Category Archives: Kids Activities

Kentwood, Kelloggsville public schools gain voter support for financial proposals on May 4 ballot

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Kelloggsville Public Schools, with Kelloggsville High School shown here, gained voter support of a millage extension on May 4. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

With few items on Kent County’s May 4 ballot, and the corresponding low voter turnout, local voters backed property tax funded financial requests from both Kentwood Public Schools and Kelloggsville Public Schools.

With unofficial final results from the Kent County Elections office, Kentwood district voters approved a bond measure, by a margin of 3,739 to 1,776, the will allow the Kentwood school district to be able to borrow up to about $192 million and issue general obligation tax bonds to repay it.

The turnout was about 11 percent of the almost 50,000 registered voters in the district, according to the county elections office.

Superintendent Michael Zoerhoff, Kentwood Public schools. (Supplied/KPS)

“The outcome of this election demonstrates the strong partnership between the Kentwood community and Kentwood Public Schools,” Kentwood Public Schools Superintendent Michael Zoerhoff said to WKTV. “Together with our staff, parents, partners and volunteers, we remain committed to providing an education of equity and excellence to every student in a Kentwood school.”

In addition, “we are pleased that our facilities are utilized by all ages within our community. From the pools to the tracks, from seniors to toddlers, Kentwood Public Schools is a resource for the entire community. This vote demonstrates that our community recognizes the district as a center point of engagement for all ages and backgrounds.”

In the Kelloggsville school district, with unofficial final results from the Kent County Elections office, voters approved an extension of an existing non-residential, non ”homestead”, property millage, as well as an additional temporary 2-year 0.5 mill increase, by a margin of 486-240.

The turnout was about 8 percent of the about 9,200 registered voters in the district, according to the county elections office.

“Thank you (to the voters) for your continued support of Kelloggsville Public Schools,” Eric Alcorn, Kelloggsville Public Schools director of human resources, said to WKTV. “We are grateful for the trust you have in us to make sound educational decisions for the district and our students.”

Kentwood bond measure details

Nearly every building in the Kentwood Public Schools system will see improvements paid for by the bond proposal — yet the proposal will lower the net millage from the prior year of a school system already the lowest in Kent County, according to district information.

Kentwood Public Schools serves about 9,000 students. (Supplied/KPS)

Overall, the bond proposal would fund 10-plus years of improvements to district infrastructure and educational technology, that “would provide programs, technology, and facilities for current and future needs,” according to a district statement prior to the vote.

Kentwood Public Schools serves more than 9,000 students, includes about 1,200 staff, and is responsible for 22 buildings, including 17 schools, totaling over one million square feet of structures on over 450 acres of sites.

“This bond referendum will allow us to enhance health and safety features within our facilities,” Superintendent Zoerhoff said. “For instance, our child nutrition food service teams are excited about having full service kitchens in each of our schools. The fresh food that will be provided for our students, in every building, will empower them to learn and succeed.

“In addition, while we cannot predict the next pandemic or problem that our society will face, we can predict that technology will continue to play a critical role in the lives of our students.” 

Kelloggsville millage extension details

The Kelloggsville Public Schools district received voter support of a millage two years ago, and the current and approved extension would allow that millage to “be renewed by 18.0181 mills ($18.0181 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 2 years, 2022 and 2023, and also be increased by 0.5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 2 years, 2022 and 2023,” according to the official Kent County elections ballot proposal information.

According to information supplied by the district, the proposal “is a renewal to be levied against non-homestead property. Resident properties are exempt from being taxed by this proposal (no cost to the homeowner). This is a renewal on business properties and not homes. The renewal will notcost the homeowner any additional taxes.”

Snapshots: WKTV’s ‘back to normal’ entertainment stories you might have missed

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By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and that could be again.”

James Earl Jones … Can you guess the movie? (See bottom of this story)

WKTV DreamWheels red carpet show (circa. 2013-15/WKTV)

Dust off those classic cars this weekend

The 28th Street Metro Cruise will be back in full swing this August. And, to start the celebration of cars, the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the return of the “dust off” event on Saturday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Wyoming Moose Lodge #763, at 2630 Burlingame Ave. SW, in Wyoming. Go here for the story.


A probably sold-out crowd at Meijer Gardens Summer Concert series evening. (Supplied Meijer Gardens/Tony Norkus)

Meijer Gardens outdoor concerts to return

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts — including three special Grand Rapids Symphony dates — as well as its Tuesday Evening Music Club and the new Jim & Marie Preston Sunday Strings are tentatively planned to return this summer and into the fall. Go here for the story.


The West Michigan Whitecaps will soon begin play at the newly named LMCU Ballpark. (Supplied/West Michigan Whitecaps)

Opening day for the West Michigan Whitecaps

With opening day on May 4 and first home game May 11, the West Michigan Whitecaps are gearing up for a season that is bound to be unlike any they have had in the past due to the pandemic. But the fan experience will still be fun for Whitecaps fans at the now-named LMCU (Lake Michigan Credit Union) Ballpark. Go here for the story.

Fun fact:

‘Field of Dreams’  forever

Field of Dreams is a 1989 American film written and directed by Phil Alden Anderson, adapting W. P. Kinsella’s 1982 novel Shoeless Joe. The cast includes Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta and Burt Lancaster in his final film role. In 2017, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. Source.

Snapshots: Things to do this weekend

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

In spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside 24 hours.

Author and humorist Mark Twain



Wyoming’s annual Spring Carnival will open this weekend at Lamar Park. (Supplied)

Carnival Days

Wyoming’s Spring Carnival is taking place through May 2 at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. The carnival, which is operated by TJ Schmidt & Company, features a host of games and rides. Health and safety measures are in place for guests, employees, and vendors. Masks must be worn at the carnival. Hours of operation are 4 – 8:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 2 – 8:30 p.m. Friday; and noon – 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

“Bee” in “Sean Kenney’s Wild Connections Made with LEGOs” at the Grand Rapids Public Museum through May 2. (Supplied)

Last Call

Visitors have a limited time left to explore the popular Under the Arctic and Sean Kenney’s Wild Connections Made with LEGO® Bricks exhibitions at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM). Under the Arctic’s last date to visit will be Sunday, April 25 and the last date to visit Wild Connections is Sunday, May 2. Explore larger-than-life sculptures made with more than 2 million LEGO® bricks in Sean Kenney’s Wild Connections Made with LEGO® Bricks! The sculptures teach about animal endangerment, ecosystems, and mankind’s relationship with nature. Included with GRPM admission tickets, Under the Arctic addresses climate change through the lens of a thawing Arctic environment to educate visitors about permafrost’s fascinating characteristics and its greater implications. For more information, visit grpm.org.

Head for the Trees

The popular high ropes course TreeRunner Grand Rapids is now open. Located behind Celebration! Cinema north, the adventure park features six trails of various skill, ranging from easy to hardest. If you go, remember to wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Safety precautions are being taken at the course with limited tickets available. For more information, visit www,treerunnerspark.com/grandraids/.


Tulips are actually from China

We often associate the tulip with the Netherlands. however the unique flower’s origins come from Central Asia. The Turks cultivated the flowers as early as 10,000 A.D. and they named the flowers “tulip” which comes from the Turkish word turban. The tulip was introduced to the Netherlands in the late 16th century. According to the legend, a famous biologist Carolus Clusius, was working in the oldest botanical garden, Hortus Botanicus in Leiden. A friend from Turkey, sent Clusius tulip flowers for his garden in Leiden and thus started the Tulipmania craze. Check out the tulips at this year’s Holland Tulip Time festival taking place May 1 – 9.

Whitecaps set to open season in May with new safety precautions but same ol’ ballgame fun

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The West Michigan Whitecaps will soon begin play at the newly named LMCU Ballpark. (Supplied/West Michigan Whitecaps)

By Ellington Smith, WKTV Intern

ken@wktv.org

With opening day a little less than a month away — with their first game May 4 and first home game May 11 — the West Michigan Whitecaps are gearing up for a season that is bound to be unlike any they have had in the past.

Due to the pandemic, the fan experience will still be fun, but will be slightly different, according to Steve VanWagoner, director of marketing, for the Whitecaps and the now-named LMCU (Lake Michigan Credit Union) Ballpark.

The current capacity for the stadium is at 2,000, which is 20 percent of their normal capacity. Initially, the organization sold multi-game ticket plans to make it easier to comply with health and safety guidelines such as seating groups in pods at the stadium. But a “very limited” number of single game tickets for May and June games are on sale starting Wednesday, April 21.)

