Hope Earns Gold Rating For Sustainability Achievements

Hope College has earned a STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. Hope had previously held a Silver rating since 2017, after having held a Bronze rating since 2012.

Michelle Seppala Gibbs, who is director of the Office of Sustainability at Hope, emphasized that the achievement — which is based on a comprehensive review of practices at the college — belongs to the college community as a whole, both past and present.

“The STARS assessment is an all-campus report that examines every single aspect of the college,” she said. “Our Gold rating is built on the work of many people across many years and their continuing commitment to finding creative ways to integrate sustainability into our programs, operations and campus facilities.”

With more than 900 participants in 40 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in five overall areas:

1) academics 2) engagement, 3) operations, 4) planning and administration, and 5) innovation and leadership.

The ratings are at four different levels: Bronze at 25%, Silver at 45%, Gold at 65% and Platinum at 85%. Hope’s overall score is 65.28%, an increase from the college’s 2020 score of 57.65%. The college’s STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website at stars.aashe.org

Sustainability efforts at Hope are initiated and pursued by students, faculty and staff, and alumni, and take a variety of forms. They are supported and encouraged by an advisory committee known as the Green Team consisting of students, faculty and staff.

Student-organized groups at the college include Green Hope, focused on sustainability. In addition, each year several students participate in the college’s Hope Advocates for Sustainability internship program coordinated by the Office of Sustainability. An Alumni Sustainability Affinity Group has supported projects including tree plantings and retrofitting a college-owned residential cottage as a green facility.

In addition to familiar activities like recycling and upgrading windows and lightbulbs with energy-efficient replacements, projects and practices across campus range from the addition of beehives to provide pollinating insects; to reducing food waste and the use of water in the dining halls; to solar-powered charging stations for the electric golf carts used by the physical plant staff; to using environmentally friendly products in cleaning and groundskeeping. Hope makes a tradition of planting trees during national Campus Sustainability Month, each October, and Earth Week and Arbor Day, both in April. College buildings that have LEED certification are the van Andel Huys der Hope Campus Ministries house that opened in the fall of 2019 (LEED v4), the Jim and Martie Bultman Student Center that opened in 2017 (LEED Gold) and the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts that opened in 2015 (LEED Silver).

This past year, a Green Revolving Fund was created through seed funding from alumni and a matching commitment by the college. Each year, a team of students, faculty and staff identifies efficiency projects with both an environmentally positive impact and a positive fiscal impact. This past year, the fund received additional support through the sale of honey produced by the college’s bees as well as campus pop-up thrift stores hosted by the student club, Green Hope.

Gibbs noted that the college also coordinates sustainability efforts with community organizations in a variety of ways. During the past several summers, for example, faculty and student researchers at the college have partnered with the City of Holland and Holland in Bloom on an Urban Tree Canopy Project to inventory trees on city property and campus. The work has led to development of TreeSap, a free app that enables users to learn more about individual trees in the city and around campus.

In addition, Hope offers academic majors in environmental science with concentrations in biology, chemistry and geology, and minors in both environmental science and environmental studies. Multiple faculty-student collaborative research teams pursue environmentally related projects, and programs at Hope include a Global Water Research Institute based on the college’s strong tradition of research on water quality in particular.

Hope has received several awards through the years for its sustainability efforts. For the past five consecutive years, the college has received Tree Campus USA® recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation. In October 2022, Hope was named a runner up for that year’s West Michigan Sustainable Business of the Year Award by the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. In October 2019, Hope received an Honor Award for exceptional grounds maintenance in the Green Star Awards competition of the Professional Grounds Management Society. In 2015, Hope College Dining received Gold-level recognition in the SEED sustainability program of Creative Dining Services. In 2014, the college was certified by the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program for meeting the organization’s standards in overall grounds management practices.

