This past season, getting into the Grand Rapids Symphony’s film concerts was difficult. Snagging a ticket to Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s “Mamma Mia!” was almost impossible. But perhaps the hottest ticket in town was to Opera Grand Rapids’ “La Traviata”
Yes, we said opera. The popularity of opera has been on the rise, and this may come as a surprise to many according to Opera Grand Rapids new executive director Emilee Syrewicze, among milliennals.
“As a millennial, I am not very surprised by that and here’s why,” Syerwicze said during a recent “Locally Entertaining” podcast. “We are seeing that with millennials, and whatever you may say about millennials, one thing that is true is that what was old is made new again with millennials.
“They are bringing back mason jars instead of single use plastics. They are bringing back libraries instead of buying books…We are also seeing millennials more interested in the classic classical performing arts than the previous generation. We are actually seeing a high number of ticket buyers being millennial.”
There are other factors that play into the increase interest as well such as how it has become a trend to turn an opera attendance into a special event, complete with ballgowns and champagne after parties, something we have seen with the red carpet affairs at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House.
Syrewicze said she also believes another key factor is the quality of productions that Opera Grand Rapids has been able to offer, largely in part due to the hiring of Artistic Director Maestro James Meena a couple of years ago. Meena actually works with three opera houses Toledo, Ohio; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Grand Rapids and often travels abroad to Italy and Europe.
“If you have been to a production in the past couple of years, you can see our quality is through the roof,” Syrewicze said. “You are going to see the same quality of opera at Opera Grand Rapids that you would see at much larger operas in Chicago and New York.”
Opera Grand Rapids Executive Director Emilee Syrewicze (Supplied)
With this reassurance, it has changed how Opera Grand Rapids handles its ticket sales.
“We are planning our seasons further ahead then we ever really have before,” Syrewicze said, adding that the shows for the 2019-2020 season are Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado,” Nov. 1 and 2, and Puccini’s “Turnadot,” May 1 and 2.
“We kind of expected ticket sales wouldn’t ramp up until [after ‘La Traviata’], but we are actually surprise, once again. We are already selling high numbers for ‘Mikado.’”
Syrewicze also noted that tickets for the May production of “Turnadot” have been selling as well with Syrewicze’s encouraging people to get their tickets soon.
Whether or not you do snag tickets for the company’s two major productions, there are plenty of other offerings such as the Opera Grand Rapids’ diversity and inclusion performances, “Opera Unlimited” and the collegiate vocal competition. In fact, next spring, the Opera Grand Rapids chorus, made up of many talented Grand Rapids area residents, will be performing a selection of master works.
Syrewicze said the company is working to finalize its full season with the goal to have something every month. For more details on the upcoming Opera Grand Rapids season, visit operagr.org.
In Carl Warfield’s hand’s-on natural science class, most of the student group leaders are seniors who have experience with the critters, with underclass persons waiting their turns to be primary “hand trainers” and out-in-the-community ambassadors of the program’s snakes and spiders and birds.
But East Kentwood High School seniors Anissa Reeves, Cassie Karel — group leaders for reptiles and birds, respectively — as well as fellow seniors Sammie Sutherlin and Courtney Guyott, have graduated with not only lessons in nature but in being part of a team.
(WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“It is a unique, hand’s on experience for the kids,” Warfield said to WKTV about the students in his now, 20-(or so)-year-old program. “For some of these kids, it is just something to connect with. While large schools (like East Kentwood) offer a lot of opportunities, sometimes there are things that are not for everyone. We look at ourselves as just a slice of the pie, here at East Kentwood, offering something for everyone.
“We are one of those programs that, you know, you may not be an athlete, you may not be a musician, you may not be an artist. But if you got heart, and compassion, and animals are your thing, we’ve got something here for you.”
In a recent WKTV Journal newscast segment, we talked with Warfield about his program, and with Reeves and Sutherlin about why they picked the class — and why they picked the critters they cared for.
Madison Poll, left, and Cassie Karel, with two of the program’s birds.. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Other students who showed us around the class were juniors Brandon Shotwell, Marcus Caruth and Madison Poll — each in line to have expanded roles with the critters next year.
WKTV visited the class in May, just before the school year ended — a class located, or maybe better said “isolated” — at the end of a hallway and just about as far away from the administration office as possible at the sprawling school.
Snakes and spiders are not for everyone, after all.
For the past two years, Jorge Gonzalez, 46, had done all kinds of things to improve his health.
He lost 60 pounds. He trained to run a 5K race. He focused on his health in matters big and small.
So imagine his bafflement when, one day at work, he suddenly began to feel particularly unwell. Even his colleague noticed it.
Gonzalez himself had to admit—the pounding in his chest couldn’t be ignored.
His new fitness watch noticed a problem, too. Gonzalez had bought the smart watch to help him monitor his vital signs. On that day, it showed alarming blood pressure numbers: 241/118.
“I didn’t think I was having a heart attack,” Gonzalez said. “But I did feel, well, out of tune.”
A short walk
Gonzalez is a director at Start Garden, a Grand Rapids, Michigan, company that helps entrepreneurs start new businesses. He always enjoyed helping others in his community, but when it came to helping himself he’d been reluctant to pick up the phone and call his doctor.
When he finally did—not in small part because a colleague nudged him into action—he learned he’d have to wait two months for the next available appointment.
But his blood pressure showed no signs of dropping. And two months was a long time.
Then, his colleague reminded him of something.
“Hey, Jorge,” his coworker had said. “Do you remember that presentation we had here a while ago by someone from Spectrum Health? It was about that new medical clinic down the street, STR!VE.”
Gonzalez remembered. The presentation showcased a new type of medical office aimed at developing a whole-body, preventive approach to long-term wellness.
For Gonzalez, it would require just a short walk down the street, onto Ottawa Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids.
He decided to take a short stroll.
Whisked to surgery
The STR!VE office has an inviting and comfortable ambiance, unlike many medical clinics. People can visit for same-day or next-day appointments.
Photo by Katy Batdorff
Gonzalez arrived and met with family nurse practitioner Melissa Wilson, MSN, BS, FNP-C, who checked his vital signs. On gauging his blood pressure, Wilson grew alarmed.
“I waited a moment, thinking it might be a false read, then took his blood pressure again,” Wilson said. “It was not going down. I put in a call to the emergency department at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital.”
Gonzalez saw the nurse practitioner’s concern and realized he may be in trouble.
“I told her she couldn’t play poker,” he said. “She didn’t have a poker face. I could tell by looking at her that this wasn’t good.”
Gonzalez was rushed to Butterworth Hospital. Doctors and nurses at the emergency department waited for his arrival.
“They immediately did an EKG,” Gonzalez said. “A young guy read the report. I could see his face turn red.”
Things happened very quickly after that, Gonzalez said. It’s something of a blur in his memory, but he recalls a physician calling out to his staff: “All hands on board!”
Then someone shaved his chest in preparation for surgery. A second EKG confirmed Gonzalez had suffered a heart attack. His artery had become 100 percent blocked.
Doctors placed a stent in his artery to restore blood flow to his heart.
Walking man
Three months later, Gonzalez feels like a new man. He is grateful for the quick actions of STR!VE medical staff and the medical team that met him at the emergency department at Butterworth Hospital.
“I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for STR!VE,” he said.
Gonzalez now repeats that walk down the street from his office to STR!VE on a weekly basis. He can take care of his follow-up appointments and meet with a dietitian to monitor his diet.
“Two years ago, I weighed 240 pounds,” he said. “Today, I weigh 182. I lost the weight because there was a day I tried to put on my shoes and couldn’t.
“I learned, though, that it’s not just about calorie reduction,” he said. “It’s what you eat. My cardiologist told me the blockage in my artery was probably because of years of a bad diet, and he recommended the Mediterranean diet. Now I eat whole foods, less processed, and a lot more fruits and vegetables.”
Wilson believes Gonzalez has recovered so quickly because he changed his sedentary habits and his diet.
STR!VE continues to help him work not just on nutrition, but his health maintenance overall.
Photo by Katy Batdorff
“Many people come here for our weight management program, but we are also a full-service, primary care medical office,” Wilson said. “Some of the people who come here keep their primary care physician but come to STR!VE to treat illnesses, when they need to see a doctor same day or next day. Others use us as their primary care.”
Wilson smiles when she sees Gonzalez visit. She encourages him to keep up his appointments.
“I tell him it’s all about the follow-up,” she said. “He tells me I sound like his wife.”
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
In April of 2019, a Freeland resident found this ADORABLE and outrageously outgoing fella (born in the spring of 2017) wandering around her house. He was so stinkin’ sweet that she couldn’t help but bring him in and fall hopelessly in love with him, but when he tested positive for Feline Leukemia, she realized she and her husband weren’t going to be in a position to keep him permanently. She emailed Dr. Jen to inquire about intake, and approximately a month later, Renly made his way to us. He passed his initial exam at the vet clinic with flying colors, with the exception of still retesting positive for FELV, so Dr. Jen sent him on down to Big Sid’s to meet his new roomies—and the volunteers who would be caring for him at our sanctuary.
It honestly takes all of two seconds for anyone who meets him to be enamored by his charm and enthusiasm for life; he is just so darned happy to be indoors, surrounded by people who will stop what they are doing to pet him, lift him up and carry him around. In fact, we’ve been told the following about our gorgeous, gregarious guy:
“Renly is so sweet! He is happiest being held like a baby and often demands to be picked up. He is very active and busy, always seems to be getting in to things and following volunteers around. He doesn’t really care about other cats at all, he really just wants to be around people. His rescuer said he really loves dogs. He would be amazing with kids!
“Renly is a very busy boy! He loves to run up and down the halls looking for anyone willing to play with him. He really enjoys toys, boxes, and anything he can chase. He’s one cat that enjoys being picked up and held. I have seen him be a little possessive of his food while eating with the others, but with time and patience he will do just fine with another cat or two. I’d love to see him in a home with kids that he can run and play with.”
Look at that face. Just look at it.
We have no doubt that if he was virus-free, Renly would be scooped up instantly after posting his bio, but sadly this throws a wrench into things, since he can transmit the disease to others of the feline kind through bodily fluids (sharing dishes and litter boxes, grooming and rough play where biting could occur). However, we are confident that the right person is going to come along, gather him up into their loving arms and make him their very own, virus be damned.
He is such an amazing, adventurous and downright gleeful fella that whomever opts to take him home is going to be one of THE luckiest cat owners in our little corner of the world!
More about Renly:
Domestic Short Hair
Orange & White
Adult
Male
Medium
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
FELV+
Good in a home with other cats, dogs, children
Want to adopt Renly? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how many bad roads and accommodations.
