The Meijer State Game of Michigan will have local events this weekend; snow will be involved and registration is still available. (Supplied/Meijer State Game of Michigan)
WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The main weekend of the Meijer State Games of Michigan’s Winter Games will take place this weekend, Feb. 14-16, with local sports including indoor archery, ninja, fencing, cross country skiing (freestyle and nordic), karate, disc golf, shooting sports and wrestling.
Online registration as well as onsite registration is still available for some main weekend sports, according to supplied material. For more information about onsite registration, times, locations and entry fees for events, please visit stategamesofmichigan.com. Registration information is located on each sport’s page.
The main weekend will begin with an athlete celebration hosted by the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday, Feb. 14, at the Van Andel Arena. A special in-game recognition of all Meijer State Games athletes will take place during the first period.
Prior to the Griffins game, the Meijer State Games will present the 2019 Athletes of the Year awards, including to Catherine Vandergriff of Spring Lake (speed skating), Noah Zomberg of Grand Rapids (rugby) and Anastasia Schutte of Holland (archery 3D).
The Meijer State Games of Michigan held the first sporting event of the Winter Games, fatbike, on Feb. 1. Results for all the Winter Games sporting events are now available here.
The Meijer State Games of Michigan, according to supplied material, is an Olympic-style, multi-sport event(s) that welcomes athletes regardless of age or ability level. “The games embody the values of participation, sportsmanship, and healthy living among the residents of Michigan.”
Since 2010, Meijer State Games of Michigan has hosted more than 65,000 athletes. The Meijer State Games of Michigan has also contributed over $25 million in estimated economic impact to cities throughout Michigan, according to supplied material.
AIM also invites the public to run, walk or hand cycle your way through Grand Valley State University’s campus in Allendale this Saturday, April 4, for its Wheel Run Together 5K Run/Walk fundraiser. (Supplied/AIM)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The local non-profit Alternatives in Motion — whose stated mission is to “enhance independence through access to mobility equipment” — recently announced a successful mobility device collection drive put on by one of AIM’s board members.
AIM will also be the benefactor of the Wheel Run Together 5K Run/Walk fundraiser, held at Gran Valley State University’s Allendale campus in April. And it is not too early to sign up.
Throughout December 2019, AIM board member Leigh Chick hosted a Mobility Drive at Ionia Intermediate School District’s Freedom Acres School.
Throughout December 2019, AIM board member Leigh Chick hosted a Mobility Drive at Ionia Intermediate School District’s Freedom Acres School. (Supplied/AIM)
“I was inspired to host a mobility drive to support AIM because they have given so much to the students and families of Ionia County and directly to Freedom Acres School,” Chick said in supplied material. “I knew there were families and community members holding onto old equipment that their child had outgrown and they didn’t know what to do with it. I wanted to give them a place to pay it forward. I also wanted to spread the word about how amazing of an organization AIM is.”
Chick thanked several people for help with the drive, including Jim VanBeek of Triangle Construction, who loaned an enclosed trailer to house and collect the equipment in until it could be delivered to Alternatives in Motion’s warehouse, as well as, at the school, Principal Angela Miller, maintenance supervisor Jeff Duell, and Brenda Brown, the school’s physical therapist.
Wheels, run, walk, whatever — for a good cause
AIM also invites the public to run, walk or hand cycle your way through Grand Valley State University’s campus in Allendale this Saturday, April 4, for its Wheel Run Together 5K Run/Walk fundraiser.
All proceeds go directly to support the organization, which aids in donating and refurbishing wheelchairs to individuals and families in need.
The event will take place at 1110 Kirkhof Center, 1 Campus Drive, on GVSU’s Allendale campus. In addition to the run, there will be raffles, prizes, music, snacks, drinks, and more. The cost is $25 per person with events starting at 10 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m.
Recycling Education also occurs at the Kent County Recycling & Education Center. (Kent County)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Kent County announced this week that Kent County Recycling & Education Center at 977 Wealthy St. SW will be closed and unable to accept recyclable materials from both curbside and public drop-off locations for processing while new equipment is installed.
The equipment upgrades will “improve efficiency and quality by replacing the mechanical screens used to sort paper,” according to supplied material. Renovations will take place starting Monday, Feb. 24 and last until approximately Friday, March 13, according to the county.
During that period, there will be no recycling accepted by the county — from citizens at the downtown and north county transfer facilities, or by contract trash haulers who also collect recycling — a county spokesperson confirmed to WKTV.
(WKTV)
“We are giving advance notice to ensure residents can get as much of their existing recycling picked up and recycled before the February 24 temporary closure,” Dar Baas, director of Kent County Department of Public Works, said in supplied material. “We understand this is inconvenient but it’s necessary to ensure we can continue to be a reliable processor of recyclables for the region.”
According to the county, paper accounts for 70 percent of the processed material at the recycling center. In 2019, the center processed 16,692 tons of paper product, the equivalent of 283,764 trees, according to the county. The facility sorts out at least a truckload of paper every day. The screens used to sort paper are original equipment from when the center opened in 2010 and have run for over 30,000 operational hours.
Recycling is an ever-changing technology. And Kent County’s recycling system is changing. (Supplied)
“Periodic upgrades and renovations, like the replacement of our paper screens, ensure the recycling facility is up-to-date and can efficiently and reliably process clean materials for recycling markets,” Nic VanderVinne, Resource Recovery & Recycling Manager for the Kent County Department of Public Works, said in supplied material. “The Kent County Recycling & Education Center allows residents to conveniently recycle materials with a single-stream sorting process, that requires we have screens to automate the sorting process for materials like glass, metal, plastic and paper.”
The Kent County Recycling & Education Center is approaching its 10th year of single-stream recycling. Over the past decade, the center has undergone periodic maintenance and upgrades to adapt to changes in community recycling habits and packaging trends. In 2017, Kent County added equipment to accept paper cartons and improve automation.
“The recycling industry has changed significantly in the past few years due to increased global import restrictions,” Baas said in supplied material. “It’s imperative we make improvements to keep producing a high-quality product in a very competitive domestic market.”
For any updates and more information on the temporary closure visit reimaginetrash.org or call 616-632-7945.
“I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.”
George Bernard Shaw
Community programs in Wyoming
There are a number of spring programs available through the Wyoming Department of Parks and Recreation Registration is now open for these programs. Go here for the story.
Run and dance in Kentwood
The City of Kentwood has community-focused events all year round but February may be a little more busy than most months with its annual Valentine’s Dash 5K on Saturday, Feb. 8, and two more events later in the month, including the Annual Freeze Fest Disc Golf Tournament, and a Hawaiian Luau-Themed Family Dance, both on Feb. 22. Go here for the story.
Summer sunny job in Wyoming
Whether a college student just home for the summer or an older adult looking to do something different, the City of Wyoming has a number of seasonal job opportunities available. Go here for the story.
Fun fact:
$3,910 … or so
If you will reach full retirement age in 2019, you may earn up to $3,910 per month without losing any of your Social Security benefits. Source.
Marisa O. Ensor, center, has worked in in countries around the world and will talk on “Green Peacebuilding: Justice in the face of Climate Change”. (Courtesy)
WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s 2020 Great Decisions series of local discussions will again tackle this year’s “issues of national an international importance” — the India and Pakistan powder keg, China’s power in the Americas, the present and future of American immigration policy, and the human impact of climate change, to name just a few.
The line-up of discussions, to be held Monday evenings at Aquinas College and Tuesday noontimes at Calvin University, will begin Feb. 10-11 with a discussion titled “Kashmir: Flashpoint between India and Pakistan” and will continue through the week of March 30.
All discussions are open to the public, with a $10 admission fee for non-Council members and collegiate partners, but free parking on each campus. No reservations are needed, and discounted series passes are available.
With the 2020 Great Decisions series, the World Affairs Council “continues its mission to empower the people and organizations of West Michigan to engage thoughtfully with the world,” according to supplied material. “Our largest community event, which we have been hosting since the mid-1950s. Diplomats, policy makers and practitioners, think tank specialists and journalists lead the conversation on some of the most pressing global issues of our time.”
The Monday lectures will run from 6 to 7:15 p.m., at the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center. The Tuesday lectures will run from Noon to 1 p.m., at the Recital Hall in the Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin University.
Raza Ahmad Rumi (Supplied)
The opening lecture, “Kashmir: Flashpoint between India and Pakistan” will be led by Raza Ahmad Rumi, Director of the Park Center for Independent Media at Ithaca (N.Y.) College. Rumi has been living in the United States since 2014, and is editor of Daily Times and founder of the Nayadaur Media digital platform. He is also a visiting faculty at Cornell Institute for Public Affairs.
Drawing on his deep background as a journalist and policy analyst, Rumi will “contextualize the factors that play into India and Pakistan’s actions and the U.S. response to these countries,” according to supplied material. Asking and discussing the questions “How do we de-escalate conflict between these two nuclear powers? India and Pakistan have a long history of conflict. How has escalation within the Kashmir region changed the stakes for the U.S. and the world?”
The other lecture dates, titles and speakers are:
February 17-18, “Mirror to the World: The Philippines under Duterte”, with Julie McCarthy, international correspondent with Manila Bureau of NPR.
February 24-25, “Regional Security in the Red Sea”, with Steve Dalzell, senior defense policy researcher at RAND Corporation.
March 2-3, “Green Peacebuilding: Justice in the face of Climate Change”, with Marisa O. Ensor, Justice and Peace Studies Program & Institute for the Study of International Migration, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University.
March 9-10, “Human Trafficking: Global and Local Perspectives”, a panel discussion moderated by Rachel VerWys, co-creator of Solutions to End Exploitation (SEE).
March 16-17, “The Future is Now: Artificial Intelligence and National Security”, with Lindsey Sheppard, fellow at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS).
March 23-24, “China’s Road into Latin America”, with Margaret Myers, director of Asia & Latin America at Inter-American Dialogue.
March 30-31, “Central American Immigration and U.S. Foreign Policy”, with Sonia Nazario, Pulitzer-winning journalist and author of “Enrique’s Journey”.
Of particular interest, for many, will be Ensor’s discussion on world justice in time of climate change. She describes herself, on her website, as “a gender and youth specialist with a background in forced displacement, environmental peacebuilding, humanitarian intervention, and post-conflict justice.”
Marisa O. Ensor (Courtesy)
She holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Florida, a Master’s in Law in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex (UK), and a certificate in Forced Migration Studies from the University of Oxford (UK). She has over a decade of international experience in “the design and implementation of gender- and youth-inclusive projects in conflict-affected and fragile states, and those confronting forced migration and environmental insecurity” in 19 countries so far in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Europe.
In her discussion, Ensor “maps the relationship between climate change, conflict and fragile states and the lessons we can learn from those fighting for human rights and peace within their communities,” according to supplied material. Specifically she will discuss “What can young activists teach us about peace and climate change? … Climate change has become one of the defining issues of our time.”
For more information on the Great Decisions 2020 series visit here.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The Kelloggsville High School boys basketball team will take a break from its OK-Conference Silver schedule to host Comstock Park out of the OK Blue Tuesday, Feb. 4, as both teams look to get back in the win column.
