As we continue to closely monitor the national and local weather services, we are making preparations to ensure that the safety of our employees and customers remains our top priority.
With the anticipated snowfall and windy conditions, please be mindful of the changing weather and road conditions when planning your trip with us. Inclement weather can cause service delays, but our team is working hard to get you to your destination in a safe and timely manner.
With safety as our top priority, we must work together to support each other through challenging weather. Here are some ways you can help:
Carry a visible light at your bus stop: Whether it’s day or night, having a light to wave as the bus approaches through the snow will aid visibility and ensure a smoother boarding process.
Wear headphones on board: To assist our drivers in maintaining focus on safe driving, please use headphones to minimize distractions while on the bus.
Have your fare payment ready: Given potential delays in arrival times due to inclement weather, having your fare payment ready will help expedite boarding and prevent additional delays.
You can track your bus location and stay updated on delays by using one of our rider tools. Your collaboration and patience are greatly appreciated. For more information, click on Ride the Rapid.
Kent District Library (KDL) is inviting the community to share in a week-long celebration honoring MLK and the Civil Rights Movement.
Honoring the Life and Legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.: A Weeklong Celebration will take place Jan. 15-19 at local KDL branches. Programs for all ages will feature powerful reflections and action that supported the legacy of MLK.
“We chose to do the week-long celebration because [we] wanted it to be a variety of programs that patrons could enjoy,” said KDL Volunteer Event Coordinator Debra Schultz. “We didn’t want to just tie it into one day.”
Selma: heart-wrenching and eye-opening
As part of the celebration, the Wyoming Branch will host a special viewing of the movie Selma on Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 5:30-7:45 p.m.
(Courtesy, KDL)
“We wanted something that would touch a whole family and be an educational piece – but also an entertaining piece – and so we chose the movieSelma,” said Schultz. “It’s a great movie about representation of the need to understand each other, and to find equality in what we do.”
Taking place in Selma, AL, the movie speaks to the fight that Martin Luther King and his followers went through while striving to be treated equally.
“[King] was really looking for voting rights back in the 60s when this took place,” said Schultz. “African American people just wanted the right to vote…and they did it in a peaceful march.
(Courtesy, KDL)
“But even though their intentions were peaceful, there was still violence because the governor of the town did not want them to come to his town.”
Many people who supported the rights of African Americans to vote traveled to Selma from across the United States to march with MLK.
“They wanted to be there to say, ‘We stand with you.’” said Schultz. “It’s powerful because I don’t think we realize [that] the ordinary person didn’t know what was going on. A lot of them did not realize that African Americans didn’t have the right to vote, so this was an eye-opener for them.
“It was also dangerous for them because the people they were fighting against were also fighting against anyone who agreed with [MLK]. Some white people that went down for the march did end up getting harassed and violated.”
Schultz continued, “This movie is very moving and dramatic, heart-wrenching, and an eye-opener.”
Original artwork available for viewing
“Road Towards Equality” painting by Paul Collins (Courtesy, KDL)
KDL has also procured the loan of an original piece of art from a local Grand Rapids artist for the MLK celebration.
Artist Paul Collins has agreed to have his original painting titled “Road Towards Equality” hanging at several of the branches to honor MLK. It will remain on exhibit through February in honor of Black History Month.
“The reason that [Collins] chose to have it displayed in the library is because he thinks the library atmosphere is the right type of place to have this picture,” said Schultz. “Everyone has the ability to go in and see it because we are open to all, and it’s free to walk into a library.
“He likes the idea that anyone who walks in will have that opportunity to see it – and hopefully ask questions and learn from it. Learn what our heritage is, learn what our freedom is, learn about the men and the women that made changes to help our freedom.”
(Courtesy, KDL)
“Road Towards Equality” can be seen at the Kentwood branch for the first two in January. Alongside the painting will be a postcard with a description of the artwork that patrons will be able to take home with them.
From Kentwood, the painting will be on exhibit at the KDL Caledonia Branch from Jan. 29 – Feb. 2. The Walker location will display the piece the following week, followed by a week at the Sand Lake location, and then at the Rockford branch for the last week in February.
MLK celebration events
Though usually closed on Martin Luther King Day, KDL decided to stay open on Jan. 15 in order to provide a wider impact with carefully curated events.
“We wanted to make sure that there were eventful and educational programs going on that would tie into Martin Luther King and his legacy,” said Schultz. “We worked with Darius Quinn from Quinn Consulting to come up with a good schedule of events that would touch on the heart of what Martin Luther King stood for, and why it’s important that we still carry that on today.”
Other MLK events include a presentation by Randal Jelks, author of Letters to Martin, Jan. 15; a presentation by author, podcaster and retired Calvin professor Dr. Michelle Lloyd-Paige, Jan. 16; “Fear Must Not Be Our Future” presentation by Pastor Joe Jones, Jan. 18; and a Letters to Martin book discussion Jan. 19.
Each KDL branch will have a display of passive craft projects for children and families. The crafts include a silhouette of MLK that can be decorated with paint, markers, crayons. Various MLK quotes that had an impact on society will be available to cut out and adhere to the silhouette.
A small booklet will also be available for children at certain KDL locations. The booklet focuses on who MLK was, why his speech of “I have a dream” is important, and how children can live that out today.
A selection of books that represent Martin Luther King, his beliefs and what he was fighting for at that time, as well as books with similar messages relevant to current times will be available at all KDL branches for visitors to read and enjoy.
Our mission
“Our mission is Ideas, Information, and Excitement,” said Schultz about KDL, “and I feel like we have the ability to help people become more aware of our history and what we can do to become more united as a nation.”
*KDL thanks Darius Quinn for his extensive work and help on the MLK celebration, as well as Kendra McNeil, owner of bookstore We Are Lit, who provided copies of Letters to Martin for the library locations.
State Representative John Fitzgerald sat down with WKTV Journal Soundbites to recap “an exciting year in the legislature” and deliver a direct message to his constituents in District 83.
“I am a representative for this community, of this community, and I’m a conduit for information both from Wyoming, southwest Grand Rapids, and Byron Township to Lansing, but also the other way,” said Rep. Fitzgerald.
Bringing transparency to local legislature
Driven by a “listen first” mentality, Fitzgerald is also committed to transparency. And that means keeping his constituents “in the know” about legislative happenings that affect their communities.
One of the bills passed and signed into law under Fitzgerald’s guidance made the Affordable Care Act state law. This ensures that if federal law requirements to receive health insurance were ever preempted or withdrawn, quality healthcare would still be available to Michigan residents.
Fitzgerald’s bill was specifically aimed toward extending dependent care, allowing dependents to remain on their primary caregivers’ insurance until age 26.
“We also passed significant energy law reform that is going to put us on a track to 100% clean energy by 2040,” said Fitzgerald. “This legislation is going to really put us as the leader in the Midwest when it comes to clean energy.”
Included in the bill is language specifying a Kent County incinerator facility shutdown by 2040 due to health concerns surrounding that facility.
Looking ahead
Fitzgerald said he is currently working on increasing transparency and ease of understanding to the public via the Open Meetings Act.
Rep. Fitzgerald aims to increase transparency in legislature (Courtesy, WKTV)
“If you’ve ever seen the Open Meetings Act language, it can be kind of gray,” Fitzgerald said. “We don’t want gray. We want to make sure that there is adherence to the Open Meetings Act.”
Supporting families via family leave under the Affordable Care Act is also on Fitzgerald’s agenda.
“As somebody who has a young child in daycare, it’s a very expensive cost to Michigan families, and we want to make sure that we’re creating that environment to support [them],” said Fitzgerald. “My mission is that Michigan could be the best place to raise a family in the country.”
Education
With seven school districts in the City of Wyoming alone, and several more compiling District 83, education is also on Fitzgerald’s mind.
A new budget is a milestone for local schools (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
With so many public school districts with varying needs, a budget was passed in 2023 that Fitzgerald said is a milestone for the City of Wyoming and southwest Grand Rapids.
“One of those things that we passed [is] free school lunch and breakfast for all public schools,” said Fitzgerald, adding that they have already seen great implementation by local school districts.
Tax relief
Thousands of seniors, Fitzgerald said, are receiving an average of $1,000 back due to a pension tax return repeal and retirement tax repeal.
On the flip side, working families are receiving a tax credit.
“There were 8,400 (District 83) households who qualified for that last year,” said Fitzgerald. “We are now putting more money back in those 8,400 households.”
“Show me the money” – Tax dollars coming home
“We brought home almost $70 million into services and infrastructure and goods that are going to impact [and] amplify the lives of Wyoming residents,” said Fitzgerald.
“When polled,” Fitzgerald said, “Wyoming residents say, We want a place to call home, that we can identify as: that is Wyoming. We don’t have that.
“But the City has taken this on to say, we’re going to build a downtown multi-use walkable area, and we’re going to do that on 28th Street.”
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
$35 million is allocated to the Grand Rapids Fire Department to build a new station and training center on South Division Avenue.
“That is helping to support services that actually directly impact southwest GR and Wyoming,” said Fitzgerald. “When we need mutual aid, they’re coming into Wyoming as well.”
$5 million will help Special Olympics Michigan to continue their services and renovation of the former South Christian High School.
“It’s going to be the world’s largest Special Olympics training facility, right here in Kent County,” said Fitzgerald. “We want to make sure that those athletes are getting exactly what they need to help cut down on health disparities, to help cut down on mental health challenges.”
And finally, $4 million will help Godfrey Lee schools with a much-needed roof renovation.
“That is real money that went to Lansing, or went to Washington, and is coming home now to enrich the lives of Wyoming residents. That’s exciting, and that doesn’t happen without your input coming to me,” said Fitzgerald.
Serving at home: “I want to hear from you.”
Rep. Fitzgerald spoke with community members during a recent Wyoming Senior Resource Fair (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Being attuned to his duties in Lansing is important, Fitzgerald said. But he believes connecting to his community is equally essential.
“My duty is to the people here at home,” said Fitzgerald.
Offering opportunities for communication is a top priority for Fitzgerald.
“I hope that any and all of you join me when we have office hours on the second and fourth Mondays at Wyoming City Hall, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. I’m there, I want to hear from you, it’s an open door,” said Fitzgerald in a direct message to the community.
“Please come and engage, because you are what drives me. Your interests, your concerns, help to drive the work that we’ve discussed here today, and more.”
Recharging with family time
When asked what he does to recharge so he can continue his work in the legislature, Fitzgerald replied: “Right now, it is playing with my daughter.”
Fitzgerald went on to say that his perspective has changed since becoming a parent.
“Your priorities change, your mindset changes, you’re more empathetic, you’re more understanding of other people’s situations as well,” said Fitzgerald. “Really being with my daughter charges me up. Hearing her laugh now, and seeing her start to walk, that’s just incredible to me.
“So quite frankly, it’s quality family time that has really kind of helped to recharge me to go to those long days in Lansing, to make that commute day in and day out.”
A conduit and facilitator for residents
Fitzgerald urges residents to contact him with questions and concerns.
Rep. Fitzgerald wants to hear from residents (Courtesy, WKTV)
“I am your representative…a conduit for you to Lansing, and for the information in Lansing to come home to you. That’s what we do best, connecting people with local resources, state resources, or even federal resources, to make sure that your life is enriched and your government is providing you with what you need,” said Fitzgerald.
“We have a lot to be proud of, we have a lot to look forward to. I think that the future is very bright here in Michigan.”
Check out our latest WKTV Friday Night Highlights show (Jan. 5) of the basketball season featuring many area high school teams in action.
Every Friday, we’ll bring you several high school boys and girls basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
Jordan VanKlompenberg (pictured) and Owen Rosendall scored 11 points apiece in the win. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema from a previous game)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
The holiday break couldn’t stop the Tri-unity Christian boys from staying on a roll as they scored early and often in a 71-16 blowout over Potterville on Thursday.
“We were rip-roaring and ready to go,” said long-time Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler, whose team improved to 7-1 overall.
The Defenders proved that readiness as they raced to a 31-5 lead after the first quarter and 48-10 at the half.
Senior captains Owen Rosendall and Jordan VanKlompenberg both had 11 points in the rout, but their defense stole the show.
