Shawn Kohlhaas, owner of Culinary Cultivations, talks to participants in the Transformando West Michigan program.
The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce launched its newest intiative Transformando West Michigan, “Feeding Minds, Mouths, and Pockets.” The goal of this program is to provide Hispanic business owners currently working or with the desire to work in the food industry with the necessary financial tools and food safety knowledge to become successful.
The inaugural class kicked off at Gordon Food Service. The class is six sessions over three months with those who complete the program receiving food safety certification required by the health department of any restaurant operator.
Garrett Bazany in Kentwood’s adapted water ski clinic.
Got your tickets to the Kentwood Parks and Recreation’s The Vibe yet? The event is set for Friday, May 18. The third annual fundraiser benefits the Kentwood’s Adaptive Sports programs, which provide recreation opportunities for individual with disabilities.
Tickets for the semi-formal event are $100 per person and can be purchased online at kentwoodvibe.com or by call 616-656-5270.
Once known as the voice of West Michigan, Buck Matthews is on his farewell tour offering one last piece of advice: write down and share your stories.
Matthews will be at First & Main of Metro Health Village, 6812 Village Dr. SW, Wednesday, May 9, to talk about his latest book, “The Book in Each of Us.” The program is at 2 p.m. In the book, Matthews discuss the experience of writing and encourages others to do the same to share their stories.
The Wyoming Community Enrichment Commission has released its 2018 Concerts in the Park line-up. The series runs from June 5 to Aug. 7. All concert are at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park.
A student-produced film on the history of black musicians in Grand Rapids will be shown Thursday, May 10 at Celebration Cinema North, as well as on Xfinity On Demand cable TV beginning the same day.
A student-produced film, “Rhythm and Race: A History of African American Music in Grand Rapids,” on the history of black musicians in Grand Rapids will be shown Thursday, May 10, at Celebration Cinema North, as well as on Xfinity On Demand cable TV beginning the same day. The screening is at 6:30 p.m. followed by a panel discussion.
By Cher Darling, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
Since the cost of traveling overseas is a little beyond my reach, I chose to do my traveling by armchair instead and read China A to Z: Everything You Need to Know to Understand Chinese Customs and Culture.
The “A to Z” is literal with the first selection about animals: such as dragons who are said to rule the five elements of earth, water, fire, air, and the heavens. The last selection is about Ziyi Zhang, who “is without a doubt China’s most famous actress in America ever since her star-making performance as the (butt)-kicking princess in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).”
One engaging theme of the book is information about appropriate behavior that would keep a visitor to the country from making social and cultural mistakes. An important part of this information is how to behave in a way that will ensure your own comfort with food, tours, and lodgings, but will not cause your hosts to “lose face”.
I must mention the martial arts topic, since it is so cool. The Shaolin Temple in China is the most famous of China’s martial arts schools, and a major tourist attraction. The martial arts are known as wu shu in China, and “Far from being seen as a sport or a means of fighting, wu shu is considered an art form, a philosophy, and a means to cultivate unity of the body, the soul, and the universe.”
Though each selection is only a page or two long, dozens of sources for in depth information are listed in the back of the book. So if you are like me and can only afford to travel in the company of a good book, China A to Z tells much about China and its history, the lifestyle of the people, and how to act while enjoying the culture of another country. Even if you have no plans to visit the wonderfully complex land of the dragon, the book gives many insights into the customs and culture of another part of this Global Village we call Earth.
The Van Singel Fine Arts Center is celebrating 20 years. In honor of that, the Van Singel will be presenting a series of shows featuring professional local talent, national concert artists, a national touring musical comedy and, of course, great jazz.
This season’s shows are (in order of presentation):
SWING NIGHT AT THE VAN SINGEL with GLENN BULTHUIS and
the 17-piece HARK UP BIG BAND
Saturday, October 6, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
Glenn Bulthuis returns with the 17-piece Hark Up Big Band for an evening of 24 Swingin’ Hits. For more than 10 years, Glenn Bulthuis and his bands have thrilled audiences with the Music of the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, and James Taylor on the Van Singel stage. Now he returns with an all new 17-piece “Big Band” line up to perform the songs of Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Michael Buble, and many, many more. Tickets are $18/adults and $12/students including college students with proper ID.
PIANO MEN A Tribute to Billy Joel & Elton John
Thursday, November 29, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
The Sir Elton John & Billy Joel tribute show is a night of hit songs, energetic performances, outrageous costumes, and true rock ‘n roll at its finest. Tribute Artist David James (Billy Joel), and Jeffrey Allen (Elton) each performs a solo set before joining together on stage in a dueling-piano style, with Piano2Piano rockin’ out to their Greatest hits. …… also adding funny performance bits, sing-a-long parts, and spontaneous humor. The show spans the the 1970s to current day. Tickets are $37/adults and $22/students including college students with proper ID.
CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES Rise Up O Men
Tuesday, March 26, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
Fans of the musical comedy series Church Basement Ladies will finally get to know more about the men of East Cornucopia Lutheran Church, in the new musical comedy, “Rise Up O Men.” This sidesplitting, uplifting peek into the lives of the rural Norwegian Lutherans who audiences first fell in love with in 2005 is the sixth chapter of the story begun in the original Church Basement Ladies. “Rise Up O Men” features familiar faces: Mrs. Mavis Gilmerson, Mrs. Vivian Snustad, and Mrs. Karin Engleson who would never leave the basement kitchen unattended, of course (who would make bars for the youth group meeting?). But as they busy themselves with preparations for the town’s 1964 Centennial Celebration, we get to see their coming-and-goings from the eyes of the menfolk, who have their own problems to solve. Karin’s husband Elroy, farmer Carl and Great War vet Arlo are joined in brotherhood by series staple, Pastor E.L. Gunderson. Their camaraderie unites them as they deal with furnace salesmen, looming retirement, rival Protestant denominations, the Pastor’s bad jokes, and Arlene’s even-worse cooking. Tickets are $35/adults and $22/students including college students with proper ID.
COOL JAZZ
Friday, April 26, 2018, 7:30 pm
Get ready, set and go once again for a hot night of Cool Jazz featuring the nationally recognized Byron Center Jazz Ensembles along with an international jazz a musician. Tickets are $18/adults and $11/students including college students with proper ID.
VICTORS OF CHARACTER
Thursday, September 27, 7:00 pm
Van Singel patron bonus! Patrons who purchase a ticket to any show in the 2018-2019 Van Singel season have the option to receive up to four free general admission tickets to the Gerald R. Ford Foundation’s presentation of Victors of Character. The powerful true story is turned into a live, on-stage performance that tells the narrative of a young Gerald Ford, his friend and teammate Willis Ward, and the 1934 football game that both tested and shaped their character. The Van Singel Fine Arts Center is proud to partner with the Ford Foundation to present Victors of Character: A Story of Loyalty, Integrity, and the Courage to Make a Difference.
All shows are reserved seating. Van Singel ticket patrons can design their own season and save from 5% to 15% off the cost of a full price ticket depending on the number of shows purchased. Groups also receive ticket discounts depending on the number of tickets purchased per performance.
To reserve seats, call or visit the Van Singel Fine Arts Center box office Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. or call 616-878-6800. Because of construction at Byron Center high School, the Van Singel box office will be closed from May 21 through August 27. Patrons may email boxoffice.vansingel@bcpsk12.net anytime. Patrons can order tickets on-line through our website beginning July 1st at www.vsfac.com.
Less than 15 minutes south of Grand Rapids, the Van Singel Fine Arts Center, is located at 84th & Burlingame SW, just 1.5 miles west of US-131 in Byron Center. The venue is at the east end of the Byron Center High School complex. For more information go on-line to www.vsfac.com.
The CVS Health Foundation recently extended its commitment to the NAFC with $1 million in new grants. The Michigan clinics are two of 49 free clinics across the country receiving funding as part of the Foundation’s ongoing effort to make quality healthcare convenient and affordable for more Americans.
“The rising cost of healthcare can make finding quality and affordable care harder to come by for many Americans,” said Eileen Howard Boone, president of the CVS Health Foundation. “Through our support of the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics, we’re able to increase access to quality care, improve chronic disease management and care coordination to help improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable patients and reduce health care costs in the communities we serve.”
