By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners has selected Patrick Waterman to serve as the next administrator.
County commissioners last Friday approved Waterman’s appointment on a 7-4 vote, ending a 19-month search process.
“I am deeply honored by the opportunity to serve as the next county administrator,” Waterman said in a prepared statement. ‘I look forward to working collaboratively with the Board of Commissioners, elected officials, county staff, our local units of government, and community members to build upon the county’s existing strengths and address future challenges.”
Waterman currently serves as deputy city manager for the city of Wyoming, where he oversees multiple departments and supports operations for a city of more than 77,000 with a $181 million annual budget.
Commissioner Jacob Bonnema, who represents Zeeland on the board, voted in favor of Waterman’s appointment.
“Competence, proven reliability, constant professional. He absolutely has the trust of the leaders in the building,” Bonnema said. “We need someone who can lead us into the future and execute plans. He will carry out the will of the board to do that.”
Before becoming deputy city manager in Wyoming, Waterman served as Ottawa County’s deputy county administrator in 2022-23 and as city manager of Hudsonville for 12 years.
With more than 23 years of local government leadership experience and over 30 years in planning and community development, Waterman brings expertise in strategic planning, economic development, capital improvement planning, and public finance. He has directly supervised teams of up to 1,200 employees and managed budgets exceeding $225 million.
Among the priorities Waterman has championed in his various roles include community reconnection, sustainable growth management, and strategic planning. He has also identified housing affordability, workforce retention, and groundwater stewardship as key challenges facing the county.
Waterman holds a master of public administration degree from Grand Valley State University and a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from Michigan State University. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association and serves on the Board of Directors for Michigan Municipal Executives.
Five finalists were interviewed for the administrator’s job on Sept. 10, two days before the commissioners’ vote. Muskegon County Deputy Administrator Matthew Farrar received the other four votes.
Terms of Waterman’s contract, including wages and benefits, will be finalized in the coming weeks. A start date will be announced once the terms are complete.
Zeeland Record
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners has selected Patrick Waterman to serve as the next administrator.
County commissioners last Friday approved Waterman’s appointment on a 7-4 vote, ending a 19-month search process.
“I am deeply honored by the opportunity to serve as the next county administrator,” Waterman said in a prepared statement. ‘I look forward to working collaboratively with the Board of Commissioners, elected officials, county staff, our local units of government, and community members to build upon the county’s existing strengths and address future challenges.”
Waterman currently serves as deputy city manager for the city of Wyoming, where he oversees multiple departments and supports operations for a city of more than 77,000 with a $181 million annual budget.
Commissioner Jacob Bonnema, who represents Zeeland on the board, voted in favor of Waterman’s appointment.
“Competence, proven reliability, constant professional. He absolutely has the trust of the leaders in the building,” Bonnema said. “We need someone who can lead us into the future and execute plans. He will carry out the will of the board to do that.”
Before becoming deputy city manager in Wyoming, Waterman served as Ottawa County’s deputy county administrator in 2022-23 and as city manager of Hudsonville for 12 years.
With more than 23 years of local government leadership experience and over 30 years in planning and community development, Waterman brings expertise in strategic planning, economic development, capital improvement planning, and public finance. He has directly supervised teams of up to 1,200 employees and managed budgets exceeding $225 million.
Among the priorities Waterman has championed in his various roles include community reconnection, sustainable growth management, and strategic planning. He has also identified housing affordability, workforce retention, and groundwater stewardship as key challenges facing the county.
Waterman holds a master of public administration degree from Grand Valley State University and a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from Michigan State University. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association and serves on the Board of Directors for Michigan Municipal Executives.
Five finalists were interviewed for the administrator’s job on Sept. 10, two days before the commissioners’ vote. Muskegon County Deputy Administrator Matthew Farrar received the other four votes.
Terms of Waterman’s contract, including wages and benefits, will be finalized in the coming weeks. A start date will be announced once the terms are complete.
Trailer Driver Killed in Wreck at 104th and Quincy
A 70-year-old Wyoming man was killed and three other people injured in a rollover crash last Thursday afternoon just northwest of the Zeeland city limits.
The crash occurred about 2 p.m. at 104th Avenue and Quincy Street. An investigation by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office showed a 2007 Chevrolet pickup, driven by the Wyoming man, was pulling a double-axle utility trailer northbound on 104th when it pulled into the path of a 2020 Honda Civic that was westbound on Quincy.
The impact of the crash caused the pickup and trailer to roll over. One subject in the pickup was pinned in the truck and had to be extracted by Holland Township Fire/Rescue crews. The driver of the truck died of his injuries, while his passenger, a 37-year-old West Olive man, was also injured, Lt. Nicholas Knott of the sheriff’s office said.
Two 29-year-old Holland women who were in the Honda Civic suffered serious injuries and were taken to local hospitals by AMR Ambulance.