Owen Rosendall in a previous game. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
“They led the way; you are not going to find two better defensive players than those two,” Keeler said. ” I feel sorry for anyone that Owen guards because they are not going to have a fun night. Jordan gets stuck with the bigger kids, and he just does amazing.”
The Defenders are holding their opponents to only 35 points per game in the early portion of the 2023-2024 season while averaging 62 points on offense.
“They played really solid defense, and that’s always been a trademark at Tri-unity.”
Senior big man Akais Giplaye added four rebounds in the winning effort.
Giplaye, Rosendall, VanKlompenberg and Wes Kaman form a solid senior base full of state championship experience.
“Those four are an amazing nucleus and are tough as nails,” Keeler explained.
Even in the lopsided victory, Keeler was impressed with how his team played unselfish basketball.
“I was so proud that they still shared the ball and didn’t worry about their own points or shots,” Keeler continued. “They are all so coachable and playing like men, not little boys. We also got to play a lot of guys quite a bit that don’t usually get as much playing time and give them experience.”
Tri-unity Christian team all smiles during a previous game. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Ranked No. 1 in Division 4, Tri-unity has played a strong schedule as they anticipate their future Alliance League games.
“The Alliance League is strong,” Keeler said. “Lee is going to be tough; Potter’s House is also a good game. You are not going to go through this league unscathed.”
Junior Keaton Blanker led the Defenders on the scoreboard with 12 points, while fellow junior Joey Mellon added 10.
The Defenders (7-1) travel to Lansing Catholic (1-5) on Saturday afternoon.
As 2023 drew to a close this last weekend, Wyoming first responders provided aid at three separate and emergency incidents.
Fatal accident leaves one dead
Wyoming Police Department investigate a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
One person is dead after a crash in the 2100 block of Clyde Park Avenue.
At approximately 7:55 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2023, police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the 2100 block of Clyde Park Avenue on a report of a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.
The pedestrian, a 53-year-old male resident of the Grand Rapids area, died at the scene. Initial investigation indicates the pedestrian was standing in the roadway when he was struck by a vehicle traveling southbound on Clyde Park Avenue. The driver remained at the scene to speak with investigators.
At this time, alcohol does not appear to have been a factor in this incident.
The Wyoming Police Accident Investigation and Forensic Science Units continue to investigate this crash. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530- 7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
Structure fire
At approximately 5:45 am on Dec. 29, 2023, the Wyoming Fire Department responded to a structure fire at a duplex located in the 2900 block of Burlingame Avenue SW.
No injuries resulted from the garage fire (Supplied)
The first arriving fire units observed significant fire coming from the garage. The responding units were able to contain and extinguish the fire, working quickly so that the impact to the living spaces of the home was limited to minimal smoke and fire damage. There were no reported injuries to people or pets.
Tenants affected by this fire are currently receiving assistance from the Red Cross for temporary shelter, food, and other essential services while necessary repairs are made.
The Wyoming Fire Department commends the quick thinking and proactive response of a neighbor who reported the fire. Their alertness played a crucial role in enabling a swift and effective response. We would also like to thank the Grandville Fire Department along with the Georgetown Township Fire Department for their assistance on this fire.
This fire incident is currently being investigated by the Wyoming Fire Marshal’s Office. Anyone with additional information regarding is asked to contact the Wyoming Fire Department Fire Investigator at 616-257-9764.
Walmart shooting leaves two injured
Two are injured after a shooting inside Walmart store.
At approximately 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2023, police and fire personnel from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to Walmart (355 54th Street SW) on multiple reports of a shooting that occurred inside the business.
Wyoming Police Department responded swiftly to reports of multiple gunshots at Walmart store (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV Staff)
Officers located a female victim suffering from a gunshot wound inside the store. The female was treated at the scene and transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
While investigating this incident, a male suffering from a gunshot wound arrived at an area hospital; this individual was found to be related to this incident. The suspect was armed with a handgun and described as an individual wearing a black parka-style coat with fur around the collar of the hood, a red sweatshirt, and dark pants.
A second person was seen with the suspect during this incident, this individual was wearing a black sweatshirt with white lettering across the chest, a black mask, and light-colored pants. Walmart was evacuated and will be closed for business while police investigate this incident.
It should be noted that this appeared to be a targeted attack toward the male; additionally, the female was found to be an innocent bystander struck by gunfire. Currently, there are no suspects related to this incident in police custody.
The Wyoming Police Investigative Division and Forensic Science Unit continue to investigate this incident. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools is proud to announce that they will be purchasing Bloom Credit Union’s Wyoming building. The district closed on the deal on Dec. 15.
The Wyoming location of Bloom Credit Union, located on 1414 Burton St. SW, is right next door to Godfrey-Lee’s Administration Building, separated only by a fence.
Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Schools Arnetta Thompson and Bloom CEO Joe Heintskill in front of Bloom Credit Union (Courtesy, Godfrey-Lee Schools)
Bloom Credit Union is relocating their administrative offices and bank branch to other locations in Wyoming and Grand Rapids. Godfrey-Lee was able to benefit from the move by partnering and purchasing the current building. They hope to create a new administration building with potential for a conference and community center.
Bloom Credit Union has always been a community partner of the district. For years, Bloom has shared their parking lot with Godfrey-Lee due to lack of space at the Administration building, and has consistently provided in-kind donations for students.
Lee High School recently celebrated 100 years in the district and launched a fundraising campaign for a new scoreboard at their athletic complex. Bloom received the campaign postcard in the mail and committed to donating the funds for the scoreboard.
Bloom Credit Union will soon be relocating their administrative offices to a larger space in Grand Rapids. Their 1414 Burton St. SW branch will continue to operate from the same location until they open another nearby branch at a later date.
The holiday season is well underway, and whether you’re just starting your shopping or still have your eye out for that last perfect gift, Woodland Mall can help you cross everything off your list in one convenient location. Following are gift ideas for a variety of interests.
For the kids
LEGO: For a timeless gift that continues to be popular, shop LEGO sets and minifigures at Barnes & Noble.
Toy xylophone: Tap into your kiddo’s musical abilities with an adorable fox xylophone from Carter’s – it’s one of their hottest selling toys this year.
Squishmallows: These super soft and super cute plush toys from Claire’s make a great gift for any little one on your list.
Tasman Uggs: These are some of the coziest slippers for this winter season. Find them at Journeys Kidz.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Head into Game Stop and grab this popular new video game for the Nintendo Switch.
Toy xylophone from Carter’s. (Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
For the trendy teen
Sephora is offering a variety of trending products that will make great gifts:
Sol de Janeiro 62: Get your teen one of the trendiest sprays on the market with this fragrance.
Summer Fridays lip balm: Currently trending on TikTok and one of the hottest selling items at Sephora right now, you can’t go wrong with this vegan lip balm.
Fruit Babies set by Glow Recipe: This travel-friendly skincare set comes with multiple products perfect for the skincare obsessed.
Fruit Babies from Sephora. (Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
For those always-on-the-go
Tumbler: Grab a tumbler from Starbucks for a simple and easy gift everyone will love. Throw a gift card in the cup for something extra.
Mini emergency kit: This helpful kit from Francesca’s is filled with beauty and personal care essentials for the perfect stocking stuffer.
AirPods: AirPods from Apple are perfect for making phone calls, messaging, listening to music and more wherever you are.
Mini Emergency Kit at Francesca’s. (Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
For the sports fan
Lions hat: With how well the Detroit Lions are doing this year, Lions merch will be a hot gift for all fans. Consider a hat from Lids.
Sportswear: Find a range of athletic apparel and other sport-inspired accessories at Champs.
Detroit Lions hat from Lids. (Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
For the jewelry lovers
Tennis bracelet: For a timeless and elegant look, tennis bracelets are the perfect choice. Find a great selection at Zales.
Diamond necklace: Another true treasure from Zales, diamond necklaces never go out of style.
Engraved jewelry: Engraving at Pandora has gone viral on TikTok for personalized gifts. You can shop a wide variety of jewelry options and then engrave a message or symbol of your choice.
Earring set: Francesca’s has cute stocking stuffers such as earring sets, bracelets and more.
Tennis bracelet from Zales. (Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
For the dapper professional
High-quality apparel: Sophisticated meets comfort at Johnston and Murphy with a range of sweaters, vests, boots and belts perfect for the person who’s always well-dressed.
Shoe care products: Have someone on your list with a growing shoe collection? Consider shoe trees, creams and sprays, also from Johnston and Murphy, to keep their footwear in the best shape.
For the cozy homebody
Fuzzy blanket: As a practical and comforting gift that can be used year-round, blankets continue to be one of the most gifted items. Find options everyone will love at Pottery Barn.
Fun socks: Wearing colorful and unique socks can brighten your day while keeping your toes warm. Plus, they’re the perfect size to be stocking stuffers. Explore a great selection of fun socks at Versona.
Candle: Bright Christmas Morning is one of the new scents for the season at Bath & Body Works and it’s already a big hit among shoppers.
Lounge set: These lounge sets from Abercrombie & Fitch are incredibly soft and comfortable.
Bath bomb set: You can’t go wrong with a gift set from Lush – and it comes already wrapped! There are many varieties featuring different products, ingredients and scents.
And of course, you can always give a gift card to all their favorite retailers and restaurants at Woodland Mall. To find a complete list of retailers and deals, shoppers can visit ShopWoodlandMall.com.
(Courtesy, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park)
By Adam Brown
WKTV Contributor
Looking for a family-friendly outing during these chilly winter days? Frederik Meijer Gardens has you covered.
What Is It?
For the 29th consecutive year, Meijer Gardens is holding the annual University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions Exhibition. This immersive experience takes guests on a journey showcasing worldwide cultures and lifestyles through trees and displays throughout the Gardens. Each winter, as the Gardens transform into a snowy wonderland, they spotlight one unique theme. This year’s message is Gather, which highlights how people around the world come together during this special time of year.
From November 21, 2023 to January 7, 2024, Meijer Gardens transforms for the season. Guests’ favorite sculptures and exhibits are still there, just with a little extra winter flair. The Railway Garden transports guests around the park as they take in the flowers, gardens, and more than 350,000 individual lights. Each display highlights a unique tradition or cultural story from around the world. The Exhibition hasn’t left out the local community either. The Railway Garden and surrounding handcrafted buildings pay tribute to more than 40 iconic landmarks from the greater Grand Rapids area, as well as Grand Rapids’ sister cities across the globe.
The Railway Garden. (Courtesy, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park)
What’s New This Year?
This year, Meijer Gardens has added something new. At the nearby DeVos Van Andel Piazza, guests can observe the Winter Glow lighting experience for the very first time. Surrounding The American Horse sculpture and just a short distance from the main building, this combination light-and-music show features lights dancing to a choreographed custom soundtrack while projecting winter scenes on the surrounding hills. The Gardens extend their hours for this show, which runs December 18 to 22 and 26 to 30 from 5 to 9 pm. Firepits and hot beverages are provided to warm any chilly bones.
“We are looking forward to unveiling our new ‘Winter Glow’ experience outside on the nights of December 18-22 and 26-30. These unique events will feature visuals, sound, warm beverages and fire pits and are a great way for people to gather with friends and family to celebrate the holidays,” noted John VanderHaagen, the Gardens’ communications director.
The unique lights and sounds from across the world make Meijer Gardens the perfect place to reconnect with friends and loved ones this holiday season. And to anyone worried about potential accessibility issues, the Gardens have you covered. “We are open 360 days of the year,” VanderHaagen added. “All of our pathways remain plowed and de-iced, so we do make the entire grounds inside and outside accessible for our guests during the winter.” Guests should dress for the weather, as VanderHaagen noted both the indoor and outdoor areas of the Gardens remain open.
For the Community
Meijer Gardens’ original film Joy, exploring the melting pot of cultural celebrations in the local area, runs all season long in the Hoffman Family Auditorium. It also streams for free on YouTube.
The response from the community has been one of positivity, both in the local area and beyond. “[The Holiday Traditions Exhibition] is our second busiest time, other than our butterfly exhibition in the spring,” VanderHaagen added. The Exhibition offers something for everyone, regardless of your favorite traditions. The younger patrons may enjoy visits with Santa Claus at the Welcome Center or petting a few of his reindeer at Michigan’s Farm Garden.
