Judah Scholten, 5, takes a turn operating a fire hose during Zeeland’s National Night Out downtown on Aug. 5. Zeeland firefighter Kira Klomparens guides Judah in directing the hose to knock down the “fire” (actually, an orange traffic cone). National Night Out gave kids an opportunity to see police and fire vehicles up close and interact with officers and firefighters. Police served up root beer floats during the event.
Photo by Greg Chandler
Photo by Greg Chandler
Township Board Approves Capital Improvement Plan
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Township plans to more than double its investment into capital improvement projects for the township next year.
The Township Board on Aug. 5 adopted the township’s capital improvement plan that covers projects through 2031.
The township plans to invest about $5.6 million into various capital projects in 2026, more than double this year’s capital improvement budget of nearly $2.57 million.
One of the big-ticket projects the township plans to pursue next year is repaving of the bike path along Adams Street from just west of Esker Drive to the township boundary at 96th Avenue. The project, which has an estimated cost of $1.75 million, would also replace three of the boardwalks along the bike path, Township Manager Josh Eggleston said.
The Adams Street bike path had originally been scheduled for 2028, “but the condition of the trail will not allow us to wait that long,” Eggleston wrote in a memo to the board.
The CIP also includes $1,635,000 as the township’s share of the cost for the Church Street sewer main project, which will replace the main trunk line along Church leading to the city of Zeeland’s Clean Water Plant. Much of the discussion on the overall $2.4 million project has focused on proper sizing of the line to accommodate the future needs of the 425 area, particularly the current and future needs of Gentex Corporation, Eggleston wrote in a memo to the board.
“It is likely that the Township will negotiate some cost sharing by Gentex on this project, but the full amount will still be shown as an expense in the CIP,” Eggelston wrote in his memo.
At the Drenthe Grove, the township plans to build additional pickleball courts as part of an overall plan to upgrade that park facility over the next few years. The township has budgeted $495,000 to build the courts, Eggleston said.
The new pickleball courts were included in the Drenthe Grove master plan that was finalized recently by township’s consulting firm, Prein & Newhof, and accepted by its Parks and Recreation Committee. Among the first projects to be undertaken under the master plan is resurfacing of the basketball and tennis courts, which is planned for this fall, Eggleston said.
The township fire department has several major purchases planned for next year, totaling more than $285,000. They plan to replace two pickup trucks that have served as rescue units over the last few years. One of the two trucks will be reconfigured into a general township vehicle while the other will be outfitted with apparatus to fight brush fires, allowing the township to retire its current 1985 brush truck, Eggleston said.
The township also plans to purchase a third rescue unit vehicle that would be a sport-utility vehicle. The purchase will also allow for a department vehicle to be used as an incident-command vehicle. Currently, the fire chief and other department officers use their personal vehicles when responding to a call, Eggleston said.
The township also plans to buy land for the possible relocation of the fire department’s Station 1, currently located at the northwest corner of Byron Road and 64th Avenue. The township has set aside $250,000 in the CIP budget for that purchase.
“It’s been in the plan several years. I think there’s some options for a piece of land for a new Station 1 … It doesn’t mean we’re going to build it next year, but to meet our long-term needs we do have the land purchase built in,” Eggleston said.
The township is exploring reusing the current Station 1 building as a public service/Department of Public Works garage, given its proximity to Drenthe Grove and its location on the township bike trail system, Eggleston said.
The CIP budget also includes $105,000 for the Township Hall and Community Center, including $40,000 to replace the floor at the Community Center and $10,000 from for a long-awaited audio-visual system, Eggleston said.
“The Community Center floor is in very, very bad shape,” Eggleston said. “We’ve had a couple of people look at it. I’m not sure if we’re going to do a new laminate floor or epoxy floor.”
The six-year CIP calls for spending $2,435,000 in 2027, $1,885,000 in 2028 and $1,712,100 in 2029, according to township documents.