The crash remains under investigation, Knott said.
The crash occurred about 2 p.m. at 104th Avenue and Quincy Street. An investigation by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office showed a 2007 Chevrolet pickup, driven by the Wyoming man, was pulling a double-axle utility trailer northbound on 104th when it pulled into the path of a 2020 Honda Civic that was westbound on Quincy.
The impact of the crash caused the pickup and trailer to roll over. One subject in the pickup was pinned in the truck and had to be extracted by Holland Township Fire/Rescue crews. The driver of the truck died of his injuries, while his passenger, a 37-year-old West Olive man, was also injured, Lt. Nicholas Knott of the sheriff’s office said.
Two 29-year-old Holland women who were in the Honda Civic suffered serious injuries and were taken to local hospitals by AMR Ambulance.
The crash remains under investigation, Knott said.
Council Candidates Speak Out at Forum
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
With less than two months remaining until the November election, candidates for the Zeeland City Council are staking out their positions on issues affecting the city.
Five of the six candidates for three seats on the council shared their reasons for running and their views on various city issues at a candidate forum last Thursday at the Howard Miller Community Center that was moderated by the Holland-area chapter of the League of Women Voters.
Council incumbent Glenn Kass and challengers Andrew Bult, Ericka Humbert, Amy Langeland and Rebecca Perkins attended the forum. Challenger Kylee DeBoer was absent but submitted a statement that was read during the forum.
One of the major questions the candidates tackled dealt with the recently-approved rezoning of the Cityside Townhouses property at 605 E. Main Ave. that was requested by Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition as part of the company’s planned $836 million modernization project. The property was rezoned from R-3 two-family residential to I-2.
Perkins, who sits on the Planning Commission, voted in favor of the rezoning, but said there were “very compelling arguments” both for and against rezoning. She called the situation “a tough decision, an ongoing decision,” since the Planning Commission will soon be asked to approve a site plan for the Reckitt/Mead Johnson expansion.
“I think it’s just important to listen, ask questions, look at the big picture and the long term of the effects of (the project on) the residents and the community. I’m just wondering if there can be a win-win or some kind of compromise,” Perkins said.
Bult spoke of the importance of Reckitt/Mead Johnson to the community in terms of providing jobs and tax revenue for the city, but also expressed concern about the company encroaching on the nearby residential neighborhood.
“I think City Council needs to be heavily involved now in the planning what happens at Mead Johnson, whether that’s a sound barrier (and a) sight barrier at the road – I think Mead Johnson has been acceptable to those terms,” he said.
Humbert, who lives across the street from the plant, was among a group of east-side residents who opposed the rezoning. She said her greatest disappointment was with how quickly the decision was made.
“There were errors in their application, there were no environmental studies done. I attended a City Council meeting in which they voted and when they asked them if they had any questions, they said nothing. I think our citizens deserved more than that,” Humbert said.
Kass voted against rezoning the Cityside Townhouses property twice – one on the city Planning Commission and once on council. He was the lone no vote both times.
“It’s a different situation (for the townhouse residents), because (the other properties being sought for rezoning) are all (owned by) individual property owners, that own their property, that have the right to sell or not sell their property to anyone they see fit,” Kass said. “The residents at the townhomes are renters who had no say. I’m not in the business of throwing people out of their homes. That’s not why I’m on City Council.”
Langeland said she would have voted against the rezoning.
“I think there could have been more creative solutions (and) input in place for Lakeshore Advantage, other sites looked at,” she said. “I still wanted Mead Johnson to expand, to get the property that they needed.
I think there were other ways than to demolish the townhomes. The City Council, I’m sure, will be looking at the site plan of Mead Johnson to ensure that the noise and the buffer is looked at. That’s what I would like to be involved with.”
The candidates also were asked what amenity or service they would like to see added in the city. Humbert endorsed the idea of a recreational facility, which is something the city is having a feasibility study done on.
“I think that’s something that would benefit all ages,” Humbert said. “With how walkable our town is, I think it would be very accessible for most of the city … Because we live in Michigan, having an indoor space that people can be active in the winter would be really nice.”
Kass proposed the idea of a water park, on a smaller scale than the popular Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, and suggested it could be located on the site of the Howard Miller Company, which is going out of business.
“It would knock out a couple of longtime goals that the city has had. It would be a hotel, there would be another restaurant, it would be a destination spot. It would diversity our tax base,” Kass said.
Langeland proposed the idea of a garden park that would be cared for by volunteers, similar to Holland’s Garden Club.
“I think that’s something we could do on our own. We have a wonderful system. We have a wonderful volunteer group. I think that would be something unique for us,” Langeland said.
Perkins suggested a senior facility, similar to Holland’s Evergreen Commons.
“We have a large population in our community that have been … longtime residents, because it’s been such a great community to live in,” she said.
