Monthly Archives: January 2017

Right to Life of Michigan Addresses Rape and Abortion with “Life Uninvited”

Right to Life of Michigan’s 30-minute television documentary, Life Uninvited, will be airing on January 9. The film presents four women telling their own stories of how they have been personally impacted by the issue of rape and abortion.

Life Uninvited will be airing in every major media market throughout Michigan. Replays will be during the weekend of January 15-16, and again on January 22.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, “Far too many shy away from the controversy of rape and abortion without ever really learning about the issue. This memorable film invites people to hear the stories of women who have experienced the issue first-hand instead of a heated political controversy.”

Each of the four women shares a different personal experience. The stories include being conceived in rape, rape and incest survivors, abortion, and parenting a child conceived in rape.

Listing said, “These remarkable women provide perspectives that have been missing in the public square. The debate over rape and abortion is not an academic one, but one that involves real people with real lives at stake.”

The film was produced by Minus Red and lead filmmaker Jim Hanon. Hanon is the creative mind behind many Right to Life of Michigan advertisements. In the past, Jim Hanon has served as a vice president at a worldwide advertising agency and was the director of the 2005 movie End of the Spear.

The television schedule and channel listings for Life Uninvited can be found at the Right to Life of Michigan website at www.RTL.org/lifeuninvited.

Ask Dr. Universe – Animal Hibernation

Dear Dr. Universe: Why do animals hibernate?
Jarrett T., 10, Edinburgh, Indiana

Dear Jarrett,

Animals can get through winter in all kinds of ways. Us cats like to curl up on a cozy couch. Some penguins huddle in groups to create heat. A lot of birds fly south to warmer weather. Perhaps you put on mittens and a coat.

Then there are the hibernators. Some of these animals are bears, skunks, bats, frogs, and salamanders. Hibernation is like a deep, long winter’s sleep. But it isn’t exactly the same kind of sleep these animals would normally have at night.

Hibernation means big changes for these animals and their bodies. The reason they hibernate is to survive chilly winters, said my friend Nina Woodford. She’s the campus veterinarian here at Washington State University.

When scientists study hibernating animals, they find that these creatures have slower heartbeats than normal. A lot of animals can go without food for months at a time. Many don’t even have to wake up to go to the bathroom. The hibernating grizzly bears here at WSU wake up for about 15 minutes each day. They go for a quick stretch, paw their straw bedding, and rest again.

A lot of bears will spend months preparing for hibernation. While we were getting ready to go back to school, some animals were already stocking their food supply. Some animals stored their food in trees or burrows. Bears store food in their own bodies.

Researchers at WSU are learning a lot about bear behavior, including how they can survive with such a slow beating heart and so many extra pounds of fat. This year’s biggest bear, John, weighed in at 620 pounds. As he hibernates, he will lose fat. In spring, after he uses that stored up energy, he’ll be about 500 pounds. Researchers are using what they learn about bears to help us understand more about heart diseases and obesity in humans, too.

“It’s amazing how they can undergo this process and yet they are perfectly healthy,” Woodford said. “If we tried to do it, we’d become quite ill.”

Grizzly bears are big hibernators. But other kinds of bears have different techniques to survive chilly temperatures. Some panda bears migrate to warmer conditions.

Some polar bears can hibernate for about 8 months. They build dens and have other adaptations like thick blubbery fat and extra fur to help them survive in the cold, too.

And while some animals have adapted to survive chilly winters, other animals need to survive hot summers. This is called estivation. Instead of storing up food and staying warm, these animals save up water and try to escape the heat.

As as a cat that likes to snooze, I’d have to say taking a big old nap seems like quite a great way to get through the season.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

Activity: Animals have all kinds of ways to stay warm in winter. Many animals that live in cold places year round have a layer of blubber that helps keep them warm. Make your own blubber!

Ask Dr. Universe is a science-education project from Washington State University. Send in your own science question at http://askDrUniverse.wsu.edu.

Fruitport Lions Pancake Supper – January 27, 2017

Fruitport Lions Pancake Supper

(All-you-can-eat Pancakes)
Friday, January 27, 2017
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Fruitport High School Cafeteria
Prior to the Fruitport / Reeths Puffer High School Basketball Game

Adults     $5.00
(Includes all-you-can-eat Pancakes, 2 Sausage Links, Orange Juice, Milk or Coffee, Dessert)
(Gluten-Free pancakes upon request)

10 years & under     $3.00

Tickets may be purchased from Fruitport Lions Club members, Leo Club, Fruitport Honors Society, or at the door. Proceeds will go to the Fruitport Honors Society.

Bake Sale by the Fruitport Lioness Club – Come early… before it sells out!

Pcakes

Click on the picture to view a larger image.

Wild Game & Fish Potluck

Open to everyone – public invited!

Friday, February 24, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.
First Congregational Church of Fruitport
3212 Pontaluna Road (across from elementary school)

If you don’t have fish or game to bring, you can bring a salad, vegetable, fruits, chips, or desserts.

Plates, cups, silverware, punch, coffee, rolls will be furnished. Bring your trophies, pictures, etc. of your last season’s successes for display and prizes! Come, invite your friends and have fun!!!  Click on the picture of the flyer below to view a larger version.

wild game

Click on the picture to view a larger image.

Greater Muskegon Jaycees’ Snowfest Returns in 2017

The Greater Muskegon Jaycees annual Snowfest event will return to Downtown Muskegon Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4, 2017.  After taking a year off from producing the festival in 2016, the popular winter event will return with a family-friendly “First Fridays” event on Friday night: Frozen Friday, and a jam-packed Saturday including popular events such as the annual “Battle of the Bowls Chili Cook-Off”, snow volleyball, a cornhole tournament, and concluding with a downtown pub crawl.

“The Jaycees chapter has been working hard at rebuilding itself over the past year as the organization had only 12 members at the end of 2015,” says Jamie Hekker, President of the Greater Muskegon Jaycees. “The organization is well positioned with nearly 60 members today and is heading into Snowfest with great momentum.”  As part of the chapter and event’s resurgence, a new Snowfest logo and brand was created by young professional, Kassi Dean.

On Friday, February 3, the Jaycees will host Frozen Friday, taking place on Western Avenue between 3rd and 4th street.  This is in partnership with Downtown Muskegon Now’s First Fridays event series featuring family-friendly free or affordable activities taking place Downtown Muskegon on the first Friday of each month since June of 2016.  Frozen Friday will run from 6pm to 8pm and will feature the movie Frozen played on an outdoor movie screen along with popcorn, a smore station, arts and crafts with the Boys & Girls Club, a Snow Derby with the Boy scouts, and special guest appearances from “Snowlof and Elsa”.

On Saturday, February 4th, a Cornhole and Snow Volleyball Tournament will run simultaneously on Western Avenue between 3rd and 4th street. Registration begins at 9am and tournaments begin at 10am.  Trophies and cash prizes will be given to 1st and 2nd place teams in each tournament. Pre-event registration is requested.  Cost to play is $30 per cornhole team of 2 and $40 per volleyball team of 4.  Those wanting to compete in the popular tournaments should register early at www.muskegonjaycees.org/snowfest.

The Popular Battle of the Bowls Chili Cook-off will take place from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, February 4th at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Downtown Muskegon. This event will be in partnership with the Child Abuse Council, who produced the event last year in Snowfest’s absence.   Area restaurants will go head to head to see who has the best Chili.  Chili samples will be 20 for $10 or $1 per sample bowl.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to partner with the businesses that are already downtown and the Child Abuse Council to help execute this year’s event,” says Stevi Riel, Snowfest Chairperson. The 2017 Snowfest activities will continue throughout downtown’s bars and restaurants.

Volunteer and sponsorship opportunities are still available.  For more information on getting involved or event details, visit the website at www.muskegonjaycees.org/snowfest or on facebook at: www.facebook.com/MuskegonJaycees/

Muskegon County Calendar of Events 01/23/17-01/30/17

Presented by the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Drawer Boy
January 20 – January 28
January 20 – 28, the Muskegon Civic Theatre invites you to the Blackbox on the Frauenthal Stage for “The Drawer Boy!”.  An actor from a Toronto theater visits the home of two farmers, to research rural life for a new play.  Amused with the young city slicker, Morgan and Angus talk about their lives, of moving to the farm with their wives after serving in World War II, and living as bachelors ever since.  But their visitor’s questions gradually unravel their story in one of the most-produced plays in the country.

Tickets are $20 & $22.  For more information, visit www.frauenthal.org.

Calvin College January Series
January 23 @ 12:30 pm – January 24 @ 12:30 pm
January 23 – 24 at 12:30pm, you’re invited to the Beardsley Theater for the Calvin College January Series!  The 30th year of Calvin College’s award-winning lecture series will again be live-streamed into the Beardsley Theater.  The lectures are free and no tickets are required.  Be sure to bring your lunch!

Monday, January 23 – Jeremy Courtney “Loving our Enemies: Living amongst ISIS”
In the heart of conflict, there is only one kind of love big enough to change a nation: a love that strikes first. Jeremy Courtney is the founder of Preemptive Love Coalition, a development organization that works across Iraq providing lifesaving heart surgeries for children and more recently responds to the daily needs of Syrian refugees fleeing from ISIS. He is also the author of Preemptive Love, a book that invites you to walk along the front lines of the struggle for peace with Jeremy in a firsthand account of his team’s quest to mend hearts and save lives in the world’s most notorious war-torn country.  Jeremy hosts conversations about peacemaking & Muslim-Christian relations and shares thoughts from Iraq, where he lives with his wife and two children.

