Monthly Archives: October 2016

The Future of the Supreme Court and Abortion

On November 8, American voters will decide who will be the next president of the United States, which ma also determine who will be appointed to the Supreme Court over the next four years. Does this matter?

In the Fall 2016 Right to Life of Michigan News, the author examines the importance of how the next president may determine Supreme Court picks.

According to the article, Republican Donald Trump, who has been endorsed by the Right to Life of Michigan Political Action Committee, released a list of Judges as examples of who he would consider. His list has received praise by prolife groups, and other organizations that believe judges should follow the rule of law, and not write the laws. He said his nominees may even overturn Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion.

Democrat Hillary Clinton, the article says, is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the nation. She favors her judicial picks supporting Roe v. Wade.  It further says that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and others have suggested that Roe v. Wade doesn’t go far enough, and that tax-funded abortions should be guaranteed beyond the realm of voters and legislatures.

The U.S.  Supreme Court, the article suggests, has too much influence on our nation’s policies and politics. The next President may be able to appoint four Justices, who may take the court in a particular direction for 25 years or more. The decision of voters could could affect the future lives of millions of children in the U.S. and our abortion policies as Roe v. Wade is either overturned or supported.

The full article and useful information for voters is available here: https://rtl.org/pdf/Fall-2016-Right-to-Life-of-MI-News.pdf

You can also get more information about these presidential candidates and other free educational tools at www.RTL.org/election.

Excessive Court Fees on Youth are Examined

From the September 19, 2016 Coopersville Observer article by Mary Kuhlman, MI News Connection.

Young people in Michigan and other states can be pulled deeper into the juvenile justice system because of excessive court related costs. According to a report from the Juvenile Law Center, fees and fines in Michigan include the cost of tests and evaluations, rehabilitation and court operation. These are costs that many families, especially those living in poverty, can’t afford. This may increase recidivism and keep a young person from getting on the right track.

The report recommends that, by establishing better models for funding court systems, states eliminate costs, fines and fees on youth. It also recommends policies of restitution that consider rehabilitation while addressing a victim’s needs.

Secretary of State Employees Receive Big ‘Thank You’ for Helping to Save Lives

Gift of Life, Eversight celebrate first national DMV Appreciation Week

LANSING, Mich. – Gift of Life Michigan and Eversight Michigan – the state’s organ, tissue and eye donation programs – took the week, September 19-23, 2016, to thank Secretary of State and Motor Vehicle Departments (DMVs) across the country for their partnership and commitment to asking the donation question to their customers every day.

“Our SOS partners are the people on the front lines of service who have helped register more than 4.3 million donors in Michigan and 130 million nationwide,” said Dorrie Dils, CEO of Gift of Life Michigan. “They are critical to the process.”

Diana Kern, executive director of Eversight Michigan, agreed. “The work the SOS clerks, managers and other staff do directly contributes to life-saving, life-improving transplants. We are so grateful for their support,” Kern said.

During the inaugural National DMV Appreciation Week, Gift of Life and Eversight staff and volunteers thanked SOS clerks, shared stories of employees touched by donation or transplantation and provided materials to celebrate the SOS’s contributions to saving lives. The concept for the week was created by Donate Life America, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit alliance of national organizations and Donate Life State Teams committed to saving and healing lives through increased organ, eye and tissue donation.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson welcomed the accolades. “Our Department of State employees have embraced donation,” Johnson said. “We do so many important things, but contributing to the saving of a life or giving someone sight is one of the most fulfilling parts of the job.”

In Michigan, over 56 percent of adults are currently on the donor registry, compared to just 27 percent in 2011. “By asking customers if they would like to join the donor registry, our staff has taken the state from one of the worst registration rates in the country to one of the best, and we’re still not done,” Johnson said. Nationally, about 53 percent of adults are on the registry.

David Fleming of Donate Life America said SOS and DMV employees deserve recognition for the gains. “Even with advances in technology, the partnership remains a primary source of donor registrations,” said Fleming, Donate Life’s president and CEO. “We could not have reached this milestone of registered donors and lives saved without the partnership and support of SOS offices and DMVs.”

To register your decision to be an organ, tissue and eye donor in the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, please go to GiftOfLifeMichigan.org or Michigan.gov/SOS.

Ask Dr. Universe – Colors

How many colors can we see? –Andrew P., 12

Dear Andrew,

The human eye can see millions and millions of colors. But believe it or not, some colors exist in our world that the human eye can’t see.

That’s what I found out when I went to visit my friend Rachna Narula, an optometrist at the Washington State University Vision Clinic. Using a special camera in her office, she took a picture of my retina, the part in the back of the eye that helps us see color.

Seeing color requires light, she said. When light comes into the eye, it travels to the retina, bounces around, and triggers certain nerves. This sends a signal to your brain. The brain helps translate this signal into an image. In fact, the brain actually plays a big part in how we see color. When you were a baby, your brain was still developing and so was your color vision, Narula said.

Narula explained that humans don’t typically develop full color vision until they are about half a year or so old. Scientists generally agree that babies can only see about eight inches in front of their faces. It’s a pretty blurry view, too. Babies’ eyes are more likely to pick up on black, white, and shades of grey, rather than colors.

But as the brain and eyes develop, they start to pick up on more color differences. The retina in the back of your eye has millions of tiny parts called cones. There are three kinds of cones typically found in the human eye: red, blue, and green.

