Want to meet candidates running for local, state and national offices? The Holland Area chapter of the League of Women Voters will host a “Meet the Candidates” night next Wednesday night in the Les Hoogland Banquet Room of the Howard Miller Community Center.
The “Candidates of ’26: A Celebration of Democracy” event will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The following candidates have been invited to the event:
• Fourth Congressional District: U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R) and State Sen. Sean McCann (D)
• Michigan Senate 31st District: John Wetzel (R) and Chris Kleinjans (D)
• Michigan House 85th District: State Rep. Brad Slagh (R) and Richard Abraham (D)
• Michigan House 86th District: State Rep. Nancy DeBoer (R) and Joseph McClusky (D)
• 58th District Court judgeship: Juanita Bocanegra, Anna White and Paul Ledford
The meet-and-greet format will feature formal presentations by each candidate, followed by a chance for candidates and audience to “meet and greet” each other at individual candidate tables of information.
The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization focused on voter education.
The “Candidates of ’26: A Celebration of Democracy” event will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The following candidates have been invited to the event:
• Fourth Congressional District: U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R) and State Sen. Sean McCann (D)
• Michigan Senate 31st District: John Wetzel (R) and Chris Kleinjans (D)
• Michigan House 85th District: State Rep. Brad Slagh (R) and Richard Abraham (D)
• Michigan House 86th District: State Rep. Nancy DeBoer (R) and Joseph McClusky (D)
• 58th District Court judgeship: Juanita Bocanegra, Anna White and Paul Ledford
The meet-and-greet format will feature formal presentations by each candidate, followed by a chance for candidates and audience to “meet and greet” each other at individual candidate tables of information.
The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization focused on voter education.
Former District Court Judge Pleads Guilty in Courtroom Assault
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Former 58th District Court Judge Bradley Knoll pleaded guilty Sept. 29 to an assault charge in connection with an incident that took place in February in his courtroom in Holland.
Knoll entered the plea before Muskegon County Judge Geoffrey Nolan, who presided over the hearing in 58th District Court, and paid a $675 fine. He was not sentenced to any jail time or probation, court records show.
Knoll, 74, had been charged with assaulting a defendant who appeared in his courtroom on Feb. 13. It was the second incident in which he had been charged for in the last three years.
Knoll pleaded guilty to domestic assault in March 2024 in an incident where he struck his wife, then verbally threatened a Grand Haven Department of Public Safety officer. He completed four months’ probation and an anger management class, and the case was dismissed without entry of a conviction, according to court records.
Knoll, who had been a district judge since 2003 and was not eligible to run for re-election this year because he is past the age of 70, agreed to step down from the bench six months before the end of his term under a consent order approved in late March by the Michigan Supreme Court. That settled a complaint from the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission stemming from the earlier assault.
In addition to agreeing to retire early, Knoll cannot seek or accept appointment as a visiting judge until after Jan. 1, 2027, and cannot take any case involving any charge of domestic violence as a visiting judge under that consent order, case records show.
Anna White was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in late June to replace Knoll on the bench.
Zeeland Record
Former 58th District Court Judge Bradley Knoll pleaded guilty Sept. 29 to an assault charge in connection with an incident that took place in February in his courtroom in Holland.
Knoll entered the plea before Muskegon County Judge Geoffrey Nolan, who presided over the hearing in 58th District Court, and paid a $675 fine. He was not sentenced to any jail time or probation, court records show.
Knoll, 74, had been charged with assaulting a defendant who appeared in his courtroom on Feb. 13. It was the second incident in which he had been charged for in the last three years.
Knoll pleaded guilty to domestic assault in March 2024 in an incident where he struck his wife, then verbally threatened a Grand Haven Department of Public Safety officer. He completed four months’ probation and an anger management class, and the case was dismissed without entry of a conviction, according to court records.
Knoll, who had been a district judge since 2003 and was not eligible to run for re-election this year because he is past the age of 70, agreed to step down from the bench six months before the end of his term under a consent order approved in late March by the Michigan Supreme Court. That settled a complaint from the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission stemming from the earlier assault.
In addition to agreeing to retire early, Knoll cannot seek or accept appointment as a visiting judge until after Jan. 1, 2027, and cannot take any case involving any charge of domestic violence as a visiting judge under that consent order, case records show.
Anna White was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in late June to replace Knoll on the bench.
BPW Adds Power from Hart Solar Project
The Zeeland Board of Public Works (BPW) has added 5.6 megawatts to its sustainable energy portfolio as Hart Solar, a solar array in Oceana County, entered commercial operation.
Hart Solar is a project of NorthStar Clean Energy, a subsidiary of Jackson-based CMS Energy. To put it into perspective, this additional project provides the BPW with enough energy to power approximately 961 homes in the community.
