Monthly Archives: March 2016

State Laws for Ignition Interlock Devices Tightened

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson says laws will help protect consumers, ensure integrity

LANSING ‒ Secretary of State Ruth Johnson applauded new laws signed by Gov. Rick Snyder today that tighten regulations for the breath alcohol ignition interlock devices issued to motorists convicted of drunken driving offenses.

The laws revise requirements for the sale, installation, regulation and removal of an ignition interlock device. They also increase the regulatory scope of the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office as the administrator of the state’s ignition interlock program.

“These laws close loopholes and toughen licensing requirements for ignition interlock mechanics and facilities,” Johnson said. “It is good news for consumers, who can now be confident that the ignition interlock installer they’ve chosen is certified by the state and will do the job correctly. I would like to thank Sen. Schuitmaker for shepherding this issue through the legislative process.”

An ignition interlock device connects with a motor vehicle’s ignition and other control systems. The interlock device measures the driver’s bodily alcohol content and keeps the vehicle from starting if the BAC is 0.025 or higher. The device also will ask for random retests while the person is driving.

“The ignition interlock program allows individuals with drunken driving convictions to seek the help they need while putting their life back on track,” said Schuitmaker, R – Lawton. “Currently, the program lacks integrity, which has compromised public safety. I proudly worked with Secretary Johnson on this legislation to ensure drivers with interlock devices are obeying the law and our loved ones are safe on the road.”

If the device records three start-up test failures in a monitoring period, or one rolling retest failure while the vehicle is being driven, or if it detects tampering, the vehicle must be taken to a service center immediately. If that service is not done, the interlock device will go into a “lock-out” mode, and the vehicle cannot be operated.

Tampering with an ignition interlock or interfering with the testing process may result in the suspension or denial of the driver’s license, or may increase the time that drivers must wait before requesting a driver’s license appeal hearing.

Some of the highlights from Public Acts 32, 33 and 34 that affect the sale, installation and certification of the ignition interlock industry include the following:

• Only state-approved ignition interlock device manufacturers and vendors may install, service or remove an ignition interlock device in Michigan.

• Mechanics must hold a specialty mechanic’s certificate in ignition interlock service to work on such devices.

• The Secretary of State’s Office is authorized to inspect repair facilities that provide ignition interlock services, and may suspend, revoke or deny a repair facility or mechanic’s ignition interlock certification when violations of state law are found.

• Ignition interlocks must be able to provide a digital image of the person providing a breath sample and record the time and date the sample was given. This provides state officials with documented proof that the individual providing the sample is the verified driver of record.

• Installers convicted of a felony or alcohol-related driving offense within the previous five years will be precluded from ignition interlock approval eligibility.

“Under these new laws, dishonest individuals who attempt to defraud customers with fly-by-night ignition interlock operations, unlicensed mechanics or unscrupulous business practices will quickly find themselves facing serious legal consequences,” Johnson said.

For media questions, please call Gisgie Dávila Gendreau or Fred Woodhams at 517-373-2520.

For more about the Secretary of State’s Office:
To find Secretary of State office locations and services, visit www.michigan.gov/sos. Sign up for the official Secretary of State Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/michsos and Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/michigansos. Online services are available at www.expresssos.com.

Customers may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).

Calvary Christian Schools – Accreditation

CCS to Earn 3rd Consecutive Term of ACSI/NCA Accreditation.

Calvary Christian Schools is in the final stages of renewing their long-standing dual accreditation with organizations that are well known and respected within the educational community: the North Central Association (NCA), and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

The accreditation process gives CCS credibility with their stakeholders and the community. It also qualifies their SEVIS status to host international students. This data-driven process provides a structure of rigorous standards focused on continual school improvement.

Every facet of their program is assessed: Governance, Mission, Resources, Instruction, Facilities, Personnel, Safety, Student Performance, and more. In response to hundreds of questions, the administration and faculty produce countless pages of evidence in support of their answers, but more importantly, the process sharpens their focus on better serving the individual and collective needs of their students and parental partners.

Here are just a few examples, in preparation for the coming accreditation visit, taken from the CCS website:

Curriculum Guides/Scope and Sequence were revised and republished by teams of teachers after evaluating our entire K-12 curriculum. They looked at what we teach (scope) and the order in which we teach it (sequence). This on-going process prompts adjustments and provides a basis for prioritizing new textbooks as the budget allows.

Stakeholder Surveys were completed with parents, students and staff members in November. We have been evaluating these results, listening to the input from our stakeholders, and addressing concerns while building upon our achievements and strengths.

A Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP) has been reviewed and published by a cross-section of CCS stakeholders based on input from the Stakeholder Surveys and the expertise of our teachers and administration. The CSIP was submitted to the School Board for review in February. Part of the board’s oversight role is vision casting and assisting the administration in ongoing implementation and stakeholder involvement.

Emergency Protocols have been updated with the on-site direction of the County Emergency Management Director. This process included emergency drill training, publishing of safety procedures and protocols, and the purchase of equipment through grants and other individual donations.

Updates of all governing documents are now complete: Board Policy Manual and Bylaws, Staff Manual, Parent/Student Handbook, and all Enrollment Materials.

Technology Upgrades have taken place in classrooms. E-911-compliant phones have been installed in all classrooms and offices. The school website has been redesigned, and teachers now have their own webpages accessible through the school website. Additional security cameras (24 now in place) and other upgrades are in process. In February, our internet speed was quadrupled and moved to an unshared dedicated-service line.

Integration of Mission: The ACSI accreditation process is very specific in confirming that the CCS Statements of Faith and Mission are at the core of everything we do. We have revised the same longstanding goals of our Mission Statement down to 18 words which were the subject of this space in the fall and have been on display in signage and communication on a regular basis.

Student Performance Data Analysis helps us improve our instruction for individual students and whole classes as well as providing  plan for ongoing staff development in this area.

By the time you read this, hundreds of pages of reports will have been submitted to ACSI and NCA. On March 20-23 an External Review Team will be at CCS for three and a half days to examine policies, observe classrooms, interview staff and constituents; review files, procedures and documentation. When finished, these visiting experts will produce a list of commendations and recommendations which will, in short, determine if CCS has earned accreditation for what will be their third consecutive cycle since 1999.

CCS Administrator thanks their faculty and Mrs. Shelley Watkins who has served as their accreditation facilitator for eighteen years. Together with many other volunteers, their team has devoted thousands of hours to this project over the last two years. They do it because they love CCS and the children of the community, and they want to make this school the best it can be.

Please read the full version of this article with many helpful links at: http://2beginwith.blogspot.com/2016/02/seeking-our-third-consecutive-term-of.html

For more information, visit www.calvaryeagles.org, or call (231)-865-2141.

Ask Dr. Universe – Pie

Why is pi 3.1415…? What if it was just 3? –Anonymous

Dear Curious Readers,

It’s almost March 14. You know what that means: Pi Day, as in 3/14, or 3.14159265359 and so on.

I met up with my friend Nathan Hamlin, a mathematician and instructor here at Washington State University, to explore your question about this never-ending number.

We calculated Pi with some of my favorite items: yarn and a tuna can. You can try it at home, too.

We cut a piece of yarn that was just long enough to go around the circumference of the tuna can. Next, we straightened the yarn out and measured it with a ruler.

Then, we took a piece of yarn and laid it across the top of the tuna can. That gave us its diameter.

Then we did some division. If you try this at home and are still working on your long division, you can use a calculator.

We took the circumference and divided it by the diameter. We tried our yarn measurements again with a plate and a clock. We had to be very precise, but every time we divided the numbers, we got the same answer: about 3.14.

“Pi is part of the nature of the circle,” Hamlin said. “If the ratio was different, it wouldn’t be a circle.”

So, that makes your second question a bit tricky. If Pi wasn’t 3.1415 and so on, circles wouldn’t exist as we know them today.

I also found out there was a mathematician in Indiana who was convinced Pi was actually 3.2. He even tried to make it a law so all the students in the state would have to use that number in their math classes. Of course, it didn’t pass.

Hamlin said if Pi really were 3.2 or 3, it would mean Pi was a rational number.

Rational numbers include fractions, counting numbers, negative numbers, numbers with decimals that end (ex: 3.0374), and numbers with decimals that repeat (ex: 0.33333).

“This kind of goes back to one of the things in the ancient world, which was when math was first developed,” Hamlin said. “People thought that the world was a more rational place than it was.”

People thought the universe—and math—would be more orderly or logical than it turned out.

