UPDATE: Aug. 30, 2016 – The Wyoming Public Safety Department released a statement this morning that Tyrone Victor Hardin has been located.
The Wyoming Police are asking the public for assistance with locating a man who has not been seen by family in several days. Tyrone Victor Hardin is a 61-year-old black male who is 5 feet, 7 inches and weights 100 pounds. He has a goatee and walks with a cane. The family cites no medical condition but describes Hardin as “confused at times.” He may have been walking from a relative’s home on Adams St SE in Grand Rapids heading toward Wyoming on August 25.
Police are asking anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Tyrone Victor Harding to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
Members of the various organizations that received grant monies totaling $25,000 braved the rain to participate in this year’s 28th Street Metro Cruise.
For almost a year the Blue Star Moms have been working to raise $40,000 to renovate the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans’ community room, the Cozy Corners.
“They have done a fantastic job and received a $30,000 grant from SpartanNash Company [owners of Family Fare, D&W and other grocery stores],” said Tiffany Carr, director of member and community relations for the home. Carr also works with the Finish the Mission Veterans Relief Fund. Along with the Freedom Cruise, the Finish the Mission Veterans Relief Fund focuses on capital improvement projects for the home along with assisting individual veterans.
“The Blue Star Moms came to us about the Cozy Corners project and we said, ‘How much do you need?'” Carr said, adding that the $5,000 grant received from the GM Foundation on Saturday during the 28th Street Metro Cruise will help wrap up the fundraising efforts so that renovation on the community room could start in the next 30 days.
For the past several years GM has recognized and supported local organizations that help with a number of projects within the community. The GM Community Grants program, funded by the GM Foundation, is providing $2 million to hundreds of organizations in 47 communities where GM employees live and work. Of that amount, $25,000 was awarded to the General Motors Grand Rapids Components Operations in Wyoming to give to local organizations.
“We actually start the process by surveying our employees,” said Grand Rapids Components Operations Personal Director Dale Johnson. “We ask them where they are volunteering and what organizations they are participating with.”
From there, the list of possible organizations are reviewed with the goal being to select a broad spectrum of groups with various initiatives, health, education, human services, environmental and community development, Johnson said. This Grand Rapids Components Operations awarded $5,000 grants to five organizations: Finish the Mission Veterans Relief Fund, Feeding America, the YWCA, the West Michigan Environmental Action Council and the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance.
The Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance provides scholarships for Wyoming families to participate in health, wellness and recreational activities. City Manager Curtis Holt said the Alliance has been the recipient of grants from GM in the past and are honored to have again been selected again this year.
“It’s a real honor to know that the employees were the ones who help select the groups,” said YWCA Development Community Coordinator Amber Jones. The YWCA plans to use its grant for its Girls Inc. Leadership and Community Action program which is designed to help foster future leaders in the communities where people live.
“Our primary services focus on sexual assault and domestic violence,” Jones said. “We have a pressing need for help after something has happened and do not always have the funds for prevention. This money will be specifically set aside for that program.”
The West Michigan Environmental Action Council will use its funds for the Teach for the Watershed program at Godfrey Lee Elementary School. This program teaches science in the field and the stream with mentors from GM volunteering to help the students learn about science and to make a connection between science-based careers. The money also will help with the 13th Annual Mayors’ Grand River Clean Up set for Sept. 10.
The Feeding America – West Michigan Food Bank will use its grant toward the support of its School Mobile Pantries which has feed more than 1,200 families during a four-month period. At Parkview Elementary, less than a mile from the GM facility, the School Mobile Pantry distributes 7,500 pounds of fresh produce, dairy products, and grains.
Computers wil be accepted at the Electronics Recycling/Shredding Event on Saturday, Sept. 10.
During last spring’s highly successful City of Wyoming’s Clean-Up Day, organizers noticed a need that was not being addressed – what to do with old televisions, computers, printers, VCRs and other electronics.
“After the clean-up day event we began to look around to see what options were available to dispose of electronics,” said Nancy Stoddard who works in the City of Wyoming’s treasurer’s office and is chair of the Looks Good Committee which organized the April clean-up event.
During that process, Advanced Technology Recycling (ATR) approached the city about partnering to host an electronics recycling event.
“ATR has a grant for such programs and wanted to see if the city was interested in hosting such an event,” Stoddard said.
My Personal Credit Union also had talked to the city about hosting a paper shredding event, something the credit union has done for its members in the past. The city pulled the two programs together under the Electronics Recycling/Shredding Event which will be Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW.
ATR will be handling electronics. Shred-It will be on-hand to help with papers and personal documents and the Kent County Hazardous Waste will be at the site to collect medical mercury devices and exchange mercury thermometers for digital ones.
“Sometimes it is hard to know how to properly dispose of old electronics and personal papers that might contain sensitive information,” Stoddard said. “Partnering with ATR and Shred-It allows us to offer a safe and convenient option for disposal that is also environmentally friendly.”
Not all items will be accepted such as microwaves and small appliances, refrigerators or any unit containing Freon, dishwashers, washers and dryers, stoves, household batteries, light bulbs, furniture, lab or hospital equipment and biohazards. For a complete list of what will be accepted and what will not, click here.
To participate in the Electronics Recycling/Shredding Event, you must have a proof of Wyoming residency identification with you at the drop-off site and you must be in line by 11:45 a.m.
For more information about the Electronics Recycling/Shredding Event, call the city at 530-7284 or 530-7226 or visit www.wyomingmi.gov.
Why does Pete Chapouris, owner of one of the nation’s oldest specialty parts shop for hot rods, So-Cal Speed Shop, enjoy coming all the way from Southern California to Wyoming’s 28th Street Metro Cruise?
“Oh, that’s easy,” Chapouris said during a recent phone interview. “The people.”
“You can see lot of cars during one of these events and even in a lifetime, but it’s the people that make it interesting,” Chapouris said.
Chapouris returns to this year’s Metro Cruise set for Aug. 26 and 27. He will be at the Steve’s Antique Auto Repair display on the west end of Rogers Plaza for both days, signing free autographs and sharing experiences with car lovers.
Last year was Chapouris first time being at the Metro Cruise and he said there were a lot of high points such as visiting the area’s most popular bakery, Marge’s Donut Den.
“I also give a lot of kudos to the police department,” Chapouris said. “I have been to a lot of big events like this and [the officers] did a nice job of crowd control.” Especially, he noted, since 28th Street was packed with cars and people.
But for Chapouris and his wife Carol, the key to any event is the people who become an extended family to them. Steve Sturim, owner of Steve’s Antique Auto Repair which hosts Chapouris’s visit, said last year they were able to meet up with folks from Allendale’s Gas Axe Garage and others.
The car that started it all for Pete Chapouris, the 1934 coupe “The California Kid.”
“It’s just hanging out with about 20 to 30 people who see it the same way and have similar experiences in remodeling cars,” Strum said.
For those who do not follow or not in the world of custom hot rods and classic cars, So-Cal and Chapouris may be an unknown. However, few can forget the ZZ Tops famous hot rod, The Eliminator, which appeared on the 1993 album of the same name. The car was heavily influenced by Chapouris’s 1934 coupe that featured flames and would launch Chapouris’s career as it was not only featured on the cover of “Rod & Custom” magazine but was in the made-for-TV movie “The California Kid” starring Martin Sheen.
A leader in the hot rod scene for more than 50 years with such companies as Pete and Jake’s Hot Rod Parts and The Pete Chapouris Group (PC3g), Chapouris took over the So-Cal brand from its founder Alex Zdias in the late 1990s. For Chapouris, it was a no brainer in that So-Cal was a recognized brand that he could build upon with his own talents and background, he said. With a home base in Pomona, Calif., Chapouris and his team have accomplished a lot in the last 20-plus years, with retail outlets across the country and into Canada. In fact, Steve’s Antique Auto is a retail location with Sturim saying that working with Chapouris and So-Cal has given him a lot more than just street cred.
“Working with Pete has given me a lot of insight into a different aspect of this business,” Sturim said, adding its nice to be able to share stories and ideas with someone who has such a legacy in the business.
Chapouris has won numerous awards for his work, been inducted in to several hall of fames, and been apart of a number of television and radio shows including “Street Rod & Custom Radio,” but at the end of the day, it’s still all about the people and the cars.
“When I was asked to come back my wife and I really didn’t have to think much about it,” Chapouris said, adding that it was the West Michigan hospitality that made saying “yes” so easy.
Steve Sturim and Pete Chapouris will be part of the DreamWheels! show on Saturday, Aug. 27, which is from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Rogers Plaza, 972 28th St. SW, and Pal’s Diner, 6503 28th St. SE. Strum and Chapouris will be at the Rogers Plaza location.
Wyoming resident Anbrocio Ledesma remembers as a young boy going down to the local party store and getting the latest copy of “Lowrider” magazine.
“I would flip through the pages, looking at the cars and think to myself, ‘One day, I am going to have one of those cars,’” he said.
Anbrocio Ledesma with his 1951 Chevy Deluxe
Not an uncommon dream for a young Mexician-American boy from a family of six living in the Grand Rapids area. In fact, the time that Ledesma was growing up, the popularity of lowriders — a car that sits low to the ground and often has hydraulics to raise and lower the car — in the late 1970s and early 1980s, lowriders had become part of the mainstream car culture thanks in part to “Lowrider” magazine.
“It’s a dream to have one of these, to have a lowrider,” said Holland resident Pablo Lopez, who is considered the founder of the West Michigan lowrider movement. Lopez owns a 1963 Impala SS that has taken him about 30 years to get “where I can say it is done.”
Lowriders came out of post World War II with the Mexican-American Barrios of East Los Angeles credited with creating this unique take on an automobile. It was the mid-1940s, Detroit had moved back into production of cars with a lot of used cars available on the market. Returning Mexican-American veterans applied their mechanic skills to build lowriders, filling the trunks with sandbags and cutting the spring coils to make the cars go as low to the ground as possible. “They are low and slow,” Lopez said.
There was backlash to the new style and in 1958 California lawmakers passed a vehicle code making it illegal to drive a car with any part lower than the bottom of the wheel’s rims. That combined with the fact that lowriders would scrap the ground lead to customizer Ron Aquirre to develop new hydraulic techniques to lower and raise a car with a flip of a switch. Salvage yards became popular as young lowrider enthusiasts looked for hydraulic pumps from lift gates and aircrafts.
“In order for it to be a lowrider, it has to have hydraulics,” Lopez said. “At least according to me.”
Pablo Lopez with his 1963 Chevy Impala SS.
Lopez’s car, built in the L.A style, is what one would expect a Lowrider to be. It features wire rims, 13-inch wheels, with a 327 V8 engine. Custom paint by his son Manny Lopez tells the story of Lopez’s heritage and life including the loss of his daughter Rosa Linda Lopez at age 37 to cancer. Even the inside is customized from the poke-dotted red suede seats to a 1940s microphone as the gearshift. The car also includes a record player that plays 45s, brass skulls on the door locks, and fringe on the mirrors.
Ledesma never gave up on his goal of owning a lowrider and while in the process of searching for a 1964 Chevy Impala — ideal for lowering because of its x-frame — he was given the opportunity to purchase a 1951 Chevrolet Deluxe. Called a Bombita, It took Ledesma “a good 10 years” to get the car to where it is now. It is a light metallic purple, paint done by Ted Aguliar, with silver accents and white interior. It has a 327 engine out of 1967 Corvette.
To create a smoother ride, Ledesma did take out his hydraulics for air bags. “That and when the line breaks with air bags, it’s just air coming out,” Ledesma said. “With hydraulics, when the line breaks, you have a mess to clean up.”
Both Ledesma and Lopez said that while there are still lowriders around, the interest has waned.
“It is a real expensive hobby to get into,” Lopez said, adding it is the reason why it can take several years for a person to get a car completely transformed. “Many of those I worked with have gotten married, gone off to college, started families and they just can’t financially keep it up.”
Even for Lopez, he didn’t get involved in the hobby until after his children were grown.
“I saw these antennas at a show in Lansing,” Lopez said pointing to an antenna from a 1956 Oldsmobile. “They were $90 at the time. I had enough money to either get the antennas or a hotel room for the night. I bought the antennas, drove all the way home and then came back to the show the next day.”
