Shawn Kohlhaas, owner of Culinary Cultivations, talks to participants in the Transformando West Michigan program.
The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce launched its newest intiative Transformando West Michigan, “Feeding Minds, Mouths, and Pockets.” The goal of this program is to provide Hispanic business owners currently working or with the desire to work in the food industry with the necessary financial tools and food safety knowledge to become successful.
The inaugural class kicked off at Gordon Food Service. The class is six sessions over three months with those who complete the program receiving food safety certification required by the health department of any restaurant operator.
Garrett Bazany in Kentwood’s adapted water ski clinic.
Got your tickets to the Kentwood Parks and Recreation’s The Vibe yet? The event is set for Friday, May 18. The third annual fundraiser benefits the Kentwood’s Adaptive Sports programs, which provide recreation opportunities for individual with disabilities.
Tickets for the semi-formal event are $100 per person and can be purchased online at kentwoodvibe.com or by call 616-656-5270.
Once known as the voice of West Michigan, Buck Matthews is on his farewell tour offering one last piece of advice: write down and share your stories.
Matthews will be at First & Main of Metro Health Village, 6812 Village Dr. SW, Wednesday, May 9, to talk about his latest book, “The Book in Each of Us.” The program is at 2 p.m. In the book, Matthews discuss the experience of writing and encourages others to do the same to share their stories.
The Wyoming Community Enrichment Commission has released its 2018 Concerts in the Park line-up. The series runs from June 5 to Aug. 7. All concert are at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park.
A student-produced film on the history of black musicians in Grand Rapids will be shown Thursday, May 10 at Celebration Cinema North, as well as on Xfinity On Demand cable TV beginning the same day.
A student-produced film, “Rhythm and Race: A History of African American Music in Grand Rapids,” on the history of black musicians in Grand Rapids will be shown Thursday, May 10, at Celebration Cinema North, as well as on Xfinity On Demand cable TV beginning the same day. The screening is at 6:30 p.m. followed by a panel discussion.
All are invited to explore how local public works agencies make a difference in their communities during the third annual Family Open House, which will include complimentary food, family-friendly activities and giveaways, on Wednesday, May 16.
The Kentwood Department of Public Works is hosting the event in partnership with the Kent County Road Commission and the American Public Works Association in anticipation of National Public Works Week, which is slated for May 20-26.
From 4-7 p.m., families will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Kentwood Public Works Facility, located at 5068 Breton Road SE, to interact with the employees and equipment that keep the community safe, clean and functioning smoothly.
Prior to the open house, Kentwood Mayor Steven Kepley provided a proclamation for National Public Works Week during the regular City Commission meeting on Tuesday, May 1.
“Services provided by public works departments touch many aspects of residents’ day-to-day lives,” said John Gorney, Kentwood director of public works. “In West Michigan, we maintain thousands of miles of pipes underground and streets above ground. We are responsible for keeping parks maintained, and we service municipal vehicles such as police cruisers and fire trucks.
“The open house will be a great, family-friendly way to learn more about what we do — and provide an up-close look at the equipment we use.”
The open house will feature giveaways, hands-on activities for kids and a fleet of vehicles to explore. Live maintenance and repair demonstrations will allow residents to learn about road improvements as well as the safe disposal of household waste.
Complimentary food and refreshments will be provided.
“This event provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase our ongoing efforts dedicated to improving our public infrastructure,” said Steve Warren, managing director of Kent County Road Commission. “Crew members are eager to address questions and explain different aspects of our work.”
Additionally, winners of the Work Zone Safety Poster competition will be honored at 5:30 p.m. Sponsored by Kent County Road Commission and the City of Kentwood, the poster contest invited third-grade students from across the county to design a “caution sign” focusing on safety tips for driving through a work zone. A gallery of more than 100 entries will be displayed.
“We look forward to this event every year as it’s a great opportunity to meet and engage with residents of all ages about the work we do in a fun, relaxed environment,” Gorney said.
The City of Kentwood will pilot a yard debris drop-off site this spring.
WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org
The City of Kentwood will launch a new brush drop-off site to residents this May, coinciding with its annual community clean-up effort. The brush drop-off project is a pilot project.
Residents of the city will be able to dispose of sticks, branches and logs at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE, from May 7 to June 2.
Residents can stop by between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. The site will be closed on Sundays.
“Residents expressed a desire to have this service available, and we hope it will make spring cleaning and yard care easier,” John Gorney, director of public works, said in supplied material. “A drop-off site has worked well in other communities and we are excited for its launch in Kentwood.”
The site will not accept grass clippings, leaves, trash, dirt, concrete, asphalt, tires, rocks, stones, construction materials, glass or metal.
The service is available to Kentwood residents only, and anyone wishing to drop off items must show proof of residency.
For more information on the brush drop-off program visit kentwood.us .
For more information on the community clean-up, visit kentwood.us .
The Easter Bunny is expected to arrive a day early this year, hiding colorful eggs on the lawn around Kentwood City Hall.
The City’s annual hunt will take place rain or shine on March 31 at 10 a.m. at the Kentwood City Hall lawn. Children and families are invited to attend this free event, which will offer candy and prizes to all.
“Easter egg hunts are a time-honored tradition with many families,” said Laura Barbrick of Kentwood’s Parks and Recreation Department. “At the City of Kentwood, we love to be a part of these traditions. We are crossing our fingers for great spring weather at this year’s hunt.”
Thousands of eggs will be hidden in the grass around Kentwood City Hall. Kids are invited to collect the eggs, which can be redeemed for candy. A few special eggs will contain a certificate that is redeemed for special prizes.
There will also be a special appearance by the Easter Bunny, who will be available to take photos with families. Those attending are asked to bring their own bags to collect their eggs.
The event is free and open to the public. Information is available www.kentwood.us.
The City of Kentwood recently celebrated the area’s first Ashley HomeStore.
The new store, which is located on the former MC Sports location on 28th Street across from Woodland Mall, opened last week with a ribbon cutting on March 8 with the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce followed by a grand opening celebration on March 10.
The Wisconsin-based company is an American furniture store chain that sells Ashley Furniture products. Opened in 1997, the chain comprises of more than 450 HomeStore locations in North America and 520 locations worldwide. There are currently seven Ashley HomeStores in Michigan including the one in Kentwood. The other locations are in Lansing, Bad Axe, Escanaba, Westland, Saginaw, and Marquette.
The City of Kentwood, after city commission action at its Feb. 6 meeting, approved an Industrial Development District and a tax abatement request that will bring an expanding industrial robotics company to the city.
Axis Company LLC, which has a current facility in Walker, intends to built a new 67,000 square foot facility at 4195 44th Street SE, with a total cost of the new facility of about $4 million and with the intent to hire 50 new local jobs, according to the city.
Axis Company is a robotic automation systems programmer, according to information supplied by the city. The company uses advanced technologies to conceptualize, design, integrate, deploy, and service custom factory automation systems.
“We look forward to working with Axis Company in the coming months as it expands into Kentwood,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said to WKTV. “We’re excited that another advanced manufacturing company is moving into our community. The skilled workforce and our diverse community make Kentwood a great place for any business to call home. Axis Company’s decision is another testament to Kentwood being open for business.”
The action by the city commission followed a public hearing on the proposed city actions. Other than city staff, Boyd Vor Broker, CEO of Axis Company, was the only person to speak at the public hearing.
An Industrial Development District allows local governments to allow exemption of certain taxes as an incentive to industries to build new facilities in the city. The $4 million project will have about $3,750,00 eligible for property tax abatement.
According to the city, the city will forgo approximately $9,005 in the first year of the abatement as a result of the project.
Complete information on the Axis Company action, and all actions planned and taken by the Kentwood Commission, can be read as part of the city Commission’s informational package for the Feb. 6, 2018 meeting. The Commission’s agendas, meeting information packages and meeting minutes are available on the city’s website .
With more than 80 people attending, the City of Kentwood hosted its first Valentine’s Dash Saturday, Feb. 10.
