Zeeland East High School seniors Cameron Jaworowski and Elle Maatman were crowned the school’s homecoming king and queen at last Friday’s homecoming game against Grand Rapids South Christian at Zeeland Stadium.
Photo credit Olivia Valenzuela, Zeeland East High School
Photo credit Olivia Valenzuela, Zeeland East High School
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Recreation has created a new event to help seniors step back in time to when they went to their high school senior prom.
On Saturday, Nov. 1, Zeeland Rec will hold its first-ever “Seniors Prom” for those 60 years of age and older. The event will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. inside the Cityside Middle School gymnasium, with attendees asked to enter through the Zeeland Rec entrance. The prom theme is “Forever Young.”
The Seniors Prom is the brainchild of Zeeland Recreation fitness coordinator Karissa Klyn and programs and events coordinator Katelyn Parker. Klyn says the two were looking to hold an event that would be fun for local seniors.
“After being here just a few months, I recognized that our senior memberships here are very strong, and how amazing that group of people is,” Klyn said. “They’re sweet, they’re fun, they’re hilarious. We just sat down and thought of what would be a fun event for them.”
Klyn and Parker have retained a deejay to play classic tunes for dancing. A dance instructor will also teach the Shim Sham, a popular line dance. For those who don’t care to dance, a room will be set up for bingo with prizes to be offered. Light desserts will be served. Dressing up is encouraged, Klyn said.
Klyn and Parker have reached out to independent living facilities to let them know of the event and encourage their residents to come, perhaps in groups.
Tickets for the Seniors Prom are $20 per person, with reduced prices of $15 for groups of 10 or more. The deadline to register is Oct. 22.
“If a group from Royal Park (Place) wanted to come, they would just call as Royal Park and sign up and say, ‘we have 22 people coming,’” Klyn said.
For more information on the Seniors Prom, call Zeeland Recreation at 616-748-3230.
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Recreation has created a new event to help seniors step back in time to when they went to their high school senior prom.
On Saturday, Nov. 1, Zeeland Rec will hold its first-ever “Seniors Prom” for those 60 years of age and older. The event will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. inside the Cityside Middle School gymnasium, with attendees asked to enter through the Zeeland Rec entrance. The prom theme is “Forever Young.”
The Seniors Prom is the brainchild of Zeeland Recreation fitness coordinator Karissa Klyn and programs and events coordinator Katelyn Parker. Klyn says the two were looking to hold an event that would be fun for local seniors.
“After being here just a few months, I recognized that our senior memberships here are very strong, and how amazing that group of people is,” Klyn said. “They’re sweet, they’re fun, they’re hilarious. We just sat down and thought of what would be a fun event for them.”
Klyn and Parker have retained a deejay to play classic tunes for dancing. A dance instructor will also teach the Shim Sham, a popular line dance. For those who don’t care to dance, a room will be set up for bingo with prizes to be offered. Light desserts will be served. Dressing up is encouraged, Klyn said.
Klyn and Parker have reached out to independent living facilities to let them know of the event and encourage their residents to come, perhaps in groups.
Tickets for the Seniors Prom are $20 per person, with reduced prices of $15 for groups of 10 or more. The deadline to register is Oct. 22.
“If a group from Royal Park (Place) wanted to come, they would just call as Royal Park and sign up and say, ‘we have 22 people coming,’” Klyn said.
For more information on the Seniors Prom, call Zeeland Recreation at 616-748-3230.
ZHS Presents ‘I Remember Mama’
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland High Players will present their fall theatre production of John Van Druten’s play “I Remember Mama” Oct. 23-25 at the DeWitt Center for the Arts at Zeeland East High School.
Show time each night is 7 p.m.
Based on Kathryn Forbes’ book “Mama’s Bank Account,” “I Remember Mama” is a humorous and heartwarming depiction of a Norwegian immigrant family, the Hansons, as they navigate life, love and laughter in San Francisco in the early 20th century.
“I love this story because I believe everyone can connect to it,” said Grace VanderWaa, who directs the ZHS Players. “Everyone will see some part of themselves reflected on stage.”
Sarah Weenum, who is president of the ZHS Players, portrays Mama Marta in “I Remember Mama.” She says her favorite thing about the story in how relevant it is.
