Cross Creek eighth-grader Audrey Wieringa finished as a runner-up in the Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State art contest. (Photo Courtesy of National Heritage Academy)
Artistic talent runs strong in the Wieringa family, so when approached about the opportunity to enter a state-wide contest, Audrey was up for the challenge.
“My mom heard of the contest on the news,” Audrey said. “She suggested I should enter. I thought it would be fun to try something different.”
Wieringa’s mother, Nicole, is the K-8 art teacher at Cross Creek, and her father, Eric, is a full-time artist. She draws inspiration from both.
“It’s pretty cool (to have mom as an art teacher) but she can’t take all the credit, my dad is a professional fine artist,” Audrey said. “He teaches me a lot of techniques and advice on how to get better.”
The art contest challenged K-12 students across Michigan to come up with a creative design for the 2022 State of the State program cover following the theme “Why do you believe in Michigan?” Students were encouraged to be as creative as possible and were welcome to use crayons, markers, paint, or any other materials. Gov. Whitmer announced the results of the contest by video Jan. 18.
“Michigan is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth, but it’s also home to some incredibly talented students who turned those backdrops into amazing works of art,” Gov. Whitmer said. “I want to thank every student who took the time to create these masterpieces and submit their interpretation of why they believe in Michigan. It’s inspiring to see the passion and potential in all of the gifted and creative students in this state.”
As the governor sorted through the top five selections, she stopped to praise Audrey’s work.
“Oh my gosh, this is so beautiful, it’s got to be in the Upper Peninsula, it’s just gorgeous,” she said. “This is really spectacular.”
Audrey said Pictured Rocks holds a special place in her heart.
“My family visited there for the first time two summers ago,” she said. “I found the landscape to be a spiritual and peaceful experience. It has a lot of different elements in one site and brings together several elements that you can draw.”
Seventh-grader Grace Murtha of Hemlock Middle School was selected as winner by the governor for her piece depicting multiple postcard-like images on a tree trunk-like background. Nearly 800 students submitted their artwork for the contest. The winning art piece will be featured on the 2022 State of the State program cover.
About Cross Creek Charter Academy Cross Creek Charter Academy, located in Byron Center, Mich., is part ofNational Heritage Academies (NHA), a charter school management company in Grand Rapids, Mich. with 98 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 60,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
West Michigan has a thriving agricultural economy with miles of apples and other crops that often need to be picked by hand each fall. Thousands of migrant workers travel to Michigan each year to harvest these crops for local farmers and growers, filling approximately 100 migrant camps to capacity in Kent County.
With that influx of workers and nomad-style workforce, issues can and often do occur — not the least of which was dealing with the recent and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Local non-profit Migrant Legal Aid has been an advocate for those workers, their health and their rights, for many years, and they continued to do so in 2021.
MLA defines a migrant worker as a person who lives and works at the same place and travels seasonally according to which crops are in season. Due to poverty, language barriers, and discrimination, seasonal workers often find it hard to protect their basic human rights and dignity. This is where Migrant Legal Aid say they step in.
Many migrant workers come from such severe poverty that when they are treated unfairly, most don’t speak up, Molly Spaak, attorney for MLA, said to WKTV. “Culturally, they say they can’t complain. They don’t realize they have a voice … There is also a definite fear of deportation if they come forward.”
Problems and solutions
Undocumented workers make up approximately 50 percent of the agricultural work force. Because of this, there is anxiety among the workers that deportation would occur if they come forward when treated unfairly. A way to eliminate this apprehension is found in case law.
Farm workers at a local growing location from fall 2021. (Migrant Legal Aid)
“MLA has good case law that protects undocumented folks from irrelevant immigration questions and retaliation in the workplace,” Spaak said. “This helps them feel more comfortable coming forward with their concerns.”
Young children have often been found in the fields with their parents, helping to harvest the crops so their parents meet the daily quota mandated by the growers.
“Child labor laws absolutely apply to migrant workers and their families,” said Spaak when asked if Michigan law extended to seasonal workers. “There are now migrant daycares and Head Start programs parents can utilize. These are free to the families. Because of this, there has been a drastic decrease of children in the fields.”
Migrant Legal Aid also provides help for those suffering from domestic violence.
“The Hispanic community is very patriarchal,” said Spaak. “Because of this, DV (domestic violence) cases are always popular.”
MLA offers special visas for victims who come forward. These visas help in many ways, providing social security numbers to the victims so they have the opportunity for steady work among them.
“This gives women and men more justification and incentive to come forward,” Spaak said.
Communication, community awareness
Educating the migrant workers on their rights and the services Migrant Legal Aid offers is a daunting yet necessary task. MLA produces many social media campaigns, newsletters to the community, and press releases to the media in an effort to raise awareness.
However, there are still challenges.
Farm workers at a local growing location from fall 2021. (Migrant Legal Aid)
“Social media helps build community awareness, but not our clients’ awareness because our clients don’t always have access to social media like the general population,” said Spaak.
To develop this knowledge, MLA sends migrant advocates into camps two to three times a week during the summer and fall to pass out Migrant Legal Aid information and speak with the workers personally.
Over the past year, advocates also handed out information on COVID-19.