The BPW joined 13 other members of the Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA) in a combined 50 MW power purchase agreement. The total array is rated at 120 MW. This project has been in progress for multiple years, involving contracting, land acquisition, regulatory approvals, and site development.
“Hart Solar reflects MPPA’s long-term commitment to helping our Members secure reliable, cost-effective and carbon-free power supply resources that strengthen and diversify their power supply portfolios,” MPPA Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Patrick Bowland said. “Through joint action, public power communities of all sizes can share in the economies of scale needed to make utility-scale renewable projects like Hart Solar a practical, long-term resource for the customers and communities they serve.”
Hart Solar is the third solar project to enter commercial operation through MPPA in the past year, following Brandt Woods Solar in Calhoun County and White Tail Solar in Washtenaw County. Since November 2023, when Michigan Public Act 235 was signed into law, utilities across the state have continued developing plans to meet the statewide renewable energy standard, which requires utilities to reach 50% renewable energy by 2030 and 60% by 2035.
“Zeeland BPW has partnered with MPPA on renewable energy projects for more than a decade, and we are pleased to continue that relationship through this project,” BPW General Manager Bob Mulder said. “Projects like this support renewable energy development in Michigan and move us closer to achieving the goals established by the State, while delivering the power supply resources necessary to serve our customers.”
Hart Solar is a project of NorthStar Clean Energy, a subsidiary of Jackson-based CMS Energy. To put it into perspective, this additional project provides the BPW with enough energy to power approximately 961 homes in the community.
The BPW joined 13 other members of the Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA) in a combined 50 MW power purchase agreement. The total array is rated at 120 MW. This project has been in progress for multiple years, involving contracting, land acquisition, regulatory approvals, and site development.
“Hart Solar reflects MPPA’s long-term commitment to helping our Members secure reliable, cost-effective and carbon-free power supply resources that strengthen and diversify their power supply portfolios,” MPPA Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Patrick Bowland said. “Through joint action, public power communities of all sizes can share in the economies of scale needed to make utility-scale renewable projects like Hart Solar a practical, long-term resource for the customers and communities they serve.”
Hart Solar is the third solar project to enter commercial operation through MPPA in the past year, following Brandt Woods Solar in Calhoun County and White Tail Solar in Washtenaw County. Since November 2023, when Michigan Public Act 235 was signed into law, utilities across the state have continued developing plans to meet the statewide renewable energy standard, which requires utilities to reach 50% renewable energy by 2030 and 60% by 2035.
“Zeeland BPW has partnered with MPPA on renewable energy projects for more than a decade, and we are pleased to continue that relationship through this project,” BPW General Manager Bob Mulder said. “Projects like this support renewable energy development in Michigan and move us closer to achieving the goals established by the State, while delivering the power supply resources necessary to serve our customers.”
Kramer to Perform at Second Church Recital Series
The Second Reformed Church Recital Series continues this Sunday with a performance by Caitlin Kramer, performing on the oboe and French horn.
The performance will take place at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary of the church at 225 E. Central Ave. Admission is free.
Kramer, a Kalamazoo resident, will be joined in the concert by Allison Keep on piano, Rebecca Vandewalker on flute and Kerrissa Silverthorne on bassoon. They will perform works by Masset-
Lecocq, Chandler, Morris and Ferenz.
Kramer has taught oboe at St. Joseph Public Schools and Stevensville Lakeshore Public Schools. She has performed with a wide variety of musicians and singers, including Andrea Bocelli, Bernadette Peters, Johnny Mathis, Natalie Merchant, Hugh Jackman, Amy Grant and Weird Al Yankovic. She has also performed with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Fresno (Calif.) Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as on tours for such shows as “The Sound of Music,” “The Little Mermaid” and “The King and I.”
Kramer holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from DePauw (Ind.) University and a master’s in music performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
A reception will follow the concert.
The performance will take place at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary of the church at 225 E. Central Ave. Admission is free.
Kramer, a Kalamazoo resident, will be joined in the concert by Allison Keep on piano, Rebecca Vandewalker on flute and Kerrissa Silverthorne on bassoon. They will perform works by Masset-
Lecocq, Chandler, Morris and Ferenz.
Kramer has taught oboe at St. Joseph Public Schools and Stevensville Lakeshore Public Schools. She has performed with a wide variety of musicians and singers, including Andrea Bocelli, Bernadette Peters, Johnny Mathis, Natalie Merchant, Hugh Jackman, Amy Grant and Weird Al Yankovic. She has also performed with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Fresno (Calif.) Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as on tours for such shows as “The Sound of Music,” “The Little Mermaid” and “The King and I.”
Kramer holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from DePauw (Ind.) University and a master’s in music performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
A reception will follow the concert.