“The Whitecaps will be fun and entertaining and be a great experience this summer,” VanWagoner recently said to WKTV. “In the meantime go to our website (milb.com/west-michigan), find the safety and information page, and know that when you come to the ballpark we are serious about being family friendly and safe.”

After the Whitecaps open the season May 4 at the Fort Wayne Tin Cups, then open the home season on May 11 with a six-game homestead starting with the Great Lakes Loons.

VanWagoner said ticketed fans should be expecting an email outlining the team’s plan for how to administer all the necessary safety protocols, such as social distancing, wearing masks, continuing checking bags as in the past, and regulations regarding concession and where you are allowed to eat. Fans will be “recommended” to get tested prior to coming to a game, but it is not a requirement.

However safety precautions are not the only thing that is new for the Whitecaps this upcoming season as they were officially named a High A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.

 

This decision came during December 2020 and VanWagoner spoke to how this will change the overall fan experience.

“For the fans, (it will be) a better experience, because the players that they are watching are higher caliber with more experience and higher skill level then West Michigan fans are used to seeing, so we expect to see plays that fans haven’t seen before from the Whitecaps, and just a better experience overall,” he said.

Another change for the team came in February when the stadium name was changed from Fifth Third Ballpark to LMCU (Lake Michigan Credit Union) Ballpark in a new 10-year deal. Van Wagoner went into further detail about what this change actually means for the Whitecaps organization and the fans.

“Many huge signs and things inside the ballpark will look different, but to be clear it is a name change and not an ownership change” VanWagoner said. “We are family owned and privately held, as we always have been.”

For more information visit milb.com/west-michigan.

‘Staycationing’ this Spring Break? Woodland Mall has out-of-the-house events planned

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One of Woodland Mall’s entrances. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Just in time for Spring Break — and those staycationers looking to get out of the house but staying close to home — Woodland Mall will be open for more hours and offering special events for everyone to safely enjoy time off from school and work.

Starting Monday, April 5, the mall will be returning to pre-pandemic operating hours, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m., according to an announcement from the mall. And several events are planned including a Small Business Expo and Pokémon Go opportunities.

“For those families who still aren’t comfortable traveling, Woodland Mall is the perfect spring break destination,” Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing director, said in supplied material. “From shopping to games and other creative opportunities, we are eager to help families enjoy a safe and fun staycation experience.”

Woodland Mall will host a Small Business Expo in its Von Maur wing on Saturday, April 10, from 11 a.m.–7 p.m., where business owners will set up booths to showcase their products and engage with the community. Guests will in turn have the opportunity to learn more about these small businesses and support them.

With the weather warming up, it’s the perfect time to build your own skateboard. Vans and Zumiez have all the gear needed to build a customized board.

Pokémon fans will also be able to collect free stickers and trading cards from GameStop throughout the week. As an added bonus, the mall has two Pokéstops for those playing Pokémon Go.

Families looking for fun can visit the Funshop Arcade located in the Macy’s wing and exploring the games and toys at Toysmark and Barnes & Noble.

And, of course, guests can also “get that beach resort feel without traveling far from home” by getting pampered at Lynny Nails, Tricho Salon or Massage Works.

“Choosing to spend spring break at the mall also benefits the retailers and restaurants and their employees who are still trying to recover from the pandemic,” McCabe said. “Visiting the mall is a great way to give our local economy a boost.”

Even after spring break, guests will continue to see new developments at the mall.

Backstage by Macy’s will celebrate its grand opening as a stand-alone business on the department store’s recently renovated second floor on Saturday, April 17. The shop offers men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, accessories and more at affordable prices. Offering prizes, gift cards and other exciting deals on opening day, shoppers won’t want to miss out on even greater savings.

For more information about Woodland Mall, visit shopwoodlandmall.com.

Woodland Mall to host local artisans Spring Craft Bash on March 20

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(Courtesy Sunset Succulents)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

More than 30 local artisans will be at Woodland Mall Saturday, March 20, for the mall’s first ever Spring Craft Bash, a 1-day event that will showcase a wide variety of handcrafted and vendor Items for sale.

The event, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., will allow shoppers to browse for such items as books, games, artwork, skincare, home decor items, jewelry, succulents “and more” in the Von Maur wing of the mall.

“We are looking forward to showcasing more than 30 local artisans during our first Spring Craft Bash,” said Cecily McCabe, marketing director for Woodland Mall, said in supplied material. “Whether you’re in the market for a gift for a loved one, or something nice for yourself, there’s sure to be great options for everyone to enjoy while supporting local entrepreneurs.”

The event was organized by Kelly Hume Events LLC.

Participating vendors include Amanda’s Nail Addiction, Andria & Co, Basinski Personal Creations, Beth’s Glass creations, Better Than Urs Designs, Breeches and Bloomers, Bring Your Own Beauty, Deanna Rae’s Designs, Discovery Toys, Foliar Effects LLC, JRK Embroidery, Kel’s Creations, Knotty Jared, Little Arts, Madi Made Jewels, Mick Art Productions, Mud Matters Studio, Mulberry Pines, Paparazzi Jewelry, Pink Zebra, Porch Signs By Patti, Rarity Nails, Roundabout Society, Sheila’s Satchels, Sol E Lua, Still I Stay Designs, Sunset Succulents, Sylvia’s Sudsery, Upcycle Creations, Usborne Books & More, and Whim.

According to a statement from the mall, Woodland Mall asks all guests to follow CDC recommendations by using the hand sanitizer stations located throughout the mall, wearing face coverings and practicing physical distancing.

In order to comply with Michigan requirements, occupancy numbers remain limited as the mall operates on reduced hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8 a.m., Friday through Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

City of Kentwood, partnering with Kent County, offers public Wi-Fi at parks, City campus

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City of Kentwood City Hall, on the City Campus. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood has partnered with Kent County to “help residents stay connected while enjoying many of its parks and visiting the main City campus” with free public wireless internet access now available at 13 Kentwood locations.

The access is funded by Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security ( CARES) Act funding allocated to increase free public Wi-Fi throughout Kent County. According to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 33,000 households in Kent County do not have a broadband internet subscription.

“The pandemic has increased demand for internet use and many in our community do not have access,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “We are grateful to be able to provide more public Wi-Fi across Kentwood for our residents, especially our students, to stay connected for work, school and play.”

Kentwood joins 16 other communities and Kent County Parks as part of the initiative to add free public Wi-Fi access across the county.

The free access is available at the following Kentwood locations:
 

Bowen Station Park, 4499 Bowen Blvd. SE

City Campus — City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE

City Campus — volleyball courts, 5068 Breton Ave. SE

East Paris Nature Park, 5995 East Paris Ave. SE

Home Acres Park, 145 Farnham St. SE

Jaycee Park, 1088 Gentian Drive SE

Kellogg Woods Park, 275 Kellogg Woods Park Drive SE

Northeast Park, 1900 Middleground Drive SE

Old Farm Park, 2350 Embro Drive SE

Pinewood Park, 1999 Wolfboro Drive SE

Stanaback Park, 3717 Whitebud Drive

Stauffer Station Park, 2360 52nd St. SE

Veterans Memorial Park, 355 48th St. SE

Kent County was awarded $114.6 million in CARES Act funding for COVID-19 economic relief efforts. Of that, $1 million was allocated for near-term solutions for free public Wi-Fi access throughout the county.

The costs of Kentwood’s newest Wi-Fi access points and their installation were covered by Kent County through the CARES Act funding. The total infrastructure investment in the City of Kentwood was $60,855, according to a city statement.

The City of Kentwood will also pay electricity and monthly Wi-Fi service charges. The total cost for the city is expected to be $18,000 over the next two years.

Muskegon Museum of Arts exhibits celebrate 100th anniversary of Friends of Art support

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Ansel Adams (American, 1902-1984), “Half Dome, Merced River, Winter from The Photographs of Yosemite Suite” (Silverprint photograph, 1938. Gift of the Friends of Art, 1989)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

This year, the Muskegon Museum of Art is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Friends of Art, an independent non-profit organization established in 1921 that promotes the study of art and supports the museum.

Two exhibitions organized by the MMA recognize the contributions of the Friends of Art, highlighting works of art that the group has contributed to the MMA over the past century — including one exhibit featuring iconic photographs of Ansel Adams which opened Feb. 18.

The exhibit “Friends of Art: 100 Years” features almost 30 artworks donated by the “Friends” to the museum’s permanent collection over the decades.

Tunis Ponsen (American, 1891-1968), “Yacht Club Pier” (Oil on canvas, 1931. Gift of Friends of Art, 1931)

“Visitors will discover a rich diversity of objects along with some of the museum’s most significant works of art, including pieces by James Richmond Barthé and Paul Howard Manship and one of our signature paintings, Tunis Ponsen’s ‘Yacht Club Pier’,” Art Martin, MMA senior curator, said in supplied material.

