Pumpkinfest attendees are invited to enjoy live music on Friday and Saturday in the Entertainment Tent, located in the south parking lot downtown. The event features two nights of energetic performances and is an official part of Zeeland's social district.
The live music schedule is as follows:
• Friday, 7-10 p.m.: Groove to the sounds of Trixy Tang.
• Saturday, 7-10 p.m.: Rock out with a high-energy performance from Pretty Rage.
The Entertainment Tent provides a vibrant atmosphere for festival-goers to gather and enjoy a drink from a participating downtown restaurant, as permitted within the social district.
This event is made possible by the support of local sponsors, including title sponsor Mead Johnson Nutrition. Gold sponsors are Zeeland Family Dentistry, Centennial Coatings, Diverse Dimensions, JR Automation, Geenen Dekock Properties, VanDerKolk Plumbing, Lake Michigan Credit Union and Zeeland Ace Hardware. Silver sponsors are Koele Godfrey Investment Group, Drip Coffee, Zeeland Board of Public Works and Integrity Cabinetry.
The live music schedule is as follows:
• Friday, 7-10 p.m.: Groove to the sounds of Trixy Tang.
• Saturday, 7-10 p.m.: Rock out with a high-energy performance from Pretty Rage.
The Entertainment Tent provides a vibrant atmosphere for festival-goers to gather and enjoy a drink from a participating downtown restaurant, as permitted within the social district.
This event is made possible by the support of local sponsors, including title sponsor Mead Johnson Nutrition. Gold sponsors are Zeeland Family Dentistry, Centennial Coatings, Diverse Dimensions, JR Automation, Geenen Dekock Properties, VanDerKolk Plumbing, Lake Michigan Credit Union and Zeeland Ace Hardware. Silver sponsors are Koele Godfrey Investment Group, Drip Coffee, Zeeland Board of Public Works and Integrity Cabinetry.
Varnado Sentenced in Olive Twp. Attack
A 24-year-old Grand Rapids man will serve at least 11 years in prison for breaking into an Olive Township home last November, attacking the homeowner and stabbing the family dog to death.
Jason Neshawn Varnado was sentenced Sept. 21 to 11 to 20 years in prison by Ottawa County Circuit Judge Karen Miedema. Varnado pleaded no contest in August to charges of first-degree home invasion and killing or torturing an animal, according to court records.
The incident occurred at a home on Nov. 18, 2025 at a home on New Holland Street, just east of 120th Avenue. After a discussion with the 68-year-old homeowner, Varnado forced his way into the home and assaulted him. The family dog came to the homeowner’s aid and engaged the suspect, allowing the victim to retreat safely to a bedroom. The dog was stabbed during the attack and later died of his injuries, investigators said.
Varnado fled the scene, but was later tracked down and arrested with the assistance of an Ottawa County K-9 unit and the sheriff’s office Drone Team.
In addition to his time in prison, Varnado must also pay $1,242 in fines and court costs. He received credit for 307 days served in jail prior to sentencing.
Varnado is currently being housed at the Chester E. Egeler Reception & Guidance Center in Jackson, according to the Michigan Offender Tracking Information System.
Jason Neshawn Varnado was sentenced Sept. 21 to 11 to 20 years in prison by Ottawa County Circuit Judge Karen Miedema. Varnado pleaded no contest in August to charges of first-degree home invasion and killing or torturing an animal, according to court records.
The incident occurred at a home on Nov. 18, 2025 at a home on New Holland Street, just east of 120th Avenue. After a discussion with the 68-year-old homeowner, Varnado forced his way into the home and assaulted him. The family dog came to the homeowner’s aid and engaged the suspect, allowing the victim to retreat safely to a bedroom. The dog was stabbed during the attack and later died of his injuries, investigators said.
Varnado fled the scene, but was later tracked down and arrested with the assistance of an Ottawa County K-9 unit and the sheriff’s office Drone Team.
In addition to his time in prison, Varnado must also pay $1,242 in fines and court costs. He received credit for 307 days served in jail prior to sentencing.
Varnado is currently being housed at the Chester E. Egeler Reception & Guidance Center in Jackson, according to the Michigan Offender Tracking Information System.