Its $20,000 grant will allow Catherine’s Health Center in Grand Rapids to fund Partners in Health, a program that will support patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension with tools that will help them achieve better health outcomes. Patients learn the risks of their disease and participate in the development and coordination of their plan of care. Participants may also receive resources such as scales, home blood pressure and blood sugar monitors and needed medications, as well as connect with medical professionals to provide care and support.
“We have patients who haven’t had access to healthcare for a long time and come to us with very complex issues and multiple diseases,” said Karen Kaashoek, Executive Director of Catherine’s Health Center. “The grant will support the role of RN Care Manager to coordinate care before, during and after their visit, maximizing our provider time and empowering patients to take control of their health.”
Holland Free Health Clinic (HFHC) will utilize its $10,000 grant to support the clinic’s Diabetic Support & Education program, which is designed to equip patients with the knowledge and tools they need to live healthy lives.
The new funds bring the Foundation’s total contribution to NAFC to more than $4.5 million since 2015. To date, CVS Health and its Foundation has contributed nearly $300,000 in grants, event sponsorships, foundation scholarships, gift cards and product donations, among other initiatives and items, to nonprofits in the state of Michigan that align with the company’s purpose of helping people on their path to better health.
For more information on how the Free and Charitable Clinics will be utilizing their grants to improve community health, please visit www.cvshealth.com/NAFC.
According to the Department of Talent and Economic Development, professional trades will account for more than 500,000 jobs in Michigan’s economy—approximately 15,000 new job openings annually—between now and 2024. But, there aren’t enough trained workers to fill these jobs.
How will those jobs get filled?
Employers are looking to apprenticeships to meet the critical demand for a skilled workforce. For job seekers, apprenticeships provide an excellent opportunity to earn a wage while learning the skills for a career.
If you are interested in preparing for a successful apprenticeship experience, the Going PRO Apprenticeship Readiness program can help you build the literacy, math and work-readiness skills needed to enter a U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship program. The summer program (May – September) offers:
a paid work experience with a local manufacturing company.
course credits and certificates at no cost to you!
a pathway to a registered apprenticeship, a nationally recognized credential and a great career.
With the skills you develop through a professional trade apprenticeship, you can earn a good wage and benefits sooner than you imagined. And be on the path to a successful career. Did you know the median salary of a professional trade is $51,000?
If you are 18 years of age (by June 4, 2018) and live in Allegan, Kent, Muskegon or Ottawa county, apply at westmiworks.org/goingpro or contact Wendi Shinn at wshinn@westmiworks.org for more information. Registration is open until May 14, 2018.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
A new initiative designed to reduce barriers in the food industry for Hispanic business owners and those interested in the industry was well received by business leaders and members of the Hispanic community.
The group gathered at the Gordon Food Service Distribution Center on Monday, May 7, for the inaugural Transformando West Michigan initiative, “Feeding Minds, Mouths, and Pockets.” The goal of this program is to provide Hispanic business owners currently working or with the desire to work in the food industry with the necessary financial tools and food safety knowledge to become successful.
“This is a bridge that really needed to be built,” said Shawn Kohlhaas, owner of Culinary Cultivations, which provides food safety certification, event staffing and hospitality consulting in Michigan.
West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Guillermo Cisneros greets guests and participants.
Guillermo Cisneros, executive director for the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the driving force behind the new initiative, said he has spent the last year working on developing the program and was thrilled to see it launch.
The first phase of Transformando West Michigan is six sessions that will take place over the next three months. Through these sessions, which are lead by Principal Financial and Culinary Cultivations, participants will receive financial and food safety certification classes that will allow their business to have increased knowledge in areas like cashflow, wealth creation, bookkeeping/accounting, customer service, and food safety. Those who complete the program will receive food safety certification required by the health department of any restaurant operator. A graduation ceremony is planned for August.
Much of the materials and the final exam to obtain certification will be in Spanish, which will help to break down some of the barriers many in the Hispanic community have faced when trying to open or operate food-based businesses. Even the opening program was mostly in Spanish to connect with the participants.
As part of the program’s efforts to reduce barriers and provide accessible professional services, program participants will be eligible to receive free legal services from the Varnum law firm through its MiSpringboard program. In addition, the program will provide participants access to financial institutions, certified public accountants (CPAs), attorneys, insurance experts and other consultants. Such access will allow these business owners to increase their support network and access resources within the West Michigan community. The Hispanic Chamber will also provide program participants with mentors who will work one on one with them on specific areas of their businesses, thereby offering personalized answers and targeted assistance.
Cisneros said the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce received a multi-year grant from The Wege Foundation, which totaled $167,000. This allowed the Hispanic Chamber to secure the resources needed to create the program and hire a program manager.
The Chamber also was able to partner with a number of local businesses that include Culinary Cultivations, Principal Financial, Gordon Food Services, Varnum, Grand Valley State University and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
The Wyoming Community Enrichment Commission is back again this year with an outstanding line-up of concerts for the 2018 Concerts in the Park series at Lamar Park. Concerts begin at 7 pm.
For more detailed information, check out the WCEC here, or on Facebook (search WyomingCEC).
Dates: June 5-Aug. 7, 2018
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 7 pm
Location: Lamar Park
Concert line-up (subject to change):
June 5 — The Porters (Children’s interactive music)
June 12 — Delilah DeWylde (Rockabilly)
June 19 — Adams Family (’50s and ’60s)
June 26 — Valentiger (Charismatic Pop Rock); Kari Lynch Band (Country); FIREWORKS after concert
July 10 — Cabildo (Alternative Latin Rock)
July 17 — Soul Syndicate (’60s, ’70s Soul and R&B)
July 24 — Blue Soul Express (Blues)
July 31 — Matt Gabriel (Folk and Blues)
Aug. 7 — Yellow Brick Road (Dueling Pianos featuring the music of Billy Joel and Elton John)
On May 16, 2018, over a thousand of Michigan’s senior advocates and allies will gather on the lawn of the Capitol in Lansing. This free event is an opportunity for older adults to meet with their legislators over lunch on the lawn to discuss a platform of issues that affect seniors in Michigan.
This year marks the 10th annual Older Michiganians Day and any and all seniors interested are encouraged to attend. If you’ve never been involved in advocacy before, Older Michiganians Day is a great way to begin. This year’s platform focuses on 4 areas to improve services for older adults in the state of Michigan: Preserving and Protecting MI Choice, Support AAASA In-home Services, Support the Direct Care Workforce, and Prevent Elder Abuse.
The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program helps Michigan’s older adults and adults living with a disability by providing the services necessary to live independently in their communities. Costing less than half of what a Medicaid-funded nursing facility costs, MI Choice saves taxpayers’ money. MI Choice currently serves approximately 15,000 people with about 3,200 currently on the waiting list for services. These services are administered through Area Agencies on Aging. Changes to how Medicaid services are delivered could have a detrimental effect on the services available to seniors. Senior advocates are requesting that the MI Choice program and the role Area Agencies fulfill in the oversight, administration and delivery of these services be preserved.
Advocates support the Silver Key Coalition’s request for a $3,000,000 budget increase to in-home services, forwarding the goal of making Michigan a “no wait state” for senior services. There are currently over 6,000 seniors waiting for in-home services, like homemaker services, home delivered meals, care management services, and personal care. Research shows that seniors who receive these services are five times less likely to have been in a nursing home than those who stayed on a wait list. Reducing the waitlist times by increasing funding for services will help more seniors remain in their homes as they age. Since 2014, waitlists for home delivered meals has been cut in half thanks to previous investment in services for seniors.
Courtesy oldermichiganiansday.com
Providing services for older and disabled adults in Michigan has become hampered by the instability of the Direct Care workforce. The median income of a Direct Care worker is $10,000. While wages in other service industries are increasing, direct care wages have remained stagnant, making it difficult for agencies to hire and keep enough workers to provide care. Advocates support policies that recruit, train and provide adequate wages and call for the inclusion of direct care workers in MI talent development initiatives, in order to build a sustainable support system for senior services throughout Michigan.
