Bello Sparkis Tory Peterson, Rob Jordan, Cole Hansen and Jay Kolk. (Courtesy of the band)
By City of Kentwood
The City of Kentwood’s Winter Concert Series is returning in 2019 with free concerts on select Wednesday nights from January to March in the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch.
The series features three West Michigan bands: Eric Engblade Trio, Bello Spark and the Sookie J Trio.
El Caribe Food Truck will be on site at each concert offering a variety of Caribbean food. Concert-goers are welcome to bring their own beer or wine to enjoy as well.
“Cold weather shouldn’t stop us from being active and having fun,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director. “Our winter concert series is one of many ways we encourage residents to get out of the house and enjoy the winter programming in Kentwood.
“The good food and live music combined with the warm comfort of the library makes for a wonderful evening.”
The lineup, which includes a mix of acoustic folk-rock, jazz and blues music, is as follows:
Social media can help you connect to friends and family across the globe and it can help you feel connected when things get tough. ‘Sharenting’, or “parenting and sharing,” is a relatively new term used to describe parents using social media to share photographs, videos and information about their children.
Studies have shown that parents use social media for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways. A Pew study found that social media is being used as a parenting tool and resource. They found that 74 percent of parents reported receiving support on social media, including social emotional support. Parents are using multiple platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter. A poll conducted by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital found that parents commonly shared about getting kids to sleep, nutrition, discipline, child care/preschool and behavior problems. This survey also indicated that social media helps many parents feel like they aren’t alone.
“Oversharenting” refers to those parents who overshare on social media about their children. While a parent may not see any problem with what they are posting about their children, older children have expressed concern and frustration. In a 2016 study, Alexis Hiniker, Sarita Schoenebeck and Julie Kientz surveyed parents and children about family rules and perceptions regarding technology use. They found that many children were concerned about their parents oversharing content on social media and sharing without the child’s permission. They reported feeling embarrassed and frustrated that their parents made decisions about their online presence without consulting them.
Your child doesn’t get a say. We give children choices about all sorts of things. To empower and protect children, we teach them to take ownership of their bodies by letting them choose if they want to kiss or hug relatives and teaching body safety. We teach them to respect privacy, like knocking before you enter a room. However, when we post about them without their consent, we are not respecting their self-ownership, privacy or opinions.
You do not have control. Once you post something on social media, it belongs to the world. You cannot control who has access to it or how someone might use it. Even when your profiles are kept private or locked down, you do not have control over what someone you gave access to it might do with it. Many parents have faced digital kidnapping, when someone on the internet “steals” a picture of your child and uses it on social media to claim that it’s their own child.
There are very real safety concerns. When you post specific information about your child online, like their full name, age, where they go to school or child care, you risk someone you don’t trust being able to gain access to your child. Innocent photos and videos have also made their way to explicit adult-oriented and other unsavory sites.
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.
When fall and winter roll around, it’s not uncommon for people to get a little blue. You or someone you know may feel more tired, unmotivated, and sad — but just because it happens every year doesn’t mean it’s normal. What’s commonly known as the “winter blues” could be something more. Especially during the cold and dark months, attention to senior mental health is critical for overall wellness.
It’s not just “feeling down”
Sadness and anger are part of a healthy spectrum of emotions, so feeling down or upset once in a while is totally normal. However, if a mood change lasts for a week or more, it could be a bigger problem than the blues.
Seasonal Affective Disorder, often abbreviated as SAD, is a mental health condition that affects sufferers during certain seasons. While it’s usually associated with winter, SAD can actually occur at different points of the year for different people. The disorder is more common during winter in the northern states, as our northern latitudes receive less sunlight than the south.
Aging adults may be at higher risk of depression and SAD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Senior physical health and senior mental health go hand in hand – depression is more common in people with other illnesses, such as heart disease and cancer, and around 80% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition.
Another condition that could be the cause of winter blues is vitamin D deficiency. While vitamin D deficiency is something that should be addressed no matter what age, the condition is particularly serious in aging and elderly adults. Symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency are easy to overlook, and include:
Muscle aches
Bone pain
Fatigue
Depression symptoms
If left undiagnosed and untreated for too long in seniors, a vitamin D deficiency can lead to a higher risk of osteoporosis, so be sure to talk to a medical professional if you’re concerned.
It’s treatable
The good news about the different causes of winter blues is that they’re pretty well understood by the medical community and they’re totally treatable.
There are a variety of treatments for SAD that have been tested and proven to work in almost all cases. Here are a few:
Antidepressants
Increased sun exposure
Light box therapy
Cognitive behavior therapy
Regular exercise
Mindfulness practices
If you think you might be suffering from SAD, talk to your doctor about what treatment is best for you.
For vitamin D deficiency, the treatment is a little more cut and dry. Incorporating vitamin D-rich foods into your diet is the most natural way to tackle a deficiency. Great foods include:
Egg yolks
Cheeses
Fatty fish
Beef liver
Fortified dairy products
A doctor may also recommend nutritional supplements, but remember to never begin taking vitamin supplements without first consulting a medical professional, as they may interfere with other treatments and medications.
If you or someone close to you goes through the winter blues, there’s a chance that treatment can help. Regardless of whether you feel the effects of SAD or vitamin D deficiency, be sure to pay close attention to your physical and mental health this winter. Spend time with family and friends, get plenty of exercise and nutrition, and make the cold months just as enjoyable as the rest of your year!
The district received some international attention this month when a film crew from South Korea shot a segment for an upcoming documentary at Lee Middle and High School.
South Korea’s Educational Broadcasting System, a television and radio network that is analogous to Public Broadcasting Service in the U.S., is creating a three-part series that will air later this year called “The Future of Education.”
Felix Kwon is an international reporter and researcher who worked on the documentary for EBS.
“We had such a wonderful time (at Godfrey-Lee),” he said. “When we talk about future of education, we always think of high-tech, coding, programming — that more techy stuff, right? But I don’t think that’s everything about the future of education. Tech stuff can be helpful, but there are some other elements that we need to prepare the next generation.”
EBS films Lee Middle School student Ethan Ryon
Seeing the “Cs” in Action
Kwon found those elements at Godfrey-Lee, which was recommended to him by Roberta Michnick Golinkoff and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, co-authors of “Becoming Brilliant.” The book lays out principles of education known as the “6Cs” (collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation, and confidence). Godfrey-Lee has adopted these principals throughout the district.
Kwon and the crew filmed an English Language Arts class, a Spanish market created by students in the media center, and a seventh-grade STEAM class.
“It was a wonderful experience,” said Carol Lautenbach, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning design for Godfrey-Lee Public Schools. She appreciated how the questions from the interviewers helped school staff clarify and articulate what they’re doing.
“It helps you think through the decisions that have been made, and think about why you’re doing what you’re doing. The team was very interested in hearing the ‘why.’”
EBS interviewed Lautenbach, Superintendent Kevin Polston, Board of Education President Eric Mockerman, and teachers Kim Plum and Katherine Merriott.
Felix Kwon of EBS chats with Lee High School students Crystal Gonzalez and Erick Chavarria
Education Innovation
Kwon said that in South Korea, almost every primary school is public, and falls under the ministry of education.
“In some senses, it’s a very good model. Wherever you are, you get equal funding under the ministry of education,” said Kwon, noting that you wouldn’t see huge disparities in the educational system from one region to another.
However, he said, some things about the uniform nature of the educational system can act as a barrier when it’s necessary to act fast and tailor teaching to the students and the changing employment landscape.
Kwon said that education often focuses heavily on artificial intelligence, coding and technological advances that rely on costly devices. While Godfrey-Lee has incorporated technology where necessary, he said, they’re preparing the next generation overall by adapting the curriculum to apply the 6Cs and project-based learning, which is an innovative way of educating.
Lee Middle School teacher Kim Plum talks to Felix Kwon
“At Godfrey-Lee, they’re really trying to build on the students’ perspective,” said Kwon. “More than 75 percent of students there are receiving free or reduced lunch. Still, in that environment, they’re seeing very dramatic results. It’s pretty impressive.”
Godfrey-Lee staff will get a chance to see the documentary when it airs, with English subtitles.
Lautenbach said that gaining international interest in what the district is doing has been an honor. The students were excited to participate.
“It was a pretty good feeling to show them what it is we’re trying to create here — a joyful learning experience,” she said.
A crew member from South Korea’s Educational Broadcasting System films in Jessica Lewakowski’s classroom at Lee Middle and High School
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).
Former volunteer and ‘Queen of the Stray Cats’, Rochelle M. live-trapped this striking stud-muffin who had been hanging around her Cutlerville home in mid-September, 2018. Her intention was to take #130 to CSNIP for neutering and then release him back outdoors as he kept company with members of her feral colony, but when he proved to her just how affectionate and friendly he was and was sporting some pretty nasty cat fight wounds, she contacted Dr. Jen for help.
It wasn’t a surprise that this stunning black and gray smoky fella (born around March of 2016) turned up positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) given the fact he was intact and a scrapper, but it was quite shocking as to the sheer number of fleas he had infesting his battered and bedraggled body; how he avoided becoming anemic was beyond comprehension, but thankfully his issues were only skin deep and healed up wonderfully well.
Our shelter and cat care managers have some pretty good insight as to what makes our silver fox Viggo tick: “This drop-dead gorgeous guy has come a long way since we took him in. He was a bit of a spitfire and would pick on any cat that walked past him but is doing much better now — and was even snuggling with Sia recently. He’s really started to show his cute personality by following volunteers around looking for the attention he deserves”
“Once in awhile he lets out a meow and I’ll pick him up and he just sits there in my arms looking up at me. He loves to nap A LOT! I think he is so fond of snoozing because he has relaxed so much since he has been with us, finally safe and able to sleep soundly.”
