That woman's got it

   

   November -- and the final week before the midterm elections -- got off to a rollicking start this morning at the Kent County Democratic Headquarters. Governor Gretchen Whitmer rallied the troops in an early morning event before the office was even normally open. Practically every candidate in the county from Congressional hopeful Hillary Scholten to state house and senate candidates were there with their staffs to proclaim the final effort to Get Out The Vote.

    Tuesday is my normal morning to volunteer in the office so I was surprised when I turned the corner a  few minutes after the 10 a.m. opening time and found Whitmer's bus blocking the entrance to the parking lot.  I parked a block away but even then security directed me away from the front door. I peeked in the window and saw "that woman," as our former president called Whitmer, doing an interview with Wood-TV 8's Rick Albin. They had created an interview setting right behind the volunteer ambassador desk where I normally sit.  Putting out the flags was usually my first duty in the morning, but that would have to wait. The "closed" sign that I normally turn to say  "open" was still posted in the window. 

     But in a way Gov. Whitmer is the top ambassador for Kent County Dems, and all the other counties as well. There was a contagious enthusiasm spreading through all the candidates and their workers as they posed for photographs this morning. Whitmer is a winner and we are all in this together.

What's in a name?

     

Carol Glanville, Winnie Brinks,Gretchen Whitmer, Rachel Hood.

As a woman I have been delighted to see more and more females running for office.  Thanks to redistricting, I'll be able to vote for a whole slate of female candidates on Nov. 8 from the statewide trifecta (Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson) to Hillary Scholten for Congress, Winnie Brinks for State Senate and Carol Glanville for State House. And, of course, myself for County Commissioner.

      But I have noticed a trend that concerns me. We tend to refer to women officials by their first names and men by their last names. It's Biden and Kamala. Gretchen and Gilchrist. Today at the Democratic office I received a request for three yard signs : " Hillary, Winnie and Rachel."

      I don't think this is intended to be demeaning...but it is. I like to think it is because women are more approachable, friendlier,  so people feel at ease calling them by their first names. But we'd be foolish to not realize it's a not-so-subtle jab at female authority. You might get elected, you might even be able to do the job well. But don't expect to be treated with respect. 

      So, ladies, what are we going to do about it? Since the beginning of time women have been the fixers, the ones who know how to smooth over an awkward situation. Can we defang this insult and turn it to our advantage?

      I'd love to hear what female voters and candidates think.

 

 

Mystery of the reluctant candidate

   Why is Sue Merrell running for Kent County Commissioner?  Doesn't she have enough to do traveling the world, writing mysteries and spoiling cats? 

     I get that question all the time so I try to answer in this We The People spot currently running on WKTV. You may want to pour yourself a drink before you click on the play button, however.  It runs a full five minutes which can feel like forever in today's world of 15-second sound bites.

Million Dollar ideas

         

  When  Kent County had a problem, its citizens stepped up to the plate -- in droves. The problem was choosing the best way to allocate $127 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The county held six community forums and met with 33 organizations over the summer. 

             An online survey received 3,337 responses with community health the top priority.  More than 1,500 ideas were submitted including affordable housing, community policing and renewable energy. Community organizations and county departments submitted a total of 333 proposals, adding up to more than $2 billion dollars. 

             Now the county has a new problem -- a too many ideas. An external consultant and an internal review committee are looking over the proposals and gathering additional information if needed. The goal is for the county commissioners to allocate the funds by the end of the year. 

              If you want to follow the process, visit KentCountyARPA.com.

 

Pick one

    

     In 2004 I moved from a house in Kentwood to a condo on a little lake in Grandville. I loved Grandville's atmosphere. The carillon at noon. The multi-generational family of Grandville United Methodist Church. Huge baskets of flowers lining the sidewalk downtown. A bakery, coffee shop, library, bank and city offices all within walking distance of each other. 

     But what surprised me about my new home was the elections. It was not uncommon for candidates to be running unopposed. That was a rarity  in other communities where I had voted. The unopposed candidates made me feel like the election was a sham. I didn't have a choice.  

      I had never been a political person and was too busy to become one. But over the 18 years I lived in Grandville,  the demands on my time lessened and my interest in politics increased. This year, I realized an unopposed election was about to happen again. No one had registered to run against Stan Ponstein who is seeking reelection as Kent County Commissioner. I decided I couldn't sit on the sidelines complaining any more. I needed to step up and be the change I wanted to see. 

     Every voter deserves a choice. 

Got my vote

    

Working the polls for elections can be a long, long day. But it has its rewards.

