It will be June before there is any broad-based restart of any economic activity, said Paul Isely, associate dean and professor of economics in the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University.
State health officials have said the number of COVID-19 cases in Michigan will peak in early to mid-May. Based on that, Isely said the West Michigan economy will now see a decline larger than $3 billion.
“Right now, this recession looks like it will be a little bigger than the 2008-09 recession,” he said. “About 41 percent of the $3 billion decline is the slowdown in manufacturing and 26 percent is entertainment, food services and retail.”
Isely said about 10 million people across the country have applied for unemployment during the last two weeks, matching the level of unemployed people in 2009-10. More people are expected to apply in the next two weeks.
“The good news is many of those people have been able to apply for unemployment benefits and most, not all, will be helped by that aid,” he said.
Isely said the crisis caused by COVID-19 will be something economists haven’t seen before in modern times.
“But, it’s still looking like there’s a possibility of a fast tail on this, meaning manufacturing will be able to ramp up relatively fast — in one to three months — once we get into late May or June,” he said. “And that means this recession, unlike the last three recessions, has the possibility of us recuperating many of those job losses in a relatively short period of time in the course of the year.”
The State of Michigan, like most governmental agencies, puts out press releases to media sources on a wide-range of issues almost daily. Some are important for the public to know; some are just routine governmental business. Some make the news and some do not.
We at WKTV have decided that in these times of COVID-19, of often-filtered news, we’d let the state departments say what they want to say to the pubic a little more directly. Following are links to State of Michigan releases from April 3-4 — with a little emphasis given by our staff on what we found interesting.
State takes action to protect quarantined workers rights
Governor Gretchen Whitmer last week signed an executive order prohibiting all employers from “discharging, disciplining, or otherwise retaliating against an employee for staying home from work if they or one of their close contacts tests positive for COVID-19 or has symptoms of the disease,” the order states.
“People who are prioritizing the health and safety of their families, neighbors, and loved ones during this crisis should not be punished by their workplace,” Gov. Whitmer said. “Staying home and staying safe is one of the most important things we can do to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan, and this executive order will ensure more people can do so without facing discrimination from their workplace.”
Most state parks are open, but there are restrictions
A vast majority of State of Michigan parks and recreation areas, state-managed trails and boating access sites remain open to provide local opportunities to get outdoors, but most locations have modified services or closed amenities. And the situation could change if there are abuses of social distancing and crowd avoidance requirements.
Recently, according to a state press release, Tippy Dam Recreation Area in Manistee County was closed until further notice due to high numbers of visitors, lack of improper social distancing and people traveling long distances to reach the park.
“In order to continue to keep state parks and trails open, we expect everyone to follow effective social distancing practices, to not litter and not travel long distances to enjoy the outdoors,” Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, said in supplied material. “If concerns continue to build, the DNR will have to look at closing or further limiting access to our state-designated trails, state parks, boating access sites and other outdoor locations.”
Out of the overwhelming safety concern for visitors and staff, as well as in following state and federal guidelines, Mackinac State Historic Parks has made the decision to delay the opening of the historic sites on Mackinac Island and in Mackinaw City.
They are now planning on the following TENTATIVE opening dates:
These Mackinac Island sites will tentatively open Friday, May 22: • Fort Mackinac • The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum • Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center • Fort Holmes Blockhouse • Mission Church • Bark Chapel • Restrooms at Arch Rock and British Landing
The Biddle House, featuring the Mackinac Island Native American Museum, will open at a date to be determined, due to construction delays. The British Landing Nature Center will still open May 23, and Historic Downtown Mackinac will open June 6.
The following Mackinaw City sites are scheduled to open on Saturday, May 23: • Colonial Michilimackinac • Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse • Restrooms adjacent to the Colonial Michilimackinac Visitor’s Center and within Michilimackinac State Park
Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park is now scheduled to open on Saturday, June 6.
This is an ever-changing and fluid situation, and these dates are subject to change.
Mackinac State Historic Parks looks forward to welcoming guests to Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City and celebrating it’s 125th anniversary this summer.
Mackinac State Historic Parks, a family of living history museums and parks in northern Michigan’s Straits of Mackinac, is an agency within the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Its sites—which are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums—include Fort Mackinac, the Biddle House, The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, Historic Downtown Mackinac, and Mackinac Island State Park on Mackinac Island, and Colonial Michilimackinac, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park and Michilimackinac State Park in Mackinaw City. Mackinac State Historic Parks is governed by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, established in 1895 to protect, preserve and present the parks’ rich historic and natural resources for the education and recreation of future generations. Visitor information is available at (231) 436-4100 or on the web at www.mackinacparks.com.
Today, more Americans are living longer, meaning that more couples are going through the aging process together. If you and your spouse are considering options for assisted living, here are a few areas to research while planning.
Does the community meet our needs as a couple?
Not all assisted living communities are prepared to support a couple’s needs. In the past, the vast majority of people living in senior communities were single individuals, so it’s necessary to find out how each community has adapted to serving couples. For instance, some facilities offer shared rooms or suites, whereas other living situations might require couples with different medical conditions to live in different wings. Consider your dynamic as a couple and decide what living arrangement is a priority for you.
Does the community meet our needs as individuals?
Often, one partner is less healthy than the other or needs more involved medical care. Perhaps one spouse needs constant help with daily tasks, while the other is able-bodied and interested in an active lifestyle. It’s imperative to find out how the community is suited to these needs. Does the social life of the community appeal to both of you as individuals? Is the more active partner comfortable with leaving their spouse in the care of the medical staff?
Also, look ahead a few years and find out how any future health developments will be handled. You will want to be aware of possible adjustments ahead of time, such as the cost of outside services or requirements for changing facilities. In light of your different medical conditions, consider how the community’s policies may impact you and your spouse. Make educated plans for eventualities such as moving into separate facilities when one partner’s medical conditions change.
What are our financial options?
Assisted living can be expensive, so it’s best to make plans as early as possible. Research which type of assisted living will be best for you and your spouse: continuing care retirement communities offer many phases of senior living in one location, family care homes have a small number of residents in a home setting, and skilled nursing facilities offer specialized care options. Depending on which arrangement you choose, you may have the possibility of tiered pricing packages designed to reflect the differing types of care provided for each person.
Here are three tips to making the transition as a couple a little easier:
Make a downsizing plan. Most living arrangements will be smaller than the homes many couples own together
Prepare to make the new home as welcoming as possible! Creating a comfortable and functional space, including familiar household items, will help ease the transition.
Understand the community’s intimacy policies. Take the time to make arrangements with the community, particularly if one or both partners require memory care or if medical treatment compromises privacy. Maintaining intimacy as a couple is essential, no matter what our age.
Talk to each other about your social plans. If your significant other wants to live in a community with a lot of social activity and you don’t, it’s important to communicate how you will accommodate each of your needs without conflict.
Keep these ideas in mind as you and your partner approach your transition to the next stage of life. While the move to assisted living is a big step, having a plan in place will help everything go smoothly and prevent the need to make huge decisions during a crisis. Keep your needs in mind, both as a couple and as individuals with unique medical needs and social interests. With a plan in place for approaching this critical phase, the transition to assisted living can be an excellent step forward in a couple’s journey together.
Migraines might be a mystery for many, yet sufferers have more tools and knowledge available to them today to combat the debilitating headaches. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Migraines affect more than 39 million Americans, and about 4 million of them suffer from the chronic form of the disease of 15 or more migraine days a month.
Those who suffer from these debilitating headaches frequently encounter difficulty in getting appropriate treatment when they seek help. The reason? Misunderstanding and the unfortunate fact there is no concrete test for migraines.
To clear up some of the misconceptions, I’ve compiled a short myths quiz so you can test your own knowledge and challenge those around you to do the same.
Myth 1: My headache is not a migraine because I do not have an aura.
Most people with migraines do not experience aura with their headaches. An aura is a sensory disturbance caused by changes in electrical activity in the brain that can precede migraines and is most commonly visual in nature (flashing lights, zig-zag lines) but can also involve numbness, changes in speech or other symptoms. Only about 30 percent of people with migraines experience an aura.
Myth 2: There really is not much I can do to prevent a migraine.
A healthy lifestyle is important in migraine prevention. Adequate exercise and avoidance of tobacco and highly processed foods often goes a long way toward fewer migraines. Sleep is another common factor. Improving your migraine pattern is difficult when you have poor quality or insufficient sleep.
Myth 3: My headache is a tension type headache.
Remember Myth 1. Most people do not get an aura. The International Headache Society has released diagnostic guidelines on migraines that are based on things like duration, severity and associated symptoms. Headaches that are severe enough to discuss with your doctor and also involve nausea or light and sound sensitivity are usually migraines. However, it’s always important to seek medical advice to rule out other causes of your symptoms.
Myth 4: Medications don’t work to prevent my migraines.
There are a lot of reasons acute and preventive medications fail for any given person. Preventive agents (things taken every day with a goal to eventually decrease frequency of migraines) typically take months to be effective once you are on an adequate dose. Giving up on a medication too soon or before an effective dosage has been determined by your physician dooms the attempt. Maintaining open and consistent communication with your doctor is important. Also, remember to focus on the lifestyle factors mentioned in Myth 2.
Myth 5: Despite my nausea, if I keep my pill down it may really help my migraine.
Let’s talk about why acute medications (those taken at the start of a headache to get more immediate resolution of pain) fail. If you are nauseated when you take a pill, you aren’t likely to see results quickly. During migraines (especially when nausea is prominent) the gastrointestinal system slows. That pill has to not only make it to your stomach, but also move to the intestines to be absorbed. If you’re just barely able to keep it down, then it’s unlikely to provide much benefit. You might want to explore other options such as intranasal sprays, injectable therapies or suppositories. They tend to be a lot more effective when nausea is present.
Myth 6: It’s just a low-grade migraine. I shouldn’t take anything for it until it gets severe.
Imagine trying to put out a campfire with a bucket of water. Now imagine trying to put it out with that same bucket of water after you’ve let the fire significantly spread. Which scenario is likely to work? Clearly, dampening the fire before it gets out of control is more likely to extinguish it. Migraines work the same way. The earlier you take the medication once you start experiencing pain, the more likely you are to successfully stop the migraine before it gets out of control.
Myth 7: I can take an acute medication every day for my migraine.