Lowriders are also associated with bad behavior which Lopez said those who own them are not interested in working with “bad kids.” “I’m not interested in helping bad kids,” said Lopez whose family owned Familia Lopez Slow & Low. “This isn’t about that. It’s about tradition, It’s about family. It’s about talking to people and having them sit in the car and connecting with each other.”
Make sure to check out the “DreamWheels” show which will be broadcasting live Saturday, Aug. 27 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Pal’s Diner, 6503 28th St. SE, and Rogers Plaza, 972 28th St. SW. The show will air Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. on WKTV Channel 25.
The preliminary round for this year’s 28th Street Metro Cruise Pin Up Girls Contest featured 14 young ladies who were narrowed down to 10 finalist. Those finalists will compete for the title this Saturday.
A few years ago, Stacey Davis was walking through the 28th Street Metro Cruise when she happened upon the Pin Up Girl contest at Rogers Plaza.
“My dad restores classic cars so I grew up going to car shows like the Metro Cruise every summer,” said Davis, whose stage name is Ginger Snaps. “I grew up seeing the girls in the poodle skirts, the Marilyn Monroe impersonators and I saw the Metro Cruise contest and decided to sign up.”
Last year, the former Grand Rapids resident, who recently moved to Midland, was crowned Miss Metro Cruise 2015.
“It definitely helped with my confidence to know that I had won that title,” Davis said, adding that it has been a fun time visiting with little girls and meeting new people. “It was a great experience.”
This year Davis is joined by Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll and Jeremiah White, owner of Reflections Salon, to judge the 2016 Pin Up Girl Contest which is part of the Metro Cruise fun. The even takes place Saturday, Aug. 27, from 1 – 3 p.m. at Rogers Plaza.
The 2015 28th Street Metro Cruise Pin Up is Stacey Davis a.k.a. Ginger Snaps.
The Pin Up Girl Contest has been a longstanding tradition at Metro Cruise, said Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce Bob O’Callaghan. And it makes sense. Flip through any car magazine and within the first few pages you will see a very pretty girl next to a candid apple red street racer or a bright green hotrod.
The pin up girl is an interesting American phenomenon which was born in the 1800s through magazines like Life, boomed in the 1930s due to the calendars of Brown and Bigelow, and peaked during World War II. Today, pin up girls remain a fabric of the American cultural and an ode to what many have called “a simpler time.”
For the 28th Street Metro Cruise Pin Up Girl Contest, there was a preliminary contest in July where the number of girls were narrowed down to 10 finalist who will compete for the title on Saturday. The girls come from all over to compete in the contest, which this year is being organized by JA PR Group.
Spectators are welcomed to watch and cheer for their favorite.
Rogers Plaza serves as the central spot for the Metro Cruise with a host of activities taking place all around the mall. The “DreamWheels!” television program will be broadcasting live from Rogers Plaza as well Cascade’s Pal’s Diner from 6 – 7:30 p.m. Pete Chapouris from So-Cal Speed Shop will be signing autographs at the Rogers Plaza tent for Steve’s Antique Auto Repair.
Get a group of young children together and ask them what they want to be when they grow up and inevitably at least one will say a “firefighter.” Attend an event and its the fire engine all the kids want to climb on. Even adults cheer as the bright red truck with the siren goes by in a parade.
But what is the fascination about being a firefighter?
“It’s their courage, their dedication,” said Jeff Blum, who is the board president of the area’s only fire house museum, Engine House No. 5. “I went on a 24-hour ride with the Grand Rapids firefighters and they got a call to a neighborhood that I was looking around going this isn’t safe and when are the police going to get here.
“As I sat there, these guys were already out of the truck, running into the house without any regards to anything else. It’s that dedication that is amazing.”
It with some of the same dedication that Blum and the volunteers at Engine House No. 5, located at 6610 Lake Michigan Dr., Allendale, share the history of firefighting. The 6,000 square-foot building contains displays from the various nozzles to communication equipment along with a photo displays of the history of the first 11 stations and major fires in Grand Rapids.
Engine House Board President Jeff Blum stands next to the 1876 Silsby Steamer which will be part of this year’s “DreamWheels” production.
The original watch room on the main floor is dedicated to the history of Engine House No. 5, which was built in 1880 on the corner of Leonard and Monroe avenues. The station served the Grand Rapids community for about 100 years before being slated for demolition in 1980. Museum founder Jeff DuPilka purchased the building and moved it to its current location.
But the main attraction is the fire engines, of which the museum has seven, ranging from a manual hand pump from Plymouth, Mass, that was featured in the 1934 Chicago World Fair to a 1972 Ward LaFrance pumper sitting out front.
In fact, the museum’s 1876 Silsby Steamer will be featured at this year’s “DreamWheels!” television show. Part of the 28th Street Metro Cruise, the show is set to record Saturday, Aug. 27, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Pal’s Diner, 6503 28th St. SE. The Silsby Steamer is part of a tribute to David Knisley, a former “DreamWheels!” host and Grand Rapids firefighter who died in a boat fire this past May.
“Actually, firefighters originally pulled their own equipment to a fire,” Blum said. “They felt that using animals was beneath them which shows how manly man they were. In fact, if you used a horse to pull your cart, you were often ridiculed.”
Eventually as firefighters acquired steam pumpers, it was decided animals were better at moving the equipment. In 1910, Engine House No. 5 was the first in Grand Rapids to get an Oldsmobile outfitted to carry hose, called Hose Cart No. 5. It marked the end of the horses at fire stations with many stations converting the hay lofts to lounges for the firefighters.
The two-story museum has been cleverly designed to give visitors a sense of what firefighting is about, its history and why the American public remains fascinated with the profession leading many, like DuPilka, to want to preserve its past.
“We really want this to be a destination spot,” Blum said. “Travelers are looking for those unique, special spots, especially as they are going from one place to another. We want to be one of those places.”
Blum, who got involved with the museum four years ago, admits he is not a curator, but a person with “an insane passion” for firefighting and its history and most of what he knows he has learned along the way and through the questions that people have asked, such as one boy’s about where the water comes from that lead to the discovery of why a hydrant is called a “fire plug.”
To discover that connection and much more about the world of firefighting, you’ll have to go to the Engine House No. 5 yourself.
Engine House No. 5 is open from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wednesday – Friday and 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday and by appointment. For more information, visit the website or call 616-895-8121. Engine House No. 5 is marking its 30th anniversary with a Birthday Bash Sept. 17 from 7 – 11 p.m. Tickets are $30 per couple or $15 per individual.
Make sure to check out the “DreamWheels” show which will be broadcasting live Saturday, Aug. 27 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Pal’s Diner, 6503 28th St. SE, and Rogers Plaza, 972 28th St. SW. The show will air Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. on WKTV Channel 25.
It’s the Monday after and residents and city officials of Wyoming continue to assess the damages left after Saturday’s tornado passed through the city.
The National Weather Service teams are currently surveying the damage caused and have confirmed tornado-related damage in Van Buren, Allegan, Ottawa and Kent counties. In its preliminary review, the National Weather Service has the tornado in Wyoming listed as an EF-0 which is weakest rating with winds between 65 to 85 mph. The tornados in Van Buren, Allegan and Ottawa were listed as EF-1 with winds 86 to 110 mph in the preliminary findings. The 2014 tornado that hit Wyoming was classified as an EF-1.
There were no related deaths or injuries from the storm just trees up rooted hitting homes and blocking roads along with a lot of debris.
“The teams at City Hall have been working through the weekend, answering residents’ questions, connecting them with the Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.,” said Mary Ann Sabo with Sabo PR, the city’s public relations firm.
In fact, shortly after the storm, Mayor Jack Poll, in a video on the city’s Facebook page, was talking to residents and mentioned he was among the city officials going door-to-door in affected neighborhoods checking on residents. Other city staff was out clearing debris, inspecting structures and responding to medical emergencies.
In a statement released today, Poll said “Our Public Safety teams have done a tremendous job handling first response calls, and we so appreciate the support from Kent County and neighboring jurisdictions. Public Works, Inspections, Parks & Recreation, along with our Administrative team, have done an incredible job meeting the needs of our residents. Storm cleanup is well underway, with neighbors helping neighbors.”
Wyoming received helped from several departments from Byron Township, Caledonia, Cutlerville, Dutton, Kentwood, Georgetown, and Grandville.
Because of commitments to help clean up, Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce President Bob O’Callaghan said they have lost a few volunteers for this weekend’s Metro Cruise, but the event is expected to take place Friday, Aug. 26, and Saturday, Aug. 27 as scheduled.
“The city has a crisis response plan that was immediately put into play,” Sabo said. “The process is to focus on immediate needs first, then turn attention to areas like parks.”
Due to damage and safety concerns, five of the city parks are close until further notice. Those parks are Pinery, Lemery, Prairie, Ferrand and Buck Creek. The Parks & Recreation team is contacting those with park reservations to see if events can be relocated or rescheduled. Reservations canceled by the storm will be refunded unless the reservation was relocated to another park or facility. For reservation questions, call 530-3164.
As of today, Consumers Energy has restored power to all but a few homes in Wyoming. Working with the American Red Cross, a resource center has been set up at Gladiolia Elementary School, 3500 Gladiola Ave. SW today through 5 p.m. and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents may coordinate tree removal help and other issues at the center. The Red Cross will have disaster kits available as well.
Debris removal is probably the biggest item facing residents with the city’s yard waste center at 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW, being opened 24 hours a day through Saturday, Aug. 27. The city received kudos on its Facebook page for this with Kathy Walcott posting “Can’t say enough good things about [City of Wyoming]. Friends were amazed we dropped off over eight trailer loads of debris without paying! Thanks for stepping it up when it was needed.”
The yard waste center will be closed Sunday, Sept. 4 through noon Thursday, Sept. 15. Public Works crews are working on picking up debris. If you need the crew to come through your street or to make arrangements for a drop off at the yard waste center after Aug. 27, contact the Public Works Department at 530-7260. City officials are asking that all storm debris be placed behind the sidewalk and not in the public right-of-way.
Also the City of Wyoming is waiving the fees for building or electrical permits for storm-related repairs. Residents still must secure a permit before making those repairs.
Wyoming residents who need assistance that is not related to debris removal or have other storm-related questions may call call 530-7226 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
It seems logical that an artist like David Reinbold would be interested in participating in Wyoming’s Art Cruise. After all Reinbold has built a reputation out of creating stained glass sculpture replicas of peoples’ cars and Art Cruise is part of West Michigan’s biggest car event, Metro Cruise.
Art Cruise is an annual art event similar to Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize in that several Wyoming businesses feature the work of various local artists during August, the same month as Metro Cruise, which is Aug. 26 and 27. In a way, Art Cruise helps people get revved up for the big event, said Art Cruise Coordinator Donna Kuba, who runs Instant Cash Advance and is part of the West End Business Group that founded Art Cruise.
This year, more than 25 artists will display their work in 17 Wyoming businesses with a list of business locations available at 28thstreetmetrocruise.com.
“It’s really just a way to support the community,” said Jerry DeGood, who owns Auto Finance/J’s Motor Sales, at 2939 Division Ave. DeGood said his place has a nice open space for an artist and is excited about featuring the work of former General Motors employee David Townsend.
“I’ve always painted as a hobby,” Townsend said. After the 36th Street GM plant shutdown, Townsend said he decided to paint on a more regular basis. This is Townsend’s first year participating with his work showing at two locations, Auto Finance/J’s Motor Sales and The Chiropractic Doctors at 4415 Byron Center Ave. SW.
Outsider Artist Dirk W. Hughes said he loves the grassroots feel of the event. “It’s just people coming together with no alternative motive other than to support each other,” said Hughes, whose work will be at Edward Jones, 185 44th St. SW.
This also is why artist and Grand Rapids Public Schools fourth-grade teacher Holly Peterman decided to participate as well.
“I grew up in Grandville and I saw the flyer for Art Cruise where you could display for a whole month and thought, ‘I want to do that,’” said Peterman who’s prints and etchings will be at El Informador, 2000 28th St. SW and Maya Mexican Grill, 1020 28th St. SW.
“It’s an opportunity where people can see a lot of art,” Peterman said. “It’s a great opportunity for both the artist and the business owner. The business owner has people coming in to view the work and the artist is able to get the word out about what they do.”
And that is the main reason Reinbold has been participating in Art Cruise since almost its inception.