Tuesday, January 24 – N.T. Wright “The Royal Revolution: Fresh Perspectives on the Cross”
Nicholas Thomas “Tom” Wright taught New Testament studies for 20 years at Cambridge, McGill, and Oxford Universities, and served as the bishop of Durham from 2003 until his retirement in 2010. He is now research professor of New Testament and early Christianity at St. Mary’s College in the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Wright has authored nearly 50 books, including a complete, popular-level, New Testament commentary series entitled The New Testament for Everyone, and his new opus on Paul, Paul and the Faithfulness of God. He has also written numerous essays, sermons, and articles throughout his career.

For more information, call 231-727-8001.

Paint, Drink, and Have Fun!
January 24 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Whether you have never picked up a paint brush before or you just want to spice up your painting experience, certified instructor Sharon Smithem will guide you through every step of creating your own masterpiece!  Come to the Book Nook & Java Shop Tuesday, January 24 from 6:00-8:30pm to paint a replica of a vintage postcard of the Old Channel in White Lake.  You’ll receive 2 1/2 hours of instruction, step-by-step support and all painting supplies including a 16 x 20″ canvas.  The cost is only $40.  The dinner special will be veggie burgers.  For more information, call 231-894-5333.

Incoming!
Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 7:00 pm – 7:35 pm
“Incoming!” is a NEW SHOW at the Carr-Fles Planetarium, where you can zoom past rocky asteroids and icy comets, all the way to Pluto, and discover how they have changed the course of life on Earth.  This free program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00pm, January 10-March 2 and March 14-30 (no shows March 7 & 9 for college spring break).  Doors open by 6:45pm and no reservations are needed.  The planetarium is in room 135 of Muskegon Community College.  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.

Chinese New Year Date Night
January 26 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
January 26 from 6:00-8:00pm, come to the Muskegon Museum of Art for “Chinese New Year Date Night!”  Enjoy Asian-inspired hors d’oeuvres and cocktails with a special program inspired by How to Return: Contemporary Chinese Photography.  There will be a cash bar.  The cost is $20 per person or $15 for members.  Tickets include hors d’oeuvres and the gallery talk.  Purchase tickets at the MMA Gift Store or call 231-720-2580.

Menu by Hearthstone Banquets & Catering

  • Crab & Avocado Sushi Rolls
  • Vegetable Spring Rolls & Peanut Sauce
  • Szechuan Grilled Shrimp & Snow Pea Spoons
  • Mini Steamed Hoisin Pork Bao Buns
  • Ahi Tuna & Wasabi Citrus Aioli on Crispy Seasoned Wontons

Sponsored by Hooker DeJong Architects & Engineers  


Body Works: Free Family Fun Night
January 27 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Friday, January 27 from 6:00-8:00pm, you and your family are invited to the Lakeshore Museum Center’s “Body Works” exhibit for a Free Family Fun Night!  This is a celebration of the re-opening of the exhibit with health and nutrition themed activities featured throughout the museum.  Activities include hand washing checks using a black-light, dental hygiene tips and free toothbrushes for kids, and health & nutrition activities led by the Muskegon YMCA.  Free, healthy snacks will be provided.  For more information, call 231-722-0278.

Alley Door Club: Big Daddy Fox and Friends
January 27 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Friday, January 27, come the Alley Door Club for live blues with Big Daddy Fox & Friends!  Fetch Brewing is the evening’s craft brewery!  Doors open at 6:00pm for Happy Hour ($1 off all drinks) and the bands play from 7:00 – 10:00pm.  The Alley Door Club is located in The Ballroom at the Frauenthal Center (Hilt Building, 3rd floor).  Tickets may be purchased at the Box Office for $8 in advance or purchased at the door, a cash bar is available, valid I.D. required. Tables may be reserved for $55.00 for a 4-top (includes 4 admission tickets) / $80.00 for an 8-top (includes 8 admission tickets).  There is a limit of 2 4-tops and 2 8-tops reserved for each performance, sold on a first come basis.  For more information, call 231-727-8001.

Muskegon Lumberjacks Home Games
January 27 @ 7:15 pm – January 28 @ 7:15 pm
Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28 at 7:15pm, come to the L.C. Walker Arena as the Muskegon Lumberjacks take on the Dubuque Fighting Saints!  The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud members of the United States Hockey League, the nations only Tier I junior hockey league and the leading producer of NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States. The Lumberjacks’organization prides itself on developing not just premier hockey talent, but also exceptional young men outside the arena of sports. For more information, visit www.muskegonlumberjacks.com.

Miss Shoreline Pageant
January 28
The Miss Shoreline Scholarship Pageant is a preliminary for Miss Michigan, open to young women across the state.  The pageant is scheduled for Saturday, January 28 in the . The deadline to enter is Friday, January 6.  The pageant will take place in the ballroom of the Harbor Holiday Inn where women ages 17-24 will compete in talent, evening wear and onstage question, interview and swimsuit.  Miss Shoreline Outstanding Teen contestants, ages 13-17, will compete in evening wear and onstage question, talent and interview.  Winners and runners-up receive scholarship money for lessons and training or college tuition.  Those interested in competing should email their contact information to missshorelinepageant@gmail.com prior to Friday.

Muskegon Center for the Arts: January Workshops
January 28 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Join talented artists of the MCA for the January Workshops at the Red Lotus Gallery!  You will want to register for these classes now as they will fill up quickly.

January 28, 2:00pm – 4:00pm – Beginner’s Chainmaille Workshop
$20 per student, materials included. MCA Members $18, materials included.
This workshop will teach students how to create jewelry using the vintage art of chainmaille. In this session, we will focus on the Celtic Pattern of chainmaille. Each student will make a bracelet from the focus pattern that they will be able to keep. Maximum of 10 students. You must be registered 2 days before the scheduled class day. Contact Sabryna at sabrynasnaturalcreations@hotmail.com to register.

West Michigan Lake Hawks Basketball Game
January 28 @ 6:00 pm
Back to Back North Central Division Champions! Catch their home games usually at Reeths – Puffer except for tonight’s game. Tonight they play the Grand Rapids Danger. This game will be played at Fruitport High School at 6:00pm. All tickets are just $8 each. Ages four and under are FREE! Purchase Lake Hawks tickets at the Frauenthal Center or at the door.

West Michigan Lake Hawks Basketball Game
January 29 @ 5:00 pm
Back to Back North Central Division Champions! Catch their home games at Reeths-Puffer High School located north of Muskegon at 1545 N. Roberts Rd. This weekend they have back to back games. Last night at Fruitport High School and tonight back at Reeths-Puffer to take on Team NetWork at 5:00pm. All tickets are just $8 each. Ages four and under are FREE! Purchase Lake Hawks tickets at the Frauenthal Center or at the door.

Fruitport Township Board Meeting Agenda – 01/23/17

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

JANUARY 23, 2017

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

  1. Pledge of Allegiance
  2. Roll call
  3. Approval of board minutes: 1/9/2017
  4. Approve / amend agenda
  5. Correspondence / reports
  6. Public comments regarding agenda items
  7. Unfinished Business
    A. Information and discussion of Rental Inspection plan
    B. Discuss financing options for incoming fire truck 561
  8. New Business
    A. Discuss new Police and Fire service contract between the Township and Village
  9. 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: Andrea Anderson, Fruitport Township Hall, 5865 Airline Road, Fruitport, MI 49415 (231) 865-3151

Michigan Closes Loophole for Fetal Organ Trafficking

Today Michigan Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley signed into law the Fetal Organ Trafficking Ban. Right to Life of Michigan applauds Lt. Gov. Calley and the Michigan Legislature for taking action to prevent abortion clinics profiteering from the sale of babies’ body parts.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, “The undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood haggling over the broken bodies of developed babies rightly disgusted our nation. Trafficking in human body parts has no place in the state of Michigan.”

Federal and Michigan law bans tissue trafficking, but a loophole allows tissue traffickers to compensate abortion clinics. Vague language together with federal officials friendly to abortion meant that abortion clinics could successfully evade the law.

The Center for Medical Progress first began releasing their undercover footage in July of 2015. Throughout the process Planned Parenthood has denied all accusations, despite incriminating statements caught on video. Their staff repeatedly engaged in sales discussions, discussed ways to disguise the profiteering, and indicated a willingness to change abortion procedures to procure fresher organs.

Michigan’s new ban is comprised of two bills. S.B. 564 prohibits the exchange of any form of compensation for fetal tissue or organs. S.B. 565 describes the legal penalties for engaging in the trade of fetal tissue or organs. The bills received bi-partisan support, including some legislators in the Michigan House who generally support abortion.

Listing said, “We welcome the opportunity to work with anyone who can agree with us on a particular issue. Most people broadly agree that buying and selling human body parts is beyond the pale.”

Michigan’s new ban will still allow organ and tissue donations to proceed, but no longer can abortion businesses abuse the spirit of the law by profiting from such donations.

Listing said, “For years Planned Parenthood successfully kept their organ trafficking behind closed doors, but now it’s coming to an end thanks to the public hearing them talk about it in their own words.”

The Fetal Organ Trafficking Ban ends another successful prolife legislative session in Michigan. Earlier in 2016 the Rape Survivor Child Custody Act and the Coercive Abortion Prevention Act were also signed into law. No pro-abortion legislation received any serious consideration in the Legislature in 2015-2016.