The capital improvement plan will be incorporated into township’s 2026 budget that will be presented to the board next month, Eggelston said.
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Township plans to more than double its investment into capital improvement projects for the township next year.
The Township Board on Aug. 5 adopted the township’s capital improvement plan that covers projects through 2031.
The township plans to invest about $5.6 million into various capital projects in 2026, more than double this year’s capital improvement budget of nearly $2.57 million.
One of the big-ticket projects the township plans to pursue next year is repaving of the bike path along Adams Street from just west of Esker Drive to the township boundary at 96th Avenue. The project, which has an estimated cost of $1.75 million, would also replace three of the boardwalks along the bike path, Township Manager Josh Eggleston said.
The Adams Street bike path had originally been scheduled for 2028, “but the condition of the trail will not allow us to wait that long,” Eggleston wrote in a memo to the board.
The CIP also includes $1,635,000 as the township’s share of the cost for the Church Street sewer main project, which will replace the main trunk line along Church leading to the city of Zeeland’s Clean Water Plant. Much of the discussion on the overall $2.4 million project has focused on proper sizing of the line to accommodate the future needs of the 425 area, particularly the current and future needs of Gentex Corporation, Eggleston wrote in a memo to the board.
“It is likely that the Township will negotiate some cost sharing by Gentex on this project, but the full amount will still be shown as an expense in the CIP,” Eggelston wrote in his memo.
At the Drenthe Grove, the township plans to build additional pickleball courts as part of an overall plan to upgrade that park facility over the next few years. The township has budgeted $495,000 to build the courts, Eggleston said.
The new pickleball courts were included in the Drenthe Grove master plan that was finalized recently by township’s consulting firm, Prein & Newhof, and accepted by its Parks and Recreation Committee. Among the first projects to be undertaken under the master plan is resurfacing of the basketball and tennis courts, which is planned for this fall, Eggleston said.
The township fire department has several major purchases planned for next year, totaling more than $285,000. They plan to replace two pickup trucks that have served as rescue units over the last few years. One of the two trucks will be reconfigured into a general township vehicle while the other will be outfitted with apparatus to fight brush fires, allowing the township to retire its current 1985 brush truck, Eggleston said.
The township also plans to purchase a third rescue unit vehicle that would be a sport-utility vehicle. The purchase will also allow for a department vehicle to be used as an incident-command vehicle. Currently, the fire chief and other department officers use their personal vehicles when responding to a call, Eggleston said.
The township also plans to buy land for the possible relocation of the fire department’s Station 1, currently located at the northwest corner of Byron Road and 64th Avenue. The township has set aside $250,000 in the CIP budget for that purchase.
“It’s been in the plan several years. I think there’s some options for a piece of land for a new Station 1 … It doesn’t mean we’re going to build it next year, but to meet our long-term needs we do have the land purchase built in,” Eggleston said.
The township is exploring reusing the current Station 1 building as a public service/Department of Public Works garage, given its proximity to Drenthe Grove and its location on the township bike trail system, Eggleston said.
The CIP budget also includes $105,000 for the Township Hall and Community Center, including $40,000 to replace the floor at the Community Center and $10,000 from for a long-awaited audio-visual system, Eggleston said.
“The Community Center floor is in very, very bad shape,” Eggleston said. “We’ve had a couple of people look at it. I’m not sure if we’re going to do a new laminate floor or epoxy floor.”
The six-year CIP calls for spending $2,435,000 in 2027, $1,885,000 in 2028 and $1,712,100 in 2029, according to township documents.
The capital improvement plan will be incorporated into township’s 2026 budget that will be presented to the board next month, Eggelston said.
County Parks to Hold Educational Event at Hemlock on Combating Invasive Insect
Ottawa County Parks & Recreation invites the public to a special educational event next Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at Hemlock Crossing Park to learn how the county is addressing infestations of the invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA).
