Having cheered together for most of their high school careers, the five seniors who are the Wyoming Lee Cheer team make the moves look effortless as members lift up their flyer, anticipating her movements.
“We have come a long way,” said senior Amy Sosa. “There is just the five us and we have this really strong bond. We’re happy that we are all here and we do really well together.”
Like so many of the winter high school sports teams, the Wyoming Lee cheer team had the long wait to find out if it would even have a season. When the green light was given, the Wyoming Lee team came ready to tuck and roll as they quickly snagged second and third place wins at their first two meets.
They are the Legends. (WKTV)
Not an easy feat considering that there was a change in divisions for the cheer programs in the OK Conference, according to Coach Jody Hankis Snyder. Wyoming Lee is now part of the OK Silver which includes Comstock Park, Sparta, Kelloggsville, Godwin Heights, Belding, Hopkins, NorthPointe Christian and Calvin Christian.
“We have all worked so hard,” said senior Arely Fernandez. “We have built so many memories and so many friendships that it would have been really sad if we couldn’t finish it out on our last year.
“This is like our opportunity to show that we can do something that is fun and cool.”
There have been challenges as the team has had to work with new rules to prevent the spread of COVID 19, one of which is the requirement to wear masks even when performing.
“It is not the same voices,” said senior Elsy Bonilla. “You can’t show the excitement like you could without a mask.
“Still we have been doing really well despite the challenges, landing in the top tier of the teams.”
Also many high school sports teams saw a reduction in participation due to COVID. This meant new challenges from some on the Wyoming Lee cheer team as they filled spots that were open.
“I’m a base,” said senior Arely Fernandez. “I have always been a flyer so I never would have thought that I could be a base.
“This has shown me how strong I am and now round three has become my favorite round because I am able to show off that strength.”
With senior Adriana Landis adding that the team has gained other strengths as well.
“We have learned to teach each other and to motivate each other,” Landis said adding this has helped not only on the floor but to cement the bonds of friendship as well.
The City of Kentwood will once again offer free brush and leaf drop-off services to residents this spring.
According to an announcement from the city, starting Saturday, April 3, residents may drop off brush, sticks, tree limbs, logs, loose leaves and grass clippings at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE. Drop-off is available noon-8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon-6 p.m. on Sunday, continuing through Saturday, May 29.
“As snow melts in the spring, getting yard and tree debris out of the right-of-way is incredibly important for our roadways and storm drains,”Jim Wolford, Department of Public Works supervisor, said in supplied material. “Clearing brush and leaves prevents buildup in these areas, keeping our infrastructure running smoothly throughout the city.”
The services are available to Kentwood residents only, and proof of residency is required. Materials that cannot be accepted include trash, paper and plastic bags, dirt, concrete, asphalt, tires, rocks, stones, construction materials, glass and metal.
In addition to making yard maintenance easier, leaf and brush drop-off services also help residents stay in compliance with city ordinances. The accumulation of leaves and debris on a property or in the right-of-way is prohibited in the City of Kentwood, as well as burning leaves and brush.
More information about Kentwood’s brush and leaf drop-off services is available at kentwood.us/BrushLeafDropOff.
Carlton Brewster II, shown in the colors of Kalamazoo Central High School, will be wearing a different color when he takes the field as Wyoming High School football head coach. (Coach Brewster’s Twitter Page)
Wyoming Pubic Schools announced this week that Carlton Brewster II, who most recently was head football coach at Kalamazoo Central High School but is no stranger to the Wyoming Wolves football sidelines, has been named Wyoming high head football coach as well as the school’s Dean of Students.
Brewster takes over the Wyoming program from Irv Sigler Jr., who resigned his coaching position in January after four years leading the Wolves.
Brewster, at Kalamazoo Central, also served as “Character Development Coach” and WPS superintendent Craig Hoekstra stressed that the new coach brings knowledge and skills both on and off the playing field.
“After a thorough interview process, we are confident his knowledge and experience makes him the right person to lead our team,” Hoekstra said in supplied material. “Brewster knows what it takes to be a successful student-athlete both on and off the field and he brings to Wyoming an impressive plan to grow and develop our football program.”
After graduating from and playing football at Grand Rapids’ Creston High School, Brewster played football at the college and professional levels, and coached at three Wyoming-area highs schools — Wyoming high, Lee and Godwin Heights — before his stint at Kalamazoo Central. Coach Brewster and his wife, Cassondra, live in Wyoming with their five children: Aniyah, Kevin, Teonna, Zara and Carlton III.
And being back in the community where he lives and where much of his coaching history was made is important to “Coach Brewster”.
“I have been living in Wyoming for the past 10 years and coaching at Wyoming High School has been a dream of mine,” Brewster said in supplied material. “I look forward to serving our community and students.”
Wyoming Public Schools Athletic Director Ted Hollern not only knows Coach Brewster well but has high expectations for the football program under its new coach.
“Coach Brewster is a great addition to the Wyoming High School staff and athletic department,” Hollern said in supplied material. “He brings excitement, experience, and a tremendous work ethic. I know our student athletes will be prepared and have fun while competing against teams in the O.K. Conference.”
A wealth of experience and success
After playing at Creston high, Brewster was a standout wide receiver at Ferris State University, ranking high in the Bulldogs record book for wide receivers with 234 receptions for a total of 3,184 yards. Also at Ferris State, he earned his Bachelor of Integrative Studies of Arts and Science in 2010, and then his Masters in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University in 2013.
Following his tenure playing for the Bulldogs, Brewster spent two years in the NFL as a wide receiver and punt returner for the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos. Later he also played semi-pro ball for the Grand Rapids Rampage, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz and Chicago Rush.
Once his playing career had finished, Brewster moved to the sidelines to coach.
His first stops were as wide receiver coach at Creston High School, Ottawa Hills High School, Grand Rapids Catholic Central and Forest Hills Eastern.
In 2014, Brewster served as the Wyoming high offensive coordinator. That season, Wolves quarterback Brendan Berg threw for 2,001 yards and wide receiver Michael Williams was named 1st Team All Conference.
Brewster was then named head coach at Godfrey Lee Public School’s Wyoming Lee High School in 2015. He then spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons as the head coach at Godwin Heights, where his teams went 5-5 and then 7-3. In 2018, Brewster was named head coach at Kalamazoo Central, and in three years his team complied an 11-15 overall record, including the COVID-19 disrupted 2020 season.
The City of Kentwood announced last week that it is seeking community volunteers to join its new Kentwood Park Stewards program, but that is just one of several big things happening in the city as it has also recently announced it will put free public Wi-Fi zones around the city and it has opened a second Little Free Pantry.
With so much happening, WKTV Journal In Focus decided to go to the top to get to the bottom of it all, so we invited Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley into our studio for a little talk.
In a quick 10-minute sit-down, we discussed the city working with the Kent County to provide free internet access to the community after setting up Wi-Fi service available at 13 locations including the city’s main campus as well as in city parks. We also talked about the importance of community involvement, past and future in protecting the city’s parks through the new Kentwood Park Stewards program, as well the launch of the city’s second Little Free Pantry.
WKTV previously also helped the City of Kentwood and Kent Conservation District’s Invasive Species Strike Team produce a video about how to identify and manage oriental bittersweet, an aggressive invasive species causing damage to trees in the Kentwood parks system and other communities. The problem is one of the efforts the new Park Stewards program will assist with.
Details of Kentwood Park Stewards program
The Kentwood Park Stewards is a new environmentally focused program created by the City of Kentwood and designed to engage residents in monthly activities involving invasive species control, native habitat restoration and park beautification to help preserve and maintain neighborhood parks, trails and public spaces.
According to supplied material, as a park steward, community volunteers will participate in hands-on workdays, educational workshops and other activities, such as cutting invasive vines, pulling invasive garlic mustard and planting native plants. The program also encourages neighbor-led cleanups, adopt-a-park projects and other park maintenance efforts.
“The Kentwood Park Stewards program strengthens the relationship between residents and their neighborhood parks while creating lasting benefits to the environment,” Kristina Colby, recreation program coordinator with the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department, said in supplied material. “Opportunities for residents to get involved and care for their neighborhood parks helps foster a greater sense of community pride in our park system. The contributions of our Kentwood Park Stewards will support the natural beauty and appeal of our parks today and for future generations.”
