Category Archives: Upcoming Events

ArtPrize announces ‘Project 1’ event schedule

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, ,
Photo by Jessica Swanson

By Margaret Paxton, ArtPrize


The public is invited to the official Project 1 free events happening Saturdays during the run of the exhibition.


From Sept. 7-Oct. 27, 2019, Project 1: Crossed Lines exhibition will occupy multiple outdoor sites in Grand Rapids, Michigan and will feature temporary public artworks by five artists. The seven-week run will be punctuated by a series of events, volunteer opportunities, educational programs and performances.


Each Saturday in September and the last week in October will feature a different program of free and open-to-the-public events that will activate the artists’ works in an unforgettable way. Many other exhibitions, community events and performances will be happening throughout the run of the exhibition.


“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with community members and organizations across the city to build out a spectacular set of events throughout September,” said Jori Bennett, executive director.


ArtPrize has also partnered with community partners to provide an even richer experience at each of the Saturday events. All Art Works is putting on an exhibition to provide connections between artists and art buyers. The WestSide StreetFair will be happening on Saturday, Sept. 14th that coincides with the run of Project 1. The Grand Rapids African American Art and Music Festival will also be happening on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Martin Luther King Park. 

“The Grand Rapids African American Art and Music Festival is thrilled to partner with ArtPrize again,” said Lisa Knight, Festival board chair and director of the Centers for Innovation, Health, Education, Youth and Community Engagement, at the Urban League of West Michigan.


“This will be the first time the Festival is held in Martin Luther King Jr. Park and the Project 1 installations there will provide exciting programming opportunities.”

Saturday, Sept. 7, presented by DTE Foundation

Join ArtPrize and the City of Grand Rapids for a day of one-of-a-kind performances and events. Begin at Rosa Parks Circle at noon to kick off the inaugural Project 1 exhibition with a headlining performance from BANDALOOP. From 2-5pm enjoy the Martin Luther King Jr Park community kick-off with a headlining performance by Jordan Hamilton.


While downtown, stop in to see the All Art Works Show: Great Art at Great Prices at 37 Ottawa Ave NW from 10am to 6pm — 200 artists of every career level are curated next to works by world-famous artists. The show is free and open to the public, and all artwork is for sale and priced for fledgling and experienced buyers. The show runs from Sept. 6 through 10.


Evening programming includes an artist panel hosted at Critical Infrastructure at the Tanglefoot site. After the talk, the Disability Drag Show, presented by DisArt, be taking place at a venue to be announced. 

Saturday, Sept. 14, presented by Meijer

Start the second weekend of Project 1 at the WestSide StreetFair on Broadway and Bridge from 11am to 6pm. Enjoy live music, art and educational activities for the whole family. Community partners John Ball Zoo, Experience Live Art, Artists Creating Together, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Comedy Project, Gilda’s Club and more will be there.


Be sure to check out Meijer’s Grand Taste Truck sited at Rosa Parks Circle, which will be giving food and household items out. There will be art activities happening from 11am to 3pm.

Then don’t miss an unforgettable evening of light, sound and community at this one-night-only performance at Blue Bridge Amplified, presented by Founder’s Brewing Company. Electronic beat-maker and headliner, Dan Deacon, as well as an array of local artists and musicians will take over Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Voice Bridge, activating the sound system and 400+ lights that will traverse Grand Rapids’s iconic Blue Bridge from 8-11pm. 

Saturday, Sept. 28, presented by DisArt and SiTE:LAB

For the final Saturday in September, join DisArt and its collaborators as they present Voices an immersive, multimedia project displayed and interacted with throughout the Tanglefoot site. Designed as both an aesthetic and archiving experience, Voices will gather and visualize stories of alienation and belonging from Disabled community members as well as visitors to the site. The event runs from noon to 10pm, and all are encouraged to attend and participate. 

Saturday, Oct. 26

Join us at Studio Park to celebrate the final weekend of Project 1. The evening will kick off with a press conference where several exciting announcements will be made for ArtPrize 2020. The evening will unfold to feature live music in the Studio Park Listening Room.

About Project 1 by ArtPrize

The ArtPrize organization produces open citywide contemporary art experiences that encourage critical discourse, celebrate artists, transform urban space and promote cultural understanding. Project 1: Crossed Lines is the first in a series of multi-sited public art exhibitions to take place between biennial ArtPrize competitions.


For more information, visit artprize.org.







Lee high boys soccer ready to make run for conference title, deeper playoff run

City of Wyoming, Education, Going Local, Local Faces, Sports, Upcoming Events, WKTV Featured sports,
The Lee High School boys soccer team is off to a 6-0 start this season, and coach Jaime Ramirez has plenty of reasons to smile about their goals of a conference title. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

Lee High School boys soccer coach Jaime Ramirez likes the state of his program, top to bottom, from the nearly 40 kids in the middle school program to the deep, talented varsity roster that has posted a 6-0 early-season record heading into a cross-town rivalry with Godwin Heights on Thursday, Aug. 29.

But Ramirez and his newly-named Legends expect more after last season’s 18-7 record including two playoff wins with an 8-3 record in OK Conference Silver standings, and this season’s fast start including a 2-1 comeback road win over Grandville Calvin Christian in conference play.

“The kids are working really hard. They have ambitions to make history on their own this year. The last conference championship we had was in 2010,” Rameriez said to WKTV early this week. “They are anxious to put another conference championship on their shoulders.”

The Lee boys soccer game at Godwin Heights will be this week’s WKTV High School Sports Featured Game of the Week.

Lee lost only two players from last year’s squad and feature not only five seniors and five juniors on the varsity roster, but also several young players who are too good to keep off the varsity roster.

“That is what is making the team pretty strong,” Ramirez said. “This is my dream team. I can substitute like four of them and not notice a big difference on the team, which is what I believe all the coaches dream for.”

Coach (reluctantly) pointed out several players who are the “players to watch” on the offensive side of the squad, starting with senior Raul Antonio Montañez — “He is one ofr the best leaders I have. He works hard every single game and, right now, he is the number one we are looking for. … but like I said, we have a lot of good players coming back.”

Among those “good players coming back” is senior goalkeeper Jorge Andres Montes — “He is another straight-up leader.” As is junior Gerardo Montañez and senior Tristan Perez.

“I’ve got quite a few of them,” Ramirez said. “On defense I’ve got (sophomore) Alexander Ruiz, he is really good. And I’ve got a couple others coming back … (but) my midfielders are new this year. Wili Diaz has been playing really good. And Leonardo Maldonado, I put him up (on varsity), he was playing JV last year. … We have a lot of good players, it is hard for me to name just a few.”

The depth, on the varsity team and in the program, is not something the Legends have had in past years.

The Lee High School varsity team before a recent game. (WKTV)

“We have, if I’m not mistaken, something like 38 kids in the middle school program, and we are shooting to have two teams,” Ramirez said. “Back in 2007, when I started as a coach, I had 13 players on varsity. That’s it. That says something right there.

“The program is getting better and better. We’ve got more kids joining and we got a girls (program building the numbers) too. … The kids they really want to do things.”

And what the varsity “kids” want to do is win a conference title for a school which has struggled in many varsity sports in recent years.

“I talked to the guys and I keep telling them ‘We’ve got a lot of chances, a lot of potential to become OK champs this year.’ I’m not going to say we will, because I don’t like to say that. I’m going to say we’re going to try really hard.”

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/.

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know — weekend edition

3-bottom, Dream Wheels, Local Business, Local Faces, Recreation, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“Only one is a wanderer; two together are always going somewhere.”

Madeleine Elster/Judy Barton from ‘Vertigo’

The cars are here!
The cars are here!

Ladies and gentlemen, the days you’ve all been waiting for — this year’s Metro Cruise is Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23 and 24, and it’s packed with more to do and see, according to organizers. Started 15 years ago by the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce to encourage businesses and patrons to travel the “Sunset Strip of Grand Rapids,” the annual event has become a two-day car extravaganza with more than 100,000 people attending. Go here for the scoop.

Pick out your partner
and join in the fun

Admission is free to the Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival at Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center, this weekend Friday-Sunday, Aug. 23-25, and there will be plenty of inexpensive parking in Parking Lot Areas 7, 8, and 9 for those who don’t mind a short walk. Fun activities during the festival include music, dancing, authentic Polish food, the paczki eating contest, crowning of the busia queen and more. Learn all about it here.

Who’s the Faire-est one of all?

Courtesy Grand Rapids Public Museum

Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. It happens Saturday, Aug. 24 from 10am-5pm at the GRPM. More info here.

No Alabama tonight

Courtesy Alabama

Hey, they really wanted to continue their 50th Anniversary Tour at the VanAndel Arena tonight, but lead singer Randy Owen’s ongoing complications with cluster migraines and vertigo have laid him low. The group had hoped to continue its record-breaking 50-city tour, however, doctors have advised more time is needed for Owen to fully recover. Rescheduled dates for the tour will be announced in the coming weeks.

Fun fact:

Could be rocks in your head…
or a migraine

Jimmy Stewart in ‘Vertigo’

Alabama’s lead singer, Randy Owen joins roughly 69 million people—nearly one-third of people over the age of 40 in the U.S.—who experience vertigo at least once in their lives. Curiously, dancing can make it better. Hey! Hie thee down to the Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival this weekend and put it to the test.


WKTV high school sports coverage team audibles, plans featured game of other ‘football’

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Education, Kentwood Public Schools, Recreation, Sports, Upcoming Events, WKTV Featured sports
The high school soccer season has already started with football close behind.

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

WKTV’s high school sports coverage truck will all over our local Wyoming and Kentwood football teams this season, but with a change of schedule for Wyoming Lee High School’s football team, we have switched our coverage to the other “football” — we will be at Godwin Heights as the Wolverines host the Lee Legends for a boys soccer game Thursday, Aug. 29.

As far as the Lee football game is concerned, after the originally scheduled home game against White Cloud was cancelled by the visiting school, Lee added a second game against Grandville Calvin Christian, which will be at Lee on Thursday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.

And, there is no shortage of high school sports action all over the Wyoming and Kentwood area, so check out something live if you can.

Where and when to see featured games

Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.

WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.

