Category Archives: 3-bottom

School News Network: Godfrey-Lee Board approves Legends as new name

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The Godfrey-Lee School Board unanimously approved a new name of Legends at Monday’s meeting. The current name, Rebels, will officially be replaced in the 2020-21 school year. (School News Network)

By Cris Greer
School News Network


After years of debate, and most recently an exploration of the history of the word Rebels, the Godfrey-Lee Board of Education unanimously approved a new name at Monday night’s meeting.

Drumroll, please…

The new name is Legends, effective in the 2020-21 school year. Legends defeated Raptors, in the students’ May vote of top two mascot names. Eighth- through 11th-graders pared a list of 10 monikers into the final two, ultimately choosing Legends by a large margin, according to board members.


“I’m so proud of this board for not just naming equity as a value, but actually acting upon it,” said Superintendent Kevin Polston. “Everyone that calls Godfrey-Lee home will feel welcome, safe and comfortable so they can learn at high levels here.”

School Board President Eric Mockerman. (School News Network)

Changing Times and Perceptions

The board tackled the matter amid decades-old concerns that “Lee Rebels,” with its perceived connections to Confederate symbolism, did not adequately represent the diverse district, which is home to many immigrant families and a large percentage of Hispanics.

Former Superintendent David Britten, now  district historian, narrated a video history of the Lee Rebel mascot. While the “Lee” in Godfrey-Lee is derived from Lee Street and not the Confederate General Robert E. Lee, students historically made that association, evidenced by Confederate imagery in old high school yearbooks and pictures of majorettes twirling Confederate battle flags. As late as 1992, the Confederate flag was on display in the high school library.

Much of the obvious Confederate symbolism has faded from school grounds, but the association remains, especially for those outside the district.

The process to make the change began in November 2018 after the board agreed to form a subcommittee to explore the use of the Rebel name and mascot. The subcommittee consisted of school board members, administrators, staff, parents, students and community members.

“It was not an easy process to go through,” said Board President Eric Mockerman. “We couldn’t deny the history; it’s something we needed to step away from. We don’t want to throw away the past, but we felt we needed to move away from some of the things we’ve been connected with that did not promote equity; a central tenet of what we want to do.

Rebbie the Lee High School mascot is going away. The Board unanimously approved a new name, Legends, at its meeting Tuesday night, effective in the 2020-21 school year. (School News Network)

He said he wasn’t 100 percent on board at first “But the more we saw the history, we (board members) all saw that we needed to make a change. We want to distance ourselves from the confederacy. In the past, it’s been a symbol of ‘you are not welcome here’ and we don’t want that. We want the message that everyone is welcome here and that we’re going to be successful here.”

Mockerman said the question predates his 17 years in the district. When an alumnus brought it up to the board last fall, members felt it was the right time to have a conversation, having adopted a new strategic design for the district in June 2018.

“It has been brought up by groups long before I was here,” Mockerman continued. “It got pushed away and most recently it was brought up again after the shootings in Charleston.”

He said “quite a few” people who weren’t happy about the change attended last month’s board meeting.

“I understand where people are coming from,  not wanting to change, but I hope eventually they can see the bigger picture. As we moved through the process, we didn’t see a compromise possible. The compromise would have been our values.”

As a 1996 graduate of Ottawa Hills, Mockerman was an Indian under the school’s former mascot. He said though he  bled orange and black, he understood the terminology was offensive to some. Ottawa Hills has since changed its mascot to the Bengals.

As for the new name, Legends, Mockerman said it has a ton of possibilities.

“Ultimately, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy for our kids. They are legends and they will be legends. It fits with everything else we’ve come up with through our strategic plan: ‘be you, be connected, be brilliant,’ and now adding, ‘be legendary.’ It’s about their legacy they’re going to leave.”

Board member Tammy Schafer said listening to a student detail a negative encounter with the Rebels name at one of the forums helped her better understand the need for change.

“Until I saw it through a student’s eyes, I didn’t quite understand the reason to change it,” she explained. “That was a huge reason for me to start looking at it differently. If one person is offended or scared to be a Rebel, we need to listen.”

Change Comes at a Price

At an estimated cost of $250,000, Mockerman said changes will take place over time, and with the help of corporations and partners.

“Some of the changes are going to be naturally occurring,” Mockerman explained. “Uniforms are on a schedule for replacement and not all have Rebels on them. We have some partners in the works that will be stepping up and helping us with the changes that won’t impact our general budget.

“Our goal is to have as little impact on our general fund as possible.”

A  graphic designer will use  concepts drawn by students and community members, and expand and develop some ideas that define Godfrey-Lee.

Assistant Superintendent Carol Lautenbach, who co-chaired the committee with Mark Provost, director of finance and human resources, said they wanted something that reflected the school’s identity and the spirit of the community.

“We wanted to move toward a different identity, and not just something that sounded cool,” she explained.

Lautenbach said they received over 170 name submissions before the committee narrowed it down to 10 they thought reflected the values of the district.

Different Names in Hall of Fame

Mockerman said the Rebels Hall of Fame will stay intact for people who were Rebels during their tenure, and those not here during the Rebels era will be in the Legends Hall of Fame.

“This is one way of preserving that history. It’s not a history we want to erase, but it’s not necessarily one we want to completely celebrate.”

Board Vice President David Blok said he appreciates how the name Legends speaks positively of the students.

“It’s about legendary people accomplishing legendary feats.”

For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network’s website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.

Stay water safe

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Stay safe on the water with these practical tips aimed at keeping you and yours healthy, happy and well this summer. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Health Beat staff


Summer is in full splash mode.


From squirt guns and sprinklers to home spas, pools, lakes and oceans, water is synonymous with fun.


Not to throw water on the party, but let’s talk water safety before you grab the sunscreen. It could save a young life this summer.


Erica Michiels, MD, a pediatric emergency physician at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, is passionate about helping families avoid the very real danger of drowning.


“Most water-related trauma is preventable,” she said. “If I can help families take steps to avoid the devastating results of water accidents, I’m going to do it.”

Practice home water safety

While it’s not just a summertime thing, we have to start by saying that for families with kids younger than 4, water risks start at home, with the bathtub.


“Of course a parent isn’t thinking it’s risky to run to the kitchen from the bath for just a minute,” Dr. Michiels said. “But even one minute can be too long. My No. 1 rule is that there must be 100 percent supervision of every child from 0 to 4, every time there is water that goes beyond a Dixie cup.”


The greatest risk for kids under 4 is accidental water entry. If a child can get to water of any kind, there is significant risk. Swimming pools and spas must be securely covered and kept off limits with fencing and secure gates around a pool. A small child can slip under many pool covers.


Check gate latches to make sure unsupervised children can’t access the area. And treat a shallow kiddie pool with the same deference.


“If a toddler slips in unsupervised, it might as well be an ocean,” she said.

Beach and open water safety

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 10 children die per day from water-related incidents in America. Families living near the Great Lakes and other inland lakes may be at even higher risk.


Enjoying the beach is fantastic family fun. Practicing a few safety precautions will make sure the day stays fun.


“Make it easy by keeping kids in personal flotation devices all the time,” Dr. Michiels advised. “They can still play in the sand while wearing a (life jacket). And it gives you time if something goes wrong.”


That said, Dr. Michiels stresses that a life jacket is not a substitute for supervision. A designated responsible adult should be assigned to specific children within the group.


“There are lots of examples of children who drowned when handfuls of adults were nearby, but no one was specifically assigned to watch the kids,” she said. “Designating certain children to certain adults adds protection from a child being overlooked.”

Creeks, rivers and boating

Creeks and rivers add a potentially dangerous element. The current can sweep a child out of reach and out of sight quickly. Never allow play on the banks without a watchful adult for every child.


Properly fitting life jackets, barricaded play areas and even the controversial toddler leads can prevent a tumble into the water.


As kids get older and become stronger swimmers, it’s easy to overlook ongoing risk. Additionally, teens may have opportunities to participate in boating and personal watercraft activities.


Dr. Michiels offered more smart talk for water safety and teens:

  1. A personal flotation device must be worn, even if you are a good swimmer.
  2. Complete a boating safety course.
  3. Only allow the number of riders for which the personal watercraft or boat is designed to carry.
  4. No horsing around, whether on piers, docks, boats, rafts or personal watercraft.
  5. Discuss the dangers of alcohol and drugs with boating. Many boating fatalities involve drinking or drugs.

In case of emergency

Dr. Michiels said the best practice to assist a child (or any person) who is pulled from the water has changed in recent years.


“If you pull a child from the water and they cough, sputter but are awake, call 911 and stay with them,” she said. “The child may not be able to catch his or her breath, but we no longer advise trying to pump or extract inhaled water. If the child is limp and not breathing, call 911 and start CPR compressions immediately.”


Previously the medical community advised the rescuer to determine if the child was breathing and try to extract water. Today, rescuers are advised to start compressions immediately only if the victim is limp and unresponsive.

Don’t want to risk it? Splash Pad it!

To enjoy water when you don’t have enough supervision to ensure the safety of multiple tykes, check out splash and sprinkler parks near you.


These are often free, and offer crazy fun water play without drowning risk. That said, if the area is concrete, scrapes, stitches and even bone breaks are possible. Many splash parks feature rubberized surfaces.


Just use common sense and take a minute to assess when you arrive.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.


WKTV features NASA live coverage of ISS change of command

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The International Space Station Expedition 59-60 team. (NASA)

By Kelly Taylor
WKTV Program Director


This Sunday, WKTV Government 26 will be featuring live coverage of the International Space Station Expedition 59-60 Change of Command ceremony. The program comes via NASA TV.

At at 3:35 p.m. Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko hands over the command of the ISS to fellow cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin.

Live coverage from the ISS continues Monday, June 24 at 3:30 p.m. for the Expedition 59 farewells and Soyuz MS-11 hatch closure. The hatch closure is scheduled for around 4:10 p.m., with cosmonaut Kononenko, astronaut Anne McClain of NASA and astronaut David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency aboard.

At 10:48 p.m. there will be live coverage of the Soyuz MS-11 landing near Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. 

For more information on NASA TV or the InternationalSpace Station, log on to www.nasa.gov. NASA TV can be seen on the WKTV 26 Government Channel on Comcast and AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99.

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know — the weekend edition

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kids Activities, Local Faces, Our Cities

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org


Quote of the Day

“There’s no fear when you’re having fun.”

~ Will Thomas


Get your tickets

You won’t want to miss Circle Theatre’s Magic Circle Production of Rapunzel, an adaptation by Karen Boettcher-Tate, starting on Thursday, June 26 at 7pm inside the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College. Preceding the show at 5:30pm, join the cast for the Magic Circle Party. This one-night only event will feature refreshments, crafts, games, Storytime with the cast, and VIP seating for opening night. Tickets to the Magic Circle Party are $22 and can be purchased at circletheatre.org.



On sale now!

It will be like they are right there with you. BASE Hologram has announced North American tour dates for Roy Orbison & Buddy Holly: The Rock ’N’ Roll Dream Tour, a groundbreaking tour featuring the award-winning rock and roll legends, including a stop in Grand Rapids on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, at 7:30pm in SMG-managed DeVos Performance Hall. Tickets are on sale now. More info here.


Here’s an idea: Yoga

Start your summer weekends with an opportunity to connect to your body, breath, and nature at Blandford Nature Center. Classes are held outdoors, are accessible to all levels of experience, and start Saturday, July 13th, so don’t delay. Go here for details.


Fun fact:

421

That’s how many words Scotland has for “snow”. Some examples: sneesl (to start raining or snowing); feefle (to swirl); flinkdrinkin (a light snow).



Sound the asthma alarm

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A possible warning sign that your asthma is out of control: You’re using a quick-relief inhaler more than twice a week. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay


Summertime can bring asthma sufferers a lot of misery, but lung experts say watching for warning signs of breathing trouble can guard against serious complications.


