Monthly Archives: September 2015

Local Businesses Partner to Bring New Bicycles to Muskegon Boys & Girls Club Youth

bikeMuskegon, MI  –  Twelve members of the newly established Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore received a big surprise on Wednesday afternoon. Celebration Cinema and Family Fitness of Muskegon teamed up to give new Huffy Bicycles to twelve Muskegon youth who attend The Boys & Girls Club. Their goal is to assist the youth in their health, and to give them the ability to commute from home to the Club which is located in Nelson Elementary School. Boys & Girls Clubs across the state are teaming up with a program called Healthy Michigan Today and the donation of these bikes fit directly within it. This program aims to promote healthy lifestyles for Boys & Girls Club members and their families through statewide implementation of Triple Play, BeFit Festivals and Health Screenings.

The twelve youth and family members were under the impression that they would be attending solely to watch a free movie, donated by Celebration Cinema. Once the movie ended Club Staff Member TJ Chappel led the group towards the bikes to reveal the secret. Representatives of Celebration Cinema, Tim Luce, Scott Goetz, and Craig Tyson announced that each of the 6 girls and 6 boys attending that day would take home a free bike!

The youth members who received free bicycles were chosen by Boys & Girls Club Staff based on criteria consisting of behavior, attendance, and academic improvement over the summer months at The Boys & Girls Club. Staff Member, TJ Chappel stated “The members we chose to receive the bikes dates back to our opening day in April and understanding those who could most benefit from having their own bike. The whole day was a buildup because the kids had no idea. It meant everything to me when we were finally able to give the kids their bikes. They deserve them!”

The Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore opened doors on April 20, 2015 after 15 years of preparation and fundraising. Their mission is to inspire and enable all youth, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential, as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.

For more information, contact Dakota Crow at 231-798-5048 or info@bgclubmuskegon.com.

 

 

 

Muskegon County Calendar of Events 09/28/15-10/04/15

Presented by the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau

09/29/2015 – Beginning Pastels
‎The Arts Council of White Lake invites you to the class “Beginning Pastels” with instructor Linda Busse, September 15, 22, and 29 from 1:00-2:30pm at the Nuveen Center.  The cost is $30.  Reserve your spot today by calling 231-894-2787.

09/29/2015 – When Amelia Came to Michigan
September 29 at 6:00pm, come to the Hackley Public Library for “When Amelia Came to Michigan”, the real life story of Amelia Earhart’s adventures in Michigan. Many years of research indicate she was here more than 25 times promoting the aviation industry and opportunities for women in this field. This lecture and visual presentation begins with her childhood at the turn of the century, her family life and education, early flying experiences, the world records and her 8 years of adventures in Michigan. For more information, call 231-722-7276.

09/29/2015 – Brushes & Brew
‎September 29 at 6:00pn, the Arts Council of White Lake invites you to Brushes & Brew at Fetch Brewing Company!  This fantastic painting event will leave you with your own, ready to hang artwork!  Class size is limited, so call to reserve your seat at 231-894-2787.

10/01/2015 – 10/03/2015 Buster Keaton Society Convention / Film Festival
‎October 1-3, the Damfino’s make their annual trek to Muskegon for the Buster Keaton Society Convention and Film Festival!  Saturday evening, October 3, you’re invited to join them at the beautiful Frauenthal Theater to see Buster on the big screen with accompaniment on the Barton Organ.   Tickets are $8 and showtime is 8:00pm to see the 50th Anniversary Screening of The Railrodder (1965) introduced by Gerald Potterton and The Cameraman (1928) with music by Dennis Scott.  Please see their website to attend the convention or to register at busterkeaton.com. To become a member of the Keaton Society visit busterstuff.com.   The general public is invited to the film festival Saturday night.

10/01/2015 – 10/31/15 October Tours are Free for Muskegon Residents!
‎October 1-31 is Free Tour Month for Muskegon County Residents at the Hackley & Hume, Firebarn and Scolnik House historic sites!  The sites are open Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00am-4:00pm and Sundays from 12:00-4:00pm.  For more information, call 231-722-7578.

10/01/2015 – 10/29/15 Open Public Tours at the MMA
‎Thursdays in October from 1:00–3:00pm, the Muskegon Museum of Art is offering Open Public Tours!  Drop in for docent-led tours of the MMA’s major fiber art exhibition and a complementary show of examples of fine studio craft art, drawn from museum holdings.  For more information, visit muskegonartmuseum.org.

10/01/2015 – Happy Hour Painting at the MMA
‎October 1 from 6:00-8:00pm, come to the Muskegon Museum of Art for Happy Hour Painting with instructor, Marlan Cotner.  Join them for another round of painting and spirits as you recreate one of the MMA’s favorites from the permanent collection.  The cost is $30 or $25 for members and includes materials and your first beverage.  Ages: 21 & up/All skill levels.  Call 231-720-2580 by September 23 to register.

10/01/2015 – 10/03/15 Moonlight and Magnolias
Moonlight and Magnolias
By Ron Hutchinson
Beardsley Theater
Sept. 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, and Oct. 1, 2, and 3, 2015
Thursday, Friday, Saturday performances 7:30pm
Sunday performances 3:00pm

Season Tickets on Sale Now through the MCT office 231-722-3852 or
http://www.muskegoncivictheatre.org/

1939 Hollywood is abuzz. Legendary producer David O. Selznick has shut down production of his new epic, Gone with the Wind, a film adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s novel. The screenplay, you see, just doesn’t work. So what’s an all-powerful movie mogul to do? While fending off the film’s stars, gossip columnists and his own father-in-law, Selznick sends a car for famed screenwriter Ben Hecht and pulls formidable director Victor Fleming from the set of The Wizard of Oz. Summoning both to his office, he locks the doors, closes the shades, and on a diet of bananas and peanuts, the three men labor over five days to fashion a screenplay that will become the blueprint for one of the most successful and beloved films of all time.

10/02/2015 – 10/03/15 Oktoberfest: Biers, Bands & Brats
‎October 2 and 3, you’re invited to Muskegon State Park for an Oktoberfest celebration of live music, food, craft beers and wines along the wooded park trails.  Friday activities are for campers only so be sure to make your campground reservations today.  Saturday Oktoberfest tickets will be limited to 1,000 due to the growing popularity and limited parking at this event.  Tickets are $15 and go on sale August 12 at 9:00am.  Visit msports.org for more information.

10/02/2015 – 10/03/15 Trinkets & Treasures
‎The Women’s Division of the Chamber of Commerce presents their 10th annual fall fundraiser, Trinkets & Treasures!  This indoor yard and baked goods sale is happening Friday October 2 from 9:00am-5:00pm and Saturday, October 3 from 9:00am-3:00pm.  Come to the Folkert Community Hub located at 640 Seminole Rd. for great deals on cool stuff and help support No More Sidelines, the Norton Shores Fire Department and the Muskegon Rescue Mission.  For more information, call 231-865-6329.

10/02/2015 – Family Fun Night at Norton Pines
Friday, October 2 from 5:00-8:00pm, you and your family and friends are invited to Norton Pines Athletic Club for “Family Fun Night”.  They’ll have a rock wall, bounce house, open swimming, family whirlpool, open gym, snack bar & grill and more!  The cost is $20 per family (2 adults, 3 kids), $15 per couple (1 adult, 1 child) or $12 per individual.  For more information, call 231-865-6911.

10/02/2015 – 10/31/15 Haunted Hall
‎Haunted Hall, one of the county’s oldest haunted attractions, is back in 2015, and this year will be bigger and better than ever, featuring the “Murder Castle”, “Cellar of Torture” and “The Woods”.  This event is not recommended for children under 12.  The horror is happening at the Muskegon County Fairgrounds, 6621 Heights Ravenna Rd. in Fruitport Township, Fridays and Saturdays, October 2-31.  This year’s theme is “The Magnificent Helms Hotel”.  For more ghoulish details, visit hauntedhall.com.

 

10/02/2015 – West Michigan Symphony Presents: East Meets West
‎Come to the Frauenthal October 2 at 7:30pm as the West Michigan Symphony performs “East Meets West”, a season opener of musical gems from three continents beginning with a creation from the Grammy-nominated American composer Austin Wintory. Then, it’s Chinese pipa virtuoso Wu Man to play Zhou Jiping’s Concerto no.2, commissioned in part by WMS. The show will close with the exciting Second Symphony of Rachmaninoff whose lilting slow movement has inspired many a love affair.  Single ticket prices are $20-$49.  Student tickets are $7.  Call Rita at 231-726-3231 x223 for tickets and more information.

10/03/2015 – Hot Rod Harley Anniversary Party
‎Harley-Davidson has been called, “more than a machine”. Harley-Davidson was born in 1903, and Muskegon has shared a rich motoring history for most of those 100 years.

It has been 10 years since Hot Rod Harley-Davidson acquired the original Harley-Davidson franchise in Muskegon which was started by Dan Raymond and his brother Ellis in 1919. It was called Raymond Motor & Cycle Company and located on Ottawa Street in downtown Muskegon. In the 1970’s the franchise became Snell’s H-D before being purchased in 2005 by Hot Rod H-D. Dan Raymond also started the first motorcycle club in Muskegon in 1920 known as the Muskegon Motorcycle Club which still exists today and sponsors the nationally acclaimed Mt. Garfield Hill Climb. Hot Rod Harley-Davidson is proud to continue to be a sponsor of this historic club and many others that contribute to the enjoyment of the sport of motorcycling.

Hot Rod H-D is thanking their customers for 10 great years of business with an Anniversary Party on Saturday Oct 3, 2015. If you have any old historic photos of this great franchise site please bring them in to show others, and to share the memories, and Muskegon heritage.

Festivities will include free high flying stunt shows by world champion Scott Murray from Sick Air (11am & 1pm), a Free commemorative micro-fiber dusting cloth with every purchase, a free lunch by Texas Roadhouse (steak or chicken, loaded mashed potatoes, buttered corn) from 12p to 2p while quantities last, plus anniversary specials in each department.  For more information, call 231-722-0000.

10/03/2015 – Michigan College Bass Circuit Fall Open
The Michigan College Bass Circuit Fall Open is happening October 3 from safe light and for the following 8 hours, launching from Fisherman’s Landing.  This competition is open to any angler, whether you’re in college or not!  There’ll be a $1,500 first prize based on a 50 boat field.  The entry fee is $80 per boat.  Get rules, registration and more information at michigancollegebassfishing.com.

10/03/2015 – 10/17/15 Depot to Depot Fall Color Tour
‎Gather your family and friends to experience the vibrant fall colors at the Depot-to-Depot Fall Color Tour!  This free, self-guided tour happens the first 3 Saturdays in October from 10:00am – 4:00pm.  “Color Tourers” can pick up a map at either the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau, located in the historic Union Depot at 610 W. Western Ave. in downtown Muskegon, or at the White Lake Area Chamber/CVB at the Whitehall Depot, 124 W. Hanson St. in downtown Whitehall.  Using the map as a guide, you’ll have the opportunity to visit stops along the way to win great prizes! Refreshments will be served at both the Muskegon and Whitehall Depots, and kids will receive a free pumpkin that they can decorate on-the-spot.  For more information, call 231-724-3100.

10/03/2015 – French Canadian Heritage Day
Genot Picor, a storyteller, musician, and dancer, will help celebrate French Canadian Heritage Day at Michigan’s Heritage Park with three special presentations, October 3, at 11:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Genot uses his talents to bring an interactive frontier history alive to audiences of all ages.  This special presentation is included in the cost of admission, which is $10 for adults and teens, $5 for kids 2-12 and $8 for seniors 65 and older.  For more information, call 231-894-0342.