The exhibition runs through May 2, and includes a video, “Friends of Art 100th Year Anniversary”, which tells the story of the history of the group through the years. The video and exhibition information can be found here.

Also on exhibit as part of the celebration is “Ansel Adams: The Photographs of Yosemite Suite” which features 24 iconic images taken in the 1940s of Yosemite National Park — the location and pictures that defined Adams’s internationally celebrated career.

In preview material of the exhibit, it is stated: “The artistic and technical contributions Ansel Adams made to photography established him as a legendary figure in American art. Seen by millions of viewers during his lifetime, Adams’s images documented the American wilderness, capturing transitory moments of light and weather that gave his subjects an emotive power not previously seen in landscape photography.”

Friends of Art members purchased the photographs for the museum collection in 1989. The exhibition runs through May 9.

Paul Howard Manship (American, 1885-1966), “Flight of Europa” (Bronze on onyx base, 1928. Gift of the Friends of Art, 1944)

The museum is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, and closed Mondays. Health and safety measures include limited occupancy in galleries and other public spaces, enhanced cleaning, and mask wearing is required for guests and staff.

Visit muskegonartmuseum.org for museum updates, visitor information, and exhibition information.

Gilmore Car Museum to host new Winter Motoring Meet on Feb. 20

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By Emily Holmes, WKTV Intern

ken@wktv.org

The Gilmore Car Museum is offering families a day full of outdoor winter fun — with attractions ranging from vintage snowmobiles to ice carving — at its all-new Winter Motoring Meet, set for Saturday, Feb. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

With the standard daily admission, guests will have full access to both outdoor activities and to the indoor car collection of over 400 vehicles. The Winter Motoring Meet will include “open-aired” scenic “sleigh” rides around the campus using several of the museum’s antique cars — including comfy seats in the bed of a Classic Ford Model AA pickup truck.

The event is “a fun way for us to get outside and enjoy the winter season, in an outdoor environment with plenty of room for everyone to remain socially distanced,” Josh Russell, executive director of the Gilmore Car Museum, said in supplied material.
 

Rides will be one guest/family/group per ride. Masks will be required and vehicle seating will be sanitized between each ride. All museum visitors ages 5 and over are required to wear face masks. All COVID-19 health procedures apply.

The Gilmore Car Museum is located at 6865 W Hickory Rd, Hickory Corners (north of Kalamazoo). For more information, visit GilmoreCarMuseum.org. Standard admission at the Gilmore Car Museum is $16 for adults and seniors, $11 for age 11-14, free for Children 10 and under — and free for active military.

WKTV Journal In Focus hosts First Steps Kent, latest on Kent County early childhood support efforts

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By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

In November 2018, Kent County voters approved the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage to fund more than $5 million annually, from 2018-2024, to be directed toward community-based early childhood health and support programs. First Steps Kent was selected to lead the program.

In late 2020, the latest round of funding was approved by the Kent County Board of Commissioners, after First Steps Kent and its Resident Proposal Review Committee recommended funding 12 programs — including a focus on parental outreach and involvement.

Continuing WKTV’s coverage of the program and its efforts, and to bring you details of the latest funding and the program’s overall status, we will talk in studio with Joslyn Ward, a Kentwood parent serving on the review committee, and we welcome back to WKTV —  this time via Zoom — Annemarie Valdez, First Steps Kent President.

For more information about First Steps Kent, visit FirstStepsKent.org.

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.

Kentwood’s Freeze Fest disc golf tournament, pantry food drive coming Feb. 20

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Action from 2020’s City of Kentwood Freeze Fest disc golf tournament, and pantry food drive, coming Feb. 20. (City of Kentwood)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood and Great Lakes Disc will again partner to host the 6th annual Freeze Fest doubles disc golf tournament — a best-shot doubles competition open to all levels of golfers — on Saturday, Feb. 20. The event is also a food drive with all proceeds supporting Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry.

The tournament will be at Jaycee Park, 1088 Gentian Drive SE, with on-site registration beginning at 9 a.m. and the first round of the tournament at 10 a.m. Pre-registration is encouraged online at kentwood.us/freezefest. The cost is $40 and one canned food donation per team.

Whatever the weather, disc golf is in season; and donating to the Kentwood food bank is also always in season. (Wikimedia Commons)

“It’s always incredible to watch community members come together in support of Kentwood initiatives,” Lori Gresnick, Kentwood recreation program coordinator, said in supplied material. “The disc golf community is no exception. We are grateful so many disc golfers join us at our annual tournaments for some friendly competition and to generously restock the Little Free Pantry.”

The Freeze fest has become an annual winter tradition in Kentwood but for all West Michigan disc golfers.

“Great Lakes Disc is happy to host the Freeze Fest with the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department for our sixth consecutive year,” Shea Abbgy, owner of Great Lakes Disc, said in supplied material. “We’re excited about this event’s continued growth, which allows us to give back to the community in a very tangible way.”

A City of Kentwood Little Free Pantry, now one of two, is in the Kentwood Activities Center. (City of Kentwood)

The Kentwood Little Free Pantry initiative began in 2017 as a community service project in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. The small food pantry is open to all community members year-round and is designed to fill an immediate and local need. It offers non-perishable food and personal care items. Anyone can utilize or donate to the pantry. No application is required and no questions are asked.

The demand for Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, has steadily increased since it opened, and even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement from the City of Kentwood.

To help meet the growing need, the City of Kentwood recently launched another Little Free Pantry at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. More information is available at kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.

Kentwood’s Valentine’s 5K run to benefit Little Free Pantry returns Feb. 13

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The finish line at the City of Kentwood’s Valentine’s Day Dash 5K in 2020. (City of Kentwood)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

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.

For more event information, visit kentwood.us/valentinesdash.

Meijer Gardens — past, present and future — on special episode of WKTV Journal In Focus

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By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Every visit to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a different experience than any other — there is always something new blooming in the gardens, or up on the art gallery’s walls, or a sculpture placed in a new or changed setting in the nearly 160 acres of land encompassing the West Michigan entertainment and cultural landmark.

And the last three years, there has even been even more changes to the Gardens’s buildings and grounds as part of a massive expansion — changes that are near completion with the recent opening of the new Welcome Center.

The WKTV Journal In Focus team recently visited for a special interview with David Hooker, president & CEO of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

 

We talked about the Gardens nearing the end of its multi-year expansion, the successful completion of a $115 million dollar capital campaign that funded it all, as well as keeping the doors open in 2020 despite pandemic restrictions.

Mr. Hooker also discussed the beautiful mystery that is the future of the Garden’s “natural area” — a one-time golf course but at this time unplanned area of donated land adjacent to the current park.

Fred and Lena Meijer portraits hanging at the gardens.

And Mr. Hooker has plenty of stories about Fred and Lena, but did you ever hear the story about his beginning experience at Meijer Gardens? Bet it is not what you think!

For more information about Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, visit meijergardens.org.

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.

With expansion fundraising complete, Meijer Gardens opens new Welcome Center as final phase of work begins

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David Hooker, president and CEO of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, talked to WKTV at the Welcome Center opening Monday, Jan. 11. (WKTV video)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

With the 2017 launch of the Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love $115 million capital campaign, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park was honoring the legacy of Fred and Lena Meijer’s past community vision and well as initial and continuing financial support.

But Meijer Gardens — a bedrock cultural and artistic landmark in West Michigan — was also acknowledging that for it to move boldly into the future, for it to “Welcome the World”, it needed to get buy-in from the West Michigan community, including businesses large and small, and civic-minded individuals.

That buy-in — the fact that the capital campaign had attained it fundraising goal, and thus stayed on-track with its massive and near-complete 4-year facility expansion — was clearly evidenced by a wall of donors in its just-opened expanded Welcome Center.

Also evident was the intent of the leadership of the Meijer Gardens to make sure the community and tourism focal point of the region stayed vital and vigorous for generations to come.

“This is not monument to one person or one family, the community is making this happen and that is critically important,” David Hooker, president and CEO of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, said to WKTV at the Welcome Center opening Monday, Jan. 11. “We, as an organization, have no time horizon. Our goal is to be here until the very end of time. For that to happen, everybody has to rally around, to own the place. (To be) stewards of it. This generation, the next, and the next.”

While the opening of the Welcome Center is not the end of construction at Meijer Gardens supported by the capital campaign, it will allow the end of use of a temporary entrance and work to be completed on a new Garden Pavilion and a veranda to expanded Tassell-Wisner-Bottrall English Perennial Garden — one of the final pieces of the multi-year effort.