Approximately 125, 000 seniors are victims of elder abuse and fraud every year in Michigan. Advocates at Older Michiganians Day will be letting legislators know they support of adequate funding for elder abuse prevention programs and policies. It is important to protect Michigan’s seniors from physical, psychological, and financial abuse.
Older Michigangians Day is an opportunity for Michigan seniors to speak with a united voice about the issues that directly affect them. It is also an opportunity to meet new people and enjoy a beautiful day in our State’s capitol. If you’re interested in attending you can call Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan to register for a ticket to attend the event at (888) 456-5664. While the event is free, your ticket provides you with a complimentary lunch. You must register in advance to take advantage of the lunch. If you live in the Grand Rapids area, you can also ask about transportation to Older Michiganians Day. Courtesy of AARP, Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan is chartering a bus to Lansing. Seats are limited and will be available on a first come–first served basis.
Once known as the voice of West Michigan, Buck Matthews is on his farewell tour offering one last piece of advice: write down and share your stories.
Matthews will be at First & Main of Metro Health Village, 6812 Village Dr. SW, Wednesday, May 9, to talk about his latest book, “The Book in Each of Us.” The program is at 2 p.m. In the book, Matthews discuss the experience of writing and encourages others to do the same to share their stories.
Matthews started his career as a disc jockey at a radio station in Marine City, which he took while serving in the U.S. Air Force. In 1961, Matthews was hired as a weatherman for WOOD Radio and WOOD-TV. Ten years later, he launched “The Buck Matthews Show,” which aired weekday mornings on WOOD-TV. The show ran for nine years and featured an array of guests such as poet Maya Angelou, comedians Red Skelton and Phyllis Diller, and musicians Benny Goodman, Pat Boone, Dave Brubeck, and Pearl Bailey.
After retiring from Blue Lake Radio in 1995, Matthews decided to write a book which he did. “Uncommon Women — A Novel” was released on Amazon Kindle.
In 2015, Matthews released his third book, “Getting Here: Thoughts, Stories, Poems, Recollections,” focusing on life in local television and radio and Matthews reflecting on his life plan, which there was none.
Matthews continue to write about his observations on life through his blog, buckmatthews.com.
By Joseph Bixler, Michigan State University Extension
The broad topic of food insecurity has come to the public forefront over the last decade. Food insecurity can be identified by an individual’s access to limited quality, variety or desirability of diet. Generally speaking, it is the lack of access to affordable, healthy, nutrient-rich, fresh foods and it may help one understand the link between hunger and food security. You may have heard the term “food deserts”. Food deserts can be found anywhere that lacks consistent access to quality fresh food; be it in urban or rural settings. Access can be affected by many different variables. According to the USDA website regarding access, these variables include, but are not limited to access to transportation, family income and distance from stores or the number of stores in a given neighborhood.
The purpose of this article is to familiarize with the concept of food insecurity and the potential options communities may have to address the broader issue. Future articles will describe some efforts to address food insecurity in more detail. First, some of the potential initiatives currently being used in communities to combat food insecurity.
Mobile farm market trucks — Vehicles loaded with fresh fruits and vegetable from a local source and setup in areas where consistent access to fresh produce is not available due to transportation issues or other obstacles. In St. Clair County, the Community Foundation is sponsoring a mobile food truck project.
Food rescue programs divert food that would otherwise be thrown away to people who can make use of it. According to the USDA report on the Emergency Food Assistance System, “The food rescue organizations specialize in perishable food including gleanings from farmers’ fields and leftovers from food service operations.
Food Waste Programs — It is estimated that 40 percent of our uneaten food ends up in landfills as reported by the First Food organization. That proportion rises to 50 percent when fresh produce is included. Efforts to combat this waste has become important in some communities.
Food Giveaways — Organizations and institutions in communities have been relying on large scale food giveaways for many years. One such ministry in Cass City, Michigan called Revive Ministries offers a monthly giveaway.
Farm to Table Programs — Fresh produce and other items accessed by those who are food insecure. These programs take the form of community or school gardens where individual can work in and glean food to meet their needs.
Summer Feeding Programs — USDA program that feeds children at various community locations where children are during the non-school summer months.
Future articles will explore some of these programs and projects in more detail. In the meantime, please consider educating yourself about what is going on in your community to assist with the food insecurity problem and how you may get involved.
Wyoming’s celebration of spring, its annual carnival at Lamar Park, is wrapping up its final days. The carnival runs through Sunday, May 6. The carnival features entertainment for all ages, including games, prizes, and carnival fare favorites. A spectrum of rides will be available for carnival-goers, from crowd pleasers, such as a carousel and Ferris Wheel to the adrenaline-inducing Mega Drop and Wipe Out.
Buff up those wooden shoes and head toward Holland as the city gears up for the annual Tulip Time festival. There will be Dutch dancing, parades, a carnival, an artist market, performances of all kinds, five million tulips in bloom, and more Dutch dancing. The official activities kick off Saturday, May 5, and run through May 13.
‘Dust Off’, the precursor to the annual Metro Cruise, kicks off this Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s become a favorite tradition, with car owners revving up for the summer car show, finally being able to show off what has been stored under those tarps.
30th anniversary edition of Lighthouse Map now available
Lighthouse lovers, get ready to plan your next lighthouse adventure! The West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) is excited to announce the release of the 2018 Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map & Circle Tour. This is a free poster-sized publication which details all of the lighthouses located on the shores of Lake Michigan, as well as the Circle Tour driving route to guide motorists around the lake.
Live Mermaid to return to Grand Rapids Public Museum
Admission to Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids is $12 for adults, $7 for children, $9 for Kent County resident adults, $4 for Kent County resident children, and $2 for all Museum members! Tickets include general admission to the Museum, and can be purchased online at grpm.org or by calling 616.929.1700.
Part Annie Oakley, part hippy farmer, with a bit of Little House on the Prairie stirred in, Bootstrapper: From Broke to Badass on a Northern Michigan Farm is the kind of book that grabs you from the first sentence, if that super cover and awesome title haven’t already. This is a fierce memoir, the sort of story that is common enough to be shared by many, but triumphant enough to be Mardi Jo Link’s alone.
The parts you will love are the boys, Link’s sons who are each unique and full of individual adventure, yet clearly on this particular journey with their mother. You will also love Link’s genuine approach to telling this story, how she admits her own weaknesses and struggles, as well as her achievements. You will love that she refers to her ex-husband as Mr. Wonderful.
They are going to have fun, fun, fun at the Wyoming Moose Lodge #763 as the 28th Street Metro Cruise annual kicks off Saturday, May 5, with the traditional ‘Dust-off’.
The annual event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and has become a tradition and a kick-off to the summer car shows with car owners finally being able to show off what has been stored under those tarps.
Hosted by the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, the event usually has about 100 to 150 cars. A large part of that depends on the weather, according to Bob O’Callaghan, president/CEO of the Chamber. O’Callaghan added that the first 50 collector car owners to the Dust-Off will receive a free Dust-Off shirt, which has become a collector’s item.
The 14th annual 28th Street Metro Cruise is set for Aug. 24 and 25. There is a Blessing of the Cars on Aug. 23 as well. And while the actual event is still about four months away, there are several other pre-activities taking place.
Delilah DeWylde will be at Metro Cruise Aug. 24
Entries for the annual Pin Up Girl contest are also being accepted. The Pin Up Girl contest will take place July 7 at the American Legion Post 154, 2327 Byron Center Ave. SW. The final competition will take place during Metro Cruise on Aug. 25, rain or shine.Application deadline is June 10. All contestants must be 18 years old or older and must provide a head shot and full body shot with costume and makeup. To register, visit www.28thstreetmetrocruise.com/pinupgirls.
The popular Art Cruise hosted by the Wyoming Business Leaders will be returning as well. Details will be forthcoming.
