U.S. Sen. Gary Peters will be in Wyoming this week to visit a local business. This photo is from a visit to another business in Traverse City this year. (Supplied)
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) will visit City of Wyoming business Total Plastics International Friday, July 24, in a non-public event to “highlight work to support businesses adapting to challenges posed by COVID-19”, according to a July 22 statement form the senator’s office.
The senator, currently running for re-election, will also “discuss efforts to strengthen domestic medical supply manufacturing and production in Michigan, (and) reduce dependence on foreign countries,” including China, according to the statement.
Total Plastics International received a loan from the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as part of the federal CARES Act. More recently, Sen. Peters helped pass legislation that gave small businesses with PPP loans — such as Total Plastics International — more “flexibility in using the forgivable loans to maintain operations,” according to the statement.
Total Plastics International is a distributor and manufacturer of plastic sheet, rod, tube, film and tape that has operated in Michigan for over four decades, according to supplied material. Since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, Total Plastics International has altered their business model to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline health care professionals and essential workers throughout the country.
Joe Lorenz, Kwin Morris, and Jeff Guy plan to paddle board the Chain of Lakes this August to help raise awareness on Great Lakes environmental issues and the Chain of Lakes Water Trail. (Supplied)
By Kwin Morris Paddle Antrim
This August three men, Joe Lorenz, Kwin Morris, and Jeff Guy, plan to paddleboard the Chain of Lakes all in an effort to raise awareness of Great Lakes environmental issues and also the Chain of Lakes Water Trail. They’ll begin their adventure at Six-Mile Lake near Ellsworth Michigan and end it at Elk Rapids Dam. The 60-mile trip is expected to take about 20 hours.
While the Chain isn’t reputed to be as cold or treacherous as the five Great Lakes, it still has dangers.
“You’ll have a current, boat traffic, and a route that changes north to south several times,” says Kwin Morris. “We’re comfortable in 2-3 foot waves, but we want to avoid larger waves as much as possible.”
Their first crossing was Lake Michigan in 2015, a 60-mile and just under 25-hour journey in 38-degree water. They raised $10,000 for the Great Lakes Alliance. In June 2017 they crossed Lake Huron and raised $7,000 for Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Their 90-mile paddle journey took over 28 hours to complete. Last summer they paddled across Lake Superior in 21 hours. Their 60-mile trip began at Sinclair Cove, Ontario and ended at Whitefish Point, Michigan and raised $15,000 for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. Their fourth journey was a 70-mile Lake Erie crossing that raised 17,000 for the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research.
They had plans to cross Lake Ontario in June but was shut down due to COVID-19 and having the Canadian border closed.
Each paddleboarder carries all of his supplies on his own paddleboard: food, extra clothes, and straws that filter drinking water from the lake. They have taken precautions, such as having a safety boats follow them with an emergency medical technician on it. They are also bringing Photojournalist Corey Adkins with them to capture the event. “Corey is our master storyteller, so it’s great he’ll be there with us again,” says Guy.
Last summer the group paddled across Lake Superior in 21 hours. (Supplied)
Normally, the group paddles alone, but for this journey they are inviting the public to join for sections of the paddle. “We ask that a person donates and joins in! We want people to feel comfortable on the water trail, so they do their part in protecting it as well,“ says Lorenz. More information about where and when to meet the guys can be found on their social media pages.
The men researched the Chain of Lakes to decide where to donate the money they will raise. They spoke with Deana Jerdee, Executive Director at Paddle Antrim. Paddle Antrim is a non-profit organization, founded in 2014, with a mission to protect water resources in the Chain of Lakes in Northern Michigan by using paddle sports to connect people to these waterways. Through stewardship, education, improved water trail access, and promotion of our waterways we will increase water resource protection and enhance the economic vitality of the region.
“Our overall goal is to help keep the Great Lakes awesome,” says Jeff Guy. “Our hope is that people will join us in donating to this great cause.”
The whole reason we are called Stand Up for Great Lakes is although we believe THE Great Lakes are awesome, Michigan is full of other “great lakes” and this water trail highlights them.
About Jeff Guy: Guy, 33, is a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch. He also enjoys golf, hockey and fishing. He lives in downtown Traverse City.
About Joe Lorenz: Lorenz, 33, is a personal trainer in Traverse City. When he’s not helping people achieve their fitness goals, he’s up for almost anything involving water, travel, adventure, fitness, or beer.
About Kwin Morris: Morris, 31, was born and raised in northern Michigan, making him a keen waterman, traveler, and adventurer. He is a middle school science teacher in the Elk Rapids School District.
About Corey Adkins: Adkins is the Special Projects Executive Director for 9&10 News based in Cadillac. A gifted storyteller, Adkins has won several awards for the “Crossing Superior” documentary which was recently nominated for two Emmys. In 2018 he won “Best Documentary” from the Associated Press and Best News Special and Special Interest Programming for his filming of the Huron crossing. He also won a 2015 award on a commemorative Edmund Fitzgerald production.
West Michigan venues associated with the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), which was formed to try to save independent venues and promoters across the country, issued a call this week that they needed fan support of a federal bill which is hoped would rescue what has been a “first to close and last to open” industry.
The Restart Act — U.S. Senate Bill 3814 and U.S. House of Representatives House Resolution 7481 — “would ensure the survival of independent (music) venues, festivals and promoters across the nation,” according to a local NIVA statement.
Among other actions, both bills would allow small venues to apply for federal small business loans, something they are unable to do under current federal CARES Act provisions.
“The Restart Act needs your voice. This is it. For our industry it’s the last opportunity we will have to survive,” the management of Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up posted on their Facebook page this week. “If Seven Steps Up is the only survivor or even one of a handful, there is no music industry.
“Please contact your senators and representatives today!! Please. TODAY!! This isn’t about us. THIS IS ABOUT THE ENTIRE LIVE MUSIC INDUSTRY. Yes, we are shouting. We are begging. We are pleading for your help!!” (Punctuation directly from the Facebook post.)
Among the other local NIVA member venues are The Pyramid Scheme and the Wealthy Theatre. (For an early COVID-19 shutdown report on Seven Steps and The Pyramid Scheme, see a WKTV story here.)
Without support from Congress, 90 percent of NIVA’s independent venues, festivals, and promoters across America say they will be forced to close their doors forever, according to the local NIVA statement.
“Without inclusion in the next stimulus bill, this might be the last chance for your favorite independent venues, festivals, and promoters,” the statement continues. “Tell your reps that life support for independent venues and promoters must be included.”
The NIVA also urges that “even if you’ve written once, please make your voices heard now. It’s quick, easy, and free. Ask your legislators to support and co-sponsor S. 3814/H.R. 7481, the RESTART Act, introduced by Senators (Todd) Young and (Michael) Bennet in the Senate and Representatives (Jared) Golden and (Mike) Kelly in the House.”
In each case, the co-sponsors of the Senate and House bills are bipartisan, meaning of each Democratic and Republican parties.
To get involved and to contact local federal legislative leaders, go to SaveOurStages.com.
“The form for the letter is already filled in, you just have to add your name. It takes less than 30 seconds,” according to the localNIVA statement. “This link will automatically populate with your Senators and Congressional Representative based on your zip code.”
For more information on the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) visit NIVAssoc.org. For more information on Seven Steps Up, located at 116 S. Jackson., Spring Lake, visit sevenstepsup.com. for more information on Pyramid Scheme, located at 68 Commerce SW, Grand Rapids, visit pyramidschemebar.com.
Dusty Chaps from Buffalo, New York will take over the Sounds of Summer Concert series this Thursday, July 23.
The concert will be held in Cutler Park, 6701 Cutler Park Dr. SW, just west of the Division Avenue and 68th Street intersection at 7 p.m.
The band consists of four members: Dale Thomas on vocals and lead guitar, Tommy Davis on vocals and drums, Ron Williams on vocals and bass guitar, and Nelson Wood on the pedal steel guitar.
They will fill the evenings atmosphere with classic country tunes, Western swing, comedy, sing-a-longs and oldies tracks.
The bands influencers include Bob Williams, Les Paul, The Ventures, Joe Maphis, Dwayne Eddy and many other artists and bands as listed on the group’s Facebook page.
Don’t miss a chance to be outdoors this summer while enjoying good music in one of the few outdoor activities still happening this summer. This concert series is sponsored by the Byron Township. The last performance in this series will be by LWND on July 30.
The launch of the Progress 76 Cargo Craft will be featured live on the WKTV Government Channel 26 on Thursday, July 23.
The coverage starts at 10 a.m. with the launch scheduled for 10:26 a.m. from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station (ISS). A Roscosmos Soyuz-2 rocket will launch the Progress 76 Cargo Craft.
Live coverage continues at 1 p.m. following the rendezvous and the docking of the craft to the ISS which is set to take place at 1:47 p.m.
