The weather has been hot which has begged the question from several people on Facebook about when the City of Wyoming’s splash pads will be open.
The City of Wyoming’s Park and Recreation Department has announced it will open its splash pads on July 6. Wyoming has three splash pads, one at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW; one at Oriole Park, 1380 42nd St. SW., and the third is at Southlawn Park, 4125 Jefferson SW.
The splash pads are open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be social distancing guidelines put in place for the splash pads. More information about those guidelines will be coming soon. For more information, visit wyomingmi.gov and click on Parks and Recreation.
The splash pads at Kentwood’s Pinewood Park and Veteran’s Park are now open. (Kentwood)
Kentwood is now open
The City of Kentwood’s splash pads are open. Kentwood has two splash pads, one at Pinewood Park, 1999 Wolfboro Dr. SE, and a new splash pad at Veteran’s Park, located next to the Kentwood Activities Center at 355 48th St. SE.
The splash pads are open to the public from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Participants are encouraged to follow CDC public health guidelines, including staying at least six feet away from others not in their household. For more about the parks in Kentwood, visit kentwood.us/exploreourparks and click on City Departments and then on Parks and Recreation.
Millennium Park splash pad is now open. (Kent County)
Millennium Park is open as well
Kent County also has opened the splash pad at Millennium Park, located behind Johnson Park at 1415 Maynard Ave. SW.
Due to COVID-19, the Millennium Park splash pad is limited to 50 percent capacity which is about 50 people. Currently the splash pad is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with hours reducing after Aug. 4 to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The splash pad is located next to the six-acre sand beach at Millennium Park.
Millennium Park does have an entrance fee which is $4/adults, $3/seniors (63 and older), $2 children (ages 3 – 15) and free for children two and under. For more information, visit kentcountyparks.org.
The Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA) announces its intention to relocate from its 2 Fulton West space to the Woodbridge N. Ferris Building, 17 Pearl Street, on the campus of Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, in Spring 2021. All in-person UICA programming, which has been paused due to COVID-19, will continue to be on hiatus until the organization reopens in the Ferris Building.
The decision was finalized June 17 by the Ferris Board of Trustees.
The UICA identity and mission will remain when it reopens in the LEED-Gold certified Ferris Building, which, until 2007, was the home to Grand Rapids Art Museum. One of the biggest questions that came to light with the announcement is what would happen to the alternative movie offerings at UICA. According to officials, UICA is working on outdoor movies, movie panel discussion opportunities, and potential upcoming partnerships.
“The impact of COVID-19 has led us to rethink how we work and provide programming in the future, and I’m confident our re-envisioning of UICA will help it succeed,” said Kendall Interim President Tara McCrackin. “We realize this is an unexpected announcement, but we believe it is a necessary move to ensure UICA continues to be a leading cultural arts destination in Grand Rapids.”
UICA Executive Director Miranda Krajniak has been actively participating in this process and believes that UICA’s future stability enhances, not diminishes, its commitment to the community, and strengthens its connection to Kendall.
“We believe a smaller footprint and associated expenses will allow UICA a more stable foundation going forward,” said Krajniak. “Additionally, for some time now, UICA has been managing Kendall’s student art exhibition spaces, so the move will provide for more efficient operations and present a stronger alignment between Kendall and UICA.”
After a University-wide review of all programming, and subsequent conversations between Ferris, Kendall and UICA leadership, it became apparent that UICA’s current location, the 2 Fulton West building, is too large and expensive for the University to maintain going forward.
The intent is to immediately begin adjusting the space at the Ferris Building to accommodate UICA. The building offers a world-class space that will easily allow UICA to re-envision its public offerings including activating an outdoor area for the downtown and student community.
Although the location will be different, UICA’s exhibitions and programs will continue to present the voices of those who have been oppressed, marginalized and exploited by society.
“We pledge to continue to work to recognize and act against the inequities that systematically hurt artists, neighbors, and diverse communities and to show work that reflects our entire community,” Krajniak added.
“We look forward to enhancing our partnership with UICA and the arts in West Michigan,” said Ferris President David Eisler. “The UICA plays an important role in the Grand Rapids community, and Ferris State University is pleased to see the relationship strengthened with Kendall College of Art and Design.”
The City of Kentwood’s Master Plan update, which WKTV has covered in detail over the last year and which is nearing completion, is revisited on the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus.
Through a series of community engagement efforts called “Plan Kentwood”, the city has gained public input to help shape a long-range vision for growth, land use, development and open space conservation in the city. High on the list of areas to have updated plans are development near and along the extension of Breton Avenue south of 52nd Street, as well as the Division Avenue and 28th and 29th streets business districts.
With us to catch us up on the process from the City of Kentwood are Terry Schweitzer, Community Development Director, and Lisa Golder, Economic Development Planner.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
We hike, swim and paddle. We run until we’re breathless.
We get close to nature, inhale fresh air and gaze at the stars.
All those outdoor activities require fuel. And with a little planning, the camping menu can be just as healthy—and fun—as a day at the beach, says Angela Fobar, RDN, a Spectrum Health dietitian.
A mom with three young children, Fobar has spent many nights at campgrounds with her family, both in a tent and a camper. They roast marshmallows over the campfire and eat their share of s’mores.
But as a dietitian with Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital, Fobar also looks for ways to eat healthy on vacation. In her pre-trip grocery shopping, she opts for kid-friendly foods that deliver good nutrition.
And simplicity is key.
“It’s camping,” she said. “You want to spend your time relaxing, hanging out and doing activities—and not spend an hour making an elaborate meal.”
She shared three tips for keeping nutrition on track, even when you’re sleeping in a tent or camper.
One-pot (or packet) meals
“We like to cook a lot of our meals over the fire,” Fobar said. “To do that, I think, takes a little planning.”
She creates foil packets that combine some form of protein—chicken or shrimp, for example—with assorted vegetables, olive oil and spices.
A favorite packet dinner combines turkey sausage with potatoes and green beans. You can vary the spices, adding Italian seasonings or a fajita flavor.
“I think that’s the fun of it,” she said. “You can mix and match whatever you want.”
The ingredients can be cut and prepared at home before the trip. You can assemble the packets at home or at the campground. (Combinations suggested below.)
And if you don’t want to make individual servings, you can combine the ingredients in a cast-iron skillet and cook the dinner over a fire.
If she uses a camper and has an electric hookup, Fobar often prepares one-pot soups and stews in a Crock-Pot.
This recipe for Six-Can Tortilla Soup, found on allrecipes.com, works especially well for a camping trip because the ingredients don’t require refrigeration. The tasty soup combines canned chicken with beans and other ingredients.
Because some canned goods are high in sodium, she advises looking for salt-free or low-sodium options.
Fire-grilled pizza
Using a cast-iron pizza pan over a campfire, Fobar makes pizza dinners that her family calls “hobo pies.”
Using bread as the crust, they layer pizza sauce, cheese and a variety of toppings. She usually makes hers meatless, but the toppings available can vary with a family’s tastes.
“It’s fun because the kids get involved,” she said. “They can choose whatever ingredients they want to add.”
Fruits and veggies
Even when camping, you can still get at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, Fobar says.
“I like to cut up fruit ahead of time so I have tubs of fruit available,” she said.
She also keeps a tub of veggies on hand. Often, she chooses ones that require no prep—carrots, baby tomatoes, sugar-snap peas.
Having a stockpile in the cooler or a camper fridge makes it easy to add fruits and veggies to every meal.
Packet meal recipe
Use one of these combinations for a one-pot or foil packet meal. Or feel free to vary them and concoct your own.
Turkey sausage or kielbasa, red skin potatoes, onion and green beans. Season with salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary.
Apple chicken sausage, sweet potatoes, red onion and Brussels sprouts. Season with salt, garlic, thyme and cinnamon.
Chicken, onion and red, yellow and green peppers. Add fajita seasonings.
All veggie: broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, onion and summer squash. Season with salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary or thyme.
Directions
Prep for packets can be done while camping or at home and taken to the campsite in your cooler or fridge.
Think size when cutting your items. Items that take longer to cook can be cut smaller than items that cook in a shorter time.
Assemble packets. You will need a square of foil, 12 by 12 inches, for the top and bottom of each packet.
Build with desired chopped ingredients.
Add olive oil—2 tablespoons per packet, to prevent sticking.
Add seasoning.
Fold each side of the packet two or three times to make sure they are secure when flipping over the fire.
Cook on a grate or grill over a bed of hot coals for about 40 minutes. Check the temperature of any meats with a meat thermometer prior to serving.
Kelly Compher played a virtual game called ‘hanging spider’ with her students (School News Network)
Godwin Heights: ‘Doing Better’ in the classroom – conventional or virtual
According to Steve Minard, principal at North Godwin, it is this ability to unite students that makes Kelly Compher stand out among teachers: “Kelly creates a community of learners each year with every new class,” he said. Compher, a Mattawan, Michigan, native, attended Grand Valley State University and completed her student teaching in Godwin Heights before being hired as a paraprofessional at North Godwin. She then taught kindergarten for a year at Coopersville. But when a teaching position opened at North Godwin, she felt the call to return. She was hired and after seven years, she hasn’t looked back. Learn more about what makes Compher a rockstar teacher by clicking here.
Shantel VanderGalien is in the running for Michigan Teacher of the Year (School News Network)
Wyoming: English teacher named Regional Teacher of the year
Shantel VanderGalien was named 2020-2021 Regional Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Department of Education. She represents Region 3 and is among 10 teachers divided by region to receive the honor. She is now in the running for the 2020-2021 Michigan Teacher of the Year. “My goal as Regional Teacher of the Year is to be a positive voice for the students and teachers in my region and to serve them well,” she said. To learn more about VanderGalien, click here.
Glenwood Elementary second-grade teacher Lauren Heald leads her class earlier this school year using the Capturing Kids Hearts model (School News Network)
Kentwood: District honored for capturing kids hearts
Eight Kentwood Public Schools were recently named National Showcase Schools by The Flipen Group, the consulting group that provides training and resources for the Capturing Kids’ Hearts curriculum. Schools honored include Bowen, Glenwood Elementary, Meadowlawn, Challenger, Discovery, Endeavor and Southwood elementary schools, and Crestwood Middle School To learn more about the award, click here.
As part of its commitment to helping customers save money every day and reducing its environmental impact, SpartanNash today announced it is relaunching its Flashfood® pilot program at five West Michigan Family Fare stores.
The Flashfood app allows store guests and community nonprofits to purchase food nearing its best-by date at savings of up to 50 percent off. Eligible items include meat, produce, seafood, deli and bakery products.
