Editor’s Note: Make sure to check out KDL’s online resources that include eBooks, movies and more.
Adult
The Need By Helen Philips
“This story is sort of a blend of horror, thriller, and musing on the mundane joy of caring for small children. As a parent of a toddler and a baby, I read it at the perfect time because her language and descriptions of parenting ring so true. But even if you aren’t a parent, the tension around the plot is also very compelling and makes it a fascinating, creepy ride.”
– Anna at East Grand Rapids
Wanna Get Lucky? By Deborah Coonts
“If you’re a fan of Janet Evanovich you may enjoy this series by Deborah Coonts. Lucky O’Toole is head of Customer Relations in a casino and gets in plenty of situations.”
– Loretta at Wyoming
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death By Caitlin Doughty
“One of my favorite nonfiction author. Answering questions asked by kids. (adult may not ask but equally wondering about them I’m sure …)”
– Yuko at the KDL Service Center
Children’s
Polly Diamond and the Magic Book By Alice Kuipers
“Polly loves writing and learning new words, and when she discovers a magic notebook where anything she writes inside instantly comes true, she’s thrilled to use all her favorite words to make some magical things happen. However, Polly’s about to learn that with great magical power comes great responsibility! Charming illustrations and large text make this an awesome new beginning chapter book series.”
The Grand Rapids Public Museum donated gloves, face shields, Tyvek suits and personal respiratory mask to Spectrum Health. (Supplied)
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma joanne@wktv.org
Hearing of the need its “neighbor” was having, the Grand Rapids Public Museum decided to lend a helping hand by donating its extra gloves, face shields, Tyvek suits and personal respiratory masks to Spectrum Health.
The personal protective equipment were supplies that the museum had for everyday work and emergencies. The Grand Rapids Public Museum closed more than a week ago when the governor announced restrictions on gatherings of people.
“The Grand Rapids Public Museum saw a need within our community for personal protective equipment supplies for our healthcare workers on the front lines of this pandemic,” said Kate Kocienski, the Museum’s VP of Marketing. “We keep supplies on hand for everyday work with our Collections and for emergencies. Earlier this week our team gathered those supplies and donated them to Spectrum Health.
“We are proud to be able to help in the community where needed so we can continue to flatten the curve.”
In fact, the outpouring of community inquires and offers of support has both Metro Health – University of Metro Health and Spectrum Health accepting donations of personal protective equipment. Each facility has set up donation sites.
It should be noted that traveling to drop-off sites to donate medical supplies does not violate Michigan’s statewide stay-at-home order, which allows for an exception to the order for providing necessities to “individuals who need assistance as a result of this emergency.”
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health is accepting donations from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Items are to be brought to Metro Health’s System Services and Learning Center, 1980 Metro Court, Wyoming. People should enter using the door on the south side of the building, facing M-6.
Disposal gloves are in demand at local hospitals. The Grand Rapids Public Museum donated these gloves to Spectrum Health. (Supplied)
Items being accepted include:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
N95 Masks
Isolation masks – children and adult
Face shields
Safety glasses
Goggles
Isolation gowns
Gloves – all sizes
Bouffant caps
Non-Personal Protective Equipment
Bleach wipes
Cards for caregivers
Spectrum Health
Starting today at noon, Spectrum Health will be accepting PPE supplies at 14 different locations such as:
Spectrum Health South Pavilion, 80 68th St. SE, Culterville
Spectrum Health Medical Group Family Medicine, 3152 Port Sheldon St., Suite C, Hudsonville
Spectrum Health Integrated Care Campus – East Beltline, 2750 E. Beltilne Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
Spectrum Health Medical Group Lake Drive, 4100 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids
Spectrum Health Integrated Care Campus – Holland, 588 E. Lakewood Blvd., Holland
Spectrum Health Integrated Care Campus – Rockford, 8501 Meadow Creek Dr., Rockford
There are also locations in Ludington, Muskegon, Ionia, Hastings, Greenville, Grand Haven, Fremont, and Big Rapids. For the complete list, click here. Most locations are open from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.Monday – Friday except for Spectrum Health Medical Group Lake Drive, which is open from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday – Friday.
According to hospital officials, Spectrum Health continues to maintain a supply of masks and other personal protection equipment for its patients and health care providers. Officials said they are working to stretch its supply and is turning to the community because officials do anticipate the need will continue to grow.
The following items are accepted at the donation sites:
N95 Masks
Isolation masks (adult/child)
Masks with face shield/visor
Handmade or sewn reusable masks
Face shields
Googles/safety glasses
Bouffant caps
Extended extra protection gloves – all sizes
Isolation gowns
Bleach wipesSwabs (flexible min-tip
Pocket-sized sanitizer
Thermometers (digital, disposable, temporal)
To reduce the risk of exposure for all, Spectrum officials are asking donors to place donations in the bins provided at each location while maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others.
Spectrum Health is not currently accepting donations of 3D printed items, other medical equipment, medications or blankets.
If the donation is large and requires special arrangements or if you have a question, email Spectrum Health’s supply chain team at covid19supplies@spectrumhealth.org. Spectrum Health is also accepting monetary donations to its COVID-19 Response Fund.
Grocery stories, pharmacies, gas stations these are will remain open during the statewide stay-at-home order that goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. March 24. The order is scheduled to last three weeks until April 13.
During her address to the state, Governor Gretchen Whitmer made it clear that essentials services and business would remain open.
For many, people understand that essential services would be those in the medical and health field or business that sustain or protects life. In fact, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued a list of critical businesses and operations that are considered important to keep the country running. For the complete list, click here.
On CIST list and considered are some of essential services and businesses. Note, the order is to reduce the number of people out, so remember to limit trips as much as possible to these places:
Grocery stores: As the governor put it, no panic buying, the grocery stores will remain open along with farmers markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, and convenience stores. Also any business crucial to the supply chain of these business are included. You do not want to go into the store? Well there is always Shipt or most stores such as Meijer and Family Fare offer online order and pick-up service.
Stores that sell medicine: See above, but basically any store that sells medicines, such as a pharmacy, will remain open.
Restaurants: The Schezwan chicken and that favorite pizza joint can still provide you food for take-out or delivery only. Whitmer is encouraging people to take advantage of delivery services such as UberEats which is currently offering free delivery if you order from a local restaurant.
Charitable and social services: Religious and nonprofit organizations like food banks, shelters, social services and other necessities for economically disadvantaged individuals who need assistance as a result of the emergency, people living with disabilities. So yes, the current effort to feed all the students who rely on school lunches will continue. Visit School News Network for a list of schools and schedules.
Gas stations are open. (Wikipedia)
Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation: Gas stations, auto supply, auto repair, farm equipment, construction equipment, boat repair, bicycle shops, and related facilities. Also taxis, buses, trains, planes and Uber and Lyft also are operating.
Financial and insurance institutions: Banks, currency exchanges consumer lenders, consumer installment lenders, sales finance lenders, credit unions, appraisers, title companies, financial markets, trading and futures exchanges, payday lenders, affiliates of financial institutions, entities that issue bonds, institutions selling financial products and related institutions; insurance companies, underwriters, agents, brokers, and related insurance claims and agency services. So yes, your cash is available to you.
Pet stores: Also you will be able to feed your pet, so you need not to run out for that 200-pound bag of dog food or cat food.
Hardware stores and critical trades: If the furnace goes out, you will still be able to get it fixed. Also electrical and plumbing services will be available along with exterminators, cleaning and janitorial staff, security staff and others in the construction trades.
Laundry services: There is no excuse not to stay clean as laundromats, dry cleaners, industrial laundry service and laundry service providers will all be open.
Childcare workers: Those providing childcare services for those who are critical infrastructure workers, such as health care providers, are considered essential.
If you are not sure if you work in an essential service or business, your employer will notify you. According to the order, employers must notify people either in writing or verbally by Mar. 31 at 11:59 p.m. All employers much review staff to determine if each employee is considered necessary for the business to continue. This means some employees who work for essential services or businesses may be asked to stay-at home.
For a review of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s order, click here. For other updates on the statewide coronavirus efforts, visit www.michigan.gov/coronavirus.
The 62-B District Court in Kentwood today announced that access to courtrooms and other spaces is now limited to no more than 10 persons, including staff, effective immediately. The court is closed to the general public except for essential functions involving health and safety and Constitutional rights through April 3 and will reopen Monday, April 6 at 8 a.m. unless the order is extended.
To confront this unprecedented public health crisis, the Michigan Supreme Court issued Administrative Order 2020-2, which highlights in specific detail essential functions. This order supersedes any previously issued local administrative orders regarding the crisis.
“We take the health and safety of all who utilize the court, each court staff member and the community, seriously and have taken the necessary steps,” said Judge William G. Kelly. “Our team is adjusting as quickly as possible to the crisis, and we appreciate the support of the public as we work to provide more business remotely in the coming days.”
Essential functions include arraignments for in-custody defendants, review and determination of requests for search warrants, among others specified. The new order also provides courts with additional flexibility to conduct business using technology such as video and telephone conferencing.
On Wednesday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-14 extending the redemption deadline on 2017 tax foreclosures from March 31, 2020 to May 29, 2020.
Due to this order and to minimize face-to-face interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kent County Treasurer’s Office is closed to the public until further notice. Taxpayers are encouraged to mail check and money order payments to Kent County Treasurer, P.O. Box Y, Grand Rapids, MI 49501.
The order does not defer nor cancel interest charges. Interest will accrue beyond the original March 31, 2020 deadline until paid. Money orders are available at banks and many retailers. Residents should not mail cash. Staff continues to process mail and is available to take calls at 616-632-7500.
The Treasurer’s office closure follows suit with several other Kent County offices.
Kent County Clerk/Register Office
The Kent County Clerk/Register Office suspended in-person transactions until further notice.
This change, effective until further notice will apply to the Clerk Office (Vital Records), Elections Department, Register of Deeds, and Clerk of the Circuit Court. A listing of how customers can still request or obtain common services, as well as contact information for clarification, is below.
Until further notice, the Kent County Clerk/Register’s Office will be serving customers via online or bymail services only. Below are specifics relating to service changes:
Certified copies of birth, death, marriage, business certificates/licenses/ registrations can be requested online; copies will be mailed via USPS, no in-person pick-up available.
New birth and death certificates received via hospital or funeral home will be processed; copies will be mailed via USPS, no in-person pick-up available. No new home births processed until further notice.
