Page 8 — Thursday, October 13, 2022 — The Hastings Banner
cy coach. My areas of expertise are in the
areas of educational data collection/analysis,
intervention programming for at-risk students
and being a leader for intervention staff.
In addition to my years in education, I also
have municipal leadership experience. I was a
Buchanan city commissioner for one year,
and then mayor for two years. My experiences
and skills I have as a former city leader will
be an asset while serving on the TK board.
I am confident I have the leadership skills
and experience and I am prepared to work well
with whomever is elected to the board in
November.
What do you feel the role of the parent is
within the district?
Collaborative parent involvement is critical
for student success. Parents are the first and
most important teachers for their children, and
as children enter school, parents should take an
active role in their children’s education. This
includes monitoring their child’s progress in
school, seeking teacher feedback regarding
their child’s progress, attending meetings and
conferences, volunteering as available, partici-
pating in school activities and support learning
at home by helping with homework. There are
many opportunities for parent involvement
within the TK district.
Describe your involvement in local
school and community organizations.
Presently, I am a trustee on the Thornapple
Kellogg Alumni Association Board. My husband
and I returned to Middleville in 2020 to be close
to our parents and my time has been focused on
family. In my previous community, I was a
founding member of the Little Bucks Bookmo-
bile, a steward for four Little Free Libraries, a
founding member of the Buchanan Tree Friends
(a group seeking to reforest the city with native
species of trees), an adult leader for the Buchan-
an Youth Committee teen group, and I volun-
teered as Mrs. Claus for city and library events.
Name: Jake Welch
Current residence: Payne Lake Road,
Middleville
Occupation: Assistant Managing Direc-
tor, Barry County Road Commission
Why are you running for the school
board? What are your priorities?
I am running for TK school board to con-
tinue to bring a common sensical, level-head-
ed approach to assisting in the development
of the direction and vision of the district.
Setting policy and maintaining an effective
and successful superintendent, coupled with
setting a positive example for the students at
TK, are the responsibilities of the board and
likewise, are my priorities.
Is there a particular issue that makes
you want to serve on the school board?
There are no particular issues that enticed
me to apply to be appointed to fill the mid-
term open board seat and there remains no
singular or group of issues that create my
desire to run to fill the remainder of this term.
Our family loves TK and any opportunity to
lend a steady, consistent hand to help TK
grow, I’m willing to give my time to do so.
What skills and experiences do you
bring to the table that have prepared you
to serve as a board member?
My time, though limited (one year), in
serving on the TKSB has certainly given me
valuable information and experience with
which to perform future board duties. Also, as
the assistant managing director at the BCRC,
I am very familiar with working for the pub-
lic and communicating with the community.
Having lived in the TK district for eight
years, raising our two sons here, along with
my professional experiences makes me
uniquely qualified to serve on the TKSB.
What do you feel the role of the parent is
within the district?
The collaborative relationship between
parents, students, teachers and administrators
is the driving force behind the success that
TK has experienced in the past, and will con-
tinue to be the epicenter of success moving
forward. Parents need to play an extensive
role in their children’s education and should
have the ability to have a great working rela-
tionship with educators. A large portion of
learning happens at home, parent involve-
ment is instrumental in student success.
Describe your involvement in local
school and community organizations.
I am currently serving on the TKSB. For
the 2021 and 2022 seasons, I have volun-
teered as a coach on the TK varsity football
team. For the last few seasons I have served
as the head coach for a Thornapple Parks and
Recreation “Select,” baseball team. Since
2015, I have served as the chairman for the
Yankee Springs Township Zoning Board of
Appeals and have coached youth football,
baseball and basketball in and around the TK
district since 2012. The opportunities I have
had to positively impact the lives of TK
school district’s youth have been a blessing
and I look forward to continuing that for
years to come.Candidates for two-year terms
Name: Kyle Badge
Current residence: Middleville
Occupation: Senior software engineer at
Control Solutions Inc.
Why are you running for the school
board? What are your priorities?After much prayer and deliberation, I felt
led towards education in my civic duty since
I strongly believe that leading the way for
our future generations is the top priority of
today. I believe we need more unaffiliated,
everyday Americans stepping up to repre-
sent their communities and I am glad that so
many have decided to put themselves out
there in this election. I have been out speak-
ing with and meeting hundreds of people
over the past few years and education con-
tinues to be one of the top concerns. I will
strive to represent what the majority of the
community values in public education, while
respecting the limits of government. Much
of what I continue to hear and will make a
priority include, protecting parental rights
and family values, age-appropriate curricu-
lum, respecting medical and religious liber-
ties, transparency, promoting skilled and
technical trades, limited spending and
reduced energy usage.
Is there a particular issue that makes
you want to serve on the school board?
No.
What skills and experiences do you
bring to the table that have prepared you
to serve as a board member?