The five participating Family Fare stores testing the Flashfood app are located at:
2245 84th St., SW in Byron Center
1415 E. Fulton St. in Grand Rapids
2755 Lake Michigan Drive, NW in Grand Rapids
1225 Leonard, NE in Grand Rapids
6127 Kalamazoo Ave., SE in Kentwood
Through the partnership, Family Fare shoppers can download the Flashfood app and browse grocery deals. Purchases are made directly from the shoppers’ phone and picked up from the Flashfood area in participating Family Fare stores.
The Flashfood pilot was first launched in February 2020 but was temporarily halted due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Given the success of the initial pilot, SpartanNash plans to expand the partnership at the end of the month, with additional stores to be announced soon.
“We are excited to relaunch the Flashfood app for our customers and expand the program to additional stores, making it easier than ever to save time and money at Family Fare,” Director, Retail Consumer Innovation Matt Bennett said. “The Flashfood app also gives us the ability to reduce food waste while increasing access to lower cost fresh foods – making it a win-win for our customers and the environment. Our aisles are filled with a variety of perishable foods, and as we get near the best-by dates, we want to make sure customers know about the savings available to them.”
Flashfood is a Toronto-based mobile app that operates in more than 450 grocery locations throughout Canada, Michigan and Wisconsin. The mobile app is free and available on iOS and Android.
After downloading the Flashfood app, customers can select a participating Family Fare store, choose the items they want to purchase and pay for them directly on the app, then pick up their items and confirm their order at the customer service counter. To make it even easier, the purchased food will be stored at the front of each participating Family Fare in refrigerators and on storage racks until the store guest picks them up.
The Flashfood app pilot is another way SpartanNash is fighting food waste and hunger in local communities. SpartanNash also partners with local food banks and food pantries throughout the company’s footprint, donating pantry staples and shelf-stable products as well as fresh dairy, meat and produce.
“Reducing food waste and building stronger communities are both important parts of SpartanNash’s corporate responsibility commitment,” Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications Meredith Gremel said. “At SpartanNash, we are always looking for positive changes we can drive as we ‘take food places’ in more socially responsible, environmentally sustainable ways, and the Flashfood app is another way we can do that – all while benefitting our store guests and community partners.”
Looking for a a trip that would follow social distancing guideline but also provide you a chance to explore the state of Michigan?
The West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) has released its 2020 Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map and Circle tour. This is a free poster-sized publication which details all of the lighthouses located on the shores of Lake Michigan, as well as the Circle Tour driving route to guide motorists around the lake.
The full circle tour driving route around Lake Michigan is available online, and website visitors may also download a PDF of this year’s Lighthouse Map, or request that a free copy be mailed to them here: www.wmta.org/lake-michigan-lighthouse-map-circle-tour/
White River Lighthouse is located near Whitehall. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
Vacationers have been looping the lake for generations, but the official “Lake Michigan Circle Tour” route was not established until the 1980s when the Michigan Department of Transportation teamed up with West Michigan Tourist Association to create the route and its official guidebook. Along the way, travelers will find more than 100 lighthouses, countless islands, unique attractions, parks and natural areas, miles of glorious beaches, quaint harbor towns, and one “modern marvel” – the Mackinac Bridge.
While a loosely-organized “circle route” around Lake Superior was promoted by local tourist organizations as early as the 1960s, the first official (and signed) Great Lakes Circle Tour was the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. The only single-nation Circle Tour (Lake Michigan being the only Great Lake completely within the US), the Lake Michigan Circle Tour also has the most mileage of any Circle Tour in the state.
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse in Mackinaw City. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Working in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Transportation, the West Michigan Tourist Association helped to make the first of the official Great Lakes Circle Tours a reality and the first publication was released in 1988 as a 52-page guide book. The guide book was transformed into a map in 2007, and the Circle Tour driving route can now be found online.
Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map & Circle Tour publications are also available in bulk quantities; please contact Travel@WMTA.org for more information.
Whether your family’s travel plans include some fun in the sun, makin’ a splash or skiing the slopes, nothing puts the damper on a vacation faster than illness or injury.
There are several things you can do before, during and after your travels to make your experience a memorable one. For all the right reasons.
1. Think like a Boy Scout
Travel itself is stressful. And breaks can be a particularly crazy and frustrating time, especially if you’re traveling with kids.
“The most important advice I give to my patients is be prepared. That, and remember to pack your common sense,” said Philip Henderson, MD, division chief, internal medicine and pediatrics, Spectrum Health Medical Group. “People on vacation tend to do things they’d never do at home, which can lead to trouble. You’ll be able to deal with the unexpected and avoid a lot of stress by being well-prepared and using your head.”
2. Give yourself a boost
A healthy immune system before you leave can lessen the chance of downtime due to illness on your vacation and when you get back home. So, before you even think about what to pack, give your immune system a boost: get plenty of rest, eat right and stick to your normal exercise routine.
Make sure you and your kids are up to date on all your vaccinations, including your flu shot, Dr. Henderson said. Take this quiz to find out which vaccines you or your children age 11 years and older may need, and be sure to get them a couple weeks before you travel.
Pack enough of your prescription medications in your carry-on luggage to last the entire trip—and a little extra in case your return trip is delayed. Bring a list of the brand and generic names of all your medications, including the dosage and frequency, in case you need to get a refill during your trip.
Bring both your standard, everyday medications, as well as any emergency medications you might need. This may include an EpiPen if you have a severe allergy or an inhaler if you’re prone to asthma attacks.
Take a basic medical kit with you. Dr. Henderson suggested:
Band-Aids
Antibiotic ointment
Aspirin or Tylenol
Aloe gel (for sunburn)
Antacids such as Tums (for upset stomach)
Pepto-Bismol tablets (for traveler’s diarrhea)
“Be sure you get the real Pepto-Bismol,” Dr. Henderson said. “Look for bismuth subsalicylate as the key ingredient for it to really work.”
If you take certain medications, or have chronic health conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy, carry an alert notification or identification card with you.
“This is especially important for people who take a blood thinner,” Dr. Henderson said. “If you’re in an accident or are unconscious, emergency medical personnel need to be aware in order to properly treat you.”
4. Going airborne
Given the lengthy time spent in crowded planes, air travelers are often concerned about catching an illness from other passengers. In addition to what’s floating around in the air, studies have shown that illness-causing bacteria can survive on surfaces inside airplanes for days or even up to a week.
So how can you stay safe and healthy on the airplane?
Clean your hands thoroughly and often. Travel with a small bottle of hand sanitizer. Use it once you are settled in your seat and again after you depart the plane.
Cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or tissue if someone near you sneezes or coughs in your direction. Discard used tissues right away and then wash your hands.
Bring your own pillow and blanket instead of using those handed out by the airline.
Drink lots of water and nonalcoholic, decaffeinated beverages to stay hydrated. The air in airplanes is dry so it’s easy to become dehydrated.
Stretch your legs. Even healthy people can get blood clots in their legs after long flights. When allowed, walk up and down the aisles and stretch your calf muscles while you’re sitting.
Remember, the risk of infection doesn’t end when you get off the airplane.
Cruise ships and busy resorts can also expose you to some nasty infections. Norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea, is known to plague these vacation escapes.
Scrupulous hygiene is the key to avoiding these highly contagious bugs. Wash your hands after every trip to the bathroom and before every meal. Soap and water is best, or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
5. Avoid traveler’s stomach
Changes in diet can wreak havoc on your digestive system. While a slice of pizza or a burger might be tempting while waiting for your flight, eat a salad or something rich in fiber to avoid stomach problems later.
Once you arrive, try to eat as much like your normal diet as possible. Go ahead and have some treats. It’s your vacation, after all. But make sure the majority of your meals contain vegetables, fruit, lean protein and whole grains. Drink plenty of water, too.
If you know you have a sensitive stomach, take one Pepto-Bismol tablet each day to prevent traveler’s diarrhea, Dr. Henderson suggested.
And a final word of caution on food safety: If food left out on a buffet table looks wilted or dry around the edges, it’s probably best to stay away.
6. Drink up
Water, water, water. Staying well hydrated is important.
“People don’t realize how much water they lose when they sweat,” Dr. Henderson said. “And when your body is dehydrated, you feel lousy. Dehydration affects your metabolism, your circulation, and causes headaches and dizziness.”
One way to tell if you’re drinking enough water is to look at your urine. If you’re going at least four times a day and it’s relatively clear in color, you’re in the clear. If it’s dark in color, you’re dehydrated and need to drink more water.
If drinking alcohol is part of your break, remember that it can impair your judgment and actions.
Binge drinking, in particular, can be a problem on vacation. It’s the most common pattern of excessive alcohol use, defined for men as consuming five or more drinks, and women consuming four or more drinks, in about two hours.
7. Beware the buzz
Educate yourself about the local bugs and reptiles, especially if you’re traveling off the beaten path, Dr. Henderson said. Know which are poisonous and which are not.
Mosquitoes carrying dengue fever, Zika virus and chikungunya virus, once found only in Africa and Asia, have been found in Florida, Hawaii, the Caribbean, South America and Central America.
To avoid bites, stay inside or in screened-in areas or cover up during peak mosquito hours–sunrise and sunset, and in early evening. Also avoid tight clothes, dark colors and perfume. Natural repellents with 20 percent picaridin, or deet-based products with 30 percent deet or less, also work well.
“Decisions about pregnancy planning are personal,” Dr. Romero said, suggesting that those who are considering becoming pregnant use condoms and put off conception for up to six months after returning from a visit to a Zika-confirmed area. “We recommend talking with your health care provider if you’re not yet pregnant, but thinking about having a baby in the near future.”
8. Soak it up. Safely.
It’s tempting to soak up the rays by staying in the hot sun all day. Although getting a little sun can have some health benefits (think vitamin D boost), the sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes.
“Terrible sunburns are by far the most common thing we see in people returning from vacations,” Dr. Henderson said. “Be sure to apply sunscreen to the top of your feet. That’s one spot where we see the worst burns. The other is on the top of the head for men who are bald or have thinning hair.”
This also applies to those enjoying ski trips—that powdery white snow reflects the sun’s rays and can burn you to a crisp if you aren’t careful.
Always practice sun safety: wear a hat, protect your eyes with wraparound sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection, and for sunscreen, use one with a SPF double what you’d normally use at home, said Dr. Henderson.
9. Home sweet home
Once you’re home, pay attention to how you feel. While it’s normal to feel a little rough around the edges after traveling for a day or two, if you feel worse each day rather than better, see your doctor.
Our partners at School News Network take a final look at the Class of 2020 along with some changes taking place. For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
MySchool@Kent Principal Danielle Hendry expected summer school enrollment to be large this year (School News Network)
All Districts: Summer school is in session
To get its pre-Labor Day start wavier, Kent ISD decided to offer free summer school to all of Kent County which meant a boost to MySchool@Kent which is the Kent ISD’s summer school program. This summer, the program will have three times its average number of students, but Principal Danielle Hendry said “If a student needs this extra learning opportunity then we are happy to provide it.” Click here to learn more.
