In WKTV’s final high school football regular season Featured Game of the Week, the South Christian Sailors will bring a perfect record into a battle with also undefeated Grand Rapids Catholic Central. The game will be a “home away from hone” game at played East Kentwood High School.
South Christian (5-0) defeated Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg (2-3), 28-7, on the road on Oct. 16. Central Catholic is also 5-0, and tied with South Christian for the OK Gold Conference lead.
The game is important in several ways: an outright OK Gold title during this pandemic shortened season, seeding for the upcoming and expanded state playoffs, and, of course, that rivalry thing.
But for Sailors head coach Danny Brown the game is all about his senior leaders, and his team continuing to improve each week. And one of those senior leaders is quarterback Ty Rynbrandt. WKTV caught up with both before at a Wednesday practice.
WKTV’s Featured Game crew will be at the 7 p.m. game, and the game will be broadcast on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel. WKTV also livestream games where allowed on WKTV.org (click on Live).
WKTV also rebroadcasts games on the night of the game, and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of football and other fall prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
What’s in a weed? While for many of us our notion of weeds are the pesky and unwanted plants that compete for light and nutrients in our gardens, but a forest or the wooded section of a park has a much broader and even more sinister experience with weeds.
The Bittersweet vine is a problem across the nation and in Michigan. And Kentwood’s park trees are not immune. (WKTV)
These are the invasive species — species of plants that include certain types of vines that grow so aggressively so as to literally kill not only surrounding plants but even large trees.
For Jessica Schulte, district manager for Kent Conservation District, it all starts innocently enough; an attractive wreath sheathed in golden and red berries is purchased by a homeowner who enjoys the wreath and some point will discard it.
If the wreath has the attractive red and gold berries, chances are this is one of the versions of Bittersweet vine that has been dubbed one of the most invasive plants species in North America. The plant is capable of killing large trees and, with its aggressive growth, it will completely envelope a forest habitat, choking off all other growth and changing the forest forever.
And this is the challenge for Schulte.
Every summer and fall, Schulte and a group called the “Invasive Species Strike Team” fan out to West Michigan forests and residences to yank, cut and remove the vines of the Bittersweet and other invasive species.
Kentwood vs. a ‘Godzilla’ of a plant
With the Bittersweet growing to more than 66 feet in height, it might somewhat be likened to confronting a Godzilla in the forest. In a very short period of time, the Bittersweet will completely envelope a tree’s canopy, blocking sunlight while the vines have a remarkable ability to choke off the flow of nutrients by literally strangling the trunk.
Jessica Schulte, district manager for Kent Conservation District, inspecting one of Kentwood’s parks. (WKTV)
“There are no insects, molds or fungus growth to keep the Bittersweet vine in check,” Schulte said in a recent telephone interview with WKTV, as she was busily preparing another team for a site visit that would determine the extent of Bittersweet vine damage.
“We have a huge infestation in the Ada and Cascade region,” she added also pointing out that Michigan currently lacks formal regulation of invasive species.
But now Schulte seems to have attracted a significant ally.
City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley attacks some of the Bittersweet vines in a city park. (WKTV)
Mayor Stephen Kepley of the City of Kentwood was on a walk this spring in one of the city’s parks and noticed large canopies of vine growth covering some of the trees along with vines literally strangling the trunks of trees.
Mayor Kepley reached out to the Kent Conservation District and further investigation found that there was more than just one area in Kentwood that the Bittersweet vine was invading.
“I’m actually surprised that more cities, like Kentwood are not taking action against the Bittersweet,” Schulte said, “because the damage they cause can be prevented.”
Formation of Kentwood’s ‘strike team’
Like horticultural super hero figures, the Kent Conservation District has created “strike teams” of volunteers to fan out into urban wooded areas and forest to identify and remove the problem vines and weeds.
Bittersweet vines will choke out trees. (WKTV)
While our gardening grandfathers and grandmothers might have reminded us that regular weeding was the equivalent of an ounce of prevention being worth more than a pound of cure, that prevention/cure from the strike team is underway in Kentwood.
In early October, Mayor Kepley joined with community volunteers in training for the task of ridding Kentwood parks of aggressive weeds, like the Bittersweet, that threaten the parks.
Now there are more training sessions available through the winter and into the spring. And given the speed at which the vine grows and its capability of ruining the appearance of city parks, Schulte points out that the more volunteers the better.
To assist with awareness and sign-ups, Kentwood has set up a page within the city’s website that allows residents to learn more about the invasive vine and how they can join to stop the spread.
Schulte hastens to add that the Bittersweet is not like the wild grape vines or other indigenous vines like the Virginia Creeper. She points out that even poison ivy in the forest is good because the berries it produces have a high fat content which help birds survive the long winter.
Oriental Bittersweet in winter. (Wikipedia Commons)
While birds also feast on Bittersweet berries, they also spread the seeds which only contributes to forest damage.
At the same time, Schulte states that while beneficial vines and trees are falling victim to the spread of the Bittersweet, it is also affecting wildlife.
“Migrating birds are down by 40 percent because often these city parks serve as stopovers for food, but the Bittersweet is enveloping and destroying the wooded canopy and eliminating the food supply,” she said.
At the training sessions, volunteers learn how to recognize invasive weeds and vines from the beneficial ones and how to effectively remove them. Schulte points out that volunteers will also need to be trained on how to effectively remove enough of a vine to prevent it from growing back.
“If homeowners would like they can reach out to us with pictures and we can help identify if they have problem vines,” said Schulte.
For more information on the Kentwood vine volunteer program, visit the kentwood.us/vinevolunteers. To sign-up as a volunteer, contact Public Works Supervisor Jim Wolford at wolfordj@kentwood.us or call him at 616-554-0817.
Note: For the Michigan Nov. 3 general election, WKTV’s We The People program invited participation from all candidates. If they participated, their videos are linked here, For those who did not participate, either a candidate-provided biography/issues statement, or simply their name is listed. All videos are 5-minutes or less, and were not edited in any way by WKTV.
State of Michigan 72nd District House of Representatives
The 72nd District House of Representative seat covers the cities of Kentwood and Wayland, along with a portion of Cutlerville and the community of Dorr. For a district map, click here and then search for district 072.
The candidates are a two-term incumbent Republican Rep. Steve Johnson of Wayland, and Democratic challenger Lily Cheng-Schulting of Kentwood.
Steven Johnson – Incumbent State Representative 72nd District
Occupation: State Representative for the 72nd District for the past 4 years; former Staff Sergeant in U.S. Air Force, worked on nuclear missiles.
Why did you decide to run for this position? And issues you feel voters are facing:
I am running for reelection to:
Work on providing more government transparency so taxpayers have a better understanding of how and where their hard earned money is being spent.
Reduce government debt so our children are not burdened by our actions today.
Improve the quality of education by giving parents more options and ensuring our education policy understands that each student learns differently and a one-size-fits all policy does not work.
Lily Cheng-Schulting — Candidate State Representative 72nd District
Occupation: Founder and President of the Disability A-Team of West Michigan (501c3 non-profit), and Disability and Human Rights Advocate
Why did you decide to run for this position?
As I am a proven disability and human rights advocate, I am running to ensure a high quality of life for everyone in our district! At this time, many people are hurting. Our society is facing many unaddressed social, economic, racial, and environmental problems. We need more healing and less division. I will, therefore, listen to all views and work together with you to create solutions. I will also dedicate my skills, my experience, and my energy to create positive changes for everyone, including people with disabilities, people of color, and our working class.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
Families across District 72 are strongly concerned about the quality of education for all students. Since I share everyone’s concern for the quality of education and equity in education, one of my top priorities will be education.
Many families across District 72 are also concerned about the combination of healthcare, disability services, and mental healthcare. Many families either have or know someone close to them who has a disability or mental health challenge. Since disability services and mental health are both local and state issues, I will make every effort to ensure access to high quality services to aid everyone’s present and future quality of life.
Almost all voters are deeply concerned about their neighbors and the myriad of issues which affect their neighbors. They are concerned about equality and fairness for all people. They are also concerned about our working class and small businesses, since many of their neighbors have small businesses.
State of Michigan 77th District House of Representatives
The 77th District House of Representatives seat covers the City of Wyoming, Byron Township and a portion of Cutlerville. For a district map, click here and then search for district 077.
There are two candidates are two-term incumbent Republican Rep. Tommy Brann of Wyoming and Democratic challenger Bob Smith of Byron Twp.
Tommy Brand — Incumbent State Representative 77th District
Occupation: restaurant owner and state representative
Why did you decide to run for this position?
I have been a small business owner for 49 years and in the restaurant business, which is the hardest business in the world. My restaurant I take to Lansing every day in the form of my employees struggles, customers living life and my small business mind that knows how important costs and waste are in a small business and now I bring that mindset to Lansing on costs and waste.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
Three issues are the virus, employment due to them, and jobs, and that is one really. The other two is health care and my citizens safety. I took an oath to protect the health and safety of my citizens and I carry that oath, Section 51 and article 4, in my wallet.
