorites delighted the audience throughout the night.
Lead singer Jason Stilson (Big Jake Bootstrap) showcased many original songs along with the country classics. Round out the band was Nick Alexander lead guitar and vocals; Jeff Knol on drum and vocals; Jon Bruha on bass; and lead singer songwriter on rhythm guitar Jason Stilson.
The Bootstrap Boys put on a highly professional show and have been traveling the music scene nationwide. The group has several CDs available and a classic record album. To learn more about The Bootstrap Boys, visit the group’s Facebook page.
There are two more Sounds of Summer concerts left. This Thursday, July 22, is the rock band Jaded 8. The July 29 grand finale will feature national headliner Audie Blyalock and Redline bluegrass.
Sponsored by the Byron Township and a nested by P. Williams Productions, all the concerts are free. Concerts are at 7 p.m. at Cutler Park, 6701 Cutler Park Dr. SW.
The Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids, a local facility previously called the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, will hold an open house of the new new facility on July 22 from 3-7 p.m., and the public is invited.
The Michigan Veteran Homes GR is located at 2950 Monroe Avenue, NE, Grand Rapids. (For a WKTV Journal story, video and photographs on the new facility, visit here.)
The event is hosted by the Michigan Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, Michigan Veteran Homes and the Michigan Veterans Facility Authority Board of Directors.
Paying respects to veterans: a Scout places a flag at a graveyard near the new Michigan Veterans Homes GR. (Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs)
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our community members, veteran service organizations, and other stakeholders to take a 30-minute tour of the new Home,” Tiffany Carr, Michigan Veteran Homes, said in supplied material. “Although our current members and their families have had the opportunity to tour the new home, we felt that it was also important to provide our community partners with the opportunity to see what we’ve been working on.
“We’re looking forward to the chance to meet with those curious about the new Home, as well as provide information about admissions, volunteer opportunities and other ways the community can help support our Heroes.”
Those interested in touring the home should RSVP by July 19 at this link or to email her at CarrT1@michigan.gov.
Construction on the new home began in April 2019. Funding for the project came from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs State Home Construction Grant Program, which contributed $40.9 million, and the state of Michigan, which covered the remaining $22 million for a total project cost of $62.9 million, according to supplied material.
The facility, which will serve 128 veterans and dependents in need of skilled nursing care, occupies 153,000 square feet and consists of four unique neighborhood buildings and a community center.
The new building is designed to provide care in a more “home-like” environment rather than the older more institutional setting that used to exist. The neighborhood buildings contain private-resident rooms with ensuite baths and feature shared living and dining spaces.
The adjacent 33,000 square foot community center is the centerpiece of the home and features therapeutic facilities for behavioral, occupational, physical and group therapy, an exam room, chapel, barbershop and salon, café bistro and gift shop. Residents will also have access to outdoor courtyards which will allow them to observe the natural surroundings the campus has to offer.
West Michigan’s veteran-care facility held a small ceremony early this year to raise a 30- by 50-foot flag just off Monroe Avenue NE across from Grand Rapids’ Riverside Park. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The Michigan Veteran Homes (MVH), according to supplied material, is the entity that provides day-to-day operational oversight of the state’s veteran homes on behalf of the Michigan Veterans Facility Authority and is a branch of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
The MVH operates the Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids, the Michigan Veteran Homes D.J. Jacobetti in Marquette and the new Michigan Veteran Homes at Chesterfield Township.
“The most important office, and the one which all of us can and should fill, is that of private citizen” casting their vote.
Louis Brandeis, justice on the Supreme Court of the United States from 1916-39
2021 primary and general local election summary
When 2021 election filing deadline passed in April, the Kent County election office reported six candidates running for the open 28th District State Senate seat (more could be added if independents file) and there will be five contested elections in the City of Kentwood, including for mayor, city commissioners and the city clerk. Go here for the story.
Primary election, City of Kentwood, Commissioner Ward 2
The City of Kentwood Ward 2 includes three non-partisan candidates: incumbent Tom McKelvey and challengers Jessica Ann Tyson and Dan VanderMolen. The top two vote-getters will move on to the November general election (unless one of the primary candidates get 50 percent plus 1 vote in the primary, in which case they will win the seat). Go here for the story.
Primary election, 28th District Senate
Last year, Peter MacGregor stepped away from the 28th District Senate seat to take over the position of Kent County treasurer, leaving the seat open until the governor called a special election. Five candidates, two Democrats and three Republicans are seeking the nomination from their respective parties in the Aug. 3 primary. The top vote getters in each of the party elections (and possible independent candidates) will face off in the November general election. Go here for the story.
Fun fact:
80 million
More Americans voted in 2020 than in any other presidential-year election in 120 years. About 67 percent of eligible voters cast ballots, but that still means a third did not. That amounts to about 80 million people. Source.
Continuing the WKTV Journal In Focus series “WKTV Voices: 9/11 at 20 — Our Islamic neighbors 20 years later”, Hamid Elmorabeti, who was born and raised Morocco, leads a classic American immigrant family.
He and his family live in a quiet neighborhood in Kentwood where everybody had great lawns and kids ride their bikes. After first operating a trucking company with his family, he now works in truck maintenance. His wife, Mirsada, also works locally, and their son, Marwin, attends Kentwood Pubic Schools.
In our interview, Elmorabeti talks about his and his family’s journey to West Michigan and American citizenship, about that fateful 9/11 day 20 years ago when his wife advised him to not leave the house, and about how things have gotten better for local Muslims as that tragic day has become more history than nightly news.
The Kentwood family of Hamid Elmorabeti, at home prayer during COVID-19 mosque closure. (Courtesy of Elmorabeti Family)
But Elmorabeti, who has deep roots in the community — decades-long roots, admits he often still feels like an outsider.
“Yes, sometimes I do,” Elmorabeti said in the interview. “Society, they choose how they look at us. We try as hard as we can to fit in. But sometimes it is really hard. I remember one time I was driving a truck … ”
This special WKTV Voices project presents video interviews, and online/print stories, covering a range of personal stories of the 9/11 attacks and their impact over the following two decades.
Following previous background interviews dealing with American Islamic history and global politics, we now present the voices of Muslim community leaders and, most importantly, local Muslim American citizens, especially young people who grew up in the age of 9/11.
WKTV Journal’s “Voices: 9/11 at 20 — Our Islamic neighbors 20 years later” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos. Online/print stories are available by searching “9/11 at 20” on WKTVJournal.org. You can also search Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the Hashtag #voices9/11at20.
It is a City of Grand Rapids alleyway which will eventually bear the name of a local Latina woman and which the Latino Community Coalition hopes “will honor our rich history and the women to whom many families owe their legacies here in Grand Rapids.”
But the Latino Community Coalition knows that a woman who made an impact in Grand Rapids may well have lived and had family anywhere in West Michigan.
“Gentrification and displacement has been a significant factor shaping our migration story in Grand Rapids,” a spokesperson for the Latino Community Coalition Committee said to WKTV. “We encourage nominations from families across West Michigan and invite you to submit stories of your loved Latinas.”
“La gentrificación y el desplazamiento han sido un factor importante que ha dado forma a nuestra historia de migración en Grand Rapids. Alentamos las nominaciones de familias de West Michigan y los invitamos a enviar historias de sus amadas latinas.”
For information in Spanish see this. Para obtener información en español, consulte este.
The Latino Community Coalition is seeking nominations from the Latino community for a Latina women after whom they will be naming an alleyway downtown as part of the Downtown Grand Rapids alleyway activation initiative. They are calling their effort “HERencia.”
“We hope our community can help us by bringing forth a Latina woman who has passed on, but whose memory lives on in the minds and hearts of her family members,” according to an announcement this week from the coalition. “We want to honor the point of origin to which their family can trace their roots here in Grand Rapids.”
Instead of relying on accomplishments, awards and other merits, the group hopes to celebrate women who were the first in their family to set roots in Grand Rapid.
“We hope to elevate the stability they brought to their home, how they anchored the family for generations to come, and all the milestones and accomplishments for those generations we can now celebrate,” according to the coalition. “Her story is our story, and it will be archived at the Cook Library Center for future generations to always remember her. This alley will honor her life and legacy.”
The Downtown Grand Rapids alleyway activation initiative is meant to create permanent physical representation of our community in public places.
The Coalition is partnering with the Downtown Grand Rapids Inc on the project, as well as the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, which is located next to the alley which will bear the name.
“Grand Rapids Community Foundation is proud to partner with the Latino Community Coalition to honor the legacy of local Latina women who have helped shape our community,” Diana Sieger, president of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, said in supplied material.
As part of that effort, the Latino Community Coalition is holding an online event July 20. Go here for the Facebook event details.
People in local Latino communities who would like to nominate a Latina from their family, neighborhood or community are encouraged to do so online in English or in Spanish at bit.ly/herenciaGR.
Nominations can also be submitted by visiting partnering agencies which can assist with filling out paper applications, including The Other Way Ministries, the Hispanic Center of West Michigan, the Latina Network of West Michigan, La Casa de la Cobija, Garfield Park Neighborhood Association, Isabel Media Studios, and the Grandville Ave Arts and Humanities.
The deadline to submit applications is July 31, after which the Latino Community Coalition will choose finalists and gather further information from each family, before making a final decision.
They are a familiar sight to the outdoor summer concert series: two guys with two pianos better known as the Yellow Brick Road Dueling Pianos.
The group is headed to Wyoming next week for the second Concerts in the Park series set for Tuesday, July 20, at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. The concert starts at 7 p.m.
The Yellow Brick Road Dueling Pianos perform Tuesday, July 20, at Lamar Park. (Supplied)
“We are very excited to be able to bring the concerts back,” said LeighAnn TeBos, chair of the Wyoming Community Enrichment Commission. The commission oversees the annual Concerts in the Park. “It is truncated this year, but it is all about getting Wyoming back into the grove of things.”
That was definitely the case with the July 13 concert featuring The Soul Syndicate. Despite the threat of rain, there was a big crowd and lots of dancing.
“When there are dance tunes, people definitely come out,” TeBos said with a laugh.