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

All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at 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 weeks’s schedule:

Saturday, Aug. 24
Girls Volleyball
Tri-Unity Christian vs TBA – WMVOA Invitational @ MSA Fieldhouse
Godwin Heights vs TBA – Officials for Kids Tourney @ MSA Fieldhouse
Potter’s House vs TBA – Official for Kids Tourney @ MSA Fieldhouse
Zion Christian vs TBA – WMVOA Invitational @ MSA Fieldhouse
South Christian @ Grand Haven
Boys Tennis
South Christian @ East Kentwood – EK Invite
TBA @ Wyoming – David Bentley Tournament
Boys / Girls Cross Country
South Christian @ East Kentwood
Wyoming Lee @ Muskegon Catholic Central
Boys Soccer
TBA @ Zion Christian – Zion Soccer Invite
Boys Water Polo
East Kentwood @ Ann Arbor Pioneer – Pioneer Invite
Girls Volleyball
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven – Lakeshore Classic

Monday, Aug. 26
Boys Soccer
Tri-Unity Christian @ NorthPointe Christian
South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian
Wyoming @ FH Eastern
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Girls Golf
South Christian @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Boys Tennis
Holland Christian @ South Christian
Girls Volleyball
Wyoming Lee @ Algoma Christian

Tuesday, Aug. 27
Boys / Girls Cross Country
South Christian @ St. Joseph
Girls Swimming
South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian
Central @ East Kentwood
Boys Soccer
NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights
Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee
Ottawa Hills @ Wyoming
Zion Christian @ Saugatuck
Boys Tennis
Wyoming @ Zeeland East
TBA @ East Kentwood – EK Quad
Girls Volleyball
Ottawa Hills @ Wyoming
Zion Christian @ Martin – Quad
TBA @ East Kentwood – EK Early Bird Tournament

Wednesday, Aug. 28
Girls Golf
South Christian @ Kent Country Club – OK Jamboree
Boys Tennis
Unity Christian @ South Christian
Girls Volleyball
Caledonia @ South Christian – Sailor Invite
Boys Soccer
East Grand Rapids @ South Christian
Wyoming @ Wayland
Rockford @ East Kentwood
Boys / Girls Cross Country
Godwin Heights @ Saranac
Wyoming Lee @ Saranac
Wyoming @ Wayland

Thursday, Aug. 29
Girls Swimming
South Christian @ East Kentwood
Boys Football
Greenville vs South Christian @ Byron Center
Godwin Heights @ Hamilton
Grandville Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Holland @ Wyoming
Boys Soccer
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights – WKTV Featured Event
Potter’s House vs West Michigan Heat – @ Hudsonville Christian
Zion Christian @ Kalamazoo Christian
Plainwell @ East Kentwood
Girls Volleyball
TBA @ East Kentwood – Lady Falcon Invite
Boys / Girls Cross Country
East Kentwood @ Milford – Invite

Friday, Aug. 30
Boys Football
Tri-unity Christian @ Climax-Scotts
East Kentwood @ Muskegon Mona Shores

As 2019-20 season draws near, St. Cecilia Music Center adds two folk concerts

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Entertainment, Reviews, Upcoming Events, ,
Rosanne Cash and her husband, musician/composer John Leventhal in concert. (Supplied by the artist)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

The pending arrival of September means the busy October beginning of St. Cecilia Music Center’s 2019-20 concert season is just a few weeks away. And while the impressive Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and jazz series lineups have been set and on sale for months, there have been two recent additions the Acoustic Café Folk Series you might have missed.

The Infamous Stringdusters. (Supplied/Aaron Farrington)

After a busy October for the folk series — with Lee Ann Womack opening the fall season on Oct. 3 followed by an encore visit by Judy Collins on Oct. 20 — the folk series has added nights with The Infamous Stringdusters and Rosanne Cash to an already busy February 2020 folk feast on the Royce Auditorium stage.

After the Stringdusters on Feb. 6 and Cash on Feb. 20, Chris Thile will visit on Feb. 25 and Raul Midón on Feb. 27 — and doesn’t a night of folk music sound perfect for a midwinter escape from the weather?

St. Cecilia also says “additional folk series concerts may be announced for the 2019/2020 season.”

While the Stringdusters are a good get for St. Cecilia, the addition of Rosanne Cash is a sure sell-out.

“We are delighted to feature Rosanne Cash and her husband, musician/composer John Leventhal in concert,” Cathy Holbrook, St. Cecilia Music Center executive director, said in supplied material. “With both of their many achievements and personal work together, this will be a very special evening.”

Cash is touring in support of her most recent release, “She Remembers Everything”, which is described as “a poetic, lush and soulful collection of songs of personal songwriting and reflection.”

Rosanne Cash (Supplied by the artist)

“There is a woman’s real life, complex experiences and layered understanding, in these songs,” Cash said in supplied material. “I could not have written them 10 years ago …time is shorter, I have more to say.”

“She Remembers Everything” was produced by collaborator and husband Leventhal and Tucker Martine (who has worked with The Decembrists, My Morning Jacket, Mavis Staples, Neko Case).

One of the country’s pre-eminent singer/songwriters, Cash has released 15 albums of that have earned 4 Grammy Awards and 11 nominations, as well as 21 top 40 hits, including 11 No. 1 singles. In 2015, she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. She also currently writing the lyrics for a musical “Norma Rae” with Leventhal serving as composer and John Weidman as book writer. (More about the artist at rosannecash.com .)

In addition to the folk series, the jazz series will open in October as well, with Fred Hersch featuring special guest Julian Lage coming on Oct. 17, followed in the new year by Emmet Cohen’s Master Legacy Series featuring Benny Golson on Jan. 16, Luciana Souza on March 5, and The Clayton Brothers — a must-hear for jazz fans — on April 16.

We will have to wait for November for St. Cecilia to raise the curtains on the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center series, with a program titled “Great Innovators” on Nov. 21. The final two concerts will be “French Enchantment” on Jan. 23 and “From Prague to Vienna” on April 30.

Tickets to all shows are still available 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.  Many concerts have a post-concert “Meet-the-artist” party with a cash bar will be offered to all ticket-holders.

Alabama postpones 50th Anniversary Tour

Citizen Journalism, Upcoming Events
Courtesy Alabama

By Hilarie Carpenter, SMG


Country Music Hall of Fame group Alabama has postponed the remainder of its 50th Anniversary Tour, including the concert scheduled for Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI, due to lead singer Randy Owen’s ongoing complications with cluster migraines and vertigo. The group had hoped to continue its record-breaking 50-city tour, however, doctors have advised more time is needed for Owen to fully recover.


Today, ALABAMA bass player and vocalist Teddy Gentry released the following statement:


“The 50th Anniversary Tour has been very special to us. The support of the fans and their energy at all of our shows has led to some of the most fun we’ve ever had onstage. As disappointed as myself, Randy, and Jeff are to have to postpone this tour for all of our incredible fans, we know that Randy’s recovery is what is most important for everyone at this time. We would like to thank our fans, promoters, and venues and we look forward to seeing you all soon.”


Rescheduled dates for the tour will be announced in the coming weeks.



‘GRAM on the Green’ closes 11th Annual Series on Aug. 22 with folk and soul music

Upcoming Events, , ,
Cameron Blake (courtesy GRAM)

By Alison Clark, Clark Communications


West Michigan will have its last chance to experience The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM)’s annual free summer concert series, GRAM on the Green, on Thursday, Aug. 22. The GRAM and WYCE 88.1FM will close out the series with folk and soul artists Cameron Blake and Samuel Nalangira.


The summer-long series has featured some of the best local and regional talent Michigan has to offer. And for one last night, guests of all ages are invited to relax on the Museum’s outdoor terrace and enjoy free live music, dancing, food trucks, free museum admission, art-making activities, and a cash bar.


Admission to the Museum is free during GRAM on the Green evenings from 5-9 pm, as part of Meijer Free Thursday Nights. 

Samuel Nalangira (courtesy GRAM)

Concert guests are invited inside the galleries to explore the exhibitions on view during the summer months: Maya Lin: Flow, Melanie Daniel: Only Four Degrees, Self, Symbol, Surrogate: Artist Portraits from GRAM’s Collection and the newest works on view in the Permanent Collection.


Support for GRAM on the Green is generously provided by Bank of America, WYCE 88.1FM, and the Meijer Foundation. 




Dancing, food, fun: Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival in GR Aug. 23-25

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Local Food, Recreation, Senior Living, Upcoming Events,
Courtesy Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids

By Matt Gryczan


In honor of the 40th anniversary of its annual Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival, the Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids has turbocharged the free event this upcoming weekend with top-notch entertainment and demonstrations of Polish cooking, dance and crafts.


This year, the festival features:

  • Polka dance lessons, led by instructors from the P.R.C.U.A. Malbork Dance Ensemble;
  • Demonstrations on how to make pierogi (dumplings), chrusciki (cookies), beet soup, haluski (fried cabbage and noodles), mizeria (cucumber salad), crepes and canning peaches;
  • Presentations on Polish pottery and the fine art of creating pysanky eggs;
  • Explanations of Polish folklore such as how to tell a person’s future from hay straw and the meanings behind the Wigilia feast on Christmas Eve; and
  • Crafting treasure boxes for children.
Courtesy Polish Heritage Society

“A lot of the activities will center around our demonstration tent, which we liken to a visit to your busia’s (grandmother’s) kitchen — the place where all the fun stuff is going on,” said Marilyn Lignell, past society president and demonstrator of the Wigilia feast.


In addition, the Polish Heritage Society is bringing the internationally known Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push band to play two nights of the three-day event, along with other well-regarded polka bands, including Gerry Kaminski’s Polka Network, Dave Slivinski & The Noteables, Gary Szotko’s GPS Polka Band, the Polski Chix Polka Band and Ray Watkoski’s Family Band.  


Gomulka is considered a living legend in the polka community; he’s developed a huge base of followers in the United States and Canada since he formed the Chicago Push in 1980. Nominated for 12 Grammy awards in the polka genre, he was inducted into the International Polka Music Hall of Fame & Museum in his hometown of Chicago in 2016.


Admission is free to the Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival at Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center, from Aug. 23-25, and there will be plenty of inexpensive parking in Parking Lot Areas 7, 8, and 9 for those who don’t mind a short walk.

Courtesy Polish Heritage Society

Other fun activities during the festival include the paczki eating contest, crowning of the busia queen and a performance by the P.R.C.U.A. Malbork Dance Ensemble, a dance group for youth ages 3-18 that teaches traditional Polish folk dances with authentic garb.


The Polish Heritage Society also selects a local not-for-profit group for special recognition during the festival as a way to build awareness and support for the organization, and this year the society is highlighting the Wolverine Worldwide Family YMCA in Belmont. Representatives of The Y will be present during the afternoons of the festival to educate visitors about the offerings and mission of the organization.  


The Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival is the major fundraiser for the Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids, a non-profit organization founded in 1963 to perpetuate and advance the Polish culture that has been so integral to metro Grand Rapids. Among a number of its activities, the society awards scholarships annually to students of Polish descent who attend Aquinas College, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College, and Davenport University.


For a full calendar of events for the three-day Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival, please view the society’s website at Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids.



