Crestwood Middle School sixth-grader-turned-builder Roshan Kami and his business partner classmates scrambled when their clients said they wanted an already-installed window moved from the east side to the west side of their new house.
The Kentwood Public Schools students were tasked with building the LEGO house on a $76,750 budget using architectural renderings. “We had to figure out all of the parts of this building,” Roshan said after a partial demolition and rebuild. “We had to all work together and get it done really fast.”
Students were learning what it’s like to be a project manager like Tim Johnson at Erhardt Construction in Ada. The last-minute change was to be expected. “Clients do that to us all the time,” Johnson said. “We constantly have to move and shake and figure out how to make it work. It obviously costs money.”
Hands-On Career Exploration
The activity was part of Crestwood’s sixth grade Career Fair, during which 120 students explored construction, healthcare, information technologies and aviation with local professionals.
The goal was to get them thinking about careers and what to do to prepare for them, said Nancy McKenzie, Kentwood Public Schools STEM coordinator.
Aviation professional Dan Douglas talks about working with airplanes
“This is just to give them a little nibble, to plant a seed, so they can explore on their own,” McKenzie said. “It’s a nice overview of a nice variety of careers.”
Students met an airline pilot and mechanic, an IT consultant, health-care professionals and the construction company representatives. Bethany Capra, marketing specialist for Erhardt, said taking part was a chance to let students know potentials in the industry and the careers that await them.
“A lot of people don’t realize all the options in construction and the skilled trades,” she said. “These are areas that will be in high demand when they graduate.”
Carolyn Blake, Kent ISD’s Health Sciences Early College Academy diagnostics instructor, taught students blood-typing (with fake blood), glucose testing and phlebotomy. Health care is another in-demand industry.
Sixth-grader Hana Kamber said she wants to be a doctor, and was happy to learn how testing works. “You might be in an emergency and need to be prepared,” she said.
Sixth-graders Adonis Hughes and Mayson Clark learn how glucose testing works at Crestwood Middle School’s career fair
Crestwood Principal Omar Bakri said the main thing that determines whether a child will be successful is motivation, and exposing them to possibilities is the key.
“To me this is the make-or-break stage,” he said of the middle-school years. “It’s very important we introduce them to careers at this age.”
McKenzie plans to follow up with a visit from high school counselors to talk about how students can plan classes aimed at career pathways and a trip to a college campus.
“We want them to get a broad picture of what high school might look like through a counselor’s eyes, and looking at a college and then backing that up with what they’ve seen today,” she said.
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About Wyoming High School sophomore Bryan Rosello Lizardo: “His peers describe him as someone who helps other students when the teachers are busy… dedicated, kind and a helper… He gives the greatest gift one can give. The gift of time.”
About sophomore Gabriel Pulaski: “Genuinely empathetic, this person is always a listening ear, and not just for his friends, but for anyone who might need someone just to be there.”
About junior Ryan Huizinga: “He approaches life putting others before himself, which has not gone unnoticed by his classmates.”
About junior Lexi Pearson: “One teacher said it is hard to put into words how much she has contributed to Wyoming Public Schools. Her volunteer hours have to be in the thousands.”
About senior Brendan Berg: “He exerts a quiet authority in his leadership, yet at the same time, shows great humility and respect for others.”
About senior Cindy Ochoa: “Attention must be paid to this 12th-grade recipient who exemplifies the actions of kindness by offering advice. She serves as a reminder that positivity and compassion are traits of a leader.”
Junior Ryan Huizinga celebrates with his family
An Alpha Wolf 11 has nothing to do with grades, sports or test scores, but everything to do with being kind, compassionate and gracious to each other, said Principal Nate Robrahn. These descriptions explain why six Wyoming High School students are Alpha Wolf 11 Champions of Character. Awarded at the inaugural ceremony for the new program, students wept as they were named supreme pack leaders of the Wyoming Wolves in front of an audience of staff, administrators, Board of Education members and City of Wyoming officials. U.S. History teacher John Doyle read lengthy narratives about each student before revealing them as winners.
“On a scale of 1 to 10, they’re an 11,” he told students. “It has everything to do with what you do here at Wyoming High School. This has to do with what people you are on the inside, and making us a better community inside the walls and outside this place as you spread what this is. You all here, all 1,000 of you in this gym right now, are great young people and you have the chance to make a difference.”
Putting Character First
Doyle approached Wyoming staff with the idea for Alpha Wolf 11 after his son, Ian, received a similar award through Grandville High School’s “Ryan Fischer Be an 11” program. The Grandville program is named after student and hockey player Ryan Fischer, who died of a heart condition 2014.
Doyle was so moved he wanted to bring a similar program to Wyoming. “I was just like, ‘We’ve got to do this. It is so impactful. We are going to pull this off bigger and better. We wanted to give it back to the kids and community.”
Sophomore Gabriel Pulaski reacts to being an Alpha Wolf 11
Doyle said he wants students to realize character is the most important thing in life. “We’ve got all these awards for athletics, scholarships, band, this and that. How about just the regular kids. How about kids getting an award for simply being good?”
Doyle told students that he sees great things happening. “This school, when facing adversity, just continues to impress me. I love it here. A lot of people love it here. Continue to be kind, compassionate and gracious… It will all work out.”
His voice boomed. “That’s why this school rocks. That’s why this school is a good school!”
Robrahn, who began as principal in 2013, said he’s constantly impressed with his students. In nominating each other, students wrote incredibly powerful things.
The first six Alpha Wolf 11s are honored on the gymnasium wall
“These are the nicest kids, the kindest kids I’ve had in my career,” he said. “That’s the piece we want for kids. All the academic content is important, but if we can help kids take care of each other, it’s a better world we live in.”
Six students, two from each grade at the 10th through 12th-grade building, will be named Alpha Wolf 11s each semester.
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If you ever needed convincing that Arturo González Vargas was passionate about the power of non-profits to transform lives, spend just five minutes with this young man to dispel any doubts. For 18 months, the Grand Rapids Community had the privilege of sharing his wisdom, energy, and optimism for all things empowerment. An Atlas Fellow from Monterrey, Mexico, Gonzalez Vargas worked as a tireless advocate for Kids Food Basket, an organization providing daily nutrition to thousands of school children in Western Michigan.
UPDATE: The City of Wyoming has published a FAQ sheet about the quality of our drinking water. Go here to download the pdf.
By Victoria Mullen
By now, you’re likely aware of the Flint water crisis—residents of Flint have been using contaminated drinking water beginning in April 2014, when the city switched water sources from treated Lake Huron water via Detroit to the Flint River. The idea was to save money, but the corrosive river water, with its lower pH and higher saline content, eroded the protective coatings in household lead pipes, exposing bare metal and allowing lead to leach into the water supply.
Even though Flint residents had been complaining about the quality and odor of the water since mid to late 2014, state officials didn’t acknowledge the situation until the late fall of 2015. By then, between 6,000 and 12,000 Flint residents had already presented with severely high lead levels in their blood and a wide range of serious health problems. An outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease that killed 10 people and sickened 77 may also be linked to the change.
The crisis is both tragic and ironic. Michigan is surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes, a huge source of drinking water for many cities and towns. This never should have happened. (As an aside, the Flint water crisis has caused such an uproar that it now has its own Wikipedia page.)
Why is lead so dangerous?
It’s a heavy metal that doesn’t belong in the human body. When you ingest helpful minerals such as calcium, iron and zinc, your body distributes it to the bloodstream, nervous system, tissues and organs. The same goes for lead, which can cause harm wherever it ends up. For example, in the bloodstream, lead can damage red blood cells, limiting their ability to carry oxygen to the organs and tissues. This can cause anemia. In the brain and nervous system, it can be disastrous.
Lead is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. The kids in Flint affected by this crisis will have lifelong health and learning deficits.
We take a lot for granted At the turn of the 20th century in the U.S., the life expectancy for men was only 48 years; for women, it was 52. Compare that to 75 and 80, respectively, in 2000. Common outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera and dysentery took a huge toll on human life.
The addition of chlorine to drinking water in 1908 resulted in a dramatic decline in fatalities from waterborne illnesses.
And we use a lot of water Just turn on the tap and voila!, safe drinking water, right? Since 1966, City of Wyoming’s water treatment capacity has grown from 32 million gallons per day to 90 million gallons per day. We sell some of the water to Kentwood
, Byron Center and Gaines Township, so as a bonus, Wyoming residents pay less for their water than Grand Rapids residents do. Plant improvements have occurred over the years to accommodate continued growth in the region. As changes in our region occur, the Drinking Water Plant will continue to evolve.
Five years ago, Wyoming’s Lakeshore water plant north of Holland pumped about 30 million gallons to more than 220,000 users in 13 communities each day. Water use varies with the seasons; more water is used in the hot summer months. In 2011, Wyoming spent $73 million expanding the plant, increasing the daily capacity to 120 million gallons—an annual capacity of about 44 billion gallons.
While the City of Wyoming is responsible for providing high-quality drinking water, it cannot control the variety of materials used in household plumbing. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can lower the risk of lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking.
Could a Flint-like crisis happen to us here in the City of Wyoming and Kentwood? The answer is no, and here’s why: We’ve been using Lake Michigan as our source for drinking water since 1966 and will continue to do so. The water is treated before it reaches your tap.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations, called Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) that limit the amount of certain contaminants in our drinking water. Wyoming’s water treatment process provides multiple barriers, including clarification, filtration and disinfection, to lower the risk of contaminants in finished tap water. In 2014, monitoring of treated water samples from the lakeshore treatment plant yielded a 100% contaminant removal rate, highlighting the effectiveness of the treatment system in microscopic particle removal.
Testing is also performed to detect the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia, which are protozoan parasites that occur in natural surface waters such as lakes, rivers and streams.
Each year, the City of Wyoming sends out a water quality report to its residents. In 2014, water quality met and exceeded all state and federal guidelines for safe drinking water.
For more information about our drinking water, go here.
Godwin Heights High School senior Cameron Gray overheard a classmate telling Kent School Services Network community coordinator Duane Bacchus that he needed new shoes. Cameron stepped up, offering a brand-new pair of Nikes he had at home.
That kind of compassion is what Bacchus sees all the time in his job. While Cameron’s gift came unexpectedly, Bacchus regularly links students with resources they need, from glasses to clothing to food and housing needs, even mental health services. He also acts as a sounding board for students who are stressed, depressed or struggling with a problem at school or home.
“This room is sacred,” he said, of his office located in the school’s media center. Students popped in and out on a recent Monday morning. One wanted a letter of recommendation. Many just wanted to talk.
“I have a very strong open-door policy. You are welcome anytime in this room,” Bacchus tells his students. “A lot of the time it will be just kids stopping in to say, ‘Mr. B, today is crazy.'”
But sometimes it’s more serious.
“At the high school level, you definitely have the behavioral and mental health component that’s way more prominent,” Bacchus said.
The high school in September implemented the KSSN model, which includes Bacchus and site clinician Rob Conrad, to serve as a school-community link. It is funded by way of a $250,000 three-year Steelcase grant. Specific points of focus are attendance, reducing discipline referrals and suspensions, Principal Chad Conklin said.
“One of the main impacts we’ve had so far is just the opportunity to refer students and their families to services,” Conklin said. “That’s a huge impact for our students.”
Many Godwin Heights students have received new glasses through connections made by Kent School Services Network
KSSN, a countywide program, brings social and medical services to students’ schools and homes. It is run through a partnership with local districts and Kent ISD. North Godwin Elementary is also a KSSN school, along with more than 30 others in Kent County.
Most resources come from local churches, organizations, clinics and businesses. It’s Bacchus’ job to connect students with resources, and Conrad, a licensed social worker, links them to health-care organizations, doctors and counselors.