10/03/2015 – First Annual Pioneer Progressive Event
On October 3, Pioneer Resources will host their first annual Pioneer Progressive fundraising event. The event, benefiting Pioneer Resources, will transport guests to three destinations highlighting the key areas/services offered by Pioneer Resources for persons with disabilities. 

The event will start at Coastline Deli in Terrace Plaza for drinks/appetizers with views of Muskegon Lake. Coastline Deli is a training site for Pioneer Resources’ food service programs. To highlight the transportation services offered by Pioneer Resources, guests would then be transported, by bus, to a second destination, Pioneer Trails camp on beautiful Blue Lake, for a good ol’ fashioned pig roast. Pioneer Trails, operated by Pioneer Resources, provides recreation and leisure opportunities. The third and final stop will be Kitchen 242 in the new Farmer’s Market. Guests will enjoy dessert while browsing the certified, commercial kitchen. Pioneer Resources manages Kitchen 242 and also uses the rentable facility to prep food for multiple sites including Coastline Deli.

Event Details

Time: 5:00 – 10:30 pm
Start – Coastline Deli in Terrace Plaza, downtown Muskegon.
Stop #2 – Pioneer Trails Camp.
Stop #3 – Kitchen 242 in the new Farmer’s Market.

Attire: Camp casual
Tickets: $50 per person

Purchase raffle tickets to win prizes throughout the evening. Prizes include a Herman Miller Mirra Chair, a round-trip Lake Express Ferry ride, and much more. Goodie bags will also be given to all attendees. To order tickets and for sponsorship opportunities, please visit http://www.pioneerresources.org/events.

10/04/2015 – Chef Prize
Hampton Green Farm will host its first Chef Prize event on Sunday, October 4 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. This event will support the Hackley Community Care capital campaign to establish a Teen Health Center in the Oakridge Public Schools District.

“Chef Prize is proudly inspired by Art Prize. Everyone loves good food so we wanted to create an event for ‘foodies’ that also supports a great cause”, states Joan Mack, Executive Director of the VanKampen Boyer Molinari Foundation.

If you love food, this is the event you do not want to miss. Chef Prize will bring local chefs, local food vendors, local wineries and breweries from West Michigan to this signature event. Featured chefs include Frederic Boyer, renowned French Chef and the husband of Hampton Green Farm owner, Kimberly Boyer. Chef Frederic has worked in famous kitchens all over the world including the Orient Express in Europe, as well as his signature restaurant in Wellington, Florida, Gallipette. Chef Marital Noguier is Executive Chef and owner of Bistronomic in Chicago, IL, which feature fresh and distinctive French Cuisine located at 840 N. Wabash Street. The two featured chefs will work together at Chef Prize creating some of their signature dishes, including Spanish Paella.

Chef Prize will also feature chefs from well-known West Michigan restaurants such as the Hearthstone, Smash, Culinary Institute of Michigan (CIM), Holiday Inn Muskegon, Sandy Point, Curry Kitchen, The Lake House, Muskegon Country Club, The Harris Group, Fricanos, the Kirby Grill of the Gilmore Group, Arturos Tacos, Quality Catering by August, Bella Maria and Dee Lite Bar and Grill. There will be food trucks from Grand Haven Islands and Electric Hero. No event is complete without dessert and guests will sample treats from The Village Baker, Blueberry Haven, Patricia’s Chocolates, Organic Valley Cheese, Specialty BonBons from Justin Raha, and chocolate creations from the Culinary Institute of Michigan. Wine and beer tasting is complements of New Holland Brewery, Pigeon Hill, and Lemon Creek. Prizes will be based on Creativity, Most Unusual, People’s Choice and more. The event will also feature vintage cars from all over West Michigan and a Silent Auction.

For details about participation in Chef Prize or other event questions, please contact Event Coordinators Claudia Bryant at 231-206-2534 or email Joan at hamptongreenfarm@aol.com. Tickets are on sale for $50.00 per person. Table Sponsorship opportunities are also available for $750.00 with special VIP access to the event beginning at 11:00am. Please contact Linda Juarez at 231-740-7442 or Alexis Dye at 231-733-6634 for tickets and sponsorship. Tickets will be available for purchase at the gate the day of the event.

10/04/2015 – Pink Human Ribbon
Help the folks from “Tempting Tables” stand up to breast cancer! Tempting Tables is a local, non-profit, grass roots organization whose mission is to bring more awareness to breast cancer and raise money for research being done in Michigan. Please join them as they gather together wearing pink shirt to form a human ribbon. They are dedicating this to breast cancer survivors and to honor those who lost their battle. This special event is open to everyone–men, women, & children. It is FREE, but they do ask that you please wear a pink top. A professional photographer will be capturing this event to be shared in various forms of media. Happening Sunday, October 4 at 12:45pm at Oakridge Golf Course. For more information, visit www.temptingtables.com.

Ongoing Events:

Armchair Archeology
‎”Armchair Archaeology: From Hobby to History” is on display at the Lakeshore Museum Center!  The exhibit explores early archaeology practices and philosophies that would be considered controversial today and showcases the local men who did it right.  The exhibit features ten Muskegon residents from the late 1800s to early 1940s who were working in the area to learn about who and what was living here before them.  Artifacts on display from the local digs include pottery shards, arrowheads, projectile points, and tools.  Visitors will have an opportunity to take a seat and spend some time reading books and journal articles written by and about the men featured in the exhibit. www.lakeshoremuseum.org

Colossal Avian Avatars
The Muskegon Museum of Art announces that Avian Avatars, an art installation of five colossal sculptures, each symbolizing a mythical bird, designed by The Myth Makers, artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein, has arrived in Muskegon! The sculptures are crafted from maple saplings, wire ties, and found objects, and stand from 18 to 26 feet tall. Each of the sculptures is installed in a different downtown Muskegon location for a full year.

Each bird in the installation represents a unique myth. Avian Avatars is meant to indicate transformation, encouraging the public to heed to the stories about current human impact on the changing natural world.  The sculptures are also intentionally made not to be permanent. Typically, per the artists, they last four to five years in any installation. www.muskegonartmuseum.org

Rootdown Yoga
‎Rootdown Juice & Greens Bar offers high-energy, heated and music filled Power Vinyasa (flow) Yoga classes every day of the week.  This style of yoga is accessible to everyone regardless of age, ability or experience.  For class times and descriptions, please visit www.rootdown.in.

Myth and Reality: Drawings by Patricia Hendricks Constantine
‎As part of Ahfest, come to Muskegon Community College’s Overbrook Art Gallery for Myth and Reality: Drawings by Patricia Hendricks Constantine” through October 30.  This solo show features recent works on the ahFest theme by Kendall College of Art and Design Professor.  There’ll be a free public reception Wednesday, October 14, 6:00 – 7:30pm, followed by an Artist’s Gallery Talk at 6:30pm.  For more information, call 231-777-0344.

Autumn Lighthouse Tours
‎Mondays in September from 11:00am-3:00pm, and Saturdays in September from 4:00-7:00pm, you can tour the South Pier Lighthead at Pere Marquette Beach!  Tour the light and see the shoreline color change from this 48 ft. tower.  Admission is $2-$4.  Children must be 3 ft. tall to climb the tower.  For more information, call 844-654-4487.  To become a Lighthouse Keeper, e-mail muskegonlights@gmail.com.

Pennants on Display
‎Pennants from the collection of Peggy Tully are now on display in the Collectors Corner at the Lakeshore Museum Center. Her collection showcases pennants collected in the late 1940s and early 1950s from all over the United States and Canada. Starting with the collector’s hometown of Marshall, Michigan all the way to the Grand Canyon and beyond. This collection will be on display through the end of February 2016.  The museum is open weekdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00pm.  For more information, call 231-722-0278 or visit lakeshoremuseum.org.

Reading by Any Means Necessary
You’re invited to the James Jackson Museum of African American History for the “Reading…by any means necessary” program, every Monday through Saturday from 2:00-5:30pm.  The museum is located at 7 E. Center St. in Muskegon Heights.  Call 231-739-9500 for more information.

The Art of Gettysburg and the Civil War
Come to the Muskegon Museum of Art, Mondays through October 19 from 6:00-8:00pm for the lecture series, “The Art of Gettysburg and the Civil War.”  Muskegon Community College Art Instructor Tim Norris and History Instructors Kurt Troutman and George Maniates will present a voyage through Civil War American art and history.  A special exhibition of Civil War era and related art will be on display in the Muskegon Museum of Art’s Tuttle Gallery to complement this program. Auditorium doors open at 5:30pm.  The cost is $10 per lecture.  Pay at the door in the MMA Gift Store.  For more information, visit muskegonartmuseum.org.

DOORWAYS: A Passage through the Permanent Collection
‎As part of Muskegon Community College’s Ahfest, “DOORWAYS: A Passage through the Permanent Collection” is on display at the Muskegon Museum of Art through October 11.  Building exhibitions around works from the permanent collection is a high priority. These study shows are often organized thematically and developed to expand our knowledge and appreciation of artworks in the MMA’s ever-expanding quality holdings. Through a selection of paintings, sculpture, prints, and photographs, Doorways addresses, even challenges, our preconceived notions of doors as common thresholds we cross into our homes and workplaces. For more information, call 231-720-2570.

CHALLENGING TRADITION: Fine Craft from the Permanent Collection
‎As part of Muskegon Community College’s Ahfest, come to the Muskegon Museum of Art through October 25 for “CHALLENGING TRADITION: Fine Craft from the Permanent Collection”.  This exhibit showcases some of the best contemporary craft works in collection of the Muskegon Museum of Art, including works in fiber, metal, and stone. These artists, as well as many others represented in the show, speak both to the enduring legacies of craft and the continuing innovation and creativity of today’s artists.  For more information, call 231-720-2570.

EXTREME FIBER: Textile Icons and the New Edge
‎”Extreme Fiber: Textile Icons and the New Edge” examines the state of fibers and textiles in the fine art world today. As part of Muskegon Community College’s Ahfest, the artworks on display will reveal the diversity of this fine craft movement, and its transformation into a multi-media and discipline-spanning phenomenon through November 1. Participating artists are well-known visionaries in the field.

Joining the works of these masters will be a group of artworks selected from juried submissions received from artists around the world. Works from new and established artists will thus be seen alongside the contemporary art of the artists that helped to define the movement. The exhibition will include tapestries, quilts, weavings, sculpture, basketry, and a host of other forms, from the functional to the fully-abstracted.

This exhibition has been organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art with guest curator Geary Jones. Underwritten by Bayer CropScience.  For more information, call 231-720-2570.

Muskegon Farmer’s Market
‎Enjoy their bustling market Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Power of Produce is on through October 31, 2015, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. with activities 10:00 – Noon on Saturdays only. This is a membership club for kids, ages 5 – 12 yrs. They learn about healthy eating and can purchase their own fresh produce. www.muskegonfarmersmarket.com

Muskegon Heights Farmer’s Market
‎The Muskegon Heights Farmer’s Market will offer a variety of produce along with being a flea market. The market is open from 9:00am -1:00pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The market is located on the corner of Baker and East Center Streets.

Light and Illumination
‎September 22-October 10, the Arts Council of White Lake presents “Light and Illumination.”   Light brightens and illustrates the world around us. It casts its glow on all that we see and infuses our lives with the tint of seasons and hours. Light and Illumination seeks artworks that honor our greatest gift.  For more information, call 231-893-2524.