The Kelloggsville Rockets (4-6 overall, 2-4 in league) are coming off a road loss to OK Silver foe Godwin Heights on Jan. 31. Comstock Park (2-8 and 1-5) will be out to break a six-game skid including a home loss to Central Catholic also on Jan. 31.
The WKTV Sports Featured Game will be available on cable television and on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
From a previous year’s City of Kentwood Daddy-Daughter Dance, which this year will be expanded to be an “all family” dance. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The City of Kentwood has community-focused events all year round but February may be a little more busy than most months with its annual Valentine’s Dash 5K on Saturday, Feb. 8, and two more events later in the month, including the Annual Freeze Fest Disc Golf Tournament, and a Hawaiian Luau-Themed Family Dance, both on Feb. 22.
Many of the city’s community events also support local persons in need. This week’s run/walk will benefit Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry, while the disc golf tournament also serves as a food drive for the pantry.
This week’s 5K run/walk will start and end at the Kent District Library’s Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, located at 4950 Breton Ave. SE. Check-in, on-site registration and packet pick-up will all take place at 9:30 a.m. The race will begin at 11 a.m.
Some of the runners at a previous Kentwood Valentine’s Dash 5K. (WKTV)
The 5K route will include a combination of trails and roads with mile markers and Valentine’s Day candy stations. Valentine’s-themed costumes are encouraged for the occasion. Fellow participants will vote to determine who is the “best dressed” and awards will also be presented to the fastest runners. While the 5K is intended to be a fun run, it will be chip-timed.
Following the race, participates will be invited into the library’s community room for a party that will include music, snacks, a photo booth, the award ceremony and more. If participants bring a non-perishable item or additional monetary donation for the pantry, they will be entered to win a special door prize.
Online registration costs $30 until Feb. 7, and $35 for day-of registration. Participant packets include a long-sleeve shirt “and other goodies.” Runners who sign up as a couple will save $5 each.
A full day of fun on Saturday, Feb. 22
The late-month events are filled with family fun at the library and outdoor adventure, with the Hawaiian Luau-Themed Family Dance particularly unique.
“This dance is such a great opportunity for kids to get dressed up, have fun and dance with the adults in their lives,” Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director, said in supplied material. “Whether they choose to attend with their parents or grandparents, primary caregivers, guardians or other relatives, the event is open for children to enjoy an evening making memories with their family, whoever that is to them.”
Formerly known as the Daddy-Daughter Dance, this family event will run 6 to 8 p.m. in the community room at the Kent District Library’s Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch and include refreshments, crafts, a photo area with props and a DJ. The evening will also include a short hula performance by Pacific Island Dancers.
Tickets cost $10 per person, and pre-registration is required. To purchase tickets go online at kentwood.us/familyluau or call 616-656-5270.
Earlier that day, the Freeze Fest doubles as a disc golf tournament and food drive as the City of Kentwood and Great Lakes Disc have once again partnered to host the competition.
The start of the 2019 Freeze Fest disc golf event. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)
Disc golfers of all levels are invited to partake in the best-shot doubles competition at Jaycee Park, located at 1088 Gentian Dr. SE. Funds raised this year will benefit City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation youth programs and all food donations will help stock Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry.
On-site registration begins at 9 a.m., and the first round of the tournament starts at 10 a.m. The cost is $40 and one canned food donation per team.
“We look forward to this event every year not only because disc golf and a little competition is exciting by nature, but because it’s incredible to watch community members come together in support of Kentwood initiatives,” Lori Gresnick, Kentwood recreation program coordinator, said in supplied material. “Last year, we collected an entire car load of groceries and supplies for the Little Free Pantry, which really goes a long way.”
Pre-registration and more event information is available online at: kentwood.us/freezefest.
Located in the Kentwood Activities Center at 355 48th St. SE, Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry is a year-round resource for area residents to take or donate food and personal care items. No applications necessary, and no questions asked. More information about Kentwood Little Free Pantry, including a list of suggested donations, is available online at kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.
Jazz night at the Listening Room with members of the Robin Connell Trio, from January 2020. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
After an opening-night sellout of local jazz with the Robin Connell Trio at the Listening Room, one of Grand Rapids newest music venues, Quinn Mathews, general manager of the venue, reportedly said “It looks like the Listening Room will be booking more jazz.”
Sweet music to local jazz fans, indeed.
The next date with the Robin Connell Trio — this time with guest multi-instrumentalist Ivan Akansiima — at Listening Room, a 200-seat venue located at Studio Park at 123 Ionia Ave SW, will be Thursday, Feb. 6.
“I’ve enjoyed all the opportunities I’ve had to play music with this marvelous person/musician,” Connell said of Akansiima, in supplied material. The “night of music that will include original tunes, jazz standards, Stevie Wonder, John Lennon, and African gems such as ‘Pata Pata’.”
Multi-instrumentalist Ivan Akansiima. (Supplied by the artist)
Akansiima, according to his website, is a mutt-instrumentalist, Christian faith worship leader, jazz musician, composer, arranger, producer, instructor, and researcher from Uganda East Africa. He holds a bachelors degree in music from Hope College and a masters degree in jazz studies from Western Michigan University. He has performed professionally for more than 15 years in 40 countries, but continues to actively play and participate in the local Michigan music scene.
My “music is rooted in Ugandan folk music traditions, Jazz, Gospel, classical, Caribbean, Afro fusion music, etc.,” he says in his website.
The jazz nights start at 7:30 p.m., with doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12, with open seating, drinks available for purchase, and a parking garage attached — “So no outdoor hassle (park on 2nd floor to walk right in),” we are told.
We are also told the January jazz night turned away people at the door, so buy your tickets early or at-least arrive early.
Connell’s “house trio” will usually include Rob Hartman on bass and Keith Hall on the drums. Future guest artists include vocalist Mary Rademacher on March 7, Carl Cafagna on woodwinds on April 1, and the Paul Brewer septet on May 31.
For more information on the jazz series and all concerts at The Listening Room, visit listeningroomGR.com or call 616-900-9500. For more information on the show, visit here. For more info on Ivan Akansiima, visit ivanskansiima.com. For more information on Robin Connell, visit robinconnell.com.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By Mike Moll, WKTV Volunteer Sports Director sports@wktv.org
February already brings the final full month of the high school winter sports schedules to the area. The opening rounds of MHSAA State tournaments are near the end of the month in several sports and others, such as girls’ basketball, close out the regular season to begin their state tournament to open up March.
With the change in basketball districts this year having the teams be seeded and matchups announced fifteen days before the opening games, updated schedules will be posted here as they are announced.
Once again, WKTV and its crews will be at two events each week throughout the month but show your support in person to your local schools whenever you can and then join the rebroadcast or watch on-line within a few days of the event.
The Featured Game coverage schedule for the last week of February includes the following:
Tuesday, Feb. 4 — Boys Basketball Comstock Park at Kelloggsville
Saturday, Feb. 8 — Boys Hockey Lowell/Caledonia at East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation
Tuesday, Feb. 11 — Girls Basketball East Grand Rapids at South Christian
Friday, Feb. 14 — Girls/Boys Basketball Christian @ Wyoming
Tuesday, Feb. 18 — Boys Basketball Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee
Friday, Feb. 21 — Girls/Boys Basketball West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
Tuesday, Feb. 25 — Girls/Boys Basketball Tri-unity Christian @ Grand River Prep
Friday, Feb. 28 — Girls/Boys Basketball Tri-unity Christian @ Potter’s House
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! We are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Where and when to see the game
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Feb. 3 Boys/Girls Bowling Calvin Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian – Boys NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee Hopkins @ Godwin Heights Byron Center @ South Christian Wyoming @ Middleville T-K Kelloggsville @ Hilcrest Lanes Grand Haven @ East Kentwood Girls Basketball Lansing Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Tuesday, Feb. 4 Girls Basketball West Michigan Lutheran @ Hudsonville Libertas Christian Holland Black River @ West Michigan Aviation Grand River Prep @ Potter’s House Muskegon Catholic Central @ Zion Christian Benton Harbor @ Godwin Heights Hudsonville @ South Christian Boys Basketball West Michigan Lutheran @ Hudsonville Libertas Christian Holland Black River @ West Michigan Aviation Grand River Prep @ Potter’s House Potter’s House @ Tri-County South Christian @ Calvin Christian FH Central @ Wyoming Comstock Park @ Kelloggsville — WKTV Featured Event Northview @ East Kentwood
Wednesday, Feb. 5 Boys/Girls Bowling Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee Belding @ Godwin Heights South Christian @ Wyoming Kelloggsville @ Hopkins East Kentwood @ Hudsonville Girls Cheer Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins Kelloggsville @ Hopkins Wyoming @ Wayland Boys Wrestling Muskegon Catholic Central @ Godwin Heights
Thursday, Feb. 6 Boys/Girls Bowling Tri-Unity Christian @ West Catholic – Boys Boys Swimming Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 7 Boys Basketball West Michigan Aviation @ Tri-Unity Christian Wellsprings Prep @ West Michigan Lutheran Kalamazoo Heritage Christian @ Grand River Prep Creative Tech @ Zion Christian Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville Hopkins @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ South Christian Girls Basketball West Michigan Aviation @ Tri-Unity Christian Wellsprings Prep @ West Michigan Lutheran Creative Tech @ Zion Christian Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville Hopkins @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ South Christian Boys Hockey South Christian vs Plymouth Boys Swimming South Christian @ Hudsonville Boys Wrestling Wyoming @ FH Eastern East Kentwood @ Rockford Girls Cheer East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Saturday, Feb. 8 Boys Hockey Lowell/Caledonia @ East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation — WKTV Featured Event South Christian vs Powers Catholic Boys/Girls Bowling Wyoming Lee @ Hudsonville Godwin Heights @ Muskegon Mona Shores Wyoming @ Muskegon Mona Shores East Kentwood @ Hudsonville Boys Wrestling Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Godwin Heights @ Belding Kelloggsville @ Belding Girls Cheer Wyoming Lee @ FH Northern Wyoming @ FH Northern Boys Swimming South Christian @ Hudsonville
Monday, Feb. 10 Girls Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Wellsprings Prep West Michigan Aviation @ Wyoming Lee Boys/Girls Bowling Wyoming Lee @ Belding Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian Zeeland East/Zeeland West @ South Christian Wyoming @ Unity Christian Rockford @ East Kentwood
Julien Ehrlich and Max Kakacek, the heart and soul of Whitney, in support of their late 2019 release Forever Turned Around, will visit Grand Rapids’ Fountain Street Church’s sanctuary for a concert Sunday, Feb. 16. (Supplied/Olivia Bee)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
You have to appreciate musicians who understand the power of falsetto, the right blend of songs to create and to cover, and the perfection of a venue with superb acoustics.
So there will be a lot to appreciate when Whitney, busy on the road in support of their late 2019 release Forever Turned Around, visit Grand Rapids’ Fountain Street Church’s sanctuary for a concert Sunday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m., with CHAI opening.