New marriage licenses applications accepted online only, applicants will be contacted
No new CPL applications accepted until further notice; renewals processed online via MSPwebsite
No new notary applications accepted until further notice
No in-person access to records until further notice; call or email for assistanceClerk – Elections:616-632-7650 https://www.accesskent.com/Elections
All candidate filings (Affidavit of Identity, Statement of Organization, campaign finance reports) are to be submitted via email: gerrid.uzarski@kentcountymi.gov. Payments for candidate filings should be mailed. Receipt of filings will be confirmed.
Individuals needing to turn in petitions should contact the Elections office to make an appointment.
No in-person access to records until further notice; call or email for assistanceClerk of the Circuit Court: 616-632-5480 https://www.accesskent.com/Courts/Clerk
Pleadings must be mailed to the court with the appropriate filing fee. Please do not send cash through the mail.
Ex-Parte Pleadings may be submitted to: ccclerksexparte@kentcountymi.gov. Appropriate filing fees must be mailed or waived. More information forthcoming regarding online payments.
Filings received via USPS will be processed uninterrupted. For urgent filings, call or email theoffice.
Searches and recording copies are available online; will be mailed via USPS
No in-person access to records until further notice; call or email for assistance
Courts
Most of the area courts are closed to in-person, public access. For specific details on each court, please click the court below. Due note, that many of the courts do offer an online option to pay tickets and other fines.
Well all the branches of the Kent District Library maybe closed but there is always KDL’s Digital Library. What? You have not –pardon our pun — checked out the Digital Library? Dating back before the coronavirus times, KDL added eBooks, audiobooks, TV, movies, music, magazines, and newspapers all at a click of a button and available 24 hours, seven days a week. There are also many programs going online as well, so visit kdl.org/events.
And for those who prefer to have a book in hand, Schuler Books & Music, 2660 28th St. SE, is offering curbside pick up of books. Call 616-942-2561 or visit www.schulerbooks.com to order and pay for your books, then schedule a pick up time. You can also order carry-out from the store’s Chapbook Café.
Get In Some Exercise
Many of the area’s parks and trails are open and free to the public — just remember to adhere to the social distancing guidelines. Not interested in seeing anybody? The YMCA offers free online exercise videos at ymca360.org. There is tai chi, yoga, bootcamp, and more.
Grab Some Grub
Just in cast you didn’t know, while closed, many restaurants, such as Brann’s at 4157 S. Divisions, have curbside service available. Simply call in, order, and pick up. Chris Freeman, founder of EatGR (pictured above) has put together an incredible list of locally-owned restaurants that are open — for takeout that is. With permission from Chris, we have reposted the list. For addresses, you’ll need to “google it.”
Abacus Alebird Amore Avron Brewing Bagel Beanery Michigan Beltline Bar Bier Distillery Big O’s Boardwalk Subs Bostwick Lake Inn Brandy wine Brann’s Carlucci’s Pizza Carolina Low Country Kitchen Cedar Springs Brewing Cherie Inn Cottage Bar Cousins chicken Cheshire Kitchen Choo Choo Grill Common’s Crazy Horse Dan’s Diner Dog Pit Donkey Downtown Market restaurants El Globo El Granjero Emonae Fatzo’s Ferris Coffee Fratelli’s Fresh Coast Kitchen Ganders Grain Sandwiches Gravel Bottom Brewing Grand Coney (Michigan) Hall of Fame Burgers HancockMatchbox Harmony Brewing Hopcat Irie Kitchen Knickerbocker Licari’s Lindo Mexico Luna New Hotel Mertens Marcona on Lyon Marco New American Bistro Monelli’s Mudpenny Noco Provisions Nonna’s Pantry One Twenty Three Tavern Osta’s Patty Matters Peach wave Peppermill Grill Pickleback Pumphouse Railtown Brewing Rainbow Grill Reserve Rise Bakery Revival Cafe Roam Robinettes Rockford Brewing Roots brew shop Russ’ Restaurants (Multiple) Russo’s Pizza Salted cupcake SanChez Shot’s Social House Sparks BBQ Speak EZ Lounge Swan Inn Sugar Momma’s Terra Third Nature Brewing Three Blondes Brewing Two scotts Uccello’s Uncle Cheetah Vincenzo’s Wing Doozy Yesterdog Winchester Wok and Mortar
Experience GrandRapids also has a list as well, so make sure to head over to experiencegr.com.
A Visual on Viruses
Wonder how the coronavirus stacks up to other worldwide pandemics? Well Visual Capitalist (www.visualcapitalist.com) has put together an interesting visual comparison of the coronavirus to other pandemics. The top three are the Black Death or Bubonic Plague (1347-1351), which has the highest death toll of 200 million; Smallpox (1520), with a death toll of 56 million; and the Spanish Flu (1918-1919), which had a death toll of 40-50 million. Click here for the complete picture.
Do you know what federally mandated program falls under the social distance guidelines and is something you can do while securely in your home?
Filling out the 2020 Census.
From between March 12 – 20, 140 million households across the country will receive their first invitation to participate in the census. Residents are to indicate all people living in the home on April 1.
“We are encouraging everyone to respond online as soon as you receive your invitation with the provided instructions to go online,” according to a recent statement from U.S. Census Bureau officials.
The invitation will include the web address for the online questionnaire in English as well as where to respond online in 12 additional languages. It will also include phone numbers for English and the 12 additional languages. Telephone assistance is available seven days a week form 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Eastern Standard Time for those who prefer to respond by phone. Online and phone respond will be available through July 31.
The currently deadline for response is July 31, however according to the Census Bureau’s website, that date “can and will be adjusted if necessary as the situation evolves in order to achieve a complete and accurate count.”
Some households — in areas less likely to respond online — will receive a paper questionnaire in the first mailing; all households that have not responded online or by phone will receive a paper questionnaire between April 8 and April 16. The paper questionnaire includes a prepaid postage envelope to return it by mail.
To abide by guidelines to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, the 2020 Census find operations will be suspended for two weeks until April 1. This in turn has delayed census takers going out for in-person nonresponse follow-up. That portion of the operation has been delayed to April 23. The mobile questionnaire assistance program also has been delay to April 13.
All census workers will closely follow guidance from public health authorities when conducting the follow-up operations. If there is a need to delay or discontinue follow-up visits in a community, Census Bureau officials said they will adapt the operation to ensure a complete and accurate count.
“We designed our 2020 operations precisely so we could offer multiple ways to respond,” said Charmine Yates, media specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau. For instance, Yates said, the operation which counts people in nursing homes, college dorms, prisons, and other institutional living facilities includes several ways to respond such as via eResponse, paper listing or self-enumeration by the facility.
For college students, per the Census Bureau’s residence criteria, in most cases students living away from home at school should be counted at school, even if they are temporarily elsewhere due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For service providers, such as those that provide services to the homeless, the Census Bureau is contacting them to determine if the provider will be open March 30 and April 1 and whether the provider would be able to provide a paper listing of census response data for each person served or staying at the facility instead.
“In short, where a community, facility or service organization makes a change that would affect any field operation, we will adapt to make sure we are getting the same population counted another way,” Yates said.
As of Wednesday, the Census Bureau reported that more than 11 million households have responded by filling out the 2020 Census.
SpartanNash and its family for retail stores will set aside time twice per week for store guests most at risk of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19), including older adults, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals.
Reserved hours will be every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m.
SpartanNash operates more than 150 stores in nine states, under the banners of Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery, Dan’s Supermarket, SunMart, Family Fresh Market, ValuLand, Supermercado Nuestra Familia, No Frills, Forest Hills Foods, Ada Fresh Market, Econofoods, Pick’n Save and Dillonvale IGA.
“SpartanNash and our family of retail stores are committed to the well-being and safety of our family of associates, customers and communities, as well as supporting health officials and government leaders to contain the virus,” Executive Vice President and General Manager, Corporate Retail Tom Swanson said. “We are enacting these reserved hours to help protect our most vulnerable store guests, and we are asking our other customers to observe these hours for those most at risk in our local communities.
“We know that many want to keep their neighbors safe and healthy at the same time, and we know that they also are anxious about the availability of many high-demand products. I am extremely proud of our associates, who continue to work diligently to ensure our neighbors have access to the food, medicine and household supplies they need. We are also grateful to our many store guests who have taken the time to thank them personally or share positive experiences on social media. We are honored to have been the trusted food provider our communities have counted on for over 100 years.”
In addition to the reserved store hours, SpartanNash retail stores have also implemented several other changes to store operations, including adjusting operating hours for most stores previously open 24 hours. Effective March 17, operating hours at these locations will be 6 a.m. to midnight daily (check your stores’ website for current store hours).
Stores suspended service at self-serve areas, including salad bars, soup bars and donut cases. These items can be purchased in prepackaged containers, made fresh every day by SpartanNash retail associates with the highest cleanliness and food safety standards. Café areas have also been closed and all sampling has been stopped.
SpartanNash retail locations have instituted even greater cleaning and sanitation measures. In addition to daily cleaning procedures, high-touch surfaces – such as food service counters, checkout lanes, conveyor belts, fuel pump handles, pin pads and touch screens – are being cleaned and sanitized at least every 30 minutes.
How do you manage a remote workforce? How and what to communicate to employees? How do you create an environment that reduces the spread of COVID-19?
These and many more questions are just some of what Express Employment Professionals, with offices in Wyoming, hope to answer during a free webinar Friday, March 20, at 9 a.m. The webinar is open to all business owners and leaders.
“I think at this point we have about 200 people signed up,” said David Robb, director of marketing for Express Employment Professionals. “We certainly are not coronavirus experts but we do want to help inform on some of the best HR practices and some of the legal ramifications.”
Robb said the webinar was a result of many of the questions that the Express Employment associates were hearing from business owners in how to deal with the impacts of the coronavirus. Concerns have included how to best support employees, managing a remote workforce and a workforce that can not be remote, safeguarding the business, and volunteer layoffs versus mandatory layoffs. Other questions have centered around if a company can require self-quarantine and if a company can send an employee home if the person is sick.
“With the number of people who have registered, we will probably be polling to determine what the top five questions are and go from there,” Robb said, adding that Express Employment Professionals plan do some follow up by making this a series of webinars and videos to help answer questions related to business concerns as the coronavirus continues.
“We just want to aid the businesses and our community,” Robb said. “We do offer training here, but due to the situation, people are not coming in. So we wanted to do something that would be helpful to the businesses by discussing topics of how to respond as a leader and handling the potential mental stress from dealing with the coronavirus.”
To learn more about the webinar or to register, click here.
