Lillian Vander Veen has been a business leader in the City of Wyoming for several years. She is the owner of Lenger Travel. (Supplied)
For Lillian Vander Veen, her career in the travel business started with a trip to Hawaii.
“It was our 25th anniversary and it was something that we really wanted to do,” Vander Veen said, adding that before the trip she had quit a job working at Northern Air, which had been located at the then Kent County Airport (which later became the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.)
It was on that trip that she would meet Sid and Bertha Lenger, a couple well-known for their travel tours and owner of Lenger Travel.
Sometime after that trip – which Vander Veen noted was wonderful – Sid Lenger approached her with an offer, would she be interested in working for the travel agency?
“I was surprised but Sid kept saying he knew of my previous work experience and thought it would be a good fit,” she said, adding she had worked for two different companies at the airport and was familiar with airline travel.
It not only was a good fit, but an opportunity to see the world, Vander Veen said, adding she has been able to visit Hawaii, Alaska, and Florida several times along with seeing parts of Europe.
“Lenger Travel was the first to book a DC 10 and a [Boeing] 747 for tour groups,” Vander Veen said.
Vander Veen would help to open an office at the now defunct Grand Village Mall that was located on Fairlanes Avenue in Grandville.
Lillian Vander Veen
The agency, which at one time had several offices in the Greater Grand Rapids area, went through some rough patches. The Lengers eventually retired from the business selling it to another couple who Vander Veen would purchased the businesses from.
“It was through John VanSingel that I was able to bring the agency to Byron Center,” Vander Veen said, adding that VanSingel offered her a spot in the bank he was operating. She eventually moved Lenger Travel to its current location at 2551 84th St. SW.
“You don’t get into the travel business to become rich,” Vander Veen said. “You do it because you love to travel. I think that for that reason it makes it more of a women’s field. It is often women who are planning the vacations.”
That isn’t to say that Vander Veen didn’t have challenges as a working woman in the 50s and 60s.
“The issue I had was not because I was a woman,” Vander Veen said. “Rather it was when I was living in Georgia at the time with my family. I was working for a company and I had befriended an African-American woman and it really bothered me that we couldn’t do anything together outside of work.
“We could only be friends at the office. It was 1953.”
Vander Veen still owns Lenger Travel and mostly oversees the books. Through the years, she has seen a lot of changes in the travel industry, but one thing remains constant: people like to travel. Lenger Travel has changed with the times, now offering assistance with destination travel to such places as Disney World and cruise ship adventures.
While Vander Veen is not in the office very much, she is active in the community she loves, the City of Wyoming, and attends many of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce events, including volunteering for Metro Cruise.
The Grand Valley Metro Council is looking at access to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. (Supplied)
How much does having busing services impact you when heading to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport? Do you find it easy to be dropped off at the airport? What improvements would you suggest for access to the Ford Airport?
These are just some of the questions residents and stakeholders are being asked to on an Airport Access Study survey hosted by the Grand Valley Metro Council and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
The project is in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Transportation, Kent Conty Road Commission, City of Kentwood, Cascade Township, and engineering firm AECOM. The study is designed to investigate ways to improve access to the airport as well as the surrounding local road and freeway systems. Rapids growth and develop at the airport, and in the Greater Grand Rapids Area, makes now an import time to consider how best to provide access in the airport area into the future, according to organizers of the study.
“While labeled ‘Airport Access,’ this study focuses on transportation through a broader lens, looking at what modes of transportation are needed, how people get to and from the airport and its surrounding area, and how it can be improved upon,” said Laurel Joseph, GVMC Director of Transportation Planning. “Dating back to efforts made in the 80s and 90s, we recognize the far-reaching impacts this project will have.”
The study will examine current transportation needs and changing travel patterns including airport passenger and cargo traffic, road connections and access, traffic operations and safety, bike and pedestrian circulation, transit service, railroad connections, airport security, and terminal access redundancy. The study also will evaluate different airport access alternatives, leading to a recommended alternative (or alternatives) and an accompanying implementation and action plan.
The start of this project will be the survey which will ask residents and stakeholders to consider the type of travel they did before the pandemic, how frequently they visited the airport, what modes of transportation they took, and the ease of access to the airport. Participants will be asked if shuttles, biking, walking or parking impact access to the airport. Participants also will have an opportunity to identify airport access areas they feel need improvement. Filling out the survey takes about five to 10 minutes.
“Out communities continue to grow and change, attracting national talent in various industries,” Joseph said. “ Our airport and its connecting transportation system need to not only meet our current needs but also projected growth. The goal is to find ways to improve the accessibility, functionality, safety, and efficiency of the transportation network for years to come. we cannot do that without the essential input of those traveling to, from, and through the area today.”
Joseph said the goal is to collect as much community input as possible. To help with that, survey participants many enter into a $50 gift card drawing. There will be two winners. The survey will be open until the end of April.
For more information about the project, click here. To take the survey, click here. (Survey is available in both English and Spanish.)
Michigan’s own Emily Polet-Monterosso, a member of the Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) national group, was part of a team of “One Kidney Climbers” which climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in early March. The mountain, the tallest on the continent, is shrouded in the background. (Supplied by Emily Polet-Monterosso)
Members of the Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) group on the trail leading up to Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in early March. It was a multi-day trek to get to the mountain and then a multi-day climb. (Supplied by Emily Polet-Monterosso)
Members of the Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) group climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in early March. The mountain is the tallest on the continent. (Supplied by Emily Polet-Monterosso)
Members of the Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) group climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in early March. The mountain is the tallest on the continent. Shown is the group at the entrance to the Tanzania National Park. (Supplied by Emily Polet-Monterosso)
Members of the Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) group which climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in early March. Shown is the evening meal tent on the mountain trail. (Supplied by Emily Polet-Monterosso)
Members of the Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) group climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in early March. The mountain is the tallest on the continent. (Supplied by Emily Polet-Monterosso)
Adventures — even one for a cause — often do not turn out the way one plans, the way one envisions. But that does not lessen the adventure, or the importance of the cause.
Michigan’s own Emily Polet-Monterosso, a member of the Kidney Donor Athletes national group, was part of a team of “One Kidney Climbers” which, with support both in-country and back home, climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro.
On the morning of March 10, in Africa, on World Kidney Day, the Kidney Donor Athlete team reached their goal — the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro. (Supplied)
After a multi-day hike to the mountain and then a multi-day climb, most of the team summited the continent’s tallest peak on World Kidney Day, March 10. Emily got to the mountain, but not the summit.
WKTV has been following Emily’s African adventure, and as she returned from the trek, she talked about her effort, and how while she was disappointed fate denied her the peak of Kilimanjaro, the cause for which she and her companions got blisters for remained fulfilled.
“Out of 22 kidney donors from our group who made the climb, only 20 summited,” Emily wrote in a March 16 email. “Myself, and our President Bobby McLaughlin, did not summit. Bobby had a fever on summit night which prevented him from making it to the top, and I struggled with altitude sickness for most of the climb and was going on four days without any food at the time that the group attempted the summit … (the climb leaders were) not going to allow me to summit for safety reasons.”
(McLaughlin pointed out that “The fever I picked up had nothing to do with the climb itself — it was a random bug picked up somewhere, possibly even the day before the climb began.”)
Instead, Emily said, she waited at Barafu base camp — still at approximately 15,000 feet above sea level — for her teammates to return from the summit so that they could all descend together.
“Neither my nor Bobby’s inability to summit had anything to do with our status as one-kidneyed people — both situations were a result of circumstances relating to the difficulty of the climb that could have been experienced by any other two-kidneyed climber.”
The climb was the first coordinated event by Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) to bring attention to the need for living kidney donors and that those who donate can be “healthy and thrive” with one kidney.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), more than 97,000 people in the U.S. are on the waiting list for kidney transplants. Over 3,000 new patients are added to this list every month. With fewer donors than there are those in need, 13 people die every day waiting for a kidney.
“Our mission was to prove to ourselves and anybody watching us that you can donate a kidney and still experience life fully and without negative health consequences,” Emily said. “We believe we accomplished that mission, and our deepest hope is that someone heard about it and considers donation themselves.
“If even one life is saved as a result of our efforts, every ounce of difficulty we navigated will have paid off, and then some.”
The cause and the adventure
Emily Polet-Monterosso lives in Metro Detroit, but grew up in Holland, until 15 years old, and “still have lots of family there,” she proudly says. And she is a kidney donor — having donated one of her two healthy kidneys to someone badly in need — she also proudly says.
Emily is also a kidney donor athlete, and a member of KDA, founded by ultra-athlete Tracey Hulick who donated her kidney in 2017. Emily’s team, climbers from 16 metro areas across the United States and Canada, left on Feb. 28 for Tanzania, where their group will prepare for their climb.
The One Kidney Climber team had about 110 support staff in porters, guides and cooks helping them up the mountain, a 42-mile 8-day expedition led by hired experts on the mountain. Embark Exploration Company out of Portland, Oregon is the guide company.
Emily Polet-Monterosso was fit before donating a kidney, but she now is even more an athlete. (Supplied)
And while athletic endeavors are nothing new to Emily, her African endeavor for a cause she has come to really believe in, and believe in enough that she pushed herself to her physical limits — limits that most persons with two kidneys would only dare to do.
“Not having summited does not in any way negatively impact the experience I had,” Emily said. “I still engaged in the most challenging physical feat of my life for eight days, and I feel nothing but pride in what I’ve accomplished.”
And she made friends for life.
“I also feel extreme pride in my teammates for the effort and attitude they all brought forth,” she said. “I have never spent such a large amount of time in intimately close quarters with a more encouraging, upbeat, inspirational group of people.
“Additionally, the support staff from our guide company, Embark Exploration Co, deserves the highest praise for the job they did in getting us all safely up and down the mountain again.”
More information on KDA
For more information on the Kidney Donor Athletes climb, and other resources, visit kidneydonorathlete.org.
Founded in 2018, Kidney Donor Athletes is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to promote the gift of life through living kidney donation among active individuals and athletes by building a community that inspires, supports, and educates people about the experience.
LGROW Director Wendy Ogilvie (far left) reviews a map of the Grand River with participants of a public meeting about creating a water trail along the river. (WKTV)
The young girl walked into the room at GVSU’s Seidman Center, looked at a map with her mother and then turned to Wendy Ogilvie and asked “Why should we designate a water trail along the Grand River?”