At the end of the busy tour schedule to end 2019 and begin 2020, bouncing from their Chicago home to the United Kingdom, and then from Miami to Montreal, the duo to could not have picked a more perfect place to end their current sojourn that the renown acoustic setting of Fountain Street.
The cover of Whitney’s late 2019 release Forever Turned Around.
Restlessness, in fact, is “at the heart of Whitney’s resonant and stunning sophomore album Forever Turned Around,” according to supplied material. “As Julien Ehrlich and Max Kakacek realized over the past three years, life can change drastically. Priorities shift, relationships evolve, home can become far away, and even when luck momentarily works out, there’s still that underlying search for something better.”
Following the success of their 2016 debut release, Light Upon The Lake, the pair have relied on their partnership as they hit the road for what, at times, seems like an endless tours across the world.
“Our friendship has kept us going even though so much has happened in the years since we started the band,” Ehrlich said in supplied material.
Whitney has long been a full-fledged band with keyboardist Malcolm Brown, rhythm guitarist Ziyad Asrar, guitarist Print Choteau, bassist Josiah Marshall, and trumpeter Will Miller backing them live.
But Ehrlich and Kakacek are the heart and soul of Whitney.
Julien Ehrlich and Max Kakacek, the heart and soul of Whitney, in support of their late 2019 release Forever Turned Around, will visit Grand Rapids’ Fountain Street Church’s sanctuary for a concert Sunday, Feb. 16. (Supplied/Olivia Bee)
Both in their mid-twenties, living through the usual life’s ups and downs, “they’ve found home through themselves, their romantic relationships, and their friends, (but) there’s an uneasiness that comes from stability — as evidenced by Ehrlich’s vocals on “Valleys (My Love)”: “There’s fire burning in the trees / Maybe life is the way it seems”.
In its 10 songs, Forever Turned Around allows Ehrlich and Kakacek to “skeptically yet masterfully navigate questions of mortality, doubt, love, and friendship in a grander scope than they’ve attempted before. It’s an album about partnership — romantic, familial and communal, but most importantly a love in friendship: the bonds between two best friends and creative partners and the joy and stress that comes with it.”
On “Used To Be Lonely”, Ehrlich sings: ‘Well it made no sense at all / Until you came along.”
Forever Turned Around came together over several sessions across the country and the world tour, with its earliest material written during tour dates in Lisbon, Portugal. Though Ehrlich is Whitney’s lead singing drummer while Kakacek is the lead guitarist, when writing, both transcend their roles to piece together each offering lyrically and compositionally, they state.
“The way it ends up working is one of us comes up with a basic idea for a song and the other person serves as the foil to complicate that idea. We ask, ‘What can we change to make it more interesting?’,” says Kakacek. “A big thing for us is our ability to take criticism. We’re always open to new ideas.”
After a session with producers Bradley Cook (Bon Iver, Hand Habits) and Jonathan Rado (Weyes Blood, Father John Misty) helped color in the arrangements, the album came together when they reunited with original rhythm guitarist Asrar in his basement Chicago studio — the same place where they hashed out much of Light Upon The Lake. With Asrar’s help, songs like “Song For Ty” and “Forever Turned Around” effortlessly came together. There, the band enlisted Chicago musicians Lia Kohl and OHMME’s Macie Stewart to provide strings throughout the record.
While you and I can make our own judgement on the band’s sound and soundness, the New York Times rather appropriately says of the music on Forever Turned Around: “In writing and arranging, they favor natural imagery and sun-dappled brass; their frontman, Julien Ehrlich, applies his weightless falsetto to musings on human connection, often sounding melancholy but never morose.”
But seeing them, hearing them, at Fountain Street Church will undoubtedly exceed all expectations.
Tickets are $30 ($35 at the door on the night of the concert). For more information on the show, produced in partnership with WYCE and The Pyramid Scheme, visit here.
The Wyoming High School Wolves boys basketball team, from an early season game. (Curtis Holt)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
Wyoming and Forest Hills Eastern high schools are friendly rivals, and one of the reasons is that Wolves athletic director Ted Hollern’s brother Tim is the assistant principal at Forest Hills Eastern.
And when Wyoming hosts its annual Coaches vs. Cancer Community Basketball night on Friday, Jan. 31, with the girls game first at 6 p.m, the night’s cancer awareness events and celebration of cancer survivors will also have a “Hollern” connection.
Set to be called the “Wolf Pack Howl for the Hollern Night”, one of the cancer survivors will be Tim Hollern.
“My brother Tim Hollern has colon cancer,” Ted Hollern said to WKTV. “So we are celebrating him along with all survivors.”
The community basketball night will have some great basketball played — the Wolves boys team (4-1 and 9-1 overall) will be fighting to stay with the leaders of the OK-Conference Gold as they host the Hawks (3-2 and 8-3) at 7:45 p.m. The girls game will have the Wolves (1-4 and 4-8) hosting the Hawks (1-4 and 2-10).
But there will be so much more than just basketball.
There will be an American Cancer Society table set up for information.
The members of the boys varsity squads will be autographing items during the first quarter of the girls game. And the girls team players will be autographing at the end of the girls game. And there will be “Howl for Hollern” t-shirts available for fund-raising, which will be perfect for autographs.
Game-time activities will include all elementary, intermediate and junior high principals, and their students, being honored at the halftime of the boys game. The Wolves Dance team, Pep Band and Honored Choir will also be honored.
There will also be a free raffle, souvenirs, free Wyoming Wolves water bottles, and other door prizes.
Finally, elementary, intermediate and junior high students will gain free entry to the game when accompanied by an adult.
Sports cars, along with SUVs and trucks, are expected to be the big draw at the 2020 Michigan International Auto Show , as they were last year in this photo. (Supplied)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
People attend the annual Michigan International Auto Show, running this week at the DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids, for many reasons, including to find their next new car or just to get a glimpse of the muscle car or luxury car they’ve always dreamed about.
Many people, however, go to see what’s next in automobile technology or innovation — from space-age rear-view camera systems, to self-driving and self-parking features that almost make the driver a passenger.
But when it comes to innovation and new technology, it could be argued that one must understand, and appreciate, the past to fully embrace the future.
And so it is only logical that the Gilmore Car Museum will be on-hand with a display called “The History of Station Wagons”, which showcases vehicles which may be out of vogue today but were often considered innovative if not technological marvels of their time.
The Gilmore Car Museum’s 1950 Skyline Deluxe Station Wagon at the Michigan International Auto Show. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“I always think it is very important for people to appreciate the new but also to look back and go ‘Mmmm? How did we get here?’,” Jay Follis, Gilmore Car Museum marketing director, said to WKTV on Jan. 29 at a media preview. “Today we have SUVs and crossovers. We do not think of station wagons. The auto industry has actually said ‘We are not going to produce sedans any more.’ So we decided we are going to bring station wagons to the auto show to tell people where we have been and how we got here.
The Gilmore Car Museum’s Jay Follis, marketing director. (WLTV/K.D. Norris)
“We’ve got a 1919, one of the first station wagons. It was nothing more than to pick you up at the train station. … all the way up to a muscle car that is actually a station wagon (and an Indy 500 pace car). … A lot of the cars we have on display here, and a lot more at the museum, have their own unique innovations.”
The presence of the Gilmore Care Museum is nothing new for the auto show, too.
“We come down to the car show every year, 15 years now,” Follis said. “Our mission is to evoke memories and tell great stories … We are only 50 miles south of Grand Rapids and we are North America’s largest auto museum. So this is a perfect place to introduce people to auto history and the car museum.”
The new cars on display by the Grand Rapids New Car Dealers Association will include spectrum of sedans, vans, hybrids and sports cars, but the field will be dominated by Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and trucks, the two biggest sellers, according to the association.
One of the Million Dollar Motorway cars on display at the 2020 Michigan International Auto Show. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Among the highlights of this year’s auto show is the latest in automotive technology by Gentex, a Michigan based company which develops and manufactures “custom high-tech electronic products for the automotive, aerospace, and commercial fire protection industries.” Also returning, and always worth drooling over, is the Million Dollar Motorway, featuring luxury brand cars this year valued at $4.5 million collectively.
And, as shown during the media preview, some of the new technologies — and all the luxury brand cars — are nothing short of amazing.
The 22nd Annual Michigan International Auto Show will open to the pubic Thursday, Jan. 30 and run through Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2 — 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday (to be over in time for the big game, of course).
Thursday, Jan. 30 is also a special First Responders Day, with free admission for active EMS, fire, police, public safety, U.S. Coast Guard and other active military and retired veterans who can show valid I.D., badge or other verification.
Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for children 6-14. Kids 5 and under are admitted free.
There is parking beneath DeVos Place, across the street and nearby but connected by the skywalk. Be aware, though, of “Hamilton: An American Musical” also playing at DeVos. For more information on parking and directions visit here. You can also take the complimentary trolley by parking in the Dash Lot Area 9 (on Seward Avenue) for $2 and hop aboard the Trolley which will be making runs on an 8-minute loop for an hour before the show opens to an hour after the show closes each day.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV has your weekly high school sports schedule, and our coverage crew will be out twice the week. The Featured Game coverage schedule for the last week of January includes the following:
Tuesday, Jan. 28 — Girls/Boys Basketball Grand River Prep at Zion Christian
Friday, Jan. 31 — Girls/Boys Basketball Caledonia at East Kentwood
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! We are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Where and when to see the game
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Jan. 27 Boys/Girls Bowling @ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian FH Eastern@ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville Christian @ South Christian
Tuesday, Jan. 28 Girls Basketball
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian Wyoming @ Middleville T-K NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee Western Michigan Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian Kelloggsville @ Tri-County South Christian @ FH Eastern Galesburg-Augusta @ Potter’s House Grand River Prep @ Zion Christian – WKTV Featured Event West Michigan Aviation @ Fruitport Calvary Christian Boys Basketball Grand Haven @ East Kentwood Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ Middleville T-K Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Kelloggsville FH Eastern @ South Christian Grand River Prep @ Zion Christian – WKTV Featured Event Lansing Martin Luther @ West Michigan Lutheran West Michigan Aviation @ Fruitport Calvary Christian Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville Boys Wrestling Kelloggsville @ Kent City Girls Cheer Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Wednesday, Jan. 29 Boys/Girls Bowling Caledonia @ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville Wyoming @ Christian East Grand Rapids @ South Christian Boys Wrestling East Kentwood @ Caledonia Godwin Heights @ Shelby Wyoming @ Hamilton Wyoming Lee @ Lakeview Girls Cheer Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee Girls Basketball Grand River Prep @ Holland Black River
Thursday, Jan. 30 Boys Swimming/Diving @ East Kentwood South Christian @ Middleville T-K Boys Bowling Grand River Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian Girls Basketball Potter’s House @ Zion Christian Boys Basketball Potter’s House @ Zion Christian
Friday, Jan. 31 Boys Hockey East Kentwood @ Chelsea Girls Basketball Caledonia @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Event Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights FH Eastern @ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian South Christian @ Christian Creative Tech @ West Michigan Lutheran Boys Basketball Caledonia @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Event Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights FH Eastern @ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian South Christian @ Christian Fruitport Calvary Christian @ Potter’s House Creative Tech @ West Michigan Lutheran Holland Calvary @ West Michigan Aviation
Saturday, Feb. 1 Boys Hockey Anchor Bay vs East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation @ Chelsea South Christian vs Northville Girls Cheer Wyoming @ Kalamazoo Central Kelloggsville @ Northview East Kentwood @ Northview Boys Wrestling @ Kelloggsville – Rocket Individual Tourney East Kentwood @ Lakewood Boys/Girls Bowling Kelloggsville @ Muskegon Reeths-Puffer Girls Dance East Kentwood @ Jenison Boys Swimming East Kentwood @ Grandville Boys Basketball TBA @ East Kentwood
Monday, Feb. 3 Boys/Girls Bowling Calvin Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian – Boys NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee Hopkins @ Godwin Heights Byron Center @ South Christian Wyoming @ Middleville T-K Kelloggsville @ Hilcrest Lanes Grand Haven @ East Kentwood Girls Basketball Lansing Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) opens its exhibition, A New State of Matter: Contemporary Glass Saturday, Jan. 25. The exhibition is on view until April 26 and features the work of 19 artists working in glass including Grand Rapids artist Norwood Viviano. Go here for the story.
