By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record

Ten years ago, Lori Kroll lost her 15-year-old son Zach, a sophomore at Zeeland East High School, to suicide.

Since then, Zach’s family and friends have held an annual walk/run to raise awareness of mental health and support the “be nice” extension program in Zeeland Public Schools.

This Saturday, the ninth annual Love & Lean Walk/Run For Mental Health will take place, starting from Zeeland Stadium. The event begins at 9 a.m.

“We started as just a walk nine years ago with around 100 people. Four years ago, we added the 5K portion to make it a walk/run and our numbers have grown to between 500-600 this year,” Lori Kroll wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record.

The be nice extension program is taught to students when they take their high school health and physical education class.

“This is a comprehensive, multimedia course that teaches students how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness along with the warning signs of suicide,” Kroll wrote.

All proceeds from this event will go to the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, which developed the be nice extension program, to be used for continuing education related to mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Last year’s Love & Lean Walk/Run raised $25,000, and organizers have already raised close to $40,000 for this year, Kroll wrote.

“This is a walk/run like no other,” Kroll wrote. “It is our hope that everyone who attends feels loved, supported and part of a community who understands that mental health is important. There will be connection beads, memorial signs, sidewalk chalk inspiration, and encouraging poster board signs along the route, as well as a guitarist in the wetlands.”

Participants will have their option of running or walking a 5K, or running/walking a shorter 1.5-mile route. All 5k participants who finish will receive a medal and 1.5-mile participants will receive a ribbon. Also, each participant will receive a resource bag full of mental health resources as well as trinkets and free stuff, Kroll wrote.

Check-in and late registration will begin at 8:15 a.m. Saturday on the south side of Zeeland Stadium. Early pickup is available Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Haven Christian Reformed Church, 541 Alice St.

Corewell Introduces Group Prenatal Care Program

Nurse midwives Katie Steele (left) and Cara VanderJagt are among the facilitators for the new CenteringPregnancy group prenatal care program at Corewell Health Zeeland Hospital. The program is being offered in a dedicated classroom space inside the hospital’s Marvin and Jerene DeWitt Professional Building.

Photo by Greg Chandler

By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record

Expectant mothers planning to have their babies at Corewell Health Zeeland Hospital now have the option to take part in an innovative group prenatal care program.

It’s called CenteringPregnancy, a nationally-certified program that is led by a physician and certified nurse midwife. The program is being offered in a dedicated classroom space on the second floor of the hospital’s Marvin and Jerene DeWitt Professional Building.

CenteringPregnancy has been offered at Corewell’s main hospital in Grand Rapids for about 10 years and is now expanding to some of its regional affiliates, including Zeeland.

“CenteringPregnancy is a different kind of prenatal care, rather than the traditional (kind of care) where you meet one-on-one in an office space with a provider,” said Katie Steele, one of the nurse midwives who will be facilitating the program. “This style is designed to build community, while providing prenatal care.”

Expectant mothers meet in a group of 8-12, with groups determined by the mothers’ expected due date. A circle of chairs is set up for participants as well as their support people and nurse midwives who will facilitate discussion, Steele said.

“We want the moms to build the community, to help answer each other’s questions, and not have it be just advice rattled off by providers,” Steele said.

Expectant mothers who take part in CenteringPregnancy will meet for two hours per session for 10 sessions. They will receive individual health assessments and education, while group discussions will address topics such as labor and delivery, nutrition, newborn care and stress management.

A health assessment cubicle is set off from the main activity space where a physician can meet with the mother individually and check on the condition of the unborn child, including providing ultrasound treatment.

“The women will have an opportunity to be part of their own care, empowering them to (measure) their own weight and their own blood pressure,” Steele said.

Steele said the key to CenteringPregnancy’s success is the sense of community that is built among the mothers.

“Having other women who are going through it at a similar time, a similar point in your life, can be critical to how their pregnancy can go, how your birth experience goes, and building confidence in nursing in the future,” Steele said.

Katie Clark, who chairs Corewell’s CenteringPregnancy program, says the program has a proven track record, both locally and nationally, of producing healthy babies.

“CenteringPregnancy has been shown to modestly reduced preterm birth rates, and also works toward eliminating health disparities between white and black women,” Clark said.

