Sleep pills can produce daytime drowsiness that leads to accidents and other harmful outcomes. This has prompted the FDA to issue new warnings on the drugs. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Many Americans use prescription sleep meds such as Ambien, Lunesta and Sonata to get good shut-eye.
But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has slapped a tough new warning label on this class of drugs, due to dangers from daytime drowsiness the day after their use.
The move was spurred by 66 cases in which patients engaged in what are called “complex sleep behaviors” after taking the insomnia medications.
In 20 cases, behaviors ended up being fatal.
Causes of death ranged from carbon monoxide poisoning, drowning, falls, hypothermia or motor vehicle collisions (with the patient driving), and apparent suicide, the FDA said.
Forty-six other reports involved serious but nonfatal injuries among people who took prescription sleep meds and then engaged in sleepwalking, sleep driving and other activities while not fully awake, the agency said in a statement.
While no one was killed in those reports, injuries included accidental overdoses, falls, burns, near-drowning, exposure to extreme cold temperatures resulting in limb loss or near death, self-injuries such as gunshot wounds and even apparent suicide attempts.
As a result, the FDA is ordering new boxed warnings—the most prominent type of label warning—on eszopiclone (Lunesta), zaleplon (Sonata) and zolpidem (Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar, Intermezzo and Zolpimist).
“This warning is likely to affect a lot of people, as millions take hypnotics—sleep aids—at least occasionally,” said Dr. Steven Feinsilver, who directs the Center for Sleep Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
Another expert said the warning was needed.
“These type of medications are well-known to trigger these (dangerous) events,” said Dr. Thomas Kilkenny, who directs sleep medicine at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City. “In a susceptible person there could be no control over what happens once the patient goes to sleep.”
In addition to the boxed warning, the FDA is requiring the addition of a “contraindication”—advice to not use these medicines for patients who have displayed complex sleep behaviors after taking them.
“We recognize that millions of Americans suffer from insomnia and rely on these drugs to help them sleep better at night,” FDA Acting Commissioner Dr. Ned Sharpless said in an agency news release.
However, “while these incidents are rare, they are serious and it’s important that patients and health care professionals are aware of the risk,” he added.
“These incidents can occur after the first dose of these sleep medicines or after a longer period of treatment, and can occur in patients without any history of these behaviors and even at the lowest recommended doses,” he said.
The association between this class of drugs and complex sleep behaviors has long been included in the labeling of these medications. The new labeling changes should make the warning even more prominent, however, reflecting the risk of serious injury and death, the FDA said.
For now, patients should stop taking these medicines and contact their health care provider immediately if they have engaged in activities while not fully awake or if they do not remember activities they’ve done while taking the medication.
The FDA offered additional advice to people who take sleep aids:
Don’t use the drugs in combination with any other sleep medicine, including non-prescription sleep aids.
Avoid alcohol before or while taking these medicines, due to raised odds for side effects.
If you still feel drowsy after waking, be aware that any insomnia medicine can lower alertness and interfere with driving or other complex tasks.
For his part, Feinsilver said the effectiveness of prescription sleep aids is “overrated” anyway.
Instead, he said, “most patients with chronic insomnia should be treated behaviorally. There often is no quick fix with sleeping pills.”
In the meantime, Kilkenny believes that with the new warning, “physicians hopefully will take greater care in prescribing these medications to patients and also take more care in following up after the prescriptions are written.”
Feeding America believes that food insecurity impacts one in eight people in west and northern Michigan. To address this issue, Michigan State University Extension is encouraging home gardeners to consider “growing a row” of produce for donation to their local food pantry this season. Many northern Michigan pantries are seeking donations of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs.
All donations are welcome, but please consider popular items such as:
Peppers
Apples
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Green beans
Cabbage
Cherries
Cucumbers
Onions
Peaches
Carrots
Squash (winter and summer)
Pears
Radishes
Melons
Pantries ask that donated produce is clean, fresh, ripe, whole, uncut, undamaged and in separate packaging for different produce types. If using pesticides, make sure to follow the pesticide instructions. Please don’t donate produce that you wouldn’t buy for your own family.
Under terms of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, donors are protected from liability, should the product donated in good faith later cause harm to the recipient. Be sure to check with your local pantry on the best days and times to bring in donated produce.
Michigan State University Extension provides support for home gardeners. Their vegetable gardening website provides an extensive list of resources, from finding the best location for a vegetable garden in your yard, planting techniques, to managing pests and diseases. MSU Extension Master Gardeners also staff a toll-free hotline during normal business hours in the growing season for gardening questions at 1-888-678-3464
Less than 10 minutes a day of brisk walking can help prevent disability in people with arthritis pain in their knee, hip, ankle or foot, researchers report.
Just one hour a week of brisk physical activity “is less than 10 minutes a day for people to maintain their independence. It’s very doable,” said lead study author Dorothy Dunlop. She’s a professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
“This minimum threshold may motivate inactive older adults to begin their path toward a physically active lifestyle with the wide range of health benefits promoted by physical activity,” Dunlop added in a university news release.
She and her team analyzed four years of data from more than 1,500 older adults in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Ohio, and Pawtucket, R.I., who had pain, aching or stiffness in their lower joints from osteoarthritis but were initially free of disability.
The participants’ levels of physical activity were monitored using a wearable device.
An hour a week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduced their risk of disability, the study found.
Specifically, the activity reduced the risk of walking too slowly to safely cross a street by 85 percent. It reduced their risk of not being able to do daily living activities—for example, morning routine tasks such as walking across a room, bathing and dressing—by nearly 45 percent.
By the end of the four years, 24 percent of participants who did not get a weekly hour of brisk physical activity were walking too slowly to safely cross the street and 23 percent had difficulty performing their morning routines, according to the study.
About 14 million older Americans have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, the most common type of osteoarthritis. About 2 in 5 people with osteoarthritis—most of whom have it in their lower joints—develop disability.
Federal guidelines recommend low-impact physical activity for older adults with arthritis and recommend that older adults do at least 2.5 hours a week of moderate-intensity activity.
But that amount of activity can be too much for inactive older adults with lower extremity pain, according to Dunlop.
“We hope this new public health finding will motivate an intermediate physical activity goal,” she said. “One hour a week is a stepping stone for people who are currently inactive. People can start to work toward that.”
The study was published recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer’s means patients and families can plan for the future, including safety, care, legal and financial issues. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Brain scans can improve diagnosis and management of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study claims.
“The good news is that there are no side effects from any of these recommendations,” said Dr. Thoits, the division chief of neurology with Spectrum Health Medical Group.
Researchers assessed the use of PET scans to identify Alzheimer’s-related amyloid plaques in the brain. The study included more than 11,000 Medicare beneficiaries with mild thinking impairment or dementia of uncertain cause.
This scanning technique changed the diagnosis of the cause of mental impairment in more than one-third of the participants in the study.
The brain scan results also changed management—including the use of medications and counseling—in nearly two-thirds of cases, according to the study published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“These results present highly credible, large-scale evidence that amyloid PET imaging can be a powerful tool to improve the accuracy of Alzheimer’s diagnosis and lead to better medical management, especially in difficult-to-diagnose cases,” said study co-author Maria Carrillo, chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“It is important that amyloid PET imaging be more broadly accessible to those who need it,” she added in an association news release.
Funding for the study came from Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc., General Electric Healthcare and Life Molecular Imaging.
“We are impressed by the magnitude of these results, which make it clear that amyloid PET imaging can have a major impact on how we diagnose and care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive decline,” said lead author Dr. Gil Rabinovici. He’s a professor of neurology at the Memory and Aging Center at the University of California, San Francisco.
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but early diagnosis means that patients can receive treatment to manage symptoms and be directed to clinical trials for new drugs.
Early diagnosis also means that patients and families can plan for the future, including safety, care, legal and financial issues, and access resources and support programs, the researchers said.
In this study, the PET scans revealed that about one-third of patients previously diagnosed with Alzheimer’s had no significant amyloid buildup and their Alzheimer’s diagnosis was reversed.
But in nearly half of patients not previously diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the PET scans revealed significant amyloid plaque buildup, resulting in a new diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
One-third of the study participants who had previously been referred to Alzheimer’s clinical trials showed no sign of amyloid buildup based on PET scans. Based on those results, doctors were able to ensure that nearly all (93%) of patients referred to Alzheimer’s trials were amyloid-positive, which is critical to these trials’ success.
“Accurate diagnoses are critical to ensure patients are receiving the most appropriate treatments. In particular, Alzheimer’s medications can worsen cognitive decline in people with other brain diseases,” Rabinovici said.
“But perhaps more fundamentally, people who come into the clinic with concerns about memory problems want answers. An early, definitive diagnosis may allow individuals to be part of planning for the next phase of their lives and to make decisions that otherwise would eventually need to be made by others,” he said.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artists Series co-artistic directors and chamber music power couple Wu Han and David Finckel (on cello) will be on the same stage this season. (Courtesy St. Cecilia/Tara Helen O’Connor)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
West Michigan jazz and Americana/folk fans — and I count myself in that crowd — eagerly await the early summer announcement of St. Cecilia Music Center’s next concert music series, which came down Tuesday with its 2019-20 season line-up.
Judy Collins (Supplied)
And with a Spectacular Jazz Series that includes the The Clayton Brothers Quintet and an Acoustic Café Folk Series featuring the return of the incomparable Judy Collins, both live up to the center’s reputation.
But, truth be told, the concert of the season will be one of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artists Series, as CMS co-artistic directors and chamber music power couple Wu Han (on piano) and David Finckel (on cello) come to town together on a program titled “From Prague to Vienna” but maybe more appropriately called “From New York City, with Love.”
Performing with violinist Arnaud Sussman and violist Paul Neubauer, Wu Hann and Finckel will perform in a concert which “celebrates friendship and family with three composers who mentored and inspired each other: Brahms, Dvořák and Suk,” according to supplied material. “Brahms discovered Dvořák through a composition competition and helped him rise to international stardom, and became his lifelong friend and mentor. In turn, Suk was one of Dvořák’s favorite students and eventually became his son-in-law.”
Of course, seeing and hearing Wu Hann and Finckel perform together is worth the price of admission whatever the program.
While fans can pick their favorites, St. Cecilia executive director Cathy Holbrook shows no such favoritism.
Cathy Holbrook St. Cecilia (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“We are so excited about all of our concerts and the amazing artists coming to Grand Rapids to perform at SCMC this coming season,” Holbrook said in supplied material. “We’re happy to have three great series that appeal to everyone’s interests in music. The exquisite sound and intimate setting of the Royce Auditorium makes these chosen concerts at SCMC one-of-a-kind.”
Tickets are now on sale for all announced concerts including opening folk series concerts by Lee Ann Womack on Oct. 3 and Judy Collins on Oct. 20; the jazz series opener of Fred Hersch featuring special guest Julian Lage on Oct. 17; and “Great Innovators” – works by Stravinsky, Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Smetana, on Nov. 21, to launch the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Series.
The chamber music series will continue with “French Enchantment” on Jan. 23, 2020, featuring the elegant works of Ravel, Fauré and Saint-Saëns; followed by the aforementioned “From Prague to Vienna” on April 30, 2020.
The Clayton Brothers. (Supplied by the artists)
The jazz series, after the Hersch/Lage pairing, will include Emmet Cohen’s Master Legacy Series featuring Ron Carter on Jan. 16, 2020; vocalist Luciana Souza on March 5, 2020; and The Clayton Brothers Quintet on April 16, 2020.
The folk series, after Ms. Womack’s and Ms. Collins’ visits, will continue with multi-Grammy Award winner Chris Thile on Feb. 25, 2020, immediately followed by “eclectic adventurist” singer/ guitarist Raul Midón on Feb. 27. (And, as in past seasons, additional Acoustic Café Series concerts will be announced at a later date.)
