WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
At the Wyomig Gives Back event held on Dec. 7, several city officials and community members stopped by the WKTV booth to record a personal Christmas Greeting. The greetings have been airing on WKTV. Here is the complete line up:
By Vista Springs Assisted Living
The holidays are always a time of year full of fun and a flurry of activities. Some people may be afraid that living in a senior community means missing out on some of the good times, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Assisted living communities have a lot of great ways to celebrate the holidays, from religious and spiritual services to festive activities and holiday outings.
We have put together a list of our favorite ways to celebrate the holidays, many of which are already happening in our Vista Springs communities. We’re wishing all of our community members joy this holiday season!
Many churches and other places of worship have special holiday services that you may want to attend. Assisted living communities will often organize trips to visit places, or if there is a service you want to attend that doesn’t have a specially planned trip, speaking to your event organizer can help you plan a visit.
Local dance companies, choirs, and bands have winter or Christmas programs that they love to share. Many senior living communities like Vista Springs will invite these groups to come and perform, so make sure have get an event schedule so you don’t miss out on anything.
Pop-up shops and holiday vendors will often come visit communities and bring the best of holiday shopping right to you! Not only does this provide a great way to socialize with the rest of your community, but you can get great deals on gifts for your family and friends all from the comfort of your own front door. Usually these are one day events, so if you plan on attending make sure to keep room on your schedule.
Ever wanted to make a pinecone wreath? A special ornament? A tiny Christmas tree? Assisted living communities like Vista Springs have these and any number of other fun craft projects that you can take part in. Have a good time and feel like a kid again while getting a little messy with glue and ribbons. Crafts are a great way to get into the holiday spirit.
Most senior living communities will ask residents to help them put up decorations around the common spaces. Decorate trees with ornaments, hang garland, and put out table centerpieces to give the entire space that homey holiday feel. Some communities also have decorating contests to see who can make their doorway the most festive, so you can go all out and show your decorating skills to everyone.
Everyone likes cookies, and during the holidays that’s especially true. Assisted living communities can have cookie decorating activities so you can have fun and eat your work. If there aren’t cookies, see if there are any gingerbread house constructing or decorating activities planned in your community.
When local groups can’t come and perform at your community, you can get a chance to go and see them someplace else. Many assisted living communities, Vista Springs included, will plan trips to go see concerts and other live music performances wherever their normal venue is. Enjoy a nice trip out and listen to good music to help you keep in the holiday spirit.
Similar to trips to listen to music, assisted living communities can have planned outings to event spaces that are holding holiday displays or special gatherings to celebrate the holidays. Parades, light displays, or house and garden tours are all examples of events that your community can have plans to see. One of our favorites is the Christmas light show at Fifth-Third Ballpark in Grand Rapids.
Another fun place to visit over for the holidays are Christmas tree farms. While you might not be planning on taking a tree home with you, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy yourself and get some fresh air. Look at local crafts and handmade decorations, and relax with the smell of pine trees with other community members.
Many assisted living communities have their own choirs and other groups that put on holiday performances. Maybe you are even part of one! These ensembles have put a lot of work into their programs, so make sure to show up and support your community members as they entertain.
Watch your favorite holiday movies or play fun board games with other community members. While you might have movie or game nights other times of the year, during the holidays there are often special treats like cocoa and snacks to help you get in the holiday mood and get the most out of community gatherings.
Almost all communities will have a dinner party planned where you can
invite family and friends to come and visit you at your home and
celebrate together. Most of these parties happen early on in December,
so if you have family members that you won’t be able to see later on in
the year this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some special time
together.
The festivities of the holidays can be found anywhere, especially in your assisted living community. With all these activities, you can have holiday fun every day of the month.
Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.
"May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility."
- Author Mary Anne Radmacher
There is still time to catch Kentwood resident Cecilia Nguyen in the role of Clara at the Grand Rapids Ballet’s presentation of “The Nutcracker.” The show runs through Sunday, Dec. 23 at the DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW. The production features the world-famous design of Chris Van Allsburg (“The Polar Express,” “Jumanji,”) Broadway-quality sets by Tony Award winner Eugene Lee (“Wicked,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Saturday Night Live”), festive choreography by Val Caniparoli, and live music from the Grand Rapids Symphony. For tickets, visit grballet.com.
Remember those days of yore when you and your family visited the Herpolsheimer and rode the Santa’s Rocket Express? The Grand Rapids Public Museum has the train on display for the holidays. Speaking of the Public Museum, the organization will be hosting its Snowflake Break activities again this year centered around two exhibits: “Expedition: Dinosaur” and “TOYS!” Or take a trip down memory lane to the mall, where many people will be this weekend, as WKTV takes a look at how malls in America not only changed shopping habits, but holiday traditions as well.
Heading out for the holidays to visit family or just to travel? The Gerald R. Ford International Airport has a few tips on flying such as arriving between 90-120 minutes before your flight leaves as lines will be longer (and also because of airport construction) and not wrapping gifts, but putting them in gift bags. Also, a recent traffic incident this past Thursday had the Wyoming Department of Public Safety reminding drivers about drowsy driving and how to avoid it. So safe travels everyone!
25 Million Tons
According to Stafford University, Americans throw away about 25 percent more extra trash during the holidays with the extra trash being about 25 million tons of garbage. Want to help reduce that? The Kent County Department of Public Works has a few suggestions.
By Jeremy Witt
West Michigan Tourist Association
See West Michigan from a different side by going behind the scenes. These tours show things you might not see on an ordinary visit, from secret wine cellars to private tastings. You’ll receive the inside scoop on everything West Michigan during these in-depth tours.
Get a behind the scenes look at something fun and unique! These are places that will make your visit truly special.
Schedule a group visit to Henderson Castle in Kalamazoo: Henderson Castle is the ideal place for groups of all types to gather and tour. Choose one of their tour packages or customize your experience to create exactly what you’re looking for. Tours can be scheduled to be self-guided or guided through the three-story historic castle and the surrounding property.
Holland is home to a local bowl manufacturer, crafting wooden bowls for over 150 years. Learn about their process and uniqueness of their bowls with a guided tour.
Head to Chocolates by Grimaldi in Grand Haven for a fun factory tour, and learn about the creation of chocolate, from pod and bean to delicious delicacies! Taste fresh samples right off the line and visit their production area to see where the magic is done. They use a 1950s enrober just like on I Love Lucy! Tours will not be available from November 12th to December 31st due to the holiday season.
A tour of the Kilwins Chocolate Kitchen in Petoskey is a must-see on your next visit to northern Michigan. Tours run Monday through Friday and include a comprehensive review of how Kilwins makes truffles, chocolates, caramel, brittles, and other confections. Of course, there are free samples at the end of each tour!
Beer is a way of life in West Michigan. If you have a favorite brewery, odds are that they offer behind the scenes tours. See what goes into making your favorite brews on these specially crafted tours!
Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids created the Founders Education Department to give the public fun ways to learn more about their favorite brewery. They offer several in-depth classes to teach you about the brewery, beer and food pairings, and brewery tours. There’s a lot to learn to become a craft beer expert, and Founders is here to set you down the right path.
Bell’s Brewery offers free tours at both their Kalamazoo and Comstock locations. Their original, Kalamazoo brewery is where beers like Amber and Oberon were first brewed. Their Comstock Brewery is home to their 50-barrel and 200-barrel brewhouse, located on 30 acres, and only a short 7-mile drive from Kalamazoo. This facility is designed to allow guests a first-hand look at their brewing process, fermentation, and packaging, and also includes two complimentary samples.
Dark Horse Brewing Company in Marshall has guided tours that will help you discover the process of producing the perfect craft beer, bottling it, and tasting the outcome. The tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday and end with a visit to the VIP lounge for a tasting in your souvenir pint glass.
Great Legs Winery, Brewery & Distillery in Holland is happy to provide complimentary behind the scenes tours of their compact production facility. They produce everything on-site and they’ll be bottling wines again in the near future. Want to observe the bottling experience? Call or email Great Legs to secure your spot!
Every Saturday, Saugatuck Brewing Company hosts Brewery Tours. The cost is $7.50 and includes beer samples, an SBC logoed pint glass or growler, and a full tour of all their facilities. The tour is open to the first twenty paid ticket holders, so get there early!
There’s a lot that goes into your favorite wine or cider. Find a whole new appreciation for your beverage of choice with these in-depth tours!
A fall stop at the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula often offers the opportunity to see the fall harvest in action. Pay attention as you approach the wineries to see the staff in the vineyards picking and gathering grapes for your favorite wines. Some wineries even offer tours and guided tastings, so you can get a peek behind the curtain or learn more about wine from the experts!
Set your sights on Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay in a whole new way! Plan your trip and enjoy a 45-minute guided tour through the breathtaking property, including the exclusive inn, centennial barn, and wine cave, all while learning the history of this iconic 160-acre estate and the incredible journey from grape to glass. The tour concludes with a premium tasting (souvenir glass included), featuring Black Star Farms’ award-winning wine, cider, and spirits.
Visit Traverse City and take a complimentary tour of the Chateau Grand Traverse’s grounds and winemaking facility, taking you through the winemaking process from harvest to bottling. All tours begin on their vineyard overlook deck, where your tour guide will highlight winery history and outline their growing practices. The tour will proceed into the winemaking facilities, where you will see first-hand how their wine is made.