Undiscovered Worlds: The Search Beyond Our Sun
With rapidly improving telescope technology, hundreds of planets have been found orbiting stars beyond our solar system. Are any of these exoplanets like Earth? Can they support life? How will this change our view of the universe? These questions will be explored in a NEW planetarium program at Muskegon Community College (room 135, 221 S. Quarterline Rd, Muskegon). No reservations are needed for this free show, which runs August 25 – October 29 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. (doors open by 6:45), and includes a brief planetarium dome demonstration of the current night sky. For more information, or to schedule a private show for groups of 15-44, please call (231) 777-0289 or email tamera.owens@muskegoncc.edu.

Lunch at Mona Lake Boating Club
Mona Lake Boating Club is open to the public for great food!

Wednesday 11:30am-1:00pm – Burgers and more for $6 or less, featuring hand-made burgers fresh from the Meat Block.  Also enjoy weekly soup, sandwich and salad specials.

Wednesday 5:30pm-7:30pm – Steak Fry at the Point.  Choose from chicken ($8), steak from Meat Block ($10), includes salad, baked potato and garlic bread.  Call in and reserve your meal by 2:00pm each Wednesday at 231-798-4011.

Friday 11:30am-1:00pm – Perch, shrimp and more for $7 or less, along with weekly soup, sandwich and salad specials.

Friday 6:00pm-8:00pm – Variety dinner.  Enjoy the weekly special, plus steak, chicken, perch, shrimp and more! Check them out on Facebook for more information.

Nature Walk
‎Discover the beauty of the White Lake area.  Local naturalists will lead guided tours of local natural areas.  A variety of topics relating to native plants and wildlife will be covered, depending on the time of year.  The walks are appropriate for adults and families; no children allowed without parents.  Walks will take place the first Saturday of the month, beginning in June and continuing through October.  Walks begin at 10:30am sharp and last until approximately noon.

Dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.  Bring water and snacks if needed.  Other optional items include:  sunscreen, hat, umbrella, binoculars, sketchpad, and pencils or pens.  Walks will take place regardless of weather, unless conditions are unsafe.  Please call 231-981-0016 to confirm or if you have questions.

Taco Saturday at Mona Lake Boating Club
‎The public is invited to the Mona Lake Boating Club every Saturday September 5 – May 28 from 11:30am-2:00pm for their famous homemade tacos, taco salads and nachos!  Call 231-798-4011 for more information.

Muskegon’s Lakeshore Art Festival Receives Top Ranking!

Out of thousands of arts and crafts events across the country, the Muskegon Lakeshore Art Festival ranked #83 according to Sunshine Artist Magazine 200 Best! The publications ranks the nation’s most-profitable art & craft festivals based on subscribers’ sales performance for 2014.

“I was beyond thrilled when I heard the news that we had made the list,” commented Lakeshore Art Festival Director, Carla Flanders. The art festival was reorganized in 2013 when it was taken over by the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce who then hired Flanders.

“Carla put together a great team of arts, crafts and festival experts who launched a successful venture located in Downtown Muskegon,” says Cindy Larsen, President of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce. The festival attracts over 250 exhibitors and 50,000 visitors to the area annually.

The 200 Best rankings are obtained via ballots from Sunshine Artist subscribers. Subscribers are asked to list their 10 most-profitable art and/or craft show appearances from the previous year, indicate their income range at each and note whether they consider themselves to be fine artists or craftspeople. The results are tabulated using a weighted scale designed to ensure that smaller fairs can compete against larger festivals for high placement.

Lakeshore Art Festival organizers altered the layout in 2013 to showcase beautiful Downtown Muskegon. The festival has three components, Fine Art in Hackley Park, Handmade Crafts on Western Avenue and an area that houses children’s activities called the “Children’s Lane.” The event also offer opportunities for hands-on art participation and live art performances.

In 2016, the Muskegon Lakeshore Art Festival will be held July 1st and 2nd. “Each year we add something fresh and new to keep visitors coming back,” says Flanders. Next year’s additions will be announced after the first of the year.

Major sponsors for the Lakeshore Art Festival include; DTE Energy Foundation, The Muskegon Museum of Art, Alcoa, ADAC, Betten, Meijer, Mlive/Muskegon Chronicle, Nichols and Staples.

Artist and exhibitor registration for the 2016 Lakeshore Art Festival will begin in late November. Visit www.lakeshoreartfestival.org for more details.

 

Dr. Universe – Mollusks

Dr. Universe: If mollusks have such heavy shells to drag around with them, how have they spread all over the ocean? -Michel W.

Dear Michel,

Mollusks, from land snails and slugs to oysters and mussels in the sea, have a few things in common. They have a head. They have a soft middle part that holds their organs. Then, some have a muscle that’s known as a “foot.”

This foot helps mollusks dig and attach to rocks. It also helps them travel, but not very fast. When the mollusks are young tiny things floating in the ocean, that’s when they really start to move.

A young mollusk is called a larva. At this point, the creature is so small you’d need a microscope to see it. The larva releases a kind of calcium from itself. Just as calcium helps your bones stay strong, it helps the larva build a strong shell, too.

That’s what I learned from my friend Yolimar Rivera Vázquez. She is a marine biologist who works at Washington State University. She especially likes visiting the tide pools on the Olympic Peninsula.

She told me that a larva has tiny little hairs. These hairs are called velum. A larva will use its velum to reach out and grab small particles of food from the sea. As they reach out their hairs, this motion also helps them swim a little. Because the larva is so small, the ocean’s current and tides have also help mollusks become so widespread, Rivera Vázquez explained.

“So you can imagine, that the tiny shell–because it is a little different from the full-grown adult shells–won’t be so hard to ‘carry,’” she said.

As a larva is carried across the ocean in the currents, it will keep secreting calcium until it can make a shell that is full-sized. But not all mollusks have heavy shells. Cephalopods, which include cuttlefish, squids and octopods, don’t have shells, but they are part of the mollusk family.

“The exception is a cool-looking cephalopod called the nautilus,” said Rivera Vázquez. This sea creature has a smooth white, spiral shell and brownish, zebra-like stripes.

Rivera Vázquez explained that the cuttlefish, squids, and octopods have changed the form of their bodies over the years.

“Instead of keeping a heavy outside shell, these cephalopods developed a bony structure inside which used to be the shell. Or they have no shell remaining at all,” she said. “This is why they are such good swimmers.”

The shell-less swimmers can move fast, which can help them escape danger and spread their species, but there’s a benefit to being a slower moving mollusk, too.

Their shell provides protection and they can hang onto rocks with their foot. Their shells are hard enough that they help protect the shore from the impact of harsh waves. These shellfish also help clean the ocean and keep it healthy. With 50,000 species of mollusks, there are all kinds of creatures, many moving ever so slowly, through the ocean.

Sincerely,

Dr. Universe

Have a question? Ask Dr. Universe. You can send her an e-mail at Dr.Universe@wsu.eduor visit her website at askDrUniverse.com.

The Huizenga Huddle: August 7th, 2015

Promoting a Culture of Life

As more videos are released detailing the horrific scenes from inside Planned Parenthood facilities, it is a heartbreaking reminder of how barbaric these procedures truly are.

On July 21st, I joined my Republican colleagues on the House floor to speak in support of life. These unborn children are not numbers on a spreadsheet or specimens in a lab. These are human lives. To watch my speech promoting a culture of life click here.

I am hopeful the House will soon consider H.R. 217, the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act. This legislation would prevent any “family planning grants” from being awarded to any entity that performs abortions such as Planned Parenthood. I am a cosponsor of this legislation, which is available for you to read here.

Lastly, the Wall Street Journal wrote a powerful editorial describing how taxpayer dollars are “fungible,” meaning every taxpayer dollar that goes to Planned Parenthood allows it to use more of its own money to perform abortions. To learn more about this, I encourage you to read the WSJ Editorial which is available here.

Hearing From You On Iran

On July 23rd, I held my third telephone town hall in the month of July with West Michigan residents. This conversation included many questions about the Iranian Nuclear Agreement, what it means for security, and what the potential alternatives are.

Some, including President Obama, are pushing the false narrative that we must accept this deal or go to war.  I reject this notion completely.

I believe this deal falls well short of the original stated goals and is dangerous not only for our allies in the Middle East, but for the national security of the United States as well.  The economic sanctions on the Iranian regime are working and are directly responsible for bringing the Iranian Government to the table in the first place. In fact, I believe the sanctions should be increased on Iran because of their continued support for terrorism.  Lifting the economic sanctions on Iran is not only the wrong move, it is dangerous.

Even the President has admitted some of the money unfrozen from sanction relief will be used to fund terrorism.  I encourage you to read this editorial from Bloomberg News regarding the President’s latest speech on Iran.  The President should stop promoting fear and stick to the facts about this agreement.

Action On Reforming The Federal Reserve

Last week, the House Financial Services Committee passed the FORM Act, my legislation to modernize the Federal Reserve and make the institution more transparent and accountable to hardworking taxpayers.

Earlier this week, I delivered a video message on Fed Reform and why “The Fed” needs to be brought into the 21st century.  The video delivers a quick break down of how my legislation would change the way the Federal Reserve operates and increases accountability.  Click here to watch the video.

If you would like to learn more about my bill, head over to Huizenga.House.Gov to read the legislation, see a section by section break down of the bill, and watch my speech prior to the committee passing this important reform package.

Michigan Minute

• Bipartisan Huizenga legislation to reduce spending, create jobs passes committee
•  Happy 225th Birthday to the U.S. Coast Guard!
•  Huizenga talks Iran during tele-townhall with West Michigan
•  West Michigan among leaders in U.S. manufacturing revival
•  Little Sable Point Lighthouse offers 130 steps to a great view
•  Muskegon Company recognized as a national leader, named “Metalcaster of the Year”
•  Meijer continues to expand “Made in Michigan” selections
•  Remembering President Ford

CHEF PRIZE EVENT WILL SUPPORT NEW OAKRIDGE TEEN HEALTH CENTER

“Come taste the flavors of West Michigan’s finest chefs.”

Hampton Green Farm will host its first Chef Prize event on Sunday, October 4, 2015 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This event will support the Hackley Community Care capital campaign to establish a Teen Health Center in the Oakridge Public Schools District.

Hampton Green Farm is an internationally well-known breeding and dressage farm in Fruitport, Michigan.

If you love food, this is the event you do not want to miss. Chef Prize will bring local chefs, local food vendors, local wineries and breweries from West Michigan to this signature event. Featured chefs include Frederic Boyer, renowned French Chef and the husband of Hampton Green Farm owner, Kimberly Boyer. Chef Frederic has worked in famous kitchens all over the world including the Orient Express in Europe, as well as his signature restaurant in Wellington, Florida, Gallipette. Chef Marital Noguier is Executive Chef and owner of Bistronomic in Chicago, IL, which feature fresh and distinctive French Cuisine located at 840 N. Wabash Street. The two featured chefs will work together at Chef Prize creating some of their signature dishes, including Spanish Paella.

Chef Prize will also feature chefs from well-known West Michigan restaurants such as the Hearthstone, Smash, Culinary Institute of Michigan (CIM), Holiday Inn Muskegon, Sandy Point, The Lake House, Curry Kitchen, Righteous Cuisine, Muskegon Country Club, The Harris Group, Fricanos and the Kirby Grill of the Gilmore Group. There will be food trucks from Grand Haven Islands and Electric Hero. No event is complete without dessert and guests will sample treats from The Village Baker, Blueberry Haven, Patricia’s Chocolates, Organic Valley Cheese, Specialty BonBons from Justin Raha, and chocolate creations from the Culinary Institute of Michigan. Wine and beer tasting is compliments of New Holland Brewery, Pigeon Hill, and Lemon Creek. Prizes will be based on Creativity, Most Unusual, People’s Choice and more. The event will also feature vintage cars from all over West Michigan and a Silent Auction.