The new program expands on several invasive species control trainings and workdays the city began offering last fall through a partnership with the Kent Conservation District Invasive Species Strike Team.
Since launching Kentwood Park Stewards earlier this year, Kentwood has joined the West Michigan Conservation Network and collaborated with the Kent County Parks, Rotary Club, Plaster Creek Stewards and gardening clubs, among others.
Those who are interested in signing up to join Kentwood Parks Stewards may complete a volunteer form online or contact the Parks and Recreation Department at eRecreation@kentwood.us or 616-656-5270. More information about the program is available at kentwood.us/ParkStewards.
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.
While not the thousands of people it would normal host during Spring Break, the Salvation Army Kroc Center will be offering limited activities for the annual vacation time for families.
With the COVID-19 pandemic preventing many families from traveling during Spring Break, Kroc Center officials decided to step in and offer opportunities for families to get out of the house and have fun safely.
Families and groups are encouraged to sign up for a group session. (supplied)
“Spring Break is normally our busiest week of the year, but last year we were closed entirely as COVID was just starting to spread,” said Captain Bill Brutto, senior Kroc officer. “This year, we really want to give families a chance to take part in their favorite Kroc Center activities, while making sure safety is still the top priority.”
Each day, April 5–9, Kroc Center recreation areas will be available for exclusive private experiences between 12:30 and 2:30pm, when the rest of the building is closed to members for cleaning. Families are encouraged to gather with friends and relatives they feel comfortable creating a “pod” with to take advantage of the group activities.
The available activities include:
The Aquatics Center, including giant waterslide, lazy river, and more, with lifeguard supervision.
$350 for up to 35 total guests
The Gymnasium (two courts available), including several options for sports equipment, plus an attendant.
$125 for up to 15 total guests
The Worship and Performing Arts Center, including bounce houses and other games, plus an attendant.
$100 for up to 15 total guests
All guests will be expected to follow health and safety guidelines put in place by the State of Michigan’s epidemic orders while at the Kroc Center. This includes temperature checks and health screenings upon entry, along with requirements on face coverings during all activities (except swimming).
“While we would love to be able to offer the full Spring Break experience, it’s not possible with the capacity limitations we still have from the state,” Brutto said. “We felt this would be the next best way to give families opportunities to enjoy the Kroc in a way that helps them feel safe and comfortable.”
At C Grace Productions, we love horses, road trips, and working together. So, pooling our talents and passions, with friends in the creative and tech industries, we support those in the equine industry. Michigan captured our hearts as we fell in love with the scenery and the people.
Trixie Chicks Trick Riders perform at the 2002 Michigan Horse Expo in Lansing. (Supplied)
In 2016, we attended a Keuring, a judging venue of Friesian foals, mares, geldings, and stallions. Having only admired these horses in movies, we were overwhelmed by their beauty. We had lots of questions and the owners were happy to educate us. We soon grasped the need to support them and others in the equine industry with digital marketing and video support. In the meantime, Bill Rinderknecht had begun volunteering for WKTV who trained him to master videography…the timing was impeccable.
In early 2020, we were cruising into the new year with plans for travel, filming, meeting friends, and making new ones. We had a major cross-country trip planned for April/May to film at farms and events. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 restrictions put the kibosh on that. Fortunately, we were able to enjoy the Michigan Horse Expo in Lansing. It was one of the last major Michigan events before COVID restrictions shut down sports, concerts, and other arena events throughout the state. The Expo, held at the Michigan State University Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education, brought horses, performers, vendors, and spectators from around the region.
A team from Heritage Hill Farms. (Supplied)
With Charlotte Rinderknecht directing and the support of WKTV, husband Bill, and Riley Zoet captured much of the weekend’s action. The highlight of the weekend was the “Mane Event” on Saturday night in the arena. It was produced by Gascon Horsemanship from Poplarville, Mississippi. Michael Gascon, known as the horse guru, has trained many untrainable horses and hosts clinics and conferences nationwide. He led the exciting “MG Never Give Up Tour” to Lansing and thrilled the packed house.
The performers, many from within 100 miles of Lansing and some internationally known, included beautiful horses, trick riders, dancers, ropers, and even an aerial act that thrilled the crowd—ever seen soccer on horseback?(!) C Grace captured the entire show with highlights scheduled to be broadcast on WKTV. On Wednesday, March 10, at 4 p.m. and Friday, March 12, at noon, will be the MG Never Give Up Tour show.
In past 100 years, the average life expectancy of a man in the United States has gone from 40 to 77 with women going from 40 to 88. With the average life expectancy continues to increase so does the likelihood of older adults suffering from four or more chronic diseases.
Amongst these chronic diseases, Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia reign supreme. Although both disorders are common, they are not a result of “just getting old”. In other words “getting old” doesn’t necessarily mean you will get dementia.
Mild dementia: In early stages of dementia your loved one may not experience any symptoms though changes in the brain are present. Family members or spouses may notice small abnormalities that are indeed so small that one may dismiss them as normal forgetfulness. This can include forgetting a meeting, loosing your keys, or misplacing an item.
Moderate dementia: In moderate dementia signs of memory changes are more evident. Ability to maintain ones household is more difficulty because bills aren’t being managed. Forgetfulness in regards to managing medication and eating is apparent. Next the individual requires more assistance with activities of daily living such as dressing, remembering addresses and hygiene.
Severe dementia: In severe dementia, constant supervision is required. Loosing control of bowel and bladder may be present. Personality changes are noticed. Speech starts to decrease and the ability to recognize loved ones wane. The individual is unaware of his/her surroundings and is unable to communicate their needs.
Dementia effects the patient and the family. The total lifetime cost of care for someone with dementia is estimated to be nearly $350,000. Learn to recognize early and late signs will allow for your love one to be cared for appropriately and always contact your health provider with questions.
“This one looks good, but I like this one too,” said City of Wyoming Recreation Director Krashawn Martin as she looks through books on a table just outside of the WKTV Community Media Center’s studio.
“Well, you can read two,” said Wyoming’s Communication Specialist Amanda Moore.
Martin was one of almost a couple dozen City of Wyoming staff and leaders who came into the station to record reading books as part of a citywide celebration of March is Reading Month.
Amy Berridge holds up the book her sister, Stacy DeFord, wrote. (WKTV)
Some like Martin selected from books that were available and others, like Amy Berridge, who is in the city’s finance department, brought their own.
“This is actually a book written by my sister,” said Berridge as she displayed “The Fairy Painting,” written by Stacy DeFord.
“The story is about believing in yourself,” Berridge said, adding an important message she wanted to share with students.
Many of the stories selected had special meanings such as the first book Martin selected “Wilma Unlimited,” by Kathleen Knell, which tells the story of how Wilma Rudolph overcomes polio to become one of the world’s finest athletes.
Wyoming Recreation Director Krashawn Martin reads “Double Trouble in Walla, Walla,” by Andrew Clements. (WKTV)
“It shows the power of women,” Martin said. “It shows how girls can be told certain things, that they can’t do this. Yet, we see the bravery of them overcoming and not just settling. I love seeing a person breaking barriers.”
Other stories are just fun like Martin’s second choice “Double Trouble in Walla, Walla,” by Andrew Clements, which Martin said was a tongue twister at time.
“I think it is just fun,” Martin said about reading the stories. “It is a great way to interact with residents and provide some sort of fun and sense of community in the times that we are currently living in.”
City Council member John Fitzgerald enjoyed the opportunity to share his love of read. (WKTV)
Providing some fun and sharing his love of reading were the reasons City Council member John Fitzgerald wanted to participate.
“I love having the opportunity to read to children and young adults,” Fitzgerald said. “I hope it helps them find pleasure in reading as well. When I was in school, I discovered how valuable reading can be and I hope to share the good things that reading can bring to life.”
Fitzgerald selected the book “Who You Were Made to Be,” by Joanna Gaines, because it “talks about bringing forth your best effort.”
“I really liked how she spoke up about injustice and cared about the well being of other people in the world,” said Jill Beltmen about the book she selected “Malala’s Magic Pencil,” by Malala Yousafzai. Beltman works in the city’s community services with the TEAM 21 program.