Wintertime Walks give the kiddos an immersive investigation of the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden. If classic Christmas carols are your thing, keep an ear open for The Original Dickens Carolers as they venture through the Gardens’ Bissell and Gunberg corridors, spreading songs and good cheer.
(Courtesy, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park)
Bird lovers can join the Grand Rapids Audubon Club for their 124th Annual Christmas Bird Count as they share ways for everyday citizens to involve themselves in supporting birds. The local area’s Polish Heritage Society and Korean Connection offer an inside look at their culture’s holiday traditions and how they’re observed each year. Finally, various Christmas-themed classes present jolly learning opportunities for patrons of all ages. Fees for these events are all included with admission costs. The exact dates and times for events and details about the Exhibition can be found here.
Looking beyond this year, VanderHaagen noted that the Gardens will continue to expand their new offerings in 2024. “We are also excited to launch a series of new events later this winter in January called Winter Nights at Meijer Gardens. These new experimental evenings feature unique performances, food and drink specials, and fun photo opportunities in the Garden Pavilion surrounded by Jaume Plensa’s monumental Utopia sculpture.”
The Railway Garden. (Courtesy, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park)
Check out our first WKTV Friday Night Highlights show of the basketball season featuring many area high school teams in action.
Every Friday, we’ll bring you several high school boys and girls basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
A fourth-quarter run proved to be the difference as the East Grand Rapids boys basketball team turned back Wyoming 67-52 in a non-league game at Wyoming in our WKTV Friday Game of the Week.
The setback prevented Wyoming from breaking into the win column this season. The Wolves started the new season facing a strong string of opponents. Wyoming fell to Unity Christian and Coopersville in the first two contests and then dropped a five-point decision to Grand Rapids Christian in a game the Wolves led heading into the final minute.
Tied 32-all at the half with EGR
The game with East was much closer than the final score. Wyoming led 14-12 at the end of the first quarter and the contest was tied 32-32 at halftime.
East Grand Rapids pulled ahead of the host Wolves in the third quarter and headed into the final stanza with a 48-41 lead. Wyoming tied the game in the final quarter before East pulled away late with the bulk of its points coming at the free-throw line in the final minutes.
“It was a fairly close game, but we had to put them on the free-throw line at the end,” said Wyoming Coach Thom VanderKlay. “Defensively we broke down quite a bit in the second half. Our field-goal percentage was also not very good. The shots we took were decent and we did get 15 offensive rebounds so we had some second chances, but we just could not put the ball in the basket.”
Wyoming finished the game shooting 27% from the field and also had 16 turnovers. The Wolves did a solid job on the boards with 37 rebounds while the defense created seven turnovers.
Wyoming junior Avonte’ Wiggins from last year. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Avonte’ Wiggins led Wyoming in scoring with 22 points and Brayden Williams added 10. Wiggins also led the Wolves with eight rebounds.
Shooting woes have been the main drawback for the Wolves this season.
“Coming into the season I expected us to be a pretty good shooting team,” VanderKlay said. “We can spread the floor and do a pretty good job of running the floor. On defense we work hard and can run pretty well and can create a fast pace.”
The Wolves also have more experience this season with several players returning from last year including a trio of returning starters.
Wyoming returns three senior starters in Warren Williams, Donavyn Edwards and Gage Behrenbrinker. Rounding out the starting lineup are freshman Brayden Williams and Wiggins, a junior.
Wyoming also is a deep team this season with 12 players on the roster who are all capable of contributing.
Wyoming also returns seniors Maxi Morales, Buster Cross and Chris Jackson along with senior Brendan Nesbary, who is new to the team. Rounding out the squad are juniors Zy Debose, Tarren Calvert and Duane Droughn.
“We have some good depth this season,” VanderKlay said “Any of the guys on our roster can step in and play well. All 12 of them can play.”
That depth will come in handy during the long 22-game season especially when OK Green Conference play begins. As usual, the league will be solid from top to bottom.
“Zeeland West, Reeths-Puffer and Muskegon are all very good teams,” VanderKlay said. “Mona Shores also looks much improved. I also think we can be in the mix. We’ve had our moments this season, we just have to be more consistent.”
WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed went behind the scenes with author Chavonne Mateen and her debut novel, Shaylah Marston and the Rogue Roots, on WKTV Soundbites (Courtesy, WKTV)
Set in an urban magical realm, Mateen’s middle grade novel contains everything the author loves about the fantasy genre – and about life.
“I have always been a huge fan of fantasy fiction,” said Mateen, adding that the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and the Children of Blood and Bone series by Tomi Adeyemi are among her favorite reads.
When not writing, Mateen fills her time as an HR Technologist for HRIS Streamline Consulting, is an Associate Integration Consultant for iCIMS, and is a self-professed serial entrepreneur.
Already living a life busy with the HR works she loves, this reporter couldn’t resist asking Mateen about the driving force behind her desire to pen a novel.
Living life to the fullest
“People go on journeys in life,” said Mateen. “One day I was writing down things I wanted to accomplish. Starting a business was one, finishing school was another, and writing a rap.
“The next one was to write a book. That’s how this was born.”
Mateen talked with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed about what lies at the heart of her debut novel (Courtesy, WKTV)
Not only did Mateen decide to write a book, she decided to create something groundbreaking that was also relatable.
Mateen wanted to write what she deemed was missing in the fantasy genre – a series featuring a beautiful, strong and present family that sticks together.
“I decided that I wanted to write something that I could relate to,” said Mateen. “This is more in an urban setting, and it’s characters that I can relate to.”
Shaylah’s journey is one of self-discovery.
Suddenly inundated with nightly visions of her deceased grandfather, Shaylah begins asking her mother some hard questions. As long-kept family secrets are revealed, the young teen realizes that she also holds magical powers and abilities.
Mateen chats about Shaylah Marston merchandise and fan art (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“When they begin telling her these secrets, that’s when the story begins to unfold and the magic occurs,” said Mateen.
The young heroine embarks on a mission with her family and friends, intent on saving a distant world and restoring her family’s name.
With a diverse cast of characters and a relatable and inspiring protagonist, Shaylah Marston and the Rogue Roots weaves powerful themes of friendship, courage and self-discovery throughout its pages.
Deemed “an exhilarating coming-of-age extravaganza” and “unapologetic fantasy fiction at its finest” by beta readers, Mateen’s novel will transport readers to a world brimming with adventure.
Interested readers can visit Mateen’s website to pre-order a copy of the novel, sign up for notifications regarding Shaylah Marston events and news, and purchase Shaylah Marston merchandise.
But Mateen isn’t stopping there.
Big screen goals
Bringing Shaylah Marston to the big screen as a Netflix series is a goal Mateen is already working to set in motion.
“That’s the ultimate goal, to bring it to the big screen, bring it to life, and bring the awareness to Grand Rapids that we do have offerings and more creatives in this space,” said Mateen.
Expanding worlds, chasing dreams
Mateen is currently working on the second Shaylah Marston novel (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Mateen plans to expand Shaylah Marston’s world through writing, though she admits that the writing process is not always easy.
“I’ve experienced roadblocks, setbacks, tumbles and stumbles,” said Mateen.
But she doesn’t let that stop her, and she encourages others to push through those difficulties as well.
“Just continue to write,” said Mateen. “Pick up that pen. If you don’t have a pen, pick up your phone. Jot those ideas down. You can always revisit and expand on it, but you have to start somewhere and keep at it because it’s a work in progress.
“It’s not going to always be perfect. But continue pressing forward.”
To learn more about Shaylah Marston and the Rogue Roots, visit the Shaylah Marston website and Facebook page.
Wyoming girls basketball Coach Jesse Vasquez talks to his team during a timeout. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
It may have been the third game of the season for the Wyoming girls basketball team, but the performance the Wolves put on looked more like a team in mid-season form.
Blending a potent offense with a stingy defense, the Wolves claimed a 61-17 win against visiting Comstock Park Tuesday.
With a host of talented players back from last year’s squad that finished with a winning record along with some promising newcomers, the Wolves started strong and finished even stronger against the visiting Panthers.
Leading 13-8 at the end of the first quarter, Wyoming began to ramp up the offense and lock down even tighter on the defensive end of the floor during the second quarter. Wyoming opened the second quarter going on a 16-3 run to take a 29-11 lead midway through the quarter. Their swarming defense forced Comstock Park into numerous turnovers during the run while the offense was in overdrive.
The Wolves began to heat up from beyond the three-point arc and whatever outside shots were missed were converted into putbacks on offensive rebounds as the Wolves, led by La’Anna Griffin and Michaela Moore, controlled the offensive boards.
Wyoming’s La’Anna Griffin (15) goes around a Comstock Park defender during Tuesday’s game. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Wyoming closed out the first half playing even stingier defense as it held Comstock Park scoreless the remainder of the half while building the lead to 35-11 by halftime.
“All week we’ve been talking about doing the little things,” said Wyoming coach Jesse Vasquez. “About out-working and out-rebounding teams. We have a lot of great shooters on our team and if we dominate the glass and get the loose balls our offense can take over games.”
That was exactly the formula the Wolves used to take the game over against Comstock Park. Wyoming kept the pressure up during the second half. The Wolves outscored the Panthers 14-6 during the third quarter to increase the lead to 49-17.
The fourth quarter was even more impressive as the Wyoming defense held Comstock Park scoreless while scoring 12 points on the offensive end of the floor.
Wyoming guard Myah Nabors (13) sets up the offense during Tuesday’s game against Comstock Park.(WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Wyoming dictated the pace of play during the game. The Wolves also used every player available during the game as they were substituting like a hockey team rolling out fresh lines. That total-team effort was obvious by looking at the scorebook. A total of 10 Wolves scored with four Wyoming players reaching double figures.
Tamia Gayles led with 15 points
Sophomore Tamia Gayles led the Wolves in scoring with 15 points, while seniors Griffin and Madileena Longoria and sophomore Myah Nabors scored 10 each. Moore, a sophomore, added eight points followed by juniors Shakya Anderson and Ly’Nia King and sophomore Arianna Bennitt with two points apiece.
“We’re a pretty deep team,” Vasquez said. “As deep as we are it’s pretty easy to play at the pace we do. Having two or three fresh bodies to always rotate in makes my job easier.”
Having a strong core of veterans also helps. Wyoming lost just two seniors from last year’s squad. Along with the veteran players returning, the Wolves moved up three sophomores to the varsity along with fellow sophomore Nabors who saw extensive playing time last season as a freshman.
“We have some returning players like Myah Nabors, La’Anna Griffin, Madileena Longoria and Shakya Anderson,” Vasquez said. “Add in the sophomores like Michaela Moore and Tamia Gayles. I really like our guard play. We have three really good guards in Tamia, Myah and Michaela and two solid post players.”
With the win, Wyoming improved to 2-1 for the season. Wyoming opened the season in a big way by scheduling the toughest competition it could find in defending Division 1 state champion Rockford. While the Wolves fell 69-23, the game provided the team with the toughest test available. Wyoming rebounded from that game to defeat Grand Rapids Christian 52-36.
“We wanted to toughen our schedule up,” Vasquez said. “We want to play the tough teams and get to that level. One game does not define a season.”
The rugged non-league schedule also prepares the Wolves for what will be a competitive OK-Green Conference season.
“Our conference is pretty deep,” Vasquez said. “Muskegon is right up there. Reeths-Puffer and Zeeland West are going to be up there and you can’t count out Mona Shores. If we do the things we talk about we will be right up there too.”
The Lee Legends wrapped up last season with their first conference championship in 43 years, but were knocked out of the MHSAA playoffs in the first round by crosstown rival Godwin Heights 83-80 in overtime.
“It was a hostile environment at Godwin,” said Coach Dominic Shannon, in his third year at Lee.
That hostile road environment led Shannon to beef up the Legends’ non-conference schedule for the 2023-2024 season.
“Being in the Alliance League gives us some flexibility with our non-conference schedule,” said Shannon, whose Legends won the league last year with an 8-0 record and finished 19-2 overall. “We only play conference teams once, so that allows us to schedule more non-conference games. I talked with our athletic director, and he supported the effort.”