For a single mom whose main income is dependent on her waitressing job, the closure of all the restaurants and bars in Michigan can be devastating. But yesterday, the Kent County Health Department released a video where residents who need food or financial assistance can get help.
The answer: call 211 according to Essential Needs Task Force Director Wende Randall as she talked to Kent County Health Department Director Dr. Adam London.
Started in 2016, the United Way’s 2-1-1 has connected thousands of services in 14 counties such as Kent County. Services include food, shelter, utility assistance, disaster recovery, childcare, transportation, and more.
“They should call if they are in need assistance,” Randall said, adding that another excellent resource is the Heart of West Michigan United Way’s website, hwmuw.org.
Food
“We have several resources that have started to shift operations in terms of how they provide food access to the community,” Randall said.
As reported by School News Network, 20 school districts in the Kent Intermediate School District are making free meals available to students and families during the mandatory statewide school closures. Families are invited to pick up meals of any child ages 18 and under, and students with disabilities ages 18 – 26 with an activity IEP (individualized education program.) For a complete list of the schools and schedule of pick ups, click here.
Randall said that for older adults, Meals on Wheels has continued and many area senior centers are also providing packaged meals to seniors. Area pantries are not allowing the usually shops for food but if contacted will provide a box with food items, Randall said.
Such is the case at United Church Outreach Ministry (UCOM) which according to its website has closed its facility to the public, but food services will continue. Those in need of food services should call and talk to staff for further details, 616-241-4006. Those coming to the UCOM facility are asked to remain in their car in the parking lot and call for service.
The Pantry, now called the Green Apple Pantry, has announced it will be open for food distribution on March 18 on its website. However, neighbors and volunteers will not be allowed to enter the pantry. Instead, boxes will be prepared and set outside for pick up.
Randall noted that the YMCA and Kids Food Basket also are providing meal kits. On the Kids’ Food Basket website, it states that “because a virus will not and cannot stop hunger, we are committed to continuing to pack and distribute nourishing food in a safe, healthy and responsible way.”
Kids’ Food Basket stated that when a partner school is open, such as Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, Kids’ Food Basket staff and volunteers will be there to distribute Sack Suppers to the students that rely on the program.
Utility payments and other needs
“What we anticipating is the need for utility assistance is going to be delayed by a couple of weeks,” Randall said. “People may have the paycheck they’ve been working toward coming up this week or next week but then they will see their hours reduction hit their paycheck.
“So we are anticipating the biggest need for financial support in those areas to come within the next two weeks and beyond because of course we don’t know how long these work shortages are going to continue.”
Randall said that 2-1-1 can help with referrals for rent and utility assistance, adding that there could be some qualifications for those calling.
“Winter and spring are the biggest months for utility needs,” Randall said, adding that this could put financial strains on the organizations who help the community.
“The greatest need right now is going to be financial support for those agencies that are providing direct service to community members,” Randall said, adding that many of these organizations run on fairly thin margins with the coronavirus situation putting a financial strain on them.
Some banks and credit unions also have reached out to members stating if they are having any financial issues, to contact the specific institution that you bank at.
Volunteering
Randall said some agencies may need volunteers to help. For tips on volunteering, visit the Heart of West Michigan United Way website, hwmuw.org or volunteergr.org. Volunteer opportunities will be mostly solo efforts of providing food to people at home. It is recommended if you are bringing food to someone, make sure to practice social distancing by either texting or ringing the door bell after placing the bag on the porch and then move away.
The holidays are a great time for packaging and parties, but there can be a lot of waste to be recycled properly. (Pixabay)
The Kent County Recycling & Education Center at 977 Wealthy St. SW will reopen on March 16 following scheduled equipment upgrades. The recycling drop-off locations in Grand Rapids and Rockford will also reopen on March 16.
Scheduled upgrades have been completed as originally scheduled and equipment has successfully been tested. During the upgrades the facility was closed and unable to accept recyclable materials from both curbside and drop-off locations.
“There were eleven different contractors on site over the last three weeks doing everything from changing conveyor belts and pulleys to installing ten-ton pieces of equipment,” said Nic VanderVinne, Resource Recovery & Recycling Manager for the Kent County Department of PublicWorks. “All the work went very smoothly, and we expect to see improvements to the quality of the recyclables that are sent to market as well as a significant reduction in downtime due to maintenance.”
The Kent County Recycling & Education Center is approaching its 10th year of single-stream recycling. Over the past decade, the center has undergone periodic maintenance and upgrades to adapt to changes in community recycling habits and packaging trends. In 2017, Kent County added equipment to accept paper cartons and improve automation.
Michigan voters are starting a busy election with the just-completed presidential primary, so on the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus we offer a review of how the State of Michigan in general — and Kent County in specific — handle elections so that they provide voter accessibility, ballot security and accurate results.
With us is Lisa Posthumus Lyons, Kent County Clerk and Register of Deeds, who was elected to the position in 2016 after serving three terms as a Republican in the Michigan House of Representatives. Also with us is county elections director Gerrid Uzarski, who was appointed by Ms. Lyons in late 2017 and, previously worked for ElectionSource, a local company which, along with Dominion Voting Systems, is contracted by the state to provide election hardware and software.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is … fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Dr. Adam London, Administrative Health Officer for Kent County, right, and Brian Hartl, county epidemiologist. (Supplied/Kent County)
Kent County Health
There is a lot of information flying around the internet and the airwaves — if not in your household — about the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus), so the Kent County Health Department, led by Dr. Adam London, Administrative Health Officer for the county, continues to offer videos with up-to-date information. Go here for the story.
Dr. Afriyie Randle
Dr. Afriyie Randle
In our newest feature, Medical Moments, host Dr. Afriyie Randle, discusses the coronavirus. Such as did you know the first human coronavirus was discovered in the mid-1960s and today there are seven different types of the coronavirus that can infect humans. Go here for the story.
Fact to keep in mind:
The Flu and The Virus
So far, the new coronavirus has led to more than 100,000 illnesses and more than 3,000 deaths worldwide. But that’s nothing compared with the flu, also called influenza. In the U.S. alone, the flu has caused an estimated 34 million illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations and 20,000 deaths this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Spring is a beautiful time of year in the Mackinaw City area, as the winter melts away and nature comes out of its deep slumber. Mackinaw City businesses and hotels are celebrating the start of spring with vacation specials and events during the 4th Annual Mackinac Meltdown, including:
April 1-16 — Spring Break Splash at Pirate Cove Waterpark
Things are heating up inside…with $5 fun, April 1-16 at the Pirate’s Adventure waterpark inside the Crown Choice Inn & Suites Lakeview (720 S. Huron Avenue). Mackinaw’s largest indoor waterpark features a pirate head tipping bucket, three waterslides, bubbler jets, crawl tunnels, water guns, climbing nets, an oversized indoor pool and a whirlpool sauna. Call 231-436-5929 for details.
Saturday, April 6 (11am-2pm) — Taste of Mackinaw
Enjoy delicious foods from local restaurants as well as craft beer and wine at the Mackinac Island Brewhouse & Mackinaw Island Winery inside the Mackinac Bay Trading Company downtown on Huron Avenue, across from Conkling Heritage Park. Tickets are $10 per person.
Saturday, April 6 (1-4pm) – Mackinac International Bridal Expo
Love is in the air and the Straits of Mackinac is an ideal (and popular) place for couples to celebrate their big day. Exhibitors will be set up inside Mackinaw Beach & Bay (929 S. Huron Avenue) throughout the afternoon showcasing dresses, cakes, accessories, wedding venues, music and more. Admission is $5 per person.
Plenty of seasonal activities are planned to celebrate the arrival of spring and all its beauty—from the flora to fauna to astronomy to aviary throughout March, April and May!
Discover Birds of Prey at Raptor Fest!
Birding is currently the second fastest growing hobby in the United States after gardening, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service who also reports that over 2 million Michigan residents are birdwatchers. Every year thousands of hawks, eagles, vultures, and owls follow the contours of Lakes Michigan and Huron, ending up at the Straits of Mackinac where they must cross a 5-mile expanse of water. To save energy, the birds use rising air drafts to lift them high in the air, and then they glide across the Straits. While no longer protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act, the bald eagle remains protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch conducts scientific studies and takes inventory of hawks, owls and other raptors migrating through this region of northern Michigan, educating the public about the birds and their migration. Their largest annual event is Raptor Fest, April 3-5. This three-day event provides great views of migrating raptors, interesting sessions and educational workshops.
Savoring Michigan’s sweet treat…maple syrup!
Did you know that maple sugaring is Michigan’s oldest agricultural activity…dating back to the earliest Native Americans? Or, that Michigan ranks #5 in the nation for production of maple syrup…generating more than $2.5 million for the state’s economy?
The longer, warmer days means sap begins to flow in the maple trees that dot the landscape around the miles of woodland trails. In the furthest reaches of Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park visitors can find the Maple Sugar Shack, nestled along one of the hiking trails. While the sugaring season will have wrapped up by the time the interpretive season begins at here in May, guests can still find the shack and interpretive panels detailing the history of sugaring in this area and the process of doing it.
Beauty from the ground…wildflowers abound!
One of the surest signs that spring has arrived in the north woods is the appearance of an abundance of beautiful wildflowers covering the forest floor. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, there are at least 18 wildflowers native to Michigan including Arrowhead, Beach pea, Black-eyed Susan, Dwarf Lake Iris (Michigan’s official state flower, a threatened species only found in the Great Lakes region), Harebell, Purple coneflower and others. Other spring beauties include the Yellow Trout-lily, Spring-beauty, the Large-flowered Trillium and the smaller Nodding Trillium, Marsh Marigold or Cowslip and Jack-in -the-Pulpit.
Head out along the hiking trails at Wilderness State Park, The Headlands International Dark Sky Park, at Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, and along sections of the North Country Trail. Please remember that trillium are protected in Michigan and that picking them is illegal (but photographing them is recommended).
Foraging from the forest floor…morels, ramps and fiddleheads!
In addition to an abundance of wildflowers, spring means the arrival of wild edibles – such as morels, ramps, and fiddleheads – the most hunted spring treasures. May is morel month in Michigan but depending on the weather these illusive fungi can be found as early as April and as late as mid-June, especially the further north you go. Morels begin to pop up along the woodland floor when the daytime temps reach around 60–65 degrees while the evening temps stay above 50 degrees. As you search, look along southwest facing hills where the sun’s rays warm the ground around tree groves mixed with living, dead and dying ash, elm, oak and aspen trees. Given there are a lot of “false morels” and other poisonous mushrooms, it is advised to take a guide (either a person or a printed book) to help you identify a true morel. If you can’t find them in the woods, look for them on the menu of area restaurants during the spring season – topping fish, chicken, or steak, fried to a crispy goodness, or cooked into a creamy bisque.