Bob Smith — Challenger State Representative 77th District
Occupation: Factory worker. I am a Production Team Member at North America Fuel Systems Remanufacturing in Kentwood.
Why did you decide to run for this position?
I have spent most of my life working hard to get ahead, but rarely doing more than barely keeping up. Involvement in union leadership inspired me to find other ways to serve. Seeing laws passed in Lansing that were designed to keep workers’ pay low inspired me to run for public office.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
Employment uncertainty due to the Covid-19 crisis, inflation outpacing wage growth, and concerns about sending their kids back to school during the Covid; or not being able to work if the kids continue online schooling.
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, on Nov. 3., on the back side of their very crowded ballot, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools district voters will be asked to support a bonding proposal which would allow the district to put out bonds for about $18 million for a wide range of building and facility projects.
The district not only faces the task of modernizing portions of its middle and high school that are nearly 100 years old, it must make repairs to a portion of the building which collapsed last year. But modernization and repairs are only the most obvious part of the long-range plans the district has for its buildings.
With us to talk about the bond proposal, what it would fund and why this choice of timing to take it to voters, is district superintendent Kevin Polston.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Note: For the Michigan Nov. 3 general election, WKTV’s We The People program invited participation from all candidates. If they participated, their videos are linked here. For those who did not participate, either a candidate-provided biography/issues statement, or simply their name is listed. All videos are 5-minutes or less of interview, and were not edited in any way by WKTV.
Kent County District Attorney
Republican Incumbent Kent County District Attorney Chris Becker, of Ada, is running unopposed for the position.
Chris Becker — Incumbent Kent County District Attorney
Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds
There are three candidates, Republican incumbent Lisa Posthumus Lyons of Bowen Twp., Democratic candidate Devin Ortega-Furgeson of Wyoming, and Libertarian candidate Jamie Lewis of Grand Rapids.
Lisa Posthumus Lyons — Incumbent Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds
Occupation: Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds
Why did you decide to run for this position?
I’m proud to call Kent County my home and am so grateful for the opportunity to serve my community. As a lifelong resident of Kent County, where my husband and I are now raising our four children, I have deep appreciation for the values that make Kent County a wonderful place to live, work, and serve. I am running for re-election as Kent County Clerk/Register to continue providing a strong voice for West Michigan, and to build upon my record of providing efficient, effective, and transparent leadership to Kent County residents.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
I believe the voters of Kent County want their local government to run efficiently and effectively. My office is diverse: Clerk (vital records, elections), Register of Deeds (property records), and Clerk of the Circuit Court (court records). Rapidly changing technology is changing the way we serve the public. During my first term we’ve modernized our vital and land records recording technology, as well as implemented new campaign finance management software for elections. Our next challenge will be the implementation of e-filing of court records. The recent COVID-19 shutdown proved the essential need for citizens to be able to remotely interact with the county, and I’m committed to making that process easier for all residents.
Devin Ortega-Furgeson — Candidate Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds
Jamie Lewis — Candidate Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds
Kent County Drain Commissioner
There are three candidates, Republican incumbent Ken Yonker of Caledonia, Democratic candidate Elaine Isely of Grand Rapids Twp., and Libertarian candidate Alex Avery of Wyoming.
Elaine Isely — Candidate Kent County Drain Commissioner
Occupation: Water resources professional/attorney, current position is Director of Water Programs at West Michigan Environmental Action Council
Why did you decide to run for this position?
Water is our most important natural resource, and everyone has a right to clean and safe water. I have 15 years experience working on water resource management and stormwater policy issues, and I’d like to bring my expertise and passion for this work to this office to serve the residents of Kent County.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
Water pollution and high water levels. The Drain Commissioner is responsible for stormwater management and water drainage to prevent flooding. Stormwater is our largest source of pollution to our waterways, and flooding can create health hazards and property damage. Kent County deserve a Drain Commissioner who better understands these issues and the impacts they can have on our water system.
Ken Yonker — Incumbent Kent County Drain Commissioner
Alex Avery — Candidate Kent County Drain Commissioner
Kent County Treasurer
There are two candidates, two-term Republican State Sen. Peter MacGregor of Canon Twp., and Democratic candidate Beth White of Grand Rapids.
Peter MacGregor – Candidate for Kent County treasurer
Occupation: Michigan State Senator, District 28
Why did you decide to run for this position?
I have a passion to serve the community I love. With your vote for the next Kent County Treasurer, I can continue to serve our community, where I have run a successful business and raised my family. As part of the Kent County executive team, I want to continue to help our county in areas other than just as the custodian of your tax dollars. My competencies and experiences will be helpful with Kent County’s services for children, and mental and behavioral health.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
The responsibility of a county treasurer is to be the custodian of all county funds and to invest the county’s funds responsibly. The second responsibility is the collection of delinquent property taxes. Due to the pandemic, both residents and businesses are struggling to make ends meet and property taxes are one of the largest expense that they have during these uncertain times. I want to be able to work for those residents who may need a little more time and help to keep their head above water. Continuing fiscal responsibility, maintaining the county’s “Triple A Bond Rating”, and helping our taxpayers through these uncertain times will be the greatest challenge for the next county treasurer.
Beth White – Candidate for Kent County treasurer
Occupation: Attorney
Why did you decide to run for this position?
At this point in our history, I believe it is time for every person with integrity and skill to get off the sidelines. That’s why I’m running for Treasurer.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
The main concern for voters everywhere is the uncertainty brought about by this unprecedented pandemic. People are worried about their physical and financial health. They are worried about their jobs. They are worried about educating their children, and keeping them safe. A local county treasurer can’t resolve all of the very real anxieties people are feeling right now. But honest, steady leadership is needed at all levels of government. That’s what I hope to bring to the job.
Kent County Sheriff
There are three candidates, Republican incumbent Michelle LaJoye-Young of Caledonia Twp., Democratic candidate Marc Burns of Cascade Twp., and Libertarian candidate John Glen Stedman of Wyoming.
Michelle LaJoye-Young — Incumbent Republican Kent County Sheriff
Occupation: Kent County Sheriff, and 31 years with the department
Why did you decide to run for this position?
I have dedicated my entire adult life to serving the residents of Kent County and am incredibly honored to lead the men and women of the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. I have the experience in leading the department in thought and direction to guide us forward in meeting the needs of all Kent County residents. I have lead the department through many challenges and believe that the opportunities to grow and develop are here and there are many ways we can learn from the past and guide the future.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
There have been a lot of public and private conversations regarding policing in America. I think building on the strengths of the police departments in our community is very important. Having experience in leadership to understand what things can be done and what things will be effective is important.
There is a tremendous amount of divisiveness in some of our conversations. To grow as a community we must continue to work on ways that we can come together and build on the wonderful foundation we have in Kent County while ensuring that the opportunity to be safe where we live, work, play and worship is protected for everyone.
Marc Burns — Candidate Kent County Sheriff
Occupation: Current Special Agent in Enforcement, and served for 26 years at the Sheriff’s Department
Why did you decide to run for this position?
I am running for Sheriff because I have most real experience of any candidate and real transparency and accountability must be at the forefront of the Sheriff’s Department.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
Citizens of Kent County need to know I am going to end misuse of tax payer dollars, to end the lack of oversight for accountability by the current administration, to end cronyism and to allow for real change and reform in policing and in our communities.
With election day now less than four weeks away, Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons announced this week her office’s Kent County Votes, a voter education effort which offers county voters information resources “to vote safely and securely up to and on November 3rd.”
Part of that effort is a public service announcement recorded at WKTV Community Media, as well as radio and digital advertisements, and upcoming tele-townhall events will provide voters the opportunity to ask questions of Kent County election administrators.
The effort also includes a redesign of the Kent County Elections website, now accessible via KentCountyVotes.com.
“Your right to vote is sacred, and so is your right to safety,” Posthumus Lyons said in supplied material and the WKTV video. “In Kent County we take both very seriously. COVID-19 has disrupted a lot this year, but it won’t disrupt this fall’s election.”
Four tips for voters
According to a statement from the clerk’s office, there are four aspects of the Nov. 3 election voters should be aware of:
Whether voters cast their ballots in-person at the polls or cast an absentee ballot, their vote will be counted this year. Clerks across the county are busy modifying polling places to adhere to CDC safety and social distancing guidelines as well. It will be safe to vote in person. Polling locations can be found at kentcountyvotes.com.
Recent election law changes make registering and voting easier than ever before. Every registered voter now has the right to vote absentee without needing an excuse. Also, citizens can register right up to and even on election day at their local clerk’s office, and still cast their ballot. However, it is highly encouraged to register before election day.
The new State of Michigan Absentee Ballot return envelope. (WKTV)
Those choosing to vote absentee have three options for returning their ballots: hand deliver a completed ballot to your city or township clerk’s office; return the ballot by mail, but plan accordingly by mailing the ballot back at least 7-10 before Election Day; or drop your ballot off in a designated secure drop box in the city or township where the voter is registered. Drop box locations can be found at kentcountyvotes.com.