The Legends have already faced off against Marshall and Forest Hills Eastern before their 80-48 loss Friday to host East Kentwood.
Marshall won the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference championship and their district championship before losing in the regional finals.
Forest Hills Eastern ended last year with a 17-7 record and finished 8-6 in an OK Gold conference bullied by state powerhouses South Christian and Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
East Kentwood OK Red champs last year
East Kentwood won the OK Red with an 11-3 record, one of the premier conferences in Michigan, and finished 18-7 overall last year.
“I’m an EK guy,” Shannon said. “So it was nice to step into that gym again.”
The Falcons scored early and kept the pressure on for an 80-48 victory over Lee.
“They made some buckets early, and our guys started to get discouraged,” Shannon said. “I stand by the decision to schedule these non-conference games in hostile environments; it will help us grow.”
The Legends missed the presence of their only senior last year, Joe Russau, who’s now playing at Muskegon Community College.
“Russau was a force for us in the middle getting rebounds,” Shannon explained.
The Legends were outrebounded 32-20 against East Kentwood.
Reigning Alliance League Player of the Year Marc Whitfield paced Lee with 16 points.
Lee’s Marc Whitfield last season.
Ny’Zhem Marshall led the team with 11 boards and three blocks, while senior Clarence Lewis added 11 points.
The 0-3 Legends welcome Kalamazoo Phoenix for their home opener on Thursday, Dec. 14, while East Kentwood travels to Saginaw on Saturday, Dec. 16 for its next game.
Quick response times helped minimize damage in Wyoming apartment fire (Courtesy, WKTV)
By Wyoming Fire Department
At approximately 2 a.m., the Wyoming Fire Department responded to a structure fire at a 36-unit apartment building in the 2200 block of Michael Ave S.W.
The first arriving fire units observed smoke coming from within one of the units. The responding units were able to contain and extinguish the fire, preventing it from fully spreading to the remainder of the apartment building. There were no reported injuries to people or pets.
The Wyoming Fire Department was notified of this fire by an observant tenant who smelled smoke. The tenant’s quick call to 911 allowed the fire department to respond quickly and minimize damage.
Displaced resident support
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Twelve units were affected by this fire. Those residents are currently receiving support from the Property Management Company and the Red Cross for temporary shelter, food, and other essential services while necessary repairs are made.
The Wyoming Fire Department wishes to thank our Red Cross partners who quickly arrived on scene and assisted with the needs of the displaced residents. We appreciate their commitment to the community as they provide crucial support to those affected by fires.
The fire is currently under investigation. Anyone with additional information regarding this incident are asked to contact the Wyoming Fire Department Fire Investigator at 616-257-9764.
Last year’s team with their regional championship trophy. (Courtesy, Tri-Unity Christian)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
The Tri-unity Christian boys basketball team has a goal of making it back to the Division 4 state championship in March, and a tried-and-true formula is what the Defenders are using to accomplish the task.
Playing strong defense, sharing the ball on offense and playing for each other has proven to be a winning formula for the Defenders. Tri-unity has used that recipe to make it to the Division 4 state title game the past three years including a state championship in 2022.
Tri-unity is off to a strong start this season winning its first three games including a 71-41 win against Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart on Tuesday. The Defenders were up by 12 at the half against Sacred Heart before using a big third quarter to break the game open.
“We have a great group of boys, said veteran Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler. “They play well together and are unselfish. They are all solid players and amazing young men.”
A team of veterans
Making things even better this season is that Tri-unity also is a veteran team. Nearly the entire team returns from last season and the roster is loaded with senior veterans. Two of the seniors, Owen Rosendall and Jordan VanKlompenberg, are four-year starters who are looking to accomplish a unique milestone this season. Rosendall and VanKlompenberg have been to the last three Division 4 state championship games and are looking to end their career with four trips to the state finals.
Jordan VanKlompenberg. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Rosendall and VanKlompenberg also are team captains this season. Rosendall, a 5-foot-10 guard, is a lock-down defender, while VanKlompenberg is a 6-foot-1 guard who possesses an excellent outside shot and also is a solid defender.
Owen Rosendall knocking down a layup. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Up front, Tri-unity returns 6-4 forward Akais Giplaye who provides strong rebounding and defense. Senior Wesley Kamen (6-1) also is an outstanding outside shooter and defender, while junior point guard Keaton Blanker (5-10) orchestrates the offense.
Akais Giplaye reaches for the ball. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
The Defenders also have plenty of depth. Trey Rillema is a 6-foot-5 forward who brings strong rebounding skills and defense to the court. Junior Joey Mellon brings even more size off the bench and at 6-foot-7 is the tallest player on the team. Senior Chris Boileau (5-8) is the backup at point guard while senior Lincoln Eerdmans (5-11) provides more backcourt depth. Rounding out the roster for the Defenders are senior Trusten Bowman (6-2) and juniors Marcus Lokiden (6-1) and Hudson Ghent (5-8) who provide the team with outstanding depth.
Trey Rillema (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Wesley Kaman (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Jordan VanKlompenberg (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Keaton Blanker (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Chris Boileau (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Owen Rosendall (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Jordan VanKlompenberg. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Lincoln Eerdmans (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Joey Mellon (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Wesley Kaman (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Keaton Blanker (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Akais Giplaye (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Owen Rosendall (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Akais Giplaye (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
With plenty of depth and a willingness to pass the basketball, the Defenders are a matchup-problem for opponents. In the win against Sacred Heart, the Tri-unity offense generated 17 assists.
“I was really excited about that,” Keeler said. “These guys do a great job of sharing the basketball. We don’t have one big scorer. We have a lot of kids who can score and we’ve had a different player lead us in scoring each game this season.”
Rosendall and VanKlompenberg led the Defenders with five assists apiece in the win against Sacred Heart. Kaman led the offense with 17 points, while Blanker added 10 points and Giplaye and VanKlompenberg added eight points apiece. Rillema led the team in rebounding with six, while Giplaye added five rebounds.
Wesley Kaman led with 17 points against Sacred Heart. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity improved to 3-0 for the season with the win. The Defenders opened the season with a 62-22 win against Muskegon Orchard View and then turned back Calvin Christian 64-44.
Another element of the success at Tri-unity is the non-league scheduling. The Defenders annually schedule non-league games against larger schools and the best competition they can find. Last season, Tri-unity ended with a 22-7 record, but that also led the Defenders to the state title game for a third straight year.
“Our regular season is a very tough schedule,” Keeler said. “We tried to play the toughest competition we can to prepare for the state tournament.”
The Defenders are slated to host Godwin Heights Friday and travel to Kelloggsville next Friday before playing Division 1 team Forest Hills Central in the first game of the Cornerstone Tournament on December 21.
Tri-unity also plays in the rugged Alliance League where Lee, Potter’s House and Grand Rapids Aviation are all loading up for title runs.
Live reindeer from GG Reindeer Farm came to visit (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Brianna Pena Wojtanek, Wyoming Communications Specialist, was excited to see the reindeer (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
All ages joined in at the craft tables! (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Wyoming PD officers created a festive sleigh (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Members of the Fire Department helped collect the clothing donations(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Wyoming PD Wrap Up Wyoming (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Council Member-At-Large Tommy Brann (left) and Mayor Kent Vanderwood showed their support of the holiday event (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Jingle Jams, led by Parks and Recreation Director Krashawn Martin (left) and Wyoming Senior Center Chad Boprie, were a favorite! (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
deborah@wktv.org
Santa and Mrs. Claus, reindeer, live music and cookie decorating were only a few highlights of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department’s new holiday event, Wrap Up Wyoming (WUW), that took place Friday, Dec. 1.
Not only did the holiday festivities help bring residents and neighbors together for an evening of fun at the Wyoming Senior Center, WUW also kickstarted a donation drive that will run throughout the month of December.
Wrapping Wyoming in warmth
Warm winter clothing was a greater need in the Wyoming area this year (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
After talking with school partners and other community members, it became apparent there was a great need for warm winter clothing.
“What a lot of the schools need more than anything are coats, hats and boots for their students,” said Krashawn Martin, Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director. “Things that go well beyond the holidays [and] into the colder months.”
Attendees donated new warm clothing such as hats, gloves, scarves, coats and boots. The collected items will be distributed to Wyoming area schools.
“The reason we do this is so that residents can give back to the City, and to residents in need,” said Wyoming Mayor Kent Vanderwood. “Part of my heart and my passion is to help those who need help.
“Sometimes it’s hard for people to know how they should give gifts at Christmas to those in need. By donating in this way, it makes it a little easier for them. I really enjoy the giving part of it.”
The Wyoming Jazz Band played several festive tunes (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Also in attendance was Tommy Brann, Wyoming City Council Member-At-Large, who likened the festivities to a Hallmark movie.
“This reminds you of a Hallmark movie where it brings the community together, and everybody is in a good mood,” said Brann.
Santa and Mrs. Claus were available for pictures and a merry chat (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Brann went on to say that he wishes the donation drive could continue all year. “People need help year-round, but this is a great thing, and I’m glad Wyoming is doing this.”
Martin agreed that there is a great need for help and support – and the City will step forward to meet that need.
“Anything we can do here at the City of Wyoming and as a community to meet that need for our families, we are looking and willing to do,” said Martin.
Music, Santa, and Cookies – Oh My!
Those with a sweet tooth could decorate their own cookie (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Special performances by the Wyoming Jazz Band and storytime with KDL Branch Librarian Adrianna Triche provided festive experiences for all age groups.
Seeing children’s faces light up with smiles was Martin’s favorite part of the event.
“Anything that is going to bring a smile to a child’s face,” said Martin. “When they come in, their faces are going to light up when they see the Christmas tree, when they see Santa…There are some fun surprises tonight.”
WPD Officers Tyler Zbikowski and Jack Tromp show off their cookie decorating skills (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Live reindeer from GG Reindeer Farm were in attendance, and allowed pictures and petting. Santa and Mrs. Claus were available for pictures and merry conversation, and WKTV Community Media recorded holiday greetings for city officials and residents.
Members of Wyoming Public Safety also participated in the festivities. Members of the fire department organized and collected clothing donations, and several police officers joined in at the craft tables and cookie decorating stations.
A Jingle Jam Sing-A-Long led by Martin and Wyoming Senior Center Director Chad Boprie rounded out the evening.
A new holiday tradition
KDL Branch Librarian Adrianna Triche read a holiday story to the crowd (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“This event is a wonderful way to ring in the holiday season and spend quality time with friends and family,” said Martin. “It’s the perfect opportunity to talk to your little ones about the importance of lending a hand and giving back to your community.”
Boprie said that, since having his own children, he sees the importance of events like WUW that provide ways for people to connect with one another.
“Ever since having kids, my view on things like this has totally shifted,” said Boprie. “Even more, I see the importance of events like this to bring the community together, to create family traditions that you can pass on and share with your kids.”
It takes a village
Clothing donations will be distributed among local schools (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“[For] events like this, it takes a team, it takes a village,” said Martin. “The Parks and Recreation team does a lot to prepare months in advance, but we can’t do events like this without the community support we receive.
“We are grateful for our City leaders and for our sponsors – LMCU and Challenge Island – to help make things like this possible.”
If you were unable to attend but would still like to donate, WUW donation bins are available at Wyoming City Hall through the month of December.
To learn more about the City of Wyoming Parks & Recreation Department, click here.
Wyoming PD officers helped children with their crafts – and made their own! (Courtesy, Becci Schumaker)
Wyoming Police Department Officers Zbikowski and Tromp showed off their cookie decorating skills at the first annual Wrap Up Wyoming holiday event!
Formerly known as Wyoming Gives Back, the City’s reimagined annual holiday event bore a new name and location on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.
Wrap Up Wyoming took place at the Wyoming Senior Center, and featured musical and storytime performances, live reindeer, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, crafts, and cookie decorating. Donations of winter clothing items were collected and will be distributed among students at local schools.
Merriment and holiday cheer filled the Senior Center halls as families and City officials took part in holiday festivities!
Wyoming City Center plaza rendering shows community gathering space and pedestrian access (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
deborah@wktv.org
John Shay, Wyoming City Manager (Supplied)
The City of Wyoming has [re]Imagined its future over the last two decades – and now has the funding to make those dreams a reality.
