[huge_it_slider id=”49″]
By: Adrian Dang
On April 30, WKTV will host an evening to commemorate, through the lenses of music, the fateful Black Friday April event in Vietnam 41 years ago.
The event starts promptly at 7 p.m. Admission is free and please be on time.
By: Mike DeWitt
After a strong showing at the FIRST in Michigan State Championship, Kentwood’s own Code Red Robotics has earned a bid to the World Finals in St. Louis from April 27-30.
The State Championship at the DeltaPlex saw Code Red Robotics finish 11th in the qualifying rounds before eventually bowing out in the quarterfinals.
WKTV News will be sure to keep up on their journey!
By: Deidre Doezma-Burkholder
Earth Day is a day we are supposed to take time to take care of this planet we call home. We live here, and just like no one likes a messy house, a messy earth isn’t something fun to be in. I always try to do my part… I recycle, a lot. My recycling bin is nearly always filled to the brim by the time collection day comes. I donate clothes that are still in good condition but no longer fit my current styles. I even recycle my egg cartons to a neighbor that has several laying hens!
However, even I can get lazy with recycling, especially when it comes to technology. Technology feels like a little more effort needs to be put forth. Most of our technology goods can be recycled… but where? How? Ugh, I’ll just deal with it later.
Well my friends, later is now! This year is the year that we clean up our technology that we have cast aside. Let’s start with Comprenew.
Comprenew is a company headquartered in Grand Rapids that has over 20 recycle drop-off locations throughout Michigan, including four refurbished electronic retail stores. The revenue generated goes directly back into the community by funding Comprenew’s educational and workforce development programs.
On Earth Day, Friday, April 22, Comprenew will be in downtown Grand Rapids along Monroe Center in front of Rosa Parks Circle collecting CRT’s, for certified recycling. Residents can drop off unwanted CRTs, for a small fee, from 8am to 2pm.
Best Buy has a large recycling program with a goal of recycling 2 billion pounds of electronics – from batteries, cameras, appliances, and even your phone – by 2020.
Looking to upgrade your phone? Best Buy and certain cellular providers offer trade-in value for you phone.
Have an iPhone that is past its prime? Check out what Apple is doing with old phones they are getting back. Liam was recently introduced to the world and this is a pretty cool recovery robot. Speaking of Apple, through April 24 Apple is donating 100% of the proceeds from participating apps and in-app purchases to help support WWF.
Lastly, if you really want to see the tech behind recycling, make sure to schedule a trip to our own Recycling Facility. Kent County allows scheduled tours of their three facilities to help educate kids on what happens after the recycling truck stops by.
With all this great, new technology coming at us faster each and every year, it’s important to recycle the old once we’ve moved on to the new. Recycle today for a longer tomorrow.
Deidre owns and operates Organisum: Technology Services, a business serving the West Michigan area. In her free time she likes to hike & bike local trails with friends and family when she isn’t pinning, instagram’ing or Netflix’ing.
By GRandJazzFest
GRandJazzFest presented by DTE Energy Foundation returns to Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids, Mich., this Aug. 20 and 21, for the fifth annual festival. The popular family-friendly festival, which attracted more than 10,000 people last year, is West Michigan’s only free, weekend-long jazz festival. The two-day festival will again be free because of Presenting Sponsor DTE Energy Foundation, the City of Grand Rapids and other sponsoring organizations and individuals.
“Grand Rapids and West Michigan have embraced GRandJazzFest,” founder Audrey Sundstrom said. “We’re proud to say GRandJazzFest is one of the most diverse, community-oriented festivals for people who live here, who travel here, and who want to enjoy two days of great live music in a vibrant downtown setting. THIS is what community is all about.”
Each year, GRandJazzFest has been held at Rosa Parks Circle in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids to enable festival-goers to take in all that downtown has to offer: restaurants, clubs, museums, microbreweries and shops. The festival typically occurs during Restaurant Week in Grand Rapids. The festival’s location provides easy access to those who ride the bus, walk or bike, and is also close to parking.
The 2016 festival lineup will be announced on April 27 at the House of Entertainment and Music (H.O.M.E.) at The B.O.B. That night at H.O.M.E., the band Evidence led by saxophonist Michael Doyle takes the stage. Evidence performed at the 2014 GRandJazzFest.
Like last year’s reveal, festival organizers will coordinate with leaders at International Jazz Day to include GRandJazzFest’s reveal announcement as a sanctioned International Jazz Day event.
At the 2016 festival in August, 11 diverse jazz artists and bands will perform, including a student jazz band and two major headline acts.
Free face painting by Fancy Faces will be available for kids and, if lines aren’t too long, for “kids at heart.”
GR and Jazz (the non-profit, all-volunteer-run producer of GRandJazzFest) is pleased to announce a special collaboration with the Grand Rapids Art Museum: Under an agreement with GRAM, the festival’s VIP area will be located on the GRAM front terrace where refreshments and snacks will be provided. The VIP area is for sponsors of GRandJazzFest. Additionally, GRAM will have an outdoor bar area set up at the base of its front steps adjoining Rosa Parks Circle for attendees who would like to purchase and consume refreshments and enjoy the festival.
Grand Rapids city commissioners approved GRandJazzFest as one of 24 events that it will co-sponsor in 2016, a distinction only given to events that have proven to be successful and enrich the community. GRandJazzFest 2015 received distinction as a Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. Signature Event along with two other festivals, ArtPrize and LaughFest.
In addition to DTE Energy Foundation, the City of Grand Rapids, and GRAM, sponsors for the 2016 event to date include GR and Jazz, IntentPR, Gilmore Collection, Comcast, Hilger Hammond, Amway Hotel Corporation, Experience Grand Rapids, ICON Sign, Meijer, Moxie Men Incorporated, Hungerford Nichols, WGVU, Steelcase and Clark Hill. Sponsorship opportunities are here.
“We are so grateful to all of our sponsors for their support – we could not do it without them,” Sundstrom said. “We’re seeking additional sponsors to help us bring a full weekend of FREE, family-friendly live jazz performances to West Michigan!”
Get a taste of past GRandJazzFests by viewing the “recap” videos here.
More information on the 5th annual GRandJazzFest presented by DTE Energy Foundation can be found here and at the festival’s Facebook and Twitter sites.
By Mike DeWitt
The outside fortifications of the castle have taken serious damage as the opposing forces lick their chops readying for a takeover. Three valiant knights, bonded by an alliance, are all the castle has left. They band together and strike back, strategically battering the opposing stronghold with a flawlessly executed counterattack that places victory within reach.
Now all that’s left is to bring down the tower, and time is running out.
It’s a battle scene playing out straight from a movie. However, these knights aren’t people, they’re robots, and they’re built and operated by high school students on a quest for a state championship at the DeltaPlex from April 14-16..
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in Michigan is an organization and robotics competition that gives students an opportunity to build their own robots and compete against other teams. It’s a way for students to discover how rewarding a career in engineering or technology can be.
Code Red Robotics, a local program based in Kentwood, recently qualified for the Michigan FIRST Robotics State Championship that will be held this weekend at the DeltaPlex Arena. Code Red enters the competition with the highest district score in West Michigan, highest scoring regular season match in the country, and as a winner of the Chairman’s Award, the top award in FIRST.
The competition theme for this year is “FIRST Stronghold” and creates alliances of three robots on a quest to breach their opponents’ fortifications, weaken the opponents’ tower with foam boulders, and ultimately capture the tower. Students were given six weeks to create a robot from scratch that could best handle all the obstacles. In all, the outermost line of fortification had more than 18,000 possible field configurations.
“Robotics is a great opportunity for the kids to learn teamwork. It truly is a team sport,” said Code Red director Ken Orzechowski.
Code Red Robotics started in 2008 and hasn’t looked back. Since the team started competing in 2009, Code Red has qualified for the state championship every year but one and has qualified for the world championship twice.
While most robotics teams are affiliated with a school, Code Red Robotics runs separately and relies on students from surrounding area schools to bolster the team. It’s the most challenging obstacle for the program.
“We have to constantly reach out to kids to join,” said Orzechowski. “It’s difficult, but having a team represented by 10 different schools only adds to our team dynamic. Plus, once they get in, they don’t leave. It’s too much fun!”
The schools represented at Code Red include Byron Center, Caledonia, Calvin Christian, Forest Hills Central, Grandville, Kenowa Hills, NorthPointe Christian, South Christian, Well Spring Academy, and home schools. On top of bringing kids in from other schools to learn robotics and be a part of a team, Code Red has been active in starting up robotics programs across the area.
In order to get a new program off of the ground, Code Red meets with school and community leaders, recruits mentors to help the students, and aids in finding sponsors and developing business plans. Their efforts have succeeded in getting six programs off the ground and rebooting another: the Forest Hills Comets, East Kentwood Red Storm, the Altobots, West Mi Aviation Spitfires, Harper Creek Robo Beavers, and the Petoskey Paladins. Code Red was also instrumental in finding mentors and sponsors to revive the Wyoming Demons after they folded in 2012. The Demons also qualified for the state championship this year.
“Starting some of these programs has cut into our own pool of kids, but that’s okay. It’s all about spreading the positives that come with FIRST,” said Orzechowski.
Orzechowski touched on those positives that spread well beyond the technical skills learned.
“It forces kids to articulate what they know and share ideas. We have a lot of smart kids; at one point we had five valedictorians, but they don’t always know how to share their ideas. If you can’t articulate your idea, it’s as bad as not knowing it. The teamwork that is required for FIRST helps build those skills.”
Code Red Robotics will compete in the state championship at the DeltaPlex, April 14-16. For further information on the competition, visit FIRST in Michigan. For more information on Code Red Robotics, visit their website.
Mike DeWitt
Metro Health Hospital is home to some of the best maternity care and hip and knee replacements in the country. Recently, Metro Health received Blue Distinction Center status, a national designation program from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), for their exceptional treatment.
“The Blue Distinction Center designation lets our members know where they can go in Michigan to receive high-quality care that meets robust clinical standards,” said David Share, MD, MPH, and senior vice president at Blue Cross.
As a first time winner, Metro earned the award based on a number of measurements from BCBSM. BCBSM hands out the awards based on a combination of publicly available data and information it compiles from its subscribers’ medical claims. The examined data includes clinical measures, patient outcomes, and the cost of care. Patient satisfaction scores and patients’ willingness to recommend the hospital are also taken into account.
“Awards such as these from BCBSM are meaningful to the hospital for multiple reasons,” said PR Director Ellen Bristol in and email with WKTV News. “They confirm our teams are providing quality care to patients and they boost morale and a sense of pride among employees and physicians.”
