A spring bunny will be available for photos and visits at Woodland Mall starting this weekend. (Supplied)
By WKTV Staff
Photos with Santa are always a winter holiday family treat at Woodland Mall, and now a spring fling in the same vein is returning as starting March 26 photos with a big, fun “Springtime” bunny will be available through April 16.
And that is not all of the local family springtime events as the Mad Hatter Tea Party is set to return on Saturday, April 9.
“Seasonal family portraits are a beautiful way to capture memories of your loved ones,” Alyson Presser, marketing manager for Woodland Mall, said in supplied material. “You can either pose with the bunny or choose a spring-themed portrait area for a seasonal photo with your family, friends and pets.”
Pets can have their photo taken with a springtime bunny at Woodland Mall. (Supplied)
Bunny and family photos will be available in the Macy’s Court from noon to 7 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 6 p.m., Sundays. (For the last weekend before Easter Sunday, there will be extended hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16.
Pets can join in for photos noon-7 p.m. every Monday. Feathered and whiskered pets of all kinds are welcome as long as they are kept on a leash or in a carrier at all times. (Owners must also sign a release.)
Reservations are encouraged and can be made online. Walk-up visits are permitted when space is available.
And that Mad Hatter Tea Party
On April 9 guests are invited to attend the Mad Hatter Tea Party from 10 a.m. to noon. The Alice in Wonderland-themed event will include special appearances by the Mad Hatter himself, as well as Alice and the Red Queen. There will also be spring-themed crafts, snacks and games.
The event is free and open to the public. Those who attend the tea party are encouraged to reserve their bunny photos the day of to win a $10 gift card to The Children’s Place, a children’s specialty apparel retailer.
“Our Mad Hatter Tea Party makes celebrating the arrival of spring and taking photos with the bunny all the more magical,” Presser said. “We welcome everyone to enjoy this fun and interactive take on a Lewis Carroll classic story with activities that bring out the child in all of us.”
Mall hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. For more information visit shopwoodlandmall.com.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
By WKTV Staff
WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams sent us pictures of Valentine’s Day in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where she noted one family of flower farmers prepares arrangements for sale in the streets.
Jan. 12 Update: The City of Kentwood has announced that due to the frigid temperatures forecasted for this weekend, the City “has just made the difficult decision to postpone the Unity Walk planned for this Saturday.” Details of the rescheduled event will be announced once finalized.
In celebration and remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday Jan. 17, the City of Kentwood will host several events in honor of MLK on Saturday, Jan. 15, including a unity walk, a proclamation, live music, coffee and cake, and a community service effort to stock Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry — which began in 2017 as a Martin Luther King Jr. Day community service project.
A painting at the Kent County Administration Office unveiled in 2018. (WKTV)
Residents of all ages are invited to gather in front of the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE, at 9 a.m. for a 1-mile walk. The walk will end at Fire Station 1, 4775 Walma Ave. SE, according to a statement from the City of Kentwood.
An indoor ceremony will follow, including a proclamation that will be presented by various community members, live music, coffee and cake. The event is free and open to the public.
Canned goods and other non-perishable items will be accepted at the event to stock Little Free Pantry, for which the City of Kentwood continues to host food drives to keep the pantry well-stocked.
“We look forward to coming together as a community to celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “We will walk in remembrance of his historic contributions leading the civil rights movement bringing needed changes to our nation and in reflection of what we all can do to honor his values today and every day.
The City of Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)
“The event also continues our MLK Day community service tradition of stocking Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry to support our neighbors in need. All are invited to join us.”
Kentwood’s first Little Free Pantry opened in 2017 at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, where it remains available year-round during business hours. The second Little Free Pantry was opened last year at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch for the community to visit during library hours.
Anyone can utilize or donate to the pantry. More information, including a list of suggested donations, is available at kentwood.us/LittleFreePantry.
Staying in this New Year’s Eve — for whatever reason you care to choose — and not into college football bowl games? Want to catch some great music concerts? WKTV will replay its entire 2021 Kentwood Summer Concert Series to ring in the New Year.
Starting at 5 p.m. and running until after midnight, WKTV Community Media’s Community cable channel will rebroadcast five concerts leading off with Bootstrap Boys and running through the stroke of the New Year with The Soul Syndicate.
Don’t know some of the bands? WKTV produced previews of each (follow the links to the stories).
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown. WKTV can also be found on AT&T U-verse 99.
Booklovers, and those with lovers of books on their last-minute shopping list, are in for a treat as several new releases from well-known authors, as well as debut writers, are available just in time for the holidays.
And how better to get that last gift than by buying local, or making a holiday roadtrip out of it?
“There are a ton of really solid, interesting books by well-known authors, as well as those who haven’t written before,” said Tim Smith, Operations Manager for Schuler Books.
Schuler Books on 28th Avenue is a big bookstore with a small bookstore feel. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Founded in 1982 by Bill and Cecile Fehsenfeld, Schuler Books includes locations in both Grand Rapids and Okemos. The Grand Rapids location on 28th Street “offers a wide array of new and used books for adults and children, an extensive selection of book-themed gifts, and a café where shoppers can enjoy coffee and a bite to eat,” they say. And a “friendly, helpful staff contribute to the welcoming feel shoppers experience.”
And if you’re really into last minute Christmas shopping, Schuler Books invites all ages to come and enjoy the live reindeer that will be outside the store Christmas Eve.
Adding to the inviting atmosphere is the knowledge that the staff at Schuler Books have personally hand-picked each book lining the shelves.
“We have a team of buyers that meet with publishing reps (representatives),” Smith said, “and over time have curated our stock. There are core items, of course, but also items specific to each store and its location.”
Changes in readers’ tastes
Schuler’s Smith also mentioned a shift in what buyers are looking for in reading material.
“Over the past couple of years, but especially this year, it has been different because people are looking for books connected to particular current events that people are trying to understand,” said Smith. “People see the world is changing, that there are large changes happening, and people are looking to books to understand these things.”
Popular titles at Schuler Books this holiday season substantiate Smith’s observation, with several books addressing current topics prevalent in society today:
“Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem” by Amanda Gorman. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
“How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America” by Clint Smith speaks to racial understanding.
“Firekeeper’s Daughter” by Michigan author Angeline Boulley concentrates on the indigenous community.
“Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem” by Amanda Gorman incorporates a call to action for people of all ages to use their abilities to make a difference.
Other popular titles offer inspiration, humor, and a connection with nature:
“Taste: My Life Through Food” by Stanley Tucci; “The Impossible Mile: The Power in Living Life One Step at a Time” by Johnny Agar; “All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings” by Gayle Boss; “Where the Deer and the Antelope Play” by Nick Offerman; “A Carnival of Snackery” by David Sedaris; “Get Untamed” by Glennon Doyle, a companion journal to Doyle’s 2020 release, “Untamed”; “The Sentence” by Louise Erdrich.
Maybe make a day-trip shopping
If you like to do a little strolling around a small-town downtown with plenty of shopping, epilogue books, founded in July 2018 by Pat and Valerie Burkholder, is celebrating their fourth holiday season in Rockford.
Some of the staff picks at epilogue books in Rockford. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Tucked into a strip of stores just off East Bridge Street, epilogue books features a comprehensive selection of new books for readers of all ages, including several by Michigan authors.
“We try to support local Michigan authors and artists,” said Cindy Coats, bookseller at epilogue books.
Coats also said that the staff at epilogue books hand-picks each book that is placed on the shelves.
“We look at what books are projected to be top-sellers,” said Coats said, “as well as what people are asking for.”
And the staff also looks at trends: “People come in asking for books that are being made into movies, like ‘Dune’ (Frank Herbert) and ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ (Liane Moriarty),” said Coats.
Biographies and autobiographies have also proven to be a rising trend.
“People have been out of work, or not in their normal realm of work, for a year and a half and used that time to write their stories,” Coats said. “(Readers) like hearing where people came from, and especially about overcoming adversity.”
Several new releases on epilogue’s shelves cater to this topic, including “Will” by Will Smith, and “The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music” by Dave Grohl.
Pick one; all are worth reading. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
“Atlas of the Heart” by Brené Brown, a self-help book that focuses on how to develop meaningful connections with the people in our lives, is another popular title this holiday season.
Cookbooks are also a top seller this year. “Lots of celebrities are now writing cookbooks,” said Coats. “Pop culture is really interjecting into food.”
The bookseller pointed to “An Unapologetic Cookbook,” written by TikTok sensation Joshua Weissman. “We can’t keep these on the shelf,” Coats said with a laugh.
Other popular titles offered by epilogue books include: “Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone” (Outlander Series, Book 9) by Diana Gabaldon; “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides; “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid; “Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives” by Dav Pilkey.
A new reproduction of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” by J.K. Rowling is also dazzling shoppers with its full color illustrations and eight interactive paper craft elements.
“They are stunning,” said Coats, touching the cover as she passed by.
And say ‘“Hi” to Tommy
epilogue books’ Tommy the Bookstore Dog. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Visitors to epilogue books will most likely be welcomed by the store’s most popular member, Tommy the Bookstore Dog, a mild-mannered golden retriever who loves to interact with customers.
“People come in just to see Tommy,” said Coats. “One woman drove all the way from Lansing after seeing him on a TikTok video, just to meet him.”
And after the holidays, an upcoming event that booklovers will want to mark on their calendars is a book signing with ABC’s chief meteorologist, Ginger Zee, featuring her upcoming release, “A Little Closer to Home.” A Rockford native, Zee will be at epilogue books Jan. 15 to meet fans and sign books.
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), with a little bit of holiday lights lit, is the home of West Michigan’s Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew King, serving active duty in the U.S. Navy. (U.S. Navy)
In peacetime and in wartime, American serviceman and women often spend their Christmas Holidays far away from home but allowing those from their hometowns to enjoy the season safe and secure.