Studies have shown that acute medications used for migraines can actually increase the frequency of migraines if taken too frequently. Typically, this happens after two to three days per week of acute medication use. This is akin to daily coffee drinkers waking up one morning with a headache because they slept in and missed their morning cup. The same thing happens with acute medication for migraines, but with even fewer days of use. If you are feeling the need to use your acute migraine medications too frequently, then it’s time to talk to your doctor about preventive measures.
WKTV Community Media is all about the communities of Wyoming and Kentwood, as well as our community volunteers who live all over West Michigan — community people who bring life to our building and to our work. So in these days of social distancing we at WKTV wanted to keep us all a little more connected.
So, we asked people to “Tell us how are spending your time?” How has your life and work changed due to the COVID-19 restrictions? What has stayed the same in your life. What advice would you give to the other WKTV community members, and the public at large?
Riley Zoet, volunteer cameraperson and sports intern
“Things around here are pretty boring for the most part. I’m certainly jealous of people who live with friends or significant others right now as I have been stuck in the house alone. I’ve made more FaceTime and phone calls these past couple weeks than I have in a long time.
Riley Zoet.
“Like many others, I am laid off from work, which initially was a welcome break from what was becoming an exhausting stretch for me, but now I’d beg for a chance to go back. Even more, however, I miss working with the WKTV crew. I was excited for the Gold Gloves boxing tournament and the other upcoming projects for the station.
“I felt like my life was on a good path before all of this, so the stop in momentum has certainly been taxing. Even things like writing and studying film are becoming difficult during this period of stagnation.”
And his words of wisdom:
“Regardless, I hope everyone is doing well, staying healthy and trying to stay sane. We’ll get through this as individuals, as a country and as a planet. Survival is one of humanity’s defining traits.”
Thank you Riley, for all you do.
Interested in learning more about WKTV Community Media, maybe getting involved with our volunteer community? Visit https://wktv.org.
“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.”
Voltaire
Meijer Gardens horticulturist Laura Worth leads a virtual tour of the back greenhouses at the Gardens. (Meijer Gardens)
Let’s meet at The Gardens when all this is over
Can’t wait for working in the garden? Meijer Gardens works the year around. Take a tour with horticulturist Laura Worth as she leads a tour of the back greenhouses, where the horticulture team stores and grows many of the plants that make Meijer Gardens beautiful. Go here for the video.
National Museum of Natural History. (Supplied)
Look at the tusks on that elephant!
One of the world’s most visited museums for good reason, the National Museum of Natural History branch of the Smithsonian is magic at keeping kids of all ages entertained and learning. Go here for the virtual tour.
“All the Small Things” video remix 2020 by MDs vs COVID (YouTube) 2020
A little music, just for the fun of it …
In late March, a group of students at Harvard Medical School created “FutureMDs vs. COVID” and, as young people are want to do, created a video with an update of Blink 182’s “All The Small Things”. A little silly, a little good advice, a little heart. Go here for the music video.
Fun fact(s):
Winning at Go Fish
Playing a lot of card games with your kids? Tired of letting them win or, worse, them accidentally winning? Here is how to reach your kids how to beat you at Go Fish. Winning at Go Fish.
Produce from Grand Valley State University’s Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) will be donated to the needy in an effort to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
SAP, the university’s educational farm, is located just south of the Allendale Campus.
Youssef Darwich, farm manager and educator, said plans on where to donate the crops are still being finalized. Darwich has been maintaining the farm alone, without student help, in order to practice social distancing.
“The garden has to keep going. The food system is a really important asset and we want to get it to the people who need it,” he said. “We want to do whatever we can to give back.”
Darwich said, in about a month, radishes, beets, carrots, lettuce and green onions will be harvested.
The typical harvest season is May-October. Darwich said moving forward, he will shift to planting more hearty foods, like peppers, cucumbers, turnips, squash, tomatoes and melons.
He said farm shares may be available later in the season; share members of the garden are mostly faculty and staff members.
“Now, more than ever, we are reminded of the importance of being healthy and the foundation of health is good food,” said Darwich. “It’s an age-old saying — ‘let food be thy medicine.’ I really encourage everyone to focus on eating healthy to make you as strong as possible.”
As communities continue to comply with staying safe at home, families everywhere cite an increasing need for at-home activities that provide both entertainment and education. Lakeshore Museum Center has addressed this growing need by making many resources available for family members of all ages.
“This is definitely a difficult time,” stated Jackie Huss, Program Manager at the museum. “But while we may not be able to offer our traditional programming, we are continuing to find ways to serve and support the community.”
From the comfort and safety of home, patrons can enjoy a virtual historic visit by browsing and viewing the museum’s collection at lakeshoremuseum.org/our-collection. In addition, the museum has made it easy to find an activity for each member of the family, all in one place.
“We have created a page on our website dedicated to fun and educational resources and activities that can be done at-home,” shared Huss. “Just like at the museum, there’s something for everyone!”
From science and other videos to podcasts and downloadable activity booklets, links to crafts for young kids, the mini mastodon scavenger hunt map and more, multiple resources are waiting to be discovered and enjoyed, all made available by the museum, free of charge.
Families are encouraged to check the webpage often as the museum is continually updating it with new information and fun ideas. Adults can also join in by sharing their experiences during this difficult time to be submitted in a social diary for the museum archives.
Said Huss, “Just because we are all having to stay at home, doesn’t mean we can’t still learn and have fun.”
As the Lenten season comes to a close, Most Reverend David J. Walkowiak, bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, will celebrate the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. The public is invited to participate in all liturgies online as public Masses in the diocese remain canceled in accordance with Governor Whitmer’s “Stay Home. Stay Safe.” Order.
Sunday, April 5, at 10 a.m., Bishop Walkowiak will celebrate Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem where he was welcomed by crowds worshiping him and laying down palms before him.
Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m., Bishop Walkowiak will celebrate chrism Mass. At this Mass, the bishop consecrates the holy chrism and blesses the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens. Chrism is used throughout the year in the celebration of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, and at the ordination Masses celebrated at the cathedral. During this Mass, the priests of the Diocese of Grand Rapids also publicly renew their commitment to serve.
Holy Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m., Bishop Walkowiak will celebrate Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper. During this Mass, the bishop would usually commemorate Christ’s washing the feet of his twelve apostles at the Last Supper by washing the feet of members of the parish, but that ritual will not occur this year.
Good Friday, April 10, at 3 p.m., Bishop Walkowiak will begin the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, the time of suffering leading up to and including Christ’s death on the cross. This liturgy includes prayers, the Scriptural proclamation of Christ’s Passion and veneration of the cross.
Holy Saturday, April 11, at 9 p.m., Bishop Walkowiak will preside at the Easter Vigil. Parish communities throughout the diocese, including the cathedral, would have normally welcomed new members during this Mass, but their entrance into the Catholic Church will take place at a later time.
Easter, April 12, at 10 a.m., Bishop Walkowiak will celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. The Easter celebration is the principal feast of the Catholic Church year; the cornerstone upon which our faith is built and the oldest feast of the Christian Church.
Live webcasts of all liturgies will be available for viewing on the Diocese of Grand Rapids website, grdiocese.org and the diocesan Facebook page (Diocese of Grand Rapids).
Mass on Palm Sunday and Easter will be televised live at 10 a.m. on FOX 17. The Good Friday liturgy at 3 p.m. on April 10 will also be televised on FOX 17.
Kent County Health Department’s Guiding Light building has 24 private rooms and a bunk area able to serve as an isolation facility for homeless persons. (Kent County Health Department)
Following last week’s action by homeless community advocate Guiding Light Works to temporarily turn over the keys to its facility at 255 S. Division in Grand Rapids to the Kent County Health Department, the health department announced today that it was ready to start accepting and isolating homeless persons.
In an afternoon announcement Friday, March 3, the Health Department confirmed completion of its work to prepare the facility as an isolation center for those experiencing homelessness who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are awaiting test results. The facility today began accepting patients who are referred from community hospitals.
“Guiding Light has always been a valued partner, but now more than ever, we appreciate their collaboration, sacrifice, and generosity,” Dr. Adam London, Kent County Health Department Director, said in supplied material. “Our goal is to provide a safe place for people who are experiencing homelessness to recover from the coronavirus and to minimize the transmission of the virus.”
The facility has 24 private rooms, a bunk area, six bathrooms, and a full-service kitchen that can accommodate up to 60 individuals when fully staffed.
“Our staff has done a tremendous job transitioning this facility into an isolation center,” London said. “They have worked tirelessly to assess the medical and operational needs to ensure individuals using this facility are well cared for during their recovery.”
A sign on the door of the Kent County Health Department’s Guiding Light designed to serve as an isolation facility for homeless persons. (Kent County Health Department)
The development of this facility would not have been possible without the partnership of the City of Grand Rapids and the non-profit community, as well as the generosity of Amway Corporation and Meijer Inc. who donated household and hygiene items, according to the health department statement.
“This is a very strategic and important public health intervention which will save lives,” London said.
Guiding Light’s offering use the building was key to the effort.
“As we have watched the spread of COVID-19 through our community, we have been increasingly alarmed to realize there was no announced coordinated plan to care for the men and women struggling with addiction, mental health issues and homelessness in the Heartside community,” Stuart Ray, Guiding Light executive director, said in supplied material announcing the use agreement last week.
“So Guiding Light stepped up, much as we have done every day for the past 90 years of caring for the most vulnerable in our society. We felt it was our God-given responsibility to step forward to make available a safe, clean and secure isolation space in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19 in our Heartside community. Without access to proper sanitation or the ability to physically distance, an outbreak in Heartside would ravage this group of souls.”
Guiding Light is maintaining its rescue, recovery, and re-engagement programs at its Iron House facility.
For more information on Guiding Light Works visit their website at guidinglightworks.org.
Editor’s Note:Karoline Lehmann lives in Aalborg, Denmark, which is the country’s fourth largest city located in the northern part of Denmark. Karoline was an exchange student at Byron Center High School for the 2015-2016 school year.
Karoline Lehmann
The first reported case of COVID-19 in Denmark was made on Feb. 27. As of April 3, the country had 3,672 reported cases, 139 deaths, and 1,193 people have recovered. By invitation, Karoline wrote this piece about what she was seeing and experiencing in her country. This was written on March 31.