Posthumus also reminds voters to “be patient when it’s time for results … The Clerk’s office expects a larger-than-ever number of absentee ballots, which might mean waiting a little longer for results. Kent County election officials will work as quickly as possible to report complete and accurate election results.”
Note: For the Michigan Nov. 3 general election, WKTV’s We The People program invited participation from both candidates. Videos are 5-minutes or less, and were not edited in any way by WKTV.
Joe Jackson — Judge candidate, non-partisan election
Occupation: Kent County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Why did you decide to run for the 62 B District Court Judgeship?
I have dedicated my entire career to public service, and wish to continue to serve, but in a new role. Kentwood is my family’s home, where we go to school, work, play, and worship. I am dedicated to the continued growth and excellence of Kentwood, and I want to do my part to ensure that the Kentwood District Court is doing its best to serve its community. A District Court Judge is more than just a person in a black robe, he should be a leader, an example, and be involved in the community beyond the bench, and this is something I’m dedicated to.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
The fair and impartial administration of justice to all people in all areas of the law.
Maintaining an experienced, supported, and knowledgeable bench.
Occupation: Attorney representing civil litigants and providing criminal defense.
City/Township you live: City of Kentwood
Why did you decide to run for this position?
There is so much good to be done from the District Court bench. From landlord tenant disputes to criminal misdemeanors, the matters that come before this Court effect the everyday lives of the people who live in Kentwood. The way these cases are handled will shape our community for years to come and I believe I’m uniquely positioned to create positive outcomes through fair and well-reasoned judgments.
Please list two or three issues you feel the voters should know about the District court and the judge position:
There is an eviction crisis looming due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the interests of public safety, evictions have been limited and this has placed our landlords in financial jeopardy. I’m committed to finding the fair line between landlords who rely on rental income and tenants who have fallen behind.
I’m also committed to meaningful probation sentences. When the circumstances of a criminal case show a link between substance abuse, lack of education, or mental illness and the conviction offense, we should explore programs that motivate behavioral change and address those factors. This front-end approach strengthens our community and should be made a focus in cases where increasing punitive consequences doesn’t necessarily serve the ends of justice.
Wyoming’s High School’s head football coach Irvin Sigler was supposed to be awarded the West Michigan Officials Association’s Coach of the Year award at an association ceremony early this year. But then came COVID-19, and pubic ceremonies were put on hold.
While he did received the honor over the summer, during a socially-distant visit form association officials, Sigler says the honor was special none-the-less.
“I feel very honored, but it is truly a reflection of our program, players and assistant coaches,” Sigler said to WKTV. “It is more significant than any award I’ve received in coaching.”
And the reason is simple, Sigler said: “It comes from officials, who don’t get much recognition and thanks for what they do. But without whom we would have no game.
“It means so much to me, because officials have the chance to see coaches at our best and our worst. To know that I’ve earned the respect of this group of men tells me that we are doing things right as a team and program.”
And Coach Sigler, who is also the Dean of Students at Wyoming high, wants his players to win off the field as well as on at the field.
“I want to continue for us to portray the best values of sportsmanship, and ambassadors of the game,” he said. “I want our players to take pride in knowing that their attitude and behavior are respected by the ‘gatekeepers’ of the game.”
During a pandemic-shortened football season, Sigler said his expectations for his team are equally simple.
“To get better every day, be a great practice team and play as hard as we can on Friday nights,” he said .”That we will continue to honor the game and our community. That we will continue to treat people with dignity and respect.”
Many local college baseball players where hoping to play some summer league baseball, but then there was COVID-19. But for one local college player, Davenport University’s Gaetano Vallone, a summer at Traverse City was just the pitch he’d been hoping for.
The Northwoods League was one of the few summer baseball leagues that had the chance to play this summer, due to north Lower Peninsula Michigan and the Upper Peninsula being allowed to be exempt from many state-mandated restrictions.
“It was huge for me to find a team like the Pit Spitters to play for during this pandemic,” Vallone, a pitcher for Davenport, said to WKTV, “Being able to play for such a high caliber baseball team definitely helps me prepare for our upcoming season” in spring 2021.
The Northwoods League split its league into seven different “pods” including the ‘Michigan North’ (Traverse City) pod that also included the Great Lakes Resorters and the Northern Michigan Dune Bears (before the Dune Bears was disbanded after the first suspension of the season back on July 4).
Like most of the country, working out and staying in shape was a hard task, especially for players like Vallone, who were training for their upcoming collegiate season.
“I was forced to do at home workouts with limited supplies and run,” he said. “The transition from workouts at school to workouts at home was difficult but I managed to stay motivated.”
The Pit Spitters ended the season with a regular season record of 33-8 and lost in the finals of the Michigan bracket to the Kalamazoo Mac Daddies, 4-1.
Members of the local business community visited the Family Network of Wyoming recently as part of a Wyoming/Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Team Up Tuesday community event. (WKTV)
The business community of Wyoming and Kentwood has held strong together during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, and part of the reason is the continued work of the Wyoming/Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce with events such as a recent Team Up Tuesday held at the Family Network of Wyoming.
WKTV was there to tour and talk with chamber and Family Network leadership, and members of the business community, to find out more about the local non-profit and how it helps some businesses keep on doing business.
Held Sept. 15, the outdoor event was also open to the public to “hang out and connect with each other.” Family Network of Wyoming, located on 44th street, conducted small group tours of its lending closet and food pantry. Snacks and refreshments were provided by The Candied Yam.
To find out more about the Wyoming/Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, visit southkent.org. To find out more about the Family Network of Wyoming, visit fntw.org.
WKTV volunteer Greg Yoder, one of the series hosts of WKTV Journal Sports Connection, leads a discussion with Lee High School girls sports coaches. (WKTV)
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal Sports Connection, as part of our continuing series of shows focused on different local high school and their sports departments, we catch up with the Lee Legends.
Led by WKTV volunteer Greg Yoder, one of the series hosts, we talk with two of the girls sports coaches and find out about how they are handling COVID-19 restrictions in practice and in competition, their work in building girls sports programs at the small school, and — yes — we talk about the outlook for their teams.
WKTV Journal Sports Connection brings its audience interviews and stories focused on local Wyoming and Kentwood area high schools sports, both on cable television and on our on-demand and YouTube channels. Readers can catch up on all our local sports coverage by visiting wktvjournal.com/sports.
WKTV Journal Sports Connection is available on-demand, along with WKTV coverage of highs school athletic events and other sports, at WKTVlive.com. It also airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule). Individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal Sports Connection are also usually available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, we host a discussion on the City of Wyoming Lions Club, a local member of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club organization, with clubs in more than 200 countries.
Wyoming’s club, like all clubs, support the local community in various ways and assist people throughout the world with a focus on programs such as sight programs, guide dogs, donations to vision clinics, and support of various other community organizations.
With us is Kyle Austin, Wyoming Lions Club vice president and membership chairman, and we talk about what the local club does and the need for volunteer member to help them do their good work.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Wyoming High School belatedly begins its 2020 football season Friday, Sept. 18, at home against Zeeland West with a special start time of 5 p.m. And WKTV will be there to broadcast the game — live thanks to special permission from the MHSAA and the Wolves.
Before the game, WKTV caught up with Wolves head coach Irv Sigler — who talked about his unusual season preparations with only a week of practice in pads — and well as one of his key senior offensive players, Mahki Matthews.
With all teams making the playoffs this 6-game season under a yet-to-be defined Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) format, both coach and player also view this regular season is one where early growth can come without as much pressure.
Wyoming was 3-6 last season, 1-5 in OK Conference Gold games. Zeeland West was 9-2, including 1-1 in the playoffs, and 5-1 in the OK Green. Wyoming, this season, moves into the OK Green under an OK Conference realignment.
Other members of the OK Green are Grand Rapids Union, Holland, Muskegon, Muskegon Mona Shores, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer and Zeeland East. But with the season starting late due to early COVID-19 restrictions, Wyoming missed non-conference games against Forest Hills Northern, Northview — and also missed playing new conference foe and state power Muskegon (14-0, 13-1 and 13-1 the last three seasons). And four of the Wolves six regular season games will be at home.
Also new this season, with in-stadium crowds limited this prep football season due to continuing COVID-19 restrictions, WKTV’s sports coverage will expand to provide fans with live coverage of games.
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, and we will livestream games where allowed on WKTV.org (click on Watch Live). (Some games may be live-streamed on nfhsnetwork.com/find-school/michigan.)
WKTV will also rebroadcast the games on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of football and other fall prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
On this episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, we have three short Zoom interviews with the Kent County Health Department. First we catch up with the ongoing and extensive work by the department during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the department is also involved in more routine but non-the-less important activities including the need for important vaccinations and an on-going health survey.
First In Focus is an update on the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic here in Kent County, what has been done and what is being done by the Health Department and its local partners to keep us healthy and get us through these difficult times. With us is Dr. Adam London, Director, Kent County Health Department.
While the county Health Department’s relentless work protecting the community during this pandemic is probably first in everybody’s mind, county health workers are also concerned about the expected return of flu season — and the need for routine vaccinations of all kinds, for children and adults. There is also an ongoing countywide health survey of importance in process.