Someone to Talk To
Though he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Inter-American University in Puerto Rico, Bacchus’ career took a turn toward education after he and his wife had triplets. He worked as an intervention specialist at the high school for three years before the KSSN role became available. “I already had many great relationships here,” he said. “I wanted to maintain those relationship with kids.”
Much of Bacchus’ time is spent just talking to students who open up about stress in academics and social life. He teaches coping skills and refers them to Conrad if they need outside evaluation.
“This is the most stressed-out demographic,” Bacchus said of teenagers. “There are so many pressures, and social media makes it 10 times worse. You have societal pressures. They are coming from low-income, poverty-stricken areas…They just don’t know how to cope with all these pressures.”
Senior Romeo Edelen said Bacchus “knows how to talk to kids… He makes them feel comfortable. If they have a problem, he’s easy to come to.”
Added senior Carlos Martinez: “Students are always in here if they have an issue. I come in here when I get pissed off. He’s the teacher almost every student likes.”
If a student needs more, Bacchus refers them to Conrad.
“There’s a lot of anxiety and depression, stress over school and friends, and home life is tough,” Conrad said. “There are body image issues like anorexia and bulimia and self-harm.” After determining the level of care needed, Conrad refers them to counselors and other healthcare services.
Creating Lasting Links
A big mistake is to dismiss outside circumstances in students’ academics, Bacchus said. That’s why wrap-around services like KSSN are so important.
Senior Cameron Gray donated shoes to a classmate
“I’m so passionate about the KSSN model,” Bacchus said. ” One of the biggest mistakes we’ve made our in education system over the years is to separate what happens in these four walls and cut it out of what happens in everything else. It’s so connected.
“I truly believe in the product. I truly believe in what we are trying to do here.”
Bacchus works to create resources unique to Godwin, tapping into community agencies and organizations. A native of the U.S. Virgin Islands who has also lived in Puerto Rico, he also helps the districts’ high number of Spanish-speaking students and their families with communication needs. He plans to add a room for parents who speak English as a second language to help them stay abreast of their children’s academics.
Being part of Godwin has revealed to Bacchus the amazing love and energy in the district, he said.
“The heart of these kids is just amazing,” Bacchus said. “These kids are constantly thinking about how they can help each other. They see themselves as a family in many ways.”
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
An Alpha Wolf is someone who stands out from the pack in everything they do. Not only is the Alpha Wolf a power by themselves, but they’re at their strongest when they can impact others. An Alpha Wolf is always proactive in helping others and strives to set the standard for those around them. On a scale of 1 to 10, the Alpha Wolf is an 11 in everything they do.
This Thursday – January 28 – for the first time, Wyoming High School will be honoring six students in an assembly as ‘Alpha Wolf 11 Champions of Character’ for their exemplary character inside the school walls. Every student is eligible for the award.
The award recognizes students for character and treating others with kindness and compassion at Wyoming High School. Being an Alpha Wolf 11 has nothing to do with what a student does in extracurriculars after school, but instead focuses on what they do during school hours, as people, to make the school a better place.
Wyoming High School faculty, support staff and administration all have a say in selecting six students, two from the sophomore, junior, and senior classes, to honor with the award. During the ceremony, the six winners will be introduced with a personal description of why they were selected. A banner will then be revealed in the gymnasium recognizing the Alpha Wolf 11 Champion of Character winners.
The Alpha Wolf 11 Champion of Character award will be presented in front of the entire student body, special guests from the Wyoming community, school administration, and the Wyoming Board of Education Members in a ceremony at the end of each school semester. A special guest speaker will be there to commemorate the event.
Not only will the students be given recognition in front of their peers and school administrators, but each student will receive a framed Alpha Wolf 11 Champion of Character certificate, lanyard, and their name placed on two large banners that will be displayed in the gymnasium and near the main office entrance of the building.
It’s a way for students to be celebrated for the little things they do to make a school environment friendly and something fun to be a part of. When the world asks for a 10, step up and give an 11.
WKTV will carry full video coverage of the assembly.
The Rapid provides necessary public transportation for students and citizens in the Grand Rapids area. Recent developments with The Rapid, and proposed decisions from the board, are leading some community members, labor groups, and students to perform a day of action and fare strike on January 27.
The Rapid’s Board is proposing cuts that would strip transit workers of their pensions and also increase the fare price by 16 percent. These proposals, and the resulting angst and action from the community, comes after nearly a year of failed negotiations between The Rapid’s management and its workers.
Currently, the pension plan is set up where The Rapid puts $1 per hour worked by an employee into the pension system without the employees contributing anything. The Rapid has proposed putting 5 percent of employee pay into a 401(k) style retirement account that shifts the risk and reward of investment returns to the employee. The union wants a guaranteed pension with less risk and is willing to contribute money into the system.
The issues are forcing community members to speak out and take action.
“I have been involved because I know that what The Rapid is doing to its workers is setting a precedent all across Grand Rapids, a city that already has a 26 percent poverty rate,” said Lindsey Disler, a student and USAS member at Grand Valley State University. “What the Rapid is doing continues to increase the already huge wealth inequality in our country.”
Flyer handed out by bus drivers at Central Station
Union negotiators have said management is refusing to bargain in good faith. Back in 2015, some union bus drivers attempted to distribute flyers to the public in order to educate the masses on the dilemma the drivers faced. The Rapid quickly shut down the attempt and threatened drivers with discipline and arrest.
In September of that same year, U.S. District Judge Janet Neff found that The Rapid officials violated the bus drivers First Amendment rights by stopping the handouts of the publication.
The day of action and fare strike will focus on riders refusing to pay their fares for the day. Riders are encouraged to politely inform their driver that “The Rapid’s recent actions toward its workers and riders is a form of economic violence that I won’t condone. Because it is illegal for union bus drivers like you to go on strike in Michigan, I am doing the closest thing that I can as a rider by engaging in this one-day fare strike.”
While the fare strike is sure to ruffle some feathers, it’s final goal hinges on bringing together The Rapid and the union to meaningfully sit down and come to a compromise that works for both parties.
“We care deeply about the well-being of these workers, because they literally keep this city moving. Until they’re granted a fair contract, we won’t be silent and will not stop standing up for them,” explained Disler. “The Rapid can do better for its workers.”
Mayor Poll address Wyoming during the annual State of the City
By: Mike DeWitt
While national news outlets are pumping out stories of local governments and authorities gone awry – think Flint water crisis and numerous police scandals – the City of Wyoming is a beacon of shining light in government balance and transparency.
On Monday, January 18th, Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll delivered the annual State of the City address in front of the Wyoming City Council and residence in attendance. Mayor Poll’s message shed light on Wyoming’s growing business and building development, productive and advancing city services, and the government’s consistent fiscal responsibility.
“We wish to keep our city financially strong while maintaining the valued services we provide,” said Mayor Poll during the address. “We must continue to build our foundation for the future.”
Back in 2010, Wyoming’s largest taxpayer, the JM Stamping Plant, left and taxable values of homes dropped. Now in 2016, the taxable home values have leveled off and improved. In fact, home tax values went up by 5 percent from the beginning to the end of the year. That trend is expected to continue in 2016 and keep improving until 2025 when tax dollars will reach the levels they were at back in 2008.
“Development in the city was strong in 2015,” added Mayor Poll. “Construction values totaled more than 44 million dollars. A 7% increase over the previous year.”
Part of that was due to three businesses – Zeeland Lumber and Supply, the Habitat for Humanity Restore, and the Well Mannered Dog Center – reopening their doors after taking damage from the tornado that hit Ideal Park in 2014.
Not only is Wyoming seeing development in the private sector, but the city is constantly looking to improve its services to better serve the residents of Wyoming.
Last year, all four of Wyoming’s fire stations were ready and open during peak time. This year, the city is expecting to reach their goal of 80 firefighters ready for emergency in the city. Wyoming is also equipped for a potential ice storm in the winter or a swift flood come spring.
Quick Response Vehicle
The city utilized two Quick Response Vehicles (QRV) this past year to up the efficiency of city services. QRV’s led to an overall reduction in response time as three fires were quelled by QRV’s before the larger engines arrived. The city is strongly considering adding a third to the fleet in 2016.
Police officers consistently visit local businesses, business meetings, and perform off hour business checks to keep communication flowing throughout the community and to keep local business owners safe. Plans for program and high school advisory groups are being set to educate the community on police procedures, gather feedback, and to better understand the issues the Wyoming community faces.
On top of improved emergency services and communication, families and businesses in Wyoming continue to benefit from water and sewage rates that are the best in the state. The public works department provides safe drinking water, sanitation, roads and plowing all while operating in a financially responsible way.
“Our financial responsibility is perhaps most evident in our successful early payoff of capital debt in 2015,” said Mayor Poll.
That eliminated debt includes an early payoff of six physical buildings that are owned by the city. The buildings include the library, city hall, police station, motor pool, and two fire stations.
As the City of Wyoming continues to build and grow, the city council insists on staying transparent. Mayor Poll’s hope for 2016 is that more Wyoming citizens look to get involved with city government, Every city council meeting is open to the public, and if you can’t make the meeting, they’re broadcasted live on WKTV and can be reviewed online.
“As I have now started my seventh year, it is truly my honor and sincere privilege to serve as the Mayor of the City of Wyoming,” proclaimed Mayor Poll. “My hope and prayer is that this year we all continue to build on that tradition of success.”
Taking the PSAT left Kent Innovation High School sophomore Anna DeBraber feeling stressed, frustrated and as if the years of work in class and the community didn’t matter.
She became so emotional about it that she created a 7-minute Facebook video to vent her concerns. Her score doesn’t reflect the real-world skills she’s developing at the non-traditional school where she gets to focus on group projects and presentations for a professional audience, she said.
“I’ve been thinking for a long time and seeing the effects testing has on the schools I’ve been to and schools around me,” she said, noting that the high school she previously attended was very ACT-focused.
The PSAT left her feeling that U.S. education has become very superficial, she said. “It gave a sort of sense that this test score, whatever you got, purely demonstrated everything you’ve done in your four or six years of upper education. It was the end all, be all. ‘Here is what you’re worth.'”
Anna’s perspective sheds light on what students face in U.S. classrooms, where they take an average of 112 state-mandated tests during their K-12 education, and high-stakes consequences are impacting them, their teachers and schools, said Bob Schaeffer, public eduction director for the The National Center for Fair and Open Testing (FairTest), based in Massachusetts.
Schaefer and other educators believe it’s time for change.
Tests, Tests, Tests
Those words carry a weight much greater than they once did. Fifteen years ago, when Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Superintendent David Britten was principal at a fifth-and-sixth-grade school in Wayland, he and his staff used standardized test data to find patterns and to set goals.
The tests provided information, but weren’t tied to rewards or penalties. “They were not high-stakes tests by any means,” he said.
Now it’s a different story. Discussion on schools — whether affluent or poor, urban or suburban, traditional or non-traditional — quickly circles back to testing.
The U.S. upped the ante for schools, beginning with the No Child Left Behind era of the Bush administration and continuing through the Race to the Top initiatives started during Barack Obama’s first term. Scrambling to grab national incentives and avoid penalties, states have created their own ranking systems and penalties.
“I don’t have a problem with standards and accountability at all,” Britten said. “It’s this belief that putting all our nickels on the table for a once-a-year assessment like this causes us to narrow the curriculum and teach only at service level. We need to dig deeper.”
A high percentage of teachers’ evaluations are determined by testing. Schools are ranked according to scores. Students are drilled from an early age on what will be on a test, whether it’s the upcoming state assessment or the SAT, and they’ve learned to prioritize tests over other things.
Curriculum has been modified to align with the tests. Teachers are afraid to take risks and try different ways of teaching, Britten said.
“We’ve tried in the past to teach more on an interdisciplinary scale or project-based learning approach. Teachers feel that if they can’t cover the content they are going to be the ones on the carpet for how the kids perform, so they are afraid.”
