by Tara Hernandez, Gerald R. Ford International Airport
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is asking West Michigan to “Pack Your Bags,” and six lucky people will win an all-inclusive weekend in St. Louis!
The 2014 winners from the Tara Hernandez Pack Your Bags contest.
On Friday, May 15th show up at the Airport with a friend, spouse or whoever you’d like to spend a weekend with. Part of the deal? You have to come with your bags packed and ready to get on a flight that morning! Entries will be taken from 5:00 a.m. – 6:15 a.m. At 6:20 a.m., WLAV radio DJ’s Tony Gates and Michelle McKormick, will draw three couples’ names (six total people), and those winners will receive an all-inclusive weekend in St. Louis – including box suite tickets to the Detroit Tigers vs. St. Louis Cardinals game on Saturday!
Airfare will be covered by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport on Southwest Airlines’ nonstop flight from Grand Rapids to St. Louis, departing at 7:20 a.m. Friday, May 15th, and returning at 9:55 p.m. on Sunday, May 17th. The package also includes hotel accommodations, transportation to/from the St. Louis Airport, restaurant gifts cards, tickets to tour the famous St. Louis Arch, and box suite tickets to watch the St. Louis Cardinals in action on Saturday, May 16th.
“St. Louis is a great connection city for people flying Southwest Airlines to southern and western parts of our country, but the city itself also has a lot to offer,” said GFIA Executive Director Brian Ryks. “We want to not only offer a fun promotion for West Michigan travelers, but also celebrate some of the easy and affordable nonstop service that Southwest offers from our Airport.”
“We’re excited to partner with the Gerald R. Ford International and Southwest Airlines for this promotion,” said Cumulus Director of Marketing & Promotions Marcus Bradman. “We are ready to kick off summer and what better way to do that than with baseball? We also know the fun you can have traveling not just around our state, but to the great destinations that the Gerald R. Ford International Airport offers.”
Promotion is not open to Airport employees, GFIA Board Members, Kent County Employees, Cumulus Media Employees or family members of any of the aforementioned.
A previous Chamber Event at Pizza Ranch’s Grand Opening.
The Kentwood/Wyoming Area Chamber of Commerce works hard day in and day out to perform for their members and our community. Keep this list handy for all the upcoming events that will be entertaining and informative for the months of May and June.
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 2 –28th Street Metro Cruise Dust Off
May 5– Election – PLEASE VOTE
May 7–New Member Breakfast
May 8–Connected Chamber Women
May 9–Nutrition N More – Grand Re-Opening
May 9–Godwin Hardware Demonstrates the Holland Grill
May 11–Government Matters @KCH – with Elected Officials
May 14–Division Avenue Business Association Meeting
May 15–Business for Breakfast “Building a Work Ready Community”
May 15–3rd Fridays! Networking Luncheon
Jun 2–Multi Chamber Golf Outing
Jun 8–Government Matters @KCH – with Elected Officials
Jun 11–Division Avenue Business Association Meeting
Jun 19–Godwin Hardware Demonstrates the Holland Grill
Opening day at Fifth Third Ballpark not only marked the start of a new baseball season for the West Michigan Whitecaps, but also a grand opening for the ballpark’s Craft Beer Clubhouse.
The new Beer Clubhouse is located along the third base concourse and offers a unique experience from the rest of the ballpark. While the stadium is built to “play ball,” and escaping the weather is near impossible, the Craft Beer Clubhouse offers a different atmosphere completely.
Inside the bar is an atmosphere set up much like Founder’s Brewery, a rustic feel with dim lighting to enhance a raw, relaxed environment. The bar is heated and air conditioned so it is always open for business, no matter the weather! That’s a huge bonus in Michigan where it can snow at a moments notice, even in April.
The Craft Beer Clubhouse is located along the third base concourse
Now, the most important question, what does the Craft Beer Clubhouse have on tap? The bar currently has 16 local beers on tap from Perrin’s, Bell’s, Founders, Brewery Vivant, The Mitten Brewing Co., and Arcadia.
“The response has been extremely positive, it’s super busy all the time,” explained Katie Johnson, Food and Beverage Manager for the WhiteCaps, “The Craft Clubhouse has been busier than all the other beer stands in the stadium combined.”
Craft beer isn’t the only thing new inside the stadium. The ballpark has added a couple new dishes to the menu. The Hot-to-Tot! is a dish with buffalo chicken and bleu cheese dish covered in tater tots. There was also a new desert item added, the Beer-a-Misu, a desert with a craft beer and ice cream.
The early part of the season has seen the creation of another menu item with some inspiration from current WhiteCap Joey Pancake. The Joey Pancake is a sandwich with pulled pork and bacon drizzled with maple syrup and placed between two pancakes. Talk about a treat!
Be sure to catch a WhiteCaps game this season, try the new eats, and a craft beer… or two!
LaughFest 2015 was, as always, a fun family event.
by Tyler Lecceadone
Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s only 10-day community-wide festival of laughter, attracted attendees from across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom during its fifth annual event. LaughFest officially kicked off on March 5 with an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people wearing paper crowns.
Preliminary numbers indicate that more than 45,000 individuals attended LaughFest’s more than 270 ticketed and free events at 49 venues in Grand Rapids, Lowell and Holland. During the 10 Day event the festival featured over 750 artists and attracted visitors from 644 U.S. zip codes. In total, LaughFest tracked attendees from 34 states, Canada and the United Kingdom.
LaughFest 2015 didn’t breakany records for the number of people wearing paper crowns but it was fun trying.
“We are so grateful for the support that our community provides by coming out and enjoying the festival and learning about the important role laughter plays in emotional health,” said Wendy Wigger, president, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids.
At Kickoff LaughFest 2015 Wendy Wigger hands out freebies to the crowd.
“Our community, our partners and our sponsors have been vital in helping us raise awareness of our mission and contribute donations necessary for continuing the work
done by Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. This would not be possible without that type of support and I want to say thank you on behalf of the entire Gilda’s Club organization.”
While LaughFest officials are still determining the overall economic impact on the community for 2015, they have announced the funds raised through the “High Five” community match campaign. During LaughFest, and through the month of March, the campaign raised $40,610. For each five dollars donated to the campaign by individual donors, Amway Corporation matched each donation, up to $25,000. This allowed LaughFest to surpass its $50,000 “High Five” campaign goal by $15,610.
“If you ain’t laughin’, you ain’t livin’!” – anonymous
“Amway is honored to be able to donate the full amount offered during the ‘High Five’ community match campaign,” said Todd Woodward, vice president of
communications at Amway.
“It is important that the community understand that there are resources available for individuals who are struggling with emotional health needs. We are delighted that the funds will be used for children’s programming offered through Gilda’s Club.”
Proceeds and donations from LaughFest support free emotional healthcare programs for children and adults living with cancer, grief and loss through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Proceeds from the event account for 10 -15 percent of the Club’s annual operating budget.
It may be spring, but winter operations professionals will experience the latest snow and ice control solutions very soon.
Over 1,500 snow fighters from across North America are expected in Grand Rapids for “The Show for Snow,” the American Public Works Association (APWA) 2015 North American Snow Conference, held April 12-15, at DeVos Place Convention Center, which will provide an economic impact of over $1.6 million to the city.
Snow and ice management professionals from local and state transportation and public works departments from across the U.S. and Canada will be studying the latest in snow and ice control solutions. With another severe winter experience this year; attendees will have the unique opportunity to share how they have managed to keep their citizens safe and communities functioning in unprecedented ice and snow.
“APWA’s Snow Conference will feature a concentrated collection of industry-leading snow and ice education sessions, and an exhibit floor with vendors showcasing the latest technologies and equipment,” said APWA Executive Director Peter B. King. “This year’s Snow Conference will feature the largest exhibit floor in Snow Conference history, with more than 190 companies and 440 booths, where attendees can learn of products and services focused on snow and ice removal, winter road maintenance, fleet operations, emergency management and sustainability in winter operations,” King said.
Technical Tours of the Grand Rapids’ area are also part of the conference. The tours will take place on Wednesday, April 15 from 8am-12 Noon at the following locations:
· Gerald R. Ford International Airport Winter Maintenance: The airport is the second largest airport in Michigan with three runways and numerous taxiways that must be maintained to serve 24 non-stop destinations and provide air service for over 2 million passengers per year. On average, the airport receives 82” of snow annually, and relies on in-house staff and contractors to clear the 1.6 million square yards of paved surfaces, including the airfield, 40-lane miles of roads and surface lots accommodating about 6,500 cars.
· Kentwood’s Winter Operations & Truck Fabrication – A Regional Collaboration: This technical tour will take place at the City of Kentwood’s Public Works Facility where representatives from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Kent County Road Commission, Cities of Kentwood, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Walker, Wyoming and East Grand Rapids will be on hand to display their latest snow fighting equipment. They will each explain their collaboration throughout the winter months to ensure a consistent level of service.
The Exhibit Hall will open on Sunday, April 12 at 4:30 p.m., with additional exhibit hours on Monday and Tuesday, closing at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14.
The educational sessions, workshops, and discussions program highlights include:
· Monday, 4/13, 2-2:50pm: Success Planning, Are You Ready for the Next Step?
· Monday, 4/13, 3:30-5:00pm: The “Top 10” Winter Maintenance Issues
· Tuesday, 4/14, 8-8:50am: Demystifying Sustainability in Winter Maintenance
For more information on the APWA North American Snow Conference, visit http://www.apwa.net/snow. To access the registration form for a complimentary press pass for the Snow Conference, contact APWA Media Relations/Communications Manager, Laura Bynum, at lbynum@apwa.net. For media interviews, please contact Sarah Cavanaugh at 616-560-3627.
About APWA:
The American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 28,500 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, has an office in Washington, D.C. and 63 chapters in North America.
Rockford Brewing Company is thrilled to announce their first ever bottle release since the brewery opened for business 2 years ago in December of 2012. For their first bottle release Rockford Brewing Company selected its annually brewed “Belgian Multigrain Anniversary Ale”. They will be releasing limited bottles from each of their first two anniversary batches, 2013 and 2014! The official release time/date is 5pm/April 7, 2015 at Rockford Brewing Company’s Public House (12 E. Bridge St, Rockford, MI 49341).
Rockford Brewing Company believes their Anniversary Ale is a perfect brand to launch the first edition of a brand new bottled beer collection, appropriately named the “Enthusiast Collection.” The glass bottles were carefully chosen for their unique European shape and size (750mL). The label was thoughtfully designed with a traditionally classic approach. Belgian Multigrain Anniversary Ale is a rich malty Belgian beer brewed with barley, wheat, rye and oats. Bottled beer gives the craft beer enthusiast the freedom to cellar or age the product in a protective package once purchased.
Bottle quantities of Anniversary Ale are very limited to 100 total bottles of the 2013 batch (aged over a year), and 500 total bottles of the 2014 batch. Purchases will be limited to 2 bottles per person per day
“Belgian Multigrain was among the first brands available when Rockford Brewing Company first opened in 2012 before it later became known as our annual Anniversary Ale. It is very meaningful for us to choose our first and second Anniversary brews for Rockford Brewing Company’s first ever bottle release!” – Co-Founder, Seth Rivard
Dave Engbers enjoying the taste of his Founders beer.
“Dave Engbers, President and Co-Founder of Founders Beer finds the entire microbrew beer industry “quite magical.”