“It reminds us that people from all over the world come to America looking for a better life and that gets glazed over sometimes and we only focus on certain groups,” Weenum said. “Part of my family actually comes from Norway.”
Cambree Gibbons plays the eldest Hanson daughter, Katrin, with whom the story begins. Harrison Maurer has the role of Papa Lars. Katrin’s sister, Dagmar, is played by Christie Ricketts, while another sister, Christine, is portrayed by Emerson Henry. Seth Craner has the role of Katrin’s brother, Nels.
—————
Following is the rest of the cast:
Aunt Trina: Olivia Erickson
Aunt Sigrid: Alexis VanderKooi
Aunt Jenny: Isabella Cordero
Uncle Chris: Alejandro Lozano
Dr. Johnson: Sylus Day
Mr. Hyde: Sol Ball
Mr. Peter Thorkelson: Graham Muilenburg
“The Woman” Jessie: Hannah DeBoer
Arne: Leo Kladder-Garock
Florence Dana Moorehead: Harmony Pleasant
Reception Nurses: Lina Jonker and Dehlia Denham
Soda Clerk: Samantha Roof
Madeline: Natalie Price
Dorothy Schiller: Mia Borrego
Bellboy: Elsie Davis
Scrubwomen, Nurses, Patients, Guests: Brinley Olmstead, AJ Veopaseuth, Lina Jonker, Dehlia Denham, Samantha Roof, Natalie Price, Mia Borrego and Elsie Davis
Uncle Elizabeth: Dean Alderink
—————
Technicians and Stagehands
Stage Crew: Corbin Wolters, Mady Deur, Delaney Ramsdell, Ryah VanSingel, Maggie Brink, Alicia Thepouthay, Alice Smead, Parker Buursma, Mia Guerriero, Maxwell Buursma, Val Hughes, and Tommy Balma
Sound Board Operator: Morgan Ferguson
Microphone Maintenance (A2): Alan Vandevusse
Sound Effect Operator: Owen Lucas
Light Board Operator: Sophia Marcus and Lorelai Gillean
Stream Director: Aubree Morris and Sophia Castro
Camera Operator: Alex Pennell and Diego Valdez
Assistant Stream Director: Kai Bolles
Hair & Makeup Dresser: Emmelia Olsen, Maya Xayarath, Grace Gannon, Natalie Price, Brinley Olmstead and Hannah DeBoer
Costume Dresser: Jaylee Bunker, Alivia Senabandith and Ellie Storm
Cat Wrangler: Savannah Alderink
—————
Directors, Producers & Managers
Theater Program Director: Grace VandeWaa
Auditorium Manager/Technical Director: James Taylor
Technical Director/Assistant Auditorium Manager: Will Chiodo
Performing Arts Administrative Assistant: Cathy Lugten
Stage Manager: Ian Craner
Assistant Stage Manager: Nora Theonugraha and Dakota Robbins
Assistant Director: Kory Rosenau
This year marks the 38th year for the ZHS Players, with close to 100 students involved in the theater program.
Tickets for “I Remember Mama” are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and $7 for Zeeland Public Schools staff and students. They can be purchased online at zpsarts.ludus.com.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland High Players will present their fall theatre production of John Van Druten’s play “I Remember Mama” Oct. 23-25 at the DeWitt Center for the Arts at Zeeland East High School.
Show time each night is 7 p.m.
Based on Kathryn Forbes’ book “Mama’s Bank Account,” “I Remember Mama” is a humorous and heartwarming depiction of a Norwegian immigrant family, the Hansons, as they navigate life, love and laughter in San Francisco in the early 20th century.
“I love this story because I believe everyone can connect to it,” said Grace VanderWaa, who directs the ZHS Players. “Everyone will see some part of themselves reflected on stage.”
Sarah Weenum, who is president of the ZHS Players, portrays Mama Marta in “I Remember Mama.” She says her favorite thing about the story in how relevant it is.
“It reminds us that people from all over the world come to America looking for a better life and that gets glazed over sometimes and we only focus on certain groups,” Weenum said. “Part of my family actually comes from Norway.”
Cambree Gibbons plays the eldest Hanson daughter, Katrin, with whom the story begins. Harrison Maurer has the role of Papa Lars. Katrin’s sister, Dagmar, is played by Christie Ricketts, while another sister, Christine, is portrayed by Emerson Henry. Seth Craner has the role of Katrin’s brother, Nels.
