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Several changes and a new business are part of the West River Drive corridor in the Comstock Park Downtown Development Authority dis-trict. Coonen LawRose Coonen, attorney and owner of Coonen Law, said her firm outgrew its previous facility on Plainfield Ave-nue and moved to the new Comstock Park location at 4582 West River Drive a few months ago. Her firm that also includes attorney Gabriel Lively, specializes in business planning and estate planning. Coonen started Coonen Law in 2011, specializing in estate and business planning for individuals, small busi-ness owners and families.“We take a holistic approach with estate and business planning,” Coonen said. “Lot of our clients have been with me for a long time. We stay in contact and make sure plans are working like they are supposed to. A lot of our focus is on succession planning that goes hand-in-hand with estate planning.”Coonen Law is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor with experience helping businesses maximize the value of their business before selling.Coonen graduated from Grand Valley State University and Cooley Law School and resides in Comstock Park. She likes the small town feel of Comstock Park and the con-venient location.The Grilling CompanyThe Grilling Company has outgrown its West River Drive location in Belmont and plans to triple their space and move to 4640 West River Drive, hopefully in early 2024. The Grilling Company opened in 2015 and has been making fresh sausage and smoking a wide range of meats in custom-made smokers, pit-style using all wood. Sauces and other side items are also made in-house. “We will offer the same great barbecue and add many new products such as rubs, sauces, more fresh meats, more sausages, lunch meat and snack sticks,” said Keith Hall, owner. The Grilling Company will remain take-out only but will have a large retail section. Many new employees will be hired. If interested email the grillingco@gmail.com. Kum & GoKum & Go, a convenience store chain owned by Maver-ik – Adventure’s First Stop in Des Moines, Iowa, and Salt Lake City, Utah, submitted plans to build on the site of the car wash at 4724 West River Drive. The car wash will be torn down and is cur-rently closed. The first Kum & Go store in the Grand Rap-ids market opened on 2134 Alpine Ave. NW in early 2023.Elizabeth Curcio, assis-tant planner with Plainfield Township, said the Planning Commission approved plans for the Kum & Go store at their June 27, 2023 meeting, Atwell Group is serving as the engineer for the project. Because the company was recently acquired by Maverik, they may need to come back to the Planning Commission for a site plan review if they are changing the footprint of their original plans, according to Curcio.New to West River Drive corridor –The Grilling Company, Coonen Law and Kum & Gowww.comstockparkdda.org • Winter - January 1, 2024ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMERCoonen Law, with attorneys Gabriel Lively and Rose Coonen, moved from Plaineld Avenue NE to its new location at 4582 West River Drive, Suite F. The Grilling Company, currently located at 6231 West River Drive NE, will move sometime in early 2024 to 4640 West River Drive, the former location of Growco. Kum & Go Convenience stores submitted plans to build a new store on 4724 West River Drive next to Wendy’s. The car wash at that location will be torn down.
Page 2 | January 1, 2024 Comstock Park Communicator www.comstockparkdda.org
www.comstockparkdda.org Comstock Park Communicator January 1, 2024 | Page 3ANDY’S TREE SERVICEANDY’S TREE SERVICE800-982-4540 or 231-937-5607Andrew T. Callender, OwnerAndrew T. Callender, Owner CELL: 616-293-8867MAIN OFFICE: 22300 M-82 • HOWARD CITY, MI 49329Family Owned Since 1962 • www.andystreeservice.comServing Montcalm, Kent, Newaygo, Mecosta, Osceola Countie s & MoreSENIOR DISCOUNTSENIOR DISCOUNTCall for a FREE EstimateCall for a FREE EstimateWORK YEARROUNDFULLYINSURED‘WE GO ALLOVER’Specializing in Working Around Power Lines & HousesTREE WORK OF ALL KINDSTREE WORK OF ALL KINDSWHERE QUALITY WORK MATTERS.WHERE QUALITY WORK MATTERS.WE KEEP YOUR YARD CLEAN!WE KEEP YOUR YARD CLEAN!Veteran’s and MilitaryDiscounteSPECIALWINTERPRICINGComstock Park Communicator is published quarterly by Hearst Michigan Media Group for the Comstock Park Downtown Development Authority. Comstock Park DDAwww.comstockparkdda.orgP.O. Box 333Comstock Park, MI 49321Comstock Park DDA Board of DirectorsRichard Frey, chairman – rich@korehicom.comTom Coleman, Plainfield Township supervisor – colemant@plainfieldmi.orgEd Hood – ehood0812@gmail.comJim Jarecki – jjarecki@whitecapsbaseball.comNick Purwin – slpurwin@yahoo.comJohn Stephan – rjohnstephan@lawyer.comJanis Vander Kooy, treasurer – jvanderkooy@sbcglobal.netDavid Washburn – dwashburn@cppschools.comEditorKaren Gentrykegentry@comcast.net(616) 647-2949Sales, Multi Media ConsultantJulie Lewis, Hearst Michigan Media GroupJulie.Lewis@hearst.com(231) 592-8373DesignJohn Eddy, Hearst Michigan Media GroupContributorsKathy BushJohn GonzalesGary HollandJoanne BoorsmaPaula WrightBe vigilant – scam and fraud alertIf it’s a number you don’t recognize, don’t answer the phone. A plea for money from the Fraternal Order of Police – it’s a scam. Your grand-daughter has been in an acci-dent and needs money right away – another scam. These were examples given by three speakers at the Comstock Park Golden Pan-thers presentation on Nov. 10 at the Henze Center. Jose Douglas, community policing officer, Kyle Perrault, branch manager of Independent Bank, Plainfield branch and Stephanie Roe, fraud investi-gator from Independent Bank spoke about “Fraud Aware-ness & Trends.” “Mail theft is huge right now,” Roe said. “The most important thing to do is watch your accounts and make sure everything is checking out o.k. She noted the many types of fraud – check, mobile ATM deposits, wire, ACH, card fraud and identify theft. Roe cautioned about romance scams where some-one build a relationship typi-cally on Facebook and prom-ise to meet. In the meantime, the scammer sends more and more requests for money and excuses on why they can’t meet. “The biggest scams we see going on are romance scams in which someone gains your trust after meeting you online and then wants you to sent them money,” Perrault said. Independent Bank also see crypto investment scams where fraudsters try to trick people into investing in cryp-to with them in a get-rich scheme.Asking for gift cards is a huge red flag, according to the presenters. Perrault spoke of a lottery scam where a recipient was told they won a lottery in Canada even though they’ve never been to Canada or played the lottery there. The “winner” was told to send $5,000 so they could claim their $1 million lottery prize.