Jill Beltman, part of the city’s community services team, showcased one of the 200 books that was donated to the TEAM 21 program from the RiverTown Barnes & Noble. (WKTV)
Beltman’s selection was one of about 200 books the TEAM 21 program received from Barnes & Noble at RiverTown Mall. Every holiday, the bookseller hosts a book drive where shoppers may purchase a book to donate. For the 2020 holiday season, the Grandville Barnes & Noble designated TEAM 21 as the recipient of its book drive.
“The store also donated tote bags, mini science kits, bookmarks and a few sets of flashcards and learning supports,” Beltman said. “We are thrilled to celebrate the March Reading Month in TEAM 21 with all these exciting new stories and gear.”
Some of the other books — all the books will be handed out to students in the TEAM 21 program later this year — from the Barnes & Noble donations were featured in the city’s reading program along with books in Spanish. All of the recorded programs can be viewed on the WKTV channels 25 and 26, at wktv.org or on the City of Wyoming’s Facebook page.
Treetops Collective is hosting a four-part speaker series, “Women are Resilient,” beginning today, on International Women’s Day, March 8, and continuing throughout the month of March.
One of Treetops Collective’s core values is a “posture of listening” that recognizes that “each person is an expert of their own experience,” according to supplied material. As a practice of this value, the Women are Resilient speaker series is “an invitation to learn from the strength, creativity, and leadership displayed by women throughout West Michigan who are engaged in transformative work and relationships.”
All four events will take place online and are free to the public.
According to the Treetops Collective website the group’s focus is making West Michigan a place “where refugee women can sink their roots down and flourish with their families for generations to come.”
Also, the March program includes a special opportunity to support local businesses and the work of Treetops Collective by purchasing a cocktail kit for our final celebration of women entrepreneurs.
This series is supported by the partnership of Eastern Kille Distillery and Emme’s Plantain Chips.
Kentwood’s 32nd Street between Breton and Shaffer avenues will be closed for a week starting today, March 8.
The City of Kentwoodannounced today that starting Monday, March 8, 32nd Street between Breton Avenue and Shaffer Avenue in Kentwood will be closed all week for tree clearing to prepare for the reconstruction of 32nd Street.
The road is expected to reopen on the evening of Friday, March 12. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and seek an alternate route or follow the posted detour.
When you ask about community and governmental leadership to Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack, you better be prepared for his unvarnished take on the matter — especially if you give him more than a 30-second soundbite.
WKTV Journal In Focus recently talked with him for 15 minutes or so, and asked those questions of Commissioner Womack, who late last year was named to co-chair Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s new state initiative, the Black Leadership Advisory Council — a group intended to “develop, review, and recommend policies and actions designed to prevent and eradicate discrimination and racial inequity in Michigan.”
Commissioner Womack gave us his opinion on the Governor selecting him to offer advice, his take on the similarities and differences between leadership and “Black leadership”, and, yes, he caught us up on the current and future plans of the advisory council.
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.
“Last year certainly brought its challenges (to the Kent District Library system), but we never allowed those challenges to stop us from serving our communities – our impact continued. Our branches were closed for a time, but the library never closed.”
KDL Executive Director Lance Werner
(pxhere.com)
The COVID-19 vaccine is coming for a wider population
The Kent County Health Department this week was notified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services that the state is expanding vaccination eligibility — including beginning March 22 expanding vaccine eligibility to include all Michiganders 50 years of age and older. Go here for the story.
Despite the pandemic, local lead exposure battle continues
The pandemic has shut down many things, but not the efforts of Kent County and its partners to identify and reduce lead exposure in the community — a serious health hazard especially for children before, during and unfortunately likely to continue after COVID-19. The health department issues a report this week. Go here for the story.
Wyoming City Council debates funding of Kent County Dispatch
While recognizing the accomplishments of the Kent Country Dispatch, the Wyoming City Council this week expressed concern over the funding of the dispatch authority and decided to only approve a one-year renewal agreement for dispatch services at the council’s Monday night meeting. Go here for the story.
(Not so) Fun fact:
33,000 county households without the internet
According to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 33,000 households in Kent County do not have a broadband internet subscription. But Kent County, the City of Kentwood, and others are working on the problem. Read the story here.
It’s been said, “No man is an island” but they probably haven’t met Mackinac Island’s haunted historian expert Todd Clements. Clements authored “Haunts of Mackinac: Ghost Stories, Legends & Tragic Tales of Mackinac Island,” and followed it with his second book where he added “The Next Chapter” to the title.
Author Todd Clements
“Haunts of Mackinac” is also the name of Clements’ nightly Haunted History Tours on the island. These 90-minute guided tours start in May and run until late October. It’s about an hour walk ending at Mission Point. It’s family and pet friendly and is filled with ghost stories and tragic tales of the islands history.
Clements” books offer pictures, descriptions, actual addresses, and maps to the islands’ haunted locations. Each ghost story location is provided with a “Haunting & Ghosts Activity Scale” to measure the level of intensity or strength of activity, the regularity or frequency of activity, and the time scale or most recent activity. Either, one, two, or three stars, with 3 stars being the most recent, most intense, and most frequent. Several locations received three stars in all three categories on the list of most haunted, including: Mission Point Resort, Rifle Range Trails, Fort Mackinac, St. Cloud Dormitory, and Pine Cottage & Chateau Lorraine.
The Grand Hotel has been rumored to be a “hot spot” for paranormal activity with an “Evil Entity,” a black mass with glowing red eyes. Other haunts have a ghost playing piano man wearing a top hat and a woman in Victorian clothing roaming the halls and getting into beds. The Drowning Pool has a tragic story of seven women/witches, who as a test to determine if they were witches, had rocks tied to their feet and were thrown into the pool to see if they would float. They sank and drowned. Visitors say they see these seven women floating and splashing in the Drowning Pool. Mission Point has its resident ghost, “Harvey” who either died of a suicide or was murdered, “Harvey” likes to pinch and poke people.
Todd Clements’ book “Haunts of Mackinac: Ghost Stories, Legends & Tragic Tales of Mackinac Island”
Mackinac Island is a perfect storm for paranormal activity. The surrounding water currents create electrical magnetic fields which ghost are able to use to help them manifest as apparitions. The huge limestone cliffs can store residual energies created during wars and play back these tragic events as ghost activity. Combine these factors with the history of some of the oldest residential and private homes in Michigan and you have the catalyst for paranormal calamity.
Clements was the guest on the eighth episode of Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters Podcast and we featured him on Cryptic Frequencies episode 12.
The Kent County Health Department (KCHD) was notified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) that the State is expanding vaccination eligibility.
Beginning March 8, residents 50 years of age or older with a pre-existing condition or disability and caregiver family members and guardians who care for children with special health care need will be eligible to get vaccinated. Beginning March 22, vaccine eligibility will further expand to include all Michiganders 50 years of age and older.
The KCHD is working to expand its process to ensure all eligible residents can be vaccinated. Vaccine supplies remain extremely limited, so we ask for patience as we work through the details.
In the meantime, the KCHD urges all eligible residents to visit vaccinatewestmi.com and complete a vaccination registration form with a local provider. Residents can also visit this website and sign-up for a newsletter to receive up-to-date vaccine information.
The words echo down the hall of the Wyoming Intermediate School “Push the doubt away.”
From the sounds, there is no doubt that the Wyoming Competitive Cheer team is back. Like many of the winter high school sports team, the group has had to weather delays as the state and Michigan High School Sports Association (MHSSA) grabbled with the COVID pandemic and the guidelines for social distancing. While floor routines, seen in Rounds 1 and 2, do not require cheerleaders to touch, stunting, often in Round 3, does, which had competitive cheer fall into contact sports.
In a typical year, tryouts for competitive cheer would happen in November, which they did for the Wyoming’s team, and competitions would have started right after the first of the year. Competitive cheer, along with other contact sports such as basketball and wrestling, were given the go ahead to resumed practice on Jan. 16 but it pushed the season back. Now post season will start on March 19 with the final competitions on March 26 and 27.
This was on top of the fact that there was a switch up in divisions for competitive cheer which started this year. The team was placed in the same league as powerhouse Muskegon Heights, which has consecutively headed to state finals. Rounding out the league is Zeeland East, Zeeland West, Muskegon, and Reeths Puffer.
“We have already had one meet this year and our scores where fairly close,” said Coach Ashley Kron, who took over the program last year. With a growing program and a young team, Kron said it will be tough for the group to bring home a district championship this year, but for many of the girls on the team, that’s OK. They are on the mats and have a season and that is all that maters.