Twenty days ago, our prime minister closed the country down. Twenty days ago our whole world was turned upside down and our normal day-to-day life was put on hold. At first people went crazy. The pictures from the grocery stores all over the country was shocking and the exact opposite of what Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had told people to do. People were hoarding and it all looked like a bad case of Black Friday on steroids. Frederiksen told us to calm down because even though the country was closing our schools, restaurants, borders, etc. we wouldn’t be closing the grocery stores or pharmacies and we would still allow trucks with supplies and groceries to cross the border.
Luckily that helped and people slowed down. As I said before, we are now on our twentieth day of lockdown. It still isn’t a full lockdown like in Italy or France. We are still allowed to go outside in smaller groups. At the moment we are allowed to be up to 10 people at once, but we are advised not to, just as we are advised to stay around 10 feet away from people and meet outside instead of inside someone’s house.
And we are doing okay. We are still on the green graph (low end), especially in the north of Denmark, where there have not been very many cases and not a lot of people in the hospitals. It’s a different story in our capital, but still on the green graph. The reason for that is definitely because people are listening to the government. They are staying inside and aren’t going to others houses. And we are helping each other! Even though Danes have a reputation that they like to keep to themselves and mind their own business, people are really coming together and helping their neighbors with everything from grocery shopping to walking their dog or bringing cakes to their doorsteps. It’s amazing to see how we can stand together in crisis times like these.
Karoline Lehmann (center) was a student at Byron Center High School. (Supplied)
With that being said it is still a weird time for everyone. The city is almost ghost-like with no people and closed stores. Queen Margarthe II even gave a speech, which is normally only something she does on New Year’s, and no regent has done since World War II. On Instagram you see videos of fitness instructors who do classes outside big residential buildings so people can join in from their balconies and on Facebook you read appreciation posts of both our government and prime minister and our workers in all the critical jobs ranging from healthcare and social workers to truck drivers and the people working in the grocery stores.
Twenty days have gone by since we closed down due to this virus. It has been 20 days with fear, panic and uncertainty, but also 20 days where both the people in Denmark but also everywhere else in the world have shown adaptability, kindness and hope. We have survived the first 20 days, we can do 20 more, and 20 more after that, if that is what is needed of us to fight this pandemic.
Dennos Museum Center will be hosting Facebook live concerts. (Dennos Museum)
The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College, along with local artists, performers, and partners, is shifting gears in light of recent global developments. In an effort to continue providing top-notch educational and entertainment value to the greater Grand Traverse region and beyond, the Museum presents several new and updated programs. In addition, they remain in conversation with artists and arts organizations throughout Michigan to further develop programs and support initiatives.
The Live & Local Concert Series is presented by the Dennos Museum Center and Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology to bring some much needed musical entertainment to residents’ living room. They believe strongly in supporting local musicians, and invite you to join on Facebook Live to do the same. Featuring local singer-songwriters, this could be the beginning of an ongoing series, so stay tuned. You can also visit crosshatch.org/emergency to support their local artist relief fund.
Tune in on the Dennos Museum Facebook page, performers’ pages, or on the event page to watch Facebook Live concerts.
Performances by date:
May Erlewine – Monday, April 6 at 7 p.m.
Blake Elliot – Wednesday, April 8 at 7 p.m.
Jack M. Senff – Thursday, April 9 at 7 p.m.
E-Minor – Saturday, April 11 at noon
DRAW NoMI
Ongoing
Now in its sixth year, DRAW NoMI is a collaborative event that brings together arts organizations from all over Northern Michigan to present programming for our communities. During this time of staying home and being together only virtually, DRAW NoMI’s partners are all working hard to connect you and your family with the arts on social media and the web. Make sure to check the list below to learn how you can support them today.
The Dennos Museum Center recently began publishing twice-weekly videos with fantastic how-to-draw demos that are fun for the whole family. Narrated and drawn by Jason Dake, Curator of Education, these videos offer brief demonstrations and tips on a variety of drawing topics. They are posted to the Dennos Museum Center’s YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts on Mondays and Thursdays for the time being. Everyone is encouraged to share their creations on the Dennos Facebook page.
The digestive system is a pretty complex set of organs. When something goes wrong, you usually know about it soon thereafter. Here’s how to tell whether it’s something serious. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
From top to bottom, digestion is a pretty complicated process. And many digestive disorders can occur at almost any point along the journey from mouth to… well, you know.
Spectrum Health Medical Group gastroenterologist Ben Kieff, MD, shares the seven most common conditions and what to do about them.
The symptoms of many of these digestive diseases resemble each other, as well as other medical conditions or problems, Dr. Kieff noted. When in doubt, it’s always best to consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
1. Constipation is the most common digestion-related complaint.
Symptoms: Uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements.
Try this: Add fiber in your diet (think “an apple a day”), drink more fluids (go for eight glasses of water a day) and get more exercise (walk around the block).
When to get help: If constipation doesn’t go away, or if it seems to come out of nowhere, or if you’re in pain.
2. Lactose intolerance upsets the stomachs of up to 50 million Americans.
Symptoms: Nausea, cramps, bloating, abdominal pain, gas or diarrhea after consuming dairy products such as milk, cheese and ice cream. This is caused by the lack of an enzyme you need to digest the sugar in dairy products.
Try this: Limit dairy products and try lactase, an over-the counter pill to replace the missing enzyme.
When to get help: Now. Symptoms of lactose intolerance may resemble other medical conditions or problems.
3. Reflux (GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease) irritates 14 percent of the population.
Symptoms: Heartburn (acid indigestion), and in some cases, a dry cough, asthma symptoms and trouble swallowing. This happens when gastric acid flows from the stomach into the esophagus.
Try this: Avoid foods that trigger your symptoms, don’t eat just before bedtime, take antacids and other medications aimed at reducing stomach acid. And if you smoke, quit.
When to get help: If problems persist and diet and lifestyle changes don’t do the trick. Over time, GERD can damage your esophagus and can even lead to esophageal cancer.
4. Celiac disease (gluten intolerance) is gut-wrenching for one in 133 people.
Symptoms: Chronic diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain and gas, pale foul-smelling stool, anemia and more.
Try this: A gluten-free diet is a must. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. This may require a major change in your eating habits.
When to get help: Now. Symptoms of celiac disease are similar to those of other digestive diseases and intestinal infections.
5. Inflammatory bowel diseases (like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) attack 25 to 45 million people.
Symptoms: Diarrhea (sometimes bloody), abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue and more. Bowel disease may start if your immune system attacks your gastrointestinal tract.
Try this: There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but it may help to stop smoking, drink more fluids, exercise and experiment to see what foods you can eat safely. Smaller meals may help, too.
When to get help: Now. Find a doctor who won’t dismiss your symptoms and is willing to experiment with you for the best solution.
6. Gallstones are diagnosed one million times a year.
Symptoms: You could have gallstones without symptoms. If they grow larger or obstruct bile ducts, however, you may have a “gallstone attack” with pain, nausea and vomiting after a fatty meal, or at night.
Try this: If you’re diagnosed with gallstones during an ultrasound test, but you don’t have symptoms, take a wait-and-see approach before jumping into surgery.
When to get help: Immediately if you experience pain lasting more than five hours or sweating, chills, low-grade fever, yellowish skin or eyes and clay-colored stools.
7. Diverticular disease will pop up in one out of two seniors.
Symptoms: Cramps, bloating or constipation caused by inflammation of diverticula (small pouches) that bulge outward through the wall of the colon.
Try this: There may be a link to diet, so make sure yours includes 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day by eating whole grain foods, fruits, veggies and beans.
When to get help: Immediately if you experience pain on the left, lower abdomen, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills and cramping, as the diverticula may be infected.
The State of Michigan, like most governmental agencies, puts out press releases to media sources on a wide-range of issues almost daily. Some are important for the public to know; some are just routine governmental business. Some make the news and some do not.
We at WKTV have decided that in these times of COVID-19, of often-filtered news, we’d let the state departments say what they want to say to the pubic a little more directly. Following are links to State of Michigan releases from Thursday, April 2 — with a little emphasis given by our staff on what we found interesting.
https://www.wktvjournal.org/after-gov-whitmer-cancels-in-school-education-kent-isd-and-local-schools-exploring-options/For a special WKTV story on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer April 2 Executive Order 2020-35, which orders all K-12 school buildings to close for the remainder of the school year, follow this link.
Heath Department sets fines, other actions to enforce COVID-19 actions
In the wake of Thursday, April 2, reports that Michigan had recorded more than 10,000 cases of COVID-19 — with 417 deaths — the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued an Emergency Order setting a civil penalty of up to $1,000 and a process for referral to licensing agencies for violations of Executive Orders 2020-11, 2020-20 and 2020-21. Criminal penalties for violation will remain an option for prosecutors.
“A person can have coronavirus without knowing it,” Robert Gordon, MDHHS director, said in the release. “They can spread the disease to others who can spread it to others. The only way to stop the spread is social distancing. A civil penalty and potential licensing actions send a strong message to Michiganders that social distancing is essential to saving lives.”
An organization known for funding new business ideas through its Start Garden 100 initiative has adapted the competition to serve entrepreneurs whose businesses are critically impacted by COVID-19. The initiative, called The 100 Comeback, launched today by Start Garden with $300,000 of its own money. The intent is to provide grants to qualified entrepreneurs who can then use the money to support themselves and their families while they figure out how to make their comeback over the next 100 days.
Start Garden stresses that The 100 Comeback is not a small business relief fund. Rather it’s a grant to support the personal needs of entrepreneurs to be safe, care for their families and prepare for their comeback.
All applications must be submitted to 100.startgarden.com during a 100-hour window from Tuesday, April 7 at 8 a.m. to Friday, April 11 at noon. The website provides information for individuals, organizations and businesses wishing to learn more or financially contribute to The 100 Comeback.
“Our community, our residents and entrepreneurship itself is in crisis right now,” said Start Garden Co-Director Jorge Gonzalez. “While most federal and state relief is about a business and its employees, none address the entrepreneurs who didn’t have the time to grow their business to the point that their own families are supported for the next few months.”
New entrepreneurs often defer paying themselves in order to grow their business and they can’t lay themselves off. Almost all federal and state small business relief comes in the form of loans, and many new businesses can’t risk the additional leverage.
As the pandemic continued to make headlines and creep its way into West Michigan, Start Garden leaders huddled to discuss how to respond to the reality that the impact on the entrepreneurs will last months, with the ripple effects lasting potentially years. Their biggest initiative, currently underway, was the annual Start Garden 100, which provides $300,000 in prize money to 100 new ideas. The 2020 version of the event was recently announced and submissions were well underway.