Britten said there’s no doubt the testing shed light on gaps in learning and the inequity present in low-income urban schools, but it’s had negative effects which have affected teachers, students and the quality of content being delivered. With most of the focus on math and reading, science and social studies have often been set on the back-burner.
“It’s created an environment where people feel they are being solely evaluated as an organization and individuals based on one test a year,” Britten said. “You see when you walk in classrooms the sense of urgency to get things done by the end of the bell, to cover it all and hope the students retain it. The pressure is on them to make sure the test is aligned with what the state mandates.”
That urgency is misplaced for reasons greater than getting everything covered. There is research that indicates that a student’s emotional intelligence is a better predictor of future success than standardized test scores, said Northview Public Schools Superintendent Scott Korpak.
“This isn’t to say that standardized tests don’t have a place in a student’s education. They do. But they are not the primary indicator. An analogy would be of a well-balanced meal. Every part of the meal is necessary for proper nutrition. Just like our students need to be safe, physically and emotionally healthy, engaged, supported and challenged,” Korpak said.
There’s another thing to consider as well, a fact that doesn’t always make it into discussions. “I think a lot of our legislators have been sold a bill of goods by the big testing conglomerates like Pearson and others who have made billions off this test market since 2002,” Britten said.
U.S. students will take an average of 112 state-mandated tests during their K-12 education
Curriculum Dictated by The Test
Cedar Springs High School teacher Larry Reyburn is concerned that schools aren’t meeting the needs of all students. “There’s a portion of our student population we aren’t serving very well: the top and the bottom,” he said.
A long-time biology and agriscience teacher, Reyburn said students would be much better served if education was tailored to their individual needs, different from one student to the next
“We throw them together and give them all the same test,” he said. “We are so focused on getting kids ready to take the SAT and MME (which all juniors have to take) that it’s distracting…We seem to be giving up more and more of our autonomy at greater levels concerning what is being taught at Cedar Springs High School.”
Also the school’s Future Farmers of America advisor, Reyburn teaches students to grow food, tap trees and cultivate a community garden, things that are hands-on and real-world. He wants all of them to know about global issues regarding food and agriculture, and to be able to thrive in a professional environment, adapt to change, work with people, solve problems and figure things out.
“To a point, you have to teach to the standardized tests. It dictates a lot of what you spend time on. You spend a lot of time aligning things to the test,” he said.
Are Things Starting to Shift?
There are some indicators that education is beginning to lessen its intense focus on testing.
The Obama administration recently said schools need to minimize time spent on testing. New Michigan State Superintendent Brian Whiston has said he wants to cut down on the amount of time schools spend on taking standardized tests, and discussions have centered around dropping the M-STEP in lieu of a type of test educators feel is more valuable in helping students in the classroom. M-STEP results, like its predecessor MEAP, are not available until the next school year. The Michigan Department of Education recently modified its schedule for the M-STEP test to reduce the number of hours spent on the test taking and preparation.
“We have to have multiple measures and we need to change to a growth model,” Whiston said at a fall retreat for Kent ISD superintendents. “Where did I as a teacher get a student at any grade level, and where did I take them? That’s where the conversation needs to be.”
He said teachers need to assess every day how students are learning.
“And certainly, when we spend $13-$14 billion on education, we have a right to see if we’re getting value for that investment. But that assessment has to make sense, and it has to be multiple measures, not just one test, one day.”
Korpak agreed that tests like Measure of Academic Progress (MAP), administered through the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), provide better data for schools. “This test provides almost immediate feedback, and provides information to the student, their family and the teacher,” he said. “With this option, it makes me wonder why the state of Michigan has to develop their own test, the M-STEP.”
State Rep. Thomas Hooker (R-Wyoming, Byron Center) a former Byron Center High School teacher, echoed Reyburn’s thoughts.
“I think we are putting way to much emphasis on testing,” he said, noting that standardized test don’t take into account children with different needs. “The amount of hours we are taking the kids out of the classroom to test is a problem as well.”
Also, No Child Left Behind was replaced in December when Obama signed The Every Student Succeeds Act, which loosens the federal grip on education. Under the law, schools are still required to assess students annually, but there is added focus on college- and career-ready standards. It puts assessment of student performance and school rankings into the hands of the state and is based on multiple measures. Interventions for schools in the bottom five percent will also be identified and developed by the state with dedicated funding for the lowest-performing schools.
In terms of evaluating teachers, a Michigan bill passed in November, Senate Bill 103, creates new standards to evaluate teachers and administrators. Districts will have to weigh many factors, including student-growth data based on state and local tests and in-classroom observation of teachers. Though 40 percent of the evaluations will be based on state and local tests, that is down from 50 percent.
Sophomore Anna DeBraber created a video to vent about her concerns with standardized testing
‘Make School More Meaningful’
Anna, the frustrated Kent Innovation High student, would like to see an education system where students can excel at what they love and become more than just good test-takers. She wants all students to be able to develop skills not recognizable through bubble tests.
“Overall, I think it should be recognized that students aren’t all the same based on the year they were born. They have individual skills that aren’t necessarily measured by the test,” she said. “If people don’t feel so boxed in, if they feel more passionate about their education, they will take the opportunity to learn more, We don’t have an environment right now where that’s the case.”
She said she likes Kent Innovation High, where she feels she is learning skills she will use in her career. “There’s a real-world audience and a way to connect with the world. It makes the work more meaningful.”
Anna thinks the state needs to recognize the individuality of every child and create diversity in learning. “One size doesn’t fit all.”
SNN Reporter Charles Honey contributed to this article.
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
Who knew Kindergarten has a history? Revolutionary German methods for teaching young children were adopted in Grand Rapids when members of the Ladies Literary Club (LLC) founded a Kindergarten Training School in 1894. The Froebel Foundation’s Scott Bultman will use his vast collection of photographs and documents to report on how LLC women lured the country’s best teacher here from Chicago and how the daughter of Grand Rapids’ first architect devoted her life to the movement.
Kindergarten became both a calling and a career opportunity for local women from varied socio-economic levels and racial backgrounds. Built by dedicated women reformers and philanthropists nationwide, the movement spawned settlement houses and the YWCA, as well as temperance and suffrage initiatives. Grand Rapids’ fascinating story will illustrate the overall national history.
History Detectives will be held from 9:30 am-4 pm. “Kindergarten and ‘Radical’ Women in 1890s Grand Rapids” by Scott Bultman kicks off the day at 9:30 am. Sponsored by the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council, this event is FREE.
Other session topics include:
Kindergarten and “Radical” Women in 1890s Grand Rapids
When “Everyone Knew Everyone”: Forming a Latino Community in Mid-Century West Michigan
Retail Icons: Shopping Downtown in 1950s Grand Rapids
New-Car Smell: Nostalgia and the Story of Grand Rapids Car Dealerships
Modern Design Leader: The Story Behind Herman Miller
The Intoxicating History of River City Brewing
Each session will last 45 minutes and will be presented by a local author or historian. From 4:30-6 pm participants are invited to an after-party at Mitten Brewing Company to talk about the day over a beer or two.
*Limited Seating – Space is limited and seating is offered first come, first served.There will be an overflow room available with a simulcast video presentation. History Detectives will be held from 9:30 am-4 pm on Saturday, January 23 in the Ryerson Auditorium at the Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library St. NE. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 616.988.5400 or visit our website at www.grpl.org. The Grand Rapids Public Library connects people to the transforming power of knowledge. Click here for a brochure.
Partnering organizations for the day include the Grand Rapids Historical Society, the Grand Rapids Historical Commission, the Western Michigan Genealogical Society, the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the Kutsche Office of Local History at GVSU and the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council. A box lunch is available for $10 and must be ordered in advance by calling 616.988.5492 or by emailing rsvp@grpl.org.
After watching the obesity rate rise over the past two decades, Michigan finally stepped on the scale and saw improvement. It’s a slight improvement, but a decrease in obesity nonetheless!
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the State of Michigan saw almost a 1% decrease in adult obesity rate. On top of that, it’s Michigan’s best state ranking – 17th – since 1990.
While Michigan’s ranking has come a long way since being the fifth most obese state at the turn of the millennium, the ranking hasn’t improved due to the state getting its act together to be healthier. Instead, the improved ranking is a result of the rest of the nation regressing into an unhealthy state of mind.
In 2000, West Virginia had the highest adult obesity rate in the country at 23.9% (Michigan was 5th at 22.1%). Compare that to the most recent batch of numbers which has Arkansas leading the country with an obesity rate of 35.9%. West Virginia, the most obese state to kick off the millennium, would rank just under 47th ranked California today.
Not the right direction for the country to be heading.
2014
Obesity is a major drain on health-care costs. A 2009 study estimated the U.S. spent about $150 billion a year on medical expenses associated with obesity. That number is almost double what the country spent on obesity related medical costs back in 1998.
According to the CDC, “Obesity reduces quality of life and is associated with the leading causes of death, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.”
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when diving into the data. First off, the CDC measures obesity using a BMI – or body mass index – of 30 or above. Since BMI is calculated using only your weight and height, it is possible for an individual with a large muscular composition to be labeled “obese” due to a high BMI reading. However, while there are exceptions, there is a strong correlation between BMI and more precise measures of obesity.
Another caveat with the data is how the CDC measures obesity rates, and how that affects comparing data over the years. Back in 2011, the CDC made some changed the way obesity rates were measured to better reflect minority populations. Because of the data gathering changes, the CDC cautions about comparing rates since 2011 with earlier number.
Because of that last point, it’s difficult to compare obesity rates in 2000 to now, but a stark rise in the country’s obesity can still be seen from 2011 onward. Back in 2011, 12 states had an obesity rate over 30% and none were over 35%. Compare that to the latest set of available data, and America has 22 states with an obesity rate over 30% and three states above the 35% threshold.
The numbers are staggering, and they hit even closer to home when you look a little closer.
Kent County isn’t immune from the rise in obesity. Actually, far from it. Kent County has an obesity rate of 29%, good enough to park just between Illinois and Idaho in the national rankings at 28 and 29, respectively.
The obesity epidemic doesn’t show signs of slowing down, but it’s not something we as a society need to be held hostage to. While genetics can play a role, a lot comes down to a healthy diet and exercise! The typical American diet tends to be heavy on processed and high-calorie foods. Sub out unhealthy choices with fruits and vegetables. Also, make sure to stay active.
It’s not always an easy road, but it’s enlightening to know obesity doesn’t have to weigh us down forever.
History can be fascinating and enlightening because it gives us the opportunity to see how people lived before us. In a way, we’re seeing our future, because at some point the history books are going to look back at our time period and the way we lived.
Far too often, history is digested and explored at the national level. Wars and major events that almost everyone can relate to are often discussed. However, local history can be just as fascinating. It’s your backyard. It’s someone or something a generation or two before you actually experienced in first-person.
The Grand Rapids Public Library has partnered with six local historical agencies to present the History Detectives program. The day-long event will be held on Saturday, January 23 and run from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Ryerson Auditorium in the Main Library – 111 Library St NE.
The event is free and open to the public. Six, 45-minute session topics presented by a local author or historian will be available. Session topics include:
• Kindergarten and “Radical” Women in 1890s Grand Rapids
• When “Everyone Knew Everyone”: Forming a Latino Community in Mid-Century West Michigan
• Retail Icons: Shopping Downtown in 1950s Grand Rapids
• New-Car Smell: Nostalgia and the Story of Grand Rapids Car Dealerships
• Modern Design Leader: The Story Behind Herman Miller
• The Intoxicating History of River City Brewing
After the sessions are history, all participants are invited to an after party at Mitten Brewing Company to further talk about the day over a couple brews.
A box lunch is available for $10 and must be ordered in advance by calling 988-5492 or by emailing rspv@grpl.org.
Partnering organizations include the Grand Rapids Historical Society, the Grand Rapids Historical Commission, the Western Michigan Genealogical Society, the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the Kutsche Office of Local History at GVSU, and the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s Historical Council.
