Michele Suchovsky with a Paws with a Cause friend. (Photo by Colleen Pierson)
By Colleen Pierson WKTV Contributing Writer
Paws with a Cause CEO Michele Suchovsky loves her job.
“I love the puppies and seeing the impact of the work we do with them,” she said. “We find the right dog for the right client and help people be independent.”
Paws With A Cause® enhances the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities nationally through custom-trained Assistance Dogs.
Michele was recently awarded the Marge Wilson Community Service Award from the AMBUCS. The event took place at Marge’s Donut Den. Numerous political figures, previous winners of the award, and community supporters came out to celebrate with the 2019 award recipient.
“I was shocked—blown away, so deeply honored to receive this highly prestigious award,” Suchovaky said with a face breaking grin.
The award goes to individuals who work hard in improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.
Marge Wilson, owner of Marge’s Donut Den and the person for whom the Marge Wilson Community Service Award is named after, watches as Michele Suchovsky receives the award. (Photo by Colleen Pierson)
Suchovsky, who has been with Paws for a year, is an experienced nonprofit leader. She has served for 15 years as executive director of two nonprofit organizations — the first is the arts and disability organization Very Special Arts and the second is The Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation. Suchovsky has always helped to impact and improve the lives of people throughout West Michigan.
Her work is far from over. At Paws With a Cause, she is looking forward to placing more service dogs with appropriate clients.
“In the next five years we want to increase placement by 60 percent,” she said. “We are also working with K-12 schools.”
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, a special interview with retiring Kentwood Police Chief Thomas Hillen, who after more than 10 years leading the department — and more than four decades in public safety — is moving on to what’s next in his life.
During his tenure in Kentwood, he has led a team of more than 90 personnel, including 70 sworn police officers. Among the many accomplishments of his tenure was placing a local officer on the FBI Joint Terrorist Task Force and appointing the first female captain in the department’s history.
We talk with The Chief about his career, his department’s accomplishments, and how law enforcement has changed since he first sat in a patrol car — and believe us and him, a lot has changed.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
The Kent County Chiefs of Police, local police departments, and the Michigan State Police announced this week that Kent County residents can participate in a fingerprinting program that would help identify a lost person with special health care needs.
Both Wyoming and Kentwood police departments are participating agencies. The cost is $30 for the state’s processing fee, but participating agencies will waive local processing fees through the month of November. The general police department telephone numbers for Kentwood is 616-698-6580 and for Wyoming is 616-530-7309.
According to supplied material, in Michigan, a parent, legal guardian or power of attorney of an individual with special needs may voluntarily provide the person’s fingerprints and photograph for inclusion in a State of Michigan database. This includes a single or married individual whose normal capacity for education and self-support may be reduced due to a disease or medical condition.
Fingerprints and a photo of the individual are captured electronically and then securely stored along with additional demographic information, including a home address, and contact information for the person legally responsible for the individual.
Once enrolled, law enforcement has the ability to access the information to quickly identify someone who may have trouble identifying him/herself.
“This fingerprinting program gives us an unprecedented advantage to help individuals who are considered vulnerable or impaired get to a familiar and safe environment in a timely manner, while maintaining their dignity,” Kentwood Police Chief Thomas Hillen, president of Kent County Chiefs of Police, said in supplied material. “Not only will we have access to crucial identifying information, but it also provides families some peace of mind. Once enrolled in the program, should anything happen to their loved one, local law enforcement is already one step closer to finding that individual.”
Interested parties must get printed in their jurisdiction of residence and should contact their local law enforcement agency for details regarding its enrollment process. IN addition to Wyoming and Kentwood police departments, participating agencies include Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Rapids police, Walker police, Grandville police, Rockford police, Lowell police and the Michigan State Police’s Rockford Post.
If desired, a parent or guardian may also make a written request to the department to have the fingerprints and photograph of an individual with special health care needs removed from the automated fingerprint identification system database and the statewide network of agency photos.
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
Drop-dead gorgeous Devereaux (ooh, so fancy!) came to us back in the summer of 2016 laden with intestinal parasites and looking for indoor housing. She quickly earned the title of ‘diva’, demanding constant attention and affection (the volunteers were happy to accommodate), and made her presence known to all who came to gaze upon her.
In January of the following year a love-connection was made, and Dev was adopted and taken into a home she could claim all for her own, which could not have been more perfect for this pretty princess. Jan and Dev lived quite harmoniously together for about a year and a half, but then our gorgeous girl developed some unbecoming litter box habits.
Over the next year, she was a frequent clinic visitor, Dr. Jen had many conversations about how to try to curb Miss Piddlepuss’s behavioral urination issues. Sadly everything we tried was ineffective in the long run, although multiple, hopeful respites were seen in between, Dev simply could not get her act together permanently.
So, three years after her initial arrival into our program, darling Devereaux (born in late 2013) once again graced us with her presence. Let’s just say that her return was anything but simple and serene; in fact, she had to spend several days at the clinic simply chilling in her cage in order for she and Dr. Jen to come to an agreement about handling her. With the help of a pheromone calming collar, Dev and Dr. Jen were soon seeing eye to eye, and then it was make-or-break time—to head on down to Crash’s and get acquainted and immersed into a multi-cat lifestyle once again.
As you can imagine she has had quite a bit to say about things, and we have made the following observations:
“Devereaux definitely thinks she is a princess. She hates the other cats with a passion but is doing okay since she has learned to avoid them. She likes attention, but only on her terms. As long as she has a cozy bed to snuggle down into she is very content. She needs to be an only cat—no dogs or kids. Don’t get me wrong, as she’s a very nice girl who deserves another chance, but with someone who understands she is a wee bit temperamental and is patient with her.
“There have been no reports of inappropriate litter box habits since she has been back (her bio was written about 2 months after her re-arrival).”
We completely understand that finding the perfect home for her is going to be a tall order to fill, as Jan was single, it was just the two of them and Dev still couldn’t behave. We’ve considered making her a permanent resident, but she hasn’t had a single accident outside of the box since she returned, so she deserves a second chance.
Why her manners have surfaced now is beyond us—maybe it is the fact we have boxes in every room, or perhaps she is being diligent in the hopes of being sprung from this ‘prison’ of sorts—but whatever the case is, we are happy that she is following the rules.
We are working on her entitled attitude, so we honestly do see a great deal of untapped potential waiting to emerge.
More about Devereaux:
Domestic Medium Hair
Tortoiseshell
Adult
Female
Large
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Spayed
Prefers a home without other cats, dogs, children
Want to adopt Devereaux? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
A blood test may seem like a simple thing, but it can do so much.
It can diagnose disease, reveal how well your organs work and whether a course of treatment is effective or not, experts say.
Some blood tests require patients to fast before the blood is drawn. It’s crucial that you avoid eating before such tests, which require blood that is clear of nutrients, such as fats and sugars.
Glucose and lipid testing are the most common types of fasting blood tests, said Carole Andrews of Penn State Health in Hershey, Pa., where she’s a supervisor in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine.
“The amount of fats and glucose (sugars) will increase in the blood if a person has recently eaten,” Andrews explained in a Penn State news release. “This will affect the results of these specific tests.”
You may also wonder why technicians take so many blood samples.
Vials used to collect samples may contain additives that keep blood from clotting before the lab can test it. Tubes are color-coded according to the type of test. For example, a purple-colored vial is used for a blood count and a green-colored vial may be used for a chemistry profile, Andrews said.
How much blood is collected depends on the number and type of tests ordered by your doctor.
And there’s no need for concern if multiple vials of blood are taken. Most people have between 4,500 to 5,700 milliliters of blood.
“Even if you had 10 tubes of blood taken, that’s less than 60 milliliters,” Andrews said. “It’s not going to make an impact because your body is designed to replace what is lost.”
You can make the process easier by drinking plenty of fluids beforehand, she suggested. This will make it easier for the technician to poke into a vein.
“Also, it is easier if the patient is relaxed and comes in with a good attitude,” Andrews said. “If they tense up too much, it can make the venipuncture difficult.”
For the sake of illustration, let’s pretend a man’s picture of good health falls someplace on a horizontal line.
On one end, you’ve got the late John Candy; on the other, you’ve got the very much alive Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
For the average guy, there’s probably going to be a comfortable middle somewhere along that vast spectrum.
You may, for instance, be content with a body type more akin to the one Leonardo DiCaprio had on display one recent summer when he was photographed vacationing someplace warm and expensive.
Always the picture of prepossessing boyishness, the Oscar winner looked, in this instance, more like a cuddly dad from Des Moines and less like a toned Titan of Tinseltown.
And if the Internet’s collective brilliance has the last word on the matter, that’s perfectly OK.
Sometime in recent years, folks began dubbing this look the “dad bod.”
Countless celebrities have been photographed unabashedly displaying their dad bods—an online search bears infinite entertaining results—and millions of fathers have been consigned to this body type ever since the developed world became less agrarian and more sedentary.
One college newspaper writer gained some notoriety for suggesting that the dad bod maintains, perhaps, a certain kind of appeal.
It’s a fleshy-but-not-obese physique that suggests, “Let’s skip the gym this weekend, because I’m down for DiGiorno and a Game of Thrones binge.”
Who could say no to that?
But here on the cusp of another summer, an important question lingers: Apart from the cringe-worthy moniker, is the dad bod an acceptable standard of health? Not aesthetically, but medically?
