New Maker Creating Geodomes at Herrick District Library



Sara Alsum-Wassenaar is hosting several drop-in sessions on the creation of geodesic structures starting this Saturday.

Photo courtesy Herrick District Library

From the value of failure to teamwork to how communities use spaces, geodesic structures have a lot to teach everyone, according to Herrick District Library’s next Maker-in-Residence civic engagement artist Sara Alsum-Wassenaar.

Alsum-Wassenaar is a visiting professor of visual studies and foundations at Grand Valley State University.

During her residency, she is working on the collaborative art of geodesic structure creation.

“The overarching umbrella of my work is space and community. There’s a lot of different things I do to get at that — how space gets used and how the community interacts with and uses that space,” said Alsum-Wassenaar, who considers herself a “hacker-designer.”

She will be crafting a three-dimensional model of a joint for the structures that will be available for anyone to 3D print.

Alsum-Wassenaar will host several drop-in sessions. The first session was Saturday, Jan. 11. Drop-in sessions are open to all and asking our Maker questions about their work is encouraged. There will also be drop-in sessions 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 25, Feb. 8, Feb. 22 and March 1.
Families will work together to explore the beauty and strength of the unique structure of geodesic domes during Geodome Structures: A Family Engineering Adventure events. Through building both micro and macro geodesic domes, participants will learn about the principles of geometry, engineering, and architecture in a fun and interactive environment.

“The act of coming together to do something collectively is needed for a variety of reasons in contemporary society,” Alsum-Wassenaar said. “It’s a collaborative process. You cannot build one of these things on your own.”

Creating together and relying on trial and error helps build a growth mindset and teaches the teachable value of failure, she said.

“Part of the design process is you try something, and then it fails, and then you come up with a new strategy. … One of the things that I’ve been thinking a lot about lately is the humility of admitting a mistake and then coming up with a solution for the mistake,” Alsum-Wassenaar said. “A lot of times young people are just taught to achieve and get it right. And there’s less room for failure and admitting failure and then moving forward from that.”

By the end of the session, each family will have a deeper understanding of structural design, as well as a sense of accomplishment in having built something remarkable together.

Hands-on workshops designed for curious minds of all ages will be 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 1, at the HDL North Branch, 155 Riley St. (drop-in event) or 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, in Groundworks at the Main Library, 300 S. River Ave. (Registration required at herrickdl.org/events.)


Trine Honors Area Students


Several area students were recently named to Trine University’s President's List and Dean’s List for the fall 2024 term. To earn President's List honors, students must complete a minimum of 12 hours and have a grade point average of 3.750-4.000. To earn Dean's List honors, students must complete a minimum of 12 hours and have a GPA of 3.500-3.749.

Named to the President’s List were:

• Bailey Bravata of Holland, majoring in Design Engineering Technology

• Hannah Lewis of Zeeland, majoring in Civil Engineering

• Emerson Reimink of Holland, majoring in Psychology-BS

• Rylee Smith of Zeeland, majoring in Exercise Science-Pre-Physical Therapy

Named to the Dean's List were:

• Reese Steenwyk of Holland, majoring in Exercise Science

• Maxwell Van Huis of Holland, majoring in Mechanical Engineering

Trine University, an internationally recognized, private, co-educational, residential institution, offers associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in the Allen School of Engineering & Computing, Ketner School of Business, College of Graduate and Professional Studies, Brooks College of Health Professions, Franks School of Education, Jannen School of Arts & Sciences and Rinker-Ross School of Health Sciences. Trine operates a 450-acre campus in Angola, Ind. and the College of Health Professions in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Inman on Olivet Nazarene Dean’s List


Katelyn Inman of Zeeland was named to the dean's list at Olivet Nazarene University during the recently completed fall 2024 semester. To qualify for inclusion on the dean's list, a student must have been enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student and must have attained a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher on a 4.00 grading scale.

Olivet Nazarene is an accredited Christian, liberal arts university offering more than 140 areas of undergraduate and graduate study, including the Doctor of Education in ethical leadership. Olivet's 275-acre main campus is in Bourbonnais, Ill., 45 miles south of Chicago.

Ottawa Health Department Encourages Precautions as Respiratory Illnesses Rise


As winter settles into West Michigan, respiratory illnesses, including influenza (flu), COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and others, are increasing. The Ottawa County Department of Public Health encourages everyone to take precautions for a healthier season.

Respiratory illnesses are contagious, and symptoms can vary. Prevention is important, especially as people spend more time indoors during the winter months. Older people, young children, and people with chronic health conditions are at a higher risk of serious complications. Here are some tips for prevention and what to do if you get sick.

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Vaccines: Your Best Defense

Vaccines are available to protect against flu, COVID-19, RSV, and certain types of bacterial pneumonia. Make sure you’re up to date by contacting your healthcare provider, checking with local pharmacies, or visiting vaccines.
gov. Uninsured adults can access free COVID-19 vaccines, while supplies last, by calling OCDPH at 616-396-5266.  

• COVID-19 vaccines: Available for everyone six months and older.

• Flu vaccines: Available for everyone six months and older.

• RSV vaccines: Available for adults 60 and older, and those who are pregnant and babies born during RSV season.

• Pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccines: Now recommended for adults 50 and older, and younger adults who have certain medical conditions.