And of course we can’t overlook the obvious: he has the coolest markings and fur that you can’t help but run your fingers through, with those silver undertones that rival that of his namesake. He’d do best in a home with a companion, as we feel he would be utterly amazing with kids and probably a dog too; Viggo probably could cohabitate harmoniously with the right type of cat as well (non-confrontational, mellow and a snuggler so that no biting occurs that could transmit the virus), and most certainly would thrive in a home overflowing with humans.
So as you can clearly see, this debonair and dashing feline specimen really is the complete picture: affectionate, outgoing, people-oriented and overall just a gregarious guy looking for a place to call his very own. And after all that he went through to land with us, Viggo most definitely deserves it.
More about Viggo:
Large
Black, Gray/Blue/Silver, Smoke
Adult
Male
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Not declawed
Good in a home with other cats, children
Want to adopt Viggo? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
I’m a frustrated actor. My…goal is to beat Alfred Hitchcock in the number of cameos. I’m going to try to break his record.
- Stan Lee
Books and the Bus
Now available on The Rapids: Books.
If you are taking The Rapid anywhere, you will now be able to grab something to read. The Rapid and the Kent District Library have partnered up for the program Books on the Bus. The program provides a collection of books for all ages that are conveniently placed on buses for riders to enjoy.
Our Favorite Toys
Lincoln Logs were created by John Lloyd Wright, the son of fame architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
As an experiment, imagine six to seven people gathered at a holiday social event people who don’t know each other and from the forced, polite conversation you could probably tell each of them would rather be someplace else. Now, in this polite conversation, introduce the subject of toys and in particular, favorite toys and within 60 seconds you would sense the atmosphere around this group changing.
Shoot, Score
East Kentwood High School’s girls basketball team in action game at Wyoming last season. (WKTV)
WKTV has also started early to bring local audiences a full slate of games began with the final varsity game to be played at South Christian High School’s current location when the Lady Sailors entertained Hamilton on Dec. 4. But we will also showcase the new location on Kalamazoo Avenue just north of 84th Street, as WKTV will bring the opening night games as both the boys and girls initiate the new gymnasium when they host Unity Christian on Friday, Dec. 21.
Family life can be fun, rewarding and complicated. Some of the more emotional discussions that families deal with revolve around problem-solving and conflict resolution.
The following are some tips to help with family decision-making:
Avoid discussing an issue or problem at an inappropriate time. Problem-solving tends to be difficult when people are angry or tired. Have a discussion when everyone is calm.
Do not begin the decision-making process with a closed mind. You may be surprised at the creative solutions your family creates together when everyone is open.
Be sure to listen to other people’s viewpoints and feelings. Agree or disagree, those are their feelings. Respect them.
Clarify to make sure you understand correctly and you are not making assumptions. Always check to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Do not let anger become a barrier to progress. Getting angry, criticizing, calling names, blaming, using sarcasm or other aggressive behavior does not help. If you are angry, take a break.
Do not give in just because it is easier. Saying, “I guess you’re right” with a big sigh, or being submissive in order to avoid conflict is not problem-solving, it’s avoidance.
Be realistic. Try to attach decisions to resources such as time, energy and money.
Avoid ultimatums. Ultimatums threaten other people into submitting to what they want. For example, “You’ll do it or I’ll divorce you!”
Be respectful. Refusing to regard individual differences in personalities, goals, values, emotional investments and lifestyles does not encourage teamwork. Go back to tip #3.
Communicate directly. Using a middle-person to communicate with another family member can cause even more emotions to flare and can lead to misunderstandings.
Be involved in family decisions. If you do not take an active interest in decisions that concern other members of the family, which could benefit by your involvement, do not be hurt when others are disinterested in your problems.
Establish suitable boundaries around family decision-making. Example of this might be who will be involved in the process; immediate family, extended family, in-laws.
By becoming aware of these tips, families may be able to communicate effectively without anger and hurt. They will be able to create a plan that is agreeable to all involved and successfully resolve family issues.
Visit the Michigan State University Extension website for more information and check out a variety of educational programs throughout the state.
Seeking asylum from the Ethiopian civil war, Nardos Osterhart settled in the U.S. with her parents and siblings. If this child of a diplomat learned one thing, it was adaptation. That hard-earned determination got her through college, landed her a job in healthcare, and propelled her onto — of all places — a comedy stage! Stay tuned. After our conversation, Nardos shares some of her home-grown humor with Feel Like You Belong viewers.
Mention those three words in any (and I mean any) group of people and you’ll get an immediate response. As an experiment, imagine six to seven people gathered at a holiday social event people who don’t know each other and from the forced, polite conversation you could probably tell each of them would rather be someplace else. Now, in this polite conversation, introduce the subject of toys and in particular, favorite toys and within 60 seconds you would sense the atmosphere around this group changing. It would be like a light switch was thrown. Suddenly there would be interest and growing engagement, the conversation would become animated and within a few minutes, it is likely everyone would be involved and sharing something deeply personal about their lives growing up.
And chances are they wouldn’t be sad stories. Even kids growing up on the lowest rung of the economic ladder have a memory of the “go to” place that a toy, any toy, transported them to.
Hot Wheels were introduced in 1968 by Mattel.
If during the holiday season, we talk of peace on earth and good will to all, then our shared sentiment about our own experience with our favorite toy is probably the best place to get people talking, sharing and communicating. I won’t go so far as to suggest that world leaders open negotiating sessions by talking first about their favorite toys, but after so many centuries of war and strife, who wouldn’t be willing to try? Can you imagine that the first item on the agenda at the next global summit is talking about Tinkertoys or Hot Wheels?
Yes, toys have a power and psychologists have researched, written, theorized and even argued over the extent and meaning of that power. While as we leave adolescence and become teenagers, toys diminish dramatically in importance, at the same time, few objects have such far reaching implications with the development of our psyche. Researcher Etienne Benson with the Association for Psychological Science notes in her article “Toy Stories” that virtually no culture is entirely without toys and that children will turn any and everyday objects into toys and games. All of it proof of that perfectly human need for play, social interaction, and exploration.
Inspired by watching children play with pencils, sticks and empty spools of thread, Charles Pajeau and Robert Petit created Tinker Toys in 1914.
But toys, since the industrial revolution of the mid 1800s have gradually become more than that. Some argue that it’s the commoditization of a child’s imagination. Toy manufacturers spend billions on development that employs color, lights, sounds, and tactile feel to draw a child into making this or that object a plaything. Yet why is it that we all know from personal experience of at least one occasion that the cardboard box became the biggest source of pleasure?
More than two billion cans of Play-Doh has been sold between 1955 and 2005.
Andrew Meltzoff, a developmental psychologist at the University of Washington, sheds some light on the cardboard box phenomena. He writes, “This interest in playing with everyday objects may reflect a desire to imitate adults and, by imitating, to explore the social values and roles of their societies. Through imitating adults,” he says, “children learn who they are. Toy manufacturers strive mightily to make toys that attract infants and young children with lights and sounds, buzzes and whistles. They can make things that grab the child’s attention, but the children’s hearts lie with the pots and pans, the tea cups and telephones that they see their parents use.”
Play-Doh become so popular that play sets such as the salon above were created.
But toys as it turns out, any toy made of anything; can have far reaching effects on any child’s development. And like anything, it starts with mom or dad and ideally, with both. Tamis-LeMonda and colleagues recently did a study of two- and three-year-old children in low income families. Her research found that supportive joint play of parents for just 10 minutes predicted a child’s performance on standardized tests of cognition and language a year later.
And toys and playtime may be even more than that. Jerome Singer and Dorothy Singer, co-directors at Yale University Family Television and Consultation Center, have argued that imaginative play is not only fun, but also crucial for development of decision making, keeping things in context and or course, creativity.
Mr. Potato Head was the creation of Brooklyn toy inventor George Lerner in 1940. It took 12 years for him to get it on the market.
The way we toss away the idea of our favorite toys by our teenage years implies they just aren’t that important. But they have to be. I have to admit that in writing this, I realized that I have my own favorite. It’s a classic car that I own and that I interact with psychologically the same way I did with my favorite toys when I was ten. Driving the classic car, maintaining it, dreaming of doing more with it; is really adult play, giving me those same feelings that inspired me to play with those favorite toys when I was 8-years-old. I don’t know whether to be embarrassed or proud that I can still be a kid.
Our toys are the transports of our imagination to places we want to be, things we want to become or the way we want to feel about ourselves. It seems like an awful lot to expect from something as simple as a toy. But toys, however, work. They were created by humans in order to unlock and build imagination, healing, and comfort and have been perpetuated through millennia because of that. Not convinced? Just ask any teddy bear whose presence helped a small child through what psychologists call separation anxiety. However, just make sure they don’t catch you talking to teddy bears because if you did, well, you might just be getting in touch with your inner child all over again.
And that like the earlier suggestion for world leaders to start talking about their favorite toys, may not be such a bad idea.
Eye tests could one day make it possible to screen people in their 40s or 50s for early signs of Alzheimer’s, and begin treatment to delay further progression of the disease. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
An eye exam might spot people with Alzheimer’s disease before they show any symptoms, researchers report.
