As Beer Month GR came to a close in March, which also happens to be Reading Month, I thought it would be fun to pair some books with local beers.
The Mitten Brewing Co.’s Head Cellarman Taylor Darling, who also hosts the Beer City Hopcast on the WKTV Journal, agreed to help out with the pairings.
For books, I sought out suggestions from both the Kent District Library and our locally owned bookstore, Schuler Books, 2660 28th St. SE. Many of the books are available at both KDL and Schuler Books.
Most of the beers, depending on if they are are on tap, are available at The Mitten Brewing Co., 527 Leonard St. NW.
Here is a rundown of the pairings:
Book: Tales from the Detroit Tigers Dugout by Jack Ebling
The Mitten Beer: Peanuts and Crackerjack
Book: A Game of Their Own: Voices of Contemporary Women in Baseball by Jennifer Ring
The Mitten Beer: League of Their Own
Book: Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Mitten Beer: Count Strawcula
Book: Goldfinger by Ian Flemming
The Mitten Beer: Mango Gold
Book: Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
The Mitten Beer: Caught Lookin’ Coconut Potter
Book: The Catcher in the Rye by J. D Salinger
The Mitten Beer: Rye Baby Imperial IPA
Book: Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor
The Mitten Beer: Wobulator (Mitten’s Doppelbock)
Book: The Little Book of Yoga
The Mitten Beer: Stretch Cream Ale
Book: Secretariat by William Mack
The Mitten Beer: Triple Crown Brown
Book: The Harry Potter Series
The Mitten Beer: Mitten Potter
Book: The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
The Mitten Beer: Death to Flying Things Imperial Stout
Happy reading! If you have a suggestion for a future pairing, email me at joanne@wktv.org.
The importance of staying active as we grow older is well documented. Not only can frequent exercise help keep muscles strong, it can also improve balance, overall health, and mood. But did you know that it’s just as important to stay socially active as you age? Staying socially engaged has been shown to improve mental wellness in all seniors and slow cognitive degeneration in seniors with dementia; and living in a retirement community is one of the best ways for seniors to stay connected.
How Seniors Can Become Socially Isolated
Even for people who hate their jobs, the workplace offers a space for daily social interaction. After retirement, daily socialization becomes much harder simply because it’s no longer required. While some retirees feel motivated to go out and be social, others find themselves limiting social interaction to visits from friends and family, which can eventually lead to isolation.
A major factor in a senior’s risk of social isolation is their living situation. According to a report by the Administration on Aging, 20% of men and 35% of women aged 65+ live alone, with percentages increasing with age. While seniors living at home will often have informal or formal caretakers, such as adult children or a home care service, they may still feel lonely or disconnected. Distance from social activities and gathering spaces may be a limiting factor, as can health conditions, access to transportation, and more.
Social Living in a Retirement Community
Unlike living at home, an assisted living or retirement community gives seniors daily opportunities to meet and talk with many different people, form new connections and friendships, and partake in social activities. Here are some unique ways retirement communities help residents stay social:
Communal dining options: Sharing a meal together is a great way to connect, and assisted living facilities usually offer their residents the option to dine communally at least once a day. Good food and great company is a time-honored recipe for cherished relationships.
Engaging activities: From discussion groups to board games to trail outings, retirement community residents can come together over shared – or newfound – interests. Forming friendships with like-minded peers can help the mind stay sharp.
Next-door neighbors: While the phrase “next-door neighbors” is usually used to describe the people living in the house adjacent to one’s own, it can be used quite literally in the case of an assisted living community. Most retirement communities offer private or semi-private apartments to their residents, who can form close relationships with those around them without needing to go very far at all.
For those seniors for whom closeness to family is essential, choosing assisted living near home can mean the best of both worlds. Serving as caretakers for elderly parents can put stress on adult children and their relationships, so moving to a community that facilitates independent living can actually help seniors grow closer to their families.
Staying social can be difficult for aging adults, and social isolation is a very real and dangerous hazard. Retirement communities can help seniors stay engaged in a way that works for them, keeping them healthy for years to come.
“FIRST is more than robots. The robots are a vehicle for students to learn important life skills. Kids often come in not knowing what to expect — of the program nor of themselves. They leave, even after the first season, with a vision, with confident, and with a sense that they can create their own future.”
― Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST Robotics
Top Dawgs: Code Red Robotics the Stray Dogs took home the prestigious Chairman’s Award.
Robot Rumble
The FIRST Robotics program is well underway with the first area competition set for this Saturday at Grand Valley State University. Two local teams, South Christian and Godfrey’s Lee High School, will be participating. The next big event will be at East Kentwood, Friday and Saturday, March 29 and 30. WKTV will be covering the East Kentwood event, which will have local teams from the Potter House, Wyoming High School, the community team Code Red, and host team, East Kentwood.
Think Spring
Get into the spring spirit with the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s “Art in Bloom,” which is running through the weekend. The exhibit features the work of 17 floral designers and their interpretation of 17 works from the Museum’s collection on view—ranging from Robert Rauschenberg’s Sterling/Whirl to Hans Arp’s La Sainte de la Lisiere. There are several activities planned around the bi-annual event including a tour, a Drop-in-Studio event, and a classical concert. Click here for more information.
Signs of Summer
Bell’s Brewery announced that Monday, March 25, will be the release date of its popular summer brew, Oberon. For those who wish to partake in all the revelry, Bell’s has a new Oberon Day Excuse Generator, http://bellsbrewery.com/excuses to help you get out of work. So party like its the summer of 2019 (which we hear is coming soon).
Fun fact:
Here is the cheese on cheesecake
In honor of the recent announcement that The Cheesecake Factory is coming to Woodland Mall, we dug up a few cheesecake fun facts: it is believed that cheesecakes were served to Olympian athletes at the 776 B.C. games to give them energy; the largest cheesecake every made weighed 4,703 pounds and was made by the Philadelphia Kraft Foods Mexico on Jan. 25, 2009; and the man credited for the New York-style cheesecake is Arnold Reuben, the man behind the Reuben sandwich. According to the story, Reuben was invited to a dinner party where the hostess served a cheese pie. He was so intrigued by this dish that he experimented with the recipe until he came up with the New York-style cheesecake. (Source)
Teams from 40 West Michigan high schools will compete for robotic supremacy at the annual FIRST Robotics event hosted by Grand Valley State University.
The teams will compete on March 22-23 at Grand Valley’s Fieldhouse Arena in a challenge where they will use the robot that they have designed and built to fill a cargo ship and rocket with elements from space. Teams will race the clock, as well as their opponents, to pick up as much cargo as they can.
Grand Valley students and alumni will volunteer at the event to encourage students to pursue careers in STEM fields.
FIRST Robotics is a unique competition model where students gain real-world experience designing, programming, creating and marketing a robot to win the competition. Many teams work hand-in-hand with industry mentors and gain experience and skills not available in a traditional classroom setting.
Ruth Hourani swept hair from the floor at Profile Salon on a recent Monday, locks of brown, gray, red—each strand a story.
Hourani, a volunteer at Profile Salon’s Beautiful You program, knows that story of picking up the pieces all too well. The cancer story.
Just a short time ago, Hourani sat in those salon chairs.
Once a month, the Grand Rapids, Michigan, salon treats cancer patients to complimentary manicures, pedicures, massages and hair services.
Hourani said she gained so much from the fellowship and pampering at Beautiful You that she wanted to give back. She now volunteers there.
But it’s been a long and frightening journey from then until now.
In March 2016, Hourani underwent a routine mammogram. She went in confident. After all, she performed regular breast exams.
Photo courtesy Ruth Hourani
But when she overheard the receptionist attempting to schedule a biopsy after the mammogram, she knew.
“They had me scheduled for an ultrasound then switched it to a biopsy,” Hourani said. “Right then I thought, ‘Uh-oh, this isn’t going to be good.’”
That was on a Friday. The following Monday, March 14, her phone rang. Results. Results she did not want to hear. She suffered from an aggressive cancer.
“My husband (Thom) put the phone on speaker because I knew I wouldn’t retain much,” Hourani said. “It was like the floor dropped right out of my world.”
“I went from a biopsy to being told to get ready for surgery within a week,” she said.
She had a lumpectomy on her left side on March 31. Doctors also removed two lymph nodes. They were clean, but due to the type of cancer, HER2, she had to undergo six chemo treatments, six weeks of radiation and a full year of preventative treatment called Herceptan.
She tried to keep life as normal as possible for her husband and two sons, Anthony, 21, and Thom, 18.
“My youngest son was a senior in high school and I wanted to make sure his last year was fun for him and it wasn’t all about Mom being sick,” she said. “When I look back, I don’t know how I did it. I was exhausted.”
Hourani threw up a denial defense at first—about the cancer diagnosis, about everything happening in her once-normal life.
“I lost my hair,” she said. “Two weeks from the first treatment they tell you you start losing it and they were dead on.”
Feeling beautiful again
Hourani enjoys sporting a sharp hair style. A friend of hers told her about the Beautiful You program.
“I was hesitant at first because I was so much in denial about what I was going through,” Hourani said. “I went there on one of their off days and had them shave my head. Your hair doesn’t fall out a piece at a time. It falls out in handfuls. If I had to do it over again I would shave my head right away. It was more traumatic to see it fall out.”
“They took me into a special room so I wouldn’t be out in public (for the head shaving),” Hourani said. “I felt very secluded and alone because it is a lonely journey. Unless you’re going through it, no one can understand how you’re feeling or really be there for you.”
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
Despite her hesitancy, when she started attending monthly Beautiful You sessions, she gained camaraderie, comfort and compassion.
“I thought I needed something to look forward to,” Hourani said. “I needed to be with people who were OK seeing me without hair. Friendships change throughout this type of journey because most people don’t know how to handle seeing you sick. Most people are used to seeing me very strong. I’m happy hiding my emotions. People had a hard time seeing me otherwise.”
When she walked into the salon, she felt sisterhood.
“Everyone is loving and caring,” she said. “You’re catered to—little things you wish other people would do, they did. If your body hurts, you can get a massage. If your head hurts, and your scalp is sensitive to everything, to have your head massaged just means the world to you.”
Sharing the beauty
She sat with like-minded sisters in salon chairs, bald sisters, sisters who shared emotional and physical pain, sisters who somehow understood the juggernaut in her journey.
She so much wanted to get from Point A to Point B, to slay the fears, to dry the tears. Her salon sisters understood that, too.
“I got to know a lot of the people,” she said. “I didn’t leave there without crying, because you could. You don’t feel beautiful when you’re going through cancer. You’re bloated from treatments and hormones. You gain a lot of weight. You just don’t feel at all attractive to anybody.”
Beautiful You offers wigs for those who wish to wear one. They offer sweet treats and coffees and fresh fruit.
Volunteers make purses and scarves and necklaces for the cancer clients.
“You come home with something so you feel like you were given a gift,” Hourani said.
Now, Hourani is repaying that gift. On her first day of volunteering, she brought in fabric purses that a friend of hers made. Hourani wants to start crocheting again so she can make items for the group, too.
But most of all, she wants to impart her gift of knowledge, of being a cancer survivor, of reaching back to a sister who is at Point A, and helping them to recognize there is indeed a real-life Point B somewhere in the not too distant future.
She wants to help them believe. To trust. To know.
“I’m hoping to be an advocate, to talk to the women about what they can expect,” Hourani said. “I hope that I can make people feel as good as I felt, and feel as beautiful as I felt when I was there.”