The City of Kentwood will host “Kentwood Remembers MLK – Our Community Comes Together” to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 18. The celebration will take place at the KDL Kentwood Branch Library at 4950 Breton Rd SE.
The first-time event, which runs from 10:00am – 11:00am, was only an idea two years ago and will kick off with a welcome from Jessica Ann Tyson, Event Visionary, and Kentwood Resident/Kentwood Business Owner.
“We wanted to focus on making the event authentic to our community, to Kentwood,” said Tyson in an interview with Wyoming/Kentwood NOW. “There are numerous other celebrations in other communities, but ours needed to be authentic. I love that our event is for everyone and not just people of color.”
The event will feature Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech as well as a number of essays and artwork from Kentwood ARCH students that highlight what MLK means to them.
Following Dr. King’s speech, Mayor Stephen Kepley will deliver a mission moment and proclamation. “It is said where there is no vision, the people perish,” explained Kepley. “Passionate and honorable visions, goals, and dreams empower people to live their lives that benefit all. The City of Kentwood is honoring one of those persons, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who passionately declared his vision with the inner-personal courage to defend his dreams that have forever influenced our values so all may live in peace and unity.”
“Kentwood Remembers MLK” is sponsored by a number of Kentwood businesses, with all proceeds raised to benefit the ARCH after school program. The ARCH program focuses on low-income families, families of color, special education students, and English language learners.
“Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that still lives on today. As the community of Kentwood comes together to remember his legacy, I can only pray that each citizen takes to heart what this day truly symbolizes; peace, hope, and a chance for everyone to live together in unity,” said Tyson. “It’s idealistic, but why not strive for it?”
Wyoming/Kentwood NOW and WKTV will provide coverage of the inaugural event!
In a world full of iPhones, high-definition televisions, and unlimited forms of entertainment at our fingertips, agricultural fairs and festivals offer an opportunity to go back to our roots; back to a time when everyone knew how to milk a cow and ride a horse. A past life that, to some, seems much further removed than it actually is.
Agricultural fairs are a major factor in Michigan Tourism, bringing in over 4.5 million people per year at eighty-six county or local fairs across the state. That’s over half of the state’s population! With that attendance comes capital—over $18.5 million in livestock auctions last year alone—that is used by the youth to advance agriculture education.
Next week, January 14-16, the Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions (MAFE) will host their 131st annual conference at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. The conference is utilized to bring together festival, fair, and MAFE members to share ideas, attend educational workshops, and connect with fair and festival vendors from around the country!
“The Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions is in the business of fun,” explained Lisas Reiff, MAFE Executive Director in a press release. “We have created a convention that takes the fun to heart, with educational activities and a showcase of the very best in entertainment and festival vendors from around the country.”
A free, public Kid’s Showcase is scheduled for Friday, January 15 from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. in the Imperial Ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza. The children can enjoy free entertainment such as clowns, puppet shows, magic acts, and other potential fair entertainment for the upcoming season.
Not only are the entertainment acts free, but the audience is encouraged to share feedback on the performances because those performances might become Fair and Exhibition acts throughout Michigan in 2016.
“Local fairs are some of the least expensive family oriented entertainment venues in the state of Michigan,” added Reiff. “Families get to spend quality time together, learn where their food comes from, and create lasting memories. Fairs help teach responsibility and good sportsmanship to participants, especially our youth.”
The MAFE conference is a way for everyone involved with agricultural fairs, from top to bottom, to get together in one place and share ideas. It’s an invaluable way to further education for everyone involved. Education events and round-table discussion topics this year will include youth development, educating the public on the importance of agriculture to the economy in Michigan, the contributions MAFE makes each year, promotion of agri-tourism throughout the state, and the economic impact of fairground facilities in our community.
Hidden Pain: Bringing Youth Mental Health Out of the Shadows is a series on students’ mental health, the sources of their distress, and how schools and communities can help. Photos from School News Network
For students battling anxiety and depression, sometimes the greatest stress comes from seeking success.
In today’s culture of high-stakes testing, high-cost college and all-everything excellence, getting anything less than an A on an exam can push a student’s panic button. So say local students who work to help their peers suffering from mental-health issues.
“A lot of people feel pressure to be the best – that all-star student, athlete, child,” said Bri Houle, a senior at Rockford High School, where 21.5 percent of her classmates have 3.9 grade-point averages or higher. Even though she is a trained peer listener for students having problems, she admits she puts some of that pressure on herself at test time, causing her anxiety.
“If I got a B, my mom would be like, ‘That’s great, that’s fine, it’s just one test,’” Bri added. “But I can’t physically, mentally be OK with that.”
Lucas Buck sees similar anxieties at Grandville High School: students putting pressure on themselves because of test stress, worries about college and careers and balancing their busy schedules. The Grandville senior also sees pressure on his generation coming from social media and hyper-vigilant parents.
“One friend got a B on an AP calculus test and she freaked out,” said Lucas, president of the City of Wyoming Teen Council, which works to get students involved in their communities. Helping students deal with anxiety and depression is a priority for the group this year.
From these student leaders’ perspectives, the relentless push to excel is a major challenge to many students’ mental well-being. But they say problems at home or with their friends, feelings of social isolation and the invasive power of social media also pile onto students’ daily lives, leading some to depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
Students Helping Students
Bri Houle and Nick Ignatoski head a group trained to listen to and support students with their problems.
That’s why Lucas, Bri and other students are involved in student organizations that reach out to classmates who need extra support – and, increasingly, professional counseling.
“It’s a huge issue for us,” said Nick Ignatoski, co-president with Bri of a student advisory board for Rockford Public Schools’ Developing Healthy Kids program. “One is too many – one suicide or one person with a mental-health issue is too many. If we can find that one person, that’s our goal.”
Students are pursuing that goal along with school counselors, administrators and agency therapists who say they’re seeing a rise in student mental-health problems. As part of SNN’s continuing series on the issue, educators say they’re making more referrals to mental-health agencies, some of which have had to add beds for teens and children.
Interviews with students in Rockford, Grandville and Wyoming show they share their school administrators’ concerns about the trend – and are trying to do something about it.
At Rockford High School, Bri and Nick are part of a Peer Listeners group trained to meet with students having problems, and refer them to counselors if necessary. They also serve as advisers to the district’s Developing Healthy Kids series, which focuses largely on mental health. At the next public assembly on Jan. 19, students will talk about their pressures and preoccupations, while a therapist will discuss how teen minds work.
So far this school year, 19 students have had meetings with Peer Listeners, who fill out feedback forms about the encounters. Many of those have documented students struggling with depression, said school counselor Sarah Young.
Fitting In, Standing Out
Some of the problems that Young and the Peer Listeners see derive from being in a big school of about 2,000 students. That can breed a sense of isolation in some students, or unintentionally leave a new student sitting by herself at lunch, Young said.
“Especially at a place this big, it’s hard to make a name for yourself or stand out,” said Nick, who competes in baseball and plans to study bio-engineering at Michigan State University. “Students try so hard to do that, whatever they can to find that spot. I think sometimes that is too much.”
This is in a school culture that prides itself on excellence – where “mediocrity is not OK,” as Young put it, and where many students compete to be the top academic achievers. Further, social media can add another kind of competition waged on students’ smartphones.
“Some people definitely care how many ‘likes’ they get on things or ‘favorites’ compared to their peers,” Bri said. “If they don’t get a certain amount of ‘likes’ on Instagram within a certain time, they’ll take it down.”
Worse are subtle forms of cyberbullying. A popular one is “sub-tweeting,” where students post mean messages on Twitter about another student’s tweet, but without naming the person. For the target of the sub-tweet, it can be embarrassing or humiliating.
Bri insisted she doesn’t dwell on her social-media popularity.
“I have my select group of friends,” said Bri, a lacrosse player who plans to study athletic training in college. “What do I care if somebody else doesn’t like the picture I posted?”
Taking Its Toll
At Grandville High School, Lucas Buck said the toll mental-health issues take on students can affect their whole outlook.
Grandville senior Lucas Buck is president of a teen council concerned about student mental health.
“It’s an important subject because someone’s mental health can really dictate how their life is and how they see the world,” Lucas said.
It’s one of his prime concerns as president of the Teen Council. The group partnered earlier this year with the Wyoming Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee to survey Grandville, Wyoming, Kelloggsville and other area high school students about concerns facing teenagers today. One of the biggest was mental health.
Teen Council members plan to choose a cause this year to help students with anxiety, depression and other concerns. Last year, members participated in a three-week Mental Health Series at Wyoming Junior High School to link families with resources and get students involved with positive activities.
“Depression is a big problem at our school,” said Wyoming High School senior Candice McKenzie, a Teen Council member.
She’s also noticed students with tendencies to self-harm — cutting their skin — since she was in middle school. Some hide the cuts and others call attention to them, she said.
Candice said teens face myriad problems in their home lives and get caught up in portraying an unrealistic image glorified by the media. Social media interactions only compound that pressure.
Lucas said there’s still stigma behind getting help for mental illness, but programs like the Be Nice campaign, which is very active in Grandville, are making a difference. Be Nice, started by the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, educates people about mental well-being, anti-bullying and the importance of treating others with civility.
Student Support is Key
Candice McKenzie says depression is a big problem among her Wyoming High School classmates.
Rockford also has programs in place to support students and spot bullying, such as the OK2SAY state reporting system. It also offers a broad range of clubs and activities, from a Gay Straight Alliance to a women’s empowerment club. These can help students find friends and motivation for school, Bri and Nick say.
Above all, students need involvement – and other students to care about them – in order to feel good about themselves, Nick said.
“Everybody’s different, so it might be a two-person club,” he added. “But if those people are good support for each other, then that’s perfect.”
It is behind this north wall, an exact replica appearing here from the exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, where researchers have discovered the hidden chamber. Could the royal tomb of Queen Nefertiti be behind this wall?
By Tom Norton
With the exhibit of the Treasures of King Tutankhamen winding down in less than a month at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the latest news out of Egypt creates a new reason for revisiting, or catching the exhibit for the first time, what is likely one of the greatest exhibits ever to come to West Michigan.
3,300 years ago King Tutankhamen was laid to rest in what researchers now believe was a hastily constructed or modified tomb. Since its discovery in 1922, one nagging question remained unanswered; why was his burial tomb not fitting that of a ruling pharaoh?
Scores of reasons were supplied; the tumultuous period in Egyptian history when Tut lived and ruled was the most obvious. His father, the heretical pharaoh Akhenaton had recently been deposed and the 11-year-old Tutankhamen placed on the throne. DNA evidence today shows he was a sickly teen who died at the age of 19, but beyond all that there were tantalizing items in the tomb that didn’t add up. A number of the treasures didn’t appear to have ever been owned by the boy king. Treasures where the text has been erased altogether or altered to reflect the new “ownership” of Tut.
Now in 2016, the news coming out of Egypt could be as thrilling as it was in 1922 when the most famous Egyptian tomb ever was discovered.
The Egyptian government has now announced that it has a 90% certainty that there is a hidden chamber behind the north wall of Tut’s tomb. Far from being a storage room, researchers and Egyptologists believe the north wall of Tut’s burial chamber may have been built and painted over to conceal the entrance to the tomb of the fabled Queen Nefertiti, possibly an aunt of the boy king.
The north wall of the burial chamber shows the young King in the afterlife and going through the ritual known as the “opening of the mouth.” A ritual performed by the gods as the pharaoh enters the underworld. Strangely, however, some of the figures that were always assumed to be the boy king have certain feminine characteristics. Could these images have been originally been painted for Nefertiti?
If all this is true, the tomb of Tut that we know today would actually be merely the outer rooms to a much larger tomb built for the most famous Queen of Egypt.
The questions surrounding the strange size of Tut’s tomb would also be answered.
The results of the radar scans which discovered the hidden chambers will be announced in the coming few weeks. If an intact royal tomb is found within Tut’s tomb, it would be the most spectacular archaeological discovery of the last 100 years. All the more reason to take in the breathtaking exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum before it leaves at the end of January.