Start Garden recently announced its competition would switch over to help those impacted by COVID-19. (Start Garden)
“It wouldn’t be right for Start Garden to award funds to new business ideas while a generation of entrepreneurs gets knocked down, not knowing if they can get back up,” said Start Garden co-director Paul Moore. “We exist to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem. To not do this would feel like we’re turning our backs on our risk-takers when they need us most.”
Start Garden officials hope the idea catches on in the business and philanthropic community and more funds can be added to the initial amount.
“West Michigan has a big heart, so we hope this idea sparks interest from those who can help out,” said Start Garden program director Laurie Supinski. “We’re making calls, but we also invite individuals and corporations to contact us.”
Current business owners who meet any of the following criteria can apply:
Have a demonstrated personal need.
Can verify their business was shut down, or severely impacted, as a result of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s executive orders.
Can verify the business has a loyal customer base.
Is located (or has a registered address) in Kent County.
Furthermore, additional allocations are available for minority- and women-owned businesses and tech companies that are connected with the Grand Rapids SmartZone.
“The funds we provide are not expected to be repaid, nor are we expecting any investment or favor from the person,” said Start Garden co-director Darel Ross II. “No entrepreneur should be worried about safety and shelter for their family, while carrying the burden to figure out how to reopen and rehire when the dust settles.”
“Although Start Garden has always been about getting new ideas and aspiring entrepreneurs off the ground, the reality is, entrepreneurship itself is going to be a disaster area if we don’t step in and support them during this difficult period,” addedSupinki. “We need local and diverse entrepreneurs to stay strong for the spirit of entrepreneurship to stay alive.”
Anyone interested in contributing or learning more about The 100 Comeback Fund can contact Laurie Supinski, program director and Belen Salas, program assistant. More contact information is available at 100ideas@startgarden.com or100.startgarden.com.
Record and upload a 100 second video that answers 3 simple questions:
What does your household need to get through the next few months? (You are not obligated to open your business right away. Instead, take the time needed to be safe, navigate this new business landscape and plan for the future.)
Share a little about your business: How long has it been open? What do you do? Who are your customers?
How has the COVID-19 shut down impacted you/your business?
Is there any minimum or maximum amount of money that an entrepreneur can be awarded?
Money is awarded on a case by case basis based on the needs of the entrepreneur; it’s not expected that each household will require the same amount to get through the next 100 days.
What is the selection criteria?
Individual need is a big factor as is the progress the company has been able to make since starting. Startups come in all shapes and sizes. To reiterate, this is not a small business relief fund. These are grants to individual entrepreneurs, so they can be safe and adapt to this changing landscape as they prepare to reopen and rehire.
Who is on the selection committee?
Start Garden is using the same process its uses for its Start Garden 100 initiative where selected entrepreneurs and entrepreneur support organizations weigh in and can factor heavily in the decisions. The final decision of funding, however, comes down to Start Garden organizers.
When will funds start to be distributed?
As soon as all the selections have been determined. Mid-April is the target date for funding distributions. All distributions will be a one-time, lump-sum amount.
Will all awardees find out at the same time if they won, or will this be a rolling process?
It’s expected that all awardees will be notified at the same time.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer today signed Executive Order 2020-35, which orders all K-12 school buildings to close for the remainder of the school year but urges the continuation of education through remote learning.
Gov. Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-35, issued Thursday, April 2, also guarantees school staff and teachers will be paid for the remainder of the school year, allows the sue of public school facilities to be used by public school employees and contractors for the “purposes of facilitating learning at a distance”, and assures that 2020 seniors will graduate this year.
As far as school-based standardized tests, the governor’s statement said that those previously scheduled for the remainder of the school year, including the M-STEP and the SAT, will be canceled. There will be a date in October for rising high school seniors to take the SAT and for other high school students to take the PSAT.
It also states that guidelines for “remote learning” for the remainder of the 2019020 school year will be issued, Friday, April 3.
While Wyoming and Kentwood school districts are looking to what those guidelines may be and how they may handle remote learning, the Kent ISD issued a statement detailing their actions.
“The Governor asked each school district and its staff provide instructional materials and opportunities for students to continue their education during this crisis,” Ron Caniff, superintendent of Kent ISD, said in a supplied statement following the governor’s order. “We are working with our schools, their superintendents and staff to respond to the governor’s request as quickly as possible.
“Our team is reviewing instructional plans from states across the country to create the best possible experience for students and their families, who will be essential in helping their children learn during this difficult time. Local districts are doing the same and have been actively designing plans since the school closure went into effect.”
Kent ISD school districts are working together to develop distance learning programming for all students, according to the Kent ISD statement. Some will be served online, while others will receive packets of educational materials delivered much as food is being provided for students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals while schools are closed.
“While all of the details have yet to be worked out, parents should check their district websites and wait for communication from their individual school district to learn the details for their students,” according to the statement.
Districts have also een working to verify students’ ability to access the internet and to marshal the technology necessary to reach as many students as possible, Caniff said.
During this crisis, many of the necessary elements – internet hotspots and inexpensive laptop computers – are in short supply as employees in all fields work from home. To help member districts, Caniff said the Kent ISD this week purchased 1,000 Chromebooks “and will continue to monitor district needs and resources available to ensure schools can reach all students to the extent possible.”
Governor continues action to blunt virus spread
Gov. Whitmer said the decision was forced by the current need to extend COVIF-19 restrictions into June, which she has called for legislative leaders to approve quickly.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during a 2019 event. (Air National Guard).
“For the sake of our students, their families, and the more than 100,000 teachers and staff in our state, I have made the difficult decision to close our school facilities for the remainder of the school year,” Gov. Whitmer said in a statement accompanying her executive order. “As a parent, I understand the challenge closing schools creates for parents and guardians across the state, which is why we are setting guidelines for schools to continue remote learning and ensuring parents have resources to continue their children’s education from the safety of their homes.”
The Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators and the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers will develop “a Continuity of Learning Plan template application for schools to utilize in order to create their localized plan,” according to the announcement of the governor’s action.
“District plans will need to detail how districts will provide opportunities for students to learn remotely and how schools will manage and monitor their progress,” the statement continues. “It will also provide information on how parents and guardians can learn more about the local plan. Each district must have its plan approved by their regional Intermediate school district (ISD) before being implemented. Public school academies must have their plans approved by their authorizer.”
Districts can also partner with one another to create joint plans.
“There is no video chat or homework packet that can replace the value of a highly trained, experienced teacher working with students in a classroom,” Gov. Whitmer said. “But we must continue to provide equitable educational opportunities for students during this public health crisis.”
If the plan relies on some online instruction, the district should ensure every student who needs it has access to an appropriate device with an ability to connect to the internet. “Students and families will not be penalized if they are unable to participate in their alternate learning plan,” the announcement states.
Governor’s action also allows other public school action
Gov. Whitmer also announced that schools should continue to provide mental health care services for students “to the extent possible,” and should be ready and willing to help efforts to establish disaster relief childcare centers. School districts will also continue to provide meals for families who need them during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Godfrey-Lee Public Schools and Godwin Heights Public Schools systems, and other local school districts, have already been providing meals to students during the school closures.
Also, if any schools have unused personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies or other materials, they are allowed and encouraged to donate them to organizations that could put them to use.
Additionally, school districts will have the flexibility to adopt a balanced calendar for the 2019-2020 school year and/or to begin the 2020-2021 school year before Labor Day without having to seek additional approval. Student teachers will still be able to get a temporary certification and current teachers will still be able to get their certifications renewed, even if they can’t meet all the requirements due to COVID-19.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Pure Michigan Business Connect program has launched a new grant program providing a total of $1 million in grants to Michigan’s small manufacturers looking to retool and produce critical health and human service supplies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The PMBC COVID-19 Emergency Access and Retooling Grants program will award grants of $10,000 to $150,000 to companies that can quickly and effectively manufacture critical health and human service supplies. Michigan small businesses (per SBA size standards) and established nonprofits are eligible to apply. Businesses can use the funds to support the purchase of equipment necessary to manufacture critical supplies, logistics and shipping costs of procuring necessary equipment, technology upgrades and other costs related to operationalizing new product lines.
To qualify, companies must submit an application at https://pmbc.connect.space/covid19/forms. Eligible applications will be reviewed based on ability to execute project; need for financial assistance; timeliness; product need in market; economic impact. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the total $1 million in grant funds are expended. To learn more about the program, visit here: https://www.michiganbusiness.org/pmbc-retooling-grants/.
While the program does not guarantee sales channels, the Pure Michigan Business Connect team will assist grantees by connecting them with demand identified through the COVID-19 Virtual Procurement and Donation Assistance portal. The portal, an effort of PMBC in collaboration with the State Emergency Operation Center, is a free, virtual procurement and donation platform that provides health and human service providers direct access to businesses within the state providing and donating supplies including personal protection equipment, food, medical devices, paper products, cleaning equipment and more.
The platform is also offering a place for companies with manufacturing capabilities for personal protection equipment to indicate which items (i.e. masks, gowns, ventilators) they are able to produce, along with quantity and timing detail. To learn more, visit here: https://www.michiganbusiness.org/virtual-procurement/.
Last week, the MEDC announced applications are now being accepted for the Michigan Small Business Relief Program, authorized by the Michigan Strategic Fund on March 19, to provide up to $20 million in grants and loans to provide economic assistance to Michigan’s small businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 virus. The funds are being administered by 15 local and nonprofit economic development organizations (EDOs) around Michigan, covering all 83 counties in the state. Visit https://www.michiganbusiness.org/msbrp for more information on how to apply.
In addition, michiganbusiness.org/covid19 also features other resources for businesses across Michigan to assist them in recovering from economic losses as a result of the COVID-19 virus. This includes U.S. Small Business Administration emergency loans, support services offered through the SBDC and more. The MEDC has also developed a FAQ for Michigan businesses and communities at michiganbusiness.org/covid19-faq
The Candied Yam owner Jessica Ann Tyson (left) said you have to be creative in letting people know your restaurant is still open. (Supplied)
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma joanne@wktv.org
When you walk into Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW, gone is the chatter of people with their coffee and donuts. Gone is the rush of church groups stopping in before or after service to pick up a dozen. Gone are the families out for a treat.
It is quiet, except for the phone ringing.