The Progress 76 Cargo Craft is an unmanned Russian Cargo Spacecraft used to deliver supplies since 1978 originally to the Soviet Space stations and now to the International Space Station.
It seems like every year the City of Kentwood gets praise for several things — its livability, its governance and particularly its support of business. And the city has an impressive lineup of manufacturing and other large businesses within its boundaries.
But it also is proud of its support of what many economists state is the engine that drives our economy — small businesses. Kentwood was, in fact, recently given special notice on the national scene as Verizon named the city as Michigan’s best small city for small businesses. (See the listing here.)
WKTV Journal In Focus last week talked to City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley about the city being “open for business” large and small, the recent national notice, and why and how the city support small business — during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic and all the time.
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.
The picnic tables at Wyoming’s Pinery Park in front of the city stage were full, not for a concert but for the Wyoming City Council’s first 2020 summer outdoor council meeting.
For the past four years, the Wyoming City Council has taken its meeting on the road, visiting different neighborhoods within the city during the summer.
“I have been wanting to come to a meeting for awhile,” said Wyoming resident Mary Vickers, who added that attending was often difficult as she had to get her son ready for bed at about the same time as the meetings. “When I heard that this one was going to be at Pinery Park, I said good. We’ll go for a walk and find out what it is all about.”
That according to Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll is the reason why the Wyoming City Council has been hosting the outdoor meetings: to connect with the citizens and to encourage more people to get involved.
“We had some new faces and more citizens here for the meeting who had some individual concerns and it was good we were to be able to listen,” Poll said after the meeting.
Before the meeting, residents were able to have a treat and visit with city officials. (WKTV)
Several residents talked to council members and staff before the meeting on topics of concern including helping to slow traffic on some city streets to more universal access for the city parks. During the meeting, a couple of residents came up to talk about the cost of the replacement of the police cars that were lost during the May 31 riots in Grand Rapids and the need for crossing guards at Lee Street and Cleveland Avenue.
“We don’t see this kind of crowd at the city council chambers,” said Mayor Pro Tem Sam Bolt during the meeting. “It is nice to be able to hear their community concerns and to know what is going on in their neighborhood.”
Police Chief Kim Koster presents the 2019 Public Safety Annual Report. (WKTV)
During the meeting Police Chief Kim Koster presented the 2019 Public Safety report, which is available to citizens at the City of Wyoming website under the Public Safety tab. Koster noted the department had almost 7,000 calls for service in 2019, the highest number the department has had in a year. This included 4,677 EMS responses, which was also the highest number in a year.
Other numbers for year were:
158 Fire Events
404 Fire Alarms
330 Service Events
815 Good Intent Responses
409 Hazardous Condition Responses
Koster also noted that the Community Services Unit continues to maintain and build positive relationships having had 11,472 citizen/student contacts. The unit has attended community events, community meetings and provided lectures and presentations, along with follow-investigations, truancy complaints, and arrests.
Along with Koster’s report, the council received a report on an analytical study on how the residents felt the city was doing. The council also approved several budget items that included the approval to have Prein & Newhof design and oversee construction of the Plaster Creek Boulevard and non-motorized trail project from Buchanan Avenue to Division Avenue.
Mayor Jack Poll talks to residents before the meeting. (WKTV)
Poll announced that the next on-the-road meeting will be Aug. 17 at the SpartanNash YMCA, located off of Gezon Parkway at 5722 Metro Way. All city council meetings start at 7 p.m.
The Wyoming City Council meets every first and third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. throughout the year. Regular meetings are at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW. For more information about the Wyoming City Council or the various city committees, visit wyomingmi.gov.
All the city council meetings are broadcast lived by WKTV on the WKTV Community Media Facebook page and on the WKTV Government Channel 26. Meetings rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.
With the gentle passing of time, and as we grow in experience and maturity, we can sometimes find ourselves getting bored with the hobbies that we’ve been enjoying for many years. That’s not to say that the hobbies haven’t been pleasant, but at this point, it just may seem like—something is missing.
Having more time in retirement offers the opportunity to expand our knowledge base in new, exciting places. Not only can this be a fun journey, but it also offers tremendous benefit to health, happiness, and mental sharpness.
An opportunity to turn dreams into reality
A large percentage of people who retire eventually elect to downsize from a large home, condo, or co-op to an assisted living community that can better meet the needs of aging adults. Their lives may have changed dramatically, and they now feel the emotional need for a comfortable transition to a more relaxed and fun-filled lifestyle that is more suitable for aging adults.
Moving into a well-run, friendly and luxurious assisted living community can be an excellent opportunity to make new friends, try a few new things and discover new passions. Let’s be frank, who doesn’t want more leisure time to enjoy life’s pleasures? This remains the case for those dealing with health challenges and disabilities.
Exciting new activities
With assisted living activities, the objective is helping people enrich their lives in a new home and friendly community. These activities encourage people to have fun and try new things whether it’s learning to play chess, learning to play pool, or exploring computer classes where they can send and receive photos of their adult children, grandchildren, and their siblings. They may not physically be able to visit foreign countries, but they can take a tour via the internet.
Assisted living activities like arts and theater appreciation improve the quality of life for both caregivers and loved ones. Artistic expression can put a sparkle in their eyes and an uplifting sense of achievement.
For those who have had a burning desire to create and develop a blog, write a children’s book, or try their hand at poetry, assisted living creates an ideal and safe environment for this type of artistic exploration.
Gardening is also an extremely popular choice. It provides community members with the opportunity to experience nature in a very intimate and personal way. It’s also perfect for stress relief, relaxation and heart health. Nurturing and caring for a tiny and delicate flowering plant as it slowly grows into a magnificent work of nature can be an incredible experience.
There are so many activities that can ignite a fun and active spirit no matter the participant’s age. And even if it’s something entirely new to you or your loved one, the key element is finding the strength to embark on something new. Who knows? It just may be the key part to discovering a brand-new passion in life.
Michigan previously approved the additional food assistance for March through June, according to the July 15 statement, and now that is being extended for the month of July with approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. (Supplied)
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced July 15 that approximately 350,000 Michigan families will continue to have access to additional food assistance benefits continued during the month of July as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michigan previously approved the additional food assistance for March through June, according to the July 15 statement, and now that is being extended for the month of July with approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.
“Many Michigan families are still struggling to put food on the table as a result of this global pandemic,” Gov. Whitmer said in supplied material. “These additional payments will help many Michiganders as they continue to deal with an unprecedented public health and economic emergency.”
Eligible clients will see additional food assistance benefits on their Bridge Card by July 30, with payments beginning for some households on July 20. Additional benefits will be loaded onto Bridge Cards as a separate payment from the assistance that is provided earlier in the month.
Nearly 1.5 million people in Michigan receive federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through the state’s Food Assistance Program, according to the statement.
Households eligible for Food Assistance Program benefits will receive additional benefits in June to bring all current SNAP cases to the maximum monthly allowance for that group size. This change only applies to customers not currently receiving the maximum benefit amount. The 350,000 households that receive increased benefits represent close to 50 percent of the more than 800,000 Michigan households that received food assistance in May. The remaining households already receive the maximum benefit.
Eligible families do not need to re-apply to receive the additional benefits. People who receive food assistance can check their benefits balance on their Michigan Bridge Card by going online to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges or talk to a consumer service representative toll-free at 888-678-8914. They can ask questions about the additional benefits by calling or emailing their caseworker.
Customer service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Spanish and Arabic service is available. If you are deaf, deaf/blind or hard of hearing or speech-impaired, call the Michigan Relay Center at 7-1-1.
“A museum is a place where nothing was lost, just rediscovered …”
Nanette L. Avery
Bodies Revealed is one of the exhibits currently at the Grand Rapids Pubic Museum. (GRPM)
Grand Rapids Public Museum
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) officially reopened to the public last week, and it has extended the Bodies Revealed exhibition to Sept. 27. Go here for the story.
Iconic works of art, Blue Lily by Deborah Butterfield in front of Tornado Over Kansas by John Steuart Curry (Supplied/MMA)
Muskegon Museum of Art
The Muskegon Museum of Art has reopened with “Shaping the Future, Celebrating the Past,” an exhibition that highlights and explores the various facets of its internationally recognized permanent collection in all of its galleries through the summer and fall of 2020. Go here for the story.
The Gilmore Car Museum’s Green Book Diorama. (Gilmore)
Gilmore Car Museum
While many people saw the Academy Award winning movie “Green Book”, visitors to the Gilmore Car Museum can now learn more about the book and its role in black travel in an exhibit which opened in 2014 and has since gained much praise. Go here for the story.
Fun fact:
155 million
The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at nearly 155 million, of which nearly 146 million are scientific specimens at the National Museum of Natural History. Source.
At this point in 2020, who doesn’t need a party? Well party band Funkie Jesse will be offering up the fun tunes this Thursday with all you needing to bring is a blanket or chair and be ready to bebop to the music.