Season subscription tickets to the 2019-2020 Spectacular Jazz Series and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Concert Series are now available by calling 616-459-2224, visiting St. Cecilia Music Center at 24 Ransom NE, Grand Rapids, or online for new subscribers at scmc-online.org. Single tickets to chamber, jazz, and folk concerts are also on sale now and can be purchased by phone or online at the same.
For each concert, a post-concert party is open to all ticket-holders giving the audience the opportunity to possibly meet the artists and obtain signed CDs of their releases. There will also be pre-concert receptions for the CMS of Lincoln Center concerts and the Jazz Series concerts featuring wine and hors d’oeuvres for $15 per person.
“My artist's statement explains, my work is utterly incomprehensible and is therefore fun of deep significance.”
― Calvin (of Calvin and Hobbes)
Maya Lin, Blue Lake Pass, 2006. Duraflake particleboard (Courtesy Pace Gallery)
New show at the GRAM
The Kent County Parks and the Kent County Parks Foundation invites all county residents to DISCOVER! Millennium Park, a free, fun, and educational program for all ages Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hansen Nature Trail at Millennium Park (at the corner of Riverbend Drive and Butterworth). For the complete story, visit here.
Supplied (Kent County Parks)
County’s Millennium Park event
The Kent County Parks and the Kent County Parks Foundation invites all county residents to DISCOVER! Millennium Park, a free, fun, and educational program for all ages Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hansen Nature Trail at Millennium Park (at the corner of Riverbend Drive and Butterworth). For the compete story, visit here.
Local high school baseball and softball action is on the schedule for the WKTV sports coverage team. (Supplied)
High School Sports in the sun
There is plenty of spring baseball and softball games as part of the weekend’s high school sports action all over the Wyoming and Kentwood area, so check out something live if you can. For the complete story, visit here.
Fun fact:
158 days
On average, there are 158 sunny days per year in Grand Rapids. The US average is 205 sunny days. Don’t waste one. (Source)
New Kentwood Police officer Jesalyn Heard, and Police Chief Thomas Hillen, center, with other members of the force. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)
By City of Kentwood
The City of Kentwood has welcomed Jesalyn Heard to the Kentwood Police Department, the first cadet to go through its new academic sponsorship program and the first African-American woman to serve as a police officer in the Department’s 51-year history.
Heard took the oath of office on Monday, May 13. The former Kentwood police cadet recently graduated from Grand Rapids Community College, where she was on the dean’s list, with an associate degree in criminal justice. She also completed the GRCC Police Academy in April.
Kentwood’s police cadet program has launched many careers in law enforcement throughout Michigan for more than 25 years. The program provides eligible students studying criminal justice the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the Police Department.
“About a year ago, the City Commission agreed to support the Kentwood Police Department’s recruiting efforts by providing an academic sponsorship program to outstanding cadets attending the police academy,” said Kentwood Police Chief Thomas Hillen. “Jesalyn is our first recipient of that program. We’re delighted to celebrate her journey and welcome her to the team as an officer, where she’ll continue to serve the City of Kentwood and its residents with excellence.”
The cadet program allows students to develop their decision making, critical thinking and communication skills, preparing them for a career in the criminal justice system. Additionally, cadets ride-along with officers, observing their day-to-day functions. In order to qualify for the sponsorship program, cadets must maintain full-time enrollment status, as well as high academic standards.
“The cadet program gave me a great foundation of knowledge going into the police academy,” Heard said. “The experiences I gained helped me grasp concepts quicker and gain more insight throughout my education.”
Kentwood police Jesalyn Heard. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)
Heard grew up in the Grand Rapids and Kentwood areas. She attended East Kentwood High School where she was an accomplished athlete in basketball and track. Her parents are also in law enforcement. Her father serves as a sergeant with the Grand Rapids Community College Police Department and her mother works for a warden with the Michigan Department of Corrections.
This is Heard’s first law enforcement job; she hopes to eventually serve in the Department’s Community Services Bureau so she can work with Kentwood’s youth.
“When it was time to make a decision about my career, I knew Kentwood was where I needed to be. Not only because of the bonds I had created with the KPD family through the cadet program, but because of my connection to this community,” Heard said. “I want to speak to youth and let them know how important it is to make positive choices and that it is possible to choose a good path no matter what life has thrown their way.”
The new officer also has an interest in the special response team, which is utilized during critical incidents and during the execution of high-risk search warrants.
“We’re proud of Jesalyn’s passion to serve the area she grew up in,” Chief Hillen said. “She has worked hard to achieve this position – I’m confident she will do an outstanding job.”
Heard currently resides in Grand Rapids with her fiancé and two children.
More information about the Kentwood Police Department is available online at kentwood.us.
Summer is fast approaching which for most area residents means lots of fun in and on the water.
But before Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start date of summer, rolls in, there is National Safe Boating Week, May 18 – 24. Purposefully scheduled just prior to the big weekend, boaters are encouraged to arrange for a through inspection of their boat prior to taking it out on the water for the boating season.
To help boaters prepare, WKTV will be airing the United States Power Squadrons National Safe Boating Test Wednesday, May 22, at 4 p.m.; Friday, May 24, at noon; and Saturday, May 25, at 5 p.m.
It is estimated that there are 80 million recreational boaters n America engaged in all sorts of activities from paddling to cruising, from fishing to sailing. Yet many states do not require certification of any kind to operate a recreational boat. In the state of Michigan, if you were born on or before July 1, 1996, you do not need any certification. A person born on June 30, 1996 or after does. For more on the boating safety certificate, visit the Department of Natural Resources website.
Even if you don’t need a certificate, it is always good to brush up on your boating safety. Through the USPS National Safe Boating Test, you can test your boating knowledge. The program features 27 questions on a wide range of boating topics including Homeland Security, Rules of the Road, Aids to Navigation, Carbon Monoxide, and Small Boat Safety. There are real life scenarios and viewers will be able to answer questions about what to do in those situations.
According to the latest report from the U.S. Coast Guard, the number of recreational boating accidents in the state increased from 92 in 2013 to 125 in 2016 and deaths increased from 21 in 2012 to 38 in 2016. An increase in boating accidents has been credited to the rise in paddle sport vessels with there being more than 600,000 such vessels in the state, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Being aware of your surroundings and speed are two key factors in boating safety. The National Safe Boating Council promotes that anyone on the water should wear a life jacket. On its website, it showcases the various life jackets available for all types of water activities from paddling to recreational boating.
The United State Power Squadrons, which along with the U.S. Coast Guard, produced the USPS National Safe Boating Test video, offers boating courses and other public courses and seminar to help make boating a safer and more enjoyable activity. USPS was organized in 1914, and has grown to become America’s largest boating education organization with about 50,000 volunteer members in more than 450 local squadrons. For more information, call 888-FOR-USPS or visit www.usps.org.
Wyoming High School students gather for the spring Alpha Wolf 11 Champions of Character awards. (WKTV)
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember you have within you the strength, patience, and the passion to reach for the stars and change the world.
Harriet Tubman
Junior Dale Cross III
Wyoming High School sophomore Lisa Cross admitted to friends that it was hard to announce the juniors selected as recipients of this year’s spring Alpha Wolf 11 Champions of Character Award. It was hard because, one of them was her brother, Dale Cross III.
“I kept trying not to look at him, but I think he knew,” she said.
As one Alpha Wolf student admitted, you never really know until your name is announced.
Started in 2014, every fall and spring semester, the Wyoming High School students and staff honor six exemplary students with the Alpha Wolf 11 Champion of Character Award — two sophomores, two juniors and two seniors. These students are recognized not for their academic or athletic achievements but for treating others by “being kind, compassionate, and gracious.”
Along with students and staff, special guests included members of the Wyoming community, City of Wyoming officials, public safety leaders, school district administration and members of the Wyoming Board of Education.
“It is always fun to do this and to have this great time together as a community,” said Principal Nate Robrahan. “I think we need to remember that we are a community and we are only better because we are together in what is our community of Wyoming High School, and you guys know enough that I am always so proud to be the principal of this community.”
The fun for many is the revealing of those who will receive the Alpha Wolf 11 Champion of Character Award. Often, the recipients are just as stumped as the students, looking around to see who will be receiving it before realizing that it is him or her.
Sophomore Alpha Wolf 11 Recipients
Sophomore Rohim Mohammod
When Rohim Mohammod came to the school he struggled to speak English, even through he knew three other languages. That struggle has lead him to “pay it forward” by helping others who face the same challenge.
“He is one of these kids who is always trying to make a difference,” said teacher John Doyle who along with a group of students presented the awards. Mohammod has gone beyond just Wyoming High School, but helps immigrants from his country along with discussing human rights and the plight of refugees.
Sophomore Cameron Simon
Cameron Simon is the defintation of “kind, compassionate, and gracious” and is just simply meant to be the next Alpha Wolf, according to the presentators. Sometimes called the class clown, Simon is always willing to give extra support to anyone who needs it. He has participated on the football, basketball, and track teams.
Doyle said Simon never judges and has gone on to volunteer in his community.
Junior Alpha Wolf 11 Recipients
Junior Thomas Bushman
Everyone likes and appreciates someone who makes them feel good about themselves, which is the kind person Thomas Bushman is. He is described as a kindhearted person who greets everyone with a smile and asks them how they are doing, Doyle said. Bushman is polite, outgoing and “ridiculously” nice.
“He is a fantastic leader by example and a true inspiration,” Doyle said with other presenters adding that Bushman continually works to learn and improve for the success of everyone.
“There is a reason this person has a third after his name,” said Lisa Cross of her brother Dale. “You see those named the third are said to have meaning of positive affirmation. They bring the confidence you need in yourself to have in your purpose and your desires. The third represents the mind, body, and spirit. I believe this person, who carries the last name of third, is an essential eleven leader in our school and our community.”
Another student who leads by example, Doyle said of Dale Cross III adding that Dale works hard to make his community better. Lisa Cross noted that because of Dale’s positive mentorship, he already has been selected as a team captain for next year.
Senior Alpha Wolf 11 Recipients
Senior Rayne Vieau-Parfait receives congratulation hugs from friends. (WKTV)
Perhaps no one was more surprised at being named Alpha Wolf 11 recipients than the two seniors.
Rayne Vieau-Parfait is known for her compassion but is content, according to presentators, at being the person behind the scenes. As one presentator put it “she is an excellent listener and when her big round eyes look at you through her glasses, it feels like she can see into your soul.”
Doyle went on to say that Vieau-Parfait is known for being “an easy and interesting person to talk to and she laughs at everything as she has a great sense of humor. She is happy, inquisitive, and very interested in others. She is an excellent example of genuine kindness. Her curiosity is one of her best qualities.”
Avery Robinson III accepts the Alpha Wolf award from Principal Nate Robrahan. (WKTV)
Avery Robinson III started off the ceremony as the student guest speaker and he concluded the event by being named an Alpha Wolf. According to presenters, Robinson is known for giving a voice to everyone.
“There couldn’t be a more perfect theme then student voice, be brave for our last Alpha Wolf recipient today. This Alpha Wolf exhibits bravery in all aspects of their life,” the student presenters said.
Doyle added “He is the hand that will always reach to pick you up when you fall. He is the level headedness you need in times of person turmoil. He’s that brave voice who speaks up for those in the need of advocacy and the kind heart when its compassion, kindness and understanding that you seek.”
Alpha Wolf Teacher Recipient
Teacher Steve Zajac
Receiving the teacher award was math teacher and wrestling coach Steve Zajac. Receiving honorary Alpha Wolf 11 awards were the high school cafeteria staff, who all received aprons with the Alpha Wolf 11 logo.
“When I see what is going in this school, the support and character that is being built right in our community, this is the most amazing place to be,” said Mayor Jack Poll. “So I encourage you as you go on, because some of you will go on to other schools, some of you are going into the workforce, some of you are going to go on to college, remember those words, ‘be kind, be compassionate, and be gracious’ whether you are at your job, someday when you have your own individual families, whatever community you are involved in.