“All of us have a small area devoid of blood vessels in the center of our retinas that is responsible for our most precise vision. We found that this zone lacking blood vessels was significantly enlarged in people with pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease,” explained co-principal investigator Dr. Rajendra Apte. He is a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Previous studies have found that the eyes of people who had died from Alzheimer’s showed signs of thinning in the center of the retina and deterioration of the optic nerve.
In this new study, Apte’s team used a noninvasive technique called optical coherence tomography angiography to examine the thickness of the retinas and fibers in the optic nerves of 30 people, average age mid-70s, who had no symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
A form of the test is available at many eye doctors in the United States.
After the eye tests, PET scans and cerebrospinal fluid analyses revealed that about half of the study participants had elevated levels of the Alzheimer’s-related proteins amyloid or tau. So, even though they didn’t have any Alzheimer’s symptoms, these people were likely to develop the disease.
“In the patients with elevated levels of amyloid or tau, we detected significant thinning in the center of the retina,” Apte said in a university news release.
According to study first author Dr. Bliss O’Bryhim, “This technique has great potential to become a screening tool that helps decide who should undergo more expensive and invasive testing for Alzheimer’s disease prior to the appearance of clinical symptoms.” O’Bryhim is a resident physician in the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences.
“Our hope is to use this technique to understand who is accumulating abnormal proteins in the brain that may lead them to develop Alzheimer’s,” she added.
It’s believed that Alzheimer’s-related plaques can accumulate in the brain two decades before symptoms appear, so scientists are trying to find ways to detect the disease earlier.
Currently, PET scans and lumbar punctures are used to help diagnose Alzheimer’s, but these methods are invasive and expensive.
Further research is needed, but this eye test could one day make it possible to screen people in their 40s or 50s for early signs of Alzheimer’s, and begin treatment to delay further progression of the disease, the study authors suggested.
The study was published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.
By Brenda Long, Michigan State University Extension
Some homeowners are still having financial difficulties even though the foreclosure rate in Michigan has significantly declined in recent years with the economy and employment rates improving. All it can take is one large unexpected expense, unemployment or life change. Fortunately, nearly $19 million in funds are still available for eligible delinquent homeowners to get caught up and keep their home.
Bill Hendrian and I have written previousarticles about Michigan’s Hardest Hit Fund program, also known as Step Forward Michigan. This federally funded loan program started in 2010 and is designed to help eligible homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage, condo association fees, and/or property taxes to retain ownership of their primary residence. As of September 2018, nearly 37,000 Michigan households in all 83 counties received more than $39 million in assistance, according to MSHDA.
Currently, this is the only statewide assistance program to get caught up on delinquent property taxes. If homeowners are behind three years, on 2016 taxes, they have started receiving notices from their county treasurers about facing foreclosure if those 2016 taxes are not paid by Mar. 31, 2019. Last year, my experience was that homeowners needed to apply to Step Forward Michigan by January to allow for processing time. Situations are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Most homeowners who procrastinated or did not apply until February or March were not approved in time for this assistance earlier this year. The lesson learned was to apply this fall if you are facing foreclosure with delinquent 2016 property taxes.
Watch a short video for guidance about the Step Forward Michigan application process. The online application can be completed in three ways:
Go to the Step Forward Michigan website and complete the application yourself plus email, fax or mail the signed application and supporting documents to Step Forward Michigan.
Michigan State University Extension Housing Counselors or other local housing counselors can help homeowners fill out the online application, submit all the required documents, and follow-up until a decision is made. During the past eight years, thousands of Michigan homeowners who worked with our counselors have received assistance to save their homes from foreclosure.
If approved, up to $30,000 is paid directly to the participating mortgage servicer or county treasurer for application directly to the household’s mortgage loan or property taxes. No interest and no payments are required from the homeowner. As cases are reviewed, a lien is placed on the property for five years and 20 percent of the loan is forgiven per year. At the end of the five years, the loan is forgiven. During the five-year period, if the property is transferred, sold, or is no longer the principal residence, the non-forgivable portion is due.
For further information or to see if you qualify for assistance you can go to Step Forward Michigan for a list of frequently asked questions and access an online application and a list of documents that are required to submit an application.
If you do not qualify for Step Forward Michigan, helpful resources are provided to consider other options available.
Facing foreclosure is a difficult financial situation for homeowners. Fortunately many are getting back on track to become current with their payments and keep their homes and stay living in their communities. Find fact sheets and more information about mortgage and property tax foreclosure at MIMoneyHealth.org.
The Kent District Library has partner with The Rapid to offer the Books on the Bus program. (KDL)
Kent District Library is pleased to partner with The Rapid to offer the Books on the Bus program on buses traveling throughout the Greater Grand Rapids area. The program provides a collection of books for all ages that are conveniently placed on buses for riders to enjoy. With a book selection that will rotate consistently, riders will always have new books available.
The average bus rider commutes 25 minutes each day. This provides the perfect opportunity to do some reading or to pick up a book to enjoy later.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to make riding The Rapid an even more enjoyable experience,” said The Rapid’s CEO Andrew Johnson. “We are proud to partner with KDL to make connecting to reading even more convenient.”
Books are currently housed on 13 Rapid buses, with plans to increase that number to 16. These buses are used on different routes every day, which offers riders a chance to access books throughout The Rapid’s service area. The collection includes gently used books, many which are new and bestsellers.
A variety of books will be available to those riding The Rapid bus.
Kent District Library is also pleased to offer a Little Free Library in the Rapid Central Station. The structure will house around 50 books, including youth, teen and adult fiction and nonfiction materials. People are encouraged to take a book or leave and book.
“This is just another exciting way we are making books accessible to people wherever they might be,” said Sara Proano, manager of community engagement for KDL.
Forest Hills Transition Center is partnering with KDL to provide the volunteers to re-stock the shelves at The Rapid for the Books on the Bus project.
By Dr. Jenny Bush, Director of Pediatrics at Cherry Health and Pediatrician at Westside Health Center
As winter is coming we all worry about making sure our young ones are kept warm when we go out. We must remember though, that we also want them to be safe. The emergency room sees many young children with serious injuries in the winter due to big coats or snowsuits causing car seat straps not to work well. Even when the straps seem tight, the force of a car accident can squish down the coat and allow space for the child to slip from the straps and get hurt.
Here are some tips for keeping your child both warm and safe:
When possible, warm the car before you get in.
Have your kids wear their hats, mittens and warm shoes or boots.
For babies in an infant seat, place them in the car seat with the straps tight, then tuck a blanket around them or use a car seat cover. Make sure nothing is over the baby’s face. Store the seat inside when not in use so that the baby is not in contact with the cold seat. Nothing should ever be placed between the baby and the car seat, as that makes them less safe.
For toddlers or young children, have them wear their coat to the car, take it off to strap them in tight and then turn the coat backwards and place it over their arms (see picture below). Another option would be to have a blanket kept in the backseat for them to use.
Consider having a winter emergency kit in the car. Include back up clothing, socks, and mittens, a blanket and some snacks.
While these tips focus on kids, they do apply to adults as well. Large coats can also cause our seat belts to be ineffective. We need to be safe so that in the case of an accident we can focus on our kids and help calm them.
The Santa Claus Girls have a long history in Kent County, dating from 1909 in fact. These days they operate out of the Knoll Inc. building on 36th in Kentwood.
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. WKTV visited the Santa Claus Girls workshop recently and talked about that legacy with Maggie Moerdyke.
And what motivates that army?
“Why do they do what they do?” Maggie Moerdyke, a buyer for the Santa Claus Girls, said to WKTV in a recent interview. “It is important to them to make sure every child has that gift, no matter what their circumstance.”
While the kids each get a new toy and candy — what else would be expected? They also get hand-made, knitted winter hats and mittens. And those come from an army all by themselves.
The knitted hats and mittens come from “geriatric associations, from just from grandmas on the street,” she said. “Those all come from our community, very lovingly and very givingly.”
For the West Michigan industrial economy, September was strong, October was stronger and November was the best month of the year, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.
Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of November.
Brian Long, photo from gvsu.edu
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) edged higher to +38, from +36. The production index edged up to +33, from +30. The index of purchases rose to +36, from +32, and the employment index came in at +25, up slightly from +24.
Long said November’s bad news from the automotive sector came from General Motors; the company plans to close three plants associated with small car production and lay off 14,000 workers, presumably to get ahead of the predicted slump in auto sales for 2019.
“Although auto sales continue to soften, our West Michigan auto parts suppliers continue to report positive business conditions and remain cautiously optimistic about the first half of 2019,” he said.
The 2017 tax incentives may have run their course for at least some of the capital equipment firms, Long said, and business conditions remain strong for most industrial distributors.
He added that the office furniture industry is profitable at the current level, but the expansion for this phase of the business cycle for office furniture is apparently over. “The ‘sugar high’ for office furniture sales brought on by the 2017 tax reform package has now run its course,” said Long.
Looking forward, Long said unless trade talks with China break down, there is no apparent problem in the short term that will upset the economy for the first half of 2019.
Other report highlights:
* Some firms are seeing falling prices for some key commodities. However, the tariffs are still being used as an excuse to raise prices.
* Year-over-year unemployment rates are still running about a full percentage point below a year ago.
* Hiring and retaining new workers continues to be a big problem for some firms, but with the current hesitancy in the economy, this problem may be receding.
* The European economy continues to slow. Not collapse, just slow. The Italian fiscal budget problem is not yet resolved, and could cause trouble for the other eurozone countries.
* Mike Dunlap survey of the office furniture firms clearly depicts an industry that is topping out.
