HPV—one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases—has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the country.
In several studies, it’s also linked to the nation’s leading cause of death—cardiovascular disease.
There are more than 150 strains of HPV, including the ones responsible for cancers of the cervix, penis, anus and the back of the throat.
In a study published earlier this year in Circulation Research, researchers found that Korean women infected with these “high-risk” strains of HPV were 22 percent more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke than women not infected with the virus.
The risk was calculated after adjusting for other common cardiovascular risk factors, including smoking, physical activity and body mass index.
A 2011 study also connected HPV with heart attacks and strokes in women.
“But at this stage, we’re not completely clear on what the link is,” said Dr. Christine Jellis, a cardiologist at The Cleveland Clinic.
Jellis said HPV may encourage chronic inflammation in the body, which can contribute to atherosclerosis, or the hardening of fatty plaque along the lining of arteries.
“But there may be some other social factors that make people both more prone to developing coronary artery disease—atherosclerosis—and also HPV,” she said. “At the moment, we don’t have that information but this … definitely warrants further evaluation.”
The link between HPV and cardiovascular risk is not restricted to women.
A 2017 study of mostly men tied HPV to an increased risk of stroke in people who received radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.
Dr. Tomas Neilan, the lead author of that study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, said the results show HPV infection has consequences beyond the cervical lesions and cervical cancer typically associated with the virus.
“Specifically, and importantly, this also has implications for men beyond transmission” of the virus, said Neilan, director of the cardio-oncology program at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
HPV is such a common virus that an estimated 80 percent of the population will be infected at some point in their life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 14 million Americans, including teens, become infected with HPV each year. Most infections go away on their own, but those that don’t can lead to certain types of cancer.
That’s where prevention can help, Neilan said.
HPV vaccines, which have been available for females since 2006 and for males since 2009, have proven effective in decreasing HPV incidence and preventing precancerous growths or infections.
The CDC recommends all girls and boys get two doses of the vaccine before they turn 13. Children who start the vaccine series on or after their 15th birthday need a third dose for complete protection.
Jellis hopes to see more research about the HPV connection to cardiovascular disease, as well as other types of studies that look beyond the factors already known to contribute to heart attacks and strokes.
“We certainly see patients who don’t have any of the traditional cardiovascular risks, but they still have atherosclerotic disease,” she said. “So, whether they have additional genetic factors or additional lifestyle factors, for those patients, maybe these other things like a presence of HPV will end up being the reason why they are at higher risk.”
The nation celebrates its 243rd birthday this Thursday and you can bet the City of Kentwood is not holding back. The day is packed with activities from a pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at Fire Station No. 1; a 5K at 8:30 a.m., followed by a parade at 9:30 a.m. Then there is the carnival, this year located behind city hall, from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. From 4 – 10 p.m. will be a community event with a beer tent, food trucks, and bands, followed by the fireworks. Remember, those attending the Kentwood fireworks, sparkles, personal fireworks and Chinese lanterns are not permitted. For a detailed map and more, click here.
And Bombs Bursting In Air
Several other local communities also will be hosting July 4th celebrations. The City of Grandville kicks off its Fourth of July celebration with a pancake breakfast. There is also a parade (11 a.m.) and activities throughout the day. Fireworks are at 10 p.m. Other communities hosting July 4th parades and fireworks: East Grand Rapids, Ada, and Cascade Township. The City of Grand Rapids will have its July 4th fireworks on Saturday, July 6.
Free picture () from https://torange.biz/fx/new-bottle-years-fireworks-effect-78192
Now for the Rules
By now, you should have heard of the state’s new rules about fireworks. For the July 4th holiday, consumer fireworks are allowed from 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. through July 5 (since July 5 falls on a Friday.) According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there was an estimated 9,100 fireworks-related injuries treated in the United States in 2018, of which more than half were around July 4. So here are a few safety tips provided by local firefighters: only use fireworks outdoors in clear areas away from buildings, vehicles, and flammable substances; never relight a “dud” firework, but after 20 minutes soak it in a buck of water; fireworks should be suprivsied by a responsible adult; and have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.
Some Patriotic Trivia
As you are waiting for the fireworks to start, here’s a few pieces of July 4 trivia to wow your friends and family. Of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence, only John Hancock actually signed the document on July 4, 1776. Fifty-six men from the 13 colonies signed the Declaration of Independence. Of the original signers, only Thomas Jefferson and John Adams became President of the United States. Both men died within hours of each other on July 4, 1826.
Lastly: The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence was July 8, 1776 in Philadelphia. The following year, on July 4, 1777, the city adjourned Congress and celebrated Independence Day with bonfires, bells, and fireworks. In honor of that, the Liberty Bell is tapped 13 times on July 4 in remembrance of the 13 colonies.
Electronic cigarette products play host to bacterial toxins and fungi that have unknown effects on the growing number of people who use these items. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
You might need to worry about inhaling more than just nicotine when you vape: New research warns that many electronic cigarettes appear to be contaminated with fungi and bacteria.
The finding stems from a close look at the contents of 75 popular vaping products.
About half of the e-cigarettes examined were of the single-use cartridge variety, while the other half were refillable products. Both contained liquid laced with nicotine, along with other chemicals. Once a user takes a puff, a battery-powered heating device vaporizes the liquid, turning it into inhalable vapor.
But nicotine was not all that was found in the vapor of many products.
Study author Dr. David Christiani said 23% of the electronic cigarette products they examined contained bacterial toxins, while 81% tested positive for a substance called glucan, which is found on the cellular structures of most fungi.
“The contamination took place in electronic cigarette liquid and in the cartridges,” Christiani said, although the cartridge e-cigarettes contained more than three times more glucan than the refillable liquid e-cigarettes.
Christiani, director of the environmental and occupational medicine and epidemiology program at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, characterized the findings as “surprising.” But when asked if the identified contaminants actually pose a danger to vapors, he suggested the jury is still out on that question.
Potentially, “they are toxic,” Christiani said.
That means that, over time, exposure to high amounts of such contaminants can prompt the onset of progressive lung illnesses such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma.
But as a practical matter, Christiani noted that the contaminant levels his team found in e-cigarettes was actually “considerably lower” than levels “that have been shown to cause lung disease” in workplace environments where manufacturing chemicals abound.
What’s more, such contaminants are also found in standard cigarettes, where levels “are (also) generally higher than what we measured here,” he added.
The bottom line: “At this time, we do not have scientific evidence that the levels we see in these electronic cigarette products raise health concerns,” Christiani concluded.
Still, he cautioned that “we do not know what the risk is with long-term usage, with increasing cumulative dose and with the interaction between these contaminants and other potentially toxic agents we and others have found in electronic cigarette products, such as flavorants or industrial solvents.”
Christiani’s team noted that the popularity of e-cigarettes has exploded in just a few years, particularly among young users. For example, the authors pointed out that while just 220,000 high school students vaped in 2011, last year that figure hit more than 3 million.
And though many experts take the position that vaping is probably a safer option than smoking standard cigarettes, as its use has grown, so has public health scrutiny.
As to what might cause contamination, the study team said it could happen at any point during the production process. But they also pointed a finger at the cotton fiber wicks found in e-cigarette cartridges, given that such fibers are known to host both bacteria and fungi.
Regardless of whether such contaminants ultimately pose a significant risk, “vaping is potentially harmful to your health, and (it’s best) not to do it,” Christiani said. “More study is needed to determine whether vaping can be made safer by removal of all contaminants and adulterants.”
The study was published online recently in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
Victoria Stevens is scientific director of epidemiology research with the American Cancer Society. She agreed that “a more complete understanding of what’s in e-cig products and what their users are exposed to would help define some of the potential risk of vaping.”
Stevens pointed out, for example, that the bacterial and fungal property that the study team found in e-cigarettes “are common contaminants and are found in things like household dust.”
So she suggested that until more research clarifies exactly how much exposure vapers face—in terms of both what is found in vaping devices and what users actually inhale—”it is unclear whether this contamination is a cause for concern.”
July 4th celebrations will be taking place throughout West Michigan. (Supplied)
By West Michigan Tourist Association
From parades to parties, festivals to fireworks, there are so many ways to celebrate the Fourth of July around West Michigan.
Celebrations in the Upper Peninsula and North Region Watch fireworks soar over the shores of Lake Superior in Marquette on July 4. Before the evening’s finale, visitors are encouraged to take in the International Food Fest, Fourth of July Parade, and Boat Parade, all taking place in Lower Mattson Park or downtown, making for a great way to enjoy Independence Day. For a full schedule please visit the Travel Marquette website.
Head to Drummond Island for the annual town parade and amazing fireworks to celebrate Independence Day. Pins Restaurant at Drummond Island Resort & Convention Center will be serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner making it a fun place to gather with family and friends before and after the festivities.
Celebrate the Fourth of July all week long with events and activities galore at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville. There’s something for everyone to enjoy with golf scrambles, family carnival, fireworks, 4Ks, live music, chairlift rides, and more.
So many exciting things are planned for the “Best Fourth in the North” in Lake City, July 3-7, including a parade, fireworks, a boat parade, live entertainment, vendors, crafters, dinners, and much more. Visit the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau for a schedule of events.
The Cadillac Freedom Festival is held annually the first weekend in July to celebrate our nation’s freedom and independence. This year’s event takes place July 5-7 and includes a carnival, 5K run, free kids activities, fishing tournament, watermelon eating contest, live music, and more, culminating in fireworks over Lake Cadillac at 10:00 pm Sunday evening.
Head to Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire to get a jump start on celebrating Independence Day! Shanty Creek Resort kicks off the Independence Day holiday on Wednesday, July 3 with the Freedom Festival. Enjoy kids’ games and activities, bounce houses, live music, food and drinks, lawn games, disc golf, swimming, face painting, and more. The evening welcomes a bonfire with s’more kits and a fireworks show at dusk.
Come to the Village at Bay Harbor in Petoskey on July 3rd and enjoy an always amazing show by the Petoskey Steel Drum Band with an unparalleled fireworks display over Bay Harbor Lake starting at dusk. Get your seat on the lawn early, as it’s always a spectacular show in Bay Harbor for fireworks night. Enjoy the most unique parade on the Fourth of July, including gem cars, specialty and vintage vehicles, the Michigan Stiltwalker, decorated bikes, costumes, candy for the kids, and so much more starting at 11 a.m. on Main Street.
Celebrate America at Cheboygan’sannual Independence Day Parade 10 a.m. on July 4 along Main Street in downtown Cheboygan.
Fourth of July fireworks begin at dusk on Thursday, July 4, in downtown Grayling.
The July 4th Independence Day Celebration in Central Lake features a pancake breakfast, arts and crafts bazaar, parade at noon, strawberry social, library book fair, children’s events, Lions Club chicken BBQ dinner, and fireworks show at dusk. Visit the Bellaire Chamber of Commerce for full schedule of events.
There are a number of events in honor of the Fourth of July throughout Mecosta County:
The Village of Mecosta will be hosting a day-long celebration of Fourth of July activities including a parade at 11 a.m., a free ice cream social, scavenger and geocache hunt, and a picnic dinner from 5:00 pm to 7 p.m. with a $5 donation. The celebrations will conclude with a fireworks display around 10:15 p.m.
The Big Rapids Jaycees host the 4th of July Parade and Downtown Fireworks. The parade will begin Thursday at 6 p.m. followed by fireworks at the Mecosta County Fairgrounds at dusk. Parking is available at the Fairgrounds and Roben-Hood Airport starting at 6:30 p.m. for $5. A stage will be set-up in the Side Lot by the Fair Office building for music, entertainment, games, and more! The rain date for the fireworks is Friday, July 5.
The Tri-Lakes Association invite you to join their annual Mecosta County Boat Parade! Participants will meet at the North end of Lake Mecosta around 3:30 p.m. for registration and pictures before proceeding across the lake at 4 p.m. for general viewing.
The Chippewa Lake-Mecosta Lions Club are hosting “Find the Flags on the Lake” Boat Poker Run on Saturday, July 6. Sign up for the event begins at 9 a.m. and participants need to be back at Millet Park by 4 p.m. to participate. Prizes will be given out but you must be 18 years of age to participate and be able to show ID to claim your prize. The Lions will also be hosting a Bake Sale throughout the day in Millet Park until supplies are gone or until the event concludes with fireworks in the evening at 10 p.m.
You can’t help but feel patriotic in Harbor Springs! The parade is top notch and the day includes the Paul Revere Fun Run, an art show, the Red, White and Brew beer tent with entertainment, and a spectacular fireworks display. Across the bay in Petoskey, catch the annual parade through downtown, evening music at Bayfront Park, and a sparkling display of pyrotechnics. Choose the right location to sit, and you can see Petoskey and Harbor Springs’ fireworks at the same time.
