By Alan Headbloom, Feel Like You Belong
Swithina Mboko is a professor at the Seidman college of business at Grand Valley State University. In this interview, she discusses the culture differences between Zimbabwe and the US, the trials of teaching in a foreign country, and her qualitative research surrounding refugee entrepreneurs.
By WKTV Staff
“Only one is a wanderer; two together are always going somewhere.”
Madeleine Elster/Judy Barton from ‘Vertigo’
Ladies and gentlemen, the days you’ve all been waiting for — this year’s Metro Cruise is Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23 and 24, and it’s packed with more to do and see, according to organizers. Started 15 years ago by the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce to encourage businesses and patrons to travel the “Sunset Strip of Grand Rapids,” the annual event has become a two-day car extravaganza with more than 100,000 people attending. Go here for the scoop.
Admission is free to the Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival at Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center, this weekend Friday-Sunday, Aug. 23-25, and there will be plenty of inexpensive parking in Parking Lot Areas 7, 8, and 9 for those who don’t mind a short walk. Fun activities during the festival include music, dancing, authentic Polish food, the paczki eating contest, crowning of the busia queen and more. Learn all about it here.
Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. It happens Saturday, Aug. 24 from 10am-5pm at the GRPM. More info here.
Hey, they really wanted to continue their 50th Anniversary Tour at the VanAndel Arena tonight, but lead singer Randy Owen’s ongoing complications with cluster migraines and vertigo have laid him low. The group had hoped to continue its record-breaking 50-city tour, however, doctors have advised more time is needed for Owen to fully recover. Rescheduled dates for the tour will be announced in the coming weeks.
Alabama’s lead singer, Randy Owen joins roughly 69 million people—nearly one-third of people over the age of 40 in the U.S.—who experience vertigo at least once in their lives. Curiously, dancing can make it better. Hey! Hie thee down to the Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival this weekend and put it to the test.
By Matt Gryczan
In honor of the 40th anniversary of its annual Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival, the Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids has turbocharged the free event this upcoming weekend with top-notch entertainment and demonstrations of Polish cooking, dance and crafts.
This year, the festival features:
“A lot of the activities will center around our demonstration tent, which we liken to a visit to your busia’s (grandmother’s) kitchen — the place where all the fun stuff is going on,” said Marilyn Lignell, past society president and demonstrator of the Wigilia feast.
In addition, the Polish Heritage Society is bringing the internationally known Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push band to play two nights of the three-day event, along with other well-regarded polka bands, including Gerry Kaminski’s Polka Network, Dave Slivinski & The Noteables, Gary Szotko’s GPS Polka Band, the Polski Chix Polka Band and Ray Watkoski’s Family Band.
Gomulka is considered a living legend in the polka community; he’s developed a huge base of followers in the United States and Canada since he formed the Chicago Push in 1980. Nominated for 12 Grammy awards in the polka genre, he was inducted into the International Polka Music Hall of Fame & Museum in his hometown of Chicago in 2016.
Admission is free to the Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival at Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center, from Aug. 23-25, and there will be plenty of inexpensive parking in Parking Lot Areas 7, 8, and 9 for those who don’t mind a short walk.
Other fun activities during the festival include the paczki eating contest, crowning of the busia queen and a performance by the P.R.C.U.A. Malbork Dance Ensemble, a dance group for youth ages 3-18 that teaches traditional Polish folk dances with authentic garb.
The Polish Heritage Society also selects a local not-for-profit group for special recognition during the festival as a way to build awareness and support for the organization, and this year the society is highlighting the Wolverine Worldwide Family YMCA in Belmont. Representatives of The Y will be present during the afternoons of the festival to educate visitors about the offerings and mission of the organization.
The Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival is the major fundraiser for the Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids, a non-profit organization founded in 1963 to perpetuate and advance the Polish culture that has been so integral to metro Grand Rapids. Among a number of its activities, the society awards scholarships annually to students of Polish descent who attend Aquinas College, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College, and Davenport University.
For a full calendar of events for the three-day Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival, please view the society’s website at Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids.
By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
On March 2nd and again on March 17th, we had what we believe to be an entire family of terrified cats dumped off in carriers. ‘The Shy Seven’ were the first to arrive and then three more joined us, rounding things out to ‘The Timid Ten’.
Needless to say it was a HUGE ordeal for all involved, from the stunned volunteers who kept pulling cat after cat out of cramped carriers, to the traumatized kitties who had no idea what was going on, and finally to Dr. Jen, who spent the greater part of two weekends at the clinic getting them program-ready. The latter was no small feat, as every single cat (yup, all 10 of them) were intact; 4 of the 5 girls were pregnant, and all 10 were clearly out of their element and having major trust issues.
Adding various medical issues to the mix, like fleas and a variety of internal parasites, dental disease and chronic herpes virus—suffice it to say that we ended up having a heaping handful of kitties who needed a great deal of help, not only physically but probably more importantly, mentally.
It was clear from the onset that the family had been neglected and lacking human contact for quite some time given their poor body condition, painfully long nails, and a shyness that went beyond anything we have seen before—and we have seen a lot. We have no idea where they came from, or why someone thought it was a good idea to displace them as they did without regard for our space or financial capabilities, but Dr. Jen believes a kindhearted, elderly person owned them and, for whatever reason, let them breed and multiply, running rampant in the house and growing wilder and more wary as the days wore on. This person could have then passed away (or moved away) and the cats were left to fend for themselves until a family member (or landlord) came in and booted the entire lot of them out—and onto our doorstep.
Regardless, we’d like to think they were loved by someone at some point, as this helps us believe in the goodness of people, enough so as to offset the stupidity and callousness of others.
Let’s just say that for the most part, the journey we have all been on together is ever evolving—and it is going to be a long road full of bumps, setbacks and yes, triumphs along the way. It is now a few months since the arrival of this family, and we are just now able to share their stories, as it has taken a great deal of time (and patience) to get to this point.
Although we can’t verify their twisted family tree, Dr. Jen believes they were all born in late 2016. In any case, we have learned who is independent, who absolutely needs to be part of a duo (or trio), and who is going to be our most challenging and in need of the most convincing that we are good and that we will do no harm.
Quiet Ann is blossoming before our eyes, becoming much more accepting of being petted, but we’re still not able to physically pick her up for more than a few minutes, or panic ensues. She is, as her name states, a soft-spoken (meowing) little lady who is as stunning as she is sweet. She’d pair up well with Roller who needs to go with another one of the 10 who will complement him nicely as the more self-assured dame of the duo.
Potential adopters should be aware that it will more than likely be a tough transition for any of them, but once they settle in, get themselves familiarized with their new surroundings, and develop a new routine, they are going to be amazing cats. They are 100% worth the effort, but they will require more patience, time and energy than your average shelter cat.
Honestly though, we feel each and every one of our cats is above average, especially this family, who have come so far since they day they were dumped on our doorstep. Their transformation has been nothing short of remarkable.
We want to reiterate that at our free-roaming facility, cats like these have all the time in the world to acclimate and adjust—at a snail’s pace if that is what is necessary. We have no cages, no time limits, no rules or regulations—each individual cat gets to stretch his legs at his own speed; each kitty gets to spread her furry little wings and fly when she is ready to leave the nest. We offer a peaceful, secure environment to each and every cat in our care as long as they need it—and us. Slow and steady wins the race, and we firmly believe that with love, all things are possible; we surely can see endless possibilities and bright futures full of promise for this family of ours.
To help potential adopters see what we do, if you are interested in meeting one or more of the family members, we’ll set up special ‘quiet times’ for you to come visit them. They really thrive in calm surroundings, so we want to showcase them at their best!
Want to adopt Quiet Ann? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org
In the wake of recent mass shootings, state and federal efforts to introduce and pass so-called “Red Flag” laws — which would allow persons with access to guns to be investigated as being possible dangers to themselves and others, and to give authorities the ability to seize that person’s guns — was one topic discussed as part of a wide-ranging inter-governmental leaders meeting Monday, Aug. 12, at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum at Wyoming City Hall.
With bipartisan bills being introduced both in Lansing and in Washington, D.C., Peter Dickow, West Michigan Regional Director for U.S. Sen Gary Peters (D-Mi.) echoed other leader at the meeting by saying: “There is room for common sense legislation” on this issue.
The Government Matters meeting is rebroadcast on WKTV’s channels and on-demand website (wktvlive.org). This month’s meeting is available here.
The Government Matters meeting brings together representatives from the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, Kent County commissioners, local Michigan state senators and representatives, as well as often representatives of Michigan’s U.S. senators and U.S. congressman who represent the Wyoming and Kentwood area.
The next meeting will be Sept. 9 at Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW, from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
The intergovernmental discussion hosted by the chamber focuses on issues that effect residents and businesses in the two cities.
For more information about the chamber and Government Matters visit southkent.org.
The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the latest meeting on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., as well as on select Saturdays, on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26. For a highlight schedule of WKTV cable programs visit wktvjournal.org .
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
Anybody who has rebuilt a classic car will tell you there are somethings that just have to be modernized, that some of the original mechanicals simply can no longer be renovated.