For details about participation in Chef Prize or other event questions, please contact Event Coordinators Claudia Bryant at 231.206.2534 or email Joan at hamptongreenfarm@aol.com. Tickets are on sale for $50.00 per person. Table Sponsorship opportunities are also available for $750.00 with special VIP access to the event beginning at 11:00 am. Please contact Linda Juarez at 231.740.7442 or Alexis Dye at 231.733.6634 for tickets and sponsorship.  Tickets will be available for purchase at the gate the day of the event.

Hampton Green Farm is located at 5440 E. Farr Road in Fruitport. You can learn more about them at www.hamptongreenfarm.com . To learn more about Hackley Community Care please visit www.hackleycommunitycare.org or www.facebook.com/hackleycommunitycare

Ottawa County Honors Employee for Customer Service

Meet Kristin Caron- @miOttawa County’s newest outstanding customer service award recipient. http://bit.ly/cs-award 

Ottawa County extends its congratulations to Kristin Caron who was selected to receive the Outstanding Customer Service Award for the first quarter of 2015. Caron is a Probation Specialist for Ottawa County 58th District Court Probation and Community Corrections. Meet Kristin Caron at http://bit.ly/cs-award.

picThe individual who nominated Kristin wrote:  

“I was told by a coworker of an incident where Kristin was working and provided an example of outstanding customer service and I would like to see her recognized for her actions.Kristin had been at work conducting home checks and during one stop she noticed something to be off about a probationer’s behavior. Upon asking the probationer if everything was alright, that person confided that she was upset and considering self-harm. Kristin asked whether or not she had a plan to harm herself, and after she was shown the tool the probationer planned to use to harm herself, Kristin asked if she could turn the tool over to the individual’s social worker who lived nearby and was able to remove the tool from the home. Kristin then went out of her way to go to the store and purchase a journal and some pens and returned to the distressed probationer’s home and recommended that the person try journaling when they were feeling overwhelmed. When I heard about this from a coworker, I was extremely impressed with the level of care and thoughtfulness Kristin demonstrated in her actions. She went above and beyond by reaching out to the individual to ask what was wrong and then taking the additional steps well outside of what is required of her to prevent the individual from harm. Not only did Kristin prevent harmful behavior, but she also provided a healthy outlet for the individual to express her feelings in similar future situations.”

“Kristin has a great work ethic and a willingness to go above and beyond.  I am pleased and honored to work with her,” said Alma Valenzuela, Assistant Director of Probation and Community Corrections.

Ottawa County employees are trained to present a friendly, professional demeanor treating customers with integrity and respect. The Outstanding Customer Service Award is presented quarterly to an Ottawa County employee who exemplifies this to both internal and external customers. Nominations for the award can come from both inside and outside the organization. Customers can nominate an Ottawa County employee for an Outstanding Customer Service award at miOttawa.org.  

“It has been about two years since Ottawa County has overhauled its Customer Service culture and we hope our residents can feel it. We are here to help.” commented Shannon Felgner, Communications Manager for Ottawa County. “We understand that pursuing any government service can feel intimidating.”

Customer Service is one of the County’s Four C’s, along with Communication, Cultural Intelligence and Creativity. Access county services and learn more at miOttawa.org, facebook.com/miottawa or @miOttawa on Twitter.

 

Ask Dr. Universe – Frog Babies

Can frog babies hear their mothers croaking underwater?
-Ella, 9, Seattle, WA

Dear Ella,

Baby frogs go through some pretty big changes to become grown-up frogs. They start out as tiny tadpoles with just a head and a tail to help them swim. They have an inner ear and can hear sounds.

As they change from tadpoles to frog-shaped bodies, through a process called metamorphosis, they can hear even better. They can hear croaking, but we aren’t sure if they know when it’s coming from their own mom or just another frog in the pond.

I hopped on over to visit my friend Jesse Brunner at Washington State University to find out more about it. Brunner is a scientist who studies health in communities of amphibians and works with frogs.

At first, I thought all female frogs laid their eggs in the water. I thought they left their eggs alone to become tadpoles, then froglets, and finally frogs. It turns out I was wrong.

“In North America, we usually think about tadpoles in ponds,” Brunner said. “But a lot of species hatch directly into frogs.”

Some species of frogs will give their jelly-like eggs a piggyback ride until they hatch. Some frogs, though now extinct, carried eggs in their stomachs. In some species, it’s male frogs that watch over the eggs.

Inside the eggs, tadpoles start developing their front and back legs, a brain, lungs, and the parts they will use to hear.

“During metamorphosis, bones in their heads get rearranged, develop fully, and harden up,” Brunner said.

This process creates the eardrum, or a tympanum. Cats and humans have a typanumum, too. Ours are inside our ears. Some frogs have them on the outside of their head.

Frogs that come straight out of the egg are more likely to be able to hear their parents because their hearing developed while their parents may have been around.

When frogs push air back and forth between their lungs and mouth, it passes over their vocal cords. This is what makes a big croak erupt. The sound travels through water to the offspring’s eardrum. The sound waves vibrate hairs in the eardrum, which are translated into electrical impulses. The brain helps interpret this as sound.

Some frogs sense vibrations in their lungs and mouths to “hear” what is going on around them. Frogs who live near loud streams can’t hear as well, so they also use their feet to wave and get the attention of other frogs.

Frogs’ ears also work closely with their lungs to keep pressure in their ears balanced. It helps them from hurting their own eardrums.

When frogs get together they can create a chorus of croaking so loud, it can be heard from miles away. In fact, it’s actually the males that do most of the croaking. They use it to attract a mate and to produce more baby frogs, starting the cycle all over again.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

Have a question? Ask Dr. Universe. You can send her an e-mail at mailto:Dr.Universe@wsu.edu visit her website at askDrUniverse.com.

Muskegon County Calendar of Events 09/14/15-09/20/2015

Presented by the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau

09/14/2015 – Listening Room with Matthew Ball

Hackley Public Library is pleased to announce the opening performance in this season’s monthly concert series, September 14 at 6:00pm. This month features Matthew Ball, Boogie-Woogie Pianist. The Holland Sentinel says, “Matthew Ball is one of Michigan’s premier blues & boogie-woogie pianists!” With a performance history spanning jazz fests to symphony appearances throughout the Mid-west and Canada, as well as recent appearances on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and “Morning Edition” Matthew has been described as a “rising giant in the field.”  For more information check out his website at www.boogiewoogiekid.com.

09/14/2015 – 09/28/15 Autumn Lighthouse Tours

Mondays in September from 11:00am-3:00pm, and Saturdays in September from 4:00-7:00pm, you can tour the South Pier Lighthead at Pere Marquette Beach!  Tour the light and see the shoreline color change from this 48 ft. tower.  Admission is $2-$4.  Children must be 3 ft. tall to climb the tower.  For more information, call 844-654-4487.  To become a Lighthouse Keeper, e-mail muskegonlights@gmail.com.

09/15/2015 – Torch Run

Join the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics of Michigan as they make their stop in Muskegon and participate in the Muskegon Community Run September 15. There will be a timed 5K as well as an untimed 1 mile fun run/walk. Start and finish will be at Fricano’s Event Center at 1050 W. Western Ave. Muskegon. Start time will be 6:00pm. Join them to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics –Michigan. www.specialolympics.org

09/16/2015 – Lake Hawks Charity Golf Outing

Wednesday, September 16, come to Stonegate Golf Club for a charity golf outing to benefit the West Michigan Lake Hawks basketball team!  This Four Person Scramble features 18 holes with two carts per foursome, a $25,000 Hole-in-One and other contests, silent auction, 50/50 raffle along with heavy hors d’0euvres, cash bar and more.  Spouses and the general public are welcome.  Registration begins at 11:00am with a shotgun start at 12:00pm and the cost is $100 per golfer or $375 per foursome.  For more information, call Alishia at 616-638-1783 or e-mail msugal@tds.net.

09/17/2015 – 09/20/15 Michigan Irish Music Festival

The Michigan Irish Music Festival returns to Heritage Landing September 17-20!  Back for the 16th year, this festival features music on four covered stages.  You’ll also love the Celtic Kitchen and Bob and Bernie’s Pub for authentic Irish food and beverages including Irish Fest Stout, Irish Cream, and others. There’s also the Irish Marketplace, children’s activities, a cultural center, a session tent and tea room. A popular highlight on Saturday is the Michigan FEIS, an Irish dance competition held at Muskegon Catholic Central. Sunday morning, a Catholic Mass will be held at 9:00am, followed by a traditional Irish breakfast. The festival offers an Early-In Free promotion on Friday from 5:00 to 6:00pm.  3-Day passes are also available.  For more information, visit www.michiganirish.org.

Bands:

We Banjo 3
RUNA
Tupelo
Seamus Kennedy
Blackthorn
JigJam
Moxie Strings
Barleyjuice
Kennedy’s Kitchen

09/17/2015 – MCC 2015 Founders Day

Celebrate the 1926 founding of Muskegon Community College with an evening of outstanding live jazz, swell snacks, silent auction, cash bar, flappers, and other nostalgic fun!  Founder’s Day, commemorated annually on the third Thursday in September, celebrates the faculty, alumni, and community members who contributed to MCC’s 89 years of success.  Please plan to join them from 6:00-8:30pm at Fricano Place (1050 W. Western, Muskegon MI 49441) on Thursday, September 17, 2015.  Tickets are only $19.26 until Sept. 10 and $25 at the door. All event profits will be used for instructional equipment, supplies, and scholarships at MCC. For more information, call Tina at 231-777-0660. 

09/18/2015 – Mommy & Me at the Museum Center

Bring your children 4 yrs. and younger to the Lakeshore Museum Center Friday, September 18 at 10:00am for “Mommy & Me at the Museum.”  This free program is a hands-on museum introduction and scavenger hunt.  Registration is required by calling 231-722-0278.

09/18/2015 – 10/03/15 Moonlight and Magnolias

Moonlight and Magnolias
By Ron Hutchinson

Beardsley Theater
Sept. 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, and Oct. 1, 2, and 3, 2015
Thursday, Friday, Saturday performances 7:30pm
Sunday performances 3:00pm

Season Tickets on Sale Now through the MCT office 231-722-3852 or
http://www.muskegoncivictheatre.org/

Single Tickets go on Sale September 8, 2015

1939 Hollywood is abuzz. Legendary producer David O. Selznick has shut down production of his new epic, Gone with the Wind, a film adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s novel. The screenplay, you see, just doesn’t work. So what’s an all-powerful movie mogul to do? While fending off the film’s stars, gossip columnists and his own father-in-law, Selznick sends a car for famed screenwriter Ben Hecht and pulls formidable director Victor Fleming from the set of The Wizard of Oz. Summoning both to his office, he locks the doors, closes the shades, and on a diet of bananas and peanuts, the three men labor over five days to fashion a screenplay that will become the blueprint for one of the most successful and beloved films of all time.

09/19/2015 – Music and Mime with Patchwork Pear

The mime and music duo “Patchwork Pear” presents free family entertainment at 7:00pm, Saturday, September 19 at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church.  Their mix of comedy, juggling and acrobatics will delight all ages.  The show is part of 30 Days of Peace, a community-wide event held each September to celebrate justice, equality and non-violence.

The stars of Patchwork Pear are Mat and Deb Emerick.  Based in Fremont, they perform frequently in schools, libraries, churches and special events.  Mat’s gift of comedy, mimicry and silent acting recalls the work of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin.  Deb plays clawhammer banjo and guitar, accompanying Mat’s dramatics with storytelling and song.  Surprises abound in their shows with plenty of clowning, stunts and audience participation.  No tickets or reservations are required to attend the Patchwork Pair show.  For more information contact St. Gregory’s Church at 231-780-2955.