“Migrant housing is jam-packed with people with one kitchen and one shower—it’s impossible to social distance,” said Spaak. “New COVID-19 regulations are not always followed, and the migrant camps were a hot bed for Coronavirus. Even when the vaccines rolled out, myths about the vaccine stopped a lot of people from getting it because they were worried about what it might do to them. We had to dispel those myths.”
Though MLA does have cases of mistreatment that require court appearances, Spaak said that many issues “can be resolved extremely quickly by speaking with the growers. A lot if it is communication and language issues with the workers.”
Migrant Legal Aid works hard to educate the community about migrant workers’ needs and situations but still needs help from the public. Being a self-funded organization, MLA relies on grants, private party donations, and fundraisers to subsidize their work. Two of their largest fundraisers are annual events — Cup of Justice, a golf outing in the spring, and Harvest of Justice, a luncheon in the fall.
While seeing so many cases of injustice against migrant workers is emotionally hard on the MLA attorneys and advocates, personal migrant success stories give them hope.
“Rene Rodriguez was a migrant worker from several years ago. His parents emigrated to the United States and were a farm worker family,” said Spaak.
Rodriguez went to school, worked hard, and became a professional website designer and marketing designer.
“We (MLA) bought several photographs from him that are now hanging in this office,” Spaak said of Rodriguez. “Rene also helps us with marketing, brochures, and photos.”
To find out more about Migrant Legal Aid and how you can help MLA protect migrant workers’ legal rights, visit here.
Farm workers at a local growing location from fall 2021. (Migrant Legal Aid)
Booklovers, and those with lovers of books on their last-minute shopping list, are in for a treat as several new releases from well-known authors, as well as debut writers, are available just in time for the holidays.
And how better to get that last gift than by buying local, or making a holiday roadtrip out of it?
“There are a ton of really solid, interesting books by well-known authors, as well as those who haven’t written before,” said Tim Smith, Operations Manager for Schuler Books.
Schuler Books on 28th Avenue is a big bookstore with a small bookstore feel. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Founded in 1982 by Bill and Cecile Fehsenfeld, Schuler Books includes locations in both Grand Rapids and Okemos. The Grand Rapids location on 28th Street “offers a wide array of new and used books for adults and children, an extensive selection of book-themed gifts, and a café where shoppers can enjoy coffee and a bite to eat,” they say. And a “friendly, helpful staff contribute to the welcoming feel shoppers experience.”
And if you’re really into last minute Christmas shopping, Schuler Books invites all ages to come and enjoy the live reindeer that will be outside the store Christmas Eve.
Adding to the inviting atmosphere is the knowledge that the staff at Schuler Books have personally hand-picked each book lining the shelves.
“We have a team of buyers that meet with publishing reps (representatives),” Smith said, “and over time have curated our stock. There are core items, of course, but also items specific to each store and its location.”
Changes in readers’ tastes
Schuler’s Smith also mentioned a shift in what buyers are looking for in reading material.
“Over the past couple of years, but especially this year, it has been different because people are looking for books connected to particular current events that people are trying to understand,” said Smith. “People see the world is changing, that there are large changes happening, and people are looking to books to understand these things.”
Popular titles at Schuler Books this holiday season substantiate Smith’s observation, with several books addressing current topics prevalent in society today:
“Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem” by Amanda Gorman. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
“How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America” by Clint Smith speaks to racial understanding.
“Firekeeper’s Daughter” by Michigan author Angeline Boulley concentrates on the indigenous community.
“Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem” by Amanda Gorman incorporates a call to action for people of all ages to use their abilities to make a difference.
Other popular titles offer inspiration, humor, and a connection with nature:
“Taste: My Life Through Food” by Stanley Tucci; “The Impossible Mile: The Power in Living Life One Step at a Time” by Johnny Agar; “All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings” by Gayle Boss; “Where the Deer and the Antelope Play” by Nick Offerman; “A Carnival of Snackery” by David Sedaris; “Get Untamed” by Glennon Doyle, a companion journal to Doyle’s 2020 release, “Untamed”; “The Sentence” by Louise Erdrich.
Maybe make a day-trip shopping
If you like to do a little strolling around a small-town downtown with plenty of shopping, epilogue books, founded in July 2018 by Pat and Valerie Burkholder, is celebrating their fourth holiday season in Rockford.
Some of the staff picks at epilogue books in Rockford. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Tucked into a strip of stores just off East Bridge Street, epilogue books features a comprehensive selection of new books for readers of all ages, including several by Michigan authors.
“We try to support local Michigan authors and artists,” said Cindy Coats, bookseller at epilogue books.
Coats also said that the staff at epilogue books hand-picks each book that is placed on the shelves.
“We look at what books are projected to be top-sellers,” said Coats said, “as well as what people are asking for.”
And the staff also looks at trends: “People come in asking for books that are being made into movies, like ‘Dune’ (Frank Herbert) and ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ (Liane Moriarty),” said Coats.
Biographies and autobiographies have also proven to be a rising trend.
“People have been out of work, or not in their normal realm of work, for a year and a half and used that time to write their stories,” Coats said. “(Readers) like hearing where people came from, and especially about overcoming adversity.”
Several new releases on epilogue’s shelves cater to this topic, including “Will” by Will Smith, and “The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music” by Dave Grohl.
Pick one; all are worth reading. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
“Atlas of the Heart” by Brené Brown, a self-help book that focuses on how to develop meaningful connections with the people in our lives, is another popular title this holiday season.