And there will be dance tunes Tuesday, July 20, as Grand Rapids only traveling dueling piano show takes over the Lamar Park stage. The duo performs a number of rock classics from such groups as Queen, Journey, Lady Gaga, and, of course, Elton John. There also will be lots of audience participation time as the group performs iconic songs that anyone will know the chorus to such as “Sweet Caroline,” “Margaritaville,” and “Don’t Stop Believin’”.
Next up for the Concerts in the Park will be the Project 90 (featuring favorites from the nineties), July 27; and country and classic rock covers from the Mustang Band, Aug. 3. All concerts are free. Concerts start at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park.
The concerts are recorded by WKTV and rebroadcasted on Comcast Channel 25 at 5 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday.
Benzing Graves Collective — aka “BGC” — may be led in music and name by Austin Benzing and Hannah Rose Graves, but with Jeremiah Wenger, Luke Lenhart and Max Griffith added to the “collective”, the band’s stop in Kentwood this week is sure to offer the audience “old-school country steeped in swingin’ good times,” so they say their facebook page.
The West Michigan group of musicians and songwriters hail from different parts of Michigan, were raised on different styles of music, but blend all of the best genres to create their own completely unique sound.
The Kentwood Summer Concert Series, which will run most Thursday nights through Aug. 19, will also include West Michigan favorites Dalmatian Stone on July 22, David Gerald on July 29, The Accidentals on Aug. 5 and a rescheduled night with The Soul Syndicate on Aug. 19.
Concerts will be livestreamed by WKTV for those who would prefer to enjoy the performances from home.
All concerts will begin at 7 p.m., and conclude around 8:30 p.m., on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair. Each concert will feature food trucks, which will have food and beverages available for purchase. Guests may also bring their own food and beer or wine.
All are also invited to visit the Kentwood Farmers Market, which overlaps with the concert schedule as the market will take place 4:30-7:30 p.m. each Thursday in front of the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE.
New this year, Kentwood will offer essential workers and their guests special VIP seating near the stage. Essential workers who are interested can RSVP online prior to each concert.
Note: For the Michigan Aug. 3 primary election, WKTV’s We The People program invited participation from all candidates. If they participated, their videos are linked here, For those who did not participate, either a candidate-provided biography/issues statement, or simply their name is listed. All videos are 5-minutes or less, and were not edited in any way by WKTV.
The City of Kentwood Ward 2 includes voting Precincts 10-18, roughly the east and northeast areas of the city. For a precinct and ward map, click here.
The non-partisan candidates are incumbent Tom McKelvey and challengers Jessica Ann Tyson and Dan VanderMolen. The top two vote-getters will move on to the November general election (unless one of the primary candidates get 50 percent plus 1 vote in the primary, in which case they will win the seat).
Note: Commissioner McKelvey chose not to record a We The People video
Tom McKelvey – Incumbent
Occupation: President of Leadership Consulting Associates
Why did you decide to run for this position?
When I decided to run in 2017, I ran because I wanted to get involved and make a difference in Kentwood. Over the past 4 years, I have grown into a stronger leader for Kentwood citizens. I am running again, because I feel with my proven leadership experience, I can continue to help Kentwood create a vision for the future, that will create a strong, economically viable city for many years.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
Kentwood citizens and businesses have just come out of a challenging year. It’s time now that we use the funds that have been given to us to build a stronger business community through loans and grants, that we improve our parks and quality of life, and that we stay within our budget so that we don’t need to ask the citizens of Kentwood to increase their taxes. We have the funds to do all these things, we just need to have the discipline to manage citizen tax dollars wisely and fairly.
Jessica Ann Tyson — Candidate
Occupation: Business owner of The Candied Yam — Delightful Southern Cuisine; JA PR Group, LLC; Pink Lounge Dry Salt Therapy
Why did you decide to run for this position?
I want to continue and expand my volunteer service to the community I love, work and live in.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
Involved leadership — If you serve the community you must be genuinely and authenticity involved. You only know what the community needs if you show up. Lack of involved leadership will only cause further disconnect. Our community is changing and deserves leadership involvement.
The community of Kentwood is facing space deficits. From crisis with housing to available land for zoning uses, the right leadership can support with expertise and knowledge. The city needs active and forward thinkers in utilization and creation of spaces available that will make sense for our community and generations to come.
Dan VanderMolen — Candidate
Occupation: Project Coordinator at First Steps Kent
Why did you decide to run for this position?
I’m running for this position because I believe that the residents of Kentwood want a solutions-focused government that works for them, with them, to tackle the important issues facing the city. Kentwood has an incredible opportunity right now to establish a future of long term growth and development, and for that to happen we need to leverage all of our available resources and create intentional, strategic partnerships with the amazing people and organizations in our area. I have made community collaboration the focus of my career over the past ten years and know for a fact that If we work cooperatively we can create a thriving city that works for everyone. However, we’ll only be able to accomplish that if we pledge to focus on what brings us together, not what tears us apart.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
Affordable Housing: It’s no secret that Kent County currently suffers from an affordable housing crisis which extends to the community of Kentwood. Far too often our residents are faced with the difficult decision of whether to pay their rent or mortgage, or spend money on basic needs. As housing costs continue to climb, pricing many people out of the market, it is imperative that we provide effective measures to help people find safe, attainable housing no matter what the budget.
High quality, affordable child care: The Covid-19 pandemic illuminated a number of things about our world, one of which is just how important access to child care is to the health of our families, our community, and our economy. To address this crisis, we need to tackle it on two fronts: Lower costs for families and higher wages for providers. The only way to accomplish that is through targeted financial investment at the local, state, and federal levels.
Broadband internet: Another issue that became abundantly clear over the past year and a half is that not everyone in our community has equal access to the broadband internet services absolutely necessary to support remote learning and work. By working with local tech companies and internet providers we can develop the much needed infrastructure required to assure that nobody in Kentwood is ever left behind again.
An open market will return to the former 28th Studio site in the form of the HŌM Flats Public Market scheduled for this September.
“HŌM Flats is about providing quality homes that are accessible to all,” said Jaylyn McCloy with Magnus Capital Partners, which owns HŌM Flats at 28 West, located right across from the Wyoming High School at 1401 Prairie Parkway SW. The location was once part of the Studio 28 site and hosted the Studio 28 Flea Market for 50 years.
“We also wanted to be able to offer everything that the community has to our residents right to their front door,” McCloy said, adding that is how the public market idea was born.
The goal is to have vendors and food trucks representing businesses from the area, she said. The entire market is free to those attending and to the vendors.
“We really wanted to emphasis the community aspect and have the market open and available to everyone,” McCloy said, adding there is no fees for vendors to participate.
There is a deadline for those wishing to be a vendor, which is July 23. If you are interested in being a vendor, contact McCloy at jpm@magnuscapitalpartners.com. McCloy said vendors will receive information about the event and a bio sheet to complete.
“We had been planning this for a couple of months and once all the pieces were in place, we approached the city about sponsoring,” McCloy said. “It turns out that the city also was looking at doing something similar and really liked the concept, so they asked to partner.”
The partnership means the event will be hosted on two days, Sept. 18 at HŌM Flats at 28 West and Sept. 25 at Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW. Both events will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Vendors may participate in either one or both events, McCloy said. Due to the locations, spaces are limited, so vendors are encouraged to apply soon.
Justin Audeh on bass and vocals and Ezekiel Kinny on fiddle
Scott Nesbit on mandolin and vocals and Justin Audeh on bass and vocals
Tommie Foster on lead guitar and vocals.
Ezekiel Kinny on fiddle
By Patty Williams P. Williams Productions
The threat of rain did not keep the Sounds of Summer fans from filling Cutler Park last Thursday to see the Americana/folk band Tommie and his FAN Club from the North Muskegon/Whitehall area.
The band members are Ezekiel Kinny on fiddle and vocals, Scott Nesbit mandolin and vocals, Justin Audeh bass and vocals, and Tommie Foster lead guitar and vocals.
Tommie and his FAN Club band had the crowd singing along and goofing around all night with an exceptional entertaining show. Setting aside the comedy, there is no doubt that these guys are well seasoned musicians.
The author with the Tommie and his FAN Club. (Photos by Patty Williams)
Zeke and Scott played and sang several bluegrass favorites on fiddle and mandolin.
Applause from all angles of the park erupted as the members played solo breaks on their instruments. Justin, dressed in his colorful clothing and glasses, played and sang old-time country favorites like Eddy Arnold’s “Make the World Go Away.”
Band leader Tommy Foster has a lifetime of music in his background as a singer, songwriter, and entertainer. Tommy has no fear on stage when it came to being crazy with the crowd. The spontaneous one-liners and dancing had the people laughing all evening, making it a great show and fun night.
All of the Sounds of Summer concerts are sponsored by The Byron Township. The concerts are every Thursday evening in July. This week, Thursday, July 15, features The Bootstrap Boys Country. On July 22 will be rock group Jaded 8 and the grand finale on July 29 will feature national headliner Audie Blaylock and Redline bluegrass band. All concerts are at 7 p.m. at Cutler Park, 6701 Cutler Park Dr. SW.
Last year, Peter MacGregor stepped away from the 28th District Senate seat to take over the position of Kent County treasurer, leaving the 28th District Senate seat open. Five candidates, two Democrats and three Republicans are seeking the nomination from their respective parties in the Aug. 3 primary. The top vote getters in each of the party elections will face off in the general election for the seat. This is for one year with the seat returning to its regular election cycle in 2022. Note, voters may only vote for a Republican or Democrat candidate.
The 28th District of the State Senate includes the City of Wyoming as well as the cities of Walker, Rockford and Cedar Springs. For a district map, click here.
Democrats
Keith Courtade
Occupation: Retired UAW Skills Trades
Why did you decide to run for the District 28 Senate seat?
I feel important things are going on and I have a passion for it. I have always had a passion for it and I want to help people. I’ve been a voice for the middle class and have a passion to help people.
What are the key issues you are focused on?
The biggest issue is the right to vote. I believe all people should have the right to vote. The next one, and the one closer to Michigan, is cleaning up and protecting our groundwater. I’ve seen firsthand what happened in Flint as I was working at the GM plant there at the time. More needs to be done to fix the problem not just in the in the Flint area but all of Michigan as contaminated groundwater is a statewide issue.