That is especially true with classic pickups, most of which were bought and used as work vehicles — farm vehicles often — including Mitch Miller’s 1955 Chevrolet, a now annual visitor at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 28th Street Metro Cruise, this year on Aug. 23-24.
So while “Old Yeller” carries much history with it — including its original bright yellow paint job and his mother’s graduation tassel hanging from its rear view mirror — it also carries something few classic pickups possess: a fuel system running off of ethanol.
“It’s named ‘Old Yeller’ because it had that name, that color, when we bought it,” Miller said to WKTV. But in another way it is very, very different from when it was new or when it came into the family.
“One of the interesting things is I converted it to E85,” he said. “I put a Quick Fuel (Technology) carburetor on it. Replaced the fuel lines and cleaned the fuel tank. It runs great on 85 percent ethanol and that is the only fuel I run through it now. That is kind of a thing (when he shows it off). I’m an ethanol producer, we have the NuVu (Fuels) gas stations, and we wanted to do a little bit of proving that ethanol can run great on older vehicles. It burns really clean and has good power.”
While the ’55 may have modern technology and a little bit of modern purpose associated with it, it also carries a family history that will be passed on in the family, Miller said.
“My father bought the truck in 1992, 27 years ago, in Bismarck, North Dakota … It was his favorite year of pickup. He was a Chevy guy for a lot of years,” Miller said. “But it had basically sat in a barn, in storage, for 15 years in Bismarck … I have had an interest in older vehicles, and have redone a number of vehicles — a ’74 Corvette, a ’68 Camaro — so I asked my brothers to ship that truck to me.”
As with almost any classic car rebuilt, the vehicle was in worse shape than he thought when it was finally parked in his garage — “A lot of pickups were used as farm trucks and they were really abused. I think they are more rare than the cars. … just preserving the history and keeping them on the road.
“I spent the winter of 2016, into 2017, just going through all the mechanical. Brakes. We added power steering. Radiator. Rims and tires. Took the dash out if it, got all the old gages working. … We were having trouble with the original straight six cylinder motor and we put a Crate 350 in it. So it has a little more horsepower. So, just got it road worthy. … Now it’s a great cruiser. We use it on the Interstate. It’ll run 75 miles an hour down the road.”
And with a reminder of its family history hanging from its rearview mirror, it will likely stay cruising down the Miller family road for a while.
“When my dad first bought it, my mom put her 1970 graduate class tassel on the rear view mirror and that would never be touched by our family. That stays there,” he said. “This truck will go down to my brother’s son, or my son. It will stay in the family.”
WKTV Community Media will produce a 1-hour special live broadcast scheduled to air at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, on WKTVLive.org as well as on WKTV Comcast Cable Channel 25 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, and, later on demand at WKTV.org.
For more information Metro Cruise 2019, visit the chamber’s website at southkent.org and keep up on the latest news of Metro Cruise and DreamWheels at WKTVjournal.org.
By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
We cannot begin to express our intense dislike for non-breakaway collars placed on cats who are allowed to go outside; plain and simple—they are NOT safe, and in Axil’s case, wearing one became traumatic.
We have no idea just how long he had been wandering around in a neighborhood nearby Crash’s with just such a collar digging into the tender flesh of his right armpit, unable to free himself from the shackle that had rubbed his skin raw until it embedded itself deep within the tissue since it had no other place to go. We also have no idea how he finally broke free—if a kindhearted person cut it off and cut him loose—but by the time he was rescued in late June of 2018, the delicate and dainty boy (born in June of 2014) was still suffering the consequences of that dreaded collar.
Sue realized he had a wound on the outside of his arm, but she had no idea just how damaged, raw and angry the skin was medially; it was not a pretty sight to see on such a pretty guy.
Axillary wounds such as his are very difficult to successfully treat, as healing is delayed drastically when a moist environment is present. Add in the fact that bacteria loves pockets such as armpits AND that it is an almost impossible area to bandage, and well, Dr. Jen had her work cut out for her.
For the first four weeks his skin was treated topically, first with therapeutic honey, then Silvadene cream, and although some healing had taken place, Dr. Jen had to go in and surgically debride excessive granulation tissue that his body formed in trying to heal itself. Dr. Jen then used silver nitrate to cauterize the open wound in hopes of stimulating healing and resumed treating kitty topically.
However, in August, Dr. Jen had resolved herself to the fact that nothing topical was going to cut it, and she ended up taking Axil to surgery to amputate the foreleg in order to remove the affected skin and delicately close the wound defect without causing too much tension.
When all was said and done, and Axil had spent several days at Dr. Jen’s home recuperating, one of our volunteers offered to foster him in order to keep a close eye on him; we were concerned he would overdo it at our free-roaming facility and wanted to give him ample time to fully heal.
Jan worked diligently for the next 6 months to slowly acclimate Axil into her furry fold, but no matter what she tried, our feisty little tripod took too much delight in terrorizing two of her shy cats to the point they had to be separated. It was with a heavy heart that she decided it was best for her household to return him to Crash’s, and although it broke her heart, she does get to visit him every week on her shift.
We were apprehensive as to how Axil would respond to now being a ‘big fish in a little pond’, but he has settled in quite nicely; in fact Tully, one of our biggest sweethearts is making it his personal goal to be Axil’s BFF, whether he likes it or not. Ideally we want to find Axil a home where he is the only cat, or at least have a buddy that will stand up to him when he gets a bit big for his beautiful britches!
In the meantime we are going to work with him on his manners and delight in seeing him hop around our place with ease and grace.
Want to adopt Axil? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
By Alan Headbloom, Feel Like You Belong
Vishavjit Singh is a first-generation South Asian-American cartoonist, writer, and performance artist. He joins us to talk about growing up Sikh in North America, living in New York after the 9-11 terrorist attack, and using one’s superpowers for good.
Plaster Creek Stewards (PCS) have yet again received national recognition for their work. This summer, the Urban Waters Learning Network, Groundwork USA, River Network, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, awarded PCS the Learning Network Signature Award. The award, which was presented at a conference in Cleveland, Ohio, honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the network of urban waters practitioners and to the field of urban waters protection and restoration.
Plaster Creek Stewards is an initiative of Calvin University that is dedicated to returning health and beauty to one of the most contaminated urban waterways in West Michigan. Now in its tenth year, PCS has involved students, staff, faculty, community members, and partners in education, research, and many different on-the-ground restoration efforts.
A major goal of this work is to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff that enters Plaster Creek. Over the years, the runoff has created all kinds of problems for Plaster Creek: high levels of bacteria, heavy sediment loads, reduced aquatic life, and flooding. It has taken more than 100 years for the Plaster Creek watershed to become so degraded and PCS leaders know it will take at least 15-20 years of concerted effort to reverse the damage.
“When we began this work we thought our job was to help clean up a contaminated creek,” said Dave Warners, biology professor at Calvin University. “But before long we realized the creek wasn’t the problem, it was a symptom. The problem is the way people are living in the watershed and the disregard that watershed residents show for the creek. So now PCS focuses on restoring the damaged relationship between people and their creek. We are trying to get people to care for this neglected and abused part of God’s creation.”
Gail Heffner, Calvin’s director of community engagement, started PCS with Warners back in 2009. The two accepted the Signature Award this summer during the Urban Waters Learning Forum in Cleveland. In reflecting on PCS’ work over the past decade, Heffner says simply: “it’s an embodiment of Calvin’s mission.”
“Calvin’s mission asks us to think deeply. We’ve taken an interdisciplinary approach in looking into what’s causing the problems in this local watershed. What we’ve discovered is that there are populations of people and particular neighborhoods that are disproportionately affected by the contaminated runoff,” said Heffner. “Our mission also demands us to act justly. So when we discover that this environmental injustice is happening, we are compelled to do something about it.”
And that’s what Plaster Creek Stewards have done over the past ten years.
During that time, Plaster Creek Stewards have secured 18 grants totaling more than $2.7 million.These grants have supported research: 63 student summer researchers and faculty from six academic backgrounds have received funding to study the problems and possible solutions to the challenges faced by urban waterways like Plaster Creek.
These grants have also supported the education of hundreds of people, not just in the college classroom but from pre-school through post-retirement, helping people learn how to care for their local place. Since 2009, Plaster Creek Stewards have worked with more than 26 local schools and more than 18 local houses of worship to educate and help them take restorative action in the Plaster Creek watershed.
These grants have also supported numerous on-the-ground restoration projects to capture stormwater where it lands, preventing stormwater runoff which helps improve water quality. This restoration work has included a variety of projects from a large floodplain restoration project in an upstream county park to bioswales in suburban areas and curb-cut rain gardens in urban neighborhoods. Since 2009 Plaster Creek Stewards have expanded their native plant nursery by building two additional greenhouses and now grow more than 100,000 native Michigan plants per year that are used in these various projects throughout the watershed.
PCS has also hosted a Green Team comprised of urban high school students who learn about watershed ecology and green infrastructure installation, while simultaneously being encouraged to consider college as part of their future. Grant funding and numerous individual donors have supported the Green Team program, which has provided 96 high school positions to students in the Plaster Creek and the Rogue River watersheds over the past seven years. This has been a rich learning environment for high school students and the college student mentors who have worked alongside them.