Funkle Jesse kicks off the City of Kentwood’s annual summer concert series, which starts July 23 and runs for four consecutive Thursdays, ending Aug. 13.
Funkle Jesse is a four-piece pop/rock band based out of Grand Rapids. Its members are Lauren Kelly, a.k.a. The Queen, vocals; Marshall Eriksen, guitar and vocals, Teddy Westside, drums and vocals, and El Brandino, vocals and saxophone. The group’s song list pulls from a variety of genres, including pop, rock, oldies, and Motown, classic rock and current top 40 hits.
Funkle Jesse band members said they are very excited about performing at the Kentwood Summer Concerts.
“This spring and summer have obviously been difficult for everyone and there have been new and unique challenges for musicians, so it’s great that we can still perform at some outdoor events like this and give the community something entertaining and fun to look forward to,” the band members said. “We love being able to perform and do what we do, and now with our ‘slimmed down’ performance schedule, we’re reminded every time we do get to play how fortunate we are.
“We hope we can bring a really fun night of music and community to the city of Kentwood on Thursday!”
Social distancing guidelines will be followed at the event. Appropriately distanced areas will be marked for residents to safely enjoy the shows. Concertgoers are encouraged to follow CDC public health guidelines, including staying at least six feet away from others not in their household when in public settings. Concerts will be live streamed on the WKTV Facebook page for those who wish to watch from home. More information is available at: Kentwood.us/summerconcertseries.
Upcoming performances for the Kentwood Summer Concert Series include July 30, Crooked Root covering Americana, rock, jazz, and blues; Aug. 6, Brena Band, covering rock; Aug. 13, The Soul Syndicate, an award-winning classic soul, R&B, and funk group. For more about the concert series, visit kentwood.us/summerconcertseries.
A final piece to the City of Wyoming’s Frog Hollow park was completed this month when a short path connector from the park to the Fred Meijer M-6 trail was installed.
“Actually it was part of the vision when the M-6 trail was under construction that Frog Hollow would serve as a way station to those using the trail,” said the City of Wyoming’s Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt, whose responsibilities includes overseeing the parks. “People who were biking would be able to use the restrooms or families could take a break along the trail and enjoy the park.”
The trail is located west of the park, between the tree-and-bush barrier and the Metro Health facility’s driveway at 1980 Metro Court Way.
The playground equipment at Frog Hollow. The park is designed to be universally accessible. (WKTV)
The project was delayed in that the city needed to get an easement from the property located behind the park at 1980 Metro Court SW. The building was occupied by ITT Technical Institute which closed in 2016 when the for-profit school discontinued operations. Metro Health eventually moved into the location.
The project cost about $87,201 to complete the .1 mile connector. About $62,601 was funded with Federal TAP funds from the Grand Valley Metro Council with the City of Wyoming contributing $26,160.
“Before the connector, we really did not have a direct way for people to walk or bike to the park,” Rynbrandt said, noting most had to use the roads through the Metro Village to get to the park located at 2050 Metro Court. SW.
The connector also will allow access to the Spartan Branch YMCA, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, Veterans Center, Gezon Parkway and Gezon Park baseball fields through pathways located along Metro Court and Metro Way. Rynbrandt said she is working with Kent County for signage.
Constructed in 2005, Frog Hollow was designed to be universally accessible providing ramps to access higher levels among other features. The park does have a black rail fence all the way around with only one entrance and exit, which is where the restrooms are located. For more about the City of Wyoming Parks, click here.
The Fred Meijer M-6 trail runs 9 miles parallel to the M-6/Paul Henry Freeway. The trail starts at Wing Avenue and 60th Street where the Paul Henry Thornapple Trail starts and ends at the Kent Trails at the M-6 overpass located between Byron Center and Ivanrest avenues.
The Wyoming City Council is hitting the road again this summer with plans to host two meetings within the city’s neighborhoods.
“We’re hosting our City Council meetings in neighborhoods across Wyoming,” said Mayor Jack Poll about the outdoor meetings. “My fellow council members and I are excited to meet you, your neighbors, and the businesses in your area. For us to make good decisions for the community, we need to hear from the people who live, work, and play in Wyoming!”
Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll with Wyoming City Clerk Kelli VandenBerg at previous outdoor council meeting. (WKTV)
The first outdoor meeting is set for July 20 at 7 p.m. at Pinery Park Lodging Area, 2301 DeHoop Ave. SW. The second meeting is set for Aug. 17 with a location to be announced.
This is the fourth year the city council has opted to host meetings with in city neighborhoods. The goal of the meetings is to provide an opportunity for residents to meet with council members in their own neighborhoods. According to city leaders, this gives residents an opportunity to learn about how its council works along with talking about issues or concerns within their own neighborhood directly with council members.
At last year’s outdoor meetings, Poll said the council has found them to be very successful, “as it allows the City Council to meet people where they are and interact with them in different ways. In addition to educating residents about the City Council and how our meetings are conducted. These summer meetings also encourage council members to visit areas of the community that may be unfamiliar to them.”
Before the 7 p.m. meeting, there is a meet-and-greet with council members and city officials available to talk to residents, answer questions about the process, and enjoy a summertime treat. The council meeting will begin promptly at 7 p.m. and will follow the city’s meeting guidelines. Public comment time is provided during the meetings. Click here to see the official agenda for the meeting.
A Wyoming resident talks to the Wyoming City Council about traffic concerns at a previous outdoor summer city council meeting. (WKTV)
As with all the city council meetings, WKTV will be at the outdoor council meetings, broadcasting it live on Facebook and on the WKTV Government Channel 26.
The Wyoming City Council meets every first and third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. throughout the year. Regular meetings are at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW. For more information about the Wyoming City Council or the various city committees, visit wyomingmi.gov.
Humanity for Prisoners started in 2001 when Doug Tjapkes formed the organization driven by his relationship with Maurice Carter, who had been behind state prison bars for 29 years for a crime he did not commit. Two decades later, the issue of treatment of prisoners — and prison reform — is no less important.
The mission statement of the Grand haven based non-profit Humanity for Prisoners is stated on their website as: “With compassion for Michigan’s imprisoned, Humanity for Prisoners provides, promotes and ensures — with strategic partnerships — personalized, problem-solving services for incarcerated persons in order to alleviate suffering beyond the just administration of their sentences.”
WKTV Journal In Focus recently interviewed Matt Tjapkes, son of Doug and now president of Humanity for Prisoners, and talked about the group’s history, what it does and does not do in support of prisoners, the current state of Michigan’s prison reform efforts.
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.
The Oat Bran Boys with live acoustic sounds are next in line to play at the Sounds of Summer concert series.
The boys known in most of West Michigan will be performing this Thursday, July 16, from 7 p.m at Cutler Park, 6701 Cutler Park Dr. SW, just west of the Division Avenue and 68th Street intersection.
The Oat Bran Boys is a trio consisting of two brothers, John King on guitar, Rich King on bass, and long time band member Dan Seabolt on the fiddle. According to the group’s Facebook page, the three join together to make a variety of acoustic sounds that wow their audiences.
Bluegrass, jazz, folk, swing, country, acoustic rock and Americana sounds are what this trio is about. A little bit of everything is exactly what the Oat Bran Boys will bring to the stage during this free family-friendly event with nightly kids activities and a huge playground area located at the park.
Sponsored by the Byron Township, the Sounds of Summer concert series will continue through the end of July. Upcoming performances include Dusty Chaps July 23, and LWND July 30. For more information about the Sounds of Summer, click here.
Previous Sounds of Summer concerts are now airing on WKTV Channel 25 at 8 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 p.m. Saturdays.
The Heart of West Michigan United Way and Kent County this week announced a county grant fund to support local nonprofit organizations providing certain relief services during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Late last month, the Kent County Board of Commissioners allocated $9.5 million in federal CARES Act dollars to create the Kent County Non-Profit Organization COVID-19 Grant Fund.
Applicants must be a local 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) nonprofit health and human service organization located within Kent County and “serving individuals and communities within Kent County that have been directly affected by COVID-19 and continuing to provide services throughout the pandemic,” according to a July 14 statement.
According to the statement, grant requests ranging from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $150,000 are being solicited from nonprofits seeking funding for provision of COVID-related services. Nonprofits can apply for amounts within this range deemed “appropriate to CARES Act expenses.”
Eligible expenditures include, but are not limited to, the following COVID-19-related expenses, according to the statement:
Expenses for food security, food access, and/or food delivery
Expenses for personal basic needs such as personal hygiene products, diapers, etc.
Expenses to cover transportation needs
Expenses for services specifically targeting at-risk youth
Expenses for academic and/or mentoring services to facilitate distance learning
among school-aged children/youth, including technological improvements
Expenses to cover physical health care access and services.
Applications will be accepted until the funds available are allocated or until Oct. 1, whichever occurs first.
Much like Gerald R. Ford never planned to be president, author Lindsey McDivitt never planned to write a book about the 38th President of the United States.