Oliver Goldsmith
Driving in Kentwood
In case you are wondering what is happening around East Paris Avenue … rehabilitation of Sparks Drive SE and Forest Hill Avenue SE from East Paris Avenue SE to Burton Street SE start on Monday, June 24 and is slated for completion in August. For the complete story, visit here.
Taking care of the kids
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus are two local efforts to support the youth of Kent County with the most basic of needs: proper nourishment and successful early childhood development. For the complete story, visit here.
Summer (fun) in full swing
Summer is officially in full swing with lots of activities taking place throughout Grand Rapids and the West Michigan area. Courtney Sheffer, from the West Michigan Tourist Association, recently stopped by the station to share some of the summer activities taking place. For the complete story, visit here.
Fun fact:
158 days
The average number of sunny days in Grand Rapids per year — don’t waste a single one! (Source)
The City of Kentwood is updating its long-range vision for growth, land use, development and open space conservation, known as the Master Plan, and is seeking public input on proposed changes through “Plan Kentwood,” a community engagement series.
The four community engagement opportunities are as follows:
Concerts and Conceptual Planning: June 27, 6:30-8 p.m. Kentwood City Hall (Breton Ave. SE)
Ice Pops and Planning: July 17, 5-7 p.m. Northeast Park (1900 Middleground Drive SE)
City Planning on the Mall: Aug. 6, 3-5 p.m. Woodland Mall (3195 28th St. SE)
Designing Division: Sept. 12, 4-6 p.m. Brann’s Steakhouse Parking Lot (4157 S. Division Ave.)
The Master Plan is an official public document adopted by the Kentwood Planning and City Commissions. The forward-looking development plan considers residents’ and property owners’ long-range goals and desires, as well as local, regional and market trends.
It consists of goals, policies and recommended actions to guide land use decision-making for Planning Commissioners and City Commissioners during the next 20 years.
The Plan is reviewed at least every five years but is modified and updated as deemed necessary by the City Commission. The most recent update was completed in 2012.
“We look forward to engaging with residents, businesses and property owners for community feedback as we plan for Kentwood’s future development,” said Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer. “The Planning Commission has been reviewing our current plan and identifying leading issues, trends and changes that have affected the community in the past seven years.
“The Master Plan update process is an important step in ensuring thoughtful consideration of our future growth.”
Hosted at City Hall, the first event will be held during the free summer concert featuring Blue Soul Express and include complimentary ice cream for participants. Discussions will focus on a 480-acre area referred to as Section 34, which is located between 52nd and 60th streets, the Princeton Estates Plat and Wing Avenue.
Planning Commissioners and City staff will be in a community booth at the concert from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to facilitate conversations and answer questions about development that has occurred in Section 34 since the last Master Plan update, as well as development that is currently in process and potential opportunities.
The second opportunity for public input, dubbed “Ice Pops and Planning,” will be offered from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17 at Northeast Park. Discussions will surround Section 13, which consists of 263 acres of open land between 28th and 36th streets, Patterson Avenue and East Paris Avenue. Residents will have the opportunity to help guide the future uses for the site.
Staff will be inside Woodland Mall at a table during National Night Out festivities from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6 to gather input on the future planning of the 28th and 29th Street commercial corridor. The corridor consists of a wide range of development – from high-end boutiques, major regional malls and local retailers, to many national dining, service and product franchises. Public input gathered will focus on how to improve its effectiveness as a transportation corridor, and as a business and employment center.
The final event, “Designing Division,” will be hosted at Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12. Community members are encouraged to join for an evening of ice cream and discussions on the future of the Division Avenue corridor with the City of Kentwood, the City of Wyoming and the Division Avenue Business Association. Division Avenue is a key gateway corridor to both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, requiring cooperation between the two communities.
The objective of the update process is to plan for new population growth and redevelopment while protecting key environmental features, creating sustainable economic opportunities and providing public services.
“The Master Plan is not a law or ordinance, but rather a guide for decisions to support how growth and conservation will take place in the City,” Schweitzer said. “We welcome all community members to be a part of the conversation.”
More information about the Master Plan update is available at kentwood.us/PlanKentwood. Questions or comments may be directed to Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer at schweitzert@kentwood.us; 616.554.0710, or Economic Development Planner Lisa Golder at golderl@kentwood.us; 616.554.0709.
Most middle-aged women are on the lookout for these typical symptoms of menopause.
But hair loss? That one can take some women by surprise—and cause big worries.
“It’s a big deal because our hair affects so much of our self-image and how we think of ourselves,” said Natasha Peoples, NP-C, NCMP, a nurse practitioner specially trained and nationally certified in caring for patients with menopause concerns.
Peoples works with the Spectrum Health Medical Group Midlife, Menopause & Sexual Health practice. She sees women experiencing various menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleeping issues, vaginal dryness, irregular bleeding and more.
“Just like all menopause symptoms, it varies from person to person,” Peoples said. “Women come to us and they’re all going through the same process, but they all experience it completely differently.”
Any degree of hair thinning causes concern among women, but it’s often hard to quantify how much hair you’re losing to know if it’s been a significant change, she said.
Also, unlike with hair loss after pregnancy—a common occurrence—women experiencing it during menopause might wonder if it’s ever going to stop.
“(Post-pregnancy hair loss) always balances out,” Peoples said. “And with women experiencing menopause it’s more concerning because there’s not that expectation that it’s going to reverse.”
While doctors don’t always know why hair loss is happening during menopause, Peoples said that as women experience menopause and normal menstrual cycles stop, they lose the estrogen and progesterone that the body would cycle normally.
With the loss of female hormones, testosterone and male hormones can become more active in the body. And that can affect hair follicles, among other things.
She urges women to talk to their medical providers about all their symptoms of menopause, including hair loss.
The first step would be to rule out other possible causes of the hair loss. Possibilities include thyroid imbalance, anemia, vitamin deficiency, new medication side effects or stressful physical events, such as surgery or illness.
“Whatever they can do to manage stress can be helpful,” Peoples said. “Hair follicles have a four-month life cycle and any change you make to reverse hair loss, you’re not going to see for four to six months down the road. It’s a slow process, which can be frustrating.”
If hormones are to blame, hormone replacement medications or those that block testosterone receptors might be helpful, she said.
Patients also might need to see a dermatologist, she said.
While some menopause symptoms, including hair loss, might be unavoidable for some women, there are things that might help minimize symptoms.
Peoples encourages women to limit caffeine, drink plenty of water, get regular exercise, maintain a healthy weight, keep good sleep habits and quit smoking.
The most important thing: Women need to realize they’re not alone. Help is available.
“It’s nice to be able to help women who start to have these struggles and feel like there’s nowhere to turn,” Peoples said.
As the redevelopment of Woodland Mall continues, A’Beautiful Soul will host its grand opening event on Saturday, July 13.
The celebration will kick off with a store blessing and prayer circle at 9:45 a.m., followed by a fashion show, live music and refreshments for the companion sister to first-to-market Altar’d State. While enjoying the many other additions to Woodland Mall, shoppers are invited to explore the A’Beautiful Soul and take advantage of the retailer’s grand opening day sales.
Carrying women’s clothing in sizes 14 to 24, A’Beautiful Soul is Woodland’s second plus-size clothing store alongside Torrid. The location will be the plus-size retailer’s first in Michigan and fifth in the nation.
A’Beautiful Soul is set to open July 9. (Supplied)
“A’Beautiful Soul emphasizes that beauty is found within a woman’s mind, heart and soul. Paired with its attention to the customer experience, this retailer ensures each guest leaves feeling beautiful and confident,” said Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing director. “Not only is A’Beautiful Soul a great extension of Altar’d State, it provides another destination for the plus-size woman, making it an important addition to Woodland Mall as we continue efforts to diversify our retail mix.”
Sitting adjacent to its sister store in the JCPenney wing of the mall, A’Beautiful Soul nearly doubles the Altar’d State space, making the company the fourth largest inline clothing store in the mall. Altar’d State opened in Woodland Mall in October 2018 and has since developed a loyal customer base in West Michigan.
Altar’d State started as a modest Christian retail store and coffee shop in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2009, and has since grown its footprint to nearly 100 boutiques across the nation. The retailer carries fashion apparel, jewelry, gifts and accessories.
A’Beautiful Soul will be Woodland Mall’s second plus site retailer. (Supplied)
The brand strives to bridge the gap in the retail industry and change the world for the better. The retailer also donates a portion of its proceeds to help feed, clothe and educate children around the world.
Construction on the further redevelopment at Woodland Mall continues, including the build out for the first-to-portfolio retailer Von Maur, which will occupy 90,000 square feet in the former Sears space. This location will be the high-end department store’s first in the region, with an anticipated October 2019 opening. Von Maur will join an exclusive line-up of dynamic retailers, including REI, Apple, Pottery Barn, The North Face, Williams-Sonoma, Dry Goods, H&M and Forever 21 along with several dining establishments and a movie theater.
Woodland Mall recently announced The Cheesecake Factory will open in 2019, its first location in West Michigan and second location in the state. The 8,500-square-foot restaurant is also slated to open late October. Black Rock Bar & Grill, an award-winning steakhouse and first-to-market experiential dining offering, is set to open this fall.
Leading up to the culmination of the mall’s redevelopment this fall, shoppers can expect to see more store openings and changes.
Summer is officially in full swing with lots of activities taking place throughout Grand Rapids and the West Michigan area.
Courtney Sheffer, from the West Michigan Tourist Association, recently stopped by the station to share some of the summer activities taking place.
Lansing’s Common Ground Music Festival takes place June 27-30. (Supplied)
Happening this weekend is Lansing’s Common Ground Music Festival, taking place June 27 -30. In its 20th year, the event features a variety of music groups from pop rock to hip hop. This year’s headliners include three-time Grammy Award winner Brandi Carlile, DJ Zedd, and country music singer Cole Swindell.
Sheffer said the festival is general admission, but it is limited. For more information on the Common Ground Music Festival, visit commongroundfest.com.
Hudsonville’s Action Wake Park is offering Actions Camps for students 7-16 years of age. (Supplied)
Have some children who are looking for a fun activity or just something different? In Hudsonville, one a few minutes away from Kentwood and Wyoming, is Action Wake Park, 3320 Hudson Trails Dr. The first full-size cable wakeboard park in Michigan, Action Wake Park provides guests the opportunity to learn how to wakeboard, water ski, and kneeboard in a controlled environment without the need for a boat.
Sheffer said for the summer, the park is offering Action Camps for students who are 7-16 years of age. The camps, which are one and four days, provide students with watersport instruction. For more information about the camps or Action Wake Park, visit actionwakepark.com.
