Here’s the book for those of us who don’t want to invest in all the oils, powders and equipment needed to make beauty products at home.
Starting off with the best foods for our inner beauty, Hanson guides the reader to find the truly “natural” or “organic” products. We must take the time to read the ingredients thoroughly to protect ourselves from the marketing labels. Natural makeup has no added synthetic ingredients like chemical preservatives, colors or fragrances. But, certified organic is better because the ingredients are grown without pesticides.
Recommended eco-friendly products are named and discussed in each chapter: cleansers, moisturizers, makeup, lipsticks, lip balm and more.
There is a chapter for men too.
In less than 200 pages, Hanson covers the subject concisely and also gives a resource guide to eco-friendly suppliers.
As we age and those we care about age alongside us, we eventually enter the territory of difficult conversations and decisions. One of the most difficult discussions with a loved one is the recognition that a loved one needs more help than they currently have.Today, nearly a third of older adults live alone. Often, other family members will step up to help, but as the need for assistance increases many family members find that they do not have enough hours in their lives to provide the help that is necessary. While the caregivers might recognize the need for more help, the person who actually needs the help might disagree, even outright refuse help.
The range of options as we age has dramatically expanded, because we’ve come to recognize that the most ideal situation for older adults is to be able to remain in our own homes as we age. Now the care comes to people, right into their own home, rather than needing to move to a nursing home for care. Support services are now available, even for lower income adults, making it possible for them to continue living independently.One would think anyone would be thrilled to learn about these options, but often, family members discover just the opposite. When presented with the possibility of having care come to them, some people resist assistance. What can we do?
The first step is to recognize that our loved one has been an independent, capable person, making their own decisions, and determining their life direction for decades. They do not want to hear what other people think is best for them.
Julie Alicki, a Social Work Consultant and Certified Advanced Dementia Practitioner with Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, states, “All too often an older child attempts to tell their parent what is “good” for them and in the process builds resentment because the parent feels that their child is trying to tell them what is best for them, when really they are the experts in their own life.”
It’s not wrong to present our loved ones with good options, but it is important that we remember they are self-determined individuals. Alicki suggests, “Using facts instead of emotional pleas for them to make changes is usually the best way.” This approach respects them as the main decision maker in their own life.
Timing is also important. All too often, families wait until either they are at their wits’ end or there is a crisis before they seek help. Wanting to establish in-home services for a loved one might be a good thing, but too much all at once can be overwhelming, presenting a dramatic change to a person’s life and their environment.
Alicki, who meets with individuals and their family members daily to review these options, advises families to “[Bring] help in gradually, for instance having someone come in one time per week for 2-3 hours to clean, is easier than to wait until a person needs help with everything and trying to have someone in the house numerous times per week; start slow and work your way up.”
As they become used to the change and recognize the benefits of the assistance, they may be open to more.
There will always be bumps in the road. Thankfully, there are professionals like Alicki who can help navigate them. If this is a conversation you need to have with a family member, contacting Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan’s Choices for Independence program might be a good place to start. They are able to look at the situation and help individuals and families understand the range of options available to help them continue living at home. To make an appointment, call 888.456.5664 or email aaainfo@aaawm.org.
Kentwood resident James Kristan remembers the moment the world stopped for him. He was getting ready to paint the small garage door to his home when an WYCE host announced that a plane had hit the twin towers.
“I’m originally from Connecticut, but New York was my stomping grounds,” Kristan said. “It was the place that I hung out with my bros.”
Kristan, an Army veteran, spent the next eight years immersed in the day’s events and its effects. The result being the documentary “Moving on From 9/11: One Man’s Story,” which will air on WKTV’s Channel 25 at 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, and again at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12.
“I interviewed firefighters from Battalion 1, some of the very first to respond,” Kristan said. It was actually the battalion chief of Battalion 1 who witnessed the American Airlines Flight 11 crash into the North Tower of the World Trader Center on Sept, 11 and immediately radioed a multiple alarm incident. Of the 412 emergency works who died during the World Trade Center attacks, 343 were New Your City Fire Department firefighters.