“It’s very much quieter,” said owner Marge Wilson. “We have a big rug out to show people where to stand and right in the middle we have a table to remind people to go on either side. Or people can sit out in their car and we’ll bring them the donuts. For that reason, the phone rings a lot more.”
The signs on the doors of Marge’s Donut Den make it clear that only takeout is available. (WKTV)
To encouraging social distancing, on March 16, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer banned events and gatherings of more that 50 people causing most of the West Michigan restaurants to eliminate dining in. Those who could or wanted, move to takeout, curbside or delivery options. Marge’s Donuts Den, which offered both takeout and dine-in, closed its doors to its dining area with only access to the donut counter available.
On March 23, Whitmer issued an executive stay-at home order, but encourage residents to support local restaurants by ordering takeout and/or have food delivered from area restaurants. Since then, numerous organizations, such as Eatgr, have worked to promote restaurants that are currently offering those options. Recently, the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce distributed a list of chamber restaurants that are open. (See the list below.)
The elimination for dine-in has meant a reduction of customers with Wilson stating she has reduced her hours. Now the popular donut shop closes at 4 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. But she is grateful to be able to provide jobs for her staff who need or want to work.
“It has reduced the staff because there are some who are too afraid to come and others have to stay home to stay with their kids,” she said. “But for those who want to work or need to work, they can.”
For many of the local business owners, helping their employees was a big decision in staying open.
“I could have just closed,” said Jessica Ann Tyson, owner of The Candied Yam, 2305 44th St. SE. Both Wilson and restaurant owner and State House Rep. Tommy Brann echoed the same in their comments. “But there are factors you have to consider. There are employees who if you can keep working means that it is at least one less person drawing on the system. The local vendors who we purchase quite a lot from, and the customers who don’t cook or don’t know how to cook.”
There is also the cost of shutting down and then reopening a kitchen which can cost $3,000 or more where as Tyson estimates it is costing her about $700 a week to stay open.
Tommy Brann, owner of Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille at 4157 Division, admits he often thinks about his employees. It is why he decided to stay open, offering takeout even though it only makes up about five percent of his business.
“I’m looking at chairs up and and an empty bar,” Brann said. “Much of our business is dine in. This is a place that people come with families to celebrate birthdays, weddings, showers, and sadly, funerals.
“This is a place where you are around people but sadly, right now we can’t do that and we understand why.”
For many of the restaurant owners we talked to, they understand the reasoning for the restrictions on gatherings. As a state representative for the Wyoming and Byron Center areas, Brann said he also has heard from a number of local business owners as well and there are some he fears may simply not reopen.
“You’ve got to be creative,” Tyson said. “We still feel obligated to offer specials so that seniors who are on a fixed income can still come as well as entice people to order.”
Tyson said her cost has gone up but she made an effort to keep her prices the same because she recognizes there are people who do rely on the restaurant for a good meal.
And she figures, if she is open she might as well share with those who are considered essential workers, doing a daily delivery to various individuals and organizations such as the Kent County Health Department’s Emergency Operations Center and a local milk operation.
“I am staying optimistic and getting my energy from other people and places,” Tyson said.
Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce member restaurants that are currently offering takeout and/or delivery:
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant 4515 28th St. SE Kentwood, MI 49512 (616) 730-8466
Noto’s Old World Italian Dining 6600 28th St SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546 (616) 493-6686
Dave & Buster’s 3660 28th Street SE Kentwood, MI 49512 (616) 224-8800
The Candied Yam 2305 44th Street S.E. Kentwood, MI 49508 (616) 551-3509
Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar 2720 44th St SW Wyoming, MI 49519 (616) 261-9464
Osta’s Lebanese Cuisine 2228 Wealthy St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 (616) 456-8999
Monelli’s Italian Grill & Sports Bar 5675 Byron Center Ave. SW Wyoming, MI 49519 (616) 530-9700
Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille 4157 S Division Ave Wyoming, MI 49548 (616) 534-5421
Hilton Garden Inn 2321 East Beltline Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546 (616) 608-8800
Apple Spice 701 68th St. SW #410 Byron Center, MI 49315 (616) 805-3288
Applebee’s – Wyoming 1375 28th Street Wyoming, MI 49509 (616) 261-2588
Buddy’s Pizza 4061 28th St. SE Kentwood, MI 49512 (616) 554-9663
Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar 2035 28th St SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508 (616) 241-2999
YoChef’s Catering Co. 34 44th St. SE Kentwood, MI 49548 (616) 608-3003
McDonalds 1221 28th St. SW Wyoming, MI (616) 531-6190
Marge’s Donut Den 1751 28th St. SW Wyoming, MI (616) 532-7413
Cindy’s Donuts & Ice Cream 4020 28th St. SE Kentwood, MI (616) 259-8295
Beltline Bar 16 28th St. SE Grand Rapids, MI (616) 245-0494
Bagel Beanery 455 Michigan NE Grand Rapids, MI (616) 235-7500
The State of Michigan, like most governmental agencies, puts out press releases to media sources on a wide-range of issues almost daily. Some are important for the public to know; some are just routine governmental business. Some make the news and some do not.
We at WKTV have decided that in these times of COVID-19, of often-filtered news, we’d let the state departments say what they want to say to the pubic a little more directly with COVID-19 related news. Following are links to State of Michigan releases from Wednesday, April 1 — with a little emphasis given by our staff on what we found interesting.
Despite rumors, medical professionals are allowed to cross into U.S.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, along with numerous other law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Michigan, are reporting that they are getting calls from concerned travelers that the border is shut down to medical professionals.
“These rumors that are currently circulating are false,” a state press release states. “The border remains open to all essential travel which includes medical professionals who are vital during these difficult times.”
Michigan National Guard on the job, helping FEMA in Detroit
Approximately 20 members of the Michigan National Guard assisted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with logistics support to establish a Federal Medical Station in Detroit this week.
“The Michigan National Guard stands ready to support Detroit in its fight against COVID-19,” Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said in the release.
Given their notoriously high salt content, packaged snacks may be one of the biggest culprits in your struggles with bloating and gas. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
If you often feel bloated after a meal, don’t be too quick to blame high-fiber foods. The real culprit might surprise you.
Your gut may be rebelling because you’re eating too much salt, a new study suggests.
“Sodium reduction is an important dietary intervention to reduce bloating symptoms and could be used to enhance compliance with healthful high-fiber diets,” said study researcher Noel Mueller, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.
He and his research colleagues looked at data from a large clinical trial conducted in the late 1990s known as Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension-Sodium, or DASH-Sodium for short.
Their conclusion: Consuming a lot of salt increases bloating, as does a healthy, high-fiber diet.
Although it’s not clear exactly how salt contributes, Mueller suspects fluid retention may be the key.
Eating more salt can promote water retention and make digestion less efficient, which can lead to gas and bloating, he said.
Studies in mice have shown that dietary salt can alter the makeup of gut bacteria. And that, in turn, can affect gas production in the colon, Mueller said.
“Our study suggests that selecting foods with lower sodium content, such as those that are not ultra-processed, may help relieve bloating in some people,” he said.
Bloating affects as many as a third of Americans, including more than 90% of those with irritable bowel syndrome. It’s a painful buildup of excess gas created as gut bacteria break down fiber during digestion.
For the current study, the researchers used findings from a 1998-1999 trial.
In that trial, the DASH diet—one low in fat and high in fiber, fruits, nuts and veggies—was compared with a low-fiber eating regimen. The trial’s goal was to learn how salt and other factors affected high blood pressure.
The new review found that about 41% on the high-fiber diet reported bloating and men had a bigger problem with it than women. And diets high in salt increased the odds of bloating by 27%.
“We found that in both diets, reducing sodium intake reduced bloating symptoms,” Mueller said.
The upshot is that reducing sodium can be an effective way to prevent gas—and may help people maintain a healthy, high-fiber eating regimen.
Many things can cause bloating—lactose intolerance, celiac disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, infection or other conditions, said Samantha Heller, a senior clinical nutritionist at New York University Langone Health.
“If someone is experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating on an ongoing basis, they should see their health care practitioner to see if the cause can be pinned down,” said Heller, who wasn’t involved with the study. “This way they will know how to manage the issue.”
Occasional bloating is not uncommon, she added.
To help you avoid excess gas and bloating, Heller offered these tips:
Increase physical activity.
Limit highly processed foods, such as fast food, frozen meals, junk food and fried food.
Increase your fluid intake and make peppermint tea part of it. Avoid carbonated beverages.
Eat more foods that are rich in fiber, such as vegetables, legumes and whole grains. Increase these slowly and in small portions and be sure to increase your fluid intake at the same time.
Have smaller meals.
The report was published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
WKTV Community Media is all about the communities of Wyoming and Kentwood, as well as our community volunteers who live all over West Michigan — community people who bring life to our building and to our work. So in these days of social distancing we at WKTV wanted to keep us a little more connected.
So, we asked people to “Tell us how are spending your time?” How has your life and work changed due to the COVID-19 restrictions? What has stayed the same in your life? What advice would you give to the other WKTV community members, and the public at large?
Cory Dalton, high school sports announcer and sports show host
Cory Dalton on the set of WKTV Journal Sports Connection. (WKTV)
“My job has not changed much as I am fortunate to still be working at this time. Just taking some extra precautions with social distancing, sanitizing, which I did a lot anyway. I’m spending my time just focusing on my family, my wife and two kids. We have been playing games, watching movies and conversing to past the time … also doing little projects together, which is always fun.”
And his words of wisdom:
“My advice to everyone during this time is to understand that this is real serious. This is a big deal. There are people actually dying behind this virus. Protect yourself. Sanitize your hands … stay home … only go out if it’s absolutely necessary. You don’t know if you are carrying this virus or not. This will past. Be patient and we will get back to normal living.”
Thank you Cory, for all you do.
Interested in learning more about WKTV Community Media, maybe getting involved with our volunteer community? Visit https://wktv.org.
Serita’s Black Rose comes to local stages in two styles — a big, brassy full band fronted by Serita Crowley and an acoustic duo when her beautiful voice really fills the sound-space. Both are perfect in their place, but there is no denying Crowley’s beautiful, soulful voice was made to be heard clearly.
WKTV caught up with Serita’s Black Rose, the stripped down version with only Crowley accompanied by Jon Hayes on guitar, on Feb. 20 of this year as part of our coverage of the City of Kentwood Winter Concert Series. And she did not disappoint.