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
Hourani hugged the receptionists behind the desk, and talked with cancer patients getting pampered.
She wants to be a guiding hand, through her words.
“I would stay after my appointments just to talk to people and be upbeat with them knowing that it just stinks what you’re going through,” she said. “People will ask what you need and you don’t even know what to tell them. It’s almost as if these women just knew. When you walk in there, they know what you need—a massage, pedicure, manicure…They’ve got to see some pretty ugly feet without toenails (they fall out during chemo), but none of them look shocked.”
Hourani wants to reassure, just as other Beautiful You volunteers reassured her.
“They tell you you look beautiful,” she said. “Your family can tell you the same thing, but it comes differently from women who have been through it. They say, ‘We don’t care how you look. We want you to feel awesome today.’”
She misses the pampering, but now she tries to help others feel awesome.
“When you’re going through cancer, you feel as if you are dying, but you don’t want to feel that way,” she said. “It’s sad so many people have been touched by it. If I can help somebody else understand what they are going through after what I have been through, that right there is a blessing.”
Pam Westers, owner of Profile Salon, launched Beautiful You by Profile four years ago. The program started with less than 10 women three years ago and now pampers 60 to 80 cancer patients every Beautiful You Monday.
“It makes their whole month,” Westers said. “They look forward to this appointment because all their other appointments are hospitals and doctors. They love the relationships they make here. It’s almost like a support group when they’re here. It revitalizes them for the whole month.”
A sure sign of that summer is just around the corner? When Bell’s Oberon returns to the stores, restaurants, and bars.
That official return date is Monday, March 25.
Bars, restaurants, retail locations, and fans will celebrate Oberon’s return with midnight tappings, release parties, pub crawls and other special events throughout the week.
“I think we’re all ready to put winter away and say hello to warmer weather with an annual tradition: raising that first Oberon of the season,” said Bell’s Brewery Founder and President Larry Bell.
“We’ll see if Mother Nature agrees, but we already have spring training (baseball) and between the two, that’s a good start,” he said.
One of Bell’s most popular beers, Oberon (5.8% ABV) is an American Wheat Ale fermented with Bell’s signature house ale yeast, mixing a spicy hop character with mildly fruity aromas. The addition of wheat malt lends a smooth mouthfeel. A classic summer beer, Oberon is only brewed with water, malted wheat, and barley, hops and yeast. In Michigan, it is available seasonally beginning in late March through August.
Oberon will be available on draft, in six-packs (12 oz. bottles and cans), twelve-packs (12 oz. cans and bottles) and four-packs (16 oz. cans). Six-packs of 12 oz. cans are new this year for those who live in states where Oberon is not available year around, such as Michigan. (Arizona and Florida are year-round distribution states.) Oberon mini-kegs will ship in May.
Bell’s fans on Untapped can check-in to there first Oberon of 2019 to claim a special commemorative release badge starting on March 25 through April 1. Everyone is invited to share photos of their first pints and how they are celebrating on social media by using the hashtags #OberonDay and #bellsbeer and by tagging Bell’s (@bellsbrewery on Twitter and Instragram.)
For those who need a little help getting out of work, class or other responsibilities on Oberon Day, a brand new Oberon Day Excuse Generator is now live. Fans can send pre-made “official” Oberon Day excuse notes to their bosses or others at http://bellsbeer.com/excues/. There is also a special Oberon frame you can add to your Facebook profile picture.
Bell’s pub, the Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo, will open at 9 a.m. on March 25 (this celebration is 21 and up all day). There will be live entertainment, food specials, special tappings, games and prizes. Sold out, free Oberon Day tours will also be held throughout the morning and afternoon with bus trips to Bell’s main brewery in nearby Comstock and back to the Eccentric Café.
Due to popular demand, an additional 8 a.m. tour has been added. Spots on that tour are first-come, first-served, so fans are advised to arrive early at the Café in order to secure a spot on the bus.
For more information about where to enjoy that first sip of summer, check out Oberon recipes, learn about the history of the beer and more, visit bellsbeer.com or join Bell’s at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Untapped.
The experience of grieving can be isolating at any age. Just ask Trista Kasul, a sixth-grader at Kelloggsville Middle School. Trista lost her grandfather when she was very young — preschool aged — but the loss weighed heavily on her. They had a special bond: She spent a lot of time with him when he was alive, and has spent a lot of time thinking about him since he died.
“I was more close to him than basically anyone else,” Trista said. “I am very proud of him. He was in the army and he fought for all of us.”
She grappled with sadness as a result of the loss, but Trista felt awkward sharing her feelings — until now.
Trista is one of eight students at Kelloggsville Middle School who recently completed a grief support program led by Ele’s Place, a healing center that brings grieving children and teens together. Through the hour-long sessions, which are held at schools over eight weeks, Trista found camaraderie with other group members, all of whom have lost someone.
The group has an important rule: What individuals share there, stays there, making it a safe space for discussion.
“It made me more comfortable talking about stuff like that,” Trista said. “Now, I have more people to talk to. I learned that you don’t have to be afraid to express your feelings. You can go to a friend, a parent, a teacher.”
Julie De Jong is the program director for Ele’s Place’s Grand Rapids program. (Supplied)
No Child Should Grieve Alone
Ele’s Place, founded in Lansing in 1991, offers support groups for bereaved children and teens from ages 3 to 18 at its offices. The nonprofit has been in Grand Rapids since 2013 and launched its at-school programs during the 2015-2016 school year, with five schools participating. This year, there are 15 at-school groups, including schools in Kelloggsville, Thornapple-Kellogg, Cedar Springs, and Kentwood, to name a few.
“Our vision is that no child grieve alone,” said Julie De Jong, program director for the Grand Rapids location of Ele’s Place. “Being able to meet kids exactly where they’re at — at school — can be really powerful for them.”
Michelle Barrows, a counselor at Kelloggsville Middle School, brought the grief support program to the school after recognizing that several students had endured significant losses. Ele’s Place provides a student survey to allow students to self-identify when they are experiencing grief as a result of losing someone.
You’re eligible for the group no matter the type of loss, said De Jong, “As long as it’s the death of someone that you have a relationship with.”
De Jong said that many children experience grief but often it goes unnoticed. Going into schools is a way to support some of those students who might fly under the radar, she said.
Trista Kasul said that participating in a grief support program at Kelloggsville Middle School helped her to open up about the loss of her grandfather. She made the keychain she is holding during the program, and the colors symbolize grief, growth, and courage. (Supplied)
Peer to Peer
The school groups are geared toward students in fourth through 12th grade and follow a peer support group model, facilitated by licensed counselors and social workers.
Amy Van Dorp, a licensed social worker, has facilitated at-school programs for Ele’s Place for three years.
“Each of the eight weeks, we have a theme,” she said. “The activities help kids understand grief, connect with each other, and learn ways to cope.”
Van Dorp said students who have participated in the groups have said they no longer feel like they are alone in their grief, they can talk more about their person who died, and that they have new ways to deal with the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that come with grief.
Barrows sat in on and participated with students in the group, facilitated by Van Dorp and co-facilitator Debra Roden. At the end of the session, she said, students were asked to describe in one word how they felt about their grief journey.
“I heard words like ‘peace’ and ‘calm,’” said Barrows.
It’s not only students noticing the value of peer grief support, said De Jong.
“Teachers are really seeing the benefit in us working with these children right now, while they’re being impacted by this grief,” she said. “Further along the line, they can be better academically, socially, and emotionally. Grief touches all areas of our life, and teachers definitely see the impact of this program for those kids.”
For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website at schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
In mid-December 2018, a ‘rescue regular’ came across this stunning black-smoke-and-winter-white tom cat hanging out near one of her feral feeding stations in downtown Grand Rapids. Never one to leave an unneutered male behind, she promptly got him corralled and into CSNIP, then took him home in the hopes of helping him acclimate to indoor living by setting him up in one of her many kitty condos.
Try as she might, the fearful 5-year-old (born in early 2014) just wouldn’t adjust to her gentle touch and soothing voice, and returning him to the not-so-great outdoors was out of the question.
So when she brought him in two months after his rescue for Dr. Jen to evaluate, she agreed to letting us give it a shot at Crash’s, since we have droves of doting volunteers who are pros at working diligently with the most timid of kitties. Maybe with the collective efforts of so many, Burdock would emerge from his cocoon, start to relax and enjoy life a little bit.
A month into his stay with us at Crash’s, he is still a work in progress, just as we expected him to be. Burdock is ever-so-painstakingly slowly starting to feel comfortable at the shelter, but he still terrified and very wary of people. He gets quite nervous when you climb up to the cat walk where he is hiding out, but he will let you pet him if you approach him calmly and quietly. We have caught him out walking around a few times in the middle of the day, but as soon as he sees anyone he is right back up to the cat walk; to try to socialize him we have been carrying him around the shelter with him in our arms.
His metamorphosis is going to require a great deal of patience, but we believe that he does have it in him to come out of the safety of his shell of self-preservation, overcome his fear and evolve into a confident cat. He’s not aggressive in any way, just intimidated by the other cats and his new surroundings, so we will give him all the time in the world and let him set a pace he is comfortable with. We can’t begin to imagine what on earth happened to him before he was rescued, but we have years worth of neglect to make up for, and a slow and steady approach is going to be paramount with Burdock.
We are all going to be by his side, coaxing him every step of the way until one fine day, he realizes the potential he has harbored within himself all along; what a grand day that will be for all of us!
More about Burdock:
Domestic Medium Hair
Adult
Male
Large
Black & White / Tuxedo
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Good in a home with other cats
Prefers a home without dogs, children
Want to adopt Burdock? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To
take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids
area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming,
no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be
found.
The Cheesecake Factory adds a new location: Woodland Mall. There are now more than 200 The Cheesecake Factory restaurants around the globe. The one pictured above is in Hong Kong. (Wikipedia)
By WKTV Staff joanne@wktv.org
Area residents will no longer have to travel to Chicago or Detroit to get their cheesecake fix as The Cheesecake Factory will be opening at Woodland Mall.
In a series of redevelopment milestones at Woodland Mall, PREIT announced The Cheesecake Factory will open in 2019, further establishing its presence as the premier retail, dining and entertainment destination in West Michigan.
According to mall officials, in an effort to elevate the dining experience and expand the mall’s trade area, PREIT has executed a lease with The Cheesecake Factoryfor its first location in West Michigan and second location in the state. That other location is at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi. The 8,500-square-foot restaurant is slated to open at Woodland Mall in late October.
“Since opening our first restaurant in Beverly Hills more than 40 years ago, The Cheesecake Factory has become known for creating delicious, memorable experiences for millions of guests around the country, and we’re so pleased to be opening our first restaurant in Grand Rapids,” said The Cheesecake Factory Inc. Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer David Overton. “We look forward to opening in Woodland Mall this fall.”
The Cheesecake Factory actually got its start in Michigan. In the 1940s, Evelyn Overton found a recipe in the local newspaper that would inspire her “Original” Cheesecake. The cheesecake became so popular that she decided to open a cheesecake shop, but eventually gave up the dream in order to raise her children, David and Renee.
In 1972, with their children grown, Evelyn and her husband, Oscar, decided to pursue the dream one more time and moved to Los Angeles. They opened The Cheesecake Factory and began selling cheesecakes to restaurants throughout Los Angeles. In 1978, their son, David, opened a restaurant to showcase his mother’s cheesecake selections. There are now more than 200 The Cheesecake Factory restaurants around the world.