“As the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health, we think it’s crucial for people with asthma to know as much as they can about the disease,” said Dr. David Hill, volunteer medical spokesperson at the American Lung Association.


“This includes the fact that changing seasons have a major impact on asthma. Being prepared for the summer and understanding warning signs can help prevent serious complications,” he said in a lung association news release.


Summer can bring increased pollen in the air, hot temperatures and associated ozone and particle pollution—all of which can trigger asthma symptoms.


There is no cure for asthma, but it can be controlled and managed.


Key warning signs that asthma may not be in control include needing to use a quick-relief inhaler more than two times a week, waking at night with asthma symptoms more than two times a month and having to refill a quick-relief inhaler more than two times a year.


If you have any of these warning signs, you should see your health care provider to improve management of asthma symptoms, such as reducing exposure to asthma triggers, the lung association advised.


Asthma affects about one in 13 people in the United States, including more than 6 million children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


It is the most common childhood disease but can start at any age. The rate of asthma nearly tripled between 1980 and 2010.


Research shows that rising temperatures due to climate change are leading to longer and more intense allergy seasons, according to the news release.


The lung association offers a free, online learning course about asthma triggers, how to identify and reduce them, action plans for flare-ups, how to respond to a breathing emergency, asthma medication education, and an asthma management plan outline.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.


How pollinators can help farmers and renewable energy score

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Solar array with pollinator-attractive plants. Photo by and permission granted: Fresh Energy

By Joy Landis, Michigan State University Extension


A new executive decision by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer hits a sweet spot by allowing solar arrays on lands in a farmland preservation program if pollinator-friendly guidelines are used. The pollinator protection practices were developed by Michigan State University’s Department of Entomology based on a decade of research on how to establish pollinator habitat, and were central to determining how to allow development of solar energy on farmland while also supporting pollinators.


Michigan’s Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program, administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, preserves farmland and open space through agreements that restrict development. Tax incentives within the program encourage participation. Previously, participating landowners were allowed to lease land for wind turbines and oil and gas exploration. However, solar arrays require more space and were perceived to be too disruptive to benefit preservation. The practices laid out in the new guidelines mean the land will better serve the pollinators that need habitat to provide the nectar, pollen, and nesting sites that are essential to their survival.

MSU research has identified which native plants are best for supporting pollinators in various settings, including solar installations. Here, attendees learn about research results with drought-adapted flowering plants. Photo by Jordan Noble, MSU Photography.

“There is a consensus that lack of flowering plants in farm landscapes are limiting wild bee populations, so this program is an opportunity to help support these valuable insects when new solar installations are set up,” says Rufus Isaacs, one of the developers of the scorecard and MSU professor of entomology.  


The resulting document, the Michigan Pollinator Habitat Planning Scorecard for Solar Sites, provides a roadmap for developers to evaluate the site and develop a land management plan, and to consider the risk of insecticide exposure, quality of existing habitat for pollinators, and the quality and diversity of wildflowers that will be planted.

A bumblebee explores a native flowering goldenrod. Photo by Thomas Wood, MSU Entomology.

The new policy has the potential to greatly increase the acreage of Michigan land designed for better pollinator habitat. The timing couldn’t be better for that. A study released earlier this year by Isaacs and his colleagues compared current distributions of bumble bee species across the state to historic data collected as far back as the 1880s. The research found that the geographic range in Michigan of half of the bumble bee species studied have declined by more than 50%.

Building a solid math foundation should start early

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Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Tracy Trautner, Michigan State University Extension


Many adults did not enjoy math classes when they were in school and probably still don’t. When you ask a group of people if they enjoy math, a typical response would be, “No, I am not good at math.” However, when we think about our daily lives, we do math in a variety of ways several times a day. First thing in the morning you have probably measured the cream for your coffee, turned off your alarm clock, estimated how much longer you would be able to stay in bed and possibly added or subtracted the miles per hour you were going from the posted speed limit on your way to work.


Many adults use math without thinking much about it, but also cringe at the idea of completing a math equation.


It is important we start at a very early age to incorporate a foundation for future math learning so children do not struggle when they are taught geometry, algebra and calculus in future math classes. Children develop math concepts and skills very early in life. They do this through early experiences with a trusted adult.


Often, throughout the day, there are wonderful opportunities to expose infants and toddlers to the idea of math. The key is to do it naturally and consistently so they are beginning to understand how math affects their lives. The next five articles in this series will discuss the five basic math concepts that can be woven into our conversations and interactions with young children.


Remember to use math talk throughout the day. Children, even the young ones, are listening to you. Choose words that will make a difference. The more math talk adults use, the better chance infants and toddlers have to build a positive attitude towards math in general. Make math talk a routine for you and your child. It can be done while changing a diaper, making a snack, driving in the car, bath time and walks around the neighborhood. It can be helpful to make a list of words and post them in a visible location so you can remember to use them throughout the day.


Other resources from the National Association for the Education of Young Children:

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Taking care of our kids: two interviews with local leaders on latest WKTV Journal In Focus

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Education, Health, Non-Profits, WKTV Journal In Focus, ,

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus are two local efforts to support the youth of Kent County with the most basic of needs: proper nourishment and successful early childhood development.

We will talk with a West Michigan group which provides more than 8,000 dinner meals a day to kids during the school year. We will talk about what they do and what plans they have to do more in the future. Then we talk with the local group tasked to administer the public funds approved by vote as last year through the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage … and we are talking about more than $5 million dollars annually.

First In Focus is In Focus is West Michigan’s Kids’ Food Basket, a nonprofit organization best known for its Sack Supper Program, which provides a free, well-balanced nutritious evening meal distributed within classrooms at the end of each school day. The group serves schools in three counties with facilities in Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Holland. With us is Bridget Clark Whitney, founding CEO of Kids’ Food Basket, and we will talk with her about her organization, about the Feeding our Future campaign, and why it is so important to assist our young citizens in gaining proper nutrition.

Then In Focus is First Steps Kent, the local group approved by Kent County Commissioners to administer the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage passed by county voters in November of last year. First Steps Kent is, according to its website, “an independent, influential and neutral entity that leads the community’s efforts to strengthen and coordinate early childhood services in Kent County.” With us is Annemarie Valdez, president and CEO of First Steps Kent.

WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

School News Network: Collapsed roof at Lee Middle and High School getting evaluated

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The district is currently assessing the situation after the roof collapsed at Lee Middle and High School overnight June 6. No one was injured. (School News Network)

By Cris Greer
School News Network


Engineers and architects are assessing the situation after a portion of the roof collapsed at Lee Middle and High School on June 6.

No one was injured during the overnight collapse at the school, 1335 Lee St. SW, Wyoming. The roof collapsed over second-floor classrooms on the west side of the building.

After a review of all areas building, there are no areas of immediate concern for structural failure, but the district is taking steps to do a complete and thorough inspection, according to a press release from the district.

An inspector from the City of Wyoming approved use of the building not impacted by the roof collapse, according to the release.

“We hope to have more information in the coming days and we will share out when we can,” said Kevin Polston, Godfrey-Lee superintendent. “We are thankful for the quick work of our contractors to secure the building and work quickly to complete an assessment of the entire building.”

For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, www.schoolnewsnetwork.org.

No one was injured in the overnight roof collapse June 6 at Godfrey-Lee Middle and High School. Experts are currently evaluating the situation. (School News Network)

School News Network: Godwin Heights student takes top spot in poetry contest

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Godwin Heights Aliya Hall took first place in the undergraduate division for the 51st annual Dyer-Ives Poetry Contest. (School News Network)

By Charles Honey
School News Network


Aliya Hall loves the work of poets Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou and Chinaka Hodge. Their strong voices have served as inspiration for her as she’s dabbled in writing and spoken-word poetry.

“The first thing that ever inspired me to write poetry was seeing people that are my color doing it,” said Aliya, an incoming junior at Godwin Heights High School. She won first place for her poem “Hawk Island Girl,” in the high school through undergraduate division of the 51st annual Dyer-Ives Poetry Contest.

Hall, along with East Rockford Middle School eighth-grader Alissa Vezikov who won the kindergarten through eighth grade division, read her winning poem at the Grand Rapids Public Library during the 50th annual Festival of the Arts. In 2016, the Dyer-Ives Poetry Competition became a program of the Grand Rapids Public Library, funded by the GRPL Foundation–Dyer-Ives Foundation Poetry Fund.

For her winning piece, Hall won $125 and publication in Voices, issued by the Grand Rapids Public Library.

Tapping into Memories 

Hall’s winning poem, “Hawk Island Girl,” was inspired by the poem “to the notebook kid” by Eve Ewing, a Chicago-based writer. She tapped into her own memories of family visits to Hawk Island Park in Lansing, basing the girl in the poem on herself.

“It was my first time ever doing something like this. It was very emotional for me,” Hall said about reading her poem at the library. “Writing is everything to me. I put all that I can into my writing. My readers, I want them to pull whatever they can from it.”

Hall has attended the Grand Rapids Creative Youth Center, which offers after-school creative writing programming. Also, she was also one of two local students to attend the International Congress of Youth Voices, an experience she wrote about for School News Network. She is returning to the event, which connects students with accomplished writers, activists, and elected officials, as an alumna in August.

She hopes to attend Hampton University, in Virginia, and pursue journalism, creative writing and business.

For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.

Understanding Health Literacy

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By Laura P., AmeriCorps Member, Cherry Health


Are you confident you can compare premiums and deductibles to find the best health insurance plan for you and your family?


Can you use a nutrition label to calculate how many grams of sugar are in a bowl of your breakfast cereal?


Are you able to locate the medical services you need, when you need them?


If so, you may have high health literacy! When we talk about health literacy, we are referring to a person’s ability to access and understand health-related information and services. It’s something we all possess to varying degrees, and we often use our health literacy skills without knowing we’re using them.


Health literacy can vary widely between people depending on someone’s level of education, cultural background, economic status, skill with numbers, and mental health. No matter our level of health literacy, we build our skills over a lifetime and there is always room for improvement. Health literacy skills include the following:

  • Being able to correctly dose and administer medications
  • Knowing the body systems and how to describe pain
  • Finding and understanding information on a medical topic
  • Being able to manage a chronic health condition
  • Knowing your own and your family’s health history
  • Comparing treatment options to decide what’s best for you
  • Understanding your provider’s instructions
  • Filling out complex forms accurately

Knowing a patient’s general level of health literacy is important to successful treatment, as people with lower health literacy are likelier to be hospitalized, end up in the emergency room, and to take medications incorrectly. Where appropriate, healthcare providers should use plain language to ensure that they and their patients are on the same page. For patients with a different cultural background than their providers, extra attention is needed to ensure that communication is clear and understood.


Delivering quality healthcare requires examining how health literacy influences every aspect of the medical experience, both at the office and at home. It is our responsibility to make sure the services we provide and the information we share are accessible and understandable to all.


Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health.


Having trouble sleeping?

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A restless night may be the result of poor habits before bedtime. A helpful hint: Leave the cell phone out of the bedroom. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Diana Bitner, Spectrum Health Beat


Sleep is everything. It needs to be a high priority for all of us to be happy and healthy.


It is truly the basis of good health, because it gives our brains a chance to rest and process the events of the day and then make brain chemicals for the next day.


Do you have trouble sleeping? If so, you’re probably dealing with a host of negative side effects.


Without sleep, we may experience bad moods and perform poorly at work, at school or at home with our families. A lack of sleep also puts us at risk for heart disease, diabetes and depression.


Researchers have spent years analyzing sleep patterns to learn why sleep is so important to our overall health and wellness. Their observational studies of people with and without good sleep patterns show a strong effect on chronic disease.


People who get less sleep have a higher risk of being overweight, developing diabetes, experiencing high blood pressure and having a heart attack. Overall, these people have a lower life expectancy than those who get a consistent eight hours of sleep each night.