We talk with Mary Wisinski, Kent County Health Department Immunizations Supervisor, and then have a discussion on the current Kent County Health Department’s 2020 Community Health Needs Assessment with Maris Brummel, Kent County Public Health Epidemiologist. (The survey, which is available in Spanish as well as English, takes about fifteen minutes to complete and is available online at https://bit.ly/kentcounty20. Paper copies are also available.)
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
On the latest episode of WKTV Sports’ new sports show focused on local high school sports, WKTV Journal Sports Connection, WKTV volunteer sports announcer Greg Yoder catches us up on the Kelloggsville High School athletics.
Kelloggsville athletic director Eric Alcorn and coach Brandon Branch. (WKTV)
Yoder talks with the Rockets’ new athletic director Eric Alcorn and with new head football coach Brandon Branch — and Coach Branch is no stranger to the Kelloggsville program having been involved with the Rockets football coaching staff for more than a decade, including being varsity defensive coordinator for eight years. We talk about what’s new at Kelloggsville, and about the uncertainly surrounding Michigan’s high school football season.
Recently retired Kelloggsville high football coach Don Galster. (WKTV)
Also on the episode is special segment on Don Galster, who was the head football coach for the Rockets for 30 years before his retirement early this year, talking about his years of coaching at Kelloggsville and a few memorable moments.
Additionally, we produced a print/online story that goes into more detail on Galster, what he plans to do now that he’s left the Rockets’ sideline and a football game memory that still brings him to tears.
This fall, WKTV Journal Sports Connection be bringing its audience interviews and stories focused on local Wyoming and Kentwood area high schools sports, both on cable television and on our YouTube channel. Readers can catch up on all our local sports coverage by visiting WKTVjournal.com/sports.
WKTV Journal Sports Connection is available on-demand, along with WKTV coverage of highs school athletic events and other sports, at WKTV.viebit.com. It also airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule). Individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal Sports Connection are also usually available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Coach Don Galster readily admits, reflecting on 37 years of coaching high school football including a 30-year stint as head coach at Kelloggsville High School, that he remembers the wins and losses, the big games and the private moments. But it was the kids, the endless stream of Rockets, that kept the job fun.
And after last season, when he decided to hand the ball off to another, and to take a “tough to turn down” job offer as a junior varsity softball coach at Aquinas College, it was also driven by the kids. His and his wife, Sue, have three girls — Nicole, Brittany and Taylor — each of whom played softball and whom he coached in school and in travel ball.
“It was a great career (at Kelloggsville) and it is awesome to look back and see what has been done,” Galster, who also taught physical education at Kelloggsville for 31 years, said to WKTV recently. “It’s the love of just working with kids every day. I throughly enjoyed it. Watching the football program grow. Watching the Kelloggsville community grow. It has come a long ways in 30 years, let me tell you.”
But after three decades, it was time to let go and move on.
“You get that feeling,” he said. “Last year became more of grind — not that I didn’t love football and love the kids, and watching them grow and develop. But I always told my wife, when it got to be the point where I was not having as much fun, it was time to step away. Let somebody a little younger to have a shot at it.”
And that somebody is new head coach Brandon Branch, who spent a decade on Galster’s staff.
“Coach Branch is going to do a great job,” Galster said. “He has a great knowledge of the game. He has enthusiasm with the kids. The kids relate to him very well. He is going to be a great leader. … I’ve watched him grow as a coach and it’s his time.”
(See an WKTV interview with Coach Branch, and new Kelloggsville athletic director Eric Alcorn, on the latest episode of WKTV Journal Sports Connection.)
Memories, and a special moment, on the Rockets’ field
When in comes to memorable games on the Rockets’ field, leading his 30 Rockets teams, there is no shortage of memories for Galster.
The Rockets at practice in 2018. (WKTV)
The Rockets were 10-1 in 2009 and 2017, and won the school’s first playoff game in program history in 2009 — in that season, one game, was played in a driving rainstorm with a quarterback who could throw strikes “in a hurricane,” he said, during an interview on the Rockets’ field.
Then there was his first game as a head coach, against Hopkins, a five-overtime battle “we could have won … but it didn’t happen,” he said. “But we were able to get them back. It was the year 2000, we beat them in triple overtime, down at that end zone (pointing down the field), we blocked a field goal.”
And, of course, there was the 2017 team. Kelloggsville scored a school record 451 points that season, then beat Godwin Heights in the postseason before losing to eventual Division 4 state champion Catholic Central, 45-34, in the district finals.
“The 2017 game, versus Catholic Central, the playoffs, where — I still feel — we were the two best teams in the state of Michigan in Division 4. We got down by quite a bit an our kids battled back … (but) they nosed us out in the second half. That was a great game.”
But, Galster confided, there is one game that was particular emotional.
“One game that always brings a tear to my eye,” he said. “It was 1995. We were a .500 team, you know, and we were playing Comstock Park. We scored with inside a minute and half, a minute, to win the game. My wife was pregnant with my youngest daughter, and the weekend prior she had some complications. … It gets down to Friday and the doctor says she could not go the game. … We are all celebrating at the end (after the win). She had parked over at the 48th Street park and she sneaked in. And I turned around, celebrating with the team, and there she was. It always chokes me up.”
Moving on to another coaching experience
Galster’s move to softball coaching, at the college level, may seem a strange landing sport for a longtime football coach, but people who know him well probably would say “That’s Coach.”
His softball coaching experience includes 10 years as a head softball coach for the Grand Rapids Blaze at 18U, 16U and 14U levels, according to the Aquinas sports website. He also served as an assistant varsity softball coach at East Kentwood High School for 12 years.
“I’ve done football for 37 years … but softball, stepping into a different arena, increasing my knowledge of the game,” is what he’s looking forward to, he said. “I have three daughters. They played softball and that is how I learned the game. I coached them in high school and travel ball. It has become my second passion.
“Football is always going to be my passion. … (But) athletes are athletes. Hopefully they are going to work hard, they are going to trust you as a coach. You show them respect and they will show you respect.”
And so it comes full circle: showing respect from the kids, gaining the respect of the kids — remembering the kids — for Coach Galster, that is what it will always be about.
This fall the residents of the City of Wyoming will select a new 8th District representative on the Kent County Board of Commissioners. But before that happens, WKTV Journal In Focus sat down with Wyoming’s current commissioner, Harold Voorhees. But serving the local community on the county body is only latest of a nearly four decade career for the long-time public servant.
As he prepares to leave office — and we all find our what’s next in his public service life — WKTV Journal In Focus sat down with Mr. Voohees. We talked about his last months of his nearly two-decade tenure serving Wyoming and Kent County, about his leadership work within City of Wyoming beginning in the late 1980s as a councilman and as the city’s mayor, and then his three terms in Lansing as a state representative.
While he will not be on the ballot this November, as he declined to seek reelection, he hinted about what’s next as we talked about his decision, his pubic service, and, of course, those cookies.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
This fall the residents of the City of Kentwood will select a new judge for the 62 B District Court. But before that happens, WKTV Journal In Focus sat down with Judge William G. Kelly, who after more than 40 years on the bench of Kentwood’s district court will be giving up his seat this year due to state law mandated age restrictions.
Judge Kelly has served the Kentwood community as the city’s first and only district court judge since 1979, following his father, Joseph Kelly, who served as Kentwood’s municipal judge from 1971 to 1979. Judge Kelly is also known as a historian of Michigan’s court system, and will we talk with him about how courts have changed over the years, especially the District court system, which is often called the public’s court.
On In Focus, Judge Kelly talks about the changes his court has seen over the years, both in technology and jurisprudence, as well as his offering a bit of advice to the person who will take his gavel.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
With final unofficial Kent County Elections Office results in from the Tuesday, Aug. 4, primary election, Wyoming voters will have a familiar face — current City of Wyoming City Councilor Dan Burrill — representing the Republican party on the November ballot for Kent County Board of Commissioner 8th District seat.
Burrill defeated Denise Kolesar of Grandville in the Republican primary, 2,128 to 950, and will face off with Democrat Sarah Chatterly of Wyoming in the November general election.
State House of Representatives 72nd District voters (which includes the City of Kentwood) have selected Democrat Lily Cheng-Schulting to challenge incumbent State Rep. Steven Johnson (R). Cheng-Schulting of Grand Rapids defeated Cade Wilson of Kentwood, 4,723 to 2,708, in the Democratic primary.
Both Burrill and Cheng-Schulting visited the WKTV studio for We the People candidate videos during the primary campaign.
In county-wide primary contests, Beth White of Grand Rapids defeated José L. Reyna of Ada in the Democratic primary race for Kent County Treasurer, and will face off with current State Sen. Peter MacGregor (R) of Rockford in November. White gained 31,206 votes to Reyna’s 29,935.
Also of note from the primary election was the percentage of voter turnout, and the number of day-off, in-person votes cast compared to absentee votes cast.
In the county commission 8th District Republican primary won by Burrill, there was more absentee votes cast (1,604) than election day (1,483). In the state house 72nd Democratic primary won by Cheng-Schulting, there was even more of a majority voting absentee, 5,445 to 2,007.
