If you come from a large family, you may have a lower risk of cancer, a new study suggests.
Researchers analyzed data from 178 countries and found that people from larger families were less likely to get cancer than those from smaller families.
The link between family size and cancer risk was “independent of income, levels of urbanization and age,” study senior author Maciej Henneberg said in a University of Zurich news release. He’s a guest professor in the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine at the university, in Switzerland.
Family size included not just parents and their children, but also members of the extended family in the household.
This protective effect of a large family was stronger in men than in women, according to the study published recently in the journal BMC Cancer.
It’s important to note, however, that the study only found an association between family size and cancer risk. It did not prove a cause-and-effect connection.
Family life can be stressful, but can also provide positive emotional environments that can boost a person’s resistance to diseases, including cancer, the researchers said.
Family members supporting one another in following a healthy lifestyle may also provide protection against cancer, the study authors added.
After action by the Kent County Commission Thursday, Jan. 3, the following are 2019 appointments to various county boards and committees. For a complete list of board membership, visit this page at accesskent.com .
Agricultural Preservation Board
Commissioner Matt Kallman
Area Agency on Aging – Advisory Council
Commissioner Stephen Wooden (filling unexpired term of Harold Mast) Harold Mast (filling unexpired term of Dr. Frederick Deane)
Area Agency on Aging – Board of Directors
Commissioner Carol Hennessy
Community Corrections Advisory Board
Circuit Court Judge Mark Trusock Commissioner Jim Talen Christine Tober – Defense Attorney Christine Witters – Probation Representative
Community Health Advisory Committee
Commissioner Emily Brieve Commissioner Betsy Melton Savator Selden-Johnson – DHHS Representative Mark Swan – Health Care Provider Lori Pearl-Kraus – Health Care Provider Lisa Knight – Community-based Organization
County Building Authority
Michael Jaskula Ross Leisman
Fire Commission
Commissioner Roger Morgan Commissioner Tom Antor Carlton Blough – Township Elected Official Jacqueline Smith – Township Elected Official Jennifer Venema – Township Elected Official
Foreign Trade Zone Board Wayman Britt – County Administrator
FOC Citizens Advisory Committee
Chuck DeWitt – Sheriff’s Designee Michelle Smith-Lowe – Prosecutor’s Designee (filling unexpired term of Mark Vermeer) Kyle Quinn – Family Law Attorney Malique Greer – General Public Representative
Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Board
Birgit Klohs Dan Koorndyk – County Representative
Grand Valley Metro Council
Mandy Bolter (filling unexpired term of Carol Hennessy)
Grand Rapids – Kent County Convention/Arena Authority
Steve Heacock
Kent County Community Action Agency Advisory Governing Board
Tom Oosterbaan – Consumer Sector Representative Jessica White-Hatinger – Public Sector Representative
Kent County Family & Children’s Coordinating Council
Jack Greenfield – Private Agency Representative Scott Smith – KISD Superintendent At-Large Kasie Pickardt – Private Agency Representative Maureen Kirkwood – Private Funding Representative
Shellie Cole-Mickens Molly Reid (filling unexpired term of Carol Avery) Sara Sobel (filling unexpired term of Harold Mast)
Land Bank Authority
Kurt Reppart (filling unexpired term of Mayor Rosalynn Bliss)
Millennium Park Architectural Advisory Review Board
Commissioner Stan Stek Dave Custer – Design Community Representative
Public Works Board
Commissioner Tom Antor (filling unexpired term of Dan Koorndyk) Commissioner Phil Skaggs
Remonumentation Peer Review Group
Arthur Brintnall – Professional Surveyor Ken Vierzen – Professional Surveyor Randall Jonker – Professional Surveyor Dan Pratt – Professional Surveyor (filling unexpired term of Tom Chettleburgh)
Now that Christmas is over, the age old question of “What shall we do with the tree?” is on the minds of those who had a real tree.
Well, if you are are resident of the City of Wyoming, there is always the drop-off site at 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW. The drop-off site, which is open year round, will have special hours this Saturday, Jan. 5, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wyoming city residents may bring their Christmas trees and other yard waste to the site for free. Residents must register with an ID each time they use the site. Winter hours for the drop-off site Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. December through March.
If you are a resident of the City of Kentwood, the city’s tree recycling site is now open through Jan. 31. Residents can drop off their trees at the city’s Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE from 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday.
Remember, before bringing tree to either site, make sure that all decorations, wires, and lights have been removed.
Loyalty programs, such as Meijer’s MPerks and Hallmark’s Gold Crown Rewards, have been around for a long time. In fact, you can trace the roots of these programs back to about 1896, when Sperry & Hutchinson started to offer its loyalty retail program to supermarkets, gas stations and stores in the form of small green stamps.
S&H Green Stamps were a common commodity with shoppers sometimes selecting a store based on if it offered the stamps or not.
“Back in the days of the 1950s and 1960s, I think the new homemakers of the day were attracted to this idea of getting some extra value to their purchases,” said Bill Branz, from the Wyoming Historical Commission and who oversees the Wyoming History Room at the KDL Wyoming Branch. “I remember my mother saving stamps and one of the most popular were S&H Green Stamps.”
Retailers would purchased the stamps from S&H and then give them away at a rate determined by the merchant. Stamps had values of one, 10, and 50 points. Shoppers would stick the stamps in books that had 24 pages. Filling a page required 50 points and a full book contained 1,200 points. Shoppers would then exchange filled books for premiums, including housewares and other items from a local Green Stamps store or catalog.
S&H Green Stamps would come in one, 10 and 50 point stamps. It took 50 points to fill a page in one souvenir book. It took 1,200 points to fill the 24-page book.
“You would take your books of Green Stamps, and hopefully they would not be falling out, and you would come in there and you would pick out maybe a toaster or something like that,” Branz said.
One of the most well-known local Green Stamps provider was Rogers Department Store, which operated from 1955 to 2005, much of the time at 1001 28th St. SW, Wyoming. It is now where Advantage Solutions is located. Across the street, in the Rogers Plaza was a redemption center.
“So it was a unique part of our local history,” Brantz said as he looks over a few books of Green Stamps along with other similar loyalty program products.
The recessions of the 1970s are credited to the decline of collecting stamps like these.
The recessions of the 1970s is credited to the decline of the stamps, which has pretty much disappeared in the 1980s. At one point, after the redemption center closed in Rogers Plaza, Rogers Department Store started redeeming the books of stamps for Rogers Cash to be used in the store.
S&H Green Stamps still exist, online as S&H Greenpoints. The website is greenpoints.com, where you can still redeem the S&H Green Stamps, as long as you have 60 books or more.
If you would like to view the S&H Green Stamps or other Wyoming historical items, visit the Wyoming Historical Room at the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3300 Michael Ave. SW. The room is open the first and third Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and by appointment. The Wyoming Historical Commission is always looking for items related to the history of Wyoming. If you have something you would like to donate or if you are interested in volunteering, call 616-261-3508 or visit Wyoming Michigan History Room’s Facebook page.
Young children are naturally drawn to books. When children listen to a book, they are in the beginning stages of learning to read and also hear words that are quite different from the spoken language. According to Reid Lyon from the National Institute of Health and Human Development, approximately 20 to 30 percent of children have difficulties learning to read. In addition, 15 million children do not have access to any sort of reading materials. In order for children to be successful readers, they need daily exposure to books, have caregivers or parents speak to them on a continual basis throughout the day, recognize letters of the alphabet and know the parts of a book including the role of the author and illustrator.
Struggling to read can be embarrassing for children, which can lead to unmotivated young students with low self-esteem. In the long term, many of these students end up dropping out of high school in part due to reading difficulties.
So what skills does a child need to learn how to read? Reading requires phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency and comprehension skills. Not one of these skills is more important than the other. (For more information, see International Literacy Association.) Learning to read is not a natural process and requires a lot of practice and exposure.
There are some common signs to look for when children are struggling to learn to read. These include but are not limited to:
Struggling to recite the words they are reading.
Starting and stopping frequently when reading.
Not really knowing the content they just read when asked about it.
Having a difficult time understanding simple directions and following routines.
Easily distracted.
Their fine motor skills are slow to develop and have difficulty holding a pencil and picking up small objects.
Avoiding storytelling and circle time.
If difficulties are determined in kindergarten or first grade and the child receives intervention services at school, many children can learn to read. A child is learning to read until the end of third grade at which time instruction makes a big shift to reading to learn at the beginning of fourth grade. In fourth grade, there is very little reading instruction and children are reading to learn in their classes.