Senior Maddie Dewey has been looking forward to cheering in her senior year. (WKTV)
The stress of waiting to know the future of this competitive season was hard and just when she had thought it would not happen is when senior Maddie Dewey learned that MHSSA had given the go ahead.
“This is something that I have been looking forward to since forever,” said Dewey, who has been cheering since sixth grade. “Even though it is going to be different, I am happy that I am here and that we do have a season.”
There are challenges such as the requirement of wearing masks while competing, which can make it difficult to breathe, but the chance to complete her senior year as cheerleader is worth it, she said.
Tenth grader Amya Brown also has had a passion for cheer since the seventh grade.
Sophomore Amya Brown said she enjoys the connection to her teammates and the coaches. (WKTV)
“I am really glad for this opportunity,” Brown said. “It makes it fun and you have this family, a connection to the girls and the coaches.”
There are still COVID concerns, Brown said, but the fact that the team is having a season demonstrates how much people have followed the guidelines.
The team has four total meets this season. Except for the masks, most of the rounds will not look that different. There are some guidelines on stunting for Round 3. The rules also only allow for each participant to have up to two spectators at each meet. Anyone who has been to a competitive cheer meet knows that the spectators shouting back is part of the fun.
“It may not be as loud,” Dewey said, “but it will still be fun.”
For the Wyoming Competitive Cheer Team, being back on the mats and having a season are the most important things. (WKTV)
While recognizing the accomplishments of the Kent Country Dispatch, the Wyoming City Council expressed concern over the funding of the dispatch authority and decided to only approve a one-year renewal agreement for dispatch services at the council’s Monday night meeting..
Mayor Jack Poll said the concern is with Kent County dispatching its Sheriff Department personal to areas in townships without any payment by the townships.
“This is in addition to the county essential providing those townships some free services from the Sheriff Department, some townships pay for enhanced services, and charging the townships for jailing persons committing crimes in townships and paying the costs for courts that serve townships,” Poll read from a discussion that took place about dispatch funding.
Poll noted that cities like Wyoming must pay for most of the same services with Wyoming residents paying county taxes to support services for the townships while also playing city taxes to the city so it can pay the county to provide those services to the city residents.
City Manager Curtis Holt, who was the chairman for the Kent County Dispatch for 14 years, said funding has been a concern with the authority. The county does view the issue differently in that it the sheriff provides police services for those communities as part of the dispatch which is part of the county taxes.
“The difference is is in 75 percent of the nation dispatch authorities stand separate and are not part of the sheriff’s department,” Holt said during the city council meeting. “We have actually voiced a desire to look at this as an independent agency and the county continues to resist that as a potential solution.”
Holt said longterm funding of the dispatch authority is something that will have to be considered in the near future.
The county was seeking a five-year renewal for dispatch services. Poll said under the approved agreement, the city could opt out if a better solution is found.
Council members did note that over the years, the services provided to both residents and officers through the dispatch have improved greatly. This included eliminating the number of call transfers from residents to local police departments and bringing online a new 800 megahertz countywide dispatch system that will make it easier for the different departments to communicate with each other.
Palmer field set to get new lights. (WKTV)
Palmer Park
At its Monday meeting, the City Council approved a $277,137 bid by Buist Electric for new field lights and a net at the Palmer field. Buist Electric was the lowest bidder.
Wyoming Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt said that many people do not realize that the Palmer field is located on Kent County land. The ball field is located on the edge of Kaufman Golf Course, which is operated by the county and the 44th Street Armory. The city has had a relationship with Kent County specific to the Palmer softball field since the 1960s.
That agreement, according to Rynbrandt, is that the city is responsible to operate and maintain the field and its related facilities such as the parking lot, restrooms, lights and retention wall.
According to Poll, the lights at the park are 35-years-old with the electrical service in the park being antiquated and need of upgrades to meet code. The project was noted as a priority with the city’s 5-year community Recreation Plan. The new netting would be added to the left field fence with the height being raised to help prevent balls being hit onto 44th Street. The work is scheduled to be done this year.
The total costs came in higher than the estimates of $175,000 partly because of the decision to use LED lighting which uses a fraction of the energy relative to other lighting sources. LED lighting also has a 25-year warranty , which provides a savings in maintenances and repair costs. The LED lights will reduce the light spilling into the surrounding neighborhood.
Due to the age of the equipment and the transition to an LED product, the city is seeking a reimbursement of some funding through a Consumers Energy program. The Council did approve an amendment to the budget of $130,000.
[Re]Imagine Wyoming Master Plan
After 16 months of work and numerous meetings with community members, the Wyoming City Council approved its new master plan, which will provide a framework for city growth over the next 15 – 20 years.
Stop sign added
The council also approved a new stop sign for the intersection of Goldcrest and Mulligan drives. Drivers on Goldcrest Drive will now need to stop at the intersection before entering onto Mulligan Drive.
Appointments
The City Council approved Nancy Quero-Ramirez to the Community Enrichment Commission and Audrey Zapata to the Planning Commission.
Did you know that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month? According to the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, 58,500 Michiganders will experience a brain injury during 2021. Ranging from mild to fatal, brain injuries happen to people of all ages. Those due to congenital abnormalities or from degenerative disease like Alzheimer’s are called acquired brain injuries. The kind of brain injuries that you can help prevent are traumatic brain injuries—TBIs.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services found that 30% of TBIs in Michigan are caused by car crashes. TBIs can happen if you are in an automobile accident, you fall and hit your head, you dive into shallow water, or you’re hit by a hard ball during sports activities. One type of TBI you’ve probably heard of, a concussion happens when you bump or receive a hit to your head that moves your head rapidly back and forth.
The CDC has put together this list of ways you can prevent traumatic brain injuries:
On the road
Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.
Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Wear a helmet when you ride a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile, scooter, or use an all-terrain vehicle.
Tots and tykes
Install window guards to keep young children from falling out.
Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
Go to playgrounds with soft material like mulch or sand under swings and slides.
Never shake a baby or child.
Playing sports
Wear a helmet when you play sports—contact sports, skating or skateboarding, running bases, riding horses, skiing or snowboarding.
Jump in first to check water depth in rivers and lakes. Obey “no diving” warnings at pools.
As you age
Review your prescription and over-the-counter medicines—can they make you dizzy or sleepy?
Ask your healthcare provider about vitamin D.
Do exercise, like tai chi, to strengthen your legs and improve your balance.
Get a vision check-up at least once a year.
In your home, remove trip-and-fall hazards like small rugs; install grab bars by the tub or shower and next to the toilet; put railings on both sides of stairs; and keep your home well-lit, including nightlights.
If you or a loved one experience a hit to the head followed by nausea, unsteadiness, headache, or difficulty concentrating, go to your primary care doctor, urgent care, or emergency room right away. Prompt treatment can mean the difference between life and death—or a life lived with severe impairments.
Depending on how serious a TBI is, recovery can be a slow and painful process. Those with serious brain injuries may survive, but never completely recover. A report on the National Institute for Health website states that traumatic brain injuries provide “a unique target of opportunity for complementary and alternative medicine.” The report explored modalities like acupuncture, meditation, and mindfulness.
When one of my patient’s sons was seven years old, his brother accidentally threw a screwdriver at his head. After emergency surgery and nine days in a Grand Rapids hospital, doctors said he might never be able to read or walk very well. During each of those nine days, his chiropractor visited and gave him gentle adjustments. After discharge, the little fellow began music therapy. Throughout high school, he was first-string quarterback—and graduated as valedictorian. Today, he is a successful architect.
That said, the best course of action is to take care of your noggin. Buckle up! Wear a helmet! Avoid falls! In other words, use your brain!
The Kent District Library 2020 Annual Report tells the story of a year of drastic change and major accomplishments. The annual report is available for download at kdl.org/AnnualReport, and highlights numerous community needs that were met during unprecedented times, including:
In response to having to cancel all in-person events, 1,402 live-streamed events were created to bring the library into homes and viewed 471,809 times.
While branches were closed to in-person visits, curbside service delivered 432,582 items for 125,024 pickups.
Though the circulation of physical materials decreased, the circulation of digital materials increased by 31%, to 1.7 million items.
800 new Mobile WiFi Hotspots were added to the collection to meet the needs of at-home students and workers, and were checked out 2,888 times.