The number was more than expected, said Kentwood Recreation Program Coordinator Spencer McKellar, who helped organized the event. Staff decided to host the Valentine’s Dash after the city’s November Ugly Sweater 5K was flooded out due to rain. Looking around, staff learned that not many races were held in February so they decided to host the Valentine’s Dash and were pleasantly surprised at the turnout.
In fact, the turnout is enough to encourage the city to host another one next year, McKellar told participants after the race during the awards ceremony. “So all of you just need to make sure to sign up again next year,” he said.
This year’s overall race winners were Josue Vasquez and Val Thomasma. Age group winners were:
18 and Under
Male- Connor Elliott
Female- Maggie Boorsma
19 to 44
Male- Derek Thomasma
Female- Katie Bozek
45 and Over
Male- David Uitdeflesch
Female- Kristi Diekevers
There also were door prizes donated by several local business including DoubleTree by Hilton, Siegel Jewelers, On the Border, Sky Zone and Biggby.
Staff said they have plans to add on to next year’s race with heart-shaped mile markers and possibly food trucks.
Winners were Derek Thomasma, Val Thomasma, Maggie Boorsma, Katie Bozek, Kristi Diekevers, Josue Vasquez, David Uitdeflesch, and Connor Elliott
If you ask the average person what Lyndon B. Johnson accomplished during his presidency, few would be able to give you an answer. Ask those same people, about the Civil Rights Act and many would state it was a big accomplishment for the 35th President John F. Kennedy.
Truth is, it was a very big accomplishment for Johnson.
“I was born after the passage,” said Kentwood resident Marissa Baty. “My experience was through history. You heard about JFK and his death and then the vice president [Johnson] became president.
Kentwood resident Marissa Baty portrays Coretta Scott King in Civic Theatre’s production of “All the Way.”
Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. Johnson was sworn in as president and spent the next eight months working toward making the Civil Rights Act into law. The current Grand Rapids Civic Theatre production, “All The Way,” explores the trials and tribulations Johnson, commonly referred to as LBJ, experienced as he hurls himself into getting the act passed along with seeking re-election and the recognition he so desperately wants.
“LBJ really made a sacrifice,” said Baty who portrays Martin Luther King Jr.’s wife Coretta Scott King in the production. “The production explores what it took him emotionally and personally to get the Civil Rights Act passed.”
It wasn’t just Johnson who made compromises, but Martin Luther King Jr. who was forced to contend with conservative and militant leaders as Johnson used every trick in the book — cajolery, arm-twisting, and even blackmail — to get his way. The play, written by Robert Schenkkan, raises questions about the morality of power and politics and how far one can go for good intentions.
Baty, who has appeared in other Civic Theatre productions such as “Good People” and “Ragtime,” said she became more familiar with the story of Johnson’s work after seeing the television film “All the Way” — the title taken from Johnson’s 1964 re-election bid — starring Bryan Cranston, who reprised his Broadway role as Johnson and Anthony Mackie as King.
“I think now with everything that is going on, it is really important to understand how the political process works,” Baty said, adding that people need to understand how laws are created and the importance of putting people in office who are able and component to create those laws.
“LBJ and Martin Luther King were not perfect people,” she said. “They came together perfectly for America.”
The story of them coming together for a common good is one worth telling, Baty said, adding that she is thrilled to be part of telling that story and that Civic Theatre was willing to present it.
“All the Way” runs through Jan. 28 at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, 30 N. Division Ave. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays; and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $16-$28. For more information, visit www.grct.org.
To truly address diversity and culture, sometimes you have to get down to the nitty-gritty. That was shown by East Kentwood students who recently discussed issues including gender roles, bridging a disconnect between general education and English-language learner students, and building mutual respect among students and teachers.
Sophomore Jamirea Lacy shares thoughts on connecting with ELL students
As part of a recent Student Council-designed Culture Week, students gathered on two days for Straight Talk during lunch periods.
“It’s about celebrating the vast array of cultures that we have in school because we are the No. 1 diverse school in the state of Michigan,” said senior Edgar Gatsinski, head of the council’s Diversity Committee. “We have a lot of different cultures and (57) countries represented at the school and we, as student council, wanted to celebrate that.”
Among activities that included games to identify countries and flags, and wearing traditional clothes from students’ native lands, Straight Talk was Culture Week’s way of exploring diversity deeper than through symbols and dress.
“I’ve been asking that key question: How can we acknowledge diversity more at East Kentwood?” Edgar said. “We talk about it, but aren’t really doing it.”
Junior Medina Vila waits to share her opinion
He noted the need for better connection among different student groups. “It’s important to me, given the current cultural climate in the world. I feel like this is so necessary. We need to come together in order for progress to be made. By doing this, that is the main goal.”
Overcoming Barriers Starts with Conversation
Students explored the need to better embrace and involve newcomers and to break down stereotypes. They also talked about student-teacher relationships, gender roles and of the risks of trying to fit in at the expense of not being authentic.
“I feel like once some of us step out of our comfort zone, like maybe we see an ELL student in class and we go and talk to them, then maybe other people will approach them,” said sophomore Jamirea Lacy.
Senior Edgar Gatsinski facilitates Straight Talk
“We have to overcome those language barriers that we have,” Edgar said. “There are other ways to connect with them, like sharing common interests.”
Students also talked about what makes it hard to reach out to others: awkwardness, fear of rejection and fear of what other people think. It’s difficult to step out of one’s circle of friends, they said, but there are ways to do it. “If you do talk to someone who is from a different culture, food is a great topic,” said junior Medina Vila.
Students said they have different standards concerning gender roles based on how they grew up. For some, they don’t really exist in their families, for others, gender roles are tied to tradition and heritage.
“I don’t think ‘being a man’ has an exact definition,” said Junior Ana Tran. “A woman can be anything. A man can be anything too.”
“My mom always instilled in me that it’s OK that she worked and my dad chose to be the one who stayed at home, but I feel like it’s a stigma that it can’t be that way,” Jamirea said.
Edgar said he thinks gender roles “are going to subside and be put aside because we are so progressive, noting that he still hears the “be a man” message from the older generation.
Students also discussed how teachers can better understand students and their cultures, especially within a heated U.S. political environment.
“Regardless of whatever political affiliation they have, I feel like they should still be a little more sensitive and a little more keen to what’s happening around them,” Edgar said. “There is a lot of divisiveness currently in the United States, and it would be nice if the teachers paid attention to that and saw where their students are coming from.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
A diverse group of students have straight-forward conversation
Celebrating the words and actions of Martin Luther King Jr, Kentwood residents and city leaders recently came together to mark the day with a special program at the KDL Kentwood branch.
Activities included a proclamation from Mayor Stephen Kepley who was assisted by honor students from East Kentwood High School with the reading. The guest speaker was Kyle Ray, pastor of Kentwood Community Church, with music by Craig Tyson.
“I always want the City of Kentwood, being so diverse, to use this day to remember the things that Martin Luther King Jr. taught us,” said Mayor Stephen Kepley after yesterday’s program. Kepley said it is not just about King’s words but also his service. “This is a day of service. We wanted to actually but our words into action because, I think, words without works is dead. So we wanted to have the works –the service — and we have used this day and other previous Martin Luther King Jr. days to provide food for those in need. We wanted not only to sponsor our little free food pantry but also the food pantries of West Michigan.”
Last year, the city officially launched its little free food pantry, where you take an item or items when needed and leave an item or items when you can. As part of this year’s activities, the city hosted a food drive for the little free pantry at Celebration! Cinema South and the Family Fare located on Kalamazoo Avenue. According to city staff, the little free pantry has been very well received.
“I have heard stories of people who were in need a year ago and things got better, and now, instead of taking food that they need, actually are supporting the food pantry,” Kepley said. “They have done a 360. There was a need for them and now things are better off. They got a better job, some income coming in, and are bringing food to the little food pantry.”
Because the Kentwood Activities Center is being remodeled, the little free food pantry has currently been moved to the KDL Kentwood Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. Staff has noted that the temporary location has been as busy as the Kentwood Activities Center one.