In 2012, Kent Innovation High was recognized as a National Demonstration School by New Tech Network (School News Network)
All Districts: Kent ISD to close Kent Innovation High
Citing low attendance and the inability to recruit students for the 2020-2021 school years, the Kent ISD announced it will be phasing out the Kent Innovation High program. Students currently enrolled will be able to complete the program. It leaves on a high note as more area schools has implemented project-based learning within their programs. For more about Kent Innovation High, click here.
Students locally and elsewhere turned out in mass protests following the 2018 shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida (School News Network/Dianne Carroll Burdick)
All Districts: The Class of 2020: learning to roll with it
“History books are going to write about you.” The epic quote says it all as the Class of 2020 wraps up their school year. Most of the students lives are bookmarked by 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover all the ups and downs this class has faced and how the students have learned to “just roll with it.” Click here for more.
Golfers with knee osteoarthritis do not need to be concerned about worsening their disease by walking the course. In fact, walking provides the best health benefit. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Golfers with knee arthritis should park the golf cart and walk the links instead, researchers say.
While using a golf cart may seem the obvious choice for golfers with knee problems, a new small study finds that walking provides much greater health benefits. Moreover, it’s not associated with increased pain, inflammation or cartilage breakdown, the researchers said.
“Individuals with knee osteoarthritis are often concerned about pain and may be more likely to use a golf cart,” said lead study author Dr. Prakash Jayabalan. He’s an assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
However, “this study has shown that golfers with knee osteoarthritis do not need to be concerned about worsening their disease through walking the course. In fact, walking provides the best health benefit,” Jayabalan said in a university news release.
More than 17 million Americans older than 50 golf regularly. Knee osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability in this age group. The condition causes swelling, pain and difficulty moving the joint.
The study included 10 older golfers with knee osteoarthritis and five without the disease, which is usually caused by wear and tear of the joint.
On one day, the study participants played one round of golf (18 holes) walking the course. On another day, they used a golf cart to play 18 holes. On each occasion, the researchers monitored the participants’ heart rates to determine their level of exercise intensity, and took blood samples to measure markers of knee inflammation and cartilage stress.
On both occasions, the golfers had an increase in these markers, but there was no difference between use of the golf cart and walking, the findings showed.
When walking the course, the heart rates of the golfers with knee problems were in the moderate-intensity zone for more than 60 percent of the time, compared with 30 percent when using a cart.
But even using the cart, golfers met daily exercise recommendations, according to the study authors.
“Bottom line: walking the course is significantly better than using a golf cart, but using a golf cart is still better than not exercising at all,” Jayabalan concluded.
The study was presented recently at the Osteoarthritis Research Society International annual meeting in Liverpool, England. Research presented at meetings is usually considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.
Kent County announced Friday, June 11, that a majority of the county’s departments, offices and agencies will resume in-person services today, Monday, June 15, including the animal shelter, the county clerk, veterans services and others.
However, court operations — 17th Circuit Court, 63rd District Court, and Probate — are open but remain closed to in-person services, following the mandated phased approach ordered by the Michigan Supreme Court. Court staff is assisting the public by e-mail and telephone. Additionally, to the greatest extent possible, hearings and proceedings are being conducted electronically and live-streamed via YouTube, according to a county statement.
While a majority of offices will reopen on June 15, residents are encouraged to visit the county’s website to determine if their service can be fulfilled remotely. Visitors are also asked to stay home if they are feeling any symptoms of illness or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, wear a mask if they are medically able, limit visits to one person per household, and maintain a 6-foot physical distance between others.
Please visit the county’s website — accesskent.com — for specific information on how to interact with each county department, office and agency.
Kent County Health Department worked with Guiding Light to provide an COVID-19 isolation facility for homeless persons. (Kent County Health Department)
The Kent County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to allocate $94.2 million of a $114.6 million federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant to assist “a range of local governments, community partners, and small businesses which experienced costs due to COVID-19,” as well as to reimburse the county’s direct coronavirus mitigation efforts.
The remainder of the CARES grant available, $20.4 million, was placed in reserve for a possible second wave of COVID-19 infections, according to the June 11 county statement.
But Kent County’s efforts to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, and assist other county entities impacted, started almost on Day 1, when the crisis was labeled as such in late-March, including quickly applying for and receiving the CARES Act grant and forming a COVID Relief Subcommittee to spearhead a countywide effort starting in April.
Prior to this week’s formal county commission action June 11, WKTV talked with Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt about the county’s efforts and expenditures.
The Kent County Health Department and the county’s communication team have supplied the public information on COVID-19 in many ways, including a series of live videos. (Kent County video screenshot)
“First and foremost, we wanted to keep this community safe,” Britt said in a late May interview. “We wanted to communicate (with the public) right off the bat, and we have pushed hard on our communication. The health department has been stood up with additional resources … county staff has managed the communication … that was first and foremost, right up front, making sure we got out in front of this.”
Britt said county representatives, in the first days of local impact of the pandemic, “got out” and met a wide range of community groups via Zoom meetings, “with church leaders, with the black community … the Latinx community, the Vietnamese community. We got out to the chambers, the Grand Rapids chamber (of commerce). The business side of things.
“Communication was really huge. Developing the relationships, continuing to grow the relationships. … Really just getting ahead of it. Every day (to begin with) we conducted command meetings, emergency management meetings every day, but that is ramped back now.”
The county either set up or assisted in setting up homeless shelters and isolation centers. They worked with Grand Valley State University and Michigan State University and a host of other organizations. They focused on reducing the risk at high-risk facilities such as the county correction facility and juvenile detention facility. They focused on developing hotspots across the county.
Wyman Britt, Kent County Administrator/Controller. (WKTV)
“The team has done a fantastic job, getting out to the nursing homes, to the convalescent centers. Making sure we jumped on that,” Britt said.
“I can’t believe the work we put into this thing. It is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life. It is just every day grind it out. … We have weathered the storm. We weren’t ready but we got ready quick. Unfortunately we lost 70 plus (county deaths to the virus as of late May, the number now stands at 111), but compared to other parts of the state … this community has responded.”
County leadership led funding process
Considering the often slow response time of many governmental entries to form and execute a plan as complex as Kent County’s COVID-19 response and recovery plan, the action this week by the Board of Commissioners was fast — by design.
“The COVID-19 public health crisis has significantly affected residents and businesses across our county, and it was critical for our board to allocate this federal funding as quickly as possible,” Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Mandy Bolter said in supplied material. “As we do on so many issues, we worked closely with several businesses, organizations and non-profits to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure the funds meet the needs of our community and reflect the intent of the federal legislation.”
As part of the Federal CARES Act, Kent County was awarded a grant of $114.6 million from the U.S. Treasury on April 24 from which the county could gain reimbursement for COVID-19 mitigation expenses and economic relief for a wide range of economically impacted community groups and businesses.
According to Britt, Kent County was one of only four counties in the state, in addition to the City of Detroit, to receive CARES Act grants. But to take advantage of the grant, to be able to seek reimbursement, the county had to review needs, plan for how those needs would be met, and formally allocate funds to meet those needs.
That is where the COVID Relief Subcommittee — basically the already formed county commission Executive Committee, with some others added for specific needs such as state legislative liaison — came into play.
“Their charge was to analyze all available funds coming into the county, and how they are being applied,” Britt said. “The needs of the community. The process and strategies to allocate and disperse CARES funds under the guidelines established by the Federal Government. … We don’t want to duplicate efforts, but we want to make sure we can push those dollars to as many places as we can.”
The county, in addition to the CARES Act grant of $114.6 million, is also looking at other funding reimbursements sources for COVID-19 expenses and recovery efforts, including possibly from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The COVID Relief Subcommittee met twice a week during the past two months and, according to supplied material, “received testimony from representatives of underserved communities who are being disproportionally impacted by the pandemic, as well as representatives of local chambers of commerce” and other groups and individuals.
County expenses and community support
A set of funding recommendations — and executive report — was then developed for the full Board of Commissioners’ review and approval. Among the funding approvals was $35 million in direct county expenses —including community education, emergency operations, homeless population response, surveillance and contact tracing, testing, public safety and correctional facility.
Kent County Health Department staff at a county COVID-19 testing station. (Kent County)
As of a May 3 estimate of Kent County expenses, the latest report available, the county has spent or committed to spend about $6.3 million of the $35 million allocated. The major expense areas are $1.86 million in payroll — including $1.3 million in county Health Department payroll — as well as a separate expenditure of $1.5 million for “Essential Worker Compensation”.
“There are these essential workers who have no alternative but to be here (and can’t work from home) — they have to be here,” Britt said. “Our health department, our nurses who are engaged with setting up the homeless shelters. Our sheriff’s correction officers. Our road patrol officers. Those are essential workers. … What’s happening there is we are providing them eight hours of vacation for every week worked during the COVID, because they are on the front lines and to offer incentive for them to be here.”
The essential workers “have been very supportive of doing what is necessary to keep our community safe. … We have to have the right people on staff to ward off this terrible pandemic.”
The other major county expenditure included in the May 3 report are $1.1 million in medical and safety supplies.
Other CARES reimbursable expenses approved by the board this week included $25 million in business assistance, $15 million in assistance to local governments, $12.2 million for care of venerable populations, $3 million in “return to work” personal protective equipment (PPE) for county businesses, and $3 million to aid the county’s existing and newly homeless.
Administrator Britt and county administration will now develop a “process to distribute the funds” in partnership with the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, the Heart of West Michigan United Way and other groups. Additionally, “the County will contract with a firm to conduct an audit on the distribution and use of the CARES Act funding,” according to the county’s June 11 statement.
The CARES Act funds must be fully spent by Dec. 30 or will be forfeited back to the federal government.
For more information on Kent County’s CARES Act and COVID-19 related activities, visit here. Copies of the COVID Relief Subcommittee Executive Report is available in English and Spanish here.
Note: this is an update to the story as the original date of the event, June 11, was a storm washout and it was rescheduled to Monday, June 15.
Wyoming High School will host its WHS Class of 2020 commencement ceremony, scheduled for July 28 at Grand Rapids First, but first it will allow the community to celebrate local seniors with a WHS Senior 11 Night Celebration Parade Monday, June 15.
According to a June 10 statement from the Wyoming Public Schools office, the parade will begin at 8:20 p.m., with a caravan of Wyoming high seniors traveling Burlingame Avenue down Prairie Parkway, to the Wyoming Wolves football stadium parking lot, and then exit Prairie Parkway to Michael Avenue.
“Our Class of 2020 has experienced so much throughout the course of their successful journey to earning their high school diploma,” WPS Superintendent Craig Hoekstra said in supplied material. “This parade is one of the many ways our Wyoming Public Schools staff, and greater community, are showing them that we love and care about them, no matter the circumstance. We don’t want this pandemic to be the hallmark of their senior year.”