Cast a hook, line and sinker!
Fishing really is a four-season activity here in the Great Lakes State, but as the ice melts and the temperatures rise, the rivers, streams, and lakes become a hotbed for a variety of species. The Straits area offers opportunities for migratory steelhead and salmon, as well as other freshwater fish. Spring fishing begins in April when the smelt begin to run, followed by trout season in late April and walleye season which opens mid-May. As we move into summer, look for lake perch and bass off the coast of Wilderness State Park or head to Paradise Lake, just five miles south of Mackinaw City, where bass, pike, walleye and panfish are plentiful. Be sure to check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for specific season dates and licensing information.
Hunting Michigan’s beloved Petoskey Stone!
Many people think that Petoskey Stones can only be found in Petoskey. Yet this hexagon fossilized coral (Hexagonaria pericarnata) from a coral reef that existed during the Devonian era 350 million years ago, can be found along the Lake Michigan shoreline from the Sleeping Bear Dunes area as far north as the Straits of Mackinac. Spring is the ideal time to scour the beaches for rocks that have been churned up over the winter, before the thousands of tourists have had the time begin their search. Established as Michigan’s state stone in 1965, the Petoskey Stones were formed as a result of glaciation, in which sheets of ice plucked stones from the bedrock, grinding off their rough edges and depositing them in the northwestern portion of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
Please note, Michigan State prohibits individuals from removing more than 25 pounds of rocks or minerals per year from state parks, recreation lands and Great Lakes bottomlands.
Look to the skies…and beyond!
Although there is no way to predict when Northern Lights (aurora borealis) will light up the sky, the Straits area provides the perfect night sky conditions for viewing this unique phenomenon. Northern Lights are collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere, creating dancing color of lights such as green, pink and purple. Located along the Lake Michigan shoreline just south of Mackinaw City, the Headlands International Dark Sky Park is a popular place for settling in for the sky show.
Dig into Local History!
The Mackinaw Area Historical Society Heritage Village invites you to learn a little about the area during their lecture series, with programs taking place at the Mackinaw Area Public Library (528 W. Central Avenue). Upcoming presentations include Native American Teaching and Learning the Traditional Way (April 13) with Adel Easterday and Gardening the Colonial Michilimackinac Way (May 11) with Lee Ann Ewer. Of particular note is that the Mackinac State Historic Parks is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2020…with parks opening for visitors in early May.
For spring travel ideas and lodging options, visit MackinawCity.com.
Dr. Adam London, Administrative Health Officer for Kent County, right, and Brian Hartl, county epidemiologist. (Supplied/Kent County)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
There is a lot of information flying around the internet and the airwaves — if not in your household — about the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus), so the Kent County Health Department, led by Dr. Adam London, Administrative Health Officer for the county, continues to offer videos with up-to-date information.
In today’s video — travel. London and Brian Hartl, county epidemiologist, discuss what you need to know and how COVID-19 may impact your travel plans. To view the latest video, visit here.
For complete information from the Kent County Health Department on the local news dealing with the COVID 19 virus, and to view all the videos visit here.
According to the health department, public information will be distributed “as the situation warrants it.”
According to the county, here are some basic facts:
COVID-19 is caused by a new respiratory virus. In December 2019, the virus began circulating in humans. Health experts are concerned because little is known about this new virus and it has the potential to cause severe illness and pneumonia.
State level information is updated daily at Michigan.gov/coronavirus. Also available are the total number of people who may have been exposed to the virus who are referred to local public health for monitoring or assessment.
Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus, and they include: fever, cough and shortness of breath Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death.
Health experts are still learning about how this new coronavirus spreads. Other coronaviruses spread from an infected person to others through the air by coughing and sneezing; close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands; touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
The same steps you would take to prevent spread of flu and the common cold twill also help prevent coronavirus disease, including: wash your hands with soap and water, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing, avoid contact with people who are sick, and stay home if you are sick and contact your healthcare provider.
The 2019-20 East Kentwood High School boys basketball team. (Supplied/East Kentwood)
By Mike Moll, WKTV Sports Director sports@wktv.org
The boys basketball District opener for Division 1 played at Caledonia High School showcased the true meaning of March Madness. OK Red foes East Kentwood and Caledonia split their regular season meetings with a win apiece and Monday was just as even. So much so that it not only went into overtime, but double overtime before the Falcons would advance to Wednesday with a 68-67 victory.
Caledonia finishes the season at 9-12 while East Kentwood, now 12-9, will face one of the area’s top teams, the 19-2 Wyoming Wolves at Middleville T-K, after Wyoming defeated the host Trojans Monday, 93-49.
EK would score the first basket of the game, but the Scots then went on a 9-0 run, and finish with a 14-9 lead after the first quarter buzzer. The Falcons leading scorer on the season, Ja’moni Jones would lead all scorers with 5, followed by Caledonia’s Luke Thelen with 4, along with Koby VanderWoude and Carter Thomas with 3.
While the Fighting Scots would hit an early 3-pointer by Thelen to take a 17-11 lead, the Falcons would quickly come back with the next six, led by the combination of Jones and Jordan Jackson to tie the game at 17, which was the second of twelve ties on the night. Caledonia would outscore East Kentwood 8-6 the remainder of the quarter to hold a slim 25-23 lead. Jones would lead the way with 11 and Jackson had 8, six of which were in the second quarter, while Caledonia was being paced by Thelen with 9.
The intensity would continue after halftime, as East Kentwood would take their second lead of the night 32-30 following back to back offensive rebounds by Urim Sahitolli and his made basket at the 3:35 mark. However, the Scots would score the final five points of the stanza, with the last being another triple by Thomas to head into the fourth with a 35-32 lead. Jones was still the leading scorer with 13 and Caledonia’s Thomas had 10 followed by Thelen with 9.
Caledonia would open the fourth with a basket by VanderWoude, who would have twelve in the quarter by himself, but the parade to the charity stripe would begin for East Kentwood as they would hit four in a row to cut the deficit to just one, until Jackson would connect at the 6:10 mark to mark the fourth of six total lead changes on the night, 38-37 East Kentwood. That was the start of the Falcons trying to take control of the game as they would increase their lead to 47-40, but simply couldn’t shake Caledonia, who would keep fighting being led by VanderWoude and Andrew Larson. After a foul by Caledonia with just 10.7 seconds remaining, Jones went to the line for two shots that could have given EK a three-point lead, but he went 1-for-2 to make it 53-51. Caledonia had a shot blocked but was able to get the offensive rebound by Thelen who scored with 1.7 seconds remaining. On the ensuing in-bounds pass, Jones tossed a shot from half court that was no good to send the game into the first overtime.
The OT was controlled by EK early as Ja Shon Large, who had 5 points in regulation, scored the first four, but that lead was cut to one after a 3-pointer by Larson. After another Large score, the next three were scored by Caledonia’s Aaron Henry and VanderWoude, but he too missed one of two free throws. EK’s Kalil Strange would make it 61-59, but with 41.1 seconds left, Caledonia’s Thelen would knot it again at 61 where it would stay, and a second overtime was needed.
As so often is the case, free throw shooting is the difference in back and forth games and this was no exception in the second OT as EK would make 3-of-4, all by Strange, whereas the Scots would be 2-of-4 on their last two trips down the floor, but that was good enough to take a 67-66 lead with 21.5 seconds left. After a series of timeouts, EK’s Large would make a driving basket with just .9 seconds remaining, after which Caledonia could only get a shot off as the buzzer sounded trying to force a foul but to no avail.
Caledonia was led by VanderWoude with 21, Thelen 13, and both Thomas and Larson with 11, but the Scots were 7-of-15 from the charity stripe. The Falcons were led by Jones with 23, Large and Jackson 13 each, and Strange 9, but the victory went to them by hitting 15-of-21 from the strip on the night as a team.
Angie Morthland-Timan as “Rosie the Riveter”. (Supplied)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
This month’s meeting of the Kentwood Women’s Club, set for Wednesday, March 18, will host an evening with Angie Morthland-Timan as “Rosie the Riveter” as part of Women’s History Month. The meetings, open to the general public, are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., at the Kentwood Public Library, 4950 Breton SE in Kentwood.
Morhtland-Timan is a native of Grand Rapids, now lives in Mackinaw City part of the year, and attended Central Michigan University. She has taught physical education and home economics in five different states and two countries. She “has a real passion for the World War II stories and the Rosie The Riveter women who kept the factories going during the war,” according to supplied material. She is currently the Indiana State representative for the American Rosie the Riveter group.
“Morthland-Timan will give us great insight into this important time in history,” according to the Kentwood Women’s Club announcement. “She will provide a framework showing the enormous part women made during the war effort and their contributions to our economy during that time in history.”
The KWC event will begin with a 6:45 p.m. social time with the group meeting starting at 7:15 p.m. and the discussion to follow shortly.
The purpose of KWC is to enhance the cultural, civic, educational, and social opportunities of Kentwood area women. KWC encompasses women in Kentwood and the surrounding area.
As part of its commitment to help customers save money and reduce in-store fresh food waste, SpartanNash is piloting a mobile app at five of its West Michigan Family Fare stores. The app was developed by Flashfood® and allows store guests and community nonprofits to purchase food nearing its best-by date at savings of up to 50 percent off. Eligible items include meat, produce, seafood, deli and bakery products.
The five participating Family Fare stores testing the Flashfood app are located at:
2245 84th St., SW in Byron Center
1415 E. Fulton St. in Grand Rapids
2755 Lake Michigan Drive, NW in Grand Rapids
1225 Leonard, NE in Grand Rapids
6127 Kalamazoo Ave., SE in Kentwood
Flashfood is a Toronto-based mobile app that operates in more than 440 grocery locations throughout Canada, Michigan and Wisconsin. The mobile app is free and available on iOS and Android.
After downloading the Flashfood app, customers can select a participating Family Fare store, choose the items they want to purchase and pay for them directly on the app, then pick up their items and confirm their order at the customer service counter. To make it even easier, the purchased food will be stored at the front of each participating Family Fare in refrigerators and on storage racks until the store guest picks them up.
“Customer convenience is key with the app – and so is our ability to reduce food waste while increasing access to lower cost fresh foods,” Director, Retail Consumer Innovation Matt Bennett said. “Our aisles are filled with a variety of perishable foods, and as we get near the best-by dates, we want to make sure customers know about the savings available to them. This app is a win-win for customers and the environment.”