Fruition is Jay Cobb Anderson, Kellen Asebroek, Jeff Leonard, Mimi Naja and Tyler Thompson (drums). (Supplied by the band)
Coming to Fruition
Portland, Oregon’s roots/rock band Fruition will be in town Sunday, Jan. 26, as the band, with opener The Mighty Pines, visit Grand Rapids’ Pyramid Scheme, with doors open at 6 p.m. show. Tickets are still available. Go here for the story.
British installation artist Rebecca Louise Law working on a previous work. (Supplied by the artist)
But time is running short
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s amazing exhibit, “Rebecca Louise Law: The Womb” — a site-specific exhibition that includes about 10,000 flowers and plants gathered from the Gardens’ massive gardens and strung together in delicate wire strings by local volunteers and staff, and then added to Law’s existing collection of approximately 1 million flowers and plant material — will close March 1. Go here for the story.
Fun fact:
1,000 … and on and on
The biggest named number that we know is googolplex, ten to the googol power, or (10)^(10^100). That’s written as a one followed by googol zeroes.Source.
Fruition photographed in Lisbon, Portugal, in October 2019. Fruition is Jay Cobb Anderson, Kellen Asebroek, Jeff Leonard, Mimi Naja and Tyler Thompson (drums). (Supplied/Jay Blakesberg)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
Fruition, the seemingly always busy Portland, Oregon band traversing the country and making a local stop this weekend, is clearly also busy recording new material — including songs which showcase why they are selling out so many of their shows.
After releasing Wild As The Night in late 2019, the band this last week announced is new 7-song EP titled Broken at the Break of Day, recorded in between tour dates in Fruition drummer Tyler Thompson’s newly constructed home studio.
Songs from both releases will undoubtedly be on the set list Sunday, Jan. 26, as the band, with opener The Mighty Pines, visit Grand Rapids’ Pyramid Scheme, with doors open at 6 p.m. show. Tickets are still available, visit here for more information.
About the new release, the band says that, as with its other music, “this collection of songs won’t fit into one box.”
Broken At The Break Of Day’s lead single, “Dawn” is already climbing on the Billboard Americana Tracks chart as is the collection on the Americana Album chart. For a video of “Dawn” visit here.
Broken at the Break of Day shines a light on all five members of the band — Jay Cobb Anderson (electric guitar, vocals), Kellen Asebroek (piano, acoustic guitar vocals), Jeff Leonard (bass), Mimi Naja (mandolin, electric guitar, vocals) and Thompson (drums). But “the songwriting and the harmonies tie their diverse influences together,” the band says in promotional material.
“This process was the quickest the band had ever written and recorded the songs,” Thompson said in supplied material. “All the songs obviously fit either a ‘day’ or ‘night’ theme, but the whole rehearsing and recording process had to be done in about half the amount of time we were used to. That time limitation leant to us not overthinking things, playing instinctually — and all live — in the studio with very minimal overdubs. All the songs are very different, but I think the speedy process naturally created some sonic congruency.”
“From a visibility standpoint, being able to release more music more often — even if it is in smaller doses — is ideal in the new frontier of digital music that we have found ourselves smack dab in the middle of,” Asebroek said, also in supplied material. “It’s nice to be able to stay on people’s radar, in an age where people have instant access to the whole of music history at their fingertips. It’s also nice to put these out together on vinyl as a nod to the way things once were.”
The band’s history, so the supplied story goes, starts in 2008 when Anderson tagged along with Asebroek and Naja for an afternoon of busking in Portland. Drawing on their string-band influences early on, they released their debut album Hawthorne Hoedown that same year. Thompson joined the band in 2011, shortly after hearing the band members singing together in a friend’s attic. Leonard came on board in 2015.
Broken at the Break of Day is the band’s tenth release, including EPs and LPs.
Fruition has opened shows for the Wood Brothers, Greensky Bluegrass, and Jack Johnson, and appeared at festivals like Telluride Bluegrass, Bonnaroo, and DelFest.
Godwin Heights boys basketball (shown from a 2019 game) is on the WKTV Featured Game schedule this week . (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
After a tough season-opening stretch of tough non-conference games, the Godwin Heights High School boys basketball team has started its OK-conference Silver schedule with wins over Belding and Wyoming Lee and a tight road loss at Hopkins.
The Wolverines (3-6 overall, 2–1 in conference) will seek to continue its conference roll as the team hosts NorthPointe Christian (3-5, 1-1) Tuesday, Jan. 21, in a WKTV Sports Featured Game, which will be available on cable television and on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
So far this season, Godwin head coach Tyler Whittemore’s team has been led by seniors Cleveland (CJ) Baskin (6.5 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, 3 assists per game) and Milton Brown (5 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg). But the team’s leading scorers are both freshmen, Jakhary Towns (17 ppg, 2 rpg, 2 apg) and Demarie Thompson (8 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3 rpg).
“Baskin is a versatile player. He will handle the ball for us to initiate the offense, but is also good at slashing to the basket off the ball,” Whittemore said to WKTV. “He … is the only player with stats from last year. The other guys have very little to no varsity experience.”
Of his two freshman starters, Whittemore said Townes is an “explosive scorer from outside … (and) he is a very good shooter from the 3-point line.” While Thompson is “a tough and talented point guard. He has very good court-vision.”
Whittemore praised his other senior starter, Brown, as a “very tough player. He is a smart player that will help everyone around him be more efficient. He can guard multiple positions and will end up on the opposing team’s best player down the stretch.”
And the team other usual starter, junior Martine Bickety (3 ppg, 3rpg) is the “toughest defender we have,” his coach said.
First off the Godwin bench are junior Jamontae Burrell (4 ppg) and sophomore Jordan Norman (4.5 ppg), while junior Ru’Quan Buckley will return from injury in the Tuesday game.
Other players on the team (according to the team’s school webpage) include senior Sa’Viance Morris-Miller and juniors Jacob Horrell, Kyeshaun Hunnicutt and Jadyn Rodriguez.
Last season, the Wolverines were 15-6 overall and won the OK Silver with a 12-0 mark before falling to Grand Rapids South Christian in an opening round playoff game.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV has your weekly high school sports schedule, and our coverage crew will be out twice the week. The Featured Game coverage schedule for January includes the following:
Tuesday, Jan. 21 — Boys Basketball NorthPointe Christian at Godwin Heights
Friday, Jan. 24 — Boys Basketball Zion Christian at Tri-Unity Christian
Tuesday, Jan. 28 — Girls/Boys Basketball Grand River Prep at Zion Christian
Friday, Jan. 31 — Girls/Boys Basketball Caledonia at East Kentwood
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! We are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Where and when to see the game
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, January 20 Boys/Girls Bowling Hudsonville @ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee Tri-Unity Christian @ Muskegon Orchard View Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville South Christian @ Wayland
Tuesday, Jan. 21 Girls Basketball Rockford @ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee Kelloggsville @ Belding South Christian @ Middleville T-K Zion Christian @ Holland Black River Boys Basketball East Kentwood @ Rockford NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights – WKTV Featured Event Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins Tri-Unity Christian @ Martin Belding @ Kelloggsville Middleville T-K @ South Christian Potter’s House @ Holland Calvary West Michigan Lutheran @ Barry County Christian Zion Christian @ Holland Black River Boys/Girls Bowling Wyoming @ Byron Center Boys Swimming South Christian @ Christian
Wednesday, Jan. 22 Boys/Girls Bowling East Kentwood @ Rockford Potter’s House @ Godwin Heights Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee Wyoming @ Wayland NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville Middleville T-K @ South Christian Girls Cheer East Kentwood @ Grandville Wyoming @ Hamilton Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian Boys Wrestling West Ottawa @ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ Muskegon Orchard View Kelloggsville @ Muskegon Orchard View Wyoming @ Christian Belding @ Wyoming Lee Boys Hockey East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation @ Lowell/Caledonia
Thursday, Jan. 23 Boys Swimming/Diving East Kentwood @ Hudsonville South Christian @ Muskegon Mona Shores Boys Bowling Potter’s House @ Tri-Unity Christian Girls Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Zion Christian Boys Basketball Barry County Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Friday, Jan. 24 Boys Hockey East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation – OK Red Tourney @ Georgetown Pauda @ South Christian Girls Basketball East Grand Rapids @ Wyoming Belding @ Wyoming Lee Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville Wayland @ South Christian Potter’s House @ Holland Black River WMAES @ West Michigan Lutheran West Michigan Aviation @ Algoma Christian Boys Basketball East Grand Rapids @ Wyoming Belding @ Wyoming Lee Zion Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian – WKTV Featured Event Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville Wayland @ South Christian Potter’s House @ Holland Black River WMAES @ West Michigan Lutheran
Saturday, Jan. 25 Boys Hockey East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation – OK Red Tourney @ Georgetown Walsh Jesuit @ South Christian Girls Cheer East Kentwood @ Rockford Wyoming @ Hamilton Kelloggsville @ Hamilton Boys/Girls Bowling East Kentwood @ Rockford Wyoming @ Rockford South Christian @ Rockford Boys Wrestling Godwin Heights @ Northview Kelloggsville @ Northview Wyoming @ Montague Wyoming Lee @ Reed City
Monday, Jan. 27 Boys/Girls Bowling @ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian FH Eastern@ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville Christian @ South Christian
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center artists visiting for the concert will be pianist and co-artistic director Wu Han, violinist Paul Huang, violist Matthew Lipman, and cellist Clive Greensmith. (Supplied)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The classic French music of Saint-Saëns, Fauré and Ravel. The masterful musicians of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The exquisite acoustics of the Royce Auditorium Performance Hall.
Sounds like a perfect night of “French Enchantment”.