Cookbooks are also a top seller this year. “Lots of celebrities are now writing cookbooks,” said Coats. “Pop culture is really interjecting into food.”
The bookseller pointed to “An Unapologetic Cookbook,” written by TikTok sensation Joshua Weissman. “We can’t keep these on the shelf,” Coats said with a laugh.
Other popular titles offered by epilogue books include: “Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone” (Outlander Series, Book 9) by Diana Gabaldon; “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides; “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid; “Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives” by Dav Pilkey.
A new reproduction of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” by J.K. Rowling is also dazzling shoppers with its full color illustrations and eight interactive paper craft elements.
“They are stunning,” said Coats, touching the cover as she passed by.
And say ‘“Hi” to Tommy
epilogue books’ Tommy the Bookstore Dog. (WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Visitors to epilogue books will most likely be welcomed by the store’s most popular member, Tommy the Bookstore Dog, a mild-mannered golden retriever who loves to interact with customers.
“People come in just to see Tommy,” said Coats. “One woman drove all the way from Lansing after seeing him on a TikTok video, just to meet him.”
And after the holidays, an upcoming event that booklovers will want to mark on their calendars is a book signing with ABC’s chief meteorologist, Ginger Zee, featuring her upcoming release, “A Little Closer to Home.” A Rockford native, Zee will be at epilogue books Jan. 15 to meet fans and sign books.
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.
WKTV has been informed by the City of Wyoming that the planned Wyoming Gives Back event planned for next week has been cancelled due to health concerns for public gatherings.
This follows an announcement this week that the Kent County Health Department is alarmed by the rising COVID-19 cases which have led to local hospitals operating at “extremely high capacity.”
The health department is also encouraging residents to “do their part” and get vaccinated and take other measures to slow the spread of the virus. Among the statistics which have alarmed health leaders are current test positivity rate of 22.8 percent, as of early this week, as ell as a 7-day average for new cases is 645.
“This is a crisis for all of us who live and work in Kent County,” Dr. Adam London, KCHD Director, said in supplied material. “The capacity for hospitals to provide care, which is exasperated by staffing shortages, is at a tipping point. We should all expect increased wait times for emergency, urgent, and primary care as well as delays in ambulance transfers and some surgical procedures until we control the spread of COVID-19 in the community.”
Among the recommendations issued by county health officials are:
Get vaccinated against COVID-19 and Influenza. “Vaccines are widely available, safe, and effective. According to our local hospital leaders, most of the individuals who are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated,” according to the county health. “If more people get vaccinated, it will greatly help reduce the number of COVID-19 patients in our hospitals. We also strongly urge residents to get the influenza vaccine. If you have questions about the vaccines, talk to your health care provider and visit vaccinatewestmi.com to find a location for a COVID-19, booster, or influenza vaccine location.”
Wear your mask in public settings. “While masks are not perfect, they provide an additional layer of protection by reducing the spread of virus laden droplets in exhaled air. Masks are especially important for people who are not vaccinated, not fully vaccinated, may be infected and do not have symptoms, or have health conditions that make them more vulnerable to becoming sick if they are infected with COVID-19.”
Get tested. “To help mitigate the spread of the virus,” it is important to get tested if you have been around someone who has COVID-19, experiencing any symptom of COVID-19, before attending indoor gatherings with people above the age of 65 or with underlying health conditions, or if you have been around someone with COVID-19, get tested five days after exposure.
“I am thankful to everyone who has been following our recommendations since the onset of the pandemic,” London said this Thanksgiving week. “The current problems would be far worse if not for your actions. We are now asking for your consideration once again as we look to slow the spread of the virus, regain access to our hospitals, and continue to work to get this pandemic behind us.”
Kent County’s efforts to assist Afghan refugees being resettled in West Michigan gained a boost as the Kent County Board of Commissioners, at a Nov. 18 meeting, approved two grants to meet the health and nutritional needs of newly arriving Afghan refugees.
One grant is a $333,000 Refugee Resettlement Food Assistant Grant from the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services which will be managed by Kent County Community Action (KCCA), according to an announcement from the county.
The second is a $180,000 Refugee Screening Grant from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity which will be administered by the Kent County Health Department (KCHD).
The health department will screen newly arriving refugees for contagious disease, review and document medical history, administer vaccinations, and provide referrals for primary care physicians, according to the announcement.
“Kent County is expecting more than 350 refugees from Afghanistan and the responsibility to provide health screenings and immunizations for these new residents falls on local public health,” KCHD Public Health Division Director Joann Hoganson said in supplied material. “These funds will allow us to provide screenings and other support services to the Afghan refugees and assist them in their transition to a new life in the United States.”
The KCHD will also provide health education services that include an introduction to the U.S. health care system along with information about nutritional healthy living and Medicaid health insurance coverage.
Kent County Community Action has been providing meal assistance to local Afghan refugees. (Supplied/Kent County)
The food assistant grant will assist KCCA in its temporary meal and housing assistance to refugees.
“I am glad that KCCA can help during this time of need,” KCCA Program Manager Rachel Kunnath said in supplied material. “I cannot imagine what these families have been through over the past few months, and it is my hope that these meals are a little taste of home that brings them comfort.”