Typically, those who consistently sleep less than six hours a night are plagued with the highest weight, while those who sleep eight hours or more have the lowest weight.


Is it really that simple? For the most part, yes.


Less sleep leads to a rise in cortisol—our stress hormone—and also causes a rise in insulin, which promotes belly fat storage. Decreased amounts of sleep also cause an increase in ghrelin—a brain hormone that stimulates appetite—and a decrease in leptin, which signals when we feel full.


Of course, it goes without saying that when we don’t have enough sleep, we don’t feel like exercising and we often gain weight due to inactivity.


Unfortunately, sleep (or a lack of it) can have a strong effect on our moods and coping skills. Lack of sleep puts people at a greater risk for depression, anxiety and mental stress. All of this makes it difficult for these people to remain optimistic and thrive in social situations.


The bottom line? To be happy, sleep is a prerequisite.


We know we should be getting our sleep, but what really happens when we are having trouble sleeping?


There are several different types of sleep problems that can cause us to sleep less than we should at night.

Sleep disorders

Chronic insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea and parasomnias are some of the more common sleep issues my patients experience.


Insomnia can be a result of too much overstimulation from watching TV or working on a computer late at night. Consumption of alcohol, sugary foods or caffeine before bed can also interfere with the ability to fall asleep easily.


Insomnia can be caused by taking certain medications such as antidepressants, oral steroids or allergy pills. Medical conditions that cause pain—arthritis, for example, or breathing problems such as asthma—can also be underlying causes of insomnia.


The good news is that insomnia can be improved.


The best treatment starts with awareness, which begins with a close examination of our habits and rituals around bedtime. Turning off the computer or TV several hours before going to bed can help you fall asleep more quickly. Sometimes, prescription medications or over-the-counter remedies can also be helpful.


Narcolepsy, associated with excessive daytime sleepiness, can be genetically linked. A diagnosis of narcolepsy can be determined with a sleep study.


Medications aimed at improving sleep quality and stimulating daytime wakefulness are typically prescribed to help with this condition.


Sleep apnea, typically linked to obesity and heart disease, is also diagnosed by completing a sleep study.


Treatments for sleep apnea range from changing sleep positions to using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine to keep airways open.


Weight loss is also an effective treatment for sleep apnea.


Parasomnias occur when people are fearful of going to sleep because they are afraid of what might happen to them during sleep. Night terrors, sleepwalking or sleep eating without memory are common things they may fear.

Sleepless nights

Many women come to see me because they are having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep during the night.


A woman I’ll call Jane is one of those patients.


At age 49, she began experiencing irregular periods, night sweats and disturbed sleep around the time of her period. She led a very busy life with teenagers, a husband who traveled for work and parents who required more care.


Her sleep issue was causing problems in her life.


Jane would have difficulty falling asleep and, if she woke up during the night, she had trouble getting back to sleep because her mind would start racing and she couldn’t turn it off.


As a result, she was chronically tired and unmotivated to exercise. She began to gain weight. She felt irritable and crabby most days and she just didn’t know how to get off the roller coaster.


Jane had tried to fix her sleep problems by herself, but it wasn’t working.


She tried every tea and over-the-counter medicine she could find, including melatonin. She had recently resorted to drinking a glass of wine in the evening, but that just made her feel even less rested.


It was time for a new plan for Jane.

Simple changes

We started by discussing what she probably already knew: Lack of good sleep made her very unhealthy and caused her bad moods.


I then explained the correlation between hormones and brain chemicals.


We worked on deconstructing her nighttime routine. I asked her how she could structure her day so she wouldn’t have so many chores to complete at night, leaving her more time to prepare for the next day.


As Jane talked out loud to me, she realized she could make some simple changes—packing lunches and doing a load of laundry at night—that could help her be more efficient in the morning.


I then pressed Jane about making time for herself before bed.


I also made some suggestions.


I recommended that she write down her worries or duties on paper and then make a list for the next day (or several days), detailing how she would conquer these obligations.


Other suggestions I made: Avoid screen time 30 minutes before bed, refrain from alcohol in the evening, write in a gratitude journal before going to sleep.


And, finally, I suggested that Jane practice metered breathing every night before going to bed.


Metered breathing is a technique I discuss with many of my patients to help them fall asleep at night or get back to sleep if they wake in the middle of the night.


Here’s how it works:

  • Find a quiet place in your home and sit in a comfortable chair.
  • Begin staring at a spot somewhere in the room and focus on the sound of your breathing.
  • Continue breathing like this for five minutes, uninterrupted.

I felt confident Jane’s plan would be effective if she followed it. After tracking her progress, we would consider menopause hormone therapy to treat her night sweats if they continued to be an issue.


Jane took my recommendations seriously and changed her routine. She began to sleep again and she started exercising, lost some weight and improved her overall mood.


More than anything, she felt like herself again.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

SpartanNash Foundation launches fundraiser for patriotic partners

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By Meredith Gremel
SpartanNash Foundation

The SpartanNash Foundation invites store guests to join it in supporting military heroes and their families during its companywide fundraising effort, taking place June 26-July 7. All funds raised during the SpartanNash Foundation fundraising scan campaign will be evenly split between Team Red, White & Blue, Operation Homefront and Honor and Remember. 

SpartanNash Foundation grants will be used to connect servicemembers, veterans and their families to their local communities through physical and social activity, provide critical financial assistance and family support services and honor those who lost their lives defending our freedoms. 

During the 12-day scan, store guests who visit any participating SpartanNash-owned retail store or fuel center in eight states will have the opportunity to donate $1, $5 or $10 at any checkout lane, or round their total up to the nearest dollar to support the trio of patriotic partners. More than 135 stores are participating in the Foundation scan, primarily under the banners of Family Fare, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery, Dan’s Supermarket and Family Fresh Market.

“Each year, SpartanNash contributes thousands of dollars, products and volunteer hours to military and veterans organizations and events – as well as hiring veterans and their family members as a Military Friendly® and veteran-friendly employer – and we are proud to team up with Team RWB, Operation Homefront and Honor and Remember in this unique and powerful way,” said Meredith Gremel, vice president of corporate affairs and communications and the executive director of the SpartanNash Foundation. “What better time to join with our store guests to support our military heroes than leading up to the Fourth of July, when we celebrate the freedoms they protect.”

Since 2016, the SpartanNash Foundation has raised and granted nearly $800,000 for its patriotic partners through its fundraising scan campaigns, benefitting veterans service organizations including Give an Hour, Fisher House Foundation, Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., Disabled Veterans National Foundation and in 2019, Team RWB, Operation Homefront and Honor and Remember.

Team RWB’s mission is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. (Team RWB)

Team RWB

Nearly 3.5 million post-9/11 veterans live in communities nationwide today, and 250,000 veterans will leave active duty this year to join them. They often face isolation, lack of physical fitness, lack of purpose in a world that doesn’t understand the military.

Founded in 2010, Team RWB’s mission is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. Utilizing a nationwide network of chapters, Team RWB hosts and participates in events designed to bring veterans together and engage in the communities where they live and work. 

Team RWB is the bridge connecting communities – where Veterans and civilians work together and gain common understanding. Team RWB takes the best of military service – the camaraderie, the physical challenges – and creates a new family of Eagles connected through physical activity. 

“Today, Team RWB is approaching a million engagements with veterans, and we could not have touched so many lives without the help of charitable partners like SpartanNash Foundation,” said John Pinter, Team RWB’s Executive Director. “We are humbled that SpartanNash has chosen Team RWB as a partner for the scan campaign and excited by the opportunity to support more veterans in their post-service journeys.”

Team RWB offers resources to ensure veterans have an effective transition back into their communities and ways to engage locally.

For more information, visit TeamRWB.org.

Operation Homefront’s mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive. (Operation Homefront)

Operation Homefront

Operation Homefront’s mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive — not simply struggle to get by — in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.

For 17 years, Operation Homefront has provided critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year.

“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with SpartanNash and the SpartanNash Foundation for a second year, as we work together to give America’s military families the opportunity to thrive in the communities they have worked so hard to protect,” said Brig. Gen. (ret.) John I. Pray, Jr., President and CEO, Operation Homefront. “Through their companywide retail scan campaign, the extended SpartanNash family brings our vital mission to life and allows us to make a meaningful difference in the lives of this very special and deserving group of our fellow citizens.”

In 2018, SpartanNash Foundation funds supported Operation Homefront’s Critical Financial Assistance (CFA) program. CFA support includes, but is not limited to, direct assistance with rent and mortgage payments, utility bills, car repairs, home repairs and groceries. Thanks to the generous support of partners such as the SpartanNash Foundation, Operation Homefront has fulfilled more than 41,000 requests for assistance, providing over $25 million in grants since the CFA program began in 2011.

For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.

The mission of Honor and Remember is to publicly and perpetually recognize the ultimate sacrifice of America’s military fallen heroes and their families. (Honor and Remember, Inc.)

Honor and Remember, Inc.

The mission of Honor and Remember is to publicly and perpetually recognize the ultimate sacrifice of America’s military fallen heroes and their families. The organization pays tribute to all military lives lost, not only while serving on active duty but also as a result of serving. 

The primary vehicle for perpetual recognition is a specific and dedicated symbol of remembrance created by this organization: The Honor and Remember Flag, which is intended to fly continuously as a tangible and visible reminder to all Americans of the lives lost in defense of our national freedoms.

The flag was established as a public symbol of appreciation honoring all military lives lost while serving since our nation’s inception. Personalized flags are regularly presented to individual families of fallen service members. Each personalized flag contains the name, theater of operation and date of death of the individual. The flags are presented at both private and public occasions.

SpartanNash is a national partner and strong supporter of Honor and Remember, underwriting personal flag presentations to families of the fallen and flying the Honor and Remember flag at all company facilities. The flag artwork is also displayed on SpartanNash’s fleet of tractor trailers, which travel more than 65 million miles per year.

“We are so very humbled to once again be partnering with the SpartanNash Foundation and its customers to give back to the families of the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation,” said George Lutz, who founded Honor and Remember after losing his son in Iraq in 2005. “The generosity of SpartanNash customers allows us to continue to individually recognize Gold Star families and equally important to see the Honor and Remember flag flying below the American flag as our national expression of appreciation, so the public never forgets our fallen heroes.”

Through its partnership with the SpartanNash Foundation, Honor and Remember honored more than 250 families who have lost a loved one through military service with personalized Honor and Remember flags in 2018. SpartanNash was also a presenting sponsor of Honor and Remember’s Run for the Fallen – a five-month, 6,000-mile journey to pay tribute to fallen servicemembers.

For more information, go to HonorandRemember.org.

One hundred percent of donations raised during the 2019 patriotic fundraising scan campaign will go directly to Team RWB, Operation Homefront and Honor and Remember as they support military heroes, veterans and their families by connecting them to their local communities through physical and social activity, providing critical financial assistance and family support services and honoring those who lost their lives defending our freedoms. SpartanNash underwrites the cost of the awareness-building and fundraising campaign as well as contributes funding and encourages associates to volunteer with the Foundation’s grant recipients.

“As a leading distributor of grocery products to U.S. military commissaries throughout the world, SpartanNash sees firsthand the sacrifices our servicemen and women make to protect our freedoms every day,” Gremel said. “SpartanNash and the SpartanNash Foundation are deeply committed to supporting our military heroes in the communities we serve, and through our new partnership with Team RWB and our ongoing support of Operation Homefront and Honor and Remember, we can work with our store guests to raise awareness and funds for those who served and sacrificed.”

The retail scan campaign supporting Operation Homefront and Honor and Remember is the third of four fundraising campaigns the SpartanNash Foundation will conduct in 2018. To date, the SpartanNash Foundation has raised $434,700 on behalf of local Habitat for Humanity and Special Olympics partners in eight states.