Bult, a physical therapist, proposed an aquatic facility.
“I can’t tell you how many patients of mine have stated that their weekend plans are to go to the (Holland) Aquatic Center with their kids, their grandkids,” Bult said. “That’s something Zeeland is missing out on.
“Having something like that would benefit families with young kids, it would benefit the aging population with the therapy pools, the hot tubs, all the (amenities) that the Aquatic Center has,” he added.
Absentee ballots for the Nov. 4 council election will be available from the city clerk’s office starting next Thursday.
You can watch the entire council candidate forum on the League of Women Voters YouTube channel at youtube.com/@leagueofwomenvotersholland6223. The recording is divided into two parts.
Zeeland Record
With less than two months remaining until the November election, candidates for the Zeeland City Council are staking out their positions on issues affecting the city.
Five of the six candidates for three seats on the council shared their reasons for running and their views on various city issues at a candidate forum last Thursday at the Howard Miller Community Center that was moderated by the Holland-area chapter of the League of Women Voters.
Council incumbent Glenn Kass and challengers Andrew Bult, Ericka Humbert, Amy Langeland and Rebecca Perkins attended the forum. Challenger Kylee DeBoer was absent but submitted a statement that was read during the forum.
One of the major questions the candidates tackled dealt with the recently-approved rezoning of the Cityside Townhouses property at 605 E. Main Ave. that was requested by Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition as part of the company’s planned $836 million modernization project. The property was rezoned from R-3 two-family residential to I-2.
Perkins, who sits on the Planning Commission, voted in favor of the rezoning, but said there were “very compelling arguments” both for and against rezoning. She called the situation “a tough decision, an ongoing decision,” since the Planning Commission will soon be asked to approve a site plan for the Reckitt/Mead Johnson expansion.
“I think it’s just important to listen, ask questions, look at the big picture and the long term of the effects of (the project on) the residents and the community. I’m just wondering if there can be a win-win or some kind of compromise,” Perkins said.
Bult spoke of the importance of Reckitt/Mead Johnson to the community in terms of providing jobs and tax revenue for the city, but also expressed concern about the company encroaching on the nearby residential neighborhood.
“I think City Council needs to be heavily involved now in the planning what happens at Mead Johnson, whether that’s a sound barrier (and a) sight barrier at the road – I think Mead Johnson has been acceptable to those terms,” he said.
Humbert, who lives across the street from the plant, was among a group of east-side residents who opposed the rezoning. She said her greatest disappointment was with how quickly the decision was made.
“There were errors in their application, there were no environmental studies done. I attended a City Council meeting in which they voted and when they asked them if they had any questions, they said nothing. I think our citizens deserved more than that,” Humbert said.
Kass voted against rezoning the Cityside Townhouses property twice – one on the city Planning Commission and once on council. He was the lone no vote both times.
“It’s a different situation (for the townhouse residents), because (the other properties being sought for rezoning) are all (owned by) individual property owners, that own their property, that have the right to sell or not sell their property to anyone they see fit,” Kass said. “The residents at the townhomes are renters who had no say. I’m not in the business of throwing people out of their homes. That’s not why I’m on City Council.”
Langeland said she would have voted against the rezoning.
“I think there could have been more creative solutions (and) input in place for Lakeshore Advantage, other sites looked at,” she said. “I still wanted Mead Johnson to expand, to get the property that they needed.
I think there were other ways than to demolish the townhomes. The City Council, I’m sure, will be looking at the site plan of Mead Johnson to ensure that the noise and the buffer is looked at. That’s what I would like to be involved with.”
The candidates also were asked what amenity or service they would like to see added in the city. Humbert endorsed the idea of a recreational facility, which is something the city is having a feasibility study done on.
“I think that’s something that would benefit all ages,” Humbert said. “With how walkable our town is, I think it would be very accessible for most of the city … Because we live in Michigan, having an indoor space that people can be active in the winter would be really nice.”
Kass proposed the idea of a water park, on a smaller scale than the popular Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, and suggested it could be located on the site of the Howard Miller Company, which is going out of business.
“It would knock out a couple of longtime goals that the city has had. It would be a hotel, there would be another restaurant, it would be a destination spot. It would diversity our tax base,” Kass said.
Langeland proposed the idea of a garden park that would be cared for by volunteers, similar to Holland’s Garden Club.
“I think that’s something we could do on our own. We have a wonderful system. We have a wonderful volunteer group. I think that would be something unique for us,” Langeland said.
Perkins suggested a senior facility, similar to Holland’s Evergreen Commons.
“We have a large population in our community that have been … longtime residents, because it’s been such a great community to live in,” she said.
Bult, a physical therapist, proposed an aquatic facility.
“I can’t tell you how many patients of mine have stated that their weekend plans are to go to the (Holland) Aquatic Center with their kids, their grandkids,” Bult said. “That’s something Zeeland is missing out on.
