Category Archives: City of Kentwood

Led by Rep. Brann and Sen. Peters, abuse victims, pets gain protections in new laws

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Crime Prevention, Pets/Animals, Politics,


New laws aim to prevent and punish crimes against abuse victims’ pets. (MaxPixel)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

After nearly a year of work introducing and shepherding two bills though the Michigan Legislature, newly reelected state Rep. Tommy Brann received a early Christmas present when his animal abuse prevention and prosecution law — the “Howie Bill” — was signed by then Gov. Rick Snyder as one of this last official acts.

The Governor’s approval followed the mid-December Senate approval of Rep. Brann’s House-approved bills, when they gained support from 33 of 37 state senators voting.

State Rep. Tommy Brann (R-77th District)

Rep. Brann, a Republican who represents the 77th District, which includes the City of Wyoming and Byron Township, told WKTV in December that House Bills 4332 and 4333 would “increase the penalties of animal cruelty crimes in Michigan and actually puts into law that pets are companion animals. I nicknamed it the ‘Howie Bill,’ after my late dog.”

The resulting new law will “make it a crime to knowingly torture, mutilate or kill an animal with the intent to cause mental distress or exert control over a person,” he previously said.

Coincidentally, a similar law was passed on the federal level, an effort led by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.).

Sen. Peters announced in mid-December the Congressional passage of the bipartisan legislation, also introduced with Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nevada) to help protect domestic violence survivors and their pets.


The Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act expands existing federal domestic violence protections to include threats or acts of violence against a survivor’s pet, and “helps provide funding for facilities that harbor survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence and their pets, or are looking to do so.”

The legislation passed the Senate and the House of Representatives as part of a larger bill setting agriculture policy and later was signed by President Donald Trump.

Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.)

“Survivors of domestic violence should never have to decide between leaving an abusive relationship or staying and risking their safety to protect their pets,” Sen. Peters said in supplied material. “This bill will help ensure more safe havens for survivors and their pets are available.”

According to the statement from Sen. Peters’s office, multiple studies have shown that domestic abusers often seek to manipulate or intimidate their victims by threatening or harming their pets, but according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), only three percent of domestic violence shelters across the country accept pets. The ASPCA reported that a study in Wisconsin found 68 percent of domestic violence survivors reported their abusers were also violent towards their animals.

A similar study found that as many as 25 percent of domestic violence survivors have returned to an abusive partner out of concern for their pet. A separate 2007 study found that as many as one-third of domestic abuse survivors reported they delayed leaving an abuser for an average of two years out of concern for the safety of their pet.

Statistics and studies aside, Rep. Brann’s passion for protecting abused persons and their pets was very personal.

“Justice should include family pets because they could be used for manipulation or harm just like our loved ones on two legs,” Brann said early in 2018 as his “Howie Bill” moved through the state House. “As a pet lover myself, it pains me that animal abuse continues to be a growing a problem in Michigan and we absolutely need to address it. … This legislation will be a solution to address this awful problem.”

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood weekend news you ought to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Business, Local Faces, , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

"It is never too late to be what you might have been.”

                                                     —George Eliot 

Only 354 days until Christmas!
Now, about that tree…

Don’t let your Christmas tree dry out — drop it off at a designated site

Wondering what to do with that Christmas tree? If you’re a resident of Wyoming, there is a drop-off site at 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW. Kentwood residents can drop off their trees at the city’s Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE from 7:30am-4pm Monday-Friday, through Jan. 31. Get the details here.

No. 89… No. 89… Oh, wait…

Cool, old-timey photo of the Grand Rapids Symphony in the 1930s

The Grand Rapids Symphony officially organized on Jan. 11, 1930, making it 89 in 2019. Coincidentally, the Symphony has a concert performance on Jan. 11. So to celebrate its 89th birthday, one of the featured pieces is Hayden’s Symphony No. 89. Pretty clever, no? Go here for more info.

And now, a blast from the past

Remember them now?

Hey! Remember S&H Green Stamps? No? Maybe your mom does — well, your grandmother definitely does. You can trace the roots of Meijer’s MPerks and Hallmark’s Gold Crown Rewards back to about 1896, when Sperry & Hutchinson (the S&H — get it?) started to offer its loyalty retail program to supermarkets, gas stations and stores in the form of small green stamps. Managing editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma dishes on this once-ubiquitous homemaker staple here.



Fun fact:

45%

That’s the percentage of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions. The top resolutions are: to lose weight, get organized, to spend less and save more, to stay fit and healthy, and to quit smoking. While nearly half of all Americans make resolutions, 25 percent of them give up on their resolutions by the second week of January. That’s next week, y’all.

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood weekend news you want to know — end-of-year edition

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Education, Local Business, Local Faces, Our Cities, Tech Trends, , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

"It doesn't matter where you came from. All that matters is where you are going.”

                                                     -- Brian Tracy                                          

It’s been an interesting year.
Let’s take a look back.

Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus rehearses its holiday music.

Managing editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma has rounded up the most popular stories of 2018 and corralled them into one spot. Go here to see what readers read the most.

Everybody has a profile.
Even Kent County.

Cool, fun graphic

Counties have profiles? You bet! Thanks to the Kent County Administration and their most excellent bilingual survey, the secret is out: Kent County’s median age of 34.9 years old is more than five years younger than Michigan as a whole and 50 percent of the population of about 648,594 is 35-years-old or younger. Go here for the cool details.

Get ahead of the game.

Wouldn’t it be fun to pay your tax bill with Monopoly money?

You know that big tax cut we’ve all been hearing about? The one that has corporations so excited? Well, there’s a tiny bit of relief for single people and families, too. Standard deductions for single taxpayers nearly double from $6,350 for 2017 taxes to $12,000 for 2018 taxes (the ones you file in 2019). It might get confusing, but there’s free tax help here. Take advantage of it.


Fun fact:

April 11, 1954 

According to Cambridge computer scientist William Tunstall-Pedoe and his search engine project, ‘True Knowledge’, that’s the ‘Most Boring Day in History‘. After sifting through and analyzing 300 million facts, ‘True Knowledge’ divined that on April 11, 1954, a general election was held in Belgium, Turkish academic Professor Abdullah Atalar was born, and an Oldham Athletic footballer by the name of Jack Shufflebotham died. That’s it. Nothing else that matters happened.

Hey, kudos, dude.

Ford Airport continues to surpass all-time passenger numbers

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, ,
Volunteers welcome veterans and military personality home for the holidays at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport

By Alicia Roberts
Gerald R. Ford International Airport


The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) finished the month of November having served an all-time record number of passengers. November 2018 saw an 18-percent growth year-over-year, putting the Ford Airport just shy of 3 million passengers served for 2018. (The airport would hit three million passengers served in December.)

November marks the eleventh record-breaking month in a row, and the airport has seen growth in 64 of the last 71 months. November 2018 was the busiest November ever, and at this point in the year GFIA has surpassed its annual total reached in every other year including 2017’s record setting 2.8 million passengers. 

November 2018 had 272,438 passengers come through the Ford Airport, up from 230,946 in 2017. GFIA is up 16-percent in annual passenger totals. 

“We have already surpassed last year’s record numbers with one of our busiest months still to go,” said GFIA Interim President & CEO Brian Picardat. “We are thankful for the support we receive from the West Michigan community. We continue to work to add more air service by working with  our airline partners to add destinations that West Michigan travelers want to visit. As we continue to grow, we look forward to more big things in 2019.” 

American Airlines began new nonstop service to Miami International Airport (MIA) and Phoenix- Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) earlier this week. Allegiant announced nonstop service to Sarasota-Bradenton (SRQ) in November which will begin in April 2019. 

GFIA monthly passenger statistics are available on our website: http://www.flyford.org/history.php. 

Kent County’s strategic planning process continues with county profile, bilingual survey

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming


One element of the just released Kent County profile. (Kent County/Public Sector Consultants)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

After three community meetings — one in Kentwood in mid-December, an extensive “profile” of the county and a current bilingual survey, the Kent County administration is in the final stages of information collection for its current strategic planning process.

Over the past six months, according to supplied information, county leaders have “engaged in a strategic planning process that will guide its leadership through the next five years to better reflect the changing demographics, economics, and needs of the County.”

One currently ongoing element of community input is a Spanish-language bilingual survey, which will be accepting input until Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. (A link to the survey is here.)

“Community engagement is absolutely integral to the success of Kent County,” Wayman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller, said in previously supplied information. “It is important for us to hear the thoughts and ideas from our communities as we renew our strategic plan and effectively plan for the future.”