It’s these three kinds of cones that work together and allow you to see millions of colors. If a person is missing one kind of cone or all of these kinds, they might have a kind of colorblindness. Scientists also think there might be a fourth kind of cone, Narula added. But they are still investigating to find out for sure.

Of course, we can’t know exactly what colors babies or other animals see because they can’t tell us. Instead, we can use what we know about the eye and cones to put together an idea of how it all works.

We cats have red, blue, and green kinds of cones, too. Dogs have only two kinds: one for blue and one for yellow. The mantis shrimp, with their rainbow-patterned exoskeletons, have 16 kinds of cones. This particular shrimp can even see certain kinds of ultraviolet light that humans can’t see. Different kinds and numbers of cones can give animals vastly different experiences of how they see the world.

After all, even a single color can change depending on the lighting, shadows, or environment. Who knows—maybe one day you’ll invent a color counting machine and we’ll be able to get an even better estimate of how many colors exist. In the meantime, pull out the crayons or mix some paint. Dr. Narula and I would love to see what colorful things you can create. Send a picture to Dr.Universe@wsu.edu for a chance to have it featured with this column on AskDrUniverse.wsu.edu.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

Ask Dr. Universe is a science-education project from Washington State University. Send your question to Dr.Universe@wsu.edu.

The North American Indian coming to Muskegon Museum of Art

Edward S. Curtis: The North American Indian coming to Muskegon Museum of Art in 2017

piegan-encampment

Edward S. Curtis Piegan Encampment 1900/1911 Photogravure 12 x16 inches

Muskegon, Mich. – On May 11, 2017, The Muskegon Museum of Art will open an exhibition of national significance, Edward S. Curtis: The North American Indian, the most ambitious exhibition undertaken by the Museum in its 104 year history.

Curtis’s portraits of Native Americans and landscapes, lifestyles, and rituals of Native American life have been extensively exhibited and collected singularly and in groups, and so have become iconic over the past century. Organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art, this exhibition will be one of the largest and most comprehensive surveys ever organized of Edward S. Curtis’s masterpiece, The North America Indian, a series of 20 bound books, each accompanied by a portfolio of photogravures (fine art intaglio-printed photographs). For what may be the first time, the entire collection of 723 photogravures will be put on display. The North American Indian books and portfolios held in the Museum’s collection is the 70th of a limited edition, acquired by subscription between 1908 and 1930.

Edward S. Curtis: The North American Indian will open at the Muskegon Museum of Art on May 11, 2017, and will run through September 10, 2017. By committing over 80% of the museum’s gallery space for four months to this large and inclusive exhibition, visitors will be given a unique opportunity to experience first-hand the enormous depth and breadth of Edward Curtis’s vision and scholarship, and, to consider how Edward Curtis’s images may have influenced our understanding of Native American culture over the past century.

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Edward S. Curtis Chief Joseph — Nez Perce 1903/1911 Photogravure 16 x 12 inches

In Curtis’s 30-year desperate quest to document what he believed to be a “vanishing race,” he organized a massive and decades-long ongoing artistic collaboration that left in its wake arguably history’s most celebrated photographic and ethnographic achievement. The rich and varied cultures of 80 different Native American tribes, most of which survive today in 21st century America despite a half millennia of innumerable obstacles, are displayed in Curtis’s photographs. This project celebrates the artistic genius and lasting cultural legacy of the work of one man who lost everything for his art and passed away in obscurity, while at the same time offering a critical assessment of this work’s meaning to our lives, and especially to the lives of Native Americans, today.

In addition to the photogravures, the exhibition will include the 20 bound text volumes that are part of Curtis’s North American Indian project, original field recordings he made of Native music; historic objects from Curtis’s life and work, and examples of cultural artifacts represented in the photogravures. A diverse array of public programming, in collaboration with area cultural partners, will accompany the exhibition to also tell our story of our own local Native American community.

the-three-chiefs

Edward S. Curtis The Three Chiefs

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Edward S. Curtis Kutenai Duck Hunter ca. 1910/1910 Photogravure 12 x 16 inches

Candidate Bio: Paula Baker Mathes

Candidate for Muskegon District Court Judge

Paula-Baker-MathesPaula Baker Mathes has been a lawyer for more than 22 years.   She graduated from Tulane University in 1990 and Cooley Law School with honors in 1993.  Most of her career has been as a trial lawyer.  She has been in private practice, a prosecutor, and a defense attorney.  She currently works in Muskegon County’s Public Defender Office.

“Having represented clients from both sides of the courtroom, I understand the issues and the lasting impact the decisions by the Court have on people and their families.  As a judge, I would ensure fair, impartial and just consideration to all those who would come before me on the bench.”

Candidate Bio: Holly Hughes

Candidate for State Rep. – 91st District                          

I am running for re-election because our hometown and hard-working taxpayers deserve an effective Representative that gets things done. I will stay focused on jobs and the economy.  As the author of over 15 new laws, I have helped people all across our county to cut through bureaucratic red tape and advocate for common sense West Michigan solutions. I have worked closely with our county’s educators to make sure they have the resources to provide a world-class education to our kids, and I have fought for our veterans because they have always fought for our freedoms. I ask for your support so that our hometown values continue to have a voice in Lansing!

Family: My husband Rick and I have two daughters, Morgan and Taylor and Son-in-law Jonah.