* Our two largest trading partners are Canada and Mexico. The Mexican PMI dipped to 49.7 in November, down from 50.7. However, the Canadian PMI upticked to 54.9 in November from September’s 53.9.
The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”
“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”
― Dr. Seuss
A celebration of holiday times past
Blandford Nature Center welcomes West Michigan families to join us at our Annual Pioneer Holiday Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 8th, 2018, from 12-4pm located at 1715 Hillburn Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. The program is the perfect way to kick off the Grand Rapids holiday season with festive favorites and holiday traditions for guests of all ages to enjoy. Go here for more info.
Gentlefolk, mark your calendars!
Calvin College’s 2019 January Series lineup features numerous noteworthy people, including Mary Robinson, president of Ireland from 1990-1997; Nicholas Kristof, a columnist for the New York Times and winner of two Pulitzer Prizes; and Rachael Denhollander, an advocate and educator who became known internationally as the first woman to file a police report and speak publicly against Larry Nassar. Go here for the details.
Give a kid a (temporary) home
The goal of the Host Home Program is to connect young people with caring adult volunteers who are able to provide them with safe, temporary housing while they have time to repair relationships or make decisions about other housing options with the support of Arbor Circle staff. This community- and volunteer-based approach is available to young adults, ages 18-20, who are seeking to increase stability in their housing. Go here for more info.
Fun fact:
If you kept yelling for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days, you would produce enough sound energy to heat up a cup of tea.
As we age, it seems that it is harder to control body weight, especially the protrusion and flattening of certain body parts. It appears as though, for no good reason, our bellies poke out a little more and our buttocks flatten a little more. A potential culprit for that protruding belly is diet soda or beverages with artificial sweeteners.
In an articleby Wiley of Science Daily, a study shows a direct link between the high consumption of diet drinks and the increase of belly fat in older adults. The study also references, with the increase in belly fat, that there is the increased risk of other diseases related to obesity. If you are one of the individuals who, in an effort to reduce the intake of sugary drinks have turned to diet drinks and you find yourself drinking one or more diet drinks daily, here are some suggestions to your decrease your intake:
Substitute at least one diet drink with real fruit-flavored water, like lemons, strawberries, peaches, etc.
Replace one diet drink, per day with a tall glass of plain, cold water.
When eating out, alternate your beverages by substituting a glass of water with lemon every other time you eat out.
Identify your favorite diet drink, if they don’t have it on the menu, drink water instead.
Order unsweetened fruit tea instead of a diet soda.
Plan to reduce your diet soda intake to only a few times a week, then progress to only a few times a month, or less.
Eventually, over time, you should experience some reduction in belly fat. Read more about other health, nutrition and weight management topics through Michigan State University Extension. There are many tips to encourage you to work on habits that may be contributing to extra fat and help reduce some risks factors related to obesity.
Mel Trotter Ministries and ICCF announce the opening of two affordable housing units for men who are transitioning from the shelter at Mel Trotter Ministries into supportive housing. ICCF will serve as the owner and property manager while leasing the two homes to Mel Trotter Ministries who will walk alongside guests in their new living environment. Single men who have completed one of the various programs at MTM and have a steady income stream will be tenants at the homes.
“The West Michigan community faces a daunting challenge as there is simply not enough housing that is affordable to low-income, working individuals.” said Ryan VerWys, CEO of ICCF. “No single organization can solve the problem of homelessness alone and that’s one reason we’re thrilled to work in collaboration with Mel Trotter Ministries on this project.”
The two homes are located on the west side of Grand Rapids; combined they offer five rooms with rent ranging from $350 to $450 a month. Tenants of the home are responsible to pay their own utilities. A peer support person lives in the house and tenants will be provided with aftercare services through a Mel Trotter Ministries advocate staff, to help ensure they are continuing to work toward complete independent living with the tools they need to be successful.
“We are excited to partner even more deeply with ICCF by bringing each organization’s strengths together to help our guests obtain and maintain housing,” said Dennis Van Kampen, CEO of Mel Trotter Ministries. “Our goal is always to provide a dignified and empowering way to help individuals and families leave homelessness for good. This project is an example of the power of collaboration to make a greater impact. We look forward to opening more transitional homes in the future.”
Mel Trotter Ministries also currently leases two other transitional homes in Grand Rapids; a transitional youth house for young men (18-24) as well as a women’s transitional home.
Some homes are still in need of move-in kits and furniture. A complete list of needed items can be found here.
Area residents had fun with the Christmas greetings at the WKTV booth.
Council members Rob Postema, Marissa Postler, and Dan Burrill
Mayor Jack Poll makes a few announcements before the event starts.
Mayor Jack Poll and WOOD TV 8’s Eva Agurrie Cooper
The boys and girls choir from San Juan Diego Academy
Many area businesses were sponsors of the Wyoming Gives Back event
Area businesses had booths at the Wyoming Gives Back event showing services and products.
SuperMercado Mexico showcased some of the products they offer at their store.
Several area businesses were at the Thursday night event.
The big goal of the evening was to fill that truck with toys.
Wyoming residents gave back with the truck overflowing.
Officers from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety were at the event.
It got to the point were the toys would not fit in the truck as it was so full.
Some Christmas greeting fun at the WKTV booth.
Toys were everywhere at the Wyoming Gives Back.
A big part of the night were the raffle prizes donated by area businesses.
Residents who donated were able to get a raffle ticket for prizes.
The Rogers Plaza Mall was packed for the Wyoming Gives Back event on Dec. 6.
A raffle winner receives his prize while others visit the booths of local businesses.
The crowd waits for the next group to perform.
Mayor Jack Poll announces the next raffle prize winner.
The choir from Godwin Heights High School await to go on to perform.
The Wyoming Fire Department members were also on hand for the event.
The choir from Godwin Heights performs.
The jazz band from the Wyoming High School performs.
The jazz band from the Wyoming High School wows the Wyoming Gives Back crowd.
Area residents fill the truck at the Wyoming Gives Back.
One full truck at the Wyoming Gives Back.
A bike awaiting to board the truck at the Wyoming Gives Back.
Thursday, Dec. 6, residents came out in full force to help those in need at Wyoming Gives Back.
By the end of the night, the Wyoming Department of Public Works truck was overflowing with gifts from residents for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. Residents were able to bring in a gift and for every gift donated, received a raffle ticket for prizes. The prizes were donated by area businesses.
Many local business had booths sharing information about services and products they provided. Performances featured the choir from the San Juan Diego Academy, the jazz band from the Wyoming High School, and the choir from Godwin Heights High School. The Salvation Army was handing out hot chocolate and cookies and several area businesses had candy and other items for those who attended.
Organizers said they were pleased with the success of the event. This was the eighth annual Wyoming Gives Back. Mayor Jack Poll noted the city decided several years ago to move its annual holiday event indoors and to focus on the spirit of the season. He said the event has been well received every year with residents and staff looking for to it.
Alpine Elementary School teacher Nicholas VanderHyde has adopted new techniques when teaching math to his fourth-grade students. The techniques are taught by Michigan Mathematics Educators, a program based at the Kent ISD
The Michigan Mathematics Educators (MichME) initiative is changing the way math is taught in West Michigan schools, one teacher and classroom at a time. After four years, the program has rewired the way math is taught by more than 250 educators and administrators.
Thanks to his MichME training, teacher Nicholas VanderHyde no longer drills his fourth- graders at Alpine Elementary School on addition and multiplication tables. Instead, he gathers his pupils in a circle and starts a discussion about the different methods they’re using to solve the day’s math problems.
During one recent afternoon, a story problem that required adding two large numbers (8,437 and 21,663) kicked off a discussion about the different methods they used to carry a column sum greater than 10 to the next column.
“Tell the person next to you what method you used,” VanderHyde urged the pupils as they sprawled on the carpeted classroom floor. One advocated the traditional approach carrying the extra number to the top of the next column. Another carried it at the bottom of the column, while a third crossed out the number at the top of the column and increases it by one. All got the same answer.
Godwin Heights High School teacher Tracy Krafft helps her students develop their problem-solving skills during her Honors Geometry class. She uses techniques taught by Michigan Mathematics Educators, a program based at Kent ISD
For a pupil who got a different sum, VanderHyde asked him and the other students to analyze and discuss why that method did not yield the same answer.
VanderHyde is among a growing number of math teachers who have changed their teaching methods after participating in the MichME, a program based at Kent ISD that challenges traditional teaching methods.
During his first 12 years as a teacher, VanderHyde said he taught math as a subject. “Now I teach to the student,” says VanderHyde, who began participating in the MichME program four years ago. Instead of focusing on the answers, VanderHyde says he now focuses on how his pupils get to the answers.
“It’s about the process, not the product,” said VanderHyde, who has recruited fellow teachers and administrators in the Kenowa Hills School District to embrace the MichME program.
Whether the MichME is going to raise test scores is an open question. But VanderHyde said fewer students are falling behind while more are acquiring critical thinking skills. “Former fifth-graders are telling me, ‘It’s making fractions so easy now.”
Godwin Heights High School teacher Tracy Krafft uses the same approach when she teaches her Honors Geometry class to 10th- and 11th-graders.
Krafft starts the class by spelling out their goals for the day. The students are seated around tables in which they collaborate in groups of four or two. During a recent class, they discussed the properties of congruence and equality by working through problems Krafft posted on an electronic white board.
In her 10th year of teaching, Krafft said the collaborative methods she learned through MichME have changed her students approach to mathematics. Instead of memorizing formulas, they are learning how to become mathematicians and problem solvers.