Overall, Kent County wide, 97,835 absentee ballots were cast compared to 51,267 day of voting. Also county wide, just over 31 percent of the county’s 480,558 registered voter cast a ballot.
To finalize the county election results, the Kent County Board of Canvassers will meet Thursday, Aug. 6, beginning at 9 a.m., at the Kent County Administration Building, and will be meeting every weekday until Aug. 20, or until the canvass of the Primary Election is complete.
Late last month, Kent County allocated $9.5 million in federal CARES Act dollars to create the Kent County Non-Profit Organization COVID-19 Grant Fund. The group chosen to administer the grant applications and awards is, appropriately, the Heart of West Michigan United Way.
Heart of West Michigan United Way’s Shannon Blackmon-Gardner, vice president of community impact. (HWMUW/Adam Bird)
On the latest WKTV Journal In Focus, we talk with a Heart of West Michigan United Way’s Shannon Blackmon-Gardner, vice president of community impact, about the fund, how they were selected to administer the grant process, some of the qualifications and application process — and most importantly, why the grant fund is important to non-profits and to the community.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
WKTV Sports has debuted a new sports show focused on local high school sports, WKTV Journal Sports Connection. On its inaugural episode, WKTV volunteer sports announcer Cory Dalton is joined by fellow announcers Greg Yoder and Mike Moll, and together they catch us up on the past, present and future of Grand Rapids South Christian athletics.
ON the set of WKTV Journal Sports Connection, WKTV’s Greg Yoder talks with Curt Copeland, left, currently a teacher and coach at South Christian but, prior to that, he was the school’s athletic director for seven years. (WKTV)
First up, Yoder talks with Curt Copeland, currently a teacher and coach at South Christian but, prior to that, as the school’s athletic director for seven years, he guided the Sailors athletic program to on-field success as well the challenges of change — including moving into a new high school building and athletic facilities.
David Kool, the new South Christian athletic director, on the set of WKTV Journal Sports Connection. (WKTV)
Then Moll, WKTV’s volunteer sports director, talks with David Kool, the new South Christian athletic director, about his history at the school — and the 2006 graduate has quite a history, having led the Sailors to two state championships on the basketball court.
On the WKTV set, Kool talked his goals, the challenges of high school sports in time of COVID-19, and when the Sailors football team might be playing on their own home field.
The inaugural episode of WKTV Journal Sports Connection is hosted by WKTV volunteer sports announcer Cory Dalton. (WKTV)
“This fall, we’ll be bringing you interviews and stories focused on local Wyoming and Kentwood area high schools sports,” Dalton said about being one of the hosts and interviewers on WKTV Journal Sports Connection. “And remember, you can catch up on all our local sports coverage by visiting WKTVjournal.com/sports.”
WKTV Journal Sports Connection is available on-demand, along with WKTV coverage of highs school athletic events and other sports, at WKTV.viebit.com. It also airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 25 (For dates and times on Channel 25, see our Weekly On-air Schedule). Individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal Sports Connection are also usually available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Humanity for Prisoners started in 2001 when Doug Tjapkes formed the organization driven by his relationship with Maurice Carter, who had been behind state prison bars for 29 years for a crime he did not commit. Two decades later, the issue of treatment of prisoners — and prison reform — is no less important.
The mission statement of the Grand haven based non-profit Humanity for Prisoners is stated on their website as: “With compassion for Michigan’s imprisoned, Humanity for Prisoners provides, promotes and ensures — with strategic partnerships — personalized, problem-solving services for incarcerated persons in order to alleviate suffering beyond the just administration of their sentences.”
WKTV Journal In Focus recently interviewed Matt Tjapkes, son of Doug and now president of Humanity for Prisoners, and talked about the group’s history, what it does and does not do in support of prisoners, the current state of Michigan’s prison reform efforts.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Given this time of COVID-19, and with seniors particularly at high risk, the work of the Area Agency on Aging of West Michigan has become all the more important.
WKTV Journal In Focus last week had a Zoom interview with Carly Whetstone, outreach specialist for the local agency, to talk about the group, its history, and the ways it is working for senior and senior caregivers.
The group is headquartered in Grand Rapids but serves a nine-county region that includes coverage in Wyoming and Kentwood. It is part of nationwide network of nonprofit agencies created in 1974 by the federal government to be one-stop shops with information about programs, services and housing options to seniors.
For more information on the Area Agency on Aging of West Michigan call 616-456-5664, visit their website at aaawm.org and for specific caregiver support visit caregiverresource.net.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Note: For the Michigan Aug. 4 primary, WKTV’s We The People program invited participation from all candidates for any seat where there is a contested primary in either party. For the general election, all candidates will be invited to record a We The People.
Kent County Treasurer
There are three candidates, one a two-term Republican state senator and two in the Democratic primary, seeking the Kent County Treasurer position. They are State Sen. Peter MacGregor of Rockford, and Democratic primary candidates José L. Reyna of Ada and Beth White of Grand Rapids.
Note: Neither MacGregor nor White were available for a We The People video recording prior to the primary. The Republican and Democratic primary winners will be invited to participate after the August primary.
Peter MacGregor – Incumbent State Senator and county treasurer candidate
Party: Republican
José L. Reyna – County treasurer primary candidate
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Consultant/semi-retired
Why did you decide to run for the 72nd District House of Representatives seat?
I grew up in Grand Rapids/Kent County and have dedicated my professional career to public service. I decided to run for the office of Kent County Treasurer with the interest of continuing my service to the community that I love and use my professional experience of over 30 years for the benefit of the Kent County community. My experience includes decades of financial management including serving as a director of departments with the responsibility of developing and managing budgets. My tenure with the City of Grand Rapids as Assistant to the City Manager and Fiscal Services Manager/Purchasing Agent provided me with extensive experience with public finance from developing and administering the City’s Fiscal Plan, departmental budgets, and oversight of the City’s procurement process. Additionally, I served as acting Director for the City’s Assessor’s Department and led the transformation of the department and its function to bring it into compliance with State law. I am eager to serve as Kent County Treasurer and apply my extensive experience in public finance in combination with my commitment to the people of Kent County.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
The incumbent Kent County Treasurer has done an outstanding job in leading the financial management and operations of the County. It is my interest to build on the County’s strong financial position and legacy of service. I do have several areas of priority that I would like improve for the benefit of the County and its residents, including financial management, public outreach and engagement, and customer service focused innovations.
The story of a 2019 cooperative project between the City of Kentwood police department and the Kentwood Public Schools Red Storm Robotics team, a robot that reached full operation in 2020, was a good news story early this year.
And despite Kentwood schools, and WKTV Journal, seeing big changes in how they did business starting in March due to the COVID-19 restrictions, it is still a good news story — a tool for Kentwood police to help them make better decisions in the field and an example of the high level of interaction between the city’s schools and city staff that Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley relentlessly advocates for.
“What I love about this is always investing in the next generation,” Mayor Kepley said in March when WKTV was producing a video project on the Red Storm Robotics project with the police department. “And this is just another opportunity, and really a great opportunity, to invest in the next generation. … The city working with the school, working with professionals, using technology, and more importantly investing in the very individuals who will be leading this community in the future.”
The police robot project is a prime example of not only engagement with the students but of also giving advanced students a lesson in real-world, on-the-job, design of robotic technology.
Of course, Red Storm was up to the challenge presented by the police department.
WKTV talked with Mayor Kepley, Kentwood Police Chief Richard Roberts and Sgt. Jeff Leonard, and instructors/parents of the Red Storm Robotics project, including Adam Veenendaal, Mark VanderVoord and Wendy Ljungern.
But most importantly, we talked with students of the program past and present, including Jason Gray-Moore, Kerim Puczek, Jacobi Thompson and Annalise Welch.
For more information on Kentwood Pubic Schools’ Red Storm Robotics program visit their website at redstormrobotics.com.
In recognition of both a desire to honor Wyoming High School’s 2020 graduating seniors, and the importance of allowing the school staff and Wyoming community the opportunity to join the celebration, Wyoming Public Schools held a WHS Senior 11 Night Celebration Parade Monday, June 15.
In addition, Wyoming High School is scheduled to host its Class of 2020 commencement ceremony on July 28 at Grand Rapids First.
Prior to the parade, WKTV caught up with WPS Superintendent Craig Hoekstra and asked about how the parade came to be, and the desire of he and the entire school community to make sure the seniors time of graduation was not “defined” by COVID-19 shutdown.
The City of Kentwood’s Master Plan update, which WKTV has covered in detail over the last year and which is nearing completion, is revisited on the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus.
Through a series of community engagement efforts called “Plan Kentwood”, the city has gained public input to help shape a long-range vision for growth, land use, development and open space conservation in the city. High on the list of areas to have updated plans are development near and along the extension of Breton Avenue south of 52nd Street, as well as the Division Avenue and 28th and 29th streets business districts.
With us to catch us up on the process from the City of Kentwood are Terry Schweitzer, Community Development Director, and Lisa Golder, Economic Development Planner.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
The City of Kentwood and its Public Works Department has an annual tradition during National Public Works Week of inviting the pubic into its buildings to see all the impressive equipment and big trucks that serve the community.