The cheesecake case at The Cheesecake Factory. (Public Domain)
The Cheesecake Factory restaurant, which has won numerous awards including Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” six years in a row, is known for its extensive menu, generous portions and legendary desserts. The restaurant features more than 250 menu selections including SkinnyLicious® dishes with 590 calories or less and Saturday and Sunday brunch – all handmade, in-house with fresh ingredients – and more than 50 signature cheesecakes such as Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cheesecake, Fresh Banana Cream Cheesecake, the Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake along with the Original Cheesecake. The restaurant also has other desserts such as Linda’s Fudge Cake, Carrot Cake, Lemocello Cream Torte, and hot fudge sundaes.
The Cheesecake Factory will join Black Rock Bar & Grill, an award-winning steakhouse and first-to-market experiential dining offering, which is slated to open this summer.
New Retailers in the Region
Earlier this year, Woodland Mall officials stated it would be an exciting year for the property with several new retailers coming in and several current retailers, such as Apple, Altar’d State, LUSH, Williams-Sonoma, and Bath & Body Works being upgraded creating a new shopping experience or visitors.
First-to-portfolio retailer Von Maur, which will occupy 90,000 square feet in the former Sears space, is set to open in the fall. This location will be the high-end department store’s first in the region. Both Williams-Sonoma and Bath & Body Works will be moving the the Von Maur wing.
Von Maur also will be joined by a series of other new-to-portfolio and new-to-market retailers at the mall. REI will open in a 20,000-square-foot outparcel in the second quarter 2019 – bringing the in-demand outdoor clothing, gear and footwear brand to the region.
Complementing these high-quality and diverse retailers, Woodland Mall will also welcome Tricho Salonthis fall, a salon offering a personalized experience with the most talented stylists in the region featuring the top hair styles, designs and products as well as makeup and waxing services. An innovator in the salon business since 2003, Tricho Salons has 12 locations across the U.S.
“With the addition of a fashion department store, the region’s only Apple store and The Cheesecake Factory, this property will take its place as a trophy mall and top-performer in our portfolio,” said PREIT CEO Joseph F. Coradino. “The high-impact redevelopment of Woodland Mall is delivering a diverse and robust tenant mix that aligns with our portfolio quality improvement efforts.”
Strengthening this dominant asset in its market, as the second largest redevelopment underway in PREIT’s portfolio, Woodland Mall is expected to deliver nearly 20 percent net operating income growth in 2020 with increasing foot traffic as evidenced by strong growth during the 2018 holiday season.
A number of billboards have been baffling West Michigan for two weeks, and the advertiser has finally been revealed.
The anxious-looking designs with handwritten words like neglect, abuse, and fear have been posted around the Grand Rapids region, prompting a variety of responses and guesses to what the meaning may be.
However, earlier this week, a new design revealed the message belongs to D.A. Blodgett–St. John’s, a local children advocate agency that offers services like adoption, counseling, foster care, mentoring and more. Grand Rapids creative agency Extra Credit Projects was the creative partner on the project.
From cynics to proponents, speculations of who was behind the boards ranged from megachurches to PETA, to the visual representation of “what it’s like to travel US-131 during rush hour.”
Area residents took to social media to seek answers or express opinions about the mystery messages. Some online users expressed discomfort at the content of the billboards, while others argued that the subject matter was important to address.
It’s that level of engagement that D.A. Blodgett-St. John’s was seeking to evoke in the weeks leading up to April’s “National Child Abuse Prevention Month.”
“There have been a lot of comments online that the billboards have made people uncomfortable,” said Katy Buck, public relations and marketing manager for D.A. Blodgett–St. John’s. “Unfortunately this is the reality for many of the children and families that we serve in our community. Our goal was to evoke in viewers the same feelings that some children face every day—anger, fear, frustration, confusion, angst–and to have the reveal visually express that D.A. Blodgett–St. John’s is a refuge from that.”
D.A. Blodgett – St. John’s provides more than 20 services, impacts 9,000 lives every year, and work tirelessly to ensure all children and families have the love, support, and resources they need to thrive – today and into the future. To learn more about D.A. Blodgett–St. John’s, visit www.dabsj.org.
The billboards that were featured on US 131 were designed to help raise awareness about Child Abuse Prevention Month. (Supplied)
Participants of the Collection by Color speaker series on March 27 will take a look at the impacts of Lake Michigan (pictured above) and Muskegon Lake. (Pexels)
WKTV Staff joanne@wktv.org
Community members are invited to the third and final lecture in Lakeshore Museum Center’s Collection by Color speaker series, this time with a focus on the blue waters of Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan.
On Wednesday, March 27, from 6 to 7 p.m., Muskegon’s Blue Economy Panel will be gathered in the museum’s auditorium where attendees can dive into a deep discussion about the impact these lakes have had, and continue to have, on Muskegon’s economy.
“Hundreds of years ago our lakes were used for lumbering which was a huge part of our history, but just because that era ended, doesn’t mean the lakes no longer play an important role in our economy,” said Jackie Huss, Program Manager at the museum. She added, “In fact, our lakes are a big part of Muskegon’s rebirth!”
A panel of experts representing various sectors of the community will be sharing how Muskegon’s most valuable resource — water — impacts their industries, and the Muskegon area as a whole, in numerous ways. Known as Muskegon’s Blue Economy Panel, the group includes Dr. Al Steinman of Grand Valley State University, Bob Lukens of the Muskegon County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Dave Alexander of Downtown Muskegon Now and Chuck Canestraight of Sand Products Corp.
“We are honored to have this prestigious collection of speakers come together for such an important and intriguing discussion,” stated Huss. “What better way to wrap up our color-focused lecture series?”
Muskegon’s Blue Economy Panel discussion takes place on Wednesday, March 27, starting at 6 pm. Doors open at 5:30 pm and attendees are encouraged to explore the museum’s Collection by Color exhibit before the program begins.
This event is free for Muskegon County residents and museum members. Cost for non-residents is just $3. You can reserve your seat by calling 231-722-0278 or by emailing Jackie Huss at jackie@lakeshoremuseum.org. Look for the Lakeshore Museum Center event calendar online at lakeshoremuseum.org to learn about other, upcoming activities.
Spring weather is just around the corner, and for those of us located in northern climes, it can’t come soon enough. Though our homes in Michigan and northern Ohio have been teasing us with sunshine, here at Vista Springs, we’ve been making preparations for warm weather. Maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves, but we’ve prepared a list of some of our favorite senior activities for spring.
1. Enjoy nature. Here in the Midwest, people tend to catch cases of spring fever at the first hint of sunshine. As cold days fade into breezy ones, and the grass begins to turn green, shaking off the winter by going on nature walks is a great way to enjoy spring. Make going outdoors a habit for the truly amazing experience of watching the greenery come to life as the season progresses.
2. Do some spring cleaning. Cleaning isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time, but there’s something uniquely satisfying about airing out your rooms in spring. Do some dusting, change the linens, and give yourself a fresh start once winter is through.
3. Bring out the spring recipes. Springtime is associated with flowers, but there are plenty of foods that evoke the season. March through May bring asparagus spears, artichokes, fennel, watercress, and radishes, and fresh picked veggies are great for the body and spirit. And, of course, Easter celebrations bring brightly colored eggs and brunches made for sharing with family and friends. What are your spring recipes?
4. Take a day trip. Take advantage of the so-called “shoulder season,” between on- and off-peak seasons for popular vacation destinations, by taking a short trip to a nearby city or attraction. You get the advantages of warmer weather without the crowds and high prices. Visit lakes, mountains, big cities, museums, shopping destinations — whatever tickles your fancy.
5. Visit a nursery. When trees begin to bud, it’s a great time to visit a local nursery. Try out your green thumb by choosing some spring perennials for an outdoor garden, start an herb garden in your kitchen for fresh herbs year-round, or choose some potted plants to brighten up your interiors. You’ll be amazed at the fresh, lively atmosphere inherent to nurseries that you can bring home with you.
6. Start bird watching. Everyone knows to keep an eye out for the first robin of spring, and the sound of birdsong in the morning is one of the truest heralds of warmer weather. Invest in a bird feeder and bird seed for easy bird watching, or make your own for a fun creative activity. Learning what types of songbirds are local to your area can help you learn more about the ecosystem as a whole, and watching for rare species brings excitement to each quiet moment.
Are you as excited for spring weather as we are? These fun senior activities will help you get the most out of the season. Whether you enjoy getting outdoors or enjoying a lighter, brighter atmosphere inside, there’s something about spring that brings out a passion for life that deserves to be celebrated.
Despite the well-known dangers of smoking, the sizable benefits of quitting may be overlooked, a new study suggests.
“These findings underscore the benefits of quitting smoking within five years, which is a 38 percent lower risk of a heart attack, stroke or other forms of cardiovascular disease,” said study author Meredith Duncan, from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
“The bottom line is if you smoke, now is a very good time to quit,” Duncan said in an American Heart Association news release.
Her team also found that it takes more than 15 years from the time you quit until your cardiovascular disease risk returns to the level of those who never smoked—so the sooner you quit, the better.
Cigarette smoking in America is declining and leaving a growing population of former smokers. Earlier studies have hinted that the risk for heart disease lessens within a few years after quitting, but these studies haven’t looked closely at smoking history, including changes in smoking habits.
In this study, Duncan and her colleagues analyzed data on the lifetime smoking histories of nearly 8,700 people who took part in the Framingham Heart Study.
At the beginning of the study, none of the participants suffered from cardiovascular disease. Over 27 years, researchers compared the risk for heart disease among people who never smoked with those who quit.
They found that more than 70 percent of heart disease occurred in current or former smokers who smoked at least 20 pack-years—smoking one pack a day for 20 years.
But smokers who quit within the last five years cut their risk for cardiovascular disease by 38 percent, compared with people who continued to smoke. Moreover, it took 16 years after quitting for the risk of cardiovascular disease to return to the level of never smokers, the researchers found.
The findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting, in Chicago. Such research is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Mobility is a critical factor for seniors to maintain their overall wellness and independence. However, for many older adults, preserving a full range of motion is no picnic. This is because muscles and joints weaken and range of movement deteriorates as we age. Slowing down our daily routines and actions to avoid injuries might seem like the logical solution.
Unfortunately, the old saying, “If you don’t use it, you lose it,” rings true. When the body is primarily inactive, it gets weaker. Muscles start to shrink, and basic movements become nearly impossible, not to mention joint pain can be amplified. At this point, many seniors turn to prescriptions or assistive medical equipment for help. Methods like these just put a band-aid over a much deeper problem.
Fortunately, there is a solution that is both proactive and gentle for seniors looking for alternatives: stretching exercises. Consider incorporating stretching into your daily routine for its many health benefits. Some perks of daily stretching include development and maintenance of strength, improving flexibility, and increased circulation and blood flow, to provide a higher quality of life and healthy aging.
If you’re not sure where to start here are five stretches that every senior should know.
1. Neck Side Stretch. This is a simple stretch that’s perfect for the morning. The neck side stretch loosens tension in your neck and the tops of your shoulders. If you’re experiencing any pain or discomfort from sleeping in the wrong position, you’ll find this handy.