“No, you’re not lucky – it’s a fraud,” Perrault said. He cautioned to never give out your banking information over the phone.Sometimes fraudster pose as an IRS agent and request payment with a gift card. “Double check, Call the IRS number,” Perrault said. Pig ButcheringThe presenters spoke of pig butchering scams where fraudsters gain trust of their targets before manipulating them into phony investments. Perrault told of a victim who was told by the fraudster that they were going to help. The victim kept wiring more and more money and ending up losing $91,000. “Stick with the profes-sionals. We could have saved them from all the hardship. We’re here for you,” Perrault said. “If you are unsure if something might be a scam talk to your banker and get a second opinion.” “If anyone asks you for information do not send. Call your bank or go to your bank. Tell them what is going on,” Rau said.“If someone you know reaches out to you online and then tries to convince you to give them money there’s a strong chance it’s a scam,” Perrault said. “Be honest with us. We can only help you if we know what’s going on.”Rau noted that anyone can copy the Amazon, Microsoft, PayPal or Norton logos to make it look like a famil-iar web site. She said to be aware of emails or calls that say their reimbursements were too much and beware of fraudulent requests for payment through gift cards, cash apps and money transfer services. Ignore phone callsDouglas stressed that scammers call random phone numbers and might inform you that your vehicle warran-ty is out of date. “The best thing to do is ignore it,” Douglas said.Douglas said to be wary of service providers and profes-sionals who may be in your home. He cautions home-owners to ask for a bill and to write a check rather than other payment methods.Another common fraud is having a debit card/credit card compromised.“This often happens when you slide your card at a credit card reader with a skimming device or if you’ve entered your card on a fraudulent web site and now they have your card number,” Perrault said.Jose Douglas, community policing ocer; Stephanie Roe, fraud investigator with Independent Bank and Kyle Perrault, branch manager of Independent Bank, Plaineld branch, spoke about fraud awareness on Nov. 10 at the Henze Center. Financial Focus® -- Don’t fall prey to a tax scammer It’s that time of year when we do our taxes — but it’s also the same time that tax scammers go to work. What scams should you watch for — and how can you avoid being victim-ized? Sadly, the list of scams is pretty long, including demands for payment or requests for “additional information” pertaining to your tax refund, in which the sender asks for your Social Security number and other personal infor-mation. ese scam emails can look quite ocial, oen incorporating the IRS logo. You might also receive scam text messag-FOCUS continued on Page 5
Page 4 | January 1, 2024 Comstock Park Communicator www.comstockparkdda.org Around Town…Lake Michigan Credit Union celebrated the reopening of its Alpine Avenue branch on Oct. 17, 2023. The Alpine Avenue branch relocated from 4866 Alpine Ave. NW a half a mile north to 4560 Alpine Ave. NW. The new branch features a larger 4.122-square-foot building and three-lane drive-thru.Jenn and Chris Sella and their son Hudson enjoy the Comstock Park Educational Foundation Holiday Fundraising Festival on Nov. 16. Their son Owen (not pictured) is a 2023 graduate of Comstock Park High School.More than 25 Zumba enthusiasts took over the Comstock Park High School football eld for an early morning workout on Thanksgiving Day. Zumba teachers Elsie Burdick, Alicia Mullens, and Brenda Osmun VanderMeer have been leading Thanksgiving Zumba for eight years, starting at Plaineld Family Fitness and moving to the football eld several years ago.Ten-year-old Evin (center with Adidas sweatshirt), along with his friends, dad and sister, enjoyed playing laser tag at his birthday party at Battle Grand Rapids on West River Drive in Comstock ParkSusie’s Creamy Deviled Eggs are now available at Cooking Connection at 3979 West River Drive in Comstock Park. Sue Morrow, a Plaineld Township resident, has been making deviled eggs for years and now she’s sharing them with everyone! The eggs are sold in large (24 halves), regular (12 halves), half platter (6 halves) and small side (3 halves) or custom orders. Hubree bowls for candy at the CP Community Goes BOO Halloween event at York Creek Community Center on Oct. 5.A beautiful rainbow appeared in Comstock Park in October.
www.comstockparkdda.org Comstock Park Communicator January 1, 2024 | Page 5*NOW HIRING*• R.N. Care Managers • LPN’s/R.N.’s for pediatric shifts• Speech Therapist • Medical Social WorkersPO Box 499 - 120 Hemlock St., Howard Cit y, MI 49329(231) 937-4514 • acehomehealthcareservices.com/employmentwww.serenitywellnesschiro.comDr. LynnMarie S. Leyderinfo@serenitywellnesschiro.com542 S. State St. • Sparta MI 49345phone:616-887-2178374 Seminole Rd. • Norton Shores, MI 49444.phone:231-375-5995• Spinal Adjustments• Extremity Adjustments• Cold Laser• Deep Tissue & Relaxation Massage• Hot or Cold Stone Massage• Prenatal Massage• Traction• Decompression• Medical MassageYourYourPartnerPartnerin Optimalin OptimalPerformancePerformanceChiropractic care can hep reducepain, increase exibility andprotect against injury.Call today to schedule your consultation!Get ready for Mill Creek Days 2024 Planning for the third annual Mill Creek Days 2024 starts soon! Send us your suggestions and feedback to millcreekdayscp@gmail.comes containing bogus links claiming to be the IRS website or an online “tool” that can help process your refund faster.But keep these points in mind:e IRS generally won’t contact you by phone and won’t contact you by email, text messages or so-cial media channels to ask for personal or nancial information. e IRS be-gins most correspondence to taxpayers through reg-ular mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. e IRS won’t call to de-mand you make an imme-diate payment through a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. If you owe taxes, the IRS generally will mail you a bill. And the IRS won’t threaten to bring in the police or another law enforcement group to arrest you for not paying your taxes. In general, be extremely skeptical about any type of communication pur-porting to be from the IRS that sounds bullying or over-inquisitive — and certainly don’t give out any personal or nancial information. But these fake messages aren’t the only tax-season scams out there. You might even receive a direct deposit from what appears to be the U.S. Treasury Depart-ment — but if you weren’t expecting it, something’s likely not right. is pay-ment could be a sign that a fraudulent tax return was led in your name, and it might be followed by a communication from a supposed IRS agent requesting this overpay-ment be sent to them. If this happens to you, you’ll want to contact the IRS right away, and you could also ask your bank to return the deposit to the government. Other scams don’t claim to originate directly from the IRS, as scammers pretend to be from real or imaginary tax organi-zations. For example, you could get a message from the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization within the IRS, but this agency won’t contact you without a legitimate reason. Or you could receive a message from the nonexistent “Bu-reau of Tax Enforcement.” Your best bet is to delete these messages immedi-ately or send them to your spam folder. Not all tax season scams originate from fraudulent IRS representatives or fake agencies. You also need to be careful about whom you hire to prepare your taxes. If possible, get a recommendation from a trusted friend or family member. And keep in mind that a legitimate tax preparer must have a valid Preparer Tax Iden-tication Number and must sign your tax return. If someone doesn’t have this number or is reluc-tant to sign your return, it may well be a sign that this individual is a “ghost preparer” who only wants to pocket your fee. Tax scammers are, unfor-tunately, here to stay — but remaining vigilant can help you keep them from causing problems for you in this tax season and all the ones in the future. (Article provided by Ed-ward Jones - Financial Ad-visor: Andrew Bok, 4582 West River Drive NE, Suite A, Comstock Park)FOCUS continued from Page 3
