By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
Tatum Hawkins, director of development and communications for the Women’s Resource Center. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
The smile on Tatum Hawkins said it all when J.Jill store manager Joell Austin told her there was up to $25,000 available for her to spend on clothing for the Women’s Resource Center’s Business Boutique.
“It’s like a fairy tale,” said Hawkins, who is the director of development and communications for the Women’s Resource Center.
Half hour into the shop, she stood in disbelief when Austin told her the amount had gone up to $35,000.
“This is just so amazing,” Tatum said. “For the women who we work with, clothing is so expensive and often times they are just trying to get food on the table. Having something that is new that looks professional and they feel good in often aids in helping them in a job interview.”
Helping Women Succeed
Set to mark its 50th anniversary, the Women’s Resource Center provides programs to help women secure stable, well-paying employment and achieve financial independence.
J. Jill store manager Joell Austin with Business Boutique volunteer Teresa VanWyk. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
When a participant is job ready, she has the opportunity to shop for free at WRC’s Business Boutique, Hawkins said. Participants are able to select up to two outfits complete with accessories, under garments and make-up. Volunteers serve as their personal shoppers, helping a participant to select clothing items, Hawkins said.
All the clothing is donated and in fact, J. Jill stores at both RiverTown Mall and Woodland Mall have sent out-of-stock clothing to the boutique in the past. Austin said each of the J. Jill stores has a compassion fund that is dedicated to helping provide resources to women.
“We are thrilled that we can contribute to the Business Boutique along with helping them shop today for items that they need,” Austin said.
On Monday’s shop, Hawkins said she was looking for a range of sizes. The Business Boutique has quite a bit of winter clothes, so summer pieces and items that could be layered were a main focus.
“Sometimes a woman may have been sent to jail in the winter and comes out in the summer and they do not have anything for that season to go out on an interview or for the workplace,” Hawkins said.
New Partnership with Woodland Mall
Recognizing the importance of having the right attire for a potential job, Woodland Mall has formed a new partnership with the Business Boutique to regularly stock it with clothes and accessories from mall retailers and donation drives.
“Access to workplace attire can be a barrier to securing employment — and ultimately, economic independence for women,” said Mikia Ross, interim senior marketing director for Woodland Mall. “We are grateful to be able to support the Women’s Resource center’s efforts to address this with a partnership that will offer women an expanded selection of workplace-ready attire from our retailers and community.”
Utilizing a “store-within-a-store” concept, the mall will have a dedicated section of workplace apparel at the Boutique, which will be kept stocked year-round with clothes and accessories through donation drives and retailer partnerships.
The Women’s Resource Center is set to celebrate its new facility at 816 Madison Ave. SE with an open house on Wednesday, June 28, from 3-6 p.m. Within the new facility will be a new and improved Business Boutique that is scheduled to open later this month.
John Hartig, the retired director of the U.S.-Canada Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, North America’s only international refuge. Credit: University of Windsor.
A new book about the Great Lakes is written to reflect that their problems, solutions and champions are interrelated, much like the ecosystem it portrays.
“This whole thing of bringing stakeholders together, creating a vision, co-producing knowledge, co-innovating solutions is in the book,” author John Hartig said. “You don’t get that anywhere else.”
Hartig’s “Great Lakes Champions: Grassroots Efforts to Clean Up Polluted Watersheds” (Michigan State University Press, $24.95) highlights 14 people who created programs and solutions to help communities that depend on the lakes.
These leaders took on the goal of restoring the Great Lakes through service and guidance at such environmental hotspots as the Detroit River, River Raisin, Rouge River and Muskegon Lake.
They all are hardworking and determined and share the same love for the lakes, Hartig said.
“The pollution problems of the Great Lakes are really people problems,” he said. “People created these problems and to solve them it’s going to take people working together.”
The retired director of the U.S.-Canada Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, North America’s only international refuge, Hartig continues his lifelong Great Lakes work as a visiting scholar at the University of Windsor and member of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy board of directors.
Through research, education and advocacy, he has fought for the cleanup of the lakes, demonstrating why action is necessary and significant to the communities that benefit from them. And he’s paid attention to people who have done similar work.
Hartig profiled people he deemed as Great Lakes champions. They share the same passion and help their communities remember how important the lakes are for people.
“They’re wel- respected in the community and they have trust,” Hartig said. “It takes sometimes decades to get trust.”
Such trust comes from advocacy groups, religious organizations, governments and industry, he said.
“They were these facilitators of the process and that takes a rare person.”
The champions include a married couple working to clean up Green Bay,Wisconsin, drain commissioners who brought communities together to do group service, members of the Water-keeper Alliance that led many efforts in keeping the water clean and safe to consume, local government officials who fought to clean up industrial processes. Many of these people worked on environmental justice before it was fashionable, especially in Detroit, Hartig said.
These champions realize it is important to know that when you do not know the answer, you should create boundaries on what you are an expert on and what you need to seek more knowledge on, Hartig said. It is a strategy that creates connections. People who are okay with saying they do not know everything create a sense of modesty and open the door for collaboration, Hartig said.
John Hartig notes that new Great Lakes champions can apply lessons learned in the past to emerging problems. Image: Michigan State University Press, $24.95).
And new Great Lakes champions are emerging, he said. People strive every day to help the lakes out and to continue the work of the earlier champions.
The lessons learned by the generation of champions he wrote about should not get lost as today’s problems call for a new mechanisms and assets to solve them, Hartig said. Each generation comes with its set of environmental issues. Thirty years ago, science was more respected than it is now.
The misinformation that is prevalent today washes away the foundations of science, he said. Years ago, everyone just believed and trusted what was said about the environment.
That erosion of trust in science complicates problems like climate change. Emerging champions will have to learn to balance work in progress while staying up to date with what climate change is doing, he said.
“I think this generation has some other challenges to deal with like misinformation and disinformation,” Hartig said. “They have to fight that battle and then now I think they have to also be always thinking about climate change.”
Climate change is the most pressing environmental challenge of our time, he said.
It leads to intense storms, higher water runoff and more erosion that can contaminate food webs and chains. The emerging champions must have the same passion as the previous ones. But they are taking on distinct challenges with a new wave of environmental problems. Good facilitators and having a passionate support system fuels the involved individuals to becoming champions, he said.
What makes it different is that it manifests “the importance and the value and benefit of the ecosystem approach,” Hartig said.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
The Latin sounds of Cabildo is the next concert in the Wyoming Concerts in the Park series.
The popular West Michigan 8-piece band will perform at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW and again at Kentwood’s Summer Concert Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 29, at the Kentwood City Complex, 4900 Breton Rd. SE.
Those attending either concert are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs or blankets to sit-on and food of choice.
At the Wyoming concert, food trucks also will be on site along with with a pre-show and activities for all ages.
At the Kentwood Summer Concert series, a variety of food truck fare also will be available prior and during the event. Concertgoers also are welcomed to bring their own beer or wine to the show. The city’s Farmers Market takes place before the concert, running form 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Both cities take a break from the summer concerts next week in observance of July Fourth.
The Wyoming Concerts in the Park resume on July 11 with Sarena Rae and the Kentwood Summer Concert series returns on July13 with Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes.
Fig and Friends Pet Rescue, an all-volunteer and donation funded pet rescue, believes every animal deserves a chance and strives to help cats and dogs of all ages have an amazing life.
Julie Beukema, founder of Fig and Friends, with Latte. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Founded in March of 2022 by Julie Beukema, Fig and Friends takes on as many rescues as they can, even dogs and cats with severe medical needs.
“Not a lot of recues will take animals who need a lot of medical care,” Beukema said. “There (are) just not enough resources for people and their pets.”
The namesake of the pet rescue, Fig, was one such case of acute medical need.
A French bulldog, Fig was at a local shelter when Beukema became aware of the puppy and her medical needs. Pulling her from the shelter, Beukema fostered Fig and began the dive into her medical care.
Unable to walk due to a fused and calcified spine, Fig underwent major surgery in Detroit followed by rehab. Fig is now able to walk, is potty-trained, and dispenses joy and smiles daily.
Connecting to the Happy Cat Cafe
When Happy Cat Café (HHC) approached Beukema with an offer of partnership that would allow Fig and Friends to provide a safe environment for rescued cats to receive human interaction and love—while also providing that love and joy to the café’s visitors—Beukema agreed.
HHC owner Kati Quarto dreamed of creating a space where cat lovers in Grand Rapids could relax and enjoy delicious drinks and food while also connecting with adorable feline companions. In 2017, Quarto brought that dream to reality by opening Happy Cat Café.
Offering a warm atmosphere, a variety of drinks, and boasting visitors from as far as Italy and Chile, HHC offers visitors a tranquil setting where lasting memories can be made with feline friends, and often hosts events and workshops such as cat yoga, paint nights, and themed gatherings.
Adoption is an option for those visitors who find a special bond with a feline friend. Application forms for adoption can be found in the café’s cat room or they can call Fig and Friends directly to speak with Beukema.
Partnership with HCC has gone well, with the café running the business side—events, coffee and food, building maintenance, etc.—and Fig and Friends providing feline friends, volunteers for the cat room, food, litter, medical care, and facilitation of adoptions.
The Happy Cat Cafe has a variety of cat-themed products. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Happy Cat Cafe customers relax and unwind by visiting with the Fig and Friends cats. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
There is a lot of fun toys for both cats and adults. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Volunteers take care of the area where the cats stay. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Filling a need
Though Beukema is a librarian at Grand Rapids Public Library, she has been involved in pet rescue for approximately ten years, volunteering at local shelters and fostering animals in need.
Beukema started her own rescue after finding her viewpoint on how to do things differed from many of the local rescues. “I had my own philosophy on how to do things,” said Beukema. “And there is a huge need.”
Exhibiting compassion rather than judgement when animals are abandoned, Beukema understands that not every situation is black and white.
“There can be a lot of different circumstances why someone does something like that,” Beukema said. “I’m not excusing what they did but somebody must be pretty desperate to do something like that. The world is filled with a lot of grays, and nothing is black and white.”
Beukema admits that being a director of a pet rescue is not always easy.
“Rescue is hard,” said Beukema. “There’s a lot of stress, there’s a lot of high emotions.” Seeing animals hurt and sometimes beyond rescue is especially hard for Beukema. “It wears on me…but I have a really good support system of volunteers.”
The story of Ray
One difficult yet rewarding story came with Ray, an 8-month-old black and white cat who came to Beukema at at 6-weeks-old with ruptured eyes and in need of surgery to have his eyes removed.
Julie Beukema with Ray. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Though completely blind, Ray is extremely social with the other cats and loves interacting with human visitors. “He is thriving here,” Beukema said with a smile.
Aware that times are difficult for everyone financially, Beukema offers information on affordable care for pets, one of them being CSNIP, a well-pet clinic that offers high-quality, reduced-cost veterinary care.
Beukema also urges community members to reach out and ask for help with their pets when they need it. “It never hurts to reach out and ask for help. We will do our best to help if we can.”
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
Michael Hulett performs tonight’s Concerts in the Park. (Courtesy, Michael Hulett)
It will be the sweet sounds of jazz, pop and rock as Michael Hulett takes to the stage tonight for the City of Wyoming’s Concerts in the Park.
It will be the first concert of the season as last week’s performance, with Reverend Jesse Ray, was cancelled due to rain. That concert has been rescheduled for Aug. 15.
Hulett, who is considered one of the top solo performers in the country, is accomplished on 10 instruments including soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, oboe, flute, trumpet and even tuba. While the sounds from his instrumental renditions are rich, Hulett is also know for his voice which according to his site “reminds people of the stars from the past century of classic sounds.”
Having attended Georgia Southern University, where he studied music performance with an emphasis on jazz, Hulett also attended the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale. While he does perform the classics of Louis Armstrong, he also is known for his interpretations of other performers who also served as his inspirations — Johnny Hartman, Marvin Gaye, and Billy Eckstine.
Heading to the show
Concerts in the Park starts at 6 p.m. with a pre-show and activities for all ages. Food trucks also will be on site. Participants are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.
2023 Concerts of the Park schedule
June 27: Cabildo is a West Michigan-based alternative Latin rock collective that brings a unique blend of cambia, ska, folk, and other genres of music from Latin America.
July 11: Sarena Rae is a Grand Rapids based vocalist covering a variety of musical genres.
July 18: Klay N’ The Mud is a West Michigan-based cover band.
July 25: La Furia Del Ritmo will perform Latin music.
Aug. 1: The Soul Syndicate offers up classic soul, R&B and funk.
Aug. 8: Patty Pershayla & The Mayhaps features a former small-town pageant queen who has turned into a rock ’n’ roll powerhouse.
Author Jean Davis with Kay-Kay and the book she wrote about Kay-Kay. (Courtesy, Janet Vormittag)
Jean Davis is an author of science fiction, fantasy, horror and a children’s picture book about a chicken.
Davis’s passions for writing and raising chickens and ducks collided last year. The Holland resident had signed up to attend a festival to sell books, but one of her chickens wasn’t feeling well. She didn’t want to leave Millie alone so she packed up the ailing chicken, along with her books, and took her to the festival where she could keep an eye on her.
“I was surprised at people’s excitement at seeing a chicken,” Davis said. She added that one person told her it made their day to pet a chicken.
Before the book, you need a chicken with a good story
Davis realized having a chicken drew people to her booth and gave her an opportunity to talk about her books. Book sales increased.
Millie’s health improved but she wasn’t happy going to shows. Another chicken, Laya, was more social and Davis trained her to wear a harness and walk on a leash. She regularly accompanied Davis to her weekend gigs.
Several people asked Davis if Laya was a character in one her books.
“No, but it’s a good idea,” she would tell them.
But Laya didn’t have a story. “A good story needs conflict and Laya had a happy life. There was nothing to write about,” Davis explained.