National Wildlife Federation’s Family Nature Summit comes to Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire, Michigan, July 20-26. (Supplied)
The National Wildlife Federation’s Family Nature Summits comes to Michigan this summer, running July 20-26. The Family Nature Summits provide an immersive experience with programming for every age.
This year’s event will be in Bellaire at Shanty Creek Resort, Sheffer said, adding that there will be workshops led by experts in geology, freshwater ecology, hiking, birdwatching, and more. Hundreds of people from across the nation attend, so sign up early to reserve a spot, Sheffer. For more information, familynaturesummits.org.
For more summer festival, trip ideas, or the West Michigan Lighthouse tour, visit wmta.org.
Despite the cool rainy spring, people have generally reported seeing lots of migrating monarchs and the resulting eggs and caterpillars. In the East Lansing, Michigan, area, caterpillars from the earliest-laid eggs are already transforming into pupae—i.e., very likely originating from eggs laid in Michigan—was observed on June 19. A promising start to the 2019 season!
Monarch life cycle. Larvae (caterpillars) go through five stages of growth called instars. The first instar is the smallest size caterpillar. (Courtesy MSU Extension)
This spring, we have again been impressed by the importance of the earliest-emerging stems of common milkweed for supporting egg laying by migrating monarchs. We first observed monarchs in East Lansing on May 16 and eggs on May 18. The important part about this observation is that relatively few common milkweed stems had even emerged by that time, suggesting that the early emerging milkweed is a key resource for the initial migrants into the state. This prompts us to ask, what are the factors that result in early emergence of milkweed and how can we ensure that some is likely to be present in any given year?
In our research we regularly survey common milkweed patches in the East Lansing area, often returning to the same spots year after year. While we know that common milkweed occurs at each of the sites, there is tremendous variability in when the stems emerge and thus become available for egg laying. This year when we first began scouting out patches in mid-May, common milkweed had emerged at very few of the sites. On June 3, we found milkweed at more than half of the sites, but some still had no stems above ground. Finally, on June 18 milkweed was up at most sites, but some of the places we know had milkweed last year still have no evidence of emergence. What is the implication of this variation in emergence timing for monarch egg laying and larval (caterpillar) survival?
Benefits of early emerging milkweeds
We gained additional insight when we surveyed 13 common milkweed patches in the East Lansing area on June 17 and 18. At 10 of these sites, we found virtually no monarch eggs or larvae—just five eggs and two early-instar larvae despite searching more than 1,200 stems. However, in three patches of milkweed, we found a glut of later-instar larvae that were approaching pupation. Across these three sites we found an average of one fourth or fifth-instar larva for every 15 stems, which is a very high density of monarch larvae, especially considering they were later-instar caterpillars.
What made these sites so attractive to the migrating adult monarchs a few weeks ago, and why did the larvae survive in such high numbers?
Monarch collected at one site on June 17-18, 2019. Photo by Nate Haan, MSU Entomology. (Courtesy MSU Extension)
The common denominator at these caterpillar-filled sites seems to be relatively sparse vegetation with little plant litter on the soil, which we think stimulated the common milkweed stems at those sites to emerge early. This means the stems were available and likely were more visually obvious to the first migrating monarchs arriving in our area, and consequently they were loaded up with eggs. The individual factors that resulted in the sparse vegetation varied. One site was a sandy grassland in an industrial park, another a recently harvested poplar planting on a sandy, West-facing hill, and the third was a sparsely-vegetated grassy parking lot edge. We have also observed that around the home landscape, milkweed growing in elevated beds or on warmer South-facing slopes seem to emerge early. Areas that have been burned (removing plant litter) also warm up quickly and support early emerging milkweed.
Benefits of later emerging milkweed
Having spent most of this article talking about the importance of early emerging milkweed, we also need to mention the benefits of late emerging milkweed. The first generation butterflies that will be flying over the next several weeks prefer young milkweed on which to lay their eggs. Some of those eggs will be laid on butterfly milkweed, swamp milkweed, and whorled milkweed, which naturally emerge later than common milkweed. Alternatively, we previously discussed how setting back a portion of a common milkweed patch by mowing can enhance egg and larval survival.
In the past, there was probably a wide diversity of milkweed emergence dates due to natural disturbances like fire, grazing, as well as variable soil types and slopes. Later, humans introduced variability through agricultural practices associated with preparing and cultivating crop fields. Currently, we have lost some of that variability and may need to replicate it more intentional ways.
How to increase variable times of emergence in a milkweed stand
Given this, it’s worth considering how we might increase variability in milkweed emergence throughout the critical spring and early summer season. Perhaps that means finding a low-productivity sandy spot on your property on which to plant milkweed. Milkweed in mulched garden beds near structures also seems to emerge early and may provide critical resources. Plant or encourage some late emerging species of milkweeds. Finally, consider how you might mow or trim common milkweed to provide timely resources for monarch butterflies.
A new exhibit titled, “How I See Things,” by local artist Dennis O’Mara, opens at the Leep Art Gallery on July 2 at the Postma Center on the Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services campus in Grand Rapids.
O’Mara, a retired art teacher, creates art from a variety of mediums. Each medium is selected to fit how he sees the piece representing his idea in the best way says the artist. He does oil and pastel paintings, sculptures, relief prints, saltwater etchings and wood door etchings. Two of the pieces in the show were previously at Art Prize.
“I create art from events and places that inspire me,” says O’Mara. “Some of my work tells a story and other work lets the viewer fill in the story. The doors in this show were created because of what I saw when visiting an older patient when she had a bout of depression. The steel etchings were a result of watching people bring their children and their parents to see the doors when they were on exhibit at Art Prize. The other pieces are a result of places I have visited.”
O’Mara grew up on a West Michigan farm. He attended Olivet College where he studied sculpture and print making. He also received his masters from Olivet with a focus on print making. He was an art teacher at Hastings High School for 30 years, and taught an art appreciation class at Kellogg Community College. He returned to creating art in a more serious fashion in 2000.
He is a member of the Great Lakes Pastel Society and Grand Valley Artists.
The Pine Rest Leep Art Gallery exhibit will be on display at the Postma Center located at 300 68th Street, SE, Grand Rapids, Mich., from July 2 to October 1, 2019. The Leep Art Gallery is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 616.222.4530 or go to www.pinerest.org/leep-art-gallery .
Gomulka is considered a living legend in the polka community, having developed a huge base of followers in the United States and Canada since he formed the Chicago Push in 1980. Nominated for 12 Grammy awards in the polka genre, he was inducted into the International Polka Music Hall of Fame & Museum in his hometown of Chicago in 2016.
“The Dozynki Polish Festival is the longest-running ethnic festival held in the city of Grand Rapids, and we wanted to celebrate our 40th year with a very special musical guest,” said society President Marilyn Lignell. “Lenny is bound to help draw what we expect will be the largest attendance ever for the festival.”
In past years, attendance has topped 15,000 people for the three days.
Incoming President Greg Rosloniec, who arranged for the band to play the event, said Gomulka has recorded on more than 100 albums and CDs and is the originator of the distinctive Chicago Push style that is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
“Lenny has been playing at state fairs, polka festivals and resorts for decades – everywhere from the Wurstfest in Texas to the Ocean Beach Park Polka Days in Connecticut — so it’s a real honor to bring him to Grand Rapids,” Rosloniec said.
Admission is free to the Dozynki Polish Festival that will be held at Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center, from Aug. 23-25, and festival organizers stressed that there will be plenty of inexpensive parking in Parking Lot Areas 7, 8, and 9 for those who don’t mind a short walk. Lenny Golmuka & Chicago Push will be alternating on Friday and Saturday nights with two other well regarded polka bands, award-winning DynaBrass from Toledo, Ohio and Gerry Kaminski’s Polka Network in Grand Rapids.
Lignell said that the Dozynki Polish Festival has established a reputation for being a fun, family friendly event that showcases Polish culture, featuring a tent that explains the contributions of famous Polish/Americans, live music and a large dance area, a children’s tent, demonstration tent, and vendors offering Polish cuisine.
Fun activities during the festival include the paczki eating contest, crowning of the busia queen and a performance by the P.R.C.U.A. Malbork Dance Ensemble, a dance group for youth ages 3-18 that teaches traditional Polish folk dances with authentic garb.
The Dozynki Polish Festival is the major fundraiser for the Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids, a non-profit organization founded in 1963 to perpetuate and advance the Polish culture that has been so integral to metro Grand Rapids. Among a number of its activities, the society awards scholarships annually to students of Polish descent who attend Aquinas College, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College, and Davenport University.
You got to love a blues/soul band whose lead singer has the nickname of ‘Sookie” and hits the stage with a self-described “rock solid rhythm section.”
And anybody who has heard and seen Blue Soul Express, — stopping by the Kentwood Summer Concert series Thursday, June 27, at 7 p.m. — knows there is a lot to love here.
Blue Soul Express, based out of Grand Rapids, “will take you on a journey through classic soul, R&B, funk and blues,” the band says on their Facebook page. Oh, and remember to “Bring your dancing shoes!”
The band is led by vocalist of Brenda “Sookie” Harris, guitarist Darryl Matthews, Mike Phelps on keyboards and vocals, and “a rock solid rhythm section” of bassist Mark Hicks and drummer Mark Jilbert.
WKTV will not be covering this concert due to a scheduling conflict but will be covering the remainder of Kentwood’s concerts, replaying it on our community television Channel 25 — check out the complete WKTV schedule here — and also available on-demand. The replay schedule for this concert is: Tuesday, June 25, at 9 p.m., and Saturday, June, 29, at about 12:30 p.m. (after a Wyoming community concert).
Concert-goers are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair, and may also bring their own beer or wine. And while you can bring your own picnic dinner, food trucks will be at each concert.
The series runs on select Thursday nights through August.
The remaining lineup for Kentwood’s Summer Concert Series is as follows:
July 18 — Hannah Rose and the GravesTones, serving up some funk, blues and rock n’ roll. If you’ve never seen them, let’s just say Hannah can wail. For more information visit here.
July 25 — The Crane Wives, described by someone as “female-fronted, harmony-driven folk-rock”; lets just say West Michigan is lucky they are taking a local break from their busy summer tour schedule. For more information visit here.
Aug. 1 — Brena, offering up oldies, top 40 hits, classic rock, R&B and country. For more information visit here.
Aug. 8 — Melophobix, with “Cage Free” being not only the title of their latest release but also their funky musical outlook. For more information visit here.
All concerts will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude around 8:30 p.m. on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, located at 4900 Breton Ave. SE.
Festival of the Arts is excited to announce its honorary co-chairs for the event’s 51st year – Grand Rapids Symphony’s President Mary Tuuk, Music Director Marcelo Lehninger, and Associate Conductor John Varineau. For the next year, the three will serve as ambassadors for the community-wide celebration of arts and culture that returns in June 2020.