“It has been so successful we are actually looking to have a second location here at the library,” Kepley said, adding that the city then would have two little food pantries, one at the Kentwood Activities Center and one at the KDL Kentwood branch.
Food donations are accepted year around for the pantry. Donations are accepted at the Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE, during normal business hours, currently at the KDL Kentwood Branch, and once the Kentwood Activities Center reopens in March, donations will be accepted there as well.
Key conference games, as well as Wyoming Lee’s annual Hall of Fame games, are on the schedule this week as WKTV’s sports crew will be on the road Jan. 12 with a doubleheader of boys and girls basketball at Wyoming High School when the South Christian Sailors challenge the Wolves in a pair of key early year OK Conference Gold games.
On the girls side, Wyoming enters with an 0-1 conference record, 4-3 overall, after opening up OK Gold play with a tough 49-46 road loss at Thornapple Kellogg Friday, Jan. 5, and before another road game Tuesday, Jan. 9, at Forest Hills Eastern. South Christian will enter 1-0 in conference after a 59-29 home win over Forest Hills Eastern Friday, 5-2 overall, before hosting Grand Rapids Christian Tuesday.
On the boys side, Wyoming enters with an 1-0 conference record, 4-2 overall, after opening up OK Gold play with a 67-37 win at Thornapple Kellogg and before a home game Tuesday, Jan. 9, against Forest Hills Eastern. South Christian will enter 1-0 in conference, 4-1 overall, after a 56-50 win Forest Hills Eastern Friday and before a road game at Christian Tuesday.
Wyoming Lee will host Kelloggsville on Friday in the school’s annual Hall of Fame game.
The remainder of the tentative January Featured Game broadcast schedule is:
Tuesday. Jan. 16 — Boys Basketball: West Ottawa at East Kentwood
Tuesday, Jan. 23 — Boys Basketball: NorthPointe Christian at Godwin Heights
Thursday, Jan. 25 — Boys Swimming: Grandville at East Kentwood
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktv.viebit.com.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Monday, Jan. 8
Boys/Girls Bowling
Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights
Unity Christian @ Wyoming
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian
Catholic Central @ Tri-Unity Christian
Tuesday Jan. 9
Girls Basketball
Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ FH Eastern
Caledonia @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Game
Holland Black River @ Grand River Prep
West Michigan Aviation @ Martin
Zion Christian @ Holland Calvary
West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES
Hopkins @ Tri-Unity Christian
Christian @ South Christian
Boys Basketball
Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights
FH Eastern @ Wyoming
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian
Caledonia @ East Kentwood
Covenant Christian @ Potter’s House
Holland Black River @ Grand River Prep
West Michigan Aviation @ Martin
West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES
Hopkins @ Tri-Unity Christian
South Christian @ Christian
Girls Cheer
@ East Kentwood – Falcon Invite
Wednesday, Jan. 10
Boys/Girls Bowling
Godwin Heights @ Belding
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian
Wyoming @ Zeeland East
Potter’s House @ Wyoming Lee
Boys Wrestling
Godwin Heights @ Coopersville
NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville
FH Eastern @ Wyoming
TBA @ Wyoming Lee
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Girls Cheer
Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian
Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian
Boys Hockey
Catholic Central @ East Kentwood
Thursday, Jan. 11
Boys/Girls Bowling
Wyoming Lee @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys Swimming
West Ottawa @ East Kentwood
Friday, Jan. 12
Girls Basketball
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
South Christian @ Wyoming – WKTV Featured Game
West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
Holland Calvary @ Grand River Prep
Calvary Christian @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Lutheran @ Creative Technologies
Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian
Boys Basketball
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
South Christian @ Wyoming – WKTV Featured Game
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee – Hall of Fame Game
West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
Holland Calvary @ Grand River Prep
Calvary Christian @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Lutheran @ Creative Technologies Academy
Field work is now complete on the expansion of the methane gas collection system at the closed Kentwood Landfill. Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW) installed eighteen new gas wells to extract the methane gas from the western edge of the landfill. Eight additional wells were installed to provide access for continued routine monitoring of the site.
During routine monitoring in fall of 2016, the DPW discovered methane gas migrating outside the solid waste boundaries of the Kentwood Landfill causing potential for methane gas intrusion into nearby City of Kentwood buildings and neighboring residences. Kent County DPW organized a project team and worked alongside the City of Kentwood, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and engineering consultants to design a second methane extraction system.
In fall 2017, after extensive investigation and continued monitoring, DPW moved forward with the installation of eighteen new gas wells between 15 and 106 feet deep and added eight monitoring wells. On Dec. 27, a new flare system was activated and is now extracting methane gas along the western boundary of the landfill where methane was found to be migrating. DPW will monitor the newly installed system and will continue to routinely test onsite and off site monitoring wells indefinitely.
“Work at the site progressed as expected and the new flare is now activated,” said Molly Sherwood, Environmental Compliance Manager at Kent County DPW. “Our project team is confident that this expansion will serve the site well to control the methane that is migrating outside the boundaries of the landfill.”
Kent County DPW continues to offer no-cost, third-party methane testing for the 150 residences within 1500 feet of the landfill’s western boundary. To date, voluntary testing in nine residences and weekly monitoring of City of Kentwood facilities has shown no methane vapor intrusion into building structures.
The cost of this new extraction system was roughly $1 million with funding provided through the Kent County Solid Waste Surcharge.
In our last newscast for 2017, we take a look back at the Year of the Rooster, according to the Vietnamese calendar. In 2017, the City of Kentwood marked its 50th anniversary with a variety of special events that included a weekend-long celebration in August. Mayor Stephen Kepley was re-elected to a second term as the city’s mayor and newcomers Emily Bridson and Tom McKelvey joined the Kentwood City Commission.
There also was a host of activities in the city of Wyoming as well from its second annual Clean Up Day to the Metro Cruise. Both cities also approved The Rapid millage continuing busing within the cities.
2017 top story: Grace Bible College’s Kate Shellenbarger makes a difference by working with Wyoming police Det./Lt. James Maguffee. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
As 2017 comes to a close, I thought it would be fun to take a look at some of the most popular stories for the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming.
In compiling this list, I took a look at both page views on a story, which indicates the number of people who clicked on the article, and also social media statistics. The result is a mix of both most read and shared articles from the WKTV Journal website.
A room with a view: The partnership to make the Kelloggsville Library a community library wrapped up the year and our list for most read and shared stories of 2017.
The first Kentwood City Commission met on Feb. 27, 1967. The city kicked off its 50th anniversary by hosting a commission meeting on Feb. 27, 2017.
The biggest event that took place in the City of Kentwood was the city’s year-long 50th anniversary celebration, so it only makes sense that many of the most read and shared Kentwood stories centered around the celebration. Some of those stories were:
Who does not love a good animal story? Through partnerships with such groups as Crash’s Landing and the Humane Society of West Michigan, we have featured a number of adoptable animals and of the top five, Nessarose, Jamie, Heihei, Cuervo, and Salsa (All from Crash’s Landing), three have been adopted, Nessarose’s adoption is pending and Jamie is being fostered.
Wrapping up our list of the 2017 biggest stories is Kelloggsville, KDL join together to open high school library to entire community, which I could not think of a better way to cap off the year. The story, which was published in December and did remarkably well for the short time it has been up, serves as an excellent example of how various community groups working together can find a way to fill a need. Those partnerships are what has enabled the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood to accomplish some pretty amazing things, as you can tell from this list of 2017 most read and shared stories.
And with that said, we look forward to covering the amazing things that both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood accomplish in 2018.
While at the 2017 Wyoming Gives Back holiday event and the 2017 Kentwood Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, WKTV was able to capture several holiday greetings from officials and residents. Below are just some of those sending out their holiday wishes to West Michigan. To see all of the Wyoming holiday greetings, click here. To see the Kentwood holiday greetings, click here for the ones from the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and here for the ones from the Kentwood City Commission.
Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley
Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll
State Rep. Tommy Brann
Kentwood City Commissioner Betsy Artz
Wyoming Mayor Pro-Tem Sam Bolt
Kentwood City Commissioner at Large Richard Clanton
Wyoming City Council member Rob Postema
Kentwood Second Ward City Commissioner Tom McKelevy
One of the unique aspects of the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Matters meetings is that you sometimes get differing views on the same issue — for instance, local city and state leaders in a debate on the current difficulties for local governments dealing with inequities in state revenue sharing.
The monthly meeting brings together government leaders of all levels to discuss issues of importance and presents those discussions through WKTV’s live, delayed and on-demand broadcasts.
At the Monday, Dec. 11, meeting at Kentwood City Hall, City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley and City of Wyoming City Manager Curtis Holt offered their assessment of state government actions when it comes to an abundance of regulations and a lack of consistency and clarity when it came to historic and current state revenue-sharing.
“There was a promise made on state revenue-sharing … (now) we can’t count on that,” Holt said at one point. “We used to have a partner in the state” government.
Among the other multi-level government discussions topics at the meeting — and available on the WKTV video — were the status of federal tax reform, the impeding Kent County action to hire a new top administrator, and economic development Wyoming’s 28th Street areas, including the old Klingman’s building.
The Chamber’s Government Matters meetings include representatives of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, Kent County, local Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, and, often, representatives of other regional, State of Michigan and Federal elected officials. The next meeting will be Jan. 8, 2018 at Wyoming City Hall.
The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26. Replays are also available online at WKTV’s government meetings on-demand page (wktv.viebit.com) and on the chamber’s Facebook page.
Get ready to kick off the holiday season with Kentwood’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, slated for Friday, Dec. 8.
Everyone is invited to attend an evening filled with festive events, which include a Light Parade, live holiday music, hay rides, and pictures with Santa. To fight off the winter chill, there will also be hot chocolate and cookies.
The free event will be held on Friday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Kentwood Public Library, 4950 Breton Ave. SE in Kentwood.
“2017 has been an exceptional year for our residents as we celebrated throughout the year our City’s 50th anniversary with spectacular events,” said Mayor Stephen Kepley. “We are ending the year with a memorable tradition for our residents, the Tree Lighting Ceremony.”
The night begins at 6 p.m. with a Light Parade between Kentwood’s Department of Public Works at 5068 Breton Ave. SE and The Kentwood Justice Center at 4740 Walma SE. The official tree lighting is slated for 6:30 p.m. in front of Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch. Following the tree lighting, there will be caroling and live holiday music from East Kentwood High School Jazz Ensemble. Throughout the evening, guests can hop on the hay ride, sip some hot chocolate while eating cookies and get a photo with Santa. There will also be the Elves Express Gift Shop, open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with gifts starting at $1.
Please be aware that Breton Avenue and Walma Avenue near City Hall will be temporarily closed from 5:50 p.m. to 6:25 p.m. for the parade.
Information is available on the City of Kentwood’s website, www.kentwood.us or by calling the Parks and Recreation Department at 616-656-5270. You can also follow the City of Kentwood on Facebook for the most up-to-date information regarding city events.
The Kentwood Activities Center is currently under renovations.
The Kentwood Activities Center at 355 48th St. SE will be closed for renovations from Dec. 7 to March 2, 2018.
During this time, scheduled programs will move to alternate locations, and staff will be relocated to Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE.
The renovation will include a new heating-cooling system, updated and expanded restrooms, updated sound system for the gymnasium and a certified commercial teaching kitchen. The teaching kitchen will provide expanded educational opportunities for the community. When not being used for instruction, it will be made available to caterers and other food business entrepreneurs. The renovation is the largest in more than 30 years for the building, which is one of the City’s oldest facilities.
The Little Food Pantry is located in the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE.
The project is estimated at $838,000, and made possible through the federal grant program Community Development Block Grant. The grant receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is distributed through Kent County.
The Design/Build project is being constructed and designed by CD Barnes Construction and Hooker DeJong.
A grand reopening of the Kentwood Activities Center is planned for March 2018. For questions regarding the construction or relocation of recreation programs, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 616-656-5270 or stop by the front desk at Kentwood City Hall.
The Kentwood Justice Center which houses the 62-B District Court
First-time offenders of Driving While License Suspended (DWLS) will now have the opportunity to use a free online program to restore their license and connect virtually with the city attorney to negotiate details of their case. Please refer to DWLS the charge is Driving While License Suspended set by statute
Thanks to a free online program, provided by Matterhorn by Court Innovations Inc., the 62-B District Court is able to provide virtual services to restore licenses and interact with the prosecuting official without multiple court appearances.
“This program streamlines the process of communicating with the court and the city attorney as much as possible by taking it online, and providing ample educational material and guidance on what needs to be done,” said Judge William G. Kelly. “We are committed to providing stellar customer service to those in our community, and this is another way to do that.”
For decades, suspending driving privileges has been used as a punitive measure against those with poor driving behaviors, such as drunk driving or multiple moving violations. However, according to a 2013 report from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, Best Practices Guide for Reducing Suspended Drivers, almost half of the suspensions are for offenses that have nothing to do with unsafe driving.
Forty percent of suspensions are for minor offenses like failing to pay a minor traffic or parking ticket. Many, particularly those in socio-economically challenged circumstances, risk driving on a suspended license and may not know their license was suspended. When caught driving with a suspended license, they’re charged with a misdemeanor.
Those are the cases the program aims to help, Kelly said.
“As permitted by Michigan law, prosecuting attorneys may offer a plea deal to first offenders where unsafe driving behavior is not involved. Getting the license unsuspended is usually a condition of the deal,” he explained.
Those eligible will be informed about the program at their arraignment. They will have a certain amount of time to get their suspension lifted and their license restored. Throughout the process, individuals receive emails and text messages to provide reminders and updates on the status of their case. After that, the prosecutor will review their case and record online, and will consider offering a plea deal.
The individual can accept the deal online without ever appearing in court. By resolving these matters online, prosecutors and citizens are able to reduce or eliminate in-person pre-trial conferences, and saving citizens multiple trips to court.
Motorists charged with driving with a suspended license in Kentwood can visit www.courtinnovations.com/MID62Bto resolve the matter online.
As West Michigan gears up for the holiday shopping season, the City of Kentwood is again offering a unique program with a track record of keeping crime down – and retailers happy.
Operation P.R.I.C.E. (Preventing Retail Theft Through Initiative, Collaboration & Enforcement) is a collaborative effort by Kentwood Police and local businesses along the 28th Street corridor to discourage shoplifting and to educate employees and store owners on ways to decrease crime during the holiday season. In 2016, retail theft cost U.S. retail industry an estimated $48.9 billion. Programs like Operation P.R.I.C.E aim to reduce these numbers and, ultimately, improve the shopping experience in the Kentwood community.
Kentwood Police, Woodland Mall and other local store owners partner together to increase police presence in stores and on the streets. Kentwood Police also provide education to store employees on spotting the warning signs of a potential crime and what to do when someone is caught.
The program was started in 2014 in order to help educate business owners and their employees on ways to reduce retail fraud in their stores.
In 2016, over 70 businesses participated in the program. The Kentwood Police Department anticipates just as many stores partnering with them this year.
The key, says Kentwood Police Chief Thomas Hillen, is working collaboratively with business owners.
“The partnership between officers and store owners is powerful,” Hillen said. “Since 2014, we have worked to build relationships and a mutual respect with retailers. Ultimately, we are working towards the same goal – reducing theft and crime in our community.”
Kentwood Police offer education opportunities for businesses to learn more about warning signs of shoplifters. In the past four years, calls for services have increased, which means store owners and employees are using the police as a resource – and keeping theft down.
“The more employees know about the warning signs of a shoplifter, the more empowered they feel to call us for assistance,” Hillen said.
Woodland Mall has certainly seen positive impacts of Operation P.R.I.C.E. since its inception. This year, Kentwood Police will be more visible than ever in the mall.
