David and Dwell Moore, City of Kentwood volunteers. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
There are a multitude of reasons City of Kentwood residents volunteer to serve on its various boards, committees and commissions — from wanting to give back to their community to enjoying interacting with other citizens with common interests, just to name two.
And while the city appreciates its volunteers year-around, it toasted them with a special volunteer reception Nov. 21 at the Kent District Library’s Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch community room as city leaders mixed with volunteers “that make the City of Kentwood special” at a night of celebration, hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.
Two examples of fairly-new residents of Kentwood serving the city are husband and wife David and Dwell Moore.
“I joined the parks and rec committee a little over a year ago, just to be part of the community,” David said to WKTV at the event. “We have seven kids and we thought it would be interesting to be part of the community and actually contribute to making the city a better place for recreation.”
Dwell, who is on the Historic Preservation Commission, said “I love history and, so, I enjoy learning more about Kentwood and the town I live in. We’ve been here three years and it has been really interesting to learn about this community we moved to.”
City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley, at the event, said he sees community involvement as essential to the city.
“For a city of function properly, it has to be a community effort,” Mayor Kepley said to WKTV. “It has to be a community that volunteers, that gets involved in all levels of government, all levels of service. … a successful city will have a strong volunteer group.”
Other examples of citizen involvement are Gerry Noorman, who volunteers at the city’s Heritage Room in the library, as well as Kevin Small, who has a long history on the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Kevin Small, center, was one of the City of Kentwood volunteer recently hosted at a reception. (WKTV)
“I got on it because my backyard is right on Jaycee Park,” Small said. “The city has some great parks, its got some fantastic programs. … It is just a good feeling (to serve), I guess.”
The City of Kentwood welcomes residents to participate in a variety of boards and committees as, according to its website, “community involvement is the key to keeping Kentwood a great community.”
Among the current openings are positions on Historic Preservation Commission, the Parks & Recreation Commission, and the Zoning Board of Appeals. For more information and to apply, visit kentwood.us.
Researchers say even a few extra minutes off the sofa each day can add years to your life span.
“If you have a job or lifestyle that involves a lot of sitting, you can lower your risk of early death by moving more often, for as long as you want and as your ability allows—whether that means taking an hour-long high-intensity spin class or choosing lower-intensity activities, like walking,” said study lead author Keith Diaz.
He’s assistant professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University in New York City.
The new study involved nearly 8,000 American adults, aged 45 and older. Each wore physical activity monitors for at least four days as part of research conducted between 2009 and 2013. The investigators then tracked deaths among the participants until 2017.
The results: People who replaced just 30 minutes of sitting per day with low-intensity physical activity lowered their risk of an early death by 17 percent, according to the recent study published online in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
More intense exercise reaped even bigger rewards, the researchers said.
For example, swapping a half-hour per day of sitting for moderate-to-vigorous exercise cut the risk of early death by 35 percent.
And even just a minute or two of added physical activity was beneficial, the findings showed.
“Physical activity of any intensity provides health benefits,” Diaz said in a university news release.
His team pointed to a recent study that found that one in every four U.S. adults sit for eight-plus hours per day.
Two experts in heart health believe that level of inactivity can be a killer.
“Exercise, at any risk level for cardiovascular disease, is shown to improve not only how long one lives, but also lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes,” said Dr. Satjit Bhusri, a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
And heart specialist Dr. Guy Mintz said there are many ways Americans can change their slothful ways. He directs cardiovascular health at Northwell Health’s Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y.
The American Heart Association currently recommends “moderate aerobic activity for 150 minutes per week or vigorous aerobic activity for 75 minutes per week,” Mintz said.
“Some American companies, like Google, are taking note of the importance of exercise and the deleterious consequences of a sedentary existence, including increases in obesity, diabetes and heart disease,” Mintz added. “Employees are encouraged to get up from their desks and exercise—whether that is in the form of stretching, ping pong, walking, jumping jacks, treadmill or stationary bicycle.”
He believes other companies could follow that example.
“Employers with tight work schedules should carve out mandatory time daily for their staff to exercise and make it fun,” Mintz said. “Both the employer and employee benefit. Companies also win with higher productivity, less sick days, lower health costs and improved morale.”
For his part, Diaz said future research will “look at the risk of specific cardiovascular outcomes, such as heart attack, heart failure and cardiovascular-related deaths, associated with physical activity versus sedentary behavior.”
As the weather starts to cool down, it’s time to start looking for ways to keep warm. While cozy blankets and cranking up the heat can help, so will having hot food. At the same time, it’s important to keep your health in mind and remember that as you age it’s not as easy as it once was to whip up complicated meals.
Having recipes in hand that are hot, healthy, and easy to prepare can make a big difference when it comes to planning out your meals and shopping trips. Take a look at these fifteen different dishes from Good Housekeeping and Delish that meet all these criteria—and taste amazing as well!
Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living
Satisfying chicken dishes
1. Light Chicken Parmesan⼁Cook Time: 25 minutes
This light take on a classic Italian dish can be prepared in under a half hour and will meet your cravings without packing on calories the same way a heavier, traditional Chicken Parmesan would.
Casseroles are a great way to make a delicious meal without having to spend a long time in front of the stove—just combine the ingredients and bake! This dish features healthy grains like wild rice and great vegetables like brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes.
4. Apple Cider Glazed Chicken⼁Cook Time: 35 minutes
What better way to celebrate fall than with a recipe featuring everyone’s favorite autumn drink, apple cider! This sweeter take on chicken will help you get into the fall spirit while ensuring you keep eating healthy at the same time.
Nothing else can warm you up and satisfy your taste buds the way good soup will! This pumpkin soup is simple, but the sage and mushroom garnish will make you feel like a professional chef.
This flavorful soup combines black beans, red onion, and jalapeño to make a deliciously spicy dish that will make you forget about the chilly weather, all while taking only a half hour to make.
Cauliflower is a great versatile food that can hold a lot of flavor. This simple soup only uses a few ingredients, but the outcome is so hearty and healthy that you wouldn’t believe it was so easy to put together.
9. Butternut Squash & White Bean Soup⼁Cook Time: 45 minutes
If you love butternut squash soup but want to add a little more, then try this variation. With white beans and chickpeas, this take on the original adds some extra heartiness and flavor.
Don’t let the long cook time scare you away! This meal only requires about 20 minutes of prep, and the rest takes care of itself in a slow-cooker. Start it in the morning and have a delicious meal ready for dinner!
Cut back on carbs normally found in pasta with this spaghetti squash substitution. Spaghetti squash is easy to prepare and can help you get your favorite flavors in a healthier way.
Another recipe featuring spaghetti squash, this cheesy dish has all the makings of a great pizza without the empty calories. Warm and tasty, this meal will fill you up in the same amount of time it would take to get delivery.
This cauliflower and broccoli dish is a great way to get the recommended helping of vegetables while making a recipe for the cold weather in only 20 minutes.
Being able to make simple, healthy meals that taste great is a useful skill, especially as you continue to age. Cooking shouldn’t be an all-day task, and it’s important to find foods that aren’t just delicious, but provide additional benefits for you and your health as well. Try these dishes out and stay warm and healthy all year long!
For the Family Network of Wyoming, the SpartanNash Foundation’s recent donation of $5,100 will have a big impact on what the organization can offer.
“It is the single largest donation we will get this year,” said Dale Echavarria, co-executive director of Family Network of Wyoming. “For about every dollar we take in, we can get about $10 of food. We feed more than 10,000 people a year. So for a small pantry like Family Network of Wyoming, the recent SpartanNash Foundation’s scan campaign for hunger relief really does make an impact.”
The Family Network of Wyoming was one of the top 10 fundraising efforts for this year’s SpartanNash Foundation’s scan campaign for hunger relief. From Oct. 23 to Nov. 3, patrons were asked if they wanted to scan up to donate to a local food pantry.
“What that means is that say your bill was $45 and you handed the cashier $50, the cashier would ask if you want to scan up to $50 to make a donation,” Echavarria said. “People could donate a dollar, $5, or $10 or round up to the nearest dollar and people did.”
In fact, SpartanNash reported that it raised $271,150 to support more than 100 local food pantries and food banks in Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. In addition to the scan campaign, the SpartanNash Foundation also granted $5,000 to 15 food pantries located near SpartanNash food distribution and MDV distribution centers, bring the total donation to $346,150, equivalent to 3.5 million meals.
“What better way to say ‘thanks’ this Thanksgiving and holiday season than to provide vital funds to more than 100 local food pantries and food banks?” said Meredith Gremel, vice president of corporate affairs and communicants and the executive director of the SpartanNash Foundation. “These funds will be used to put food on so many families’ tables both during the holiday season and throughout the year, providing hunger relief where it’s needed most.”
Each SpartanNash store, which includes the Family Fare chain, selected a local community food partner its campaign would support. Echavarria said Family Network of Wyoming was fortunate to receive support from the two Family Fare stores in Wyoming, the one at the Metro Health Village and the one located on Burlingame Avenue.
Family Network of Wyoming will serve more than 10,000 individuals this year. (Supplied)
“One of the things they let us do was set up a table and share flyers and brochures about what we do here at Family Network of Wyomig,” Echoavarria said. Family Network of Wyoming opened its doors in 2004. In its first year, the organization served 130,000 pounds of food to 1,400 households. Today, Family Network of Wyoming will serve more than 10,000 people. It has only two paid staff and operates with 43 volunteers who put n 1,200 hours a month.
Over the years, the Family Network of Wyoming has grown and expanded its services to offer food related programs: such as the the NOW program, as well as non-food programs and services: a durable medical equipment loan closet, annual Wyoming Christmas Store, and job skill classes. Echavarria said the organization also has developed the lead pantry concept, where it works with other pantries in the area to make sure that no extra food “gets wasted.”
Gremel said that an important aspect to the SpartanNash hunger relief campaign was to raise awareness about the Foundations food bank and food pantry partners — sharing the need for hunger relief with more than 2.7 million store guest during the 12-day program.
“They really walk the talk,” Echavarria said of SpartanNash, adding that along with the annual hunger campaign, SpartanNash has also provided food items to the pantry on a weekly basis.
“Wyoming has always been extremely generous,” Echavarria said, adding that last year a group of dentists and orthodontists, lead by Grandville’s Shannon Orthodontics, had a”food fight” with “us having a fleet of mini vans with all the donated food items.”
“It’s a joy,” Echavarria said of all the local support the pantry has received.
Kindergartners sat on the classroom carpet on a recent Tuesday morning, ready to start a day filled with words, numbers, songs and crayons. But the chatty, energetic students knew they would also have time for a little jumping, stomping, flopping onto beanbags, balancing and tossing.