(Public Domain image)
District staff and members of the community will line the parade route to congratulate and celebrate the Class of 2020 and their families. Wyoming High School staff will be stationed along the gates of the football stadium and throughout the stadium parking lot near the concession stand. Those in attendance are encouraged to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Upon arrival at the football stadium, seniors will be given their high school diploma and awarded an Alpha Wolf 11 Champion of Character Award.
“Our hope is that each one of them knows now and remembers on their life’s journey that they were surrounded at all times by people who had an unwavering commitment to support and celebrate their success, every step of the way,” Hoekstra said. “I am very proud of this graduating class for staying committed to their studies, not losing focus on their goals, and demonstrating grit like no other class before them has had to. The perseverance that they have shown will serve them well as they do great things in our world.”
The WPS statement stressed that the parade does not replace the WHS Class of 2020 commencement ceremony scheduled for July 28, at 7 p.m., at Grand Rapids First.
For more information on Wyoming Public Schools visit wyomingps.org or follow them on social media: Facebook and Twitter @WolvesWPS and Instagram @WPSWolves.
As food supplies diminished during the recent statewide Stay Home, Stay Safe order, Hand2Hand officials were left with how to secure large quantities of food to help feed the thousands of children who rely on the organization and its church partners for weekend meals.
“Our founder Cheryl Hondred was praying on how we could feed these families also knowing that area restaurants were deeply impacted by COVID-19 as well,” said Jodi Joseph, director of growth for Hand2Hand. “Then she had this idea and it just started to grow.”
The idea became the Win Win program where Hand2Hand was able to take matching grant money to purchase gift cards from local businesses which in turn the organization would give to families to purchase meals at the restaurant.
Lombardo’s Pizza, 2307 Lee St. SW, Wyoming, was one of the 30 restaurants that participated in the Hand2Hand Win Win program. (WKTV)
Local restaurants were asked to create meals, not including drinks, that would feed a family of four but that the restaurant would still make a profit on, Joseph said. Gift cards would be purchased for $10, $15, or $20 and then distributed to the families who in turn could go to the restaurant to get the WinWin meal, she said.
“We were just blown away by the generous response of the community,” Joseph said. The Peter C. and Emajean Cook Foundation and the David and Carol Van Andel Foundation provided a $30,000 matching grant. Community members stepped up to foundations’ challenge contributing $40,000 to the program allowing Hand2Hand to raise a total of $70,000 in a short time.
“We have given out 4,100 gift cards and have heard numerous stories and testimonies from families who were so grateful to receive a warm cooked meal from restaurants that treated them so well,” said Hand2Hand Founder and Executive Director Cheri Hondred in a wrap up video about the program.
Through the effort, Hand2Hand was able to connect with more than 30 restaurants from 17 of the 37 school districts that the organization serves. Some of the restaurants were Two Guys Brewing, Lombardo’s, and Russ’s in Wyoming and The Candied Yam in Kentwood.
“At a very early age, my twin sissy and I experienced the pain of being hungry before we were adopted,” said Jessica Ann Tyson, owner of the Candied Yam as to why she participated in the Hand2Hand Win Win program. “Being able to partner with organizations, like Hand2Hand, gives us the opportunity to empathize and give back in a way that makes a big difference to someone. We are also grateful to keep our team working so we can continue making this food with great love to share with others.”
Wyoming’s TwoGuys Brewing also participated in the Hand2Hand Win Win program. Pictured is TwoGuys managing partnerTom Payne. (WKTV)
Nick Lombardo owner of Wyoming’s Lombardo Pizza, located at 2307 Lee St. SW, said the program did help in bringing traffic to his restaurant.
“The first couple of weeks we were down,” said Lombardo, who’s restaurant is mostly takeout and delivery. He added that the opportunity to be a part of the Win Win program gave the restaurant a chance to give back while keeping busy at the sametime.
Hand2Hand, which is based in Hudsonville, partners with about 119 area churches and businesses to provide weekend backpacks to more than 8,000 area students in 206 schools. Gift cards were dispersed to families who are part of the Hand2Hand program.
Now that the Stay Home, Stay Safe order has ended, the Win Win program also has wrapped up as well. Looking back at its success, Hondred, through the Hand2Hand blog said the program really was a blessing to the families as it provided a break and a special treat to them while providing stability and income to the partnering 30 restaurants.
According to the U.S. Census about 16 percent of the Kent County population does not have internet with about nine percent having no computers. However a recent initiative from the Kent District Library looks to help provide internet straight to resident’s homes.
The KDL has added 700 new hotspots to the collection, increasing the number to 8333. The hotspots are part of the Beyond Books Collection and are available to library cardholders age 18 and older.
Also announced this week, the State of Michigan is partnering to provide a map of public hotspots state wide. (See info below.)
A wifi hotspot is a small piece of equipment that will set up a wireless network that allows a houseful of people to connect to the Internet via cellular service. (Supplied)
“With an estimated 24,000 households without broadband access in Kent County, during this time of crisis, it is important to help as many people as we can,” said KDL Director of Library Services Carrie Wilson, who was referring to the recent COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in a quarantine. The result of the statewide quranrinte had many families working from home as well as students completing the 2019-2020 school year online.
“With so many people working and learning from home, the need for Internet access is greater than every before.”
Outside of the COVID-19 crisis, the U.S. Census through its data had determined that computer usage and Internet access had become increasingly important of regathering information, looking for jobs and participation in a changing world economy. For example, in a U.S. Census report about computer and Internet usage, it is estimated that about 8 percent of households had a compute run 1984. That number jumped to about half of all U.S. households having a computer in 2000 with the number growing to 79 percent in 2015.
Wilson also noted that the wifi at the KDL branches is free and open with residents being able to connect from the parking lot. A library card is not needed to connect to the free wifi.
To check out a hotspot, visit kdl.org and search on the term “hotspot.” Hotspots will be mailed to households while KDL branches are closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. When KDL opens, hotspots will be able to be picked up at the branches. KDL branches are expected to open with limited services July 6.
People who live in the KDL service area and do not have a library card can register for one online at kdl.org/virtual or by calling 616-784-2007.
Statewide map of hotspots
The State of Michigan, in partnership with the Connected Nation Michigan, released a statewide Wi-Fi hotspot map this week to assist residents who currently lack internet access at home. Currently on the map are only two in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on the map, but more are being added.
The COVID-19 pandemic and transition to remote and distance learning has only increased the need for residents and students to have easy access to broadband services.
The Wi-Fi mapping effort, spearheaded by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and Connected Nation Michigan, along with the Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) and the Michigan Department of Education, is an interim step amid the coronavirus pandemic to spotlight publicly available broadband hotspots for households without internet access.
The City of Kentwood has reopened its Little Free Pantry by appointment and is also in need of donations to support community members who may be struggling to keep food on the table, the city announced June 11. Through the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, a partnership with Meals on Wheels also has senior meals available.
Located within the Kentwood Activities Center at 355 48th St. SE, the pantry typically serves hundreds of people each year, but that is expected to increase due to the financial hardship some individuals may be facing as a result of the coronavirus and associated closures, according to the city’s statement.
“Even before COVID-19, the demand for our pantry goods had been steadily growing and the shelves were becoming empty on a weekly basis,” Val Romeo, director of Kentwood Parks and Recreation, said in supplied material. “We’d like to be able to continue to fill the immediate and local need we have here in our community.
“In order to do that, we need the help of individuals and organizations who are able to give financially or provide tangible donations, such as canned goods, shelf-stable food and personal items like toilet paper, shampoo and toothpaste.”
The City of Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry is in the Kentwood Activities Center. (City of Kentwood)
Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry is available by appointment from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those who would like to utilize the pantry are asked to call ahead to 616-656-5270 and set up a time to come in. Upon arrival to the Kentwood Activities Center, a staff member will allow the individual in to take the items they need.
In addition to bringing donations to the Kentwood Activities Center, businesses, community organizations and other groups may partner with the city to better stock the pantry by accepting a Kentwood Little Free Pantry collection bin for canned goods and other non-perishable items at their facility. More information, including the application for a collection bin, can be found at: kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.
Meals on Wheels also available
The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department has also partnered with Meals on Wheels Western Michigan to bring back the Senior Meals program in a grab-and-go format for residents who are age 60 or older.
Participants can do curbside pickup at the Kentwood Activities Center on Mondays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. However, the meals must be reserved ahead of time by calling 616-656-5270 no later than the Friday before. There is no cost to participate, but donations are accepted. More information is available at mealsonwheelswesternmichigan.org.
School officials and students celebrate the end of the school year in special ways with some graduates discussing the riots and the impact on them and their community. For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
From left, on bottom of the screen, Wyoming High School 10th grader Margoth De Leon and ninth grader Lizbi Garcia talk about how their family coped when their dad was hospitalized due to COVID-19 (School News Network)
Wyoming: Father receiving from COVID-19 thanks ‘ Team Gladiola’ on Zoom
A father’s thank you for the support from his children’s school, Gladiola Elementary School, shows just how important the weekly parent meetings between staff and families became during the COVID-19 lockdown. To learn more about Gladiola’s Continuity of Learning Plan, click here.
Schools had to adjust overnight to the new reality of the pandemic, and now face a funding crisis with literally billions of dollars at stake (School News Network)
All Districts: Our Kids, Our Future: COVID-19 and the looming crisis in public school funding
It is estimated that nationwide schools will need to spend $41 billion for COVID-19 pandemic related costs in technology and other social distancing guidelines. This is on top of an estimated $1.25 billion in lost funding. Want a better understanding of how this will all play out? Kent ISD Research Data Analyst Sunli Joy breaks down how school budgets are funded and the impact of the loss of funding and additional expenses. Click here for the story.
Protestors flooded downtown Grand Rapids the night of May 30, with a peaceful demonstration followed later by rioting (School News Network)
Kelloggsville/Godwin Heights: Students speak out on protests, call for ‘a better America tomorrow’
The recent protests could be a teachable moment, a call to action or both. School News Network spoke to five newly graduated seniors that included one from Kelloggsville and one from Godwin Heights, as well as a Godwin Heights educator, about the impact the protests have had on them, and what they think is needed to address the root causes. Click here to read more.
Godwin staff and teachers wave to students during the last day of school parade (School News Network)
Godwin Heights: ‘This was good for our souls!’
After 11 weeks of staying home, “flattening the curve” and distance learning, Godwin Heights students got to see the staff and teachers in person, from a safe distance, on the last day of school, May 29. West Godwin Elementary Principal Mary Lang dreamed up the idea for the last day of school parade and Assistant Principal Casey Kroll led the effort to make it happen, devising a route that hit every neighborhood in the district and making sure the parade passed bus stops so students would have a familiar spot to watch. To get the full story, click here.
Max Colley III kicks of the Sounds of Summers music series on July 2.