Education: Michigan State University – 1981 B.A. Business

Offices Held:
– State Rep. – 91st District 2011-2012 & 2015 to Present (2 terms)
– White River Twp. Trustee – 1996-2008 (3 terms)
– American Hometown Leadership Award – 1999 Received from National Assn. of Towns and Townships Association. Nominated by my fellow White River Twp. board members for channel restoration project and development of life ring alarm system (first in the nation.)
– Montague Area Public School Board
– MUSTFA Board – Appointed by Gov. John Engler
– Muskegon Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPC) – Former Board Member

For more information go to: http://www.hollyhughes.com

Candidate Bio: Justice David F. Viviano

Candidate for the Michigan Supreme Court

justice-david-vivianoDavid Viviano was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2013 and elected to complete his term in 2014. He is the Supreme Court’s point person for judicial training and e-filing.

Justice Viviano previously served as Chief Judge of Macomb County, where he led one of the largest trial courts in Michigan. He was elected to the Circuit Court in 2006 and again in 2012.

Justice Viviano has worked to reform Michigan’s jury system and implement new technologies – such as e-filing and videoconferencing – to help courts operate more safely and efficiently.

Before becoming a judge, Justice Viviano worked at two nationally-recognized law firms before starting his own firm.

Justice Viviano graduated from Hillsdale College and the University of Michigan Law School.

He and his wife live in Sterling Heights with their four children.

Candidate Bio: Brooke Slagle-Moore

Democratic Candidate Fruitport Township Clerk

brooke-slagle-moore

VOTE FOR BROOKE

“Dear Neighbors, First and foremost, I adore where I live and the Fruitport Community. I know I would love being your clerk. It is my passion; I have been working with West Michigan’s Clerks for over 12 years. You can be confident of my knowledge, fiscal-mindedness and belief that government is best run by the people it serves. I believe in working hard and am eager to be involved in the improvement of the quality of life for my Fruitport Neighbors. Let’s work together!”

Please Vote November 8! Brooke Slagle-Moore, Democratic Candidate Fruitport Township Clerk.  The candidate with CLERK experience.

 

 

• Endorsed by Carol Hulka, current Fruitport Township Clerk of 24 years.
• Over 12 years Clerk experience with Ottawa County Clerk’s Office and currently Deputy Clerk at Moorland Township, Muskegon County.
• Accredited with all state-required training for election administration.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Associate’s in Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship from Baker College of Muskegon.

Visit www.facebook.com/Brooke4Clerk for more information.

Depot to Depot Fall Color Tour

 Saturdays, October 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2016: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Muskegon, MI – Travel along some of Michigan’s most beautiful scenic drives during the annual Depot to Depot Fall Color Tour, held four Saturdays this Fall, October 5, 15, 22 & 29. This year, Muskegon County’s woods, dunes and scenic routes will be ablaze with color as our quaint beachtowns offer visitors the chance to enjoy farmers markets and harvest events, arts & cultural events, the White Lake Area’s Pumpkin Fest, and Fall festivities for the entire family! Children can pick up a free pumpkin at either Depot while they last.

Drive your car or ride your bike along this self-guided touring route to visit historic sites, enjoy nature, and get your picture taken amidst the beautiful Fall colors along the spectacular Lake Michigan shoreline.

Those participating in this FREE Fall event receive discounts to area museums, fine fall refreshments, and coupons and discounts from area businesses. Stop at the designated sites during these Saturdays, get your Color Tour Map stamped, turn in the completed map at either Depot, and you will be eligible to win two round trip tickets on the Lake Express High-Speed Ferry between Muskegon and Milwaukee, OR two tickets to Michigan’s Adventure Amusement and Water Park for use in the 2017 season.

Begin at either the Muskegon Union Depot, home of the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 6th and Western Avenue in Downtown Muskegon, or the Whitehall Train Depot, home of the White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at 124 W Hanson Street, near the bridge connecting Whitehall to Montague.

Travel on some of Michigan’s most scenic, colorful roads for the 2016 Depot to Depot Fall Color Tour!

For additional details and information about the tour, contact the Muskegon County CVB at 231-724-3100 or 800-250-9283, or on the web at www.visitmuskegon.org or the White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at 231-893-4585 or www.whitelake.org.

A Christmas Story

By Bob DeHare

Weeks ago my wife Debby and close friend, Naska embarked on one of many Saturday morning outings. First, a bagel and coffee at their favorite shop, then it’s off to do what good friends do best.

This morning the Eagles were having a fund raiser, selling donated items. The girls checked out all the unwanted treasures (Naska for some reason only known to her has to touch each and every item). They were soon drawn to the book section.

That afternoon after returning home, Debby showed me her new read. A most unusual titled book, with its dust cover in excellent condition for a book printed in 1996. Obviously the book had never been read or maybe even opened. The name of the book, “Who Were the Celts?” — Everything you ever wanted to know about the Celts, one thousand BC to the present, by Kevin Duffy. Chain armor, horseshoes, iron plough shares were just a few invented by Celts. The White House was designed and built by a man of Celtic descent. Their influence in art, literature, music, science, technology, warfare, and politics are written.

The year was 1996 an uncle had sent this book to a favorite niece, as a birthday present. The book never read, found its place in a corner bookcase. There it stayed for 16 years to one day be donated to a fund raiser. That afternoon Debby showed me her new book. My reaction was “REALLY…” Later that evening while sipping a cup of hot chocolate Debby loudly announced, “look what I found in my new book.” We both stared at a $1000.00 savings bond in pristine condition belonging to someone named Amanda, maturing in 2006.