Every year, all students in Michigan take an assessment on what they know and are able to do. For children in grades third through eighth, they are given the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or M-STEP. Only half of Michigan third graders performed at or above in the English Language Arts section of the M-STEP. As a result, Michigan passed a third grade reading law to ensure all children are proficient in reading by the end of third grade. Students that may not pass may have to repeat the third grade. The third grade reading law requires school districts to come up with an improvement plan to help students who are struggling. More information is available at the following resources:
Michigan State University Extension recommends talking and reading to children as much as possible. One of the ways to do this is to describe the colors and features of things you see throughout the day. Pointing out the yellow bananas at the grocery store or the green leaves on the tree, or mentioning the soft shirt they chose to wear to school are all simple ways to increase word exposure for your child. This is called “thinking aloud” when we talk about what we are doing and why. The more words a child hears, the more words they will learn and use. Learning experiences should be engaging and fun to keep a young child’s interest.
To learn about the positive impact children and families experience due to MSU Extension programs, read our 2017 impact report: “Preparing young children for success” and “Preparing the future generation for success.” Additional impact reports, highlighting even more ways Michigan 4-H and MSU Extension positively impacted individuals and communities in 2017, can be downloaded from the Michigan 4-H website.
It is mid-afternoon and the vending machine down the hall is calling out to you. Do you take the calling and grab a candy bar and soda to satisfy the afternoon snack attack? This might leave you with feelings of guilt or feeling sluggish an hour or two later. Many people, especially those who work desk jobs, struggle with this battle on a daily basis. What is the key to beating the vending machine blues?
Michigan State University Extension says that planning is the number one weapon against the “vending machine assault.” If you know you are always hungry at 2 p.m., then it makes sense to have snacks handy when hunger strikes. We often run into problems when we wait to decide what to eat until we are very hungry and we then reach for the closest, quickest option. Having something quick and healthy that is readily available before we get to that point helps us to choose better options. To prevent eating unhealthy foods, MSU Extension recommends the following tips:
Try to pack snacks for a whole week or several days at a time and select a variety of options to choose from, so that there is always something appealing regardless of how you are feeling. Some days you may want a salty, crunchy snack like nuts or trail mix, whereas other days something sweet like fruit may be more of what you have a craving for.
Most offices have a refrigerator to store lunches or snacks, so bringing along a small stock of yogurt or cheese, which gives you a protein packed snack that is readily available, will give you a healthy option to curb your afternoon hunger.
Similar to yogurt or cheese, stocking up on carrots or jicama and hummus can help to provide you with the kick you need to finish off your day.
By packing foods at home you can control the portion size of your snack. Sometimes our best laid-out plans still go awry and we end up at the vending machine anyway. If this is the case, try to choose snacks that are lower in calories such as baked plain chips instead of regular flavored ones and tea or sparkling water instead of soda.
Remember that everything is fine in moderation, so if you generally make healthy choices, it is okay to occasionally splurge on that candy bar or bag of chips when the vending machine comes calling. Being prepared ahead of time will help make the vending machine habit a once in while occurrence rather than a once a day choice.
Fred and Lena Meijer, in Meijer Gardens gallery. Undated. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)
By Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Timed to commemorate the centenary of Fred Meijer’s birth and to celebrate his role as one of America’s foremost patrons of the arts, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is honored to announce A National Treasure: Fred Meijer, His Collection and Legacy.
Opening on Feb. 1, 2019, this exclusive exhibition is a celebration of Meijer’s desire to build a world-class sculpture collection. This exhibition will run through Aug. 25, 2019 and will display eleven different “chapters”, each based around original works of art from Meijer Gardens’ permanent collection as well as exclusive loans from sculptors and galleries that Meijer knew and admired.
In addition, the exhibition will debut a series of important recent acquisitions to Meijer Gardens’ permanent collection, including works by El Anatsui, George Segal and George Minne.
A National Treasure: Fred Meijer, His Collection and Legacy examines Meijer’s passion for sculpture, his growth as a collector and his profound commitment to engage diverse audiences through his collection. Each facet of Meijer’s collection is explored in this exhibition, including early ideas for a sculpture park and ways that the collection would be integrated across the gardens and grounds of what would become Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The exhibition follows Meijer’s journey as a collector and patron of the arts, with rare insight into the creation of one of the world’s greatest collections of Modern and Contemporary sculpture.
“One of the many things that I admired about Fred Meijer was that he was a lifelong learner and enjoyed finding out about new sculptors and their work with each acquisition,” said Laurene Grunwald, Director of Sculpture, Exhibitions and Installations at Meijer Gardens. “He never sought to collect for himself, but to enrich the lives of others.”
Fred Meijer’s history
Frederik G.H. Meijer was born in Greenville, Mich., in 1919, to Dutch immigrants Hendrik and Gezina Meijer. Together with an older sister, Johanna, the Meijers formed an industrious working-class family and embraced life in the rural Midwest. The Meijer parents maintained a life-long connection to their European roots and instilled the importance of education, culture and the arts in their children.
“The eye needs something, too” was a favorite phrase Gezina Meijer often shared as a reminder that, whenever possible, a truly full life extended beyond physical needs to embrace beauty, as well as intellectual and cultural pursuits.
In 1934, in the depths of the Great Depression, 14-year-old Fred Meijer worked with his father to found and operate the first Meijer grocery in Greenville. This store became the cornerstone of the chain of supercenters, Meijer Inc., which flourishes with 242 stores today.
In 1946, Fred Meijer married Lena Meijer (born 1919) who became his beloved wife of 65 years. As their success in business burgeoned, so did their commitment to community through philanthropy in education, health care, the natural environment and the arts—an extraordinary tradition embraced by their sons and families today.
The opening of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in 1995 brought together Lena’s love of plants and flowers with Fred’s passion for sculpture and quickly became a cherished focal point of their interest and support.
Fred and Lena in Milan, Italy studio of Arnaldo Pomodoro. Undated. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)
Although never formally trained in the visual arts or art history, Fred Meijer was deeply interested in cultural endeavors and history, and had a long interest in sculpture. In particular, he was initially attracted to historical and figurative statuary in bronze. He began collecting in the mid-1980s according to his own interests, but his views broadened in the following years.
In August of 1999, he declared his dream to “build a world-class sculpture collection” at Meijer Gardens — opening a door for collecting beyond his initial personal aesthetic with the betterment and enjoyment of the public in mind.
Today, the collection is hailed as among the finest in the world. This exhibition celebrates Fred Meijer’s centenary and traces the development of the man and his collection of sculpture and his emergence as one of the nation’s foremost patrons of the visual arts.
Exhibit events scheduled
Associated with the exhibit there will be a series of free-with-admission programs:
Gardens of Art Around the World Sunday, March 17, 2 p.m. Presented by Suzanne Eberle, Professor of Art History, Kendall College of Art & DesignDrawing inspiration from gardens and sculpture collections around the globe, Fred Meijer sought to create a unique museum environment that was second-to-none right in Grand Rapids. Join Dr. Sue Eberle as she highlights the sculpture gardens that inspired Meijer as well as some of the outstanding outdoor collections to add to your travel bucket list.
Great American Collectors Sunday, April 14, 2 p.m. Presented by Dr. Craig Hanson, Associate Professor, Calvin CollegeFred Meijer, as an art collector, is among a small group of philanthropists who believed that art should be shared widely with the public. He saw his collection as a tool to enrich lives through the power of art. Join Dr. Craig Hanson as he discusses the role of collectors in the United States and the legacy of art patronage.
The Art of Fine Art Collecting Sunday, May 5, 2 p.m. Presented by Linda and Scott Lafontsee, Owners of Lafontsee GalleryYou don’t have to have the resources of Meijer Gardens to build your own fine art collection. Join the owners and artists behind Lafontsee Galleries to learn easy ways to live with original artwork that inspires you every day. Linda and Scott Lafontsee have represented local artists for over 30 years in Grand Rapids.
Charcoal Drawing with Anna Greidanus Friday, June 14, 3-5 p.m. Presented by Anna Greidanus, Professor of Art, Calvin CollegeHead outdoors with artist Anna Greidanus and learn the relaxing and inspiring practice of charcoal drawing. A gestural, loose and rapid approach is both less intimidating to first time artists and an effective form of observation. Class size is limited to 15 guests. Please register online at MeijerGardens.org/calendar
Summer Sculpture Walks Sculpture Park Niches, The Gallery – Tuesday, July 30, 6 p.m. Sculpture Park Niches, The Groves – Sunday, August 11, 11:30 a.m. Get off the beaten path and explore lesser known areas of the Sculpture Park. See fantastic examples of Modern and Contemporary sculpture instrumental to Fred Meijer’s collection style and legacy. Meet outside of the Indoor Sculpture Galleries and be prepared to walk and stand for at least 90 minutes, rain or shine.