“Having something like that would benefit families with young kids, it would benefit the aging population with the therapy pools, the hot tubs, all the (amenities) that the Aquatic Center has,” he added.
Absentee ballots for the Nov. 4 council election will be available from the city clerk’s office starting next Thursday.
You can watch the entire council candidate forum on the League of Women Voters YouTube channel at youtube.com/@leagueofwomenvotersholland6223. The recording is divided into two parts.
Farms Are the Tapas Event to Support Farmland Preservation Set
It’s September, and the fields and orchards of West Michigan are brimming with a variety of fresh produce. Come share in this abundance Sept. 25 at Farms are the Tapas, a chefs’ competition and silent auction to raise funds and awareness for Ottawa County’s Farmland Preservation Program.
Set at the Red Shed & Byre 53 event center and working Centennial farm outside Hudsonville, Tapas brings the community together to celebrate this region’s farming heritage and ensure its continued success. Guests enjoy unique tapas dishes featuring locally-sourced ingredients, vote on their favorite, and have a chance to bid on a variety of auction items – all for $50 per ticket.
Farms are the Tapas 2025 is brimming with competitors. Chefs from a record seven local establishments are vying for the coveted Harvest Knife Award, including The Farmhouse of Zeeland, Holy Smokers BBQ, The Unicorn Tavern, Public Restaurant in Zeeland, Coast Out, Pita on the Pier, and the Beard & the Gal.
To better familiarize the public with Tapas competitors and build excitement, county communications staff created a series of short video ‘reels’ that are being shared on social media all month ahead of the event. In these clips, competitors share their experiences and why they support farmland preservation.
“Each chef brings their own unique background and skillset to the competition,” Ottawa County Farmland Preservation Analyst and event organizer Julie Lamer said. “With Farms are the Tapas now in its ninth year, we felt it was time to hear from the chefs who have been so vital to its success.”
Although the top-notch small plates may steal the show, the silent auction offers a unique variety of farm-raised food items, gifts, and experiences donated by local farms, businesses and area nonprofits in the name of farmland preservation.
Entries include perennial favorites such as farm-raised food packages, golf outings, and a sunset cruise on Lake Michigan, as well as new additions, like a custom rain barrel hand-painted by Outdoor Discovery Center staff and a family membership to Zeeland Recreation fitness and sports center.
All proceeds go toward farmland preservation efforts in Ottawa County. However, you don’t need to buy a ticket to participate in the fundraiser. Anyone can bid in the virtual silent auction simply by signing up online at Event. Gives/Tapas2025. Bidding for the auction opens this weekend – watch MiOttawa.org/Farmland or the County’s social media pages as the event gets closer.
Ottawa County’s Farmland Preservation Program protects the vital local agricultural industry and slows the loss of farms and farmland through programmatic efforts including the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program. Since 2016, this voluntary program has protected nine agricultural properties totaling 733 acres.
Funded through a combination of private donations and state and federal grants, PDR preserves farmland through the purchase and donation of development rights for actively farmed property. This allows participating landowners to receive compensation for the development potential of their land, yet still retain ownership and other rights associated with it through a permanent easement.
To learn more how the Farmland Preservation Program protects and supports Ottawa County’s agricultural industry, visit MiOttawa.org/Farmland.
Set at the Red Shed & Byre 53 event center and working Centennial farm outside Hudsonville, Tapas brings the community together to celebrate this region’s farming heritage and ensure its continued success. Guests enjoy unique tapas dishes featuring locally-sourced ingredients, vote on their favorite, and have a chance to bid on a variety of auction items – all for $50 per ticket.
Farms are the Tapas 2025 is brimming with competitors. Chefs from a record seven local establishments are vying for the coveted Harvest Knife Award, including The Farmhouse of Zeeland, Holy Smokers BBQ, The Unicorn Tavern, Public Restaurant in Zeeland, Coast Out, Pita on the Pier, and the Beard & the Gal.
To better familiarize the public with Tapas competitors and build excitement, county communications staff created a series of short video ‘reels’ that are being shared on social media all month ahead of the event. In these clips, competitors share their experiences and why they support farmland preservation.
“Each chef brings their own unique background and skillset to the competition,” Ottawa County Farmland Preservation Analyst and event organizer Julie Lamer said. “With Farms are the Tapas now in its ninth year, we felt it was time to hear from the chefs who have been so vital to its success.”
Although the top-notch small plates may steal the show, the silent auction offers a unique variety of farm-raised food items, gifts, and experiences donated by local farms, businesses and area nonprofits in the name of farmland preservation.
Entries include perennial favorites such as farm-raised food packages, golf outings, and a sunset cruise on Lake Michigan, as well as new additions, like a custom rain barrel hand-painted by Outdoor Discovery Center staff and a family membership to Zeeland Recreation fitness and sports center.