Moose Hunting and Hiking in Newfoundland, Canada
Jack Payne shows off his 52.5-inch Newfoundland bull moose that he took on his recent trip.
Photo courtesy Jack Payne
By Jack Payne
“Well, I have good news and bad news,” stated my guide, Tristian. We were deep into the fifth day of our hunt, and after two long-distance sightings of moose on the first day, not a hair had been spotted.
“Tell me the good news first,” I said. Well, I spotted an absolute giant, he said. Twice he'd seen the large bull rise up out of his bed and then lay back down. Tristian showed me the video that he took with his cell phone mounted over his spotting scope.
Well, give me the bad news, I asked. See that mountain behind me, yes, I said. Well, we need to climb it and then travel another mile.
Over the past four days, I fell nine times and didn't see the small holes. I twisted my knee or hyper-extended it. I asked how long this would take and how fr. He said maybe two miles and two hours.
My question was, how do we get back if the bull stays in his bed until dusk? We debone the moose, which will most likely take four hours in the dark. And then we will have a three-mile hike in the dark, over the mountain, across many cranberry and blueberry marshes. Yikes. I said that I doubted I could make the trip with my knee.
I told Tristian to take a break for a few minutes and let me think. Finally, I said, “Let's do it. However, we will sleep under the stars if need be.” So, we started the journey.
Climbing up the mountain proved challenging. It was steep, with numerous rock ledges filled with crevasses and angle-grabbing vines, briars, and roots. The descent was not much better.
It was impossible to go straight down, especially with my knee. So instead, we crossed back and forth, much like a switchback road. Two hours after we started the hike, we were on semi-flat ground.
And then came the river. Using a satellite mapping feature, we found a bottleneck area where we needed to jump three feet. Might as well asked me to jump 20 feet with my knee.
So, Tristian crossed, took my rifle and backpack. He reached his hand out and told me to jump. And I did. He grabbed my hand, and I managed to get across the river without further damage to the knee.
Peeking over the ridge, we spotted the bull 50 yards away in his bed. I had a small opening, so we crept 15 yards to our left. We peeked over the ridge, and the bull was still there.
My guide said to hold still, then crept back and grabbed his tripod for the spotting scope. I used it to stabilize the rifle because of the high winds. Tristian tried calling the bull to no avail. The bull refused to rise from his bed.
Tristian crawled back to his backpack and got his rattling board. He racked the bushes five times, and the bull's hind end started pushing upward. Five seconds later he was on his feet. He turned his front shoulder toward the noise, and it was game over.
A 52.5-inch, 22-point Newfoundland bull was down for the count. Anything over 40 inches is considered a trophy, and a 50-inch bull is a very rare and special bull. To say that I was pleased and grateful does not sum up my feelings.
We spent a few days traveling an hour or two from both directions of Deer Lake, Newfoundland. Hiking up one very tough mountain, my son filmed two mountain sheep. Man, I sure wish that I made that hike.
The cliffs and sheer rock walls along the ocean were breath taking. And hiking inland to the numerous waterfalls were just plain awesome. If you are looking for a non-hunting adventure of hiking, scenic driving and incredible sights, then a trip to Newfoundland might be the ticket.
While my hunt took the better part of five days, my son’s hunt was over three minutes after he stepped out of the boat. He shot a very respectable bull only 250 yards from the lake.
Remember that Bob’s Gun and Tackle Shop is ready to assist you.
“Well, I have good news and bad news,” stated my guide, Tristian. We were deep into the fifth day of our hunt, and after two long-distance sightings of moose on the first day, not a hair had been spotted.
“Tell me the good news first,” I said. Well, I spotted an absolute giant, he said. Twice he'd seen the large bull rise up out of his bed and then lay back down. Tristian showed me the video that he took with his cell phone mounted over his spotting scope.
Well, give me the bad news, I asked. See that mountain behind me, yes, I said. Well, we need to climb it and then travel another mile.
Over the past four days, I fell nine times and didn't see the small holes. I twisted my knee or hyper-extended it. I asked how long this would take and how fr. He said maybe two miles and two hours.