St. Cecilia Music Center’s second chamber music series concert if the season, set for Thursday, Jan. 23, will begin and end with early works by Saint-Saëns and Fauré that “recreate the elegant atmosphere of 19-century Parisian salons,” according to supplied material. In between will be Ravel’s Sonata for Violin and Cello, “written soon after World War I, where he used just two string instruments to produce a composition of unique, austere beauty.”
Lipman Matthew (Supplied/Jiyang Chen)
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center artists visiting for the concert will be pianist and co-artistic director Wu Han, violinist Paul Huang, violist Matthew Lipman, and cellist Clive Greensmith.
“We are truly excited about this unique concert, ‘French Enchantment’, with the Chamber Music Society, as they communicate, through music, the beauty of French history and culture,” St Cecilia executive director Cathy Holbrook said in supplied material. “The audience will experience four amazing artists performing French music within our intimate world-class Royce Auditorium Performance Hall.”
“French Enchantment” selections will include: Trio No. 1 in F major for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 18 (written 1863-1864) and composed by Camille Saint-Saëns; Sonata for Violin and Cello (written 1920-1922) and composed by Maurice Ravel; and Quartet No. 1 in C minor for Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello, Op. 15 (written 1876-1879; Revised in 1883) and composed by Gabriel Fauré.
Ravel’s work, The Sonata for Violin and Cello, remains one of the most challenging, enigmatic, least-known, and fascinating of Ravel’s compositions.
“I believe that the sonata marks a turning point in my career,” Ravel said of the work. “Bareness is here driven to the extreme: restraint from harmonic charm; more and more emphatic reversion to the spirit of melody.”
The final Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center concert of the season will take place on April 30, with Wu Han and cellist David Finckel both returning to Grand Rapids to perform with violinist Arnaud Sussman and violist Paul Neubauer on a program titled “From Prague to Vienna” and featuring three composers who mentored and inspired each other: Brahms, Dvořák and Suk.
Tickets for the Jan. 23 chamber music concert are $45 and $40 and can be purchased by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224 or visiting the box office at 24 Ransom Ave. NE. Tickets can also be purchased online at scmc-online.org. Ticket-holders are invited to a pre-concert artist talk at 7 p.m. prior to the 7:30 p.m. concert.
A post-concert “Meet-the-artist” party, with complimentary wine will also be offered to all ticket-holders giving the audience the opportunity to meet the artists in person and to obtain signed CDs of their releases.
Some of the runners at a previous Kentwood Valentine’s Dash 5K. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The City of Kentwood will host its third annual Valentine’s Dash 5K on Saturday, Feb. 8, to benefit Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry, which provides food and personal care items to community members in need, no questions asked.
The city announced today that the 5K run/walk will start and end at the Kent District Library’s Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, located at 4950 Breton Ave. SE. Check-in, on-site registration and packet pick-up will all take place at 9:30 a.m. The race will begin at 11 a.m.
The 5K route will include a combination of trails and roads with mile markers and Valentine’s Day candy stations. Valentine’s-themed costumes are encouraged for the occasion. Fellow participants will vote to determine who is the “best dressed” and awards will also be presented to the fastest runners. While the 5K is intended to be a fun run, it will be chip-timed.
Following the race, participates will be invited into the library’s community room for a party that will include music, snacks, a photo booth, the award ceremony and more.
“We’ve found this race route to be enjoyable for everyone from avid race participants to casual walkers,” Spencer McKellar, race organizer, said in supplied material. “Whether this is your first race or one of many you’ve completed, we think you’ll find our Valentine’s Dash 5K offers enough of a challenge and a lot of fun for a brisk Saturday morning.
“Invite your sweetie, family and friends to dress up and take on the course with you, then stick around for more activities at the after-party.”
Online registration costs $30 until Feb. 7, after which the price will increase to $35 for day-of registration. Participant packets include a long-sleeve shirt “and other goodies.” Runners who sign up as a couple will save $5 each.
If participants bring a non-perishable item or additional monetary donation for the pantry, they will be entered to win a special door prize.
The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department is seeking volunteers to assist with the event. Those interested can sign up online.
“Signs, Signs, Everywhere there’s signs. Blocking out the scenery. Breaking my mind. Do this! Don’t do that! Can’t you read the signs?”
Five Man Electrical Band
Can you see this scene from “Rocky” and not hear the music in your head? Didn’t think so. (Promotional)
Fun music on a cold night
Stop and think about one of your favorite movies – it won’t be long before you start humming a few bars from the musical score. That’s the power of music in movies. Grand Rapids Pops says a big “Hooray for Hollywood” with Hollywood Hits with music from blockbuster films as Gone with the Wind, Ben Hur, Dr. Zhivago, The Way We Were and Rocky on Friday Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 17-19, in DeVos Performance Hall. Go here for the story.
No longer a death sentence
Currently, thanks to better screening and treatment, more than 17 million Americans who had cancer remain alive, the American Cancer Society says in a report. While this is good news, more good news may be coming. Go here for the story.
WKTV Journal In Focus’s audio only podcast of a Community Conversation on Homelessness featured Kentwood City Commissioner and community advocate Emily Bridson moderating along with Marshall Kilgore and, from left, panelists Hillary Scholten and Bo Torres. (WKTV)
Local immigration discussion
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal’s In Focus series of podcasts, immigration is the topic of speakers including City of Kentwood Commissioner Emily Bridson; Marshall Kilgore, Western Michigan Director for United Precinct Delegates; Hillary Scholten, candidate for the U.S. 3rd Congressional District; and Bo Torres, a Hispanic community leader. Go here for the story.
Fun fact:
7 percent and 1-in-12
Nearly 7 percent of Michigan residents are immigrants, while almost 1 in 12 residents is a native-born U.S. citizen with at least one immigrant parent. Source.
The 2019-20 East Kentwood High School boys basketball team. (Supplied/East Kentwood)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
So far this season, after five non-conference games and their OK-Conference Red opener earlier this week, the East Kentwood boys basketball team has had some success and some struggles executing coach Jeff Anama plan to have a team featuring fast-paced offense and defense.
The Falcons have two players scoring in double figures, several seniors playing key rolls, but have a modest early-season 2-4 record (0-1 in conference) as the team hosts Hudsonville (7-0, 2-0) Friday, Jan. 17, as part of a doubleheader of WKTV Sports Featured Games which will be available on cable television and, later, on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
“The kind of offense and defense we run, I think, is … transition, trying to push the ball quickly, look for opportunities to get easy baskets,” Anama said to WKTV in December as the team prepared for its first game. The team wants “to try to create pressure and turnovers an easier baskets with our defensive transition and defensive pressure.”
We need to “be able to push the ball from one end to the other and create opportunities for the depth that I think we have on this year’s team,” he said. “And with the defensive pressure to make the tempo uncomfortable for the team we are playing.”
Anama’s fast-paced philosophy has shown it sometimes takes a few games to click. Last season, the Falcons started 3-3, but ended up 16-10 overall and won five playoff games before falling to Okemos in the state Division 1 Quarterfinals.
This season’s Falcons, through six games, are led in scoring by seniors Ja’moni Jones (14 points per game) and Jordan Jackson (11.2 PPG), with three players averaging about six points per game: senior JaShon Large, junior Tyane Barnes and super freshman Jy’Air Harris. Jackson and Harris also lead the team in rebounds per game with just over four, while Jones is averaging just under four rebounds and leading the team in assists with about 3 per game.
The usual (and tentative Friday) starters are Jones, Jackson, Large, Harris and senior Urim Sahitolli.
Other players on the team (according to the team’s school webpage) include seniors Sean-Anthony Diggs, Deivi Martinez Abreu, Frey Nickson and Adonis Vashon; juniors Christopher Brown, Eric Cohill, Joshua Mayhue, Kellen Roelofs and Kalil Stimage.
“I would say our team is a team that loves to play basketball and they love to be together,” Anama said.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
At the Jan. 13 Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum at Wyoming City Hall were chamber member and moderator Kathy Bates, chamber president Bob O’Callaghan, Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley and Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
Local governmental leaders — from the mayors of Wyoming and Kentwood, to a county commissioner and state legislators, to representatives of federal officials — looked ahead to 2020 as part of a wide-ranging inter-governmental leaders meeting Monday, Jan. 13. at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum at Wyoming City Hall.
The meeting, as always, was hosted by chamber member and moderator Kathy Batey and chamber president Bob O’Callaghan. The intergovernmental discussion hosted by the chamber focuses on issues that effect residents and businesses in the two cities.
The Government Matters meeting brings together representatives from the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, Kent County commissioners, local Michigan state senators and representatives, as well as often representatives of Michigan’s U.S. senators and U.S. congressman who represent the Wyoming and Kentwood area.
At the January meeting, Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley and Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll represented their cities. Kent County Commissioner Monica Sparks was also present. State leaders included Sen. Peter MacGregor and Reps. Tommy Brann and Steven Johnson.
On the federal level, the panel included Brian Patrick, communications director for federal Rep. Bill Huizenga (Michigan Congressional District 2), and Peter Dickow, West Michigan Regional Director for U.S. Sen. Gary Peters.
The next meeting will be Feb. 10, from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., at Wyoming City Hall.
For more information about the chamber and Government Matters visit southkent.org.
The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the latest meeting on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., as well as on select Saturdays, on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26. For a highlight schedule of WKTV cable programs visit wktvjournal.org.