“We appreciate how proactive Operation P.R.I.C.E. and the Kentwood Police have worked to keep retail fraud down during the busy holiday season,” said Lyndsey Hicks, director of marketing at Woodland Mall. “More than just the visibility of seeing officers in and around the mall, store owners have expressed gratitude about the education provided to spot potential shoplifters. The personal connection between officers and employees makes it easy to call for help when suspicious activity is spotted.”
In addition to focusing on retail theft, police presence is increased on the roadways, which also reduces speeding and traffic incidents.
Operation P.R.I.C.E will run from Nov. 24 – Jan. 5. During this time, shoppers will see police officers in stores near the Woodland Mall and along 28th Street, West Michigan’s prime retail corridor.
It is not that the Kent County Clerk’s office, or city clerks in both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, were expecting issues with the county’s new election equipment in the system’s debut Nov. 7 — an election dominated by local millage requests and city elections of little controversy.
But the election day did produce the as-expected small voter turnout while also revealing a few issues with the new equipment now easily remedied before elections of more state and national interest, and higher voter volume, come in 2018.
“Any time there is a transition as large as this — the first change in equipment and learned practices and procedures in over a decade — there are going to be challenges and areas to improve upon,” Robert Macomber, Chief Deputy County Clerk, said to WKTV Friday, slightly more than a week after the recent voting day, and after that day’s meeting between the county clerk’s office and local city clerks. “This ‘off-year’ election offered the county a tremendous opportunity to implement the changes when turnout was smaller, but still having elections in a large number of precincts and varying size of municipalities.”
Vote turnout was small, with only 11.2 percent of Wyoming’s 49,658 registered voters doing so, and 12.8 percent of Kentwood’s 35,178 registered voters doing so.
The voting system issues exposed on Nov. 7 were also small, according to Macomber, City of Wyoming City Clerk Kelli VandenBerg, and City of Kentwood City Clerk Dan Kasunic — most notably delays in reporting results from the precinct level to the county level, and inability of some voters to use new “adaptive” ballot marking devices.
Voting machines in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood looked similar to ones voters were used to. (Supplied)
After more than a year review and selection process, Kent County Clerk and Register of Deeds Lisa Posthumus Lyons early this year selected Dominion Voting Systems, Inc. as the vendor for Kent County’s new election equipment and local firm ElectionSource for associated software. The plan for the new voting machines was to have them used by all voting bodies in Kent County starting with the November election.
Some clerks across the state planned to use their new machines at the August 2017 election, and all municipalities are required to have the new machines in place by the August 2018 election.
Some experiences familiar, some were new
It appears the new machines — which still feature individual manual voting cards and stand-alone tabulators not connected to the internet — worked as expected and it was pretty much the same voter experience as with the old equipment. But a new system by which precinct totals are uploaded to a new county-controlled interactive precinct map experienced some delays, and, at least in Wyoming, special needs voters experienced some issues.
“Anytime you have change, there will be some reconciliation between what you expect to happen and what actually happens,” VandenBerg said to WKTV. “The equipment is new, but the concept or function of the new equipment is essentially the same. I think our poll workers responded very well and I did not receive any complaints from voters.
Kent County’s new voting machines operated much like the ones the public is familiar with — and they are never connected to the internet. (Supplied)
“For the average voter who marks and casts a ballot in the tabulator, I doubt their experience differed from previous elections. For voters using the adaptive equipment — ballot marking device, the difference would have been more notable. I am aware of a couple of instances where the selections made by voters or poll workers did not enable the audio on the adaptive devices. Based on required testing before each election, I know the audio works and so I know this is a topic that we will spend more time on in future trainings.
VandenBerg said she has “shared some recommendations (with the county on the issue) … but also have some training strategies in mind if those recommendations cannot be incorporated.”
In Kentwood, Kasunic also saw and dealt with a few small issues.
“As with any new equipment, it is expected to have some challenges, all of which were dealt with quickly and without any interruption of the election process,” he said to WKTV. “All of these have been addressed with the state, county and vendor.”
Kasunic added that he thought “all of the reporting went better than we thought, with a couple slowdowns because we have new equipment and procedures.”
Those “slowdowns” in reporting are probably getting the most attention by the clerks.
“One area that I thought might be problematic was the transmission of results at the end of election night,” VandenBerg said. “This equipment allows each precinct to modem results directly to Kent County and only 2 of Wyoming’s 26 tabulators were unable to modem results. Neither was the result of equipment failure, but rather an oversight by the poll workers adapting to a new process. In these cases, each (local) clerk has been provided equipment to allow for the transmission of results and I did so within a few minutes of receiving the necessary information from the precinct.”
New county system for rapid reporting of results
The changes to reporting are part of a new county system of quickly getting results out the public as well as to county, state and — eventually — federal officials.
“Election night reporting is the area where we’ve made the most noticeable change to the public,” Macomber said. “In previous elections, Kent County voters would often not have access to complete results in some instances until midnight, and that data was in non-interactive form. With our new equipment, the precincts modem the results to the county and on election night we had our first results within minutes of the polls closing.”
The new reporting system allows for public access through an interactive, map-based reporting feature developed by ElectionSource and accessible via the county’s website: accesskent.com.
“For this past election we unveiled an initial version, with the fully-functional version being ready for 2018’s elections,” Macomber said. “The public response to the faster, user friendly reporting feature has been very positive.”
But, VandenBerg added, it is not just night-of reporting which should be looked at: “I do think there is room for improvement on the reporting side, especially as it relates to canvassing and archival purposes. … I have shared some recommendations on that as well.”
And, Kasunic also advocated for a reporting tweak: “The county is working with the vendor to add features to the reporting to provide percentage of turnout of voters on election night.”
The lessons learned from the Nov. 7 election, and the results of the meeting with local clerks, will likely lead to some changes at the county level.
“This election provided the county and local clerks the ability to implement and identify the ways our internal procedures and controls conform to — or are challenged by — the new system,” Macomber said. “Where there were challenges, we’ll be working with our vendors, the state elections bureau, and our local clerks to implement changes that ensure consistency, security, and transparency.”
Two members of the Kent County Board of Commissioners were present at the October’s Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Matters meetings Monday — and if you think the county’s budget planning process is not big news consider that its proposed 2018 budget will total nearly half of a billion dollars.
The monthly meeting brings together government leaders of all levels to discuss issues of importance and presents those discussions through WKTV’s live, delayed and on-demand broadcasts.
At the Monday, Nov. 14, meeting at Kentwood City Hall, commissioners Harold Voorhees (District 8/City of Wyoming) and Harold Mast (District 12/Wyoming and Kentwood) both discussed aspects of the county’s $417.6 million budget, set to be approved at a board meeting Thursday, Nov. 30. at 8:30 a.m. The Kent County Board of Commissioners govern a huge range of programs and expenditures ranging the sheriff’s office, to the county’s elections, to veterans services.
Among the other multi-level government discussions topics at the meeting were the the status of federal tax reform — including two local businessmen voicing support for the lowering of business tax rates, as well as continued upgrades at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport and state efforts to combat opioid addiction and abuse.
The Chamber’s Government Matters meetings include representatives of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, Kent County, local Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, and, often, representatives of other regional, State of Michigan and Federal elected officials. The next meeting will be Dec. 11 at Kentwood City Hall.
The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26. Replays are also available online at WKTV’s government meetings on-demand page (wktv.viebit.com) and on the chamber’s Facebook page.
“I am a man who likes to cross the t’s and dot the i’s,” said Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley as he watched the poll numbers roll in from the 2017 election results at his evening campaign headquaters at Kentwood’s Paris Cafe & Desserts.
By 8:30 p.m., Kepley had a secure lead of 3 to 1 to his challenger Scott Urbanowski. It was a lead that Kepley never relinquished with him winning his bid for a second term with 2,116 votes to Urbanowski’s 696.
“I am really excited about the next four years,”Kepley said. “I truly love serving the citizens. I love the city, the residents and the neighbors.”