HWA is a tiny, invasive insect that threatens Michigan’s eastern hemlock trees. First detected in Ottawa County in 2016, HWA can kill a mature tree in as little as four years if left untreated. In response, Ottawa County Parks has been actively surveying and treating infestations to slow the spread and protect thousands of native hemlocks in local forests.
During this event, Ottawa County Parks natural resources management staff will provide insights into the history and biology of HWA, how OCPR is managing to mitigate its impacts, and share options for landowners with hemlocks on their property. The program will also include a live demonstration of treatment methods and a short hike to observe infested trees in the field.
This event is free and open to the public. Whether you're a landowner with hemlocks or simply interested in local conservation efforts, this is a great opportunity to learn how you can help protect our forests from invasive species.
Registration is encouraged and closes at 12 noon on Tuesday. You can register online through the county parks site at miottawa.org/parks, then click on the “Find A Program” link.
HWA is a tiny, invasive insect that threatens Michigan’s eastern hemlock trees. First detected in Ottawa County in 2016, HWA can kill a mature tree in as little as four years if left untreated. In response, Ottawa County Parks has been actively surveying and treating infestations to slow the spread and protect thousands of native hemlocks in local forests.
During this event, Ottawa County Parks natural resources management staff will provide insights into the history and biology of HWA, how OCPR is managing to mitigate its impacts, and share options for landowners with hemlocks on their property. The program will also include a live demonstration of treatment methods and a short hike to observe infested trees in the field.
This event is free and open to the public. Whether you're a landowner with hemlocks or simply interested in local conservation efforts, this is a great opportunity to learn how you can help protect our forests from invasive species.
Registration is encouraged and closes at 12 noon on Tuesday. You can register online through the county parks site at miottawa.org/parks, then click on the “Find A Program” link.
City Offices to Be Restored After Flooding
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Three offices in the city of Zeeland’s Community Development Department and an upstairs breakroom at City Hall will be getting restoration work done after they were flooded over the Fourth of July weekend.
The City Council on Aug. 4 waived formal bidding requirements for the restoration work and set a project budget of $35,000, which would be paid for through insurance.
A water line break from a freezer ice maker caused the flooding, Assistant City Manager Kevin Plockmeyer said.
The offices and breakroom went through several weeks of drying to get it ready for restoration. City Facilities Supervisor Ben Kiewiet has been getting quotes from local contractors for the work. Plockmeyer asked the council to waive the bidding requirements to get the project going as quickly as possible.
“This would allow staff to continue collecting quotes and select contractors based on cost, availability and scheduling considerations to ensure the work is completed as efficiently as possible,” Plockmeyer wrote in a memo to the council.
Zeeland Record
Three offices in the city of Zeeland’s Community Development Department and an upstairs breakroom at City Hall will be getting restoration work done after they were flooded over the Fourth of July weekend.
The City Council on Aug. 4 waived formal bidding requirements for the restoration work and set a project budget of $35,000, which would be paid for through insurance.
A water line break from a freezer ice maker caused the flooding, Assistant City Manager Kevin Plockmeyer said.
The offices and breakroom went through several weeks of drying to get it ready for restoration. City Facilities Supervisor Ben Kiewiet has been getting quotes from local contractors for the work. Plockmeyer asked the council to waive the bidding requirements to get the project going as quickly as possible.
“This would allow staff to continue collecting quotes and select contractors based on cost, availability and scheduling considerations to ensure the work is completed as efficiently as possible,” Plockmeyer wrote in a memo to the council.
Planning Commission OKs Highpoint Expansion
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Highpoint Finishing Solutions is expanding its facility at 541 E. Roosevelt Ave.
The Zeeland Planning Commission last Thursday approved a site plan for the company’s expansion, which will add 19,200 square feet to the rear of its existing 36,000-square-foot building. The company is investing $1.3 million into the project, according to its application to the city for the site plan.