Fireworks, Boat Cruises, and More in the Central Region The Holland Independence Day Celebration Freedom & Fireworks starts at 12:30 pm July 4 in Kollen Park, with kids games, martial arts demonstrations, live music throughout the day, and fireworks at dusk over Lake Macatawa to the sounds of live, patriotic music (estimated start time 10:25 pm). There will also be food booths serving late lunch and dinner.
Muskegon Rockstock is back July 4-6 at Heritage Landing with great rock music, fireworks, raffles, face painting, food, beverages, and cold Budweiser. Tickets are available now. Active duty military and veterans get in free. Gates open at 5 p.m. each night, with an amazing fireworks finale at dusk on the 4th of July. A carnival midway has been added for this year, and takes place from July 3–7.
Friday and Saturday, July 5-6, the Lakeshore Art Festival will feature a unique blend of fine art, crafts, music, food, and fun in beautiful downtown Muskegon! Experience over 300 juried fine art and specialty craft exhibitors, children’s activities, specialty food items, street performers, multiple interactive art stations, chalk the walk, The Door Project, kayak sculptures, and more.
Join the Grand Rapids Public Museum for the Independence Day fundraiser, Front Row for the Fireworks, held Saturday, July 6th to coincide with the City of Grand Rapids’ fireworks show. The night includes patriotic music playing on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, Chaffee Planetarium shows, and rides on the 1928 Spillman Carousel, as well as a unique Museum-wide scavenger hunt for the family. At dusk, visitors can head outside to the enclosed lawn seating areas or stay inside the Museum for air-conditioned comfort to have an amazing view of the fireworks as they burst over the Grand River. Tickets available here.
Celebrate all week at the Ludington Jaycees Freedom Festival, July 3-7, at Stearns Park Beach in downtown Ludington. Independence Day celebrations begin July 3 with a Children & Pet Parade, and ramp up on July 4th with the annual holiday Grand Parade and Freedom Festival Fireworks. The fun continues for the weekend with the West Shore Fine Art Fair in Rotary Park and the free concerts of Ludrock at Waterfront Park, July 6-7.
Spend some time out on Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan, enjoy a great sunset, and top it off with a great fireworks show with one of the best seats on the water aboard Aquastar Cruises. The Aquastar leaves the dock at 8:30 pm on the 4th and returns after the fireworks show. Appetizers will be served and beverages will be available for purchase.
Watch the fireworks from the water on the S.S. Badger Fourth of July Fireworks Shoreline Cruise. This special shoreline cruise aboard the S.S. Badger on Thursday, July 4th will be leaving the Ludington dock at 9:00 pm and returning after the fireworks. The ship will cruise along the Ludington shoreline until sunset and then get into position outside the breakwall to give guests a fabulous view of the waterfront fireworks display.
Enjoy the Thunder Over the Dunes fireworks in Silver Lake on the 4th of July to see this unique display from the Silver Lake Sand Dunesand around the lake. Fireworks start at 10 p.m.
Beginning at 10 a.m., the White Lake Area 4th of July Parade will travel from Whitehall City Hall to Downtown Montague. More than 100 entries are involved in this family fun and annual parade. Fireworks begin at dusk and are viewable from both Montague and Whitehall downtown areas.
Thursday, July 4, at dusk, enjoy “Fireworks on Deck” aboard the USS LST 393 Veterans Museum! It’s the “best seat in the house” for the awesome display over Muskegon Lake. The World War II landing ship is located at the Mart Dock in downtown Muskegon, just yards from the fireworks site.
JW Marriott Grand Rapids invites high rollers to prolong Independence Day celebrations with its star(s and stripes)-studded package, “Red, White and Exclusive,” July 6 to coincide with the Grand Rapids fireworks. For a cool $6,500, groups of eight or fewer will experience:
Overnight accommodations in Founder’s Suite
Private dining experience with personal chef
Private fireworks viewing party on helipad
Breakfast at six.one.six
Celebrate the 4th of July with live music, drink specials, delicious food, a great view of the river, and fireworks at six.one.six at the JW Marriott! First Tier tickets for $75 (per adult, child or military) include meal and an assigned table. Second tier tickets for $25 includes entrance only in the standing room only area.
July 6 WP Patio Fireworks Viewing Party at The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck tickets are on sale now. $50+tax+22% gives you a guaranteed spot on the patio all night. $35 Veteran price. Party is from 6:00 pm-midnight. Food from 6-10 p.m.
River Country Chamber of Commerce invites you to Freedom Fest July 6 on the CauseWay in Croton Township. Freedom Fest features live music, food and a beer tent (including non-alcoholic beverages), and street vendors.
South Region Festivals, Fireworks, and Family Fun Enjoy carnival games, live music, family fun, and fireworks at Red White & Boom, July 6th, at the Inn at Harbor Shoresin St. Joseph.
What better way to celebrate Independence Day than by a parade and then barbecue chicken to follow it up! Grab your lawn chairs and come to the historic and beautiful Brooks Fountain circle in Marshall for the Chicken Barbecue, Bike & Pet Parade and Rotary Band Concert. Parade begins at 10 am July 4, followed by lunch in the park, and performance from the Marshall Rotary Band.
Celebrate Independence Day in South Haven at the Light Up the Lake Fireworks & Fourth of July Parade! On the 3rd of July, gather around North and South Beaches for the ultimate fireworks show at dusk, then gather on Phoenix Street for the annual parade on the 4th of July. Not only is South Haven celebrating its 150th anniversary with a year-long series of events, the Fourth of July Parade will be celebrating its 170th anniversary. To honor these significant milestones, the Fourth of July committee has established the theme “South Haven: Honoring our Past, Focused on the Present, Imagining our Future.”
Enjoy South Haven’s Light Up the Lake fireworks display on July 3rd from the deck of Michigan Maritime Museum’s tall ship Friends Good Will! Light Up the Lake…while enjoying a sail on Lake Michigan for an evening you won’t soon forget! Ship sets sail at 9 p.m. Tickets are limited, so make your reservations today.
Watch the July 4th Vintage Baseball Tournament at Eden Springs Park in Benton Harbor in Southwest Michigan. Bring your chair and cheer on the teams, House of David Echoes, The Livery Brewers and the South Haven Bark Peelers, in tournament action. Only $3 admission for an afternoon of fun!
Fourth of July is a blast in Saugatuck/Douglas. The waterfront festival features live music, food, children’s activities, and more, not to mention fireworks over the Kalamazoo River!
Experience hometown festivals at their best in Coldwater Country. Kick off Independence Day in Quincy with the annual 4th of July Parade and Rotary BBQ at Quincy Park. Head back to Coldwater for fireworks over Heritage Park that evening. Make a long weekend of your getaway and stay for the Fireworks Spectacular over Coldwater Lake on July 6. There’s always something happening in south central Michigan.
The 4th of July is a great time to visit the Air Zoo in Portage! The recently opened D-Day Exhibit gives visitors an immersive view into the people, planes, and paratroopers that made the Allied invasion of Normandy a success. The Air Zoo is full of incredible American flying machines, including iconic D-Day planes like the C-47 Skytrain, CG-4A Glider, P-38 Lightning, and P-47 Thunderbolt. With rides, flight simulators, interactive exhibits, and over 100 rare and exciting aircraft, spacecraft, and artifacts, the Air Zoo is always fun for the whole family.
Don’t miss Barry County’s 37th Annual Old Fashioned 4th of July & Salute to Veterans in Historic Charlton Park, Hastings, Thursday July 4th noon-4 p.m. The event kicks off with a flag raising ceremony and salute to veterans followed by the Veterans Association Pork Bar-B-Que Buffet. The afternoon also includes games, races, a pie auction, and more.
Looking for more? Find out what other events are happening around West Michigan by checking out our events calendar!
The Ken-O-Sha Home Community program helped Erin Stelma, right, find the therapies that are helping her son Maddock develop strength in his right side after he sustained a pediatric stroke. (School News Network)
John and Erin Stelma noticed their son Maddock was favoring his left hand and not using his right side at about eight months. The Stelmas brought him to the Ken-O-Sha Home Community Program, an early childhood special education program run by Grand Rapids Public Schools, where another son was receiving speech therapy.
Working with Chad Vostad, their primary service provider from Ken-O-Sha, the Stelmas were able to correctly diagnose the fact Maddock had sustained a pediatric stroke.
Vostad began the physical therapies Maddock needed to develop his left side, and put them in touch with the doctors needed to continue his treatment, says Erin Stelma. “Chad was our eyes on everything.”
Maddock and his parents benefited from a program that has long served infants and toddlers needing special services. Those services will only be enhanced, officials say, under a merger with a similar program run by Kent ISD, when GRPS transfers its special education center-based programs to Kent ISD beginning July 1.
‘I THINK WE WANT TO MAXIMIZE THE BEST OF BOTH TEAMS.’ — BARBARA CORBIN, HEAD OF THE KENT ISD EARLY ON PROGRAM
Leaders say the Ken-O-Sha Home Community program will fit hand-in-glove with Kent ISD’s Early On program. Both serving children from birth to 3 years old, the programs have operated side-by-side for years under state and federal laws that mandate services for children who have a delay in their development or a diagnosed disability.
“We’re actually merging the programs,” says Barbara Corbin, who heads the Early On program.
The Ken-O-Sha Home Community Program, headquartered at 1353 VanAuken St. SE, and Early On, headquartered at Kent ISD’s campus at 2930 Knapp St. NE, will be moving into new combined quarters at the Lincoln School campus on Crahen Avenue NE. The merged program will be called Early On since it is moving off the Ken-O-Sha Elementary School campus.
The transition is part of a larger shift triggered last August when the GRPS Board of Education voted to turn operations of its center-based programs over to Kent ISD. Housed in nine offices and education centers, the center-based programs serve nearly 1,400 students from throughout Kent County and part of Barry County.
Kent ISD’s Early On program director Barbara Corbin, left, and Mary Cok, head of Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Ken-O-Sha Home Community program, will merge their programs when Kent ISD takes over the GRPS special education center programs beginning July 1. (School News Network)
Complementary Merger
Unlike most of the other special education programs, which serve students at several centers during the school year, the Ken-O-Sha Home Community Program is a year-round program that serves children in their homes.
Meanwhile, the Early On program will gain more resources and expertise when the Ken-O-Sha program comes on board, says Corbin. The combined program will have about 72 persons organized in seven geographical areas to help families identify which state or federal programs are available to help their children.
Though Early On provides some of the same early childhood services as the Ken-O-Sha program, Corbin says her program relies on different funding sources.
“We can’t necessarily blend our funding, but we can braid it,” Corbin says. “I think we want to maximize the best of both teams.”
Mary Cok, director of the Ken-O-Sha program, says the 60 professional staff members in her organization concentrate on home visits, and work with parents as much as their children by directing the parents how and where to find help for their children.
Most of the 1,000 children served by the Ken-O-Sha Home Community Program every year will “graduate” by their third birthdays and go on to regular pre-school and K-12 classes, according to Cok. She will join Corbin in administering the joint program after spending the first 20 years of her career with Grand Rapids Public Schools.
“We work with the parents to help them develop their child,” says Cok, who has organized her staff into six teams that are cross-trained to develop individual education plans (IEPs) for each child. Her staff of primary service providers includes occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists and other professionals trained to work with infants and young children.
Most of the children they serve enter the Ken-O-Sha program at about 18 months, when parents become aware of delays in their child’s development that may indicate a physical or cognitive impairment.
Early Intervention Made the Difference
This summer, as Maddock Stelma celebrates his third birthday, he will leave the Ken-O-Sha program and continue into a preschool program. His parents will continue to work with him and Grandville Public Schools as he develops his strength and dexterity on his left side.
Erin Stelma says the early intervention was the key to helping Maddock overcome his impairments. “We just would not have been able to do as much without (the Ken-O-Sha program). This was just the springboard to everything.”
More information about the transfer of center-based programs can be found on Kent ISD’s website at Center Program Review pages.
There are many sights to see from Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s just opened Stuart and Barbara Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden, sights both artistic and natural.
The flora of the rooftop gardens itself and the view of a wetland area from its heights are impressive. But the sculpture — four works on loan from the famed Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., including three by artists already in Meijer Garden’s collection — each offer their own unique story.
Works by Alexander Calder, Henry Moore and Marino Marini, while unique, will be familiar to visitors of the garden.
David Smith Cubi XII 1963 (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden/Lee Stalsworth)
One of the sculptures, however, David Smith’s 1963 work titled “Cubi XII”, is not only new to the garden but was of particular interest to Laurene Grunwald, Director of Sculpture, Art Collections, Exhibitions & Installations.
“David Smith was an abstract expressionist,” Grunwald said to WKTV. “He died quite young in a car accident, (so) his work is not widely available. … (Cubi XII) is an abstract piece. It is stainless steal. And it is very iconic of his work.”