At West Elementary, students have a new sensory room where they can let loose and move.
Brandon Chan Jorge leads the way with Mayri Morales-Escobar and Aleah Brandos close behind. (School News Network)
The kindergarten chatter included:
“I like the trampolines!”
“Me too!”
“I like the Sit ‘N Spin!”
They soon headed to the transformed classroom space where they moved from trampolines to beanbag toss, to balance boards to walking with cups on their feet and spinning on Sit ‘N Spins.
The room was created after West Elementary kindergarten teachers expressed concerns about increased academic requirements in kindergarten resulting in less play.
Teachers Julie Merrill, Dawn Brunik and Karen Dunn, who planned the space, said they are already seeing the benefits of 15 minutes of movement every day– in addition to recess.
“We are waking our brains up,” Brunik tells her students as they play in the room after a quick breakfast in the room.
Andrea Jose walks the balance boards. (School News Network)
Movement Benefits Learning
Merrill and Brunik attended a seminar called “Purposeful Play” led by educator Jacque Groendyk, who owns the company Brains in Motion, where they learned about the connection between movement and learning. Much of it they already knew: students sitting for long stretches aren’t able to pay attention, stay on task or learn what they need to.
“We are all seeing the articles about how academic kindergarten is and how kids are just not getting what they need,” said Merrill. “We know kids are sitting with tablets… They are not outside playing like we were when we were kids.”
But if students aren’t developing fine and large motor skills through physical activity, they suffer academically as well, she said.
“If you miss these developmental steps in your brain you can spend all kinds of money on academic interventions, but you are not going to make much progress,” Merrill said.
Since adding the sensory room, they are already seeing positive results.
“The biggest thing I see is their attention in class is so much better,” said Merrill, who breaks up a 90-minute block of literacy with time in the room.
Stephen Miles has fun in the new sensory room. (School News Network)
Developmental Kindergarten Added Too
The room is part of a larger effort to meet the needs of the school’s littlest learners. West this year is also piloting a developmental kindergarten class — the only in the district — for students who have late birthdays or who aren’t quite ready for the rigors of kindergarten. While students, by law, must turn 5 by Sept. 1 to start kindergarten, parents can sign a waiver to enroll children with birthdays up unto Dec. 1. Several students with birthdays later than the deadline enroll each year. Developmental kindergarten is ideal for many of them because it is more play based and meant to be fall between preschool and regular kindergarten.
“They just need that extra year of development,” said Dunn, who teaches the class.“It all has to do with the fact that they aren’t yet academically ready. They will do great with extra time. It’s just that gift of time.”
While still a full-day program, students in developmental kindergarten will attend regular kindergarten next year.
For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Wyoming quarterback Matthew Berg (11) reacts to a Wolves touchdown in a game at Northview Sept. 6. (Curtis Holt)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV’s sports coverage crew was busy this fall, as our high school football Featured Game crew was all over Wyoming and Kentwood to cover local high schools’ American football teams — and one English ‘football’ game.
As every year, high school sports fans can get their Turkey Day football fix this year as we broadcast 13 hours of football (and two of soccer) on our cable Channel 25.
The special starts at 9 a.m., and highlights the best of our high school football games from the season. The schedule of games (with link to the games on WKTV’s On-Demand video internet channel, at WKTVLive.org ) is as follows:
10: 35 p.m. — Wyoming Lee at Godwin Heights soccer. On-Demand
Lee High School’s boys soccer team from an early season. (WKTV)
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government cChannel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are give the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26).
Quitting smoking can be challenging, but you can find support for your quit journey where and when you need it, to raise your chances of quitting for good.
“I’m sick of this addiction.” Clay A. left that comment on the CDC Tobacco Free Facebook page. “I quit for a year and four months and came back,” he went on to say. “Quitting is not easy.”
CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) knows that it may take a number of tries before you’re able to quit for good, but we also know that it can be done. In fact, so many people have quit that there are now more former smokers than current smokers in the United States. Quitting can be challenging, but you can find support for your quit journey where and when you need it, to raise your chances of quitting for good. This year, make a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking for good.
“At this time of year, we know that many smokers make a resolution to quit and start off on a healthier course,” says Corinne Graffunder, DrPH, MPH, director of OSH. “If now is your time to quit tobacco, there are many tools available to help you find and follow a quit strategy that works for you.”
Whether you’ve never tried to quit or have tried many times, a new year means another chance to create your successful quit plan.
Never too early to quit
No matter how long you’ve smoked, there are health benefits to quitting. James, a participant in the Tips From Former Smokers® campaign and a smoker for 30 years, started having some trouble doing everyday tasks. He also learned he had diabetes. So James decided he needed a healthier lifestyle. He put down cigarettes and started exercising. Quitting smoking gave him the energy to bike, run, and swim—things he couldn’t imagine doing before.
James said he wanted to send a message to people who think smoking won’t harm them because they haven’t had a major smoking-related illness. “I want to help people like me quit smoking,” he said. “Maybe nothing really bad has happened to you yet. Maybe you’re lucky, but you’re probably not going to stay lucky.”Still a Leading Cause of Death
Even though adult smoking rates are at an all-time low, cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the country, with 480,000 people dying every year.
Smoking is linked to many dangerous diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, emphysema, and cancer. Smoking around others hurts their health, too. Breathing secondhand smoke can cause many of the same illnesses as smoking does. It can make children get sick more often, and smoking while pregnant raises the risk of a baby dying suddenly in the first year of life. No amount of secondhand smoke is risk-free.Find What Works for You
Every smoker’s quit journey is different. It may take some time to find the strategies that help you stay quit. It helps to create a personalized quit planexternal icon. Some of the steps in an effective quit plan include:
Picking a quit date. Choose a date only a week or two away and highlight that day in your calendar or phone.
Telling loved ones and friends that you’re quitting. Let them know how they can help you quit.
Listing reasons to quit.
Getting rid of cigarettes and anything that reminds you of smoking.
Picking out feelings, places, and situations that make you want to smoke. It’s easier to avoid them if you’ve identified them!
Having healthy strategies to fight cravings.
Build your strategies
Smokers crave cigarettes because they contain a drug called nicotine, and smoking makes your body dependent on nicotine. Stopping smoking causes nicotine withdrawal, which can be uncomfortable, especially in the first weeks. There are ways to get through withdrawal—these can include support from family or a counselor, as well as medication that helps ease cravings.
Courtesy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
It may take many tries to quit. The important thing is not to give up. Health care providers, such as doctors and nurses, can be good supporters in your quit journey. Your doctor may recommend some of the medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help people quit smoking. These may include nicotine replacement therapy medicines, which are patches, gums, or lozenges that give the body a small amount of nicotine to ease cravings without the other harmful effects of smoking cigarettes. Pharmacists can let you know about the effects of any medicine your doctor prescribes.It’s Not Too Late
Whether you smoked for decades, like James, or only just started, whether you have a smoking-related illness or haven’t felt the damage from smoking yet, quitting right now can put you on the road to better health.
Says former smoker Dean G.: “Can’t wait to see my health continue to improve. Quitting is the best decision I ever made.”
Help is out there: Use it!
There are many free resources to help you quit—no matter where you are in your quit journey.
Quitlines.1-800-QUIT-NOWexternal icon(1-800-784-8669) and 1-855-DÉJELO-YAexternal icon (1-855-335-3569) (for Spanish speakers) both offer resources like coaching, help with making a quit plan, and information about smoking and can even refer you to more resources in your area. There are also Asian-language quitlines:external icon 1-800-838-8917(Chinese), 1-800-556-5564 (Korean), and 1-800-778-844 (Vietnamese).
Text Support.Smokefree TXTexternal icon is a free, 24/7 program that sends coaching and encouragement by text messages to help you keep your commitment to staying smoke-free.
Smartphone App. The smoke-free app for your phone called quitSTARTexternal icon helps you understand your smoking patterns and build skills so you don’t give in to cravings.
The sharing economy, which provides ride-sharing technology from companies such as Lyft and Uber, is quite useful to seniors who can no longer drive or have no access to a means of transportation. While previously the focus was on millennials, the companies are now focusing more on older adults, launching several services to reduce obstacles these adults have while working with the technology.
One stereotype you will come across is that the aging population are more resistant to technology; however, the reality is that there are more members in this age group embracing technology, and taking advantage of services such as Uber and Lyft. Many seniors who cannot drive depend on their friends and family members to get around; however, this is not a sustainable option if you are looking to enjoy your flexibility. Seniors can schedule rides and get to their appointments or social engagements on their own time.
Benefits of Using the Ride-Sharing Apps Include:
An easy to use app you can learn to use in a short time even if you are not technologically savvy. Get a tech-savvy helper to guide you through the set up and you can start using the app immediately.
Ride-sharing apps offer affordable transportation regardless of your budget. The duration and distance of your ride will determine the money you pay the driver
You have access to helpful features that give an estimate for your trip and allow you to split the fare when travelling with a friend.
Despite the obvious advantages, you are likely to face challenges common to seniors when using the apps. Many seniors have concerns such as legality and the credibility of drivers. Additionally, if you grew up with cell phones, you may find the apps a little difficult or confusing. Fortunately, Uber and Lyft are aware of these challenges, and are continuously working to provide solutions for their senior customers.
Some of the Solutions Include:
Partnerships with companies that serve seniors and that seniors trust. You can call the numbers of the partner company, where they will organize your transport and schedule a ride for you. If you need assistance getting into or out of the car, the partner company will inform the driver in advance. The partner company also helps you process your credit card details so you have an easy time making payments.
Partnerships with companies that offer care services to seniors who have no access to smart phones for easier transportation. The care facility has access to a dashboard where it can request, organize and pay for multiple rides at a go.
While there are legitimate concerns to using ride-sharing apps, there is a lot of investment going into making the apps more friendly and safe to seniors. Using Uber or Lyft can simplify your life, cut your transportation costs and reduce your dependency on loved ones. The good news is that the sharing economy is focusing more on seniors, providing solutions that are more relevant to the challenges the older generation may face.
“Tree decorating with cats. O Christmas tree, O christmas tree, your Ornaments are history!”
Courtney VanSickle
Perfectly decorated trees at MMA
The Muskegon Museum of Art is jumping into the holiday spirit early with its 15th annual Festival of Trees, running through Dec. 1, highlighted by a silent auction of the display trees. The complete story is here.
Get a early peek at the Garden
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s annual Metro Health Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition is not officially open until Nov. 26, but much of it is already up — and thee is a great show in the featured art gallery. The complete story is here.