Festival of the Arts unveiled the appointment on Friday, June 7, the first day of the three-day, showcase of art, music, dance and more, including a performance by the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony under conductor John Varineau.
The Grand Rapids Symphony’s leadership team follows the Grand Rapids Ballet’s Glenn Del Vecchio, Executive Director, and James Sofranko, Artistic Director, who served as honorary co-chairs for the 50th anniversary Festival of the Arts.
Marcelo Lehninger, the musical director of the Grand Rapids Symphony, on stage. (Grand Rapids Symphony)
The run up to Festival of the Arts 2020 coincides with the Grand Rapids Symphony’s 90th anniversary season in 2019-20.
“I’m thrilled to have Grand Rapids Symphony back for Festival of the Arts in 2020 and to have their leaders involved as honorary co-chairs,” said David Abbott, Executive Director for Festival of the Arts. “Festival remains grateful for the Youth Symphony for their continued performance and looks forward to the professional company joining in on the fun.”
“Marcelo is already formulating some surprises that we know will wow the community,” Abbott said.
Grand Rapids Symphony’s President Mary Tuuk (Grand Rapids Symphony)
Mary Tuuk, a Grand Rapids native and Calvin College graduate, joined the Grand Rapids Symphony as President and CEO earlier this year following a long career in banking for Fifth Third Bank and in retail for Meijer, Inc.
Marcelo Lehninger, a native of Brazil, is completing his third season as Music Director of the Grand Rapids Symphony. Last year, he led the Grand Rapids Symphony in its critically acclaimed return to New York City for a performance in Carnegie Hall.
John Varineau, who is in his 34th season on the conducting staff of the Grand Rapids Symphony, has served as conductor of the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony for the past 31 seasons.
“Festival of the Arts has a special place in our hearts as it does in yours as well,” Tuuk said. “Since childhood, I’ve known that, in Grand Rapids, summer in the city truly begins with Festival.”
Grand Rapids Symphony Associate Conduction John Varineau (Grand Rapids Symphony)
Fifty years ago, Alexander Calder’s 43-foot tall, 42-ton stabile, “La Grande Vitesse,” was installed in downtown Grand Rapids as the fledgling National Endowment for the Arts’ first work of public art. Former Congressman Gerald R. Ford, who later became 38th President of the United States, was instrumental in securing the $45,000 grant in 1967.
For its dedication on June 14, 1969, the Grand Rapids Symphony performed music by George Gershwin and Charles Ives, and the orchestra gave the premiere performance of a piece titled “Inaugural Fanfare” commissioned for the occasion by Aaron Copland.
The Grand Rapids Symphony or its musicians, performing as soloists or in smaller ensembles, have been a part of Festival of the Arts for most of the past five decades. Next year, musicians of the orchestra will perform in some capacity for the annual event that’s open for free to the entire community.
The Board of Directors of Festival of the Arts last year decided to follow a new process for honorary co-chairs beginning with Grand Rapids Ballet’s Del Vecchio and Sofranko. In order to re-connect with the arts institutions of the region, Festival is looking to select leaders from partnering arts institutions in future years. The honorary co-chairs will serve as ambassadors to the community encouraging engagement for the event and also serve as conduit to all the other arts institutions in the region for solicitation of performers and artists.
With all the national and local news swirling about measles making a comeback in the United States, SNN spoke to the Kent County Health Department for some facts. Steve Kelso, marketing and communications manager for the Kent County Health Department, has one important tip.
“Get vaccinated,” Kelso said. “A lot of people think that measles is a harmless childhood disease. It is not. It can be deadly. I think a lot of people living today have never seen the impact of measles, diphtheria or polio and we tend to think of them as yesterday types of issues.”
From January 1 to June 6 this year, 1,022 individual cases of measles were confirmed in 28 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is the greatest number of cases reported in the United States since 1994. Measles was declared eliminated in 2000.
Yet there were 44 confirmed cases in Michigan this year, all on the east side, mainly in Oakland County.
There are currently no cases in Kent County, but in early spring there was a visitor for a short period of time who was later diagnosed with measles. Exposure chances here were minimal. Those who may have come in contact with this visitor were notified.
“Some people are excluded (from vaccinations), some have legitimate medical contraindications, but almost everyone should be vaccinated,” Kelso said.
Mary Wisinski, immunization program supervisor for the Health Department, explained, “People who can’t get vaccinated due to illness or disease may have a more severe case of the disease. It is important to vaccinate those around them to protect the vulnerable from getting sick.”
Wisinski said if a child has a true medical condition that prevents him or her from getting a vaccination, the parents would need a medical waiver from the physician to meet Michigan school requirements. Any other reason means parents would need a waiver from the Health Department, which requires them to meet with a staff person to learn about vaccinations and voice their concerns. More information on non-medical waivers.
School Preparedness
Although measles cases were contained to the East side of the state, how should schools prepare in Kent County for the fall?
“Schools need to be aware of the vaccination status of all their students,” Wisinski said. “In the event of a vaccine-preventable disease in the school, the health department works with the individual school to verify the case, help with a parent letter if needed, and give advice about exclusion.
“Teachers and parents both want information on vaccine schedules, vaccine safety and signs and symptoms of the disease. Parents can get their questions answered from their health-care provider or the local Health Department.
“We work with schools to send information out to parents about vaccines during kindergarten roundup and end-of-the-year communications.”
Wisinski advised parents to make appointments for necessary vaccines sooner rather than later.
MMR Vaccine
The best protection against measles, according to the Health Department, is the MMR vaccine. This vaccine gives long-lasting protection against all strains of measles. For the best protection, a child needs two doses of MMR:
The first dose at 12 through 15 months of age
The second dose at 4 through 6 years
Infants traveling internationally should receive one dose if they are 6-11 months of age.
The Kent County Health Department has the MMR vaccine available at all four of its clinic locations, by appointment only. For more info, call 616-632-7200 or contact your primary healthcare provider.
Visit AccessKent for more local and Michigan information.
The words on notecards whisper, shout, cheer and cry off the wall.
“Didn’t get into Western.”
“My life isn’t really great at the moment. I’m struggling with trust between my mother and I. I am currently going through a break-up and am having a hard time figuring out who I am.”
“My life is great, but sometimes I wish I had a friend to share the good and bad moments of my life.”
“I am thankful for family.”
“I’m losing the roots of my culture. I’m stuck between a deep, traditional Hispanic culture and the American culture. Can’t really carry a conversation with my grandparents. Makes me sad… I’ll try speaking English and forget a word, then replace it with the Spanish words.”
Responses on sticky notes are posted on top of the note cards.
“All your friends are there for you. Don’t worry about being judged because you are perfect the way you are. Keep fighting!”
“Hey, it’s okay. If you ever need to talk call or text me @ __”
“You got this. Keep pushing through…”
“Stay strong and true to yourself, then you’ll be successful.”
Words of thankfulness are among notes about struggles (courtesy photo)
In the hallway at Wyoming High School, students and staff created a Speak Wall, a collaborative board where students anonymously wrote about their struggles, joys, fears and gratitude. In the center of the wall, the words “I want to see you be brave” sum up the purpose of the wall: put yourself out there and tell your story.
In response to notes left on the wall, passersby left messages of encouragement, even reaching out with their phone numbers to those who appear to need a friend.
Sophomore Briayja White helped create and contribute to the wall in Alpha Leadership, an after-school club. “Every now and then I’ll go to look at it,” she said. She’s noticed students are posting things that they might not share openly.
“Everyone has their own problems, so don’t judge people by their appearance because you never know,” she said. “It’s very shocking my peers are going through this stuff and I had no idea.”
Sophomore Diego Quintino posted notes and affirmations. “The experience was interesting to see how many people responded in a positive way to my notes, and also to see how many people are struggling.”
Many students take time to read and reflect on what is written (courtesy photo)
A Way to Speak Out, Reach Out
Student advocate Mark Kuiper got the idea to create the wall from a similar project completed when he was a staff member at Grand Rapids Christian High School.
“I just thought this was a really unique way of getting kids to talk about their pains and struggles, but also their joys and thankfulness,” he said. “The idea is to start the process of being vulnerable and putting yourself out there—big or small.”
Students in Alpha Leadership monitored the wall, keeping track of messages and removing any inappropriate responses. They, and other students in leadership roles, started posting on it, which sparked momentum.
“My big thing was I don’t ever want to walk by and see a notecard that doesn’t have a sticky note on it,” said Kuiper, who plans to use common themes he’s noticed on the wall to start dialogue with students. “We hope it creates momentum into sharing our stories …. We hope it creates conversation that is face to face.”
Students face ups and downs and various struggles. “In my opinion, it’s a great thing for kids to be able to put their thoughts out in a way that’s anonymous,” Kuiper said. “The hope is (that) they are able to take the next step in being brave and talking to someone.”
Kuiper works with social studies teacher John Doyle each semester to plan a celebration to honor students with Alpha Wolf 11 awards. Students are named Alpha Wolves for demonstrating kindness, graciousness and compassion. The theme of this spring’s ceremony was “Student Voice—Be Brave!” and was almost completely led by students. The Speak Wall served as the centerpiece for the ceremony, with activities built around it.
“It was probably one of the most powerful things I’ve ever seen to be able to have the kids participate and express their emotions of gratitude, sympathy,” Doyle said. “It’s really great to see student voice exposed the way we exposed it. Student voice is so important today.”
For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
A Wyoming student writes affirmations on the Speak Wall. (Courtesy photo.)
Random gestures of kindness and thoughtfulness are the surest, simplest ways to bring happiness back into your own life. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
A sure-fire antidote to the blues is to focus on others, a new study suggests.
“Walking around and offering kindness to others in the world reduces anxiety and increases happiness and feelings of social connection,” said study author Douglas Gentile, a professor of psychology at Iowa State University.
“It’s a simple strategy that doesn’t take a lot of time that you can incorporate into your daily activities,” he said in a university news release.
For the study, Gentile and colleagues had students walk around a building for 12 minutes and use one of three approaches.
Loving-kindness: This is where you look at others and think, “I wish for this person to be happy.”
Interconnectedness: In this approach, you look at others and consider how they are connected to one another.
Downward social comparison: This is considering how you may be better off than each of the people you encounter.
The study also included a control group of students who were told to look at people and focus on what they see on the outside, such as clothing, makeup and accessories.
Before and after going for their walk, all students were assessed for levels of anxiety, happiness, stress, empathy and connectedness.
Compared to the control group, those who practiced loving-kindness or wished others well felt happier, more connected, caring and empathic, as well as less anxious. The interconnectedness group was more empathic and connected.