In a recent WKTV Journal newscast segment, we talked with Grunwald about Smith’s work, about the history of Meijer Garden’s relationship with the Hirshhorn, now and (hopefully) in the future, as well as how size and weight of the artwork plays into the discussion and decisions on which artwork came to Grand Rapids.
Grand Valley State University’s recently completed renovations and expansion of the Jamie Hosford Football Center. (Supplies GVSU/ Rex Larson)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
Grand Valley State University’s head football coach Matt Mitchell called the recently renovations and expansion of the Jamie Hosford Football Center “a big home win” — and considering the Lakers’ NCAA Division 2 all-time home record is 171–38–1, Mitchell, his players and local fans know a home win when they see one.
More than 400 people — including ex-GVSU and current Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly — celebrated the dedication of improvements football center on June 19, improvements which, according to supplied material, “will help recruit prospective student athletes while providing the university’s current 575 student athletes access to an updated athletic and rehabilitation training room.”
“We talk a lot about doing things at a championship level,” Mitchell said in supplied material. “Our student athletes are champions on and off the field. They deserve the best facilities to support their hard work. Jamie’s spirit will live in this building. He had an infectious energy.”
The facility is named for Laker football alumnus Jamie Hosford, who died in 2014 after a battle with cancer, but in his GVSU career earned 12 varsity letters and All-American honors in football and wrestling. He was inducted into the GVSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. After graduating in 1977, Hosford worked for Rockford Public Schools for 25 years.
Renovations to the two-story, 22,000-square-foot building include an expanded locker room, larger athletic training/rehabilitation room, all-team meeting room, and spaces for equipment maintenance, storage and laundry.
Keri Becker, GVSU director of athletics, said the facility honors the tradition of past football champions while setting the atmosphere for more achievements.
“It will serve as a daily challenge to coaches and student athletes on how to live like a champion,” she said. “Relationships will be cultivated inside this building. This facility will help make the players a team and a family.”
The donor-funded expansion campaign was led by honorary chairs President Emeritus Arend D. Lubbers and Kelly, who coached the Lakers from 1991-2003.
“This facility supports students athletes,” Kelly said. “Grand Valley has always been about finding the best resources for students, and student athletes.”
Gloria Hosford, Jamie’s wife, said her family was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for this project. “Words cannot express how proud we are and what an honor this is for Jamie,” she said. “Laker pride is definitely deep, deep, deep in our family.”
GVSU, with the winningest NCAA Division II football program, finished the 2018 season with a 10-2 record and an appearance in the playoffs for the 19th time in program history.
Even a crumb of gluten can have a serious impact on those who have sensitivities or celiac. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
By Jessica Corwin, Spectrum Health Beat
Just one-sixteenth of a saltine cracker is enough to cause damage in someone with celiac disease—mere crumbs.
This means that any of us hoping to serve meals free from gluten must pay attention to much more than our ingredients alone. We must consider the entire kitchen as we begin any gluten-free cooking adventure, everything from food storage to kitchen appliances.
Read on for six simple and effective tips to help you dish up 100 percent gluten-free meals with peace of mind.
1. Wash Up
Registered dietitian McKenzie Hall, co-founder of Nourish RDs, suggests beginning any gluten-free food preparation with hand washing. As even a crumb of gluten-containing food is enough to cause a negative reaction, the need to wash your hands every time you come across a gluten-containing ingredient or surface cannot be stressed enough.
2. Separate your storage
Food storage is not something that typically comes to mind when considering gluten-free safety, yet it is an essential component. Designate a specific cupboard, drawer and perhaps even the top pantry shelf as gluten-free zones to be sure no gluten containing crumbs are introduced. As a separate freezer may not be an option, prevent contamination by sealing ingredients securely within a zip-top freezer bag.
3. Manage your mise en place
Before you begin cooking, gather all your ingredients and identify whether or not hidden sources of gluten may be present. Sneaky sources include bouillon, artificial bacon bits, malt vinegar, wonton wrappers, dressings, sauces, seasonings, yogurt, and even colors or flavorings if they have been produced outside of North America. If you are uncertain, call the manufacturer to determine whether or not gluten is a concern.
4. Stock up on spatulas
If you are able to, purchase a separate set of utensils solely for the use of gluten-free food preparation. Please do as this will greatly reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Incorporating clean and separate utensils, cutting boards, pots into your kitchen, while avoiding the use of porous equipment such as wooden or plastic cutting boards are key to kitchen safety. Kim Koeller, founder of Gluten Free Passport, recommends designating a separate toaster and fryer for gluten-free cooking, as well as separate pots and strainers for gluten-free pasta.
5. Consider your condiments
Hall advises any gluten-free cook to buy separate condiments for gluten-free cooking to prevent cross-contamination of gluten. Consider doing so for condiments such as peanut butter, jam, jelly, cream cheese, mayonnaise, hummus and butter. Label each item with a ‘gluten free’ sticker or a red rubber band to let friends and family know not to dip a gluten-covered utensil inside, because once a gluten-drenched knife enters the peanut butter jar, it is no longer gluten-free.
6. Clean up the crumbs
While you most likely clean and sanitize your kitchen counters on a daily basis, when was the last time you cleaned your cupboards, pantry, or drawers? If gluten-containing foods, bread in particular, are being served in your kitchen, then crumbs should be a concern. Each time you reach into your silverware drawer, which is often, you are presenting the opportunity for crumbs to fall in and pollute knives, forks, spoons and other utensils with gluten.
Don’t eat fat. Use less salt. Stay away from sugar. No processed foods. On and on these ‘Do not eat’ signs flash before our eyes.
But how about we stop looking at what to take out of our diets and more at what to put into our diets?
Herbs are one of the most power-packed foods out there and they often fall under the radar when it comes to giving your body a boost.
Want to use less salt, have more flavor in your dishes, and provide a dose of antioxidants to your meal? Add herbs.
Herbs are one of the highest ranked foods for antioxidants and they pack a punch of flavor to boot.
Antioxidants help fight free radicals that damage cells and cause cancers and heart disease. The ORAC scale measures the antioxidant levels of foods and, right at the top of the list, you will find various herbs. Among the best are oregano, rosemary, thyme, parsley and basil.
Get started with these 7 top tips:
Buy or cut fresh herbs a few days before or the day you are going to use them.
Store them in an open bag in the refrigerator crisper drawer.
Wash and pat dry your fresh herbs just before using them.
Use three times as much fresh herb if a recipe calls for dried
herbs. For example, if a recipe includes 1 teaspoon of dried parsley,
use 3 teaspoons of fresh parsley.
Use 1/3 the amount of dried herbs if the recipe calls for fresh. For
example, if the recipe includes 3 tablespoons of fresh dill, use 1
tablespoon of dried dill.
Add fresh, freshly ground, or leafy dried herbs (basil, parsley, oregano, dill) at the end of cooking.
Add hardy dried herbs (thyme, bay leaves, anise, caraway, fennel) near the beginning of cooking.
With the 4th of July nearly upon us, it’s a good time to review certain truths, one of which is that animals become frightened out of their wits when firecrackers pop, crackle and boom. Indeed, tales abound of hounds and cats making a run for it and getting lost in the process. Here’s how to keep your pet safe during this trying time.
But that’s not the only time a family pet can get lost. Oftentimes, a household move will spook Puff or Fido. And that’s just what’s happened to one of WKTV’s volunteers, who now finds her favorite feline missing.
Marisol Martinez recently moved from Wyoming (Michigan, of course) to Caledonia, and sometime during the move, her cat, Lukah, absconded from the new premises on Treadmill Ct. SE. Lukah isn’t familiar with the neighborhood and could quite possibly be biding his time under a porch, in some bushes — you name it, if you know cats, you know that they excel at hiding. Maybe he’s exploring the neighborhood and making new friends, but he could have at least told Martinez, who is worried sick about him.
Martinez hopes that a reader out there might find Lukah, or at least catch a glimpse. So do we. If you see Lukah, please contact Martinez at solcreations96@gmail.com or by phone, 706.271.8704.
We know he’s out there. Lukah, where are you, buddy?
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today a new ticketing experience coming to the Museum on July 1.
Using this new ticketing system creates a faster and easier way to access memberships, purchase tickets and visit the GRPM. Visitors can expect to quickly and conveniently plan their visit, getting tickets ahead of time or at the door. The new system focuses on a digital experience, using digital membership cards and tickets for everyone, and still allowing printed tickets and receipts if preferred.
“This switch to a new, customized platform will give members and visitors alike a better website experience to pre-purchase tickets before visiting, as well as a faster and better experience at the Museum’s front desk and other point of sale stations throughout the Museum,” said Kate Kocienski, VP of Marketing and PR at the GRPM. “Changes like this are crucial for ensuring the best experience for more than 250,000 visitors annually, and allow us to move to a more digital experience and having a greener impact on the environment.”
Current memberships and purchased tickets will still be valid for use.
The Museum will be cutting back on their carbon footprint by lowering the amount of paper being printed and mailed, and increasing the convenience of visiting.
Those interested in visiting the Museum, purchasing a membership and trying out the new system can do so beginning Monday, July 1.
Simultaneously the GRPM is excited to extend membership benefits even further! Museum members will receive free parking in the GRPM parking ramp on every visit beginning Monday, July 1. Previously members received 2 parking passes annually with their membership.
Every Thursday this school year, Anna Rivera, Libbie Drake, Marie Geiken, Deanna Mockerman and Rendel Todd met to discuss one thing: getting students in their seats, on time, every school day. The five staffers comprise the attendance team at Lee Middle School, and while their work is always a work in progress, their strategies have yielded big results in a short period of time.
Mark Larson, Kent ISD’s truancy and attendance coordinator, said that when it comes to reducing chronic absenteeism, defined as 10 percent of missed school time or 18 missed days per year, “They’re the poster child.”
For the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years, truancy rates at the school were between 18 and 19 percent. The attendance team convened in the 2017-2018 school year, and the rate dropped to 12.9 percent. That year, said Todd, assistant principal of Lee Middle and High School, the team was, “kind of fumbling through, trying to figure out our processes.”
This school year, the team hit the ground running and the truancy rate was 10.5 percent for the 2018-2019 school year.
Follow Steps, Document
The promising numbers come in the wake of an area-wide campaign known as “Strive for Less than 5,” which kicked off in the fall. The campaign encourages students not to miss more than four days of school per year. It was adapted from successful work done by Grand Rapids Public Schools.
Between the Strive campaign and various strategies employed by the team to reduce absenteeism, it’s clear that there’s no magic to reducing absences. Rather, improving attendance relies on a constant combination of awareness, documentation, outreach and collaboration between staff, students and families. (Oh, and maybe an alarm clock.)
Mockerman, success coach at Lee Middle School, said the Strive campaign was really helpful when school kicked off last fall. “At the beginning, we had a big push for ‘Strive for Five.’ We had the posters up, we were talking with the students, we had the signs up.”
She also monitors attendance and, once a few weeks had elapsed, uses that information to catch absence patterns early and begin the interpersonal work, reminding students, “Let’s make sure we’re here all day, every day,” she said.
Drake, the middle school counselor, owed much of the team’s success in reducing absences to a simple spreadsheet.
“The ISD has very specific steps that you follow (for the truancy process), so we put it on a spreadsheet and made sure before we had our first truancy that we had everything we needed. We documented the date, who did what, and it was a lot easier to keep us organized.”
Having everything in one place — student attendance, who has communicated with the student and family and other relevant information — made it much easier to manage absences and spot patterns of absence for quicker intervention, Drake said.
Mockerman added that leaning on Kent ISD’s human resources — Larson and Truancy Administrative Assistant Tori Stafford, who came to the district to answer questions about the processes — has also been valuable in the effort to boost attendance.
Poor Attendance not the Problem, it’s a Symptom
Geiken, the KSSN community school coordinator, said that meeting consistently every week, even if not all of the team members could make it, was key to addressing absences before they got out of hand.
“Most of the first attendance meetings and the parent meetings that we have (are to) uncover barriers, so it’s not just about attendance,” said Geiken. “It’s many other barriers that the families are facing.”
Those barriers range from transportation, to homelessness, to self-reliant students who need to get themselves to school on time when the adults in their homes start work before they leave. Sometimes, middle school students are responsible for getting younger siblings to a school that has a later start time than the middle school, creating logistical issues.
“That’s really hard when you’re in middle school,” Geiken said.
That’s when the attendance team looks at busing options for younger siblings, or asks, “Can we provide you with an alarm clock?’ or ‘is there a grandpa or grandma who can help?”
Communication is Key
Drake said so many middle-schoolers still depend heavily on parents, so communication with parents is key to improving attendance, as is ensuring that the conversation is less an admonition and more an invitation to collaborate.