An August 2020 aerial view of the new Welcome Center at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (at right and lower right, still under construction). The Welcome Center had a “soft” opened this week that will allow the closure the temporary entrance (center) and a final phased of work to be done. (Meijer Gardens Website)

In all, the highlights of the expansion and renovation effort included the 69,000 square foot Welcome Center, the 20,000 square foot Covenant Learning Center, the Peter C. and Emajean Cook Transportation Center, the expanded and upgraded Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater, and the Padnos Families Rooftop Sculpture Garden.

The need for expansion was evidenced by a 2016 economic impact study, conducted by Grand Valley State University, that estimated that Meijer Gardens supports or contributes more than $75 million to the Kent County economy each year. More than 12 million people from around the world have visited since it opened in 1995, according to supplied material.

The project also addresses facility needs that include expanded annual horticulture exhibitions, more galleries for sculpture exhibitions, additional parking capacity and improved vehicle flow.

The Welcome Center’s architect is Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects/Partners, with local partners Progressive AE and Owen-Ames-Kimball, Co.

One area of the Welcome Center not yet complete is the Garden Pavilion, a central room where Jaume Plensa’s “Utopia” will be located. For the four walls of the Garden Pavilion, Plensa created a sculpture using one female face on each wall representing different ethnic backgrounds, according to supplied material. The faces “represent universal symbols of the beauty inherent in humanity,” and was specifically commissioned for the Garden Pavilion and is scheduled to open later this year.

Snapshots: WKTV stories to get you into the 2021 swing of things this month

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, Holidays, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Non-Profits, Recreation, Upcoming Events,

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“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.

American art in new, ‘Native’ context on display at Muskegon Museum of Art

Area Education, Education, Entertainment, Kids Activities, Upcoming Events, ,
Jonathan Thunder, “Quarantine at Gramma’s House”. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Just as it is nearly impossible to categorize “contemporary art” in the new millennium, it is also of little value to label contemporary Native American art as realistic or abstract, as idealistic or fatalistic.

As evidenced by three exhibitions of contemporary works by Native American artists currently on view at the Muskegon Museum of Art this winter, Native American art and artists defy labels and categories.

Jason Quigno (Supplied)

The MMA’s major show, opened earlier this month, is “The Art of the People: Contemporary Anishinaabe Artists”, is organized by the MMA in partnership with the Grand Valley State University Art Department. But just as intriguing is the MMA’s exhibits “Jim Denomie: Challenging the Narrative” and “Levi Rickert: Standing Rock — Photographs of an Indigenous Movement”.

The three exhibits will be up though February, 2021.

The Art of the People

“The Art of the People: Contemporary Anishinaabe Artists”, according to an announcement from the Muskegon Museum of Art, features artwork by both nationally recognized and “early career” contemporary Native American artists “in a wide array of media that combines cultural traditions, imagery, and themes.”

The invitational show will appear concurrently at the MMA and Grand Valley State University Art Gallery, and incorporates sculpture, painting, ceramics, beadwork, mixed media, and photography.

“The exhibition explores the ways in which these artists express their experiences in both traditional and non-traditional media, techniques, and subject matter,” according to the announcement. “Through representational and abstract imagery and design, the artists address issues of craft, history, identity, social and political justice, and popular culture.”

Jason Quigno is the guest curator, and is a sculptor and member of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe. According to supplied information, he works in a variety of stone —granite, basalt, marble, limestone, and alabaster — “transforming raw blocks into flowing forms.” His work has garnered significant recognition and awards and he has completed numerous public commissions for communities and institutions around Michigan.

Exhibiting artists in the show also include Le’Ana Asher, Adam Avery, Shirley Brauker, Kelly Church, Wally Dion, Dino Downwind, Cherish Parrish, Jonathan Thunder, Robin Waynee, and Jason Wesaw.

The exhibition runs through Feb. 28, at the Muskegon Museum of Art and opens in January 2021 at the GVSU Art Gallery.

Challenging the Narrative

“Jim Denomie: Challenging the Narrative”, organized by the MMA, features new and favorite paintings by Denomie, a nationally known and award winning Anishinaabe artist, which reveal “the continuity and ongoing explorations” within his work.

Jim Denomie, “Four Days and Four Nites Two Moons”. (Supplied)

“His colorful, humorous paintings directly address historical, political, and cultural issues facing Native Americans in the U.S.,” according to the announcement. “Using traditional imagery, stereotypes, comic symbols, and pop culture imagery, Denomie presents playful, alluring narratives that, on closer inspection, reveal biting and thought-provoking challenges to historic and contemporary misperceptions, prejudices, and injustices.”

The exhibition runs through March 10, 2021. For more information, visit his website here.

Standing Rock photographs

“Levi Rickert: Standing Rock, Photographs of an Indigenous Movement”, is a collection of photographs which document Rickert’s journey to Standing Rock in 2016 as part of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.

Photograph at Standing Rock by Levi Rickert (Supplied)

“These images capture not just the news-making conflicts and clashes between protestors and private security firms at the site, but also the day-to-day experiences of the men and women joined in their shared call for action,” according to the announcement.

Levi Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online.

This exhibition runs through February 28, 2021.

The Muskegon Museum of Art

The Muskegon Museum of Art galleries and store are open 11 a.m. to  4 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays, and closed Mondays. Safety protocols include limited occupancy in galleries and other public spaces, social distancing, enhanced cleaning procedures, and requiring visitors and staff to wear masks.

For more information visit muskegonartmuseum.org.

A year without the Santa Claus Girls, on this episode of WKTV Journal In Focus

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Going Local, Health, Holidays, Kids Activities, Local Faces, Local History, Non-Profits, WKTV Journal In Focus,

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

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.

WKTV first reported the news back in November, see the story here.

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.

County, aiding parents as well as children, allocates latest round of Ready by Five early childhood millage grants

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Ready by Five early childhood support programs are funded by a countywide milage passed in 2018 and provides programs that improve the health, school readiness, and well-being of children under age five. (First Steps Kent)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The goal of the ongoing Ready by Five early childhood support programs, funded by a countywide milage passed in 2018, is to provide “dedicated and sustainable funding for programs that improve the health, school readiness, and well-being of children under age five.”

And a key element of achieving that goal — to “increase their likelihood of success in school and beyond” — is to get parental involvement for the various Ready by Five programs, especially within at-risk families.

So, acting last week on the recommendation of First Steps Kent, the Kent County Board of Commissioners approved allocation of nearly $6 million in Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage funds with the largest among them going to a group working to gain engagement of the parents involved with the Child Welfare System.
 

The West Michigan Partnership for Children’s Parent Engagement Program — which includes efforts at “engaging, involving and equipping parents involved with the Child Welfare System” — was awarded just over $600,000 for a two-year funding cycle.

In all, $5,775,015 in Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage funds were allocated for 2021. The millage is funded by a .25 mil property tax increase passed in 2018 that was expected to generate about $5.7 million a year from 2019 to 2024.

A Ready by Five kid, preparing for the future. (First Steps Kent)

“Our Board is committed to assuring these funds are distributed equitably throughout the county,” Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt said to WKTV. “The Ready by Five millage was voted on by Kent County residents who confirmed that it is imperative we embrace the diverse needs of our community.”

The review process included action by the Ready by Five Resident Proposal Review Board, which included members of the Board of Commissioners, Phil Skaggs and Monica Sparks, as well as Dr. Juan Olivarez, of First Steps Kent Commission; Sandra Ghoston-Jones, of the Kent County Administrator’s Office; and early childhood expert  Joanne Kelty.

Another example of seeking to gain parental involvement in all levels of the Ready by Five effort is that the proposal review board includes four diverse “Parent Representatives” from different parts of Kent County.

“I am honored to serve on the Ready by Five Review Board,” Kent County Commissioner Sparks said to WKTV. “This is a very serious commitment as it will have a measurable and lasting impact on our children and families. We are working very hard to provide equitable resources to ensure the future success of our entire community.”

In total, the Ready by Five Resident Proposal Review Committee reviewed 18 proposals submitted to First Steps Kent for this funding cycle, and recommended funding 12. The latest recommended amounts are in addition to the 27 contracts currently in place with service providers.

In addition to the West Michigan Partnership for Children’s funding of $600,900 ($294,924 in fiscal year 2021 and $305,976 in 2022), another notable allocation was a Fetal Infant Mortality Review project by the Kent County Health Department ($264,005 over two years), and interpretation and translation services contracts with Bethany Christian Services, Hispanic Center of West Michigan and Liaison Linguistics ($210,000, with $70,000 each over two years).