All proceeds go toward farmland preservation efforts in Ottawa County. However, you don’t need to buy a ticket to participate in the fundraiser. Anyone can bid in the virtual silent auction simply by signing up online at Event. Gives/Tapas2025. Bidding for the auction opens this weekend – watch MiOttawa.org/Farmland or the County’s social media pages as the event gets closer.
Ottawa County’s Farmland Preservation Program protects the vital local agricultural industry and slows the loss of farms and farmland through programmatic efforts including the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program. Since 2016, this voluntary program has protected nine agricultural properties totaling 733 acres.
Funded through a combination of private donations and state and federal grants, PDR preserves farmland through the purchase and donation of development rights for actively farmed property. This allows participating landowners to receive compensation for the development potential of their land, yet still retain ownership and other rights associated with it through a permanent easement.
To learn more how the Farmland Preservation Program protects and supports Ottawa County’s agricultural industry, visit MiOttawa.org/Farmland.
Palliative and Hospice Care: Sisters, Not Twins
Palliative care can be utilized for patients at any stage of a serious illness, including those who are still having active treatments to cure a disease.
Photo courtesy Emmanuel Hospice
Photo courtesy Emmanuel Hospice
Emmanuel Hospice
Palliative (pal·li·a·tive), noun: a medicine or form of medical care that relieves symptoms without dealing with the cause of the condition.
That sounds like hospice, right? Well, yes and no. While they share similarities, hospice care and palliative care aren’t one in the same.
“Hospice is always palliative, but palliative care is not always hospice,” says Emily Page, a nurse practitioner with Emmanuel Hospice. “Both focus on symptom management, but hospice care is more comprehensive while palliative care tends to be more consultative.”
With professional experience in both palliative and hospice care, Page is well-versed in where the two overlap and differ. She says the main distinctions lie in the breadth of services that are covered and a patient’s goals and eligibility.
“To be eligible for hospice, you have to have a prognosis of six months or less of life and a goal of treating symptoms over curing your condition,” Page explains. “By contrast, palliative care also treats symptoms, but it can be utilized for patients who are still having active treatments to cure a disease.”
For example, when working for a palliative clinic, Page would commonly see people actively receiving chemotherapy, radiation, dialysis or surgical procedures to treat cancer, advanced stages of COPD, chronic heart conditions or heart failure.
Page says a big focus of palliative care is having “goals of care” discussions with patients facing serious illnesses or chronic conditions.
This involves exploring what matters most to the patient in terms of their well-being, discussing prognosis and treatment options and facilitating decision-making. Palliative care providers are adept at monitoring changes in a patient's condition and adjusting care plans for evolving goals.
“Palliative care programs can bridge the gap between patients who may be medically appropriate for hospice but not yet goals-of-care ready,” Page says. “In those cases, when a patient decides they don’t want to pursue curative treatment anymore, their palliative care team can shift them into a hospice program.”
It can work the other way around, too.
“If a patient enrolls in hospice and later finds a new clinical trial, they could be referred to a palliative program, which would walk alongside them while they’re actively seeking treatment.”
Coordination of care between multiple specialists, Page says, is another aspect of palliative care that can be helpful.
“Palliative care professionals specialize in putting everything together,” Page explains. “When you go to the hospital, you may be seeing three or four specialists who all have different treatment plans that don’t always work together. That’s where palliative care can come in and determine what the patient’s ultimate goals are to help the different specialists better align.”
Similar to hospice, there are different types of palliative care programs out there, Page says, so services can vary, and it is consultative in nature. Hospice, on the other hand, is a specific Medicare benefit that provides a more comprehensive approach to care through holistic, team-based services for both patients and their families.
“Palliative care can be really helpful for improving quality of life while pinpointing when a patient is appropriate for hospice and starting those discussions early,” Page noted. “Palliative care should not be seen as a replacement for end-of-life care when patients meet both goals of care and eligibility requirements.
“When considering between the two, I recommend taking the time to ask your provider questions to fully understand your options and choose the path that is best for you and your goals.
Palliative (pal·li·a·tive), noun: a medicine or form of medical care that relieves symptoms without dealing with the cause of the condition.
That sounds like hospice, right? Well, yes and no. While they share similarities, hospice care and palliative care aren’t one in the same.
“Hospice is always palliative, but palliative care is not always hospice,” says Emily Page, a nurse practitioner with Emmanuel Hospice. “Both focus on symptom management, but hospice care is more comprehensive while palliative care tends to be more consultative.”
With professional experience in both palliative and hospice care, Page is well-versed in where the two overlap and differ. She says the main distinctions lie in the breadth of services that are covered and a patient’s goals and eligibility.