Approval of the expansion was fairly routine, with commissioners agreeing to waive a requirement for a landscape island in the interior of the parking lot. The parking lot is being expanded and reconfigured to add 21 more parking spaces.
Mayor Kevin Klynstra, who serves on the Planning Commission, supported waiving the landscape island requirement because of how the parking lot is laid out – off to the east of the building rather than in front.
“If it was in the front of the building, it’d be another story, but seeing that it’s toward the back, we really don’t see it,” Klynstra said.
Highpoint Finishing Solutions performs polishing, buffing and satin finishing of aluminum extrusions, aluminum castings, brass, plastic, stainless steel, steel and zinc castings.
Zeeland Record
Highpoint Finishing Solutions is expanding its facility at 541 E. Roosevelt Ave.
The Zeeland Planning Commission last Thursday approved a site plan for the company’s expansion, which will add 19,200 square feet to the rear of its existing 36,000-square-foot building. The company is investing $1.3 million into the project, according to its application to the city for the site plan.
Approval of the expansion was fairly routine, with commissioners agreeing to waive a requirement for a landscape island in the interior of the parking lot. The parking lot is being expanded and reconfigured to add 21 more parking spaces.
Mayor Kevin Klynstra, who serves on the Planning Commission, supported waiving the landscape island requirement because of how the parking lot is laid out – off to the east of the building rather than in front.
“If it was in the front of the building, it’d be another story, but seeing that it’s toward the back, we really don’t see it,” Klynstra said.
Highpoint Finishing Solutions performs polishing, buffing and satin finishing of aluminum extrusions, aluminum castings, brass, plastic, stainless steel, steel and zinc castings.
Hospice Clears Up Common Myths About End-of-Life Care
After finding out what hospice is – and is not – families often wish they’d called sooner.
Photo courtesy Emmanuel Hospice
Emmanuel Hospice
Myths and misconceptions surrounding hospice have caused people to delay accessing supportive end-of-life care they’re entitled to – or skip it entirely.
Melissa Wedberg, vice president of community relations at Emmanuel Hospice, is passionate about dispelling these myths and empowering individuals to take advantage of hospice services earlier on.
“If you have Medicare or private insurance, hospice is a benefit you have a right to when you’re medically eligible,” Wedberg said. “We are not hastening death; we are bringing support. Delaying hospice can lead to unnecessary pain, suffering and potentially even loss of time with loved ones. After finding out what hospice is – and is not – families wish they’d called sooner.”
—————
Hospice is not giving up.
According to Wedberg, this is the biggest mental and emotional barrier that exists not only for patients but for families and even for some physicians, too.
“Hospice is not about resigning to the disease process or age; it’s about refocusing goals,” she explained. “When someone doesn’t have curative options left, we focus on enhancing quality of life. At Emmanuel, we start with the question, ‘How do you want to live?’ Hospice means gaining support during a difficult time rather than going through it alone.”
—————
Hospice is not just for your last days or hours.
Individuals can be on hospice for months or more, especially when enrolling sooner than later. There are many diagnoses that make you eligible.
“It might surprise people to learn that someone on hospice is not necessarily someone who looks like they’re dying,” Wedberg said. “You may have seen a hospice patient and not even known it because they were out at a grocery store or attending a ball game. Hospice care is helping that individual live how they want to live for the time they have left.”
—————
Hospice does not hasten death.
“Hospice care is a way for people to live more comfortably for longer,” Wedberg said. “In fact, we believe hospice is more about living than dying. We work tirelessly to provide life-giving opportunities that make every moment matter.”
Studies have found hospice patients may actually live longer due to better quality of life and symptom management than those with similar illnesses who are not receiving end-of-life care.
—————
Hospice will not make you change doctors.
“You can keep your primary care provider, or you can choose to have your care overseen by the hospice medical director,” Wedberg said. “What’s important for patients and families to know is they remain in control when they sign on. We offer support and solutions; you can decide if or how you want to accept them.”