It took some doing but with God’s help Debby located Amanda, now married, husband and two small children living in Ishpeming, Michigan. A small town in the Upper Peninsula.

Amanda returned our call and after answering several questions like what is the 7th number of your social security number, we knew we had the right Amanda. Amanda now 25 moved to the Upper Peninsula seven years ago because of a job offer for her husband. After only 5 years that job went south. So for the last two years, her family of four has been getting by on odd jobs.

Amanda’s savings bond was quickly sent with a promise of a Christmas card. I love a Christmas story.

Secretary of State Seeks Vendors

Secretary of State seeks vendors that can deliver on a new computer system for driver and vehicle files
–Request for Proposal requires experience, finished project in other jurisdiction 

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is seeking a new vendor to build a computer system to replace one that’s been in place since the 1960s that serves offices around the state.

The new contract is needed after the state of Michigan sued Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPE) because it failed to deliver on a $49 million contract despite having 10 years to complete the project.

“We’re looking for a vendor to do what HP could not do:  Deliver,” Johnson explained. “Companies bidding for the contract will be required to show that they have an efficient, successful and proven system up and running for both driver and vehicle files.”

A new system will ensure accountability to taxpayers and allow Secretary of State staff to better serve customers because they’ll have easier access to both driver and vehicle records. It also will allow law enforcement to get information in real time and the department to implement legislative changes much more quickly. A new system will provide employees a better, faster and much more efficient system that is more customer-friendly.

The new contract is also expected to require an independent contractor to monitor and verify what’s produced throughout the project, and vendors won’t get paid until they deliver.

A request for proposal was issued today with proposals from interested companies expected back by Oct. 25. Details of the RFP are available at www.buy4michigan.com.

More information about the current failed contract is available here, here and here.

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).

United Way Launches Dolly Parton Imagination Library on the Lakeshore

United Way Launches Dolly Parton Imagination Library on the Lakeshore

(MUSKEGON, MI) – On September 17, 2016, My Subaru partnered with United Way of the Lakeshore and the Tri-Cities Area Imagination Library to host the CARnival for Kids Literacy to launch the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in the Lakeshore area with a long-term goal to build an educated workforce and help reach the United Way’s bold goal to see 10,000 more working families meet their basic needs by 2025.  The United Way piloted this program in Muskegon Heights and Holton Public Schools last year as an effort to assist the READ EARLY READ OFTEN initiative.  Dolly Parton’s program objective is to instill a love of reading in children (from birth to age 5) by sending the gift of a book to a child’s home each month.  The launch event, held at the Subaru Building at My Auto Import Center, 1860 East Sternberg Road in Muskegon, was aimed at raising awareness of the program and the importance of early childhood literacy to success in school and careers, as well as raising funds to support the expansion of the program into more school districts.  The public was invited to attend the CARnival for Kids Literacy. For those interested in being part of the United Way’s school success efforts, please call Christine Robere, President & CEO, United Way of the Lakeshore at 231-332-4001.

Muskegon County Calendar of Events 10/03/16-10/10/16

Muskegon County Calendar of Events: Monday October 3, 2016 – Monday October 10, 2016

Gettysburg Lecture Series
October 3 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Lakeshore Museum Center, 430 W. Clay Ave. Muskegon, MI 49440
September 12, 19, 26 and October 3 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, come to the Gettysburg Lecture Series at the Lakeshore Museum Center. Muskegon Community College and the Museum are sponsoring a four-part lecture series which precedes a four-day Gettysburg Guided Tour. The cost of the series is $30 for Museum members and $35 for non-members, or $10 per lecture. The cost of the trip is $485. Registration is requested for the lecture. For more information, visit www.lakeshoremuseum.org.

Richard Mullally-Untold Stories of Muskegon’s WWII Vets
October 3 @ 6:00 pm
USS Silversides Museum, 1346 Bluff St. Muskegon, MI 49441
For more than 10 years, for 6 days a week, Richard has gathered the pictures and stories of Muskegon County’s WW II veterans. When he spoke at the USS Silversides Submarine a few years ago, he had found 2,000 veterans and their families. Now he has found 5,000 and is still going strong! These are the stories of our friends and neighbors that we do not know about. Come hear his captivating stories, and acknowledge. $5 per person

We Are Stars
October 4 @ 7:00 pm
Carr-Fles Planetarium, 221 S. Quarterline Rd. Muskegon, MI 49442
There’s a new show at the Carr-Fles Planetarium! “We Are Stars” is a 35-minute, family-friendly adventure that that spans the billions of years between the Big Bang and modern day, and follows the thread that connects us all to those early times through the atoms from which our bodies are formed. Where did they come from? How did they get here? And is it true that we really are all made of stars?

White Lake Classical Series
October 4 @ 7:00 pm
Book Nook & Java Shop, 8744 Ferry St. Montague, MI 49437
Tuesday, October 4 at 7:00pm, come to the Book Nook & Java Shop for the White Lake Classical Series featuring Anna Nordmoe on violin. The cover is only $5. Come early for dinner at 6:15pm to enjoy Wiener Schnitzel, smashed Yukon gold potatoes, braised red cabbage, a glass of house wine and an apple crisp for only $17. RSVP by calling 231-894-5333.