Join Dablon Winery in Baroda on a winemaker led walking tour through their world-class vineyard, winery, and underground barrel cellar. You will experience the many components involved in creating first-class wines. Their winemaker will explain how their grapes are planted and cared for, as well as the barrel aging process. The $20 ($15 for Dablon Wine Club Members) tour also includes a wine tasting of their small-batch, handcrafted wines.
At Fenn Valley Vineyards in Fennville, tours are offered based on the season. Fenn Valley believes wine should be approachable. These tours are pretty in-depth, running an hour and forty-five minutes in length, and involve wine tasting throughout to illustrate the various points being made. During select times of the year, they also offer specially designed tours involving food and wine.
Great Legs Winery, Brewery & Distillery in Holland is happy to provide complimentary behind the scenes tours of their compact production facility. They produce everything on-site and they’ll be bottling wines again in the near future. Want to observe the bottling experience? Call or email Great Legs to secure your spot!
St. Julian Winery’s main location in Paw Paw offers free tours year round. Get more out of your experience by upgrading to a Standard or Enhanced Tour & Tasting. Standard Tours include six samples of your choice and a complimentary logo glass to take home. The Enhanced Tour & Tasting consists of an extended tour and your choice of a cheese or chocolate pairing option. Their wine educators will offer an intimate, in-depth education on the winemaking process from bud-break to bottling.
Take a tour to learn about making proper cider at Virtue Cider in Fennville. From pressing apples into juice to the ins and outs of barrel-aging, you’ll get to know Virtue and the traditional methods they use for their ciders. Virtue Cider offers three different experiences: the Cidermaker Tour, Production Tour, and Family Farm Tour. The Cidermaker Tour focuses on how Virtue Cider crafts the perfect cider, while the Production Tour takes you through the basics of their process. The Family Farm Tour is a tailored experience for families, letting the young ones meet some of the farm animals and taste non-alcoholic cider. Tours can be booked on their website.
Distilleries are finding their place in Michigan’s craft beverage scene. To learn more about this exciting industry, take a tour and talk to the experts!
Coppercraft Distillery offers tours at their Holland location, available Thursday through Saturday. These tours take you through the process of creating premium, small-batch spirits by hand using local ingredients. Learn how Coppercraft uses corn and grains from a local Holland farm to make their bourbon.
Gray Skies Distillery, located on the north side of Grand Rapids, began whiskey production in December 2015. Last year, Gray Skies began offering weekend tours to guests looking to learn more about craft whiskey and peek behind the scenes at the distillery. They offer two tours: their Gray Skies Tour and the Craft Whiskey Tour, both offering guests insight and samples.
Drop by and take a tour of the Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks. See first hand how whiskey is made and explore the history of the Featherbone Factory. Tours at Journeyman Distillery include a general overview of the production process along with a unique historical perspective on the building itself. Journeyman Distillery is located in an 1800s factory building with several unique architectural and historical talking points. Most importantly, at the end of the tour, you’ll have a chance to sample Journeyman’s finest spirits.
Visit Long Road Distillers in Grand Rapids for a tour, where visitors are taken through the distilling process and the principles behind it. You’ll get the chance to know what’s in your glass and where it came from. Each tour is conducted by a distilling expert who is friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to answer any question. Best of all, after learning about the spirits, you get to try them!
Great Legs Winery, Brewery & Distillery in Holland is happy to provide complimentary behind the scenes tours of their compact production facility. They produce everything on-site and they’ll be bottling wines again in the near future. Want to observe the bottling experience? Call or email Great Legs to secure your spot!
It’s easy to get a behind the scenes look at your favorite places in West Michigan. These tours take you to multiple places, making it easier than ever to get a peek behind the curtain.
Guided tours are a great way to experience the Saugatuck/Douglas area, as many of them are tailored toward specific interests like food, beverage, art, or activities like running or biking. The brewery tour at Saugatuck Brewing Company gives you a look at what goes into your favorite beers, with samples along the way! If wine is more your thing, the Fall Vineyard Tours at Fenn Valley includes a wine tasting, tour of the vineyard, explanation of how the grapes are grown, and a look into their wine-making process. The area offers more tours, ranging from art and fall colors to the lakeshore.
If you want a unique way to tour the Grand Rapids beer scene, take a ride with the Great Lakes Pub Cruiser. Hop on this 15-person party bike with your friends and family as you make your way around Grand Rapids, stopping at bars, breweries, and restaurants along the way. Personalize your tour and choose the stops and route that you want.
Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel offers Adult Tour Groups. These tours provide an unforgettable setting for any group, with its distinctive dining and accommodations, as well as Afternoon Tea, golf, biking, swimming, and many other activities. In addition, there’s plenty to explore on Mackinac Island. All group tour rates include meals and accommodations.
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
Rockford Brewing Company will be hosting a weekend-long party starting today to celebrate its 6th year of business. While there will be special food menu items, beer releases and live music both days, the moment you tip an imperial oatmeal stout while listening to Delilah DeWylde may well be the moment to have a spot at the bar.
On Friday, Dec. 21, through closing at midnight, patrons can bring in a stein and fill it with 32 ounces of select beer for $5, enjoy a Bavarian-themed menu, and also have a chance to win gift cards and mug club memberships throughout the day, that according to supplied material. Country/pop artist Kari Lynch will be performing at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 22, will be a holiday extravaganza with holiday-themed trivia (teams of four) starting at 4 p.m., with mug club memberships for the winning team, an ugly sweater party, a “Charles Dickens Christmas” inspired menu, and a holiday set from local rockabilly band Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys at 8:30 p.m. (Looking for a last minute gift and an excuse to go out and have a beer? All merch will be 50 percent off.)
Oh, and the beer? Rockford Brewing Company will be releasing two new beers: the aforementioned imperial oatmeal coffee stout and an amber ale.
“We’ve had an exciting six years in the Rockford community and now we want to throw a party for all of those who supported us,“ Seth Rivard, co-owner of Rockford Brewing Company, said in supplied material. “We not only want to celebrate our business but the customers and staff who have helped us get to where we are today.”
The Rockford Brewing Company is located in downtown Rockford at 12 E Bridge St. NE. For more information visit rockfordbrewing.com .
There are 43 local breweries in the new Brewsader Passport – including Brewsader newcomer and Wyoming’s own Kitzingen Brewery, as well as other newcomers Castle Brewing Co., Depot No. 36 Brewery, East West Brewing and HopCat Knapp’s Corner.
In case your not in the know, you just need to collect stamps or check-ins from eight breweries to get a free Brewsader t-shirt; but the shirt is secondary to the honor of having a passport bursting at the seams. You can get an app, of course, but that digital stamp doesn’t have beer stains as a bonus.
With or without the passport, go to Kitzingen for the seasonal German Hefeweizen or any of another dozen or so other German styles. And if you want to sound smart, bring up in conversation that Count Dracula is likely buried in a Kitzingen (Germany) cemetery.
For more information on Kitzingen Brewery, located at 1760 44th St. SW, Wyoming, visit kitzingen-brewery.com . For more information on the Brewsader Passport, visit here .
The prelude of carols with brass, strings, and choirs, followed by Midnight Mass will be broadcast live from the Cathedral of Saint Andrew on Christmas Eve on FOX 17. The concert begins at 11 p.m. Dec. 24 with Mass at Midnight (12 a.m. Dec. 25) to follow. Most Reverend David J. Walkowiak, bishop of Grand Rapids, will preside at Midnight Mass.
The prelude and Midnight Mass can also be watched live at dioceseofgrandrapids.org or on our Facebook page (Diocese of Grand Rapids).
A rebroadcast of Midnight Mass will air on FOX 17 at 8 a.m. Christmas Day. Masses will be held on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at all Catholic churches in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. For a list, click here.
By Erin Albanese
School News Network
Brookwood Elementary School students were declared official Knights of the Realm for their respectfulness, responsibility, kindness and other traits that follow the Code of Chivalry, a moral system from the Middle Ages.
The declaration – for more than 50 lords and ladies in fifth grade, 15 in fourth-grade and 15 in third grade – was made during a surprise visit from a queen, knights and a lord from Medieval Times, a Schaumburg, Illinois-based dinner theater company.
Students learned sword maneuvers from the eloquent and honorable knights and watched sparks fly as weapons clanged during an action-packed joust.
“I was really looking forward to the red knight winning,” said fourth-grader Colette Banks.
The visit was organized by social worker Pam Buschle, who is planning to retire at the end of the school year after nearly three decades. Buschle, who lost her arms and legs to amputation while batting septic shock following routine surgery in 2014, said she wanted to thank the children for the love they’ve given her on her road to recovery and beyond.
“The students and the staff at this school and all of Kentwood have given so generously from their hearts to me. This is just a small token of my appreciation for the (Brookwood) kids because they have shown such acceptance and compassion for me throughout this journey of losing my hands and my feet.”
Buschle said she sees Kentwood students living by the knight’s Code of Chivalry. “It’s really modeling treating others with kindness and respect and that is consistent with our message at Brookwood of teaching kid to interact with each others with compassion and caring and respect for differences.”
Each May, fifth-graders take a trip to Chicago for a dinner show at Medieval Times. It’s a 10-year-old tradition younger students look forward to, and a great way to bring history and language arts to life, said Principal Lorenzo Bradshaw. It also gives opportunities to students who normally would not have them.