Start by sitting tall in a chair. Gently lean your head to the right as if trying to touch your ear to your shoulder. Then transition back to its regular position, and lean downwards. Finally, from the center position, gently lean your head to the left. For a more intense stretch try lifting your right arm up and over your head, resting your palm gently on the left side. Gently pull your head to the right. If you find that to be too much, try resting your hand on your head. Remember to hold for 20 to 30 seconds, then repeat on the other side.
2. Shoulder and Upper Back Stretch. If you’ve ever had a stiff back, you know how debilitating it can be. The culprit behind this pain is most likely sitting for too long. Sitting can make your shoulders and upper back round forward. Over time, it can be hard to stand up straight, since the muscles are so used to being in a hunched position. This stretch is great for loosening up the muscles and improving spinal flexibility, both of which can help you stand straight.
Begin by standing tall with arms near your sides. Reach behind you with both hands, pull your shoulders back, and interlock your fingers. If you feel a stretch already, hold it there. To intensify this stretch, push your interlocked hands away from your lower back and gently arch backward. Then return to standing tall and repeat.
3. Bent Arm Wall Stretch. A significant portion of what we do in life is in front of us, so it’s common for our chest to be stronger and tighter. However, over time the tightness in our chest can be restricting and impede on your daily activities. One cause of over tightened chest muscles is poor posture. By lengthening these muscles, you can improve your posture. This stretch focuses on one chest muscle at a time.
Being in a split stance, which means the left leg on the front and right leg on the back, and stand at the end of a wall or in a doorway. Then bring your right arm up to shoulder height and position the palm and inside of the arm on the wall surface or doorway. Your arm should look like a goal post. Finally, gently press the chest through the open space to feel the stretch.
Moving the arm higher or lower will allow you to stretch various sections of the chest. Remember to repeat the action on your other side.
4.Hamstring and Low Back Stretch. This gentle stretch targets the lower back and hamstrings. Prolonged sitting or poor posture usually cause tightness in the lower back and hamstrings.
For this stretch start by lying face-up on your bed or floor. Bend your right leg and slowly move it toward your chest. Remember to keep your shoulders flat on the floor as you reach your arms around your right knee and pull it toward you. You should feel a stretch through your low back, glutes, and hamstring. For this stretch, make sure to hold for 30 seconds, and then repeat on your opposite leg.
5. Ankle Circles Stretch. Usually, you wouldn’t think to stretch your ankles, but it’s a crucial part of your body to keep in mind. Maintaining the flexibility in your ankles can be the difference in your ability to walk. For example, a stiff ankle can make it easier to have a fall by throwing off your balance. This is another simple stretch that can be done in a sitting position.
Start by finding a chair to sit in, and remember to sit up tall. Extend your right leg out in front of you, while keeping the other on the floor. Begin by rotating your right ankle; 10 to 20 rotations clockwise and 10 to 20 counter-clockwise. Then lower your leg and repeat on your opposite leg.
Stretching may seem like a simple solution, but it’s a great way to listen to what your body needs. The majority of stretches talked about today can be adjusted to accommodate different levels of flexibility. When you work with your body instead of against it you can expect continuous improvement with results that last.
Marcel “Fable” Price talks of his challenging youth, a teacher who saw promise in him, and the redemptive power of poetry. As Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he uses his platform to empower area youth, call out public policies that marginalize brown and black people, and advocate for mental health services.
“Children are not only innocent and curious but also optimistic and joyful and essentially happy. They are, in short, everything adults wish they could be.”
― AuthorCarolyn Haywood
Shazam! That kid is awesome!
Have a great kid in your life? Then join Camp Fire West Michigan in celebrating him or her this Thursday as part of the Absolutely Incredible Kid Day. What do you have to do? Just send that awesome kid a note or letter to let them know just how amazing you think they are.
This week is National Poison Prevention Week. (Public Domain)
On the Safe Side
Over half of the 2.4 million cases of poisonings reported to poison control centers each year involve children less than 5 years of age. This week is National Poison Prevention Week with the Kent County Health Department providing a list of drop-off sites county residents can take a variety of hazardous materials to, including medications and sharps. Both the Kentwood and Wyoming Police Departments are drop-off locations for SafeMeds. The health department has a clinic in Kentwood that is a SafeSharps drop-off site. For more, visit www.MIsafehomes.org.
Richard “Richie” Hitchcock went missing Dec. 22, 1990.
Remembering Richie
It has been 28 years since Richard “Richie” Hitchcock was last seen by family or friends. His family, who live in Allegan, hope to one day learn what happened to the young man. To help, they are hosting a fundraiser Saturday, March 23, to add more money to an existing reward in locating Hitchcock. The dinner event, which is from 1-5 p.m. takes place at Allegan Eagles (#2315) 110 Chestnut St., Allegan. To learn more about how the family has become advocates for all missing persons, click here.
Fun fact:
212
Nope, we are not talking about the area code for New York City. (Good guess, though.) As of Aug. 18, 2018, there have been 212 spacewalks devoted to assembly and maintenance of the International Space Station totaling 1,327 hours and 17 minutes. The 213th one will be this Friday with WKTV Government Channel 26 featuring the walk via the NASA channel. Coverage starts at 6:30 a.m. with the walk at 8:05 a.m.
The first of three scheduled NASA spacewalks takes place on Friday. (NASA)
By Kelly Taylor
On Friday, March 22, WKTV Channel 26 will be feature the first of three scheduled International Space Station U.S. spacewalks.
NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Anne McClain will exit the space station Friday morning for a six-hour spacewalk to continue the ongoing work of upgrading the station’s power storage capacity.
Coverage begins at 6:30 a.m., with the spacewalk scheduled to begin at 8:05 a.m. Check out the live footage of the astronauts as they replace older nickel-hydrogen batteries with new lithium-ion batteries and install new adapter plates on the ISS truss structure.
For more information on NASA TV or the International Space 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.
National Poison Prevention Week is March 17-23 and Kent County’s Department of Public Works (DPW) and (the Kent County) Health Department (KCHD)are encouraging community members to safely dispose of unused, potentially poisonous medicines, chemicals and used needles through the various SafeHomes programs, including SafeMeds, SafeChem and SafeSharps.
“Through these collaborative programs, residents can safely dispose of hazardous products and keep their home safe without the dangers of misuse, accidental poisonings or environmental harm,” said KCHD Administrative Health Officer Adam London.
“Kent County residents who take these preventative steps in their homes are protecting young children, loved ones, pets and the environment from hazardous materials.”
Every year, America’s 55 poison centers receive millions of calls and the majority are about people coming into contact with dangerous or potentially dangerous substances, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.
Through the SafeHomes programs, residents can safely dispose of unused or unneeded poisonous and hazardous materials. According to the Kent County DPW, a product is considered hazardous if it has one or more of the following properties:
Toxic – poisonous or lethal when ingested, touched or inhaled;
Flammable – ignitable and burns easily;
Corrosive – eats through materials and living tissue; or
Reactive – can possibly explode or react with other chemicals;
Dangerous – poses health or injury risk to people, pets or the environment if not handled properly.
Examples of poisonous hazards may include detergents and cleaning supplies, medicines and pharmaceuticals, insect repellents, oils and fuel, batteries, needles and more.
“Most landfills are not equipped to handle hazardous materials and placing them in the trash or down the drain could lead to injuries to waste handling personnel, fires or harm to the environment,” said Kent County Department of Public Works Director Dar Baas. “We are committed to protecting public health through the responsible disposal of hazardous materials and we encourage residents to properly dispose of these materials when they are no longer needed.”
There are SafeChemdrop-off locations for home chemicals in Kentwood, Grand Rapids, Rockford and Wyoming. They are available for all Kent County residents to use at no cost. For hours and contact information, visit www.MIsafehomes.org.
In Kentwood, the SafeChem drop-off site is 5068 Breton SE. Hours of operation are Tuesdays 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. November – March and Tuesdays 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. April – October. For Wyoming, the closest SafeChem drop-off location is 2350 Ivanrest Ave. SW, Grandville, Hours of operation are Mondays 1-3 p.m. and Thursdays 7 – 9 a.m.
There are a number of places that are SafeMeds drop-off locations including both the Kentwood Police Department and the Wyoming Department of Public Works. (Public Domain)
SafeMedsProgram drop-off locations for prescription and over-the-counter medications include many local pharmacies and law enforcement agencies. These drop-off locations are for any resident to use at no cost. For more information, visit www.MIsafehomes.org.
There are several locations in both Kentwood and Wyoming that are SafeMeds drop-off sites. These include the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, 2300 DeHoop Ave. SW; Parkwood Pharmacy, 1106 Burton St. SW; Costco, 4901 Wilson Ave. SW; and Metro Health. In Kentwood, the Kentwood Police Department, 4742 Walma Ave. SE; LTC Pharmacy, 4477 E. Paris Ave., Kentwood, and Village Pharmacy, 4252 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids.
The Kent County Health Department Clinic in Kentwood is a SafeSharps drop-off location. (Public Domain)
SafeSharpsdrop-off locations for used needles, lancets or other injection devices are at all KCHD clinics. These drop-off locations are for any Kent County resident to use at no cost. For more information, visit www.MIsafehomes.org. In the Kentwood area, the Kent County Health Department South Clinic, 4700 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, serves as a SafeSharps drop-off location. The other two Kent County Health Department clinics are at 700 Fuller Ave. NE, and 121 Franklin St. SE, Suite #130.
An incredible kid your life? Let them know this Thursday during Absolutely Incredible Kid Day. (Supplied)
By Barbara Berens Camp Fire West Michigan
Camp FireWest Michigan 4C– a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and leader in youth development efforts – is calling on all adults throughout the country to participate in Absolutely Incredible Kid Day®on Thursday, March 21.
This national holiday engages millions of people from across the country to send notes, emails, letters, texts or videos to encourage the young people in their lives. Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® is nationally recognized each year on the third Thursday of March.
This year’s holiday features an exciting addition as the upcoming New Line Cinema movie SHAZAM!, based on the DC character and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, has partnered with Camp Fire to join the Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® celebration.
“Words can hurt and bring you down or words can lift you up. Kids need words of encouragement, words that show they are valued and treasured. Seeing these words in writing is powerful. Empower a kid today and write a letter for Absolutely Incredible Kid Day” says Gayle Orange, CEO of Camp Fire West Michigan 4C.
Camp Fire has been an inclusive, innovative leader in youth development since 1910. It founded Absolutely Incredible Kid Day®in 1997to inspire, encourage and uplift our nation’s youth. Today, Camp Fire’s 53 councils, located in 25 states and Washington D.C., will engage their communities online and offline to participate in this powerful holiday.
Notable past participants in Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® include former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Oprah, Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Jerry Rice and U.S. Astronaut and former Senator John Glenn.
For more information on Camp Fire West Michigan 4C or Absolutely Incredible Kid Day®, please visit www.campfirewestmi4c.organd follow us on Facebook. To showcase your Incredible Kid on social media, or to follow along on your favorite platform, please use the hashtags #AIKD and #KidDay on all social media platforms.
Scents and smells have a powerful effect on our minds. The smell of freshly mown grass might take you back to childhood summers, or cookies in the oven might remind you of the holidays. Our sense of smell is closely linked with the parts of the brain that are responsible for memory, emotion, and more, and it is this connection that aromatherapy targets to promote holistic wellness. The practice of aromatherapy dates back at least 6,000 years to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, China, and Greece. Today, aromatherapy is used to promote wellness for a number of conditions, such as anxiety, pain, and sleeplessness.