“To be eligible for hospice, you have to have a prognosis of six months or less of life and a goal of treating symptoms over curing your condition,” Page explains. “By contrast, palliative care also treats symptoms, but it can be utilized for patients who are still having active treatments to cure a disease.”
For example, when working for a palliative clinic, Page would commonly see people actively receiving chemotherapy, radiation, dialysis or surgical procedures to treat cancer, advanced stages of COPD, chronic heart conditions or heart failure.
Page says a big focus of palliative care is having “goals of care” discussions with patients facing serious illnesses or chronic conditions.
This involves exploring what matters most to the patient in terms of their well-being, discussing prognosis and treatment options and facilitating decision-making. Palliative care providers are adept at monitoring changes in a patient's condition and adjusting care plans for evolving goals.
“Palliative care programs can bridge the gap between patients who may be medically appropriate for hospice but not yet goals-of-care ready,” Page says. “In those cases, when a patient decides they don’t want to pursue curative treatment anymore, their palliative care team can shift them into a hospice program.”
It can work the other way around, too.
“If a patient enrolls in hospice and later finds a new clinical trial, they could be referred to a palliative program, which would walk alongside them while they’re actively seeking treatment.”
Coordination of care between multiple specialists, Page says, is another aspect of palliative care that can be helpful.
“Palliative care professionals specialize in putting everything together,” Page explains. “When you go to the hospital, you may be seeing three or four specialists who all have different treatment plans that don’t always work together. That’s where palliative care can come in and determine what the patient’s ultimate goals are to help the different specialists better align.”
Similar to hospice, there are different types of palliative care programs out there, Page says, so services can vary, and it is consultative in nature. Hospice, on the other hand, is a specific Medicare benefit that provides a more comprehensive approach to care through holistic, team-based services for both patients and their families.
“Palliative care can be really helpful for improving quality of life while pinpointing when a patient is appropriate for hospice and starting those discussions early,” Page noted. “Palliative care should not be seen as a replacement for end-of-life care when patients meet both goals of care and eligibility requirements.
“When considering between the two, I recommend taking the time to ask your provider questions to fully understand your options and choose the path that is best for you and your goals.
City Drops Saturday Parking Limits
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland City Council has adopted a couple of changes to its four-hour limit on parking on the city-owned north and south downtown parking lots.
The four-hour limit is no longer in effect on Saturdays, after the council approved dropping that day from the city’s parking ordinance earlier this month. The council also approved waiving the four-hour requirement for active contractor vehicles and trailers containing “essential equipment and materials” that are considered critical for construction projects in the downtown.
The four-hour limit on the downtown lots remains in effect Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ordinance went into effect in June, and city officials so far consider the limit a success, City Marketing Director Abby deRoo said.
“We do get comments and requests to reconsider. Those conversations continue to happen among staff and (the Shopping Area Redevelopment Board), and so far, the direction is to stay the course,” deRoo said.
DeRoo said the idea of dropping Saturdays from the parking time limits came from feedback that some main-floor offices, such as for financial services or insurance, aren’t open on Saturday.
“They are traditional Monday through Friday businesses. That alleviates some of the need for customer parking in the parking lots on those days,” she said.
In addition, dropping the Saturday parking limit would provide tenants of downtown apartments greater flexibility by reducing the need to move their vehicles on a day that is not part of the traditional work week, deRoo said.
City Manager Tim Klunder supported the move.
“We’ve been at it long enough now. We’re a couple of months into it. It seemed like a reasonable suggestion,” Klunder said.
DeRoo said if demand for Saturday parking picks up, the city could reintroduce the time limit.
Waiving the parking limit for active contractor vehicles would require a permit that would be approved by the Community Development Department.
“We understand that the footprint needed to effectively execute construction projects in a tight commercial district can be very invasive,” deRoo wrote in a memo to the City Council. “Past projects have experienced unrestricted use of the parking lots from contractor teams, creating limited parking and hardship for neighboring properties. While the new four-hour parking limits would theoretically eliminate this concern, our team understands it is unrealistic to expect active contractors to be restricted to four-hour access to the parking lots.”
The permits would only be granted to those vehicles that have the essential equipment needed to work on a project. “Not every contractor on a team has their equipment in their truck that is needed for the project,” DeRoo said.
Councilman Glenn Kass wasn’t surprised by the changes.
“I think we all knew that there were going to be tweaks, as this is very much trial and error,” Kass said. “This is not something we’ve done before. There will be things that come up that need to be addressed. I’m not concerned at all with a few minor modifications.”
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland City Council has adopted a couple of changes to its four-hour limit on parking on the city-owned north and south downtown parking lots.
The four-hour limit is no longer in effect on Saturdays, after the council approved dropping that day from the city’s parking ordinance earlier this month. The council also approved waiving the four-hour requirement for active contractor vehicles and trailers containing “essential equipment and materials” that are considered critical for construction projects in the downtown.