“We find opportunities to bring curriculum to life and we have a big focus on informational text,” he said. “What better way than to simulate and give kids the opportunity to experience Medieval Times?”
Third-grader Kamryn Kruisenga offered her own words of gratitude to Buschle. “I want to thank her by giving her a hug! I know all the trouble she’s been through.”
For more news on area schools, visit schoolnewsnetwork.org.
By Vista Springs Assisted Living
Like many adult children, you want your loved ones to live a healthy and happy life. When they need advanced care, you’re left with a tough decision. The idea of moving to an assisted living community is still uncharted territory for many, crawling with misconceptions. A significant portion of what we think we know is influenced by media depictions. How many times did we see Dorothy from the Golden Girls threaten her mother, Sophia with going back to the dreaded Shady Pines retirement home? Too many!
Believe it or not, those who enter an assisted living community are not subject to cruel or unusual punishment. In fact, most seniors have the opposite experience. Assisted living can be the solution you and your loved one have been dreaming about. So, If you are just starting your research or just want to know more, here are three things you didn’t know about assisted living.
It’s Just Like Home. When considering assisted living for a loved one, it’s easy to picture a shared, sterile, hospital-like room. If that’s what comes to your mind, you probably think that’s no place to live a happy, fulfilling life. We agree! That would be a horrible place to live. Luckily, you don’t have to.
It might surprise you to know many assisted living communities encourage seniors to personalize their living arrangements to feel like home. Some even welcome furry friends. They can be similar to apartments regarding privacy, and often include amenities like a personal bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen area.
Vista Springs consists of 11 uniquely themed senior communities in Michigan and Ohio. Check out a few of our location to get a feel for what you can expect here.
Independence. Being a part of an assisted living community has the ability to give seniors a newfound sense of freedom and independence. When seniors have limited mobility, which frequently comes with age, there can be a decrease in their overall well-being. A few vital services assisted living communities provide is access to transportation, housekeeping and laundry services, and meal preparation. Service like these are essential for older adults with cognitive or physical impairments.
Different Levels of Care. Searching for an assisted living community can be overwhelming. With so many care options available how can you be sure you’re making the right choice? It’s important to recognize not all senior communities provide the same level of care. It often depends on the community’s licensing. Many states have a tiered system of licensing whereby communities with a higher degree of licensing are able to provide more care. Being aware of what care options are offered can help you find the perfect place where your loved one can live life to the fullest without worrying about managing care. Compare some of our Vista Springs care services listed here.
A home is more than just the essential amenities. It’s feeling a connection to one’s community. Finding a good fit is important for solidifying that bond. The right assisted living community allows your loved ones to stay healthy while focusing on living their best life.
Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.
By Kylie Rymanowicz, Michigan State University Extension
Birthday celebrations for children have become grand and often expensive affairs. People share photos of meticulously planned and themed parties for their children and there’s often a lot of social pressure to have the perfect party for your child. These parties can be expensive, difficult to plan and stressful. There are lots of meaningful ways to celebrate your child’s birthday that aren’t big, fancy parties. Michigan State University Extension has some ideas for alternative birthday celebrations for your child.
Community service or volunteer project. Encourage your child to spend their birthday giving back. Find a community service or volunteer project that matches your child’s interests. Your animal-loving child can volunteer at an animal shelter, or your nature-loving child could participate in a river clean up.
Go on an adventure. Even if you can’t take a big vacation, you could have a mini-getaway for your child’s birthday, even if it’s just a day trip. Hop in the car and take a mini-road trip to visit someplace you’ve never been or visit family or friends.
Plan an event. Allow your child to pick an event to attend on or around their birthday. Maybe there’s a play, concert or sporting event they would love to see. You could also offer to bring a few of their closest friends to really make the event special.
Make it a day of surprises. You can plan your child’s day and not tell them what will happen—make it a day of surprises. Plan a special meal, trip or activity, something you know your child will love! Surprise them with a list of the reasons that you love them, or with the people they love to be around.
Have a day of favorites. Give your child a day of favorites—eat their favorite meals, do their favorite things, see their favorite people, watch their favorite movie. Make their special day all about what makes them special.
Make it meaningful. However you celebrate your child’s birthday, you can make it a really meaningful day. Have your child reflect on their last year: What were they most proud of? What were their successes? What friends did they make? What did they accomplish? Ask them to think about what they wish for the next year: What do they want to achieve/get better at/explore?
Despite the many Pinterest pages devoted to excessive children’s birthday parties, your child’s celebration does not need to be big, extravagant or expensive to be special. Choose a celebration that works for your family, your budget and what it is you really want to celebrate.
For more articles on child development, academic success, parenting and life skill development, please visit the Michigan State University Extension website.
To learn about the positive impact children and families experience due to MSU Extension programs, read our 2017 impact report. 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.
By
More than 20 percent of high school students use electronic cigarettes, risking nicotine addiction, lung damage and the temptation to try traditional smokes, U.S. health officials reported.
Between 2011 and 2018, the number of high school teens who started vaping, as e-cigarette use is called, increased from 220,000 (1.5 percent) to just over 3 million (20.8 percent), according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“These new data show that America faces an epidemic of youth e-cigarette use, which threatens to engulf a new generation in nicotine addiction,” Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, said in a news release.
Those startling statistics have prompted federal health officials to take action.
On Thursday, U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb announced that his agency was seeking to stop the sale of flavored e-cigarettes other than mint and menthol flavors to minors.
His proposals include having stores that sell vaping products make them available only in age-restricted areas. In addition, Gottlieb called for stricter age verification for e-cigarettes sold online.
“By one measure, the rate of youth e-cigarette use almost doubled in the last year, which confirms the need for FDA’s ongoing policy proposals and enforcement actions. HHS’s work will continue to balance the need to prevent youth use of e-cigarettes with ensuring they are available as an off-ramp for adults who are trying to quit combustible [tobacco] cigarettes,” Azar said.
The findings were reported in the Nov. 16 issue of the CDC publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
“The youth use of e-cigarettes is at an epidemic level. It’s truly troubling,” said Erika Sward, assistant vice president for national advocacy at the American Lung Association.
E-cigarettes are a gateway to smoking regular cigarettes, she said. Moreover, chemicals in them can cause lung damage and result in addiction to nicotine.
According to the new report, e-cigarette use among high school students increased 78 percent from 2017 to 2018.
During the same year, the use of flavored e-cigarettes among high school students already using e-cigarettes increased from 61 percent to 68 percent.
In addition, the use of menthol or mint-flavored e-cigarettes rose from 42 percent of all e-cigarette users to 51 percent.
E-cigarette use also increased among middle school students, from less than 1 percent in 2011 to nearly 5 percent in 2018, researchers found.
“FDA has to act, but we also need state and local government to act as well,” Sward said. “This is too big for everybody not to have a role in reducing the use of e-cigarettes.”
Sward said the lung association is upset that the FDA stopped short of banning mint and menthol e-cigarettes. “FDA’s plan is not going to go far enough,” she noted.
Many teens use mint and menthol e-cigarettes, which Sward believes are specifically marketed to attract minors.
“The tobacco industry knows that mint and menthol help the poison go down,” she said. “And they have been using menthol cigarettes to addict millions of people for decades, and that trend has tragically continued with e-cigarettes.”
By Vista Springs Assisted Living
Growing older doesn’t mean it’s time to slow down. In fact, many seniors are speeding up and revising what it means to be a retiree. Preventative care works helps keep seniors active and avoid health problems: here’s what you need to know about how often those appointments need to happen.
As we age, we become more prone to chronic disorders such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. What older adults don’t realize is that meeting with a specialist like an ENT or optometrist can detect symptoms of significant health problems. A simple eye exam can reveal carotid artery blockages, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. In many cases, problems detected early on responded better to treatment, which is why regular checkups and screenings are more for seniors. Proactively monitoring your health is the best way to preserve a happier independent lifestyle.
Regular meetings with a specialist or your primary care physician is a low-stress way to maintain overall wellness in seniors. But how often should they go? Here are three appointments that you should never forget to make and keep.
Surprisingly, only 62% of Americans get physicals. Part of this is due to the fact that some older adults are unsure how often they need a physical examination. For seniors, if your over 65 and in good health, you should go once a year at minimum. However, it is important realize just as everyone has different medical needs, the ideal physical schedule varies senior to senior. If you’ve had cancer, your physician might tell you to come in more often. Health insurance coverage also plays a factor in how often you should be booking a physical. Medicare Part B does not cover routine preventative physical examinations, but it does cover an Annual Wellness Visit every 12 months. Check with your doctor to see if they accept Medicare Part B, and payment options for physical exams. What makes regular physicals so valuable to seniors is that they have the ability to track key health measurements over time. Having a baseline can tell you what areas you need to be on top of, and if what you’re doing is effective.
Changes in vision are nearly unavoidable with age. What’s more alarming is that many eye diseases have no early symptoms. Conditions like glaucoma and cataracts can be silent and progress extremely quickly. After the age of 60, seniors are more susceptible to eye diseases that can leave permanent vision damage. The American Optometric Association recommends annual eye examinations for everyone over age 60. An optometrist, as we’ve mentioned before, can detect health problems affecting other parts of the body. Regular visits can improve the chances of maintaining good eye health in older adults.