More information about sustainability efforts at Hope and in the area is available at hope. edu/sustainability

AASHE is an association of colleges and universities that are working to create a sustainable future. AASHE’s mission is to empower higher education to lead the sustainability transformation. It provides resources, professional development and a network of support to enable institutions of higher education to model and advance sustainability in everything they do, from governance and operations to education and research. More information about AASHE is available at aashe.org

Managing Insects and Diseases in the Garden

By Melinda Myers

A bit of prevention goes a long way in minimizing insect and disease problems in the garden. Enlist a holistic approach known as Plant Health Care to manage your ornamental and edible gardens. It starts with proper plant selection and care and ends with using the most eco-friendly controls when problems do occur.

Start by selecting plants suited to the growing conditions. Match your plants to the light, soil, and other growing conditions in your yard. You’ll have healthier plants that require less ongoing care and are less prone to pests, helping to increase your gardening success.

Look for and purchase the most pest-resistant plants available. Garden phlox and bee balm are frequently attacked by powdery mildew. Purchase mildew-resistant varieties like Backlight with white flowers, Glamour Girl with hot coral pink blossoms, and the Ka-Pow series that comes in a variety of colors. Look for mildew-resistant bee balm varieties like the Sugar Buzz series in shades of lavender, pink and red, and the compact Balmy series to reduce the risk of this disease.

Provide proper care throughout the growing season. Water thoroughly and only as needed to encourage a deep robust root system better able to absorb needed nutrients and water. Apply water directly to the soil and early in the morning to reduce the risk of disease and water loss to evaporation. Mulch the soil surface with shredded leaves and evergreen needles to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and improve the soil. This one task provides many benefits to you and your plants.

Avoid over-fertilization. Excess nitrogen promotes lush succulent growth that is more susceptible to insects and disease and may interfere with flowering and fruiting.

Check plants regularly and throughout the season for any signs of insects and disease. Look on the upper and lower surface of the leaves and along the stems. It is much easier to treat a small population of insects or pluck off a few diseased leaves than trying to control large pest populations.

Properly identify the pest. Most insects, over 97%, are good guys that pollinate our plants, eat insect pests, and help compost plant waste. Knowing the good from the bad and the harmful from those that are just annoying can save you time, money, and frustration. Consult your University Extension’s website, local botanic gardens, and other horticulture professionals for help with diagnosing and treating problems.

And if control is needed, look for eco-friendly options. A thorough cleanup is often enough to reduce insect and disease problems to a tolerable level. Spraying plants with a strong blast of water to dislodge aphids and mites, knocking problem insects into a can of soapy water, or removing spotted leaves may be all that’s needed.

Use barriers like floating row covers to prevent damage from cabbage worms and bean beetles. University research has found that with proper timing these products can also help reduce the risk of squash vine borer, squash bugs, and cucumber bacterial wilt.

If you opt for chemical control, look for an organic or the most eco-friendly product labeled for managing disease or insect pests. As always, read and follow label directions for the best and safest results.

Enlisting a holistic approach allows you to work with nature to grow a beautiful and productive garden.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition, and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

Preserve the Beauty, Fragrance, and Flavor Of Your Garden

By Melinda Myers

Enjoy your garden throughout the growing season and beyond. Preserve its beauty, fragrance, and flavor in artwork, crafts, and food.

Cell phones with cameras make it easy to capture the seasonal changes in our gardens and environment. Use your favorite photo as the wallpaper on your computer or phone. Turn them into greeting cards to send or pictures to hang on walls, lifting your spirits on gray winter or rainy days.

Break out the colored pencils, markers, or paints and capture the beauty of individual flowers or gardens. Creating art, like gardening, can help elevate your mood, reduce stress, and improve self-esteem.

Start a garden journal, if you haven’t done so already. It’s a great way to capture successes and even failures to help plan next year’s garden or changes to the landscape. Create your own journal on the computer or in a spiral notebook. A waterproof and smudge-proof option like the Rite in the Rain Waterproof Garden Journal can go with you into the garden.

Preserve some of your favorite flowers and memories with a flower press you make or buy, like an heirloom flower press (gardeners.com).

Just place freshly picked leaves and flowers between pieces of paper in the flower press. Use flowers at their peak of beauty for the best results. Arrange the leaves and petals as desired before pressing, since they dry the way, you place them. Once your flowers are placed in between the paper, close the press and secure the layers. Your dried flowers will be ready in a few weeks.