Kepley said he believes it is a team effort of the city managers and department heads who have made the positive decisions to push the city forward and he is excited about seeing the “positive changes we can make in Kentwood” over the next four years.
“Ultimately, I did not convince enough people that Kentwood needed change in the Mayor’s Office and that I was in the best position to make that change,” Urbanowski said in a released statement. “Nevertheless, I’m grateful to everyone who voted, volunteered, or donated in support of this young person with no elected experience or establishment support.
“I am glad that I was able to spark conversations about issues that matter; to help boost interest in local government; and to get to know Kentwood and its people even better.”
1st Ward City Commission Candidate Emily Bridson takes photos with supporters.
Challenger Emily Bridson had to wait a little longer before celebrating her victory last night. Bridson held a 2-to-1 lead over incumbent Gerald DeMaagd for most of the night with her winning the 1st Ward City Commission seat with 890 votes to DeMaagd’s 451.
“I am really excited about this opportunity,” Bridson said from her campaign celebration at Peppino’s South. “I have met so many people and made a lot of new friends. I have a greater understanding of a lot of priorities from what they love about our city and what they would like to see changed. I am going to work on a strategic plan to address those changes.”
Bridson said she is very honored to have gone through this process. “I want to thank Jerry for his service,” Bridson said. “I am excited and looking forward to to working with Mayor Kepley and the commission.”
In statement released this morning, incumbent DeMaagd said:
“Emily Bridson has won the Kentwood 1st Ward City Commission seat by substantial margins. She conducted a textbook campaign, and executed well. She is smart, capable, and deserves the win based on her efforts.
“I think there is a further story here though, given the level of outside influence on both the mayoral and commission races which are officially non-partisan. The pre-election campaign reports filed with Kent County show that 53 of Bridson’s contributors were from other cities outside Kentwood, and only 5 from Kentwood (plus herself). Post-election campaign reports aren’t due until Dec. 7. Allegedly she was endorsed by the UAW (United Auto Workers), although she did not advertise it. On the other hand, the mayoral candidate, Scott Urbanowski’s campaign literature does state that he was ‘ENDORSEDby the Kent County Democratic Party’.
“Although these actions are perfectly legal, it does show the amount of outside interest in what is essentially a local race.
“As a candidate, I received several calls from voters about my position relative to national issues. They say all politics is local… but I think that for Kentwood it’s actually the reverse: All local politics is now national!“
It’s time to pair your running shoes with your favorite ugly sweater for Kentwood’s Ugly Sweater 5K Cross Country Run.
The race will begin at noon on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Stormy Creek Golf Course, 3460 36th St., Kentwood. The course will wind through the golf course, making for a fun and challenging run. The City, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2017, is inviting runners and walkers to join this unique type of race.
“This is the first time the City has offered a cross country race. Participants will get to run on grass and gravel, cross bridges and even be challenged with a couple of hills,” said Laura Barbrick, marketing and events coordinator of Kentwood’s Parks and Recreation Department. “The ugly sweater aspect adds a fun twist that the whole family can enjoy.”
Runners and spectators are encouraged to dress up for this fun 5k and show off their ugliest sweater. After the race, there will be an awards ceremony for both runners and the ugliest sweaters.
Registration is $35 and includes a knit beanie. For more registration information, visit www.kentwood50.com.
A series of home invasions in the area of 52nd Street and Eastern Avenue have the Kentwood Police Department asking for the community’s help to identify and locate the suspect(s) who may be responsible.
According to a recently released police report, the suspect is an unknown male who may be wearing the jacket seen in the accompanying photos.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentwood Police Department at 616-698-6580 or Silent Observer at 800-774-2345.
In addition, the Kentwood Police Department is also reminding its citizens to keep their doors locked, exterior lights on and their garage doors shut at night and to call the local police department if they see or hear anything suspicious.
WKTV takes seriously its role as a communications provider. We want our community to be well-informed and more involved in local matters.
In the city of Kentwood, residents will be heading to the polls on Nov. 7 to elect new city officers and city commission members. Of the six positions up for election, only two are contested, the Mayor position and a 1st Ward City Commission seat. Below are the candidates for the 1st Ward Commission seat.
Emily Bridson
Name: Emily Bridson
Challenger for the First Ward City Commission Seat
Why did you decide to run for election to this office? [After attending several city commission meetings, Bridson said] Mayor Kepley approached me after a city commission meeting and said, “You know, if you keep showing up, we’ll give you a job to do.” It was back then that I decided to part of the solution. I seized the opportunity to become a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission and also the Planning Commission. It was one of the best decisions I have made: I have learned a tremendous amount about how the city works with other municipalities, and the importance of being an effective member of a committee, of listening to my neighbor’s input, and of serving our city. I’ve learned that all of us, by getting involved with local government, can have a positive impact on our families, neighborhoods, parks and the future of our city.
As you are aware, the City of Kentwood just recently marked its 50th anniversary. What challenges/issues do you believe the city will need to address to continue to build upon its success? Based on the many conversations I have had with residents, my vision for our city includes: investing in education – so that every child has a well-funded, effective education; promoting equity and inclusion – Kentwood’s boards and commissions should reflect our community. When inclusivity connects our community, we all win; improving our public places – investing in parks and recreation enhances our residents’ lives through activities and green spaces; prioritizing public safety – for everyone…for a safer community.
Gerald DeMaagd
Name: Gerald DeMaagd,
Incumbent for the First Ward City Commission Seat
Current position: I retired from Steelcase in 2001 after 27 years. I was a data security team leader.
Why did you decide to run for election/re-election to this office? I decided to run for re-election to continue working on improving governance at the commission level. Governance describes how the commission itself is organized.
As you are aware, the City of Kentwood just recently marked its 50th anniversary. What challenges/issues do you believe the city will need to address to continue to build upon its success? The challenge for Kentwood in the coming years will be long-term fiscal sustainability after the city is fully developed. Currently our tax base is expanding as new commercial, industrial, and housing development occurs…providing a growth dividend. When fully built out, this revenue increase will plateau.
Those seeking re-election in uncontested City of Kentwood races are Dan Kasunic for City Clerk; Laurie Sheldon for City Treasurer; and Betsy Artz for City Commissioner-at-Large. Tom McKelvy is running unopposed as well for a 2nd Ward Commission seat currently held by Erwin Haas who is not seeking re-election.
WKTV takes seriously its role as a communications provider. We want our community to be well-informed and more involved in local matters.
In the city of Kentwood, residents will be heading to the polls on Nov. 7 to elect new city officers and city commission members. Of the six positions up for election, only two are contested: the Mayor position and a 1st Ward City Commission seat. Below are the candidates running for mayor.
Stephen Kepley
Name: Stephen Kepley
Incumbent
Current position: Mayor of the City of Kentwood
Why did you decide to run for election/re-election to this office? I believe it is a calling in my life and that there are definitely goals I want to accomplish in the coming years such as continuing the work on the Kentwood Community Foundation. This was a private foundation which we have worked to make public and are now focused on building an endowment.
As you are aware, the City of Kentwood just recently marked its 50th anniversary. What challenges/issues do you believe the city will need to address to continue to build upon its success? We have been celebrating our past this year and through that we have learned that our residents look to our city to have some of these special city events through our Parks and Recreation Department. These include the farmers market, the Ugly Sweater 5k run, and the outdoor concerts. The residents see added value to keeping these type of events going. We still have a strong work climate, and jobs where people can work remain important which is why Kentwood will always be “open for business.” Kentwood also has a lot of open space and there are needs for housing. We are planning that infrastructure, and while Kentwood still has room to grow, we need to be planning for long-term sustainability of revenue income.
Scott Urbanowski
Name: Scott Urbanowski
Challenger
Current position: President and founder of Humanoid Digital, a digital media company
Why did you decide to run for election/re-election to this office? Originally I had considered the city commission; however, there was a push for me to run for mayor because of my leadership and managerial experience. I know what it is like to struggle with economic difficulties, and having lived through that I feel I understand the needs of all the residents of our community.