Aromatherapy uses aromatic substances known as essential oils, which are derived from plants like flowers, grasses, fruits, and tree bark and are highly concentrated, and applying undiluted oils directly to the skin can cause irritation, allergic reaction, or increased sensitivity. Always consult with a healthcare professional before using essential oils and exercise caution when applying them.
Here are five of our favorite essential oils:
1. Lavender
Lavender essential oil is a holistic jackpot of benefits. For those just starting their aromatherapy journey, this is a great option. Lavender essential oil has long been recognized for its ability to soothe and relax, which is why it’s a perfect sleep aid for seniors suffering from insomnia. It also uses an easy application processes. Simply have 1-3 drops applied to clothing, bed linens or a cotton ball at bedside. Additionally, lavender essential oil also has pain relieving properties. When mixed with an unscented lotion or plain massage oil and applied to the skin, it relaxes and soothes your muscles.
2. Rosemary
Rosemary essential oil improves concentration. It’s often used to awaken the brain, resulting in improved alertness and overall function. In fact, numerous studies show participants exposed to rosemary aromatherapy performed better on cognitive tests. Other benefits of rosemary essential oil are it reduces sleepiness, keeping you alert but relaxed. A great way to experience rosemary essential oil is by placing one to three drops on clothing, linens or at your bedside on a cotton ball.
3. Geranium
If you are encountering anxious or fearful emotions that you can’t shake, try using geranium essential oil. Geranium essential oil is commonly used for its ability to stabilize moods and calm anxiety. Many have described its aroma as a floral scent similar to roses. Try using one to three drops put on your bed linens or clothing for a calming effect throughout the day.
4. Bergamot
Bergamot is a plant that produces a type of citrus fruit, and therefore yields a a citrus-like fragrance with distinctive spicy and floral notes. If you are dealing with unwanted weight loss or a lack of desire to eat, bergamot essential oil therapy could help by stimulating your appetite. When using bergamot essential oil, it’s important to remember that it reacts strongly with sunlight and can cause severe sunburn. Exercise caution, apply only one to three drops to clothing or linens, and never apply directly to the skin.
5. Lemon
If you find yourself hitting the mid-morning wall, try lemon aromatherapy. It’s a great way to combat the feeling of lethargy. With its bright citrus scent, lemon essential oils create a revitalizing and uplifting effect on your mind and body. It’ a wonderful alternative to strong stimulants such as coffee or medications. To experience the full benefits, place it on textiles like clothing or cushions and let the scent lift your energy levels whenever you need a boost.
Remember, essential oils are very powerful both in their effects and their concentration. Putting them directly on the skin without proper dilution is not recommended and may cause a severe reaction. Your best option to prevent any ill effects is to consult with trained healthcare professionals or aromatherapists before using any essential oils, and apply them only according to their recommendations.
When it comes to holistic care options for seniors, consider essential oil aromatherapy. Our essential oils program at Vista Springs is designed to help our community members live a full of life experience. To learn more about Vista Springs’ holistic, energetic approach to assisted living, download our free eBook here.
It has been more than 28 years since the December night Richard “Richie” Hitchcock disappeared after an evening out at the Riverfront Lounge in Allegan. Despite an extensive initial search, and a dogged effort by family and friends to find out what happened to Richie, there has been no clues as to his fate.
Over the years, individuals and groups, usually led by Richie’s cousin, Kellie (Yunginger) Boers, and Richie’s brothers Steve and Andy, have tried many things to get information, only starting with a current $5,000 reward for information on the case. Over the years, they have posted flyers, painted information on rocks for people to find and inquire about, they have hooked up with the stock car racing community to keep the effort alive — despite knowing that Richie is most likely no longer alive.
Continuing that effort, on Saturday, March 23, Boers and others will hold a fundraising dinner to raise another $5,000 for the reward, pushing it to $10,000 total, at the Allegan Eagles (#2315) 110 Chestnut St., Allegan. The dinner will run 1-5 p.m., with include a chicken dinner with fixings, with live music, silent auction and raffles.
After almost three decades, the effort continues to give Richie’s family and friends a little peace by finding and putting Richie to peaceful rest.
“The reason we have never given up on searching for Richie is because we love him. He deserves to be looked for … He deserves to be found,” Boers said to WKTV. “We don’t deserve to suffer this loss nor grieve a family member whom we cannot find, but Rich didn’t deserve to serve out 28 years of his family not knowing where his final resting place is.”
Boers, in fact, has turned her lessons learned, skills and passion for right to becoming a advocate for all missing persons.
Richie “is the reason I became an advocate,” she said. “When I started investigating and searching for him, others saw what I was doing and referred people to me to ask how they could do the same for their families. … I am blessed that they think that highly of the work I do. I do it from my heart and soul.”
But front and center in her efforts, in her mind and heart — in the heart and mind of many — is always finding Richie.
“He is the reason we team up together, his brothers Steve and Andy and I, to help others who have missing loved ones,” Boers said. “We don’t want them to have to wait 28 plus years like we have.”
The group’s efforts over the years, while always continuing, have had some notable ideas.
There was an effort last spring to put pictures and information of his, along with other missing persons, on rocks, an effort called “Allegan Sticks and Stones.” The stones are left in random places for people to find and enquire about.
There are also race cars owned and driven by Boer’s local friends who race at “local tracks like Kalamazoo, Springport, Galesburg, New Paris, all over the state now … even up to Onaway … It’s gained momentum over the last about 4 years so we just keep printing them if they are willing to put them on their cars,” she said.
There was even a billboard effort last year, led by a Facebook fundraising campaign.
And on March 23, the effort to get more community support to find Richie will continue with the dinner fundraiser.
For more information on the dinner and the effort, visit the @helpusfindRichardHitchcockpage on Facebook.
By Dr. Jenny Bush, Cherry Health Pediatrician and Director of Pediatrics
National Poison Prevention Week is observed in the United States the third week of March every year. Over half of the 2.4 million cases of poisonings reported to poison control centers each year involve children less than 5 years of age.
To help keep your little ones safe, please check out these tips below:
Put the toll-free number for the Poison Control Center (1.800.222.1222) into your cell phone and post on the fridge.
Store all household products out of children’s sight and reach. Young kids are often eye-level with items under the kitchen and bathroom sinks. So, any bleach, detergents, dishwasher liquid or cleaning solutions that are kept there should be moved to a new storage location. This also applies to chemicals that may be in a garage or shed.
Keep cleaning products in their original containers. Never put a potentially poisonous product in something other than its original container (such as a plastic soda bottle) where it could be mistaken for something else.
Be aware of any medications that may be in your handbag. Ask visitors to place their handbags in an area that the children cannot get to.
Make sure that all medications, including vitamins, are stored out of reach and out of sight or children. Even if you are tempted to keep it handy, put medicine out of reach after every use. When you need to give another dose in just a few hours, it may be tempting to keep medicine close at hand. Accidents can happen fast. It only takes a few seconds for children to get into medicine that could make them very sick. Put medicine up and away after every use. And if you need a reminder, set an alarm on your watch or cellphone, or write yourself a note.
If you are interested in learning more about poisoning safety, please visit safekids.org.
Hay más de 43,000 Hispanohablantes que viven en el condado de Kent, de acuerdo con la 2013-2017 Encuesta de la Comunidad Americana. Para cuidar mejor los residentes de la zona, West Michigan Works! recientemente lanzó un sitio web en español: es.westmiworks.org. Hispanohablantes pueden encontrar en su idioma primario cómo comenzar su reclamo para desempleo, registrarse para trabajo, donde encontrar el centro de servicio más cercano, y que tipos de servicios de búsqueda de empleo están disponibles.
Otro recurso disponible en español en el sitio web es la lista anual de los trabajos que están en alta demanda. Este reportaje identifica los 100 empleos con alta tasa de crecimiento, los que pagan más de $13.00/hora, y cuales tienen alta demanda por empleadores locales. Esta lista incluye el pago promedio, y entrenamiento típico o requisitos académicos necesarios para cada trabajo. También identifican las profesiones que están disponibles para recibir becas de entrenamientos. Puede encontrar la lista en español de los trabajos en alta demanda en: es.westmiworks.org/hot-jobs-2/.
West Michigan Works! ofrece servicios gratuitos de búsqueda de trabajo a todos los solicitantes de empleo. La utilización de estos servicios no requiere prueba de ciudadanía y no afecta el proceso de solicitud de ciudadanía.
La experiencia en el empleo es ofrecida por West Michigan Works! Puede obtener más información sobre cómo pueden ayudar visite es.westmiworks.org o venga a su centro de servicio local.
There are nearly 43,000 Spanish speakers living in Kent County according to the 2013-2017 American Community Survey. To better serve all of the area’s residents, West Michigan Works! recently launched a Spanish language website at es.westmiworks.org. Spanish speakers can learn—in their native language—how to begin filing for unemployment and registering for work, where to find the nearest service center and what kinds of job search services are available.
Another Spanish resource included on the site is the annual Hot Jobs List. This report lists the top 100 jobs that have a high growth rate, pay over $13 per hour and are in demand by local employers. The list includes the average wage and typical training or education requirements for each occupation. It also identifies which occupations are eligible for West Michigan Works! training scholarships. You can check out the 2019 Hot Jobs List in Spanish at es.westmiworks.org/hot-jobs-2/.
West Michigan Works! provides free job search services to all job seekers. Utilizing their services does not require proof of citizenship and will not affect the citizenship application process.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
In 2013, after a five-year battle, Emmy Rickert lost her Aunt Jodi to breast cancer.
Two weeks later, at age 24, Rickert began fighting the same battle.
Rickert was still grieving the loss of her mom, who died of a brain aneurysm just two years prior. Seven months before her mom passed away, Emmy’s dad endured a heart transplant.
Two weeks after Aunt Jodi died, while Emmy worked as a legislative aide for a state senator in Lansing, Michigan, she felt a bruised area on her chest.
“I felt deeper and felt a lump,” Emmy said. “I was an active 24-year-old who exercised regularly. I wondered if I pulled a muscle or dropped something on it.”
Rickert visited her OB-GYN in Lansing.
“She said, ‘You’re 24, it’s probably nothing,” Rickert said. “’Let’s check back in a month.’”
Still tender from the loss of her aunt, she wanted to be sure. She pushed.
“I really credit my aunt with my life,” Rickert said. “I tell people to be their own health advocate, I really had to push my OB to get it checked further. I didn’t feel comfortable having just lost my aunt.”
Rickert talked her doctor into ordering an ultrasound.
“I remember going in thinking ‘whatever journey I’m about to start, help me to be strong enough for it,’” Rickert said. “I just didn’t have a good feeling about it.”
Cancer at 24
Shortly after the Friday morning ultrasound began, the technician stepped out and brought the radiologist in. He immediately ordered a core biopsy.
On Monday, while at her desk at work, she got the results.
“The radiologist called me and told me I had breast cancer,” Rickert said. “He seemed quite shaken. He said, ‘I’ve never had to call a 24-year-old to tell them they have breast cancer.”
I remembered back to when I was a child. Whenever I was sick and had to take medicine, (my mom would) say, ‘Alright, I’m sending the soldiers in to kill the bad guys.’ Every time I watched the chemo flow into my body, I thought of my mom and felt her there. I thought, ‘We’re sending the good guys in to kill the bad guys.’