On January 24, 2020, the Men of Color Read initiative was launched in Kent County. Over 25 men met at the Martin Luther King Leadership Academy to read to small groups of children. The pandemic put a pause on in-school visits, but MOCR is continuing with a live-streamed program.
Talking Book & Braille Center circulation increased by 38%.
“Last year certainly brought its challenges, but we never allowed those challenges to stop us from serving our communities – our impact continued,” said Executive Director Lance Werner. “Our branches were closed for a time, but the library never closed.”
For more detailed information, including a breakdown of statistics by branch and municipality, check out the 2020 Impact Report at kdl.org/ImpactReport.
Kent District Library is pleased to launch a 2021-2023 Strategic Plan. The plan will guide KDL’s purpose to further all people by highlighting three strategic focuses: 1.) Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 2.) Engagement and Service and 3.) Sustainability. Details of the new strategic plan can be viewed at kdl.org/strategic-plan.
The pandemic has shut down many things, but not the efforts of Kent County and its partners to identify and reduce lead exposure in the community — a serious health hazard especially for children before, during and unfortunately likely to continue after COVID-19.
Kent County Health Department Director Dr. Adam London provided an update Feb. 25 to the Executive Committee of the Kent County Board of Commissioners. As part of the report, London detailed the “significant strides the department has taken over the last year to identify lead hazards and conduct education efforts,” according to a statement from the county, work which occurred despite the coronavirus pandemic shutting down site visits for approximately six months.
“There is no safe level of lead in children and it is toxic to everyone,” London said in supplied material. “We have to keep the momentum of this work going to mitigate long-term negative impact of lead exposure on our community.”
The Kent County Health Department (KCHD) manages three lead programs including the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), the Multiple Elevated Blood Level (MEBL) list, and part of the county-funded Ready by Five effort.
According to the Kent County announcement, since December 2019, several actions have been taken, including: 161 ongoing or completed investigations at properties that have/had potential lead hazards, and 81 properties on the MEBL List out of 427 properties identified by Lead Action Team; 57 site visits for lead inspection, risk assessments and home health screenings; and 39 homes cleared of lead hazards including helping remediate/abate lead hazards at 28.
In addition, the effort has attained regulatory compliance through working with residents and landlords and initiated enforcement activities at five properties. Also, the lead team has been fully staffed with five lead sanitarians, a health educator, and a lead clerk.
“I am very proud of our team,” Brendan Earl, KCHD supervising sanitarian, said in supplied material. “We have been able to continue the critical work of reducing lead exposure despite the setbacks caused by COVID-19.”
Additionally, according the announcement, the KCHD will be “working in the months ahead to re-engage the Lead Action Team which was formed in February 2020 to bring together local units of government and a multitude of other partners to make our community safer from the harms of lead exposure.”
WKTV’s featured game crew was at this 2019 baseball game between Wyoming and South Christian high schools — the last season the Wolves were able to take the field due to the cancellation of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 restrictions. (WKTV)
High school baseball and softball games in March routinely get rained, or snowed, out in West Michigan. But this year, even if delayed, they stand a chance to played — unlike last season, which was canceled as COVID-19 hit the scene.
So even before the announcement last week from the Michigan High School Athletic Association that spring sports practices and competitions would be delayed by a week, which is expected to have little impact on the Wyoming High School’s ball teams, the Wolves are mostly simply eager for their first live action in more than a year.
“With the delayed start being only one week, as well as the MHSAA allowing us to continue both four man workouts and conditioning workouts, I see no real impact,” Travis Stricklin, Wyoming head baseball coach, said to WKTV. Stricklin is entering his first year leading the Wolves onto the field. “If anything, it gives us an extra week with the kids to prepare and get ready for the start of our season.”
Kaitlin Failing, Wyoming head softball coach, agrees — but includes an additional reason the delay isn’t so bad.
“I think that the later start date is good considering basketball got pushed back,” Failing said to WKTV. “We share a lot of athletes with basketball and it would become pretty difficult to field teams if they are overlapping. We never really get games in the first couple of weeks anyways, so it doesn’t really matter to us that we are starting later.”
Both coaches, however, see last year’s hiatus from high school competition as being the real obstacle to be overcome by their 2021 teams and their entire programs.
“I think (losing) the entire season really affected our program and other programs in similar economic situations,” Failing said. “We tend to run a lot of opportunities for the girls within Wyoming to participate in softball through the school system, for 5th grade up. With the season being cancelled, our girls lost out on their only opportunity to participate in softball. … (Also) without being allowed to run clubs and clinics for all of our younger students, we are not able to get new students interested in playing or give our younger girls the opportunity to get better.”
Failing also pointed out that some high school programs had a high level of travel participation, with their athletes able to play throughout the summer and fall despite Michigan restrictions, “while a lot of our athletes haven’t played in over a year now … our athletes missed out on their only opportunities to play if they do not play travel” ball.
And, she pointed out, with the missing season, many student-athletes are choosing not to play this season “for a number of other reasons because of COVID.”
Much the same is true for the Wolves baseball program.
“Not having a season last year took a toll on our program for sure,” Stricklin said. “We feel that we are beginning to progress as a program, so losing a year due to the pandemic was definitely not easy.
“That being said, I am beyond proud of the way our kids handled it. Rather than getting upset and letting it keep them down, they simply asked when we could begin working out together again to try and get better for whenever we do actually get to play.”
Delay aside, a 2021 season is expected
The MHSAA announced Feb. 22 that its Representative Council had approved an “adjustment to the Spring 2021 schedule delaying the start of practices in those sports one week to March 22 and competition to March 26 “to accommodate a later end to Winter sports this season,” according to the statement.
“The calendar change should alleviate pressures on indoor facility usage and athletes changing seasons with Winter sports concluding up to two weeks later this school year after a delayed start due to COVID-19,” according to the MHSAA statement.
The MHSAA said it based its decision in part on feedback from a survey of MHSAA member high schools, which saw 74 percent favoring a delay in spring sports activity of at least one week. State coaches associations for spring sports also were consulted, and, according to the MHSAA statement “the great majority of Michigan schools are unable to begin consistent spring sports outdoor activity and competition until early April.”
All spring sports tournament dates remain as originally scheduled, however, with MHSAA finals in baseball, softball and girls soccer concluding the 2020-21 postseason June 19.
Previously, the MHSAA council approved an allowance for spring teams to meet for voluntary practices over 16 contact days in September and October, 2020. General conditioning with an unlimited number of students was allowed, with other out-of-season training (four-player workouts, open gyms/facilities) allowed to continue through March 21, with council having eliminated the preseason downtime restriction for Spring sports this year.
But those allowances did not necessarily benefit all schools, or programs, equally.
“We couldn’t really do much with the 16 days because we do not have enough athletes to scrimmage ourselves or run practices because our athletes all play other sports in the fall,” Failing said. “We held open fields but we knew we wouldn’t have a ton of participation because they were not available. I know other schools were able to get their teams together and scrimmage themselves.”
The City of Kentwood has partnered with Kent County to “help residents stay connected while enjoying many of its parks and visiting the main City campus” with free public wireless internet access now available at 13 Kentwood locations.
The access is funded by Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security ( CARES) Act funding allocated to increase free public Wi-Fi throughout Kent County. According to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 33,000 households in Kent County do not have a broadband internet subscription.
“The pandemic has increased demand for internet use and many in our community do not have access,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “We are grateful to be able to provide more public Wi-Fi across Kentwood for our residents, especially our students, to stay connected for work, school and play.”
Kentwood joins 16 other communities and Kent County Parks as part of the initiative to add free public Wi-Fi access across the county.
The free access is available at the following Kentwood locations:
Bowen Station Park, 4499 Bowen Blvd. SE
City Campus — City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE
City Campus — volleyball courts, 5068 Breton Ave. SE
East Paris Nature Park, 5995 East Paris Ave. SE
Home Acres Park, 145 Farnham St. SE
Jaycee Park, 1088 Gentian Drive SE
Kellogg Woods Park, 275 Kellogg Woods Park Drive SE
Northeast Park, 1900 Middleground Drive SE
Old Farm Park, 2350 Embro Drive SE
Pinewood Park, 1999 Wolfboro Drive SE
Stanaback Park, 3717 Whitebud Drive
Stauffer Station Park, 2360 52nd St. SE
Veterans Memorial Park, 355 48th St. SE
Kent County was awarded $114.6 million in CARES Act funding for COVID-19 economic relief efforts. Of that, $1 million was allocated for near-term solutions for free public Wi-Fi access throughout the county.