The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ holiday concerts at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Holiday music live at GRPM
Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) holiday events kicks off this weekend with two Classic Melodies organ concerts as part of the Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ Concert Series. The complete story is here.
Fun fact:
Almost 1 million
The number of songs in the “Christmas Music Catalogue” … Well. actually, 914,047 tracks represent 180,660 unique songs and were created by 63,711 unique artists – from Aaron Neville to Zuma the King. The top 20 artists with the most Christmas tracks in the Spotify catalog are all pre-Beatles artists. (Source)
A scene from Romeo and Juliet, as performed by the Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company. (supplied)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV later this month will offer three broadcasts of an August production of Shakespeare’s classic tale of love and loss, “Romeo and Juliet” as presented by the Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company, produced in partnership with the local Shadblow Theater, and performed at the Jenison Center For The Arts.
A video of the play will be presented Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 9 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 27, at 4 p.m.; and Saturday, Nov. 30, at 10 p.m., on WKTV Community Media Cable Channel 25.
The Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company is a Nonprofit Organization out of Grand Haven, with the motto “Live Shakespeare. Made in Michigan.” Shadblow Theatre is a theatre company based out of Jenison. The original live production of “Romeo and Juliet” at the Jenison Center for the Arts was performed Aug. 4.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government cChannel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are give the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26).
A patriotic welcome home for West Michigan troops and other festivities are on tap for the Thanksgiving holiday – one of the busiest times of the year at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA).
On Wednesday, Nov. 27, airport volunteers including therapy dog teams, and the Patriot Guard Riders and Blue Star Mothers will participate in “Operation Handshake,” an event to welcome home returning military members and veterans, and to thank them for their service. Volunteers will staff both airport concourse exits from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
“We know that not every military member can make it home during the holidays because they are making other sacrifices for our nation. For those returning to West Michigan we want to make it extra special and let them know we are thankful for their service,” said GFIA President & CEO Tory Richardson. “The Patriot Guard Riders of West Michigan and the Blue Star Mothers do a tremendous job taking time out of their holiday week to welcome home our military, and we appreciate their loyalty to our community through events like Operation Handshake.”
The event is free and open to the public. Family members should notify the Patriot Guard Riders of returning military members’ arrival times and flight information. Information can be sent to Tony VanGessel at 616-862-1984 or tvange58@yahoo.com.
“This is what Thanksgiving is really all about,” said VanGessel, Captain of the Patriot Guard Riders of West Michigan. “What we see each year is an inspiration. We get a thank you from the military members, but it’s also heartwarming for the general traveling public around us to see what happens with just a simple salute, handshake, or a thank you.”
The Airport is currently under construction on Phase II of its Gateway Transformation Project, and along with the busy holiday traffic, lines could be longer than normal. The Airport encourages passengers to arrive at least two hours before their flight.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is expecting a record-breaking number of flyers this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday travel period with more than 26.8 million passengers traveling through security screening checkpoints around the U.S. from November 22 through December 2nd – an increase of four-percent from 2018.
Additionally, Ford Airport passenger numbers are up as October 2019 was the busiest October in GFIA history, and the airport has already served more than three million passengers this year. GFIA has seen passenger traffic increase for 25 consecutive months.
TSA also encourages passengers to stay up-to-date on the latest travel notices and information about what you can or cannot bring on your flight by visiting: www.tsa.gov. Additionally, travelers should keep these top three tips in mind:
Pack smart. Prepare for security when packing and ensure that there are no prohibited items in baggage. As always, passengers can bring pies, cakes and other baked goods through the checkpoints; however, liquids such as eggnog and maple syrup, and gels such as preserves and jellies, should go into checked bags. Liquids in carry-on must follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule. Download the MyTSA app or use the “What can I bring?” tool on tsa.gov. This allows you to type in an item to find out if you can bring it in you carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither.
Renew your TSA PreCheck membership. Individuals who obtained TSA PreCheck five years ago are now able to renew their TSA PreCheck membership online. Individuals who do not have TSA PreCheck should enroll now to get TSA PreCheck benefits, available at more than 200 U.S. airports, in time for their holiday travel. Travelers enrolled in a trusted traveler program, like TSA PreCheck, do not need to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets. To find the trusted traveler program that best suits your travel needs, use the DHS trusted traveler comparison tool.
Ask for passenger support. Travelers or families of passengers with disabilities and/or medical conditions may call the TSA Cares helpline toll free at 855-787-2227 at least 72 hours prior to flying with any questions about screening policies, procedures and to find out what to expect at the security checkpoint. TSA Cares also arranges assistance at the checkpoint.
Think about the last time you hung out with people you enjoyed being around, that made you laugh and with whom you shared interests. How did you feel? Energized? Excited? Now think about the last time you realized it had been a while since you got the chance to see friends or be around people you cared about. How did you feel? Lonely? Deflated? Like your energy had been sapped? Now picture feeling like this every day. It’s a common feeling for many seniors who live alone and is why a rich social life is so important for aging adults.
When we are young, socialization helps develop who we become as a person, and in our older age, socialization can help maintain that. If we lose that, whether it’s due to a health condition that keeps us inside or a decline in friends due to death and illness, it can have a profound effect on our lives and our health.
Experts have labeled loneliness almost as harmful to our health as smoking. According to an article in the Journal Sentinel by Mark Johnson, studies have found that one in 10 Americans live alone and the rate of loneliness in seniors is 35% or higher. And loneliness can lead to a handful of other problems including, poor sleep, high blood pressure, depression, cognitive deterioration, and stress.
The answer to loneliness is socialization. And, given the fragile state of our health as we age, maintaining a strong social life to help prevent extra health issues is particularly important as we get older.
Connecting with friends, talking, and laughing all stimulate the brain. Having something to look forward to every day offers a positive outlook on life and encourages a healthy mental state. This boost in brain activity offered by a connection with others can actually help slow (not cure or stop) the onset of dementia or Alzheimers. And, those who take the time to see friends and make a point to connect, are more likely to participate in the physical activity that will maintain a healthy body weight, strengthen the heart and slow the onset of many other ailments that can plague us as we age. Simply knowing that there will be someone else there to participate in the activity with, can make anyone more likely to get and move (like an accountability partner at the gym).
This connection and interaction with others is one of the key reasons many family members decide that an assisted living facility is best for their loved one or why many seniors make the decision to move to a more accommodating community. Injuries in our old age can often confine us to wheelchairs and limit our mobility. Assisted living facilities provide all the benefits of an active, social, community, without the hassle of travel.
Activities don’t even have to be extremely physical to be beneficial. Playing cards or games with friends, making something together, group move time, or simply chatting over a cup of coffee are all beneficial to the mental health of seniors, therefore spilling over into their physical health.
So, as your loved one ages and finds it harder to get out and see friends, it’s important to begin thinking of ways to help them remain socially active. Whether it’s making sure they have frequent visitors, providing transportation to and from events, or looking into assisted living facilities that will provide a social community right at their fingertips; any activity is good activity.
Phyllis Lockhart (left) and Pat French ate part of the 2019 Santa Claus Girls army of volunteers. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Even after 110 years, two things remain constant for the Santa Claus Girls this time of the year: an army of volunteers are working to wrap and package gift bundles to be delivered to thousands of Western Michigan kids, and they could always use a little more community support.
Undated historic photo of Santa Claus Girls. (Supplied/Santa Claus Girls)
The Santa Claus Girls’s history in Kent County dates from 1909 and these days they operate out of the Knoll Inc. building on 36th in Kentwood — from where they delivered more than 13,500 gift packages in 2018 and hope to meet or beat that number this year.
“We are all very excited to help our community,” Maggie Moerdyke, a buyer for the Santa Claus Girls, said to WKTV this week. “And we want the public to know that if you know somebody that has a need, or anyone who has been displaced, please have them register” for gift delivery, at santaclausgirls.org.
And while the kids each get a new toy and candy — What else would be expected? —they also get hand-made, knitted winter hats and mittens. And shine very young kids have other, very specific, needs which donors might not think about.
“Our donations are coming in hot and heavy, but we still need receiving blankets, crocheted or knitted or out of flannel, as well as infant toys, and 1-year-old and 2-year-old stuffed animals that have sewn eyes or painted eyes,” Moerdyke said. “That would be awesome.”
Steve Loar, a Santa Claus Girls volunteer. (WKTV)
Of course, there is still current need for gift wrapping and package-assembly help currently at their Kentwood location, as well volunteers to join the army of drivers to deliver the packages in mid-December.
“People can go too our website, santaclausgirls.org, to sign up as drivers for (Saturday) December 14 … they will be in half-hour blocks, and each driver will have approximately 10 to 12 on their route,” Moerdyke said. “And as to working on the line, that is also online … and we will need lots of help after Thanksgiving.”
While somethings do not change — the need in the community and the willingness of Santa Claus Girls to help meet that need, for examples — Moerdyke said every year something new comes along to inspire her and the army of volunteers.
This year, she said, there are five families that, in lieu of giving each other Christmas presents, are taking collections and making donations to the Santa Claus Girls efforts. “I think that is amazing.”
In talk-show style form, news anchors Janna Barba and Angelica Ferrell spiced up their announcements with lots of enthusiasm recently during Tiger Talk, the new Townline Elementary School news broadcast.
The anchors introduced a segment on the school walk-a-thon and the harvest festival with some light-hearted conversation.
“Summer has turned into fall and we are already into October,” said Angelica.
Added Janna: “Before we know, the leaves will be painted with colors of fall.”
“Do you know what my favorite part about fall is, Janna?” continued Angelica. “Halloween! As you know I am new to town. Do we get to have any Halloween parties?”
The program then cut to an interview with the Parent Teacher Council president about the fall fun before it was time for a segment on school behavior expectations, Tiger PRIDE, including interviews with students and staff.
“Let’s roll the video!” Angelica announced.
Anchors Janna Barba, left, and Angelica Ferrell read the news for Tiger Talk. (School News Network)
The Weekly News
These chatty cats like taking the mic and wearing their journalism hats while recording in the hallway-turned studio. As fifth graders, they and their classmates are in charge of bringing the news to students and teachers through announcements and on-site interviews on Tiger Talk, named after the school’s mascot. Students record an episode on Friday mornings, then it’s sent to teachers to show in their rooms during the week. It’s also posted on the school’s Facebook page for parents.
“It feels important,” said Angelica, shortly after completing the final cut of their most recent broadcast. “I learned to show our PRIDE.”
That’s PRIDE, as in Problem Solve, Respect, Independence, Demonstrate Responsibility and Excellence, she said. That’s been one of Tiger Talk’s topics.