Emmy Rickert Breast cancer survivor
The words rang in her ears. Just like in the movies. But this wasn’t fantasy. Instead, earth-shattering reality.
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
“My ears started ringing after I heard the word ‘cancer,’” she said. “I didn’t hear anything after. My world was spinning at that point. I didn’t understand why this was happening. I hadn’t prepared myself for those words ‘you have cancer.’ I don’t know if anyone can prepare themselves for that.”
Rickert’s mind whirled. She feared not only for her life, but she feared how she would tell her family about the diagnosis. They had already lost so much. So fast.
Right then, right there, she vowed to have the most optimistic and positive attitude possible.
“Having seen my family go through so much, I knew that was the answer,” she said.
Sharing the diagnosis with family
Rickert picked up her younger sister from Central Michigan University. They drove to their family home in Hersey, Michigan, near Reed City.
“I told them, ‘Listen, this is what’s going on,’” Rickert said. “I don’t know the specifics yet, but I’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer. I’m going to fight it and I’m not scared. I don’t want you to be, either.”
She soon learned the specifics. They weren’t comforting.
She had triple negative breast cancer, the most aggressive form of breast cancer. She needed surgery right away.
Because her young age and triple negative diagnosis threw up red flags, she underwent a mastectomy on her left breast.
“They came out and told me it had grown an entire centimeter in the two weeks from the ultrasound to surgery,” Rickert said. “But it had not spread to my lymph nodes yet. They said if I had waited even a matter of weeks, it would be a different story.”
Further testing revealed Rickert carries the BRCA2 gene mutation.
Following surgery, Rickert wanted to go home. Home to Hersey. Home to family. Home to friends.
Knowing there was a new Spectrum Health cancer center in Reed City—the Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Cancer Center, one of six Spectrum Health cancer centers, she teamed up with a Spectrum Health oncologist to fight the foe.
She always wanted to be a mom
But the recommended chemotherapy carried a risk she wasn’t willing to take—infertility.
“The No. 1 fear for me was not losing my hair or being sick during chemo, or even death,” she said. “It was not being a mother. Being a mother has always been my dream.”
She went to a fertility specialist in Grand Rapids, and froze her eggs before commencing chemotherapy.
That decision helped instill a deep resolve. Commitment deepened. She would win this fight. She had to win this fight. For her unborn children.
“That gave me so much hope,” Rickert said. “It gave me the gumption and will to say, ‘I’m going to be a mother now no matter what the fertility outcome is after chemo. That means I need to survive this because I’m going to be a mom.’ I went into it with a suit of armor, with hope and peace.”
Courtesy Emmy Rickert
Only after her eggs were frozen and safely tucked away did she begin chemotherapy. She felt fear as she watched the liquid drip into her veins.
But she also felt a presence. A presence she missed so very much. Her mom.
“Along this whole journey, I could really feel my mom there,” Rickert said. “I remembered back to when I was a child. Whenever I was sick and had to take medicine, she’d say, ‘Alright, I’m sending the soldiers in to kill the bad guys.’ Every time I watched the chemo flow into my body, I thought of my mom and felt her there. I thought, ‘We’re sending the good guys in to kill the bad guys.’ I think that outlook really made a difference for me.”
Unfortunately, chemotherapy made her sick. Very sick. Aunt Jodi did well through chemotherapy. Not so for her niece.
“I was in bed for weeks at a time,” Rickert said. “My dad and little sister would help me to the bathroom. But I was glad it was kicking my butt because I thought it might be kicking cancer’s butt as well.”
‘So much gratitude’
She’s grateful she made the decision to return home.
“Being close to my family and having that support system, being in my hometown and being at Spectrum also made a difference for me,” she said. “I had so many people rooting for me and lifting me up daily. There wasn’t time to feel down. I constantly was uplifted by my doctors and my townspeople, my family and friends.”
After she recovered from chemotherapy, Rickert decided she didn’t want to ever live through the same nightmare. She proactively had her right breast removed.
A year later, she married.
She and her husband, Kelly, conceived naturally. Their daughter, Grace, entered their lives on May 15, 2015.
“I can’t even begin to describe the joy we felt,” Rickert said. “I started to enjoy living. I felt so much gratitude that I survived. Seeing that miracle reminded me even more how precious and fragile life was.”
Having survived her own battle, she turned her energy outward.
“I started to do as many speaking engagements as I could, trying to help as many people diagnosed, or battling cancer, as I could,” she said. “I had gone through this for a reason, and that was to be a bright light for anyone going through this. I felt so driven to let people know there is life after cancer.”
And for the Rickert family, yet another life. Their son, Huck, was born in 2016.
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
The children were her light at the end of the tunnel, rainbows at the end of her storm. She calls them her little rainbow children.
But she knows storms can return. That’s why she’s not taking a single moment for granted. None of them.
“I know my cancer could return or something else could happen,” Rickert said. “Life is so precious, miraculous and fragile. I’m constantly being in the moment with my family. I’m helping others see that there is life past cancer and there is beauty in the battle because it makes you so much more aware of the fragility of life and the beauty of life.”
“Her courage and optimism in the face of adversity takes my breath away,” Dr. Smith said. “She is one in a long line of strong women who proudly carry on the legacy of Betty Ford with her candor, willingness to publicly speak of her personal journey, promote screening and early detection and, most of all, help all women take charge of their own destiny.”
Even though he’s got four years of high school ahead of him, Alan Ramos, an eighth-grader at Wyoming Junior High School, says college is already part of his plan for the future.
“I definitely want to go,” says Ramos, who is not sure about his career path. Those plans could include joining his father’s heating and cooling business or branching out in medicine, he said.
Ramos was among several hundred eighth-graders who braved slippery roads and blustery winds recently to attend the 20th Annual Latino Youth Conference at the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse at Grand Rapids Community College.
Speaker Gabe Salazar said he escaped poverty and gang activity thanks to a caring mentor. (Supplied)
Alan Bedolla-Diaz, also a Wyoming eighth-grader who enjoys playing alto saxophone, says he hopes to incorporate his love of music into his college studies. “I’m pretty good at it and I get pretty good grades,” he said.
Aimed at first generation college students, the theme of the March 5 conference was “El Poder De Sonar,” or “The Power of Dreams.”
The day began with a keynote speech by Gabe Salazar, a 42-year-old Dallas motivational speaker who told students he came from a fatherless home in which homelessness, gang activity and hunger were realities.
“Great things can happen to kids when they don’t give up,” said Salazar, who encouraged the students to go beyond wishing and start dreaming about their future.
The high-energy speaker joked his family was so poor, they were forced to wear sneakers that bore the label “Adios” instead of “Adidas.”
Salazar, who estimates he has challenged more than 2 million teenagers to attend college, stressed the importance of finding a mentor to guide the students through the process of enrolling in college and finding scholarships to help them pay for college.
Alan Bedolla-Diaz was among several hundred eighth-graders who braved slippery roads and blustery winds recently to attend the 20th Annual Latino Youth Conference at the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse at Grand Rapids Community College. (Supplied)
Mentors also can help students tough it out when faced with challenges, said Salazar, who credits his high school principal with guiding him through high school and college. “What I learned is that mentors can make a big difference in your life,” he said.
The conference also included a series of breakout sessions in which volunteers coached the students in college preparation activities, navigating the college application process, and exploring careers.
“The 2019 Latino Youth Conference will commemorate 20 years of providing young students an affirming space to be who they are: young, Hispanic/Latino, and full of hope and optimism,” said B. Afeni McNeely Cobham, GRCC’s chief equity and inclusion officer.
“Encouraging these students to reflect on the ‘power of their dreams’ is particularly important to resisting socio-political rhetoric that besieges Latino communities domestically and abroad. Historically, the Latino Youth Conference, founded by GRCC alumni, empowers young people. This year’s event will continue that legacy.”
For more articles on area schools, visit School News Network’s website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley talks about recent business news in the city and also the city’s continuing commitment to the quality of life of its residents. Then we talk with Chief Judge William G. Kelly of Kentwood’s 62-B Kent County District Court, a system celebrating 50 years of existence and often called “the people’s court”.
First up In Focus, Mayor Kepley likes to say that “Kentwood is Open for Business” – a fitting jumping-off point for a discussion about recent industrial growth in the city. But Mayor Kepley is also an advocate for the livability of his city and the quality of life there, so we will also talk about smaller new businesses that make the city a special place to call home.
Then In Focus, Judge Kelly talks about what the district court is, a little of its history, how it is working to help citizens as much as discipline citizens, and succeeding his father, Joseph Kelly, in the position. For a link to his interview video, click here .
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). In Focus is also available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com. All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
March is Women’s History Month, and St. Cecilia Music Center is, itself, a huge part of the history of women in Grand Rapids.
Dating from 1883 when several musically talented women, led by Ella Matthews Peirce, formed a society to “promote the study and appreciation of music in all its branches, and to encourage the development of music in the community”, St. Cecilia has been offering music education and performance.
When asked, current St. Cecilia executive director Cathy Holbrook will gladly talk in great depth about the history of the society, or the beautiful building it built and which continues to host world-class concerts as well as community and youth musicians.
But when Holbrook is asked about the Center’s biggest March event, the first annual Helen DeVos Legacy Award dinner on March 23, she has a little extra spark in her words.
St. Cecilia Music Center executive director Cathy Holbrook. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“At this inaugural event we will honor the late Helen DeVos for all of her efforts promoting the cultural life in Grand Rapids — really, helping to create the cultural life in Grand Rapids,” Holbrook said to WKTV. “In subsequent years we’ll choose a different woman in West Michigan who has had positive impact on the arts … to get the Helen DeVos Legacy Award.”
Tickets are still available for the Helen DeVos Legacy Award dinner.
Holbrook stressed that this award is not only to honor Helen DeVos this year, but for many years to come — to help, in St. Cecilia’s way, to remember her caring and giving ways.
“The DeVos family has been very supportive of St. Cecilia, but really supportive of the cultural life of Grand Rapids,” she said. “It is funny, because Mr. DeVos made it very clear that (supporting cultural life) was really Helen’s bailiwick. So it is really so important for us to honor her, and everything she did. …
“But we knew that it would be important to her and the family that we were honoring other people as well. … She would not have wanted it to be about her, but about other people.”
Initially, though, it is more than fitting that St. Cecilia’s new award will first honor the late Helen DeVos, who was a lifelong benefactor and supporter of many arts organizations in the community, including St. Cecilia.
After all, St. Cecilia’s stated mission is “to promote the study, appreciation and performance of music in order to enrich the lives of West Michigan residents.”
It could be argued that it was a mission of Helen DeVos to “enrich the lives of West Michigan residents” as well.
“Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of an humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of the universe.”
― Carl Sagan
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) has concerts at the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium. (Supplied)
Concert under (indoor) stars
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) just announced a fifth concert in the popular Concerts Under the Stars series. Local band Pink Sky will be performing a second night, concluding the 2019 series on Thursday, March 21,and Friday, March 22. Concert goers can sit back and enjoy the wonder of the cosmos with the wonder of music. For the complete story, visit here.
WKTV will begin broadcast coverage of Michigan Golden Gloves this weekend. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Its Golden Gloves time
WKTV has been covering the Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament for more than 25 years. Again this year, we will be at the Grand Rapids DeltaPlex Saturday, March 16, for the West Michigan Preliminaries, and will continue coverage through the State Finals in April.. For the complete story, visit here.