The costs of Kentwood’s newest Wi-Fi access points and their installation were covered by Kent County through the CARES Act funding. The total infrastructure investment in the City of Kentwood was $60,855, according to a city statement.
The City of Kentwood will also pay electricity and monthly Wi-Fi service charges. The total cost for the city is expected to be $18,000 over the next two years.
The leader of the Kent County Board of Commissioners announced early this month the formation of a new Kent County Broadband Subcommittee charged with “assessing barriers to broadband service throughout the county, developing collaborative strategies to break down the barriers” as well as identifying federal, state and local funding to support the strategies.
“The pandemic has made it clear: access to broadband internet service can no longer be considered ‘optional’ for residents of Kent County,” Commission Chair Mandy Bolter, who will convene the committee, said in Feb. 15 supplied material. “For almost a year, thousands of our residents have worked from home, our children have attended school online, and patients have relied on telehealth services for critical medical and behavioral health appointments. We need everyone in Kent County to have access to those opportunities through a quality broadband network.”
The committee, according to the county announcement, will assess existing broadband coverage countywide; prioritize areas where gaps are most significant and where the population is growing; identify regulations, policies and issues that may stand as barriers to service installation; monitor relevant statewide and national efforts; study successful models in other communities and recommend for the Board of Commissioner’s consideration collaborative strategies to address the challenge.
“There are many roadblocks we have to take into consideration when addressing the need for broadband throughout the County,” county Commissioner Michelle McCloud said in supplied material. “Our solutions will have to be creative and we will have to tap into the skillset of each subcommittee member.”
The group will also study the feasibility of establishing an organizing structure, such as an authority of local units of government that could work together to implement the strategies and “administer funding to fill the service gaps,” according to the announcement.
Commissioner Ben Greene will chair the subcommittee.
Other members will be Bolter and McCloud; Ken Yonker, Kent County Drain Commissioner; Steven Warren, Kent County Road Commission managing director; Tim Beck, director, Kent County information technology department; Ruth Gaudard, area manager, external affairs, Michigan Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, AT&T; Tim Mroz, vice president, Strategic Initiatives, The Right Place, Inc.; Marilyn Passmore, director, State Government Affairs, Charter Communications; Ryan Peel, Vergennes Broadband; Jeff Snyder, manager, External Affairs, Comcast, Heartland Region; and Natalie Stewart, vice president of Government and Public Affairs, Switch.
“I am eager to start working with this group to ensure our residents are able to access the services and information they need,” commissioner Greene said in supplied material. “Information technology has become a critical component of the county’s infrastructure. Each member of this subcommittee will bring unique perspectives and expertise into the conversation.”
The subcommittee will begin their work in March and will be asked to provide a progress report to the full Board of Commissioners at the end of 2021. Depending on the progress and recommendations made at that time, the board may extend their work into 2022.
Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing manager, talking about support of Black-owned businesses and product brands focused on the Black community. (WKTV video)
Woodland Mall, and parent company PREIT, knows it is good for business and good for the local community to support Black-owned businesses and to support brands focused on the Black community, and not just during Black History Month.
Through its “Support Black-Owned Businesses and Brands 365” initiative, the Mall has created a home on its shopwoodlandmall.com website highlighting Black-owned retailers, fashion brands, cosmetics, fragrance lines, books, music and other products for sale within other retailers at the mall.
“We feel this was a concrete step we could take to encourage our guests to support Black-owned businesses throughout the year,” Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing manager, said in supplied material. “The past year has been challenging for many retailers, but Black-owned businesses have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Consumers can now make even more informed buying decisions that will directly support Black entrepreneurs in our community.”
According to an announcement this week from the Mall, this is part of an ongoing effort by the Mall’s parent company, PREIT, to “spotlight Black-owned entrepreneurs and brands within its portfolio of top-tier and region-leading properties in eight states.”
Among Woodland Mall’s programs was this 2020 African-American legends event during Black History Month (with reenactors from New Hope Baptist Church.) (Supplied/Woodland Mall)
During the coming year, at least two-thirds of PREIT properties also plan to host community-wide Black-owned Business Showcases, providing entrepreneurs with a venue to showcase their goods and services.
Woodland Mall was the first property in the PREIT portfolio to host a showcase, welcoming more than 80 regional Black-owned businesses in October 2020, and the Mall plans to do so again in August.
PREIT properties are also planning events and activities throughout the year as a way to highlight the importance of Black-owned business and brands beyond Black History Month. During 2021, Woodland Mall has hosted an art exhibit, documentary screening and this past weekend’s successful pop-up shop welcoming Black-owned entrepreneurs to the mall.
Mall, retailers have history of Black community support
Woodland Mall is already home to Boutique Boulevard, a unique women’s clothing and accessories retailer curated from locally owned Black businesses. The store is located in the Barnes and Noble wing near Kay Jewelers.
Woodland Mall retailers also feature a wide variety of Black-owned brands and merchandise, including products that can be found at Sephora, including, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, Briogeo by Nancy Twine and others. The JCPenney Salon features Hair by Athulia, which specializes in luxury hair care for women of color.
Macy’s honors and celebrates “the brilliant legacies woven into the fabric of Black history and experience,” by spotlighting Black creators and change makers who continue to make their mark. Macy’s is also committed to empowering future leaders by supporting UNCF and Black Girls CODE through donations at the register or online.
Williams Sonoma is paying tribute to the historic achievements of generations of African Americans in the culinary arts and beyond. Shoppers can get cooking with great recipes and expert cooking tips and explore cookbooks by Black authors.
Woodland Mall asks all guests to follow CDC recommendations by using the hand sanitizer stations located throughout the mall, wearing face coverings and practicing physical distancing.
In order to comply with Michigan requirements, occupancy numbers remain limited as the mall operates on reduced hours 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8 a.m., Friday through Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
You can’t go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending.
Author C.S. Lewis
The Lakeshore Art Festival will be June 26 and 27. (Supplied)
Calling all artists
Several local and regional art organizations are preparing for summer exhibits and now is the time to apply to be in them. Some of the organizations are Urban Institute for Contemporary Art, Lakeshore Art Festival, and Ramsdell Center for the Arts. For more, click here.
Ansel Adams (American, 1902-1984), “Half Dome, Merced River, Winter from The Photographs of Yosemite Suite” (Silverprint photograph, 1938. Gift of the Friends of Art, 1989)
Marking a 100 years
The Muskegon Museum of Art is celebrating 100th anniversary of the Friends of Art, an independent non-profit organization established in 1921 that promotes the study of art and supports the museum. The museum, located in downtown Muskegon, is featuring two exhibits “Friends of Art: 100 Years” features almost 30 artworks donated by the “Friends” to the museum and “Ansel Adams: The Photographs of Yosemite Suite” which features 24 iconic images taken in the 1940s of Yosemite National Park. Both exhibits run through the beginning of May.
(Photo from Pxhere.com)
Plan your summer
The West Michigan Tourist Association announced it will be hosting a series of virtual travel expos for area residents to explore different travel options. The series starts March 8 with a golf expo, followed by a March 22 women and family expo, and wraps up April 5 with a travel expo. Or residents can just snag one of the WMTA’s tour guides to get an early start on planning their summer adventures. Visit wmta.org.
The Eben Ice Caves in Hiawatha National Forest
The Frozen Caves of Michigan
Kentucky may have the Mammoth Caves, but Michigan has ice caves — specifically the Eben Ice Caves, also known as the River Rock Canyon Ice Caves. About 20 miles south of Munsing, Michigan, in the upper peninsula, the ice caves form every winter. Basically, it is the water seeping from the rock above that freezes into sheets of ice, forming the “cave” between them and the cliff. The entire area is less than 50 yards long but it brings visitors all over to see this marvelous miracle in nature that is only found in Michigan.
Social isolation has effected us in so many different ways. Some have chosen to take advantage of this pandemic to spend time with family, focus on themselves or take a vacation, while social isolation and other COVID-19 related life changes has lead to an increase in use and abuse of alcohol.