Exhibition programs are drop-in and registration is not required.
A National Treasure: Fred Meijer, His Collection and Legacy is made possible by: The Meijer Foundation, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation, Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, and The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Meijer Gardens today
Today Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park had 723,000 visitors in 2017 and was recently listed in the top 30 most visited museums in the United States by The Art Newspaper, the leading publication in global art news. The 158-acre main campus features Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory; one of the largest interactive children’s gardens in the country; arid and Victorian gardens with bronze sculptures by Degas and Rodin; a carnivorous plant house; outdoor gardens; and a 1900-seat outdoor amphitheater, featuring an eclectic mix of world-renowned musicians every summer.
The internationally acclaimed Sculpture Park features a permanent collection including works by Oldenburg, Moore, Hepworth, Serra, Bourgeois, Ai Weiwei and Plensa, among others. Indoor galleries host changing sculpture exhibitions with exhibitions by Ai Weiwei, Picasso, Degas, di Suvero, Borofsky, Calder and Dine.
In June 2015, the eight–acre Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opened. Created by renowned designer Hoichi Kurisu, the garden features sculpture by Anish Kapoor, Jenny Holzer and Guiseppe Penone, among others.
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).
Frida and Dwayne (our names for them) came to us in a roundabout way in late October/early November of 2018, as both cats actually had an owner but had been abandoned earlier in the summer. As it turns out the landlord in Wyoming told this person that cats were no longer allowed, so instead of returning them to the Humane Society where they originated from quite some time ago (in Frida’s case it had been over 5 years), they were simply let go.
A good friend of Dr. Jen had been looking after them for the past four months and began to investigate a bit further when Frida (born in August of 2009) turned up injured; when she saw that the facial wounds just weren’t healing she took action into her own hands and brought this kitty’s plight to Dr. Jen’s attention. After tiring of seeing her and her younger counterpart (Dwayne was born in the fall of 2016) seeking shelter from the rain and weather that was turning cold and unpredictable, Dr. Jen’s friend contacted the former owner and asked for permission to transfer them to our care; thankfully the woman obliged with much appreciation.
Darling Dwayne fared much better than Frida did, having only fleas and internal parasites to contend with. We were able to obtain his actual adoption and medical records as he had been adopted from the Humane Society of Kent County only a year prior to his rescue. Although we initially reunited the two former housemates, neither one of them seemed to pay much attention to one another, so it was no big deal when Frida had to take up residence at Big Sid’s (she tested FIV-positive). Dwayne acclimated instantly to his new surroundings, unlike his older counterpart; being younger and more easily adaptable definitely worked in his favor. He quickly became a favorite of the volunteers as he is so laid-back, quiet and content.
A total sweetheart by the very definition of the word, Dwayne would do well in a house with kids, but lap time is essential to his future happiness. He would be fine co-habitating with another feline friend, but on the flip side, we feel he would enjoy being the single apple of someone’s eye as well. Regardless of where he ultimately ends up, we know for a fact that dashing little Dwayne is going to make an absolutely fabulous addition to any family that is lucky enough to take him home—this time for good!
More about Dwayne:
Medium
Domestic Short-haired Tabby (Tiger-striped), White
Adult
Male
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Not declawed
Good in a home with other cats, children
Want to adopt Dwayne? 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.
What would you do if you were a farmer thrown out of your native land? Listen as Kharka Turung tells of losing both his birth country and his ethnic homeland. With the aid of Bethany Christian Services, Kharka finds friendship through Hope Farms manager Scott Townley and meaningful work as he regains his agrarian past in the midst of a bewildering new language and culture.
Your life partner has a much greater influence on your longevity than the genes you inherited from your family, according to a new analysis of the family trees of more than 400 million people.
“While it is a widely held belief that lifes pan heritability ranges from approximately 15 to 30 percent, the findings discussed in this paper demonstrated that the heritability of human longevity is likely well below 10 percent,” said lead researcher Cathy Ball. She is a chief scientific officer for Ancestry, the popular genealogy website.
Earlier estimates were skewed because they didn’t account for the strong influence that a person’s spouse or life partner can have on their longevity, Ball and her colleagues said.
People tend to select partners who share traits like their own, the researchers explained. If you have a lifestyle that’s going to contribute to a longer life, you’ll likely choose a mate who shares that lifestyle.
Dr. Gisele Wolf-Klein is a geriatrician with Northwell Health in Great Neck, N.Y. She said, “Chances are you’re going to try to partner with someone with equal interests in terms of health habits. If you find someone who wants to run a marathon with you rather than be a couch potato, chances are you’ll keep running more marathons.”
Wealth could be another nongenetic trait shared by mates, the researchers suggested. If income contributes to lifespan and wealthy people tend to marry other wealthy people, that could also add to their longevity.
After correcting for the effects of such mating, Ball’s team concluded that genetics contributes not more than 7 percent to longevity, and possibly even less.
“The research findings expose the complex dynamics of longevity,” Ball said. “Although there is a genetic component, this study shows that there is a major impact from many other forces in your life.”
For the study, researchers combed through 54 million public family trees generated by Ancestry.com subscribers, which represented 6 billion ancestors.
From there, the team refined the records until they wound up with a set of human pedigrees that included more than 400 million people, each connected to another by either birth or marriage.
Things got interesting when the researchers started looking at people related only by marriage. They found that siblings-in-law and first-cousins-in-law had similar life spans, even though they aren’t blood relatives and generally don’t live under the same roof.
Further analysis showed that factors important to life span tend to be very similar between mates. People are choosing folks who share values that will either shorten or extend longevity, the researchers noted.
The findings were published Nov. 6 in the journal Genetics.
“I think it’s a very optimistic and positive message for us,” said Wolf-Klein, who was not involved in the research.
“It outlines something that’s becoming more and more obvious to all of us—we have a certain control over who we are and what we become,” she added. “Regardless of your genetics, if you adhere to good diet, good exercise, healthy habits, you can overcome some of the dooms of genetics.”
In 2018 West Michigan Works! (WMW) helped 44,890 job seekers, served 3,193 employers and filled 10,463 jobs. This work isn’t done in isolation; it’s accomplished through partnerships with employers, training providers, educators and community organizations. Each December, WMW looks back over the year and recognizes a few of its key partners:
Flexfab, a manufacturer based in Hastings, MI, received the 2018 Employer of the Year award due to their dedication to developing their current workforce, engaging future manufacturing talent and recruiting diverse employees. Flexfab is committed to providing education and training so their workers can obtain higher paying jobs within the company. They also work with local organizations, like Barry County Veterans associations, to target a diverse job seeker pool.
Literacy Center of West Michigan (LCWM) is West Michigan Works! 2018 Partner of the Year. They received this award because they successfully use community partnerships to create positive change. LCWM has partnered with the local construction industry, Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) and the Urban League to provide workplace English as a Second Language instruction for participants in the construction training program. They also provide literacy services at one of West Michigan Works! service centers. Providing instruction like this to job seekers helps remove language barriers and can help them obtain further training, education and/or a good job.
The Michigan Works! Impact Awards honor those who have built economic results by actively creating jobs and developing fresh talent in their communities. In West Michigan, Spectrum Health, GRCC and Sterile Processing Technician, Gina Mancha, received the 2018 Impact Award. To address a common need in the health care field, West Michigan Works! partnered with health care employers, GRCC and the US Department of Labor to create the Sterile Processing Technician Registered Apprentice program. Through this program, Gina was able to learn a new skill and start a new career after working for years in automotive manufacturing.
Want to learn more about how the Sterile Processing Technician Registered Apprentice program changed Gina’s life and how the other 2018 award winners are making an impact in West Michigan? Check out West Michigan Works! Annual Report at westmiworks.org/2018-annual-report/.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
Alyssa D’Agostino can endure a lot: a battle against breast cancer, then leukemia, then a relapse of leukemia.
But when she realized she would not be home for her daughter Gianna’s ninth birthday—that drove her to tears.
“We have to do something.”
Katie Celentino heard that message over and over again from staff members at the bone marrow transplant unit at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, touched by D’Agostino’s sorrow.
And so they did. In 24 hours, they pulled together a purple unicorn party that left Gianna nearly speechless.