Woodland Mall to open new children’s play area with parent amenities too

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Kids Activities, Local Business, Upcoming Events, Woodland Mall,
An artist’s rendering Woodland Mall’s new Von Maur wing, expected to open later this year. (Supplied/Woodland Mall)

By Woodland Mall

After retiring its well-loved “Bacon and Eggs” earlier this year, Woodland Mall is ready to unveil a new play area in the JCPenney wing.

Featuring fun forest themes, accents and features, the new play space is expected to intrigue a variety of ages from young children to pre-teens. Shoppers of all ages will be able to celebrate the new and improved play area during a grand opening event with music, giveaways and games from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 24.
   
The colorful play structure is positioned in front of a forest mural and has “friendly monsters” to meet, “rocks and vines” to climb and tunnels to crawl through. A cargo net and balance beam across the upper level lets kids pass over the lower level and see friends playing below. The new play area also includes “EZ access climbers,” an ADA-accessible feature that provides caregivers an easy way to take children up and into the playground area.

For parents and caregivers, the space will now include bar-style seating with charging stations facing the play area. Newly renovated restrooms, including nursing rooms, are being installed nearby.

“While we will miss our beloved bacon and eggs, we’re excited to have a new play area that’s even more inclusive and accessible to everyone,” said Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing director. “With the new climbers, nearby nursing rooms and charging stations, we hope families will find both fun and convenience when they stop by our new play area.

“As our major redevelopment project continues, we are so excited to share our transformation and improvements with the community. Kids can play in a fun and convenient space with their friends and family.”

It will be an exciting fall as the redevelopment of Woodland Mall continues. High-end department store Von Maur will open its first location in the region in October, occupying 90,000 square feet in the former Sears space.

Following close behind will be Black Rock Bar & Grill, an award-winning steakhouse and first-to-market experiential dining experience, and a number of other retailers.

The Cheesecake Factory will open late fall, with its first location in West Michigan and second in the state.

For more information about the grand opening events, visit here.

Faithful Avett Brothers high steppin’ into Grand Rapids with new record close behind

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Reviews, Upcoming Events, ,
The Avett Brothers, from left, Scott Avett, Joe Kwan, Bob Crawford and Seth Avett. (Supplied/PC/Crackerfarm)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

Scott Avett, who with his brother and co-conspirator Seth is the heart if not soul of The Avett Brothers, was talking about the band’s 2106 release “True Sadness” when he said “We trust and have faith in what we do, and in each other. By the time it is making it out to the world, we have already come to own our work.”

From the beginning — that sort of being the Avetts’ 2009 major label debut of “I and Love and You” — the to pending arrival of “Closer Than Together” on Oct. 4, Scott and Seth and the rest of the North Carolina based band have kept the faith if not always kept the same sonics.

“We are always confident by the time we are putting something out,” Scott said to me just before the band’s 2016 Grand Rapids stop at the Van Andel Arena, where they will return Sept. 6. “We are always confident that we have learned from what we have made, and always confident that we are going to be able to go out and put on a show with what we made. I just don’t think we would release anything we would not stand behind.”

Photo from Avett Brothers “High Steppin'” video shoot (Supplied/Ellison White)

Standing behind “Closer Than Together”, it would appear from the teaser single recently released, “High Steppin’”, as well as a “mission statement” put out by Seth and Scott also in preparation for the release, is sort of an admission that while the Avetts have lived life pretty fully and grown older in due course, they have stayed truthful to their music as it has continued to change with them.

Watch the “High Steppin’” video here.

Some may see a little bit of a dark side, or at least a dark humor side, to the video for the new single if not the lyrics of the single itself — after all, there is this little thing in the video of Scott appearing as a “rhinestone cowboy” and Seth is trailing along as what some could describe as “death.” But there is also an often recurring songwriting endpoint that love, ultimately, wins.

“My brother and I have never been more aware of our own failings in the department of golden-rule navigation,” Seth writes in the mission statement. “We see it in ourselves and we are accustomed to seeing it in our neighborhood, our state, our country, our planet. We speak daily with each other about the lunacy of the world in which we live … the beauty of it, the mystery of it, the hilarity and the unspeakable calamity of it.

“The Avett Brothers will probably never make a sociopolitical record. But if we did, it might sound something like this,” Seth writes, but adds that, musically at least, “there is no massive departure from our continued artistic language.”

And while some have suggested that the single “High Steppin’” has, in fact, a more high energy, almost rock ’n’ roll sound to it — and it does seem a million miles away from the sounds of “I and Love and You”, specifically “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise”, maybe my favorite single on a long list of band favorites — the promise and premise of the lyrics of the new single seem to keep with the same not-so-subtle artistic language.

“The best beggars are choosers. The best winners are losers. The best lovers ain’t never been loved. And first place ain’t easy. The hardest part is believing. The very last word is love.”

Anybody who knows the Avetts has heard that language, that simple-yet-somehow- deep meanings, before and will undoubtedly will again, at the upcoming night at the Van Andel and on the new release.

The Avett Brothers usual suspects. (Supplied photo)

And anybody who knows the Avetts in concert, knows that while the band often speaks softly, Scott and Seth — and usual suspects and long-time band members Bob Crawford on bass (and things) and Joe Kwan on cello (and things) — carry big sticks when it comes to live concerts. (See a review of their 2016 Grand Rapids show here.)

Tickets for The Avett Brothers at the Van Andel Arena on Friday, Sept. 6, at 8 p.m., are available, ranging from $47 per to $195 on various ticket sellers and resellers. Search you favorite.

‘Red Flag’ gun control laws discussed at Chamber’s WKTV Government Matters meeting

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Crime Prevention, Hard News, Local Faces, Politics, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

In the wake of recent mass shootings, state and federal efforts to introduce and pass so-called “Red Flag” laws — which would allow persons with access to guns to be investigated as being possible dangers to themselves and others, and to give authorities the ability to seize that person’s guns — was one topic discussed as part of a wide-ranging inter-governmental leaders meeting Monday, Aug. 12, at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum at Wyoming City Hall.

With bipartisan bills being introduced both in Lansing and in Washington, D.C., Peter Dickow, West Michigan Regional Director for U.S. Sen Gary Peters (D-Mi.) echoed other leader at the meeting by saying: “There is room for common sense legislation” on this issue.

The Government Matters meeting is rebroadcast on WKTV’s channels and on-demand website (wktvlive.org). This month’s meeting is available here.

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

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

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


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

The 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 .

Michigan Irish Music Festival Celebrates 20th Year

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Recreation, Senior Living, Travel, Upcoming Events, , ,
Courtesy Michigan Irish Music Festival

By Colleen Murphy


The Michigan Irish Music Festival observes its 20th anniversary this year, and what better way to celebrate than by hosting more bands than ever in the history of the event?


The festival returns to Heritage Landing in downtown Muskegon Sept. 12-15 and features Irish and Celtic music on seven covered stages. The festival kicks off Thursday, Sept. 12 with its Pub Preview Party featuring food, beverages, and three bands in the pub tent only. The full festival begins Friday.


In addition to live music, the Celtic Kitchen and beverage stations serve authentic Irish food and drinks. The Tea Room has non-alcoholic choices and treats in a relaxed atmosphere. Other activities include the Irish Market and Irish Store, children’s activities, a cultural center, and a session tent. FEIS, an Irish dance competition, and the Highland Games are held on Saturday. Sunday, Catholic mass at 9am will be followed by a traditional Irish breakfast.


This year’s festival, expected to draw 40,000 patrons, will host a record 26 bands. Here’s a sneak peek at 10 of the bands on tap:


GAELIC STORM

After two decades and more than 2,000 live shows, this multinational Celtic band returns to the festival for the first time in five years. Gaelic Storm attributes their continued success to a diversified fan base from several musical genres: country, bluegrass, Celtic, and rock. Gaelic Storm, which has gained a reputation as a genre-bending Irish rock band, has topped the Billboard World Chart six times, appearing at mainstream music festivals and headlining the largest Irish festivals across the country.


THE HIGH KINGS

The band’s most recent release, Decade-Best of The High Kings, garnered rave reviews, and their recently completed U.S. tour sold out many of its venues. The High Kings’ unique contemporary style and arrangement to songs of yesteryear are sure to delight.


AOIFE SCOTT

The singer and songwriter from Dublin was named the 2018 winner of the Best Irish Folk Act at the Irish Post Music Awards. Her music has a broad creative scope but is largely influenced by her own roots in folk and traditional Irish music.


ONE FOR THE FOXES

This exciting and dynamic transatlantic trio presents a rousing blend of Irish and American folk music. They offer both traditional and newly composed music, presented in an energetic and engaging manner.


JIGJAM

The award-winning quartet from Ireland blends the best of traditional Irish music with bluegrass and Americana in a new genre, which has been branded as “I-Grass” — Irish-influenced bluegrass.


DOOLIN’

Doolin’ is one of the most innovative bands of the Irish music scene. Formed in Toulouse in 2005, the band comprises six accomplished and eclectic musicians. French in origin, this sextet brings a fresh approach to Irish music. Doolin’ combines instrumentals, vocals, and original compositions in a resolutely modern style. The arrangements at times taking their inspiration from pop-rock, folk, jazz, funk, and even rap.


PIGEON KINGS

Pigeon Kings draws from Celtic and rock influences, but they’re not Celtic Rock. There are traditional elements, but they’re not a traditional band. With elements of Americana and Bluegrass, they have a sound and persona all their own. Pigeon Kings offers a high energy stage show backed by unique compositions, honest lyrics, and experienced showmanship.


THE DROWSY LADS

Jack Baker of the Irish American News named The Drowsy Lads the “Best Irish American Band of 2018.” The Lads, out of Columbus, Ohio, have won over both casual music lovers and those steeped in hardcore traditional Irish music. They’re fond of creating their own spirited arrangements and offer occasional original compositions (even mixing in bluegrass and classical), but that never gets in the way of their obsession with the pure old Irish tunes, songs, wit, and friendship that has defined Irish music for centuries.


CONNLA

After winning New Group of the Year (Chicago Irish American News) and Best New Group (Live Ireland Music Awards) in 2016, Connla has been quickly making an impact on the folk/traditional scene. More recently, Connla won Album of the Year for 2019 at both the ALSR Celtic Music Awards and the Livvies Awards. Songlines magazine named Connla their “must-see act” for their UK tour and proclaimed, “A band this young shouldn’t be this good.”


THE CONIFERS

The five young musicians that make up The Conifers met while studying traditional music at the University of Limerick. They have since developed a lasting friendship, which is evident in their music. In 2018, The Conifers, whose music is energetic and lively with a wholesome sound, won first place in the prestigious Michigan Irish Music Initiative competition in Dundalk.


Advance tickets and passes for this year’s Michigan Irish Music Festival are available online (patrons save $5 per ticket online vs. the gate price). The festival offers an Early-In Free promotion on Friday only from 5 to 6pm, sponsored by Family Financial Credit Union. Other major sponsors of the festival include G&L, Van’s Car Wash and Budweiser. The Delta Hotels by Marriott and Shoreline Inn are host hotels for the festival. For complete festival information, and the announcement of additional bands, visit www.michiganirish.org. Find ticket into here.