Recently under new leadership, Wyoming city staff are dreaming of big changes – one of the biggest being the implementation of Wyoming City Center.
“We have a really strong city staff, and I think they have the wherewithal, capability and desire to really start to implement some of the changes that we’re looking at with the City Center,” said John Shay, Wyoming City Manager since May 2023.
Patrick Waterman, Wyoming Deputy City Manager (Supplied)
With 25 years of local government management under his belt, Shay is no stranger to nurturing a sense of community.
Working alongside Shay, and bringing 22 years of local government experience to the table, is new Wyoming Deputy City Manager Patrick Waterman.
Prior to his time in Wyoming, Waterman worked on several projects involving economic development and transformative shifts to downtown areas similar to what Wyoming will soon experience.
Transformation to a traditional downtown
Shay says the Wyoming City Center is a transformational project geared toward creating a central gathering place accessible by walking.
Wyoming’s development is consistent with communities from the 50s and 60s that were developed around vehicles. This culminated in strip malls and large parking lots – and eliminated the traditional downtown area.
“What’s happened in recent years has been a calling for a return to the traditional development patterns of downtown,” said Waterman. “Main streets where people can get out and walk, and shop, and come together as a community.”
Wyoming city staff have worked to create a downtown area that will bring community members together (Courtesy, Deborah Reed)
Unfortunately, Wyoming lacks those community gathering spaces. The Wyoming City Center will change that.
“The city has really worked on that, and came up with this City Center project that will enable us to create a gathering place that will connect certain parts of the city together,” said Shay.
Waterman agreed. “It will be Wyoming’s effort to try to create that more traditional development pattern that makes it inviting for you to step out of your car and enjoy the experience of being there,” said Waterman. “I think it’s a really exciting time.”
How it will happen
Shay and Waterman believe the City Center is not just about the core of the Center, but also how to provide access to it.
Trails and bridges
One avenue of accessibility will be 4.6 miles of new non-motorized pathways that will be completed in 2024.
“We’re trying to put the spokes into the hub to get people,” said Waterman. “Those [trails] will connect north to Grand Rapids and south to Byron Center.
“Looking at getting people around without having to get in the car is very important.”
The City Center project includes the construction of a pedestrian bridge over 28th Street (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)
The new trail will include an elevated pedestrian bridge over 28th Street that will help pedestrians cross safely.
Shay said that design work is ongoing, with finishing touches on wayfinding signs, lighting, and routes happening now.
Utility lines
Burying utility lines between Burlingame and Clyde Park is also a key component of the project.
Not only will it add to the aesthetic value of the Center, but removing overhead lines will allow space for the pedestrian bridge. It also allows buildings to be closer to the roads with parking lots stationed in the back.
Consumers Energy has already begun the process of removing their overhead lines. Telecommunication companies that also use Consumers Energy poles will remove their lines as well.
“That will be a three or four phase process,” said Shay. “When that’s all said and done, we would have all of those overhead lines buried underground.”
Housing
Due to Wyoming’s steadily increasing population, additional housing is also included in the City Center plans.
“Some have already been built, and much more is on the horizon,” said Waterman, adding that they are focusing on affordable housing. “The important part is to have mixed income housing along all income levels to make it an inviting place to come and live.”
From dream to reality
“We were very fortunate this isn’t just a pipe dream,” said Shay. “We’ve got over $36 million that is allocated with this project.”
Over four miles of new trails will connect areas between Grand Rapids and Byron Center (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)
With $20 million from the state, $10 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from Wyoming, and $6 million of ARPA funds from the county, the Wyoming City Center is a reality.
“We made a very compelling case to the state that this will be a transformational project for the city,” said Shay. “It will really create a different look and different vibe for the city.”
“Our state legislators were instrumental in shepherding this request through,” Shay continued. “This isn’t something that we can do alone.”
Shay went on to say that the City of Wyoming is financially sound due to careful budgeting.
“We budget pretty conservatively, we spend very conservatively, and we’re going to continue to do that,” said Shay. “We’re spending taxpayer money, so we have to be very cognizant of that.”
Community strength
“Wyoming has many strengths, but one of the strengths is the diversity of Wyoming,” said Shay. “There are people of all different backgrounds, all different economic classes, all different needs, and I think that provides a really good mix for the city.”
Both Shay and Waterman have seen a strong pride in community from the residents of Wyoming.
A solid infrastructure system and wide diversity in the economic tax base are additional strengths voiced by the city officials, along with strong manufacturing, sound commercial retail, and a variety of residential housing.
Removing stumbling blocks
Though Wyoming’s diversity lends strength to the community, it also creates “a little bit of any identity crisis,” said Waterman.
Shay and Waterman said they plan to address that identity crisis via a rebranding effort currently in development.
The City Center project is located near the 28 West site and adjacent to Hom Flats (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)
With water and sewer projects in the near future, Shay said the city is working to maintain reasonable cost for residents while also maintaining the current infrastructure.
Increasing skepticism of government motives and abilities is another stumbling block Shay intends to eliminate.
“The trust factor in government has really gone down,” said Shay. “That’s been disheartening to some extent, because you have many employees that are really working hard every day to provide services.”
A unified vision
Over the next decade, Shay would like to achieve the city’s vision of crowded sidewalks, shops and restaurants, and special events that will bring people together and strengthen that sense of community.
A unified vision is vital to move forward, and both Shay and Waterman believe that is happening in Wyoming.
“The City Council supports that vision,” said Shay. “They’ve been instrumental in charting that course. Having the political support from our local government by the City Council is absolutely vital.”
Waterman believes the reimagined Wyoming is imminent, saying, “We’ll get there together.”
Kent County shelters are filled to capacity, risking leaving hundreds without access to shelter services during winter (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
Homelessess is on the rise (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Homelessness is on the rise, and there is an overwhelming demand for shelter and other services as winter approaches.
According to the latest data, the number of individuals and families needing shelter far exceeds the supply of shelter beds in Kent County. Based on trends and current bed capacity in our community, an estimated 100 to 300 people could be without access to shelter services on the coldest winter nights.
According to the Point in Time count, there were 723 individuals experiencing homelessness in Kent County in 2018. In 2023, that number sharply increased to 1,239 individuals experiencing homelessness.
Current shelters cannot sustain increase in need
Non-profit leaders of Dégagé Ministries, along with Mel Trotter Ministries, Family Promise and AYA Youth Collective fear they will not have enough shelter and provisions to accommodate the increased demand for shelter during the winter months.
Even with the new bunks at Dégagé, they are unable to meet the current need for beds (Courtesy, Dégagé Ministries)
Dégagé provides the only emergency shelter for women in the area. They are seeing up to 125 women a night in the shelter, many experiencing homelessness for the first time.
They are doing all they can to make arrangements to accommodate 150 women per night. Funding limitations, however, will make it difficult to sustain that figure during the winter.
The leaders of Mel Trotter Ministries, Dégagé Ministries, Family Promise of West Michigan, and AYA Youth Collective, alongside the Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness, are releasing an open letter to the West Michigan community.
The letter below outlines the need for this community and its leaders to identify both near and long-term solutions to address the homelessness crisis.
A plea to the public for support
To the West Michigan community:
We present this message to our community with a sense of great concern and urgency as our region’s coldest winter months are fast approaching.
Economic hardships, the loss of supportive resources from COVID, and a shortage of affordable housing have combined to worsen the already difficult situation facing men, women, youth, and families experiencing homelessness in West Michigan. The shifting landscape is presenting an increasingly dire situation for people living on the street and an overwhelming demand for the non-profit service agencies that provide compassionate care, meals, services, and shelter to those in need.
Unable to meet the demand
Shortages include location, space and staffing (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Making matters even more challenging is that just like other employers, some non-profit agencies are facing a worker shortage and a funding shortfall. Adding temporary shelter beds this winter, as has happened in the past, is a significant challenge because there are simply not enough workers to ensure a safe environment for overflow guests.
What’s more, the funding needed to provide additional staffing and a location for overflow shelter space is not presently available. Therefore, non-profits simply cannot meet the demand.
We are committed to providing compassionate support to as many of our neighbors in need as possible, while maintaining a safe environment for all. However, when the population growth of individuals experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in our community far exceeds the limited amount of shelter space, we are faced with difficult decisions and risk loss of life.
Our collective community efforts to address the homelessness crisis must include both near and long-term solutions. Of immediate concern is the urgent need to find shelter workers and shelter bed space. At the same time, we remain focused on initiatives to increase affordable housing, create more access to mental health resources, strengthen workforce development and employment opportunities, and more.
The rising issue of homelessness is one facing our entire country, and an issue that is of paramount importance in West Michigan. Collaborative work between agencies, governmental partners, and community leaders is happening to create a long-term cohesive strategy. As non-profits, we are doing great work, but we can do even more with increased funding, more staff, and more shelter rooms to meet this growing need.
Limited shelter space increases risk of loss of life (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
How you can help save lives
With your help, we can save lives this winter by protecting unhoused individuals, youth, children, and families from extreme, life-threatening temperatures. To learn more or join us in our efforts to combat homelessness, visit us at our websites below.
We remain resolute in our commitment to serve those in need in our community, and we stand ready to continue partnering with our community leaders in taking steps toward finding a sustainable solution that benefits the entire region.
The Wyoming Fire Department is investigating a residential house fire on Averill Avenue (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
By WKTV Staff
At approximately 11:45am, the Wyoming Fire Department responded to a residential house fire in the 5600 block of Averill Avenue.
(Courtesy, WKTV)
The first arriving fire units observed smoke coming from the home. The Wyoming Fire Department was able to contain and quickly extinguish the fire, preventing it from fully spreading to the remainder of the structure. There were no reported injuries to people or pets.
The Wyoming Fire Department was notified of this fire by observant neighbors and their quick call to 911 saved valuable time.
Residents are reminded to prioritize fire safety measures, including having working smoke alarms, developing well-rehearsed evacuation plans and meeting place, and also the education of everyone in the home how to dial 911 in an emergency.
Anyone with additional information regarding this fire is asked to contact the Wyoming Fire Department Fire Investigator at 616-257-9764.
Editor’s Note: WKTV is reposting this unique, local story in honor of George David Payne and all United States veterans.
The weeks leading up to the sinking of the USS Indianapolis during a top secret mission in WWII, 17-year-old sailor George David Payne mailed two letters home from the ship.
Some 77 years after his brother tragically died on that ship off the coast of Japan, Sparta resident David Payne still gets extremely emotional reading those last letters.
“I get choked up when I read that last letter,” said David, who never met George David. “From my understanding he was a quiet, nice kid. I’ve never heard anything bad about him.”
Below is an excerpt from one of the two final letters from George David Payne (Seaman 2nd Class):
One of the two letters Wyoming sailor George David Payne sent home just weeks before the USS Indianapolis sank off the coast of Japan on July 30, 1945. (Courtesy, David Payne)
Dear Mom, Dad and Kids,
I hope this letter finds all of you in the best of health. I feel pretty good myself.
Tell dad and all the kids I said hi. Tell Jean the same. I suppose you are having quite a time with the kids.
Tell grandma and grandpa I said hello. Boy, I’ll sure be glad when I get another leave, but I shouldn’t start thinking about a leave already.
I suppose it is pretty nice weather in Michigan now. Anyway, it should be summer. Well, I’ll have to say so long for now.
Love to all the family,
George David Payne
Tragedy strikes shortly after letters sent home
Tragically, not long after the letters were sent, torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-58 sank the USS Indianapolis to the bottom of the Western Pacific Ocean within minutes on July 30, 1945.
Only 316 men survived
An estimated 300 men died aboard the ship, while nearly 900 sailors abandoned it, leading to several days of fighting off sharks, dehydration and injuries. Only 316 survived.
Top secret mission delivering atomic bomb components for use on Hiroshima
On a top secret mission that began in San Francisco, the Indianapolis successfully delivered atomic bomb components to Tinian Island. The components delivered were used in the atomic bomb (Little Boy) that the United States dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945.