If you keep those things in mind, your life will be better and the community you live in will be better.”
The Wyoming High School cafeteria team with their new Alpha Wolf aprons. (WKTV)
Two weeks before the start of her freshman year at Godwin High School, Ahnaka Ortiz-Rodriguez landed in the emergency room with abdominal pain. Her mom was with her while they awaited test results. Ahnaka believed she was experiencing some stomach issues, something she dealt with as a child. When the doctor walked in, Ahnaka and her mom heard the unexpected: “Your daughter’s pregnant.”
Ahnaka Ortiz-Rodriguez uses any breaks in the school day to work on homework, so she can spend more time after school with her daughter, Izzy, and work as a supervisor at Chow Hound
Ahnaka cried. Her mom cried. They were scared, worried. As the oldest of three siblings, Ahnaka felt she had disappointed her family. She was a good student with a bright future. She was supposed to be a role model. She texted her boyfriend, Joseph Torres, who thought she was joking. It took her mom calling his mom to convince him it was true.
“I had all these thoughts running through my head: ‘Is my boyfriend going to stay? Is he going to help? Can I do this? Am I going to be able to finish school?’”
For Ahnaka, the answer to all of the above was “yes.” But for many teens, that is not the case. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pregnancy and birth contribute significantly to high school dropout rates among female students, with about 50 percent of teen mothers receiving a high school diploma by age 22, compared to 90 percent for those who do not give birth.
Not only is Ahnaka raising her daughter, but she’s also slated to graduate 34th in her class this May with a 3.4 GPA and a recent induction to the National Honors Society to her name. The journey has not been easy, Ahnaka said. Sleepless nights awake with a teething baby followed by a full day of school is not for the faint of heart. But it has been worth it.
5…6…7…Ahnaka Ortiz-Rodriguez counts steps with her daughter Izabella, 3
Fitting Trimesters into Semesters
Ahnaka remembers how torn she felt as she prepared to begin high school.
“At first, everyone was disappointed– which is normal. I was 14 when I found out. A 14-year-old who’s just going to school, who hasn’t even had her teenage years yet. I feel like my family thought I would would just throw the baby on them. That’s what happens sometimes (with young moms), I never wanted them to feel like she was their responsibility.”
Some friends suggested adoption, but Ahnaka knew it wasn’t for her. She would figure out a way to raise her baby and, she decided, graduate with her class.
“I created her, I had her. It’s my and her dad’s responsibility. I wanted to give her the best life possible.”
Ahnaka completed her first half of freshman year at Godwin. Then, wary of both the social ramifications of being pregnant at 14 — the looks, the comments — and the thought that she might miss too much school to stay on track for graduation, Ahnaka chose to spend the second semester of her freshman year learning via the online platform MySchool@Kent, offered by Kent ISD.
School counselor Tish Stevenson has known Ahnaka for four years. She said she was impressed with the way Ahnaka and her mother requested a meeting early in her freshman year to hatch a plan for Ahnaka to stay in school. She was unsure, however, if the plan would work.
“Up to that point I had not had good experiences with online learning. Very few kids had the self-control and family support necessary to work independently,” said Stevenson. “I worried because not only would this girl have to work on her own, but it was also her first year in high school and she had plenty of other things to concern herself with.”
But Ahnaka had school staff and her family in her corner. “My mom was a big supporter and so was my grandma.”
On March 4, 2016, Izabella, or “Izzy” as she is called, arrived — 7 pounds, 12 ounces and sporting a head of dark hair. That’s when everything changed.
“As time went by, it was getting more exciting and the sad part was over. When she came, I feel like that’s when everybody wasn’t upset anymore. How can you be upset when you have a gift right here?” said Ahnaka, referring to Izzy.
Ahnaka completed her freshman year through MySchool, impressing her counselor.
“I was delightfully surprised at the fact that she passed all her classes but one. She was able to independently complete her work, mostly unsupervised and at a very difficult, intense time in her young life,” said Stevenson. “I knew right then that Ahnaka was an exceptional individual.”
Ahnaka knew that being in the classroom would motivate her to succeed. She returned to Godwin in the fall, relying on family and friends to watch Izzy for the first few years.
Ahnaka Ortiz-Rodriguez and her daughter Izabella, 3, outside the Godwin Heights home where they live
Bringing Up Baby
It didn’t take long for Ahnaka to realize the enormity of the sacrifice she was making.
“At first, after I had her, I was very depressed and a little sad and lonely,” she said. “All my friends are going out, hanging out at the mall, having fun. And I’m inside and I don’t ever leave. It was upsetting at first.”
Looking back, she said, “I wouldn’t change it. I would want to be with my daughter. I spent most of my time with her and that’s time that I can’t get back.”
Once school was under way, the work was relentless. Sometimes, Ahnaka would be awake almost an entire night, especially when Izzy was teething or sick, then she would spend almost eight hours at school followed by time with Izzy, homework and another sleepless night.
Whenever friends would tell her it would probably be OK to stay home after a sleepless night, she disagreed. “I can’t miss school because I am tired. If I do, what will I do when I need to miss classes to take her to the doctor or because she’s sick? That’s not a reason for me. It’s not an excuse. You always have enough time; you just have to manage it wisely.”
Jasmine Gonzalez has been friends with Ahnaka since they were in sixth-grade. She said she gives her friend lots of credit for all she does, and is inspired by her ability to juggle everything on her plate. “She makes it look way easy,” said Jasmine.
“No excuses,” is something Ahnaka says often.
Teacher Kelly Gray taught Ahnaka in 10th- and 11th-grade Spanish, and watched her blossom. She showed up consistently, asked good questions, and conquered her fear of public speaking to present in front of the class like a pro, said Gray.
“Ahnaka had a full plate with raising a daughter, who at the time was less than a year old. Sometimes Ahnaka would come to school tired due to lack of sleep,” said Gray. “However, she never used being too busy as an excuse.”
As Izzy grew, Ahnaka became concerned with her daughter’s learning. She says she often feared that Izzy would be behind because she wasn’t with her all day. They’d spend their evenings together singing songs, learning letters, counting stairs. Izzy would see Ahnaka doing homework and would “help” — in the form of scribbles.
“Izzy left you a note,” Ahnaka would tell her teachers when turning in her work.
Ahnaka said it’s those little interactions that mean so much: “Even if it’s not five hours that I could give her – even if it’s just two minutes counting the steps as you go down them – they remember that.”
While learning all she can in school, Ahnaka credits her mother, Danniele Lucchesi, for teaching her how to be a mom. Her support, said Ahnaka, helped make raising Izzy and getting a diploma a reality.
Ahnaka, Izzy, and a wolf
Meeting Deadlines, Heading to the Finish Line
While infants live on their own terms, students do not.
“I’ve never had a teacher who told me that I ‘couldn’t’ – or try to pity me,” said Ahnaka. “I have the same due dates as everybody else. I want to be treated like everyone else. I’m grateful that my teachers treated me equal and pushed me harder.”
As she finishes the last few weeks of high school, Ahnaka is staying focused. She drops Izzy, now 3 and potty-trained, off at her new daycare at 7 a.m., then picks up Joseph, her boyfriend of nearly five years, and they head to school together. In the evenings, Ahnaka works at Chow Hound, where she was recently promoted to supervisor. Again, there’s always the fear of missing out on time with Izzy, but she knows her daughter is in good hands.
“When I leave for work, she’ll wave and say, “Bye mom, I love you!’” said Ahnaka.
Ahnaka plans to enroll in Grand Rapids Community College, a choice she made because it will allow her to live at home with her daughter. She has already earned credits toward college through dual enrollment, and intends to study nursing, a decision influenced by her experience of having many compassionate and supportive nurses when she had Izzy at Spectrum Health.
“Ahnaka’s claim to fame is her consistency and the very high standards she has always adhered to for herself,” said Stevenson, citing her straight-A and A- record for 10th, 11th, and 12th-grades. “She is dual-enrolled at GRCC and always, always, always takes care of business. Plenty of others would use early motherhood as an excuse to take it a little easier at school. And rightfully so! But instead, Ahnaka has used motherhood as motivation to excel.”
Ahnaka said her drive to succeed comes from many place — from the people who she felt she had let down, and who doubted she’d graduate. It comes from the people who were by her side, and encouraged her to succeed. Mostly, it comes from Izzy.
“Going home and seeing her smile motivates me,” said Ahnaka. “I want to do everything I can for her.”
“She does an amazing job of what she does,” said boyfriend Joseph, who is also graduating this year.
Ahnaka is excited to think that when she walks across that stage May 22 and flips the tassel on her mortarboard, Izzy will be there to see it.
“I know she doesn’t have the words to say it, but I know she can feel that I am doing this for her.”
Ahnaka Ortiz-Rodriguez helps her daughter Izabella, 3, put on shoes before heading outside.
Ahnaka Ortiz-Rodriguez watches as her daughter Isabella flies a toy around their Godwin Heights home.
Ahnaka Ortiz-Rodriguez listens as her daughter, Izzy, 3, tells her how to operate the Minnie Mouse cash register after receiving coins.
Action Wake Park, in partnership with Liquid Force, will host the third annual Liquid Force Field Day Saturday, June 1. This event will provide an opportunity for the public to try Action Wake Park completely free of cost.
“Last years Liquid Force Field day was an absolute success,” said Action Wake Park Owner Jerry Brouwer. “The day provides the water sports experience without the barrier of a boat for free and we couldn’t be more excited for the community to enjoy it.”
Liquid Force Field Day is from 12-8pm. The day will consist of:
● Free day passes ● Free rentals ● Free 2019 wakeboard demo gear provided by Liquid Force ● Professional world champion athletes Harley Clifford Meagan Ethell ● Free energy drinks provided by Red Bull ● Wakeboard big air contest from 5-6pm
Action Wake Park is Michigan’s first and only full-size cable wakeboard facility. Entering into its four season, the park aims to help the community learn water sports in a controlled environment without the barrier of a boat. The park features a fully stocked water sports proshop, concessions, and a large patio for viewing.
Summer at the Muskegon Museum of Art starts in May and celebrates Pop Culture and Rock ‘n’ Roll, along with displays from the permanent collection and paintings by first-ever Bennett Prize finalists. An array of special programs accompany the gallery shows.
Pop
Replay: The Exhibition celebrates American Pop and Geek culture through a variety of media, including large-scale LEGO® brick sculptures. The galleries housing the colorful show have been newly refinished with walls resembling giant LEGO bricks to make a backdrop for artwork that explores how iconic cartoons, video games, movies, and comic heroes and villains influence our culture. Kids of all ages can enjoy racing LEGO brick cars on a downhill racecourse, draw self-portraits on a mirror, practice figure drawing with wooden models, and build their own plastic brick creations. A $5 admission upgrade will be applied for entrance to the Replay exhibition galleries. Replay opened on May 9 and will run through Aug. 18, 2019.
Rock ‘n’ Roll
Photo credit: Paul Jendrasiak
Lights, Camera, Rock ‘n’ Roll: Music Photography by Paul Jendrasiak spans the career of the veteran Michigan concert photographer. Stunning front-row photographs of rock stars performing at venues throughout the state over the past two decades will bring back memories for many viewers. The exhibition runs May 23 through Sept. 1, 2019.
Programs
Paul Jendrasiak will be at the MMA to talk about his work and experiences at the opening of the show on May 23.
A Rock Star Super Saturday family program on Aug. 10 will give budding artists a chance to create their own limelight-worthy artwork.
Guitar with Wings: The Photography of Laurence Juber features photographs by Juber from his 2014 book Guitar with Wings, which showcases the intimate photographs he took of the McCartneys during his days with Wings. The exhibition runs May 16 through September 1, 2019.
Photo credit: Laurence Juber
Laurence Juber in Concert: “A Master” – Pete Townshend (The Who) Laurence Juber will perform in concert at the MMA on June 14. $25 Advance Tickets are available at the MMA by phone at 231.720.2580 or online HERE. Tickets will be $30 at the door.