But, in this time of social distancing, and in lieu of a traditional open house for National Public Works Week, city vehicles and crews gave the community a parade of big trucks — and smiles — in late May.
WKTV was there to record it.
The Kentwood community appreciated the big truck parade, and said so. (Supplied/Kentwood DPW)
After an 18-month search by Grand Rapids’ Fountain Street Church for its next senior minister, the congregation today confirmed the calling of the Rev. Mariela Pérez-Simons, who made clear in her first sermon that, despite the challenging times, there is hope and beauty in the world.
The Rev. Pérez-Simons, who most recently served at the All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will be taking the pulpit held by the Rev. W. Frederick Wooden for 15 years. In so doing will she becomes the 11th senior minister of the historic church of “liberal theology” — and becomes not only the first female to hold the post but also the first person of color.
The Rev. Christopher Roe, left, and the Rev. Mariela Pérez-Simons. (YouTube screenshot)
Opening a mostly prerecorded Sunday morning virtual church service, the Rev. Pérez-Simons, joined the Rev. Christopher Roe, Minister for Spiritual Life and Learning, offered reaction today to the weekend’s first peaceful — and then, separately, violent — local protests spurred by the social injustice in the country.
“Beloveds, we are shocked, we are heartbroken, we are angry, we are confused, we are ready for change, we are ready for justice,” the Rev. Pérez-Simons said, in a glimpse of her passion for social action. “And we pledge to be part of the solution.”
Following the virtual church service, the results of congregation voting were announced at a virtual meeting of church members. The Rev. Pérez-Simons — “Rev. Mariela”, as she often asks to be addressed — has spend the last few weeks meeting with various church committees, groups and individuals in virtual setting.
But the church’s Senior Minister Search Committee previously conducted extensive and in person interviews with the church’s new senior minister.
“During the long and thorough interview process, the Search Committee has been impressed by Rev. Mariela’s intellect, insight and sensitivity. We are moved by her personal story,” according to an April statement to the church members announcing Rev. Pérez-Simons as the final candidate and detailing the mail-in confirmation voting process. “Rev. Mariela was born in Cuba into a life of extreme poverty. As a child, she sought solace in nature and in the Catholic Church.”
Seeing beauty in troubling world
While Rev. Mariela’s religious journey led her from the Catholic Church to the Unitarian Universalist Association church, she has never wavered from her love of nature — as evidenced by a discussion with WKTV about her views of beauty in a world even during troubling, even ugly, times.
Cabin in the Woods. (Mariela Pérez-Simons)
Part of the discussion included her work in art photography — she has an on-line gallery at fineartamerica.com and samples on her personal website — specifically discussed was a 2014 photograph she titled “Cabin in the Woods”, taken in New Hampshire.
“I took that photo one early morning, right after an overnight snowstorm,” Rev. Mariela said to WKTV. “It was a powder-like snow, shimmering in the morning light. And everything was so quiet, the air so crisp. January in New England. My husband is from New Hampshire. I was just taking a walk, and that cabin caught my attention right away …
“Beauty — in nature, in art, etc. — is a huge part of not only my theology, my work as a minister, but also my social justice work. In fact, that was what I preached on for my ordination, because it’s a pillar of who I am and what I do.”
She then referenced a recent sermon in which she discussed her finale paper in seminary.
“I wrote about the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6 verses 25-31, where Jesus asks us to consider the lilies of the fields, to look at the birds of the sky,” she said in an April 26, 2020 sermon in which she talked about the beauty of nature. “He was pointing us towards the beauty of creation, towards the heaven that is here and now. The most beautiful Earth.
“Beauty has been a fascination of mine since I was a very small child, living in poverty in Cuba. And, naturally, it became a theological focus.”
(The online video sermon, “The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible” is available here.)
The Rev. Pérez-Simons’ history
In the statement of introduction by Fountain Street Church’s search committee, Rev. Mariela described herself this way:
“I am a religious naturalist — someone who falls on their knees with reverence for things like hurricanes, or sunrises, or perfect cumulus clouds. … this period of my life shaped my ministry today and my understanding of what ‘church’ is and how it can change the lives of individuals, particularly those who are suffering due to social injustices.”
According to supplied material, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Instituto Superior Pedagogico in Havana while studying elementary education. In 1995, she and her family entered the United States as asylum seekers.
Rev. Mariela Pérez-Simons with husband Dean and daughter Lulu (Supplied)
During the next two decades, she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing/Literature from Bennington College and started a web design and photography firm. She is married, to Dean Pérez-Simons, and is the mother of Christopher, age 23, and Lucia (Lulu), age 13.
While volunteering at her UUA church, leading women’s circles, working at an eco-spirituality sanctuary and creating a garden at a homeless day center, she “felt a strong pull to the ministry,” according to the Fountain Street Church announcement.
“The call was perfectly clear, the longing was excruciating, but I needed a few more years of inner work to feel worthy of being a minister,” she said in supplied material.
In the aftermath of “the election of 2016”, she received “the final push.”
The Meadville Lombard Seminary, the Unitarian Universalist seminary in Chicago, offered her a full-ride Presidential Scholarship. The school is one of only two UUA seminaries in the world, has an historical relationship with the University of Chicago — which Fountain Street Church, and several of its past ministers, have ties to — and is a member of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools.
Rev. Mariela graduated at the top of her class with a Master of Divinity after her ordination at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Tulsa — the largest UUA church in the world.
And now her next stop on her religious journey will be in West Michigan.
Fountain Street and social action
“I like that Fountain Street is an urban church … a church that is open to possibilities and wants to grow with me: in health, in vitality, in enthusiasm, in diversity and in numbers,” she said in supplied material.
Social action, already a huge focus of Fountain Street, will be another focus of its new minister, as “Rev. Mariela’s social justice work shows a special passion for marginalized communities, bi-lingual rights, refugee reform and diversity in every form,” according to the announcement.
“I approach social action from a strong theological and spiritual place — from a place of abundance,” she said in supplied material. “I come to this as an asylum seeker, so I am uniquely qualified. But it’s not about me; it’s about us. I can’t do what I’m passionate about if the congregation isn’t involved.”
And in the difficult days in which Rev. Mariela takes leadership of Fountain Street Church, social action has never been more important.
For more information on Fountain Street Church visit here.
“Good news is rare these days, and every glittering ounce of it should be cherished and hoarded and worshiped and fondled like a priceless diamond.”
Hunter S. Thompson
Good News — ‘Small Victories’ in dark days
WKTV recently hosted Kentwood Commissioner Emily Bridson and her guests for a casual conversation over Saturday morning coffee to “Celebrate the Small Victories” during the global pandemic. The discussion included insights from community leaders who have a broad perspective of local businesses, non-profits and our thriving New American community. Go here (and scroll down a little) for the video podcast on WKTV’s The Whole Picture podcast page, and here for the WKTV In Focus audio only podcast.
Good News — Arts Festival’s virtual weekend
While we are not yet able to gather for concerts, go to the ballet, or walk through art galleries, Festival of the Arts and the other 20 cultural organizations that make up the Grand Rapids Arts Working Group are working together to host a Virtual Arts Festival. Go here for the story.
Good News — Farmers Markets are open/opening
Get out in the sun and find the bounty of spring farm produce and so much more, as many area farmers markets such as the Metro Health Farm Market and the City of Kentwood Farmers Market are or will soon be open. Go here for the story.
Fun fact:
2.3 billion
The number of people who are active daily on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger, sharing news good and bad. (That compares to about 2.2 million watching Fox News (average in April 2020). Source.
In Jerusalem, at the Aqsa Mosque — Islam’s third holiest site, where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven — Muslim worshipers have been kept out of the religious compound throughout the entire month of Ramadan for the first time since the dark days of the Middle Ages when crusaders controlled Jerusalem.
In Dearborn, Mich., home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States, gone are the community gatherings for evening prayers and nightly feasts to break Ramadan fasts with friends and family. But this year, something that could be done while still abiding by social distancing guidelines, there has been a blossoming of a modern Ramadan lights tradition to spread joy and offer some of the holiday spirit similar to the hanging Christmas lights.
In Kentwood, At-Tawheed Islamic Center and masjid (mosque) has been empty since March 13, and local Ramadan traditions including Friday prayers followed by the breaking of fasts, and its annual Eid Al Fitr congregation or community celebration, scheduled for Saturday, have been cancelled.
Imam Morsy Salem. (At-Tawheed website)
While At-Tawheed’s religious leader, Imam Morsy Salem, still offers online virtual teachings, he has been unable to lead prayer services as he would normally as such prayer services can only be done in person in the masjid.
Prayers, however, go on. Privately. Mostly at family homes, but also at places of essential work and even in outdoors — when Michigan’s infamous spring weather allows. But it is not the same …
“Our five daily prayers, including Friday congregation and sermon, are cancelled and are not held at the masjid for now,” Tareq Saleh, a member of the At-Tawheed management team, said to WKTV. “While muslims can still pray pretty much anywhere, praying at the masjid has always been one of our daily to-dos, and it bears bigger reward. The houses of Allah (masjids) are our refuge from the world to connect with him almighty.”