My question was, how do we get back if the bull stays in his bed until dusk? We debone the moose, which will most likely take four hours in the dark. And then we will have a three-mile hike in the dark, over the mountain, across many cranberry and blueberry marshes. Yikes. I said that I doubted I could make the trip with my knee.
I told Tristian to take a break for a few minutes and let me think. Finally, I said, “Let's do it. However, we will sleep under the stars if need be.” So, we started the journey.
Climbing up the mountain proved challenging. It was steep, with numerous rock ledges filled with crevasses and angle-grabbing vines, briars, and roots. The descent was not much better.
It was impossible to go straight down, especially with my knee. So instead, we crossed back and forth, much like a switchback road. Two hours after we started the hike, we were on semi-flat ground.
And then came the river. Using a satellite mapping feature, we found a bottleneck area where we needed to jump three feet. Might as well asked me to jump 20 feet with my knee.
So, Tristian crossed, took my rifle and backpack. He reached his hand out and told me to jump. And I did. He grabbed my hand, and I managed to get across the river without further damage to the knee.
Peeking over the ridge, we spotted the bull 50 yards away in his bed. I had a small opening, so we crept 15 yards to our left. We peeked over the ridge, and the bull was still there.
My guide said to hold still, then crept back and grabbed his tripod for the spotting scope. I used it to stabilize the rifle because of the high winds. Tristian tried calling the bull to no avail. The bull refused to rise from his bed.
Tristian crawled back to his backpack and got his rattling board. He racked the bushes five times, and the bull's hind end started pushing upward. Five seconds later he was on his feet. He turned his front shoulder toward the noise, and it was game over.
A 52.5-inch, 22-point Newfoundland bull was down for the count. Anything over 40 inches is considered a trophy, and a 50-inch bull is a very rare and special bull. To say that I was pleased and grateful does not sum up my feelings.
We spent a few days traveling an hour or two from both directions of Deer Lake, Newfoundland. Hiking up one very tough mountain, my son filmed two mountain sheep. Man, I sure wish that I made that hike.
The cliffs and sheer rock walls along the ocean were breath taking. And hiking inland to the numerous waterfalls were just plain awesome. If you are looking for a non-hunting adventure of hiking, scenic driving and incredible sights, then a trip to Newfoundland might be the ticket.
While my hunt took the better part of five days, my son’s hunt was over three minutes after he stepped out of the boat. He shot a very respectable bull only 250 yards from the lake.
Remember that Bob’s Gun and Tackle Shop is ready to assist you.
Bring Fall Indoors with Beautiful Garden-Fresh Arrangements
By Melinda Myers
Snip and combine some seasonal blooms to create beautiful bouquets to enjoy in your home or share with family and friends. A stroll through your gardens can provide needed inspiration and some colorful flowers, seedheads and foliage to include.
Gather your flowers in the morning after the dew has dried whenever possible. The temperatures are cool and plants are hydrated. Evening is the next best time. But don’t hesitate to collect and arrange flowers at the last minute for dinners and gatherings.
Take along a clean bucket of water and a sharp pair of bypass pruners or snips to the garden. Immediately placing the flowers in water will help prolong their vase life. Remove the lower leaves and let the flowers stand in a cool place, out of direct sunlight, in tepid water for several hours or better yet overnight.
Recut the stems at a 45-degree angle when arranging the flowers. This prevents them from sitting flat on the bottom of the vase and exposes more of the surface area to the water. Remove any additional foliage as needed. Leaves submerged in water tend to turn slimy and increase the risk of bacterial growth that decreases the life of your cut flowers.
Always use a clean vase and fresh water to maximize your cut flowers’ vase life. Add a floral preservative to the water to further extend their longevity. Check the water level often, making sure the cut ends are always covered with water.
Don’t overlook your perennials gardens and shrub borders for flowers and foliage to combine with annuals in your arrangements. Pick flowers at the right stage of flowering to ensure the flowers provide the best display and last the longest in your arrangements. In general, harvest spike-type flowers when one-fourth to one-half of the individual flowers on the spike are open. Wait to pick daisy-type flowers when they are fully open.