First Steps Kent will receive $396,399.95 for administration of Ready by Five programs in 2021. First Steps Kent is, according to its website, “an independent nonprofit organization that works with parents, service providers, funders, advocates, and other stakeholders to build a comprehensive early childhood system in Kent County.”

For more information on First Steps Kent and Ready by Five, visit firststepskent.org.

Grand Rapids Ballet invites public to put on dancing shoes, become part of virtual Nutcracker Experience

Entertainment, Holidays, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, ,
Grand Rapids Ballet School’s Maya Olthouse, shooting scene from The Nutcracker Experience. (GR Ballet/Scott Rasmussen)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

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.

Wyoming, Kentwood nonprofits among first to receive county violence prevention grants

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The Spartan Nash Branch of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, in Wyoming. (YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Kent County announced this week the first round of grants to non-profits as part of the new Community Violence Prevention Grant Program, with seven nonprofits awarded grants ranging from $15,000 to $150,000.

Two groups, Bethany Christian Services and the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, have local operations in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood.

The Kent County Board of Commissioners previously allocated $500,000 of CARES Act funding to the Community Violence Prevention program “to help stem the increasing rate of violence occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to a Nov. 18 statement from Kent County.

The grants support local 501(c)(3) organizations “that work to prevent violent behaviors from occurring, stop the progression of violence and rehabilitate individuals with established violent behavior,” according to the statement.

“Keeping our residents and communities safe is a top priority for the Kent County Board of Commissioners,” Commission chair Mandy Bolter said in supplied material. “We are proud to make these resources available to community organizations who are working tirelessly to develop innovative solutions that make our neighborhoods safer.”

As listed in the grant application, some of the strategies possibly used by the groups receiving grants include:

Reducing the availability and misuse of alcohol, marijuana, and other substances;

Reducing access to lethal weapons like guns and knives;

Changing cultural norms that support violence;

Rehabilitating individuals with a history of violent behavior;

Providing mentors, counselors, or other similar support for youth;

Providing alternative activities during the day and at night for youth that keep them engaged and involved, thus combatting idleness and lack of direction;

And, education and support of anti-gang measures.

Local group initial plans

Bethany Christian Services of Michigan has locations in both Wyoming and Kentwood, and, according to their application, will use the grant for a wide range of initiatives, including its “Silence the Violence Project”, which “using virtual reality, local youth partner with software developers to create simulated experiences designed to show youth ages 10-17 how to combat violence in their lives and communities.”

Bethany Christian Services’ project is an existing initiative of NAACP, it is estimated that 125-150 youth will engage in these simulations, and while the grant funds will be used this year, the program will continue throughout 2020 and 2021.
 

YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids’s Spartan Nash YMCA is located in Wyoming. According to its grant application, it will use the grant to engage in teen violence prevention by “providing alternative choices and activities” during out-of-school time.

“The goal for our programs is to keep teens engaged and involved in community, thus combatting lack of direction or idleness. The Y has staff who are trained in trauma-informed care who can confidently facilitate conversations about gun violence issues as well as strong partnerships with mental health providers like Arbor Circle and Mental Health Foundation to provide group-based mental health support. This work is becoming increasingly important during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Local United Way partners with county on grants 

Kent County contracted with Heart of West Michigan United Way — which already has extensive relationships with local non-profits — to review funding applications and administer the grants.

Other non-profits to receive grants as part of the first round of awards include the Boys & Girls Club of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth, Inc.; Edge Urban Fellowship; Grand Rapids Urban League; New City Kids, Inc.; and Muse Ed (Mus(ed)).

“The agencies receiving funds have established track records in transforming our community,” Michelle Van Dyke, president & CEO of Heart of West Michigan United Way, said in supplies material. “They serve as leaders in preventing violence, facilitators of diversion efforts and mentors for local youth. Together, we will educate and support Kent County residents to ensure the place we call home becomes safer and stronger than ever before.”

For more information on the grants and application process, visit hwmuw.org.

Woodland Mall to offer ‘Holiday Your Way’ options for shoppers, families this season

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It is that time of the year again at Woodland Mall. (USA.Gov)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Woodland Mall announced this week that “to keep West Michigan safe without sacrificing the holiday spirit,” the Kentwood area shopping mall will offer a variety of options for a “Holiday Your Way” experience that allows the community to partake in the season’s traditions however they feel most comfortable.

Accommodating preferences for visiting the mall in person, virtually, or a combination, Woodland Mall will continue hosting annual events such as photos with Santa and Black Friday shopping. But in-person shopping will come with enhanced safety options to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as limited-contact shopping options have been extended and expanded throughout the season.

“There’s no doubt holiday traditions and shopping will look different this year, but we are working to create safe and fun options for our community,” Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing director, said supplied material. “We don’t want anyone to miss out on the magical experience this season, so Woodland Mall is providing opportunities for everyone to partake in person, virtually or with greater physical distance from others.”

Photos with Santa, other holiday options available

Santa has returned to Woodland Mall’s Arctic Forest and will be present through Dec. 24 “to listen to every child’s Christmas wish and/or, new this year, read them a book,” according to the announcement. And while Santa will not be giving hugs or high-fives this year, children of all ages are invited to sit on a bench next to him to ensure everyone can stay healthy “and Santa can safely deliver presents on Christmas Eve.”

While photos with Santa will be available, Children, families and all Santa’s helpers will be required to wear face coverings that can be removed briefly for photos.

Also, families choosing to stay home can also video conference with Santa this year.

“Fur babies” — family pets — are again welcome to visit with Santa this year on Mondays through Dec. 15. All sorts of pets are able to meet Santa, as in the past he has met West Michigan cats, chickens and even goats. All pets may join as long as they are kept on a leash or in a crate at all times.

Tuesday nights from Nov. 24 to Dec. 8 will feature a special character meet-and-greet with superheroes, princesses and other surprise friends. The themed photo opportunities will be offered from 5-7 p.m. and include a gift with every photo purchase.

To eliminate crowds and lines, appointments must be made prior to meeting with Santa for all those visiting whether in person or virtually. Appointments can be made online at shopwoodlandmall.com.

Shopping Black Friday and more

Woodland will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, to allow retail employees to enjoy the holiday with their family. But the mall will reopen at 7 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, with increased safety protocols, including enhanced cleaning with products recommended by the CDC.

To complement Black Friday shopping, the mall will host 12 Days of Deals Dec. 1-12 via Facebook events. The events will showcase exclusive and limited offerings from retailers throughout the mall. Those following the virtual events will be notified of these deals each day.

Woodland Mall will additionally continue offering limited-contact options and services throughout the season. For those who prefer shopping in person but are wary of the holiday crowds, several stores, including Von Maur, J. Crew and the newly opened White House Black Market, will offer times with personal stylists after hours. TempurPedic will also offer individual appointments after hours.

Retailers participating in the mall’s Mall2Go: Contact-Free Pickup program will provide pickup and delivery options for those choosing not to enter the mall.

Gifts wrapped for a good cause

The mall will also offer gift wrapping in the Von Maur wing, as Woodland Mall has partnered with several nonprofit organizations to provide this free service for gifts large and small in exchange for a cash donation. (Charities wishing to participate may register online.)

“Supporting our local economy has become particularly important throughout the pandemic,” McCabe said in supplied material. “Holiday Your Way has made it easy for people to choose how they shop at Woodland Mall and we are doing everything we can to make it easy for people to stay safe.”

The mall will also offer extended hours this holiday season, but also urge shoppers to  “skip the crowds, shop Monday through Thursday when traffic is at a lighter pace.”

 For more informant on Woodland Mall, visit shopwoodlandmall.com.

Kentwood inviting community review of, input on update to park and recreation plan

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Community Health, Going Local, Health, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Pets/Animals, Recreation, Upcoming Events,
City of Kentwood Veterans Park, at 331 48th St. SE. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood announced Nov. 11 that it is inviting community members to share their feedback on a proposed update to its 5-year Community Park and Recreation Plan online or in person at an open house Monday, Nov. 16.

Residents may review and provide their thoughts on the Community Park and Recreation Plan between 5:15 and 7 p.m. in the Community Room at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE.

The start of a City of Kentwood disc golf event, from 2019. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)

According to the city announcement, a community park and recreation plan is required by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to be grant eligible. The update builds on previous parks master planning and engagement efforts to align with the community’s needs. It creates an inventory of existing facilities and resources, identifies community recreation and open space needs and sets an action plan for the next five years.

“An approved plan will allow us to seek state and federal grant funding that will help us make improvements we have identified and prioritized in partnership with our community over the past few years,” Val Romeo, Kentwood parks and recreation director, said in supplied material. “Additional public input on this plan brings us a step closer to accessing funding to make necessary enhancements to our parks, trails, recreational programming and facilities as our community grows.”