Both award distinctions from BCBSM carried different criteria. The Spartan Stores Family Childbirth Center at Metro Health excelled in areas of early elective delivery and for maintaining programs that promote successful breastfeeding as well as requirements for cost efficiency.
Knee and hip replacements are the fastest growing medical treatments in the country, the BCBSM distinction recognizes Metro as a leader in safe and high-quality specialty hip and knee care.
“The recognition helps patients be confident in the organization and the people who are caring for them,” said Bristol. “Plus, they confirm to physicians that the hospital can provide their patients with the high quality care they want for their patients”
With an annual patient count of over 250,000 across West Michigan, a little recognition is just a reminder of the great work they do every day.
Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
Even though its charter said South Kent, the name Kentwood Jaycees just seemed to fit better when the group original formed in 1966. It certainly described the area that this particular chapter of the United States Junior Chamber covered.
But with recent changes, including absorbing the former Wyoming Jaycees chapter, the name did not seem to fit anymore. So in 2015, the former Kentwood Jaycees chapter rebranded itself as the South Kent Jaycees.
“It really broadens our horizon not only for the membership but for the communities we are able to help,” said Jen Groom, secretary of the South Kent Jaycees. “By staying Kentwood, we could only help Kentwood.”
A requirement of being part of the Jaycees organization is that you live within the state and are from the area the local chapter represents. Looking at its membership, South Kent Jaycees leaders discovered that many lived or worked outside of the Kentwood area. The name changed also allowed the organization to expand its reach into adjoining communities which include Grandville, Jenison, Byron Center, and Caledonia along with Kentwood and Wyoming.
With that South Kent Jaycees leadership was able to find a larger base of service and leadership opportunities. Most recently, the South Kent Jaycees worked with the Ronald McDonald House with a holiday wish list drive. South Kent Jaycees also have teamed up with the Grand Rapids Jaycees in an effort to bring the Kids Kicking Cancer program to the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Kids Kicking Cancer, which just expanded to help all children who are in pain, focuses on martial arts therapy.
“It is a really great outlet for the kids while they are in the hospital,” Groom said.
And should anyone fret over the Forest of Fear disappearing, Groom and the other board members confirmed plans are in the works for this year’s haunted attraction and that the popular Breakfast for Santa event also will continue.
Gone is the Kentwood Jaycees Club House, which before being the club house was a Pizza Hut located at 1640 44th St. SE. According to the group’s website, it was sold so the organization could focus more local trainings, community benefit programs and local partnerships.
“I joined the Jaycees to give back to my community, but what I get from it so much more than that,” said Marybeth Schafer, who is the secretary of the Grand Rapids Jaycees and is part of the Grand Rapids and South Kent Jaycees collaboration efforts. “It helps me grow personally and professional and I have made some really close friends.
“You also not only meet people in your area, but across the state and the nation.”
The Jaycees organization was established on January 21, 1920 to provide opportunities, at that time, for young men to develop personal and leadership skills through service to others. The organization included women in 1984 after the U.S. Supreme court ruled that Minnesota could prevent sex discrimination in private organizations. 1985 marked the end of the US Jaycee Women organization. Today, there are numerous Jaycees chapters around the globe. There are about 33 chapters in Michigan with five being in the West Michigan area, Allegan, Greater Muskegon, Lakeview (covering the Montcalm area), Grand Rapids and South Kent.
This year, according to Julia Klein, who is a District 2 Michigan Chairman of the Board and treasurer for the South Kent Jaycees, the Michigan Jaycees chapters will host the National Jaycee Conference which is set for Sept. 22 – 25 in Detroit.
But you do not have to wait until September, or head to Detroit, to learn more or join the Jaycees, said Scott Avery, South Kent Jaycees vice president. The organization has monthly membership meetings where potential members can learn more about events and meet other members. Meetings are rotated through the South Kent Jaycees coverage area. On April 20 at 6:30 p.m., the group will meet at Bigby’s in Wyoming. May 23 at 6:30 p.m., they will be at the Byron Family Restaurant, 2527 84th St. SW, Byron Center. On June 18, they will be meeting at 10 a.m. at EB Coffee and Pub, 8980 Rodgers Court SE, Caledonia.
More information can be found at the South Kent Jaycees’ website or the group’s Facebook page.
[huge_it_slider id=”34″]
The WKTV community gathered at Stony Brook Country Club on April 1 – and that’s no April Fools – to celebrate the volunteers to who make the station so special.
Since its inception as only the second community media station in the country in 1974, WKTV has given everyday citizens a platform for their voice and message to be heard. Volunteers have access to state-of-the-art video and editing equipment, studio space, a television channel, and an online newspaper to help mold their messages and stories about the communities they live in.
The best part? It’s all free!
Over 300 volunteers take advantage of the services WKTV has to offer in production, recording, editing, writing and filming. The Volunteer Appreciation Banquet is one way for the station to say thank you.
The banquet started with cocktails and a meet and greet before everyone sat down for dinner. The presentation of the awards followed dinner, but not before the premier of the annual volunteer appreciation videos courtesy of Nate Diedrich and the WKTV Production Staff.
“Producing these videos for the volunteer appreciation event allows us to express our sincere gratitude for all the effort our volunteers and producers put into creating quality content throughout the year,” said Nate.
When the room finally quieted down from all the laughter, the awards were ready to be handed out.
Volunteer of the Year was rewarded to Doug Remtema for his willingness and ability to help out on multiple projects at the station. Doug is a real pro and makes life easier on whichever project is lucky enough to utilize his talents.
Doug Hansen was recognized for Lifetime Achievement. Doug started at the station back in the 80s and has continued to be a resource for both volunteers and staff members.
Kathryn Gray was chosen as Citizen Reporter of the Year for her ability to make individuals come alive through the written word.
Community Service Programming went to Thomas Hegewald. The Community Service award is given to the volunteer who not only creates their own programming, but is also willing to volunteer on other projects as well.
On top of the four individual awards, volunteers were recognized for their individual service at the station.
23 volunteers were first year volunteers, 16 joined the 100 hour club, six citizen reporters in attendance were recognized for their yearly contributions, four volunteers were recognized for five years at the station, two volunteers were recognized for 10 years, four volunteers were recognized for 15 years, and two volunteers were recognized for 20 years of service.
19 shows were recognized for Program Dedication Awards.
WKTV is run by the volunteers who make everything possible. The volunteer banquet is one more night for them to shine.
Full list of volunteers recognized:
Volunteer of the Year: Doug Remtema
Citizen Reporter of the Year: Kathryn Gray
Community Service Programing: Thomas Hegewald
Lifetime Achievement Award: Doug Hansen
100 Hour Club
Terri Rees – 711
Doug Remtema – 494
Gary Vande Velde – 480
Alan Dunst – 446
Mike Bacon – 279
Barb VanDuren – 278
Thomas Hegewald – 249
Tom Sibley – 220
Sophia Maslowski – 190
Phil Moore – 172
Carrie Bradstreet – 149
Dan Simone – 122
Kristyn Miller – 117
Nathan Krzykwa – 111
Doug Hansen – 110
Athina Morehouse – 103
Program Dedication
A Day in the Dirt – Gary Vande Velde
Catholic Forum – Alan Dunst
Community Awareness – Donna Smith
Feel Like You Belong – Alan Headbloom
Fools for Christ – Jim Dohm
High School Sports – Paul Kableman
Is That Really Me on TV – Melanie Evans
OnPoint – Thomas Hegewald
River Reflections – Rosemary Burns
Senior Exercise – Chris Rush
Silent Voices – Dennis Lawrence
So & Mo Presents – Sophia Maslowski
Sounds of Summer – Patty Williams
Talking God & Guns – Janice Brown
Tips, Tricks & Techniques – Chef Terri Rees
Veteran’s History Project – James Smither
Whittlin’ Time – Mike Bacon
VMTV – Hung Nguyen
You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me America – Carrie Bradstreet
First Year
Dan Davis – Whittlin’ Time
Gina Greenlee – OnPoint
Robert Gonzalez – Sports/Plus
Wendy Jenkins – Silent Voices
Mark Kelly – Sports
Mark Lange – Sports
Linh Le – VMTV
Cameron McCargar – Sports
Brice Miller – Sports
Athina Morehouse – OnPoint
Angela Peavey – Indie Films
Reid Petro – Indie Films
Steve Pham – VMTV
Bill Roelfsema – OnPoint
Eric Sheler – OnPoint
Michelle Sheler – OnPoint
Downie Streahl – Sports/Plus
Kevin Ton – VMTV
Lillie Towns – Silent Voices
Barb VanDuren – Chef Terri Right Hand
Arturo Varela – Mision Evangilistica
Chris Williams – Sports
5 Years
Ray Boisvenue – Fools for Christ
Karen Graham – Schubert Chorus/Plus
Mike Moll – Sports Announcer
Ron Schultz – Sports Announcer
10 Years
Mark Bergsma – Sports
Anne VanDreumel – Shubert/Plus/Plus
15 Years
Girbe Eefsting – Digital Cinema Guild
Eddie Grover – Various Shoots
Gary Vande Velde – Day in the Dirt/Sports/Plus
Mike VanDreumel – Mr. Fix It/Everything
20 Years
Mark Tangen – Dream Wheels/Festivals of Chefs
Dick Visser – Board/Direct: Reading Train/Beanie Babies/Crafty Ladies
By Erin Albanese — School News Network
Tina Murua sat down recently with Kelloggsville Middle School seventh-graders Genesis Figuero and Kiara McBride. The girls were ready to talk face-to-face about problems with their friendship, prompted by hurt feelings and misunderstandings.
Taking turns holding a bag of marbles to designate who could speak in the Restorative Circle, the girls, through guided conversation with Murua, told each other what was on their minds. Turns out, they really never wanted to stop being best friends but got caught up in a game of she said/she said.
At the end of the discussion, the girls signed an agreement to talk directly to each other about any concerns.
Without Murua to talk to, the girls might have wound up in the principal’s office for gossiping or arguing. Instead, they used a new tool available to them: restorative justice. Murua began working last fall at Kelloggsville Middle School on three afternoons a week as facilitator for the program that aims to teach students how to peacefully resolve conflicts.
Kiara and Genesis said they felt positive about the agreement. Restorative justice was a better way to solve their problem than continuing to argue. “I like this better because if you are going to the principal or dean you are getting in trouble. I like to go somewhere where I’m not getting in trouble and can sort out my problems,” Kiara said. “It’s good because if you don’t want to talk to the teacher or principal, you have (Murua) to help.”
A new outreach of the Grand Rapids-based nonprofit Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan (DRCWM), restorative justice helps students solve differences using trained mediators. Many students’ conflicts center around friendships, gossiping or social media arguments, though they see Murua for bigger offenses–like stealing or fighting–sometimes after suspension, as well.