The newly established Michigan Small Farm Newsletter is a monthly newsletter aimed at providing small-scale farmers the opportunity to network and learn from other growers around the state. Each month, field reports from Michigan growers are submitted, compiled and distributed to subscribers around the state. These field reports are designed to provide context of what is happening on small farms around Michigan, better connecting growers and providing support through shared knowledge and insight. Participants are able to submit a field report as frequently as they would like (submissions are not mandatory) and have the option to be anonymous.
In addition to field reports, the newsletters contain links to Michigan State University Extension articles, upcoming events and other information relevant to small-scale farmers. The goal of the newsletter is to create a network of small-scale producers that can provide each other support through increased communication and transparency. As one subscriber put it after reading the first newsletter, “It was great to read the reports… I have already gotten some useful information and it has only just begun!”
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
Last year — 2017 — was quite the year of changes for us, as we had to combine both of our shelters under one roof, though keep the populations separate; one side of our building houses the Crash Cats and the other houses Big Sid’s, our rescue for FIV-and Feline Leukemia-positive kiddos.
Space limitations are greater now than they were when we were fortunate to have our Sid’s Kids running around a huge, two-story building; we had to decrease the number of residents we could have at any one time. Needless to say, our intake has drastically reduced, much to our dismay. However, always willing to lend a hand (er, paw) when we can, we have been able to open our doors to some newbies-in-need, just on a much smaller scale than we had grown accustomed to.
MacDonald came to us with his brother, Barleigh — both beautiful FELV+ brothers transferred from Focus on Ferals. They’d been the duo since they were about eight weeks old (born in March of 2016). Since it is extremely challenging to adopt our cats carrying this virus, FOF had no luck in getting these boys homes, so they asked for our help in placing them. They also wanted the pair to have more room to roam around in, and even though our floor plan is less spacious than the good, old days, it is still free-roaming and has multiple rooms with lots of vertical spaces, walkways, stairs, cubbies, nooks and crannies to explore and hang out on (and in)!
MacDonald is very social, always seeking out the volunteers and asking for pets. He’s not that fond of being held, but he’s a constant companion to the hard workers who care for him and his 50+ feline roommates. Extremely playful, he will chase ANY toy thrown for him … repeatedly … over and over again.
MacDonald will make someone a very fine feline companion!
More about MacDonald
NOTE: A $825 grant from Lil BUB’s Big Fund for the ASPCA will enable Crash’s Landing & Big Sid’s Sanctuary, to fund comprehensive exams for five Big Sid’s Sanctuary cats before going to their new home. Each exam would include a full blood panel, dental care, radiographs, urinalysis, antibiotics and pain medication, if needed. Big Sid’s caters exclusively to cats who test positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) or FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus). FIV and FeLV are viruses that can, if they flare up, suppress a cat’s immune system. The shelter takes cats with FIV or FeLV from all over Michigan.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
There are many resources and services in the Grand Rapids area that are available to citizens transitioning out of prison and back into society, but these are not always easily accessible or made known to such citizens. How can these returning citizens find what they need when they don’t know where to start? Where can they go for assistance, and how will they get there? Whom can they call to set up appointments beforehand?
According to Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI) program assistant Julie Bylsma, returning citizens discover these resources primarily by word-of-mouth, or from their parole officers.
“Some [parole officers] tell them a lot about Grand Rapids and are interested in seeing them succeed; others just give them a document with phone numbers,” Bylsma said. “But they need something that actually shows them information and helps them understand how to get there.”
After two years of working on a solution to this issue, CPI and the Henry Institute at Calvin College have created the Returning Citizens Resources online application: a user-friendly, interactive, spatial map of resources and services in the Grand Rapids area to empower returning citizens in their transition out of prison and into society.
Returning Citizens Resources app
The process of creating the app began with an idea from political science professor and Henry Institute director Kevin den Dulk following a church discussion group meeting he attended on restorative justice.
“A returning citizen joined us one evening and I asked about the greatest challenges he faced when he got out of prison. He noted the nitty-gritty problem of tracking down where to find services; information was fragmented among a variety of groups, and those groups often didn’t know what others were doing,” den Dulk said. “I realized that was a problem we could tackle through some intrepid data-sleuthing and geographical work.”
Thus, in fall 2015, the work began with den Dulk reaching out to geography professor Jason VanHorn to propose his idea.
“Kevin approached me and said he was interested in issues of justice. He told me he was working on an interplay between civil service and organizations that are friendly for re-entry services,” VanHorn explained. “He then asked me, ‘Could you map those?’ And that simple question led us to the next steps of truly exciting research.”
Photo courtesy Calvin College
VanHorn then approached Julie Bylsma, a senior biology student at the time, who was taking Intro to GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and who he knew was also interested in criminal justice. Bylsma had begun her work with the Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI) in fall 2015 as well, and she agreed to begin collaborating with VanHorn and den Dulk on the project. She worked on the project through spring 2016 in Advanced GIS, and with Jon Gordon, who was a research fellow of the Henry Institute at the time, gathering most of the data. Bylsma also worked with VanHorn and den Dulk the following year in a research position through the Henry Institute up until the application went live in August 2017.
From the beginning, the goal was to make the app a one-stop resource for returning citizens to find everything they might need to smoothly reenter society. The categories of resources and services included in the app are: housing, employment, food & clothing, legal assistance, counseling services, welcoming churches (and organizations), transportation, and other services.
“We wanted it to be as easy and simple as possible for the users,” VanHorn said. “You don’t see technical jargon and geography vocabulary on there, which could easily be the case.”
Henry Institute & CPI
As the director of the Henry Institute at Calvin, den Dulk believes the institute is well positioned to oversee this kind of project. The institute provides resources for scholarship; encourages citizen involvement and education; structures opportunities to disseminate scholarly work; seeks avenues to communicate and promote information about Christianity and public life to the broader public; and motivates and trains future scholars and leaders.
“We have a sweet spot for projects that have research potential while also addressing real-world problems,” den Dulk said. “On this project, for example, we can serve a disadvantaged group through research, especially by using spatial analysis, or mapping, to identify ‘service deserts’ for returning citizens.”
One of the ways the Henry Institute takes on projects like these is through a program called the ‘Civitas Lab,’ which pairs students as paid assistants with faculty who have both technical knowledge and great passion.
“Bylsma and VanHorn are the dynamic pair who brought these pieces together, applied the necessary technical know-how, and got the map out to the public,” den Dulk said.
The Calvin students at Handlon Prison are already excited to use the new app.
“In talking with the Handlon students, a few of them have told me that their cellmates or friends in the prison who are getting out have been looking forward to using it. One person used it in his parole plan, as you have to have a re-entry plan,” Bylsma said.
The Calvin Prison Initiative offers inmates an opportunity to earn a bachelor of arts in ministry leadership degree. (Photo courtesy Calvin College)
“When we met with prisoners at Handlon and they saw the app for the first time, their reactions were very positive,” VanHorn added. “They indicated overwhelming appreciation for the work, and that it would be a very valuable resource not only for returning citizens, but also for their families who can aid them in the transition back into society. It was really encouraging.”
Hopes for the app
Bylsma, Den Dulk, and VanHorn each have high hopes for the app, as there has already been great feedback from the Handlon students. They hope the mission and goals of the app don’t stop in Grand Rapids, though.
“I’m hoping the project paves a way for replication across the country and places around the world, because I think it’s possible,” VanHorn said. “Our overarching hope is to enable independence and an ability to choose in these returning citizens.”
“Right now [the app] is limited to Kent County, but we are working to secure funding to grow into as many Michigan counties as we can, and perhaps inspire similar work in other states,” den Dulk added. “I am most excited by the prospect that the map becomes a go-to resource for the post-release life-planning of returning citizens and their families. I’m also excited that we can start using our data to understand why there is often a mismatch between the locations of services and returning citizens.”
Bylsma believes providing this resource for returning citizens is an important piece in pursuing criminal justice.
“If [returning citizens] want to be successful, we want to give them the tools to become successful. It’s up to them to use the resources, but why would we ever handicap re-entering citizens from using them? If the resources are out there, and people are willing to give that assistance, it shouldn’t be that hard for them to find those services,” Bylsma said. “We would love to see prisoners come out and be able to get the help they need within a matter of hours or days, and the continuing help as well when they have their immediate needs met so they continue to be successful.”