With extensive experience in HVAC,
building automation, facilities and energy
management, specifically working with K-
schools; I know what it takes to ensure build-
ings are optimizing energy use while main-
taining proper indoor air quality and comfort
for its occupants. As utility costs continue to
rise, we need to ensure that we make wise
purchases and are maintaining sound guide-
lines before we see unnecessary taxpayer
money go down the drain. Throughout my
career in the HVAC and construction indus-
tries, I have held various roles including
Applied HVAC Sales Engineer, Project Man-
ager, Engineering Manager and Senior Soft-
ware Engineer. I am a LEED (Leadership in
Energy Engineering and Design) Accredited
Professional and currently the Chair of
ASHRAE West Michigan’s Student Activi-
ties Committee, which works to encourage
students to pursue careers in the industry and
provide STEM resources to K-12 schools. As
a Ferris State Graduate with a BS in HVACR
Engineering Technology, it also gives me
pleasure assisting the University with their
summer internship program year after year.
Over the years I have worked with hundreds
of districts on complex technical and finan-
cial decisions involving facilities directors,
superintendents, principals, teachers, board
members, contractors, IT directors and AE
firms. I believe this experience, amongst
other leadership/life experiences, has given
me the proper character and knowledge to
represent our voters in this capacity.
What do you feel the role of the parent is
within the district?
I believe parental involvement plays a cru-
cial role in the development of the child and
should be respected and encouraged by the
district. There are numerous studies showing
that increased parental involvement leads to
better overall success. Parents should both
aim to be partners with, and be treated as part-
ners by, the district regarding their child’s
education.
Describe your involvement in local
school and community organizations.
I have not had much involvement in the
local school district and am currently home-
schooling my children, but am eager to get
more involved. Over the past couple of years,
I have been the president of the Stand Up
Michigan Barry County Chapter. It has been
an exciting and rewarding, yet challenging,
experience that has taught me so much about
our community, the people and basic civics.I have had the chance to work with so many
great people as we aimed to educate, inspire
and activate citizens to get more involved in
local government. I have also been a passion-
ate volunteer on the worship team at our
family’s church for nearly 10 years and have
worked on several community outreach proj-
ects.Name: Krissy Hooson
Current residence: Middleville
Occupation: Director of Operations,
Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
Why are you running for the school
board? What are your priorities?
Serving on the board of education this past
year has been a privilege. TK is an incredible
school district and I feel a deep sense of pride
in our Middleville community, which contin-
ues to call me to serve as a school board
member. I enjoy giving back to the district
that has poured so much into my children.
The past several years have been challenging
to navigate with unprecedented turnover in
board members and administrative leader-
ship. As Thornapple Kellogg Schools contin-
ue to grow, academics should be a priority,
along with mental wellness. Setting a robust
strategic plan and dynamic leadership will
continue this forward progress. If re-elected,
I will continue to ensure that Thornapple Kel-
logg School district is serving the needs of all
students. I am committed to our mission,
“Encouraging and developing the greatest
potential of each student.”
Is there a particular issue that makes
you want to serve on the school board?
Thornapple Kellogg is a hidden gem! Rural
location with an outstanding education. TK is
an incredible school district. I enjoy using my
time, talent and treasure to benefit our com-
munity. Our community is supportive of the
schools. They invest in our schools, our edu-
cators are passionate about teaching, and our
administrators put what’s best for kids first.
What skills and experiences do you
bring to the table that have prepared you
to serve as a board member?
I have been in healthcare for 21 years, with
the past 16 of those years in a leadership role.
The experiences I bring to the board table
include, but are not limited to, policy develop-
ment and implementation, listening to learn,
in-depth knowledge of budgets and financial
statements, contract negotiation, facility
improvement and growth, and active engage-
ment in leadership accountability. I have served
on the TK board of education for the past year,
and as a trustee of several local non-profit
organizations, I bring numerous years of board
experience to the table. I am down-to-earth,
trying to find the positive and humor in just
about everything. These unique characteristics
have served me well throughout my life.
What do you feel the role of the parent is
within the district?Parents are the child’s first teachers. Many
studies have highlighted the correlation
between parent and teacher/district collabora-
tion and student success. Everyone should be
on the same team, communicating openly and
working towards a common goal.
Describe your involvement in local
school and community organizations.
I am a current board member of the Thor-
napple Area Enrichment Foundation (TAEF)
and Serenity Village Hospice House of Barry
County. I am a member of the Barry County
Athena and the Michigan Association of
School Boards. Previously, I served as a
board member on the Barry Health Services
Network and volunteered as an emergency
services team member at Thornapple Valley
Church. When my children were younger, I
volunteer coached for Middleville AYSO and
recently functioned as an assistant coach for
Midwest United FC. I have enjoyed volun-
teering in my children’s classrooms, raising
money for numerous school organizations
and athletics, serving on the board of educa-
tion, and cheering for our kids on the sports
field and in the classroom.Name: Dennis Landry
Current residence: Middleville
Occupation: Service manager
Why are you running? What are your
priorities?