Listing said, “In January we’re looking forward to starting another successful legislative session for advancing the protection of all human life.”

Links to the Center for Medical Progress undercover video series are available on the Right to Life of Michigan website here.

Pictures are available.

Ask Dr. Universe – Growing

Is it possible that we are growing every second?  – David, 9, Camas, Wash.

Dear David,

When I was a kitten, I used to keep track of my growth. Every now and then, I’d make a little pencil mark on the wall right above my ears.

We might not be growing taller every second, but parts of us do grow all the time. We grow new hair. We grow new fingernails. We grow new bone. We even grow new skin.

My friend Jonathan Jones, a scientist and professor here at Washington State University, is really curious about skin. His research helps us learn more about how our body helps heal wounds.

Skin is our body’s biggest organ, he said. It helps protect us. While you can’t see your individual cells without a microscope, your body is actually growing new ones at this very moment. And at this moment, too.

“As long as we are alive, our cells turn over,” Jones said. “I guess you could say that you turn over, or at least replace, what cells you have already.”

Every 40 days or so you’ll get a new layer of skin. Babies only take about 15 days to grow a new layer skin. I asked Jones why babies can grow new skin cells so much faster.

“We don’t know,” he said. “We would love to know why. As cells age, they get more problems. They don’t turn over as fast.”

Our bone cells have also been growing since we were babies. Our bone-building cells and bone-eating cells work away on our skeleton. In a way, our skeletal system is always remaking itself.

When you were about two years old, your brain nearly reached the size it would be for the rest of your life. We are born with tons of brain cells that will communicate with the rest of our body. For a while, scientists weren’t sure grown-ups could grow new brain cells. But it turns out they actually can grow new brain cells.

Meanwhile, other kinds of cells in our body grow pretty quickly, too. The ones in our stomach lining, for example. Our stomachs have a protective lining that we replace every five days or so. It helps keep our stomach from digesting itself.

Come to think of it, we would take up a lot of space if all our parts were literally getting bigger and growing every second. It might be a little awkward if we never stopped growing physically—if our body kept taking on new cells without getting rid of old ones.

But even if we stop growing taller, our bodies are still growing in all kinds of other ways. After all, a little more than a month from now, you’ll be in a whole new skin.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

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

Muskegon Establishes New Partnership with Grand Valley State University

The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce and Muskegon Area First have forged a new partnership with the Grand Valley State University – Seidman School of Business. Starting in 2017, Associate Dean, Dr. Paul Isely will lead his team to research and present Muskegon County’s Annual Economic Forecast during the popular Muskegon Chamber January Business for Breakfast.

The Muskegon County Economic Forecast has been a signature program for decades bringing more than 400 business leaders together to hear the area’s economic outlook for the upcoming year. Following the retirement of long-time forecast presenter George Erickcek, from the W.E. UpJohn Institute for Employment Research, a new local partnership was sought out.
“Dr. Isely is very familiar with West Michigan and the Muskegon Lakeshore,” Chamber President Cindy Larsen said. “We are excited to work with him and welcome him and his team to Muskegon for this important presentation.”

Recently, Dr. Isely held a focus group with Muskegon County business leaders gathering additional insight to better set the stage for his presentation to the full business community in January.  “We’re excited for the new outlook that Dr. Isely will bring to Muskegon this winter,” said Ed Garner, President of Muskegon Area First. “Dr. Isely has a great understanding of the local economy and should deliver an accurate and informational presentation.

Dr. Isely is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs in the Seidman School of Business.  He holds his Ph.D. and M.S. in Economics from Purdue University and a dual B.S. in Physics and Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Isely and his team will gather data locally instead of nationally to put together a report to the business community as to what the economic future of Muskegon County will look like.

The Annual Economic Forecast Business for Breakfast will be held on Friday, January 27 at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center in Downtown Muskegon. Registration will open at 7:00 AM, with the breakfast and the program running from 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM. Space is limited! More information about the program can be found at www.muskegon.org.

Become a Muskegon STAR! 2017 Training Sessions

Become a Muskegon STAR!
Muskegon County certified community information specialist

2017 Training Sessions Now Open!

The Muskegon STAR! Program provides individuals the tools to excel at customer interaction and enhance the overall experience for tourists, guests, friends and fellow employees. BE THE REASON someone moves to, invests in, or visits the Muskegon Lakeshore.
WE’LL BRING THE TRAINING TO YOU!

With the popularity of the Muskegon STAR! Program growing, many companies are opting to have the training in-house. Call the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber at 231-722-3751 to schedule a corporate training for your staff or organization.
STAR! Sessions fill quickly – Reserve your space early!
Event Details:

January 19, 2017
Click here to register

February 16, 2017
Click here to register

March 16, 2017
Click here to register

1:00 – 5:00 pm
$25 per person
West Michigan Works! Office

Program Partner:
West Michigan Works!

Muskegon County Calendar of Events 01/17/17- 01/23/17

Presented by the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Center

Calvin College January Series
January 17 @ 12:30 pm – January 20 @ 12:30 pm
January 16 – 20 at 12:30pm, you’re invited to the Beardsley Theater for the Calvin College January Series!  The 30th year of Calvin College’s award-winning lecture series will again be live-streamed into the Beardsley Theater.  The lectures are free and no tickets are required.  Be sure to bring your lunch!

Tuesday, January 17 – Doris Kearns Goodwin “How Did We Get Here?” A Historical Perspective on Our Wild 2016 Election
World-renowned presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin shines a spotlight on the changes in our political system over the past 150 years that bring us to today: the most exhausting, electrifying and acrimonious presidential campaign cycle in recent history, punctuated by nonstop television and relentless social media coverage. After five decades of studying the presidency, Goodwin finds hope in the knowledge that however fractured our modern political culture seems, our democracy has survived—even thrived—through troubling times in the past. And however the 2016 election turns out, it will continue to do so in the future.  Goodwin is the author of six critically acclaimed and New York Times best-selling books, the winner of many awards and honors, and frequently appears on television networks NBC, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, CNN, PBS, the Charlie Rose Show, Meet the Press, and many more.  She has served as a historical consultant for Ken Burns and Steven Spielberg.

Wednesday, January 18 – Eugene Cho “Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World than Actually  Changing the World?”
Eugene Cho is the founder and lead pastor of Quest Church – an urban, multi-cultural and multi-generational church in Seattle, Washington.  He is also the founder and visionary of One Day’s Wages, “a grassroots movement of people, stories, and actions to alleviate extreme global poverty” which has been featured in the New York Times, The Seattle Times, NPR and numerous other media outlets. For his entrepreneurial work and spirit, Eugene was honored as one of 50 Everyday American Heroes. Eugene recently released his first book, Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World?

Thursday, January 19 – Taylor Davis in concert
Taylor Davis is a classically trained American violinist, arranger and composer, whose passion for video game and film music led her to launch her widely popular YouTube channel “ViolinTay” in 2010. Five years, over 150 videos, 1 million subscribers and 140-million views later, she has become one of the fastest rising stars in the digital world. Taylor has released 5 full-length game, anime and film-themed albums, a full-length Christmas album, and most recently a self-titled original album that debuted at #10 on the Billboard Classical Charts. In addition to maintaining a schedule of consistent, high-quality content on YouTube, Taylor has also recorded violin solos on video game scores, including “The Banner Saga” composed by the Grammy-nominated Austin Wintory. A regular at VidCons and E3 Expos, Davis has performed live on many stages and events throughout the United States and Europe. Taylor began studying the violin at age 8 and continued her classical training through college where she graduated magna cum laude from Gonzaga University with a degree in Public Relations and a minor in Violin Performance.

Friday, January 20 – Bryan Dik “How to Find and Live Your Calling: Lessons from the Psychology of Vocation”
Bryan Dik is associate professor of psychology at Colorado State University and cofounder and chief science officer of Career Analytics Network/jobZology.  His research is primarily in the area of career development, especially perceptions of work as a calling; meaning, purpose, religion and spirituality in career decision-making and planning; measurement of vocational interests; and career development interventions.  He serves on the editorial boards of six research journals and is the author or coeditor of three books including his most recent, How to Make your Job your Calling.  Bryan is a Calvin alum who returns to share how the psychology of vocation can change your life at work.

For more information, call 231-727-8001.

Beatrix Potter’s 150th Birthday
January 17 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
The Muskegon Community College Hendrik Meijer Library is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of world famous English author Beatrix Potter, with a display of her books and a personal collection of 50 miniature Warne animal characters.  An iconic author, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist, Potter is best known for her children’s books featuring animals, such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit.  She was a trailblazer for women of her time.  This informative exhibit can be viewed now through Sunday, January 22.  For more information on the exhibit, contact Darlene DeHudy at (231)-777-0268 or (231) 777-0269 for library hours.

Winds of Ancestry
January 17 – February 23 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
“Winds of Ancestry,” an exhibit of artifacts and videos by artists Rae Goodwin and Casey McGuire, will be on display in the Muskegon Community College Overbrook Art Gallery from January 9 – February 23.  In the summer of 2016, McGuire and Goodwin rode their red rocking horses across this grand nation. They followed the Lewis and Clark Trail to Montana and stopped along the way to memorialize their foremothers and to acknowledge the fleeting winds of ancestry.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. Overbrook Gallery hours are 9:00am – 4:00pm, Monday-Friday with special weekend and evening hours during performances and concerts in the adjacent Overbrook Theater.  For more information, call (231) 777-0324.

