Now that the FDA has authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, the logistical feat of delivering it to the world begins. Early tomorrow morning, FedEx and UPS trucks will be rolling from Pfizer’s massive plant in Portage, MI to Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) in Grand Rapids, MI where FedEx and UPS airplanes will be ready to start the major task of distributing the vaccine’s across the country to 636 sites over the next three days — 145 Monday, 425 Tuesday and 66 on Wednesday. In total, 2.9 million doses will ship next week from Pfizer plants in Michigan and Wisconsin.
The GFIA airport’s 10,000-foot runway makes it possible for the largest aircraft to be fully loaded and have enough runway to take off with all that weight. Just an hour away from Pfizer, the airport is ideally suited for this task.
In three weeks, they will be doing this all again when another three million doses will ship to complete the two-shot series.
There’s one thing I think most people can agree on. It’s been a long, tough year, one like no other. But bad times don’t last forever and things are about to change for the better. Hang in there for this last little bit, stay healthy and get ready for the best summer of your life, because after the year we’ve had, normal is going to feel glorious. Why all this hopefulness? Read on.
The FDA Advisory Board has recommended approval of Pfizer’sCOVID-19 vaccine, and it’s likely the FDA will authorize emergency use within days. Anticipating this, 1,000s of UPS and FedEx airplanes and trucks are on standby with ultracold freezers to start deliveries across the United States.
Pfizer is manufacturing these vaccines in Portage, Michigan. And it sure feels good to see Michigan in the news as part of the solution to one of the world’s greatest problems.
Of those vaccinated during clinical trials, 95% are protected from COVID-19, with no severe side effects. The reported temporary side effects include achy muscles, arm pain, headache, fever and fatigue for about a day. People with a history of severe allergic reactions need to be aware that they could have one with this vaccine, although that is rare.
Who is first in line? Healthcare workers, most likely followed by front line workers and people at high risk, in descending order of vulnerability to the virus. Once about 70% of the population has immunity through the vaccine or a COVID-19 infection that has passed, it’s predicted that we will be able to return to our lives of hugging friends, visiting indoors without worry and getting on with our lives in a less restricted way. For those who have lost loved ones; become ill and still not recovered; or lost their homes, careers or financial security, they will need more than a vaccine to feel whole again. I hope we can all pull together and work as one to help put the pieces back together for everyone the best we can.
Personally, I see this as the beginning of the end of the pandemic and am going to use the space between now and a busier life as a time to reset, make progress in areas of my life that I have neglected and tackle projects I normally wouldn’t have time for. First up is my art, which is shown above, with more to be seen and purchased at anntopia.com.
In the meantime, for your protection, here is a link to Clinical Supplies USA to buy USA made N-95 masks. I’ve purchased masks from them several times now and have been happy with the timeliness of delivery and quality of the masks.
Every once in awhile I feature a client of my ad agency, AT Media Studio. Today, I’m featuring Troy Haney, a man that I’m very proud to have been working with for over 12 years. Although he’s based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Troy has helped many people from around the country with their long-term disability claims and regularly takes on big insurance companies and wins. Over and over again, in state and federal courts. Because he is set up for virtual communications, Troy seamlessly works with clients from afar.
Troy Haney’s success as a long-term disability/ERISA lawyer has led to him being a sought after speaker and author. He has had numerous speaking engagements and published articles for respected professional organizations such as the Michigan Association for Justice, the American Association for Justice and Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly.
Troy’s clients know him as insightful, well connected and someone who will be honest with them about their potential case. I know Troy as someone who chose this field because he wants to make a positive difference for his clients and help them get what they deserve from their insurance company during a rough time in their lives.
Troy Haney’s law practice specializes in employee benefits/ERISA, long term disability and life insurance claims. To find out more, visit Troy Haney Law.
Have you heard of the stunning 4-acre poppy field in Fennville? When I heard about it, I headed out the same day and am so glad I made the trip. The poppy field is indescribably heartwarming and I will be back to experience it every year. The field was planted by Joan Donaldson and John Van Voorhees, the owners Pleasant Hill Blueberry Farm, to honor their son Mateo. Mateo was in the military and deployed to Afghanistan. After returning, he struggled with PTSD and eventually took his life in 2015.
Mateo had been a beekeeper and his parents began planting the poppy field in 2018 to feed the bees and butterflies that he was so fond of. They also hope the field will bring joy to others facing hardships. It truly does.