Sweet, often bittersweet, sounds of Mandolin Orange coming to Meijer Gardens amphitheater

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Reviews, Upcoming Events,
Mandolin Orange is a North Carolina based band led by singer-songwriter Andrew Marlin and multi-instrumentalist Emily Frantz. (Supplied/Kendall Bailey)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

One of the great things about the Meijer Gardens Summer Concert series is catching up with emerging bands just making their national headlining splash, or tour-tested bands making a stop between somewhere and Chicago.

Not really sure where Mandolin Orange fits into that spectrum, but the North Carolina based band led by singer-songwriter Andrew Marlin and multi-instrumentalist Emily Frantz have a growing reputation on the alt-Americana scene (if that is such a thing?), but may well be new to most of the audience at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park outdoor amphitheater stage on Sept. 4.

I expect the introduction to be good for all of us, as their sweet-sounding music is as familiar as it is rare.

And speaking of sweet sounds … ya, I know; a little cheesy … you will probably not find two more sweet voices than that of lead singer Marlin and harmonizer Frantz, as evidenced by “The Wolves”, one of the singles off the band’s most recent release, from February of this year, “Tides of a Teardrop”.

For a video of “The Wolves”, visit here.

As evidenced by “Tides of a Teardrop”, Marlin not only writes sweet songs, he often writes bittersweet songs.

As the new release was being created, according to supplied material, Marlin wrote the songs, “as he usually does, in a sort of stream of consciousness, allowing words and phrases to pour out of him as he hunted for the chords and melodies. Then, as he went back to sharpen what he found, he found something troubling and profound. Intimations of loss have always haunted the edges of their music, their lyrics hinting at impermanence and passing of time.”

For this album, Marlin and Frantz enlisted their touring band, and, having recorded all previous albums live in the studio, they approached the recording process in a different way this time.

“We went and did what most people do, which we’ve never done before — we just holed up somewhere and worked the tunes out together,” Frantz said in supplied material.

“This record is a little more cosmic, almost in a spiritual way — the space between the notes was there to suggest all those empty spaces the record touches on,” Marlin adds.

And the record is clearly touching a receptive audience.

“Tides Of A Teardrop”, when it was released, debuted at #1 on four different Billboard charts: Heatseekers, Folk/Americana, Current Country Albums and Bluegrass.

The band’s last record, 2016’s “Blindfaller”, was their breakout, earning them raves from Vox and NPR Music, and since then they have played Red Rocks with The Avett Brothers, played Bonnaroo as well as the Newport Folk Festival.

Mandolin Orange’s Wednesday, Sept. 4, concert, With Bonny Light Horseman opening, will start at 7 p.m. (5:45 p.m. gates open), with a $40 general admission ticket price. For more information and tickets visit meijergardens.org .

On Tap: New (to me) breweries, beer crawl coming and Two Hearted birthday

3-bottom, Beer, Local Entertainment, Reviews, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects
Grand Rapids has a great lineup of breweries and beers. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

My Beers City Passport is getting a little crowded but there are always new places to explore, and after all that’s why the passport has those blank pages in the back — pages which came in handy last weekend when my wife and I had a vision quest but needed MapQuest to find Speciation Artisan Ales in Comstock Park.

The quest was accomplished and our thirst was quenched, with a fruity sour beer for my partner and a hefty IPA for me. They are apparently known for their sour beers.

And what sort of a place is Speciation? As only one bit of evidence, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, the brewery and pub will host a Bill Murray Birthday Party when, they say, “We are celebrating the life and work of Bill Murray with a very special birthday party. Special Bill Murray themed beers served in custom Bill Murray glassware. Bill Murray themed trivia begins at 7 p.m., with Quizmaster Quinn. Costumes are encouraged.”

Not sure what a Bill Murray costume might be, but sounds like fun to me.

Check out this and other events at Speciation Artisan Ales — and how to get there — by visiting speciationartisanales.com .

Anyway, placing a new stamp in my passport got me thinking about what I’m missing these days, so thinking I have the Greater Grand Rapids area choices well in hand, and with the help of the West Michigan Tourist Association. I made a short list of places to visit not too far out to town.

In the Saugatuck-Douglas area, is the new Waypost Brewing Company in Fennville looks like a good day trip destination. You got to love their motto “Waypost brewing Co. is founded on the notion that good beer speaks for itself, and the best ones sing.” For more information visit here.

A little closer to home is Old Boys Brewhouse, in Spring Lake, which not only has a dog in their logo but also beers named “DogTail” and “Kennel King” IPAs and “His Porter is the Shih Tzu”. For more information visit here.

GR’s Beer City Fall Crawl starts at Downtown Market

 
Not that we’ll need a good reason to do a little bar hoppin’ on a (hopefully) beautiful fall September day next month, but the Grand Rapids Downtown Market has announced at “Beer City Fall Crawl” partnership with six other Heartside neighborhood businesses.


The crawl will take place Saturday, Sept, 15, from 1-5 p.m., and, according to supplied material, will take participants on a 1.5-mile loop starting and ending at the Market with six other stops in between — Craft Beer Cellar, Peppino’s Pizza, Tavern & Tap, The Grand Woods Lounge, Founders Brewing and The Tin Can, then returning to the Downtown Market. Each stop will have drink specials for participants, with participation costing $30.

Entry includes a t-shirt, a “Chugging Checklist” and a pint glass, with a free first drink at the Downtown Market bar, drink specials at each stop, and a $5 Downtown Market gift certificate.

With all that beer crawling, food consumption along the way is not only available but advisable, at the Downtown Market or along the route.


“Grand Rapids is known as Beer City, and we’re so fortunate to be in the midst of tons of great bars and breweries here in Heartside,” Amanda Gielczyk, VP of the Downtown Market, said in supplied material. “The Fall Crawl is a great way to partner with our neighbors and create a one-of-a-kind experience, and more importantly a reason for participants to support seven local businesses all in one day.”

     

For more information and a link to register visit here.

Bell’s Two Hearted, celebrating a birthday, wins national awards

Bells’ Brewery his holding a two-prong, Two Hearted celebration this week. Not only idd the beer recently gain another national award, but Two Hearted Day, Aug.15, marks the anniversary that Two Hearted Ale debuted in 1997.

“Two Hearted Ale is a special beer for us at the brewery and for many beer lovers,” Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery, said in supplied material. “We’re excited to celebrate with everyone this week. It’s a celebration of all of the people who work tirelessly to make Two Hearted the best quality beer it can be every day. It’s also a tribute to all of the fans who love the beer and helped make it what it is today.”

Bell’s Brewery and two of its beers — Two Hearted Ale and Hopslam Ale — were recognized again in this year’s Best Beers in America survey from Zymurgy magazine. (Ya, that’s a real magazine!)

 
According to supplied material, Two Hearted was No. 1 in the Top-Ranked Beers category and Bell’s Brewery itself was named top brewery. This is the third consecutive year that Two Hearted has claimed this honor. It came in second to Russian River’s Pliny the Elder for seven straight years previously. Hopslam Ale also placed in the top-ranked beers list tied at No. 7.

Full personal connection disclosure: When in doubt at an unknown pub, if there is Two Hearted on tap, it’s mine. And, in case you’ve never tried Northern California’s Russian River brews, Pliny included, you should check it out.

For more information about Bells’s Brewery, visit here.

 
Also, just so you know, the American Homebrewers Association (AHA), which publishes Zymurgy, annually chooses as favorites up to five of their favorite commercial beers available for purchase in the U.S. The full Best Beers in America list, which includes complete rankings on all the top beers, breweries and more, is available at HomebrewersAssociation.org.

30+ food trucks, volunteer opportunities, at Kentwood’s End of Summer Food Truck Festival

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Food, Going Local, Kids Activities, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Upcoming Events,
A variety of for trucks will be at Kentwood’s End of Summer Food Truck Festival. (WKTV)

By City of Kentwood

The City of Kentwood and GR8 Food Trucks invites foodies and families to explore cuisine from nearly 30 vendors during the fourth annual End of Summer Food Truck Festival on Saturday, Sept. 14.

The free-to-attend community event will run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the parking lot of the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard. L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. In addition to a cornucopia of food trucks, the event will also feature live music and a beer tent.

“Kentwood’s End of Summer Food Truck Festival is a great way to celebrate the last few days of summer sun in Michigan with friends and family,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director. “Our lineup of local eats, drinks and live music means a whole day of fun for the community.”

Community volunteers are needed for the event. Those interested can sign up here.

Food trucks attending the event include: Alt City Beverage Company, Babatürk Food Truck, Bavarian Inn Cluck Truck, Coffee Rescue, D&D’s Gluten-Free, D&W Street Eatery, Daddy Pete’s BBQ, Daddy’s Dough Cookies, Doughrunts, El Caribe Food Truck, Fire and Rice, Ice Box Brand Ice Cream Bars, Kona Ice of West Grand Rapids, Kool Breze, LLC, Lazy Man BBQ, Nick’s Gyros, NOM NOM Ninja, Patty Matters, Pig Out on the Fly, Porter’s Smokehouse, Pressed In Time, Saladino Smoke, Silver Star Cafe, Sleeping Bear Burritos, Specialty Cheesecake and Dessert Company, Summer Pops, Tamale Rose, Touch O’ Dutch and Underground Cookie Club.

Live music will start at 11 a.m. with The Bootstrap Boys, followed by DJ Snax, Molly and Last Gasp Collective. A beer tent featuring craft beer and cider will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Food trucks are known for providing a great mix of creative bites from talented chefs with quick service,” said Alan Stone, president of GR8 Food Trucks. “Kentwood’s End of Summer Food Truck Festival is an opportunity to sample a variety of food while supporting several local businesses.”

While entry to the festival is free, cost for food and beverages varies by vendor.

For more information visit kentwood.us/foodtruckfestival .

‘Old Yeller’: 1955 Chevrolet pickup shown at Metro Cruise is old made new again

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Dream Wheels, Local Business, Local Faces, Recreation, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects, , ,
Mitch Miller’s 1955 Chevrolet is expected to be on display at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 28th Street Metro Cruise. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

Anybody who has rebuilt a classic car will tell you there are somethings that just have to be modernized, that some of the original mechanicals simply can no longer be renovated.

That is especially true with classic pickups, most of which were bought and used as work vehicles — farm vehicles often — including Mitch Miller’s 1955 Chevrolet, a now annual visitor at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 28th Street Metro Cruise, this year on Aug. 23-24.