Acknowledging that it was a good question and one that was often asked, the Lower Grand River Organization (LGROW) director said “We often think of up north as full of nature and beauty when there is that beauty here in the lower peninsula as well. By designating it as a water trail we create a sense of place and a destination. “
LGROW, which is part of the Grand Rapids Metro Council and designated with addressing issues and opportunities for the Grand River and its watershed, is moving forward on a plan to create a state-designated water trail along the lower Grand River, which Ogilvie said might become a reality this year.
A water trail is similar to a bike/walking trail. It is a designated route on a navigable waterway such as a river like the Grand River, or other waterways like a lake or canal. The trail is implemented and managed to foster educational and recreational experiences.
The upper and middle Grand River watersheds have already been designated by the state as water trails. The addition for the Lower Grand River, which runs from about Ionia west to Lake Michigan, would complete the 252-mile trek from its origination point at the headwaters of Hillsdale County to where to it pours out onto Lake Michigan in Grand Haven. Michigan’s longest river runs along the border of the City of Wyoming as it travels from the City of Grand Rapids to the City of Grandville and on to Ottawa County.
A map of the many public and private access points along the Grand River. (WKTV)
“Water trails are becoming the new parks,” said Andrea Irland, an outdoor recreational planner for the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service. “You travel down a river and discover the untouched areas that are not easily seen from a trail or road.”
Irland was involved in the creation of the Cuyahoga River Water Trail which helped to change the reputation of the river, which was known to catch fire, to being a place to see wildlife. She said she could see the same happening for the Grand River, which was once used for logging to help get wood to the furniture factories in Grand Rapids.
“Water trails such as the one proposed and the one on the Cuyahoga River do not need to be in national parks,” Irland said. “They can provide a way to connect different communities that are along the river.”
A community also benefits in the creation of a water trail as it provides outdoor recreation, education, stewardship, quality of life, and conservation and protection.
To discuss the pros and cons of having a water trail, LGROW hosted a public meeting in February at Grand Valley State University’s Seidman Center seeking input from residents on what they would want to see to help encourage the development of a water trail. There was input on a variety of topics such as access points and amenities like signage, bathrooms, and other items that would be needed to help design and maintain the water trail. There also was discussion on water safety and the sharing of the waterway with larger boats and other river crafts.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the public to provide ideas on how we can enhance access and recreational opportunities tied to one of our region’s most valuable natural assets,” Ogilvie said. “It will encourage tourists and outdoor recreation while promoting watershed stewardship and showcasing Michigan’s incredible water resources.”
There were six stations at the event that lead participants through learning about what a water trail is to amenities and what they thought would help to make such a plan successful. Another aspect of the meeting was to encourage tourism ventures such as canoe and kayak rentals along with restaurants and other possibilities to develop along the river to make the water trail a successful destination spot.
Through the development process, Ogilvie said LGROW has met with various stakeholders such as kayaking clubs, owners of access points, municipalities where the river has run through and other community members. In fact, the process has taken a couple of years but the recent Restore the Rapids movement to restore the lower river to a more natural state has made creating a water trail more of a viable opportunity, Ogilvie said.
The goal will be to have similar public input meetings in Ionia and Ottawa counties. From there, the group will review the plan and then submit it to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for approval.
As part of WKTV’s special coverage of World Kidney Day, March 10, we are presenting a series of stories, first about a Michigan donor leading an active lifestyle; a West Michigan recipient living a lively future thanks to another; an adventure of a lifetime, for a cause — a climb of Africa’s tallest mountain; and finally a first-hand story from a Michigan woman on the climb. In this third story, a photo essay of the team of donors scaling African peak.
Mount Kilimanjaro viewed from Moshi (Wikimedia Commons)
The entire planned climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro. (Supplied)
It takes quite a village to take an American team of climbers, in this case the Kidney Donor Athletes team, up Mt. Kilimanjaro. (Supplied)
The progress of the Kidney Donor Athletes team’s climb as of March 7. The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is represented by #2 on the right. (Supplied)
Kidney Donor Athlete team of American kidney donors and climbers in progress in their climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro. (Supplied)
Kidney Donor Athletes team advances to base camp on Wednesday, March 9, for planned final push to summit of the mountain at sunrise, March 10. (Supplied)
Night falls on the camp of the Kidney Donor Athletes team of American kidney donors and climbers in progress in their climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro. (Supplied)
A beautiful sunrise as the Kidney Donor Athlete team reached their goal — the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro. (Supplied)
On the morning of March 10, in Africa, on World Kidney Day, the Kidney Donor Athlete team reached their goal — the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro. (Supplied)
On the morning of March 10, in Africa, on World Kidney Day, the Kidney Donor Athlete team reached their goal — the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro. (Supplied)
They climbed for a cause: to bring awareness of the plight of those in need of a donation, awareness of the need for donors, and the awareness that a donor does not need to radically alter their lifestyle, even an athletic lifestyle.
That is why a team made up of the One Kidney Climber group climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro, reaching the top today, on World Kidney Day, March 10.
WKTV is following the African adventure of one Michigan woman, Emily Polet-Monterosso, who is part of that climb. And, with us, you can see their adventure in photos.
The climb was the first coordinated event by Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) to bring attention to the need for living kidney donors and that those who donate can be “healthy and thrive” with one kidney.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), more than 97,000 people in the U.S. are on the waiting list for kidney transplants. Over 3,000 new patients are added to this list every month. With fewer donors than there are those in need, 13 people die every day waiting for a kidney.
More information on KDA
For more information on the Kidney Donor Athletes climb, and other resources, visit kidneydonorathlete.org.
Founded in 2018, Kidney Donor Athletes is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to promote the gift of life through living kidney donation among active individuals and athletes by building a community that inspires, supports, and educates people about the experience.
As part of WKTV’s special coverage of World Kidney Day, March 10, we are presenting a series of stories about a Michigan donor leading an active lifestyle, a West Michigan recipient finding a lively future thanks to another, and an adventure of a lifetime to bring awareness to the need for more people will to share the gift of life. First, donor and mountain climber Emily Polet-Monterosso.
Mount Kilimanjaro viewed from Moshi. (Wikimedia Commons)
Emily Polet-Monterosso lives in Metro Detroit, but grew up in Holland, until 15 years old, and “still have lots of family there,” she proudly says. And she is a kidney donor, she also proudly says.
She is also one of 20 or so climbers on their way to Africa as part of a One Kidney Climber group planning to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro on World Kidney Day, March 10, the first coordinated event by Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA) to bring attention to the need for living kidney donors and that those who donate can be “healthy and thrive” with one kidney.
Emily Polet-Monterosso, show here hiking at Yosemite National Park, lives in Metro Detroit but grew up in Holland. (Supplied)
Emily is a kidney donor athlete, and a member of KDA, founded by ultra-athlete Tracey Hulick who donated her kidney in 2017. Emily’s team, climbers from 16 metro areas across the United States and Canada, are scheduled to leave Feb. 28 for Tanzania, where their group will prepare for their climb.
An athletic endeavor is nothing new to Emily, but this is endeavor for a cause she has come to really believe in — believe in enough that she donated one of her two healthy kidneys to someone badly in need.
“When I was in high school, a friend from youth group who was sixteen years old needed a kidney, and our pastor’s wife donated to him,” Polet-Monterosso said to WKTV. “I was in college at the time and wasn’t in a secure enough financial position to take six weeks away from work and school, but I told myself at the time that if the opportunity ever arose to do something so meaningful for another person in the future, I would take it.”
And she did. And there is one more good-news story in a world where not all such stories end happily.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), more than 97,000 people in the U.S. are on the waiting list for kidney transplants. Over 3,000 new patients are added to this list every month. With fewer donors than there are those in need, 13 people die every day waiting for a kidney.
Emily’s decision and her reward
At one point, Emily stated that she really can’t quite “articulate” why she donated other than it being the right thing to do. But, talking to WKTV, she said there was that moment.
“Before I donated, I met a young woman through my work … who had been in kidney failure during high school and was therefore unable to go to college after graduating, due to a rigorous dialysis schedule,” Polet-Monterosso said. “She received a kidney from her grandmother and was now able to enroll in college. I was reminded of my friend from years ago, and kidney donation was brought back to the front of my mind.
Emily Polet-Monterosso, with the man she donated a kidney to. (Supplied)
“A couple of weeks later, my sister shared a viral Facebook post which showed a car with a sign in the back windshield: ‘Single dad of 3 needs type O kidney’, and then a phone number. The phone number had a local area code, so I knew this person lived geographically close to me, and I know I have type O blood, since I’m a regular blood donor. It seemed like it was meant to be, so I called the number and started the process.”
She eventually met the “single dad of 3” recipient, although that is not always the case.
Emily Polet-Monterosso, at the wedding of the man she donated a kidney to. (Supplied)
“The phone number on the back of the car was actually the cell phone of the single dad who needed the kidney,” she said. “When I called, I awkwardly told him why I was calling, and he gratefully gave me the link to the intake questionnaire at Henry Ford Hospital for his specific case. My understanding is that somewhere around 250 people started the evaluation process trying to donate to him, and I’m the only one who made it through.
“We are now friends. We chat every few weeks and our families get together every few months. I was blessed to see him get married at the end of last year, and I hope to witness many more milestones that he gets to enjoy with the years this surgery has given him.”
Being a donor and an athlete
Emily and Bobby McLaughlin, president of Kidney Donor Athletes, Inc., both understand the perception that kidney donors are making a decision to change their lives forever by giving part of their body away.
And, surely, there are impacts. But not being an athlete, or even continuing a long, healthy life is not one of them.
Emily Polet-Monterosso was fit before donating a kidney, but she now is even more an athlete. (Supplied)
Polet-Monterosso “is climbing because she believes it’s an amazing way to prove to those considering kidney donation that diminished physical/athletic capacity post-donation does not need to be a concern,” McLaughlin said as part of her introduction of Emily.
And Emily, herself, is proof.
“All potential living kidney donors are evaluated at length to determine if giving a kidney could possibly be detrimental to their long-term health based on their existing physical health,” Polet-Monterosso said. “Only the healthiest of the healthy are cleared to donate.
“All donors work with a team of doctors during the evaluation process — dietitians, nephrologists, psychologists, and many others. Doctors on the team agree that if a donor is healthy enough to be cleared to donate, then there is no expectation of long-term decrease in physical capability once the acute healing period (six weeks post-operation) is complete. … Donors do need to pay extra attention to staying hydrated and maintaining a healthy diet, but if they’re cleared to donate, it’s likely they were already doing those things anyway.”
There is even some evidence that if a donor is healthy enough to be cleared to donate, they are at a high enough threshold of health that even with one fewer kidney, they are still less likely to experience decreased kidney function long-term than the average American.