Page 6 | January 1, 2024 Comstock Park Communicator www.comstockparkdda.org Nikki Vermaas opened Nikki’s Nails at 4005 West River Drive, Suite B4 in Comstock Park.BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTNikki Vermaas likes her Comstock Park location. She moved her business Nikki’s Nails from Howard City to Comstock Park and held a Grand Opening on Oct. 21. After driving from her home in Coopersville to Howard City for over a year she appre-ciates the shorter commute and affordable rent. She also worked at Vicki’s Nails in Comstock Park, prior to get-ting her nail license during the pandemic. “I like it here. There’s a small town feel and a lot more room for growth and expan-sion,” Vermaas said. Many of her clients have followed her to her new Com-stock Park location including from Sparta and Plainwell and even one from as far away as Farwell in central Michi-gan. “I like interacting with my clients. We tend to become friends rather than just cli-ents,” Vermaas said. Her nail related services include dip, acrylic, gel pol-ish, and Gel X nails. Gel X is a nail extension system that last up to four weeks. A dip includes a base coat dipped into pigmented powder and topped with a clear sealant. She offers no less than 247 colors of dip, gel and regular pots as well as highly reflective glitter. Clients can also choose from a selection of cat eye offerings and high resolution, glow-in-the-dark choices. Her affordable prices range from $30 - $60+. “Everyone wants sparkling nails,” said Vermaas. One of her specialties is drawing nail art such as jack o’lanterns, spider webs, ghosts and cow prints. “They will bring in pictures of what they like,” Vermaas said. “Ever since I opened it’s been something I specialize in.”She also offers pedicures, eyelash extensions, dreads and braids. Her customer service and work quality sets her apart from the competition, accord-ing to Vermaas.“I take my time. I don’t like to rush. I try to always do the best I can,” Vermaas said. She hopes to stay at least five years in the Comstock Park location. Her niece, Amaya, apprenticed under Vermass and will join her at Nikki’s nails once she passes her state boards. Nikki’s nails hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturday, by appointment only. Call (616) 589-3199.Busy HouseholdVermaas juggles a busy household and a second job as a care partner in an assisted living facility in Grandville. She has two children ages 14 and 19 as well as a 10-month-old granddaughter. Her best friend passed away from COVID so Vermaas stepped in to look after her four children ages 12-20.Vermaas is originally from Vista, California and moved to Michigan in 1997. Nikki’s Nails moves into Comstock ParkNikki’s Nails oers more than 247 nail color choices. One of Nikki’s Nails specialties is nail art.Patten Monument/Great Lakes Granite Works in Comstock Park dates back to the 1990s.Patten Monument Com-pany in downtown Comstock Park holds the distinction of being the largest provider of cemetery memorials in Michigan. The company was established in 1917 on Plain-field Avenue in Grand Rapids. In 1993 Patten Monument’s sister company Great Lakes Granite Works started almost as a hobby in a back room when vendors urged them to expand into manufacturing countertops since they had the materials they would need. The new business took off immediately and soon needed room to grow.“Great Lakes needed space, needed to move,” said Andy Bolt, who in 2020 became majority owner of both com-panies. “Patten also needed more space, but we could make do until we built the (Great Lakes) building.”When Great Lakes Granite Works opened at 3970 West River Drive NE in 1994, it was the first granite fabrication plant in the Grand Rapids area. The historic Comstock Park Feed Mill was torn down to make way for the 25,000 square foot granite counter manufacturing facility. Patten Monument followed in 1997, building a 45,000 square foot facility next door at 3980 West River Drive. There are now approximately 90 employees at the two compa-nies. The Comstock Park site was a good choice, said Bolt.“The location gives us good visibility,” he said. “It’s easy for customers to find being right off the (131) express-way.” He added that proxim-ity to the expressway makes receiving materials and ship-ping products convenient. Patten Monument makes close to 7,000 headstones a year and is affiliated with some 300 funeral homes in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. They have nine locations – eight in Michigan one in Indiana - and deliver as far away as Indianapolis, Sault St. Marie, and Cleveland, as well as every cemetery in Michigan. The monuments come to the Patten plant polished and cut to shape, and the compa-ny does the engraving, art-work, and installation. Most of the granite used in monu-ments comes primarily from domestic sources with quar-ries in Vermont, Georgia, and South Dakota being big sup-pliers. They also make other products such as cremation memorials and natural stone signs. Much of the granite used for countertops comes from countries such as Brazil, India, and Italy. Polished slabs come to the Great Lakes Graite Works plant where stone craftsmen cut them to size, and polish the edges, to get them ready installers to put them in homes and busi-nesses. Bolt started at Patten Monument when he was a senior at Western Michigan University working summers in delivery. After graduating with a degree in business management, he took a posi-tion in sales. He and Chris Fortosis, a longtime employee at Patten Monument, bought the company in 2005. Forto-sis retired in 2020, and Bolt became majority owner. Bolt said he has seen mon-uments become “far more personalized” since he started in the business. People have asked for grave markers in shapes such as motorcycles and tractors, as well as having pictures with views from a favorite duck blind or a favor-ite golf course hole engraved on monuments to memorial-ize their loved ones, he said. Bolt and his wife Kelly live in Jenison and have two grown children. Bolt is orig-inally from Rockford and graduated from Rockford High School. When he’s not working, he enjoys “skiing, puttering around the house, and spending time with fami-ly and friends.Business Profile – Patten Monument/Great Lakes Granite WorksAndy Bolt became majority owner of Patten Monument Company and Great Lakes Granite Works in 2020.