“I really got to know and meet a lot of different people last year,” Reinbold said. During the event, “I pretty much show what I can do. People can give me a picture of their car or motorcycle – I can even do an airplane – and I create 3-D sculpture out of glass.”
It’s also not about making money either, but about the experience as Hopkins High School student Madalyn Hatfield can attest. Three years ago, Art Cruise gave her the opportunity to get her “feet wet” in the art world and now she is looking to pursue a career in animation. She once again will be showing at Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW.
For details about the artists and businesses participating in this year’s Art Cruise, visit 28thstreetmetrocruise.com.
Make sure to check out the “DreamWheels” show which will be broadcasting live Saturday, Aug. 27 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Pal’s Diner, 6503 28th St. SE, and Rogers Plaza, 972 28th St. SW. The show will air Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. on WKTV Channel 25.
As the sun sits high in the sky, radiating down on the blacktop of 28th Street, hundreds of thousands of people bustle up and down the road taking in the sights. More than 15,000 cars waxed, shined, and ready for primetime cover the street and parking lots as spectators take in the grandeur of these classic beauties.
For the past 11 years, the 28th Street Metro Cruise has brought together generations of people by allowing them to a trip through memory lane by cruising down 28th Street in a classic car. While the event is now ingrained into the fabric of 28th Street and the communities that participate, not everyone was initially onboard.
“When the idea [for the Metro Cruise] came up, I was thinking, ‘this is not going to work,’” Bob O’Callaghan said with a laugh. Callahan, who now serves as the president of the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce, was a Chamber board member during the creation of Metro Cruise. “But I turned out to be wrong.”
With the completion of the M-6 highway in 2004, there was concern that traffic would dissipate from 28th Street and turn a street that was once the second busiest in Michigan into an afterthought. The Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce set out to find a way to continue to drive traffic down 28th Street and to the local businesses in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood. The Chamber saw a problem, and the solution would hinge on the local car culture.
“The idea for the Metro Cruise came from the Woodward Dream Cruise” said Charlie Steen, one of the main think tanks behind Metro Cruise. “We were looking for promotion for 28th Street and the businesses on the strip, and we felt it was an opportunity for merchants to benefit from the event.”
Steen, the former Economic Development Director for the City of Wyoming, approached then Chamber President John Crawford with the idea for the Metro Cruise. With the help of Dan Van Dyke from Fruit Basket Flowerland and Todd Duncan from Consumers Energy, the Chamber went all in to make the event a reality.
“We were very fortunate with the help of the city mayors, councils and governments, and the Chamber of Commerce,” said Steen. “We had to work with Wyoming, Kentwood, Grandville, Grand Rapids, and Cascade Township to make the Metro Cruise a reality.”
With everyone on board, it came down to one thing: Would anyone show up?
“During the early planning stages for year one, we actually hoped that we might get a couple of thousand people to show up and hoped to have a couple hundred cars,” stated Todd Duncan in an interview in 2014 reflecting back on the 10th Anniversary of Metro Cruise.
Turns out, the initial estimates didn’t quite comprehend West Michigan’s love for cars. The Metro Cruise went live in 2005 and 85,000 people came to see what it was all about.
“Without the car crazies from West Michigan, the Metro Cruise wouldn’t happen,” said Steen.
While the participation was better than expected, and getting the inaugural event to make it from concept to reality was a success in itself, the first year of Metro Cruise didn’t accomplish its primary task.
“It was not a success with the Chamber, we lost money that first year,” explained O’Callaghan. “We thought we’d go in all the way with 16 different locations around 28th Street. It was too much and we scaled it back the second year with the Chamber staying in and focusing on Roger’s Plaza.”
The Chamber saw the potential of Metro Cruise, and instead of dumping the idea after losing money in year one, they adapted and continued to build the event. Since 2005, Metro Cruise has grown from 85,000 participants to more than 250,000, and well over 15,000 vehicles as well. The increase in event traffic has led directly to an influx in commerce for the local businesses.
“The Chamber did a survey three years ago and found out that $3.3 million was spent on the 28th Street corridor on the weekend of Metro Cruise,” said O’Callaghan. “It’s doing what it’s supposed to do as far as the financial side and the awareness.”
As the cruise prepares for its 12th year, car lovers from all over the state, and the country, will pour onto 28th Street to enjoy automobiles from generation to generation.
Make sure to check out the “DreamWheels” show which will be broadcasting live Saturday, Aug. 27 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Pal’s Diner, 6503 28th St. SE, and Rogers Plaza, 972 28th St. SW. The show will air Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. on WKTV Channel 25.
For the fifth year in a row, WKTV Community Media and the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce host the red carpet classic car event, “DreamWheels!” in conjunction with the 2016 28th Street Metro Cruise.
The event will be broadcast live Saturday, Aug. 27, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. from two locations — Pal’s Diner, 6503 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids, and Rogers Plaza, 972 28th St. SW, Wyoming. The show will air at Saturday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. on WKTV Channel 26.
“As one of the largest and most proactive community media centers in the state, WKTV prides itself in being able to provide high-end, community-focused television into people’s living rooms,” said WKTV GM Executive Director Tom Norton, who is the producer of the “DreamWheels!” show. “‘DreamWheels!’ is a true WKTV original; community media designed to make people love where they live. Our hundreds of volunteers it takes to pull this off year after year always look forward to making it happen.”
Returning to host is WLAV’s Kim Carson who is joined by WLAV’s Tony Gates.
This year’s event spotlights some of the finest classic cars from the past century — from luxury models of the 1930s to some of today’s fastest and sportiest rides. Owners from across the Midwest have gathered to show off these wonderful vehicles and to share with us their one of-a-kind stories.
Some of the classic vehicles on this year’s red carpet are a 1937 Packard 120; a 156 Lincoln Premiere; a 1979 Ferrari 308; a 1973 Chevy Corvette Stingray; a 1947 Dodge Power Wagon; and a 1958 Package Hawk.
Additionally, Ziegler Auto Group in Grandville, one of the underwriters for the production will be bringing a Maserati Grand Truism Convertible, an Alfa Romeo 4C Spider and a Fiat 124 Spider for the red carpet.
There will be a number of classic cars and even some of today’s sportiest rides heading down this year’s red carpet at “DreamWheels!.”
A special treat will be three lowriders built by West Michigan residents. Holland resident Pablo Lopez, a.k.a. Mr. Lowpez who is known for bringing the lowrider movement to West Michigan, will bring his 1963 Impala SS. Wyoming resident Anbrocio Ledesma will have his 1951 Chevy Delux and West Michigan resident Derrick Bickham will bring his 1953 Chevy Bel Air.
There will be a special tribute to former “DreamWheels” host David Knisley who died in boat fire accident in May. The Engine House No. 5 Museum, 6610 Lake Michigan Dr., Allendale, will be bringing a 1876 Silsby Steamer pulled by two draft horses.
“Participating in this tribute to David Knisely, an individual whose community service both as person and as a firefighter which has touched so many lives is a great honor to all of us at Engine House No. 5 Museum,” said Museum Board President Jeff Blum.
Hosted this year by WLAV FM’s Tony Gates and Kim Carson, “DreamWheels!” combines a Hollywood- style movie premiere with a classic car show. For more about the show, visit dreamwheels.org and visit the Facebook page.
Make sure to check out the “DreamWheels” show which will be broadcasting live Saturday, Aug. 27 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Pal’s Diner, 6503 28th St. SE, and Rogers Plaza, 972 28th St. SW. The show will air Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. on WKTV Channel 25.
If you have branches, limbs and brush to dispose of after Saturday’s storm, you may bring them to Grand Rapids’s yard waste facility at 2001 Butterworth Street SWfrom 9 am to 6 pm on Sunday, Aug. 21. The facility is self-serve, so you’ll have to bring the storm debris yourself.
At least four radar-reported tornadoes downed trees, damaged homes and snapped power lines on Saturday, August 20. Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Wyoming sustained most of the damage, and at least 25,000 Consumers Energy customers lost power in Allegan, Barry, Kent and Ottawa counties since the storm.
Because the tornados were wrapped in rain, they were not visible to viewers. There were no reported injuries.
The National Weather Service said that damage surveys will be conducted on Sunday to determine the number, wind estimate and severity of the tornadoes.
Take one last good look at 28 Street and Michael Avenue because it could change in a matter of weeks.
Last night, the Wyoming City Council approved the last piece in the 28 West Place project as it accepted a purchase agreement with Loeks Theatres for around $278,000. The agreement was the final piece for the city to construct a new road from the current Wyoming Mall entrance off Michael Avenue to 28th Street across from Hook Avenue where Applebee’s is located.
Adopted in 2013, the 28 West Place is a reimagining of the south side of 28th Street between Clyde Park and Burlingame avenues into a mixed-use town center utilizing form-based code. A form-based code provides for flexibility to developers, according to Wyoming Deputy City Manager Heidi Isakson who has been working on the 28 West Place project.
The 28 West sign located in front of the former Studio 28 property. Construction for the 28 West project will actually start just east on the Wyoming Mall property.
A key element to the 28 West concept is the construction of a curving slip street which would become the center’s new “main street.” The street is proposed to run from the south side of 28th Street across from Hook Avenue to Jenkins Avenue, which runs next to the former Klingman/Rogers Department Store building. Before the city could move forward, it had to have the property owners on board with the project. Earlier this year, owners of the Wyoming Mall approached the city with some redesign plans for its facility and city officials knew now was the time to move forward with the west portion of the street.
“It has been a nail biter,” Isakson said as city staff pulled together the several elements that needed to be coordinated for the project. This included working with Wyoming Mall officials and Loek Theatre representatives to acquire the necessary right-of-ways.
“We believe that the city investment of public utilities and improving public access combined with the private investment will yield greater results,” said City of Wyoming Assistant City Manager Heidi Isakson.
In June, the Wyoming City Council accepted a $1.6 million agreement with Wyoming Mall, LLC. Total cost to the city will be about $1.2 million for the relocation of city services and construction of the road. At its Aug. 1 meeting, the council awarded the construction of 28 West Place street and utility improvements to Kentwood Excavating which had the lowest bid of $1.74 million. The bid, which was one of five, came in about 11.34 percent below the engineer’s estimate. The total cost for the project, which includes right-of-way acquisition, is estimated at $2.8 million.
Isakson said Loeks Theater officials plan to have the agreement signed by Wednesday with plans for construction starting soon. Wyoming Mall officials already have begun demolition work and are waiting for the city to being moving utilities, she said.
Isakson said she has been in touch with the owners of Rogers Plaza about the project but at this time there are no plans to move forward with the west portion of the new street.
The cities of Wyoming and Kentwood participated in National Night Out with all day events and locations around each city. WKTV was there to take in the action and the community building.
The City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety is continuing its investigation into several shots being fired early this morning in the 1900 block of Wyoming Ave. SW.
According to a release from the department, units were dispatched to 1900 block of Wyoming Ave. SW in reference to several shots being fired today at approximately 5 a.m. A victim was on scene and stated he had encountered three subjects breaking into a vehicle while he was driving down the street, according to the release. One of the suspects became confrontational. The victim began driving away and then heard the gunshots and bullets striking his vehicle. He drove to a nearby business and called police. Officers located several shell casings in front of this address.
Officers checked the area and found multiple vehicle larcenies in the area. Officers came across several people in front of an address in the 1800 block of Wyoming Ave. SW. According to officers, a female handed an officer a purse stating someone showed up and said it was stolen. Officers secured the residence and took several uncooperative subjects into custody. A search warrant was executed resulting in a handgun and several stolen items being recovered.
Several individuals aged 16-18 were interviewed. Charges are pending. Although a firearm was recovered, officers are attempting to find the actual shooter. If anyone has knowledge of this incident they are asked to call the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, 616-530-7300, or Silent Observer, 1-866-774-2345.
WKTV takes seriously its role as a communications provider. We want our community to be well informed and more involved in local matters.
Bond Proposal – Yes
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance.
WKTV takes seriously its role as a communications provider. We want our community to be well informed and more involved in local matters.
The City Council election is non-partisan. The top two will advance to the general election in November with the winner earning a seat on the Wyoming City Council.
Mayors from the communities of Kentwood, Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Walker and Rockford attend the National Night Out kick-off event at Consumers Energy this morning. Police officers from the various municipalities also were on hand.