Incoming!
January 17 & 19 @ 7:00 pm – 7:35 pm
“Incoming!” is a NEW SHOW at the Carr-Fles Planetarium, where you can zoom past rocky asteroids and icy comets, all the way to Pluto, and discover how they have changed the course of life on Earth.  This free program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00pm, January 10-March 2 and March 14-30 (no shows March 7 & 9 for college spring break).  Doors open by 6:45pm and no reservations are needed.  The planetarium is in room 135 of Muskegon Community College.  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.

From Page to Screen: East of Eden
January 18 @ 1:30 pm
January 18 at 1:30pm, come to the Norton Shores Library for “From Page to Screen:  East of Eden!”  Is the book always better than the movie?  If you love to read and watch movies, combine your passion for both!  January’s book is East of Eden by John Steinbeck.  Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations re-enact the fall of Adam and Eve and the rivalry of Cain and Abel. The movie was released in 1955, directed by Elia Kazan and starred James Dean, Raymond Massey and Julie Harris.  There will be an an informal discussion of both formats, plus popcorn.  Copies of the book are available at the Library while supplies last.  This program is free and open to the public ages 18 and up.  For additional information, contact Alison Purgiel, branch manager, at 231-780-8844 or apurgiel@madl.org .

Open Public Tours at the Muskegon Museum of Art
January 19 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Enjoy free docent-led guided tours at the Muskegon Museum of Art on Thursdays, December 1 – February 16 from 5:00-7:00pm!  www.muskegonartmuseum.org

Paint Night at the Muskegon Farmers’ Market
January 19 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Thursday, January 19 from 6:00-9:00pm, create a beautiful canvas painting in a relaxed environment at the Muskegon Farmers Market.  Enjoy an evening of instructed painting creating your own canvas keepsake!  Snacks are included.  The cost is $45.  For more information, call  (231) 724-6777.

The Drawer Boy
January 20 – January 28
January 20 – 28, the Muskegon Civic Theatre invites you to the Blackbox on the Frauenthal Stage for “The Drawer Boy!”.  An actor from a Toronto theater visits the home of two farmers, to research rural life for a new play.  Amused with the young city slicker, Morgan and Angus talk about their lives, of moving to the farm with their wives after serving in World War II, and living as bachelors ever since.  But their visitor’s questions gradually unravel their story in one of the most-produced plays in the country.

Tickets are $20 & $22.  For more information, visit www.frauenthal.org.

Disney’s Aladdin Jr.
January 20 @ 7:00 pm – January 21 @ 7:00 pm
Friday, January 20 and Saturday, January 21, come to the William L. Austin Auditorium at Muskegon High School for the production of Disney’s Aladdin Jr.!

Aladdin tells the tale of a want-to-be prince and princess that don’t like their identities.  Both characters disguise themselves from the other; and it isn’t until the disguise is gone, and they have changed the laws in Agrabah, that they can be free to love.  This production focuses largely on student lead visions, ideas and coaching.  Students had the chance to lead the vocal coaching and certain choreography during the show giving these young performers an opportunity to express leadership with their peers.

Cast
Aladdin: Jaden Duquette, Genie: Malik Carter, Iago: Naomoi Pekala, Jafar: Devin Sanders, Magic Carpet: Madisyn Jennings, Sultan: Micah Crocker, and Princess Jasmine: Lataijan Tornes.
Directed by Kirk Carlson with Tech by Jennifer LaChapelle, the show starts at 7:00pm on January 20 and January 21 with a special matinee performance on Saturday at 1:00pm.  Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5.00.  For more information call 231-720-2911.

Muskegon Lumberjacks Home Game
January 20 @ 7:15 pm – January 21 @ 7:15 pm
Friday, January 20 and Saturday, January 21 at 7:15pm, come to the L.C. Walker Arena as the Muskegon Lumberjacks take on the Green Bay Gamblers!  The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud members of the United States Hockey League, the nations only Tier I junior hockey league and the leading producer of NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States. The Lumberjacks’organization prides itself on developing not just premier hockey talent, but also exceptional young men outside the arena of sports. For more information, visit www.muskegonlumberjacks.com.

Creative Saturday
January 21 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Join Muskegon Center for the Arts members in creative idea exchanges, inspiration and camaraderie as you work on your own project the 3rd Saturday of every month from 10:00am-1:00pm at the Red Lotus Gallery.  “Creative Saturdays” are for ages 12 and up and are free to the public, but donations are always welcomed. Bring a new or current working project and your own supplies for your artwork; whether it be sewing, drawing or painting projects.  Artists’ trading cards are also available.  For more information visit  www.muskegonca.org.

Party in Your Parka
January 21 @ 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday, January 21 from 11:00am-11:00pm, Muskegon Winter Sports Complex and Watermark Live present Party In Your Parka, an all day celebration of Michigan’s 180th birthday!  This is an all day event in Muskegon State Park. Come out for winter sports during the day, including ice skating, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and luge.  From 11:00am to 6:00pm, check out the Made In The Mitten Art Tent featuring local artists, live music, craft beer and wine.  After 6:00pm, head out to the luge lounge for a DJ dance party from Modern Entertainment and live performances from Nordlund and headlining act, Flexadecibel.  This is a free event.  The Michigan DNR Recreation Passport is required for parking at the Winter Sports Complex.  For more information, call 231-744-9629.

Muskegon Center for the Arts: January Workshops
January 21 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Join talented artists of the MCA for the January Workshops at the Red Lotus Gallery!  You will want to register for these classes now as they will fill up quickly.

January 21, 11:00am – 3:00pm – Beginner’s Stained Glass
$45 per student, materials included. MCA Members $35, materials included.
Each participant will create one sun catcher after a short instruction period. All students must be signed up and paid one week prior to the scheduled class date. Minimum of 2 students and maximum of 6 students. Contact Ruth at fragments1@comcast.net to register.

January 28, 2:00pm – 4:00pm – Beginner’s Chainmaille Workshop
$20 per student, materials included. MCA Members $18, materials included.
This workshop will teach students how to create jewelry using the vintage art of chainmaille. In this session, we will focus on the Celtic Pattern of chainmaille. Each student will make a bracelet from the focus pattern that they will be able to keep. Maximum of 10 students. You must be registered 2 days before the scheduled class day. Contact Sabryna at sabrynasnaturalcreations@hotmail.com to register.

The MCA – Red Lotus Gallery Open Mic Night
January 21 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Muskegon Center for the Arts presents Open Mic Night at the Red Lotus Gallery, located in the Century Building, from 7:00pm – 9:00pm.  If you have a love for the stage and can perform an activity such as music, anything theatrical, poetry or readings, you may want to express it here or just show up to watch the show.  There is always something new and unique to enjoy.  This event happens on the third Saturday of every month and is for persons 18 years and older.  This is a free event.  For more information, call (231) 206-0426.

Ask Dr. Universe – How Vaccines Work

Hi Doc Universe, I was wondering how vaccines work because I would really like to make a better way to get a shot that doesn’t hurt so much. Thanks.
–Jacob, 10, Cayman Islands 

Dear Jacob,

The quick, little sting of a vaccine shot can provide us with some big protection from germs that cause disease.

One kind of germ is a virus. Viruses are so small that you can’t see them even with a normal microscope. But if you use a more powerful electron microscope, you’d see each one wears a kind of coat with bits and knobs that stick out in different directions.

“Just like every person’s face looks different, every virus coat looks different,” said my friend Felix Lankester, a veterinarian at Washington State University.

He knows a lot about viruses, especially one that causes a serious disease called rabies. His team helps set up clinics in Africa to deliver life-saving rabies vaccines to animals. He offered to help us investigate how vaccines work.

Vaccines help kick your body’s big defense network, or immune system, into gear. When you get a flu vaccine, for example, you get a little bit of the flu virus. The virus doesn’t hurt you, though.

It’s in a really weak form but your white blood cells still notice something unusual is going on. They react by making Y-shaped parts called antibodies that attach to the virus’s coat.

“The bits that stick out of the coat of the virus are what antibodies recognize,” Lankester said. “It stimulates an immune response.”

The antibodies attack and tag the invading germs so your body knows to recognize and destroy them.

Your immune system doesn’t just fight off the germ, though. It actually memorizes it.

Particular kinds of cells in your body remember the different viruses that enter your system. It helps you build up what we call immunity. That way, if the virus returns, your body knows how to respond. It can fight off the invader before it makes you sick.

Memory cells are part of the reason we only get sick from some viruses once. When you get the chicken pox virus, your cells are able to remember. Then, if you get exposed to chicken pox virus again, your body knows to get rid of it quick and how.

Vaccines have helped eliminate serious diseases like smallpox and polio in many parts of the world. Rabies is a horrible disease that still affects people and our fellow animal friends. There is a vaccine for it, but some people live too far from hospitals and veterinary clinics to get it.

So delivering rabies vaccines to people who need it is really important. Lankester and friends at WSU are working toward a vision of a world without rabies, saving the lives of both people and their pets.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

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

Ottawa County Parks – Parks PSA

Parks PSA: Avoid bittersweet in your holiday wreaths

It’s festive, but it’s a “gift” that keeps growingbittersweet

Wouldn’t it be great if all of the invasive plants we work to eradicate were terribly unattractive? It certainly would make the job easier.