www.comstockparkdda.org Comstock Park Communicator January 1, 2024 | Page 7We’re excited to hearfrom you.Dreaming up the idealretirement is your job.Helping you get thereis ours.> edwardjones.com |Member SIPCIRT-1848J-A AECSPAD20779319Andrew N Bok, CFP®, AAMS™Financial Advisor4582 West River Dr Ne Suite AComstock Park, MI 49321616-988-64284438 Westshire Dr NW,Comstock Park, MI 49321(616) 784-3620www.Cppizza.netMonday: 4-8:30PM • Tues-Fri: 11-2PM & 4-8:30PMSaturday: 2-9PM • Sunday: 2-8:30PMBUY TWO16” PIZZAS& Get Stixs orCinnamon Stixs for $30!Purchase two 16” pizzas with 2 topping(s),and enjoy a stix or cinnamon stix for $30!OFFER VALID ON PICK UP ORDERS ONLYOne coupon per person. Not valid with other oers. Expires 01/28/24.DeliveringDeliveringOurOurWarmestWarmestWishesWishesWe hope you have an all-aroundwonderful holiday season!Any way you slice it, we wouldn’t be here without your support, and wereally appreciate your business. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!PizzaSlicesOnly $1(11AM-2PM) Tuesday-FridayPizza Slices Brickwork by JK Masonry isjust about everywhere in West Michigan. The Com-stock Park business is cur-rently restoring brickwork at Pine Island Elementary School that was damaged in the August tornado that tore through Comstock Park. They are also currently working on the extensive, multi-year renovation at LMCU Ballpark. They recently worked on concourse expansion at the Gerald R. Ford Airport, and the new welcome center at Frederick Meijer Gardens. The commercial mason-ry construction company located at 4000 West River Drive also helped buiid Pine Island Elementary, Mill Creek Middle School and Comstock Park High School, as well as NuCraft on West River Drive. They worked on AMC The-ater and Kohls on Alpine Ave-nue and completed brickwork on the Cabela’s in Grandville as well as the one in New York City, and the Tanger Outlet Mall in Byron Center. JK Masonry is one of the three masonry companies in West Michigan that do commercial masonry on school, college, government, and commercial buildings. Besides Comstock Park, they’ve completed proj-ects in several school districts including Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Cedar Springs, and Rockford.“There is a feeling of sat-isfaction in a job well done when I look at projects we’ve completed,” said Ben Knauf, who is in the process of buy-ing the business with his brother Corey Knauf from their father Jim. Ben said his father passed that love of masonry on to his sons, as well as instilling strong family values such as hard work, honesty, and integrity. He said he and Corey apply those values to running the business. JK Masonry HistoryJim Knauf started working at Spartan Masonry in Sparta in 1972 and learned the trade through hands-on work. He became a partner in Spartan Masonry in 1982. He liked the work immediately. The company’s name changed to JK Masonry, and it moved to West River Drive in 1991. Jim’s wife Janet became the office manager. The current building includes a 9,900 square-foot ware-house and a 1,705 square-foot office space with brick walls. On the office walls are tro-phies from Jim’s hunting and fishing trips, and throughout the space are trophies that employees who play in a Grand Rapids Hispanic soccer league have won. A distribu-tion company leases the other 10,000 square feet of the building. JK Masonry has 135 employees including masonry laborers, hi lo drivers, and estimators.Ben said that while “you’re always going to need human beings,” there are machines developed in the last four to six years that use robotics to help masons lay bricks. “That takes some of the weight off. I think it’s going to be a big deal. The thing about masonry is it’s so heavy,” Ben said. He encourages young peo-ple to become masons as the trade is going to “become more in-demand, more lucra-tive.” Ben and Corey grew up in the home their parents built in Sparta that is brick inside and out, including a brick pantry and a brick garage. Ben said his house in Rock-ford is “all stone” including two fire places that have stonework from floor to ceil-ing.JK Masonry builds West Michigan one brick at a timeAmerican Legion Fish Fries Winter/Spring 2024The Comstock Park Amer-ican Legion’s upcoming fish fry dates are Jan. 5 and 19, Feb. 2, 16, and 23, and every Friday in March. They run until 7 p.m. or until the food runs out. The drive-thru is open at 4:30 p.m., dine-in is open at 4:45 p.m. Both open at 4 p.m. during Lent. They are open until 7 p.m. or until the food runs out. Take-out is also available. Prices are $13 adults, $6 children 6-12, and children 5 and under eat for free. On the menu is all-you-can eat Alaskan pollock, French fries, coleslaw, bread, coffee or milk, and a cookie for dessert. Get an adult din-ner punch card and your 10th dinner is free. The Legion is located at 3811 West River Dr. in downtown Comstock Park.Coffee with a CopPlainfield Township’s Coffee with a Cop meets Thursdays at 10 a.m. at the Plainfield Township Offices, 6161 Belmont Ave. Deputies talk with residents about how to prevent and reduce crime in their neighborhood and answer questions about incidents in the area and other concerns. The deputies also do off-site programs like the Sherriff’s Department’s Mounted Unit facility in Rockford.Alpine Township Historical CommissionDuring the months of Janu-ary, February, and March, the Alpine Township Historical Office, located at 2015 Seven Mile Road in Alpine Town-ship, will be open Wednes-days from 10 a.m. to noon, depending on the weather. Patrons can come in and look for family records or bring in family items for the archives.Upcoming EventsBen Knauf is one of the owners of JK Masonry in Comstock Park, a company that has worked on many high prole projects in West Michigan.
Page 8 | January 1, 2024 Comstock Park Communicator www.comstockparkdda.org Joel Bierling, owner of Bier Distillery & Brewery, operates two stills o West River Drive, where he has been located since 2016.Born in Kansas, but living in Minnesota for seven years, Joel Bierling was a little surprised when he moved with his family to Grand Rapids in 1984 and found out that “everyone was gaga over the Tigers winning the World Series.”“I had no clue about baseball, or any sport for that matter, because I was moving from a town of 300 people in Minnesota,” Bierling said.Did he become a Tigers fan?“No,” he said with a laugh, despite going to Detroit with his elementary school on a bus trip to see a game.“I can’t even name a single person on the Tigers team right now. There used to be…what’s the pitcher’s name? But he moved on to somewhere else. I don’t know.”Today – oddly enough – Joel Bierling’s Bier Distillery and Brewery is located less than two miles from the West Michigan Whitecaps, the High A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.It’s in a nondescript building with a small business sign outside (the largest he is allowed by the township, he points out). It’s located at 5295 West River Dr. NE, in Comstock Park. A few steps away from The Pack Dog Park.Just don’t tell him he’s next to a dog park.“The dog park is next to us,” he said, noting that he came well before the dogs.But the lack of flashy signage, and the fact he’s located in an older established building, has meant that people pass by without knowing he’s open for business.