“Staff from the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum approached Sleeping Bear Press asking about the possibility of a picture book about the president,” McDivitt said in a WKTV interview. “Sleeping Bear Press asked me if I’d be interested. It was a fascinating opportunity to learn more about him.”
The first-ever picture children’s book about the life of President Gerald R. Ford, “Truth and Honor: The President Ford Story” was released Tuesday, July 14, as part of the virtual birthday celebration hosted by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. The book is intended for children between the ages 6-10.
McDivitt, an award-winning author, has lived in Michigan for seven years, and found the opportunity to write about Ford a chance to discover more about the only Michigan resident to become the U.S. President.
“I was astonished to learn that Gerald Ford was born Leslie King Jr.,” McDivitt said. “His mother left his violent birth father when Jerry was just 16 days old in a dramatic escape and later filed for divorce. This was 1916, so she would have had to be a very brave young woman. She married Gerald Ford Senior a few years later and he became Jerry’s much loved step-father.
“The values Gerald Ford Junior gained from his step-father and mother were integral to the caring and honorable man he became.”
McDivitt first researched Ford’s presidency, noting she was only a teenager when Ford was in office, which was from 1974-1977. He is the only president not to be elected, but taking over the nation’s highest office when President Richard Nixon resigned. It was time, according to McDivitt, when “Americans desperately needed to trust their leaders again. I hope readers will learn why he was the right man for that difficult job.”
Ford was born 1913 in Nebraska. His mother would bring him to Grand Rapids where they lived with his grandparents. In the 1930s, Ford attended the University of Michigan, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and he became a U.S. Congressman in 1948.
“I found it striking that in his 25 years in Congress, Jerry Ford’s votes supported Americans of all races, religions, gender and abilities, often in opposition to his own much loved Republican party,” McDivitt said.
Being this is a picture book for children, McDivitt said she wanted to focus on stories that would interest children such as Ford’s athleticism and his frightening experience aboard an aircraft carrier.
Author Lindsey McDivitt
“And many will identify with his challenges as a child who felt different,” she said, noting that Ford had a stutter in elementary school that made him very self-conscious.
In anticipation of the book release, The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation released a virtual mini online series, “ Truth and Honor: A Sneak Peek with Author Lindsey McDivitt,” to give a brief glance to what inspired McDivitt’s new book. “Truth and Honor: The President Ford Story,” will be released as a hard-cover book and as an e-book by Sleeping Bear Press, an independent children’s book publisher based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Amazon.
“I believe the story of Gerald Ford’s formative years and his many decades of service to our country highlights some of America’s bedrock values,” McDivitt said. “Values like hard work, perseverance, integrity and caring for others. Millions of Americans face difficult times right now. Our sense of community is being tested. And like Jerry Ford in the Navy in World War II, many of us see how important our nation’s democracy is to the rest of the world.”
“I have known [Pastor] JR [Pittman] for probably 15 years and I was really dumbfounded by the fact that I never really knew what he was going through,” said Wayne Ondersma, pastor of Pier Church.
Host Donna Kidner-Smith
Ondersma was one of about a dozen people who attended a June backyard gathering hosted by WKTV Journal Community Awareness host Donna Kidner-Smith. The purpose of the meeting, according to Kidner-Smith, was to create an open dialog about racism in the community and how individuals and organizations can help to eliminate it.
Kidner-Smith said she has discovered that for many who are white, it is an eye opening experience to hear what the interactions for those in the black community have been on a day-to-day basis and how those actions were impacting their lives.
JR Pittman, a pastor of Ignite Fellowship Church and host of Ignite Radio, moved to Grand Rapids from Canada in 1973. Pittman’s father would be given the task of planting a church in the area.
Pastor JR Pittman
“When my dad planted a church here in 1973 in Grand Rapids, God was already designing us [Pittman and his siblings] for such a time as this right now,” Pittman told the group in attendance. “I am telling you it was just amazing because now I can backtrack and see my life and say that this is why I went through here and here and here and here.
“It opened us up to different races, different denominations. All of a sudden we are going to these different churches with white people and black people, you just name it and we were a denominational mutt that we could experience all these different experiences. But something was happening also at an early age. I began to experience West Michigan racism.”
While visiting those different churches, Pittman said he could remember being treated differently and sometimes even being denied entrance due to the color of his family’s skin. Racism would continue to impact Pittman throughout his life, even as he pursued becoming a pastor and was told he needed to fit his story to what was an acceptable narrative by the majority.
“Racism is taught. It is a learned behavior,” Pittman said. “It is modeled and that is how you pick it up or you have an experience in life that brings you to it. And because of what racism has done to the black community, it has conditioned us in a mind set and other areas in our lifestyle and how we go about life and how we see things and do things and that is pretty powerful.”
Pastor Wayne Ondersma, The Pier Church
As Ondersma listened to Pittman’s story, he said he felt this stems to a bigger problem that has caused fractures in the community and especially in the church.
“I am seeing it in the church,” Ondersma said. “The same division and the same separation and I stated at our table meeting that they have said that by 2025 that if the churches continue the way they do, there will be 55,000 denominations in America. This whole separation, this whole individualism, this whole thing is a full race issue.”
Quoting Fred Rogers from the movie “A Beautiful Neighbor,” Ondesma said “You know what my philosophy is?…Every person I talk to matters. They are the most important person I am talking to at the time.
“I think we as a human race have to get the attitude that everyone we are talking to is of utmost importance and we should learn to love them and understand them and know them.”
Kidner-Smith said she hopes the backyard programs she is hosting will inspire others to do the same, hosting open conversations about racism and was pleased to learned that some in the attendance of the June event, such as Kent County Commissioner Betsy Melton, also were planning and have hosted similar programs at their homes.
“We ask you to elevate what you can do in your life, in you circle of influence, in your neighbor to eradicate racism,” Kidner-Smith said. “Let’s get the discussion moving forward, but more that simply just discussion, let’s take positive action.”
Given this time of COVID-19, and with seniors particularly at high risk, the work of the Area Agency on Aging of West Michigan has become all the more important.
WKTV Journal In Focus last week had a Zoom interview with Carly Whetstone, outreach specialist for the local agency, to talk about the group, its history, and the ways it is working for senior and senior caregivers.
The group is headquartered in Grand Rapids but serves a nine-county region that includes coverage in Wyoming and Kentwood. It is part of nationwide network of nonprofit agencies created in 1974 by the federal government to be one-stop shops with information about programs, services and housing options to seniors.
For more information on the Area Agency on Aging of West Michigan call 616-456-5664, visit their website at aaawm.org and for specific caregiver support visit caregiverresource.net.
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.
Meals on Wheels of West Michigan received a grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation. Shown is an undated photo of a Meals on Wheels prep kitchen. (Meals on Wheel)
The Consumers Energy Foundation today announced $135,000 in grants to assist 14 Michigan nonprofit organizations, including several in West Michigan which serve Wyoming and Kentwood, to help the organizations “meet critical needs as they serve residents the COVID-19 pandemic has affected.”
The latest round of grants is part of more than $3.6 million in donations made since March, according to a July 13 statement from Consumers Energy.
Among the local groups to benefit from the grants are the Meals on Wheels Western Michigan of Grandville, the Boys & Girls Club of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth of Grand Rapids, and the Women’s Resource Center of Grand Rapids.
“We want to do our part to help people, businesses and communities that will continue to feel the pandemic’s effects for months,” Brandon Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation, said in supplied material. “These nonprofits are meeting some of the most critical and urgent needs of Michigan’s people and communities hit hardest by the impact of COVID-19.”
The new grants will help nonprofit organizations in various ways, allowing them to “provide food and personal supplies to clients, buy cleaning supplies, and meet equipment and furniture needs as organizations change how they serve the public,” according to the statement.
Among the other statewide organizations gaining Foundation grants are: Family & Children’s Services of Mid-Michigan of Midland, Housing Resources Inc. of Kalamazoo, the Foundation for Mott Community College of Flint, Bethesda Lutheran Communities of Frankenmuth, Charitable Union of Battle Creek, Muskegon Rescue Mission of Muskegon, Clothing INC of Mount Pleasant, Ministry with Community of Kalamazoo, Eastside Community Action Center of Lansing, Family Counseling & Children’s Services of Lenawee County/Catherine Cobb Safe House of Adrian, and Love Thy Neighbor Grand Traverse Region of Traverse City.
The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider. For more information about the Consumers Energy Foundation visit ConsumersEnergy.com/foundation.
The topic of savings and expenses becomes heavily-discussed as more and more adults reach retirement age and no longer can rely on a steady income. There are many areas that seniors need to have plans in place for post-retirement, including living expenses, daily costs, gifts, vacations, and—most importantly—healthcare.
