On the shelf: ‘Reaching For A New Potential: A Life Guide for Adults with ADD From a Fellow Traveler’ by Oren Mason M.D.

By Karen Thoms, Main Library I was gently spouting off my views about kids with ADD to a patron. It turns out that she was a teacher [Read More]

By:Karen Thoms, GRPL

GVSU presents Guest Artist Recital: Mika Sasaki, piano on Jan. 19

By Matthew Makowski, Grand Valley State University   Pianist Mika Sasaki has established herself as a sought-after soloist, chamber musician and emerging educator. Since her [Read More]

By:Matthew Makowski, GVSU

On the shelf: ‘No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels’, by Jay Dobyns

Where do the criminals stop and we begin… Dobyns invokes the lure of the free, macho brotherhood at first, but as time passes he shows us that it doesn’t really age so well.

By:Lisa Boss, GRPL

On the shelf: Warm Winter Reading

There’s nothing like a cup of tea and a good book to warm the winter chill away.
An epic novel like “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell fits the bill for that.

By:Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library

On the shelf: ‘Life’, by Keith Richards

Richards combines a unique voice with the storyteller’s art. His ghost, James Fox, did an excellent job of organizing the material, so the result flows like a personal conversation.

By:Lisa Boss, GRPL

Grand Rapids Pops ‘Video Games Live!’ set for Jan. 7

Join the Grand Rapids Pops for Video Games Live! Jan. 7 at DeVos Performance Hall and enjoy the fun that comes with seeing some of the most successful video games of all time on the big screen.

By:Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk

On the shelf: ‘The Horse Boy: A Father’s Quest to Heal His Son’, by Rupert Isaacson

This book has great writing, science, travel and humor; and since autism can be so challenging (often heartbreaking), the beauty, humor and spirituality contained herein is wonderful.

By:GRPL

On the shelf: ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’, by Jonathan Safran Foer

Two years after his father is killed in the World Trade Center attacks, Oskar finds a key that had once belonged to his father and embarks on a relentless journey to find the lock it will open.

By:Rosie Rincones, GRPL, Main

Dawdling around Dingle

At Inch Beach, the shimmering sea bed so smooth it reflected the clouds and sky and you couldn’t tell whether you were standing on earth or in the air.

By:Lynn Strough

Party hearty New Year’s Eve at ‘The Ballroom Bashes in Downtown GR’

Find the bash that suits you best and party all night long — or hop from one to the next to keep your night moving.

By:WKTV Staff

Wyoming set to have a brew, or two, with TwoGuys Brewery

After nearly 10 years of working a small business plan, and recent action by the City of Wyoming, TwoGuys Brewing has taken over an old firehouse and a rundown one-time 7-Eleven convenience store in the Wyoming Park neighborhood and plans to open later in 2017.

By:K.D. Norris

Enjoy a Snowflake Break at the Grand Rapids Public Museum

Grand Rapids Public Museum once again offers its Snowflake Break to help keep area students busy during the winter break.

By:Christie Bender, Grand Rapids Public Museum

On the Shelf Book Review: ‘The Dollmaker’, by Harriette Arnow

Gertie Nevels is a strong, compassionate woman, with a passion for whittling. Her one dream is to buy her own farm in the backwoods of Kentucky and live there with her husband and children.

By:Karolee Gillman, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

Meijer Gardens gains gift of sculptor Pepper’s artistic archive

Iconic American sculptor Beverly Pepper is giving the Meijer Gardens a present on her 94th birthday.

By:WKTV Staff

Sports Schedule: Dec. 19-26

      Monday December 19, 2016 Girls Basketball Hudsonville Hornets @ West Michigan Aviation Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian Kelloggsville @ Hudsonville [Read More]

By:Mike Mull, WKTV Community Journalist

On the Shelf Book Review: ‘Cleopatra: A Life’, by Stacy Schiff

To understand Cleopatra is to understand the how her Greek family came to power in Egypt and how they fought, intermarried and murdered amongst themselves.

By:By Amanda Bridle, GRPL, Main

Local sports schedule: Dec. 14-19

      Wednesday December 14, 2016 Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Rockford Wyoming @ Wayland Girls Cheer Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee Boys Wrestling [Read More]

By:Mike Moll

On the Shelf Book Review: ‘When You Are Engulfed in Flames’, by David Sedaris

Along the lines of Woody Allen and James Thurber, with a bit of Jack Benny and Phillip Roth thrown in, David Sedaris takes the melancholy and self-absorbed male to new heights.

By:Lisa Boss, GRPL

‘Tis the season to hit the slopes!

All that white stuff out there? Great news for skiers and snowmobilers. And, for the first time in seven years, Cannonsburg Ski Area near Rockford, Mich. [Read More]

By:Victoria Mullen, WKTV

Review: Cécile McLorin Salvant brings big jazz voice to St. Cecilia

Cécile McLorin Salvant, the season opening performer for the St. Cecilia Music Center’s 2016-17 Jazz Series, brought a spectacular voice and mesmerizing presence to the stage Thursday for a 90-minute set.

By:K.D. Norris

Limited release brews planned for Rockford Brewing anniversary

Lovers of limited release brews — and unusual blends — will get a chance to sample some of Rockford Brewing Company’s finest as the north-end brewpub will be celebrating its fourth anniversary Saturday, Dec. 17.

By:WKTV Staff

On the shelf: For Keeps: Women Tell the Truth About their Bodies, Growing Older, and Acceptance edited by Victoria Zackheim

The 27 stories in “For Keeps” remind me of the spontaneous, intimate conversations that can happen between women when we share experiences and discover common ground.

By:By Michele Montegue, GRPL

Local artist works to create awareness of social issues in Mexico

Artist Reyna Garcia’s current exhibit explores the tragic story of the 43 Mexican students who were kidnapped along with her own journey of acceptance and becoming a social activist.

By:Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

‘Nutcracker’ includes sibling youth dancers from Kentwood

When the annual run of the Grand Rapids Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” hits the stage Friday, Dec. 9, it will include staring rolls by the company’s professional dancers and, as always, often a stage full of youth dancers — including sisters from Kentwood.

By:K.D. Norris

The Weekend Edition: Things to do Dec. 8 – 11

Among this weekend’s activities, Kentwood hosts its annual tree lighting ceremony and Wyoming has the Great Candy Cane Hunt along with the Flick’s holiday films and the Santa Train.

By:Joanne Bailey-Boorsma