If you’re feeling a little cooped-up by the COVID-19 restrictions — and who isn’t? — and longing for a community concert featuring local talent, catch Serita’s Black Rose’s concert on demand here as part of WKTV’s “From Your Couch” concert series.
Crowley proudly calls herself a “Funkateer”, and her big band does bring a “raucous mix of funk, rock, neo-soul and Americana,” she states on her website. But “as an acoustic duo, they play much of the timeless ‘feel good music’ from the 60’s and 70’s.”
We couldn’t agree more, as evidenced by the set WKTV has available.
Maybe it was just the crowd at Kentwood’s library, but she leaned heavily on her classic soft rock catalogue — Cat Stevens “Wild World”, for example — which does fit her “duo acoustic” voice perfectly.
Serita Crowley (WKTV)
But when she breaks out her harmonica and a little growl — on songs like the classic “Johnny b Goode” and The Doobie Brothers’ “Long Train Running (Without Love)” — things really get moving. And near the end of the set, she really shines on a great cover of one of my all-time favorites, the Steve Winwood (with Blind Faith) classic “Can’t Find My Way Home” … Oh, ya. It’s worth the wait.
For a great interview with Crowley and taste of her big band sound, check out a 2018 YouTube video created by Tracy Evans and Founders Brewery as part of a series called Founders Presents.
If your looking for more great “From Your Couch” concerts, WKTV has a bunch of recent concerts covered by WKTV Community Media and available on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
The State of Michigan, like most governmental agencies, puts out press releases to media sources on a wide-range of issues almost daily. Some are important for the public to know; some are just routine governmental business. Some make the news and some do not.
We at WKTV have decided that in these times of COVID-19, of often-filtered news, we’d let the state departments say what they want to say to the pubic a little more directly. Following are links to State of Michigan releases from Tuesday, March 31 — with a little emphasis given by our staff on what we found interesting.
More than 2,000 Michigan companies hiring now
There is a lot of businesses shutting down temporary and laying off workers. But, according to the state, Michigan companies need to fill thousands of critical, immediate vacancies to support work during the COVID-19 pandemic, including those in logistics, healthcare, manufacturing and agribusiness industries.
“Michiganders are tough and hardworking, especially in times of crisis,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in the release. “Tens of thousands of open jobs are available right now with more than 2,000 Michigan companies and organizations hiring to continue providing critical services.”
State denies craft store in-store operations are essential
What is essential business and what is not in these times of COVID-19 restrictions? You would probably get some argument from crafters, but Michigan’s Attorney General says craft stores are not an essential business, which allows them to be open and people to visit.
Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office on Monday sent a letter to JoAnn Fabrics indicating the business’s storefront operations should be temporarily suspended while Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s order remains in place for non-essential businesses to close.
“I can appreciate the desire of businesses that want to remain open and provide their customers with the same products and services they have come to expect from these retailers, but there must be common sense protections in place during this global health emergency,” Nessel said in the release.
In this series, WKTV aims to provide factual information about COVID-19 – which stands for coronavirus disease 19 – by providing information and links to authoritative experts. Click on the blue, underlined words to get to a specific article.
Pets and COVID-19 (Photo by WKTV)
Should you get your pet tested for COVID-19?
As new surfaced that two dogs and a cat have tested positive for COVID-19, many have started to ask the question of if they can get the coronavirus from their pets and if pets should/can be tested? According to the AAAS/Science article, experts, including those at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have stated that dogs and cats pose little risk to people and that there is not enough evidence that pets can spread COVID-19.
What should you do to protect your pets? According to another AAAS/Science article, include your pets in your family’s preparedness planning. If you get sick and are quarantined, make sure you have extra pet food on hand and make sure whoever will take care of the pet are aware of any feeding, walking and medications. Also keep in mind social distancing for your animal and do not pet another animal and make sure to wash your hands.
Masks or no masks? (Wikipedia Commons)
Are masks helpful in stopping the spread of COVID-19?
There has been a recent debate about whether masks would help to slowdown the spread of COVID-19. According to an AAAS/Science article, the research to wearing a mask is spotty. AAAS/Science talked to University of Michigan Epidemiologist Arnold Monto, who said that it is believed that COVID-19 is spread through larger droplets and that standard surgical face masks will have a modest effect on transmission.
Even those in favor of masks have stated on a number of news programs and science sites that due to the shortages of masks for hospital workers, they are reluctant right now to promote masking the masses. Experts do agree that social distancing and staying at home as much as possible is the best way to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Looking at human DNA (Pixaby Free)
How much do genes play a factor in COVID-19?
Sciences are currently studying whether your genes may determine how sick you get from COVID-19. According to an AAAS/Science article, sciencists are working to compare the DNA of people who have serious cases of COVID-19 but no underlying disease like diabetes, heart, or lung disease with those who have mild symptons or no disease. Researchers say it is hard to predict what may come out of these gene hunts but in the past the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases did discover a relatively common mutation in another human cell surface protein, CCR5, that makes some people highly resistant to HIV.
WKTV Community Media is all about the communities of Wyoming and Kentwood, as well as our community volunteers who live all over West Michigan — community people who bring life to our building and to our work. So in these days of social distancing we at WKTV wanted to keep us a little more connected.
So, we asked people to “Tell us how are spending your time?” How has your life and work changed due to the COVID-19 restrictions? What has stayed the same in your life. What advice would you give to the other WKTV community members, and the public at large?
Bill Rinderknecht, volunteer cameraman and content contributor
“Thanks for asking about us in the midst of these life altering circumstances. Like all extroverts —and now many introverts — I’m a little stir crazy because of the stay-at-home restrictions during this COVID-19 season. However, spending time with my wife, Charlotte, has been wonderful.
Bill Rinderknecht. (WKTV)
“Also, we work from home at C Grace Productions (cgraceproductions.com) so not a lot has changed in our ‘day-job’ routine. Thankfully we have captured a lot of video, which needs to be edited so we can start providing content to WKTV. On the other hand, editing requires a lot of time sitting in front of the workstation, which requires a lot of mental gymnastics, concentration, etc. I’d frankly rather be in the field (with horses) and let someone else do the editing.
“One blessing we had was filming the Michigan Horse Expo March 6-8 in Lansing with (WKTV volunteer) Riley Zoet, just before social distancing was directed. It was a great learning and networking experience for us, and Riley proved his worth as a videographer! Speaking of teammates, I miss the regular interaction with other volunteers at sports events, concerts, and other WKTV filming opportunities.”
And his words of wisdom:
“To my teammates, fellow volunteers, now is a great time to go virtual with projects you may have initiated. If you started editing at WKTV but have no such software at home, you can download free, robust editing software called DaVinci Resolve (https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/). Black Magic also has a $300+ version, but the free version doesn’t lack much. I already have an Adobe account and am not inclined to learn a new GUI, but testimonials I have heard speak very highly of even the free version capabilities.”
Thank you Bill (and Charlotte), for all you do.
Interested in learning more about WKTV Community Media, maybe getting involved with our volunteer community? Visit https://wktv.org.
There are several things you can do to knock out reflux before it becomes a problem. Among them is avoiding spicy foods. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Unlike many other medical conditions, gastroesophageal reflux disease is almost completely preventable.
Most of us have suffered with the occasional bout of heartburn (also called acid indigestion). It’s that burning chest pain that begins behind the breastbone and moves up to the neck and throat. It happens when acids in the stomach back up into the esophagus and burn the lining.
“If you’re having heartburn or acid reflux more than twice a week for a few weeks, however, it could be GERD,” said Praveen Sateesh, MD, a gastroenterologist with Spectrum Health Medical Group. “GERD is a more serious and longer-lasting condition.
Over time, GERD can permanently damage the esophageal lining and lead to even more serious conditions such as Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal cancer.
“There are a number of different lifestyle modifications you can try to help calm the burn, or hopefully avoid it altogether,” Dr. Sateesh said. “But it’s not a ‘one size fits all’ approach. What works for one person may not work for someone else. Keep trying, and find what works for you.”
1. Lose weight
Obesity is the leading cause of GERD. Lose weight if you’re overweight and don’t gain weight if you’re not.
2. Avoid foods known to cause reflux
Place these foods on your ‘do not eat’ list (or at least, ‘eat in moderation’, if you’re willing to take your chances):
Fatty foods
Spicy foods
Acidic foods, like tomatoes and citrus
Mint
Chocolate
Onions
Coffee or any caffeinated beverage
Carbonated beverages
3. Eat smaller meals
Large meals fill the stomach and put pressure on the area where the stomach and esophagus join together. This pressure makes reflux more likely. Smaller, more frequent meals are better.
4. Don’t lie down after eating
Gravity normally helps keep stomach acid where it belongs: down in your stomach. So wait at least three hours before you lie down after a meal and be sure to eat early to give your stomach time to empty before bedtime.
5. Elevate the head of your bed
Stomach acid, like water, does not roll uphill. Raising the head of your bed six to eight inches can help gravity keep gastric acid down in your stomach. Or, you can use a wedge-shaped support to elevate your head and upper chest. Don’t use extra pillows, as they only raise your head and will not help with GERD.
6. Review your medications
There are a number of medications that can affect your digestive system and increase your risk of GERD. These include:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Calcium channel blockers (often used to treat high blood pressure)
Certain asthma medications, including albuterol
Anticholinergics (used to treat conditions such as seasonal allergies and glaucoma)
Bisphosphonates (used to boost bone density)
Sedatives and painkillers
Some antibiotics
Potassium
Iron tablets
If you’re taking any of these medications, talk to your doctor about switching to another drug that does not have the same effect on the upper digestive tract. Don’t, however, stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting your doctor.
7. Stop smoking
Some studies have found that nicotine can relax the muscles that keep the esophagus closed off from the stomach and can also interfere with your saliva’s ability to clear acid out of the esophagus.
8. Cut back on alcohol
As with smoking, alcohol can cause these same muscles to relax. Alcohol can also cause the esophageal muscles to spasm.
9. Wear loose-fitting clothes
Don’t wear tight clothing or belts that can constrict your stomach. Yes, this is permission to wear yoga and sweat pants!
10. Take an antacid
Antacids neutralize stomach acid before it backs up into the esophagus.
“If, after trying the above tips, you’re still experiencing GERD, see your doctor or a gastroenterologist for further evaluation,” Dr.Sateesh said. “There are several effective medications you can take to ease the symptoms of GERD.”