It may be more difficult for some students, but they learn more in the end. “I think it’s good for students to experience struggle,” said Krafft, who enrolled in MichME four years ago.
Rusty Anderson, a Kent ISD educational consultant who manages the MichME with two assistants, said his four-year-old program is offered to educators from kindergarten through high school. While the participants may be teaching at different grade levels, the focus on new teaching methods is universal.
“We try to think differently about teaching,” Anderson said. MichME challenges its participants to look at their beliefs and values as educators during five daylong sessions that are held throughout the school year in a setting away from classrooms.
Instead of being the “knowers of information” in the classroom, participants are coached on methods to become a “facilitator of learning,” said Marcus Deja, a former math teacher who now works as an MichME coach. “It’s my role as a facilitator to allow students to engage.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
Godwin Heights High School teacher Tracy Kraft helps her students develop their problem-soling skills during her Honors Geometry class. She uses techniques taught by Michigan Mathematics Educators, a program based at Kent ISD.
For Denise VanDyken, her Sweet Adelines adventure started when members of her family, who loved to harmonize, decided to join a Sweet Adelines group so at to get some “real” barbershop arrangements.
“So we were going to join and get some arrangements and we didn’t plan on staying and that was nearly forty years ago,” VanDyken said. “I just fell in love with the organization and with the music.”
She is the music director for the Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus. Under her leadership, the local group has won three regional titles and been named first place midsize choir which has allowed the chapter to participate in the international competition four times in six years. Before VanDyken taking the helm, the group had only attended international a few times in its sixty-plus history.
“We became champions of Region 17, which is a five-state region, Michigan through to Ohio and into Pennsylvania,” said VanDyken talking about the group’s May 2018 win in Cleveland, Ohio. “We competed against about 20 other choruses and we won the championship and that entitles us to go to New Orleans next September.”
The Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus at the WKTV studio. The group is set to perform on Saturday, Dec. 15..
For now, the group is focused on its upcoming holiday concert, “Sounds of the Season,” set for Saturday, Dec. 15. The performance is with the men’s group, the Great Lakes Chorus, and will feature an array of holiday selections, some of which can be seen on a recent WKTV holiday special featuring the Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus, which is currently airing.
“We sing four-part harmony, a cappella, barbershop-style and we perform,” VanDyken said. “We are a show choir. We do choreography and staging and it is much more than just singing.”
In fact, guests may join the choir for its holiday show, giving them an opportunity to see what the choir is about and all that is involved.
“You don’t need professional experience to join,” VanDyken said. “You have to sing and have the ability to sing and there is a lot of performance to it. As I said, it is not just standing there and singing. You have to be able to memorize the music and sing without accompaniment, harmonize with other voices, blend with other voices and do choreography and dance at the same time.”
Established in 1945, Sweet Adelines International is the oldest and largest international women’s barbershop organization in the world. According to the organization’s website it has 23,000 members on five continents who belong to more than 500 choruses and 1,200 quartets. One of those choruses happens to be right in the Grand Rapids area, the Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus, which is made up of members from around West Michigan including the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming. The Grand Rapids chapter was founded in 1951.
As to why people join, VanDyken said there is a number of reasons, the love of the sound of voices harmonizing, the music, barbershop-style, the camaraderie, and making friends with people from around the globe.
Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus rehearses its holiday music.
“I sat next to a woman from Sweden at a recent International competition,” VanDyken said. “We had a lovely conversation and felt that we had a relationship immediately because we shared this hobby, or cult as some might call it.”
With 40 years of participating, VanDyken said there are a lot of good memories and experiences with the joy of being part of the Sweet Adelines coming through the group’s performances.
“I think for me, it’s the fact that I could have done this for forty years and still be excited,” VanDyken said, “ still learning things and just as much in love with it as I was forty years ago.”
The Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus performs with the Great Lakes Chorus in the “Sounds of the Season” set for Saturday, Dec. 15, at 3 pm. at the Grandville High School Auditorium, 4700 Canal Ave. SW. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students 8-18 and seniors 60 and older. For more information, visit gras.net.
North America holds about 5% of the world’s population and 25% of its incarcerated population. Its prison population has increased 800% in the past 40 years. And Michigan prisoners will typically serve 120% of their minimum sentence.
Those stats call for action. And a population of students in the Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI) program are helping facilitate some important conversations related to these statistics from behind bars.
“Inner transformation is key to radical reconciliation, and ultimately restorative justice. We hope that as more people come to see the humanity and values of these forgotten men and women, the willingness to discard people will end.”
Jamie Sturdevant, a student at Calvin’s Handlon Prison campus, spoke this collective hope on behalf of the CPI students who organized and led the second annual West Michigan Restorative Justice Conference. The theme of the October 13 conference was “Hope, Healing, and Radical Reconciliation.”
Leading from inside the fences
Throughout the conference, CPI students introduced speakers, explained restorative justice, and sang original pieces via pre-recorded videos. The Handlon Tabernacle Choir began the conference in song and then proceeded to define restorative justice.
CPI student Shawn England described how restorative justice is focused on relationship-building, not punishment. “Reconciliation requires more than leaving places of power for periodic visits to communities of oppressed people,” he said. “It means building ongoing relationships with many persons from marginalized communities and engaging in those relationships for the duration of our lives.”
“The road to healing and reconciliation is never easy; it requires humility and courage,” CPI student Aaron Wadsworth added. “We are all called to walk this road, but we do not walk the road alone.”
Restorative justice speakers
The student organizers introduced conference speakers from various backgrounds and experiences with restorative justice. Calvin alumnus and former professor Nicholas Wolterstorff argued that restorative justice must focus on healing the breach between personal relationships rather than providing a consequence for a harm. “Aren’t persons more important than laws? Aren’t laws for the sake of persons?” Wolterstorff challenged.
Father David Kelly, the director of Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, followed Wolterstorff by encouraging others to become more proximate to those affected by injustice. “We have to be willing to go in and touch the woundedness of one another,” Kelly said. “As a church, we ought to be living in the Holy Saturday moment—to embrace the hurt and pain of the crucifixion, and yet give witness to the resurrection.”
After offering statistics on the history of American incarceration, writer and speaker Dominique Gilliard spoke on America’s historic, concealed imprisonment system: convict leasing. “We are addicted to punitiveness and we have understood it as justice. As Christians, we cannot accept that definition of justice because it is morally bankrupt,” Gilliard said.
State representative and Calvin alumnus David LaGrand then provided an inside look at Michigan’s criminal justice landscape and specific legislative areas for reform. He argued that the church has a crucial role to play in this pursuit. “We need to focus on who is hurt and how we can heal who is hurt,” LaGrand said.
Jerline Riley then spoke about losing her son in February 1994 at the hands of a CPI student. She described the long reconciliation process between herself and the student, and how she now views him as a son. “I see him moving forward and doing great things with his life, because that’s what God raises us up for,” Riley said. “Seventy times seven—that’s how I feel about life. I hope I play a role in him coming home someday. I am a wounded healer, and I want God to use my story to plant seeds.”
Hope College professor and Calvin alumnus Charlotte Van-Oyen Witvliet concluded the conference by speaking on the dehumanization of the incarcerated and the power of forgiveness. “We cannot confuse an image bearer of God with the wrongdoing of which they are responsible,” Van-Oyen Witvliet said. “This person needs to undergo positive transformation; that transformation helps us pivot away from desiring that person’s destruction.”
Restorative Justice Club
The conference was made possible by Handlon’s Restorative Justice Club, which meets biweekly to learn about how to become part of the movement toward a more personable and just society. Professors Thomas R. Thompson and Matthew Walhout have been the club’s faculty mentors since the club’s inception in Fall 2017. “The club’s members and leadership are highly self-motivated and self-facilitating. We receive much more than we give, but we do provide some administrative legs on the outside of the facility,” Thompson said.
According to Thompson, the Restorative Justice Club members would like the conference venue to vary institutionally and ecumenically throughout the coming years to achieve greater awareness and participation in the restorative justice movement. In March 2017, the first West Michigan Restorative Justice Conference took place at Hope College.
Currently, efforts are being made to launch a chapter of the Restorative Justice Club on Calvin’s main campus, which would interact and coordinate with the CPI chapter’s interests and efforts.
The 3D imaging software, True 3D Viewer by EchoPixel Inc., is the latest high-tech tool used by the congenital heart team to understand the complex anatomy of a beating heart.
The physicians used scans of Luke’s heart to create the virtual image, which they consulted as they decided whether to do surgery, and how to prepare for the operation.
‘Tired pretty quick’
Luke, the son of Pam and Jason Carpenter, was born with several rare congenital heart defects, including dextrocardia, a condition in which the heart is situated on the right side of the chest, instead of the left. And he had transposition of the great arteries—which means the two major blood vessels that carry blood from the heart were switched.
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
By the time he entered Thornapple Kellogg High School last fall, Luke had undergone four open-heart surgeries. Surgeons patched holes in his heart, replaced the mitral valve and rerouted major blood vessels.
The fixes helped him grow and thrive in school and activities. He couldn’t play contact sports because of the blood thinners he took, but he loved to watch football and basketball. And he played golf and joined the high school team.
One day, he would like to become an athletic trainer for sports teams.
In the fall of his freshman year, however, he noticed difficulty in keeping up the same level of activity.
“I’d get tired pretty quick,” he said. “I would feel like (my heart) was beating really fast.”
“He was fine (when he was) resting,” his mom said. “But when he was running around the yard or doing something even mildly active, his heart would be pounding really hard.”