And about that African climb
The One Kidney Climber team “will have roughly 110 support staff in porters, guides and cooks helping us up the mountain,” McLaughlin said. “It is a 42 mile 8-day expedition and these people we have hired are experts on the mountain.”
Embark Exploration Company out of Portland, Oregon is the guide company.
The National Kidney Registry is supporting the climb as well — “The National Kidney Registry is where we are directing those who may want to explore what it takes for kidney donation.”
While Emily will be part of the team, and she considers the opportunity to be one of a lifetime, she admits she is not an experienced athlete and also knows her limitations on such an adventure.
“I am totally new to climbing,” Polet-Monterosso said. “I live in Michigan, which as you know is not super mountain-ey. I’m also relatively new to athleticism … I actually first started caring about my fitness in the lead-up to my donation.”
She donated in January 2019 and said she started focusing on her fitness in late 2018 — “to ensure that I was as healthy as possible before surgery. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve maintained my interest since then.”
Currently her sports of choice are obstacle course racing and weightlifting. And while the COVID-19 pandemic “put a damper” on both of those activities she keeps working out at home as much as possible, “and I’ve obviously added lots of hiking to my repertoire” in the lead-up to this climb.
“Kilimanjaro is kind of the perfect mountain for people in my situation — relatively physically fit, but not experienced climbers. There is no ‘technical’ climbing involved. It’s basically a really long, steep hike. So I’ve been trying to replicate that as much as possible in my training by hiking local trails and climbing lots of flights of stairs.”
And her expectations for the climb?
“This climb will last for eight days. It will take us six days to get to the summit, and another two days to come back down again,” she said. “I’ll fly home on the 14th (which will give her enough time for the turnaround on a Covid test result after the climb, which will be needed for her to fly home).”
Then it’s back to work and school — she currently hold two jobs and is a full time graduate student. Yet she made time for the climb because it is important for her and for her advocacy of kidney donation.
“Gotta live life while you’re here, right?” she said.
More information on KDA
For more information on the Kidney Donor Athletes climb, and other resources, visit kidneydonorathlete.org.
A videographer is set to accompany the group to document the climb and WKTV plans to produce a story and video using supplied material after the climb. (We are told cell service is not great on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.)
Founded in 2018, Kidney Donor Athletes is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to promote the gift of life through living kidney donation among active individuals and athletes by building a community that inspires, supports, and educates people about the experience.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
Valentine’s Day flowers as photographed by WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams.
By WKTV Staff
WKTV Journal contributor Patty Williams sent us pictures of Valentine’s Day in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where she noted one family of flower farmers prepares arrangements for sale in the streets.
The new statute for Gerald Ford has become hot spot for selfies. (Supplied/Ford Airport)
By WKTV Staff
The entertainment and sports world — and an estimated 1 million West Michigan viewers — will be focused on their televisions this Sunday as Super Bowl LVI plays and everybody attention is on the game, the halftime and, of course, those advertisements.
And it is not just beer and soda commercials either. Getting in on the action, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport has announced it, too, will air its first Super Bowl spot, a 30-second ad, which “leans on a football theme to underscore the ease of travel through Ford International Airport – complete with yellow flags over a penalty.”
The commercial was created by Extra Credit Projects, and recorded and produced with Taproot pictures in Grand Rapids.
“We are excited to unveil this new ad to our fans during the game of the year,” Dan Koorndyk, chair of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, said in supplied material. “… The Super Bowl felt like a great opportunity to showcase the Airport to our community.”
Travel numbers grew steadily during 2021 for Ford International Airport, reaching 2.9 million passengers – 82 percent of its pre-pandemic numbers, which were records.
“The Airport has experienced tremendous growth and continues to advance plans for additional development, making it a huge economic driver in the region,” Rob Jackson, principal at Extra Credit Projects, said in supplied material. “The scale of the Super Bowl felt right … at the end of the day, it’s just exciting to be part of the big game and connect with such a broad audience in the region.”
The football connection also seems fitting for the airport’s namesake.
“The Ford International Airport has an undeniable connection to football as former President Gerald R. Ford helped lead his Michigan Wolverines to two undefeated seasons on the gridiron nearly nine decades ago,” Tory Richardson, president and CEO of Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, said in supplied material.
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), with a little bit of holiday lights lit, is the home of West Michigan’s Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew King, serving active duty in the U.S. Navy. (U.S. Navy)
In peacetime and in wartime, American serviceman and women often spend their Christmas Holidays far away from home but allowing those from their hometowns to enjoy the season safe and secure.
The U.S. Navy recently sent WKTV information on two such U.S. Navy personal from West Michigan, including their well wishes for family, friends and everybody they serve yet do not know.
Sailors help maintain America’s strategic advantage at sea, everyday, including the holidays. This means they do not always get to celebrate holidays with their loved ones.
U.S. Navy Seaman Breana Leonard. (U.S. Navy)
Seaman Breana Leonard, a Hastings native serving overseas will celebrate the holidays with shipmates in Guam.
“The holidays are a time to take a break and enjoy time with friends and family,” Seaman Leonard said in supplied material. And she wants to make sure her family back home know that they are loved and missed.
“Thank you for standing by me,” Leonard said. “I love you and I miss you all.”
Leonard serves as a gunner’s mate aboard USS Emory S. Land. As a member of the U.S. Navy, Leonard, as well as other sailors, know they are a part of “a tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance,” according to the U.S. Navy announcement.
“Serving in the Navy means that I’m setting myself up for success in the future,” added Leonard.
Leonard’s brother in arms, Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew King, a Grand Rapids native, will celebrate the holidays volunteering for Catholic services at the base chapel in Yokosuka, Japan.
But he remembers a special memory from a holiday past.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew King. (U.S. Navy)
“For me, the holidays represent birth and new beginnings,” Petty Officer King said in supplied material. “When I was 13, my house burnt down in the fall and when the holidays came a secret benefactor donated a home to my family. If you’re reading this, thank you!”
King, too, wants family back home to know they are missed this holiday season.
“I hope everyone back home has a merry Christmas,” King said. “Despite being in Japan, the Christmas spirit spans worldwide. I would also like to thank the students and staff of Meadowbrook Elementary School for sending us care packages.”
King serves as an intelligence specialist aboard USS Ronald Reagan.
“The Navy is about maintaining peace — especially for the holiday season,” King said. “That is all I could ask for.”
Stephanie Fox, of the Navy Office of Community Outreach, contributed to this story.
The military and veteran “Welcome Home” celebration of Operation Handshake at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport this holiday season. (GR Ford Airport)
Active military members and veterans will receive a patriotic welcome home on Nov. 24 with the return of Operation Handshake at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, an event which includes patriotic activities and a new “Thank You Letter” effort.
In its sixth year, the daylong event will feature veterans groups lining the concourse exits of the airport to greet and thank military members and veterans returning to West Michigan, according to an announcement from the Ford Airport. Members of the Patriot Guard Riders and Blue Star Mothers will be present from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. to greet the honored travelers while waving American flags, offering words of thanks and singing patriotic songs.
“The Ford Airport is proud to welcome our troops and veterans back home,” Lisa Carr, public safety and operations director for the Ford Airport, said in supplied material. “It is important we recognize our service members for all that they do – and have done – for our country. As a huge supporter of active and retired military, I am especially proud of our participation in Operation Handshake.”
Operation Handshake is free and open to the public. Per federal requirements, masks must be worn at all times by airport guests ages 2 and older.
Families of military members and veterans traveling through Ford Airport on Nov. 24 are encouraged to participate in Operation Handshake and to provide flight information to Patriot Guard Riders, including arrival time. Information may be provided to Phil Pakiela via email at papapakiela@gmail.com or by phone at 616-916-3064.
“It is hard to put into words how much it means to see the expression on a veteran’s face as they are greeted by a flag line and rendered a salute in their honor,” Pakiela, captain of the Patriot Guard Riders of West Michigan, said in supplied material. “So many of them have been forgotten – we don’t ever want that to happen again. We want our active-duty military and veterans as well as their families to know they are appreciated.”
New this year is Operation Gratitude, a “thank you” letter campaign that encourages airport tenants and guests to share their appreciation for deployed troops, veterans, wounded heroes, caregivers, and recruits. The airport is providing note cards to tenants this month, “collecting the messages of gratitude and delivering them to active military personnel,” according to the announcement.
Guests at the Airport on Nov. 24 will have the opportunity to write notes of thanks and drop them in a box located in the Amway Grand Hall.
“We invite Airport guests to take a moment to join us in honoring our military heroes during this season of gratitude,” Carr said.
For more information on the Ford Airport visit flyford.org.
Gerald R. Ford International Airport Director of Commercial Development Stephen Clark talks to WKTV about one of the reasons to be relaxed — and healthy — this holiday season when traveling through the Ford. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Yes, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport is expecting passenger levels to equal or exceed 2019 pre-pandemic levels this Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year’s holiday season.
But there is good news on several fronts — from an “all hands on deck” workforce at the airport, to COVID testing being available for travelers, to the local airport bucking a national trend to have crew issues causing flight delays or cancellations.
However, patience, as always, will need to be packed in your carry-on along with your tooth brush and credit card.
A recent forecast by Ford Airport management of 33,000 people traveling in and out, from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after, may well rise and come close to the 35,000 travelers experienced in 2019. And it should be much the same return to flying norms form the Wednesday before Christmas Day Saturday possibly thorough New Year’s weekend Sunday.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening areas at the Ford are expected to be at full strength this holiday season. (WKTV.K.D. Norris)
But airport Director of Commercial Development Stephen Clark told WKTV there will be plenty of reasons to be festive and relaxed this holiday season at the Ford.
“When we look at the holiday season, and trying to celebrate that with our guests, it starts when you come into the facility, creating that sense of place that is West Michigan, so you will see the decorations out here,” Clark said. “But more importantly this year, we are still in the pandemic, so cleanliness is our number one priority.
“As a team, we are cleaning the areas more frequently. You are going to see a heavy emphasis on high-touch areas. And the facility feels different, we are moving the air through the facility more … certainly we are doing everything we can got create a good environment.”
And, Clark said, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), and all the airports partners, are gearing up for the expected rush — TSA should have all security lines open during peak travel days, he said, and “that should ease one of the more anxious points for travelers, the security check point.”
Tips for travel, as always and due to pandemic
This holiday season is the first time the many people have traveled in a couple of years, Clark said, so, as a general reminder, the first tip for travel is arrive early and pack your checked bags and carry-on bags smartly.