Ryan Speedo Green, opera singer. (Supplied)
Not your everyday opera singer
Ryan Speedo Green, a bass-bartonie Speedo who has performed at The Met, talks about his unique personal and musical journey in the book “Speedo Green: Sing For Your Life,” which he will discuss Thursday, March 26, at DeVos Performance Hall. Joining Speedo will be his author Daniel Bergner. For the complete story, visit here.
Fun fact:
‘A’ above high ‘C’
Reportedly the highest musical note ever hit by a singer: Soprano Audrey Luna said she was surprised to learn she’d hit the highest note ever sung in the 137-year history of New York City’s Metropolitan Opera in 2017. (Source)
“The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe” cast from Potter House. (Meochia Nochi Thompson)
By Meochia Nochi Thompson WKTV Community Writer
The Potter’s House Elementary and Junior High School fourth- through eighth-grade students “did it again” with a successful production of “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” directed by Janae K. Dean, founder and director of Children’s Creations! The dramatization was a reenactment of the C.S. Lewis’ classic, part of the Chronicles of Narnia.
“This is a story of love, faith, courage and giving…it is a true celebration of life,” as stated in the story’s synopsis.
The magical journey and mysterious tale of good versus evil takes place in Narnia where the great lion, Aslan (Jacob Caballero), protects all the innocent creatures of the land from the cruel White Witch (Shaelia Hoeksema), who threatens to overthrow the kingdom unless the prophecy is fulfilled. Four unsuspecting siblings, Lucy (Sofia Brinkerhoff); Susan (Abigail Ponstine); Edmund (Kayler Erazo) and Peter (Malachi Verwys), happen to wander upon an old wardrobe and find themselves in the middle of a life changing adventure that leads to their true life’s purpose.
Every detail from the costumes and makeup to the set design, lighting and sound were meticulously, phenomenal for such a young group.
Portraying the White Witch was Shaelia Hoeksema (center) and the Lion was Jacob Caballero. (Meochia Nochi Thompson)
“I wanted to do some unique and creative things with the hair and makeup this year,” said Director Janae Dean. “I shared my vision with family and friends of the cast and received some fantastic help from many people who made the vision a reality.”
Although the school year had plenty of snow days, the absences did not stop the entire cast from displaying expert acting skills and teamwork. They managed to memorize hours of lines with superb English accents that never faltered. There were very few slip-ups to the trained ear the first public performance but nothing apparently noticeable to the excited elementary school students and parents amazed by the characters and further intrigued by a great rendition of a story very well done.
Connie Gall, whose fibromyalgia led to her early retirement, has found a new sense of purpose in the adoption and care of older dogs. She’s pictured here with her dog Prince. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
What do actor Morgan Freeman and Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor have in common with Connie Gall, a retired college financial aid officer?
All three suffer from fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder with debilitating effects.
Gall, 59, has lived with fibromyalgia since 1990. Just four months after having back surgery that year, she was in a car accident that gave her severe whiplash.
The whiplash triggered a series of symptoms: migraines, widespread joint and muscle pain, TMJ trouble, restless legs, burning and cold skin sensations, sleep problems, fatigue, tinnitus and polyneuropathy.
Although Gall’s symptoms began 28 years ago, it wasn’t until 2004 that a rheumatologist connected the dots and diagnosed her with fibromyalgia.
Joshua Brinks, NP, is a family nurse practitioner who works in the Spectrum Health Medical Group East Grand Rapids Family Medicine office and specializes in working with fibromyalgia patients. He and Gall, one of his patients, would like to shed some light on fibromyalgia and debunk some of the common myths associated with it.
Myth No. 1: Fibromyalgia isn’t real, it’s all in your head.
Fact—Fibromyalgia is a central nervous system pain processing disorder.
“It’s a chronic pain syndrome,” Brinks said. “We don’t know what causes it and we don’t have a cure. And so for patients to actually have a name (for their disorder) and to know that … it’s not in their head is very comforting or relieving to them.”
Gall agrees. When she finally found a doctor who “could put a name on what was going on with me, it made me feel validated … and it all started to make sense,” she said. “It’s (your) central nervous system playing games with you.”
In the last decade, more and more health care providers have accepted and acknowledged the reality of fibromyalgia, Brinks said.
“That’s a big step,” he said.
The next challenge is getting more people to understand it.
“It’s hard to explain to people it’s something that’s going on in your brain—that it’s your central nervous system that is controlling how you feel pain,” Gall said.
Myth No. 2: Health care providers diagnose fibromyalgia when they can’t find a “real” diagnosis.
Fact—There are defined diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia. If a patient meets these criteria and if other diseases are ruled out, the diagnosis is quite clear.
“I can diagnose it in a single visit,” Brinks said, giving two main diagnostic criteria:
Widespread pain above and below the waist on both sides of the body for three months or longer.
Eleven out of 18 classic tender points—again, above and below the waist on both sides of the body.
“There’s no blood test for it, although sometimes we do a blood test to rule out other things that can mimic it,” Brinks said.
Myth No. 3: If your muscles hurt so much, there must be something wrong with them.
Fact—The problem isn’t in the muscles themselves, but in the way the brain is interpreting signals.
“The fact is,” Brinks said, “they’ve done studies to look at the muscle fibers, they’ve looked at biopsies, pathology studies—they can’t find anything wrong here.”
So if you have fibromyalgia, you need to “retrain your brain into thinking that if (your) husband gives (you) a hug and that causes pain, it’s not actually causing harm to the tissue,” he said.
Myth No. 4: Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that affects only women.
These statistics match the patient demographics Brinks sees in his practice.
Myth No. 5: Fibromyalgia is rare.
Fact—Experts estimate that more than 5 million adults in the United States have it.
“It’s actually one of the most common pain disorders,” Brinks said.
Myth No. 6: Fibromyalgia is hopelessly untreatable.
Fact—Although fibromyalgia has no cure, several treatments can be helpful. Patients respond best if they keep a positive attitude and try various treatments to find what works for them. Brinks mentioned several:
Education
This is where treatment should start for every patient, said Brinks, who spends extra time helping newly diagnosed patients understand what he knows about fibromyalgia.
Gall advises people to find out as much as they can about their illness and its symptoms.
“One of the things that helped me was to really learn about it,” Gall said. “I found reading about it, understanding what all these things are, it made them less scary.”
Maximize sleep
Almost all patients with fibromyalgia experience non-restorative sleep.
“We don’t necessarily know why, but … the quality of their sleep is not good, so they wake up feeling tired,” Brinks said. The result: intensified pain.
Brinks tries to help patients develop good sleep behaviors and patterns. He also looks for underlying sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, and works to treat them.
Low-impact aerobic exercise
Using an elliptical machine, swimming, riding a bike, going for a fast-paced walk—any of these exercises can improve a patient’s sleep and mood, and they can also reduce pain. “Initially it makes your pain a little worse, but then it gets better with time,” Brinks said. Activities like yoga and tai chi can help, too.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Try a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, Brinks suggested. Working with a therapist or pain psychologist, some patients experience improvement through relaxation and breathing techniques or through guided imagery.
Drug therapy
Brinks often starts patients on a low dose of amitriptyline, which can help improve sleep and pain. He might also prescribe drugs that block the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, which can help improve a patient’s mood and reduce pain. Some patients also find that anticonvulsant medicines help reduce pain.
The medications’ effectiveness can vary from patient to patient. “Sometimes it’s just one drug, sometimes it’s a combination,” Brinks said.
But narcotics are not in the mix: “Research has shown over and over again that narcotics do not help fibromyalgia,” he said.
Address underlying mood disorders
Treating anxiety and depression, which often go hand in hand with fibromyalgia, can ease the burden of living with the disorder.
Well-balanced diet
Gall is a firm believer in eating right.
“I don’t know what shape I’d be in if I didn’t eat so well,” she said. “If you let that slide, it’s like a domino effect.”
Overall, attitude makes a big difference for people with fibromyalgia, she said.
“I love life. I think this is a pretty cool place to be, and if you’re always talking to the people you run into about the latest thing your doctor has told you to do, that means you’re concentrating on your condition,” she said.
“Except for those days when I’m screaming through those stabbing pains or curled up like a ball with a migraine for three days, I’m going to try to do the rest of life with a smile on my face,” she said.
Brinks said people who have good attitudes and a willingness to try new things will experience better outcomes.
Three P’s
One strategy Brinks recommends is the “three P’s” approach:
Prioritize—“If you have a day off work and you have 12 errands you want to run, you need to shorten that list,” Brinks said. “What are the things that are most important?” If you take on too much, the stress can impact your sleep and “all of that is like the perfect storm for fibromyalgia to flare up,” he said.
Plan—Based on your priorities, think about how you should approach your tasks and what’s reasonable to expect of yourself.
Pace yourself—If you have three errands to run, don’t try to do all of them in the first two hours. Space them out, Brinks said. Gall told of a day when she didn’t pace herself as she prepared the house for a family gathering. She ended up in so much pain, she could hardly enjoy the party.
Above all, Brinks said, don’t let pain rule your life. Recognize there will be good days and bad, and remind your brain that your pain is “not life threatening—it’s annoying and frustrating, but it’s not going to cause terminal illness,” he said.
Still, it may bring about major life changes. For Gall, the pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia became so bad she eventually had to retire early from a job she loved.
Looking to fill the void, she and her husband began adopting older dogs from animal shelters, giving them a safe home in their later years. The sense of purpose this gives her is a tremendous help, Gall said.
After decades with fibromyalgia, she’s found the best strategy is to face it with grit and resolve.
“Even if I have to do life in pain every day, ranging from a pain level 3 to a pain level 10, I don’t get to go back and do it again,” she said, “so I’m going to try to be as good at it as I can.”
Depression and anxiety are both common and potentially serious health issues.
In fact, approximately 10 percent of us suffer from one of these disorders, with anxiety being more common in women than in men.
The symptoms of anxiety and depression can go away and come back throughout life if left untreated, and many people find it difficult to admit they have anxiety or depression, thinking there isn’t a cure for what they are experiencing. Fortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
A few months ago, a patient I’ll call Cindy came to see me for her annual visit. She started to talk about her life and how she was feeling down most of the time. She didn’t understand why she was feeling this way—everything seemed like it should be nearly perfect.
Cindy is married, has three great kids and a part-time job she enjoys. She also has a strong group of friends at church and her parents live nearby, so she really feels like she has a good life.
As I probed a bit further with questions, she admitted she had been feeling down for about three months and wondered if she would ever feel like her old self again.
Her kids are doing well, but they are becoming busier with sports, church and school. Of course, this meant that Cindy is becoming busier as well. Although she generally isn’t feeling stressed or anxious, she started noticing some changes in herself: doubting how well she could handle her busy life, losing interest in playing games with her kids, making excuses to avoid going out with friends, cooking less (something she once loved to do), losing interest in sex, and exercising less.
When I asked Cindy about her extended family, she said that her mom had suffered from depression during Cindy’s childhood, and she remembers her mom withdrawing and spending quite a bit of time in her bedroom.
Cindy felt that her mom didn’t really know her and was never supportive of anything she wanted to do. In fact, when Cindy wanted to join the cheer team in high school, her mom would not take her to practice, and never encouraged Cindy to practice on her own or exercise to stay in shape. In addition, her mom always seemed sad and unusually quiet, her dad worked long hours and was never home, and her brother kept to himself most of the time.