Gidget Groendyk
Occupation: Hobby farmer and home remodeler
Why did you decide to run for the District 28 Senate seat?
My family has always been committed to serving the community which started with my grandfather who the day after the Pearl Harbor attack joined Patton’s army.
What are the key issues you are focused on?
I am a grassroots activist, environmentalist, advocate for social justice, nonviolent resister and regular citizens who’ve had enough of corporate-dominated politics. I would look at infrastructure, the PFAS contamination, and work on reopening small businesses.
Republicans
Tommy Brann
Occupation: The current 77th District State Representative, serving the City of Wyoming and Byron Township, Brann is a restaurant owner and president of the Division Avenue Business Association.
Why did you decide to run for the District 28 Senate seat?
My restaurant business is a small business and I will have been there 50 years. I see so much at my restaurant. My experiences at the restaurant I take to Lansing such as homelessness, something that I often witness. I fought hard to get $1.9 million to get homeless shelters up to $18 per bed. I also have given half of my salary, about $60,000, back to the community.
What are the key issues you are focused on?
I will continue to be focused on housing and homelessness. Also we need to be supporting family businesses and I want to work to get our K-12 education in the top 10 of the nation.
Kevin Green
Occupation: Green is the Algoma Township Supervisor and has served as a Wyoming City Council member and 77th District State Representative.
Why did you decide to run for the District 28 Senate seat?
I felt that the Legislature was not being effective in stopping the Governor on her mandates. I feel that my voice could be a lot more effective in carrying what the people want and I believe I have shown that in my past history in public service.
What are the key issues you are focused on?
Election integrity is an important issue. We need to follow that chain of custody, following the vote and making sure it matches with the signature. We also need to focus on our businesses as they slowly reopen. Lastly, I have worked on legislation for Count the Kicks, which is a a stillbirth prevention campaign that encourages expectant parents to track their baby’s movements during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Mark Huizenga
Occupation: The current 74th District State Representative, which covers Rockford, Cedar Springs, Algoma Township along with the cities of Walker and Grandville, Huizenga owns Mark Huizenga Systems Consulting, a consulting firm, and is the managing partner for Key Green Solutions, a software company.
Why did you decide to run for the District 28 Senate seat?
I have always been involved not because of the campaigns or the politics, but because I have been asked to. My past background includes serving the state and mayoral experience with the City of Walker. I offer transparent accountability and am known to respond to all questions. I also make a point of meeting with people and talking about the issues that impact them.
What are the key issues you are focused on?
Currently there is no formula for state funding of higher education with some institutions receiving more than others. I sit on the Higher Education Committee and have been working toward creating a more equability funding system. Other issues are mental health, especial in our schools and I have worked to help launch a new hotline through the Department of Health and Human Services. Also, we need to look at gun violence.
Brian Hartl, epidemiology supervisor for Kent County Health Department, talks about its mobile unit and why it is part of the effort to reach under vaccinated populations. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Kent County Health Department’s mobile COVID-19 vaccination unit’s community outreach effort last week happened to be at a south Grand Rapids neighborhood, but it could have been — and could yet be — to any under-served, under-vaccinated neighborhood including ones in Wyoming and Kentwood.
Kent County Health Department nursing staff and mobile vaccine unit visited the Great Giant Supermarket in south Grand Rapids last week. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The health department, which initially led the effort to establish mass vaccination sites, is transforming part of its efforts to team with local community groups and offer vaccination availability to persons not yet served — as they did July 8 when its nursing staff and mobile vaccine unit visited the Great Giant Supermarket, at 1226 Madison Ave. SE, for the first of four Thursdays in July, each from 1-3 p.m.
“We are finding more and more, with people who are kind of on the fence about vaccination … We have heard that it needs to be convenient for them,” Brian Hartl, epidemiology supervisor for the health department, said to WKTV. “So we have the mobile unit out, at a couple different locations each week.”
And why the selection of the south Grand Rapids location? The answer if two-fold: low vaccination rates and hesitancy to get vaccinated by the black community, and the partnership with a trusted community group.
A Kent County Health Department nurse gives a COVID-19 vaccination shot. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“This area has a low vacation rate, we know that from our data,” Hartl said. “And we really want to partner with community organizations that are in these neighborhoods and are trusted by the residents.”
In the case of the south Grand Rapids area, that “trusted” community organization is Seeds of Promise — a group who’s expressed goals include “building local resident leadership and trust, deep listening to community voices, and meeting the needs and wants that are expressed by the neighborhood.”
Ron Jimmerson, executive director of Seeds of Promise, said teaming with the health deportment meets all three of those goals.
Ron Jimmerson, executive director of Seeds of Promise. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“If we are going to service the people, we have to be able to bring the services to the people,” Jimmerson said to WKTV. “Many of our residents, over 50 percent of them, don’t have WiFi. They don’t have iPhones. So it was very difficult fo them to get signed up, and get transportation, and go to somewhere outside their community. So the residents wanted us to bring the service, the vaccinations, to the community.”
At last week’s event, Jimmerson praised the owners of the Great Giant Supermarket for allowing the mobile vaccination clinic to set up for several weeks. But the effort was not focused just on the people that would be shopping at the store, as its location is also in a neighborhood with a homeless population.
“The other concern that the residents had was that we have a large homeless population in this location, in this area,” Jimmerson said. “We want to be able to serve them, and work with other organizations to bring this service to them.”
The Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson vaccines will be available at all the mobile vaccine clinics, according to the health department. Appointments are not required and there is no charge for the vaccine. More information on vaccine locations can be at vaccinatewestmi.com/clinics.
Classic cars in the parking lot and ladies dressed up to the nines, the Wyoming Moose Lodge definitely had a Metro Cruise vibe this Saturday.
The service organization once again hosted the Miss Metro Cruise, organized by Kentwood’s JA PR Group. The annual competition is a lead up to the Metro Cruise, which is set to take place Aug. 27 and 28 at Wyoming’s Roger Plaza and Kentwood’s Woodland Mall.
“This is just an amazing event,” said Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce President Bob O’Callaghan about the Miss Metro Cruise competition. The Chamber organizes and hosts the annual Metro Cruise. “After COVID, people are just so excited to be out and have an opportunity to participate in something.”
A sentiment that was shared by contestant Bee Bee Von Schweetz, whose real name is Molly Sheehan, of Cleveland, Ohio.
“I was involved in the preliminaries in 2019 and I loved the spectators and the friends I made,” finalist Bee Bee Von Schweetz said. “Unfortunately, the world shut down last year but this year, as things started to open up, I decided to give it a shot. So this is my summer of being a pin up.”
The Miss Metro Cruise preliminaries contestants pose with Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce President Bob O’Callaghan (middle, blue shirt) and JR PR Group owner Jessica Ann Tyson (far left). (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
There were a total of 15 girls who competed in the Saturday preliminaries. The final 10 will compete for the title of 2021 Miss Metro Cruise during Saturday’s events at the Roger Plaza staging area. The top ten moving on to the finals are (all are pictured above): Bee Bee Von Schweetz, Dr. Joules Kelvin (Julliet Brown), of Lansing; Trudy Blue (Beth Miller), of Three Rivers; Victoria Jean (Cathy Jean Swanson), of Grand Rapids; Margaux Monroe (Raluca Simion Theron), of Romania; Gigi Martini (Sarah Gillman), of Grand Rapids; Maelynn Mitten (Jaime Collick), of Port Huron; Sweet Caroline (Caroline Kelly Wright), of Rockford, Ill.; Teena Marée (Krystina McNamara), of Mecosta; and Aurora Re’Belle, (Erin Wiseman-Parlein), of Jenison.
Chamber President Bob O’Callgahan thanks Wyoming Moose Lodge and the lodge administrator Sean Smith for hosting the Miss Metro Cruise preliminary contest. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
“This is my first year competing in pin-up contests,” said finalist Dr. Joules Kelvin, who already had a win as Ms. Lakeview. “I have heard wonderful things about the Miss Metro Cruise and that it attracts a large crowd, so I decided to dip my toes into the big leagues.”
Through the efforts of the JA PR Group, the Miss Metro Cruise has increased in popularity over the past five years the local communications company has been running it, according to O’Callaghan. The competition attracts a packed house for the event with people cheering for their favorites. Afterwards, constants pose with the classic cars and talk to fans.
“My neighbor, Morgan Harrington, who was a former contestant and winner, had done this particular contest and she just inspired me to enter the world of pin-up and to come here and be a part of Miss Metro Cruise,” said finalist Sweet Caroline.
Finalist Maelynn Mitten has been participating in pin-up contests for the past four and half year, including Miss Metro Cruise. She is happy to be able to return this year since the event did not fit in her 2019 schedule and everything was shut down in 2020, adding with a laugh, “It is like the year didn’t even happen.”
“I love doing this and I think it is a lot of fun,” finalist Teena Marée said. “Everyone works to make sure that it is a positive experience.”
Positivity about women is what finalist Aurora Re’Belle, a historian, believes that pin-up competitions help showcase.
“I believe this is a good role for women as it shows beauty can be strength and strength can be beauty,” she said. “I think it is important for people to be able to see that we can be strong, beautiful women who are intelligent as it helps everyone to advance.”
For a person with sickle cell disease, a blood transfusion remains one of the most effective and proven treatments, according to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. So imagine heading to the hospital and possibly not being able to receive that treatment.
This is what many West Michigan hospitals and blood clinics are facing as blood donations have dropped “to critically levels” since the COVID pandemic, according to Kent County Health Department’s Administrative Health Officer Dr. Adam London.
“Donations have been down certainly due to the pandemic,” said Versiti Area Vice President and Director of Donor Services Dawn Kaiser, during a recent interview on A Matter of Public Health podcast, hosted by the Kent County Health Department. “We were down about 40 percent in 2020 and into 2021 because of high schools, colleges, and university not hosting — kids are at home learning — and that is where we get our brand new donors and about 40 percent of our blood.”
The same is true for many businesses, with people working from home, making it difficult for organizations to host mobile drives.