09/19/2015 – SJO Supercross Event

Saturday, September 19, come to the Muskegon County Fairgrounds for the SJO Supercross event at 7:00pm.  Admission is $10 for adults and $5 youth 11 and under.  For more information visit www.sjoproductions.com.

Ongoing Events:


Collector’s Corner: Beatles Memorabilia

Beatles Memorabilia is the topic of the display in the Collectors Corner at the Lakeshore Museum Center.  Featured are album covers from The Fab Four, fan club cards, a collectible plate, a Beatles themed Trivial Pursuit Game, beach towel and more.  Figures of the four musicians and a yellow submarine are also included in William Stidham Sr.’s collection.   The museum is open weekdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm and Saturdays from Noon to 4:00pm.  For more information, call 231-722-0278.

Armchair Archeology

“Armchair Archaeology: From Hobby to History” is on display at the Lakeshore Museum Center!  The exhibit explores early archaeology practices and philosophies that would be considered controversial today and showcases the local men who did it right.  The exhibit features ten Muskegon residents from the late 1800s to early 1940s who were working in the area to learn about who and what was living here before them.  Artifacts on display from the local digs include pottery shards, arrowheads, projectile points, and tools.  Visitors will have an opportunity to take a seat and spend some time reading books and journal articles written by and about the men featured in the exhibit. www.lakeshoremuseum.org

Colossal Avian Avatars

The Muskegon Museum of Art announces that Avian Avatars, an art installation of five colossal sculptures, each symbolizing a mythical bird, designed by The Myth Makers, artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein, has arrived in downtown Muskegon! The sculptures are crafted from maple saplings, wire ties, and found objects, and stand from 18 to 26 feet tall.

Each bird in the installation represents a unique myth. Avian Avatars is meant to indicate transformation, encouraging the public to heed to the stories about current human impact on the changing natural world.  The sculptures are also intentionally made not to be permanent. Typically, per the artists, they last four to five years in any installation. www.muskegonartmuseum.org

Rootdown Yoga

Rootdown Juice & Greens Bar offers high-energy, heated and music filled Power Vinyasa (flow) Yoga classes every day of the week.  This style of yoga is accessible to everyone regardless of age, ability or experience.  For class times and descriptions, please visit www.rootdown.in.

Myth and Reality: Drawings by Patricia Hendricks Constantine

As part of Ahfest, come to Muskegon Community College’s Overbrook Art Gallery for Myth and Reality: Drawings by Patricia Hendricks Constantine” through October 30.  This solo show featuresg recent works on the ahFest theme by Kendall College of Art and Design Professor.  There’ll be a free public reception Wednesday, October 14, 6:00 – 7:30pm, followed by an Artist’s Gallery Talk at 6:30pm.  For more information, call 231-777-0344.

Reading by Any Means Necessary

You’re invited to the James Jackson Museum of African American History for the “Reading…by any means necessary” program, every Monday through Saturday from 2:00-5:30pm.  The museum is located at 7 E. Center St. in Muskegon Heights.  Call 231-739-9500 for more information.

Drive-In Movie

Muskegon’s historic Getty Drive-In was once a one screen in 1948, Today you can visit four screens. Tuesday night is bargain night for just $6.00 adults, 6-12 years old $5.00 and under 5 years are FREE. They have concessions and play area for children. Shows begin 15 minutes after sunset. They are located at 920 E. Summit in Muskegon. www.celebrationcinema.com

DOORWAYS: A Passage through the Permanent Collection

As part of Muskegon Community College’s Ahfest, “DOORWAYS: A Passage through the Permanent Collection” is on display at the Muskegon Museum of Art through October 11.  Building exhibitions around works from the permanent collection is a high priority. These study shows are often organized thematically and developed to expand our knowledge and appreciation of artworks in the MMA’s ever-expanding quality holdings. Through a selection of paintings, sculpture, prints, and photographs, Doorways addresses, even challenges, our preconceived notions of doors as common thresholds we cross into our homes and workplaces. For more information, call 231-720-2570.

CHALLENGING TRADITION: Fine Craft from the Permanent Collection

As part of Muskegon Community College’s Ahfest, come to the Muskegon Museum of Art through October 25 for “CHALLENGING TRADITION: Fine Craft from the Permanent Collection”.  This exhibit showcases some of the best contemporary craft works in collection of the Muskegon Museum of Art, including works in fiber, metal, and stone. These artists, as well as many others represented in the show, speak both to the enduring legacies of craft and the continuing innovation and creativity of today’s artists.  For more information, call 231-720-2570.

EXTREME FIBER: Textile Icons and the New Edge

“Extreme Fiber: Textile Icons and the New Edge” examines the state of fibers and textiles in the fine art world today. As part of Muskegon Community College’s Ahfest, the artworks on display will reveal the diversity of this fine craft movement, and its transformation into a multi-media and discipline-spanning phenomenon through November 1. Participating artists are well-known visionaries in the field.

Joining the works of these masters will be a group of artworks selected from juried submissions received from artists around the world. Works from new and established artists will thus be seen alongside the contemporary art of the artists that helped to define the movement. The exhibition will include tapestries, quilts, weavings, sculpture, basketry, and a host of other forms, from the functional to the fully-abstracted.

This exhibition has been organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art with guest curator Geary Jones. Underwritten by Bayer CropScience.  For more information, call 231-720-2570.

The Art of Gettsyburg and the Civil War

As part of Muskegon Community College’s Ahfest, works of art from the Permanent Collection related to the Civil War, including a significant collection of prints by Winslow Homer will be on display at the Muskegon Museum of Art through October 25. A series of six lectures presented by Muskegon Community College instructors at the Muskegon Museum of Art and tour to Gettysburg complete this journey through art and history.  For more information, call 231-720-2570.

Muskegon Farmer’s Market

Enjoy their bustling market opening their outdoor season on Saturday, May 2! Hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Power of Produce will start up again Saturday June 6 – October 31, 2015, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. with activities 10:00 – Noon on Saturdays only. This is a membership club for kids, ages 5 – 12 yrs. They learn about healthy eating and can purchase their own fresh produce. www.muskegonfarmersmarket.com

Muskegon Heights Farmer’s Market

The Muskegon Heights Farmer’s Market offers a variety of produce along with being a flea market. The market is open from 9:00am -1:00pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The market is lcoated on the corner of Baker and East Center Streets.

Inspired By…

Artists are always being inspired by what has come before, but rarely do we ever honor the exact source of our inspiration. September 1-20, the Arts Council of White Lake is excited to introduce a unique exhibit that aims to do just this. Inspired By showcases ten local artists who were each asked for a creation that is inspired by and reflects on a ‘masterpiece’. Come relive art history through the eyes of each artist, while experiencing their unique voice and style September 1-20.  Come celebrate this exclusive collection and enjoy light refreshments at a reception to be held on September 10, from 5:00-7:00pm at the Nuveen Center. All ages are welcome to attend.  For more information, call 231-893-2524.

Artists are always being inspired by what has come before, but rarely do we ever honor the exact source of our inspiration. The Arts Council of White Lake is excited to introduce a unique exhibit that aims to do just this. Inspired By showcases ten local artists who were each asked for a creation that is inspired by and reflects on a ‘masterpiece’. Come relive art history through the eyes of each artist, while experiencing their unique voice and style.

Undiscovered Worlds: The Search Beyond Our Sun

With rapidly improving telescope technology, hundreds of planets have been found orbiting stars beyond our solar system. Are any of these exoplanets like Earth? Can they support life? How will this change our view of the universe? These questions will be explored in a NEW planetarium program at Muskegon Community College (room 135, 221 S. Quarterline Rd, Muskegon). No reservations are needed for this free show, which runs August 25 – October 29 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. (doors open by 6:45), and includes a brief planetarium dome demonstration of the current night sky. For more information, or to schedule a private show for groups of 15-44, please call (231) 777-0289 or email tamera.owens@muskegoncc.edu.

Lunch at Mona Lake Boating Club

Mona Lake Boating Club is open to the public for great food! 

Wednesday 11:30am-1:00pm – Burgers and more for $6 or less, featuring hand-made burgers fresh from the Meat Block.  Also enjoy weekly soup, sandwich and salad specials.

Wednesday 5:30pm-7:30pm – Steak Fry at the Point.  Choose from chicken ($8), steak from Meat Block ($10), includes salad, baked potato and garlic bread.  Call in and reserve your meal by 2:00pm each Wednesday at 231-798-4011.

Friday 11:30am-1:00pm – Perch, shrimp and more for $7 or less, along with weekly soup, sandwich and salad specials.

Friday 6:00pm-8:00pm – Variety dinner.  Enjoy the weekly special, plus steak, chicken, perch, shrimp and more! 

Check them out on Facebook for more information.

Taco Saturday at Mona Lake Boating Club

The public is invited to the Mona Lake Boating Club every Saturday September 5 – May 28 from 11:30am-2:00pm for their famous homemade tacos, taco salads and nachos!  Call 231-798-4011 for more information.

2nd Annual Community-wide Remembrance Service

Muskegon, Michigan 

Two of West Michigan’s community hospice leaders, Harbor Hospice and Mercy Health Hospice, are again hosting a Community Remembrance at Heritage Memorial Garden in downtown Muskegon. This free event will have music, readings and a bulb planting to help individuals and families in our community to both mourn the death and honor the life of a loved one.

The Community Remembrance will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2015 at 6:00 pm at the Heritage Memorial Garden located at 545 W. Western Ave. Pam Babbitt developed the garden in honor of her late husband. It is a beautiful haven in downtown Muskegon and an incredible representation of the love that remains even after a person dies.

For more information and to RSVP the number of bulbs which family members would like to plant please call either Harbor Hospice (231-728-3442) or Mercy Health Hospice Scolnik Healing Center (231-672-3266).
Contact: Stephanie Weesies, LMSW
Harbor Hospice Bereavement Coordinator
Phone: 231-728-3442
SWeesies@harborhospicemi.org
Beth Bolthouse, LPC
Mercy Health Hospice Bereavement Coordinator
Phone: 231-672-3266
bolthoe@trinity-health.org

Safety Tips to Take You Back to School

The first day of school marks a significant milestone in the life of a child. It’s an exciting time for seeing old friends, making new friends, learning new things, and for some, riding the bus to school. Each year over 20 million students across the country ride the bus to and from school, while countless others walk, ride bicycles or are dropped off by their parents.

As you know in the next week the young people of Ottawa County will be returning to school. In that respect, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office would like to share with you several tips, which are intended to enhance the safety of those returning to school.

Parents

  • If dropping your child off at school be aware of school rules regarding student drop offs, most schools ask that you do not drop off your child in the same area as the bus drop off. This is to avoid traffic congestion and helps to reduce the chance of injury to your child. 
  • If you are the parent of a child that will be walking to school or the bus stop it is advisable to take some time and pre-walk your child’s route. 
    • Point out the safe places to cross the street and point out areas of danger. 
    • Also show your children homes that display the Michigan Child Watch sign, these are homes that children can come to for help should the need arise. (If you would like more information on the Michigan Child Watch program contact your local police department or the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office). 
    • Identify bus stop locations and review and re-enforce the school bus safety rules.