Juber was lead guitarist in Paul McCarney’s band Wings and has since established himself as a world-renowned musician, winning two Grammys. He fuses folk, jazz, and pop to create a multifaceted performance.
Ticket includes a 5:30 pm pre-concert reception.
The Bennett Prize
Margaret Bowland, Detail of White Fives, 2012. Oil on linen, 84 x 70 in.
Rising Voices: The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realist Painters opened May 2 with an announcement of the first-ever $50,000 prize winner, Aneka Ingold of Tampa, FL. Twenty-nine paintings by the winner and the other nine finalists from across the country comprise the show. The works exemplify universal issues as well as stories specific to the artists. The finalists were chosen from a field of over 600 entries. The Bennett Prize exhibition project and accompanying show catalogue were organized by the MMA, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and Steven Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt—avid collectors of and advocates for women artists painting in the figurative realist style. Special films, a figure drawing workshop, and an original theatrical performance will accompany the exhibition. Rising Voices runs through Sept. 8, 2019.
The Muskegon Museum of Art is located at 296 W. Webster Ave. in downtown Muskegon. The Museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays and closed Mondays. Parking is free and bus parking is available. Go to www.muskegonartmuseum.org for up-to-date visitor information, including gallery and store hours.
If you’re like most women, you have a tough time getting back into a workout routine once you get out of the habit of exercise.
We think we are active enough with weekend activities, yard work and the occasional jog or bike ride. But as we get older, we realize this type of exercise routine isn’t quite enough, and we start to gain a few pounds each year.
Worse still, if we become more relaxed about our diet, the weight gain is even greater.
We might not notice until our clothes are suddenly a little too tight.
This may be the wake-up call we need to get our exercise mojo back.
So where do we begin? Let’s start with the basics of exercise.
Aerobic, strength, stretching
I like to focus on three types of activity: (1) aerobic exercise,
where we get our heart rate up and keep it sustained for a given time;
(2) strength training, to maintain and build muscle; and (3) stretching,
to prevent injury and fatigue.
All three aspects are important to help maintain a healthy and strong body.
All three also play a vital role in helping you fit into the clothes you love.
Strength training is especially important for women as we age, because if we allow muscle mass to be lost, fat moves in between the muscle fibers, leaving muscles weak and flabby. When muscle mass drops, weight gain starts.
Men don’t often have the same issues as women when it comes to weight gain. They tend to keep weight off more easily for many years because they start with more muscle mass and naturally express more testosterone.
Women who keep their muscles toned by doing interval training, weight lifting, resistance training and incline training can keep the weight off more easily as well.
You may be shaking your head and thinking all this exercise sounds way too difficult, but it’s much easier than it sounds.
Choose it
First, make sure whatever type of workout you pick is something you
like to do. For example, I like to swim—I participated on the swim team
in high school. I also like to lift weights, and I learned the proper
way to lift from my roommate in college.
One of my other favorite forms of exercise is yoga. I do it twice a week at home. As you can see, if you find something you enjoy doing, you can make it work. If I’m pressed for time, I lift weights and do yoga without ever leaving my home.
Fortunately, there are many different forms of exercise—you just need to find the right one for you and your lifestyle.
If you don’t like yoga, try a Zumba, body pump, or kickboxing class. Pilates, Tai Chi, or aquafit classes are also good options. Even better, mix it up and try several types of workouts each week.
To help build muscle, add in some weight-lifting exercises either at a gym or in the privacy of your own home if you have some weights.
If you need a little help getting started, check out one of my favorite health books, Body for Life for Women by Pamela Peeke, MD.
You’ll find some simple strength-training workouts for the upper and lower body in the back of the book. Even if you do the book’s lower-body workout two or three times per week, you can maintain—and possibly even increase—muscle mass. I think you’ll find the exercises and the entire book helpful.
Schedule it
In addition to the type of exercise you choose, you also need to
determine a time when you’ll actually do the exercises each day, or at
least several times per week.
I prefer to do my workout at night, when I’m too drained to do other work such as paying bills or writing.
When I have finished helping my kids with their homework and my kitchen is cleaned up after dinner, I head to the exercise bike or yoga mat—usually around 9pm. This allows me to get in a good workout, clean up and head to bed before it gets too late.
This routine works well for me and allows me to de-stress from the day. I know I don’t have time to exercise in the morning, so I don’t plan on it. Many women, however, see morning as the best time to do their workout—they’re then done for the day, and they know there’s no way they would do it at night.
After you’ve chosen an exercise and a time frame, you need to put it on your calendar. You may think you don’t need to schedule your workouts, but it really does help you stick to your plan.
Here’s what I recommend: On Sunday night, plan out your week. Start by listing your priorities: work, kids’ events, appointments, exercise. The rest of your day should be planned around these scheduled priorities.
As I look at each day, I plan a longer workout, such as swimming, when I have more time. On days when I’m pressed for time, I schedule a shorter workout, such as the legs and core session from Dr. Peeke’s book.
There is usually one day each week when I simply have no time to fit in a workout, and that becomes my day off. So when the day comes, I have already planned to take it off—no guilt.
Do it
So what are you waiting for? Create your exercise plan today!
Usually by day five of my routine, I’m feeling so good that I’m choosing to exercise instead of making myself do it.
If you can get into a regular routine, add some strength training, and cut down on your carbohydrates intake—especially after 3 p.m.
The Barn Theatre, Michigan’s oldest professional summer theatre, under the artistic leadership of Brendan Ragotzy, is thrilled to announce the 73rd season of plays and musicals to be presented at the landmark theatre.
The Barn Theatre School for Advanced Theatre Training, which continues to operate as a nonprofit entity, is excited to continue to provide southwest Michigan with professional, high- quality theatre while also expanding educational youth outreach and training programs. The very popular program, Backstage Xperience*, will be offered once again this season, as well as select ASL performances!
Barn Producer Brendan Ragotzy and wife Penelope Alex are excited to continue to offer nightly dinners this season and hope you’ll once again take advantage of the improved seating, ticket options, and online ticketing system.
The Box Office opens May 20, for online ticket sales, in-person sales and purchase via phone.
New this season:
Season ticket booklets will be available online as virtual tickets.
Renovations throughout the season, including new bathrooms near the Rehearsal Shed, Barn structure updates, the addition of a kitchen in the Rehearsal Shed and this fall, a full remodel of the Rehearsal Shed itself.
SPECIAL EVENT! Our Annual Gala: A Celebration in Song, June 1, 2019 Join us as we kick off the 73rd season with an unforgettable evening of music and memories! Barnies will take you behind the scenes in song and stories and give you a preview of the upcoming season. This special event is $50 per person. Reception and silent auction to follow the performance.
Disaster! — June 4-9 — ONE WEEK ONLY! Back by Popular Demand! Earthquakes, tidal waves, infernos and the unforgettable songs of the ’70s take center stage in this side-splitting homage to classic disaster films. Rated PG-13.
Love, Lies and the Doctor’s Dilemma — June 11-16 — ONE WEEK ONLY! One little white lie leads to another in this hilarious farce that comes complete with a former movie star, a mobster hit man, a walking-accident neighbor, and a gardener inexplicably masquerading as a psychiatrist Will everyone survive the mayhem?
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — June 18-30 In this wildly funny, fast-paced musical, an eclectic group of mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime while candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives. A riotous ride, complete with audience participation, this bee is a delightful den of comedic genius. Rated PG-13.
Sweeney Todd — Starring Robert Newman and Penelope Alex — July 2-14 The dark, witty and Tony Award-winning musical tale of love, murder and revenge set against the backdrop of 19th century London. Rated R.
Big the Musical — July 16-28 The classic 1987 motion picture fantasy bursts onto the stage in this unforgettable theatrical experience where a frustrated adolescent magically becomes an adult, discovering that life is not simply child’s play. Rated PG.
Steel Magnolias with Kim Zimmer, Lori Moore, Jennifer Furney — July 30-Aug. 11 Alternately hilarious and touching, this brilliant play exemplifies the female bond and illustrates the beauty of friendship when wading through life’s hardest times.
Mamma Mia — Aug. 13-25 Over sixty million people from around the globe have fallen in love with Mamma Mia! The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless hit songs propels this funny, enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating the ultimate feel-good show! Rated PG-13.
Evil Dead: The Musical — Aug. 27-Sept. 1 — ONE WEEK ONLY! Evil Dead The Musical takes all the elements of the cult classic films and combines them for one of the craziest, funniest theatrical experiences of all time. Blood flies. Limbs are dismembered. Demons tell bad jokes… and all to music. It’s a bloody comedy start to finish! Rated R.
The Barn is located on Highway M-96 between Augusta and Galesburg. Performance schedule: Tuesday through Saturday at 8pm and Sundays at 5pm.
In a haze of coding, caffeine, circuits, teamwork, snacks, and sleep deprivation, around 120 students from Calvin and other universities worked for 24 hours straight, developing a wide range of software and hardware computing projects. The students were competing in Calvin’s first “hackathon,” a marathon software and hardware development competition held from February 8-9 by the CalvinHacks student organization.
As the sun set on February 9, a team of Calvin students emerged victorious, their project—PlantBit—scoring first place. A combination of a smartphone application, an arduino board, a Google Home, and a moisture sensor, PlantBit allows its user to remotely turn on and off grow lights for their plants, while also providing data on the moisture of the plant’s soil.
“It was inspired by the massive amount of succulents I keep in my room,” said team member Lauren Ebels, a biology and computer science major. “I have a whole bunch of grow lights for them, but couldn’t set them to be on when they’d help the plants the most.”
Over the course of the 24 hours, the team divided and conquered: Junior Shion Fukuzawa programmed the remote control iPhone app, Seniors David Widjaja, Megan Koh, and Toussaint Cruise set up the hardware and control database, and Ebels connected the Google Home to the control database.
“There’s a sense of accomplishment,” said Fukuzawa, a math major and computer science minor. “At the end you have to submit something no matter what, and the fact that you worked as a team for 24 hours and actually made something is pretty satisfying.”
“CalvinHacks was a really fun event, and was unlike anything I had ever done before” said Caleb Schmurr, a Calvin junior electrical engineering student whose team worked on a project using an e-ink screen to display information from a Google Home.
“I liked getting the chance to spend time working in an environment that encouraged and supported creative uses of technology,” Schmurr added. “We were able to use our programming abilities gained from either coursework at Calvin or other experiences to create a really unique project.”
Among a multitude of other creative submissions, Calvin teams also designed a web-based video game, a sign language video detection user interface, and an app for tracking grocery purchases.
Young Saleem Usmani’s life was forever changed when his Olympian dad invited him along to Los Angeles in 1984. For the curious youngster from India, it wasn’t much of a leap from saying, “Yes, I’ll join you there” to “Sure, I could go to college here.” With that spirit of adventure, Usmani found friendship, love, work, and belonging in his adopted country… in the unlikeliest of places!
Multi-platinum rock band Shinedown has announced new fall tour dates on their 2019 Attention Attention World Tour, produced by Frank Productions, with a stop in Grand Rapids at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, at 6:15pm. Shinedown has been selling out arenas and receiving rave reviews during their tour, backed by their biggest, most eye-popping production yet.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, May 17 at 10am. Tickets will be available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place® box offices and online at Ticketmaster.com. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order. For all current pricing and availability, visit Ticketmaster.com.
Shinedown’s chart-topping album Attention Attention, out now via Atlantic Records, simultaneously hit #1 on Billboard’s Alternative, Top Rock and Hard Rock Albums Charts, debuted Top 5 on the Billboard 200 and spawned current Top 10 Active Rock hit Monsters, #1 Active Rock hit Devil, and the rousing track The Human Radio, in addition to Get Up.