The little girl burst into the staff room for the party with a big “Oh!” as she whirled around, taking in the birthday banner, a unicorn drawing on the whiteboard, party hats and a table brimming with colorfully wrapped presents. Nurses and nurse technicians greeted her with a lively round of “Happy Birthday!”
D’Agostino sat beside her daughter, eyes sparkling above her yellow face mask. She wore her party attire, a green tinted wig and a headband decorated with a silver unicorn horn and peach flowers.
“This is so amazing,” she said. “I’m blown away big-time.”
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, D’Agostino underwent surgery and chemotherapy and emerged a survivor.
Photo by Taylor Ballek, Spectrum Health Beat
In July 2017, she learned she had acute myeloid leukemia. It went into remission, but resurfaced in April 2018. Again, she was hospitalized as she began chemotherapy treatments.
In late August, she went to Butterworth Hospital, with plans to get the disease back into remission so she could undergo a bone marrow transplant.
Five straight months in a hospital: That has been her spring, summer and autumn.
She hoped she would be home for Gianna’s birthday. She had gifts and planned a surprise celebration with family. When she learned that would not happen, she said, “I was devastated.”
And then, she learned a party was in the works on the fifth floor of Butterworth Hospital.
Celentino, the nurse manager, said staff members eagerly joined together to make the day special. Nurses came in on their day off or stayed after their shifts ended. Nurse technician Courtney Fend used her artistic skills to create a birthday banner and unicorn drawing.
Sharing Gianna’s big day was deeply rewarding for the staff, Celentino said.
“We don’t always get to see these moments,” she said. “These are the things that matter to our patients. This is why they matter to us.”
A gift of happiness
Photo by Taylor Ballek, Spectrum Health Beat
Gianna, a third-grader at Chandler Woods Charter Academy in Belmont, Michigan, came to the party with her grandmother, Alice D’Agostino. She wore her Halloween costume—a purple and black outfit with a purple wig. She dressed as Mal from the Disney movie Descendants.
Her mom’s gift made the outfit complete. She gave Gianna a pair of black boots, just like Mal’s.
Gianna bubbled with enthusiasm as she opened her gifts: sparkly pencils and coloring books, fluffy unicorn pajamas, card games, glittery nail polish, hair chalk, a jewelry box and a kit for making her own jewelry.
She thanked everyone and went around the room giving hugs.
Gianna then sat beside her mom and they wrapped their arms around each other.
D’Agostino said the celebration exceeded all her expectations. And seeing her daughter’s happiness was a gift in itself.
“I just loved seeing her face light up,” she said. “When she’s happy, I’m happy. Doing something special for her just makes me feel good.”
It’s that time of year for residents of the northern states to drive south in search of warmth and sunshine, leaving the cold and snow behind. For others it’s time to take that long-awaited family road trip, escaping harsh weather for more mild conditions. No matter the distance or length of the road trip, what’s at the top of everyone’s list is arriving there safely. For individuals with diabetes, getting there safely becomes more than just safe driving.
For a person who is insulin-dependent, blood glucose level is paramount to the ability to drive safely. Experiencing a rapid drop in insulin levels (a severe hypoglycemic event) could possibly bring on symptoms of double vision and disorientation. Clearly problems for any driver behind the wheel.
For road trip safety, understand your physical health, chart your blood glucose levels frequently and don’t skip meals. Be prepared. Talk with your doctor about fast-acting glucose products that can be used in the event of an emergency. Your doctor and diabetic nurse educator are the best people to talk to regarding which glucose products are right for you.
Keep a glucose kit in your car at all times, it should be tolerant to warm and cold temperatures.
Before driving any distance be aware of your levels; think about how you are feeling, don’t be afraid to ask someone else to drive you if you’re feeling tired or stressed.
Carry your cell phone with pre-programmed numbers of 911 and family members in the case of an emergency.
Stop often, don’t skip meals, eat the right foods and sugars which will keep you active and alert.
As always, buckle-up, don’t text and drive and enjoy your road trip!
Michigan State University Extension recommends the following professional diabetes resources:
"It doesn't matter where you came from. All that matters is where you are going.”
-- Brian Tracy
It’s been an interesting year. Let’s take a look back.
Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus rehearses its holiday music.
Managing editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma has rounded up the most popular stories of 2018 and corralled them into one spot. Go here to see what readers read the most.
Everybody has a profile. Even Kent County.
Cool, fun graphic
Counties have profiles? You bet! Thanks to the Kent County Administration and their most excellent bilingual survey, the secret is out: Kent County’s median age of 34.9 years old is more than five years younger than Michigan as a whole and 50 percent of the population of about 648,594 is 35-years-old or younger. Go here for the cool details.
Get ahead of the game.
Wouldn’t it be fun to pay your tax bill with Monopoly money?
You know that big tax cut we’ve all been hearing about? The one that has corporations so excited? Well, there’s a tiny bit of relief for single people and families, too. Standard deductions for single taxpayers nearly double from $6,350 for 2017 taxes to $12,000 for 2018 taxes (the ones you file in 2019). It might get confusing, but there’s free tax help here. Take advantage of it.
Fun fact:
April 11, 1954
According to Cambridge computer scientist William Tunstall-Pedoe and his search engine project, ‘True Knowledge’, that’s the ‘Most Boring Day in History‘. After sifting through and analyzing 300 million facts, ‘True Knowledge’ divined that on April 11, 1954, a general election was held in Belgium, Turkish academic Professor Abdullah Atalar was born, and an Oldham Athletic footballer by the name of Jack Shufflebotham died. That’s it. Nothing else that matters happened.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) finished the month of November having served an all-time record number of passengers. November 2018 saw an 18-percent growth year-over-year, putting the Ford Airport just shy of 3 million passengers served for 2018. (The airport would hit three million passengers served in December.)
November marks the eleventh record-breaking month in a row, and the airport has seen growth in 64 of the last 71 months. November 2018 was the busiest November ever, and at this point in the year GFIA has surpassed its annual total reached in every other year including 2017’s record setting 2.8 million passengers.
November 2018 had 272,438 passengers come through the Ford Airport, up from 230,946 in 2017. GFIA is up 16-percent in annual passenger totals.
“We have already surpassed last year’s record numbers with one of our busiest months still to go,” said GFIA Interim President & CEO Brian Picardat. “We are thankful for the support we receive from the West Michigan community. We continue to work to add more air service by working with our airline partners to add destinations that West Michigan travelers want to visit. As we continue to grow, we look forward to more big things in 2019.”
American Airlines began new nonstop service to Miami International Airport (MIA) and Phoenix- Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) earlier this week. Allegiant announced nonstop service to Sarasota-Bradenton (SRQ) in November which will begin in April 2019.
Another year is coming to a close. But before the calendar flips to 2019, we thought it would be fun to go down memory lane and take a look at some of the most popular WKTV stories of 2018.
In compiling this list, I took a look at both page views on a story, which indicates the number of people who clicked on the article, and also social media statistics. The result is a mix of both most read and shared articles from the WKTV website.
Leading the pack on both was the Widening project on 56th Street set to start around July 9. It certainly had an impact on the community, since it is a direct route to the RiverTown Crossings mall. The project, which included widening 56th Street to three lanes and adding a traffic signal to the intersection of 56th Street and Ivanrest Avenue, was completed on time and opened before the holiday season even started.
TwoGuys Brewery was another popular story coming out of Wyoming. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The City of Wyoming snagged quite a few of the top stories as the next was On Tap: Wyoming’s new TwoGuys Brewing plans to be community catalyst. If you love beer, then you will be thrilled to know that there are more breweries scheduled to open in the area. In Kentwood, Brewery Vivant is looking to expand its operations to the city and and a brewery co-op is also set to open soon. Also, in Byron Center, they are working quickly on the Railbird Brewery.
We enjoy working with many individuals and groups who bring us stories on a variety of topics. Alan Headbloom is one of those contributors who tapes his show “Feel Like You Belong.” The show focuses on the “real stories about the real people we call migrants.” These stories cover a gamut of people who have been seasonal workers picking produce to those who have made the United States their home. One story is from Nkechy Ezeh, an award-winning educator who developed the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, and another is from refugee survivor and mentor Metta Anongdeth.
The story by Dave Thompson on the statute of former astronaut Roger B. Chaffee was among our tops stories for 2018. (NASA)
Filmmaker Daniel Deal has been working with WKTV to produce a documentary about former astronaut Roger B. Chaffee, whose parents lived in the City of Wyoming. The project lead to a statute dedicated to the astronaut earlier this year. Community contributor Dave Thompson wrote the story, Statute of former astronaut Chaffee to be unveiled this Saturday.