While the major names — Grand Rapids Symphony and the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture — have announced cancelling their summer concert season, two local municipalities, the City of Kentwood and Byron Township have decided to make sure the beat goes on.
“We know that people really look forward to this,” said Byron Township Supervisor Tom Hooker about the annual Sounds of Summer concert series. “We just felt this was an opportunity for people to get out and look forward to something that was different.”
The township sponsors the annual Sounds of Summer which is scheduled to take place in July at Cutler Park, 6701 Cutler Park Dr. SW. Hooker noted that the township selected the location as it provides a special event for those living in the township’s northern corner.
“It was to my surprise that they decided to move forward,” said Patty Williams, a longtime WKTV volunteer who organizes the annual event. “I was contacted in March that the budget had been approved and the performers are really excited to come.”
This year’s Sounds of Summer will feature Max Colley III July 2, Jaded 8 July 9, Oat Bran Boys July 16, The Dusty Chaps July 23, and LWND July 30. All concerts start at 7 p.m. The concerts are recorded and aired on WKTV.
The Oat Bran Boys perform July 16 at the Sounds of Summer.
Both Williams and Hooker emphasized that social distancing guidelines will be put in place with residents encouraged to be six-feet apart from non-family members. Williams said the event also will be dedicated by executive orders on the size of gatherings. Currently, only gatherings of 10 people are allowed, however it does appear the state may be moving to Stage 5 of the reopening plan which would increase the number of people at gatherings. Stage 6 would allow for any size gathering.
“I’m kind of excited because we may be one of the only fun events taking place which means we might see people who have never come before,” Williams said, adding that with the number of outdoor concerts cancelled she is expecting larger crowds than normal.
Kentwood announces it plans to host its summer concerts in July. (WKTV)
City of Kentwood
In its June newsletter, the City of Kentwood announced it would be hosting its Summer Concert Series on select Thursday nights in July with some modifications to ensure physical distancing during the events. The concerts will take place behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. Appropriate distanced areas will be marked for residents to safety enjoy the shows.
The Kentwood Summer Concerts will be livestreamed by WKTV for those who like to watch from their home. City staff will monitor public health guidance and state orders, which may cause changes or postponement of upcoming events or programs. Dates and times for the concerts and other details will be announced on the city’s website.
A Quieter Summer
“Usually we are announcing the upcoming summer concerts but all we have been doing is telling people what has been postponed, delayed or cancelled,” said John Sinkevics, owner and publisher of the online local music site Local Spins.
For the past couple of months, concerts organizers have been announcing decisions to cancel outdoor performances. The latest being the Lowell Sizzlin’ Summer Concert series. There were events, such as the annual Grand Rapids Jazz Fest that had taken the year off due to planned remodelling work at Rosa Parks Circle, but now that work also has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is going to be a lot of human costs, a lot of financial loss,” Sinkevics said, adding that many had to look at not only ticket sales but being able to get together to plan the events. That was the case of the Festival of the Arts this year, which announced that due to the restrictions in the spring, volunteers could not meet to plan out the event. The ripple effect has been a lot of musicians who will not be playing this summer.
“Hopefully conditions will improve,” Sinkevics said. “Regardless, the way we attend something is going to be different. The way we came together, packed in, surfing people, that has all been blown out of the water.”
In the past, concerts seemed to compete with each other for audiences and those who plan on hosting events in July might find themselves competing with delayed graduation events.
And there are outdoor concerts taking place, Sinkevics noted. Just recently, Local Spins featured a concert at Grand Rapids’ The Score and provides a weekly list of live and virtual concerts taking place around West Michigan. But as the name of that list, “The Not-So-Big List,” indicates, the 2020 summer concert selection is just going to be smaller this year than in the past.
The phrase “activities of daily living” is often thrown around within discussions about senior living options and different care services. But what exactly are ADLs, and how do they differ from IADLs—another common term used in senior care?
Wonder no more! This blog will talk about the differences between ADLs and IADLs and what activities are included under each term, along with an explanation of how these different care services become benefits for independence within assisted living communities.
What’s the difference?
Both ADLs and IADLs refer to key life tasks that need to be accomplished daily. ADLs, or activities of daily living, are more basic tasks that are essential to independent living. IADLs, or instrumental activities of daily living, are more complex tasks that are still a necessary part of everyday life.
A good way to remember the difference between the two is to think of ADLs as tasks we learned as children—like eating and walking—and IADLs as things we learned as teenagers—like money management, driving, and housekeeping.
Activities of daily living
Care services for ADLs can range from simple assistance, such as check-ins and monitoring services, to full dependency on a nurse or caregiver to complete tasks. These care services are broken down into six specific categories:
1. Ambulating
This care service mostly involves helping with walking—both inside and outside. However, it can also include pushing a wheelchair, following alongside someone with a walker, or holding a senior’s arm while they walk.
2. Eating
The physical act of eating, including getting food into a person’s mouth and their ability to chew and swallow is another ADL that some seniors need assistance with.
3. Grooming
Grooming includes picking out clothes and getting dressed, brushing hair, cutting nails, brushing teeth, and taking care of personal appearance and hygiene.
4. Toileting
This care service includes all aspects of using the bathroom including getting to the toilet, using it, and properly cleaning oneself.
5. Bathing
Washing the face, taking a shower or bath, cleaning all parts of the body, and getting in and out of the tub are examples of ADLs that fall under the category of bathing.
6. Transferring
“Transferring” means moving the body from one position to another. For example, helping a senior with transferring can include getting them out of bed, sitting them up, moving them into a wheelchair, or helping to get them standing up.
Instrumental activities of daily living
IADLs have a much more broad range of care service categories than ADLs. Rather than having exactly six different groups of activities, there isn’t a consistent number of IADLs. However, there are some common examples that all involve complex thinking and organizational skills that can be lost as people grow older.
Money management
Managing one’s money includes things like paying bills, balancing checkbooks, going to the bank, depositing checks, and monitoring the flow of cash in and out of an account.
Transportation
Transportation needs include being able to drive oneself to different places, or arranging rides and organizing transport when you cannot drive alone.
Housekeeping & maintenance
These tasks include keeping up with house cleaning, doing laundry, fixing minor maintenance needs like broken toilets or leaky faucets, and keeping things decluttered and tidy.
Knowing how to use the phone or computer to check messages, emails, and voicemails are all things that fall under a general category of “communication”, along with opening and replying to mail and remembering dates when visitors were coming to visit.
Medication management
Knowing what medications to take and when, along with knowing when a prescription is running low, when it needs to be refilled, and how to refill it is all part of medication management.
Cooking & meal preparation
This can include planning out meals for the week, grocery shopping, storing groceries and checking expiration dates, and all the aspects of cooking a meal. It can also include picking the right food to meet dietary needs.
Daily care in assisted living
Seniors begin to lose independence when they are no longer able to complete ADLs and IADLs on their own. In order to help community members maintain independence for as long as possible, assisted living doesn’t require all of these tasks to be taken care of at all times, like you would expect in a nursing home.
Assisted living communities will only give seniors assistance on ADLs and IADLs that residents need help with. Beyond these needed care services, community members are able to take care of their own daily tasks however they best see fit.
Because assisted living has the care services to provide for all of these needs as they arise, it’s easy for seniors to be able to age in place in assisted living communities knowing they will get the services they need, when they need them.
Summer looks a little different this year and so does Kent District Library’s summer reading program, but it still contains all the learning, fun and prizes you love… with some bonus excitement! KDL is pleased to introduce Summer Wonder, an at-home, self-guided program for all ages that runs through Saturday, Aug. 8.
For the first time ever, KDL cardholders will receive a Summer Wonder workbook and a Kaleidoscope, KDL’s showcase quarterly magazine, delivered to them in the mail. The workbook features ten at-home projects for kids while the Kaleidoscope includes information, ideas and excitement for all ages. Kids will be introduced to Curi, the robot guide for Summer Wonder.
Summer Wonder is a STEAM-powered program that focuses on science, technology, engineering, art and math.
Since KDL branches are closed for now, Summer Wonder can be completed from your home. You can sign up at kdl.org/summer and use KDL’s new smart phone app, Beanstack. This app enables people to record their progress and register for prizes right from their phone, tablet or computer.
“The new reality of doing more at-home learning has created challenges in keeping our brains active while maintaining safe social connections,” said Kris Vogelar, Youth Specialist at the Grandville Branch. “KDL wants to meet you where you’re at with a specially designed summer program for all ages.”
Those who register for Summer Wonder can qualify for prizes by completing the 30-day challenge. In 2019, over 19,000 people completed KDL’s summer reading program.
Summer Wonder is a great opportunity to limit the “summer slide” that negatively affects learning between the end and start of the traditional school year. Extensive research shows that children involved in summertime reading programs sponsored by public libraries are more likely to maintain their academic skills, and in many cases do better on standardized tests.
The website, kdl.org/summer, is your one-stop-shop for all things related to Summer Wonder. You can download the workbook and access online programs and activities. The program line-up includes appearances by 1,2,3 Andrés, Magician Tom Plunkard, Outdoor Discovery Center and many more.
KDL would like to thank the many sponsors of Summer Wonder, including the Friends of the Cascade Library and the Friends of the East Grand Rapids Library, who gave the lead gifts.
Education leaders local and statewide are warning of what Superintendent Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Kevin Polston calls “unprecedented budget deficits” at Michigan public schools resulting from decreased tax revenues due to the COVID-19 economic crisis.
While the looming school funding concerns are just beginning to hit the news, the community may have some questions, need a little background and history.
Why will lower tax revenue impact public school funding? How does the state fund public schools? What is the recent history of changes in tax-payer funding of schools? How do public schools spend their state funding?
The Kent ISD recently produced informational videos that tries to explain the state’s taxpayer funded public school finances — including one specific to current school funding concerns. (See additional information videos descriptions and links below.)
Superintendent Polston, in a recent Godfrey-Lee schools community-wide email, makes clear the current — and urgent need — for community understanding and action on the current threat to public school funding. He also urges increased state and federal support for public schools.
“Without federal intervention, the budget shortfall for the remainder of 2019-2020 through 2021 school year would total $6.2 billion for all Michigan public schools. Godfrey-Lee alone could see a deficit of over $1.2 million ($700 per student) for just the 19-20 school year that is about to end,” Polston said. “Further cuts are projected for the 2020-21 school year that begins on July 1, 2020.
“Put in context, this is roughly twice as large a deficit as Michigan public schools faced in the Great Recession, yet federal aid to date has been less than 20 percent than was given at that time. In fact, of the $2 trillion of aid granted by the (federal COVID-19 recovery) CARES Act, less than 1 percent went to fund public education.”
Polston points out that school districts are required by state law to present a balanced budget by June 30, 2020 for the upcoming school year, even though the state has not provided an answer about the shortfall for 2019-20 or given a projected budget for 2020-21.