One of the most popular plants for holiday decor is the very lovely, but very invasive, Oriental bittersweet.

Birds will eat the berries, but they can’t fully digest them. When they dispose of the partially digested berries, it spreads the plant to other places.

Eastmanville Bayou is one of our properties where Oriental bittersweet has flourished. It grows rapidly, wrapping itself around trees, girdling them. It is so strong it can choke out and bring down a full grown tree.

The plant is so prolific there, it inspired our Prescribed Browsing Project. Luckily, the goats think it’s delicious.

There is a native bittersweet, but it can be difficult to find and identify. There is only one American bittersweet recorded in our park system, and it has only flowered once in five years.

Below is a photo of Allendale Middle School students attempting to remove bittersweet at Eastmanville Bayou and a guide to identify bittersweet berries.

bittersweet taking over eastmanville bayou


bittersweet

On the left is the invasive plant; on the right is the native, which is uncommon in the area.

Is there hope in fighting invasive plants?

Yes, only because of our volunteers!edrr

Our volunteers and school groups help us fight the worst infestations in the county. Without volunteers, treatment of these larger infestations would be incredibly expensive and time consuming. Sometimes it may feel as though the battle against invasive plants is hopeless, but invasive species are a threat that all individuals can do something about.

What is EDRR?

Early detection, rapid response is a nationally-recognized strategy used to manage and treat invasive plants. Detecting invasive plants early significantly decreases the time and cost of treatment.

We employ a dedicated staff, the Stewardship Crew, who focus on early detection and treatment. One of their most important tools is a GPS unit they use to constantly survey and map-out where invasives pop up. They then turn to volunteers to start pulling.

Success storiesstew crew
Over the summer our Stewardship Crew detected a small patch of buckthorn at Hiawatha Forest. Buckthorn is one of the worst invasives in the state, but through monitoring and removal of small infestations, we have been successful at keeping it in the early detection stage in Ottawa County

Before: Honeysuckle taking over Olive Shores

BEFORE

After: Olives Shores has been managed by volunteers from Harbor Industries and Consumers Energy for three years, nearly all of the honeysuckle has been removed.

AFTER

View a pdf of the newsletter by clicking here

Fruitport Township Board Meeting Agenda – 01/9/17

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

JANUARY 9, 2016

6:30 P.M. WORK SESSION
7:00 P.M. BOARD MEETING

  1. Pledge of Allegiance
  2. Roll call
  3. Approval of board minutes: 12/12/16 & 12/20/16
  4. Approve / amend agenda
  5. Correspondence / reports
  6. Public comments regarding agenda items
  7. Unfinished Business
    A. Discussion regarding participation in the Recreational Authority
  8. New Business
    A. Authorize the sale of Fire Department asset
    B. Approval of Comcast contract for Town Hall
  9. 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: Andrea Anderson, Fruitport Township Hall, 5865 Airline Road, Fruitport, MI 49415 (231) 865-3151

Muskegon County Calendar of Events 01/09/17-01/16/17

Presented by the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Beatrix Potter’s 150th Birthday
January 9 – 22 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
The Muskegon Community College Hendrik Meijer Library is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of world famous English author Beatrix Potter, with a display of her books and a personal collection of 50 miniature Warne animal characters.  An iconic author, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist, Potter is best known for her children’s books featuring animals, such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit.  She was a trailblazer for women of her time.  This informative exhibit can be viewed now through Sunday, January 22.  For more information on the exhibit, contact Darlene DeHudy at (231)-777-0268 or (231) 777-0269 for library hours.

Winds of Ancestry
January 9 – February 23 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
“Winds of Ancestry,” an exhibit of artifacts and videos by artists Rae Goodwin and Casey McGuire, will be on display in the Muskegon Community College Overbrook Art Gallery from January 9 – February 23.  In the summer of 2016, McGuire and Goodwin rode their red rocking horses across this grand nation. They followed the Lewis and Clark Trail to Montana and stopped along the way to memorialize their foremothers and to acknowledge the fleeting winds of ancestry.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. Overbrook Gallery hours are 9:00am – 4:00pm, Monday-Friday with special weekend and evening hours during performances and concerts in the adjacent Overbrook Theater.  For more information, call (231) 777-0324.

Calvin College January Series
January 9 – 13 @ 12:30 pm
January 9 – 13 at 12:30pm, you’re invited to the Beardsley Theater for the Calvin College January Series!  The 30th year of Calvin College’s award-winning lecture series will again be live-streamed into the Beardsley Theater.  The lectures are free and no tickets are required.  Be sure to bring your lunch!

Monday, January 9 – Reshma Saujani “Closing the Gender Gap in Technology”
Reshma Saujani is the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, a national non-profit organization working to close the gender gap in technology and prepare young women for jobs of the future.  In her groundbreaking book, Women Who Don’t Wait in Line, Saujani advocates for a new model of female leadership focused on embracing risk and failure, promoting mentorship and sponsorship and boldly charting your own course – personally and professionally. Saujani has worked both in the private sector as an attorney and in public service as the deputy public advocate of New York City, most recently running a spirited campaign for public advocate on a platform of creating educational and economic opportunities for women and girls, immigrants and those who have been sidelined in the political process. A true political entrepreneur, Saujani has been fearless in her efforts to disrupt both politics and technology to create positive change. Saujani is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and Yale Law School. She was named to CNBC’s Next List; Crain’s 40 Under 40; FORTUNE’s 40 Under 40; Forbes’ Most Powerful Women Changing the World; Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People; and a number of other honors.

Tuesday, January 10 – Abraham Nussbaum “Tinkering in Today’s Healthcare Factories: Pursuing the Renewal of Medicine”
Abraham Nussbaum is a physician and writer. His memoir, The Finest Traditions of My Calling: One Physician’s Search for the Renewal of Medicine, explores how healthcare reform is transforming the practice of medicine, turning physicians into technicians, and hospitals into factories.  Dr. Nussbaum practices at Denver Health, an academic safety-net hospital in downtown Denver. He previously directed its adult inpatient psychiatry units, which care for adults throughout Colorado experiencing mental health crises. He currently serves as Chief Education Officer, providing strategic vision, daily direction, and administrative oversight for Denver Health’s clinical education programs. Dr. Nussbaum grew up in Colorado, studied literature and religion at Swarthmore, and completed medical school and psychiatry residency at the University of North Carolina. In his practice, he strives to inhabit the roles described in his book, asking how he and his fellow practitioners can restore patients to health through person-centered care.

 Wednesday, January 11   “The Locust Effect: Why the End of Poverty Requires the End of Violence”
Gary Haugen is CEO and founder of International Justice Mission. Before founding IJM in 1997, Gary was a human rights attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, where he focused on crimes of police misconduct.  In 1994, he served as the Director of the United Nations’ investigation in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. In this role, he led an international team of lawyers, criminal prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and forensics experts to gather evidence that would eventually be used to bring the perpetrators of the genocide to justice. Gary received a B.A. in Social Studies from Harvard University, and a J.D. from the University of Chicago.  Gary has been recognized by the U.S. State Department as a Trafficking in Persons “Hero” – the highest honor given by the U.S. government for anti-slavery leadership. His work to protect the poor from violence has been featured by Foreign Affairs, The New York Times, the New Yorker, The Times of India, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, the Guardian and National Public Radio, among many other outlets.  He is the author of several books, including Good News About Injustice; Just Courage; and, most recently, The Locust Effect: Why the End of Poverty Requires the End of Violence.

Thursday, January 12 – Justin Skeesuck & Patrick Gray “I’ll Push You: A Story of Radical Friendship, Overcoming Challenges and the Power of Community”
In the spring of 2012, Justin Skeesuck asked his best friend of nearly 40 years, Patrick Gray, to tackle the epic 500-mile pilgrimage across northern Spain called the Camino de Santiago. The challenge? Justin lives life in a wheelchair. When asked, Patrick’s response was simple and direct, he said, “I’ll push you.” Two years later, they started their journey and had absolutely no idea how they would make the 500 miles from France to the Cathedral in Santiago; over several mountain ranges like the Pyrenees, through rivers, and across the vast “desert of Spain” called the Meseta… they just knew they had to get there. Justin and Patrick had to rely on the help and strength of friends, acquaintances and even complete strangers in order to navigate the many challenges they faced on their 34-day journey. Since returning from Spain, they have used their heartfelt storytelling to share the comical details of their journey… the joys, the struggles, the beautiful relationships, and the lessons they learned in faith, hope, love and friendship. Their goal in sharing their story is that others will walk away recognizing that each life is not defined by its limitations, but is defined by what is accomplished in spite of those limitations.

Friday January 13 – Todd Huizinga “The EU and Global Governance”
Todd Huizinga is a senior research fellow at the Paul B. Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics at Calvin College.  As a U.S. diplomat from 1992-2012, Huizinga served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Luxembourg, political counselor at the U.S. mission to the European Union in Brussels, consul for political and economic affairs at the U.S. consulates in Hamburg and Munich, and consul for public affairs at the U.S. consulate in Monterrey, Mexico.  He has also served in Dublin, Frankfurt, and Costa Rica, as well as on the European Union Desk at the State Department in Washington, D.C.  Todd is the co-founder of the Transatlantic Christian Council, a public policy network dedicated to strengthening the transatlantic alliance.  From 2014-2016 he was director of International Outreach for the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty.  He is the author of The New Totalitarian Temptation: Global Governance and the Crisis of Democracy in Europe. He holds a B.A. in Music and German from Calvin College and an M.A. in German Language and Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He speaks German, Dutch, Spanish and French.

