ENDING ON A GOOD NOTE WITH THE KIDS ACTIVITIES AT THE HOLLAND FARMERS MARKET

Christina Hornbach from Early Bird Music Classes will be back again for this last Kids Activity Series of the summer. Join her at the Holland Farmers Market on Wednesday, August 26 from 10 – 11:45 am as she gives kids and parents alike a taste of her music classes. Kids can come and experience learning through music. She’ll have instruments on hand for kids to play and will discuss how music can help your child learn and grow. While this is just a small part of what Early Bird Music Classes are about, Christina invites everyone to take a look at the classes, which will be starting again on September 10. In these classes, children will participate in a loosely guided musical exploration. It will then give kids the opportunity to be exposed to music at a young age, enforcing the educational qualities music can have.

The Kids Activity Series is held at the Farmers Market each Wednesday at 10am from June 3 through August 26. Activities are free of charge and end at 11:45am. The Big Read Bus will also be visiting the Farmers Market from 11am to 1pm every Wednesday during the Kids Activities with great books for fun summer reading. Activities are geared toward children ages 1-10 and children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. The Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am to 4pm from mid-May to mid-December rain or shine.

The City of Holland’s Department of Leisure and Cultural Services hosts the Market at the Eighth Street Marketplace in Downtown Holland. Visit www.hollandfarmersmarket.com or contact Market Master Candy Todd at 616-355-1130 for more information. No pets of any kind are allowed at the Market.

Holland Farmer's Market Chef Series, August 22

Learn from Chefs Scott Koncheck and James Bailey from Freedom Village in Holland how to entertain like a pro! They’ll feature some easy yet delightful summer entertaining ideas for any dinner party or summer BBQ. A mixed greens salad consisting of field greens, fresh basil, mixed nuts and fresh fruit will be tossed in a light vinaigrette and served in a carved melon baby carriage. To end a great evening of entertaining, they’ll show us how to make a peaches and cream pie made from a light whipped cream filling and fresh peaches from the Market! The Chef Series is held each Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Farmers Market from May 16 through September 12. The Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from mid-May to mid-December rain or shine. The City of Holland’s Department of Leisure and Cultural Services hosts the Market at the Eighth Street Marketplace in Downtown Holland. Visit www.hollandfarmersmarket.com or contact Market Master Candy Todd at 616-355-1138 for more information. No pets of any kind are allowed at the Market. The 2009 Chef Series at the Farmers Market is sponsored by Visser Farms, a family farm in Zeeland that has been in business since 1902. Visser Farms is proud to grow everything from Acorn Squash to Zucchini. Please visit them on the web at www.visser-farms.com.

Baby Giraffe Born at Binder Park Zoo!

Binder Park Zoo is ecstatic to announce not one, but two reticulated giraffe births! The bouncing baby boys were born within 48 hours of each other, the first on Tuesday, August 11th at 9:38 a.m. to mother Jasiri, age 14 years, and the second on Wednesday, August 12th at 5:48 p.m. to mother Cece, age 12. Both calves were fathered by Gene, who is 12 years old. These births are the first giraffe births at Binder Park Zoo and the first in Michigan in over 16 years!

“For 13 years we have hopefully looked forward to having baby giraffe,” remarks Greg Geise, Binder Park Zoo President and CEO. “Now all of a sudden we’ve realized our dream two times over and we are delighted!”

Baby number one weighed 137 lbs at birth and stood 6 feet tall. He was standing and nursing within an hour of his birth. All signs are pointing to the calf being healthy and Jasiri is doing well as a first time mother. “It’s great to see Jasiri taking excellent care of her new baby,” says Andi Kornak, Curator of Collections. “She’s a great first time mom.”

Baby number two weighed 116 lbs at birth and stood a bit shorter than his half brother at 5 feet 6 inches. “Cece was not displaying signs of proper care of the baby, and a decision was made to hand raise the calf,” says Kornak. “It is not uncommon for giraffes to be hand raised in zoos.”