While Medicare will help out with covering some healthcare costs, there are still a lot of important healthcare expenses that come directly out-of-pocket. It’s important to seriously consider the care costs you will likely encounter as you age, and make plans for how you will pay for these needs. Here are four tips for how you can approach financial planning for post-retirement healthcare expenses.
1. Learn what Medicare doesn’t cover
Medicare, or federal health insurance for those 65 and over, is the main way that seniors plan to take care of medical expenses after retirement. Medicare covers many things including hospital visits, general medical insurance, and some prescription drugs, but it doesn’t cover everything. In fact, some major medical expenses that most—if not all—seniors need aren’t even partially covered under basic Medicare plans, which can lead to problems for seniors who don’t have another plan in place.
Dental
Having good dental health and receiving dental care is incredibly important to ensure that your retirement years aren’t spent in pain. However, Medicare doesn’t cover routine or complex dental procedures—causing many seniors to make the mistake of skipping out on dental care altogether.
Vision
While Medicare does cover the cost of eye disease and injury treatments, it doesn’t cover routine vision care like annual appointments and eyeglasses, all of which can lead to major out-of-pocket expenses.
Hearing
Common hearing treatments that seniors often need as they age, like hearing aids, are not covered through Medicare. A good pair of hearing aids can help you stay communicative and social as you age, as well as significantly reduce your chances of developing memory diseases, but paying for them yourself can be expensive.
Long-term care
Medicare will only pay for long-term care housing like a nursing home if it is directly related to the recovery of a specific medical procedure. It won’t cover activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living, which many seniors need as they age. Examples of necessary care services not covered under Medicare include:
Eating
Bathing and personal care
Toileting
Money and financial management
Medication distribution and management
House maintenance and cleaning
Moving to a wheelchair or in and out of bed
2. Know your family history
You can try and predict what medical expenses you might need to plan for by taking a close look at your family’s medical history. If you see patterns or know that certain diseases and medical problems have affected your family in the past, you can take the necessary steps to address paying for those concerns should you have them as well.
It’s also a good idea to examine your own life choices and see if there are any habits or behaviors—such as smoking—that might contribute to a significant medical care expense after you hit retirement age.
3. Explore Medicare Advantage plans
While Original Medicare, or Medicare Parts A & B, don’t cover any of the areas mentioned above, there is a chance that a Medicare Advantage Plan might pick up some of the slack for important vision, dental, and hearing medical expenses.
There are lots of different types of Medicare Advantage plans, such as:
Health Maintenance Organizations
Preferred Provider Organizations
Private Fee-for-Service Plans
Special Needs Plans
Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans
Each type of Advantage plan has different associated costs and coverages, so it’s important to explore the different options and find a plan that meets your care needs while being affordable within your healthcare budget.
4. Start planning & budgeting now
Every day that you wait to make a plan for unexpected healthcare costs is a day where you might might not have enough savings. It’s important to take action today to plan for your important medical expenses and start creating a budget and looking into different funding options for senior health expenses.
You can speak with a financial advisor or go through your finances yourself to see where your spending can be cut and put into a retirement fund or health savings account. If you are already retired, think about ways you can save money and reduce daily costs to plan for healthcare expenses in the future.
Finally, while it’s not fun to think about, the reality is that 70% of seniors will need long term care and those odds include you. Start exploring options like assisted living today so you can have a plan already in place when the time comes to make the move to a senior care community.
East Kentwood students are hoping to help make change at this year’s election by helping people register to vote. (Photo by 2015 Tim Evanson (CC BY-SA 2.0))
Recognizing that real change begins at the voting booth, a group of East Kentwood High School students have banded together to host a voter registration drive July 14 – 17.
“With all that has been going on in our community and nationally, there are many students from East Kentwood High School who have been very vocal about their desire to see change,” said Andrew Love, a 2020 East Kentwood High School graduate and one of the voter registration drive organizers.
Love’s friend, Litzey Ramos, another 2020 East Kentwood graduate, had been part of the school’s American Political Thought (APT) class. As part of the class requirements, each student is required to complete a final project and Ramos had decided to host a voter registration day during the school’s lunch periods.
“Then school got closed due to COVID, so she wasn’t able to do the project,” Love said.
Through a discussion between Ramos, Love, and friends, the group decided that the project was a good idea and began looking at whether they could host a voter registration event over the summer.
“We kind of pulled this together in a week,” Love said. “We knew many of the students would be heading off to college soon, so we did not want to wait too long. Plus we wanted to make sure that people were registered for the primary election.”
Residents have until July 20 to register at any office such as the Secretary of State or local clerk or at a voter registration event such as the one hosted by the East Kentwood students. From July 21 to the Aug. 4 Primary election, residents may only register at their local clerk’s office and must have proof of ID with them.
Love said the group began to look for a large parking lot where they could set up a drive thru registration event so as to abide by social distancing guidelines. Since he worked for Celebration Cinema South, Love asked his manager about using the parking lot there since the cinema is currently not open due to COVID.
A resident would drive in and be handed a clip board to fillout the voter registration. Students would be on hand to answer questions. All registrations would be collected and given to a League of Women’s Voter representative who will deliver the items to the downtown clerk’s office.
“So hopefully people would be registered to vote in time for the primary,” Love said.
At the same time, Love said students will be helping with absentee registration. Residents have until July 31 at 5 p.m. to request a mailed absentee ballot. An absentee ballot can be returned up to 8 p.m. on Aug 4 to the person’s local clerk’s office.
The registration event is open to any person eligible to vote. A person must be 18 or older by the day of the election to vote. Love said they wanted to open it to any graduating student as well as to anyone in the community needing help to register.
“Litzey and her family have a connection to the Hispanic community and they are working to let people know about this opportunity,” he said. “Our goal is to get as many people as possible registered.”
When the State of Michigan allowed local craft brewing establishments — along with most Lower Peninsula restaurants — to reopen to inside seating in June, there were and still are some “socially distant” capacity limitations which make sit-down business hard to turn a profit on.
Thank God for beer gardens.
And, in some cases, thanks to various city leaders allowing parking areas and other outdoor spaces to become beer gardens, outside seating has become very important part of local businesses’ recovery plans.
WKTV visited three local craft brewers — Two Guys Brewing, Broad Leaf Local Beer and Railtown Brewing Company — to see how they were making the move outside.
Railtown Brewing is located at 3595 68th St. SE, in Dutton but just across the border with Kentwood. (WKTV)
For Railtown Brewing, an existing wrap-around deck area was already in place and required very little changes. For TwoGuys Brewing, they worked with the City of Wyoming to be able to use parking spaces until a new back deck area is finished and approved.
For Broad Leaf Local Beer, working with Kentwood city leaders allowed them to expand into a grassy area onsite and into their parking lot — but that is just the beginning of a cooperative effort, including making the place a little more dog friendly.
(For a video report on Broad Leaf Local Beer’s outdoor spaces, doggie-friendly attitude — and the assistance they have received from the City of Kentwood — see the WKTV YouTube video at the top of this story.)
Railtown andTwoGuys
Railtown’s fairy new facility was perfectly suited for the new rules, and both have continued to garner community/customer support in changing conditions.
“We’re not expanding our space in any way. We’re actually in a fairly unique position to have a lot of space as it is,” Railtown Brewing Company’s Justin Buiter said to WKTV in June. “Inside, we’ve removed many tables, chairs and bar seats to get everyone spaced out appropriately. Outside, our tables were already socially distant, so there wasn’t much change necessary out there.
“In general, the support has continued to be amazing. As most folks are experiencing, face masks are the hot button issue. We really haven’t had any issues to speak of and folks have been generally understanding.”
Two Guys is actually working to offer permanent outside seating while it utilizes temporary outside seating.
Two Guys Brewing is located at 2356 Porter St. SW, Wyoming. (WKTV)
“We have taken advantage of the ‘Temporary Outdoor Space’ and are able to use part of our front parking lot until October 31,” TwoGuys Brewing’s Amy Payne said to WKTV. “We have a permanent patio space in the back that is in the works and will, hopefully, have approval soon for that. … Inside we have reduced our number of tables by half and bar stools by just over half, making sure that all guests are a minimum of 6 feet from the next guest.
“Folks have been very understanding and have followed the rules fairly well. Support has been amazing with many of our neighbors and regulars making sure they come in at least once a week. They want us to be around when this is all over!”
Two Guys Brewing is located at 2356 Porter St. SW, Wyoming. For more information visit twoguys-brewing.com.
Railtown is located at 3595 68th St. SE, in Dutton but just across the border with Kentwood. For more information visit railtownbrewing.com.
Broad Leaf Local Beer is located at 2885 Lake Eastbrook Blvd., Kentwood. For more informant visit broadleafbeer.com.
Bell’s Brewery to join Black is Beautiful initiative
Bell’s Brewery recently announced it has joined the Black is Beautiful initiative, an effort to help “bring awareness to the injustices many people of color face daily,” with the planned August release of a special brew.