Students who compared themselves to others felt less empathic, caring and connected than those who extended good wishes to others.
There was no benefit with downward social comparison, according to the study published online recently in the Journal of Happiness Studies.
“At its core, downward social comparison is a competitive strategy,” said study co-author Dawn Sweet, an Iowa State senior lecturer in psychology. “That’s not to say it can’t have some benefit, but competitive mindsets have been linked to stress, anxiety and depression.”
It’s allergy season. Say hello to congestion, itchy eyes, running nose and headaches. For adults, these symptoms are annoying. For many, they may be severe resulting in the need for prescription medication. For aging adults though, they can be serious.
While itchy, watery eyes may not seem like a serious problem, in the elderly, the symptoms that come with seasonal allergies can cause serious complications.
If you’re a caregiver to an aging loved one, you shouldn’t overlook allergies as a potentially serious ondition. As the pollen flies, here are some things to consider when it comes to allergies and the elderly.
Don’t ignore them
When allergy season rolls around, those who suffer from seasonal allergies start to moan and complain, roll their eyes and stock up on tissue. Many need prescription medication to find relief, but others can simply ignore them. For aging adults, ignoring the signs and symptoms of seasonal allergies can be dangerous.
While a stuffed up nose is inconvenient for the average adults, for seniors suffering from chronic issues such as a heart condition or respiratory problems, any disruptions in breathing can cause larger problems. So while a simple over the counter remedy may suffice for a middle-aged sufferer, for many aging adults, allergies should be treated aggressively.
They are often overlooked
Because older adults often have a myriad of conditions ranging from moderate to severe, allergies are typically not a concern and doctors may often overlook them as they work to diagnose more serious problems. As a caregiver to your loved one, make sure to tell their doctor if you’ve noticed symptoms of allergies. Even if they are mild enough to avoid treatment, it’s important for their doctor to be aware of any symptoms that might complicate current conditions.
Typical medications may not work
While many people reach for an antihistamine when their allergies act up, for an aging adult, this may not be the right choice. This medication can raise blood pressure, interact with other medications and cause severe side effects like a change in mood, urinary retention, dizziness and more. In the elderly, these side effects can have serious consequences. To avoid these issues, doctors may treat their allergies with a nasal steroid or topical medication.
Tips to avoid them
While there is no cure for allergies once they set in, there are things we can do to avoid the allergens that cause the sneezing and congestion we love so much. Since allergy symptoms can be so dangerous for older adults, avoiding them altogether is the best route, if possible. To avoid exposure to allergens, try:
Keep doors and windows closed
Use an air purifier
Try foods that fight inflammation like apples, walnuts, ginger, leafy greens and Vitamin C.
Also, if you or your loved one is considering making the move to an assisted living facility and they suffer from allergies, make sure to ask about hypoallergenic assisted living. Hypoallergenic rooms, like the ones offered at Vista Springs Macedonia, remove 99% of harmful pollutants that cause dangerous allergies.
Every car, and driver, has a story: What’s your’s? (Courtesy Bruce Carlson)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
WKTV Community Media has big plans for the 15th Annual Metro Cruise, hosted by the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce and scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24, and we need the public’s help for one aspect of our coverage.
We all have a great car story. At least it’s great to us and for our live coverage of the 28th Street MetroCruise this August, we would like to hear your story of growing up with cars; funny stories, sentimental stories; stories of great barn finds, restoration efforts that didn’t quite pan out and those that did.
Share a little bit of your story with us by sending us a selfie video of you telling you story, with the car in question either in the video or a separate photograph of the car. Please use our Dropbox site for the video. For more information on what we are looking for, see the samples later in this story or email Ken@wktv.org .
This is only one part of WKTV Community Media’s DreamWheels Metro Cruise coverage plans, highlighted by production of a 1-hour special live broadcast scheduled to air at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23.
“We encourage residents to come to 28th Street and be part of the fun,” said Tom Norton, general manager of WKTV Community Media. “But they can also be part of fun by viewing our live show, which will also be available in cable replays and on-demand, as well as following our complete online coverage of the event.”
The Metro Cruise is an annual event that “invites car lovers and enthusiasts to reminisce and commemorate the vehicles that have driven down 28th Street for decades,” according to supplied material. The event brings in more than $3 million in business to the 28th Street corridor over the course of two days, with more that 250,000 attendees at an event staffed solely by volunteers.
While they do not need to be this length or subject matter, here are three examples of stories we’d love to get from community contributors
Gene’s story:
1964 Ford Fairlane
My first car was a black 1964 Ford Fairlane 3-speed manual with a front seat that literally rusted away from the floorboard leaving it free to move at my command. This small fact was one I neglected to tell passengers for a very good reason. I was one of the first to own a car in high school, which meant classmates often looked to me for rides to and from school. At any given time during the commute I would take advantage of stop signs and have a little fun at their expense. Once the car had stopped, I would slowly put it in neutral and in with one quick push on the floor cause the seat to roll back ninety degrees. In that single, wonderfully comedic moment, we would find ourselves staring up at the car’s roof with our feet pointed out the front window. The reactions were worth the effort. Most of the women would scream while most men would utter an expletive not fit to print. Eventually all would break out in laughter making the effort a complete success. Of course, once you’ve done this to someone it was difficult to catch them a second time. After a month or so word had gotten out about my rolling front seat, so the stop-sign mischief soon came to an end. I had that car for two years and never fixed the problem and would occasionally get a new victim to have a little fun with.
Victoria’s story:
2001 Hyundai Elantra
Up until my current car, a 2006 Chevy Malibu, I had a preference for stick shifts. Something about feeling more like a participant in my daily travels, or some such nonsense. My car immediately prior was a 2001 Hyundai Elantra which, soon after purchase, lost all of its plastic hubcaps. I have long forgiven my current car for being an automatic — she has spiffy wheel rims that don’t fall off. But, I digress. On one trip to Ann Arbor for a 24-hour film competition, I had been alerted in advance that everyone’s car had to be parked a couple of blocks away because of the scarcity of parking. Upon arriving, I headed into the house to hand off my car key to one of the students for ‘valet parking.’ He disappeared, then quickly reappeared. “Uh, it’s a stick,” said he. The power of observation is especially strong in the young. “Yes,” replied I. “It is, indeed.” There were 10 of us. Not one of the nine younglings knew how to drive a stick.
Ken’s story:
1950s era Willys Jeep
Learning to drive a stick shift in 1969. When I was, like, 14 years old, my 20-something soon-to- be brother-in-law, probably trying to curry favor with my 18-year-old sister, invited me to go down to the Spokane River and ride dirt bikes with he and his buddies. My being totally uncoordinated with motorized machines of any kind, including how to use a clutch and gear shifter, he quickly realized the only thing I would do on a dirt bike was kill myself. So, he decided to hand over his 1950s era Willys Jeep pickup truck. He must have thought the slightly rusted military vehicle with a battled-tested 3-speed transmission, operated in flat dirt closed course, was the perfect place for me to learn how to drive a stick shift. I remember a lot of engines killed by improper cultch use and then a lot of grinding of gears, all ending with my driving around like a banshee and all the bikers desperately but successfully trying to stay out of my way.
The Godfrey-Lee School Board unanimously approved a new name of Legends at Monday’s meeting. The current name, Rebels, will officially be replaced in the 2020-21 school year. (School News Network)
After years of debate, and most recently an exploration of the history of the word Rebels, the Godfrey-Lee Board of Education unanimously approved a new name at Monday night’s meeting.
Drumroll, please…
The new name is Legends, effective in the 2020-21 school year. Legends defeated Raptors, in the students’ May vote of top two mascot names. Eighth- through 11th-graders pared a list of 10 monikers into the final two, ultimately choosing Legends by a large margin, according to board members.
“I’m so proud of this board for not just naming equity as a value, but actually acting upon it,” said Superintendent Kevin Polston. “Everyone that calls Godfrey-Lee home will feel welcome, safe and comfortable so they can learn at high levels here.”
School Board President Eric Mockerman. (School News Network)
Changing Times and Perceptions
The board tackled the matter amid decades-old concerns that “Lee Rebels,” with its perceived connections to Confederate symbolism, did not adequately represent the diverse district, which is home to many immigrant families and a large percentage of Hispanics.
Former Superintendent David Britten, now district historian, narrated a video history of the Lee Rebel mascot. While the “Lee” in Godfrey-Lee is derived from Lee Street and not the Confederate General Robert E. Lee, students historically made that association, evidenced by Confederate imagery in old high school yearbooks and pictures of majorettes twirling Confederate battle flags. As late as 1992, the Confederate flag was on display in the high school library.
Much of the obvious Confederate symbolism has faded from school grounds, but the association remains, especially for those outside the district.
The process to make the change began in November 2018 after the board agreed to form a subcommittee to explore the use of the Rebel name and mascot. The subcommittee consisted of school board members, administrators, staff, parents, students and community members.
“It was not an easy process to go through,” said Board President Eric Mockerman. “We couldn’t deny the history; it’s something we needed to step away from. We don’t want to throw away the past, but we felt we needed to move away from some of the things we’ve been connected with that did not promote equity; a central tenet of what we want to do.
Rebbie the Lee High School mascot is going away. The Board unanimously approved a new name, Legends, at its meeting Tuesday night, effective in the 2020-21 school year. (School News Network)
He said he wasn’t 100 percent on board at first “But the more we saw the history, we (board members) all saw that we needed to make a change. We want to distance ourselves from the confederacy. In the past, it’s been a symbol of ‘you are not welcome here’ and we don’t want that. We want the message that everyone is welcome here and that we’re going to be successful here.”
Mockerman said the question predates his 17 years in the district. When an alumnus brought it up to the board last fall, members felt it was the right time to have a conversation, having adopted a new strategic design for the district in June 2018.
“It has been brought up by groups long before I was here,” Mockerman continued. “It got pushed away and most recently it was brought up again after the shootings in Charleston.”
He said “quite a few” people who weren’t happy about the change attended last month’s board meeting.
“I understand where people are coming from, not wanting to change, but I hope eventually they can see the bigger picture. As we moved through the process, we didn’t see a compromise possible. The compromise would have been our values.”
As a 1996 graduate of Ottawa Hills, Mockerman was an Indian under the school’s former mascot. He said though he bled orange and black, he understood the terminology was offensive to some. Ottawa Hills has since changed its mascot to the Bengals.
As for the new name, Legends, Mockerman said it has a ton of possibilities.
“Ultimately, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy for our kids. They are legends and they will be legends. It fits with everything else we’ve come up with through our strategic plan: ‘be you, be connected, be brilliant,’ and now adding, ‘be legendary.’ It’s about their legacy they’re going to leave.”