Another year has come and gone. Here at Wyoming-Kentwood NOW, we take a look back at the year that was with some of our favorite, and most memorable, stories from here in Wyoming.
After almost 15 years on the job, former Wyoming Deputy City Manager Barbara Van Duren retired. Her retirement was celebrated at the Wyoming Public Library to make room for all the people in attendance! 28th West, the re-development of 28th street, was a project close to Barbara’s heart. In the words of Barbara Van Duren, “28th streets needs a facelift.”
One Wyoming 1 on 1 offers mentors the opportunity to make a difference in children’s lives. Not only that, but the children will make just as big–if not bigger–of an impact on you! Deb Havens shares her story on mentoring Amber and the bond they’ve created.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety recognized their top employees. Among those honored was Jason Caster for Officer of the year, Brian Illbrink as Firefighter of the Year, Terra Wesseldyk as Civilian of the Year, and Lt. Kirt Zuiderveen received the Chief’s Award of Professional Excellence.
March is a special time for basketball lovers of all ages! The MHSAA playoffs kicked into full gear with multiple schools from the Wyoming area vying for a State Championship.
Harriet Sturim, a proud Wyoming homeowner since 1977, highlights some new and positive building in the city. From the new Veterans Clinic in Metro Village to the new businesses on 28th and 36th street, the City of Wyoming is continuing the city’s growth of vision and progress.
Wyoming’s, and most like Kent County’s, oldest home was put up for sale in 2015. For the first time in 179 years, the ‘Rogers Mansion’ was put on the market for someone outside the Rogers family. The house comes with the original skeleton key to unlock the front door. History is all around us.
General Motors used 2015 to invest in their Burton location with capital and full-time job opportunities. $119 million and 300 jobs were announced in June and another $43 million 55 new jobs were announced later in December! A reinvestment in West Michigan manufacturing is sometime to get excited about.
Wyoming continues to add new businesses to the area. Three new businesses found a home at the corner of Clyde Park and 44th Street. A four-story WoodSpring Hotel, a Fox Powersports, and a J&H Mobil Station with a Tim Horton’s right next-door broke in the dirt.
The Pinery Park Little League was in troubled water as they risked losing their contract to the fields at Pinery Park with the Wyoming City Council due to a lack of transparency and losing their 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. Fortunately, the league was able to get it together but will need to run more efficiently going forward.
Wyoming Public Schools found themselves on the winning side after election day with the passing of a sinking fund to help the school. The sinking fund works a little differently from a bond issue and will end up raising over $400,000 per year with little, if any, increase to Wyoming tax payers.
The Great Candy Cane Hunt had another successful season with Santa being delivered by the fire department and then leading the children on a candy cane hunt throughout Pinery Park. The event continued at the Wyoming Senior Center with “life-size” jenga and connect four that families could enjoy!
WKTV is home to Wyoming-Kentwood NOW. Sharing the stories in your community!
Every year stories are written and consumed by the masses, but here at Wyoming-Kentwood NOW we focus on the hyperlocal. More specifically, we focus on YOU and YOUR community.
As we say goodbye to 2015 and get ready to say hello to 2016, let’s take a quick look back at our ten most popular stories from the past year:
Don’t forget to make now.wktv.org a part of your daily routine, and if your interested in writing about the stories that surround you, we know just the people to talk to! Email us at news@wktv.org.
It’s hard to imagine driving your car with a flat tire or an airbag that doesn’t work, right? Having either of those problems would make your car significantly more dangerous to you and your passengers. Since both of those seem like a no-brainer, why is it so difficult to properly protect our most precious cargo, our children, in a properly secured child safety seat?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, four out of five car seats are improperly installed. To add to the concern and need for a properly fitting car seat, government statistics show that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for kids aged 2-14.
So, it’s time to make sure your child’s car seat is properly fitted! As part of the Safe Kids of Greater Grand Rapids program, Fire Station No. 1 in Wyoming will be inspecting car seats on January 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. The fire station is located at 1500 Burton St. SW.
Car seat installation errors range anywhere from an incorrect recline angle (especially for young infants) to problems with the vehicle safely belt being too loose, not locked, or not correctly routed through the child seat.
Here are some tests from Safe Kids to make sure your car seat is installed correctly:
• Inch Test – Once your car seat is installed, give it a good tug at the base where the seat belt goes through it. Can you move it more than an inch side to side or front to back? A properly installed seat will not move more than an inch.
• Pinch Test – Make sure the harness is tightly buckled and coming from the correct slots (check your car seat manual). With the chest clip placed at armpit level, pinch the strap at your child’s shoulder. If you are unable to pinch any excess webbing, you’re good to go.
• For both rear and forward-facing child safety seats, use either the car’s seat belt or the lower attachments, and for forward-facing seats, use the top tether to lock the car seat in place. Don’t use both the lower attachments and seat belt at the same time. They are equally safe, so pick the one that gives you the best fit!
You can pre-register for a car seat inspection by calling Safe Kids of Greater Grand Rapids at 616-391-7233 ext. 2. It’s important that your kids are safe!
Long before the advent of written language, storytellers used the spoken word to preserve a record of past experiences from one generation to the next. Oral history was transmitted in song or speech and took on many forms: chants, folktales, ballads, sayings, or songs–knowledge shared without a writing system. This was especially key where people of a society were denied access to education or were afraid to leave a written record of their knowledge.
It is the rich, local history that Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives (GRAAMA) now seeks to preserve by interviewing the elders of a bygone era–the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s. It doesn’t really seem that long ago, but once the keepers of the stories are gone, the histories will be lost forever.
The new organization has recently launched a multimedia project called ‘Grandma’s Voice.’ Made possible in part by a $25,000 grant from The Michigan Humanities Council through funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the acronym is a play on the word, ‘Grandma,’ which conveys the museum’s core mission: to document the oral history from some of the area’s oldest living people–particularly women–who can offer insight into their long-ago experiences. Some people are 80 to 100 years old, so time is of the essence.
GRAAMA has teamed up with the Grand Rapids Urban League and the Kutsche Office of Local History at Grand Valley State University. The organization is looking for elderly folks who can tell the story of early Grand Rapids or the surrounding area.
You don’t have to be a grandma to share your stories. GRAAMA encourages families and individuals to inspire others by sharing skills, experiences, and knowledge with other creative minds. Call the elders of your family, and then email george@graama.org. The organization says that those who are interviewed will receive a small stipend. The finished audio/video disk will be the main attraction at Museum once it opens in 2016.
The Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 is a bipartisan bill focused on eliminating microbeads and their pollution from the Great Lakes. Microbeads are tiny plastic particles used in cosmetic products that are small enough to filter through municipal wastewater treatment plants after they’re rinsed down the drain. According to the new law, a microbead is defined as “any solid plastic particle” less than 5 millimeters in size intended for use as an exfoliate. The law’s clear wording and definition of a microbead doesn’t allow for manufacturing loopholes to other plastics.
After being rinsed down the drain, microbeads often end up floating in the Great Lakes where they can soak up toxins like a sponge and then enter the food chain after being mistaken for food by fish and other wildlife.
In the Great Lakes, anywhere between 1,500 to 1.1 million microbeads can be found per square mile. Lake Erie and Lake Ontario have the highest concentrations.
Now that the bill has been signed into law, microbeads will be phased out of consumer products over the next few years. In July 2017, a ban on manufacturing microbeads will go into effect with product-specific manufacturing and sales bans coming in 2018 and 2019.
When looking for products with microbeads, some will come out and say ‘Microbeads’ right on the label. However, other times microbeads are labeled as polyethylene or polypropylene. Companies like L’Oreal, Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble have already started phasing out microbeads for alternatives like sand and apricot seeds.
It’s a positive change that couldn’t come soon enough for the Great Lakes, their wildlife, and the food chain.
The holidays are a time of shopping for family and friends, but have you ever thought of shopping for a cause?
The War Chest Boutique, located in the Women At Risk, International headquarters at 2790 44th Street in Wyoming, offers an opportunity to do just that. The elegant and spacious storefront displays items produced or supported by women who have escaped sexual slavery or other at-risk situations such as domestic violence, substance abuse, and exploitation. The products include spa items, scarves, cards, bags, and beautiful jewelry made from items unique to their country of origin such as pearls, gems, paper, and nuts.
From its humble beginnings in the kitchen of founder and president, Rebecca McDonald, Women at Risk, International, or WAR Int’L, now has safe houses in 40 countries. These safe houses and related programs work to rescue women and children from the ravages of human trafficking and bring them to a place where they can enjoy job training, education, counseling, therapy, and mentoring. Stephanie Cozzolino, Retail District Manager, shared that recently the organization achieved a grant allowing WAR Int’L to increase the size of their program. Cozzolino asserts their excitement that lives can be restored and dignity reclaimed.
You may be thinking that WAR Int’L is a noble cause to help these women and children in foreign lands, but that human trafficking doesn’t have an effect on your life. Unfortunately, sexual exploitation not only exists overseas but indeed is thriving underground in small towns across America; Yes, even towns like Wyoming, Kentwood, and Grandville.
An estimated 2,400 children are living in slavery, exploited, or sold in West Michigan, according to the U. S. Department of State.
According to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Michigan ranks 13th in the country for the number of sex trafficking victims.
You may remember the recent news headlines when WCSG radio personality, John Balyo, was arrested and convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for arranging sexual encounters with minors. Internet child pornography is an ever-growing industry in our country. According to the FBI, “The new slavery…human trafficking, is the fastest growing segment of organized crime.”
“There is a misconception that all traffickers are men,” states Cozzolino. “It is surprising that women play a growing role in the trafficking and prostitution business.”
Large public events such as the Superbowl have become the largest incidents for human trafficking in the United States. Likewise, Cozzolino states local Grand Rapids events such as Art Prize have drawn similar crime. Many from out-of-town use internet sources like Backpage to obtain children and women for illicit purposes. War Int’L closely monitors these events, participating with groups like the S.O.A.P. project to offer rescue and assistance to those in need.
The S.O.A.P. project works to place bars of soap in hotel bathrooms (many times the only time the victim is away from her captor) with the number for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center imprinted on the wrapper. Aside from large events, intervention and assistance is also offered at bars, strip clubs, and red light districts within the city.
Traffickers are very adept at luring vulnerable teens with flattery, gifts, or the promise of love or riches before drugging them and selling their bodies to the highest bidders. Those victims who are able to escape are left with nothing but scars, both emotional and physical. That is where WAR Int’L comes in. Rescued and at-risk women can come to the WAR Int’L headquarters for protection and assistance. Safe houses offer “safe places to turn crisis into hope, where women can be rescued, restored, and empowered to walk with dignity.”
How can you help? Shop! That’s right, it’s as easy as visiting the War Chest Boutique in Wyoming (or its counterparts in Rockford, MI and Napierville, IL) and picking out an item, made with love by a woman who has overcome darkness and is on the path to independence. One hundred percent of the money from the product made by these women returns to them and their programs. Staff at WAR Int’L are compensated through donations.
Looking forward to the spring, Cozzolino explained that the current Winter Wonderland theme in the anteroom will be transformed into a café, staffed with baristas to make and serve fresh coffee and treats. Please take the time to stop in for a break and peruse the gorgeous products being sold in the name of love.
While donations are always appreciated, you can also host a War Chest party at your home, church, office, or at the War Chest Boutique. Please go to www.Warinternational.org for more information.
Kathy is a long-time employee with Spectrum Health. She has been married for 28 years to her wonderful husband, Duke. Together they have 2 children, Emily and Daniel. In her free time she enjoys volunteering with the Casting Bread Mobile Food Pantry at Kentwood Christian Church, making sandwiches at Kids Food Basket, and leading Ladies Bible Study on Thursday nights. Writing has been her passion since elementary school and she loves to write about how others enjoy what they are passionate about!