The Wyoming High School Wolves boys basketball team, from an early season game, will be a WKTV Featured Game this week. (Curtis Holt)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV has your weekly high school sports schedule, and our coverage crew will be out twice the week. The Featured Game coverage schedule for January includes the following:
Tuesday, Jan. 14 — Girls/Boys Basketball Wayland at Wyoming
Friday, Jan. 17 — Girls/Boys Basketball Hudsonville at East Kentwood
Tuesday, Jan. 21 — Boys Basketball NorthPointe Christian at Godwin Heights
Friday, Jan. 24 — Boys Basketball Zion Christian at Tri-Unity Christian
Tuesday, Jan. 28 — Girls/Boys Basketball Grand River Prep at Zion Christian
Friday, Jan. 31 — Girls/Boys Basketball Caledonia at East Kentwood
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! We are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Where and when to see the game
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Jan. 13 Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Belding Wyoming @ Zeeland East Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Sparta – Boys Hopkins @ Kelloggsville South Christian @ Unity Christian
Tuesday, Jan. 14 Girls Cheer @ East Kentwood Girls Basketball West Ottawa @ East Kentwood Belding @ Godwin Heights Wayland @ Wyoming – WKTV Featured Event Muskegon Orchard View @ Tri-Unity Christian NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville South Christian @ East Grand Rapids Potter’s House @ Martin Muskegon Catholic Central @ Grand River Prep West Michigan Lutheran @ GR Homeschoolers Hudsonville Libertas Christian @ West Michigan Aviation Boys Basketball East Kentwood @ West Ottawa Godwin Heights @ Belding Wayland @ Wyoming – WKTV Featured Event Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian East Grand Rapids @ South Christian Martin @ Potter’s House
Wednesday, Jan. 15 Boys Wrestling Hudsonville @ East Kentwood Montague @ Godwin Heights Middleville T-K @ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ Muskegon Catholic Central Kelloggsville @ Muskegon Catholic Central Boys/Girls Bowling NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights East Grand Rapids @ Wyoming Belding @ Wyoming Lee FH Eastern @ South Christian Girls Cheer Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville Boys Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Lansing Christian Girls Basketball WMAES @ West Michigan Aviation
Thursday, Jan. 16 Boys Swimming/Diving West Ottawa @ East Kentwood Boys Bowling Tri-Unity Christian @ Wellsprings Prep
Friday, Jan. 17 Girls Basketball Hudsonville @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Event Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Fruitport Calvary Hopkins @ Kelloggsville South Christian @ Unity Christian Holland Black River @ Grand River Prep West Michigan Lutheran @ Algoma Christian West Michigan Aviation @ West Catholic Boys Basketball Hudsonville @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Event Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Fruitport Calvary Hopkins @ Kelloggsville South Christian @ Unity Christian Holland Black River @ Grand River Prep West Michigan Lutheran @ Algoma Christian Zion Christian @ Holland Calvary West Michigan Aviation @ West Catholic Boys Hockey South Christian @ West Ottawa
Saturday, Jan. 18 Boys Wrestling East Kentwood @ Holt Godwin Heights @ FH Central Wyoming @ Jenison Kelloggsville @ Christian Boys Swimming/Diving East Kentwood@ Kalamazoo Loy Norrix Boys Hockey Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard @ East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation South Christian @ Rockford
Monday, January 20 Boys/Girls Bowling Hudsonville @ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee Tri-Unity Christian @ Muskegon Orchard View Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville South Christian @ Wayland
Tulip Time Festival’s many art forms are now featured in one fabulous celebration.
Photo supplied
Creativity abounds at First Bloem, and you can be among the first to see it all at this prestigious cultural event on Thursday, Feb. 6, beginning at 6pm at the Holland Civic Place, 150 W 8th St, Holland, MI 49423 .
A preview of Tulip Time’s new Visual Arts Series, the First Bloem reception will unveil the winning 2020 poster from the 10th Annual Festival Artwork competition, this year’s winning Klompen Garden pick, a sneak peek into the new Dutch Dance Exhibit, and the 2020 Raffle Quilt. Guests will also find opportunities to support Tulip Time, its Join the Dance Fund, and other local organizations.
10th Annual Festival Artwork Poster Competition
Meet the Top 20 artists and share in the excitement as the winner is announced during the event. Like what you see? Guests may purchase any of the original Top 20 pieces at this event.
Public Art Project: Klompen Garden
See the top Juror pick for the 2020 Klompen Garden Public Art Project and be among the first to know which pair takes the top prize. All 20 pairs will be available for purchase – perfect for decorating your home and garden!
Dutch Dance Costume Exhibit
Enjoy a preview of the handmade costumes to be featured in the new Dutch Dance Costume Exhibit premiering in 2020 as we celebrate 50 years of Alumni Dutch Dance. Guests will have the opportunity to support the Join the Dance fund, removing barriers to participate in Dutch Dance by providing costumes for local high school students.
Quilt Show – Celebrating 20 Years
Take in the amazing pieces from the 2019 Quilt Show and witness the unveiling of the 2020 Raffle Quilt, with raffle proceeds benefiting two very special organizations – Living Threads Ministry and Love Sews Ministry.
2019 Quilt Show (photo supplied)
The fun, exciting evening will be filled with creative splendor, special announcements, wine grabs, raffles, cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres. Tickets for First Bloem are $70/person ($130/couple) and can be purchased online at www.tuliptime.com/events/first-bloem, in person at the Tulip Time Festival Box Office located at 42 West 8th Street, Holland, Michigan, or by phone at 800-822-2270.
Holland Tulip Time Festival Inc operates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization. Your contribution and participation in this event will help further our mission of celebrating tulips, Dutch heritage, and our community today.
About the Visual Arts Series
The Visual Arts Series is a creative collection of various art forms presented in cooperation with the Holland Area Arts Council from May 2 through 10. The Series comprises the Festival Artwork Exhibit, the Public Art Project winning Klompen, the Quilt Show and the premier of the new Dutch Dance Exhibit.
If you are into binge watching the latest “hot” television show — say the award season darling “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, or the much anticipated “Picard” — but still want to dig little deeper into the show, Fountain Street Church as an monthly series for you.
Fountain Street Church’s “FSC Screen Club” will continue its 2019/2020 Season, a series hosted at the Micro Cinema at Wealthy Theatre and in partnership with Grand Rapids Community Media Center, with a discussion of Ms. Maisel and her adventures on Monday, Jan. 13.
The FSC Screen Club meets one Monday each month, with the free to the public event starting at 6 p.m. Registration is encouraged, but not required, and can be done here.
Fountain Street Church’s Virginia Anzengruber hosts a panel discussion led by Wealthy Theatre director Sarah Nawrocki and, according to supplied information, features “regional influencers and film & television experts to dissect, analyze, and discuss some of today’s most thought-provoking TV shows.”
“Participants watch the shows at their own pace, on their own schedules. It’s like a book club that you can binge watch.”
The January event will focus on the Emmy Award-winning Amazon Prime series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, created by Amy Sherman-Palladino (“Gilmore Girls”), starring Rachel Brosnahan (“House of Cards”), Tony Shalhoub (“Monk”), and Alex Borstein (“Family Guy”).
“In 1958 New York, Midge Maisel’s life is on track — husband, kids, and elegant Yom Kippur dinners in their Upper West Side apartment,” as it is described in a media release. “But when her life takes a surprise turn, she has to quickly decide what else she’s good at — and going from housewife to stand-up comic is a wild choice to everyone but her.”
Star Trek Picard (promotional poster)
The remainder of the FCS Screen Club 2019/2020 season includes discussions as follows: Feb. 10, “The Good Place” (NBC); March 9, “Kidding” (Showtime); April 27, “Picard” (CBS All Access); and May 11, “What We Do In The Shadows” (FX).
All of which give you plenty of time to binge watch and catch up.
Fountain Street Church, located in downtown Grand Rapids, is an independent, pluralist church with a 150-year history of progressive action. for more information visit here.
Bello Spark a tight, often stripped down band that focus on vocals — as their bandstand often reveals. (Supplied by the band)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
Scouring the web for info on Grand Rapids’ own Bello Spark, you run across a bit on their Facebook page that states the band “uses a blend of male and female vocals, acoustic guitars and atmospheric electric guitars creating a light rock/Americana sound. Think Death Cab for Cutie meets The Civil Wars.”
They had me at Death Cab.
The band will lead off the City of Kentwood’s 2020 Winter Concert Series of three free concerts on select Thursday nights once a month from January to March at the Kent District Library’s Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch. WKTV Community Media will also record the concerts and will make them available on-demand.
Belo Spark (Supplied by the band)
Bello Spark’s band members include Rob Jordan on vocals and guitar, Tory Peterson on lead guitar and vocals, singer/songwriter Cole Hansen and drummer Jay Kolk.
According to their official bio, the group came together in 2011 with founders Jordan and Peterson, who toured as a two person group “across the Midwest, and out to the Great Plains, all the while honing their craft.” Together they released the band’s debut album, 2013’s self-titled recording.
After returning to their home state of Michigan, the two joined forces with Hansen and Kolk, and “the resulting sound has been a visceral mix of atmospheric guitar, three-part vocal harmonies, and lyrics that are both uplifting and poignant. Listeners will find the light rock, urban sound laced with the honesty of folk, and the grit and emotion of the blues.”
The band released their sophomore album, Among the Lights in July of 2016, and they are reportedly working on new music for a new release.
The band’s local awards include being an ArtPrize 2016 Song Competition Finalist and a WYCE radio’s 2014 Jammie Award Winner for Listener’s Choice: Best Album by a New Artist.
The series will feature Serita’s Black Rose and Nicholas James Thomasma in upcoming concerts. Food trucks will also be on-site during each concert. Bello Spark will be paired with Patty Matters Food Truck; Serita’s Black Rose, with food truck Grilled Greek, will be Feb. 20; Nicholas James Thomasma, with food from Bobby’s Fusion Grill, March 19.
All concerts will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. Concertgoers are welcome to bring their own beer or wine to enjoy.
A scene from Emily Bridson’s Community Conversation on Homelessness (and WKTV podcast) at Broad Leaf Local Beer in Kentwood in late 2019. (Supplied)
WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
A part of her continuing community conversations, City of Kentwood Commissioner Emily Bridson will co-host a Community Conversation on Immigration, focused on America’s immigration policies, on Thursday, Jan. 9, from 5:30-7 p.m., at Broad Leaf Local Beer.
“The New Year promises to be a polarizing time in our country’s history and we need to find a way to work together,” Bridson said about the planned event. “Let’s gather for a candid community dialogue on immigration. We will discuss licenses for all, detainment, and health care, to name a few.”
The panel will include Hillary Scholten, Democratic candidate for Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District, and Bo Torres, local Hispanic community leader.
The event will be moderated by Bridson and Marshall Kilgore, Western Michigan Director for United Precinct Delegates.
“As I research and learn more about immigration issues, I was fortunate to be invited to attend a large meeting last month where local organizations that serve immigrants gathered to create a plan to ensure that President Trump’s Executive Order 13888 (EO), which focuses on refugee resettlement in our communities, would be addressed by his established deadlines,” Bridson said.
On Dec. 17, 2019, the Kentwood City Commission voted to allow further resettlement in our city.
“It was a night of heartfelt personal stories where community members shared their memories of making Kentwood their home,” Bridson said. “We know Kentwood is a special place and it is because we embrace cultures and people from around the world in all of our neighborhoods.”
Bridson pointed out that in a recent study, the economic impact of foreign-born residents of Kent County contributed nearly $3.3 billion to the county’s GDP.
“The numbers speak for themselves on the continued positive impact immigrants have in our community,” she said.
“Our first community conversation was focused on discussing solutions to address homelessness,” Bridson said. Kilgore and Bridson “had over 50 interested community members join us. Bringing our community together to find solutions to pressing issues has been the driving force behind our efforts.”
Tri-unity boys basketball is one of the many local sports teams WKTV’s Featured Game coverage team will be covering this season. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
By Mike Moll sports@wktv.org
The holidays are in the rear-view mirror as the calendar has turned over to 2020, and January is jam-packed with high school sports most every night of the month as the winter season goes into full force.
Be sure to get out and show your support for your local school and its student-athletes in person, but then watch the replay on WKTV or watch on-line at any time within a few days of the event.
