FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2012 A3 REGION

STEELCASE AND FRANK He can carry an M-16, but not a concealed weapon

He learned of the restriction law prevents when he went to apply for a CCW permit and was turned Guard member away. Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grand- from getting permit ville, aims to change the prohi- bition as a co-sponsor of a bill because he’s only 19 introduced to the state House by Detroit Democrat Harvey Santana. BY NATE REENS House Democratic Lead- [email protected] er Richard Hammel, of Mt. Morris Township, also backs GRAND RAPIDS — Kevon- the proposal as do several tay Wingfield spent months Republicans. CORY MORSE | MLIVE.COM with an M-16 at his side, but The legislation, if passed, Meyer and Sophie May commissioned to build their home in 1908. Michigan law won’t let him car- would amend the state con- purchased the house, at 450 Madison Ave. SE, in 1985. ry a handgun on his hip when cealed weapons law to allow he steps outside of his Grand people under 21 who have grad- Rapids home. uated from basic training apply MATT GADE | MLIVE.COM Wingfield, a member of the for and receive the permit. Kevontay Wingfield, a Company uses house U.S. National Guard, recently Agema said the legislation is member of the National discovered he is barred from a “no-brainer,” to him and other Guard, tried to get a CCW obtaining a concealed weapons members of the House. It’s not license, but Michigan law permit because he’s only 19 and clear how many state residents prohibits him from obtaining the law mandates applicants be the change would affect and one because he’s under 21. at least 21. there is not an expected impact to celebrate design “It was very frustrating, and on government functions if the If passed, Wingfield, who it didn’t make any sense at all,” law is changed. hopes to join the military po- said Wingfield, a 2011 graduate “If you have been trained lice before a civilian career of Grand Rapids Union High by the military, you have been at the state police and Grand Landmark operated School. “In training, you sleep trained by the best in the world Rapids police, would apply with your M-16; you carry it and far better than any CCW for a permit. He’s hopeful the with ‘quiet competence’ everywhere. course that the average person change will be enacted even “I’ve been trained, and I’ve takes,” Agema said. “If they can if it doesn’t happen in time to learned how to control a gun, die for our country, they should help him. BY JIM HARGER but when I step off base, I can’t certainly be able to carry a gun “Others should not have to [email protected] have one.” when they want to.” wait like I am,” he said.

GRAND RAPIDS — Walking through the Meyer May House with Site Manager Don Dekker, office furniture giant Steelcase Driver suffers fatal heart attack eases gently into his story. Just as the home’s architect, BY JOHN TUNISON They learned that Brenner A state trooper arrived at the Frank Lloyd Wright, challenged [email protected] and his brother, 46-year-old scene within two minutes and the world of architecture and Victor Brenner, were headed immediately started CPR. design to explore how they de- Don Dekker gives a tour inside the gallery of the Meyer May PLAINWELL — A passenger north after visiting the Auto signed houses, Steelcase chal- House, showing the plentiful woodwork and the stained- managed to safely stop a ve- Auction in Kalamazoo. “ lenges the business world to glass windows. hicle on U.S. 131 near Plainwell Victor Brenner noticed A CULT CLASSIC ” re-examine and explore how after the driver, his brother, had his brother’s head suddenly IN THE MAKING. - The Onion they design the workplace, a new wife who didn’t like Heritage Hill landmark, Dekker a heart attack, police said. slumped back and he was not “ Dekker explains. Wright’s furniture, an addi- says. But despite a two-minute re- responding to him. He man- THE FUNNIEST FILM But visitors would be hard- tion for her children and sub- About three or four nights a sponse from police, the driver aged to grab the steering wheel, I’VE SEEN IN pressed to find the Steelcase sequent owners who divided week, the company hosts din- could not be saved. take off his seat belt and hit “ YEARS. name or logo anywhere in the the house up into three rental ners for customers or visitors State police performed CPR the brake to bring the vehicle – Chris Krapek, Meyer May house. It’s only units had left the house in poor in the home’s elegant dining along the roadside after the to a stop along the median HUFFINGTON POST found on a historic plaque out- repair by the mid-1980s. room, duplicating the fare 1:15 p.m. incident, but Randy shoulder. side the house and on a small That’s when Steelcase and atmosphere offered in the Scott Brenner later died at Pipp plaque near the entrance. stepped in. By then the world’s home 100 years ago. Hospital in Plainwell. It’s part of Steelcase’s phi- leading office furniture manu- The home is open free to the Police were called to a loca- losophy of “quiet competence,” facturer, Steelcase wanted to public on Tuesdays, Thursdays tion on U.S. 131 near 106th Ave- says Dekker, who retired from make a design statement, and and Sunday. nue for a medical emergency. Steelcase after 37 years and is Wright fit the bill perfectly. now the home’s site manager In 1937, Steelcase had built Metcalf & Jonkhoff and head docent. the Wright-designed worksta- , Bruce Handy Funeral Service After all, the low-slung house tions for the S.C. Johnson Wax ‘‘ Since 1894....five generations of service at 450 Madison Ave. SE has a Co.’s headquarters in Racine, SLY AND BIG HEARTED, story of its own. It was built in Wis. David Hunting, the Steel- .’’ A TRADITION OF TRUST, FUNNY AND MOVING 1 0 1909, before Steelcase’s fore- case executive who worked - 5

COMFORT 7 5 2 runner, the Metal Office Furni- with Wright on the project, 6 AND 3 4 ture Co., was founded in 1912. expressed continued admira- UNDERSTANDING Department store owner tion for Wright’s methods of EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT Meyer May commissioned challenging the status quo. 4291 Cascade Rd. SE STARTS TODAY URBAN INSTITUTE

Wright to build a modern home In 1985, Steelcase bought the at Kenmoor 3 0 -

2 FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS 616.940.7333 4 for himself and his bride to re- aging mansion and spent two 6

7 Grand Rapids 616-454-7000 4 3 flect his elegant lifestyle and years and millions on a muse- www.metcalfandjonkhoff.com 4 W W W. T I M A N D E R I C M OV I E . C O M his 5-foot-4-inch height. Wright um-quality restoration of the designed the home’s furniture, home. windows and ceilings to May’s Today, the house gets up to mlive.com/comics personal scale in his trademark 12,000 visitors a year, rang- mlive.com/kalamazoo 1 0 - 9

“Prairie” style. ing from corporate guests and 9 2 2 6

But the house didn’t remain customers, Wright aficionados 3 a Wright masterpiece for long. with life lists to fill and local 4 EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT CELEBRATION! CINEMA CELEBRATION NORTH The tragic death of May’s wife, residents curious about the STARTS TODAY Grand Rapids 616-530-SHOW CHECK DIRECTORIES FOR SHOWTIMES / SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT - NO PASSES OR DISCOUNT TICKETS ACCEPTED

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