The year 2019 celebrates the first ten years of Plaster Creek Stewards. This fall, PCS will host their final 10th anniversary celebration in collaboration with the Art Department and the English Department under the theme of Dwelling: Our Watershed in Image and Word, followed by opportunities for attenders to roll up their sleeves and take part in some tangible restorative action on behalf of the creek. Heffner and Warners say that restoration is hard but hopeful work, and that it points to a future when even urban streams will once again be places of delight and beauty for the communities through which they travel.
Reprinted with permission from Calvin University.
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
Dr. Jochen Wierich, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park new Curator of Sculpture and Sculpture Exhibitions, comes to Grand Rapids with extensive art curatorial experience, having most recently led curated exhibitions at Nashville’s renown Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art including a much admired exhibition “Jaume Plensa: Human Landscape” in 2015-16.
He also has an equally impressive resume as an art historian and teacher, which includes being a lecturer on art history at prestigious institutions of higher education including Vanderbilt University — and he now holds the Lena E. S. Meijer Professorship in Art History at Aquinas College.
But the “American” portion of the German-born Wierich’s art history resume only hints at his depth of knowledge and appreciation of art, and his desire to share his knowledge and appreciation with local students and the general public visiting Meijer Gardens.
During one of his first in-depth interviews after coming to Meijer Gardens in late July, Wierich wore his curatorial jacket as he discussed his admiration for the Meijer Gardens sculptural art collection as well as some works which surprised him on his initial tours of the gardens. (See the following video.)
During the WKTV interview, however, he also discussed his views on the differences between art education in Europe and America, as well as his conviction that understanding history and culture is essential to understanding art.
“I see a number of differences in the role of art and art education in Europe and in the United States,” Wierich said to WKTV. “From my own perspective, in Europe young people grow up understanding that art is a part of a kind of cultural heritage, a part of a kind of patrimony, that we inherit. So even outside the classroom education, that is something that young people in Germany, in Europe, they just bring to their college education.
“In the United States, I would say that museums have done a great job of helping, educating young people, in the arts. Encouraging them to be creative. And then to appreciate art. But, still, art is not as much imbedded in the broader education sphere in the United States. And so, when the students come to college, they just don’t quite bring that background, that kind of familiarity with the arts, that I see in Germany and in Europe.”
But passing on his passion for art is where Wierich’s passion for education comes into play.
“That is something that, especially as a college teacher, I also want to help with,” he said. “Being part of the Aquinas faculty, and interacting with the students in the classroom, and possibly encouraging them to come out here and explore the sculpture collection, that is going to be part of my job. … And maybe bridge that gap a little bit.”
Another stop in Wierich’s American journey was at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane, Wa. — a place which cemented his belief in the importance of culture and historic context in understanding and appreciating modern art.
“The issue of understanding art within the historic and cultural context, to me, it is something that I think about all the time,” Wierich said. “My background, as you know, is in art history and American studies. So I thrive in museum environments that are multi-disciplinary, if you want (to call it such). And, for example, here at Meijer Gardens, you have art and horticulture, and you have programs that bring music and literature to this institution, and create this conversation across different disciplines.
“At the MAC, the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, you might see in one visit a Native American contemporary artist painting landscapes, you might see additional plateau Indian baskets, and then you might see an exhibition of German and Italian immigrants who came to the inland Northwest as farmers. And so, each of these exhibitions contributes to, in a sense, framing the art.”
When it comes to modern and contemporary art appreciation and art history “I think that learning about the context (is important), that none of these works was created in a vacuum. That each of these works can help us understand what the historical circumstances were that, maybe, inspired the artist,” he said. “Think about the great Picasso painting “Guernica”, without understanding the (Spanish Civil) War, that painting is not quite the same.”
And he brings that idea home to Meijer Gardens.
“Even with the artists here in the sculpture park — Ai Weiwei, Jaume Plensa — you can really understand what an artist like Ai Weiwei is processing in terms of his growing up in contemporary China, and struggling with the changes in China,” Wierich said. “Or Jaume Plensa, somebody who grew up right after the dictatorship of Franco, and when Spain became a democracy. This are all stories that allow us to have a greater appreciation of the modern and contemporary art works.”
Prior to his work at Vanderbilt, Wierich held teaching positions at Whitman College, Free University in Berlin and Belmont University.
He earned a Master of Arts degree from the Universitat Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Universitat Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany. He has a master’s degree in American Studies from Goethe University of Frankfurt and a Ph.D. in American Studies from the College of William and Mary in Virginia — where his dissertation is titled “The Domestication of History in American Art, 1848-1876”.
Joseph Becherer, who previously held both the Meijer Gardens and Aquinas College positions, was named director of the Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame last fall.
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By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
Doug Deweerdt’s history with his 1951 Chevrolet pickup is not unlike a lot of stories about guys rebuilding classic cars — it started out with rusty years in a pole barn somewhere, it’s always more work than they initially thought, and it often has a strong family connection.
But the story of Doug’s dad wanting to leave classic cars to both sons, and his deceased dad’s involvement Deweerdt’s rebuilding process, is unique.
“My father picked this vehicle up, probably, about 30 years ago, for him and I to restore,” Deweerdt said to WKTV. “He already had a 1947 Dodge business coupe. He picked up the truck for he and I to do, so my brother would get the car and he’d leave the truck to me.
“Well, life and kids got in the way and it sat in his pole barn for like 20 years, then he pushed it off into my garage for like five or six (years). He passed away in January 2013 and in December I decided, you know, its time to do the truck.”
While he was working on the renovation of the truck, done in about 2-1/2 years, he was constantly reminded of his father, though.
Deweerdt spent “a lot of time in the shop, after work,” working on the pickup, he said. And “I’ve got a picture of him standing next to his ’47 that hung on my shop wall the entire time,” — his voice trailing off in memories — “there is definitely a connection.”
Deweerdt, who is plant manager of Grand Rapids’ tortilla maker El Milagro of Michigan, Inc., told us the story of the actual work required that involved both family and a new friend.
“At the time (he started the rebuild) I had an acquaintance that had built a couple (cars), Jeff Myles, and I asked if he would stop by and take a look at it. You know, give me some ideas,” he said. “So he did, and, you know, in talking to him, I asked him if he would mentor me. I told him I’m not asking him to help me, just kind of walk me through certain sections of it. Which he did, and he’s become a very, very good friend of mine now.”
While Deweerdt did “about 90 percent of the work,” including a frame swap, to give him more modern brakes and other mechanicals, he finished it with a special paint job from a shop in Muskegon. He has been showing the ’51 for three years.
“I tried to keep it as original as I could,” he said. “A lot of guys really modify the bodies, shave the doorhandles and all of that. I really didn’t want to do that. I really wanted to keep it as original as possible and yet I wanted that look (pointing to the vehicle) and I wanted a more modern-day ride, with the suspension.”
One other thing that is not “original” is the truck’s bed — but that, too, is more a personal story.
“The bed wood, we get a ton of complements on that,” Deweerdt said. “A lot of them just do the normal wood shade. … (but) I had seen a sample of the dark wood on the internet. My wife piddles with woodworking, we both do. So I gave her a sample of the wood and said ‘This is what I want.” And she played around with a couple different combinations and this is what we came up with. … we get a lot of people commenting on that.”
And there will broadly be more comments on the ’51 at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 28th Street Metro Cruise on Aug. 23-24.
WKTV Community Media will produce a 1-hour special live broadcast scheduled to air at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, on WKTVLive.org as well as on WKTV Comcast Cable Channel 25 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, and, later on demand at WKTV.org.
For more information Metro Cruise 2019, visit the chamber’s website at southkent.org and keep up on the latest news of Metro Cruise and DreamWheels at WKTVjournal.org .
By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
Slink, born in the spring of 2011, was aptly named by his persistent, pint-sized rescuer, none other than Sandi D. Seems this elusive and evasive guy preferred to avoid all human contact and sneak around the feral feeding station Sandi supplied rather than risk getting snagged and snipped; having been intact well into his senior citizenhood, we guess we really can’t blame him.
Not one to shy away from a challenge, Sandi laid down the law and told him how things were gonna go, and finally, after weeks of setting her trap, Slink allowed himself to be caught. A week after his trip to CSNIP to remove his manhood in late April, Sandi brought him in to see Dr. Jen as he wasn’t feeling well; as it turns out his neuter site had abscessed, he was running a fever and his white blood cell count was astronomically high.
To top things off, he had a fractured tooth with root retention that was causing him oral pain, major stud tail and was matted and scabby, all from living a rough life out on the mean city streets. And of course, he tested a very strong positive for FIV, a virus transmitted primarily from cat to cat by fighting, which it appeared he had done his fair share of.