“This is unacceptable,” he said. “To meet our legal requirement, we have to use the budget forecasts that have been provided (to Godfrey-Lee schools). These forecasts call for $2,750,000 in cuts for our upcoming school year. Cuts of this magnitude would devastate GLPS and would challenge the district’s future solvency.”
To aid Kent County schools districts explain the current funding system, and the need for community support and action, the Kent ISD produced a series of short videos.
An ISD is a regional education service agency. The job of Kent County’s ISD, one of the state’s 57 agencies, is to “help local school districts with programs and services that are best done on a regional basis — things that are highly specialized or that would be far too expensive on an individual basis,” according to the Kent ISD.
The videos:
History of Michigan Public School Finances, which details how school financing in Michigan is guided by Proposal A which was approved by Michigan voters in 1994 which shifted ‘day to day’ school finance to a state-based model.
What Public School Finances Fund, which details how public schools in Michigan spend a majority of their resources on personnel and describes how dollars are divided up to fund education in this state.
Taxes and Public School Education, which explains how everyone who works or lives in Michigan helps to support public schools by paying taxes, and where tax dollars for public education come from and how they are spent.
COVID-19’s Impact on Michigan School Funding, which details how school finance will be greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the economic impact will negatively affect Michigan’s public schools.
Editor’s note: This article was a joint collaboration between North Dakota State University and Michigan State University Extension.
Everyone knows that bees love to visit flowers, but not everything that you see visiting flowers or buzzing around the garden is a bee. In fact, many insects imitate bees in order to avoid unwanted attention. Whether you call them “bee-mimics,” “wanna-bees” or “yellow-stripey-things,” most are beneficial helpers in our yards and gardens. This brief guide will help you tell some of these insects apart.
Flies
Figure 2. Hairy honey bee (Apis mellifera) on sedum. Photo by Veronica Calles-Torrez, NDSU
Some flies, especially hover flies and bee flies, can be mistaken for bees because their body form, color and hair patterns, buzzing sounds and behaviors mimic bees. Flies have a set of front wings (forewings), but the hind wings are small, knob-like balancing organs called halteres, so flies appear to have only two wings (Figure 1, red circles). Bees have well-developed forewings and hind wings.
Figure 3. Hover fly. Photo by Veronica Calles-Torrez, NDSU
Flies have large compound eyes that occupy most of the head, while bees have narrow compound eyes on the sides of the head. Most flies that resemble bees have short, three-segmented antennae, while bees have longer, cylindrical antennae of 12 (female) or 13 (male) segments.
Some flies, especially bee flies, can be hairy like honey bees (Figure 2), bumble bees and digger bees, and can hover and move quickly from flower to flower while foraging, just like bees. Flies do not sting people.
Hover flies(Family: Syrphidae)
Figure 4. Bee fly. Photo by David Cappaert, Bugwood.org
Several hover fly species (Figures 1 and 3) resemble bees in coloration, behavior and size. Most hover flies are 5 to 15 millimeters long and have large heads with reddish or marbled black eyes, two clear wings and black and yellow color patterns on the abdomen and sometimes on the thorax. Some hover flies are quite hairy while others are not.
Hover flies buzz and hover like bees around flowers. They feed on pollen and nectar, often using the same flowers that bees do. Some hover fly larvae are aphid predators and provide biological pest control.
Bee flies (Family: Bombyliidae)
Figure 5. Paper wasp. Note the waist between the thorax and abdomen. Photo by Veronica Calles-Torrez, NDSU
Bee flies (Figure 4) are about 7 to 15 millimeters long and have stout bodies covered with yellow, black or brown hairs. Different species can have transparent or patterned wings. Bee flies have a long proboscis (tongue) and feed on pollen and nectar.
Wasps
Figure 6. Honey bee collecting pollen from aster flower. Note the pollen basket on its hind legs. Photo by Veronica Calles-Torrez, NDSU
Similar to bees, wasps have four developed wings, long segmented antennae and a distinctly visible narrow “waist” (Figure 5) due to a constriction between the thorax and abdomen. Bees also have a constricted waist, but it isn’t readily visible. Wasps are much less hairy than most bees (Figures 2 and 6). Wasps’ hairs are not branched, while bees’ are branched, but you will need a microscope to see this.
Most bees have special pollen-collecting hairs on their hind legs and collected pollen is easy to see (Figure 6). Leaf-cutting bees collect and carry pollen on hairs underneath their abdomens. Also, wasps have brighter colorations and patterns, and wider range of color and pattern variations than bees.
Yellowjackets, hornets and paper wasps (Family: Vespidae)
Figure 7. Eastern yellowjacket. Photo by Jon Yuschock, Bugwood.org
These insects are strikingly patterned with black and yellow. They hold their wings folded lengthwise over their bodies like a jet. Yellowjackets (Figure 7) are approximately 12 to 25 millimeters long. Their face is mostly yellow, except for black eyes and black antennae. Yellowjackets have yellow and black bands on the abdomen and usually nest in the ground.
Paper wasps (Figure 5) are approximately 25 millimeters long with black, yellow and sometimes orange markings. Nests are constructed of paper, often underneath house eaves.
Figure 8. Bald-faced hornet. Photo by Johnny N. Dell, Bugwood.org
Bald-faced hornets (Figure 8) are black with white markings and are about 15 to 25 millimeters long. The tip of the abdomen often has white markings. Nests are constructed in trees and sometimes roof peaks. Bald-faced hornets are usually aggressive and sting when their nests are disturbed.
Cicada killers (Family: Crabronidae) (Figure 9) are large wasps 20 to 50 millimeters long. They have a yellow face brick-red eyes and a black abdomen with yellow bands. Wings are lightly infused with brown and the legs are red. As its name implies, Cicada killer wasps prey on cicadas. They do not have nest guarding instincts like wasps and honey bees. These impressive looking wasps are not aggressive, but females do have stingers and can sting when they feel threatened.
Figure 9. Cicada killer wasp. Photo by Johnny N. Dell, Bugwood.org
The City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department has announced round two of its Rec at Home Kids which will be handed out Thursday, June 11 from 12:30 -1:30 p.m. at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW.
The kits will consist of fun activities for your children to do at home. In order to receive this kit, each child must be registered on the Wyoming Parks and Recreation website. Click here to register.
There are about 300 kits available and they are expected to go quickly so register soon.
COVID-19 has exposed large health inequities both nationally and locally, resulting in devastating, even life-and-death consequences. In Michigan, where African Americans make up just 14% of the population, over 40% of the deaths from COVID-19 were African American.
“There are several reasons why racial minority populations are experiencing higher COVID-19 infectionrates,” said Dr. Rhae-Ann Booker, Vice President of DEI, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health.“These include underlying health conditions, occupational environment and living situations.”
When it comes to seeking treatment, minority populations are often at a disadvantage with inadequate health insurance, a lack of transportation and language barriers.
Metro Health is working to combat these barriers by bringing free COVID-19 testing and resources into some of the most vulnerable communities in the Greater Grand Rapids area. Beginning the week of June 8, Metro Health mobile units will be rotating to two different sites each week for free walk-up testing and consultations.
Hispanic Center of West Michigan – Beginning the week of June 8
1204 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Tuesdays and Fridays from 8-11am
United Methodist Community House – Beginning the week of June 15
904 Sheldon Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507 Tuesdays from 1-4pm
Those desiring testing do not need to be current patients of Metro Health. They do not need health insurance or identification for the free test. They will simply be asked for their name and contact information so results can be appropriately delivered. In addition to COVID-19 testing, Metro Health will have providers available to answer questions and distribute important resources in both English and Spanish.
“During a crisis like we are facing with coronavirus, it becomes convenient to abandon commitments to principals of diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Dr. Booker. “We will not allow this to happen.”
In addition to our mobile testing, Metro Health also offers free COVID-19 drive up testing at the Metro Health Community Clinic located at 781 36th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. This site sees anestimated 6,500 patients a year that are medically underserved and may not be comfortable seeking care in other locations.
Even in the best of times, healthcare does not look the same for all people. It is not equitable. A pandemic shines a bright light on those inequities. Metro Health is taking an even greater responsibility and accountability so that no group of people is left behind.
Runners are among the high-intensity athletes who should be especially cognizant of their exposure to heat on summer days. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Early one summer, incoming Kent State University freshman Tyler Heintz, 19, fell severely ill during an early-morning football practice.
His breathing grew labored and he began to slip in and out of consciousness. An ambulance rushed him to a hospital, but he later died.
The cause: exertional heat stroke.
This dangerous condition can strike an athlete of any stature, even those who have reached the pinnacle of their sport. In August 2001, 6-foot-4, 335-pound offensive tackle Korey Stringer, of the Minnesota Vikings, died shortly after collapsing during drills on a hot, humid day.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies groups most at risk of heat stroke, including the very young, the very old, the chronically ill, people who work outdoors and people in low-income households.
It is not uncommon for an athlete to sweat 1 to 2 liters per hour on a hot day. A large football player can lose up to 15 pounds of water in a single practice session.
The problem is most athletes drink far less than they sweat, simply because they underestimate the extent of their sweat loss.
Limitations
With summer underway, athletes young and old are more often found
outdoors. It’s an essential time to impress the importance of proper
hydration and rest.
Summer training camps for runners, soccer players and football players are proving grounds for excellence, but they can be ground zero for heat stroke trouble.
When athletes—especially runners and football players—participate in vigorous exercise in the warm months, dehydration can turn fatal.
Almost all heat-related deaths occur from May to September, according to the CDC, which also identifies exertional heatstroke as a leading cause of preventable, non-traumatic exertional sudden death for young athletes in the U.S.
Two-a-days, those notoriously difficult practices common to football, can often lead to trouble. Last year, the NCAA Division I Council banned two-a-days in preseason practices.
A 2016 study in the Journal of Athletic Training found that exertional heat exhaustion occurs at an increased rate in the first 14 days of practice, and especially in the first seven days.
About a decade ago, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association issued guidelines for preseason heat acclimatization. The guidelines establish a 14-day plan that helps athletes acclimatize to the heat. It zeroes in on the first three to five days of summer practice as the most important for progressive acclimatization.
On Day 1, for example, athletes shouldn’t participate in more than one practice and they should wear limited gear, as well as limiting the level of exertion and physical contact. For full-contact sports, “100 percent live contact drills should begin no earlier than Day 6.”
Coaches and training staff must carefully consider their approaches to summer practices, scrutinizing duration, intensity, time and place.
On especially hot days, for instance, the practice may need to be limited in length or simply rescheduled to a cooler part of the day.
Keeping watch
Athletes and parents need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of dehydration and heat stroke.
Keep in mind that thirst is not always the best indicator of dehydration. By the time a person senses thirst, the body may have already lost more than 1 percent of its total water. Athletes, coaches and parents should emphasize the importance of proper hydration before, during and after sporting activities—and then keep watch for any signs of trouble.