For more information, call 231-727-8001.

Ruth and Max Bloomquist
January 9 @ 6:00 pm – 7:45 pm
Monday, January 9 at 6:00pm, join Max and Ruth, Muskegon’s own folk singers, for an evening of wonderful music at Hackley Public Library.  Ruth and Max Bloomquist have been making music together since they met in 1975 and discovered their shared love not only for each other, but for music and songs made with acoustic instruments and featuring lyrics from the heart.  Ruth and Max immersed themselves in folk, bluegrass, country, singer songwriters, and other acoustic music to create a sound and style all their own.  Learn more at www.ruthbloomquist.com.

Incoming!
Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 7:00 pm – 7:35 pm
“Incoming!” is a NEW SHOW at the Carr-Fles Planetarium, where you can zoom past rocky asteroids and icy comets, all the way to Pluto, and discover how they have changed the course of life on Earth.  This free program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00pm, January 10-March 2 and March 14-30 (no shows March 7 & 9 for college spring break).  Doors open by 6:45pm and no reservations are needed.  The planetarium is in room 135 of Muskegon Community College.  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.

Recital: Dr. David Riemer
January 11 @ 7:00 pm
Come to the Book Nook & Java Shop for a recital with Dr. David Riemer on violin and Hyesook Kim on piano, 7:00pm, Wednesday, January 11.

David Reimer is an associate professor of music at Calvin College, teaching violin and directing the string program.  He holds his DMA from the Ohio State University as well as MM and BM degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Bernard Goldschmidt.  Professor Reimer has an extensive performing knowledge of orchestral literature acquired during 25 years of professional orchestra experience.  He has performed regionally with the Kalamazoo Symphony, Traverse Symphony, West Michigan Symphony and Grand Rapids Symphony.  In 2013, he was named the Concertmaster of the Baroque on Beaver Island Festival Orchestra and performed in numerous solo and chamber music capacities.  Professor Reimer released his first CD titled Meditatio in 2010. or more information, call (231) 894-5333.

Open Public Tours at the Muskegon Museum of Art
January 12 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Enjoy free docent-led guided tours at the Muskegon Museum of Art on Thursdays, December 1 – February 16 from 5:00-7:00pm!  www.muskegonartmuseum.org

The Cranach Portraits
January 12 @ 5:30 pm
On Thursday, January 12, Muskegon Museum of Art Senior Curator Art Martin will reveal newly discovered information about two historical portraits in the MMA’s collection painted by Lucas Cranach the Elder, a 16th Century German artist in 1537.  The paintings are of Martin Luther, a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation, and Katherine von Bora, his wife.  The Museum acquired the artworks in 1939.

The paintings were brought to conservator Barry Bauman in 2013 for restoration, who uncovered previously unseen inscriptions in the artworks.  The mystery of the meaning of the inscriptions was ultimately solved at a small church in Germany.  Art Martin will explain the meaning of the inscriptions in the Cranach portraits, the era during which they were painted, and details about the intertwining lives of the artist and his subjects at the special lecture on January 12.  The evening will start with a reception and refreshments at 5:30 pm, which will be followed by the lecture at 7:00 pm.  The event is free and open to the public.

This program complements the exhibition Expressions of Faith, showing now at the MMA.  For more information, call 231-720-2570.

Muskegon Risers Home Game
January 13 – January 14
Arena soccer action has returned to the Lakeshore! Get your season tickets for the Muskegon Risers upcoming 2017 Premier Arena Soccer League season.  Your package includes the NEW Silver & Black MKG Lakeshore Scarf!  Seating is General Admission OR select the Port City Supporters (PCS) Party Deck.  The PCS Party Deck is just as it sounds, so be prepared to hang with a more rowdy crowd.  There will be 5 home games played at the L.C. Walker Arena January 13 & 14, February 3 and March 3 & 4.  This Friday, they play the Detroit Qaza Flo. Saturday, it’s the Youngstown Nighthawks. For more information, visit www.muskegonrisers.com.

Alley Door Club: The Vincent Hayes Project
January 13 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Friday, January 13, come the Alley Door Club for live blues, funk and soul from The Vincent Hayes Project!  Big Lake Brewing is the evening’s craft brew!  Doors open at 6:00pm for Happy Hour ($1 off all drinks) and the bands play from 7:00 – 10:00pm.  The Alley Door Club is located in The Ballroom at the Frauenthal Center (Hilt Building, 3rd floor).  Tickets may be purchased at the Box Office for $8 in advance or purchased at the door, a cash bar is available, valid I.D. required. Tables may be reserved for $55.00 for a 4-top (includes 4 admission tickets) / $80.00 for an 8-top (includes 8 admission tickets).  There is a limit of 2 4-tops and 2 8-tops reserved for each performance, sold on a first come basis.  For more information, call 231-727-8001.

West Michigan Symphony Presents: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
January 13 @ 7:30 pm
Friday, January 13 at 7:30pm, come to the Frauenthal Theater as the West Michigan Symphony Presents “Vivaldi’s Four Seasons” with conductor Scott Speck.  Violinist Timothy Fain is featured on a surprising new adaptation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons that has been reworked and reimagined for today’s audiences by composer Max Richter. Considered by many as his greatest symphonic work, Mozart’s Symphony 41 captures the composer’s joy and delight in music.

Single ticket prices are $20-$51.  Student tickets are $7.  Call Rita at 231-726-3231 x223 for tickets and more information.

2017 Bridal Expo
January 14 @ 12:00 pm
January 14, at 12:00pm, come to the Frauenthal Center for Muskegon Bridal Association’s 2017 Bridal Expo!  Whether you are recently engaged or have been in the planning process a while, the Muskegon Bridal Expo is a great way to meet many of the area’s premier wedding service providers.  There’ll be over 45 local businesses filling the entire facility to help you plan your wedding.  This free expo is from 12:00-3:00pm, immediately followed by the Bridal Fashion Show.   For more information, call  231-722-9750.

10th Annual Hot Rod Harley-Davidson Chili Cook Off
January 14 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The 10th Annual Hot Rod Harley-Davidson Chili Cook Off is happening January 14 from 12:00pm -2:00pm!  Join The Boars Belly, Hennessy’s Pub, Texas Roadhouse and Canary Inn as they compete for the title of Chili Champion.  Get free samples and vote for your favorite (while supplies last.)  Get a bowl of your favorite for a donation to Pioneer Trails Camp.  Plus, pick your pepper for a sizzling hot deal like 15% – 25% off officially licensed product.  Discount will be drawn at time of purchase and applies to regular priced items.  Cannot be combined with any other offers.  Motorcycles, labor and select special orders are excluded.  For more information, call 231-722-0000.

Muskegon Center for the Arts: January Workshops
January 14 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Join talented artists of the MCA for the January Workshops at the Red Lotus Gallery!  You will want to register for these classes now as they will fill up quickly.

January 14, 2:00pm-4:00pm – Feathered Earrings
$10 per student, materials included. MCA Members $8, materials included.
This workshop will tach students how to design and create a pair of earrings using real feathers. Students will be able to keep their very own unique creation. Maximum of 10 students. You must be registered 2 days before the scheduled class day. Contact Sabryna at sabrynasnaturalcreations@hotmail.com to register.

January 21, 11:00am – 3:00pm – Beginner’s Stained Glass
$45 per student, materials included. MCA Members $35, materials included.
Each participant will create one sun catcher after a short instruction period. All students must be signed up and paid one week prior to the scheduled class date. Minimum of 2 students and maximum of 6 students. Contact Ruth at fragments1@comcast.net to register.

January 28, 2:00pm – 4:00pm – Beginner’s Chainmaille Workshop
$20 per student, materials included. MCA Members $18, materials included.
This workshop will teach students how to create jewelry using the vintage art of chainmaille. In this session, we will focus on the Celtic Pattern of chainmaille. Each student will make a bracelet from the focus pattern that they will be able to keep. Maximum of 10 students. You must be registered 2 days before the scheduled class day. Contact Sabryna at sabrynasnaturalcreations@hotmail.com to register.

Free Preconcert Talk with Randy Woolf @The Block
January 14 @ 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm
Saturday, January 14, enjoy a free program with special guest, filmmaker Randy Woolf, right before the Tim Fain concert @ The Block.  The topic will be the making of the film “Beirut is a House of Many Rooms,” which will be part of the multimedia presentation at the concert.  Doors and cash bar open at 5:30pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door for the 7:30pm concert featuring violinist Tim Fain.  www.theblockwestmichigan.org

Performances @The Block: Tim Fain
January 14 @ 7:30 pm
Tickets: $25-$35, $10 Student tickets with ID

With his adventuresome spirit and vase musical gifts, violinist Tim Fain has emerged as a mesmerizing presence on the music scene.  After his Friday evening performance with the West Michigan Symphony, Fain presents a concert for a solo violin that includes a special selection of classical works along with the multimedia experience “Beirut is a House of Many Rooms” created by composer Randall Woolf and filmmakers Mary Harron and John C. Walsh, about the musical culture in Beirut, Lebanon.  The concert happens Saturday, January 14 at 7:30pm.