—————
Hospice will not take away your medications.
A hospice nurse will work with a patient’s doctor to determine which medications are necessary to maintain comfort, but “if a patient wants to continue a medication they’re taking, they’re generally able to do so,” Wedberg said.
—————
Hospice is not a refusal of all medical treatment.
While choosing hospice means a focus on quality of life over curative measures, that doesn’t mean all medical treatments stop.
“With the exception of cancer treatment or dialysis, it’s rare patients have to give up treatment, especially when it’s for symptom management,” Wedberg said.
—————
Hospice will not administer pain medication regardless of need.
Some believe hospice will immediately use heavy pain management, such as morphine or opioids, no matter the situation. There is also the myth that these medications will hasten death. Both are not true.
“We only treat pain if pain exists,” Wedberg said. “And we’re going to treat it at the appropriate level for each individual only to relieve discomfort and improve their quality of life.”
Additionally, patients are empowered to use other therapies and services, such as massage therapy, acupuncture, essential oils and more, alongside or instead of medication to manage their symptoms, depending on their wishes and goals.
—————
Hospice is not a place.
Hospice is rarely an actual location that people go to, but rather a service that comes to you wherever you call home.
—————
Hospice is not a one-time decision.
“If for any reason you don’t want hospice anymore, you can stop at any time and there’s no penalty,” Wedberg said. “You can leave and come back. You can switch providers. If a miracle treatment or clinical trial becomes available, you could take it. But in the meantime, if you’re eligible for hospice, why not get that support in place?”
Zeeland native Sara Torrey Lowe founded Emmanuel Hospice in 2013 with Sr. Gabriela Hilke in collaboration with St. Ann’s Home, Clark Retirement, Porter Hills and Sunset Retirement Community. Lowe is now the chief executive officer of Emmanuel Hospice.
For more information, call (616) 719-0919 or visit Emmanuel Hospice.org.
Myths and misconceptions surrounding hospice have caused people to delay accessing supportive end-of-life care they’re entitled to – or skip it entirely.
Melissa Wedberg, vice president of community relations at Emmanuel Hospice, is passionate about dispelling these myths and empowering individuals to take advantage of hospice services earlier on.
“If you have Medicare or private insurance, hospice is a benefit you have a right to when you’re medically eligible,” Wedberg said. “We are not hastening death; we are bringing support. Delaying hospice can lead to unnecessary pain, suffering and potentially even loss of time with loved ones. After finding out what hospice is – and is not – families wish they’d called sooner.”
—————
Hospice is not giving up.
According to Wedberg, this is the biggest mental and emotional barrier that exists not only for patients but for families and even for some physicians, too.
“Hospice is not about resigning to the disease process or age; it’s about refocusing goals,” she explained. “When someone doesn’t have curative options left, we focus on enhancing quality of life. At Emmanuel, we start with the question, ‘How do you want to live?’ Hospice means gaining support during a difficult time rather than going through it alone.”
—————
Hospice is not just for your last days or hours.
Individuals can be on hospice for months or more, especially when enrolling sooner than later. There are many diagnoses that make you eligible.
“It might surprise people to learn that someone on hospice is not necessarily someone who looks like they’re dying,” Wedberg said. “You may have seen a hospice patient and not even known it because they were out at a grocery store or attending a ball game. Hospice care is helping that individual live how they want to live for the time they have left.”
—————
Hospice does not hasten death.
“Hospice care is a way for people to live more comfortably for longer,” Wedberg said. “In fact, we believe hospice is more about living than dying. We work tirelessly to provide life-giving opportunities that make every moment matter.”
Studies have found hospice patients may actually live longer due to better quality of life and symptom management than those with similar illnesses who are not receiving end-of-life care.
—————
Hospice will not make you change doctors.
“You can keep your primary care provider, or you can choose to have your care overseen by the hospice medical director,” Wedberg said. “What’s important for patients and families to know is they remain in control when they sign on. We offer support and solutions; you can decide if or how you want to accept them.”