“If I had a dollar for every time somebody said they had driven by and never stopped, I’d be pretty rich right now,” Bierling said.He might not have the most exciting exterior entrance, and you won’t find his beers on tap at LMCU Ballpark like the baseball-themed Mitten Brewing Company in Grand Rapids.But if you stop in at his establishment, you’ll discover a unique experience with Dutch-themed food and liqueurs, and beers that you won’t find in most breweries in Grand Rapids or the state of Michigan, for that matter. (Have you ever tried their pickle beer or Stroopwafel cookie liqueur?)Bierling and his wife Sara, who handles the kitchen side of the business, have been at their West River Drive location since 2016 after getting their start inside the former Cellar Brewing Co. in Sparta in 2013.In those early days, craft distilling was relatively new, Bierling said. And it was tough to get into the business.After graduating from Calvin College with a computer science degree, and working in computer software, he began dabbling in homebrewing in 2009 and 2010. It wasn’t too long after that that Grand Rapids was declared Beer City USA.Bierling thought, “if we’re so forward thinking, why don’t we have any distilleries?”It was also about the same time he was “getting bored” with brewing because it was simple.“Basically, you follow a recipe, and if you keep things relatively clean, you get to taste it in about three weeks to see how you did,” he said.Distilling spirits required another level of complexity and “gadgets and toys.”“I’m a techie at heart,” he said. “I like gadgets and toys. The more pieces of equipment I can have as an excuse for having, the better.”He self-taught himself how to distill spirits, which follows the same principles of brewing beer, but with a level of complexity that challenged him. He loved that it was a more “interactive process.” He also discovered there was a lack of training classes and online resources. Michigan only had a handful of distilleries such as Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Valentine Vodka in Detroit and some Traverse City craft businesses getting into it.“It was a bit of a challenge at first,” Bierling said. “When I first opened, I said, ‘These are spirits I produced,’ and people didn’t even know what a distillery was.“I got asked several times, ‘Did you make those in your basement?’”He said it took some education, much in the Bier Distillery & Brewery: crafting unique spirits and Dutch delights in Comstock ParkBier Distillery & Brewery serves Dutch and American cuisine and produces beer, spirits and liqueurs. It has a seating capacity of 99.Dutch Liqueurs such as Stroopwafel, the quintessential Dutch caramel wae cookie, and Banket almond, a revered avor amongst Midwest American Dutch immigrants, are just some of the 25-plus spirits produced by Bier Distillery & Brewery.BEIR continued on Page 10
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Page 10 | January 1, 2024 Comstock Park Communicator www.comstockparkdda.org The NW YouTh Soccer ASSociATioN (NWYSA) iS A voluNTeer-ruN progrAm ThATofferS iNTroducTorY, recreATioNAl, ANd recreATioNAl TrAvel levelS of Soccerfor childreN AgeS1-15 regArdleSS of The commuNiTY iN Which TheY live.www.NwSoc13.org • 616.514.0637NwSoc13@gmail.comfAllSeASoNSigNupS:EarlySignupDiScountSBEgininMay,rEgularanDlatESignupSJunEthroughSEptEMBEr.SpriNgSeASoNSigNupS:EarlySignupDiScountSBEgininoctoBEr,rEgularanDlatESignupSFEBruarythroughapril.WiNTerSeASoNiNformATioNliSTedoNTheSeASoNSpAgesame way that people didn’t know that craft breweries produced their own beers. “It took a while for people to understand what a brewery was,” he added.Today, the American Craft Spirits Association says there are more than 100 craft distilleries in Michigan, with Grand Rapids leading the way. Long Road Distillers (next to Mitten Brewing off Leonard Street) continues to add tasting rooms around the state, offering broad distribution and bringing home a long list of awards. And the recent $4.2 million distillery and restaurant expansion of Eastern Kille Distillery to Rockford shows that West Michigan is also known for thinking big.As others started to open, back in the day, “I felt like I needed to do a little less education,” he said.“They would come in here and say, ‘Oh, this is sort of like Long Road.’ And I would say, “Yeah, this is sort of the same thing.’ Having other distilleries open (in the area) added to the legitimacy of the business.”Since opening in 2016 at its current location, Bier Distillery has gone through its share of ups and downs, but it’s kept customers happy with a long list of favorite cocktails, popular spirits (such as Absinthe) and beer. They offer about 25 different spirits and those popular liqueurs, which he calls “basically watered down spirits with sugar.”He thought rum and moonshine would take off, but he discovered that people love whiskey.And they also love liqueurs, such as coffee, and during the holidays peppermint, Stroopwafel, apple pie and banket almond.The Dutch food menu also took off, after a slow start. They launched the restaurant side of the business only three weeks after the pandemic shut everything down in early 2020.But they got through it by selling hand sanitizer. Long lines formed for people to pick up supplies.When things reopened, people discovered their tasty menu, including appetizers such as as Kibbeling (lightly breaded cod) and Bitterballen (beef croquettes) and Dutch comfort food favorites such as Gehaktballen en Hutspot (meatballs and mashed potatoes) and Kasespatzle (mac and cheese made with German egg pasta). You can top it off with Stroopwafel ice cream!He said adding the menu was a sign of offering something for everyone, which is exactly what you get at Bier Distillery & Brewery.“It all kind of snowballed,” Bierling said.“You start out with this idea that you’re going to make spirits, then you realize you would sell more spirits if you had cocktails, and then you would sell more cocktails if you had food, and then you go from just wanting to make whiskey to owning a restaurant accidentally.”He hopes people who have driven by his location on West River Drive numerous times finally make a point to stop in. First, they’ll be surprised he has two floors in his 6,500-square-foot space with seating behind the building (which was popular during the pandemic shut down).Secondly, they have a variety of dining options (including burgers, salads and sandwiches, along with the Dutch items), and craft beverages from cocktails, spirits and beer.“We have the greatest selection of craft, alcohol beverages in the area…we have a wide variety of different types of things,” he said. “And the aspect of having Dutch food makes us unique. Plus, it’s a fun environment. Come on in.”Check out the full menu of food and beverages at bierdistillery.com.Bier Distillery & Brewery5295 West River Drive NE, Comstock Park616-888-9746bierdistillery.comHours:3-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday3-11 p.m. Friday12 noon-11 p.m. Saturday12 noon-7 p.m. SundayBIER continued from Page 8Music bingo, crafts, line dance and more on tap with Golden PanthersAll Golden Panthers programs take place at 1 p.m. at the Henze Center, 1101 Henze St., between Sam’s Club and Walmart.Feb. 2: Music BingoBack by popular demand -- Hugh Randle. He distributes bingo-type cards with the names of songs from the 50’s, 60’s or 70’s. He’ll play a snippet of a song, and if you have the song on your card, you mark it. Randle is a campus pastor at The Foundry Church in Zeeland and a well-known DJ with 22 years of experience at weddings and other events.Feb.16: CraftsJune and Paula help crafters explore their creativity. It’s always fun to get creative with these two.March 22: To and Fro - History of Transportation MUSIC continued on Page 12
