Girls on the Run - WKTV Journal

‘The Final Show’ production still (photo supplied)

By Elizabeth McEwen, Girls on the Run of Kent and Muskegon Counties

Did you know as recently as 2014, only about 20% of leads or co-leads in major movie entertainment were female?

There are 2.13 male directors for every 1 female. This is hugely problematic for our girls, as the stories they are seeing aren’t theirs. The narratives they are hearing aren’t theirs. We do a huge disservice to our girls by filling the airwaves with depictions that are not only absent of the female voice, but sometimes (and even more detrimentally) misrepresenting the female voice.

That’s where LUNAFEST comes in — this traveling film festival was started in 2000 by the makers of LUNA bars to help elevate women’s voices and our stories.

Join us in celebrating women behind the camera at LUNAFEST 2019. This traveling short film festival by, for, and about women is brought to you by LUNA to benefit Muskegon Girls on the Run on March 7th, and Kent County Girls on the Run on March 14th.

We’ll be holding a screening at 5:30pm on Thursday evening, March 7th, at The Block, 360 W. Western Ave, Muskegon, MI. On Thursday, March 14th at 5pm, we’re holding a screening at Wealthy Theater, 1130 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI. Join us for food and drinks, friends and fun!

Earlybird tickets are only $18, and include heavy appetizers! Go here to purchase tickets. Contact Elizabeth.mcewen@girlsontherun.org for more information. Download a pdf of the film lineup here.

LUNAFEST was the first all-women travelling film festival to hit the screens and amplify the voices of strong women everywhere. The first event was small, but hopeful, screening in California. Today, there are screenings in more than 175 cities across the nation where the work of talented women filmmakers are showcased.

Mosby’s Popcorn Palace owners Brian and Shave Mosby. (Photo: Michigan Radio)

By Lindsay Papciak

Community Writer

Each year, around 70 percent of popcorn consumed in the United States is sold in movie theaters. For gourmet popcorn business owner Brian Mosby, popcorn deserves more flavor attention than classic butter. He and his family opened Mosby’s Popcorn Palace in 2015. It is located at 6155 Kalamazoo Ave SE in Kentwood.

Besides being a family-favorite snack, Mosby got started in the gourmet popcorn industry in order to collaborate with other businesses within the family. One of these businesses is Bouncing Palace, an inflatable and game rental service which hosts mainly school and corporate events. Both give schools and organizations the opportunity to fundraise while benefitting the small business sector.

Lots of options available at Mosby’s Popcorn Palace.

“Grand Rapids is driven by small businesses,” Mosby said. “I think [Mosby’s Popcorn Palace] is what is missing from the community and it’s just fun.”

Mosby encourage newcomers of the shop to brave away from the classic butter and caramel and try favorites such as Frank’s Red Hot, red velvet, and even dill pickle. “Popcorn is a flavor vessel,” Mosby said. “We have recipes for about 100 flavors. There really is no rhyme or reason to our flavor thought process. We just have a little fun in the kitchen.”

Although all flavors are available upon request, Mosby’s rotates through flavors based on the categories of butter, kettle, caramel, candy, cheese & savory and premium. It is the goal to create a consistent product every time. “It’s a struggle sometimes, being here so many hours, meeting the demand of our growing business,” Mosby said. “Nothing else will be important if our taste isn’t spot-on”

Mosby believes popcorn was just the first step. “Our first two and a half years we wanted to make sure that [popcorn] would be something sustainable,” Mosby said. “We’re getting a following underneath our feet now so we want to start bringing in more products to our line.”

As a way to incorporate a nostalgia factor to the shop, selections of Faygo and Jones Soda have been added as popcorn pairings. Mosby is looking to add items like old-school candies and fudge. “We’re trying to create more of an experience,” he said.

You can find Mosby popcorn at local farmers markets. Just check their Facebook on locations.

Mosby’s is mainly fundraiser and event-driven, making appearances at GVSU sporting events, Girls on the Run, and Movies in the Park. With its continued growth, an online store just launched in March of this year. Mosby’s is looking to branch out and ramp up production to become state-known.

“We’re not going to mention the store just yet, but we have new retail opportunity that’s going to be kicking off in the fall,” Mosby said. “We have some shelves in some grocery stores. It’s exciting to take on the challenge of seeing what that production can look like how we can grow.”

To learn more about Mosby’s Popcorn, visit their website at mosbyspopcorn.com or contact at 616-260-6466.