Partnered with Public Sector Consultants, a Lansing-based research and project management firm, the county conducted “several forward-looking conversations with external stakeholders, elected officials, County administration leaders, and residents on what goals and action items should be included in the County’s next strategic plan.”

Additionally, a county profile was developed and announced this week. (See the graphic profile here.)

Among the highlights of the profile are that the county’s median age of 34.9 years old is more than five years younger than Michigan as a whole and that 50 percent of the population of about 648,594 is 35-years-old or younger. That population is up 7.6 parent from 2010, when the last Federal census was conducted. Other highlights of the profile are that the county as the fastest growing metro economy in the United States, up 21.8 percent over five years, and that county’s violent crimes (reported in 2016) of 367 per 100,000 population was less than both the state and the country as a whole.

Upon completion of the community-engagement process, Public Sector Consultants will develop a strategic plan with the goal being to have the Board of Commissioners review a draft plan in late February 2019 and then to publicly release it in March.

“Solutions and ideas do not just come from government — they come from our residents who live, work, and play in Kent County,” said Britt.

For more information about the Kent County Administration visit accesskent.com .

Popular KDL adult reading program returns in January

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, ,
Time to start checking out books for the KDL Let It Snow adult reading program.

BY WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The Kent District Library’s “Let It Snow” reading program for adults returns in January.

Adults (18 and older) who participate and read a minimum of six books in different categories between Wednesday, Jan. 2, and Sunday, March 31, will receive a Let It Snow coffee mug. Participants who finish an additional four titles are entered into a drawing to win either an iPad or a one-year Costco membership.

“Let it Snow is a fun and engaging program for adults to participate in during the dreary winter months,” said former Byron Township Youth Library Barb DeYoung. “With the book lists provided, readers can find new authors or select books they normally wouldn’t pick out. Cozying up with a good book is the perfect cure for those winter blahs!”

While the program doesn’t kick off util early January, those interested in participating can check out some of the recommended reads for Let It Snow.

For more on the Let It Snow program, visit kdl.org.

School News Network: On fire for choir in Kelloggsville

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, ,

By Bridie Bereza
School News Network


“30…29…28…27…26…”

Susan Berce counted down as a group of 38 eager third-graders at East Kelloggsville Elementary scrambled to pitch their trash after lunch. While other students were heading to recess, this group stayed put and returned to their seats in this music room, where they eat lunch every Tuesday as members of the school’s newly formed choir.

Kimberly Mercado-Rodriguez, front, and Madison Kowtko raise their voices

They got into the rhythm with a little body percussion: Boom snap clap, ba-boom snap clap. Boom snap clap…Then they pulled out their sheet music and Berce accompanied and directed them through “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

“These kids can sing and they love to sing,” said Berce, who teaches kindergarten through third grade music at East and West Kelloggsville elementary schools. She recently began extracurricular choirs at both schools. Participation is voluntary, and choir members need parental permission to join. Each student signed a contract commiting to sing during one lunch and one recess every week.

Jonathan Jimenez sings his heart as choirmates Lyla Salgado and Han Pham concentrate on their parts

A Little Time, a Big Vision

Elementary school choir has long been a vision for Berce, who has spent her career in Kelloggsville. In the six years she has taught music, Berce hasn’t had time in her schedule to direct a choir until this year, when burgeoning enrollment allowed the district to add more staff. When asked what she might do with the little extra time in her day, she said she did not hesitate: she wanted to start a choir. Students didn’t hesitate, either: more than half of the roughly 70 third-graders at East Kelloggsville joined.

So why do it at lunch? Many districts with thriving choirs meet after school, but that wasn’t realistic for Berce if she wanted participants.

“(Parents) work hard, they have jobs that they have to be at — we don’t have that flexibility to keep kids after school,” said Berce. “Lunch seemed the obvious choice.

If the excitement on their faces and the passion in their voices are any indication, that choice is working out well.

“I prefer to sing than go outside and play,” said Kiana Chenh, who says she has been singing since she was 4. While she’s a little shy about solos, she has found her niche in choir: “I like to sing in a big group.”

For more local school news, visit schoolnewnsnetwork.org.

Choir members Brooklinh Tran, Laila White, and Lilyana Cano watch their director and teacher Susan Berce, for queues. 

Carole Hunnes-Nielsen Exhibit opening at Pine Rest Leep Art Gallery Jan. 3

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, ,

Stars of Heaven by Carole Hunnes-Nielsen

By Colleen Cullison

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

 

A new exhibit titled, “Changing Seasons,” by local artist Carole Hunnes-Nielsen, opens at the Leep Art Gallery on Jan. 3 at the Postma Center on the Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services campus in Grand Rapids.

 

Hunnes-Nielsen graduated from Western Michigan University with a master’s and bachelor’s degrees in art education. Her work in watercolor and watercolor batik has won awards with the Michigan Watercolor Society, Celebration of the Arts, and Festival of the Arts.

 

“The seasons of our lives bring many changes as do the change of seasons in nature. My work embraces a love of life and a love of nature,” says Carole Hunnes-Nielsen. “I am inspired by the change of seasons in our beautiful state of Michigan and the changes in life that we celebrate. I hope to express that love of life and nature in my work through the use of expressive color and experimentation with technique. The influence of Vincent VanGogh’s use of bright color can be seen in my work.”

 

“My work captures a moment in life that has brought me joy. It brings me pleasure to be able to share my work with others. My hope is that through viewing my work, you will feel the same happiness as I did in creating it.”

 

Hunnes-Nielsen spent 30 years teaching high school art. As a retired art teacher, she enjoys sharing her love of art through teaching watercolor batik workshops. She is a member of the American Watercolor Society, Michigan Watercolor Society and the Franciscan Painters. She has had numerous solo exhibitions and has been in many juried shows.

 

Hunnes-Nielsen is a lifelong Michigan resident and currently lives in Rockford.

 

The Pine Rest Leep Art Gallery exhibit will be on display at the Postma Center located at 300 68th Street, SE, Grand Rapids, Mich., from January 3 until April 3, 2019. The Leep Art Gallery is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 616.222.4530 or go to www.pinerest.org/leep-art-gallery .

Wyoming schools new superintendent, county Friend of the Court on WKTV Journal In Focus

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Crime Prevention, WKTV Journal In Focus, ,

K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, visiting our studio is Wyoming Public Schools new Superintendent Craig Hoekstra, talking about his history and the future of his district, including what the district plans following the recent passage of a bond measure. Also on the show is the Kent County Friend of the Court, which works with the Circuit Court in the area of domestic relations but which has duties that are moving beyond simply investigation and enforcement.

Superintendent Hoekstra began his current duties in July of this year, but his history with Wyoming Public Schools runs deep, almost 30 years in fact. First as a student, then as a custodian, teacher, principal and, from 2015, as Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services. But we talk more about his and the district’s future than his past.

The Kent County Friend of the Court is the collection, enforcement and investigative arm of the Circuit Court in the area of domestic relations. We talk Daniel Fojtik, Friend of the Court Director, and Kent County Commissioner Harold Voorhees, on the FOC and its duties, as well as a recent report on the status of a series of Community Engagement Task Force Recommendations.



“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). But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

School News Network: Home for the Holidays in Kelloggsville

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming,
Nayeliz Sierra, a fourth-grader at Kelloggsville Southeast Elementary, bounded out the door of her home to greet her teachers

By Bridie Bereza
School News Network


Last week, Kelloggsville students got quite the thrill when teachers from the district came to their homes bearing gift bags.

Nayeliz Sierra, a fourth-grader at Kelloggsville Southeast Elementary, lives at the first stop on the route west of Division Avenue. She bounded out of the front door and into the arms of several teachers, one right after the other, before receiving her bag. Her ear-to-ear smile never faded.

Fourth-grader Nayeliz Sierra beams after receiving her goodie bag

“I think it’s important to make these connections with the families, coming to them instead of them always coming to us,” said Amy Stratton, a third grade teacher at West Kelloggsville Elementary.

Paula Dykstra, community coordinator for Kelloggsville Public Schools, couldn’t agree more. She organized the holiday home visits.

“One reason I really wanted to do this was for our staff to see where and how our students live,” said Dykstra, adding that students throughout the district have a wide range of living circumstances, from a single mother of five living in a two double-bed hotel room to students who live in large homes. “I also did this so the students can see the staff from their schools outside the walls of school. Any way we can include our families is important to Kelloggsville.”

