Deborah Schakel will present on Lida Rogers, a woman who not only inspired the current Tulip Time Festival but was a steward of the beauty of all Holland, and as a biology teacher, planted Keppel Woods with her students for 20 years. Her presentation will cover Lida’s early life and teaching career in Holland, the early history of Tulip Time, and her work at the school forest. In person program.

Deborah Noe Schakel is a Holland native, with a Hope College degree in theater. She earned her Masters in Theater from the University of Minnesota. As a charter member of Hope Summer Repertory Theater she created the Children’s Performance Troupe.  After teaching theater and English for 25 years at Grand Haven Schools, she now researches and presents on Holland history with South Shore Drive and Ottawa Beach Road. She worked as a guide and volunteer with the Cappon House and DeZwaan Windmill.