“We’ve seen a lot of good improvement, and it really has come from parent communication,” Todd said. “We have not seen much change from a student without having that parent meeting.”
“A lot of times, parents do want their kids in school,” said Drake, who added that students refusing to go to school, perhaps due to mental health challenges, is a real thing. “If a kid refuses and cries every morning, you cannot physically pick up a seventh-grader and drop them off at school.”
In such instances, working with students and parents through Kent School Services Network to provide support is key: “Maybe they need counseling, maybe something else.”
Drake said sometimes “outside-the-box” thinking is crucial to making school more palpable — desirable, even — to students who don’t want to be there.
Todd said that once attendance team members get a chance to sit down with a parent and understand the family’s barriers, they can usually find a solution. Also, helping families understand the link between attendance and academic success improves attendance in most cases.
Rivera, KSSN intern at the middle school, says making a personal connection can be a big motivator for some students to come to school in time.
“There are a lot of students that, once you connect with them, that’s when they understand ‘they care for me.’ They start putting effort into the check-ins or they’ll come in and say, ‘hey, I made it here on time!’”
Finally, Drake said that being sensitive to economic and cultural differences is crucial to working with families in the district, where the vast majority of students qualify for free and reduced lunch, the percentage of English language learners is more than 50 percent, and many families travel to see family in other states around Christmas.
Both Geiken and Rivera speak Spanish, which Rivera said can go a long way to forging relationships and building trust when meeting with Spanish-speaking families. In addition, all communications that go home are in English and Spanish.
The ‘Flywheel Effect’
If there is a lesson from Lee Middle School’s work to reduce chronic absenteeism, it’s that persistence pays.
“It takes a lot of time, a lot of effort to make the phone calls, have the meetings with the parents, discuss the academics,” Todd said. “Sometimes you call a home 10 times and haven’t gotten ahold of anyone. It may be the eleventh or twelfth call that does the trick.”
To make the kind of turnaround that Lee Middle School has seen, “You’ve got to have a very good team that’s dedicated to what you’re doing,” said Todd.
Larson said the Strive campaign is not a one and done effort: “I don’t think you internalize something like this in one year,” he said. “We’ve had students who’ve gone years with horrendous attendance. That may not change in one year.”
He said he saw a lot of enthusiasm for the campaign, and has seen districts embrace the concept to varying degrees and with varying results. It’s not easy, but it is simple, he said: districts that are getting out the word about attendance, adhering to the truancy process, and working to systematically reduce chronic absenteeism are seeing positive results.
For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
On Thursday, June 27, the Kent County Board of Commissioners approved its 2019- 2023 Strategic Plan which establishes the County’s mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities and goals.
The planning process, launched in May 2018 in partnership with Public Sector Consultants, engaged a variety of stakeholders through bilingual surveys, community forums and direct interviews. In total, more than 300 individuals shared their vision for the County in a meeting or survey.
“I am excited to release our strategic plan to the community,” said Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Mandy Bolter. “Community participation not only helped us develop our priorities and goals but will assist us in establishing performance and outcome metrics which will ultimately increase our transparency and accountability to residents.”
The foundation of the 2019-2023 Strategic Plan are the new vision and mission statements, which are:
Vision: Kent County is where individuals and families choose to live, work, and play because we are a forward-looking, intentional, and inclusive community that serves as the economic engine of West Michigan.
Mission: Through responsible budgeting and thoughtful planning, Kent County government is committed to providing resources and services that promotes high quality of life for the community.
The plan’s five priorities, which establishes a framework for all facets of the County operations, include:
Economic Prosperity: We will focus on sound fiscal management and policies to support the economic prosperity of the County as well as the West Michigan region.
High Quality of Life: We will foster a high quality of life that promotes safe and healthy communities, strategic growth, and world-class outdoor resources.
Excellence in Service Delivery: We will adopt innovative ways to deliver services that maximize efficiency and provide an exceptional experience to those we serve.
Inclusive Participation: We will provide innovative and inclusive ways to engage residents and involve them in County government.
Effective Communications: We will be transparent and clear in the communications and decisions of the County.
Within these five priority areas are 19 associated goals, both short-term and long-term.
“One of our biggest challenges is balancing community needs with federal and state mandates and ongoing operations,” said Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt. “Our plan provides us with another tool to use when deciding how to allocate limited resources for current and future residents as well as well-defined priorities and goals on which we can measure success. I look forward to working with our talented staff in implementing the plan.”
The County’s strategic planning process is an ongoing activity. County leadership will quarterly review the plan and make adjustments as necessary to ensure the priorities and goals reflect the changing economic and demographic conditions and community needs.
“Our strategic plan clearly communicates the priorities and goals that will guide our decision-making, investments and service delivery,” concluded Bolter. “Translating these areas into tangible outcomes will ensure Kent County remains a place where all residents can live healthy, happy and purposeful lives.”
The 2019-2023 Strategic Plan is available on the County’s website at accesskent.com.
A Spanish version of the plan, translated by the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, will be released In July.
Leaving the things that are real behind … Toys, toys, toys in the attic.
Aerosmith
Take a trip to toy land
The Grand Rapids Public Museum TOYS! exhibit, with interactive experiences and games, is available throughout the Museum this summer. For the complete story, visit here.
Bre McCarthy, Lakeshore Art Festival marketing/entertainment coordinator, is clearly head over heels in love with artist Kelsey Montague’a mural. (Lakeshore Art Festival)
Be the butterfly
Muralist fans — actually art fans of any genre — have a new sight to see as the Lakeshore Art Festival recently unveil of a mural by internationally known “street artist” Kelsey Montague in downtown Muskegon. The mural will be permanently displayed on the east side of the Frauenthal Center building. The Lakeshore Art Festival will take place July 5-6. For the complete story, visit here.
A date with The Beths
Local explorers of what’s possibly next new on their alt/pop satellite radio channel of choice will get a chance to listen and check out New Zeeland’s The Beths when the band stops at Grand Rapids’ The Pyramid Scheme on Tuesday, July 2. For the complete story, visit here.
Fun fact:
Lorde
Who was the most listened New Zeeland musical artist (in 2017). (Source)
The grant-funded Intergenerational Connections Project is providing a rich learning environment where traditional college students and adult learners are thriving together. (Courtesy Calvin College)
“At Calvin, we don’t just value academic knowledge—we value shared and collective wisdom from multiple communities,” said Kristen Alford, professor of social work and sociology.
Fostering inclusive intergenerational classrooms
The Council of Independent Colleges in partnership with the AARP Foundation awarded Kristen Alford, professor of social work and public health, and Julie Yonker, professor of psychology and public health, the Intergenerational Connections Project grant towards their intergenerational learning initiative. Both professors integrated some element of intergenerational learning into their classes, something they believe made the courses much richer. Yonker noted that the grant was instrumental in providing them adequate research and resources for the project.
“Older adults in our community tend to be marginalized,” explained Yonker. She felt this initiative would be an apt opportunity to serve a group of individuals who have not always been treated with the respect they deserve. “Older people have lived full and rich lives, and we can learn so much from them, but we don’t always take the time to,” she said.
Since the program was so successful during its first semester in fall 2018, Alford and Yonker repeated the intergenerational learning elements of their courses during the spring semester.
Cultivating rich environments for conversation
Alford invited nine older adults to join her class, Human Behavior in the Social Environment (SOWK 350), once per week for five weeks during the lifespan portion of the course. The older adults were co-learners and contributed to class and small group discussions.
“Our goal was to reach people in the community that were not already part of CALL or who maybe would not have access to Calvin traditionally,” said Alford.
The class learned about a variety of issues such as childhood trauma, harm reduction among teens, chronic disease, as well as grief and loss, in an intergenerational setting. The adults in the class were able to articulate much of the course content from their own life experience, explained Alford.
“It was really helpful to have a different perspective than maybe the traditional college students would hear. But then at the same time my college students were able to provide more input to our older adult learners on how teenagers and early adults function today,” she said. “Together we created these very vibrant conversations and gave deeper meaning to the course as a whole.”
Nurturing lifelong learners and listeners
Students in Yonker’s Health Psychology (PSYC 335) course were sent into the community alongside Tandem 365, a community partner serving older adults with limited resources. Pairs of students were matched with an older adult—often at high risk of being admitted back into the hospital—with whom they would visit weekly.
The students engaged with and discussed with their older adult friend a variety of health and wellness topics as well as served as a friendly visitor.
“I’ve heard from several students that their visits are one of the things they look forward to each week,” said Yonker. “Students have this wonderful opportunity to be agents of kindness, compassion, listening, smiles, and joy—essentially agents of renewal.”
Promoting dignity and worth no matter the age
Both Yonker and Alford noted that young adulthood and older adulthood can be two of the loneliest periods in a person’s life.
“You might think ‘why would emerging adults and college students be lonely,’ but you often feel the loneliest in a crowded room of people,” said Yonker. “One of the things I wanted to look at was if pairing older adults and students together had any effect on loneliness that older and emerging adults feel.”
Promoting the dignity and worth of a person and valuing the importance of human relationships are both values held by the sociology and social work department at Calvin.
“Each of those values come into play with this project,” said Alford. “We are trying to build intergenerational relationships and show the dignity and worth of people, no matter the age.”
End-of-life care options like hospice and palliative care are often associated with nursing homes or specialty houses and hospitals. Contrary to this common thought, many assisted living communities partner with these care services as the high population of seniors continue to grow older and need a continuum of care.
These types of care are difficult to talk about because they are administered to loved ones who are struggling with serious illness or are near the end of life. However, assisted living communities are focused on providing the best care for residents, including at the end of life and will often have these care solutions available. Looking into the difference between palliative care and hospice care in assisted living communities can help you know what to do when making difficult decisions for family members.
Palliative Care
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is the general term for any type of care that focuses on relieving pain and managing symptoms of serious illness, including mental and emotional pain and symptoms. Palliative care is used for people who suffer from illnesses like:
Heart and cardiac diseases
Cancer
Dementia
Parkinson’s Disease
Kidney, liver, or lung diseases
Strokes
Palliative care teams work across multiple disciplines to provide emotional, mental, and medical support for patients. The biggest difference between general palliative care and the more specific hospice care is that palliative care doesn’t necessarily mean the patient is no longer receiving treatment for their condition. Palliative care works alongside medical treatment plans to relieve symptoms while still receiving treatment.
When does your loved one need it?
If your loved one is suffering from serious diseases or symptoms that cause them daily pain, but doesn’t necessarily have a prognosis of when they will reach end-of-life, then palliative care might be a good option to consider.
To put it plainly, if your loved one is still seeking treatment and hoping to find a cure or way of managing their illness for a longer term than six months, then palliative care can help them manage their symptoms during that process.
Palliative Care in Assisted Living Communities
There aren’t palliative care facilities like hospice hospitals and homes, so if you decide on utilizing palliative care for a family member then the palliative care team will come to your loved one’s current home. Many assisted living communities are partnered with palliative care organizations to help make the entire situation easier on you and your loved one.
Assisted living communities will sometimes have a part-time or full-time palliative care team on staff to provide care services to residents as needed, without having to work with or schedule with a separate organization.
Hospice Care
What is hospice care?
The most common definition for hospice care is a care service that works to manage pain and serious health issues in patients who have been given a diagnosis of six or less months to live. Hospice care is a subset of palliative care, so it will focus on helping the individual rather than treating the disease, but is specifically for end-of-life rather than general symptom management.
Focusing on pain reduction, managing existing symptoms, and providing the highest quality of life possible for patients, hospice care is a common option for people who are nearing the end of life. Hospice care is only used once a six-month diagnosis has been reached and aggressive treatment options have stopped.
When does your loved one need it?
Deciding when hospice care is needed is an incredibly hard decision for family members because it involves admitting that your loved one is near the end of life and that there isn’t going to be a continued plan for treatment of their illness going forward.
The important thing for family members to keep in mind is to focus on providing the highest quality of life possible for loved ones. Hospice care teams are dedicated to ensuring that your loved one is getting the most out of end-of-life care.
Hospice care is different from palliative care, which can be administered alongside other treatment options as a pain and emotional management solution while still seeking treatment. Hospice care is only administered after stopping treatment methods and only once an approximately six-month until end-of-life prognosis is given.
It is important to note that hospice care does not have to be a permanent or final care solution. At any point during hospice care you can choose to remove your loved one from the hospice care plan and have them begin treatment again or try a different kind of care.
Hospice Care in Assisted Living Communities
Hospice care also differs from palliative care because hospice often has its own treatment centers called hospice houses or hospitals. These specialized treatment centers are the most common way that hospice care is administered, with patients coming to stay in these centers for end-of-life care, but it isn’t the only way hospice care is given.