A student, excited to see visitors from his school

By the numbers

Dykstra got the home visit idea from the Kent School Services Network coordinator at Godwin Heights Public Schools, who organized something similar with high school students last year. Dykstra tweaked the idea for Kelloggsville. She said she was blown away by the number of families that wanted to participate in this, its inaugural year.

The staff visited 183 homes, giving bags to 390 students in grades kindergarten through 12. Each bag contained a notebook, Kelloggsville pencil and window cling, a glue stick, crayons or colored pencils, scissors, hot chocolate, mini marshmallows, a candy cane, fruit snacks, and a book. Many items were donated by community partners including Meijer, Target, Owen-Ames-Kimball, ABDick, Culver’s and Flooring America.

Nayeliz Sierra hugs one of her teachers

Home visitors included a school board member, six administrators, 23 school staff, Dykstra’s husband and two bus drivers. Two buses visited homes in the district and three vans ventured farther afield to Schools of Choice students’ homes, going as far north as Plainfield Avenue.

Smiles all around

“Several families wanted staff to come inside and visit, but we were on such a time crunch. We would like to change that for next year,” said Dykstra.

One student told her teacher that her family cleaned the entire house in anticipation of the visit.

Each bag contained a variety of items

“When we pulled up on the bus, little faces would be peering out the front window, waiting for us,” she said.

“After seeing the excited, smiling faces on the children last night, we will most definitely be doing this next year. Even the older high school students were happy to see us.”

Dykstra rode on the bus that visited homes on the east side of Division Avenue.

“When we finished, everyone clapped and said they had a wonderful time.”

For more articles on area schools, visit the School News Network’s website.

School News Network: A gift fit for knights

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, ,
  • Third-grader Colette Banks practices a move
  • Brookwood Elementary students were declared Knights of the Realm
  • Students take their positions
  • ‘En garde!’
  • Students practice sword maneuvers
  • A thrilling joust ends dramatically

By Erin Albanese
School News Network


Brookwood Elementary School students were declared official Knights of the Realm for their respectfulness, responsibility, kindness and other traits that follow the Code of Chivalry, a moral system from the Middle Ages.

The declaration – for more than 50 lords and ladies in fifth grade, 15 in fourth-grade and 15 in third grade – was made during a surprise visit from a queen, knights and a lord from Medieval Times, a Schaumburg, Illinois-based dinner theater company.

Brookwood Elementary School social worker Pam Buschle arranged for Medieval Times to perform as a surprise for her students

Students learned sword maneuvers from the eloquent and honorable knights and watched sparks fly as weapons clanged during an action-packed joust.

“I was really looking forward to the red knight winning,” said fourth-grader Colette Banks.

The visit was organized by social worker Pam Buschle, who is planning to retire at the end of the school year after nearly three decades. Buschle, who lost her arms and legs to amputation while batting septic shock following routine surgery in 2014, said she wanted to thank the children for the love they’ve given her on her road to recovery and beyond.

“The students and the staff at this school and all of Kentwood have given so generously from their hearts to me. This is just a small token of my appreciation for the (Brookwood) kids because they have shown such acceptance and compassion for me throughout this journey of losing my hands and my feet.”

Buschle said she sees Kentwood students living by the knight’s Code of Chivalry. “It’s really modeling treating others with kindness and respect and that is consistent with our message at Brookwood of teaching kid to interact with each others with compassion and caring and respect for differences.”

Fifth-grader Ashtyn Coykendall puts on her Medieval Times crown

Each May, fifth-graders take a trip to Chicago for a dinner show at Medieval Times. It’s a 10-year-old tradition younger students look forward to, and a great way to bring history and language arts to life, said Principal Lorenzo Bradshaw. It also gives opportunities to students who normally would not have them.

“We find opportunities to bring curriculum to life and we have a big focus on informational text,” he said. “What better way than to simulate and give kids the opportunity to experience Medieval Times?”

Third-grader Kamryn Kruisenga offered her own words of gratitude to Buschle. “I want to thank her by giving her a hug! I know all the trouble she’s been through.”

For more news on area schools, visit schoolnewsnetwork.org.

Stay off the naughty list with Kent County DPW’s holiday waste guide

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Holidays, Recycling,
The holidays are a great time for packaging and parties, but there can be a lot of waste to be recycled properly. (Pixabay)

By Kent County Department of Public Works

Wrapping paper, bubble wrap and Christmas lights are just a few items that should not go in recycling bins this holiday season, Kent County Department of Public Works announced today as part of its 2018 Holiday Waste Guide.

“While the holiday season is a time for gift giving, holiday parties and family dinners, it’s also the me of year when our waste drastically increases – almost by 25 percent nationwide,” said Lauren Westerman, Kent County DPW’s Resource Recovery educator. “We’re asking everyone to be aware of what can go into their recycling bins this holiday season and take steps to reduce their waste, recycle and donate old items.”

The Kent County DPW estimates that by the end of 2018 residents will have recycled 500,000 Christmas trees-worth of paper, enough aluminum to make 74,000 tabletop Menorahs and steel to make 53,000 Radio Flyer wagons. To help reduce and recycle even more waste this holiday season, Kent County DPW encourages residents to follow these dos and don’ts:



Do bring reusable shopping bags. Remember to bring reusable bags when Christmas shopping or going to any store, not just the grocery store.

DO NOT recycle wrapping or tissue paper. Wrapping and tissue paper cannot be recycled because it’s low-quality paper that paper mills can’t use to make new paper products. Reduce use of wrapping paper this holiday season by using other creative materials to wrap gifts, such as old maps, colorful cloth or old gift bags.

DO separate packaging. From plastic to cardboard to strings, it’s important to separate packaging materials before recycling them. For example, if a toy comes in a plastic package that also has cardboard, make sure to separate both materials before recycling.

DO NOT throw away electronics. Before throwing away old appliances, gaming systems or other electronics, visit Kent County DPW’s recycling guide.

DO recycle glass bottles. Remember to rinse all glass bottles before placing them in a recycling bin.

DO NOT recycle artificial Christmas trees. Instead, donate them to thrift stores. For those who put up real trees, remember to remove all ornaments, tinsel and other decorations before taking them to a local drop off site.

The Kent County DPW also reminds residents to safely dispose of hazardous materials such as reworks, cooking oil, propane tanks and ammunition on by taking these items to a local drop-o center for safe disposal. These items should never be placed in a trash or recycling bin. For drop-off locations, visit reimaginetrash.org .

For a full list of holiday waste and recycling ps, download Kent County DPW’s guide here.

For some, holiday memories, traditions centered around the mall

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org


There is that nostalgic Christmas image of people walking through downtown looking at the beautifully decorated store windows. But for many who were born in the late 1960s, their holiday memories and traditions centered around visiting Santa at the mall.

The Woodland Mall in the 1970s.

“I grew up in Grand Rapids,” said Cecily McCabe, who earlier this year became the Woodland Mall’s marketing manager. “So it was always a big deal to be able to come here with my family and go Christmas shopping and see all the Christmas décor. We liked to go see Santa every year. So Christmas here was a special time of year.”

In 1954, Northland Mall opened in Southfield, Mich., with a radically new concept: a regional shopping center where people could shop several different stores in one location. Seven years later, the regional shopping concept would come to the Greater Grand Rapids area with Rogers Plaza opening in Wyoming in 1961 followed by Woodland Mall in 1968. What municipality Woodland Mall’s land would be in became such a concern the residents of Paris Township voted to become the City of Kentwood in 1967, keeping the mall in Kentwood.

Construction of Woodland Mall in the 1960s.

By the end of the 1960s, malls had become a staple in American life. This changed holiday traditions that instead of downtown department stores competing to having the best St. Nick and the most lavish decorations to local malls offering an array of holiday experiences. There were indoor ice rinks to a New Jersey mall with a 48-foot Santa. In fact, that Santa was remembered so fondly, the mall brought it out of retirement for this holiday season.

Decorations at Woodland Mall also were special, noted Ann Schlink who has worked at Woodland for 21 years.

The Arctic Forest decorations at Woodland Mall.

“The first one was very elaborate,” Schlink said. “It was throughout the mall, the plaids…There was a big Christmas tree in the mall and then after the redevelopment it got moved down to the Macy’s wing which was nice because it was Hudson’s at the time and it tied into the the Hudson’s theme a lot.”

Eventually those decorations were retired to the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The former mall decorations are now used in the museum’s Streets of Old Grand Rapids.