Curator for the Jim Crow Museum shows some of the 135 photographs by David Levinthal donated to the museum in 2018 (Ferris State University)
A little known secret is that Ferris State University houses one of the largest collection of racist memorabilia in the world at the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia. In 2018, the museum received an artwork donation valued at more than $2 million with Ferris State University sharing the story with us in Jim Crow Museum of Racists memorabilia receives artwork donation valued at $2 million.
We also partnered with the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of Michigan to help bring awareness to this rare neurological disease.
The Grand Rapids Chorus of the Sweet Adelines was our top 2018 entertainment story.
That’s Entertainment
Entertainment stories are always popular throughout the year. This year, the Grand Rapids Chorus of the Sweet Adelines made the headlines with its regional win last May with people clamoring to see the group at its holiday concert. We’ll be checking back with the Sweet Adleines throughout 2019 as they prepare to head to the international competition in September. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s annual holiday music festival was a big hit especially since it featured several local high school groups and residents followed the success of a local group in the story GR’s own Super Future ready for big day at local Breakaway EDM festival.
Brandon Kimble was named the new head football coach for Godwin Heights.
Out sports coverage kicked off bigger this year with live coverage of games and stories on local teams. Starting it all off was the New Godwin Heights football coach talks football, mentoring. All the area teams worked hard toward playoff goals:
Jack, the therapy cat, was a huge hit with residents at Wyoming’s Vista Springs as well as the community at large.
Cat Tales
Managing Editor Victoria Mullen received a call inquiring if we would be interested in meeting Jack the Therapy cat (Jack, the therapy cat, puts a spark in the spirt). The story of Jack and his visits to Wyoming’s Vista Springs captured the hearts of many leading Jack and his owner Lynn Hopkins to win a $25,000 grant from Petco for Crash’s Landing (Therapy cat’s adoption story beats odds, hits jackpot).
In fact many of the Crash’s Landings’ cat features are popular with our social media groups. So we wanted to end 2018 on a happy note with the announcement that two of the top cats featured on the WKTV Journal, Smudgee and Otter, found their “fur”-ever homes.
By Kathy Jamieson, Michigan State University Extension
When you are offered a job, it can be very exciting and sometimes confusing at the same time. Whether this is your first job, you are considering a new job, or you have been out of work for a while, there are many things to consider when evaluating a job offer. Michigan State University Extension has many resources available to help you in your job search and to make career decisions. Your answers to the following questions may help you make a decision about your next job opportunity.
Candidness
Make sure you understand the job description, what your responsibilities will be and the employer’s expectations. Consider what you will like about the job and dislike about the job.
Are you willing, interested and able to perform the day to day tasks?
Were you frank about your qualifications for the position?
Compensation
One of the first things people want to know when offered a job is what is the wage or salary. Questions about compensation and benefits should take place after the interview, once an offer has been made. In addition to the money you will be paid, consider asking about employer-provided benefits.
Does the company offer a health plan, what are the options, how much are the employee paid deductibles and when does coverage begin?
What type of retirement plan is offered and does the employer contribute?
Is tuition reimbursement or training provided?
Are there employee discounts, travel, phone, car or uniform allowance or overtime opportunities?
How much sick leave, vacation time and/or holiday time is provided?
In order to calculate the true compensation of the job offer, a dollar value can be added for each benefit provided. The human resource link on the company webpage often also describes the benefits available to employees.
Company culture
The environment in which you work can play a major impact on how satisfied you will be on the job.
Can you describe the company’s culture?
Where will you be working?
Would you feel comfortable working in this environment?
Is the environment too noisy, quiet, fast-paced, competitive, casual, prim and proper, relaxed or energetic?
What are the hours you will be working and how flexible are they?
Are you required to work nights, weekends, holidays and/or overtime?
Commute
Consider the impact driving time may have.
How long is the commute to the job?
How much money in gas will it cost to work at the company?
Is travel required?
How often will you be traveling and to what locations?
Career development
When considering a job offer, think about the big picture. Ask yourself:
Does this job fit with my personal interest?
Will this job help you get your foot in the door of the field you’re pursuing?
Does this company offer opportunities for advancement?
Will training be provided?
Will this job help you achieve your longer-term career goals?
You may want to keep these questions in mind not only when deciding on a job offer, but also when looking for a job, networking,researching a company and during the interview. More information can lead to a better career decision.
One element of the just released Kent County profile. (Kent County/Public Sector Consultants)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
After three community meetings — one in Kentwood in mid-December, an extensive “profile” of the county and a current bilingual survey, the Kent County administration is in the final stages of information collection for its current strategic planning process.
Over the past six months, according to supplied information, county leaders have “engaged in a strategic planning process that will guide its leadership through the next five years to better reflect the changing demographics, economics, and needs of the County.”
One currently ongoing element of community input is a Spanish-language bilingual survey, which will be accepting input until Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. (A link to the survey is here.)
“Community engagement is absolutely integral to the success of Kent County,” Wayman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller, said in previously supplied information. “It is important for us to hear the thoughts and ideas from our communities as we renew our strategic plan and effectively plan for the future.”
Partnered with Public Sector Consultants, a Lansing-based research and project management firm, the county conducted “several forward-looking conversations with external stakeholders, elected officials, County administration leaders, and residents on what goals and action items should be included in the County’s next strategic plan.”
Among the highlights of the profile are that the county’s median age of 34.9 years old is more than five years younger than Michigan as a whole and that 50 percent of the population of about 648,594 is 35-years-old or younger. That population is up 7.6 parent from 2010, when the last Federal census was conducted. Other highlights of the profile are that the county as the fastest growing metro economy in the United States, up 21.8 percent over five years, and that county’s violent crimes (reported in 2016) of 367 per 100,000 population was less than both the state and the country as a whole.
Upon completion of the community-engagement process, Public Sector Consultants will develop a strategic plan with the goal being to have the Board of Commissioners review a draft plan in late February 2019 and then to publicly release it in March.
“Solutions and ideas do not just come from government — they come from our residents who live, work, and play in Kent County,” said Britt.
For more information about the Kent County Administration visit accesskent.com .
The Kent District Library’s “Let It Snow” reading program for adults returns in January.
Adults (18 and older) who participate and read a minimum of six books in different categories between Wednesday, Jan. 2, and Sunday, March 31, will receive a Let It Snow coffee mug. Participants who finish an additional four titles are entered into a drawing to win either an iPad or a one-year Costco membership.
“Let it Snow is a fun and engaging program for adults to participate in during the dreary winter months,” said former Byron Township Youth Library Barb DeYoung. “With the book lists provided, readers can find new authors or select books they normally wouldn’t pick out. Cozying up with a good book is the perfect cure for those winter blahs!”
While the program doesn’t kick off util early January, those interested in participating can check out some of the recommended reads for Let It Snow.
For more on the Let It Snow program, visit kdl.org.
An older adult’s health care provider can help to determine if they’re experiencing normal aging or if Type 2 diabetes is present. (Courtesy Michigan State University Extension)
According to the Michigan State University Geriatric Education Center of Michigan, Type 2 diabetes continues to increase in the United States population. For adults over the age of 65, diabetes occurs in approximately 27 percent and pre-diabetes occurs in 50 percent of this population. When caregivers think about the overall goals of care for their loved one, it is important to understand how diabetes affects the quality of life for older adults.
The American Geriatrics Society says that older people with diabetes experience higher rates of mental and physical disability and premature death. They are also more prone to develop other illnesses, like high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. In addition, they also have a greater risk for several conditions associated with the aging process, such as depression, reduced mental function, urinary incontinence, harmful falls, persistent pain and over-medication.
Is it normal aging or is it because of Type 2 diabetes?
In order to figure out how your loved one is affected by Type 2 diabetes, it is important to know how to recognize the difference between normal aging and health problems caused by diabetes. Aging and symptoms of Type 2 diabetes have some similarities: they both can bring on poor eyesight, fatigue, high blood pressure, depression, as well as more frequent urination and higher rates of heart disease and stroke.
Michigan State University Extension says that symptoms can also look similar, but for different reasons. With aging, there may be gait changes because of arthritis and osteoporosis, but gait changes with diabetes may result from neuropathy.
Restlessness and confusion sometimes occurs with normal aging, but with diabetes it results from very high or low blood sugar. Slower reaction time often occurs with normal aging, but for people with diabetes, it can be a result of high or low blood sugar.