If the family decides it is best for their loved one to stay at home and not move to a different location for end-of-life treatment, then hospice workers can come and help with treatment in other places than a dedicated hospice care center. With a rising population of aging seniors that need hospice care, many assisted living communities have strong partnerships with local hospice organizations to provide the best of care for residents in their community.
Hospice and palliative care aren’t pleasant topics to think about, but it often becomes necessary to discuss these options as our loved ones age. Remembering to keep the quality of life of our family members first and knowing the differences between the two types of care can help make end-of-life decisions easier for everyone.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced changes to the 6th annual Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire, taking place on Saturday, Aug. 24.
Due to the announcement that Maker Media, which runs the Maker Faire events and publishes Maker magazine, has shutdown business operations, the Grand Rapids Public Museum has opted to host a one-high-impact day instead of the two-day event in the past. Maker Media did announce it would continue to provide support for global Maker Faires happening this year.
Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these “makers” to show hobbies, experiments, projects. Maker Faire celebrates community members who are making or creating things by inviting them to share with the public what they have made.
“The Grand Rapids Maker Faire inspires children and visitors of all ages with new ways to create and think, offering new educational and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM),” said Stephanie Ogren, VP of Science & Education at the GRPM. “This event serves as a platform to influence the future of our community.”
“We thank our Maker Faire committee and sponsors for their continued support for planning this event. These dedicated individuals and businesses have supported education within the West Michigan region, and will continue to work closely with the GRPM on other education initiatives,” said Dale Robertson, President & CEO at the GRPM. “Visitors can still expect to see makers throughout the three floors of the Museum as well as on the Museum’s grounds for this year’s event.”
The Grand Rapids Maker Faire Call for Makers is currently open for makers to register their projects. Individuals and groups can now sign up at GrandRapids.MakerFaire.com.
Maker Faire is looking for participants who enjoy tinkering, hacking, building and designing new technology-based inventions. Any groups or individuals interested in participating in the Maker Faire should complete the application at GrandRapids.MakerFaire.com. The Call for Makers will close on July 31, 2019.
The Faire will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, 272 Pearl St. NW.
Follow the development of the Grand Rapids Maker Faire on Twitter @makerfaireGR, as well as on its Facebook page at facebook.com/makerfairegr.
Rick Jackson was ready to give a math assignment on probabilities to students in his algebra class at 54th Street Academy when junior Bianka Ranero counter-offered: “Let’s flip houses instead.”
It was a deal. Jackson bought the idea and students got to work scouring real estate websites for houses to “buy,” creating a slideshow of the houses, pricing out and marketing five hypothetical upgrades, and “listing” their remodeled homes for sale. The slide shows — their version of a real estate flier — were sent to potential “buyers” throughout the district for offers, with Jackson acting as real estate agent.
Bianka Ranero consults with Rick Jackson, her algebra teacher, on the upgrades she would make to a house. (School News Network)
“You have to figure out the total price of everything, and the total amount you spent on the upgrades, and then you have to do a lot of dividing, adding and multiplication depending on what you’re adding to your house,” said Bianka, who suggested the project because she has seen the ins and outs through her mom, who invests in real estate.
Bianka’s upgrade ideas included adding a swimming pool and a half bathroom to the two-story, three-bedroom house. The bathroom addition would add value and be inexpensive, since the plumbing already was in place, she said. She knew she could do it for about $1,500 purchasing the fittings at a local big-box store.
She was hoping to receive offers topping $200,000 on the house, which was listed for $119,900.
Zhane’ Warrens looks at photos of the home she chose for the house-flipping simulation she’s doing as part of her algebra class. (School News Network)
Real Estate, ‘Real World’
“Can I put in a new mailbox for an upgrade?” asked a student.
“You can… but I doubt it will add a lot of value,” advised Jackson.
As students delved into the business of house flipping, Jackson encouraged them to look at all aspects of real estate: What are neighboring properties selling for? What are the selling points of your home? How can you make it more attractive to buyers? He brought in a local Realtor, Krista Bashford, to give students a crash course in real estate before they started looking at homes.
Jackson said he often gets asked by students, “When is this ever going to apply to anything?” so the project made sense to him.
“In the future, it’s something they could really apply in their lives and they could make money from,” he said.
It also includes algebra lessons he needs to teach.
“They’re working with a budget, trying to balance how much to spend versus how much they can actually get out of the house. There’s a lot of calculation in the project,” he said, as they look at tallying items such as the cost of tile over a certain area or how much paint they’ll need for a surface.
For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Diabetes is a far too common disease, and unfortunately, it is on the rise.
The statistics are sobering: Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death among Americans. Sadly, 1 in 11 (29 million) Americans suffer from diabetes, and 1 in 3 (86 million) have pre-diabetes.
The good news is that some forms of diabetes can be prevented, and the best way to prevent this disease is to become educated about what it is and how you can avoid it.
First, let’s be clear about the definitions.
Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in kids or young adults. In Type 1 diabetes, the body (specifically the pancreas) does not make insulin and, therefore, cannot process sugar. The sugar then stays in the blood and can’t get in the cells to be used as energy. Symptoms of this type of disease include weight loss, fatigue, thirst, frequent urination and extreme hunger, even after eating. Type 1 diabetes does not tend to run in families, and diagnosis is done with a simple blood sugar test.
Type 2 diabetes does tend to be hereditary, by both genetic risk factor for insulin resistance and health habits (physical activity and diet). Type 2 diabetes is preventable and is caused by high blood sugar from insulin resistance. Symptoms of this disease include those listed for Type 1 diabetes, plus blurred vision and headaches.
What exactly does insulin resistance mean? Here’s how it works: Insulin is the key to getting blood sugar into the cells—brain cells, liver cells and muscle cells. If someone has insulin resistance, it takes more insulin to get the door of the cell to open. Therefore, while waiting for the pancreas to make more insulin, the blood sugar rises and not only gets pushed into fat, but also causes the many complications of diabetes. As the belly fat increases, it leads to more insulin resistance.
Here’s a simpler way to think about it: When someone with pre-diabetes says they are “craving carbs,” or they are a “carbaholic,” I like to say that they aren’t actually craving carbs; instead, their fat is craving sugar. Unfortunately, when they eat the sugar, it goes straight to their fat, instead of going to their muscles, brain or liver. When people with pre-diabetes eat sugar, they are starving themselves and feeding their fat. To stop the craving, they must stop the sugar for 10 days and tell the fat to “shut up.”
Not all carbs are bad
Now let’s focus on carbs.
Carbohydrates are necessary fuel for our bodies—especially our muscles and our brain. Our liver needs to store a little bit of carbs as glycogen for when we need a boost, like after walking at a good pace for 40 minutes. However, there is a difference between healthy and unhealthy carbs.
Complex (healthy) carbs raise the blood sugar slowly and allow the pancreas to make insulin slowly and push the sugar into the right cells—not into the fat on your body. We need complex carbs at breakfast, morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack, and then not so much for the rest of the day. Healthy carbs include whole grain whole wheat bread, brown rice, sweet potatoes, quinoa, oatmeal (cooked—not the sugary packets), beans, peas and green vegetables.
Simple (unhealthy) carbs raise your blood sugar quickly, overwhelm the insulin in your body and get pushed into your fat. Think of simple carbs as a treat—white rice, white tortillas, baked goods, candy, many cereals, and anything made with mostly white flour.
Unfortunately, too many people think they are doing the right thing by staying away from all carbs. That is the wrong tactic.
When my patients (all women, of course) tell me they don’t eat any carbs, I let them know that’s the wrong approach to good health. The goal is to achieve an even blood sugar with minimal insulin spikes. High insulin can make us hungry for sugar and then pushes the sugar into fat. A healthy diet only contains one small treat per day—a piece of chocolate, a serving of alcohol, or a white flour tortilla.
Think of these types of carbs like a budget—you can have some carbs, but you can’t have them all at once.
Blood sugars and Type 2 diabetes can cause many complications—kidney disease, hypertension, stroke, skin problems, neuropathy, foot problems, infections resulting in loss of toes, eye issues (glaucoma and blindness), and impotence in women and men.
High blood sugars damage and clog small blood vessels, and if organs, including the eye, heart, kidney and sex organs, do not get blood, the various organs can’t work properly and problems occur.
Risk factors to know
It’s important to know the risk factors associated with this disease. Family history of diabetes, being overweight (especially with belly fat), and inactivity are all serious risk factors. In addition, women have two other factors that can work against them: having diabetes during pregnancy and menopause.
Menopause increases the risk by causing insulin resistance, and menopause can also make things worse by causing poor sleep from night sweats. The cycle continues because poor sleep makes it more difficult to have the energy to exercise and make good food choices. Menopause can definitely wreak havoc for women and diabetes.
I see many menopausal women in my office each year, and so many of them tell me about their struggle with weight. I remember one patient in particular I’ll call Sue.
Sue came to see me for heavy bleeding around the time her menopause had started. We did an ultrasound, which showed a thick uterine lining, so I scheduled a dilation and curettage.
During her exam, I also asked her what was the No. 1 struggle in her life. She started crying and told me her weight was her biggest struggle. Over the years, she had managed to keep her weight at a “tolerable” level, but in the past six months (around the time she started menopause), her weight continued to climb and she was giving up.
I couldn’t let Sue leave my office without trying to see what she could change to help with her weight struggle. We went through her diet, and she mentioned that she was avoiding carbs most of the day. She would eat some protein throughout the day and try to starve herself by eating little else.
By the time she began preparing dinner, she was extremely hungry and tired. As a result, she would eat the same meal she had just made for her family—some type of meat and a potato or pasta.
Even though Sue limited her portions throughout most of the day, she was actually causing herself to put on more weight. Her body was so hungry that whatever food was being consumed was being pushed into belly fat. Sue was surprised to learn she was making it worse, but I helped her develop a simple and easy plan to incorporate complex carbs into her diet.
By the time I saw her for her dilation and curettage several weeks later, she was feeling better, had more energy, and had lost six pounds for the first time in years.
It’s important for all of us to know as much as we can about diabetes in order to avoid falling victim to this disease.
Knowing the risk factors plus ways to avoid diabetes (exercise and diet) are imperative.
WKTV airs new talk show, “Moments of Vulnerability” starting July 1.
WKTV Staff
Starting on July 1, WKTV 25 will be airing a new show, “Moments of Vulnerability” from ōK Productions.
The show, which is scheduled to air Mondays at 2:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 10:30 p.m., is a 30-minute talk show designed to be a resource for people to gain information on improving various aspects of their lives. Produced by longtime WKTV volunteer Kim Johnson, the show’s focus is to provide individuals with resources to guide through the changing phases of life, from post high-school transition to parenting (single- and dual-parent families) to guiding seasoned parents. “Moments of Vulnerability” is based off a weekly Facebook live spot from co-producer and host Ōrsika Julia.
Host Orsika Julia.
“The purpose of this show is to let you know that you are not alone in this journey of life,” Julia said. “Though the show focuses mainly on single parenting, there is a variety of topics pertaining to many different aspects of life.”
As director and co-producer, Johnson said, “We are both affected by this topic, I was raised by a single mom, and Ōrsika is a single parent of three. So, this is why we have a passion for reaching out to others in the same position.”
The show will also air on YouTube later in the summer.
In Carl Warfield’s hand’s-on natural science class, most of the student group leaders are seniors who have experience with the critters, with underclass persons waiting their turns to be primary “hand trainers” and out-in-the-community ambassadors of the program’s snakes and spiders and birds.
But East Kentwood High School seniors Anissa Reeves, Cassie Karel — group leaders for reptiles and birds, respectively — as well as fellow seniors Sammie Sutherlin and Courtney Guyott, have graduated with not only lessons in nature but in being part of a team.
(WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“It is a unique, hand’s on experience for the kids,” Warfield said to WKTV about the students in his now, 20-(or so)-year-old program. “For some of these kids, it is just something to connect with. While large schools (like East Kentwood) offer a lot of opportunities, sometimes there are things that are not for everyone. We look at ourselves as just a slice of the pie, here at East Kentwood, offering something for everyone.
“We are one of those programs that, you know, you may not be an athlete, you may not be a musician, you may not be an artist. But if you got heart, and compassion, and animals are your thing, we’ve got something here for you.”
In a recent WKTV Journal newscast segment, we talked with Warfield about his program, and with Reeves and Sutherlin about why they picked the class — and why they picked the critters they cared for.
Madison Poll, left, and Cassie Karel, with two of the program’s birds.. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Other students who showed us around the class were juniors Brandon Shotwell, Marcus Caruth and Madison Poll — each in line to have expanded roles with the critters next year.
WKTV visited the class in May, just before the school year ended — a class located, or maybe better said “isolated” — at the end of a hallway and just about as far away from the administration office as possible at the sprawling school.