But the magic wasn’t always there.
Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers both had steady jobs when they decided to chase their dreams and open a brewery. They quit their jobs, took out giant loans, wrote the business plans and started to work.
Dave takes time out of his busy schedule to talk to the Citizen Journalism Team
“We wanted to live life without regrets,”Engbers shared during a recent visit with the WKTV Citizen Journalism team.
In the early work days his life was ridiculously busy.
“We built the six packs, brewed the beers, cleaned the bathrooms, swept the floors. I would work from 7:30a.m-2:00 in the morning, he explained.”
They soon found themselves on the verge of bankruptcy.
“There was always a roadblock. We thought of giving up. The business model didn’t work. We were under capitalized. There wasn’t a large craft community out there. We went through a lot of tough times but the only option was to make it work.”
It was at this point that the team decided to brew the kind of beer that got them excited about brewing in the first place: complex, in-your-face ales, with huge aromatics, bigger body, and tons of flavor.
And make it work they did. They never gave up.
” The last seven years have been tremendous,” Engbers related.
At their new location at 235 Grandville Ave SW, which they have been at since November 2007, they have gone from 16 employees to 290 employees.
“We have gone from 30 barrel tanks to 1500 barrel tanks and 7 ft. tall tanks to nearly 6 story tanks, he explained.”
Their KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) is the highest rated stout in the world.
Through persistence and hard work their beers are now distributed all over the world and the growth keeps on continuing.
“As of March 2015 we are found in 32 states and 11 countries. We have been exploring exporting to countries overseas– England, Iceland, Finland, Denmark, Mexico, Austrailia–all over the world.”
Engbers is a Hope College Graduate with a degree in Communication/English. He lives in East Grand Rapids with a young family of four children and a very understanding wife.
The Founders Family, a group of passionate beer enthusiasts, has grown around this simple philosophy: “We don’t brew beer for the masses. Instead, our beers are crafted for a chosen few, a small cadre of renegades and rebels who enjoy a beer that pushes the limits of what is commonly accepted as taste. In short, we make beer for people like us.”
Founders Brewing Co. has been lucky to evolve into one of the highest recognized breweries in the United States.
David Engbers favorite brand is obviously Founders but he doesn’t have a favorite type.
“Our beers are like our children. We love all our children for their uniqueness. There are no favorites.” he laughingly concluded.
He is very proud of his staff– who is like a second family to him– for all of their accomplishments and their extreme work ethic.
“It has been great watching everyone develop as a human being. We call it the Founders Family and we care and love one another,” he concluded.
March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on how far women have come in the workplace. One can examine popular culture like the television show MAD MEN to cringe at the way women were treated in the business world. In one episode Don Draper, the show’s leading man, announced to a female client that he “won’t let a woman talk to him this way.” Combine that with excessive philandering, continual sexist jokes, illicit affairs, holiday parties where male execs actually tackled secretaries the see what color their panties were and women being expected to sleep their way to anything that even resembled a management position. I had the opportunity to talk to local women to see what adversity they overcame to gain leadership in business ventures.
Tommy Brann and Marge Wilson
75-year-old Marge Wilson runs the very successful Marge’s Donut Den in Wyoming, Michigan. She’s been at it since 1975. The business just recently went through expansion and remodeling to meet the needs of the community. She wakes up at 3:00a.m. to be at work by 4:00a.m. It’s not easy and she was doubted by many when she first started. ” I remember when I first started so many men told me that it would be absolutely impossible for a woman to run a successful business,” she said. “There were so many doubters.” Look at her now. Running one of the most successful donut establishments in West Michigan. She makes and distributes baked goods, wedding and corporate cakes, brownies, cookies, muffins and donuts. She recently kept the business open 24 hours on Fat Tuesday to sell 24,000 Packzi’s and went through 2,500 pounds of dough.
Anne Doyle was a successful broadcast journalist at WZZM-TV 13. She is now the author of POWERING UP! How America’s Women Achievers Become Leaders, a City Councilwoman in Auburn HIlls, MI. and a global speaker. She has been tested for decades in some of the toughest leadership laboratories for women: sports locker rooms, the global auto industry, elected office and single parenting.
When she first started in reporting– in a relatively all male newsroom– she was told that it was her responsibility to get the men their coffee every morning.
How things have changed:
“My 2015 message is simply this: BE COURAGEOUS. Dare to continue raising your voice to make a positive difference. Everywhere we look, the human family is crying out for the mothers of the world — women — to step up and take an equal role in shaping the economic, cultural, educational, military and public policy decisions that impact all human possibility.”
I love the words of Admiral Michelle Howard, vice chief of U.S. Naval Operations, who is raising the Navy’s game. She recently told a Washington, DC audience, “My definition of leadership is ‘Not standing around and doing nothing while watching everything go to hell!’” Everywhere we look, things are going to hell. Pick your passion. Then put your shoulder to the wheel and let your voice be heard — particularly if you are the lone voice who brings different perspective to decisions.
Leadership is rarely easy. I draw courage from watching or reading about others in action, such as the movies: Selma, directed by Ava DuVernay; Iron-Jawed Angels and Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon. Or, pick up, “Race Across Alaska,” the fascinating book on Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the 1,000-mile Iditarod dog-sled race. Plus, right before our eyes, fabulous examples of powerful, brave and wise women are rising up and taking action. For example: •United States Congress.
We now have 100 women (out of 535) elected to the U.S. Senate (20) and House of Representatives (80). That’s nowhere close to what it should be. Two of our newest Congresswomen, Brenda Lawrence and Debbie Dingell, are from Michigan and pesonal friends. Here’s a fascinating articles on the women who led the way in the ultimate “boys club” and the sexism even U.S. Senators still contend with. •DC’s Matriarchy – For the first time in history, the Mayor, Police Chief and School Chancellor of an American city are all women — and two are women of color.
It’s time for the rest of America to catch up! •Women of Africa Rising — Kah Walla, a courageous political leader I met years ago at a global conference, is running for president in Cameroon. Her TedTalk is a must-view primer on this critically important continent. •Marissa Mayer and Silicon Sexism – 2014 brought fascinating revelations about the blatant sexism in Silicon Valley. In Marissa Mayer and the Fight to Save Yahoo! author Nicolas Carlson blames Mayer’s Oscar de la Renta shoes !!!) instead of Silicon Valley culture for any sexism she faced. The recent review in NY Times magazine is worth your time. •Actress and activist Geena Davis continues to raise her voice on behalf of girls and women. She is partnering with Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods and Walmart to host a film festival promoting women and diversity in movies.
Yes, indeed, we have come a long way baby–to get to where we’ve got to today.
“Net Neutrality.” The words are often lost on most Americans, but rarely in modern times have two words been so critical to the US economy and the basic freedoms of the average American citizen. I’ll be frank, this article is in no way an attempt to hear both sides; primarily due to the fact that “both sides” are not equal arguments.
An open internet, that is, an internet that is fully accessible by any person, anywhere in the US with no restrictions on the capacity, (as long as they pay for it) imposed on it by outside forces is the very same internet that has become a fundamental part of the US economy.
That’s a mouthful, but then so is the Internet.
Think about it for a moment. Everything, literally everything is now on the internet; business, medicine, retail sales, education, communication, television broadcast, entertainment…nearly all commerce in the USA, in some way, hums down the wires that flow up and down our streets.
Not so, just 15 years ago. The speed with which the internet has become the foundation of nearly all commerce in the US economy is much like how around 1900, very, very few businesses in the US relied on electricity. Kerosene oil lamps and some gas were the rule, but by 1920 nearly all US businesses and homes were relying on electricity. Within that short span, a business or home functioning without electricity was unthinkable and while there were no threats of corporate control of electricity the way there are threats of corporate control of the Internet, the parallels are striking.
Like electricity, the internet revolutionized the way business and communication was done. Things became more efficient, faster, smarter and in the course, just like when the economy encountered electricity, things took a giant leap forward. And the parallels don’t stop there.
Electricity in the United States is regulated by the government and the biggest factor of that regulation is that electricity in the US is completely open to all. There is no limit to what you can use, as long as you pay for it. Our representative government insists on this. Why? Visionaries early on, realized how fundamentally important electricity and an open electrical grid would be for an economy to grow and the fact that that insistence worked so well for the economy has become the paradigm for the Internet today.
Of course what triggered all of this was the bad corporate behavior that experts warned us about more than a decade ago. The concern was that private corporations, controlling the internet, would use that control to stifle competition and innovation that may have threatened their private business model. That’s precisely what large cable providers did to Netflix; all the while insisting that they weren’t.
Netflix was suspicious that their internet connectivity to consumer’s homes was being “throttled.” Placed in a “slow lane,” if you will. Consumers, annoyed that the product they purchased from Netflix wouldn’t download were then being offered a “competing” product from cable providers, which, wouldn’t you know, moved lickity split through the internet they were controlling. A classic case.
Imagine, if you will, that Michigan’s power grid was controlled private corporations and here in Michigan, Chrysler had controlling stock. Let’s say that beginning in the late 1920’s, Chrysler, acting on that control, (and again because the electric grid was unregulated) began choking off the electricity supply to GM factories, supplying only half what was needed and demanding they pay more than others if they wanted the exact same service. Imagine how crippling it would have been to GM and how that lack of competition would have damaged our economy. We wouldn’t know what we missed, except we all would be driving Chryslers. If that sounds like extortion, in fact it is and its absolutely no way for an economy to operate if it’s going to be robust, competitive and nurture innovation.
But it is what cable providers and phone companies were ready to do and already doing with the Internet. By attempting to control the Internet, these private corporate interests were regulating it their own way; putting a stranglehold on competitors and holding them hostage for huge sums of money, or else…your internet speeds would slow to a trickle and your company which used the Internet as a foundation, would be forced out of business.
That sounds more like Economics 101 in Putin’s Russia than in the United States.
If the US economy were not nearly 100% reliant on the Internet for survival this might not make such a big deal; just another aspect of the shark tank that business swims in. Fortunately with the recent re-classification of the internet by the FCC, the federal government recognized that the big fish eating all the little fish is no way to advance economic growth and such behavior by the giant corporations would in fact stifle growth, threatening the common good. Precisely the same way it would have done had private corporate interests been able to put a stranglehold on the electrical grid or the railroads.
Thankfully the federal government recognized the fundamental importance of electricity to economic activity. The fed ensured that electricity was completely open to anyone for as much as they wanted as long as they paid for what they used and (this is the key) the prices were not rigged to destroy competition. It’s a near precise parallel to the argument in favor of internet neutrality, or ‘net neutrality.’
In essence, the internet, like the electrical grid, must remain perfectly neutral. It’s irrelevant who is using the Internet and for what. You simply pay a fair price for what you use and no one decides to give you less and the other guy more. This way, the Internet is a tool for business to use and expand on, instead of being used as a weapon by a few goliaths to crush anyone who dared to compete with them.
The neutrality of the electrical grid heavily contributed to making the US economy the largest, wealthiest, most resilient economy in the world. I shudder to think how much smaller our economy would be without a neutral electrical grid 100 years ago and I rejoice at the prospect of economic growth based on a completely neutral and fully open Internet. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and the three commissioners who voted with him did precisely the right thing when they re-classified the internet as open to all. History (and the nation’s economy) will smile on this decision.