It all depends on you.
If you’ve got a body like Leo, Seth Rogan or Adam Sandler, a discerning doctor is likely to be less concerned with how you look today and more concerned with how you looked five years ago.
To assess a guy’s overall level of fitness, you have to account for
how his body has changed from past to present, Dr. Holman said.
“You can’t just assume from one single picture what their lifestyle is,” he said.
You need context.
Explained Holman: “So, if Leonardo had a six pack and all of a sudden he’s looking like that?”
Not so good.
“But somebody who looks like that—who had a BMI that was 50, and obviously over the last year they’ve made some pretty big changes?”
Pretty good.
Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a decent indicator of a person’s fitness.
“First thing is, we’d see where your BMI is,” Dr. Holman said. “We shoot for a BMI of between 20 and 25.”
Many online sites will calculate your BMI, which is your weight, in kilograms, divided by the square of height in meters. (A 6-foot-1 man who weighs 215 pounds, for instance, has a BMI of about 29—slightly over the recommended cutoff of 25.)
But BMI is not the Holy Grail.
“Depending on your BMI, another indicator could be your waist circumference,” Dr. Holman said.
A man of average height should have a waist circumference of less than 40 inches. Anything over that, Dr. Holman said, and it’s an indication of a possible risk for metabolic syndrome.
You could make the argument that a dad bod that’s heavy in the middle is simply cuddlier and more lovable, but that’d be the only argument you’ve got.
Excess fat around the waist indicates a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes, Dr. Holman said.
“Obviously that extra fat around the abdomen … if celebrities or media are promoting that, that’s a little concerning,” he said.
Genetics, circumstance
Substantial physical change may prove frustratingly elusive for some fellas, but that’s only because their genes are tight—so tight, they’re never letting go.
“To be honest with you, there are genetics behind weight,” Dr. Holman said.
“You don’t really have control over that,” he said. “Focus on what you have control over. What do you put in your mouth every day? What do you do every day?”
If you’re eating healthy and you’re exercising, there’s a fair chance, bad genes or good, your body will reap the benefits.
And, dad bod or not, be leery of any message that says beer and pizza are acceptable regular components of any diet.
“When people start saying that’s cool, maybe we’ve gone too much the other way,” Dr. Holman said.
Here he’s alluding to those opposing ends on that John Candy-Dwayne Johnson spectrum. There really is a happy middle. (You can have a piece of pizza and a beer once in a while; just don’t make them fixtures of your diet.)
“When everyone needed a six-pack, some people gave up trying for that,” he said. “Hopefully they would, in the media, kind of promote more healthy living instead of focusing on what the picture of the abs looks like.”
Write your history—and your child’s
There’s a good reason they call it the “dad bod.”
Once men and women procreate, those little people called children commandeer every aspect of their lives, leaving precious few moments for time-intensive exercise regimens.
“There is that weight gain that dads get,” Dr. Holman said. “It often goes along with moms gaining weight, too. You become more focused on caring for your kids than yourself sometimes.”
Dr. Holman’s advice to patients, and parents: Focus less on looks and more on healthy activities and healthy meals.
And promote the same things in your kids.
Because apart from genetics, how you look today has something to do with how you grew up.
“A lot of weight depends on what you were early on,” Dr. Holman said. “Your body kind of sets a standard weight by the time you’re a teenager.”
If a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle were hallmarks of your childhood, your journey to health in adulthood may be fraught with more pain and slower gains.
If, however, you were active as a kid—youth sports, a love of outdoors and the like—you may find it easier to bounce back as an adult, even in your later years.
“Some people feel like it’s always going to be hard work to get under that weight that your body has set as its baseline weight,” Dr. Holman said. “It’s not that you can’t overcome it. It’s just that it gets a little bit harder to overcome.”
Mind your body
So, really, do looks matter? To a degree, yes. More accurately, what matters is the measurement of your looks. Your BMI and waist circumference will play roles in what your doctor has to say about your health and fitness needs.
But your health history—your weight today versus a year ago, or two years ago—is just as important. You should celebrate steps toward better health, no matter how small, and also recognize when your health is slipping.
“If the BMI is above 30, usually I will order a blood test,” Dr. Holman said. “A common blood test checks cholesterol, diabetes and thyroid.”
That’s the introductory assessment.
“That shows how urgent it is for them to make some lifestyle changes,” he said.
If your BMI is 30 but your cholesterol level is great and you’re not diabetic, “it’s not nearly as urgent as someone whose BMI is 30 but they’re starting to get pre-diabetes,” he said.
A normal blood sugar level is typically lower than 100. Anything greater than 125 is considered diabetes. Pre-diabetes is the range in the middle.
“There’s that gray zone between 100 and 125,” Dr. Holman said, “when people can make a huge lifestyle change and prevent getting diabetes.”
And who knows—you might also prevent the complete onset of a dad bod.
Michigan truck driver Charles Hogan happened to snap this photo while traveling through Holland last week. The picture was taken Oct. 22 in the morning as the thunderstorms moved through West Michigan.
Do you have a picture you would like to be considered for Photo of the Week? Email it to joanne@wktv.org.
It wasn’t until artist Leyna Luttrull researched and then painted ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) that she fully understood what her daughter was going through.
“I didn’t think she really had it,” Luttrull said as she stood next to a series of paintings that depict mental health diagnosis — bipolar disorder, ADHD, substance abuse disorder, and borderline personality. The paintings were part of Luttrull’s 2018 ArtPrize installation “Disease Does Not Discriminate (Work in Progress)”. “I thought she was just acting out. I had to research it and learn about it. That’s when I truly understood that my daughter really did have ADHD. She was struggling. It wasn’t just acting it out. She wasn’t making it up. She was really suffering from this.”
It was through that 2018 ArtPrize series that Luttrull said she has found art creates a platform for people to openly discuss the disorders and diseases they have personally faced or have faced with loved ones. It is the reason Luttrull decided to partner with the non-profit mental health organization i understand and the local art group Experience Live Art to create the 2020 ArtPrize piece “We UnderSTAND Together.”
Unveiled at the Sept. 10 Pink Heart Day — a family-friendly event that raises awareness about suicide and prevention along with working to erase the stigma of depression and other mental health disorders — the ArtPrize piece brings together the community to paint tiles that Luttrull will then assemble into a giant butterfly.”
“With this piece we are trying to bring awareness of what people face in mental health and the stigmas that are attached to them,” Luttrull said. “So we are hoping by allowing people to express themselves through these tiles we can create a greater picture of how working together as a collective can overcome the stigmas of mental health.”
The goal is to collect about 2,000 tiles with organizers planning to attend various events throughout Grand Rapids to provide opportunities for community members to paint a tile or two. The community also will be invited to help break objects that will be used in the piece as well.
A rending of what the “We UnderSTAND Together” piece will look like when completed. (Supplied)
Vonnie Woodrick, founder of i understand, said the butterfly was chosen because it is a symbol of change.
“That we can be in a dark place but through time and transformation, we can have the ability to emerge into something beautiful,” she said.
Artist Leyna Luttrull at the Sept. 10 Pink Heart Day. (Photo by WKTV)
Along with hosting support groups and providing educational materials about suicide, i understand is working to eliminate the stigma of suicide by changing the definition of the word from “intentionally taking one’s own life” to “suicide’s role as a terminal side effect of mental illness and wanting one’s physical or emotional pain to end.”
Woodrick said she hopes that the 2020 ArtPrize project will help the public understand that everyone has some sort of pain.
“We want to be able to support each other through that pain no matter what it is, whether it is a mental health illness, whether it is cancer, whether it’s physical, whether it’s bullying,” she said.
The “We UnderSTAND Together” project will be visiting various local events to give the public an opportunity to paint tiles. (Photo by WKTV)
Steve Tibbe, one of the founders of Experience Live Art, said his organization looks to host platforms that help to promote local artists and increase exposure for healthy ways for creative outlets. The “We UnderSTAND Together” project fit those goals.
“This particular project focuses on bringing the community together and letting people connect with each other more than they think,” Tibbe said. “I think there is a lot of stuff through social media and just the technology today that we just feel connected but we are actually less connected. So people struggle with expressing themselves and their true feelings and just the ups and downs of life.”
Tibbe said he hopes the piece will be displayed in a prominent Grand Rapids location for ArtPrize 2020 so people can take selfies with the piece and use it let others know that they are not alone and they do understand what that person is experiencing.
How soon after securing their first job should a young person start investing? Immediately! Sound crazy? It’s not.
Setting aside money for long-term goals is an uncommonly wise act for a teenager. In fact, teenagers have something every older saver and investor wants yet can’t get, and that is time. Michigan State University Extension has numerous resources that can help young people learn key personal finance skills including how to manage and invest money.
Perhaps when it comes to building wealth, time truly is much more valuable to increasing the investment than the actual amount invested or the interest rate earned. The sooner a teen begins to set aside money in a savings or investment account, the longer those funds will earn interest and therefore the more money that will accumulate.
A smart teenager will set aside a portion every time they receive money, including wages from a job, money received as a gift, an increase in allowance, etc.; even just $10 here or $20 there will add up. A wise young person will then invest the amount saved. Those investments and those earnings will compound over time; what starts out as a dribble of deposits and earnings will build over time to a substantial stream of money. The longer the funds are left in the account, the faster the funds will grow.