Not urinating, or very dark yellow or amber-colored urine
Dry, shriveled skin
Irritability or confusion
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Rapid heartbeat
Rapid breathing
Sunken eyes
Listlessness
Shock (not enough blood flow through the body)
Unconsciousness or delirium
When dehydration goes untreated, the body can no longer maintain
homeostasis, which leads to heat stroke. This can cause impaired
cardiovascular function and neurological failure.
An athlete experiencing heat stroke may become agitated, confused or unable to maintain balance.
Brian Long is a local business forecaster. Credit: GVSU
Although local economic statistics for May are negative, it now appears the worst of the COVID-19 driven recession is over and the recovery has begun, 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 May.
The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) edged up to -32 from -45. In a similar move, the production index recovered to -35 from -48. The index of purchases reduced its loss to -32 from -44, and the employment index edged up to -38 from -41.
“Many of our survey participants are still working from home or working on a reduced office-sharing schedule,” said Long. “Many of our supply chains have been shaken, and restarting production will not be easy. As businesses around West Michigan continue to reopen, we can expect next month’s statistics to continue to slowly improve.”
Long said many analysts are thanking internet sales for saving the auto industry from total ruin; he said although May sales are significantly lower than in May 2019, the drop was not nearly as steep as some had expected.
Unemployment stats statewide are among the worst ever recorded, said Long. Of the 83 counties in Michigan, the estimated unemployment rate ranged from 14.5 percent to 41.2 percent. Ottawa County, which often boasts the lowest rate in the state, came in at 21.2 percent. Kent County was close behind at 21.6 percent.
Long said barring a relapse in the fall, history will record either March or April as the bottom of the 2020 Recession.
“We can expect some additional improvement in next month’s report,” he said. “We do not consider a recession to be over until we return to full employment, which took about seven years for the complete recovery from the Great Recession.”
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.”
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park set to open on Monday. (Supplied)
Places are starting to reopen with Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture announcing it will open Monday and the Kent County Parks announcing it will have a stagger opening. Opening immediately are swimming beaches at Long Lake Park, Millennium Park, Myers Lake Park and Wabasis Park; all playgrounds; the Kaufman Golf Course; all restrooms, open shelters and group picnic areas. KDL announced it will start curbside June 15. For more upcoming openings, click here.
Time to purge, Kentwood
Kentwood residents, Saturday is your official Community Clean-Up Day!. That means all the stuff you have been collecting over the past 10 weeks in quarantine you can finally get rid of. Community Clean-Up Day takes place from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE. Also opening this Saturday is the city’s brush and leaves drop-off sites. For more information, click here.
Our beautiful Downtown GR
Hundreds of people came out last Sunday to help downtown Grand Rapids businesses clean up after a night of riots. This past week, artists and community leaders turned the boarded up windows into works of art and positive message such as the “be nice.” displayed at One Trick Pony. Take a drive through downtown this weekend to see this mini-outside gallery and remember, many of the places are now open so step on in and share the love. For more, click here.
Everybody Loves a Parade!
Let’s admit it: we all love those big trucks. On May 22, the Kentwood Department of Public had a parade of its trucks to show community support. So click on the link above and enjoy the ride!
The City of Kentwood and its Public Works Department has an annual tradition during National Public Works Week of inviting the pubic into its buildings to see all the impressive equipment and big trucks that serve the community.
But, in this time of social distancing, and in lieu of a traditional open house for National Public Works Week, city vehicles and crews gave the community a parade of big trucks — and smiles — in late May.
WKTV was there to record it.
The Kentwood community appreciated the big truck parade, and said so. (Supplied/Kentwood DPW)
It will take a while for West Michigan recreation and entertainment venues to begin their reopening process, and even longer for them to get back to normal, but local attractions such as Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and the Kent County park system — as well as tourist destinations including Mackinac Island Parks — this week announced reopening plans.
WKTV brings you a wrap of what’s opening, what will open soon, and what is still up in the early summer air.
Meijer Gardens
Meijer Gardens will reopen Monday, June 8, at 9 a.m., with new and enhanced safety procedures. There will be extensive signage and way-finding icons to help people social distance, according to an announcement made this week.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is set to reopen on Monday. (Supplied)
“Meijer Gardens first closed our doors to the public on Friday, March 13, due to the global pandemic. It has been an extremely long and painful three months without seeing our facility full of members and guests,” David Hooker, president & CEO of Meijer Gardens said in supplied material. “We are looking forward to welcoming back guests beginning on Monday and can’t wait for people to once again experience our masterpieces of art and nature.”
The planned, but delayed, exhibition “George Segal: Body Language” will open in approximately one week, according to Meijer Gardens. But due to current social distancing and safety guidelines, certain areas within the main building and outside grounds will remain closed for the time being.
“However, the most important part of complying with the rules and guidelines established by Federal and State authorities will be the voluntary compliance of our guests. We sincerely request all our guests comply for the safety and benefit of all,” according to the statement.
For the most current Meijer Gardens information regarding enhanced safety procedures and a map showing areas that are temporarily closed, visit MeijerGardens.org/COVID.
Kent County Parks
Kent County will have a staggered reopening schedule for its beaches, campground, open shelters, picnic areas, public restrooms and splash pad facilities. (Supplied)
The Kent County Parks has started a staggered reopening schedule for its beaches, campground, open shelters, picnic areas, public restrooms, and splash pad facilities, the county announced this week.
“We are excited to welcome visitors back to Kent County Parks and for them to experience the physical and mental health benefits of being outdoors,” Dan DeLooff, county parks superintendent, said in supplied material. “However, it is critical that visitors follow our new rules that prevent overcrowding and support social distancing to ensure our parks are safe for everyone.”
Opening immediately are swimming beaches at Long Lake Park, Millennium Park, Myers Lake Park and Wabasis Park; all playgrounds; the Kaufman Golf Course; all restrooms, open shelters and group picnic areas. The Millennium Park Splash pad will open on June 8 and the Wabasis Lake Campground will open on June 12.
Enclosed shelters and recreational fields remain closed until further notice from the Governor’s Office. For up-to-date information visit kentcountyparks.org.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum has not announced an opening date yet. (WKTV)
Other Kent County, regional Attractions
Kent District Library
KDL is taking this phased approach to reopening, introducing those services that can be immediately provided while staff make adjustments within the facilities to ensure safety and compliance. All Kent District Library locations will have exterior book drops will open on June 8. Curbside service for picking up items will start June 15 with branches opening with limited service July 6. For details about KDL, visit kdl.org.
Zoos
The John Ball Zoo was scheduled to re-open in May but has postponed those plans with no specific date given on when the zoo might re-open. However, the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek. For details on Binder Park Zoo, visit binderparkzoo.org.
Museums
None of the local museums, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, or the Grand Rapids Public Museum, have announced opening dates yet. The announcements are expected soon.
Trails
While the facilities at Blandford Nature Center are closed, the trails are open. Actually many of the area parks have open trails.
Gilmore Car Museum
The Gilmore Car Museum, located at Hickory Corners, re-opens to the public on Friday June 12, but guests will “notice several new procedures, all mandated by the State of Michigan, and geared toward the Museum’s top priority of assuring the health and safety of their employees, volunteers and visitors,” according to a June 4 statement.
For details and more information visit GilmoreCarMuseum.organd the museum’s social media.
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse will open June 13. (Supplied)
State Openings
The state is also starting to open some of its parks. This week Mackinac State historic Parks announced it would be welcoming guests to historic sites and facilities starting June 12.
The first sties to be open in Mackinaw City will be Colonial Michilimackinac, the Colonial Michilimackinac Vistor’s Center, and the Michilimackinc State Park restrooms. Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse will open June 13 and the Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park and the David A. Armour Vistor’s Center will open June 15.
On June 19, the Mackinac State historic Parks will open its buildings and facilities on Mackinac Island. This includes: Fort Mackinac, The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac ArtMuseu, Historic downtown Mackinac (Benjamin Blacksmith Shop and the American Fur Company Store and Dr. Beaumont Museum, the Mackinac Island State Park Vistor’s Center and restrooms, Mission Church, Bark Chapel, Fort holmes Blockhouse, British Landing Nature Center and restrooms, Arch Rock restrooms, and the Station 256 Conference Room. The Biddle House feating the Native American Museum, will be open later due to construction delays during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re excited to get our historic sites open for the 2020 season and offer the world-class living history programs and activities for our guests,” said Phil Porter, Mackinac State Historic Parks Director. “We have developed, using our Visitor First philosophy, a set of guidelines that will safely welcome guests to our sites while allowing for a fun and educational time.”
For details on the openings and other schedules, visit mackinacparks.com.
WKTV Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma contributed to this story.
The City of Wyoming has issued guidance that temporarily allows local restaurants to expand outdoor seating arrangements. Today, Mayor Jack A. Poll signed an emergency order that increases outdoor restaurant seating during the coronavirus pandemic. The order is designed to support local restaurants that are reopening with reduced indoor capacity.
To take advantage of the new guidelines, business owners will need to apply and be approved for the expanded seating area. Before submitting their application, applicants are encouraged to contact staff to discuss their plan and any questions they may have. The planning staff can be reached at plan_info@wyomingmi.gov or 616-530-7258, Monday thru Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once an application with relevant plans and information is submitted to the planning office, they will be promptly reviewed for approval. The full emergency order with application instructions can be found online at wyomingmi.gov/coronavirus.
“Wyoming is home to a variety of excellent restaurants that feature cuisines from around the world,” Poll said. “I’m excited to give restaurant owners an opportunity to jumpstart their businesses as we rebound from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. With the support of the community I know they’ll be successful. I welcome everyone in West Michigan to join us for a meal in Wyoming.”
Wyoming City Hall building will reopen to the public on Monday, June 8 with visitor requirements such as answering COVID-19 screening questions, wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19. In-person visitors will be able to access City Hall through the 28th Street, front entrance. Community members are encouraged to continue using online and drive-up window services to limit contact points. City Hall’s hours remain Monday thru Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Glenwood Elementary second-grade teacher Lauren Heald leads her class earlier this school year using the Capturing Kids Hearts model (School News Network)
Godfrey-Lee: Gaming club doubles membership its first season
The Godfrey-Lee’s first esports club grew from 18 students last fall to 40 middle and high schoolers competing in games such as Super Smash Bros., Ultimate, Fortnite, Overwatch and Mario Kart. In-person gaming clubs are growing in local districts and beyond. Other area esports teams include Catholic Central, East Grand Rapids, Lowell, Rockford, Sparta, Kentwood, West Catholic and West Michigan Aviation Academy. Aquinas College hosts sports competitions and West Michigan University has built an arena to accommodate esports. For more, click here.