Tom Norton is the General Manager of WKTV Community Media & Television and has been a producer and leader involved in television and communications for nearly 30 years.
Record passengers numbers and a growing region over the last several years has prompted the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) to expand its parking facilities.
Construction on the GFIA parking deck roof is underway with a projected finish date of November 18, 2015. Currently, the Airport is forced to close the fourth level of the parking deck in the winter months because of the snow. A fourth level roof will open up 1,113 additional covered parking spaces.
“We are accommodating our growing passenger volume, and are excited to begin construction on this project,” said GFIA Executive Director Brian Ryks.
“A roof on the fourth level of the garage will give our passengers more space for parking in the winter months, and we all know how wonderful it is to have close, covered parking during Michigan winters.” said Ryks.
When construction on the roof project is complete, the garage will be able to accommodate 4,140 total covered parking spaces year-round.
During construction the contractor will be using a portion of the North Lot adjacent to the garage for staging equipment and materials. Because parking spaces are limited, passengers are urged to arrive at the airport at least 90-120 minutes before their scheduled departure.
Passenger traffic at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport was up 14% in January, and 12% in February.
“Because we are entering a busy season with Spring Break and then again during the summer travel months, we highly urge passengers to give themselves adequate time to park, check in, and get through security,” Ryks said. “We are an easy, efficient airport to navigate but with the rapid passenger growth, we want to make sure passengers are planning ahead.”
The $15 million project will be managed by The Christman Company, and steel for the project is being provided by Grand Rapids firm, Builders Iron. Architectural firm Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber is the design engineer.
Grand Rapids is host to the Michigan DECA State Career Development Conference where high school students are recognized on stage in front of their peers as the top marketing students in Michigan.
Opportunity prepares students to compete for spot at the international career conference in Orlando, FL
by Sarah Cavanaugh and Janice Limbaugh
This coming weekend, Grand Rapids will be host to over 3,600 high school students from throughout the state at the Michigan DECA State Career Development Conference. The conference, to be held at DeVos Place Convention Center and the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, will provide students the opportunity to interact with other members, meet and greet with over 500 business and community representatives, and compete in over 47 events for a chance to represent Michigan DECA at the International Career Conference, April 24-29, in Orlando, Florida.
“Because of its business and entrepreneurial culture, Grand Rapids provides the perfect environment for business professionals to interact with and evaluate student members as they solve real-life business scenarios,” said David Wait, State Director, Michigan DECA. “This feedback helps the students improve their skills while receiving recognition for their achievement.”
Students have the unique opportunity to meet one-on-one with business professionals .
Representing a variety of industries, the over 500 business professionals have designed 47 competitive events to help students develop the skills necessary for successful careers in marketing, management and merchandising. Companies such as Meijer, Ford Motor Company and MASCOT, meet one-on-one with the students and evaluate the student’s abilities. Each of the competitive events provide students a constructive avenue for individual and team expression, initiative and creativity. Additional business professionals are needed to assist in judging the various competitions and can sign up by visiting: http://mideca.org/support/be-ajudge/.
Forty-seven competitive events help build student’s self-esteem and team building skills.
“Once students demonstrate their acquired skills, they are recognized on stage in front of their peers as the top marketing students in Michigan,” said Wait. “These events truly improve upon the student’s self-image and success patterns of each student. This conference is such a worthwhile experience for students who not only wish to advance in their career, but learn necessary life skills for any future endeavors.”
There’s more fun and games scheduled for the students during the conference, including attending a Grand Rapids Griffins game and the election of the new Michigan DECA State Executive Council.
For more information on Michigan DECA, visit: www.MIDeca.org.
Michigan DECA is a tax-exempt, not for profit 501(C)(3) educational association and is affiliated with National DECA, located in Reston, Virginia. DECA is the only international student organization operating through schools to attract young people to careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Its purpose is to teach occupational proficiency and to promote the understanding and appreciation for the responsibilities of citizenship in our free, competitive enterprise system. Michigan DECA is supported by a project grant to the Department of Business and Technology Education, in the College of Technology at Eastern Michigan University, from the Michigan Department of Education. The office is located at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
The Kentwood Community Church is hosting its monthly job fair this Wednesday from 9 a.m. until noon at the Wyoming Campus. With 40 employers on hand looking for new hires, job seekers have the opportunity to make a great first impression and land a job. But there’s more to attending a job fair than just showing up. Here are 10 tips for attending a job fair with successful results.
One. Dress professionally
Treat the job fair as a professional interview and come dressed for success. Wear a suit or other professional interview attire along with comfortable shoes. You do a lot of standing at job fairs.
Two. Bring 20 copies of your resume
You’ll want to have more than enough to hand out to employers or recruiters. Be sure to proofread your resume for punctuation, grammar and spelling errors. It should be flawless.
Three. Prepare and practice your one minute commercial
Interactions at job fairs are brief, often only a couple minutes. Summarize you skills, experience and strengths in a short commercial about yourself. You’ll want to be prepared to discuss what you like to do, what you’re looking for in a job, and how your skills meet the needs of the employer. While standing in line, listen to the questions the recruiters ask the candidates ahead of you. Typically they ask each person the same questions. Formulate your answers while waiting in line.
Four. Do your homework before you go
The list of attending employers is available prior to the job fair. It’s posted for your benefit to research and gain insight about these companies. Have an understanding of their products, mission, and open positions so you can ask informed questions when you meet with them.
Five. Show initiative and be enthusiastic
When you reach the table, use direct eye contact, shake hands and introduce yourself with a smile! Make them remember YOU by demonstrating interest in the company and their job opportunities. Your job is to impress them enough so that you get to the next stage of the hiring process – an interview!
Six. Ask questions
Come prepared with questions for the company representative. Ask what skills, work experience and education are required for the position? What’s the work environment like? What do they like about working there? And close the conversation by asking for an interview! You’ll make a stronger impression the more you engage them.
Seven. Carry a portfolio or a pocket notebook
You’ll be meeting a lot of employers in a busy environment. It’s good to bring something professional to carry your resumes, business cards, note pad and corporate literature in. Take time to jot notes down of who you talked to and what the conversation was about.
Eight. Collect business cards
Collect the business card of each person you meet so you have the contact names and information of who you spoke with. Consider producing you own business card to hand out. It’s a great way to network!
Nine. Network
In addition to talking to representatives, talk to others around you. Show respect and conduct yourself professionally. You never know who might be able to help your job search!
Ten. Say ‘Thank you!’
Another reason to collect business cards – to send thank you notes/emails as a brief follow up to the job fair. It reiterates your interest in the company and presents you as a strong candidate to the company representative.
Most of us have no idea how our computer works or what tool you would need to fix one – and worse, no way to explain the mystery of modern technology to our kids. A group called GR Young Makers is out to change that. Recently about 150 6th graders from Godwin Heights were invited to find some answers to how things tick by taking things apart. A number of teachers volunteered to assist the students at the Grand Rapids Public Museum in an event called “Take It Apart Day.”
“Take it Apart Day” helps kids see how things work.
Robyn Bowles, Director of GR Young Makers, says the mission is to provide hands-on project-based learning opportunities for students and educators. The group has already visited classrooms in Jenison and Godwin Heights to introduce students and teachers to ways that science, math, and social studies can come together to help kids learn.
Lori Barr, 6th Grade Teacher at Pinewood Elementary in the Jenison Public Schools District says her students take things apart that would have ended up in a landfill and in the process learn about ecology and, “the mechanics involved…how electrons are involved in magnetics. So many things we’re learning about in the 6th grade are applied right before their very eyes.”
Tools are donated to help students explore the inner workings of machines.
Director Bowles says the group is an extension of GR Makers, a company that operates like a community tool shop and design studio to encourage people to try out ideas that may require expensive or hard-to-find tools and explore entrepreneurship. The GR Young Makers focus, however, is on students, educators and other community members.
One of the founders of GR Makers, Casey Du Bois, says, “This ‘take-it-apart’ thing has really taken off. We’ve got lots of free stuff so we’re hoping to be able to encourage other schools to do this.” The GR Makers have received hundreds of free tools from sponsors that make the GR Young Makers program possible as well.
So if you would like to fix a mechanical problem that can’t be solved by switching batteries, check out the GR Makers and think about inviting the GR Young Makers to visit your school. For more information contact https://www.grmakers.com/
The public is invited to attend every month, 9 a.m. till noon
Anyone who has lost a job for any reason knows that being unemployed can be devastating to their well-being. Not only does unemployment take a toll on personal finances but it can erode self-esteem, strain relationships and cause mental anguish. Finding support and guidance for coping with these trials can be just as difficult as finding a new job.
But when Kentwood Community Church (KCC) opened its Wyoming Campus in 2013, serving the area’s unemployed was top of mind. Since May of last year, KCC has – and will continue to – host monthly job fairs to the public 9 a.m. until noon.
The shakers behind the KCC Job Fair: From left, Kristina Herron, administrative assistant, Pastor Rich Avery and Jayne Lindblom with Michigan Works!
“We were given a miraculous gift to buy this building and we wanted to use it to bless the community,” explains Pastor Rich Avery.
What happened next was divine timing.
“We had ideas of helping people with personal and economic opportunities like finding a job or starting their own business when a community member doing a job fair for his own business said ‘Hey! Let’s bring some other businesses here and do it all together!”
“It just made sense,” adds Kristina Herron, administrative assistant. “We heard from job seekers who said ‘there were no jobs,’ and employers looking to hire say, ‘there were no people.’ We knew we had to bring them all together on our campus.”
The first job fair attracted 11 employers and roughly 26 people Herron says. Next Wednesday’s job fair will have at least 40 employers with 200 people expected to attend.
And because the Lord works in mysterious ways, early in the event planning, Pastor Rich remembered that a member of the congregation, Jayne Lindblom, worked for Michigan Works! as a business services representative. When approached, Lindblom said, “Yes, I’d love to help out! We do job fairs once a quarter through Michigan Works! By having them here, we can do them once a month.”
Representatives from Michigan Works! staff a table at the fair to talk to candidates about their skills, available jobs, and adding their resumes to the agency’s talent pool.
“It’s really been a blessing to partner with Michigan Works! to help make a difference in the community,” Pastor Rich adds.
The growing success of the KCC Job Fair has prompted the church to expand its support of personal and economic development in the community. Later this month KCC will open an employment center two days a week, offering job seekers help with resumes, interviewing skills, talent assessments, individual coaching and job placement.
“It will be open to anyone,” says Pastor Rich, “but we especially want to help those who’ve had barriers to employment in the past, like they’ve been in prison or have had a bad work history. We want to help them get it together and get back on their feet.”
The church will also offer a 10 week business startup course in the spring to help people start their own business. While the course costs $100, participants will receive a large binder filled with step-by-step resources on how to get a business started.
In the meantime, the Kentwood Community Church Job Fair on Wednesday is open to the community and possibly the answer to a job seeker’s prayers.