Mild temperatures may have provided a slow start to winter, but snow will be here before we know it and Pure Michigan has winter recreation on the mind. According to Project: Time Off and the US Travel Association, 429 million days of annual leave go unused in the U.S. each year. This winter, Travel Michigan is encouraging people to put some of those unused vacation days to work, channeling their inner child and heading out to experience the thrill of a Pure Michigan Snow Day.
In addition to this year’s winter advertising campaign, which begins airing the first week of January, a Snow Day landing page has launched on Michigan.org to provide visitors to the most visited state tourism website in the country with the inspiration and information to plan the perfect winter getaway. A new video highlighting winter recreation offerings is also available on the new landing page and Pure Michigan’s YouTube page.
“Michigan is a place where snow days come to life and there is no better way to enjoy the unique and beautiful winter travel experiences the season has to offer than to create your own Pure Michigan Snow Day,” said Dave Lorenz, Vice President of Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “Whether you are an enthusiast looking for a new adventure or just looking to beat cabin fever, make the most of those unused annual leave days and revel in the excitement and delight that awaits when a fresh blanket of snow covers the ground and the day is wide open.”
Travelers and travel industry partners are being encouraged to use the hashtag #puremichigansnowday to highlight winter offerings and adventures across Michigan. Michigan is home to more than 6,500 miles of snowmobile trails, 3,000 miles of cross-country skiing trails and is second in the nation for ski areas boasting everything from family friendly bunny hills to the tallest vertical drop in the Midwest at Mt. Bohemia.
Last year, winter tourism generated $2.8 billion in traveler spending in Michigan.
The advertising campaign launching in January will target metro areas in Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota. The campaign features television spots Snow Day and Chance of Snow and radio ads such as Snow Day, Snow, Here’s to the Curious and Nicknames. Check them out yourself to see the way our great state is presented to the rest of the nation!
Make sure you get outside and enjoy everything Michigan has to offer! There’s a whole winter wonderland waiting to be explored.
Marshmallow-y, chocolatey Snowman Soup, Tic-tac-toe games packaged in burlap bags, colorful ornaments, glass magnets and other crafty items will fill the stockings of parents and siblings of Gladiola Elementary students, thanks to some business-savvy students.
The school recently was transformed into the “Wolves Warehouse” Christmas marketplace, as students from kindergarten to fourth-grade classes sold items they created to students and parents.
Homemade crafts for sale covered tables at the marketplace
It was a school-wide lesson in economics as well as a way to share holiday cheer, said fourth-grade teacher Mindy Harris. Rather than offer an adult-run holiday gift shop, students learned grade-level concepts of running a business, like producers and consumers, supply and demand and opportunity cost.
“It’s a real-world connection to economics instead of just spending money,” Harris said.
Each class chose an item to make, set the price and created advertising. Donations and teachers covered initial costs, and each class got to choose how to spend its profits.
Harris’ fourth-graders very quickly sold out of the glass magnets they made and peddled for 50 cents each. Student Dion Idrizi was excited.
“It feels good because everyone wants to buy our magnets, and we will get some money and make a profit,” Dion said.
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
Tiny microbeads in personal care products, which pose dangers to humans and aquatic life, are washing into public waterways. — credit: Alliance for the Great Lakes
On Friday, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to pass a bipartisan bill focused on keeping microbeads out of the Great Lakes. The Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 will protect the Great Lakes from pollution caused by small, plastic microbeads that are ingredients in certain soaps and personal care products.
“Today’s vote is great news for our Great Lakes, which are critical to our economy and Michigan way of life,” said Senator Stabenow, co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. “Microbeads pose a very real danger to our Great Lakes and threaten our fish and wildlife populations. This bipartisan bill is an important step in keeping our wildlife protected and our waters safe.”
The legislation passed through the House of Representatives earlier this month. It will phase out the manufacturing of products with microbeads, which get through water treatment facilities.
Microbeads from products like face washes and toothpaste often end up floating in the Great Lakes, where they can build up as plastic pollution and are often mistaken for food by fish. In the Great Lakes, anywhere between 1,500 to 1.1 million microbeads can be found per square mile.
“This commonsense, bipartisan effort to phase out microbeads in consumer products like face wash and toothpaste is an important step toward protecting our Great Lakes,” said Senator Peters, a member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. “Synthetic plastic microbeads amplify the effects of pollution and threaten wildlife in the Great Lakes ecosystem. I’m pleased that my Senate colleagues are sending this vital measure to the President’s desk to ensure our Great Lakes continue to thrive.”
The world’s largest source of freshwater just became a little bit cleaner.
GM announced today they will be investing another $43.35 million for power train components at the 1600 Burton Street location. The new investment will create 55 new jobs while retaining 15 jobs.
“This investment signifies a commitment to the men and women of Grand Rapids Operations and their dedication to produce precision machined automotive components to support numerous GM product applications used in a variety of Buick, Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac vehicles,” said Grand Rapids Operations Plant Manager Rick Demuynck.
The plant currently employs 530 employees , 400 hourly and 130 salaried.
“This commitment not only reflects confidence in the Grand Rapids team, along with the leadership of the UAW, but also showcases the sense of ownership and pride our employees have in the products they build,” explained Demuynk.
Investing in manufacturing here in West Michigan is a win for the entire community.
It happens every December and January, we take a look back at the year that was and focus our eyes towards what the New Year could bring.
One of the things ready to come out in mass production is the compilation of lists. The top-10 whatever of 2015. While most of these are frivolous and used for click-bait on the internet sometimes the can be fun, funny, and informative. It’s a formula so routine a New Year without them would be a shock to the system.
I find myself skipping over most of these lists to dive deeper into the vast abyss of the internet. A top-10 list only stands to slow me down. However, there is one exception that I always make sure to take a gander at, baby names.
Ever since I read Freakanomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, my mind has a different way of processing a name. While it might seem names can set you up for a future of success, in fact, it’s the opposite, your name says more about where you came from. A name offers a deeper insight into where the parents and their life situation than it says about where the child is going to end up.
If you want more details and specifics, make sure to read Freakanomics, but the basic pattern is this: When a name becomes popular amongst high-income, highly-educated parents, it trickles down the socioeconomic ladder. For example, in 1990 the names Lauren and Madison started out as names used by the upper end of the socioeconomic spectrum. By the new Millennium it was one of the top-10 names overall. Names like Heather and Amber started as a high-end name in 1980 and twenty years later found themselves among the low-end names.
Once a name becomes popular on a national scale, those on the high-end start looking for something new. Eventually it becomes so common that low-end parents start to abandon it as well and go looking for names already broken in by those at the top of the socioeconomic ladder. That’s how names are cycled.
It all revolves around the idea of parents wanting to set their children up for long-term success. If a name is associated with success, it’s more likely to be duplicated.
About those baby lists mentioned at the beginning, on December 10, Spectrum Heath released their annual top-10 baby name list. To date, the Family Birthplace at Butterworth Hospital as delivered over 8,550 babies – more than any other hospital in Michigan.
Where will these names be in 10 years? We’ll have to wait and see.
Some quick observations from 2014 to 2015:
Girls
• Olivia holds onto the top spot for girls
• Elizabeth, Evelyn, and Natalie came in at sixth, seventh, and eighth after not making the list in 2014
• Abigail, Avery, Ella and Nora rounded out the top-10 in 2014 but failed to make the list in 2014
Boys
• Liam bumped up from fourth to first for guys
• Levi surged up to second after not appearing on the list in 2014
• Noah took a tumble from first to seventh while William went from third to unranked
“I can’t wait for my visit to the Secretary of State!” – Said no one, ever.
A visit to the Secretary of State is a mystery and a hassle. It’s impossible to know exactly how long the wait will be or what to expect upon arrival. A trip to renew a drivers’ license was seen as a burden with no sense of convenience… until the Secretary of State introduced MI-TIME back in February of 2014.
The popular “get-in-line-online” service was installed in the 10 busiest offices around the state starting in February 2014. The revolutionary service was added to eight more offices late this summer, boosting the number of users to 2 million. For the first time at Secretary of State offices, customers now can make appointments for transactions.
“Customers love this service because it’s all about convenience,” stated Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. “You can sign up for an appointment online, by phone or from the office, and then go about your business until it’s almost your turn. The feedback has been tremendous.”
About that feedback, one happy customer took to social media to call MI-TIME Line, “The greatest idea, since the bottle opener, is the online wait-in-line function at the @MichSoS. 13 minutes and out the door.”
When you sign into MI-TIME Line, it estimates your wait time, and if you have a phone or texting capability, the system will call or text you when your turn is coming up. You can also ask for more time if you’re not ready to come into the office when alerted.
When a transaction must be made in person, such as first-time license application or a title transfer, you can save time by going to an office that offers the MI-TIME Line service. Customers can get in line online in Genesee, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Macomb, Oakland and Wayne county.
You can find out specific MI-TIME Line locations here. If the service isn’t offered in your area, the Branch Office Locator will show you locations and hours of operation for nearby Secretary of State offices.
West Michigan is full of rich, vibrant history, and many opportunities to get out and experience it. Experiencing history, rather than simply reading it out of a textbook, provides a far richer understanding of the people, places, and experiences of the area. We’ve collected some of our favorite ways for you to experience the varied history of the region, from living history parks to visiting the seat of Michigan’s only monarchy to tasting ice cream from a 120 year old company.
USS Silversides Submarine Museum
Tour a restored WWII Submarine, a Prohibition-Era Coast Guard Cutter and the Naval Museum at the USS Silversides Submarine Museum in Muskegon. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience what it was really like to sail a sub trolling the waters of the South Pacific 60-plus years ago. Named for a small fish of the same name, the Silversides once slid beneath the surface of some of the most dangerous waters in the world. You can walk the deck topside as well as the major internal compartments below deck. Keep an eye on their calendar for special lectures, classes and performances, too!
Lakeshore Museum Center
The Lakeshore Museum Center is a fun and fascinating museum which preserves and interprets through exhibits, education, and programs the natural and cultural history of Muskegon County. Take a 400 million year journey that explores the prehistoric plants and animals of Michigan’s past, or get pulled into the Science Center where everyone can learn about simple science through hands-on activities. Some of their permanent exhibits include, “Coming to the Lakes” featuring a life-sized mastodon, fur trader’s cabin and tools used during the lumbering era! The “Habitats Gallery” tells of native plants and animals.
Coopersville Historical Society Museum
Highlights of the Coopersville Area Historical Society Museum include extensive railroad and interurban train displays, a sawmill exhibit circled by a model railroad running through logging territory, an early schoolroom, household furnishings and business displays, among which is an extensive recreation of an early local drugstore. Also featured is the Del Shannon monument and exhibit which commemorate the life and career of Coopersville’s native son who gained international fame in the 1960’s as a recording artist and songwriter. A Lincoln log activity area, along with other exhibits, is popular with younger visitors. The Museum’s collections are enhanced by the quaint and nostalgic atmosphere of its two buildings.
The main museum building is a Michigan Historic Site and on the National Register of Historic Places. The charming brick structure was once a depot and substation for the area’s electric powered interurban rail line, the Grand Rapids, Grand Haven & Muskegon Railway, which ran from 1902-28. A rare passenger car from the railway, Car #8 – Merlin, sits beside the building where it once made many daily stops. The car is undergoing stages of restoration. Adjoining the former depot is the rustically designed Sawmill & Early Settlers Building which houses exhibits reminiscent of early settlement days.
Grand Traverse Lighthouse
Located at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula near the village of Northport, the Grand Traverse Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes, and guided ships through the northern entrance to the Manitou Passage for 150 years. Today it is a museum surrounded by a picturesque state park where visitors can envision the once-isolated life of lighthouse keepers and their families, with extensive exhibits and period furnishings from the 1920s and 1930s. Its popular “volunteer lighthouse keeper” program provides an opportunity to live in the lighthouse, carrying on routine maintenance and answering the questions of its frequent visitors.