Community members who attend the open house are asked to follow COVID-19 precautionary measures, including wearing a face covering and practicing physical distancing.

The draft plan and a form to submit feedback online is available on the City’s website at kentwood.us/5-year-park-plan.

 

After 110 years, local Santa Claus Girls effort stymied by COVID-19, need for new space

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(Supplied/Santa Claus Girls)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

After more than a century of providing holiday season gift bundles to thousands of western Michigan kids, the Santa Claus Girls will be still this holiday season as the double hit of both COVID-10 and the need for a new home facility has forced the program into hiatus for 2020.
 

The Santa Claus Girls’s history in Kent County dates from 1909 and from their most recent home in Kentwood at the Knoll Inc. building on 36th Avenue, the all-volunteer group delivered more than 13,500 gift packages in 2018 and topped that number last year.

“Santa Claus Girls has taken a pause for the 2020 season,” Maggie Moerdyke, Interim President of Santa Claus Girls, said to WKTV. “Knoll was sold and the charity inventory is packed in 4 trailers awaiting a new home. It was a tough decision for the board to pass for the holiday season yet the pandemic had made it impossible to carry forward for 2020.”

Undated historic photo of Santa Claus Girls. (Supplied/Santa Claus Girls)

Usually, the Santa Claus Girls packages and delivers gift bags through which in-need kids get a new toy and candy but also get hand-made, knitted winter hats and mittens. Depending on the age of the kids, families can also receive infant receiving blankets, crocheted or knitted or out of flannel, infant toys, and age-appropriate 1-year-old and 2-year-old stuffed animals.

To accomplish such an effort, there is a small army providing gift wrapping and package-assembly, as well volunteers to join another small army of drivers to deliver the packages in mid-December.

But the army will be at home this season.

“The volunteers, the space, the production, are all side by side and the ability to maintain 6 foot of space between was not an option,” Moerdyke said. “The 350 drivers were also on the mind of the board and to send them into the neighborhoods to deliver was not an option either with COVID spreading so rapidly. Safety and health was foremost on the mind of each of us through the cancellation process.”

She said the non-profit’s governing board had to make the decision that “with heavy heart (we) cannot reach the 13,000 children that are serviced during the giving season. The goal is to return in 2021, bigger and better.”

The board is also working a new model for the non-profit but, she said, they “truly need a workshop to make it happen.”

A new home needed for program

Knoll Inc. housed Santa Claus Girls for six years, including all utilities and the company’s maintenance staff.

Knoll had “a heart of gold to support the families in the community, the volunteers, and the charity,” she said. “Just maybe (we) will be fortunate to find another similar blessing.”

According to Moerdyke, Santa Claus Girls needs a facility between 25,000-75,000 square feet. The ideal, she said, would be 75,000 square feet which comes into use during the six weeks of assembling and delivery. The lower square footage figure would be for storage during the other 10 months of the year.

Moerdyke also said “the master plan is to have a facility to accommodate Santa Claus Girls, Y-Service Club (White Elephant Sale) and Toys For Tots.  All three charities have worked together for several years yet in separate facilities and moved from one place to another as needed incorporating the use of trailers for storage whenever necessary.”

As with every year, the Santa Claus Girls are also seeking community support both in volunteerism and financial donations.
   

For more information visit santaclausgirls.org or visit their Facebook page.

After three years of work, Kentwood City Commission approves update of city’s land-use master plan

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The City of Kentwood held numerous community information gathering events over the three years of the Master Plan update. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

After more than three years of planning and community engagement, the City of Kentwood announced this week that it has adopted an updated Master Plan which will serve as the City’s long-range vision for growth, land use, development and open space conservation.

The Master Plan, according to the announcement, “features goals, policies and recommended actions to guide land-use decisions over the next 20 years. The forward-looking development plan considers the long-range goals and desires of residents and property owners as well as local, regional and market trends.”

The plan was adopted by the Planning Commission in September and then accepted by the City Commission on Oct. 20.

“The Master Plan update process is key to ensuring the detailed visionary planning for Kentwood’s future development in all sectors as our community grows,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “Many people have spent countless hours to ensure Kentwood’s Master Plan is a comprehensive guide for growth and conservation decisions while preserving and improving Kentwood’s excellent quality of life.”

The Master Plan is reviewed at least every five years, and can be modified after review by the Planning Commission. The City’s efforts for the latest Master Plan update began in October 2017. Prior to that, the last update was in 2012.

In general, the update’s goal was to “plan for new population growth and redevelopment while protecting key environmental features, creating sustainable economic opportunities and providing public services,” according to the city statement.

Among the major updates was the  implementation of the Form-Based Code land development regulatory tool, specifically along Division Avenue and incorporation of the Silver Line bus rapid transit service along Division Avenue.

The current Master Plan update also focused on “changes related to a few areas that required particular attention,” including Section 13, 263 acres of open land between 28th and 36th streets, Patterson Avenue and East Paris Avenue; Section 34, a 480-acre area between 52nd and 60th streets, the Princeton Estates plat and Wing Avenue; the 28th and 29th Street commercial corridor; and the Division Avenue corridor.

The update process also included plans for the Eastern Avenue and 52nd Street, the city campus, and Kalamazoo Avenue corridor subareas.

“Significant time and valuable engagement with residents, businesses and property owners has led to this plan’s adoption,” Terry Schweitzer, Kentwood community development director, said in supplied material. “We are grateful to all those who shared input and contributed to this critical review process.”

The updated plan and its associated documents are available on the City’s website at kentwood.us/PlanKentwood.

Kentwood to host modified Trunk or Treat drive-through event Saturday

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Dress up is encouraged but there will be masks and social distance at this year’s Trunk or Treat in Kentwood. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood invites city families to participate in a Trunk or Treat Drive-through event this weekend as “masked goblins, princesses, ghosts, witches, vampires and the likes” are also invited to haunt the city’s annual event Saturday, Oct. 24.
 

According to an announcement from the city, the free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branch, located at 4950 Breton Ave. SE.

Each year, children traditionally trick-or-treat around in the city’s public works facility full of decorated city and community vehicles. The year, however, to keep everyone safe, families will drive through a line of decorated trucks to collect the coveted treats.

“This year has been filled with so many cancellations, so we wanted to organize an event that will give kids something to look forward to and feel more normal while still making sure participants are safe,” Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director, said in supplied material. “Halloween is already a spirited and fun holiday so we’re looking forward to seeing all of the extra creativity that comes out of this year’s event.”

Children are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and bring their own candy-collection bag. All participants are required to wear a mask and remain in their vehicles for the event.

Participants will also have the opportunity to virtually vote for their favorite trunk out of the 20-plus organizations and community groups that will be handing out individually packaged treats with masks and gloves on throughout the event.

The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department will continue to monitor public health guidance and state orders, which may necessitate changes to the event. More information is available at kentwood.us/trunkortreat.

Woodland Mall to host family-friendly outdoor ‘Pop-up Fall Festival’ Oct. 17

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A Pop-up Fall Festival is coming to Woodland Mall this weekend. (Public Domain)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Woodland Mall announced this week that it will celebrate the fall season — the beautiful leaves, crisp air and, of course, caramel apples — this weekend when it hosts a Pop-Up Fall Festival in the Von Maur parking lot.

The outdoor event, which the entire family can enjoy while remaining safe and healthy, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., in collaboration with ACP Entertainment.

“We’re looking forward to celebrating the season and all the great activities and goodies it brings,” Woodland Mall Marketing Director Cecily McCabe said in supplied material. “Despite the limitations of COVID, we’ve been working hard to offer some fall fun that will allow us to gather and enjoy autumn safely. We’ll certainly be using Michigan’s beautiful fall weather to our advantage.”

According to the announcement, the festival will offer treats such as elephant ears, caramel apples, caramel corn, donuts and cider all day for participants to enjoy. Those interested may choose to either drive through or walk up to booths to purchase these treats, which can be purchased with cash or card. Seating will not be provided — participants are asked to enjoy the fall treats in their vehicles.

Festival activities will take place from noon to 4 p.m. and will include a bounce house, corn maze, spinning strawberry, train rides and more. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Only those planning to participate in activities need tickets.

Per state and Kent County Health Department guidance, the attraction area will be limited to 100 guests or fewer at a time and all participants will be required to wear a mask. There will be plenty of hand sanitizing stations and room for physical distancing.
 

Deep cleaning and sanitization of all attractions will take place throughout the day, according to the announcement.