The Jazz Band, directed by Paul Brewer, in rehearsal for its coming concert. (Supplied/St. Cecilia Music Center)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Improvisational jazz music is not for everyone, especially young musicians learning their craft. But it is challenging and rewarding for the youth who make up the St. Cecilia Music Center’s Youth Jazz Ensembles — including several local players from East Kentwood High School.
The public can get a reward of their own this weekend as those young players will be on stage at St. Cecilia during the center’s Youth Jazz Ensembles Concert, a free, public event scheduled for Sunday, May 19, at 7 p.m.
Both the small Jazz Combo group and the Jazz Band big band will be on stage, and both will showcase the developing talent of their young players.
Mitchell Arganbright is a student at East Kentwood High School and a member of the Jazz Band. (Supplied/St. Cecilia Music Center)
“The combo format has a lot of potential for learning because every aspect of musicianship is involved: sight-reading, learning by ear, music theory (chord structures, keys, form), improvisation, arranging,” Robin Connell, St. Cecilia Jazz Combo director and local musician, said in an email to WKTV. “The big band music is all written and presents challenging reading for most students. They also work on blend, balance, intonation, and style.”
While the combo format focuses more on the traditional improvisational aspects of jazz, Connell said the big band is more structured but has “improvised parts (that) are only for a selected few instruments within an arrangement that is otherwise all written out.”
The current Jazz Combo has five members, Connell said: piano, bass, drums, saxophone and two trombones.
“The combo learns jazz standards and, in the process, learns a lot about music and jazz,” Connell said. “They learn the tunes from a ‘lead sheet’ (melody and chord symbols without any intro/ending or arrangement). Then we put an arrangement together. We start the year with me giving all the direction but, by the end, I’ve encouraged them to take over the leadership and direction as they are able.”
The combo members range in age from 12 to 16 (four are in middle school), and they will play four tunes: “Listen Here” by Eddie Harris, “Moanin’ ” by Bobby Timmons, “Artherdoc Blues” by Jimmy Heath, and “So What” by Miles Davis.
The Jazz Band, directed by Paul Brewer, has the standard instrumentation, Connell said: five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets, with piano, bass and drums — “But I will be playing piano with the band because he doesn’t have a student pianist.”
The Jazz Band are all high school kids, with half a dozen from East Kentwood high. Their program will be published pieces arranged for this instrumentation, but specifics are not known at this time.
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).
On Jan. 15, 2019, Dr. Jen received an email from a friend of a former volunteer asking for help for a bedraggled male cat who had been hanging around for about three years. The poor guy’s eyes needed attention, and he had a slight cough or hard time swallowing.
Over the years, the kitty had become friendlier to the point where he sat at the back door crying all night and trying to get in when the door opened. He had scratched and bitten the woman before in an attempt to get in, and then suddenly one day climbed into her lap and let her pet him. He then insisted on being in her lap every time she fed him, going so far as to nuzzle into her coat and let her wrap him up in a blanket to sleep.
It took a few days for us to be able to get this poor guy (born in the summer of 2014) off the streets so that Dr. Jen could see what she could do about those eyes. Considering how haggard and tattered-looking this guy was, it was obvious that he had been through some pretty rough spots in his life, including a fractured or dislocated right rear toe, bronzing of the fur on his forepaws from rubbing his eyes, fleas, a notched ear from fighting, a broken upper canine tooth, contracting a severe feline herpes virus infection that was causing his chronic conjunctivitis AND being infected by Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).
But, in spite of all of the above, Dr. Jen could clearly see that Chihuly was a diamond in the rough, a precious work of art that had yet to be appreciated.
At the writing of his biography about a month after his arrival, we are happy to report that charming Chihuly is really enjoying indoor life and takes his topical eyes meds like a trouper (he is also on an oral lysine supplement to help with the herpes). We have also learned from our cat care team the following about his likes, dislikes and kitty-quirks:
“Chihuly has a tendency to be a little bit of an attention hog, but once he’s had his fill, he’ll give you a quick swipe of the paw to warn you; I wouldn’t call him aggressive, he just has his personal limits. I’ve never seen him actually start any fights, or intentionally go after another cat, but he will join in on the growling if anything is going down between the others.”
“I have learned that the way to his heart is with endless bowls of canned food — he’s been known to eat four big plates and still follow you around for more. He would eat until he explodes if you let him.”
“He’d do best in a home with adults, and maybe one other cat, but dogs may a bit too much for him. Overall he is incredibly sweet and has gotten much better at not expressing himself by striking out; you can tell the time spent on the streets has made him a bit defensive, but he is learning rather quickly that soaking up the love and attention afforded him is the key to happiness.”
Chihuly will continue to evolve and make positive changes for weeks and months to come, but thus far, we are already impressed by his acclimation into our free-roaming, 50-cat population. He will require long-term medication to keep his eyes comfortable, but overall it is an affordable care plan that he doesn’t mind one bit. Simply stated, if you fill him up with yummy canned food and give him a lap to snooze on, he will be your best friend fur-ever!
More about Chihuly:
Domestic Short Hair
Black & White/Tuxedo
Adult
Male
Large
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Good in a home with other cats, no children
Want to adopt Chihuly? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
The artist behind the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. and “Ecliptic” in Grand Rapids’ Rosa Parks Circle returns to Grand Rapids this month for an exhibition featuring her large-scale sculpture, “Flow.”
Organized by the Grand Rapids Art Museum in collaboration with Maya Lin Studio and running from May 18 to Sept. 8, the exhibition includes two new works that focus on bodies of water in the Midwest region and illuminate Lin’s dramatic exploration of the natural environment.
“The Grand Rapids Art Museum is thrilled to present the work of acclaimed artist Maya Lin this summer,” said Director and CEO Dana Friis-Hansen. “Lin’s commitment to environmentalism and the creation of stirring public spaces—including ’Ecliptic’ in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids—supports the Museum’s initiative of raising awareness about sustainability and connecting people through art, creativity and design.”
With “Flow,” Lin focuses attention on the crucial role of water, both to our region, and to global survival. Lin has created two new sculptures for the exhibition that focus directly on West Michigan. ”Pin River – Grand River Watershed” (2019) is an installation made of steel pins embedded directly into the wall that forms a sparkling fifteen-foot-long outline of the Grand River Watershed. ”The Traces Left Behind (From the Great Bear Lake to the Great Lakes)”(2019) is a shimmering wall relief cast from recycled silver. In creating the work, Lin charted the span of contemporary bodies of water from the Arctic to the Great Lakes that were formed by the melting of the Laurentide Ice Shelf, which once covered much of the North American continent.
“A lot of my work has been about mapping the natural world and revealing aspects of the environment that you may not be aware of,” said Lin. “The two new works created for this show follow that interest of mine; one traces the complex watershed of the Grand River, the other takes a very recognizable mapping of the Great Lakes but adds the series of large lakes formed during the last ice age—creating a constellation-like flow of water that drifts along an invisible boundary line where the glaciers carved out these bodies of water when they retreated.”
Created in recycled silver, steel pins and common building materials, Lin conceives these sculptures with the use of charting, mapping, and scientific research to determine each work’s ultimate design, layout and structure. Through sculptural shape, scope and scale, Lin expands our awareness of the Great Lakes, the geological forces that created them, and their connection to other bodies of water.
“In her dramatic large-scale sculptures, Maya Lin draws attention to the natural world around us and to the forces that shape our environment,” commented GRAM Chief Curator Ron Platt. “With this exhibition, she creates opportunities for all of us to see the natural landscape in new and different ways, prompting us to consider our relationship and responsibilities to the environment.”
Maya Lin, Blue Lake Pass, 2006. Duraflake particleboard (Courtesy Pace Gallery)
The exhibition also creates connection and dialogue with “Ecliptic,” the public park in Rosa Parks Circle created by Lin that marks its 20th anniversary next year. Water—specifically the nearby Grand River—inspired Lin’s conception of “Ecliptic.” Within the park, Lin featured water in three different forms—liquid, solid and vapor—through the park’s ice rink and amphitheater, mist fountain and table of flowing water. In connection with the exhibition, a selection of interpretive and interactive materials about “Ecliptic” are on view for visitors interested in engaging more with Lin’s creation of the park.
Several informative programs and presentations will be presented at GRAM in conjunction with the exhibition such as an Artist Talk with Lin on Art and Environment Friday at 6 p.m. at the GRAM’s Cook Auditorium. RSVP is required. Cost is $5 for GRAM members and $15 for the public.
Lead support for Maya Lin: Flow is generously provided by Herman Miller Cares, Frey Foundation, Eenhoorn LLC, and Wege Foundation.
For GRAM’s hours and admission fees, call 616.831.1000 or visit artmuseumgr.org.
Sid Lenger, better known as Mr. Sid, loved sharing his stories of World War II and his travel adventures around the world.
The founder of Lenger Travel and World War II veteran passed away May 13 at the age of 100 but his love of sharing stories will continue, according to his friends who plan to honor Lenger’s memory by continuing his already scheduled Mr. Sid’s Wednesday Afternoon Video Series at Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW.
Tom Sibley, a WKTV volunteer and one of Lenger’s helpers in organizing the series, said after consulting with Lenger’s daughter, Lavonne Ritzema, Marge Wilson owner of Marge’s Donut Dent, and Fruitbasket/Flowerland owner Rick Vuyst, who is the scheduled guest speaker, it was decided to continue with Vuyst’s scheduled presentation. The program is set for Wednesday, May 15, at 2 p.m. at Marge’s Donut Den. Lenger is one of the military veterans featured in Vuyst’s newest book “Operation Rumination.”
“With a heavy heart – but comforted knowing that faithful Sid is at peace in the open arms of his Savior and reunited with his lifelong partner Beulah and son Sidney, we report that our Mr. Sid passed away Monday morning,” Sibley said, when announcing Lenger’s passing.
Filmaking always had been a hobby of Lenger who had crated hundreds of films. As part of Lenger Travel, Lenger would make travelogues that he would often show at Godwin Heights High School to help increase interest in the tours his company offered. The films became popular because they not only highlighted the well-known places such as Munch or Berlin, but captured what life was really like in those communities.
Sibley once noted “When [Lenger] took tour groups, he often would take smaller groups so that they could get up close to the whales or access to places larger groups could not visit.”
One of Lenger’s more popular films was his tour of Muskegon’s LST 393 (landing ship tank), where he was a volunteer tour guide. During World War II, Lenger served on such a ship, the LST 651, during the first wave in Okinawa. Lenger often told the story of a Japanese World War II plane headed toward the ship and how his gunner David “Goldie” Goldsboro save the ship. Last fall, Goldsboro and his family came for a special Mr. Sid’s Wednesday Afternoon Video Series program, which featured the story of Lenger’s time on the LST 651.
David “Goldie” Goldsboro and Sid Lenger served on the same ship, the LST 651, during World War II. The two were together last fall for a special Mr. Sid’s Wednesday Afternoon Video Series. (WKTV)
Sibley said the spring Mr. Sid Wednesday Afternoon Video Series will continue on May 29 with the film on the LST 393, which is still docked in Muskegon and is one of only two surviving vintage LSTs (landing ship tank). It will be followed by a question-and-answer session with staff from the LST 393. On June 12, there will be an “Honoring Fathers” program lead by Mike Martin.
Visitation for Lenger will be at Zaagman’s Memorial Chapel, 2800 Burton St. SE, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, and one hour (from 10 – 11 a.m.) prior to the 11 a.m. Thursday, May 16, service at Seymour Christian Reformed Church, 840 Alger St. SE. Lenger is survived by his children, Lavonne Ritzema, Robert and Lori Lenger, Richard and Carol Lenger, Ruth Lenger; his sister-in-law, Joan Lenger; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter.
UPDATE — At approximately 3:40 pm today, Pettra Yahya and her daughter, Faith Martinez, were located at their home. Both of them were safe and uninjured. A citizen who saw the Amber Alert recognized Yahya’s vehicle at Bowen Park in Kentwood, and contacted the police. When the police arrived, witnesses told them that a woman matching the description of Yahya was last seen pushing a stroller towards her home. Police then went to Yahya’s house and made contact with her.