Hearing loss can be a sudden or gradual process. However, seniors are more at risk. In fact, one in three older adults between the ages of 65 and 74 experience hearing loss. This is because, as we age, the structure of the inner ear changes. Unfortunately, many seniors wait until their hearing loss dramatically affects their lives before taking action. For example, one of the most common causes of injury in seniors is falling. Hearing disorders can disrupt the balance in the inner ear, making it more likely that seniors will suffer a fall. The National Campaign for Better Hearing encourages everyone to get a baseline hearing test at 60 years of age and be retested annually.
Aging can do a number our bodies, which is why they need more attention. Committing to annual physicals and screening for both ears and eye is essential for a senior’s. One test could make a huge difference. Proactive approaches, like preventative care, helps seniors live a long fruitful life.
Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.
Spectrum Health Beat
If you’re looking to eat healthier, but don’t want to give up those deliciously satisfying foods, look no further.
What you want exists—it’s the Mediterranean diet.
The best part of it all: A plethora of research correlates this cuisine with improved health and longevity. A Mediterranean-style diet reduces risk factors for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and Alzheimer’s, and it also fights inflammation and adds antioxidants.
People who eat this kind of diet live longer with less disease.
Offer a Middle Eastern vegetarian appetizer menu at your holiday events and reap the delicious health benefits. You can buy many of these items at a Middle Eastern deli.
The diet limits red meats, placing emphasis on plant-based proteins and nuts, and promoting seafood and chicken along with legumes, veggies, high-antioxidant fruits and whole grains.
The result is a lower-glycemic diet, which can help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity and the function of cells in the pancreas, which helps to improve blood sugar control.
Olive oil replaces butter in Mediterranean recipes, and delicious herbs and spices make it easier to reduce salt.
In my series Eating the Mediterranean Way, participants have reported significant reductions in blood sugar with minimal weight loss. Because the cuisine emphasizes good fats instead of low fat, it’s better for weight loss than a low-fat diet.
The Mediterranean diet is more satisfying because people feel less deprived by their meals—they’re getting essential nutrition in a delicious way. They also report reduced cravings for sugar, which makes weight loss easier.
An important thing to keep in mind: Lifestyle is just as important as food.
People from Mediterranean countries enjoy and savor their food, turning every meal into an excuse for a social occasion with family and friends. A little red wine may be part of the menu, too.
Learn more about or sign up for the next Eating the Mediterranean Way class by calling 616.774.7779.
By Bridie Bereza
School News Network
Who would head outside in sub-freezing temperatures, as snowflakes are swirling, and jump in a creek? The Godwin Green Team, that’s who.
Bill Mull, seventh-grade science teacher at Godwin Heights Middle School, started the extracurricular club last year to increase student opportunities to get outside and learn. So far, membership is at 15 seventh- and eighth-graders.
Recently, the team visited a tributary of Plaster Creek near Hillcroft Park, just west of school, and tested the characteristics of the water for depth, flow rate, pH levels, E. colicontent, and more. The students will test the stream periodically throughout the school year to see how it changes and to understand how those changes affect the levels of pollution.
Mull said that through its affiliation with the Groundswell program, a coalition of community partners that creates opportunities for hands-on environmental education, students could look at improvements that could be made for the health of the stream.
“We know now that we cannot take clean water for granted and that we need to work to preserve the health of our streams for ourselves and for the future,” he said. “Between what we do with Groundswell and in this club, we want students to understand that they can be stewards in this process and that their actions can have an impact in maintaining and improving stream health.”
Green Team member Nikolas Ransom, who said he camps almost weekly with his family, has a great appreciation for the outdoors. Nikolas said the Green Team matters because “We all live here.”
Seventh-grader Zadrea Rochelle said Green Team is the first extracurricular activity she’s joined.
“I wanted to learn more about the environment,” she said. “Like Nikolas said, ‘We all live here.’ If we don’t take care of it, we can’t live here anymore.”
The club dabbles in a variety of activities, such as keeping the aquarium clean and the fish alive for the school’s Salmon in the Classroom program. Projects on the horizon for the group include growing native plants and tree seedlings, establishing a school recycling program and learning about orienteering and geocaching.
Mull said the Green Team hopes to conclude the year with a camping trip to the Yankee Springs State Recreation Area.
“I think our club is important in that it can foster an interest in the outdoors and nature that students in our district may not otherwise have access to,” he said. “Anytime we can get them outside, in a greenhouse, working with fish, or doing something other than sitting in front of a video screen, that will be meaningful for our students.”
By Kent County Department of Public Works
Wrapping paper, bubble wrap and Christmas lights are just a few items that should not go in recycling bins this holiday season, Kent County Department of Public Works announced today as part of its 2018 Holiday Waste Guide.
“While the holiday season is a time for gift giving, holiday parties and family dinners, it’s also the me of year when our waste drastically increases – almost by 25 percent nationwide,” said Lauren Westerman, Kent County DPW’s Resource Recovery educator. “We’re asking everyone to be aware of what can go into their recycling bins this holiday season and take steps to reduce their waste, recycle and donate old items.”
The Kent County DPW estimates that by the end of 2018 residents will have recycled 500,000 Christmas trees-worth of paper, enough aluminum to make 74,000 tabletop Menorahs and steel to make 53,000 Radio Flyer wagons. To help reduce and recycle even more waste this holiday season, Kent County DPW encourages residents to follow these dos and don’ts:
Do bring reusable shopping bags. Remember to bring reusable bags when Christmas shopping or going to any store, not just the grocery store.
DO NOT recycle wrapping or tissue paper. Wrapping and tissue paper cannot be recycled because it’s low-quality paper that paper mills can’t use to make new paper products. Reduce use of wrapping paper this holiday season by using other creative materials to wrap gifts, such as old maps, colorful cloth or old gift bags.
DO separate packaging. From plastic to cardboard to strings, it’s important to separate packaging materials before recycling them. For example, if a toy comes in a plastic package that also has cardboard, make sure to separate both materials before recycling.
DO NOT throw away electronics. Before throwing away old appliances, gaming systems or other electronics, visit Kent County DPW’s recycling guide.
DO recycle glass bottles. Remember to rinse all glass bottles before placing them in a recycling bin.
DO NOT recycle artificial Christmas trees. Instead, donate them to thrift stores. For those who put up real trees, remember to remove all ornaments, tinsel and other decorations before taking them to a local drop off site.
The Kent County DPW also reminds residents to safely dispose of hazardous materials such as reworks, cooking oil, propane tanks and ammunition on by taking these items to a local drop-o center for safe disposal. These items should never be placed in a trash or recycling bin. For drop-off locations, visit reimaginetrash.org .
For a full list of holiday waste and recycling ps, download Kent County DPW’s guide here.
At approximately 2:45 am on Dec. 20, 2018, an officer from the Wyoming Dept. of Public Safety was traveling southbound on US 131, near 44th St SW, when he observed a wrong way driver going northbound in the southbound lanes. The officer immediately activated his emergency lights and siren to warn other drivers of the possible impending danger and pulled alongside of the wrong way vehicle, which was traveling at approximately 50-60 mph. The officer noticed that the driver appeared to be sleeping and used his cruiser to push the car to a stop. This quick thinking action almost certainly prevented a head-on collision which could have injured or killed someone.
It does not appear that alcohol or drugs were a factor in this incident and there were no injuries to the driver or officer. The driver of the vehicle stated he had been awake for more than 40 hours and was sleep deprived.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety would like to take this opportunity to remind drivers of the dangers associated with “drowsy driving” or “fatigued driving.” The National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 90,000 vehicle crashes in 2015 were caused by drowsy drivers in the United States. Additionally, there were 795 traffic fatalities in 2017 due to drowsy driving. Below are some tips from the NHTSA on how to avoid driving drowsy:
How To Avoid Driving Drowsy
1. Getting adequate sleep on a daily basis is the only true way to protect yourself against the risks of driving when you’re drowsy. Experts urge consumers to make it a priority to get seven to eight hours of sleep per night. For more information on healthy sleep, see Healthy Sleep At A Glance (PDF, 1.81 MB) at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website.
2. Before the start of a long family car trip, get a good night’s sleep, or you could put your entire family and others at risk.
3. Many teens do not get enough sleep at a stage in life when their biological need for sleep increases, which makes them vulnerable to the risk of drowsy-driving crashes, especially on longer trips. Advise your teens to delay driving until they’re well-rested.
4. Avoid drinking any alcohol before driving. Consumption of alcohol interacts with sleepiness to increase drowsiness and impairment.
5. Always check your prescription and over-the-counter medication labels to see if drowsiness could result from their use.
6. If you take medications that could cause drowsiness as a side effect, use public transportation when possible.
7. If you drive, avoid driving during the peak sleepiness periods (midnight – 6 a.m. and late afternoon). If you must drive during the peak sleepiness periods, stay vigilant for signs of drowsiness, such as crossing over roadway lines or hitting a rumble strip, especially if you’re driving alone.
Short-term Interventions
1. Drinking coffee or energy drinks alone is not always enough. They might help you feel more alert, but the effects last only a short time, and you might not be as alert as you think you are. If you drink coffee and are seriously sleep-deprived, you still may have “micro sleeps” or brief losses of consciousness that can last for four or five seconds. This means that at 55 miles per hour, you’ve traveled more than 100 yards down the road while asleep. That’s plenty of time to cause a crash.