Board member Tammy Schafer said listening to a student detail a negative encounter with the Rebels name at one of the forums helped her better understand the need for change.
“Until I saw it through a student’s eyes, I didn’t quite understand the reason to change it,” she explained. “That was a huge reason for me to start looking at it differently. If one person is offended or scared to be a Rebel, we need to listen.”
Change Comes at a Price
At an estimated cost of $250,000, Mockerman said changes will take place over time, and with the help of corporations and partners.
“Some of the changes are going to be naturally occurring,” Mockerman explained. “Uniforms are on a schedule for replacement and not all have Rebels on them. We have some partners in the works that will be stepping up and helping us with the changes that won’t impact our general budget.
“Our goal is to have as little impact on our general fund as possible.”
A graphic designer will use concepts drawn by students and community members, and expand and develop some ideas that define Godfrey-Lee.
Assistant Superintendent Carol Lautenbach, who co-chaired the committee with Mark Provost, director of finance and human resources, said they wanted something that reflected the school’s identity and the spirit of the community.
“We wanted to move toward a different identity, and not just something that sounded cool,” she explained.
Lautenbach said they received over 170 name submissions before the committee narrowed it down to 10 they thought reflected the values of the district.
Different Names in Hall of Fame
Mockerman said the Rebels Hall of Fame will stay intact for people who were Rebels during their tenure, and those not here during the Rebels era will be in the Legends Hall of Fame.
“This is one way of preserving that history. It’s not a history we want to erase, but it’s not necessarily one we want to completely celebrate.”
Board Vice President David Blok said he appreciates how the name Legends speaks positively of the students.
“It’s about legendary people accomplishing legendary feats.”
For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network’s website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
“Most water-related trauma is preventable,” she said. “If I can help families take steps to avoid the devastating results of water accidents, I’m going to do it.”
Practice home water safety
While it’s not just a summertime thing, we have to start by saying that for families with kids younger than 4, water risks start at home, with the bathtub.
“Of course a parent isn’t thinking it’s risky to run to the kitchen from the bath for just a minute,” Dr. Michiels said. “But even one minute can be too long. My No. 1 rule is that there must be 100 percent supervision of every child from 0 to 4, every time there is water that goes beyond a Dixie cup.”
The greatest risk for kids under 4 is accidental water entry. If a child can get to water of any kind, there is significant risk. Swimming pools and spas must be securely covered and kept off limits with fencing and secure gates around a pool. A small child can slip under many pool covers.
Check gate latches to make sure unsupervised children can’t access the area. And treat a shallow kiddie pool with the same deference.
“If a toddler slips in unsupervised, it might as well be an ocean,” she said.
Beach and open water safety
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 10 children die per day from water-related incidents in America. Families living near the Great Lakes and other inland lakes may be at even higher risk.
Enjoying the beach is fantastic family fun. Practicing a few safety precautions will make sure the day stays fun.
“Make it easy by keeping kids in personal flotation devices all the time,” Dr. Michiels advised. “They can still play in the sand while wearing a (life jacket). And it gives you time if something goes wrong.”
That said, Dr. Michiels stresses that a life jacket is not a substitute for supervision. A designated responsible adult should be assigned to specific children within the group.
“There are lots of examples of children who drowned when handfuls of adults were nearby, but no one was specifically assigned to watch the kids,” she said. “Designating certain children to certain adults adds protection from a child being overlooked.”
Creeks, rivers and boating
Creeks and rivers add a potentially dangerous element. The current
can sweep a child out of reach and out of sight quickly. Never allow
play on the banks without a watchful adult for every child.
Properly fitting life jackets, barricaded play areas and even the controversial toddler leads can prevent a tumble into the water.
As kids get older and become stronger swimmers, it’s easy to overlook ongoing risk. Additionally, teens may have opportunities to participate in boating and personal watercraft activities.
Dr. Michiels offered more smart talk for water safety and teens:
A personal flotation device must be worn, even if you are a good swimmer.
Complete a boating safety course.
Only allow the number of riders for which the personal watercraft or boat is designed to carry.
No horsing around, whether on piers, docks, boats, rafts or personal watercraft.
Discuss the dangers of alcohol and drugs with boating. Many boating fatalities involve drinking or drugs.
In case of emergency
Dr. Michiels said the best practice to assist a child (or any person) who is pulled from the water has changed in recent years.
“If you pull a child from the water and they cough, sputter but are awake, call 911 and stay with them,” she said. “The child may not be able to catch his or her breath, but we no longer advise trying to pump or extract inhaled water. If the child is limp and not breathing, call 911 and start CPR compressions immediately.”
Previously the medical community advised the rescuer to determine if the child was breathing and try to extract water. Today, rescuers are advised to start compressions immediately only if the victim is limp and unresponsive.
Don’t want to risk it? Splash Pad it!
To enjoy water when you don’t have enough supervision to ensure the safety of multiple tykes, check out splash and sprinkler parks near you.
These are often free, and offer crazy fun water play without drowning risk. That said, if the area is concrete, scrapes, stitches and even bone breaks are possible. Many splash parks feature rubberized surfaces.
Just use common sense and take a minute to assess when you arrive.
The International Space Station Expedition 59-60 team. (NASA)
By Kelly Taylor WKTV Program Director
This Sunday, WKTV Government 26 will be featuring live coverage of the International Space Station Expedition 59-60 Change of Command ceremony. The program comes via NASA TV.
At at 3:35 p.m. Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko hands over the command of the ISS to fellow cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin.
Live coverage from the ISS continues Monday, June 24 at 3:30 p.m. for the Expedition 59 farewells and Soyuz MS-11 hatch closure. The hatch closure is scheduled for around 4:10 p.m., with cosmonaut Kononenko, astronaut Anne McClain of NASA and astronaut David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency aboard.
At 10:48 p.m. there will be live coverage of the Soyuz MS-11 landing near Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan.
For more information on NASA TV or the InternationalSpace Station, log on to www.nasa.gov. NASA TV can be seen on the WKTV 26 Government Channel on Comcast and AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99.
You won’t want to miss Circle Theatre’s Magic Circle Production of Rapunzel, an adaptation by Karen Boettcher-Tate, starting on Thursday, June 26 at 7pm inside the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College. Preceding the show at 5:30pm, join the cast for the Magic Circle Party. This one-night only event will feature refreshments, crafts, games, Storytime with the cast, and VIP seating for opening night. Tickets to the Magic Circle Party are $22 and can be purchased at circletheatre.org.
On sale now!
It will be like they are right there with you. BASE Hologram has announced North American tour dates for Roy Orbison & Buddy Holly: The Rock ’N’ Roll Dream Tour, a groundbreaking tour featuring the award-winning rock and roll legends, including a stop in Grand Rapids on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, at 7:30pm in SMG-managed DeVos Performance Hall. Tickets are on sale now. More info here.
Here’s an idea: Yoga
Start your summer weekends with an opportunity to connect to your body, breath, and nature at Blandford Nature Center. Classes are held outdoors, are accessible to all levels of experience, and start Saturday, July 13th, so don’t delay. Go here for details.
Fun fact:
421
That’s how many words Scotland has for “snow”. Some examples: sneesl (to start raining or snowing); feefle (to swirl); flinkdrinkin (a light snow).
A possible warning sign that your asthma is out of control: You’re using a quick-relief inhaler more than twice a week. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Summertime can bring asthma sufferers a lot of misery, but lung experts say watching for warning signs of breathing trouble can guard against serious complications.
“As the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health, we think it’s crucial for people with asthma to know as much as they can about the disease,” said Dr. David Hill, volunteer medical spokesperson at the American Lung Association.
“This includes the fact that changing seasons have a major impact on asthma. Being prepared for the summer and understanding warning signs can help prevent serious complications,” he said in a lung association news release.
Summer can bring increased pollen in the air, hot temperatures and associated ozone and particle pollution—all of which can trigger asthma symptoms.
There is no cure for asthma, but it can be controlled and managed.
Key warning signs that asthma may not be in control include needing to use a quick-relief inhaler more than two times a week, waking at night with asthma symptoms more than two times a month and having to refill a quick-relief inhaler more than two times a year.
If you have any of these warning signs, you should see your health care provider to improve management of asthma symptoms, such as reducing exposure to asthma triggers, the lung association advised.
Asthma affects about one in 13 people in the United States, including more than 6 million children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is the most common childhood disease but can start at any age. The rate of asthma nearly tripled between 1980 and 2010.
Research shows that rising temperatures due to climate change are leading to longer and more intense allergy seasons, according to the news release.
The lung association offers a free, online learning course about asthma triggers, how to identify and reduce them, action plans for flare-ups, how to respond to a breathing emergency, asthma medication education, and an asthma management plan outline.
Solar array with pollinator-attractive plants. Photo by and permission granted: Fresh Energy
By Joy Landis, Michigan State University Extension
A new executive decision by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer hits a sweet spot by allowing solar arrays on lands in a farmland preservation program if pollinator-friendly guidelines are used. The pollinator protection practices were developed by Michigan State University’s Department of Entomology based on a decade of research on how to establish pollinator habitat, and were central to determining how to allow development of solar energy on farmland while also supporting pollinators.
Michigan’s Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program, administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, preserves farmland and open space through agreements that restrict development. Tax incentives within the program encourage participation. Previously, participating landowners were allowed to lease land for wind turbines and oil and gas exploration. However, solar arrays require more space and were perceived to be too disruptive to benefit preservation. The practices laid out in the new guidelines mean the land will better serve the pollinators that need habitat to provide the nectar, pollen, and nesting sites that are essential to their survival.
MSU research has identified which native plants are best for supporting pollinators in various settings, including solar installations. Here, attendees learn about research results with drought-adapted flowering plants. Photo by Jordan Noble, MSU Photography.
“There is a consensus that lack of flowering plants in farm landscapes are limiting wild bee populations, so this program is an opportunity to help support these valuable insects when new solar installations are set up,” says Rufus Isaacs, one of the developers of the scorecard and MSU professor of entomology.
The resulting document, the Michigan Pollinator Habitat Planning Scorecard for Solar Sites, provides a roadmap for developers to evaluate the site and develop a land management plan, and to consider the risk of insecticide exposure, quality of existing habitat for pollinators, and the quality and diversity of wildflowers that will be planted.
A bumblebee explores a native flowering goldenrod. Photo by Thomas Wood, MSU Entomology.
The new policy has the potential to greatly increase the acreage of Michigan land designed for better pollinator habitat. The timing couldn’t be better for that. A study released earlier this year by Isaacs and his colleagues compared current distributions of bumble bee species across the state to historic data collected as far back as the 1880s. The research found that the geographic range in Michigan of half of the bumble bee species studied have declined by more than 50%.