Local resettlement agencies determine the needs of each family as meals are provided to those in temporary living quarters until permanent housing is established. To date, KCCA has prepared more over 1,000 meals which are packaged in boxes containing 20 culturally appropriate meals with four to five different varieties and pita bread.
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.
The holiday season will begin with the warm glow of hundreds of luminaries lining the streets of downtown St. Joseph from 5-8 p.m on Friday, Nov. 19. Luminary, sponsored by United Federal Credit Union, creates a joyful atmosphere for all ages to enjoy sales/promotions, specialty items, drawings/giveaways, free gift wrapping and gift ideas galore from participating restaurants and shopkeepers.
“All ages are invited to head downtown for this festive event,” said Amy Zapal, executive director of St. Joseph Today. “Whether you’re looking to enjoy a delicious cup of hot chocolate, grab a sweet treat, or get a jump start on your holiday gift shopping, it’s a great way to kick off the holiday season.”
Additionally, St. Joe Today will kick off the holiday music in downtown St. Joseph during Luminary weekend. Zapal says, “SJT added holiday music throughout downtown in 2019 as part of Window Wonderland.” Zapal goes on to say, “Last year we wanted to start the holiday festivities a little earlier during the unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season. We are excited to continue the tradition and to spread a little extra cheer this year!”
Jonathan Jelks, left and Willie ‘Willie The Kid’ Jackson, right, are throwing a party downtown Grand Rapids on November 13. “The Taste of Black Spirits” will be held at City Flats Hotel, and will feature Black owned beverage based businesses, with plenty of drinks to taste and try. (Courtesy Image)
Looking to break out of the box, or the bottle? The Taste of Black Spirits event that happened this past weekend expanded people’s tasting horizons, while also celebrating minority owned beverage companies. Hosted by two Grand Rapids-based entrepreneurs, this event is just one part of their vision to diversify West Michigan.
“The event is a fantastic way to spotlight, support and celebrate black owned brands in the market that people may not know exist,” said Nayana Ferguson, owner of Anteel Tequila, one of the Black-owned vendors that was at the Taste of Black Spirits which was held at the City Flats Hotel on Saturday.
The event had been put together by Jonathon Jelks and his business partner Willie “Willie the Kid” Jackson. Together with their company GR USA, a merchandising entity, as well as Lazar Favors, a Detroit-based marketing company, they pulled together about two dozen minority-owned beverage businesses for the one-day only event.
Jelks and Jackson participated in a similar event in Detroit, and were inspired to bring the energy and vibe back to their hometown of Grand Rapids.
“I’m from Southeast Grand Rapids, so this area is near and dear to my heart,” said Jelks during an interview. “Being here in the ‘Rust Belt’ as they call it, and I’m proud to be part of the transformation.” The duo founded their own spirits company, Motu Viget, in 2019. They currently have three products in the market: Motu Viget Brut, Eye Candy, and Avani Supreme Vodka, with more than 200 placements in the Michigan market, which includes 70 Meijer stores.
For Jelks, it’s important to pass on both his knowledge and his success. “With us having our own spirits company, and having some traction and some success, we wanted to bring some of that to others,” he said. “We wanted to make sure that the small businesses could make the proper connections, and succeed as well. We are in a unique position to do this”.
Jelks’ background is in ‘serial entrepreneurship’. “Anything where I see there is a niche and we can contribute and service the community, those are the kind of things that float my boat,” he explained.
“We felt that the next thing that is going to help Grand Rapids become a world class community is by creating culture. Bars are a big part of that, live entertainment venues are a part of that.”
In addition to the Nov. 13 event, the duo has a whole host of other developments in the works.
Ambiance GR Kitchen & Lounge, which will be located in the former Raggs to Riches space, should open by the end of 2021. “Ambiance will have live entertainment, events, and will have a kitchen component to it. We’ll be serving American and Cajun dishes, something unique for the restaurant ecosystem downtown Grand Rapids. We are super excited for Ambiance, everyone has been anticipating it, and we are really ready to share it with the community.”
Sip Coffee and Cocktails in Grand Rapids on Alger and Eastern is yet another place that they’ve invested in, along with other partners. This spot is a coffee shop/bar hybrid, and a spot that will welcome all, no matter the time of day.
The duo’s entrepreneurial spirit isn’t limited to just Grand Rapids, they also have two bars in the works in Muskegon. The Motu Lakeshore Wine Bar, named after their spirits company, and Prohibition, an event space, will both be housed in the same building right downtown on 8th Street and should open in the next year.
With no restaurant experience, it’s been a bit of a learning curve for Jelks. Coming out of the pandemic, he’s getting a baptism by fire into the industry. “Labor costs, hiring the right staff, staffing the kitchen is really brutal right now,” he said. “So many people just don’t want to be in the industry anymore, or feel underwhelmed by the pay, and where things are at. There’s a lot of things the industry has to address, and those of us who are invested in the industry are learning to navigate those things.”