The mayors and police officers from both Kentwood and Wyoming kicked off National Night Out activities in the wee hours of the morning at Consumers Energy, 4000 Clay Ave. SW.
Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll and Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley were joined by officials from Rockford, Walker, and Grand Rapids at the Consumers Energy location for the annual reading of the official National Night Out proclamation which all the participating communities’ governing boards have approved.
Established in 1984 with funding from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Night Out marks its 33rd year. The event’s goals are to heighten crime prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community partnerships and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Wyoming Police Chief James Carmody and Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll are interviewed by WOOD-TV’s Eva Aguirre for National Night Out.
“This is an opportunity for people to get to know their neighbors,” said Wyoming Police Chief James Carmody. “When I was young, your community and the people you knew were your neighbors as people spent time on the front porch.”
Today, people are more transient with individuals and families moving in and out of a community on a regular basis. Neighborhood groups are still the main “eyes and ears” of a community, Carmody said adding that Neighborhood Watch groups are helpful in preventing crime before it even happens.
National Night Out is administered by the National Association of Town Watch. The National Association of Town Watch officials have indicated that the 2016 National Night Out event could be the largest ever, involving about 38.3 million people in more than 16,700 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world.
Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss and Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley talk at the Consumers Energy’s National Night Out event.
For 22 consecutive years, Consumers Energy has been recognized by the National Association of Town Watch as the recipient of the National Electric Utility Award.
The Wyoming Consumers Energy location has served as the early morning kick-off to the local activities with police cars from various municipalities on hand as early as 5 a.m. Two large Consumers Energy trucks also were on site with buckets extended above U.S. 131.
“We appreciate the support we receive from our cities and law enforcement agencies not only for this annual event, but during every day of the year,” said Guy Packard Consumers Energy vice president of electric operations. “We feel it’s very important to show our appreciation of police officers across our state.”
Statistical information for this story was Powered by Narrative Science and GameChanger Media. Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.
After staying dormant in a tournament open loss to West, District 9’s offense came alive against Southwest, producing five runs in the first three innings to coast to a 5-1 victory. Bruce Buurstra went 3-3 at the plate with an RBI.
Pitching stayed a strength for District 9 as Bennett Norry allowed only two hits and no earned runs while striking out four batters during his 4 2/3 innings of work. Bruce Buurstra and Mark Primus finished out the rest of the game with an inning each. Southwest only managed one run due to an error.
District 9 scored one run on a groundout by Brendan Oosse in the first inning. Two more runners were brought home in the second when a sacrifice fly by Jarod Nickel brought home Buurstra. In the third, Buurstra singled to bring home Isaiah House to start the inning.
With the win, District 9 moves on in the double-elimination tournament to play South Carolina on Friday night at 7:30pm.
Tree Amigos members Lenny Guiliano, Stelle Slootmaker and Lee Groth at City Hall (Photo by Jennifer Stowell)
In a unanimous vote, Wyoming City Commissioners approved a resolution last week to establish a Wyoming Tree Commission, which is designed to promote healthy tree coverage and variation of tree species in the City of Wyoming. The move was prompted by a group of Wyoming citizens called The Tree Amigos, who have been working with City leadership since February to establish a platform to become a Tree City USA.
By establishing an official city tree commission, Wyoming has taken the first step to becoming a Tree City USA.
Members of the Wyoming Tree Commission include:
• Bill Brown, resident arborist
• Greg Bryan, former city commissioner who spearheaded The Tree Amigos’ efforts
• Lauren Davis, resident arborist
• Lee Groth, Godwin Neighborhood Watch
• Lenny Guiliano, Oriole Park Neighborhood Watch
• Pam Jurick, Grenadier neighborhood resident
• Stelle Slootmaker, Oriole Park neighborhood resident
“We are thrilled with the council’s unanimous vote,” Slootmaker said. “The designation as Tree City USA will help promote Wyoming as being a great place to live and work.”
Established in 1976, Tree City USA is a nationwide program that provides a framework for communities to manage and expand their public trees. There are currently more than 3,400 communities in the country that have made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA, including 123 in Michigan. To become a Tree City USA, municipalities must have:
• A tree care ordinance
• An Arbor Day proclamation
• A community forestry program with a $2-per-capita operating budget
• A tree board, department or citizen committee
Tree City USA is an Arbor Day Foundation program in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
For more information, call the City of Wyoming at 616.530.7272 or visit the City website at www.wyomingmi.gov. Follow the City on Twitter @WyomingCityHall and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofWyoming.
Wyoming District 9 finished the 2016 Central States Regional the way they started it, with a shutout victory over Illinois District 15. With the 2-0 win, the host team completed the four game sweep at DeWitt Field on the Campus of Cornerstone University without giving up a single run.
The shutout was the fourth for District 9 in as many tournament games with the championship clinching victory going to southpaw Cade Cintorino. Cintorino, who had the save in game 3 Tuesday night, needed no relief in the championship as he threw a four-hitter to go with four strikeouts and no walks.
District 9 attempted to get off to the early lead, as they had all tournament, in the first inning when they loaded the bases on a single by second basemen Isaiah House to go with a pair of walks to designated hitter Brendan Oosse and Drew Hernandez. Illinois starting pitcher, Chris Campagna, got himself out of the jam by forcing right fielder Bruce Buurstra to bounce out to second to close the inning.
Campagna was not as fortunate in the second inning, but not entirely by his own doing. He got catcher John Corey to pop the ball into shallow center field where second baseman Isidro DeSantiago, shortstop Rich Kiernicki, and center fielder Robert Chayka all converged only to have the ball glance off DeSantiago’s glove for an error. Third basman Eli Spencer followed with a single to put runners on the corners with no outs.
Following a shallow fly ball to left fielder Jordan Rodgers, leadoff hitter Christian Falicki came through with a single to bring in the first run and move Spencer to second where he was later thrown out as the lead runner in an attempted double steal. House was then hit by the pitch and left fielder Jace Beatty singled to make it 2-0 before Hernandez flew out to deep right center field to close out the inning.
In the fourth inning, with two outs, Illinois put runners in scoring position on second and third after a pair of singles and a double steal. That was as close as Illinois would come to scoring as Cintorino got Chayka to pop out to House to end the inning.
Cintorino was in control the entire game and only saw two innings where he faced over three batters, the fourth and the seventh. Illinois got a single in the seventh with two outs from Chayka, but the potential rally was immediately stifled as right fielder Alanso Ocon grounded out. Once the final out was made, the celebration was on!
District 9 finished with seven hits, three strikeouts, and three walks on the night, and will now make its way to Easley, South Carolina to compete for the World Championship against other USA Regional championship teams from the East, Southeast, Southwest, and West. International Regional championship teams from Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe-Africa and Latin America will also compete.
The opening game will be Wednesday, July 27 at 4 pm against the winner of the East Region vs West Region. For a complete schedule and coverage of games, you can visit Big League World Series.
It is probably fitting that the month of July is Parks and Recreation Month. It is the only full month of summer when the weather is nice enough to be outside and do something. And for many individuals, the best place and way to do that something is at a local park.
So in honor of July being Parks and Recreation Month, I decided —in a two-part series — to check out what is happening in both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood when it comes to parks and recreation.
This piece focuses on Wyoming. To check out the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department story, click here.
Besides the 28 West project finally moving forward this summer, the City of Wyoming had another big reason to celebrate the summer of 2016: Ideal Park reopened.
The park was one of the casualties of the tornado of 2014 with the city spending the past two years cleaning up the debris and replacing the trees.
“I know a lot about insurance and what it covers,” said Director of Community Serices Rebecca Rynbrandt with a little laugh. For example, insurance would help with the removal of the trees but not all of the debris and deadfall that was left. Also, the city had to fill in where the trees once stood.
“With 100-year-old trees they had pretty large bulbs which left large holes that had to be backfilled,” Rynbrandt said.
The cost for the tree removal was more than $500,000 and with like any budget, when something happens, you may have to shuffle a few things around, Rynbrandt said. So the city did a little rearranging of its almost $5 million parks and recreation budget, of which about $3 million comes from a 1.5 millage approved by Wyoming voters in the mid-1990s. The rest of the budget comes from grants at about $1.5 million and service and rental fees.
New trees to replace the ones taken down by the 2014 tornado at Ideal Park.
There is a lot left to do at Ideal Park — such as replacing the playground equipment, improve signage, adding a basketball court, establish a trailhead, and foliage and vegetation — which the city is hoping a $300,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund will help cover some of the costs.
But Ideal Park is open and it’s a nice way to mark the month of July, which happens to be Parks and Recreation Month.
The current American Parks and Recreation system actually dates back to the early 1900s, when a growing concern for leisure activities gave birth to the recreation movement which had four components: the adult education movement; the development of national, state, and municipal parks, the establishment of voluntary organizations and the playground movement. Around 1935, many states were passing laws allowing local municipalities to operate parks and recreation departments and by the early 1940s, organized recreation services were firmly established in American life.
Today, Parks and Recreation Departments, like those in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, offer a host of programs for all ages along with overseeing the care and maintenance of its parks.
The city of Wyoming has 21 parks totaling about 700 acres and a vast majority of the Parks and Recreation Department’s budget goes for the care and maintenance of those parks such as resurfacing projects, new fencing and tree replacement. It may not be as noticeable as new playground equipment other amenities, but such general maintenance is important in keeping the parks safe and vital for the community.
“If you are on the Wyoming Public Schools tennis team, you are going to notice the tennis courts have been resurfaced,” Rynbrandt said. “Someone who uses the baseball field 8 at Pinery Park is going to notice the new backstop and if you are a passionate dog owner, you are going to notice the new canine castle at the dog park.
Along with the resurfacing and redevelopment projects at Pinery, Lamar, Lemery, and Jackson, the 30-year-old exercise equipment at Pinery Park was replaced this year.
One of the bridges at Ideal Park.
But the parks are only one component of what the Parks and Recreation Department handles. The Department oversees the Wyoming Senior Center, which received security upgrades along with a new front entrance. The Department also provides support for special events such as the Concerts in the Park series run by the Wyoming Community Enrichment Program as well as community programs, such as the Pumpkin Patch and T.E.A.M. 21 Fun Run, and athletic programs such as the football program formerly run by the South Kent Recreation Association (SKRA).
And another of its biggest projects for the summer is the renovation of the Wyoming Library facility, which the city owns the building and Kent District Library owns the collection. The $800,000 project includes resurfacing the parking lot, new carpet and furniture and converting the former Book Warm Cafe into a new multipurpose area for meetings and other activities.
There is more on the horizon, Rynbrandt said. The city’s five-year parks plan shows more than $26 million in capital need, which includes major maintenance and replacing of assets such as playgrounds, fencing and trail work. Among those capital improvements is funding the master plans for Ferrand, Oriole Phase II, Jackson and Gezon.
Each year on the first Tuesday of August — this year, August 2nd — homeowners across America are encouraged to lock their doors, flip on their outside lights and spend the evening outdoors celebrating with neighbors.
National Association of Town Watch’s (NATW) annual National Night Outprogram focuses on building relationships between police and community members by offering free family activities, including block parties, cookouts, safety demonstrations and live entertainment. More than 38 million people nationwide are expected to take part this year.
A bit o’ history
Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the country, bringing citizens together with law enforcement to deter crime and make communities safer.
Sponsored by the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), Neighborhood Watch can trace its roots back to the days of colonial settlements, when night watchmen patrolled the streets. The modern version of Neighborhood Watch was developed in response to requests from sheriffs and police chiefs who were looking for a crime prevention program that would involve citizens and address an increasing number of burglaries.
Launched in 1972, Neighborhood Watch counts on citizens to organize themselves and work with law enforcement to keep a trained eye and ear on their communities, while demonstrating their presence at all times of day and night. (The program took off quickly: in just 10 years, NSA data showed that 12 percent of the population was involved in a Neighborhood Watch.) Neighborhood Watch works because it reduces opportunities for crime to occur; it doesn’t rely on altering or changing the criminal’s behavior or motivation.
National Night Out has been extraordinarily successful in promoting involvement in crime and drug prevention activities, strengthening police-community relations and encouraging neighborhood camaraderie as part of the fight for safer streets. Since 1984, National Night Out — America’s Night Out Against Crime has grown to involve over 30 million people from more than 9,000 communities.