“There’s a story that’s told by math teachers that when the Pythagoreans discovered there was an irrational number, they were all on a ship together,” Hamlin said. “The person who figured it out, well, they through him overboard!”

Pi is an irrational number. Unlike the rational numbers that have sections of repeating digits after the decimal, Pi’s digits look a little different. To give you an idea, here are just the first hundred digits of Pi: 3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164062862089986280348253421170679.

You can find Pi in nature, too. For example, you can find it in the pupil of our eyes or ringed splashes in ponds. Albert Einstein even found Pi in the shapes of rivers. It just so happens Pi Day falls on Einstein’s birthday, March 14. OK, he was born in 1879, not 1592.

I think I’ll celebrate math and science with a nice slice of tuna fish pie.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

Got a science question? E-mail Dr. Wendy Sue Universe at Dr.Universe@wsu.edu. Ask Dr. Universe is a science-education project from Washington State University.

Dr. Universe – Hearing in Space

Hi, Dr. Universe, Can you hear in space? -a curious reader

Dear curious reader,

Your question reminds me of an experiment: You put a ringing alarm clock in a jar and use a hose to slowly suck out all the air. As the air escapes, the ringing gets quieter until there’s no sound at all.

The inside of the jar becomes what scientists call a vacuum. It’s empty. Just like space.

Despite any zooms and explosions you may have heard in movies about outer space, sound actually can’t travel through empty space. That’s why on the moon, where there is no air, astronauts have to use radios to talk with each other.

But here on Earth, all kinds of sounds are traveling through air, water, and other objects. The molecules that make up these objects help the sound travel.

That’s what I found out when I visited my friend Allison Coffin to learn more about how sound moves. Coffin is a brain scientist here at Washington State University. In her research, she investigates hearing and hearing loss.

She explained that when you hear a sound, somewhere around you an object was moving, or vibrating. If you’ve ever strummed a rubber band you’ve probably heard, and maybe even seen, this at work.

The molecules that make up water or air sort of bump into each other as they vibrate. They pass on their motion to neighboring molecules.

While sound doesn’t travel through empty space, there are other places off our planet where scientists have detected sound waves. For example, some scientists have used different machines to pick up sound waves from gas clouds beyond our atmosphere.

“In general, the sounds are probably so low a frequency, a mega bass, that our ears can’t hear it,” Coffin said. “In fact, I don’t know of any animal on Earth that could hear sounds so low.”

Meanwhile, in Earth’s atmosphere, animals can hear a range of sounds. Sound that travels through air moves about 1,114 feet in a second. Underwater, sound moves about four times faster.

Coffin explained how sounds beneath Earth’s water tend to have a low frequency. The sounds travel a lot farther and reach their destination faster than high frequency sounds.

“Think about songs of baleen whales, like humpbacks and blue whales,” she adds. “Higher frequency sounds don’t travel as far because they bounce off things and get reflected back (by) things like corals, rocks, and boats.”

The songs of baleen whales can travel so far that some scientists have found that whales can hear each other from nearly a thousand miles away. That’s farther than the distance from Seattle to Los Angeles.

The next time you hear a sound, think about all of the molecules that helped carry it to your ears. Think about how far it traveled and what it traveled through. And remember, it’s quiet out there between the planets and stars.

You can try your own experiments in sound and explore other projects at pinterest.com/AskDrUniverse. Send a picture of your project to Dr.Universe@wsu.edu for a chance to be featured on my website.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

Got a science question? E-mail Dr. Wendy Sue Universe at Dr.Universe@wsu.edu. Ask Dr. Universe is a science-education project from Washington State University.

Shoreline Vision Ambulatory Surgical Center Achieves AAAHC Accreditation

Muskegon – Shoreline Vision Ambulatory Surgical Center has once again achieved accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Accreditation distinguishes the Shoreline Vision ASC from many other outpatient facilities by providing the highest quality of care to its patients as determined by an independent, external process of evaluation.

Status as an accredited organization means Shoreline Vision ASC has met nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care as set by AAAHC. More than 6,000 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by AAAHC. Not all ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation; not all that undergo the rigorous on-site survey process are granted accreditation.

“We believe our patients deserve the best,” stated Michelle Cassens, RN, Executive Director of Shoreline Vision. “When you see our certificate of accreditation, you will know that AAAHC, an independent, not-for-profit organization, has closely examined our facility and procedures. It means we as an organization care enough about our patients to strive to provide the highest quality of care.”

Ambulatory health care organizations seeking accreditation by AAAHC undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey by AAAHC expert surveyors – physicians, nurses, and administrators who are actively involved in ambulatory health care. The survey is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization improve its care and services.

“Going through the process challenged us to find better ways to serve our patients, and it is a constant reminder that our responsibility is to strive to continuously improve the quality of care we provide,” said Cassens.

In addition to its main campus and eye surgery center on Sherman Boulevard in Muskegon, Shoreline Vision has convenient locations in Fremont, North Muskegon, Norton Shores, Grand Haven, and Spring Lake. For more information, call Jennifer Scofield, Shoreline Vision Marketing Manager at 231.737.4717.

Tax Checkoff Program

Donate your tax refund for a world without Alzheimer’s disease!
As a Michigan taxpayer, you can quickly and easily help a family living with Alzheimer’s disease by donating all or part of your tax return to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Call us for information or ask your tax preparer about Tax Form 4642 to donate.

Samantha West | Communications Director | Alzheimer’s Association, Michigan Great Lakes Chapter | Office: 734.369.2716 | swest@alz.org | www.alz.org/mglc | 24/7 Helpline: 800.272.3900

Ask Dr. Universe – Chameleons

* Dear readers, what kind of science are you up to this week? Tweet @AskDrUniverse or tell me in an e-mail for a chance to win a Dr. Universe shirt.

 

Dear Dr. Universe, How does a chameleon change colors? -Jasmine B. 12, Nepean, Canada & Marie F., 11, Ghana

Dear Jasmine and Marie,

There’s something about a chameleon’s darting eyes, long tongue, curled tail, and ability to climb that makes it a fascinating animal to watch. Especially when it’s changing colors.

And the latest research on your question suggests that how a chameleon changes has more to do with light than scientists once thought.

That’s what I learned from my friend Paul Verrell, a biologist at Washington State University who studies animal behavior and works with reptiles. He said not all chameleons change colors. They also don’t necessarily use their colors to hide from predators. Since many are green, they often naturally blend in with plants in their environment. Instead, changing colors can help chameleons maintain their temperature or communicate that they’re interested in a mate.

“The big question is, how can chameleons change their colors so hugely, sometimes in very short periods of time?” Verrell said. “Well, let’s think of a different animal that can change its color. Octopuses are very famous for being able to change their color. They can change their color according to their moods.”

If we zoom into the cells that make up octopus skin we find tiny particles, called pigments, that give them their natural color. Depending on whether those pigments are packed closely together or farther apart, the color of the octopus changes.

For many years, people thought chameleon skin was very similar to that of octopuses. But now we know it’s not that simple.

Chameleon skin has quite a few layers. Underneath its scales are layers of cells with different pigments. The next layers are made up of crystals that create a crisscross pattern, or lattice.

The Swiss scientists who discovered these structures actually described them as selective mirrors, Verrell said. When light shines through a chameleon’s scales, it goes through the different layers and hits the lattices. The lattices reflect the light back out.
And they reflect the light out in different colors, depending on how closely the crystals are packed together in the lattice.

If the crisscross pattern is tight, we’ll usually see blue. But as light travels through the chameleon’s skin it may hit those tiny mirrors and bounce through some yellow pigments in the layer above. As it does this, we see green.

It’s almost like mixing blue and yellow paint to get green. But instead of paint, chameleons use light and their skin layers.

If the crisscross pattern of particles is looser, we’ll usually see more red. If the red passes through the yellow layer above, we’ll see more orange colors.

Another big question that remains is how exactly chameleons change these structures in their cells.

“I think the answer is we aren’t really sure,” Verrell adds. “The color changes are pretty rapid. I would hypothesize that it has something to do with its control by nerves, but we haven’t really worked out the details.”

As is often the case, the answer to your question leaves us with, well, even more questions.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

Got a science question? E-mail Dr. Wendy Sue Universe at Dr.Universe@wsu.edu. Ask Dr. Universe is a science-education project from Washington State University.

Grand Valley State University Graduate List

Grand Valley State University announces the names of our most recent graduates completing their degrees at the conclusion of the Spring/Summer 2015 semester in August.