Jelks clearly has a bigger vision than just owning a bar or two. And not that owning and operating those alone aren’t a big deal. He’s thinking all the time about Grand Rapids as a whole, and that is what sets him apart. “I look at how some people in Grand Rapids have built big businesses, being very forward thinking, by diversifying our economy,” he said. “Our city has done a great job in figuring out how to problem solve, and keep people gainfully employed. As small business owners, you just want to continue to add to that DNA, add to that fabric, and create more opportunities. Despite the fact that we have one of the fastest growing cities here in the country, when it comes to black and brown folks, our ratings aren’t so high. There was a Forbes article that came out about 4-5 years ago that rated Grand Rapids as one of the worst cities economically for African Americans. One of the ways we can change these social inequities is through entrepreneurship. That’s very important. We want to not only create businesses where we’ll make money and be successful, but also where we’ll create that pipeline for other entrepreneurs and other folks that can be in leadership in Grand Rapids and Muskegon.”
Anteel Tequila (Courtesy Image)
One of the vendors that was at the Taste of Black Spirits was Anteel Tequila, a Michigan-based spirits company. “Anteel Tequila launched in August of 2018 only in Michigan, our home state and since then Anteel has won over 27 awards, expanded to 8 states, the Caribbean and received global attention for our world’s only Coconut Lime Blanco Tequila,” said owner Ferguson. “We have three additional expressions besides Anteel Coconut Lime that includes a Blanco, Reposado and a limited release Tarocco Blood Orange Blanco Tequila”.
“I think it’s slow, but I’m new to the spirits industry, but I’m having my eyes open to the business,” said Jelks. “It’s like having an epiphany. There are so many different avenues on how to make money in this industry. But also how to have a good time, how to curate. And once you have an internal knowledge of how the spirits industry works, you will find some kind of opportunity. And we just want to encourage people to do so. Knowing what is out there is half the battle.”
“The Black community is not only asking for more Black ownership, but they are also looking for the avenues to gain traction with.” Mainstream following is the key to success, Jelks emphasized. “It’s our job as Black pioneers to make a way to put a magnifying glass on it, so everyone can see clearly that this is happening. That this transformation is on.”
Jelks doesn’t mince words. “Grand Rapids is suffering from a diversity problem,” he said. “Culturally, we need more events downtown that are culturally led. That is what makes you into a diverse, world class city that is a magnet for attraction and retention, in 2021.
What could young entrepreneurs of color do to move their vision forward? According to Jelks, “Utilize the tools and resources you have in front of you, study up on the position that you want to be in. There is a glamor side to having your own alcohol, but there is so much work. This is one of the more archaic businesses that is still around.” He stressed how hands-on this business is, and that it really isn’t too far off from Prohibition with many of the rules and regulations. “Relationships still mean a lot,” he stressed.
“The industry can be difficult to navigate in for emerging brands without immense marketing budgets,” said Ferguson. “Events like [The Taste of Black Spirits] allow brands to get in front of the masses in a fun, educational manner, allowing us to grow our audience.”
Events like this allow all of us to expand our range of what we taste and experience.
“We’re having the time of our lives doing this,” said Jelks. “We’re busy,”
The Grand Rapids Chapter of the Sweet Adelines performed at the WKTV studio. (WKTV)
By Colleen Pierson WKTV Community Contributor
This December, the Grand Rapids Chapter of Sweet Adelines will be singing to honor those who lost their lives 80 years ago during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The West Michigan based group, under the direction of Master Director Denise VanDyken, was the only musical singing group from Michigan to be chosen to perform at the 80th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Commemoration Concerts Series in Hawaii set for Dec. 7, 2021.
“We are thrilled to be part of this historic event,” VanDyken said. “A once in a lifetime experience, it will be very emotional and such an honor to perform.”
The performance also helps mark a special anniversary for the 60-member chorus.
Master Director Denise VanDyken gets the chorus ready for its performance. (WKTV)
“Our chorus is one of the longest running barbershop singing groups in the world,” she said. “We just celebrated our 70th anniversary. To be named as the official representatives of the state of Michigan to sing at the Pearl Harbor 80th Anniversary Commemoration is indeed a true hour.”
The Grand Rapids Chapter of Sweet Adelines is one of 10 nationwide chorus groups to be featured in this historic commemoration to honor America’s heroes who fought on the “date which will live in infamy.,” as so coined by then President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service against the base on Dec. 7, 1941 was what pulled America into World War II. Eight American battleships sank at Pearl Harbor with 188 American aircraft destroyed. Around 2,403 Americans died in the attack and another 1,178 were injured.
Of the eight battleships, only two were never repaired or returned to duty: the USS Arizona and the USS Oklahoma. The USS Arizona still lies in the Pearl Harbor waters. As part of its commemorative activities, the Sweet Adelines will take part in an Official Military Wreath-laying Ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial and an Official Flag-Folding Ceremony at the USS Missouri Memorial. The USS Missouri was the last battleship commissioned by the United States and is best remember as the site of the surrender of the Empire of Japan, which ended World War II. The USS Missouri was retired to Pearl Harbor in the late 1990s.
The opportunity to perform at the 80th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Commemoration Concerts Series is just one of many accolades the award-winning group has received in the past few years. In 2019, the Sweet Adelines Grand Rapids was named fifth in the world at the Sweet Adelines International’s Harmony Class Competition.
For more about the Sweet Adelines Grand Rapids or to join the group, visit their website, www.grsa.net. To see a sneak peek of the group’s performance check out WKTV Channel 25 at 7:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. and WKTV Channel 26 6:30 and 9:30 p.m., all of which air on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, or head over WKTV’s on-demand.