The events for the Sept. 11 attacks started when two planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were crashed into the North and South Towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in New York City. Within an hour and 42 minutes, both 110-story towers collapsed. A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon leading to a partial collapse of the building’s western side. A fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, initially was steered toward Washington D.C., but crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Penn. after its passengers tried to overcome the hijackers.
For several years, Kristan attended the memorial ceremonies for the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 and the documentary includes some of those memorial tributes. Kristan also spent several months gaining access to the chapel in the Pentagon where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed and is one of a few allowed to film in the chapel.
“For me this was about healing,” said Kristan who said the attacks brought on his post traumatic stress disorder or PSTD. In fact, Kristan said every Sept. 11, he spends the day reflecting and remembering those who perished during the attacks and those who risked their lives to help others.
An artist, Kristan has moved forward. He has participated in ArtPrize in 2009 and 2013 and is planning to return in 2018. He has the largest 9/11 memorabilia collection that includes pieces of the World Trade Towers. He also is the president of the West Michigan 9/11 Memorial.
However Kristan said he will never forget what happened and will continue to educate others about the 9/11 attacks and how it changed the United States.
At East Lee Campus, you’ll find students participating in a mock trial with a local mayor as judge, presenting marketing plans for a school store to area business owners, and discussing the “modern technological revolution” and possible impacts of technology on the future workforce. Part of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, this program is an alternative high school with 110 ninth through 12th-graders.
“This school is the first time I’ve done this,” senior Quavion Woods said, about using skills like creativity, collaboration and critical thinking to present a plan for a school store last spring. This occurred during a competition in the style of the TV show “Shark Tank.” His team won. “I had to step up a little. I wasn’t used to being a leader.”
Quavion said he sees how the project will benefit him in the future. Getting to know people by working with them was valuable. “I learned from that. If I want to go into business or something I know I will have a good experience from this.”
Teacher Justin Noordhoek uses project-based learning in his economics/English and world history/English hybrid courses, which involves teaching students to use six skills that all start with the letter C. Educating students using the lens of the “6Cs” is an approach being embraced districtwide as teachers and administrators study a book called “Becoming Brilliant,” by psychologists Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, as a main resource on how to teach students best. These authors say brilliance is not defined by a single test score but by the development of skills that serve as a foundation for learning. Here is a Q and A with the authors in Psychology Today.
Hirsh-Pasek, author of several books and hundreds of publications. is the Stanley and Debra Lefkowitz Faculty Fellow in the Department of Psychology at Temple University and a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. Her book,” “Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Children Really Learn and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less,” won the prestigious Books for Better Life Award as the best psychology book in 2003. Golinkoff is the Unidel H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Education, Psychology, and Linguistics and Cognitive Science at the University of Delaware and director of the Child’s Play, Learning, and Development laboratory.
“Becoming Brilliant” explains how the “6Cs” are vital for success in future careers. They include collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creative innovation and confidence. Development of these skills improves the way students learn the sixth C that usually gets the most attention: content.
“This shouldn’t be an alternative method of teaching, it should be the method of teaching,” Noordhoek said.
Godfrey Early Childhood Center students play in an outdoor learning center, an initiative to give students creative learning opportunities
All C’s are Equal
There’s research that shows he’s right. Educators, looking beyond test results, are wondering, what is brilliance and how can it be cultivated?
Turns out, brain development involves much more than may come to mind. The book uses thousands of research papers to back up the 6Cs approach,and that intelligence is not a singular entity. Real learning embraces the 6Cs and the environments that foster real learning, the authors state. Although there are many wonderful schools and teachers trying to encourage the breadth of skills that children need, high-stakes tests really limit what they can do.