Each year local Police Departments actively participate in the neighborhood Night Out celebrations. Contact Wyoming Staff Sergeant at 616.257.9711 and Kentwood Staff Sergeant at 616.656.6564 for more information.
So, what’s happening?
The day starts out early — 7 am — at the Consumers’ Energy building (4000 Clay Ave. SW in Wyoming), where mayors and dignitaries from Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming, Grandville and other local municipalities will gather to recite the NNO credo. Here’s a great opportunity to meet your local leaders!
From 10:30 am-2:30 pm, come on out to Woodland Mall near Celebration Cinema and Red Robin for a day of fun, prizes, games, and popcorn! The Kentwood Police Department will have law enforcement vehicles on display so you can get an upfront, close and personal look at the equipment officers use to answer your calls.
South Kent’s 7th National Night Out will feature a Black Hawk fly-in at 2 pm and takeoff at 7:45 pm. The fly-in and landing will be to the west of Peppinos (located at 1515 Eastport Dr. SE), so keep an eye on the sky!
From 5:30-8 pm, join local police, fire and other neighborhood partners as GR Kroc Center (2500 South Division Ave. SW in Grand Rapids) celebrates community safety and togetherness. A giant slip & slide will be open, plus you can test your family’s skills in the Kroc Summer Games. Concessions will be available to purchase and enjoy FREE ice cream from Country Fresh! Sponsored by Molina Healthcare and National Heritage Academies.
The Wyoming Community Enrichment Commission will celebrate from 7-9 pm with demonstrations and appearances by Wyoming PD, K-9 units, a SWAT vehicle and fire ladder truck along with lots of giveaways throughout the night — from kids’ toys up to $50 gift cards. Join in the celebration of local heroes with great local food and entertainment! Don’t miss the last Concert in the Park event of the year — it will be a blast with catchy Conjunto and Tehano music by Grupo Viento de Los Hermanos Valdez. It all happens at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW in Wyoming. Go here for more info.
Christ Community Church(2400 Forest Hill Ave. SE in Grand Rapids) will celebrate NNO with highlights like face painting, bouncy houses (for the kids, folks), 100-ft-long slip and slides, live music, refreshments, a raffle, lawn games and a dunk tank, with visits from the Kentwood Fire Department, McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog, Kentwood City Police and more. For more info, go here.
There’s so much to see and do, and only a couple short hours to enjoy it! So get involved, join in this evening of easy-breezy fun and create some great memories.
Get Fifi and Fido involved, too!
Have a dog? Consider getting involved with Dog Walker Watch! There are dozens, if not hundreds, of dog walkers throughout the community at all times of the day, all days of the week, in all weather conditions, who are often preoccupied with texting, chatting, emailing and listening to music during their neighborhood walks. Dog Walker Watch trains these individuals how to effectively observe and report suspicious activity. Go here for more info.
More info
Strong police and community partnership is a critical component of community-oriented policing and problem-solving model. Over the past few years, Neighborhood Watch groups have surfaced as highly effective tools in the detection, reporting and prevention of crime and criminal activity.
There are many active Neighborhood Watch groups operating throughout our local municipalities. Group participants hold regular meetings that allow you to meet your neighbors and discuss problems which may be occurring in your district and develop strategies and methods for dealing with them. By becoming familiar with your neighborhood, you are better prepared to detect and report suspicious activity or potential problem individuals or vehicles in your area.
The Wyoming Police department provides personal assistance to Wyoming residents interested in establishing new Watch Groups and with the facilitation of existing programs. If you or your neighbors are interested in establishing a Neighborhood Crime Watch Program in your Wyoming neighborhood, please contact Staff Sergeant at 616.257.9711. In Kentwood, contact Staff Sergeant at 616.656.6564.
Have we missed anything? Let us know — email Victoria at victoria@wktv.org.
Grand Rapids Plastics, 4220 Roger B. Chaffee Blvd. SW., Wyoming, closed its doors in April. The Wyoming City Council decided to revoke the company’s abatements at its July 5 meeting.
After learning promises were not being kept, the Wyoming City Council decided to revoke a former business’s tax abatements a month earlier than planned in an effort to capture about $200,000 in taxes.
At its last council meeting, the Wyoming City Council unanimously voted to revoke the three tax abatements granted to Grand Rapids Plastics.
The company, with a home address of 4220 Roger B. Chaffee, closed its doors April 15. According to city officials, Chemical Bank seized the company’s assets after Fiat Chrysler ended its contracts with Grand Rapids Plastics with the city not being notified of the closure but staff learning through other means.
At a May council meeting, representatives from Chemical Bank and the former owner, Art Bolt, requested the city delay revoking the abatements as, according to bank officials, they were working to find someone to take over the existing business. The council agreed to table the action until its Aug. 4 meeting.
Since that meeting, City Manager Curtis Holt said staff learned promises to the city were not being kept in that the equipment had been tagged for an auction and an auctioneer had been hired. The city staff is not aware of anyone interested in the business and that bank officials acknowledged that they were aware of the abatements and that the money was owed.
Chris Meyer, an attorney representing Chemical Bank, presented a letter to council at the July 5 meeting stating that it is the bank’s position that the sudden lost of the Fiat Chrysler contract did meet the “unforeseen circumstance” requirement and that the city should not revoke the abatements. Meyer said if the city went through in the revocation process, the money would not immediately comeback but it would be considered an unsecured debt as it is a penalty that the company took out the abatements.
However Sandra Hamilton, from the law firm Clark Hill and who has worked with the city treasurer’s office and the state treasurer’s office on tax collection issues, said the city would have a super lien against the property which means the city would be given higher priority than all other types of liens including any liens Chemical Bank currently holds.
Hamilton has stated that an unforeseen circumstance is usually associated with a natural disaster such as a fire or “act of God.” She said the state treasurer’s office has already filed jeopardy assessments agains the company for taxes. The city’s revocation would go to the State Tax Commission which has the authority to revoke a tax abatement certificate.
Mayor Jack Poill said he contends that a new business interested in the current site is going to want new abatements versus abatements that only have about six years left.
Grand Rapids Plastics had three abatements. One that was amended in 2007 for $1.2 million for personal property and another one that was for $1 million for personal property in 2008. Both of these were for 12 years. There also is a full abatement for $615,931 granted in 2011 for 10 years for personal property accusation. The total taxes owed to the city is about $212,000, $180,00 is the abatement taxes and around $33,000 is the personal property taxes for 2016.
All those nickels, dimes and quarters placed into the canisters at your local McDonald’s restaurants are helping to fuel ten, $8,000 college scholarships for some of the state’s most extraordinary high school graduates, including a trio of recent graduates from West Michigan, one of whom is a Wyoming student.
Taylor Keppel of Wyoming — along with Heather Price of Caledonia and Hanel Yu of Grand Rapids — was selected from a pool of some 200 applicants for outstanding academic achievement, community involvement and financial need from the Ronald McDonald House Charities(RMHC) of Outstate Michigan. RMHC is a non-profit that supports programs and efforts which improve the health and well-being of children from birth through age 18.
The canister funds, which collect approximately $550,000 annually from McDonald’s restaurants throughout Michigan, fund the Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholars program, and support RMHC’s other grantmaking efforts to children’s causes.
The trio will be honored along with seven other scholarship winners at a July 20 scholarship dinner for the scholars and their families at Amway World Headquarters in Ada, Mich. Each recipient will receive $2,000 a year for four years at a college of their choice.
“It’s a privilege to reward these young leaders for their extraordinary accomplishments,” said Lesa Dion, executive director of RMHC of Outstate Michigan, “Everyone involved with the Ronald McDonald House Charities takes pride in helping these students toward their goal of higher education.”
Keppel maintained a 3.96 grade point average at Calvin Christian High School, while volunteering with the Adaptive Tennis Clinics at Mary Free Bed Hospital and working as a part-time nanny during the school year. She’s been intrigued with the human eye since middle school and is headed to Grand Valley State University this fall to pursue a career in optometry.
“I love school and I’ve always excelled,” said Keppel. “I was so excited to learn I won a scholarship, and so were my parents. They’ve always pushed me to do my best, and it’s finally paying off.”
In addition to academic excellence, extracurricular activities and volunteering, Keppel played varsity tennis at high school and loves making art when she needs a break from her studies.
“It’s great relaxation from all the stress,” she said.
And she excels in that area as well. Her high school art teacher submitted one of her drawings for the Michigan Art Education Association (MAEA) Region 9 Highlight Show — which showcases top student art — and the piece was selected to show at the Grand Rapids Art Museum this past February. The piece was also selected to be a part of the Michigan Youth Arts Festival visual art exhibition in May. The show featured the top 100 artworks by high school artists for the entire state of Michigan.
“While volunteering in a school and orphanage in Guatemala, I met a boy named Esdras who taught me how to really appreciate the joys of life,” said Keppel. “I used a stippling technique which reminded me how our lives may not be perfect in every area, but life as a whole can be such a beautiful thing. I wanted to recreate the contagious smile and joy that erupted from this little boy.”
‘Preciosos Momentos’ by Taylor Keppel
In addition to studies and art, Keppel played four years of varsity tennis in high school, and she loves to be adventurous.
“I recently went on an amazing spelunking trip in Mitchell, Indiana,” she said.
This is the eighth year that RMHC has awarded college scholarships for a total of $624,000 since the inception of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholars program. Interested students may begin applying for the 2017 scholarship on October 1. Go here.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety continues its investigation into the robbery of the Fifth Third Bank at 62 54th St. SW that took place yesterday, July 11.
Picture of the robbery suspect at the Fifth Third Bank on 54th Street.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the report of an armed robbery at the bank around 12:30 p.m. July 11. The suspect wore all dark clothing with a mask and green gloves and according to reports, had a handgun. Officers reported that no one was injured in the robbery.
After the robbery, the suspect was seen running west along 54th Street, jumping a fence and entering the Interurban Foot Trail.
The FBI also responded to the scene and is assisting in the investigation.
The Wyoming Pubic Safety is asking that anyone with information about the suspect or the robbery to contact its department at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
If you are planning to have a private party at Wyoming’s Oriole Park, there will be a charge.
At its last meeting, the Wyoming City Council unanimously approved a fee schedule for public rental of the the Oriole Park shelter. The fee is $50 for a resident and $75 for a non-resident for a three-hour time block and $15 for an additional hour. The fee goes into effect Aug. 1.
One of the city’s oldest parks – acquired in 1955 – Oriole Park went through a major renovation with about $741,432 in grant money from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Access to Recreation Fund along with matching grants from the dedicated operational millage of Wyoming’s Parks and Recreation Department. Reopened in 2011, about the only original feature left was the bathrooms with the park receiving a number of new features, including a splash pad, that made Oriole Park accessible to all ages and abilities to use.
The playground area at Oriole Park.
The park is beautiful, according to Barb DeCan, who is with the Oriole Park Neighborhood Watch and spoke to the council about the park in February. The problem is that once people discovered it was a free park, things started getting out of hand with people “squatting” at the park’s shelter starting at 7 in the morning and parties running until late in the afternoon, DeCan said, adding that those parties would be in excess of 100 people.
Because of the number of people at the park, the neighborhood children are coming home unable to use the splash pad or other amenities in the park, DeCan said. “They are being told that the splash pad is for their people’s use only,” she said.
DeCan said the neighbors would like some fairness in the use of the park by having a permanent or fee.
Rebecca Rynbrandt, Wyoming director of community services, said since Oriole Park is one of the city’s smaller parks, it can seem a little crowded when a good size group is there. Rynbrandt said the city does work with groups and tries to encourage them to utilize parks such as Pinery and Lamar, which can accommodate bigger groups.
Part of the reason the city had not place any fees on usage at Oriole Park was because of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund requirements that prohibit restrictions on general use of the park such as restricting it to residents only or charging an access fee. However, through a study, the city’s Park and Recreation Commission was able to determine that a fee on the Oriole Park shelter was allowed for reservations that excluded the general public from using the facility.
The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the city’s current reservation fees for its various parks. Because of the splash pad and other amenities at Oriole Park, it was decided to make the fee $50 for resident and $75 for non-resident. The fee is the same as Lamar Park’s shelter with the park also having a splash pad. The only park in Wyoming that now does not have a reservation fee is Frog Hollow Park
The reservation fee is only for Oriole Park’s shelter. All of the other amenities, including the splash pad, are open to the general public during regular park hours.