One such Versiti blood drive partner that has faced those struggles has been SpartanNash which has hosted blood drives at its offices and distribution center, both located in Byron Center, since 2015. The grocery company received the Beacon of Hope award in 2019 from Versiti for its blood drives which in had collected 560 donations treating about 1,680 patients that year. In the past six years, SpartanNash employees have donated more than 2,000 pints of blood.
According to Versiti Blood Center, it receives about 60 percent of its blood from mobile blood drives hosted by local businesses and other organizations. (pxhere.com)
“We have been a longtime Versiti blood drive partner,” said SpartanNash Community Engagement Specialist Courtney Carlson. “With COVID, we discovered we just couldn’t do that as our distribution center was overloaded with supply chain issues and the risk of safety, we had to cancel our drives, especially during the COVID time.”
SpartanNash was able to host a drive in March of 2020, just as the state was starting to shutdown. But like many manufacturing and distribution centers, visitors were not allowed in to the SpartanNash distribution center and many of their office workers worked from home.
As the world resets itself and more employees return to work, events like blood drives can happen, according to London.
“Blood donation sites are a very low risk place in terms of COVID,” London said during the A Matter of Public Health podcast. “I am not aware of any outbreaks associated with a blood draw event and the majority of the blood we have in our blood supply comes from the sort of community events at churches and schools and places of work. We really need those places to step up and allow Versiti and other blood banks to come in and do their important work.”
SpartanNash hosted offsite blood drives over the past several months but next week will be having its first onsite blood drive since the pandemic at its distribution center. While the offsite donation drives helped, Carlson said it is much easier for employees to donate at their work place since they can simply take an hour, donate, and then get back to work versus having to drive to another location.
As for safety, Carlson said they have confidence in Versiti which requires face masks, has temperature checks before donating, cleans between donors, and works at making everyone comfortable.
“We are hoping that by letting the community know that we are hosting mobile blood drives at our facilities that it will inspire other work places and organizations to do the same,” she said.
London noted that about one in several people visiting a hospital will need blood and that the shortage is critical.
While O-type is always needed, blood from a diverse pool is very important, Kaiser said.
“Everybody has an A, B, or O blood type. Everybody is pretty familiar with that,” she said. “There is also about an alphabet after that most people don’t know. So a little more specific type.”
For African-Americans, 44 percent of them have a blood type called RO in addition to their A, B, O blood type. According to the Centers for Disease control, one our of 365 African-Americans have sickle cell anemia with the major treatment being blood transfusions. A person with sickle cell anemia may have 10 to 15 units of blood in a month and because of that need, would benefit from blood from someone with the same or similar ethnicity, according to Kaiser.
“That is why we are asking communities of color to roll up their sleeves and give back to their communities,” she said.
To host a blood drive or to donate, visit Versiti’s website, Versiti.org.
The Michigan Veteran Homes (MVH), which has a local facility previously called the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, held a ceremony Monday, July 6, to memorialize Sarah Brooks, who had many connections to Grandville and the local area, in the new memorial garden at the Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids (MVHGR).
The Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids facility is located at 2950 Monroe Avenue, NE, Grand Rapids.
The dedication of the new memorial garden included a private ceremony to honor Brooks, who was the Department of Michigan American Legion Auxiliary Hospital Representative at the facility.
Detail of the Sarah Brooks Memorial. (Michigan DMVA)
Brooks, according to supplied material, volunteered since 1958, having logged over 60,000 hours of service which is the equivalent of working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, without a single day off for nearly 29 years.
The wife of Army veteran John R. Brooks Sr. and mother to Navy veteran Sandra Jennings, Brooks passed away this last Veterans Day.
Brooks was been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Crispus Attucks Unit #59 for 75 years, having held many offices in the local, state, district and national auxiliary, according to her 2020 obituary. She volunteered for Grandville Senior Neighbors, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Mary Free Bed Hospital, Kent Community Hospital since 1990 and was Past Chapau of 8 et 40 La Boutique, an organization that supports children with respiratory diseases. She was one of the people who founded the Unknown Black Soldier at Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek.
Remarks at the ceremony were led by Tracey Nelson, administrator of MVHGR; Bruce Kalish, chaplain of MVHGR; Betty Rhodes-Machen, secretary of the American Legion Auxiliary Crispus Attucks Unit #59; and Robert Troost, resident member and past president of the member’s council at MVHGR.
The ceremony included the revealing of a silver-plated memorial plaque, installed at the base of a sugar gum tree donated by Twin Lakes Nursery of Grand Rapids, and bench seating for members to enjoy the outdoor space.
Yes, there are already more than a dozen sell-outs of the Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens’ 28-show July-September lineup, with Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park members-only sales continuing until open-public sales start July 10.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band. (Supplied/by Danny Clinch)
And yes, some of the usual “classic rock” suspects are among the sell-outs — The Beach Boys, Kansas, America and Pat Benatar. But, for those more inclined to the “classics” — classic jazz and classic Star Wars — yes in deed, there are still some great concerts with tickets still on the board, including an opening night with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
According to a spokesperson for Meijer Gardens, since members-only opening sales opened two weeks ago about 77 percent of all possible tickets have been sold during the “members only” period.
“Many venues offer pre-sale tickets to their VIP lists, club seat holders and other groups, and we’ve chosen to offer a similar benefit to our members by including early access to discounted tickets as a benefit to being a member of Meijer Gardens,” a Meijer Gardens spokesperson said to WKTV this week. “The public is welcome to purchase tickets after our member pre-sale, as well as attend the Tuesday Evening Music Club series which runs every Tuesday night in July and August from 7-9 p.m. Those concerts are included in a general admission ticket to Meijer Gardens.”
A member of the Grand Rapids Symphony. (From An undated outdoor event, supplied by GR Symphony)
Somewhat surprisingly, though, three nights when the Grand Rapids Symphony, with other acts and as the featured act, are among those ticket that remain available.
To kick off the summer concert series, Preservation Hall Jazz Band with the Grand Rapids Symphony will be on stage July 18.
Then the Grand Rapids Symphony conducted by Bob Bernhardt, principal pops conductor, have the stage all by themselves on July 22. The symphony will be performing works by some of the most popular movie composers of all time — including John Williams’ music from the Star Wars saga, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Jurassic Park. (Music from Star Trek the Next Generation, Cinema Paradiso and Titanic, will also be on the program, we are told.)
China Forbes will be performing with Pink Martini, and the symphony (Supplied/by Chris Hornbecker)
Finally, the always popular night of partying with Pink Martini ( this time featuring China Forbes) will be accompanied by the Grand Rapids Symphony on July 29.
“We are very excited to bring the Grand Rapids Symphony back to Meijer Gardens for these special concerts,” Mary Tuuk Kuras, symphony president & CEO, said in supplied material. “Our shared mission of promoting the arts and bringing our community together makes this partnership a wonderful fit.”
Getting all ‘jazzed’ up
While all three of the symphony concerts should be great night of music, opening night with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band will likely be a night not to be missed.
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band — or just PHJB, for the in the groove — are proof that New Orleans has been the point at which sounds and cultures from around the world converge, mingle, and resurface. The group has held the torch of New Orleans music aloft for more than 50 years, “all the while carrying it enthusiastically forward as a reminder that the history they were founded to preserve is a vibrantly living history,” according to supplied material.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band. (Supplied/by Danny Clinch)
PHJB continues that march forward with So It Is, the septet’s second release featuring all-new original music. The album, according two supplied material, “redefines what New Orleans music means today by tapping into a sonic continuum that stretches back to the city’s Afro-Cuban roots, through its common ancestry with the Afrobeat of Fela Kuti and the Fire Music of Pharoah Sanders and John Coltrane, and forward to cutting-edge artists with whom the PHJB have shared festival stages from Coachella to Newport, including legends like Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello and the Grateful Dead and modern giants like My Morning Jacket, Arcade Fire and the Black Keys.”
Take a breath, and take that in for a moment.
Details of getting the tickets
Tickets for the concerts, via Meijer Gardens’s new new ticketing partner, Etix, will be available online at Etix.com (preferred method) with handling fee of $10 per order, or by phone at 1-800-514-etix (3849), also with a handling fee of $10 per order. There will be no on-site ticket sales at Meijer Gardens.
Gate and show start times vary. Check MeijerGardens.org/concerts for details. All information is subject to change. All shows will take place rain or shine, weather delays are possible. There are no ticket returns or refunds.
Meijer Gardens has created an Insider’s Guide to Buying Tickets to help with ticket purchasing. The Insider’s Guide is available at MeijerGardens.org/concerts.
Members can continue to buy tickets during the members-only presale through midnight, July 9.
Sales to the public begin at 9 a.m., July 10. There is a limit of 8 tickets per show, per transaction. Again, there will be no on-site ticket sales at Meijer Gardens. Ticket can be purchased online at eTix.com with a handling fee of $5 per order (not per ticket) and convenience fee of $5.25 per ticket applies to all sales, or by phone at 1-800-514-etix (3849), also with a handling fee of $5 per order and convenience fee of $5.25 per ticket applies to all sales.
The City of Kentwood this week released its tentative road construction and maintenance schedule for the rest of the summer, a schedule which affected homeowners have already been notified of by mail from the city.
The City Commission has approved the resurfacing and maintenance program, which includes improvements to 30 miles of major and local roads, at a cost of $1 million, according to an announcement from the city. The plan is to have the resurfacing and routine maintenance completed by September. (A detailed map is available for download at bottom of story.)
“We appreciate the partnership of residents and businesses as we work to maintain and improve this important infrastructure,” Kentwood City Engineer Brad Boomstra said in supplied material. “Quality infrastructure is critical for a safe and functioning community. Understanding the inconvenience and frustration road construction can cause, crews will work as quickly as possible to minimize impact on neighborhoods and drivers.”
The projects are funded through the Michigan Transportation Fund, which is supported by taxes on the sale of gasoline and diesel fuel as well as fees collected by the Secretary of State for vehicle registrations.