These are the first giraffe births at Binder Park Zoo and a perfect way to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Wild Africa, the Zoo’s award winning African exhibit. “Hand feeding our giraffes is one of the opportunities that make this place special,” says Stacey Lawson, Chief Operating Officer. “Having newcomers to the giraffe herd is going to offer yet another spectacular experience for families to enjoy at Binder Park Zoo.”

A timetable for the youngsters to appear on exhibit has not been set, but starting Friday, August 21, guests will be able to see a video of the birth and footage from their young lives at a special exhibit in Wild Africa courtesy of Best Buy.

“Before they go out on exhibit, we need to introduce them to the rest of the giraffe herd and then acclimate them to the exhibit,” says Jenny Barnett, Director of Wildlife. “The safety of our animals comes first, though we want to get them out on savannah to share with our guests as soon as possible.”

The gestation period for giraffes is 14 to 15 months and calves can be up to 6 feet tall at birth. Giraffe babies start off their lives with a 6-foot drop into the world, as their mothers give birth standing up.

These brand new additions increase the size of Binder Park Zoo’s reticulated giraffe herd to nine, which is one of the largest herds in the Midwest and the largest herd in Michigan. Currently there are 5 females and 4 males residing at Binder Park Zoo.

For more information about Binder Park Zoo visit www.wmta.org

Free Community Open House with the Grand Rapids Ballet Company

The Grand Rapids Ballet Company invites everyone to see what Michigan’s only professional ballet company is all about during a FREE Community Open House! People of all ages are welcome to try a class in one of the four large dance studios or sample a performance in the beautiful Peter Martin Wege Theatre during the event on August 29 from 12 - 4 pm.

The open house focuses on the many ways that people of all ages can enjoy programming with the Grand Rapids Ballet Company. Throughout the day visitors are invited to watch a variety of performances by the Company Professionals and Students, try some of the beginner classes, and learn about volunteering, upcoming performances, and more. Grand Rapids Ballet Company staff and instructors and will be on hand to answer questions, teach classes and give tours.

The Open House takes place at the Grand Rapids Ballet Company’s Meijer-Royce Center for Dance, 341 Ellsworth SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. For more information on the Community Open House or any of the Grand Rapids Ballet Company’s programs, visit grballet.com or www.wmta.org.

Bumper apple crop in the making: Growers anticipating high yields, good quality

Cool temperatures and heavy summer rains have apple growers in Michigan anticipating one of the state’s best apple crops in over a decade.

On average, Michigan produces about 20 million bushels of apples, according to the USDA. This year’s projection is estimated to be 25 to 27 million bushels.

According to Michigan Apple Committee Executive Director Denise Donohue, the weather has been close to ideal with plentiful precipitation in most areas and a near absence of severe storms. Most trees are also carrying heavy loads of apples so yield will be high.

The 2009 anticipated bountiful harvest is especially good news having come off a year when apple production was down about 30 percent from average. Despite overall cooperation from Mother Nature this growing season, several growers in the state suffered a setback this past weekend when a storm with high winds and heavy rains hit isolated pockets of apple growing regions near Sparta and Kent City.

“It is extremely unfortunate for growers any time there is damage to the apples, especially the trees,” said Donohue. “Some orchards and individual blocks of apples on the Fruit Ridge were devastated and suffered major damage.”

Even so, Donohue added that statewide the outlook is very promising and Michigan remains on track for a bumper crop. MAC estimates that about 5 - 8 percent of the crop was lost due to the storms.

Harvest has already commenced in Southern Michigan with the picking of Paula Reds and Ginger Golds. The state produces over 20 different varieties of apples for the commercial market.

Michigan is the third-largest apple producing state in the nation.

The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded, nonprofit organization devoted to promotion, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption by consumers in Michigan and around the world. For more information, visit MichiganApples.com.