      Yesterday, for instance, was fairly slow. Primaries don't attract as many voters. But we got an early surprise. We arrived at 6 a.m. as usual to set up. A poll challenger showed up at 6:30, his credentials in hand.  A second poll challenger showed up a few minutes later. Evidently they thought set up began at 6:30 and were  sorry to have missed the first steps.  

     We had been warned that more volunteers were applying for poll challenger credentials so we had been expecting one to stop by during the day, but two before the polls opened was overkill. We had plenty of room so we set aside a table and two chairs for them and got to work.  One of the poll watchers asked if I felt  intimidated to have him looking over my shoulder as I compared voter applications to the drivers' licenses. 

       "No," I said, "but I'm afraid you are going to get bored."

         And the poll watchers probably did get bored. One left about 10 a.m. and the other at 1:30. But I was entertained by the voters. Like the elderly woman who had trouble filling out the application to vote and was really overwhelmed by the ballot. She asked for help a couple of times, but seemed determined to wade through all that small type and figure it out. Her husband sat nearby and watched.

        We worried that she would make the mistake of cross voting, a common error in primaries where voters are instructed to vote for only one party, Republican or Democrat, not both.  When she finally finished her ballot and placed it into the tabulator, everyone held their breath. We were so afraid she had made a mistake and it would be rejected. We almost wanted to applaud when it was accepted as a successfully cast ballot. 

          And then there was the 30-year-old from Venezuela. He was voting in his first election. He had become a citizen a year earlier. "I have researched all the candidates and I am ready to vote," he announce excitedly. Then we explained that since this was a primary he could only vote for one party. That wasn't part of his research. But he too voted successfully and received the coveted "I voted" sticker.

       More than a dozen people didn't vote successfully on the first try.  "But the Democrats don't have a candidate for that office so I voted for the Republican." Sorry, you can't do that. Another had his ballot rejected because he marked his choice with big check marks instead of blacking in the circle. 

        As the day wore on the pace picked up. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. we had a steady stream of young couples getting off work, some still dressed in "scrubs" from a hospital shift. Young and old, black and white and several shades between. They came to vote. They came to exercise the privilege of living in a democracy. 

        I was sorry the poll challengers didn't stay longer., until we counted down the last minutes to 8 p.m. Until we closed out the tabulator and everyone signed all three copies of the final tape. Until we went through the write in bin and found two votes for James Craig. Until we packed it all up to take to the clerk's office.  Election Days are long, but a capsule of America. I love them.

    

A new wrinkle

     

      When you are over 70 you avoid mirrors and bright lights. And taking a selfie in the glaring sun -- or so I discovered recently when vacationing in Budapest. I thought I would get a shot of the Pest side of the Danube with me in the foreground, but what I snapped was a face full of wrinkles.

      The lesson here is that we are all getting older and sometimes old is closer than you think. 

      Perhaps that's why I look at Kent County's Senior Millage a little differently this year. I always thought it was something nice for other people. The little old ladies who don't have anyone to take care of them, who might need meals delivered or transportation to the doctor. Somebody to build a wheelchair ramp or take over mowing the lawn just so they can stay in their home. 

      I know it's a benefit to the whole community for seniors to stay in their homes. They are much happier and it is less expensive for the taxpayer than providing nursing homes for everyone. But I never imagined that someday I might be that little old lady in need. 

      Yes, when the time comes I hope to count on my son and my savings for most of the services I will need, but what about respite care when my caregiver needs time off? And who do we call for information? 

       The Kent County Senior Millage, which is up for renewal on the Aug. 2 ballot, helps fund more than 50 services we have come to take for granted.  Like RideLink, getting people to doctor's appointments and grocery stores after they are no longer able to drive. Senior Centers for social activities and adult day care when a little more supervision is needed. Not to mention Meals on Wheels, recreational therapy and mobility equipment. 

        This year the senior millage will provide about $13 million for services to 22,000 clients. The Area Agency on Aging coordinates with dozens of community partners like Elders Helpers, Alzheimers' Association and Senior Neighbors to make sure the most critical needs are covered without wasteful redundancy.  

      The millage request remains the same as it was in 2014: half a mil. That translates to a tax of about $100 a year for a $200,000 home. 

       I voted for the millage on my absentee ballot, not because I am wrinkling up faster than a wad of foil but because it's the smart thing to do.

  

Revolutionary Relative

           

 Maybe I am destined to be elected Kent County Commissioner. 

            When Randolph County, North Carolina, was formed on March 8, 1779, my ancestor William Merrell was sworn in as one of the 14 original justices -- or county commissioners. The next day he was named coroner -- kind of like the committee assignment I will receive after I am elected in November. 