The U.S. Navy recently sent WKTV information on two such U.S. Navy personal from West Michigan, including their well wishes for family, friends and everybody they serve yet do not know.
Sailors help maintain America’s strategic advantage at sea, everyday, including the holidays. This means they do not always get to celebrate holidays with their loved ones.
U.S. Navy Seaman Breana Leonard. (U.S. Navy)
Seaman Breana Leonard, a Hastings native serving overseas will celebrate the holidays with shipmates in Guam.
“The holidays are a time to take a break and enjoy time with friends and family,” Seaman Leonard said in supplied material. And she wants to make sure her family back home know that they are loved and missed.
“Thank you for standing by me,” Leonard said. “I love you and I miss you all.”
Leonard serves as a gunner’s mate aboard USS Emory S. Land. As a member of the U.S. Navy, Leonard, as well as other sailors, know they are a part of “a tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance,” according to the U.S. Navy announcement.
“Serving in the Navy means that I’m setting myself up for success in the future,” added Leonard.
Leonard’s brother in arms, Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew King, a Grand Rapids native, will celebrate the holidays volunteering for Catholic services at the base chapel in Yokosuka, Japan.
But he remembers a special memory from a holiday past.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew King. (U.S. Navy)
“For me, the holidays represent birth and new beginnings,” Petty Officer King said in supplied material. “When I was 13, my house burnt down in the fall and when the holidays came a secret benefactor donated a home to my family. If you’re reading this, thank you!”
King, too, wants family back home to know they are missed this holiday season.
“I hope everyone back home has a merry Christmas,” King said. “Despite being in Japan, the Christmas spirit spans worldwide. I would also like to thank the students and staff of Meadowbrook Elementary School for sending us care packages.”
King serves as an intelligence specialist aboard USS Ronald Reagan.
“The Navy is about maintaining peace — especially for the holiday season,” King said. “That is all I could ask for.”
Stephanie Fox, of the Navy Office of Community Outreach, contributed to this story.
The Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s 15th Annual Santa Parade will return on Saturday, Dec. 11, starting at 10 a.m., with the parade route running down South Division Avenue from 33rd Street to just before 44th Street.
Expected to be in the parade are more than 50 entrants, including five school bands, and — of course — Santa.
Santa riding into town at the 2019 Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce Santa Parade. (WKTV)
WKTV will also be on-hand as well to record the festivities, with cable television re-broadcasts scheduled for the night of the parade, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m., and again Sunday, Dec. 12, at 10:30 p.m. WKTV’s coverage of the parade will also be available on-demand later.
Sponsors of the parade include Consumers Energy, Wyoming Moose Lodge, Car City, City of Wyoming, Diversified Protection and Investigations, The Chiropractic Doctor, Godwin Plumbing, Hobart Sales, HOM Flats, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Marge’s Donut Den, Rivertown Community Federal Credit Union, Steelcase, Supermercado Mexico, The Rapid and VanDyk Mortgage.
WKTV featured community events appear on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. Community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team are available on-demand within a week at wktvlive.com.
If you have seen the pandemic-inspired virtual productions of the Grand Rapids Ballet over the last year-plus, you know they are of exquisite quality in both production and filming.
So as the Ballet returns to DeVos Performance Hall after a 24 month hiatus for live performances of the holiday favorite “The Nutcracker” — scheduled for two weekends, Dec. 10-12 and Dec. 17-19 — there is a virtual option “for those who can’t join in person.”
But there is something, almost indescribable, about seeing dance live.
Grand Rapids Ballet’s Sarah Marley and Nathan Young in a scene from “The Nutcracker”. (Supplied/Ray Nard Imagemaker)
“There is just something irreplaceable about the magic of the theater, when the conductor cues the musicians, the lights dim, and the curtain opens to reveal a world of music, dance, and joy,” Ballet artistic director James Sofranko said to WKTV. “Live performance exists only in the present moment and is gone the next, and this immediacy is what makes attending the theater so special.”
The stage at DeVos Performance Hall will be in full holiday spirit with beautiful sets and beloved characters including Clara, Drosselmeyer, the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Cavalier, and of course, the Nutcracker Prince. The production also features Tchaikovsky’s magical score, performed live by the Grand Rapids Symphony with vocals by Grand Valley State University’s Department of Music.
Grand Rapids Ballet’s ballet school members in a scene from “The Nutcracker”. (Supplied/Ray Nard Imagemaker)
“For professional dancers, the tradition of ‘The Nutcracker’ is in our blood, we can’t imagine the holidays without it,” Sofranko said in supplied material. “It’s very special to return with this production that means so much to our organization’s history and our community.”
“The Nutcracker” was reimagined in 2014 by Grand Rapids native Chris Van Allsburg, author of “The Polar Express,” and features set designs by Eugene Lee, a Tony Award winner for productions including “The Lion King”, and “Wicked”.
The Ballet’s company dancers, consisting of professional dancers from across the globe, will also share the stage with students from Grand Rapids Ballet School — all of which will come together to perform captivating choreography by Val Caniparoli, one of America’s most renowned choreographers.
And both young and experienced dancers will be on their toes to be back in front of a live audience at DeVos.
“Knowing that live performances are right around the corner, the dancers are filled with a renewed vigor and energy that is exciting to witness,” Sofanko said to WKTV.
Company dancer Nathan Young agreed, and noted that there is also a deep appreciation by the dancers of having a live audience.
“We are an extension of your community,” Young said in supplied material. “When you come to see Grand Rapids Ballet, you are seeing Grand Rapids community members who live close to you and nearby. All we want to do is share our talent with people in Michigan. We thrive on your support and applause, which is how we can keep this classical art form alive.”
Grand Rapids Ballet’s Yuka Oba-Muschiana and Josue Justiz in a scene from “The Nutcracker”. (Supplied/Ray Nard Imagemaker)
Tickets, other options and a kids party
For audience members who are not able to attend an in-person performance, tiger Ballet’s virtual option is available for $25 and will be available following opening night and can be viewed multiple times through Jan. 2, 2022.
Additionally, the Grand Rapids Ballet is once again hosting Clara’s Nutcracker Party, a one-of-a-kind holiday celebration made just for kids, on Sunday, Dec. 12. Clara’s Nutcracker Party will allow children to meet their favorite characters from “The Nutcracker” in a fun and festive fantasyland at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. The holiday experience includes a fun arts and crafts activity, tea and brunch, a reading of “The Nutcracker” tale, as well as a live performance by the Grand Rapids Ballet School.
“The Nutcracker” runs for two weekends with tickets starting at $20 online, via phone at 616-454-4771 ext. 10, or in-person at the Ballet’s Box Office, located at the Ballet’s home and offices, 341 Ellsworth Ave SW, Grand Rapids.
The lights are up on houses all over the place, and this week the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood begin sharing their Holiday spirits. (publicdomainpictures.net)
Some call it Black Friday — Friday, Nov. 26 — but for many in the community it is “dressing up the house for the holiday” day. And this year, the City of Kentwood is offering prizes to people who get their residences in the holiday mood.
The city is inviting residents to show off their decorating skills in its inaugural holiday light display contest, which will run Nov. 26 to Jan. 3, 2022, with the top vote-getters earning prizes, according to an announcement from the city.
“This is a fun way to get into the holiday spirit with neighbors and friends,” Katelyn Bush, Kentwood recreation program coordinator, said in supplied material. “It’s also a great opportunity for residents to tap into their inner Clark Griswold and show off their creative side while brightening the season for others in our community.”
(If you do not get the ‘Griswold’ reference … wait for it … wait for it …)
Residents interested in participating are asked to register online and then submit photos of their outdoor holiday light display. The city will post the photos on its social media platforms, where community members can vote for their favorite display.
The top three vote-getters will earn prizes and bragging rights for a year. The prizes include:
First place: Kentwood’s Clark Griswold Trophy — named after Chevy Chase’s character in the holiday favorite “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” movie — as well as a $40 gift certificate to any Kentwood Parks and Recreation program and department swag.
Second place: A $20 gift certificate to any Kentwood Parks and Recreation program and department swag.
Third place: A $10 gift certificate to any Kentwood Parks and Recreation program and department swag.
Kentwood residents may register for the contest at bit.ly/HolidayLightContest and submit photos of their display at eRecreation@kentwood.us or on social media using the hashtag #KentwoodLightContest between Nov. 26 and Jan. 3.
The Cascade Historical Society, in partnership with Cascade Township and the Cascade Township Downtown Development Authority, is inviting community members of all ages to its annual holiday tree lighting ceremony Sunday, Nov. 28.
The festivities will begin at 5 p.m., according to a Township announcement, with a tree lighting outside at the Cascade Historical Museum, 2839 Thornapple River Drive SE. The free event also will feature a musical performance by The Original Dickens Carolers, giveaways for younger attendees and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Light snacks and beverages will be provided.
The lighting of the 14-foot tree will take place in the museum’s gardens. A second 16-foot tree at the intersection of Old 28th Street SE and Cascade Road SE and the museum’s rooftop also will be lit for the holidays.
“The annual tree lighting ceremony is a wonderful way for friends and neighbors to gather and spread some holiday cheer throughout the community,” Sandra Korhorn, Cascade Township’s economic development director, said in supplied material. “From the beautiful decorations to the music from carolers to the visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, this special event is sure to kick off the holiday fun.”
After arriving by a Cascade fire truck, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be stationed inside the museum for visits. There is no charge for visits or photos with them.
To stay up to date on the tree lighting ceremony, visit the Township’s website or Facebook.
Imagine having 1,500 people at your Thanksgiving meal table; then imagining the traffic jam in your driveway. And, by the way, some of them may need a COVID vaccination.
Mel Trotter Ministries, working with medical partner Cherry Health and transportation partner The Rapid, have plans to serve 1,500-plus persons — in person — at a Thanksgiving Community Meal Thursday, Nov. 25, Thanksgiving Day, at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.