—————
Hospice will not take away your medications.
A hospice nurse will work with a patient’s doctor to determine which medications are necessary to maintain comfort, but “if a patient wants to continue a medication they’re taking, they’re generally able to do so,” Wedberg said.
—————
Hospice is not a refusal of all medical treatment.
While choosing hospice means a focus on quality of life over curative measures, that doesn’t mean all medical treatments stop.
“With the exception of cancer treatment or dialysis, it’s rare patients have to give up treatment, especially when it’s for symptom management,” Wedberg said.
—————
Hospice will not administer pain medication regardless of need.
Some believe hospice will immediately use heavy pain management, such as morphine or opioids, no matter the situation. There is also the myth that these medications will hasten death. Both are not true.
“We only treat pain if pain exists,” Wedberg said. “And we’re going to treat it at the appropriate level for each individual only to relieve discomfort and improve their quality of life.”
Additionally, patients are empowered to use other therapies and services, such as massage therapy, acupuncture, essential oils and more, alongside or instead of medication to manage their symptoms, depending on their wishes and goals.
—————
Hospice is not a place.
Hospice is rarely an actual location that people go to, but rather a service that comes to you wherever you call home.
—————
Hospice is not a one-time decision.
“If for any reason you don’t want hospice anymore, you can stop at any time and there’s no penalty,” Wedberg said. “You can leave and come back. You can switch providers. If a miracle treatment or clinical trial becomes available, you could take it. But in the meantime, if you’re eligible for hospice, why not get that support in place?”
Zeeland native Sara Torrey Lowe founded Emmanuel Hospice in 2013 with Sr. Gabriela Hilke in collaboration with St. Ann’s Home, Clark Retirement, Porter Hills and Sunset Retirement Community. Lowe is now the chief executive officer of Emmanuel Hospice.
For more information, call (616) 719-0919 or visit Emmanuel Hospice.org.
Hope Announces Great Performance Series
Hope College’s Great Performance Series (GPS) is returning for the 2025-26 season, welcoming internationally acclaimed artists in music, theatre and dance.
—————
Thursday & Friday, Sept. 18-19, 7:30 pm – DeWitt Theatre
Koresh Dance Company
The season opens with Koresh Dance Company, performing “Masquerade,” which blends live dance with music and features soprano and composer Sage DeAgro-Ruopp. The dance is supported with choreography by Roni Koresh, whose work represents his experience of both Israeli and American cultures. Born and raised in Israel, he received early dance training from his mother, a folk dancer in the Yemenite tradition. Avoiding terms such as ballet, modern or folk, Koresh simply calls his work “dance.” The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote, “Koresh Dance Company’s ‘Masquerade’ shines in the glorious talent of its guest artist Sage DeAgro-Ruopp.”
—————
Thursday, Oct. 9, 7:30 pm – Jack H. Miller Center
Miguel Zenón Quartet, Jazz Saxophonist
Grammy-winning jazz saxophonist Miguel Zenón is a saxophonist and composer known for his work that blends jazz with Afro-Caribbean and Latin American influences. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Zenón has released 17 recordings as a leader, including his latest, the Grammy-nominated “Golden City” (2024) and the Grammy-winning album “El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2” (2023). The MacArthur Foundation wrote, “This musician and composer is at once reestablishing the artistic, cultural, and social tradition of jazz while creating an entirely new jazz language for the 21st century.”
—————
Thursday, Nov. 13, 7:30 pm – Jack H. Miller Center
Neave Trio
The Grammy-nominated Neave Trio featuring violinist Anna Williams, cellist Mikhail Veselov and pianist Eri Nakamura, formed in 2010 and has released multiple recordings, most recently “Rooted” (2024), a collection of folk-inspired works. New York's classical music radio station WQXR explained Neave is actually a Gaelic name meaning 'bright' and 'radiant,’ “both of which certainly apply to this trio's music making." In celebration of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, the evening will feature two works by American composers: Gabriela Lena Frank’s “Four Folk Songs” and Reena Esmail’s “Piano Trio.” In addition, the evening will include Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s 1906 work, “Five Negro Melodies for Piano Trio,” written after several trips to the United States.
