CADENCE

The Latest News, Updates and Opinions

Delayed two weeks earlier, a new appointment to the Ada Township Planning Commission is now official.

Continue reading "Ada trustee questions 'inaction' of planners" »

Some East Grand Rapids Wealthy Elementary students are going to the dogs in an effort to learn important character traits.

Cooperation, loyalty, responsibility, commitment, tolerance, preservation, courage, and teamwork are among the lessons taught by studying the Iditarod.

Continue reading "EGR student study revolves around Alaska's Iditarod" »

Third-grade students at Forest Hills Thornapple Elementary School got a double thrill last week when they not only welcomed a distinguished visitor from Italy, but also got to "meet" their pen pals from that country.

Visiting the class from Perugia, Italy, a sister city to Grand Rapids, was its mayor, and during the visit, students, who have been corresponding since last year with Italian students of the same age, were treated to a Webcast videoconference.

Continue reading "Mayors of GR, Italian sister city meet at Thornapple" »

There are 50 years of stories. There were only stories that first year, but both are touching and unforgettable and stories like them have followed ever since.

Fifty years ago, "a post high church school class and youth group of Cascade Christian Church in Grand Rapids became Santa Claus to two financially impoverished families," states a 1978 newspaper article. What "happened that Christmas Eve rallied the congregation, sister churches, and the community into a far reaching benevolence program, now known as Operation Santa Claus."

Continue reading "Operation Santa Claus marks 50 years of seasonal giving" »

West Michigan Youth Ballet Company will present "Dancing Thru The Holidays," featuring three separate performances on Saturday Dec. 13, at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center.

While the holiday performance is sure to be a crowd pleaser, WMYB, a nonprofit organization based in Ada, is doing more than dancing this holiday season. The group has teamed with Toys for Tots and Kids Food Basket in an effort to make their seasonal performance mean more than just entertainment.

Continue reading "West Michigan Youth Ballet offers three ballets at holiday performance" »

Good teachers are fairly common. Excellent teachers can be a little harder to find. The National Heritage Academies (NHA) found one at Chandler Woods Charter Academy, however, in the form of eighth-grade instructor Jerry Anderson.

Continue reading "Chandler Woods teacher 'Excellence in Teaching' finalist" »

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park's 14th annual "Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around The World" is open for the season. Started in 1995 as an effort to share how Christmas is celebrated around the world, Meijer Gardens embraced decorations, music and food of more than 40 countries and cultures to create an exhibit which offers visitors unique views of the holiday.

Continue reading "Meijer Gardens hosts holiday traditions around the world" »

Decorating the museum tree in Cascade Township for the first time in over a decade and painstakingly putting up a 20-foot reusable evergreen in East Grand Rapids' Regatta Plaza are signs that local communities are not following a national trend to cut back on publicly funded holiday cheer. Continue reading "GRINCH-FREE HOLIDAY: Despite tough times, local communities not cutting back on seasonal civic cheer" »

"This is our gift to the community."

These words from Pastor Raymond Gaylord began the traditional Thanksgiving feast offered at what may be the most recognizable church in Cascade Township. Visitors entering the village area from any direction will see the white steeple of the Cascade Christian Church established in 1864 and built in 1880.

Continue reading "Church reaches community with traditional feast" »

Students of the East Grand Rapids dance studio, the Moving Company, have selected World AIDS Day as their benefit of choice for 2008 and are planning a presentation to raise awareness about the global epidemic.

Continue reading "EGR's the Moving Company dances for World AIDS Day" »

Michael Julien, Cascade Township supervisor for nearly two decades, fought back emotion as he called for a motion to adjourn the board for his last time.

"It is a testament to the strength of this community when someone with 20 years' experience steps down and a more experienced board emerges," he said last week, after noting that incoming trustee Jack Lewis "has more experience than I in serving this community."

Continue reading "Sixteen-year supervisor reflects on Cascade Township business" »

After nearly 30 years of service to Kent County, Gerald R. Ford International Airport Police Chief David Stricklen is hanging up his holster.
Stricklen, 53, recently retired after serving as the airport's chief of police for 21 years. He started with the county as an airport police officer, then worked his way up to the top job.