Grand Valley is dedicated to providing a rich learning environment for students, offering a wide range of majors and hands-on research opportunities. Highly credentialed and responsive faculty and individual advisors and mentors promote a liberal arts emphasis that teaches students critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Students who graduated at the conclusion of the Spring/Summer 2015 semester in August include:

Fruitport: Kristine M. Harig, BS; Meghan M. Marshall, BSN

Muskegon (49444): Brenden T. Cooper, BS; Melissa S. Stark, MS

Nunica: Jennie A. Paggeot, BS

Ravenna: Autumn L. Brodeur, BS

Spring Lake: Stephen A. Annese, BS; Derek J. Barrett, BS; Skylar R. Bench, BA; Lindsay A. Bogi, BA; Jordan A. Coleman, BBA; Michael R. Dodge, MED; Sarah N. Krebs, BS; Timothy D. Leete, BA; Karen T. Lomeo, BA; Kurt M. McCool, MED; Thomas J. Meerman, MED; Caitlin A. O’Neill, MSW; Whitney R. Wells, BS; Jennifer L. Woods, MED
Sterling Heights: Vlad Borza, MED; Brittney S. Gibson, MS; Katelyn M. Smith, BS; Emily Stewart, BA; Jacob R. Szocinski, DPT; Darren M. Washington, BS

Spring Break 2016 at the Muskegon Museum of Art

Muskegon Museum of Art  Muskegon, Mich—The Muskegon Museum of Art announces that it will be open every day during the area’s K-12 spring break, Sunday, April 3 through Saturday, April 9 and will offer half off each admission (regularly $8) for each adult accompanied by a child Monday, April 4 through Friday, April 8. Admission will be free all day Saturday, April 9. Three family-friendly exhibitions will be open at the MMA during Spring Break and the MMA will offer three special programs during the week.

PROGRAMS

Monday, April 4 through Thursday, April 7, 9:00 am to noon
Spring Break Art Camp
Artist, Architect, Designer
(ages 7-11) Instructor: Ellen Sprouls
Cost per day: $20/$17 MMA member/Cost for the week: $75/$65 MMA member
MONDAY: Character creation • TUESDAY: What’s their story?  WEDNESDAY: Design & build the space • THURSDAY: Finishing touches
Creative types wanted! This art camp will tap into the artist, architect, and designer in each child. Students will create stories for their own buildings and the characters within them, then design and construct their buildings and characters. Inspiration will come from visiting the MMA galleries, brainstorming with each other, and, ultimately, from their own imaginations. To register for the week or by the day: Call 231.720.2571.

Thursday, April 7, 5:30 pm
Kid’s Quick Art Crash Course
Learn and have fun at this gallery walk and talk geared toward kids! MMA Curator of Education Cathy Mott will guide families through I, Too, Am America: The Art of Bryan Collier and Expressions 2016: 34th Annual Muskegon County Student Art Exhibition. Kids will experience their fellow students’ artwork to emphasize that the leap between what they are capable of now, and what they can achieve, is not as far as it seems. Refreshments will be served. Part of FINDING COMMON GROUND series of free community programs. Sponsored by the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

April 9, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Action Figure Super Saturday
Free Family Fun Day: Admission and activities are free all day!
Zoom, zap, or fly your way into the MMA for this action-packed Super Saturday. Dress as your favorite action figures or, even better, make one up! Super Saturdays are underwritten by MMA Education Partner, Alcoa Foundation/Whitehall Operations.
11:00 am & 1:30 pm Film The Avengers (143 mins.) Watch your favorite action heroes as they learn to work together as team in order to conquer the evil Loki.
11:00 am–1:00 pm Guided Look: Superheroes move fast! Find works of art in the MMA’s permanent collection that show lots of movement.
11:00 am–2:00 pm Make & Take: Invent and create your own mini superhero. Don’t forget the best part—what is your superhero’s super power?

EXHIBITIONS

March 29 through April 24
Expressions: 34th Annual Muskegon County Student Art Exhibition
Celebrate the artistic talents of Muskegon County K-12 students! Underwritten by the MAISD with additional support from Old Orchard and Comerica Bank.

See it through April 17!
I, Too, Am America: The Art of Bryan Collier
The original art of Bryan Collier, created for his picture book I, Too, Am America. Underwritten by the Folkert Family Foundation.

Through May 22
Native Visions
Indian Painting of the Southwest, 1920s–1940s, from the Collection of Charlotte Mittler
Artwork by Indian School students depicting memories of home life, craft-making, ceremonial dances, hunting, animals, and landscape. Underwritten by Hines Corporation with additional support from Frontier Communications and Legacy Trust. Media sponsor is Blue Lake Public Radio.

The Muskegon Museum of Art is located at 296 W. Webster Ave. in downtown Muskegon, Michigan, next to Hackley Public Library. Visit www.muskegonartmuseum.org or call 231.720.2570 for visitor information.
SPRING BREAK HOURS: MTWFS 11-5, Thursday 11-8, Sunday 12-5
ADMISSION: $8 adult/$5 college student with I.D./FREE for ages 17 & under & MMA members.
FREE Thursday nights 4-8pm, compliments of Meijer.

Fruitport Charter Township Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes of February 22, 2016

A work session of the Fruitport Charter Township Board began at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, February 22, 2016, in the township board room.

Members Present: Brian Werschem; Carol Hulka, Clerk; Rose Dillon, Treasurer; Trustees Ron Becklin, Dave Markgraf, and Marjorie Nash

Member Absent: Trustee Chuck Whitlow–excused

Also Present: many residents; Public Safety Director, Michelli and DPW Director, Farrar

At 7:00 p.m., Supervisor Werschem opened the regular meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance followed with a prayer.

The meeting minutes of February 8, 2016, regular meeting, were approved as presented.

The motion by Rose Dillon, seconded by Carol Hulka, was carried unanimously, to amend the meeting agenda of February 22, 2016, by adding Public Comments after Badge Presentations.

CORRESPONDENCE / REPORTS
1) Michigan Townships Association legislative updates
2) Planning Commission minutes dated February 16, 2016
3) Muskegon County Chapter of Michigan Townships Association quarterly meeting will be held at Fruitport Township on February 29th
4) Bike Time is scheduled for July 16 – 18

16-023  Badge Presentations
Badges were presented to three Township employees in their new positions during a badge presentation.  Brian Michelli, Public Safety Director, was presented his badge from Supervisor Werschem; David Mayette, Battalion Chief, was presented his badge from Public Safety Director, Brian Michelli; and Adam Morse, full time fire fighter, was presented his badge from Public Safety Director, Brian Michelli.

PUBLIC COMMENTS  –  PART 1
The following residents voiced their opinions concerning the township superintendent issue-

Linda Corinti, Oak Street

Mac McKenna, Silver Birch

Ron Cooper, E. Pontaluna

Greg Dillon, Josephine

Marty Hulka, East Broadway who also gave an overview of a legal opinion on this issue of a township superintendent written by resident and Attorney James Waters

Mariann Cooper, E. Pontaluna

Laura Oldt, 1st Street

Sandra Engle, E. Ellis

Greg Hulka, Romedius

Mark Carmean, E. Fruitport

Kim West, N. Point Drive

Ruth Vanderstelt, 6th. Street

Julie Wright, Vandenberg

Bruce DeVries, Pontaluna

County Commissioner, Marv Engle, Sheridan, handed out statutory duties of Township Supervisor, Township Clerk, Township Treasurer, and Township Board

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
16-024  Consideration of Township Superintendent
(a.)  Marjorie Nash moved, Dave Markgraf seconded, MOTION CARRIED, to un-table the consideration of a township superintendent.

Ayes: Nash, Markgraf, Becklin, Dillon, Hulka, Werschem
Nays: None

(b.)  Marjorie Nash moved, Dave Markgraf seconded, MOTION CARRIED, to remove the topic of township superintendent from the agenda for good with no further discussion.

Ayes: Nash, Markgraf, Becklin, Dillon, Hulka  Werschem
Nays: None

16-025  2016-2017 Budget
Further discussion took place concerning the 2016-2017 budget with adjustments added including new voting machines and a new cemetery map.

NEW BUSINESS:
16-026   Fruitport Lions OFD Event Agreement
Rose Dillon moved, seconded by Dave Markgraf, MOTION CARRIED, to approve the Fruitport Lions Old Fashioned Days agreement as presented.