Area residents will have the opportunity to explore a variety of different cultures during the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Ethnic Heritage Festival. (Supplied)
On All Saints Day, which is Nov. 1, it is a tradition in Poland to visit the cemetery and decorate your loved one’s grave with flowers and candles.
“From what I understand, you can see it for miles and it is very beautiful,” said Marilyn Lignell, who is a member of the Polish Heritage Society. It also sounds very similar to another tradition that is hosted halfway around the world in Mexico when on the same day, Mexicans celebrate Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a time when family and friends honor and remember those who have died.
“I think it is very interesting how the different ethnicities overlap in costumes, food and traditions,” Lignell said.
The similarities and differences of the various cultures that make up the Greater Grand Rapids area is something that residents will be able to explore this weekend as the Grand Rapids Public Museum hosts is annual Fall Cultural Celebration which includes the school-focused Anishinabe Culture Days on Friday and the public event, the Ethnic Heritage Festival, on Saturday.
Many of the local ethnic organizations will have items and other displays to help get conversations started. (Supplied)
“The Museum takes pride in valuing, honoring and celebrating the unique cultures, characteristics and perspectives of our community and beyond through engaging, community-oriented programming, and we are excited for the return of the Fall Cultural Celebration,” said Dr. Stephanie Ogren, the GRPM’s Vice President of Science & Education. “The Museum proudly serves as a central hub, bringing culture to life within our spaces through community members who are deeply connected to their own culture and are eager to share their history, experiences and traditions.”
Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the day-long activities will feature music, art, food, visual presentations, and performances from an array of different organizations such as the Polish Heritage Society, the Grand Rapids Scottish Society, Shimmy USA, Gaelic League/Irish-American Club of West Michigan, Picardo Colours which features Carribean art, Mystic Spirits Art, Les Clay, the Korean Connection, and the Motherland Cultural Connections, which focuses on the history and cultures of the continent of Africa.
“We participate because we want people to know that Africa is here and that we are very much a part of the diverse community that makes up West Michigan,” said Myra Maimoh, founder of the Motherland Cultural Connections.
Maimoh said people tend to not realize that Africa is a continent made up of many different cultures all with their own traditions
“Through the Festival, we have an opportunity to showcase the different cuisines and music,” Maimoh said. “It is so cool because people come asking questions and you see the cultural immersion that happens right there. To be able to explain and share and make a connection and build new friendships is very humbling and fulfilling.”
Costumes will be just some of the items on display during the Ethnic Heritage Festival at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Supplied)
Even though Polish people have been interwoven into the history of Grand Rapids since about 1870 when many were trying to escape German rule, Lignell admits that like Maimoh, residents don’t fully understand the history and culture of the county and its people.
“People come up to the tables and it opens up discussions, giving us an opportunity to talk about the country, the history and the culture,” Lignall said, adding that this year she plans to focus on Wigilia or Poland’s Christmas Eve traditions, which will include a take-and-make ornament activity. “The result is you discover a lot about the different cultures and gain a greater appreciation of the people who make up our community.”
For more information about the Ethnic Heritage Festival visitgrpm.org/EHF and for more information on other events and activities taking place at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, visit grpm.org.
Increasing more affordable housing would reduce the need for shelters, according to Family Promise of Grand Rapids officials.(pxhere.com)
By Emerson Wigand Capital News Service
As winter approaches, local officials worry that a reported drop in homelessness is misleading or temporary based on short-term pandemic relief.
Michigan’s Campaign to End Homelessness recently reported a 19% decrease in those seeking emergency shelter since 2019.
“Those numbers don’t tell you that homelessness is down,” said Cheryl Schuch, the chief executive officer for Family Promise of Grand Rapids. “What they tell you is that the number of people being served by our shelter system is down.”
Family Promise operates the only family shelter in Kent County. There’s been an increase in families facing homelessness here, Schuch said. Collecting data on the issue can be challenging, especially in the case of families.
Despite the reported decrease in homelessness, Family Promise is at capacity, she said.
Full shelters aren’t limited to West Michigan.
“I don’t see that the homeless population is going down,” said Michelle Munn, the case manager at New Hope Center, in Cadillac. “The numbers look good, but it’s only because there’s extra funds right now for COVID.”
New Hope Center is the only shelter provider in Wexford and Missaukee counties. Its shelters are generally full, with vacancies filled quickly by walk-ins or those on a waiting list, Munn said.
While Munn said she thinks this drop is positive, she worries about what will happen when pandemic relief programs end.
COVID impacts were a large part of the statewide decrease, said Eric Hufnagel, the executive director of the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness.
The biggest help was the eviction moratorium, which ended in August, Hufnagel said. Another factor was the Covid Emergency Rental Assistance funds that are still available.
“That was the No. 1 reason we saw our numbers decline,” Hufnagel said. “We believe that’s slowing down what could be a flood of evictions.”
Imagine a front door and back door, Hufnagel said: The front door is how people come into homelessness, the back door is how people are rehoused.
“Our hope is that we can put a dent in the flow through the front door,” he said. “The challenge we are seeing now is that back door.”
Michigan’s affordable housing stock is the weakest it’s been in decades, Hufnagel said. That means higher prices and rental rates for the housing that is available.
It’s even harder for people to move to new housing because there are fewer options, and existing options cost more.