Snakes and spiders are not for everyone, after all.
For the past two years, Jorge Gonzalez, 46, had done all kinds of things to improve his health.
He lost 60 pounds. He trained to run a 5K race. He focused on his health in matters big and small.
So imagine his bafflement when, one day at work, he suddenly began to feel particularly unwell. Even his colleague noticed it.
Gonzalez himself had to admit—the pounding in his chest couldn’t be ignored.
His new fitness watch noticed a problem, too. Gonzalez had bought the smart watch to help him monitor his vital signs. On that day, it showed alarming blood pressure numbers: 241/118.
“I didn’t think I was having a heart attack,” Gonzalez said. “But I did feel, well, out of tune.”
A short walk
Gonzalez is a director at Start Garden, a Grand Rapids, Michigan, company that helps entrepreneurs start new businesses. He always enjoyed helping others in his community, but when it came to helping himself he’d been reluctant to pick up the phone and call his doctor.
When he finally did—not in small part because a colleague nudged him into action—he learned he’d have to wait two months for the next available appointment.
But his blood pressure showed no signs of dropping. And two months was a long time.
Then, his colleague reminded him of something.
“Hey, Jorge,” his coworker had said. “Do you remember that presentation we had here a while ago by someone from Spectrum Health? It was about that new medical clinic down the street, STR!VE.”
Gonzalez remembered. The presentation showcased a new type of medical office aimed at developing a whole-body, preventive approach to long-term wellness.
For Gonzalez, it would require just a short walk down the street, onto Ottawa Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids.
He decided to take a short stroll.
Whisked to surgery
The STR!VE office has an inviting and comfortable ambiance, unlike many medical clinics. People can visit for same-day or next-day appointments.
Photo by Katy Batdorff
Gonzalez arrived and met with family nurse practitioner Melissa Wilson, MSN, BS, FNP-C, who checked his vital signs. On gauging his blood pressure, Wilson grew alarmed.
“I waited a moment, thinking it might be a false read, then took his blood pressure again,” Wilson said. “It was not going down. I put in a call to the emergency department at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital.”
Gonzalez saw the nurse practitioner’s concern and realized he may be in trouble.
“I told her she couldn’t play poker,” he said. “She didn’t have a poker face. I could tell by looking at her that this wasn’t good.”
Gonzalez was rushed to Butterworth Hospital. Doctors and nurses at the emergency department waited for his arrival.
“They immediately did an EKG,” Gonzalez said. “A young guy read the report. I could see his face turn red.”
Things happened very quickly after that, Gonzalez said. It’s something of a blur in his memory, but he recalls a physician calling out to his staff: “All hands on board!”
Then someone shaved his chest in preparation for surgery. A second EKG confirmed Gonzalez had suffered a heart attack. His artery had become 100 percent blocked.
Doctors placed a stent in his artery to restore blood flow to his heart.
Walking man
Three months later, Gonzalez feels like a new man. He is grateful for the quick actions of STR!VE medical staff and the medical team that met him at the emergency department at Butterworth Hospital.
“I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for STR!VE,” he said.
Gonzalez now repeats that walk down the street from his office to STR!VE on a weekly basis. He can take care of his follow-up appointments and meet with a dietitian to monitor his diet.
“Two years ago, I weighed 240 pounds,” he said. “Today, I weigh 182. I lost the weight because there was a day I tried to put on my shoes and couldn’t.
“I learned, though, that it’s not just about calorie reduction,” he said. “It’s what you eat. My cardiologist told me the blockage in my artery was probably because of years of a bad diet, and he recommended the Mediterranean diet. Now I eat whole foods, less processed, and a lot more fruits and vegetables.”
Wilson believes Gonzalez has recovered so quickly because he changed his sedentary habits and his diet.
STR!VE continues to help him work not just on nutrition, but his health maintenance overall.
Photo by Katy Batdorff
“Many people come here for our weight management program, but we are also a full-service, primary care medical office,” Wilson said. “Some of the people who come here keep their primary care physician but come to STR!VE to treat illnesses, when they need to see a doctor same day or next day. Others use us as their primary care.”
Wilson smiles when she sees Gonzalez visit. She encourages him to keep up his appointments.
“I tell him it’s all about the follow-up,” she said. “He tells me I sound like his wife.”
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
In April of 2019, a Freeland resident found this ADORABLE and outrageously outgoing fella (born in the spring of 2017) wandering around her house. He was so stinkin’ sweet that she couldn’t help but bring him in and fall hopelessly in love with him, but when he tested positive for Feline Leukemia, she realized she and her husband weren’t going to be in a position to keep him permanently. She emailed Dr. Jen to inquire about intake, and approximately a month later, Renly made his way to us. He passed his initial exam at the vet clinic with flying colors, with the exception of still retesting positive for FELV, so Dr. Jen sent him on down to Big Sid’s to meet his new roomies—and the volunteers who would be caring for him at our sanctuary.
It honestly takes all of two seconds for anyone who meets him to be enamored by his charm and enthusiasm for life; he is just so darned happy to be indoors, surrounded by people who will stop what they are doing to pet him, lift him up and carry him around. In fact, we’ve been told the following about our gorgeous, gregarious guy:
“Renly is so sweet! He is happiest being held like a baby and often demands to be picked up. He is very active and busy, always seems to be getting in to things and following volunteers around. He doesn’t really care about other cats at all, he really just wants to be around people. His rescuer said he really loves dogs. He would be amazing with kids!
“Renly is a very busy boy! He loves to run up and down the halls looking for anyone willing to play with him. He really enjoys toys, boxes, and anything he can chase. He’s one cat that enjoys being picked up and held. I have seen him be a little possessive of his food while eating with the others, but with time and patience he will do just fine with another cat or two. I’d love to see him in a home with kids that he can run and play with.”
Look at that face. Just look at it.
We have no doubt that if he was virus-free, Renly would be scooped up instantly after posting his bio, but sadly this throws a wrench into things, since he can transmit the disease to others of the feline kind through bodily fluids (sharing dishes and litter boxes, grooming and rough play where biting could occur). However, we are confident that the right person is going to come along, gather him up into their loving arms and make him their very own, virus be damned.
He is such an amazing, adventurous and downright gleeful fella that whomever opts to take him home is going to be one of THE luckiest cat owners in our little corner of the world!
More about Renly:
Domestic Short Hair
Orange & White
Adult
Male
Medium
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
FELV+
Good in a home with other cats, dogs, children
Want to adopt Renly? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how many bad roads and accommodations.
Oliver Goldsmith
Driving in Kentwood
In case you are wondering what is happening around East Paris Avenue … rehabilitation of Sparks Drive SE and Forest Hill Avenue SE from East Paris Avenue SE to Burton Street SE start on Monday, June 24 and is slated for completion in August. For the complete story, visit here.
Taking care of the kids
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus are two local efforts to support the youth of Kent County with the most basic of needs: proper nourishment and successful early childhood development. For the complete story, visit here.
Summer (fun) in full swing
Summer is officially in full swing with lots of activities taking place throughout Grand Rapids and the West Michigan area. Courtney Sheffer, from the West Michigan Tourist Association, recently stopped by the station to share some of the summer activities taking place. For the complete story, visit here.
Fun fact:
158 days
The average number of sunny days in Grand Rapids per year — don’t waste a single one! (Source)
The City of Kentwood is updating its long-range vision for growth, land use, development and open space conservation, known as the Master Plan, and is seeking public input on proposed changes through “Plan Kentwood,” a community engagement series.
The four community engagement opportunities are as follows:
Concerts and Conceptual Planning: June 27, 6:30-8 p.m. Kentwood City Hall (Breton Ave. SE)
Ice Pops and Planning: July 17, 5-7 p.m. Northeast Park (1900 Middleground Drive SE)
City Planning on the Mall: Aug. 6, 3-5 p.m. Woodland Mall (3195 28th St. SE)
Designing Division: Sept. 12, 4-6 p.m. Brann’s Steakhouse Parking Lot (4157 S. Division Ave.)
The Master Plan is an official public document adopted by the Kentwood Planning and City Commissions. The forward-looking development plan considers residents’ and property owners’ long-range goals and desires, as well as local, regional and market trends.
It consists of goals, policies and recommended actions to guide land use decision-making for Planning Commissioners and City Commissioners during the next 20 years.
The Plan is reviewed at least every five years but is modified and updated as deemed necessary by the City Commission. The most recent update was completed in 2012.
“We look forward to engaging with residents, businesses and property owners for community feedback as we plan for Kentwood’s future development,” said Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer. “The Planning Commission has been reviewing our current plan and identifying leading issues, trends and changes that have affected the community in the past seven years.
“The Master Plan update process is an important step in ensuring thoughtful consideration of our future growth.”
Hosted at City Hall, the first event will be held during the free summer concert featuring Blue Soul Express and include complimentary ice cream for participants. Discussions will focus on a 480-acre area referred to as Section 34, which is located between 52nd and 60th streets, the Princeton Estates Plat and Wing Avenue.
Planning Commissioners and City staff will be in a community booth at the concert from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to facilitate conversations and answer questions about development that has occurred in Section 34 since the last Master Plan update, as well as development that is currently in process and potential opportunities.
The second opportunity for public input, dubbed “Ice Pops and Planning,” will be offered from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17 at Northeast Park. Discussions will surround Section 13, which consists of 263 acres of open land between 28th and 36th streets, Patterson Avenue and East Paris Avenue. Residents will have the opportunity to help guide the future uses for the site.
Staff will be inside Woodland Mall at a table during National Night Out festivities from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6 to gather input on the future planning of the 28th and 29th Street commercial corridor. The corridor consists of a wide range of development – from high-end boutiques, major regional malls and local retailers, to many national dining, service and product franchises. Public input gathered will focus on how to improve its effectiveness as a transportation corridor, and as a business and employment center.
The final event, “Designing Division,” will be hosted at Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12. Community members are encouraged to join for an evening of ice cream and discussions on the future of the Division Avenue corridor with the City of Kentwood, the City of Wyoming and the Division Avenue Business Association. Division Avenue is a key gateway corridor to both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, requiring cooperation between the two communities.
The objective of the update process is to plan for new population growth and redevelopment while protecting key environmental features, creating sustainable economic opportunities and providing public services.
“The Master Plan is not a law or ordinance, but rather a guide for decisions to support how growth and conservation will take place in the City,” Schweitzer said. “We welcome all community members to be a part of the conversation.”
More information about the Master Plan update is available at kentwood.us/PlanKentwood. Questions or comments may be directed to Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer at schweitzert@kentwood.us; 616.554.0710, or Economic Development Planner Lisa Golder at golderl@kentwood.us; 616.554.0709.
Most middle-aged women are on the lookout for these typical symptoms of menopause.
But hair loss? That one can take some women by surprise—and cause big worries.
“It’s a big deal because our hair affects so much of our self-image and how we think of ourselves,” said Natasha Peoples, NP-C, NCMP, a nurse practitioner specially trained and nationally certified in caring for patients with menopause concerns.
Peoples works with the Spectrum Health Medical Group Midlife, Menopause & Sexual Health practice. She sees women experiencing various menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleeping issues, vaginal dryness, irregular bleeding and more.
“Just like all menopause symptoms, it varies from person to person,” Peoples said. “Women come to us and they’re all going through the same process, but they all experience it completely differently.”
Any degree of hair thinning causes concern among women, but it’s often hard to quantify how much hair you’re losing to know if it’s been a significant change, she said.
Also, unlike with hair loss after pregnancy—a common occurrence—women experiencing it during menopause might wonder if it’s ever going to stop.
“(Post-pregnancy hair loss) always balances out,” Peoples said. “And with women experiencing menopause it’s more concerning because there’s not that expectation that it’s going to reverse.”
While doctors don’t always know why hair loss is happening during menopause, Peoples said that as women experience menopause and normal menstrual cycles stop, they lose the estrogen and progesterone that the body would cycle normally.
With the loss of female hormones, testosterone and male hormones can become more active in the body. And that can affect hair follicles, among other things.
She urges women to talk to their medical providers about all their symptoms of menopause, including hair loss.
The first step would be to rule out other possible causes of the hair loss. Possibilities include thyroid imbalance, anemia, vitamin deficiency, new medication side effects or stressful physical events, such as surgery or illness.
“Whatever they can do to manage stress can be helpful,” Peoples said. “Hair follicles have a four-month life cycle and any change you make to reverse hair loss, you’re not going to see for four to six months down the road. It’s a slow process, which can be frustrating.”
If hormones are to blame, hormone replacement medications or those that block testosterone receptors might be helpful, she said.
Patients also might need to see a dermatologist, she said.
While some menopause symptoms, including hair loss, might be unavoidable for some women, there are things that might help minimize symptoms.