Ayes: Dillon, Markgraf, Hulka, Nash, Becklin, Werschem
Nays: None

16-027   Truth in Taxation Public Hearing
(a.) Rose Dillon moved, seconded by Dave Markgraf, MOTION CARRIED, to open the Truth in Taxation hearing at 7:57 p.m.

Ayes: Dillon, Markgraf, Hulka, Nash, Becklin, Werschem
Nays: None

(b.)  Public Hearing: The Supervisor announced the proposed millage rates as follows: General Fund at the millage rate of .9965, Public Safety at 1.50 mills, Police at 1.00 mills and street lighting at .45 mills. Supervisor Werschem added that the rates are the lowest in Muskegon County.

Sandra Engle, E. Ellis, questioned the police and fire percentages on the budget.

Marty Hulka, East Broadway, commented on the street lights.

The Board discussed the police and fire renewal millage and the police renewal millage that will be on the May ballot.

No further discussion was heard. Budget adoption of the 2016-2017 townships budgets will be done at the next meeting on March 14, 2016.

(c.)  The motion by Dave Markgraf, supported by Ron Becklin, was Carried Unanimously, to close the public hearing at 8:05 p.m. and return to open session.

16-028  Liquor License Application West Star Management LLC
Brian Werschem moved, Rose Dillon seconded, MOTION CARRIED, to deny the application from West Star Management, LLC for a Class C and Specially Designated Merchant license to be located at 1720 E. Sternberg Road, Suite 80, Muskegon, MI 49444. It was recommended that the business owner further talk with officials regarding potential building and fire code violations.

16-029  Payoff of Fire Truck 562
The motion by Ron Becklin, seconded by Marjorie Nash, was Carried Unanimously, to table this issue until the next board meeting.

16-030  New Fire Truck to Replace Outgoing Truck
The motion by Ron Becklin, seconded by Marjorie Nash, was Carried Unanimously, to table this issue until the next board meeting.

16-031   Payment of Bills
Dave Markgraf moved, seconded by Carol Hulka, MOTION CARRIED, to approve bills for payment in the following amounts: General Fund & Parks $15,995,73; Public Safety $24,939.12; Totaling: 40,934.85

Ayes: Markgraf, Hulka, Dillon, Nash, Becklin, Werschem
Nays:  None

REPORTS – None

PUBLIC COMMENTS – PART II
Ruth Vanderstelt, 6th Street, expressed the desire to have a Citizens Committee in Fruitport Township.  Resident Chuck Larson agreed and offered to be on the committee.

Laura Oldt, 1st Street, commented on a use for the township marquee located in front of the township hall, would be to post when meetings are held.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

CAROL HULKA, CLERK
BRIAN WERSCHEM, SUPERVISOR

Fruitport Charter Township Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes of January 25, 2016

A work session of the Fruitport Charter Township Board began at 6:15 p.m. on Monday, January 25, 2016, in the township board room.

Members Present: Brian Werschem, Supervisor; Carol Hulka, Clerk; Rose Dillon, Treasurer; Trustees Ron Beck and Marjorie Nash

Members Absent: Trustee Dave Markgraf and Trustee Chuck Whitlow–excused

At 7:05 p.m., Supervisor Werschem opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer.

Also Present: 0– residents; 0–guests; 0–employees; DPW Director, Farrar; Public Safety Director, Doctor and Deputy Fire Chief, Michelli

The December 14, 2015 meeting minutes—regular meeting—were approved as presented.

The January 25, 2016 meeting agenda was approved as presented

CORRESPONDENCE / REPORTS
1) Michigan Townships Association (MTA) legislative up-dates
2) Fruitport Township Parks & Recreation meeting minutes of August 25th
3) Notice of Hearing—DTE Gas Company.  DTE requests Michigan Public Service Commission approval to increase its annual natural gas distribution revenues.  A typical residential customer’s average natural gas distribution bill may increase by about $7.63 per month.
4) Notice of  Hearing—Michigan Gas Utilities.  Michigan Gas Utilities requests Michigan Public Service Commission approval to implement a gas cost recovery plan to compute its natural gas customers’ bills.
5) Fruitport Drinking Water, Lead Information Sheet, supplied by Matt Farrar, Fruitport Township Utility Director

PUBLIC COMMENTS – None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS–  None

NEW BUSINESS
16-001  Purchase of Police Vehicles
2016-2017 is the year to cycle out old police vehicles and bring in new replacement vehicles.

Ron Becklin moved, supported by Marjorie Nash, MOTION CARRIED, to authorize the purchase of three police cruisers and one police SUV from Borgman Ford Motor Leasing and dispose of the three older cruisers in form of a trade-in when the new cruisers come in. The recommendation came from the Public Safety Committee, Chief Doctor, and Supervisor Werschem.

Ayes: Becklin, Nash, Dillon, Hulka, Werschem
Nays: None

16-002  Revision of Cemetery Rates for Pine Hill Cemetery, Fruitport Township
Discussion took place on revision of cemetery rates for Pine Hill Cemetery as prices have not been increased since 1998.  This constitutes the first reading.  Final action will be taken at the February 8, 2016 board meeting.

16-003  Budget Adjustments
Carol Hulka moved, Ron Becklin seconded, MOTION CARRIED, to approve the budget adjustments as presented.

Ayes:  Hulka, Becklin, Nash, Dillon, Werschem
Nays:  None

16-004  Retirement Request from Public Safety Director, Ken Doctor
The motion by Rose Dillon, supported by Ron Becklin, was carried unanimously, to accept the retirement of Ken Doctor as Public Safety Director, effective end of business day February 12, 2016.

16-005  Public Safety Director
With the retirement of Ken Doctor as Public Safety Director, discussion lead to Deputy Chief Michelli, who has been in training for several years as the next Public Safety Director for the Township.

Ron Becklin moved, supported by Rose Dillon, MOTION CARRIED, to authorize the Supervisor to negotiate a potential contract with Deputy Chief Michelli and present it as a possible contract for approval at the February 8, 2016 board meeting, with the effective date of the contract being February 15, 2016.  The recommendation came from the Public Safety Committee and Supervisor Werschem.

Ayes: Becklin, Dillon, Nash, Hulka, Werschem
Nays:  None

16-006  Vacancy in Fire Department
In the event that Deputy Chief Michelli accepts a contract as the next Public Safety Director, this will create a vacancy in the fire department.

Rose Dillon moved, seconded by Ron Becklin, MOTION CARRIED, to (1) promote a Battalion Chief from within the fire department and present a candidate and (2) authorize the fire department to do an internal posting to the paid on call firefighters to fill a full time fire fighter vacancy. The promotion and candidate are to be presented at February 8th meeting.

Ayes: Dillon, Becklin, Nash, Hulka, Werschem
Nays:  None

16-007  Public Safety Millage Renewals
Marjorie Nash moved, supported by Carol Hulka, MOTION CARRIED, to request the County Clerk to place the following two millage propositions on the May 3, 2016 Election ballot.

PUBLIC SAFETY RENEWAL MILLAGE PROPOSITION
Shall a renewal of the present voter-approved increase in the statutory limitation on taxes levied on all property in the township be approved in the amount of 1.5 mills ($1.50 per $1,000) on the taxable values for a five year period with the levy to commence on December 1, 2016, to provide police and fire protection services? The Township estimates that it would receive approximately $664,568.00 each year.  This proposed millage is a renewal of an existing millage.

POLICE DEPARTMENT RENEWAL MILLAGE PROPOSITION
Shall a renewal of the present voter-approved increase in the statutory limitation on taxes levied on all property in the township be approved in the amount of 1 mill (1.00 per $1,000) on the taxable values for a five year period with the levy to commence on December 1, 2016, to provide police protection services and maintaining the Township police department?  The Township estimates that it would receive approximately $443,045.00 each year.  This proposed millage is a renewal of an existing millage.

Ayes: Nash, Hulka, Dillon, Becklin, Werschem
Nays: None

16-008  Public Works Ordinance Update
Ron Becklin moved, seconded by Rose Dillon, MOTION CARRIED, for the adoption of the Revised WATER Rate Resolution and the Revised SEWER Rate Resolution that will establish various water system charges and fees which are authorized by the Fruitport Charter Township Water System and Administration Ordinance.

Ayes: Becklin, Dillon, Hulka, Nash, Werschem
Nays: None

16-009  MADL Agreement
Rose Dillon moved, Ron Becklin supported, MOTION CARRIED, for the adoption of the Intergovernmental Agreement and authorize the Supervisor and Clerk to execute the Agreement.  The Agreement is entered into by the Village of Fruitport, the Charter Township of Fruitport, the Muskegon Area District Library, the Clerk of Muskegon County, and the County of Muskegon.