Yahya’s mother took Martinez, and her other three children, home with her. Yahya was taken to a local hospital for a mental evaluation. The Kentwood Detective Bureau and Child Protective Services are continuing to investigate this situation.
Original Press Release: The Kentwood Police Department has issued an Amber Alert for a 4-year-old named Faith Cyndora Martinez.
Faith is a light-skinned, black female. She is approximately three feet tall, and weights about 40 pounds. She has long curly brown hair and brown eyes.
Faith was last seen with her mother, Pettra Aliesha Yahya. Yahya is a 30-year-old, black female. According to police, Yahya has made threats to harm herself and Faith. Yahya is driving a 2005 red Buick Rendezvous. The license plate for the vehicle is EBD 2873.
Anyone who sees these individuals, or vehicle, is asked to call 911 or the Kentwood Police Department at 616-698-6580.
The West Michigan economy is chugging along like it has been for the past 10 years, but evidence is mounting that the pace may be slowing, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of April.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) remained positive but backtracked to +13 from +17. The production index rose to +11 from +5, and the index of purchases also increased to +16 from +4. The employment index slid from +15 to a 27-month low of +4.
“Although one month can never be construed as a trend, it was disappointing to see our local employment index take such a deep slide,” said Long. “Unemployment is always an economic laggard, resulting in most of our West Michigan counties continuing to post very good unemployment numbers.”
Long said although there are some significant signs that growth is slowing, there is still no sign that the economy is about to slide into a recession.
“We know the world economy is slowing and that will ultimately have at least some impact on our domestic economy,” said Long. “Various industries are starting to grow ‘bubbles’ which we hope will not all break at once.”
The ongoing trade dispute with China could generate a significant slowdown or even a recession if the war drags on, Long said. Most major capital projects are planned and executed over a long-term cycle, such as five years. He said these projects tend to have long and productive supply chains which stimulate growth. He also said some of the benefits of the 2017 tax legislation could be felt for years to come, making the U.S. the cheapest place in the world to do business.
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV’s spring baseball and softball schedule continues this week as our coverage crew will be on the road for softball at Kelloggsville.
But there is high school sports action all over the Wyoming and Kentwood area, so check out something live if you can.
The tentative schedule of WKTV featured game’s remaining this month are as follows:
Wednesday, May 15, girls softball, Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville Wednesday, May 22, boys baseball, South Christian at Wyoming Friday, May 24, boys baseball, Zion Christian at Kelloggsville
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! The tentative schedule for May follows and we are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com .
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s (original) schedule; due to rainouts and other factors, please check the school’s websites for latest changes:
Tuesday, May 14 Girls Softball South Christian @ FH Eastern – DH Grandville @ East Kentwood – DH Wyoming Lee @ East Grand Rapids Middleville T-K @ Wyoming – DH Boys Baseball South Christian @ FH Eastern – DH Grandville @ East Kentwood – DH — WKTV Featured Game Middleville T-K @ Wyoming – DH Potter’s House @ Kalamazoo Heritage Christian Girls Soccer FH Central @ South Christian Kenowa Hills @ East Kentwood Kelloggsville @ Wyoming West Michigan Aviation @ Grand River Prep Boys Lacrosse East Kentwood @ Jenison Girls Tennis Kelloggsville @ Muskegon Catholic Central Boys Golf Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian
Wednesday, May 15 Boys Golf South Christian @ FH Eastern – Egypt Valley East Kentwood @ Caledonia – Broadmoor Country Club Kelloggsville – OK Silver Conference @ The Meadows Wyoming @ FH Eastern – Egypt Valley Boys Lacrosse South Christian @ East Kentwood Girls Softball Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville — WKTV Featured Game Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee FH Central @ Wyoming Boys Baseball Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee West Michigan Aviation @ Kalamazoo Cougars – DH Girls Soccer Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Black River Wyoming @ Christian
Thursday, May 16 Boys Baseball FH Eastern @ South Christian East Kentwood @ Grandville Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Black River – DH Wyoming @ Middleville T-K Zion Christian @ Heritage Christian Academy – DH Girls Tennis East Kentwood @ TBA – MHSAA Regionals Kelloggsville @ TBA – MHSAA Regionals Wyoming – MHSAA Districts @ FH Northern Girls Softball East Kentwood @ Grand Haven Godwin Heights @ Ottawa Hills Girls Soccer East Kentwood @ West Ottawa Tri-Unity Christian @ Grand River Prep Boys Golf Grand River Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian – Maple Hill
Friday, May 17 Boys / Girls Track South Christian – MHSAA Regionals @ Houseman Field West Michigan Aviation – MHSAA Regionals @ Houseman Field East Kentwood – MHSAA Regionals @ Grand Haven Wyoming – MHSAA Regionals @ Grand Haven Godwin Heights – MHSAA Regionals @ FH Eastern Wyoming Lee – MHSAA Regionals @ Saugatuck Girls Tennis @ South Christian – MHSAA Regionals Girls Soccer South Christian @ Wyoming East Kentwood @ Kalamazoo Central Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville Girls Water Polo @ East Kentwood – Regionals Girls Softball East Kentwood @ Caledonia Holland @ Wyoming – DH Boys Baseball South Christian @ Wyoming – Lamar Park Potter’s House @ Kelloggsville – DH West Michigan Aviation @ Barry County Christian – DH
Saturday, May 18 Boys Baseball Hamilton @ South Christian – Sailor Invite East Kentwood @ Lakeview – DH Wyoming Lee @ Saranac – Saranac Invite Zion Christian @ North Muskegon West Michigan Aviation @ Barry County Christian – DH Girls Water Polo @ East Kentwood – Regionals Girls Softball Christian @ East Kentwood – DH Wyoming Lee @ Saranac – Saranac Invite
Monday, May 20 Boys Golf South Christian @ Middleville T-K Fruitport Calvary Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian – Maple Hill Wyoming @ Christian – Thornapple Pointe Boys Baseball Wyoming @ South Christian – DH East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – DH Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian Kelloggsville @ Belding – DH Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee Girls Softball Wyoming @ South Christian – DH East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – DH Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian – DH Kelloggsville @ Belding – DH Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee – DH Girls Soccer FH Eastern @ South Christian Hudsonville@ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ Hopkins Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian Wyoming @ Middleville T-K Zion Christian @ Calhoun Christian West Michigan Aviation @ Heritage Christian
The new Metro Health Grandville is located at 4285 Parkway Place. (Supplied)
In its continuing effort to make sure patients have access to quality health care, last week, Metro Health opened its 17th neighborhood physician office providing another convenient location for the community.
“Our neighborhood physician offices offer patients both choice and access when it comes to primarycare,” said Dr. Rakesh Pai, President Medical Group and Chief Population Health Officer, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health. “We have a large patient base that call Grandville home, so we felt it was a natural fit to open our next office in their community.”
Metro Health Grandville, like other Metro Health neighborhood outpatient centers, is a model for care that promotes partnerships between individual patients and their personal physician. The practices are recognized for intensified efforts to coordinate patients’ health care through prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up services.
Located at 4285 Parkway Place SW in Grandville, the office will offer both family practice and OB/GYN services. Dr. Rebecca Werner will serve as the site medical director, seeing patients alongside Lindsey Marchel, NP. In addition, three OB/GYNs, Dr. Renee Elderkin, Dr. Stephanie Getz and Dr. Sue Hicks, will split their time between Metro Health Grandville, Metro Health Village and Metro Health Park East.
Dr. Rebecca Werner will serve will serve as the site medical director. (Supplied)
“We believe the Grandville community will benefit from having access to another primary care and OB/GYN outpatient option where they live,” said Werner. “We’re looking forward to growing the practice and plan to add two Internal Medicine/Pediatric physicians later this year.”
Metro Health Grandville will be open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Same day appointments are available and walk ins are welcome during regular business hours.
Spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), is a sap-feeding insect native to China and other parts of Southeast Asia. It was first found in the United States in 2014 in Berks County, southeastern Pennsylvania and has been spreading since then. As of May 2019, confirmed observations of spotted lanternfly (SLF) had been recorded in at least 12 additional counties in Pennsylvania and in localized areas of five other states: Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland and New York.
This invasive pest can feed on at least 70 species of trees, as well as vines and shrubs, including fruit trees, hops, grapevines and several hardwoods. Spotted lanternfly can be easily spread to new locations when people accidentally transport eggs or other life stages into new areas. Quarantines have been established to prevent further spread of SLF life stages by people moving infested material. Residents or visitors to areas where SLF occurs should be aware of the risks of moving this invasive pest. Check vehicles and any outdoor items for egg masses or other life stages before leaving areas where SLF has been reported.
Spotted lanternfly females can lay their eggs on nearly any surface including vehicles, patio furniture and outdoor equipment, as well as trees. This means SLF can be easily spread over long distances if people move the articles bearing the eggs.
Impacts
Spotted lanternfly feeds by sucking sap from the stems and trunks of a wide variety of plants. At high SLF densities, this feeding can reduce vigor of trees and vines. Dead shoots on some hosts, particularly black walnut trees, have been observed in Pennsylvania.
Spotted lanternfly adults on an apple tree in Pennsylvania. Photo by Erica Smyers, Penn State University.
To feed on plant sap, SLF pierce the bark, creating wounds that can allow plant pathogens to infect trees. Immature and adult SLFs excrete tremendous amounts of sugary honeydew as they feed, which lands on plants around and beneath them. This sticky honeydew attracts other pests, particularly hornets, wasps and ants, causing more annoyance for people in affected areas and complicating crop harvests. Black sooty mold grows on the honeydew, affecting the appearance and potentially the health of herbaceous plants, shrubs and seedlings beneath infested trees. Sooty mold can reduce the amount of light reaching the surface of the leaves, decreasing photosynthesis rates.
Host trees
Tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima, is a highly preferred and perhaps required host for SLF. Tree of heaven is native to China, but was widely planted in much of the eastern U.S. decades ago for erosion control. It was also planted as an ornamental street tree in many municipalities. Female trees produce abundant seeds and tree of heaven can grow on a variety of soils, including disturbed areas. Tree of heaven is now considered an invasive plant and has spread across much of the United States.
While tree of heaven is a highly preferred host, reports from Pennsylvania indicate SLF can also feed on American beech, basswood, sycamore, big-toothed aspen, black birch, black cherry, black gum, black walnut, assorted dogwoods, Japanese snowbell, maples, oaks, paper birch, pignut hickory, pines, sassafras, serviceberry, slippery elm, tulip tree, white ash and willows. Many of these species are commercially important as ornamental or timber trees. While SLF has not killed any trees in the U.S. to date, continued spread of this invader concerns many foresters and arborists.
Fruit trees and vines
The greatest economic impacts of SLF may result from its ability to feed on many types of crop plants. Tree hosts of SLF include apple, plum, cherry, peach and apricot. High densities of SLF have also been observed on grape vines and on hops vines. Neither the immature nor adult SLFs feed on the fruits themselves, but large numbers of insects feeding on these plants during the harvest season can affect fruit quality. The insects remove significant amounts of sap and the sooty mold can contaminate berries. This can reduce marketable yields, delay fruit ripening and reduce winter tolerance to cold weather.
Effects on humans?
Spotted lanternflies cannot harm humans directly, as they neither bite nor sting, but their presence, outdoors and indoors, can be unpleasant.
Identification and life cycle
Spotted lanternfly completes one generation per year (see figure). Eggs are laid in a mass coated in an off-white or gray substance, which cracks and darkens to a grayish-brown over time. Egg masses resemble a small patch of mud or “seed pods” and can be found on vehicles, tree trunks, boulders and stones, bricks and other outdoor surfaces. Eggs hatch in spring and the small black nymphs with white spots begin feeding. Spotted lanternflies will complete four stages, called instars, as immature nymphs before becoming adults. First, second and third instar nymphs are black with white markings, Fourth instar nymphs are reddish-orange with black and white markings.