Below is the list of employers attending the KCC Job Fair on March 11th:
· WJQK/ JQ99.3
· Mercy Health
· HOPE Network
· Luxury Janitorial & Carpet Cleaning
· DJ’s Landscape Management
· Praxis Packaging
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
· National Hose Testing
· Holland Special Delivery
· Thermal-Tec Roofing
· J & H Family Stores
· Olameter Corporation
· Attwood Corporation
· Advance Packaging Corporation
· Undercar Products Group
· Securitas Security Services
· Adecco
· Advance Packaging Corporation
· MOKA
· Manpower
· Autozone
· New York Life Insurance Company
· EverDry Waterproofing
· Aflac
· Fettig
· Michigan Army National Guard
· Teleperformance
· Cascade Shell
· Praxis Packaging
· Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids
. Ammaculot Sweeping Service Inc.
· Electro Chemical Finishing
· First United Credit Union
Editor’s note:Next week on our website, watch for 10 tips on attending a job fair.
Crepes, coffee, and laundry may not sound like your typical café, but the workers at Sheldon Cleaners in Kentwood think it’s the perfection combination.
The local dry cleaning chain opened Café Louis at its newly remodeled Kentwood location. Their soft open was official on January 19th , but the cafe began announcing their presence at the beginning of February.
Part cafe, part laundromat and dry cleaners – all fun!
Sheldon Cleaners Marketing Director Sue Chaitin says she hopes the café will bring a new spin on doing laundry.
“Crepes are Parisian street food, like a flour tortilla but made with egg and flour,” she explains, adding it is filled with sweet to savory fillings and folded over.
Chaitin says the crepes are intended to be held while walking which is ideal for a laundromat atmosphere where people are typically be multitasking.
The response regarding Café Louis has been positive, but Chaitin says that sometimes customers find the café-laundry combo hard to believe.
“Once people come inside, they get it. It makes them want to come do their laundry here.”
She admits that visiting a laundromat is not the most inviting environment. “Here you can get all your laundry done and a relaxing, good time,” Chaitin says.
Typically, area renters and college students have frequented the laundromat the most, but since Sheldon Cleaners has opened Café Louis, Chaitin says they have started to see new faces.
“There’s a big crossover,” Chaitin says. “There are people who drop off their clothes for dry cleaning and those who come in for the restaurant.”
The busiest time for Sheldon Cleaners is usually the lunch and weekend rush which has increased the amount of customers at Café Louis but Chaitin hopes to increase traffic at other times, particularly in the morning. She explains, “We’re going to have a drive-thru window soon where you can actually drop your dry cleaning off and pick up a cup of coffee or a crepe at the same time.”
Not only can customers get a good crepe, but they can also get a good deal. Café Louis will soon offer a service that allows customers to have their laundry washed, dried and even folded for them.
Coming soon – a drive thru window!
“Have us do your laundry while you sit here and have a crepe, it doesn’t any better than that!”
As far as bringing the laundry café to other Sheldon Cleaners in West Michigan, Chaitin says, “If it makes sense, they’ll probably start duplicating it at some of the other locations.”
A record 103 breweries and 1035 beers will be featured at the 10th Annual Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival, coming up Friday, February 27 and Saturday, February 28 at Fifth-Third Ballpark just north of downtown Grand Rapids. Tickets for Friday’s session, which will run from 3-7pm (2pm entry for Enthusiast Members), remain available for $45 each at MiBeer.com.
Overall, 1000 fewer tickets are available for Friday meaning slightly smaller crowds and shorter lines. Friday will also feature special beer releases and tappings, a live ice carving demonstration by The Ice Guru Randy Finch, sideshow acts and street performers, musical entertainment and fireworks (weather permitting). If the Friday session does not sell out prior to the event, tickets will be available at the gate for $50 the day of. There will NOT be tickets at the gate on Saturday.
Small business owners and interested members of the public are invited to register now for free sessions in a variety of topics designed to help companies grow. Offered by Beene Garter, West Michigan’s largest independently owned accounting and consulting firm, the series kicks of Thursday, May 21 from 7:45 AM – 9 AM with the topic “The Internet of Things.” Discussion will focus on how the Internet of Things is evolving and how you can use it to grow your business.
Each session is limited to 50 attendees. Sessions will be held at Beene Garter in downtown Grand Rapids. Pre-registration is required. Individuals can register for the series at: www.beenegarter.com/taxtips
Other topics in the series include
Pros & Cons of Outsourcing Your Accounting Thursday, June 18 | 7:45 – 9 AM
State & Local Tax Issues for Your Small Business Thursday, September 17 | 7:45 – 9 AM
Designing a Retirement Plan for Your Small Business Thursday, October 22 | 7:45 – 9 AM
If you’re a beer lover looking to beat the winter blues, your opportunity starts today with the Cool Brews. Hot Eats. event running through Saturday, February 28th. Beer City Grand Rapids and over 50 of its restaurants celebrate the perfect pairing of food and beer as local chefs and brew masters offer beer-infused dishes and meals with complementary beer pairing.
“Back for the third year, Cool Brews. Hot Eats. has grown into an event that is not only a benefit for beer lovers, but also the local economy,” says Doug Small, President and CEO of Experience Grand Rapids. “The Grand Rapids area beer scene continues to be recognized on a national level, most recently as ‘Best Beer Town’ from the readers of USA Today. Paired with our ever-popular dining scene drawing in food enthusiasts from throughout the region, these two cultures collide to give beer and culinary fans a unique and wonderful experience.”
It’s no coincidence then that Cool Brews. Hot Eats. falls in the same timeline as other popular beer-related events in the area like Beer Week and the 10th Annual Winter Beer Festival at Fifth Third Ballpark. Thanks to 90 Michigan breweries and the offering of more than 800 craft beers, the festival has been extended this year to Thursday, February 26th and Friday, February 27th. Last year the event sold out in less than 30 minutes.
To experience why Grand Rapids was named one of the Top 10 Best Vacation Cities for Beer Lovers, visitors can plan a self-guided craft beer tour on the Experience GR website’s “Beer Page”.
Originated in Poland, women would make these to use up the sweet ingredients before Lent.
Next Tuesday is FAT Tuesday or Paczki Day (pronounced Pawnch-kee) named so because it’s the last day to indulge in sweets before the season of Lent. These traditional Polish doughnuts (which date back to the Middle Ages!) have their own special dough recipe to be deep fried, injected with sweet fillings and then rolled in powdered sugar or basted with a glaze. It seems appropriate then for Marge’s Donut Den to take these seductive calorie bombs seriously and offer them to the public freshly made around-the-clock starting in the wee hours of the 17th, exactly at 12:01 a.m.
Paczkis are loaded with yummy goodness weighing in between 350 and 700 calories each.
“And the first customer that comes in gets a very special prize,” promises Marge Wilson, owner of Marge’s Donut Den on 28th Street in Wyoming.
“We’re not selling any Paczkis in advance,” she warns. “Only on the 17th at 12:01 a.m.”
She is quick to add though that they’ll be taking orders ahead of time by phone.
“We’ll have a special line for order pick ups so that you don’t have to wait,” she says.
But if you do have to wait, you’re likely to be entertained. Marge has a 24-hour Paczki party planned that starts and ends with live family entertainment. Starting at midnight, Tom Briggs, a favorite Donut Den DJ, will play music and take requests until 7 a.m. Then the duet Irv and Carol take over with signing, accordion and piano music. The Hark Up Band steps in at 7 p.m. for music and dancing until 10 p.m.
“We want families to come in the evening wearing their pajamas – with underwear please – to dance, party and eat Paczkis. It’s going to be a lot of fun for everyone!”
Marge’s Donut Den offers 12 varieties of Paczkis with powdered or glazed topping.
This is the first time Marge has been open 24-hours for Paczki Day. At 75, she admits she has the reinforcements of her three adult children and their families to help tip the scales on Fat Tuesday.
“I’m here for twenty hours anyway. I figured another four hours wouldn’t hurt.
“Besides, my daughter is coming in from Arizona for this and my other kids are taking a day off work to be here so what better way to catch up on visiting than here at work having fun?”
Fun for this family means making 12 varieties of fresh Paczkis for customers. Order by phone now or the day of Fat Tuesday and choose from fillings of: apple, apricot, peach, lemon, blueberry, cherry, chocolate, custard, raspberry, strawberry, white creme or prune jam – the traditional choice.
So if you want to indulge one last time before Lent, stop by Marge’s Donut Den and treat yourself to a few fresh Paczkis and a cup of coffee. Then if you feel guilty, stay and dance it off! Remember – pajamas (with underwear) are optional.
The Biennial Accolade Honors Trans-formative Urban Development
The folks at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market are celebrating this week after The Bruner Foundation named the site as one of five national finalists for the 2015 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence. Since 1987, the foundation has sponsored the award to identify trans-formative urban places across America and celebrate their impact on the economic, social, and physical fabric of our cities.
Downtown Market Grand Rapids
According to Erin Cataldo, the announcement came as welcomed news after long application process. “To be considered for the award we had to submit a pretty extensive application process that required the involvement of quite a few people. So yes, this is great news for all of us here!”
As a finalist, Cataldo says the Downtown Market will be visited by the judging committee from the Bruner Foundation in the next several weeks to determine where the project places. The finalists will receive cash awards to support their projects: one Gold Medal recipient wins $50,000 and four Silver Medal recipients receive $10,000 each. The Gold Medal winner will be announced in June. Pike Place Market in Seattle was the first RBA winner, and 73 places in 25 states have been recognized with the award since.
Regardless of either amount won, the funds will be used to benefit the Downtown Market Education Foundation Cataldo explains. “The Foundation exists to support culinary and nutrition education; training in entrepreneurship, food production and gardening; obesity prevention and other wellness issues and concerns. In addition, the Foundation supports access to, and the promotion of, fresh healthy foods for all, including disadvantaged families and children.”
The 2015 RBA finalists are:
GR’s Downtown Market is open all year.
Falls Park on the Reedy – Greenville, SC: The renaissance of a 26-acre river corridor running through the heart of Greenville, restoring public access to the falls and greenspace and catalyzing adjacent downtown development. (Submitted by the City of Greenville.)
Grand Rapids Downtown Market – Grand Rapids, MI: A new downtown public space promoting local food producers and community events, entrepreneurship, and education about nutrition and healthy lifestyles. (Submitted by Grand Rapids Downtown Market.)
Miller’s Court – Baltimore, MD: The redevelopment of a vacant manufacturing building into an affordable and supportive living and working environment for public school teachers and education-focused nonprofits. (Submitted by Enterprise Community Investment, Inc.)
Quixote Village – Olympia, WA: A two-acre community of 30 tiny houses and a common building that provides permanent, supportive housing for chronically homeless adults. (Submitted by Panza.
Uptown District – Cleveland, OH: The vibrant redevelopment of a corridor linking art, educational and health care institutions with surrounding neighborhoods, creating lively outdoor gathering spaces, retail shops and restaurants, student and market-rate housing, and public transit connections. (Submitted by Case Western Reserve University.)
“The Rudy Bruner Award offers the opportunity to showcase innovative placemaking responses to the needs of American cities and communities,” says Simeon Bruner, founder of the award. “We want to advance discourse about making cities better, and seek outstanding examples to share with those who care about improving our urban environments. There are a surprising number of inventive projects out there, if you just look for them.”