The Flashfood app pilot is another way SpartanNash is fighting food waste and hunger in local communities. SpartanNash also partners with local food banks and food pantries throughout the company’s footprint, donating pantry staples and shelf-stable products as well as fresh dairy, meat and produce. In 2019, these efforts resulted in more than 5 million pounds of food donations, equivalent to more than 4 million meals to families. In addition to feeding families, SpartanNash also diverts food to area zoos, farmers and livestock producers, repurposing the diverted product into feed for animals.
“Reducing food waste and building stronger communities are both important parts of SpartanNash’s corporate responsibility commitment,” Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications Meredith Gremel said. “At SpartanNash, we are always looking for positive changes we can drive as we ‘take food places’ in more socially responsible, environmentally sustainable ways, and the Flashfood app is another way we can do that – all while benefitting our store guests and community partners.”
Kelly Baldwin, retired Kentwood Police Officer. (Kentwood Police Department)
By Kentwood Police Department
The Kentwood Police Department and the local community are mourning the loss of retired Officer Kelly Baldwin who passed away on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Her engaging smile and energetic laugh were well known throughout the local law enforcement community and Kelly’s difficult fight inspired many. She will truly be missed.
Kelly retired from the department Dec. 20, 2019, after serving the Department and community for 20 years.
Kelly’s assignments during her career at the Kentwood Police Department include Patrol Officer and Detective. She quickly developed into an incredible investigator, and her talents and expertise in this area benefited not only the Kentwood Police Department but other agencies over the last 13 years of her career. She also demonstrated an incredible drive to solve cases and was always a seeker of justice for the victims.
Her true character was evident by her daily display of thoughtfulness and generosity to everyone she came in contact with. A few examples include the purchase of a memorial headstone for a family of a dog that was killed during a home invasion, hiring an exterminator to treat for bed bugs at a sexual assault victim’s home, and collecting money to purchase Christmas gifts for two young boys whose mother was murdered by their father just before Christmas.
Kelly leaves behind her husband and four children. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 4, from 3–5 p.m., and 7–9 p.m., at Cook Funeral Home, 4235 Prairie St SW, Grandville. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, at Grand Rapids First, 2100 44th St SW, Wyoming. There will be visitation from 10–11 a.m., prior to the service.
(Above): Artist Nick Nortier begins stenciling and painting for his mural, “The Great Blue” that will be along the Concourse B walkway in the post-security area. (Supplied)
The Gerald R. Ford International (GFIA) Airport is unveiling a new art program that will feature local West Michigan artists, scenery, sculptures, and exhibits.
For its debut, the program will feature two live muralists – Grand Rapids native Nick Nortier, and Grand Rapids-based artist Kyle DeGroff. Nortier’s painting, “The Great Blue,” will feature a blue heron on a Michigan waterway with a stunning purple and orange sunset in the background. Nortier says he believes the blue heron is one of the most beautiful creatures in Michigan, and the mural is both an ode to the heron and the Great Lakes.
“This mural is one of the largest interior walls I have ever painted and in an area with an immense amount of foot traffic – thousands of people come through every day,” said Nortier. “I am excited to have this opportunity to leave my mark at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, and I look forward to being a part of the inaugural team of artists for this new program.”
The Airport Art Program is in partnership with the Frey Foundation which focuses grantmaking efforts on art in the local community. The Foundation’s commitment to the Airport came through a donation to the Gateway Transformation Project. The program will feature rotating exhibitions, and the initial mural space will change periodically.
“The Frey Foundation is thrilled to support local and diverse artistic expression in the Gerald R. Ford International Airport,” said Holly Johnson, President of the Frey Foundation. “It serves as a gateway to our community, welcoming both first time visitors and long-time residents alike. The addition of public art installations, such as the mural by Nick Nortier, help create a sense of place, highlighting the unique culture as well as the talent and creativity abundant in our great city.”
DeGroff’s mural will be on the walkway to Concourse A and features bold, bright colors and animals in slumber.
“With the Gateway Transformation Project we added over 59,000 square footage with our new security checkpoint, restaurant space, hallways, and more,” said Gerald R. Ford International Airport President & CEO Tory Richardson. “The spaces where these artists are working will liven up our walls, transform the guest experience, and showcase the talented artists we have here in West Michigan. We are proud to partner with the Frey Foundation to encourage community engagement in cultural experiences.”
Other future art installations include a sculpture by Grand Rapids artist Jason Quigno depicting traditional Native American symbolism in Michigan, set to be unveiled in Summer 2020. “The President Ford Mural” by Grand Rapids artist Paul Collins will be re-installed on the east end of the Airport lobby near Valet Parking this Spring. Additionally, a replica “Le Grande Vitesse” by artist Alexander Calder and a Calder plane will be placed in the front lobby area after Gateway Transformation Project Phase II is complete in August 2020.
East Kentwood High School girls basketball in January 2020 District action. (WKTV)
By WKTV Sports Staff ken@wktv.org
With the local high school girls basketball regular season completed, WKTV has jumped into our prep March Madness featured game coverage this week as the state playoffs begin with girls District tournaments across the state.
WKTV’s Featured Game crew will be following the Division 2 District tournament at South Christian High School starting Wednesday, March 4, and continuing with that districts final on Friday, March 6. To read about the Monday game at South Christian featuring the Sailors, see Mike Moll’s story here.
But the best Monday, March 2, opening-round game involving area teams was the Division 1 clash with Byron Center at East Kentwood, so WKTV was there.
Byron Center entered the game at 19-1 overall and 12-0 in OK-conference Green with a title in hand. East Kentwood was 17-3, 11-1 in OK Red with a shared title with Hudsonville, and on a 10-game winning streak. The two teams met to open the season; EK won on the road 48-43.
In the Monday game between the two, the Falcons (now 18-3) won by almost the same score — this time winning 50-43 — as three East Kentwood players scored in double figures: sophomore Deyonce Thompson led with 15 points including three 3-pointers, while juniors Alexis McCully and Kabriana Hallman each added 12.
“That was one of the better high school basketball games we’ve seen in a long time,” WKTV Featured Game announcers Ron Schultz said after the game. “These teams … match up really well and the played really well. … Kentwood dropped some threes when they had to have them.”
The East Kentwood game will be available on WKTV Community Television Channel 26 (for complete schedules of programs on WKTV channels, see our Weekly On-air Schedule) and on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
WKTV also has a special video discussion on local teams playing in District tournaments with WKTV Sports Director Mike Moll and WKTV sports announcer Cory Dalton on the inaugural WKTVJournal Sports Connection program. See the YouTube video here.
As East Kentwood game will now travel to Caledonia for the District semifinals, starting March 4, the WKTV Featured Game crew will move to cover a doubleheader at South Christian.
In one game at South Christian, Wayland (13-8, 5-7 OK Gold and the winner of Monday’s game Hopkins) will play Kelloggsville (16-4, 10-2 and a shared title in OK Silver).
In the other game at South Christian, the Sailors (11-10, 7-5 OK Gold and the winner of a Monday game against Kentwood Grand River will play West Michigan Aviation (7-13, 1-6 Alliance).
Other local teams playing in District tournaments
In Division 1, Wyoming (7-14, 3-9 OK Gold) won a Monday opening round game against tournament host Caledonia and now will challenge the tournament top seed, East Grand Rapids (19-1, 12-0 and a title in OK Gold), on Wednesday.
In another Division 2 tournament involving local teams, Godwin Heights (10-11, 4-8 in OK Silver) played Monday at the Forest Hills Eastern District tournament but lost to Grand Rapids Christian (18-3, 9-3 in OK Gold) to end the Wolverines season. On the other side of the same tournament bracket, Wyoming Lee (0-19, 0-12 OK Silver) will open play on Wednesday against Catholic Central (7-14, 4-8 in OK Blue) and the winner of a Monday game with Wellsprings Prep.
In a Division 4 tournament hosted by Wyoming Tri-unity Christian, Wednesday games will have Tri-unity (6-14, 2-5 in Alliance) playing Martin (19-1, 9-1 and a title in Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore), and Wyoming Potter’s House Christian (8-12, 5-2 Alliance) against Byron Center Zion Christian (9-11, 3-4 Alliance). The winners will play for the district title Friday at Tri-unity.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Federal CDC-privided Coronavirus test kit. (Kent County Health)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
There is a lot of information flying around the internet and the airwaves — if not in your household — about the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus), so the Kent County Health Department late last week began series of videos with Dr. Adam London, Administrative Health Officer for the county.
“I certainly don’t think this is time to panic,” Adam London, Kent County’s Administrative Health Officer, said in the first video. “However, I do think it is responsible to think about thing we can do.”
To view the first video, which includes basic safety tips, in its entirety, visit here.
According to the health department, public information will be distributed “as the situation warrants it,” but “we anticipate 2 to 3 (videos) per week for the foreseeable future … following our daily COVID 19 briefings.”
To view the latest video, in which London discuses both the use of the term “COVID-19” virus instead of “coronavirus,” visit here.
According to the county website, here are some of the latest news and developments:
COVID-19 is caused by a new respiratory virus. In December 2019, the virus began circulating in humans. Health experts are concerned because little is known about this new virus and it has the potential to cause severe illness and pneumonia.
At this time, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan. Information about the number of persons under investigation (PUIs) and specimens tested is updated daily at Michigan.gov/coronavirus. Also available are the total number of people who may have been exposed to the virus who are referred to local public health for monitoring or assessment.
Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus, and they include: fever, cough and shortness of breath Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death.
Health experts are still learning about how this new coronavirus spreads. Other coronaviruses spread from an infected person to others through the air by coughing and sneezing; close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands; touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
The same steps you would take to prevent spread of flu and the common cold twill also help prevent coronavirus disease, including: wash your hands with soap and water, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing, avoid contact with people who are sick, and stay home if you are sick and contact your healthcare provider.
This CDC’s laboratory test kit for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is being shipped to laboratories which the CDC has designated as qualified, including U.S. state and local public health laboratories, Department of Defense (DOD) laboratories and select international laboratories.
For complete information from the Kent County Health Department on the local news dealing with the COVID 19 virus, visit here.
Last week, Rapid and City of Wyoming officials collected input on what residents and business owners would like to see along Division Avenue. (Photo by WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
As a YMCA community collaboration director Aly Rickman often talks to residents along Division Avenue about the importance of living healthier and having an active lifestyle by purchasing more fruits and vegetables and walking their community.
“Many times the residents say it’s too difficult because of the traffic and safety issues along Division,” Rickman said.