With week two of the stay-at home order now under way, Kent District Library and WKTV thought we would remind people of the number of free online resources available through the KDL website, kdl.org.
Since I am frequent user of the CloudLibrary, eBooks and audiobooks, and have used Freegal, music, I decided to offer up my own reviews of the different sites. Most offer eBooks and audiobooks with some offering other items as well.
A couple of selections from the CloudLibrary. (WKTV)
CloudLibrary: I started listening to audiobooks, first on tape, in my car to help with long drives. Listening to a good story certainly melted the miles away. I also discovered that listening to audiobooks on my iPhone helped motivate me to walk and I suddenly found walking a couple of miles was pretty easy when you were following Stephanie Plum on one of her wild adventures in the Janet Evanovich detective series or Percy Jackson in Rick Riordan’s popular teen mythological-based series, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”.
To be honest, I downloaded CloudLibrary awhile ago and have never looked back. It is easy to search and I have followed the recommendations to discover some new authors such as Deborah Coonts (who is mentioned in last week’s KDL Staff Picks). Follow the prompts to create an account and remember to have your library card available as you will need to type in your number. The nice thing about CloudLibrary is it is available on about anything, Android, iPhone, Chrome, Mac, Windows, Nook, and Kindle.
Home page of Hoopla. (WKTV)
Hoopla: Hoopla offers more than just audiobooks and eBooks but comic books, movies and television programs. In the movies, there is no huge recent blockbusters, but still a lot of goodies such as “Ella Enchanted,” “Frida,” and “Elmo’s Potty Time” for those parents who have decided the stay-at home directive is an excellent time to work on this skill. For music, I was able to find quite a lot including the cast recording of “Hamilton the Musical” and Taylor Swift’s newest release, “Lover.”
Download was simple. I went to the App store and searched for Hoopla. I followed the prompts, putting in my email address, creating a password, selecting Kent District Library as my library and then putting in my library card. Boom, I was in. Hoopla is also available through Google Play and Kindle Fire.
RBdigital: RBdigital would be perfect for those who enjoy flipping through magazines. Along with eBook and audiobooks, the site offers more than 100 magazine selections that include popular titles such as “O, The Oprah Magazine,” “The New Yorker,” and “Vanity Fair.” Looking to start a hobby? The list includes the “Woodworker’s Journal” and the “Yoga Journal.”
To create an account, you have to start at the KDL website and go to the “eBooks and Download” tab on the left side of the page. From there, scroll down to RBdigital to follow the prompts to create an account. Once you have created your account through KDL, you can download the app to your phone and open your account. RBdigitial is available through the App Store, Google Play, and Kindle Fire.
Freegal Music is definitely for music lovers. (WKTV)
FreegalMusic: For the music lover, this is the site for them. Actually, I have not open my Freegal Music app in awhile, so I was surprised to discover it now offers a selection of audiobooks. I would be more likely to go to CloudLibrary for audiobooks, but if you are a person who only wants one app and music is more your thing, then Freegal probably would be the better option.
Freegal does not carry every song by every artist. You can search and often you can find older songs by the most popular artists. You also can save up to five songs a week into the “My Music” section. Again, I have not used Freegal in awhile, but when I did and was saving songs, I did lose all of them when the app updated. I do not know if this glitch has been have out or it could be songs may fade off after a certain period of time. Still it is a nice source for music.
Download is just like the others. Look for the app in the App Store, Google Play or Kindle Fire, and follow the prompts to create a login.
The “Wash You Hands” song is on TumbleBooks.
TumbleBooks (Tumble Book Library): This is strictly children’s books with some graphic novels for younger students. They are good about going by topic and one of the first sections is “Health, Hygiene and Everything in Between,” which includes the “Wash Your Hands” song. Parents and children could easily have fun searching the site for stories and songs.
To get into the site, you have to go through KDL. Click on the “eBooks and Download” tab on the left side of the page. Scroll to the bottom for TumbleBooks and click on the link, which will redirect you to the page. You must have your KDL card to enter.
Again, remember to always have your KDL library card available. If you do not have a KDL library card, some of the online sources, such as Hoopla, can help you get one.
While all Wyoming and Kentwood area school district leaders are in a “wait and see” mode this week awaiting an expected order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, at Godfrey-Lee Public Schools district business continues.
At a remotely attended Godfrey-Lee Board of Education meeting Monday, March 30, a brief update by Superintendent Kevin Polston on the status of the school year was followed by the approval by the board of the rebranding of the high school sports teams to become the Lee Legends.
On March 27, Governor Whitmer said in a radio interview that it was “very unlikely” students would be allowed to return to school this school year. But Polston, on Monday, March 30, said to WKTV that his school district is waiting on final word — and guidance from the state — on the details of school cancelling the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.
“By all accounts it looks like the remainder of the school year will be canceled,” Polston said to WKTV on Tuesday, March 31. “This is heart breaking news for our students, staff, and families. Our core values include community and relationships, both are predicated on interactions between individuals. Our team has been preparing for this possibility and when we receive official guidance from the Governor, we will have a plan ready for our students to continue learning during the school shutdown.”
A possible design for the Lee Legends football helmets. (Supplied)
At the Monday night meeting, however, district business continued as the board approved the months-long rebranding of the school district and its sports teams and extracurricular programs such as band. The name change from The Rebels to The Legends was known, but the images be used in a wide-range of ways was finalized. At the meeting the board was shown several possible versions of the the images.
“The Legends name will inspire the district and unify our community behind the aspirational goal to #BeLegendary,” Polston said in a March 31 supplied statement. “Students were at the heart of the decision making process, and the spirit of their artwork serves as the inspiration for the mascot design.”
Dragon and Crest in Spanish (possible design). (Supplied)
All athletic uniforms, district signage, murals, and the district’s digital footprint will represent the Godfrey-Lee Legends name beginning in August of this year 2020, according to the statement. The district also included the Spanish version of Legends, “Leyendas”, in the presentation for the potential to be used with apparel to “represent the rich Latinx cultural influence” of the district.
“We are thankful for our donors for supporting the district so that general fund dollars targeted for the classroom aren’t spent on this project,” Polston said. “In particular, we wish to thank the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Frey Foundation, and the Native American Heritage Fund for their generous support. We look forward to full implementation in the fall with the start of the new school year, and the start of a new era in Godfrey-Lee.”
That new era will likely be the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.
On March 23, after the governor announced the “Stay Home, Stay Safe, Stay Alive” order which called for everyone in non-essential businesses and organizations to stay home through April 13. Schools such as Godfrey-Lee Public Schools promptly temporarily closed. But that temporary closure was extended and schools are awaiting expected direction to stay closed for the remainder of the current school year.
“We are working diligently to come up with a plan to meet the needs of our kids,” Gov. Whitmer said in a public statement late last week. “Anyone who is watching what is happening globally with this pandemic knows it’s probably very unlikely they’re going to get back in school before the end of this year.”
The governor said the state is working on a plan for the cancelation of the remainder of the school year.
“It’s not something you develop overnight because we’ve got an inequitable system across the state of Michigan,” Gov. Whitmer said.
Whitmer’s orders apply to all public, private and boarding school buildings in Michigan.
Local school districts, however, are staying active and engaged with their students and their communities. Godfrey-Lee schools, for example, are encouraging remote learning and making food service for students available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with meals expected to be served throughout the duration of the closure, according to an earlier statement from the school district.
At this point, according the earlier statement, a waiver has been granted by the federal government to cancel state assessments for the 2019-20 school year. But final resolution of the issues of graduation and end-of-year events such as proms are unknown.
All district personnel with the exception of food service and limited maintenance and grounds staff are working remotely for the duration of the closure.
With the March 30 meeting, the Godfrey-Lee Board of Education began hosting Board Meetings remotely but live-streamed and accessible to the community.
Due to the stay-at home order, the LowellArts Gallery has been closed. Recently the staff created a virtual tour of its current exhibition featuring 56 West Michigan arts.
The Annual West Michigan Art Competition highlights outstanding artwork by West Michigan artists. With the being the 34th yer, the competition has become well-respected exhibition that many artists strive to be a part of. Of the 226 artists who submitted work to be juried at this year’s competition, 56 artists had their work selected to be on display a the LowellArts Gallery.
At a well-attended reception on March 5, this year’s juror, Jim Nawara, a professor emeritus of Painting and Drawing in the James Pearson Duffy Department of Art and Art history at Wayne State University, shared with attendees comments about his process for selecting the works that were selected for the show. Also at the event, he presented five artists with honorable mention awards and another five artists with monetary awards totaling $2,500.
The State of Michigan has changed the rules for unemployment benefits to not only increase and expand benefits forWKTVworkers now unemployed by COVID-19’s economic impact but to expand benefits to self-employed and low-wage workers.
According to a March 30 statement from the state government, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, acting as provided by the new federal CARES Act, signed an agreement between Michigan and the U.S. Dept. of Labor to implement Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Compensation programs that grant benefits to workers who do not already qualify for state unemployment benefits.
According to the statement, workers include self-employed, 1099-independent contractors, gig, and low-wage workers who can no longer work because of the pandemic. The agreement also increases weekly benefits for all unemployed workers by $600 a week for up to four months and extends benefit payments from 26 to 39 weeks.
“This increase and expansion of unemployment benefits will provide a measure of security for Michigan working families who lost their income due to the pandemic,” Gov. Whitmer said in supplied material. “We are committed to ensuring emergency financial relief for unemployed residents who continue to stay home and stay safe.”
Michigan Sen. Gary Peters also issued a statement on March 30 detailing the expanded benefits, saying that the federal act put into effect by the the governor will “ensure workers – including those who are self-employed and work in the gig economy – have the resources to get through this crisis.”
According to Sen. Peter’s office, “the program will be particularly helpful for those workers who are self-employed or without sufficient work history to qualify for regular unemployment insurance. … (and) it will eliminate the typical weeklong waiting period between applying for and receiving unemployment assistance.”
In addition to individuals whose employers closed due to COVID-19’s economic impact, workers who qualify for assistance under the program include:
Individuals who have the virus, need to self-quarantine to protect themselves and cannot reach their place of employment, or are caring for someone with the disease.
Individuals who must care for a child because of a school closure.
Individuals who are working reduced hours due to the virus.
Rules and suggestions for applying
The following summary of the new rules and information is drawn from both state and federal supplied material:
Under the CARES Act, weekly benefits for all unemployed workers will be increased by a set amount of $600 a week for up to four months.