The poppies are in peak bloom in June, so be sure to visit them before July. Everyone is welcome, but because of the volume of visitors, please, please, please follow the below requests so this can continue next year. The adjacent cemetery was damaged by visitors to the farm and people have been going in the field and trampling flowers. Remember, this is a private farm and a very generous gift of love from the owners: • PARKING 1. Please park along M-89 or on the very West side of the cemetery only. No parking for poppy viewing will be allowed anywhere else in the cemetery. 2. Please pull far enough off that west side roadway to allow vehicles to pass through. 3. Please remember to be respectful of the community’s loved ones that have been laid to rest there. 4. With the exception of Sunday during church, parking is available at The Fennville Assembly of God Church, a short, pleasant walk. The church is located at 5897 124th Ave, Fennville, MI 49408 • REQUESTS FROM THE FARM 1. The field has a path surrounding it for visitors, please stay on the path and do not walk into the field. 2. Please do not pick the flowers.
Pleasant Hill Blueberry Farm is also worth a trip for their organic blueberries from July – early August. You can pick your own, or they also will ship frozen organic blueberries to you year-round.
Here’s the address for Pleasant Hill Farm, if you are going to see the flowers, you’ll want to park on the road in front of the cemetery, which is just before you’ll reach the actual farm: 5859 124th Ave, Fennville, MI 49408
We’ve compiled a list of Grand Rapids, MI greenhouses to make your shopping — and new discoveries easier.
Grand Rapids greenhouses and garden centers are one of the highlights of my summer. Perhaps that’s because we think Michigan summers are the BEST, and one of our favorite things to do is shopping at and discovering, locally owned Grand Rapids nurseries and garden centers. Sometimes it can be hard to find new places, so we’ve made a list for you, please feel free to post comments with additional suggestions.
As of Friday, April 24, the restrictions on garden stores under Governor Whitmer’s State Executive Order were lifted. While this was exciting for consumers and small business owners alike, it also came as a surprise. We reached out to Grand Rapids area nurseries and garden centers like Flowerland, Ludema’s and Koetsier’s and discovered that they all seemed to have the same message for their beloved and green-thumbed patrons: “We are elated to serve you again, and are back up to speed, please come see us.”
With the surprise reopening, a lot of demand was put on both suppliers and the workforce — greenhouses had limited staff and resources in order to help their business and plants survive during the economic freeze. For those of you with college-kids home, many of these places are still hiring for summer help.
Thanks to Matt Teliczan of Telidrone for the drone photo of Flowerland on 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids Greenhouses are allowing a set number of people in their garden centers at a time to minimize the possible risk of COVID-19 transmission. In addition, highly trafficked areas are being frequently sanitized for consumer and employee safety. A 6-foot standing distance and proper face-mask usage are also required. Many places also have over-the-phone order placement and payment available for curbside pickup.
To make your quest to find the best Grand Rapids area nursery and garden center, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorites, along with notes about how they are protecting their employees and customers from COVID-19 (we’ve only made notes for places where we, or someone we know, has experienced the procedures they have in place). One of our favorite summer adventures is shopping for plants. Please leave a note in the comments if you have other places you would recommend and we will add them to our list.,
FlowerlandGrand Rapids Locations 616.532.5934 / 765 28thSt., Wyoming, MI 49509 616.784.0542 / 3801 Alpine Ave. NW, Comstock Park, MI 49321 616.942.5321 / 4321 28thSt. SE, Kentwood, MI 49512 COVID-19 NOTES: employees are wearing masks and customers are requested to wear masks too, along with social distancing. Comments: When I want to make sure that I’m going to find everything I need in one trip, this is my go-to place.
NE Grand Rapids Greenhouse: Knapp Valley Landscaping 616.363.8086, 4100 Knapp St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
NE Grand RapidsGreenhouse: Romence Gardens & Greenhouses (616) 451-8214 265 Lakeside Dr NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 COVID-19 NOTES: carts are cleaned after each use, employees are wearing masks and customers are requested to wear masks too, along with social distancing. Comments: I shopped here today, they have a great variety of annuals and perennials, this place is another of my favorites.
NW Grand RapidsGreenhouse:Andy Mast Greenhouses 877.927.1151 1534 Pannell NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
SE Grand RapidsGreenhouse: Bos Greenhouses 616.949.0407 1674 Spaulding SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
SE Grand RapidsGreenhouse: Huizenga Brothers Greenhouse 616.245.7409 3055 Eastern Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508
SE Grand RapidsGreenhouse:Koetsiers Greenhouse 616.949.7299 or 616.956.1526 1601 Spaulding Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
SE Grand RapidsGreenhouse:Ludema’s Greenhouse 616.452.2961 3408 Eastern Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508 Comments:this is another favorite that I go to with my mom every year. They have wonderful plants that are great quality and quite a few unique options too.