Continue reading "Retiring airport police chief 'will definitely be missed'" »

The Cascade Township Board recently approved a tax abatement for Davidson Plyforms, 5505 33rd St.
The company, established locally in 1927 and known for curved plywood for furniture, expects to add equipment in the amount of $4,131,900. The abatement application says the company not only plans to retain its current 165 employees but will create an additional 27 positions.

Continue reading "Tax break granted as local company plans expansion" »

Cascade Township Treasurer Marjorie Dood, with only six months on the job, has reworked the township investment policy, which was last updated 10 years ago. "Ideally it should be reviewed every 24 months," said Dood.

Continue reading "Cascade updates township investment policy manual" »

EAST GRAND RAPIDS -- Even for what appears to be a push-button football team, a playoff run can be a grind. With that in mind, the quick dispatching of opponents has an element of self-preservation for the East Grand Rapids Pioneers.

East was on the fast track to its third straight semifinal berth on Saturday as its starters were again lifted early in a 49-14 destruction of Bangor John Glenn at Memorial Field.

Continue reading "East GR hammers John Glenn to capture regional championship" »

ADA -- There is every indication that Ellen Mishler, a senior at Forest Hills Central, is never too far from water.

She swims and plays water polo for the Rangers. Every summer she spends several weeks at a camp in Canada where she and her fellow campers do a great deal of canoeing.

Continue reading "Ellen Mishler a standout in the water sports for FHC" »

With conference alignments shaking up area sports, this boys tennis season saw the rise of the ultra-competitive O-K White. Playing host to two top-five state teams in East Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Christian, the White also spawned three No. 1 singles state finalists, including Mr. Tennis hopeful  Michael Sukenik of East Grand Rapids, Northview's Aaron Hendrick, and Greenville's Bryant Dudzik. The O-K White also crowned six state-flight winners.

The search for the best male tennis players of 2008 reached epic proportions. While all are deserving, only a slim few of talented racketeers can make the cut. With that said, we give you the Advance All-Area Boys Tennis team:
 

Continue reading "O-K White stars shine on Advance All-Area Boys Tennis Team" »

It was happenstance both times. At least that is how East Grand Rapids resident Agnes Mossman, 83, describes her two Reeds Lake cruises. Visiting from Canada in 1950, she was enjoying the now defunct amusement park on the shores of Reeds Lake, when her new husband Sidney Mossman turned to her and said, "How would you like to go on a honeymoon cruise." Although she says she "isn't very fond of water and definitely not a boat person," she accepted. Continue reading "CRUISING HISTORY: Vintage Reeds Lake boat rides bringing memories of earlier days" »

Just as a Christmas ballet would not be complete without mice, elves, toys, stockings, and snowflakes, the annual production of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" at St. Cecilia would not be complete without Kokie Zimmermann.

The 13-year-old East Grand Rapids eighth-grader has danced all of the parts in the Creative Arts Repertoire Ensemble holiday production and some more than once.

Continue reading "Holiday ballet features student for seventh time" »

Admission to the Ada Village "Trolley Treats and Tinsel," scheduled from 4 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4, is free.

Sponsored by the Ada Business Association, the evening offers participants a chance to tour area shops and historical sites while they are decorated for the holidays.

The Grand Rapids Trolley will take visitors through the village, in which area merchants have planned special events.

In addition to the annual Historical Society wreath sale, visitors to the Averill Museum will get a chance to enjoy punch and cookies and purchase Victorian ornaments.

Village proprietors are adding to the festivities with events of their own. Betsy Ratzch Pottery is having an "old world" Santa wander the village, greeting visitors. Heather Lane Pottery will offer a pottery demonstration in their studio. The Mud Room will have kids and their families decorating ornaments. The Daily Grill will host cookie decorating. Grand River Grocery will provide hot cocoa and roast-your-own s'mores on the patio. Churchkey Books is hosting a local author to read and sign his book "The Flight Before Christmas." And the Community Church in Ada will present "The Christmas Story."