The chick that needed a home
Kay-Kay is a Silkie, a breed of chicken named after its fluffy plumage that feels like silk. (Courtesy, Janet Vormittag)
The two-month-old chick had been hatched in an incubator. She was smaller than the other chicks and had a leg that didn’t develop properly. The healthy chickens in the flock picked on her, which is what chickens do.
But fate soon brought Davis a chicken with a story. Her niece saw a post on Craigslist regarding a disabled chicken who needed a home with someone experienced with handicapped chickens.
After a lengthy discussion with the owner, Davis agreed to give the chick a home. She was surprised at her size. “She fit in my hand. She was the same size as a one-day-old duck.”
She named the new family member Kay-Kay after her niece, Kaylee, who had brought the homeless chicken to her attention.
Kay-Kay is a Silkie, which is a breed of chicken named after its fluffy plumage that feels like silk. Silkie’s feathers don’t have “teeth” so they don’t weave together. Instead they are fluffy.
“It looks like a feather explosion on their head,” Davis said. She has to give Kay-Kay a haircut so people can see her eyes.
Silkies are cuddly, calm and love sitting on laps. They also interact well with people, which make Kay-Kay the perfect companion at shows.
A chicken who needed a chick
Kay-Kay arrival coincided with a chicken raising a duckling.
Davis lives in a residential area where roosters are not allowed due to their crowing. Therefore, she never has baby chicks. But it is okay to have male ducks since they aren’t noisy like a rooster.
One of her Silkies, Henifer, often gets “broody” meaning she wants to sit on eggs. When that happens, Davis puts duck eggs under her.
All is well until mama Henifer tries to teach her young hatchlings how to be chickens.
“Henifer gets frustrated raising ducks—they can’t jump or roost,” Davis said. They also won’t scratch in the dirt looking for food.
Henifer just happened to be raising a duckling when Kay-Kay arrived. Davis put the chick under Henifer.
“She took her over like one of her own,” she said. “Henifer had a chick to raise and I finally had a chicken with a story.”
A story is hatched
Davis wrote a children’s book about how Kay-Kay found a new family that accepted her with her disability. Davis revived her watercolor skills, which had been shelved for 30 years, to illustrate the story.
(Courtesy, Janet Vormittag)
Kay-Kay, The Littlest Chicken was released May 6 and is Davis’s 14th book.
Kay-Kay, who now weighs one pound, two ounces, accompanies Davis to her book events.
“It’s amazing how many people love chickens,” Davis said.
Kay-Kay, The Littlest Chicken can be bought on Amazon and other online retailers. In addition, it can be purchased at jeandavisauthor.com. Davis’s schedule is also on her website if you are interested in meeting her and Kay-Kay.
Janet Vormittag started Cats and Dogs, a Magazine Devoted to Companion Animalsin 2006 as a monthly publication. It’s geared towards West Michigan readers and features pet-related advertisers, animals available for adoption, and articles about animal rescues and pets. In 2018, Cats and Dogs transitioned to a quarterly publication. The print edition is free and can be found at local libraries and businesses.
Harriet Stanaback (center) and two of her granddaughters look at the tree planted in her honor at a birthday celebration for Harriet Saturday at Stanaback Park, 3717 Whitebud Dr, Kentwood. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
Stanaback Park in Kentwood has been enjoyed by the community since officially opening in 2008 and it recently hosted a special 99th birthday party for Harriet Stanaback, who played a big role in the park becoming a reality for Kentwood residents.
Harriet’s late husband Kenneth purchased that land in 1958 and 10 years after his passing in 1988 Harriet donated the land to the city. After that donation Harriet continued working with the city staff to create park plans that would be an asset to the community and in 2008 that vision came to fruition as Kenneth Stanaback Park opened.
A jewel in the middle of Kentwood, Stanaback Park is a 33-acre park that includes open land, two playgrounds, a basketball court, pavilion, picnic tables and paved walking trails.
Since then, countless local residents have enjoyed the park as has Harriet who enjoys seeing the park grow and become a treasure for the community.
“It’s really grown,” Harriet said. “I like it because it’s absolutely free. Anybody can come over here and have a dinner if they want to. Bring your lunch and eat it in the cabin. I’ve done it myself.”
Harriet Stanaback and family members look at the plaque and tree planted in her honor while celebrating her 99th birthday Saturday at Stanaback Park in Kentwood. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Family and friends gathered Saturday afternoon at the park to celebrate Harriet’s 99th birthday. Harriet and her family also were able to see the tree that was planted along with a dedication plaque from the city of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department recognizing her and her late husband’s donation to the city.
My grandmother used to live over there two houses away,” said Harriet’s granddaughter Kelly Martinez. “They had 50 something acres. She decided she wanted to donate this part of the land from their property so that everybody could enjoy the woods. She used to walk through the woods every day after work. That was her favorite thing to do.
“She just wanted everybody to be able to enjoy nature the way that we grew up running through the woods as kids. The way that she walked and enjoyed the woods and she taught us so many things about the trees and the bugs and the plants and the flowers and everything. It was her desire that everybody could have that same type of experience that she gave to us her grandkids and that she’s also enjoyed all these years.”
Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley also dropped in on the festivities to wish Harriet a happy birthday and thank her again on behalf of the city and the residents for her generous gift that has brought so much joy to others.
“This is a beautiful, beautiful park and we are so thankful for the family for donating this land back in 1998,” said Mayor Kepley. “It’s a beautiful sight. I was just talking to some of the family members that have memories of growing up here and enjoying the woods, enjoying the creeks, making mud pies. The blessing is so many more people can enjoy this land because of their gift.”
Harriet’s younger brother, Ron VanDam, 86, of Cutlerville, also was on hand to share the day with his older sister and has plenty of fond memories of the land.
Harriet Stanaback (middle) and her brother Ron VanDam and his wife Mary pose for a photo at Harriet’s 99th birthday party Saturday at Stanaback Park, 3717 Whitebud Dr., Kentwood. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
“I love it,” VanDam said. “We come here just to walk around and that’s what it’s for. It’s neat to have a greenspace where the deer can live and all the other wild animals.”
Kentwood residents who were visiting the park Saturday took time out to share their appreciation with Harriet as well including Kyle White who was at the park to get some basketball in on the basketball court.
“It’s been more of a comfort zone for us,” White said. “We kind of just come here to meet up with friends. We’ve played here for the past 15 years so it’s been kind of a consistent thing. This park has just been home for us. Miss Stanaback, her life means so much to us, we meet here to have get togethers. This park is home to us. It’s a great appreciation. It’s one of the underlying things that we have in Kentwood. The parks make a big difference in how our community interacts and basketball has been one of them.”
Kentwood has some 16 parks and nature trails and Stanaback Park has taken its place as a special park in the city since opening in 2008 with its heavily wooded acres along with rolling hills and ravines. The park has over 5,000 feet of paved trails that wind through the hills and trees.
Twenty-three software, video, and light-based works of art will be on view this summer at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) in Message from Our Planet: Digital Art from the Thoma Foundation. On view June 17 – Sept. 9, the exhibition proposes that digital technology offers distinct ways for artists to communicate with future generations.
“Message from Our Planet celebrates digital technologies as an incredible tool for today’s artists,” said GRAM Associate Curator Jennifer Wcisel. “The works in the exhibition encompass familiar technologies like digital video and photography to the unexpected visualization of data, assemblages of electronic components, and collages of found-video footage. We look forward to highlighting the myriad possibilities of digital art at GRAM and hope our guests leave with a new, broader understanding of the art form.”
Spanning the mid-1980s to today, the works in Message from Our Planet utilize a range of vintage and cutting-edge materials to create a polyphonic time-capsule, preserving their ideas, beliefs, and desires. The regional, national, and international artists featured in the exhibition include Ólafur Elíasson, Jenny Holzer, LoVid, Hong Hao, Matthew Angelo Harrison, Christian Marclay, and James Nares.
Message from Our Planet includes artwork that uses digital technologies as a tool for the creation of more traditional art objects—like a photograph, print, or sculpture—as well as art that is created, stored, and distributed by digital technology and employs their features as its medium.
The artists in Message from Our Planet engage with nontraditional mediums like video games, computer code, scanners, 3-D printers, online data, and even discarded electronic parts to create engaging works of digital art that capture the concerns and ambitions of our current era. The earliest work in the exhibition was created by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kac in 1986 with a now defunct Minitel terminal, a device used to access the most popular online service prior to the World Wide Web.
Detroit-based artist Matthew Angelo Harrison uses custom software and a handmade 3D printer to explore history, ancestry, and the relationship between African and African American culture. Harrison’s work, Braided Woman, is a 3D-printed sculpture of an imagined artifact. To create this work, Harrison scanned images of historic African masks from books and online sources, then digitally blended their shapes to generate a unique, composite object.
Featured Artists: Brian Bress Lia Chaia Ólafur Elíasson Nicholas Galanin Sabrina Gschwandtner Hong Hao Matthew Angelo Harrison Claudia Hart Jenny Holzer Eduardo Kac LoVid Christian Marclay Lee Lee Nam James Nares Paul Pfeiffer Tabita Rezaire Michal Rovner Jason Salavon Elias Sime Skawennati Penelope Umbrico Robert Wilson
Member Event:
Member Exhibition Opening: Message from Our Planet Friday, June 16 | 7 – 9 pm Museum Members and their guests are invited to celebrate the opening of Message from Our Planet at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Join us for an advance look at the exhibition, accompanied by hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
Message from Our Planet: Digital Art from the Thoma Collection is curated and supported by the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation. Support for this exhibition has been generously provided by Wege Foundation, with additional funding provided by GRAM Exhibition Society.
About the Grand Rapids Art Museum
Connecting people through art, creativity, and design. Established in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, the art museum is internationally known for its distinguished design and LEED® Gold certified status. Founded in 1910 as the Grand Rapids Art Association, GRAM has grown to include more than 6,000 works of art, including American and European 19th and 20th-century painting and sculpture and more than 3,000 works on paper. Embracing the city’s legacy as a leading center of design and manufacturing, GRAM has a growing collection in the area of design and modern craft.
For museum hours and admission fees, call 616.831.1000 or visit artmuseumgr.org.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to rain, the Concerts in the Park with Reverend Jesse Ray has been rescheduled for Aug. 15.
Jesse Ray Cahue, a.k.a. Reverend Jesse Ray, performs Tuesday, June 13, at Lamar Park. (Courtesy, Reverend Jesse Ray)
“Prepare to rock ’n’ roll’ said Jesse Ray Cahue of Wyoming’s first Concerts in the Park for the 2023 summer season.
Set for Tuesday, June 13, Cahue will take the stage as Reverend Jesse Ray at the free event at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW.
“It’s all about having a good time,” said Cahue, who makes his debut at the Concerts in the Park on Tuesday. “I grab that electric guitar, tap out on my foot drums and perform a lot of danceable music. It features blues, swing, and rockabiliy. It’s about having fun and bringing the rock ’n’ roll.”
Cahue picked up a guitar at the age of 12 when his “Gumpy” bought his first six-string. Cahue then began playing open mic nights with his mama at his side to gain him entry into the bars. In 2013, Cahue formed Jesse Ray and The Carolina Catfish, which received a nomination for Best Roots/Americana Album at the 23rd Jammie Awards, presented by Grand Rapids radio station WYCE.
Expanding and growing
Looking for new and creative musical opportunities, Cahue developed Reverend Jesse Ray as a one-band blues and rock act. He is equipped with guitar, amplified harmonica, foot drums, and a voice that takes the audience back to the golden age of recorded music.
“Reverend Jesse first appeared as the opener for Rachael Brook at a Grand Rapids Art Museum outdoor concert,” Jesse said. “My band, Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish, was supposed to be my creative outlet but it has morphed into its own thing which is great.
“Through the Reverend Jesse act, I am able to do more things, such as original songs as well as pieces that may not quite have fit with the band, and pursue more performing opportunities.”
Some might be familiar with the Reverend Jesse Ray as he is a regular performer at the Tip Top Bar, located in downtown Grand Rapids.
Cahue said he looks forward to checking out the City of Wyoming and rocking out with attendees at Lamar Park.
Heading to the show
Concerts in the Park starts at 6 p.m. with a pre-show and activities for all ages. Food trucks also will be on site. Participants are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.
All of the Concerts in the Park are recorded by WKTV Community Media and aired on Comcast 24 and streamed at wktv.org. Air times are 5 p.m. Wednesdays, and 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Saturdays.
2023 Concerts of the Park schedule
June 20: Michael Hulett is a musician and vocalist who performs a variety of music such as jazz, R&B, pop, rock, and a sprinkling of country music.
June 27: Cabildo is a West Michigan-based alternative Latin rock collective that brings a unique blend of cambia, ska, folk, and other genres of music from Latin America.
July 11: Sarena Rae is a Grand Rapids based vocalist covering a variety of musical genres.
July 18: Klay N’ The Mud is a West Michigan-based cover band.
July 25: La Furia Del Ritmo will perform Latin music.
Aug. 1: The Soul Syndicate offers up classic soul, R&B and funk.
Aug. 8: Patty Pershayla & The Mayhaps features a former small-town pageant queen who has turned into a rock ’n’ roll powerhouse.
Sounds of Summer will expand its offerings, providing music in July at Cutler Park and in August at Byron Center’s Bicentennial Park. (Courtesy, Patty Williams)
With increased attendance, this summer the Sounds of Summer will be expanding and returning to where it all started.
The free community concert series, sponsored by Byron Township and presented by P. Williams Productions and LW Studios, will expand into August from its traditional July schedule. All the July performances will be at Cutler Park, in Cutlerville, with the August performances at Byron Center’s Bicentennial Park, which is where the series started in 2008.
Patty Williams, from P. Williams Production, said the expansion is a result of the event being hit with the public. The 2022 series drew more than 2,000 visitors to listen to a wide variety of bands.
