Tag Archives: santa

Snapshots: Some holiday fun to do this weekend

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, ,

By Anna Johns
WKTV Intern



You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

May West, American actress, 1893 – 1980



Write a letter to Santa

Take some time and write a letter to Santa. Kids have until Dec. 18 to get their requests into Santa. Deliver your letters to the “North Pole” mailbox at Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE, or the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. Letters can also be mailed to Santa’s P.O. Box at 8448, Kentwood, MI 49518. All letters will receive a response from Santa, just be sure to include your return address. For more details visit kentwood.us/letterstosanta.

 

Visit the Big Guy


Grab your family and drive over to Little Pine Island Camp for a drive-thru Santa visit. Along the path, there will be various stations full of refreshments, games, and takeaways. Attendees have to remain in their vehicles as they drive along the trail from station to station. The event is free to attend however it is asked that guests pre-register to ensure that all children attending the event will receive a gift. Little Pine Island Camp is located at 6889 Pine Island Dr. NE in Comstock Park. The event will take place Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 


Take in a Christmas Lite Show

Grab your friends and family and take a drive through the Christmas Lite Show located at the Fifth Third Ballpark, 4500 W. River Dr. NE. One of West Michigan’s largest, animated, drive-thru light shows is now celebrating its 23rd year of entertaining people of all ages. To drive through the show tickets start at $25 (price varies on the type of vehicle). There is also an option to take a ride through the show on the Memory Lane Train. Tickets for the train are $60 per row. Each row includes 4 adult seats and small children can sit on adults laps for free. The show takes place on Sundays to Thursdays from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m and on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30 to 10 p.m. The show is open through Jan. 2. To learn more details or to book a group train ride, call or text 616-745-9955 or visit christmasliteshow.com.

(Supplied by Woodland Mall)

Fun Fact:
Santa didn’t always wear red

Did you know that the big jolly man in the red suit with a white beard didn’t always look that way? Before 1931, there were many different depictions of Santa. He had a variety of looks from a tall lanky man to a short elf. He even once wore a green suit. It was Coca-Cola that helped create the modern image of Santa. In 1931, the company placed advertisements that showed a realistic Santa Claus wearing a red robe with white trim and the image stuck.

Snapshots: Kentwood, Wyoming news you need to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , ,

My lovely November,

Have you seen my heart somewhere in your castle of yellow leaves?

A Waltz for Zizi, written by Yoko Kanno

Now Serving

Today’s the day! The Cheesecake Factory at Woodland Mall officially opens today. Started in 1978 in Beverly Hills, the popular restaurant, which has more than 30 different types of cheesecake, has its roots in Michigan. While living in Detroit, Everlyn Overton found a cheesecake recipe in a local newspaper. She made some tweaks and well, you can taste the results at the new restaurant, which also has 250 different entrées on its menu.

Just a ‘Goofus’

It was a single duck that brought a group of Wyoming residents together this summer. Freelance writer Estelle Slootmaker shared the story of Goofus, a Pekin duck, who along with another was left at Wyoming’s Lamar Park. Goofus proved, as Slootmaker put it, “different birds of a feather could flock together.”

Santa is Coming! Order Tickets Now!

The Grand Rapids Public Museum announced its popular Breakfast with Santa will return this year with the event taking place Dec. 14. There will be two sessions, 8:30 a.m. and 10: 30 a.m. with about 100 spots available for each. Tickets are expected to sell fast, so if you are interested make sure to snap them up quickly! For more, click here.

Fun Fact: On the Move

Anyone who has every visited the Niagara Falls probably have seen a boat lodged near the top of the Canadian falls. The boat, called a scow, has been lodged on the falls since 1918 and for more than a hundred years has rested against an outcrop of rock. That is until Halloween night, Oct. 31, when winds from a severe storm caused the scow to “flip on its side and spin around” bringing it closer to the falls. For more about the scow’s movement, click here. For more on the history of the scow, click here.

Santa visits NICU babies

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Holidays, Local Faces, ,

Story and photos by Christopher Clark, Spectrum Health Beat

Gabriel Kulakowski’s grandmother found just the perfect outfit for her 2-day-old grandson to wear for his picture with Santa.

