wednesday • march • 15 • 2017 page 1 wednesday • march • 15 • 2017 vol. 46 issue 22 for over 120 years • today - tomorrow - your lowell area news source www.thelowellledger.com ll&p regular meeting LowellArts throws party to thank donors by Tim McAllister lead reporter LowellArts had a party announced a new source of to thank over 100 donors funds. to their Moving to Main “We have a challenge campaign last Thursday. grant from the Lowell “We had a private Area Community Fund,” party where we specifically Smalligan said. “For every invited donors to our gift of one dollar they will ‘Moving to Main’ campaign give us two dollars, up to page 3 and thanked them for $50,000.” getting us as far as we are,” Despite all the said Lorain Smalligan, donations and grants, they LowellArts executive still have a deficit in their director. “We really wanted coffers. If you want to help to thank everybody. We are out, contact LowellArts at here because these people 616-897-8545 or visit their made a gift to the campaign. website, lowellartsmi.org lhs sports It was really nice.” “Right now we are close The party was to the finish line,” Smalligan sponsored by Huntington said. “With the challenge Bank and guests enjoyed grant, if you give $10 it food and beverages from turns into $30. Right now Larkin’s and Flat River Grill. we still have over $100,000 At the party LowellArts that we need to raise.” The new art building was on display during the soiree to thank LowellArts patrons for their generosity. Laughing it up in Lowell last weekend with comedians Alberstadt and McCallister by Tim McAllister lead reporter LaughFest returned comedian and has appeared The headliner was Comic Standing,” “Late from Alberstadt in a couple to Lowell last weekend in Lowell in the past. His Keith Alberstadt. A native Night with Seth Myers” and years, he said he would like when stand up comics jokes were clever and of Tennessee and now a “Saturday Night Live.” His to get into acting more and Keith Alberstadt and Stu random and the audience New Yorker, Alberstadt wry, sarcastic observations is also writing some scripts McCallister appeared at the enjoyed his antics. has either appeared on or were a big hit with the based on incidents from his Grand Volute Ballroom on “How is it that chickens written jokes for TV shows audience. personal life. Friday, March 10. only have fingers after such as “Late Show with “Last year there were “I’ve got a couple ideas McCallister was the they’re dead,” was one of David Letterman,” “Last 34 fatal dog attacks in that I might want to make opening act. He is a local McCallister’s lines. America and there were six shows out of,” Alberstadt fatal shark attacks in the said during an interview whole world,” Alberstadt after the show. “They’re said. “You know why? Dogs autobiographical and based are on land. That’s where all on some jokes I have in my the people are.” set. I plan to flesh those out You could hear more and still do stand up.” start on page 9 A packed LaughFest crowd enjoyed a couple 50CENTS hours of jokes from stand up comics Keith Alberstadt, at left, and local comedian, Stu McCallister at the Grand Volute last Friday. page 2 wednesday • march • 15 • 2017 Governor releases 2018 state budget proposal by Tim McAllister lead reporter and at risk students. In same facilities, operations change or be eliminated as will be developed to review more than a one percent Governor Snyder Lowell, funding for each and transportation costs the budget is finalized. in June. The numbers may increase in revenue," Pratt recently released his student would increase from associated with educating "This is the first step in change as each branch of said. "This increase will proposal for the State of $7,511 in 2017 to $7,611 in students in traditional brick- the negotiations that take government has their own more than likely not keep up Michigan's 2018 budget. His Snyder’s proposed budget. and-mortar settings,” the place in Lansing as they ideas on funding." with the cost of living. We proposal includes a per-pupil Cyber schools, however, reason for the dramatic develop a budget," Pratt Pratt said the will work to maintain our increase of between $50 and would have their funding decrease in funding. said. "Both the House and $100 increase is pretty programs as this increase $100 depending on what decreased by $1,422. Lowell Area Schools the Senate will propose insignificant anyway. will not afford the district to grade they are in, because Snyder’s office released a superintendent Greg Pratt budgets of their own. We "A $100 per pupil add programs [because of] in the budget high schoolers statement saying, “cyber said the