How does that happen? It is all thanks to the magic of compound interest. Even Albert Einstein was impressed by it, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it… [and] he who doesn’t… pays it.”
Compound interest can be explained by the following simplified scenario: Adrienne saves $20 a week in a savings account for a year. She then transfers $1,000 of those savings to an investment account that earns 6% interest per year. At the end of the first year, her account will earn 6% interest on the $1,000, so she will have $1,060.00. At the end of the second year, Adrienne will earn 6% on the $1,060.00; her account will be valued at $1,123.60. After five years, without any additional deposits, Adrienne’s initial investment of $1,000 will be worth $1,338.23. Adrienne earned $300 interest on her $1000 deposit; it was the compounding of the interest that earned her the additional $38.23.
If Adrienne is financially savvy and continues to save $20 each week over that same period, she will be able to deposit $1,000 into her account at the beginning of each subsequent year. At the end of five years, her $5,000 investment will be valued at $5,975.33. Adrienne earned $900 in interest on the $5,000 she deposited; the $75.33 was the result of compound interest. Adrienne has let compound interest work for her; she might well consider this free money.
The magic here is that Adrienne is earning interest on the money she actually deposited into the account plus the money that her account has earned for her. It may not seem like a lot of money initially, but with regular deposits and annual interest earnings, the fund will grow significantly.
Michigan State University Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development help to prepare young people for successful futures. As a result of career exploration and workforce preparation activities, thousands of Michigan youth are better equipped to make important decisions about their professional future, ready to contribute to the workforce and able to take fiscal responsibility in their personal lives. For more information or resources on career exploration, workforce preparation, financial education, or entrepreneurship, contact 4-HCareerPrep@msu.edu.
Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions. (Supplied by the band)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
If you caught Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions earlier this month when they opened for Michigander at Pyramid Scheme, you know the genre-bending sounds of the local band’s Bottled Up like a Neon Light, released in April, and maybe a cut or two from their up-coming Three on Three EP.
If not, you’ll just have to wait for their CD release party Thursday, Nov. 7, at Mulligan’s Pub on Wealthy Street SE. (Of course, you could check out music from Bottled Up like a Neon Light on bandcamp.com.)
While everybody hears what they hear and calls ‘em like they hears ‘em, my first listen to their early-this-year full-length release definately “Stuck in My Head” — the title of one song ion the release — with its mix of a little alt, a little retro rock and even a little old new wave.
But Jack and the band apparently simply call themselves a “garage” band.
“With their newest set of music, the ‘Three on Three‘ EP, the band is set to take their music to a new level,” they say of themselves and the new music. “The EP showcases some of the biggest sounding songs the band has done while maintaining a consistent feel of Americana Garage Rock.”
Jack Droppers was born in Grand Rapids, but has spent almost all his life outside of the city until recently, according to the band’s own bio, “Like his new home in GR, JD’s latest musical project is a homecoming of sorts. The Americana rock & roll that Jack Droppers & the Best Intentions play reflects a blend of the Springsteen cassettes he inherited and the garage-rock scene of Central Florida where he grew up.”
Droppers is joined by Laura Hobson (of Antrim Dells), Garrett Stier (of Stationary Travelers), Devin Sullivan, Josh Holicki and James Kessel … “for an honest, rough-around-the-edges, and robust rock & roll sound.”
The party at Mulligan’s sounds like a great way to start the fall, and get to know Jack and his best intentions.
Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions will play Mulligan’s Pub, 1518 Wealthy St. SE, with Dawning opening and DJ Oracle spinning the afterparty, from 9 p.m. until they kick everybody out. For more information, visit the band’s Facebook Page or visit Mulligan’s Pub’s Facebook page.
Named one of Yahoo Music’s “Top ten bands to watch,” The Accidentals, a Michigan-based band with a unique style of music, will play in concert on the Tibbits stage on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7pm.
Traverse City’s female-fronted, multi-instrumentalist power trio The Accidentals (Sav Buist, Katie Larson, and Michael Dause) have been called “Defiant, young-powerful, and undaunted,” by Texas Lifestyle Magazine. Quickly growing regional attention, The Accidentals bring an eclectic blend of Indie, folk, pop, and rock that melds their orchestral roots with classical, jazz, bluegrass, country, and alt-rock influences. This genre-hopping trio puts on an interactive show that has been wowing audiences across the globe.
This regional phenomenon is rising in popularity with a just-released self-titled LIVE album and tour of the UK. They are currently scoring an indie film, teaching workshops across the country, playing with symphonies, and recording their much anticipated Vessel Album to be released in 2020.
Savannah Buist (Sav) was born in Nashville, TN and her love of music began on a tour bus with her multi-instrumentalist father and R&B vocalist mother when she was three months old. At 11, she picked up violin and dove headfirst into improvisational folk and jazz, reggae, funk, and rock. By sixteen, she’d become a versatile session player, composer, arranger, and performer. Later she followed in her father’s footsteps by becoming proficient in a wide range of instruments. Sav has been described by IPR as “one of the most compelling songwriters of our day.
Katie Larson grew up in Northern Michigan. Her musical family encouraged a range of eclectic influences, and in 2006 she started playing cello in her elementary school’s music program. Now she is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and composer, who participates in film, design, art, and culinary adventures. Katie graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy in 2014, and has since been a full-time studio session player, songwriter, and touring musician. In 2017 she started cataloging her stories about the food she finds on the road in a visual food blog.
Hailing from the suburb of Northville, in Detroit, Michael Dause banged on pots and pans at the early age of one. At the age of four, Dause’s grandfather got him a full-sized drum set and at seven, he began his first lessons. In middle school, Dause taught himself how to play the guitar, and began writing his own songs. Dause joined the Accidentals in 2014 after they met at a Michigan music festival. “They’re fantastic musicians, and I love being able to lock in with them on stage,” Dause said about playing with Larson and Buist.
This one-night engagement will be at Tibbits Opera House, 14 S. Hanchett St. in Coldwater, MI. Tickets range from $15-28 including fees, with a discount for Tibbits members. There is also an “on your feet” section for those who want a livelier concert experience. Tickets are currently on sale and are available at Tibbits.org, at Tibbits administrative offices at 93 W. Chicago St. in Coldwater, or by calling 517.278.6029. This event also features a cash bar.
Editor’s Note: Opera Grand Rapids production “The Mikado” is almost sold out.
Opera Grand Rapids will present Gilbert and Sullivan comedic opera “The Mikado” Nov. 1 and 2 at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ranson Ave. NE. The performances are at 7:30 p.m. both days.
Bass Andrew Potter is in the role of Pooh-Bah, who holds numerous exalted offices, including “First Lord of the Treasury, Lord Chief Justice, Commander-in-Chief, Lord High Admiral … Archbishop … Lord Mayor” and “Lord High Everything Else”.
Where are you originally from? Lynchburg, VA
Who has inspired you/been your greatest influence professionally? Why? Professionally, there are truly too many to mention… so many have been a huge and integral part of my journey. So, the greatest? Not to be cheesy, but I’d have to say my mother. Back when I was first starting and there was no shortage of people telling me to get a “real job.” She was the one that encouraged me to stay the course, and pursue my dream. She taught me to dream, love, be kind, work harder than anyone, and to never quit; and that’s why I’m here.
Who/what brought you into the world of Opera? When I was 9, my father had us all watch the entirety of the Wagner’s Ring Cycle, and I loved it. Many years later, after having gone on to be an instrumentalist, a wonderful voice teacher—Dr. Wayne Kompelien—talked me into “trying out singing.” After a semester of voice, I was officially hooked.
Where do you live now? Lynchburg, VA
What are your hobbies when not performing? I love spending time in the gym, and I also love rock climbing and mountaineering.
What is your favorite Role/Opera/Piece? It’s impossible to choose just one! Wotan in the Ring Cycle; Mefistofele in Boito’s Mefistofele; Blitch in Susannah; John Claggart in Billy Budd, to name a few. My favorite performed role to date has been Mephostpheles in Gounod’s Faust.
What are your favorite things about being a professional musician? Getting to be a part of bringing something timeless and magical to life, and giving that as a gift to others.
Least favorite? Missing things/people due to being on the road (Birthdays, Holidays, etc.).
Where is your favorite place to travel/perform? Why? This is REALLY tough. I’ve been able to visit so many wonderful places. I think, however, I’d have to say Alaska (shoutout to Anchorage Opera). I loved being there in the Spring and being around the mountains, but also a block or two away from the water.
What performances/plans do you have in the next year?: Outside of singing, I’m working on knocking off the highest peaks in each state, so I’d like to bag 3 new ones this year. Career-wise, it’s a busy season ahead, with several exciting role debuts!
Pinewood Middle School eighth grader Shay Wilks said she reads four to six books a month. While visiting the school library recently, she commented on the book, “Blended” by Sharon M. Draper. The main character is a biracial girl. It’s one of her favorites.
“She has my same skin tone,” Shay said. “Sometimes she would get bullied for her skin tone, and sometimes I do too.”
Eighth grader Allie Watkins discovered the book ‘Warcross,’ by Marie Lu, during a challenge to read diverse books
Shay said the fact she related to the character was one reason she loved the book.
That kind of connection is what Kentwood educators are seeking in stocking teachers’ classroom libraries with diverse books that reflect students’ cultures and backgrounds, and through which students can learn about others’ cultures and circumstances.