To learn more about the SpartanNash Foundation and its impact, visit spartannash.com/foundation.

What are the best toys for children?

3-bottom, Community Health, Education, How-To's, Kids Activities, , , ,
Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Carrie Shrier, Michigan State University Extension


Store shelves are full of brightly colored and electronic toys, heavily marketed on television and sure to catch young children’s attention. But what toys stand the test of time? What are the things children will go back to again and again? What toys help children learn and grow?


Michigan State University Extension recommends the following five basic categories of toys and materials for your young children.

Blocks and building toys

Block play has been found to stimulate brain development in all developmental areas. In fact, in the study “Block Play Performance Among Preschoolers As a Predictor of Later School Achievement in Mathematics” published in the Journal of Research in Early Childhood Education, researchers proved that children who play with blocks regularly when they are 3, 4 and 5 years of age will do better in math, especially algebra in middle school.


There are many fun block and construction set options to consider, including basic large wooden unit blocks, flat plank style blocks, small wooden blocks, blocks that snap together, large cardboard blocks and construction sets. Many children enjoy being able to add items such as small dolls, animals, cars and other props to their block play.

Puzzles and problem-solving toys

Puzzles, similar to blocks, support children’s development in a variety of ways. As children solve puzzles, they are utilizing problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, fine-motor skills, shape recognition, memory, spatial-awareness skills and more.


Toddlers ages 2 to 3 will do best with puzzles with four to 12 pieces. Preschoolers ages 3, 4 and 5 will enjoy more complex puzzles with 12 to 20 or more pieces. Other toys in this category include toys with latches, locks, hooks, buttons, snaps, etc. for children to manipulate, blocks that snap together, collections of objects such as shells, keys, etc. and counting bears.

Pretend play items

A dramatic play or pretend play area is a staple in all early childhood classrooms. Children love to be police officers, doctors, construction workers or teachers, but they are also learning a lot while doing so. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC ), the major accrediting body of early childhood programs, stated in a recent position paper, “high-level dramatic play produces documented cognitive, social and emotional benefits.”


It is through pretend play that children first begin to explore their own likes, interests and the world around them. Pretend play gives children an opportunity to work through new, different, confusing or scary life experiences. Children are building their social and emotional skills, supporting complex problem solving skills, learning to read social cues, share, take turns and so much more when they engage in dramatic play.


Toys that support this play include child size furniture, dress-up clothes, dolls, doll clothes, pretend play food, cash registers, transportation toys and any creative items that allow children to pretend. Prop boxes with items to support a theme of play, such as the items needed for a veterinary clinic, can be a fun way to support children’s interest.

Things to create with

In the MSU Extension article The art of creating: Why art is important for early childhood development, the author shares that the following are skills children support when engaging in art experiences:

  • Fine motor skills. Grasping pencils, crayons, chalk and paintbrushes helps children develop their fine motor muscles. This development will help your child with writing, buttoning a coat and other tasks that require controlled movements.
  • Cognitive development. Art can help children learn and practice skills like patterning and cause and effect (i.e., “If I push very hard with a crayon the color is darker.”). They can also practice critical thinking skills by making a mental plan or picture of what they intend to create and following through on their plan.
  • Math skills.Children can learn, create and begin to understand concepts like size, shape, making comparisons, counting and spatial reasoning.
  • Language skills. As children describe and share their artwork, as well as their process, they develop language skills. You can encourage this development by actively listening and asking open-ended questions in return. It is also a great opportunity to learn new vocabulary words regarding their project (i.e., texture).

Materials to support open-ended creativity include a variety of writing/drawing tools such as crayons, colored pencils, markers, chalk, paint, watercolor paint, finger paint, paper of varying weights and sizes, safety scissors, modeling clay, playdough, playdough tools, glue and a variety of scrap materials for collages. Musical instruments such as tambourines, maracas, rhythm sticks and xylophones to allow creation of music are other creative arts options as well.

Large motor play items

While many people are aware of the importance of physical activity in supporting children’s health and development, preventing weight gain, etc., it is less commonly recognized that physical activity supports academics as well. Regular participation in large motor activities in early childhood has been found to improve attention and memory, increase academic performance, and improve actual brain function by helping nerve cells multiply, creating more connections for learning. It is important for children to have the opportunity to engage in large motor play.


Materials to consider purchasing to support large motor play include ride on toys such as tricycles, bicycles and balance bikes, large and small balls to throw, kick and catch, climbers with soft material underneath, plastic bats and balls, targets and things to throw at them, wagons and wheel barrows, tunnels to climb through and pounding or hammering toys.


Be sure to take into account children’s age and developmental ability when selecting toys, and continue to inspect toys for safety. A previously safe toy can become unsafe due to normal wear and tear. Items are occasionally recalled as well. You can sign up to receive recall alerts with Safe Kids USA and check previous recalls.


Also, remember that all children grow and mature at their own individual rate and may be interested in toys for a longer period of time or become interested in other items sooner than other children. For more ideas on developmentally appropriate toys, including lists by age, visit the NAEYC Good Toys for Young Children by Age and Stage guide.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

A leader in Kentwood church, in community, Rev. Bergsma moves on to what’s next

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Local Faces, Sports, Volunteers,

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

WKTV Community Media has a proud history with the recently retired Rev. Mark J. Bergsma — he’s been a volunteer high school sports announcer for years. But his being one of “the voices” in local sports scene falls pretty far down on his impressive resume of career accomplishments.

Rev. Bergsma served as pastor at Kentwood’s Unity Reformed Church for more than 40 years before he retired in May — and even by church leader standards, 40 years at at the same church is special. But he makes clear that the Unity Reformed community was just as special and that he was been rewarded in so many ways for his longevity.

Rev. Bergsma — Mark, as everybody knows him at WKTV — sat down outside the station recently to talk about his years at Unity and other parts of his past, present and future.

Rev. Mark and Judy Bergsma, at Unity Reformed Church. (Supplied/Unity Reformed Church)

“I really believe that God led me to that church when I was in my mid-20s, graduating from seminary,” Rev. Bergsma said. “I had already spent 14 months there as an intern. I went back to school not intending to return. But the church called me back, asked me to come as their full-time pastor. In the process, they showed great patience with me, as a young man. And it was a tremendously supportive family atmosphere there, and that never changed over the years.”

However impressive was his work at Unity, much of his work and his story takes place outside the walls of his beloved church.

Mark’s years as a pastor also had him serving as overnight Chaplin at local hospitals and with the Kentwood police and fire departments, as well as worship leader at Holland Home Raybrook senior community — experiences which, he says, came with trials and rewards, but he knew it was his calling to also be out of the church and into the community.

Yet another aspect of Mark’s career is his work on the tennis courts at Kelloggsville High School. Yes, he became involved to coach his daughters, but he went on to proudly coach successful teams and mentor great young ladies. And his future plans include supporting the school district’s young tennis talent.

Mark Bergsma, right, with fellow WKTV high school sports volunteer Ron Schultz. (WKTV)

And his work at WKTV? Before and now after his retirement, WKTV’s high school sports coverage team is better thanks to Mark’s work. But how he got started at WKTV? That’s a funny story (see the video).

Finally, what’s next for Mark, at a pulpit, on a tennis court and with his family? Mark will certainly not be slowing down … OK, maybe there’s a little more fishing in his plans.

Cat of the week: Dean

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , ,
This shy guy is best adopted with his buddy, Roller

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing


Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).


On March 2nd and again on March 17th, we had what we believe to be an entire family of terrified cats dumped off in carriers. ‘The Shy Seven’ were the first to arrive, and then three more joined us, rounding things out to ‘The Timid Ten’. Needless to say, it was a huge ordeal for all involved, from the stunned volunteers who kept pulling cat after cat out of cramped carriers, to the traumatized kitties who had no idea what was going on, and finally to Dr. Jen who spent the greater part of two weekends at the clinic getting them program-ready.


The latter was no small feat, as every single cat (yup, all ten of them) were intact, four of the five girls were pregnant, and all ten were clearly out of their element and having major trust issues. Adding various medical issues to the mix—like fleas and a variety of internal parasites, dental disease and chronic herpes virus—we ended up having a heaping handful of kitties who needed a great deal of help, not only physically, but probably more importantly, mentally.


It was clear from the onset that the family had been neglected and lacking human contact for quite some time, given their poor body condition, long nails and a shyness that went beyond anything we have seen before—and we have seen a lot. We have no idea where they came from or why someone thought it was a good idea to displace them as they did without regard for our space or financial capabilities, but our proposed scenario is this: a kindhearted, elderly person owned them and, for whatever reason, let them breed and multiply, running rampant in the house and growing wilder and warier as the days wore on. We suspect this person then passed (or moved away), and the cats were left to fend for themselves until a family member (or landlord) came in and booted the entire lot of them out—and onto our doorstep.


Regardless, we’d like to think they were loved by someone at some point, as this helps us believe in the goodness of people, enough so to offset the stupidity and callousness of others.


Let’s just say that for the most part, the journey we have all been on together is ever evolving—and it is going to be a long road full of bumps, setbacks and, yes, triumphs along the way. It is now over two months since their arrival, and we are just now able to share their stories, as it has taken a great deal of time (and patience) to get to this point.


We have had one shining star, jovial Jenn, who has been trying to pave the way for her siblings/uncles/cousins/aunts to follow, so really, we should have renamed the group as ‘The Timid Ten, Not Including Jenn’. She was the only girl who wasn’t or hadn’t been pregnant, as her reproductive tract was underdeveloped; just 15 months (born in later 2017, we think, along with Dean, Desna, Roller and Quiet Ann), she turned out to be quite the trailblazer, assuming the role of matriarch of her furry family.

Roller and Dean are best buddies

Dean and Roller are really good buddies, as they snuggle together all of the time. While Roller will let people pet him if they approach him slowly, Dean has made very little progress since he’s been with us. He is very comfortable here, though and is exploring more every day, although he typically runs right back into a hiding space as soon as someone enters the room. We think both of these boys will do very well in a home together once they had had ample time to bond with their owners.


At our free-roaming facility, cats like these have all of the time in the world to acclimate and adjust at their own rate—a snail’s pace if that is what is necessary. We have no cages, no time limits, no rules or regulations—each individual cat gets to stretch his legs at their own pace; each kitty gets to spread her furry little wings and fly when she is ready to leave the fold.


We offer a peaceful, secure environment to each and every cat in our care as long as they need it—and us. Slow and steady wins the race, and we firmly believe that with love, all things are possible; we surely can see endless possibilities and bright futures full of promise for this family of ours.

More about Dean:

  • Domestic Medium Hair
  • Tabby (tiger-striped)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • Medium
  • House-trained
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Good in a home with other cats, no children

Want to adopt Dean? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.


Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.


Let’s get grilling

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Food, Health, How-To's, , ,
A surefire route to healthy grilling: Toss some fresh fruits and vegetables on the grill and drizzle on some olive oil. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Irene Franowicz, RD, CDE, Spectrum Health Beat


Tired of the same old barbecue? Looking for healthier options that transcend those humdrum hot dogs and banal burgers?


It doesn’t matter if you’re a vegetarian or a meat-lover, or even something in between—there are plenty of ways to add variety and flavor to your summer grilling plans.


And the best part is, you can keep it healthy along the way.

Healthier hot dog

At a ball game or barbecue, hot dogs just seem to call your name. And they appear so innocent because they’re so small and simple.


But don’t be fooled. Done wrong, a single hot dog can pack on the calories.


If you get a dog with all the fixings—cheese, chili, ketchup, mustard, mayo and baked beans—and you add coleslaw, macaroni salad or potato salad as a side, you’re looking at anywhere from 750 to 2,000 calories. Not to mention all the fat.


But you don’t need to avoid hot dogs altogether. You just need to choose wisely.


Look for a hot dog that has less fat than its original version.