2. If you start to get sleepy while you’re driving, drink one to two cups of coffee and pull over for a short 20-minute nap in a safe place, such as a lighted, designated rest stop. This has been shown to increase alertness in scientific studies, but only for short time periods.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) just announced Snowflake Break activities and additional displays at the Museum for the holiday season. Snowflake Break includes a variety of family friendly programs and activities themed around special exhibits Expedition: Dinosaur and TOYS!
By Christie Bender
Grand Rapids Public Museum
During Snowflake Break at the GRPM, visitors can make a variety of crafts including their own themed snowflakes, sock monkey hats, dinosaur kirigami, punch tin, play a variety of over-sized games, and explore Expedition: Dinosaur and TOYS!
Expedition: Dinosaur is perhaps the closest experience to what it would have been like to be in the presence of a living, breathing Mesozoic-era dinosaur, and TOYS! lets visitors rekindle childhood memories as they create new ones. Additionally, the Museum has holiday displays for visitors of all ages to enjoy from additions to the Streets of Old Grand Rapids, the Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train from the Museum’s Collections, historic LEGO® display of Grand Rapid and more.
Snowflake Break runs from Dec. 22 through Jan. 6. General admission includes hands–on activities for Snowflake Break, special holiday displays and the TOYS! exhibit. Expedition: Dinosaur is an additional $4 per person and $2 for Museum members.
Kent County residents receive reduced admission. Kent County adults are only $5 for general admission and Kent County children 17 and under are FREE general admission.
Holiday Displays
Historic LEGO® Display – See historic Grand Rapids like never before; built from LEGO®s. The 1925-era display, complete with operating trams, will be on display in the Streets of Old Grand Rapids exhibition now through January 18, 2019 and is included with general admission. Built by the West Michigan LEGO® Train Club.
Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train – Visitors to the Museum can enjoy a community favorite on display – the Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train. The Train is included with general admission to the Museum and will be on display through Jan. 18.
The monorail train debuted as “Santa’s Rocket Express” when the new Herpolsheimer’s Department Store opened in in 1949. Recognizable to any baby-boomer resident of Grand Rapids, the train chugged along the ceiling of the toy department at the Herpolsheimer’s Department Store, which sat at the corner of Fulton and Division streets in downtown Grand Rapids.
Santa and Elf Hunt – Find 15 historic Santas from around the World in the Streets of Old Grand Rapids, and 12 elves hidden throughout the 3 floors of the Museum. The Santa & Elf Hunt is included with general admission.
Let it Snow Planetarium Show – Let it Snow features a new variety of festive classics from Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee, and includes a stunning multi-media finale by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The soundtrack is visually enhanced with thematic animation, laser imagery and special effects. Tickets are $4 each with general admission to the Museum, free to Museum members and $5 each for planetarium only tickets. Let it Snow will run through Jan. 6.
Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium
The GRPM announced that the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium recently underwent upgrades introducing the latest Digistar technology! The new Digistar system provides the latest in resolution quality, content features and immersive surround sound for an out of this world experience.
The Planetarium re-opened this November with its newest upgrade since March of 2014 after a major renovation that included new technology, sound system, full dome and seating.
The Planetarium is named for Grand Rapids native, Roger B. Chaffee, who died with fellow Apollo 1 astronauts Gus Grissom and Ed White during a pre-launch test in 1967. The Planetarium was originally opened in 1994 and has gone through renovations to provide the best experience for Planetarium visitors.
Expedition: Dinosaur
Expedition: Dinosaur explores the fascinating world of dinosaurs and the hunt for their fossils! From life-sized and lifelike animatronic dinosaurs – some controlled by visitors – to mechanical and electronic learning stations. The exhibit includes a number of hands-on interactives that explain dinosaur movement, digestion, and evolution, and show the life and methods of dinosaur hunters from the 1800s to today.
Expedition: Dinosaur taps into our fascination with these incredible creatures. It is perhaps the closest experience to what it would have been like to be in the presence of a living, breathing Mesozoic-era dinosaur.
TOYS!
TOYS! is an interactive, multi-generation exhibition of toys and games to rekindle childhood memories and spark the creation of new ones.
Baby Boomers loved Paper Dolls, Erector Sets, and Mr. Potato Head, Gen Xers preferred Holly Hobbie and Hot Wheels, and Millennials have never known a world without Super Mario or My Little Pony. Some toys, like Barbie and G.I. Joe, have adapted to appeal to different generations and remain popular today. Toys and games have changed over time, but the desire to imagine, compete, and create has not.
The exhibit, designed and curated by the GRPM staff, features toys and games from the Museum’s Collections and on loan from community members. Visitors will imagine, compete and create, while going on a journey of toys through generations.
Through the design process of the exhibition, the Museum worked with several experts from the community making sure the design was as inclusive as possible so everyone visiting can enjoy it. The exhibition is being presented in both English and Spanish, and also includes Braille.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
There is that nostalgic Christmas image of people walking through downtown looking at the beautifully decorated store windows. But for many who were born in the late 1960s, their holiday memories and traditions centered around visiting Santa at the mall.
“I grew up in Grand Rapids,” said Cecily McCabe, who earlier this year became the Woodland Mall’s marketing manager. “So it was always a big deal to be able to come here with my family and go Christmas shopping and see all the Christmas décor. We liked to go see Santa every year. So Christmas here was a special time of year.”
In 1954, Northland Mall opened in Southfield, Mich., with a radically new concept: a regional shopping center where people could shop several different stores in one location. Seven years later, the regional shopping concept would come to the Greater Grand Rapids area with Rogers Plaza opening in Wyoming in 1961 followed by Woodland Mall in 1968. What municipality Woodland Mall’s land would be in became such a concern the residents of Paris Township voted to become the City of Kentwood in 1967, keeping the mall in Kentwood.
By the end of the 1960s, malls had become a staple in American life. This changed holiday traditions that instead of downtown department stores competing to having the best St. Nick and the most lavish decorations to local malls offering an array of holiday experiences. There were indoor ice rinks to a New Jersey mall with a 48-foot Santa. In fact, that Santa was remembered so fondly, the mall brought it out of retirement for this holiday season.
Decorations at Woodland Mall also were special, noted Ann Schlink who has worked at Woodland for 21 years.
“The first one was very elaborate,” Schlink said. “It was throughout the mall, the plaids…There was a big Christmas tree in the mall and then after the redevelopment it got moved down to the Macy’s wing which was nice because it was Hudson’s at the time and it tied into the the Hudson’s theme a lot.”
Eventually those decorations were retired to the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The former mall decorations are now used in the museum’s Streets of Old Grand Rapids.
Woodland also had a Santas around the world display and Schlink said most people will remember the Christmas tree from a couple of years ago, which now stands in the mall’s outside plaza. The current Arctic Forest decorations, which was unveiled in 2017, includes 12 decorated trees and a 12-foot lighted polar bear known as Ursa. Even the Woodland Mall stores get into the holiday spirit with decorated windows just like what the department stores use to do.
Besides having Santa, Malls also hosted a variety of activities. Rogers Plaza has had the Wyoming Gives Back for the past 12 years. After first opening, Woodland Mall had a production of “A Christmas Carol.” Today, Woodland hosts a holiday concert series and RiverTown Crossings, which opened in 1999, has had pop up shops featuring an array of vendors.
“We use to really like Marshall Fields because they had frozen yogurt upstairs so it was a big deal for us to get our frozen yogurt everytime we came to the mall,” McCabe said. “So we had these little family traditions based around our shopping habits as a kid. It was fun.’’
Schlink said she always enjoyed the piano player at Hudson’s with McCabe adding Woodland is excited about having Von Maur open next year as the store will be bringing the tradition of a piano back to Woodland Mall.
With the passage of time, things change. Hudson’s became Marshall Fields which became Macy’s. Other stores, such as Gantos, Kinney Shoes, Disney Stores, Florsheim Shoes, and Anchor Blue, and even some malls — Northland Mall was torn down in 2017 — have since faded from the landscape. The places are remembered fondly with sites dedicated to past malls and stores. Geoffrey Hudson talks of visits to the former North Kent Mall, which was located on Plainfield Avenue from 1971 – 2000, in his blog GR Retro.
“I used to go to North Kent almost exclusively to hang out at Aladdin’s Castle, one of the last great old-school game arcades,” Hudson writes on the site. “…Another thing I remember is for a while, NK was the home to the only old-style photo booths. Not the sort that are around today where you can be superimposed in front of the backgrounds and such, but the type where it fires off four takes and you get a strip of (black & white!) photos at the end.”
Along with changing photo booths, technology has changed shopping patterns, but malls like Woodland remain a focal point for many especially during the holidays.
“It’s so busy and full of families excited to see Santa Claus and enjoying all our decor and special events,” McCabe said. “So it’s just really fun to see families gathering here and shopping and enjoying this special time of the year.”
“The people that I have worked with over the years and met through the mall over the years, they comeback at Christmas,” Schlink said. “It’s like a reunion of the people and it’s magical because now they are bringing their children to see Santa Claus and to do shopping and it just feels like home.”
The City of Wyoming will be able to purchase new emergency equipment – thanks to a $138,573 grant awarded to its Department of Public Safety – Fire Division.