AhFest: Films Inspired by Dennis Lehane
October 5 @ 6:00 pm
Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 West Webster Ave. Muskegon, MI 49440
Sit back, relax and enjoy a free movie and popcorn during AhFest! “Mystic River,” “Gone Baby Gone,” “Shutter Island” and “The Drop” will be shown during the Muskegon Area Arts and Humanities Festival throughout October. All four movies are based on novels by Dennis Lehane, whose lecture will close the festival on Thursday, October 27. All movies will be shown at 6:00pm on Wednesdays at the Muskegon Museum of Art. Beer and wine will be available at a cash bar.

Art & A Glass: Thursday Happy Hour at the Muskegon Museum of Art
October 6 @ 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 West Webster Ave. Muskegon, MI 49440
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.

Harvest Festival at Muskegon State Park
October 7 – October 9
Muskegon State Park, 3560 Memorial Dr.Muskegon, MI 49445
Campers are invited to the Harvest Festival at the Channel Campground inside Muskegon State Park. There’s a hotdog roast Friday at 6:00pm until all the hotdogs are gone! Saturday, start with morning coffee followed by two hours of activities for the children including the egg toss, marshmallow eating contest, pumpkin bowling and a parade! Smokey the Bear will be there for the scavenger hunt, trick or treating and more. For more information, call 231-744-3480.

Haunted Hall
October 7
Muskegon County Fairgrounds, 6621 Heights Ravenna Rd., Fruitport, MI 49415
Haunted Hall, one of the county’s oldest haunted attractions, is back in 2016, and this year it’s designed to be bigger and better than ever. The attraction, which debuted in 1999, will take place at the Muskegon County Fairgrounds, 6621 Heights Ravenna Rd. in Fruitport Township, Fridays and Saturdays, October 1-29. This year’s theme is “The Quarantine Zone” and features three haunts for the price of one; The Foundry, The Bunker and The Containment Zone! Enter all three haunts for only $15.00

 Buster Keaton Society Convention & Film Festival
October 7 @ 12:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Frauenthal Center, 425 W Western Ave # 200 Muskegon, MI 49440
Damfino’s make their annual trek to Muskegon for the Buster Keaton Society Convention and Film Festival! Saturday evening October 8 the public is invited to join them at the beautiful Frauenthal Center to see Buster on the big screen with accompaniment on the Barton Organ. 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.

First Fridays Series
October 7 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Downtown Muskegon, MI
Muskegon’s new First Fridays Series will take over the sidewalks, street corners and stages of downtown Muskegon first Friday of every month! Tonight it’s “Fire & Acoustics!” Enjoy bonfires and acoustic music on the street corners of downtown Muskegon. For more info, “Like” the First Friday Series Facebook pages or call Ellen at 231-724-3173.

Dias de los Muertos: Opening Reception
October 7 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Red Lotus Gallery, 356 W. Western Ave.Muskegon, MI 49440
Muskegon Community Arts and the Red Lotus Gallery invite you to the opening reception for “Dias de los Muertos”, a wall to honor those who have passed. Century Club will pay homage to the people in your life who have inspired you. 

The Magic of Bill Blagg
October 7 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Frauenthal Center, 425 W Western Ave # 200 Muskegon, MI 49440 United States
Get ready to experience the impossible! The MAGIC of BILL BLAGG LIVE! national tour comes to the Frauenthal Center for one show only! Critics and audiences alike rave about his incredible high-energy, grand-scale magic & illusions that will have you rubbing your eyes in disbelief. Referred to as “Houdini Times Ten!” by NBC, Blagg’s Las Vegas style show is packed with NEW mind-blowing illusions and his trademark off-the-cuff personality.

Free Tours of the Hackley & Hume Site for Muskegon County Residents
October 8
Hackley & Hume Historic Site, 484 W. Webster Ave. Muskegon, MI 49440
Tours of the homes of Muskegon’s most well-known lumber barons are free for Muskegon County residents on weekends during the month of October. Saturday hours are 10:00am-4:00pm, Sunday hours are 1:00-4:00pm. For more information, call 231-722-7578.

 

Hearty Bread Bowls and Soups with Chef Char
October 8 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Muskegon Farmers Market, 242 W. Western Ave. Muskegon, MI 49440
Hearty Bread Bowls and Soups with Chef Char 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Learn the basics to homemade stocks and broths as the foundation to several soup possibilities. Demo and discuss: Tips for making clear stocks, understand difference between stock, broth and bisque. We will be making hearty bread bowls and two large batches of soup. Older Teens and Adults. Cost $35. Phone: 231-722-3251 or www.muskegonfarmersmarket.com

Hike for the Hungry
October 8 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Heritage Landing, 1050 7th St., Muskegon, MI 49440
Please join the Muskegon Rescue Mission, Love INC and Catholic Charities for the 4th Annual Hike for the Hungry at Heritage Landing in downtown Muskegon. This beautiful park features gorgeous water views making it a pleasure for walkers and runners alike. Sign up now and start raising money for a great cause. Come on your own or form a team. Check-in begins at 8:30am.