Entries comprised completed projects in the continental United States. The finalists and Gold and Silver Medalists are selected by a nationwide committee of urban experts. The 2015 selection committee includes:
Rebecca Flora – AICP, LEED ND-BD+C, Sustainable Communities Practice Leader, Ecology & Environment, Chestertown, MD
Larry Kearns – AIA, CSA, LEED AP, Principal, Wheeler Kearns Architects, Chicago, IL
India Pierce Lee – Program Director, Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland, OH
Mia Lehrer – FASLA, President, Mia Lehrer + Associates, Los Angeles, CA
James Stockard – Lecturer in Housing, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, MA
Mark Stodola – Mayor, Little Rock, AR
Case studies of all past RBA winners are available online. 2015 winner case studies will be posted in 2016.
West Michigan honors the contributions of African Americans to the rich tapestry of our nation’s history. Organizations including local universities, social clubs, and institutions such as public libraries will feature special displays, exhibits, and events dedicated to recognizing the unique stories and achievements of Black Americans.
GVSU Office of Multicultural Affairs Events
GVSU will host several events to honor Black History Month. For dates and locations, click on the link for details.
Taste of Soul Sunday at Grand Rapids Public Library
Join the GRPL as they celebrate African American history and
Imani Singers of Grand Rapids
culture at the tenth annual FREE Taste of Soul Sunday. Parking is always free on Sunday in the library lot. The parking ramp at GRCC (north of our building) and metered spots on the street are free on Sunday as well.
Spectrum Health Healthier Communities, 655 Seward, Grand Rapids, MI, (4th Tuesday of every Month). FREE and open to the community with free parking in the lot and on the side streets. Build relationships, your knowledge of racial equity, and learn about advocacy to create ideas for action, recruit the help of others, and implement work that can help eliminate racialized outcomes in our community. Email Colin Smith with questions.
Saturday, February 28 –5:00 – 11:00 pm
Celebration of Soul
For 14 years, the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Symphony with Soul concert has moved diverse audiences with jazz, opera, gospel and R&B. On February 28th, Vanessa Williams will perform her greatest pop hits alongside the Grand Rapids Symphony orchestra. The Grand Rapids Symphony is proud to collaborate with the Community Inclusion Group to bring the NAACP Image Award-winner and Grammy-nominated artist to DeVos Performance Hall.
The concert is part of the evening’s Celebration of Soul gala, which is celebrating its 10th year. DeVos Place, Steelcase Ballroom, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
It’s no secret that West Michigan is home to Beer Mania, but if you want the secrets behind the Rockford Brewing Company’s signature beers such as Rogue River Brown, Sheehan’s Irish Stout and Paradigm MPA, you’ll save the upcoming date: The Wyoming branch of the Kent District Library has teamed up with the Rockford Brewing Company to offer a facility tour on Tuesday, February 10 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The brewery is located at 12 E. Bridge Street in Rockford.
After the tour, show your Kent District Library card and Wyoming KDL branch tour partners will get you a special deal on beer tasting. Plus, they’ll help you unlock the secrets of home brewing your own beer with KDL materials ready and waiting for check out.
Visitors to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport are in for a fresh experience. Concourse B is officially renovated and expanded with two new airline gates, passenger hold room, restrooms and the much anticipated MI Tap Room Restaurant & Bar. Also included in the renovations is the Grand Rapids Magazine travel store.
“Our primary goal is to ensure travelers have a positive experience when transitioning through our airport,” says Brian Ryks, GFIA executive director. “The airport is the first and last impression when visiting our region and it is important travelers get a sense of what West Michigan has to offer as soon as they step off the aircraft.”
At each gate walls feature West Michigan-themed murals of tulips, downtown buildings, shorelines and the Calder Plaza. The MI Tap Room features several local Michigan craft beers on tap along with a menu that’s locally themed.
Wednesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony for Concourse B completes the two year expansion project of both concourse A and B. Concourse A renovations included new seating, carpeting, food and beverage updates and an expansion of passenger hold rooms. Business travelers also appreciate the expanded work space and charging stations in the area. A new Grand Rapids Magazine travel store was added there too.
Airport officials estimate the cost of the project to be $12.3 million.
Over 4 thousand businesses are located in the Wyoming and Kentwood communities. But just three of them received awards at a recent ceremony sponsored by the Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce. Chamber members recently gathered at the Hilton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel to celebrate the winners in the categories of manufacturing, retail and service. The event is considered a highlight of the Chamber calendar because the winners are first nominated by their business colleagues.
The recognized Businesses of the Year for 2015 were: Maple Creek Senior Living Center for Service, Woodland Mall for Retail, and Xibitz, Inc for Manufacturing.
Bob O’Callaghan, president and CEO of the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber, presented the awards to the winners. He noted that winners are selected based on not only their involvement with the Chamber of Commerce but their leadership in the business community. The awards are a way for the members of the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber to thank these leaders for their contributions to the economic health of the community.
Maple Creek Senior Living Center has provided elder care for the past 75 years. Executive Director Deerdre Vriesman says over 700 elderly receive caring services whether they require skilled nursing and assisted living arrangements or live independently. Accepting the award for Maple Creek, was marketing Director Elliott Talen.
Receiving the Retail Business of the Year, Tony Deluccia, General Manager of Woodland Mall, reminisced about the early days. “Back in 1966 I think there was only Sears and Penney’s and maybe one other small retail outlet,” he noted. Woodland Mall now boasts over 100 retail outlets as well as showcasing sculpture, events, and eateries.
Doug Bosma, Co-Founder, Xibitz: “Wyoming is a good home.”
Xibitz, Inc received the Business of the Year Award for Manufacturing. Xibitz, Inc has spent 25 years serving primarily international markets. The company has expanded from its original fabricator service to design, create, and install exhibits for museums, businesses, and other clients. Xibitz co-founder Doug Bosma accepted the award on behalf of his co-founders Lloyd and Bob Seeblink. “The future looks bright,” says Bosma. “Wyoming is a good home.”
Individual awards were the Daniel Van Dyke Volunteer of the Year Award presented to Gregg Howard of the West Michigan Promotional Group; the Daniel McLaren Committee of the Year Award presented to the Third Fridays Networking Committee; and the prestigious Gerald E Fessel Distinguished Service Award presented to Rick Chrisman of Hungerford Nichols CPAs.
Kentwood’s Pizza Ranch is one of over 180 franchises in 13 states. In addition to pizza, Pizza Ranch is known for “The Country’s Best Chicken.”
by Meghan Dooley and Janice Limbaugh
Kentwood Mayor Steve Kepley along with Chamber of Commerce President Bob O’Callaghan and others, welcomed the official Grand Opening of Pizza Ranch to Kentwood on Tuesday, January 13. The legendary pizza, fried chicken and salad buffet is the brand’s third location in the state at 3858 28th St. SE.
Pizza Ranch is known for its fried chicken dinners as well as pizzas and buffet variety.
The new restaurant employs 65 part-time and full-time workers which helps boost the city’s economic growth. For the community it means an alternative offering of pizzas, golden crispy fried chicken and fresh healthy salads, all in a fun, authentic, ranch-themed environment. Pizza Ranch also offers delivery, carryout and group meals of its entire menu.
“My wife grew up in Michigan and graduated from Grand Valley State University. A very close family friend is the owner of Sioux Falls South Dakota Pizza Ranch, and impressed us with his restaurant’s focus on community outreach. As we considered how to contribute to the warm community around Kentwood and Grand rapids, introducing a fun new business and some great food to the area was a no brainer,” says Jay Bell, owner of the Kentwood Pizza Ranch.
“The Pizza Ranch concept is a legendary experience in communities across the Midwest, and we’re thrilled to bring one to our wonderful family, friends and neighbors around Kentwood.”
The first Pizza Ranch opened in 1981 in Hull, Iowa and has since grown to over 180 locations in 13 states and is now based in Orange City, Iowa. Pizza Ranch in Kentwood continues to share the brand’s commitment to serving the community, and not just with its legendary buffet, by partnering with schools, churches, non-profits and other organizations to host fundraisers and social functions. Pizza Ranch restaurants also offer a Community Impact Night, during which members of a participating organization help serve Pizza Ranch guests while they earn tips and a portion of sales from that night. Pizza Ranch prides itself on providing these opportunities to raise awareness and much needed funding for community groups and programs that represent and serve their hometowns.
“We are prepared to bring all the Pizza Ranch features fans of the brand have grown to love,” added Bell. “We’ll have community gathering rooms, the legendary buffet, plus carryout and delivery.”
For more information about Pizza Ranch in Kentwood and elsewhere, visit PizzaRanch.com.
Jill Hinton Wolfe leads a not-so-average book club
When you think of a book club meeting what picture comes to mind? A group of mousy women gathered in a library, book store, or cramped living room sipping tea and discussing the merits of one Mr. Darcy? What if the scene were moved to a glowing campfire under the northern skies, enjoying a glass of Michigan-made wine, after a day of exploring the wonders of nature?
Outdoor Book Club may be just the adventure you have been looking for!
A fledgling business started by Jill Hinton Wolfe, Outdoor Book Club strives to lead women into the outdoors to discover their hidden talents while incorporating all the stimulating and lively discussions a great book can elicit. Hinton has established herself as the chief heroine in her new adventure.
Once a marketing executive with Priority Health, Hinton found herself wanting more than a 9 to 5 cycle of attending endless meetings and sales presentations. “I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur,” confides Hinton. She also knew that she wanted to do something to empower women to reach beyond their limits; to try something new.
Hinton was deeply interested in literature and writing, stating, “I’ve been a writer since I could hold a pencil.” Research led her to find that no one had a business model that incorporated the wonders of nature and the great outdoors with literature. An idea was born.
Hinton, an army veteran, attended a conference by the IVMF (Institute for Veterans and Military Families) in Chicago. It was there she was encouraged to enter her business concept into the Citibank Realizing Your Dream Business Competition for Veterans – a call for veterans who are aspiring entrepreneurs to submit small business plans to share in $130,000 of seed funding.
Research and planning, and relying on her marketing background, cemented many of Hinton’s ideas in a working business plan that drew the attention of the judges. Hinton was among 17 semi-finalists who presented their final pitch in January 2013, in Long Beach, California. Hinton won Third Place and a prize of $10,000. Her Outdoor Book Club became a reality.
Having experienced divorce herself, Hinton expressed a desire to teach women to trust their instincts, take risks, and live a more adventurous life. Her initial thought was to appeal to single professional women, those with kids, those who were divorced or living independently. “I was surprised how the book tours appealed instead to Baby Boomers, those women who were seeking a challenge while maybe their husbands preferred to sit on the couch watching sports.”
Outdoor Book Club has many idea templates for book trips and workshops listed on their website (Outdoorbookclub.org). Options include hiking, biking, kayaking, backpacking, and wine tours. Hinton supplies all the necessary equipment for each adventure, as well as providing healthy, locally sourced meals and snacks. “We have fun with it. Each menu is based on the book’s theme,” explains Hinton.
Trips can be tailored to those who have very little outdoor experience to those who enjoy a strenuous physical challenge. Being a veteran and an experienced camper, Hinton does not claim to be an expert. Although at home in the outdoors, she is open to learning and trying new things with her clients. “I recently tried mountain biking and found that I really love it!”
As much as the focus of the trips is on literary discussions and outdoor activities, Outdoor Book Club is really about getting outside of your comfort zone. Hinton encourages women to stretch their abilities to the limit or discover something new about themselves, as it leads to increased confidence in all aspects of life. Hinton shares, “It is incredible to look back at a trip and hear a woman say ‘I never thought I could do this.’”