WKTV has your weekly high school sports schedule, and our coverage crew will be out twice the week. The Featured Game coverage schedule for January includes the following:
Friday, Jan. 3 — Boys Hockey Portage Northern at East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation
Tuesday, Jan. 7 — Girls Basketball Tri-Unity Christian at Godwin Heights
Friday, Jan. 10 — Girls/Boys Basketball Kelloggsville at Wyoming Lee
Tuesday, Jan. 14 — Girls/Boys Basketball Wayland at Wyoming
Friday, Jan. 17 — Girls/Boys Basketball Hudsonville at East Kentwood
Tuesday, Jan. 21 — Boys Basketball NorthPointe Christian at Godwin Heights
Friday, Jan. 24 — Boys Basketball Zion Christian at Tri-Unity Christian
Tuesday, Jan. 28 — Girls/Boys Basketball Grand River Prep at Zion Christian
Friday, Jan. 31 — Girls/Boys Basketball Caledonia at East Kentwood
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! We are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Where and when to see the game
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Jan 6 Boys/Girls Bowling Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ South Christian Potter’s House @ Wyoming Lee
Tuesday, Jan. 7 Girls Basketball Northview @ East Kentwood Tri-Unity Christian @ Godwin Heights – WKTV Featured Event Wyoming @ Rockford Wyoming Lee @ Holton Kelloggsville @ Wayland Potter’s House @ Ravenna Kent City @ Grand River Prep West Michigan Lutheran @ Hudsonville Home Schoolers Holland Black River @ Zion Christian West Michigan Aviation @ Martin Boys Basketball Wyoming @ Rockford Holton @ Wyoming Lee South Christian @ Byron Center Potter’s House @ Kenowa Hills Kent City @ Grand River Prep West Michigan Lutheran @ Lansing Martin Luther Holland Black River @ Zion Christian West Michigan Aviation @ Martin
Wednesday, Jan. 8 Girls Cheer East Kentwood @ West Ottawa Wyoming @ Zeeland West Wyoming Lee @ Belding Kelloggsville @ Belding Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Hopkins Unity Christian @ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Calvin Christian South Christian @ Zeeland East Boys Wrestling Belding @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ Hamilton Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins Kelloggsville @ Ravenna Boys Hockey Rockford @ South Christian Girls Basketball West Michigan Aviation @ Wellsprings Prep Boys Basketball West Michigan Aviation @ Wellsprings Prep
Thursday, Jan. 9 Boys Swimming South Christian @ Union Boys/Girls Bowling Potter’s House @ Muskegon Orchard View Girls Basketball West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES Boys Basketball West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES
Friday, Jan. 10 Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights Ottawa Hills Girls Basketball Godwin Heights @ Hopkins South Christian @ Wyoming Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee – WKTV Featured Event Covenant Christian @ Potter’s House Hudsonville Libertas Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran Fruitport Calvary @ Zion Christian Boys Basketball Godwin Heights @ Hopkins South Christian @ Wyoming Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee – WKTV Featured Event Bridgman @ Tri-Unity Christian Covenant Christian @ Potter’s House Hudsonville Libertas Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran Fruitport Calvary @ Zion Christian
Saturday January 11, 2020 Girls Dance East Kentwood @ Kenowa Hills Boys Wrestling East Kentwood @ West Catholic – Dunneback Invite Kelloggsville @ Fruitport Wyoming @ West Catholic Boys Swimming/Diving East Kentwood @ East Grand Rapids South Christian @ East Grand Rapids Boys Hockey East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation @ FH Central Rochester @ South Christian Girls Cheer FH Eastern @ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ Allendale Kelloggsville @ Allendale
Monday, Jan. 13 Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Belding Wyoming @ Zeeland East Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Sparta – Boys Hopkins @ Kelloggsville South Christian @ Unity Christian
You may be familiar with the census—it happens every 10 years, after all—yet there are often a number of misconceptions about how it works and why it is done.
The U.S. Census Bureau is set to conduct the next census in 2020, and if you are a Michigan resident, it is important that you are counted! The census count determines the share of billions of dollars in federal funding that Michigan receives each year, and your being counted helps communities create jobs, provide housing, fund K-12 education, prepare for emergencies, support programs for older adults; and build schools, roads, hospitals, and libraries.
There are changes being made in how the count will be managed this time around, which may make it more difficult and confusing for older adults and lead to opportunities for scammers to take advantage of seniors. We want you to be prepared and confident when filling out your census information; therefore, here are a few quick things you need to know.
How it works:
Each home will receive a request to respond to a short questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail in mid-March. This mailing will include a unique Census ID code for your residence. This year will mark the first time that you will be able to respond to the census online, and you also have the option of responding by phone.
A reminder postcard and letter will be sent before a census worker will come to your home to try to fill out the census. They will wear an official Census worker badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and expiration date. Be aware, census workers will never ask for a Social Security Number or banking information. Census forms are filled out by household. Everyone living at the address matters and everyone needs to be counted, including children.
Funding:
As mentioned, federal funding is determined through the census. The distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds, grants, and support to states, counties, and communities is based on this census data. For each person that is not counted properly in Michigan, the state will lose approximately $1,800 in state and federal funds per person each year for the next ten years. You matter!
How you fit in:
Courtesy Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan
Of course, we want everyone counted and that means YOU. Be ready for the census information to come out in mid-March, and if you happen to travel to a different state in the winter months but spend more than six months each year in Michigan, then you should still respond as a Michigan resident. You can use the unique Census ID code sent to your Michigan address to respond online or by phone, or you can wait to respond until you get home.
It is also important to note that the census is completely confidential, and your responses to the census are safe and secure. Under Title 13 of the U.S. Code, the Census Bureau cannot release any identifiable information about individuals, households, or businesses, even to law enforcement agencies. The Census Bureau can only use your answers to produce data and statistics.
Be sure to fill out the census this coming spring! You can learn more about the census at https://mivoicecounts.org/ or by calling (517) 492-2400.
Benny Golson, 90 years young, is a world-renowned composer, arranger, lyricist, producer and, arguably, one of the best alto saxophonists ever to blow his horn. (Supplied)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
The jazz world’s “Old School” will meet “Next Gen” later this month in Grand Rapids as St. Cecilia Music Center’s 2019-20 Jazz Series returns with Emmet Cohen’s Master Legacy Series featuring Benny Golson on Jan. 16.
Cohen, a master jazz pianist at the young age of 28, is “on mission to celebrate the last remaining legendary jazz artists,” according to supplied material, with his Masters Legacy Series, a “celebratory set of recordings, interviews and live performances honoring legendary jazz musicians.”
Emmet Cohen. (Supplied/John Abbott)
Golson, 90 years young, is a world-renowned composer, arranger, lyricist, producer and, arguably, one of the best alto saxophonists ever to blow his horn.
“We are very excited to bring the Emmet Cohen Trio with Benny Golson together at St. Cecilia Music Center to celebrate an evening of jazz at its finest,” Cathy Holbrook, St. Cecilia executive director said in supplied material. “Emmet Cohen has hit the mark with his superb understanding of what jazz is all about and by bringing the legendary jazz master Benny Golson on tour, the blending of creative talent will be electrifying.”
Emmet Cohen, left, with Ron Carter, center, recorded and toured on pervious Master Legacy Series collaboration. (Supplied)
In describing his reasons for establishing Master Legacy Jazz series, Cohen says that playing jazz “is enriched immeasurably by connecting and studying with jazz masters, forging backward to the very creation of the art form.”
The Masters Legacy Series, according to supplied material, is a celebratory set of recordings and interviews honoring legendary jazz musicians, which Cohen serves as both producer and pianist for each album in the series. Volume one of the “Masters Legacy Series” features drummer Jimmy Cobb and volume two spotlights bassist Ron Carter. With Cohen’s work with Golson in work, future Masters Legacy Series efforts are also planned to include work with Tootie Heath and George Coleman.
The goal of the project is to “provide musicians of multiple generations a forum to transfer the unwritten folklore that is America’s unique musical idiom,” according to supply material.
Golson, for one, certainly qualifies as a “master” of the jazz music art form.
He has recorded more than 30 albums under his own name, and innumerable ones with other major artists. A prolific teacher at several musical conservatories and universities, he is also a prodigious musical writer, with more than 300 compositions penned.
Golson’s resume includes working with the legendary masters of old — Count Basie, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie, just to name drop just a few.
Cohen, while 60 years junior to Golson, is no novice on the jazz piano himself.
He began Suzuki method piano instruction at age three, according to supplied material. While active in many musical and creative areas, Cohen says jazz is his first love — saying that playing jazz is “about communicating the deepest levels of humanity and individuality; it’s essentially about connections,” both among musicians and with audiences. He currently leads his namesake ensemble, the “Emmet Cohen Trio”, which will accompany Golson at the St. Cecilia concert.
The remaining St. Cecilia Jazz Series concerts remaining for the 2019-20 season include, on March 5, jazz vocalist Luciana Souza — of which Billboard Magazine described as “a uniquely talented vocalist who organically crosses genre borders. Her music soulfully reflects, wistfully regrets, romantically woos, joyfully celebrates …” — as well as the two time Grammy-nominated Clayton Brothers Quintet performing on April 16.
Tickets for Emmet Cohen’s Master Legacy Series featuring Benny Golson are $40 and $45 and can be purchased by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224 or visiting the box office at 24 Ransom Ave. NE, Grand Rapids. Tickets can also be purchased online at scmc-online.org.
A pre-concert reception for $15 at 6:30 pm, with wine and hors d’oeuvres, is available by reservation in advance (reserve by Friday, Jan. 10). A post-concert party with dessert, coffee and wine is open to all ticket-holders to meet the artists, obtain autographs and purchase CDs.
Max Colley latest release, “Jubilee”, includes Jimmy Cobb, Jon Faddis and others. Locally, he has played with the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, The Truth in Jazz Orchestra and Gumbo Nuveau, as well as leading the Max Colley III Quartet. (Supplied/Max Colley III)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
The Listening Room, one of Grand Rapids newest music venues, will debut a new jazz series this week when the Robin Connell Trio, with opening night special guest trumpeter Max Colley III, hits the stage Saturday, Jan. 4.
While the venue, located at Studio Park at 123 Ionia Ave SW, is definitely new, having opened late last year, the idea of jazz in an intimate setting where sipping a cocktail and listening to some jazz in small club setting, is perfectly old-school.
Robin Connell (Supplied)
“It’s a wonderful venue for those who love live music and enjoy listening … It is designed such that it could very well function as a jazz club on a par with NYC clubs that require people to refrain from talking,” local pianist Robin Connell said to WKTV. “The (venue general manager) … described it to me as ‘a music room with drinks vs a bar with music.’ … (and) he is bringing in an eclectic mix of genres, including some jazz.
“This (new) series is loosely based on what I did at The Harris Building four years ago, which was loosely based on the old style jazz club that hired a ‘house’ trio to back touring artists such as Charlie Parker & Billie Holiday,” Connell said.
The jazz nights will start at 7:30 p.m., with doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12, with open seating, drinks available for purchase, and a parking garage attached — “So no outdoor hassle (park on 2nd floor to walk right in),” we are told.