Woodland also had a Santas around the world display and Schlink said most people will remember the Christmas tree from a couple of years ago, which now stands in the mall’s outside plaza. The current Arctic Forest decorations, which was unveiled in 2017, includes 12 decorated trees and a 12-foot lighted polar bear known as Ursa. Even the Woodland Mall stores get into the holiday spirit with decorated windows just like what the department stores use to do.

Children visit the Rogers Plaza Santa. Picture is from the 1970s. (Courtesy, personal collection.)

Besides having Santa, Malls also hosted a variety of activities. Rogers Plaza has had the Wyoming Gives Back for the past 12 years. After first opening, Woodland Mall had a production of “A Christmas Carol.” Today, Woodland hosts a holiday concert series and RiverTown Crossings, which opened in 1999, has had pop up shops featuring an array of vendors.

“We use to really like Marshall Fields because they had frozen yogurt upstairs so it was a big deal for us to get our frozen yogurt everytime we came to the mall,” McCabe said. “So we had these little family traditions based around our shopping habits as a kid. It was fun.’’

Schlink said she always enjoyed the piano player at Hudson’s with McCabe adding Woodland is excited about having Von Maur open next year as the store will be bringing the tradition of a piano back to Woodland Mall.

Hudson’s, a Detroit-based company, became Chicago-based Marshall Fields, which later was taken over by New York City’s Macy’s.

With the passage of time, things change. Hudson’s became Marshall Fields which became Macy’s. Other stores, such as Gantos, Kinney Shoes, Disney Stores, Florsheim Shoes, and Anchor Blue, and even some malls — Northland Mall was torn down in 2017 — have since faded from the landscape. The places are remembered fondly with sites dedicated to past malls and stores. Geoffrey Hudson talks of visits to the former North Kent Mall, which was located on Plainfield Avenue from 1971 – 2000, in his blog GR Retro.

“I used to go to North Kent almost exclusively to hang out at Aladdin’s Castle, one of the last great old-school game arcades,” Hudson writes on the site. “…Another thing I remember is for a while, NK was the home to the only old-style photo booths. Not the sort that are around today where you can be superimposed in front of the backgrounds and such, but the type where it fires off four takes and you get a strip of (black & white!) photos at the end.”

Along with changing photo booths, technology has changed shopping patterns, but malls like Woodland remain a focal point for many especially during the holidays.

A choral performance at Woodland Mall during the 1980s.

“It’s so busy and full of families excited to see Santa Claus and enjoying all our decor and special events,” McCabe said. “So it’s just really fun to see families gathering here and shopping and enjoying this special time of the year.”

“The people that I have worked with over the years and met through the mall over the years, they comeback at Christmas,” Schlink said. “It’s like a reunion of the people and it’s magical because now they are bringing their children to see Santa Claus and to do  shopping and it just feels like home.”

Santa makes his entrance at Woodland Mall.


Local youth dancer talks to WKTV about GR Ballet ‘Nutcracker’ performance

City of Kentwood, Entertainment, Going Local, Holidays, WKTV Projects

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

As the Grand Rapids Ballet likes to say: “It isn’t the holidays without ‘The Nutcracker’.” And for one local youth, it will be a holiday to remember because she is part of the show.

The Grand Rapids Ballet is in the midst of its annual run of “The Nutcracker”, with final performances Dec. 21-23. As the ballet was preparing for the performances, WKTV Journal caught up with one of the youth dancers in the performances, Kentwood’s Cecilia Nguyen.

Grand Rapids Ballet’s production includes, according to the Ballet, “the world-famous design of Chris Van Allsburg, Broadway-quality sets by Tony Award winner Eugene Lee, festive choreography by Val Caniparoli, and live music from Grand Rapids Symphony, all come together to create pure magic.”

“The Nutcracker” opened Dec. 14 and will continue this weekend, Friday-Sunday, at ther DeVos Performance Hall, downtown Grand Rapids. For more information and tickets visit GRBallet.com .

Kentwood’s Holiday Greetings brings heartfelt words from dignitaries, citizens

3-bottom, City of Kentwood
WKTV not only was there to film Holiday Greetings, we covered the entire night. (WKTV video/Micah Cho)


WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

 
The City of Kentwood officially began the holiday season with its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Light Parade, on Friday, Dec. 7, centered around the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch.

The evening was filled with festive activities, including a parade, live holiday music and carriage rides, as well as caroling and a tree lighting ceremony. Hot chocolate and cookies will be offered, and Santa, of course, was there to take pictures with families.

It was also an opportunity for local dignitaries and citizens to record Kentwood Holiday Greetings, an annual service of WKTV community media. Here is a selection of those greetings:

Mayor Stephen Kepley

Doreen Scholl, Diana and Nicolas

Police Chief Thomas Hillen

 The Filler Family

Laurence Uwase

Reagan Adolfo, Kentwood Historic Preservation Commission member

For all WKTV Holiday Greetings from both Wyoming and Kentwood, visit WKTV’s YouTube Channel.

For more information about City of Kentwood community events, visit the city’s website at kentwood.us.
 

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news (10 days before Christmas edition)

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat
Please put a penny in the old man's hat
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God bless you!

                                         - Traditional nursery Rhyme

Santa Claus has a Kentwood shop

(Supplied/Santa Claus Girls)

Over the years, some things have changed but one thing hasn’t — an army of volunteers work to keep up the tradition of buying, wrapping and delivering presents to more than 10,000 kids in Western Michigan. For the complete story, click here.

Lights, lights and more lights 

(courtesy Christmas Lite Show)

This year marks the twenty-first anniversary of celebrating the holidays for Christmas Lite Show — a Grand Rapids-area holiday attraction. Christmas Lite Show is West Michigan’s largest, animated, drive-through light show. Located at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, the attraction maintains almost two miles of lights, tunnels, and animated displays and entertained over 70,000 visitors last year. For the complete story, click here.


And all those holiday traditions

Scenes from Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition and events. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)

Experience the joy of the holidays at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park with the annual Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition on display from Nov. 20 through Jan. 6, 2019. Guests from all over the world visit Meijer Gardens to experience 42 Christmas and holiday trees and displays representing countries and cultures from across the globe. For the complete story, click here.


Fun Fact: 50,000

Ever wonder how many lights there are on the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center? There are 50,000 lights on this year’s 72-foot-tall Norway spruce. (Source) Be glad you’re not paying the electric bill!

Recreational marijuana legalities discussed at Chamber’s WKTV Government Matters meeting

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, WKTV Projects
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)

WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

State government lame duck session efforts, including “tweaks” to the new state minimum wage law pasted early this year by the legislature with the expectation of possibly altering it, as well as city-, state- and federal-level issues with Michigan’s new recreational marijuana law, were among the topics discussed at this weeks Government Matters meeting.

The wide-ranging inter-governmental leaders meeting occurred Monday, Dec. 10, at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum at Kentwood City Hall.

The meeting is rebroadcast on WKTV’s channels and on-demand website (wktvondemand.com). This month’s meeting is available here.

The Government Matters meeting brings together representatives from the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, Kent County commissioners, local Michigan state senators and representatives, as well as often representatives of Michigan’s U.S. senators and U.S. congressman who represent the Wyoming and Kentwood area.

The next meeting will be Jan. 14, 2019 will be at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St SW, from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

The intergovernmental discussion hosted by the chamber focuses on issues that effect residents and businesses in the two cities.

 
For more information about the chamber and Government Matters visit southkent.org . 

The Government Matters meeting brings together representatives from the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, Kent County commissioners, local Michigan state senators and representatives, as well as often representatives of Michigan’s U.S. senators and U.S. congressman who represent the Wyoming and Kentwood area.

The next meeting will be Jan. 14, 2019 will be at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St SW, from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

The intergovernmental discussion hosted by the chamber focuses on issues that effect residents and businesses in the two cities.

The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26.



City of Kentwood announces Winter Concert Series lineup

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Local Entertainment, , ,

Bello Sparkis Tory Peterson, Rob Jordan, Cole Hansen and Jay Kolk. (Courtesy of the band)


By City of Kentwood

The City of Kentwood’s Winter Concert Series is returning in 2019 with free concerts on select Wednesday nights from January to March in the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch.

 

The series features three West Michigan bands: Eric Engblade Trio, Bello Spark and the Sookie J Trio.

El Caribe Food Truck will be on site at each concert offering a variety of Caribbean food. Concert-goers are welcome to bring their own beer or wine to enjoy as well.

“Cold weather shouldn’t stop us from being active and having fun,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director. “Our winter concert series is one of many ways we encourage residents to get out of the house and enjoy the winter programming in Kentwood.

 

“The good food and live music combined with the warm comfort of the library makes for a wonderful evening.”