Hinton is not short-sighted on the future of Outdoor Book Club. As any reader knows, there are so many excellent books and so many places authors urge you to explore. “I think it would be great to do a trip to India while reading Eat, Pray, Love or explore Key West while reading Hemingway.”
Expanding to national and international tours leaves the future wide open for growth. As Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love expressed, “I’m making space for the unknown future, to fill up any life with yet-to-come surprises.”
Outdoor Book Club has several upcoming workshops and trips scheduled including:
Meditation Retreat ( January 30-February 2) at Circle Pines Retreat Center. Book Selection is Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabat Zinn
Women’s Empowerment Camp (February 20-22) in Manistee, Michigan. Book selection is Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed.
Women’s Wine Camp (March 20-22) in Traverse City. Book selection is Sideways by Rex Pickett
Finding the Guts to Start Your Own Business (March 7) at the Blandford Nature Center. Book selection is #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso.
Create and Craft, a 24-hour crafts TV channel based in the United Kingdom, is expanding its presence into the U.S. craft shopping and education market with a new office at Calder Plaza Center and new daily broadcast options.
Create and Craft will begin broadcasting nationally into approximately 40 million homes in the United States on December 29,offering a variety of products and established brands specializing in craft, sewing, quilting, knitting, and niche creative arts. Programming can be found on Direct TV channels 85 and 222, along with dish Network channel 221 and online at www.createandcraft.com.
A company spokesperson says that the craft market in the U.S. is the largest in the world! Grand Rapids is a natural fit for thecompany because of the annual AQS Quilt Week convention that attracts an estimated 10,000 people. The entrepreneurial West Michigan economy is another deciding factor to be based here.
“We’re excited to be based in Grand Rapids, with its strong business culture, talented workforce, vibrant arts community, and convenient travel location from the home offices,” says Clive Briscoe, Create and Craft’s U.S. project leader.
The company also recently announced a partnership with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, which will allow it to integrate its market presence in the U.S. “This partnership with Create and Craft provides an incredible opportunity to deliver exclusive product, projects and promotions to crafters and makers across the United States, says Riddi Kline, executive vice president, marketing and merchandising at Jo-Ann.
Create and Craft, whose mission statement heralds “Togetherness, Inspiration and Creativity,” has already hired six local people to staff its Grand Rapids office at 250 Monroe Ave NW and plans to hire at least double that number over the coming months. Create and Craft boasts an interactive website with project tutorials, promotions, and programs, most of which are currently filmed in the U.K, but which will be partially filmed in Grand Rapids in the future. A custom app is expected to be released in early 2015.
Craft Retail Group Managing Director Tony Sheridan says, “I’m delighted to announce Create and Craft’s groundbreaking partnership with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores and our launch into the U.S. market. This exciting venture will introduce U.S. craft consumers to a truly unique retail experience.”
“We offer the products that give them their independence and self esteem back to help them feel pretty again!” Kathy Smith, Women’s Health Boutique.
For women facing a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, life’s journey can become threatening and scary fast. The onslaught of information and the decisions related to one’s health and body can be overwhelming. Today women have more choices about their healthcare before and after surgery than ever before. But even the most carefully thought through plans can, on occasion, go awry.
The Lemmen Holton boutique is located on the third floor within the gift shop.
When that happens, women in West Michigan are fortunate to have the professional services and specialized products offered by the Women’s Health Boutique with locations in Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon, Cadillac, Mt. Pleasant and now, The Lemmen Holton Cancer Center. For over 20 years, the Women’s Health Boutique has grown to become a trusted resource for doctor referrals to breast cancer patients pre- and post-operation.
“We specialize in mastectomy fittings, wigs, pressure garments and other products that women going through cancer or other diseases might need,” explains Kathy Smith, a certified fitter at the Lemmen Holton boutique. “There are not many places in Michigan that offer the services and products that we have here.”
Women can find products for post-breast surgery not available in many areas.
The full store boutiques offers post-breast surgery products, compression therapy, wigs and turbans, personal bra fittings, maternity products and diabetic shoes. Trained professionals assist clients in an atmosphere of comfort, taste and privacy.
“Women are always frightened by the unknown,” Smith says. “It’s a new journey for them and we understand that. We try very hard to help them, before or after surgery, to answer their questions and remove doubt so they feel normal again and get back to being their old selves.
“We offer the products that give them their independence and self esteem back to help them feel pretty again!”
The Women’s Health Boutique was originally started by a woman in Texas over 25 years ago in response to her own mother facing breast cancer and having few mastectomy products available to her. A franchise was bought by Pulmonary Home Care and brought to West Michigan. Smith says it was fortunate those owners saw the need in West Michigan 20 years ago.
Professionals help fit and style wigs for clients.
Today the stores in West Michigan are owned by Airway Oxygen and have expanded locations along the lakeshore in the last year and a half, including the location at Lemmen Holton. That boutique carries mostly wigs, mastectomy and compression therapy products within dedicated space of the center’s gift shop on the third floor.
“Most of what we carry and provide is prescription based, so it’s post surgical products that require a doctor’s prescription and is covered by insurance,” she explains, adding, “Most of the doctors in this market are very aware of us and thankfully we have done a good job with their patients so they keep sending them.”
According to the latest statistics, one out of every eight women in our lifetime will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Those are pretty strong statistics. But while some may think Smith’s job of being a certified fitter for post-breast surgery is depressing, Smith disagrees.
“I love what I do! I’m passionate about what we do because we help so many women feel better about themselves after a horrible diagnosis. One of the greatest pleasures of our job is seeing women transformed through this process,” she says adding, “Women who have gone through the breast cancer journey are some of the most empowered women I have ever met in my whole life! They have a lot of chutzpah!”
The Women’s Health Boutique also serves women who are financially challenged but need bras and prosthetics by offering free gently used items that are donated, cleaned and put in their Angel Closet. Although it’s not an advertised service, Smith says it is a known resource through social services.
“One woman who discovered us many years after her surgery stayed in the dressing room admiring herself fully dressed for the longest time,” Smith recalls. “When I asked if she was okay, she simply said, ‘I look like a woman again!’
“Now how can that not make you feel wonderful about what you do?” Smith asks. “It’s experiences like that, that we take home with us from doing this job.”
For more information about the services, products and locations of The Women’s Health Boutique go to: www.whbi.com
For almost 40 years Marge’s Donut Den has been a popular fixture in West Michigan. Donuts, cookies, cakes, and community involvement at its finest can always be found upon opening the doors. This week, Marge received a stop work notice for her plans on expansion by a Wyoming building inspector. She was going to take over two empty businesses which have been vacant for years right next door. Now, plans are on hold.
75-year-old Marge Wilson said she is very discouraged and disappointed about the delay stating that there is so much bureaucracy and she can’t seem to get anything done. She thought the addition would be done by Christmas.
“I am older and don’t understand anything about all the codes involved, she said. “It just seems like this will hurt the city more than me. I had many community events scheduled that require larger spaces.”
Rebeccan Rynbrandt, Wyoming’s Director of Community Services, said that the city cannot waive any of the state laws, or building codes.
“We have a critical need for public safety on building codes on every single project,” she explained.
Fire systems and traffic management issues have to be addressed as well.
For now, plans have halted on the expansion but Marge’s Donut Den is still open for business as usual.
A chance to get your child finger printed at Wyoming Gives Back at Rodgers Plaza.A free balloon leads to a smiling face of holiday cheer.
The Wyoming community celebrated the holiday season with great style and cheer at its annual Wyoming Gives Back event.
It was a very good night indeed for all involved. Rogers Plaza was packed in support of this event. And it was all about The Joy of Giving!
People brought unwrapped toys to donate to the Salvation Army Angel Tree project. In return, they received a raffle ticket to win great prize packages totaling hundreds of dollars—all generously donated by Wyoming businesses.
The musical talents of local bands and choirs brought the holiday spirit to all. Children and students of all ages entertained the crowd with Christmas Carols, Jazz, and sounds of the season.
More than 30 businesses were on hand to greet guests and answer questions. The Wyoming Police Dept, Firefighters, Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Poll and many more represented our community well. I had a chance to sign up some new Citizen Journalists for our online Media website–now.wktv.org.
A highlight of the night was from the big man himself. Children got the chance to tell Santa Claus what they want for Christmas. But most importantly, the generosity of the Wyoming community was showcased with the collection of toys for families in need and all the volunteer efforts from so many.
A local business encourages people to purchase handcrafted items created by Women at Risk.
A new Dallas-based non-profit has entered into a three-year charter agreement with ArtPrize in Grand Rapids to launch and steward a new, independently organized international art competition to be known as ArtPrize Dallas. The nineteen-day event is slated to launch in Dallas, Texas in April 2016. The new event will be the first of its kind to form outside of Grand Rapids, and will be exclusive in the southwest region, including Colorado and Utah. Up to $500,000 in cash prizes and grants will be awarded to artists in its first year, and the event is expected to draw thousands of visitors from Texas and throughout the United States.
“ArtPrize Dallas will create a lasting impact on the culture of Dallas by engaging and nurturing future artists and promoting a meaningful discussion of art and its role in society. Utilizing the same public/private partnership structure that has allowed our City to become a world-class art destination, ArtPrize Dallas will highlight the creativity and innovative spirit that is such a major part of our City today.” – Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings
Founded in 2009 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, ArtPrize is an international art competition open to any artist and decided by public vote and expert jury. It invites artists to try out new ideas on a large and diverse population of people. It seeks to broaden the critical dialogue around contemporary art by awarding $560,000, including two $200,000 grand prizes – the world’s largest prizes for contemporary art. Registered artists and venues connect online at artprize.org and agree to present the artwork for public display during the 19-day event. The public registers and votes using mobile devices and the web to determine half of the prize money, with the remaining amount decided by a jury of international art experts.
ArtPrize 2014 included 1,536 entries representing 51 countries and 42 U.S. states and territories showing at 174 venues including art museums, galleries, bars, coffee shops, stores, hotel lobbies, public parks, bridges, laundromats and auto body shops. ArtPrize now annually attracts more than 400,000 active art lovers and in just 2013 alone, recorded a $22.2 million direct economic impact on the city of Grand Rapids. Since its inception, more than 2.4 million votes have been cast for public art and $3.1 million in cash prizes has been distributed to artists. The seventh edition of ArtPrize will take place in Grand Rapids from September 23 – October 11, 2015.
“ArtPrize Dallas is a natural next chapter in the ArtPrize story,” said ArtPrize Founder and Board Chairman Rick DeVos. “It will create a dynamic pathway between our cities of new artistic, cultural, social, professional and economic opportunities for artists and spectators. The possibilities are thrilling.”
Through this innovative partnership with ArtPrize Dallas, the ArtPrize organization will bring some key components from Grand Rapids to Dallas: the ArtPrize suite of technology-based engagement tools, including platforms for artist and venue registration and connection, voter activation and management, mobile app build and deployment, social media integration and content management; complete training and support for the Dallas-based ArtPrize team in the areas of event production, artist support, education, venue hosting, marketing, communications, retail, sponsorship, membership and volunteer coordination; trademark licensing around ArtPrize marks and consultation around ArtPrize systems, methodologies and guiding principles.