The City has received an Assistance to Firefighter Grant through the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Association. The grant will be used by the department to purchase emergency equipment to aid with automobile extrications, hazardous material incidents, rope, water, ice and trench rescues, and medical and technical rescue incidents.
City of Wyoming firefighters spend nearly 5,000 hours in training each year, with a large portion of that time focused on fire operations and technical rescue. The new equipment, which was carefully selected to serve multiple purposes, will allow them to grow their skills and further prepare for a variety of rescue situations that may arise in the community.
“The safety and well-being of our residents is the focal point for everything we do,” said Deputy Fire Chief Dennis Van Tassell. “This new rescue equipment will enhance our current capabilities and allow us to demonstrate additional leadership related to a wide variety of emergency incidents and operations.
“We’re grateful for FEMA’s confidence in our department – both our skills and abilities, and the manner in which we steward our resources.”
About the Wyoming Department of Public Safety – Fire Bureau: The Wyoming Department of Public Safety – Fire Bureau is a citizen-focused provider of fire protection, emergency medical and rescue services. First established in 1968, the Department now serves more than 75,000 residents and covers approximately 27 square miles. From fire protection to EMS, inspections, training and more, each section of the Fire Bureau plays an important role in ensuring the safety of the citizens of Wyoming. For more information, please visit www.wyomingmi.gov.
By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
Dr. Jen absolutely fell head over heels in love with this engaging and extremely charming FIV+ fella the minute she laid eyes on him, but once she picked him up and nuzzled him close, she was even more smitten! And when it came time to name this fantastic fella (born in October of 2016), she really didn’t have to do much research, as the white heart on his chest and the way he stole hers instantaneously led her to Eros, the Greek god of love.
Even though Eros was quite banged up upon arrival, bearing scars and scabs left over from his days of fighting and fending for himself, Dr. Jen found him to be a breathtaking beauty, with that adorable white locket and ivory tufts of fur between each and every toe! How could one cat be so darned handsome?!
Once at our sanctuary Eros proved to be a boisterous, busy boy who only stopped moving when a bowl of canned food came into sight. Although he was a bit timid around his caretakers at first (we think he was a bit overwhelmed by being indoors and not having to do anything to earn his keep), he took to chumming around with some of the more outgoing guys at Big Sid’s which ultimately helped him gain confidence. In fact, at the writing of this bio two months after his arrival, we can tell you that Eros has become a bit big for his britches and has needed a time out on more than one occasion.
Now that he knows he can play with the others and sometimes get them riled up with his rambunctious behavior, we have to monitor his activity— he can be quite the little instigator. Eros reminds us of that pesky little brother who delights in ruffling the feathers of his siblings simply to watch the reaction it causes; he is a little stinker sometimes but we sure do enjoy him!
We would like to find Eros a home with another FIV+ cat if possible, one that will rough-and-tumble with him when he gets things going. As far as the type of human companionship we feel he is best suited for, we can see him becoming best buds with youngsters in a household as his energy level will certainly rival theirs! Considering that this gorgeous guy is typically in perpetual motion a busy, bustling household beckons him! Come meet our enthusiastic Eros for yourself and fall in love with this social butterfly!
Want to adopt Eros? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
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.
Story and photos by Christopher Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
Gabriel Kulakowski’s grandmother found just the perfect outfit for her 2-day-old grandson to wear for his picture with Santa.
In a twinkle, Santa had a new elf.
Jolly Saint Nick parked his sleigh on the roof of Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital for a special visit with the babies and families at the NICU in the Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center.
“This is a way for the families to take a break from their worries and just enjoy the holiday season,” Santa said.
Santa knew just how to hold the tiny little ones he visited. Behind the beard is Al Jones, MD, a retired neonatal medicine specialist.
He has donned his fur-trimmed red jacket, hat and pants with a broad-buckled belt for the past six years to help create these moments.
Santa’s helper is Amy Nyberg. She is the March of Dimes family support program coordinator at the children’s hospital who makes this visit happen each year.
“Families love it,” Nyberg said. “Santa comes and they are able to hit that milestone and have that memory of baby’s first photo taken with Santa.”
Amy, also dressed in fur-trimmed red, gives candy canes and small toys to young siblings of the NICU babies. She arranges for a professional Santa portrait to be sent to the families.
Raelynn Rhodes wore a special outfit for her photo with Santa. Her mom, Morgan, found the perfect fit, an American Girl doll ensemble complete with ice skates.
Parker Davis’ mom, Megan Alexander, said they woke up bright and early to make sure they didn’t miss Santa’s visit.
“We didn’t expect him until after Christmas,” Alexander said of her little preemie. “He’s our little Christmas baby.”
By Tracy Trautner, Michigan State University Extension
Safety on and off college campuses should be a major concern for parents. As parents want to ensure a safe learning environment for their children, this is a logical emotion to have. When thinking about college crime these days, statistics show that property crimes far outweigh violent crimes on campuses.
Having more burglaries than robberies means kids have to be smarter about protecting their personal property. Campuses across the country have increased security in many ways, including additional training for campus police as well as more video cameras strategically placed around campuses.
Advise your child to lock their door and windows and stay alert when alone or walking around campus. If possible, use the buddy system when exercising or going to parties. Safety experts also recommend avoiding shrubbery and hedges where assailants could hide.
Safety messages and warnings seem to be typically directed towards the safety of women, however men can also be victims of a crime. Share the following safety information with both your son and daughter.
Michigan State University Extension recommends the following measures to keep college students and their property safe.
The campus of Michigan State University has this statement as part of their safety policy: “MSU is a safe campus, and student safety and security is our first priority. However, students should always keep personal safety in mind. We recommend that students always lock their room doors and never prop or hold exterior doors; walk in groups on campus at night and make sure someone knows where they are going and when they will be back if they are going to be away.”
Every college or university is required to submit an annual security and fire safety report. For more information about the safety of the college your child is interested in, review their security and safety report.
For more accurate information on on-campus crimes versus crimes in the vicinity of the campus, visit Campus Safety and Security. It is a website that can give you more specific data about crimes at campuses around the country.
For very detailed information about a specific college, visit the National Center for Education Statistics, which is handy for researching everything about a potential college, from varsity athletic teams to financial aid and enrollment numbers, not just crime statistics.
Parents are always concerned about their child’s safety, but this is especially true as they let go of many of the safety measures they had in place before the child left the home. Check out the following links for great information to discuss with your child on issues they might not have thought about before. Much of the information could be applied to students of all ages, including high school students as well as adults.
To learn about the positive impact children and families experience due to MSU Extension programs, read our 2016 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 2016, can be downloaded from the Michigan 4-H website.
By Alan Headbloom, Feel Like You Belong
Metta Anongdeth knew something was wrong when her grandmother came to bathe and dress her and her young siblings with tears in her eyes. It turned out to be the day her parents would smuggle their family out of Communist Laos, leaving extended family behind–perhaps forever. Don’t miss this inspiring story of danger, courage, and embracing a new life in a distant land.
By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org
When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.
- Susan Heller
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) is preparing for a busy holiday travel season and is offering these helpful travel reminders. Due to increased passenger traffic, parking lot demands will be greater, and airport facilities are expected to be busy. Also, due to current airport construction, along with the busy holiday traffic, lines could be longer than normal. For the complete story, click here.
As the days draw shorter and temperatures decrease, we know that the holiday season is upon us. Not only do we usually indulge ourselves during this time, but we also become less physically active. But it does not have to be that way. For the complete story, click here.
Love reading Christmas poems and stories each year, a new one is a great gift to give yourself or a loved one a great gift by checking out: “A Cup of Christmas Tea”, by Tom Hegg. For the complete story, click here.
On average, you’re less likely to be delayed if you’re traveling the week before Christmas or on the holiday itself, the data shows. December 25 has actually had the lowest percentage (18 percent) of delayed flights over the last five years,. (Source) And, you know, you are all in the same boat … er, airport.
By Micah Cho
WKTV Intern
Chances are you or a loved one has boarded “Santa’s Rocket Express,” the three car monorail that used to soar above the heads of shoppers at Herpolsheimer’s Department Store in Downtown Grand Rapids.
In 1949, Herpolsheimer’s introduced the train to compete in the “department store wars.” While you could go to the Wurzburgs Department Store and see Santa Claus, Herpolsheimer’s allowed visitors to ride around their store and see what their parents were buying them for Christmas.
The newly renovated train comes from a fundraising event on behalf of the Grand Rapids Public Museum called “Collections and Cocktails” in the Spring of 2018.
Christie Bender, director of marketing and communications for the museum, said the museum wanted to offer the community a chance to see a piece of history that’s close to the story of Grand Rapids.
“Many people that did grew up here will remember this (Santa’s Rocket Express) from their childhood, but people who are coming here now will get to learn the story,” Bender said.
For Patrick Ziegler, of Fubble Entertainment, the newly refurbished train brings back childhood memories of boarding Santa’s Rocket Express with other excited Grand Rapids children.
“It just seemed that you were so far up there and that you were talking to so many different people,” said Ziegler. “That’s everyone’s universal memory.”
While you’re visiting the museum, be sure to check out “Streets of Old Grand Rapids.” From decorated window displays to representations of old store fronts, the walk-through exhibit allows you to see what Christmas in old Grand Rapids used to look like.