For example: A Hebrew National standard beef frank has about 150 calories and 13 grams of fat, but the “97 percent fat-free” version has 45 calories and 1 gram of fat. The better-for-you version has 105 fewer calories and 12 grams less fat.

It’s simple math.


You can also get turkey, chicken or veggie franks as a healthier option to make at home. It’s also recommended you choose a whole wheat bun for added fiber.


If you trade in your pork brat for a turkey brat, you’ll cut your calories in half and drastically lower your fat intake. A pork sausage has anywhere from 290 to 455 calories and 23 to 38 grams of fat per link. A turkey or chicken sausage, on the other hand, has about 140 to 180 calories and 7 to 12 grams of fat.


If you’re vegetarian, opt for veggie sausages made of soy, bean or tofu protein. Just about every grocery store offers delicious gourmet chicken sausages that are additive-free and they have great flavors such as sun-dried tomato, gouda and apple, and spinach feta. (For the sake of comparison, the typical chicken sausage has about 180 calories and 12 grams of fat.)


As a side, meanwhile, fill up on grilled veggies and veggie-and-bean salsas (sometimes called “cowboy caviar”). Or choose fruit salad instead of pasta and macaroni salad.


It’s truly all about making healthy substitutions that suit your taste.

Meat mythology

Somewhere along the way, you’ve probably heard that ground turkey is a healthier option than ground beef, particularly if you’re looking for fewer calories and less saturated fat.


But that’s not always the case.


Turkey breast is lean, but dark turkey meat is not. And some ground turkey contains both.


A quarter-pound of regular ground turkey contains 3 grams of saturated fat, but the same amount of extra-lean ground turkey has just 0.5 grams of fat. The right cut of turkey offers a sizable difference.


A few tips for ground beef:

  • With ground sirloin, always opt for the 90/10 ratio over the 80/20 or 85/15. Just 4 ounces of 90/10 contains 190 calories and 11 grams of fat.
  • Beware of 80/20 ground chuck. About 4 ounces has 280 calories and 20 grams of fat.

For juicy, grilled burgers that are good for you, don’t just look to beef to satisfy you.


Try veggie burgers with guacamole topping for good fats, or try grilled salmon patties. These are easy to find in your local grocery store. You can also try ground lamb with spinach and feta if you’re looking for a Greek twist.

Marinate your protein

Kansas State University researchers found that using herbs and spices in marinades can reduce carcinogenic compounds in grilled meats by up to 88 percent.


Other research has found that oils, vinegar and even beer can cut down on carcinogens in meat. The marinade could create a protective barrier between the meat proteins and the heat of the grill, or the antioxidants in the marinade may combat the carcinogens.


If you want to reduce charring, use a George Foreman Grill. It works beautifully for salmon, flank steak, burgers (veggie and meat) and pork tenderloin. Smaller, 1-pound tenderloins are great, and flank steak is an excellent lean meat for grilling.

Go beyond the bun

You don’t have to rely on mainstays like burgers and hot dogs for your outdoor cooking. A few quick examples of some creative alternatives:

  • Pizza. Grill a pizza and make it caprese by topping it with fresh-sliced mozzarella, tomato slices, basil and a drizzle of garlic olive oil and fig balsamic.
  • Fajitas. Grill your chicken strips, onions and peppers and top it with fresh salsa and guacamole in a corn tortilla.
  • Portobello. You can make a vegetarian burger by grilling portobellos, red peppers, goat cheese and basil pesto.
  • Tacos. Grill up fish tacos and add your favorite slaw, or try a Korean taco made with flank steak and guacamole. There are so many great recipes for this on the internet.
  • Veggies. Toss them with olive oil, and use sturdy ones that won’t fall through the grill. Asparagus, sweet potatoes, onions, multicolored peppers, zucchini and eggplant are all great options. They can take just five to 10 minutes depending on the heat. Toss with pesto or garlic for added flavor.

Grill your dessert

With all these healthy grill options, you’ll of course need to leave a little room for a fun dessert.


Grill a slice of pound cake and serve it with grilled pineapple with chipotle olive oil and Persian lime olive oil, or grilled peaches with a little olive oil and a cinnamon pear balsamic and your favorite gelato.


These tips are bound to brighten up your grilling this summer. They’ll also keep you healthy while you still get to enjoy great-tasting food.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.


Kentwood ribbon cutting to open new volleyball, football bowling courts

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Going Local, Recreation, Sports,
Football bowling will be available in Kentwood after a grand opening this week.

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

The City of Kentwood will unveil four competition-grade beach volleyball courts and outdoor football bowling lanes with a special ribbon cutting and community event Friday, June 21, at 6 p.m., with with music, a food truck and Mayor Stephen Kepley marking the official opening.

The courts are located at 5068 Breton Ave. SE, near the Kentwood Department of Public Works.

“We have experienced a growing need for additional beach volleyball courts within the community and are excited to grow our recreational offerings,” Val Romeo, director of Kentwood Parks and Recreation, previously said in supplied material. “We are proud to offer new high-quality sand courts right here in Kentwood. We are also excited to include football bowling — an activity that’s growing in popularity.”

Football blowing is a hybrid game that combines the equipment of American football and bowling into one sport with a similar layout as horseshoes and cornhole. The object is for teams to be the first to knock down all opponent’s pins by throwing a full-size, regulation football at 10 bowling pins positioned in a traditional bowling layout.

Following the new facility’s ribbon-cutting, volleyball teams of four will compete in a co-ed volleyball tournament. A variety of competitive and recreational beach volleyball leagues is set to begin July 15, and residents can sign up at kentwoodvolleyball or by calling 616-656-5270.

The city’s parks department plans to have the football bowling lanes available for open play during volleyball league games on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.

For more information on the City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department and its many programs, visit kentwood.us .

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kentwood Public Schools, Kids Activities, Local Faces, Our Cities, Recreation, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

Living is easy with eyes closed.

The Beatles

On the road again…

First comes the meet-and-greet with council members and city officials. And then, the grand affair — the meeting proper — at 7pm. This past Monday marked the Wyoming City Council’s first summer outdoor meeting. Read all about it here.


The council meets every first and third Monday of the month at 7pm. The July “on the road” meeting will be July 15 at St. John Vianney Church, 4101 Clyde Park Ave. SW, and the August meeting is Aug. 19 at Aurora Pond Senior Living & Retirement Community, 2380 Aurora Pond Dr. SW. Beats being cooped up indoors.


You’re only young once

Hello West Michigan, West Michigan’s regional talent attraction and retention organization, will host its 6thannual Intern Connect conference on Wednesday, June 19, in Grand Rapids. The organization hopes to impart “essential skills” such as interpreting dress codes, navigating networking events, creating positive workplace communication and how to #adult to the more than 350 summer interns participating in the conference. More info here.

‘I could be a contender’

Recently, students and teachers gathered in the Kelloggsville High School auditorium for a time-honored tradition: signing day. The tables on the stage had logoed caps and contracts just waiting for signatures from high school seniors, ready to commit to a team for the coming year. Go here for the story.

Fun fact:

142.18

The number of licks it takes to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop.
You’re welcome.


Allegiant adds nonstop service to Jacksonville and New Orleans

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An Allegiant Airlines plan at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (Supplied/Ford International Airport)

By Tara M. Hernandez
Gerald R. Ford International Airport


Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) today announced it has has added service from Grand Rapids to two new cities: Jacksonville, Florida and New Orleans. 

“We’re excited to add two more exciting destinations to our service in Grand Rapids with these two new cities—Jacksonville and New Orleans,” said Drew Wells, Allegiant vice president of planning and revenue. “We’re certain that area travelers will love having a convenient, affordable option to get away to enjoy sunny Jacksonville or the vibrant culture of New Orleans.”

New seasonal service from Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) includes:

  1. New Orleans, Louisiana via Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) –beginning October 3, 2019 with fares as low as $59.*
  2. Jacksonville, Florida via Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) – beginning October 4, 2019 with fares as low as $59.*

These new routes will operate twice weekly. With the addition of these new routes, Allegiant will now serve 11 cities from Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR). Flight days, times and fares can be found at Allegiant.com.

“Allegiant is not just a vested partner in providing air service in Western Michigan, but the company has shown its dedication to our community by establishing a base here earlier this month,” said Gerald R. Ford International Airport Interim President & CEO Brian Picardat. “Allegiant has created more than 60 jobs, they have now added their 10th and 11th routes out of the Ford Airport, and they continue to provide an affordable, fun travel experience to new and popular destinations.”

Allegiant offers a unique option to Grand Rapids-area travelers with low base fares and savings on rental cars and hotels. Travelers can book their entire vacation with Allegiant.

*About the introductory one-way fares:

Seats and dates are limited and fares are not available on all flights. Flights must be purchased by June 19, 2019 for travel by February 11, 2020. Price displayed includes taxes, carrier charges & government fees. Fare rules, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice. Optional baggage charges and additional restrictions may apply. For more details, optional services and baggage fees, please visit Allegiant.com.

A flop for feet

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, How-To's, ,
Flip-flops and sandals may look lovely, but are they the best choice for foot health? Not really, according to research. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Health Beat staff


Every spring, they emerge in droves from their winter hibernation. Their unmistakable sound heralds the arrival: flip, flop, flip, flop, flip, flop.


From the beach to the mall and environs in between, flip-flops are the go-to warm-weather footwear for many a person.


And while these same folks will tell you they wear flip-flops for comfort, research suggests this type of footwear is often a big source of discomfort.


And not just that—it can also cause serious problems.


Studies have shown that flip-flops can alter your gait pattern—essentially the way you walk. This alteration affects not only the biomechanics of the foot and ankle, but the knee, hip and back.


In a normal gait cycle, the action begins with the foot making contact with the ground on the outside edge of the heel.


As the forefoot comes to the ground in the stance phase of the gait cycle, the foot begins to pronate, or flatten, to provide shock absorption. The foot adjusts to the surface on which you’re walking.


The foot then becomes more rigid, serving as a lever for the muscles of the lower leg as they contract. As the foot leaves the ground, it enters the swing phase of the cycle.


If the moment of pronation here is too pronounced or too drawn out, it can affect the entire lower extremity.


Excessive foot pronation increases the stress at the knee and hip joints, which can create problems in the foot, ankle, knee, hip and lower back.


A big problem with most flip-flops is the lack of support they provide at the arch on the innermost part of the sole. This allows excessive pronation, which may contribute to dysfunction and pain in the lower extremity.

Under pressure

Flip-flops also affect more than just the kinetic chain of events.


Research has shown that people will experience more pressure on the bottom of their feet when they wear flip-flops, as compared to those who are barefoot or wearing shoes.


Flip-flops can be insufficient for dissipating ground reaction forces. A greater amount of force travels through the lower extremity of someone wearing flip-flops, placing more stress on the ankle, knee, hip and back.


Flip-flops can also cause a shorter stride length and an inefficient gait, leading to increased stress on the lower extremities.


Much of this arises from the flip-flop wearer’s need to hold the flip-flop on with the toes.


Scrunching the toes to maintain the position of the flip-flop activates muscles toward the back of the leg and the sole of the foot, which moves the toes and foot downward.


When walking, we’re supposed to move the toes and foot upward as the foot clears the ground.


Flip-flops hamper this motion, as well as compromising the normal function of the plantar fascia (a ligament on the bottom of the foot). The normal tightening of the plantar fascia allows for improved function of the foot as a propulsive lever.


The reduced function with flip-flops contributes to more force through the lower extremity and decreased stride lengths during the gait cycle.


But here’s the all-important question: What might all of this lead to?


Well, a variety of discomforts, imbalances and overuse injuries, some of which include plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, arch pain, bunions, shin splints, tendonitis in the tendon connecting your kneecap to your shinbone, knee and hip dysfunction or pain, bursitis of the knee and hip, low back pain and more.