If You Get Sick


• Test for COVID-19 with an at-home test. Free tests are available from www.covidtests.gov.

• Tests that check for COVID-19 and Influenza A and B are now available for at-home use.

• Testing can be useful, because some people may benefit from anti-viral medication if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 or influenza.  

• These treatments, if started early, can make symptoms milder and shorten the time you are sick. They also may reduce the risk of complications or hospitalization. Other illnesses may not have a specific treatment, but symptoms can be treated while the illness runs its course.

• If you test positive for COVID-19 or flu, contact your healthcare provider to ask about treatment options right away.

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Whooping Cough is Making a Comeback


Cases of whooping cough, also called pertussis, are higher than they have been in previous years.  

• This highly contagious illness often starts with cold-like symptoms but can progress to intense coughing that lasts for weeks.  

• It can be treated with antibiotics.  

• Infants are particularly vulnerable to severe complications, including hospitalization.

• Being up to date on vaccination can make the illness milder if you are infected.

• Contact your healthcare provider if you have had a severe cough for more than three weeks, if you cough so hard it makes you vomit, or if you have a cough after being around someone who has whooping cough.  

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To Prevent the Spread of Whooping Cough


• Stay up to date on vaccinations.

• Stay home and avoid being around people at high risk (babies, older adults, people with weakened immune systems) if you are sick.

• Talk to your healthcare provider about preventive medication if exposed.

• Practice good hygiene, like washing your hands and covering coughs and sneezes.

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Other Tips to Prevent Illness


Help reduce the spread of all respiratory illnesses by following these steps:

• Stay home if you have symptoms, even with a negative COVID-19 or flu test—other germs cause illness too.  

• Wash hands frequently and properly.

• Get lots of rest.

• Stay hydrated and eat healthy foods.

• Increase airflow indoors.

• Wear a well-fitting mask if you must be around others while sick.

• Cover coughs and sneezes.

•Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

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 “It’s cold outside, but respiratory virus season is heating up,” OCDPH Medical Director Dr. Gwen Unzicker said. “Even if we’re not sure which germ is making you sick, the basics apply to all of them: stay up to date on the vaccines your provider recommends; stay away from others if you do get sick; and consider getting tested for the ones that can be treated. This is the best way to take care of yourself and your loved ones this season.”

OCDPH publishes a seasonal weekly respiratory illness report. Find more information about respiratory illness activity in Ottawa County.   

The Ottawa County Department of Public Health works with our community to help assure conditions that promote and protect health for all. OCDPH’s vision is healthy people. For more information, visit?miottawa.org/mihealth. Follow OCDPH on Facebook?@miOttawaHealth, Instagram?@miOCDPH,?or X?@miOCDPH.  

Sheriff’s Office Offers Active Shooter Training Jan. 28


Though we hope you are never faced with the situation, would you know what to do in the case of an active shooter? Doing the right things can increase your odds of getting through alive.

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office's "Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events" class offers thought-provoking and eye-opening strategies for surviving an active shooter event. The class will be offered at 6 p.m. Jan. 28 in the main conference room of the county’s Fillmore Street administration building, 12200 Fillmore St., West Olive.

Participants must be at least 18 years of age and are asked to please bring a picture ID such as a driver's license or state-issued identification.

There is no cost for the class, but registration is required, and space is limited. You can register online through the county website at miottawa.org/AdminEventReg/loadCalendar.action.

BBB Tips for Donating to California Wildfire Relief Efforts


As firefighters continue to battle the wildfires causing devastation in California, the Better Business Bureau has tips to help Michiganders make thoughtful donations to help victims and avoid questionable requests.

• Make Sure the Charity Is Trustworthy by Doing your Homework: Before giving, search for the charity’s report on Give.org to find out if the charity meets the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability (i.e., a BBB Accredited Charity). While disaster fundraising has not yet fully emerged for this tragedy, donors might check with the following BBB Accredited Charities to help start their selection of organizations offering help: American Red Cross, Direct Relief, GlobalGiving and Salvation Army.

• Look for Specific Fire Relief Activities in Appeals: Be wary of relief appeals that have vague program descriptions and do not explain what activities your support will assist.

• Watch Out for Click-Bait and Phishing Scams: Online giving scams tend to pop up after a disaster to take advantage of public sympathy. Don’t click on email, text, or social media links promising to connect you to a familiar charity or posts claiming to be endorsed by celebrities.
Instead, go directly to the charity’s website on your own and do your research into the organization before giving.

• Review Crowdfunding Requests: Some crowdfunding sites take precautions in carefully screening, vetting, and managing postings after a disaster or tragedy. Others might not. If unsure, review the procedures described on the site and also find out about transaction fees and other specifics. GoFundMe (a BBB Accredited Business) says their crisis response team is monitoring the platform for fundraisers created to help individuals, families, and businesses affected. The platform created a centralized hub housing all verified GoFundMe pages related to these wildfires in Southern California.

• Understand the Phases of Disaster Relief: Most disasters go through three periods of activity: rescue, relief, and recovery. Each phase involves different activities and support. You can familiarize yourself with each phase on our Supporting Disaster Relief and Preparedness page.
ABOUT BBB®: BBB in Western Michigan is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior.  Visit BBB.org for more information.