While volunteer opportunities are filled, but public “sponsorship” donations are still being accepted to cover the cost of the meal. For more Information visit meltrotter.org/thanksgiving.
“We are so excited to be able to be together again, and to demonstrate the compassion of Jesus to anyone who is alone or hungry this Thanksgiving,” Dennis Van Kampen, President and CEO of Mel Trotter Ministries, said in supplied material. “Being in community is what it’s all about and we definitely missed that last year.”
Covid precautions and safety measures will be in affect and strictly followed according to CDC guidelines, according to an announcement from Mel Trotter Ministries. Temperature checks at the door, along with mandatory mask wearing at all times other than while eating will be enforced for all who attend the Community Meal.
Additionally, in partnership with Cherry Health, the event will also be offering a free Covid vaccine clinic that morning.
“For the last several months, our staff has held regular vaccine clinics at Mel Trotter,” Dr. Jenny Bush, director of pediatrics and COVID response coordinator at Cherry Health, said in supplied material. “Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect ourselves and our community from COVID-19, and we want people to feel encouraged to get vaccinated. We know a big part of that is meeting people where they’re at, making them feel comfortable, and making the process as quick and easy as possible.
“We hope that by offering an onsite COVID-19 vaccine clinic at this incredible event, we are able to remove barriers to care and increase vaccination rates for our neighbors experiencing homelessness and anyone in the Grand Rapids community who attends.”
Doors open at the Thanksgiving Community Meal at 10 a.m., and vaccine clinic runs from 10 a.m. to noon, with meals being served between 11 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in the DeVos Place Convention Center, Ball Room.
While there is free parking available onsite, The Rapid and Mel Trotter Ministries will continue their partnership to provide free transit service to and from the community meal as they have in years past.
The free service will consist of two shuttles connecting South Division and portions of northwest and northeast Grand Rapids to DeVos Place. The service will begin around 10:00 a.m. and conclude around 1:30 p.m. (See map and schedule information below).
“One of the most important things we provide to the community is access,” Deb Prato Chief Executive Officer at The Rapid, said in supplied material. “While that access is often focused on employment, education, and critical services, partnerships like this that provide a free ride to a Thanksgiving meal are a great reminder that the value we provide goes far beyond day-to-day commuting.”
The Rapid’s regular fixed-routes and paratransit services are not in operation on Thanksgiving day, as part of its standard holiday service schedule. For more information on The Rapid, please visit ridetherapid.org.
The military and veteran “Welcome Home” celebration of Operation Handshake at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport this holiday season. (GR Ford Airport)
Active military members and veterans will receive a patriotic welcome home on Nov. 24 with the return of Operation Handshake at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, an event which includes patriotic activities and a new “Thank You Letter” effort.
In its sixth year, the daylong event will feature veterans groups lining the concourse exits of the airport to greet and thank military members and veterans returning to West Michigan, according to an announcement from the Ford Airport. Members of the Patriot Guard Riders and Blue Star Mothers will be present from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. to greet the honored travelers while waving American flags, offering words of thanks and singing patriotic songs.
“The Ford Airport is proud to welcome our troops and veterans back home,” Lisa Carr, public safety and operations director for the Ford Airport, said in supplied material. “It is important we recognize our service members for all that they do – and have done – for our country. As a huge supporter of active and retired military, I am especially proud of our participation in Operation Handshake.”
Operation Handshake is free and open to the public. Per federal requirements, masks must be worn at all times by airport guests ages 2 and older.
Families of military members and veterans traveling through Ford Airport on Nov. 24 are encouraged to participate in Operation Handshake and to provide flight information to Patriot Guard Riders, including arrival time. Information may be provided to Phil Pakiela via email at papapakiela@gmail.com or by phone at 616-916-3064.
“It is hard to put into words how much it means to see the expression on a veteran’s face as they are greeted by a flag line and rendered a salute in their honor,” Pakiela, captain of the Patriot Guard Riders of West Michigan, said in supplied material. “So many of them have been forgotten – we don’t ever want that to happen again. We want our active-duty military and veterans as well as their families to know they are appreciated.”
New this year is Operation Gratitude, a “thank you” letter campaign that encourages airport tenants and guests to share their appreciation for deployed troops, veterans, wounded heroes, caregivers, and recruits. The airport is providing note cards to tenants this month, “collecting the messages of gratitude and delivering them to active military personnel,” according to the announcement.
Guests at the Airport on Nov. 24 will have the opportunity to write notes of thanks and drop them in a box located in the Amway Grand Hall.
“We invite Airport guests to take a moment to join us in honoring our military heroes during this season of gratitude,” Carr said.
For more information on the Ford Airport visit flyford.org.
Light shows have been a holiday tradition for many families during the season. From holiday train rides to Christmas carolers, West Michigan has much to offer.
The Gilmore Car Museum will be light up for the holidays. (Supplied)
Winter Wonderland at the Gilmore Car Museum
This holiday season the Gilmore Car Museum has teamed up with Bluewater technologies to present the first-ever “Winter Wonderland” at the Gilmore Car Museum.
“Winter Wonderland” is a drive-thru holiday tour that takes place on the museum’s campus. The drive is 1.5 miles long and guests can drive along the path as they view lighted historical barns, decorated vintage-era dealerships, and 25 individual light displays. Guests can also view artwork exhibits from automotive illustrators including Art Fitzpatrick, Van Kaufman, and Jeff Norwell.
“Dashing Through the Snow” is an additional opportunity for families to ride in vintage cars from the museum’s collection. Families can choose from Ford Model Ts, a Checkered Taxi Cab, a ’63 Cadillac convertible, and several other vintage cars. Tickets are limited for this opportunity and can be purchased for an additional $20 on-site.
Each ticket includes access to the museum on the same evening. Inside the museum, guests may view “Gilmore’s Festival of Trees” alongside classic cars and observe exhibits showing Christmas through the decades. There will be holiday food and beverages available for purchase along with opportunities for holiday gift shopping. Children can visit Santa or play reindeer games. On Friday and Saturday nights, there will be live music.
“Winter Wonderland” will run throughout the holiday season, from Nov. 24 to Jan. 9, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, the museum will be open from 5 – 9 p.m., and on Fridays to Sundays and special holidays, the museum is open from 5 – 10 p.m. Gates close one hour before the end of each night.
The Gilmore Car Museum is located at 6865 W Hickory Rd, Hickory Corners, just outside Kalamazoo. Tickets are sold per person. For adults 18+ tickets purchased at the door cost $20 or $17.50 when purchased online in advance. For those ages, 5-17 tickets cost $12 at the door or $9.50 when purchased online in advance. Children 4 and under are free. Tickets are now available for purchase at GilmoreCarMuseum.org.
Scenes from Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition and events. (Supplied/Dean VanDis)
University of Michigan Health-West Christmas & Holiday Traditions
The annual University of Michigan Health-West Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition is back at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
This is the 27th year of their annual horticulture exhibition. Every year during the holiday season the Gardens transform into a winter wonderland. The exhibition features 46 international trees and displays showcasing different cultures and continents. This year the gardens will be illuminated by 300,000 lights. Inside guests can view the companion Railway Garden exhibition. This is a unique horticultural display that incorporates moving trains and trolleys alongside handcrafted replicas of Grand Rapids landmarks.
On specific dates, the Dickens Carolers will be roaming the Bissell and Gunberg corridors singing holiday favorites. They will be at the Gardens on Nov. 23, Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14, and Dec. 21 from 6 – 8 p.m.
Outside guests can bundle up and enjoy an outdoor discovery walk. This year the walk themes are Birds and Their Senses, and Holiday Carols and Symbols. On Saturdays, until Dec. 18, the Rooftop Landing Reindeer Farm will be hosting reindeer visits from 1 – 4 p.m.
The gardens are open on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m, and on Mondays – Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For the holidays season, they have extended their late hours to 9 p.m on Dec. 20-23 and 27-30. They will be closed on Nov. 25, Dec. 25, and Jan. 1.
To enter the gardens tickets for adults are $14.50, students (with student ID) $11, children ages 5 to 13 are $7, children 3 to 4 are $4, and children 2 and under are free. The exhibition will run from Nov. 23 to Jan. 2.. For more information about the holiday exhibition, visit www.meijergardens.org
The Christmas Lite Show returns to the Whitecaps home, LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park. (courtesy Christmas Lite Show)
Christmas Lite Show
The Christmas Lite Show has become a holiday tradition for many families in West Michigan and this year the attraction is back to spread holiday cheer.
The attraction typically takes half an hour to drive through. This year organizers have added several new animated displays along with new lights and tunnels. Another option is to take a ride on the Memory Lane Train to experience the show. To ride the train tickets are $30 per bench seat. Benches fit two adults comfortably and small children are allowed to sit on laps for free. The train has 10 benches and can fit 20 adults comfortably. Train tickets must be purchased online and are not available for purchase at the station.
Tickets for the drive-thru are available online or at the ticket window. Tickets start at $28 and vary depending on the size of the vehicle. Once purchased tickets are good for one-time use anytime from Nov. 24 to Jan. 1. The attraction is open on Sundays to Thursdays from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays, it will be open from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
The attraction is located at LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park. Tickets and more information can be found at www.christmasliteshow.com.
WKTV’s sports coverage crew was back at work big-time this fall, following a shortened season in 2020 due to the pandemic, as our high school football Featured Game coverage was all over Wyoming and Kentwood — and even make a road trip to Hastings for a playoff game.
And as they can every year, high school sports fans can get their Turkey Day football fix this year as we broadcast 15 hours of football on our cable Channel 25.
The special day of games start at 9 a.m., and highlights the best of our high school football games from the season. The schedule of games (with link to the games on WKTV’s On-Demand video internet channel, at WKTVLive.org ) is as follows:
9 a.m. — Forest Hills Northern at Wyoming High. On-demand
11:15 a.m. — Middleville at South Christian. On-demand
1:25 p.m. — West Ottawa at East Kentwood. On-demand
4:10 p.m. — Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights. On-demand
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 cChannel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are give the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26).