Students often just need the skills to respond appropriately to conflict. Sometimes that hasn’t been modeled well at home, Murua said. “I think these kids are so interesting, and they are just trying to find their way. There are a lot of them who struggle,” she said. “I don’t think a single one of them is a bad kid. Some of them are in rough situations, and they don’t have the internal resources to deal with it.”
A Non-Punitive Approach
As a third-party, Murua provides a place where students feel comfortable talking things out without facing punishment.
“It is a different way to approach conflict or difficult behavior. When we are talking about student discipline traditionally, we ask, ‘What was the rule? Who broke it? What is the punishment?’ Instead we’re asking, ‘What happened? Who was affected or harmed, and what needs to be done to repair the harm and keep it from happening again?'”
While restorative justice isn’t a new philosophy or curriculum, it flips the traditionally punitive school-discipline model. It is also being used at Lee Middle School in Godfrey-Lee Public Schools and at Wyoming High School in Wyoming Public Schools. In Grand Rapids Public Schools, more than two dozen schools have implemented restorative practices and more than 1,500 students have participated, Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal reported this fall.
Kelloggsville students may still be suspended as part of the discipline program there, but they often meet with Murua after they return. Christine Gilman, executive director for the DRCWM, said they first approached Godfrey-Lee to start the program last year because of a disproportionate rate of suspensions and expulsions for minority and special-education students. Wyoming High School and Kelloggsville administrators expressed interest when the center wanted to expand the program. “It is such a powerful way to help improve the school community and culture, to make communication really valued and where students use their communication skills to solve problems,” Gilman said.
A Way to Build Community
Oftentimes, including in the case of suspension, students are cut off, at least temporarily, from the school community. Restorative justice instead makes students accountable for their behavior. They have to own up to the situation and become part of the solution. “I like to focus on the word ‘restorative’ as opposed to ‘retributive,'” said Murua, a self-described “recovering lawyer.” “Retribution traditionally focuses on ‘You do something bad to us, we do something bad to you.'” The long-term goal is to interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline by creating stronger schools and students who have a sense of belonging.
Students who are suspended have a much higher percent chance of repeating a grade or dropping out of school. They are significantly more likely to go into juvenile detention programs and then to jail, according to a Texas study, Breaking Schools’ Rules: A Statewide Study of How School Discipline Relates to Students’ Success and Juvenile Justice Involvement, prepared by the Council of State Governments Justice Center in partnership with the Public Policy Research Institute at Texas A&M University. “Removing students from the community creates alienation,” Gilman said. “A strong community is the best defense against all sorts of anti-social behavior.”
The outcome of a successful restorative justice program is fewer suspensions. Students are also less likely to repeat bad behaviors and the need for classroom discipline decreases, Murua said. Principal Jim Alston said restorative justice is another level in helping students resolve conflict before they end up in his office. “They are more apt to open up and face each other. It forces them to learn the skills of being able to talk to each other.” Wyoming High School Assistant Principal Josh Baumbach said they’ve already seen a reduction in suspensions since starting the program this fall. “It has allowed students a safe process to work out their differences and it helps ensure the issue does not come back as soon as students return to the hallways and classrooms,” he said.
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
Check out Kent School Service Network for further information.
By Victoria Mullen
victoria@wktv.org
When César Chávez was 11 years old, his family’s home was lost after his father made a deal to clear 80 acres of land in exchange for the deed to the house. The agreement was broken, and when Chavez’s father tried to buy the house, he could not pay the interest on the loan and the house was sold back to its original owner. It was the Great Depression, and Chávez and his family were forced to became migrant farm workers. The family would pick peas and lettuce in the winter, cherries and beans in the spring, corn and grapes in the summer, and cotton in the fall.
Chávez worked in the fields until 1952, when he became an organizer for the Community Service Organization (CSO), a Latino civil rights group. Chávez urged Mexican Americans to register and vote, and he traveled throughout California and made speeches in support of workers’ rights. In 1958, he became CSO’s national director.
Dedicating his life to workers’ rights, empowerment of the poor and disenfranchised, civil rights, economic justice,
environmental justice and peace, Chávez always used non-violent methods to further his causes. He organized strikes and boycotts, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers union, UFW) along with Dolores Huerta, and undertook a number of fasts.
After his death, Chávez became a major historical icon for the Latino community. Many streets, schools and parks are named after him. He has since become an icon for organized labor and leftist politics, symbolizing support for Hispanic empowerment and for workers based on grassroots organizing. Barack Obama adopted Chávez’s slogan, “Sí, se puede” (Spanish for “Yes, one can” or, roughly, “Yes, it can be done”), as his 2008 presidential campaign slogan.
Each year across the country, César Chávez Day brings together hundreds of thousands who participate in celebrations, service and learning projects, and other activities that further Chávez’s many causes. Michigan is among the eight states that observe the holiday.
César Chávez National Holiday was established by Los Angeles volunteers who organized and led the effort in California. The legal holiday bill was signed into law on August 18, 2000. The holiday is celebrated in California on César E. Chávez’s birthday March 31st. This marked the first time that a labor leader or Latino has been honored with a public legal holiday.
In Grand Rapids, the Committee to Honor César Chávez plans several events throughout the year to honor the best-known Latino American hero, and the festivities begin March 17 when, at 11 am, the César E. Chávez Social Justice March begins at The Potters House School, corner of Grandville Ave. SW and Van Raalte Dr. SW. Participants will march north on Grandville to The Edge Urban Fellowship.
A Community Gathering follows at 11:30 am at The Edge Urban Fellowship, 735 Ritzema Ct. SW in Grand Rapids. Lead Pastor “PT” Troy Evans will officiate.
The festivities culminate in a luncheon at 1 pm at the Maya Mexican Grill, 1020 28th St. SW, Wyo
ming. The 2016 César E. Chávez Unity Luncheon will congratulate and welcome new Grand Rapids mayor, Rosalynn Bliss; and students from elementary to university level will showcase their musical talent and leadership abilities with special music, poetry and presentations. There will be a special tribute to Kathleen Straus, member of the State Board of Education, who has fought discrimination and worked to build bridges between races, religious and ethnic groups, and to promote social justice and education. A $25 donation per person is requested.
For more info about the march, community gathering and luncheon, go here. For a list of upcoming events, go here.
By: Eric Snoek
Who wouldn’t want to laugh, break a world record, and help support an amazing organization within your community? Gilda’s LaughFest does exactly that!
LaughFest is in its sixth year of bringing enjoyment and excitement to the community of Grand Rapids. The festival runs for ten days starting with the Community Kickoff on March 10 at 5:30 pm at the Calder Plaza.
What better way to kick off such an incredible event then breaking a world record?
Gilda’s LaughFest has done an amazing job over the past six years by finding silly ridiculous records that are exciting and fun for the community to achieve together. This year they hope to redeem themselves by taking back the Guinness World record for “largest rubber chicken toss.”
“This will be our sixth attempt to set a world record. We’re hoping to take back our original world record we set tossing rubber chickens in our first year of LaughFest,” said Wendy Wigger, President of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and LaughFest. “We’ve broken four out of five world records for most people wearing sunglasses in the dark, wearing false mustaches, wearing animal noses at a single venue and of course, the number of rubber chickens tossed.”
Back in 2011 Gilda’s LaughFest broke the rubber chicken record with 925 rubber chickens tossed. That same year, a church in Ontario, Canada broke the record by tossing 999. LaughFest plans on providing the first 1,200 participants with rubber chickens so they can shatter the previous record.
LaughFest is designed to bring the community of Grand Rapids together for laughter and a bigger cause. There will be 200 different entertainment events throughout the city, many of them free, during the ten-day festival. There are events for all ages.
By attending LaughFest, you are not only helping yourself by adding more laughter to your life but you are always helping many community members in needs. About 15 percent of the profits go towards Gilda’s Club. Gilda’s Club helps support grieving children, adults, families and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving the death due to any cause. The organization runs solely on charitable donations and currently helps more than 10,000 individuals every year.
Make sure to enjoy LaughFest in its entirety! It only comes once a year.
By UICAEnjoy dinner and a movie, Wes Anderson style. Learn how to make Courtesans Au Chocolat inspired by the film’s pastry shop, Mendle’s. After indulging in delicious pastry treats, head to the UICA Movie Theater to watch the film.
About Grand Budapest Hotel:
In the 1930s, the Grand Budapest Hotel is a popular European ski resort, presided over by concierge Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes). Zero, a junior lobby boy, becomes Gustave’s friend and protege. Gustave prides himself on providing first-class service to the hotel’s guests, including satisfying the sexual needs of the many elderly women who stay there. When one of Gustave’s lovers dies mysteriously, Gustave finds himself the recipient of a priceless painting and the chief suspect in her murder.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Class/Dinner: 3:00-5:00 pm at Downtown Market, 435 Ionia St. SW, Grand Rapids.
Call 616.805.5308 for more info and to register.
Movie: 5:30 pm at UICA, 2 Fulton West, Grand Rapids.
Call 616.454.7000 for more info.
TICKET PRICE: $38
Includes class registration, snacks, and movie admission.
By: Carrie Bistline
Youth Librarian and workshop presenter Kristen “Kris” Siegel demonstrated how to cook easy, delectable vegan comfort foods this past weekend, proving that opting for vegan does not equate a sacrifice for the palate. The spread included demos and taste samples for brunch, lunch, dinner and dessert, using a multiple-table spread spanning half the width of the Wyoming KDL community room.
“I’m a vegan for animal rights, environmental and health reasons,” said Kris, who has been vegan since 2009. She admitted to the audience that switching to vegan wasn’t easy, initially. It took practice, preparation, trials and errors and a great deal of help from her ever-growing collection of vegan cookbooks. She’s found a routine, formed her own adaptations, and she’s willing to share her tips for cooking vegan with all who seek the knowledge.
Being a taste-tester myself of each of the samples, I’d say it is absolutely time for Kris to write her own cookbook. Who knew the secret ingredient in Tofu Scramble was the sulfury-smelling black salt? Or that pulverized cashews could replace cheese for a creamy, comfort-food pasta? Or that nutritional yeast can be substituted for cheese in thousands of recipes, including Vegan Basil Pasta?
But wait, did I mention there was dessert? A 95-calorie serving of Genius Chocolate-Chip Blondies, created with the unlikely combo of a 15-ounce can of white beans and peanut butter, among other ingredients.
After successfully entrancing us with the kind of spell only expertly prepared comfort food can induce, Kris sent us on our way with an impressive list of her favorite Vegan resources in Grand Rapids (email Kris Siegel at ksiegel@kdl.org for a copy), a brochure highlighting her favorite vegan cookbooks (circulated by KDL!) and eight pages of vegan honorable mention comfort food recipes. The recipes included her own addendums with tips on substitutions and meal leftover uses.