Kentwood’s newest park set to host a ‘Halloween’ cross country 5K on Oct. 17

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A old sign, seen from 36th Street, at the area once called the Christian Athletic Complex but now a City of Kentwood park titled Covenant Park. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By Zachary Cantalice, WKTV Intern

ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood will host ‘socially distant’ cross country running/walking race, the NN Mobile Solutions Halloween 5k, on Saturday, Oct. 17. The run will take place at Covenant Park and will be a fundraiser for improvements at the park.

Covenant Park is one of the newest parks in Kentwood and, according to race organizer Spencer McKellar, lead recreation program coordinator of the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department, the event not only gives an opportunity to show off the new park but also creates a fun community event.

 “With Covid-19, we wanted to provide an outdoor event and with a cross country event that would provide a safe place for people to participate in while showcasing the new park,” McKellar said to WKTV.

Covenant Park is located at 3724 Shaffer Ave. SE, and was previously known as the Christian Athletic Complex. The park encompasses nearly 110 acres purchased early this year after an anonymous donor gave a substantial gift to the Kentwood Community Foundation for the purchase of the land, with the conditions it will be used by the City of Kentwood for park and recreational purposes, and be named Covenant Park.
 

The race will have guidelines to accompany the challenges Covid-19 has created. Sign up and waivers are all online so there will be no paperwork to fill out or for multiple people to come in contact with.

While during the race you will not have to wear a face mask, prior to and after the race a mask is required. The race will also have staggered starting times to separate groups. Groups will also be limited to a certain number of participants according to McKellar.

For more information and to sign up, visit runsignup.com.

Kentwood’s pop-up farmers market to help community greet the fall season on Oct. 1

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The Kentwood Parks and Recreation’s summer pop-up farmers market. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood’s Pop-up Farmers Market returns this week with a fall event that not only brings the seasons’s bountiful agricultural harvest and beautiful colors to town but also allows the public to reconnect with the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department and its various actives and efforts.

Following its successful summer pop-up farmers market, another free and open-to-the-public market is planned for Thursday, Oct. 1, from 4 to 6:30 p.m., in front of the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, located at 4950 Breton Ave. SE.

While there will be a host of local vendors offering fresh and locally produced food and other items, as well as a meal available from Street Chef Shaw, the city’s parks and recreation department will deliver something of its own.

“The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department not only organizes Farmers Market events, but also participates,” Kristina Colby, Kentwood recreation program coordinator, said to WKTV. “With our own booth set up at the Kentwood Farmers Market, we’re able to talk with residents about upcoming events and programs. We love any opportunity to engage with our community about the wide variety of enriching experiences we offer for people of all ages and abilities.”

But, of course, there are all those other great reasons to pay the farmers market a visit.

The outdoor event will feature a variety of seasonal items from nearly 20 vendors, including pumpkins, gourds, produce, microgreens, cheese, jams, honey, mushrooms, baked goods and more. Street Chef Shaw will be serving tacos and quesadillas.

Marketgoers will be required to wear masks when walking through the market and interacting with vendors. There will also be a counterclockwise traffic flow, according to the statement from the city. The Kentwood Farmers Market accepts Bridge cards and P-EBT, as well as SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks and Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH.

“Our Pop-Up Farmers Market offers community members an opportunity to get outside to enjoy the nice, fall weather and have fun exploring a variety of fresh and locally produced food,” Colby said. “We welcome everyone to step outside and join us to shop for great seasonal products from a safe distance to support local farmers, food producers and vendors.”

For more information on the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department and it activities, visit here.

Mums — and more — on exhibition as fall flowers, colors come to Meijer Gardens

Community Health, Entertainment, Going Local, Health, Holidays, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events,
Mums and more (like giant pumpkins) are now on view at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. (Meijer Gardens/Peter McDaniel)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The first day of fall is here, on Sept. 22, and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has opened its annual fall horticulture exhibition, Chrysanthemums & More!

The exhibition, which opened Sept. 18, reportedly the largest of its kind in Michigan, features expansive displays of chrysanthemums, fall foliage and family-friendly activities. The exhibition will be on display through Nov. 1.

“This year’s theme for Chrysanthemums & More! is ‘Naturally’,” Steve LaWarre, Meijer gardens director of horticulture, said in supplied material. “Our goal is that guests can experience the more natural and untamed side of the autumn season through the various displays of color, texture and patterns that are carefully designed to play upon the natural beauty of the changing fall landscape.”

Aware of the need for social distancing, even outdoors, plant displays throughout Meijer Gardens will intentionally be open and airy, “highlighting movement in contrast to a more traditional tight and manicured aesthetic of years past.”

The tower of mums at Meijer Gardens. (Supplied/Peter McDaniel)

The focal point of the inside display will be entering the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse and witnessing a floor-to-ceiling chrysanthemum display. Presentations of large disbuds and beds of colorful plantings will complement this feature in the nearby Earl and Donnalee Holton Victorian Garden Parlor.

Outdoors, expansive beds of lush chrysanthemums will be arranged in stunning sweeps of color and will be balanced by a variety of ornamental plantings that highlight nature’s beauty.

Other activities coming this fall at Meijer Gardens include the Fall Bonsai Show, giant pumpkins and “Hallowee-Ones”.

Fall Bonsai Show, sponsored by the West Michigan Bonsai Club, will take place Oct. 3–4, and is open with regular admission. A variety of bonsai will be on display, from trees in early stages of training to lovely older trees. Also, visitors can watch bonsai artists at work and shop for bonsai trees as well as bonsai tools and supplies.

Dress up is encouraged but there will be no tricks or treats. (Supplied)

Also on that weekend will be Fall Family Day, on Oct. 3, 1-4 p.m., which will be focused on the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden. Activities include fall-inspired tunes and autumn-themed stories, a fiber arts demonstration and a naturalist walk.

Finally, Hallowee-Ones, for the “wee ones,” will occur Oct. 23, from 10 a.m. to noon, with parades at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. This special event is designed for the youngest visitors, and children are encouraged to dress as a sculpture, mammal, fish, insect, bird, tree, flower, geologist or in any other way that highlights something about the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden. “No tricks, no treats, just fun!” according to supplied material.

For more information visit MeijerGardens.org.

Family friendly ‘Moovies’ coming to Fifth-Third Ballpark in September

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By Luke Schrock, WKTV Intern

ken@wktv.org

The West Michigan Whitecaps and Milk Means More are bringing fans family friendly fun from Fifth-Third Ballpark once again, this time with a month full of ‘Moovies from the Mound” — all with safety at the forefront.

“Once our baseball season was cancelled on June 30th, we began working on ways to energize the event side of our business,” and came up with the idea of showing movies, Steve VanWagoner, Whitecaps director of marketing and media relations, said to WKTV.

Movies from the Mound will continue throughout September starting Friday, Sept. 11, with the first of two films starting at 6 p.m. There will also be films continuing on select Fridays and Saturdays, at various times. Fifth Third Ballpark is located at 4500 West River Dr., Comstock Park.

“We put together a safety plan and got advice from local health officials,” he said. “The plan included painted 120 12-foot by 12-foot plots in the outfield, distanced and will hold six people with lots of room. We check temperatures of everyone entering the ballpark and everyone (even children) wear masks when around in the park and take them off when in their plots.”

During the month of September showings will include “Pets 2”, “Remember the Titans”, “Frozen 2”, “Onward”, “The Mighty Ducks”, “Incredibles 2”, “Aladdin”, “The Greatest Showman”, “Harry Potter”, and “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Each screening will begin with a 10-minute presentation from Milk Means More to educate viewers on the importance of dairy farmers and dairy products.

Plots are $35 per plot, but to see both movies in a night a plot must be purchased for each movie. Each plot is socially distanced and includes six tickets per plot in the outfield.

Outfield restrooms will be open. Standard Fifth Third Ballpark Policy for prohibited items will apply — no outside food and beverage, glass bottles/containers, coolers, alcoholic drinks, smoking including E-Cigs, backpacks, bug spray, pets/animals (except certified assistance dogs) or weapons.
 

To reserve a plot and to learn more visit fifththirdballpark.com or check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Facebook page.

Wow, sushi — Woodland Mall to welcome nine new retailers, restaurants this fall

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One of Woodland Mall’s entrances. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Woodland Mall’s expanding line-up of retailers and restaurants has or will gain nine new arrivals this fall including the opening of Sephora and White House Black Market. And while you are shopping, a stop at the new WOW Sushi for lunch might be in order.

In addition, also now open at Woodland Mall are Jamba, Tempur-Pedic, Bath Planet and FunShop. WOW Sushi, The Zon3 and Windsor are set to open later this fall.