Tiger Talk first aired this fall as a way to efficiently get news out to staff and families. Principal Michelle Downs said her daily announcements over the intercom were disrupting instruction, and she wanted to get students involved in communicating the happenings at school.
“We thought, ‘Why not videotape kids doing a talk show to get that information sent to teachers?” she said.
Alycia Cruz watches the iPad screen as she records. (School News Network)
Building Solid Skills
Tiger Talk involves more than just announcements. Students have interviewed teachers about the school’s literacy night and about new furniture and carpeting. They also interviewed a local firefighter about school safety drills. Students videotaped kindergartners practicing a fire, lockdown and tornado drill.
“It’s important because it will let our parents know how we are acting in school,” said Trendon Holliman.
Students rotate positions, serving as anchors, on-location anchors, and production crew. Media lab paraprofessional Brooke Schachermeyer coordinates and writes the script.
“Our hope and our goal is to have all fifth grade students participate at one point in the year,” Downs said. “What’s been exciting for me is you can see kids in a different setting, a different light. We are starting to see those who are naturals. They like being in front of the camera. They communicate very well.”
The Tiger Talk team involves all fifth graders at Townline Elementary, who rotate jobs (School News Network)
Others prefer to be behind the camera, involved in production, she said.
Another benefit has been increased parental involvement. After parents watched the Tiger Talk segment on reading night, attendance was doubled over last year’s event. “It was the first time we’ve run out of food. We had 160 people show up,” Downs said.
Fifth grade teacher David Schmidt said Tiger Talk not only helps meet fifth-grade Michigan technology standards, it also shows students explore different career options and gives them experience in communication. It’s a perfect precursor for working on East Kentwood High School’s student broadcast, Falcon News Network. “It’s always nice to show how we can use technology to communicate in a really positive way,” Schmidt said.
Also, “It’s just plain fun. It’s really cool when we are sitting here in class and the video is on and everyone’s watching one of their classmates present… all the kids get to really cheer on and encourage each other.”
The students are also shining as school leaders, said fifth grade teacher Leeann Seymour, who students interviewed about a courtyard being turned into a garden. “It builds confidence and it’s fun when they see younger kids in school. They are kind of like school celebrities.”
For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Kentwood city officials accompanied by carolers previously conduct the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. (WKTV)
By City of Kentwood
The City of Kentwood invites the community to begin the holidays with its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Light Parade on Thursday, Dec. 5.
Centered around the Kent District Library’s Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, the event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. The evening will be filled with festive activities, including live holiday music, hot cocoa, cookie decorating stations, carriage rides and pictures with Santa.
“ ‘Tis the season for peace and joy as our community comes together to celebrate the holidays,” said Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley. “We encourage Kentwood families to join the festivities including Kentwood’s Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Light Parade where memories and traditions are delightfully made.”
The Holiday Light Parade will start at 6 p.m., at the Kentwood Public Works, located at 5068 Breton Ave. SE, and travel north to the Kentwood Justice Center at 4740 Walma Ave. SE. Sections of both Breton and Walma will be closed from 5:50 p.m. to 6:25 p.m. for the procession.
City officials will conduct the tree lighting at 6:30 p.m., followed by caroling. After the ceremony, community members will have the opportunity to take pictures with Santa, go on carriage rides and enjoy live holiday music. There will also be activities for kids and refreshments available for purchase inside the library for the entirety of the event.
As with any large community event, the City relies on volunteers to ensure a safe and successful event. Individuals interested in helping with the evening festivities may sign up online.
There are also openings for the parade. Groups interested in participating can submit a parade entry form online. The cost to participate is $15.
More information about Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Light Parade is available online at kentwood.us/treelighting.
This Friday, Nov. 22, WKTV will be featuring the second of four spacewalks to repair the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer attached to the International Space Station. The walk will be aired on WKTV Government 26 and AT&T U-verse 99 Channel 99.
Coverage starts at 5:30 a.m. with the spacewalk scheduled to begin at 6:50 a.m. The spacewalk is expected to last at least six and half hours.
The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, known as the AMS, is a state-of the-art particle physics detector. The module is designed to measure antimatter in cosmic rays. the information is needed to understand the formation of the universe and search for evidence of dark matter.
Unlike regular matter, which emits or interacts with electromagnetic radiation, dark matter has never been observed directly. The existence of dark matter is inferred through its gravitational effects on visible matter. The AMS has measured more than 100 billion particles and according to lead scientist Samuel Ting, a Nobel laureate with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, AMS has measured an excess of positrons, the antimatter counterpart to an electron but more data is needed to make sure these positrons are from dark matter.
Expedition 61 Commander Luca Parmitano from the European Space Agency and NASA Flight Engineer Andrew Morgan have spent many hours training for the complex spacewalks to repair the AMS.
For more information on NASA TV or the International Space Station, visit NASA’s website, www.nasa.gov.
NASA TV can be seen on the WKTV 26 Government Channel on Comcast and AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99.
South Vietnam’s Central Highlands was no place to be in 1969.
Double-rotored Chinook helicopters delivered Army Sgt. Scott Chesser, 19, and his soldiers into the enemy mountains, where they fired 33-pound Howitzer shells to support U.S. troops.
“When bullets were zinging around the LZ, when bullets bounced off (the helicopter), it was kind of disconcerting,” deadpans Chesser, now 70, Texas in his voice.
There was another unseen enemy: Agent Orange, a notorious defoliant, now known to cause numerous long-term disorders.
Chesser’s type 2 diabetes is presumably caused by dioxin, the problematic ingredient in the jungle defoliant.
On this summer afternoon, the retired oil industry design technician weighs 210 pounds and is 6 feet, 1.5 inches in height. “I used to be 6’3” before gravity took over,” he wryly notes. His A1C—a long-term blood sugar measure—is 5.6, the upper range of normal. He no longer takes insulin shots. His blood sugar readings average 100 to 110. About normal.
The diabetes connection
Among Vietnam veterans, combat-related diabetes passed post-traumatic stress disorder as the No. 1 cause for disability payments to Vietnam veterans eight years ago.
Courtesy Scott Chesser
Because Chesser was in combat where Agent Orange was used, he is “presumed” by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to have been in contact with the toxic defoliant. Harmful effects from Agent Orange were not known until years later.
About 270,000 Vietnam veterans are compensated for having diabetes, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Chesser does not receive payments.
In 2001, type 2 diabetes was named by the VA among a list of maladies believed tied to Agent Orange. Veterans no longer have to prove contact or a direct link. Service must be from Jan. 9, 1962, through May 7, 1975.
Chesser says Agent Orange was not as widely used in his area, and there is no evidence he or his firing battery came into contact with any.
That is a point of controversy. One in four Americans 65 or older has type 2 diabetes; that compares to one in eight overall. Once called “adult-onset” diabetes, a body’s blood sugar is consistently too high. It can lead to amputations, blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney damage and nerve damage.
In 2001, the VA added diabetes to its Agent Orange complications after the National Academy of Sciences found “limited/suggestive” evidence due to increased insulin resistance. It was the year after Chesser’s diagnosis.
Life after Vietnam
In 1969, the Army’s storied 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was
mounting a counter-attack after North Vietnam’s surprise Tet New Year
offensive.
Chesser’s was the Vietnam of combat movies. Heavy-lifting Chinooks, with their distinctive rotors front and aft, sped 7,000-pound Howitzers over perilous mountains. He was based near the demilitarized zone, the contested border between North and South Vietnam. (“You know why it’s called the DMZ? he asks. “Dead Marine Zone.”)
From landing zones hacked into the jungle, artillery batteries fired the cannons at targets miles away to support foot soldiers searching for the enemy. Sometimes they targeted ammo dumps and harassed enemy patrols. Chesser’s landing zone was LZ Action, just below Mang Yang Pass. The steep, narrow choke point was known for enemy snipers and ambushes on US convoys.
Chesser survived the jungle, Viet Cong guerrillas and North Vietnamese soldiers for 365 days. But No. 366 and 367? His return flight on Flying Tiger airway was grounded.
Enemy missiles targeted the Cam Rhan Air Base runway.
“Now, those two days really irritated me,” he said, his humor dry as a Texas oil well.
After the war, Chesser learned electrical and mechanical engineering. He designed and oversaw equipment used to find oil, from the swamps of Louisiana to the remotes of Oklahoma. A test hole was bored. Measuring equipment looked for tell-tale hydrocarbons. Oil.
“We’d break them or make them heroes,” Chesser says.
The Ohio native worked 30 years before retiring in 2010 from Schlumberger Oilfield Services, in Sugar Land, Texas, near Houston.
Photo by Chris Clark
One summer Monday morning, Chesser arrived at his office in Sugar Land. He had spent an uncomfortable weekend, thirsty, urinating at all hours and generally feeling unwell.
A co-worker entered Chesser’s office to review drawings. The worker, a friend, told Chesser, “You know, you got symptoms of diabetes,” Chesser recalls.
The co-worker knew the symptoms well. “When he retired, he was only 59. Within a year he had passed. It was related to diabetes.”
Dr. Deines knew of the Agent Orange and Vietnam connection. He did not know the dramatics behind it. “It sounds like you are hearing the other side of the story,” said Dr. Deines, a specialist in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism.
Initially, Chesser was prescribed oral metformin, a first-defense pill, Dr. Deines said. That worked for about 13 years, but Chesser steadily gained weight. He reached 280 pounds. He was officially obese. His blood-sugar levels were high altitude. And injections?
“I worked myself all the way up to eight insulin shots a day. Every time I ate a bite, I had to take a shot,” Chesser recalls. “I went to my endocrinologist. I said, ‘I’m really tired of this. I think it’s time to finally face it and lose some weight.’”
Physician assistant Gail Friedrick worked closely with Chesser.
“It seemed like the more weight he lost, the more motivated he became,” Friedrick said. “He did an excellent job of logging everything he ate on an app on his phone, along with his exercise, and when he reached his calorie limit for the day, he quit eating. …I don’t see a lot of patients that have the self-discipline to do this.”
Between appointments, Chesser and Friedrick communicated by email on MyHealth, Spectrum Health’s secure patient portal. “This allowed us to have a conversation about adjusting his medications as he lost weight, without the burden or cost of frequent appointments,” Friedrick said.
Chesser’s wife, Janna, 59, showed Chesser the way. She had seen Scott’s struggle.
“I knew if I didn’t lose the weight I was headed there and I didn’t want that,” said Janna, who began her own weight-loss plan before her husband.
Already 20 pounds lighter toward her planned 70, she and Scott ate healthier and exercised more. They paid attention to portion and diet. He used a free smart phone app “religiously” to monitor calories, consumed and burned, toward his weight goal.