While the Wyoming KDL Vegan Cooking Demo left vegans, omnivores and multi-faceted dabbler like me, dazzled and impressed, Kris finds a comfort of her own in her vegan venture. “It makes me feel like I’m in alignment with my beliefs,” she said.
The workshop was not only impressive and educational, but also incredibly genuine.
Next up for Wyoming KDL: Parent and Child Yoga. Visit the KDL Events Website for more info on upcoming events.
Carrie Bistline is a freelance writer, blogger and marketer with an MFA in Creative Writing. She divides her free time amongst family, work, sports and Jane Austen, and uses what’s left to chip away at her every-growing bucket list.
By Tyler Lecceadone
Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s only community-wide festival of laughter, has announced their upcoming “High Five” Corporate Challenge Day open to all West Michigan businesses, offices and organizations to participate.
The “High Five” campaign celebrates the importance of emotional health and the role laughter plays in our lives. It creates visibility for the cancer and grief support programs offerfed through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and Gilda’s Club Lowell. This year they’re illuminating their children’s programs – cancer, grief and in-school emotional health programs.
Organizations may collect donations by inviting employees to wear jeans to work, or a hat, or a tee shirt, or the color yellow (for LaughFest!) or any other seriously fun and funny thing they can offer their team as “special” that fits with their culture and work environment. This year’s Grand Prize for the organization that raises the most money in High Fives on March 4 includes LaughFest tickets, merchandise, and goodies, along with restaurant gift certificates and more.
How the “High Five” campaign works is simple. Each participating business or organization is asked to give Gilda’s LaughFest a “High Five” ($5 donation or greater per person that wishes to participate). Their goal is to generate $50,000 for children living with cancer or grief, and for their in-school emotional health programs. All proceeds raised go directly to Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids.
“We’re very grateful for all the past companies who participated and helped us raise funds for our children’s programs,” said Wendy Wigger, president of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and LaughFest. “We’re hoping to get many more local businesses and organizations to participate this year.”
Gilda’s LaughFest was created by a team at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids in 2011. Designed to celebrate laughter for the health of it, LaughFestfeatures free and ticketed events including stand-up, improv, film, authors, community showcases and a variety of seriously funny stuff. PastLaughFest headliners have included George Lopez, Wanda Sykes, Billy Gardell, Iliza Schlessinger, Jay Leno, Lily Tomlin, Chris Tucker, Mike Birbiglia, Margaret Cho, Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg, Mike Epps, Rodney Carrington, Martin Short, Kevin Nealon, Wayne Brady, Jim Breuer, Joel McHale, Lewis Black and Brian Regan. Proceeds from the festival will go to support the free cancer, grief and emotional health programs offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Visit the website, or call 616.735.HAHA (4242) to learn more about Gilda’s LaughFest.
By GRAM
Between 1894 and 1948, some of the most beautiful and functional art objects of the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements were created at the Newcomb Pottery Enterprise in New Orleans. The Pottery was an innovative educational experiment as much as an operational facility: it was conceived in the late 19th century at Newcomb Memorial College, Tulane University’s coordinate institution for women, as an income-generating venture for women training in the applied arts.
The Newcomb School operated under the philosophy that no two handcrafted objects should be alike, as evident in the wide-ranging works of the exhibition. The selection of handcrafted objects showcases the Pottery artisans’ unique interpretations of animal and botanical subjects, including the flora and fauna of the American South.
Women, Art, and Social Change includes examples from the full range of the Newcomb collection, from the naturalistic, blue and green tones, to the signature design of vertically banded spatial divisions, to the austere, modernist aesthetic that celebrated the vessel form. The exhibition is rounded out with historical photographs and artifacts that lend additional insight into the Newcomb Pottery story.
The exhibition serves as a retrospective of the works of the students and teachers of Newcomb Memorial College, and their important contribution to women’s rights and social change. The Newcomb model proved successful during a time of economic hardship, providing financial stability and economic autonomy for numerous women, who established themselves vocationally as independent artisans, instructors, activists, and businesswomen. This pioneering cohort of self- reliant women not only made a lasting impact on the art community, but also proved the value of an education, during a time in which learning opportunities for women in the Deep South were lacking.
Over 125 rarely exhibited Newcomb ceramics, tableware, jewelry, textiles, bookbinding, and graphics, from one of the most remarkable collections of 20th century American pottery, are on display at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM), 101 Monroe Center NW. Call 616.831.1000 for info.
By Victoria Mullen
No, Virginia. There is no St. Baldrick. Nope, no such saint. But there is a St. Baldrick’s Foundation. And every year, people around the U.S. and in some countries shave their heads to raise awareness and money to fund childhood cancer research.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity that funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government. Its name is a combination of “St. Patrick’s Day” and the word, “bald.” People who shave their heads are known as “Shavees.”
Things sure have changed since the event’s inception on March 17, 2000, at Jim Brady’s Bar and Restaurant in New York City. What began as a challenge between three friends has morphed into the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraiser to benefit childhood cancer research.
Childhood cancer affects thousands of kids and families around the world each year. It’s the #1 disease killer of children in the U.S. The statistics are sobering: Worldwide, a child is diagnosed every three minutes. (Worldwide, 175,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year.) And in the U.S., more children die of childhood cancer than any other disease—more than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies and diabetes combined.
Approximately 1 in 285 kids in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before they turn 20. What’s particularly tragic is that at the average age of 6, kids will lose 71 years of life to cancer. They won’t grow up, marry or have children of their own.
“I can’t wait for the event!” said Patrick Schrager, who is organizing the March 6 event. This will be his eighth year as a Shavee and his third year running an event. His fundraising goal is $15,000. If you’re interested in making a donation on Schrager’s head, go to St. Baldrick’s website or call 888.899.BALD.
Now you won’t be blindsided when you happen across a bunch of bald folks Sunday, March 6, at 84th Street Pub & Grille (8282 Pfeiffer Farms Dr SW, Byron Center). Au contraire. You’ll know that they stand in solidarity with kids being treated for cancer.
By LaughFest
It’s often said laughter is the best medicine. Unfortunately for many, laughter simply isn’t enough. So for the fourth year in a row, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids (GCGR) and LaughFest are partnering with Michigan Blood and Blue Care Network to host blood drives during LaughFest. The drives will be held February 29-March 3, 2016.
“We are thankful for this partnership with Michigan Blood and Blue Care Network,” said Wendy Wigger, president, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. “Many cancer patients rely on blood product transfusions. Donating blood is a great way for loved ones, and even complete strangers, to make a real difference in the health of patients in need.”
For every person that donates blood, Blue Care Network (BCN) will donate $5 towards LaughFest’s High Five campaign, which supports the free emotional healthcare, cancer, and grief support programs offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Individuals interested in donating directly to the “High Five” campaign may do so by clicking here.
“Hundreds of Michigan patients are in need of blood every single day,” said Jessica Iloff, manager of community responsibility at Blue Care Network. “Whether they suffered an accident or are receiving treatment for cancer, these patients depend on lifesaving transfusions. Blue Care Network is happy to partner with Gilda’s Club and Michigan Blood each year to make it convenient for LaughFest attendees to provide blood to those who need it most.”
Donors will also receive a t-shirt, along with a chance to win tickets to see Michael Palascak, Roy Wood Jr., and other hilarious LaughFest shows.
Please visit one of the following locations for your chance to save a life, support Gilda’s Club and share some laughter.
Grand Rapids Donor Center
1036 Fuller NE, Grand Rapids
Monday, February 29, 9 am – 7 pm
Grandville Donor Center
Grandville United Methodist Church
3140 Wilson Avenue SE
Thursday, March 3, 12:00 – 7:00pm
Michigan Blood wants to remind the public that they are the sole provider of blood and blood products for the majority of hospitals in Michigan, including Spectrum Health, Metro Health, and Mercy Health Saint Mary’s. Donations that are given outside of Michigan Blood do not stay local nor have a direct impact in your local community. Donate blood at Michigan Blood and help save the lives of patients in Michigan hospitals. Any healthy person 17 or older (or 16 with parental consent) who weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to donate. Blood donors should bring photo ID. For additional information on donating blood, and to make an appointment, click this link.
About Michigan Blood
Founded in 1955, Michigan Blood is a fast growing, independent, non-profit blood bank headquartered in Grand Rapids. It provides blood products and services for more than 50 hospitals throughout Michigan and is an established leader in quality and service. Michigan Blood collects more than 125,000 units of blood each year at nine permanent donation sites and more than 3,600 mobile blood drives in 40 counties statewide. Michigan Blood has a nationally recognized stem cell (marrow) program and created Michigan’s first public cord blood bank. In addition, Michigan Blood provides therapeutic apheresis, cellular therapies for the treatment of cancer and transfusion medicine consultations. For more information, click this link.
About Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids
Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is a free cancer and grief support community of children, adults, families and friends. Its comprehensive program includes education, structured sharing times, networking, lectures, workshops and social activities. Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is the largest and busiest of the 52 affiliates in North America. The organization runs entirely on charitable donations and currently serves more than 10,000 individuals each year at its clubhouses in Grand Rapids and Lowell, Mich., in various schools and in five community centers. For more information, visit their website.
About Blue Care Network
Blue Care Network of Michigan features award-winning disease management programs and the largest HMO network of physicians and hospitals in the state, with more than 5,000 primary care physicians, 16,000 specialists and most of the state’s leading hospitals. Blue Care Network is the affiliated HMO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, go here and here.
By: Mike DeWitt
What started as a routine tree removal ended up igniting an inner-passion in Wyoming resident, and former city commissioner, Greg Bryan.
“If the city was smart, they would’ve replaced my tree and this group never would’ve been created,” exclaimed Greg with a tinge of humor in his voice before getting serious once again. “When the city came in and chopped down my trees, I said to myself, ’this has to stop!’ So, I called [city council member] Kent Vanderwood and told him we have to do something.”
That ‘something’ has morphed itself into a group called the ‘Tree Amigos,’ a Wyoming, Michigan citizens committee supporting a vibrant tree canopy. The group started as a Neighborhood Watch campaign to raise awareness of the Gypsy moth blight in the Oriole Park neighborhood.
Now the group has a new focus: to establish a new commission centered on planting trees in the City of Wyoming. Ultimately, the goal is to have Wyoming become the 120th city in Michigan, and part of 3,400 communities nationwide, to become a part of Tree City USA. In order to achieve status as a member of Tree City USA, a community must meet four core standards of sound forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and celebrating Arbor Day.