—————
Following is the rest of the cast:
Aunt Trina: Olivia Erickson
Aunt Sigrid: Alexis VanderKooi
Aunt Jenny: Isabella Cordero
Uncle Chris: Alejandro Lozano
Dr. Johnson: Sylus Day
Mr. Hyde: Sol Ball
Mr. Peter Thorkelson: Graham Muilenburg
“The Woman” Jessie: Hannah DeBoer
Arne: Leo Kladder-Garock
Florence Dana Moorehead: Harmony Pleasant
Reception Nurses: Lina Jonker and Dehlia Denham
Soda Clerk: Samantha Roof
Madeline: Natalie Price
Dorothy Schiller: Mia Borrego
Bellboy: Elsie Davis
Scrubwomen, Nurses, Patients, Guests: Brinley Olmstead, AJ Veopaseuth, Lina Jonker, Dehlia Denham, Samantha Roof, Natalie Price, Mia Borrego and Elsie Davis
Uncle Elizabeth: Dean Alderink
—————
Technicians and Stagehands
Stage Crew: Corbin Wolters, Mady Deur, Delaney Ramsdell, Ryah VanSingel, Maggie Brink, Alicia Thepouthay, Alice Smead, Parker Buursma, Mia Guerriero, Maxwell Buursma, Val Hughes, and Tommy Balma
Sound Board Operator: Morgan Ferguson
Microphone Maintenance (A2): Alan Vandevusse
Sound Effect Operator: Owen Lucas
Light Board Operator: Sophia Marcus and Lorelai Gillean
Stream Director: Aubree Morris and Sophia Castro
Camera Operator: Alex Pennell and Diego Valdez
Assistant Stream Director: Kai Bolles
Hair & Makeup Dresser: Emmelia Olsen, Maya Xayarath, Grace Gannon, Natalie Price, Brinley Olmstead and Hannah DeBoer
Costume Dresser: Jaylee Bunker, Alivia Senabandith and Ellie Storm
Cat Wrangler: Savannah Alderink
—————
Directors, Producers & Managers
Theater Program Director: Grace VandeWaa
Auditorium Manager/Technical Director: James Taylor
Technical Director/Assistant Auditorium Manager: Will Chiodo
Performing Arts Administrative Assistant: Cathy Lugten
Stage Manager: Ian Craner
Assistant Stage Manager: Nora Theonugraha and Dakota Robbins
Assistant Director: Kory Rosenau
This year marks the 38th year for the ZHS Players, with close to 100 students involved in the theater program.
Tickets for “I Remember Mama” are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and $7 for Zeeland Public Schools staff and students. They can be purchased online at zpsarts.ludus.com.
Yarn Shop Opens Downtown Zeeland
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
A new yarn shop has come to downtown Zeeland.
GarenHuis Yarn Studio opened its doors last Saturday inside the former Mainstreet Beanery at 209 E. Main Ave.
GarenHuis had been located on Ninth Street in downtown Holland for 10 years before it closed last month when its previous owner, Shelly Filips, retired. Zeeland resident Aubrey Hilton-Radeck, who once worked at the Holland location, purchased the business from Filips.
“I want to have a warm, welcoming space in our community where people can come knit, can come crochet, they can come hang out, see what we have, touch the yarn,” Hilton-Radeck said.
“Yarn is very sensory. It’s nice to have a physical location to feel the yarn. You can buy what you want off the internet, but it’s nice to have that physical location, because yarn is such a tactile thing.”
Hilton-Radeck has lived in Zeeland for the last 11 years and has two children enrolled in local schools.
“This is where our home is. I love Zeeland and I want to contribute to the retail area here,” she said.
Hilton-Radeck, who has a bachelor’s degree in English from Hope College, says she’ll open her shop to “social knitters”– people who meet up to knit and chat. She’ll also have books with knitting and crocheting themes available in the shop.
“We have pattern books, but I wanted to have a lot of fun fiction books that deal with knitting and crocheting,” Hilton-Radeck said.
GarenHuis will offer extended hours Thursday nights for customers who may work during the day and might not otherwise be able to shop, Hilton-Radeck said.