So while “Old Yeller” carries much history with it — including its original bright yellow paint job and his mother’s graduation tassel hanging from its rear view mirror — it also carries something few classic pickups possess: a fuel system running off of ethanol.

“It’s named ‘Old Yeller’ because it had that name, that color, when we bought it,” Miller said to WKTV. But in another way it is very, very different from when it was new or when it came into the family.

A Quick Fuel Technology carburetor, some new fuel lines and cleaned the fuel tank allows the vehicle to run on 85 percent ethanol . (Supplied)

“One of the interesting things is I converted it to E85,” he said. “I put a Quick Fuel (Technology) carburetor on it. Replaced the fuel lines and cleaned the fuel tank. It runs great on 85 percent ethanol and that is the only fuel I run through it now. That is kind of a thing (when he shows it off). I’m an ethanol producer, we have the NuVu (Fuels) gas stations, and we wanted to do a little bit of proving that ethanol can run great on older vehicles. It burns really clean and has good power.”

While the ’55 may have modern technology and a little bit of modern purpose associated with it, it also carries a family history that will be passed on in the family, Miller said.

“My father bought the truck in 1992, 27 years ago, in Bismarck, North Dakota … It was his favorite year of pickup. He was a Chevy guy for a lot of years,” Miller said. “But it had basically sat in a barn, in storage, for 15 years in Bismarck … I have had an interest in older vehicles, and have redone a number of vehicles — a ’74 Corvette, a ’68 Camaro — so I asked my brothers to ship that truck to me.”

As with almost any classic car rebuilt, the vehicle was in worse shape than he thought when it was finally parked in his garage — “A lot of pickups were used as farm trucks and they were really abused. I think they are more rare than the cars. … just preserving the history and keeping them on the road.

Mitch Miller’s 1955 Chevrolet “Old Yeller”. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

“I spent the winter of 2016, into 2017, just going through all the mechanical. Brakes. We added power steering. Radiator. Rims and tires. Took the dash out if it, got all the old gages working. … We were having trouble with the original straight six cylinder motor and we put a Crate 350 in it. So it has a little more horsepower. So, just got it road worthy. … Now it’s a great cruiser. We use it on the Interstate. It’ll run 75 miles an hour down the road.”

And with a reminder of its family history hanging from its rearview mirror, it will likely stay cruising down the Miller family road for a while.

“When my dad first bought it, my mom put her 1970 graduate class tassel on the rear view mirror and that would never be touched by our family. That stays there,” he said. “This truck will go down to my brother’s son, or my son. It will stay in the family.”

WKTV Community Media will produce a 1-hour special live broadcast scheduled to air at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, on WKTVLive.org as well as on WKTV Comcast Cable Channel 25 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, and, later on demand at WKTV.org.

For more information Metro Cruise 2019, visit the chamber’s website at southkent.org and keep up on the latest news of Metro Cruise and DreamWheels at WKTVjournal.org.

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news for the weekend

3-bottom, Food, Going Local, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events

By WKTV Staff

Ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“A wise man once said, ‘In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.’ “

Benjamin Franklin

New tastes in the area

The local chamber of commerce and the City of Kentwood welcomed Wise Men Distillery and Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant to town this summer. Been there yet? Visit here for the story.

New art exhibit in St. Joe

Up for a little road trip? St. Joseph’s Krasl Art Center (KAC) opened a show by artists Jon Hook and Andrea Peterson with their immersive installation: Inhaling the Universe, on view starting Aug. 9. It runs through Sept. 29. Visit here for the story.

Polka and beer. What is not to like?

… And the Polish fest is coming

Admission is free to the Dozynki Polish Festival that will be held at Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center, from Aug. 23-25, and festival organizers stressed that there will be plenty of inexpensive parking. Visit here for the story.

Fun fact:

Polish peeps in Warren, Mich.

According to Wikipedia — whatever — Warren has the largest population in Michigan of people of Polish ancestry, at about 28,000. Detroit has about 19,000.

A bed of beauty: 1951 Chevrolet pickup shown at Metro Cruise has family ties, memories

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Dream Wheels, Local Faces, Recreation, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects,

[huge_it_slider id=”80″]


By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org


Doug Deweerdt’s history with his 1951 Chevrolet pickup is not unlike a lot of stories about guys rebuilding classic cars — it started out with rusty years in a pole barn somewhere, it’s always more work than they initially thought, and it often has a strong family connection.

But the story of Doug’s dad wanting to leave classic cars to both sons, and his deceased dad’s involvement Deweerdt’s rebuilding process, is unique.


“My father picked this vehicle up, probably, about 30 years ago, for him and I to restore,” Deweerdt said to WKTV. “He already had a 1947 Dodge business coupe. He picked up the truck for he and I to do, so my brother would get the car and he’d leave the truck to me.


“Well, life and kids got in the way and it sat in his pole barn for like 20 years, then he pushed it off into my garage for like five or six (years). He passed away in January 2013 and in December I decided, you know, its time to do the truck.”



While he was working on the renovation of the truck, done in about 2-1/2 years, he was constantly reminded of his father, though.


Deweerdt spent “a lot of time in the shop, after work,” working on the pickup, he said. And “I’ve got a picture of him standing next to his ’47 that hung on my shop wall the entire time,” — his voice trailing off in memories — “there is definitely a connection.”


The process of rebuild

Deweerdt, who is plant manager of Grand Rapids’ tortilla maker El Milagro of Michigan, Inc., told us the story of the actual work required that involved both family and a new friend.


“At the time (he started the rebuild) I had an acquaintance that had built a couple (cars), Jeff Myles, and I asked if he would stop by and take a look at it. You know, give me some ideas,” he said. “So he did, and, you know, in talking to him, I asked him if he would mentor me. I told him I’m not asking him to help me, just kind of walk me through certain sections of it. Which he did, and he’s become a very, very good friend of mine now.”


While Deweerdt did “about 90 percent of the work,” including a frame swap, to give him more modern brakes and other mechanicals, he finished it with a special paint job from a shop in Muskegon. He has been showing the ’51 for three years.


“I tried to keep it as original as I could,” he said. “A lot of guys really modify the bodies, shave the doorhandles and all of that. I really didn’t want to do that. I really wanted to keep it as original as possible and yet I wanted that look (pointing to the vehicle) and I wanted a more modern-day ride, with the suspension.”


And then there is the wood bed

One other thing that is not “original” is the truck’s bed — but that, too, is more a personal story.


“The bed wood, we get a ton of complements on that,” Deweerdt said. “A lot of them just do the normal wood shade. … (but) I had seen a sample of the dark wood on the internet. My wife piddles with woodworking, we both do. So I gave her a sample of the wood and said ‘This is what I want.” And she played around with a couple different combinations and this is what we came up with. … we get a lot of people commenting on that.”


And there will broadly be more comments on the ’51 at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 28th Street Metro Cruise on Aug. 23-24.


WKTV Community Media will produce a 1-hour special live broadcast scheduled to air at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, on WKTVLive.org as well as on WKTV Comcast Cable Channel 25 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, and, later on demand at WKTV.org.


For more information Metro Cruise 2019, visit the chamber’s website at southkent.org and keep up on the latest news of Metro Cruise and DreamWheels at WKTVjournal.org .


Kent County advises of Emergency Alert System test Wednesday, Aug. 7

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Crime Prevention, Our Cities, Upcoming Events

Outdoor emergency siren horn.

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

Kent County Emergency Manager Lt. Lou Hunt today released a statement to inform the general public about a planned test of the country’s Emergency Alert System.

As part of the statement, Lt. Hunt states: “This is only a test and is not a real event. No action is needed by the public. It is also important to know this test does not include wireless emergency alerts, so alerts broadcast through wireless devices such as cellphones are not expected nor being tested. Rather, this test is aimed at traditional alerting methods such as radio and television.”

Following is the complete statement:

FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission and radio and television Emergency Alert System (EAS) participants, will conduct a nationwide test of the EAS beginning at 2:20 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. A backup date is scheduled for Wednesday, August 21, 2019, if needed. The test will assess the operational readiness of the nation’s alert and warning infrastructures for distribution of a national message that could be urgent and lifesaving and determine whether technological improvements are warranted.

The test of the EAS will broadcast a test message that is approximately one minute long. Broadcast radio and television, cable, wireline service providers, and direct broadcast satellite service providers will each broadcast the test message once within a few minutes of the test. The national EAS test message will look and sound similar to the regular Required Monthly Test messages broadcast by all EAS participants.
The EAS test message is expected to have limited impact on the public with only a minor interruption to regular radio and television programs. The EAS test message will be:

“This is a test of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communication Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert, you heard at the start of this message. No action is required.”

Kentwood’s National Night Out includes Master Plan information at Woodland Mall

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Community Health, Crime Prevention, Going Local, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects, , ,
The City of Kentwood has held two previous Plan Kentwood community information gathering events. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

City of Kentwood staff will be doing double duty Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Woodland Mall as the city will take advantage of the crowd attending National Night Out events to offer information and take comments on the city’s in-work “Plan Kentwood” master plan update.

During the same hours, 3-5 p.m., Kentwood Police Department staff and emergency vehicles will be present both inside and outside at the mall for public viewing and exploration — see a previous WKTV story on the National Night Out events — and city planning staff will be present to discuss planned and possible future planning of the 28th Street and 29th Street commercial corridor.

Kentwood planning staff and leaders such as Mayor Stephen Kepley, shown in middle, at a previous Plan Kentwood event. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)

The August planning community event is the third of four events offered because the city “is updating its long-range vision for growth, land use, development and open space conservation, known as the Master Plan, and is seeking public input on proposed changes through Plan Kentwood, a community engagement series,” the city has previously stated in a press release.

The Master Plan is an official public document adopted by the Kentwood Planning and City Commissions. The current forward-looking development plan considers residents’ and property owners’ long-range goals and desires, as well as local, regional and market trends. It consists of goals, policies and recommended actions to guide land use decision-making for Planning Commissioners and City Commissioners during the next 20 years.

The Plan is reviewed at least every five years but is modified and updated as deemed necessary by the City Commission. The most recent update was completed in 2012.

“The Master Plan is not a law or ordinance, but rather a guide for decisions to support how growth and conservation will take place in the City. We welcome all community members to be a part of the conversation,” Kentwood Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer said previously. “We look forward to engaging with residents, businesses and property owners for community feedback as we plan for Kentwood’s future development.”

At the Aug. 6 event, staff will be inside Woodland Mall at a table to gather input on the future planning of the 28th Street and 29th Street commercial corridor. The corridor consists of a wide range of development – from high-end boutiques, major regional malls and local retailers, to many national dining, service and product franchises. Public input gathered will focus on how to improve its effectiveness as a transportation corridor, and as a business and employment center, according to the city.