“We are the most diverse district in the entire state and seventh in the nation. We are very proud of that,” said Melisa Mulder, secondary ELA intervention coach, who is leading the effort.
Mulder attended a Michigan Reading Association Conference on the importance of classroom libraries, which prompted her to survey middle and high school teachers about the number of books in their rooms and if they consisted of diverse titles. “My hunch was our libraries were not as diverse in terms of the amount of books they should have or in showing what our kids represent.”
Minority cultures remain underrepresented in books. In 2015, according to statistics compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, just 7.6% of children’s books had African or African American characters; 3.3% had Asian or Asian American; 2.4% had Latino; and 0.9% had Native American.
“It’s really about inclusion and wanting them all to be represented,” Mulder said.
Eighth grader Shay Wilks peruses the school library
Mission: Stock Libraries
The survey found most classroom libraries did not have the minimum 300 books recommended by the Michigan Reading Association, and the ones they did have lacked diversity. 75% of teachers had about 100 books, with the majority of teachers using their own money to buy them.
Mulder presented a plan to to Evan Hordyk, executive director for secondary education, who supported her efforts. The Board of Education approved the purchase of $1,500 in books for each secondary English language arts teacher, about 78 district-wide. The goal is to allocate $1,000 per teacher next school year, too, and $300 every other year to follow to keep titles current. Teachers, using a list of considerations about creating diverse book collection, ordered the books they wanted, and replaced outdated titles.
Pinewood’s library clerk, Kelly Austin, is championing the effort. Last year she and librarians at Crestwood and Valleywood middle schools started “Books for Us,” a program in which students are challenged to read a minimum of six books representing diverse authors and characters.
Last school year, more than 50 students read, journaled and held lunch meetings to talk about the 10 books, which were chosen by the librarians. The culminating event included hearing a guest speaker, a catered lunch and voting on their favorite book. Students received a T-shirt, commemorative bookmark and swag bag. The challenge starts again in November.
Another way to get books in students’ hands is through the KDL Bookmobile,which visits Pinewood every three weeks. Students can check out books right from the traveling library. The district has also ensured that all students have a library card.
The overarching goal, Mulder said, is equity. Students who feel connections with books are more motivated to read, and therefore will become more skilled at it.
Eighth grader Shay Wilks has learned how books can be a mirror and a window for a reader
Finding ‘That Book for that Kid’
Added Austin, “If I have books in here that are not by diverse authors and do not represent the kids, that’s not equitable because you can’t come in here and find a book about your experience. …“To me, it’s important to listen to them and to get their input about what books we have, what books they are enjoying.”
She said finding a reluctant reader a book she or he loves can help them develop a joy for reading.
“Building the love of reading is like the icing on the cake… If I don’t try to keep my library current and diverse I may never find that book for that kid.”
English-language learner teacher Diana McDiarmid said her students are benefiting from the new books on her shelves. She’s had trouble finding books for students who come from all over the globe. “It’s going to impact them a lot because they will actually have books they want to read… It’s something they can connect with.”
Eighth grader Allie Watkins read all 10 titles in the “Books for Us” challenge, and loved “Warcross” by Marie Lu, which represents the Chinese culture. “I thought it was so cool to learn how different people react to different situations,” Allie said.
She said her classmates will like finding books that reflect their culture and through which they can learn about others.
“It will benefit them because their are people here from all different cultures. It will be nice for them to read books from many cultures.”
For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Deer hunters aren’t the only ones geared up for action, however.
Michigan hospital emergency staff sees hundreds of hunting-related injuries every year.
While some injuries are minor, Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital averages about 14 hunting-related hospitalizations a year.
The 2018-19 season landed 20 patients in the hospital due to injuries sustained from falling out of tree stands. One of those had a spinal cord injury, 11 had vertebral fractures, and one suffered a pelvic fracture.
2009-18 hunting accident statistics
Total of 128 admissions due to fall from a tree stand
No deaths
11 spinal cord injuries
Multiple vertebral, pelvic, arm and leg fractures
These stats don’t include all the people who go to the emergency room for injuries that aren’t serious enough for overnight—or much longer—stays in the hospital or in rehabilitation units.
Alistair Chapman, MD, a Spectrum Health Medical Group critical care surgeon, helped lead a study into falls from tree stands and their impact on trauma centers. He knows first-hand how dangerous the season can be for hunters, especially for those who are overweight or fall from a height of 20 feet or more.
“Tree stand falls cause significant injury,” he said.
Emergency department doctors and trauma surgeons are particularly concerned about the increase in life-changing traumas such as spine fractures, brain injuries and paralysis from these falls.
“The infrequent use of safety harnesses is alarming,” Dr. Chapman said, sharing that less than 3% of the injured hunters in their study used a harness. In a couple of cases, the harnesses broke.
What gives? In 1997, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources changed hunting rules to allow firearm hunters to hunt from raised platforms. Since that time, the accident rate has climbed.
“The majority of deer hunters in Michigan are firearm hunters, so an increase in injuries was expected,” said Bruce Murray, MD, a Spectrum Health emergency medicine specialist.
An avid hunter himself, Dr. Murray added: “What’s unfortunate is that these are injuries that, in most cases, could be prevented.”
Records show that fall victims with arm and leg fractures account for the most injuries. Spine injuries comes in at a close second. Chest wall trauma is the third-leading cause of injury.
A broken limb may not sound like a big deal—unless you experience one. And Dr. Murray also quickly pointed out that the severity of these injuries is sometimes shocking.
“We see life-altering injuries every year,” he said.
So what can hunters do to avoid injury? Drs. Murray, Chapman and other safety experts have many suggestions.
Hunting safety tips you need to know:
Tree stand safety is as important as gun safety. Follow that same approach to the tree stand as you do your gun.
Never use drugs, alcohol or sedatives while hunting.
Check permanent tree stands each time before use. Replace any worn or weak lumber before it breaks.
Always wear a safety harness or belt while checking or using a stand.
Read, understand and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing a ready-made tree stand.
Inspect portable stands for loose nuts and bolts before every single use.
Know what you should do if you slip while using a safety device. Make a plan.
Use a haul line to raise or lower equipment.
Keep firearms unloaded and arrows in a covered quiver when going up or down.
Choose a tree large enough to support your weight.
Never hurry to set up your stand. Take your time to check it over.
Make sure someone knows the location of your tree stand and when you will be there, every time.
Stay awake and alert. Always be aware of your position on the tree stand platform.
Use a short tether between you and the tree when attaching your fall restraint device. This is to keep you in the stand if you slip or fall, not to catch you after you have fallen.
Always carry a cell phone or other device to call for help if you need it. Keep it easily accessible.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
The state of State and Kent County mental health services funding, and some astounding statistics surrounding Kent County’s recycling efforts, were among the topics discussed as part of a wide-ranging inter-governmental leaders meeting Monday, Oct. 14, at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum at Kentwood City Hall.
State Sen. Peter MacGregor, who represents the City of Wyoming as part of his 28th Senate District and chairs the important Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, gave the group a report from Lansing on the topic of mental health funding and the state budget battles.
Darwin Baas, the director of the Kent County Department of Public Works, also reported on the good, the bad and the ugly of recycling and trash disposal in the county — and what actions are being done to lessen the amount of trash going into limited landfill space.
The Government Matters meeting brings together representatives from the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, Kent County commissioners, local Michigan state senators and representatives, as well as often representatives of Michigan’s U.S. senators and U.S. congressman who represent the Wyoming and Kentwood area.
The next meeting — a special on-location meeting honoring Veterans Day at the AMVETS Post 23, 98 52nd Ave. — will be Nov. 11, from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
The intergovernmental discussion hosted by the chamber focuses on issues that effect residents and businesses in the two cities.
For more information about the chamber and Government Matters visit southkent.org .
The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the latest meeting on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., as well as on select Saturdays, on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26. For a highlight schedule of WKTV cable programs visit wktvjournal.org .
Anyone searching for senior care options has probably come across the term “continuum of care” — but what does it really mean, and why is it important? A community with a continuum of care is one that offers senior care services from independent living up the scale to assisted living, memory care, and in some cases, skilled nursing and hospice. These communities provide significant benefits to their residents in terms of quality of life and care. Here are a few:
1. Peace of Mind
The unknown can be frightening, especially when health and wellness situations can change by the minute for seniors. The primary benefit of communities that offer a continuum of care is the breadth and depth of senior care services offered. From independent living, where seniors may only need help with arduous tasks, to memory care, many assisted living communities are recognizing the need for a place where retirees can establish themselves while they pursue the retirement they want.
This peace of mind not only benefits residents of assisted living communities, but also their friends and loved ones. When retirees choose to age in their family homes, it can be frightening to know that there are periods of time during which they may not be able to get the help they need, and 24-hour in-home care options can be cost-prohibitive for many families. With assisted living, staff members are available to respond to your loved one’s needs whenever they may arise.
2. Stronger Communities
Social isolation is a problem for our elderly population. As people retire, they lose their everyday contact with others in the workplace, and aging can lead to limited mobility that makes it harder to attend other social functions such as church or hobby groups.
Assisted living communities that provide a continuum of senior care services can facilitate stronger relationships between residents and with staff because seniors don’t have to move around to receive appropriate care. With plenty of common areas, shared dining options, and stimulating activities to get residents out and about, it’s much easier to stay connected and avoid the dangers of isolation.