In a twinkle, Santa had a new elf.

Jolly Saint Nick parked his sleigh on the roof of Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital for a special visit with the babies and families at the NICU in the Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center.

“This is a way for the families to take a break from their worries and just enjoy the holiday season,” Santa said.

Santa knew just how to hold the tiny little ones he visited. Behind the beard is Al Jones, MD, a retired neonatal medicine specialist.

He has donned his fur-trimmed red jacket, hat and pants with a broad-buckled belt for the past six years to help create these moments.

Santa’s helper is Amy Nyberg. She is the March of Dimes family support program coordinator at the children’s hospital who makes this visit happen each year.

“Families love it,” Nyberg said. “Santa comes and they are able to hit that milestone and have that memory of baby’s first photo taken with Santa.”

Amy, also dressed in fur-trimmed red, gives candy canes and small toys to young siblings of the NICU babies. She arranges for a professional Santa portrait to be sent to the families.

Raelynn Rhodes wore a special outfit for her photo with Santa. Her mom, Morgan, found the perfect fit, an American Girl doll ensemble complete with ice skates.

Parker Davis’ mom, Megan Alexander, said they woke up bright and early to make sure they didn’t miss Santa’s visit.

“We didn’t expect him until after Christmas,” Alexander said of her little preemie. “He’s our little Christmas baby.”


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

City of Wyoming hosts annual Candy Cane Hunt Dec. 8

3-bottom, , ,

Candy Cane Hunt

WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

 

Linus had his “Great Pumpkin” patch, the City of Wyoming has the Great Candy Cane Hunt, which is set for Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop SW.

 

Children ages 3-14 are invited to hunt for the many hidden candy canes outside. Then everyone will head indoors for games, a craft project, and lunch with the man of the season, Santa. Children will have to the opportunity to meet with Santa and give them their holiday wish list. 

 

Pre-registration is required for the event. It is $5 for residents, $7 for non-residents, and $2 parents and others. 

 

To register click, here. For questions call 616-530-3164 or email parks_info@wyoming.gov.

Santa and Mrs. Claus to visit airport during Holiday Open House

3-bottom, , , , ,

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) is getting into the holiday spirit with an open house, and a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus.

 

On Saturday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., GFIA is opening its doors for a unique experience where guests can pre-register for an open house and enjoy the new amenities and offerings post-security as a part of the airport’s new Gateway Transformation. Anyone is open to attend, but must register on the airport’s website at: http://www.grr.org/public-notices2.php. After receiving a checkpoint pass, guests will go through security, and have a chance to shop at the new retail stores, grab a bite to eat at one of the new restaurants, and explore the new business centers, kids play areas, and more.

 

 

“We’ve heard so many wonderful compliments about our new space from our regular travelers, but we know there are many who haven’t seen the new renovations and want to. This will give them the opportunity to check out the offerings, even if they aren’t flying,” said GFIA President & CEO Jim Gill.

 

In addition to the open house, Santa will be listening to children’s requests, and passing out treats with Mrs. Claus in the Airport’s Grand Hall in the pre-security area, and carolers will be putting travelers in the holiday spirit.

 

The event is free and the public is welcome to attend. Visitors are encouraged to bring a camera to snap a photo with Santa Claus. Photos with Santa are free of charge, but the airport is asking guests to bring in two non-perishable food items per person.

 

“Our airport is extremely busy around the holidays, but it is important for us to reflect upon what this season is all about,” said Gill. “We are hoping we can put some smiles on children’s faces as they sit on Santa’s lap and listen to carols, and at the same time we are asking West Michigan to give back to the community by donating non-perishable food items to those in need.”

 

The donated food items will go to Mel Trotter Ministries – a Grand Rapids non-profit that serves anyone experiencing hunger and homelessness, and helps individuals and families find sustainable income and housing through rescue and restoration programs and services.

 

“It takes a community of partnerships to address hunger and homelessness in West Michigan and we are filled with gratitude that the Gerald R. Ford International Airport is supporting the holiday food drive again this year,” said Dennis Van Kampen, CEO of Mel Trotter Ministries. “The food collected will supplement our pantry through the holidays and the surplus will support Feeding America West Michigan and other area food pantries.”