AdaGreenhouse: Thornapple River Nursery (616) 676-0102 8080 28th St SE Ada, Michigan 49301 Comments: if you need mulch, they have a wonderful, unique composted leaf mulch. Once you use it, you won’t want anything else.
MiddlevilleGreenhouse: Creekside Growers (269) 795-7674 10197 W Garbow Rd, Middleville, Michigan COVID-19 NOTES: employees are wearing masks and customers are required to wear masks too, along with social distancing, hand sanitizer is also available. Comments: I shopped here last week and was impressed with the quality, unique plants available.
Middleville GreenhouseCherry Valley Gardens (269) 795-8811 6900 N M-37 Hwy Middleville, Michigan 49333
LowellGreenhouse: Snow Avenue Greenhouse 616.897.0057 3295 Snow Ave. SE, Lowell, MI 49331
Hudsonville Greenhouse:JW Succulents 616-422-6767 4545 New Holland Street Hudsonville, MI 49426 Comments: I’ve not been here yet, but have heard wonderful things about this place.
HudsonvilleGreenhouse: WW Greenhouses (616) 669-0134 4044 Chicago Dr Hudsonville, Michigan 49426
Allendale Greenhouse:Countryside Greenhouse 616.895.5000 9050 Lake Michigan Dr., Allendale, MI 49401 COVID-19 NOTES: employees are wearing masks and customers are required to wear masks too, along with social distancing, hand sanitizer is also available. I’ve heard from quite a few people that they are impressed with how Countryside is keeping their customers safe. Comments: Countryside is enormous and is known for great pricing and an excellent variety.
NW Grand RapidsGreenhouse:Mottman’s Greenhouses 616.677.1525 0-2617 River Hill Dr., Grand Rapids, MI 49534 COVID-19 NOTES: I’ve heard from friends that employees and customers have not been wearing masks or social distancing here.
Kalamazoo Greenhouse:River Street Flowerland 269.342.9207 1300 River St., Kalamazoo, MI 49048 Comments: every year my mother and I make the hour long trek to this greenhouse. They have an amazing variety of classics and unique plants.
Caledonia Greenhouse: Apols Water Gardens 616-698-1030 9430 Kalamazoo Ave. SE Caledonia, MI 49316 Comments: this is my go-to place for water gardens. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.
Local, Fresh, Safe Curbside Grocery Pickup at Louise Earl Butcher on Wealthy Street in Grand Rapids If you’re looking for meat in Grand Rapids, there’s no shortage at my favorite butcher. Louise Earl Butcher, in the heart of the Wealthy Street neighborhood, is remaining open as a necessary business during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have supplied Grand Rapids locals and Michigan restaurants alike with fresh, quality meats, dairy and groceries for four years. Normally, in addition to the made-from-scratch fresh sausages, smoked deli meat free-range eggs, and all-natural cuts from lamb, beef, pork and chicken, they also host dinner parties, themed butcher dinners and classes on terrine and sausage making, butchering and more. They supply some specialty items such as offal, or organ meat, for special recipes and occasions, which are used for anything from liver-burgers to raw-diets for beloved pets. They often supply pickled snacks such as cornichons and peppadews, deli items like potato and kale salads and baked items as well. They are recently featuring family-style meals prepared in house and often have a featured produce selection, which can be verified via the Louise Earl Facebook or Instagram page.
Louise Earl Butcher also features a wonderful selection of carefully curated foods, many of them locally sourced. (photo by Rhiannon Hudson)
Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, the butcher shop is currently offering curbside pick up. Patrons may call the shop to place an order. Louise Earl Butcher staff will call back once weight and price are totaled for your grocery list, at which point you may pay over the phone with a credit card. Upon arrival, guests are encouraged to call the shop number (calls are often made out from employee personal numbers to facilitate an open line for the shop’s landline), and an employee will run outside to drop off the order on a table outside. While Louise Earl Butcher is unable to currently host people inside to look at the beautiful case display, they are happy to bring groceries outside, and without physical contact, in order to ensure safe and responsible social distancing measures.
Meat and eggs are sourced from farms within 60 miles of the shop and are visited weekly by the owners and staff for pick up. It is clear upon visiting and interacting with Louise Earl Butcher that they are diligent, thorough, and care about their community.