A tree planting program is nothing new for Wyoming. In fact, a program existed back in the 70’s to plant and install trees under contract by the township. However, the program ran out of money due to budget cuts and the city hasn’t planted trees since.
“There’s so much beauty and serenity in trees and the wildlife that comes with them. There are also huge health benefits as well,” explained Tree Amigos member Stelle Slootmaker on her decision to help lead the group.
Those benefits? Well, trees are extraordinarily energy-efficient. Amazingly, 100 trees remove 26 tons of CO2 and 300 pounds of pollutants from the air. They provide the net cooling effect of 1,000 air conditioners! The same number of trees can also intercept more than 200,000 gallons of rainwater each year, reducing the need for storm water controls, and providing cleaner water.
On top of reducing costs for the city over time, trees can also add market value to residential real estate. One large tree can add 10 percent.
While trees are helpful from a numbers perspective, they also benefit in ways that are more difficult to measure. Trees build strong ties to neighborhoods and communities. They help promote better psychological well-being and make people happier. More trees are linked to faster hospital recoveries, increased employee productivity, less crime, and reduction in stress and anxiety.
According to one survey, having on average 10 more trees in a city block improved how someone rated their health by a level comparable to an increase in annual personal income of $10,000, moving to a neighborhood with a $10,000 median income, or being seven years younger.
With all the benefits of trees, it seems like a no-brainer for the city to implement a tree planting plan. However, whenever there’s work to be done, there needs to be someone willing to take up the new workload. It’s always easier said than done.
That’s where the Tree Amigos come in. The group has already put in the time and effort to research the steps to make Wyoming a part of Tree City USA. They have also taken the time to present the idea of forming a new commission to the City Council. Most importantly, the Tree Amigos aren’t simply dropping the workload for someone else to pick up. They’re looking to be on the front line as volunteers wherever this effort takes them.
“It’s important to Greg. He represents a neighborhood that needs help with trees,” said Wyoming City Council Member Kent Vanderwood. “It’s the right response for us to get behind as a city. Whatever I can do to help, I’m going to do.”
Two members of the Tree Amigos, Stelle and Arborist Bill Brown, gave a formal presentation at the City Council meeting on February 8. They are meeting with the Council again this Wednesday, February 24, to talk about the next step.
Bill is hoping everyone is on the same page going forward, “I grew up in Wyoming. This is what I do everyday. I understand the importance of trees. It’s something Wyoming needs now.”
LaughFest, the annual 10-day comedy festival, is bringing back some popular community showcases and events. But that’s not all. They’re adding some new experiences, too. All told, there will be more than 200 free and ticketed shows featuring over 100 artists at more than 40 venues in Grand Rapids and Lowell. Headliners include Seth Meyers, Kathy Griffin, Ron Funches, Anjelah Johnson, Roy Wood, Jr., Chris D’Elia, Bert Kreischer and Heather McDonald.
There’s an awful lot to do, but do take the time to explore these fun opportunities:
“What Makes You Laugh?“ The Youth Art and Writing Competition entry deadline has been extended to February 26. Students K-12 are invited to write a short story or poem about what makes them laugh. All entries will be displayed in Grand Rapids during LaughFest. The top three winners in each grade division will be awarded prizes. No entry fee.
“What Makes You Smile Exhibit“ is a LaughFest campaign illuminating what makes GRPS students smile. Check out the smiles at the Gerald R. Ford Airport all 10 days of the festival.
The LaughFest Celebrity Lip Sync showcases local medial personalities vying for the title of best celebrity lip sync in this singing competition. It’s a free, Fast Pass ticket event on March 13 at 1 pm at The B.O.B. on the third floor.
She’s baaaack! Two-time Emmy award-winning producer, writer and storyteller, Teresa L. Thome, is back with her three-hour “Unleash Your Creativity“ writing workshop on March 14 at Campau Square Plaza, 99 Monroe Ave. NW, above Panera Bread. Take this opportunity to learn fun, creative writing and improvisational exercises to inspire your best creative self. Registration is $25.
Named 2013’s Funniest Person in Grand Rapids, Nardos Osterhart brings her one-woman show, Halfrican sharing her life story about moving from Africa to America when she was five years old and how she juggles the two different worlds. March 16 at 8 pm at the Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St. SE. Tickets are $10.
Gilda’s LaughFest Central will open its doors on February 22 inside the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM), located at 101 Monroe Center. Here you’ll find festival headquarters for all LaughFest information, as well as a site to purchase merchandise and pick up “Fast Passes.”
What the heck is a Fast Pass? Well, it guarantees you a seat for most free LaughFest shows as long as you’re seated 15 minutes prior to the event start time. After that, walk-up seating begins and Fast Passes expire, leaving you to scramble for a seat, assuming there is one to be found. A bit of an incentive here.
All LaughFest members will have a chance to get the passes before the public can get their hands on them.
After that brief encounter of chilly weather this past week, about everyone’s thoughts have turned to warmer weather. Well here’s something to warm you up: there is only 105 days before Wyoming’s Concerts in the Park returns to Lamar Park.
O.K., so it is a little more than three months, but to put together a 10-week concert series, the planning has to start almost when the last series ended. The Wyoming Community Enrichment Commission, which oversees the series, has been hard at work, lining up the performers for the 2016 Concerts in the Park and even have begun releasing a few teasers as to who is coming on the Wyoming Concerts in the Park Facebook page.
“We like to say that we are continuing the tradition of good entertainment at Lamar Park,” said Brandon Simmons, who is on the Wyoming Community Enrichment Commission. Simmons is referring to Lamar Park’s history of hosting the rodeo at Fort Wyoming which was located at Lamar Park. The site also was host to numerous concerts featuring Bob Hope, The Oakridge Boys, Crystal Gale, and Huey Lewis & the News.
The Concerts in the Park series has done well attracting some of the most popular regional stars with this year’s line-up including the very popular folk/rock band The Crane Wives, Kalamazoo’s Big Boss Blues, Grand Rapids honky tonk group Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys, rock ‘n’ roll group Foolish Plezyer, country group Kari Lynch Band, Tejano/Mexican/Conjunto music group Grupo Viento and The Legal Immigrants.
According to Simmons, more than 10,000 people were in attendance to last year’s fireworks show, always the Tuesday before July 4. This year’s fireworks will be on June 28 and feature two bands, one of which is Foolish Plezyer.
A total of 11 groups will perform over the 10 weeks. Simmons said the complete lineup should be available in March and that there is some big news to this year’s concert series, so make sure to be checking the series’ Facebook page and WKTV’s Wyoming/Kentwood NOW.
Also, the Wyoming Community Enrichment Commission hosts the Music & More August event designed to give residents a last summer hurrah with three concerts, food dancing games and activities all in one night. For more on the August event, click here to visit its Facebook page.
Concerts in the Park is free. Lamar Park is located at 2561 Porter St. SW.
By: Erin Albanese – School News Network
West Godwin Elementary fourth-graders stood in line taking turns shaking a bag filled with a Valentine’s Day treat of Chex Mix and powdered sugar.
To the tune of singer Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off,” students vigorously shook the bag, while instructor Di Szczesny, “Ms. Di,” told them what they would be doing next. “We are going to take our chocolate and pour it over our Chex Mix. Pour it all in there. Shake it all in there. Everybody can stir and everybody can shake.”
Soon, things got even sweeter with red M&Ms and sprinkles.
“We’re making it red for Valentine’s Day because you’re the loves of my life,” Szczesny told students.
Students dance, giggle, grin and, perhaps best of all, feast when they learn to cook with Szczesny, who hosts cooking classes for the after-school program Team 21, which is run through a partnership with the City of Wyoming. Over the side dishes and desserts they create together, Szczesny gives attention to each student, doling out kind words and lots of silliness with instruction. Somehow everyone stays on task.
“It’s my passion. I love kids and I love food,” Szczesny said.
Meals, Manners and Measurements
Retired after 14 years working in food service for Wyoming Public Schools, Szczesny now spends her evenings teaching elementary students to cook. She leads classes for Team 21 at Godwin, Wyoming and Kelloggsville schools and in many Kent County schools through Artists Creating Together, a Grand Rapids-based non-profit organization that provides artist-in-residency grants for students with special needs across Kent County.
During Szczesny’s classes, students make kid-friendly dishes. The 14 West Godwin students stuffed and wrapped veggie spring rolls and mixed Chinese chicken salad in honor of Chinese New Year. They dipped marshmallows in melted chocolate and shook the cereal and powdered sugar-laden snack known as puppy chow. It was the first of four visits planned, so students from all grade levels get a turn cooking.
Students learn about nutrition and the value of homemade meals, Szczesny said. They learn etiquette, food safety and math skills as the measure ingredients, reading skills as they follow recipes. They must have good teamwork to hustle and get several dishes ready at the same time.
“The main thing is to eat what they make,” she said. “I focus on good nutrition and healthy habits. I would like them to be able to start dinner at home, to learn the basics.”
She also wants them to learn hospitality, what to do when you hate your great aunt’s cooking and to remember to chew with your mouth closed. “I teach them manners, to open doors for a lady, how to set a table and just to be kind to each other.”
Betsy Berry, West Godwin Team 21 coordinator, said cooking with Szczesny is students’ favorite activity.
“Di has a unique approach to connecting and bonding with all of the students in all the grade levels. They love this class more than any other they do in Team 21,” Berry said.
Aryanna McCrary said she learned tips on how not to burn food from Szczesny. “She is a very good cooking teacher and kids can learn from her,” said the fourth-grader. “She introduces me to new foods too.”
Between chopping, mixing, cooking and presenting, students say being a good cook involves a lot. “It’s amazing the work you have to put into it,” said fourth-grader Adrien Rochelle.
After the cooking was done and lemonade poured, students settled down to eat before heading home. “I like everything,” Aryanna said. “The salad was the best.”
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
Becker’s Hospital Review recently released a report on the lowest Emergency Department waiting periods, from door to diagnosis, in the nation and Kentwood’s own Metro Health placed on the list with an average waiting period of only 3 minutes. Using data collected between April 2014 and March 2015, the list includes 4 hospitals and clinics in Michigan, highlighted below. For context, the average hospital door-to-diagnosis is around 24 minutes, nationally.
In order to continue providing outstanding service worthy of national recognition, the Metro Health website has features on the main page that offers services of physician references as well as an on-site wait time indicator. Metro Health also offers classes for expectant couples, events on family care and health management, and fitness courses for those involved in activities such as yoga. Maps and locations are featured as well, in case one needs the services offered.
Note: Hospitals with sample sizes of less than 100 or results based on a shorter time period than required were excluded from the creation of this list.