The four-hour limit on the downtown lots remains in effect Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ordinance went into effect in June, and city officials so far consider the limit a success, City Marketing Director Abby deRoo said.
“We do get comments and requests to reconsider. Those conversations continue to happen among staff and (the Shopping Area Redevelopment Board), and so far, the direction is to stay the course,” deRoo said.
DeRoo said the idea of dropping Saturdays from the parking time limits came from feedback that some main-floor offices, such as for financial services or insurance, aren’t open on Saturday.
“They are traditional Monday through Friday businesses. That alleviates some of the need for customer parking in the parking lots on those days,” she said.
In addition, dropping the Saturday parking limit would provide tenants of downtown apartments greater flexibility by reducing the need to move their vehicles on a day that is not part of the traditional work week, deRoo said.
City Manager Tim Klunder supported the move.
“We’ve been at it long enough now. We’re a couple of months into it. It seemed like a reasonable suggestion,” Klunder said.
DeRoo said if demand for Saturday parking picks up, the city could reintroduce the time limit.
Waiving the parking limit for active contractor vehicles would require a permit that would be approved by the Community Development Department.
“We understand that the footprint needed to effectively execute construction projects in a tight commercial district can be very invasive,” deRoo wrote in a memo to the City Council. “Past projects have experienced unrestricted use of the parking lots from contractor teams, creating limited parking and hardship for neighboring properties. While the new four-hour parking limits would theoretically eliminate this concern, our team understands it is unrealistic to expect active contractors to be restricted to four-hour access to the parking lots.”
The permits would only be granted to those vehicles that have the essential equipment needed to work on a project. “Not every contractor on a team has their equipment in their truck that is needed for the project,” DeRoo said.
Councilman Glenn Kass wasn’t surprised by the changes.
“I think we all knew that there were going to be tweaks, as this is very much trial and error,” Kass said. “This is not something we’ve done before. There will be things that come up that need to be addressed. I’m not concerned at all with a few minor modifications.”
Registration Open for Pumpkinfest 5K
The Zeeland Athletic Booster Club will hold its annual Pumpkinfest 5-kilometer run/walk on Saturday, Oct. 4.
All proceeds from the event will go to benefit Zeeland Public Schools athletic programs.
Activities begin at 8 a.m. with the kids’ 100-yard dash in front of Zeeland West High School, followed by the kids’ half-mile fun run, with both finishing at the school main office entrance. The 5K starts and ends at 8:30 a.m. at the main office entrance, after winding through the Zeeland Schools property.
Awards for the kids’ runs will be given out on the course. Awards and post-race refreshments for the 5K will be presented in the Zeeland West cafeteria after the race is completed. Medals will be presented to the top three male and top three female runners in each age category, starting with 11 and under and going up to 70 and over.
Registration for non-student runners for the 5K is $30 plus a $3.15 sign-up fee, while the student registration rate is $25 plus a $2.85 sign-up fee. Race information can be found online at runsignup.com/Race/MI/Zeeland/ ZeelandAthleticBoostersPumpkinfestRun.
All proceeds from the event will go to benefit Zeeland Public Schools athletic programs.
Activities begin at 8 a.m. with the kids’ 100-yard dash in front of Zeeland West High School, followed by the kids’ half-mile fun run, with both finishing at the school main office entrance. The 5K starts and ends at 8:30 a.m. at the main office entrance, after winding through the Zeeland Schools property.
Awards for the kids’ runs will be given out on the course. Awards and post-race refreshments for the 5K will be presented in the Zeeland West cafeteria after the race is completed. Medals will be presented to the top three male and top three female runners in each age category, starting with 11 and under and going up to 70 and over.
Registration for non-student runners for the 5K is $30 plus a $3.15 sign-up fee, while the student registration rate is $25 plus a $2.85 sign-up fee. Race information can be found online at runsignup.com/Race/MI/Zeeland/ ZeelandAthleticBoostersPumpkinfestRun.
Veterans Stand Down & Resource Fair Today in Grand Haven
Ottawa County Veterans Services, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and local community partners, will host its second annual Veterans Stand Down & Resource Fair today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Park Place, 421 Columbus Ave., Grand Haven.
The event will bring together local service providers, community partners, and veteran organizations to connect veterans and military families with valuable resources. Attendees will have access to more than 65 vendors offering VA claims assistance, free giveaways, education opportunities, employment resources, and much more.
This year marks the first time the event will be held in Grand Haven, moving north from its original location to expand outreach and accessibility for veterans throughout Ottawa County.
All Ottawa County veterans and military families are encouraged to attend this free event, which will feature numerous opportunities for connection, assistance, and support. Last year, more than 175 veterans were served, and organizers hope to reach even more this year.
The Veterans Stand Down & Resource Fair is free and open to the public. Veterans are encouraged to bring a copy of their DD-214 or current military ID card. Those needing assistance obtaining their DD-214 can contact Ottawa County Veterans Services for help.