Castle Farms
Treat your family to nearly 100 years of history at Castle Farms of Charlevoix. Inspired by French castles, Castle Farms was built in 1918 as a model farm. Closed in 1927, the beautiful stone buildings fell into disrepair. In later years, the Castle served as an artist’s mecca, and also rock n’roll central, with performances by 100 different rock groups. A restoration begun in 2001 completed the Castle’s transformation. Tours include viewing displays of antique toys, castles, royalty items, and WWI museum. Train buffs and kids of all ages will love the indoor train displays. Open year round, Castle Farms is a spectacular piece of Michigan history to explore.
Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream
Started in 1895 as a farmers’ cooperative, the Holland-based Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream is the largest manufacturer of branded ice cream in Michigan. Nearly 90 years ago, in 1926, the company was located in Burnips—in north-central Allegan County. Four of the six original flavors remain in the company’s portfolio: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and butter pecan (orange pineapple and Tootie Fruitie since been discontinued).
Today, this Midwest company has been producing its creamy, delicious ice cream – using many of its original flavors, while at the same time creating refreshing new recipes inspired by the Great Lakes. A recent partnership with Travel Michigan and the Pure Michigan brand has resulted in a plethora of flavors that give a nod to the agricultural industry here in the Great Lakes State. Current Limited Edition Flavors include Pumpkin Pie, Pure Michigan Salted Caramel Apple and Pure Michigan Winter Campfire. Year-round offerings such as Sleeping Bear Dunes Bear Hug, Mackinac Island Fudge, Grand Traverse Bay Cherry Fudge and Michigan Deer Traxx, among others.
Others:
Get your history fix with a visit to the below locations to experience a step back in time.
The clouds cleared enough to see Venus and Jupiter during Night School at Endeavor Elementary on a recent Tuesday.
About 300 first- through fifth-grade students stayed up all night, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., to watch the wonders of the night sky, study astronomy and participate in star- and planet-themed activities tied to all subjects. “We learned about the planets and the solar system,” said fourth-grader Diego Saldivar.
“The fun thing is being able to stay up until 6 in the morning,” added fourth-grader Luke Elyea. “I drank three cups of hot chocolate.”
Night School, started in 1999 by fourth-grade teacher Susan Stapleton, is held every four or five years to make sure all students have a chance to experience the event during their years at Endeavor.
It takes place during the Leonid meteor shower, which peaked November 18 this year.
Tired students got some sleep, but most stayed up all night long
Stapleton grew up in Ludington, where she saw the Northern Lights and many starry nights. Stapleton started Night School because she wanted her students to see twinkling stars, streaking meteors and glowing planets.
“If it even makes them aware of the night sky, we’ve gained something,” she said. “So many of us never look up.”
Hundreds of volunteers worked two-hour shifts during Night School. Students went out to look at the sky, which was too cloudy for much viewing.
A volunteer from James C. Veen Observatory, in Lowell, provided information on planets and constellations,
Students painted Northern Lights with oil pastels; made constellation telescopes, studied constellations in a blow-up planetarium, and played games like Meteor Math.
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
The challenge was to build the tallest Eiffel Tower. After they twisted and tied pipe-cleaners, Endeavor and Meadowlawn fifth-graders’ structures stood straight and high.
Natasha Sirrine, a Grand Valley State University School of Engineering graduate student, was impressed. “I’ve never seen four really good ones, ever,” she said, eyeing the colorful towers. “These are fabulous.”
Fifth-grader Melanie Delvalle helped construct the winning tower. “I like engineering because you can build things, and I like creating new things,” she said.
Nearby, Amoria Taylor-Smith tinkered with the gears of a unmanned aerial vehicle, also known as a drone, brought in by Kent ISD STEM consultant Ebiri Nkugbu. The youngster was amazed to learn what the aircraft can do, like take photos of crops up close.
“I want to be what he is,” said Amoria, pointing to Nkugbu. “I think it’s cool that he can build stuff.”
Natasha Sirrine, Grand Valley State University School of Engineering graduate student watches Melanie Delvalle construct a pipe-cleaner Eiffel Tower
It was the final of four events hosted to expose Kentwood Public Schools fifth-graders from 10 elementary schools to the world of science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. Through hands-on activities, students got to thinking about jobs in the field, which went way beyond looking through a microscope.
“It’s exciting to see and learn about stuff I never knew before,” said student Vedad Vila. “I kind of want to be a computer engineer.”
Led by Experts in the STEM Field
Endeavor and Meadowlawn students broke into 25-minute sessions hosted by representatives from GVSU, Kent ISD, Hope Network, Open Systems Technologies, Kent Career Tech Center, and architecture and engineering firms Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. and Progressive AE.
Students spent the morning focused on “seeing, doing and learning,” to become exposed to jobs like scientist, arborist, nutritionist and architect, said Nancy McKenzie, Kentwood Public Schools STEM coordinator. Last year, McKenzie organized girls-only STEM events because of the under-representation of females in STEM jobs, but this year they were open to all students.
Checking out an unmanned aerial vehicle
“It’s planting a seed, giving them a glimpse into the career world, the STEM world,” she said. “Hopefully, during the rest of their years at Kentwood they will continue to hear more about STEM, attend more activities like this, take classes at the high school in engineering and CAD.”
Another goal is skill development. Group work, problem-solving and goal-setting skills translate into what students will need in adulthood.
Jobs of the future — many of which don’t even exist today — are likely to involve technology, said Jeremy Wise, managing consultant for Open Systems Technology, who taught basic programming concepts on cardboard. Students were challenged to teach their “robots” three ways to move on the board.
“Honestly, everything is software-driven, from programming to calculators, to cell phones,” Wise said. “I think the next generation needs to understand how they work and be able to tell them what to do.”
After building his own miniature wooden car during a session led by Joe Phillips, an instructor for KCTC’s Design Lab, student Joseph Amani let it zoom down a ramp to see how far it would go.
“It can go farther than any other car,” he said. “I think it’s awesome.”
Phillips said his goal was to help students learn design, and how it’s a process of trial and error.
After students tested their cars on the makeshift ramp in the auditorium, he challenged them to make their vehicles even better. That’s what engineers do, he explained.
“Now you can take it back, redesign and rethink how you want to do.”
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
Lori Hayes is finishing up math and science courses in the Wyoming Public Schools Adult Education Program to earn her GED. Once in awhile, she has to bring her 10-year-old daughter, Chloe, to class with her.
One day, after listening to a lesson led by teacher Justin Van Etten, Chloe walked up to the white board and correctly finished a math problem. “That’s why I’m doing this,” said Hayes, who has two other daughters, ages 17 and 15. “I didn’t really see how important this is until I saw her up there doing what I was learning. It was inspiring.”
Hayes, 37, is among thousands of adults statewide working to earn GEDs, improving their basic literacy and math skills or learning English in state-funded adult education programs. They are seeking brighter futures, better paying jobs, college degrees and careers. Many, like Hayes, also hope to give their children a better chance at their own dreams.
Hayes and Jeremy Showell, also a Wyoming student, served as first-hand voices on the impact of adult education programs and the need for improved investment and resources. They joined fellow students from across the state in addressing legislators and key policymakers during “FamilySpeak: Building Family Literacy Through Adult Education” at the State Capitol in Lansing.
The event was hosted by Michigan’s Children, a nonprofit organization focused on the needs of the most challenged children from birth to adulthood and their families, and the Michigan Association of Community and Adult Education, which works to provide a framework for community education at the local, state and federal levels.
Bob Steeh, president of MACAE, said state aid for adult education was reduced in the 1990s from $80 million to $22 million, forcing many programs to close. Now allocations total about $25 million, and students in state-funded programs, usually run through school districts, have dropped from 80,000 to 29,000 per year. Programs decreased from 175 to 75.
Fewer locations mean many students make long daily treks to get to class.
“It all equates to how you can access programs. My biggest argument is if we want to curb poverty and change the lives of families, we have to do something about that,” Steeh said.
As the state is pushing to improve third-grade reading proficiency, investment needs to target the entire family, said Michele Corey, vice president of programs for Michigan’s Children. Statewide, 42,000 people ages 18-34 have less than a ninth-grade education.
“There’s a lot of evidence that talks about how connected the kids’ educational success is with their parents’ educational success,” she said.
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
When it came time to celebrate my dad’s birthday on October 9, only one place was on my radar. I began plotting the secret gathering before Labor Day and there were times I was so excited I almost blurted it out to him or shared something publicly on my Facebook.
My dad is a long-time lover of history and a dedicated genealogist. The summer between my fourth and fifth grade years, our summer vacation trip was spent traveling in our boat-of-a-Buick through Pennsylvania and New York, visiting libraries, town halls and cemeteries in search of tidbits tied to our family tree. At the time, I loathed the experience, but now…35 years later, it is one of my favorite childhood memories.
In 1998 or 1999, my brother and I received a great Christmas gift from our dad: detailed albums full of photos, histories, maps, scans of our family tartan and other pieces tied to our family history…both on his side of the family and my mom’s. It is still one of my most treasured possessions.
When I launched Promote Michigan in 2004 my “Speaker’s Bureau” provided the ideal opportunity for me in presenting programs at libraries, senior centers and museums around the state. My dad’s passion for history had finally caught up with me (that, and a genetic propensity for public speaking).
With my growing interest in culinary and agriculture, it made sense that “Made in the Mitten: Savoring Michigan’s Rich Foodie & Agricultural Heritage” be among my offerings. Ironically, the night before this birthday dinner, I gave this exact program at the Otsego History Museum. Several members of my family attended, including my dad—who hadn’t seen me speak publicly since the late 1980s.
Years ago, as I began researching the economic impact and history of a variety of crops like asparagus, carrots, peaches and the like, my dad shared with me the story of George Taylor—a Scotsman who settled in Portage (south of Kalamazoo), who was the first person to grow commercial celery in America. An historical marker celebrating this contribution stands in that community today. Recognized as “Celery City,” it is also home to Celery Flats Interpretive & Historic Area.
Taylor was also responsible for introducing chefs at the Burdick Hotel—now the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo—to this rare vegetable. It is said they considered it a curious crop, but soon it found its way into recipes in the fine dining establishment at the turn of the century.
If you were not aware, in the mid-to-late 1800s, celery was considered a delicacy—much like caviar or escargot. Only the well-to-do served it in their homes, displayed in elegant dishes filled with ice water to keep the stalks tall and crunchy.
Soon the rich soils of the Kalamazoo area were cultivated with celery seeds and the industry was born (and now flourishes in the Zeeland area, in neighboring Ottawa County).
Taylor and his family settled throughout the Kalamazoo area. His niece, Mary Taylor, inherited an undeveloped plot of land just west of downtown—high on a bluff adjacent to the campus of Kalamazoo College. It is there that she and her husband, Frank Henderson, set down roots.
Henderson was one of early Kalamazoo’s most successful businessmen—the owner and president of the Henderson-Ames Company, which made uniform regalia for secret societies, fraternal organizations and the military.
A man of grand ideas, Henderson dreamt of building an expansive suburb on this land and in 1888, he enlisted the help of surveyors, engineers and landscape architects to plot the land and create Kalamazoo’s first “natural site plan” development. The first building to be erected was to be a 25-room, Queen Anne-style house designed by C.A. Combert of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Frank and Mary would reside.
The $72,000 building costs included seven baths (one with a 13-head shower), an elevator and a third-floor ballroom. The castle’s exterior was constructed of Lake Superior sandstone and brick. The interior wood included mahogany, bird’s eye maple, quartered oak, birch and American sycamore. The home—Henderson Castle—exemplified the most expensive tastes of the time.