Last Chance for a Summer Escape - Great Deals & Ideas!

 

Elvis Memorial Car Show & Tribute Concert

Elvis fans don’t need to travel for Graceland to get a dose of “the King of Rock ‘N Roll” or search Kalamazoo, MI for “Elvis sightings”- they only need to head to the Gilmore Car Museum, in Hickory Corners, MI!

The 24th annual Elvis Memorial Car Show & Tribute Concert will be held at Museum this Saturday, August 15 from 9 am - 5 pm. This popular event is a great way to relive memories- or even make a few- from the bygone era of poodle skirts, fast cars and the King of Rock ‘N Roll. Bring your own classic car or simply come to enjoy the car show, and be sure you bring a lawn chair for the high-energy Elvis tribute concert. Noted Elvis tribute artist Darrel Hagel, a past winner at the esteemed Collingwood Elvis Festival in Canada, is back this year by popular demand. Hagel will take the stage for a special “Vegas Style” concert salute to the King, performing Elvis’ hits from the 50’s, his movies and his live Las Vegas shows.

The Elvis Memorial Car Show marks the 32nd anniversary of the death of Presley, who passed away at the age of 42 on August 16, 1977. The 90-acre park-like setting of the Gilmore Car Museum will play host to hundreds of sports cars, street machines, stock and antique cars, muscle cars, and 4 x 4’s, as well as custom and Pro Street vehicles. Presented by the Rod Benders Car Club of West Michigan for the 24th year, the Saturday car show and swap meet is open to the public from 9 am to 5 pm, with the tribute concert taking place in the afternoon.

Special discounted spectator admission is $8.00 per day, with those under 11 admitted free. Guests will be able to tour the world-class collection of nearly 200 extraordinary vehicles in Gilmore Car Museum at no extra charge. For the remainder of the 2009 season the Museum is also featuring the all-new exhibit, "History - 1/4 Mile at a Time," featuring vehicles from some of the most iconic names in drag racing history – “Big Daddy” Don Garltis, Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick, Kalamazoo’s Jerry Arnold, and E. J. Potter – aka “The Michigan Madman,” just to name a few.

The Gilmore Car Museum is located just 20 minutes northeast of Kalamazoo on M-43 and Hickory Road. To learn more about the Gilmore Car Museum visit wmta.org or www.GilmoreCarMuseum.org.

For more great events this weekend, visit wmta.org's event calendar!

West Michigan Salsa Showdown

HOLLAND FARMERS MARKET GETTING SET FOR THE SALSA SHOWDOWN!

Contestants are entering the Salsa Showdown at the Holland Farmers Market from all over Michigan! Along with many Holland locals, teams from Grand Rapids, West Olive and even Lansing will be competing in the second ever salsa making competition at the Market this Saturday, August 15. The Salsa Showdown, sponsored by City Vu Bistro, is open to the public for tasting! The teams will have two hours to make their salsa using fresh Market produce along with their own secret ingredients starting at 9am.

The judging will happen at 1pm by a panel of three judges: W-Lite morning radio show host, Gerry Barnaby, City Vu Bisto Chef, Steve Quintero and Tulipanes Latino Art and Film Festival board member, Carolina Contreras. The teams are classified into Amateur Division or a Restaurant Division. Cash and prizes will be awarded to the top three teams in the Amateur Division and the winner of the Restaurant Division will receive a traveling trophy and bragging rights. The salsa tasting, which begins at 11am, is open to the public and each person is encouraged to vote for their favorite salsa. The winning team of the “People’s Choice” award will win a trophy.

The public is welcome to come to the event and cheer on their favorite team! The cost of admission to try the salsas is $3, which includes unlimited tortilla chips and the opportunity to vote for the “People’s Choice” awards. The public is also encouraged to sign up for the Jalapeno Eating Contest, which will take place at noon on Saturday. You can find the registration for this event at www.hollandfarmersmarket.com/salsashowdown.