The Hope College Department of Theatre will present Kate Hamill’s “Sense and Sensibility” on Friday-Saturday, April 4-5, and Thursday-Saturday, April 10-12, at 7:30 p.m., along with a free 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 6. All performances will be in the DeWitt Center main theatre.

Directed by Rhett Luedkte, associate professor of theatre at Hope, “Sense and Sensibility” is based on Jane Austen’s cherished novel of the same name. With a delightfully tongue-in-cheek script, this production brings the Dashwood sisters to life. Faced with 18th-century England’s rigid social conventions, the sensible Elinor and the sensitive Marianne cope with the pressures of class, wealth and reputation. When they are plunged into financial uncertainty following their father’s demise, they embark on a whirlwind of romantic entanglements, colorful neighbors and the tantalizing prospect of a future brimming with hope.

Saturday, April 12, will be an Accessibility Saturday performance. It will feature optional live captioning, live audio description services, sensory-friendly light and sound design, and the main theatre’s FM-assisted listening system.

The cast includes freshmen Rilla Carpenter of Holland and Victor Powell of Norton Shores; sophomores Nadia Cuthrell of Haslett, Kaylee Siddens of Corunna, Kyle Spiegel of Wheaton, Ill., and Naomi Whitfield of Haverhill, Mass.; juniors Jaden Johnson of Frankfort, Christopher Laubach of Macomb, Adeline Thalhammer of Swartz Creek and Sofia Wake of Washington, Ill.; and seniors Ruby Hlathein of Waunakee, Wash., Gabriel LaForce of Paw Paw and Ashley Lauraine of Holland.

Tickets are $15 for regular admission; $10 for senior citizens and Hope faculty and staff; and free for Hope College students and other students ages 18 and under. Tickets are available at the Events and Conferences Office located in downtown Holland in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center, 100 E. Eighth St. The ticket office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at (616) 395-7890. Tickets may be purchased by calling or visiting the ticket office, online at hope.edu/tickets, or in person at the performance. Reserved tickets must be claimed 10 minutes prior to performances in order to guarantee seating.

To reserve seats for the free Sunday matinee, please email theatre@hope.edu with your name and the number of seats you wish to reserve.

The DeWitt Student and Cultural Center is located at 141 E. 12th St., facing Columbia Avenue between 10th and 13th Streets.

The Ottawa County Emergency Management Office announces the resumption of its monthly outdoor warning siren tests, beginning this Friday at noon. These tests will occur on the first Friday of each month at noon, from April through October.

Outdoor warning sirens are an essential part of the county’s emergency alert system, designed to warn residents who are outdoors of imminent severe weather or other life-threatening emergencies, such as tornadoes. These sirens are not intended to be heard indoors; residents should have additional alert methods, such as weather radios, mobile alerts, and local news sources, to stay informed.

—————

What Should You Do When You Hear a Siren?

• During a real emergency: Immediately seek shelter indoors and obtain more information from trusted sources like NOAA weather radio, local TV, or emergency apps.

• During a test: Take the opportunity to mentally review your emergency plan. If a real emergency occurred, would you know where to go? Do you have an emergency kit prepared? Now is the time to think ahead.

Ottawa County Emergency Management encourages all residents to use these monthly siren tests as a reminder to stay prepared. Emergencies can happen at any time—having a plan in place can make all the difference.

For more information on emergency preparedness and alerts, visit miottawa.org/sheriff/em.

Downtown Holland is excited to announce the return of the Spring Fling from April 7-13.

Head to downtown for the second annual Spring Fling, an entire week filled with awesome giveaways, shopping and dining discounts, fun in-store promotions, yard games, and more.

“We’re so excited for the return of the Spring Fling in downtown Holland and to offer families that are staying here in West Michigan for spring break something fun to look forward to,” Downtown Holland Marketing Coordinator Kara de Alvare said. “We have a little something for everyone to enjoy, including an incredible gift card giveaway valued at over $1,000.”

