By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The city of Zeeland will likely replace the gazebo at VandeLuyster Square next year.
The City Council has approved a contract with the Holland-based MCSA Group for design services on the gazebo, at a cost of $11,190. The city had allocated $10,000 for the design work in the 2025-26 budget.
Assistant City Manager Kevin Plockmeyer told the council that the gazebo is nearing the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced.
“There’s a lot of rotting wood on it, shingles and such. It’s time,” Plockmeyer said.
The gazebo is more than 30 years old, Plockmeyer said.
The Cemetery and Parks Commission will work closely with MCSA Group on the design. Commissioners want to preserve the gazebo’s historical charm while ensuring the new gazebo is durable and long-lasting.
A proposed design for a new gazebo is expected to be presented to the city early next year. Once the city has a proposed design for the project, the council can then determine how much money to allocate for construction in the 2026-27 budget, Plockmeyer said.
“We are eager to begin this project and are confident that the MCSA Group has the expertise to meet both the aesthetic and durability goals for the new gazebo,” Plockmeyer wrote in a memo to the council.
Zeeland Record
The city of Zeeland will likely replace the gazebo at VandeLuyster Square next year.
The City Council has approved a contract with the Holland-based MCSA Group for design services on the gazebo, at a cost of $11,190. The city had allocated $10,000 for the design work in the 2025-26 budget.
Assistant City Manager Kevin Plockmeyer told the council that the gazebo is nearing the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced.
“There’s a lot of rotting wood on it, shingles and such. It’s time,” Plockmeyer said.
The gazebo is more than 30 years old, Plockmeyer said.
The Cemetery and Parks Commission will work closely with MCSA Group on the design. Commissioners want to preserve the gazebo’s historical charm while ensuring the new gazebo is durable and long-lasting.
A proposed design for a new gazebo is expected to be presented to the city early next year. Once the city has a proposed design for the project, the council can then determine how much money to allocate for construction in the 2026-27 budget, Plockmeyer said.
“We are eager to begin this project and are confident that the MCSA Group has the expertise to meet both the aesthetic and durability goals for the new gazebo,” Plockmeyer wrote in a memo to the council.
‘Beer Choir’ Gathering Tonight at Tripelroot
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
A lot of you never expected to see the words “beer” and “choir” mentioned in the same sentence in the city of Zeeland.
However, tonight at Tripelroot Brewery as part of the opening night of Pumpkinfest, there will be a gathering of people singing and enjoying beer. They’re calling it “Beer Choir.”
The event, which will take place from 6 to 8 p.m., is part of an outreach effort by the Holland Chorale to share their love of music with the community, said Phil Moody, the chorale’s artistic director.
“The Holland Chorale approached me and said they had this idea (of doing “Beer Choir”), and I thought it would be a good fit for … Pumpkinfest, just because there’s going to be a lot of people downtown, and just have a positive, upbeat vibe. I thought it sounded like a great idea,” Tripelroot co-owner Laura Gentry said.
“We love to do fun things, and I think this will be a really fun way to bring people together. Who doesn’t love beer and singing?” Gentry added.
Beer Choir is a national singing movement that started up about 10 years ago in the Twin Cities, and has grown to more than 30 chapters nationally, according to the organization’s website.
The Beer Choir has its own “hymnal” that include drinking songs, well-known hymns such as “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee,” folk songs such as “Danny Boy,” and even tunes with reworked titles like “How Much Is That Lager In The Window” (sung to the tune of “How Much Is That Doggie In The Window”).
Pumpkinfest organizer Lynette Lam said the idea of Beer Choir fits with the festival’s goal of trying to “come up with a little bit of something for everybody.”
“I think in Zeeland, we have to think outside of the box. We hope it catches people’s attention,” Lam said.
No prior singing experience is needed to be part of Beer Choir, Moody said.
Tripelroot will also host live music during Pumpkinfest from 6-9 p.m. Friday night with the Adam Locker Band. Representatives and assistance dogs from PAWS With A Cause will be on hand during the event.
Historical Society Fundraiser Cancelled
The Zeeland Historical Society has announced that its Foundations for the Future fundraiser that was scheduled to be held Friday at the historic Colonial Clock Building on Washington Avenue has been cancelled because of lagging ticket sales.
Hastings Man Injured in 48th & Byron Crash
A 40-year-old Hastings man was injured last week in a two-vehicle crash at the border of Zeeland and Jamestown Townships.
The crash occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on Sept. 23. An investigation by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office found that the Hastings man was driving a 2013 Audi northbound on 48th Avenue when he went through the stop sign at Byron Road and into the path of a 2006 Ford F-550 truck that was pulling asphalt trailer.
The Ford F-550 struck the Audi, and the impact of the crash caused both vehicles to leave the roadway west of the intersection. The Audi came to rest on its side with the F-550 on top of it, Sgt. Michael Tamminga of the sheriff’s office said.
The driver of the Audi was pinned in his vehicles and had to be extricated by firefighters from Zeeland and Jamestown townships. He suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a local hospital via AeroMed for treatment, Tamminga said.
The driver of the F-550, a 34-year-old Holland man, was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.
The crash occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on Sept. 23. An investigation by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office found that the Hastings man was driving a 2013 Audi northbound on 48th Avenue when he went through the stop sign at Byron Road and into the path of a 2006 Ford F-550 truck that was pulling asphalt trailer.
The Ford F-550 struck the Audi, and the impact of the crash caused both vehicles to leave the roadway west of the intersection. The Audi came to rest on its side with the F-550 on top of it, Sgt. Michael Tamminga of the sheriff’s office said.
The driver of the Audi was pinned in his vehicles and had to be extricated by firefighters from Zeeland and Jamestown townships. He suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a local hospital via AeroMed for treatment, Tamminga said.
The driver of the F-550, a 34-year-old Holland man, was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.
County to Hold Shelter
in Place Exercise Friday
Ottawa County Emergency Management and the Local Emergency Planning Committee will sponsor a countywide Shelter in Place for a chemical emergency exercise on Friday at 12 noon.
This exercise will take place in conjunction with the final outdoor warning siren test of the year.
The purpose of the exercise is to:
• Remind residents that outdoor warning sirens are all-hazard devices, not just “tornado sirens.”
• Reinforce the message: If you hear the sirens, go inside and seek more information.
• Provide an opportunity for citizens, schools, and businesses to practice how to shelter in place during a chemical emergency.
• Build Ottawa County’s overall preparedness to respond to hazardous chemical incidents.
—————
Why it matters
Ottawa County is home to many industries that manufacture, store, or transport chemicals, including those used in agriculture, food production, and refrigeration. While rare, accidental chemical releases can happen—and knowing how to respond could be critical to protecting your health and safety.
What to do on Friday when the sirens sound at 12 noon:
• Go indoors.
• Close and lock all windows and doors.
• Shut down air-handling equipment (AC, furnaces, fans).
• If able, seal gaps around doors and windows to limit drafts.
• Stay inside until you receive the “all clear.” The all clear is when you feel you have successfully completed the exercise.
We recognize participation will vary. Some may fully practice these steps; others may use the time to discuss or plan what they would do in a real emergency. Schools, businesses, and county buildings are encouraged to take part at a level that makes sense for them.
Ottawa County has developed quick reference guides and tutorial videos to help residents and organizations prepare. Visit miottawa. org/sheriff/em/lepc/shelter-in-place for resources.
This exercise will be held annually on the first Friday in October during the last outdoor warning siren test of the year. By practicing together, we can strengthen our community’s ability to respond to chemical emergencies.
––––––––––––––––––––
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