The congenital heart team focused on the tube that had been placed in Luke’s heart to connect the right side of the heart to the lung arteries. A surgeon first created the conduit when he was 14 months old because he was born without a pulmonary artery. A surgeon replaced it when Luke turned 9.
Dr. Vettukattil examined the structure in a heart catheterization procedure. He hoped to use a balloon catheter to expand the tube and improve blood flow.
But he discovered the conduit lay between the heart and the breast bone, a tight spot that compressed the tube. The congenital heart team determined he needed open-heart surgery to replace the tube—and to place it in a different spot.
Getting a clear picture of Luke’s unique heart became crucial to planning the surgery.
“In a complex heart like this, when the heart is on the right side of the chest, it is important for the surgeon to orient themselves,” Dr. Vettukattil said.
A pioneer in 3D imaging techniques, Dr. Vettukattil used scans of Luke’s heart to create a 3D printed model, printed in a clear plastic resin.
That model also was used to create the image of the heart viewed on the Echo Pixel monitor. Wearing 3D glasses, the physicians examined the heart and its position within Luke’s chest.
“When you do the Echo Pixel model, you are visualizing the whole chest,” Dr. Vettukattil said. “You have a much better spatial understanding—the whole organ system of the patient is represented intact. And you are visualizing it in three dimensions.”
Marcus Haw, MD, pediatric heart surgeon and co-director of the congenital heart center, used the 3D images to plan the operation.
“As soon as I reviewed the printed model, I was able to show Luke and his parents the compressed conduit,” he said.
“More importantly, it showed that there was an extension of his heart cavity that would give room for a larger conduit—and that the coronary artery was not in the way of the potential route for the conduit.”
On April 16, 2018, he placed a new tube between the right side of the heart and lung arteries, this time routing it across the top of Luke’s heart. He also replaced the mitral valve with a larger one.
‘Means everything to us’
Two and a half weeks later, Luke arrived at the congenital heart center for his follow-up visit.
“You’re healing nicely,” said physician assistant Sarah Yarger, PA, as she examined the incision.
As he recovered from surgery, Luke said he was slowly regaining energy and appetite. He received approval to return to school the next week.
He hoped the new connector in his heart would make a difference. He looked forward to getting back on the golf course.
“I hope it will make me have more energy and able to do more things,” he said.
He had a chance to look at the colorful 3D model of his heart pre-surgery.
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
“It’s crazy,” he said, turning the heart over in his hands.
He pointed out the tube that lay compressed under the sternum—the one that had just been replaced.
For the specialists at the congenital heart center, the use of 3D imagery—including the printed model and the virtual image seen with 3D glasses—helps further the diagnosis and treatment of complex congenital heart defects.
“The capability to see the structures of the heart in this way is opening up new possibilities for patients who’ve previously been told there is no more we can do or that surgery is too dangerous,” Dr. Haw said.
The physicians continue to work on ways to better see the interrelated parts of a beating heart so they can fine-tune each patient’s treatment.
“That means everything to us,” Dr. Vettukattil said. “If we can use the best technology for the best treatment for our patients, that means a lot.”
Sue Diehl had no idea when she stepped off her flight at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) that she would be walking into cheers, applause, gifts, and surprises as the Ford Airport’s three millionth passenger.
“This is crazy, thank you, thank you!” said Diehl. “I was thinking I was in a dream because I did take a little nap on the plane and I woke up and I see balloons and all of this.”
The Airport had a total of over 2.7 million passengers served through the end of October. November and December seat totals and flight information forecasted the three millionth passenger to arrive around 11 a.m. on December 5th, and Diehl was the lucky passenger having arrived to Grand Rapids on Delta flight 1367 from Atlanta at 11:11 a.m.
GFIA has now had six straight years of record growth, having grown from 2.2 million in 2013, to 2.8 million in 2017, and now serving its three millionth passenger in 2018.
“What a way to welcome in our three millionth passenger with all kinds of free stuff, travel vouchers, and just the thrill of being greeted by hundreds of our staff and tenants cheering and celebrating Sue Diehl as our three millionth passenger,” said GFIA Marketing & Communications Director Tara Hernandez. “Sue was emotional, happy, and appreciative, and I know she will remember this for years to come. For all of those that have traveled with us we celebrate this milestone with you, and we thank you for your patronage and support – not just this year but through the last 54-plus years of service to our community.”
As the three millionth passenger, Diehl received three $300 travel vouchers and three free days of parking from the Airport Authority, a gift basket of travel accessories from Hudson News & Gifts valued over $300, a Beer City Welcome Basket from Experience Grand Rapids, a Founders Brewing Company gift pack, three $30 Starbucks gift cards, and more.
When told what her prize package included, Diehl was emotional. “No way, no way,” she said through tears. “Nothing like this ever happens to me.”
When Ken Olson was a junior, he left Lee High School to enlist in the Army, where he spent two years stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. While enlisted, he earned a GED which, he was told, he could bring to his alma mater in exchange for a high school diploma.
Years after his discharge, he went to the then-principal at Lee and said he was told no — you can’t get your diploma until you take 12th-grade English.
The years slipped by Olson settled in Lowell where he worked for CSX. He met and married his wife, Sherry. He retired from the railroad after 44 years. But he never did get that diploma.
Ken Olson’s basketball picture, taken his junior year of high school. (School News Network)
‘We’ll Help You With Yours’
Last summer, however, Sparta Adult Education opened a location at the Alpha Family Center in Lowell. During one of their outreach efforts, Sherry was talking to Tom Bratt, a teacher at SAE. She asked if he might help her husband get that diploma. They figured that he might just have to take the English course, and he’d be all set.
Bratt loves detective work, making connections and putting pieces together, so he got to work figuring out how to make this happen.
“We tell diploma-seekers, ‘Each student has their own story and we’ll help you with yours,’” he said. Although this story was certainly unique.
“This was a completely new scenario for us,” said Heather Holland, director of education for SAE. Nevertheless, Bratt and Ken began piecing together the information they needed.
Many of Olson’s service records were gone, casualties of a July 12, 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in Minneapolis, which destroyed 16-18 million military personnel files.
Olson produced assorted discharge papers and records that he would have pitched, but that Sherry had kept stored away. They connected with the Department of Veterans Affairs and found a program that allowed service members who had enlisted during certain dates during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and who had earned a GED, to obtain diplomas. Ken missed the timeline by two weeks, but the VA said if Olson could secure permission from his former high school’s district superintendent, that would work.
Godfrey-Lee Superintendent Kevin Polston presents Ken Olson with his diploma for the class of 1952. (School News Network)
Finally, the Diploma
When Bratt contacted Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, he immediately found an ally in Leela, executive assistant to Superintendent Kevin Polston. Her father, who served in World War II, had earned his diploma in his 70s, and she remembers him bursting with pride when he finally received it. The district just needed to verify that Olson attended Lee. The high school had no records of Olson, so Polston suggested checking yearbooks. It took just a few minutes to find all the evidence needed, and Leela got the go-ahead to order the diploma, complete with the likely graduation date: the Lee High School class of 1952.
On Nov. 12, Olson was invited to the Godfrey-Lee Public School District’s Board of Education meeting. There, at age 85, he received that piece of paper he’d been hoping for.
“It was great getting that diploma,” he said, adding that he was especially pleased that it made him a graduate of the class of 1952. “They gave me pictures of all my classmates from that year, and I remember a lot of them. It was just great.”
“Now what I should do is go and get a college degree,” he joked.
The lights are up on houses all over the place, and this week the city’s of Wyoming and Kentwood officially begin sharing their Holiday spirits. (publicdomainpictures.net)
Most people think Black Friday after Thanksgiving is the official start of the Christmas Holiday season in Wyoming and Kentwood. We beg to differ. The season starts, this, the first full week of December with activities Thursday to Saturday, Dec. 6-8. And we have all you need to know.
Oh, and by the way, WKTV will be at each event. Stop by and say “Hello”.
Thursday: Wyoming Gives Back
Mayor Jack Poll near the truck during a previous Wyoming Gives Back event.
The 8th annual Wyoming Gives Back is set for Thursday, Dec. 6, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Rogers Plaza Mall. Residents are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the event and every person who does, will receive raffle tickets for prizes provided by local businesses. There will be holiday cookies, music and the biggest gift-giver, Santa, is planning to attend. For more information click here.
Friday: Kentwood tree lighting
Kentwood city officials accompanied by carolers previously conduct the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. (WKTV)
The City of Kentwood invites the community to begin the holidays with its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Light Parade, slated for Friday, Dec. 7. Centered around the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, the free event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. The evening will be 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, will be there to take pictures with families. For more information click here.
Saturday: Chamber Santa Parade
Area high school bands performing at a previous year’s Santa Parade. (WKTV)
Santa is coming to town. How do we know? Because the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, along with the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, is hosting the 12th annual Santa Parade Saturday, Dec. 8, along Division Avenue. The parade, which starts at 10 a.m. and lasts about 45 minutes, will feature more than 50 participants including five school bands. Participants will travel down South Division from 33rd Street to Murray Avenue. For more information click here.
Moving to her third country nets Juane Odendaal a national collegiate championship. Tune in as Alan invites this South African-born soccer defender to talk of sisterhood, cross-border etiquette, and what it takes to balance a passion for sport and people.
Many people use the internet to find health-related information for themselves, family or friends. Health-related websites are one of the most widely-searched sites in the world. In fact, according to Pew Internet & American Life Project, 80 percent of internet users, or about 93 million Americans say they have looked online for health-related information within the last year. This is an increase of 18 percent from 2001, in which only 62 percent of internet users who went online to research health related topics. Although there is quality information on the internet, it is important to sift through the fact and fiction when searching for health information.