Store hours for GarenHuis will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The store will be closed Sundays and Mondays.
Zeeland Record
A new yarn shop has come to downtown Zeeland.
GarenHuis Yarn Studio opened its doors last Saturday inside the former Mainstreet Beanery at 209 E. Main Ave.
GarenHuis had been located on Ninth Street in downtown Holland for 10 years before it closed last month when its previous owner, Shelly Filips, retired. Zeeland resident Aubrey Hilton-Radeck, who once worked at the Holland location, purchased the business from Filips.
“I want to have a warm, welcoming space in our community where people can come knit, can come crochet, they can come hang out, see what we have, touch the yarn,” Hilton-Radeck said.
“Yarn is very sensory. It’s nice to have a physical location to feel the yarn. You can buy what you want off the internet, but it’s nice to have that physical location, because yarn is such a tactile thing.”
Hilton-Radeck has lived in Zeeland for the last 11 years and has two children enrolled in local schools.
“This is where our home is. I love Zeeland and I want to contribute to the retail area here,” she said.
Hilton-Radeck, who has a bachelor’s degree in English from Hope College, says she’ll open her shop to “social knitters”– people who meet up to knit and chat. She’ll also have books with knitting and crocheting themes available in the shop.
“We have pattern books, but I wanted to have a lot of fun fiction books that deal with knitting and crocheting,” Hilton-Radeck said.
GarenHuis will offer extended hours Thursday nights for customers who may work during the day and might not otherwise be able to shop, Hilton-Radeck said.
Store hours for GarenHuis will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The store will be closed Sundays and Mondays.
Bird Flu Detected in Ottawa County
Following an investigation by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has detected the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial flock from Ottawa County.
This is the eighth case of HPAI in poultry from an Ottawa County flock since the virus was first detected in Michigan in 2022, and the third case in the county this year, MDARD officials said.
HPAI is a highly contagious virus that can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected animals, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk associated with avian influenza remains low. As a reminder, people should properly handle and cook all poultry and eggs.
Whether it’s a few backyard birds or a large commercial flock, following a few key steps is fundamental to protecting the health of Michigan’s domestic birds:
• Prevent contact between domestic and wild birds by bringing them indoors or ensuring their outdoor area is fully enclosed.
• Wash your hands before and after handling birds as well as when moving between different coops.
• Disinfect boots and other gear when moving between coops.
• Do not share equipment or other supplies between coops or other farms.
• Clean and disinfect equipment and other supplies between uses. If it cannot be disinfected, discard it.
• Use well or municipal water as drinking water for birds.
• Keep poultry feed secure to ensure there is no contact between the feed/feed ingredients and wild birds or rodents.
Domestic bird owners and caretakers should watch for multiple sudden deaths in the flock, a drop in egg production, a significant decrease in water consumption, diarrhea, sneezing/coughing, or an increase in sick birds. If avian influenza is suspected in domestic birds, contact MDARD immediately at 800-292-3939 (daytime) or 517-373-0440 (after hours).
This is the eighth case of HPAI in poultry from an Ottawa County flock since the virus was first detected in Michigan in 2022, and the third case in the county this year, MDARD officials said.
HPAI is a highly contagious virus that can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected animals, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk associated with avian influenza remains low. As a reminder, people should properly handle and cook all poultry and eggs.
Whether it’s a few backyard birds or a large commercial flock, following a few key steps is fundamental to protecting the health of Michigan’s domestic birds:
• Prevent contact between domestic and wild birds by bringing them indoors or ensuring their outdoor area is fully enclosed.
• Wash your hands before and after handling birds as well as when moving between different coops.
• Disinfect boots and other gear when moving between coops.
• Do not share equipment or other supplies between coops or other farms.
• Clean and disinfect equipment and other supplies between uses. If it cannot be disinfected, discard it.
• Use well or municipal water as drinking water for birds.
• Keep poultry feed secure to ensure there is no contact between the feed/feed ingredients and wild birds or rodents.
Domestic bird owners and caretakers should watch for multiple sudden deaths in the flock, a drop in egg production, a significant decrease in water consumption, diarrhea, sneezing/coughing, or an increase in sick birds. If avian influenza is suspected in domestic birds, contact MDARD immediately at 800-292-3939 (daytime) or 517-373-0440 (after hours).