The runway at the Ford International Airport. (Supplied)
“When you are packing your bags make sure you are keeping your medications, your car key and those items you will need right away he you get to your destination, or even come back home, with you,” he said. “Then when you come to the airport, make sure you get here at least two hours early — that is pretty common knowledge these days — but as we get to the holiday season, lines start getting little bit longer, folks start getting a little stressed out … That gives you plenty of time to get your bags checked, if you are checking them, and get through security.”
“Biggest thing we are asking is that people are packing their patience,” Clark added.
There are pandemic requirements to be dealt with as well, especially if you are traveling internationally — make sure you know the COVID requirements of your airlines and at your destination.
“We do have a COVID test site here at the airport that is available to the public, travelers or otherwise,” Clark said. “They can get that PCR Test, that is the gold standard that they will need … additionally when you come to the airport, we just ask that you pack a mask.”
And what about flight delays cancelations
While there has been a lot of talk in recent weeks about airlines needing to cancel flights due to scheduling and crew issues, and the Ford has not been immune to the problem. But there is a simple reason that it is not a big issue, even during busy travel periods — Grand Rapids’ airport is not a huge airport.
“One of the things we started seeing in the later part of the year were flight delays and crew issues. Fortunately, here at the Ford airport, we really haven’t had a ton of that,” Clark said. “That really speaks to the fact that we have so many non-stop destinations. As an airport, we have 30-plus non-stop destinations this holiday season … because we have so many non-stop flights were are not having as many crew issues because they are going right to that destination. … A lot of those issues (crew changes) are happening in major hubs.”
For more information on travel and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, visit grr.org.
Mineman 1st Class Jacob Klok, from Kentwood, is shown onboard the USS Tulsa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Devin M. Langer)
In this photo supplied by the U.S. Navy Office of Community Outreach, Mineman 1st Class Jacob Klok, a Kelloggsville High School graduate from Kentwood, works aboard the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Tulsa (LCS 16). Minemen (MN) serve abroad ships which detect and neutralize mines, according the U.S. Navy website. Minemen also assemble and test underwater explosive devices.
The Tulsa, part of Destroyer Squadron Seven, is on a rotational deployment, operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to “enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” according to supplied material.
(Do you have a photo of a Kentwood or Wyoming area native serving in the military? WKTV journal would love to get the photo and a brief description. Send it to ken@WKTV.org.)
John Ball Zoo envisions a fresh and salt water aquarium with a million or more gallons that includes a large shark tank, a living coral reef, jellyfish, floor to ceiling viewing walls with walkthrough tunnels. (pxhere.com)
John Ball Zoo is launching a comprehensive economic and feasibility study for a premier aquarium located in West Michigan.
The John Ball Zoo began discussions earlier this year about a detailed aquarium study with Kent County when Zoo officials were approached by the City of Muskegon requesting consideration as a potential aquarium site. As a result, a joint study is set to launch to explore which location (City of Muskegon or Kent County) drives the greatest community impact and is financially feasible for a large- scale aquarium.
“We’re humbled to work with two great community partners in exploring both amazing locations,” said Peter D’Arienzo, CEO of John Ball Zoo.
“The City of Muskegon Economic Development Team takes a regional approach to growth for the community we serve. We are very grateful for the opportunity to be considered in this feasibility and economic impact analysis, and are confident Muskegon will shine as a desirable option to consider. We thank the board and administration at John Ball Zoo for the partnership in allowing our city to participate in this process,” said Jake Eckholm, Director of Development Services for the City of Muskegon.
Both Muskegon and Kent County officials are excited about a large-scale aquarium being built in the area. The Zoo, along with the City of Muskegon and Kent County understand a study of this size and breadth is important in selecting the best site and community where the aquarium can be successful and make the greatest impact.
John Ball Zoo envisions a fresh and salt water aquarium with a million or more gallons that includes a large shark tank, a living coral reef, jellyfish, floor to ceiling viewing walls with walkthrough tunnels. Exhibits will educate visitors on the wonders of salt water and fresh water ecosystems, including the Great Lakes.
“A world class aquarium would be another phenomenal attraction in the Grand Rapids area,” said Kent County Administrator/Controller Al Vandenberg. “When you consider the land and water trail network that will go from the beach in Grand Haven to eastern Kent County and the huge number of amenity linkages created by that system, the aquarium would be another anchor to ultimately bring millions of folks to our community and greater region.”
Zoo Advisors will conduct the comprehensive study, which is estimated to take up to 12 months. “The results of this comprehensive study will help define the most successful location to not only ensure success but to also drive the greatest community impact as a national tourist destination to our great state,” D’Arienzo said.
LANSING – Two pieces of legislation are churning Michigan’s political waters with different approaches to beach safety in state parks.
One would stop the Department of Natural Resources from enforcing temporary swim bans when water and current conditions are dangerous. It is sponsored by Reps. Luke Meerman, R-Coopersville, and Bradley Slagh, R-Zeeland.
It is a response to a proposed order by the DNR that would allow the agency to restrict beach access in times of dangerous water conditions, during water rescues and in the presence of bacteria or contaminants.
Meerman said the bill is necessary to curb government overreach.
“I appreciate the government and all that it does to help us organize ourselves, but there’s a limit to it,” Meerman said. “For me, this is past that limit.”
The DNR’s proposed order defines dangerous conditions as waves higher than 3 to 5 feet. Currently, many state parks use flags — green equals go, yellow means caution and red warns visitors to stay out of the water. But people are not required to heed the warnings.
Meerman said the red flag system should be kept as is.
Beach flag warning system signage at Mears State Park. (Photo by Department of Natural Resources)
“Government doesn’t need to be involved in physically keeping people out and giving out fines,” Meerman said. “I think the red flag itself is what we need.”
The DNR doesn’t yet have a position on Meerman’s bill because of its recent introduction, according to Ed Golder, a public information officer for the DNR.
The agency’s authority on the beaches is land based, so enforcement isn’t currently possible once a person enters the water. Golder said the DNR’s order would help promote beach safety.
“The fundamental purpose of the land use order on beach access is to protect human safety when conditions demand it,” Golder said. “Having this authority would give us one more tool to help prevent drownings on the Great Lakes on beaches that the DNR manages.”
The DNR said safety rescues often occur during red flag conditions, meaning state park visitors are disregarding safety measures.
But critics say the flags often do not reflect conditions and are not updated frequently enough.
“A DNR officer might go to a state park beach at 7 a.m. when the water is flat, so they put up a green flag,” said Dave Benjamin, the executive director of public relations and project management for the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. “And they might not come back until noon.
“During that time, the conditions could go from green to yellow to red, but the flag still says green,” he said.
There have been 83 Great Lakes drownings in 2021, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Of those, 38 were located in Lake Michigan, 11 in Lake Huron and four in Lake Superior.
Benjamin said the DNR isn’t placing designated officers at every beach, and the lack of enforcement is one reason behind drownings.
“When a drowning would happen, the DNR’s No. 1 comment to the media was that red flags were flying and people ignored the warning,” Benjamin said. “Our response is that red flags were not enforced and there were hundreds of other people in the water.”
The proposed DNR order says that prohibiting access would not be determined by red flag days alone, but by reviewing multiple criteria.
Benjamin said the lack of uniformity causes confusion.
“For some places, a red flag just means high surf. For others, it means no swimming,” Benjamin said. “If it does mean no swimming, there’s no enforcement of it.”
Benjamin said the beach flag system is a tool for lifeguards to use and not a replacement for a lifeguard.
“Lifeguards save lives, and all of this is just wasting time and taxpayers money,” Benjamin said. “Now you’ve got state legislation talking about the flag system, but what they’re really talking about is that it’s being used incorrectly.”
Both pieces of legislation distract from necessary beach safety improvements, he said.
“I appreciate that the DNR is working to create some kind of swim ban during red flag conditions, although it needs some critiquing,” Benjamin said. “But now we have the state legislature that’s going to forbid them from doing anything.
“We need to get everybody on the same page here,” he said.
DNR director Daniel Eichinger announced his intent to sign the order at the last Natural Resources Commission meeting, but has not done so yet, Golder said.
The order would not take effect until next May.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation.
One highlight the 2012 Color Tour’s Eastern Kent County Route, and the three historical covered bridges in that area, is the Fallasburg Covered Bridge which is celebrating its 150-year anniversary. (Kent County Road Commission)
The Kent County Road Commission knows the county’s rural roads really, really well. So who better to give residents advice on where to venture to parts of the county they might not normally think to explore our local annual color tour?
The county recently unveiled the first two routes of its annual color tour, with additional routes to be announced soon.
The road commission began producing the color tour in the 1950s and continued for over 30 years before being discontinued. While the reason for the suspension is not clear, the color tour was revived again in 2016 with much excitement and success.
“The Color Tour has really taken off in popularity over the past couple of years, so we definitely look to add new stretches for our repeat travelers,” Maura Lamoreaux, Communications Manager for the Kent County Road Commission (KCRC), said to WKTV.
Lamoreaux said that, while KCRC does make adjustments from year-to-year, the routes remain similar. The road commission tries to avoid any late-season construction and keeps a close eye on the project schedule. Part of the reason the tour routes are revealed in stages is not only to maximize an area’s particular peak color, but to make sure the roads are free of construction when possible.
One highlight the 2012 Color Tour’s Eastern Kent County Route, and the three historical covered bridges in that area, is the history Ada Covered Bridge. (Kent County Road Commission)
The initial KCRC list has chosen to highlight the Eastern Kent County Route and the three historical covered bridges in that area during the 2021 Color Tour, with the Fallasburg Covered Bridge holding a special place of honor as it celebrates its 150-year anniversary.
Similar to the Fallasburg Bridge, the Ada Covered Bridge and Whites Bridge were also constructed using Brown truss design, with all three bridges being built within four years of each other. While Fallasburg Covered Bridge and Whites Bridge are open to vehicular traffic, Ada Covered Bridge welcomes only pedestrian traffic.
The Western Kent County Color Tour Route showcases apple orchards and the fall harvest over 35 miles of road. Drivers must exercise caution as they may encounter slow-moving farm equipment moving from field to field, so patience is requested as motorists enjoy an unhurried drive.
The White Pine Trail is also accessible from the western route with miles of scenic enjoyment for cyclists and those wishing to participate in a leisurely stroll or nature hike.
The 2012 Color Tour road ways are filled with rural roads soon to be bursting with color. (Kent County Road Commission)
All routes provided by the KCRC can be driven individually for shorter trips or connected if a longer outing is desired. As day trippers enjoy the beautiful vistas and diverse topography throughout Kent County, they can stop at nearby public parks for nature walks and picnics or partake in the many other local stops and activities.