The program offers incentives for mothers to attend. If they attend at least eight out of the 10 sessions, they can receive a car seat or Pack ‘n’ Play bassinet, Steele said.

For more information about CenteringPregnancy, call Corewell Health Zeeland’s obstetrics and gy­­necology unit at (616) 748-2850 or visit spectrumhealth.org/ services/womens/pregnancy-and-childbirth/group-prenatal-care online.

By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record

Developers of a Zeeland Township residential subdivision may seek approval of tax incentives to try to make some of the homes they’ll be building more affordable for working people.

Representatives from Wyoming-based JTB Homes and Michigan Growth Advisors, an economic development arm of the Miller Johnson law firm, came before the Township Board April 15 to share information about tax-increment financing and how it might be used to make some homes in the recently-approved Prairie Winds West subdivision more affordable.

JTB received approval last month to move ahead with development of the first two phases of Prairie Winds West, which is to be built off Byron Road, west of 64th Avenue. The developer eventually plans to build 244 housing units, featuring a mix of single-family condominiums, single-unit and two-unit ranch condos, four-unit townhouses and single-family villas.

JTB is considering whether to seek tax-increment financing for the project. It’s a method by which new tax revenues that are generated by development can be redirected back to the developer to reimburse them for eligible costs tied to developing the site. It’s a tool that was originally made available to developers seeking to clean up contaminated properties under the state’s Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act, which became law in 1996.

In 2023, the state Legislature approved expanding the law to allow new tax revenues captured through local brownfield redevelopment authorities to fund affordable housing projects. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the four-bill package into law. The housing TIF program requires projects to include units targeted to homebuyers who are earning up to 120 percent of the area’s median income (AMI) to qualify.

JTB land development manager Howie Hehrer told the board last month that the estimated price range for homes at Prairie Winds West would range from $350,000 to $600,000. But that range is out of reach for many employees of Zeeland companies who would like to live near where they work.

“Gentex (Corporation) contacted us in regards to providing housing for their employees,” JTB President Dale Kraker told the board. “What they’re running into a problem (with) is they hire people, they can’t find housing in this area, so they move further east towards Grand Rapids, and after a period of time, they decide they don’t want to do the commute, and so they go and find a job in Grand Rapids.”

Amanda Cooper, vice president of strategic initiatives for the Lakeshore Advantage economic development organization, said housing is one of the two leading barriers to economic growth in the Holland-Zeeland area, based on interviews with area employers. She added that the 120 percent AMI ceiling covers single individuals earning  $57,000 to $86,000 annually.

“We’re talking about entry-level engineers, we’re talking about teachers, policemen, skilled trades professionals. These are people who are making a good wage but they are still priced out of the market,” Cooper said.

Captured TIF revenues for housing projects can be used to reimburse developers for environmental site assessment and preparation, installation of infra­structure and development activities such as financing gaps associated with affordable housing projects – both for-sale and rental, said Joe Agostinelli, managing director for Michigan Growth Advisors.

“If a house costs … $400,000 to build and we want to sell it to an income-qualified household that’s making $75,000 a year, and maybe they can afford a mortgage at … $200,000, that difference between $400,000 and $200,000 becomes an eligible activity that the TIF dollars can support,” Agostinelli said.

“So the builder would say, ‘All right, I’m willing to build this house that costs me $400,000 and sell it to Joe Homebuyer who can afford to pay $200,000, and I’ve got a receipt for the TIF dollars over time to pay myself back for essentially the subsidy that I’m providing to my buyer.’”

Any TIF plan would have to receive approval from the Township Board as well as the local brownfield redevelopment authority, whether it’s the existing Ottawa County authority or an authority the township could decide to create on its own.

Kraker told the board that development of Prairie Winds West will proceed regardless of whether a TIF plan is approved. No decisions have been made as to whether JTB will seek the incentive, Kraker said.

Repaving Work Underway on Port Sheldon Street

Contractors for the Ottawa County Road Commission have begun resurfacing work on a 3-mile stretch of Port Sheldon Street in Blendon Township.