Chesser’s insulin shots became smaller and less frequent.
Coming home
Chesser and Janna moved to 3.5 acres south of Lowell, Michigan, the year he retired.
Not long ago, Chesser stepped out of his pickup into his favorite repair shop, just as he had countless times in the small farm town, population 3,800.
“I said, ‘How you guys doing?’” Chesser recalls. “A worker responds, ‘Can I help out, sir?’ “And I say, ‘You gotta be kidding. I got a bay here with my name on it, I’ve been coming here so long.’
“A lot of people don’t recognize me,” he says.
Photo by Chris Clark
On Day 580 of Chesser’s campaign, his blood-sugar levels averaged near normal. He lost the equivalent of a bag of concrete mix, 76 pounds. He consumes 1,700 calories a day.
“It’s a tremendous feeling,” Janna said. “I don’t have to watch him stick himself all the time.”
Chesser figures he had an advantage or two. “I don’t smoke or drink. Those things probably get me out of harm’s way.”
With his weight-loss goal met, the retiree now turns to monitoring and maintaining.
“If it helps anyone, even one person realize they can do it, then it’s worth it,” Chesser said. “There is nothing special about me. I finally got the gumption to do it.
“My cousin died of complications of diabetes. It was a horrible death, horrible way to go, and all because she didn’t take care of herself,” Chesser said. “If you see that and it doesn’t inspire you, I don’t know what will.”
Another motivator? “I just don’t want to lose my eyesight, a leg or a foot.”
When caring for patients facing different forms of dementia or memory loss, it can be tempting to look at the big picture only. Will they be safe? Will they be clean? Will they remain physically healthy and as happy as possible? These are all important questions to ask when looking at the care a loved one will receive when diagnosed with a memory disorder. But it’s also important to make sure the memory care facility you are considering focuses on the individual details that will aid in well-rounded care.
Details matter. Here are some of the specific care elements you should consider when choosing a memory care facility for aging adults.
Layout and design
The design of an assisted living community should make it easy for residents to find their way around on their own for as long as possible. The layout should optimize wayfinding, ensure safety and create freedom. Wide hallways, creative labeling, and naming of hallways and sections, bold colors and shapes can all contribute to a safe and vibrant community.
Sliding doors over swinging doors add an extra element of safety, and soft amber lighting over areas such as the restroom can trigger memory and make it easier for patients to locate a spot over and over.
An understanding staff
A staff that is not only trained and certified to care for those with memory problems, but who are also sympathetic, caring, and engaging is key when it comes to creating a positive environment for those with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Looking at certifications and qualifications is important, but it’s also vital to look at the details of their behaviors and attitudes toward their patients.
It’s important that caregivers know when to just go with the flow and when to encourage a patient to try to remember. There will be times when it’s best to go along with an idea even though it’s obviously wrong, and times when it’s best to redirect and distract them. Treating your loved one like a resident and not just a patient can have a huge impact on their overall well-being, and you want to work with a staff you like and can trust.
Peace and stability
A memory care facility that can manage any type of memory care can be beneficial as the needs of your loved one change. Things can become unfamiliar and scary as memories begin to fade, but being in a familiar environment and surrounded by friends can keep patients in good spirits and often slow the progression of the disease. When a facility supports all stages from independent living, to minimum care to advanced memory care, it can make sure your loved one is getting the best care, right from the beginning and they won’t be jarred by sudden moves, changes in staff or location.
A part of this stability comes from a peaceful living environment. Alarms should be as silent as possible to avoid distressing patients, and all areas of the facility should be designed with peace in mind. Fireplaces, pianos, patios and plenty of sunlit areas can all add to a feeling of peace and contentment and help keep patients calm no matter their stage.
An active social life
When memory patients are at home being cared for by a loved one, it can be easy to create a bubble and cut off the outside world. But, maintaining an active social life is key to making sure they feel like belong. Even if they don’t participate in activities or conversation, just being surrounded by it, listening, thinking and reacting will activate and stimulate certain areas of the brain. Organized activities and an active community help make sure patients stay involved and maintain a social life.
Social time is also a great time to promote activities and games that build memory muscle, keep brains active and renew remaining capacities for memory.
So, when choosing a memory care facility, don’t just look at the pictures. Pay attention to the details and make sure your loved one will be cared for in every aspect of their everyday life.
“To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward until death do us part.”
Most of you who are married probably read the first few words and recognized them right away as part of the traditional vows used during a wedding ceremony. What do the words have to do with money? There’s the for richer, for poorer aspect but maybe we should add, instead of death do us part, until trust issues do us part.
According to a survey conducted by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) in cooperation with Forbes and conducted by Harris Interactive two in five Americans admitted to financial deception with partners. In other words approximately 41 percent of people who combined their money with their partners have been financially unfaithful to that partner. The best term to describe the practice is financial infidelity.
Financial infidelity occurs when couples with shared finances lie to one another. If you have ever hidden a minor purchase, financial statements or bills from your partner the act results in being financially unfaithful. According to the survey, 75 percent said financial infidelity affected their relationship.
Fortunately, financial infidelity is reversible. Talk honestly, become transparent. You will have to come to the point of full disclosure with your family financials and begin to work through the issues and regain any lost trust. Below are some suggestions on how to get started.
Have an open discussion about your finances with your partner and come clean on all deceptive practices.
Discuss needs vs. wants and the whys of overspending
Track your spending and develop a spending plan
Create smart goals to work toward common ground and eliminate outstanding debt
Keep on talking. Don’t shut down the lines of communication.
This process will help partners to understand each other’s money values in addition to preventing a majority of conflicts that can arise regarding family finances. It is important to listen to each family members concern so everyone is on the same page and feels ownership to the plan moving forward. Revisit your plan periodically and decide together if revisions are necessary.
It is good to learn from your mistakes. It is better to learn from other people’s mistakes.
Warren Buffett
Veterans tell their story
Federal, state, county and city government leaders and representatives listened to veterans telling their inspiring stories and express their concerns about government services Monday, Nov. 11, as the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum was fittingly held at Kentwood’s AMVETS Post 23. Get the link the video here .
Survivor tells his story
Eighty-one years have passed since the Kristainancht took place in Germany and Holocaust survivor Martin Lowenberg can still see the synagogues burning. Here’s the complete story.
Listening to others’ stories
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, we talk two members of Grand Rapids HQ, a drop-in center for youth ages 14-24 in housing crisis, including but not limited to LGBTQ-plus youth. And their first job is to listen. Find a like to the video here.
(Not so) fun fact:
650
The face of homelessness in Michigan is looking younger. The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness reports more than 65,000 people in this state are homeless. About one percent of those are unaccompanied minors. And the number is slowly rising.
A large new study adds to questions about whether your “good” HDL cholesterol levels really affect your risk of heart disease.
The study, of nearly 632,000 Canadian adults, found that those with the lowest HDL levels had higher death rates from heart disease and stroke over five years. But they also had higher death rates from cancer and other causes.
What’s more, there was no evidence that very high HDL levels—above 90 mg/dL—were desirable.
People with HDL that high were more likely to die of noncardiovascular causes, compared to those with HDL levels in the middle, the study found.
The fact that low HDL was linked to higher death rates from all causes is key, said lead researcher Dr. Dennis Ko.
That suggests it’s just a “marker” of other things, such as a less healthy lifestyle or generally poorer health, he said.
That also means it’s unlikely that low HDL directly contributes to heart disease, added Ko, a senior scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto.
“This study is going against the conventional wisdom,” he said.
But the reality is, doctors are already shifting away from the conventional wisdom, said cardiologist Dr. Michael Shapiro.
Shapiro, who was not involved in the study, is a member of the American College of Cardiology’s Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Section.
“Many people know that HDL is the ‘good’ cholesterol,” he said. “But they may not know that the medical community is moving away from the idea that we’ve got to raise low HDL.”
That’s in part because of the results of several clinical trials that tested the vitamin niacin and certain medications that boost HDL levels.
The studies found that while the treatments do raise HDL, they make no difference in people’s risk of heart trouble.
On top of that, Shapiro said, research has shown that gene variants associated with HDL levels have no connection to the risk of cardiovascular disease.
No one is saying that doctors and patients should ignore low HDL levels. Levels below 40 mg/dL are linked to a heightened risk of heart disease.
“That is a consistent finding,” Shapiro said. “So we can reliably use it as a marker to identify patients at higher risk and see what else is going on with them.”
Causes of low HDL include a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, poor diet and being overweight. And it’s probably those factors—not the HDL level itself—that really matter, Shapiro said.
The current findings are based on medical records and other data from nearly 631,800 Ontario adults ages 40 and up. Over five years, almost 18,000 of them died.
Ko’s team found that men and women with low HDL levels were more likely to die during the study period, versus those with levels between 40 and 60 mg/dL.
But they had increased risks of not only heart disease death, but also death from cancer or other causes.
People with low HDL tended to have lower incomes, and higher rates of smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure. After the researchers accounted for those factors, low HDL was still linked to higher death rates.
“But we couldn’t account for everything,” Ko said. And he believes that factors other than HDL number—such as exercise and other lifestyle habits—are what count.
“When you see that something (low HDL) is associated with deaths from many different causes, it’s probably a ‘generic’ marker of risk, rather than a cause,” Ko said.
At the other end of the spectrum, people with very high HDL—topping 90 mg/dL—faced increased risks of dying from noncardiovascular causes.
Shapiro called the finding “very interesting,” but the reasons for it are unclear.
Alcohol can raise HDL. So that raises the question of whether heavy drinking helps explain the link, said Dr. Robert Eckel, a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus.
Regardless, there is no reason for people to try to send their HDL skyward using niacin or other medications.
“Raising HDL with drugs is not indicated,” Eckel said.
Shapiro stressed the importance of lifestyle: “Don’t smoke, get regular aerobic exercise, lose weight if you need to.”
Those things may, in fact, boost your HDL, Shapiro noted. But it’s not the number that matters, he said, it’s the healthy lifestyle.
The findings were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
To make nitro coffee is not an easy task. You have to know the right combination of coffee and nitrogen to create the thick, velvety drink.
“It is similar to that of a Guinness,” said executive Chef Joseph VanHorn. Similar in that from a distance a freshly pored Guinness and a nitro coffee might look the same as the nitrogen bubbles add a frothy, milky layer that moves from top to bottom. That, and like its stout counterpart, nitro is kept in kegs.
All City Nitro Coffee and Tea is just one of the feature items at VanHorn’s newly opened YoChef’s Cafe, 34 44th St. SE, Kentwood.