Social media outlets have made memes about “quarantinis” and COVID drinking, making light of a truly serious condition. Unwinding with a “quarantini” or a glass of your favorite spirit might seem like a good way to cope with the stress of this pandemic, but for some people, too much alcohol is a problem.
Quarantini memes make fun of a serious concern.
Consuming alcohol can weaken your body’s ability to fight off infections leading to depression, anxiety, obesity and liver disease. In addition, excess alcohol many lead to such conditions as hypertension (high blood pressure), strokes and heart attacks. ti also could lead to increase susceptibility to contracting COVID-19.
Instead of going down the road of the misnomers of alcohol abuse, let’s take a look at what happens when you actually stop abusing alcohol.
1. Improved health with decreased sicknesses. Alcohol impacts your immune system’s ability to fight off disease.
2. You will dodge accidents and fatal injuries. Even cutting back your drinking by a third can lower the number of injuries and sick days.
3. Your heart gets healthier. Reducing your alcohol intake may lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels and nay decrease your chances of stokes and heart attacks.
4. The liver heals. The live is responsible for helping your blood clot along with breaking down fats, proteins, and sugars.
5. Weight loss. Alcohol accounts for so many empty and non-nutritional calories.
6. Ease depression and anxiety. Alcohol is actually a downer working as a depressant to slow down vital bodily functions.
7. Decrease your cancer risk.
8. Improve your libido. In women, reducing alcohol use may improve vaginal lubrication and in men, it may decrease erectile dysfunction.
9. Restful nights/daytime sleepiness. Alcohol disrupts rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage that is essential in learning and making or retaining memories.
10. Clearer thinking. As mentioned above, reducing your alcohol intake increases your ability to retain and make memories.
Always be mindful of your alcohol intake and drink responsibly.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport has been named Airport of the Year in the air carrier category by the Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics.
The Ford Airport was recognized for its “outstanding contribution and sustained excellence toward aviation progress in Michigan.” The award also reads in part, “Chief Executive Officer Torrance Richardson and the airport staff are being commended in particular for their innovative terminal expansion ‘Project Elevate’ and continued community environmental stewardship.”
The MDOT Office of Aeronautics annually recognizes exceptional airports in various categories. The Ford Airport was presented with the award at a virtual ceremony on Feb. 18 during the 2021 Michigan Airport Conference.
An Allegiant Airlines plane at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (Supplied/Ford International Airport)
“My team and I are honored to receive this award and thank MDOT’s Office of Aeronautics for recognizing our important role in Michigan’s progress,” Richardson said. “It is our ambition to not only serve as a gateway to West Michigan but also as a catalyst for economic development in our region. It is gratifying to receive this recognition to honor our team’s extraordinary efforts, especially during the pandemic. ”
In 2019, the Ford Airport Authority announced plans for Project Elevate, a three-development expansion that will include a $90 million extension of Concourse A to accommodate projected passenger growth over the next 20 years. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to adapt its expansion plan, the Ford Airport has broken ground on the first phase of its future federal inspection station. This is the first step to welcoming direct international travel.
Through its programs, partnerships and innovative solutions, the Ford Airport is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. Sustainability was a primary focus of the 2018 Master Plan and, most recently, the reconstruction and expansion of the terminal apron resulted in more than 99% of the materials generated being recycled or reused. Thanks to a collaborative partnership between MDOT, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Ford Airport, this $50 million investment has been completed to support Project Elevate and the Airport’s future growth.
Additionally, the Airport’s continued partnership with Consumers Energy on energy improvements, its natural treatment system for deicing fluid and expanded recycling program with the Kent County Department of Public Works are examples of its stewardship.
Ansel Adams (American, 1902-1984), “Half Dome, Merced River, Winter from The Photographs of Yosemite Suite” (Silverprint photograph, 1938. Gift of the Friends of Art, 1989)
This year, the Muskegon Museum of Art is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Friends of Art, an independent non-profit organization established in 1921 that promotes the study of art and supports the museum.
Two exhibitions organized by the MMA recognize the contributions of the Friends of Art, highlighting works of art that the group has contributed to the MMA over the past century — including one exhibit featuring iconic photographs of Ansel Adams which opened Feb. 18.
The exhibit “Friends of Art: 100 Years” features almost 30 artworks donated by the “Friends” to the museum’s permanent collection over the decades.
Tunis Ponsen (American, 1891-1968), “Yacht Club Pier” (Oil on canvas, 1931. Gift of Friends of Art, 1931)
“Visitors will discover a rich diversity of objects along with some of the museum’s most significant works of art, including pieces by James Richmond Barthé and Paul Howard Manship and one of our signature paintings, Tunis Ponsen’s ‘Yacht Club Pier’,” Art Martin, MMA senior curator, said in supplied material.
The exhibition runs through May 2, and includes a video, “Friends of Art 100th Year Anniversary”, which tells the story of the history of the group through the years. The video and exhibition information can be found here.
Also on exhibit as part of the celebration is “Ansel Adams: The Photographs of Yosemite Suite” which features 24 iconic images taken in the 1940s of Yosemite National Park — the location and pictures that defined Adams’s internationally celebrated career.
In preview material of the exhibit, it is stated: “The artistic and technical contributions Ansel Adams made to photography established him as a legendary figure in American art. Seen by millions of viewers during his lifetime, Adams’s images documented the American wilderness, capturing transitory moments of light and weather that gave his subjects an emotive power not previously seen in landscape photography.”
Friends of Art members purchased the photographs for the museum collection in 1989. The exhibition runs through May 9.
Paul Howard Manship (American, 1885-1966), “Flight of Europa” (Bronze on onyx base, 1928. Gift of the Friends of Art, 1944)
The museum is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, and closed Mondays. Health and safety measures include limited occupancy in galleries and other public spaces, enhanced cleaning, and mask wearing is required for guests and staff.
Visit muskegonartmuseum.org for museum updates, visitor information, and exhibition information.
The Rapid is proposing changes to reduced and discounted fare programs for institutional partners, as well some changes to the Wave card system. These changes are intended to simplify and standardize programs in order to make them easier to navigate for riders and partners.
The meetings will take place on three consecutive days, starting on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021:
Monday, Feb. 22 – 6- 7 p.m. Live on The Rapid’s Facebook page o Available via Zoom
Tuesday, Feb. 23 – Noon to 1 p.m. Live on The Rapid’s Facebook page o Available via Zoom
Wednesday, Feb. 24 – 9 to 10 a.m. Live on The Rapid’s Facebook page o Available via Zoom
These virtual meetings will provide an informational overview of the proposed changes, as well as an opportunity for Q&A with Rapid staff members. The proposed changes are as follows:
These virtual meetings will provide an informational overview of the proposed changes, as well as an opportunity for Q&A with Rapid staff members. The proposed changes are as follows:
1. Reduced, Donation, and Discounted Rate Programs The Rapids currently manages programs designed specifically for non-profit organizations, organizations that directly serve people experiencing homelessness, organizations that directly serve people experiencing homelessness, organizations that directly serve people experiencing homelessness, and discounted rates for educational institutions. The proposal would combine these programs and standardize the discounted fare at $1.25 per ticket. This will simplify the programs available to non-profits and post K-12 educational institutions, eliminate multiple discounts or donations programs, and create a more equitable standard for providing discounted cares. The program would be open to the following organizations:
1. 501(C)3 designated organizations
2. Post K-12 Educational Institutions
2. Fare Capping Structure As part of the implementation of the Wave fare system, a fare capping structure was put in place that enables riders to “earn” a 1-day pass, 7-day pass, and a 31-day pass on a rolling basis in accordance with how often rides are taken. The proposal recommends a change to monthly capping system, which will cover one calendar month. This change would eliminate the 7-day capping option and keep the one-day and monthly caps. The fare capping will reset on the first day of each new month. This change would simplify fare capping to make it easier to use and understand for all customers.
3. Negative Balance Elimination The implementation of the E-Fare system was initially configured to enable the Wave cards to allow for a negative balance of up to -$1.74. The proposal recommends the elimination of a negative balance allowance on Wave cards. This change will maintain equity among the Wave card categories and improve the ease of use of the Wave care for customers.
4. Shipping Fee The Rapid is proposing a flat shipping fee of $2.50 for all online fare purchase orders being mailed to customers to cover postage fees.