Ayes: Dillon, Becklin, Nash, Hulka, Werschem
Nays: None

16-010  2016-2017 Budget
Discussion took place on the 2016-2017 Budget. The Truth in Taxation hearing will tentatively take place at the meeting held on February 22, 2016, with adoption of the budget on March 14, 2016.

16-011  Reappointments on Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals
The motion by Rose Dillon, seconded by Carol Hulka, was carried unanimously, to reappoint the following positions:
Jeff Jacobs to another 3-year term on Planning Commission
John Winskas to another 3-year term on Zoning Board of Appeals
Joe DeMarco to another 3-year term on Zoning Board of Appeals

16-012  Payment of Bills
Marjorie Nash  moved, seconded by Carol Hulka, MOTION CARRIED, to approve bills for payment in the following amounts: General Fund & Parks: $62,029.25; Public Safety 63,224.21$ Water: $19,167.73; and Sewer: $3,639.00 – Total:  $148,060.19

Ayes: Nash, Hulka, Becklin, Dillon, Werschem
Nays:  None

PUBLIC COMMENTS / REPORTS #2 – None

ADJOURNMENT:  At 7:22  p.m.

CAROL HULKA, CLERK
BRIAN WERSCHEM, SUPERVISOR

Fruitport Township Board Meeting Agenda 09-28-2015

AGENDA
FRUITPORT CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES
FRUITPORT TOWNSHIP HALL
5865 AIRLINE ROAD, FRUITPORT, MI 49415

09/28/2015

5:45 Public Safety Committee
6:30 WORK SESSION
7:00 P.M. BOARD MEETING

01.   Pledge of Allegiance
02.   Roll Call
03.   Approval of Board Minutes: 09/14/15 Regular Meeting
04.   Approve / Amend Agenda
05.   Correspondence / Reports
06.   Public Comments

07.  Unfinished Business
A.None

08.  New Business
A.Fiber Technologies L.L.C. METRO Act Permit
B.Zone Change for Parcel 61-15-630-028-0006-00 from R4 to R1 – 1st Reading
C.Resignation Request from Morris Dadd from Planning Commission Effective October 31st , 2015
D.Resolution of Recognition – Morris Dadd
E.Recommendation to fill Planning Commission Vacancy
Engineer: Brett Suchecki Effective November 1st , 2015

09.  Approval of Bills
10.  Reports
11.  Public Comments
12.  Adjournment

The Township will provide necessary reasonable aids and services for this meeting to individuals
with disabilities by writing or telephoning the following Township Clerk:  Carol Hulka, Fruitport
Township Hall, 5865 Airline Road, Fruitport, MI 49415 – (231) 865-3151

Muskegon County Calendar of Events 03/14/16-03/21/16

03/14/2016 – 4th Annual Winter Lecture Series
‎The USS Silversides Submarine Museum is proud to present the 4th Annual Winter Lecture Series!  Please join them for this wonderful New York Times recognized celebration of our American heroes.  All presentations begin at 6:00pm.  The cost is $7 per person or free with a USS Silversides Submarine Museum Membership.  March 14, it’s “Just War Theory in the 21st Century” with Professor Durham of Aquinas College.  For more information, call 231-755-1230.

03/16/2016 – Honoring Our Veterans Dinner
The USS Silversides Submarine Museum is proud to present the 7th “Honoring Our Veterans Dinner” in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen including the Presentation of the Dr. Robert E. Garrison Award, happening March 16 at 5:30pm.  This special evening will include dinner, a presentation of the Robert E. Garrison Award to Paula Tillman in recognition of faithful and diligent service to country and community, and the chance to view an exhibit on US Navy Divers featuring Carl Brashear.

Tickets are $25.00 and seating is limited, so please call soon to make your reservation. Tickets may be purchased individually or tables may be sponsored by you or your organization to help them honor this wonderful community of veterans. Tickets will not be held beyond 4:00pm Monday, March 11, 2016 without payment.  To make reservations, please contact Teresa Folkmier at 231-755-1230 ext. 225 or email tfolkmier@silversidesmuseum.org.

03/17/2016 – Lumberjacks Hockey Home Game!
After finishing second in the chase for the USHL’s top prize – the Clark Cup, the Lumberjacks are back this season again to play tonight against the Waterloo Black Hawks as the Jacks celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! The puck drops at 7:15pm. Be there to support our hockey. GO JACKS! LC Walker Arena is located at 955 Fourth Street, downtown Muskegon.

03/18/2016 – 03/19/16 Junk to Jewels
‎Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 from 9:00am-3:00pm, you’re invited to the Greater Muskegon Woman’s Club for the “Junk to Jewels” sale!  This indoor garage sale will have an amazing variety of clothes, furniture and everything in between! Donations are being accepted by contacting Dianne at 231-241-0007.

03/18/2016 – International Women’s Day/ Half The Sky
‎As part of the continuing collaboration between MCA/Red Lotus and Red Tent West Michigan to celebrate International Women’s Day, they will be viewing the documentary “Half The Sky”.

“Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” is a four-hour series shot in 10 countries: Cambodia, Kenya, India, Sierra Leone, Somaliland, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Liberia and the U.S. Inspired by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s book, the documentary series introduces women and girls who are living under some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable – and fighting bravely to change them. Traveling with intrepid reporter Nicholas Kristof and A-list celebrity advocates America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union and Olivia Wilde, the film reflects viable and sustainable options for empowerment and offers an actionable blueprint for transformation.

Since this is such a long film in two parts, they will be viewing the first half at the gallery only.

They are not charging for tickets, however they are asking for donations to raise money for Every Woman’s Place, a local women’s shelter.

03/18/2016 – Lumberjacks Hockey Home Game!
After finishing second in the chase for the USHL’s top prize – the Clark Cup, the Lumberjacks are back this season again to play tonight and tomorrow for back to back games with the Youngstown Phantoms. The puck drops at 7:15pm both nights.  Friday is $1 beer and hotdog night.  Saturday is Minion Night with a trading card giveaway! Be there to support our hockey. GO JACKS! LC Walker Arena is located at 955 Fourth Street, downtown Muskegon.

03/18/2016 – 03/19/16 Flanagan’s Wake
March 18-19, the Muskegon Civic Theatre presents “Flanagan’s Wake”, an interactive comedy with music at the Hackley Administration Building locate at 349 W. Webster Ave.  Doors open at 6:30pm and the show begins at 7:30pm.  General admission is $15 at the door and there will be a cash bar.  For more information, visit muskegoncivictheatre.org.

03/19/2016 – Hippity Hop…..here comes the Bunny!
On Saturday, March 19 (at the Easter/Bunny Photo Set) the Lakes Mall will be handing out free goodie bags to shoppers.  The goodie bags will contain coupons, special offers, stickers, bounce backs, swag items, and product information.  They will be handed out to the first 200 shoppers at the Bunny Set (no purchase necessary).  For more information, visit the lakesmall.com.

03/19/2016 – Easter Egg Drop
‎Saturday, March 19 starting at 1:00pm, come to Walker Memorial Library for the Easter Egg Drop!  The Easter Bunny, with the assistance of the north Muskegon Fire Department and Northside Lions, will drop approximately 5,000 candy-filled eggs for the children of the community collect!  Age groups are 0-4, 8-10 and 10 & up.  The younger children will start first.  There’ll also be activities, prizes, snacks and games in the Community Center.  In case of stormy weather, the event will be moved to March 26 at 11:00am.  For more information, call 231-744-6080.

03/19/2016 – Cooking With Pasta Part 2: Sauce Like a Boss with Chef Char
Saturday, March 19 at 1:00pm, you’re invited to Kitchen 242 inside the Muskegon Farmers’ Market for the class “Cooking With Pasta Part 2: Sauce Like a Boss with Chef Char!” While you will be making fresh pasta in this class, you will also be serving up some interesting and delicious sauces for a variety of healthy meal possibilities at home.  Learn to make homemade pesto, red wine marinara sauce and a creamy cheddar cheese sauce to serve over fresh egg pasta.  This class is for adults and older teens.  Register by visiting the website below.