“They know how to put on a very entertaining show,” Williams added, speaking of the bands performing and the production team behind them.
What music will I hear at Sounds of Summer?
Every Thursday at 7 p.m., listeners can gather in Cutler Park, 6701 Cutler Park Dr. SW, in July and Bicentennial Park in August to enjoy a night of music, games, and refreshments. Aiming to be inclusive for all crowds, the series features trivia games, CD giveaways, and catering by local vendors in addition to the bands.
The 2023 Series opens on July 6 at Cutler Park with a wide array of musical talent. This year’s Cutler Park lineup includes:
The Soul Syndicate will perform July 27 at Cutler Park. (Supplied by the band)
July 6: Azz Izz Band – With decades of experience, this group takes on blues, country, soul, and rock hits.
July 13: That Beatles Thing – A local cover band transports you back in time to hear the hits of John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
July 20: Ryan Curtis Band – This Michigan-born, Idaho-based artist covers anything from folk to bluegrass to rock to blues through personal stories and life lessons.
July 27: The Soul Syndicate – This party band tributes iconic funk, soul, and R&B artists with electric, high-energy performances.
The August series at Byron Center’s Bicentennial Park, 8085 Byron Center Ave. SW, includes:
Aug. 3: Great Scott! – This Grand Rapids-based party band has something for everyone, playing hits from the fifties through today.
Aug. 10: Carson Peters and Iron Mountain – Traveling all the way from East Tennessee, this award-winning bluegrass group has played at the Grand Ole Opry and around the world.
Aug. 17: The Soul Syndicate – A familiar group in Grand Rapids, the band performs funk, soul and R&B.
What Else is a Part of Sounds of Summer?
Sounds of Summer aims to provide a rewarding recreational experience in addition to the concerts, Williams said.
Cutler Park features a playground to keep the younger crowd entertained, as well as a walking path for exercise or dancing along to the music. The only things listeners need to bring are blankets, lawn chairs, and a listening ear. Hungry? Pick up a hot dog from the cart operated by Juicy Wieners. If Juicy Wieners aren’t your style, pork sandwiches also will be provided at this year’s event.
More information
P. Williams Productions tapes each concert, which are rebroadcasted on WKTV throughout the summer. This year’s series incorporates a new and expanded sound system.
Left, Cyndi Tied, GRPM collections manager with Dr. David Pilgrim, founder and director of the Jim Crow Museum. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) has partnered with the Jim Crow Museum (JCM) at Ferris State University to host the premiere of the JCM’s traveling exhibit, Overcoming Hateful Things: Stories from the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery, beginning June 3.
“We recognized that not everyone was going to come to the metropolis of Big Rapids, so we began creating traveling exhibits,” said Dr. David Pilgrim, founder and director of the Jim Crow Museum. “This is a taste of the stories we are trying to tell.”
Pilgrim hopes GRPM visitors will acquire an intelligent understanding of what the Jim Crow period was. He also hopes the exhibit will stimulate conversations. “This is one of the most successful ways that I have found to lead people to have meaningful, insightful discussions about race,” Pilgrim said.
When Pilgrim arrived at FSU in 1990, he brought approximately 3,200 Jim Crow pieces from his own private collection and donated them to the university with the understanding that they would be preserved and displayed. FSU agreed and now hosts the permanent JCM exhibit that has grown to more than 20,000 pieces.
Pilgrim went on to say that while many people believe the JCM is simply a large collection of racially insensitive objects, it is his intent to place those objects in their proper historical context in order to show people how they were created, why they were created, and what the consequences were of that creation.
“It is an opportunity to show people how you can use contemptible objects as teaching tools and how you can use them to facilitate intelligent discussions about race, race relations, and racism,” said Pilgrim. “We believe in the triumph of dialogue.”
What GRPM visitors can expect
Visitors to the JCM exhibit at GRPM will experience a variety of objects, pictures, and informational articles in both tangible and digital form.
A five-minute Roots of Racism film orients visitors to the content they will see at the Overcoming Hateful Things exhibit, and interactive tablets are available with video and audio content about the Jim Crow period.
An interactive Map of Terror allows visitors to see where Jim Crow violence occurred throughout the United States, while another multimedia piece displays portraits of African Americans living their daily lives.
An interactive station allows visitors to listen to Coon Song, a genre of music that presents a derogatory stereotype of African Americans, while reading along with the lyrics via sheet music. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
“We see all these negative caricatures and imagery and stereotypes, (but) African Americans didn’t see themselves that way,” said Franklin Hughes, multimedia specialist of the JCM. “We want to show the pushback of regular, everyday people.”
Another interactive station allows visitors to listen to Coon Song, a genre of music that presents a derogatory stereotype of African Americans, while reading along with the lyrics via sheet music.
“It gives people an opportunity to see the songs in their full context,” Hughes said. “People still have those thoughts and ideas because it’s ingrained and embedded into our culture.”
Pilgrim believes that part of education is about history. “A mature nation will look at its past and be objective,” said the JCM director. “The purpose of the past is not to feel good or bad, it’s to have a better, deeper, more nuanced understanding of the past with the hope that we are better in the present and the future.”
Moving Forward
Left, Franklin Hughes talks with David Pilgrim, the founder and director of the Jim Crow Museum. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
The JCM is currently in the early stages of a campaign to move into a two-story standalone facility that will allow them to contextualize the museum’s pieces.
“Each one of those 20,000 pieces,” said Pilgrim, “is currently being made, sometimes as reproductions, but sometimes the image has morphed into a modern manifestation. I believe that one of the most powerful parts of the new museum we are going to build will be a section of objects made in the last five to ten years.”
Pilgrim urges people to take a critical look at things currently produced in popular and in material culture and to remain vigilant.
“We are all on a racial journey in this country, whether we know it or not,” said Pilgrim. “(The museum) allows us to tell the story of how to make the world better as individuals, as communities, as states, and as a nation.”
To learn more about GRPM’s Overcoming Hateful Things: Stories from the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery, visit Grand Rapids Public Museum.
To learn more about the JCM Expansion and/or to donate toward the expansion, visit JCM Expansion
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author
Paul Vander Laan grew up on a flashlight farm—his dad had a day job and worked the farm at night.
Dave Kamps Showing his 11-year-old granddaughter Libby Kleyn how to drive his team of Percherons. (Janet Vormittag)
“Mom wouldn’t let him get a tractor with headlights. She didn’t want him working all night,” said Vander Laan who lives in Walker.
When Vander Laan was 8-years-old, he recalls the last horse leaving the farm. Nostalgia of those long-gone days has turned into a hobby for him. Vander Laan owns two Percherons, a breed of draft horse that originated in France, and he is a member of the West Michigan Draft Horse Club, which has about 40 members.
One of the club’s activities is plow days where members bring their teams to a local farm and put them to work. Plow days are open to the public and signs are placed by nearby streets pointing the way for anyone interested in seeing draft horses pulling plows.
On May 13, the club met at a Christmas tree farm in Ottawa County and worked a field that will be planted with seedlings. A light drizzle didn’t stop club members from attending. By 9 a.m. several pickup trucks hauling horse trailers were already parked side by side, teams were unloading, hitched up and bring starting to plow. Both walk-behind and riding plows were used.
Owning Draft horses is An Expensive Hobby
Vander Laan estimated he spends $2,500 per horse annually and that doesn’t include a truck and trailer for hauling the animals. To offset the pricy pastime, he built a horse-drawn funeral coach. Last year, he was hired 21 times to be part of funeral processions, transporting the casket from church to cemetery. He handled the team and the minister or one family member can ride by his side.
Business card with a photo of Paul Vander Laan and his Percherons pulling a funeral coach. (Janet Vormittag)
Club member Dave Kamps compared the expense of owning a draft horse to not smoking. “If you don’t buy cigarettes, you can afford the feed for one of these guys,” Kamps said, adding that a pack of smokes is about $7 and that’s what it costs to feed one horse for one day—but it’s cheaper in the summer when the horses are pastured.
Kamps spent part of the plow day teaching his young grandchildren how to handle his Percheron team, Jasper and Sweet Pea. His daughter, Betsy Kleyn, said her kids enjoy helping with the horses.
“He’s always doing horse stuff and they always want to help him,” she said.
Besides spring plow days, the club offers wagon rides at special events and compete in draft horse shows including one at Michigan State University.
This year the Michigan Great Lakes International Draft Horse Show and Pull (www.mgli.org) is Oct. 12-15 and will be held at the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education. Included are competitions in halter, hitching, plowing, pulling and riding. The four-day event features 330 vendors, and 1,200 horses from 30 states and three Canadian provinces. More than 35,000 people attend the show.
Family Tradition
Martin Daling, one of the original members in the West Michigan Draft Horse Club, said he won the plowing competition last year at MSU. The year before he took second place. He explained that the dirt is judged, not the horses. Criteria include the depth and the straightness of the furrows.
Carrie Dalling plowing with her dad’s team of blond Belgians. (Janet Vormittag)
Daling owns a centennial farm in Tallmadge Township near Leonard Street and 8th Avenue and is the third generation to farm the land. Daling and his Belgian draft horse team work the fields and in the fall they harvest the hay, oats and corn that provide feed for the horses.
Daling’s daughter, Carrie Daling, said she’s been attending plow days with her dad for at least 30 years.
“Everyone is always here,” said Carrie Daling. “People I’ve known since I was a kid.”
When the plowing is complete, club members have a potluck.
Carrie Daling said she occasionally drives her dad’s team of blonde Belgians, Roy and Roger.
“Dad’s teams listens very well,” she said explaining that one horse always walks in the furrow. “You point him in the direction and he knows where to go.”
Janet Vormittag started Cats and Dogs, a Magazine Devoted to Companion Animalsin 2006 as a monthly publication. It’s geared towards West Michigan readers and features pet-related advertisers, animals available for adoption, and articles about animal rescues and pets. In 2018, Cats and Dogs transitioned to a quarterly publication. The print edition is free and can be found at local libraries and businesses.
“Ice Age: Michgian’s Frozen Secrets” features how Michigan landscapes looked thousands of years ago. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Public Museum)
By Adam Brown WKTV Contributor
Have you ever wished to go back in time to the dawn of the Ice Age? Or look at the impacts of snow on a global scale? Now you can, with the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s new exhibits Ice Age: Michigan’s Frozen Secrets and Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact.
What Are the New Exhibits?
Set to run May 20 through Sept. 3, the new exhibits put a unique Michigan spin on global events. In addition, they continue the GRPM’s mission of educating the public through immersive and enriching displays. Of the GRPM’s new additions, Public Museum’s Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations Dustin Tyler noted, “Ice Age: Michigan’s Frozen Secrets and Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact are two incredibly unique and exciting exhibits that we are thrilled to bring to our community. We believe both exhibits will provide visitors with unforgettable educational experiences and inspire curiosity about Michigan’s history and the impact of snow on our environment.”
Ice Age: Michigan’s Frozen Secrets
Ice Age: Michigan’s Frozen Secrets localizes the historical period, focusing on modern-day West Michigan when prehistoric animals dominated the Earth. The exhibit depicts how the landscape looked thousands of years ago, with a chance to interact with some of the area’s native creatures. In addition, patrons can enjoy tactile experiences where they can handle actual fossilized bones and teeth from the era. The available bones come from a selection of a recently discovered mastodon in the Grand Rapids area.
Visitors will be able touch mastodon bones that were found in Grand Rapids. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Public Museum)
In August 2022, mastodon bones were uncovered during a construction dig at the Grand Rapids property of Michael and Courtney Clapp. Wanting to keep the artifacts local and accessible to the public, the Clapps donated their namesake Clapp Family Mastodon to the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The recovered bones form the basis of the Ice Age exhibit. In this fully immersive experience, visitors are encouraged to touch and observe the bones and teeth, connecting them to the life of early humans in the area.
Though designed to supplement material learned in the classroom, Ice Age: Michigan’s Frozen Secrets is geared toward all ages, per GRPM Marketing Manager Sara Olsen. People naturally question what their home state might have looked like in the prehistoric era. This exhibit is designed to answer those burning questions by allowing museumgoers to physically interact with what came before.
Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact
Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact takes the opposite route, looking at snow globally and how it impacts worldwide climate systems. No matter where we live, snow impacts us all. In this exhibit, patrons can examine all the ways this natural weather phenomenon affects the globe.
“Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact” will look at how snow impacts worldwide climate systems. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Public Museum)
While new to the GRPM, Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact was initially developed by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland, Oregon. Like the GRPM, the OMSI is devoted to fostering learning and curiosity in its visitors through interactive experiments, exhibits, and demonstrations for a younger, school-age demographic.
In Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact, guests answer one fundamental question. What is snow? An immersive digital snowstorm enables visitors to interact with snow crystals, examining how each is truly unique. While all ages may enjoy the exhibit, the tactile games make the experience especially rewarding for the younger crowd by allowing them to take an interactive role in the process, per Olson. Guests can also listen to oral histories about snow from elders and culture leaders of the Inupiaq tribes to supplement the interactive game. These elements seek to educate the public about the importance of snow in the worldwide climate system and how each tiny crystal has a global impact.
Despite differing scopes and content, the GRPM designed Ice Age: Michigan’s Frozen Secrets and Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact to work in tandem with one another. Both offer glimpses into climate and weather patterns over time and allow patrons to interact with those patterns while building an understanding of the world around them.
Guests who purchase general admission tickets to the GRPM between May 20 and Sept. 3 can participate in the new exhibits, with free admission for those 17 and under. In addition, members can receive early access to the exhibits through an exclusive members only preview. Those interested may find information on museum hours and ticket prices at the GRPM’s official website.