As you are aware, the City of Kentwood just recently marked its 50th anniversary. What challenges/issues do you believe the city will need to address to continue to build upon its success? I have a platform of safer, stronger, more engaged and better-managed safety. I would like to see more police patrols and more Neighborhood Watch groups in areas of high crime. Budget sustainability is another key component. Also, I would like to focus on the process of appointments to city boards, making it a more formalized process along with increasing awareness and communication of the positions available within the city.
Those seeking re-election in uncontested City of Kentwood races are Dan Kasunic for City Clerk; Laurie Sheldon for City Treasurer; and Betsy Artz for City Commissioner-at-Large. Tom McKelvy is running unopposed as well for a 2nd Ward Commission seat currently held by Erwin Haas, who is not seeking re-election.
In Focus today is Michael Bulthuis of The Rapid public transit system. The Rapid, on November 7, will be asking for renewal of the system’s current 1.47 mil local property tax millage. (WKTV)
By Hannah Haviland, WKTV Editorial Assistant
news@wktv.org
At the upcoming Nov. 7 election, residents of the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood are being asked to consider a 1.47 millage rate so that The Rapid can continue serving these cities along with four other municipalities in the greater Grand Rapids area.
The millage request, which is listed as the Interurban Transit Partnership Board Transit Millage Ballot Proposal 2018-2019 on the Nov. 7 ballot, is not an increase, but rather would replace the current Rapid millage of 1.47 mills which is set to expire in July of 2018.
According to information supplied by The Rapid, for a $100,000 home with a taxable value of $50,000, the homeowner would continue to pay around $73.50 a year for the millage. The millage, which has been active for the past seven years, is about a third of The Rapid’s total budget of $44 million, covering about $15.5 million. The majority of the rest of the budget comes from the Michigan Department of Transportation’s local bus operating assistance and passenger fares.
Because the millage makes up such a large percentage of The Rapids’ operational expenses, without the renewal, most of the fixed route services that the millage helps fund would not be be able to operate, according to The Rapid Marketing and Communications Director Michael Bulthuis, who sat down to talk about the millage in a recent WKTV Journal: In Focus segment.
“Most of our riders are using the bus at least once a week, if not every day, for a work related activity,” Bulthuis said. “If you consider that we have between 11 to 12 million rides every year, 80 percent of those rides are work related trips.”
Each of the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood have nine Rapid routes not counting the Silver Line. These are among the 22 routes that would potentially be shut down if the millage doesn’t pass.
“You would start to see service cuts, frankly, because you’re not getting that $15.5 million in millage funding,” Bulthuis said. “That millage funding also helps leverage state funding so you’re losing millions of dollars in state funding as well.”
The millage has been active for the last seven years, and if it passes, will continue at the same rate of 1.47 for twelve more years. If, however, it doesn’t pass, all of The Rapids’ normal bus routes would cease. The Rapid would only be able to operate on a contractual basis for entities that would entirely cover the cost of its service. Go!Bus, the service for the elderly and disabled, would also be drastically decreased, putting people in that demographic at risk of missing doctor’s appointments or other needed services.
The millage funds are only used for everyday expenses such as wages for employees, fuel, tires, and other essential needs. It is not used for other projects such as new buses, buildings, or project construction. The Silver Line, which operates along Division Avenue connecting downtown Grand Rapids to the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, would also not be affected since it is funded by state and federal grants.
The WKTV Journal: In Focus episode including the discussion about The Rapid millage, and a discussion with Wyoming Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Reeder on his district’s millage request, will air twice this week on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.
“WKTV Journal: In Focus” will air on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 6:30 p.m., on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.
Kentwood Public School’s fifth graduating class came together recently to celebrate their 50th anniversary. The year: 1967, when Aretha Franklin was singing for respect, the first Boeing 737 rolled out, and Paris township became the City of Kentwood.
Steve Barnes with classmate Russ Bullis Russ’s wife Betsy.
“They incorporated all the schools that were connected and became part of Kentwood Public Schools which eventually lead into the City of Kentwood,” said Clare Harrington.
The old classmates were eager to recount stories from their time at Kentwood schools. These memories backtrack to a time before Kentwood was even a city.
“The high school was actually in the Townline building at the same time we were in the middle school before the actual high school was built on 44th Street,” Russ Bullis said.
The Class of 1967 had its 50th Class Reunion at the 84th Street Pub &Grille.
Later, the students would move from the Townline Elementary School to the new high school, today’s Crestwood Middle School located on 44th Street near Walma Avenue. Crestwood, which opened in 1960, housed students in grades 7th – 12th grade. The first Kentwood Public Schools graduating class was in 1963. East Kentwood High School, located on Kalamazoo Avenue, was built in 1969 and even through the Class of 1967 had graduated by the time the high school was built, many of the students could recall special events that took place at East Kentwood High School.
“I remember when the football field went in and the track, and they named it after Patterson,” said Steve Barnes, whose mother is credited in naming the City of Kentwood and whose father, Clifford, was on the Kentwood Public Schools Board of Education. Clifford Barnes served as the first board president. “And that was something big because we didn’t even have that.”
“We were a country school, bottom line,” Harrington said. “It was because of the country setting that we had there for Kentwood High School, they used to call us ‘silo high.'”
But nobody would call Kentwood Schools “silo high” now. The population of this city is 50,000 and growing. And much of that growth can be credited to former Kentwood students who chose to stay and build their lives in their home city.
“I’m just glad that I was a part of it because it’s kinda unique to see it happen,” Harrington said. “Now look at Kentwood today, it’s one of the industrial giants that we have around the whole Grand Rapids area.”
Russ Bullis looks over some of the Class of 1967 memorabilia.
Flashback: In celebration of Kentwood’s 50 anniversary, here’s a photo from a 1980s Halloween event.
Calling all ghouls, monsters, superheroes, princesses and other trick-or-treaters: You are invited to attend the City of Kentwood’s annual Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 21.
Trunk or Treat will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at Kentwood Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Road SE, Kentwood. The City, which is celebrating 50 years in 2017, is inviting families from West Michigan to join in the event.
Children are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and bring their own candy-collection bag. More than 20 businesses and City departments will be handing out candy and other treats throughout the morning. In addition to the trunks, there will be games, face painting, a bounce house and hay rides.
Some more flashback fun in honor of Kentwood’s 50th anniversary.
“Trunk or Treat gets bigger every year, which is really reflective of the growth in our community,” said Laura Barbrick, marketing and events coordinator of Kentwood’s Parks and Recreation Department. “It was created to provide families a safe and fun opportunity to trick or treat.
“Local businesses and organizations are invited to attend and decorate their vehicles with Halloween themes. It’s a great time for families to connect with local organizations and businesses in a fun, high-energy day.”
The event is free for those participating in trick or treating. There is no cost for those organizations wishing to reserve a parking space, however they must supply their own candy. For more information or to register a vehicle, please contact Laura Barbrick at barbrickl@ci.kentwood.mi.us or 616-656-5272.
The Kentwood Farmers Market will close with a bang this Saturday as it hosts a Harvest Celebration.
Located in front of the KDL Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE, the event will include yard games and a Halloween craft for children. Also, the first 30 people who come out will be given a farmers goodie bag filled with local produce.
“Some of our vendors, especially those who are seasonal, are not there at this time but it still is a great opportunity to say good-bye to the ones who will be there,” said Denise Dawson, who is the person from the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department, who oversees the Kentwood Farmers Market.
This year, the closing Harvest Celebration will include food donations for the city’s Little Free Pantry located at the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. The Little Free Pantry is for neighbors helping neighbors with those who can, stocking the pantry, and those in need, taking from it.
This is the third season of the Kentwood Farmers Market and while final numbers for the program will not be available until later this month, Dawson said the Kentwood Farmers Market has meet with much success.
“Residents are really getting use to having the farmers market every Saturday,” she said.
The Kentwood Farmers Market will reopen in June 2018.