USS Indianapolis in its prime. (U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Archives)
“Many are familiar with Captain Quint’s retelling of the ship’s story in the 1975 film, “Jaws.” Few, however, understand the far-reaching impact of the incident and the tremendous amount of documentation and research conducted in the wake of the incident that continues to impact how the Navy operates today,” according to the Naval History and Heritage Command Communication and Outreach Division.
George David Payne is remembered by two siblings (David Payne and Suzanna Green) in a WKTV interview last summer (2022). July 30, 2023, marked the 78th anniversary of the sinking of the Indianapolis.
Siblings Jim and Cherie Payne, and mom Lillian Payne at their home: 305 Murray St., Wyoming, in 1945. (David Payne)
“I wasn’t born yet when George died,” David continued. “I didn’t realize I had a brother that died in the war until I was seven. In the early fifties, there was a program on TV showing the Japanese sinking that ship and my mother Lillian started crying and said your brother was on that ship.”
While recently looking at a photo of his brother Jim, Mom Lillian and sister Cherie (dated June 20, 1945) enjoying a happy day on the front porch, David said it soon turned tragic about a month later with the death of his brother on July 30, 1945.
David said his brother George David wasn’t old enough to sign up for the war so his dad signed the necessary paperwork in 1945 to let him join the Navy.
A short stint on the ship
“He was only on that ship for two weeks,” said David, age 75, who’s lived in Sparta for over 30 years. “I had an older brother in California (Nick Alberts, from his mother’s previous marriage), and he met him out there. George stayed for Nick’s wedding in California, and then got transferred to the USS Indianapolis.”
David said Nick, a member of the Seabees in California at the time, blamed himself for George’s fate.
“My little buddy”
USS Indianapolis Seaman 2nd Class George David Payne. (Naval History and Heritage Command Archives)
“He blamed himself for getting him transferred and going to the wedding,” said David, as he cried explaining the sad details. “He always called George ‘my little buddy,’ and said, ‘I can’t come home without my little buddy.’”
Because of that lingering guilt, David said his big brother Nick didn’t return home for 15 years.
“He had guilt, but did finally come home in the late fifties when I was 14 years old,” David continued. “Nick left a book on the Indianapolis with me.”
Most of the 12 siblings (seven girls, five boys) grew up on 305 Murray Street in Wyoming and attended Kelloggsville High School.
Providing after death
Many of them experienced the Great Depression. And it wasn’t lost on any family member how far George’s Navy death gratuity went to pay for their necessities.
“Our mother bought our school clothes and everything we needed from that check, it helped out our family so much,” said David, born on September 17, 1945, less than two months after the Indianapolis sank. “Both mom and dad got 20 or 30 dollars a month from George’s death.”
Gruesome shark attack stories
David Payne honoring and remembering his brother George David at a USS Indianapolis memorial in 1995 in Indy. (Courtesy, David Payne)
During a USS Indianapolis memorial event held in Indianapolis in 1995, David learned firsthand about the tragedy from several survivors.
“Through the years, we didn’t talk about it much and we were hoping he wasn’t trapped in the ship or killed by sharks,” said David, who attended with his wife Mary and sister Suzanna Green.
“Some of the guys relayed the terrible stories, talking about sharks dragging away their friends. It must have been hell.”
He said nearly 200 sailors attended, and recalls some talking about the gruesome shark attacks.
“I remember one guy’s account saying he heard a fellow sailor’s last word’s while getting dragged off by a shark, he screamed for his mother, and David imagined his brother George screaming for mom as well, as he cried retelling his memorial experience with survivors.
“There were some terrible stories. They had to go through hell.”
A “wonderful guy”
Green said George David was “kind-hearted, and definitely cared about his country. My mother cried over his death all of her life and made sure all of us knew we had a brother George David. He was a good kid.”
Green, who also attended the 1995 Indianapolis memorial, recalls the heavy emotions of the event.
“We went there because it was in his memory,” said Green, who taught for 30 years in the Grand Rapids Public School system. “And it was very emotional when we found his name on the monument. Dave put Mary on his shoulders and she put a piece of paper up there and she scratched it with a pencil.”
A proud celebration of life and service
Siblings David, Suzanna and Margie Payne at home on 305 Murray St. in Wyoming in the late 40s. (David Payne)
“It made me feel real close to the brother that I never saw,” Green continued.
“I knew him, but never saw him. I was very proud that his name was there and that he was remembered. It was a celebration of his life and his service.”
Green said their faith got her through the tragedy.
“Mom read the bible every day,” Green explained. “I love him like I grew up with him and that’s because my mother kept his memory alive.”
“We love him even though we didn’t ever get to meet him. And he still is well loved.”
Navy changes status
The Navy officially changed the status of George David and 12 other sailors lost when the Indianapolis was sunk in 1945 from “unaccounted for” to “buried at sea,” Navy Casualty announced on May 27, 2022.
The change in status is the result of extensive research between Naval History and Heritage Command, Navy Casualty Office, the USS Indianapolis Survivors Association, the USS Indianapolis Legacy Organization, and the Chief Rick Stone and Family Charitable Foundation.
The announcement helps bring closure to the families of these sailors who lost their lives at the end of a secret mission which helped end World War II.
Remembering George David through his clothing
At age 12, David found one of George’s Navy peacoats.
“I put it on and came upstairs and asked mom if I could have it,” he recalled.
His brother James would put on his Navy uniform occasionally.
A friend’s dad and Battle of the Bulge veteran from World War II, James Emanouil, age 97 at the time of the original article, used to spar with George David in the early forties at a local gym in Grand Rapids.
“I think George David wanted to join this war because of James and Nick.”
Service to the country goes way, way back
David’s fascination with genealogy led to a discovery of another young veteran from long ago. He learned that a great, great, great grandparent fought in the American Revolution at age 15, Eli Payne, Sr. His 100-year-old aunt, at the time, gave David a charcoal drawing of this relative.
Captain Charles B. McVay III
Captain Charles B. McVay III, commander of the USS Indianapolis. (Naval History and Heritage Command Archives)
Per the Naval History and Heritage Command website, “Captain McVay was court-martialed in the aftermath of the sinking and found guilty of recklessly endangering his crew by failing to zig-zag, in spite of I-58 Captain Mochitsura Hashimoto’s testimony at the trial stating that such maneuvers would not have changed the outcome of his attack. The conviction effectively ruined McVay’s career. It was controversial at the time and remains so today.” (Hashimoto was the Japanese submarine commander that sank the USS Indianapolis.)
“McVay had a distinguished naval career prior to the loss of the Indianapolis. He served as Executive Officer of the USS Cleveland during the North African landings in November 1942 and earned a Silver Star for his actions aboard the same ship in the Solomon Islands in March 1943.”
After his death, McVay was exonerated by United States President Bill Clinton and the 106th Congress in 2000. Captain McVay committed suicide on November 6, 1968.
The bold paragraphs below are excerpts from survivor Captain Charles B. McVay’s detailed “Oral History – The Sinking of USS Indianapolis”
This is all documented in the Naval History and Heritage Command Archives. For a complete account of “Recollections of Captain Charles B. McVay, III,” visit here.
Captain McVay:
Commander Flynn
Executive officer [second in command on the ship] came up, Commander Flynn, and said, “We are definitely going down and I suggest that we abandon ship.” Well, knowing Flynn and having utter regard for his ability, I then said, “Pass the word to abandon ship.”
Dividing up rations floating at sea
I looked over the material that we had, the food stuffs, and told the people that I would open one Hormel tin per day. It contains 12 ounces and we would divide that evenly, and I also figured out each person could have two biscuits and two malted milk tablets, which I knew would last us about ten days.
Attacked by sharks
We had sharks, or rather they had sharks down there [in the life preserver group]. We know that because we have two survivors who were bitten by sharks and as I told this one boy in the hospital. I said, “You’d better take some castellan paint and put on that thing before it heals up because nobody will ever believe you’ve been bitten by a shark. You might as well outline the teeth mark and you will have it for the rest of your life and can say, `I know I was bitten by a shark.'”
USS Ringness to the rescue
The (USS) Ringness picked us up by radar. We had a 40 mm, empty ammunition can which I had spent a good deal of energy and time trying to get to, thinking it was an emergency ration, but we picked it up anyhow and saved it and she [Ringness] got a [radar] pip from this can.
I think we had lost probably about 15% of our weight and I was naturally so elated to get on the ship, as were the others that we didn’t turn in at all. We were given something to eat, ice cream, coffee, such as that. The doctor said, “You can eat all you want,” which most of us did. We drank quite a bit of water.
Support local businesses by shopping small on Small Business Saturday (Courtesy, SBA)
By SBA, Geri Sanchez Aglipay and Laketa Henderson
Michigan’s 14th annual Small Business Saturday is just around the corner (Courtesy, SBA)
Make big moves in Michigan! Shop and dine small at local independent businesses for Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25 and through the holiday season.
Saturdays are often set aside for errands such as haircuts, gift shops, or to pick up supplies for a DIY home project. Making fun memories with family and friends at corner coffee shops or local restaurants, grocery stocking at the neighborhood grocer or a Michigan farmer’s market, and self-care fitness time are also popular Saturday activities.
More often than not, consumers go to small independent retailers that provide these goods and services.
The value of small businesses
Nov. 25 is the 14th annual Small Business Saturday. Droves of American consumers will shop small or dine small in support of small businesses.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is proud to be a co-sponsor of Small Business Saturday, founded by American Express in 2010.
Small businesses are economic engines, creating two-thirds of net new jobs. In Michigan, 537,058 small businesses employ 1.2 million people. Small Business Saturday advances equity by leveling the field so that small businesses capture a larger piece of the holiday season consumer spending.
“The United States has experienced a historic small business boom being led by women and people of color at a rate 65% faster than the pre-pandemic average,” says SBA Great Lakes Regional Administrator Geri Aglipay. “By shopping small, we help create and preserve jobs which expands opportunities for inclusive prosperity and generational wealth building in communities.”
Shopping small online is also encouraged. E-commerce is a priority of SBA Administrator Guzman because it helps make small businesses competitive across global markets.
A catalyst for growth
The SBA Great Lakes Regional Office and the SBA Michigan District Office are thrilled to promote Small Business Saturday!
Independent businesses are a catalyst for community growth (Courtesy, SBA)
“Everybody should know that independent stores and dining venues are pillars of our communities,” said Laketa Henderson, SBA Michigan District Director. “Small Business Saturday is a day to show appreciation for the unique character of these businesses across the diverse communities in Michigan, from Motor City and Grand Rapids to the UP. They’re a catalyst for neighborhood growth.”
View a draft of the Wyoming parks master plan and share your thoughts (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
The City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council recognized a need to improve the community’s parks and recreation options and promote the City as a quality sustainable place to live and play.
As part of this effort, they have chosen to develop a new Five-Year Parks & Recreation Master Plan. This document is intended to serve as a planning tool over the next five years for the Commission and City Officials to make decisions related to future park and recreation amenities and improvements.
After seeking community input, a draft of the Five-Year Master Plan was created and can be reviewed on the City’s website here.
(Courtesy, Wyoming Parks and Recreation)
The Master Plan draft recommendation highlights include:
Improved ADA accessibility
Marquette Park redevelopment
Improving and expanding current park and recreation programs
Pickleball courts
Playground improvements
Walking trails/pathways
Pavilions
Restroom facility improvements
Focus on maintaining exist parks and new facility development
Safety improvements
Please share your opinion
Your opinion on the park priorities matters. Please let us know what you think of the plan, all feedback is requested by Dec. 21.
Click here to leave the Parks & Recreation office a note. Call the Parks & Recreation office at (616) 530-3164. Email the Parks & Recreation office at Parks_info@wyomingmi.gov. Give feedback in person at:
Planning Commission Meeting November 21, 7 p.m. City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW
City Council Work Session December 11, 5:30 p.m. City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW
Parks Commission December 13, 7 p.m. City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW
As Thanksgiving approaches, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport is expecting a busy week and is reminding guests to pack their patience.
The Airport is currently tracking 4% above its pre-pandemic passenger levels and is expected to exceed 2019 numbers, which was a record-breaking year. Total estimated passengers from November 17 through November 29 is 154,938.
“During this Thanksgiving travel season, our commitment to ensuring a seamless and joyous travel experience for all guests is unwavering,” said Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Chief Operating Officer Alex Peric. “Our team and partners are ready to welcome the increased holiday traffic, working diligently to make this special time of year stress-free for everyone.”