What to look for:
Credible source:
Ensure the website is managed by recognized and responsible authorities. Many reliable sources include a branch of the federal government, a non-profit institution, university or health system.
An “About Us” page should be included with proper contact information for the organization or institution.
Check more than one source/website for the desired information
Quality information:
The authors or editors are qualified health care professionals and their credentials are clearly stated.
Information included should be reviewed by a subject-appropriate advisory board.
Sites that have a privacy policy indicating what information they collect.
Research-based:
Rely on medical research, not opinion. The site should describe the evidence, such as articles in medical journals, that the material is based on.
Beware of bias. Is the site supported by public funds or commercial advertising?
Timeliness:
Is the site updated often with current information? Check for dates, last updated, or copy right dates to ensure all the information is relevant today (less than three years old).
What to avoid:
Discussion of miracle cures or advertisements for health related products within the article are an indicator of bias information. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Sites asking you to pay for information or to create an account are often not trustworthy sources to collect information related to your health. Most reliable information is accessible to the general public for free.
Websites made up of only forums or discussion groups present people’s opinions and not scientific evidence. These sites may be a good place to document your personal journey but shouldn’t be used to find scientific research.
Consult with your health care professional:
Give the information you collected to your health care provider to review.
Talk to your health care professional about your specific health information concerns.
Make a list of all your health concerns to take to your appointment.
It is okay to be skeptical when looking for trustworthy health information online. Keep your information private and never provide your social security number, address, date of birth or credit card information before reading the privacy policy. Although online sites can offer quality information, they are not made to replace your doctor. Consult with your health care provider before making any medical changes. Michigan State University Extension is a reliable source for information and resources on health and nutrition.
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).
It’s goes without saying that scruffy little Stavros had seen his fair share of tough times before he was picked up on south campus of Davenport College in mid-August 2018. His rescuer took him in and housed him, making sure he had his basic needs met (food, water, shelter) but he still had a long way to go in filling out his bony frame (he was starving when found); he also needed to be neutered and was in dire need of a spa day.
When he was taken in to a local vet a week prior to coming to us, it was discovered that he was FIV+, which made long-term housing even more challenging. So the dynamic duo of Lynnette and Sue asked for our assistance, and on October 8th Dr. Jen was able to bring this stinky, skunky (yet adorable), filthy, matted and formerly flea-ridden fellow into our program, but first he had to make a long overdue pit stop at the clinic. While there Dr. Jen not only (nicely) took away his manhood but combed an entire cat’s worth of hair off of him, treated a nasty ear infection and extracted some problematic teeth.
Once he was bathed and beautified, stunning Stavros (born around October of 2013) was ready to head on down to Sid’s to receive lots of hands on attention, something he had clearly been missing for quite some time.
Since Dr. Jen only got to spend a bit of time with him at the clinic upon intake, and then again for his follow-up a month later, she asked my cat care people for some insight on our ever evolving Stavros:
“He is becoming a really sweet boy. He was so scared for the first couple weeks he was with us, but now he purrs and happy drools. He still spends all of his time up on the cat walk, but he will let you know when he wants attention. He seems to get confidence from being around the other cats, so he should go to a home that has at least one other cat. He does get a little nervous at times, so it is probably best he live without obnoxious dogs or young kids.”
“Stavros—I love this cat!! He has a secret… he LOVES one-on-one attention as long as you have the brush or comb in hand; he drools, coos, and shakes when he’s being brushed which cracks me right up. He’s always got that concerned/ puzzled look on his face which I think some perceive as “not friendly”, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s a quieter, keep to himself kind of cat until you set him down either on your lap or next to you and start brushing his super fuzzy soft hair. Everything about him is just adorable to me. He’s not real crazy about a lot of the other cats near him, but has not once shown any aggression towards them. He’d do well in a quieter home with lots and lots of attention. No dogs, but possibly another non-dominant cat.”
We also have it on good authority that someone has a finger fetish—to the point where he will slobber and nibble on your fingertips, so you have to watch out as when he gets a bit over-enthusiastic he can’t help but give a love chomp! There exists a video of him enjoying grooming himself so exuberantly that the slurping sounds he elicited almost made the videographer gag a bit.
We figure that he spent so much time dirty and dread-locked that now he can finally keep him self shiny and clean he is going to make the most of it—and make sure everyone knows what he is doing! In the short time we have had him, Stavros has come such a long way, and we can’t wait to see what he has in store for us.
More about Stavros:
Medium
Domestic Medium Hair & Domestic Short Hair Mix
Gray/Blue/Silver, White
Adult
Male
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Not declawed
Prefers a home without dogs, children
Want to adopt Stavros? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
"It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not."
Andre Gide
Oh, boy. No. 3,000,000
is in for a big surprise
This woman is not the 3,000,000th passenger
If you’re the 3,000,000th passenger on Dec. 5th, you’ll be feted with a surprise. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport had a total of over 2.7 million passengers served through the end of October. November and December seat totals and flight information are forecasting the three millionth passenger to arrive around 11am on Dec. 5.
There will also be a reception to include surprises and giveaways for passengers flying that day. More here.
Proof that science really exists!
This launch could not happen without science
Tuesday, Dec. 4, WKTV will be featuring the launch of the SpaceX CRS-16 Cargo Craft to the International Space Station. SpaceX CRS-16 will be filled with supplies and payloads including critical materials to directly support the science and research that will occur during the current expeditions.
Coverage continues on Thursday, Dec. 6, for the rendezvous and capture of the SpaceX CRS-16 at the ISS at 4:30am, with the capture scheduled for approximately 6am Installation of the cargo craft begins at 7:30am. Go here for more info.
You say “tomayto”, I say “tomahto”
Gleaves Whitney will tackle a thorny topic
We all have our differences. But the 2016 election of Donald Trump, Kavanaugh hearings, and 2018 midterm elections have stirred up deep emotions about what kind of nation America is and should be. Conservative and progressive debates over the meaning of these events have opened old wounds and created new injuries in our body politic.
On Wednesday, Dec. 5, Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University, will address the divide in the country, and explain why failure to resolve our most difficult challenges is not an option. Go here for more info.
Fun Fact:
The footprints on the moon will
be there for 100 million years
The Moon has no atmosphere, which means there is no wind to erode the surface and no water to wash the footprints away. This means the footprints of the Apollo astronauts, along with spacecraft prints, rover-prints and discarded material, will be there for millions of years.
Groups of excited students from Godfrey Elementary recently visited Kent District Library’s newest branch, peeking at the collection and meeting librarian Kelaine Mish. A few hours later, the branch zoomed away.
The Bookmobile
After four years of visioning and planning, Kent District Library’s Bookmobile is up and running.
“This has been a dream come true,” said Mish, who has been a librarian at KDL for the past 18 years. “Just being able to come to the people, we can bring more tailored materials and offer focused story times. We’re so excited about being able to have that engagement, find out what people need, and bring that to them.”
The $350,000 mobile library has a biweekly schedule that alternates between schools, community centers, and underserved communities. There’s an exception to the biweekly nature of the schedule, however: for students and neighbors in the Godfrey-Lee School District, the Bookmobile will come every Tuesday, starting at the elementary school and then moving around the corner at the Early Childhood Center.
Godfrey Elementary student Serenity Reece boards the Bookmobile
This arrangement was made through the collaboration of KDL and Sydney Hanlon, Kent School Services Network’s community school coordinator at Godfrey Elementary. KDL was looking for schools to partner with, and Hanlon jumped at the chance.
“KDL has said this is our Bookmobile and we can use it how we want,” said Hanlon. “We can pair it with the Feeding America food truck (that visits Lee High School) or use it in the summer to help stave off learning loss.”
Hanlon said she is grateful for KDL’s willingness to tailor its inventory and use to the unique needs of the district, which has a population that’s roughly 75 percent Hispanic and 50 percent English-language learners.
Some of the rotating collection on the Bookmobile
You already belong here
Sara Proaño, community engagement manager for KDL, said the Bookmobile has been four years in the making and was made possible with financial support from several community partners. KDL had a red bookmobile bus in the mid-1980s called the “Bookie.” She’s excited to see a mobile library hit the road once again.
“When we started thinking about the underserved, we started thinking about this project,” said Proaño, “This is at the center of our efforts to increase reading for the third-grade reading law.”
KDL will partner with schools to support their needs and wishes, said Proaño, and will offer multilingual selections. Every student in Kent County will receive a library card, and there will be no fees associated with that card. Cards can be used in all branches, including the Bookmobile.
Godfrey Elementary student Serenity Reece browses books on the Bookmobile
“This is a place where nobody’s going to ask you where you are from or what you’re here for. You can come and go as you wish. Everybody’s welcome. You don’t have to do anything to belong here. You already belong here,” said Proaño.
Harry Coffill, library and media specialist for Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, said the district is excited about this new asset to the school and community.
“I think cooperating with KDL to get books in kids’ hands is so important,” he said. “We do what we can as a public school library, but to have a Bookmobile that’s going to visit the neighborhoods and provide a tailored reading collection is really important.”
The 2016 election of Donald Trump, Kavanaugh hearings, and 2018 midterm elections have stirred up deep emotions about what kind of nation America is and should be. Conservative and progressive debates over the meaning of these events have opened old wounds and created new injuries in our body politic.
Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University, will address the divide in the country, and explain why failure to resolve our most difficult challenges is not an option.
