Home Energy Audit
A test that many people don’t think about is a home energy audit. Our friends at Great Lakes Energy showed us why it’s so important.
Touchstone Energy Cooperative
Test Anxiety and More!
Nervous, anxious, concerned…these are just a few of the words and emotions we often associate with when we hear the word-TEST. This week on “WhereYou Live” we’re looking at all kinds of tests that play an important role in our lives. For instance, we’ll talk with Priority Health experts about what tests your kids need to have done to stay healthy and our friends from Touchstone Energy will show you how to do a home efficency test that can save you energy and money. Pine Rest Christian Services will share insights on ways to help our kids overcome test anxiety and Ferris State Univeristy folks will share what tests are most important for college admission. We’ll also visit the Meijer Innovation Center to see how they test all sorts of products before they hit the store shelves. It’s a show full of valuable information you can really use—”Where You Live!’ Watch Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on WOTV 4 and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on WOOD TV 8.
Successful Summer Reading Club!
This summer over 65,000 kids participated in the Summer Reading Club at their local libraries. The 2011 Summer Reading Club was a huge hit in communities around West Michigan! As kids read books they earned prizes and when they met their reading goals they received a free ticket to the West Michigan Whitecaps. Every library also received a gift card from Meijer, a family four pack to the Holland Aquatic Center and free t-shirts from Touchstone Energy! We also had several big prizes to give away. Kids from each library where registered to win and here’s the list of winners:
Grand Prize to New York City!!
Megan Briggs of Muskegon, Dalton Branch
Boyne Mountain/Avalanche Bay
Aleeshia McClenton of Kalamazoo, Comstock Twp. Library
Mackenzie Johnson of Whitehall, White Lake Community Library
Brayden Waldron of East Leroy, Lawrence Memorial Library
Caleb Sibley of Ionia, Ionia Community Library
Double JJ Resort
Sierra Schrotenboer of Holland, Salem Twp. Library
Cassy Cole of Edmore, Home Twp. Library
Justin Barnes of Montague, Montague Branch
Austin Pringle of Grand Rapids, Van Belkum Branch
Connecting Local Non-Profits
Each Park Party hosts between 30-40 non-profit organizations that work with children and families.
Amazing Park Party Partners
Each week various partners attend our events bringing free fun for families. A few of them include local fire and police departments, Touchstone Energy Cooperative and ESCAPE Fire Safety.
Park Party 101
We’re ready to Rock The Park as we kick-off the 2011 Park Party Season on Thursday, June 23rd at the Greenville High School Complex! Thanks to the Michigan Department of Education and the USDA we’ll have FREE lunches for everyone 18 and under. We’ll start serving those at 11:30 a.m. Park Party action will go from noon until 2 p.m. Here’s a few of my best tips for making the most of your Park Party experience:
1. Get in line early for the one large scale event your child really wants to do-climbing wall, super slide, dixie twister, etc. These lines will get long quick and it’s probably not realistic to think you’ll get on all the activities during the two hour event.
2. Bring a water bottle for each person in your group. We’ll be passing out FREE Ice Mountain Water, Milk with the lunches and 100% Apple Juice from Mc Donalds but you’ll want to have water with you at all times so bring some from home to be safe.
3. We have great corporate partners that are passing out cool things: Priority Health is giving out backpacks, AMWAY will be at the Art Area and Fifth Third Bank at the Super Slide handing out tattoos. Craig’s Cruisers will have candy, Ferris State University will be at the Climbing Wall with Pennants. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital will have jump ropes, Meijer will have Michigan Apples and other goodies, Holland Aquatic Center will be doing a Safe Water Activity, the Bethany Christian Services Wheel of Prizes and Touchstone Energy Cooperative will have some great giveaways. The West Michigan Whitecaps will be there with Crash and two fun inflatables!
4. Special for the Greenville Party-be sure to pick up a special gift from the Meijer area as a thank you to the city of Greenville! You can even come to the grand opening of the Fred Meijer Flat River Trail in the Meijer Parking Lot at 10 a.m.
5. Bring a bag of new or gently used items to donate to Goodwill and you’ll get an Entertainment Book! Goodwill will be at the Greenville and Wyoming Park Parties.
6. Great food items include Cheese Kurls, Country Fresh Ice Cream, Ice Mountain, McDonalds Apple Dippers and Meijer local produce. Remember everything is WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
7. We’re super excited to introduce the AMWAY One-By-One Art Area for kids. Work with artist Corey VanDuienen to create cool art that will be part of his 2011 Art Prize entry!!
8. Visit the WOOD TV tent to get your picture taken with your favorite WOOD TV on-air talent. Brett and Emily from DayBreak will be at our Greenville Party.
9. If you can’t make it to this week’s Park Party, log on to woodtv.com throughout the Party and we’ll be posting photos live from the event!
10. Watch all the Park Party Action on “Where You Live” this weekend to see highlights from the first big event! Catch the show Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on WOTV 4 and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on WOOD TV 8.
HAVE FUN and feel free to post photos from the Party at facebook.com/marandatv!!
Water Safety at the Ionia YMCA
Thanks to a grant from Homeworks Tri-County Electric, third graders in Portland Public Schools received free water safety classes from the Ionia YMCA.
Ways to Save — Where You Live
We talked with two West Michigan parents to see what they spend on some common family expenses. Then we went to our experts to see how you can save money on everything from groceries to health care.
Lakeshore Honors League
Our friends at Great Lakes Energy support a unique Lakeshore basketball program that gives teens the chance to play a sport they love.
Saving on Your Holiday Electric Bill
Our friends from Touchstone Energy Cooperatives have some good advice when it comes to saving money on your holiday electric bill.
Blogs
Maranda's Blog
Keep in step with Maranda as she explores issues affecting your family.
Maranda's Go-To Gal
Insights from the mom who helps Maranda get it all done.
Whitecaps Blog
Whitecaps mascot Crash takes you inside the ballpark.
Cruiser's Blog
Cruiser has the inside track for Craig's Cruisers.
Health & Wellness
Make health and wellness a priority.
Fifth Third River Bank Run
On pace with the Fifth Third River Bank Run.
Healthy Living
Simple solutions for healthy living.
Social Media