Minogin Market, located in Mackinaw City, took over the former Bell’s Fishery in 2018. It now offers a selection of maple syrup and other food products.
LANSING — When Ziibimijwang Farm sells maple sugar at Minongin Market in Mackinaw City, it’s more than a business transaction – it represents Indigenous food sovereignty.
Further north, in the Upper Peninsula, partners Jerry Jondreau and Katy Bresette operate Dynamite Hill Farms in L’Anse.
“The way we phrase it is ‘getting back to our responsibilities,’” Jondreau said.
Social media and online sales has fueled both operations as part of a growing availability of Indigenous food resources nationwide.
“With colonization and boarding schools, a lot was ripped away from us,” said Joe VanAlstine, who is the chair of Ziibimijwang Inc. “For us to come back and reclaim that, people are just hungry for it, no pun intended.”
Minogin Market opened in 2018 in Mackinaw City’s former fish market, Bell’s Fishery.
VanAlstine and his colleagues considered how they might use the market to reclaim their Odawa Indian identity.
Located at the tip of Michigan’s mitten, Mackinaw City was historically the trading hub of the Great Lakes region. Now, it’s a gateway to the Upper Peninsula that has become a tourism hotspot.
“You can go and buy one of those dreamcatchers made in China or you can come to Minogin and buy a real one, made by a real Native American,” VanAlstine said.
Jondreau, the owner of Dynamite Hill Farms, said its origin relates more to his relationship with land as a tribal citizen.
“As Odjibwe people, it’s our responsibility to take care of this place and maintain a relationship,” he said. “You can’t do that if you’re never there and not participating, just like a personal relationship.”
Dynamite Hill Farm owner Jerry Jondreau uses traditional methods to harvest wild rice. (Photo courtesy Jerry Jondreau)
Dynamite Hill Farms was established in 2019 after Jondreau quit his teaching job at Michigan Technological University to continue tapping maple sugar and harvesting wild rice. He uses the term “business” loosely. The farm is a family function he runs with Bresette, their children and the occasional volunteer.
“We feel that’s the true way to sustainability – the small scale,” Jondreau said. “We do everything on a less official basis. People will ask questions and we’ll say, ‘You know what, why don’t you just come and camp out here for the weekend? Come out here and haul some sap with us and we’ll have some conversations.’”
As former teachers, education is at the center of everything he and Bresette do. Though Dynamite Hill products are available for purchase on Facebook, Jondreau prefers to make sales in person so he can explain the process behind the food they harvest.
“It’s not just about extraction and selling, it’s about healing and restoring,” Jondreau said. “Was there tobacco put down? Were there prayers being said to those trees when they were tapped? Those are the things that will create sustainability. Those are the things that will create healing of this land again.”
Jondreau’s alternative approach to business is what host Andi Murphy of “Toasted Sister Podcast,” a radio show about Native American food, calls “Indigenomics.”
Making a profit is often idolized in the current economic system, she said. “But in Native America, we’re always thinking about our community and making it a better place and situation. That’s the main difference.”
Building Indigenous food sovereignty by reclaiming the presence of Indigenous products in the Mackinac area and across the country is Ziibimijwang and Minogin Market’s mission, VanAlstine said. The farm also packs food boxes for tribal elders.
Additionally, Ziibimijwang partners with Indigenous chefs who use the farm products in their kitchens,VanAlstine said.
Crystal Wahpepah, the first Indigenous chef to appear on the Food Network show “Chopped,” is one of Ziibimijwang’s regulars. “She exclusively buys maple products from us. So we ship them all the way to California for her.”
The farm is also in partnership with Tocabe, a contemporary Native American restaurant in Denver. The restaurant is soon to launch Tocabe Express, a ready-to-cook meal delivery service that will include the ingredients and instructions to make the restaurant’s most popular dishes at home. A featured Tocabe Express meal is maple-rubbed bison ribs.
“In that rub they use our maple sugar,” VanAlstine said. “So you’ll get maple sugar from us and they’ll tell you where all the ingredients are from.”
Reclaiming Indigenous food is a way for VanAlstine to connect with his ancestors.
“I’m eating the same food that they did,” he said. “And that brings me closer to them, knowing that they tasted the same fish I tasted, from the same river and the same lakes. For me that’s the joy – having more of our people feel that way.”
Whether through a hands-on education approach or through nationwide partnerships, Dynamite Hill Farms and Minogin Market are growing the presence of Indigenous farming wisdom in the United States.
“Getting excited about these Indigenous flavors, that’s the most important part of food sovereignty,” Murphy said. “And that doesn’t happen without those entrepreneurs who are making it available.”
Mrs. Claus (pictured above) and Santa will be returning to this year’s Wyoming Gives Back. (WKTV)
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma joanne@wktv.org
The City of Wyoming will once again kick off its holiday season with its Wyoming Gives Back event set for Dec. 2 at a new location, the Wyoming Senior Center.
“After last year’s virtual event, we had the opportunity to reset the way we host Wyoming Gives Back,” said Mayor Jack Poll. “Hosting the event at the Wyoming Senior Center gives us the opportunity to use a beautiful city facility and highlight its many programs and offerings for community members.”
Due to COVID, the city opted for a virtual program in 2020 that was filmed and produced at the WKTV Community Center. Through last year’s efforts, the city was able to collect more than 800 toys and raffled off nearly $3,500 in prizes from local businesses.
“We are thrilled to come together as a community and City to celebrate the holidays and spread joy to local families,” Poll said. “This event is a community favorite for so many residents and families — and a favorite of mine as well. We look forward to community members joining us in person for this holiday event.
The collection vehicle for the annual Wyoming Gives Back. (WKTV)
Residents will bring toys to the Wyoming Senior Center between 6 – 8 p.m. The toys are donated to the Salvation Army Angel Tree. For each toy donated, a resident receives a raffle ticket for a chance to win gifts donated by Wyoming businesses.
Giving back is the reason that Frank Vitale, owner of Frankie V’s, said he sponsors the annual holiday event.
“We have been here for 20 years, so when the City of Wyoming calls, I do what I can to help,” said Vitale, who added he has lived in Wyoming for about 36 years.
During the two-hour event, there will be music from the Salvation Army Band, Wyoming High School Jazz Band, and Lee High School’s Concert Voices. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be there checking in with area children on their Christmas wishes. Also members of the Wyoming Police and Fire departments will be there as well. WKTV will be there once again recording the popular holiday greetings.
The City of Wyoming has been hosting the annual Wyoming Gives Back event for 11 years, partnering with local businesses and the community to celebrate the holiday season by helping those in need. For more information about Wyoming Gives Back, visit www.wyomingmi.gov/givesback or call 616-530-7272.
Gerald R. Ford International Airport Director of Commercial Development Stephen Clark talks to WKTV about one of the reasons to be relaxed — and healthy — this holiday season when traveling through the Ford. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Yes, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport is expecting passenger levels to equal or exceed 2019 pre-pandemic levels this Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year’s holiday season.
But there is good news on several fronts — from an “all hands on deck” workforce at the airport, to COVID testing being available for travelers, to the local airport bucking a national trend to have crew issues causing flight delays or cancellations.
However, patience, as always, will need to be packed in your carry-on along with your tooth brush and credit card.
A recent forecast by Ford Airport management of 33,000 people traveling in and out, from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after, may well rise and come close to the 35,000 travelers experienced in 2019. And it should be much the same return to flying norms form the Wednesday before Christmas Day Saturday possibly thorough New Year’s weekend Sunday.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening areas at the Ford are expected to be at full strength this holiday season. (WKTV.K.D. Norris)
But airport Director of Commercial Development Stephen Clark told WKTV there will be plenty of reasons to be festive and relaxed this holiday season at the Ford.
“When we look at the holiday season, and trying to celebrate that with our guests, it starts when you come into the facility, creating that sense of place that is West Michigan, so you will see the decorations out here,” Clark said. “But more importantly this year, we are still in the pandemic, so cleanliness is our number one priority.
“As a team, we are cleaning the areas more frequently. You are going to see a heavy emphasis on high-touch areas. And the facility feels different, we are moving the air through the facility more … certainly we are doing everything we can got create a good environment.”
And, Clark said, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), and all the airports partners, are gearing up for the expected rush — TSA should have all security lines open during peak travel days, he said, and “that should ease one of the more anxious points for travelers, the security check point.”
Tips for travel, as always and due to pandemic
This holiday season is the first time the many people have traveled in a couple of years, Clark said, so, as a general reminder, the first tip for travel is arrive early and pack your checked bags and carry-on bags smartly.
The runway at the Ford International Airport. (Supplied)
“When you are packing your bags make sure you are keeping your medications, your car key and those items you will need right away he you get to your destination, or even come back home, with you,” he said. “Then when you come to the airport, make sure you get here at least two hours early — that is pretty common knowledge these days — but as we get to the holiday season, lines start getting little bit longer, folks start getting a little stressed out … That gives you plenty of time to get your bags checked, if you are checking them, and get through security.”
“Biggest thing we are asking is that people are packing their patience,” Clark added.
There are pandemic requirements to be dealt with as well, especially if you are traveling internationally — make sure you know the COVID requirements of your airlines and at your destination.
“We do have a COVID test site here at the airport that is available to the public, travelers or otherwise,” Clark said. “They can get that PCR Test, that is the gold standard that they will need … additionally when you come to the airport, we just ask that you pack a mask.”
And what about flight delays cancelations
While there has been a lot of talk in recent weeks about airlines needing to cancel flights due to scheduling and crew issues, and the Ford has not been immune to the problem. But there is a simple reason that it is not a big issue, even during busy travel periods — Grand Rapids’ airport is not a huge airport.