The additional benefit amount applies to workers already in the unemployment system and eligible employees about to apply. These workers do not need to reapply and those about to apply do not need to take additional steps and should file as usual. If a worker’s application has previously been denied by the UIA in the past three weeks there is no need for them to reapply at this time. They will be notified by the agency with any additional action that may need to be taken.
Workers should apply online at Michigan.gov/UIA and utilize a new filing schedule based on their last name. Workers are encouraged to go online during off-peak times between 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. The day or time of day in which a claim is filed will not impact whether a worker receives benefits or their benefit amount. Additionally, claims will be back-dated to reflect the date in which a claimant was laid-off or let go from their job due to COVID-19. The eligibility window to apply has also been increased from 14 to 28 days from the date of their work stoppage.
The state asks workers to file on-line or via the phone — at 866-500-0017 — on set days.
For on-line filing, last names beginning with letters A-L are asked to file claims on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. Last names beginning with letters M-Z are asked to file claims on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays. Saturdays will be available for anyone to accommodate those who could not file during their allotted window.
For state call center filing, last names beginning with letters A-L are asked to call on Mondays and Wednesdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Last names beginning with letters M-Z are asked to call on Tuesdays and Thursdays also 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays (8 a.m.– 5 p.m.) will be available for anyone to accommodate those who could not file during their allotted window.
Benefits and administrative costs associated with this program are federally funded through the federal unemployment insurance trust fund. The program is administered by state unemployment offices.
“You’d be shocked at how many patients come in thinking they’re too young for knee or hip replacement surgery,” said C. Christopher Sherry, DO, an orthopedic surgeon and joint replacement specialist with Spectrum Health Medical Group.
Some patients get this notion from their doctors. Others pick up the idea from friends who remember the conventional wisdom of 30 years ago—that you need to be older than 50 to qualify for joint replacement.
That’s simply not the case anymore, according to Dr. Sherry. It’s one of six common myths about joint replacements that he’d like to see dispelled.
Myth No. 1: If you’re under 50, you’re too young to have a joint replaced.
Fact: Doctors today don’t use a specific age to determine whether a patient is a good candidate for hip or knee replacement surgery. Instead, the decision depends on the levels of disability and pain the patient is experiencing.
“In the 1970s and ’80s, the parts used for joint replacements had limited life spans,” Dr. Sherry said. “Now that technology is advancing, we have better longevity of replacement parts, so we’re much more comfortable putting them in younger patients.”
Patients with severe arthritis, for example, shouldn’t have to suffer through years of debilitating pain just because they’re young, Dr. Sherry said. “Making them wait isn’t in their best interest.”
This first myth is closely related to a second.
Myth No. 2: Replacement joints wear out in 10 years or less.
Fact: Thanks to improvements in materials and surgical techniques, today’s knee and hip replacements can last up to twice as long as comparable replacements did in decades past.
“The components we’re using have improved significantly,” said Dr. Sherry. “We’re seeing an 85 percent success rate at up to 20 years—and as technology improves, we’re hoping to pass that 20-year mark.”
People are often relieved to hear this because they want to stay active as they age.
“Patients’ expectations are changing,” Dr. Sherry said. “They want to be able to do whatever they want to do.”
Myth No. 3: If you have a joint replaced, you’ll be saying goodbye to sports.
Fact: Rather than drastically limiting patients’ activities, joint replacements make it easier for people to be active in low-impact sports.
“The goal of surgery is to get patients back to their normal activities, like playing golf and tennis,” Dr. Sherry said. “Our goal is a painless joint with good functionality.”
It’s the high-impact sports like basketball and long-distance running that patients should avoid, he said, because these activities decrease the life of replacement joints.
Myth No. 4: Joint replacement surgery means a long hospital stay.
Fact: Twenty years ago, it was normal to spend up to 10 days in the hospital after joint replacement surgery, but today the average is two to three days.
“With improvements in technology and patient care, hospital stays are significantly shorter than in the old days,” Dr. Sherry said.
Most of Dr. Sherry’s patients at the Center for Joint Replacement at Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital stay less than two days after hip or knee replacements, with a large percentage going home the day after surgery. Some patients return home the same day as surgery.
“We’re getting patients up and walking sooner—even on the day of surgery,” he said. “And we’re getting them home sooner, which is a better environment for recovery.”
Myth No. 5: You should wait as long as possible before having a joint replaced.
Fact: Waiting too long can make things worse.
“If your pain is so great that it’s hindering your ability to walk, then you’re not keeping your muscles and your extremities strong, and you could be hindering the recovery process,” Dr. Sherry said. “Waiting until the last possible moment isn’t good for you.”
Rather than waiting for their mobility and quality of life to decline, Dr. Sherry encourages patients to have their knee or hip replacement sooner. This will likely improve their outcomes.
Myth No. 6: Joint replacement surgery is highly invasive.
Fact: “Some patients think that we remove the entire knee in a knee replacement … but we’re actually taking a minimal amount of bone” before inserting the new parts, Dr. Sherry said. In knee replacement surgery, these parts consist of a metal cap for the femur, a metal base plate on the tibia and a piece of plastic in between, acting as cartilage.
Surgeons today are also using less-invasive techniques and smaller incisions to perform replacements.
So, although joint replacement is major surgery, the scope is limited, Dr. Sherry said. “It’s much less invasive than many patients think.”
COVID-19 has quickly disrupted every part of our lives, including how we practice our faith. This can be especially challenging for healthcare settings as they uphold a statewide ban on visitors.
The highly contagious nature of COVID-19 requires unprecedented precautions. Metro Health –University of Michigan Health is working to preserve spiritual practices while also honoring an obligation to the lives in our care and the safety of our community.
The matters of clergy access and end-of-life sacraments have been carefully deliberated byMetro Health’s COVID-19 Incident Command team. Metro Health has allowed and continues to allow priests access to administer Viaticum for the dying.
“Metro Health has a long tradition of working with faith leaders,” said Steve Polega, Chief Nursing Officer, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health. “In addition to our hospital chaplain, Metro Health maintains relationships with congregations across the region,” saidPolega. “These connections are more valuable than ever in the era of COVID-19, especially as we approach a sacred time of year for people of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths.”
Metro Health continues to look for more solutions that preserve those human and spiritual connections we all treasure.
“A virtual exhibition was our solution to Michigan’s shelter in place directive by Governor Whitmer,” said Michelle Stempien, KIA Director of Museum Education, adding that opening weekend for the annual exhibition would typically draw thousands of visitors.
“We are approaching 40 years for this exhibition, and of course this is the first time we have shared it online. But we weren’t going to miss the opportunity to offer something so positive to the community — and to honor the hundreds of young artists showing work on the walls,” she said.
She added that education curators turned into videographers early this week, after installing the hundreds of artworks in two of the museum’s first floor galleries. Art teachers from more than 50 public and private elementary and middle schools chose and submitted artwork by their K-8th grade students.
“We hope everyone is inspired by the color and expressiveness of these young artists to bring more art into their own lives,” Stempien said, adding her thanks for the exhibition’s lead sponsor The Tyler-Little Family Foundation, and co-sponsor PLAZACORP.
“We always love seeing the student artwork come in each year; it puts a smile on the faces of everyone who is involved in producing this exhibition,” Stempien said, adding “and we look forward to welcoming the community back to the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts very soon.”
The KIA is planning to present a virtual exhibition for upcoming spring exhibitions as needed. This will likely include the juried West Michigan Area Show (April 10) and High School Area Show (April 24).
As we all shelter in place one of the things that will matter most to all of us is the quality of our indoor air. This is especially challenging for children with asthma and other at-risk populations with respiratory concerns. With COVID-19 in the area, this is of particular concern.
If you are like the vast majority homes in West Michigan and have a forced air furnace, one simple thing you can do to dramatically improve the air quality in your home is to regularly replace your furnace filter.
The most common type of furnace filter is the disposable pleated kind. These come in a range of standard sizes and ratings. Pleated filters are constructed out of paper and polyester and do a good job at filtering most household particles and allergens.
Furnace filters are sized by thickness (depth), height and length. To find out what size filter your furnace uses, remove and check the old filter, the size should be written on the frame of the filter. You can also refer to your furnace manual.
What’s a MERV and why should you care?
Furnace filters are rated using a MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) rating. MERV ratings range from 1 to 16. Higher MERV ratings capture smaller particles.
The Healthy Homes Coalition recommends a minimum of a MERV-8 filter to filter out allergens, pollens, irritants and bacteria for better lung health. A MERV-8 filter, however, will not filter out the coronavirus (more on this below).
How often should you change your furnace filter?
Once you know what size filter you require and what MERV rating you can use, and have chosen what filter type to purchase, it’s time to replace the old filter. On many furnaces, you can see the furnace filter between the air intake and furnace itself. Some furnaces may have a compartment door over the filter. Simply slide the old filter out and properly dispose of it. Often it will be dusty, so try to place it in a bag as quickly and gently as possible. Your filter should be replaced every 90 days at a minimum.
NOTE: To ensure your furnace doesn’t kick in while you’re changing your filter it’s recommended you turn your furnace off while swapping out the filter.
That’s it. Now you are ready to enjoy cleaner, healthier air at home!
Air quality and COVID-19
Many people are concerned about the airborne spread of the coronavirus. While this is a possibility, it should be noted that airborne transmission is usually though large droplet transfer, which the Center for Disease Control (CDC) puts at about six feet.
Smaller particles are possible, and if those droplets get into the air intake of your heating system, a MERV-13 filter may be your best defense. However, there has not yet been conclusive research about the effectiveness of furnace filters in filtering out the coronavirus. Furthermore, your furnace may not operate correctly with a highly efficient MERV-13 filer, so please check your manual.
It should be noted that there are many other ways in which the coronavirus is spread, including surface transfer and coming into contact with infected persons. With that in mind, running to the store to purchase a high-efficiency filter may put you at greater risk than using your existing filter. Instead, put a furnace filter on your shopping list for the next time you have to go to the store, and pick up more than one so you have replacements on hand.
Our reason for sharing this information on furnace filters is not to suggest that they will keep you safe from the coronavirus. What a clean, MERV-8 furnace filter will do is improve your overall indoor air quality to remove allergens, pollens, irritants and bacteria to help to keep asthma better managed. It will also improve general air quality for all.