03/19/2016 – Easter Egg Hunt
‎Saturday, March 19 children aged 10 and under are invited to First Presbyterian Church for refreshments at 2:00pm, along with an opportunity to decorate an Easter Egg cookie and make a bag to collect their eggs. At 2:30pm, children will be divided into age groups to hunt for eggs.  For more information, call 231-730-0887.

03/19/2016 – Open Mic Night hosted by Hannah Cater
Saturday, March 19 from 5:30-7:30pm, The Coffee Factory is looking for Muskegon’s inspiring singers, songwriters and musicians to perform at their open mic nights.  Hannah Cater will host.  For more information, call 231-747-9896.

03/19/2016 – Lumberjacks Hockey Home Game!
After finishing second in the chase for the USHL’s top prize – the Clark Cup, the Lumberjacks are back this season again to play tonight and tomorrow for back to back games with the Youngstown Phantoms. The puck drops at 7:15pm both nights.  Friday is $1 beer and hotdog night.  Saturday is Minion Night with a trading card giveaway! Be there to support our hockey. GO JACKS! LC Walker Arena is located at 955 Fourth Street, downtown Muskegon.

03/19/2016 – Concert @The Block: Goran Ivanovic Trio
Saturday, March 19 at 7:30pm, The Block is thrilled to welcome back Chicago based jazz guitarist Goran Ivanovic. A native of Croatia, Ivanovic embraces his traditional Balkan folk music with an amalgamation of flamenco, Balkan, classical, blues and jazz. His trio (guitar, bass and drums) performs a fusion of foreign folk music with the improvisational aesthetics of American jazz.  For tickets or more information, call 231-726-3231 x223.

03/19/2016 – Ben Bedford in Concert
Saturday, March 19 at 7:30pm, come to the Howmet Playhouse for Ben Bedford in Concert with Special Guests Karen and Eric Smith!  Ben Bedford delivers intriguing sketches of America, its individuals, their victories and their struggles. Poignant, but never sentimental, Bedford’s portrait-like songs capture the vitality of his characters and draw the listener deep into the narratives. With three albums to his credit, his latest album, The Pilot and the Flying Machine, is set to release soon.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.  For more information, call 231-894-4048.

03/20/2016 – West Michigan Ironmen Professional Football Game
West Michigan’s only professional football team is coming to Muskegon LC Walker Arena. This is your team West Michigan! General admission upper bowl tickets are just $8 each or you can get the VIP -hottest tickets in town for $25.00 each. These tickets will put you in the action every week! This week the Ironmen VS North Kentucky Nightmare at 3:15.

03/21/2016 – Muskegon Community College Job Fair
More than 40 different employers will be at the Job Fair being hosted by Muskegon Community College on Monday, March 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Collegiate Hall at 221 S. Quarterline Rd. The event, which is coordinated by the MCC Student Life Office, is free and open to the public. Participants are asked to bring resumes and to dress appropriately for interviewing. For more information, contact (231) 777-0216.

03/21/2016 – 4th Annual Winter Lecture Series
The USS Silversides Submarine Museum is proud to present the 4th Annual Winter Lecture Series!  Please join them for this wonderful New York Times recognized celebration of our American heroes.  All presentations begin at 6:00pm.  The cost is $7 per person or free with a USS Silversides Submarine Museum Membership.  March 21, it’s “How Do We Memorialize War Through Art?” with Art Historian, Tim Norris.  For more information, call 231-755-1230.

Ongoing Events:

Storytelling through the Mail: Tall Tale Postcards
The Lakeshore Museum Center invites you to explore the exhibit “Storytelling through the Mail: Tall Tale Postcards.”  Imagine a land where corn grows to the size of tree trunks; where the lakes are so cold the trout have fur coats; where deer have become the hunters and men are their prey. These assorted oddities come vividly to life in this exhibit at the Lakeshore Museum Center. Tall tales are humorous stories of exaggeration that often involve ludicrous or absurd imagery.  The exhibit features over 80 tall tale postcards demonstrating this unique form of popular humor.  The exhibit is on loan from the Michigan State University Museum. The Lakeshore Museum Center is located at 430 W. Clay Ave. Hours are weekdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm and Saturdays from Noon to 4:00pm. Admission is free. For more information, visit lakeshoremuseum.org.

A Bridge Between: Whitehall and Montague .
‎The Lakeshore Museum Center invites you to view the exhibit, “A Bridge Between: Whitehall and Montague.” Artifacts and photographs tell the story of the early days of Montague and Whitehall when the cities got their start during the lumbering industry.  Lumber mills attracted workers who needed housing, food, and supplies so stores and hotels were built. Businesses like tanneries and shingle mills which made use of the excess bark and wood from lumbering also moved into the community.  Hours are weekdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm and Saturdays from Noon to 4:00pm. Admission is free.  For more information, visit lakeshoremuseum.org

Marsh Field: 1916 – 2016
The history of Marcs Field is explored in a small display at the Lakeshore Museum Center.  Photographs and text recount 100 years of baseball played at this Muskegon park. Marsh Field has hosted everything from community events to Major League affiliate baseball teams. Baseball Hall of Fame Players, like Satchel Paige, have played there as well as hometown heroes like Earl Morrall. Learn more about the history of Marsh Field now through June of 2016. The Lakeshore Museum Center is located at 430 W. Clay Ave. Hours are weekdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm and Saturdays from Noon to 4:00pm. Admission is free. For more information visit lakeshoremuseum.org.

88th Regional Exhibition Artwork Entry Registration
‎Through March 19, 2016, the 88th Regional Exhibition Artwork Entry Registration is open.  The Muskegon Museum of Art has established a digital artwork entry process for its 88th Regional Exhibition, for the first time in the competitive Regional’s long history. Online entry is available through the callforentry.org (CaFÉ) website. Search keyword “Muskegon” to find the show. Free CaFÉ registration is required for entry. The 88th Regional will run from May 12 through August 3, 2016. The deadline for entry is March 19, 2016. Hand delivery days for accepted artwork will be April 21, 22, and 23.

Easter Bunny at the Lakes Mall
March 12 through March 26, the Easter Bunny will be at the Lakes Mall.  For more information, call Chrissy at 231-798-7104 ext. 221 or visit the website below.

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.

Solar Superstorms
‎A fury is building on the surface of the sun, with high-velocity jets, a fiery tsunami wave that reaches 100,000 kilometers high, and rising loops of electrified gas. What’s driving these strange phenomena? How will they affect planet Earth? Find the answers as we venture into the seething interior of our star with “Solar Superstorms,” which takes viewers into dramatic flares, violent solar tornadoes, and the largest eruptions in the solar system: coronal mass ejections. This NEW 30-minute program at Muskegon Community College (room 135, 221 S. Quarterline Rd, Muskegon) will be at 7:00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, January 12 – March 31 (except: closed Mar 1 & 3 for spring break), and will be followed by a brief constellation demonstration projected on the planetarium dome. As always, the show is free, and no reservations are needed. Doors open for seating at 6:45pm. 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.

COMMON GROUND: African American Art
‎December 10, 2015 through March 20, 2016, come to the Muskegon Museum of Art for the exhibition, “COMMON GROUND: African American Art from the Flint Institute of Arts, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, and the Muskegon Museum of Art”!  Common Ground is a collaboration between three Michigan art museums showcasing the best of each institution’s renowned collections of African American artwork combined in one exhibition, including some of the most important African American artists from the nineteenth century to present day. Common Ground is divided into five thematic areas that will give a broad overview of the history of African American art, showing its diversity as well as its commonality. The exhibition includes more than 60 top-rated works in various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and works on paper. Common Ground is underwritten by DTE Foundation with additional support from Fifth Third Bank and the Nancy A. Waters and Mark Waters Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. MLive/Muskegon Chronicle is the Common Ground media sponsor.  For more information, visit muskegonartmuseum.org.

I, TOO, AM AMERICA: The Art of Bryan Collier
‎January 18-April 17, come to the Muskegon Museum of Art for the exhibition, “I, too, am America:  The Art of Bryan Collier.”  This exhibition features 15 large scale original artworks created by Bryan Collier for his picture book, I, Too, Am America, which illustrates the seminal poem, I, Too by Langston Hughes. Collier graduated from the Pratt Institute and was a former Program Director at the Harlem Horizon Institute. His accolades include the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, Caldecott Medal, and Jane Addam’s Children’s Book Award. He was also a nominee for an NAACP image award for Outstanding Children’s Literary Work. Underwritten by the Folkert Family Foundation.  For more information, visit muskegonartmuseum.org.