From left to right, Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley, Chamber forum moderator Kathy Bates, Chamber President Bob O’Callaghan and mayoral candidate Scott Urbanowski . (Supplied)
While there are actually six City of Kentwood elected positions on the Nov. 7 ballot, only the position of mayor and one of the 1st Ward commissioner seats find incumbents facing challenge.
But the candidates for those seats were face-to-face recently as the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual candidate forum at the Kentwood City Library — and WKTV was there, covering it all, and now those forums are available to the public either on our cable channels or on-demand over the Internet.
During the candidate forum, Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley and challenger Scott Urbanowski answered questions selected by the chamber and the audience, as did incumbent commissioner Jerry DeMaagd and challenger Emily Bridson.
WKTV’s initial rebroadcasts of the Sept. 21 candidate forum will be on Comcast Channel 26 and AT&T Channel 99 Government Friday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m., with the commissioner forum first, then again on Saturday, Sept. 30, at noon, with the mayoral forum first.
Both programs are available on-demand over the internet at wktv.viebit.com.
Jerry DeMaagd.
At the candidate forum, Commissioner DeMaagd, who is running for a second term, touted his being a longtime Kentwood resident as well as his efforts for long-term city planning — “I have a passion for organization,” he said at one point.
Emily Bridson
Bridson, who said she moved to the city in 2011 and bought a home two years ago because “I have a passion for this city”, stressed her work for the city as a planning commission member, a park and recreation commission member, and on the current 50th anniversary committee.
Scott Urbanowski
During the mayoral forum, Urbanowski introduced himself by saying he has “worked, studied, lived and prayed in this city,” and repeatedly stated that “the city could be better managed.”
Stephen Kepley
Mayor Kepley, as part of his discussion, said that he is proud of his and the city’s accomplishments during his tenure — “We have a great report card.” And he pointed out that in a strong mayor governing system, as Kentwood has, “This is a big job. There is no learning curve.”
The mayor and the 1st Ward positions are each 4-year terms. Also on the ballot for new 4-year terms are Commissioner Member At Large incumbent Betsy A. Artz, Commissioner 2nd Ward incumbent Tom McKelvey, incumbent city clerk Dan Kasunic and incumbent city treasurer Laurie Sheldon.
Also on the ballot in Kentwood will be the renewal of The Rapid’s operating millage which funds the greater Grand Rapids public transportation system.
A packed house for last year’s South Kent Community Expo has lead to four community organizations hosting the event again this year.
The South Kent Community Expo is set for this Saturday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Kentwood High School, 6230 Kalamazoo Ave. SE. Hosted by the City of Kentwood, the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce, Cutlerville-Gaines Area Chamber of Commerce and Kentwood Public Schools, the Expo features more than 80 different community business vendors.
Along with those vendors, there will be safety demonstrations by Kentwood Police and Fire Departments, said Kentwood Parks and Recreation Marketing and Events Coordinator Laura Barbrick. The two departments are scheduled to demonstrate cutting a car in half to show how police and fire personnel train for emergency rescues. There also will be family activities and a job fair.
“The job fair includes companies and organizations looking to fill part-time and full-time positions,” said Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department Assistant Director Lorraine Beloncis. “Many businesses are expanding their job force. This event is a great way to connect companies hiring with people looking for jobs.”
According to Bob O’Callagan, president/CEO of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, the expo is designed to bring in a representation of businesses and organizations in the Wyoming, Kentwood, Gaines and Cutlerville areas. Products and services that will be highlighted include financial planning, retail, medical, home improvement an entertainment.
The concept for the South Kentwood Community Expo came about last year, according to O’Callagahn.
“The Kentwood Parks and Recreation department hosted a health expo and they were running out of space at the location they were at along with the fact that we at the chamber and Cutlervile-Gaines have hosted similar events in the past,” O’Callaghan said. “Coming together, we felt that we had more options and a better opportunity to reach a broader range of residents.”
By combining efforts, the South Kent Community Expo last year drew residents from all over to the East Kentwood High School and this year’s expo also is expected to be well attended.
“The South Kent Community Expo highlights the best our community has to offer,” Beloncis said. “You’ll have the opportunity to support local businesses, taste different cuisines, see who is hiring and experience fun cultural events throughout the day. There really is a little bit of everything.”
The City of Kentwood will host one last hurrah to summer as it brings in more than 30 food trucks for its second annual End of Summer Food Truck Festival.
Set for Saturday, Sept. 16, the event is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the parking lots of the KDL Kentwood (Richard l. Root) Branch, 4650 Breton Rd. SE, and the Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Rd. SE.
The event is definitely bigger than last year, said Kentwood Parks and Recreation Marketing and Events Coordinator Laura Barbrick. This is partly due to a partnership with GR Loves Food Trucks which helped to bring trucks from all over West Michigan and even a few that are based further away. Barbrick noted there is even a truck coming that will be selling Lularoe clothing.
“The popularity of food trucks continues to grow in West Michigan,” said GR Loves Food Trucks President Alan Stone. “Our partnership with Kentwood is about bringing the community together for something everyone enjoys ‘eating delicious food.’”
Blue Spoon also will be at his year’s End of Summer Food Truck Festival.
Barbrick agreed with Stone about the growing popularity of food trucks which is part of the reason the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department decided last year to host the End of Summer Food Truck Festival. Because both the food trucks and Parks and Recreation Department have such busy summer schedule, it was decided to have the event in the fall, she said.
“With food trucks ranging from barbecue to seafood to desserts, we’re confident everyone will find something they like,” Barbrick said.
Also new this year, according to Barbrick, is a beer tent which will serve a variety of beer and cider along with selections from Railtown Brewing Company. The beer tent will open at 11 a.m.
Local live music will be featured onstage throughout the day with bands Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish, Elroy Meltzer, Blue Nan & the Household featuring Stan Greene, and Kari Lynch. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs. There also will be cornhole tournament open to teams of two from noon to 4 p.m. To register, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 616-656-5270.
Food trucks attending this years End of Summer Food Truck Festival include the following:
Dar Baas, Director of the Kent County Department of Public Works, visits the set of WKTV Journal: In Focus. (WKTV)
WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
On the latest episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus”, WKTV’s public affairs show, we bring to the public a discussion with the Kent County official leading methane mitigation efforts at the closed Kentwood landfill — and the free testing available to property owners around the site. And, in the second in a series of interviews with Wyoming’s new city councilors, WKTV’s Ken Norris also talks with Rob Postema on his first few months on the job.
The new episode will air twice a week on WKTV channels starting this week and running through Sept. 22. Along with all episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus, the new interviews are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.
In the interview with Darwin J. “Dar” Baas, Director of the Kent County Department of Public Works, he told WKTV that while about 150 property owners within 1,500-feet of the landfill’s western boundary are eligible for free on-site testing for methane, so far, only eight of the property owners have had their homes tested.
“We coordinate it, and then a local engineering firm — Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber — they actually come in and do the testing,” Baas said. “They have a form and a system that they use. Takes about an hour. It is very non-intrusive. For those that have had the testing done, they have been very pleased with how quickly we are in and out. And how well it goes.”
At the time of the interview, none of the tests had come back positive. The county is the point agency on the closed Kentwood landfill and methane mitigation efforts. Recently, the county announced expanded mitigation efforts.
In the interview with Postema, he talked about his long history in the city, including a stint as a member of the city’s planning commission.
Wyoming City Councilor Rob Postema. (WKTV)
“Planning commission is a good lead-in to being on city council,” he said. “You get involved with meeting with a lot of the citizens, at some of the public meetings, and you really get a good feel for how city government works. … But what you are really not prepared for is some of the other issues that they deal with, the non-zoning issues. I’ve had a great experience, so far, everybody views city council as ‘Its a team’.”
Postema, who was elected last year to represent the City’s Third Ward, grew up in Wyoming, attended Lee and South Christian high schools, graduated from Calvin College, and now works with his father and brother at an architectural and engineering firm in the city.
“WKTV Journal: In Focus” will started airing on Tuesday, Sept. 12, and will air on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 6:30 p.m., on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.