Pumpkin Fest
October 8 @ 9:30 am
White Lake Area, Muskegon, MI
Pumpkin Fest features pumpkin pie baking contests, seed spitting contests, pumpkin painting and carving contests, and the festival favorite, the Pumpkin Roll down Dowling Hill with over 700 contestants of all ages. Registration for the roll begins at 9:30am. The White Lake Senior Center will have food specials to go along with vendors selling elephant ears, hot dogs, pizzas, candied apples and more! 231-893-4585 www.whitelake.org

Depot to Depot Fall Color Tour
October 8 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 610 W. Western Ave. Muskegon
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 October 8, 15, 22 and 29 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., Whitehall. 231-724-3100 www.visitmuskegon.org or 231-893-4585 www.whitelake.org

City of the Dead Muskegon
October 8 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Evergreen Cemetery, 391 Irwin Ave. Muskegon, MI 49440
This is Muskegon’s 7th annual “Us & Them” cemetery tours and historical re-enactment of our local founders & fellows! The dates are Saturday, October 8 from 6:00-8:00pm and Sunday, October 9 from 2:00-4:00pm. Tickets are just $5 each and kids under 6 are FREE

Lakeshore Bridal Expo 2016
October 9 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Muskegon Country Club, 2801 Lakeshore Dr. Muskegon, MI 49441
FREE admission to this annual event in Muskegon for future bride & grooms with their families. Let our teams take care of everything for you. Pre-register at www.LakeshoreBridalExpo.com. Arrive between 1:00pm-4:00pm at the Muskegon Country Club located at 2801 Lakeshore Dr.

Howling Harbor! Muskegon Artists’ Market
October 9 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Harbor Theater, 1937 Lakeshore Dr. Muskegon, MI 49441
Harbor Cinema hosts an indoor Artists’ Market every second Sunday of the month from 2:00-4:00pm. The market features live performances by a variety of talented Muskegon performers as well as local artists and crafters. For more information, call 231-375-5228.

City of the Dead Muskegon
October 9 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Evergreen Cemetery, 391 Irwin Ave. Muskegon, MI 49440
This is Muskegon’s 7th annual “Us & Them” cemetery tours and historical re-enactment of our local founders & fellows! This has been such a huge interest there has been a matinee added to the schedule this year. The dates are Saturday, October 8 from 6:00-8:00pm and Sunday, October 9 from 2:00-4:00pm. Tickets are just $5 each and kids under 6 are FREE

Drug Court Celebrates Third Recovery Coach Academy

The 20th Circuit Court is pleased to announce the Adult Drug Treatment Court, a specialty program for non-violent felony offenders with acute substance use disorders, recently hosted their third Recovery Coach Academy. To date, 66 people from across West Michigan, who are in stable and sustained recovery from drug or alcohol addiction have participated in the academy.

Priscilla Shafor and Anthony Sledge, certified peer recovery coaches for the drug court, organized and co-facilitated the academies. The academy follows the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery model for training peer recovery coaches which is recognized as an emerging best practice by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and is supported by the Michigan Department of Community Health

“A peer recovery coach serves as a mentor to people who are involved in treatment for substance use disorders or serves as a guide for people seeking or already in recovery,” says Shafor. By hosting this academy the drug court has been instrumental in building a cadre of certified recovery coaches who will be employable at substance abuse treatment agencies in Ottawa County and West Michigan.

The Recovery Coach Academy is funded by a 3-year federal grant from SAMHSA, designed to enhance substance use disorder treatment services available to the drug court. The drug court’s day-to-day operations, however, remain dependent on state grant dollars and the continued financial support of Ottawa County. For questions about enrolling in the recovery coach academy please contact Priscilla Shafor at 616-396-5284.

Fruitport Charter Township Board of Trustees — September 26, 2016

FRUITPORT CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

A work session of the Fruitport Charter Township Board began at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, September 26, 2016, in the township board room.

Members Present: Brian Werschem, Supervisor; Carol Hulka, Clerk; Rose Dillon, Treasurer; Trustees Ron Becklin, Dave Markgraf, Marjorie Nash, and Chuck Whitlow. Members Absent: None

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

Also Present: 5 – residents, 0 – employees, 1 – guest, Public Safety Director, Michelli, DPW Director, Farrar, and Attorney Bultje

The meeting minutes of September 12, 2016, regular meeting, were approved as presented.

The motion by Chuck Whitlow, seconded by Dave Markgraf, was carried unanimously, to approve the meeting agenda with the following additions under new business:

  1. Evidence Tech
  2. Soccer Club Contract

 

CORRESPONDENCE / REPORTS
1)Michigan Townships Association legislative updates
2)Fruitport Township Planning Commission meeting minutes dated September 20, 2016
PUBLIC COMMENTS—   none received

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

16-081 Public Works Service Agreement – Odeno Development
Chuck Whitlow moved, Ron Becklin supported, MOTION CARRIED, to adopt the Public Water and Sanitary Sewer Extension Agreement dated September 19, 2016, between Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and Fruitport Charter Township, and authorize the Supervisor and Clerk to sign the Agreement.

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

 

16-082 Muskegon County Prosecutors Agreement

Chuck Whitlow moved, Dave Markgraf supported, MOTION CARRIED, to adopt the Muskegon County Prosecutors Agreement dated September 22, 2016,between Fruitport Charter Township and Muskegon County Prosecutor, and authorize the Supervisor and Clerk to sign the Agreement substantially as drafted. The purpose of this Agreement is to provide for the prosecution by the Prosecutor’s office of ordinance violations cited by the Township through its Police Department.

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

 

16-083 Retail Fraud Ordinance – First Reading

The Township Board made a recommendation to adopt the Retail Fraud Ordinance that will protect the public health, safety, and general welfare by prohibiting certain defined behavior in the Charter Township of Fruitport.

This constitutes the first reading. Final action will take place at the next regular meeting scheduled on October 10, 2016.