At-Tawheed is only one of at least five Muslim religious centers in the Greater Grand Rapids area serving congregations representing dozens of national and ethnic backgrounds ranging from Egyptian to Kashmirian to Bosnian to Somalian.
The Kentwood family of Hamid Elmorabeti, at prayer at home. (Supplied)
“We can still pray at home, either individually or in groups with family members, i.e. husband with his wife and kids. But no mass congregation prayer can be held through online services or anything of that nature,” Saleh said. “What our imam has been doing is broadcasting his lectures online and holding Quran recitation groups through Zoom service.”
While Ramadan fasting, during daylight hours for most healthy people, has remained the same, the change has come in the breaking of fasts daily and particularly at the end of the month of Ramadan.
“The biggest challenge we are facing with this situation is the congregation part … performing prayers at the masjid, the Friday prayer and sermon, breaking fast with the community, the night prayers in Ramadan, and coming soon the Eid prayer and celebration, Saleh said. “All of our acts of worship can be done at home or while a person is in isolation with the exception of Friday prayer and sermon and Eid prayer.
“While the Friday prayer requires a group of people, some big families with enough adults maybe able to hold a Friday congregation at home or wherever they are isolated.”
Tradition of fasting, supporting those in need
“Fasting is an obligation upon every adult Muslim,” he said. “There are certain conditions to permit breaking someone’s fasting, such as traveling or being sick. (But) Muslims fast wherever they are. The place, in its self, is not a condition to break fasting. So, yes, muslims are fasting at homes this year with their families.”
For a separate WKTV Journal story on Ramadan, and its religious customs and traditions, see a story here.
The At-Tawheed masjid has actually been closed since March 13, “when all the places of worship in town started closing their doors in response to the stay home and social distancing recommendations by the government,” Saleh said. “There will not be an Eid Alfitr congregation or community celebration this year due to the pandemic and the extension the governor put in place until May 28.”
The month of Ramadan, based on the lunar cycle, this year began on April 23 and last until Saturday, May 23.
“There isn’t any activities that are still taking place in the masjid other than the food pantry,” Saleh said. “The team has been able to support those of need through distributing food while taking all precautions to keep both community members and volunteers safe. Actually (a few) weeks ago an entire semi-truck full of potatoes was donated and distributed to the community through our food pantry program.”
For more information on the At-Tawheed Islamic Center, visit their website here.
Tired of all the sad, bad news these days? City of Kentwood commissioner Emily Bridson will host a casual conversation to “Celebrate the Small Victories” during the global pandemic via a Facebook Live Event on Saturday, May 23, starting at 10 a.m.
“Let’s focus on the positive, what we’ve learned, how we adapted, and what moving forward looks like,” Bridson said in supplied material. “This will be an uplifting take during this challenging time but will include real stories of pain and struggle and, of course, the small victories.”
In the discussion, Bridson will be “Celebrating the Small Victories” with guests Hanna Schulze of Local First, Tarah Carnahan of Treetops Collective and Sagar Dangal, an activist in the Bhutanese community.
The discussion is expected to include topics such as the local economy, personal growth, practices of local businesses that prioritize people’s safety and needs and facilitating the sense of belonging in our community, according to supplied material.
Also on the agenda are how we will be more adaptable, proactive and action-oriented; job flexibility for working parents and workforce health considerations moving forward; creating more equitable opportunities for caretakers and those with underlying conditions; and, finally, looking to the future.
The discussion guests
Dangal is owner of the local business Everest Tax Services. In addition, he is vice-president of the Bhutanese Community of Michigan and host of the podcast “Bhutanese Talk”.
Carnahan is the executive director and co-founder of Treetops Collective, which has the mission: “To connect refugee women with people and opportunities in their new community so they can flourish for generations to come — standing tall and impacting others.”
Schulze is the executive director at Local First, a group with the vision: “We lead the development of an economy grounded in local ownership that meets the basic need of people, builds local wealth and social capital, functions in harmony with our ecosystem, and encourages joyful community.”
Bridson is a Michigan native, community activist, business professional and retired professional athlete. She serves as a Kentwood city commissioner and serves on Kent County’s City/County Building Authority.
During the discussion, Facebook Live comments and questions may be discussed in real-time.
After less than three months on the job, the president of Exalta Health — a south Grand Rapids healthcare provider to persons regardless of their employment, health insurance and limited financial ability — has resigned and the organization will now be led by an interim president.
Exalta serves residents of both Wyoming and Kentwood.
Exalta Health announced early this month that former Byron Center School District superintendent Dan Takens, who took over as Exalta Health president in early February “decided last week that he needed to resign for personal reasons and the board reluctantly accepted that resignation.”
Ed Postma. (Exalta Health)
Takens replaced Bill Paxton, who had retired. Ed Postma, a member of the Exalta Health Board of Directors and a former chair of the board, will take over as interim president as the board enters a new search process, according to supplied material.
Postma worked at Amway for almost four decades in international contract compliance, risk management and international business development, and he is presently a consultant with Cross Creek Consulting.
“Even in the midst of COVID-19,” Postma said in supplied material, “when we have seen fewer patients in person, it has been clear to me and to many others how important Exalta Health is to a part of our population that is often ignored.
“Not just our medical and dental services, but our behavioral and spiritual care services have been a lifeline to many. People know we are here for them, and we plan for that message to continue to come through loud and clear in this time of transition too.”
According to supplied material, in 2019, Exalta Health served 1,099 medical patients, 1,210 dental patients and provided just over 9,000 total services. Staff at the facility includes a medical director, a dental director, social workers, a chaplain and a variety of administrative positions. It also relies on more than 100 medical, dental and other volunteers annually to provide its services.
About 17 percent of Exalta Health patients have insurance, of which most use Medicaid, meaning insurance is just 4.2 percent of its revenue. “The donor community, including businesses, individuals, churches and foundations, helps cover the gap between what services cost and what patients can pay,” according to the Exalta Health statement.
Exalta Heath is located at 2060 Division Ave S. For more information visit exaltahealth.org.
People who know the local independent music scene know there are not two more different venues than Grand Rapids’ Pyramid Scheme and Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up — at the first, you’ll likely loose your voice screaming for bands like The Beths or Fruition; at the second, you’ll quietly chill to the sounds of Darlingside.
But both venues, along with more than 1,000 “independent” music clubs and promoters across the county, are trying to find a little power in numbers — and help themselves survive the crippling impact of COVID-19 — by joining the newly established National Independent Venue Association.
While independent venues and promoters are small businesses, nationwide, the estimated direct annual impact they provide to their local communities nears $10 billion, according to the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). In addition to supporting employees and artists who are dependent upon live music for their livelihoods, the industry serves as a “magnet and financial engine for local economies … for every dollar small venues generate in tickets sales, area restaurants, hotels, and retail establishments realize $12 in revenue.”
But that same group also reports that 90 percent of members informally predict they will not be able to reopen if there is no financial support and the shutdown extends to six months.
To find out what is the current mood, and long term outlook, of the independent music industry, here in West Michgian and across the country, WKTV visited the eerily empty rooms of Pyramid Scheme and Seven Steps up last week.
What we found was a bleak present with stages dark and employees on unemployment, but an unclear future unless venues can get clarity on when and how they can reopen, get some some government help.
The problems started even before the two venue were forced to close their doors to the public, back in mid-March.
Pyramid Scheme co-owner Tami VandenBerg. (WKTV)
“It has been a nightmare couple of months, as you an imagine, sort of cascading from March,” Tami VandenBerg, co-founder and co-owner of Pyramid Scheme, said to WKTV. “The first sign of huge trouble was when we heard South by Southwest (annual independent music festival in Austin) might be cancelled. Myself and other members of my team go down there. That is a massive event for our industry. … That was a big red flag.”
And then came not only musicians cancelling but national and state restrictions on certain businesses where people would congregate.
“It was devastating to layoff all our staff and cancel all our shows,” VandenBerg said, trying to count how many shows were cancelled. “It was brutal. Spring is usually a really busy time for us. … it is clear this is an epic mess.”
Michelle Hanks, who with husband Gary Hanks, own and manger Seven Steps Up, also saw the train wreck coming and could do nothing about it.
Michelle and Gary Hanks, owners and mangers of Seven Steps Up. (WKTV)
“It came to a crashing halt on March 14, that’s when we got the call,” Michelle Hanks said to WKTV. “Our last show was March 8. … Most of the shows have not been cancelled, they have been rescheduled. We just don’t have dates for them. … We are already discussing rescheduling for the third time, in some cases.”
In the case of Seven Step Up, Michelle Hanks said “probably going into the neighborhood of 45 to 50” shoes have been delayed or lost all together. At Pyramid Scheme, VandenBreg simply pointed out a busy spring schedule would usually see bands in four of five nights a week.