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Page 12 | January 1, 2024 Comstock Park Communicator www.comstockparkdda.org Comstock Park High School Athletic Hall of Fame updateTwo teams and three ath-letes were inducted into the CPHS Athletic Hall of Fame.For the first time two teams were inducted into the Com-stock Park Athletic Hall of Fame in a ceremony in Octo-ber — the 1951 varsity football team and the 1973-1974 wres-tling team. Many team mem-bers and their families were in attendance. The event also inducted three athletes – Nichole Mila-nowski Weatherhead (Class of 2007), Stephanie Milanowski McCarthy (Class of 2009) and Ryan Schall (Class of 2013). To make suggestions or to give feedback about the CPHS Athletic Hall of Fame email Gary Holland, Moomba!@gmail.com.in Grand RapidsToday travel is by car, bike, train, plane, bus, boat, or on foot, but it wasn’t always this way. Caroline Cook will discuss the general history of transportation that connected the Grand Rapids area, and the future of transportation. Cook founded the Grand Rapids -based running tours in 2013 for people to tour Grand Rapids and learn its history. The tours have evolved to include walking, biking, and on-site presentations. April 19: Beginning Line DanceBeginners and experienced line dancers are invited to join the CP Line Dance Crew for some beginning line dance. Dances are easy and fun. May 3: Senior ExpoWanted: seniors who need help with work around the house, transportation to doctor appointments, meals, managing chronic disease or mental health. Come to the Golden Panthers Resource Expo for Seniors. Vendors include Area Agency on Aging, TOPS, Hospice, State Farm Insurance and Senior Neighbors. Refreshments will be served.MUSIC continued from Page 10CPHS 1950 varsity football teamCPHS 1973-1974 wrestling teamNichole Milanowsksi WeatherheadRyan Schall Stephanie Milanowski McCarthyWe are a local family-owned company since 1963 oering full service collision repair forlarge and small jobs. We can also help with towing and rental car arrangements.We are a Direct Repair Shop for many insurance companies and we are a OEM FactoryCertied repair facility for Ford, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, Kia and Hyundai.(616) 784-53954019 W River Dr NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321ComstockParkBodyShop.com
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Page 14 | January 1, 2024 Comstock Park Communicator www.comstockparkdda.org Get cozy with KDL’s winter reading program Oh, the weather out-side is frightful,But the fire is so delightful,And since we’ve no place to go,Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!‘Tis the season for winter weather in West Michigan. The Kent District Library welcomes the snowy days and the start of the winter reading program for teens and adults, Let it Snow!This popular winter read-ing program challenges readers 11 years and older to read books from a variety of different genres or categories. Once participants finish six titles, they earn this year’s Let it Snow Mug. Those that read an additional four titles (for a total of 10 reads) are automatically entered into the Power Reader drawing to win an Amazon Kindle Scribe with stylus pen.Let it Snow starts on start-ed Dec. 1 and runs through Feb. 29, 2024. Teens and adults interested in partici-pating can stop by any KDL location to pick up a reading log or use the Beanstack app online. For more information visit kdl.org/snow.How is Let it Snow dif-ferent from our summer reading program, Sum-mer Wonder? Summer Wonder goes beyond just reading and focuses on engagement as a family, across a spectrum of STEAM activities, in which reading is just one facet of the program. Let it Snow focuses on reading but challenges readers to go beyond their comfort zone and read something new or different. By reading widely readers discover new ideas and gain new perspectives. They increase their knowl-edge base, increase vocabu-lary and grammar, and gain opportunities to apply critical thinking skills. Not sure where to get started on a category? KDL Librarians have cre-ated booklists for each cate-gory to help library patrons get started. The categories are also intentionally very broad. KDL – Comstock Park branch will have a display of Let it Snow books suggestions -- staff members can offer one-on-one help to find that perfect winter read. Just fin-ished a book but not sure if it fits a category? Some books can fall into several different categories and staff can help readers fit a recent read into a category.Upcoming fun events at KDL – Comstock Park branch Jan. 4, 4 p.m. – Winter Animals, John Ball Zoo Jan. 9, 2 p.m. – Coffee Crafts and Conversation Jan. 23, 2 p.m. – “Charade” classic movieJan. 30, 6:30 p.m. – Learn to be a Superhero (for school-aged patrons)Feb. 6, 6 p.m. – Heart to Heart Crafts (for school-aged patrons)Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m. – Battle it Out on Adult Trivia NightFeb. 13, 2 p.m. – Coffee, Crafts and ConversationFeb. 21, 3:30 p.m. – Art Party (for school-aged patrons)Feb. 27, 2 p.m. – “His Girl Friday” classic movieVisit kdl.org/events for more details and for a com-plete list of all the events happening at the Comstock Park Library and other KDL locations this winter.Hundreds of coats and winter gear distributed by Families Helping Families“Look Mom, I can now play outside for recess with the other kids.” That was one of the responses from a young Stoney Creek Elementary School student after getting boots, snow pants, winter coat, hats and mittens at the Families Helping Families event Nov. 4. Kari Kippen, a realtor with EXP Real Estate of Grand Rapids started Families Help-ing Families coat drive four years ago with the intent to make sure all who needed a coat would get one. Kippen is a mother of four and grand-mother of four and getting children outside to play year-round is a huge passion of hers. The community came together and collected gently used coats and new coats, boots, mittens, hats, and snow pants. The lines were long with families waiting to get winter wear for their fami-lies. Two years ago the Rotary Club of Comstock Park joined in, contributing money and helping hands to contribute to the success of the event. “Thanks to all that helped make this magic happen,” Kippen said. “The need is huge and we were able to give out hundreds of coats to chil-dren, babies and adults.” The collection boxes were at all the Comstock Park and Kenowa Hills schools. Drop-off boxes were at Mill Creek Tavern, (Scott Ingersoll, owner of Mill Creek Tavern, donated one new coat with snow pants for every four that were donated), Andrew Bok - Edward Jones office, Bau-ble Patch, Community West Credit Union, Choice One Bank, and Independent Bank.This year was the first year holding a pickup at the Alpine Township Fire Department. “Huge thank yous go out to all that helped make this such a great success,” Kippen said.Emily Folkema, Dawn Swaord, Karyl Donald, Lyndell Eaton, Greg Madura and Kari Kippen helped distribute hundreds of winter coats and other winter gear on Nov. 4 at the Henze Center in Alpine Township. Helpers not pictured include Diane Van Epps, Deb Benjamin and Christy Nowak.Comstock Park DDA contributes to community The Comstock Park Downtown Development Authority donated over $2,000 to the Comstock Park Athletic Boosters, proceeds from the rst 5k running event during Mill Creek Days 2023. Pictured: Kendra Faustin, Comstock Park High School principal and former athletic director and Dave Hood, from the Comstock Park Board of Education.The Comstock Park DDA paid more than $14,000 to Plaineld Township to have a new library sign installed on West River Drive. Workers completed the installation in mid-December.