The lineup, which includes a mix of acoustic folk-rock, jazz and blues music, is as follows:

Wednesday, Jan 9 – The Eric Engblade Trio

Wednesday, Feb. 13 – Bello Spark

Wednesday, March 13 – Sookie J Trio

All concerts will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. in the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch’s community room.

For more information on this year’s concert series, please visit: kentwood.us/parks .



Local prep sports schedule includes WKTV featured basketball, hockey coverage

City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Sports


The WKTV Mobile Unit will be out covering local high school basketball this week. (WKTV)

Mike Moll, WKTV Volunteer Sports Director
sports@wktv.org

A change this year for local high school sports coverage was the tip-off of boys basketball the very first week after their football seasons crowned the state champions on Thanksgiving weekend.

WKTV has also started early to bring local audiences a full slate of games began with the final varsity game to be played at South Christian High School’s current location when the Lady Sailors entertained Hamilton on Dec. 4. But we will also showcase the new location on Kalamazoo Avenue just north of 84th Street, as WKTV will bring the opening night games as both the boys and girls initiate the new gymnasium when they host Unity Christian on Friday, Dec. 21.

The lone hockey game on the schedule to this point for the season will be Saturday Dec. 15 when East Kentwood will host Hudsonville.

As a result of road construction around the East Kentwood campus, the only scheduled basketball games that East Kentwood will be featured in will be on the road including when the boys and girls travel to Wyoming on Friday Dec. 14.

Be sure to support your local schools by watching a game in person if you can, but then also catch the games on WKTV. The support, in both cases, is always appreciated.

In addition our featured games — where our sports crew and remote coverage truck will be on hand — we also have a weekly list of all local sporting contests for local fans to get out and enjoy in person.

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. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.

For complete schedules of programs on WKTV channels, see our Weekly On-air Schedule.

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 wktvondemand.com.

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:

Tuesday, Dec.11
Boys Swimming
@ East Kentwood – Christmas Quad
Boys Basketball
East Kentwood @ Byron Center
Wyoming @ Northview
Potter’s House @ Kelloggsville
Martin @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Lutheran @ Libertas Christian
Western Michigan Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Girls Basketball
Byron Center @ East Kentwood
Wyoming @ Northview
Godwin Heights @ Holland
Kelloggsville @ Potter’s House
West Michigan Aviation @ Zion Christian
Grand River Prep @ Fruitport Calvary Christian
West Michigan Lutheran @ Libertas Christian
Tri-Unity Christian @ Western Michigan Christian
Girls Bowling
Potter’s House @ NorthPointe Christian

Wednesday, Dec. 12
Boys Wrestling
East Kentwood @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ Hamilton
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming Lee
Northview @ Godwin Heights
Boys / Girls Bowling
Wyoming @Christian
South Christian @ Hastings
Rockford @ Tri-Unity Christian – Boys only

Thursday, Dec. 13
Boys / Girls Bowling
Hudsonville @ Wyoming
Godwin Heights @ Wellsprings Prep
Western Michigan Christian @ Potter’s House – Girls Only
Boys Basketball
Zion Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Girls Basketball
Zion Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Godwin Heights @ Ottawa Hills

Friday, Dec. 14
Boys Basketball
East Kentwood @ Wyoming – Purple Community Game – WKTV Featured Event
Kelloggsville @ Hamilton
South Christian @ Caledonia
Laingsburg @ Potter’s House
Wellsprings Prep @ Grand River Prep
West Michigan Lutheran @ Algoma Christian
Tri-Unity Christian @ NorthPointe Christian
Girls Basketball
East Kentwood @ Wyoming – Purple Community Game – WKTV Featured Event
Northview @ Godwin Heights
South Christian @ Caledonia
West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
Wellsprings Prep @ Grand River Prep
West Michigan Lutheran @ Algoma Christian
Tri-Unity Christian @ NorthPointe Christian
Boys Hockey
East Kentwood @ FH Central

Saturday, Dec. 15
Girls Basketball
East Kentwood vs TBA @ Detroit Edison
Boys Wrestling
East Kentwood @ FH Central – Kent County Championships
Wyoming @ FH Central – Kent County Championships
Wyoming Lee @ FH Central – Kent County Championships
Kelloggsville @ FH Central – Kent County Championships
Godwin Heights @ South Haven
Boys Swimming

@ East Kentwood – West Michigan Relays
Boys Hockey
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Event
Boys Basketball
Wyoming Lee vs West Michigan Aviation @ DeltaPlex
Boys / Girls Bowling
Godwin Heights @ Cedar Springs
Kelloggsville @ Cedar Springs
South Christian @ Cedar Springs

Monday, Dec. 17
Girls Cheer
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Boys / Girls Bowling
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming
Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ Byron Center
Boys Basketball
West Michigan Aviation @ Fruitport Calvary
Girls Basketball
Tri-Unity Christian @ Montague

Kent District Library and The Rapid launch Books on the Bus

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , ,

By Katie Zuidema

Kent District Library

The Kent District Library has partner with The Rapid to offer the Books on the Bus program. (KDL)


Kent District Library is pleased to partner with The Rapid to offer the Books on the Bus program on buses traveling throughout the Greater Grand Rapids area. The program provides a collection of books for all ages that are conveniently placed on buses for riders to enjoy. With a book selection that will rotate consistently, riders will always have new books available. 


The average bus rider commutes 25 minutes each day. This provides the perfect opportunity to do some reading or to pick up a book to enjoy later.


“This is a wonderful opportunity to make riding The Rapid an even more enjoyable experience,” said The Rapid’s CEO Andrew Johnson. “We are proud to partner with KDL to make connecting to reading even more convenient.”

Books are currently housed on 13 Rapid buses, with plans to increase that number to 16. These buses are used on different routes every day, which offers riders a chance to access books throughout The Rapid’s service area. The collection includes gently used books, many which are new and bestsellers.


A variety of books will be available to those riding The Rapid bus.

Kent District Library is also pleased to offer a Little Free Library in the Rapid Central Station. The structure will house around 50 books, including youth, teen and adult fiction and nonfiction materials. People are encouraged to take a book or leave and book. 

“This is just another exciting way we are making books accessible to people wherever they might be,” said Sara Proano, manager of community engagement for KDL.

Forest Hills Transition Center is partnering with KDL to provide the volunteers to re-stock the shelves at The Rapid for the Books on the Bus project.

Santa Claus Girls keep tradition alive helped by Kentwood business

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Holidays, Kids Activities, Non-Profits, Volunteers


By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

The Santa Claus Girls have a long history in Kent County, dating from 1909 in fact. These days they operate out of the Knoll Inc. building on 36th in Kentwood.

Over the years, some things have changed but one thing hasn’t — an army of volunteers work to keep up the tradition of buying, wrapping and delivering presents to more than 10,000 kids in Western Michigan. WKTV visited the Santa Claus Girls workshop recently and talked about that legacy with Maggie Moerdyke.

And what motivates that army?

“Why do they do what they do?” Maggie Moerdyke, a buyer for the Santa Claus Girls, said to WKTV in a recent interview. “It is important to them to make sure every child has that gift, no matter what their circumstance.”

While the kids each get a new toy and candy — what else would be expected? They also get hand-made, knitted winter hats and mittens. And those come from an army all by themselves.

The knitted hats and mittens come from “geriatric associations, from just from grandmas on the street,” she said. “Those all come from our community, very lovingly and very givingly.”

For more information visit santaclausgirls.org or visit their Facebook page.

South Christian girls basketball hosts Hamilton in final game on 68th St. floor

City of Kentwood, Kentwood Public Schools, Sports

 

By Micah Cho, WKTV Sports Intern

ken@wktv.org 

 

On Tuesday, Dec, 4, the South Christian High School girls varsity dropped their season opener to visiting Hamilton, 62-42. But the story of the game wasn’t really who won or lost.

 

Although this isn’t how they wanted to kick off their season, there was something bigger on the minds of the Sailors players, family members, and fans alike. This was the last time any Sailor would suit up for a home game on the 68th Street campus.

 

WKTV was at the game to cable broadcast it, as well as will make it available on-demand.

 

Varsity girls head coach Kim Legge grew up a Sailor. Once putting on the same purple and white jersey as her players now do, Legge knows how special it is to be a Sailor.

 

“It’s a family,” Legge said to WKTV prior to Tuesday’s game. “This is our home court. This is our home.”

 

The boys had their last home game on Friday, Nov. 30, against Byron Center, when the Sailors defeated the Bulldogs, 65-44.