Speed up the process with the help of your microwave. The Terra Cotta Microwave Flower Press allows you to harvest, press, dry and create all in the same day. Place the flowers and leaves between the wool felt dividers and secure them inside the terra cotta top and bottom. The wool pads and terra cotta absorb the moisture as the microwave heats for quick drying.

Capture the color, fragrance, and relaxing benefits of lavender by filling small sachet bags with flower buds to place in a desk, nightstand, or drawer. Take this one step further and create lavender wands from 10 to 30 flowering stems and a bit of ribbon. These attractive wands capture the lavender fragrance and make great gifts.

Pickle cucumbers or other vegetables to enjoy throughout the garden season and beyond. You’ll find an assortment of pickling crocks on the market but consider elevating your pickles to gourmet status by fermenting them in The Amazing Pickle Barrel made of lightly toasted white oak. You and your guests will enjoy the subtle and unique flavor the oak barrel adds.

Keep the flavor of your garden alive all year long. Pick and dry herbs for winter meals and holiday gifts. Gather the herbs into small bundles and secure them with a rubber band. As the stems shrink so does the rubber band. Use a spring-type clothespin to hang the bundles from a clothesline in a dry, airy place that is out of direct sunlight for drying. Save space and dress up the display with an herb drying rack that holds six bunches of flowers, hot peppers, or garlic.

Keep carrots, beets, and turnips fresh and crisp for months after harvest with proper storage. Most gardeners don’t have a root cellar or sufficient room in the refrigerator. Consider packing them in layers of damp sand or sawdust placed in a root storage bin. Set the bin in a cool dark place and retrieve the vegetables as needed.

Try these and other creative ways to extend your garden enjoyment beyond the end of the growing season.

Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening and Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Gardener’s Supply Company for her expertise to write this article. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

The public are invited for an Opening Celebration between 3:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 15t, with a ribbon cutting at 4:00 p.m. At the open house, visitors can see the new space and enjoy samples and products from some local businesses including Zeeland Bakery, Drip, deVries Photography, Zeeland Ace Hardware, Holland Litho Printing Services, and VanHuis Real Estate.

The Zeeland Welcome Center is funded by grants from the Zeeland Board of Public Works, Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, and Zeeland Shopping Area Redevelopment Board. Furniture was donated by MillerKnoll.

Ninth Zeeland Criterium

Friday, June 9

Zeeland is proud to host its ninth Zeeland twilight Criterium. This event will take place on Friday, June 9, beginning at 5:30 pm.

A Criterium is, by definition, a one-day bicycle race down a circuit road course. It is the most common form of American racing, complete with a multi-lap race to the finish. The course, generally spanning up to a mile in length, is repeated by the cyclists until anywhere from 25 to 60 miles is covered.

“The cyclists are to successfully tear through consecutive corners of the course without a place-breaking wipe out. Quick acceleration, agility, and balance are essential to being a competitive contender in the race,” said Downtown Events Coordinator Kerri VanDorp.

Zeeland’s Criterium racers will charge through the streets of Zeeland in a competitive half mile loop throughout historic downtown.

“Come join one of the city’s most exciting and competitive events swirling with heart pounding entertainment for both participants and bystanders,” she said.

The event commences with a 5:30 pm kick off of the free kids race where children 12 and under are welcome to come out and race on the same course used by the pros (each child must wear a helmet to be part of the race). Children’s race at 5:30 pm (1 Lap); Category 4/5 Race at 6pm (30 minutes); Category 3/4 Race at 6:45pm (45 minutes); Women’s Category 1/2/3 & Juniors 7:45 pm (30 minutes); and Category 1/2/3 Race at 8:30 pm (60 minutes).

Both the start and finish of the race is held midblock on Main Street between Elm and Church. Participants will cycle west on Main Street to Elm; south on Elm to Lincoln; East on Lincoln to Church; south on Church to Cherry; East on Cherry to Centennial; North on Centennial Main; West on Main to finish.

At the close of each race, awards will be presented in the park near the start / finish.

Registration is available at: https://www.bikereg.com/zeelandcriterium. .

