Three new superintendents talk about priorities, challenges ahead
Three area school districts — Holland, Zeeland, and West Ottawa — are among the dozens statewide to have new superintendents in a year that has challenged schools in myriad new ways.
BY ANDREA GOODELL's Latest Articles
Festive and safe: A socially distanced Halloween solution
Carol Myers hopes her neighbors copy her example of a decorated tube for a socially distanced Halloween.
Zeeland shop offers free flowers to lift community spirits
The COVID-19 pandemic moved the owner of Don’s Flowers and Gifts of Zeeland to revive its tradition of offering free flowers for customers to pass on to friends and family.
After nondiscrimination ordinance passed, the time has come to heal, advocates say
Nearly 10 years after the Holland City Council shot down a nondiscrimination ordinance that would codify protections for LGBTQ people, the council voted 8-to-1 in August to approve an ordinance that bars discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and public services “on the basis of age, race, national origin, color, disability, education, familial status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, height, marital status, religion, source of income or weight.”
Jubilee, Habitat break ground on mixed-income neighborhood
Work has begun on Park Vista Place, a joint project to create a mixed-income neighborhood. Organizers Jubilee Ministries and Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity expect the first three homes to be move-in ready by early spring.
Momentum Center/task force to kick off racism town halls
The Momentum Center has brought together 20 other organizations to form the (Anti) Racism Task Force and will conduct monthly Town Hall Meetings on Race and Racism.
Fiesta returns to Grand Haven this week
The Grand Haven Hispanic Heritage Fiesta will return for a second year in spite of COVID-19 restrictions. Organizers are working hard to make sure people can participate safely with virtual events and a weeklong offering of activities.
What’s next for Black advocacy in Holland?
Holland residents Henry and Lindsay Cherry have been involved in advocacy for the Black community for longer than they have been married. In June, they helped organize a peace March and almost 4,000 people lined Unity Bridge. Their new nonprofit hopes to show Black youth their true potential.
Bank teams with Habitat to beat COVID delays on Hamilton home
COVID-19 shut down construction across the state, including Julie Cadman's Habitat home. A new grant has re-energized the project and Cadman and her family hope to move in soon.
Stewardship part of DISHER’s mission to make a positive difference
DISHER, which started as an automotive product design firm, has branched out to engineering, marketing, and business solutions. Investing in the community is important, and the company puts a percentage of its annual profits into stewardship programs.