This fun and inexpensive outing is one that residents can enjoy alone or with family and friends, according to the road commission. KCRC also urges motorists to utilize the color tour as a way to visit parts of the county they have not yet seen.
“Personally speaking,” Lamoreaux said, “I threw my dog in the car and drove the entire color tour last year. We walked the parks and stopped for cider and donuts. I was simply amazed at the beauty of the county and how much fun it was to experience all corners of it.”
Kent County Road Commission hopes the color tour routes will help infuse a sense of pride for the gorgeous county that residents call home, and also for the road network that leads them to their destinations.
For more information on Kent County’s 2021 Fall Color Tour and maps detailing the various routes, visit here.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources: A visitor uses a track chair to access the beach. Unimproved areas are otherwise inaccessible to those in wheelchairs
LANSING — Trails that can accommodate strollers, wheelchairs with tank treads and baby changing stations in men’s bathrooms are part of a push to accommodate a surge of new visitors at Michigan state parks.
The parks system has taken an interest in serving new parents, people with physical disabilities and people who live in urban areas of the state, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials said.
One reason is that the pandemic sparked an influx of new visitors, according to the agency.
The system saw 35 million visitors in 2020, a 30% increase over the previous year, according to the department.
Pampers, a major diaper manufacturer, is partnering with the department as part of its #LoveTheChange campaign. Pampers says that nine out of 10 fathers have gone into a restroom without a changing station.
“Pampers reached out to us and asked if there was a need in the state parks,” said DNR Fund and Resource Development Coordinator Michelle O’Kelly. “They supplied us 186 units to be distributed over 52 locations.”
O’Kelly says that parks have been receiving these units over the summer and fall and that they should be installed for use by next season because the workload this year has been intense for DNR workers.
Michigan Department of Natural ResourcesPark workers use a helicopter to install a new pedestrian bridge at Tahquamenon Falls State Park.
“The parks are at capacity,” O’Kelly said. “On weekends that we would normally never fill, we are filling all our parks”
O’Kelly said that she thinks that the large number of people working remotely has been pushing back traditional vacation seasons, so maintenance that would traditionally be done in fall had to be pushed back as well.
The department is also working to pave miles of trails across the state, a welcome relief for more than just parents, said Jon Spieles, the agency’s interpretative manager.
“One of the coolest things about our efforts to improve state parks accessibility is how those improvements work for parents with strollers and all kinds of wheeled equipment.” Spieles said. “The fact is we will all benefit from these great steps forward at one point or another.”
The DNR lists over 30 trails and recreation areas with paved or accessible trails and plans to increase that number. But for areas without paved access, the DNR has also started to provide tracked chairs, which look like wheelchairs equipped with tank treads.
Video of the device provided by the department shows the chairs going over sand, forest floors, tall grass and even deep snow. These chairs are available at nine parks, but officials hope that donations to the program will allow the DNR to provide these chairs to more sites across the state.
Urban residents are the least likely to visit the park system, according to a report by the Dow Sustainability Fellows of the University of Michigan. It cited lack of access to transportation as a major reason that urban Michigan residents don’t take advantage of the state natural areas.
State officials announced this summer the creation of a state park in Flint.
The $26.2 million investment in a former industrial site was targeted to reach people disproportionately affected by COVID19.
Spieles, who primarily works with educators and children, says one of the best state parks for kids is in an old Detroit warehouse, not a location typically associated with the great outdoors.
“An opportunity for families and school or youth groups is at the Outdoor Adventure Center in William G. Milliken State Park in Detroit,” Spieles said. “The center provides a taste of Michigan’s great outdoors with hands-on activities, exhibits and simulators.”
The facility includes a multi-story waterfall, a re-creation of a Michigan oak tree and a fishing game, that allows urban park goers to learn about the outdoors and inspires future visits to the actual wilderness.
O’Kelly said that public-private partnerships like the Pampers deal are welcome additions, but most state park initiatives are funded locally.
“It’s all just based on need,” O’Kelly said. “Some of our parks have formal nonprofit ‘friends of the park’ groups. So if a park need a new playground, there is usually a strong (local) campaign to secure funding.”
Officials say that such bottom-up strategies will help the state park system meet the changing needs of visitors in both the short term and for projects in the future.
Nicholas Simon is a multimedia reporter from South Haven, Michigan. His areas of interest include international relations, commercial spaceflight, ecology, and globalization. He has covered events for both print and broadcast outlets ranging from protests to presidential debates and currently covers the Grand Ledge community for the Spartan Newsroom.
There was already roadwork being done Aug. 31 but there will be intermittent road closures during the next week in Kentwood on 32nd Street SE from the west city limits, just west of Pheasant Ridge Drive, to Breton Avenue while the section of roadway is repaved. (WKTV)
There was already roadwork being done Aug. 31 but there will be intermittent road closures during the next week in Kentwood on 32nd Street SE from the west city limits, just west of Pheasant Ridge Drive, to Breton Avenue while the section of roadway is repaved. (WKTV)
There was already roadwork being done Aug. 31 but there will be intermittent road closures during the next week in Kentwood on 32nd Street SE from the west city limits, just west of Pheasant Ridge Drive, to Breton Avenue while the section of roadway is repaved. (WKTV)
There was already roadwork being done Aug. 31 but there will be intermittent road closures during the next week in Kentwood on 32nd Street SE from the west city limits, just west of Pheasant Ridge Drive, to Breton Avenue while the section of roadway is repaved. (WKTV)
There was already roadwork being done Aug. 31 but there will be intermittent road closures during the next week in Kentwood on 32nd Street SE from the west city limits, just west of Pheasant Ridge Drive, to Breton Avenue while the section of roadway is repaved. (WKTV)
The City of Kentwood announced Tuesday, Aug. 31, that intermittent road closures are expected this week on 32nd Street SE from the west city limits, just west of Pheasant Ridge Drive, to Breton Avenue while the section of roadway is repaved.
The street will be totally closed between Pheasant Ridge Drive and Breton Avenue on Wednesday, Sept. 1, and Friday, Sept. 3. Additionally, the street may be closed in one direction or fully closed intermittently during construction.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the work is expected to be completed by Wednesday, Sept. 8, according to the announcement.
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and seek an alternate route or take the detour from Kalamazoo Avenue to 28th Street to Breton Avenue. Emergency, residential and business access will remain open. Area businesses and residents should utilize Breton Avenue or 32nd Street west of the project limits whenever possible.
Community members may sign up to receive biweekly updates on the City’s road construction projects by contacting Kentwood city engineer Brad Boomstra at boomstrab@kentwood.us or 616-554-0740.
The West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) has announced the launch of its 2021 West Michigan Photo Contest. With so much beauty found in West Michigan, the West Michigan Tourist Association wants travelers to show off what they love most about this beautiful side of the state, and win some great West Michigan prizes! The contest is looking for traveler photo submissions from all around West Michigan. This region covers the entire west half of Michigan from the Indiana border to Mackinac Island and into the Upper Peninsula.
“Being able to share all of these great photos from around West Michigan is truly a highlight of each year!” said WMTA’s Marketing Director Courtney Sheffer. “We love seeing the community involvement with this contest, and the unique perspectives that each individual shares with their photos.”
The shore of Lake Superior (Photo courtesy of Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Sheffer also noted that photos do not need to be taken this month in order to submit them to the photo contest. “If you have West Michigan photos from your past visits to the area, we encourage you to enter those as well! West Michigan is photogenic all seasons of the year, so don’t feel that you’re only limited to submitting summer photos.”
All photo entries must be received by July 28, 2021. Judges will be awarding prizes in the categories of “Nature,” “People,” and “Beach/Lake/Lighthouse,” with an additional prize awarded via public voting by WMTA’s Facebook audience. In addition to receiving a West Michigan prize pack, all winning photos will be featured in WMTA’s upcoming West Michigan Carefree Travel Guide, printed in January of 2022.
Photo submissions should include first & last name of photographer, city where the photograph was taken, and a short description of the photo.
The Great Lakes Surf Festival at Muskegon’s Pere Marquette Beach was a great success in 2018 and 2019, and then there was the pandemic year of 2020. But the organizers of the festival recently announced that they will be holding their third event on Saturday, Aug. 14.
And this year, event goers will be able to learn how to surf and paddleboard, along with practicing in yoga directly on the beach. Music, food, and a raffle will also take place. Several surfboards and paddleboards will be given away along with a surf trip to Costa Rica, according to the announcement.
“We are excited to see the Great Lakes Surf Festival grow and to have the support from our sponsors and from the surf and paddleboard industry,” event co-founder Joe Bidawid said in supplied material. “We have one of the most beautiful venue locations on the Great Lakes, in Pere Marquette Beach.”
And what if there is no waves? Tommy’s Boats of Grand Rapids Michigan will be making artificial waves — waist high waves to simulate ocean waves — wave conditions ideal for those seeking to learn a variety of boardsports.
“Imagine a late summer day on an amazing beach, doing what you love and surrounded by so many people from all over the Great Lakes, who share the same passion,” Bidawid said in supplied material. “That is our goal.”
This summer, both the Grand Rapids Public Museum and the Grand Rapids Art Museum explore America’s culture — from pop to folk — through different lenses.
Grand Rapids Public Museum: POPnology and Pollinators
The Grand Rapids Public Museum takes a futuristic approach to American culture with its “POPnology” summer exhibit along with giving visitors a ground view of the life of pollinators in “Amazing Pollinators.”
“This summer, you won’t want to miss these two exciting additions to the experience at the Grand Rapids Public Museum,” said Kate Kocienski, the Public Museum’s vice president of marketing and public relations. “Great for all ages, these exhibits will entertain while teaching about nature, science, technology and engineering.”
A featured item in the “POPnology” exhibit is the DeLorean time machine car from “Back to the Future.” (GRPM)
“POPnology” is three floors of exhibit space featuring the DeLorean time machine, androids, and extraterrestrials from far-away galaxies and more. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore and see how technology has been featured in movies, books, television, art, and created by futurists. Four featured areas explore science and technology in everyday lives, where we’ve been, and where we’re going: How We Play, How We Connect, How We Move, and How We Live and Work.