The resurfacing work on Port Sheldon, between 72nd Avenue and 96th Avenue, began Monday and is scheduled to continue through May 9, according to the Road Commission.

Work will consist of milling existing asphalt, resurfacing with two lifts of new asphalt and gravel shoulder restoration, the Road Commission said.

The road will stay open to through traffic during the repaving, with traffic being maintained using temporary lane closures under flag control during work hours. Drivers are asked to be prepared for possible delays when traveling through the area.

The Elections Division of the Ottawa County Clerk’s Office has been recognized for Excellence in Election Administration with a national Clearinghouse Award for Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives.

One of 53 programs honored by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), the award recognizes innovation, sustainability, and replicability in election administration during the 2024 presidential election.

Also known as the “Clearies,” the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) presents the awards program annually to celebrate the hard work of election offices across the country. Now in its ninth year, this year’s Clearie Awards honored programs that took place during the 2024 presidential election year.

In partnership with the county Communications Department, the Elections Team launched “Not a Podcast – Ballots & Banter.” In a series of short videos, County Clerk Justin Roebuck and Elections Supervisor Katie Bard addressed critical topics, such as voter registration, election security, how to obtain absentee ballots, and more. The goal was to use a casual podcast format to deliver clear and accessible voter information in advance of the 2024 presidential election.

“As election officials, it’s critical that we communicate information to voters in the many ways they receive their information,” Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck said. “I’m so proud of our innovative Elections Team and thankful for the partnership we have with our county Communications Department.  This national award is a well-deserved recognition of their collaboration to educate voters.”

The Clearies play an essential role in fulfilling the EAC’s mission to serve as a clearinghouse for election administration information under the Help America Vote Act. The EAC is an independent, bipartisan federal agency solely focused on election administration. Submissions were judged on innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and the generation of positive results.

The Royal Park Place and Royal Atrium Inn senior communities have been recognized on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Independent Living and Assisted Living communities.

Royal Park Place received the Best Independent Living award, and Royal Atrium Inn was awarded Best Assisted Living honors.

U.S. News awards the designation of Best Senior Living only to those communities that satisfy U.S. News’ statistical assessment of performance on consumer satisfaction surveys administered.

In the categories of Management & Staff, Activities & Enrichment, and Feels Like Home, the communities rank in the top 25 percent nationwide, demonstrating their commitment to providing a high standard of care and quality of life for their residents.

“Receiving this award reflects the high-quality services we offer, along with lifestyle and wellness provided to our residents,” Royal Park Place Community Manager Jeff Zylstra said. “This recognition reflects the dedication our talented staff members provide as they work to enhance the lives of the people they serve. We are honored to be recognized with these awards.”

By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record

A former Zeeland resident and one-time president of the Zeeland Historical Society has written a book depicting the role of midwives in Dutch-American communities such as those in West Michigan.

The book written by Janet Sjaarda Sheeres, “Present, but Not Counted: Dutch-Immigrant and Second Generation Midwives Working in Dutch Colonies in the United States, 1840-1940,” is the latest book published by the Van Raalte Press of the A. C. Van Raalte Institute at Hope College. The book spotlights a group of women that Sheeres discovered were rendered all but invisible by their times, even as they played an invaluable role during them.

Sheeres, who was born in the Dutch province of Friesland, served as president of the historical society in 1978-79, when she was living in Zeeland. She has written three other books, two tied to Dutch-American history and one linked to the Christian Reformed Church, all published by Eerdmans Publishing of Grand Rapids. She has also edited and annotated synodical minutes from the early years of the CRC that were published in a book.

“In his seminal book [‘When Women Didn’t Count’], Robert Lopresti makes the case that women’s history has consistently been hidden and distorted throughout some two hundred years of official government statistics; their lives and occupations have been left out of official records,” Sheeres notes in the introduction to her book. “That has hindered my work to find any references in official records and in Dutch American history to Dutch-born women working as midwives in Dutch immigrant colonies in the United States.”

In contrast, Sheeres explains later in the text, the relative scarcity of physicians and hospitals during most of the era that her book chronicles meant that midwives practiced widely, and were often the only caregivers available, particularly on the frontier and for the urban poor. It is estimated that as late as 1910, half of all births in the U.S. were attended by midwives.