Connell’s “house trio”, which will usually have with Rob Hartman on bass and Keith Hall on the drums, are scheduled to feature Colley and his trumpet to open. From then, the monthly series will have Ivan Akansiima, on guitar and piano, on Feb. 6; Paul Brewer, on trombone but also a fine composer, on March 7; and wrapping up the initial winter series on April 1 with Carl Cafagna on woodwinds — “Almost all of ‘em and vocals, too!” Connell says.
Max Colley III, according to his website, received music education degree from Central Michigan University, has studies with the likes of Jon Faddis, and has won awards including outstanding soloist at the Aquinas College, CMU and Montreaux-Detroit Jazz Festivals, and won the Jimmy Forrest Memorial Scholarship.
In 2016, he released the recording “Jubilee”, which includes Jimmy Cobb, Faddis, “and many other jazz luminaries!” Locally, he has played with the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, The Truth in Jazz Orchestra and Gumbo Nuveau, as well as leading the Max Colley III Quartet.
And while Connell is looking forward to the series and all her guests, she is also looking forward to playing the house piano.
“I played there Dec. 15 in a collage type concert … I was the only jazzer in a wonderful lineup of singer songwriters,” Connell said to WKTV. “After I waxed on about the piano, a woman reached out to me and said the piano had been her grandmother’s. A man nearby then told me the piano had been his mother’s. So I realized then that I was meeting the owners of Studio Park since I knew it was their piano in the club.”
For more information on the jazz series and all concerts at The Listening Room, visit listeningroomGR.com or call 616-900-9500. For more info on Max Colley III, visit maxcolley3.weebly.com . For more information on Robin Connell, visit robinconnell.com .
The annual January Series concert will be by the 5 Browns, on Jan. 16. The 5 Browns — Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra and Desirae — all attended New York’s Juilliard School. (Supplied)
WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The January Series, according to the series’ Calvin University website, “cultivates deep thought and conversations about important issues of the day in order to inspire cultural renewal and make us better global citizens in God’s world.”
It is also a safe space to engage in religious thought and debate on topics originating from America and around the globe. Including a discussion on creation vs. evolution, and reports on religious freedoms in China, the Middle East, as well as here at home in America.
This year from Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, through Tuesday, Jan. 28, the free-admission, 15-day annual lecture series will be held on the campus of Calvin University, and is also available via closed-circuit broadcast at more than 60 remote sites — in more than 50 cities throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe — or online for live audio streaming.
According to the university, the 2020 edition of the January Series features New York Times best-selling authors, Billboard-topping musicians, and a 41-year veteran of the White House press corps, and it includes issues ranging from poverty and hunger, the global water crisis, immigration, mass incarceration, to big data’s inequality and threat to democracy.
Najla Kassab’s lecture, “The Reformed Church in the Middle East: Hopes and Challenges”, will be Jan. 28. (Supplied)
Among the religious-themed lecturers, discussion titles and dates are: Todd Charles Wood and Darrel R. Falk, “Moving Beyond Label to a Christian Dialogue about Creation and Evolution”, Jan. 9; Bob (Xiqiu) Fu, “When Caesar Demands to be God: Religious Freedom in China”, Jan. 17; Karen Gonzalez, “The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to belong, Jan. 27; and Najla Kassab, “The Reformed Church in the Middle East: Hopes and Challenges”, Jan. 28.
Notable names, religious openness
A few of the more notable names in the lineup include Ann Compton, a television reporter who covered seven presidents; Mitch Albom, an author, columnist, radio host, and philanthropist whose books have sold over 39 million copies and been translated into more than 45 languages; and Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at NYU whose last two books were New York Times best-sellers.
Jonathan Haidt’s lecture, “The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are setting up a Generation for Failure”, will be Jan. 13. Albom’s lecture, on Jan. 21, will be “A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family. Compton’s lecture, on Jan. 22, will be “Up Close and Very Personal: My 41 years in the Whit House Press Corps”.
“Gaining knowledge is the first step to making a difference,” Kristi Potter, the director of the January Series. “If we don’t know about these topics, then we don’t know how we can actually make a difference.”
Potter says this work starts with listening, even to those with whom we may disagree, such as evolution.
“We have the opportunity to hear from two respected scientists who hold opposing viewpoints on the topic of origins,” she said. “One is a six-day creationist, the other a theistic evolutionist, and both feel strongly about their views. Both actually feel the other person’s view is harming the church. … And yet, the two have learned to talk to rather than past one another, using respectful dialogue with the understanding that they are both Christians.”
While Potter says the series will dig deep into some of the complex issues facing the world today, it will also highlight the great progress being made in some of these areas. One talk will be Johan Norberg’s, “Progress: 10 Reasons to Look Forward to the Future”, on Thursday, Jan. 24.
“It’s not all doom and gloom, positive things are happening,” she said.
Cathy O’Neil’s lecture, “Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequity and Threatens Democracy”, will be Jan.14. (Supplied)
Among the other lecturers, discussion titles and dates are: Longtime Calvin volleyball coach Amber Warners, “The Fierce Humility of Winning”, Jan. 8; Sandra Postel, “The Virtuous Cycle of Water and Prosperity, Jan. 10; Cathy O’Neil, “Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequity and Threatens Democracy”, Jan.14; Deborah and James Fallows, “Our Towns: A 100,000 mile Journey into the Heart of America”, Jan. 15; Alice Marie Johnson, “After Life: My Journey From Incarceration to Freedom”, Jan. 20; and Jeremy Everett, “Solving America’s Hunger Crisis”, Jan. 23.
The concert by the 5 Browns will be Jan. 16. The 5 Browns — Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra and Desirae — all attended New York’s Juilliard School. In fact, they became the first family of five siblings ever accepted simultaneously. The piano playing quintet have released three CDs that each went to #1 on Billboard Magazine’s Classical Album Chart. The New York Post has proclaimed: “One family, five pianos and 50 fingers add up to the biggest classical music sensation in years.”
The series runs from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Covenant Fine Arts Center on Calvin’s campus. No tickets required for the day or one evening events (but they do fill up quickly, so do not be late).
Not into college football bowl games on New Years Eve? Want to catch some great music concerts? WKTV will replay its entire 2019 Kentwood Summer Concert Series to ring in the New Year.
Starting at 5 p.m. and running until after midnight, WKTV Community Media’s Community cable channel will rebroadcast six concerts leading off with That Beatle’s Thing and ending with Hannah & The Gravetones.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown. WKTV can also be found on AT&T U-verse 99.
For complete schedules of programs on WKTV channels, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. The concerts are also available on-demand at WKTVLive.org.
LowellArts recently announced twelve concerts for the 2020 Gallery Concert Series, where guests can listen to music while enjoying the exhibition that is on display.
Concerts include: The Ryne Experience on Jan. 10; Edye Evans Hyde and Mike Hyde on Jan. 19; Lowell High School Fusion Rock Orchestra on Jan. 24 & 25; Roger MacNaughton and Friends on Feb. 9; Josh Rose and the Founding Fathers on Feb. 15; Chain of Lakes on Feb. 29; Blue Water Ramblers on March 7; Delilah DeWylde on March 14; Hayes Griffin and Nate Roberts on March 21; Political Lizard on March 28; and The Willeys on April 4. The concerts are sponsored by Chimera Design with additional support from Local Spins and New Union Brewery.
The Ryne Experience is a solo/collaboration project from Lowell and West Michigan, led by front man and songwriter Ryne Clarke (formally of the Preservers). The Experience verses in styles of folk, rock, alternative, punk, funk, jam, and comedy. Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door. A ticket to the show gets you a copy of their new album, “Funky Town”.
Edye Evans Hyde & Mike Hyde – Jan. 19 at 4pm
Edye and Mike are a Grand Rapids married musical couple that specialize in jazz standards and light pop covers. Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door.
Lowell High School Fusion Rock Orchestra – Jan. 24 & 25 at 7pm
Lowell High School Fusion Rock Orchestra
Fusion Rock Orchestra is a student-led ensemble that has a style to entertain all audiences, from Motown to Metallica and Moondance to Mozart. Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door.
Roger MacNaughton and Friends – Feb. 9 at 4pm
Roger MacNaughton and Friends
Join Roger and Friends for an afternoon of Songs & Memories from Mackinac Island, music composed by Roger during an Artist-in-Residence in the summer of 2019. Tickets are $14 in advance / $16 at the door.
Josh Rose and the Founding Fathers – Feb. 15 at 7pm
Josh Rose and the Founding Fathers
Josh Rose and the Founding Fathers offer music that resonates and melds with the listener long after the last note fades. Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door.
Chain of Lakes – Feb. 29 at 7pm
Chain of Lakes
This Grand Rapids quintet features singer songwriter Kyle Rasche, great vocal harmonies, and performs a blend of Americana songwriting and energetic folk/rock. Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door.
Blue Water Ramblers – March 7 at 7pm
Blue Water Ramblers
The Blue Water Ramblers write and perform contemporary folk songs of love and life. Their intricate arrangements for guitar, bass, banjo and pedal steel support close harmonies and dynamic deliveries with a distinct bluegrass and old country vibe. Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 at the door.
Delilah DeWylde – March 14 at 7pm
Delilah DeWylde
Whether boppin’ to a rockabilly classic or performing one of her great originals, Delilah puts on a show that is not to be missed! Tickets are $12 in advance / $14 at the door.
Hayes Griffin and Nate Roberts – March 21 at 7pm
Hayes Griffin & Nate Roberts
Guitarist Hayes Griffin and mandolinist Nate Roberts are leading the charge in West Michigan’s progressive acoustic music scene. Tickets are $12 in advance / $14 at the door.
Political Lizard – March 28 at 7pm
Political Lizard
Political Lizard musical endeavor seeks to combine musically mature composition with quaint, but intense lyrical sketches that can pierce the vulnerable part of your soul. Tickets are $12 in advance / $14 at the door.
The Willeys – April 4 at 7pm
The Willeys is a folk rock band playing original songs and unusual eclectic covers with a Celtic/Americana edge. Tickets are $12 in advance / $14 at the door.
About LowellArts
LowellArts connects artists and audiences through the visual and performing arts. Located on Main Street in downtown Lowell, LowellArts is a vibrant arts organization that has served the greater Lowell community since 1977. Annual programming includes: rotating gallery exhibitions, art and theater classes, house concerts, community theater, the Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concert Series (featuring free evening concerts every Thursday June through August by the Flat River), and the Fallasburg Arts Festival (a two-day juried art fair with 100+ artists, live music, and craft demonstrations held at Fallasburg Park).
Bello Spark in concert. (Joel Hirschmugl Nenonen Photo)
By City of Kentwood
The City of Kentwood’s Winter Concert Series is returning in 2020 with free concerts on select Thursday nights from January to March at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch.
The series features three West Michigan bands: Bello Spark, Serita’s Black Rose and Nicholas James Thomasma. Food trucks will also be on-site during each concert.
“Our winter concert series is a great opportunity for residents to come together during the colder months,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director. “With a variety of local, talented musicians and food truck favorites, winter concerts offer residents an enjoyable night out.”
The lineup, which includes a mix of acoustic folk-rock, funk and blues music, is as follows:
Thursday, Jan 16 – Bello Spark with Patty Matters Food Truck