I have one daughter that graduated from
TK and one still attending. This is an oppor-
tunity for me to serve the community that I
live in. My priorities are to help preserve the
amazing school district that we have while
helping it grow and change with the needs of
our children.
Is there a particular issue that makes
you want to serve on the school board?
No.
What skills and experiences do you
bring to the table that have prepared you
to serve as a board member?
I am an Army veteran and have worked in
customer service for 30 years. These posi-
tions have taught me how to serve with hon-
esty and integrity. I can listen and communi-
cate objectively.
What do you feel the role of the parent is
within the school district?
The parent’s role in education is to be
involved and be an advocate for their child.
They need to be a partner and work together
with their teachers.
Describe your involvement in local
school and community organizations.
In the past I was a volunteer coach in the
AYSO program here in Middleville. I am
chairman of the finance committee at the
Middleville United Methodist Church as well
as a member of the administrative board.Tom’s on Gun Lake
welcomes shoppers
for grand opening event
Roughly every week since spring, Nicole
Smith has had customers wander into her
store, unsure of what they might find.
“I still get people every day saying ‘Oh,
I didn’t know you were here,’ or ‘I didn’t
know you were open,’” Smith said.
So, on Saturday, Smith and her team at
Tom’s on Gun Lake cleared up the miscon-
ception by throwing a big party, complete
with free food and live entertainment.
Tom’s on Gun Lake, which serves as a
second location for Tom’s Meat Market
in Hastings, technically opened at the tail
end of April of this year. It was a soft
opening as area residents began to
become acquainted with the store, locat-
ed at 11080 Gun Lake Rd.
Formerly called Sam’s Gourmet, Tom’s
on Gun Lake specializes in fresh meat while
also providing an assortment of groceries.
“It’s been embraced really well by thecommunity,” Smith said at the grand
opening event, which was packed with
patrons. “I also live on Gun Lake so I saw
that there was certainly a need. Just final-
ly doing it was the initial hurdle. But, the
community is super happy.”
Smith broke into the grocery game in
1999 when she and her late husband pur-
chased Tom’s Meat Market in Hastings.
Since then, she has grown and doubled
that business and hopes to do the same
with its counterpart out in Gun Lake.
“I had that footprint (in Hastings) and
a playbook,” Smith said. “I know what
we did well and I knew what I knew.”
“We doubled (business in Hastings)
since 1999 and I don’t want to take 20
years to do it here, but it may take a little
time to have that kind of anchor in the
community,” she added.
Smith bought the former Sam’s Gour-
met at the beginning of 2022 and over-
hauled it with a new roof, pavement,
ceilings and floors. Sam’s Gourmet,
whose owner pursued Smith as a poten-
tial buyer for years before the sale, was
known for its doughnuts, so Smith found
a way to keep those. It’s a new wrinkle
that doesn’t exist at her Hastings store.
And, like every business, Smith con-
tinues to juggle the aftermath of the
COVID-19 pandemic and the hyperinfla-
tion that has followed.
“We watch our margins and keep our
inventories tight,” Smith said. “People
still have to eat, which helps move things
but they have choices. They don’t have to
shop with me. It’s an incentive to me to
keep my prices in line and competitive.”Grace Lutheran Church
cordially invites you to
Heritage Sunday
October 30th, 2022 at
10:00 a.m. for worship and
a heritage meal to follow.
Please bring a dish to pass that reflects
your heritage, or just come and enjoy.
We look forward to meeting you.
Amish Benefit Dinner
October 14, 2022 from 4:00 to 7:00pm
744 E. Brogan Rd., Hastings, MI
(Just off of M-37 Hwy.)
(Home of Andrew and Sadie Raber)Cafeteria style, no reservations needed. Take-Out provided. Menu
to include: barbecue chicken, mashed potatoes, bread dressing,
gravy, mixed vegetables, salads, pies and homemade ice cream.
Refreshments of coffee and water.
(Baked Goods available for purchase!)
Proceeds to go for living expenses for
Mrs. Ben (Susan) Raber. (Ben Raber died 4 years ago).
The family of Ben Raber wishes to express their heartfelt thanks
for your kind thoughts and well wishes!Mrs. Susan Raber & Family
On Saturday, owner Nicole Smith staged a grand opening for Tom’s on Gun
Lake, located at 11080 Gun Lake Rd. in Middleville. The store is Smith’s second
as she has owned Tom’s Meat Market in Hastings since 1999. (Courtesy photo)Cashier Ivy Keyzer (left) assists one of the many shoppers that showed up
for Saturday’s grand opening event for Tom’s on Gun Lake. The store launched
a soft opening back in April. (Photo by Jayson Bussa)Nicole Smith (right), owner of Tom’s on Gun Lake, said that the store has
already been embraced by the surrounding community. (Photo by Jayson Bussa)Local musician Michelle Moretti
provided the soundtrack for the
grand opening event. (Photo by
Jayson Bussa)SCHOOL BOARD, continued from page 7 ––––––––––––––––