The future of reentry assistance
VanHorn is working with MDOC (Michigan Department of Corrections) and other organizations to see how they can get the word out about the app. The app is the first of its kind; a few organizations have collected information for re-entry, but this is the most comprehensive resource for returning citizens with pins displayed and direct links to contact information. There is great hope from the creators of the app that their efforts will be duplicated.
“The court gave them punishment, and they served their time, so now we have to trust that they want to succeed and need to allow them to do so—we can’t tie both of their hands as they’re already walking into a terribly difficult situation,” Bylsma concluded. “It’s much different than someone starting their life over; this is often relearning adulthood. If we really gave them the chance to prove themselves without handicapping them in the first place, I believe we’d be impressed.”
About CPI
Eric Boldiszar shakes hands with Calvin College provost Cheryl Brandsen during the 2017 Convocation ceremony for the Calvin Prison Initiative students. (Photo courtesy Calvin College)
A partnership between Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary, the Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI) is a unique program that provides a Christian liberal arts education to inmates at Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia, Michigan. This five-year program results in a bachelor of arts degree from Calvin College. The program equips inmates with the knowledge and skills required to be community leaders. The hope is that through this endeavor, not only will lives regain hope, but prison culture will be transformed, and justice there will become not merely retributive, but restorative.
Lighthouse lovers, get ready to plan your next lighthouse adventure! The West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) is excited to announce the release of the 2018 Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map & Circle Tour. This is a free poster-sized publication which details all of the lighthouses located on the shores of Lake Michigan, as well as the Circle Tour driving route to guide motorists around the lake.
To celebrate this year’s 30th anniversary edition of the Lighthouse Map, WMTA has partnered with the Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers Association to offer one lucky winner the chance to win a two-night stay at Big Sable Point Lighthouse in Ludington. Interested parties are invited to enter to win this prize at the WMTA website: https://www.wmta.org/lake-michigan-lighthouse-map-circle-tour/win-a-stay-at-big-sable-point-lighthouse/
The full circle tour driving route around Lake Michigan is available online, and website visitors may also download a PDF of this year’s Lighthouse Map, or request that a free copy be mailed to them. https://www.wmta.org/lake-michigan-lighthouse-map-circle-tour/
Vacationers have been looping the lake for generations, but the official “Lake Michigan Circle Tour” route was not established until the 1980s when the Michigan Department of Transportation teamed up with West Michigan Tourist Association to create the route and its official guidebook. Along the way, travelers will find more than 100 lighthouses, countless islands, unique attractions, parks and natural areas, miles of glorious beaches, quaint harbor towns, and one “modern marvel” – the Mackinac Bridge.
While a loosely-organized “circle route” around Lake Superior was promoted by local tourist organizations as early as the 1960s, the first official (and signed) Great Lakes Circle Tour was the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. The only single-nation Circle Tour (Lake Michigan being the only Great Lake completely within the US), the Lake Michigan Circle Tour also has the most mileage of any Circle Tour in the state.
Working in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Transportation, the West Michigan Tourist Association helped to make the first of the official Great Lakes Circle Tours a reality and the first publication was released in 1988 as a 52-page guide book. The guide book was transformed into a map in 2007, and the Circle Tour driving route can now be found online.
Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map & Circle Tour publications are also available in bulk quantities; please contact Travel@WMTA.org for more information. The Lighthouse Tour Map also is available at the WKTV station, 5261 Clyde Park SW.
Pakistani-born Simin Beg is a mom and wife, a physician, and a practicing Muslim. She offers her insights on straddling cultures, palliative medicine, and everyday faith.
It’s nearly that time again! Get your child involved in some fun and meaningful activities — consider a summer camp!
Make a movie this summer with the Film and Acting Summer Camps at the Compass College of Cinematic Arts in Grand Rapids! Learn from professionals how to act on camera and make films when the camp runs from June 18th to 22nd for ages 13 to 18. Film Camp students will write, shoot, and edit your own short film with guidance from seasoned filmmakers. In Acting Camp, you’ll learn on-camera acting techniques with a film actor as your coach and then star in a film produced by Film Camp. At the end of the week, walk the red carpet at the film’s premiere for family and friends on the big screen!
The Downtown Market in Grand Rapids has three-day and four-day summer camps for the young foodie in your life. Each camp has a distinct theme, ranging from Michigan’s fruits and vegetables to creating and utilizing a backyard farm. Sign up today for what Downtown Market cleverly calls their “Simmer Camps”!
Tiny dancers at the Grand Rapids Ballet dance camp (photo courtesy of GR Ballet)
The Grand Rapids Ballethas a variety of camps that are all centered around dance. Their Ballet School has programs for ballet, young dancers, boys ballet, and summer intensive training. They also have two Adaptive Dance programs: Explorer Dance (for children with Down syndrome) and Dancing with Parkinson’s (for adults with Parkinson’s disease). These Adaptive Dance classes allow students to experience the joy of dancing who may otherwise not have the opportunity to do so. Summer camps at the Grand Rapids Ballet are both fun and accessible for everyone!
The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre has summer camps that give students the chance to spend an entire week learning about theatre while having a blast making new friends. They’ve made some fantastic additions to their extremely popular summer camp program this year, so you’ll want to take a look at their new offerings for the season. Camps range from age 4 all the way through high school!
Summer fun happens at the Grand Rapids Public Museum! Join them and explore the wonders of science, history, culture, art, and fun! For nine weeks this summer, kids ages 4 to 14 can use the museum as a learning lab, experimenting and growing, all while having a great time in one of the area’s most history-rich and “cool” environments.
At The Critter Barn (photo courtesy of Critter Barn)
The Critter Barn in Zeeland offers a one-of-a-kind Critter Camp class for students who are eager to engage in animal care. Work through the entire farm with the barn’s staff and return to volunteer throughout the entire year. These camps are available for ages 8 to 15.
In 1920, Frankie Pratt graduates from high school and receives a scrapbook as a gift. Intent on becoming a writer, she attends Vassar College, and finds work in New York and Paris. Told through Frankie’s eyes, the life of a young woman trying to find her place in the world comes to life. The remarkable thing about this book, however, is the way the story is told.
The entire book is formatted as Frankie’s scrapbook. It is filled with ephemera such as post cards, letters, magazine ads and more. The story of her life is told through her scrapbook entries and the style of the 1920s is vivid. The reader wants to be able to touch the items in the scrapbook, to ask Frankie questions, and to see the story from the viewpoint of other characters. But this is Frankie’s story and we see her world only from her perspective through what she shares in her scrapbook.
This is a fun book and a quick read, but you will linger, looking at the beautiful and detailed layout of each page.
Explore the different ways that gardening activities can help you meet daily physical activity recommendations.
By Tyler Becker, Michigan State University Extension
It’s that time of year again. Gardening and landscaping season is upon us. Time to go into the shed and dust off your shovel and go down to your local hardware store to get prepped for growing season. You may be excited to start gardening, but at the same time, maybe you are reluctant because you remembered how sore your muscles were from your first day last year. If you are one of these people, you will not be surprised to hear that gardening activities count towards physical activity recommendations.
Heavy gardening activities can strengthen your body.
Gardening and landscaping provide numerous physical and mental benefits. One physical benefit of gardening and landscaping is that you burn calories. This could contribute to weight management by helping you use up some of the energy from the food you consume. The amount of calories used depends on the activity, intensity and duration.
You may already think of gardening as a physical activity, one that provides cardiovascular or aerobic exercise for your body, but did you know that some gardening activities can contribute to the muscle- and bone-strengthening guidelines?
Gardening can help strengthen your body
Heavy gardening, which requires you to use a lot of your muscles can help with overall strengthening. Think of bending down to pick up something heavy, digging holes or making a paver wall. Overall, the type of activity and intensity is key. The activity has to be more strenuous than simply bending down to pick up a dropped glove; think of picking up pavers or a bag of mulch. Strive for an intensity in which you are sweating and may not be able to keep a conversation going with someone. Some other activities that may count towards muscle- and bone-strengthening, including shoveling, raking and pushing a wheelbarrow.