Details of the planned work
In July and August, several neighborhood roads will receive a cape seal, which is a multiple component treatment designed to create a smooth surface with increased durability. Cape seal projects will take two non-consecutive days on each segment of road. Patching and crack sealing work will take place in advance to prepare the road for this treatment.
Roadwork will be happening in Kentwood in July and August. (WKTV)
Residents are asked to drive slowly while the treatments are underway and follow the crew’s instructions for the best access to their homes. While the cape seal treatment is underway, there will be no parking allowed on the streets when and where any road work is happening.
Street reconstruction, resurfacing and maintenance projects currently underway include:
Full reconstruction of Andover, Lyles, Heyboer, Blaine, Brinks and 51st streets.
32nd Street rehabilitation from Breton Avenue to Shaffer Avenue.
Other preventative street maintenance work throughout Kentwood, including routine street marking, crack sealing and patching.
Pending any unforeseen circumstances, the work on Andover, Lyles, Heyboer, Blaine, Brinks and 51st streets is expected to be completed by October. The full reconstruction project includes new curb and gutter, sections of water main replacement, storm sewer replacement and construction of sidewalks.
The 32nd Street rehabilitation is a Michigan Department of Transportation project that includes new pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalk and storm sewer. Drivers are encouraged to seek an alternate route or follow the posted detour that uses 29th Street. The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of August.
Work builds on major roadwork in 2020
Last year, Kentwood invested in improvements to 40 miles of major and local roads. Major streets included in the 2020 reconstruction, resurfacing and maintenance program were, East Paris Avenue from 52nd Street to 60th Street, 52nd Street from Division Avenue to Kellogg Woods Drive, 29th Street from west city limits near Breton Avenue to 28th Street, 44th Street from Breton Avenue to Shaffer Avenue, and reconstruction of Roger B. Chaffee Memorial Boulevard.
Road maintenance decisions are made under industry principles based on hard data, such as ratings from the annual Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating system, also known as PASER, which provides a basis for comparing the quality of roadway segments, according to the city announcement. The PASER scale is a 1-10 rating system for road pavement conditions that uses visual inspection to evaluate pavement surface conditions.
“Kentwood maintains one of the highest-rated major street networks in Kent County, according to hard data compiled by the Grand Valley Metro Council, which is based on PASER ratings,” according to the announcement.
For more information, including a larger map of street resurfacing and repairs, visit kentwood.us/construction. Drivers can also receive updates via the City’s Facebook and Twitter.
Those working for, contracting with, or conducing business at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sept. 21.
Trinity Health, the parent organization to Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, recently announced effective immediately, the national health system will require all colleagues, clinical staff, contractors, and those conducting business in its health care facilities be vaccinated against COVID-19. The requirement applies to Trinity Health’s more than 117,000 employees in 22 states nationwide.
This includes roughly 24,000 Trinity Health Michigan colleagues working across five Saint Joseph Mercy Health System hospitals, three Mercy Health hospitals – such as Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, and two employed medical groups – IHA and Mercy Health Physician Partners. Along with the hospital located in downtown Grand Rapids, there is a Mercy Health Southwest Campus in Byron Center, Mercy Health Physician Partners in Wyoming, Mercy Health Southeast Lab in Kentwood and several other Mercy Health locations in and around Grand Rapids.
Trinity Health is the second known healthcare organization to announce the COVID-19 vaccine requirement. Henry Ford Health System in Detroit made a similar announcement in June. Mercy Health Saint Mary’s is the first known health organization in Grand Rapids to require COVID vaccines. Officials from both Spectrum Health and University of Michigan Health – West (formerly Metro Health – University of Michigan Health) stated while encourage team members to get vaccinated, the vaccines are optional and not mandated.
Spectrum Health officials said nearly 70 percent of Spectrum’s on-site team members have been vaccinated.
“We continue to practice active infection control measures, including heightened cleaning protocols, masking n all clinical areas and a daily symptom survey for all on-site team members,” according to a hospital statement. “Additionally, we continue to monitor positivity and vaccination rates in the community and amount our team members.”
Since December 2020, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first vaccine for Emergency Use Authorization, Trinity Health has strongly encouraged vaccination for all colleagues and within the communities its various Health Ministries serve. To date, the health system estimates that nearly 75 percent of Trinity Health employees have already received at least one dose of the vaccine, and it now looks to close the gap with this new requirement.
“As a faith-based health care system we have pledged to protect the most vulnerable, those that have a high risk of developing severe health complications if they were to contract this deadly virus,” said Rob Casalou, president and CEO of Trinity Health Michigan and Southeast Regions. “We are grateful to all colleagues working inside our hospitals, and specifically those navigating the frontlines. We understand that not everyone will agree with this decision, but after listening to their feedback, and after careful consideration, we know this to be the right decision.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that more than 331 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the United States. The vaccines have proven to be safe and effective against symptomatic infections, hospitalizations and death, with more than 99% of COVID-19 deaths today occurring in unvaccinated people.
“As a trusted health care leader within Michigan communities, our patients and colleagues look to us to keep them safe,” said Rosalie Tocco-Bradley, PhD, MD, chief clinical officer of Trinity Health Michigan. “There is widespread acceptance of the vaccines and their effectiveness within the medical community. The science is clear – vaccines protect against infection and they help save lives.”
Employees at Trinity Health and its Health Ministries must meet a series of rolling deadlines, with most locations requiring them to submit proof of vaccination by Sept. 21, 2021. It has not yet been determined if a COVID-19 vaccine booster will be required annually, but if so, employees will also need to submit proof of the booster as needed. Exemptions are available for religious or health reasons and must be formally requested, documented, and approved. Employees who do not meet criteria for exemption and fail to show proof of vaccination will have their employment terminated.
If you take a look at the Soul Syndicates Facebook page, it is a list of about every local summer concert event: Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Turtle Lake Resort, Kentwood Summer Concerts, and the Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts.
“It has been the best thing,” said drummer Tom Taylor. “First of all, we love to play and we get to do this every week and well after COVID, we just appreciate the opportunity to do what we enjoy and to give everyone a show.”
Next week the group will add the Wyoming Concerts in the Park to its concert schedule as the group is set to open the popular series on Tuesday, July 13. The free performance, hosted by the Wyoming Community Enrichment Commission, will at at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW.
The Soul Syndicate at a recent Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park performance. (Supplied)
“We love to see the energy from the crowd,” Taylor said. “It is really about seeing the people and having fun.”
Started about seven years ago, The Soul Syndicate pays tribute to some of the most influential R&B artists by not just performing R&B, funk and soul music, but going a step further by wearing vintage fashion.
“We have that classic dress where as we kind of have that look and feel of a big band,” Taylor said. “So from the trumpeters to the spinners, we all dress alike.”
The group is not small, with up to a 11 musicians. Besides Taylor, there is Mike Coon on guitar, Matt Fouts on bass, and John Neil on keyboard. Male lead vocal is Collin Tobin who has performed in several Grand Rapids Civic Theatre productions and splitting female lead vocal duties are Katie Sarb and Merrin Bethel. Rounding out the group is Nate Hansen and Tim DeBesten in the horn section and trumpeter Jeff Carroll.
Through the years, the group has been able to perform with such artists as The Temptations, The Spinners, The Countours, Kansas, The Guess Who, The Beach Boys, Edgar Winter, Natalie Cole, Rosemarie Clooney, Elvis Presley Jr., and The U.S. Navy Commodores Band.
The group also is no stranger to the Wyoming area, having performed at the Concerts in the Parks series several times.
“It is always a great crowd in Wyoming,” Taylor said. “We just look forward to everytime we can play and be with people.
The Wyoming Community Enrichment Commission will be hosting four Wyoming Concerts in the Park performances this year. Next up will be the Yellow Brick Road Dueling Pianos, July 20; Project 90 (featuring favorites from the nineties), July 27; and country and classic rock covers from the Mustang Band, Aug. 3. All concerts are free. Concerts start at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park.
The concerts are recorded by WKTV and rebroadcasted on Comcast Channel 25 at 5 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday.
The City of Wyomig officially has rescinded its emergency order for the COVID pandemic.
Reporting to the Wyoming City Council at its Tuesday regular meeting, Deputy City Manager John McCarter said Mayor Jack Poll signed the order to rescind the emergency order last week with staff executing that order.
What that means for the city, according to McCarter, is that all city public meetings will be held in-person rather than teleconference as they have been during the pandemic. Also, face coverings are not required and capacity limits have been lifted for city offices and facilities.
Expanded facilities for outdoor cooking, outdoor seating and temporary structures for businesses also have been rescinded with staff working with the businesses that will be impacted, he said.
McCarter noted that this does not change federal requirements such as the mask requirements for mass transit and state requirements, which does require masks at doctor’s offices and hospitals.
The best way to describe The Bootstrap Boys — this week’s offering as part of the City of Kentwood Summer Concert Series’ free concerts, on Thursday, July 8, at 7 p.m. — is probably to get out of the way and let them do the talkin’.
“This is country music, just like we know how to make it,” the band says on its website. “It comes from days of hard work, nights in the honky-tonk, and mornings in the church. The songs have a distinct flavor of the workin’ man, folks with dirt on their hands, good times, bad times, drinkin’, druggin’, lovin’, livin’ on the road, and what a friend we have in Jesus.”
‘Nuf said. (But if you need more, check out their website at thebootstrapboys.com.)
And just in case you want another opinion:
“The Bootstrap Boys are singlehandedly reviving country music in West Michigan both in attitude as well as song,” Luke Sass, promotional manager for Founders Brewing Company, says on the band’s website. “The band’s ability to tell stories indicative of a life lived on the razor’s edge is only eclipsed by the ease with which they connect to their audiences.”
The Kentwood Summer Concert Series, which will run most Thursday nights through Aug. 19, will also include West Michigan favorites The Accidentals, Benzing Graves Collective, Dalmatian Stone and David Gerald. (The Soul Syndicate night has been rescheduled for Aug. 19.)
Concerts will be livestreamed by WKTV for those who would prefer to enjoy the performances from home. The concerts will also be available on WKTV cable channels the following Tuesday at 9 p.m., and the next weekend on Saturday at 12:30 and 7 p.m. See the WKTV On-air Schedule for details.