“One of the things we started seeing in the later part of the year were flight delays and crew issues. Fortunately, here at the Ford airport, we really haven’t had a ton of that,” Clark said. “That really speaks to the fact that we have so many non-stop destinations. As an airport, we have 30-plus non-stop destinations this holiday season … because we have so many non-stop flights were are not having as many crew issues because they are going right to that destination. … A lot of those issues (crew changes) are happening in major hubs.”
For more information on travel and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, visit grr.org.
This year’s Santa Claus Girls operation will look different than it did in 2018. But the desire to support local families in need has not changed. (Supplied/Santa Claus Girls)
The historic holiday non-profit and volunteer-run Santa Claus Girls program, which most recently operated out of Kentwood but has temporarily set up its toy shop in Grandville, will return this Christmas season after last year breaking a century-long run of helping families due to the pandemic.
The Santa Claus Girls program, shown in this undated photo, has been around for more than a century, but is changing these days. (Supplied/Santa Claus Girls)
After 112 years of service to the West Michigan community, losing its facility and unable to gather volunteers in numbers in 2020, Santa Claus girls was determined to get back to business in 2021, Tina Hudson, president of Santa Claus Girls, said to WKTV.
But things will be different — a new workplace, a compacted work schedule, a smaller number of kids and families supported, a different plan to get the gift package out to the community, and — maybe most importantly for the future — changes in how the group is funded.
“We are back this year but in a very different format,” Hudson said. “We are working out of West Michigan CDL for four days — Dec 9-12. (The group usually works months ahead of time to gather and put together gift packages). This will entail an extremely high intensity work time for us. We are fortunate, though, to at least have this time and space.”
West Michigan CDL, a Grandville truck driver training school with a well-known Commercial Drivers License (CDL) program, has allowed Santa Claus Girls to use their facility this year. But, Hudson has pointed out, they are a working facility and, so can only offer up a short period of time.
“Due to limited time constraints, we estimate being able to service approximately 2,500-3,000 families rather than our usual 5,000 to 6,000. So that means 5,000 kiddos rather than the 12,000 to 13,000 we usually do,” Hudson said, noting that they have already reached their registration limit. And, “again due to limited time and storage space, we are not able to accept donations of toys, clothing, etc. this year.”
The client families, this year, will be given a control number and pickup time— “We are not delivering, curbside pickup only,” she said.
The Santa Claus Girls are not all “girls”, as in this 2019 photograph. (WKTV)
The children who will be given gift packages will be the same ages Santa Claus Girls have always done: infant to age 12 of both genders. But due to the limited time they will not be wrapping gifts, so parents will have that option. The gifts will be bundled and placed in non-see-through plastic bags and given to the parents.
“The parents will not be coming into our building but snaking around the parking lot (in cars) to the pickup door,” Hudson said.
One other result of the change of practice this season is that the program will — actually wants to — deplete its stockpile of toys and clothes and other items. And they will then turn to their future work of finding a more permanent home, restocking their shelves and finding other means of financially supporting the program.
“We lost our storage space at Knoll (Industries in Kentwood), due to its sale and had to move out any remaining items we had after Christmas 2019,” Hudson said. “Meijer was kind enough to step up and send trucks for us to move things into and they are storing goods for us. We hope to deplete our inventory this year and find a permanent home, but so far no luck.”
And talking about “hoping” for the future, even their funding sources will need to change.
“We operate on a $200,000 budget, all donations from the community. With not working last year due to COVID our donations barely came in,” she said. “We are working with what is in a bank account and dearly hope to have donations return to us this year.
“Besides losing Knoll we also lost our longtime sponsor — The Grand Rapids Press. We are now a stand-alone charity and are praying the community steps up and helps us out.”
For more information about the Santa Claus Girls, visit santaclausgirls.org.
Woodland Mall is all set to celebrate the holiday season and its traditions with special holiday shopping and festivities, starting this week with the return of Photos with Santa, an Angel Tree benefitting families and supporting the Salvation Army, and — of course — Black Friday deals looming.
“It’s exciting to see Woodland Mall transform again for the most exciting time of the year,” Alyson Presser, Woodland Mall marketing manager, said in supplied material. “In particular this year, we encourage our shoppers to shop early to ensure product availability and to exercise consideration to retail workers throughout the season.”
Santa, and more, ready for season
Santa will return to his seat in Macy’s court, from Nov. 17 to Dec. 24, to “listen to every child’s Christmas wish and can even read them a book,” according to an announcement from the mall. Reservations are encouraged but not required to have a photo taken with Santa. Digital photo packages are available with options to purchase prints and a family portrait.
There will be lots of photo ops with Santa and kids at Woodland Mall this season. (Supplied)
On Saturday, Nov. 20, the mall will host a welcome event for Santa with a parade lead by the Kentwood High School Dance Team. From 10 am. to noon, Santa will be escorted on a train alongside a holiday penguin, traveling juggler and magician. The parade route will start in the Von Maur wing, travel through the JCPenney wing and end at Macy’s court.
Beginning Nov. 22, “fur babies” — family pets — will again be welcome to visit with Santa for photos on Mondays through Dec. 20. Feathered and whiskered pets of all kinds are welcome — Santa has met dogs, cats, chickens and even goats over the years. All pets may join as long as they are kept on a leash or in a crate at all times.
Santa will again bring his friends for extra special photo opportunities. Shoppers are invited to join their favorite characters beginning Nov. 23 on Tuesdays through Dec. 14 from 4-7 p.m. Reservations are encouraged but not required. To learn which characters are visiting, please visit ShopWoodlandMall.com.
Celebrate the season for a good cause
Woodland Mall has partnered with the Salvation Army to give back to children in the community. Shoppers will find the Salvation Army Angel Tree in the Macy’s wing near the Apple Store starting Nov. 19 and running through Dec. 15.
Unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at the Mall Management Office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. After office hours, gifts can be dropped off with mall security.
And, of course, Black Friday
Woodland Mall will be closed on Thanksgiving Day to allow retail employees to enjoy the holiday with their families. The mall will reopen at 7 a.m. Friday, Nov. 26, so guests can enjoy an early start to the traditional shopping weekend.
Woodland Mall. (Supplied)
Woodland Mall continues to offer a contactless shopping experience through its Mall2Go: Contact-Free Pickup designated parking spaces.
Woodland Mall hours leading up to the holidays are Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. (But, hint to shoppers, to avoid the crowds, Woodland Mall recommends shopping Monday through Thursday when traffic is at a lighter pace.)
On Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, the mall will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Woodland Mall will be closed on Christmas Day. On Dec. 26, the mall will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Visit ShopWoodlandMall.com for a full list of in-store deals and retailer information.
Woodland Mall appreciates shoppers’ cooperation and understanding as several retailers and restaurants enter the busiest time of the year short staffed.
The safety of all guests remains a top priority for PREIT. Woodland Mall asks all visitors to follow Kent County Health Department, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and CDC recommendations to keep the community safe and healthy.
Mel Trotter Ministries will be collecting turkeys at its annual Turkey Drop set for Wednesday. (pxhere.com)
Mel Trotter Ministries will host its 18th annual Turkey Drop this Wednesday with Celebration! Cinema South being one of three turkey drop-off locations.
The event collects frozen turkeys from area residents which will be given to those in need for the holiday season. Last year, Mel Trotter Ministries had the goal of collecting 2,500 frozen turkeys and the community’s outpouring resulted in surpassing the goal by more than double. Organizers said they hope to surpass last year’s numbers.
Frozen turkeys may be dropped off curbside. Mel Trotter Ministries’s staff and volunteers will be grabbing the turkeys from the vehicles quickly and safely while wearing masks and gloves. Mel Trotter Ministries is partnering with Feeding America West Michigan who will be distributing the frozen turkeys to food pantries and local organizations at no cost to them.
Drop off is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Celebration! Cinema South, 1506 Eastport Dr. SE; Celebration! Cinema North, 2121 Celebration Dr. NE, and Mel Trotter Ministries Downtown, 225 Commerce Ave. SE.
There are many ways to honor American’s veterans on this year’s Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, privately with friends and family who are veterans, and publicly with ceremonies at several locations.
WKTV brings you a few of them:
City of Kentwood
While the City of Kentwood’s city offices will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day, there will be a Luminary Walk at Veterans Park on Friday, Nov. 12, from 5:30-8 p.m.
Located at 355 48th St. SE, the park will have approximately a half mile of pathway lit up with luminaries decorated by community members. This event is free and open to the public, but “the entire event is outside so please bundle up so you and your family can stay comfortable,” according to the city website.
Public invited to flag ceremony at local Michigan Veterans Home
(Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs)
Michigan Veteran Homes will hold statewide Veterans Day activities to honor its veteran members and those who served before them, including at the Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids, located at 3000 Monroe Ave NE.
While the veterans home will host several “members only” events on Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, including a wreath laying ceremony in the memorial garden, the public is invited to a lowering of the flag ceremony led by the United Veterans Council of Kent County at 1 p.m.
‘Black Hawk Down’ author at GVSU
U.S. Army Rangers First Sgt. Matt Eversmann (Ret.) — whose battlefield experiences in the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia led him to become an author (including the book on which the film “Black Hawk Down is based on) — will be the featured guest at a Veterans Day Celebration hosted by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Grand Valley State University’s Peter Secchia Military and Veterans Resource Center and GVSU’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies.
The Veterans Day Celebration will take place Thursday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m., in GVSU’s Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium, 401 West Fulton St., Suite 134 E, DeVos Center, Grand Rapids. For more information and to register, visit this gvsu.edu page. Free parking is available at the nearby Seward Ramp.
Gilmore Car Museum weekend of free admission to vets, active duty
To thank America’s veterans for their “endless service and dedication,” Gilmore Car Museum is inviting all active, inactive and U.S. military personnel to free admission to museum, car collection, and all its 90-acre historic campus in Hickory Corners, just outside of Kalamazoo. The special admission is available starting Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, and running through Sunday, Nov. 14.