Modify gardening and landscaping activities to exercise your whole body
One easy way to include additional musculature (exercise different muscles) during gardening is to switch hands periodically when doing tasks like raking or shoveling. Another method is to change the activity you do every 15 to 30 minutes. An example could be pulling weeds for 15 minutes and then switching to dumping bags of mulch around your trees or bushes. It is likely you already have a rhythm down, but simply going from one activity to another in this way, can incorporate more musculature and increase the number of calories burned. Plus, this approach can break up the monotony of performing the same activity over and over again.
Tips for reducing pain and soreness.
Do you avoid gardening because it makes you feel too sore? There are a number of ways to prevent or even alleviate pain while gardening and landscaping. First, always use proper form during activity regardless of what it is. Moving with proper form helps you avoid pain and injury. For example, if you are picking something up from the ground, keep your shoulder blades back and down, and bend and lift with your knees, not your back.
Always listen to your body. If you “overdid it” one day, you probably should take it slow the next day. Also, there are a number of garden tools available that can help alleviate any potential or existing pain. Your local hardware store may have gloves and garden utensils designed for those with arthritis-related issues. Using garden tools as simple as knee pads or foam pads can help lessen any potential knee pain. You should also take breaks here and there while gardening just as you would if at the gym. Try sitting down for five minutes and rehydrating with water. Lastly, be sure to stretch after gardening. This can help not only improve/maintain flexibility but improve muscle recovery too.
Remember, if you do not currently garden or landscape, start slow and ease into it; especially if you are focusing on using it to contribute to daily physical activity recommendations, including muscle- and bone-strengthening exercise.
Michigan State University Extension has a number of resources including the Master Gardener Program for those considering gardening, and those who have been gardening for a while.
Kentwood Fire Department annual report highlights funding, manpower, emergency calls
Kentwood Fire Department Chief Brent J. Looman presented, and the City Commission accepted, the department’s 2017 annual report at the commission’s April 9 regular meeting, with highlights including funding, manpower and last year’s emergency calls.
School News Network: Wyoming Public Schools selects one of its own for top spot
“Dream big, work hard and make it happen”: That’s the mantra of Craig Hoekstra, a familiar face in the district, who this week was selected as the new superintendent.
Kentwood Public Works Department oversees the city’s recycling center.
The City of Kentwood is sponsoring a Community Clean-Up Day for residents wanting to spring clean their homes and yards. The Community Clean-Up Day, scheduled for Saturday, May 5, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., will allow residents to bring general debris, gently used items for donation, household hazardous materials and electronic devices to be recycled.
May is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Children can have mental health challenges just as adults can. As a matter of fact, over 2 million children in Michigan experience mental health challenges such as ADHD, anxiety and depression.
Employment in the Digital Age — free computer literacy workshops available
West Michigan Works! is now offering a free workshop to help individuals gain basic computer skills. Computer Literacy helps attendees become comfortable using a computer, accessing the internet and using email — all of which can help you find, apply and qualify for a new job.
Calvin College sophomore Pete Ford is on Festival’s student committee and is one of the Calvin Center for Faith & Writing’s five Hudson-Townsend Student Fellows (photo courtesy Calvin College)
Pete Ford graduated from high school in 2014. He took a couple of years off. And, in 2016, he again began exploring the possibility of going to college.
“That opportunity to wander around the campus during the Festival and to see the thought process and the desire to have conversations at Calvin, that’s really the reason I decided to come here,” said Ford, a second-year literature major.
Now, in just two years, Ford has gone from curious observer to helpful guide. Ford was on Festival’s student committee and is one of the Calvin Center for Faith & Writing’s five Hudson-Townsend Student Fellows. One of his responsibilities was getting to know the speakers’ work and helping write bios for the website and program.
Renowned speakers, attentive audience
Those bios highlight a diverse, impressive group of writers, including the likes of Edwidge Danticat, a celebrated Haitian-American author who just won the prestigious Neustadt International Prize for Literature; Pulitzer prize-winning poet Marie Howe; New York Times best-selling young adult writer Kwame Alexander, and Peabody Award-winning producer and host of the podcast Strangers, Lea Thau, to name a few.
Lisa Ann Cockrel, director of the Festival of Faith & Writing, is always excited to welcome new faces to Festival. And she says the three-day gathering can have a profound impact on speakers who hang around for a while.
“What I hear from them is a kind of happy shock that a place like this exists. They often comment on the attentiveness of the audiences, the types of nuanced questions people ask about their work, the respectful engagement with faith from lots of different perspectives,” said Cockrel.
Digging deeper
For a number of writers, the Festival provides readers who are uniquely engaged with the spiritual and moral implications of their work.
“When Joyce Carol Oates was here, she told Jennifer Holberg that she can pretty much predict how every book she writes will be reviewed before she writes it. And rarely if ever, do those critics think deeply about faith and religion in her work. But it’s there, even if folks aren’t paying attention to it. And it’s there in the work of many ‘secular’ writers,” said Cockrel.
“A lot of the writers who come here are grateful that there’s a place where we’re thinking about the religious elements in their work and also where that engagement doesn’t come with judgment. Instead, we read with open hearts and a spirit of inquiry. And I think this goes back to the best of the reformed tradition that doesn’t feel like it has to be afraid of the world—a tradition that encourages us to engage other people’s creative literary witness to being alive with curiosity and care because every square inch is God’s.”
And this type of engagement creates a unique dynamic and pushes the writers and readers into spaces oft not explored. In fact, Cockrel said that multiple speakers who have spent 24-plus hours at Festival, have told their audiences they rewrote their presentations after being on campus.
Something about Festival
“There’s something that happens at the Festival of Faith & Writing where we still surprise each other in that space,” said Cockrel. “It’s a place for people to make genuine connections with people around stories and poems that have enlarged their vision of what it means to be human and a person of faith.”
And Cockrel hopes that each and every person who comes to Festival leaves having experienced some moment of communion.
“I think that fundamentally there’s this irony at the center of reading—it’s something you do mostly alone, but yet it is this radical act of seeking communion, because you read to seek connection to something outside yourself, whether that’s another person’s story, or the natural world, or God. And I hope that you could map those kinds of possibilities for connection onto the Festival,” said Cockrel.
Students like Ford have experienced that connection at Festival, and for him, it provided a pivot point in his life, pointing him towards an English major.
“It’s not a conference,” said Ford, “it’s a party where literature is celebrated.”
“That’s what’s great about Festival,” said Cockrel. “You sometimes wander into a talk or reading or interview you aren’t sure you’re interested in … and love it.”
Parents’ voices unite in an uplifting video that shares their experiences in the district and encourages others to get involved.
Godwin Heights is celebrating parents’ involvement in everything from helping their children with homework to volunteering in schools and in athletics. The district’s Parent Action Council, which includes parents and staff members, recently created the video for the district website.
Veronica Soto said she benefits from being involved at Godwin schools and helps serve as a liaison to other Spanish-speaking parents
Goals of the PAC are to engage parents in their children’s education, increase achievement among English learners and connect families and children with school and community resources.
“We want to be able to support parents and for them to feel empowered. We value that relationship,” said Director of Instruction Michelle Krynicki.
Soto, mom to Marla, a senior; Carlos, a seventh-grader; and Valeria, a third-grader; is happy to help spread the message.
“We, as parents, are mirrors and we reflect the importance to our kids in setting examples,” she said, translated from Spanish by Lysette Castillo, the district’s parent and community liaison. Soto is known as a “star volunteer,” regularly lending a hand at the high school, middle school and North Godwin Elementary School.
Parents are encouraged to volunteer even if they don’t speak English, which is a common barrier that can cause parents to feel intimidated, Krynicki said.
“You don’t have to be here every day, but can you be a reading buddy? Can you make copies and put packets together? Could you put labels on fliers? There are lots of ways to be involved.”
From left, Duane Bacchus, high school Kent School Services Network community coordinator, and Lysette Castillo, the district’s parent and community liaison, talk with Veronica Soto during a Parent Action Council meeting
Powerful Voices
With filming by Duane Bacchus, high school Kent School Services Network community coordinator, and Noah DeSmit, who works in the Grand Rapids Community College media department, parents in the video speak about the benefits of being involved, for themselves and their children. A diverse group, they represent the multi-cultural district.