 

NEW BUSINESS
16-084 Hiring of an Evidence Tech
Dave Markgraf moved, supported by Ron Becklin, MOTION CARRIED, to authorize the Public Safety Director to hire a part time Evidence Tech at a cost not to exceed $16.00 per hour. The recommendation was made by the Public Safety Committee.

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

 

16-085 Soccer Club Contract – there was discussion with no action taken

 

16-086 Payment of Bills

Dave Markgraf moved, Carol Hulka seconded, MOTION CARRIED, to approve bills for payment in the following amounts: General Fund & Parks $34,895.55; Public Safety $32,952.99; Water $19,627.28; and   Sewer $15,745.09.         Totaling:  $103,220.91

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

 

REPORTS – none received

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS: PART II –   None received

 

The motion by Chuck Whitlow, supported by Dave Markgraf, was carried unanimously, to adjourn the meeting at 7:24 p.m.

 

_______________________________            ______________________________

CAROL HULKA, CLERK                              BRIAN WERSCHEM, SUPERVISOR

Cruise Ship Season Is Done….What’s Next?!?

Submitted by the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce.

The last ship of the season docked at the Port of Muskegon on Wednesday, August 31.

There were 10 port of calls this summer, which exposed over 2,000 passengers and crew to beautiful Muskegon for the first time. Their overwhelming response was nothing but positive. Thanks to the people and businesses of Muskegon, we heard things like, “The people are so friendly”, “Your city is so clean” and “The architecture is beautiful”.

Pearl Seas has already confirmed another 10 stops at the Port of Muskegon in 2017 and there is potential for even more stops from different cruise ship companies down the road.

Candidate Bio: John Austin

Candidate for State Board of Education

austinphotoJohn is running for reelection to the State Board of Education, after having served as President of the Board for the past three years. John brings a unique perspective to the SBE, as a non-resident senior fellow with the Brookings Institution and the director of the Michigan Economic Center. He knows that education is the engine of opportunity for Michigan children in our changing economy, and he fights for equity in education quality so that every student has the same shot at a successful career in the field of their choice.

John supports investing more in our schools, and devoting more funding to students with the greatest need— for example, special education students and non-native English speakers. His opponents seek to continue the trend of defunding our public schools in favor of unregulated charter and cyber schools that aren’t being held accountable to Michigan taxpayers. John has led our state’s business, education and higher education community to help more of our people access and succeed in public education. John wants to raise up our struggling public schools and move Michigan forward as a model state for education excellence and higher education attainment.

Candidate Bio: Nikki Snyder

Republican Candidate for State Board of Education

nikkisnyderheadshot

Born in Marquette, Michigan, Nikki has been a lifelong Michigan resident. She now lives in Whitmore Lake with her husband and three children and is running for the State Board of Education.

Working at University of Michigan for over 9 years in various roles, she started her career as a Registered Nurse in Labor and Delivery at Von Voightlander Women’s Hospital. Now working at Providence Park Hospital in Novi, Michigan, Nikki is a Lactation Consultant and teaches Breastfeeding Education. She is also a Part-Time Faculty Instructor in the Department of Nursing at Washtenaw Community College.

Nikki is an advocate for women, children and mental health. Her third child was born a pediatric amputee, missing a right forearm and hand.  She raised over $10,000 for Detroit Variety Children’s Charity – Myoelectric Program, which funds the spectrum of care and prosthesis provided for pediatric amputees for kids around the world.

There are many issues facing Michigan schools today and Nikki plans to bring professional, parental and advocate experience to the table to represent the future success of our children. Her top priorities are Special Education Reform, Student Achievement, Local Control and Parental Rights.

Facebook.com/NikkiSnyderSBOE

NikkiSnyder.net

Candidate Bio: Ronald E. Graeser

Candidate for U.S. Congress, 2nd District

Candidate for U.S. Congress, Dr. Ronald Graeser, is a family practice physician. He grew up in Tucson, Arizona and received his B.S.E.E. from the University of Arizona. After working as an electrical engineer for three years he took premedical courses at Calvin College and then attended the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine where he received his medical degree in 1970. He has practiced in Newaygo county since 1972. He was the medical examiner for 23 years in Newaygo, Lake, and Osceola counties. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserves medical corps with the rank of colonel after 20 years service. He is married to his first wife and has three grown children.

Candidate Bio: Judge Timothy G. Hicks

Candidate for Circuit Court Judge

Timothy G. Hicks has served as your Circuit Judge since 1996. During that time, he has managed several thousand criminal and civil cases, and has presided over 250 jury trials. He was Chief Judge of the 14th Circuit from 1999-2002.

Judge Hicks is widely respected throughout the State. He was President of the Michigan Judges Association in 2012. He currently serves as Chairman of the Michigan Supreme Court’s Committee on Model Criminal Jury Instructions. He has also taught many classes for the Michigan Judicial Institute, the educational arm of the Michigan Supreme Court, and wrote an article about innovations in the conduct of jury trials for the Michigan State Bar Journal.

Prior to his appointment to the Bench, Judge Hicks was in private law practice for thirteen years. Before that time, he worked as a teacher, counselor, and coach in two different Michigan high schools.

He considers it a high honor and great privilege to serve as your Circuit Judge.

Decision America Tour with Franklin Graham

franklin_dat_update-august

Franklin Graham led thousands at the Decision America Tour prayer rallies in August, travelling to eight states to encourage crowds to stand up for God and our country. An estimated total of 22,200 people joined Franklin during events in Helena, Mont., Boise, Idaho, Cheyenne, Wyo., Augusta, Maine, Montpelier, Vt., Albany, N.Y., Boston, Mass. and Providence, R.I.