The district’s goal is to educate “the whole child,” meaning going deeper than test scores in assessing student learning from preschool through graduation, said Godfrey-Lee Assistant Superintendent Carol Lautenbach. Teachers have already embraced the idea with initiatives like Day of Play, when students spend a whole school day in self-guided play; a STEAM Maker Day, where students played with gadgets and tinkered with design; and by opening an outdoor learning center with ample opportunities to bring class outside.
But no C is less or greater than another, Lautenbach said, stressing that they are ditching the hierarchy that puts less traditional skills on the back burner. The Board of Education adopted a Learner Profile in May that gives all C’s the same strength.
“Sometimes (educators) take skills outside of the content and we call them soft skills or 21st century skills,” Lautenbach said. “But these are all equal parts of becoming successful.”
Lautenbach said Godfrey-Lee is the perfect place for the initiative. She hopes to see teachers discovering students’ interests and helping them take off in learning about those things in different ways. “That takes a really skilled teacher, and we have them.”
It’s instruction that goes deeper than learning information for a test.
“It goes to the ‘why?’” she said. “Why do we teach math? We don’t teach math so you can do math. We teach math so you can do something with math. It will switch the way we instruct.”
Carol Lautenbach
Brilliant Minds Work Together
Administrators contacted Hirsh-Pasek last year with the idea of using the book, written for parents, in an educational setting. Hirsh-Pasek plans to lead some professional development in the district later this school year.
Teaching should match how children learn best and most happily, through exploration and discovery, Hirsh-Pasek said in a phone interview. They should pursue and dig deeper into individual interests, developing a love for learning.
Lee High School students tinker with gadgets and design materials
She named several ideas that promote the 6Cs: creating collaborative art murals that require communication, creativity and planning; learning how to find fact-based evidence and apply it to take a stance on issues like climate change; hosting classroom debates that require research, evidence and communication skills.
Sound a little like Noordhoek’s class? “(Becoming Brilliant) really changed our focus here as a school,” he said. “We started to look at the data of how students were achieving in project-based learning courses. … We thought we really need to become a project-based learning school”– a model increasingly popular at other schools, including Kent Innovation High.
Instruction embedded with the 6Cs can make school much more meaningful, Hirsh-Pasek said. But in the education climate of high-stakes testing, schools have often been regulated to “teach to the test.”
“That has made us as a society believe success can be defined by a test score,” she said. That’s why she’s elated to work with Godfrey-Lee.
“When I see a school system willing to branch out — to use definitions of success that every parent out there would want for their children, that don’t exclude the basics but include so much more — that’s so exciting.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
Whether we’re young, middle-aged, or elderly, the 28th Street Metro Cruise brought smiles to all. It was a fantastic weekend, Aug. 25-26, for the great city of Wyoming! And, also Kentwood and Grandville. I covered a half mile stretch, from Clyde Park to Michael/DeHoop avenues, and saw hundreds of classic cars. If you are a car enthusiast, this was — and is each year — a MUST SEE.
By Brooke Hotchkiss, Humane Society of West Michigan
Each week, WKTV features an adoptable furry friend (or few) from various shelters in the Grand Rapids area. This week, we focus on Humane Society of West Michigan, located at 3077 Wilson Dr. NW in Grand Rapids.
Humane Society of West Michigan’s mission is to rescue hurt, abused and abandoned animals and find them new, forever homes. The 501(c)3 non-profit organization helps over 8,000 animals annually and is 100% donor-funded by caring individuals and businesses in the community. Additional programs help reduce pet overpopulation, provide assistance to low-income pet owners, behaviorally assess animals and reunite lost pets with their owners.
Mally — Female American Staffordshire Terrier Mix
I’m a happy, 3-year-old dog looking to find my forever family! I always have smile and a wagging tail for my friends. I play well with other dogs, but would not do well in a home with cats. I was transferred to HSWM from another shelter, so much of my history is a mystery, but I’m looking forward to building a happy life with my new family! Please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan and see if we are the right fit!