The new restaurant will feature the All City Beverage Company’s Nitro Coffee and Tea. (Photo by WKTV)
About two years ago, when VanHorn relocated his catering business, YoChef Catering Co., to the 44th Street location, he knew the space was too big for just an office with his goal set on opening a restaurant. This was not an endeavor that VanHorn was unfamiliar with as he owned and operated a restaurant in Wyoming and another at the Ferris State University’s Kendall College of Art and Design. Along with the 10-year-old catering business, VanHorn currently operates a food truck in the summer.
So when preparing to open his newest venture, YoChef’s Catering, VanHorn decided he wanted to elevate the dining experience.
“We are using the freshest ingredients possible,” VanHorn said as he walked around the space that features about a dozen tables, a counter with a coffee bar, and menu board.
“We spent two days in a coffee brewing lab to learn the intricate techniques in making coffee,” VanHorn said, adding that through a partnership with Ferris Coffee, he will be purchasing smaller quantities of beans that will be ground on site to ensure the freshest coffee possible.
The menu itself features a mix of popular items from the YoChef’s former restaurants as well as favorites from the company’s food truck such as the Chicken Basil Pesto and the Asian BBQ pork.
Items will be made fresh daily. (Photo by WKTV)
“People would ask, where can I get this when the truck was not out,” VanHorn said. “Now they have a place to go to get their favorite items.”
The menu features a variety of breakfast items, fresh salads, and grilled sandwiches such as the new Frank’s Westside Kielbasa with a special sausage being made by Frank’s Market for the sandwich, VanHorn said. The soups will be made-from-scratch daily with patrons able to check the website www.YoChefsCatering.com for the day’s soups.
“I also have a pastry chef on staff,” VanHorn said. “The pastry case will have a limited selection of bake goods available each day. We want to keep it as fresh as possible.”
VanHorn said he is excited to show off the talents of his team through the new venture, which for now will be open for breakfast and lunch. The restaurant will be open 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday – Saturday. As demand increases, VanHorn said he will consider expanding the hours.
“Our primary focus is the business community,” said VanHorn, who noted that the location is surround by offices and businesses. And since business workers do not always have a lot of time for lunch, patrons can order through the website, www.YoChefsCafe.com, scheduling a time for pick up. The YoChef’s Cafe is also partnering with UberEats and can be reached by phone at 616-214-7736.
Ron Draayer, who was elected to Kentwood City Commission as a second ward commissioner during the Nov. 5 election, took the oath of office on Nov. 13 for the four-year term, filling the seat of former commissioner Michael Brown, who served four consecutive terms.
“We are pleased to welcome Ron Draayer to the Commission and look forward to working with him,” said Mayor Stephen Kepley. “We anticipate that his professional insight – especially with respect to technology and cybersecurity – will be a benefit to the City Commission and our community.
“We also want to thank Commissioner Michael Brown for his service to the City of Kentwood and its residents for these past 16 years on City Commission. We deeply appreciate his dedication to our mission and his professionalism in which he represented himself and our City. We will miss our time with him and his expertise that he consistently brought to the Commission.”
A resident of Kentwood since 2016, Draayer brings 40 years of knowledge in education, technology and cybersecurity to the role. He recently retired as a classroom professor at Davenport University.
Draayer previously served as a board member of Michigan InfraGard, an FBI organization that works with law enforcement, business leaders and academic professionals to help protect electrical, water, transportation and other infrastructure assets.
He has also been a local and state advisor for Business Professionals of America, or BPA, a national organization that promotes student growth and achievement through academic competitions. Draayer served on the National Board of BPA and has established a middle-level BPA program in Michigan designed for middle-level and junior-high students.
“I am truly honored to be able to serve the City of Kentwood and the residents of Ward 2,” Draayer said. “Kentwood is a very special City with people whose origins are from all over the world.
“I pledge to work hard and ensure Kentwood continues to be a community where people can raise their families in good neighborhoods.”
Draayer holds a bachelor’s degree from Calvin College, a master’s in management from Aquinas College and a Master of Science from Ferris State University.
Final exams–and the ensuing all-night study sessions they cause–are looming large for many students across the country. But reaching for energy drinks to perk up those drooping eyelids and boost study performance could do more harm than good.
Recent research shows just one energy drink can affect blood vessel function. And other studies have shown these caffeine-and-herbal concoctions can increase stress hormones and are linked to changes in blood pressure and the heart’s electrical activity.
“What I say to people who are studying is to avoid energy drinks. And to people who are exercising, avoid them,” said Dr. John Higgins, chief of cardiology at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, a sports cardiologist and a professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston.
Higgins led a study that looked at the effects of energy drinks on blood vessel function on 44 non-smoking, healthy medical students who were in their 20s. He and his colleagues tested the students’ blood vessel, or endothelial, function and then tested it again 90 minutes after they had consumed a 24-ounce energy drink.
The preliminary results, presented earlier this month at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions conference, suggest the drink reduced by about half how much the participants’ blood vessels were able to dilate, or expand.
“During exercise or under stress, your arteries have to open up because they need to get blood to the muscles, heart and brain,” Higgins said. “If there is impairment during exercise or mental stress, it could lead to adverse effects.”
The market for caffeine-infused energy drinks has grown during the last decade, with new blends adding vitamins and other ingredients touting everything from memory enhancement to concentration benefits. According to research company Statista, energy drink sales reached $2.8 billion in 2016, with consistent increases since 2011. A 2016 Statista survey of 18- to 69-year-olds showed 1 in 4 people had an energy drink almost every day.
Coffee and its caffeine have gotten the green light, in moderation, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Federal dietary guidelines published every five years as a go-to source for nutrition advice say three to five cups a day, which can be up to 400 milligrams a day of caffeine, can be part of a healthy diet.
But Higgins said energy drinks are more than just caffeine.
“We suspect it has to do with their blends,” he said. “They have lots of sugar and caffeine, but also taurine, an amino acid, guaranine (from a South American plant), another source of caffeine, and they sometimes have vitamins. But they have these substances at levels in excess of the recommended daily allowance, sometimes even 10 times or more.”
On campus, there’s a common pattern, said LaVelle Hendricks, an associate professor of counseling and a student affairs coordinator at Texas A&M University-Commerce, about an hour northeast of Dallas. When students are dealing with stress and lack of sleep, “when they get close to exam time, they turn to these drinks,” he said. “They get this boost of energy, but then they have headaches and they crash. As a way to re-energize and get that same boost, they repeat the cycle.”
The tough-but-true advice is there are no shortcuts.
“You have to stick to a regimen,” Hendricks said. “It entails going to class, studying, eating right, exercising right and getting the proper amount of sleep.”
A Journal of American College Health study in 2011 said the consumption of energy drinks has been associated with perceived stress levels of college students. Middlebury College in Vermont banned the on-campus sale of energy drinks. In Britain, many supermarkets have begun banning sales to children under 16, and the government is considering other restrictions.
Higgins said he’d like more short- and long-term studies that show how these energy drinks – and their blends of ingredients – work on the body. So far, the evidence has been inconsistent, he said, with some showing improved performance, some reduced and others no effect.
Higgins warns that some people are more at risk for the effects from energy drinks, including people under 18; people of small stature; people who don’t normally drink caffeine or are sensitive to it; pregnant or breastfeeding women; people taking stimulants for conditions such as attention deficit disorder; and people with certain medical or cardiovascular conditions.
For a healthy boost during studying, Higgins suggests high-intensity exercise, or even just a quick run up and down the stairs. Getting outside, “stretching the eyes” with relaxed nature-watching or a power nap also can help, he said.
“If you are really that tired and coffee isn’t keeping you awake, you should probably go to sleep. You aren’t going to remember anything for the test anyway.”
On any given day at East Kelloggsville Elementary, you’ll find teacher Jacky Hamann and a handful of students hard at work. Eleven students split their time between the traditional classroom and Hamann’s classroom. With Hamann, they do the same work their classmates are doing, but in a space dedicated to helping them cope with behavioral challenges.
Last week, second grader Eva Cavazos took a break from her math work, modeling two step word problems, to play with “silly monster”, a finger puppet reward she chose for a job well done. Eva is not shy about telling you why she’s come to SWAS.
“I’m here to do work,” she said.
Hamann’s classroom is known as a “school within a school” or “SWAS”, and for students like Cavazos and her SWAS peers, it’s been key to staying productive — and staying in school.
Kindergartners Payton Johnson and Daimyon Watson deposit tickets for a treat. (School News Network)
Suspending the Suspensions
The concept is simple: students struggling with behavior leave their classroom and work in SWAS, just down the hall. Some go at regularly-scheduled intervals — from 15 minutes to a half day — as determined by the classroom teacher and Hamann. Others drop in as needed, to cool down and refocus. The extra attention from Hamann, who is trained in emotional and cognitive impairments and learning disabilities, has proven effective. Just ask Anastasia Taggart, whose son Cardier Rogers was in the building’s SWAS room as a third-grader last spring.
Prior to the SWAS program, Taggart had been called so frequently to pick up Cardier from school that she lost her job.
“We had to try something because he was getting kicked out of school all the time,” said Taggart.
Cardier was among the building’s first SWAS students when it started in the spring of 2018. It was a rough start, said Taggart, as students with behavioral challenges converged in one space. But the district worked with Taggart and Cardier to identify challenges, implement a 504 plan and strategically time his SWAS visits for the most impact — like during math, which had been a struggle for Cardier. He thought some of his classmates made fun of him for that reason.
Kindergartner Daimyon Watson does his math work. (School News Network)
In SWAS, Cardier’s suspensions plummeted. Math became his favorite subject.
“I made the right choices. It’s helped me to be here…and I got better at math,” he said. “It’s fun in here. I get to do a lot of math and now I know division and multiplication.”
One year after Cardier started SWAS, Taggart said she was able to go to her job without fearing the dreaded phone call from the office.
“Sending a kid home, especially at this age, does nothing – studies have shown suspensions really don’t do much good,” said Hamann. “It’s better to have them here, having conversations. Behavior is not a road you take alone. We are a team – I work with our behavior specialist, the classroom teacher, the principal, and the parents.”
Daimyon Watson answers the questions of the day in the SWAS classroom. (School News Network)
A Careful Process
Implementing SWAS is methodical. Before opening her classroom to students, Hamann spends a few weeks observing classrooms, gathering data, and determining which students can most benefit from her classroom.
“They identify themselves fairly quickly,” said Hamann, who shares her observations with classroom teachers. “Their behaviors are crying out for help in some way. It’s our job to figure out how.”
Students can exit SWAS as maturity increases and behaviors improve.