Many adults did not enjoy math classes when they were in school and probably still don’t. When you ask a group of people if they enjoy math, a typical response would be, “No, I am not good at math.” However, when we think about our daily lives, we do math in a variety of ways several times a day. First thing in the morning you have probably measured the cream for your coffee, turned off your alarm clock, estimated how much longer you would be able to stay in bed and possibly added or subtracted the miles per hour you were going from the posted speed limit on your way to work.
Many adults use math without thinking much about it, but also cringe at the idea of completing a math equation.
It is important we start at a very early age to incorporate a foundation for future math learning so children do not struggle when they are taught geometry, algebra and calculus in future math classes. Children develop math concepts and skills very early in life. They do this through early experiences with a trusted adult.
Often, throughout the day, there are wonderful opportunities to expose infants and toddlers to the idea of math. The key is to do it naturally and consistently so they are beginning to understand how math affects their lives. The next five articles in this series will discuss the five basic math concepts that can be woven into our conversations and interactions with young children.
Remember to use math talk throughout the day. Children, even the young ones, are listening to you. Choose words that will make a difference. The more math talk adults use, the better chance infants and toddlers have to build a positive attitude towards math in general. Make math talk a routine for you and your child. It can be done while changing a diaper, making a snack, driving in the car, bath time and walks around the neighborhood. It can be helpful to make a list of words and post them in a visible location so you can remember to use them throughout the day.
Other resources from the National Association for the Education of Young Children:
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus are two local efforts to support the youth of Kent County with the most basic of needs: proper nourishment and successful early childhood development.
We will talk with a West Michigan group which provides more than 8,000 dinner meals a day to kids during the school year. We will talk about what they do and what plans they have to do more in the future. Then we talk with the local group tasked to administer the public funds approved by vote as last year through the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage … and we are talking about more than $5 million dollars annually.
First In Focus is In Focus is West Michigan’s Kids’ Food Basket, a nonprofit organization best known for its Sack Supper Program, which provides a free, well-balanced nutritious evening meal distributed within classrooms at the end of each school day. The group serves schools in three counties with facilities in Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Holland. With us is Bridget Clark Whitney, founding CEO of Kids’ Food Basket, and we will talk with her about her organization, about the Feeding our Future campaign, and why it is so important to assist our young citizens in gaining proper nutrition.
Then In Focus is First Steps Kent, the local group approved by Kent County Commissioners to administer the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage passed by county voters in November of last year. First Steps Kent is, according to its website, “an independent, influential and neutral entity that leads the community’s efforts to strengthen and coordinate early childhood services in Kent County.” With us is Annemarie Valdez, president and CEO of First Steps Kent.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Circle Theatre presents the Magic Circle Production of Rapunzel, an adaptation by Karen Boettcher-Tate, starting on Thursday, June 26 at 7 p.m. inside the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College. Preceding the show at 5:30 p.m., join the cast for the Magic Circle Party. This one-night only event will feature refreshments, crafts, games, Storytime with the cast, and VIP seating for opening night. Tickets to the Magic Circle Party are $22 and can be purchased at circletheatre.org.
Under the direction of Emily Wetzel, Rapunzel tells a family-friendly story that audiences of all kinds can enjoy. Rene Shwartzbuckle is cuckoo for a turnip like vegetable called Rapunzel. When she spots a mouth-watering patch of the plant in Witch Izwitch’s garden, she sends her husband Walt out to “borrow” some. Witch Izwitch is certainly not amused. With her diabolical henchmen, the Glumpwarts, she terrorizes Walt into promising her his firstborn child in exchange for his freedom. We then jump ahead many years to Rapunzel (now you know where the name comes from!) Shwartzbuckle’s 18th birthday. The witch and the Glumpwarts show up as promised and whisk poor, innocent Rapunzel away to a tower in the forest and a boisterously entertaining rescue attempt begins!
Sandy Navis is Witch Izwitch. (Circle Theatre)
“Rapunzel is a hilarious twist to the traditional story with different perspectives that all ages will like,” said Cooper Christian, who portrays Sam.
“Rapunzel is a story about recognizing your own unique strengths and using them to help others. Audiences will love the beautiful visuals, the hilarious characters, and the great ensemble work from the cast,” said Director Emily Wetzel.
2019 celebrates Circle’s 67th year of producing plays and musicals for West Michigan audiences. Other upcoming Main Stage productions this season include musical Hands On A Hardbody; play Superior Donuts, and musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Unique and diverse Summer Concert Series performances include “Run the World: 80 Years of Girl Groups;” “21st Century Broadway: Modern Musicals;” “Edge of the Millennium: Top Hits of 1999;” and “Imagine All The People: Songs That Inspire.” All performances will be held at Circle Theatre’s home, the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College.
Other shows for Rapunzel will run June 27 and 28 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and June 29 at 1 p.m.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the box office at 616-456-6656 or visit Circle’s website circletheatre.org.
The district is currently assessing the situation after the roof collapsed at Lee Middle and High School overnight June 6. No one was injured. (School News Network)
By Cris Greer School News Network
Engineers and architects are assessing the situation after a portion of the roof collapsed at Lee Middle and High School on June 6.
No one was injured during the overnight collapse at the school, 1335 Lee St. SW, Wyoming. The roof collapsed over second-floor classrooms on the west side of the building.
After a review of all areas building, there are no areas of immediate concern for structural failure, but the district is taking steps to do a complete and thorough inspection, according to a press release from the district.
An inspector from the City of Wyoming approved use of the building not impacted by the roof collapse, according to the release.
“We hope to have more information in the coming days and we will share out when we can,” said Kevin Polston, Godfrey-Lee superintendent. “We are thankful for the quick work of our contractors to secure the building and work quickly to complete an assessment of the entire building.”
For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, www.schoolnewsnetwork.org.
No one was injured in the overnight roof collapse June 6 at Godfrey-Lee Middle and High School. Experts are currently evaluating the situation. (School News Network)
Aliya Hall loves the work of poets Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou and Chinaka Hodge. Their strong voices have served as inspiration for her as she’s dabbled in writing and spoken-word poetry.
“The first thing that ever inspired me to write poetry was seeing people that are my color doing it,” said Aliya, an incoming junior at Godwin Heights High School. She won first place for her poem “Hawk Island Girl,” in the high school through undergraduate division of the 51st annual Dyer-Ives Poetry Contest.
Hall, along with East Rockford Middle School eighth-grader Alissa Vezikov who won the kindergarten through eighth grade division, read her winning poem at the Grand Rapids Public Library during the 50th annual Festival of the Arts. In 2016, the Dyer-Ives Poetry Competition became a program of the Grand Rapids Public Library, funded by the GRPL Foundation–Dyer-Ives Foundation Poetry Fund.
For her winning piece, Hall won $125 and publication in Voices, issued by the Grand Rapids Public Library.
Tapping into Memories
Hall’s winning poem, “Hawk Island Girl,” was inspired by the poem “to the notebook kid” by Eve Ewing, a Chicago-based writer. She tapped into her own memories of family visits to Hawk Island Park in Lansing, basing the girl in the poem on herself.
“It was my first time ever doing something like this. It was very emotional for me,” Hall said about reading her poem at the library. “Writing is everything to me. I put all that I can into my writing. My readers, I want them to pull whatever they can from it.”
Hall has attended the Grand Rapids Creative Youth Center, which offers after-school creative writing programming. Also, she was also one of two local students to attend the International Congress of Youth Voices, an experience she wrote about for School News Network. She is returning to the event, which connects students with accomplished writers, activists, and elected officials, as an alumna in August.
She hopes to attend Hampton University, in Virginia, and pursue journalism, creative writing and business.
For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
A restless night may be the result of poor habits before bedtime. A helpful hint: Leave the cell phone out of the bedroom. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Sleep is everything. It needs to be a high priority for all of us to be happy and healthy.
It is truly the basis of good health, because it gives our brains a chance to rest and process the events of the day and then make brain chemicals for the next day.
Do you have trouble sleeping? If so, you’re probably dealing with a host of negative side effects.
Without sleep, we may experience bad moods and perform poorly at work, at school or at home with our families. A lack of sleep also puts us at risk for heart disease, diabetes and depression.
Researchers have spent years analyzing sleep patterns to learn why sleep is so important to our overall health and wellness. Their observational studies of people with and without good sleep patterns show a strong effect on chronic disease.
People who get less sleep have a higher risk of being overweight, developing diabetes, experiencing high blood pressure and having a heart attack. Overall, these people have a lower life expectancy than those who get a consistent eight hours of sleep each night.
Typically, those who consistently sleep less than six hours a night are plagued with the highest weight, while those who sleep eight hours or more have the lowest weight.
Is it really that simple? For the most part, yes.
Less sleep leads to a rise in cortisol—our stress hormone—and also causes a rise in insulin, which promotes belly fat storage. Decreased amounts of sleep also cause an increase in ghrelin—a brain hormone that stimulates appetite—and a decrease in leptin, which signals when we feel full.
Of course, it goes without saying that when we don’t have enough sleep, we don’t feel like exercising and we often gain weight due to inactivity.
Unfortunately, sleep (or a lack of it) can have a strong effect on our moods and coping skills. Lack of sleep puts people at a greater risk for depression, anxiety and mental stress. All of this makes it difficult for these people to remain optimistic and thrive in social situations.
The bottom line? To be happy, sleep is a prerequisite.
We know we should be getting our sleep, but what really happens when we are having trouble sleeping?
There are several different types of sleep problems that can cause us to sleep less than we should at night.
Sleep disorders
Chronic insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea and parasomnias are some of the more common sleep issues my patients experience.
Insomnia can be a result of too much overstimulation from watching TV or working on a computer late at night. Consumption of alcohol, sugary foods or caffeine before bed can also interfere with the ability to fall asleep easily.
Insomnia can be caused by taking certain medications such as antidepressants, oral steroids or allergy pills. Medical conditions that cause pain—arthritis, for example, or breathing problems such as asthma—can also be underlying causes of insomnia.
The good news is that insomnia can be improved.
The best treatment starts with awareness, which begins with a close examination of our habits and rituals around bedtime. Turning off the computer or TV several hours before going to bed can help you fall asleep more quickly. Sometimes, prescription medications or over-the-counter remedies can also be helpful.
Narcolepsy, associated with excessive daytime sleepiness, can be genetically linked. A diagnosis of narcolepsy can be determined with a sleep study.
Medications aimed at improving sleep quality and stimulating daytime wakefulness are typically prescribed to help with this condition.
Sleep apnea, typically linked to obesity and heart disease, is also diagnosed by completing a sleep study.