3. Increased Flexibility
Senior care services aren’t one-size-fits-all. Two people utilizing assisted living services likely won’t need the same level of assistance for every task, and only providing one level of care is unnecessarily restricting for seniors who may be able to complete many activities of daily living (ADLs) on their own. If a resident enjoys cooking and only wants one meal provided a day, one blanket care plan that includes all meals isn’t the right choice for them.
With a continuum of care, assisted living staff are much better equipped to offer tailored solutions to their residents’ problems. Residents can then get the input of their families, loved ones, and care professionals to determine what best suits their changing needs, and care can continuously be reevaluated as conditions change.
4. Early Detection of Problems
Prevention may be the best medicine, but it can’t catch everything. People in our society are living longer than ever before, and with aging comes unexpected health issues that even the best planning may not be able to account for.
In the cases where preventative care can’t eliminate an issue, early detection is the key to effective treatment. But identifying a health problem early is easier said than done, as small signs can go unseen to the untrained eye. In an assisted living setting, trained on-site staff members can spot early indicators much faster than an in-home caregiver. For example, if a resident usually keeps a clean house but care staff find a mess, that could be an indication of a developing health issue that can then be addressed.
5. More Stability
Does anyone really like moving? Sure, the prospect of a new place can be exciting, but with all the packing, downsizing, and logistics that go into actually making a move, the entire process is long and exhausting. So why do it more than you have to? Assisted living communities that offer a continuum of care make it much easier for residents to receive the care they need without having to move several times over the course of their retirement: think family home, downsized home, assisted living, then skilled nursing.
That’s not to say some decluttering isn’t good. We accumulate a lot of stuff over the course of our lives, and making one big move is a great way to prioritize what you really need. Making the move to an assisted living community that offers a continuum of care allows your loved one to sort through the memories in their home, then carry the most important ones to a new start.
Having a single community that provides safety, structure, and a sense of belonging can go a long way to happier retirement living. And for those who prefer a retirement on the move? Assisted living staff can help with maintaining the home base so your loved ones can travel worry-free.
The St. Cecilia Music Center Acoustic Cafe Folk Series is usually all about the singer/songwriters, and the list of fine concerts in the series got a bit longer and better recently with the announced return of Grammy award winners Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin, who is currently revisiting her classic 1989 album Steady On.
Cohn, who delivered a great set at St. Cecilia in 2017, will return on March, 19, 2020. Colvin, who last visited Royce Auditorium in 2016, will visit on May 19.
“Since he was last here … Marc has spent time on the road with legendary Michael McDonald, worked closely with David Crosby and other American music greats,” Cathy Holbrook, St. Cecilia executive director, said in supplied material. “His appearance will also closely follow the release of his collaborative record with gospel legends Blind Boys of Alabama. This will be one of our most exciting concerts featuring a terrifically talented artist and amazing songwriter.”
The two concerts add to an upcoming folk series schedule which includes The Infamous Stringdusters of Thursday, Feb. 6; Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal on Wednesday, Feb. 20; Chris Thile on Tuesday, Feb. 25; and Raul Midón on Thursday, Feb. 27.
Marc Cohn. (Supplied)
While Cohn won a Grammy for his classic ballad “Walking in Memphis” in 1991, he has “solidified his place as one of this generation’s most compelling singer-songwriters, combining the precision of a brilliant tunesmith with the passion of a great soul man,” according to supplied material.
In August of this year, Cohn released a collaborative record with gospel legends Blind Boys of Alabama, Work To Do, comprised of three studio tracks by Cohn and the Blind Boys — two originals, including the title track, and a version of the gospel standard “Walk In Jerusalem” — plus seven intimate live performances recorded at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, Conn., during a taping of the PBS series “The Kate”.
Shawn Colvin is expected to perform her newly released album Steady On Acoustic in its entirety. Her original 1989 album Steady On was her first Grammy Award winning album. (She has three Grammy’s to her resume.)
Shawn Colvin. (Supplied/Alexandra Valenti)
“I’ve played these songs countless times, primarily as a solo acoustic artist. All in all, this is the incarnation that feels most genuine,” Colvin said in supplied material. “And so, to commemorate this milestone I decided to celebrate Steady On by recording it again, this time using only my voice and my guitar. This represents who I am as an artist and all I ever wanted to be.”
In promotional material, Colvin also talks about bringing 30-year lens to her treasured songs, casting new light on the stories she first told as a young artist.
“I was 32 years old, and the dream of my life had been fulfilled,” Colvin says, “not only because I made an album but mostly because I had written or co-written every song, an accomplishment that was hard won. I was so proud. My feeling was then — and still is— that if I never made another album, Steady On would have been enough.”
More about Marc Cohn can be found on his website marccohnmusic.com .
More about Shawn Colvin can be found at her website at shawncolvin.com .
Marc Cohn, Shawn Colvin and all folk series concert tickets can be purchased by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224 or visiting the box office at 24 Ransom Ave. NE. Tickets can also be purchased online at scmc-online.org. A post-concert “Meet-the-artist” reception with a cash bar will be offered to all ticket-holders giving the audience the opportunity to possibly meet the artists obtain signed CDs of his many releases.
Wyoming Lee High School’s football team has had some ups and downs this season — the first season of a two-year hiatus from OK Silver conference play and into an independent schedule. But as the team prepares to end their season with a home game, the Legends have reason for optimism and accomplishment.
Lee (2-6 on the season) will host Potterville (0-7; 0-6 Central Michigan Athletic Conference) at Lee’s field Friday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. And WKTV will be there to record and broadcast the game.
Before the game, WKTV caught up with head coach Tom DeGennaro, who talked about what his team accomplished this season, players who have stepped up this year including a special freshman in the backfield, and how they are preparing for the season finale.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, we continue our efforts to inform and support veterans — and their families and friends — through a discussion with Paul J. Ryan, Captain, US Navy Reserve (Retired) and a member of the West Michigan Veterans Coalition.
The Coalition is a group which describes itself as “a collaboration among local military-friendly organizations that provide support, information and resources to veterans and their families.”
Most recently, the Coalition was part of the West Michigan Freedom Cruise and Gold Star Family Honor Ride, held annually at the Fifth Third Ball Park in Comstock Park. But that is only one of the most visible activities of the Coalition.
We talk with Mr. Ryan about the direct services his group provides and how it works with other veterans support groups, how essential it is to bring employers into the discussion when we talk about supporting veterans, and about the Coalition’s mission including service to “anyone who served in the Armed Forces” and why that means more than honorably discharged vets.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
“What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good.”*
Aristotle
*Aristotle probably would have said it this way: “Ποια είναι η ουσία της ζωής; Να υπηρετείς άλλους και να κάνεις καλό.” But in Ancient Greek and with waaaaay more accent marks.
Sounds like a dare
Ask Me Anything! is Nov. 2 at Kentwood Library. Learn about your community and your neighbors in a fun, relaxed environment. Visit the branch to “check out” different members of our community for a chance to learn from them and ask them anything. More info here.
In the ‘mark your calendar’ category…
Courtesy Grand Valley State University
Zapatos Rojos | Red Shoes is an itinerant installation originally organized in 2009 by artist and architect Elina Chauvet in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Comprising 33 pairs of red shoes donated by the women of Ciudad Juárez — each pair representing a woman who had disappeared in that community — the piece is designed to draw attention to the fact that women were being killed without any consequences. Nov. 1, 2019-Feb. 28, 2020. Get the details here.
Do some good — here’s how
The SpartanNash Foundation invites store guests to join the fight against hunger during its companywide fundraising effort, Oct. 23 to Nov. 3. The SpartanNash Foundation’s retail scan campaign supports more than 100 local food pantries and food banks, and 100 percent of dollars raised will support food pantry partners in eight states. Learn more here.
Fun fact:
Volunteering keeps you young
Volunteering not only engages your mind and body, but it can actually help you age well and reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Plenty of research has been done on the importance of socialization to improve the mental and emotional health of seniors. But what can you do when your loved one is in an assisted living community to ensure that they are meeting socialization goals? Here are six ways you can help your family member stay social and engaged while they are in a senior living community.
1. Look for signs of isolation
It can be hard for seniors to admit that they are feeling lonely and want to make new connections. It can also be the case that older adults who are new to senior living communities may want to avoid interacting with others and choose instead to isolate themselves. You can help your loved one avoid this social slump by looking for signs of isolation, including:
Loss of interest in activities that used to excite them
Changes in appetite
Weight loss or gain
Lethargy
Decline in cognitive functions
Self-loathing or a drop in self-worth
If you see some of these signs, it might be a signal that you should start encouraging your loved one to talk with neighbors and interact with staff members more regularly.
2. Recommend exercise
You can help your loved one socialize by encouraging them to exercise and partake in group activities. Not only do these give your family member a chance to interact with others, but exercise can improve self-worth and self-image in seniors. Improving self-image can be a step towards seniors wanting to motivate themselves to socialize more with others.
There are many different exercise and activity groups for seniors, including groups for older adults who have limited mobility. More mobile seniors may enjoy outdoor activities, which are great for meeting others. Sports like golfing and bowling are group activities, and can help seniors make new connections. Even a walk in the park can help seniors get out of their senior living home and in a place where they can socialize with others.