“Part of the issue with this industry is that it is not just Seven Steps Up, it’s — I loved one of the ways somebody said it — we are an ecosystem,” Michelle Hanks said. “We are an ecosystem of independent venues and independent artists. … The artists really need to tour across the United States, not just here and there.”
Financial losses mount, but unified action could help
Small music venues, like large concert venues and neighborhood brew pubs, are suffering financial hardship partly due to a “first to close; last to open” scenario — coupled with no concrete date of return.
A crowd at the Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids. (Pyramid Scheme Facebook)
According to supplied material, independent music industry magazine Pollstar estimated a $9 billion loss in ticket sales alone — not counting food and beverage revenue — if venues remain closed through the end of the year.
“We have been hit, already hit, extremely hard,” VandenBerg said. “And we will be one of the last places to reopen, as I have seen in the Governor’s plan. We’ll be able to open our front bar sooner, with limited capacity and protective gear. … but in term of live music, that is one of the last things that is going to open.”
“The big challenge is the uncertainty,” Gary Hanks said. “We are postponing and putting dates put there, after in the fall and winter, but all of us — agents, artists, venues — don’t really know if those are going to happen. … We may be told we can reopen, but we may be told there are going to be so many restrictions on that, in terms of audience size, that it, just financially, can’t work.”
Both VandenBerg and the Hanks agree they see some hope in their joining the NIVA, and the group’s work in Lansing and Washington, D.C., to request emergency governmental relief they can actually use.
In general, the NIVA is seeking modifications to small business loans and the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), tax relief, mortgage and rent forbearance, continued unemployment insurance for employees and “guidance on how to reopen safely when the time comes,” according to supplied material.
NIVA wrote a letter to Congress in late April advocating for “targeted legislative and regulatory assistance.” In part, the letter read:
“Without your help, thousands of independent venues will not survive to the day when our doors can open to the public again. While we have no income, we do have essential employees, employee benefits, debts with personal guarantees, rents or mortgages, utilities, insurance, local, state and federal taxes, and the massive burden of ticket refunds for more than 100,000 canceled shows due to COVID-19.”
One area of advocacy is to have ticket refunds become allowable as business losses — Seven Steps Up has given more than $4,000 in refunds and, “for us, that’s a killer,” Gary Hanks said.
A key group effort is waiving the PPP requirement for loan forgiveness to be contingent on employee retention if companies have no work to offer employees for several months — currently for loan forgiveness business have to bring people back to within a few weeks.
“One of the things that is a challenge for us, and for other small venues like us, is we can’t just bring our employees back for one show,” Michelle Hanks said. “They will loose their unemployment, at least for that week. … We have to be able to get up and do a regular number of shows for it to make any kinds of sense for anyone.”
Darlingside at Seven Steps Up. (Seven Steps Up Facebook)
Seven Steps Up usually has 7-9 part-time employees for 132-seat sold-out shows.
Pyramid Scheme “on a really busy night, a sold-put night, when we’ve got 420 folks in the back (in the concert room) and another 200 up front (in a bar area), those are our capacities, we can have 15 people working, from sound to security to bartenders,” “VandenBerg said. “When I think about when we will be able to get back to that (level of employment), I just don’t know. It’s really heartbreaking.”
A hopeful future, with a little help from their friends
Both VandenBerg and the Hanks said despite their current and short term problems, they are hopeful.
“In the midst of all this depressing uncertainty, the formation of NIVA has at least given us a glimmer of hope that our nine plus years of blood, sweat, and tears will not go down the drain,” Michelle Hanks said. “Out of crises, good things can sprout up.
“Independent venues have been so independent, fiercely independent, of each other. We don’t typically talk about anything,” she said. “So bringing all the venues together, we are talking about developing best practices for how we deal with things like merch areas, green rooms, queuing people into the venues, security. … That’s been really, really great. But in terms of what they are doing nationally, for us, there is a huge campaign going on right now to contact our elected officials.”
But support the community, from small venue music fans — the “scream at the top of your lungs” crowd or the “kick-back and chill” in a listening room crowd — is and will always be essential for such venues, whether it is buying some merch, or buying tickets for shows that may be delayed, or GoFundMe fundraisers.
“If people love live music, there is several great venues in West Michigan alone … If they want to help, find your venue that you love to go to” and support them in anyway you can,” Michelle Hanks said.
For more information on the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) visit NIVAssoc.org. For more information on Seven Steps Up, located at 116 S. Jackson., Spring Lake, visit sevenstepsup.com. for more information on Pyramid Scheme, located at 68 Commerce SW, Grand Rapids, visit pyramidschemebar.com.
There are many models for consumers to “buy local and eat local” — home and community gardens, farmer’s markets, CSAs, farm stands — but a group of small, local producers are giving the European-bred REKO model a try, and doing so for many reasons.
Yes, the direct producer-to-consumer financial model is good for sustainable agriculture businesses. And, yes, there is something about being able to see the fields and greenhouses where your root vegetables, or micro-greens, were grown.
But in the age COVID-19 and other concerns of food safety, of wondering how many hands have touched your food before yours, the Facebook-based sales model developed in Finland and mostly unheard of in the U.S. — pronounced “RA-ko” — also holds a certain attraction.
Karin Uebbing, of Byron Center’s Woodbridge Dairy Farm. (WKTV)
The model’s direct producer-to-consumer ordering and delivery system “shortens the (number of) hands that touch food, there is less of a line to get to your food,” Karin Uebbing, of Byron Center’s Woodbridge Dairy Farm, said to WKTV last week, at the opening day of a weekly delivery location in Ada. (The REKO also has a delivery location in Holland.)
Currently local vendors can be found at rekomarket.com, and the list includes bakeries and a local ice cream producer in addition to farms producing vegetables, meats, eggs, tea, herbs, honey, maple syrup, cornmeal, and even wool and locally-made compost — Jenison’s Wormies Vermicompost is a member.
“We are a pasture-based protein farm … meat and eggs, (our) milk is a heard-share. That’s a little bid different,” Uebbing said of her farm’s offerings.
Rebecca Henderson, farm manager at Ada’s Green Wagon Farms. (WKTV)
The driving force behind the new market concept, Rebecca Henderson, farm manager at Ada’s Green Wagon Farms, explained the system: Each week, small-scale, sustainable farmers and producers post available products to a public Facebook group, managing their own sales from their online stores. Then bags of food are brought to the drop-off locations for pickup.
And unlike many Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups, a membership is not required, and consumers can order one week and not the next, depending on what’s available.
“Right now we have a whole lot of leafy greens,” Henderson said to WKTV. “But we are about to get into the summer season, so pretty soon we’ll have summer crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers. But right now we have everything from kale to lettuce (and root crops from) beets to carrots to parsnips.”
History of REKO, in Europe and in Michigan
“Reko is a trade model that started in Finland about seven years ago, it is spread pretty widely across Europe,” Henderson said. “We first heard of REKO at the Northern Michigan Farm Conference in 2019 from Swedish farmer Richard Perkins.
A customers picks up a delivery from Green Wagon Farms at the Ada location of a local REKO market in early May. (WKTV)
“There are so many great things about REKO for the consumer, but for us, the presale market is efficient, eliminates wasted product we might have at the end of a slow day at the farmers market, and requires virtually no setup or tear-down.”
And, echoing Uebbing, there is a “producers’ hands to consumer’s hands” advantage.
“It produces a quick and easy transition between producers and consumers,” Henderson said to WKTV. “We have always enjoyed (a personal relationship between producers and consumers). We go to the farmers market year around. We see weekly, dedicated customers coming to us. We get to build relationships with those people.
“It is great for consumers to build that relationship with their producers. But, also, in light of everything that is going on, people care more and more where their food is coming from. There is a huge surge in local food right now. Consumers want to know their food is being handled safely. We have had this idea, to bring this Reko model to the local market, and there is no better time to do it.”
How the local REKO works
As explained by the local REKO’s promotional material: “For the consumer, (the model) brings market-shopping into the digital age, allows for planning and shopping to be done in the comfort of your own home — and accelerates the actual pickup time to a short weekly errand, instead of a half-day event. In the days of COVID-19, avoiding congested grocery stores, supporting local businesses, and finding a one-stop pickup for a variety of staple goods is particularly meaningful.”
Customers and vendors at the Ada location of a local REKO market in early May. (WKTV)
As witnessed at the Ada drop-off location last week, until further notice, REKO is et up for no-contact pickup, requiring social distancing and masks for all shoppers and producers. Pre-payment options are available, and desired, for most vendors.
Availability from producers will be posted weekly on the Facebook group for each drop-off location (Holland and Ada) as producers may not attend every week and require different order deadlines. Market shoppers must place their orders prior to the deadline and pick up their pre-packed orders within the short pickup window.
The two current REKO markets are Thursdays from 3-3:30 p.m. in Ada, at The Community Church, and from 12-1 p.m. in Holland, at the Holland Town Center and the hope is to continue the markets year-round.
“For us, I’m not trying to feed the world, I’m just trying to feed the community,” Woodbridge Dairy Farm’s Uebbing said. “It’s what allows us, as a farm, to stay in business. We are direct to the end-consumer. If I didn’t have them, we would not be here.”