 

In addition to Santa’s appearance, GFIA’s traditional Holiday Music Festival is running the week of December 4-8. The 23nd Annual Holiday Music Festival brings in middle and high school choirs from around West Michigan singing a variety of Christmas carols. Daily performances run from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., but a full schedule is available on the Airport’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/GeraldRFordInternationalAirport.

 

A total of 12 local choirs representing public, charter and private schools sing 20 minute song sets throughout the day, putting passengers and guests at GFIA in the holiday spirit.

Annual Santa parade set to take place along Division this Saturday

City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , , , , ,

The Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce and the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, will host the 11th Annual Santa Parade on Saturday, Dec. 2 along S. Division Ave.

 

The parade is set to start at 10 a.m. with more than 60 participants, including five school bands. Participants will travel down South Division from 33rd Street to Murray Avenue. The grand marshall this year is Wyoming Department of Public Safety Chief James Carmody, who was recently named top chief by the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.

 

In the parade will be police vehicles and fire trucks from both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming. There also will be floats and vehicles from several of the parade sponsors such as The Rapids, Comcast, Costco, Hobart Sales & Service, Steelcase, Conumsers Energy, Diversified Protection, JX Peterbilt, Marge’s Donut Den, Supermercado Mexico, Two Men and A Truck, Liberty Tax Service, Godwin Plumbing, Celebration Cinema, and Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille.

 

“I’m fortunate enough to ride in the vehicle that pulls Santa” said Bob O’Callaghan, president and CEO of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce. “They don’t see me of course, they see Santa, but the smiles and the pictures from mom and dad and all of the things that go on with it. It’s just a great community event.”

 

 

There will be free pictures with Santa at Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille, 4157 S. Division after the parade. Participants are encouraged to bring their own cameras.

Bats in the belfry — er, attic? Tips to keep the wildlife out of your home

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , , ,

Adorable chickadee

By Blandford Nature Center and Victoria Mullen

 

Ah, wildlife. Who doesn’t enjoy watching birds eat from a feeder or squirrels chasing each other around the backyard trees?

 

Yes, wildlife can be just ducky — until some poor, little critter gets into your garbage or finds his or her way into your house. It’s amazing how destructive these little beasties can be. To be fair, it’s not their fault.

 

Here are some measures you can take to make sure the wild stays wild — outside:

  1. For porches or spaces under buildings like garages and sheds, bury chicken wire a foot down in the dirt and affix it to the bottom side of the structure to prevent animals from living under there.
  2. Cover laundry vents with mesh or chicken wire to prevent birds and other animals from getting in or nesting there.
  3. Cap chimneys to prevent wildlife from coming in the chimney. Many types of wildlife, including bats, owls and raccoons think it’s a cozy place to stay or investigate. Don’t worry — Santa can still get through.
  4. Secure all garbage, recycling and compost containers or bins. You may not be feeding wildlife directly, however, if the lids of your waste containers aren’t firmly shut, wildlife could be encouraged to return to an easy-to-access food source.
  5. Don’t feed animals (bird feeders, etc.) if you don’t want to encourage them to be around or possibly inside your home.

So far, so good, right?

 

But what if you happen across an injured or baby animal that can’t survive on its own? Try calling a wildlife rehabilitator.

 

Gray squirrel

The following are the main rehabbers in the Grand Rapids area:

  • Peg & Roger Markle of Wildlife Rehab Center LTD  616-361-6109
  • Sjana Gordon of Michigan Wildlife Center 616-885-4223
  • Sue Stamy of Braveheart Raptor Rehab Center 231-821-9125
  • Buck DeRiuscher for lost banded pigeons 616-897-8206 (Can call to figure out where the bird came from, also look online at www.pigeon.org. The owners often don’t want the banded pigeons back, as they see them as defective. These pigeons can be kept as pets or you can see if the animal shelter will take them in.)

It is illegal to rehab skunks, bats, and raccoons in Michigan, so there are no wildlife rehabilitators that can take them in.