Santa’s Rocket Express will be on display on the first floor of the Grand Rapids Public Museum until Jan. 17. There is no extra cost to view Santa’s Rocket Express or Streets of Old Grand Rapids.
By Erin Albanese
School News Network
On the screen in front of them, students considered the day’s math challenge: Which of the following numbers are rollover numbers? 8,612; 4,322; 9,867; and 13,859.
The fun began as students in the Wyoming High School Math Circle used different strategies to figure out the answer. Students computed, erased, tweaked and plugged numbers into different formulas. Excitement grew as they collectively came closer to solving the puzzle, until finally – with the white board covered in numbers and variables – the “aha” moment came.
The word “play” comes up a lot in the new Wyoming High School Math Circle, as students with whiteboards and touch-screen technology have fun with numbers and their limitless possibilities. “It’s a place where you can play with math instead of just solving math or learning about math. It’s applying it to puzzles and games which is the side of math I really like,” said senior Jonathan Driggs, an AP statistics student.
Making Math Add Up – A series on the difficulties students have learning math, and what methods some schools and teachers are using with success.
“It’s math for the sake of math – just for fun,” said senior Thomas Oliver, who is in AP statistics and AP calculus BC (second-level AP calculus). “In class you are taught math. Here you experience math.”
Numerous Possibilites
Advanced math teacher Eric Retan began offering Math Circle this fall for an hour after school twice-monthly. Six or seven math-minded students regularly attend, delving into number theory, functions, statistics and more. “It’s for anything math-related. “It’s very wide open. It’s open-ended exploration of interesting math.”
Retan said the extracurricular option offers students math beyond what he has time for in class. “It’s for all sorts of things that there isn’t room for in the regular curriculum. It offers us a chance to just play without the constraints of having to get through certain (lessons in a set amount of time).
Oftentimes, a warm-up problem takes the whole hour. Not knowing where the numbers will end is part of the fun, students said. “Some of the problems take awhile,” said senior Antonio Plascencia, who is in AP statistics and AP calculus. “When you know where you are going with it and you are going to finally get the answer, it gets you excited.”
Senior Alondra Sot, who is in pre-calculus, likes that even Retan doesn’t know answers to the challenges.
“In Math Circle you are able to explore ideas more,” she said. “I feel like there is a sense of security because you’re not afraid to share answers. Sometimes the teacher doesn’t even know the answer. That’s the point in it being a challenge.”
Alicia Roberts
Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) is preparing for a busy holiday travel season and is offering these helpful travel reminders.
Due to increased passenger traffic, parking lot demands will be greater, and airport facilities are expected to be busy. Also, due to current airport construction, along with the busy holiday traffic, lines could be longer than normal. GFIA encourages passengers to arrive at least 90-120 minutes before their flight and check flight information at www.flyford.com.
In order to expedite the security screening process, passengers should carefully consider the contents of their checked luggage and carry-on bags. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends wearing shoes that are easy to remove, having identification and boarding passes ready to present at security checkpoints, removing all items from pockets, avoiding bedazzled and jeweled clothing, limiting heavy jewelry, and ending all cell phone conversations prior to screening. In addition, remove any personal electronics larger than a cell phone from your carry-on bags.
If passengers are traveling with gifts, do not wrap them with wrapping paper or tape. TSA recommends putting gifts in gift bags or gift boxes instead. Snow globes can be a popular gift during the holidays but they must contain 3.4 liquid ounces or less to comply with the 3-1-1 liquids bag rule. Larger snow globes should be packed in checked baggage or shipped to your destination.
Traveling with food items is okay during the holidays. Removing heavy food items such as cheese and fudge, along with granular and powdered items like sugar, from your carry-on bag, will also greatly speed up security screening. If the food item is a solid (i.e.: ham, turkey, cake, cookies), then it can be packed in a carry-on bag. If the food item is spreadable or pourable, then it must be 3.4 liquid ounces or less to comply with the 3-1-1 liquids bag rule to travel in a carry-on bag. If it is more than 3.4 liquid ounces, it must be packed in a checked bag.
“We are looking forward to another holiday season, which is a busy time of the year. Because of that, it is important for those traveling – especially if you haven’t flown recently – to review TSA’s website,” said GFIA Interim President & CEO Brian Picardat. “Our TSA staff does a wonderful job, and the more prepared travelers are, the smoother the screening experience will be for everyone.”
The TSA encourages passengers to utilize the 3-1-1 rule with liquids, gels and aerosols. Put all liquids in containers with a 3.4 ounce maximum capacity, and place them in a clear, plastic one-quart zip-top bag. Each passenger is limited to one quart-sized bag.
Additional 3-1-1 Information:
Questions about TSA procedures and upcoming travel can be addressed to the TSA Contact Center at 1-866-289-9673 or @AskTSA on Twitter.
Living in noise-saturated neighborhoods might be more than simply annoying, with new research suggesting it seems to raise the risk for serious heart problems.
Chronic noise from traffic and airports appears to trigger the amygdala, a brain region critically involved in stress regulation, brain scans have revealed.
Noise is also associated with increased inflammation of the arteries, which is a risk factor for stroke, heart attack and heart disease, said lead researcher Dr. Azar Radfar. She is a research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
“We are not the first group talking about noise and cardiovascular disease,” Radfar said. “What we really show here is the mechanism linking noise to major adverse cardiovascular events.”
For the study, Radfar and her colleagues analyzed imaging scans of 499 healthy people, looking specifically at their brains and blood vessels.
The investigators then used the participants’ home addresses to obtain noise level estimates of their neighborhoods, based on aviation and highway noise data kept by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
People in the noisiest neighborhoods had higher levels of activity in their amygdala and more inflammation in their arteries, the researchers found.
The research team then followed the study participants for an average 3.7 years, to see if these symptoms of stress would lead to heart problems.
The findings showed that people exposed to chronic noise had a greater than threefold risk of suffering a heart attack, stroke or other major cardiovascular event, compared with people who had lower levels of noise exposure.
That risk remained elevated even after the researchers accounted for other risk factors, such as air pollution, high cholesterol, smoking and diabetes.
But the study could not prove that noise caused heart risks to rise.
Still, the amygdala appears to increase heart risk by triggering the release of hormones that fuel blood vessel inflammation, the researchers concluded.
Dr. Nieca Goldberg is director of the NYU Langone Tisch Center for Women’s Health in New York City. She said, based on this research, noise is “a link in the chain of cardiovascular risk, and I think it is an interesting question for doctors to ask their patients when assessing their cardiac risk.”
Radfar even suggested that people affected by transportation noise might consider soundproofing their homes.
On a community level, highway and urban planners can protect the populace by making road-noise barriers a part of road construction, Radfar suggested.
And, Goldberg added, if you’re in a noisy neighborhood, you might also want to consider other ways to reduce your stress. These might include yoga, meditation or aerobic exercise.
The findings are to be presented at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting in Chicago. Such research is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
By
People with food allergies aren’t the only ones who need to be aware of menu minefields when eating out. If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s important that you don’t fall prey to these temptations.
It’s not only supersized meals that can be your diet downfall—restaurant meals, in general, have jumped in size. If you’re not careful, the U.S. Department of Agriculture warns that the extra calories in a typical restaurant meal can mean a gain of two pounds a year for those who eat out just once a week.
And, year after year, those pounds can really add up.
At breakfast, say no to over-the-top omelets. Eggs are healthy options at any meal, but dishes that smother them in cheese, sausage and other high-saturated fat ingredients can turn a simple 80-calorie egg into a dish with more than 1,000 calories.
Steer clear of oversized meat portions. A 3-ounce lean filet is a good once-in-a-while choice, but that tempting 16-ounce slab of prime rib delivers 1,400 calories even before you add in all the trimmings.
Pasta-and-protein dishes can more than double the calories of either a simply sauced dish of pasta or a broiled chicken breast, and even more when smothered with cheese or cream sauce.
A “personal” pizza sounds like a sensible serving, but it can come with far more calories than one gooey slice, especially if topped with an assortment of cured meats.
Chicken wings are one of the worst bangs for your buck because 75 percent of the calories come from fatty skin and breading, and provide little protein.
If you crave any of these dishes, make them at home where you can control ingredients and portion sizes.
By Ann Arnold, Michigan State University Extension
For more information contact Stephanie Ostrenga, ostrenga@msu.edu.
Keeping children’s hands clean at home and school is an essential tool in keeping them healthy and stopping the spread of germs. Parents and caregivers can set a good example and teach children the proper way to wash their hands by demonstrating proper hand-washing each time they wash their hands. This may take several times to have the children get the hang of it, although it will improve with practice and age.
Remember to wash your hands frequently throughout the day and practice proper hand-washing with your children or students. This coloring page is one of many free resources from Fight BAC! that can be used with children to reinforce hand-washing practice at home and at school. Michigan State University Extension recommends that you wash your hands thoroughly and continue to monitor your children’s hand washing techniques to keep them healthy and prevent illness.
By Kerri VanderHoff
The Chiaroscuro International Film Series’s 13th season will feature five celebrated films from around the world. The theme for this year’s award-winning roster of films is ‘Fate’. Using a variety of narrative, cinematic and thematic devices, each film explores the idea of fate — destiny, chance, luck, karma, providence, serendipity… what’s the idea of fate?