Attending veterans and military personnel should be sure to take special notice of the 1941 Bantam BRC-40 Reconnaissance Car, which is currently on feature display in the museum’s Campania barn. Prior to Ford and Willys production of “General Purpose” vehicles that would become known worldwide as the “Jeep,” these early BRC-40s were first produced for the U.S. Army by American Bantam Car Company, in Butler, PA, and also under contract by Checker Car Company in Kalamazoo.
For questions or more information, visit GilmoreCarMuseum.org or call 269-671-5089.
Most county offices closed for Veterans Day
All Kent County offices and health department clinics will be closed on Thursday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day, with two exemptions are: the Kent County Correctional Facility will remain open with regular hours; the Department of Public Works administration offices will be closed; however, all disposal facilities will remain open. For more information about and contact information for Kent County departments, visit accesskent.com.
With Halloween now past, many see the holiday season upon us, and local vendors and crafters are gearing up to help holiday shoppers with their early shopping needs.
After widespread and disappointing cancellations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, West Michigan crafters and vendors are excited to announce that they are bringing back their holiday craft shows this fall. And the month of November is filled with must-shop events that not only deliver handcrafted items, tasty treats, and unique gift ideas for local communities, but provide funds and support for many area school programs.
The Byron Center Fine Arts Boosters (BCFAB) are especially thankful to be able to host their annual craft show on Nov. 13 at Byron Center High School, as it is the largest fundraiser for their school’s fine arts programs. (For a extensive list of local craft and vendor fairs, see bottom of story.)
“All funds raised will go directly to support our students in the school district,” Kim Kohlhoff, president of Byron Center Fine Arts Boosters, said to WKTV.
All Byron Center public school fine arts programs, grades K-12, are impacted by the success of this fundraiser, Kohlhoff said, and the craft show fundraiser supplements the general budget given to each school to fund the main requirements of the fine arts programs.
The Byron Center Fine Arts Boosters’ annual craft show at Byron Center High School supports the schools fine arts programs including the jazz band. (Supplied)
“Funds raised through the annual craft show help support guest artists who come in from all over the nation to teach and perform with our students, as well as help with financial support for those students who take private lessons and attend fine arts camps,” Kohlhoff said.
The ability to provide financial support to students and give them the opportunity to perform with experienced musicians are only a small part in maintaining the Byron Center Fine Arts programs.
Life skills are also a central theme in the Byron Center Fine Arts objective — “Students learn to become a better person and grow as an individual,” said Kohlhoff.
Handcrafted items are always holiday gift worthy, as these from the Byron Center Fine Arts Boosters’ annual craft show at Byron Center High School. (Supplied, from previous year)
This year’s craft show boasts over 200 vendors and something new — food trucks. Instead of the usual concessions, several food trucks will offer a variety of food for shoppers. Stationed outside next to a protected sidewalk, food truck vendors will fill food orders that shoppers can then take into the school cafeteria to eat if desired.
“We have great community support,” Kohlhoff said of the craft show. “Vendor places are highly sought after and we have several veteran (returning) vendors who come every year, often calling the day after the show has ended to apply for a spot in the show for the following year.”
The Byron Center Fine Arts Boosters Craft Show will be held on Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Byron Center High School, 8500 Burlingame SW, and offers free parking. Admission fee is $3 at the door, with children 12 and under admitted for free.
Additional November craft and vendor events include:
The Byron Center Fine Arts Boosters’ annual craft show at Byron Center High School supports the schools fine arts programs including the jazz band. (Supplied)
The City of Kentwood’s Trunk or Treat community event invited trick-or-treaters to don their costumes and come to the city’s Department of Public Works building Saturday, Oct. 23, where there were long lines of families and lots of kids in search of candy.
The free event went on for hours with hundreds of families waiting to take a stroll by city police, fire and public works vehicles, as well the of community groups — all with their vehicle’s trunks decorated and stationed inside the building handing out candy and other items.
WKTV was there, to capture some of the spooky happenings and cute costumes, and we asked a few of the trick-or-treaters “What’s their favorite candy?”
In addition to collecting candy, participants had the opportunity to vote for their favorite trunk. Children were encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and face coverings — and the kids did not disappoint, nor did many of their parents.
The City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department offered plenty of fun — and a few scares — for the community kids at the city’s Trunk or Treat event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The City of Kentwood offered dress-up opportunity for all ages at the city’s Trunk or Treat event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The City of Kentwood offered opportunity for dress-up for adults too at the city’s Trunk or Treat event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Kentwood Public Schools’ robotics program had a display at the City of Kentwood’s Trunk or Treat event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
What was important wasn’t the fireworks, it was that we were together this evening, together in this place, looking up into the sky at the same time.
Japanese writer Banana Yoshimoto
There will be a lot bangs and booms this weekend as communitiie’s celebrate the Fourth of July. (Pxhere.com)
Fireworks, Fireworks, Fireworks
Considering the last year and half and how we have not had much to celebrate, we thought this week’s Snapshots would be a little different since this week is the nation’s biggest birthday celebration of the year.
Yes it is July 4th weekend, so haul out those sparklers and get ready for some booms since the COVID restrictions are lifted. The bonus is July 4th is on a Sunday with many people having Monday off as well. With that in mind, there will be fireworks throughout the weekend.
Leading the celebrations will be the City of Kentwood, which has a day full of activities and fireworks for Saturday, July 3. Highlights include a parade starting at 9:30 a.m. The parade route will start at Crestwood Middle School, 2674 44th St. SE, travel south on Walma Avenue SE to Breton Avenue SE, then turn west on 52nd Street SE and end at Challenger Elementary School, 2475 52nd St. SE.
City Hall will be the main hub this year with a carnival from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and an evening celebration from 4 – 10 p.m. with the fireworks capping off the night.
Other cities with July 4th events are:
Caledonia: The township will have a day-long celebration Saturday, July 3, starting with a parade at 11 a.m. and stepping off from the Duncan Lake Middle School and with the festivities concluding at 10 p.m. with fireworks.
Dorr: The township will be hosting a three-day event starting on July 2. The parade is set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 3, and will go through downtown Dorr. The fireworks will be around 10:20 (ish) on Saturday as well. Sunday will include more live entertainment and the movie “Back to the Future” in the park.
Grandville: Will have a two-day celebration with a 5k run, baseball and softball games, and tours of the one-room school house at Heritage Park on Saturday, July 3; and a carinval and other activities including fireworks on July 5.
Grand Rapids: The city will have a jam-packed evening of activities from 6 – 10 p.m. Saturday, July 3, that will include entertainment and fireworks at 10:30 p.m.
While fireworks have been around for thousands of years, the one color that no pyrotechnician has been able to perfect is the color blue. In order to get the right distinctive colors, there are two main components that are use and packed tightly. One is an oxidizer that is an oxygen-rich chemical and a fuel source like charcoal or sulfur that can burn. The reason few have been able to get the color blue is because if the temperature is too high for the emitter, which is copper, it washes off the light and stops emitting. If it is too low, there is no intensity and you do not get the right blue color. Because there are so many colors in the sky producing an array of patterns that most people do not notice the missing blue.
“I had crossed the line. I was free; but there was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom. I was a stranger in a strange land.”
— Harriet Tubman (Freed Slave)
A view of a previous City of Kentwood Food Truck Festival. (WKTYV/2018)
Food Truck Rally in Kentwood
The City of Kentwood and GR8 Food Trucks aren’t waiting until the end of summer to offer the annual Food Truck Festival this year – they’re kicking off the season later this month with the first to two planned food truck events. The “kick-off” of the Summer Food Truck Festival will take place Saturday, June 19, 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. Go here for the story.
Juneteenth celebration in Wyoming
In an effort to educate and build a bridge of understanding, the City of Wyoming is hosting its first-ever Juneteenth event Saturday, June 19, from noon to 4p, at Calvary Christian Reformed Church, 3500 Byron Center Ave. SW. The free event will feature an array of programs on such topics as history, hair and the CROWN Act legislation, COVID 19 and the black health disparities, the Black Freedom Struggle and discussion on the Emancipation proclamation and the 13th Amendment. Go here for the story.
Fun fact:
800, plus or minus
Kent County has a fair amount of food trucks, but arguably the home of the first food truck culture, Los Angeles, Calif., had a food truck population of more than 800 trucks before the pandemic. Source.
Woodland Mall is celebrating fathers by giving back to the community through a virtual contest with a portion of proceeds going to support local families though the City of Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry.
Currently running and through June 16, Woodland Mall is participating in partner company PREIT’s online giveaway, “Best Dad Ever,” where shoppers can nominate their dad on the mall’s website to win one of three giveaway packages best suited for their personality,” according to a supplied material.
Father’s Day is for the fathers, and the kids who love them. (Supplied)
To enter, nominators share “Why their dad is the best out there.” Three great fathers — “Gadget Dad”, “Grilling Expert”, and “Man of Style” — will be selected with the fathers winning $50 gift cards from Apple and On the Boarder, Macy’s and Red Robin, and J.Crew and Black Rock Bar & Grill, respectively.
Woodland Mall will then donate $1 dollar for every giveaway entry to Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry, up to $1,000.
According to Feeding America, food banks are serving 55 percent more people than before the pandemic, making the Little Free Pantry, which has helped feed thousands in the community since its opening in 2017, even more essential.
“We’re delighted to partner with Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry for this giveaway in honor of all the incredible fathers out there,” Mikia Ross, senior marketing director for PREIT, said in supplied material. “The hallmark of a great dad is his dedication to taking care of his family. We want to give an opportunity for loved ones to give some extra love back to fathers and father figures, while also helping take care of the community.”
Woodland Mall asks all guests to follow federal recommendations by using the hand sanitizer stations located throughout the mall and practicing physical distancing. Unvaccinated guests are required to wear a facial covering while visiting the mall.