The Black is Beautiful initiative originated with Marcus Baskerville, founder and head brewer at Weathered Souls Brewing based in San Antonio, according to supplied material. Originally planned as a Weathered Souls-only release, Baskerville was encouraged to expand his reach and make the recipe and label artwork available to more craft brewers — and so Bell’s plans to step up to the bar.
“We all have some work to do, Bell’s included, and we are committed to that,” Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery, said in supplied material. “It starts on an individual level. We all have a responsibility to do what we can to continue this conversation and help drive real change.”
There are currently more than 700 breweries from across the globe committed to this initiative.
Bell’s version of the Weathered Souls Imperial Stout recipe will be released in 6-pack bottles exclusively at Bell’s General Store in downtown Kalamazoo and Upper Hand Brewery Taproom in August. Upper Hand Brewery is a division of Bell’s Brewery and is located in Escanaba.
As part of this initiative, Bell’s will make donations to two local Black-led organizations, the Kalamazoo NAACP and Face Off Theatre.
This collaboration brew, “while sharing some of the same values,” is not part of Bell’s Celebration Series, according the Bell’s statement. That series, which empowers different groups within the company that makes Bell’s what it is, will continue later this year with another beer designed and brewed by Bell’s employees. That next release, which will come from and celebrate Bell’s Black and African American employees, will be released in the fall.
Previous brews have celebrated International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day, the LGBTQ+ community and veterans.
For more information on Bell’s Brewery visit bellsbeer.com.
Brian Long is a local business forecaster. Credit: GVSU
With many West Michigan production facilities resuming marginal operations, the pent-up demand has brought economic statistics back closer to break-even, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of June.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) came in at -7, considerably better than the -32 reported in May. In a similar move, the production index rallied to -11 from -35. The index of purchases recovered to -13 from -32, and the employment index rose to -13 from -38.
Long said many local manufacturing firms have resumed partial production schedules. He said statewide unemployment improved modesty to 21.2 percent from 24 percent, the third highest in the nation.
It appears the West Michigan automotive industry stands the best chance for recovery over the short term, compared to the office furniture and aerospace industries, said Long.
“The office furniture industry is still shipping orders that were placed before the crisis, so we don’t know what the October order books will look like,” he said. “Home offices will become a bigger market in the future, but our local firms do not seem to have many entries for this market.”
Long added the implementation of face masks and social distancing can allow for much of the manufacturing industry to reopen.
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
If you travel to the end of US 41, you’ll find yourself in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Known for its Northwoods wildlands and stunning Lake Superior beaches, the Keweenaw is a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts and leisure travelers.
But as employers embrace the benefits of working remotely, the Keweenaw is morphing into the Midwest’s ultimate outdoor office. Given flexibility to work from home (or anywhere with an internet connection), employees are packing their laptops for a workcation.
So what makes the Keweenaw an attractive destination for the new “Zoomer” workforce?
The Greatest of the Great Outdoors The Keweenaw’s remote wilderness is home Isle Royale National Park and some of the country’s most beloved mountain-bike trails at Copper Harbor. Plus, there’s another 60 miles of single track in the area suitable for different levels. Abundant conservation and nature preserves feature flowing waterfalls and countless hiking opportunities.
But in the winter months, the Keweenaw truly shines. The area has hosted the National XC Skiing Championships several times over the past decade thanks to world-class Nordic skiing trail systems, and nearby Mount Bohemia claims the best powder east of the Rockies, with an annual average of 273 inches and 900 feet of vertical. And like summer, countless snowshoe and fat tire biking trails crisscross the peninsula.
Lake Superior Life Nestled in the heart of Lake Superior, the Keweenaw’s abundant shorelines draw travelers seeking calm waters and quiet beaches. Come summer there’s boating, paddling, surfing, and kiting on Lake Superior and numerous inland lakes. Pack a lunch and some sunscreen and set up your mobile office a few feet from the water. You can always hit mute on your video conference if the sound of waves lapping against the shore gets too distracting.
Small Town Vibe, Big Tech Resources The Keweenaw is made up of numerous small towns with most populations ranging from 200 to 2,500. But the metropolitan cornerstone of Houghton (pop. ~7,500) consistently ranks as one of America’s top small towns because of its access to outdoor recreation, charming downtown, nearly non-existent crime, and quality education systems. High-tech start-ups generated by Michigan Tech University grads have led to a surge of coworking and maker spaces like 101 Quincy perfect for workers needing temporary access to office space and advanced communication infrastructure.
How to Get Started Visit www.keweenaw.info to start planning your Keweenaw work remote experience.
OK all you mask haters, Governor Gretchen Whitmer had a message for you this week: just wear them. And in fact, several area restaurants, such as Wyoming’s TwoGuys Brewing, have joined the Michigan Restaurant Promise, an initiative designed to ensure the health and safety of their employees, customers and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurant owners have made the commitment to assure their employees are healthy with wellness checks, and other social distancing guidelines including wearing masks. In return, restaurants who sign the promise, ask restaurant-goers to wear masks and adhere to social distancing guidelines. For more, click here.
Renowned harpist Deborah Henson-Conant and the Grand Rapids Symphony will be featured in a rebroadcast of a Grammy-nominated PBS special. (Supplied/GRS)
A blast from the past
Missing the Grand Rapids Symphony’s summer pops concerts? Well don’t fret! At 7 p.m. Friday, July 10, and again at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 11, there will be a special showing of the Grammy-nominated PBS special “Invention & Alchemey,” featuring renowned harpist Deborah Henson-Conant and the Grand Rapids Symphony. Streaming of the special will be available July 12 -17. For more, click here.
Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City. (Supplied)
West Michigan Round-Up
There are lot of gas tank away adventures taking place this weekend that gives you an opportunity to explore our great state. The Lakeshore Harvest Country’s guide features an array of farms and wineries that will have you traveling around Lake Michigan. Petoskey is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Petoskey stone being Michigan’s state stone. Or go further north to visit the Fort Michilimackinac, part of the Mackinac Historic State Parks, which will be featuring 125 different events in the coming days.
Final Word on Masks from Bill Nye
Today we are letting one of the nation’s most famous science guys do all the talking…take it away Bill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV4IcXlpxcM
Bill Nye, the Science Guy, discusses wearing a face mask.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (D&HHS) in Grand Rapids didn’t want to cancel an annual summer camp that deaf kids have been part of in person, but then COVID-19 happened.
So a summer camp for both deaf and hearing kids will happen virtually in 2020 — “a week’s worth of excitement and education,” according to a statement from the organization.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services community education coordinator Nancy Piersma, left, with Kenny in background, at John Ball Zoo. (D&HHS)
Recently, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services’ community and partnerships manager, Erica Chapin, was out and about in Grand Rapids with community education coordinator Nancy Piersma (a native deaf facilitator who uses sign language to communicate) and a film crew, plus some special guests, filming at John Ball Zoo, Blandford Nature Center, HOPE Gardens community garden and The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum.
“Through these videos, kids will be able to learn and experience something new,” Chapin said in supplied material. “Each day Nancy teaches new signs related to the theme, making Kids Kamp videos a great opportunity for children to have increased exposure to language. Every video is in ASL, with English interpretation and closed captioning, to offer accessibility to anyone who wants to watch.”
From July 13-17 those videos will be rolled out for free on the D&HHS YouTube channel. But kids who buy a Kenny’s Kids Kamp Kurious Kit for $30 will be able to complete a number of crafts and activities at home as they watch the videos, according to the statement.
“Kenny is our Kids Kamp friend who is coming along with us for our adventures,” Chapin said. “He is a stuffed animal monkey. Throughout our videos you can see him playing in the background. Sometimes he is easy to find; other times he is hidden away. The kids have to keep an eye on him and at the end of the week we will announce how many times he was seen.”
Each Kenny’s Kids Kamp Kurious Kit will include a 2020 Kids Kamp t-shirt, snacks and drinks for each day, ASL vocabulary related to the video adventures, crafts, a children’s book and other fun activities to promote learning. In addition, according to the D&HHS statement, the purchase of a Kurious Kit enters each purchaser into a daily drawing for bonus prizes from the video locations that include fun for the whole family.
D&HHS will also be offering scholarships and seeking donors to underwrite kits. Anyone who would like to apply for a scholarship for a kit can contact Deb Atwood, executive director, at datwood@deafhhs.org.
Also, on the Kids Kamp sign-up page, people can purchase a kit for a child directly, said Chapin. For more information visit here.
Questions about Kids Kamp should be directed to Erica Chapin, Community & Partnerships Manager, at 616-732-7358, x211 or community@deafhhs.org.
Classic rock and power ballard will be the music track for this Thursday’s Sound of Summer concert program.
Jaded 8 will be the guest performers for the free 7 p.m. concert at Cutler Park, 6701 Cutler Park SW, just west of 68th Street and Division Avenue.
Being one of the few outdoor annual concerts taking place this summer, it is apparent from Jaded 8’s Facebook page that the group is excited to perform this Thursday.