These and other symptoms should be signs that our loved one needs to be assessed by your health care provider to determine if they are experiencing normal aging or if Type 2 diabetes is present. Signs of very high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) include increased urination for several days, dehydration, which develops because the person doesn’t drink enough liquids and a change in alertness from generalized fatigue to stupor, coma or seizures. These changes may be mistaken for a stroke or mental illness.
How can your health care provider help?
You will need to work with your older adult’s health care provider to determine plans that are based on the status of your loved one: the high functioning individual, older adults with memory loss and elders at the end of their life. Planning also needs to take into account the living situation of the older adult, how much caregiving and support the older adult needs and how much they actually have.
After a thorough assessment, your health care provider will determine a medicine regime. Insulin will be the quickest way to get a very high blood sugar under control. Then, it will be crucial for you and your loved one to attend diabetes education classes in your community.
The major goal is blood sugar management. Besides medications to resolve high blood sugar, the American Diabetes Association says that it’s also important to help your loved one to improve healthy eating habits and physical activity. Supporting your older loved one to manage their Type 2 diabetes is a real challenge. Reach out to the many community resources available to help you and your family meet the challenge of helping your loved one maintain a high quality life.
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).
Courageous Karlie’s story is nothing short of amazing—and quite unique in the fact that she came back to us in October of 2018 after having been lost for over 3 years!
Our gorgeous girl (born in January of 2012) initially came to us in early 2015 and had only spent 2 months at Crash’s before a wonderful gal adopted her and another of our kitties. Sadly, only a few months after her arrival into her new home she somehow got outside, and no matter how hard her new mom looked for her for months on end, Karlie was simply nowhere to be found.
Many of our volunteers offered their support in staking out the neighborhood, but as time wore on, our hopes were dashed and the thought of her returning to a home she was just getting comfortable in seemed improbable. To top things off, her owners ended up moving within the year, so even if our buxom beauty had tried to return to the house she darted from, there would have been no familiar faces waiting for her there. It was a heartbreaking situation.
Fast forward to a chilly autumn day when Dr. Jen received a call from the Kent County Animal Shelter stating that a kitty with a microchip registered to us had been brought in; when she was told WHO it was, she could hardly believe it as so much time had passed! Dr. Jen was extremely surprised when she went to retrieve Karlie that she was still pleasantly plump, leading the good doctor to believe that someone had been caring for this kitty—and quite well at that.
Given Karlie’s shy nature, we suspect that she may have been leery of strangers, but a food bowl—now that was an entirely different story! Regardless of where she was for the past three years, she was found just a few short blocks away from her home, which in itself is quite astounding; wherever she hunkered down proved to be a safe hiding spot as signs posted in the neighborhood and door-to-door canvasing were unrewarded efforts.
Once back in our care, Karlie turned out to be pretty darn healthy, although she needed a fractured tooth pulled and unfortunately turned up positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), meaning that somewhere along the line she was bitten by an infected cat harboring the virus. Since this sweet girl hasn’t a mean bone in her bodacious body, there is minimal risk of her transmitting it to another cat as she prefers to spend most of her time now posing for photo ops and lounging in laps; she is definitely making up for lost time!
It took Karlie a bit to acclimate and come out of her shell at our sanctuary (who can blame her for that?), but once she began to trust us, she became the biggest snuggle-bug! In fact, she adores her cat-checker so very much she begs to be carried around for hours while Amelie works—or tries to with a 13# cat in her arms. She has found comfort not only in the embrace of her caretakers but also in the company of her fellow felines, so we’d love to find her a fur-ever home with another kitty to cuddle up to.
Karlie is the epitome of a lazy, lovable lap cat but given her history, we need to be sure we place her in an environment that is not too hectic and will allow her to adjust at her own pace. If you have a heart that is open wide and arms that are longing to hold a creature that will treasure you for the rest of her days, Karlie is THE cat for you! And we have it on good authority that Karlie’s wandering days are over—she promises to stay put!
More about Karlie:
Extra large
Torbie, White
Adult
Female
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
FIV+
Spayed
Declawed
Good in a home with other cats
Want to adopt Karlie? 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.
Susan Berce counted down as a group of 38 eager third-graders at East Kelloggsville Elementary scrambled to pitch their trash after lunch. While other students were heading to recess, this group stayed put and returned to their seats in this music room, where they eat lunch every Tuesday as members of the school’s newly formed choir.
Kimberly Mercado-Rodriguez, front, and Madison Kowtko raise their voices
They got into the rhythm with a little body percussion: Boom snap clap, ba-boom snap clap. Boom snap clap…Then they pulled out their sheet music and Berce accompanied and directed them through “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“These kids can sing and they love to sing,” said Berce, who teaches kindergarten through third grade music at East and West Kelloggsville elementary schools. She recently began extracurricular choirs at both schools. Participation is voluntary, and choir members need parental permission to join. Each student signed a contract commiting to sing during one lunch and one recess every week.
Jonathan Jimenez sings his heart as choirmates Lyla Salgado and Han Pham concentrate on their parts
A Little Time, a Big Vision
Elementary school choir has long been a vision for Berce, who has spent her career in Kelloggsville. In the six years she has taught music, Berce hasn’t had time in her schedule to direct a choir until this year, when burgeoning enrollment allowed the district to add more staff. When asked what she might do with the little extra time in her day, she said she did not hesitate: she wanted to start a choir. Students didn’t hesitate, either: more than half of the roughly 70 third-graders at East Kelloggsville joined.
So why do it at lunch? Many districts with thriving choirs meet after school, but that wasn’t realistic for Berce if she wanted participants.
“(Parents) work hard, they have jobs that they have to be at — we don’t have that flexibility to keep kids after school,” said Berce. “Lunch seemed the obvious choice.
If the excitement on their faces and the passion in their voices are any indication, that choice is working out well.
“I prefer to sing than go outside and play,” said Kiana Chenh, who says she has been singing since she was 4. While she’s a little shy about solos, she has found her niche in choir: “I like to sing in a big group.”
A new exhibit titled, “Changing Seasons,” by local artist Carole Hunnes-Nielsen, opens at the Leep Art Gallery on Jan. 3 at the Postma Center on the Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services campus in Grand Rapids.
Hunnes-Nielsen graduated from Western Michigan University with a master’s and bachelor’s degrees in art education. Her work in watercolor and watercolor batik has won awards with the Michigan Watercolor Society, Celebration of the Arts, and Festival of the Arts.
“The seasons of our lives bring many changes as do the change of seasons in nature. My work embraces a love of life and a love of nature,” says Carole Hunnes-Nielsen. “I am inspired by the change of seasons in our beautiful state of Michigan and the changes in life that we celebrate. I hope to express that love of life and nature in my work through the use of expressive color and experimentation with technique. The influence of Vincent VanGogh’s use of bright color can be seen in my work.”
“My work captures a moment in life that has brought me joy. It brings me pleasure to be able to share my work with others. My hope is that through viewing my work, you will feel the same happiness as I did in creating it.”
Hunnes-Nielsen spent 30 years teaching high school art. As a retired art teacher, she enjoys sharing her love of art through teaching watercolor batik workshops. She is a member of the American Watercolor Society, Michigan Watercolor Society and the Franciscan Painters. She has had numerous solo exhibitions and has been in many juried shows.
Hunnes-Nielsen is a lifelong Michigan resident and currently lives in Rockford.
The Pine Rest Leep Art Gallery exhibit will be on display at the Postma Center located at 300 68th Street, SE, Grand Rapids, Mich., from January 3 until April 3, 2019. The Leep Art Gallery is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 616.222.4530 or go to www.pinerest.org/leep-art-gallery .
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, visiting our studio is Wyoming Public Schools new Superintendent Craig Hoekstra, talking about his history and the future of his district, including what the district plans following the recent passage of a bond measure. Also on the show is the Kent County Friend of the Court, which works with the Circuit Court in the area of domestic relations but which has duties that are moving beyond simply investigation and enforcement.
Superintendent Hoekstra began his current duties in July of this year, but his history with Wyoming Public Schools runs deep, almost 30 years in fact. First as a student, then as a custodian, teacher, principal and, from 2015, as Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services. But we talk more about his and the district’s future than his past.
The Kent County Friend of the Court is the collection, enforcement and investigative arm of the Circuit Court in the area of domestic relations. We talk Daniel Fojtik, Friend of the Court Director, and Kent County Commissioner Harold Voorhees, on the FOC and its duties, as well as a recent report on the status of a series of Community Engagement Task Force Recommendations.