In order to comply with Michigan requirements, occupancy numbers remain limited. Current mall hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them.”
— John F. Kennedy
The flags in front of the Michigan Homes for Veterans at Grand Rapids. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The City of Wyoming
The City of Wyoming will host its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 31, at the Veteran’s Memorial Garden, in front of the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, 2300 DeHoop ave. SW. The event will begin at 7 p.m. Go here for the story.
The City of Grand Rapids
Due to pandemic precautions, a planned Memorial Day tribute at the Michigan Veterans Homes at Grand Rapids will be an invite-only event. But the public can pay their respect at the cemetery, where 5,000 small flags honor the fallen. Go here for the story.
The City of Hudsonville
The City of Hudsonville will have its annual Memorial Day Service May 31 at takes Veteran’s Memorial Park in Hudsonville. The service will begin at 10 a.m. Go here for the story.
Unfathomable fact:
593,000deaths
The the COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. topped 500,000 early this year, it matched the number of Americans killed in World War II, Korea and Vietnam combined. The number as of this Memorial Day is at about 593,000.
Local Boy and Girl scout troops and volunteers recently planted more than 5,000 flags at the “gravesites of fallen heroes” at the local veterans cemetery adjacent to the Michigan Veterans Homes at Grand Rapids. (Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs)
Due to ongoing pandemic precautions at the Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids, a planned Memorial Day tribute to America’s fallen heroes will be an invite-only event with a large turnout from the home’s members and their families.
The flags in front of the Michigan Veterans Homes at Grand Rapids. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
But the public can pay their respect with a walk around the veterans cemetery, now honoring veterans with small flags on the thousands of headstones, an effort made possible by the effort of local Boy and Girls scout organizations and well as other volunteers.
The Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids (MVHGR), previously known as the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, is located at 3000 Monroe Avenue, NE.The cemetery is adjacent to the veterans facility.
The state veterans cemetery was dedicated on May 31, 1886, 135 years ago this May, and hosts the graves of veterans dating back to the Civil War. according to supplied material. Formed in the shape of a Maltese cross, initially the cemetery was plotted for 262 graves with room for 1,048 but has grown to more than 5,000 gravesites today. The cemetery is open for visitation this weekend and visitors can access the cemetery through the main entrance on Lamberton Street NE.
Honoring veterans with flags of remembrance
The Michigan Veteran Homes, a branch of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, recently received assistance from local scout troops and volunteers to plant more than 5,000 flags at the “gravesites of fallen heroes” at the local veterans cemetery adjacent to the MVHGR.
Local Girls Scouts are also involved in the annual flag-planting effort. (Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs)
While family, residents, staff and community members have been placing flags individually over the years, the massive volunteer effort to blanket the cemetery with flags began more than 30 years ago. Bob Porter, a former financial management supervisor for the local facility who helped formalize the effort in 1991, said it began with a promise of a soda, according to supplied material.
“Al Hulsapple and Bill Gerber, who were members of the Home and volunteer scouts, would enlist the help of 10-20 scouts to plant flags in the cemetery,” Porter, who himself was involved as a scout leader for Boy Scout Troop 230 in Grand Rapids, said in supplied material. “It would take the scouts a few hours to blanket the cemetery and Al and Bill would toss them a soda at the end of the day and say come back again next year.”
While the effort began with the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts have become involved in recent years as well.
“The Girl Scouts appreciate the opportunity to join the legacy flag-planting event at Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids,” Krystan Krucki, director of marketing and communications for The Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore, said in supplied material. “It really does help inspire girls of all ages to honor veterans, honor our troops and find their own way to recognize the sacrifices that have been made by these individuals for our country.”
The placement of each flag includes a recognition of the veteran. (Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs)
Scouts are given instructions on how to properly honor the veterans buried at the cemetery. The process begins with a scout placing a flag to the left of the headstone, followed by reciting the veterans name and rendering a salute. Flags are delivered each year by the United Veterans Council of Kent County with special care taken to replace any flags that are torn or tattered.
“The City of Grand Rapids and its employees have been instrumental in raising funds to supply flags annually to make sure an American flag is placed at every veterans headstone within the city limits for Memorial Day,” Eric Nelson, a Navy veteran and commander of the United Veterans Council of Kent County, said in supplied material. “Each year we replace on average, 3,500 worn or tattered flags at the cemetery at Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids.”
While this year’s effort lacked elements of years past, the home hopes to return to celebrating the contributions by the scouts and local community in 2022.
“We’ve had anywhere from 500-800 scouts join us in the past,” Tiffany Carr, director of relations for the Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids, said in supplied material. “Even with restrictions and concerns related to COVID-19, all 5,000 plus flags were planted by the afternoon on May 20 as planned to honor our fallen veterans.”
Kentwood chaplain part of private ceremony
The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and Michigan Veteran Homes, Memorial Day event will include remarks by U.S. Army Brigadier General Scott Hiipakka, assistant adjutant general of the Michigan Army National Guard; Theresa Robinson, past commander of the United Veterans Council of Kent County; Bruce Johnson, DAV representative; Bruce Kalish, chaplain of the MVHGR; and Father Peter Vu, chaplain of the MVHGR and pastor of Saint Mary Magdalen Parish in Kentwood.
The ceremony will include a posting of the colors led by the MVHGR Member Color Guard, a rifle salute and Taps led by the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard and music by the Belmont Armory 126 Army Band and soloist Valerie Holstege.
Legend if not history has it that following his victory over the British, Gen. George Washington — soon to be the nation’s first president — was celebrated by the masses as the “King of America” but he famously responded by stating that he was “Not a King.”
To celebrate Washington and his also legendary distillery prowess, and almost all presidents, in the month of the President’s Day holiday, Journeyman Distillery again offers a patriotic tribute to our nation’s first distiller-in-chief with its Not a King Rye Whiskey release.
Batch #6 of Journeyman’s Not a King Rye was officially released at the Three Oaks distillery on Feb. 12, but to find where you can get it locally check out journeymandistillery.com/find-your-spirit.
Handcrafted from grain to barrel to bottle, with a mash of 60 percent rye, 35 percent corn and 5 percent malted barley, the limited release is, according to supplied material, “an interpretation of Washington’s original rye whiskey recipe” that “takes drinkers back to the late 1700s with nuanced flavors reminiscent of the spirit America’s original settlers would enjoy.”
“The Crossing” has Jeff Daniels as Gen. Washington. (crop of publicity poster)
Aged 3 years in 30 gallon barrels, it’s the makings for a perfect Old Fashioned or Manhattan, with a twist of history, we are told. The offered-up mixology is a drink called “The Founding Father (2 oz. Not a King Rye Whiskey and 1 oz. Amaretto, shaken over ice and strained into a clean or ice-filled rocks glass, then finished with an orange peel.)
Me, on a cold February night, I say find the movie “The Crossing” — a fine period piece starring the great Jeff Daniels as the General — on your television, pour a clean shot, and drink with the president.
The Michigan Brewers Guild usually holds big beer festivals each year, including one in Kent Country, and may still yet later in 2021. But this year, as last, things are different. Still the guild is looking forward to sunny summer days on the golf course, with a beer or two at the 19th hole, by announcing plans for three “Great Beer State Golf Outings” coming up this year, the first being local, on Wednesday, June 9, at North Kent Golf Course in Rockford.
The other outings will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at Forest Akers Golf Course in Lansing, and Saturday, Oct. 9, at Treetops Resort in Gaylord.
“The golf outings we have planned are not intended to replace our larger events and we are hopeful that we will be hosting beer festivals again this year,” Scott Graham, executive director of the guild, said in supplied material. “We are looking for additional ways to raise operating funds for our non-profit trade association, while also getting together with some of our brewery members, allied businesses and beer enthusiasts in a fun and safe way.”
Registration for teams and sponsors the first outing will open in March. Details for all events will be posted soon on MiBeer.com under the EVENTS tab.
Formed in 1997, the Michigan Brewers Guild represents nearly 300 member breweries.
To heck with Punxsutawney Phil, summer is coming
New Holland Brewing is ignoring Punxsutawney Phil’s disheartening winter prediction for 2021 and has released a new style of craft beverage, a Watermelon Spritz — one part seltzer, one part sparkling ale, and a healthy splash of natural watermelon.
New Holland Watermelon Spritz can (Supplied)
If that doesn’t say summer nothing does.
The hybrid beverage, according to supplied material, is the result of brewing a wheat beer that is high in fruity esters, combined with natural watermelon and fizzy seltzer for a “bubbly, crisp and slightly tart” beverage with bold fruit flavor. Watermelon Spritz comes in at a “respectable” 4.3 percent ABV.
Watermelon Spritz hit the market this month in 6 packs of 12-oz. cans — their Summer Ale — a tart IPA — will become available in May in the same way. For more information visit NewHollandBrew.com.
A winter run for a good cause with costumes — sounds like another fun day in Kentwood.
The City of Kentwood will host its 4th annual Valentine’s Dash 5K — with Valentine’s-themed costumes encouraged — on Saturday, Feb. 13, to benefit Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry, which provides food and personal care items to community members in need.
“We’re excited to roll out a new route for this year’s Valentine’s Dash 5K that features a great combination of trails and paved pathways in two Kentwood parks,” Spencer McKellar, race organizer, said in supplied material. “Whether you plan to run with your sweetheart or run solo, this 5K is a great way to kick off the holiday weekend and foster a love for running.”
The 5K route will include a combination of trails and paved pathways starting and ending at East Paris Nature Park, 5995 East Paris Ave. SE. The course will take participants from East Paris Nature Park to Paris Park via the Paul Henry-Thornapple Trail and back to the finish line.
COVID-19 precautionary measures will be in place, including staggered start times beginning at 11 a.m., required face coverings at packet pickup and physical distancing.
While intended to be a fun run, the race will be chip timed. Awards for the fastest men and women in six age categories and overall will be available for pickup at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, the week after the event or can be mailed upon request.