 

Keeping in the family theme, senior Salior Conner Kok isn’t the first person in his family to suit up for South Christian. With family members supporting him and the South Christian Legacy, Kok said he went into the game ready to give it his all one more time.

 

“Since I was about five years old I’ve been in this gym watching my brothers play,” said Kok. “So you want to honor that and get the win.”

 

The South Christian boys and girls will play their first games on their new home floor, at Kalamazoo Campus, 7979 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, on Friday, Dec. 21, when Unity Christian comes to visit. WKTV will be there as well, and will cable broadcast and offer the game on-demand.

 

For complete local sports schedules visit wktvjournal.org/sports .

 

How to watch WKTV sports on cable, on-demand

 

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 wktvondemand.com.

 

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. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are give the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26). For complete schedules of programs on WKTV channels, see our Weekly On-air Schedule.

 

Award-winning Sweet Adelines set to take the stage Saturday, Dec. 15

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

For Denise VanDyken, her Sweet Adelines adventure started when members of her family, who loved to harmonize, decided to join a Sweet Adelines group so at to get some “real” barbershop arrangements.

 

“So we were going to join and get some arrangements and we didn’t plan on staying and that was nearly forty years ago,” VanDyken said. “I just fell in love with the organization and with the music.”

 

She is the music director for the Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus. Under her leadership, the local group has won three regional titles and been named first place midsize choir which has allowed the chapter to participate in the international competition four times in six years. Before VanDyken taking the helm, the group had only attended international a few times in its sixty-plus history.

 

“We became champions of Region 17, which is a five-state region, Michigan through to Ohio and into Pennsylvania,” said VanDyken talking about the group’s May 2018 win in Cleveland, Ohio. “We competed against about 20 other choruses and we won the championship and that entitles us to go to New Orleans next September.”

 

The Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus at the WKTV studio. The group is set to perform on Saturday, Dec. 15..

For now, the group is focused on its upcoming holiday concert, “Sounds of the Season,” set for Saturday, Dec. 15. The performance is with the men’s group, the Great Lakes Chorus, and will feature an array of holiday selections, some of which can be seen on a recent WKTV holiday special featuring the Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus, which is currently airing.

 

“We sing four-part harmony, a cappella, barbershop-style and we perform,” VanDyken said. “We are a show choir. We do choreography and staging and it is much more than just singing.”

 

In fact, guests may join the choir for its holiday show, giving them an opportunity to see what the choir is about and all that is involved. 

 

“You don’t need professional experience to join,” VanDyken said. “You have to sing and have the ability to sing and there is a lot of performance to it. As I said, it is not just standing there and singing. You have to be able to memorize the music and sing without accompaniment, harmonize with other voices, blend with other voices and do choreography and dance at the same time.”

 

Established in 1945, Sweet Adelines International is the oldest and largest international women’s barbershop organization in the world. According to the organization’s website it has 23,000 members on five continents who belong to more than 500 choruses and 1,200 quartets. One of those choruses happens to be right in the Grand Rapids area, the Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus, which is made up of members from around West Michigan including the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming. The Grand Rapids chapter was founded in 1951.

 

As to why people join, VanDyken said there is a number of reasons, the love of the sound of voices harmonizing, the music, barbershop-style, the camaraderie, and making friends with people from around the globe.

 

Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus rehearses its holiday music.

“I sat next to a woman from Sweden at a recent International competition,” VanDyken said. “We had a lovely conversation and felt that we had a relationship immediately because we shared this hobby, or cult as some might call it.”

 

With 40 years of participating, VanDyken said there are a lot of good memories and experiences with the joy of being part of the Sweet Adelines coming through the group’s performances.

 

“I think for me, it’s the fact that I could have done this for forty years and still be excited,” VanDyken said, “ still learning things and just as much in love with it as I was forty years ago.”

 

The Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus performs with the  Great Lakes Chorus in the “Sounds of the Season” set for Saturday, Dec. 15, at 3 pm. at the Grandville High School Auditorium, 4700 Canal Ave. SW. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students 8-18 and seniors 60 and older. For more information, visit gras.net. 

Three millionth passenger surprised at Ford Airport

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, ,

Sue Diehl from Greenville, Michigan is surprised as the Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s three millionth passenger in 2018. (Ford Airport)

By Tara Hernandez

Gerald R. Ford International Airport

 

Sue Diehl had no idea when she stepped off her flight at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) that she would be walking into cheers, applause, gifts, and surprises as the Ford Airport’s three millionth passenger.

 

“This is crazy, thank you, thank you!” said Diehl. “I was thinking I was in a dream because I did take a little nap on the plane and I woke up and I see balloons and all of this.”

 

The Airport had a total of over 2.7 million passengers served through the end of October. November and December seat totals and flight information forecasted the three millionth passenger to arrive around 11 a.m. on December 5th, and Diehl was the lucky passenger having arrived to Grand Rapids on Delta flight 1367 from Atlanta at 11:11 a.m.

 

GFIA has now had six straight years of record growth, having grown from 2.2 million in 2013, to 2.8 million in 2017, and now serving its three millionth passenger in 2018.

page1image15248

“What a way to welcome in our three millionth passenger with all kinds of free stuff, travel vouchers, and just the thrill of being greeted by hundreds of our staff and tenants cheering and celebrating Sue Diehl as our three millionth passenger,” said GFIA Marketing & Communications Director Tara Hernandez. “Sue was emotional, happy, and appreciative, and I know she will remember this for years to come. For all of those that have traveled with us we celebrate this milestone with you, and we thank you for your patronage and support – not just this year but through the last 54-plus years of service to our community.”

 

As the three millionth passenger, Diehl received three $300 travel vouchers and three free days of parking from the Airport Authority, a gift basket of travel accessories from Hudson News & Gifts valued over $300, a Beer City Welcome Basket from Experience Grand Rapids, a Founders Brewing Company gift pack, three $30 Starbucks gift cards, and more.

 

When told what her prize package included, Diehl was emotional. “No way, no way,” she said through tears. “Nothing like this ever happens to me.”

Wyoming, Kentwood kick off the holiday season in a big way

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Holidays, Kids Activities, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects, , ,

The lights are up on houses all over the place, and this week the city’s of Wyoming and Kentwood officially begin sharing their Holiday spirits. (publicdomainpictures.net)

 

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

Most people think Black Friday after Thanksgiving is the official start of the Christmas Holiday season in Wyoming and Kentwood. We beg to differ. The season starts, this, the first full week of December with activities Thursday to Saturday, Dec. 6-8. And we have all you need to know.

 

Oh, and by the way, WKTV  will be at each event. Stop by and say “Hello”.

 

Thursday: Wyoming Gives Back

Mayor Jack Poll near the truck during a previous Wyoming Gives Back event.

The 8th annual Wyoming Gives Back is set for Thursday, Dec. 6, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Rogers Plaza Mall. Residents are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the event and every person who does, will receive raffle tickets for prizes provided by local businesses. There will be holiday cookies, music and the biggest gift-giver, Santa, is planning to attend. For more information click here.

 

 

Friday: Kentwood tree lighting

Kentwood city officials accompanied by carolers previously conduct the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. (WKTV)

The City of Kentwood invites the community to begin the holidays with its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Light Parade, slated for Friday, Dec. 7. Centered around the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, the free event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. The evening will be filled with festive activities, including a parade, live holiday music and carriage rides, as well as caroling and a tree lighting ceremony. Hot chocolate and cookies will be offered, and Santa, of course, will be there to take pictures with families.  For more information click here.

 

Saturday: Chamber Santa Parade

Area high school bands performing at a previous year’s Santa Parade. (WKTV)

Santa is coming to town. How do we know? Because the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, along with the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, is hosting the 12th annual Santa Parade Saturday, Dec. 8, along Division Avenue. The parade, which starts at 10 a.m. and lasts about 45 minutes, will feature more than 50 participants including five school bands. Participants will travel down South Division from 33rd Street to Murray Avenue. For more information click here.

 

Ford Airport to surprise three millionth passenger

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, , ,

A passenger arrives on an inbound Phoenix flight and is greeted with cookies and water from airport staff. (Ford Airport)

By Tara Herendez

Gerald R. Ford International Airport

 

Wednesday, Dec. 5, with a reception to also include surprises and giveaways for passengers flying that day.

 

The Airport had a total of over 2.7 million passengers served through the end of October. November and December seat totals and flight information are forecasting the three millionth passenger to arrive around 11 a.m. on Dec. 5.