 

The following pest removal services will charge a removal fee:
  • Advantage Wildlife Management 616.460.3966
  • Mike’s Wild Animal Control 616.340.4263
  • Mike Roberts 616.738.8565 (Will relocate animals, euthanize if injured only)
  • Critter Control 616.245.4680
  • Chimney Sweeps 616.774.0027
  • Grand Rapids Pest (Insects) Control 616.784.2288
  • Bee Movers G&S 616.364.7736
  • Organization for Bat Conservation 1.800.276.7074 (Located in Bloomfield Hills, they can answer questions about bats [removal, housing, etc.])

List of other Licensed Michigan Wildlife Rehabbers.

Live trapping

Before you decide to live trap an animal…

  1. You need to figure out where you will relocate it. To decrease the possible spread of diseases, mammals cannot be relocated outside of their original county. You need to have the permission of the property owner whose land you’re releasing the animals on, as they may not want your nuisance animal to become theirs. Blandford doesn’t allow animal dumping on the property because we already have established animals and adding outside animals can put stress on our flora and fauna populations. It also increases people vs animal incidents on the property.
  2. Once you remove an animal from your property, you need to find out how to exclude that animal or another animal from coming right back to that area, such as under your porch, inside your attic, etc. Otherwise, you can be dealing with the problem again.
  3. It is recommended to cover the live trap with a towel or tarp, because if you trap a skunk, on purpose or not, if it’s covered it will not spray you.

Don’t use rat poison!

Many rodent poisons do not kill the rodent right away; they cause the animal to slowly bleed out. This slow death allows other animals to eat that rodent, causing you to poison that animal as well. Pets and children can get into those poisons too, so it’s not worth the risk of losing a love one. Using a snap trap is the better way to go.

 

If you are still having problems with pest wildlife, please contact one of the wildlife management services listed in the contacts above.

Wyoming Gives Back event set for Thursday, Dec. 1 at Rogers Plaza Mall

Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, , , , , ,

For the sixth year, the City of Wyoming will host the annual Wyoming Gives Back, Thursday, Dec. 1, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Rogers Plaza Mall, 972 28th St. SW.

 

The event will feature an evening of treats donated by area businesses and music from local school choirs and bands. Residents are invited to bring an unwrapped toy for The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree which will enter them into a raffle for gifts from several local businesses. Eva Aguirre Cooper from WOOD-TV will be on hand along with the officers from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety and firefighters from the Wyoming Fire Department. And of course, Santa will there as well.

Ho, ho, ho. Santa’s arrival is only two months away

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Holidays, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , , , , ,

kids at santa paradeIt’s October and believe it or not, the 9th Annual Santa Parade is less than two months away.

 

This year’s parade is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and will head down S. Division Avenue from 33rd Street southbound to Murray Street. After the event, residents are invited to stop by Brann’s Sizzlin’ Steaks & Sports Grille, 4132 S. Division, for pictures with Santa immediately after the parade.

 

And there is still a lot to do in Wyoming and Kentwood in preparation for the arrival of the Big Guy. The Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce is looking for chamber members interested in helping with this year’s parade. The Chamber is looking for people who want to help in making this year’s event even bigger and better. If you are interested, contact the Chamber office at 616-531-5990.

 

santaIt is never too early to book your spot in the parade. It is $25 for corporate/business participants for a float or fleet car and marchers in the parade. Company information must be included for the WKTV broadcast of the parade. It is $10 for any non-profit for a float or fleet car and marchers. It is also $10 for public participants.

 

For questions or more information including sign up forms for parade or Chamber membership, contact the Chamber office at 616-531-5990. The Santa Parade is sponsored by the Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce.

Wyoming’s Great Candy Cane Hunt

Holidays, Local Faces, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , , , ,

Candy Cane HuntThis Saturday, December 12, a multitude of children will find themselves waiting patiently at Pinery Park in hopes that Santa will arrive. However, instead of appearing on his sleigh pulled by reindeer, Santa will be coming in hot thanks to the Wyoming Fire Department!