Poor old guy. We didn’t have any room at our sanctuary at that time so, Sandi took Slink on home after Dr. Jen tended to his variety of medical needs and let him recover in the cozy confines of her makeshift living room shelter. A week later, he had healed beautifully, so Dr. Jen was able to vaccinate him, and in early June he came back out to see the good doc for his follow-up test, booster vaccines and a long overdue bath and brush out; the hair Dr. Jen removed from him could have made an entirely new cat!
Slink may have been a bit bald when he finally made it down to Big Sid’s, but he was definitely beautiful. His large jowls (fat-headed status comes form being intact and hormonal) had shrunk down nicely, his tail was no longer greasy and he had put on good weight. Our solid, sturdy boy was ready to join the ranks and become a resident.
However, over the next few weeks it was obvious that his mouth was giving him more trouble, as can be very common with FIV+ kitties, so Dr. Jen wasn’t surprised when she had to remove all of his teeth, with the exception of his canines, in late June. Although this sounds shocking, in all honesty we have a sizable population of cats that have very few, or in some case NO teeth, and once that source of chronic pain and inflammation is gone, these cats pork right on out as it is no longer problematic to eat.
Sure Slink may meow with a bit of a lisp, but he is happy and much healthier now!
We asked our shelter director and manager to weigh in on his personality thus far to give everyone an idea of what type of cat he is:
“Slink is slowly but surely coming out of his shell. He was so terrified that he hid under a bed for the first week or so, only coming out when Sandi would come and visit him. He now hangs out in a cubby or on top of the cat walk but will explore the shelter when it’s quiet. If you approach him slowly, he will let you pet him and really enjoys it. He is very passionate about canned food and treats! I would like to see him have a buddy or two in his home to give him confidence and show him how great it is to be an indoor cat.”
“In the past couple of weeks, Slink has gone from cowering behind a bed in a cage to hanging out with us in the meds room. Sandi visited him several times in the first few days, and she must have had a talk with him because suddenly he’s out and about looking for attention. He is not one bit aggressive but a little shy, so we’ve gone a little slower on handling him. We did discover he actually enjoys being brushed — he will be silky soft and shiny in no time. He’ll need a buddy or two to live with to help boost his confidence. I’m going to say dogs and small kids may be a bit too much for him.”
As Slink comes out of his shell more and more each day, we have to smile with pride. He is going to make a fabulous friend for someone who can provide a mellow, quiet life for him, one where he can lounge lazily in a sunbeam after filling his tummy, soaking up the warmth of the type of home he had only been able to dream of for far too long.
Want to adopt Slink? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
Kai and Bentley, a German Shepard and a Goldendoodle, respectively, were friendly but not very talkative as they were introducing themselves around City of Wyoming’s 62-A District Court earlier this summer as part of Kent County’s Courthouse Therapy Dog Program pending expansion.
That’s okay, though, it’s sort of what they are trained to do as therapy dogs: to present a smiling dog face, a scratch-able ear, and a transferable sense of calmness to humans in stressful situations.
And, anyway, as WKTV hung out with Kai and Bentley and several of their 4-legged friends while the dogs prepared to start duty in Wyoming, their West Michigan Therapy Dogs, Inc. handlers and Kent County 17th Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Feeney — a driving force behind the program — had plenty to say on the dog’s behalf.
“They have been going to the different courthouses, getting used to the victim witness units, and in the courtrooms,” Judge Feeney said to WKTV in late June. “So they could be available for children who are victims of crime … and for vulnerable adults, who are also preyed upon, unfortunately, in criminal circumstances.
“We work them (the dogs) in two-hour shifts because that is about all they can handle because, believe it or not, they absorb a lot of the stress the kids are under.”
As of last week, Judge Feeney said several dogs have been “trained for Wyoming, Walker and Grandville (courts), as well as the 63rd and 61st District courts,” but have not yet started working in Wyoming.
In late 2018, Kent County’s Courthouse Therapy Dog Program began a trial effort in Judge Feeney’s court, along with the 61st and 63rd District Courts in Kent County. The program is a joint effort of Judge Feeney, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker and his office, as well as with West Michigan Therapy Dogs, Inc.
“Prosecutor Chris Becker and I had talked about having dogs brought into the courthouse for a couple years now, and when we started hearing about more and more courts in Michigan having dogs coming into the courthouse, courthouse dogs … We thought, OK, we need to start looking into this more, and he was very open to it,” she said.
Maybe not so incidentally, Judge Feeney has a personal connection to therapy dogs and to the local therapy dog group.
“My now four-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, Rosie, is a West Michigan Therapy dog,” she said. “So we do dog therapy, in addition to the 400 other people who belong to this organization throughout West Michigan. And so I thought, okay, this is perfect. Let’s see if we can’t bring West Michigan Therapy Dogs into the prosecutor’s office and the courts.”
And the trial program, less than a year old, is already proving its success.
“The evolution is how people are valuing it, Judge Feeney said. “At first we only got a couple calls from victims or victim advocates … for dogs, but all of a sudden, they started seeing how positive it was for the victims, for the families, who are also very stressed and concerned about what is going on. Now there are a lot more requests.”
So what sort of dogs work well as therapy dogs? Just how do they do their jobs? Kai and Bentley let their handlers tell us.
Kai’s “been doing therapy work for two years. He’s an 8-year-old dog and he’s been a court dog since October (2018),” Mary Hovingh said to WKTV. His “personality is calm, sweet, and in his case, he likes kids. Everything he does as a therapy dog is with children, no adults.
“I read the child. If the child does not want to touch the dog, they can sit near the dog, play games. If they want to pet the dog, they can. I’ve had kids show him pictures, they’ll read a book and show him a picture. And he will, oddly, look at the pictures.”
Hovingh explained that in addition to working in courts, “my dog goes to schools, he’s up to eight or nine different schools now, during the school year. And he does libraries. About a third of his people, the children who read to him, are special needs kids. He has ridiculous amounts of patience for children.”
Three-year-old Bentley, according to handler Val Bares, has a similar demeanor and work ethic.
“What traits make a good therapy dog?” she repeated a question from WKTV. “Mostly you look at the personality, you want the dog to be friendly with people. There are people dogs and there are dog dogs, and you want a people dog, one that loves to be petted. Their temperament is key. You want them to be calm.”
Bentley and Bares have been together since he was a puppy, and they work together in hospitals, a burn unit camp and at an assisted living center, she said. And she would not trade her work with Bentley for anything.
“I don’t know where it is more rewarding, for him or for me,” she said. “ Their intuition to people that are hurting or that are sad, is just unbelievable. It is such a blessing to be able to do this with him, in this program.”
By WKTV Staff
“It always helps to have people we love beside us when we have to do difficult things in life.”
From The World According to Mister Rogers (p. 45).
Started in 1984, National Night Out has evolved to neighborhoods hosting block parties, festival, parades, cookouts and other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personal, exhibits and much more. More here.
Be a fake tourist for a day. Go to local museums, parks, festival events or even the town historical sites and city hall. You might be amazed about how much local history sits buried in these locations that most people don’t know a lot about. Go here for more day trip ideas.
Comedy-drama, Superior Donuts by Tony® Award- and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Tracy Letts, explores the challenges of embracing the past and the redemptive power of friendship. It opens Aug. 8th at Circle Theatre. Go here for the deets.
That’s the reason Fred Rogers (aka Mr. Rogers) got into television. When he turned on a set, all he saw was angry people throwing pies in each others’ faces, and he vowed to use the medium to make the world a better place.
By Ashlee McGreevy, Circle Theatre
Circle Theatre continues its 67th Main Stage season with a production of Superior Donuts opening on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 7:30pm inside the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College. Superior Donuts is brought to the Circle stage by Production Sponsor Steelcase and is rated R for strong language and adult situations.
“This is a show about being stuck in life. Stuck because of past mistakes, stuck because of one’s upbringing or background, or maybe stuck because of a crippling anxiety, guilt or fear. This is a show about overcoming these paralyses in order to find freedom, even when opposed by literal violence.” — Andrew Manion, Cast Member (Kevin Magee)
Under the direction of Mike Hull, Superior Donuts tells the story of Arthur, a Polish-American, who owns a decrepit donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Franco Wicks, a black teenager who is his only employee, wants to change the shop for the better.
This comedy-drama by Tony® Award- and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Tracy Letts explores the challenges of embracing the past and the redemptive power of friendship.
Circle Theatre audience members can take advantage of the Lobby Bar on select nights throughout the summer, including the Aug. 9 performance of Superior Donuts. On Aug. 9, Michigan craft beer and wine as well as donuts from Marge’s Donut Den will be available starting at 7pm; beverages can be enjoyed inside the theatre on that evening.
“Our show is the story of the American Dream as told by ordinary people. If you are someone who believes that America can be the best it can be for all of its people than this is a show that will hopefully inspire some questions and no small degree of hope.” — Mike Hull, Director
Superior Donuts will run Aug. 8-10, 14-17, 21-24 at 7:30pm, and Aug. 18 at 5:30pm. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call the box office at 616.456.6656 or visit Circle’s website at circletheatre.org.
By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
These two boys had it really rough prior to their rescue, and both had significant health issues that needed prompt medical attention. But probably most important of all, they are absolutely enamored by one another. In fact, their bond was almost immediate and has since grown to the point that we will strive to adopt them out as a duo because, honestly, one is rarely seen without the other close by.