It was for that reason that Rickman along with several Division Avenue residents and business owners attended a series of Silver Line Transit Oriented Development Study open houses Thursday and Friday (Feb. 27 and 28) that took place at several Division Avenue business such as Wei Wei Palace, New Beginnings, Brann’s Steakhouse, and Supermercado Mexico.
Javier Olvera, President and Co-Owner of Olvera Enterprises, which owns Supermercado Mexico, looks over a survey about Division Avenue. (Photo by WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
“I think it is very important to get the community together to talk about what their vision is for Division,” sad Javier Olvera, President and Co-Owner of Olvera Enterprises, which owns Supermercado Mexico. For Olvera, he said he would love to see more green space with trees and plants along Division Avenue to help make the area a more welcoming place.
Getting input from the people who live and work along Division Avenue is an important element to the study, said Bill Kirk, a business affairs specialist for The Rapid. When the Silver Line was launched in 2014, it was looked at as a catalyst for potential economic ground development leading into the downtown area. The line runs along Division Avenue from 60th Street in Cutlerville to the Medical Mile/Grand Rapids Community College loop.
“The economic investment did not come,” Kirk said, adding that the Silver Line concept, which was the first Bus Rapid Transit system in the state of Michigan, was taken from other cities, such a Cleveland, which had seen economic growth along its Bus Rapid Transit system.
A Federal Transportation Administration grant of about $900,000 along with $25,000 contributions each from the cities of Grand Rapids, Kentwood, and Wyoming, all of which have parts of Division Avenue within their boundaries, are being used to fund a study to find ways to improve affordable housing options, businesses opportunities, and neighborhood conditions in the corridor without losing much of the diversity that is part of Division Avenue, Kirk said.
The study is utilizing two major components: data on land usage and codes and input from residents and business leaders on what they would like to see along the Division Avenue corridor. The Feb. 27 and 28 meetings were the start of the community conversations, Kirk said.
Community members and officials sit on a Rapid bus in the Supermercado Mexico parking lot discussing the vision for Division Avenue. (Photo by WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Those who came to the open house had the opportunity to take a South Division Corridor Identity Survey to help determine how residents view the corridor. They also could make a Design Workshop Survey which asked a series of questions on what people would like to see along the corridor.
“It made sense to start looking along the corridor because each of the three cities, Grand Rapids, Wyoming and Kentwood, were in various stages of reviewing their master plans,” said City of Wyoming City Planner Nicole Hofert. “The City of Kentwood is wrapping up theirs, the City of Grand Rapids has its Southtown plan and us, the City of Wyoming, is working on our master plan.”
Hofert said the City of Wyoming has not addressed the Division corridor in its master plan because of the Silver Line study and that the city will most likely adopt what comes from that study. Grand Rapids also has not included it in its Southtown Corridor Improvement District plan.
To give the community an idea of what some of those improvements could be, the Oklahoma City-based private urban consultants company Team Better Block will be staging a couple of “pop ups” or temporary use of space.
A community member looks over a map of Division Avenue. (Photo by WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
“This could be a pop up shop, a pop up bike trail, a painted bike lane,” said Daniel Sperle, the Division Avenue project manager for Team Better Block. “It will be a test of what the community would like to see and how it would look within the environment.”
Kirk said the team hopes to wrap up the study by the end of the year. For now, the goal is to get as much input from area residents to help complete the study, he said.
Those interested in taking the survey for the Silver Line Transit Oriented Development Study or keep updated on the progress of the study can visit the website silverlinetod.org.
Shanika Carter’ will discuss her new book “To Lead or Not to Lead” and will sign books Thursday, March 5, at the Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch Kent District Library. (Supplied by the Author)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Author Shanika Carter’s new book “To Lead or Not to Lead” has the appropriate subtitle of “Breaking the Glass Ceiling Using Lessons from Your Past Experiences”.
In the book — which she will be speaking on and signing copies of at the Kentwood KDL Branch Library March 5 — Carter makes the case that while people can be helped on their personal and career journeys by other people, the best help may well be understanding and learning from one’s own positive and negative experiences.
Shanika Carter. (Supplied)
“I share not only my experiences, but those of others who have emphasized a lack of mentorship and encouragement to move up the ladder in their fields,” Carter said to WKTV. “For me, though, although I did experience a lack of the mentorship along the way, I learned quite a bit about myself and how to overcome obstacles I encountered.”
Carter’s discussion and book signing will take place Thursday, March 5, starting at 5:30 p.m., at the Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch Kent District Library, 4950 Breton SE, Kentwood. The event is free and open to the public.
Carter’s talk, and book signing with snacks, will be followed at 6:30 p.m. by a library equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) community conversation. And while the author will not be directly involved in the discussion, she strongly supports the inclusion efforts.
“I plan to support and participate in (the EDI conversation) on the 5th,” Carter said. “When I lived in Grand Rapids, before starting my writing/editing business … and getting back into teaching, I was employed part time in KDL’s circulation pool, rotating to the various locations to assist.
“That was over five years ago, so my relationship with KDL began then, and continued as I got my writing up off the ground, having participated as a guest speaker for one of KDL’s annual writing conferences … I appreciate everything that they have done with me on this journey.”
Carter’s journey includes graduating from Muskegon Heights High School, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in advertising from Michigan State University and her Master of Science degree in communications from Grand Valley State University.
Carter has worked as an adjunct instructor at ITT Technical Institute and Jackson College’s Prison Education Initiative program. She currently works in the writing center at Muskegon Community College, also teaching for the Communications and College Success Center departments, and is also an adjunct instructor at Montcalm Community College, where she teaches interpersonal communications and speech.
Carter is also a big supporter of the need for all persons — students, reformed prisoners, everybody — have the ability to communicate to be successful in life and careers.
“It is highly important to be able to communicate both verbally and in written form, particularly in a time where we, and so many of our youth, are in a social media world where even the communication is so different,” Carter said. “I’ve heard from teachers (and) parents over the years about how basic handwriting was no longer a requirement, like it was when I was growing up. Also, with social media, we find more people communicating in other ways outside of face-to-face contact and even using a more condensed language to exchange messages.
“As an instructor at this level of education, I am amazed at how many students I do encounter who do have difficulties with basic writing and grammar, let alone social and interpersonal skills. With the combination of losing some of the basic writing and communication requirements that were available in the past, and then dealing with those who allow their social media interactions to lapse over into their regular, face-to-face or written communications, the importance of communications and writing is just as relevant and important to continue in education.”
For more information on Shanika P. Carter’s book “To Lead or Not to Lead: Breaking the Glass Ceiling Using Lessons from Your past Experiences”, visit here. For more information on her The Write Flow and Vibe project, visit here.
For more information on the KDL Kentwood event, visit here. Follow the Kent District Library on various social media platforms — Facebook: facebook.com/KentDistrictLibrary and Instagram: @kentdistrictlibrary and Twitter: @KDLNews.
On Feb. 20, the Wyoming Department of Public Safety recognized several of its officers for the work they did in 2019. The 2019 Officer of the Year is Officer Marcus Donker and 2019 Civilian of the Year is Forensic Science Unit Technician Todd Masula. Congratulations to all the officers in both the police and fire departments. For a complete list of who was honored, click here.
Look Who’s Turning 70
City of Kentwood’s AMVETS Post 23, named after 2nd Lt. Lawrence Sybesma, is hosting a party to mark its 70th anniversary. The event is set to take place at 4 p.m. at the Post, located at 98 52nd St. SE. A meal will follow prepared by the Blue Star Mothers and is $7 per plate. To learn more about the post or who 2nd Lt. Lawrence Sybsema was, click here.
Looking Ahead to August
The City of Kentwood announced this week that it would seek a millage of 0.9 mills on the August ballot. The millage would be for a period of 10 years, which would then be reduced to a perpetual millage of 0.65 mills. The tiered millage would be dedicated solely to construct, operate, maintain and acquire parks, trails and recreation improvements and programs. For more about the millage and how it would be used, click here.
Fun Fact: 48222
If you want to send mail to the those operating the boats on Lake Michigan then the zip code you’ll need is 48222. That is the zip code to the J.W. Westcott II, the only floating post office in the United States. Operating out of Detroit for more than 125 years, the J.W. Westcott delivers mail to the freighters that cross the Great Lakes. It service was so important that after sinking in 2001, it was salvage, refurnished and operates today. The J.W. Westcott, so named after the man who founded the company, has a contract with the postal service through 2021.
The crowd at the 2019 Taste of Kentwood. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The City of Kentwood invites residents and all West Michiganders of all ages to a celebration of food, fun and local business at a community-celebration event, Taste of Kentwood, on Thursday, March 12.
Now in its 19th year, Taste of Kentwood will be held at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. The event will feature a variety of local restaurants offering samples of appetizers, entrées, sides and desserts during two sessions: 4:30-6 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m.
One of the eateries at the 2019 Taste of Kentwood. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)
“Kentwood is known for its incredible diversity which is demonstrated in our ranging dining options,” Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director, said in supplied material. “From ethnic to American, high-end to casual, Taste of Kentwood is the ideal opportunity to try new foods, meet neighbors and make the most of what the city has to offer, all in one spot.”
In addition to tasting the local cuisine, there will be live music from the band Just Cuz, an acoustic duo that performs an eclectic mix of cover tunes from an array of genres.
The restaurants and food venders elected to be present include old favorites as well as eateries new to the city, including: Broad Leaf Beer, Café Boba, City Barbeque, Dave & Buster’s, Jet’s Pizza, Peppino’s Sports Grille & Pizzeria, PJ’s Pizza, Coffee & Ice Cream, Red Robin, Tim Hortons, Uccello’s Ristorante, Underground Cookie Club, YoChef’s Catering Company and Zason Latino.
For more information and for tickets for either session, visit here. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 on the day of the event. Children, 5 and younger, are free.
The City of Kentwood’s AMVETS Post 23, named in honor of 2nd Lt. Lawrence Sybesma, will turn 70 this year and is being honored by a special State of Michigan proclamation. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The City of Kentwood’s AMVETS Post 23 — named in honor of 2nd Lt. Lawrence Sybesma — will turn 70 this year and is being honored by a special State of Michigan proclamation. The public is invited to the celebration.
The official reading of the proclamation will take place a special dedication ceremony Saturday, Feb. 29, with a long list of state and local public officials, as well as veterans organization leaders.
The dedication ceremony will begin at 4 p.m., with guest speakers and a POW/MIA Ceremony. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m., with the meal prepared by the Blue Star Mothers and a per-plate cost of $7. The Frank Eimer Band (with full brass) will provide music starting at 8 p.m.