 

“Our three millionth passenger has no idea they will be greeted upon arrival at our airport with balloons, gifts, and some really fantastic giveaways,” said GFIA Marketing & Communications Director Tara Hernandez. “To hit three million passengers is a first for our airport and we really want to go above and beyond to celebrate it with one lucky passenger, but also for all of those traveling through our airport that day.”

 

The three millionth passenger will be receiving three $300 travel vouchers and three free days of parking from the Airport Authority, a gift basket of travel accessories from Hudson News & Gifts valued over $300, a Beer City Welcome Basket from Experience Grand Rapids, and much more.

 

Airport staff will also be passing out cookies, candy, giveaways, and registering people to win three $300 flight vouchers from 9a.m. – 2p.m. that day.

Kent County to host strategic planning community forum in Kentwood

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kentwood Public Schools, Upcoming Events

By Kent County

 

Kent County will be holding three community forums to allow residents an opportunity to participate in the development of its strategic plan. The county is currently developing a strategic plan that will guide its leadership through the next five years, better reflecting the changing demographics, economics, and needs of the County.

 

Wyman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller. (WKTV)

“Community engagement is absolutely integral to the success of Kent County,” said Wayman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller. “It is important for us to hear the thoughts and ideas from our communities as we renew our strategic plan and effectively plan for the future.”

 

The meetings will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. as follows:

Thursday, December 6, at the Kent County Health Department (700 Fuller Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503)

 

Tuesday, December 11, at the Rockford Freshman Center (4500 Kroes St. NE, Rockford, MI 49341)

 

Thursday, December 13, at the East Kentwood Freshman Campus (6170 Valley Lane Dr., SE, Kentwood, MI 49508)

 

All three meetings will cover the same information. Due to space constraints, each event is limited to the first 100 individuals and pre-registration is required.

 

To register for one of the forums, residents should click on this link. If an individual would like to register by phone, please call Diane Kelly at (517) 484-4954.

 

“Solutions and ideas do not just come from government – they come from our residents who live, work, and play in Kent County,” said Britt. “These forums are another way we can hear directly from the public by allowing residents to provide open and honest feedback on the in our strategic plan, which in turn, will goals and action items that should be included improve our great County.”

 

Absentee student problem, ambitious county landfill plan on WKTV Journal In Focus

3-bottom, Area Education, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kentwood Public Schools, Local Faces, WKTV Journal In Focus, , , , ,

 

K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, countywide issues that impact public school students educational success rates and also the quality of the environment they will inherit.

 

We talk with two education experts on the Strive for Less than 5 effort to combat high rates of student absenteeism, and then we talk with the director of the county’s public works department about Kent County’s Sustainable Business Park Master Plan for 250 acres adjacent to the South Kent Landfill in Byron Center.

 

Explaining the importance of the “Strive for Less than 5” countywide campaign is Mel Atkins II, Executive Director of Community & Student Affairs for Grand Rapids Public Schools, and Kent ISD data researcher Sunil Joy, who has studied the importance of the reducing absenteeism.

 

Also on the show is Darwin J. Baas, Director of the Kent County Department of Public Works. Baas will discuss the details of the Sustainable Business Park Master Plan, which is intended to provide opportunity for partnerships and innovative approaches to managing waste in the county, with the goal of diverting 90 percent of trash from the South Kent Land ll by 2030.

 

 

 

“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). But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

 

Local schools participate in airport’s 24th annual Holiday Music Festival

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , , ,

By WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

 

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) will soon be filled with festive sounds of the season. The 24th Annual Holiday Music Festival will take place the week of Dec. 3-7 in the Grand Hall. Daily performances run from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

 

Some of the groups scheduled to perform are Potters House at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3; Legacy Christian 7th and 8th Grade Choir at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5; Wyoming High Concert Choir at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6; East Kentwood Varsity Voices at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6; South Christian High School Madrigals at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec.6; and Lee High School Varsity of Voices at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 7. A full schedule is available on the Airport’s Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/FlyGRFord.

 

A total of 18 West Michigan schools are scheduled to sing a variety of carols during the Festival. Local choirs representing public and private schools will sing 20 minute song sets throughout the day.

“We love having the schools here during the Holiday Music Festival. The music helps to put passengers and guests in the holiday spirit around the airport,” said GFIA Marketing & Communications Director Tara Hernandez. “We hope to put smiles on passengers’ faces as they listen to the carolers.”

 

All Festival performances are free and open to the public.

Kentwood’s PACE program promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy systems

3-bottom, City of Kentwood

The City of Kentwood has adopted a program to promote the installation of energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems in area properties. (U.S. Air Force Graphic)

 

By The City of Kentwood

 

The City of Kentwood has adopted a program to promote the installation of energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems in area properties.

 

The Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, program allows owners of commercial or industrial property to finance the upfront cost of energy or other eligible improvements and then pay the costs back over time through a voluntary assessment.

 

Established under the federal Property Assessed Clean Energy Act, PACE relies on funding through loans from private lenders arranged by property owners and developers.

 

By adopting the program, the City of Kentwood joins a growing list of municipalities striving to promote energy efficiency. According to Lean & Green Michigan, which operates the PACE program in Michigan, 22 counties and 13 cities and townships in Michigan have adopted the financing tool, including the cities of Wyoming and Grand Rapids.

 

“The PACE program establishes a new mechanism for our business community to finance energy projects,” said Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley. “This economic development resource produces sustainability for our businesses by lowering energy costs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

 

Program applicants may request financing for energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, heating and cooling distribution systems, storm windows and doors, caulking, weather-stripping and air sealing.  Other forms of improvements could also include the replacement or modification of lighting fixtures and electrical wiring, as well as measures to reduce the usage of water or increases the efficiency of water usage.

 

Implementation of renewable energy resources could include biomass, solar and solar thermal energy, wind energy, geothermal energy and methane gas captured from a landfill, among others.

 

The PACE program provides a means of financing such energy projects with property owner-arranged loans from a commercial lender. No City monies, general City taxes or City credit of any kind may be used in connection with any energy project associated with the PACE program.

 

A PACE assessment is a debt of property. This means the debt is tied to the property as opposed to the property owner. In turn, the repayment obligation may transfer with property ownership if the buyer agrees to assume the PACE obligation and the new first mortgage holder allows the PACE obligation to remain on the property.

 

More information about Kentwood’s PACE program is available at kentwood.us.

 

School News Network: ‘She’s come so far’

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, , , ,

Farhiya Abdullahi stands with Ian Gibson, Crossroads Alternative High School’s assistant principal

By Erin Albanese

School News Network

 

Quick to react with words and fists, Farhiya Abdullahi became a regular in school administration offices. She spent many days suspended, and was eventually expelled.

 

“The way I reacted was terrible. I had so much anger built up in me… My mouth was terrible,” she said. “My attitude was terrible. I was suspended literally every month.”

 

Farhiya sat at the desk of Crossroads Alternative High School Assistant Principal Ian Gibson, the administrator who expelled her two years ago and welcomed her back last fall.

 

Turns out, a lot can happen in a year: Gibson recently recommended Farhiya for a School News Network article about how far a student can go after deciding to change.

 

Farhiya Abdullahi says time to reflect and the realization that she was out of options led her to change her ways

Farhiya now has 16.5 of 19 credits required to graduate and could earn her diploma as early as December, before her peers. Compare that to a year ago when she had earned just four total credits.

 

Farhiya immigrated to Kentwood as a toddler with her mother, Nunay Ali, and six siblings, as refugees from Kenya. Farhiya does not remember Kenya. She and her family speak Maay Maay, a Somali dialect.

 

“My mom ended up coming to America to make not only her life better, but her kids’ lives too. She wanted us to get our education. In Kenya, there aren’t that many opportunities. This is the place she felt her kids needed to grow up.”

 

Farhiya’s father, who emigrated from Africa separately from the rest of the family, moved away completely when Farhiya was young. “My mom was struggling; she had seven kids and was new to the country… She was a single mom and she had to raise all of us by herself.”

 

Farhiya had a few negative early experiences in school; her resentment grew and she began getting in trouble. She got in many fights at Crestwood Middle School, and, at East Kentwood High School, her fists landed her in long-term suspension.

 

She enrolled at Lighthouse Academy briefly, then at Crossroads Alternative High School in 2016.  “I stayed in school for a month and got expelled,” she recalled.

 

Learning to not react to drama was a key to getting on the right path

Leaving Behind Anger and Resentment

 

Being out of school gave Farhiya time to reflect. She knew her options were limited and she had passed few classes at school. She realized her self-created predicament was sad, but she also knew she could get herself out of it.