Kentwood teachers are using KPS Remote Learning and Tech Talk as a go-to spot for tech tool instruction (School News Network)
Kentwood: Teachers tap into one another’s knowledge for remote teaching
Kentwood Public Schools educators have been sharing their knowledge and the tools they use in their classrooms with other teachers as the district quickly switched to remote learning due to the state-mandated closure of schools to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Just how did they accomplish this? Click here to learn more.
Director of Dining Services Monica Collier, far right, holds her statewide award for Breakfast Hero given to her by Mindy Grant, Michigan Breakfast Program grant manager, second from right. Lee Middle and High School student council members surround the breakfast cart Collier implemented (School News Network)
Godfrey-Lee: I’ll take that to go, please, for geometry class
With most of the students at Godfrey-Lee receiving free or reduce meals, you would think breakfast would be popular, but turnout was quite low for the morning meal. That is until Godfrey-Lee Dining Services Director Monica Collier created the breakfast cart program last fall, earning a state award for her idea in early March before the mandatory school closure due to COVID-19. To learn more about the breakfast cart program click here.
As area theater companies began to cancel productions due to gathering restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, Theatricks owners David Johnson and Kateri Kline-Johnson went from making costumes to making masks.
“It was an easy switch,” said David Johnson during an interview at his costume shop Theatricks, 2136 Plainfield Ave. SE. “As theaters closed, we just went from making costumes to making masks. We didn’t think much of it. We figured we would probably make about 100 to 200 masks.”
About ten weeks and more than 2,000 masks later, Johnson said the shop has been able to make enough masks to stay open during the pandemic, keep the three employees — himself, his wife, and another employee — employed, plus cover all the building’s utility costs as well as the supply cost for the masks. Johnson owns the building that his business is located in.
Some of the masks available at Theatricks. (WKTV)
“We have not had to take out any government loans or layoff any employees,” Johnson said.
The group decided to offer up a basic mask, made of two pieces of 100 percent cotton with non-adjustable elastic straps. This mask comes in small, for children 2-11, and adult regular and large. They also make a mask with a pocket to place a filter and adjustable elastic straps.
As surgical and N95 masks became harder to find along with the Michigan guidelines that residents should wear a mask while in public places, cloth masks became the answer. According to the Mayo Clinic, cloth masks can help reduce the spread of the coronavirus by people who have COVID-19 but don’t realize it.
“One of the hardest things we ran into was getting the supplies needed to make the masks,” Johnson said. With only word-of-mouth and social media as advertising for the store’s masks, Theatriks was inundated with requests.
This coupled with the fact that many had taken up making homemade masks, made getting the needed elastic for the masks tough. So the Johnsons innovated and started making masks with a tie made from corset lacing.
Theatricks owner David Johnson with some the masks that are available at the Plainfield Avenue store. (WKTV)
Johnson said they listened to customers about specific needs such as how the elastic on a mask could start to hurt the ears after long periods of use. So they designed a mask with the elastic going over the head instead of around the ears.
Then a customer came in with the suggestion of making a headband with buttons on either side for the mask’s elastic band, which the store started making as well.
While costs for materials have gone up, Johsnon said the couple made the decision early on to keep the price for the masks low, which start at $3 for a basic mask and goes up for the speciality masks.
“We honestly, really did not think that it would take off as much as it did,” Johnson said, adding that they have had individuals come in to buy a few masks to churches and organizations ordering more than 100.
Having been in business for 39 years, Theatricks is known for building and providing costumes to community, college, and high school theater productions. The store staff also makes period pieces for those who participate in Civil War reenactments and Renaissance festivals.
“We actually have had a few people coming in to have costumes made for the Renaissance fairs for when they start back up again,” Johnson said, adding he usually has a booth at the fairs for costumes and other related items. Johnson said he is hoping that the Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly, Mich., will still take place in late August.
Also over the past few weeks, local theater companies have been reaching out as well as they look ahead to their upcoming productions and the possibility of being able to open in the fall, Johnson said.
Still it is quiet in the store with Johnson spending a portion of his time cutting elastic in the north corner of the shop that is filled with costumes, masks, wigs, make up and jewelry. The actually sewing area is a clean room with only those making the masks allowed in.
“It’s all done by hand,” he said with a laugh as he measured out the elastic strips. We chat for a few minutes and then I gather up my prize — five brand new masks.
CWD Real Estate Investment has partnered with Lions and Rabbits to bring vibrant murals to the boarded storefronts in Downtown Grand Rapids. The art will spotlight local artists while commemorating the comradery that took place during the clean-up effort this past Sunday.
After the events that unfolded late Saturday night, Downtown Grand Rapids was left with significant damage to prominent storefronts throughout the city. However, on Sunday morning, the community came together to help clean up the aftermath. By mid-afternoon, streets and sidewalks were swept of debris and storefronts were boarded up.
While the boards act as an effective temporary measure to protect the already damaged storefronts, they detract from much of the lively energy Grand Rapids has come to inhabit. To help restore some of this energy, CWD has partnered with Lions and Rabbits to bring back the artistic spirit our city embodies. Murals will be installed throughout the Downtown area’s damaged storefronts in an effort to inspire, invigorate, and remind the community of the city’s strength and unity.
“What happened here Saturday night was not unique to Grand Rapids. What happened next certainly was. On Sunday morning—literally before the sun was up, our community came out to repair the damage sustained,” said Sam Cummings, managing partner at CWD Real Estate. “The generosity and selfless beauty of what happened everywhere around our downtown inspired us again and again throughout the day. It is such a testament to what an amazing place West Michigan is.”
CWD is working to get windows cut and installed as quickly as possible, but until then, the firm wants people to feel comfortable being Downtown. With businesses beginning to re-open as a result of the Stay-At-Home orders being lifted, CWD wants to encourage people to continue supporting local businesses in and around Downtown Grand Rapids in their time of need.
As a result, the collaborative project will highlight some local artists while supporting the small businesses that were damaged, but above all, it will commemorate the tremendous display of community observed on Sunday.
Murals will celebrate the community effort to help clean-up downtown. (Supplied)
“We wanted to memorialize and perpetuate that spirit of community by turning to local artists who will use their talents to express that beauty on the temporary enclosures while we wait to return to normal downtown,” said Cummings. “We are grateful for their involvement!”
Murals will begin appearing throughout Downtown Grand Rapids starting Friday, June 5. The full list of CWD properties that will see mural installations include: 37 Ottawa, 40 Pearl, 50 Louis, 80 Ottawa, 111 Lyon, 125 Ottawa, 169 Monroe, 180 Ottawa, 201 Michigan and 250 Monroe.
Cases of deadly melanomas on the head and neck rose more than 51% over two decades among young people in the United States and Canada, a new study reports.
Researchers found that the incidence of head and neck melanoma rose nearly 4% a year from 1995 to 2001 and 1.2% a year from 2001 to 2014 in children and young adults.
Using data from a North American cancer registry, the investigators looked at patients from infancy to age 39 who were diagnosed with head and neck melanoma between 1995 and 2014.
During that time, nearly 12,500 people were diagnosed with the cancer.
Of those, 55% were boys and men, and 91% lived in the United States, the study found.
“This is an important finding because melanoma in other parts of the body are usually more common in females than males,” said study co-author Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters. He is an assistant professor in the department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at St. Louis University School of Medicine.
“It is therefore important that melanoma prevention campaigns do not only focus on young women,” he explained.
The researchers zeroed in on melanoma of the head and neck because, although it accounts for only one in five melanoma cases, its survival rates are worse than for other melanomas.
“In fact, the five-year survival rate of head and neck melanoma is worse than the 10-year survival rates of other regions of the body,” Osazuwa-Peters explained in a university news release.
Also, while melanoma patients are diagnosed at an average age of 63, this type of cancer from sun exposure and indoor tanning is most common among teens and young adults.
Osazuwa-Peters said that the public can help spot melanoma early.
“For example, barbers and stylists might be the first to spot irregular skin on the scalp before the doctors do. It is therefore important to increase awareness about this cancer,” he said.
The report was published online recently in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery.
Alan D. Steinman, Ph.D., left, gives a tour of GVSU’s Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute to members of the EPA and local politicians on Wednesday, June 3 in Muskegon, Mich. where he is the director. Steinman was appointed to the EPA’s Great Lakes Advisory Board. (Supplied)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the re-establishment of the Great Lakes Advisory Board (GLAB) at a news conference at Grand Valley’s Annis Water Resources Institute on June 3.
The GLAB serves to provide advice and recommendations on matters related to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and the implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the United States and Canada.
The GLAB was discontinued in 2018. Alan Steinman, director of the Annis Water Resources Institute, said the re-establishment of the board shows a commitment to the health of the Great Lakes by the EPA.
“When the board lapsed in 2018, there was concern about why we were losing the Great Lakes Advisory Board, does that mean that there’s a change in thought and process within the EPA. So coming back and re-forming it suggests, to me at least, that the commitment is there in the White House, it’s there in Region 5 of the EPA, and I think that’s an important message,” Steinman said.
Steinman was one of 14 experts tapped to serve on the re-established board. He previously served on a subcommittee of the board, and said he is keenly aware of the importance of the GLAB and the vital roles and responsibilities that it has in informing the EPA and Congress.
Wheeler said during the announcement that as a native Ohioan, the Great Lakes have always been important to him personally, as well as being important to the entire country.
“The advice received from the board in past years has been a critical part of the work EPA has done, and continues to do, to restore and protect the Great Lakes,” Wheeler said. “Our work cleaning up the Great Lakes is far from over, and GLAB’s future efforts will ensure needed expertise is available for environmental agencies to use both here in the U.S. and in Canada.”
The EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler speaks during a press conference at GVSU’s Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute on Wednesday, June 3 in Muskegon, Mich. Alan Steinman, director of AWRI, was appointed to the EPA’s Great Lakes Advisory Board. (Supplied)
U.S. Representatives Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) and Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) also spoke about the importance of the Great Lakes.
“These are big and powerful bodies of water, and they’re big and powerful not just ecologically, … but also economically,” Huizenga said. “With the GLRI and the partnership that has been going on with the state and locals and nonprofits and the federal government, we’ve proven that you can both support the ecology as well as the economy that’s attached to the Great Lakes.”
Huizenga said the lakes are too valuable to be wasted, so they need to be used properly, and protected properly as well.
Upton said having a formal advisory committee of experts from the Midwest who could alert the EPA and congressional delegations about potential problems is “really important.”
Steinman said that it has been great to be in Muskegon and see changes made by environmental restoration over time.
“When we talk about improving the ecological health of these communities, we’re also talking about improving the economic vitality of these communities as well, and the community spirit,” Steinman said.
Steinman said he has four main goals for his work on the board, including ensuring restoration efforts are based on sound science, soliciting meaningful community input, focusing on preservation instead of just restoration and taking a holistic and sustainable approach to restoration projects.
The members of the board will include:
Stephen Galarneau, director of the Office of Great Waters – Great Lakes & Mississippi River, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Co-Chair)