The Zeeland Criterium is sponsored by Buhler, Velo City Cycles, Mainstreet Bicycle Company, Zeeland BPW, DISHER, Drip Coffee, Sharp Roofing and Construction, Holland Hospital and Ignite.

Ludington Celebrates 150th Anniversary in 2023 with Events All Year

Ludington is continuing its 150th anniversary celebration in 2023 with a full calendar of events to honor its rich past and bright future, highlighted by Love Ludington Weekend June 9-11. It’s also added a number of new anniversary activities to the annual lineup including a children’s birthday party, summer speaker series, bicycle scavenger hunts and art exhibits. Sesquicentennial information can be found at ludington150.com.

“This is an exciting year of celebration as we commemorate Ludington’s sesquicentennial,” said Ludington Mayor Mark Barnett. “We have a full schedule of events designed for everyone to enjoy, whether you love Ludington as a resident or a visitor. We encourage you to learn more about our history and how it has created who we are today as a city.”

While March 22 was the official anniversary that Ludington was incorporated 150 years ago in 1873 and was commemorated with a local event, Ludington’s primary sesquicentennial celebration is Love Ludington Weekend June 9-11. Ludington’s official anniversary celebration weekend features three days of festivities, including:

Friday Night Street Party, June 9, 6-10:30 p.m., downtown. The weekend kicks off with a downtown street party featuring live music, children’s games, food vendors and fireworks. At 6 p.m., House of Flavors will give out scoops of free ice cream on Ludington Avenue near Robert Street to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Live music will run on the main stage 6-10 p.m., headlined by Southern California’s top dance band Pop Vinyl, 8-10 p.m., followed by fireworks at 10:15 p.m.

Putt-Putt Celebration –June 9-11, noon-10 p.m. daily, Ludington Area Jaycees Mini Golf Course. $1.50 per-person all weekend, and each family receives a commemorative golf ball.

“Love Ludington” and “Celebrating the S.S. Badger” Art Exhibits – June 9-11 (and through June 30), Ludington Area Center for the Arts. Original artwork depicts scenes of the city’s past and present in honor of Ludington’s 150th anniversary, and artistic images of the S.S. Badger celebrate the ship’s 70th anniversary.

Ludington Lakestride Races

– June 10, 8 a.m. The 43rd annual race series features a half marathon, 10K and 5K.

Historic Homes Walking

Tours – June 10 & 11 at 1 and 2 p.m., from Mason County Research Center (arrive 10 minutes early). Take a one-hour guided walking tour of homes in Ludington’s newly designated historic district while meeting important historical characters from Ludington’s history—William Jennings Bryan; Antoine, Kate, and Charles Cartier; Marshall Butters; and other Ludington notables brought to life by first-person interpreters. Saturday tours will be of home exteriors; Sunday tours will go into historic Bed and Breakfasts for a limited tour of the homes (common areas only). $20 per person (up to 20 people per tour).

“Ludington was built from the woods and continues to thrive today on the water,” said Rebecca Berringer, executive director of the Mason County Historical Society whose organization is planning a number of anniversary events. “Our lumber barons are the ‘angels of Ludington’ – what they created and left behind allows us to be who we are today, which you will see at many of our events.”

Other anniversary activities and events throughout 2023 (also at ludington150.com/calendar) include:

Cemetery Bicycle Ride – Sundays in May, Lakeview Cemetery. This self-directed onemile loop introduces riders to burial sites of Ludington veterans at Lakeview Cemetery, giving participants a look into the area’s history and showcasing those who fought for this country. Grave sites are near the road so participants can find them without having to enter the cemetery. (Cycling in Lakeview Cemetery is usually not allowed except for events like this ride.) Helmets and bright clothing are encouraged.

House of Flavors Diamond Giveaway – May through July 3. In celebration of its diamond (75th) anniversary and in partnership with Victoria’s Jewelry and WMOM-FM, House of Flavors is giving away a one-carat diamond. Entry forms can be picked up and submitted at Ludington’s House of Flavors and Victoria’s Jewelry, and one winner will be drawn and announced July 4 during the Freedom Festival parade at

WMOM. Weekly winners also will be drawn on Tuesdays with prizes like ice cream, sundaes and t-shirts. The diamond winner must be 18 years or older; no purchase necessary. Watch the Facebook page for weekly winners and other contest updates.