The final event, “Designing Division,” will be hosted at Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12. Community members are encouraged to join for an evening of ice cream and discussions on the future of the Division Avenue corridor with the City of Kentwood, the City of Wyoming and the Division Avenue Business Association. Division Avenue is a key gateway corridor to both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, requiring cooperation between the two communities.

More information about the Master Plan update is available at kentwood.us/PlanKentwood. Questions or comments may be directed to Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer at schweitzert@kentwood.us; 616-554-0710, or Economic Development Planner Lisa Golder at golderl@kentwood.us; 616-554-0709.

Healthcare and the arts open mental health dialogue with rock musical ‘Next to Normal’

Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By Stephanie Burdick, Tibbits Opera House


In a unique collaboration between healthcare and the arts, ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital, Pines Behavioral Health, and Tibbits Summer Theatre will bring the dramatic rock musical Next to Normal to the Tibbits stage for six performances September 6 to 14, 2019.


Mental Health issues affect more American families than can be accurately measured. It is a disease which is highly misunderstood and filled with stigma. Theatre has long been a means of bringing attention to issues, dispelling stigmas or at least opening up dialogues.


According to Randy DeGroot, President of ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital, “Bringing this play to the community is hoped to reduce the fear and stigma of mental illness — a biological disease — that requires the same level of treatment and follow up as any other health condition.”


Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for drama as well as three 2009 Tony awards including Best Musical Score, Next to Normal is a very real depiction of the effects of mental illness, both for the affected and their families. Pines and ProMedica have teamed with Tibbits to present the show as a means of opening the dialogue on the very real issues of mental health. Whereas newspaper articles and public town hall forums can convey awareness information, watching the lives unfold during this play creates a much deeper understanding of mental illness.


According to Sue Germann, Chief Executive Officer for Pines, “Through this artistic and entertaining vehicle we can bring awareness to the mental health issue and deepen the dialogue of a very serious biological disease.”


One in five Americans experience a mental health condition; for one in 25, the condition is serious mental illness, yet less than half receive the needed treatment. Among the barriers is lack of education or awareness and social stigma. Both of these barriers can be addressed through this artistic and entertaining professional show.


ProMedica is a mission-based, not-for-profit integrated healthcare organization headquartered in Toledo, Ohio. Driven by its mission to improve health and well-being, ProMedica has been nationally recognized for its advocacy programs and efforts to address social determinants of health. Pines, as the Community Mental Health Authority for Branch County, specializes in assisting those with serious mental illness such as Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Severe Anxiety and other brain conditions that impair functional abilities due to the severity of symptoms.


Tibbits has been producing professional theatre for 55 years and has established its reputation for quality productions.


This collaborative activity is sponsored by ProMedica with additional support from Pines. The performance also received support from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Minigrant Program administered by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.


Next to Normal will be presented September 6, 7, 13, 14 at 7:30 pm and September 8 and 12 at 2 pm. Theatre has long been a means of bringing attention to issues, dispelling stigmas or at least opening up dialogues. To encourage the open dialogue each performance will include informal discussions and Talkbacks to engage audience members in the dialogue. A Talkback is a discussion of the show with the performers and others involved. Discussions will include health care professionals available for questions, information and assistance.


The goal for ProMedica and Pines is to promote the health and well-being of the community. With the involvement of Tibbits and this shared experience of experiencing Next to Normal, the three organizations hope to build important connections with all of the people involved with or attending the show.


Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know — weekend edition

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kids Activities, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Upcoming Events, , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“It always helps to have people we love beside us when we have to do difficult things in life.”

From The World According to Mister Rogers (p. 45).
WKTV file photo

Get to know your neighbor, Aug. 6

Started in 1984, National Night Out has evolved to neighborhoods hosting block parties, festival, parades, cookouts and other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personal, exhibits and much more. More here.

Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

How about doing some daytripping?

Be a fake tourist for a day. Go to local museums, parks, festival events or even the town historical sites and city hall. You might be amazed about how much local history sits buried in these locations that most people don’t know a lot about. Go here for more day trip ideas.

Circle Aug. 8th on your calendar

Comedy-drama, Superior Donuts by Tony® Award- and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Tracy Letts, explores the challenges of embracing the past and the redemptive power of friendship. It opens Aug. 8th at Circle Theatre. Go here for the deets.

Fun fact:

Because he ‘hated it so’

That’s the reason Fred Rogers (aka Mr. Rogers) got into television. When he turned on a set, all he saw was angry people throwing pies in each others’ faces, and he vowed to use the medium to make the world a better place.

Comedy with a message — ‘Superior Donuts’ at Circle Theatre opens Aug. 8

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Faces, Upcoming Events, ,

By Ashlee McGreevy, Circle Theatre


Circle Theatre continues its 67th Main Stage season with a production of Superior Donuts opening on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 7:30pm inside the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College. Superior Donuts is brought to the Circle stage by Production Sponsor Steelcase and is rated R for strong language and adult situations.

“This is a show about being stuck in life. Stuck because of past mistakes, stuck because of one’s upbringing or background, or maybe stuck because of a crippling anxiety, guilt or fear. This is a show about overcoming these paralyses in order to find freedom, even when opposed by literal violence.” — Andrew Manion, Cast Member (Kevin Magee)


Under the direction of Mike Hull, Superior Donuts tells the story of Arthur, a Polish-American, who owns a decrepit donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Franco Wicks, a black teenager who is his only employee, wants to change the shop for the better.


This comedy-drama by Tony® Award- and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Tracy Letts explores the challenges of embracing the past and the redemptive power of friendship.


Circle Theatre audience members can take advantage of the Lobby Bar on select nights throughout the summer, including the Aug. 9 performance of Superior Donuts. On Aug. 9, Michigan craft beer and wine as well as donuts from Marge’s Donut Den will be available starting at 7pm; beverages can be enjoyed inside the theatre on that evening.

“Our show is the story of the American Dream as told by ordinary people. If you are someone who believes that America can be the best it can be for all of its people than this is a show that will hopefully inspire some questions and no small degree of hope.” — Mike Hull, Director


Superior Donuts will run Aug. 8-10, 14-17, 21-24 at 7:30pm, and Aug. 18 at 5:30pm. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call the box office at 616.456.6656 or visit Circle’s website at circletheatre.org.



The Rapid teams with chamber to provide free shuttle service during Metro Cruise

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Dream Wheels, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects, ,
The annual Metro Cruise is always a popular event, and now getting there will be easier thanks to a shuttle service provided by The Rapid. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

The annual Metro Cruise is always popular, with visitor parking often at a premium, and the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 28th Street Metro Cruise on Aug. 23-24 will be no different.

But thanks to a partnership with The Rapid, there will be two shuttle buses running from nearby but off 28th Street parking locations — Wyoming High School and the Wyoming’s Kent District Library — where visitors can park easily and take a free shuttle to and from all the action.

“The Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce is excited with our partnership with The Rapid to operate two shuttle buses for the 28th Street Metro Cruise,” Bob O’Callaghan, President/CEO of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, said to WKTV. “We thank The Rapid for their continued support of the chamber and the 28th Street Metro Cruise.”

The Rapid often provides shuttle service for community events. (Supplied)

The free buses supplied by The Rapid will shuttle Cruise attendees from Wyoming High School, 1350 Prairie Parkway, and the Wyoming library, 3350 Michael to Rogers Plaza every 20 to 30 minutes during the peak times on Friday, Aug. 23 and Saturday, Aug. 24. Exact times of the shuttle service is as-yet to be determined.

WKTV Community Media will produce a 1-hour special live broadcast scheduled to air at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23.

For more information on the shuttle service, visit the chamber’s website at southkent.org the week of Metro Cruise, or keep up on the latest Metro Cruise news at WKTVjournal.org .

New art exhibition ‘Inhaling the Universe’ at Krasl Art Center Aug. 9-Sept. 29

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , ,
Courtesy Krasl Art Center

By Matthew Bizoe, Krasl Art Center


Krasl Art Center (KAC) welcomes LaPorte, IN artists Jon Hook and Andrea Peterson to the galleries for their immersive installation: Inhaling the Universe. On view Aug. 9-Sept. 29, this exhibition marks an experimental new adventure by the artists and nature alike, played out in KAC’s galleries. 


The artists have created specific pieces for the exhibit, including sculpture, cyanotype, and custom prints in an awe-inspiring installation that is stimulated by and made in collaboration with nature. Their work reflects on the passage of time and life cycles; it leads viewers on a thoughtful and conscientious walk through a wonder-filled landscape. 


Hook and Peterson have been living in northwest Indiana since 1997. In both work and study, they attempt to live harmoniously with the surrounding environment. They apply regenerative and sustainable methods on their small farm that entwines their work and life. Hook Pottery Paper consists of a clay studio; a combined book, paper, and print studio; and a gallery shop.


Hook’s wood-fired ceramics use an intense and industrious process that emphasizes the use of local materials for firing as well as glaze-making. He reduces local plants such as hay, cattails, and thistle, as well as clay to their molecular essence, which is then used to create unique glazes. He is a forerunner and expert in his field, specifically concerning sustainable and regenerative firing and ceramic studio processes. Hook has received two consecutive Indiana State grants that aided his research of an oil drip burner system to assist the wood-fired kiln on their farm. Hook’s dedication to mutualism in the environment has evolved to center on regional identity.


Peterson’s work explores all types of paper fibers and processes including paper works, prints, artist books, and environmental installation pieces. She combines paper arts, printmaking and book arts to make works that address the human relationship to the environment.

Courtesy Krasl Art Center

Peterson received her BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her MFA in printmaking from University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She has lectured and taught extensively, including at Ox-Bow; School of the Art Institute of Chicago; Sciola de Graphica, Venice, Italy; Paper Museum Steyermeuhl, Austria; Syracuse University and Indiana University. She currently teaches in the Fiber and Material Studies Department at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.


Krasl Art Center invites the community to welcome the artists and this impressive undertaking on Friday, Aug. 9, from 6-8pm with a cash bar, live music, and small bites provided by Bistro on the Boulevard. Guests will meet not only Hook and Peterson but also artlab artist Casey Roberts and sculptor Peter Krsko, who created the wooden interactive sculpture Ground Wave in KAC’s East Garden. 


Hook and Peterson will give a presentation about their farm and regenerative practices before the opening party at 5:30pm.



Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, How-To's, Pets/Animals, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“Animals are such agreeable friends — they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.”

George Eliot

On a roll

Only recently, Margo Price “was a country underdog just trying to keep enough gas in the tank to get to the next gig,” but by the end of 2016, she was one of the genre’s most celebrated new artists with gigs on late night television and at major festivals around the world. Don’t miss her performance at Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park this Thursday, Aug. 1st. The Dawes with Margo Price concert will start at 6:30pm (5:15pm gates open), with a $50 general admission ticket price. For more information and tickets visit meijergardens.org. Go here for the story.