Among the highlights of the “POPnology exhibit are:
Local Motors showcasing the Strati, the world’s first 3D printed car
Two interactive state of the art game that allow you to explore our fascination with the red planet – the Mars Rocket Builder and Mars Lander
Virtual projection games
Futuristic musical instrument technology
Jetpack from Disney’s “The Rocketeer”
Autopia car from Disney World’s Tomorrowland
Artistic renderings from visual futurists who created the look of such movies as “Blade Runner,” “Star Wars,” “Alien”
Moving from futuristic to the real world, “Amazing Pollinators” is a bilingual and playable maze that has hundreds of interactive flowers spread across nine environments like lotus flowers in the rain forest, saguaro cactus in the desert, and moon flowers glowing in the black lit night room.
Visitors explore the “Amazing Pollinators” exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (GRPM)
In the maze, visitors take on 48 survival missions from eight different pollinator groups including bats, bees, beetles, birds, butterflies, moths, flies, and wasps. There are six missions for each group that increase in complexity and difficulty, putting players in the shoes of different species like the hibiscus bee, soldier beetle or ruby-throated hummingbird.
Both exhibits will be available through the summer season. Tickets for “POPnology” are $5/person and $3/GRPM member and are in addition to general admission to the Museum. “Amazing Pollinators” is included in the general admission. Kent County residents receive discounted admission to the Public Museum, including free general admission every day for Kent County kids ages 17 and under.
Advance ticket purchase is required before visiting the museum. Visitors are required to wear masks properly during the duration of their visit. For social distancing guidelines and other information, visit grpm.org.
Cotton, with pencil quilt by Jessie B. Telfair (1913–1986), 1983; Jessie B. Telfair, (1913–1986); Freedom Quilt; 1983; Textile; Quilt; Cotton, with pencil; 74 x 68; American Folk Art Museum; Parrott, Georgia, United States; 2004.9.1
Grand Rapids Art Museum: American Perspectives
More than 80 American folk art objects, spanning from paintings and pottery to quilts, needlework, and sculpture, are on display at the Grand Rapids Art Museum through Aug. 28.
“‘American Perspectives’ offers our visitors a chance to look at America through the eyes and experiences of folk artists,” said GRAM Director and CEO Dana Friis-Hansen. “The diversity of experience and perspective is what strengthens our community, and we look forward to sharing a platform for stories that have often been untold throughout history.”
“American Perspectives: Stories from the American Folk Art Museum Collection” is organized into four sections: Founders, Travelers, Philosophers, and Seekers. Within each of these sections are themes of nationhood, freedom, community, imagination, opportunity, and legacy.
Many of the works in the exhibit present the perspectives of groups that are largely unseen in museums, such as enslaved people, immigrants, and people with disabilities. It reinforces how many of our society’s current issues — immigration, political turmoil, economic uncertainty, and loss of personal liberties — have been a concern in the past and remain topics of significance today.
“‘American Perspectives’ include traditional art works like portraiture and landscape paint to more unexpected pieces like carousel figures, wood carvings, and dolls,” said GRAM Assistant Curator Jennifer Wcisel. “The craftsmanship and beauty of each work is remarkable, but what truly makes them come alive are the diverse stories behind them.
“From Felipe Archuleta who was unable to find work as a carpenter and began creating life-size animal sculptures to Jessie B. Telfair, a black cook in Georgia who created her ‘Freedom Quilt’ after being fired from her job when she tired to register to vote — I hope visitors will find stories that relate to their won lives and the social and political issues of the present.”
The exhibit is included with the general admission to the Grand Rapids Art Museum. For social distancing guidelines and other information, visit artmuseumgr.org.
As the summer heats up and people begin flocking to Great Lakes beaches, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources urges everyone to keep water and pier safety in mind.
Holding more than 20% of the world’s fresh water, the Great Lakes are large, powerful water systems. These lakes reign supreme for many during warmer months, but they also are prone to dangerous currents that can threaten even the most experienced swimmer. Adverse weather patterns can create dangerous rip and structural currents along piers and breakwalls, too. Crashing waves can create slippery surfaces and conditions strong enough to knock a person into the water.
“The DNR eagerly welcomes millions of visitors to Michigan state parks each summer,” said Sean Mulligan, Holland State Park manager. “Visitors should keep in mind that winds can come up quickly, changing conditions without warning, so always pay attention to the weather. The Great Lakes can become very dangerous, especially when waves get higher than 4 feet.”
Michigan has 20% of the world’s freest water. (Supplied)
Unfortunately, several emergencies and drownings have occurred along the beach and breakwall areas. Many of these incidents happened during red flag days when the wind and waves are strong with greater potential for dangerous rip currents.Of Michigan’s 100-plus state parks, 42 offer access to Great Lakes shoreline.
Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, said the increase in accidents and drownings on the Great Lakes in recent years is especially troubling and clear evidence that greater public awareness is needed. In particular, Grand Haven, Holland, Ludington and Mears state parks are situated in locations where rip currents tend to build and recurring safety hazards are present.
“When it comes to protecting Michigan residents and visitors on the water, especially the Great Lakes, we cannot talk enough about safety, preparation and vigilant awareness,” Olson said.
New safety measures at Holland State Park
Holland State Park, situated along Lake Michigan, is one of Michigan’s most-visited sites and provides the main access to a popular pier that is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. More recently, the DNR and the local community have collaborated on additional ways to alert visitors to changing Great Lakes and pier conditions.
This past fall, Holland State Park staff collaborated with Park Township and The King Company to fund the installation of a gate on the pier adjacent to Holland State Park. The goal is to help save lives by restricting access during harsh weather and to reduce the number of people jumping off the pier, while still allowing people to fish from the pier when feasible. Generally speaking, the gate will be closed during the winter, when the red flags are flying and during night hours when the park is closed.
In addition, an electronic messaging board conveying beach conditions is located where visitors enter Holland State Park, and a new public address system will be used to update beachgoers as the beach warning flags are changed in response to weather conditions. Visitors also can view live beach conditions at CityOfHolland.com/645/MIHollandCAM via livestream video courtesy of the City of Holland and Biggby Coffee. Conditions are posted on the park’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/HollandStateParkMi.
More recently, the DNR and the Holland community have collaborated on additional ways to alert visitors to changing Great Lakes and pier conditions. (Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
River outlets and breakwalls
Dangerous currents can occur near the outlets of rivers and breakwalls, especially during times that water levels are higher.
For example, the mouth of the Big Sable River is located in Ludington State Park, but outside the designated swim area. In the past, swimmers have been swept out into Lake Michigan. This park also has installed an electronic bulletin messaging board at the entrance to the designated beach area to help alert visitors of current conditions.
In addition, swimmers should be aware of particularly dangerous structural currents that form along shoreline structures near breakwalls, such as in Mears State Park.
“When northwest winds appear, water is pushed to the shore causing dangerous currents along the north side of the pier,” said Chris Bush, lead ranger at Mears State Park. “People are often surprised that structures located in the Great Lakes can cause such powerful, and sometimes dangerous, currents.”
Using state park designated swim areas on the Great Lakes
Many, but not all, state parks on the Great Lakes offer designated swimming areas that are identified by buoys or buoys and markers, a beach flag warning system and water depth less than 5 feet at the time of installation. Water depth will be inspected approximately every 14 days and underwater obstacles will be posted or marked. You may also find other designated swim areas in areas other than state parks.
Check the flag upon arrival and be sure to monitor it throughout the day because conditions can change rapidly.
Green flag = Go. Enter the water but stay aware of changing conditions.
Yellow flag = Caution. Watch for dangerous currents and high waves.
Red flag = Stop. Stay on the beach; do not enter the water and do not swim.
There are no beach guards at state parks , so please never swim alone and keep close watch of children. Stay within arm’s reach and make sure all kids wear life jackets.
If there is an emergency, immediately call 911. At Holland and Grand Haven state parks, use the nearest red zone number boards (located on the beach) to help relay your location as accurately as possible.
State park designated swim areas have lifesaving flotation device and equipment. Remember the safety equipment on the beach or pier is for emergency use only; using this equipment for anything else is against the law.
Keep these additional cautions in mind when enjoying time in and around the Great Lakes:
Currents near piers can be extremely hazardous. Pay attention to the buoys marking the designated swim areas; swimming outside of the marked swim zones can be dangerous and should be avoided.
During certain weather conditions, the force of water and waves crashing over the surface can easily wash someone off a structure; always monitor the beach flag warning system.
Before leaving home, learn about the types of Great Lakes currents and how to escape them.
Check local weather reports and lake conditions before and during your beach trip.
Nondesignated swim areas on the Great Lakes
Visitors in areas without designated swim beaches should use extreme caution because they will not have the benefit of the beach flag warning system or the visual cautions of buoys that mark water depth and other obstacles.
More smart safety water tips
When swimming or boating in any body of water – whether the Great Lakes, inland lakes or slow-moving rivers and streams – make safety your first priority. Never swim alone, always keep close watch of children and bring U.S. Coast-Guard-approved life jackets, especially for new and inexperienced swimmers.
When boating, have life jackets available for everyone on the vessel, leave a float plan with someone on shore, stay alert and carry a cell phone or marine radio. Such planning goes for those on personal watercraft like Jet Skis and paddle boards, too. Learn boating safety.
More info
Visit Michigan.gov/BeachSafety to learn about the beach flag warning system, how to escape rip currents and more.
Deborah Prato is the new CEO of The Rapid, the public transit system for the Grand Rapids metro area — a large area and an equally large transit system. But Prato, who took the position early this year, has leadership experience in what can only be described as huge transit systems, including New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority.
Prato recently visited the set of WKTV Journal In Focus to talk about what drew her to West Michigan, some of the similarities of services and differences of scale she now faces at The Rapid, and what the pubic needs to know about the present and future of the local transit system — including how articulated busses and motorized scooters can and should co-exist on the streets of Kent County.
“We are consistently reviewing, conducting analysis — what do we need, where do we need it, how do we serve the most?” Prato said. “I think it is not just mass transit, there is interest in a transportation network, and that includes personal mobility.”
Among the topics discussed in detail were how two of the special lines provided by The Rapid — the SilverLine and the Laker Line — are really cooperative ventures with The Rapid working with regional entities to satisfy specific transit needs while also working for the general public.
In addition, she discussed personal mobility and how — as pointed out on The Rapid’s website — “Beyond its fixed routes, The Rapid also operates demand response services for people with disabilities, and for those living outside the fixed-route service area.”
Deborah Prato, CEO of The Rapid, with host Ken Norris, in the WKTV studios. (WKTV)
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
While dinning at a restaurant called The Whitney in Detroit, Beverlee Rydel took a photo that remains unexplained. The paranormal possibilities of this photo fueled a passion that lead to a 12-year crusade, often traveling tens of thousands of miles per year across Michigan to research paranormal activity. Rydel and her sister Kathleen Tedsen shared the adventure as they bravely ventured into a world of the unknown.