Thursday’s prayer rally in Hartford, Conn., marked Franklin’s 41st Decision America Tour stop. His message remains consistent as he encourages those in attendance to accept the Lord and to sign a pledge of commitment to God and the country, committing to vote for godly leaders and to prayerfully consider running for local office.

Franklin has three remaining stops in September and six in October. September stops include: Dover, Del., on Sept. 13; Trenton, N.J., on Sept. 14; and Harrisburg, Pa., on Sept. 15. Decision America Tour will conclude in October with Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.

For more information about the Decision America Tour, including a full list of tour dates, visit www.decisionamericatour.com.

Ask Dr. Universe – Seashells

Why do we hear the sea in a seashell? -Steve, Minnewaska School, Minnesota

Dear Steve,

Whenever us cats go to the beach, we tend to keep a safe distance from the water and like to explore the shore. I once stumbled upon a big, beautiful pink and white seashell.

When I put my ear up to it, I heard the familiar sound of whooshing waves. While there wasn’t actually an ocean inside, I figured the sound had to be coming from somewhere. So, I decided to investigate. You can try it out, too.

First, close your eyes and listen without a shell. Well, I suppose you are interested in reading this so you may not want to close your eyes, but definitely take a listen.

Perhaps you hear people talking, music playing, or a cat meowing. These sounds travel as waves from their sources at 761 miles per hour. When the waves reach your ears, they make your eardrums vibrate, and you can hear the sounds.

Just like a ball, these sound waves can bounce. A shell has a hard and curved surface. It is pretty good at reflecting, or bouncing the sounds around.

That’s what I found out from my friend Allison Coffin, a scientist at Washington State University. Her research helps people who experience hearing loss.

“When we hold a seashell up to our ear, we don’t actually hear the sea,” she said. “What we hear is normal sound from the environment we are in at the time—whether that’s your bedroom or the beach.”

As the sound waves bounce around inside the shell, they get a bit distorted, Coffin adds. A shell is a good kind of resonating device as air vibrates through it’s hollow inside.

It’s similar to the phenomenon of blowing across an empty glass bottle to make a whirring sound. Scientists can use their knowledge of how sounds move through different spaces as they engineer car engines, create musical instruments, and even reduce noise in planes.

You can find out more about how this distorted sound works by playing with some sound waves. Grab a shell, a cup, a mug, or even a toilet paper tube. You can also just place your hand around your ear and cup the end with your other hand.

Put one of these listening devices up to your ear and walk into rooms with different sounds. Listen to how the sounds in the shell change as you move from room to room. You might even try it out in a quiet room to hear what happens.

If you already happen to be standing on the beach, then you might just pick up on the sounds of the actual sea. After all, when you hear the sound of the sea in a shell, you are really hearing a combination of all the sounds around you at that very moment.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

Ask Dr. Universe is a science-education project from Washington State University. Send your question to Dr. Universe at AskDrUniverse.wsu.edu.

Ask Dr. Universe – Roots

How do plants hold dirt? –Gordon, Pullman, WA

Dear Gordon,

The other day, I wandered into a Washington State University greenhouse and ran into my friend Mechthild Tegeder, a professor and expert on plants.

She gently dug a small plant out of a pot so we could take a closer look. When she lifted it up, I pawed at the clumpy soil hanging from the bottom to reveal some stringy roots.

“They’re amazing, aren’t they?” Tegeder said. “The root system functions like a web, anchoring the plant and the soil.”

The plant had lots of short, fine roots growing near the surface. Tegeder explained that another kind of root is a taproot and it tends to grow straight down. You have eaten one of these before if you’ve ever had a carrot.

While some roots grow near the surface, other roots make a journey deeper into the Earth. In fact, scientists have found roots nearly 200 feet below the surface of huge trees.

These roots can grow wide, too. Like the underwater part of an iceberg, a plant’s underground web of roots can take up to about four times as much space as the plant itself.

Whether you look at the roots of a giant tree, a little dandelion, or a carrot, they each have a couple things in common. As you know, they anchor plants to the soil. But they also deliver water and nutrients, or food, to the above-ground part of the plant.

Plants actually do this using really tiny hairs that sprout out of their roots. These little root hairs absorb the water and nutrients from the dirt. They deliver them up the roots, to the stem, and the rest of the plant or tree.

And roots look for these important resources anywhere they can. That’s part of the reason they will grow out in different directions.

In fact, there is even a special part of these hairs that scientists believe helps the roots sense where they are going in the soil. It’s a bit like an obstacle course, or like using your hands to navigate through a dark room.

These roots will grow in any space they can find. For small plants, this might mean empty space between clumps of soil. For big trees, it might mean roots that start to grow up and over sidewalks or walls.

Not all roots grow down or underground, though. Roots can grow up and out of the soil to reach into the air for nutrients and water. Then there are plants that don’t have roots at all.

But roots are really helpful to plants that do use them. As the roots and soil hang onto each other, they keep the important top layer of soil—the part we use to grow food—from washing away in the rain or blowing away in strong winds. Roots don’t just help the plant, but also the soil itself.

As you can see, it really just takes a bit of digging to get to the bottom of it. Keep asking great science questions.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

Ask Dr. Universe is a science-education project from Washington State University. Send your own question to Dr.Universe@wsu.edu or vote in this week’s reader poll at askDrUniverse.wsu.edu.