“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). But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Boost your metabolism by eating a wholesome breakfast each day. This is just one of a few ways to rev up your calorie-burner. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
By Spectrum Health Beat Staff
Unfortunately, it’s true: Our metabolism slows down as we age.
On average, we lose 2 to 8 percent of our muscle mass per decade, and that slows our metabolic rate.
A recent article in U.S. News & World Report cites the importance of maintaining lean muscle to combat the decline.
“Strength training can help decrease this process, but adjusting your diet to eat less is also critical,” said Jill Graybill, a registered dietitian at Spectrum Health.
You can speed up your metabolism, but don’t be fooled by claims that popping a few supplements or eating certain foods will get the job done, Graybill cautioned.
“There is a lot of misinformation on this subject,” she said. “Most of it is smoke and mirrors.”
Genetics can give some people an edge, but the best way to increase your metabolism is to adopt a few good habits, including these:
1. Build resistance
Use resistance exercise to build more lean muscle mass. More muscle burns more calories, even at rest.
2. Eat breakfast
The morning meal has been shown to jump-start the metabolic process.
3. Eat every four hours
This little trick speeds up your metabolism. Skipping meals slows it down.
4. Think protein
Include protein each time you eat. It takes more energy to break down, again, revving up your metabolic rate. Sources include dairy, nuts, seeds, beans, eggs and meat. Plus, protein is slower to digest, so you feel full longer.
5. Eat enough
Yes, even while losing weight. A diet that is too low in calories slows your metabolism to a crawl. Don’t sabotage your efforts by eating too little. Most people should not go lower than 1,200 calories a day or they risk not meeting their nutritional needs. Only go lower if you’re under medical supervision.
Obesity has a way of creeping up on us. Naturally, throughout our lifespan our weight increases, but if you have seen a dramatic increase in you or your child’s weight, especially around the waistline, it may be time to think about what is contributing to the excessive weight gain.
Obesity is a complex problem in our society, there is no easy fix. According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, genetics, drugs and disease can all affect weight along with social and cultural factors such as our environment, how we eat, what we eat and when we eat.
The topic of obesity is constantly in the media, and is a component of the nutrition education offered by Michigan State University Extension. The four-part documentary series, Weight of the Nation, which premiered on HBO in 2012 examines how it has been possible that the epidemic has grown almost undisturbed, stealing self-identity and our health by talking to experts ranging from geneticists, to professors to pediatric endocrinologists.
It is easy to recognize obesity and yet feel no connection to the obesity epidemic. This lack of attachment is part of the reason why it flourishes, but if we are honest with ourselves and believe the statistics, we can see that the obesity epidemic lurks very close to home.
When we are overweight, our bodies begin to break down over time, making us more prone to certain chronic diseases. Chronic health risks associated with obesity include:
Coronary heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure
Type 2 diabetes
Cancers, such as endometrial, breast and colon cancer
High total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides
Liver and gallbladder disease
Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
Degeneration of cartilage and underlying bone within a joint (osteoarthritis)
Reproductive health complications such as infertility
Mental health conditions
Disease prevention and self-management are ammunition in the battle against obesity. Regularly visiting your doctor is the first point of contact in developing prevention and self-management strategies.
Other strategies include good nutrition, being physically active and controlling your weight. Other weight management resources include Michigan State University Extension’s weight management, chronic disease, and disease prevention management programs, along with the Center for Disease Control, Overeaters Anonymous and the National Institute of Mental Health.
Reouhidi Ndjerareou has an imposing name and a matching vision for leadership across the continent of his native Africa. Join us in the studio where this itinerant son of a preacher man talks of navigating the tricky issues of geography and ethnic identity. Caught between the U.S. and birth country of Chad, Reouhidi shares with viewers his take on colonialism, cross-cultural relationships, and national empowerment. Be ready to be inspired.
Kent Career Tech Center Hospitality students put their skills to the test, designing a sugary, candy-clad gingerbread house as a gift for Grand Rapids Home for Veterans residents. With help from Tech Center architecture students who made blueprints, they created a miniature vets’ home, complete with a frosting-covered roof and fondant residents.
Regardless of whether you love or hate winter weather, sometimes going outside for some exercise is impossible during the colder months. But even when it’s chilly, staying active is a must for health and happiness. Here are four great tips for active senior living when snow, ice, and freezing temperatures have you stuck inside:
1. Do simple exercises any time, anywhere
Who needs equipment? There are a variety of strength, flexibility, and balance exercises that don’t require anything but a stable floor. Be sure to stretch before working out, and talk to a doctor about which exercises are best for you.
Strength
Squats: With your arms straight in front of you for balance, bend your knees slightly and hold for a few breaths.
Push-ups: Try keeping your knees on the floor as you press your body up slowly.
Flexibility
Seated toe-touch: Don’t worry if you can’t reach your toes right away. Go slow!
Arm lifts: From a standing or seated position, lift your arm to shoulder height, then next to your ear, then bring it down to your side with control.
Balance
One-legged stand: Use supports, and don’t lift your leg higher than it wants to go.
Stair step-ups: No need for speed as you step onto a stair or low stool one foot at a time, then back down. Hold on one leg for a few breaths if possible.
Use walls, sturdy chairs, and handrails for support.
2. Hit the gym
Getting your cardio in is harder and less fun when you can’t head outside for a walk, run, or swim. Gym equipment like treadmills, stationary bikes, and ellipticals, as well as indoor pools, tennis courts, and more are great ways to keep your body moving when the outdoors isn’t an option. In an assisted living community, check out gym spaces and workout rooms; otherwise, check around local gyms to find an affordable option that works with your schedule.
3. Check out a fitness class
New fitness classes are springing up everywhere! Check out community boards, websites, and local gyms for senior-friendly courses. Try different variations of yoga, tai chi, low-impact barre, or dance classes like ballroom or Zumba. These fitness trends are exciting and get you motivated to exercise. The best part is that there’s a class for everyone!
4. Get active with gaming
Gaming isn’t just for couch potatoes any more. There are lots of fun games designed to get people interested in exercising. Take a look at Wii Fitness for the Nintendo Wii, which has a variety of mini-games, including yoga and strength training, stretches, and some silly exercises. You won’t even believe you’re working out!
A more recent development in gaming technology is virtual reality headsets. With these types of systems, you control the games with your body. These games get you moving, and they’re also great with family and friends. Try something new, and who knows? You might love it.
When exercising, always remember to not push yourself too far. Healthy, active senior living is about taking care of your mind and body all the time. Staying fit, limber, and strong contributes to overall wellness, so even when the weather outside is frightful, keep yourself moving!
By Michelle Fitzgerald, LMSW, Maternal Infant Health Program Social Worker, Cherry Street Health Center
Parents and caregivers focus a great deal on a child’s health. Children go to regular doctor’s appointments, Women Infants and Children (WIC) teaches about healthy nutrition, and extra care is taken when there are sniffles and sneezes. Sometimes social-emotional health is overlooked, but adequate social-emotional development will help a child to live a healthy and happy life.
You might be wondering what social-emotional means; it’s about how your child interacts with the world around him/her, and how he/she manages and controls emotions. Good social-emotional development leads to success with friends as well as adjusting well to changes and challenges. Children with good social-emotional skills can focus more effectively in school, have fewer behavior problems and bounce back from difficult encounters. In short, these skills are very important!
How can you help your child develop these crucial skills?
Physical touch: This starts at birth with skin to skin contact and continues throughout childhood with hugs and positive physical touch.
Communication: Talk to your child at their level and listen to them– reading is also a great activity.
Realistic expectations: Familiarize yourself with developmental steps for your child’s age. You can sign up for free developmental questionnaires for your child from birth to age 5 here.
Be a good role model: Your child learns from you; show them how to handle frustration, how to listen and how to share.
Positive discipline: Set your child up for success. For example, don’t yell at your baby for putting something dangerous in their mouth; you know your baby will put everything in their mouth, so keep the dangerous items out of reach! Set good boundaries for your child and be consistent in enforcing those boundaries.
This is a very short list of activities to get you started! Find more information on social-emotional health below:
Aliyah Rivera unwrapped a large present handed to her by her friend, senior Lauren Gonzalez. Inside was a large painting kit with lots of tools for creating masterpieces.
Social worker Nicholle Smith hugs senior Avalon Dexter after receiving bus passes to give to students who have transportation needs
The kit was Aliyah’s wish come true through Winter Wishes, hosted by the Student Council. The Wyoming High School senior, while expressing thanks and excitement, said she hopes to major in art education in college. “It’s going to help me with my portfolio.
