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Block party denied by Holland business group

HOLLAND, Mich. (WZZM) -- Last year, a downtown block party brought thousands of visitors to Holland. New Holland Brewing wants to hold the party again this year, but a group representing downtown businesses doesn't want to let that happen.

"They sent us a letter of the denial," says Brett VanderKamp, president of New Holland Brewing.

VanderKamp received the letter from the PSD, or Principal Shopping District, stating that the request was denied because part of College Avenue would have to be closed for the one-night event.

"Their contention was that it was a street closing and that it would affect other businesses," says VanderKamp.

WZZM 13 looked into what impact the street closing could have on traffic and found that taking an alternative route only took an extra minute to get back to the same spot.

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Expressive Art: A healing tool for detention students

WEST OLIVE, Mich. (WZZM) - The job of an art therapist is to implement a creative process that will help clients increase insight, cope with stress and work through traumatic experiences, with the hopes of achieving greater self-fulfillment.

That task can be even more challenging when your clients are juvenile detention students.

There is one Ottawa County art teacher who is transforming young lives by teaching them expression through colors on a canvas.  Colors can mean anything to anybody.

"The green is where he started to get abusive and bruise me," said one Ottawa County juvenile detention student. "The red is where I got to this facility and started to cut {myself} and tried to kill myself."

Yet, for some, colors may be darker.

At the Ottawa County Juvenile Detention Center, colors are a big part of learning.

Relay for Life a success

Relay for Life a success

Rockford Relay For Life raised $318,000 for the American Cancer Society, making it one of the most successful fundraisers in the state.

Other West Michigan communities are doing their part.  During the Wyoming-Grandville Relay For Life on May 10, participants raised at least $54,857.  That same day, participants in the Grand Haven-Spring Lake Relay For Life collected at least $45,984 for the American Cancer Society.  Runners and walkers in East Grand Rapids raised at least $56,531 during their Relay For Life May 17.  On May 18, the Relay For Life of White Lake generated at least $43,211 for the American Cancer Society, while Relay For Life of Comstock Park raised at least $42,815.

And don’t count local colleges out.  In April, Grand Valley State University raised at least $85,263 during its Relay For Life, Western Michigan University collected at least $32,083 and Aquinas College raised $5,670.

Plenty more communities are planning Rel

Indiana wind farm to supply power for Holland

HOLLAND, Mich. (WZZM) -- Holland City Council members got their first look at an Indiana wind farm that will supply energy for the city.

The 40-thousand acre Wildcat Wind Farm is located in Elwood, Indiana. Holland owns about 7% of the energy produced by the facility, which began operating in January.

City Council members addressed the concerns about the noise made by wind turbines.

"When you group a lot of these together what's the noise factor, what's the decibel level?" Asked city council member Brian Burch. "As far as I could tell just from a street level, it's quieter than a typical vacuum, your neighbors lawnmower is much louder."

The wind farm has also helped Holland meet a state law taking effect in 2015, which requires electric companies to have 15% of their energy come from renewable sources.

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Hope College breaks ground on new art museum May 24

Hope College breaks ground on new art museum May 24

HOLLAND, Mich. – Hope College will break ground on a new museum Friday.

The Kruizenga Art Museum will house the college’s permanent art collection as well as visiting exhibits. It will complement the nearby De Pree Art Center, which will continue to be used by the college. 

The Kruizenga Art Museum is named after Dr. Richard Kruizenga and the late Margaret Kruizenga, who are lead donors to the project.  The museum will be designed by Hope College graduate Matt VanderBorgh.

The groundbreaking will take place May 24 at 2 p.m. at the museum’s future home on Columbia Avenue south of 11th Street.  Some of the first construction work will involve removing student housing and an adjacent parking lot and transforming 11th Street into a pedestrian walkway between Columbia and Lincoln avenues.  The $5 million project should be completed in 2015.

Injuries after car & ambulance collide in Holland

HOLLAND, Mich. (WZZM) -- At least one person is injured in an accident involving a car and an ambulance.

The crash happened at 8:55 p.m. Friday on 16th Avenue and Waverly Road.

According to Ottawa County Central Dispatch, the driver of the car pulled in front of the ambulance. It wasn't clear if the ambulance was responding to an emergency with its lights and siren on.

Witnesses tell WZZM 13 one person is trapped in the passenger seat of the car and crews are using the Jaws of Life to remove the victim.

WZZM will have more information as details become available.

Lakeshore man convicted in landlady's murder

HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - A West Michigan jury has found a man guilty of murder in the slaying of his 53-year-old landlady, who was set on fire after complaining about his loud music.

Davanh Phouangphet's was convicted Friday in Ottawa County Circuit Court of first-degree premeditated murder.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 28.

Phanh Kim Le died in January 2012 from burns sustained a few days earlier at the house in Holland Township, west of Grand Rapids.

Police said an accelerant was poured on Le and lit.

Thong Phouangphet has said his 32-year-old brother and Le argued, and the landlady told him to move his music to another part of the house or be evicted.

Assistant prosecutor Karen Miedema told the jury that Davanh Phouangphet didn't want to hear Le's "voice anymore."