Maria Christina Oliveras plays Persephone in the national tour of “Hadestown,” which comes to Grand Rapids this week. (Photo by T. Charles-Erickson)
By John D. Gonzalez WKTV Contributor
Maria-Christina Oliveras, who plays Persephone in the Broadway national tour of “Hadestown,” said the premise of the musical is life changing:
“Love is the greatest force of the universe and can recalibrate (us)!” she said in a recent phone interview with WKTV while on a tour stop in Milwaukee.
As the Greek goddess of the underworld ruled by Hades, Persephone may know a little bit about the universe, especially as it pertains to “Hadestown,” the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that tells a modern retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.
Overall it won eight Tony Awards in 2019, including Best Musical, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
The story is set in a post-apocalyptic, Depression-era America, where the world is plagued by poverty and despair. Orpheus, a talented musician, falls in love with Eurydice, a young woman who is struggling to make ends meet. As they navigate their relationship and the challenges of their world, they are drawn into the dark underworld of Hadestown, ruled by the charismatic but ruthless Hades.
It’s that storyline of “love” and its power to “recalibrate” the universe that makes the musical so powerful, Oliveras said.
“(Love) is the biggest force of reckoning in the universe, and I think we do that through our music and through the story we tell,” she said. “We all need to reconnect again.”
In this Greek tragedy, the story explores themes of love and sacrifice, as well as temptation, and the power of music to inspire hope and bring people together.
Written by Anaïs Mitchell, the score blends elements of folk, blues, and jazz, and features memorable songs such as “Way Down Hadestown,” “Wait for Me,” and “Why We Build the Wall.”
Because it’s based on a Greek tragedy, Oliveras said “we all know how the story ends,” but it’s their goal as a cast “to tell it again with hope, in hopes that it may turn out a little different.”
“Hadestown” is a musical presented primarily in song with the ensemble performing as a Greek chorus and the three Fates, the mythical personifications of destiny, to assist Hermes in telling the story. Most of the show’s seven-member band performs onstage on risers, perched on a setting that resembles New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Hannah Whitley as Eurydice and J. Antonio Rodriguez as Orpheus with the company in “Hadestown.” (Photo by T. Charles Erikson)
Oliveras, a classically trained actor, singer, educator and activist from the Bronx, New York, said it’s the show’s innovation, especially in staging, that has resonated with audiences and made it a Broadway hit.
Also, its wide range of music from New Orleans jazz to folk has made it appealing “even to people who don’t like traditional musical theater.”
A graduate of Yale University, with an M.F.A. in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory, Oliveras said the show is also relevant to today’s audience, weaving in themes of “immigration, community and climate change.”
“It’s got this depth, and it really hits where we are at this moment in the world, and in America specifically,” Oliversa said. “The combination of all of that…. you can’t resist. It’s really a phenomenon.”
It also captures what it is like to be human, in the spirit of “we’re in it together,” she said.
Overall we are inspired by these young lovers, in song and creativity.
“It’s about the power of art to really transform and change, and reginate and reinspire, particularly in those moments where we’re disconnected, which is really prevalent in the world today.”
Tickets are available online at BroadwayGrandRapids.com or at the Broadway Grand Rapids box office located at 122 Lyon St. NW. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 616-235-6285.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. Learn more at amyandgonzo.com. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. Find his Channel on YouTube. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Circle Theatre presents the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” through May 20. (Courtesy, Circle Theatre)
How do you spell S-U-C-C-E-S-S? One only has to be in the audience for Circle’s musical comedy to find out. The season opener is successful with tremendous audience appeal, superior talent, innovative staging and musical delights.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee follows six nerdy and eclectic tweens who are definitely quirky, interesting and share their life stories with effortless humor and emotion. It’s a small cast with big voices.
“What is the language of origins?” “Can you use that in a sentence?” “What’s the definition please?” These phrases take us back to some of the spelling bees of our school days. But what is the most memorable are the life stories of every cast member. The stories emotionally connect us throughout.
Kudos to co-directors Chris and Jenna Grooms for directing what seem to be young characters, but has a cast of all ages portraying that specific age group. They all try to spell their way through words like “capybara,” qaymaqam” “Cystitis” and other words I have never heard of.
Who will win the spelling championship of a lifetime? Audience members are on the edge of their seats just waiting to find out. There is no intermission which just adds to the suspense of the plot.
The show was a winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book. Well-deserved as the jokes, storylines, and content are relatable, emotional, funny and as clever as the characters themselves.
Zachary Avery, in the role of Leaf, doesn’t know how to spell, but when he goes into a trance, the results are correct and humorous. (Courtesy, Circle Theatre)
Another interesting aspect of the show is four audience members are called upon to compete in the bee. This provides an audience immersion delight and tests the casts’ improvisational techniques.
Each cast member has their own unique way of competing to win the spelling bee. Braden Bacon, portraying the role of Barfee, spells the word out on the ground with his foot. He gets the visual and then speaks it. Zachary Avery, in the role of Leaf, doesn’t know how to spell, but when he goes into a trance, the results are correct and humorous.
Usually there are stand out performers in musicals. This cast are all stand outs. Impeccable comedic timing, excellent voice and diction skills, in depth characterizations and gifted singers make this show one of the best I have seen in a long time.
Choreographer Mary Lohman and Music Director Scott Patrick Bell should also be commended on their creative efforts and in-depth talents.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee runs at Circle Theatre through May 20. Tickets and information available at circletheatre.org. The show runs May 4-6, 10-14 and 17-20, with May 14 being a matinee showing. Tickets are available for $26 – $30 at circletheatre.org. This season, Circle Theatre will present “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Blithe Spirit,” “Pippin,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” Definitely a winning season and one that we have just come to expect from Circle Theater.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
There will be a number of carnival rides and food offerings at the Wyoming Spring Carnival. (Supplied)
This Friday is the official kick off of activities in the City of Wyoming as city’s annual Spring Carnival returns for 10 days.
“This kicks off the season for us,” said Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director Krashawn Martin. “The carnival is the start of our events such as the concerts and we have some pop-up activities planned for July.
“So here is to beautiful weather and smooth sailing into summer for Wyoming.”
The carnival runs April 28 through May 7 at the Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. Hours are from 4 – 8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 2-8:30 p.m. Friday and noon-8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The carnival is free however there is a cost for rides and food. At the city’s website, there is a coupon for $3 off an unlimited ride wristband.
“This is usually the first event for TJ Schmidt & Company, which runs the carnival,” Martin said. “They always have some fun and new rides and this is the opportunity to explore them. I am not sure exactly what they will be, so people will have to come see for themselves.”
A staple in the city city for more than 30 years, proceeds from the carnival support City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation services and the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance or GWCRA. Funds raised support youth scholarships and youth and family programming through the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department. The GWCRA distributes funds to the community its through annual grant awarding process.
The Spring Carnival is made possible through the work of the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation and TJ Schmidt & Company. For more information about the carnival, contact the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department at 616-530-3164.
Residents are encouraged to line up by 1:30 p.m. as the line will close at 2 p.m. (WKTV)
There is something about when the earth tilts pushing the northern hemisphere closer to the sun that not only brings a freshness to the air that causes people to open the windows but also vacuum behind the furniture and clean out garages.
Spring cleaning has become a worldwide phenomenon and this Saturday, Wyoming residents will have the chance to get rid of their unwanted items in bulk during the city’s annual spring cleaning event set for Saturday, April 22.
“We are really excited to have this event,” said Nicole Hofert, the city’s director of community and economic development. “We have a wonderful group of volunteers who always help us every year and we are very thankful to have all of those people join us in this event.
“This really is an opportunity for Wyoming residents to clear out some of that stuff they have been thinking about all winter long. We are proud to offer it and hope we have another really great turnout.”
The event will be at Grand Rapids First Church, 2100 44th St. SW, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Plummer’s Disposal will provide the refuse hauling.
Guidelines for the Clean-Up Day
For participating in the annual spring clean-up, here are a few things you should know:
1. People may start line up at 7:30 a.m., doors open at 8 a.m.
Participants are asked to be in the right-hand lane of eastbound 44th Street. When arriving at the event, residents will enter the parking lot through Grand Rapids First’s northeast entrance off of 44th Street and follow the relevant signage.
2. Make sure to bring ID that shows you are a resident of Wyoming
Hofert said a water bill, a credit card statement that has your name and address, your driver’s license or your vehicle registration will work for proof of residency. “Just something to show that you are a Wyoming resident,” she said.
3. Be in line by 1:30 p.m. as the event does close at 2 p.m.
Unlike in years past, household hazardous waste such as paints, aerosols and other hazardous liquids will not be accepted. People wishing to dispose of those items should visit Kent County’s reimaginetrash.org, and under the Safe Home section, there is a list of sites and instructions on how to properly dispose of those items.
What to Bring
Other items that will not be taken are propane tanks and refrigerators. A completed list of items that will be accepted and items that will not be accepted is available at wyomingmi.gov/cleanup.
The City of Wyoming will be hosting its annual Community Clean-Up event on April 22 at the Grand Rapids First parking lot. (WKTV)
“We see a lot of furniture that comes through,” Hofert said. “If you have the broken recliner or a couch that you have recently replaced, bring it in.”
Construction materials are another good thing to get rid during the cleanup, Hofert said, adding that people often have done renovation projects during the winter with some materials left over that they need to dispose of.
Some items, such as tires and mattresses, will have a modest disposal fee of $12 and $22 respectively.
Yard waste will be accepted at the Yard Waste Drop-Off site, located at 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW, will be open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. There are no limits to size of branch or shrubs accepted at the site; however, residents must unload the yard waste themselves and all containers must be removed from the facility.
Event Info
Those who come to the event will get in line, an attendant will check your ID, you will come through the site to the dumpster location. Participants will get out to the car and attendants will instruct the person where what dumpster to dump you stuff in. Once done, the participant will get back into the car and then head back out through the exit.
For more information about the Wyoming Community Clean-Up Day, visit wyomingmi.gov/cleanup or call 616-530-7226.
LANSING – Long associated with calm music, soothing landscapes and the soft tones of Tim Allen’s voice, Michigan’s campaign to promote tourism will get an update to appeal to younger audiences.
David Lorenz, vice president of Travel Michigan, said the updated campaign marks the first time Pure Michigan has targeted young individuals.
“They’re more interested in experience than stuff,” he said. “Mostly Baby Boomers and Gen Z are looking for experience rather than the bigger TV set or the nicer car. That provides a great opportunity for the travel industry.”
The new ads will be more vibrant, Lorenz said. “You’ll see more people and more activity in the ads. The music is more uptempo.”
“For 17 years, we’ve always used the music from Cider House Rules, we’ve used Tim Allen’s voice, we’ve had this very calm, subtle approach,” Lorenz said. “That reaches the older folks, but we really felt by lifting up the spirit and showing the diversity in this way, we’re going to be more appealing to younger people as well.”
Grand Rapids Included In New Spots
The campaign, billed as “Keep it Fresh,” will include spots focusing on Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Traverse City, “using the sights, sounds and artistry that reflect the range of unique experiences and stories to be found in Michigan,” according to a news release from the office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
“We know that people, when they come to Michigan, expect to see beautiful nature. They’re going to find that,” Lorenz said. “But now they’re also starting to realize they can find vibrant, interesting cities.”
“It’s unbelievably cool. I never thought Detroit would come back the way it is in my lifetime,” he said.
The new campaign will mark Pure Michigan’s return to national airwaves, with spots airing on Discovery, Food Network, HGTV and Magnolia Network, and in local regions throughout the Midwest.
Digital portions of the “Keep it Fresh” campaign launched in late February, with TV ads beginning in March.
The New Pure Opportunity campaign. (State of Michigan)
New Business Marketing Campaign
The council also launched Pure Opportunity, a business marketing campaign touting the state’s skilled labor pool, freshwater resources and top ranking in climate change preparedness.
That campaign will feature images of Michigan companies like Pfizer in Portage, Orbion Space Technology in Houghton, Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire, Daddy Dough Cookies in Grand Rapids and Detroit Denim.
“Michigan is a place that will drive the world forward through grit, our world-class workforce, and stunning natural resources,” Whitmer said in a news release.
Modernized music
One of the first changes people may notice in the new campaign is more upbeat music.
“We were limited because of the slow, soft, beautiful, emotionally evocative music style of Cider House Rules,” Lorenz said. “It’s kind of hard to say, ‘Hey, let’s go snowmobiling!’”
Nicole Churchill, a co-founder of Assemble Sound, the Detroit company that developed the new score, said they wanted to refresh the music without completely deviating from what people have grown to know and love.
“That Cider House Rules score that’s been used for so long has become such a connection with the brand, I think the biggest challenge was how you maintain the integrity and pay homage to that while still bringing a little bit of newness and youth, and how you get people who are across different generations to like the same thing,” Churchill said.
Julian Wettlin, director of creative licensing for Assemble Sound, said “It was kind of a tightrope to walk between this modern, kind of poppy, electronic, indie-rock world that they wanted to play in with keeping the sincerity that Cider House Rules has.”
It’s All Michigan
The company used all Michigan talent for the demos, and the score that was selected was composed by Ann Arbor native Ben Collins.
Detroit Poet jessica Care moore joins Tim Allen as the voice in the new Pure Michigan campaign.
Wettlin said he didn’t allow the project to overwhelm him while working on it.
After seeing rough cuts of the spots, he thought to himself “Oh, right, this will live for a very long time.”
While the state only contracted for one song, Wettlin said it was designed to be adaptable enough to fit multiple spots.
“We basically gave them a toolbox of sounds,” Wettlin said. “When they get into mix, they can take down some of the bass and let the synths live a little higher in the mix on the more nature ones, and the nightlife ones maybe pull some of that sentimental quality and bring up more of the fun quality.”
A new voice
Another auditory change people are likely to quickly latch onto: the introduction of a new voice, Detroit poet jessica Care moore.
Moore, whose first and last name are not capitalized, came to national prominence after winning “It’s Showtime at the Apollo” a record-breaking five times in a row.