Online registration is $25 until Feb. 12 and includes a long-sleeve shirt while supplies last. Day-of registration is $35. Runners who sign up as a couple save $5 each. If participants bring a non-perishable item or monetary donation for Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry, they will be entered to win a special door prize.
The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department is seeking volunteers to assist with the event. Those interested can sign up online.
Kentwood’s first Little Free Pantry opened to the community in 2017 at the Kentwood Activities Center, where it remains available year-round during business hours. The City recently launched a second pantry at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch. More information, including a list of suggested donations, is available at kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.
“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.”
Sam Ewing
MLK Day is coming and local service goes online
Yamiche Alcindor, award-winning journalist and White House correspondent for PBS Newshour, will give the keynote address during West Michigan’s Jan. 18 commemoration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Go here for the story.
Jonathan Thunder, “Quarantine at Gramma’s House”. (Supplied)
Muskegon Art Museum offers Native American art exhibits
The MMA’ is currently offering three exhibits with more than a dozen Native American artists — and as many artistic styles — including “The Art of the People: Contemporary Anishinaabe Artists”,“Jim Denomie: Challenging the Narrative” and “Levi Rickert: Standing Rock — Photographs of an Indigenous Movement”. Go here for the story.
President Donald J. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, shake hands as they meet for the first time, June 12, 2018, at the Capella Hotel in Singapore. (state.gov)
World Affairs Council of West Michigan begins Great Decisions series
The World Affairs Council of West Michigan (WACWM) will begin its “Great Decisions Global Discussions” in February, but a prelude to the series will be presented Thursday, Jan. 14, with a free special mid-day event, “The Korean-U.S. Alliance”. Go here for the story.
Fun fact:
12 percent and 24 weeks
That post-festive period when you start out full of good intentions often never last. In fact, around 12 per cent of gym members sign up in January, and according to the Fitness Industry Association, most people have quit or stop going after 24 weeks. Source.
The Kent County Health Department and area hospitals, in a joint statement released today, Dec. 14, continue to urge residents to stay home for the upcoming December holidays. As of Dec. 14, Kent County has surpassed 35,800 total cases with a 14.7 percent positivity rate in the last seven days.
“We are making progress, but need to work together to continue to reduce the positivity rate and to reduce the spread and the strain on our hospitals and health care workers,” Darryl Elmouchi, MD, president of Spectrum Health West Michigan, said in supplied material. “We will continue to move this in the right direction by not traveling or gathering with people outside our immediate family.”
While it may be difficult to miss traditional holiday celebrations, the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) statement stressed “the importance of staying home and avoiding any kind of travel and group gatherings in order to avoid an even more devastating spike after the new year.”
The local “I love you so” holiday advertising campaign, which the health department and hospital partners launched in November, will extend to encompass all holidays through the end of the year.
The message builds on the sentiment, “I love you SO I’m staying home,” acknowledging the desire to be with loved ones over the holidays but also to protect them from the spread of the coronavirus.
Kent County is seeing more than 500 new coronavirus cases each day, according to the statement, and “the volume of cases has put a significant strain on local hospitals and frontline healthcare providers, and it has made it impossible for public health investigators and contact tracers to effectively do their jobs.”
With the contract tracing system under strain, the risk of community spread is increased because some people may not know they need to quarantine.
“Residents helped a lot by celebrating Thanksgiving with only people inside of their immediate households,” Hyung Kim, MD, president of Mercy Health Saint Mary’s said in supplied material. “Since infection rates, hospitalizations and mortality are still high, I hope people will stay strong in the upcoming holidays and avoid gathering with people outside their immediate households. We are far from being in the clear from COVID.”
On this holiday episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, we catch up with the Santa Claus Girls, a local non-profit which has been a Christmastime staple in West Michigan for more than 100 years. . . . Until this year.
This holiday season, instead of being bustling preparing thousands of gifts for local children in need, the group and its army of volunteers are quiet due to the pandemic and due to its loss of home facility.
But late last month In Focus caught up with the group for a video report. First we will offer a recent WKTV short video about the Santa Claus Girls, then we talk with Maggie Moerdyke, Interim President of Santa Claus Girls. She tell us about what led to the group’s decision to suspend operations in 2020, and it is not just due to the pandemic.
We will also talk about the current and future needs of the group, as well as their hope for a better 2021.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
The Michigan holiday home of Bob James, pianist and composer of jazz and much more, is always filled with music and filled with family. It will be the same this year, in this age of pandemic and self-seclusion.
But later this month, James will be inviting St. Cecilia Music Center’s virtual concert audience into his house for what St. Cecilia calls a “holiday performance from his Traverse City home including surprise guests” on Thursday, Dec. 17.
The virtual concert is free and available via the internet on a computer or smart television. For more information about the St. Cecilia virtual concerts see scmc-online.org/virtual/.
Bob James’ family will gather again for Christmas In Michigan this year. (Undated photo supplied by Mr. James)
“Since all the members of my family are musicians, the Christmas season always involves lots of music, both live around the fireplace and permeating through the house,” James said recently to WKTV. So, the concert “will be a family affair.”
And what kind of music might be performed at the Dec. 17 concert?
“I tend to prefer the traditional over the novelty,” James said. “I have released two Christmas albums, ‘Christmas Eyes’ with my daughter Hilary, and ‘Snowbound’ with Fourplay. I have performed music from those, and something from each will most likely be on the new set list.”
And, along with many musicians forced to record and perform in isolation these days, James’ Michigan home is no stranger to performance and recording.
Bob James (BobJames.com)
“In recent years I’ve had a home studio where I do most of my composing, and have even produced some final mixes here,” James said. But “my time in this studio has escalated dramatically during this year’s forced isolation.”
A Grammy-award winner, James has long, varied career in music. Discovered by Quincy Jones at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival in 1963, James recorded his first solo album, “Bold Conceptions”, that year. Dozens of albums followed through five decades. His composition, “Angela,” the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is possibly James’ best known work. But that is only only the beginning.
James set the standard for the smooth jazz sound in the late 1970s. “One On One”, the first in three collaborations with Earl Klugh, was awarded a Grammy in 1980 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. Also about that time, “Double Vision”, a collaboration with David Sanborn, was another Grammy winner. His long-standing group Fourplay, with Lee Ritenour and Nathan East and later Larry Carlton, has also produced numerous albums.
Make a (private) party night of it
While the concert is free, Martha’s Vineyard concert packages, including a wine and cheese “goodie bag” of treats, can be purchased — and those purchases support St. Cecilia.
The special Martha’s Vineyard concert packages are available by pre-order and will be delivered on the concert date. All proceeds from these purchases benefit SCMC. Priced at $65, each package includes one bottle of wine — a red, white or bubbly — and a block of aged Gouda cheese, nuts, fig spread, crackers, veggie chips and gourmet chocolate. For more information visit here.
The upcoming local holiday highlight, the Grand Rapids Ballet’s annual presentation of “The Nutcracker”, was already planned to be unique in this year of pandemic as Ballet will be presenting a ticketed online presentation of “The Nutcracker Experience”, Dec. 18-27, as part of its 2020-21 season.
But in an announcement this week the Ballet added another unique audience “experience” — short dance videos produced by the public incorporated into the program.
Do not try this at home … Grand Rapids Ballet’s Matthew Wenckowski, from The Nutcracker Experience. (GR Ballet/Scott Rasmussen)
“Put on your dancing shoes and submit a video of no longer than 30 seconds of you, your family, your friends — whoever in your pod wants to join in — dancing to the music of The Nutcracker,” a Dec. 2 announcement from the Ballet stated, “and there’s a chance you’ll see it at the end of the performance.”
The Ballet is even making available online music from the production to dance to and “to get you in the holiday spirit.”
In addition to a moment of dance stardom, five submissions will be given a free Patron Plus subscription for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.
Videos can be submitted by email to videos@grballet.com no later than Thursday, Dec. 10.
And if you just want to watch …
Ballet artistic director James Sofranko, his dancers and video production team are putting the finishing touches on “The Nutcracker Experience”, with special choreography by Val Caniparoli, and music composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and performed by Grand Rapids Symphony.
“We know your family’s holidays wouldn’t be the same without The Nutcracker in 2020,” Sofranko states on the Ballet’s website. “That’s why (we are) … so proud to bring you a reimagined version this year — The Nutcracker Experience.”
Grand Rapids Ballet’s Yuka Oba-Muschiana, from The Nutcracker Experience. (GR Ballet/Scott Rasmussen)
According to the Ballet, the Experience will include “many of your favorite characters and dances including Drosselmeier, Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and of course the Nutcracker Prince; as well as many of your favorite scenes including the Waltz of the Snowflakes, Waltz of the Flowers, The Russian Trepak, The Chinese Dragon, and more.”
The Grand Rapids Symphony, long-time Nutcracker partners with the Grand Rapids Ballet, will provide the musical score as conducted by John Varineau.
The production, approximately 60 minutes in length, was filmed explicitly for The Nutcracker Experience by SALT Creative Production Studios, and also includes a behind the scenes look at the artists and their art creation.
Choreographer Caniparoli, according to the Ballet’s website, is “one of the most sought after American choreographers internationally.”
He has contributed to the repertoires of more than 50 dance companies, including Finnish National Ballet, BalletMet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, State Theatre Ballet of South Africa, and Tulsa Ballet, (resident choreographer 2001-06).
Caniparoli is most closely associated with San Francisco Ballet, his artistic home for more than 43 years. (Sofranko came to Grand Rapids Ballet from the San Francisco Ballet.)
Tickets to “The Nutcracker Experience” make the production available online via Vimeo, and are $15. (The Ballet “kindly asks you purchase as many ‘tickets’ as you will have friends and family viewing.”) Once your purchase is complete, ticket holders will receive emails with more details on how to access the online content.
For more information and tickets, visit grballet.com.