All concerts will begin at 7 p.m., and conclude around 8:30 p.m., on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair. Each concert will feature food trucks, which will have food and beverages available for purchase. Guests may also bring their own food and beer or wine.
All are also invited to visit the Kentwood Farmers Market, which overlaps with the concert schedule as the market will take place 4:30-7:30 p.m. each Thursday in front of the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE.
New this year, Kentwood will offer essential workers and their guests special VIP seating near the stage. Essential workers who are interested can RSVP online prior to each concert.
The City of Kentwood’s 62-B District Court announced this week that it has implemented an Alternative Dispute Resolution plan that “will allow community members to resolve certain disputes outside the courtroom through mediation and other facilitated processes.”
The court implemented its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) plan to reduce client costs, produce more timely resolutions and increase satisfaction with the justice system, according to the announcement. The plan lays out a process for determining which cases are appropriate for mediation and how mediators are appointed.
Mediation was previously available for the 62-B District Court’s small claims cases in partnership with the Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan. With the ADR plan now in place, mediation is even more accessible, “so disputes can be resolved in the most efficient way and with the most satisfaction,” according to the announcement.
Mediation involves a trained third-party individual who works with litigants to resolve disagreements outside the courtroom and reach a mutually acceptable resolution. Mediation is often scheduled and completed quicker than court cases and does not require litigants to pay attorney fees, according to the announcement.
62-B District Court Judge Amanda Sterkenburg. (Supplied)
“Court cases involve a significant financial and emotional investment,” 62-B District Court Judge Amanda Sterkenburg said in supplied material. “I am proud the 62-B District Court is offering this plan as a way to save time and money for those seeking resolution, preserve relationships and help each party walk away more satisfied.
“Another beneficial aspect of ADR is each party gets the opportunity to have their voice heard in a safe and neutral environment. Being able to express themselves empowers the parties to work past the conflict and seek resolution.”
In collaboration with the Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan, mediation is a routine part of the 62-B District Court pre-trial process.
If a case is referred for mediation, the court’s ADR clerk will send a letter to the parties to let them know they can use the Dispute Resolution Center or select a private mediator by agreement.
According to the court announcement, mediation also helps “minimize disparities in power, where one party may be represented by counsel, but the other party is not. Mediators are specifically trained in these nuances to make sure the balance of power is fair when parties are negotiating and bargaining. Mediation can preserve or restore relationships by overcoming misunderstandings and improving communication between parties.”
The ADR plan was designed to be used in conjunction with facilitators who understand how diversity may affect a dispute and use processes that are designed to overcome barriers to find common ground.
“The best ADR outcomes are reached when varying perspectives are taken into consideration,” Sterkenburg said. “The 62-B District Court remains committed to acknowledging diverse cultures, values and socioeconomic statuses within disputes. We see each perspective in the room as equally valid and we use well-trained mediators and interpreters to reach optimal resolutions.”
Parties are encouraged to pursue any form of ADR if they believe it will assist them in resolving the dispute. The court intends to refer appropriate summary proceedings and civil cases such as breach of contract, property disputes and debt collection to mediation. Sterkenburg will oversee the implementation of the new plan and the mediator selection process.
More than 400 people attended the first Sounds of Summer concert. Supplied)
Kimmy Martens on lead gu The 6 Pak was (Supplied)
Mary Arbranas on guitar for The 6 Pak (Supplied)
Ruthann Scott on lead vocals for The 6 Pak (Supplied)
Kristen Hartnagel welcomes everyone to the Sounds of Summer concert series (Supplied)
Denise Pietri on bass for The 6 Pak
Barb Bean on piano for The 6 Pak (Supplied)
Cindy Obetts on drums for The 6 Pak
It was a hot night with cool music as the The 6 Pak kicked off the first Sounds of Summer concert last week. More than 400 people came to Cutler Park in Byron Township to hear the popular girl group perform hits from the sixties. Performing this Thursday will be Muskegon’s Tommie Foster and The FAN Club, which will be performing Americana music. The free concert is at 7 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket and a picnic. Beverages and an ice cream truck will be at the park.
The rest of the series includes popular local country western group Bootstrap Boys, July 15; rock and roll band The Jaded 8, July 22; and national headliner, bluegrass artist Audie Blaylock and Redline, July 29. Cutler Park is located at 6701 Cutler Park Dr. SW.
Here in West Michigan, farmers market season is in full swing. Have you been to the Kentwood Farmers Market? It takes place at 4900 Breton Ave. SE on Thursdays from 4:30 to 7:30. In Wyoming, the Metro Health Farmers Market, also take place on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 5900 Byron Center Road SW. We all know that we should be eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. And there’s no time like now to get started on building a healthy habit.
According to the Harvard School of Public Health publication, The Nutrition Source, eating lots of vegetables and fruits can lower blood pressure, reduce risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some cancers, reduce eye and digestive problems, and help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Eating apples, pears, and leafy greens might even help you lose weight.
You can go bananas trying to figure out which fruit or vegetable provides the exact vitamin or mineral you need. Or you can simply eat a wide variety from the nine different fruit and vegetable families. Next time you stop by the farmers market, choose a variety of types and colors to give your body all the kinds of nutrients it craves. There’s a lot to be said for fresh, local produce. When produce is picked green to accommodate long shipping distances, it loses nutritional content. In fact, eating quick-frozen local produce is probably more nutritious than eating fresh produce shipped thousands of miles from California or South America.
As I chiropractor, I love sharing how adjusting the spine helps all of the body’s organs to function better. And I love seeing my patients regain strength and mobility—and experience less pain. But I also love seeing patients who eat the healthy foods that support the work that I and the rest of their healthcare team provide.
Like I said, there’s no better time to start building a healthy habit than now—and there’s also no better time to visit your local farmers market.
The West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) has announced the launch of its 2021 West Michigan Photo Contest. With so much beauty found in West Michigan, the West Michigan Tourist Association wants travelers to show off what they love most about this beautiful side of the state, and win some great West Michigan prizes! The contest is looking for traveler photo submissions from all around West Michigan. This region covers the entire west half of Michigan from the Indiana border to Mackinac Island and into the Upper Peninsula.
“Being able to share all of these great photos from around West Michigan is truly a highlight of each year!” said WMTA’s Marketing Director Courtney Sheffer. “We love seeing the community involvement with this contest, and the unique perspectives that each individual shares with their photos.”
The shore of Lake Superior (Photo courtesy of Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Sheffer also noted that photos do not need to be taken this month in order to submit them to the photo contest. “If you have West Michigan photos from your past visits to the area, we encourage you to enter those as well! West Michigan is photogenic all seasons of the year, so don’t feel that you’re only limited to submitting summer photos.”
All photo entries must be received by July 28, 2021. Judges will be awarding prizes in the categories of “Nature,” “People,” and “Beach/Lake/Lighthouse,” with an additional prize awarded via public voting by WMTA’s Facebook audience. In addition to receiving a West Michigan prize pack, all winning photos will be featured in WMTA’s upcoming West Michigan Carefree Travel Guide, printed in January of 2022.
Photo submissions should include first & last name of photographer, city where the photograph was taken, and a short description of the photo.
Tommy Brann — small business owner and operator, and current State Representative — talks to WKTV about he and his restaurant family came together at the start of the pandemic shutdown. (WKTV)
Tommy Brann — the small business owner and operator, not the current State Representative and State Senate candidate — remembers his first day of work at Brann’s Steakhouse and Grill like it was yesterday.
But it was 50 years ago, and on Monday, July 5, Brann’s Steakhouse will celebrate 50 years of “serving sizzling steaks” to the West Michigan community with a special appreciation reception for its employees and customers from 5-7 p.m.
And, of course, Tommy will be there all day, wearing his customary blue apron, bussing tables, and talking up the staff and customers.
Tommy Brann in an undated historic photo. (Supplied) See more photos from over the years in slideshow below.
“July 5th, 1971,” Brann said about his first day, when he was just 19 years old, during a recent interview with WKTV. “We served 97 dinners and I remember one customer came in that day … a friend of my dad’s … and he bought the whole restaurant a drink. It was a hard working day for us.”
During the interview, he also stressed that he was a restaurant businessman before he was elected to serve the community in Lansing as a State Representative, and that no matter what happens in the next year or so, he will stay being a restaurant businessman.
(Rep. Brann is running for the open State Senate seat from District 28, with the Republican primary set for Aug. 3; and if he is not elected to the Senate, he will be term-limited out as a State Representative in 2022.)
“I really believe small business in the backbone of our country, of our state,” Brann said. “I really believe small businesses are job creators. … That is what I bring to Lansing.”
Brann also talked about how his restaurant survived the pandemic shutdown and business slowdown — due both to the “family” he has at his steakhouse and to his aversion to debt. (See video clip above for a story on the Brann’s “family.”)
And the restaurant survived. And so on Monday, July 5, it will be all about celebrating Tommy the restauranteur and the 50 years of Brann’s Steakhouse and Grill, located on Division Avenue in Wyoming.
Family, and work family, reflect on Tommy
“I am incredibly proud of my brother, Tommy Brann, for his dedication and commitment to being a business owner and restaurateur these 50 years,” Johnny Brann, Sr., owner of Grand Rapids-based, Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille, said in supplied material. “Tommy has made his restaurant a community icon and is known for his service and dedication not just to the business, but more importantly to his employees and customers.”
For most of those 50 years, Tommy opened and closed his restaurant, working from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., 6 days a week, doing what is needed — from cooking to dishwashing to to bussing tables, and other less glamorous jobs.
Tommy has also spent 50 years being more than simply a boss to the employees at the steakhouse.
Tommy Brann, with his restaurant family from June 2021. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“I have been an employee of Brann’s steakhouse for over 40 years,” senior executive waitress Jennie Lehnertz said in supplied material. “It truly is a family business. I work here, my daughter works here and now my grandson works here. It is my second home.”
The family atmosphere is echoed by Jermaine Jennings, executive waiter for about 30 years — “Tommy is not just a boss. He works alongside his employees and instills in us a sense of purpose. He’s always willing to help those in need and considers all of us who work for him and his customers his family.”