Students

  • Students if walking to school use bike paths and sidewalks where available. In areas where there are no sidewalks or bike paths walk along the side of the road facing traffic. 
  • Wear light colored clothing and avoid using headphones or other electronic devices that will distract you from traffic. 
  • If riding a bicycle to school and there are no bike paths, ride with traffic, if riding in the dark your bike must have a light on it. When riding your bike you should always wear a bicycle helmet.
  • While at your bus stop: do not run into traffic 
    • Arrive to your bus stop early.
    • Never walk behind the bus.
    • Make sure the bus comes to a complete stop before trying to enter or exit the bus.
    • When crossing the street observe traffic, don’t rely solely on the bus lights, and watch for the signal from your bus driver to cross.

Motorists

  • When driving during the hours prior to school and at dismissal time be aware of traffic around the schools. 
  • Many schools still use school speed zones, and as a driver it is your responsibility to know where these zones are and adhere to the posted speed limit. 
  • In addition several schools throughout Ottawa County also use School Crossing Guards. Crossing guards assist students in crossing the street safely and rely on you the motorist to stop when directed by the school crossing guard. 
  • Finally all drivers when approaching a school bus that has activated its flashing red lights must stop. Be alert to children’s unpredictable behavior and wait for the lights to stop flashing before beginning to move again. 

STOPPED program: (Sheriffs Telling Our Parents and Promoting Educated Drivers)

  • STOPPED is a parental notification system that was developed for the state by the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, the goal of STOPPED is to reduce the number of young drivers who are injured or killed in motor vehicle crashes each year.
  • Annually over 3,000 drivers, ages 16 to 21 years old, die in the United States as a result of motor vehicle crashes.
  • MSA and the Sheriff’s Office are pleased to offer parents this voluntary notification system that extends their watchful eyes and raises the level of awareness for drivers under the age of 21.

Riddle for Seniors…

Today’s riddle for seniors…Here is the situation:

You are on a horse, galloping at a constant speed.
On your right side is a sharp drop-off.
On your left side is an elephant traveling at the same speed as you.
Directly in front of you is a galloping kangaroo and your horse is unable to
overtake it.
Behind you is a lion running at the same speed as you and the kangaroo.
What must you do to get out of this highly dangerous situation?

Think logically before you track down for the answer.

 

 

 

——-Answer:
Quietly get off the merry-go-round!

Pioneer Progressive Event

Pioneer Resources to Host First Annual Pioneer Progressive Event October 3, 2015

Muskegon, MI – On October 3, 2015, Pioneer Resources will host their first annual Pioneer Progressive fundraising event. The event, benefiting Pioneer Resources, will transport guests to three destinations highlighting the key areas/services offered by Pioneer Resources for persons with disabilities.

The event will start at Coastline Deli in Terrace Plaza for drinks/appetizers with views of Muskegon Lake. Coastline Deli is a training site for Pioneer Resources’ food service programs.

To highlight the transportation services offered by Pioneer Resources, guests would then be transported, by bus, to a second destination, Pioneer Trails camp on beautiful Blue Lake, for a good ol’ fashioned pig roast. Pioneer Trails, operated by Pioneer Resources, provides recreation and leisure opportunities.

The third and final stop will be Kitchen 242 in the new Farmer’s Market. Guests will enjoy dessert while browsing the certified, commercial kitchen. Pioneer Resources manages Kitchen 242 and also uses the rentable facility to prep food for multiple sites including Coastline Deli.

Event Details

Time: 5:00 – 10:30 pm
Start – Coastline Deli in Terrace Plaza, downtown Muskegon.
Stop #2 – Pioneer Trails Camp.
Stop #3 – Kitchen 242 in the new Farmer’s Market.

Attire: Camp casual
Tickets: $50 per person

Purchase raffle tickets to win prizes throughout the evening. Prizes include a Herman Miller Mirra Chair, a round-trip Lake Express Ferry ride, and much more. Goodie bags will also be given to all attendees.

To order tickets and for sponsorship opportunities, please visit http://www.pioneerresources.org/events.

About Pioneer Resources: For 60 years, Pioneer Resources, a Muskegon-based nonprofit corporation, has offered a diverse array of individualized supports for persons with disabilities as well as services for governmental units and schools that serve children and adults with disabilities.

Pioneer Resources provides housing, transportation services, food service, catering, custodial services, employment and vocational instruction, independent living and recreation in Western Michigan. For more information, please visit www.pioneerresources.org.

Drain Commissioner Day of Review Summary

Brenda Moore, Muskegon County Drain Commissioner

The annual “Day of Review” for drain district boundary changes and assessments was rough this year!  It was no picnic last year—my first in office.  To sum up the input and frustrations I’ve heard from the public, township board members, and county officials; I would call it “culture shock”.   We are—and have to—do things so much differently now.  If I had to summarize the key issues (in order of frequency of comments) it would go like this:

·         “When was this drain district created—I’ve never heard of it.”

Response:  Most of the 100+ open channel ditches in Muskegon county were created in the late 1800s and early 1900s to facilitate property drainage for new development and agriculture.  Many of these drains are merely altered creeks, so the drain in your district may look very much like a stream.

·         “I’ve lived in my home for __ years and never had a drain assessment!”
 
Response:  For most of the drains that have been worked on in the last several years we have found no formal record of assessments or major work for 30-40 years.

·         “I don’t have flooding problems on my property so I should not have to pay an assessment.”

Response:  (Respectfully) The rainwater and snow melt from your property goes somewhere.  In a catastrophic rain or melt event, not all of the water soaks into the ground.  It runs off to other properties, and (eventually) to the county drain.  If you received an assessment you are in the watershed of the drain.

·         “Why don’t the taxes I pay take care of drain work?”

Response:  General fund tax dollars do not go to support county drain work.  Any maintenance work has to be supported by a special assessment.  The assessment process is outlined in the state Drain Code.  Any work conducted from the drain office must be supported by special assessments placed on the properties in the district.  General funds do, however, cover the salaries of our staff: myself, the deputy and a secretary.

·         “How are assessments decided?”

Response:  Local and county government pay a portion of the bill.  There is no standard formula and percentages range from around 5% to over 45% around the state; depending on the specifics of the project.  For property owners, it is generally based on acreage.  In some counties property owners who engage in conservation practices can realize lower assessments.  We are working toward this incentive in the future.

Please note that the only time a public notice must be given on an assessment is when the district boundaries are changed, when a petition is given to this office, or when apportionments (assigned percentages of cost) are changed.  Maintenance assessments of under a certain amount do not require a notice, although we will make every reasonable effort to alert people of pending assessments in the future.

·         “The ditch in front of my house is a mess.  How can you charge me for maintenance when it is in such poor condition?”

Response:  Although some road drains are also county drains most county Drain Commissioner drains run cross country.  Most roadside ditches are maintained by the County Road Commission.  Both entities are collaborating more to work together if we can, however, I have no authority to engage in work outside an established county drain.

·         “We used to dig out the ditches ourselves.”

Response:  Not only is that a bad environmental practice because random digging can cause more problems downstream, but in 2013 state environmental protection law was changed to require Drain Commissioners to get permits for their work from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.  Previous to that work in drains was not monitored.  Private property owners now engaging in such work expose themselves to all kinds of liability and potential penalties under state law.

·         “The work you are doing seems more expensive than ditch cleaning should be.”

Response:  Certainly nothing is getting cheaper, but we are not digging the entire ditch line (creek) with a backhoe as was generally done in the past.  That simply causes too much environmental damage.  Much of our work now also comes under Michigan Department of Environmental Quality scrutiny and they often require “best management practices” as a condition of permitting our work.   Now, rather than digging out trees by the roots and casting aside soil spoils we must stabilize waterway banks through a variety of means including seeding, blanketing steep slopes, and using rip rap.  Also, engineering plans have to be provided to the state as part of the permit process.  This includes survey work and ditch profiles.  We are obligated to use “best management practices” to reduce environmental impact and protect water quality. The state decides if the proposed environmental conservation practices are appropriate.

Even with routine maintenance we are selectively trimming trees, and when we have to take trees out of the flow channel, they are “flush cut” rather than pulled out by the roots with heavy equipment.  Leaving root systems in place helps keep the ditch bottom and banks in place.  True, exercising more finesse does take more time and money in the short term—but doing things more carefully requires much less work and expense in the long term.

·         “We never receive notice of the work being done and we had no time to plan for the extra expense.”

Response:  Point well taken!  Because the Drain Office has easements and right of access to work on the drains, notice may not have been provided in the past.  During my tenure, we alerted property owners along the drain and the supervisors of each township but, truthfully, we can do better.

In the future, unless there is a need for emergency work, we will send a letter to all property owners in the district before work is done to invite questions and input. We will also send a letter to the community and a press release to the local paper.  In some cases a town meeting may be in order. Information on all pending projects will also be posted on our website.

·         “Some people will have a hard time paying the assessment!”

Response:  The Drain Commissioner has the option of spreading an assessment over time, or assessing smaller amounts to build up a reserve for future maintenance work.  The amount that can be “built up” is limited by the law and all funds are dedicated and held in a special account for each district.  Based on comments heard at this year’s “Day of Review” some of the assessments will be spread over two years.  Others will be lowered to collect less “set-aside” money, but that means catching up with maintenance backlogs will take longer.

For more information about drain office operations call us at 724-6219 or see www.co.muskegon.mi.us/drain

Ask Dr. Universe – How Do I Make a Diary?

Dear Dr. Universe: How do I make a diary? – Nimra, Kitchener, Ontario

Dear Diary,

Oh, I mean…Dear Nimra,

Making a diary is like creating your own top-secret book. So, I headed straight for a Washington State University library where there are more than a million books.

My friend Linnea Nelson was working with some of the books from the special collections when I went to visit her in the lab. She is a conservator, so part of her job is to repair and re-build old books. It preserves their history.

Some of the books had an old smell that wafted up into my little nose. The smell comes from different chemical compounds that escape into the air, including one similar to vanilla. The compounds are in the ink, paper, and other materials used to keep the pages together. And one way to keep the pages together is to bind them with thread.

People have bound, or sewn, books together for thousands of years. Before humans even discovered how to make paper out of tree pulp, people in Asia used twine string to bind palm tree leaves. Then they wrote on the leaves with ink.

If you’re up for the challenge of binding a diary together, you’ll need paper, thread, a needle, and scissors. Since it can be tricky to sew with paws, Nelson showed me how to bind a booklet. You may want to ask a grown-up for some help, too. You can find the instructions at AskDrUniverse.com.

Once you have a place to write, the next step is to decide what to write, said my friend Trevor Bond, a rare book librarian at the WSU Libraries.

“The really best diaries share people’s emotions and feelings about events,” Bond said. “They also personalize history in interesting ways.”

A lot of people start diary entries by writing the date at the top of the page. That way when they are older, they can look back at their own history. Historians can use information from old diaries to discover “glimmers of information” about different time periods, Bond explained.

One of the most famous diaries is Anne Frank’s. We have copies of the diary here at the WSU library, but the original is at the Anne Frank House, a museum in Amsterdam. Anne lived in hiding from the Nazis during World War II and after the war her father published her journal. When she started her diary she wrote: “For someone like me, it is a very strange habit to write in a diary. Not only that I have never written before, but it strikes me that later neither I, nor anyone else, will care for the outpouring of a thirteen year old schoolgirl.”

Now, lots of students around the world read the historic diary in school. Anne’s diary had a plaid, red cloth cover. Technically it was an autograph book, but as long as you write in it regularly, a diary can really be anything you wish.

Anne’s diary also had a lock. Bond said if you want to keep your diary top-secret, the last step is to get a lock—or just make sure to find your diary a really good hiding spot.

Sincerely,

Dr. Universe

Got a question? Ask Dr. Universe. You can send her an e-mail at Dr.Universe@wsu.edu or visit her website at askdruniverse.com.