Cindy obviously didn’t have a perfect childhood. She once had big dreams of attending college, but those dreams never materialized. She hadn’t thought about her college dreams in a long time, but talking to me about her childhood stirred up some old memories.
On a positive note, Cindy doesn’t drink much alcohol, never smoked, and eats a fairly healthy diet. She also walks the dog around her neighborhood daily, but she didn’t follow an intense workout program. Although she feels OK with her weight, she admits that she would feel better if she lost a few pounds.
Cindy just wanted to know how she could feel better. I certainly understand Cindy’s frustrations, and I was anxious to figure out why she was feeling this way and help her develop a plan to move forward.
I talked with her about anxiety and depression. We first looked at common risk factors of both: genetics (family history), low self esteem, prior traumatic events, abuse or neglect, substance abuse and early onset of anxiety and depression.
Cindy obviously had at least one of these factors in her life. We also talked about other reasons people struggle with these issues.
Anxiety and depression can be related to life events (past and present), but they can also be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. The analogy I use to explain our brain chemistry goes something like this: brain chemicals are like money in the bank—we only have so much to spend before we run out. We make brain chemicals when we sleep, and genetically (linked to many genes), some of us make more than others. We spend brain chemical on life events, which can cause our supply to get low.
For Cindy, life events (busy kids, busy husband, busy household) were causing her to use her supply of brain chemicals. She also had unresolved issues come to the surface: her kids getting to do things she never did in her childhood, her husband working long hours (just like her dad did), and thinking more about her earlier dreams of college. Add to all of this a little weight gain, and you can imagine the stress Cindy felt.
When we have unresolved issues on our minds (like Cindy did), they cost brain chemicals. Sometimes we may not even be aware of some of the things that are floating around in our head. So, when our friends ask us out for coffee or it is time to make dinner, we don’t have enough brain chemicals to propel us forward. We slowly start to shut down, and life starts to pass us by. Depression can set in and affect not only ourselves, but our family, friends and co-workers as well.
There are several common symptoms of depression that you can look out for, including feeling down most days, losing interest in usual things, sleeping too much or not enough, losing or gaining weight, feeling unable to concentrate or think clearly, and thinking you are not good enough.
If depression is left untreated, other issues can arise, such as anxiety, diabetes, heart disease and thyroid disease.
In order to help Cindy, I first ordered some lab work, which included her blood count, thyroid levels, body chemistry function, vitamin levels, and sugar levels. All came back normal. My hope was that we could work together to treat her symptoms.
Cindy felt a sense of relief just getting her worries off her chest, and she became hopeful when I told her she wasn’t crazy. Her experiences are normal, common and treatable.
I first recommended that she see a therapist who practiced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help her sort out issues from her past. I also suggested more exercise in her daily routine, even if it is in small amounts (like 10,000 steps per day).
And, finally, I recommended a short-term course of medicine from a group called SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). These drugs increase the brain chemical levels so there is “more money in the bank” to help people like Cindy get back on track and stop the downward spiral.
Cindy came to see me two months later, and she felt much more like herself again—hooray!
She had seen her therapist several times and had started a very low dose of the medication. She also developed a meal and exercise plan that worked well. Her kids and husband had noticed, and commented that they had missed having fun with her and were happy to have her back.
Cindy started to think about her part-time job and maybe quitting so she could go back to school. She had coffee with a friend and realized how good it felt to stay connected and laugh again.
I have no doubt that Cindy will be fine, but she will always have to be aware of her feelings, or even ask a friend to check in with her if she notices any new symptoms Cindy might be displaying. Cindy will inevitably experience stressful events in her future (we all will), so she will always be at risk for starting a downward spiral at some point.
However, with treatment and awareness, she should live a happy, connected and fulfilled life.
WKTV will be featuring the launch of the Expedition 59-60/Soyuz MS-12 Spacecraft to the International Space Station on WKTV Government 26 channel.
NASA astronaut Christian Koch, cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin and NASA astronaut Nick Hague. (NASA)
The launch is set for 3:41 p.m. Thursday, March 14. Coverage will begin at 2 p.m. Coverage will continue at 10:30 p.m. for the Hatch Opening and Welcoming Ceremony. The hatch is scheduled to open at around 11:10 p.m.
NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch, and cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin are set to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a six-hour journey to the International Space Station.
Koch, who was born in Michigan, and astronaut Anne McClain will be part of a the first all-female spacewalk set for March 29 with complete coverage on WKTV. Canadian Space Agency flight controller Kristen Facial will be supporting McClain and Koch on the console at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The spacewalk is part of three planned spacewalks during Expedition 59 to upgrade batteries on the International Space Station.
For more information on NASA TV or the International Space 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.
Moooove over, Bessie. Cow’s milk has lots of competition.
You can fill your glass with a milk-like beverage made from hemp, coconut, cashews, macadamia nuts, oats, peas, flax, sunflower seeds or quinoa.
And the longtime favorites―soy, rice and almond milks―occupy more and more space on store shelves.
In the past few decades, the growth in milk alternatives has cut into Americans’ dairy milk consumption. Cow’s milk sales have dropped to half the level of the 1980s, according to the Dairy Reporter. Meanwhile, the milk alternatives market is expected to double by 2019.
With more options popping up, picking the right milk to pour on your cereal can be a bit overwhelming for consumers.
Making that choice depends on an individual’s health needs―and taste preference, says Kristi Veltkamp, MS, RD, a dietitian at Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital.
“If you have allergies, that’s obviously a big driving force,” she says.
For those allergic to cow’s milk, nuts or soy, the growing alternatives market offers some welcome options.
Aside from allergies, nutritional goals should guide your choice, she says.
From the cow
When it comes to nutrition, the old standby rules.
“Cow’s milk by far has the most nutrition in it,” Veltkamp says. “It has protein in it. It has carbohydrates. It has fats. It has a good combination of all three macronutrients. …It’s also a good source of calcium. It has phosphorus and potassium.”
Nutritional guidelines call for whole milk for children from ages 1 to 2. Veltkamp recommends organic milk, free of growth hormones.
Consumers also should consider pastured or grass-fed cow’s milks, she adds, because in consuming an animal product, “you eat what it eats.”
Once children turn 2, they generally can switch to a lower fat milk.
Although adults have long been advised to drink low-fat milk to limit calorie and fat consumption, Veltkamp says recent research casts doubt on that practice. A 2016 study in the journal Circulation, for example, found people who consumed full-fat milk and dairy products had lower diabetes rates.
Sugars and protein
People opt for an alternative to cow’s milk for a variety of reasons―they may be lactose intolerant, allergic to milk or following a plant-based diet.
Typically, the plant-based alternatives are created by blending up the main ingredient with water and straining out the pieces.
“Then, they add a thickener. Otherwise, it would be very watery,” Veltkamp says, “Then they add vitamins. Essentially, it’s flavored water.”
Many plant-based milks “are a nice low-calorie option if you are trying to watch your calories or your carbs,” Veltkamp says.
But stick with an unsweetened version, she advises. The flavored versions of popular drinks, like soy and almond milk, can deliver more sugar and calories than cow’s milk.
And remember to check the nutrition facts. Rice milks typically are relatively high in carbs.
Milk produced by cows does contain lactose, a naturally occurring sugar. But that differs from the sugar added to sweetened milk alternatives.
“It is processed differently in the body,” Veltkamp says.
Most of the alternatives have little protein―just a gram or 2 per serving. For those looking for a higher protein content, soy milk and pea milk are good alternatives. They contain 7 or 8 grams of protein in a cup.
Calcium and cooking
Most of the plant-based milks are calcium fortified and deliver 30 to 50 percent of the recommended daily allowance for adults.
If lactose intolerance poses a problem, consumers can buy lactose-free milk.
“They add an enzyme called lactase, and it breaks down the lactose in milk,” Veltkamp says. “It’s kind of like it’s predigested.”
Despite the thinner consistency, Veltkamp says milk alternatives work well in recipes.
“I use almond milk in any recipe that calls for milk, and I don’t have any issues,” she says.
Lucia Rios was born with spina bifida but also with a family who urged her to try to do anything she wanted to. That included trying roller-skating on crutches and attending university in an era when the U.S. was still working to become handicap-accessible. She joins colleague Stacey Trowbridge to talk about stigmas, accommodation, and common-sense tips around disability.
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
In late January of 2019, Dr. Jen received an email from concerned cat lovers in Olivet who had befriended a very adorable, outgoing — albeit intact — male who showed up several weeks before. He had taken to hanging out on their back porch, meowing at them through the window, so they put food out for him (and an opossum buddy it seems), and he repaid their kindness by purring, head-butting and rubbing up against the husband and wife.
They took to the Charlotte Facebook pages to see if anyone had lost this orange kitty, but the only replies received were that people had seen him around as he had spent the summer at the Sherwood Forest campgrounds begging for handouts. As the weather turned colder, they made him a house on their porch and set him up with heated dishes, but when it dipped dangerously below zero, they were compelled to take him indoors.
Sadly, once he was let back out, he got into a huge fight with another feral in the area; then only a few days later, a dog attacked him; he wasn’t eating well and was looking rough, so they took him in to their vet for treatment—and discovered he was FIV+. Not having the room or cash flow for a fourth cat, and not wanting to entertain the morbid thought of having him euthanized as recommended, they reached out to us for assistance.
Since he was such a gentle cat who wasn’t phased in the least by the presence of the household kitties, even when being hissed at, they felt he deserved every chance at finding himself an indoor home that could better accommodate him. In the meantime, they boarded him at the vet’s office until they could make the trip over to us (the weather simply wasn’t obliging). On Feb. 4th, we eagerly opened our doors to the 3-1/2 year old (born in the summer of 2015), a striking, sturdy hunk aptly named Sherwood.
As is customary, Dr. Jen always does her own medical work-up when a cat enters into our program at either shelter, so she set to work on treating a multitude of issues: a bilateral ear infection with a deep left pinna laceration; an abraded and infected scrotal sac (ouchie!) that made neutering a bit of a challenge; there were small, scabby chin wounds; his upper right canine tooth had also been fractured but didn’t need extracting, thankfully.
Sherwood is still a bit shy, but he’ll warm up once he has a home of his own
By the next morning, he was feeling lots better and Dr. Jen felt he was ready to head on down to our sanctuary to start living the cushy life at the hands of our volunteers who were ready to spoil him. Initially, this 13-pound fella was quite shy, preferring to spend most of his time in one of our cozy cat cubbies, only venturing out primarily at night when the shelter was quiet and calm. But he is starting to settle in nicely and is exploring more readily. His favorite pastime, besides eating, is chilling on one of our many windowsills watching the birds come to the feeders, though he also is quite fond of being spoken softly to and is very accepting of head scratches.
He isn’t quite sure of being picked up yet, and when he gets to feeling overwhelmed by too much commotion, he will hiss and retreat to one of his safe places. We all collectively feel that he would do well in a home with another cat, though it isn’t mandatory, but that small kids would be too much for him. We also think that in time he will become an avid fan of lap lounging, though now he is perfectly content to hunker down here with us where it is safe, warm and canned food flows freely.
Ultimately, Sherwood sure would love to find himself a home of his own, but he is a happy lil’ indoor camper currently loving this new life of his!
More about Sherwood:
Large
Domestic Short Hair — Orange & White
Adult
Male
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Not declawed
Good in a home with other cats
Prefers a home without children
Want to adopt Sherwood? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To
take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids
area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming,
no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be
found.