Oprah shared in 2022 one of moore’s poems, “Her Crown Shines,” which was written for then-Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson following her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Lorenz said the Michigan Economic Development Council had looked at introducing a second voice for years, but “they just didn’t seem right until we found jessica.”
“We’re using her in a different way. We’re using her writing talents as well as her voice,” Lorenz said. “I love her kind of grainy, granular, earthy voice. It’s going to blend really well with Tim.”
Focus on diversity
Highlighting diversity is one way the new campaign will appeal to younger audiences, Lorenz said.
“We have a lot to be proud of with our diversity, and we think that’s very appealing to a lot of people right now,” Lorenz said. “With our TV and radio ads, you’re going to hear an additional voice with Tim Allen this year – you’ll hear a woman. That, in itself, demonstrates in a subtle way that we’re not the same old state you think we were. We’re so much more.”
But he acknowledged that some audiences may feel that capitalizing on diversity may seem superficial or opportunistic. It’s a concern that they considered.
“That’s one of the reasons why it’s taken us a while to really take this approach, because we felt that it had to be genuine. It had to be authentic. It had to be real,” Lorenz said.
“We tell the truth about things that are important to people, and things that we know are gaining importance in the future,” he added. “The state has changed in the last 17 years, and we’re trying to represent that change.”
Everyone Is Welcomed
Moore joins Allen in the campaign, who has faced backlash in recent years. After attending the inauguration of former President Donald Trump, Allen told Jimmy Kimmel that, “You get beat up if you don’t believe what everybody else believes. This is like ‘30s Germany.”
Asked whether that factored into the decision to introduce a new voice, Lorenz emphasized that “Tim is not our spokesperson, he’s our voice,” and that he is not being replaced, but rather joined, by moore.
Marketers have to be careful with political debates, he said. “It’s really important that we stay out of that, because we’re in a very divided time politically.”
But it’s tricky.
”Everything seems to be perceived as being political these days,” Lorenz said. But he isn’t concerned about backlash to a more diverse campaign.
“As long as we’re doing the right thing and we’re trying to do our best to articulate that we’re trying to make sure that all persons of goodwill know that they are welcome here, that’s what counts.” Lorenz said. “If there are others out there who take that as some kind of a political statement, they just don’t understand.”
Left, Jonathan Grunert as Professor Henry Higgins, Madeline Powell as Eliza Doolittle and John Adkison as Colonel Pickering in The National Tour of MY FAIR LADY. Photo by Jeremy Daniel
By John D. Gonzalez WKTV Contributor
Madeline Powell remembers the first time she saw the film version of “My Fair Lady,” the acclaimed Broadway show from the golden era of musicals.
She was nine-years-old and saw it with her grandparents.
“I remember very vividly watching it, and where we were sitting,” the Texas native said in a recent WKTV Journal interview.
“I remember the parts of the movie that caught my eye, and that I was most fascinated by.”
Now she is reliving those memories every night, playing the lead character of Eliza Doolitte in the national tour of the Broadway musical. It’s her first major role after graduating in 2021 from Oklahoma City University.
She is thrilled to be playing the iconic role in an iconic play, adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play and Gabriel Pascal’s motion picture “Pygmalion,” which later became “My Fair Lady,” with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe.
A Star from the Golden Age of Theatre
It premiered on Broadway on March 15, 1956 and won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The classic songs include “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “On the Street Where You Live.”
The current tour is Lincoln Center Theater’s production of Lerner & Loewe’s “My Fair Lady,” and winner of five Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards. The production premiered in the spring of 2018 at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater.
It has impacted generations, Powell said.
“I have always held (‘My Fair Lady’) in such high esteem because of that experience with my grandparents,” she said, “and knowing how much they loved it, and what it meant to so many of their friends and so many people in the generations between us.
“It has been at the forefront of my mind, too, when I have been revisiting it in this context of being in the show.”
“My Fair Lady,” as most musical enthusiasts know, is a rags-to-riches story about a Cockney flower girl – flippantly referred to as a “guttersnipe,” in the production – who meets linguist Henry Higgins. He vows to turn her into a “lady” in just six months by teaching her the proper way to speak, as well as dress and act.
Mastering that Cockney Accent
It’s a show with a lot of dialects and accents, which Powell knows a little bit about.
“I had my own little Eliza Doolittle experience when I went to college and learned to neutralize the accent I didn’t realize I had,” said Powell, who is originally from Lubbock, Texas, where she began singing at age four.
Michael Hegarty as Alfred P. Doolittle (center) and The Company of The National Tour of MY FAIR LADY. Photo by Jeremy Daniel
Before the tour opened last fall, the cast worked with a dialect coach because of accents that range from Scottish to various ones in central London. It’s all “very specific because of the importance of the plot,” she said.
The excitement for language has made for a lively cast and crew.
“We have so much fun,” she said. “We can honestly never shut up talking in the accents when we’re not performing, too.”
That excitement comes across on stage where local audiences will get an opportunity to see it over eight performances, April 11-16 at DeVos Performance Hall.
Tickets are available for all shows, including special educator/student rush tickets for only $30, available only one hour before each show. More details at broadwaygrandrapids.com.
Keep an Eye on the Ensemble Cast
Along with the beautiful costumes, Powell said local audiences may want to pay special attention to the ensemble cast, which is “super fun to watch” in big scenes such as the opening number and “Get Me to the Church on Time.”
“It’s all kinds of chaos,” she said. “…They’ve got some interesting relationships they created, and they’re really setting up the world and dynamic for the principal characters. They’re doing all kinds of intentional things. I would keep an eye out for them.”
Overall, she said audiences should be prepared to be really entertained and inspired by the story of Eliza Doolitte.
“It’s a long show, but it doesn’t feel like a long show,” she said. “It’s super packed with interesting and intentional moments. Hopefully that will be impactful for new audience members, and for returning audience members, too.”
That impact, she said, is the transformation of a young woman.
“I can’t think of another character who has such a broad arc,” Powell said. “She is always shown to be really gritty and really smart and she knows exactly what she wants and what she needs to get those things.
“But we really watch her blossom emotionally and become comfortable with feeling her emotions…which is really powerful. We often don’t see women written to be that sure of themselves in musical theater or entertainment at all. It is an honor to do that every night.”
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
A competition at the FIRST Robotics event at East Kentwood. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
By D.A. Reed WKTV Contributor
GRP Titans Nikolai Nigersoll demonstrates how the team’s robot works. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Battery issues were the challenge that Grand Rapids Prep Titans FIRST robotics team faced on Saturday, but they did not have to go far to find support.
“We are a team here,” GRP Titans mentor Matt Stewart said of all the 39 participating robotics teams at Kentwood’s FIRST Robotics competition. “All of robotics is a community-oriented thing. We’ve learned so much from all of the other teams.”
Multiple teams reaching out to give GRP Titans tools to help them test their battery, offering their team’s batteries, and offering to let the Titans charge in their pits.
“Everyone is so graceful and helpful,” said Stewart. “In the pits, it’s a community. Once you’re on the field, then you (have to) compete.”
“The Hardest Fun You’ll Ever Have”
The East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics Team (3875) hosted the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) qualifying tournament March 31-April 1, 2023. The competition was sponsored by Dematic, a supplier of materials handling systems, software and services based in Grand Rapids. It gave the teams an opportunity to qualify for the state competition, which is April 6-8 at Saginaw Valley State University.
FIRST Robotics Competition is designed to combine the excitement of sport with the precisions of science and technology. FIRST Robotics’ website calls their competitions “the ultimate Sport for the Mind,” while high school participants have labeled it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have.”
Michigan Robotics teams strive to teach students a multitude of skills, including mechanical engineering, computer-aided design, electrical engineering, programming, systems integration, website building, animation, and fabrication/machining skills.
“You see the kids mature, and one of the big things is all the technical skills,” said event coordinator Wendy Ljungren, adding that the program has opened the college door for many students. “It’s been great to see our kids going into the STEM fields. We’ve had people become doctors, and lawyers, and professionals in engineering and STEM fields, and really see them transition.”
Teaching Life Skills
Sara Robarge, mother of EK teammate Kailey Robarge, said she has seen strong leadership skills taking hold in her daughter over the last year.
Red Storm Robotics teammates Mo Otajagic and Kailey Robarge carry the team’s robot Terence off the field. (WLTV/D.A. Reed)
“I have seen her take on leadership that I hoped I had instilled in her, but I have seen her put it into practice this year,” Robarge said. “As a freshman, she stepped out and tried out for the Drive Team. She also stepped up and said, ‘I’ll lead a robot build.’”
EK robotics mentor Mark VanderVoord said he has seen growth in many students, this year being current team captain Sarah Shapin.
Since Shapin joined the team in sixth grade, “she has learned a lot of technical skills. She’s going to U of M (University of Michigan) next year to do computer programming. Outside of that, she has a high-level view of how it all fits together and how everybody should be working together.
“All of the kids look up to her at this point,” said VanderVoord. “And she was the goofy one when she started!”
VanderVoord emphasized that robotics students are learning far more than how to build a robot.
“It’s about all the life skills,” VanderVoord said. “The teamwork and the technology stuff, but there are kids on our team who are learning marketing and there are kids who are learning all sorts of disciplines. We’re teaching kids to learn (everything).”
Growing the team is a large part of Red Storm Coach Trista VanderVoord’s focus.
“This year we focused a lot on recruitment,” Trista VanerVood said. :We wanted to grow our numbers, but mostly grow our numbers of girls, of females in the program.”
The Building Blocks
That recruitment doubled the size of the Red Storm team overall, with now over 40% of the team consisting of females—quadrupling its female percentage from last year.
East Kentwood’s Red Storm Robotics team stand next to their robot, Terence. The team competes at the state championship this weekend. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
“It’s been awesome to see the growth, and it’s been awesome to see the sub-teams that have developed there and really come together and take on their part of the team,” Trista VanderVoord said.
EK’s Red Storm finished the tournament 20 out of 39 with a ranking score of 1.66, 5-7-0, 20 ranking points, and earned the Team Sustainability Award. The team already had earned a spot at the state competition by winning the highest award, the Impact Award, at the Lakeshore competition in March.
Other teams at this weekend’s state competition are Hopkns’ Tech Vikes (2054), West Catholic’s Enigma Robotics (2075), Forest Hills’ Comets (3357) and Code Red Robotics the Stray Dogs (2771), which is a community team based out of Byron Center High School.
Abby Strait, high school senior and part of Wyoming High School’s Demons Robotics (858) team, has no trouble taking ownership of her role on the team.
“I’ve always been one of the people who has their hands all over the robot,” Strait said. “By the time we get to the competition, I know the robot inside and out. The more you put into the program, the more you get out of it.”
Demons Robotics finished the tournament 15 out of 39 with a ranking score of 1.83, 7-5-0 (wins-losses-ties), and 22 ranking points.
GRP Titans
Grand River Preparatory High School participated in the EK tournament with its first robotics team in ten years, the GRP Titans (9206), due to grants received from FIRST Robotics.
Stewart said that all students participating have been very invested in the program.
“Some of them had no prior experience, some of them only had building, yet every student has been all hands on deck with everything, and it’s been really cool to see,” Stewart said. “They all know what they do best, what they need to work on, so it’s been really fun to see them all working together.”
Though the Titans currently have approximately 15 team members, Stewart sees that number growing and sustaining since the team is composed mostly of underclassmen.
The GRP Titans finished the tournament 28 out of 39 with a ranking score of 1.50, 4-8-0, and 18 ranking points.
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author
From Left: Ann Przybysz, recreation program coordinator with City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation; Clay Summers, executive director of mParks; Katelyn Bush, recreation program coordinator with City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation. Bush is holding the Excellence in Therapeutic Recreation Programming Award. (Courtesy, mParks).
By WKTV Staff
greer@wktv.org
The City of Kentwood’s Parks and Recreation Department has received two awards from the Michigan Recreation & Park Association.
The department was honored with the Excellence in Therapeutic Recreation Programming Award for its adaptive programs and the Integrated Marketing Campaign Award for its 2022 parks millage campaign. Department representatives accepted the awards during the Michigan Recreation & Park Association’s annual conference and trade show earlier this month in Lansing.
“We’re proud to have our innovative programs and initiatives recognized by mParks,” Parks and Recreation Director Val Romeo said. “Michigan is home to many impressive recreation departments, so we’re delighted to have our hard work and dedication to the community celebrated at a statewide level.”
The Excellence in Therapeutic Recreation Programming Award is given to an organization for innovation and breadth of service in therapeutic recreation program development and recognizes accomplishments and consistently high standards in clinical and community settings. The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department provides the most comprehensive adaptive recreation programming in Michigan. Kentwood’s adaptive recreation offerings are designed to encourage health and wellness, socialization and excellent quality of life for all and include adaptive programs such as archery, bowling, water skiing and more.
The Integrated Marketing Campaign Award recognizes an individual or organization that has developed an outstanding campaign using a variety of coordinated mediums to effectively deliver a message to key audiences. In January 2022, the City of Kentwood launched a seven-month campaign to educate residents on the park millage proposal set to appear on the August ballot. The campaign included web pages, social media, digital media, printed materials, direct mailings and more to show voters all the benefits of a permanent parks millage. The millage passed with 63 percent of voters in favor.
From left: Clay Summers, executive director of mParks; Laura Barbrick, marketing and events coordinator for City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation. Barbrick is holding the Outstanding Integrated Marketing Campaign Award. (Photo Courtesy, mParks)
“The City of Kentwood has an exceptional recreation presence in Michigan, and it’s truly an honor to have that work recognized at the state level,” Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “We’re eager to keep serving our residents and the West Michigan community and to continue improving our parks, trails and programming so these amenities can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
More information about the Michigan Recreation & Park Association can be found at mparks.org. To learn more about Kentwood’s Parks and Recreation department, visit kentwood.us/parks.