This paranormal pilgrimage and their tedious historical research culminated in Rydel and Tedsen becoming the award winning authors of “Haunted Travels of Michigan.” This three book series is a unique book and website interactive experience. Each story has its own “Secret Room” offering audio, video, and behind the scene colored photos online, where evidence can be reviewed. Rydel and Tedsen included several of Michigan’s top paranormal investigating teams at many of the haunted locations. Their common goal was to separate fact from fiction when it comes to ghost stories, urban legends, folklore, and myth.
Beverlee Rydel
Honorably, if the authors were investigating a location and “no ghostly activity was identified,” they made it clear, “didn’t turn up any paranormal evidence,” and were not afraid to say “no ghosts” here at this time. Hunting ghosts can be a hazardous hobby with inherent risks and real dangers and is not recommended for amateurs. The serious side of the supernatural is explored as Rydell and Tedsen detail accounts of demons and deliverance. Deliverance is needed when obsession nears possession and can be defined as an exorcism.
Rydel and Tedsen followed their highly successful “Haunted Travels of Michigan” book series with their final book, a collaboration titled “Stepping Into Darkness.” Gone but never to be forgotten, Rydel passed away before the book was completed. Tedsen completed the project with chapter one covering Eloise Psychiatric Hospital, considered to be one of Michigan’s top ten most haunted sites. The author’s special connection introduces the reader to “Mark” a patient at the hospital. The personal insights are astonishingly detailed and descriptive.
Kathleen Tedsen
Another chapter is titled, “Lost Boy of Mackinac Island.” In this story the sisters put together clues from the previous year and are able to encourage the spirit of a young boy to cross over to the other side. Channeling peace to the living and the dead is the ultimate goal of ghost hunters. According to Rydel and Tedsen, “Something does exist out there…Something that can’t be explained…Something paranormal.”
Disclaimer: Since my last article on Mackinac Island, I interviewed Todd Clements and he no longer supports the details of “The Drowning Pool” story.
NASA’s Mark Vande Hei and Roscosmos’ Oleg Novitskyand Pyotr Dubrov head off to the International Space Station. (NASA)
By Kelly Taylor WKTV Program Director
On Friday, April 9, WKTV will be featuring live coverage of the launch of the International Space Station Expedition 65 Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft. Coverage starts at 2:45 a.m., with the launch scheduled for 3:42 a.m. The coverage includes video b-roll of the crew’s launch day pre-launch activities.
NASA’s Mark Vande Hei and Roscosmos’ Oleg Novitskyand Pyotr Dubrov head off to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The docking of the Expedition 65 Soyuz MS-18 will take place at 6:15 a.m. and the hatch opening at 8:30 a.m.
At 1 p.m., NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter prepares for takeoff. For it’s first flight, the helicopter will take off a few feet from the ground, hover in the air for about 20-30 seconds and land.
This will be a major milestone as it is the very first powered flight in the extremely thin atmosphere of Mars.
For more information on NASA TV or the International Space Station, log on to www.nasa.gov.
NASA TV can be seen on the WKTV 26 Government Channel on Comcast and AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99.
NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter will take it first flight on Mars on Friday. (NASA)
Kentwood’s 32nd Street between Breton and Shaffer avenues will be closed for a week starting today, March 8.
The City of Kentwoodannounced today that starting Monday, March 8, 32nd Street between Breton Avenue and Shaffer Avenue in Kentwood will be closed all week for tree clearing to prepare for the reconstruction of 32nd Street.
The road is expected to reopen on the evening of Friday, March 12. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and seek an alternate route or follow the posted detour.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Conner D. Blake)
(Do you have a photo of a Kentwood or Wyoming native serving in the military? WKTV journal would love to get the photo and a brief description. Send it to ken@WKTV.org)
In this photo supplied by the U.S. Navy Office of Community Outreach, Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Zachary Coleman, originally from Wyoming, Mich., signals to the fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194) from the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during a replenishment-at-sea on Jan. 22.
The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in the Pacific Ocean.
As the U.S. Navy’s largest forward deployed fleet, with its approximate 50-70 ships and submarines, 140 aircraft, and 20,000 Sailors in the area of operations at any given time, 7th Fleet conducts forward-deployed naval operations in support of U.S. national interests throughout a free and open Indo-Pacific area of operations to foster maritime security, promote stability, and prevent conflict alongside 35 other maritime nations and partners, according to the U.S. Navy Office of Community Outreach.
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy, according to the U.S. Navy Office of Community Outreach.
The Gilmore Car Museum is offering families a day full of outdoor winter fun — with attractions ranging from vintage snowmobiles to ice carving — at its all-new Winter Motoring Meet, set for Saturday, Feb. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
With the standard daily admission, guests will have full access to both outdoor activities and to the indoor car collection of over 400 vehicles. The Winter Motoring Meet will include “open-aired” scenic “sleigh” rides around the campus using several of the museum’s antique cars — including comfy seats in the bed of a Classic Ford Model AA pickup truck.
The event is “a fun way for us to get outside and enjoy the winter season, in an outdoor environment with plenty of room for everyone to remain socially distanced,” Josh Russell, executive director of the Gilmore Car Museum, said in supplied material.
Rides will be one guest/family/group per ride. Masks will be required and vehicle seating will be sanitized between each ride. All museum visitors ages 5 and over are required to wear face masks. All COVID-19 health procedures apply.
The Gilmore Car Museum is located at 6865 W Hickory Rd, Hickory Corners (north of Kalamazoo). For more information, visit GilmoreCarMuseum.org. Standard admission at the Gilmore Car Museum is $16 for adults and seniors, $11 for age 11-14, free for Children 10 and under — and free for active military.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) notified the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) over the weekend that the COVID-19 variant known as SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 — originally identified in the United Kingdom (U.K.) — has been confirmed in an unidentified Kent County resident.
According to a KCHD statement on Feb. 7, the variant “is concerning because it is associated with increased transmissibility.”
Compared to the original virus, the B.1.1.7 variant is approximately 50 percent more transmissible, leading to faster spread of the virus and potentially increasing numbers of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, according to the KCHD statement.
“Fundamentally this is a race for the coverage of our population; a race that pits vaccination efforts against the transmission of infections,” Dr. Adam London, KCHD director, said in supplied material. “While we work to minimize the impact of COVID-19 infections, the B.1.1.7 variant is giving the virus increased velocity.”
The presence of the quick spreading variant in Kent County illustrates the importance of preventing the spreading COVID-19, according to the county, with proper mask usage, social distancing and practicing good hand hygiene continuing to be the most effective measures in combating the spread of the disease.
The KCHD is also encouraging residents to limit their interactions with people who live outside of their own households.
The KCHD is encouraging testing of individuals who have traveled out of Michigan in last 14 days, especially to areas in which the new variants are widely circulating.
The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant is thought to have emerged in the United Kingdom and has since been detected in many countries and states. The MDHHS has identified 30 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant in Michigan.
While most of these cases have been found in the southeast portion of the state, the recent confirmation of a case in Kalamazoo and now in Kent counties illustrates the “fast-moving nature of the variant,” according to the KCHD statement.
The Kent County Health Department and area hospitals, in a joint statement released today, Dec. 14, continue to urge residents to stay home for the upcoming December holidays. As of Dec. 14, Kent County has surpassed 35,800 total cases with a 14.7 percent positivity rate in the last seven days.
“We are making progress, but need to work together to continue to reduce the positivity rate and to reduce the spread and the strain on our hospitals and health care workers,” Darryl Elmouchi, MD, president of Spectrum Health West Michigan, said in supplied material. “We will continue to move this in the right direction by not traveling or gathering with people outside our immediate family.”
While it may be difficult to miss traditional holiday celebrations, the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) statement stressed “the importance of staying home and avoiding any kind of travel and group gatherings in order to avoid an even more devastating spike after the new year.”
The local “I love you so” holiday advertising campaign, which the health department and hospital partners launched in November, will extend to encompass all holidays through the end of the year.
The message builds on the sentiment, “I love you SO I’m staying home,” acknowledging the desire to be with loved ones over the holidays but also to protect them from the spread of the coronavirus.
Kent County is seeing more than 500 new coronavirus cases each day, according to the statement, and “the volume of cases has put a significant strain on local hospitals and frontline healthcare providers, and it has made it impossible for public health investigators and contact tracers to effectively do their jobs.”
With the contract tracing system under strain, the risk of community spread is increased because some people may not know they need to quarantine.
“Residents helped a lot by celebrating Thanksgiving with only people inside of their immediate households,” Hyung Kim, MD, president of Mercy Health Saint Mary’s said in supplied material. “Since infection rates, hospitalizations and mortality are still high, I hope people will stay strong in the upcoming holidays and avoid gathering with people outside their immediate households. We are far from being in the clear from COVID.”
The City of Kentwood announced July 1 that beginning Tuesday, July 7, Breton Avenue will be closed for at least two days between 29th and 32nd streets while CSX Railroad repairs a railroad crossing.
Drivers are asked to plan ahead as the work will require a full closure with a posted detour from 29th Street to Shaffer Avenue to 32nd Street and back, according to the city’s statement.
Due to the deterioration of the crossing, CSX will be replacing the entire concrete crossing, ties and repaving the asphalt at that intersection.
The work is expected to be completed within two days with the road reopening on the evening of Thursday, July 9, but a third day of work may be necessary for unforeseen circumstances, according to the city.
Whether your family’s travel plans include some fun in the sun, makin’ a splash or skiing the slopes, nothing puts the damper on a vacation faster than illness or injury.
There are several things you can do before, during and after your travels to make your experience a memorable one. For all the right reasons.
1. Think like a Boy Scout
Travel itself is stressful. And breaks can be a particularly crazy and frustrating time, especially if you’re traveling with kids.
“The most important advice I give to my patients is be prepared. That, and remember to pack your common sense,” said Philip Henderson, MD, division chief, internal medicine and pediatrics, Spectrum Health Medical Group. “People on vacation tend to do things they’d never do at home, which can lead to trouble. You’ll be able to deal with the unexpected and avoid a lot of stress by being well-prepared and using your head.”
2. Give yourself a boost
A healthy immune system before you leave can lessen the chance of downtime due to illness on your vacation and when you get back home. So, before you even think about what to pack, give your immune system a boost: get plenty of rest, eat right and stick to your normal exercise routine.
Make sure you and your kids are up to date on all your vaccinations, including your flu shot, Dr. Henderson said. Take this quiz to find out which vaccines you or your children age 11 years and older may need, and be sure to get them a couple weeks before you travel.