Jackson Park Hospital (Chicago) — 0 minutes
Spencer (Iowa) Municipal Hospital — 0 minutes
Lackey Memorial Hospital (Forest, Miss.) — 0 minutes
Fremont (Neb.) Health Medical Center — 0 minutes
ProMedica Herrick Hospital (Tecumseh, Mich.) — 1 minute
Park City (Utah) Medical Center — 1 minute
Garden Park Medical Center (Gulfport, Miss.) — 2 minutes
Sanford Aberdeen (S.D.) Medical Center — 2 minutes
ProMedica Bixby Hospital (Adrian, Mich.) — 3 minutes
Metro Health Hospital (Wyoming, Mich.) — 3 minutes
St. Helena (Calif.) Hospital — 3 minutes
Eastside Medical Center (Snellville, Ga.) — 3 minutes
Minden (La.) Medical Center — 3 minutes
Heart Hospital of Lafayette (La.) — 3 minutes
Mile Bluff Medical Center (Mauston, Wis.) — 3 minutes
Coffey County Hospital (Burlington, Kan.) — 4 minutes
Tulane Medical Center (New Orleans) — 4 minutes
Lafayette Regional Health Center (Lexington, Mo.) — 4 minutes
Texas Orthopedic Hospital (Houston) — 4 minutes
Bear River Valley Hospital (Tremonton, Utah) — 4 minutes
Aurora Medical Center in Washington County (Hartford, Wis.) — 4 minutes
The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano (Texas) — 4 minutes
Baylor Orthopedic and Spine Hospital at Arlington (Texas) — 4 minutes
Crittenton Hospital Medical Center (Rochester, Mich.) — 5 minutes
Lakeland Community Hospital (Haleyville, Ala.) — 5 minutes
Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta (Calif.) — 5 minutes
Sky Ridge Medical Center (Lone Tree, Colo.) — 5 minutes
Fawcett Memorial Hospital (Port Charlotte, Fla.) — 5 minutes
Cartersville (Ga.) Medical Center — 5 minutes
Salina (Kan.) Regional Health Center — 5 minutes
Richardson Medical Center (Rayville, La.) — 5 minutes
Lakeview Regional Medical Center (Covington, La.) — 5 minutes
Buffalo (Minn.) Hospital — 5 minutes
Research Medical Center (Kansas City, Mo.) — 5 minutes
Centerpoint Medical Center (Independence, Mo.) — 5 minutes
Lee’s Summit (Mo.) Medical Center — 5 minutes
Belton (Mo.) Regional Medical Center — 5 minutes
Mercy Hospital of Defiance (Ohio) — 5 minutes
West Chester (Ohio) Hospital — 5 minutes
Lodi (Ohio) Community Hospital — 5 minutes
Riverview Regional Medical Center (Carthage, Tenn.) — 5 minutes
Denton (Texas) Regional Medical Center — 5 minutes
Covenant Hospital Levelland (Texas) — 5 minutes
Lone Peak Hospital (Draper, Utah) — 5 minutes
By: Alan Headbloom
If you ever needed convincing that Arturo González Vargas was passionate about the power of non-profits to transform lives, spend just five minutes with this young man to dispel any doubts. For 18 months, the Grand Rapids Community had the privilege of sharing his wisdom, energy, and optimism for all things empowerment. An Atlas Fellow from Monterrey, Mexico, Gonzalez Vargas worked as a tireless advocate for Kids Food Basket, an organization providing daily nutrition to thousands of school children in Western Michigan.
Hey Dads! If you want to see a great big smile on your little girl’s face, tell her you are taking her out for ice cream, or to the new Disney movie, or to a Whitecaps game, dressed as a fairy princess! These are just a few of the events enjoyed by the members of Daddy Daughter Time.
Todd Chance, creator of Daddy Daughter Time (DDT), has made it his mission to provide information, share tips, and plan events for fathers with daughters, this includes facilitating networking with others dads. Chance, the father of a 5-year-old daughter, states his basic goal to “get dads to spend more time with their daughters.”
The role of fathers in today’s society is changing. Although the media continues to perpetuate the image of dads as the lovable, bumbling parent, while mothers are shown as the glue that holds it all together, many dads are now practicing “intentional parenting,” trading hours at the office to purposefully spend time with their families. This is especially important in the area of raising daughters. Studies have proven that fathers are very influential in their daughter’s lives, especially true when it comes to self-esteem and decision-making. Meg Meeker, MD, who has specialized in pediatric and adolescent medicine, states, “To become a strong confident woman, a daughter needs her father’s attention, protection, courage, and wisdom.”
In West Michigan, it is easy for moms to find resources and support systems. A simple Google search reveals groups such as MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), Moms In Touch, MOMS (Mothers of Many Seasons), MOT (Mothers of Twins), and even such events as a “Mom-to-Mom” sale.
For dads, such resources barely exist.
Chance, facing a divorce, found himself raising his young daughter as a single father. “I was required to prepare three meals a day, know the ins and out of toileting and personal hygiene for a female, and to fix her hair in the morning,” he laughed, shaking his head. Other dads have faced the same issues, being a single parent or not. For example, five years ago there were rarely changing stations in the men’s room. “Men many times get the short end of the stick when it comes to raising kids.”
Chance began a blog about Daddies and Daughters to give fathers a resource on raising young girls. Dads “know they play a role on how her life will turn out,” states Chance. He found hundreds of fathers on the path of intentional parenting, working to play a vital role in the lives of their daughters.
The first DDT event was a free ice cream social at Jersey Junction in 2013. The daddy/daughter date night was a success! Another signature event was The Big Braid in which dads learned the basics of hair-styling and the girls got a mini-makeover. Princess Night at Fifth Third Ballpark drew flocks of princesses, and their daddies, to cheer on the Whitecaps in lovely gowns and tiaras. The need for dads to come together to share information and encourage one another was growing.
DDT began scheduling regular free events, one each month, for the first year. Chance, who was working with vendors to facilitate discounts, was paying for the excess out of his own pocket. As the project grew the blog became a Facebook page, and then a well-designed website. This year DDT received a sponsorship from the Bissell Corporation, allowing them to continue to expand. “We wanted the events to continue to be free or low-cost so as not to stop anyone from coming,” states Chance, “However, we have found that the cost is not the issue for many, it is the convenience of having an event planned for them in advance—all they have to do is register if it is something they are interested in attending.”
For the first time, DDT has a membership program which allows dads to choose individual monthly events they would like to attend or purchase a yearly membership with full access to the website, all events, and a monthly newsletter. The DDT website offers invaluable information such as a breakdown on every Disney princess (a daddy need-to-know), a list of monthly events and activities in Grand Rapids, books and resources for Dads, and at-home activities to do with your daughter. DDT is not limited to single fathers. It is open to all fathers who seek to show their daughters how special they are while networking with other men about being the best role model for their daughters.
Chance ends each event with a mission assignment for both dads and daughters. For dads, it is to spread the word about Daddy Daughter Time. For daughters, it is to thank their daddy, give them a hug, and tell them you love them. The big smiles and genuine hugs make it all worthwhile.
“Little girls learn by watching the example of their fathers,” states Chance. As the concept of intentional parenting takes hold, fathers are no longer driven to work 50-60 hours a week in order to spend valuable time with their families. It is Chance’s passion that fathers seek to raise their daughters with purpose and love. With time and wisdom, Chance hopes he will see DDT branching out to cities across America.
Coming events with DDT include:
February 20, 2016 – Sky Zone and Sundaes!
March 5, 2016 – DDT Chocolate Factory!
April 9, 2016 – Spring Fling Daddy/Daughter Dance at Noto’s Old World Dining
May 21, 2016 – DDT Night at the Movies – “Zootopia”
June 19, 2016 – Big Braid 4
(Times, dates, and events are subject to change. Please check website)
Daddy Daughter Time is continuing to search for sponsors. If you are interested in sponsorship or would like to explore membership with DDT, please visit the website DaddyDaughterTime.com.
By: Justin Kiewel
Last year the Humane Society of West Michigan had a total of 3,038 animals adopted into loving homes where they can spend the rest of their lives in happiness and comfort. Many people could not imagine living without their furry companions, and the recently opened 616 Lofts, located at 740 Michigan Ave. NE, is happy to announce that it will be a pet-friendly community.
Come join 616 Lofts, in collaboration with Hello West Michigan and the Humane Society of West Michigan, on February 4th to celebrate the pets you can’t live without! The mixer will run from 5-7pm at 616 Lofts.
The collaboration of the two groups has both directors very excited about what each organization can bring to the table for the community and for each other. Humane Society of West Michigan Executive Director, Tammy Hagedorn, said in a press release, “It is our vision to build a more compassionate community where all animals are given the care they deserve. We are thrilled to partner with 616 Lofts, who shares in this vision by offering pet friendly homes in Grand Rapids.”
Likewise, 616 Director of Development, Monica Steimle shared nothing but kind words and excitement about animals in the community and the collaboration between 616 Lofts and the HSWM.
“We believe pets are family and welcome our resident’s furry companions at all of our 616 communities,” said Monica Steimle. “We wanted to partner with the Humane Society of West Michigan for this event to encourage pet adoption and assist residents in possibly finding their new best friend.”
The Humane Society of West Michigan (HSWM) will provide animals available for snuggling and for on-site adoption at the event. 616 Lofts will waive their pet fee to any residents who adopt an animal from HSWM.
RSVP for the event to Jenna at jenna@616development.com by January 29th or visit the event Facebook page.
By Local First
Local First will host its 6th Annual Meeting and LocalMotion Awards on January 27, 2016, at the Goei Center. For those not well-versed in the subject, there are six LocalMotion Awards including the Guy Bazzani Local Legacy Award, Triple Bottom Line Award (one longstanding business and one up-and-coming business), Mover & Shaker Award, Local Hero Award, and Change Agent Award.
The LocalMotion Awards began in 2011 as a way to promote best business practices and recognize the achievements of local businesses and individuals in the community, such as outstanding work in sustainability and making the community more vibrant and resilient.
All awards will be given during the Annual Meeting. Tickets are $40 and available online here. For descriptions of these awards and previous winners, go here. The event takes place from 5-8 pm at the Goei Center, 818 Butterworth St. SW, Grand Rapids.
Nominations for the awards were submitted by community members and businesses. Anyone could nominate a local business or an individual who exemplifies the qualities a specific award honors. Nominees then filled out an application and took the Local First and B Corporation’s Quick Impact Assessment in order to provide sustainability metrics. An award committee made up of business owners and community stakeholders selected the winners.