“We have some parents who are very involved. We feel like they experience a great benefit from being involved,” Bacchus said, about the idea for the video. “The discussion came up, ‘What can do to get more parents to experience what these parents now do?
“Someone spoke up: ‘We need to get those parents to speak out. We need to get them to share their stories. … Let’s get parents to have a voice.”
“I’ve benefited because I’m more involved with what’s going on in school,” Soto said. “I know what’s going on and I’ve been able to collaborate and get to know the staff and the people in the school.”
Castillo said Soto serves an important role for the district as a conduit to other Spanish-speaking parents. “She is the informed that informs the rest,” Castillo said. “The parents talk to her and she brings it to us.”
Martha Ibanez, mother of Jose, a sophomore; Emma, a fourth-grader; and Kevin, a third-grader, is also a great example of a parent who makes a difference in the schools, staff members said. While too shy to be in the video, she helped plan it as a member of the PAC.
“My children are aware I’m present, and even though I don’t speak English the school finds a way to communicate everything going on,” she said. “It has benefited me to be more informed about what’s going on in their education.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
Martha Ibanez chats with Mindy Lange, an English language-learner teacher
Tour one of the country’s largest urban historic districts and help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Heritage Hill Association. The Annual Heritage Hill Tour welcomes you inside seven restored private houses and three historic buildings on Saturday, May 19 from 11 am–5 pm and Sunday, May 20 from 12 pm–6 pm.
Tour offers an interior view of stunning turn-of-the-century homes, each uniquely styled by current owners. An elegant Greek revival, amazingly modern Queen Annes, a Chateaux mansion, a Craftsman beauty, a creatively converted 1900 carriage house, and more await you. It’s a celebration of the grandeur and art of the past fused with present-day livability. We’ve come a long way since 1968 when 75% of the neighborhood was slated for demolition.
Advance tickets are $18 and are available at the Heritage Hill Association office or at www.heritagehillweb.org. To obtain tickets by check, send to the Heritage Hill Association, 126 College SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Tickets the weekend of the tour are $25. Free shuttle bus transportation for the tour is provided between featured properties.
Heritage Hill dates back to 1843 and was named by This Old House as one of the “Best Old House Neighborhoods” in the country. Its 1,300 homes represent Michigan’s finest collection of 19th and 20th century American architecture.
May is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Children can have mental health challenges just as adults can. As a matter of fact, over 2 million children in Michigan experience mental health challenges such as ADHD, anxiety and depression. In order to decrease this number, it is very important to provide our children with whatever there is possible to promote good mental health. The following are some simple suggestions to promote the mental health of a child:
Make sure that your child gets regular exercise, balanced meals, plenty of sleep and has time for relaxation.
Talk about your child’s troubles with them. Let your child know that their concerns are important to you.
Be a role model. Talk about your own feelings when possible, apologize, and don’t express anger with violence.
Provide your children with unconditional love. The love, security, and acceptance trio are the foundation to children’s good mental health.
Praise your children for the little and big things they do for the first time and/or well, encourage them to make the next steps and help them explore and learn about new things.
Surround your child with supportive teachers and care takers.
Bring fun and playfulness into your routines. Families tend to stick to routines and forget to have fun. If your child seems stressed or overwhelmed by the routine change it up; for example, every Friday night your family goes to the library – change it up and go to a movie, play games or simply find something different to do.
Children can live happy and productive lives that are filled with love, harmony, and great mental health, but it will take us adults to help them in this direction!
By Kristen Corrado, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
So who hasn’t wanted to kill their mother from time to time? In Sebold’s latest novel, the narrator, Helen Knightly, murders her elderly mother in the first sequences of the book. The shocking act against her elderly mother seems both random and unemotional. She seems to feel nothing after committing the act, and her ill-fated attempts to cover up her actions only indicate that they came from a subconscious place within her.
As The Almost Moon unfolds, the story of Helen’s beautiful, yet mentally ill mother becomes clear. Her whole life, Helen and her father cater to her mother’s agoraphobia, the entire neighborhood is hostile to them, and Helen becomes her mother’s only link to the outside world. Both her childhood and adult life are overshadowed by her mother’s metal illness, and every action that Helen takes is based on what her mother would think or feel.
While not as gripping as Sebold’s first novel, The Lovely Bones, The Almost Moon examines how mental illness affects an entire family, how we can allow our past to color our future, and how if we are not ultimately true to ourselves, we end up living our lives for others. Above all else, what one should take away from this book is that if you are going to kill your mother, it might be a good idea to brush up on a few CSI episodes first.
Are you intimidated by the thought of learning how to use a computer?
Has it kept you from advancing in your current job or applying for a job with better pay?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone! A recent study found that 26% of adults in the United States aren’t able to use a computer at all and two-thirds are unable to access and use information through computers and computer networks.
Employers in every industry have a growing need for workers who can use computers to successfully do their jobs. However, the number of workers with the necessary skills is not growing at the same rate. This means that increasing your computer skills could make it easier to find a job and earn a higher wage! But where do you start?
West Michigan Works! is now offering a free workshop to help individuals gain basic computer skills. Computer Literacy helps attendees become comfortable using a computer, accessing the internet and using email — all of which can help you find, apply and qualify for a new job.
Computer Literacy at West Michigan Works! in Kent County*
121 Franklin St SE, Grand Rapids – Monday, May 7 and 21, 10 am to noon
215 Straight Ave NW, Grand Rapids – Friday, May 11 and 25, 2 to 4 pm
With the basic skills learned in Computer Literacy, you can take advantage of a variety of other free workshops to help you explore careers, search for jobs and create a resume using a computer.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
Precautions for those with heat sensitivities and weakened immune systems.
By Pam Daniels, Michigan State University Extension
Even mild external temperatures can quickly raise the temperature inside a closed vehicle to dangerously high levels.
Sitting in a closed up car for 10 minutes can cause the body’s core temperature to climb. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) report that very high body temperatures can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs, as well as heat stroke or death. For individuals with chronic disease, weakened immune systems, the elderly or the very young (and pets), high temperatures coupled with heat sensitive immune systems can rapidly become dangerous.
When outside temperatures are in the 60 degree Fahrenheit range it will cause the temperature insides a closed car to rise well above 110 F.
The temperature inside the car does not have to hit 100 F for a person to be at risk.
The inside of a closed vehicle acts like a greenhouse, trapping sunlight and heat making the inside of the car much hotter than the air outside. Even when outside temperatures are mild, anyone sitting in a closed car for a short period of time (20 minutes) is at risk of hyperthermia (body temperature greatly above normal).
Child safety – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers valuable tips on preventing heat stroke to children in parked cars. They have also investigated various alarms and reminder technology equipment for cars that help reduce heat stroke fatalities.
Take precautions
Avoid leaving anyone unattended in a closed vehicle. Rolling down the window two-inches or even half way, won’t help cool the interior temperature.
Lock your cars while at home. Children have died from getting into cars, for whatever reason, an then becoming confused and trapped inside the vehicle.
Always check the car seats before leaving the vehicle. Making a visual check of the car a part of your routine can help make sure that no child or pet is left unintentionally in the car. Use notes, colored stickers or some type of reminder system so when you exit your car you check the backseat.
Learn the laws
Become informed by learning about your state’s vehicle code. Contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles and/or contact any local law enforcement agency.
Keep a watchful eye and if you sense that a child or pet is left unattended in a vehicle and is in danger, don’t hesitate to seek help. Do not go in search of the car owner. Dial 911 and let the authorities handle the situation.
It’s time to celebrate spring, which the City of Wyoming plans to do by hosting its annual spring carnival at Lamar Park.
The carnival opens on Friday, April 27 and runs through Sunday, May 6, at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. Carnival times are Monday through Thursday from 4 – 8:30 p.m.; Friday from 2-8:30 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from noon – 8:30 p.m.