For any members of the public that are unable to attend next week’s meeting, additional options are available to provide feedback and comment:
Via email to comment@ridetherapid.org
Via phone at 616-774-1235
Via mail to:
300 Ellsworth Ave. SW c/o Communications Department Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Amway River Bank Run organizers announced this week that the 2021 event date has changed from May 8 to Oct. 23 in downtown Grand Rapids. The decision to move the 44th iteration of the annual event was made after careful consideration and consultation with local health professionals, including health partner Spectrum Health.
The specific event details and safety procedures are still being finalized and will be communicated as they are confirmed. Organizers believe delaying the event to October from its usual second Saturday in May date will allow the occasion to resemble more closely what participants and spectators have come to expect from Grand Rapids’ signature outdoor sporting event.
“The safety of the runners, volunteers and supporters has always been at the center of every decision we’ve made regarding last year’s and this year’s event,” said Russ Hines, owner, Riverbank Events and Media, which owns and operates the annual event. “Even though we do expect there to still be COVID-19 safety precautions in place this October, we felt that it was in everyone’s best interest to allow more time to be comfortable with an in-person event.”
Participants that registered for the May 8 date will automatically be confirmed for the Oct. 23 event.
The social distancing required to prevent the spread of COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 in-person event, but as more people have learned how to manage social distancing, and giving more time for participants to be vaccinated, run officials believe a later 2021 in-person event is prudent.
“We feel delaying this year’s event to allow more participants and volunteers to be vaccinated will give us the chance to offer a safer and responsible in-person event,” Amway River Bank Run race director David Madiol said. “We continue to be very grateful for the community’s support this past year and look forward to seeing people’s smiles downtown next October, even if they’re behind masks!”
“We commend and support Amway River Bank Run organizers in moving the event to the fall and balancing the desire to ‘return to normal’ with the need to protect the health and safety of participants and the community at large. We look forward to partnering on a successful race,” said Spectrum Health president and CEO Tina Freese Decker.
Legend if not history has it that following his victory over the British, Gen. George Washington — soon to be the nation’s first president — was celebrated by the masses as the “King of America” but he famously responded by stating that he was “Not a King.”
To celebrate Washington and his also legendary distillery prowess, and almost all presidents, in the month of the President’s Day holiday, Journeyman Distillery again offers a patriotic tribute to our nation’s first distiller-in-chief with its Not a King Rye Whiskey release.
Batch #6 of Journeyman’s Not a King Rye was officially released at the Three Oaks distillery on Feb. 12, but to find where you can get it locally check out journeymandistillery.com/find-your-spirit.
Handcrafted from grain to barrel to bottle, with a mash of 60 percent rye, 35 percent corn and 5 percent malted barley, the limited release is, according to supplied material, “an interpretation of Washington’s original rye whiskey recipe” that “takes drinkers back to the late 1700s with nuanced flavors reminiscent of the spirit America’s original settlers would enjoy.”
“The Crossing” has Jeff Daniels as Gen. Washington. (crop of publicity poster)
Aged 3 years in 30 gallon barrels, it’s the makings for a perfect Old Fashioned or Manhattan, with a twist of history, we are told. The offered-up mixology is a drink called “The Founding Father (2 oz. Not a King Rye Whiskey and 1 oz. Amaretto, shaken over ice and strained into a clean or ice-filled rocks glass, then finished with an orange peel.)
Me, on a cold February night, I say find the movie “The Crossing” — a fine period piece starring the great Jeff Daniels as the General — on your television, pour a clean shot, and drink with the president.
The Michigan Brewers Guild usually holds big beer festivals each year, including one in Kent Country, and may still yet later in 2021. But this year, as last, things are different. Still the guild is looking forward to sunny summer days on the golf course, with a beer or two at the 19th hole, by announcing plans for three “Great Beer State Golf Outings” coming up this year, the first being local, on Wednesday, June 9, at North Kent Golf Course in Rockford.
The other outings will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at Forest Akers Golf Course in Lansing, and Saturday, Oct. 9, at Treetops Resort in Gaylord.
“The golf outings we have planned are not intended to replace our larger events and we are hopeful that we will be hosting beer festivals again this year,” Scott Graham, executive director of the guild, said in supplied material. “We are looking for additional ways to raise operating funds for our non-profit trade association, while also getting together with some of our brewery members, allied businesses and beer enthusiasts in a fun and safe way.”
Registration for teams and sponsors the first outing will open in March. Details for all events will be posted soon on MiBeer.com under the EVENTS tab.
Formed in 1997, the Michigan Brewers Guild represents nearly 300 member breweries.
To heck with Punxsutawney Phil, summer is coming
New Holland Brewing is ignoring Punxsutawney Phil’s disheartening winter prediction for 2021 and has released a new style of craft beverage, a Watermelon Spritz — one part seltzer, one part sparkling ale, and a healthy splash of natural watermelon.
New Holland Watermelon Spritz can (Supplied)
If that doesn’t say summer nothing does.
The hybrid beverage, according to supplied material, is the result of brewing a wheat beer that is high in fruity esters, combined with natural watermelon and fizzy seltzer for a “bubbly, crisp and slightly tart” beverage with bold fruit flavor. Watermelon Spritz comes in at a “respectable” 4.3 percent ABV.
Watermelon Spritz hit the market this month in 6 packs of 12-oz. cans — their Summer Ale — a tart IPA — will become available in May in the same way. For more information visit NewHollandBrew.com.
It can be a challenge to open a business in any era and that was especially true for an African American in the early to mid 1900s, but Herman E. Curtis defied those odds to open one of the first, and very successful, African American businesses in the City of Wyoming.
According to his grandson, Michael Curtis, who came to the WKTV studios to share his grandfather’s story through VOICES, Herman E. Curtis was a man of many talents, a pilot, a boat captain, and a well-known band leader with several groups in Michigan and surrounding states.
Curtis decided to add to that list and become a businessman. This was not an easy task for an African American as the banks were not as willing to give loans to those who were not white.
Michael Curtis, a board member of the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives, shares the story of his grandfather’s business with resident and Kent County Commissioner Monica Sparks. (WKTV)
“He got himself a white business partner,” said Curtis, who serves as a board member at the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives. “So the business partner would go to the bank and to help get the loan, Herman added ‘ma’ to his last name, making it Curtisma.”
The business partner would bring the papers to Herman, who would sign them, Curtis said. The business partner would then take everything back to the bank with bank officials never actually meeting Herman.
Herman would open the General Paint and Body Shop across from the former GM plant on 36th Street and Buchanan. While the business is no longer around, the building at 3818 Buchanan is still there.
Herman E. Curtis was a man who had many positions including being a pioneer businessman, opening the General Paint and Body Shop in Wyoming. (Supplied/Michael Curtis)
The General Paint and Body Shop was known for painting logos and images on trucks and trailers. Today that has mostly been replaced with decals. But back in the 1940s and 1950s, a lot of the work was done by hand and Herman’s shop along with another Ranco, which operated out of the same building, were famous for what they did. The owners of Ranco were Randy Brown and local artist Paul Collins.
“When we started, people were astonished that we could do this,” Collins said during a phone interview. “They had never done business with black folks before.”
Collins said they realized they were paving the way in breaking down stereotypes and building new business relationships between whites and blacks.
“I remember there was an Oldsmobile dealer who wanted to get some promotions painted on his windows,” Collins said. “We went there and he said he couldn’t believe that color boys could do such work.
“We made him a deal and told him if he let us paint the windows, if he didn’t like it, he didn’t have to pay for it. He gave us a chance and I even painted an image of him in one of the windows.”
Needless to say, the car dealership owner loved what he saw. Collins and Brown would become famous for their work and meet people such as Rich DeVos and Jay VanAndel. The business connections opened up doors for Collins to move on to become a full-time artist and Brown and him closed their business.
Herman E. Curtis also became very well respected in the community for his work and in fact, there was a street off of Hall near the U.S. 131 interchange that was named Herman E.Curtis. The street is now gone, but you can look back at old street maps to see it. Herman also was immortalized in the book “Bud, Not Buddy,” which was written by another grandchild, Christopher Paul Curtis. The book received numerous awards including an ALA Coretta Scott King Award and is used in educational curriculum.
For more about African American owned businesses and life in Grand Rapids, visit the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives, 87 Monroe Center NW. GRAAMA’s website is graama.org.