616 Development
AL&S Green Solutions
Art of the Table
Black Heron Kitchen & Bar
Bob Schulze
Boxed GR
Brewery Vivant
Butch’s Dry Dock
Catalyst Partners
Community Automotive
Coppercraft Distillery
Dan Broersma
David Lokker
Eastown Veterinary Clinic
EcoBuns Natural Parenting and Baby Boutique
EPS Security
Furniture City Creamery
Gazelle Sports
Girlfriends Fit Club
Globe Design and Vision
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
Grand Rapids Wellness
GreenMichigan.org
Harmony Brewing
Harmony Hall
Harvest Health Foods
Heather Vandyke-Titus
iChiro Clinics
Ken Freeston
Kylen Blom
Landsharks
Love’s Ice Cream
Luna Taqueria y Cocina
Madcap Coffee
Mixed Staffing
Salt and Pepper Grille and Pub
Shawn Mielke
Silkscreen Marketing
Simpatico Coffee
Sip Organic Juice Bar
SO Awesome
Swift Printing
Tacos El Cunado
Thad Cummings
The Meanwhile Bar
The Pyramid Scheme
The Rapid
Urban Roots Farm
Women’s Lifestyle Magazine
Barefoot in the Park’s small cast gives a large performance in Civic Theater’s rendition of Neil Simon’s 1963 hit. As a Civic regular I have grown accustomed to the big ensembles, choruses, and multi-set-change performances. With this cast you grow to know and love the six performers throughout Barefoot’s two act play.
The story follows newlyweds Corie and Paul Bratter as they begin their life together in a small and drafty, but charming, New York apartment. Corie, played by Civic newcomer Lexee Longwell, sees only the good in everything. No furniture? No problem, it will arrive soon. No heat? No problem, the super will fix it when he has time. Her zest for life puts a positive spin on the five flight climb, snowing skylight and unsavory neighbors.
Corie’s new husband Paul, played by David Hatter, has a differing view on their new surroundings. While Corie lives each moment to the fullest Paul would rather focus on his budding law career.
Life for the Bratters gets a little more complicated when they go on a double date. Corie fixes her prim and proper mother (Nancy Wagner) up with the worldly neighbor Victor Valasco (Don Vanden Heuvel). Victor introduces the group to a number of delicacies including brown salad and Ouzo. And when her mother goes missing, Corie takes the situation more seriously than previous events. Conversely, Paul surprises Corie by coming home drunk and barefoot, shedding his stuffed shirt image, for that day anyway.
It was refreshing to watch Corie and Paul figure out that compromise and listening to your partner will strengthen a relationship. Their differences provide a balance that will make their love last.
Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park ran on Broadway from 1963 – 1967. It was Simon’s longest running play. Come enjoy Civic Theater’s performance from January 15 through January 31. Please visit the GRCT website for all of the details.
The Kent District Library is looking for a Wyoming resident to fill an open position on the board. The board term will end December 31, 2017 and applicants must live in the City of Wyoming.
Any prospective board member must be able to meet monthly at District Headquarters – 814 W. River Center – in Comstock Park. Monthly meetings may also be held at other participating libraries.
In order to apply for the position, you must be a Wyoming resident and complete an online application form on the county’s website. Resumes and cover letters are encouraged and may be attached. Application deadline is this Friday, Jan. 22.
For further information, call the Board of Commissioners office at 616-632-7580.
The Kentwood library held a celebration of the life and teachings of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the community room, consisting of readings from lead organizer Jessica Ann Tyson and Mayor Stephen Kepley, a fact-filled PowerPoint, a powerful and moving musical solo, and food and drink for guests. This celebration was an inaugural event in Kentwood’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day plans, in the works for now two years.
Lead organizer Jessica Ann Tyson led the proceedings, initially admitting she neither knew the late Rev. King or had actually participated in his rallies or demonstrations, but she was determined to keep his ideals alive through the celebration and remembrance of the iconic civil rights leader.
After the introduction came a presentation by the Kentwood ARCH program, the program helmed by Kentwood Public Schools in an effort to aid disadvantaged youth in the bottom 30% of the schools. ARCH stands for academics, recreation, community and health, and it allows students to focus on excelling in the classroom by connecting learning to their everyday lives. Later on, Mrs. Tyson gave out awards to student essayists and artists alike who made contributions to the celebration proceedings. It was a great choice to get the younglings involved in the celebration proceedings, so as to spur on their talents and imaginations with the universal topics Dr. King’s work can provoke.
Mayor Stephen Kepley spoke on how influential the Rev. Dr.’s I have a Dream speech was on his perspective and life choices. A Proclamation was performed by various personnel from around the area of varying ages, cultures, and viewpoints, all in the name of simultaneous equality and diversity.
Craig Tyson performed a song for the guests that was most effective. All present truly felt the emotion of his musical plea for leadership. Tears welled, guests cheered, and this here reporter cannot deny the passionate power of his simple musical interlude.
Passion is a powerful thing; ’tis something that can inspire, unite, employ the emotions of your surroundings to further a cause, and all present at the MLK Jr. celebration knew exactly how to utilize these feelings for the betterment of the community at large. This day speaks to not just persons of color, but to all populations, black, white, brown, pale, dark, big, and small, who believe in justice, equality, and the power of ordinary people in (extra)ordinary times.
Happy Birth Anniversary, Dr. King.
By: Tyler Lecceadone
Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s only community-wide festival of laughter, today announced the addition of Miranda Sings and other ticketed shows for the 2016 festival,which takes place March 10 to 20, 2016. Individual tickets for all events will be available for purchase on Friday, Jan. 15 at 10 a.m.
Most recognizable for her signature big red lips, international YouTube sensation, Miranda Sings first established herself on YouTube quickly generating over 60 million views all over the world. Her one-woman show is filled with comedy, hit songs, magic tricks and much more. Her performance will take place on March 19 at Fountain Street Church, and will be her second appearance at LaughFest after a sellout show in 2014.
Hasan Minhaj is best known as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and stars in his own one-man show off Broadway. Minhaj will perform on March 11 at 10:30 p.m., at Wealthy Theatre.
Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee, David Cross was named one of the Top 100 Stand-Up Comedians of All Time by Comedy Central. Perhaps best known for his role as Tobias on Arrested Development, Cross will launch his own nationwide tour this year and will premiere on IFC’s third season of Todd Margaret. You can see Cross perform at Fountain Street Church on March 18.
Michael Palascak is known for clean adult laughs and recently finished in the top 5 of last season’s Last Comic Standing on NBC. He has previously performed on a variety of late night television shows such as The Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central’s The Half Hour, The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Palascak’s performance will take place at Grand Volute in Lowell on March 18.
Other shows announced today include Failure:Lab – LaughFest Edition, an intimate event showcasing the untold failures behind success and exploring the space between people who fail and quit, and those who get back up again; the Rockin’ Homegrown Jam is returning for its fifth year as part of LaughFest, with an added twist – special musical guest The legal Immigrants join the comics on stage to perform songs between each comic’s set; and Hen Sapp and Friends Keeping it Clean, featuring edgy Christian comedian Hen Sapp performing for the sixth time at LaughFest along with special guests Crystal P. and Laughin Lenny.
LaughFest 2016 will include more than 200 free and ticketed shows featuring over 100 artists at more than 40 venues in Grand Rapids and Lowell during the 10 days of the festival. Artists already previously announced include headliners: Seth Meyers, performing during Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids Signature Event, Kathy Griffin, Ron Funches, Anjelah Johnson, Roy Wood Jr., Chris D’Elia, Bert Kreischer, and Heather McDonald.
Individual tickets are priced from $7 to $80, excluding the Signature Event. These will be available beginning Friday, Jan. 15, 2016 at the Van Andel Arena Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, LaughFest Central, when it opens in mid-February, through the closing day of LaughFest, and at ticketmaster.com.
Gilda’s LaughFest was created by a team at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids in 2011. Designed to celebrate laughter for the health of it, LaughFest features free and ticketed events including stand-up, improv, film, authors, community showcases and a variety of seriously funny stuff. Past LaughFest headliners have included George Lopez, Wanda Sykes, Billy Gardell, Jay Leno, Lily Tomlin, Mike Birbiglia, Margaret Cho, Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg, Rodney Carrington, Martin Short, Kevin Nealon, Wayne Brady, Joel McHale, Lewis Black and Brian Regan.
Since its inception in 2010, the Meijer State Games of Michigan has given athletes the opportunity to compete against each other in summer and winter games emulating the Olympics. Following the completion of the Summer Games, and after receiving nominations from coaches, parents, spectators, and peers, officials with the Meijer State games of Michigan choose participants from the games as Athlete of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
Three athletes – youth, female, and male – are chosen every year and one volunteer is also awarded and recognized. The 2015 winners were recognized at the Grand Rapids Griffins game this past Saturday and are as follows:
• Aubrey Cohoon (Youth – Figure Skating – Spring Lake, MI)
• Maddy Frank (Female – Mountain Biking – Walker, MI)
• Michael Edward Droste Jr. (Male – Tae Kwon Do – Saranac, MI)
• Issac Washburn (Volunteer – Grand Rapids, MI)
Aubrey Cohoon (Youth AOY), 11, competed in Figure Skating during the 2015 Meijer State Games of Michigan taking first place in the pre-preliminary freestyle program and fourth place in the preliminary compulsory moves event. Her first place standing at the State Games of Michigan qualified her for the 2017 State Games of America. In May 2015, she had the opportunity to skate at the Make-A-Wish Michigan Wish Ball alongside her idols, Charlie Wait and Meryl Davis. She has raised over $30,000 for Make-A-Wish Michigan and has been awarded the title of the Fox 17 Pay-It-Forward person of the Week and Month. Aubrey is currently a student at Spring Lake Intermediate School.
Maddy Frank (Female AOY), 15, competed in Mountain Biking during the 2015 Meijer State Games of Michigan, winning the Women’s A Division in the Short Track Event. Maddy competes in biking events year-round and recently took first in her age group in the Iceman Cometh Challenge in Traverse City, MI. She is also a track & field athlete at Grandville schools and enjoys volunteering for local running and biking race events including the East Grand Rapids Trailblazer Run, the Grand Rapids Triathlon, and the Skirts in the Dirt all-female bike race. In 2014, she was awarded the “Ryan Fisher be an Eleven Award.” She is a member of the Freewheeler Racing Team and is an ambassador for Lapierre bikes. Maddy is currently a student at Grandville High School.
Michael Edward Droste Jr. (Male AOY), 32, competed in Tae Kwon Do during the 2015 Mejier State Games of Michigan, winning the yellow belt division of the Tae Kwon Do forms division. Being born with cerebral palsy and ligament issues, he has overcome adversity as an athlete. Michael is a resident of Saranac, MI and enjoys participating in martial arts for the friendships he has made and the lessons of respect, self-control, and discipline he has learned. Michael is an inspiration to all athletes and is an outstanding example of overcoming adversity.