Five decades of restaurant ownership has brought ups and downs, especially throughout the past year in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. What has kept Tommy going has been his strong work ethic, his tenacity, and his belief that he can make a difference in the lives of others.
“I care about serving my community and helping others in need,” Tommy Brann said in supplied material. “My wife, Sue, and I are committed to making our employees and customers our family. We have used our restaurant as a way to provide food to the homeless and provide jobs for those who need one, including those with developmental disabilities. There’s no greater joy to me than seeing the smile on the face of someone we’ve helped.”
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport broke ground June 30 on a new $7.7 million operations center that will “streamline and improve efficiencies for day-to-day management,” according to an announcement from the airport management. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of June 2022.
The new facility will consolidate teams such as operations and communications, including dispatch, as well as the new emergency operations center (EOC), which is activated during an emergency at the Ford Airport and can also support public safety agencies throughout Kent County.
A rendering of the runway side of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s planned operations center. (Supplied/Ford Airport)
The 11,600 square-foot facility, located on the east side of the airfield, will be accessible air-side and public-side, “making it ideal to provide daily operations support and reachable during an emergency,” according to the announcement. In a second phase, the Ford Airport plans to expand the center to include its fire department at the site.
“This project represents the culmination of years of efforts to realign and streamline our operations and public safety functions,” Dan Koorndyk, board chair of the Gerald R. Ford Airport Authority, said in supplied material. “By bringing our teams under one roof, we’ll be able to ensure we are providing the best possible service to our guests, tenants and the greater West Michigan community.”
The building will be staffed 24/7, and will be built to withstand extreme weather conditions, including winds up to 250 miles-per-hour. “It will have purposeful redundancies in technologies and communication channels to ensure services continue during an emergency,” according to the announcement.
“The teams who will occupy this space are critical for our daily operations,” Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Ford Airport Authority, said in supplied material. “This new operations center will enhance communication, collaboration and efficiencies for our teams. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to provide the high-quality service and exceptional safety track record the Ford Airport is known for.”
DLZ of Michigan is serving as the project architect with Pioneer Construction of Grand Rapids serving as the general contractor.
The Ford Airport is working with U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer’s office to pursue community project funding for a portion of the project. The Michigan State Police, Kent County Sheriff’s Office and the Grand Rapids Police Department have all voiced their support for the project, highlighting that it will be a critical backup base in case of a county-wide emergency, according to the announcement.
With nearly five years of expanding achievements, technology, and capabilities as an affiliate of the University of Michigan Health, Metro Health officials announced that the facility will adopt a a new name, University of Michigan Health-West.
“The new name is a natural next step and our teams are proud of the role we play as part of one of the world’s most respected health systems,” said CEO Dr. Peter Hahn.
Peter Hahn, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Metro Health – University of Michigan Health (Supplied)
The new name was unanimously approved by the Metro Health Board of Directors on June 8, 2021.
“As we have done at every stage in our history, we must ensure our name reflects our expanding capabilities,” said Bill Barkeley, Chairman of the Metro Health Board of Directors. “This is one of the most significant points in our trajectory. Our name should reflect this.”
Recent accomplishments include development of a comprehensive stroke center, authorization for an open-heart surgery partnership, and back-to-back top ratings for safety.
“This new name is a better reflection of how this affiliation has grown and signals our path forward,” said Marschall S. Runge, CEO of Michigan Medicine, Dean of the U-M Medical School and Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs for the University of Michigan. “We know that our continued close collaboration, partnerships and expansion of care will benefit the patients of West Michigan. We are proud of where this affiliation has led us and excited about the future.”
Hahn said the affiliation works because it combines the power of one of the world’s most respected academic medical centers with over a century of teaching, research, and patient care – with a nearly 80-year legacy of caring, innovation and progressive health care in West Michigan.
“This is exactly what our founding physicians envisioned when they launched a hospital in a remodeled house back in 1942,” Hahn said. “They wanted to find better ways to focus on patients. For every phase of our history and every name on the front door, that is what we have done.”
Founded as Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital, the organization was renamed several times: Metropolitan Hospital, Metro Health and, most recently, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health. Each change reflected a significant transition or advancement.
“None of the transitions has been more significant than our affiliation with University of Michigan Health,” Hahn said. “Our shared values of caring, innovation, inclusion, integrity and teamwork pay respect to our heritage and set the tone for our future serving West Michigan.”
The name change, which will be phased over the next 12 months, reflects not just a closer clinical and operational integration, but also greater alignment in mission, vision and values. The organization’s regional focus will remain governed by a local board of directors.
“The board of directors respects the distinguished history of this organization,” said Metro Health Hospital Board Member Steve Van Andel. “A significant part of that history has been Metro’s ability to innovate while keeping patient care at the forefront. The new name proudly honors that legacy.”
Cutler Park will be rocking Thursday night as the Sounds of Summer returns for its 13th year.
The 6 Pak, which opens the five-concert series, has a strong following with Sounds of Summer organizer Patti Williams expecting a good turnout for the first concert.
“What’s the buzz?” Williams said. “Well, The 6 Pak has a big following so we are expecting a large crowd, probably around 400 people.”
The 6 Pak is an all-girl group that performed in the 1960s in and around Grand Rapids. Some years later, the band got back together and have continued performing an array of sixties classics. The group is set to perform at 7 p.m. at Cutler Park, 6701 Cutler Park Dr. SW.
“I just enjoy getting bands that maybe people haven’t heard before,” Williams said as her reason behind putting together the annual Sounds of Summer. “I also like doing things for the community.”
The goal always is to bring a large range of musical genres to the series in an effort to exposure residents to the different types of music that is available, she said.
Along with the sixties tunes from The 6 Pak, July 8’s concert will be Muskegon’s The FAN Club, featuring Americana music and fun, according to Williams. July 15 will be the popular local country western group Bootstrap Boys. The Jaded 8, which was supposed to perform last year but got rained out, will bring some rock and roll to Cutler Park on July 22.
Audie Blaylock and Redline perform July 29. (Supplied)
To wrap up the series, Williams dipped into her own bluegrass experience and was able to have nationally recognized Audie Blaylock and Redline perform on July 29. Blaylock has played with Harley Allen, of the Allen Brothers and who also was a country music songwriter for Garth Brooks and John Michael Montgomery.
“I just thought it would be really great to have Audie come to Michigan,” Williams said. “While he is a national headliner, not many people may be familiar with him so it is a chance to for him to broaden his audience and expose residents to Audie’s music.”
All the concerts, which are sponsored by Byron Township, are free to the public. Williams said she encourages those who are attending to bring a chair or blanket and picnic food. Beverages and an ice cream truck will be at the park as well.
On this episode pf WKTV Journal In Focus, State Sen. Winnie Brinks, a Democrat who was elected in 2018 as the first woman to represent Grand Rapids in the Michigan Senate since 1920. While the coverage area of her District 29 does not include Wyoming or Kentwood, the current vacancy in District 28 had left a void in local representation. So Sen. Brinks graciously offered to talk to us about what’s happening in Lansing this session.
WKTV asked her about two hot-button issues in Lansing, no-fault insurance and voting rights. With her serving on the Senate’s Health Policy and Human Resources committee, we talked to her about changes to part of the healthcare industry due to the continuing rollout of the state’s no-fault insurance law, as well as possible changes to the state’s voting laws.
But on the WKTV set, she also wanted to talk about an issue flying under the news radar this session — “attainable house”, sometimes known as “workforce housing”, a topic important to Wyoming and Kentwood as a large workforce housing project is in-progress on Division Avenue between the two cities.
“There is a bill, group of bills, we got it started in the senate and now it is making its way over to the house, we passed a group of bills that will help with attainable housing,” Sen. Brinks said to WKTV. “You hear a lot about government programing, particularly from the federal government, in terms of helping people with affordable housing — very important to do that. …
“But we worked on a set of bills, with local governments, to provide some tools to help people get into what we are calling attainable housing. And that would be available to those folks who don’t necessarily qualify for affordable housing but need a little bit of assistance, generally working (families). Some in the business community call it workforce housing. It is for people who are doing everything right but still can’t quite find something that works for them.”
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
“Use these tips to reduce stress and change your focus on life.” Dave Stanley
1. Get serious about your retirement: If your employer matches contributions for your 401(k), you need to take advantage and max out your contribution. Your employer’s share is “house money,” which means using their contribution as part of your 401(k) plan as an employee benefit. Many 401(k) plans allow for conversion to a guaranteed retirement income, which can be used as a lifetime benefit. Ask your benefits manager to see if it is included in your plan. You also need to plan at what age you would like to retire. If you have had a loss in investment returns in your 401(k), ask yourself how I can gain that back? Your asset allocation in your 401(k) can be changed as you get closer to retirement age. Most plans allow you to move the money as a rollover to a self-directed IRA, which provides the option of using an annuity with an “Income Rider” attached to provide desired guarantees. If you have an IRA and are not contributing annually, start this year, contributions made before April can be deducted on the previous year’s income.
2. Even if you do not have a will, you do. You have two choices, either you decide what will happen to your estate OR your state of residence will decide for you after you pass away. If you don’t have a will, see an attorney and create one, and if you have a current will, make sure it is up to date.
3. Name an executor for your estate. Use caution in the selection and make sure you have asked the executor for permission to use them. Based on the valuation of your estate and your state of residence, the use of a trust can assist the executor in their responsibilities. Ask your attorney for ideas and help. Never buy a trust from anyone other than an attorney licensed to practice law. Often life insurance is used to provide funds for any taxes or debts that may be due at your death, have an insurance professional review the policies, and make sure the ownership and beneficiary decisions are up to date.
4. Create an emergency fund for situations that come up, such as a hole in your roof or an unplanned car repair. Only 40 percent of Americans could pay an unexpected $1,000 expense, such as a car repair or emergency room visit, from savings. That figure is consistent with the range of 37 to 41% seen in surveys from 2014 through 2018. More than a third would need to borrow the money in some way – either with a credit card, personal loan or from family or friends. Another 14% would reduce spending on other things, while 10% would either figure out “something else” or don’t know what they would do. www.bankrate.com.