The Norton Indian Mounds is a prehistoric Goodall mounds located in Wyoming and protected by the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Used during religious rituals and ceremonies, Native American burial grounds were typically located on elevated bluffs near major bodies of water. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Native American tribes known as the Hopewell must have been attracted to the Grand Rapids topography. They constructed forty-six sacred burial mounds along the west side of the Grand River just south of what is now Bridge Street. The shape of these burial mounds may have varied some but often they were rounded, dome-shaped, ranging from 3-18 feet tall and 50-100 feet wide. These early mounds were regularly built to bury important members of local tribes along with artifacts such as stone knives, copper axes, carved pipes, pottery, and ornamental utensils with carved animals made of copper and shell.
Early missionaries and fur traders reported that the Native Americans of the time had no knowledge of the origin of the burial mounds and that they held them in great reverence. Due to residential and commercial expansion, settlers in the 1850s unfortunately held less veneration for the burial grounds and completely leveled them to provide dirt for roads in the Grand Rapids area. Flint arrowheads and other items were unearthed in nearly every mound and many artifacts were sold to museums and can be seen by visiting those museums today.
On the grounds of Ah-Nab-Awen Park outside of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, three symbolic Indian burial mounds have been constructed in honor of Michigan’s three major tribes, the Ottawa, Potowatomi, and Chippewa. Elders of the Three Fires Council proposed the name Ah-Nab-Awen which means “Resting Place.” The dedication of this park is a nice gesture in the right direction. Does it appease those ancient souls of those who had their graves grossly desecrated? Given all the burial grounds that were plowed under or plundered by treasure hunters, all the times Native American’s were displaced by land grabbers and forcibly relocated, all the broken treaties, and “The Trail of Tears,” unrest in the afterlife might be expected, even vengeance. So it’s no surprise some of the most frightening monsters of myth come from Native American legends, curses, and spells.
Ah-Nab-Awen Park features three symbolic Indian burial mounds.(grandrapidsmi.gov)
The Navajo skinwalkers used spells, charms, and curses to promote fear and practice evil to harm humans whenever possible with supernatural ability to shape-shift into any creature, even werewolves and vampires.
The Alaska Kushtaka or “land otter man” comes from the Tlingit people folklore and is believed to be shape-shifters capable of taking on human form, the form of an otter, and any other form it chooses, known to be cruel, evil, and a trickster.
The Wendigo, flesh-eater of the forests of the Great Lakes region and central Canada are historically known for murder, insatiable greed, and a voracious appetite for human flesh. Wendigo is known by several names that translate, “The evil spirit that devours mankind.” The Ojibwe’s description is that of a malevolent supernatural cannibalistic giant associated with winter, the North, coldness, famine, and starvation.
The Algonquin Legend of the Wendigo has the scariest artistic depictions, more than 15 feet tall with glowing eyes, long yellow fangs and claws, with an overly long tongue. It’s said the ash gray beast carries a strange odor of decay, decomposition, and death and can mimic human voices. The Wendigo will hunt you down with blinding speed and eat you or possess you and turn you into Wendigo.
Never disrespect the dead! If you should unearth human remains, immediately contact your county coroner and if the remains appear Native American, the Native American Heritage Commission should be notified. Leave Native American artifacts where you find them, it’s illegal and unethical to collect artifacts on public lands. Native Americans consider death a natural part of life and customs include preparing the soul for the spiritual journey, preparing the spirit to “walk on.” Interfering with the long walk is not recommended. Tread lightly, please!
A poem by Patricia Clark, professor emerita of writing and former poet laureate of Grand Rapids, is slated to be launched to the moon as part of the “Lunar Codex” project.
The poem, “Astronomy ‘In Perfect Silence,'” will be part of a time capsule headed to the moon in 2024. Lunar Codex project leaders say they are using surplus payload space for multiple moon missions to archive the works of more than 30,000 artists from around the world on the moon.
Clark’s piece, which will be stored on archival technology, is part of the “Polaris” collection, which is scheduled to launch in November 2024. The poem is also in an anthology named “The Polaris Trilogy: Poems for the Moon.”
An invitation for her piece to “go to the moon”
She was invited by an editor soliciting poems for the project to contribute a piece, an invitation that Clark eagerly accepted. She learned that her poem was chosen with an email that opened with, “You’re going to the Moon! Well, to be more precise, your poem is.”
For Clark, who was poet laureate for Grand Rapids from 2005-2007 and also served as Grand Valley’s poet-in-residence, it is a thrill for her poem to be included in the payload carrying artistic material that is set to stay at the moon in perpetuity.
“My husband says he’s going to look up there and think about my poem,” Clark said.
Poets were asked to tell the judges if they were writing about the moon, stars or sun. Clark said she chose a form called abecedarian, which is a 26-line poem where each line starts with a letter, A-Z, in order of the alphabet (and with a little poetic license where necessary, as Clark did with the line starting with “X.”).
A celebration of astronomy and teaching
The poem is a celebration of astronomy and the wonder of space.
Her inspiration was an astronomy professor from her undergraduate time at the University of Washington whose enthusiasm for the subject stayed with her even though she never pursued the discipline professionally.
“When I saw the call for work, I was immediately excited because I thought, ‘This will give me a chance to write about this experience I had.’ I thought I’d start writing about the experience of the class and see what I get to,” Clark said.
A key reason she knows that class stuck with her is because she still has the book, one of the few from college that she saved after multiple decades and many moves. She valued the star charts, too.
Though the poem notes that Clark had forgotten the professor’s name, she contacted her alma mater to see if they could figure out who the professor was. She soon learned that the professor was George Wallerstein, who had sadly died in recent years.
But the poem is a testament to his inspiration as a teacher and the importance of a well-rounded education, she said. While she didn’t dig deeply into the field, she has a deep appreciation of it because of this teacher.
“It might not be something you spent your life on, but it mattered to you. That’s what liberal education is all about,” Clark said. “The magic of space and the wonder of it all is still there because of this class and this professor who was so jazzed about it all.”
Guests sample some of the maple sugar in front of Blandford’s sugar shack. (Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Blandford Nature Center is marking the sweet arrival of spring by bringing back the popular Sugarbush Festival centered around all things maple-syrup for a 53rd year.
The event will take place March 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Blandford Nature Center, 1715 Hillburn Ave NW, Grand Rapids.
It features the opportunity to explore and learn along Blandford Nature Center’s Sugarbush Trail. Festival attendees can visit stations along the trail where they will learn to identify and tap Sugar Maple trees, explore historic sugaring techniques of Native Americans and Pioneers, and get an inside-look at Blandford’s Sugarhouse and syrup making process.
This fun-filled event will also include wildlife encounters, a petting zoo, games, crafts, food trucks and concessions including Mon Cheri Creperie and Lazy Dazy Coffee Camper, historical building tours, live music and performances by Beaver Xing and Blandford Environmental Education Program Students (BEEPS), blacksmith demonstrations, and more.
“This is the first full-scale Sugarbush Festival we’ve been able to have since 2020,” said Community Programs Coordinator Camilla Voelker. “Our team is so excited to be opening this event up to more people and offering some of the Sugarbush Festival favorites that have been missing in the most recent years, like our Maple Cotton Candy.”
Pre-registration is not required to attend the Sugarbush Festival, but is recommended to avoid the line during check-in. Attendees can pre-register and purchase tickets ahead of time at blandfordnaturecenter.org or walk-in registration will be available at the door. Tickets are $7 per member and $10 per non-member. Children ages 2 and under are free, but registration is still necessary. Check-in will be in front of the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center with overflow parking at The Highlands, the Blandford Nature Center Farm, and CA Frost Elementary School.
Along with the Sugarbush Festival, there will be other sugarbush-themed programs happening during the month of March.
“We have so many fun things happening outside of the festival,” Voelker sai. “Our Tap a Tree or Journey to the Sugarhouse programs give families and children the opportunity to explore and learn about the sugaring process, and our Blandford Date Night: Sunset on Sugarbush orBackyard Sugaring programs are great activities for adults looking to experience the nostalgia of the sugarbush season or learn about sugaring at home.”
Guests can view a full list of programs on Blandford’s Community Calendar at blandfordnaturecenter.org. Blandford’s Sugarhouse is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 pm from March 1-31. A general admission fee of $3 per person is required for non-members which includes access to the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center and Wildlife Education Center as well as over eight miles of trails.
Six random strangers are stuck in a room until they figure out how to come to a consensus. In today’s polarized world, one wonders how that is even possible. Yet, if a system based on law is to function properly, then much depends upon agreeing to follow it. And democracy – where all citizens are considered equal under the law – needs a system based on law to exist. But when it comes right down to it – the system and the law – well, those are two distinct things to consider.
This is the dilemma that Petty Crimes, written by local playwright Kristin Andrea Hanratty, explores in its 90-minute world premiere production this week at Actors’ Theatre.
Veteran actor Greg Rogers is Clayton, the older white male stepping sincerely and assuringly into the role of jury foreman. (Courtesy, Actors’ Theatre)
The crime itself is minor, a simple misdemeanor requiring only six jurists; it should be a quick deliberation and then everyone gets back to their own lives. But the characters and the context complicate things.
The play takes place in one setting, a cramped room that serves as an alternate deliberation space due to a much bigger trial happening at the same time. The other trial has overtaken the regular facilities as well as the public imagination, and with it a disruptive media frenzy. This displacement reveals but one layer of context that counteracts the idea of equal justice. The jurors are uncomfortably (even if for some, just physically) aware of what garners attention in society, and what is overlooked, as their deliberations proceed.
While instructed to dutifully fulfill their part of the legal process and follow the narrow parameters of the law, real life and lived experiences creep in through the cracks of their contained environment (as do the flies). Much like the mismatched chairs in the room that each negotiate for their own, perspectives and privilege sorts itself out.
The cast nimbly understands the broader representation each role brings to the table, including veteran actor Greg Rogers as Clayton, the older white male stepping sincerely and assumingly into the role of jury foreman; Bryanna Lee as Becca, the enthusiastic young legal student fascinated and distracted by the process; and Ruth Ann Molenaar as Eileen, a mature Black woman whose agency resides in keenly knowing how to read a room filled with all the others.
Ruth Ann Molenaar is Eileen, a mature Black woman whose agency resides in keenly knowing how to read a room filled with all the others. (Courtesy, Actors’ Theatre)
Interesting how a single, comfortable new office chair can say so much about dominant ideology, its hegemonic gestures of equality, and its actual heir apparent in this system we uphold, for better or worse.
This production is a respectable debut of an original work, and it is a play that deserves to live on in future interpretations by theatres across the country. Kudos to Actors’ Theatre in Grand Rapids for recognizing this and initiating the launch.
“This award is a reflection that people use and place a high value on the services that they get from Kent District Library,” said Katie Zuidema, marketing communications specialist for KDL.
Money saving opportunities
One of the reasons KDL has surpassed previous engagement numbers is due to patrons realizing they can save hundreds of dollars each year by using free KDL resources instead of purchasing those same resources by other means.
KDL offers a number of programs. KDL Outreach and Programming Specialist Susan Erhardt reads to children. (Courtesy, Kent District Library)
“People are increasingly finding that many of the things they pay hard-earned dollars for are already available at the library—magazines such as Consumer Reports, training from LinkedIn Learning, streaming movie services and more,” said Randy Goble, KDL’s director of engagement, in supplied material. “It adds up to a huge savings.”
In 2022, the average KDL user saved $1,348 by checking out physical and digital items, and digital resource checkouts are more popular than ever.
“Technology is so accessible,” Zuidema said, “and some people’s reading habits changed during the pandemic when libraries were closed for a time.”
Reader usage of digital resources has grown every year, in part to a large collection that serves community members of all ages and interests, and also due to 24/7 access to that collection.
“Where the Crawdads Sing” was the most checked out book from KDL in 2022.
“Digital access continues to be the fastest growing segment of public library resources,” stated KDL’s Executive Director Lance Werner in supplied material. “We’re thrilled to be able to meet people wherever they are, to provide them with books, movies, audiobooks and more.”
Finding popular and current books and resources is also an appealing aspect of KDL.
The highest circulating title KDL readers borrowed in 2022 through KDL’s digital collection was Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, topping both ebook and audiobook categories. The book was a 2022 film starring Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Other popular ebook and audiobook titles borrowed were Verity by Colleen Hoover, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, The Maid by Nita Prose, and The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles.
How can patrons experience these resources?
Readers in Kent County just need a valid KDL library card to access digital books from KDL’s OverDrive-powered digital collection—compatible with any major device—and many other physical and digital resources.
“It’s a great time to sign up for a KDL library card,” Zuidema said. “When someone signs up for a library card, they now select their interests from 14 categories, including music, movies and writing. This information helps staff members share what services might be most exciting or useful to the new patron.”
Zuidema noted that KDL branches offer more than just books and movies. PerkPass program has complimentary guest passes to area attractions. Items such as Nintendo Switch game consoles, GoPro Cameras and Wi-Fi hotspots are available through Beyond Books Collection and KDL offers a variety of free programs for all ages.
Programming continues to be a priority in all 20 KDL branches. In 2022, KDL hosted 4,403 online and in-person programs with 181,265 in attendance.
“Our communities are showing up and expressing appreciation for our free, engaging and impactful programs for all ages,” Zuidema said.
What if you don’t have a KDL library card?
Zuidema was adamant that everyone is welcome in all KDL branches.
Attending KDL programs does not require a library card, and guest passes are available for usage of the library’s computers. The KDL Cruiser bikes are also available for checkout without a library card.
Readers with a card from Grand Rapids Public Library and other libraries part of the Lakeland Library Cooperative can place 15 items on hold through KDL, while KDL cardholders can place up to 70 items on hold.