Art Talk: Regional Ekphrastic Poetry Competition
All adult/college area writers residing within the state of Michigan are invited to create original ekphrastic poems based on one of 10 artworks selected from the permanent collection and the Common Ground exhibition. Cash prizes, Muskegon Museum of Art memberships, and gift certificates will be awarded to the winning poets. Guidelines, images of selected works, and entry forms are available at the MMA gift store or may be downloaded from the MMA website at muskegonartmuseum.org. Entries must arrive at the MMA by March 24. Award winners will read their poems and be recognized at a ceremony on April 21. Questions? Call the MMA Education Department at 231-720-2587 or email: cmott@mpsk12.net.

Native Visions: Indian Painting of the Southwest
‎Native Visions: Indian Painting of the Southwest, 1920s-1940s, from the Collection of Charlotte Mittler will open at the Muskegon Museum of Art on March 3, 2016. Guest speaker Bruce Bernstein, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Ralph T. Coe foundation for the Arts, Santa Fe, will give a talk, “Modern by Tradition: American Indian Painting of the Early 20th Century,” at 7:00 pm. Event admission is free.  For more information, visit muskegonartmuseum.org.

After School Movie Madness!
‎Kids are invited to Walker Public Library at 3:15pm every Thursday (except for when there is a half-day or no school) for “After School Movie Madness!”  Age appropriate movies are shown and popcorn is provided while supplies last!  Call 231-744-6080 or visit the library to find out what movie is playing each week!

Art & a Glass: Thursday Happy Hour at the MMA
Every Thursday from 4:00-8:00pm, you’re invited to the Muskegon Museum of Art for “Art & a Glass!”  Bring your friends to a museum-style happy hour! Take a break and enjoy the art with a glass of wine or a great craft brew. General admission is free Thursday evenings from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, so take advantage of the opportunity to discover your Museum at no cost. There will be a cash bar. You must be 21 or older to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages.  For more information, call 231-720-2570.

Muskegon Civic Theatre Saturday Classes
The Muskegon Civic Theatre offers wonderful enrichment classes for kids every Saturday from February 20-March 26!  There are three different levels based on your child’s age:

Kreative Kids and Characters
Grades 2–3
Saturdays 10:00-11:00am
$75 per 6-week semester

Characters Create
Grades 4–6
Saturdays 10:00-11:00am
$75 per 6-week semester

Exploring Characters
Grades 7–12
Saturdays 9:00-10:00am
$75 per 6-week semester

They accept cash, check or credit card for tuition payment.  Bring or mail your registration and payment to:

Muskegon Civic Theatre
425 W. Western Avenue, Suite 401
Muskegon, MI 49440

For more information, call  (231) 722-3852.

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.

 

Travel by Dawn – Upcoming Bus Trips

Here are some upcoming bus trips:

3/19 – Blue Chip and Four Winds Casino- $50/Up to $52 back (St. Patty’s Day celebration)

4/2 – Soaring Eagle Casino – $35/$35 back

4/15-4/17- Kewadin Casino Run – $209/Up to $169 back, includes 2 nights @Saulte Ste. Marie Kewadin Casino,& 2 breakfast, baggage and handling and a great time!!!!

4/28-5/3 – Washington DC-  $1029 per person double occupancy – 6 days/5 nights and the sights, monuments, White House Tour –  Deluxe package – 2  dinners and breakfast each morning!

5/14 – Fire Keepers & Gun Lake – $45/$40 back

6/14 -Shipshewana – $69 – flea market, downtown, cheese factory and bulk food store and dinner at Amish home!

6/25 – Detroit  Tigers vs Cleveland Indians – $109 approximately ( 7:00 game)

7/16 -Greek Town Casino and Motor City (Detroit)  – $65/$45 back

8/ 12-8/14 – Door County Wine Tour and Cheese Tasting – $379 per person Dbl- includes all wine tasting, cheese tasting, 2 nights @Stone Harbor Hotel in Sturgeon Bay (all balcony rooms) and fish boil!

8/20 – Detroit Tigers vs Boston Red Sox – $109 approximately (7:00 pm game)

9/16-9/18 – Kewadin Casino Run- $239 per person /up to $169 back

10/8-10/9 – Wine Tasting Traverse City – $179 includes all Wine Tasting, hotel, breakfast and a great time11/13-11/11-11/13 – Chicago Shopping, downtown and outlets $199 per person double

11/ 26- Woodfield and IKEA Shopping – $55 one day.

Please call soon to make reservations some trips there are just a few seats left and others are filling fast!!!

Michigan Art Exhibition Entries Due March 19

All Michigan artists, 18 years and older, are invited to submit up to two artwork entries for the chance to show in the Muskegon Museum of Art’s juried 88th Regional Exhibition. Entries must be submitted at www.callforentry.org and are due by March 19, 2017. Over $5,000 in cash prizes and purchase awards will be distributed to artists this year.

Entries of two-and three dimensional works created over the past two years by professional and amateur artists are eligible. For the first time in the history of the museum’s long-running Regional Exhibition, entry registration will be done by an internet submission system. Jurying will be done from digital images of the artwork. Register entries at www.callforentry.org (Café website). Search keyword “Muskegon” to find the show. Free Café registration is required for entry. Fees to register for the MMA’s Regional are $35 for up to two entries or $20 for MMA members.

Artists will be notified of the jury results via e-mail. Only artworks accepted by the juror will need to be delivered to the MMA. Artwork delivery days are April 21, 22, and 23, 2016.

This year’s juror is Tom Lundberg, a professor of art at Colorado State University. He coordinates fiber programs and teaches weaving and surface design courses. Lundberg has lectured and taught widely. His work has been seen in solo, group, and invitational exhibitions around the world and has appeared in many publications.

The Regional opens on May 12 and will fill two large galleries at the museum through August 3, 2016. The Muskegon Museum of Art’s juried Regional Exhibition was one of the first regional art shows established in Michigan and holds a respected position among the state’s regional art exhibitions. A long list of recognized Michigan artists has exhibited in the MMA’s Regional Exhibition, at the beginning and throughout their careers.

The 88th Regional Exhibition is underwritten by Warner Norcross & Judd, LLP and Shape Corporation, with additional support from WGVU Public Broadcasting and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs with the National Endowment for the Arts

The Muskegon Museum of Art is located at 296 W. Webster Ave. in downtown Muskegon.

Call 231-720-2571 or visit www.muskegonartmuseum.org for visitor information.

Fruitport Township Board Meeting Agenda

AGENDA
FRUITPORT CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES
FRUITPORT TOWNSHIP HALL
5865 AIRLINE ROAD, FRUITPORT, MI 49415

3/14/2016

6:15 WORK SESSION
7:00 P.M. BOARD MEETING

01.   Pledge of Allegiance
02.   Roll Call
03.   Approval of Board Minutes: 2/22/16 Regular Meeting
04.   Approve / Amend Agenda
05.   Correspondence / Reports
A. Tim Burgess – Muskegon Land Bank
06.   Public Comments

07.  Unfinished Business
A.    March Budget Adjustments
B.    Payoff Fire Truck 562
C.    New Fire Truck to replace outgoing Fire Truck
D.    2016 – 2017 Budget
E.    2016 – 2017 Capital Allocations
F.    West Star Management Liquor License Amended Application
G.

08.  New Business
A.    Muskegon Bike Time Agreement
B.    2016 – 2017 Planning and Zoning Fees
C.

09.  Approval of Bills
10.  Reports
11.  Public Comments
12.  Adjournment

The Township will provide necessary reasonable aids and services for this meeting to individuals
with disabilities by writing or telephoning the following Township Clerk:  Carol Hulka, Fruitport
Township Hall, 5865 Airline Road, Fruitport, MI 49415 – (231) 865-3151

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

It was great weather for the St. Patrick’s Day parade yesterday (March 12). It began at 11:00am, running from Fourth to Jefferson Streets along Clay Ave. Great to see everyone there!

 

St. Patrick’s Day Parade
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 12 in downtown Muskegon begins at 11:00am and will run from Fourth to Jefferson along Clay Ave! Enjoy Irish floats, bands, families, organizations, business entries and much more!

