Artist Carolyn Stich in her downtown Holland shop.

Hidden Treasures: Artist Carolyn Stich brings whimsy to holiday tradition

Artist Carolyn Stich is a two-time Tulip Time poster winner commissioned by the Holland Convention & Visitors Bureau to create Holland-themed Christmas cards. Her whimsical 20th anniversary holiday greeting features Santa and his reindeer taking flight from downtown Holland.

Carol Myers shows off the socially distanced, but festive Halloween tube at her 12th Street Holland home.
Festive and safe: A socially distanced Halloween solution

Carol Myers hopes her neighbors copy her example of a decorated tube for a socially distanced Halloween.

Dons Flowers and Gifts President Douglas J. Vos and office manager Katie DenHerder prepare to give away 3,500 roses to customers, so they can gift the flowers to friends and family in an effort to lift community spirits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zeeland shop offers free flowers to lift community spirits

The COVID-19 pandemic moved the owner of Don’s Flowers and Gifts of Zeeland to revive its tradition of offering free flowers for customers to pass on to friends and family. 

There are steps employers can take to ensure privacy and cybersecurity, even as employees work remotely.
What employers with remote workforce can do to maintain privacy, cybersecurity

While concerns at the onset of the pandemic about remote workers’ diminished productivity proved unfounded, efforts to safeguard company and clients’ data proved a greater challenge. There are steps employers can take to ensure privacy and cybersecurity, even as employees work remotely.

GVSU President Philomena Mantella on a year of accelerating initiatives and creativity amid crisis

Having spent over half of her tenure thus far leading a major university amid a global pandemic, Grand Valley State University President Philomena Mantella, Ph.D. is hard at work implementing and accelerating initiatives that she hopes will create lifelong learners through relationship-based teaching, whether this occurs remotely, or in small groups on campus.

Barbara Lee VanHorssen is the Experi-Mentor (executive director) of the Momentum Center in Grand Haven. The center is part of the (Anti) Racism Task Force.
Task force to tackle racism and the media at next town hall meeting

The (Anti)Racism Task Force will present its next event, “Town Hall Meeting: Racism and the Media,” on Oct. 26 with additional safety precautions after the series’ kickoff was hijacked by a racist cyberattack.  

The big view: Saving Holland’s Mt. Pisgah for future visitors

Holland's Mt. Pisgah sand dune was loved a little too well -- its visitors were causing severe erosion. Then the local community and state partnered to help preserve it for future generations.

Holland Human Relations Director Esther Fifelski is the 2020 Ottawa County Excellence in Equity Award winner.
Holland Human Relations director receives Excellence in Equity Award

Holland Human Relations Director Esther Fifelski was surprised with the 2020 Ottawa County Excellence in Equity Award during the fifth annual Ottawa County Diversity Forum.  

The Spring Lake Department of Public Works prepares trees for winter.
Spring Lake Township, Village reap rewards of unique DPW merger

The arrangement benefits both communities through shared equipment and personnel, and saving taxpayers’ money. The collaborative effort is an outgrowth of earlier cooperation, according to village and township leaders. 

Jon Ornée hugs his dad after setting a new world record for a 100-mile bike ride while drafting.
Father and son team up to create new cycling world record

Jon Ornée has set many world records, individually and with teams that include his brother and friends. When he envisioned setting a risky new world record for a 100-mile bike ride while drafting, he knew he would be safe putting his life in his father’s hands.

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