Ariel Saldivar, who will serve as the Executive Director of ArtPrize Dallas, has been working closely with the Dallas arts, culture, corporate and philanthropic communities, as well as with ArtPrize in Grand Rapids for several months to found the Dallas non-profit and craft the agreement. Until recently, Saldivar served as the Associate Director of the Dallas-based Goss-Michael Foundation, supporting public engagement with emerging and mid-career British artists. Under her leadership, a successful Artist-In-Residence program was established to bridge international and local artists. Saldivar has curated and advised on contemporary art collections and lectured internationally on art and design. Ariel is an award-winning designer, entrepreneur and former indie rock musician who holds an MA in Art Business. Joining Saldivar as a consultant on the nascent ArtPrize Dallas team is Dallas-based award-winning filmmaker, fundraiser and entrepreneur Michael Cain.
“ArtPrize Dallas will change the way people think about and approach art in Dallas, because it will truly be an open, inclusive and welcoming event for everyone,” said Saldivar. “ArtPrize Dallas will support and celebrate artists through prizes, grants, career-building opportunities, sales opportunities, broad exposure and seed grants, with a special focus on Dallas artists.”
The newly founded 501(c) 3 has garnered the support of Dallas city officials including Mayor Mike Rawlings and has also seen widespread, cross-institutional support from Downtown Dallas Inc., the Dallas art and design communities, and many of the region’s major arts education institutions.
“We are pleased to welcome ArtPrize to Dallas in 2016. ArtPrize Dallas will bring the public together to interact with contemporary art from international and local artists in a variety of creative venues throughout downtown. We look forward to collectively bringing this opportunity to fruition,” said John Crawford, President & CEO, Downtown Dallas, Inc.
In addition to the community and institutional support needed to launch the community-wide event, Saldivar and her team have already garnered major financial commitments from corporations, foundations and philanthropists eager to see ArtPrize Dallas become a sustainable arts and cultural institution in the southwest.
The ArtPrize Dallas district will encompass a three-mile radius from the heart of downtown, serving as the boundary for participating Venues and the heart of the public vote. The first iteration of ArtPrize Dallas is scheduled to launch in April 2016.
40 years, a great staff, special programming and hundreds and hundreds of volunteers. Since 1974, It’s been all about you.
On October 16,1974 Wyoming, Michigan incorporated WKTV as one of the first community TV Stations in the State of Michigan. WKTV was one of the first community television stations to use the phrase “community television.” When other stations are simply “public access” television, We take many steps further providing active hands on training and a proactive approach to being a media presence within the community. WKTV believes the community can be better built through media and the more media literate a community is…the better it knows itself, where it’s going and who its neighbors are.
One superstar volunteer at the station is Phil Moore of Wyoming. He is one of our longest participating volunteers. Been here a little over 30 years. He met his wife at the station and was so enamored with her– and his work as a Floor Director here — that they held their wedding at WKTV. Now that gives a whole new meaning to the term community access.
When one walks through the doors of WKTV they experience nostalgia. It’s like stepping back in time. General Manager Tom Norton designed the station to look like an old fashioned community village. Master Control is designed to look like an oldies diner, the edit stations are housed in a quaint village environment and a vibrant sense of creativity is always apparent.
The facility and equipment are important, but what really makes the station are the volunteers! 400 people and in 2012 alone, community volunteers provided over 13,000 hours of volunteer time to the station and its programming. Now, that’s television at it’s finest. Stop in at 5261 Clyde Park in Wyoming to check us out.
(Editor’s Note–This is the first of several stories that will commemorate WKTV’s 40th year celebration.)
A tasty meal from San Chez Bistro, one of the amazing restaurants West Michigan has to offer
What is it that makes dining not just something you have to do, but also a rich, fulfilling experience? Think of the meals that stand out in your memory. The ones that were made with the freshest ingredients, the ones that pushed boundaries exploring new flavor ideas, the ones enjoyed with families and friends, and the ones that were prepared with love and attention. West Michigan has an abundance of restaurants, farm-to-table offerings, and culinary tours which are sure to get your taste buds watering for your next visit to West Michigan.
South
A Hungry Village Tour is the perfect way to enhance your Saugatuck/Douglas vacation. Small groups maximize the tour experience. Hungry Village Tours offers an exceptional “behind the scenes” glimpse of local culture, food, wine, customs, and fun! Let them create a special tour for your group, or join a scheduled departure. Hungry Village Tours begins each tour at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, acknowledging its weekly Greenmarket, culinary arts connection, and the Center’s history as a pie factory. There are two tours available from all year long: One is a 3 hour “Culinary Walk”, exploring Saugatuck’s and Douglas’ culinary secrets behind their storefronts with demonstrations and tastings. The second option is a 6 hour “Delicious Drive,” featuring a tour of the lakeshore’s producers including farms, orchards, blueberry patches, vintners, brewers, creameries and other artisans. Contact Hungry Village Tours leader, David Geen, at 269-857-1700 or info@hungryvillagetours.com.
There is the age-old adage that you are what you eat. If those words hold even a little truth, then Food Dance in Kalamazoo thinks it’s time to take a closer look at what we’re putting on our plates. This is more than their work – it’s a bit of an obsession. Food Dance is fixated on finding honest-to-goodness fruits, vegetables, meat and eggs that come from the farm, not the factory. All this brought together to build a menu of thoughtfully constructed great tasting American food.To you it may be a unique and natural alternative to today’s chain invasion – to Food Dance it’s like changing the world – one meal at a time.
Journeyman Distillery
It isn’t just food that can boast local farm-to-table offerings, but also local beverages! At Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, they are committed to using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. They use midwestern grains in all of their spirits, and local ingredients are a large part of their food and cocktail menus. You can get a look into their process for yourself on one of their distillery tours, offered weekdays at 12:15pm and Saturday and Sunday at 12:30pm, 2:00pm, 3:30pm and 5:00pm.
At Goldberry Woods: Bed & Breakfast, Microfarm, & Cottages, they know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and they aspire to inspire you with every bite. They make everything from scratch and strive to use the freshest ingredients possible, many grown right on the premises. Even their breakfast sausages and bacon are produced locally. The animals are raised organically and humanely in Harbor Country. They are happy to accommodate any special dietary needs and will do so as creatively as possible. The breakfast menu at Goldberry Woods in Union Pier changes with the seasons but always includes a fresh fruit starter and a full, hot, made-from-scratch breakfast.
Take a foodie tour of the Fenville area, and we guarantee you’ll leave full and happy. Start with lunch or dinner at Salt of the Earth, located in the heart of southwest Michigan farm and orchard country. They cook from scratch to create their entrees, sandwiches, wood oven fired pizzas, creative soups, fresh salads, desserts, and artisan breads. Their ‘Specialty Sips’ menu includes a scratch margarita, fresh mojitos, and other seasonal cocktails made with Michigan craft beers, hard ciders, spirits, and wines. Salt of the Earth is also an entertainment destination presenting the finest roots musicians on the scene at weekly house concerts. When you’re done with your meal, head down the road to Crane’s Pie Pantry, where you’ll have your choice of over a dozen different styles of pie! Grab a slice to eat now, a whole pie to take home, or a frozen pie that you can bake right in your own oven. Your final stop is Fenn Valley Winery, who’s tasting room is open year-round for free samples of their award-winning wines and champagnes. Hop on one of their public winery tours, and get a behind-the-scenes look at making world-class wines, with plenty of tasting opportunities along the way!
Bistro on the Boulevard
Discover the Bistro on the Boulevard, an extraordinary dining experience in downtown St. Joseph, MI. Their seasonally changing menus feature one-of-a kind appetizers, entrees, and desserts made with locally sourced ingredients. The Bistro was named “Region’s Best Fine Dining Restaurant” by Shore Magazine and is one of only two Southwest Michigan restaurants to boast Wine Spectators award of excellence for “one of the best restaurant wine lists in the world.” The Bistro is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. When dining at the Bistro on the Boulevard you will enjoy meals prepared with local ingredients. Several farmers from Southwest Michigan deliver their meat and produce to the restaurant every week!
Arcadia Brewing Company was established in 1996 as a microbrewery specializing in handcrafted British-style ales. As well as craft beers, they also offer locally-sourced dishes at their two pub locations. In addition to harvesting from their own garden, they source from many local farms and bakeries to provide visitors with the freshest, high quality ingredients. They offer house-smoked BBQ and their own burgers, made with a custom blend of chuck and brisket ground fresh daily.
Central
A Celebration of Culinary Crafts! The Midwest’s largest wine festival comes together November 20-22 with over 1,400 wines, beers, ciders and spirits from around the world, along with creations from the area’s finest restaurants at the International Wine, Beer, and Food Festival at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. The event attracts thousands of food and wine enthusiasts and offers a vast array of extraordinary tastings, cooking demonstrations, wine and beer seminars, gourmet foods, specialty items and accessories. For more information, visit GRWineFestival.com. Keep an eye out for local chocolatiers from Grand Haven, Chocolates by Grimaldi, who will be on site offering their gourmet chocolates, including creamy truffles, buttery caramels, and their signature potato chips in chocolate.
Earth to Table Dining: Artfully Crafted Cuisine. Grove restaurant, located in Grand Rapids, is a tribute to the bounty of the earth’s harvest and how Grove brings that to the table with impeccable service, natural ingredients and innovative cuisine. Their seasonal, frequently changing selections hint at the classics with natural sauces and a slant toward sustainable seafood. They responsibly source as many ingredients as possible from local, family and sustainable farms and prepare each dish to demonstrate their respect for how these farmers raise or grow their products. Grove carefully pairs their daily, innovative menus with the best modern wines. Their beverage menu also includes eclectic and top-shelf liquors, their own housemade infused spirits, craft beers, pour-over coffee and espresso. They’re located in the heart of East Hills at 919 Cherry Street. Visit them online at grovegr.com or make a reservation by calling 616.454.1000.
Inspired, handcrafted foods that nurture both body and community. At Terra in Grand Rapids, they follow their passions – and the seasons – for only the freshest, health-filled ingredients from the region’s most dedicated growers. They pride themselves on distinctive fare, expertly crafted with passion, intellect and culinary skill. You’ll enjoy handcrafted meals that honor the purest ingredients from the finest regional farms and fields. Terra’s focus on seasonal offerings means they only use fresh, honest ingredients bursting with the flavors of each season. Not only will you find delicious dining at Terra, but also a community dedicated to the promotion and rewards of a health-conscious lifestyle.
Twisted Rooster
Satisfyingly savory and always fresh, using Michigan made products with a twist—that’s what you can expect when dining at the Twisted Rooster in Grand Rapids. Twisted Rooster’s Executive Chef Dave Ogren and his culinary team work with local vendors and suppliers to provide guests with a decidedly tasty twist on classic American fare. Twisted Rooster’s mantra is to provide each guest with “Simply Impeccable Food & Drinks with Uncommon Hospitality.” Their locally sourced, scratch made menu is full of local flavor and includes vendors such as Byron Center Meats, R.W. Bakers, Faygo and Founders Brewing Company. Ogren said their menu is meant to emphasize their twisted “Commit to the Mitt” motto.