We’ll begin with Caboose, a one-year-old fella (born in early 2018) from Lansing who found himself in dire straits when his rectum prolapsed (due to chronic diarrhea secondary to internal parasites). Thankfully, his rescuer took him to emergency immediately, and surgery corrected his issue. Unfortunately, he tested FIV+ (and upon retest, a faint FELV+), and although his rescuer was smitten with this darling boy, she had a houseful to think of for the long haul, so she contacted us for help.
All was going quite well after his arrival, but just three days into his stay at our sanctuary, Caboose prolapsed again — and this time had to have a portion of that pooching rectal tissue amputated. The second time around proved to be successful, and now (a month after his arrival) he is off all meds and pooping like a trooper.
Four days after Caboose came into our program, we opened our doors to a bedraggled but beautiful brown tabby — Snickerz — who hailed from the east side of the state. His rescuer came across him a month earlier, living outside of a local business, begging for dinner from food trucks on the property; he supposedly had caretakers but it was painfully obvious that this five-or-so-year-old fella (we think he was born in early 2014) was suffering, not only from a nasty respiratory infection, but heavy internal parasites, a nasty ear infection, and a horribly rotten mouth that attributed to his malnutrition and poor body weight. He also tested positive for both viruses.
Since his immune system was so run-down, Snickerz also came down with calici virus, an infectious, transmissible feline illness that causes painful oral ulcers, fever and lethargy. However, through it all, nothing dragged him down, and we all truly believe that the comfort he found in cuddling up next to his caring comrade Caboose expedited the healing process.
The two perfect peas-in-a pod have similar personalities as well as being bosom buddies, and it has been delightful watching them interact. Here is what our volunteers had to say:
“Caboose — I just love this cat! He’s really doing well slowly starting to socialize, and likes to hang out now in different rooms. I love how he perks up when he sees me, almost like he’s proud of himself for being so much more brave and outgoing. He will eat bowl after bowl of wet food, and piles of Temptations. He’s doing great after his surgery and I think it’s obvious he feels good — look at the weight he’s gained! He doesn’t mind being picked up, LOVES belly rubs, and has sat on my lap a few times. Caboose is really starting to come out of his shell. He was so shy for a while, but he has settled in just great. He loves attention and has a great purr almost like Scherzer (our resident pigeon).”
“Snickerz is a bit on the shy side but is starting to show his personality. He prefers to be lying in his big puffy bed (with the stuffed lion his rescuer brought in with him) next to his other lounging friends. To me, he’s very kitten-like because he’s a little on the small size. He’s not real crazy about being picked up, but will curl up in your arms if you sit down with him. He enjoys treats and wet food, along with chin scratches. Being that he’s so shy he’s going to take some patience. Snickerz is a quiet boy who is really enjoying the comforts of indoor life. He’s such a happy and content guy that he has been caught purring in his sleep on numerous occasions.”
Both boys need to go into a quieter home, no small kids or boisterous dogs, and most definitely with one another; how could you separate these soulmates? We would love for nothing more than to give them the storybook ending they so deserve, a happily ever after that includes the both of them not necessarily riding off into the sunset, but rather napping side by side, contentedly, in complete bliss for countless days to come!
Want to adopt these great guys? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus is an update on the June partial building collapse at Lee Middle and High School. District Superintendent Kevin Polston separates the facts from the fictions of the incident and the aftermath. Also, Kent County recently adopted an extensive Strategic Plan that not only sets out its mission and vision but also a set of values that will drive its priorities and goals. With us is both the county’s lead administrator and Wyoming’s own representative on the County Commission.
First In Focus is Godfrey Lee Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Polston, who’s summer took a hard turn in June with the collapse of a portion of the Lee Middle and High School complex of buildings. Recently, he has held a series of meetings to inform parents, the general public and the school district community about the collapse as well as where the district goes from here, both in the short and long term. We invited him into our studios to reach out to our WKTV audience with the information. See the In Focus Video here.
Then In Focus is Kent County’s new Strategic Plan, set to cover the years 2019 to 2023 and designed to establish and detail the county government’s, “mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities and goals.” With us is County Administrator Wayman Britt, who after serving as county controller was promoted to the dual role of administrator and controller in early 2018, also joining us is County Commissioner Harold Voorhees, whose District 8 is — as he likes to say “entirely within the City of Wyoming”. See the In Focus video here.
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.
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By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org
Whenever you visit WKTV Community Media, all hours day and all days of the week, there are almost always volunteers working in the building on their own unique projects or working out in the community with our various community coverage projects.
WKTV appreciates its volunteers all year around, but once a year they are honored with at a special event. This year, in late June, WKTV held its Volunteer Recognition Picnic at Douglas Walker Park in Byron Center.
“For nearly 50 years, the community volunteers at WKTV Community Media have been the heart and soul of this organization, and that continues today,” said Tom Norton, executive director of WKTV Community Media. “We have volunteers working on their own unique projects to be shared on WKTV, volunteers who work with sports coverage and the newsroom programs, we have volunteers whose work helps keep this organization running. We are grateful to them all.”
At the event, top honors were given to Becci Schumaker and Bill Rinderknecht with Volunteer of the Year Awards, with Schumaker able to accept in person. The award for Community Service Programming was given to Gary Vande Velde.
Recognition was given to volunteers for both years of volunteer service as well as hours of service in 2018. Following is a list of those recognized as well as their programs or volunteer areas for those honored for years of service.
25 Years: Rose Hammond – Idlewild Documentary; Kim Johnson – Dynamic Praise Program/ Memorial Tributes/ Princess Diana.
20 Years: Judy Bergsma – The Reading Train; Pat Williams – Reading Train/ Community Awareness/ Anything!
15 Years: Jeff Steere – Rescue 1 FireSafety; Patty Williams – Bluegrass On Stage & Sounds Of Summer.
10 Years: Carrie Bradstreet – You’ve Got To be Kidding Me America/Plus.
5 Years: Kara Boorsma – News/ Plus; Randy Galaszewski – You’ve Got To be Kidding Me America/ Plus; Shahied “DJ” Word – Michigan’s Finest Talent.
100 Hour Club included Garion Adams, Tom Sibley, Gary Vande Velde, Tyler Darland, Marisol Martinez, Joiman Davis, Becci Schumaker, Bill Rinderkencht, Kriss Boom Boom, Matt Zuby, Rose Hammond, Mike Moll, Val Fisher, Ben Aki, Doug Remtema, Kyle Cortez, Stephanie Norton, Kathy Norton, Mike Bacon, Michael McCallum, Scott Baisden.
Those with 51–99 hours included Mark Bergsma, Shahied “DJ” Word, Randy Galaszewski.
With 26-50 hours were Patty Williams, Pat Williams, Rene Karadsheh, Larry Swanson, Carrie Bradstreet, Scott Wiseman.
With 1-25 hours Mike Boorsma, Kara Boorsma, Jim Dohm, Monique Keels, Phyllis Koslow, Pat Moll, Hung Nguyen, Les Raebel, Charlotte Rinderknecht, Mike Van Druemel, Gina Wiseman, Meochia Thompson, Judy Bergsma, Kim Johnson, Dan Kuipers, Dick Visser, Darious Young, Mike Endres, Travis Mandenburg, Edward Jay Nelson, Mark Tangen, Sophia Maslowski, Don Schumaker, Mark Lange.
By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
TERRIFIC is one of many fabulous words we can use to describe Tinker, a charming little chap (born in May of 2017) who came to us mid-November, 2018. Rescue dynamo Sandi D. was out and about making her rounds on Quarry St. NW in Grand Rapids when she stumbled across this handsome black-and-white guy who had been abandoned by his owners. Not one to let any grass grow under her feet, she scooped him up and took him on home; five days later Dr. Jen was able to work him up at the clinic with the intention of taking him into our program.
Unfortunately he tested a faint positive for Feline Leukemia, a transmissible virus that befalls too many outdoor cats in our area who don’t receive proper care and vaccinations, so instead of making his way down to Crash’s he got to pack his little kitty bags and head on over to Big Sid’s. On his one month follow-up, he still retested a faint positive, so he is an official resident of our sanctuary, or Sid’s Kid as we call them.
No worries though, as from the get-go Tinker has been absolutely thrilled with his new surroundings—he is SO darn excited to be indoors and receiving three squares a day. He cannot absorb enough attention from his human caretakers and finds it fun to hang out high above everyone’s heads where he can look down and survey the activity.
He has been known to be a bit aggressive towards certain cats, but over time he is learning that it is a hoot to engage in play versus swatting and swiping at his feline roomies. Because the virus is transmitted by sharing of bodily fluids (saliva, blood), we feel it is best he go into a home with another positive kitty—or none at all, since he would wholeheartedly enjoy being the king of his very own castle.
Everyone simply adores this little busybody! When kids come to our Meet and Greets, he enthusiastically welcomes them and shows off a bit, matching their energy and eagerness to have a good time. Tinker is going to make a spectacular addition to any household who wants an outgoing, adventurous companion. He loves to climb, so keep that in mind if you have your eye on this great guy.