The peak for departures will start Friday, November 17, and carry through the weekend. The busiest return day for passengers is expected to be Monday, November 27.
Some top Thanksgiving destinations
New York, Orlando, Clearwater/Tampa and Punta Gorda.
WUW will be the kickoff event to a donation drive that runs throughout the month of December. Attendees are asked to donate new, warm clothing such as hats, gloves, scarves, coats and boots. The collected items will be donated to Wyoming area schools.
Meeting a need through change
“This is a reimagining of Wyoming Gives Back, [with] some of the same elements that were there previously,” said Martin, adding that the most noticeable variation is the giving element.
Previously, donations consisted of toys that were then given to the Salvation Army. Martin said the City is still accepting toy donations internally, with drop-off sites located at all City buildings.
After talking with school partners and other community members, however, a greater need was revealed.
“What a lot of the schools need more than anything are coats, hats and boots for their students,” said Martin. “Things that go well beyond the holidays into the colder months.”
What to expect at WUW
(Courtesy, Wyoming Parks & Rec)
The WUW event will feature musical acts from Godwin Heights High School Percussionists and Wyoming Public Schools Jazz Band, cookie decorating, a hot cocoa station, and several crafts.
Several holiday displays will highlight different holiday traditions reflected in the Wyoming community.
Wyoming Public Safety will be in attendance with their vehicles for a Touch-A-Truck opportunity, and attendees can look forward to a visit from Santa, Mrs. Claus – and live reindeer from GG Reindeer Farm.
“We are going to utilize the whole space,” said Martin of WSC. “Most of the crafts and musical performances will take place inside, but we’ll have a staging area set up outside with the reindeer. It will be a good opportunity for kids and families.”
A community effort
The Parks & Rec Department is working with several local organizations to ensure WUW is a success – and to also provide a unique opportunity for a certain group of community members.
Empower U, a Kent ISD program for individuals with special needs who have aged out of the K-12 system, provides specialized instruction, employment opportunities and independent living skills.
“They have been coming and doing some volunteer work at the senior center, providing them with job training,” said Martin. “After the event, they are going to come and go through all of the warm items and sort things for us so they are ready for us to take out to the schools.”
Let the festivities begin!
Lend a hand, give back, and ring in the holiday season at WUW (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
WUW is open to everyone to attend, so come join in the spirit of giving and fun festivities.
If you are unable to attend but would still like to donate, WUW donation bins are available at City Hall now through the month of December.
“This event is a wonderful way to ring in the holiday season and spend quality time with friends and family,” said Martin. “It’s the perfect opportunity to talk to your little ones about the importance of lending a hand and giving back to your community.
“We hope to create a fresh, even newer holiday tradition for everyone in Wyoming.”
For more information about Wrap Up Wyoming, please contact the City of Wyoming Parks & Recreation team at 616-530-3164, parks_info@wyomingmi.gov or www.wyomingmi.gov.
Woodland Mall is working to make the holiday season that much more special with big plans for Santa’s arrival, activities supporting local organizations and other festive events.
In addition to a number of charitable efforts, the mall is preparing for Santa’s grand arrival with a parade through the mall, followed by a pajama party, photo opportunities and dance and musical performances by local groups, among other activities.
“Our focus this year is on spreading holiday cheer through fun events with the man in red himself, as well as charitable activities, vendor shows and community performances,” Marketing Manager Kennedy Vancalbergh said. “With a few new experiences alongside the winter staples we’re known for, Woodland Mall continues to offer the best in holiday shopping and festivities for shoppers of all ages.”
(Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
Santa’s Parade and PJ Arrival Party – Nov. 17
Santa will make his grand return to Woodland Mall with an indoor parade beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17. Santa’s procession will begin near the entrance of the food court and end at his holiday home in the Macy’s court. Santa will be guided by the Academy of Dance Arts.
Following the parade, the mall will give a warm and cozy welcome to Santa with a fun-filled PJ party in the Macy’s court 6-8 p.m. All are encouraged to come dressed in pajamas for the event, which will include a meet and greet with holiday characters, an opportunity to take photos with Santa, balloon twisters, holiday crafts, face painting and a prize wheel.
Shoppers who bring in new pajamas to donate to The Salvation Army during the event will receive a coupon for a free 8-by-10 photo print with a Santa photo purchase.
Salvation Army Angel Tree – Nov. 17 through Dec. 14
Woodland Mall has partnered with The Salvation Army to give back to children in the community. Shoppers will find The Salvation Army Angel Tree in the Macy’s wing starting Nov. 17 through Dec. 14. Tree tags represent children or teenagers who might not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season. Shoppers can take a tag and return an unwrapped gift at the mall’s security office during mall hours.
Academy of Dance Arts Performances – Nov. 18
To celebrate Santa’s arrival, Woodland Mall will welcome Academy of Dance Arts Studio for several performances by various age groups. Throughout the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 18, the dance group will perform to holiday music in the Von Maur wing.
Photos withSanta – Nov. 18 through Dec. 24
Santa will take photos with guests and listen to holiday wishes Nov. 18 through Dec. 24. Reservations are encouraged but not required for the photo opportunity. Digital photo packages are available with options to purchase prints and a family portrait.
Visitors also can visit Ursa, the enormous 12-foot polar bear decked with thousands of holiday lights, while they wait to see Santa.
(Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
Fur babies included
Beginning Nov. 20, “fur babies” will again be welcome to visit Santa for photos on Mondays through Dec. 18. Feathered and whiskered pets of all kinds are welcome as long as they are kept on a leash, in a crate/carrier or held by the owner at all times. Pet owners must also sign a release prior to visiting Santa.
(Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
Cards for Kids Spending the Holidays in Hospitals – Nov. 18 through Dec. 11
Woodland Mall has partnered with Cards for Hospitalized Kids to provide holiday cards to local children who are spending the holiday season in the hospital. From Nov. 18 through Dec. 11, there will be a table near Santa in the Macy’s court where individuals can decorate cards for the children.
Black Friday Deals – Nov. 24
Woodland Mall will be closed on Thanksgiving Day to enable retail employees to enjoy the holiday with their loved ones. The mall will reopen at 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 24 so guests can enjoy an early start to the traditional shopping weekend. Several seasonal stores will offer discounted gift items on Black Friday. Visit ShopWoodlandMall.com for a full list of in-store deals and retailer information.
Vendor Shows – Nov. 25 and Dec. 9
Shoppers can connect with an array of small businesses and vendors during the Small Business Showcase, hosted by Britney Sylvester, on Saturday, Nov. 25, and at the Holiday Bash Craft and Vendor Show, hosted by Kelly Hume Events LLC, on Saturday, Dec. 9. Shoppers can explore a wide variety of items such as wreaths, candles, jewelry and more at the shows during shopping hours on both dates.
Women’s Resource Center Winter Clothing Drive – Dec. 1-31
Woodland Mall will hold a winter clothing drive for the Women’s Resource Center, which offers programs and services to educate and empower women for workplace success, during the entire month of December. Collection bins will be at each entrance of the mall for donations of new or gently used hats, gloves and winter socks.
Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive – Dec. 1-24
The iconic red kettles and volunteers will be stationed at the mall’s JCPenney entrance throughout the season. Characters from Star Wars will make special appearances throughout the month. Donations go toward improving the lives of families in the local community. Every gift is precious – big or small.
Artists Creating Together Concert – Dec. 4
Artists Creating Together, which empowers individuals with disabilities to learn, grow and celebrate through the arts, will give a musical performance on ukuleles and Tubano drums 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Von Maur wing.
More Surprises for Shoppers
There will be surprise visits from a variety of fun characters and drop-in performances for shoppers to enjoy on occasional weekends throughout the holiday season.
Holiday Hours
The mall will have extended hours to ensure guests can get all their holiday shopping completed. Visit ShopWoodlandMall.com/hours for details. To avoid the crowds, Woodland Mall recommends shopping Monday through Thursday when traffic is at a lighter pace.
On Christmas Eve, Woodland Mall will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The mall will be closed on Christmas Day. The mall will be open the day after Christmas 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., on New Year’s Eve noon to 6 p.m. and on New Year’s Day 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Wyoming Fire Department responded to a garage fire on Nov. 11 (Courtesy, Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
By Wyoming Fire Department
At approximately 3:45 p.m. on Nov. 11, Wyoming Fire Department responded to a garage fire in the 2000 block of Wyoming Avenue.
The first arriving fire units observed a well-involved attached garage fire that was spreading into the home. There were no reported injuries as residents were able to evacuate the home safely. Wyoming Fire Department contained and extinguished the fire preventing it from fully extending to the rest of the home. The Red Cross was notified to assist the homeowners.
Wyoming Fire Department encourages practicing regular fire safety measures such as checking your homes smoke alarms, having a well-rehearsed evacuation plan and meeting place.
Anyone with additional information regarding this fire is asked to contact the Wyoming Fire Department Fire Investigator at 616-257-9764.
In honor of Veterans Day and in conjunction with Kent County’s observance of Operation Green Light, the University of Michigan Health-West has changed the illumination of its hospital tower to green.
The University of Michigan Health-West, 5900 Byron Center Ave. SW, Wyoming, will illuminate its hospital tower in green to express solidarity with veterans in observance of Veterans Day on both Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10 and 11.
Operation Green Light is a national initiative led by the National Association of Counties and the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers. It aims to showcase support for veterans and raise awareness about the available resources at the county, state and federal levels.
The hospital’s ties with veterans include hosting the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Wyoming outpatient clinic on its campus, providing a range of essential services to veterans.
Operation Green Light sheds light on the programs and benefits available to veterans and their families through Kent County Veterans Services, including emergency funds, disability benefits, burial assistance, and more.
At approximately 9:20 a.m. on Nov. 10, police personnel from the Wyoming Police Department responded to 982 Lee Street SW (Godfrey-Lee Schools East Lee Campus) on the report of school staff locating a firearm in a student’s backpack.
The 15-year-old Godfrey-Lee student was taken into police custody without incident.
Godfrey-Lee’s school staff were able to safely locate this weapon by following word-of-mouth rumors that someone had brought a firearm into their school. The Godfrey-Lee school faculty’s commitment to the safety of their students is unwavering and truly exemplified by their diligence in following up on this matter.
This incident will be presented to the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office for a review of appropriate charges.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police detectives at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
An 18-year-old Lee baseball fundraiser that has netted nearly $200,000 all began with what Coach Ty Emelander thought was a prank call.
While coming up through the Detroit Tigers farm system, two-time Cy Young winner and 1968 World Series pitcher Denny McLain was coached by former Lee High School graduate Frank “Stubby” Overmire.
Emelander started the annual fundraiser with a couple calls to former players of Overmire and then came The Call.
“Denny McLain called me up and wanted to come and I didn’t even know it was him,” Emelander said. “I thought it was one of my friends just joking around with me on the phone.”
Lee baseball Coach Ty Emelander with Detroit Tigers legend Denny McLain. (WKTV/Ty Marzean)
McLain has donated his time and autographs through 18 years
“Denny was a huge part of getting this event going and keeping it rolling,” Emelander explained. “One day alone in the past he signed over 400 autographs, and has often signed over 200 at our events. And he does it all for free.”
That connection between Overmire and McLain has proven key to starting the great tradition of holding what is now the 18th annual “Stubby Overmire” Sports Card Show and Silent Auction which was held recently at Lee High School.
“Denny has gotten to know our families a little bit,” Emelander explained. “My daughter Amanda wore Denny’s Number 17 from the time she met him at age 10 in Little League through playing softball at Lee.”
Amanda still sits atop the MHSAA record books with five consecutive home runs in a 2014 double header against Hastings. The last homer was a grand slam as Lee claimed a share of the O-K Silver championship.
The event has raised nearly $200,000 over the 18 years
“Denny has gotten many players to come here, including Jose Canseco, Darrell Evans, Mickey Stanley and Dean Chance,” Emelander said. “It’s been a really great experience. Between all the vendors and everybody that helps with this, it’s always been a pretty successful fundraiser.