Precious cargo

National Heat Stroke Prevention day is July 31, 2019, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reminding everyone to “look before you lock.” It takes just 10 minutes for a vehicle in the sun to heat up by 20 degrees and become potentially deadly for a child left locked in a car. Go here for the story.

Tick tock

If despite your best prevention efforts, a tick still attaches to you, there’s a right and a wrong way to remove ticks. Don’t use matches or the tip of a cigarette to burn off ticks. This could cause them to transmit bacteria more quickly. The correct way to remove a tick is to lift it gently with thin forceps or tweezers. Here are more tips.

Fun fact:

A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top. You’re welcome.


Kentwood’s National Night Out to include 20-plus community gatherings

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Crime Prevention, Going Local, Kids Activities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects
A video produced by the City of Kentwood and WKTV Community Media.

By City of Kentwood

The City of Kentwood will be bustling with block parties, neighborhood events and other activities on Tuesday, Aug. 6, as part of the community’s celebration of National Night Out.

Kentwood police officers, firefighters and City leaders will join residents at more than 20 gatherings planned for the annual community-building event, most of which will take place from 6 to 8 p.m.

National Night Out began in the 1980s with a goal to promote safer, better neighborhoods by uniting community members and police against neighborhood crimes. Every year, events are held nationwide on the first Tuesday in August to encourage citizens to turn their porch lights on and come out outside to meet their neighbors.


“National Night Out provides an opportunity to demonstrate how the City of Kentwood really is a community effort,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “The City’s entire leadership team is looking forward to celebrating the strong sense of community that exists in Kentwood and helping to promote the practice of neighbors caring for neighbors.”


The Kentwood Police Department has partnered with Woodland Mall to offer community members an up-close look at emergency vehicles both outside and throughout the mall from 3 to 5 p.m. Large emergency vehicles will be on display outside by Celebration! Cinema, while other vehicles will be placed throughout the mall for shoppers to learn about and explore. A table featuring Kentwood Police Department giveaways will be located in the Barnes and Nobles wing.

In addition, several public community-based events will be hosted from 6 to 8 p.m. and feature a variety of activities, including appearances from McGruff the Crime Dog. Locations of those events include:

Pentecostals Church, 2627 44th St. SE, will host a party featuring a bounce house, free meal, face painting, music, carnival games and other kids’ activities.

South United Methodist Church, 4500 S. Division Ave., will have free ice cream and hot dogs, a live band, door prizes and a small water slide for young children.

Faith Church, 1412 44th St. SE, will have food trucks and a live band.

“A strong alliance with law enforcement is necessary for fostering safer neighborhoods,” Police Chief Thomas Hillen said. “Members of our department enjoy any opportunity to connect with residents, but National Night Out in particular offers a great opportunity to build positive relationships and create open lines of communication.”


More information about National Night Out events in Kentwood is available at kentwood.us/NNO.

‘American Made’ Margo Price, with baby story and great music, comes to Meijer Gardens amphitheater

3-bottom, Local Entertainment, Reviews, Upcoming Events,
Margo Price. (Supplied by the artist)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

Say what you want about the alt/retro country music sounds of Margo Price, who will be opening for Dawes on the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park outdoor amphitheater stage Wednesday, July 31. But there is no doubt she is “All American Made”, both her music and her just delivered child.

Price comes to town with music from her outstanding 2016 release “Midwest Farmer’s Daughter” and her even better 2017 release “All American Made”. She also comes to the stage after giving birth to a daughter, Ramona Lynn Ivey, on June 4 — of this year.

That’s what I would call “American Made” tough.

Price and her husband, Jeremy Ivey, who plays guitar in Price’s band, have one other child, a boy born in 2010.

Margo Price. (Supplied by the artist)

Price was on the road both during and, as evidenced by her current tour schedule, soon after her latest pregnancy — last November she announced the pending addition to the family at a concert in Nashville: “I’ve been hiding something behind my guitar. We’re expecting a baby,” she says on her website.

What the singer/songwriter hasn’t been hiding is her great songs, including during her 2017 stop at St. Cecilia Music Center. (For a review of the concert, visit here.)

All American Made album cover

Her list of musical honors includes winning Americana Music Emerging Artist of the Year in 2016, the UK Americana International Song of the Year in 2017 for “Hands of Time” (from “Midwest Farmer’s Daughter”), 2018 Americana Music nominations for Artist of the Year and Album of the Year as well as a win for for Song of the Year for “A Little Pain” (from “All American Made”), and just this year, a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

And with a story like her’s, and a growing musical catalogue, I’d bet she is not done with that Grammy thing.

According to her official bio, in 2015, she “was a country underdog just trying to keep enough gas in the tank to get to the next gig,” but by the end of 2016, she was one of the genre’s most celebrated new artists with gigs on late night television and at major festivals around the world. And things are not slowing down, even if her music is growing.

Margo Price. (Supplied by the artist)

“People have started asking me, ‘Now that you’re having success, what are you going to write about?’” Price says in her bio. “A lot of what I wrote on my debut came out of my struggles in the music business, but we don’t have any shortage of material now. I’m just excited to finally have an audience and know that people are going to listen to our songs.”

With all due respect to Dawes, many people will be at Meijer Gardens to listen to her “American Made” songs — and maybe get a baby story or two.

For a video of “All American Made”, visit here.

Other remaining Meijer Gardens shows with original price tickets remaining include An Evening with the Beach Boys on Aug. 1, JJGrey and Mofro with Jonny Lang on Aug. 14, The Stray Cats on Aug. 15, Mandolin Orange — one of my early not-to-miss concerts — on Sept. 4, Dash Sultana on Sept. 8, The B-52s with ODM and Berlin on Sept. 11, and the season finale of Calexico and Iron & Wine on Sept. 18.

The Dawes with Margo Price concert will start at 6:30 p.m. (5:15 p.m. gates open), with a $50 general admission ticket price. For more information and tickets visit meijergardens.org .

Tickets on sale now for April 5, 2020, ‘The Bachelor Live On Stage’ at DeVos Hall

Entertainment, Upcoming Events, ,

For the first time in Grand Rapids, Bachelor fans become part of the search for love.

By Hilarie Carpenter, SMG


The most successful romance reality series in the history of television is coming to Grand Rapids to help you find love. The Bachelor Live on Stage official tour will be at SMG-managed DeVos Performance Hall on Sunday, April 5, 2020, at 6pm.


The tour is the latest extension of the hit Bachelor franchise, which already includes The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise spin-offs, all produced by Warner Horizon Unscripted Television. The Bachelor television series, heading into its 24th season on ABC, airs in 31 countries around the world.

Hosted by The Bachelor fan favorite Ben Higgins, The Bachelor Live on Stage fits an entire season of Bachelor drama into one evening, giving members of the audience the opportunity to find love in their own community, complete with a rose ceremony.


“I am so pumped to host the Bachelor live tour,” said host Ben Higgins. “Bachelor Nation, or maybe I should say the whole Bachelor family, has brought me a ton of joy over the years.”


Tickets are on sale now! Tickets are available at the DeVos Place® and Van Andel Arena® box offices and online at Ticketmaster.com. See Ticketmaster for all current pricing and availability.


Each stage show will introduce an eligible hometown bachelor to local ladies from the audience searching for a chance at love. And, for the first time ever, Bachelor Nation will have a say in the rose ceremony. Along with the audience, Ben will guide the bachelor in his journey to find love, from the first impression rose to group date challenges and the coveted one-on-ones. Watch it all unfold live on stage. If the leading lady accepts the final rose, the night could end with the start of a beautiful romance. The Bachelor Live on Stage has something for everyone, whether you’re looking to find love or just want to enjoy the drama of the evening.


For more information on The Bachelor Live on Stage, please go here.


Follow The Bachelor Live on Stage (#BachelorLiveOnStage, #BachelorLive, #BachelorOnStage) on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.



21st Annual ‘Mitchell’s Run Thru Rockford’ coming up Saturday, Aug. 17

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Upcoming Events
Photo courtesy MRTR

By Lauren King


On Aug. 17, 2019, the 21st Annual Mitchell’s Run Thru Rockford (MRTR), a 5K Run/Walk and Kids for Kids Fun Run, will take place in downtown Rockford. 100% of the race fees and pledges from this event are donated to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD).


The race is named for Mitchell Peterson, who was was diagnosed with Duchenne shortly before his third birthday.

Courtesy MRTR

PPMD’s mission is to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a fatal genetic disorder that slowly robs people of their muscle strength. Those with Duchenne are truly in a race against time as their muscles deteriorate further each day.


Duchenne is the most common muscular dystrophy in children. It is a progressive disorder that causes muscles to become weaker over time until it affects the whole body. Duchenne is not contagious. About one out of every 5,000 boys has Duchenne, and about 20,000 babies worldwide are born with it each year. Duchenne mostly affects boys and reaches across all races and cultures. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) estimates that there are about 15,000 young men, as well as a few young women, living with Duchenne today in the United States.

 Over the past 20 years, MRTR has included over 10,000 participants, 1,000 volunteers, and several thousand spectators, raising over $1,000,000. Mitchell’s Run Thru Rockford has been designated by Classic Race Management as “One of the Premier Running Events in West Michigan”.


When you join Mitchell’s Run thru Rockford, a Race to End Duchenne, you are supporting PPMD’s vital work in advancing research, care, and advocacy to help those with Duchenne live longer, stronger lives.


When: Saturday, Aug. 17

  • 5K Run/Walk, 8:30am
  • Kids for Kids Run, 9:30am, (new in 2019, along with the Super Heroes, Princesses from Royal Arrivals will also run alongside the kids.)

Where: Downtown Rockford, Michigan 


Go here to register.



Brioso String Quartet to perform July 25 at the Downtown Holland Street Performer Series

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , , ,
Courtesy Brioso String Quartet

By Adrienne Brown-Reasner, West Michigan Tourist Association


The popular Brioso String Quartet will appear at the Street Performer Series in Downtown Holland tomorrow night from 6:30-8:30pm, performing songs from Bach to Bruno Mars.


Every Thursday night this summer, the sidewalks of Downtown Holland are filled with performing artists and groups from every background, including musicians, balloon twisters, jugglers, magicians, aerial acrobats, dancers, face painters and so much more! The Street Performer Series is free to attend and is sponsored by Gentex Corporation.


The Brioso String Quartet has been providing quality instrumental music in West Michigan for over 20 years. The quartet comprises violinists, Tammy Clark and Jennifer Tuinenga, with Laurie Van Ark on the viola and Ginger Vandenbrink on the cello. While regularly providing traditional string music at hundreds of wedding receptions and other private events, the quartet is well known for bringing a fun mix of both classical music and popular favorites to the Street Performer Series, delighting crowds with hits from the Beatles, popular Broadway tunes and more.