Videos Offer a Window into the Abortion Industry

The Center for Medical Progress has recently released several undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood leaders discussing the sale of baby body parts. The videos are the culmination of what the Center says is 30 months of research, including gaining access to the secretive inner circles of the abortion industry. They promise more videos will be released in the near future.

This investigative series poses two questions for all of us. First, is this the sort of society we want? Second, will Planned Parenthood be held accountable for potentially breaking the law?

Most people—including many women who have had abortions at Planned Parenthood—had no idea Planned Parenthood was in the fetal organ harvesting business. Even some who would describe themselves as pro-choice have been disgusted at the callousness with which the dismemberment and sale of intact organs is discussed over red wine and corned beef sandwiches. The second video features the doctor joking that she needs to sell enough body parts to get herself a new Lamborghini.

Our culture should be one that places a proper value on every single human life. The practice of fetal organ harvesting sends a painfully familiar message to an entire class of people: “You can be useful to society; you just can’t be a member of it.”

The legal implications of the series are also grave, given the fact that taxpayers are forced to support Planned Parenthood with more than a half billion dollars every year. Planned Parenthood leaders suggest they aren’t in it for profits, but in the videos they specifically say clinics want to do a little better than break even and haggle with the undercover actors over price points. It’s against federal law to sell fetal tissue for profit.

In the videos the Planned Parenthood leaders indicate their willingness to change abortion procedures in order to preserve more intact “specimens.” It’s against federal law to change abortion procedures to procure organs. A full investigation is needed in order to determine what is going on. Planned Parenthood must be held accountable if laws are being broken.

Planned Parenthood’s response to these videos so far has been to attack the makers of the video, labeling the prolife movement as the extremists (a movement that does not dismember viable children and sell their remains, I’d like to add). Planned Parenthood insists the videos have been heavily edited, and the callousness of their doctors is due to selective editing. The Center for Medical Progress has in all cases released the full, unedited videos and transcripts.

Watching the unedited videos only gives a clearer and equally troubling context to the shorter videos. The Planned Parenthood leaders are casually taking hours to hammer out the details of selling baby body parts. The humanity of the unborn child or the women paying them to perform abortions is largely an afterthought. After watching both, I can only reflect on the banality of evil. This is not how we treat human beings.

www.RTL.org

Through a Rapist’s Eyes

(Submitted by Kristine Babiarz)

According to this information, a group of rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim, and here are some interesting facts:

The first thing rapists look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.

The second thing rapists look for is clothing. They look for women whose clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around specifically to cut clothing.

They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse, or doing other activities while walking because they are offguard and can be easily overpowered.

Rapists are most likely to attack and rape in the early morning between 5 and 8:30 a.m.

The number one place women are abducted from or attacked is grocery store parking lots. The number two: office parking lots/garages. Number three is public restrooms.

The thing about these rapists is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don‘t have to worry about getting caught.

Only two percent said they carried weapons because rape carries a three to five year sentence, but rape with a weapon is 15 to 20 years.

If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn‘t worth it because it will be time consuming.

They said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands. Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So the idea is to convince these guys you’re not worth it.

Several defense mechanisms are: if someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or is with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like “What time is it?” Or make general small talk: “I can‘t believe it is so cold out here.” “We’re in for a bad winter. Now you‘ve seen his face and could identify him in a lineup. You lose your appeal as a target.

If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell “STOP or STAY BACK! Most of the rapists said theyd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an easy target.

If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes), yell, “I have pepper spray,” and holding it out will be a deterrent.

Love Your Community Grant Contest

What Can You Do With $500?

Muskegon, MI: The Community Foundation for Muskegon County (CFMC) wants to know what YOU can do with $500 to make your corner of Muskegon County a little more lovable. The Foundation is, once again, launching its successful “Love Your Community” mini-grant program with an invitation to the community to share their ideas and declare their love for Muskegon.

Inspired by author and urban consultant Peter Kageyama and his message encouraging citizens to show their love for their community, the Foundation will award $500 mini-grants to projects that demonstrate and share the love for Muskegon. Examples of past Love Your Community grant contest winners include Movies on the Beach, a Play It Forward benefit concert for the Snurfer Sculpture, Portraits of White Lake photography exhibit, Lakeside Community Pocket Park, and many more.

Unlike CFMC’s traditional grants, Love Your Community mini-grants are open to anyone, including individuals and businesses as well as nonprofits. Project ideas must be for the benefit of Muskegon County and its residents, whether for a specific neighborhood, community or the county as a whole; they are not for personal or business benefit.

Contest guidelines and a brief application form are available at CFMC’s website www.cffmc.org/blog and at www.facebook.com/cffmc. Email the application, including a picture, sketch, or graphic and a 300 character description, by 5 p.m. on September 25, 2015 to grants@cffmc.org.

On October 1, ideas will be posted on the Foundation’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/cffmc) and open for community voting. The five projects that have the most “likes” from community members at noon on Thursday, October 15, will receive up to $500 to turn their ideas into reality. Winning applicants will be asked to provide a more detailed one-page project description and a budget before funds are released. As with all of Foundation grants, decisions are subject to Foundation Board of Trustees’ approval.

For more information, applicants are encouraged to call the Foundation office at (231) 722-4538.

Austin G. Selle, Eagle Scout

austinAustin G. Selle received the rank of Eagle Scout on April 26, 2015. Austin is a member of troop 1127, which is sponsored by the Fruitport Lions Club. His Eagle service project was building a children’s play stage and shelving units at the Muskegon Rescue Mission Women’s Shelter.

Austin is a senior at Fruitport High School where he is a member of the National Honor Society. Austin plans on attending Michigan Technological University next fall. Austin is the son of Glen and Janell Selle of Muskegon.

 

Muskegon County Calendar of Events 08/31/15-09/07/15

Presented by the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau

09/01/2015 – 09/20/15 Inspired By…

Artists are always being inspired by what has come before, but rarely do we ever honor the exact source of our inspiration. September 1-20, the Arts Council of White Lake is excited to introduce a unique exhibit that aims to do just this. Inspired By showcases ten local artists who were each asked for a creation that is inspired by and reflects on a ‘masterpiece’. Come relive art history through the eyes of each artist, while experiencing their unique voice and style September 1-20.  Come celebrate this exclusive collection and enjoy light refreshments at a reception to be held on September 10, from 5:00-7:00pm at the Nuveen Center. All ages are welcome to attend.  For more information, call 231-893-2524.

09/01/2015 – Astronomy for Everyone

Come to Hackley Public Library September 1 at 6:00pm for “Astronomy for Everyone: Size & Scale of the Universe”, an exciting family program for ages 8 to 100 about the universe from the very small to the very large that lasts approximately 1 ½ hours. The program starts off with a PowerPoint presentation that includes exciting video footage. Following this indoor formal presentation, everyone will go outdoors to view celestial objects in the night sky through a powerful hand-crafted telescope.  For more information, call 231-722-7276.

09/02/2015 – Lunch & Learn Lecture

September 2 from 12:15-1:00pm, you’re invited to the Lakeshore Museum Center for the “Lunch and Learn Lecture Series”, Charles Hackley:  The Man, the Myth and the Truth with Historic Sites Curator, Dani LaFleur.  Be sure to bring your lunch!  The program is free, but you do need to register by calling 231-722-0278.

09/02/2015 – WWII Lost Submariners’ Memorial

The USS Silversides Submarine Museum is proud to unveil the WWII Lost Submariners’ Memorial recognizing the 52 submarines that were lost in defense of the United States during World War II.  You are invited to the dedication, happening Wednesday, September 2 at 6:00pm.  For more information, call 231-755-5883.

09/02/2015 – Folk Musician Paul Doffing

A folk musician; Paul Doffing  touring the world by bicycle will be at the Harbor UU Congregation Church Wednesday September 2 at 7:00pm to perform for Muskegon! Let’s give him a warm Muskegon welcome and stop by for a listen. $15 is the suggested donation. The location is 1296 Montgomery Ave.

09/03/2015 – 30 Days of Peace Observance

The 30 Days of Peace Muskegon observance will begin with an Interfaith Sunset Service at the U.S.S. Silversides Submarine Museum from 6:00pm to 7:30pm, Thursday, September 3. Unitarian Universalist Rev. Richard “Bud” Murphy from The Peoples’ Church of Ludington will preside. Guest speakers include Imam Jihad Muhammad of the Islamic Center of Greater Muskegon, Debra Gutowski, the Director of Native American Ministries for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Rabbi Alan Alpert from Temple B’Nai Israel, Gargi Hales, a Siddha Yoga student, Rev. Duane Bennett of Mt. Zion Church of God in Christ, Bonnie Johnson from the Bahá’í Faith, and Jim Johnson of the Buddhist Tradition. Composer and Music Director, Jimmy Clark, will provide accompaniment for the gathering. Contact Kryssis Diane Bjork at 231-747-8138 for more information.

09/05/2015 – Sportsmen for Youth Day

September 5, the Muskegon Area Sportsmen for Youth, a nonprofit corporation, hosts “Sportsmen for Youth Day” at the Muskegon County Fairgrounds, located at 6621 Heights Ravenna Rd. in Fruitport. Sportsmen for Youth Day is designed to provide young people age 18 and under with the opportunity to try activities including archery, shooting sports, fishing and many other events. The day will also feature prize drawings and lunch, all FREE!  www.sportsmenforyouth.com

09/05/2015 – Run For Sight

Run For Sight is celebrating its 10th Annual 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, September 5.  This scenic run/walk takes place along Lake Michigan, starting and ending at the Coast Guard Station at Pere Marquette.  Run For Sight is for competitive and non-competitive participants.  Medals for 5K Run  begin with the 9 and Under age category and the 5K Walk is stroller and dog friendly.  5K Run registration is $25 and 5K Walk registration is $20 and all proceeds are donated to the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.  Call 231-739-9009 for more information.

09/05/2015 – Arts Fest

This Saturday, come to the Montague Artisan Market for “Arts Fest” from 10:00am-3:00pm.  Enjoy the art fair, free kids’ crafts, music and special performances.  For more information, visit artswhitelake.org.

09/05/2015 – Nature Walk

Discover the beauty of the White Lake area!  Local naturalists will lead guided tours of local natural areas.  A variety of topics relating to native plants and wildlife will be covered, depending on the time of year.  The walks are appropriate for adults and families;  no children allowed without parents.  Walks will take place the first Saturday of the month through October.  Walks begin at 10:30am sharp and last until approximately noon.

Dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.  Bring water and snacks if needed.  Other optional items include:  sunscreen, hat, umbrella, binoculars, sketchpad, and pencils or pens.  Walks will take place regardless of weather, unless conditions are unsafe.  Please call 231-981-0016 to confirm or if you have questions.

09/05/2015 – Maranatha Summer Concerts

Saturdays during the summer you can enjoy a concert at Maranatha Christian Conference Center. This week enjoy Buddy Greene. This is a FREE event, open to the public. Stop by from 5:00pm-6:45pm and enjoy a dinner buffet before prices are: 3 and under: FREE, 4-8 years; $7.00, 9-12 years; $9 and adults are $15. www.vacationwithpurpose.org

09/07/2015 – Annual Labor Day Breakfast

The Muskegon Lions Club host their annual Labor Day Pancake breakfast at the Margaret Drake Elliott Park from 8:00am – Noon. Adults 12 and up are just $6.00, ages 3-11 are $3.00 and under 3 years of age are FREE! Support and help the “Muskegon Host” Lions Club make a brighter day for someone.