Fish Tacos are a must have at the Twisted Rooster. This house favorite #1 seller, consists of Founders Pale Ale battered flash-fried tasty Grouper, fresh pico de gallo, shredded white cheddar, housemade crispy noodle slaw, cilantro sour cream and tortilla chips. The Twisted House salad isn’t your typical house salad: it is made up of mixed greens; Traverse City dried cherries, Michigan grown apples, Roquefort bleu cheese, strawberries, cinnamon raisin bread croutons and toasted pecans tossed in a homemade cherry maple-vinaigrette dressing. The famous Twisted Mac & Cheese is a favorite for locavores everywhere. Twisted cavatappi noodles are blended with a bold white 5 cheese sauce, house smoked chicken, sweet peas, asparagus, cherry tomatoes with baked cheddar bread crumbs and fried parmesan. Needless to say, Twisted Rooster is a necessary stop on your next west Michigan road trip. Get more information at www.twisted-rooster.com.
Honest Fayre. Local Flair. At The Green Well they serve honest fayre with local flair in a neighborhood setting that keeps customers coming back. Their innovative gastro pub is green beyond its name: Their LEED® certified building is environmentally safe, ultra efficient and leaves behind the smallest possible carbon footprint. “Gastro pub” is British for a public house that specializes in high-quality food served in a relaxed atmosphere. The Green Well’s creative menu features a global range of eclectic flavors prepared with ingredients from local farmers. Over 20 rotating taps focus on Michigan brews, as well as a vast selection of bottles, ranging from local and American craft to traditional European styles. The wine list features creative flights that encourage multiple wine flavors paired with food. Classic cocktails are also available. Their greenness also spills over to their guests who benefit from affordable prices and outstanding service by a fun, welcoming staff. Located at 924 Cherry Street in East Hills.
Bistro Bella Vita
Fresh. Natural. Local. Mediterranean Countryside Cuisine. At Bistro Bella Vita, they go above and beyond to deliver the ultimate dining experience with top-notch, personable service, whether it’s a simple pizza and beer with friends, or an elegant chef’s table meal perfectly paired with appropriate wines. Their vision is to be West Michigan’s most respected restaurant destination. Guests enjoy Bistro Bella Vita’s unique downtown atmosphere and their creative cuisine made exclusively from fresh, natural, ingredients purchased daily from local farmers in season. The culinary team creates authentic, scratch-made recipes that blend the delicious flavors of the Mediterranean countryside with a perfectly paired beverage offering served by a devoted staff whose passion is to ensure your complete satisfaction. They’re located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, just west of the Van Andel Arena on Grandville and Weston. Make your reservation online or call them at 616. 222. 4600.
Stop by San Chez Bistro for the most unique dining and entertainment venue in Grand Rapids. San Chez Bistro offers a blend of authentic European and Mediterranean cuisine in a fun, laid-back, and artful atmosphere. Take a break from fast food with breakfast and lunch by San Chez Café, made with the finest local ingredients, and prepared to order fresh seven days a week. Enjoy omelets, scrambles, pastries, bagels, yogurt, fresh fruit, or the best sandwiches and soups in town. Appreciate gourmet fair-trade coffee and whole leaf organic tea while you linger with free Wi-Fi, or hold a breakfast meeting in our comfy café.
CityVū Bistro is Holland’s hotspot for all things fresh. Fryers and frozen foods are out. Fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, creative menu concepts, and healthy yet delicious dishes are in. Their 100% whole grain, hearth-baked flatbread, topped with unique combinations of savory ingredients, is the ultimate edible plate. Now you can have your plate and eat it too! If flatbreads aren’t your forté, choose from a diverse array of appetizers, soups, salads, entrées, and desserts. Regular menu revisions by their chef, including a monthly “Taste Of” feature highlighting the culinary nuances of international locales, will satisfy even the most discerning of palettes.
The JW Marriott signature restaurant, six.one.six, and destination lounge, mixology, offer the breathtaking blend of sophisticated urban ambience, palate-pleasing cuisine, as well as the finest wines and perfectly poured cocktails. But more than just a “pretty face,” six.one.six. takes its cuisine seriously. Dedicated to the concept of buying local, the chef’s pantry is bursting with locally grown ingredients, some of which are picked just a few feet away at the JW Chef’s Garden. The six.one.six. kitchen also participates in Sort, a recycling and composting program coordinated with Zeeland-headquartered Spurt Industries, which helps turn food scraps into top-quality soil for area parks. You’ll find dishes sourced from New Holland Brewery, Black Star Farms, Founder’s Brewery, and many more when you dine at six.one.six.
Downtown Market Grand Rapids
Downtown Market Grand Rapids offers farm to table dining, and everything in between. Visit in the spring and summer for their outdoor farmers market, where the best of everything fresh and local will be on display for purchase. The indoor Market Hall is open year-round, and offers everything from local produce, fish, meats, and cheese to restaurants serving tacos & thai food sourced from local ingredients. Downtown Market offers regular cooking classes & demonstrations to help you bring that fresh and local taste right into your own kitchen.
Not only can you tour a working dairy farm when you visit Country Dairy in New Era, you can taste the fruits of their labors in their Farm Store. Pick up your favorite cheeses, try one of their unique ice cream flavors, or visit the Fresh Meat Market for cuts of beef which are corn-fed and hormone free from Country Dairy’s own steer herd. They have a restaurant on site as well, so order a burger, wrap, or sandwich, and don’t forget about the bottomless cup of milk to go along with your meal!
The historic, Coopersville & Marne Railway is continuing its 25th year of providing family-friendly fun with the annual running of The Santa Train. Uniformed Conductors and Trainmen will assist you during your ninety-minute journey. The clickity-clack of the iron wheels and the sound of the locomotive horn at each road crossing will add to the special feeling. A blanket of snow in the passing woods and farmer’s fields completes the experience. Christmas carols are sung along the way.
SANTA!
The jolly old elf has a special seat in each of the decorated, vintage train cars. Some cars are almost 100 years old. Santa’s Elves will escort the little ones to sit with Santa. All children, even the shy ones, will get a special gift right from Santa’s big red bag. To put a figurative bow on this Christmas “enterTRAINment” package, the Story Telling Princess will read “The Polar Express”, which was written by Grand Rapids native, Chris Van Allsburg.
The 250 seat, heated train leaves the station in historic, downtown Coopersville every Saturday and Sunday from Thanksgiving until Christmas. Each passenger car has a restroom. Your light snacks and cameras may be taken aboard. Snow or no, we go!
Times for the departures are: Saturday, November 29 at 11 am & 1:30 pm. On all other Saturdays, the departure times are 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. All Sunday departures are at 1 pm and 3 pm. Saturday dates are Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13, & 20. Sunday dates are Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14 & 21.
Ticket prices are: Adults, $15.50, Seniors (60+), $14. 50 and Children (2-12), $13.50, Children under 2 years old are free. Advance tickets: 616-997-7000, Ext. 3 or www.MItrain.net. Some tickets may be available at the train station on the days of departures. But, the train does sell out on occasion, so reservations are recommended. The Conductor begins the boarding procedures at twenty minutes prior to departure times.
A penny saved is a penny earned, right? Not necessarily. Thanks to inflation, over time that penny could be worth less than when it was first dropped into the piggy bank. That’s why if you’re investing—especially for major goals years away, such as retirement—you can’t afford to ignore the corrosive effect rising prices can have on the value of your assets.
Inflation Under the Microscope
Just what is inflation, this ravenous beast that eats away at the value of every dollar you earn? It is essentially the increase in the price of goods or services. The most commonly referenced measure of that increase is the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is based on a monthly survey by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI compares current and past prices of a sample “market basket” of goods from a variety of categories including housing, food, transportation and apparel. The CPI does have shortcomings, according to economists: It does not take taxes into account or consider that as the price of one product rises, consumers may react by purchasing a cheaper substitute (name brand vs. generic, for example). Nonetheless, it is widely considered a useful way to measure prices over time.
Inflation has been a very consistent fact of life in the U.S. economy. Dating back to 1945, the purchasing power of the dollar has declined in value every year but two—1949 and 1954. Still, inflation rates were generally considered moderate until the 1970s. The average annual rate from 1900 to 1970 was approximately 2.5%. From 1970 to 1990, however, the average rate increased to around 6.0%, hitting a high of 13.3% in 1979. Recently, rates have been closer to the 1% to 3% range; the inflation rate has been 2.06% thus far in 2014.
What It Means to Your Wallet
In today’s economy, it is easy to overlook inflation when preparing for your financial future. An inflation rate of 4%, for instance, might not seem to be worth a second thought—until you consider the impact it can have on the purchasing power of your money over the long term. For example, in just 20 years, 4% inflation annually would drive the value of a dollar down to $0.44.
Or look at it another way: If the price of a $1,000 refrigerator rises by 4% over 20 years, it will more than double to almost $2,200. A larger-ticket item, such as a $23,000 automobile, would soar to more than $50,000 given the same inflation rate and time period.
Inflation also works against your investments. When you calculate the return on an investment, you need to consider not just the interest rate you receive but also the real rate of return, which is determined by factoring in the effects of inflation. Your financial adviser can help you calculate your real rate of return.
Clearly, if you plan to achieve long-term financial goals—from college savings for your children to your own retirement—you will need to create a portfolio of investments that will provide sufficient “inflation-adjusted” returns.
Investing to Beat Inflation
Insulating your portfolio against the threat of inflation might begin with a review of the investments most likely to provide returns that outpace inflation.
Over the long run—10, 20, 30 years, or more—stocks may provide the best potential for returns that exceed inflation. While past performance is no guarantee of future results, stocks have historically provided higher returns than other asset classes.
Consider these findings from a study of Standard & Poor’s data: An analysis of holding periods between 1926 and December 31, 2013, found that the annualized return for a portfolio composed exclusively of stocks in the Standard & Poor’s Composite Index of 500 Stocks was 10.14%—well above the average inflation rate of 2.96% for the same period. The annualized return for long-term government bonds, on the other hand, was only 5.52%. In addition, the study found that the stock portfolio did not suffer a loss in 817 separate 20-year holding periods. In every period, the annual rate of return for the stock portfolio was greater than the inflation rate. The bond portfolio outpaced inflation in only 447 of the 817 20-year holding periods—by a much lower margin.
A Balancing Act
Keep in mind that stocks do involve greater risk of short-term fluctuations than other asset classes. Unlike a bond, which offers a fixed return if you hold it until maturity, a stock can rise or fall in value based on daily events in the stock market, trends in the economy or problems at the issuing company. But if you have a long investment time frame and are willing to hold your ground during short-term ups and downs, you may find that stocks offer greater potential to beat inflation.
The key is to consider your time frame, your anticipated income needs and how much volatility you are willing to accept, and then construct a portfolio with the mix of stocks and other investments with which you are comfortable. For instance, if you have just embarked on your career and have 30 or 40 years until you plan to retire, a mix of 70% stocks and 30% bonds might be suitable. But even if you are approaching retirement, you may still need to maintain some growth-oriented investments as a hedge against inflation. After all, your retirement assets may need to last for 30 years or more, and inflation will continue to work against you throughout.
Take Steps to Tame Inflation
Whatever your investor profile—from first-time investor to experienced retiree—you need to keep inflation in your sights. Stocks may be your best weapon, and there are many ways to include them. Consult your financial planner to discuss your specific needs and options.
This communication is not intended to be tax or legal advice and should not be treated as such. Each individual’s situation is different. You should contact your tax and/or legal professional to discuss your personal situation.
This article was prepared by Wealth Management Systems Inc. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. Please consult me if you have any questions.
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