KDL’s digital collection, databases, PerkPasses, and Beyond Books items like hotspots, Switch consoles, iPads, etc. do require a library card.
“KDL exists to further all people,” said Zuidema. “We truly offer something for everyone. No matter what you are looking for within our walls or on our website, we want you to find it. No matter who you are, you are welcome here.”
Connecting with patrons
A resident recently thanked KDL for saving her money by having a recently-released novel. (Courtesy, Kent District Library)
Zuidema said they love hearing from patrons, whether in-person, via email—or by notes left inside returned books.
One KDL librarian found a note thanking them for saving that reader $29 by having a recent Janet Evanovich book on the shelf.
Some items, however, are left accidentally.
“Once a staff member found a $100 bill inside of a returned book and worked diligently to find the owner,” Zuidema said. “I think they will use cheaper bookmarks from now on!”
How to get started
Visit kdl.org/ecard to apply for a KDL library card. Download the Libby app or visit kdl.overdrive.com to get started borrowing ebooks, audiobooks, and more. Visit KDL’s Spring Kaleidoscope page for new programs and offerings, and kdl.org for more information on all KDL services and resources.
The ballet, with choreography by Junior Company Artistic Director Attila Mosolygo, follows the story of the original book “The Wonderful Wizard of OZ” written by L. Frank Baum, yet follows the same storyline of the well-known movie, directed by Victor Fleming, throughout the ballet. Follow Dorothy as she travels to the Land of Oz, meets three faithful friends, confronts the Wizard of Oz, and fights off the Wicked Witch of the West.
“I am excited to see all of the GRBS Junior Company students showcase their talents as we bring this classic story to the stage,” Mosolygo said. “The students have been working hard the last two and a half months.”
Rehearsals for Wizard of Oz began in December. Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company members have been attending class weekly at Grand Rapids Ballet’s Meijer Royce Center for Dance, and in many cases, depending on the role they are cast as, rehearse multiple days per week leading up to the performance. “The production involves more than 50 dancers of the Junior Company. As you can imagine, it can be challenging at times to bring that big of a cast together,” Mosolygo said.
Premiered initially in 2018, Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company is excited to bring back this well know the classic tale. Although the props and set design are the same, you may see some differences in the choreography, “As I revisit the ballet, I do tweak each scene and make changes as we go along,” Mosolygo said, “the sets and the costumes were originally created when the premiere happened in 2018. I designed and built the sets myself, based on my interpretation of the story.”
GRBS Junior Company is hosting Dorothy & Friends’ Tea Party on Sunday, March 12, at The Rutledge on Ionia. At the events, families will make themed crafts, pose for the photo booth, and meet and greet with characters from the Wizard of Oz; along with having brunch.
“Wizard of Oz” runs March 10-12 and 18-19, at Peter Martin Wege Theatre. Tickets are $20 online, via phone at 616-454-4771 ext. 110, or in person at GRB’s Box Office. Tickets to Dorothy & Friends’ Tea Party are available for $54 per person on the Grand Rapids Ballet’s website.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
The Soul Syndicate returns to Wyoming’s Concerts in Park on Aug. 1. (Supplied by the band)
There is about 103 days until the first Wyoming Concert in the Park takes place, but who’s counting?
Certainly not the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department.
“We are thrilled to be able to announce the concert series and help everyone think about those warmer days that are ahead,” said Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director Krashawn Martin.
The Parks and Recreation Department has taken over the coordination of the annual free concert series, which will run every Tuesday from 6—8 p.m. at Lamar Park, 2561 Park St. SW, from June 13 to Aug. 8. (Note: There are no performances during the week of July 4.) All concerts will be recorded by WKTV and aired on Comcast Channel 25 and streamed at WKTV.org.
“This year we are bring some traditional favorites along with some fresh fun to our concert series,” Martin said. “We also are incorporating some different elements to this year series as well.”
Returning favorites The Reverend Jesse Ray (June 13), Cabildo (June 27), and The Soul Syndicate (Aug. 1) will be joined by series newbies Michael Hulett (June 20), La Furia Del Ritmo (July 25) and Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps (Aug. 8) (For a complete rundown of the performers, music, and dates, go to the end of this story.)
Along with the main stage performers, plans are underway for pre-show entertainment and activities that will be for all ages.
Local food trucks will be on-hand with the the Parks and Recreation Department currently taking reservations for the concert spots.
Cabildo also is returning with a performance on June 27. (Supplied)
“We are focusing on local food trucks of the Greater Grand Rapids area,” Martin said, adding the food truck line-up will be announced at a later date. “We are hoping to provide a space that brings people together to enjoy local bands and local food trucks.”
Concertgoers may bring their own food, however alcohol is not permitted in the park. Attendees also may bring blankets and chairs to sit on while enjoying the performances.
“We’re excited to see the bands and to see everyone happy, enjoying the summer weather and our parks,” Martin said.
The Concerts in the Park 2023 Lineup:
June 13: The Reverend Jesse Ray is a one-man band, rock ’n’ roll experience.
June 20: Michael Hulett is a musician and vocalist who performs a variety of music such as jazz, R&B, pop, rock, and a sprinkling of country music.
June 27: Cabildo is a West Michigan-based alternative Latin rock collective that brings a unique blend of cambia, ska, folk, and other genres of music from Latin America.
July 11: Sarena Rae is a Grand Rapids based vocalist covering a variety of musical genres.
July 18: Klay N’ The Mud is a West Michigan-based cover band.
July 25: La Furia Del Ritmo will perform Latin music.
Aug. 1: The Soul Syndicate offers up classic soul, R&B and funk.
Aug. 8: Patty Pershayla & The Mayhaps features a former small-town pageant queen who has turned into a rock ’n’ roll powerhouse.
Broadway Grand Rapids President and CEO Meghan Distel and Bob Bucci from Broadway Across Grand Rapids announces the 2023-2024 season. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Not one, but two Michigan premieres highlight a “thrilling”new season for Broadway Grand Rapids, which announced its 2023-2024 shows on Monday as part of a preview at DeVos Performance Hall.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary, BGR will bring the Michigan premiere of Broadway’s most Tony Award-winning new show of the season, “MJ,” and the musical comedy revival of “Funny Girl,” announced president and CEO Meghan Distel.
Other shows include: “Disney’s Aladdin,” the entertaining “TINA- The Tina Turner Musical,” and the critically acclaimed new play, Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.” In addition, patrons will have the option to add the ever-popular “Les Misérables” and “Wicked.”
“We are thrilled to celebrate our 35th anniversary season with such a stellar line-up” Distel said. “From ‘MJ’ to ‘Aladdin,’ the season is diverse, wildly entertaining, and truly offers something for everyone. It’s the very best of Broadway, adds vibrancy to our city, and keeps Grand Rapids on the map as a cultural destination.”
Ticket Prices
Five-show season packages which include “Funny Girl,” “TINA-The Tina Turner Musical,” “Disney’s Aladdin,” “To Kill A Mockingbird,” and “MJ,” start at $225 and are available now at BroadwayGrandRapids.com/Subscribe, at the Broadway Grand Rapids box office located at 122 Lyon St NW (Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) or by calling the dedicated subscriber hotline at 1-866-928-7469 (Monday – Friday 10a.m. – 5 p.m.).
Season ticket holders have the option to add “Les Misérables” and “Wicked” to their package now. All subscribers are guaranteed the same seats for each show in the five-show package and receive exclusive benefits including interest free payment plan, flexible exchanges, online ticket management, and ability to auto-renew year after year.
For current season ticket holders, the deadline to renew is Monday, March 27.
All performances will be presented at DeVos Performance Hall in downtown Grand Rapids.
Subscription Series
Broadway Grand Rapids President and CEO Meghan Distel and Bob Bucci from Broadway Across Grand Rapids announce that “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” will be part of the 2023-2024 season. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
FUNNY GIRL – Featuring one of the greatest musical scores of all time, including classic songs “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People,” this bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
TINA – The Tina Turner Musical – “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” is the triumphant story of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits. “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” presents Tina’s journey against all odds to become one of the world’s most beloved artists of all time. Featuring her much loved songs, “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” is written by Pulitzer Prize award-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd.
Disney’s ALADDIN – Discover a whole new world at ALADDIN, the hit Broadway musical. From the producer of The Lion King comes the timeless story of ALADDIN, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle. It’s an extraordinary theatrical event where one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite.
Jacob Dickey, who stars as Aladdin in the Broadway production of Disney “Aladdin.” performs during the season announcement event. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – All rise for Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork. The New York Times Critic’s Pick TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is “the most successful American play in Broadway history” (60Minutes). New York Magazine calls it “a real phenomenon. Majestic and incandescent, it’s filled with breath and nuance and soul.” With direction by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD has quickly become “one of the greatest plays in history” (NPR).
MJ – The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to Grand Rapids. MJ, the multi–Tony Award-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status.
Package Add-Ons
LES MISÉRABLES – Cameron Mackintosh presents the acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Tony Award- winning musical phenomenon. LES MISÉRABLES. Set against the backdrop of 19th century France. LES MISÉRABLES is a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries and 22 languages. LES MISÉRABLES still undisputedly “one of the greatest musicals ever created” (Chicago Tribune).
WICKED – WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin — smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story that USA Today cheers is “a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry, and think.”
Saturday Investigation Classes at the Grand Rapids Public Museum in March. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Public Museum)
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM)’s Saturday Investigation Classes will return during the month of March 2023, allowing curious minds to immerse themselves in exciting and educational labs and activities led by Museum educators.
Visitors aged 8 and older are encouraged to sign up for these small-group, hands-on educational classes to investigate history, science, and culture. Saturday Investigations transform the Museum into a learning lab, giving the public an exclusive experience through behind-the-scenes exhibit exploration, artifact investigation, engaging activities, and more. This experience is great for younger children to attend with their parents or guardians to work together, or for older kids to attend on their own.
Classes will take place on Saturdays from March 4 – 25 from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the GRPM. The registration cost for Saturday Investigations is just $2 with the purchase of a general admission ticket or $7 to attend the class only. As always, Kent County kids aged 17 and under enjoy free general admission to the Museum! Classes are limited to 24 registrants per session; registration is required. Once classes conclude, visitors who purchase the general admission option can also explore the Museum’s three floors of exhibits. For more information on Saturday Investigation Classes and to register today, visit grpm.org/EduClasses.
“Our popular Saturday investigations are back this spring to give learners of all ages the opportunity to dive deeper into the city’s science and history, through fun, hands-on artifact labs and brand new technology-rich experiences,” said Erin Koren, the GRPM’s Director of Education. “These small classes allow participants to fully engage with our educators and with hands-on activities to explore what piques their curiosity.”
Class offerings include The Paradox of Poison, Sustainable Fashion, Solar System Discovery & Sturgeon Excursion. Registrants can explore fascinating facts of poisons and their role in nature, human health, literature, and myth, find ways to innovate and reduce the harmful impacts of the fashion industry, choose their own adventure as they travel the solar system to visit planets and asteroids, or play an exclusive augmented reality game that integrates with Museum exhibits and become environmental scientists while learning about the Grand River.
Saturday Investigations Classes are sponsored by Great Lakes Fishery Trust.
See The Power of Poison and the GRPM original exhibit Fashion + Nature for a limited time! Enjoy all three floors of the GRPM’s exhibits with the purchase of a general admission ticket to the Museum. Don’t miss this opportunity to catch The Power of Poisonbefore it’s gone, open only through April 16.
Morenas Event Venue is located in Kentwood. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Setting the stage. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Heading down the aisle. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
By D.A. Reed WKTC Contributor
“I’m feeling good,” said Chloe Kimber (soon-to-be Jenne) as she stood in the Morenas Event Venue bridal room waiting for her wedding to begin. “I’m sure I’ll be nervous once I get up there.”
Chloe, however, looked anything but nervous. Smiling and appearing completely at ease, she held her bouquet of flowers loosely as she talked with her mother.
Officiant Zara Northover presides over the wedding of Chloe Kimber and Alexander Jenne. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
High school sweethearts, Chloe and fiancée Alexander Jenne decided to participate in Morenas Mini-Mony Day on Feb. 14 after her mother sent her the link from a news article, leaving the couple only a month to prepare.
Even though Chloe and Alexander planned for a 2024 wedding, Chloe shrugged and said, “Why wait?”
The bride admitted that she didn’t have any specific “wants” for her wedding, so Mini-Mony Day worked well for the couple. When asked where Chloe found her elegant knee-length dress, she laughed and struck a pose as she responded, “Amazon. Same day delivery.”
Chloe and Alexander were the first to get married at Morenas Event Venue, the upscale event space in Kentwood, on Valentine’s Day. Couples were offered a luxury high-end event for only $50.
“We understand that some couples are looking to have a nice wedding but are not in the position to pay the hefty price tag that can entail,” Britney Hoskins, owner of Morenas Event Venue, said in supplied material.
Hoskins launched Mini-Mony Day on Jan. 1, organizing the entire event in just a few weeks.
The idea came to Hoskins while designing a photoshoot. “This is my specialty,” said Hoskins. “I do huge, grandiose setup(s), and then nobody sees it until it’s in a magazine. I thought, this year, what if we leave up our shoot for people to get married on Valentine’s Day? We were already doing something beautiful and decided to let people utilize it to actually get married.”
Britney Hoskins, owner of Morenas (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Hoskins adorned the 5,000 square foot event space with white, gold, and red, including a lavish ceiling installation valued at $10,000. Heavenly Designs supplied lighted signs and balloons, and BD’s Dysfunktional Entertainment provided music.
Officiant Zara Northover drove in from Detroit to marry the five couples who participated in Mini-Mony Day, Charla Dee Photos provided photography services, and BreAna Harris created mini cakes for each couple.
Mini-Mony Day saw five couples joined in marriage, and one proposal, with Hoskins overseeing it all and making sure things ran smoothly and that clients were comfortable.