The Spring Fling fun kicks off on Monday, April 7. The first 1,000 customers in downtown can visit the Courtyard Marriot Hotel, 121 E. 8th St., to pick up a free Downtown Holland tote bag, along with an official Spring Fling shopping and dining passport and a boarding pass featuring “flight” specials at participating restaurants. A print-friendly version of the passport and boarding pass can also be downloaded on the Spring Fling website at holland springfling.com for those not able to make it on April 7.

All week long, spring breakers can get their passport stamped every time they make a purchase at one of the nearly 50 shops and restaurants participating in the Spring Fling.
Once they have received 10 stamps, customers can turn in their passport for a chance at winning the grand prize drawing for a Downtown Holland gift card bundle valued at $1,000. A runnerup will also be selected at random to win a $100 gift card to their favorite downtown business.

Participating shops and restaurants will also be offering 20 percent off discounts throughout the Spring Fling, with savings on clothing, shoes, accessories, cosmetics, books, gifts, meals, and more. Discount details vary by business, so please see the full list of 20 percent discount offers on the Spring Fling website.

And while those traveling for Spring Break will be wrestling with long security lines, lost luggage, and a lack of leg room on their flights this week, downtown customers can relax with a different type of flight. As part of the Spring Fling, participating restaurants and cafes, and pubs will be offering special “flights” on cocktails, appetizers, sweet treats, and more. Check out the printed boarding pass for all of the flight specials or view the list on the Spring Fling website so you don’t miss a single flight.

Spring Fling concludes with a weekend of outdoor fun from Friday, April 11 – Sunday, April 13.

Customers ages 21 and older are invited to grab a drink from one of the nearly 20 Social District establishments in downtown Holland while playing a variety of fun yard games for free all along 8th Street, including cornhole, mini golf, and more. (This event is weather dependent.)

For additional Downtown Holland Spring Fling details, including a list of participating businesses, discount offers, and more, visit www.hollandspringfling.com or call (616) 796-1210 with questions.

Zeeland Festivals is excited to announce the first Easter Egg Hunt, taking place on Saturday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to noon in the heart of downtown Zeeland.

This lively event invites families and community members of all ages to join in the fun as more than 6,000 colorful Easter eggs will be hidden throughout the streets.

What sets this egg hunt apart is its unique scavenger hunt format, ensuring a no-pressure experience for everyone. Participants will not only find eggs filled with toys and candy, but also special eggs marked with numbers.

Each numbered egg corresponds to a larger prize, which will be available at the event but will not fit inside the egg. For those who find a numbered egg, please bring it to the prize table, located in front of Zeeland Bakery at 130 E. Main St., where you can claim your reward.

The goal of this event is to foster a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere that encourages participation from all generations. In addition to the egg hunt, attendees can look forward to a special visit from the Easter Bunny, compliments of Balanced Health Chiropractic. We invite you to grab your Easter baskets and join us for a memorable day filled with smiles, laughter, and community connection.

Please be sure to visit zeelandfestivals.com/easter-egg-hunt for up-to-date information on the event.

By Hillary Hatch
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist

Some people who receive monthly Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments may need help managing their money.

When we receive information that indicates you need help, we’ll work with you to find the most suitable representative payee to manage your benefits. A representative payee is someone who receives your monthly benefit payment on your behalf and must use the money to pay for your current needs, including:

• Food

• Clothing

• Personal care items.

• Housing and utilities.

• Medical and dental expenses.

• Rehabilitation expenses (if you have a disability).

If you need help managing your benefits, tell a Social Security representative that there is someone you want to be your representative payee. Your representative payee should be someone you trust and interact with often, and who clearly understands your needs. Social service agencies, nursing homes, or other organizations are also qualified to be a representative payee.  

You can write to us within 60 days of being assigned a representative payee if you don’t agree that you need one or if you want a different representative payee.

We also offer Advance Designation, which allows you to name up to three people who could serve as a representative payee for you if the need ever arises. You and your family will have peace of mind knowing that someone you trust may be appointed to manage your benefits for you.

You can submit your Advance Designation request when you apply for benefits or after you are already receiving benefits. You may also do so through your personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount or by calling and speaking to a Social Security representative.

You can find more information at www.ssa.gov/payee.