 

Farhiya re-enrolled at Lighthouse and passed a couple classes. Last October, a Lighthouse staff member asked Shirley Johnson, the district’s assistant superintendent of student Services, if she would meet with Farhiya to talk about reinstatement. Johnson agreed.

 

“In my mind I was like, ‘I don’t deserve it. I got long-term suspended and I got expelled, and she’s still willing to talk to me?’ ” Farhiya recalled.

 

At the reinstatement hearing, Johnson asked Farhiya why she wanted to go back to Crossroads.

 

Her answer: “I sat down this summer and thought about everything. I shouldn’t be putting my mom through this. I shouldn’t be putting myself through this. My mom brought me here for better opportunities and I’m just putting it to waste.

 

“On top of that, I’m trying to graduate. I want to be successful. I want to make a better living for myself and my family. I don’t want to sit here and struggle. I see a lot of people in my family struggling because they have no education. They are working, breaking every bone in their body, just to survive.”

 

Johnson said students including Farhiya need champions and an advocate for a second chance. “I saw her heart and her authentic self in the process,” she said. “Farhiya has really made significant gains since returning to school, and I couldn’t be more proud of her maturity and growth.”

 

Farhiya was all in.

 

Back at Crossroads, she ignored drama, avoided conflict and soon realized she could excel. “Teachers are motivating here. Teachers will help you,” she said.

 

She completed 12 classes in a matter of months, often working at home into the wee hours. She was soon Crossroads’ No. 1 student and last spring earned a science award.

 

Mom Nunay Ali stands with Farhiya Abdullahi after Farhiya received her U.S. citizenship Oct. 31.

“She’s a model student now. She’s got that grit we talk about here in Kentwood,” Gibson said. “She has this positive vibe about her… She is absolutely college-bound.

 

Added Principal Rick Hatfield, “She’s done a phenomenal job. Farhiya has had exemplary behavior, academically and emotionally, since she was reinstated.”

 

Farhiya recently received her citizenship from U.S. Dept of Homeland Security, with her mother by her side.

 

Farhiya plans to go to Grand Rapids Community College. She said she is interested in healthcare or social work.

 

Her mother, who once was more accustomed to her daughter being out of school than in, is now proud of Farhiya, and says their relationship has improved.

 

That matters a lot.

 

“If I could buy my mom the world, I honestly would. The only way I can do that is to further my education.”

 

Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.

Local high school sports schedule includes first WKTV featured game at South Christian 

City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Sports, WKTV Featured sports,

WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)

 

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

The WKTV Featured Game winter broadcast schedule is jelling, and once again boys and girls basketball games of all local Wyoming and Kentwood teams will be showcased. But boys hockey as well as swimming and diving competition will also be on the schedule.

 

Our first featured game will be Tuesday, Dec. 4, when we cover the girls basketball game between Hamilton and host South Christian — in what will be the Sailors’ final game on their old basketball floor before moving to their new home. The week after that, we will be covering the Friday, Dec. 14, boys and girls basketball games between East Kentwood and host Wyoming high. Then on Saturday, Dec. 15, we will change sports and cover boys hockey as Hudsonville travels to East Kentwood.

 

In addition our featured games — where our sports crew and remote coverage truck will be on hand — we also have a weekly list of all local sporting contests for local fans to get out and enjoy in person.

 

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. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.

 

For complete schedules of programs on WKTV channels, see our Weekly On-air Schedule.

 

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 wktvondemand.com.

 

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:

Tuesday, Nov. 27

Boys Basketball

South Christian @ East Kentwood

Wyoming Lee @ Saugatuck

Creative Tech @ West Michigan Aviation

 

Wednesday, Nov. 28

Boys Hockey

Caledonia/Lowell @ East Kentwood

 

Thursday, Nov. 29

No events scheduled

 

Friday, Nov. 30

Boys Basketball

Byron Center @ South Christian

Christian @ Godwin Heights

Kelloggsville @ Unity Christian

Wyoming @ Grandville

FH Eastern @ Tri-Unity Christian

Grand River Prep @ Wyoming Lee

FH Central @ East Kentwood

Holland Black River vs West Michigan Aviation @ Davenport University

Zion Christian @ Holland Calvary

Boys Hockey

East Kentwood @ Rockford

 

Snapshots: Kentwood, Wyoming weekend news you want to know

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, ,

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."
                                        - President Calvin Coolidge

 

Holiday traditions at Meijer Gardens

Scenes from Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition and events. (Supplied/Dean VanDis)

 

Experience the joy of the holidays at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park with the annual Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition on display through Jan. 6, 2019. Guests from all over the world visit Meijer Gardens to experience 42 Christmas and holiday trees and displays representing countries and cultures from across the globe. For the complete story, click here.

 

A winter’s night hike at Blandford

Nothing is quite as crisp as a sunset in December.

Enjoy a crisp, evening hike through Blandford’s woods. Practice using your nocturnal senses of hearing and night vision while enjoying a winter’s night at Blandford Nature Center Trails on Saturday, Dec. 1. For the complete story, click here.

 

Are you ready for some floor checks?

The high school hockey season is now in action.

The high school hockey season is just starting, for one of the best Wyoming/Kentwood teams will be on the side this weekend as East Kentwood hosts a tournament. Drop the puck! For the complete story, click here.

 

Fun Fact:

25 percent

The historic chance of snow (or rain) on Dec. 1 in Grand Rapids is 25 percent. Average high and low temperatures? 40 and 29 degrees. (Source)

Kentwood’s holiday season (only) started with its Ugly Sweater 5K run

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Sports, Upcoming Events,

 

 

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org 

 

The City of Kentwood’s busy holiday schedule started with an Ugly Sweater Cross County 5K run on Saturday, Nov. 17, but that is just the start of the city’s season’s offerings.

 

Next up will be the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Light Parade, slated for Friday, Dec. 7. Centered around the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, the free event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m.

 

The Holiday Light Parade will start at 6 p.m., at the Kentwood Public Works, located at 5068 Breton Ave. SE, and travel north to the Kentwood Justice Center at 4740 Walma Ave. SE. Roads will be closed from 5:50 p.m. to 6:25 p.m. for the parade, which will affect both Breton Avenue and Walma Avenue.

 

At 6:30 p.m., city officials accompanied by carolers will conduct the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. Following the tree lighting, community members will have the opportunity to take pictures with Santa, go on carriage rides and enjoy a musical performance by the East Kentwood High School Jazz Band. The Elves Express Gift Shop will be open at the library for the duration of the event, offering a variety of gift items and gift-wrapping services.

 

The Ugly Sweater 5K run featured a route that showcased two Kentwood parks and a portion of the Paul Henry Thornapple Trail. Proceeds from the race will support the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund, which allows recipients to receive up to 50 percent off of one program per season.

 

More information about Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Light Parade, as well as other community events, is available on the City’s website at www.kentwood.us.

 

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news for Turkey Day week

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you'll never have enough."                                                
                                                 - Oprah Winfrey

 

Ford airport offers Thanksgiving with ‘Operation Handshake’

“Operation Handshake,” is an event to welcome home returning military members and veterans, and to thank them for their service. (Supplied)

 

Thanksgiving eve, one of the busiest days of the year at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, will find the airpot celebrating “Operation Handshake,” an event to welcome home returning military members and veterans, and to thank them for their service. On Wednesday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., airport volunteers including therapy dog teams and the Patriot Guard Riders will be on hand. For the complete story, click here.

 

Turkey Day eve job hunting … with beer? You bet!

Grand Rapids’ The B.O.B. is one of six locations for the ReThink West Michigan event on Wednesday, Nov. 21.

 

More than 40 companies and non-profits want you to help with special interviews at several West Michigan bars on Wednesday, Nov. 21. The Right Place, Inc. and Hello West Michigan are once again hosting the annual event, titled ReThink West Michigan, which runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., in hopes of filling up job holes with young professionals. For the complete story, click here.

 

WKTV’s 18th Annual Turkey Bowl returns Thanksgiving Day

WKTV’s sports coverage team was at the NorthPointe Christian at Wyoming Lee football game. (WKTV)

 

As every year, Wyoming and Kentwood high school football fans can get their Turkey Day football fix this year as we broadcast a selection of the big games we covered as part of our Featured Football Game coverage. The games are available on our cable Channel 25, as well as On Demand. For the complete story, click here.

 

Fun Fact:

1.2 hours vs. 3.7 hours

One an average Thanksgiving Day, Americans spend an average of 1.2 hours eating and drinking ... and an average of 3.7 hours watching television, mostly football. (Source)