“I feel so honored and really happy to be one of the people that makes someone else happy,” said Lauren, Student Council vice president. “People get really joyful when they open a gift.”
Student Council members played elves on the mid-December afternoon, stopping by classrooms to fulfill gift requests submitted by their peers. They usually adopt a district family for Christmas, but this year decided to spread the love among the student body. Winter Wishes is modeled after an idea created by Jostens Renaissance to build climate and culture.
Junior Jabari Pennington opens his gift
“It’s more personal because we get to see the impact it has on them and know we are giving it to our students, said adviser Anna Servo. “Some might not have money to buy Christmas gifts, and some might have friends that just need a pick-me-up.”
Students spent $1,500 in council funds to grant 40 of 70 wishes, which ranged from candy and fuzzy socks to several Class of 2019 senior sweatshirts.
Several students and teachers made wishes to give to others.
Social worker Nicolle Smith’s request was filled for fifteen 10-ride city bus passes to help students with transportation needs.
A cart full of granted wishes
Special education teacher Cathy Kammega received a bowling ball to give to a Special Olympics Michigan athlete. Junior Marshaun Morris received a $15 Target gift card to buy his mother a Christmas present.
Junior Callie Seymour wished for flowers to deliver to her sister, Courtney Seymour, a fourth-grader at West Elementary School. “I knew it would surprise her. She is always looking up to me and I thought it would make her happy.”
Council members were so touched by Callie’s request that they presented Callie with her own flower and a $10 iTunes gift card.
Last week, Kelloggsville students got quite the thrill when teachers from the district came to their homes bearing gift bags.
Nayeliz Sierra, a fourth-grader at Kelloggsville Southeast Elementary, lives at the first stop on the route west of Division Avenue. She bounded out of the front door and into the arms of several teachers, one right after the other, before receiving her bag. Her ear-to-ear smile never faded.
Fourth-grader Nayeliz Sierra beams after receiving her goodie bag
“I think it’s important to make these connections with the families, coming to them instead of them always coming to us,” said Amy Stratton, a third grade teacher at West Kelloggsville Elementary.
Paula Dykstra, community coordinator for Kelloggsville Public Schools, couldn’t agree more. She organized the holiday home visits.
“One reason I really wanted to do this was for our staff to see where and how our students live,” said Dykstra, adding that students throughout the district have a wide range of living circumstances, from a single mother of five living in a two double-bed hotel room to students who live in large homes. “I also did this so the students can see the staff from their schools outside the walls of school. Any way we can include our families is important to Kelloggsville.”
A student, excited to see visitors from his school
By the numbers
Dykstra got the home visit idea from the Kent School Services Network coordinator at Godwin Heights Public Schools, who organized something similar with high school students last year. Dykstra tweaked the idea for Kelloggsville. She said she was blown away by the number of families that wanted to participate in this, its inaugural year.
The staff visited 183 homes, giving bags to 390 students in grades kindergarten through 12. Each bag contained a notebook, Kelloggsville pencil and window cling, a glue stick, crayons or colored pencils, scissors, hot chocolate, mini marshmallows, a candy cane, fruit snacks, and a book. Many items were donated by community partners including Meijer, Target, Owen-Ames-Kimball, ABDick, Culver’s and Flooring America.
Nayeliz Sierra hugs one of her teachers
Home visitors included a school board member, six administrators, 23 school staff, Dykstra’s husband and two bus drivers. Two buses visited homes in the district and three vans ventured farther afield to Schools of Choice students’ homes, going as far north as Plainfield Avenue.
Smiles all around
“Several families wanted staff to come inside and visit, but we were on such a time crunch. We would like to change that for next year,” said Dykstra.
One student told her teacher that her family cleaned the entire house in anticipation of the visit.
Each bag contained a variety of items
“When we pulled up on the bus, little faces would be peering out the front window, waiting for us,” she said.
“After seeing the excited, smiling faces on the children last night, we will most definitely be doing this next year. Even the older high school students were happy to see us.”
Dykstra rode on the bus that visited homes on the east side of Division Avenue.
“When we finished, everyone clapped and said they had a wonderful time.”
There was a lot of chopping, dicing and tossing going on at Valleywood Middle School, where students learn culinary basics — and get to taste the results.
Seventh-grader Arianna Cruz holds up her finished salad
Cooking club, an extracurricular activity that’s been offered to sixth-through-eighth graders for more than a decade, brings students together for an hour and 15 minutes to learn to cook, from food prep to finished dish. “I’m a big believer in making things from scratch,” said instructor Cheryl Meyer, a volunteer who loves to cook for her family. “I really want to empower kids so they can make things from scratch, so they can go to the grocery store, look at a recipe and know they can make anything.”
On a recent afternoon, about a dozen students prepared cabbage ramen noodle salad, each challenged with adding their own flair such as apples to add tang, or carrots and broccoli to create a medley of veggies.
There’s a different recipe each session with fried chicken, gravy and biscuits being among the most popular. Students get to take their dishes home. “I do want the kids to know food is a blessing for their friends and families,” Meyer said.
Eighth-grader Mari’azia Broyles wants to be a baker someday and is thinking about launching a cooking vlog. “I’ve learned how to use knives and things the right way, and what not to do. I like cooking!”
Seventh-grader Zachary Kwekel has a personal goal for the class. “One day I hope to make breakfast for my mom.”
When considering events that have shaped her generation, senior Quiana Wade thought of the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012, and of U.S. Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage in 2015.
She included images and messages about both events in her first-place-winning video for the student Mosaic Film Experience Mobile 2018 competition. She was recently awarded $1,000 for the piece. She was also a Top 10 finisher in the contest last year.
Mosaic Film Experience is a film festival for commercial and jury selected works focusing on under-told stories. It was founded in Grand Rapids in 2012.
The criteria this year was to tell a story including the message, “It’s different now,” and to incorporate art.
“The first thing that came to my mind was things that happened in society,” said Quiana, an advance video production student at Wyoming High School.
Mosaic Film Experience Mobile high school winners and finalists also include:
2nd place – Mariah Barrera, City High School
3rd place – Alyssa Dodd, Careerline Tech Center
Finalists:
Irene Kuperus, Careerline Tech Center
Yailine Palomo, Wyoming High School
Willy Vernom, Kelloggsville High School
Kyla Kerridge and Halle White, Rockford High School
Kalil Adams and Jayden Burgen, East Kentwood High School
Morgan Westrate and Lara Johansen, Byron Center High School
Sergio Sepulveda, Innovation Central High School
Wyoming High School senior Quiana Wade is the first-place winner in the Mosaic Film Experience Mobile 2018 competition
Quiana’s video starts with the narrative: “Being younger than now, I didn’t have to be aware of the things that happen around me, but it’s all different now.” It continues, including images and illustrations representing Trayvon Martin, the Black Lives Matter movement, the LGBTQ community and diversity.
She used an iPad to create the video, recording her siblings, friends and her own drawings.
As an African American, she said she’s personally been affected by racial prejudice. She also has friends in the LGBTQ community who she supports.
Quiana said she believes film is a great way to share perspectives and get people thinking. “Perspective is a big thing when it comes to understanding what people go through,” she said.
Quiana plans to major in film production in college, possibly at the Art Institute of Atlanta, in Georgia.
Christmas is over, the presents unwrapped, leftovers are eaten, friends and family have gone home, and now there’s that pesky tree to deal with. So many real Christmas trees end up on the curb headed for the landfill, but we have a better solution! Recycle your Christmas tree at Lewis Farms & Petting Zoo as a delicious treat for our herd of goats.
“We’ve
been asking for tree donations after Christmas for a number of years
now,” says owner Cindy Lewis, “The goats can devour a tree in a matter
of minutes, they get very excited!”
Pine needles are a natural worm control for goats and are full of vitamin C so they make a nice healthy snack in addition to their regular diet of hay and grain. The goats are accustomed to seeing people every day from May to October when we are open. After the farm closes for the season they can get a little bored and lonely. Having an abundance of trees on hand helps to break up the boredom and gives the goats something to look forward to!
If your family would like to spread a little extra Christmas cheer and donate your tree to the goats, we know they would certainly appreciate it. We will be accepting trees through the end of January here at the farm, 4180 W M-20 New Era, MI 49446. The drop off location is in the main parking lot marked with the sign “Thank you for the tree-mendous treat!” Please, no flocked trees, and make sure that all decorations are removed. Tinsel loses its luster when half-digested in a pile of goat droppings!