“What says family fun like a spring carnival?” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, director of community services for the City of Wyoming. “The carnival is a great opportunity for the community to come out and celebrate the change in seasons in a fun and exciting atmosphere.”
The carnival will feature entertainment for all ages, including games, prizes, and carnival fare favorites. A spectrum of rides will be available for carnival-goers, from crowd pleasers, such as a carousel and Ferris Wheel to the adrenaline-inducing Mega Drop and Wipe Out.
Proceeds from the carnival support City of Wyoming parks and recreation services and the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance or GWCRA. Funds raised support youth scholarships and youth and family programming through the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department. The GWCRA distributes funds to the community through its annual grant awarding process.
The spring carnival is made possible through the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, call the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department at 616-530-3164.
Know the shelf life of home-canned and frozen food to avoid food waste and maximize nutrition.
By Kara Lynch, Michigan State University Extension
Don’t let your preserved food go to waste — enjoy it when it tastes great and is nutritious.
May brings flowers and seed magazines stuffed into your mailbox. It is also the perfect time of year to start planning your garden with canning season in mind. Preserving food is a great way to avoid wasting food when you have more fresh produce than you need right away. Just make sure you are able to use all your canned or frozen food within the recommended time.
How long do home-canned foods last?
If foods are preserved correctly, they are safe for years but the quality and nutritional value decreases with the passing of time. The National Center for Home Food Preservation recommends only preserving enough food to last one year. So that your home-canned foods taste great and are nutritious when you decide to eat them.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a planning guide (page 32) that may be helpful when working out how much food to can or freeze to meet your needs for the year.
Frozen foods lose moisture the longer they are in the freezer. If the food was correctly frozen and kept at it zero degrees Fahrenheit it is safe indefinitely, however the quality and nutritional value deteriorates, just as it does with canned foods. The USDA has developed the Food Keeper app for smartphones, as well as a website, that lists the shelf life of various foods.
Tips for using up preserved food
Home preserved food makes great gifts. If you do have a bountiful harvest, can the extra produce, put a pretty label on the jars and share with your loved ones.
Are you in need of an appetizer but don’t have time to make anything? Pull the dilly beans from your pantry or get the pepper jelly out and combine it with cream cheese to make an amazing dip.
Consider your home preserved foods when planning your meals. This helps ensure that you are using up your stored items in a timely way and creates less waste. As you make your grocery list, you may notice cost savings as you pull from your pantry rather than purchasing additional food.
Use your home preserved foods in the search cue when looking for a recipe online. This will bring up unique, nutritious recipes utilizing your preserved items. Use pickled beets in a salad recipe, add frozen peas to a casserole, try frozen peaches in a peach cobbler, top cheesecake with home preserved jams, the list is endless.
Alphonso Horne with the Byron Center Jazz Orchestra. Horne performs with the group on Friday.
The Van Singel Fine Arts Center finishes its 2017-2018 season with two-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter Alphonso Horne in “Cool Jazz” on Friday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. Horne played and recorded with Marcus Roberts and has performed with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, and Michael Feinstein. He’ll be joined by Edye Evans Hyde and Max Colley III, along with the nationally recognized Byron Center Jazz Ensembles. The performance is underwritten by Owen-Ames-Kimball, Inc and TowerPinkster Architects.
The Byron Center Jazz Orchestra, directed by Marc Townley, has competed at the Swing Central Jazz Festival in Savannah, Georgia every spring since 2014. The Jazz Orchestra has also competed at the Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition and Festival at Lincoln Center in New York.
Reserved seats are $18.50 for adults and $11.50 for students. Reserve tickets in person at the Van Singel box office or by calling (616) 878-6800, Monday through Friday, 12 noon to 5 pm. Tickets are also available at www.vsfac.com.
The Van Singel Fine Arts Center is located at the east end of the Byron Center High School complex, at 8500 Burlingame SW (84th Street and Burlingame SW) in Byron Center, just 1.5 miles west of US-131. The Van Singel features free, easy parking and curbside handicap parking is available.
Turfgrass damaged from de-icing salts used during winter may need reseeding. Photo credit: Kevin Frank, MSU
By Kevin Frank, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences
Maybe spots of your lawn died last summer; maybe spots were killed from de-icing salt, dog spot or snow mold over the winter. Regardless of the cause of death, as spring finally arrives seeding dead areas in lawns is a common weekend activity.
In the next several weeks as temperatures warm, there might be some areas that are the victim of grub feeding. If you’re reseeding following grub damage, Michigan State University Extension recommends waiting about one to two weeks after applying a grub insecticide before reseeding. For all reseeding, it is safe to apply fertilizer at the time of seeding. For new establishment, a starter fertilizer is recommended. Starter is a fertilizer that has a nitrogen to phosphorus ratio of 1:1 or 1:1.5. A starter fertilizer application at seeding will prove beneficial in getting the young turf seedlings going. Application rates for a starter fertilizer at seeding are approximately 1 pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Starter fertilizer for new establishment is permitted under Michigan’s fertilizer act. Make sure to follow label directions, contain all fertilizer on the area to be seeded and off the driveway, and keep a minimum of 15 feet from any surface water.
Make sure to keep the seeded area moist throughout establishment. Depending on what Mother Nature supplies, a new seeding may require watering several times a day. A good mulch cover will help the area stay moist so the site may be watered less frequently. Water lightly when irrigating; there is no need to see water standing or running off the site.
Avoid applying herbicides this spring, i.e., no fertilizer plus crabgrass preventer or weed-and-feed products. Young seedlings don’t tolerate herbicides very well and the guideline is usually to wait three “real” mowings before applying any herbicides or in some cases at least 60 days. Real mowings mean you’re actually cutting grass, not just running over the area to trim down any weeds.
As a boy, young Alfred Lessing was like most other children in his native Netherlands. He played with friends and loved his family. But there was one difference: he was Jewish. So when the Nazis overran his country in 1940, his mother sprang into action. Her one goal: save the family from extermination. In this three-part interview, Dutch immigrant Fred Lessing talks of love, hiding, and what we can learn from human atrocities. Interview: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
Early October, 2017 brought us a treasure trove of wonderful cats, all of whom Dr. Jen named after pirates of some sort (she loves themes). Our volunteer Alana had been trying her hardest since June to catch this wily fella who had been hanging around her west side neighborhood for ages, getting beaten and banged up — but he just didn’t trust her enough. Finally he gave in and she brought him in to the clinic to assess his issues: flea infestation and skin inflammation from the biting little buggers, a variety of abrasions, infection between his toes and a fatty growth on his belly that had her worried he had suffered more serious trauma. He also tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus.
He was painfully shy, scared of his own shadow and especially of his new indoor surroundings. Once Dr. Jen treated his ailments and allowed him to recover from his neuter and acclimate for a few days, she sent Sly Cooper on down to Big Sid’s, into the capable and loving arms of our volunteers who were ready to show him what safety and security was all about.
For the few first weeks, Sly (born in the fall of 2014) spent most of his time hunkered down inside of a kitty teepee; though he would accept pets from the peeps who sought him out, he wasn’t going to venture out on his own for attention. However, slowly but surely, he gained confidence and shed his former scaredy-cat self, emerging as a confident boy who is now out and about constantly, looking for and soaking up all of the attention he can get from his human caretakers and visitors.
The transformation was incredible to observe, and it warms our heats to see him engage the activity that once frightened him so; what a complete turn-around! We are soooo looking forward to packing this guy’s bags and sending him into a home where he can be showered with the TLC that was missing from his life for so very long. Now that Sly has experienced how fantastic affection is, he cannot get enough!
More about Sly Cooper
NOTE: A $825 grant from Lil BUB’s Big Fund for the ASPCA will enable Crash’s Landing & Big Sid’s Sanctuary, to fund comprehensive exams for five Big Sid’s Sanctuary cats before going to their new home. Each exam would include a full blood panel, dental care, radiographs, urinalysis, antibiotics and pain medication, if needed. Big Sid’s caters exclusively to cats who test positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) or FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus). FIV and FeLV are viruses that can, if they flare up, suppress a cat’s immune system. The shelter takes cats with FIV or FeLV from all over Michigan.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