Within a span of 30 minutes, couples were treated to a wedding ceremony, signing of the marriage license, mini cakes, a first dance, a group family dance, and photographs—all provided by vendors at virtually no cost to the couples.
“The vendors are just as important today (as the couples) because they are giving of their time and energy,” said Hoskins. “They are excited to be here for these couples, and that makes the whole ambiance so different.”
Giving back to the community is important to Hoskins, even though it might not always be easy
For many business owners, giving away free products and services isn’t a viable option. What Hoskins found among this group of vendors was a willingness to give freely.
“No one did the bare minimum,” Hoskins said. “All of us gave our best versions, and that makes it so much more special.”
Chloe Kimber and Alexander Jenne feed each other cake. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
“This is a feel-good (event),” Hoskins continued. “In business, mostly everything is about money. Sometimes we just get to give the feel-good moments, and I’m really excited about that.”
Hoskins’s desire to create memorable events for people shows in her thoughtful design of Morenas Event Venue.
“I’ve done this for eight years,” said Hoskins, “so when I designed Morenas, I genuinely tried to think of all the ‘woes’.”
Private rooms for the bride and groom that are easily accessible all day long were a must-have on Hoskins’s list. “(Often) our brides will disappear from the chaos and take a moment to breathe,” Hoskins said.
Rooms for caterers to store food, a back door for vendors to enter and exit discreetly, a glass bay door, and ample parking were all carefully thought out in the design.
Morenas Event Venue isn’t Hoskins’s first foray into business
Hoskins founded Allure Limousine in 2013 and currently owns a Detroit-based award-winning event planning company called The Top Pic Collective.
Top Pic also encompasses The Luxe Rental Collective, a 7,000 square foot warehouse in Sterling Heights where she rents supplies to other designers and brides who want to DIY. “It’s a designer’s haven,” said Hoskins.
Splitting her time between Grand Rapids and Detroit, Hoskins said that Morenas Mini-Mony Day was special to her because she was there to see it all.
“I don’t always get to see my weddings,” Hoskins said. “It’s actually a rarity. I come and set up before the bride ever sees it and tear down after the bride has left, so a lot of times I never get to meet them. So when I get to stick around to see the weddings, I am emotional.”
Helping others create memorable events is Hoskins’s way of sharing the blessings she has been given in the business world: “Giving back to the community is really important to me.”
For more information on events and inventory rentals at Morenas Event Venue, visit www.morenasgr.com.
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author
The Wednesday’s Mr. Sid’s Video Series will feature an original video by Sid and Beulah Lenger.
The video is “America Then,” which will be followed by a presentation by Mike Martin on “Presidents We Need to Especially Remember in 2023.”
Mr. Sid’s Video Series is Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m. at Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW. There is a 15-minute hymn sing that starts at 1:45 p.m.
The series runs every third Wednesday of the month. Upcoming presentations are:
March 15: WOTV’s Terri DeBoer will lead discussions of her new book “Grieving Well: A Healing Journey Through the Seasons of Grief”
April 19: Will feature several immigrants sharing their stories of hopes and challenges and adjusting to a new world.
May 10: Grand Valley State University History Professor and Director of GVSU’s Veteran History Project James Smither will present “Death and Life in the Big Red One: A Soldiers Journey from North Africa to Germany.”
We know how critical movement and strengthening classes are for older adults. Studies show that incorporating a balance and exercise program can help prevent falls, leading to maintaining independence. Throughout the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan’s nine-county region (Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola counties) evidence-based classes are offered through a number of partners. Recently, we have worked to encompass the entire area and it’s healthy aging classes into a cohesive and consistent branding through a new name: “Engaging Wellness.”
The Engaging Wellness community is comprised of the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, Grand Rapids Community College, Ionia County Commission on Aging, Ludington Senior Center, Mecosta County Commission on Aging, Osceola County Commission on Aging, The Salvation Army, Senior Neighbors, and St. Ann’s Senior Services. All programs are designed specifically for older adults and these partners are dedicated to helping them stay active and independent.
Engaging Wellness programs focus on aging with resilience for fun, fitness, falls prevention, and friendship. Wherever they live or take classes, we want participants to recognize they are part of this Engaging Wellness collective that is committed to the same set of standards and quality classes while meeting seniors where they are on their fitness journey.
Yoga is just one of the options offered in the Engaging Wellness. (Pxhere.com)
“We’re so thrilled to restructure our classes under the Engaging Wellness brand,” shared Barb Nelson Jandernoa, Healthy Aging Contract Administrator with the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan. “This will give older adults in our area a boutique fitness experience where they are understood, heard, and seen. These classes, our wonderful instructors, and, of course, our amazing seniors help make up the vibrant community of Engaging Wellness. We’re excited for what is to come.”
Engaging Wellness classes are offered throughout the region both in person and online so that participants can take classes that are the best fit for them. A Matter of Balance and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program will give folks just beginning to exercise, or those recovering from illness or injury, a place to start. Yoga, EnhanceFitness, Tai Chi, and Silver Sneakers Circuit are other classes that will help build endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. Class fees and Silver Sneakers certification vary by location.
Those interested should check out the classes in their area. For more information, call 616-588-2580 to be connected with the partner in your county. To participate in Engaging Wellness classes, participants must be over 60 years of age and live in one of the following nine counties: Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, or Osceola.
The sturgeon tank at the Grand Rapids Public Museum is located on the top floor with a window overlooking the Grand River. (WKTV/Adam Brown)
A new immersive experience for the whole family has arrived at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The Sturgeon Excursion, the first interactive virtual game built on the museum’s new PublicOS platform, is now open to the public.
The Sturgeon Excursion is an element of the larger aquatic exhibit known as Grand Fish, Grand River. Chief Curator Alex Forist said the exhibit tells the story of lake sturgeon and their unique role in the watershed and native culture of the region. In addition, Grand Fish, Grand River seeks to educate the public about threats faced by the lake sturgeon, including how they have become endangered due to overharvesting and what the public can do to help.
Sturgeon Excursion is a natural extension of that educational mission. Patrons may visit Grand Fish, Grand River to read about lake sturgeon, with the interactive game as an option for those visitors looking for a deeper dive and a way to interact personally.
“Human beings are social learners,” said GRPM Digital Strategist Josh Freeney. “We like learning with other humans, that’s why a place like a museum is so amazing.”
Simply put, a museum is a place to share a learning experience with others since we all experience the exhibits together. The digital game enhances that experience by immersing patrons in the exhibit’s distinct world.
What is the Sturgeon Excursion game?
To play the Sturgeon Excursion, GRPM guests can scan any of the QR codes around the exhibit with their personal devices. Then, players are given a virtual sturgeon and tasked with helping it swim to freedom by traveling down the Grand River into Lake Michigan. The game asks questions, which the player can answer by watching a brief video or reading the information around the room. Each correct answer gives the player a piece of virtual food to feed the sturgeon. Give the sturgeon enough food, and it will grow big enough to swim to freedom.
Screenshot of the online game available on the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s website. (WKTV)
The Sturgeon Excursion is not limited to Grand Fish, Grand River. To get enough food to free the sturgeon, players must also visit two other exhibits – West Michigan Habitats and Anishinabek: The People of This Place. Players learn about the sturgeon and answer questions through the context of these other exhibits, with the Anishinabek exhibit adding the historical factor.
There is a single-player option intended for members of the general public, where one patron plays the game on their own device. The game also features a multiplayer component that the GRPM designs for student groups from local schools. With this method, all players collaborate and share one sturgeon. Multiplayer encourages students to work and learn together to help the sturgeon get to Lake Michigan.
Per Freeney, the GRPM hopes to make the multiplayer version more accessible to the general public, which is why they encourage the public to play the game and give feedback on what works and what might not. In addition, the QR code method was designed to increase accessibility, allowing anyone with any device to play the game.
The Public Response
The public response to the Sturgeon Excursion game and greater Grand Fish, Grand River exhibit has been positive overall. Freeney highlights one instance of a school group acting particularly rowdy, then working together to help the virtual fish when given the tasks of the digital game. Also, when quizzed about what they learned at the end of the game, the group answered every question correctly.
Participants answer a series of questions to move through different levels in the game. (WKTV)
Freeney attributes this to the “game-ified” nature of the experience, as it is still a quiz but disguised as a scavenger hunt-type game. As a result, the students learn valuable information all through the lens of a fun, interactive virtual game.
All the information in the game is available around the exhibit’s room. However, it’s the presentation of that material that matters. Each person learns differently, and younger students learn better when playing a game versus reading books and facts.
What the Future Holds
Ultimately, Forist said he hopes that the game, coupled with the related exhibits and historical context, can one day be taken out of the museum into the community to increase public awareness.
“Eventually, this will help us break outside of the walls of the museum altogether. There’s all kinds of great content and learning opportunities in the community,” Forist said. “If we can still bring that museum quality experience to those, it’s unlimited where you could go with it.”
The GRPM’s digital platform allows for easy communication and collaboration between the museum, the local community, and other institutions sharing the same mission.
A remote version of the game is also available for those who cannot make it to the museum. Originally developed as a contingency after Covid-19 closed the museum, the remote game remains available and follows a similar setup as the in-person game. Schools can log on to the game remotely and work together to answer the questions, and single players can access the game from home, at work, or wherever they might be. The remote game features a virtual map of the museum, complete with models of the accompanying exhibits, so all of the information from the museum is accessible to those who cannot physically attend.
With the remote option, each person can learn in whatever way suits them best, whether by physically coming in or remaining in the comfort of their home. The public can access the remote version by visiting the Grand Fish, Grand River page on the GRPM’s website.
Are you looking to make positive changes in the new year? Self-care is always a great resolution. If you’re in the market for styling and pampering, Grand Rapids’ Heartside neighborhood offers a palette of beautifying businesses within a five-minute walk of ArtRat Gallery (46 Division Ave. South).
Owner Laura Signore at Lilith’s Lair (Courtesy, ArtRat)
Like the neighborhood itself, Heartside’s salons and stylists offer everything from classic elegance to the cutting edge. Since it opened 10 months ago, Lilith’s Lair (25 Division Ave. S) has set the standard for coloring outside the lines. The rainbow-colored basement salon invites you to come as you are and connect with a look that expresses your identity.
Owner Laura Signore described the underground salon as “creepy cute. It’s basically a permanent spot for my Halloween decorations.”
In addition to nine independently contracted stylists, Lilith’s Lair provides shelf space for the products of half a dozen local artists, including adorably weird stickers, prints and handmade lashes. “It’s a total sensory experience,” Laura said.
“It isn’t about reinventing yourself,” Laura told ArtRat. “It’s about being who you have always been meant to be!
“I’ve seen people walk in here with natural blonde hair and leave with a head of rainbows. It may take nine hours, but it’s always a blast.”
“It isn’t about reinventing yourself,” Laura told ArtRat. “It’s about being who you have always been meant to be! (Courtesy, ArtRat)
The rainbow walls aren’t just for show: Every stylist in the shop is part of the LGBTQ+ community. (But Laura promises they “won’t check your gay cards,” and everyone is welcome.)
The stylists at Lillith’s Lair offer options that range from natural or vivid color, voluminous layers, and short, spicy cuts; to hair and lash extensions; to tinsel and glitter spray. “There’s something for everyone!” Laura exclaimed.
The stylists at Lillith’s Lair offer options that range from natural or vivid color, voluminous layers, and short, spicy cuts; to hair and lash extensions; to tinsel and glitter spray. “There’s something for everyone!” Laura exclaimed.
Lilith’s Lair provides shelf space for the products of half a dozen local artists. (Courtesy, ArtRat)
“In 2022, we were so blessed to find stability, and in 2023 we want to do so much. We’re excited to participate in our community more and more. We want to interact with local organizations, like The Diatribe. We want to have more events, like we did on Halloween and New Year’s Eve, and to keep pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a sex-positive, gender-affirming, safe place for the queer community.”
Whether you need a short, masculine cut; lush natural color; or a rainbow mane, you can head to Lilith’s Lair’s Instagram and Facebook to peruse the salon’s work and find the perfect artist for your needs.
Here are some more choice cuts from Heartside’s salon district:
Pure Vanity (3 Oakes St. SW) is your destination for wigs (both synthetic and human hair); tape-in extensions; and beautiful balayage. In English or Spanish, owner Paloma Maldonado offers customers an “ever-evolving” resource for hot new Heartside hair talent — whether you’re looking to bring some life back into your mane, picking out the perfect lace front,or seeking a stylist que tiene los mejores chismes, Pure Vanity has you covered. Appointments 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday, and 12-5 p.m. on Sunday.
Blonde Theory (64 Division Ave. S) is a small, sultry and sophisticated boutique focused on creating a luxurious, individualistic salon experience. Blonde Theory can take you from a brunette bob to 12” platinum blonde. Blonde Theory is available by appointment only. Visit the salon’s website.
Avenue Barber Shop (123 Division Ave. S) is a “grassroots-as-you-get” homage to the classic barber shops of the ‘40s and ‘50s. Grand Rapids native Chris Lapham opened the shop in 2017, where he cuts hair and trims beards with a staff of three. Ask about bookings for wedding parties! Appointments11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (lunch break at 2 p.m.),11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday.
Posh Nails and Spa (38 Commerce Avenue SW) After fighting tooth-and-nail through 2022, why not stop in for a mani-pedi? Posh offers both dip powder and acrylic options as well as a variety of aromas for your pedicures. Whether you prefer a Lavender Field Escape or to be Pampered by Pitaya in state-of-the-art massage chairs, Posh promises “everything it takes to restore your energy and revitalize your spirits.” Appointments 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m,. and Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
This article provided by ArtRat, located at 46 Division Ave. S. For more about ArtRat, visit the gallery’s website at www.artrat.us. To join ArtRat Gallery’s mailing list of events and exhibits, email matthew@artrat.us.