We are sure that once you meet him you will come to agree that he is too cute for words.
Want to adopt Tinker? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
In April of 2019, while out tending to her feral colonies, our favorite cat wrangler, Sandy D., came across this beaten-down and bedraggled, intact boy who had obviously been having a hard time on the streets. Suffering from a ruptured cat bite abscess on the left cheek, the 3-year-old (born in the spring of 2016) was a smelly, sticky, matted mess of draining pus and dead tissue. Graphic, but true.
Sandy brought kitty out to the clinic so that Dr. Jen could tend to his medical needs, and in doing so, the good doc discovered that he was FIV+ (no big surprise there); he also had a nasty toenail injury, greasy stud tail, major intestinal parasites and was downright filthy. After deep-cleaning not only his wound site but his entire body, Dr. Jen neutered him, got antibiotics and pain meds on board, dewormed and vaccinated him—he wasn’t ready to go into our program at Big Sid’s, but he was at least squeaky clean and feelin’ fine for his foster time at Sandy’s.
Although Dr. Jen is quite partial to the big boys she affectionately call ‘fat-heads’, it is a cryin’ shame that this darling, dapper fellow had to roam the streets a fully functioning, fighting male for so long. Given the fact that his face was in such rough shape when he arrived, Dr. Jen thought naming him Montana (think Scarface) was more than appropriate, though at his recheck exam three weeks later, his facial fur was growing in very nicely, covering the gooey grossness he was sporting when they first met. In fact, this sweetheart healed so remarkably well that to look at him now you’d never know what injuries he had once sustained.
Indoor life suits Montana to a ‘T’, and he has acclimated to his surroundings better than we all had anticipated, given his history. Here are some astute observations from our volunteers:
“Montana is a pretty laid-back guy, but does have a tendency to get a little upset at times if another cat gets in his way. He loves people, attention, and just hanging out in the windowsill. He’s a nice, big, solid boy and would make the perfect cat for a household with older kids who would know to respect his space.”
“Montana is a very chill boy. He doesn’t do much other than perch himself on a windowsill and watch birds all day long. He keeps to himself most of the time, but he doesn’t mind sharing his preferred perch with a cat or two, so he could probably live with or without a buddy. He’s not one to look for attention, but he is very accepting of love when you seek him out. He has a tendency to nip when he’s had enough of you, so he should probably go to a home without young children.”
Overall we are very pleased with his progress in the time we have had him—it’s not even three weeks after he became a Sid’s Kid that we are sharing his story. We are enjoying watching him transform into a silky, stunning (former) stud, but even more so, we are delighting in how happy he simply is enjoying his view of the world, now from the inside out. To see him lounge on the floor with his legs stretched out in front of him, relaxing and soaking in the sun, accepting a gentle head scratch or back stroke brings us all so much joy; after all, this boy right here deserves all of the pampering he can get!
Want to adopt Montana? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
By WKTV Staff
Ken@wktv.org
Knowledge is Power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.
Kofi Annan
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal’s In Focus series of podcasts, we discuss the various aspects of what is sometimes called the Pink Tax, public policies including taxation that are often viewed as discriminatory toward females. For the complete story and link to Podcast, visit here.
The City of Kentwood has released its tentative road construction and maintenance schedule for the summer. The City Commission approved the resurfacing and maintenance program, which includes improvements to 30 miles of major and local roads, at a cost of $1.4 million. For the complete story and a map, visit here.
Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-28th District) offered his views on the status of Michigan’s current budget problems and West Michigan’s pending mental health services changes as part of a wide-ranging inter-governmental leaders meeting at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters meeting. For the story and a link to the video, visit here.
In 2018, the ratio of women’s to men’s median weekly full-time earnings was 81.1 percent, a decrease of 0.7 percent since 2017. Source
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal’s In Focus series of podcasts, we discuss the various aspects of what is sometimes called the Pink Tax, public policies including taxation that are often viewed as discriminatory toward females.
Visiting our studios, each with unique perspectives on the subject, are Kentwood City Commissioner and community advocate Emily Bridson; State Sen. Winnie Brinks, who, among her many duties in Lansing, serves on the Health Policy and Human Services committee; as well as Sandy Swanson, Past President of the Kentwood Women’s Club, a club which has the stated goal of, quote, “Enhancing the cultural, civic, education and social opportunities of Kentwood women.”
For a link to the “Pink Tax” audio podcast, click here; for a link to the episode’s interview video, click here and scan down the list to the July 11 In Focus podcast.
Regular episodes of 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).
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus is “Plan Kentwood”, the City of Kentwood’s ongoing update of its Master Plan — including possible development areas all across the city — as well as Kent County’s Veterans Services office, which is often the first and best place for county veterans and their families to turn for information and assistance.
First In Focus is the City of Kentwood’s update of its Master Plan. Through a series of community engagement efforts called “Plan Kentwood”, the city is gaining public input to help shape a long-range vision for growth, land use, development and open space conservation in the city. On the list of discussion topics 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 from the City of Kentwood are Terry Schweitzer, Community Development Director, and Lisa Golder, Economic Development Planner.
Then In Focus is Kent County Veterans Services, which operates under Kent County administration. Veterans Services either directly or indirectly assists veterans with a wide range of issues including disability claims, service records, and easing connection with needed social services and other government agencies. With us is Martha Burkett, the recently hired director of Veterans Services, who also brings a unique history, set of skills, and vision for her office. For the In Focus video, visit here.
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.
By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
It is a bit of a convoluted journey as to how this totally adorable classic tabby made it to Dr. Jen (finally) on May 6, 2019. Evidently he was found wandering around the parking lot of the Meijer on 54th and Clyde Park, just down the road from the vet clinic, and he was picked up by a woman who then took him home on the city bus.
Somehow she contacted none other than one of our regular rescuers, who then transported him to the Humane Society of West Michigan as we were full up at Crash’s, and she has a withstanding ‘in’ with them as far as placing strays is concerned. However, he tested positive for Feline Leukemia, so she took him right back on home, contacted Dr. Jen and asked if the good doc could do his medical work-up. Dr. Jen actually ended up doing one better, offering to take him, sight unseen, into our program at Big Sid’s.
The two-year-old (born in the spring of 2017) IMMEDIATELY took Dr. Jen’s heart for his own, along with every single person he made contact with at the clinic and sanctuary alike. It really bummed us all out that such a sweetheart had the bad luck to carry the virus, but since he was an intact male when found, it wasn’t surprising—sad, but not totally unexpected.
Once at our free-roaming, fun-loving facility Tyrion found his place easily and quickly started entertaining not only himself but any audience he could command:
“Tyrion is a non-stop, action-loving cat. He will chase a ping pong ball up and down the hall for hours on end, but playtime is even better when another cat will wrestle with him. He has a few ‘besties’ who are usually down for some hardcore, rough-and-tumble; in fact, they can get so into it that we actually have to make them stop out of fear they will unintentionally hurt each other. He would do amazing with kids!”
“Tyrion is one of our most popular guys. He’s always up for adventures and activities— and soaks up any attention he can get from us. He does play a little too rough with the other cats at times, but we are hoping time and his calming collar help him lighten up a bit. He’s got a lot of energy and will need kids that will tire him out at the end of the day. He would do well in a home with another cat buddy, one who matches his energy level and will stand up to him, and maybe even a playful dog. His exuberance and ebullience knows NO bounds!”
As you can imagine, we are all as pleased as punch that his personality is so over-the-top and outgoing, as this type of kitty holds a lot of appeal to high-energy families. And at his four-week follow-up appointment, he tested NEGATIVE for Feleuk—not once, but twice, on our in-house test AND through our outside lab.
However, we have learned the hard way that this first round of diagnostics is an excellent screening test, but there can be false negatives, so in cases where a prior positive cat then turns up virus-free, Dr. Jen now sends out a specialized (and, of course, more expensive test) to confirm. This type of test is far more specific and has less margin of error, so when it came back negative, it was a major cause for celebration.
This terrific tabby is not going to be with us at Crash’s long, mark our words, as he is simply too awesome to pass by!
Want to adopt Tyrion? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
By WKTV Staff
If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.
Katharine Hepburn
The Grand Rapids Symphony celebrates the 25th anniversary of the D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops by recreating its inaugural Picnic Pops concert July 11 and 12. Go here for the scoop on dates, music, and ticket options.
Join fellow dog lovers at the Downtown Market for Yappy Hour, on July 10, 17, 24 and 31 from 11am-1pm, to enjoy lunch outside with pups! Go here for more info.
After teaching English and Journalism, Elizabeth Meyette retired and began a full-time writing career. An Amazon best-selling author, she has published six novels, her latest being 2018’s The Last Crossing. She has also published poetry and writes a blog called Meyette’s Musings. Read about Meyette here.
The number of letters in the longest English word, the name of a protein. Go here to read it for yourself because honestly, we just don’t have the time and space. Its nickname is ‘titin’. Isn’t that cute?