Government leaders expected to be in attendance include City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley, State Sen. Aric Nesbitt and State Representatives Steven Johnson and Tommy Brann.
The City of Kentwood’s AMVETS Post 23, named in honor of 2nd Lt. Lawrence Sybesma — will turn 70 this year and is being honored by a special State of Michigan proclamation. (WKTV)
Local and state veterans organizations expected to be represented include, according to supplied material: Chuck Petch, state AMVETS Commander; Lenny Hogan, past state AMVETS Commander; Donald Torr state Sons of AMVETS President; Bertha Lema state Auxiliary President; Richard DeVoe, state AMVETS 1st Vice Commander; Lora DeVoe, state AMVETS District 5 Commander; Eric Nelson, United Veterans Council of Kent County Commander; Bob Green, AMVETS State Man of the Year; and Denny Gillem, Frontlines of Freedom.
The AMVETS organization (American Veterans Organization) was started in 1947, by action of the Congress and President Harry Truman, and is open for all veterans who served between 1940 and current day without regard to specific wartime assignment.
AMVETS Post 23 was chartered in 1950, and is dedicated to 2nd Lt. Lawrence Sybesma, who attended Kelloggsville High School and was killed in action as part of a crew of a B-29 Superfortress which crashed while on mission in Manchuria in 1944.
AMVETS Post 23 “was started by World War II veterans who didn’t feel that some organizations met some of their needs,” according to a statement from the Post. “So they started their own group, and it’s for all veterans … we are very, very inclusive.”
To find out more about AMVETS Post 23, located at 98 SE 52nd St., visit AMVETSPost23.org, check out the AMVETS Post 23 Facebook page, or call 616-531-5438.
Kentwood’s Veterans Memorial Park would be one of the many parks and recreation areas to see improvement from a proposed millage. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The Kentwood City Commission recently gave unanimous approval of a millage question to be put on the August ballot “to improve Kentwood parks, trails and recreational facilities and programming,” according to a Feb. 24 city statement.
The ballot question will ask voters to consider authorizing a millage of 0.9 mills for a period of 10 years, which would then be reduced to a perpetual millage of 0.65 mills. The tiered millage would be dedicated solely to construct, operate, maintain and acquire parks, trails and recreation improvements and programs.
If approved, the millage would fund improvements to the City Campus, a new community center, improvements to all parks and allow for trail improvements, as well as support enhanced programming.
“Since celebrating the city’s 50th anniversary in 2017, considerable time and effort has been dedicated to developing plans for the next 50 years of community growth,” Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “With clear direction from Kentwood residents, the plans would improve all the parks and enhance the trail systems, while providing for a central community gathering place, which is a frequent request from our residents.”
Kentwood has more than 13 miles of non-motorized trails, which are used year-round by residents and visitors, as well as parks that cover more than 300 acres. More than 700 recreational programs and numerous community events for people of all ages and abilities are offered through the Parks and Recreation Department in the Kentwood Activities Center, on the City Campus and at other locations.
Millage details
A mill is 1/1000th of a dollar or .001 cents. If a tax rate, or millage rate, is a 0.9 mill, a resident would be taxed .009 cents for every dollar, or $0.90 per $1,000 of the taxable value of his or her property. For a 0.65 mill, that would equate to $0.65 per $1,000 of taxable value, according to city information.
For example, a residential home with a taxable value of $100,000, the cost of 0.9 mills would be $90 per year for 10 years. After 10 years, the millage would reduce to 0.65, which would equate to $65 per year.
Projects millage would fund
The proposed millage would support the following improvements:
Bowen Station Park: New restroom, new playground components, gateway signage, site amenities, landscaping.
Burgis Park: Trail and sidewalk improvements, drinking fountain.
City Campus: Splashpad, playground, plaza, shelters, stage, event lawn, parking, restrooms, site amenities.
Community center: Approximate 40,000-square-foot community center (to be designed).
East Paris Nature Park: Trail improvements, signage, site amenities.
Home Acres Park: Skate park improvements, shade shelters, lighting, signage, site amenities, landscaping.
Rondo Street Station Park: Playground, site amenities, landscaping.
Stanaback Park: Playground, ADA improvements, parking improvements, signage, pickleball courts, site amenities, landscaping.
Stauffer Station Park: Kiosk, lighting, signage, site amenities, landscaping.
Summerwood Park: Playground, landscaping.
Trails: Repair, replacement or the creation of new connections.
Veterans Memorial Park: New soccer field and playground expansion (to be completed in FY 2021 via Community Development Block Grant funding).
“The improvements identified through our extensive community engagement and planning process demonstrated our community needs have grown beyond our current budget,” Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director, said in supplied material. “The Parks and Recreation Department has exhausted current general funds, including a parks millage that expired in 2013.
“We have only been able to achieve improvements through various grant opportunities which are becoming more and more difficult to acquire,” she said. “To keep pace with our growing community needs, new funding is critical.”
Work of community-led advisory committee
The City Commission decision comes on the heels of a recommendation made by the City of Kentwood Parks, Trails and Recreation Advisory Committee. The City Commission worked with the committee to refine the plan.
The plan objectives are to begin improvements to City Campus in year two, address the most immediate needs at every park within the first five years, start construction on a new community center in year five and complete all remaining improvements within 10 years.
In addition to the potential permanent dedicated millage, the City would contribute up to $3.6 million from other funding sources and a future loan of up to $5 million, which would come from the City’s Special Assessment Revolving Fund. An internal loan would eliminate the need to issue a bond and associated interest, according to the city.
The 19-member advisory committee included a broad cross-section of Kentwood residents to ensure the diverse needs of the community would be represented in the review of the proposed improvements. Ed Kape, who currently serves on the Planning Commission and as chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, served as chair of the advisory committee. Dustin Moseley, a Parks and Recreation commissioner, served as vice chair.
“At the charge of City Commission, Kentwood residents from all over the community pulled together to create this plan,” Kape said in supplied material. “As residents, we unanimously concluded that a millage was necessary to create a sustainable funding plan for the future of our parks, trails and recreational programming.
“We are pleased the City Commission has approved putting the millage question on the August ballot so residents can weigh in on this opportunity to support our parks in a new and meaningful way.”
In developing its recommendation, the advisory committee reviewed, and prioritized improvements identified in the Parks and Recreation Business Plan, Parks Master Plan, Non-Motorized Trail Plan and findings from the Plan Our Parks – POP! Public Engagement Series.
“We are thankful for the residents’ involvement in the committee and its holistic review process,” Mayor Kepley said. “The detailed visionary planning they’ve contributed to will increase Kentwood’s excellent quality of life for many years to come.”
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV has your weekly high school sports schedule, and our coverage crew will be out twice the week. The Featured Game coverage schedule for the last week of February includes Tuesday, Feb. 25, with girls and boys basketball featuring Tri-unity Christian High School at Grand River Prep; and Friday, Feb. 28, with girls/boys basketball with Tri-unity Christian again on the road at Wyoming Potter’s House.
WKTV’s girls and boys basketball District Tournament coverage to be begin March is still being determined, but should be announced by the end of this week.
Where and when to see the game
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Feb. 24 Girls Basketball Wellsprings Prep @ West Michigan Aviation Boys Basketball Wellsprings Prep @ West Michigan Aviation Boys/Girls Bowling Wyoming Lee @ Potter’s House
Tuesday, Feb. 25 Boys Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Grand River Prep — WKTV Featured Event Potter’s House @ Wellsprings Prep Zion Christian @ Muskegon Catholic Central NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian South Christian @ FH Eastern Middleville T-K @ Wyoming Kelloggsville @ Holland East Kentwood @ Grand Haven Girls Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Grand River Prep — WKTV Featured Event Zion Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran Potter’s House @ Wellsprings Prep Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights South Christian @ FH Eastern Middleville T-K @ Wyoming Kelloggsville @ Holland Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
Wednesday, Feb. 26 — no events
Thursday, Feb. 27 Girls Basketball West Michigan Lutheran @ Holland Black River Zion Christian @ West Michigan Aviation Fruitport Calvary Christian @ Grand River Prep Boys Basketball West Michigan Lutheran @ Holland Black River Grand Rapids Adventist @ Grand River Prep Boys Diving East Kentwood @ Hudsonville – Conference Prelims Boys Hockey East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation @ West Ottawa – MHSAA Regionals
Friday, Feb. 28 Boys/Girls Bowling Tri-Unity Christian @ TBA – MHSAA State Team Regionals – Boys Wyoming Lee – MHSAA State Team Regionals @ Park Center Lanes Godwin Heights – MHSAA State Team Regionals South Christian – MHSAA State Team Regionals @ M-66 Bowl Wyoming- MHSAA State Team Regionals East Kentwood – MHSAA State Team Regionals Boys Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Potter’s House — WKTV Featured Event Kalamazoo Phoenix @ West Michigan Lutheran Covenant Christian @ West Michigan Aviation Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville Christian @ South Christian Wyoming @ FH Eastern East Kentwood @ Caledonia Girls Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Potter’s House — WKTV Featured Event West Michigan Aviation @ West Michigan Lutheran Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville Christian @ South Christian Wyoming @ FH Eastern East Kentwood @ Caledonia Boys Swimming South Christian @ Hastings East Kentwood @ Hudsonville – Conference Prelims Boys Wrestling MHSAA Team State Finals
Saturday, Feb. 29 Boys/Girls Bowling Tri-Unity Christian @ TBA – MHSAA State Individual Regionals – Boys Wyoming Lee – MHSAA State Individual Regionals- @ Park Center Lanes Godwin Heights – MHSAA State Individual Regionals South Christian – MHSAA State Individual Regionals @ M-66 Bowl East Kentwood – MHSAA Individual Regionals Boys Swimming South Christian @ Hastings East Kentwood @ Hudsonville – Conference Finals Girls Cheer Wyoming – State Regionals
Kentwood’s Sylvia James, right, is sworn in to serve on the the Kent ISD School Board. James is also serving as Trustee on the Board of Education for Kentwood Public Schools. (Supplied/Kent ISD)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The Kent ISD School Board recently announced the appointment of Sylvia James to fill the opening on the board created when Bill Joseph retired. James is also serving as Trustee on the Board of Education for Kentwood Public Schools.
According to the ISD statement, in addition to her service in Kentwood’s public school system, she has extensive professional experience in operational and strategic human resources practices and management at Pridgeon & Clay, Inc., and previously with Steelcase, Spectrum Health and Robert Bosch, LLC.