The nymphs eventually develop into adults, the only stage with wings. Adult SLF are about an inch long and half an inch wide, with grayish forewings with black spots and red, white and black striped hindwings. A few adults may appear in mid-summer but they are most common in late summer and fall.
After mating, adult females lay eggs, usually beginning in September and continuing through November or even early December. Eggs overwinter until the following April or May, when the first instar nymphs hatch and begin feeding.
Control and management
Preventing or at least slowing the spread of SLF is important to minimize impacts and control costs. When leaving an area where SLF is present, check vehicles and outdoor equipment for egg masses or any other life stages. Do not move nursery trees, firewood, mulch or related materials out of quarantined areas. Keep windows of vehicles rolled up in areas where adult SLFs are active and avoid parking below infested trees.
Egg masses that are accessible can be scraped off and destroyed, eliminating insects that would otherwise hatch and feed. Use a stick, plastic card, putty knife or similar tool to scrape eggs into a container filled with alcohol, hand sanitizer or very soapy water to kill the eggs. Eggs can also be burned in a campfire. Simply mashing eggs is often not entirely effective. Some residents in Pennsylvania have wrapped plastic wrap tightly around tree trunks and then coated it with a sticky substance to capture nymphs as they climb up the trunk to feed on the younger shoots. These sticky bands may be useful if SLF densities are high. Bands will need to be checked and replaced at least every other week.
Other insects and occasionally small birds or even small mammals may be accidentally trapped in the sticky bands. Surrounding the sticky band with wire or mesh can help prevent birds and mammals from being captured.
In Pennsylvania, removing tree of heaven, the preferred host, appears to reduce local abundance of SLF. Cutting down female trees (those producing seeds), or killing the trees with a herbicide containing triclopyr will limit establishment of new trees of heaven.
Adults are about 1 inch long and show little of the red color when wings are closed. Photo by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org.
Adopting a trap tree approach can be even more effective. Select a male tree of heaven (one that does not produce seeds) and remove or fell other trees of heaven in the vicinity. Treat the remaining “trap tree” with a systemic insecticide product containing dinotefuran as the active ingredient. Systemic insecticides are transported up the trunk and into the canopy and will control SLF nymphs and adults when they try to feed on treated trees. This control method works best June through August. Insecticides can be used on their own to control SLF on other host trees as well. Only use insecticides registered with the EPA and follow all application and personal safety instructions on the label.
Ongoing research on SLF is likely to generate new information every year. Up-to-date information on SLF can be found on websites hosted by Pennsylvania State University, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and USDA APHIS.
What to do if you find a suspected SLF in Michigan
Senior living communities are often built with specific interior design in mind for communal living spaces, but the individual apartments are often a little more plain. If you are decorating a senior living apartment, you’ll probably want to make it more homey and welcoming, as well as make sure that it’s easy to do all the things you need to do. Here are our tips and tricks to creating a beautiful and personal senior living apartment.
Remember functionality
It’s important that your home fits your tastes, but as you age it becomes more and more important to focus on the functionality of items rather than just style. Functionality should be your number one priority throughout the decorating process.
A good example to think about is glass tables. Glass furniture is pretty and fits with a lot of styles and themes, but the cons may outweigh the pros. They require frequent cleaning, and a fall onto a glass table or bump into a sharper edge can be much more devastating than a table made of other materials.
Choose a style
A good way to make your living space cohesive is to have a theme or specific style picked out. Apartments are much smaller than houses,
and if you are moving to a senior living apartment from a house picking
one general theme is going to be easier than finding a different style
for every room. It will also help improve the overall flow of your
apartment. Some themes can include:
Rustic: Think of a log cabin. With rustic decoration you want to bring in natural elements like woods and stone, and keep your colors within earth tones.
Cottage: A very popular style for seniors because of the warmth and coziness inherent to it. Colors like yellow, blue, white, and green are common and there are often antique or vintage furnishings and decorations.
Traditional: Traditional styles often incorporate floral and other patterns in furniture and decorations, and is another way to tastefully incorporate some of your favorite antiques.
Cozy and comfortable
Comfort is another big thing that you will want to keep in mind. Adding touches like warm blankets and softer furnishing can help you improve on functionality while keeping your comfort in mind.
Making sure that your couches and armchairs are cozy and your throw pillows aren’t stiff and scratchy is a good way to keep your home comfortable. Remember to keep thinking about function. A pillow may have a nice pattern on it, but if it isn’t comfortable to use then it becomes more of a annoyance in a small space.
Lighting and Storage
While not always the first thing on anyone’s mind, the practical parts of home decorating are just as important—if not more important—than the furnishings and wall hangings.
Lighting: Lighting is a big part of decorating. It’s important to include plenty of sources of light, especially if your apartment doesn’t have that much natural light. You need to see clearly for your safety, especially at night. Table and floor lamps are a great way to inject more light into your space, but make sure that any cords aren’t going to become a fall hazard.
Storage: Storage is another important thing to keep in mind. To avoid trips in clogged hallways and rooms, having adequate storage for all your belongings is vital. There are a lot of creative storage options like additional storage units for your living, different shelving options, and closet organizations that can help you with storing your belongings. Just remember to keep them all within reach. The last thing you want is to be unable to access your things.
Kitchen and bath
Most slips and falls happen in kitchens and bathrooms, so keep that in mind while decorating. Adding additional handholds is never a bad thing in these rooms. Another tip is to make sure your rugs or carpeting isn’t going to trip you up or slow you down if you are in a wheelchair. Things like soap and liquids should be stored in a way that they won’t spill onto the floor and make things a slippery mess.
Kitchens and bathrooms are also great places to add a pop of color. A brightly colored kitchen or bathroom can be a great way to bring in some fun in spaces that might not traditionally be thought of as fun spaces.
Bedroom
It’s important that your bedroom is the perfect blend of comfort and
functionality. Your bed shouldn’t be difficult to climb into, and should
have the right amount of blankets and pillows. Decorative throw pillows
are great, but the daily task of removing them and then adding them
back on can become more and more difficult as you age.
Instead, consider bringing color and style into the room with your bedding itself. There are an endless supply of bedding and duvets in any color or pattern that you can imagine. Wall hangings and decorations are another great way to include your personal style into your bedroom. Avoid hanging anything over the headboard though, as they can become dangerous if they fall.
Living room
The living room is the room that guests are likely to see most often, so decorating a living space in neutrals with a pop of bright color here and there is often very common.
A living room is a great place to put your personal items—family photographs, personal keepsakes, and collected artworks are all wonderful examples of things that can make an ordinary living space your living space
Moving to a senior living apartment can be a difficult task. It often involves downsizing and getting rid of a lot of items. But there is no reason that decorating your senior living apartment can’t be a fun and creative job. Keep functionality in mind and add your own personal touch, and your senior living apartment can live up to your highest expectations.
A map of the Grand River entrance to Lake Michigan at Grand Haven. (Supplied/NOAA)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
As part of a bipartisan effort to update decades-old maps that assess ecological risks to Lake Michigan, including oil spills and natural disasters, Michigan’s U.S. Sen. Gary Peters and U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga joined a group of federal legislators last week to reintroduced legislation to update the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps of the Great Lakes.
The legislation, announced May 7, would direct the Great Lakes Region ESI maps to be updated for the first time in more than 20 years, according to supplied material, joining maps for the East coast, West coast, and Gulf coast that have been updated more recently.
ESI maps, which are coordinated through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), document the potential ecological impacts to natural and human-use resources from possible oil spills, natural disasters, and resource damage. The latest maps can be found at the following link.
The maps will “provide accurate assessments of coastal resources that are at risk of severe damage or a natural disaster, including endangered and threatened species, sensitive shoreline habitats, and widely used community resources such as beaches, parks and boat ramps.”
This information is also used in “planning to create cleanup strategies before an accident occurs so that authorities are better prepared to take action if needed.”
Peters co-authored similar legislation that passed the Senate last September.
“The Great Lakes are an invaluable economic and environmental resource not just for Michiganders but for countless others across the nation, and it is critical that they are monitored and studied as closely as other shorelines and major bodies of water,” Sen. Peters (Democrat) said in supplied material. “This bipartisan legislation would provide scientists and researchers with the necessary tools and data to rapidly respond to a potential oil spill and keep the Great Lakes vibrant and strong for generations to come.”
Rep. Huizenga (Republican, Michigan 2nd District) echoed the importance of the legislation.
“Whether it is responding to rapidly evolving events such as a natural disaster or planning long term projects such as habitat restoration, we need to have reliable and accurate information available,” Rep. Huizenga said in supplied material. “Having up to date ESI maps are vital to correctly identifying vulnerable locations and establishing priorities to properly protect Michigan residents as well as the Great Lakes ecosystem.”
Last year, Sen. Peter urged NOAA work to update the ESI maps for the Mackinac Straits. But this new legislation would impact all the Great Lakes shorelines, including the West Michigan Lake Michigan shoreline.
The 21st Annual Mitchell’s Run Thru Rockford (MRTR), a 5K Run/Walk and Kids for Kids Fun Run, will take place in downtown Rockford on Saturday, August 17. Proceeds from this event are donated to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), a non-profit organization dedicated to the fight to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne).
This year, the annual 5k is sporting a new logo as well as a new website. Participants and spectators will be greeted on race day with the same amount of fun and energy as past years with some added entertainment and fun for the 21st race!
MRTR welcomes many new board members and supporters in 2019, most notably Anessa Fehsenfeld, the event’s new Race Director. After 20 years of producing the event, race founders Steve and Sandy Peterson, parents of the run’s namesake, Mitchell Peterson, are handing the baton over to Fehsenfeld to lead race directing responsibilities. The Petersons have become Honorary Board Members and will remain closely tied to the event and fundraising efforts.
“We are thrilled with the impact that MRTR has been able to make for Duchenne research and awareness here in the Rockford community and beyond,” said Steve Peterson, founder of MRTR and Race Director from 1998 – 2018. “When we met Anessa and learned more about her family and her connection to Duchenne, we knew this would be a great time to hand the keys over to someone so passionate and able. We are very excited to see MRTR continue on for its 21st year and many more.”
Anessa Gaydou-Fehsenfeld lives in Rockford with her husband Scott and three children, Bekah, Tyler and Hudson. In 2005, at the age of 6, her son Tyler was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Anessa is Chairman of the Board of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD). She graduated from Grand Valley State University with a BS in Leadership Management & Business. Anessa is a recreational runner, competing in numerous 5K races and completing her first half marathon in January 2019. She’s registered to run her first marathon in January 2020.
Every year millions of Americans are victims of scams or fraud. It is estimated that approximately 11% of the population experiences loss of money or personal property annually. While it can happen to a person at any age, older adults are often the most frequent targets for fraud. Older adults often have access to funds, excellent credit, and own their homes, making them attractive targets for criminals. In fact, older adults lose an estimated 2.9 billion dollars a year to fraud.
These are the current scams targeting older adults:
Grandchild Scam: A caller will sound distressed and claim to be a grandchild in trouble or in danger and beg to have money wired to them immediately. The best thing to do is to hang up and call family members to insure everyone is safe and sound.
IRS/Social Security Scam: A person could receive a call, an email or an official-looking letter, demanding immediate payment. They are told information will be forwarded to local law enforcement officials for arrest if they fail to pay. This is not the way any government agency collects debts. If you get this call, hang up immediately or delete the email without opening it.
Home Repairs: Beware of door-to-door home repair contractors. They intentionally seek out older adults, particularly those living alone. They may say they are ‘working down in your neighborhood’ and are offering discounted work while in the area. They claim you need an expensive repair you cannot do yourself, like a new roof, dangerous branches removed from a tree in your yard, or offer you an amazing deal on new windows. All they need is a deposit and they’ll get to work. The catch is, the deposit is usually a few thousand dollars and they never show up to do the work. The only contractor showing up to your door is the one you called yourself.