            Until the first Randolph County Courthouse was built, commissioners met a few days every quarter in a private home. According to the minutes of the Pleas and Quarterly Sessions, routine business included approving the indenture of a five-year-old orphan girl to her guardian, licensing a tavern and approving a grist mill. By March 13, 1780, Gramps qualified as Justice of the Peace and signed for the purchase of two election boxes.

            Unfortunately, William's government career was not long-lived.   Although Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, marking the end of the war, loyalists continued to attack representatives of the new republic. Several of the original 14 commissioners -- including William -- were attacked at their homes and killed. 

             Our forefathers never promised that self-government would be easy. Happy Fourth.

Don't forget the "other" virus

     

Covid and covid testing have been getting everyone's attention the past few years. But Monday is a day to remember the "other " virus -- AIDS.    

      Back in the '80s, AIDS was the big news maker. But thanks to testing and treatments people with AIDS can expect much better outcomes today. In honor of National HIV Testing Day on Monday, the Kent County Health Department has scheduled walk-up free testing at three Grand Rapids parks this week.

• 1-4 p.m. Monday at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1200 Franklin St. SE
• 1-4 p.m. Wednesday at Heartside Park, 301 Ionia Ave. SW
• 1-4 p.m. Thursday at Garfield Park,  250 Burton St. SE

       Testing is important for self-care because many people don't have symptoms and don't realize they have AIDS. Once someone is diagnosed they can take medications that can bring the blood level of the virus down to "undetectable"  so they no longer spread the virus to others.

    This testing is part of Wellness in the Park events that include outdoor games, activities, snacks and drinks. Residents can also schedule free testing at the Health Department's Fuller Clinic. 616-632-7171.

Land of Lakes

       Life in Michigan is all about the lakes. From a sunrise on Lake Huron to a sunset on Lake Michigan, our days literally begin and end at the water's edge. 

   Stretching from a corner of Lake Erie in the south to the broad expanse of Lake Superior in the U.P., the state touches four of the five Great Lakes missing only Lake Ontario.

     The lakes are featured in all our best memories...summer camp, fishing trips, a walk on a pier, a beach wedding. 

   But Michigan's coastal communities are on the front lines of climate change. The record low water levels in 2013 and record high in 2020 have impacted the shoreline. Additional impacts come from the more intense and frequent storm events and unseasonable temperatures.

      This summer, the Michigan Coastal Management Program in the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a series of eight community Beach Walks. Led by Corps hydrolics engineer Jim Selegea, the walks will help community members understand coastal hazards, storm dynamics and the impact of erosion and flooding. 

       I can't think of a better classroom than the actual sands of our lakeshore where these processes play out," said MCMP program manager Rhonda Wuycheck.

     The first walk will meet at 6 p.m. tonight at Luna Pier Lighthouse on Lake Erie. Future walks are planned for June 27, Port Austin; June 28, Alpena: July 27,  Houghton; July 28, Escanaba; Aug. 16, South Haven; Aug 17, Ludington.

County restructures animal control

   

     Beginning July 1 the Kent County Sheriff's Office will take a more prominent role in animal control.          

    The Kent County Animal Shelter will cease to be part of the Health Department  and become its own  department reporting to the county administrator. Animal control operations will be handled by a specially trained team at the sheriff's department. 

      "Best practices in animal welfare and animal control are Kent County's top priority in restructuring these operations," said county administrator Al Vandenberg. He said the change was based on extensive research and nationwide data. 

     At last week's meeting, county commissioners approved adding one lieutenant and two sergeant positions to the sheriff's department to supervise and train the civilian animal control officers. They also approved the addition of two patrol vehicles. The six vehicles currently being used for animal control operations will be moved to the sheriff's department as well. 

     Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young said the sheriff's department has cooperated with animal control officers for years. 

     "With these changes, animal control operations will be led by sworn law enforcement officers trained to provide oversight and protect due process in rapidly unfolding legal and civil rights matters," she said. 

      While the animal control officers will remain civilian positions and will not have arresting authority, the certified Sheriff's deputies in the animal control unit will have authority to make arests when there is cause to believe a crime has been committed. 

    The animal shelter at 740 Fuller Ave. NE will continue to provide the care, shelter and feeding of lost and abandoned animals in Kent County. 

     "Our mission hasn't changed," said shelter director Angela Hollingshead. "We remain keenly focused on reuniting pets with their families and finding safe and loving new homes for animals when needed."

     If you have an animal emergency in Kent County -- such as an animal attacking a person or a pet in immediate danger -- call 911. Otherwise, residents should call the Kent County Sheriff's Department dispatch at (616) 632-7310 to report a stray dog, a dog bite or a suspected case of animal cruelty.