www.comstockparkdda.org Comstock Park Communicator January 1, 2024 | Page 15Student Athlete of the Month Comstock Park High School Athletic Director Charlie Hess has started the Student-Ath-lete of the Month as a way to recognize the achievements of outstanding students who also do well in sports. Each month the CPHS administra-tion will designate the Stu-dent-Athlete of the Month.September Student Athlete of the MonthEaston Hood, seniorSports: football, basketball, baseballFavorite sport: footballHobbies: lifting weights, video games, water sports, hanging out with friendsFavorite football player: Christian McCafferty, San Francisco Forty-NinersFavorite subjects: math, scienceGoals: playing football in college, working in human health field possibly as a phy-sician assistantOn the football team, Easton played half-back on offense and hybrid lineback-er/safety on defense and was an All-Conference selection as a sophomore and junior. This year he made the All-Confer-ence and All-Region teams and was selected Academic All-State. Easton has bat-tled injuries over the past three years and credits Tyler Debrot, school trainer, for helping him to play as much as possible. Easton works with Nate Sanders, a personal trainer, who has helped him improve his speed, strength and agility. Advice for young students and athletes: “Focus on being a hard worker, set goals and stick to your goals.”October Student Athlete of the MonthNeida Valdez-Hernan-dez, seniorSports: sideline cheer, soc-cerActivities: summer cheer-leading camps, National Honor Society tutor, Student CouncilFavorite subject: historyHobbies: romance novels/love storiesGoals: college, career as radiologist, neonatal nurse or teacherBuilding trust with your teammates is one of the things Neida Valdez-Hernan-dez loves about sideline cheer. Neida is the petite cheer-leader that is tossed high in the air and caught by her teammates to bring her safely to the ground. She’s been a cheerleader since elementary school. She also loves climb-ing to the top to complete a pyramid. Neida plans to play soccer this spring, a sport she enjoyed when she was young-er but has not played in high school due to her busy spring work schedule.Neida is an outstanding student who has taken AP classes in English and Gov-ernment and is currently enrolled in the Nurse Tech program at KCTC. Neida credits cheer coaches Hannah and Haley who have helped her along the way. Her mom, Juanna Hernandez is her most respected hero. Advice for young students and athletes: “Find and pur-sue your interests while you have the freedom that high school give you. Use your experiences in high school to find the path that is right for you. Learn to become inde-pendent by looking out for yourself but don’t be afraid to ask for help when you are struggling.”November Student Athlete of the MonthAndrew Commeret, juniorSports: basketball, cross country, trackActivities: National Honor Society member and vol-unteer at NHS Craft Show, volunteer teacher Junior AchievementFavorite athlete: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklaho-ma City ThunderAchievement: Near perfect 4.0 grade point averageGoals: Aims to set the school record for the mile run before he graduates, run-ner in college, undecided on careerAndrew loves long distance running and completed a great cross country season where he was named to the All-Conference and All-Re-gional teams and qualified for the state cross country meet. He credits much of his success to cross country and track coach Aaron Peoples and his Uncle Ken, a distance running coach who also served as his personal train-er. He also credits his mom, Kathy Commeret, math teach-er at CPHS, for giving him a great deal of encouragement and support. Playing sports with his older brother Char-lie helped him become more competitive. Charlie would bring him along when playing pick-up basketball with his friends. Andrew’s demanding aca-demic schedule this year incu-des AP classes in Government and English and Pre-Calculus taught by his mom.Easton HoodComstock Park School Newswww.boumastorage.com*CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE*MOBILE STORAGE CONTAINERSThe Bouma Self-Storage Sta: Ralph, Jackie, Jean, Rayboumastorage@comcast.net* EPS security with 10 digital camera’s recording 24/7*All perimeter infra-red beam surveillance, with alarm* Touch pad access code with unit # , time , tenant3700 Millcreek NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321(Along 131/ Just north of I-96)616-784-52145241 Plaineld Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525(Near East Beltline)616-364-49882 locations to serve you!Neida Valdez-HernandezAndrew Commeret
Page 16 | January 1, 2024 Comstock Park Communicator www.comstockparkdda.org Food service director honored with national awardA Stoney Creek Elementa-ry student raced up to Kent County Sheriff’s Deputy Julie Brown and blurted out “I lost my tooth.”“No way!” Brown said as she gave the student a high-five. “Did you get any money for it?”“Only a dollar,” he respond-ed as he gave Brown’s part-ner, a labradoodle trained therapy dog named Parker, a quick pet before heading off to class.Every morning, you can find Brown, the school dis-trict’s resource officer, along with Parker greeting students at one of Comstock Park’s six buildings. It is all part of her work in making connections with students.“I think it’s important for students to feel safe when they come to school, and in turn it encourages them to come to me if they need assis-tance or have something they need help with,” Brown said. Brown has quickly become a trusted and valued mem-ber of Comstock Park Public Schools, said Dan Holden, assistant superintendent of human resources. So much so that when it was announced Brown had been named Out-standing School Officer for 2023 by the Crime Prevention Association of Michigan, the high school celebrated by hav-ing her walk through the halls as students and staff applaud-ed and the band played.“I am not one for atten-tion,” Brown admitted, as she sat in her office at the high school. Several staff members dropped in to chat, always managing to mention Brown’s recent honor.Holden said Brown came to the district at the same time he did, and that he has watched her interact with the community, students and staff, building their trust and admiration.“While secondary students may have been hesitant to interact and trust her at first, that changed drastically over a few very short months,” he said. “I quickly noticed stu-dents began to come to her for advice and help regarding situations for which they may have been too embarrassed or shy about coming to counsel-ors or administrators. “Similarly, her impact in the elementary buildings was similar to that of a superhero walking into the building,” he added. “Kids flock to her and treat her like a superstar.” Becoming Part of the Panther CommunityBrown’s interest in law enforcement started when she was interning at the 61st District Court in Grand Rap-ids and later, for the court’s Domestic Response Team. Through that work, Brown discovered she wanted to be more hands-on.“I liked getting to know people and I wanted to help people make better deci-sions,” Brown said. “Basically get the bad guys and help the good ones.”She joined the sheriff’s department and has been a deputy for 19 years. Hav-ing worked road patrol and domestic violence, Brown decided to interview for a school resource officer posi-tion. The Kent County Sher-iff’s Department currently has 21 resource officers serving schools in the municipalities under the department’s juris-diction. “I really wanted to come to Comstock Park because the size of the school was sim-ilar to where I had gone to school,” Brown said, adding she graduated from Calvin Christian.Brown said her work most-ly focuses on a proactive approach in working with students and families, with the ultimate goal of keeping people out of the law enforce-ment system. “I can plan out my day, but it does not mean that it is going to happen that way because a student may need help with something or a parent wants to come in to discuss an incident,” she said. “No day is ever the same and I really enjoy that.”Kendra Faustin, high school principal, said Brown has been invaluable with the resources she has provided in supporting students and the district. This can be seen in two projects Brown has devel-oped. The first is the summer program Camp CP with a Deputy, which is designed to connect students from any background to those in law enforcement, helping build better understanding and positive connections. The second is Parker. See-ing the impacts of COVID on students’ mental health, the district wanted to add a ther-apy dog. Brown stepped up to do all the research in finding the dog that would be the per-fect fit for the district.“It is a lot of work having a dog,” Brown said as she looked over at Parker, who was napping on a dog bed next to her desk. “When I get a call, I have to think about what I am going to do with him. Am I going to take Park-er on the call with me or do I secure some place? Plus there is the care and all the respon-sibilities of having a working animal.“Regardless of that, he has been a great resource in help-ing to make those connections with students.”A rockstar resource officerStoney Creek Elementary students walk with the district’s resource ocer, Kent County Sheri Deputy Julie Brown.Deputy Julie Brown and Parker, a trained therapy dog, welcome Stoney Creek Elementary students as they enter the school building. Every morning, Kent County Sheri Deputy Julie Brown, the district’s resource ocer, greets students.When it comes to feeding hungry children, Melissa Alley does everything she can to get nutritious and delicious meals onto as many plates as possible. Alley, food service director in Comstock Park and Sparta, received the annual Chartwells K12 National Leader of the Year award. She is employed through Chartwells, which contracts with school districts to meet food service needs. Alley was also one of two awarded the “Director of the Year” by the School Nutrition Association of Michigan. Alley received the annu-al Chartwells award for innovation, commitment to excellence and fostering community partnerships. She was nominated for the award by Erik Neering, area direc-tor for Chartwells, with the support of Dave Washburn, superintendent of Comstock Park Schools, and Joel Ston-er, superintendent of Sparta Schools.Alley has implemented ways for students to provide input on what they like to eat and what they want added to the menu. She has imple-mented new concepts like Global Eats, which highlights food from different countries; and Student Choice, which lets students pick future menu items. She offers Dis-covery Kitchen demonstra-tions for students to sample new food. “My favorite part of my job is feeding students. I love providing taste testing events, student choice events, any-thing to get students’ feed-back on what they enjoy eat-ing and what they would like us to provide,” Alley said.Melissa Alley received the Chartwells K12 National Leader of the Year award during a recent ceremony in Orlando, Florida.