As a freelance researcher and author whose work focuses on the history of Dutch immigrant women, Sheeres felt called to fill in the record for the segment of the population that she has been studying for decades.

“[D]etermined to find and identify these valiant females, I searched through immigration and census records, city directories, family histories, newspaper accounts, and county archives,” she writes.  “I also spread the word throughout the Dutch community, seeking anyone who had a Dutch-born female ancestor who had worked as a midwife.”

The book is divided into two parts.

The first section has nine chapters that discuss the history of midwifery in the Netherlands and the United States. Some midwives were even formally trained.

Amsterdam, for example, established a clinical school with a two-year program in 1828, and as early as 1668 began requiring midwives to serve a four-year apprenticeship and pass an exam to earn a license before practicing on their own.

With mothers-to-be concerned with modesty, and considering that midwives were often mothers themselves, Sheeres notes that Dutch-immigrant women for many years preferred midwives. That changed, she writes, as society shifted and male obstetricians became the standard for skilled care, not least of all because the developing medical establishment denigrated midwifery.

“The general opinion of the medical profession by that time was that infant mortality was caused by uneducated immigrant midwives,” she notes. “Already before the turn of the twentieth century, there were calls by the medical profession to outlaw midwifery.”

“The result of all this negativity was that the second and third generation of immigrants believed that one way to show they were truly American was to have a male obstetrician deliver their babies,” Sheeres added.

The second part of the book presents three alphabetical directories that contain the names and brief biographical sketches of more than 100 women of Dutch heritage who served as midwives or in related roles around the country. They are organized as either Dutch-born midwives; second-generation Dutch midwives; or “baaksters” (women working as live-in caregivers for new mothers and their infants) and/or maternity nurses.

Sheeres immigrated from the Netherlands to Ontario, Canada in 1951, when she was 11 years old, and then emigrated again to the U.S. in 1962. She moved to Zeeland in 1972 when her husband, Gerrit, received a call to be pastor of Bethel Christian Reformed Church. She and Gerrit lived in Zeeland until 1979, when he was called to pastor another CRC congregation in Washington state, according to an article in the Zeeland Historical Society Timeline newsletter from the spring of 2023.

In that same article, Sheeres shared how she became involved with the historical society.

“I’m not sure what year it was, but Gerrit came home one day and said there was going to be a meeting with some people interested in founding a historical society,” she said. “I stayed home with our four children while Gerrit went to the meeting in Bosch’s restaurant. We became charter members.”

As president, Sheeres said in the Timeline article that one of the historical society’s major challenges early on was raising money. She played a central role in fundraising efforts to pay off the remaining debt on the Dekker Huis, according to the article.

“What would you be if you did not have your memory? Your memory makes you who you are … The Dekker Huis Museum is Zeeland’s memory! Priceless!” Sheeres said in the article.

Sheeres’ book was the last one edited by Dr. Jacob E. Nyenhuis, director emeritus of the Van Raalte Institute, prior to his retirement on Sept. 1, 2023, as founding editor-in-chief of the Van Raalte Press.
During the course of the project, Nyenhuis discovered that his great-grandmother, Maria Bosscher Timmer, had been a midwife in his Minnesota hometown.

In addition to serving as president of the Zeeland Historical Society, Sheeres has also been president of the Association for the Advancement of Dutch American Studies, and currently chairs the Historical Committee of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. She has worked as editor of Origins, the magazine of the Calvin University Archives, and has published numerous articles in various international genealogical and historical magazines.

The Van Raalte Press facilitates publication of the scholarship of the A. C. Van Raalte Institute at Hope College, and was founded by Nyenhuis in 2007. The A. C. Van Raalte Institute specializes in scholarly research and writing on immigration and the contributions of the Dutch and their descendants in the United States. The institute is located in the Henri and Eleonore Theil and Jacob E. and Leona M. Nyenhuis Research Center at 9 E. 10th St.

Copies of “Present, but Not Counted: Dutch-Immigrant and Second Generation Midwives Working in Dutch Colonies in the United States, 1840-1940” are available for $25 and can be purchased at hope.edu/bookstore as well as through Amazon.

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