increase to the will then see a conference increase represents slightly no extra money." would get more money schools do not have the education budget could committee and a final budget along Third annual main Gallery Hop skips through street town last week by Kathryn Atwood Cottage who featured local contributing reporter FOODMOBILE TAX ASSISTANCE artist Kathleen Mooney. Art took center stage Foodmobile provides food (mostly produce) to FROM is providing free tax preparation and e-filing Flat River Gallery and in downtown Lowell last individuals in need and is available March 18 at 10 am and services (by appointment only) to qualifying families with Framing hosted the musical Thursday when LowellArts runs until the food is gone. Foodmobile is one Saturday a an annual household income of less than $62,000. Please stylings of local favorite presented their third annual month (except December) at the fairgrounds (at the Foreman call United Way at 2-1-1 to register and verify availability. Roger MacNaughton and Gallery Hop highlighting building, 225 S Hudson St SE). LowellArts showcased their galleries and art focused annual West Michigan Art Feel free to send your event information to the Ledger for Along Main St. All submission requests for Along Main St. are subject to space specialty stores with special Competition with a meet the limitations. The Ledger makes no assurances that they will appear in print. To ensure that an event notification will appear in the Ledger, it is best to late hours and discounts for place a paid advertisement. All efforts will be made to place suitable items in the Along Main St. column but they are printed at the discretion of the artists reception. shoppers. publisher. For profit events, church services, yard sales and the like, will not appear in this column. The first show held Flat River Cottage in their newly renovated & Night Forest Jewelry, ••• location at 223 West Main, Chimera Design, Ability the WMAC celebrated its An idealist is one who, Weavers, and Flat River 31st year with 182 pieces Gallery and Framing joined of local artwork submitted on noticing that a rose LowellArts for the event, by 143 artists. The show keeping their doors open smells better than a features all mediums of until 8:30 to join in the artwork and was judged for cabbage, concludes celebration of creativity. awards by Nichole Maury Each venue highlighted from Western Michigan that it will also make a current show or artist, University. A total of including the Flat River better soup. $2,000 in prize money was awarded. Lowell artist ~ H. L. Mencken Mooney was among the (1880 - 1956) award winners earning an honorable mention in the show. The exhibition will be on display free of charge during the gallery’s regular hours: Tuesday through Friday, 10-6 and Saturday, 10-5, now through April 15. wednesday • march • 15 • 2017 page 3 Lowell Light & Power discusses “strategic plan” by Tim McAllister lead reporter which is available for the that were discussed,” said buildings as part of the The board voted to will spend $603,000 over The Lowell Light & public to read on the Lowell Lowell Light & Power VOIP project passed last spend $10,700 to repair the five years to build a natural Power board’s latest regular Light & Power website, general manager Steve month. The monthly bill “side bins” on a Lowell gas compressor that will be meeting on Thursday, March lowell-light.org. Donkersloot. will be $772.57, plus a Light & Power service used to run the combustion 9 lasted over four hours. The “The strategic plan The board approved one time fee of $307.45 truck. The truck itself will turbine engines that create board went over the utility’s will be on the agenda again a three-year contract with and an additional $.0199 have to be replaced within electricity. “strategic plan” and their next month for approval North Carolina-based per minute charge for long the next two to three years, The Lowell Light & 2018 budget in detail. The when [board member] Tina company Access Point Inc., distance calls. This same but the “side bins” were Power board’s next regular strategic plan will still be on [Cadwallader] is there and who will provide phone, spending was approved by rusted beyond repair. The meeting will be at their 127 their next meeting’s agenda after I make the agreed upon fax and back up internet the Lowell city council at work will be done by B&B N. Broadway office at 6 pm because they made a few changes [and] modifications for all Lowell government their last meeting. Truck Equipment from on Thursday, April 13. changes to the document, Byron Center. The board ••• Hope is such a bait, it covers any hook.