“The majority of our families can’t afford housing even though they’re working,” Schuch said. “That has really been magnified in West Michigan.”
Family Hope of Grand Rapids has been working with Eastbrook Homes which is developing more affordable homes for the area. Also, Holland Home sold its former Fulton Manor to Hope Network, which plans to turn the former nursing home into a 120 affordable home. The nonprofit housing corporation ICCF is currently working on several affordable housing projects.
The pandemic has decreased shelter space in part due to fewer volunteers to staff facilities, Hufnagel said. Additionally, distancing recommendations have reduced available space in some shelters.
Rising COVID-19 cases adds to these concerns, said Susan Cancro, the executive director of Lansing-based Advent House Ministries. Increasing positive cases could halt new admittances for areas with limited shelters.
“That’s a problem for those on the street who are homeless,” Cancro said. “Especially as the weather becomes more cold and wet, and there’s nowhere to go.”
Schuch said it’s important to increase access to temporary housing to keep people safe for now.
“We have families staying in cars and other places,” Schuch said. “We have to make sure there’s adequate shelter available.”
Without more affordable housing, those problems will only get worse, Schuch said.
“Only investing in shelter doesn’t make sense. They won’t need our shelter if there’s enough housing.”
As temperatures in Northern Michigan are cooling down, Paddle Antrim warns paddlers to take precautions to protect themselves from heightened dangers of sudden, unexpected cold water immersion while on late season paddling outings.
“Whenever paddlers are out on the water, they should dress with the assumption they may end up in the water,” said Paddle Antrim Executive Director Deana Jerdee. “With the cooler weather, water temperatures have dropped and therefore a wetsuit or a full immersion drysuit with insulating layers is necessary.”
Sudden immersion in cold water can cause gasping and inhalation of water resulting in drowning and time spent in cold water will cause your body to lose, resulting in unconsciousness, and/or swimming failure as muscles become numb. Wearing a life jacket may keep your head above water and support your body should your swimming ability fail or you become unconscious.
In 2020 the US Coast Guard reported 271 canoe/kayak injuries or deaths (2020 Recreational Boating Statistics, US Coast Guard) accidents and of all the casualties that resulted in deaths, 79% of those who died were not wearing a life jacket. Of the casualties that didn’t result in death, hypothermia was the leading cause of injury. “Death and injury in kayaks or canoes are almost completely avoidable if a properly fitting PFD and cold water gear is worn,” said Jerdee. “Paddling is like any other sport – you need to wear the proper gear and have the proper skills to safely participate, especially during the colder months when the lower water temperatures can be extremely dangerous.”
Should you ever find yourself in the water it is recommended that you stay with – and preferably on top of – your boat. Never overestimate your swimming ability. All too often people underestimate the distance to shore or the effects of cold water and unfortunately drown while attempting to make it to safety.
Paddle Antrim makes the following recommendations to paddlers heading out on the water:
Always wear a properly fitted life jacket. Simply stated, life jackets save lives;
Dress for the water temperature;
Avoid boating alone and always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return. Have a cell phone or VHF radio accessible, in a watertight bag, should you need to call for help;
Carry essential safety gear, signaling devices and whistles; and
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Jack O’Malley, R-Lake Ann, would make seizure action plans for students with epilepsy accessible for employees in contact with them. (pxhere.com)
LANSING — Advocates for children with epilepsy are pushing to train Michigan school employees to recognize seizures and provide necessary first aid.
The legislation would mandate education for all of the state’s school districts to help the 13,600 Michigan children with epilepsy and their families.
Elizabeth Stout, an Albion College student and youth consultant with Children’s Special Health Care Services of Michigan, said thebill is a great step.
“Every patient is different when it comes to their epilepsy and how you treat it,” said Stout, who has had epilepsy for the past 12 years. ”It’s hard when people assume things about a health condition, and it would be a lot easier if there was more education.”
The bill would require that all school employees be educated in seizure first aid and recognition. This one-hour training would be provided online for free, with in-person options as well. (pxhere.com)
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Jack O’Malley, R-Lake Ann, would make seizure action plans for students with epilepsy accessible for employees in contact with them. Using information from parents, the plans are specific to each student’s needs, including information on medication or first aid.
The legislation would also mean each school would need have a full-time employee trained to administer emergency rescue medication in potentially life-threatening situations. Eleven other states have already passed seizure safe schools legislation.
“Most individuals we meet with, certainly on the legislative side, are surprised to know this training isn’t already in the repertoire for teachers,” said Brianna Romines, the president of the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan.
The bill would require that all school employees be educated in seizure first aid and recognition. This one-hour training would be provided online for free, with in-person options as well.
The training is also offered by the National Epilepsy Foundation, which allows broader access than the state’s chapter can provide, said Russ Derry, the Michigan Epilepsy Foundation’s director of education.
Romines said epilepsy training is as important as other safety training teachers receive. One school counselor, who was trained yearlyin the use of fire extinguishers, said she has never had to use one in over 15 years But the counselor has responded to between about five and 15 seizure emergencies each year.
The lack of education is a problem because it stigmatizes epilepsy, said Sierra Cameron, the CEO of the Michigan chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“If a child goes into a seizure, it might not be as clinically bad as folks think it is,” Cameron said. “If you don’t have any familiarity with seizures, it might really daunt you.”