It’s not hard to see how flip-flops can cause some serious problems.


The good news? Summer style and optimal foot comfort are still within reach.


“When looking for a sandal, look for one with a contoured foot bed with arch support, as opposed to flat-soled flip-flops,” said John Harris, DPM, FACFAS, a Spectrum Health Medical Group orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon. “In addition, pick a sandal that does not require you to scrunch your toes to hold them on. Perhaps a sandal with a heel strap.”


If you must wear flip-flops, you should limit use to short distances and a short amount of time.


“Parents, be leery of allowing your kids to use flip-flops as their go-to summer shoe gear,” Dr. Harris said, explaining that many of the summer injuries he sees are attributable to flip-flops.


Also, be sure to replace your footwear frequently—it can help ensure a pain-free summer for your feet, knees, hips, legs and back.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.


School News Network: Innovation brought to life

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Third-grader Meochia Aponi Thompson enjoys talking about Carol H. Williams, an advertising standout, and also her great aunt. (School News Network)

By Cris Greer
School News Network


While wearing a brown, shaggy beard, third-grader Mia Fisher did her best impression of a Greek scientist also known as a mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor and astronomer.

“I am Archimedes,” said Mia, during the PEAKS program share night for parents and others at Discovery Elementary.

Fifth-grader Alpha Kabda demonstrates the flashlight as part of his project ‘Light and Power’

Mia and her classmates’ wax museum projects  brought innovators to life. “He was a Greek scientist who invented the Archimedes principle and also discovered hydrogen and a way to measure objects before we had scales. I picked him because my passion is Greek mythology and I like to read about it.”

Mia said her favorite subject is self-selected reading.

“I do like to read a lot,” admitted Mia, who just started PEAKS this year. The comprehensive third-through-eighth-grade gifted and talented program, stands for Parents, Educators and Kids = Success.

The share night involved third, fourth and fifth graders showing off their long-term projects; which along with the wax museum of famous folks, covered the innovative history of everything from drones and phones to light bulbs, robotic and 3-D printing.

“All the students are focused on innovation,” said Amanda Barbour, gifted and talented coordinator and fifth grade PEAKS teacher at Discovery. “We are committed to providing students with real-world learning opportunities through project-based learning and field experiences. Our goal is to create student-centered experiences in the most current fields of learning and also prepare them for the vital professions of the future.”

Ottawa County Deputy Larissa Jones listens to her nephew, fifth-grader Owen VanderVeen, explain how a body camera works at his display about police gear

Innovating Thinking

Fourth-graders chose topics showing innovation.

“Their project required them to write business letters to experts in their field to help support their research and obtain artifacts to display,” said Barbour, whose students had a tri-fold board and artifacts on display.

Fourth-grader Shane Nshime, whose project was titled “3-D Printing, Innovation in Print,” said he wanted people to know all the different things about printing.

“I picked this topic because it’s very new, only 40 years old, very interesting and has a vivid past,” said Shane, who learned about Hailey Dawson, 9 , who has a 3-D printed hand and was the first person to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums.

Shane said he likes researching interesting topics.

“I think it helps me learn faster and learn more. It prepares me for the future.”

Fourth grade PEAKS teacher Joe Westra said his students emphasize innovation.

“My fourth grade kids spend a lot of time learning about what drives innovation,” said Westra, who is in his 14th year teaching. “Quite often an innovation comes from a need or a want or a problem.”

Third-grader McKenna Joseph describes the life of Thomas Edison. Her favorite part of the project was figuring out the costume

Prototype Pros

Barbour said fifth graders studied innovation as well, but then had to become innovative by creating a prototype.

“These students had to write business letters, obtain a mentor in their field of study, interview their mentor, use the engineering design process to create a prototype and create a website,” Barbour continued.

Fifth grader Alpha Kabba said he chose the topic of lighting and power outages because it has ample information and sources. His mentor was Scott Jones, director of product management at Pelican Products, a California-based company that designs and manufactures portable lighting systems, temperature-controlled packaging and protective cases.

“Talking to him was fun,” Alpha said. “We had to send letters to 15 companies, and I did a handwritten letter so he’d know I put the work into it.

Third-grader Mia Fisher explains the journey of Archimedes

“I think this program has a lot of opportunities. When I get older and want to get a job and tell people I did something like this. I think it would increase my chances of getting a good job.”

Alpha’s prototype is a double-sided flashlight with a solar panel. If one side stops working, the solar panel distributes the energy to power the other side.

Discovery principal Deb McNally said the goal in PEAKS is for the children to learn through community experience, by studying big picture themes and using a curriculum that allows deep and accelerated faster study.

“It’s not just doing a report, but it’s connecting the world and pieces and people and ideas,” McNally explained. “These are all kids that got the information quickly.”

For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.

Third-grader Alyana Borden talks about the Reliable Red Cross as Clara Barton. (School News Network.)

Advantages of a bilingual brain

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Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Tracy Trautner, Michigan State University Extension


Why would we want young children to learn a second language while they are focused on learning their primary one? It seems like this would be learning overload at a time when they are also learning how to be friends, count, play on the playground and so much more. However, this is a time in our lives when acquiring a second language comes very naturally.


Between the ages of 0-3, the brains of young children are uniquely suited to learn a second language as the brain is in its most flexible stage. In fact, bilingually exposed infants excelled in detecting a switch in language as early as 6 months old. They can learn a second language as easy as they learned to walk and learn their primary language. According to the University of Washington News, the U.S. census shows that 27 percent of children under the age of 6 are now learning a language other than English. Learning a second language does not negatively impact the child’s native language.


As adults, we have to consider grammar rules and practice, but young children absorb sounds, structures, intonation patterns and the rules of a second language very easily. Up until the age of 8, young learners benefit from flexible ear and speech muscles that can detect differences between the sounds of a second language.


If youth can learn multiple languages, why not teach them? Exposure to two languages over one language has many benefits, according to What’s Going on Inside the Brain of a Bilingual Child? from KQED news. Bilingual children may have a superior ability to focus on one thing and change their response, easily indicating “cognitive flexibility.” Both traits require self-control, a very desirable trait in the early childhood classroom as well as life. When a bilingual toddler attempts to communicate, the languages in the brain “compete” to be activated and chosen. The child must select one and suppress the other, which requires attention and the ability for the brain to be flexible, which is possible at this early age. The interference forces the brain to resolve internal conflict, giving the mind a workout that strengthens its cognitive muscles.


Bilingual children are also more adept at solving certain kinds of mental puzzles. A 2004 study by psychologists Ellen Bialystok and Michelle Martin-Rhee found that bilingual youth were more successful at dividing objects by shape and color versus their monolingual peers who struggled when the second characteristic (sorting by shape) was added. This suggests the bilingual experience improves the brain’s command center, thus giving it the ability to plan, solve problems and perform other mentally demanding tasks. These tasks include switching attention from one thing to another and holding information in mind, like remembering a sequence of directions when getting ready for school in the morning or, for adults, driving a car.


While it may be easier for young children to pick up a second language, there are benefits for adults as well. Researchers found that young adults who knew two languages performed better on attention tests and had better concentration compared to those who only spoke one language. They also respond faster or more accurately than their monolingual peers, according to Kapa and Colombo, 2013. This is largely because of the workout our brain receives while switching back and forth between one language and another when deciding how to communicate. It allows us to focus better during a lecture and remember relevant information.


Learning a second language can protect against Alzheimer’s as well. Recent brain studies have shown that bilingual people’s brains function better and for longer after developing the disease. On average, the disease is delayed by four years compared to monolinguals.


Do not fear that learning two languages will confuse or distract your child. Remember, their brains are flexible, and the skills develop beyond learning a second language is immeasurable. Bilingual children learn that an object stays the same even though the object has a different name in a different language (object permanence). For example, a foot remains a foot in English as well as French. Studies have also repeatedly shown that foreign language learning increases critical thinking skills, creativity and flexibility of mind.


Michigan State University Extension suggests the following articles for additional information about the advantages to learning a second language as well as helpful tips to support your child:

For more articles on child development, academic success, parenting and life skill development, visit the Michigan State University Extension website.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Sixth annual Intern Connect conference hopes to keep young talent in West Michigan

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism
The 6th annual Intern Connect conference is Wednesday, June 19.

By Hello West Michigan

Hello West Michigan, West Michigan’s regional talent attraction and retention organization, will host its 6thannual Intern Connect conference on Wednesday, June 19, in Grand Rapids. The organization hopes to impart “essential skills” such as interpreting dress codes, navigating networking events, creating positive workplace communication and how to #adult to the more than 350 summer interns participating in the conference. Equally as important though, Hello West Michigan hopes to connect the interns with the community, their peers and local employers with the goal to attract and retain young talent in West Michigan.

About 350 summer interns participate in the conference.

“Many employers view summer internships as an 8-week long interview, but the interns are also interviewing us — ‘us’ being both the company and West Michigan,” said Rachel Bartels, Executive Director of Hello West Michigan. “By connecting interns with regional happenings, they can experience the community for themselves and get excited about living here. If there’s a job offer on the table at the end of the summer, we want them to say yes.”

Several leading West Michigan employers will participate in the conference.

Several leading West Michigan employers will participate in the conference, which takes place from 12:30 – 5:00 pm at 20 Monroe Live. 

“Intern Connect is a great opportunity for interns in the region to learn more about living and working in West Michigan, whether they grew up here or are here for the first time” said Kasey Delinsky, College Recruiter and Internship Program Manager at Amway. “Summer is a fantastic time to experience life in the region, and this event from Hello West Michigan has been instrumental in convincing our talented graduates to stay and build their lives in West Michigan.”

In addition to the event on June 19, Hello West Michigan also publishes The Intern Inform, a weekly digital newsletter with information on free or low-cost events happening in West Michigan. Anyone can subscribe to the free newsletter at www.hellowestmichigan.com/internconnect.

“Intern Connect allows interns to meet other early-in-career peers and is especially great for interns at smaller organizations, where they may be the only young person in the office,” said Bartels. “Many of our larger companies plan extensive programming for their summer interns, both social and professional. By hosting Intern Connect, we combine the efforts of many employers and offer that programming resource for smaller companies to tap into.”

Tickets for Intern Connect cost $30 until Friday, June 14 and $40 after that. Interns can register individually at www.hellowestmichigan.com/internconnector companies can pay for their registration fee by contacting Hello West Michigan directly. Employers looking for entry-level talent or their next round of interns are invited to host a company table at the event. The cost is $250 for employers. More information is available by contacting Hello West Michigan at hellowestmichigan.comor by calling 616 771-0354.

Homeless Veterans Stand Down at Metro Health campus offers support, supplies

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, Local Business, Non-Profits, Veterans, WKTV Projects
  • Some of the veterans at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
  • One of the veterans at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
  • Some of the veterans at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
  • Some of the veterans at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
  • One of the assistance tables at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
  • One of the assistance tables at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
  • One of the assistance tables at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
  • One of the assistance tables at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
  • One of the assistance tables at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
  • One of the assistance tables at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
  • VFW Post 702 distributed clothing at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
  • Community Rebuilders was distributing a truckload of military surplus equipment at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
  • Community Rebuilders was distributing a truckload of military surplus equipment Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
  • It was not all serious at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

Scenes from the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

It was no coincidence that the Community Rebuilders veterans assistance group was distributing a truckload of military surplus equipment suitable for urban camping, nor that the Wyoming-Grandville VFW Post 702 Auxiliary was distributing piles of clothing suitable for life on the street, at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down in Wyoming last week.

While not solely for homeless veterans, it was clear that many of about 200 veterans are currently or have been homeless as they lined up for services Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. The event brought together nearly 50 organizations in an event sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Metro Health/University of Michigan Health.

The services offered ranged from basic food and shelter needs, to physical and mental health, to job and education services — all programs and community partners welcomed by Metro Health.