The gypsy moth has been the bane of the northeastern and Midwestern U.S. (and Canada) for nigh on over a century now.
Originally introduced to the U.S. as a possible alternative to the finicky silkworm (which favors only mulberry leaves), the hardy gypsy moth has a voracious appetite for oak trees as well as several species of trees of shrubs, including (in alphabetical order): apple, aspen, basswood, birch, hawthorns, poplar, speckled alder (not to be confused with pickled herring), sweet gum and willow, to name a few. Older larvae feed on Atlantic white cypress, cottonwood, hemlock, pine and spruce. All told, these things will eat more than 300 different species of trees.
Before getting too far into the meat of the matter — which is, admittedly, overwhelming — there are some things we can do, and I won’t leave you high and dry. You’ll find tips at the end of this essay.
A single gypsy moth caterpillar can consume 11 square feet of vegetation during its lifetime; the presence of millions of caterpillars can defoliate13 million acres of treesin the United States in just one season.
Normally, nature’s creatures keep each other in check. So, what accounts for the millions of trees that are decimated each year by gypsy moth larvae? As with most unnatural disasters, this one arose out of human greed and error — a failed attempt to cultivate a silk industry in America. We should know better.
Here, then, is the sordid tale of an enterprise gone very, very wrong.
The man also had a beard
Picture, if you will, a Frenchman in the mid-1800s.
A man with a moustache. A man with an entrepreneurial spirit. A man who saw an opportunity and without an iota of thought for the future, just went for it.
That man was Étienne Léopold Trouvelot, an artist and astronomer who showed real talent in those fields. Some examples of his work are shown here (also scroll down).
Originally from Aisne, France, Trouvelot and his family were forced to flee Louis Napoleon’s coup d’état in 1852. They settled in Medford, Massachusetts at 27 Myrtle St., where our proud, little breadwinner supported himself and his family as an artist and astronomer, painting lovely pictures of the planets as he saw them. We can only assume his renderings were the result of a creative eye and not mind-altering substances.
Jupiter as Étienne Léopold Trouvelot saw it. Trouvelot was an artist and astronomer who should have stuck to sketching and star gazing
A pause here to reflect: I personally know dozens of artists would would kill to have the opportunity to make a living with their art. But it just wasn’t enough for Trouvelot.
No, sirree.
Indeed, one day, during one of his random, no doubt fitful, musings, the Frenchman decided, “Eureka! I shall study Entomology!” (from Greek ἔντομον, entomon “insect”; and -λογία, -logia)—the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology.
Only he likely decided this in French.
And on that fateful day, life as all future inhabitants of the northeastern and Midwestern US of A would come to know it, was forever altered.
Planet Mars by Trouvelot
Actually, this should come as no surprise. Trouvelot’s interest coincided with a nineteenth-century fad—raising silkworms to become rich beyond belief. After all, silk had been a symbol of great wealth for centuries.
At its zenith, the silk trade reached as far as the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, Europe and North Africa. So extensive was this trade that the major routes between Europe and Asia came to be known as the Silk Road.
Silk route
In ancient times, silk from China was an incredibly profitable and desirable luxury item. People from Persia and many other civilizations benefited mightily from its trade.
Fast-forward to the mid-1860s, in Medford, Massachusetts…
…where our anti-hero, Trouvelot, had became utterly fixated on the biology and culture of worms — silkworms, specifically — because what man in his right mind would ignore an opportunity to become richer than his wildest dreams?
To his credit, Trouvelot was meticulous with his research comparing the qualities of silk produced by a variety of native North American silkworms. After a time, he concluded that Antheraea Polyphemus (NOT a gypsy moth) showed the greatest possibilities for commercial silk production. This species occurs throughout the United States and southern Canada, feeds on several hardwood species, and is reported to produce a very high-quality silk.
Courtesy of Purdue UniversityAll fine and dandy. But our guy was obsessed. For eight years, from 1860 until at least 1868, Trouvelot developed techniques for mass rearing A. Polyphemus. Seriously, I can think of so many other, vastly more interesting things to pursue for one year, let alone eight.
Experiments rearing larvae on cut foliage were “meh” at best; these things preferred living saplings. At the peak of his operation, our guy had more than a million larvae under culture in a five-acre wooded area behind his house. I can’t begin to imagine how he managed to cover the entire area with nets, but that he did, to discourage birds from feeding upon his little darlings.
“The first year I found only two caterpillars.”
Not content to limit his experiments to species native to North America, in the late 1860s, Trouvelot brought home a shipment of live gypsy moth eggs upon his return from a trip to Europe. His plan was to crossbreed gypsy moths with a silk-producing North American species to develop a strain resistant to the protozoan disease, Nosema bombycis, which had decimated the silk industry in much of Europe.
He soon learned that the species were incompatible for breeding. Nonetheless, he kept a few gypsy moths in a room in his house. As souvenirs, perhaps?
Who can say?
And he continued researching. He fed his caterpillars. He nurtured them. He raised them as his very own. And he watched in awe as they cycled through the egg/larvae/pupae/moth stages. These little buggers ate anything. And, they produced silk, dammit!
Then, Mr. Trouvelot had the unmitigated gall to write about it.
Poor Trouvelot! One could almost feel sorry for him. The first year, he found just two insects, one half dead and the other still in its cocoon, refusing to emerge.
“Imagine my anxiety; it was a year lost,” lamented Trouvelot in his journal.
Indeed. But our anti-hero was tenacious if nothing else, and he wasn’t about to let the little matter of the absence of insects to derail his mission. And so, the second year, he found a dozen worms and studied them further to learn more about their habits. His patience was rewarded.
“It is astonishing how rapidly the larva grows, and one who has no experience in the matter could hardly believe what an amount of food is devoured by these little creatures.”
This went on for a few more years, as our dear Frenchman became expert in cultivating his little pretties. He describes his efforts in detail in his treatise, The American Silk Worm.
About the gypsy moth, he made this astute observation:
“What a destruction of leaves this single species of insect could make if only a one-hundredth part of the eggs laid came to maturity! A few years would be sufficient for the propagation of a number large enough to devour all the leaves of our forests.”
Really?
As Murphy’s Law is wont to dictate, in 1868 or 1869, several of Trouvelot’s gypsy moths — not content within the confines of four walls and probably feeling neglected (really, who could blame them?) — escaped the room in which he kept them. It is written that he was quite upset about the incident and it is thought that he “publicly” announced it, having become “all too aware” of the danger of a species like this run amok.
Gypsy moth pupae (ugh… I can’t even…)
Soon after his experiment, Trouvelot gave up on the worms, returned to art and astronomy and by 1882, had gone back to France. Shortly thereafter, his old neighborhood suffered an enormous gypsy moth infestation. Residents were at first intrigued, but that was short-lived.
And just as Mr. Trouvelot had postulated, the gypsy moth became one of the most destructive pests of trees and shrubs to ever be introduced into the United States. Since 1970, gypsy moths have defoliated more than 75 million acres in the United States.
So, here we are, more than 100 years later, still dealing with this foppish mess.
It’s now up to us to help prevent the further spread of this destructive pest, and this includes inspecting and removing gypsy moth egg masses from household goods before moving from an infested to a non-infested area.
Caterpillars on the side of a shedFrass (i.e., caterpillar poop) on a picnic tableCaterpillars on a garden gnomeThese creatures have absolutely no redeeming qualities, especially at the pupae stage.
And these things are everywhere, from the undercarriages of campers and cars to mailboxes, to the siding of houses and the surfaces of rocks. Even innocent garden gnomes and picnic tables. You name it, and they are likely to be there.
On the plus side, they’re not fond of American holly, American sycamore, ash trees, balsam fir, black walnut, butternut, catalpa, cedar, cucumber trees, flowering dogwood, mountain laurel, rhododendron shrubs and tulip-trees, so be sure to plant plenty of these, BUT the worms will make an exception when densities are very high.
Is all hope lost? Well, maybe a goodly portion of hope is forever gone, but I offer you here, at no extra charge, a handy-dandy little guide:
First, is it a Gypsy moth? These are the telltale signs:
The nasty little caterpillars emerge from tan, fuzzy egg masses in April and feed on leaves through late June
Caterpillars are hairy, with a yellow and black head and 5 pairs of blue spots, followed by 6 pairs of red spots. They fancy themselves fashionable; they are not.
Mature caterpillars are 1.5 to 2 inches in length. They start out tiny and molt several times. Each time they molt, their appetite increases exponentially.
Leaf debris and small, round frass (i.e., insect larvae excrement) found under trees are indications of gypsy moth infestation. Apparently the mention of “excrement” is off-putting to civilians, so “frass” it is.
Male moths’ wings have a wavy pattern of brown to dark brown and span 1.5 inches.
Female moths are larger than males and do not fly. Wings are white to cream with wavy black markings
These guys do not pitch tents. Thank goodness for small favors. That is the domain of the tent caterpillar, an altogether different pest.
A gypsy moth caterpillar who fancies himself fashionable
Habitat:
Gypsy moths most often feed on the leaves of oak and aspen but can also be found on hundreds of other plant species.
Native Range:
Europe and Asia
U.S. Distribution:
Northeastern U.S. west to Minnesota
Local Concern:
Gypsy moth caterpillars defoliate trees, leaving trees vulnerable to diseases and other pests, which may lead to tree mortality.
During large outbreaks, debris and frass (again, excrement) from feeding caterpillars can be disruptive to outdoor activities. Those strange messes you’ve seen on picnic tables and had no clue as to what they were? Now you know.
Hitching a ride in an undercarriage of a vehiclePathways of Spread:
Though female moths do not fly, small caterpillars can be blown by the wind to other trees.
Gypsy moth egg masses and pupae can be unknowingly transported on firewood, vehicles and recreational gear.
Short distance dispersal of this species happens by way of “ballooning”—where caterpillars are windblown and dispersed (think: hot air ballooning). Humans unwittingly transport egg-laden materials as females will lay their egg masses anywhere, including on man-made objects such as vehicles.
The City of Wyoming is doing something about it. Get involved!
The city is surveying neighborhoods for the presence of gypsy moths and their larva. Formal gypsy moth assessments take place in the fall to determine if the following spring will provide the best opportunity for treatment. Go here to learn about Wyoming’s suppression efforts and to complete a survey — the city wants to know where you see ’em. Plus, here’s a map where suppression efforts are in progress. More info here, too.
Check under your eavesThere are several techniques you can use to help suppress this pest. Below are some articles that will help you understand the gypsy moth, its treatment and what we can use to minimize this pest on our property.
“Make sure to tell your friends about us,” said the blue-and-white Facebook sign above one of the tables at Wyoming’s Dallas Deli. Have no fear Dallas Deli, I shall take to the modern-day form of shouting it from the rooftops, a.k.a. Facebook.
Yes, our traveling troupe, Mike and joining us, Victoria, moseyed on over to 3660 Byron Center Ave. SW, home of Dallas Deli and Lions Mane barbershop (separate owners). I learned a long time ago that some of the most amazing food places are small. In fact, a friend had warned me that the seating space at Dallas Deli consisted of three tables — one that sat about six and two that sat two. Even with the warning, I was surprised how small the space was. According to owner Sam Barnes, the place started as an ice cream parlor then was a pizza parlor, before Frank and Mary Weikert opened Dallas Deli some 30 years ago. Sam and his wife Kim took over the place – along with Weikert’s original Texas-style barbecue recipes – in 2003.
What Dallas Deli lacks in space it certainly makes up for in food — at least my chili packed a wallop of flavor being voted best meal selection by our little group and leaving Victoria and I planning chili runs in the winter. I had the World Class Chili which was topped with the restaurant’s signature brisket, cheese and onion. With the right mixture of heat and sweet, it was perfect even for our blistery hot summer day visit. (By the way, the air conditioning was not on while we were there but the place stayed pretty cool with the door open and a breeze moving through the building.)
After the first bite, I really did not want to share but Mike and Victoria were being generous with their selections, so I did…a little. I did order the medium-size portion to share, but could have easily eaten it without any help.