Dr. Hanks is based in Grand Rapids, Mich at Hanks Brain Center. Rather than treat his patients with pills, surgery and traditional medicine, he uses brain neuroplasticity to help the body heal itself. For the last 15 years, starting with his Bachelor of Science and Doctorate from Northwestern Health Science University, Dr. Hanks has been at the forefront of this emerging field. He has over 1,000 hours of post-graduate studies in functional neurology.
Functional neurology uses cues that the brain gives off in our physical body – specifically eye movements and reactions, how we walk, reaction time and motor skills – to identify areas of the brain that aren’t working at their best, or at all.
Patients come to Dr. Hanks from all over Michigan. He is well-known for his work with concussion patients, particularly those with severe brain trauma who are having difficulty recovering. In many cases, his patients have come to him because traditional medicine isn’t giving them the solutions they need. Such was the case for this family who that found help through his expertise.
Her 10 year old son was finally able to get relief from a concussion after three months of suffering.
Dr. Hanks sees far more than concussion patients. His work extends to anyone whose brain isn’t working at its peak. Many of his clients are professionals with demanding jobs that want to perform at their best, athletes, or clients with vertigo, headaches, ADHD and memory disorders. After hearing about what he could do, I went to him myself and was so impressed, I regularly recommend Dr. Hanks to friends and family who now also recommend him. A couple of these friends are physicians themselves, one told me she had recommended Dr. Hanks to over 20 of her patients after seeing the results of his work.
For more information, you can visit Dr. Brian Hanks’ website at HankBrainCenter.com.
Please note: I am not a doctor and this is not intended as medical advice.
Wowie zowie Michigan fall colors are stunning this year! Matt Teliczan, from telidrone.com took these photos at Fallasburg Park in Lowell, Michigan this week. We love getting the bird’s eye perspective of fall colors, it’s been windy and rainy today, but there’s still plenty of fall color to be seen, so get out there and have some fun!
Here’s another view of Fallasburg Park.
While you’re out enjoying the fall colors, you should also check out the frisbee golf course at Fallasburg Park, my sons tell me it’s one of their favorite places.
There’s something about an aerial view to put a whole new perspective on life.
Thanks to Matt Teliczan, of TeliDrone, we are adding aerial photos to Michigan Sweet Spot. This photo was taken looking towards Ada from the Bailey Hills area. If you have drone photography needs, Matt can be reached at hawker1@comcast.net.
A few of the beautiful dahlias from our flower picking spree!Making the most of your Michigan summer should include going to places that embrace Michigan’s farmland, and the wonderful growing season we have here. Dahlia Acres farm in Hudsonville, MI is a great place to have that experience. You’ll walk away with more than memories because you can also pick and buy your own flowers, with over 50 varieties of dahlias, there’s a lot to choose from!
These are just a few of the varieties of dahlias on the farm at Dahlia Acres in Hudsonville.In addition to stopping by to pick flowers, Dahlia Acres also has an event called “Bouquets & Bottles” (which I hear is a HUGE hit), here’s some info that I picked up from their website:
Join us in making a beautiful bouquet!
Bring a friend and a bottle of wine, and try your han,d at making a floral arrangement. We will be demonstrating throughout the event, but it is up to you to get creative. We will provide all you need for your arrangement, a vase, all the cut flowers you will need, and scissors.
We will also have light snacks and bottled water…
The cost is $35 a person. Class sizes are 15-20 people.
Payment requested at RSVP- checks can be mailed to
Marcy Krause
4763 Baldwin Street
Hudsonville Mi, 49426
Questions welcome here, or through Marcy’s contact information as above.
You may also inquire about a private party.
We filled the back of the truck!Free Dahlia Care Tips from Dahlia Acres
Dahlia flowers come in a variety of colors and shapes. They are beautiful blooms but do require more care than other flower types. We want to share our dahlia care and handling tips.
Dahlias will hydrate better in warm water. Make sure your vase is clean and filled with at least 3”-4” of warm water.
Carefully separate the stems and remove any lower foliage that would fall below the water line.
Give each stem a clean diagonal cut. Cut at least 1” off each stem and quickly place in water.
Recut the stems and change the water daily. This will prevent bacteria from forming and clogging the stems.
Keep dahlias in a cool area, away from direct sunlight.
dahliaacresfarm.com. The address is: 4763 Baldwin Street
Hudsonville Mi, 49426
Pink and orange, my favorite.
This is the farming area for zinnias, sunflowers, snapdragons, eucalyptus, gladiolas, bells of Ireland and more.
I’ll be returning during peak season at the end of August, beginning of September to see how much bigger everything is.
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