The concerts are free for the public and are located on 8th Street between Columbia and Pine Avenues; 8th Street will be closed to traffic for the event for crowd safety purposes.


Although the Series is free to attend, tipping the performers is highly encouraged. In addition to the exclusive event sponsor, Gentex Corporation, the Street Performer Series is also supported by the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs through the Holland Area Arts Council.


Information about individual performers is available here.


Tom Coverly Illusion and Magic Show at the Henderson Castle

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, ,
Courtesy Tom Coverly

By Adrienne Brown-Reasner, West Michigan Tourist Association


Head to the Henderson Castle Aug. 16 for an amazing dinner as well as a comedy and illusion show by world renowned magician, “The Illusionist” Tom Coverly.


Your entertainer for the evening is one of the most-requested, clean adult entertainers in America. He has performed live for nearly 3 million people, has been seen on TV (ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS), entertained numerous celebrities (including the entire cast of the Batman vs Superman movie) and has shared the stage with the biggest names in music like Skillet, Toby Mac, Korn, Pop Evil, Thompson Square, NF and Danny Gokey (of American Idol), just to name a few.


Get ready to laugh a lot and have your mind blown by magic tricks that you will never forget! For more information about The Illusionist, go to TomCoverly.com.


Multi-course dinner includes soup & salad, bread & butter, entree choice, and dessert du jour.


Shows are Aug. 16, 5:30-8:30pm or 2nd Show 7:30-10:30pm. Tickets $87.00/person available at hendersoncastle.com


Event tickets are non-refundable at time of purchase, and by purchasing tickets you agree to these terms. Event tickets will not be transferable within 48 hours of purchase. Events are sometimes held in our 3rd Floor Ballroom. Guests who may have difficulty walking up the stairs should contact the Castle in advance of ticket purchase. There is a set menu, however, we are able to make adjustments in advance. We will not take dinner orders during the event, so after you make reservations, please let us know of any dietary restrictions by calling the front desk at (269) 344-1827 or emailing us at info@hendersoncastle.com.

Hannah Rose & GravesTones bring ‘cross-pollination’ soul to Kentwood concert’s lawn

City of Kentwood, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events
Hannah Rose and the GravesTones. (Supplied)

WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

In the self-stated biography of Hannah Rose and the GravesTones, they say the band is “a bold foray into the funky, rhythmic refrains of a foregone era … a cross pollination of funk, blues, and rock ’n’ roll with soul” — emphasis on “SOUL”.

Hannah Rose and the GravesTones (Facebook)

And anybody who has heard lead singer and front-woman Hannah Rose Graves knows she knows how to wail with soul — emphasis on ‘WAIL”.

The GravesTones will be offering up the soul, with Hannah Rose doing some wailing, as the Grand Rapids group takes the stage of the City of Kentwood’s Summer Concert Series Thursday, July 18, at 7 p.m.

In addition to Hannah Rose, the band members include Adam Marth on guitar and vocals, Calvin Allen on drums, Clifton Metcalf on organ and various keyboards of choice, and Nuri Tett on bass.

For a video of Hannah Rose and the GravesTones playing the song “Take It Slow” from a 2018 gig at Meijer Gardens, visit here.

WKTV will be covering the concert, and almost all of Kentwood’s concerts, replaying it on our community television Channel 25 — check out the WKTV schedule here — and also available on-demand. The replay schedule for this concert is: Tuesday, June 25, at 9 p.m., and Saturday, June, 29, at about 12:30 p.m. (after a Wyoming community concert).

Concert-goers are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair, and may also bring their own beer or wine.

The remaining lineup for Kentwood’s Summer Concert Series is as follows:

July 25 — The Crane Wives, described by someone as “female-fronted, harmony-driven folk-rock”; lets just say West Michigan is lucky they are taking a local break from their busy summer tour schedule. For more information visit here.

Aug. 1 — Brena, offering up oldies, top 40 hits, classic rock, R&B and country. For more information visit here.

Aug. 8 — Melophobix, with “Cage Free” being not only the title of their latest release but also their funky musical outlook. For more information visit here.

All concerts will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude around 8:30 p.m. on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, located at 4900 Breton Ave. SE.

More information is available at kentwood.us/parks.

Nu Blu, on national tour, brings vocal bluegrass to Wyoming’s Concerts in the Park

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Local Entertainment, Reviews, Upcoming Events
Nu Blu, husband-and-wife duo Daniel and Carolyn Routh with their bandmates, will be making a stop at Lamar Park for Wyoming Concerts In The Park. (Supplied/The Band)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

As part of a busy summer touring schedule of the United States and Canada that includes several major bluegrass festival, but also a church or two and a pizza parlor, Nu Blu clearly believes in bringing new bluegrass to the people.

They also, it seems, believe in looking to the future, musically, while they pay respect to the past with their Americana/country sound.

Daniel and Carolyn Routh (Supplied/The Band)

Part of a long road trip, starting and ending at the band’s home in Siler City (that’s North Carolina, in case you’d like to know), husband-and-wife duo Daniel and Carolyn Routh, with their bandmates, will be making a stop at Lamar Park for Wyoming Concerts In The Park Tuesday, July 16.

“I love that we get to wake up someplace different every day,” Daniel Routh said in supplied material, about Nu Blu’s heavy road schedule. “We meet people from all over the country.”

In Wyoming, among the songs probably on the setlist at their local stop will be originals like “A Lot More Love” and “A Fool and Her Heart” — both off the band’s 2017 release “Vagabond” — as well as respectfully reworked covers of Country/Americana classics such as Waylon Jennings’ “Good Hearted Woman” and Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”.

They’ll likely play more off of “Vagabond”, but, to be honest, they had me at Dylan.

“We were playing this show and we just kinda decided we’d do ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.’,” Carolyn Routh said in supplied material. “We hadn’t rehearsed it; we hadn’t even played it together before. But we pulled it off that night, and the audience loved it.”

Above and beyond the musical skills of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Daniel, the banjo playing of Zach McCracke, and the fiddle/mandolin work of Justin Harrison, there is something special about Carolyn’s vocals (not to say she can’t handle a bass!).

Hearing “Knockin’ …” and “Good Hearted Woman” sung by a woman is both unique and memorable, and Carolyn’s sound on “A Lot More Love” and “A Fool and Her Heart” brings comparisons to a young Dolly Parton — a comparison I’d not argue with.

For a video of “A Lot More Love”, visit here.

All and all, “Vagabond” the band’s sixth full-length release “delivers a set of songs that range from the melancholy to the exuberant, and at every step they prove they’ve got a knack for finding their way into the deeper parts of you,” someone writes on the band’s website about the songs.

The band formed in 2003, centered around Carolyn and Daniel previous projects. Their constant traveling has also changed the way they make music.

“If anything, I feel like the road has made us a sunnier bunch. In past albums, we’ve tended to gravitate towards the songs that make you cry,” Carolyn said, “but on this one, there are a number of just happy, happy songs.”

Bottom line is two fold: Bluegrass is perfect for a hot summer night in Wyoming, and Nu Blu brings out the big guns with their bluegrass repertoire. And, while there are many great pickers in the genera these days, some say its the vocals that make great bluegrass, and led by Carolyn and Daniel, Nu Bu has the vocal chops as well.

As the Wyoming concert season winds down — with Boardman Brown on July 23, Daddyz Breakdown on July 30, and Shadows of the Night on Aug. 6 — WKTV will continue to cover the concerts and offer replays on our cable channels (see the cable channel schedule here) and WKTV On-demand.

So Nu Blu will be waiting, patiently, as they bring new bluegrass to the people.

Andrew Bird, flying on his own winds and whims, returns to Meijer Gardens

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Reviews, Upcoming Events,
The cover art of Andrew Bird’s latest release, “My Finest Work Yet”. (Supplied/The artist)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

Maybe it is just clever marketing that the cover of Andrew Bird’s latest release, “My Finest Work Yet”, shows the enigmatic if not totally eccentric artiste doing his deadpan recreation of La Mort de Marat (The Death of Marat), Jacques-Louis David’s iconic 1793 painting of the failed French revolutionary leader Jean-Paul Marat lying stabbed to death in his bath.

But, you know, it would be just like the musical multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and whistler, and songwriter — not to mention Guggenheim Museum exhibit creator, TED Talks presenter and New York Times op-ed contributor — to be sending the not-so-subtle message that he cares little if his work lives or dies on the commercial stage.

There is no doubt, however, that Bird likes the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park outdoor amphitheater stage (and the audience reception he gets) as he will be making another visit July 18, with, surprisingly, tickets still available for a show with Madison Cunningham opening.

Andrew Bird (Supplied/Brandi Ediss)

Bird clearly plays a tune to his own beat, from his earliest collaborative work with the band Squirrel Nut Zippers in the late 1990s through his popular (for him) 2016 solo release “Are You Serious” — which he was touring in support of when he visited Meijer Gardens in 2017, and still relied upon last summer when he visited with the equally experimental Esperanza Spalding.

If you don’t already know him and his music, you probably heard but never knew Bird from the single “Capsized” from “Are Your Serious”. The recording has certainly stayed easily accessible on the top shelf of the CD racks around my house, and not just for the catchy, slightly popish “Capsized”.

Bird’s simple philosophy on music and commercial acceptance may be best conveyed by his statement about “Are You Serious”: “Here I am with my most unguarded, direct, relatable album to date. Go easy on me.”

On his new release, which undoubtedly will be heavily drawn upon at Meijer Gardens next week, he is still unguarded and direct, and maybe still trying to be a little more relatable.

Bird opens “My Finest Work Yet” with the sophisticated sly wit and easy sounds of “Sisyphus”, then takes a serious turn with the jazzy “Bloodless”, which sounds like an ode to Marat and/or a modern political statement — “I know it’s hard to be an optimist, when you trust least the ones who claim to have the answers … It’s an uncivil war, bloodless for now.”

For a video of “Sisyphus”, visit here.

My favorites off of “My Finest Work Yet”, however, at least on first listen, focus on Bird’s violin prowess, including the softly sweet “Archipelago”, the power pop of “Proxy War” and the forlorn, almost alt-country “Bellevue Bridge Club”.

Andrew Bird, artiste. (Supplied)

Bottom line is expect the unexpected from Bird and his high-flying imagination — which, when not making music, recently has been occupied with a series of site-specific improvisational short films and recordings called Echolocations, recorded in remote and acoustically interesting spaces: a Utah canyon, an abandoned seaside bunker, the middle of the Los Angeles River, and a reverberant stone-covered aqueduct in Lisbon.

I wonder if one of the recording was made in a bath tub?

The Andrew Bird with special guest Madison Cunningham concert will start at 6:30 p.m. (5:15 pm gates open), with a $45 general admission ticket price. For more information and tickets visit meijergardens.org .