Celebrate Ludington: Bicycle Goosechase Scavenger Hunt –May 13-31. Open to youth ages 5 through 19, this self-guided bicycle scavenger hunt introduces participants to Ludington’s history by completing various challenges of biking to historical locations. Participants can earn points toward prizes for completed challenges. Enter individually or as a family, though only one prize awarded per group. Riders must download and use the free Goosechase app to participate. Bicycle helmets and bright clothing are encouraged.

“Love Ludington” and “Celebrating the S.S. Badger”

Art Exhibits – Exhibit June 2-30, artist reception June 2, 5-8 p.m., Ludington Area Center for the Arts. Concurrent art exhibits celebrate two important Ludington anniversaries - the “Love Ludington” exhibit depicts scenes of Ludington’s past and present through original artwork across mediums for its 150th anniversary, and the “Celebrating the S.S. Badger” exhibit features photographs and original artwork of the S.S. Badger for its 70th anniversary.

Sesquicentennial Concert featuring the Scottville Clown Band – June 14, 7 p.m., Waterfront Park. This free event is open to the public to enjoy one of Michigan’s most beloved bands (also dating to 1903), with the Scottville mayor presenting a proclamation to the City of Ludington.

Ludington Sesquicentennial Summer Speaker Series – Second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m., June - September, Mason County Research Center. Mason County Historical Society Board President James Jensen will give monthly historical presentations on topics including Ludington Street Names, Ludington Angels, Star Watch Case, and Ludington Pub Crawl.

Maritime Heritage Day – Aug. 12, Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. This event will feature a historical presentation, walking tours of the Maritime Heritage Trail and discounted ticket prices. More details to come.

Cemetery Walk – Aug. 26, Lakeview and Pere Marquette

Cemeteries. The Mason County Historical Society will lead walking tours where participants will come face-to-face with many of Ludington and Mason County’s most notable individuals, brought to life by first-person interpreters. Fee.

“Trial of the Century: Mason County-Style” – Sept. 23, Historic White Pine Village. This mock trial at the original Mason County Courthouse will feature a judge and lawyers brought to life by first-person interpreters reenacting a case from Mason County history. Actors will engage with the crowd, some of whom may be selected as a juror. Other activities will include a Town Hall Ice Cream Social, pie contest, and demonstrations throughout the buildings. Fee.

Sesquicentennial Ball – Oct. 7, Stearns Hotel. This fundraiser for Mason County Historical Society will feature a sit-down dinner, music and dancing, plus a chance to learn more about the historic hotel as well as two notable figures in Ludington’s history, Eber Ward and Justus Stearns, in “The Quarrel Heard ‘Round the County” reenacted by Rick Plummer and Mike Nagle. $150 per person, and attendees are encouraged to dress for any decade over the last 150 years.

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan and surrounded by dense forest, Ludington became a city in 1873 due to its abundant natural resources. For centuries the home of Ottawa Indians, the area was later visited in the mid1600s by French missionary Father Jacques Marquette. By the mid1800s, settlers came to the area lured by the virgin pine forest and its prime location at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River where it empties into Lake Michigan. Lumber barons such as James Ludington were attracted to the region (initially named the village of Pere Marquette), with 14 mills operating on the banks of Pere Marquette Lake alone at the peak of the lumbering era.

Pere Marquette was renamed Ludington in 1873 in honor of James Ludington who platted the land and helped develop the area with his logging operations, utilizing the channel deepened by Charles Mears for commercial shipping on Lake Michigan. The city’s history continued to be shaped by its proximity to the water even after the last sawmill was closed, building and dedicating its “million dollar harbor” in 1914 that later served the salt, sand and chemical industries in addition to fostering commercial fishing, shipping, the U. S. Coast Guard and tourism that established Ludington as a major Great Lakes port.

David L. Wilson, CFP ® Managing Partner

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