“This is a chance to remove them from where they’re being escalated and give them a chance to get their work done, get a break from classroom triggers, and keep them here at school,” said Beth Travis, who implemented the SWAS room as principal at East Kelloggsville. (Travis helped roll out the middle school SWAS program as assistant principal there, and has returned to the middle school as principal this year.)
Besides East Kelloggsville, SWAS rooms exist at Southeast Elementary and Kelloggsville Middle School.
For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Teacher Jacky Hamann reads to kindergartner Daimyon Watson and second graders Johuan Howland and Eva Cavazos. (School News Network)
A common question we get on the Michigan State University ExtensionLawn and Garden Hotline (888-678-3464) is how to get rid of a bees’ nest. When we ask for a description of the nest or the “bee,” we receive a description for a wasp. Why does this even matter? It is important to know that bees are different insects than hornets or wasps. While all of these species have their own important role and place within the ecosystem, native bees are especially important for pollination services that provide much of our food, food for wildlife, and beauty in the landscape.
Is it a bee, wasp or hornet?
A European paper wasp. Note the smooth body. Photo by David Cappaert, Bugwood.org.
Why are bees, hornets and wasps so often confused? Maybe it is the fact they all buzz and many of us associate that sound with bees. They also all defend their territory by stinging. Many of us fail to appreciate the wide diversity of insect species that exist. Whatever the reason, it is important to properly distinguish what buzzing critter has built a nest so we can help you assess what steps to take in the best interest of both humans and the critter.
Although it may not be easy to snap a photo of the buzzing insect, a picture is ideal. You can share the photo with the hotline staff or upload it to the Ask an Expert resource for proper identification. Check out MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics Insects and Arthropods for photos to help you determine the difference between bees, hornets and wasps.
Where is the nest?
Holes made by ground-nesting bees. Photo by Nathanial Walton, MSU Extension.
Do you know there are over 450 native bee pollinators in Michigan and over 2,000 in the United States? They all provide very important pollination services for our food sources and they need our help in providing habitat, food and water for them.
Cavity-nesting bees. Photo by Nathanial Walton, MSU Extension.
Some bee species are solitary; they don’t swarm and rarely sting, as they do not need to protect a queen. They will nest in cavities of wood, hollow stems or the ground, so it is important to provide these diverse habitats. Think about ways to include these undisturbed areas within your gardens and landscapes.
Wasps and hornets often create their nests in areas that interfere with our daily human travel, such as building a paper nest under a house eave. If they feel threatened, hornets and wasps will defend their territory by repeatedly stinging. Interestingly, hornets and wasps are also predatory insects, preying upon other insects, bees included, and eating them.
How to get rid of the nest
The eastern yellow jacket. Photo credit: Johnny N. Dell. Bugwood.org
Once you’ve correctly determined that it’s a wasps’ or hornets’ nest, decide whether the nest will create any safety concerns for humans. If it will, then it’s best to properly deal with the nest as explained in MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics Insects and Arthropods for each species. Also, check out this great article below from MSU entomologist Howard Russell. Always remember to read and follow all pesticide labels.
If you’re brave, quick and slightly off your rocker, you might be able to kill off a wasp nest and live to talk about it. READ MORE
A yellowjacket nest destroyed by a skunk. Photo by Nathanial Walton, MSU Extension.
Sometimes wildlife such as skunks or raccoons may do the job of removal for you as well. Check out the accompanying photo of a yellow jackets’ nest that was ripped open by a skunk. The following night, the skunk came back and finished the job.
As we age, it can become difficult to maintain the quality of life we are used to without some form of assistance. But when it comes to senior care, it’s not always clear what living arrangement is best for an aging adult. With large numbers of Baby Boomers reaching retirement age every day, the options for senior care are becoming more rich and diverse. For some, the comfortable familiarity of senior home care is the number one priority, while others prefer the wealth of assistance options and provided senior activities of assisted living. Before you make your decision for yourself or a loved one, make sure you’re aware of the benefits and drawbacks of each care option.
Senior Home Care
Aging in place is an attractive choice for many seniors, but some daily activities such as driving, shopping, bathing, and housekeeping can require assistance. In-home care is one way to ensure reliable help for any tasks that may cause difficulty. An in-home caregiver can support seniors in keeping up with proper hygiene, exercise, and nutrition, as well as maintaining a clean and pleasant home environment. A caregiver can also be an excellent companion to a senior who chooses to age in place, as opportunities to socialize may be limited by mobility and availability of transportation.
However, senior home care services are all different and may charge additional fees for certain tasks or aren’t able to offer them at all. Since caregivers usually charge per hour of service, the cost of caring for a senior who needs help with many daily activities may become a burden for them and their families. Additionally, in-home caregivers usually cannot provide medical care, though they can assist with making and keeping appointments, and with medication reminders and administration.
Assisted Living
In assisted living, communities are created with autonomy for aging adults in mind. With routine and medical care always available, seniors are empowered to maintain their familiar and ideal lifestyles. Not only is independent living easy, such as cooking favorite meals or working on hobbies, but assisted living also provides opportunities for being social with comfortable community spaces and a variety of senior activities. Seniors in assisted living communities typically keep their own schedules — and with so many things to do, that’s no small task!
Seniors and their families may dismiss assisted living out of hand as being out of their budget, but the option is more affordable than many believe, especially when compared to the long-term costs of in-home care. Care, living space, meal options, and activities are all included in the cost of an assisted living arrangement, whereas seniors aging at home need to pay for each of these individually. Making the decision to move from a familiar home full of memories can be painful, but the opportunity to continue living life with vigor in an assisted living community, surrounded by friends and loved ones, can definitely make it worth the choice.
Ultimately, the decision between in-home care and assisted living can only be made by a senior and their loved ones. Depending on the level of care required, the ability of family members to provide assistance, and medical needs, one option may work better than the other. Understanding the benefits of each can help you make the best decision to help you or your aging loved one live life to the fullest.
Xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in some ice cream and a host of other products, can cause your dog to have problems with blood sugar levels. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
The sugar substitute xylitol may help you lose weight, but it can be deadly for your dog, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
Xylitol is present in many human foods and other products. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has received a number of reports over the past several years of dogs being poisoned by xylitol.
The most recently reported case involved sugar-free ice cream, said FDA veterinarian Dr. Martine Hartogensis.
Other products that may contain xylitol include sugar-free chewing gum, breath mints, baked goods, some peanut and nut butters, sugar-free desserts, cough syrup, children’s and adult chewable vitamins, mouthwash, toothpaste, over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements.
When dogs eat something containing xylitol, the sweetener is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and can trigger a surge of insulin from the pancreas.
This could lead to a rapid, severe drop in blood sugar levels that can be life-threatening, according to the FDA.
Symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs include vomiting, decreased activity, weakness, staggering, lack of coordination, collapse and seizures.
If you think your dog has eaten xylitol, take it to a veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital immediately, Hartogensis advised.
There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk that your dog will consume xylitol.
“Check the label for xylitol in the ingredients of products, especially ones that advertise as sugar-free or low sugar. If a product does contain xylitol, make sure your pet can’t get to it,” Hartogensis said in an FDA news release.
Keep products that contain xylitol—including non-food products such as toothpaste—where your dog can’t get them.
Only use pet toothpaste for pets, never human toothpaste.
If you give your dog nut butter as a treat or to give your dog pills, check the label first to make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol.
Philomena V. Mantella announced two initiatives that will strategically position Grand Valley State University into what she called a “breakout university” during her investiture address Nov. 15 as the institution’s fifth president.
Mantella detailed the Laker Lifetime Learning Account, money available to alumni to use for continuing education, and establishment of a talent epicenter, a physical space where companies, nonprofits, students and entrepreneurs will collaborate on ideas. She called both initiatives investments in the future during a time when the landscape of higher education is changing.
“The Laker Lifetime Learning Account will be available for Lakers to reduce costs and improve access to badges, certificates and advanced degrees at Grand Valley,” she said, adding this program will begin in the spring. “The promise of our future demands these changes, investments and our collective fortitude. The commitments I’ve outlined today will ready Grand Valley, and those who partner with us, to create and shape our future as a 21st century education leader.”
Hundreds of people attended the investiture ceremony in the Fieldhouse on the Allendale Campus, including representatives from colleges and universities around the country. Mantella was joined by her family, including her husband, Robert H. Avery, and her mother, Lucille.
Mantella assumed the presidency at Grand Valley July 1; she spent the last 18 years at Northeastern University as senior vice president of Enrollment and Student Life and the chief executive officer of the Lifelong Learning Network.
Mantella said Grand Valley must meet the changing, and challenging, demands higher education faces. These include a declining Michigan high school population, higher education access and affordability and a workforce talent gap. She said the time is act is now and sent a call to the campus community to “Reach Higher Together,” an initiative to lead change in higher education.
“Our state and our nation need Grand Valley to seize the new reality that allows a university in Michigan to be a ‘breakout university’ by asserting its entrepreneurial spirit, its history of being agile, fearlessly growing and changing to meet new demands, and being hungry to shape education to learning styles that are as numerous as individuals are different,” she said.
To meet these demands, Mantella gave five commitments to the university community: evolving Grand Valley’s liberal education foundation, creating an unparalleled educational model, expanding experiential learning, supporting more students at different stages of life, and investing in alumni through the lifetime learning account program.
“We commit to supporting more students at different stages of life, acknowledging their multiple roles and delivering when they want to learn, where they want to learn, and how they want to learn,” she said. “This will require us to build a sophisticated infrastructure that leverages the power of place and the digital medium.”
During the investiture ceremony, segments of the campus community offered greetings to Mantella. Kelly Dowker, executive vice president of the Student Senate, said she has had several opportunities to work with Mantella and appreciates her forward-thinking vision.
“President Mantella is adamant about including student voices,” Dowker said. “She is of enormous importance in higher education, not only in Michigan, but throughout the United States.”
President Emeritus Thomas J. Haas, Grand Valley’s fourth president, handed Mantella a baton that had been passed to him by former President Mark A. Murray.
“Leading a public university is a noble calling and representing my colleagues, we look forward to this next chapter,” Haas said. “We have confidence that you are the right individual to lead our grand university. The seed planted in 1960 is adapting to its ever-changing environment and is now growing and shaping people for the next 100 years and beyond.”
Four campus community members offered video greetings during the “Reach Higher Together” portion of the ceremony. They were Lavar Green-Jackson, representing current students; Sarah Daniels, ’09, representing alumni; Shawn Bultsma, representing faculty members; and Eric Payne, ’86, alumnus and Grand Rapids Police Dept. police chief, representing community.