More about Mally:
Animal ID: 36347281
Breed: Terrier, American Staffordshire/Mix
Age: 3 years
Gender: Male
Size: Large
Color: White/Brown
Neutered
Ms. Grumble
Ms. Grumble — Female Domestic Short Hair
I am an 8-year-old cat looking for my forever home! I enjoy affection and pets, but once I am done I will let you know that I am ready to enjoy some quiet time on my own. I would do best in a home with no small children. I would do well in a relaxed home with no other pets where I could have my own space to relax and nap, but also be able to socialize with my family! Please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan!
More about Ms. Grumble
Animal ID: 35837287
Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix
Age: 8 years
Gender: Female
Size: Small
Color: Black/White
Spayed
Declawed
Humane Society of West Michigan is open Tuesday-Friday 12pm-7pm, Saturday-Sunday 11am-4pm.
The Humane Society of West Michigan automatically microchips all adoptable animals using 24PetWatch microchips, which include FREE registration into the 24PetWatch pet recovery service. For more information visit www.24petwatch.com or call 1-866-597-2424. This pet is also provided with 30 days of FREE ShelterCare Pet Health Insurance with a valid email address. For more information visit www.sheltercare.com or call 1-866-375-7387 (PETS).
Humane Society of West Michigan is open Tues-Fri 12-7, Sat & Sun 11-4.
Other positions you have held in education (title, school, district, state):
Sixth-and-seventh-grade social studies teacher at Jackson Park Junior High School
9th and 10th-grade social studies teacher at Wyoming Park and Rogers High schools
Assistant principal at Wyoming Junior High
Assistant principal at Wyoming High School
Head varsity football coach at Wyoming Park High School
How about jobs outside education? My dad owned a roofing and siding business and I was the “cutter boy.” I would cut the siding and he would hang it. I also cut grass for my brother’s landscape company, worked part-time for a plumber, delivered products for Kent Rubber Supply, loaded trucks for East Jordan Iron Works, maintained grounds for South Kent Recreation Association and worked in a plastic molding factory.
Spouse/children: I married my high-school sweetheart, Melissa DeJarnatt. We went to West Elementary School together but we didn’t know each other then because she was two grades ahead of me. We have a daughter, Madisyn, 11; and a son, Kolten, 8.
West Elementary Principal Josh Baumbach was once a student there
Hobbies/Interests/Little-known talent: I love to hunt deer, rabbit and raccoon with my dad and brothers. I’ve coached football for the past 14 years. I enjoy reading books. My twin brother and I participate in Spartan Races. I can wiggle both ears or just one, and I can do a poor impersonation of Donald Duck.
What kind of kid were you at the age of students at this new school?
I was an active kid. I played outside all the time with my siblings (five brothers and a sister). We would catch salamanders, hunt for frogs and turtles in Buck Creek, build tree forts behind our house, ride snowmobiles, swim and play sports. We spent a lot of time at Buck Creek, and every time we left the house our parents would say, “Don’t come back wet!” Without fail, one of us would fall in the creek and we’d wait for hours before coming home so our clothes would dry.
The biggest lesson you have learned from students is… to forgive and forget and to laugh every day.
Finish this sentence: If I could go back to school I would go to grade… fifth grade, as a student in Ms. Donovan’s class. She challenged me to be a better student and person each and every day.
If you walked into your new school building to theme music every day, what would the song be?
“Happy,” by Pharrell Williams
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
WKTV will not only continue featuring a football Game of the Week, but this month will be branching out to some new high school athletic venues as well. Starting with the Saturday, Sept. 9, youth equestrian meet at the Barry County Fairgrounds and followed the next week by the boys water polo tournament at East Kentwood, then a Friesian horse show as well as a boys soccer game.