One of the consequences is that school employees call 911 and have children diagnosed with epilepsy taken from class to the emergency room, Romines said. This leads to trauma for the children and needless costs for families from hospitals, ambulance rides and lost wages for those who leave work.
“So, there are economic and emotional impacts to this,” Romines said. “But all of that could’ve been simply addressed with training.”
Another challenge is that school employees may be uncomfortable administering invasive rescue medication, Derry said. While nasal medication options are increasingly available, the primary rescue treatment for youth suffering seizures is administered rectally.
Derry empathizes with these employees, but he said rescue medication training is just as important as learning to use epipens for students with serious allergies. While a school nurse would ideally be administering the medication, all employees allowed to administer medication would receive training.
Derry said everyone should understand the needs of students with epilepsy as seizures can happen any time.
“In Michigan, we have one of the worst ratios of school nurses to students in the country,” Derry said. “We have about 4,200 students per school nurse.”
Stout said it’s also important to remember epilepsy is not just seizures with uncontrollable movements. Epilepsy can prompt staring spells that lead to students being disciplined for not paying attention, or to an assumption that they have attention deficit disorder, Romines said. Many effects of epilepsy and its medications are difficult to distinguish.
“That’s why we’re hopeful for this training,” Romines said. “Not only does it teach you seizure first aid, it teaches seizure recognition.”
The foundation says it hopes the House will hold hearings on the proposed Seizure Safety Act in October.
Stout said repeatedly explaining your condition is exhausting. While she was lucky to have teachers that were open to that conversation, that’s not always the case.
“If teachers and others within the education system understand epilepsy, then it’s easier for students to be honest about it, and share it,” Stout said.For youth diagnosed with epilepsy, and their families, in need of more support she recommends the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan’s Call and Connect Network.
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.
Dutton Elementary School has been recognized as a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for being an Exemplary High Performing School.
“Caledonia Community Schools is so proud of all our faculty and staff who work so hard to make an excellent learning environment for our students,” said Dr. Dedrick Martin, superintendent of Caledonia Community Schools. “Dutton Elementary is a great example of a school that prepares students to make a positive difference in the community by empowering all students to achieve their best and cultivate agile learners.”
Dutton Elementary has been recognized in the past for its staff’s work in supporting students. Dutton earned the title “Reward School 2018-2019″ for earning all A’s or Significantly Above Average in all categories rated by the state of Michigan. Michigan nominated Dutton Elementary for the National Blue Ribbon Award and recognized the school for creating an environment that encourages feedback among staff, parent involvement, and support from the Caledonia Community Schools administration.
Dutton Elementary Principal Shawn Veitch and staff regularly partner with a local church and several businesses. Staff members volunteer with students at a weekly summer reading program in a neighborhood mobile home community and connect students with Kids’ Hope mentors and hand-to-hand weekly food distribution.
“Our Dutton Elementary school teachers and staff go above and beyond to ensure our students have the support they need to succeed in school,” Veitch said. “On behalf of our school, I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in making Dutton Elementary a great place to learn.”
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes outstanding public and non-public schools, celebrating school excellence, turnaround stories, and closing student achievement gaps. The U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized 325 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2021. Thirteen Michigan schools received the honor with Dutton Elementary being the only Greater Grand Rapids school to be recognized.
In 2020, 15 Michigan schools were recognized that included Kentwood’s Discovery Elementary and Grandville’s Central Elementary.
The Gilmore Car Museum, and a bunch of little princesses and princes, had so much fun early this year that the museum will hold its second Princesses on Parade & Fairytale Brunch outdoor event on Friday, July 23.
“Children will enjoy unforgettable interactions with their favorite storybook princesses and special cars from the museum’s world-class collection,” according to an announcement from the museum, located between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo at Hickory Corners. Activities will run 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and different levels of tickets are on sale now.
With purchase of a Fairytale Brunch ticket, children can enjoy a delicious morning brunch with Rapunzel, Ariel, and Belle, as they mingle with guests under the outdoor tent, lead a special welcome dance, and conduct a wishing ceremony.
Pretty in Pink: Princesses and cars at the Gilmore Car Museum. (Gilmore Car Museum)
Or, with purchase of a standalone Meet & Greet ticket, children can capture memorable outdoor photo ops with up to 12 storybook princesses and vintage vehicles as they tour the Gilmore lawns, according to the announcement. Also, purchase of a special Princesses on Parade ride ticket allows for parent and child to enjoy a ride around campus alongside a Princess, waving to onlookers, in a classic convertible.
“Princess Days at the Gilmore Car Museum engage and delight children, yet also educate and introduce them to automotive history,” Josh Russell, executive director of the Gilmore Car Museum, said in supplied material.
Outdoor photos with the featured princesses will be taken in front of landmark buildings and special vehicles from the museum collections, including a 1921 Roamer Speedster, America’s Sweetheart Model A Ford, and a 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Sedanca DeVille.
Capacity for the Fairytale Brunch is limited to 150 guests, and capacity for Princesses on Parade convertible rides are limited to 80 guests.
Princess Day at the Gilmore Car Museum is produced in collaboration with Michigan-based Olivia Grace & Company, and its cast of unforgettable character performers. For additional information on Olivia Grace & Company, please visit oliviagraceandcompany.com.
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.