“The year Dean Chance was here we made $20,000 in one day. We built the building (concession stand/press box/storage area) right behind our baseball field with the funds that have been raised. We named the building after Denny and his wife Sharon. We’ve done very well from this fundraiser.”
Fundraiser honors Stubby Overmire
The annual fundraiser features a vast array of sports cards, memorabilia, collectibles and autograph signing session by superstar McLain, and also honors Overmire, who graduated from Lee in 1936, the same year it won the Grand Valley Conference championship with him pitching. He finished 6-0 that season.
Overmire played for the Detroit Tigers from 1943 to 1949, including the 1945 World Series winning season. He earned two World Series rings; Detroit (1945) and New York (1951). Overmire died in 1977 at the age of 57.
Coach Emelander shared Overmire’s love for youth baseball.
“His daughter Jane said that Stubby was a big supporter of youth baseball, and he would love what we are doing,” Emelander said.
McLain, who earned league MVP honors in 1968 along with a World Series ring, had much to say about Overmire as well.
“Stubby was a gentleman and a half,” McLain said. “He is one of the two people that brought me up to the big leagues. Charlie Dressen was the manager, and Stubby was the pitching coach. When I first came up, nobody could teach me much because all I had was a fastball, so it took a while for that to start to mature, but Stubby was always there to work with you and always gave good advice.”
A photo of Tigers pitcher Denny McLain for sale at the Lee event. (WKTV/Ty Marzean)
The event attracts vendors from across the West Michigan area.
Keith DeBoer has been in the trading card business for over 30 years and has had a table at the Lee show for the past three years. He said he enjoys contributing to the school.
“They draw a good crowd, I do pretty well here, and I like to support the school,” DeBoer said.
Keith DeBoer (left), who’s been in the baseball card business for 30 years, helps a customer at the Lee Sports Card Show. (WKTV/Ty Marzean)
Emelander detailed how this event helps support the growth of youth baseball in the Lee community.
“It’s multifaceted what we do; we help kids with sign-up fees for Little League, we buy gloves,” Emelander said. “One time, I found a sale at Meijer and was able to buy 38 gloves. We constantly supply equipment to the kids to get them to play baseball. We use the funds to keep the high school spring trip affordable for the kids.”
Emelander also stressed how much alums have helped raise money for the baseball program.
“We’ve had dedicated alumni that have brought me to tears with their donations; it’s gone down in recent years, but I hope it can pick back up.”
Teens involved in community activism become more politically active and conscious (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
By Rachel Rickman
WKTV Contributor
While it might stand to reason that teenagers involved in activism within their communities become more politically active and conscious adults – there is now evidence to support the idea.
A new University of Michigan (U of M) study brings to light specific ways teen activism leads to more critical thinking and community engagement in young people. In addition, the data shows how youth engaged in community activism are more likely to continue their community and civic action as they get older.
Elevating awareness and engagement in teens
Community engagement promotes understanding of both local and national inequalities (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
The study, recently published in Society for Research in Child Development, looks at how teenagers (specifically youths around age 16) elevate their awareness, become more politically involved, and develop a better understanding and more active approach to community engagement by participating in community activism—both youth and adult facilitated.
The study shows that addressing local and national political concerns with a group of peers or mentors helps young people develop a better understanding of their place within their community. They also maintain motivation to address problems related to inequity.
Young people joining in community engagement, the study found, are more likely to continue fighting inequities in society once they leave school.
By participating in their community, teenagers gain a better understanding of the ways inequity works within their own lives and communities as well as nationally. A sense of empowerment in their ability to create meaningful change is also a benefit.
Critical reflection and positive change
The study is based on the work of Paulo Freire, a Brazilian educator, philosopher, and outspoken proponent of critical pedagogy. According to the study, “He believed in the idea of critical reflection and action on the world to make it more just and equitable.”
Freire studied and proved that without development of critical consciousness it is difficult for young people to evolve a sense of their ability to create positive change within their immediate social setting, and that of a larger community.
Empowering action and providing tools
A Grand Rapids organization that has been putting Freire’s work into practice since 1998 is Our Community’s Children(OCC). The organization is a public-private partnership between school systems and city government.
OCC provides a liaison between school systems and city government (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
OCC has multiple programs in place with the similar goal of engaging young people in their community, empowering action, and providing tools and resources to better their own lives and those of others.
Program examples include initiatives such as Kidspeak, a program for K-12 local youth facilitated by the Mayor’s Youth Council that gives young people the chance to talk to school officials, community leaders, and legislators about issues important to them.
The Mayor’s Youth Council, made up of high school city residents, gives these young people the chance to see how city government works. They also gain experience working directly with city officials and programs.
Challenging injustice
Young people participating in community engagement groups reflected in the U of M study are largely of Black, Latino and Hispanic descent—people who experience significantly higher rates of structural inequity. This is also true of OCC.
Engagement in activism programs lead to greater understanding of self and others (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Participating in community activism gives students an objective look at the social problems and injustices surrounding them, allowing for a clearer perspective to challenge these issues. According to the study, “Youth’s exploration leads to a greater understanding of the self and relationships with others.”
Programs like OCC “give a platform to begin the process,” said Shannon Harris, Director of Our Community’s Children. A chance for youth to “start early in knowing how city government works,” and perhaps most importantly, “a brave space” for young people to “feel safe speaking their opinion.”
A wonderful example of continued community activism is found in Grand Rapids City Commissioner Kelsey Purdue. Purdue, a former member of the Mayor’s Youth Council, is now a City Commissioner for the Third Ward.
The conclusion of the study states, “Community-based activism, then, serves as a key consciousness-raising system that supports youth to recognize, negotiate, and challenge oppression in their lives.”
Create and support youth activism
There are many positive short and long-term implications of this study for schools and communities looking to create and support youth activism programs.
Rachel Rickman is a freelance writer, editor, and former university English Instructor with a BA, MA, and MFA focused on writing. She grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, but currently resides in Rosarito, Mexico with her husband and son.
Much of her work focuses on “narrative recipes”—personal essays with recipe/cooking ideas.
Wyoming Police seek assistance from the public in providing any information regarding the shooting death of Kane Coronado.
On November 1st, 2022, Kane Coronado was shot and killed while riding his bicycle in the 2200 block of Indian Mounds Drive Southwest.
In the year that has followed, investigators have followed up on numerous tips and leads for this case. Despite investigators’ best efforts, this case remains unsolved.
The suspect in this case was described as a white male who is approximately 30 years old and has a medium build. At the time of this incident, he was described as having a thin, “scruffy” beard and sunken cheeks.
A stock photo of the suspect’s vehicle (Courtesy, WPD)
This individual fled the scene, driving northeast on Indian Mounds Drive in a 2000 to 2005 gray or silver sedan, similar to a Chevrolet Cavalier. It should be noted that the suspect may no longer be driving this vehicle.
Wyoming Police are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward and contact Wyoming Police at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
Silent Observer is offering a $5000 reward for tips resulting in the suspect’s arrest.
In Gabon, like many places around the world, sometimes the personal note inside the shoebox gift is the most appreciated (Courtesy, OCC)
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
deborah@wktv.org
More than 4,500 locations will open to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 13–20.
A Samaritan’s Purse project, Operation Christmas Child (OCC) has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts—filled with school supplies, personal care items and fun toys—to children worldwide since 1993. In 2023, OCC hopes to collect enough shoeboxes to reach another 11 million children.
Kristeana Veenstra, OCC Area Coordinator for the West Central Michigan Team, and her husband Tracey have been packing shoeboxes for the past 15 years.
A life-changing impact
Tracey (left) and Kristeana Veenstra have packed shoeboxes for children for 15 years (Courtesy, Veenstra)
After hearing an announcement at church, Veenstra packed three shoeboxes that first year in 2008.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Veenstra. “We don’t have kids, but we love kids, so it was fun shopping, picking stuff out. Even if it’s practical, [I thought] how can I make the school supplies fun.”
In April 2009, Veenstra received a letter and picture from the mother of the little girl who received the very first shoebox Kristeana and Tracey packed.
“The mom was so thankful and appreciative that now her daughter has someone who cares about her in America,” said Veenstra. “[She] invited us to come visit in Burkina Faso (West Africa). It really made an impact.”
Such an impact that Veenstra started taking up more of a role alongside the OCC team leader at the time. Eventually, Veenstra found herself stepping into that leadership role.
Christmas…all year long
“Five years in, I found out there were year-round volunteers and I got super excited,” said Veenstra.
Sheer gratitude exudes from this boy’s face after receiving a shoebox gift in Antigua (Courtesy, OCC)
Part of the year-round team for the past 10 years, Veenstra has served as area coordinator for the last three years. With over 300 participating churches in West Michigan, that is no small feat.
“We help guide churches and businesses [through the process],” said Veenstra. “We love to come alongside the project leaders of those churches and make sure they feel supported and have all the resources they need.”
With 11 drop-off sites for shoeboxes in West Michigan, Veenstra strives to recruit even more sites.
“Sometimes we will discover a need in an area that doesn’t have one, so we will start looking for churches to see if we can recruit a new church that might be interested in being a drop-off,” said Veenstra.
Anyone can pack a shoebox!
Individuals, families, and groups still have time to transform empty shoeboxes into fun gifts. Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage.
“Children around the world need to know that God loves them and there is hope,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “A simple shoebox gift opens the door to share about the true hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.”
Veenstra added, “There is a part that anybody can play. There are so many different things and ways you can be a part of this ministry, that anybody can be part of it.”
The passion behind the shoebox
Kristeana’s team consists of 19 additional team members.
“My team is amazing, they are rockstars,” said Veenstra. “It is a passion of theirs to see kids who have maybe never received a gift, receive a gift, and to spread the love and joy that comes with them. You can really see the passion in them for this ministry.”
Veenstra and her team with Bonny (center) who received a shoebox as a child (Courtesy, Veenstra)
Veenstra remembers a woman who called her local location on the last day of drop-off to see if they would be willing to stay open late so she could deliver her packed shoebox.
“She took way longer to get there than they had expected,” said Veenstra. “It turns out, she had walked seven miles to get this shoebox dropped off because it was that important to her.”
Another project leader continued to lead shoebox packing on her own during COVID. Even though her church had shut down, the leader managed to collect over 300 boxes.
A year-long volunteer and project leader organizes a packing party each year.
“People tell me that they [help] because she has found a way to give them a purpose,” said Veenstra. “It gave them a sense of purpose they didn’t know they had.”
Responses from around the world
While it is rare to get a written letter back from a shoebox recipient because of the high postal cost in some areas, Veenstra said one volunteer’s daughter has email pen pals from all over the world.
“She has grown up doing this with her mom, so she has friends all over the world that she has gotten to know because they have received a shoebox that she packed,” said Veenstra.
After meeting with shoebox recipients in person, Veenstra says, “If that opportunity ever arises, I would tell somebody to drop everything and do it, because it will change your perspective on not just packing shoeboxes, but in so many things.”
“Love” notes
Veenstra said that receiving a shoebox reminds the recipient of Jesus’ love, and shows the recipient that someone else in the world is caring and loving as well.
Desire (crouching, center) received a shoebox as a child (Courtesy, Veenstra)
One gentleman received a shoebox containing a note that said: “Jesus loves you, and so do I.”
As a refugee, that man grew up believing and feeling that everyone hated him.
“They had no home, and he grew up with a lot of hate in his heart,” said Veenstra. “He received this shoebox, and he questioned whether or not his hate was justified because clearly not all people were bad.
“Notes are so incredibly important in shoeboxes because it creates that extra impact and connection.”
However, shoeboxes can be dropped off at any of the shoebox drop-off locations.
Participants can find the nearest drop-off locationand hours of operation with the online lookup tool that is searchable by City or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the drop-off.
“I don’t think people really realize that such a small shoebox can make such a huge impact,” said Veenstra. “This is such an amazing ministry, and I love being part of it.”
Let’s crush that goal!
A trio of girls in Mongolia rejoices over their shoebox gifts (Courtesy, OCC)
Since 1993, OCC has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.
West Michigan packed 33,346 shoeboxes in 2022. Veenstra and her team have a goal of collecting 35,500 shoeboxes for 2023.
“We would love to completely crush that goal,” said Veenstra. “There are millions more children to get shoeboxes to.”