The Henderson’s had a grand housewarming party in 1895 at the completion of the castle’s construction. One could only imagine who graced the halls and shared in the hospitality of the day. Yet, Frank’s years in the grand home were short-lived, as he passed away in 1899. Mary died in 1907, and both she and Frank are buried across the street from their beloved castle, in Mountain Home Cemetery.
Over the years, nine parties have owned Kalamazoo’s famous castle on the hill. In 1957, the house was purchased as the future site for the Kalamazoo Art Center. However, when the Institute of Arts remained in downtown Kalamazoo, the castle became the property of the renowned liberal arts school at Kalamazoo College (which lies adjacent to the castle’s grounds).
Henderson Castle—which now operates as a bed-and-breakfast and French-inspired restaurant—has been featured in three movies (all of which were horror films) and has also been featured on the Discovery Channel and House Hunters. It’s the topic of many newspaper and magazine articles as well.
Now, back to MY family and the reason for this local history lesson…
George Taylor was one of four brothers (the others included Andrew and James, who also lived in the Kalamazoo area). Mary Taylor Henderson was the daughter of James Taylor, George’s brother. The fourth brother Alexander, remained in Scotland. He was my great-great-great-great grandfather on my dad’s mother’s side of the family.
So, when it came time to choose the setting for my dad’s surprise birthday celebration, it only made sense to secure the private dining room at Henderson Castle for a gourmet, 7-course dinner (for 10). It was his first visit to the castle. In fact, it was the first visit for everyone in the family (other than myself…I had toured it some 15 years prior).
Our evening started with a tour, led by a charming young man named Drakkar Hill. The Western Michigan University student (go Broncos) had only been “on the job” three months, but his knowledge end passion for the castle’s history was impressive. He also had a great personality, and was engaging with the family. He shared his stories, indulged us with our questions and photos, and was genuinely excited to hear of our “family ties” to the building and its original residents.
When our three generations finally settled in for our dinner, everyone was full of family pride…especially my dad.
Just before the first course was served, the current owner—Chef Francois Moyet—stopped by to say hello and happy birthday. He shared a bit more of the castle’s history and his plans to secure it as an historic site for future generations (which made us all happy). My dad shared our connection to Mary Taylor Henderson.
Soon, our server, Andrew, was plating our first course: a colorful and flavorful bruschetta crustini with a delicious homemade balsamic drizzled on the plate (officially, called “amuse bouche”). Next, it was a fresh garden salad, followed by a warming bowl of the soup de jour: creamy potato.
Entrees included Steak Diane, Chicken Marsala, Drunken Shrimp, Steamed Flounder and Roasted Pork Loin (wrapped in bacon), each with warm rolls and butter. Between the 10 of us, we had at least one of each dish and sample bites on forks were passed among the group upon request.
Dessert was a light and airy tiramisu, followed by a post-dessert tart with a bit of cream cheese and chunks of melon and grape slices. Two bottles of Henderson Castle wines, made locally, were paired with our meal—the unwooded Chardonnay and the ruby-red Meritage.
Those who know me, know my love of good food and company as I travel around Michigan (and, sometimes, beyond). But nothing compares to sitting around the table with your parents, adult children and siblings to celebrate a loved one’s birthday. And, there’s nothing better than when you—as daddy’s girl, even at age 46—make daddy smile!
Safe Travels!
This article was republished with permission from Dianna at Promote Michigan. We do our best to help with the promotion of the great State of Michigan!
On election day, the Wyoming Public School District was hopeful the citizens of Wyoming would vote to pass the funding request. The request was for a sinking fund, a shorter, smaller stream of money that acts differently from a bond issue.
“It was very hard to get a read on the way the public felt. It was very quiet,” explained Superintendent Tom Reeder. “We tried to be as informative as possible over social media and school news letters.”
The sinking fund request was passed by a vote of 1,445 to 978 and won every precinct.
The new funding will raise over $400,000 per year with little, if any, increase to the Wyoming tax payers. The sinking fund will help pay for infrastructure updates until the next bond proposal between the 2021/22 and 2022/23 school year. By that time, the District’s millages will be down to zero. Much like paying off a house mortgage.
How is a sinking fund different from a bond issue? Well, for starters, a sinking fund is for a much shorter period of time. On top of the duration, a sinking fund provides a little bit of money at a time instead of it all upfront. With a sinking fund, no debt needs to be repaid because a smaller amount of money is being brought in to pay for numerous projects. With a bond issue, the millages passed off to the taxpayer pay off the debt for the large lump sum taken upfront.
On the whole, sinking funds are more economical for smaller projects because there is no interest paid on the projects; you pay as you go.
Now that we’ve covered the jargon on the difference between a sinking fund and a bond, it’s time to talk about the real meat of what was voted on – where is the money going?
Quick answer, it’s going towards small projects that need repair on a schedule. Things like roofs, parking lots, and mechanical equipment.
Longer – more detailed – answer, it’s going towards safety and security, efficiency, and infrastructure tune-ups district wide. The breakdown is below.
Replace and Re-key Doors: Doors are rusted and multiple keys are needed in one building. Re-keying allows for a master-key allowing access to multiple school buildings.
Emergency Lighting: Emergency lighting systems are outdated and need to be upgraded for increased safety in the event of an emergency or loss of power.
Upgrade heating and cooling units: Current system runs at high output all the time.
Install High Efficiency Heating System: New web-based control unit updated system will help with energy savings by allowing the heating system to run at lower output during mild weather.
Exterior Lights: Provide better nighttime lighting for after school events.
Remodel Student bathrooms: Replace bathroom fixtures with energy-efficient fixtures and use low maintenance materials to reduce cleaning times and extend useful life.
Replace or Repair Roofs: Building roofs are past their 20-year useful lives. Recent inspections indicate that future leaks are only a matter of time.
Parking Lots: Lots are in need of resurfacing. Parking lot capacity would be increased to ease congestion of drop-off and pick-up areas.
Superintendent Reeder was very thankful to the public and adamant that the funds were needed, “We are very thankful to the public and we will stay transparent with where the money is going. Our buildings are 50 years old. They may look nice on the outside, but issues are starting to present themselves and they need to be fixed.”
Whenever you visit a place, you’re never seeing the full story. There’s always something going on behind an “employees only” door or a little secret that only the well-informed know. Luckily for you, some of the best places to visit in West Michigan have tours to show you everything you need to know. Ever want to see how Bell’s brews their beer? Or how Grimaldi’s chocolates turn out so delicious? Look no further than some of these behind the scenes tours!
South Region
Henderson Castle
The historic Henderson Castle was built in 1895 and is one of Kalamazoo’s most treasured landmarks. Today, they welcome visitors to come explore the castle in its entirety with their VIP Legacy Tour package. With this package, you can explore all floors of the castle from their basement kitchen to their rooftop deck and everything in between. Places that guests typically don’t see such as the vineyards and wine cave are also shown. If you want to get the most out of your trip to Henderson Castle, look no further than this extensive tour package!
Journeyman Distillery
Journeyman Distillery offers tours every day! The distillery is located in an 1800s factory building and has retained much of the original and historic architecture. Tours last approximately one hour and include the history of the distillery, a tour of the production facility, and an overview on how their spirits are produced. Of course, the tour concludes with a tasting of some of Journeyman’s finest spirits!
West Michigan Beer Tours
Why just tour one brewery when you can tour three? West Michigan Beer Tours offers variety of public tours with most including stops at three breweries to sample, tour, and meet the owners or brewers. Your tour director is knowledgeable in both the beer industry and the local area so you know that you’re getting a great tour. You’ll travel comfortably from brewery to brewery on their mini-coach bus. West Michigan Beer Tours is one of the best ways to see the behind of the scenes of local breweries!
Bell’s Brewery
Bell’s Brewery was a significantly different kind of brewery 30 years ago. It had one employee, Larry Bell, who worked out of plastic garbage bags and a 15-gallon stock pot. Today, Bell’s employs more the 400 people over 22 states and has their original brewery still in Downtown Kalamazoo. They offer free tours there on Saturdays and Sundays for those looking to see what goes into making their beer. Their Comstock brewery offers self guided tours where the public is welcome to observe the large area at their own leisure.
St. Julian Winery
St. Julian Winery’s Paw Paw location offers free year-round tours! Tours run seven days a week and all ages are welcome. After your tour, don’t miss their standard tasting of six samples of your choice and a complimentary logo glass which is yours to take home. Choose from over 40 products including wines that are exclusive to their tasting rooms, their Grey Heron Vodka, and their A&G Brandy. If you want even more, their Enhanced Tasting & Tour is reservation only and more than just your average experience! This is an extended tour and includes your choices of cheese or chocolate pairs. Their wine educators offer an in-depth education on the winemaking process from bud-break to bottling!
Marshall Historical Society
Don’t miss the longest running home tour in the Great Lakes area with Marshall Historical Society‘s Historic Home Tour! Private residences, commercial buildings, museums, and fairground buildings are given the tour treatment. The public is always invited to come see some of these amazing and unique places. Want to learn more about the architecture or the history behind of some of Marshall’s most famous buildings? Then take a day or two to explore and learn from one of the most trusted sources on Marshall’s past. Keep an eye out for 2016 dates!
Central Region
Grand Rapids Symphony
Have you ever wanted to see what goes into producing a symphony? The Grand Rapids Symphony offers both backstage tours as well as musician meet-and-greets to educate the public on their exciting work. With their new program, Backstage and Behind the Music, each session corresponds to one of the symphony’s concerts and gives guests the opportunity to see the entire process. For adults ages 21 to 35, there is the MySymphony360 program which includes discounted tickets, best available sating, exclusive backstage access, and musical meet-and-greets.
Long Road Distillery
Long Road Distillery takes great pride in their signature whiskies, vodkas, and gins. To show how much work goes into these creations, they invite you to tour their distillery. Led by one of their distillers or owners, tours take visitors through the entire distilling process, its principles, and where the ingredients come from. Questions are encouraged so don’t hesitate to ask your knowledgeable tour guide. You might even get to sample a spirit or two when you’re done!
Chocolates by Grimaldi
The factory tour at Chocolates by Grimaldi is the perfect way to learn about the process of making chocolate. See everything from the pod, to the bean, to the chocolate that you can eat! Taste fresh samples right off the line and see the production area for yourself. Check out their 1950s enrober that is just like the one from I Love Lucy. Schedule your tour today to see how Grand Haven gets their unique chocolates!
North Region
Grand Hotel
The Grand Hotel’s new stable is a great way to not only see the horses up close, but to also tour the island. Group carriage tours around Mackinac Island are perfect to learn about the area. These narrated tours start in downtown and stop at many points of interest along the way. The Grand Hotel’s concierge desk will help you personalize your route and even point out places on the island that are unseen by many. With an endless possibility of routes, adventure awaits you on Mackinac Island!
Chateau Grand Traverse
The tasting room at Chateau Grand Traverse invites you to check out their award-winning wines and enjoy their breathtaking views! Complimentary tours of the facilities are offered along with an overview of the history of the Northern Michigan wine industry. Your guide will teach you about the winemaking process from harvest to bottling. Don’t miss the chance to check out Chateau Grand Traverse’s wine making process and the amazing view that brought them there over 40 years ago.
Leelanau Adventures
Leelanau Adventures offers awesome guided tours and overnight stays at various locations. Have you ever wanted to experience Sleeping Bear Dunes or Manitou Island with a tour guide that will show you the best kept secrets? Look no further! You can choose between guided backpacking day trips or overnight stays with everything you need provided to you. Learn what it takes to survive in one of West Michigan’s most treasured locales. Trips run from June to September so check back next year to book your adventure!
Point Betsie Lighthouse
Marking the southern entrance to the Manitou Passage, Point Betsie Lighthouse stands as one of Benzie County’s most famous landmarks. The lighthouse was built in 1857 and had significant restoration work done in 2006. Their tours give the public the chance to see the lighthouse up close and personal. You can even climb the tower! Tours run from May until October so make sure to check it out when they reopen it next year.
tsche Office of Local History