Call Rita at 231-726-3231 x223 for tickets and more information. Doors and bar open at 6:45pm, concert begins at 7:30pm.

Martin Luther King Jr. Community Day
January 16 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Muskegon Museum of Art will be open for Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, January 16 from 11:00am-5:00pm with free admission for all!  www.muskegonartmuseum.org

 

Ask Dr. Universe – Color of Stars

What color are our stars?
-Mira, 8, Ontario 

Dear Mira,

Just the other night, I grabbed my binoculars and looked up to the starry sky. At first the stars looked white, but when I looked closer I noticed some appeared more blue and red.

I was curious to find out exactly what color they were, so I visited my friend George Newman. He’s a physics and astronomy instructor at Washington State University.

He said that a star mostly emits the kinds of light that our eyes see as red or blue.

“The thing that determines which color they give off most is their temperature,” he said.

You may have seen the connection between color and temperature if you’ve ever made toast. The little wires inside the toaster glow red and you can feel the heat coming off them.

“We think of red as hot, but blue is actually hotter,” Newman adds.

Look closely at a flame and you’ll notice it’s made up of different colors, too. The bluish part is hotter than the reddish-orange part of the flame. It’s similar with stars.

The hottest stars are bluer. The cooler ones are redder. Of course, the cooler ones are still super hot.

And while stars may be hot at their surface, they are even hotter in their middles. Stars burn because of nuclear reactions that are continuously happening at their core. The reactions create a lot of heat and pressure.

Stars actually maintain their heat for most of their lives. But sometimes their temperatures change, as do their colors.

Young clusters of stars in the galaxy contain some of the most massive stars, which are super bright and very blue.

“There are plenty of these big hot blue stars being born in the galaxy and universe, but they burn out a lot faster, so there are a lot less of them around,” Newman said.

Stars gradually grow brighter over most of their lives. Then most puff up and cool off right near the end. They become even brighter, but redder. Older clusters will contain more stars like red giants.

One blue supergiant in our galaxy is called Rigel. While Rigel is a blue star now, it will likely puff up and get redder like another star in our galaxy, Betelgeuse.

Betelgeuse is an old, red giant. It will eventually explode in an event we call a nova, and probably become a black hole.

In fact, our sun will also become a red giant one day, too. But probably not for 5 billion years or so. The life of a star is really long and it can involve lots of different changes. The next time you look up to the night sky, remember that there’s more there than at first meets the eye.

Sincerely,
Dr. Universe

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

Ottawa County Parks – Winter 2016-2017 Announcements

Announcements

Calling all artists & park lovers!

Ottawa County Parks is having a t-shirt design contest! Up to five designs from eligible entries will be chosen to print on shirts and sold at the Nature Education Center. One Grand Prize will be awarded. Read the official rules online: miOttawa.org/Parks


Pigeon River Public Hearing

Slow-no wake speed zones are established by local governments working through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). Port Sheldon Township passed a resolution requesting a slow-no wake speed zone on the Pigeon River east of Lakeshore Drive and in the channel to Lake Michigan. As part of their investigation, MDNR has scheduled a meeting to hear public comment on the proposal for December 15 at 7:00 pm at the Port Sheldon Township Office: 16201 Port Sheldon St, West Olive, 49460. Following their investigation, MDNR will make a determination as to whether a slow-no wake speed zone is warranted.


We are hiring!

Have you ever considered working for Ottawa County Parks? We are currently searching for candidates interested in working outside over the summer. The opportunities would be perfect for students (18+) who are home on break, retirees who want to spend more time outside, or anyone interested in the parks and looking to make some extra money during the summer months.

The Parks Department will be hiring over 60 seasonal employees for the 2017 season. There are many lakeshore jobs available, but opportunities exist at parks throughout the County. Because of the large number of seasonal hires, the Parks Department will be hosting a job fair on:

Tuesday, January 3 from 9 am-12 pm at the Nature Education Center at Hemlock Crossing County Park. 

Interested candidates can expect immediate interviews with Parks Management. There is a potential for on-the-spot hires. Computers will be available for on-site online application, but candidates may review available positions and apply online before the job fair event. They will be posted online by Monday, December 12: https://www.miottawa.org/HRApp/Emp.jsp.

We encourage anyone who may not be able to attend, such as a high school senior who would be in school that day, to apply online in December.

View a pdf of the newsletter by clicking here

Muskegon County Calendar of Events 01/03/17 – 01/09/17

Presented by the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Beatrix Potter’s 150th Birthday
January 3 – 22 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
The Muskegon Community College Hendrik Meijer Library is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of world famous English author Beatrix Potter, with a display of her books and a personal collection of 50 miniature Warne animal characters.  An iconic author, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist, Potter is best known for her children’s books featuring animals, such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit.  She was a trailblazer for women of her time.  This informative exhibit can be viewed now through Sunday, January 22.  For more information on the exhibit, contact Darlene DeHudy at (231)-777-0268 or (231) 777-0269 for library hours.

White Lake Classical Series
January 3 @ 7:00 pm
Tuesday, January 3 at 7:00pm, come to the Book Nook & Java Shop for the White Lake Classical Series featuring guitarist, Jeremy Verwys.

Jeremy is a local Grand Rapids area musician and teacher.  Currently, he is working towards a graduate degree in performance as well as music therapy at Illinois State University where he studies guitar with Dr. Angelo Favis. He received his Bachelors of Music in performance from Grand Valley State University, studying with Carlos De la Barrera and an Associates degree from Grand Rapids Community College with instructors Andrew Bergeron and Brian Morris.  He has performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony, as well as with the dance faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp where he was commissioned in 2015 to compose and perform original works.  The cover is $5.  Come early for dinner at 6:15pm to enjoy Three-Meat Meatloaf, Horseradish Smashed Redskins, Veggies, Glass of House Wine and Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie for $17.  RSVP to The Book Nook & Java Shop by calling (231) 894-5333.

Calvin College January Series
January 4 @ 12:30 pm – January 6 @ 12:30 pm
January 4 – 6 at 12:30pm, you’re invited to the Beardsley Theater for the Calvin College January Series!  The 30th year of Calvin College’s award-winning lecture series will again be live-streamed into the Beardsley Theater.  The lectures are free and no tickets are required.  Be sure to bring your lunch!

Wednesday, January 4 – Karin Maag “500 Years Later: Why the Reformation Still Matters”
Karin Maag is the director of the H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies at Calvin College, one of the world’s foremost collections of works on or by John Calvin. She is also a member of Calvin’s History department, having begun her work at Calvin in 1997. She obtained her PhD from the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland and is the author, editor, or translator of nine books, including Seminary or University? The Genevan Academy and Reformed Higher Education, 1560-1620; Worship in Medieval and Early Modern Europe: Change and Continuity (co-edited with John Witvliet); and most recently, Lifting Hearts to the Lord: Worship with John Calvin in Sixteenth-Century Geneva. She has obtained five major grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities to direct summer seminars and institutes at Calvin College. The most recent of these, “Teaching the Reformation after 500 Years” brought twenty-five faculty and graduate students from across the US to Calvin College for an intensive three-week institute in July 2016.

Thursday, January 5 – Matthew Desmond “Poverty and Profit in the American City”
Matthew Desmond is John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Science at Harvard University and the co-founder of the Justice and Poverty Project. His writing on poverty in America has appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker and Chicago Tribune.  In 2015, Desmond was awarded a MacArthur “Genius” grant.  His newly released book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, draws on years of embedded fieldwork and painstakingly gathered data. The reality in our country is that most poor renting families spend more than half of their income on housing, and eviction has become ordinary, especially for single mothers.  In his book, Desmond provides a ground-level view of one of the most urgent issues facing America today.  Its unforgettable scenes of hope and loss remind us of the centrality of home, without which nothing else is possible.

Friday, January 6 – Mark Charles “Race, Trauma and the Doctrine of Discovery”
Mark Charles is a speaker, writer, and consultant who works on issues of race, culture, and faith. He works through the ministry 5 Small Loaves and is a program affiliate with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship in the area of worship and culture. Mark also works with numerous tribes and indigenous communities in the United States and around the world on how best to hold onto indigenous cultures, languages, world views and educational models while living in highly Western and assimilated environments. His desire is to build “cross-cultural relationships of forgiveness, repentance, love and hope that result in walking in beauty with one another and God.” He regularly writes on his blog Reflections from the Hogan.  He is the son of a Dutch American woman and a Navajo man.

For more information, call 231-727-8001.

Open Public Tours at the Muskegon Museum of Art
January 5 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Enjoy free docent-led guided tours at the Muskegon Museum of Art on Thursdays, December 1 – February 16 from 5:00-7:00pm!  www.muskegonartmuseum.org

Featured Artist: Gale Howarth
January 5 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
For “Many Miles”, the Nuveen Center’s featured artist has traveled and photographed countless unique and beautiful moments.  Her name is Gale Howarth and she has captured things that can only be seen by someone willing to leave the highways behind and let the backroads of America show what they truly have to offer. Come see our country from Gale’s perspective, in the Nuveen Center’s 2017 Emerging Artist exhibit.  From January 3 – February 25, Gale’s work will be featured in the Byam-Terryberry Exhibit Room for all to come and enjoy!  If you’d like to meet the artist herself and hear about her experiences while capturing these images, please join them for the official public reception on Thursday, January 5 from 5:00 to 7:00pm.