3. Find groups and clubs to join
Another way for seniors to interact with others is to find clubs to join. Clubs and groups are able to provide weekly or monthly times where your loved one has scheduled social interactions. Being part of a club or group can help seniors feel motivated to go out and engage with others.
Clubs can also help seniors meet new people out of their regular network of friends and family. Examples of clubs many seniors enjoy include:
A major barrier for seniors is getting to the places where they have a chance to interact with others. Offering transportation and rides to events for your elderly loved one is a great way to help them socialize.
Having a source of transportation can also help seniors feel more independent. When they have options for socialization beyond what is offered at their senior living home, they can feel more comfortable exploring places and groups that otherwise would be unavailable to them.
5. Encourage new hobbies
Finding new things to do can help seniors want to get out and socialize with more people. A new hobby requires learning and cognitive thinking, which alone is a great exercise for seniors. In addition, seniors may need to gather new information from others with the same hobby, which provides another way for seniors to meet others and socialize.
Most hobbies aren’t limited to specific age groups, which can expand an older adult’s social circle beyond the friends and family they already are familiar with. Having new sources of excitement can also stop a loved one’s descent into social isolation.
6. Explain social apps and technology
Technology provides a great platform for seniors to be able to make new friends, connect, and interact with others. It may be difficult for older adults to understand how to utilize technology and social apps, so you can help out by being patient and clearly explaining technology such as:
Apps like Facebook and Skype can help seniors stay in contact with distant friends—along with seeing what the grandkids are up to in daily life.
Lyft and Uber can help your senior loved one travel around town if you live far away to help provide rides.
Online games like Words with Friends can help seniors meet new people without having to leave home.
While technology is a great way for seniors to connect and stay in touch with people, help them understand internet safety as well. By helping your loved one stay active on social media, you can help them avoid isolation even if you are unable to visit often.
Seniors need socialization for more than just making friends. Socializing can help seniors avoid isolation and depression. Interacting with others can also help seniors maintain their cognitive functions. You can help your loved one stay healthy for longer by encouraging and helping them with their socialization skills.
New guidelines for ADHD treatment emphasize the need for ongoing medical care and coordination within the school and community. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is in the news a lot and now newer research has prompted a leading pediatricians’ group to update its guidelines for diagnosing and treating the disorder for the first time since 2011.
Dr. Mark Wolraich, lead author of the guidelines, noted that there weren’t any dramatic differences between these and previous guidelines.
But, he said, these latest updates keep the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines in sync with the same diagnostic and treatment criteria used by child and adolescent psychiatrists.
ADHD “is not a ‘new’ diagnosis. It’s a real diagnosis that needs treatment,” Wolraich said.
“There are two forms of treatment effective for ADHD: medications, especially stimulant medications, and behavioral treatments. Neither treatment is curative,” he said, but they can help manage the symptoms.
Wolraich is an emeritus professor at the University of Oklahoma, in Oklahoma City.
More than 9% of U.S. children between the ages of 2 and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to the guideline authors.
Boys are more than twice as likely as girls to be diagnosed with the disorder. Kids with ADHD often have symptoms of another mental disorder—such as depression or anxiety—and they may also have learning and language problems.
Updates to the guidelines include:
Changing the age at which symptoms need to have first started. Previously, symptoms needed to begin before age 7. That’s now been raised to age 12.
In patients older than 17, fewer problem behaviors are needed to make an ADHD diagnosis. Wolraich said as children get older, symptoms can change and behaviors such as hyperactivity usually diminish.
Emphasizing the need to rule out other causes of ADHD-like symptoms and to identify other conditions that may occur with ADHD, such as depression, anxiety, substance use, autism or trauma.
Highlighting the need for ongoing medical care and coordination within the school and community.
Recommending parent training in behavior management as a first-line treatment for preschoolers. Wolraich said behavior modification is an effective treatment that generally has two phases of treatment. The positive phase rewards a child for appropriate behavior—and the reward may just be praising, such as, “Johnny, I like the way you’re sitting in your chair.” The second phase includes consequences, such as “time-out.” But, he said, if you don’t have the positive side of treatment, time-out isn’t as helpful.
While the guidelines didn’t specifically recommend behavior management training for teachers and parents in high school students with ADHD, they noted that studies have found some value in this treatment for older kids.
Dr. Victor Fornari, vice chair of child and adolescent psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, N.Y., said it’s important for pediatricians to be familiar with the up-to-date guidelines, because “as many as 10% of all kids meet the criteria for ADHD and many children with mild to moderate symptoms can be evaluated and treated by their pediatrician.”
Fornari said if treatment doesn’t go smoothly or there are ongoing behavior problems or other mental health concerns, pediatricians can often collaborate with a child and adolescent psychiatrist to get additional guidance.
Both Wolraich and Fornari said pediatricians play a vital role in ADHD diagnosis and treatment because they already have an established relationship with the child and family.
“People may not fully appreciate that ADHD that’s untreated can lead to adverse outcomes. Failing to treat can lead to academic and conduct disturbances, and earlier substance use disorders. Children who are identified earlier and treated are more successful,” Fornari said.
The new guidelines were published online recently in the journal Pediatrics.
Good medicine is about getting back to the basics and leading a healthy lifestyle. And there’s no better way to do this than to start your day with a healthy meal.
I know this can be difficult some days, especially if you are in a hurry. If you are like me, you are lucky to get out the door on time to get to work, school, exercise class, or an early-morning meeting.
I want to help you be prepared for whatever may come your way throughout the day.
Even if you make an unhealthy choice (or two) later in the day by eating or drinking something high in sugar and low in nutrition, at least you know you started your day the healthy way. Adding veggies, protein, hydration and nutrition to your breakfast can help you lean more toward a healthy lifestyle.
Smoothies are a good choice for breakfast because you can add so many different (and healthy) ingredients to help you stay full all morning.
It’s important to remember that not all smoothies are the same. Some are full of sugar and lacking in nutrition. My favorite green smoothie is full of nutrients because, remember, our bodies need vitamins (vitamin D, calcium, B vitamins), minerals (iron), protein, fat and carbohydrates every day.
The ingredients in my green smoothie help in several areas of wellness, including heart health, protection from cancer and maintaining strong bones. I have listed the ingredients separately, including an explanation of what each ingredient brings to the smoothie.
I make this smoothie for breakfast most days, not only because it tastes great but also because it can prevent colon cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States, and the second most common cancer in women.
This is just one more excellent reason to give this smoothie a try for breakfast tomorrow and every day thereafter.
Colorectal cancer is preventable in most cases by early detection, though you can also improve colorectal health by maintaining a healthy weight and eating a proper diet—rich in fiber and antioxidants (like the ingredients in my green smoothie), low in saturated fats and red meat, and high in vitamins.
Every now and then, a news article comes along and tells us about how some strangers have committed fraud or scammed the elderly. Although scams and fraud are common, it is not nearly as common as the exploitation taking place by people who our elderly citizens come to trust. According to the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) 90 percent of elder financial exploitation is committed by trusted people such as caretakers, family members, neighbors, friends, attorneys, bank employees, doctors, nurses and pastors.
NAPSA statistics also stated one in nine elders have been exploited within the past 12 months while one in 20 said they have perceived mistreatment recently. Sadly, only one out of every 44 cases is ever reported, and of those reported physical abuse and neglect is usually included. Financial abuse has increased dramatically over the past ten years in both number and complexity and has become widespread and deadly. Exploitation has a dramatic effect on the elderly and can lead to a loss of trust, loss of security, depression, the inability to provide long-term care and even the loss of an elder’s primary residence.
Why are the elderly attractive targets? The elderly become easy targets because isolation, loneliness and disabilities lend themselves to the trusting of people who are willing to give them time and attention. Along with this, advanced technology has made managing finances more and more difficult and the elderly are less likely to take action against perpetrators.
Some of the most common exploits by family members are:
Abuse of Power of Attorney – Stealing monies for own use.
Abuse of joint bank accounts – Family members take advantage by using for themselves.
Stealing checks and ATM cards – Withdrawing money from victim’s accounts.
Threatening abandonment or physical abuse – Doing so gives the perpetrator what they desire.
Refusing care or medical services – By refusing care the abuser can keep assets available for their own use.
Some ways to intervene and prevent exploitation are:
Reduce isolation – Frequent visitations can help keep an elderly family member from seeking suspect relationships with untrustworthy individuals.
Close joint bank accounts – Instead, help with writing out checks for bills but keep accounts in the individuals name to prevent others from taking advantage.
Revoke Power of Attorney – If an individual is suspected of abusing the Power of Attorney, have them removed and assign the Power of Attorney to a trusted member of the family.
Restart utilities if they are shut off – Assist in negotiating and paying to have utilities restored.
Find a responsible party to manage funds – If family members cannot be trusted, then find a trusted agency to aid in managing funds.
Report suspected exploitation to proper authorities – Report to multiple agencies including law enforcement. Work with financial institutions to better recognize financial abuse.
Remember to include elderly family members in your family activities; after all, they were never too busy for you when you needed them. For additional information visit: http://www.stopfraud.gov/protect-yourself.html
Michigan State University Extension offers financial management and homeownership education classes. For more information about classes in your area, visit MI Money Health. Also, if you are wondering about your financial health, take a financial health survey from MI Money Health to get your financial health score! It is confidential and your answers never connect back to your name. This survey can help you evaluate your current financial situation, provide ideas on how you may improve your financial health and connect you to resources in your local community.