“This is our third or fourth year hosting it and we have just been honored by so many people in the community who are supporting the event for these veterans who have put their lives on the line many, many times over again for our freedom, and we are so honored to give back in a small way,” Michelle Rademacher, Metro Health community outreach specialist, said to WKTV. Metro Health/UM Health’s involvement “is important because these are members of our community and we are a community-based hospital and we want everyone to feel welcome here.”

Among the groups in attendance were the federal and Michigan based Veterans Affairs representatives as well as the Social Security Administration, the State of Michigan Veterans Employment Services and the Grand Valley State University Upward Bound veterans education assistance program, Trilogy Health Services and the Mental Health Advocacy Council, and veterans community organizations including American Legion posts and Team Red, White and Blue.

“A lot of these veterans don’t even know there is a VFW and that they can join,” Ron Oakes, commander of VFW Post 702, said to WKTV. “We do things like this for exposure, to let veterans know we are out there … (and) … that we are here to help the veterans.”

Coincidentally, Oakes’ VFW post itself is currently without a permanent home.

“We used to have a building, but not now,” Oakes said. “But we are still here and we are still looking for one.”

The veterans seeking goods and services had to produce proof of veterans status via a DD214, or valid state or military identification.

Veterans who were not able to be at the stand down can seek assistance by, among many sources, visiting the Kent County Veterans Services office at accesskent.com .

Headed outdoors? Lather ’round the lashes

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, How-To's, Recreation, Senior Living, ,

Don’t think that low-SPF moisturizer is a safe substitute for higher-SPF sunscreen lotion, researchers caution. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay


Even though many moisturizers now contain sunscreens, people may not put them on their faces as carefully as they do sunscreen lotions, new research suggests.


“Moisturizer is not as well applied as sunscreen,” said lead author Kevin Hamill, a lecturer in eye and vision science at the University of Liverpool in England.


“Therefore, if planning prolonged sun exposure, we advise sunscreen be used,” he added. “If using moisturizer, we advise one with SPF (sun protection factor): any SPF is better than none but it should not be considered the equal of sunscreen.”


For this study, researchers exposed 84 volunteers to ultraviolet radiation and photographed them using a UV-sensitive camera on two separate visits. The photos were taken before and after participants applied SPF30 sunscreen to their face on one visit or moisturizer on the other visit.


Coverage was worse for the moisturizer (nearly 17% missed) than the sunscreen (11% missed), the findings showed. This difference was mostly due to less coverage of the eyelid regions—21% missed with moisturizer and 14% missed with sunscreen.


Most participants were unaware they had worse coverage with moisturizer than with sunscreen, according to the study published online April 3 in the journal PLoS One.


The study authors noted that particular attention should be paid to the eyelid area when applying any SPF cream.


In addition, other methods of protecting eyelids, such as UV filter sunglasses, should be considered, they suggested in a journal news release.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Weekend of Meijer State Games of Michigan opening ceremony at Fifth Third is June 21

3-bottom, Community Health, Kids Activities, Sports, Upcoming Events
The Meijer State Games of Michigan kicks off the 2019 summer games with an Opening Ceremony on Friday, June 21, at Fifth Third Ballpark. (Supplied file photo/Meijer State Games)

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

The Meijer State Games of Michigan kicks off the 2019 summer games with an Opening Ceremony on Friday, June 21, at Fifth Third Ballpark. The games, to be held at various West Michigan locations focused on the Grand Rapids area, will run June 20-22.

The Opening Ceremony will be held at Fifth Third Ballpark, 4500 W. River Dr. NE Comstock Park. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. The ceremony will run 7:30-9 p.m.

1968 Olympic Gold Medalist Dick Fosbury will be the guest speaker at the opening ceremony. Fosbury is known to be the first to jump over the high bar backwards, creating the “Fosbury Flop.” Fosbury will also be lighting the cauldron to officially kick off the summer games.

The Meijer State Games of Michigan is an Olympic-style, multi-sport event, according to supplied material, “that welcomes athletes regardless of age or ability level. The games embody the values of participation, sportsmanship, and healthy living among the residents of Michigan.” Since 2010, Meijer State Games of Michigan has hosted more than 65,000 athletes, and has also contributed more than $25 million in estimated economic impact to cities throughout Michigan.

While the opening ceremony is in the evening, there will be events and entertainment starting in the morning hours beginning at 10 a.m., and will include a race-walking tutorial by Olympian Gary Morgan, ballpark games and an opportunity to run the bases on Fifth Third Ballpark. The Visser Family YMCA children’s camp will be participating in this year’s Olympic day events.

(Supplied file photo/Meijer State Games)

Throughout the ceremony a series of three ballpark games will be played on the field. Hoop helmet, human sandwich and bungee battle will be played. Teams for each game will be comprised of athletes participating in the summer games in a sport-versus-sport style competition.
  
 
A stunt trampoline show will utilize professional athletes, upbeat soundtracks and comedy in an elite performance of flips and trampoline tricks. The show will end with world-famous sky-high belly drops.
  
 
The athlete parade will begin at 7:30 p.m., as athletes represent their sports by parading into the stadium. Athletes will be led by Grand Marshall Dakota McLaren. McLaren is one of Michigan’s two athletes, sponsored by the Secchia family, chosen to participate in the 2019 State Games of America in Lynchburg, Va.
 
 
In addition to Fosbury, other Olympians in attendance at the opening ceremony will include race walker Gary Morgan, swimmer Pam Kruse and judo competitor Maje Omagbaluwaje.
  
 
Morgan competed in every US Olympic trial from 1984-2004 as a walker. He competed in the World Championships, World Cup, Pan American Games, and Goodwill Games. Morgan also competed in the men’s 20 kilometer walk for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
 
 
Kruse is a native of Miami, Florida and now resides here in Grand Rapids. At 18 she competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, where she received a silver medal for her performance in the women’s 800-meter freestyle.

 
Omagbaluwaje is a Nigerian judoka with a 6th degree black belt. He is a 3-time African Champion, 3-time USA National Champion, and has competed in 3 Olympic Games. Omagbaluwaje placed 7th at the 1987 World Championships and received a gold medal at the World Masters Championships in 2009.
 
 
Admission to the Opening Ceremony is $5 for those age nine and over. Parking will be $5. (All registered athletes get free admission to the opening ceremony.” To purchase a ticket to opening ceremony, please visit here.

For more information on the game’s sports and venues please visit here.

Wolves of Isle Royale offer unique opportunity to learn about predator-prey relationships

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Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Rob Wiener, Michigan State University Extension


The relationship of wolves and humans in the United States has been tumultuous. Prior to European settlement, wolves inhabited much of the North American continent. They were systematically eradicated, as settlers made their way west, being perceived as a threat to families and livelihoods. Habitat was also destroyed as part of the westward expansion, further stacking the deck against wolf viability. Today the American wolf population is a mere shadow of what it once was.


Whether you love them or hate them, studying wolves can be a great way to observe some of the dynamics that occur with any predator-prey relationship in nature. When it comes to wolves, there is perhaps no better place to learn about this relationship than on Lake Superior’s largest island, Isle Royale.


The island is part of Isle Royale National Park (actually one large island surrounded by many smaller islands), which protects about 450 square miles. In the late 1940s, wolves established themselves on the island via an ice bridge from Ontario. Since that time, biologists have been studying the interaction of the wolves and their primary prey source on the island, moose, making this the longest ongoing predator-prey research study in the world.


Researchers have observed the species dynamics and collected data throughout the years, seeing the wolf and moose populations fluctuate dramatically. At times, the wolf population on Isle Royale numbered as high as 50. High levels of predators mean that the prey populations (moose) are kept in check. Conversely, when the wolf populations were low, moose populations increased. Similarly, when moose populations are high, their food sources—balsam fir, aquatic plants—are impacted.


In 2016, the Isle Royale wolf population had dwindled to two animals, sparking a debate among scientists as to what to do next. On one hand, if new wolves were brought in, this long-running predator-prey study could continue. On the other hand, if new wolves are brought in, is the study still valid (since humans have now altered the variables)? In the end, the National Park Service decided to start introducing new wolves to the island in 2018, thus continuing the study. Up to 30 more wolves will be brought in over the next three years. 


Michigan State University Extension natural resource educators can offer more insight into predator-prey relationships.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).


Snapshots: Kentwood, Wyoming weekend news you ought to know

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Each generation must, at the height of its power, step aside and invite the young to share the day. You have laid claim to our world and I believe the future, in your hands, will be bright and prosperous.

Teddy Roosevelt in “Newsies the Musical”

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Wyoming resident Cullen Dyk in the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre production of “Newsies.” (Supplied)

Extra, Extra

If you haven’t heard, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s production of Disney’s “Newsies the Musical” is currently running at its theater, located at 30 N. Division Ave. The story follows the 1899 newsboy or “newsies” strike that pitted the young, poor against the establishment such as publisher Joseph Pulitzer. Who wins? Well you will just have to go to find out. The show runs through June 23.

The Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Festival runs through June 16.

Celebrating Diversity

According to The Right Place, about 35,400 people from Asia and the Pacific Islands (including Hawaii) live in the West Michigan area in 2018. Spend some time this weekend exploring the culture and heritages of Asia and the islands at the Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Festival which is at Rosa Parks Circle, located in front of the Grand Rapids Art Museum in downtown Grand Rapids. The event, which runs through Sunday, June 16, includes a variety of entertainment from classical to Korean hip-hop. There will be workshops on origami, weapons, Quigong-alternative healing, modern-Japanese martial art Aikido, yoga, and Haka dance. Food will be available from the Philippines, Thailand, Bhutan, Korea, China, and Vietnam along with rolled ice cream. For more information, visit grasianfestival,com.

The Wyoming City Council will start its On the Road program Monday, June 17.

On the Road Again

The Wyoming City Council is packing up and hitting the road with plans to host three of its summer meetings in local neighborhoods. The first is Monday, June 17, at the Wyoming Junior High School, 2125 Wrenwood St. SW. There will be a meet-and-greet at 6 p.m. with council members and city staff with the meeting starting at 7 p.m. The July “on the road” meeting will be July 15 at St. John Vianney Church, 4101 Clyde Park Ave. SW, and the August meeting is Aug. 19 at Aurora Pond Senior Living & Retirement Community, 2380 Aurora Pond Dr. SW.

That’s a Big Horse

Grand Rapids is not only known for having the first public outdoor sculpture funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is Alexander Calder’s La Grand Vitesse, but also for the largest equestrian bronze sculpture in the Western Hemisphere, which is the 24-foot Leonardo da Vinci horse called “Il Gavallo,” located at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000 E. Beltline Ave. NE. Check it out along with the Meijer Gardens’ recently opened Stuart and Barbara Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden.

School News Network: After gaining work experience, students sign contracts with area employers

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Rogelio Arias and Koy Flores accept caps and job offers from Laura Longstreet, of Lumbermen’s, Inc. (School News Network)

By Bridie Tereza
School News Network


Recently, students and teachers gathered in the Kelloggsville High School auditorium for a time-honored tradition: signing day. The tables on the stage had logoed caps and contracts just waiting for signatures from high school seniors, ready to commit to a team for the coming year.



But these teams don’t require spring training, hitting the weight room or anything athletic or collegiate, for that matter. These teams are businesses that have hosted students as part of a budding school-to-work program and the contracts offered full-time employment.

John Linker welcomes the crowd to his school-to-work program’s first annual signing day. (School News Network)

“College isn’t always the route to go in terms of making money and being successful. The workforce provides a variety of jobs for you in case you don’t want to go to college,” said senior Ericberto Padilla, who signed a full-time employment contract to work in the rubber shop at Wyoming-based Mark-Maker Co. Inc. “If I decide not to go to college, this job gives me an opportunity to maybe go up in the ranks and make more money without having to go to college.”