Peoples encourages women to limit caffeine, drink plenty of water, get regular exercise, maintain a healthy weight, keep good sleep habits and quit smoking.
The most important thing: Women need to realize they’re not alone. Help is available.
“It’s nice to be able to help women who start to have these struggles and feel like there’s nowhere to turn,” Peoples said.
As the redevelopment of Woodland Mall continues, A’Beautiful Soul will host its grand opening event on Saturday, July 13.
The celebration will kick off with a store blessing and prayer circle at 9:45 a.m., followed by a fashion show, live music and refreshments for the companion sister to first-to-market Altar’d State. While enjoying the many other additions to Woodland Mall, shoppers are invited to explore the A’Beautiful Soul and take advantage of the retailer’s grand opening day sales.
Carrying women’s clothing in sizes 14 to 24, A’Beautiful Soul is Woodland’s second plus-size clothing store alongside Torrid. The location will be the plus-size retailer’s first in Michigan and fifth in the nation.
A’Beautiful Soul is set to open July 9. (Supplied)
“A’Beautiful Soul emphasizes that beauty is found within a woman’s mind, heart and soul. Paired with its attention to the customer experience, this retailer ensures each guest leaves feeling beautiful and confident,” said Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing director. “Not only is A’Beautiful Soul a great extension of Altar’d State, it provides another destination for the plus-size woman, making it an important addition to Woodland Mall as we continue efforts to diversify our retail mix.”
Sitting adjacent to its sister store in the JCPenney wing of the mall, A’Beautiful Soul nearly doubles the Altar’d State space, making the company the fourth largest inline clothing store in the mall. Altar’d State opened in Woodland Mall in October 2018 and has since developed a loyal customer base in West Michigan.
Altar’d State started as a modest Christian retail store and coffee shop in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2009, and has since grown its footprint to nearly 100 boutiques across the nation. The retailer carries fashion apparel, jewelry, gifts and accessories.
A’Beautiful Soul will be Woodland Mall’s second plus site retailer. (Supplied)
The brand strives to bridge the gap in the retail industry and change the world for the better. The retailer also donates a portion of its proceeds to help feed, clothe and educate children around the world.
Construction on the further redevelopment at Woodland Mall continues, including the build out for the first-to-portfolio retailer Von Maur, which will occupy 90,000 square feet in the former Sears space. This location will be the high-end department store’s first in the region, with an anticipated October 2019 opening. Von Maur will join an exclusive line-up of dynamic retailers, including REI, Apple, Pottery Barn, The North Face, Williams-Sonoma, Dry Goods, H&M and Forever 21 along with several dining establishments and a movie theater.
Woodland Mall recently announced The Cheesecake Factory will open in 2019, its first location in West Michigan and second location in the state. The 8,500-square-foot restaurant is also slated to open late October. Black Rock Bar & Grill, an award-winning steakhouse and first-to-market experiential dining offering, is set to open this fall.
Leading up to the culmination of the mall’s redevelopment this fall, shoppers can expect to see more store openings and changes.
Summer is officially in full swing with lots of activities taking place throughout Grand Rapids and the West Michigan area.
Courtney Sheffer, from the West Michigan Tourist Association, recently stopped by the station to share some of the summer activities taking place.
Lansing’s Common Ground Music Festival takes place June 27-30. (Supplied)
Happening this weekend is Lansing’s Common Ground Music Festival, taking place June 27 -30. In its 20th year, the event features a variety of music groups from pop rock to hip hop. This year’s headliners include three-time Grammy Award winner Brandi Carlile, DJ Zedd, and country music singer Cole Swindell.
Sheffer said the festival is general admission, but it is limited. For more information on the Common Ground Music Festival, visit commongroundfest.com.
Hudsonville’s Action Wake Park is offering Actions Camps for students 7-16 years of age. (Supplied)
Have some children who are looking for a fun activity or just something different? In Hudsonville, one a few minutes away from Kentwood and Wyoming, is Action Wake Park, 3320 Hudson Trails Dr. The first full-size cable wakeboard park in Michigan, Action Wake Park provides guests the opportunity to learn how to wakeboard, water ski, and kneeboard in a controlled environment without the need for a boat.
Sheffer said for the summer, the park is offering Action Camps for students who are 7-16 years of age. The camps, which are one and four days, provide students with watersport instruction. For more information about the camps or Action Wake Park, visit actionwakepark.com.
National Wildlife Federation’s Family Nature Summit comes to Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire, Michigan, July 20-26. (Supplied)
The National Wildlife Federation’s Family Nature Summits comes to Michigan this summer, running July 20-26. The Family Nature Summits provide an immersive experience with programming for every age.
This year’s event will be in Bellaire at Shanty Creek Resort, Sheffer said, adding that there will be workshops led by experts in geology, freshwater ecology, hiking, birdwatching, and more. Hundreds of people from across the nation attend, so sign up early to reserve a spot, Sheffer. For more information, familynaturesummits.org.
For more summer festival, trip ideas, or the West Michigan Lighthouse tour, visit wmta.org.
Despite the cool rainy spring, people have generally reported seeing lots of migrating monarchs and the resulting eggs and caterpillars. In the East Lansing, Michigan, area, caterpillars from the earliest-laid eggs are already transforming into pupae—i.e., very likely originating from eggs laid in Michigan—was observed on June 19. A promising start to the 2019 season!
Monarch life cycle. Larvae (caterpillars) go through five stages of growth called instars. The first instar is the smallest size caterpillar. (Courtesy MSU Extension)
This spring, we have again been impressed by the importance of the earliest-emerging stems of common milkweed for supporting egg laying by migrating monarchs. We first observed monarchs in East Lansing on May 16 and eggs on May 18. The important part about this observation is that relatively few common milkweed stems had even emerged by that time, suggesting that the early emerging milkweed is a key resource for the initial migrants into the state. This prompts us to ask, what are the factors that result in early emergence of milkweed and how can we ensure that some is likely to be present in any given year?
In our research we regularly survey common milkweed patches in the East Lansing area, often returning to the same spots year after year. While we know that common milkweed occurs at each of the sites, there is tremendous variability in when the stems emerge and thus become available for egg laying. This year when we first began scouting out patches in mid-May, common milkweed had emerged at very few of the sites. On June 3, we found milkweed at more than half of the sites, but some still had no stems above ground. Finally, on June 18 milkweed was up at most sites, but some of the places we know had milkweed last year still have no evidence of emergence. What is the implication of this variation in emergence timing for monarch egg laying and larval (caterpillar) survival?
Benefits of early emerging milkweeds
We gained additional insight when we surveyed 13 common milkweed patches in the East Lansing area on June 17 and 18. At 10 of these sites, we found virtually no monarch eggs or larvae—just five eggs and two early-instar larvae despite searching more than 1,200 stems. However, in three patches of milkweed, we found a glut of later-instar larvae that were approaching pupation. Across these three sites we found an average of one fourth or fifth-instar larva for every 15 stems, which is a very high density of monarch larvae, especially considering they were later-instar caterpillars.
What made these sites so attractive to the migrating adult monarchs a few weeks ago, and why did the larvae survive in such high numbers?
Monarch collected at one site on June 17-18, 2019. Photo by Nate Haan, MSU Entomology. (Courtesy MSU Extension)
The common denominator at these caterpillar-filled sites seems to be relatively sparse vegetation with little plant litter on the soil, which we think stimulated the common milkweed stems at those sites to emerge early. This means the stems were available and likely were more visually obvious to the first migrating monarchs arriving in our area, and consequently they were loaded up with eggs. The individual factors that resulted in the sparse vegetation varied. One site was a sandy grassland in an industrial park, another a recently harvested poplar planting on a sandy, West-facing hill, and the third was a sparsely-vegetated grassy parking lot edge. We have also observed that around the home landscape, milkweed growing in elevated beds or on warmer South-facing slopes seem to emerge early. Areas that have been burned (removing plant litter) also warm up quickly and support early emerging milkweed.
Benefits of later emerging milkweed
Having spent most of this article talking about the importance of early emerging milkweed, we also need to mention the benefits of late emerging milkweed. The first generation butterflies that will be flying over the next several weeks prefer young milkweed on which to lay their eggs. Some of those eggs will be laid on butterfly milkweed, swamp milkweed, and whorled milkweed, which naturally emerge later than common milkweed. Alternatively, we previously discussed how setting back a portion of a common milkweed patch by mowing can enhance egg and larval survival.
In the past, there was probably a wide diversity of milkweed emergence dates due to natural disturbances like fire, grazing, as well as variable soil types and slopes. Later, humans introduced variability through agricultural practices associated with preparing and cultivating crop fields. Currently, we have lost some of that variability and may need to replicate it more intentional ways.
How to increase variable times of emergence in a milkweed stand
Given this, it’s worth considering how we might increase variability in milkweed emergence throughout the critical spring and early summer season. Perhaps that means finding a low-productivity sandy spot on your property on which to plant milkweed. Milkweed in mulched garden beds near structures also seems to emerge early and may provide critical resources. Plant or encourage some late emerging species of milkweeds. Finally, consider how you might mow or trim common milkweed to provide timely resources for monarch butterflies.
You got to love a blues/soul band whose lead singer has the nickname of ‘Sookie” and hits the stage with a self-described “rock solid rhythm section.”
And anybody who has heard and seen Blue Soul Express, — stopping by the Kentwood Summer Concert series Thursday, June 27, at 7 p.m. — knows there is a lot to love here.
Blue Soul Express, based out of Grand Rapids, “will take you on a journey through classic soul, R&B, funk and blues,” the band says on their Facebook page. Oh, and remember to “Bring your dancing shoes!”
The band is led by vocalist of Brenda “Sookie” Harris, guitarist Darryl Matthews, Mike Phelps on keyboards and vocals, and “a rock solid rhythm section” of bassist Mark Hicks and drummer Mark Jilbert.
WKTV will not be covering this concert due to a scheduling conflict but will be covering the remainder of Kentwood’s concerts, replaying it on our community television Channel 25 — check out the complete WKTV schedule here — and also available on-demand. The replay schedule for this concert is: Tuesday, June 25, at 9 p.m., and Saturday, June, 29, at about 12:30 p.m. (after a Wyoming community concert).
Concert-goers are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair, and may also bring their own beer or wine. And while you can bring your own picnic dinner, food trucks will be at each concert.
The series runs on select Thursday nights through August.
The remaining lineup for Kentwood’s Summer Concert Series is as follows:
July 18 — Hannah Rose and the GravesTones, serving up some funk, blues and rock n’ roll. If you’ve never seen them, let’s just say Hannah can wail. For more information visit here.
July 25 — The Crane Wives, described by someone as “female-fronted, harmony-driven folk-rock”; lets just say West Michigan is lucky they are taking a local break from their busy summer tour schedule. For more information visit here.
Aug. 1 — Brena, offering up oldies, top 40 hits, classic rock, R&B and country. For more information visit here.
Aug. 8 — Melophobix, with “Cage Free” being not only the title of their latest release but also their funky musical outlook. For more information visit here.
All concerts will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude around 8:30 p.m. on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, located at 4900 Breton Ave. SE.
With all the national and local news swirling about measles making a comeback in the United States, SNN spoke to the Kent County Health Department for some facts. Steve Kelso, marketing and communications manager for the Kent County Health Department, has one important tip.
“Get vaccinated,” Kelso said. “A lot of people think that measles is a harmless childhood disease. It is not. It can be deadly. I think a lot of people living today have never seen the impact of measles, diphtheria or polio and we tend to think of them as yesterday types of issues.”
From January 1 to June 6 this year, 1,022 individual cases of measles were confirmed in 28 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is the greatest number of cases reported in the United States since 1994. Measles was declared eliminated in 2000.
Yet there were 44 confirmed cases in Michigan this year, all on the east side, mainly in Oakland County.
There are currently no cases in Kent County, but in early spring there was a visitor for a short period of time who was later diagnosed with measles. Exposure chances here were minimal. Those who may have come in contact with this visitor were notified.
“Some people are excluded (from vaccinations), some have legitimate medical contraindications, but almost everyone should be vaccinated,” Kelso said.
Mary Wisinski, immunization program supervisor for the Health Department, explained, “People who can’t get vaccinated due to illness or disease may have a more severe case of the disease. It is important to vaccinate those around them to protect the vulnerable from getting sick.”
Wisinski said if a child has a true medical condition that prevents him or her from getting a vaccination, the parents would need a medical waiver from the physician to meet Michigan school requirements. Any other reason means parents would need a waiver from the Health Department, which requires them to meet with a staff person to learn about vaccinations and voice their concerns. More information on non-medical waivers.
School Preparedness
Although measles cases were contained to the East side of the state, how should schools prepare in Kent County for the fall?