While it seems there are scams everywhere we turn, there are a few ‘rules of thumb’ we can use to protect ourselves from being fooled:
If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Criminals feed on our desires by offering us goods or opportunities we wouldn’t, in reality, be able to attain: vacations, money, miracle cures, property, etc. You can be sure there is always a hidden cost and we end up losing much more than we would have ever gained.
Never send money to someone you do not know. Any business or government agency you owe money to will send you the request through the mail. If a paperless billing notice arrives in your email and you didn’t initiate it, call the company directly to confirm it is from them.
Do not give personal or financial information to someone who calls, emails or shows up at your door. Avoid giving out your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you are positive you know who is requesting the information. Businesses you have accounts with will ask you to verify some information to make sure it’s you, like the last four-digits of your social security number, but they are confirming your information — not receiving it for the first time.
If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply, open any attachment or click on any link in the message. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information by email and you’re often opening a door to identity theft. You also risk downloading viruses or software that collects your personal information and/or disables your computer’s security
It’s important that we protect ourselves and share tips and information with family and friends who might also fall prey to these schemes.
If you’re ever unsure about whether you might be the victim of a scam there are several resources available to you. The Kent County Elder Abuse Coalition updates current scams frequently on their website here.
The Michigan Attorney General also has a consumer alert webpage here.
If you believe you may be a victim of a scam, you can call them at (877) 765-8388.
Of all the reasons to visit a hospital, childbirth may be the absolute best.
The goal is to have mom and baby return home as soon as possible, happy and healthy.
Unfortunately, even in the 21st century, this isn’t always the case. Risk is inherent in the birth process.
Would you be surprised to learn that maternal mortality rates in the U.S. are headed in the wrong direction? It’s true.
According to the CDC, the rate of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. has been worsening for some time, jumping from 7.2 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987 to 18 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2014.
To improve birth outcomes, hospitals have turned to 21st century innovations.
Precision measurement
In childbirth, there is always some blood loss on the part of the mother, not just during delivery but during postpartum recovery, too.
This can sometimes become a major concern, given that hemorrhaging is a leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the U.S.
Consequently, it’s vital to get detailed information about the volume of blood loss during vaginal deliveries and during C-sections, as it helps providers take quick and appropriate action when the moment demands.
Gauss Surgical, a Silicon Valley-based company, has developed technology to improve this process.
The company’s Gauss Triton system pairs artificial intelligence with a readily available iPad to give providers highly precise measurements of a mother’s blood loss.
The Triton app, downloaded directly to the iPad, can analyze visually and materially.
In instances of vaginal delivery, the Triton system can calculate for blood loss by weighing the blood-absorbent items that are used during delivery. The software effectively analyzes the weight of the used items and compares this to the pre-surgery weight of the items. With each hospital system using specific brands and sizes of sponges or swabs, it allows the software to make highly detailed assessments.
In C-section deliveries, the technology is all the more fascinating.
The doctor or nurse can point an iPad camera at the sponges or swabs used to clean blood and snap a photograph, allowing the system to scrutinize the image for hemoglobin and blood content.
The AI at work in this case is much like the AI used in facial recognition, only instead of analyzing faces, the system analyzes a blood-soaked swab or sponge.
Providers can immediately assess that data, helping them accurately monitor blood loss volume.
Altogether, the system is a tremendous upgrade from the approaches of yesteryear.
“Traditionally, we have weighed blood-soaked items to estimate how much blood has been lost,” said Carolyn Leja, CNM, director of women’s and infant services at Spectrum Health.
That approach had its obvious weaknesses, particularly in overestimating or underestimating blood loss. (It’s difficult, for example, to visually distinguish blood from other fluids on a sponge.)
The response to blood loss during delivery can depend on timing—how far along in the delivery process things have progressed if a problem arises. Where one response mandates medication as a method to slow delivery, another may require a blood transfusion.
More accurate measurements at the right time can lead to more precise responses, something the Gauss system helps providers achieve at critical moments.
By quickly identifying instances of hemorrhage, for example, the technology can reduce the need for blood transfusions and shorten a patient’s length of stay.
“The scanning technology helps assure that we are intervening at the right point,” Leja said. “This tells us within a few CCs how we are doing.”
Smarter AI
Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital has been using the Triton technology since December. The weight system is used in normal deliveries and the optical system is used in C-sections. It’s the first hospital in Michigan to use the new technology.
Spectrum Health Ventures is one of 10 investors in Gauss Surgical’s Triton artificial intelligence technology.
The larger plan is to incorporate the technology into all labor and delivery rooms.
“We worry about blood hemorrhages,” said David Colombo, MD, chief of Spectrum Health Maternal Fetal Medicine. “Young healthy people giving birth don’t consider risks, but we treat every case with potential risks in mind. When you talk about a patient hemorrhaging, well, this is the stuff we lose sleep over.”
As with many things involving today’s species of artificial intelligence, it is nothing short of remarkable.
Any technology that enhances the delivery process and improves outcomes—particularly by perfecting data collection and reporting—is a useful addition to the health care environment.
“There are lots of steps we can take,” Leja said. “We just want to be prepared for every delivery.”
With measles, mumps and other outbreaks making headlines, one local expert said we should set our sights on another adults-only ailment making a comeback:
Shingles.
“I just know I’ve seen a lot of it lately,” said Christina Leonard, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Spectrum Health. “Because of that, I certainly encourage the vaccinations. You see these cases, and they’re often preventable. People can be really devastated by shingles.”
Here are seven things Dr. Leonard believes you should know about the shingles:
1. Cases are on the rise
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one million people will get shingles this year, and one in three people will get shingles in their lifetime.
“The baby boomers are getting into their twilight years,” Dr. Leonard explained. “They were all people who didn’t get the (chickenpox) vaccine that were exposed to the virus. As you age, your immunity wears off.”
2. Blame it on chickenpox
Shingles are caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.
According to the CDC, “after a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in the body. For reasons that are not fully known, the virus can reactivate years later, causing shingles.”
3. Remember, shingles start with tingles
Shingles start with a tingling sensation, Dr. Leonard said.
“The onset is you get a tingling or an itching,” she said. “That’s usually one of the first symptoms. The rash doesn’t usually come on until later. If you have that tingling or itching, and see these little red spots, you should get to your doctor right away and get on antivirals. You want to get evaluated right away.”
4. It’s often more serious than chickenpox
“Pain. That’s the thing that really bothers people the most, the exquisite pain of this rash,” Dr. Leonard said. “You don’t think it can be that bad. You think, ‘Chicken pox wasn’t that bad.’ But the second time around can bring nasty, nasty pain. It’s really debilitating.”
5. It can leave long-lasting effects
Shingles sufferers run the risk of developing post-herpetic neuralgia, which is the persistent nerve pain that lingers after you’ve had shingles.
“Most people don’t realize that this can stick around forever,” Dr. Leonard said.
6. Luckily, it doesn’t spread easily
“One of the other questions we get a lot is, ‘Am I contagious?’” Dr. Leonard said. “You can go to work. You just want to keep it covered. If you keep it covered, it’s not a big deal. If you’re around someone with a weak immune system, such as someone who’s pregnant, you should be extra cautious.”
7. There is a vaccine
Dr. Leonard said the shingles vaccine is often 100 percent covered by insurance, and recommended for anyone age 50 or older. It used to be age 60, but many younger people are getting shingles and the age was reduced by the CDC to 50.
“It gives you enough of a boost,” she said. “Even if you get the shingles vaccine, you can still get the shingles, but it decreases the severity and decreases the likelihood of long-term nerve pain.”
Kent District Library is proud to be the first library in the country to introduce MagnusCards®, a new initiative to assist patrons with cognitive special needs such as autism. Canadian company Magnusmode created MagnusCards®, a mobile app which leverages technology to empower and aid people as they engage in a variety of everyday activities.
MagnusCards® offers digital “Card Decks” which provide step-by-step instructions that walk the user through a variety of activities. KDL’s custom app offers five different Card Decks to help individuals check out materials at the library and utilize other services. Card Decks include:
Getting a library card
Using a self-checkout station
Using the KDL catalog and placing holds
Logging into a computer at the library
What to expect at the library
The cards include graphics, text and audio, so they can assist people with various disabilities, including visual and hearing impairments. They are available in both English and Spanish.
“It is important to us that all our patrons can effectively use the free services we have to offer,” said Michelle Roossien, LBPH Specialist at the Wyoming branch of KDL. “This is an important step to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and welcome at our branches.”
Downloading this easy to use app is free on both Apple and Android devices. To download, search using MagnusCards®, then create a login to get started. Once inside, search for Kent District Library.
“The Sixties are now considered a historical period, just like the Roman Empire.“
~Dave Barry
The Vibe keynote speaker Josh George, a six-time Paralympic world champion and world record holder. (Courtesy/Josh George’s website)
I’m pickin’ up good vibrations
Get your tickets TODAY if you plan to attend The Vibe, a gala benefiting Kentwood Parks and Recreation’s adaptive recreation programs, on Friday, May 17. The Vibe will highlight the City’s adaptive water sports programs, which include kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, wake boarding and water skiing for all ages and abilities. Tickets for the semi-formal event are $100 per person and can be purchased online at kentwoodvibe.com or by calling 616-656-5270. More on the story here.
Tickets must be purchased in advance by Friday, May 10.
These boots are made for walkin’ (well…)
It’s not only elite athletes and experienced runners who are preparing for this weekend’s 42nd River Bank Run. For the ninth year, former and current residents of Dégagé Ministries Open Door Women’s Center will participate in the Amway River Bank 5k Walk. Dégagé’s walking group, the ‘Heartside All Stars for Health’, is a group of approximately 12 women who have overcome or are working to overcome things like poverty, addiction and homelessness. With the support of Dégagé’s staff and volunteers, the organization’s walking group totals nearly 30 people. For more information, go here.
Courtesy Air Zoo
Can’t get no satisfaction? Check out these six destinations
Bored? Don’t be. The Air Zoo, Binder Park Zoo, Gilmore Car Museum, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, and the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) Bird Sanctuary and Manor House are partnering for the sixth year of the Southwest Michigan Cultural Membership Exchange. Guests presenting a valid membership card and photo ID from any of these organizations can enjoy free admission at any of the six destinations May 1–31. More here.
Fun fact:
$4,743
That’s what the average salary was in the U.S. in the 1960s. But then, a loaf of bread was 45 cents, the average new car cost $2,752, and gas was about 31 cents a gallon. Ah, yes. The good, old days.
It’s the little things that count when building a successful routine, according to professional speaker, corporate trainer, certified coach and author Michelle Steffes.
Steffes, who recently was honored as Byron Center’s Small Businessperson of the Year for 2019, sat down with WKTV volunteer anchor Meochia Thompson, to discuss the science of habits and how to build a successful routine.
“The science of habits is understanding how to manipulate the mechanics of your body to have habits that maintain,” Steffes said. “So it is looking at your life from the moment you wake up in the morning to when you close your eyes at night is really the key to maintaining longterm habits.
“We all have intrinsic alarms clocks inside that go off so we need to set those alarm clocks by forming behaviors that will help us repeat those habits again and again.”
Steffes has completed more than 10,000 hours of study in neuroscience, physiology, and human behavior. Her studies and passion to see people win inspired her to release her book, “Your Journey to Greatness Through Routine: A Step by Step Guide to Creating a Success Routine” last year. In the book, she teaches people how to develop a successful routine.
“A success routine has to have several components to it. You have to have a time to unplug, a specific time to motivate and inspire everyday,” Steffes said, adding that it is a not difficult to create a successful routine as you are exchanging one thing for another. She also pointed out that it is simple things such as changing what you listen to that make the biggest impacts.”
The book includes case studies and online tools to help people build those successful routines. Steffes said it can take anywhere for 21 to 30 days for a routine to become a habit as the brain builds new pathways for that specific routine.
