Shore Stories

 

Heather Winia leads a Groove class.

Building community through dance

Zeeland resident Heather Winia is dancing through life — and around the world — literally. She leads Groove classes regularly along the Lakeshore, providing a way for people to come together to have fun while getting fit.

Hope College sophomore Houston Patton received the gift of a new saxaphone.
Gift of saxophone invigorates spirit of Hope student

The instrument was donated by the widow of a religion professor. Hope College sophomore Houston Patton plans to express his gratitude by playing his very best on the horn.  

Emiliah Tanya Jo Odinsdottir
Poor face more hurdles because of COVID

Emiliah Tanya Jo Odinsdottir reflects on the added burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on the poor.

Anna Babinec is a nurse at Mercy Health in Muskegon.
‘Warrior angels’: Nurse shares frontline perspective in fight against COVID-19

Holland resident Anna Babinec cares for patients battling COVID-19 at Mercy Health in Muskegon. She shares what it's like to work among the "warrior angels" as the second wave of the pandemic continues to rage.  

The 2020 Census is still going on, although census-takers — known as enumerators — stopped knocking on doors back in mid-October.
Making sure everyone is counted in 2020 Census is no easy task

As an enumerator, Rick Martinez reached out in person, by phone, and through email to West Michigan residents who had not completed their 2020 Census. According to the Census Bureau, his follow-up work — and that of thousands of others — ensured responses from nearly all of those households nationwide.  

Michael Sandoval graduated from Michigan State University in 2019.
MSU grad praises TRIO Upward Bound, Promise Scholarship for success in college and beyond

Michael Sandoval was surprised when he received a Holland/Zeeland Promise Scholarship, which meant he could attend MSU without accumulating student debt. He credits summers spent in Upward Bound classes at Hope College with keeping him focused on what he wanted to achieve, academically and in life.  

Nelson Figueroa
U-M is next stop for Promise Scholar with a passion for the environment

Growing up in a single-parent home taught this 2020 Holland High School graduate independence and resilience. Nelson Figueroa believes those attributes will serve him well at U-M, where he plans to study environmental engineering.

Ciana Witherell identifies as non-binary, which is a spectrum of gender identities that are not exclusively feminine or masculine.
Moving beyond the gender binary

GVSU student Ciana Witherell explains why it’s time to stop seeing gender as black and white — or pink and blue. The lines of gender continue to blur, making it increasingly important to avoid assuming others’ gender and stop invalidating the identity of gender non-binary individuals, they say. 

Tammy Dockins has been in the health and fitness industry for more than 30 years.
How this personal trainer adapted to life in quarantine

Tammy Dockins has been interested in fitness for as long as she can remember. Though “not friendly with technology,” she found ways to make it work so she could help others during the pandemic.

Kyle A. Moroney with her family during last year's Coast Guard Festival.
A spirited salute to the 2020 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival that never was

With this year's Coast Guard Festival canceled because of COVID-19, longtime Grand Haven resident Kyle A. Moroney explains what's so special about the 10-day community celebration. And she shares photos from her favorite moments. 

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