5. Take a close look at your investments and review them for changes. Remember, as we get older, we have less time to make up losses in our investments and as you age, your investment horizon normally shrinks.
6. Start paying down debt. Debt can be a drag on your retirement, and once the debt is retired, stress becomes less, and your options for life increase.
7. Budgeting and following a monthly plan can help. There are numerous studies about budgeting; one thing is for sure, people who have a budget and follow it have less stress. Make a budget and stick to it.
Life should be enjoyed. Use thesesimple seven financial tips as the first step to regaining financial freedom and reducing stress.
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, Telephone 616-719-1979 or Register for Dave’s FREE Newsletter at 888-998-3463 or click this link: Dave Stanley Newsletter – Annuity.comDave is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management.
Heading to the store for a little shopping? Local law enforcement have a warning for anyone carrying a purse, keep an eye on it.
Over the past few weeks, several area agencies, including the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, the Kentwood Police, the Grand Rapids Police, and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, have reported several purse snatching incidents at large retail establishments in Wyoming, Grand Rapids, Kent County, and Kentwood. According to police, the suspects appear to be targeting females in the parking lot who are alone, over the age of 50, and have their purse in a shopping cart.
When the victim is not playing attention, the suspects will take the purse from the cart and flee. In one instance, according to the report, the victim had her purse in her hands and the suspects pulled it away from her. They victim attempted to chase after them and felt to the ground, receiving minor injuries to her hand.
“Make sure to secure your purse in your vehicle before offloading your groceries,” said Lt. Eric Wiler, from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety. “Mostly, these suspects are waiting for someone to turn their back to load groceries, leaving the purse unattended.”
Along with securing their purse right away, Wiler said residents should be aware of their surroundings and if it is dark, make sure to park where it is well lighted.
Investigators from all four agencies have been working to identify the suspects involved in these incidents.
Anyone that can identify the suspects or has information these incidents, is asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, 616-530-7366; Kentwood Police Department, 616-656-6600; Grand Rapids Police Department, 616-456-3380; Kent County Sheriff’s Department, 616-632-6125; or Silent Observer, 616-774-2345.
Surveillance photo of the vehicles the suspects were seen fleeing the scene in. (Provided)
Other crime prevention tips:
Don’t carry a shoulder bag over your shoulder. This makes it easier for a thief to grab the bag and knock you down or injure you.
Shorten the strap so you can hold the purse tightly under your arm or lengthen it to wear diagonally across your body in front.
Never walk around with an open purse.
Don’t walk with your purse dangling or wrap the strap around your shoulder, neck or wrist. A strong tug from a thief could injure you.
Fanny packs are a safe alternative to the traditional purse as they are worn tight and close to the body making them harder to grab.
When possible, shop with a friend.
Only carry what you need. Leave extra money, valuable jewelry, and credit cards at home.
The City of Kentwood has received the Redevelopment Ready Community certification from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). (City of Kentwood)
The City of Kentwood has received the Redevelopment Ready Community certification from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for its “commitment to attracting new investors, businesses and residents through targeted and strategic planning and creating a vibrant community in partnership with residents,” according to a city statement.
The designation, recently announced by the MEDC and announced by the city June 29, recognizes the city’s efforts to establish a “solid planning and economic development foundation” to attract private investment and facilitate community-driven economic development projects in the community.
Certification also means Kentwood will receive support from the MEDC’s Redevelopment Services Team, which will partner with the City to evaluate development sites and produce customized marketing that will promote investment in key areas.
These key areas will include those identified in Kentwood’s 2020 master plan in need of redevelopment, such as Division Avenue, Eastern and 52nd Street, Kalamazoo Avenue corridor, and 28th Street and 29th Street commercial corridor.
“We look forward to working with the MEDC to carry out the master plan’s community-driven vision for growth, land use, development and open space conservation in Kentwood,” Terry Schweitzer, city community development director, said in supplied material. “As a Redevelopment Ready Community, we can leverage critical tools and resources as we continue to work to attract and support investment and businesses and engage community members along the way.”
Kentwood’s certification qualifies it for state community development incentives that encourage developers to invest in the city, according to supplied material. This includes small business programs such as Match on Main that provides reimbursable grant funds for new or expanding place-based businesses.
The certification also means Kentwood is “thoroughly prepared” when it comes to removing traditional planning and zoning traditional barriers and transitioning into a streamlined process to promote opportunities for prospective investors, according to the statement.
During the RRC assessment process, the City received a baseline evaluation of the existing planning and economic development processes compared to RRC “best practices.” These best practices including community plans and engagement, zoning, development review, boards and commissions, and economic development and marketing.
“We are proud to have aligned our policies and processes with Redevelopment Ready Community best practices and to have completed the program’s rigorous assessment,” City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park today, June 28, announced a major gift from The Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids in order to establish the first Holocaust memorial in Grand Rapids, anchored by Ariel Schlesinger’s ‘Ways to Say Goodbye’.
The gift, according to the announcement, “is made possible by a donation from the Pestka family in memory of their father, Henry, all the Holocaust survivors who settled in Western Michigan, and the millions of Jews who perished in the Holocaust.”
Ariel Schlesinger’s ‘Ways to Say Goodbye’. (Photo credit to DIVR Gallery)
Meijer Gardens and the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids envision ‘Ways to Say Goodbye’ as a gathering place for the Jewish community of Grand Rapids, as well as serving as a teaching tool for educators both locally and nationally to address the Holocaust and its legacy, according to the statement.
“As time goes on and memories of the Holocaust fade, it is important to remember the barbarity human beings are capable of,” Steve Pestka, said in supplied material. “It is equally important to contemplate the strength of the survivors and their ability to continue and rebuild their lives. It is our hope that this work of art will promote an appreciation of our shared humanity and a reminder that hatred and intolerance continue to this day and the consequences of the ultimate dehumanization of human beings.”
‘Ways to Say Goodbye’ is a 20-foot-tall aluminum cast of a fig tree that has shards of glass inserted among the branches. It has been described as “an exceptional work of contemporary sculpture dealing with themes of profound loss and grief” and will serve to memorialize those who perished in the Holocaust as well as those who survived.
“The memorial has important significance to my family because our father was a survivor,” Linda Pestka said in supplied material. “The numbers 73847 are numbers that we will never forget. They were tattooed to my father’s forearm, as though he were an animal, as identification for his potential death. It is our duty to educate, respect and honor the victims and their families of the unthinkable acts against life and morality. The Holocaust did happen. … May we never forget.”
Ariel Schlesinger’s ‘Ways to Say Goodbye’. (Photo credit to DIVR Gallery)
The sculpture is expected to be installed in 2022.
“Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is highly honored and very pleased to receive this significant and meaningful gift to acquire Ariel Schlesinger’s monumental sculpture ‘Ways to Say Goodbye’,” David Hooker, President & CEO of Meijer Gardens, said in supplied material. “We are deeply grateful for this gift adding such an important work of art to our permanent collection.”
Schlesinger work, according to the statement. “takes an organic form that is a metaphor of both the Jewish people and their history.” The aluminum cast sculpture is of a living fig tree that he found on a farm while traveling in northern Italy. This tree was specifically chosen by Schlesinger for its character and as a symbol of the Jewish struggle for survival both during and after the Holocaust. The tree appears fragile and clinging to life, however it is also representative of great endurance.
Schlesinger has commented that in conceptualizing the sculpture, he held pieces of broken glass in his hands that pressed into his fingers. This recalled the Kristallnacht, or “Night of Broken Glass,” the symbolic beginning of the Holocaust, during which Nazi mobs murdered Jews and destroyed Jewish property and synagogues throughout Germany.
Schlesinger (born 1980 in Jerusalem) has lived and worked in many parts of the world, including the United States, Great Britain, Mexico and Germany. He grew up in Israel and received his undergraduate degree at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem, Israel’s oldest and most prestigious art school. He graduated from Columbia University in New York with a Master’s in Fine Arts degree.
Schlesinger has had many notable exhibitions in Austria, Cuba, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Slovenia and Switzerland. In 2019 he received a prestigious commission for a public sculpture outside of the Jewish Museum in Frankfurt, Germany.
Continuing WKTV Journal’s series “WKTV Voices: 9/11 at 20 — Our Islamic neighbors 20 years later”, a modern American family working hard to attain the American Dream — who just happen to be Muslim.
Aamir and Halima Ismail are residents of Kentwood and members of Islamic Center of West Michigan. Aamir works as manager of financial systems for Amway and Halima works as a school improvement administrator for Grand Rapids Public Schools. The couple have two children, teenage boys Ibrahim and Da’ud , both of whom attend Kentwood Public Schools.
This special WKTV Voices project presents video interviews, and online/print stories, covering a range of personal stories of the 9/11 attacks and their impact over the following two decades. Following previous background interviews dealing with American Islamic history, global politics, and the current Islamic world, we present the voices of Muslim community leaders and, most importantly, local Muslim American citizens, especially young people who grew up in the age of 9/11. (If you have a story to tell us, contact Ken@wktv.org.)
The Ismails — she was born in the United States while he emigrated from Pakistan — have worked hard and prospered in West Michigan. They love the diversity of students in Kentwood Public Schools and live here partially due to that diversity.
But it does not mean they haven’t had to have “that talk” with their sons, a talk to prepare them in case they face any discrimination or other forms of bias.
“I think we have had to explain to them that there are matters of the faith and what they do represents the faith, and so I think we have used that to our benefit to help them see what they do is a representation of the faith, ” Halima Ismail said in the interview. “They haven’t necessarily come to us with instances of hostility but they have been encouraged to explain their faith, have been interested in sharing that information with their school and in their classes.
“But we do feel that, as parents, we have had to sit down (with them) and say ‘If you feel bullied, if this happens, if you are in the hostile environment, to walk away and speak to an adult.’ That is something, we have had those conversations.”
WKTV Journal’s “Voices: 9/11 at 20 — Our Islamic neighbors 20 years later” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos. Online/print stories are available by searching “9/11 at 20” on WKTVJournal.org. You can also search Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the Hashtag #voices9/11at20.
Aamir and Halima Ismail on the set of WKTV Journal In Focus June 2021. (WKTV)