“We are pleased to welcome Sylvia to the Kent ISD School Board and look forward to enlisting her experience, passion and dedication to serve all students in the Kent County area,” Ron Caniff, Superintendent, Kent ISD, said in supplied material. “The board is grateful to Bill Joseph for his 18 years of service, countless insights and many contributions throughout the years. We look forward to continuing this important work with Sylvia’s leadership and commitment to public education.”
James has lived in the Kentwood area for more than 25 years and is interested in expanding her reach to help meet the needs of students throughout the region, according to the ISD.
“I love how Kent ISD works collaboratively with all of the districts to provide programs and services to the residents of 23 public and non-public school districts.” James said in supplied material. “I am committed to ensuring that our students are well educated, as we provide for their safety and welfare.”
James was sworn in at the February Kent ISD School Board meeting. She will serve until the June 2021 election, at which time she can run to serve the remainder of Joseph’s term, through 2025.
Kent ISD is a regional educational service agency “devoted to achievement for all students,” and provides instructional and administrative services to more than 300 schools, 20 public districts, three non-public districts, and many public school academies and non-public schools.
For more information on the Kent ISD, see kentisd.org.
“Time flies whether you are having fun or not. Your choice.”
Anonymous
(Supplied/Grand Rapids Symphony)
Inside in GR, with a wizard
The Harry Potter Film Concerts Series returns to DeVos Performance Hall with “Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince” on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22, with the Grand Rapids Symphony performing the live score while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen. Go here for the story.
The start of the 2019 Freeze Fest disc golf event. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)
Inside and outside in Kentwood
The City of Kentwood will have two community events this Saturday, including the Annual Freeze Fest Disc Golf Tournament, and a Hawaiian Luau-Themed Family Dance, both on Feb. 22. Go here for the story.
Outside in Grand Haven
On Saturday, Feb. 22, from 2 to 4 p.m., downtown Grand Haven businesses will be showcasing their favorite Nursery Rhymes during the tenth annual Frozen in Time. Frozen in Time is a window display competition, complete with live mannequins and an Oscar-style awards ceremony. Go here for the story.
Fun fact:
It will not be -13 (we hope)
That record low temperature in Grand Rapids was set in 1966 with a low of -13 degrees, which we tied Feb. 19, 2015.
At the Patterson Avenue and 44th Street project site, from left, KCRC Project Engineer Eric Rodegher, Kentwood Director of Engineering and Inspections Tim Bradshaw and KCRC Engineering Inspector Sean McKean. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The Michigan Concrete Association has recognized the City of Kentwood and the Kent County Road Commission with an Award of Excellence for the agencies’ joint project at the intersection of Patterson Avenue and 44th Street, according to the City of Kentwood.
The project’s goal was to improve traffic flow throughout the heavily traveled intersection, which serves as the entrance to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
Completed in August 2019, the two-month project widened sections of both roads to provide dual left-turn lanes from eastbound 44th Street to northbound Patterson Avenue. The intersection’s north and west approaches were also reconstructed, receiving new full-depth concrete surfaces.
“To keep pace with the growth of Kentwood and the airport, additional lane capacity was achieved to improve commuting times for motorists at this critical intersection,” Tim Bradshaw, City of Kentwood Director of Engineering and Inspections, said in supplied material.
The award was presented during the Michigan Concrete Association 2020 Winter Conference and Workshop on Thursday, Feb. 13, in East Lansing. A competitive awards program, Kentwood and KCRC’s joint project was one of 25 that were recognized among the more than 45 projects that were submitted, according to the city.
“The new full-depth concrete pavement will serve this heavily traveled intersection for many years, reducing any future traffic impacts to the thousands of travelers who use the airport,” Dan DeGraaf, MCA executive director, said in supplied material. “The airport, city and county should be proud of the welcoming gateway that this intersection provides to visitors and motorists alike.”
Contractor Kamminga & Roodvoet completed the road improvements and Strain Electric performed the necessary traffic signal upgrades. Because of the intersection’s high traffic volumes and demand, the project was completed while maintaining two-way traffic and left turns at all times.
“This project is an excellent example of multi-agency collaboration,” Wayne Harrall, KCRC deputy managing director of engineering, said in supplied material. “Not only did Kentwood, the road commission and the contractors work together to complete a high-quality project, but the airport also provided critical support and communication that helped thousands of daily motorists safely navigate the work zone daily.”
If you are interested in improving your English skills, make plans to attend the English Language Learners enrollment session presented by the Literacy Center of West Michigan. The program will take place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, at the Kelloggsville Branch of Kent District Library. Any adult who wants to learn English or improve their skills is invited to attend.
Attendees will learn about and can sign up for a free, 15-week community English class that will take place at the Kelloggsville Branch of KDL. The class will meet from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 10 – June 18. Anyone interested in taking the class should attend the enrollment session.
“Our goal in holding an English class at the Kelloggsville Branch is to provide English literacy instruction to adults in a context that is immediately relevant to their lives,” said Chad Patton, Director of Customized Workplace English for the Literacy Center of West Michigan. “We are excited to help adults in this community reach their literacy goals, and we think that this partnership with Kent District Library only makes sense.”
African-American legends will “appear” at Woodland Mall during Black History Month thanks to reinactors from New Hope Baptist Church. (Supplied/Woodland Mall)
By Woodland Mall
African-American legends will “appear” at Woodland Mall during Black History Month thanks to reinactors from New Hope Baptist Church. (Supplied/Woodland Mall)
Jay Z, Tina Turner, Coco Gauff and Congressman John Lewis will be among the African-American legends “appearing” at Woodland Mall during Black History Month — thanks to a special partnership with New Hope Baptist Church.
Woodland Mall and New Hope Baptist Church are partnering to bring a “live museum” to the mall on Saturday, Feb. 29, from 2 to 5 p.m. The one-day only exhibit will feature actors portraying notable and important African-American figures in politics, sports, science, arts, entertainment and other areas.
Ranging in age from 10 to 72, the actors are all volunteers from New Hope Baptist Church in Grand Rapids.
“We are proud to partner with New Hope Baptist Church for the eighth year of this great event,” said Cecily McCabe, marketing director for the Woodland Mall. “The live museum gives our guests the opportunity to learn through personal connections. We look forward to the talents of the volunteers who work so hard to create a memorable event.”
During the live museum, actors and volunteers will portray African-American figures in history and current culture. The performers bring their persona to life by adopting mannerisms and speaking from a script. Interaction will be limited to the script so performers can fully immerse themselves as the people they are portraying.
“The performers work hard for the weeks leading up to the event each year,” said Rev. Dr. Howard Earle, Jr., senior pastor at New Hope Baptist Church and visionary of the African-American live museum. “The community looks forward to this event as an opportunity to help educate our community and to share the wonderful talents of our volunteers.”
The event, Earle said, impacts everyone in the community, generating a sense of pride that spans generations.
“Events like the live museum demonstrate the importance of diversity in our country,” Earle explained. “African-Americans are an integral part of all professions and have made significant contributions to our cultural identity – from science to politics to entertainment. We’re confident everyone will not only learn something at this event, but enjoy it as well.”
The live museum is free inside the Woodland Mall, and everyone is welcome to attend. Throughout the history of the event, no figures have been repeated, with one exception. Former President Barack Obama was first seen early in his administration and again in 2017 as he exited office.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV has your weekly high school sports schedule, and our coverage crew will be out twice the week.
The Featured Game coverage schedule for the remainder of February includes the following:
Tuesday, Feb. 18 — Boys Basketball Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee
Friday, Feb. 21 — Girls/Boys Basketball West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
Tuesday, Feb. 25 — Girls/Boys Basketball Tri-unity Christian @ Grand River Prep
Friday, Feb. 28 — Girls/Boys Basketball Tri-unity Christian @ Potter’s House
Where and when to see the game
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Feb. 17 Boys/Girls Bowling South Christian @ FH Eastern Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids Kelloggsville @ Wellsprings Prep Girls Cheer Wyoming @ Comstock Park Kelloggsville @ Comstock Park
Tuesday, Feb. 18 Boys Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Fennville Algoma Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran West Michigan Aviation @ Zion Christian Grand River Prep @ Fruitport Calvary Christian Muskegon Catholic Central @ Potter’s House Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee — WKTV Featured Event Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian South Christian @ Middleville T-K Wyoming @ Hudsonville Kelloggsville @ Belding Rockford @ East Kentwood Girls Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Fennville Algoma Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran West Michigan Aviation @ Zion Christian Grand River Prep @ Fruitport Calvary Christian Potter’s House @ Muskegon Catholic Central Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights Middleville T-K @ South Christian Hudsonville @ Wyoming Belding @ Kelloggsville Rockford @ East Kentwood Girls Cheer East Kentwood @ Comstock Park
Wednesday, Feb. 19 Boys/Girls Bowling Wayland @ South Christian Byron Center @ Wyoming East Kentwood @ Grand Haven Boys Wrestling East Kentwood – MHSAA Team Regionals
Thursday, Feb. 20 Boys/Girls Bowling Grand River Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian East Kentwood @ Caledonia Boys Basketball West Michigan Lutheran @ Kalamazoo Phoenix West Michigan Aviation @ Barry County Christian Girls Basketball Barry County Christian @ Grand River Prep Boys Swimming South Christian @ Ottawa Hills
Friday, Feb. 21 Boys Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Black River West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House — WKTV Featured Event Holland Calvary @ Grand River Prep Zion Christian @ Calhoun Christian Wyoming Lee @ Belding South Christian @ Wayland Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian Grandville @ East Kentwood Girls Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Black River West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House — WKTV Featured Event Zion Christian @ Calhoun Christian Wyoming Lee @ Belding South Christian @ Wayland Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian Grandville @ East Kentwood Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ TBA — O-K Silver Post Season Tourney Boys Hockey South Christian @ Christian Girls Cheer Wyoming – TBA – MHSAA State Districts
Saturday, Feb. 22 Boys/Girls Bowling Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian South Christian – OK Green-Gold Tournament @ Park Center Lanes Wyoming @ Christian East Kentwood – Post Season Conference Tournament Girls Cheer Wyoming Lee @ Comstock Park – Districts @ East Kentwood – MHSAA Districts Boys Hockey Catholic Central @ South Christian Boys Wrestling East Kentwood – MHSAA Individual Regionals
Monday, Feb. 24 Girls Basketball Wellsprings Prep @ West Michigan Aviation Boys Basketball Wellsprings Prep @ West Michigan Aviation Boys/Girls Bowling Wyoming Lee @ Potter’s House