Isaac Washburn (VOY), 27, has been involved in the Meijer State Games of Michigan for five years. He is crucial to the organization and success of the high school hockey tournament. He takes pride in ensuring this event is well-run and properly executed, aiding in set-up, teardown, and problem resolution for all 18 hockey games during the tournament. Isaac is a 2012 graduate of the sports leadership and management division at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). He is currently the Video Coach for the Kalamazoo Wings, Head Coach for both the Division 1 and Division 3 Roller Hockey club teams at GVSU, and the Director of Team Development for the Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey League.
Previous Athlete of the Year award winners include:
• 2014: Alex Garcia (Male – Wrestling), Cory Bush (Female – Speedskating), Jade Walleman (Youth – Track & Field)
• 2013: Joe Skrycki (Male – Track & Field), Joan Berman (Female – Track & Field), Liam Smith (Youth – Archery)
• 2012: Russell Williams (Male – Tae Kwon Do), Lauren Hooker (Female – Lacrosse), Derek Nicks (Youth – Wrestling)
• 2011: Bob Miller (Male – Swimming), Jessica LeMire (Female – Racquetball), Chandler Simmering (Youth – Judo)
• 2010: Jimmy O’Hearn (Male – Track & Field), Emily Wee (Female – Track & Field), William Vosejpka (Youth – Hockey)
By: Kristen Krueger-Corrado
History can be fascinating and enlightening because it gives us the opportunity to see how people lived before us. In a way, we’re seeing our future, because at some point the history books are going to look back at our time period and the way we lived.
Far too often, history is digested and explored at the national level. Wars and major events that almost everyone can relate to are often discussed. However, local history can be just as fascinating. It’s your backyard. It’s someone or something a generation or two before you actually experienced in first-person.
The Grand Rapids Public Library has partnered with six local historical agencies to present the History Detectives program. The day-long event will be held on Saturday, January 23 and run from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Ryerson Auditorium in the Main Library – 111 Library St NE.
The event is free and open to the public. Six, 45-minute session topics presented by a local author or historian will be available. Session topics include:
• Kindergarten and “Radical” Women in 1890s Grand Rapids
• When “Everyone Knew Everyone”: Forming a Latino Community in Mid-Century West Michigan
• Retail Icons: Shopping Downtown in 1950s Grand Rapids
• New-Car Smell: Nostalgia and the Story of Grand Rapids Car Dealerships
• Modern Design Leader: The Story Behind Herman Miller
• The Intoxicating History of River City Brewing
After the sessions are history, all participants are invited to an after party at Mitten Brewing Company to further talk about the day over a couple brews.
A box lunch is available for $10 and must be ordered in advance by calling 988-5492 or by emailing rspv@grpl.org.
Partnering organizations include the Grand Rapids Historical Society, the Grand Rapids Historical Commission, the Western Michigan Genealogical Society, the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the Kutsche Office of Local History at GVSU, and the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s Historical Council.
On Tuesday, January 26 at 6:30pm in the Loosemore Auditorium on Grand Valley’s downtown campus, the ACLU of Western Michigan will be hosting a timely event on the immigration issue currently capturing headlines across the United States. Entitled, Beyond Hate and Fear: Immigration and the Refugee Crisis in America, the purpose of the event is to provide insight into the long overdue process of reforming the current immigration system.
“Currently the United States is experiencing its greatest influx of immigrants in its history,” said Linda Sanchez, one of the coordinators of the event. “This has created severe problems and one of those is a hatred and fear that are both being stoked against immigrants. It’s ironic that a nation of immigrants has historically always had such difficulty with immigration, but here we are in 2016 and the problem remains. We’re hoping this symposium will help shed fresh new light on the issue.”
Panelists include Rubén Martinez, Director of the Julian Samora Research Institute at M.S.U.; Richard Kessler, Attorney and activist specializing in Immigration law; and Liz Black, Legal Services Director for Justice for Our Neighbors West Michigan.
The purpose of the event is to discuss the root causes of the anger toward immigrants and refugees. Additionally, discussion will center around the fundamental protections of due process and equal protection that are embodied in our Constitution and apply to every person, regardless of immigration status.
Admission to the event is free.
By: Mike DeWitt
With the start of a New Year comes resolutions and a promise of a brighter tomorrow. For those who lost a job or are looking for a different career path, a job fair can be a beacon of hope in the dense fog of uncertainty. Thanks to Kentwood Community Church and West Michigan Works!, there’s a bright, shining beacon every month right here in Wyoming, Michigan.
The Community Job Fair is held monthly at the Wyoming Campus of Kentwood Community Church. The event brings in 40 businesses looking to fill over 1,000 immediate openings! 2015 marked the first full calendar year of the event, and the results were eye-popping.
“Last year we hosted 161 local employers and over 1,800 job seekers,” explains Community Engagement Coordinator, Kristina Herron.
While those numbers are impressive in year one, there’s reason to believe they can go even higher… much higher.
“We’re hoping to double our number of job seekers,” adds Herron. “We just started advertising and putting out promos towards the end of last year. We ran our first ad in October and saw immediate feedback. We’re to the point where employers have to pay to attend and we have a wait list! I don’t think it’s a stretch to double our attendance.”
That type of growth is impressive, and it’s a testament to the work Kentwood Community Church and West Michigan Works! have put in.
The job fair is free for all job seekers regardless of age or experience level.
While no longer free for employers, it’s an inviting atmosphere that works in their best interest. Employers are offered coffee, a comfortable sized booth, and a bevy of potential employees all in one place. One employer was encouraged by their peers to join the Community Job Fair because “it’s the best in the area!”
There’s a reason a wait list exists.
“Back in June, we accidentally overbooked and had 50 employers,” recounts Herron. “I think that was the moment I realized ’This is big time, it’s here to stay.’”
It’s important for any job fair to get both employers and potential employees into the door, but what makes a job fair have staying power is its ability to create jobs. At the Community Job Fair, job seekers must come prepared to find a new job. Several employers have interviewed and hired right on the spot!
With all the success in 2015, not only is the job fair here to stay, but it’s future is brighter than ever. Make sure to stop by.
Who: Kentwood Community Church & West Michigan Works!
What: Community Job Fair
When: January 13 from 9:00am – 12:00pm
Where: Wyoming Campus of Kentwood Community Church, 2950 Clyde Park Ave SW, Wyoming, Michigan 49509
Why: To find a job and build a new future!
Future Dates: February 10 and March 9
Another year has come and gone. Here at Wyoming-Kentwood NOW, we take a look back at the year that was with some of our favorite, and most memorable, stories from here in Wyoming.
Wyoming Deputy Manager Receives Heartfelt Farewell – January
After almost 15 years on the job, former Wyoming Deputy City Manager Barbara Van Duren retired. Her retirement was celebrated at the Wyoming Public Library to make room for all the people in attendance! 28th West, the re-development of 28th street, was a project close to Barbara’s heart. In the words of Barbara Van Duren, “28th streets needs a facelift.”
One Wyoming 1 on 1 mentors make a difference – January
One Wyoming 1 on 1 offers mentors the opportunity to make a difference in children’s lives. Not only that, but the children will make just as big–if not bigger–of an impact on you! Deb Havens shares her story on mentoring Amber and the bond they’ve created.
Wyoming Public Safety Honors Top Employees – February
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety recognized their top employees. Among those honored was Jason Caster for Officer of the year, Brian Illbrink as Firefighter of the Year, Terra Wesseldyk as Civilian of the Year, and Lt. Kirt Zuiderveen received the Chief’s Award of Professional Excellence.
High School March Madness
Wyoming and Kentwood Area Basketball Teams Feel the Magic of March – March
Survive and Advance: Two Wyoming-Kentwood Area Teams Still Left – March
March is a special time for basketball lovers of all ages! The MHSAA playoffs kicked into full gear with multiple schools from the Wyoming area vying for a State Championship.
Wyoming’s Landscape Sees Positive Changes – May
Harriet Sturim, a proud Wyoming homeowner since 1977, highlights some new and positive building in the city. From the new Veterans Clinic in Metro Village to the new businesses on 28th and 36th street, the City of Wyoming is continuing the city’s growth of vision and progress.
Wyoming’s Oldest Home, ‘Rogers Mansion,’ Up for Sale – June
Wyoming’s, and most like Kent County’s, oldest home was put up for sale in 2015. For the first time in 179 years, the ‘Rogers Mansion’ was put on the market for someone outside the Rogers family. The house comes with the original skeleton key to unlock the front door. History is all around us.
GM Bringing New Jobs
General Motors announces 300 new jobs and a $119 million dollar expansion at Wyoming Plant – June
GM Set to Invest 43 Million into Wyoming Plant – December
General Motors used 2015 to invest in their Burton location with capital and full-time job opportunities. $119 million and 300 jobs were announced in June and another $43 million 55 new jobs were announced later in December! A reinvestment in West Michigan manufacturing is sometime to get excited about.
Wyoming Memorial Day Ceremony in Pictures – June
Citizen Journalist Harriet Sturim took pictures to capture Wyoming’s Memorial Day celebration at its core.
New Business Construction in Wyoming – September
Wyoming continues to add new businesses to the area. Three new businesses found a home at the corner of Clyde Park and 44th Street. A four-story WoodSpring Hotel, a Fox Powersports, and a J&H Mobil Station with a Tim Horton’s right next-door broke in the dirt.
Wyoming Residents in ArtPrize
Wyoming, Michigan Artist’s ArtPrize Entry Shines Light on Peers – September
Wyoming, Mich. ArtPrize Artist Explores Interpretation of Structures – October
ArtPrize Entry by Wyoming, Mich. Artist Makes the Final 20 – October
Artist’s from right here in Wyoming, Michigan entered their work into ArtPrize 7. One of the artists found themselves in the top 20!
Pinery Park Little League
Time is Running Out on Pinery Park Little League – September
Pinery Park Little League on the Right Track – October
The Pinery Park Little League was in troubled water as they risked losing their contract to the fields at Pinery Park with the Wyoming City Council due to a lack of transparency and losing their 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. Fortunately, the league was able to get it together but will need to run more efficiently going forward.
Wyoming’s New ‘Sinking Fund’ Will Keep School Infrastructure Afloat – November
Wyoming Public Schools found themselves on the winning side after election day with the passing of a sinking fund to help the school. The sinking fund works a little differently from a bond issue and will end up raising over $400,000 per year with little, if any, increase to Wyoming tax payers.
The Great Candy Cane Hunt – December
The Great Candy Cane Hunt had another successful season with Santa being delivered by the fire department and then leading the children on a candy cane hunt throughout Pinery Park. The event continued at the Wyoming Senior Center with “life-size” jenga and connect four that families could enjoy!