“Schools need to be aware of the vaccination status of all their students,” Wisinski said. “In the event of a vaccine-preventable disease in the school, the health department works with the individual school to verify the case, help with a parent letter if needed, and give advice about exclusion.
“Teachers and parents both want information on vaccine schedules, vaccine safety and signs and symptoms of the disease. Parents can get their questions answered from their health-care provider or the local Health Department.
“We work with schools to send information out to parents about vaccines during kindergarten roundup and end-of-the-year communications.”
Wisinski advised parents to make appointments for necessary vaccines sooner rather than later.
MMR Vaccine
The best protection against measles, according to the Health Department, is the MMR vaccine. This vaccine gives long-lasting protection against all strains of measles. For the best protection, a child needs two doses of MMR:
The first dose at 12 through 15 months of age
The second dose at 4 through 6 years
Infants traveling internationally should receive one dose if they are 6-11 months of age.
The Kent County Health Department has the MMR vaccine available at all four of its clinic locations, by appointment only. For more info, call 616-632-7200 or contact your primary healthcare provider.
Visit AccessKent for more local and Michigan information.
The words on notecards whisper, shout, cheer and cry off the wall.
“Didn’t get into Western.”
“My life isn’t really great at the moment. I’m struggling with trust between my mother and I. I am currently going through a break-up and am having a hard time figuring out who I am.”
“My life is great, but sometimes I wish I had a friend to share the good and bad moments of my life.”
“I am thankful for family.”
“I’m losing the roots of my culture. I’m stuck between a deep, traditional Hispanic culture and the American culture. Can’t really carry a conversation with my grandparents. Makes me sad… I’ll try speaking English and forget a word, then replace it with the Spanish words.”
Responses on sticky notes are posted on top of the note cards.
“All your friends are there for you. Don’t worry about being judged because you are perfect the way you are. Keep fighting!”
“Hey, it’s okay. If you ever need to talk call or text me @ __”
“You got this. Keep pushing through…”
“Stay strong and true to yourself, then you’ll be successful.”
Words of thankfulness are among notes about struggles (courtesy photo)
In the hallway at Wyoming High School, students and staff created a Speak Wall, a collaborative board where students anonymously wrote about their struggles, joys, fears and gratitude. In the center of the wall, the words “I want to see you be brave” sum up the purpose of the wall: put yourself out there and tell your story.
In response to notes left on the wall, passersby left messages of encouragement, even reaching out with their phone numbers to those who appear to need a friend.
Sophomore Briayja White helped create and contribute to the wall in Alpha Leadership, an after-school club. “Every now and then I’ll go to look at it,” she said. She’s noticed students are posting things that they might not share openly.
“Everyone has their own problems, so don’t judge people by their appearance because you never know,” she said. “It’s very shocking my peers are going through this stuff and I had no idea.”
Sophomore Diego Quintino posted notes and affirmations. “The experience was interesting to see how many people responded in a positive way to my notes, and also to see how many people are struggling.”
Many students take time to read and reflect on what is written (courtesy photo)
A Way to Speak Out, Reach Out
Student advocate Mark Kuiper got the idea to create the wall from a similar project completed when he was a staff member at Grand Rapids Christian High School.
“I just thought this was a really unique way of getting kids to talk about their pains and struggles, but also their joys and thankfulness,” he said. “The idea is to start the process of being vulnerable and putting yourself out there—big or small.”
Students in Alpha Leadership monitored the wall, keeping track of messages and removing any inappropriate responses. They, and other students in leadership roles, started posting on it, which sparked momentum.
“My big thing was I don’t ever want to walk by and see a notecard that doesn’t have a sticky note on it,” said Kuiper, who plans to use common themes he’s noticed on the wall to start dialogue with students. “We hope it creates momentum into sharing our stories …. We hope it creates conversation that is face to face.”
Students face ups and downs and various struggles. “In my opinion, it’s a great thing for kids to be able to put their thoughts out in a way that’s anonymous,” Kuiper said. “The hope is (that) they are able to take the next step in being brave and talking to someone.”
Kuiper works with social studies teacher John Doyle each semester to plan a celebration to honor students with Alpha Wolf 11 awards. Students are named Alpha Wolves for demonstrating kindness, graciousness and compassion. The theme of this spring’s ceremony was “Student Voice—Be Brave!” and was almost completely led by students. The Speak Wall served as the centerpiece for the ceremony, with activities built around it.
“It was probably one of the most powerful things I’ve ever seen to be able to have the kids participate and express their emotions of gratitude, sympathy,” Doyle said. “It’s really great to see student voice exposed the way we exposed it. Student voice is so important today.”
For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
A Wyoming student writes affirmations on the Speak Wall. (Courtesy photo.)
It’s allergy season. Say hello to congestion, itchy eyes, running nose and headaches. For adults, these symptoms are annoying. For many, they may be severe resulting in the need for prescription medication. For aging adults though, they can be serious.
While itchy, watery eyes may not seem like a serious problem, in the elderly, the symptoms that come with seasonal allergies can cause serious complications.
If you’re a caregiver to an aging loved one, you shouldn’t overlook allergies as a potentially serious ondition. As the pollen flies, here are some things to consider when it comes to allergies and the elderly.
Don’t ignore them
When allergy season rolls around, those who suffer from seasonal allergies start to moan and complain, roll their eyes and stock up on tissue. Many need prescription medication to find relief, but others can simply ignore them. For aging adults, ignoring the signs and symptoms of seasonal allergies can be dangerous.
While a stuffed up nose is inconvenient for the average adults, for seniors suffering from chronic issues such as a heart condition or respiratory problems, any disruptions in breathing can cause larger problems. So while a simple over the counter remedy may suffice for a middle-aged sufferer, for many aging adults, allergies should be treated aggressively.
They are often overlooked
Because older adults often have a myriad of conditions ranging from moderate to severe, allergies are typically not a concern and doctors may often overlook them as they work to diagnose more serious problems. As a caregiver to your loved one, make sure to tell their doctor if you’ve noticed symptoms of allergies. Even if they are mild enough to avoid treatment, it’s important for their doctor to be aware of any symptoms that might complicate current conditions.
Typical medications may not work
While many people reach for an antihistamine when their allergies act up, for an aging adult, this may not be the right choice. This medication can raise blood pressure, interact with other medications and cause severe side effects like a change in mood, urinary retention, dizziness and more. In the elderly, these side effects can have serious consequences. To avoid these issues, doctors may treat their allergies with a nasal steroid or topical medication.
Tips to avoid them
While there is no cure for allergies once they set in, there are things we can do to avoid the allergens that cause the sneezing and congestion we love so much. Since allergy symptoms can be so dangerous for older adults, avoiding them altogether is the best route, if possible. To avoid exposure to allergens, try:
Keep doors and windows closed
Use an air purifier
Try foods that fight inflammation like apples, walnuts, ginger, leafy greens and Vitamin C.
Also, if you or your loved one is considering making the move to an assisted living facility and they suffer from allergies, make sure to ask about hypoallergenic assisted living. Hypoallergenic rooms, like the ones offered at Vista Springs Macedonia, remove 99% of harmful pollutants that cause dangerous allergies.
Random gestures of kindness and thoughtfulness are the surest, simplest ways to bring happiness back into your own life. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
A sure-fire antidote to the blues is to focus on others, a new study suggests.
“Walking around and offering kindness to others in the world reduces anxiety and increases happiness and feelings of social connection,” said study author Douglas Gentile, a professor of psychology at Iowa State University.
“It’s a simple strategy that doesn’t take a lot of time that you can incorporate into your daily activities,” he said in a university news release.
For the study, Gentile and colleagues had students walk around a building for 12 minutes and use one of three approaches.
Loving-kindness: This is where you look at others and think, “I wish for this person to be happy.”
Interconnectedness: In this approach, you look at others and consider how they are connected to one another.
Downward social comparison: This is considering how you may be better off than each of the people you encounter.
The study also included a control group of students who were told to look at people and focus on what they see on the outside, such as clothing, makeup and accessories.
Before and after going for their walk, all students were assessed for levels of anxiety, happiness, stress, empathy and connectedness.
Compared to the control group, those who practiced loving-kindness or wished others well felt happier, more connected, caring and empathic, as well as less anxious. The interconnectedness group was more empathic and connected.
Students who compared themselves to others felt less empathic, caring and connected than those who extended good wishes to others.
There was no benefit with downward social comparison, according to the study published online recently in the Journal of Happiness Studies.
“At its core, downward social comparison is a competitive strategy,” said study co-author Dawn Sweet, an Iowa State senior lecturer in psychology. “That’s not to say it can’t have some benefit, but competitive mindsets have been linked to stress, anxiety and depression.”
Every car, and driver, has a story: What’s your’s? (Courtesy Bruce Carlson)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
WKTV Community Media has big plans for the 15th Annual Metro Cruise, hosted by the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce and scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24, and we need the public’s help for one aspect of our coverage.
We all have a great car story. At least it’s great to us and for our live coverage of the 28th Street MetroCruise this August, we would like to hear your story of growing up with cars; funny stories, sentimental stories; stories of great barn finds, restoration efforts that didn’t quite pan out and those that did.
Share a little bit of your story with us by sending us a selfie video of you telling you story, with the car in question either in the video or a separate photograph of the car. Please use our Dropbox site for the video. For more information on what we are looking for, see the samples later in this story or email Ken@wktv.org .
This is only one part of WKTV Community Media’s DreamWheels Metro Cruise coverage plans, highlighted by production of a 1-hour special live broadcast scheduled to air at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23.
“We encourage residents to come to 28th Street and be part of the fun,” said Tom Norton, general manager of WKTV Community Media. “But they can also be part of fun by viewing our live show, which will also be available in cable replays and on-demand, as well as following our complete online coverage of the event.”
The Metro Cruise is an annual event that “invites car lovers and enthusiasts to reminisce and commemorate the vehicles that have driven down 28th Street for decades,” according to supplied material. The event brings in more than $3 million in business to the 28th Street corridor over the course of two days, with more that 250,000 attendees at an event staffed solely by volunteers.
While they do not need to be this length or subject matter, here are three examples of stories we’d love to get from community contributors
Gene’s story:
1964 Ford Fairlane
My first car was a black 1964 Ford Fairlane 3-speed manual with a front seat that literally rusted away from the floorboard leaving it free to move at my command. This small fact was one I neglected to tell passengers for a very good reason. I was one of the first to own a car in high school, which meant classmates often looked to me for rides to and from school. At any given time during the commute I would take advantage of stop signs and have a little fun at their expense. Once the car had stopped, I would slowly put it in neutral and in with one quick push on the floor cause the seat to roll back ninety degrees. In that single, wonderfully comedic moment, we would find ourselves staring up at the car’s roof with our feet pointed out the front window. The reactions were worth the effort. Most of the women would scream while most men would utter an expletive not fit to print. Eventually all would break out in laughter making the effort a complete success. Of course, once you’ve done this to someone it was difficult to catch them a second time. After a month or so word had gotten out about my rolling front seat, so the stop-sign mischief soon came to an end. I had that car for two years and never fixed the problem and would occasionally get a new victim to have a little fun with.
Victoria’s story:
2001 Hyundai Elantra
Up until my current car, a 2006 Chevy Malibu, I had a preference for stick shifts. Something about feeling more like a participant in my daily travels, or some such nonsense. My car immediately prior was a 2001 Hyundai Elantra which, soon after purchase, lost all of its plastic hubcaps. I have long forgiven my current car for being an automatic — she has spiffy wheel rims that don’t fall off. But, I digress. On one trip to Ann Arbor for a 24-hour film competition, I had been alerted in advance that everyone’s car had to be parked a couple of blocks away because of the scarcity of parking. Upon arriving, I headed into the house to hand off my car key to one of the students for ‘valet parking.’ He disappeared, then quickly reappeared. “Uh, it’s a stick,” said he. The power of observation is especially strong in the young. “Yes,” replied I. “It is, indeed.” There were 10 of us. Not one of the nine younglings knew how to drive a stick.
Ken’s story:
1950s era Willys Jeep
Learning to drive a stick shift in 1969. When I was, like, 14 years old, my 20-something soon-to- be brother-in-law, probably trying to curry favor with my 18-year-old sister, invited me to go down to the Spokane River and ride dirt bikes with he and his buddies. My being totally uncoordinated with motorized machines of any kind, including how to use a clutch and gear shifter, he quickly realized the only thing I would do on a dirt bike was kill myself. So, he decided to hand over his 1950s era Willys Jeep pickup truck. He must have thought the slightly rusted military vehicle with a battled-tested 3-speed transmission, operated in flat dirt closed course, was the perfect place for me to learn how to drive a stick shift. I remember a lot of engines killed by improper cultch use and then a lot of grinding of gears, all ending with my driving around like a banshee and all the bikers desperately but successfully trying to stay out of my way.