This little Wyoming gem is garnering quite the reputation. Most recently, Dallas Deli was part of the Grand Rapids’ Barley, BBQ & Beats and named one of the top 12 Hole In the Wall Restaurants in Michigan by onlyinyourstate.com. “After that we had about 500 people come in in about a week. It just about killed us,” Sam said with a laugh. So let’s keep the stampede to perhaps a trot.
But do come because even if you can’t find a seat, take-out — along with catering — is a big part of the Dallas Deli’s business and quite honestly, I can not think of better way to saddle up and go then with a half rack of ribs. Oh heck, we’re make that full. Yippee-ki-yay!
By: Mike DeWitt
Mike.DeWitt@wktv.org
When Dallas Deli was drawn out of the hat earlier this week for our Going Local location, I almost fainted. I love meat, I love BBQ, and I love it smoked. This is my job? Seriously!? In the words of the great Belinda Carlisle, “Ooh heaven is a place on earth!”
Joanne already covered the decor and atmosphere above, so let’s dive right into the only thing that matters… the food!
Taking a glance at the menu feels like trip through the meat market with Oprah as your tour guide… “You get a brisket, and YOU get some pulled pork, and YOU get some ribs!” How on earth am I supposed to fit it all on one plate?
The combo dinner isn’t playing around
Two words, Combo Dinner.
The Combo Dinner comes with two different meats, two sides, and a choice of bread. The two meats can then be enjoyed with one of three BBQ sauces available at each table, Dallas Deli Mild Sauce, Sweet and Tangy, and Hot & Spice. All three have their own distinct taste and are worth a try. My meal consisted of rib tips, sausage, collard greens, baked beans and corn bread. Talk about a full house on a plate!
The rib tips were excellent and very rich, but I’m still kicking myself for not taking the brisket as my second meat choice. Don’t get me wrong, the sausage was good, but passing up the brisket at a BBQ joint? Rookie move, DeWitt.
As for the sides, the collard greens and baked beans were excellent compliments to the overall meal. While the meat and BBQ added a rich flavor, the beans and greens kept things at even keel with a consistent texture and flavor.
Now, about that corn bread, it was warm, full of taste, and melted in your mouth. Cornbread for me is very hit or miss and Dallas Deli hit one out of the park.
Thanks to the size of the meal, I had some leftover for lunch the next day (that doesn’t happen very often) and it kept its taste upon a second serving. The corn bread tasted even better the next day, if that’s even possible.
Overall, Dallas Deli lived up to the hype. It’s well priced – only $12 for my whole meal – tastes great, and it feeds the beast. I will be making a second trip.
WKTV takes seriously its role as a communications provider. We want our community to be well-informed and more involved in local matters. Note: Wyoming City Council seats are nonpartisan and decided at the Aug. 2 primary.
2nd Ward
The City of Wyoming’s 2nd Ward Council area covers the northern portion of the City of Wyoming from Chicago Drive in the north to Prairie Parkway down Burlingame Avenue over 36th Street and up along 32nd Street on the south. The 2nd Ward western border is Wentworth and the eastern border is the city limits.
Richard Kent Pastoor – Incumbent
Occupation: Worked in sales and broadcasting. Has been on the Wyoming City Council since 2001
Residence: Wyoming
Why did you decide to run for the City of Wyoming 2nd Ward?
“Well, I was appointed to the 2nd Ward back in March of 2001 and liked it, so I decided to run again in 2003. It’s the most rewarding job I’ve ever had and I’ve met some great people. I try to serve the people and I love being able to help them.”
With the announcement that the 28 West project is moving forward, how do you feel it will impact the City of Wyoming?
“Most of that area is in my ward and the people over there have always felt slighted and cheated that the City ignored them. That the business ventures stopped at Burlingame. I hope it’s something that takes off and benefits the businesses in the area. I would like to see all of 28th Street re-birthed.”
Jeremy Bakken – Candidate
Occupation: Senior Director at Lambert Edwards and Associates
Residence: Wyoming
Why did you decide to run for the City of Wyoming 2nd Ward?
“I’ve been involved with the city for years as a member of the Wyoming Community Enrichment program and I have enjoyed my time serving. I joined after wanting to see a fireworks show in Wyoming and we now have one with the WY-FI event. I want to do more and help Wyoming stay great.”
With the announcement that the 28 West project is moving forward, how do you feel it will impact the City of Wyoming?
“I’m excited about it. That section has seen a lot of change and it will be great for the area and for the businesses. Visually it will look great and the new design will give people space to walk around.”
Marissa K. Postler – Candidate
Occupation: Works at Costco Warehouse
Residence: Wyoming
Why did you decide to run for the City of Wyoming 2nd Ward?
“I was frustrated with Millennials engagement into politics. I want to bring more people into politics in order to give a more accurate representation of the community. With a median age of just over 30, the City Council needs more diversity to properly represent the City of Wyoming.”
With the announcement that the 28 West project is moving forward, how do you feel it will impact the City of Wyoming?
“I’d love it as long as we get the right types of businesses in. With young people taking advantage of the low housing market in Wyoming, we need to keep them here. A new 28 West has the potential to increase Wyoming’s appeal.”
3rd Ward
The City of Wyoming’s 3rd Ward Council area encompasses the city’s panhandle area that includes most of the western area of the city from Prairie Parkway on the north to 60th Street in the south. The 3rd Ward eastern border wraps around the city limits to Kenowa Avenue and its’ western border is Burlingame Avenue.
Tamara I. Lopez – Candidate
Occupation: Lawyer
Residence: Wyoming
Why did you decide to run for the City of Wyoming 3rd Ward?
“As a lifelong resident of Wyoming, I believe it is important to give back to the community that contributed so much to my upbringing. My calling in life as a lawyer is to be an advocate for my clients and I feel representing the 3rd Ward would be natural for me.”
With the announcement that the 28 West project is moving forward, how do you feel it will impact the City of Wyoming?
“It will impact the City immensely and will bring back a part of Wyoming that used to be thriving. It will offer a distinct shopping district with stores that serve the local market and meet the demands of the city’s ever changing consumer demographic.”
Rusty Richter – Candidate
Occupation: Twenty-seven years as a commercial real estate broker and property manager
Residence: Wyoming
Why did you decide to run for the City of Wyoming 3rd Ward?
“I’ve lived in Wyoming my whole life and so have my parents and their parents. In order to keep the solid foundation the city is built on, you have to be involved to make sure it remains sound and sensible”
With the announcement that the 28 West project is moving forward, how do you feel it will impact the City of Wyoming?
“I think it’s an important project for Wyoming. It has to be competitive in growing business development and the project will help with that. It will also help Wyoming develop a downtown feel.”
Robert D. Postema
Due to a family emergency, Robert was not able to make it in to film a video message to the voters.
Occupation: Engineer / Part Owner of Richard Postema Associates PC, Architects & Engineers
Residence: 36 years in Wyoming
Why did you decide to run for the City of Wyoming 3rd Ward?
“I am running for election because I believe I have the experience and critical thinking necessary to properly guide the decisions made by the City Council. I have consistently shown in my work the desire to fully understand an issue and make a thoughtful, common-sense decision on how to proceed. I grew up in Wyoming, raised my own family here and own a business in Wyoming. I want Wyoming to continue to be a great place to live, raise a family, and run a business. I am committed to limited government, being accessible and accountable, fiscal responsibility, strong public safety, and smart growth. ”
With the announcement that the 28 West project is moving forward, how do you feel it will impact the City of Wyoming?
“The 28 West project is the catalyst that should help drive new development in Wyoming’s DDA. Redevelopment often is about momentum with new development driving more new development. The city needs to work promote the area and also needs to remain flexible enough to work with developers on concepts that may not have been envisioned in the 28 West plan but hold true to the plan’s ultimate goals.”
All candidates were contacted and invited to participate in sharing their message to the voters. Only contested races where the field would be narrowed or decided at the primary on August 2 were included.
WKTV takes seriously its role as a communications provider. We want our community to be well-informed and more involved in local matters.
Lawrence A. Stelma – Incumbent (R)
Occupation: Been in law enforcement since 1972 and has acted as sheriff for 16 years.
Residence: Cedar Springs
Why did you decide to run for Sheriff back in 2000 and continue to run today?
“It’s been a natural progression in my career that started as a corrections officer. We have many projects in the works like the 911 central dispatch that I want to see to completion.”
What are some of the benefits and challenges to the central 911 dispatch?
“Well, some of the challenges are funding and technology, but the benefits are very important. A central dispatch would make for greater efficiency for all the agencies and would create better communication for emergencies and big events.”
With national headlines centered around negative police-community relations, how would you continue to foster and strengthen the relationship between the Sheriff’s Department and Kent County?
“We work hard with the community and with community leaders. We build strong relationships so that we all work together. We work with organization like the Neighborhood Watch, with faith-based organizations, and also with the mental health community.”
Stacy M. Browe – Candidate (R)
Occupation: 9 years in law enforcement
Residence: Kentwood
Why did you decide to run for Kent County Sheriff?
“It is time for a change. Citizens of Kent County need a leader who cares about them and is available and accessible to the community. The citizens want to see the sheriff year-round and not just during election cycles.”
What are some of the benefits and challenges to the central 911 dispatch?
“I like the ability to have communication between different departments throughout Kent County. Smaller departments will be able to communicate and call for backup from other areas through a central dispatch.”
With national headlines centered around negative police-community relations, how would you continue to foster and strengthen the relationship between the Sheriff’s Department and Kent County?
“Having an open door policy with the community and deputies goes a long ways. Also, I would attend township, city, and village meetings throughout the year so that the citizens can personally see the Sheriff and ask questions. A part of community policing is working together.”
John G. Stedman – Candidate (R)
Occupation: Semi-retired. Owner of Stedman Insurance.
Residence: Wyoming
Why did you decide to run for Kent County Sheriff?
“It was the feeling that we don’t have a process where an individual has a place to file a complaint against a law officer. We need a mediator between the public and law enforcement.”
With national headlines centered around negative police-community relations, how would you continue to foster and strengthen the relationship between the Sheriff’s Department and Kent County?
“I would be more proactive in the community. I would establish more programs for the youth to get them acquainted with law enforcement before they make that poor choice.
Also vying for the Republican spot on the Nov. 8 ballot is Timothy Lewis. The Republican winner of the primary will face off against Democrat Michael B. Scruggs in November.
All candidates were contacted and invited to participate in sharing their message to the voters. Only contested races where the field would be narrowed or decided at the primary on August 2 were included.
WKTV takes seriously its role as a communications provider. We want our community to be well-informed and more involved in local matters.
72nd District
The 72nd District includes the City of Kentwood and Gaines Township in Kent County and Leighton Township, Wayland Township, Dorr Township and the City of Wayland in Allegan County. The seat is currently held by Ken Yonker, who is vacating due to term limits.
Robert D. Coughlin – Candidate (R)
Occupation: Sales Management with an International Corporation
Residence: Kentwood
Why did you decide to run for the 72nd District Representative?
“I have an extensive background in local government. I’ve served the City of Kentwood for 20 years and have spent the last 13 as a city commissioner. I felt it was my time to take my background to Lansing.”
What issues would you address if elected?
“Michigan has been on a road to recovery for a while now, but we still have a way to go. With the number of strong universities we have in the state, we need to keep that talent from leaving the state. With my background in business and in local government, I’m hoping to improve the employment picture even further.”
Ryan Gallogly – Candidate (R)
Occupation: Social Studies teacher in Kentwood Public Schools
Residence: Gaines Township
Why did you decide to run for the 72nd District Representative?
“As a social studies teacher, I teach students to be actively involved. So, I figured I should as well! There are certainly improvements to be made regarding education reform and a more streamlined government, and I want to be a part of the solution.”
What issues would you address if elected?
“I would love to place an emphasis on K-3 education. K-3 is the foundation that education is built on. If we get the early ages addressed with the right curriculum and class sizes, the high scores in the older grades will follow.”
Steven Johnson – Candidate (R)
Occupation: Four years in the Air Force and now campaigning as a full-time candidate
Residence: Wayland Township
Why did you decide to run for the 72nd District Representative?
“I didn’t initially plan on running, but after seeing videos of Planned Parenthood selling baby parts while the government still chose to fund them, I decided to get involved. I called some local candidates to hear their stance and concerns with specific issues and didn’t receive a straight answer. I then chose to run myself.”