Treatments for sleep apnea range from changing sleep positions to using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine to keep airways open.
Weight loss is also an effective treatment for sleep apnea.
Parasomnias occur when people are fearful of going to sleep because they are afraid of what might happen to them during sleep. Night terrors, sleepwalking or sleep eating without memory are common things they may fear.
Sleepless nights
Many women come to see me because they are having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep during the night.
A woman I’ll call Jane is one of those patients.
At age 49, she began experiencing irregular periods, night sweats and disturbed sleep around the time of her period. She led a very busy life with teenagers, a husband who traveled for work and parents who required more care.
Her sleep issue was causing problems in her life.
Jane would have difficulty falling asleep and, if she woke up during the night, she had trouble getting back to sleep because her mind would start racing and she couldn’t turn it off.
As a result, she was chronically tired and unmotivated to exercise. She began to gain weight. She felt irritable and crabby most days and she just didn’t know how to get off the roller coaster.
Jane had tried to fix her sleep problems by herself, but it wasn’t working.
She tried every tea and over-the-counter medicine she could find, including melatonin. She had recently resorted to drinking a glass of wine in the evening, but that just made her feel even less rested.
It was time for a new plan for Jane.
Simple changes
We started by discussing what she probably already knew: Lack of good sleep made her very unhealthy and caused her bad moods.
I then explained the correlation between hormones and brain chemicals.
We worked on deconstructing her nighttime routine. I asked her how she could structure her day so she wouldn’t have so many chores to complete at night, leaving her more time to prepare for the next day.
As Jane talked out loud to me, she realized she could make some simple changes—packing lunches and doing a load of laundry at night—that could help her be more efficient in the morning.
I then pressed Jane about making time for herself before bed.
I also made some suggestions.
I recommended that she write down her worries or duties on paper and then make a list for the next day (or several days), detailing how she would conquer these obligations.
Other suggestions I made: Avoid screen time 30 minutes before bed, refrain from alcohol in the evening, write in a gratitude journal before going to sleep.
And, finally, I suggested that Jane practice metered breathing every night before going to bed.
Metered breathing is a technique I discuss with many of my patients to help them fall asleep at night or get back to sleep if they wake in the middle of the night.
Here’s how it works:
Find a quiet place in your home and sit in a comfortable chair.
Begin staring at a spot somewhere in the room and focus on the sound of your breathing.
Continue breathing like this for five minutes, uninterrupted.
I felt confident Jane’s plan would be effective if she followed it.
After tracking her progress, we would consider menopause hormone therapy
to treat her night sweats if they continued to be an issue.
Jane took my recommendations seriously and changed her routine. She began to sleep again and she started exercising, lost some weight and improved her overall mood.
Are you confident you can compare premiums and deductibles to find the best health insurance plan for you and your family?
Can you use a nutrition label to calculate how many grams of sugar are in a bowl of your breakfast cereal?
Are you able to locate the medical services you need, when you need them?
If so, you may have high health literacy! When we talk about health literacy, we are referring to a person’s ability to access and understand health-related information and services. It’s something we all possess to varying degrees, and we often use our health literacy skills without knowing we’re using them.
Health literacy can vary widely between people depending on someone’s level of education, cultural background, economic status, skill with numbers, and mental health. No matter our level of health literacy, we build our skills over a lifetime and there is always room for improvement. Health literacy skills include the following:
Being able to correctly dose and administer medications
Knowing the body systems and how to describe pain
Finding and understanding information on a medical topic
Being able to manage a chronic health condition
Knowing your own and your family’s health history
Comparing treatment options to decide what’s best for you
Understanding your provider’s instructions
Filling out complex forms accurately
Knowing a patient’s general level of health literacy is important to successful treatment, as people with lower health literacy are likelier to be hospitalized, end up in the emergency room, and to take medications incorrectly. Where appropriate, healthcare providers should use plain language to ensure that they and their patients are on the same page. For patients with a different cultural background than their providers, extra attention is needed to ensure that communication is clear and understood.
Delivering quality healthcare requires examining how health literacy influences every aspect of the medical experience, both at the office and at home. It is our responsibility to make sure the services we provide and the information we share are accessible and understandable to all.
Carillonneurs from around the world will come to the Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses of Grand Valley State University this summer for the annual concert series that this year marks 25 years of performances at the Cook Carillon Tower.
All concerts are free – including free nearby parking — and open to the public. The concerts last approximately one hour and take place rain or shine.
The Cook Carillon International Concert Series on the Allendale Campus features a reunion recital along with the concert lineup. The performances will take place at 8 p.m. Sundays beginning June 23.
Cook Carillon Concerts
June 23 – Reunion recital
June 30 – Open tower tours
July 7 – Bernard Winsemius, (The Netherlands)
July 14 – Gijsbert Kok, (The Netherlands)
July 21 – Tim Sleep, (Naperville, Illinois)
July 28 – Laura Ellis (University of Florida)
Aug. 4 – Sue Bergren (Naperville, Illinois)
Aug. 11 – Lisa Lonie (Philadelphia)
Aug. 18 – Julianne Vanden Wyngaard (GVSU carillonneur)
The Cook Carillon Tower is named for major donors and longtime Grand Valley supporters Peter and Pat Cook, who died in 2010 and 2008 respectively. The tower’s 48 bells were cast in 1994 in the Netherlands. The bells for the Beckering Family Carillon, named for the Beckering family of Pioneer Construction, were cast in 2000 in France.
On the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, the 19th annual Beckering Family Carillon International Concert Series will present five concerts at the Lacks International Plaza located at the DeVos Center. The performances are at noon Wednesdays beginning July 3.
GVSU’s Beckering Carillon (Photo by Amanda Pitts)
Beckering Family Carillon Concerts
July 3 – Helen Hofmeister (Grand Rapids)
July 10 – Bernard Winsemius (The Netherlands)
July 17 – Gijsbert Kok (The Netherlands)
July 24 – Tim Sleep (Naperville, Illinois)
July 31 – Alex Johnson (Rochester, New York)
For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/mtd, or call Grand Valley’s Music and Dance Department at (616) 331-3484.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today that in conjunction with the TOYS! exhibit, the Museum is partnering with City Built Brewing and Blue Bridge Games to bring their popular Game Night to the Museum this summer, to be held on Tuesday, July 16 at 6 p.m.
Game Night visitors will have exclusive access to the Museum to play games at their leisure, participate in tournaments, explore the GRPM’s TOYS! exhibit and ride the 1928 Spillman Carousel.
Award winning board games, card games as well as giant games and interactives from the TOYS! summer expansion, located throughout the Museum, will be available for visitors to leisurely play throughout the evening. Gather your close friends and spend an evening playing games for fun, or join others in exciting tournaments.
Game tournaments will be available for visitors to sign up for starting at 7 p.m. and go until 9 p.m. Matches of Euchre, Dagz, and Klask will add some friendly competition to the evening. No experience is necessary to participate in game tournaments. All games are easy to learn and even more fun to play.
Tickets to Game Night are available at grpm.org and each ticket includes one free drink voucher. The event is open to visitors ages 21 and older. Cash bars will be serving two City Built Brewing beers: Alemania, a Mexican lager, and Norwegian Haze, an IPA. Tickets are $15, with a discounted ticket of $10 for Museum members.
As part of leisure game play, Blue Bridge Games will be featuring Game of the Year winning board games! Easy to learn and fun to play, these crowd pleasers will have visitors hooked on the first turn. Play award-winning titles like Azul (2018), Kingdomino (2017), Codenames (2016) & more! Just One is a Game of the Year Nominee for 2019. Players work together to provide each other with word clues, being cautious & creative to avoid duplicates. In Azul, collect the colors you need to complete a beautiful mosaic of tiles, take turns picking dominoes and creating a grid kingdom in Kingdomino, and decipher word clues and guess correctly to win in Codenames.
Game Night begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, with game tournaments starting at 7 p.m.
It might be real easy, if you only catch a couple videos on YouTube, to pass off The Beths as a retro pop band in search of a good musical sound bite to chew on.
But there is something, when you listen to the New Zealand threesome/foursome led by singer and songwriter Elizabeth Stokes, that says — as a line from their latest release’s title track, “Future Me Hates Me” states and that kind of eats into your brain like a good ear worm — “There’s something about you, I wanna risk going through.”
There is something about their sound, neither too familiar nor too “working hard to be different”, that makes you listen to the tracks on 2018’s Future Me Hates Me and wonder what the band’s “future them” sound might be, how really special it could be.
Local explorers of what’s possibly next new on their alt/pop satellite radio channel of choice will get a chance to listen and check The Beths out when the band stops at Grand Rapids’ The Pyramid Scheme on Tuesday, July 2.
The local concert is part of a massive American tour this spring and summer — sandwiched between dates at a Chicago arts festival and clubs in Detroit and Toronto —that started with nights at SXSW (South by Southwest Music Festival) in March.
The Kiwis’ work at SXSW, at the same time of mass shootings at two Islamic mosques in Christchurch, New Zeeland, gives another hint that the band has the will-power to work hard and grow, emotionally and musically.
As was pointed out in a review in the Austin Chronicle by Libby Webster, “the music retained the strikingly tight performance of prior sets all week, but took on a mostly unspoken, raw somberness … It felt outrageous that a band should have to process the trauma of the day at a party, but The Beths persevered, poised and gutsy, closing out their SXSW remarkably brave.”
A little history, please
The main members of The Beths studied music at The University of Auckland, according to supplied material “resulting in a toolkit of deft instrumental chops and tricked-out arrangements that operate on a level rarely found in guitar-pop. The Beths’ guitarist and studio guru Jonathan Pearce … brings it all home with an approach that’s equal parts seasoned perfectionist and D.I.Y.”
“There’s a lot of sad sincerity in the lyrics” of Future Me Hates Me, Stokes says in supplied material. “That relies on the music having a light heart and sense of humor to keep it from being too earnest.”
In addition to Stokes on vocals and guitar, and Pearce on guitar and vocals, The Beths include Benjamin Sinclair on bass and vocals, and Tristan Deck on drums and vocals.
Future Me Hates Me is the band’s debut full-length release, with 2016’s EP Warm Blood befog that. On both is the song that most catches my ear: “Whatever”, which seems to sum up the band’s mood if not their expectations — and maybe what they think of American entertainment writers.
“You think I will buy whatever you say … Whatever, yeah, whatever … But now you’re getting me started.”
And what about that name? As far as I and Google can search, nothing on their website or on any wikis shed any light, so we’ll just have to ask.
For a video of The Beth’s “Uptown Girl”, visit here.
For more information on the show at The Pyramid Scheme, with doors open at 7 p.m. and Girl Friday opening, visit here.