“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.“
Dalai Lama XIV
Say yes to saying no
Just say no
Do your part to keep prescription drugs out of our waterways and out of the hands of kids and teens — Oct. 26th is National Drug Take Back Day, and the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming are taking part. Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 469 tons (more than 937,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and almost 5,000 state and local law enforcement partners. The details are right here.
Lucky flag is going home
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) and OBON Society are in the process of returning a rare Japanese “Good Luck Flag” to its rightful family. OBON Society provides reconciliation between American and Japanese families through the return of personal items acquired during World War II. A Grand Rapids resident donated the flag, along with a WWII newsreel and a map of Iwo Jima, to the GRPM in 2015. The items were possessions of the donor’s deceased father, a former American soldier, who collected the flag during the war. Read all about it here.
Say ‘hello’ to ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’
Elton John is coming to the Van Andel Arena on April 23, 2020, and tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Nov. 1 at 10am local time. But highfalutin American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Thursday, Oct. 24 at 10am local time through Monday, Oct. 28 at 10pm local time. Tickets and VIP packages can be purchased at EltonJohn.com. Don’t delay! More details here.
Fun fact:
>1,000
Elton John has over 1,000 pairs of shades. Rumor has it that he has to book a separate hotel room to accommodate all of them.
Wyoming quarterback Matthew Berg (11) reacts to a Wolves touchdown in a game at Northview Sept. 6. (Curtis Holt)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
In the third year of Wyoming High School football coach Irvin Sigler’s reboot of the Wolves program, the coach and his team are probably disappointed with their win/loss record in the tough OK Conference Gold.
But the Wolves’s offensive mindset is showing impressive improvement, the team opened their new field in equally impressive fashion, and Sigler’s 2019-20 senior class continues to show the leadership he wants.
Sigler talked to WKTV this week about his Wolves, currently 3-5 (1-4 in conference) with a Friday, Oct. 25, game at East Grand Rapids remaining on the season. And he started with his team’s ability to stay focused and positive after a 1-4 start to the season.
“Our coaching staff and players believe in each other,” Sigler said. “Trust is a critical part of building a team. We have a great time on the practice field and a relentless belief in what we are doing. It’s truly a team effort. Most importantly our players know that they are loved by our coaches.”
That belief in the system led to two impressive wins in weeks 6 and 7 — a 57-51 overtime win at Holland West Ottawa on Nov. 4 and a 47-0 win over Wayland on Nov. 11 as the Wolves opened their newly refurbished field at the high school.
But the team’s scoring outbursts in those two wins were only two signs of the increased offensive prowess of the Wolves. Even in losses, the offense has been scoring points.
As evidence, Wyoming scored 158 points in nine games in 2017-18, Sigler’s first season as head coach, and 132 in 2018-19 — but the Wolves have totaled 279 points in eight games so far this season.
The Wyoming offensive line, from the Wolves game at Northview Sept. 6. (Curtis Holt)
“We’ve got some very skilled guys on our offense,” coach said. “The four Parks have really been a key. We moved DeMari and Marion to running back after some injuries and they blossomed. Monte is an excellent receiver and Deion helps lead our offensive line.
“Mahki Matthews, Payton Lee and Matt Berg have also played very well. The key to everything is our offensive line. Getting Austin Bruce back from an ankle sprain was a big boost.”
De’marion, Diamonte and Dion Parks are seniors, as are Lee and Bruce. DeMari Parks is a junior, as are Matthews and Berg.
Sigler also pointed out several other seniors who have been leaders for the Wolves.
“Logan Cox, Dale Cross and Keeingg Briggs are three guys that come to mind — all have played exceptionally well,” he said. “ Our kicker, Adel Odobasek, has become a great leader in our special teams and has improved greatly.”
But plenty of other underclassmen have played and played well.
Maybe the biggest returner next season, however, will be a return to the Wolves’s new home field — the arrival of which this season was a boost to the team, Sigler said.
“The change in our mindset, with the opportunity to be in the new field, came at a great time,” he said. “While many teams are going through the grind of doing the same thing daily, we had an amazing new facility to jump start our season.”
And he expects that home field advantage, as well as overall program improvement, to carry on in the future.
“We must play our best at home and that is the mindset we are working to build,” Sigler said.
WKTV Journal’s latest newscast includes a feature on a young artist combining fanciful clay figures with high-tech photography — currently on exhibit at Grand Rapids Community College’s Collins Art Gallery through Friday, Oct. 25.
Wyoming resident Jon Lopez has a day job in a bagel shop, but later, in his basement sculpture studio, he transports himself to another world — a world of clay-full characters including thoughtful monkeys, mice on a mission and an octopus named Charlie that he is almost on talking terms with.
WKTV talked with Jon about his medium, taking his creatures on the road, why he photographs and then recycles his clay creations.
For a print story on the artist and his art, visit here .
The GRCC Collins Art Gallery is located on the 4th Floor of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, formerly Main Building, 143 Bostwick Ave NE. Grand Rapids. Gallery hour at Monday to Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information visit GRCC.edu/visualarts .
ReThink West Michigan, a collaborative, regional event hosted by The Right Place, Inc. and Hello West Michigan, was awarded Best in Show by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) at the Council’s 2019 annual conference.
ReThink West Michigan is a casual, professional networking event hosted at multiple locations on Thanksgiving Eve and is intended to attract professionals who have moved away from home and are visiting for the holiday. At this event, several West Michigan companies with current career opportunities share some of the exciting initiatives and projects happening in the region.
The IEDC received over 400 submissions from 12 countries for the 2019 awards, and ReThink West Michigan was selected as the top entry overall, making it a globally recognized best practice in economic development. The event also received a Gold Excellence in Economic Development Award in the Talent Development and Retention category, and The Right Place Instagram channel, West Michigan Life, received a Silver Excellence in Economic Development Award in the Digital Media category.
IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders. 34 award categories honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Awards are judged by a diverse panel of economic and community developers from around the world.
“The recipients of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development awards represent the very best of economic development and exemplify the ingenuity, integrity, and leadership that our profession strives for each and every day”, said 2019 IEDC Board Chair, Tracye McDaniel. “We’re honored to recognize more than 100 communities for their excellent work, which forges new opportunities for our profession. We look forward to even greater participation from economic developers across the globe in the 2020 awards program.”
The beauty of nature and how water, especially, inspired artists of the Romantic Era is at the heart of the dance performance featured in Grand Valley State University’s Fall Arts Celebration.
“Water: A Vision in Dance” is a multimedia experience that will evoke the power of water through musical selections and the choreography of BODYART, a New Orleans-based dance theater company. The performance is Monday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Haas Center for Performing Arts, Louis Armstrong Theatre.
The musical part of the performance features Bedřich Smetana’s “The Moldau” and Debussy’s “La Mer,” both of which are inspired by significant bodies of water.
“When Smetana wrote his monumental tone poem, ‘Má Vlast,’ which was the story of his native land, the principal movement was the ‘Moldau’ because that mighty river gave life and sustenance to his friends, family and compatriots,” said Danny Phipps, chair of the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance. “Debussy’s ‘La Mer’ is a brilliant evocation of the power and mystery of the oceans.”
BODYART will unite dance, video and the music of the Grand Valley orchestra to bring these pieces to life, said Carrie Brueck Morris, associate professor of dance.
“This timely focus on water explores its aesthetic qualities and our local water landscape as the dance weaves together live performance with video projection that constantly evolves with the action on stage,” Morris said.
All Fall Arts Celebration events are free and open to the public.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) and OBON Society are in the process of returning a rare Japanese “Good Luck Flag” to its rightful family. OBON Society provides reconciliation between American and Japanese families through the return of personal items acquired during World War II.
A Grand Rapids resident donated the flag, along with a WWII newsreel and a map of Iwo Jima, to the GRPM in 2015. The items were possessions of the donor’s deceased father, a former American soldier, who collected the flag during the war.
The flag is decorated with messages from family members, friends and community members that wish victory, safety and good luck for the soldier. Through extensive research, the GRPM was able to connect with OBON Society to share high-resolution images of the flag for translation. Volunteer Japanese scholars interpreted the messages, which revealed the soldier’s origins, name and location of death. The information allowed OBON Society to locate the deceased soldier’s younger sister, who is still living in Japan.
“We are creating a space for people who fought, suffered and grieved because of the war to enter in conversation and have the opportunity for healing and reconciliation,” said a spokesperson from OBON Society. “When news of our work travels around the world, we have witnessed the profound effect it can have on humanity.”
At this time, the flag is in the process of being returned to the soldier’s sister in Japan through OBON Society. The GRPM currently has possession of four more Japanese “Good Luck Flags,” which are logged in the Museum’s Collections database, accessible at grpmcollections.org. The GRPM has provided details about the remaining flags to OBON society, who will continue to search for the family members.
“The GRPM is honored to take care of these important heirlooms,” said Alex Forist, Chief Curator at the GRPM. “It is our hope they will be returned to families in Japan who may not have any other tangible connection to their loved ones who were killed in combat.”
While local groups will take back un-used or unwanted prescription drugs all year, every year National Drug Take Back Day — this year Saturday, Oct. 26 — focuses local efforts including those in Kentwood and Wyoming.