Nuveen Center hours are 10:00am to 5:00pm, Tuesday through Saturday.  For more information, call 231-893-2524 or find them online at artswhitelake.org as well as on Facebook.

First Friday Fan Fun-Raiser
January 6 @ 7:00 pm
The first Friday of the month, the Book Nook & Java Shop features a celebrity bartender and encourages their fans to show up and raise money.  Tips and 20% of all proceeds will benefit the charity of their choice.  January 6 at 7:00pm, the celebrity bartender will be Amy VanLoon of the White Lake Chamber of Commerce and the charity will be the White Lake Community Fund of the Community Foundation of Muskegon County.  There’ll be live music from Legal Rehab and the dinner special will be King Ranch Casserole & Side Salad for only $7.95.  The drink special will be mulled wine.  For more information, call 231-894-5333.

Muskegon Lumberjacks Home Game
January 6 @ 7:15 pm
Friday, January 6 at 7:15pm, come to the L.C. Walker Arena as the Muskegon Lumberjacks take on the Youngtown Phantoms!  The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud members of the United States Hockey League, the nations only Tier I junior hockey league and the leading producer of NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States. The Lumberjacks’organization prides itself on developing not just premier hockey talent, but also exceptional young men outside the arena of sports. For more information, visit www.muskegonlumberjacks.com.

Muskegon Center for the Arts: January Workshops
January 7, 14, 21 & 28 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Join talented artists of the MCA for the January Workshops at the Red Lotus Gallery!  You will want to register for these classes now as they will fill up quickly.

January 7, 2:00pm-4:00pm – Pattern Beading Necklaces
$23 per student, materials included. MCA Members $20, materials included.
This workshop is calibrated to help students of previous pattern beading workshops move onto the next stage of jewelry design, necklaces. Students will learn to design and make their own necklace, which they will be able to keep. Maximum of 10 students. You must be registered 2 days before the scheduled class day. Contact Sabryna at sabrynasnaturalcreations@hotmail.com to register.

January 14, 2:00pm-4:00pm – Feathered Earrings
$10 per student, materials included. MCA Members $8, materials included.
This workshop will tach students how to design and create a pair of earrings using real feathers. Students will be able to keep their very own unique creation. Maximum of 10 students. You must be registered 2 days before the scheduled class day. Contact Sabryna at sabrynasnaturalcreations@hotmail.com to register.

January 21, 11:00am – 3:00pm – Beginner’s Stained Glass
$45 per student, materials included. MCA Members $35, materials included.
Each participant will create one sun catcher after a short instruction period. All students must be signed up and paid one week prior to the scheduled class date. Minimum of 2 students and maximum of 6 students. Contact Ruth at fragments1@comcast.net to register.

January 28, 2:00pm – 4:00pm – Beginner’s Chainmaille Workshop
$20 per student, materials included. MCA Members $18, materials included.
This workshop will teach students how to create jewelry using the vintage art of chainmaille. In this session, we will focus on the Celtic Pattern of chainmaille. Each student will make a bracelet from the focus pattern that they will be able to keep. Maximum of 10 students. You must be registered 2 days before the scheduled class day. Contact Sabryna at sabrynasnaturalcreations@hotmail.com to register.

Muskegon Lumberjacks Home Game
January 7 @ 7:15 pm
Saturday, January 7 at 7:15pm, come to the L.C. Walker Arena as the Muskegon Lumberjacks take on the Chicago Steel!  The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud members of the United States Hockey League, the nations only Tier I junior hockey league and the leading producer of NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States. The Lumberjacks’organization prides itself on developing not just premier hockey talent, but also exceptional young men outside the arena of sports. For more information, visit www.muskegonlumberjacks.com.

Howling Harbor! Muskegon Artists’ Market
January 8 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
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.

Howl n’ Blues Concert Series: Rochelle & the Spoilers
January 8 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
The 5th annual Howl n’ Blues Concert Series for this winter is titled “HOT BLUES”!  January 8, it’s Rochelle & the Spoilers!  Concerts take place at the Watermark 920 the second Sunday of each month from 2:00-5:00pm to raise awareness and donations for the PoundBuddies animal shelter.  There’ll be a cash bar, food, 50/50 raffles, dancing, and good times…guaranteed!  Tickets are only $15 and include a raffle ticket.  For more information find “Howl n’ Blues” on Facebook.

West Michigan Lake Hawks Basketball Game
January 8 @ 6:00 pm
Back to Back North Central Division Champions! Catch their home games at Reeths-Puffer High School located north of Muskegon at 1545 N. Roberts Rd. January 8, they play the Kalamazoo Cobras at 6:00pm. All tickets are just $8 each. Ages four and under are FREE! Purchase Lake Hawks tickets at the Frauenthal Center or at the door. www.lakehawksbasketball.com

Winds of Ancestry
January 9 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
“Winds of Ancestry,” an exhibit of artifacts and videos by artists Rae Goodwin and Casey McGuire, will be on display in the Muskegon Community College Overbrook Art Gallery from January 9 – February 23.  In the summer of 2016, McGuire and Goodwin rode their red rocking horses across this grand nation. They followed the Lewis and Clark Trail to Montana and stopped along the way to memorialize their foremothers and to acknowledge the fleeting winds of ancestry.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. Overbrook Gallery hours are 9:00am – 4:00pm, Monday-Friday with special weekend and evening hours during performances and concerts in the adjacent Overbrook Theater.  For more information, call (231) 777-0324.

Ruth and Max Bloomquist
January 9 @ 6:00 pm – 7:45 pm
Monday, January 9 at 6:00pm, join Max and Ruth, Muskegon’s own folk singers, for an evening of wonderful music at Hackley Public Library.  Ruth and Max Bloomquist have been making music together since they met in 1975 and discovered their shared love not only for each other, but for music and songs made with acoustic instruments and featuring lyrics from the heart.  Ruth and Max immersed themselves in folk, bluegrass, country, singer songwriters, and other acoustic music to create a sound and style all their own.  Learn more at www.ruthbloomquist.com.

 

Ottawa County Parks – Grand River Greenway Update

Park News

Grand River Greenway Update

Completion of the Robinson Township trail, a key component to the Grand River Greenway Explorers Trail, is expected this spring. The trail is a 3.9-mile paved path along the north side of North Cedar Drive, connecting Connor Bayou to Riverside Park. The path serves as the southern connection to the new M-231 bridge non-motorized trail crossing.

Grand River Greenway

Ottawa County Parks is seeking a $1.24 million grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) to help fund the $1.85 million project. The grant proposal would potentially include funds for a parking area near the access point for the M-231 Grand River Bridge trail. The local match for the TAP grant would be provided through a $50,000 contribution by Robinson Township as well as $560,000 in funding from the Parks millage.

Grand River Explorers Trail

The Robinson Township trail will be one of the first completed segments of the Grand River Explorers Trail, an endeavor we anticipate completing in 2021. The trail will be 30 miles long and will connect Grand Haven to Grand Rapids, and a dozen parks along the way!

We are looking for community members who are interested in this project to be part of an outreach committee. The committee would speak on behalf of the trail at regional non-motorized trail meetings and other public events, as well as help guide us in our efforts. If you have interest in regional trails and the Grand River Greenway and would like to be part of this committee, please contact us: ocparks@miOttawa.org.

Check out the most recent news about the Explorers Trail!

View a pdf of the newsletter by clicking here

Abortions Down 5% Nationally In Latest CDC Report

Encouraging news came the day after Thanksgiving: the Centers for Disease Control released their annual report on abortion numbers, showing a 5% decrease.

Before getting into the details, it’s important to note that three states refuse to collect and report abortion statistics: California, Maryland, and New Hampshire. While the overall abortion numbers are therefore much higher than reported by the CDC, we can see clearly the trends of the 47 states showing abortions continue to decline.

A total of 664,435 abortions were reported to the CDC in 2013. The reported abortion rate was 12.5 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years. The reported abortion ratio was 200 abortions per 1,000 live births. All three measures were 5% decreases from 2012, so there were fewer abortions and a higher percentage of women chose life for their children.

The latest national estimate by the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute was 1,085,800 abortions in 2011. Both the Guttmacher and CDC numbers continue to show a long-term decline in abortion.

In the report there are 40 reporting areas that collected information on how old the child is at the time he or she is aborted. The report showed 5,770 late-term abortions after 20 weeks, or 1.3% of all abortions. A good estimate for the entire nation is about 10,000 abortions every year given the roughly 1 million total abortions. While made out to be an irrelevant amount, 10,000 late-term abortions is a lot; it’s roughly the same amount of murders using firearms nationally.

Abortion ratios dropped in every racial and ethnic category in 2013, but the abortion ratio is much higher in the Black community and it’s not dropping as quickly as it is in other groups. The 2013 abortion ratio per 1,000 live births was 121 for non-Hispanic White women, 178 for Hispanic women of any race and 420 for non-Hispanic Black women.

Contrary to popular thought, abortion is not a one-time occurrence for most women. Of women who had abortions in 2013, 45% were having their second abortion or more. If there are 1 million abortions in the U.S., then the statistics from the report indicate that 90,000 women every year are having at least the fourth abortion in their lifetime.

What should our conclusion be about this news? We should celebrate that more lives were saved, but we must recognize that much more prolife effort is still needed!


Chris Gast
Director of Communication/Education
www.RTL.org
Twitter | Facebook | Blog | YouTube