The programs begin at 2pm on scheduled Sundays, January through March, and include the feature presentation, a panel discussion, and a reception with refreshments. All programs are free and open to the public.
The 2019 films and their screening dates include:
The Chiaroscuro film selection committee considers various criteria during the nominating process of the international films including variety in country of origin, length, critical acclaim, availability, and status as a West Michigan premiere viewing.
The panel discussion is organized with consideration of each film selected. Two experts are invited to sit on the panel; one is knowledgeable in film studies and the other deeply connected to the culture represented in the film. Feedback and questions from audience members are greatly encouraged.
The reception that follows the film viewing and panel discussion completes the afternoon immersion in world culture by offering complimentary food and drink and a comfortable space to gather outside the theater. This allows participants a space to mingle with others and build upon the ideas presented earlier in the program, encouraging further dialogue and cultural exchange in a friendly, casual setting.
Everyone is welcome to enjoy Sunday afternoons of film, food, and cultural exchange. The series offers an engaging way to experience the world without leaving town. All films are shown in the state-of-the-art theater at the UICA in downtown Grand Rapids (2 West Fulton). Parking garage is available, entrance is off Commerce Street. Follow us on Facebook and check the website often for update announcements on panelists and other information.
By Kim Delafuente, Spectrum Health Beat
Is your best “you” buried under unrealistic expectations, out of control stress and pure exhaustion?
You’re not alone. According to recent research, far too many of us are letting stress control our lives and increase the size of our waistlines.
When people become stressed, the hormone cortisol really gets to work, making weight control more difficult and it can be a snowball effect on your health.
One way to stop, or at least mitigate, cortisol’s dastardly effects is to exercise. Exercise can decrease the levels of cortisol circulating in the blood stream, plus it has the added benefit of giving you a positive boost of feel-good endorphins.
Regular exercise could certainly be a great connector to your best self. It helps us think more clearly, reduces stress and puts you in a better frame of mind.
Let’s take a poll. When was the last time you said:
Has it been a while?
Now, let me ask you this: When was the last time you said “I get to exercise” (and meant it)?
Get to exercise, really? Does anyone honestly feel that way?
Yup, it’s true. I would say that most everyone who has managed to sustain an active lifestyle says that every time they work out. They have truly found something they enjoy about moving.
Maybe it’s the sense of accomplishment, the camaraderie, the endorphin boost, or the results that keep them going. Or maybe, underneath the sweat, they have discovered better versions of themselves.
When we tell ourselves (and anyone else listening) that “I have to exercise” it sounds like one more chore on the never-ending to-do list.
So what if we thought of exercise as something special like getting a pedicure, going shopping, or taking a weekend getaway? All of a sudden it sounds like a gift and it becomes something we look forward to each day. You even might find yourself saying “I get to exercise.”
The time to start is now. Arrange a walk with a friend, join a group exercise class, or find a good workout on YouTube. These are all manageable starting points.
There is no need to take on a hard core workout at the get-go. Even 10 minutes several times a day can make a difference. The more you exercise, the more you will feel confident, stronger, less stressed and happier.
Your best “you” might even start to surface.
Can’t wait to get started? Great, but don’t forget your new mantra “I get to exercise!”
Now get on those shoes and get going! What are you waiting for?
By Bridie Bereza
School News Network
Since the beginning of the school year, third-graders from East Kelloggsville Elementary have boarded a school bus every Wednesday morning for the short ride to Kelloggsville High School. There, they head to a classroom where each child sits down for 45 minutes with someone a little older and a little wiser: a high school mentor.
On this particular morning Sydney Balsitis, a mentoring service specialist with D.A. Blodgett St. John’s, is facilitating the lesson. She asks the younger students how they deal with conflict. Answers range from “talking about it” to “asking a teacher for help” to “cupcakes.”
Next, students work with their mentors to learn about “the peace process.”
This is Peer to Peer, a mentoring program that organizers say is the first of its kind in West Michigan. Elizabeth Frendo, mentoring service supervisor for D.A. Blodgett St. John’s, was inspired by similar work being done through MSU Extension. She wrote a grant to fund the two-tiered mentoring model, and partnered with Kelloggsville schools to implement it. (“Two-tiered” means Frendo and Balsitis mentor the high school students, who in turn mentor the third-graders.)
“We focus on coping skills, feelings, conflict,” said Frendo. “The structure of the program is to hit those areas that would inhibit success in a classroom.”
What makes the program unique from the informal mentoring Kelloggsville has done in the past, said Frendo, is that everything is documented and measured to see if it’s working.
So… Is It Working?
Results have been promising so far. Students were surveyed at the beginning and middle of the program in an attempt to see what coping skills they already had, and which ones they gained. Frendo said they could see improvement from the first survey to the second. At the end of the 14-week program, they’ll repeat the survey.
Senior Symone Britt said this is her first time mentoring anybody, and she has learned quite a bit.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s really fun interacting with them,” said Symone, who works with a third-grader with special needs. “I’ve been trying to teach her to sit down and focus on what we’re learning, because she has a hard time focusing. I’ve learned a lot about patience and cooperation.”
Steven Wood, third grade teacher at East Kelloggsville Elementary, said his students look forward to meeting with their mentors, and love to run into them outside the classroom.
“It’s somebody that they really look up to,” he said. “Coming from a high-schooler instead of a parent or a teacher, (the lessons) resonate with them a little bit more.”
Mentorship Matters
Community Coordinator Paula Dykstra said she appreciates the partnership with D.A. Blodgett St. John’s.
“It’s been a learning curve for the high school students, especially because they’re not used to the behavior of a third-grader,” she said. “It’s been fun to watch them change and adjust.”
“The hardest part will be severing the ties that these high school students have made with the third-graders,” Dykstra added. “The principals have been in touch and will make arrangements for them to see each other again.”
Next semester, a new group of students will benefit from Peer to Peer as high-schoolers will partner with third-graders from a different elementary school in the district. Mentoring in a small group setting and one-on-one mentoring between adults and fourth- and fifth-graders are also on the horizon for the district, Dykstra said.
For more stories on area schools, visit schoolnewsnetwork.org.
WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org
The City of Kentwood officially began the holiday season with its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Light Parade, on Friday, Dec. 7, centered around the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch.
The evening was filled with festive activities, including a parade, live holiday music and carriage rides, as well as caroling and a tree lighting ceremony. Hot chocolate and cookies will be offered, and Santa, of course, was there to take pictures with families.
It was also an opportunity for local dignitaries and citizens to record Kentwood Holiday Greetings, an annual service of WKTV community media. Here is a selection of those greetings:
Doreen Scholl, Diana and Nicolas
Reagan Adolfo, Kentwood Historic Preservation Commission member
For all WKTV Holiday Greetings from both Wyoming and Kentwood, visit WKTV’s YouTube Channel.
For more information about City of Kentwood community events, visit the city’s website at kentwood.us.
By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org
Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat
Please put a penny in the old man's hat
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God bless you!
- Traditional nursery Rhyme
Over the years, some things have changed but one thing hasn’t — an army of volunteers work to keep up the tradition of buying, wrapping and delivering presents to more than 10,000 kids in Western Michigan. For the complete story, click here.
This year marks the twenty-first anniversary of celebrating the holidays for Christmas Lite Show — a Grand Rapids-area holiday attraction. Christmas Lite Show is West Michigan’s largest, animated, drive-through light show. Located at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, the attraction maintains almost two miles of lights, tunnels, and animated displays and entertained over 70,000 visitors last year. For the complete story, click here.
Experience the joy of the holidays at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park with the annual Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition on display from Nov. 20 through Jan. 6, 2019. Guests from all over the world visit Meijer Gardens to experience 42 Christmas and holiday trees and displays representing countries and cultures from across the globe. For the complete story, click here.
Ever wonder how many lights there are on the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center? There are 50,000 lights on this year’s 72-foot-tall Norway spruce. (Source) Be glad you’re not paying the electric bill!
There are many moving parts to a job search: research, networking, writing, applying, following up. The list goes on and on. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. Here are five easy, yet important tasks that are easily forgotten:
Consider job search your job. Set a daily schedule. Wake up at the same time you would when you were working. Shower, get dressed and eat breakfast. Block off times for online job searching and informational interviews. End your day by making a to-do list for the next day.
Google yourself. Look at the first three or four pages to see what an employer will see. A search that brings up negative or inappropriate content could land you in an employer’s reject pile. Having no information is almost as bad; recruiters may see this being out of touch or lacking skills. Combat this by creating or updating your LinkedIn profile.
Choose strong words for your resume. Use words that show employers real activities with measurable results. Words like “was” or “became” do not say much about what you actually did. Instead, choose verbs that lead to questions such as “how,” “how many,” “how much,” “when,” “where,” “who” and “why.” Good words should make the reader want to know more.
Keep references current. Don’t forget the 4 P’s: prepare, professional, permission and progress. Double-check the contact information for your references before your interview; you wouldn’t want the hiring manager to call a disconnected phone number. Outdated contact information also shows the employer you haven’t kept in touch with that person.
Send a thank you note. One out of three employers think less of a candidate who doesn’t send a thank you note. One in ten wouldn’t hire someone if they don’t send a thank you note, according to Career Builder. Keep it short and professional. Hand-written is best, but emailing works too.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