Look for stunning garden combinations like asters, mums and goldenrods when creating your fall arrangements. Harvest goldenrod as soon as the flower color is visible with half of the individual flowers in the cluster open. Pick asters and mums when one-fourth of the flowers in the cluster are open to enjoy them for up to 7 to 12 days.
Consider adding ornamental grass’ flowers, foliage and seed heads to your arrangement. Look at houseplants and shrubs for more foliage options. Papyrus, New Zealand flax, cannas, prayer plant and monstera are just a few to try. Herbs like Rosemary, fennel, dill, sage, borage, and lavender add fragrance as well. Clip a branch or two from ninebark, boxwood, viburnum, pines, spruce, juniper, yews, or arborvitaes to add greenery and texture to your arrangements.
Watch for rudbeckias and coneflowers to shed their petals, the non-fertile ray flowers, then include the remaining seed heads in fresh and dried arrangements. Add a few seed pods of native baptisia and milkweed as well as Siberian iris for added fall flair in your bouquets.
Experiment by adding other garden flower favorites and evaluating how they perform as cut flowers. Make a few notes on those that worked well and do a bit of research to improve the vase life of those that did not. Even a short-lived arrangement will generate a smile and brighten your mood when bringing a bit of the garden indoors.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website is Melinda Myers.com.
Snip and combine some seasonal blooms to create beautiful bouquets to enjoy in your home or share with family and friends. A stroll through your gardens can provide needed inspiration and some colorful flowers, seedheads and foliage to include.
Gather your flowers in the morning after the dew has dried whenever possible. The temperatures are cool and plants are hydrated. Evening is the next best time. But don’t hesitate to collect and arrange flowers at the last minute for dinners and gatherings.
Take along a clean bucket of water and a sharp pair of bypass pruners or snips to the garden. Immediately placing the flowers in water will help prolong their vase life. Remove the lower leaves and let the flowers stand in a cool place, out of direct sunlight, in tepid water for several hours or better yet overnight.
Recut the stems at a 45-degree angle when arranging the flowers. This prevents them from sitting flat on the bottom of the vase and exposes more of the surface area to the water. Remove any additional foliage as needed. Leaves submerged in water tend to turn slimy and increase the risk of bacterial growth that decreases the life of your cut flowers.
Always use a clean vase and fresh water to maximize your cut flowers’ vase life. Add a floral preservative to the water to further extend their longevity. Check the water level often, making sure the cut ends are always covered with water.
Don’t overlook your perennials gardens and shrub borders for flowers and foliage to combine with annuals in your arrangements. Pick flowers at the right stage of flowering to ensure the flowers provide the best display and last the longest in your arrangements. In general, harvest spike-type flowers when one-fourth to one-half of the individual flowers on the spike are open. Wait to pick daisy-type flowers when they are fully open.
Look for stunning garden combinations like asters, mums and goldenrods when creating your fall arrangements. Harvest goldenrod as soon as the flower color is visible with half of the individual flowers in the cluster open. Pick asters and mums when one-fourth of the flowers in the cluster are open to enjoy them for up to 7 to 12 days.
Consider adding ornamental grass’ flowers, foliage and seed heads to your arrangement. Look at houseplants and shrubs for more foliage options. Papyrus, New Zealand flax, cannas, prayer plant and monstera are just a few to try. Herbs like Rosemary, fennel, dill, sage, borage, and lavender add fragrance as well. Clip a branch or two from ninebark, boxwood, viburnum, pines, spruce, juniper, yews, or arborvitaes to add greenery and texture to your arrangements.
Watch for rudbeckias and coneflowers to shed their petals, the non-fertile ray flowers, then include the remaining seed heads in fresh and dried arrangements. Add a few seed pods of native baptisia and milkweed as well as Siberian iris for added fall flair in your bouquets.
Experiment by adding other garden flower favorites and evaluating how they perform as cut flowers. Make a few notes on those that worked well and do a bit of research to improve the vase life of those that did not. Even a short-lived arrangement will generate a smile and brighten your mood when bringing a bit of the garden indoors.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website is Melinda Myers.com.