09/07/2015 – Labor Day Community Walk

Enjoy Labor Day this year beginning with a walk on the Hart-Montague bike trail beginning at 10:00am at the trailhead behind Montague Foods. For more information contact 231-893-4585

09/07/2015 – West Michigan’s United Labor Day Parade

This is an all-inclusive community parade through the streets of downtown Muskegon. The parade will start at 11:00am on Monday September 7, and will end approximately around 12:30pm. There will be a fun filled FREE post parade celebration following the parade that will go until 4:00pm, with pizza, refreshments, cotton candy, face painting, bounce houses, arts-n-crafts and much more!  For more information, call 231-638-2741.

09/07/2015 – 9th Annual Community Labor Day Walk

Be part of the free 9th Annual Community Labor Day Walk, Monday, September 7.  Please join the City of Muskegon for the annual community walk that celebrates the beauty of our environment and promotes the health of our community.  Online registration is available at shorelinecity.com.  Check-in/Onsite Registration is at 8:00am.  5k Run start time is 8:30am. Walk start time is 9:30am.  (Pre-registration encouraged but not required.)  The 5k run will follow the Lakeshore Trail north with a turnaround at the halfway point and will finish back at Fisherman’s Landing.  The 4-Mile Walk route follows the Lakeshore Trail to the nature preserve in North Muskegon and turns back to Fisherman’s Landing.  For more information, call 231-724-6705.

Ongoing Events:

Collector’s Corner: Beatles Memorabilia

Beatles Memorabilia is the topic of the display in the Collectors Corner at the Lakeshore Museum Center.  Featured are album covers from The Fab Four, fan club cards, a collectible plate, a Beatles themed Trivial Pursuit Game, beach towel and more.  Figures of the four musicians and a yellow submarine are also included in William Stidham Sr.’s collection.   The museum is open weekdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm and Saturdays from Noon to 4:00pm.  For more information, call 231-722-0278.

Armchair Archeology

“Armchair Archaeology: From Hobby to History” is on display at the Lakeshore Museum Center!  The exhibit explores early archaeology practices and philosophies that would be considered controversial today and showcases the local men who did it right.  The exhibit features ten Muskegon residents from the late 1800s to early 1940s who were working in the area to learn about who and what was living here before them.  Artifacts on display from the local digs include pottery shards, arrowheads, projectile points, and tools.  Visitors will have an opportunity to take a seat and spend some time reading books and journal articles written by and about the men featured in the exhibit. www.lakeshoremuseum.org

Colossal Avian Avatars

The Muskegon Museum of Art announces that Avian Avatars, an art installation of five colossal sculptures, each symbolizing a mythical bird, designed by The Myth Makers, artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein have arrived in Muskegon. The sculptures are crafted from maple saplings, wire ties, and found objects, and stand from 18 to 26 feet tall. Each of the sculptures will be installed in a different downtown Muskegon location for a full year. Avian Avatars is currently on display in the Garment District of New York City, from where it will travel directly to Muskegon.

Each bird in the installation represents a unique myth. Avian Avatars is meant to indicate transformation, encouraging the public to heed to the stories about current human impact on the changing natural world.  The sculptures are also intentionally made not to be permanent. Typically, per the artists, they last four to five years in any installation. www.muskegonartmuseum.org

Muskegon South Pierhead Light Tours

Memorial Day to Labor Day tours will be given at Pere Marquette Beach South Pierhead Light. Tours will take place Monday & Tuesday from Noon-4:00pm and Saturday from 10:00am – 2:00pm. The cost is $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for kids. Please thank the volunteers who are helping to make this possible.

Rootdown Yoga

Rootdown Juice & Greens Bar offers high-energy, heated and music filled Power Vinyasa (flow) Yoga classes every day of the week.  This style of yoga is accessible to everyone regardless of age, ability or experience.  For class times and descriptions, please visit www.rootdown.in.

2nd Annual Invitational Art Exhibit

Art in Our City is a juried fine art exhibition organized by the Frauenthal Center and the Red Lotus Gallery, assisted by the Muskegon Museum of Art and the Muskegon Center for the Arts, as a complement to the 2015 Regional Exhibition.  This year, the exhibit has expanded to three downtown venues; The Bettye Clark Cannon Gallery in the Hilt Building, Smash Wine Bar & Bistro and the Red Lotus Gallery.  You’re invited to view all three exhibition spaces between now and August 31.  For more information, call 231-206-0426.  

Light and Illumination: Call for Artists

September 22-October 10, the Arts Council of White Lake presents “Light and Illumination.”   Light brightens and illustrates the world around us. It casts its glow on all that we see and infuses our lives with the tint of seasons and hours. Light and Illumination seeks artworks that honor our greatest gift. Submit your work that utilizes or illustrates the far reaching impact of light.  Entries must be submitted by September 5.  

Rules and Regulations:

Calls are open to all local, domestic, national and international professional and amateur artists of all ages. All mediums will be considered for this exhibit.

Application Fee :

Each artist may submit up to two works. 

$15 for ACWL Artist Members

$20 for non-members

Submission:

All submissions must represent the actual artwork as closely as possible. If your work is misrepresented in any way– meaning the picture diverges greatly from what the work actually looks like in color, shape, or dimensions etc., we reserve the right to refuse to display such works. 

Notification:

All accepted applicants will receive notification and drop off through email by September 9, 2015.

Beach Towne Trolley Rides

All ages love to take a ride on Muskegon’s Beach Towne Trolley during the summer months!

Routes and Operating Hours

Beach-Towne Trolley – 12:00pm–6:48pm

Operating Days

Six Days a Week, Monday – Saturday
Memorial Day – Labor Day

Single-Ride Cash Fare

Standard                 $1.25
Senior/Disabled       $ .60

Transfers, tickets, and passes from other Muskegon Area Transit System buses will be accepted. Regular transit passes and transfers will not be sold or issued on trolleys. Exact change will be required. Children through age 5 may ride free when accompanied by an adult. All vehicles are equipped with wheelchair lifts. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more information, call the Muskegon Area Transit System at 231-724-6420.

Reading by Any Means Necessary

You’re invited to the James Jackson Museum of African American History for the “Reading…by any means necessary” program, every Monday through Saturday from 2:00-5:30pm.  The museum is located at 7 E. Center St. in Muskegon Heights.  Call 231-739-9500 for more information.

Drive-In Movie

Muskegon’s historic Getty Drive-In was once a one screen in 1948, Today you can visit four screens. Tuesday night is bargain night for just $6.00 adults, 6-12 years old $5.00 and under 5 years are FREE. They have concessions and play area for children. Shows begin 15 minutes after sunset. They are located at 920 E. Summit in Muskegon. www.celebrationcinema.com

Muskegon Farmer’s Market

Enjoy their bustling market opening their outdoor season on Saturday, May 2! Hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Power of Produce will start up again Saturday June 6 – October 31, 2015, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. with activities 10:00 – Noon on Saturdays only. This is a membership club for kids, ages 5 – 12 yrs. They learn about healthy eating and can purchase their own fresh produce. www.muskegonfarmersmarket.com

Muskegon Heights Farmer’s Market

The Muskegon Heights Farmer’s Market will offer a variety of produce along with being a flea market. Starting May 2, the market will be open from 9:00am -1:00pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The market is located on the corner of Baker and East Center Street.

Undiscovered Worlds: The Search Beyond Our Sun

With rapidly improving telescope technology, hundreds of planets have been found orbiting stars beyond our solar system. Are any of these exoplanets like Earth? Can they support life? How will this change our view of the universe? These questions will be explored in a NEW planetarium program at Muskegon Community College (room 135, 221 S. Quarterline Rd, Muskegon). No reservations are needed for this free show, which runs August 25 – October 29 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. (doors open by 6:45), and includes a brief planetarium dome demonstration of the current night sky. For more information, or to schedule a private show for groups of 15-44, please call (231) 777-0289 or email tamera.owens@muskegoncc.edu.

Lunch at Mona Lake Boating Club

Mona Lake Boating Club is open to the public for great food! 

Wednesday 11:30am-1:00pm – Burgers and more for $6 or less, featuring hand-made burgers fresh from the Meat Block.  Also enjoy weekly soup, sandwich and salad specials.

Wednesday 5:30pm-7:30pm – Steak Fry at the Point.  Choose from chicken ($8), steak from Meat Block ($10), includes salad, baked potato and garlic bread.  Call in and reserve your meal by 2:00pm each Wednesday at 231-798-4011.

Friday 11:30am-1:00pm – Perch, shrimp and more for $7 or less, along with weekly soup, sandwich and salad specials.

Friday 6:00pm-8:00pm – Variety dinner.  Enjoy the weekly special, plus steak, chicken, perch, shrimp and more! 

Check them out on Facebook for more information.

Muskegon City Flea Market

The City Flea Market will open for Wednesday, May 6 from 6:00am-3:00pm. They are located at 700 Yuba Street. There are many booths of products you can only imagine! They are open every Wednesday through October 28.

Summer Luge & Archery!

School is out, so what are you and the family going to do for fun this weekend? Check out the Summer Luge and Archery!! Thursday-Sunday 10:00AM-2:00PM!! $15.00 for 4 runs on the summer luge track and 3 rounds at Archery. Get out and have some fun at the Winter Sports Complex, summer style! www.msports.org

Sweetwater Market

The Sweetwater Market is open Saturdays from 9:00am-Noon at Mercy Health @ The Lakes Campus. If there is inclement weather they will have it indoors. They are located just 1/2 mile south of the Lakes Mall. For more information 231-292-1152.

Taco Saturday at Mona Lake Boating Club

The public is invited to the Mona Lake Boating Club every Saturday September 5 – May 28 from 11:30am-2:00pm for their famous homemade tacos, taco salads and nachos!  Call 231-798-4011 for more information.

Head Out on the Highway for the M23.1K Run!

Get your motor runnin’! Head out on the highway! Registration is open for the M23.1k Run on October 3. The event is limited to the first 231 registrants and takes place on the new M231 highway before the rubber meets the road. The cost is $35 and the event begins and finishes at Robinson Elementary School in Grand Haven. (11801 120th Avenue Grand Haven, MI)

The new M231 highway stretches seven miles through the spectacular, rolling countryside and over the Grand River in West Michigan. Ottawa County is partnering with the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Grand Haven Running Club, Robinson and Crockery townships, plus the offices of Senator Arlan Meekhof and Representative Amanda Price to organize the “M23.1K Run.”

Proceeds will be contributed to Ottawa County’s non-motorized pathway system (commonly called bike paths). An extensive system of paved trails benefits residents and visitors alike. Paved trails through Ottawa County provide: opportunities for fitness and family recreation; environmental benefits; transportation corridors; and economic benefits to the community.

The M23.1k Run is sponsored by:

•  Mika Myers, PLC (Silver Sponsor)
•  Arther Gallagher & Co. (Silver Sponsor)
•  Tolman’s Auto Tech Group (Bronze Sponsor)
•  Nichols (Bronze Sponsor)
•  Pigeon Creek Golf Course (Bronze Sponsor)
•  Priority Health (Bronze Sponsor)
•  Silver & Van Essen, PC
•  ImageSoft

Additional support is being provided by:

•  Ottawa County
•  Michigan Department of Transportation
•  Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office
•  Ottawa County Medical Reserve Corp
•  West Michigan Christian School
•  Grand Haven Running Club
•  Grand Haven Public Schools
•  Robinson Baptist Church
•  Robinson & Crockery Townships
•  Senator Arlan Meekhof’s Office
•  Representative Amanda Price’s Office

Those who wish to see the new stretch of pavement but do not wish to run also have a chance to view it during this special event as volunteers or spectators. An additional opportunity for residents to view the bridge outside of the running event is also being planned. Those details will also be posted at miOttawa.org/m231 as soon as they are available. More details and Frequently Asked Questions are online at miOttawa.org/m231.