“We’ll be cramming every song possible into the show because WE MISS PLAYING and WE MISS YOU!,” the band wrote on its Facebook. “And we are even going to practice for it, so you know we’re serious!”
Jaded 8 was formed in January 2010 and is currently made up of three members who have been rocking the Lakeshore since then. Mark Pawlak, a co-founding member of the band is on guitar and vocals together with his co-founder Lee Nelson, who is on the drums and vocals. Jeff Post joined them later on and is on the bass guitar and also vocals.
“We love classic rock…and we perform to honor those incredible artists who brought this timeless music to the ears of multiple generations,” according to the band’s our story on Facebook. “Whether you’re a boomer or a Gen-X, Y, or Z’r, you will know these tunes and you will be singing along with every song.”
Sounds of Summer organizers are not oblivious to the current COVID-19 situation and therefore will be observing public health guidelines, such as groups having to stay six feet apart.
Upcoming performances include Oat Bran Boys July 16, dusty Chaps July 23, and LWND July 30. For more information about the Sounds of Summer, click here.
Previous Sounds of Summer concerts are now airing on WKTV Channel 25 at 8 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 p.m. Saturdays.
Kent County Community Action (KCCA) will hold another in a series of food distribution events in Grand Rapids, but open to the “general population with low income,” on Thursday July 9, from 9 a.m. to 1p.m., at 121 Franklin SE.
The KCCA and the Grand Rapids Police Department are asking residents to enter southbound on Jefferson Street from Wealthy Street. The GRPD will be barricading all other entrances and side streets to ensure an orderly operation, according to a Kent County statement Monday.
Residents need to remain in their vehicle and have their trunks open and ready to accept more than 50 pounds of food.
There will not be walk up service in an effort to adhere to social distancing requirements for the protection of residents, volunteers, and staff.
“This distribution is our way to respond to those households with food insecurities in an effort to alleviate the causes of poverty,” Susan Cervantes, KCCA director, said in supplied material.
The event is projected to assist 900 households “that are struggling to meet their food needs during the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the statement.
There will be more than 20 food items in the packet including but not limited to fresh apples and oranges, canned vegetables and fruits, rice, beans, and meats including pork and beef.
According to the Wyoming Historical Commission, the Suburban 5 & 10, now Springrove Variety, was started around 1958 by the Bulthuis family. The picture above is of the first store which was located at 921 28th St. The location is now a park. (Photo: Wyoming Historical Commission)
The candy counter at the Springrove Variety Store is empty. About 10 of the shelves close to the cash register have items left with most of the store’s other shelves empty.
After more than 60 years, the five-and-dime store located on 36th Street just west of the corner of 36th and Clyde Park Avenue will officially close its doors in a couple of weeks.
“This has nothing to do with COVID or anything else,” said owner Mike Sprenger. “The landlord had put the building up for sale and I really don’t have a lease there.
“Plus it’s just time. I think us dime stores have kind of outlived our niche.”
A predecessor to the dollar stores, the five and dime — also called the five and ten, nickel or dime, and ten-cent stores — were known for offering a wide assortment of inexpensive items for personal and household use. Candy, toys, housewares, and notions were just some of those items.
Springrove Variety Store, the former Suburban 5 & 10, located at 815 36th St. SW, will close within a couple of weeks. (WKTV)
“My first time coming here [was] in 1998 with my mother-in-law. I fell in love with all the thing I could create and have through the years. All the blankets and quilts made form supplies from your store. I am very sad to see you go. Truly the last quality store with friendly service. You will be severely missed. “- a customer wrote in a notebook filled with good-bye notes and well wishes.
“I grew up in the neighborhood,” wrote another customer in the book. “Often my mom would bring me here to spent $1.00 in the 1960s. I would walk up and down the isles to make a decision.”
Just as popular was the candy — especially the sea foam, which Sprenger said “We got that from Muskegon.” People would come from miles to get the sea foam candy, store employees noted.
Frank Woolworth is largely credited with founding the first American five-and-dime stores. After having had some success in Michigan and western New York with his nickel stores, where everything cost a nickel, Woolworth opened his Great Five Cent Store in Utica, New York, and then later opened the F. W. Woolworth Company. Woolworth ceased in 1997. There were others such as Kresge which became Kmart and Sam Walton, founder of War-Mart, started with the well-known Ben Franklin stores.
Sprenger began his career with the D&C Five-and-Dime store, founded by brothers James and Paul Dancer and their partner, Glen Cowan in 1926 in Stockbridge, Mich. The D&Cs expanded to include 54 stores at one point but by 1993, giant discount retailers had moved in and the D&C chain closed its stores.
After leaving D&C, Sprenger decided to continue in business, buying a few dime stores, one in Marysville near Port Huron, one in Owosso, and another in Lowell which had been operating as a five-and-dime store since 1926.
“I just loved that the dime store was such a part of the community,” Sprenger said. “It was fun to be with the people.”
“It turns into a mission and it really was a joy. We did not make a lot of money, but we’ve been blessed.”
Springrove Variety Store customers and area residents leave messages in a notebook. (WKTV)
That love was shared by many who left good-bye notes in that notebook just a few feet from the store’s entrance.
“My sister (Kathy) and I (Linda) have been coming here for years and we will so dearly miss and remember you all. We could find anything here. Thank you so much.” – Customers Kathy and Linda
“First came here in my teens. Now I’m in my 70s!!” – A Springrove customer.
Through its records, the Wyoming Historical Commission found that the then Suburban 5 & 10 was started in 1958 by Jack A. Bolhuis and Myrth Bolhuis, both of whom lived in Wyoming. The store was first located along 28th Street and by 1963, had moved to its current location along 36th Street, according to the Polk Directories. The directories also showed that the couple at onetime had a second location on Lake Michigan Drive. In the 1980s, Dale Elliott purchased the store and would sell it to Sprenger in 2008.
“At that time, the owner was looking to retire and was going to shut the store down,” Sprenger said adding that he loved the dime stores and just did not want to see the Wyoming store close.
“Now I am where the former owner was at and it’s time to just slow it down,” Sprenger said, adding with a laugh, “All of us mas and pas have become grandpas and grandmas.”
With the building for sale, Sprenger made the decision to close, letting employees know in January. The COVID-19 delayed the sales, but as soon as allowed, Springrove reopened in June with its closing sale. Within weeks, the store’s inventory had been considerably reduced. Many of the fixtures have been sold as well.
Sprenger agreed with the customers that it is sad to see the Wyoming store closed, ending an era for the Wyoming community. This August, he will start the process of closing the Lowell location. His other stores, the ones in Owosso and Marysville, will remain open for now.
“You will be missed,” wrote a customer. “This store has been big part of my childhood and then my kids. Best of luck and you will be in our prayers. Thanks for the years!!!”
Within only a few weeks, much of the store’s inventory has been sold. Things are going so quickly that it is expected the store will close in a couple of weeks, according to store employees. (WKTV)
A group of 86 Michigan restaurant and bar owners last week announced the launch of “Michigan Restaurant Promise”, a new initiative to ensure the health and safety of their employees, customers and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID-19 has had a significant impact on West Michigan and many businesses — particularly bars and restaurants — have suffered,” Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss said in supplied material. “It’s great to see this group rally together to protect the health and safety of their employees, customers and our community.”
Among the local restaurants and craft breweries involved are Mitten Brewing, Brewery Vivant (parent company of Kentwood’s Broad Leaf Beer) and Long Road Distillery.
“As restaurant owners and managers, we feel a sense of responsibility for the health and well-being of our employees, our guests and the community at large,” Kris Spaulding, owner of Brewery Vivant, said in supplied material. “That’s why we started this initiative — to show our communities we are taking this seriously and are committed to protecting their health and safety.”
There is also a concern about those establishments not as committed as others.
“It’s frustrating to see bars and restaurants not enforcing the health and safety guidelines laid out to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” Chris Andrus, owner of Mitten Brewing, said in supplied material. “Those establishments threaten to undo the many sacrifices our community and industry have made and undermine the hard work of establishments like mine committed to keeping the public safe.”
The effort could also serve as a model for the state.
“Small businesses are the heart of West Michigan and it’s great to see this group of local restaurant and bar owners be leaders in putting people first,” Hanna Schulze, president of Local First, said in supplied material. “The Michigan Restaurant Promise can serve as a model for other communities to hold their local businesses accountable and encourage them to prioritize the health and wellbeing of their employees and customers above all else.”
Note: For the Michigan Aug. 4 primary, WKTV’s We The People program invited participation from all candidates for any seat where there is a contested primary in either party. For the general election, all candidates will be invited to record a We The People.
Kent County Treasurer
There are three candidates, one a two-term Republican state senator and two in the Democratic primary, seeking the Kent County Treasurer position. They are State Sen. Peter MacGregor of Rockford, and Democratic primary candidates José L. Reyna of Ada and Beth White of Grand Rapids.