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
There are no shortage of Grand Rapids area authors with the dream of writing the next Great American Novel and it being a New York Time bestseller, or at the very least taking a shot at Amazon-like or self publishing. But where to start?
WKTV Journal invited into our studio a local author who started writing as a new career after an old-career retirement.
After teaching English and Journalism, Elizabeth Meyette retired and began a full-time writing career. An Amazon best-selling author, she has published six novels, her latest being 2018’s “The Last Crossing”. She has also published poetry and writes a blog called Meyette’s Musings.
As part of WKTV Journal’s June Newscast, she talks WKTV Journal host Donna Kidner-Smith about what is possible by joining local writing groups and other local writers’ resources, including a writers’ conference coming locally later this summer put on by the Grand Rapids Regional Writer’s Group.
(Shameless plug and full disclosure: I am a member of group.)
As far as the upcoming writer’s conference is concerned, “Finish and publish your book this year!” will be held Saturday, Aug. 10, at Byron Township Community Center, 2120 76th St. SW, Byron Center.
The event is designed to help authors both finish and publish their novels, short stories, poetry, and/or whatever.
For more information search “Finish and publish your book this year!” on Facebook or visit grandrapidsregionwritersgroup.blogspot.com .
By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
While making her rounds feeding the ferals on Dunham off of Fuller on the southeast side of town in May of 2019, a rescuer came across this spayed and four-paw declawed girl who obviously had been abandoned. Without any natural defenses except her teeth, she was a prime candidate for picking up transmissible diseases like Feline Leukemia; sadly, it was too late — by the time she was taken in, the damned virus had already made its presence known, though it wouldn’t show up on her blood test until a recheck exam later in the month.
When we first met this lovely kitty (born in May of 2016, we guesstimate), she had a pretty nasty infection going on in her right eye and needed a tooth pulled; it took a few weeks of recuperating at her rescuer’s home and topical meds to get the conjunctivitis under control, but by the time we had an opening at our sanctuary in mid-June, Sansa’s gorgeous green eye was no longer swollen or inflamed. Although we were upset that she harbored the leukemia virus, the rest of her lab work was normal, and she had put on excellent weight since she was taken off the streets. Regardless of her time spent homeless, she is as sweet as spun sugar, yet solid and sturdy like her namesake. In a word, Sansa is spectacular.
Sansa is such a people-pleaser and meshed with our furry fold at Big Sid’s so easily. Just read what one of our volunteers had to say about her:
“Sansa is a little doll! She spends a good portion of her day watching birds and squirrels outside, but when she gets lonely, she walks around talking until she finds someone to hang out with, as she loves, loves, loves human attention of any kind. She’s quite the talker at times, a congenial little chatterbox with the most darling face, even when it is in motion. She has a very sweet disposition and has already been seen cuddled up twice sound asleep next to our big tough guy, Gibson. I think she’d get along great with other cats and would do well in any home.”
We don’t feel that having the virus is going to label Sansa as a difficult-to-adopt-kitty, as her personality and charm make her absolutely irresistible. Ideally we’d like to find her a catdom of her own to rule, but a house with felines of her own kind would be excellent too, as we all know every queen needs her court!
Want to adopt Sansa? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
By WKTV Staff
With the 4th of July nearly upon us, it’s a good time to review certain truths, one of which is that animals become frightened out of their wits when firecrackers pop, crackle and boom. Indeed, tales abound of hounds and cats making a run for it and getting lost in the process. Here’s how to keep your pet safe during this trying time.
But that’s not the only time a family pet can get lost. Oftentimes, a household move will spook Puff or Fido. And that’s just what’s happened to one of WKTV’s volunteers, who now finds her favorite feline missing.
Marisol Martinez recently moved from Wyoming (Michigan, of course) to Caledonia, and sometime during the move, her cat, Lukah, absconded from the new premises on Treadmill Ct. SE. Lukah isn’t familiar with the neighborhood and could quite possibly be biding his time under a porch, in some bushes — you name it, if you know cats, you know that they excel at hiding. Maybe he’s exploring the neighborhood and making new friends, but he could have at least told Martinez, who is worried sick about him.
Martinez hopes that a reader out there might find Lukah, or at least catch a glimpse. So do we. If you see Lukah, please contact Martinez at solcreations96@gmail.com or by phone, 706.271.8704.
We know he’s out there. Lukah, where are you, buddy?
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
In Carl Warfield’s hand’s-on natural science class, most of the student group leaders are seniors who have experience with the critters, with underclass persons waiting their turns to be primary “hand trainers” and out-in-the-community ambassadors of the program’s snakes and spiders and birds.
But East Kentwood High School seniors Anissa Reeves, Cassie Karel — group leaders for reptiles and birds, respectively — as well as fellow seniors Sammie Sutherlin and Courtney Guyott, have graduated with not only lessons in nature but in being part of a team.
“It is a unique, hand’s on experience for the kids,” Warfield said to WKTV about the students in his now, 20-(or so)-year-old program. “For some of these kids, it is just something to connect with. While large schools (like East Kentwood) offer a lot of opportunities, sometimes there are things that are not for everyone. We look at ourselves as just a slice of the pie, here at East Kentwood, offering something for everyone.
“We are one of those programs that, you know, you may not be an athlete, you may not be a musician, you may not be an artist. But if you got heart, and compassion, and animals are your thing, we’ve got something here for you.”
In a recent WKTV Journal newscast segment, we talked with Warfield about his program, and with Reeves and Sutherlin about why they picked the class — and why they picked the critters they cared for.
Other students who showed us around the class were juniors Brandon Shotwell, Marcus Caruth and Madison Poll — each in line to have expanded roles with the critters next year.
WKTV visited the class in May, just before the school year ended — a class located, or maybe better said “isolated” — at the end of a hallway and just about as far away from the administration office as possible at the sprawling school.
Snakes and spiders are not for everyone, after all.
By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
In April of 2019, a Freeland resident found this ADORABLE and outrageously outgoing fella (born in the spring of 2017) wandering around her house. He was so stinkin’ sweet that she couldn’t help but bring him in and fall hopelessly in love with him, but when he tested positive for Feline Leukemia, she realized she and her husband weren’t going to be in a position to keep him permanently. She emailed Dr. Jen to inquire about intake, and approximately a month later, Renly made his way to us. He passed his initial exam at the vet clinic with flying colors, with the exception of still retesting positive for FELV, so Dr. Jen sent him on down to Big Sid’s to meet his new roomies—and the volunteers who would be caring for him at our sanctuary.
It honestly takes all of two seconds for anyone who meets him to be enamored by his charm and enthusiasm for life; he is just so darned happy to be indoors, surrounded by people who will stop what they are doing to pet him, lift him up and carry him around. In fact, we’ve been told the following about our gorgeous, gregarious guy:
“Renly is so sweet! He is happiest being held like a baby and often demands to be picked up. He is very active and busy, always seems to be getting in to things and following volunteers around. He doesn’t really care about other cats at all, he really just wants to be around people. His rescuer said he really loves dogs. He would be amazing with kids!
“Renly is a very busy boy! He loves to run up and down the halls looking for anyone willing to play with him. He really enjoys toys, boxes, and anything he can chase. He’s one cat that enjoys being picked up and held. I have seen him be a little possessive of his food while eating with the others, but with time and patience he will do just fine with another cat or two. I’d love to see him in a home with kids that he can run and play with.”
We have no doubt that if he was virus-free, Renly would be scooped up instantly after posting his bio, but sadly this throws a wrench into things, since he can transmit the disease to others of the feline kind through bodily fluids (sharing dishes and litter boxes, grooming and rough play where biting could occur). However, we are confident that the right person is going to come along, gather him up into their loving arms and make him their very own, virus be damned.
He is such an amazing, adventurous and downright gleeful fella that whomever opts to take him home is going to be one of THE luckiest cat owners in our little corner of the world!
Want to adopt Renly? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
By WKTV Staff
“There’s no fear when you’re having fun.”
~ Will Thomas
You won’t want to miss Circle Theatre’s Magic Circle Production of Rapunzel, an adaptation by Karen Boettcher-Tate, starting on Thursday, June 26 at 7pm inside the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College. Preceding the show at 5:30pm, join the cast for the Magic Circle Party. This one-night only event will feature refreshments, crafts, games, Storytime with the cast, and VIP seating for opening night. Tickets to the Magic Circle Party are $22 and can be purchased at circletheatre.org.
It will be like they are right there with you. BASE Hologram has announced North American tour dates for Roy Orbison & Buddy Holly: The Rock ’N’ Roll Dream Tour, a groundbreaking tour featuring the award-winning rock and roll legends, including a stop in Grand Rapids on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, at 7:30pm in SMG-managed DeVos Performance Hall. Tickets are on sale now. More info here.
Start your summer weekends with an opportunity to connect to your body, breath, and nature at Blandford Nature Center. Classes are held outdoors, are accessible to all levels of experience, and start Saturday, July 13th, so don’t delay. Go here for details.
That’s how many words Scotland has for “snow”. Some examples: sneesl (to start raining or snowing); feefle (to swirl); flinkdrinkin (a light snow).