After the spirited arrival, the real fun can begin with Santa leading the children on a Great Candy Cane Hunt throughout the park. Immediately following the hunt, the adventure continues as the group scampers across the street to the Wyoming Senior Center to play board games, color, eat lunch, and sit down with Santa to share their holiday wish list.

Candy CaneThis year, the Wyoming Senior Center will have some new “life-size” games for the everyone to enjoy. Enlarged Jenga pieces and giant Connect Four boards are sure to bring some extra magic to an event already beaming with it.

The Great Candy Cane Hunt is a timeless Wyoming tradition and a kick-off to the ensuing Christmas and Holiday seasons.

“I plan a lot of events, but this event is special,” exclaimed City of Wyoming Recreation Programmer Kenny Westrate. Westrate has planned the Great Candy Cane Hunt for the past eleven years. “You get to see the smiling faces of the kids during the hunt and when they see Santa. You get to see families playing board games and enjoying each other. You don’t always see that with other events, but it’s guaranteed every December.”

Come on out to Pinery Park this Saturday for a fun-filled day of laughs, smiles, family, and Santa!

Pre-registration is required. You can download a registration form here or you can register online.

Event details are below:

Date: Saturday, December 12
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Pinery Park for the hunt followed by lunch at the Wyoming Senior Center
Age: All ages
Cost: Ages 3-14 – $4 Resident, $6 Non-Resident (All others – $2)

Remember, the Great Candy Cane Hunt is outdoors, so dress accordingly!

Kentwood Tree Lighting Ceremony is Fun, Festive and Free!

Holidays, Local Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , , , , , , , ,

Kentwood Christmas Tree Lighting

By Victoria Mullen

A lot of hard work goes into planning and executing a tree lighting ceremony.

We won’t go into specifics now (we will share some fun historical facts later), but do not miss the Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Kentwood Public Library, 4950 Breton Rd. SE, on Wednesday, December 2 from 6-8 pm.

Please take note… this is a new location from years past.

Kentwood imageFree for the whole family, the fun begins at 6 pm with a Candy Cane Hunt. Also beginning at 6 pm are Carriage Rides and Hay Rides, new this year. Enjoy light refreshments from 6-6:45, and then be sure to stick around for the main event at 6:45, the Tree Lighting Ceremony. It will put you in a festive mood, assuming you’re not already there mentally. And if you are, be prepared to get even more amped up, thanks to the music performed by the EKHS Jazz Band.

If you want photos with Santa–he’s a good sport, so be kind–bring your own camera. Even more fun awaits: From 4-8 pm, kids and adults are welcome to buy presents at the Elves Express Gift Shop Santawhere all gifts—suitable for all ages—are just $2 each.

Tree lighting ceremonies often go unappreciated, and that’s a shame. The custom harks back to 18th-century Germany when candles were used to decorate family Christmas trees in upper-class homes. I’ve often wondered how they got the candles to stay put without burning down the house. And then I found out: Those old-timey, creative geniuses glued the candles to a tree branch with melted wax or used pins to attach the candles. Still a hazardous proposition, in my opinion. It wasn’t until around 1890 that candle holders came into use and later, between 1902 and 1914, cute little lanterns and glass balls held the candles in place.

Christmas lights, holiday lights, twinkle lights, midget bulbs, Italian lights, mini lights (and in the UK, fairy lights)–a light by any other name still illuminates. Early electric Christmas lights came on the scene in the 1880s, no doubt preventing countless holiday fires caused by candles.

Kentwood Tree Lighting GraphicThere is a dark side to holiday lights, alas, and it has to do with recycling. Amazingly, more than 20 million pounds of discarded holiday lights are shipped to the Christmas light recycling capital of the world, aka Shijiao, China. This unfortunate custom began around 1990 because of–you guessed it–cheap labor and dismal environmental standards. Details here.

We certainly don’t intend this as a downer, but it’s important to not take our holiday light consumption, er, lightly. Suffice it to say that safer techniques are now used to separate out the elements, and everything is recycled: Glass, copper, plastic and brass. Plus, each year, new-fangled, energy-efficient and even longer-lasting lights come on the scene. Perhaps there will come a day when very few need to be recycled.

It’s a pleasant thought, right?