—————
Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 pm – Jack H. Miller Center
The Dudok Quartet Amsterdam
The second half of the series opens with this Dutch quartet known for performing a traditional repertoire alongside new works. Having first met as members of the Ricciotti Ensemble, a Dutch street symphony orchestra, the Dudok Quartet studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne with the Alban Berg Quartet. They have since released 10 albums, ranging from newly commissioned works to recordings of Hayden, Brahms and Tchaikovsky. For this concert, the group will perform pieces by Franz Schubert, Bushra El-Turk and Dmitri Shostakovich. “The Dudok Quartet Amsterdam was quite simply, revelatory,” reviewed The Irish Times.
—————
Thursday, March 12, at 7:30 pm – Jack H. Miller Center
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Next, this five-time, Grammy-winning ensemble is a South African group performing in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube, both rising from Zulu culture. The group gained international recognition through their collaboration with Paul Simon on the album “Graceland.” They’ve performed with artists ranging from Michael Jackson to Dolly Parton and have represented their country at special events around the world. In their newest release, “Soothe My Soul…Songs From Our South African Church” (2024), the group puts their spin on gospel music. Nelson Mandela, who invited the group to perform at his Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, once referred to them as “South Africa’s cultural ambassadors to the world.”
—————
Saturday, April 11, at 7:30 pm – Knickerbocker Theatre
Reduced Shakespeare Company
The season will conclude with the “bad boys of abridgement,” who will perform “All the Great Books (abridged).” In this production, the three performers will deliver hilarious, condensed versions of over 80 works of literature in just 98 minutes. Audiences will experience a rollercoaster ride through the world's most significant works, distilled down to their funniest, most essential moments. The Washington Post called the group’s work “English class meets Monty Python” and the New York Times described it as “intellectual vaudeville.”
Season subscriptions and tickets are available in three different ways:
• Online at hope.edu/tickets
• In person at the Events and Conferences office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.)
• Or by calling the ticket office at (616) 395-7890. The office is open for ticket sales on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Season subscriptions are on sale now. Tickets for individual shows will be on sale beginning Aug. 18.
To inquire about accessibility or if accommodations are needed to fully participate in the event, please email accommodations@ hope.edu. Updates related to events are posted when available at hope.edu/calendar in the individual listings.
More information on the artists, including videos, is available at hope.edu/gps.
—————
Thursday & Friday, Sept. 18-19, 7:30 pm – DeWitt Theatre
Koresh Dance Company
The season opens with Koresh Dance Company, performing “Masquerade,” which blends live dance with music and features soprano and composer Sage DeAgro-Ruopp. The dance is supported with choreography by Roni Koresh, whose work represents his experience of both Israeli and American cultures. Born and raised in Israel, he received early dance training from his mother, a folk dancer in the Yemenite tradition. Avoiding terms such as ballet, modern or folk, Koresh simply calls his work “dance.” The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote, “Koresh Dance Company’s ‘Masquerade’ shines in the glorious talent of its guest artist Sage DeAgro-Ruopp.”
—————
Thursday, Oct. 9, 7:30 pm – Jack H. Miller Center
Miguel Zenón Quartet, Jazz Saxophonist
Grammy-winning jazz saxophonist Miguel Zenón is a saxophonist and composer known for his work that blends jazz with Afro-Caribbean and Latin American influences. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Zenón has released 17 recordings as a leader, including his latest, the Grammy-nominated “Golden City” (2024) and the Grammy-winning album “El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2” (2023). The MacArthur Foundation wrote, “This musician and composer is at once reestablishing the artistic, cultural, and social tradition of jazz while creating an entirely new jazz language for the 21st century.”