Ericberto is one of 28 students — 24 seniors and four juniors — who participated in Kelloggsville’s school-to-work program, which partnered with nine companies that place students in paid positions for part of the school day. Of the seniors,10 signed full-time employment contracts, four are going into the military, and a handful are going to work part-time and go to school part-time. A few more are waiting to hear from the companies about offers.

“Not everybody is going to go sign that letter of intent in athletics, but this is something that they can be proud of,” said John Linker, work experience coordinator for Kelloggsville. “For the longest time, we pushed ‘four-year college degree, four-year college degree’ and for some kids, yeah — that’s the way to go. But for others, it may not be.”

Leonel Leon finishes signing his contract for full-time employment at Mark-Maker. (School News Network)

Students are Valued Employees

 

Lumberman’s, a wholesale building materials distributor, signed three of the six Kelloggsville students it took on this year in the school-to-work program. Laura Longstreet, human resource generalist at Lumbermen’s, told the crowd assembled for signing day about the hard work and dedication of the students and praised them for their hard work, professionalism, and punctuality. Other companies in attendance included Lack’s Enterprises, Inc. and Advanced Interiors.

“The goal has always been, at the end of the year, to at least have an offer of a full-time position, whether they accept it or not,” said Linker, who planned the “first annual” signing day. “So far, for year one, it went very well. The biggest thing I hear from kids, parents, businesses is just the immense value of getting exposure to work.”

Leonel Leon, who also accepted a full-time job offer from Mark-Maker, said the experience has been eye-opening and rewarding.

“I’ve learned that a lot of people at my job depend on me to be there,” said Leonel.

For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network website.

Ericberto Padilla and Leonel Leon sign contract with Mark-Maker. (School News Network)

Setting the stage for success: Promoting social and emotional health in young children

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Parents and caregivers do much to help promote healthy development. Photo credit: Pixabay.

By Carrie Shrier, Michigan State University Extension


What is social and emotional health? What role does it play in children being ready and able to succeed in school and life? Much emphasis is placed on teaching young children their ABC’s, colors, shapes and numbers in preparation for heading off to Kindergarten. Research, however, is showing that one of the greatest predictors of children’s success in school is their social and emotional health.


According to the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, social and emotional health is a child’s developing capacity to experience and regulate emotions, form secure relationships, and explore and learn. This all happens within the context of one’s family, community and culture background.


Parents and caregivers do much to help promote healthy development. Many of these are things you are already doing every day with the children in your care. Other skills take targeted effort to develop within the context of your home or child care center. However, it is well worth the effort to plan for children’s social and emotional development in the same manner we do for academic success. Michigan State University Extension believes that children who understand and cope with their emotions usually:

  • Perform better academically
  • Form stronger relationships with their peers and adults
  • Have fewer behavioral problems
  • Handle their own negative emotions better
  • Lead happier, healthier and less stressful lives

One key strategy to prompting children’s social and emotional development is through the use of children’s literature. Books provide a wealth of opportunities to teach young children about their emotions, how to identify and label their feelings, how to problem solve, and to see characters engaging in situations that might be similar to their every day life. MSU Extension offers Family Book Sheets to help parents and child care providers expand on these concepts beyond reading the book.


Even as very young toddlers, children can learn to express their feelings appropriately and learn to label their emotions. For example, teaching toddlers to sign the word “stop” instead of biting when they feel frustrated. Give preschoolers the opportunities to be reflective about their feelings and expose them to a wide variety of feeling words beyond just happy, sad and mad. Take the time to say in front of the children in your care that, “It is frustrating when the CD player won’t work!” or “It’s disappointing that it’s raining and we can’t go outside today.”


It’s also important to teach children friendship skills. What does being a good friend look like? Are you modeling that for your children? Teach empathy by being empathetic and recognizing emotions in others. Provide positive verbal support to children who are “caught” engaging in positive play with their peers. Practicing turn taking and build in opportunities for children to help each other, such as serving snack to their peers.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

That Beatles Thing: Fab 4 fun opens Kentwood summer concert series

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Going Local, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects
That Beatles Thing. (Facebook)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

The Beatles’ classics, played by four local guys who “love these songs,” will be featured as That Beatles Thing take the stage to open to the City of Kentwood’s Summer Concert Series of free concerts on Thursday, June 20.

“Most like the Beatles; some have That Beatles Thing,” the band says of themselves. “That Beatles Thing plays the music of the Beatles. … Faithfully reproducing 150 songs from the Beatles catalog.”

WKTV will be covering the concert, and almost all 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).

That Beatles Thing. (Facebook)

According to the band’s website, “James Murphy started the band a couple of years ago. What it has evolved to now is really just about 4 guys who love these songs. We’re all passionate about the songs of the Fab 4, we’ve got ‘That Beatles Thing’.”

The band is Murphy singing most of the songs and playing guitar, Bill Van Ess singing and playing bass, Pete Bardolph singing and playing lead guitar and Fritz von Valtier singing, playing drums, and “shaking things.”

Cruising their website, there are several videos of the band at play, including a version of one of my favorite Beatles songs — “Nowhere Man” — from the River City Saloon in 2016.

For more information on That Beatles Thing, visit here.

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:

June 27 — Blue Soul Express, delivering classic soul, R&B, funk and blues. If this is not perfect for a summer boogie party, nothing is. For more information visit here. (Note: due to a scheduling conflict, WKTV will not cover this concert.)

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.

More information is available at kentwood.us/parks.

Relish the bounty of summer

3-bottom, Community Health, Food, Health, How-To's, Senior Living, ,
Farmers markets offer a great opportunity to introduce your kids to new types of fresh fruits and vegetables. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Alyssa Allen, Spectrum Health Beat


The growing season is here—and that means it’ll be easier than ever to get your fill of fresh fruits and vegetables.


But only if you keep seasonal fare top of mind.


Spectrum Health dietitian Caren Dobreff has plenty of tips to help you and your family make the most of summer produce.


It could pay off in your waistline and your wallet.


During the off season, fresh fruits and vegetables are often harder to find and more expensive, given the steeper costs for transportation and logistics.


“Buying fresh fruits and vegetables in season and locally is much more cost effective,” Dobreff said.


Local food pantries and community and government organizations also run programs that make fresh items accessible to everyone, regardless of income.


Also, consider yourself fortunate if you live in a state that values the agriculture industry and local farmers markets.


“(You’re) able to capitalize on those nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables as we go into the growing season,” Dobreff said.


That’s good news all around, as the list of the health benefits from a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is long, Dobreff said. It includes lower risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and digestive problems.


An added benefit to eating fresh: slimming down.


“Weight management can be an outcome without it being the primary goal,” Dobreff said.


Under the current guidelines, the typical 2,000-calorie-a-day diet calls for about 2 1/2 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit. For children ages 13 and younger, the guideline varies by age—anywhere from 1 to 1 1/2 cups of vegetables and the same for fruit.

Dobreff’s 5 tips to highlight the summer bounty:

1. Keep it in sight

Make bowls of fresh fruit visible in your kitchen and keep prepared, chopped vegetables easily accessible in the refrigerator.


“We eat with our eyes and we are cued or prompted with foods that are ready to eat and easily in reach and visible,” Dobreff said.

2. Tweak recipes

Substitute traditional, all-meat dishes with vegetables.


Make a meatloaf using lean beef or ground turkey and replace half the meat with diced, cooked vegetables such as onions, mushrooms, zucchini or bell pepper. Substitute half the pasta in macaroni and cheese with broccoli, or half the ground beef in spaghetti sauce with mushrooms.

3. Prioritize plant-based

How about meatless Mondays? Try a new plant-centered recipe each week, such as broccoli salad with balsamic vinegar, nuts, diced red onions, garbanzo beans and diced apples. Another option: veggie burger with lettuce, tomato and sliced red onion on a toasted whole grain bun.


The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers a simple tip: At every meal, fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables.

4. Involve the kids

Drum up excitement in your kids by getting creative with fruits and vegetables.


Visit local farms where you can pick your own strawberries, blueberries, cherries or other produce. Make trips to the local farmers market so your kids can talk to area growers about their foods.


Help your kids plant a garden or, even easier, put together some patio pots.


“Bell peppers, tomatoes, green beans and peas are great patio growers and are easy to maintain,” Dobreff said.


Find a local cooking class to take with your family. At home, have the little ones pick out a new recipe that features fruits and vegetables—and then involve them in meal preparation.


“If your kids struggle with eating whole fruits and vegetables, remember that kids’ palates are sensitive and it can take over nine or 10 times of trying a new food before it’s accepted,” Dobreff said. “Don’t give up. Let a little time pass and try again.”

5. Get closer to the land

Join a community supported agriculture organization—a CSA—or take advantage of local farmers markets.


By getting closer to the land, you learn more about what’s in season. You can then incorporate these findings into your meal planning.


In Michigan, for example, asparagus is an early arrival in May and June, followed by lettuce and greens, sugar peas, radishes, beans, peppers, tomatoes and more. Some vegetables, like Brussels sprouts, potatoes and squash, are available well into the fall.


Sage advice: Get outside and start enjoying the benefits of the growing season.


“Successful healthy eating patterns are sustainable, easy to incorporate into the long haul and have stood the test of time,” Dobreff said. “Equally important is that they are backed by research and evidence.”


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.


Free swim lesson kicks off summer at Kroc Center

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The Kroc Center will be offering a free water safety class on June 20. (Pixabay)

By Jon Shaner
Salvation Army


On June 20 at 11 a.m., the Kroc Center’s aquatics team will be offering a free water safety class as part of the “World’s Largest Swim Lesson,” joining organizations around the globe in teaching kids and adults alike to be more comfortable in the water. 

Registration for the event is free for everyone, but space is limited — visit GrKrocCenter.org and click the banner on the home page to sign up, or find the event on the GR Kroc Center Facebook page. All kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult; participants will also receive a discount on a future six-week session of swim lessons at the Kroc Center. 

“Especially in West Michigan, the ability to enjoy the water safely is a skill that can truly transform a child’s life,” said Senior Kroc officer, Captain Bill Brutto. “We are glad to be able to offer this free event on top of the dozens of swim lesson options the Kroc has throughout the year.” 

Summer activities for seniors who want a full-of-life summer

3-bottom, Community Health, Health, How-To's, Senior Living,

By Vista Springs Assisted Living


When the weather warms up, and the sun comes out, it’s time to get outside, go on walks and get active. For those living in assisted living, this means seeking out summer activities for seniors either offered by your community or sought out on your own.


Don’t just wait for summer activities to come to you, venture out into the surrounding community by yourself or get a group together and make the most of the sunshine.

Walking trails

There’s nothing like an early morning walk before the rest of the world is awake, or an evening stroll to watch the sunset. When the weather is warm, and there’s a breeze, simply getting out to walk a trail can be the breath of fresh air we need to feel rejuvenated. Many communities have their own trails surrounding the facility that residents can take advantage but if not, check the local community. Whether it’s a park or a river trail, walking trails are an easy and healthy way to take advantage of the warm summer months.

Beach trips

From quaint shops to delicious dining and, of course, the beach, beach towns make ideal day trips when you just need to get away. Spend the day with family exploring or just lounging on the beach.

Festivals & music events

Summertime is festival time. From art fairs to music to antiques, there’s never a shortage of these festivals once the weather gets warm. Go as a group or venture off to explore your own interests. Many communities have their own, unique festivals and they may even be within walking distance of your facility. Warm weather makes everyone feels festive, so get out and enjoy the sounds and sights of summer.

Festive menus

When the weather changes, so do our food preferences. We no longer crave thick soups and other warm dishes, but instead yearn for juicy fruits or light salads, grilled chicken and ice cream. Check your community calendar for community dinners featuring the fresh recipes of the summer.


No matter what your interests, or where you’re living, these summer activities for seniors will keep your summer full of life!


Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.