www.comstockparkdda.org Comstock Park Communicator January 1, 2024 | Page 17Brian Human Ins Agcy IncBrain Human, Agent3938 W River Drive NEComstock Park, MI 49321-8997Bus 616 784 5465 Fax 616 784 6505brian.human.gd0e@statefarm.comProviding Insurance and Financial ServicesLET ME WORK FOR YOU….Contact Julie Lewis:Julie.lewis@hearst.com231.592.8373TOGETHER WE WILL GET RESULTSTOGETHER WE WILL GET RESULTSNOW ACCEPTING CLASSIFIED ADS!Fourth graders take the plunge at the Belmont YMCAFourth-grader Coral Anderson waited patiently at the edge of the pool. When it was her turn to demonstrate if she could jump in, she pulled down her green water goggles, plugged her nose and took the plunge.Through most of Octo-ber, Pine Island Elementary fourth-graders participating in the YMCA’s Safe Around Water program. In the past, fourth graders had participated in a similar program at the Wolverine Worldwide Family YMCA in Belmont, but it was shut down during the pandemic, said Principal Brian Mor-rison. Over the summer, a YMCA director contacted the district about restarting the program.“Our fourth-grade team loved the program, so we thought it was worth pursu-ing,” Morrison said. The program is designed to teach children at risk of drowning basic water skills, said Morgan Haskell, aquat-ics director for the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids. It is funded through the YMCA of the USA.Students have been split into two 2-week sessions. The program has two sequences: • Jump, Push, Turn, Grab: teaches how to get back to the edge in case of a fall into the pool• Swim, Float, Swim: teaches how to make forward progress, roll to one’s back, float for a rest, and then roll again to one’s front for more forward progress. Water safety is important in Michigan because a person is never more than six miles away from a body of water, Haskell said, and drowning is the second leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14. Michigan has more than 20 percent of the world’s surface freshwater, with 11,000 inland lakes, tens of thousands miles of rivers and streams and 3,000 miles of water trails. Teacher Rachel Vanden-Berg said students were pret-ty excited about coming to the water safety program.“It is fun to be able to get them out of the classroom and have the students experience something that is new and gives them a chance to partic-ipate in hands-on learning,” said teacher Kate Ackerman.From the shouts of the stu-dents, it appeared they all had a good time.“I discovered that I am a pretty good swimmer, but I still don’t like to put my face in the water,” said fourth-grader Harrison Lan-kard. As for the rest of her: “I didn’t want to get out.”Alora Hendee said she too discovered that she was a better swimmer than she thought.Ella Hughes said she has been invited to swim at pools in her neighborhood, so she was familiar with safety. Nevertheless, the course was fun, Ella said. After all, “You are going swimming while in school.”Fourth-grader Jack Shelner pauses in the water to listen to an instructor.Fourth-grader Alora Hendee listens to a YMCA instructor.Pine Island Elementary fourth-graders practice kicking. Keep up with the latest news with Comstock Park Public SchoolsVisit www.schoolnewsnetwork.org/category/comstock-park/
Page 18 | January 1, 2024 Comstock Park Communicator www.comstockparkdda.org “South Carolina is playing against Detroit,” fourth-grade teacher Wendy Hawes informed her class about an upcoming Lions game against the Panthers. “What direction is Carolina heading?”After some debate, the class responded: northwest.“Is that a cardinal direc-tion?” Hawes asked, referring to the four main compass points.“No,” students answered.On this and every other Friday, Hawes’ students participate in “Football Fri-day,” where they learn about geography by following the 32 teams of the National Foot-ball League. “The kids just love it,” Hawes said. “It is a great way for them to learn things about the U.S. using the NFL teams.”‘Across the Pond’ and Other PhrasesFootball Friday was devel-oped about nine years ago by former Comstock Park teach-er Jeremy Palmitier, now an elementary principal in Kelloggsville Public Schools. Palmitier’s idea was to use where the teams are playing each Sunday as the basis for a geography lesson. “So we talk about regions, time zones, land formations such as the Rockies, the Mis-sissippi River and the Ohio River, and directions, wheth-er a team is going north, south, east or west,” Hawes explained. Sometimes the teams go farther afield than that. In early October, she students were quick to notice that the Jacksonville Jaguars would be playing two games in an unusual location: London. Olivia Cinder raises her hand to answer one of the geography questions“So we had to figure out what time they would be play-ing because London is before us,” said Raylynn Westbrook. “It was 9:30 a.m.”The students also learn unique things about the specific states, such as their capitals and city nicknames: Motown refers to Detroit, The Big Apple is New York City, etc. In fact, during a recent lesson, several students noted that people say “across the pond” when referring to trav-eling over the Atlantic Ocean.Eventually, students also will learn about climate, such as why the Miami Dolphins may not be too excited about going to Minnesota in Janu-ary. “When we started, the stu-dents did not have any idea what ‘border’ meant,” Hawes said. During the Oct. 6 lesson, when asked if two teams such as the Detroit Lions and the Carolina Panthers border each other, students were quick to respond “no.”When the Super Bowl hap-pens – it’s Feb. 11 in 2024 — the students have a party. Hawes also tests the students on what they have learned.“We do have a standard geography lesson but the cool thing is that by the time we get to it, the students are already familiar with the terms and information,” Hawes said. ‘And to the Winner Goes the FootballThe activity starts with a video, “Tour the States,” by Renald Francouer, which goes through the state capitals with drawing and music. The students do not hesitate to sing along.Each student has a sheet listing the teams playing on a given Sunday along with six questions. As a group, the students go through the questions, then each student guesses which teams will win their matchups.On game day, Hawes tabu-lates who guessed correctly. Monday, the students have a huddle, where Hawes reveals who got the most correct teams, with the winners receiving a small football.“I have actually won twice,” Brekin Reese said as he was making his picks. “It is all guessing.”However, Aiden Greenlee was taking it a little more seriously, placing his hands on his head as he considered his picks. His tablemate, Oliv-ia Cinder, just circled names on the sheet.“It makes social studies fun and about football,” said Oliv-ia — although, she admitted, she’s not a big football fan.Punt, pass and pick: fourth-graders learn geography from the NFLFourth-graders Calvin Beurman, Andrew Keasler and David Saenz listen to a geography question about which teams are in states that border each other.The Comstock Park Jazz Band performs at the Comstock Park Educational Foundation Holiday Fundraising Festival on Nov. 16.
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