“Fortunately, America has usually had enough people of goodwill who want to work with others over the divide of their differences,” Whitney said. “A major aim of the Hauenstein Center is to tap this civic energy by enlightening, encouraging, and empowering Americans to seek common ground for the common good.”
Gleaves Whitney: Common Ground?
Wednesday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m.
Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium, Richard M. DeVos Center
401 Fulton St. W., Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Free and open to the public, but an RSVP is requested at gvsu.edu/hc
Whitney will lead a searching exploration of how we can do better — and be better — as a people.
Want to hike a mountain? Do a biking tour? Visualize your goals, then put a plan in writing of how you’ll achieve that dream. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
By Sue Thoms, Spectrum Health Beat
You resolve to exercise, with visions of a leaner, fitter, stronger you in the months ahead. You will climb that mountain, run that 5K, ski, swim, bike—or maybe just power-shop with ease.
If you schedule time to exercise and put it on the calendar, you are more likely to make it happen. An online calendar with pop-up reminders is an added plus. And if other people have access to that calendar, that can only increase accountability.
Use an activity tracker
It can be as simple as a pedometer or the most sophisticated Fitbit—anything that measures how much you do (or don’t do) can remind you to get moving.
Have fun
If you find activities that keep you engaged, you are more likely to come back for more. Try a group activity, like step aerobics or a boot camp class. But be conscious of the level of the class—and whether you are ready for it.
Get SMART
A SMART goal is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. For example, you might aim to progress from 20 minutes of walking to 20 minutes of running. When you set goals, it helps to begin with the end in mind and figure out the steps needed to get there.
Adopt a habit
How long it takes for a new pattern to become an automatic one varies from person to person. Researchers have floated numbers ranging from 21 to 66 days. The key is to hang in there long enough so exercise becomes the norm. Eventually, you won’t be able to imagine life without it.
Revise goals if necessary
You can make your fitness goals more difficult as you make progress. And you can loosen up a bit if you feel overwhelmed. Instead of giving up, revise and refocus. Failure is not a bad thing if we learn from it.
Don’t let soreness deter you
It’s OK to push yourself a little, and feel achy muscles the next day. Back off if you see serious effects—like persistent swelling, a limp or an inability to reach for an object. But if you haven’t done much exercise in a while, it’s normal to feel some soreness. Keep moving the next day—use those muscles.
Hydrate
It’s important to make sure you have plenty of water, especially in the winter when the air is dry. When you are hydrated, you will have a better workout. If your lips are chapped or you can write your name on the back of your hand, you need water.
Look at the big picture
Make your commitment to exercise part of an overall healthy lifestyle. Aim to sleep better and eat a healthy diet—both will help you get the most from that time you spend at the gym.
Seek help
There are plenty of experts who can help you set up a plan that works. Be sure they have training and credentials, such as certification from the American College of Sports Medicine or the National Strength and Conditioning Association. These folks can get you moving in the right direction.
The holidays are fast approaching, and there is a whirlwind of activities, to-do lists, and travel. With so much going on, it’s easy to get caught up in all the excitement. At the same time, cold and flu season is already upon us, and the stress of the holidays don’t do our immune systems any favors.
Before getting too caught up in all the the fun that comes this time of year, it’s important for seniors to get proactive with their health. Helping your system with a diet filled with immune boosting foods is a great way to start. Here are eight foods the get you through the holiday season.
Citrus. Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons are high in Vitamin C, and offer an all-natural boost to the immune system. Foods high in Vitamin C not only protect against the common cold and other seasonal illness, but can lessen the duration and intensity of sickness as well. There is no wrong time to eat some citrus
Ginger. When preventing the cold and flu, ginger and its anti-inflammatory properties have no match. When inflammation is down, the immune system is able to function more effectively. Ginger has many well-documented uses, and can help intestinal and heart health as well. A cup of ginger tea in the mornings during the holidays can go a long way in improving senior health.
Honey. If your cup of ginger tea is too spicy, then adding some raw honey might help it go down easier, and provide even more health benefits. Honey soothes sore throats and works as an antibacterial, killing germs while boosting the immune system.
Blueberries. Berries, particularly blueberries, are full of antioxidants, which fight colds and support immune health. In addition to these antioxidants, blueberries contain healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, which protect cognitive functions and can help improve overall brain health in aging seniors.
Salmon. Like blueberries, salmon has healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, and is another component in brain health. In addition, salmon and other wild fish contain zinc, an important nutrient in reducing the spread of the common cold. While most effective in children, zinc can also help adults build strong immune systems and fight disease.
Dark Chocolate. Who doesn’t like chocolate? Dark chocolates contain theobromine, an antioxidant which can help suppress coughs during cold and flu season, along with tasting delicious. One tip for seniors? Try making some desserts with dark chocolate this holiday season.
Broccoli. While veggies might not be the most exciting food, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts are an important addition to your diet. Broccoli and the others can boost enzymes that help fight cold and flu germs and strengthen the overall immune system. Eating a serving of veggies with dinner is a key way to help promote good immune health.
Eggs. Simple to make and easy to eat, eggs can be added into your diet in some way at almost every meal. Eggs also provide Vitamin D, a vitamin that, along with Vitamin C, boosts the immune system to fight off colds and the flu.
Garlic. Along with being a versatile flavor to add to many dishes, garlic provides immune boosting compounds. Garlic is an easy addition to work into more foods to add that extra benefit to health. In addition to immune health, garlic can also lower blood pressure, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
Chicken. It’s not just the eggs that are good for you! Chicken and other poultry can battle cold symptoms as well as providing the immune boost to help stop you from getting sick in the first place. Simple chicken dishes, chicken soup, or even chicken stock can add useful vitamins and nutrients to a senior diet. And like other foods on this list, chicken provides other benefits as well. Chicken is high in iron, and provides more heart healthy help.
Boosting immune health is key to preventing illness. From the upcoming cold and flu season, to more serious sickness, a healthy immune system is the first way to protect yourself. Adding these foods and others like them to your daily diet will help you eat well, appreciate life, and enjoy this holiday season to the fullest.
His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Khalifa of Islam, planting a tree at Masroor mosque located in Virginia. Ahmad inaugurated several mosques during a recent visit to the United States.
For West Michigan resident Ayesha Mangla it was heartbreaking to know that she would not be among the thousands to welcome His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Khalifa of Islam and head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, to the United States.
Mangla was in the process of selling her home when Ahmad came to the states in mid-October to start his three-week trip through North and South America. The tour focused on him visiting and inaugurating a hospital in Guatemala built through the community’s charity arm, Humanity First.
But Mangla had a second chance to see the spiritual leader, who was scheduled to return to the United States with his last stop being in Virginia in the beginning of November.
So, once she had competed the sale of her home, Mangla and her daughter, Ismat (who lives in New York City), packed up and drove almost straight through to Virginia just to be in Ahmad’s presence.
“It was just so important because he is our spiritual leader for the community,” Mangla said during a phone interview. “Because I missed that first welcome, I wanted to make sure that I made it to the last leg of his trip.”
His Holiness Mirza Masroor, the Khalifa of Islam and head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, recently visited the United States.
Founded in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a revival movement within Islam and the fastest-growing sect of Muslims in the 21st century. A khalifa, or spiritual leader, oversees the international movement, assisted by regional amirs who help place imams in local mosques. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is one of the oldest and largest Muslim communities in the United States, dating back to 1920 when Mufti Muhammad Sadiq came as the first Ahmadi Muslim missionary to the United States.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad is the fifth Khalifa (or successor) of the Promised Messiah. He tours extensively, visiting his followers and bringing his message of peace despite the fact that many of the Ahmadi Muslims are persecuted in some Muslim countries, including Pakistan, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. The 2018 tour is his fourth visit to the United States.
“We write letters to him, all of his followers do, and he takes the time to write back,” Mangla said. “At one time, I thought of all that he does and the thousands of letters he receives, that he does not have time to read my letters and so I simply stopped. When I saw him once, he asked me why I had stopped.”
Ahmad had a full schedule during his 2018 tour as well. Along with visiting the hospital in Guatemala, he inaugurated several new mosques of the community, met with local leaders and gave keynote speeches on Islam’s teachings of justice and peace as well as conducted marriage ceremonies and had private meetings with various followers.
Mangla knew before making the 12-hour trip to Virginia that she would not get the opportunity for a private meeting with Ahmad. “Those who have never met with him are usually the first to get that opportunity,” she said.
But not having a meeting did not deter her desire to see Ahmad and to celebrate his visit with other members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. In fact, it was a family affair as Mangla stayed with her daughter in Virginia and her son-in-law helped with organizing the visit to Virginia.
“It is just so exciting to be with him and to be with everybody else in his presence,” Mangla said. “The goodness and spirituality that he represents to us, well it is hard to put in words.”
Followers rolled out the red carpet and children and adults put on their best clothes for the special visit. In fact, the visit is so special that in a world where most people whip out their cameras and take zillion photos at such events, neither Mangla or her daughter Ismat ever thought of taking out a phone for a picture.
“When you are in his presence, you don’t think about getting a picture of yourself or trying to get a picture with him in the background,” Ismat Mangla said. “You want to just be there in the moment, to be in his presence.”
It was sad to see Ahmad leave, Mangla said, but it was delightful to see the warm and excited reception for his return to his home in London.
“It was like they hadn’t seen him in years, but it had only been a few weeks,” Mangla said. “It just shows the love that exudes from him and the love that exudes from the Ahmadi Muslims.”