Pack enough of your prescription medications in your carry-on luggage to last the entire trip—and a little extra in case your return trip is delayed. Bring a list of the brand and generic names of all your medications, including the dosage and frequency, in case you need to get a refill during your trip.
Bring both your standard, everyday medications, as well as any emergency medications you might need. This may include an EpiPen if you have a severe allergy or an inhaler if you’re prone to asthma attacks.
Take a basic medical kit with you. Dr. Henderson suggested:
Band-Aids
Antibiotic ointment
Aspirin or Tylenol
Aloe gel (for sunburn)
Antacids such as Tums (for upset stomach)
Pepto-Bismol tablets (for traveler’s diarrhea)
“Be sure you get the real Pepto-Bismol,” Dr. Henderson said. “Look for bismuth subsalicylate as the key ingredient for it to really work.”
If you take certain medications, or have chronic health conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy, carry an alert notification or identification card with you.
“This is especially important for people who take a blood thinner,” Dr. Henderson said. “If you’re in an accident or are unconscious, emergency medical personnel need to be aware in order to properly treat you.”
4. Going airborne
Given the lengthy time spent in crowded planes, air travelers are often concerned about catching an illness from other passengers. In addition to what’s floating around in the air, studies have shown that illness-causing bacteria can survive on surfaces inside airplanes for days or even up to a week.
So how can you stay safe and healthy on the airplane?
Clean your hands thoroughly and often. Travel with a small bottle of hand sanitizer. Use it once you are settled in your seat and again after you depart the plane.
Cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or tissue if someone near you sneezes or coughs in your direction. Discard used tissues right away and then wash your hands.
Bring your own pillow and blanket instead of using those handed out by the airline.
Drink lots of water and nonalcoholic, decaffeinated beverages to stay hydrated. The air in airplanes is dry so it’s easy to become dehydrated.
Stretch your legs. Even healthy people can get blood clots in their legs after long flights. When allowed, walk up and down the aisles and stretch your calf muscles while you’re sitting.
Remember, the risk of infection doesn’t end when you get off the airplane.
Cruise ships and busy resorts can also expose you to some nasty infections. Norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea, is known to plague these vacation escapes.
Scrupulous hygiene is the key to avoiding these highly contagious bugs. Wash your hands after every trip to the bathroom and before every meal. Soap and water is best, or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
5. Avoid traveler’s stomach
Changes in diet can wreak havoc on your digestive system. While a slice of pizza or a burger might be tempting while waiting for your flight, eat a salad or something rich in fiber to avoid stomach problems later.
Once you arrive, try to eat as much like your normal diet as possible. Go ahead and have some treats. It’s your vacation, after all. But make sure the majority of your meals contain vegetables, fruit, lean protein and whole grains. Drink plenty of water, too.
If you know you have a sensitive stomach, take one Pepto-Bismol tablet each day to prevent traveler’s diarrhea, Dr. Henderson suggested.
And a final word of caution on food safety: If food left out on a buffet table looks wilted or dry around the edges, it’s probably best to stay away.
6. Drink up
Water, water, water. Staying well hydrated is important.
“People don’t realize how much water they lose when they sweat,” Dr. Henderson said. “And when your body is dehydrated, you feel lousy. Dehydration affects your metabolism, your circulation, and causes headaches and dizziness.”
One way to tell if you’re drinking enough water is to look at your urine. If you’re going at least four times a day and it’s relatively clear in color, you’re in the clear. If it’s dark in color, you’re dehydrated and need to drink more water.
If drinking alcohol is part of your break, remember that it can impair your judgment and actions.
Binge drinking, in particular, can be a problem on vacation. It’s the most common pattern of excessive alcohol use, defined for men as consuming five or more drinks, and women consuming four or more drinks, in about two hours.
7. Beware the buzz
Educate yourself about the local bugs and reptiles, especially if you’re traveling off the beaten path, Dr. Henderson said. Know which are poisonous and which are not.
Mosquitoes carrying dengue fever, Zika virus and chikungunya virus, once found only in Africa and Asia, have been found in Florida, Hawaii, the Caribbean, South America and Central America.
To avoid bites, stay inside or in screened-in areas or cover up during peak mosquito hours–sunrise and sunset, and in early evening. Also avoid tight clothes, dark colors and perfume. Natural repellents with 20 percent picaridin, or deet-based products with 30 percent deet or less, also work well.
“Decisions about pregnancy planning are personal,” Dr. Romero said, suggesting that those who are considering becoming pregnant use condoms and put off conception for up to six months after returning from a visit to a Zika-confirmed area. “We recommend talking with your health care provider if you’re not yet pregnant, but thinking about having a baby in the near future.”
8. Soak it up. Safely.
It’s tempting to soak up the rays by staying in the hot sun all day. Although getting a little sun can have some health benefits (think vitamin D boost), the sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes.
“Terrible sunburns are by far the most common thing we see in people returning from vacations,” Dr. Henderson said. “Be sure to apply sunscreen to the top of your feet. That’s one spot where we see the worst burns. The other is on the top of the head for men who are bald or have thinning hair.”
This also applies to those enjoying ski trips—that powdery white snow reflects the sun’s rays and can burn you to a crisp if you aren’t careful.
Always practice sun safety: wear a hat, protect your eyes with wraparound sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection, and for sunscreen, use one with a SPF double what you’d normally use at home, said Dr. Henderson.
9. Home sweet home
Once you’re home, pay attention to how you feel. While it’s normal to feel a little rough around the edges after traveling for a day or two, if you feel worse each day rather than better, see your doctor.
Excessive foot pronation increases the stress at the knee and hip joints, which can create problems in the foot, ankle, knee, hip and lower back. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
When packing for your summer vacation, be sure to include the right footwear, a podiatrist advises.
“The type of vacation you go on will determine the type of shoe you need,” Dr. Ronald Lepow, an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine’s department of orthopedic surgery, in Houston, said in a school news release.
If you’ll be doing a lot of walking, wear shoes with good support and consider where you’ll be going. For example, if you’ll be strolling on uneven cobblestones, the flexibility of your shoes will be more important than if you’re visiting a location with smooth, level walkways.
If you’re going to the beach, bring flip-flops or clogs, Lepow said. Don’t walk barefoot on hot sand because doing so can cause blisters. Be sure to put sunscreen on your feet, he added.
Athletic shoes can be a good choice for evening walks along the beach, and water shoes can help prevent injuries from stepping on objects or uneven surfaces under the water.
If available, use foot showers to wash off any potential contaminants from your feet, Lepow advised.
At pools, wear shoes or flip-flops when not swimming to protect yourself from athlete’s foot, nail fungus and warts, he said.
And if you’re going hiking, you should wear hiking boots. They are well-insulated and provide good heel, arch and ankle support.
Finally, if you buy new shoes, be sure to break them in a couple of weeks before your trip. Walk around the house in them, bend them and use shoe inserts to stretch them, Lepow suggested.
A Michigan Department of Transportation project has begun that will reduce 44th Street to one-lane traffic each way between Breton Avenue and Shaffer Avenue until late July.
The $1,553,000 project, according to the City of Kentwood Public Works Department webpage, is scheduled to last from mid-April to late July.
The beginning of roadwork in early April on 44th Street in the City of Kentwood, headed west just before Shaffer Avenue. (WKTV)
The scope of work includes replacing the top four inches of asphalt on 44th Street from Breton to Shaffer, and replacing the intersection of Shaffer with full depth concrete, according to information provided to WKTV. Traffic will be maintained with a single lane in each direction throughout the project.
A construction notice was mailed to all residents that live adjacent to that section of 44th Street.
“My mother is an incredibly beautiful woman who has laughed at every single thing my father’s ever said. At a young age, my brother and I understood that if you can make girls laugh, you can punch well above your weight class.”
Seth Meyers (From whom we stole the headline!)
Love in the time of coronavirus
April is a big time for weddings and like many couples, Melanie Bork and Bradley Wernette were looking forward to their special day on April 17 in Petoskey, Mich. However, one uninvited guest — COVID-19 — crashed the party before it could even get started. Go here for the story.
Boardman Brown, on stage at a July 2019 Wyoming Concerts in the Park. (WKTV)
A summer concert, from your ‘stay at home’ couch
The members of Boardman Brown, a West Michigan band that lit a little musical bonfire at a Wyoming Concerts in the Park summer series gig last summer, are working their way through the COVID-19 restrictions just like everyone else — at home. Go here for the story/videos/on-demand concert.
A virtual walk in Australia’s Outback
The most iconic element of Australia’s Red Center, Uluru is sacred to the indigenous Anangu, who finally succeeded in having hiking banned on the rock late last year. But even walking around the perimeter (which is still allowed) is a staggering experience—particularly at sunrise or sunset, when the rock takes on a preternatural glow. Go here for a virtual tour video.
Fun fact:
883
… and each with at least one bad joke!
The current total number of Saturday Night Live eposides. Trivia bonus fact: On the very first episode of SNL, host George Carlin comes down from the balcony and discusses the differences between football and baseball, using the language associated with each sport. See Carlin’s monologue here.
Dr. Adam London, Administrative Health Officer for Kent County, right, and Brian Hartl, county epidemiologist. (Supplied/Kent County)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
There is a lot of information flying around the internet and the airwaves — if not in your household — about the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus), so the Kent County Health Department, led by Dr. Adam London, Administrative Health Officer for the county, continues to offer videos with up-to-date information.
In today’s video — travel. London and Brian Hartl, county epidemiologist, discuss what you need to know and how COVID-19 may impact your travel plans. To view the latest video, visit here.
For complete information from the Kent County Health Department on the local news dealing with the COVID 19 virus, and to view all the videos visit here.
According to the health department, public information will be distributed “as the situation warrants it.”
According to the county, here are some basic facts:
COVID-19 is caused by a new respiratory virus. In December 2019, the virus began circulating in humans. Health experts are concerned because little is known about this new virus and it has the potential to cause severe illness and pneumonia.
State level information is updated daily at Michigan.gov/coronavirus. Also available are the total number of people who may have been exposed to the virus who are referred to local public health for monitoring or assessment.
Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus, and they include: fever, cough and shortness of breath Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death.
Health experts are still learning about how this new coronavirus spreads. Other coronaviruses spread from an infected person to others through the air by coughing and sneezing; close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands; touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
The same steps you would take to prevent spread of flu and the common cold twill also help prevent coronavirus disease, including: wash your hands with soap and water, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing, avoid contact with people who are sick, and stay home if you are sick and contact your healthcare provider.