“We are delighted to welcome so many new arrivals to our growing portfolio of retailers and restaurants,” Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing director, said in supplied material. “We are looking forward to offering guests an expanded selection of shopping and dining options and a premium experience under our rigorous safety protocols.”

Sephora, now open in the Von Maur wing,  debuted in North America more than 20 years ago, and “has been a leader in prestige omni-retail with the purpose of creating an inviting beauty shopping experience and inspiring fearlessness in its community,” according to supplied material.

Also in the Von Maur wing, White House Black Market will open next to Bath & Body Works in early October. WHBM offers “polished black and white women’s clothing with pops of color and patterns for tailored dresses, tops, pants and accessories.”

WOW Sushi opened in the Café in the Woods Food Court at Woodland Mall Sept. 1. Men’s streetwear clothing store The Zon3 will open in the JCPenney wing near H&M in early October. In the Macy’s wing, Windsor will open near Shoe Encore across from Ann Taylor in early November.
 

Also on the list of new retailers and restaurants that recently opened is Jamba, located in the mall’s center court next to Starbucks. Jamba serves on-the-go freshly blended fruit and vegetable smoothies, made-to-order bowls, fresh-squeezed juices and shots, boosts and bites.

Shoppers will also discover FunShop, a new video arcade, in the Macy’s wing near Spencer’s. The space features a popular combination of the latest video and redemption games. Sanitizing wipes are available for customer use on high-touch areas.

Nearly 100 retailers and restaurants have reopened since June 1. A complete list can be viewed on Woodland Mall’s website.

In order to comply with Michigan requirements, occupancy numbers remain limited as the mall operates on reduced hours, Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Some stores modify those hours further.

Woodland Mall asks guests to follow CDC recommendations, make use of the several hand sanitizer stations located throughout the mall, wear masks and practice physical distancing. Common area furniture and other elements where physical distancing cannot be enforced have been removed. While the play area remains closed indefinitely, food court seating is now available at reduced capacity.

Also, many retailers at the mall are currently hiring. Job seekers are encouraged to explore the list of openings here.

Online livestock auction hosted after Hudsonville Fair cancelled

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Emilee Vis show her dairy cow. (Supplied/Hudsonville Community Fair)

By Faith Morgan
WKTV Intern

Annually MSU and 4-H students show off their livestock for live auctions at the Hudsonville Community Fair as part of a final project. Due to COVID-19 the fair cancelled for 2020. This news left young individuals devastated without the opportunity to showcase their livestock that they had worked hard to train and raise.

Some of these students have been preparing for live auctions since July of 2019. As families have been widely affected by the pandemic, these students also live in households of families struggling during this crisis.

To warm the hearts of these young students, Hudsonville Community Fair partnered with Miedema’s Charity Auctions to host an online auction. This auction helps to provide financial means for these students seeking to attend college and showcase at future livestock auctions.

Andrew Meekhof-Vanspyker show his sheep. (Supplied/Hudsonville Community Fair)

 

The auction contains a wide variety of beef, pork, and lamb for sale on Miedema’s website and is scheduled to end Thursday, Aug. 27.

Calling all chalk artists: Kentwood to host ‘Chalk the Lot’ family fun weekend Aug. 28-30

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The City of Kentwood’s “Chalk the Lot” will allow families to create their own art projects. (WKTV historic photo)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood’s Park and Recreation Department has come up with an artistically colorful way to show off the Veterans Memorial Park’s new playground, splash pad and concession stand.

Can you say ‘chalk art fun’ for all?

The city will host a free family event the weekend of Aug. 28-30 appropriately titled “Chalk the Lot”, when families can gain supplied chalk, get assigned blocks in the park’s parking lot, and go to town with their own art projects.

The Kentwood Activities Center and Veterans Memorial Park is located at 355 48th St SE. Registration for chalk art blocks are available, and the public is invited to view the artwork even if they did not create it — practicing proper social distancing, of course.
 

“We’re excited to host our first ever Chalk the Lot,” Spencer McKellar, lead recreation program coordinator for the Park and Recreation Department, said to WKTV. “It’s a great opportunity for families to take part in a free event, enjoy the summer weather, and check out the amenities at Veterans Memorial Park.”

McKellar came up with the idea, shared it with the staff, and the first-ever such event came together, according to Laura Barbrick, marketing and events coordinator for the parks department.

There are not set specific times for art creation, so that families can come whenever it is convenient for them, according to the city. The event will begin on Friday, Aug. 29, at noon and will end on Sunday evening.

The city asks families to register in advance so they can get an assigned spot and pick up the chalk for the event. Chalk must be picked up at the Kentwood Activities Center the week leading up to the event during business hours (Monday through Thursday, Aug. 24-27, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or Friday, Aug. 28, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Ring bell at the front door or call 616-656-5270 and a staff member will assist, Barbrick said.

For more information and to gain assignment of chalk pickup and parking lot blocks, visit the parks department Facebook page here.

Snapshots: Museums opening back up; WKTV brings you the details

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By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“A museum is a place where nothing was lost, just rediscovered …”

Nanette L. Avery


Bodies Revealed is one of the exhibits currently at the Grand Rapids Pubic Museum. (GRPM)

Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) officially reopened to the public last week, and it has extended the Bodies Revealed exhibition to Sept. 27. Go here for the story.


Iconic works of art, Blue Lily by Deborah Butterfield in front of Tornado Over Kansas by John Steuart Curry (Supplied/MMA)

Muskegon Museum of Art

The Muskegon Museum of Art has reopened with “Shaping the Future, Celebrating the Past,” an exhibition that highlights and explores the various facets of its internationally recognized permanent collection in all of its galleries through the summer and fall of 2020. Go here for the story.


The Gilmore Car Museum’s Green Book Diorama. (Gilmore)

Gilmore Car Museum

While many people saw the Academy Award winning movie “Green Book”,  visitors to the Gilmore Car Museum can now learn more about the book and its role in black travel in an exhibit which opened in 2014 and has since gained much praise. Go here for the story.

Fun fact:

155 million

The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at nearly 155 million, of which nearly 146 million are scientific specimens at the National Museum of Natural History. Source.

Virtual summer camp for deaf — and hearing — kids available this summer

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Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services community education coordinator Nancy Piersma, left, with Kenny in background, at John Ball Zoo. (D&HHS)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (D&HHS) in Grand Rapids didn’t want to cancel an annual summer camp that deaf kids have been part of in person, but then COVID-19 happened.
 

So a summer camp for both deaf and hearing kids will happen virtually in 2020 — “a week’s worth of excitement and education,” according to a statement from the organization.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services community education coordinator Nancy Piersma, left, with Kenny in background, at John Ball Zoo. (D&HHS)

Recently, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services’ community and partnerships manager, Erica Chapin, was out and about in Grand Rapids with community education coordinator Nancy Piersma (a native deaf facilitator who uses sign language to communicate) and a film crew, plus some special guests, filming at John Ball Zoo, Blandford Nature Center, HOPE Gardens community garden and The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum.

“Through these videos, kids will be able to learn and experience something new,” Chapin said in supplied material. “Each day Nancy teaches new signs related to the theme, making Kids Kamp videos a great opportunity for children to have increased exposure to language. Every video is in ASL, with English interpretation and closed captioning, to offer accessibility to anyone who wants to watch.”

From July 13-17 those videos will be rolled out for free on the D&HHS YouTube channel. But kids who buy a Kenny’s Kids Kamp Kurious Kit for $30 will be able to complete a number of crafts and activities at home as they watch the videos, according to the statement.

“Kenny is our Kids Kamp friend who is coming along with us for our adventures,” Chapin said. “He is a stuffed animal monkey. Throughout our videos you can see him playing in the background. Sometimes he is easy to find; other times he is hidden away. The kids have to keep an eye on him and at the end of the week we will announce how many times he was seen.”

Each Kenny’s Kids Kamp Kurious Kit will include a 2020 Kids Kamp t-shirt, snacks and drinks for each day, ASL vocabulary related to the video adventures, crafts, a children’s book and other fun activities to promote learning. In addition, according to the D&HHS statement, the purchase of a Kurious Kit enters each purchaser into a daily drawing for bonus prizes from the video locations that include fun for the whole family.

D&HHS will also be offering scholarships and seeking donors to underwrite kits. Anyone who would like to apply for a scholarship for a kit can contact Deb Atwood, executive director, at datwood@deafhhs.org.

Also, on the Kids Kamp sign-up page, people can purchase a kit for a child directly, said Chapin. For more information visit here.

Questions about Kids Kamp should be directed to Erica Chapin, Community & Partnerships Manager, at 616-732-7358, x211 or community@deafhhs.org.