Mantella was emotional when speaking about her family. She said she learned about bold moves from her father, whom she called “the original experiential learner in the family.” He left work as a laborer to start his own business.
“Through sheer grit, and many failures, he made the most of everything and everyone he encountered,” Mantella said. “My dad showed me how to work hard, follow my passions and turn my lessons into leadership gold.”
“I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.”
Shirley Temple
Treat the kids to some holiday fun this Sunday
This holiday season, the Holland Area Arts Council is reprising their partnership with Grand Rapids Ballet in two special performances for children ages 4 to 10 and their adult guests on Sunday, Nov. 17th. The gallery will be filled with the enchanting giggles of children as they experience the magic of music, dance and storytelling. Performances will be held at 12:30 and 2:30pm. Details are here.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year (isn’t it?)
Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living
Visiting family this holiday season? Or is grandma bringing Uncle Dave and the wild bunch to your place? Here are some life-saving tips on how to survive. Go here.
Miss the Nov. 10th Community Conversation on Homelessness?
No worries, the podcast is available on-demand here.
Fun fact:
Santa Claus wasn’t always fat and happy
You’d be brooding too if you had to lug something like this around(to be fair, this is probably an image of Father Christmas, a precursor to Santa)
We know, we know. It’s not even Thanksgiving and here we are talking about Christmas. Well, the malls have holiday decorations up, right? So, fair game.
Early images portray the bearded one as gloomy and brooding — even kind of scary. As he evolved, he gradually looked more approachable. Then, in 1931, Coca-Cola commissioned Michigan-born illustrator Haddon Sundblom to develop advertising images portraying Santa as wholesome, warm, friendly — not just a man dressed as Santa.
Today, Santa’s still fat, jolly, red-faced and, to be honest, a bit nosy. Right? How else does he know who’s been naughty or nice? Oh, wait. Alexa…
Chief Richard Roberts is sworn in as the new City of Kentwood Police Department’s leader. (Supplied)
By City of Kentwood
The City of Kentwood has promoted Richard Roberts to chief of the Kentwood Police Department.
Roberts succeeds former Police Chief Thomas Hillen, who retired after a distinguished law enforcement career spanning four decades – including more than 10 years with the City of Kentwood. In his new role, Roberts will lead a team of nearly 95 personnel, including 70 sworn police officers.
As chief, Roberts will work to reinforce the department culture, aim to recruit and hire individuals who are representative of Kentwood’s diverse community and collaborate with other departments on efforts that benefit the community at-large. He will also continue to provide the best training and equipment possible and hold the department accountable under best practices and policies through State of Michigan Accreditation.
“Throughout Chief Roberts’ more than three decades of service to the City of Kentwood, he has played an integral role in creating a positive culture and fulfilling the department’s mission,” Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “He is the best candidate to continue the tremendous service provided by our department under Thomas Hillen’s tenure.
“I have complete confidence he will continue to demonstrate outstanding leadership and dedication in his new role. I look forward to future departmental accomplishments achieved under his supervision.”
Roberts first joined the Kentwood Police Department in 1987 as a police paramedic. During his more than 30 years with the City of Kentwood, Roberts has served in many different roles, including 24 years of supervisory and management experience, giving him a thorough knowledge of police operations.
In addition to his paramedic experience, he also served as a detective, field training officer, field training supervisor, road patrol supervisor, Staff Services Bureau supervisor and Detective Bureau supervisor. He also served on the crisis negotiating team.
Roberts was promoted to captain of the Patrol Division in December 2012, where he implemented the Data-Driven Approach to Crime and Traffic Safety, or DDACTS, program before being appointed deputy police chief in August 2017. He is the first in Kentwood to move through the ranks from patrol officer to police chief.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve our community with the great men and women of the Kentwood Police Department in this capacity,” Roberts said. “We will continue to commit ourselves to serving the community with excellence and seeking opportunities to increase our value of service.”
Roberts recently attended the prestigious FBI National Academy, an executive school for law enforcement, which has some of the best training a law enforcement executive can obtain. Participation is by invitation only, through a nomination process. Participants are drawn from every U.S. state and territory and from international partner nations.
He has also completed a number of leadership courses, including Grand Valley State University’s project management within criminal justice agencies, Michigan State University’s leadership and risk management, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Executive School and Grand Rapids Police Department’s Leadership Institute.
Roberts is a member of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, Michigan Municipal League’s Law Enforcement Action Forum, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and FBI National Academy Associates.
Prior to joining the Kentwood Police Department, he served as deputy corrections officer at the Kent County Sheriff’s Office and as a Roosevelt Park police officer. He received his associate degree in criminal justice from Grand Rapids Community College and is a graduate of Northwestern University Traffic Institute’s police staff and command.
If you have a hard time remembering names or what to get at the supermarket, there are ways to boost your memory.
According to a study in the journal Consciousness and Cognition, one of the best things you can do is say the information you want to remember out loud—and it’s even stronger if you repeat the information to another person. That means not just mouthing the words.
This could explain why you can recite your child’s favorite book unaided—read it out loud enough times and you can have near total recall.
An everyday example is to repeat the name of a new acquaintance out loud as soon as you’re introduced.
Instead of just saying, “It’s nice to meet you,” add their name and say, “It’s nice to meet you, Mary.”
Making word and number associations is effective, too.
Break down a phone number you want to memorize into digits you can associate with special dates or the ages of your kids, for example.
You might try dividing almost any type of information into chunks that you learn one by one.
Other research explains why making lists is so effective.
The human brain is better at recognition—or seeing words—on a to-do list rather than trying to mentally recall errands you’re supposed to run.
Finally, make friends with technology if you haven’t done so already. Use the apps on your phone to make lists and add the names of people you meet to your contacts as soon as you meet them—this gives you the opportunity to repeat their name and write it down digitally.
When you wander the halls of the Vista Springs Center for Memory Care and Rediscovery, you’ll find not only the luxury accommodations our residents have come to expect but also a few unique features meant to speak directly to the care and treatment of the residents in our assisted living memory care facility.
While the halls, rooms, and decor of our facility are all specially design to accommodate residents with memory conditions, caring for these community members goes beyond even tiny details like color and layout. Bold colors, shapes, and textures are used to help anchor residents to their environments and strengthen memory muscle but objects and activities take memory care to the next level.
Sensory stimulation
Using objects and activities to trigger emotions and memories is called Sensory Stimulation and it’s a popular technique when it comes to treating and caring for those with memory disorders. These objects can create a connection with the rest of the world when the patient has lost the ability to create that connection on their own.
Within the Vista Springs community, this technique is used via stations set up throughout the memory care facility. These stations are set up for different activities such as clothes folding, diaper changing, shirt buttoning, and dishwashing. There are even cribs with babies to rock to sleep and cases filled with objects that would have been important during different time periods.
These simple activities take patient’s back to times they remember fondly; raising their children or actively participating in life. Sensory stations and various activities can be especially positive if a patient is upset, discouraged or scared. Activities they once engaged in mindlessly around the home will bring them comfort, decrease agitation, and maintain motor skills.
These types of stations and objects help focus on the person, the things they once enjoyed, and their daily lives; not the disease.
Comfort and communication
While these objects and stations may not improve their memory or slow progression of the disease, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s or dementia, they do offer other perks for the patient and their caregivers.Engaging in familiar activities can improve overall mood, raise self-esteem and confidence and improve well-being.
And, for those who experience trouble communicating and everyday tasks, certain activities can offer alternate outlets of communication. If they have a hard time speaking, simply picking up a pen or pencil to draw may bring back old memories or give them a way to express themselves, even if it’s not through words.
Disruptive behaviors, such as substance use and aggression, in one member of a relationship are associated with relationship distress for both partners in that relationship, a study of nearly 800 couples has found.
The findings – reported by researchers from Grand Valley State University and Michigan State University and published in the Journal of Personality Disorders – revealed an association between relationship satisfaction and certain disruptive behaviors, as well as positive and negative personality traits.
“The results of the study help bolster research in both academic and clinical settings about the connections between an individual’s traits and behaviors to relationship satisfaction,” said Mikhila Wildey, assistant professor of psychology for Grand Valley State University and lead author on the study.
Researchers found that disruptive personality traits and behaviors, such as rule-breaking and aggression, were associated with lower relationship satisfaction for both the affected individuals and, interestingly, for their partners.
The researchers gathered data for eight years from nearly 800 couples. Participants were recruited from the MSU Twin Registry, the university’s ongoing, large-scale study of twins and their families.
One of the hallmarks of the MSU Twin registry – which is co-directed by study co-authors Alex Burt and Kelly Klump – is the multi-method assessment of twins and their family members. In this case, researchers focused on the romantic relationships of twins’ parents, which shows the value of twin family designs for understanding many different kinds of family relationships.
Each partner completed surveys that rated their own satisfaction with their relationship. Each couple was also recorded for 10 minutes discussing issues in their romantic relationship to allow researchers to analyze the interactions.
The researchers explained that the findings are consistent with prior work, which along with the scope of the study provides important depth to the research in this area.
Wildey, who is also a couples’ therapist, noted that the findings give insight for approaches in a clinical setting.
“These findings suggest that disruptive behaviors are not something to overlook when considering romantic partners,” Wildey said. “In addition, without any intervention, these behaviors can persist across adulthood and are, therefore, something that should be addressed for couples who want to have a healthier relationship with one another.”
MSU Psychology professor Brent Donnellan was a co-author on the paper. Donnellan, who researches personality, hopes these findings encourage people to consider patterns of behaviors and personality traits when thinking about long-term relationship partners.
“People might overlook these attributes in the initial stages of attraction but this study highlights their relevance for happy and mutually satisfying partnerships,” Donnellan said.
The Veterans Day panel at the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s WKTV Government Matters discussion heard from veteran Travis Snyder and others. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
Federal, state, county and city government leaders and representatives listened to veterans telling their inspiring stories and express their concerns about government services Monday, Nov. 11, as the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum was fittingly held at Kentwood’s AMVETS Post 23.
WKTV recorded the meeting, which also included some discussion on state government budget issues, and not is only rebroadcasting it on WKTV’s channels but also making it available on WKTV’s on-demand website (wktvlive.org).
The Government Matters meeting brings together representatives from the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, Kent County commissioners, local Michigan state senators and representatives, as well as often representatives of Michigan’s U.S. senators and U.S. congressman who represent the Wyoming and Kentwood area.
The intergovernmental discussion hosted by the chamber focuses on issues that effect local residents, businesses — and veterans and their families.
For more information about the chamber and Government Matters visit southkent.org.
The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the latest meeting on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., as well as on select Saturdays, on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26. For a highlight schedule of WKTV cable programs visit wktvjournal.org.