What issues would you address if elected?
‘We need to repeal Common Core. It’s a one-size method that doesn’t fit everyone. I’m Pro-Life and support a life at conception act. I would also stop corporate welfare. Too often big companies, like Switch coming into Gaines Township, are given big tax breaks.”
Steve Shoemaker – Candidate (D)
Occupation: Worked for Steelcase for 25 years as a Skilled Trades Journeyman. Retired in 2005.
Residence: Caledonia
Why did you decide to run for the 72nd District Representative?
“I saw some decisions that came out of Lansing that I didn’t agree with. The current 72nd district representative made some votes that I felt went against what he believed. As a leader its important to make tough decisions even if they’re not popular.”
What issue would you address if elected?
“The government needs to be made more transparent. Right now, Michigan ranks dead last in transparency. I would draft a bill to repeal exemption for Freedom of Information Act blockage for government representatives.”
Other candidates running for the 72nd District are Democrat Dick Cunningham, Republican Bill Hirsch and Republican Tony Noto.
77th District
The 77th District includes Byron Township and the City of Wyoming. The seat is currently held by Thomas Hooker of Byron Township, who is vacating due to term limits.
Tommy Brann – Candidate (R)
Occupation: Owner of Brann’s Steakhouse since he was 19-years-old.
Residence: Wyoming
Why did you decide to run for the 77th District Representative?
“I’ve always been interested in politics and admired the people who do it. I believe in free enterprise. There’s a lot of stories of entrepreneurs that I want to share not only with the government, but with children as well. I can help influence education.”
What issues would you address if elected?
“I would like to keep government simple. I believe the simpler, the better. Right now the state has $27.2 billion for teachers pension that is unfunded. The budget needs to be balanced, and that means no debt.”
Brann and Republican Frank Murin facing off in the primary for the Republican spot on the Nov. 8 general election. The Republican winner of the primary will face Democrat Dana J. Knight in November.
All candidates were contacted and invited to participate in sharing their message to the voters. Only contested races where the field would be narrowed or decided at the primary on August 2 were included.
WKTV takes seriously its role as a communications provider. We want our community to be well-informed and more involved in local matters.
7th District
Kent County Commissioner District 7 includes the City of Grandville and the northern portion of the City of Wyoming, mostly the Godfrey Lee area. For specific borders, visit accesskent.com.
Stan Ponstein – Incumbent (R)
Occupation: Costco Warehouse
Residence: Grandville
Why did you decide to run for the Kent County Commission 7th District?
“I have enjoyed serving on the various boards such as the Network 180 Board (Community Mental Health Authority Board), the Land Bank Authority and the Pension Board. They have really re-energized me and I would like to continue to work through on the projects these groups have to see them to their realization.”
What issues are a high priority to you?
“Taxation and the budget, obviously. Most of the county’s budget is flow through dollars designated by the state for certain projects. I think we need to consolidate where we can and generate new partnerships. The council has done a good job in building partnerships and we need to explore new ideas to foster other partnership opportunities.”
What are your thoughts on a central 911 dispatch for Kent County?
“The 911 dispatch is critical and we need to consolidate with the City of Grand Rapids as soon as possible. Having duplicates services is a waste of taxpayer money. As for adding more to the surcharge to pay for improvements. I am a no vote on that. We currently do not know if all of the current surcharge is getting to us. Why should we ask the taxpayers to pay more? 911 dispatch is a critical service and should be a priority in the Kent County general budget, not a ballot issue for the taxpayer. Taxpayers and businesses already pay enough in taxes.”
Jon Hess – Candidate (R)
Occupation: Retired Under Sheriff for the Kent County Sheriff Department
Residence: Grandville
Why did you decide to run for the Kent County Commission 7th District?
“After retiring I had several people approach me about running for this position. I believe my former role as under sheriff allows me to bring a unique experience and insight to the county commission board.”
What issues are a high priority to you?
“Monies and property taxes. Property taxes have been up and down in the past eight to nine years and we need to continue to look at how our finances are structured. I believe we need to have partnerships and collaborate with various groups to maintain the property services that are offered.”
What are your thoughts on a central 911 dispatch for Kent County?
“Central dispatch is a very complex issue. It was decided collaboratively by many agencies that this community would have two PSAPs (public service answering points) and not a true central dispatch. I believe this is a good approach and allows for redundancy which protects from a singe center becoming inoperable and effecting public safety in the case of a major incident. Communication is so critical and this process ensures first responders and citizens have dispatch centers that work together, train together, and can work either dispatch center in the case of a major emergency. Many of the initiatives of Homeland Security have centered on communication too. This has allowed Kent County to improve our PSAPs as a whole too.”
The winner of the Republican primary will face off against Democrat candidate Logan Arkema.
12th District
Kent County Commissioner District 12 covers the western portion of the City of Kentwood and the eastern portion of the City of Wyoming. For specific borders, visit accesskent.com.
Harold J. Mast – Incumbent (R)
Occupation: Former Health Care Administrative at Pine Rest for 28 years. Ten years as executive director Genesis Non-Profit Housing.
Residence: Kentwood
Why did you decide to run for the Kent County Commission 12th District?
“I’ve been a city commissioner for 14 years and a county commissioner for 18. I have an interest as a servant and the capability to work with people and solve the issues that face them.”
What issues are of high priority to you?
“I think we need to be focused on helping seniors as they age. Along with that, we need to provide adequate care to those with mental and physical disabilities.”
What are your thoughts on a central 911 dispatch for Kent County?
A central 911 dispatch would enhance 911 capabilities throughout Kent County. Having a central location would increase the speed and effectiveness of the response.”
Mast will face off in the Nov. 8 election against the Democrat winner of the primary. Democrat candidates running are Albert S. Abbasse, Christian Allen, and Peter Hickley.
All candidates were contacted and invited to participate in sharing their message to the voters. Only contested races where the field would be narrowed or decided at the primary on August 2 were included.
As summer is upon us and we’re more likely to interact with our neighbors, I want to reflect on the importance of respect and kindness in our City.
Our own actions, however small, can change our community for the better. Even small things can make a big difference. Performing random acts of kindness can spread goodwill throughout Wyoming.
These may include:
Holding the door for the person behind you
Picking up litter in the street, in the parking lots or in our parks
Taking someone else’s cart back to the grocery store
Helping plant or weed your neighbor’s garden
Saying “thank you” to service members
Simply saying hello and smiling when you pass someone
I urge all of our citizens, businesses and school districts to be involved, informed, and to support and promote civility and kindness
Summer Activities in Wyoming
Splash pad at Lamar Park
Beat the summer vacation slump with these activities taking place in the City of Wyoming in July.
The Wyoming Community Enrichment Commission Concerts in the Park will take place at 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW.
All Concerts in the Park events are free to attend. Each concert features a theme, giveaways, games and competitions for kids and adults, as well as inflatable bounce-house equipment. Local, affordable, and healthy food options are available for purchase from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
July concerts include:
The Kentwood Community Church Worship Band with gospel and world music on July 5.
The Legal Immigrants with indie folk rock on July 12.
Jared Knox with modern country music on July 19.
The Crane Wives with Americana Folk music on July 26.
The Metro Health Farm Market at Metro Health Village, 5900 Byron Center Ave. SW, is open from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. each Thursday in July.
The market attracts visitors from all over West Michigan. In addition to farm-fresh produce, offerings include baked goods, flowers and plants, homemade foods, hand-crafted items and more from about 60 different vendors. The market features free parking and fun, family friendly events throughout the summer months.
Wyoming Parks and Recreation and Senior Center activities and events include technology, art, dance and fitness classes, day trips, social services and educational programs.
To browse summer activity brochures, get more information and to register for classes and events, visit the City of Wyoming website at wyomingmi.gov.
A few years ago, Michigan lifted the ban on consumer fireworks. All fine and dandy (as long as you’re safe and follow the rules), but it certainly is not a free-for-all when it comes to lighting them up — the state legislature allows local municipalities to put in place ordinances on when such fireworks can be used.
Consumer fireworks are devices designed to produce visible effects by combustion such as firecrackers sky lanterns, bottle rockets, roman candles and certain aerial shells not exceeding 1.75 inches in diameter.
Low-impact and novelty fireworks that are ground-based or handled devices such as wheel fountains, smoke devices, ground spinners, and sparklers, are permitted.
But you’ll want to check with your local municipality before you shoot off a bottle rocket or light that roman candle. In both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, consumer firework usage is restricted to the day before, the day of and the day after a national holiday.
Even on permitted days, there are restrictions. In the city of Kentwood, fireworks are prohibited during the hours of 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. In Wyoming, fireworks are prohibited between the hours of 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. on the day before and the day after the holiday. On the day of the holiday, fireworks are prohibited from midnight to 8 a.m.
Also in Wyoming, the ordinance prohibits a person from discharging or displaying fireworks on another person’s property or within 15 feet of another person’s property without the property owner’s permission. You must get a permit to discharge fireworks in a public street or right-of-way, a public park, school property or any other place of public assembly.
“We do get a number of complaints during times when people are allowed to set off fireworks and if they are doing it during the allowed time legally, there is not much we can do,” said Capt. Kim Koster with the Wyoming Public Safety Department. Many residents do call the department with concerns over the noise from fireworks upsetting their pets and small children.
“If it is endangering public safety or personal property, we are going to investigate to make sure that it is being done safely,” Koster said.
According to the National Council on Fireworks Safety, consumer fireworks usage is expected to hit an all-time high this Fourth of July and safety remains a top priority. One of the biggest concerns the council has reported on is an increase in injuries among youth “who have used fireworks in videos unsafely to impress friends or get a laugh.” It is unlawful for anyone under 18 to discharge or display consumer fireworks in the State of Michigan.
Another factor is alcohol, said Ellen Bristol, director of internal communications and public relations at Metro Health. “There is a saying that nothing bad ever happens when it starts with a salad,” Bristol said, adding that many of the firework injuries Metro Health has taken care of over the years have had alcohol involved as well. To help with promoting fireworks safety, Metro Health recently put out a blog post on fireworks safety tips.
The bottomline, Koster said, is to think about where you are, what you are doing and just be “considerate of your neighbors.”
For details on the laws in Kentwood or Wyoming, visit the respective websites.
“The idea for the Metro Cruise came from the Woodward Dream Cruise” said Charlie Steen, one of the main think tanks behind Metro Cruise. “We were looking for promotion for 28th Street and the businesses on the strip, and we felt it was an opportunity for merchants to benefit from the event.”
While the participation was better than expected, and getting the inaugural event to make it from concept to reality was a success in itself, the first year of Metro Cruise didn’t accomplish its primary task.
For the fifth year in a row, WKTV Community Media and the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce host the red carpet classic car event, “DreamWheels!” in conjunction with the 2016 28th Street Metro Cruise.
Because the tornados were wrapped in rain, they were not visible to viewers. There were no reported injuries.
Established in 1976, Tree City USA is a nationwide program that provides a framework for communities to manage and expand their public trees. There are currently more than 3,400 communities in the country that have made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA, including 123 in Michigan. To become a Tree City USA, municipalities must have:
Update –
Cintorino was in control the entire game and only saw two innings where he faced over three batters, the fourth and the seventh. Illinois got a single in the seventh with two outs from Chayka, but the potential rally was immediately stifled as right fielder Alanso Ocon grounded out. Once the final out was made, the celebration was on!
National Night Out celebrates local heroes and the community
The day starts out early — 7 am — at the Consumers’ Energy building (4000 Clay Ave. SW in Wyoming), where mayors and dignitaries from Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming, Grandville and other local municipalities will gather to recite the NNO credo. Here’s a great opportunity to meet your local leaders!
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What Dallas Deli lacks in space it certainly makes up for in food — at least my chili packed a wallop of flavor being voted best meal selection by our little group and leaving Victoria and I planning chili runs in the winter. I had the World Class Chili which was topped with the restaurant’s signature brisket, cheese and onion. With the right mixture of heat and sweet, it was perfect even for our blistery hot summer day visit. (By the way, the air conditioning was not on while we were there but the place stayed pretty cool with the door open and a breeze moving through the building.)
Thanks to the size of the meal, I had some leftover for lunch the next day (that doesn’t happen very often) and it kept its taste upon a second serving. The corn bread tasted even better the next day, if that’s even possible.