The need for prescription drug recovery range from keeping them out of the illegal marketplace to protecting public water supplies and wildlife from possible exposure.
The Kentwood Justice Center which houses the Kentwood Police Department. (WKTV)
In Kentwood, the Kentwood Police Department will take back prescription pills and patches at 4742 Walma Ave SE, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in a service that is “free and anonymous, no questions asked,” according to supplied material. (The Department cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.)
In Wyoming, the City of Wyoming is once again partnering with Metro Health-University of Michigan Health to provide a location for residents to dispose of unused medications safely and properly. Persons can drop off expired, unused prescriptions and even over-the-counter medications at Metro Health Hospital lobby, 5900 Byron Center Ave., also from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Call 616-252-7117 with any questions.)
Kent County also spearheads year-around efforts for drug take back. The Kent County Department of Public Works has established the SafeMeds Program that includes a list of many local pharmacies and law enforcement agencies that will accept unwanted medications. (For more on the SafeMeds Program, visit here.)
The efforts, both locally and nationally, are driven by high rates of abuse of unused prescription drugs as well as concerns of public water contamination due to those drugs being disposed of improperly, including simply flushed down toilets.
Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 469 tons (more than 937,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and almost 5,000 state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 17 previous Take Back events, the DEA and its partners have taken in more than 11.8 million pounds — approximately 5,900 tons — of pills, according to supplied material.
In Kentwood, the Kentwood Police Department will be giving the public its 18th opportunity in nine years to “prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs,” according to supplied material.
This initiative focuses on medicines that languish in home cabinets and are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows, year after year, that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet.
In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.
While information is scarce, according to a 2002 analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey of 139 streams across 30 states it was found that 80 percent of waterways tested had measurable concentrations of prescription and nonprescription drugs, steroids and reproductive hormones.
According to a 2018 report in healthline.com, bay mussels in Washington’s Puget Sound tested positive for oxycodone, an opioid prescription analgesic. Pharmaceutical contamination in aquatic wildlife also potentially raises the risk for more human contact through direct consumption of these animals.
Pharmaceutical and hormonal contaminants, including bisphenol-A, antibiotics, and opiates, are being detected in a significant portion of the United States groundwater supply for drinking water.
While researchers say that the levels detected are unlikely to cause any harmful effects, it is unknown what, if any, amount of these chemicals will make it through water treatment to the tap.
The problem of unused prescription drugs generated by nursing homes is also a factor in there problem. While there is little nationwide estimates on the issue, another report details how Colorado officials in 2017 said the state’s 220 long-term care facilities throw away 17.5 tons of potentially reusable drugs every year, with a price tag of about $10 million.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimated in 2015 that about 740 tons of drugs are wasted by nursing homes each year.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, visit the DEA website here.
A 5-cent, hour-long phone call from a pay phone convinced a young Dominican immigrant that West Michigan was a place she could live. Fast-forward several decades, Ana Jose is boldly transforming the local business climate for Latino-owned enterprises one conversation, one seminar at a time. Join us to be inspired by this ever-humble, ever-aspiring young woman!
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
Handsome, hunky, HUGE Hodor came to us in a roundabout way on Aug. 22, 2019, but we sure are happy he is with us. The Berrien County Animal Shelter adopted hum out 10 days prior to Morgan, a wonderful gal who was head over heels for him, but when she took him immediately in to her vet for an exam, he tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus).
Unable to keep him in her home with her other cat for fear of them not getting along (though not on his part), she contacted the shelter to inquire about returning him. That proved not to be a viable option, as he would most likely be euthanized, and Morgan could not fathom that happening to such an awesome cat. So, she reached out to us, explained the unfortunate situation, and asked if there was any way we could help. Dr. Jen is a sucker for sad stories, especially ones where an injustice would be done to an innocent animal, so even though we were tight on pace at our sanctuary, Dr. Jen had Morgan bring him over.
We couldn’t believe our eyes when we first set my sights on this magnificent, massive mound of cat! He was astoundingly adorable AND proved to be quite the gentle giant, hence his name. Dr. Jen guesstimates that Hodor was born in the summer of 2014, and other than having a mild flea allergy dermatitis, a bilateral ear infection and mild dental tartar, he checked out fine and dandy—and tipped the scales at 15 lbs. Although the good doc would have loved nothing more than for him to hang out with her at the clinic, she knew the volunteers would be instantly smitten, so she sent him down to our sanctuary for some super-sized one-on-one.
From the get-go, Hodor has been the epitome of perfection, in awe of everyone and everything he comes into contact with. We can’t imagine a home he wouldn’t do fabulously well in as he is easy-going, friendly and an all-around naturally nice guy. He fit in so well with the others, it was as though he had lived at Big Sid’s his entire life. He will make an exceptional companion to a family bursting with kids, another cat or even a dog; he hasn’t a mean bone is his big-n-buff body and absolutely adores his roomies—his motto is ‘the more, the merrier’.
In honor of full transparency, we have to put an addendum on to Hodor’s biography, as we have caught him spraying a few vertical surfaces in our free-roaming facility. However, given the fact that our current population is 80% male, and all of our intake since his arrival has been testosterone-laden, we are confident that once he is living it up in a home where there aren’t so many big personalities vying for top spot, this behavior will dissolve into a distant memory. We see this quite often, given the fact that the majority of our Sid’s Kids are boys, but honestly, we only have a few cats we will not adopt out due to aberrant behavior—and believe it or not, those select few are primarily female.
If Dr. Jen didn’t have a house full of her own, Hodor would be at the top of her Wish List for sure. You can’t go wrong with a kitty whose sole purpose is to love and be loved in return, who wants nothing more than to become your constant companion and spend the rest of his days lounging by your side, soaking up all of the attention given to him and repaying it in kind.
More about Hodor:
Domestic Short Hair
Tabby (Tiger-striped), White
Adult
Male
Extra Large
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Good in a home with other cats, dogs, children
Want to adopt Hodor? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Elton John, the number-one, top-performing solo male artist, has announced a new concert date at the Van Andel Arena on April 23, 2020, as part of his sold-out Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour after selling out a previous show in Grand Rapids.
The Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour kicked off to sold-out crowds in September 2018 and has received rave reviews in every market.
Transporting the audience on a magical journey through Elton’s career, the show features some of his most beloved songs from his legendary catalog including, Bennie and the Jets, Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, and Philadelphia Freedom. Elton’s music has taken him to many places, opened many doors and inspired many passions in his life. The audience will experience a rare glimpse into Elton’s life and the deeply personal meaning behind some of his greatest hits, with mesmerizing, never-before-seen photos and videos shown throughout the show from his incredible, 50-year career.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Nov. 1 at 10am local time. Tickets and VIP packages can be purchased at EltonJohn.com.
American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Thursday, Oct. 24 at 10am local time through Monday, Oct. 28 at 10pm local time.
“…The Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is the most bombastic, elaborate, high-tech arena show he’s ever attempted.” – Rolling Stone
A limited number of exclusive VIP packages will also be available starting Thursday, Oct. 24 at 10am local time. These exclusive offers can include premium tickets, on-stage photo opportunities at Elton John’s piano, backstage tours, limited-edition lithographs, custom merchandise and much more.
Pre-sale tickets for the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour event will be available through registration using Ticketmaster Verified Fan, a fan-first technology built to help artists combat ticket bots and get tickets into the hands of fans that intend to go to the event. Verified Fan registration is available now through Friday, Oct. 25 at 10pm local time. Verified TM fan pre-sale will begin Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 10am and run through Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 10pm local time, supplies are limited. For more information and to register in advance, visit EltonJohn.com.
Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is an incurable eye disease that affects millions of older Americans, but there are a number of things you can do to reduce your risk, a vision expert says.
AMD causes blurred central vision due to damage to the macula—a small area at the back of the eye—and it is most common after age 60, according to the U.S. National Eye Institute.
AMD is also more common in women and whites. At-risk patients should get regular eye exams, advised Dr. Julie Rosenthal, a retina specialist.
She said there are a number of things people can do to help slow or possibly prevent AMD. If you smoke, try to quit. Smoking may double the risk of AMD.
Find out if you have a family history of the disease.
People with a first-degree relative with AMD have a much greater risk of developing it. If you have a family history of the disease, watch for potential symptoms such as difficulty recognizing faces, struggling to adapt to low light and seeing straight lines that appear wavy.
Eat lots of spinach, kale, Swiss chard and other leafy greens, which are high in antioxidant vitamins that help protect against cellular damage from free radicals, which can contribute to eye disease, according to Rosenthal.
If you have a poor diet, consider taking multivitamins. People at risk of advanced AMD should ask their doctor about a specialized blend of supplements called AREDS. This is “not a treatment or cure but can decrease your risk of getting the more severe forms of AMD,” Rosenthal said in a university news release.
When outside, wear sunglasses that provide protection from UV and blue light that can cause retinal damage. Sunglasses with a “UV 400” label are recommended by the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.
Maintain healthy blood pressure and weight. Poor blood circulation due to high blood pressure can restrict blood flow to the eyes, thus contributing to AMD. Losing weight is a proven way to lower blood pressure.
Use a tool called an Amsler grid to check for vision problems related to macular damage.
When staring at the grid, if you notice that the central part of your vision in one eye has become darker or the grid lines are wavy, call your doctor, Rosenthal said. Keep the grid in a place that reminds you to use it daily.