For more information, contact Ottawa County Veterans Services at (616) 393-VETS or veteranservices@miottawa.org.
The event will bring together local service providers, community partners, and veteran organizations to connect veterans and military families with valuable resources. Attendees will have access to more than 65 vendors offering VA claims assistance, free giveaways, education opportunities, employment resources, and much more.
This year marks the first time the event will be held in Grand Haven, moving north from its original location to expand outreach and accessibility for veterans throughout Ottawa County.
All Ottawa County veterans and military families are encouraged to attend this free event, which will feature numerous opportunities for connection, assistance, and support. Last year, more than 175 veterans were served, and organizers hope to reach even more this year.
The Veterans Stand Down & Resource Fair is free and open to the public. Veterans are encouraged to bring a copy of their DD-214 or current military ID card. Those needing assistance obtaining their DD-214 can contact Ottawa County Veterans Services for help.
For more information, contact Ottawa County Veterans Services at (616) 393-VETS or veteranservices@miottawa.org.
Corewell Health First in State to Offer All-in-One Atrial Fibrillation Treatment
Corewell Health William Beau- mont University Hospital in Royal Oak and Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids recently performed the first all-in-one dual energy ablation procedures in Michigan, giving patients with persistent atrial fibrillation more choices and safer options.
Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is a progressive disease that occurs when the heart's upper chambers beat out of rhythm. As a result, blood is not pumped efficiently to the rest of the body. Serious complications include stroke, heart failure and increased risk of death. Lesser complications include fatigue, anxiety and heart palpitations. The lifetime risk of developing Afib is one in four for people 40 and older, according to the American Heart Association.
“Pulsed field ablation is the biggest advancement for the treatment of heart rhythm disorders in my lifetime,” said Brian Williamson, M.D., medical director, Heart Rhythm Clinic, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital. “Corewell Health is proud to be a statewide leader in the treatment of Afib, the most common atrial arrhythmia, affecting nearly 60 million people worldwide.”
Dr. Williamson’s team performed the first Aferra-powered procedure in Southeast Michigan on July 14. Wassim Jawad, M.D., and his team performed the first procedure in West Michigan at Corewell Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center in Grand Rapids on Aug. 7.
Medtronic received Food and Drug Administration approval for the Affera™ Mapping and Ablation System and Sphere-9™ Catheter in late 2024.
“The Aferra technology enables our physicians to map, ablate and validate with a single catheter, improving safety and convenience, and shortening procedure time,” Dr. Jawad said.
Smaller than its predecessors, the all-in-one catheter includes a built-in mapping system to identify the source of fast, abnormal rhythms and then correct them by delivering pulsed field ablation or radiofrequency energy, whichever is determined to be best for the patient.
As the global incidence of Afib continues to rise – driven by factors such as an aging population, increasing obesity rates and a growing prevalence of diabetes -- identifying effective treatments has become increasingly important.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 12.1 million people in the U.S. have Afib. High blood pressure accounts for about one in five cases. Afib also is the cause of about one in seven strokes.
Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is a progressive disease that occurs when the heart's upper chambers beat out of rhythm. As a result, blood is not pumped efficiently to the rest of the body. Serious complications include stroke, heart failure and increased risk of death. Lesser complications include fatigue, anxiety and heart palpitations. The lifetime risk of developing Afib is one in four for people 40 and older, according to the American Heart Association.
“Pulsed field ablation is the biggest advancement for the treatment of heart rhythm disorders in my lifetime,” said Brian Williamson, M.D., medical director, Heart Rhythm Clinic, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital. “Corewell Health is proud to be a statewide leader in the treatment of Afib, the most common atrial arrhythmia, affecting nearly 60 million people worldwide.”
Dr. Williamson’s team performed the first Aferra-powered procedure in Southeast Michigan on July 14. Wassim Jawad, M.D., and his team performed the first procedure in West Michigan at Corewell Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center in Grand Rapids on Aug. 7.
Medtronic received Food and Drug Administration approval for the Affera™ Mapping and Ablation System and Sphere-9™ Catheter in late 2024.
“The Aferra technology enables our physicians to map, ablate and validate with a single catheter, improving safety and convenience, and shortening procedure time,” Dr. Jawad said.
Smaller than its predecessors, the all-in-one catheter includes a built-in mapping system to identify the source of fast, abnormal rhythms and then correct them by delivering pulsed field ablation or radiofrequency energy, whichever is determined to be best for the patient.
As the global incidence of Afib continues to rise – driven by factors such as an aging population, increasing obesity rates and a growing prevalence of diabetes -- identifying effective treatments has become increasingly important.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 12.1 million people in the U.S. have Afib. High blood pressure accounts for about one in five cases. Afib also is the cause of about one in seven strokes.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://www.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