Note: Neither MacGregor nor White were available for a We The People video recording prior to the primary. The Republican and Democratic primary winners will be invited to participate after the August primary.
Peter MacGregor – Incumbent State Senator and county treasurer candidate
Party: Republican
José L. Reyna – County treasurer primary candidate
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Consultant/semi-retired
Why did you decide to run for the 72nd District House of Representatives seat?
I grew up in Grand Rapids/Kent County and have dedicated my professional career to public service. I decided to run for the office of Kent County Treasurer with the interest of continuing my service to the community that I love and use my professional experience of over 30 years for the benefit of the Kent County community. My experience includes decades of financial management including serving as a director of departments with the responsibility of developing and managing budgets. My tenure with the City of Grand Rapids as Assistant to the City Manager and Fiscal Services Manager/Purchasing Agent provided me with extensive experience with public finance from developing and administering the City’s Fiscal Plan, departmental budgets, and oversight of the City’s procurement process. Additionally, I served as acting Director for the City’s Assessor’s Department and led the transformation of the department and its function to bring it into compliance with State law. I am eager to serve as Kent County Treasurer and apply my extensive experience in public finance in combination with my commitment to the people of Kent County.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
The incumbent Kent County Treasurer has done an outstanding job in leading the financial management and operations of the County. It is my interest to build on the County’s strong financial position and legacy of service. I do have several areas of priority that I would like improve for the benefit of the County and its residents, including financial management, public outreach and engagement, and customer service focused innovations.
Note: For the Michigan Aug. 4 primary, WKTV’s We The People program invited participation from all candidates for any seat where there is a contested primary in either party. For the general election, all candidates will be invited to record a We The People.
State of Michigan 72nd District House of Representatives
The 72nd District House of Representative seat covers the cities of Kentwood and Wayland, along with a portion of Cutlerville and the community of Dorr. For a district map, click here and then search for district 072.
There are three candidates, one a two-term incumbent Republican and two in the Democratic primary, seeking the 72nd District House of Representatives. They are Republican incumbent Steve Johnson of Wayland, and Democratic primary candidates Lily Cheng-Schulting of Kentwood and Cade Wilson of Kentwood.
Steven Johnson – Incumbent State Representative 72nd District
Party: Republican
Occupation: State Representative, 72nd District
Note: Did not submit answers to WKTV questions.
Lily Cheng-Schulting – Primary candidate State Representative 72nd District
Party: Democratic
Occupation: Community Organizer; Disability Advocate
Why did you decide to run for the 72nd District House of Representatives seat?
As a proven human rights and community advocate, I am running to move mountains for a more diverse, inclusive, fair, just, and better Michigan for everyone! Since I have created huge positive educational changes in Kent County, I will dedicate my same skills, experience, and energy to ensure quality mental health and disability services, single-payer healthcare, economic equity, education, racial and criminal justice, environment, and resources for small businesses and farms. I will always appreciate the opportunity to listen to everyone’s concerns, and I will remain committed to ensuring the best quality of life and future for everyone, including people who are vulnerable or marginalized. Moreover, as a mother of a child with autism and as a woman of color and an immigrant, I will also advocate fiercely to protect people against discrimination and to ensure justice, fairness, and equal human rights for everyone. I believe that the fierceness of my advocacy is proven, not through the arguments, but through positive systematic changes.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
Healthcare, equity, education.
Cade Wilson – Primary candidate State Representative 72nd District
Party: Democratic
Occupation: Educator
Why did you decide to run for the 72nd District House of Representatives seat?
As an educator right here in our district, I have had the chance to work with hundreds of students and families and hear about the things that matter most to them. Last spring I went to Lansing to advocate for after-school educational programming in our district. When I met with our representative’s office, and I heard how the families I knew so well were talked about, I knew that I had to run. I immediately recognized that our representation did not reflect the families and values of our community. Our community is hardworking, loving, supportive, smart, kind, and diverse. I am in this race so that I can help amplify the voices of our community in ways that truly reflect our values.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
Education — Equitable funding that supports students, teachers, and families. Health — We need accessible and affordable healthcare services (mental health services included), affordable medications, and clean drinking water. Opportunity — Invest in trade skills trainings for those that want to both enter and transition in the workforce. This also means we need to protect our workers in fair, just, and equitable systems that do not discriminate based on gender, age, or sexual orientation.
State of Michigan 77th District House of Representatives
The 77th District House of Representatives seat covers the City of Wyoming, Byron Township and a portion of Cutlerville. For a district map, click here and them search for district 077.
There are two candidates, one a two-term incumbent and one a Democratic challenger, seeking the 77th District House of Representatives. They are incumbent Republican Tommy Brann of Wyoming, and Democratic candidate Bob Smith of Byron Center.
Note: Neither party’s candidate has a challenge in the primary; both have been invited to record a We The People after the August primary.
For the Kent County Commission race, there are a few races with two candidates running from the same party such as the Kent County Commission District 8th seat.
Long held by Harold Voorhees, Voorhees announced earlier this year that after more than 18 years as the 8th District Kent County commissioner, he would not seek re-election. Two Republican candidates and one Democrat candidate put their hats in the ring for the seat. For the Aug. 4 primary, voters will be deciding between Republican candidates Dan Burrill and Denise Kolesar with the winner facing off against Democrat candidate Sarah Chatterley in the Nov. 3 general election.
The 8th District Kent County Commission seat covers the eastern portion of the City of Wyoming, including the pan handle. For specific boarders, visit accesskent.com.
Dan Burrill – Candidate (R)
Occupation: Residential real estate and builder
Why did you decide to seek election to the 8th District Kent County Commission seat?
My desire to serve started back on the student council for middle school. When I was older, I served on the Grandville Public Schools Board of Education and continued that obligation to serve our community by first being on the Wyoming Zoning Board of Appeals and currently on the Wyoming City Council. I believe if you have the ability and willingness to serve that you owe it to the local community to offer your tools, talents and time to help make it a better place. With Harold Voorhees stepping down after 18 years of serving Wyoming at the county level, I was encouraged by others to run for the 8th District Commission seat and continue the great job that Harold Voorhees has done and the success at the county level.
If elected, what issue (s) would you immediately want to focus on and why?
I want to continue to assure that we have clean water throughout the county. I would want to make sure that there is adequate funding for mental health services, especially since COVID-19 has heighten awareness of such issues as violence and mental health. COVID-19 has brought forth a number of issues for businesses and health which the county will need to continue to focus on.
Denise Kolesar – Candidate (R)
Occupation: Semi-retired from Kohler Expos/ Business Development Specialist for GROW
Why did you decide to seek election to the 8th District Kent County Commission seat?
For some time now it has been on my radar to run for office. With some encouragement from business leaders in the community the timing is right. I sold my business, Kohler Expos, back in 2016 and currently I am semi-retired, so I have the time commitment necessary to fulfill the position. I sit on the Kent County Parks Foundation Board and I am on the cabinet committee for Special Olympics. I have been drawn to public service all my life. It started with my parents being very involved in their communities, therefore it comes natural to me. The opportunity to publicly serve was clearly shown to me by the retirement of Commissioner Harold Voorhees. This position suits my passion to play a key role in public service.
If elected, what issue (s) would you immediately want to focus on and why?
I believe the key issue for the county is COVID-19. At the forefront is how we safely handle the care of all people and how we communicate to the community which we serve as we tread through the unchartered waters of COVID-19.
The Kent District Library 2019 Annual Report tells the story of another year of new initiatives and increases in the use of library resources. The annual report is available for download at kdl.org/2019AnnualReport, highlighting numerous community needs that are routinely met by the library, including:
Nearly 3,000 children (kindergarten through third grade) launched to reading success with Mission: Read.
The total number of active library card holders increased by 7 percent, bringing the total to 174,795.
KDL was the first library in the United States to offer MagnusCards, a resource for people with autism and other special cognitive needs.
A record number of people completed the annual summer reading program.
Late fines for unreturned materials are traditionally thought of as a way to encourage people to return items, but since going fine free, the library has experienced a sharp increase in the speed and volume of returns.
The KDL Bookmobile completed its first full year on the road, serving 22,421 people.
The library was recognized as one of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to work for, an honor that was raised to the national level earlier this year.
“The needs in the community are constantly changing, and libraries are quick and agile in response,” said Lance Werner, KDL’s Executive Director. “Agility helped us to quickly respond to COVID-19. We’ve literally re-engineered the library, so people can enjoy nearly everything from the safety and convenience of their homes.”
Since closing the library to public visits, KDL has pivoted to shift all programming online and launch curbside pickup. Additionally, the annual summer reading program has been totally reconfigured so people of all ages can fully participate from home using a workbook that was mailed to all cardholder households or through the new Beanstack app.
In the months of May and June this year, circulation of digital materials increased 61 percent compared to the same months in 2019.