—————
Thursday, Nov. 13, 7:30 pm – Jack H. Miller Center
Neave Trio
The Grammy-nominated Neave Trio featuring violinist Anna Williams, cellist Mikhail Veselov and pianist Eri Nakamura, formed in 2010 and has released multiple recordings, most recently “Rooted” (2024), a collection of folk-inspired works. New York's classical music radio station WQXR explained Neave is actually a Gaelic name meaning 'bright' and 'radiant,’ “both of which certainly apply to this trio's music making." In celebration of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, the evening will feature two works by American composers: Gabriela Lena Frank’s “Four Folk Songs” and Reena Esmail’s “Piano Trio.” In addition, the evening will include Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s 1906 work, “Five Negro Melodies for Piano Trio,” written after several trips to the United States.
—————
Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 pm – Jack H. Miller Center
The Dudok Quartet Amsterdam
The second half of the series opens with this Dutch quartet known for performing a traditional repertoire alongside new works. Having first met as members of the Ricciotti Ensemble, a Dutch street symphony orchestra, the Dudok Quartet studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne with the Alban Berg Quartet. They have since released 10 albums, ranging from newly commissioned works to recordings of Hayden, Brahms and Tchaikovsky. For this concert, the group will perform pieces by Franz Schubert, Bushra El-Turk and Dmitri Shostakovich. “The Dudok Quartet Amsterdam was quite simply, revelatory,” reviewed The Irish Times.
—————
Thursday, March 12, at 7:30 pm – Jack H. Miller Center
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Next, this five-time, Grammy-winning ensemble is a South African group performing in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube, both rising from Zulu culture. The group gained international recognition through their collaboration with Paul Simon on the album “Graceland.” They’ve performed with artists ranging from Michael Jackson to Dolly Parton and have represented their country at special events around the world. In their newest release, “Soothe My Soul…Songs From Our South African Church” (2024), the group puts their spin on gospel music. Nelson Mandela, who invited the group to perform at his Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, once referred to them as “South Africa’s cultural ambassadors to the world.”
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Saturday, April 11, at 7:30 pm – Knickerbocker Theatre
Reduced Shakespeare Company
The season will conclude with the “bad boys of abridgement,” who will perform “All the Great Books (abridged).” In this production, the three performers will deliver hilarious, condensed versions of over 80 works of literature in just 98 minutes. Audiences will experience a rollercoaster ride through the world's most significant works, distilled down to their funniest, most essential moments. The Washington Post called the group’s work “English class meets Monty Python” and the New York Times described it as “intellectual vaudeville.”
Season subscriptions and tickets are available in three different ways:
• Online at hope.edu/tickets
• In person at the Events and Conferences office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.)
• Or by calling the ticket office at (616) 395-7890. The office is open for ticket sales on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Season subscriptions are on sale now. Tickets for individual shows will be on sale beginning Aug. 18.
To inquire about accessibility or if accommodations are needed to fully participate in the event, please email accommodations@ hope.edu. Updates related to events are posted when available at hope.edu/calendar in the individual listings.
More information on the artists, including videos, is available at hope.edu/gps.
Historical Society Ice Cream Social Tonight
The Zeeland Historical Society will hold its annual ice cream social tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. on the back lawn of the Dekker Huis Museum, 37 E. Main Ave.
This traditional event will feature live music from Zeeland Music Academy student Anna Vonk, old-fashioned lawn games and rides in a Model A car. The museum will also be open for tours.
There is no cost to attend, but donations are appreciated – just come ready to enjoy a taste of summer and a bit of local history.
This traditional event will feature live music from Zeeland Music Academy student Anna Vonk, old-fashioned lawn games and rides in a Model A car. The museum will also be open for tours.
There is no cost to attend, but donations are appreciated – just come ready to enjoy a taste of summer and a bit of local history.
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