Muskegon’s on the Map!

breakfaston the mapdaveMuskegon’s Own
DAVE LORENZ
TRAVEL MICHIGAN
As the head of Travel Michigan, Dave leads the state’s tourism branding, advertising the public relations efforts. Learn about one of the country’s most impactful campaignpuremis!

bob

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BOB LUKENS
MUSKEGON COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Bob will join Dave to talk about how Muskegon is partnering with the award-winning Pure Michigan campaign.county

registerEvent Details:

Friday, March 25, 2016
7:00 a.m. Registration Opens7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Program
Downtown Muskegon Holiday Inn and
Conference Center
$18/member
$225/corporate table of 8


Event Sponsors:

mercyvision

Alley Door this Friday Night withe the Crane Wives and Vandermill Cider

The Alley Door Club welcomes the Indie Folk band, The Crane Wives!  Paired with Vandermill Cider from Spring Lake, it’s sure to be a great night in downtown Muskegon!

Don’t forget, Smash Wine Bar and Bistro (231-722-9463) is available for take-out food that you may bring up to the Alley Door.  Mention the Alley Door Club and get $1 off their flatbread pizzas – trust me, they’re delicious!  See you there!

Ask Dr. Universe – Leaves

Dr. Universe: How do leaves make themselves? –Francesco R.

Dear Francesco,

Last fall, my friend Lee Kalcsits and I went exploring in the apple orchards of Wenatchee. The apples were ripe and the leaves were changing from green to gold. We plucked a few leaves and took them back to his lab.

“You know, if you take a stem, pull away all the mature leaves, and slice it from the top down, you can look at it under the microscope,” said Kalcsits, a scientist at Washington State University in Wenatchee who studies all kinds of trees.

He slid a tiny piece of the stem under his microscope and took a closer look.
“What it looks like is these tiny, moon-shaped leaves,” he said. “They get smaller and smaller until you get this dome-shaped structure and that’s the meristem.”

The meristem is the part of a plant where leaves begin to form, he explained.
It contains a bunch of building blocks, or cells. In a way, these cells are a lot like the ones animals have. Some of our cells will form into parts like our liver and muscles. Others will form into nerves and blood.

The meristem is a growing point for other plant parts like buds and flowers, as well as leaves, Kalcsits said.

While the meristem tells leaves to grow, sometimes trees get a signal to stop growing, too.
As the days get shorter and colder, some trees’ cells will start to act like scissors. They start “snipping” the leaves. The leaves fall and the tree gets ready to hibernate to survive the cold winters.

The meristem will also send a signal to the tree to form a small bumpy bud. A layer of scales will form around the bud to help protect it from the cold.

“Within that bud will be all the leaves and flowers ready for the next year,” Kalcsits explained.
In spring, as the weather warms up, new life emerges. Tiny green leaves start to sprout from the buds.

While the answer to your question can most often be traced back to the meristem, some leaves form in more unusual ways.
Some plants can use their leaves to clone themselves. If just one leaf drops, a whole new plant will grow from it.

In another example, leaves of pea plants can form into tendrils: curly leaves that start climbing and grabbing onto things. Other plants will grow thorns and stickers in place of their leaves to protect them from animals. Some leaves will even grow their own leaves. These are called leaflets.

Leaves are important because they help plants turn sunlight into their own food. The process helps the plants survive, which is good for other living things, too.

For one, plants give us food, like the apples I picked after I left Kalcsits’ lab. Of course, leaves also help give us the air we need to breathe. Without them, life on Earth wouldn’t exist as we know it.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

Got a science question? E-mail Dr. Wendy Sue Universe at Dr.Universe@wsu.edu. Ask Dr. Universe is a science-education project from Washington State University.

Dr. Universe – Eggs

  Is there any way to tell what color of eggs a chicken will lay? -Isabella, 8, Pullman, WA

Dear Isabella,

If you want to find out what color eggs a chicken will lay, you might just want to take a look at its earlobes. You read that right. Chickens have earlobes.

At first, I wasn’t even sure where I might find a chicken’s ears, let alone the lobes. And as a cat, working with birds can sometimes be a bit, well, awkward.

Fortunately, my friend Rocio Crespo offered to help out. She’s a Washington State University veterinarian who investigates diseases in birds, including chickens.

Crespo pointed out that a chicken’s ears are located on each side of its head, just below the eyes. Their ears don’t stick out like ours do, she explained.

“The ear is inside the head,” Crespo said. “It’s hidden behind some feathers.”

And the earlobe is just below the ear, marked by a slight thickening of the skin. It is bare of feathers. The earlobes can give us clues about the egg colors. Crespo said that if a chicken’s earlobes are white, the eggs it lays tend to be white.

After a bit of research, I discovered that all bird eggs start out white. But sometimes, while the egg is developing, certain pigments give the shell color.

Birds are actually the only animals that lay colored eggs. As you may know, some chickens lay brown eggs. If a chicken lays brown eggs, it is likely that she has red earlobes.

As usual, there are some exceptions to the rule. Some chickens with red earlobes may also lay greenish eggs or blue eggs.

While there seems to be an earlobe–egg correlation, scientists aren’t entirely sure why. But it might be because the genes that hold the instructions for earlobe and eggshell color are close together, Crespo adds.

Crespo said the key to really understanding egg color goes back to a bird’s genetics.

Scientists can learn more about birds as they look at the genotype, or the genetic makeup, of the organism. It’s like exploring a set of instructions for how an organism will develop.

They can also look at the phenotype, or the physical traits we can observe. For example, feather and eggshell color.

“It’s all part of the genetics,” Crespo said. “That’s part of why your skin is white or brown, or why your hair is red or blonde or black. It’s the same thing with the chickens. The egg color is part of their breed.”

Depending on the breed, a hen will lay about 500 eggs in her lifetime. And whether an egg is brown or white, it’s still the same on the inside. They taste the same and are equally nutritious.

A few readers have also been wondering which came first—the chicken or the egg. It’s a good question. But we’ll save that one for another time.

In the meantime, try making a bouncy egg and explore other experiments at pinterest.com/AskDrUniverse. Send a picture of your project to Dr.Universe@wsu.edu for a chance to be featured on askDrUniverse.wsu.edu.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

Muskegon Y’s Club – White Elephant Sale

The Muskegon Y’s Club will hold its 53rd Annual White Elephant Sale at 640 Seminole  Road – Norton Shores, (Folkert Community Hub), on Friday, May 20th and Saturday, May 21. (NOTE: One weekend later than last year) We will begin pick-ups the week of April 18. Thank you for your past and continuing support. Our 24/7 answering machine phone number is 231-727-9900. A more detailed email comes out in early April.

National Speaker to Appear at Muskegon Home Show

 

j schwanke

J Schwanke

This year the Muskegon Home, Garden + DIY show welcomes, national speaker J Schwanke to the show. Schwanke is a flower expert, flower content producer and professional speaker, known throughout the flower industry and beyond. He is regarded as the most trusted voice in the flower industry. He will be presenting “Fun with Flowers and J” – six unique seminars during the two day event. Schwanke has written numerous books which will be on sale during the event with an opportunity for personal book signing.

 

After a successful first year, the Muskegon Home, Garden + DIY Show is returning to Fricano’s Event Center March 25 and 26, 2016. This year’s show will feature 40+ local businesses exhibiting their best home and garden information, an expanded yard and garden section, educational and DIY sessions, celebrity guests and more!

“Adding a national speaker to this event, really helps bring the caliber of the show to the next level,” says Carla Flanders, Show Director. “This year we are also expanding the yard and garden section for the event and currently seeking local businesses and individuals such as; garden nurseries, landscapers, architectures, floral experts, tree/shrub designers and anyone with a green thumb willing to show off their talents.”

In addition to an expanded garden section, the Home + Garden Show is continuing its seminar series with educational speakers and hands-on “Do It Yourself” (DIY) sessions. These seminars feature local and national experts sharing their knowledge including time and money saving techniques. Back by popular demand, Wasserman’s Flowers and Gifts will be featuring a DIY seminar on bouquet arrangements. Guests will be provided with fresh cut flowers and Wasserman’s will provide step-by-step instructions on how to create a beautiful arrangement that you get to take home!

With the show’s successful first year, exhibitor space is going fast! To reserve a booth at the show, businesses should fill out the registration form located at www.muskegonHGS.com. General admission tickets are also available online at muskegonHGS.com for $3. Each ticket is also valid for $3 off Fricano Pizza during the Home Show. Advance tickets are recommended. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

The Home, Garden + DIY event is a production of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce with support from the Lakeshore Home Builders Association, Fricano Place, Shepherd Shoreline Gutters and Garage Doors, Keene Lumber and Staples. For sponsorships or additional information about the show, contact Carla Flanders at 231.724.3176 or cflanders@muskegon.org.