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
WKTV Community Media has a proud history with the recently retired Rev. Mark J. Bergsma — he’s been a volunteer high school sports announcer for years. But his being one of “the voices” in local sports scene falls pretty far down on his impressive resume of career accomplishments.
Rev. Bergsma served as pastor at Kentwood’s Unity Reformed Church for more than 40 years before he retired in May — and even by church leader standards, 40 years at at the same church is special. But he makes clear that the Unity Reformed community was just as special and that he was been rewarded in so many ways for his longevity.
Rev. Bergsma — Mark, as everybody knows him at WKTV — sat down outside the station recently to talk about his years at Unity and other parts of his past, present and future.
“I really believe that God led me to that church when I was in my mid-20s, graduating from seminary,” Rev. Bergsma said. “I had already spent 14 months there as an intern. I went back to school not intending to return. But the church called me back, asked me to come as their full-time pastor. In the process, they showed great patience with me, as a young man. And it was a tremendously supportive family atmosphere there, and that never changed over the years.”
However impressive was his work at Unity, much of his work and his story takes place outside the walls of his beloved church.
Mark’s years as a pastor also had him serving as overnight Chaplin at local hospitals and with the Kentwood police and fire departments, as well as worship leader at Holland Home Raybrook senior community — experiences which, he says, came with trials and rewards, but he knew it was his calling to also be out of the church and into the community.
Yet another aspect of Mark’s career is his work on the tennis courts at Kelloggsville High School. Yes, he became involved to coach his daughters, but he went on to proudly coach successful teams and mentor great young ladies. And his future plans include supporting the school district’s young tennis talent.
And his work at WKTV? Before and now after his retirement, WKTV’s high school sports coverage team is better thanks to Mark’s work. But how he got started at WKTV? That’s a funny story (see the video).
Finally, what’s next for Mark, at a pulpit, on a tennis court and with his family? Mark will certainly not be slowing down … OK, maybe there’s a little more fishing in his plans.
By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
On March 2nd and again on March 17th, we had what we believe to be an entire family of terrified cats dumped off in carriers. ‘The Shy Seven’ were the first to arrive, and then three more joined us, rounding things out to ‘The Timid Ten’. Needless to say, it was a huge ordeal for all involved, from the stunned volunteers who kept pulling cat after cat out of cramped carriers, to the traumatized kitties who had no idea what was going on, and finally to Dr. Jen who spent the greater part of two weekends at the clinic getting them program-ready.
The latter was no small feat, as every single cat (yup, all ten of them) were intact, four of the five girls were pregnant, and all ten were clearly out of their element and having major trust issues. Adding various medical issues to the mix—like fleas and a variety of internal parasites, dental disease and chronic herpes virus—we ended up having a heaping handful of kitties who needed a great deal of help, not only physically, but probably more importantly, mentally.
It was clear from the onset that the family had been neglected and lacking human contact for quite some time, given their poor body condition, long nails and a shyness that went beyond anything we have seen before—and we have seen a lot. We have no idea where they came from or why someone thought it was a good idea to displace them as they did without regard for our space or financial capabilities, but our proposed scenario is this: a kindhearted, elderly person owned them and, for whatever reason, let them breed and multiply, running rampant in the house and growing wilder and warier as the days wore on. We suspect this person then passed (or moved away), and the cats were left to fend for themselves until a family member (or landlord) came in and booted the entire lot of them out—and onto our doorstep.
Regardless, we’d like to think they were loved by someone at some point, as this helps us believe in the goodness of people, enough so to offset the stupidity and callousness of others.
Let’s just say that for the most part, the journey we have all been on together is ever evolving—and it is going to be a long road full of bumps, setbacks and, yes, triumphs along the way. It is now over two months since their arrival, and we are just now able to share their stories, as it has taken a great deal of time (and patience) to get to this point.
We have had one shining star, jovial Jenn, who has been trying to pave the way for her siblings/uncles/cousins/aunts to follow, so really, we should have renamed the group as ‘The Timid Ten, Not Including Jenn’. She was the only girl who wasn’t or hadn’t been pregnant, as her reproductive tract was underdeveloped; just 15 months (born in later 2017, we think, along with Dean, Desna, Roller and Quiet Ann), she turned out to be quite the trailblazer, assuming the role of matriarch of her furry family.
Dean and Roller are really good buddies, as they snuggle together all of the time. While Roller will let people pet him if they approach him slowly, Dean has made very little progress since he’s been with us. He is very comfortable here, though and is exploring more every day, although he typically runs right back into a hiding space as soon as someone enters the room. We think both of these boys will do very well in a home together once they had had ample time to bond with their owners.
At our free-roaming facility, cats like these have all of the time in the world to acclimate and adjust at their own rate—a snail’s pace if that is what is necessary. We have no cages, no time limits, no rules or regulations—each individual cat gets to stretch his legs at their own pace; each kitty gets to spread her furry little wings and fly when she is ready to leave the fold.
We offer a peaceful, secure environment to each and every cat in our care as long as they need it—and us. Slow and steady wins the race, and we firmly believe that with love, all things are possible; we surely can see endless possibilities and bright futures full of promise for this family of ours.
Want to adopt Dean? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
By WKTV Staff
Living is easy with eyes closed.
The Beatles
First comes the meet-and-greet with council members and city officials. And then, the grand affair — the meeting proper — at 7pm. This past Monday marked the Wyoming City Council’s first summer outdoor meeting. Read all about it here.
The council meets every first and third Monday of the month at 7pm. The July “on the road” meeting will be July 15 at St. John Vianney Church, 4101 Clyde Park Ave. SW, and the August meeting is Aug. 19 at Aurora Pond Senior Living & Retirement Community, 2380 Aurora Pond Dr. SW. Beats being cooped up indoors.
Hello West Michigan, West Michigan’s regional talent attraction and retention organization, will host its 6thannual Intern Connect conference on Wednesday, June 19, in Grand Rapids. The organization hopes to impart “essential skills” such as interpreting dress codes, navigating networking events, creating positive workplace communication and how to #adult to the more than 350 summer interns participating in the conference. More info here.
Recently, students and teachers gathered in the Kelloggsville High School auditorium for a time-honored tradition: signing day. The tables on the stage had logoed caps and contracts just waiting for signatures from high school seniors, ready to commit to a team for the coming year. Go here for the story.
The number of licks it takes to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop.
You’re welcome.
By City of Kentwood
The City of Kentwood has assembled a community-based Parks, Trails and Recreation Advisory Committee to plan for the City’s future.
“The City Commission has asked residents to perform a needed and exciting review process,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “This level of community input is paramount to ensure detailed visionary planning is performed today to preserve Kentwood’s excellent quality of life over the next 50 years.”
The advisory committee, which held its first meeting on Monday, June 3, with 21 members, was established to review and prioritize improvements to Kentwood’s parks, trails and recreational programming to align with the needs of the community.
The advisory committee provides broad community representation and is comprised of Parks and Recreation commissioners, City Commission’s AD HOC Strategic Planning Committee members, Planning commissioners, residents and business owners.
During the group’s first meeting, Ed Kape, who currently serves on Planning Commission and as chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, was named chair of the new advisory committee. Dustin Moseley, a Parks and Recreation commissioner, was named vice chair.
“Kentwood’s park system is near and dear to my heart. Having been a part of the community for 28 years, I’ve seen how we have grown,” Kape said. “Now we need to plan for the next 50 years and determine how we can continue to provide quality parks amenities for our community. I’m excited to be involved in this process.”
Following are all advisory committee members:
Robert Coughlin, City commissioner (Strategic Planning Committee), Parks and Recreation commissioner
Jessica Dennis, Tiffin University, community member
Christopher Furner, Worksighted Inc., community member
Mark Giles, Steelcase, community member
Jill Gorkowski, Spectrum Health, community member
Maurice Groce, City commissioner (Strategic Planning Committee)
Olivia Jenison-Bailey, Parks and Recreation commissioner
Karmen Johnson, Fifth Third Bank, community member
Ed Kape, Parks and Recreation commissioner, Planning commissioner
Stephen Kepley, City of Kentwood mayor, Strategic Planning Committee member
Mimi Madden, Parks and Recreation commissioner
Wallace Massie, Parks and Recreation commissioner
Trent Meyer, Parks and Recreation commissioner
David Moore, Parks and Recreation commissioner
Dustin Moseley, Parks and Recreation commissioner
Darius Quinn, Planning commissioner
Laurie Sheldon, City of Kentwood treasurer
Adam Shilling, YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, community member
Kevin Small, Parks and Recreation commissioner
Billy Smith, retired, community member
Travis Tate, Dan Vos Construction Company, community member
The committee will hold approximately nine meetings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of every month. Over the course of those meetings, the group will review the Parks and Recreation Business Plan, Parks Master Plan and Non-Motorized Trail Plan and recommend an implementation and sustainable funding plan to the City Commission by December 2019.
Please contact Deputy City Administrator Mark Rambo at 616-554-0770 or via email at rambom@kentwood.us for more information about the advisory committee.