The full month schedule of broadcasts is tentatively set as the following:
Friday, Sept. 8, football – Calvin Christian at Godwin Heights
Saturday, Sept. 9, youth equestrian at Barry County Fairgrounds
Friday, Sept. 15, football – Grand Rapids Christian vs South Christian at East Kentwood
Saturday, Sept. 16, boys water polo – East Kentwood Falcon Tourney
Friday, Sept. 22, football – Grandville at East Kentwood
Saturday, Sept. 23, Friesian Horse Show
Monday, Sept. 25, boys soccer – South Christian at East Kentwood
Friday, Sept. 29, football – Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights
WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week (through the holiday weekend break) are as follows:
Tuesday, Sept. 5
Boys Soccer
Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville
Calvary Christian @ Zion Christian
Grand Rapids Christian @ South Christian
Caledonia @ East Kentwood
FH Eastern @ Wyoming
Girls Volleyball
Wellsprings Prep @ Godwin Heights – Quad
Calvary Christian @ Zion Christian
Muskegon Catholic Central @ Tri-Unity Christian
Wyoming @ Allegan
West Michigan Aviation @ West Michigan Lutheran
Boys Tennis
Union @ Kelloggsville
Girls Golf
South Christian @ Calvin Christian
Wyoming @ Zeeland West
Wednesday, Sept. 6
Girls Volleyball
Fennville @ Wyoming Lee
South Christian @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Boys Tennis
Comstock Park @ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ Wyoming
Girls Golf
South Christian @ FH Eastern
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Wyoming @ FH Eastern
Boys Soccer
East Kentwood @ Catholic Central
Thursday, Sept. 7
Boys Soccer
Wyoming Lee @ Tri-County
Belding @ Godwin Heights
Holland Calvary @ Grand River Prep
West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville
EGR @ South Christian
Wyoming @ Wayland
Girls Volleyball
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
Holland Calvary @ Grand River Prep
West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
Girls Swimming
South Christian @ Ottawa Hills
Northview @ East Kentwood
Boys Tennis
Lowell @ Wyoming
Friday, Sept. 8
Football
Wyoming Lee vs NorthPointe Christian @ EGR
Calvin Christian/Potter’s House @ Godwin Heights
Buchanan @ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ FH Eastern
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Wyoming @ Grand Rapids Christian
Girls Swimming
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Boys Soccer
Tri-Unity Christian @ Hope Academy of West Michigan
Saturday, Sept. 9
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming Lee @ Fremont – Hill & Bale Invitational
Godwin Heights @ Fremont – Hill & Bale Invitational
Kelloggsville @ Fennville – Fennville Invite
Grand Rapids Christian @ South Christian – Christian School Invite
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – Bredeweg Invite
Wyoming @ West Ottawa – Bredeweg Invite
Girls Volleyball
Godwin Heights @ Zion Christian
Kelloggsville @ Zion Christian
FH Central @ East Kentwood – EK Classic
Boys Soccer
Comstock Park @ Godwin Heights
Grand River Prep @ Portland
West Michigan Aviation @ South Haven – Shoreline Tournament
Michigan produce is in season, and there is no better time to shop with all of your senses. The smells, colors, textures, sounds and tastes of the markets will aliven and inspire you.
Michigan is second only to California in the variety of fruits and vegetables grown, so each week farmers markets have new items. Eating a variety of colors will benefit your health and add color to your plate. A diet rich in bright colors helps ensure your intake of daily vitamins and minerals.
Red – heart strong
Found in tomatoes and peppers
Orange – eye health
Found in carrots, peppers, tomatoes and sweet potatoes
Yellow – immune system
Found in squash, beans and tomatoes
Green – strong teeth and bones
Found in kale, spinach, peppers, peas, broccoli, lettuces and green beans
Blue and purple – memory
Found in blueberries, eggplant, beets, carrots (look for the purple variety) and lettuces
All fruits and vegetables are full of the things we need and low in the things we need less of, such as fat, sodium and cholesterol making them helpful in reducing risk for diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
To promote our robust Michigan agriculture, economy and the health of seniors, Michigan has entered a partnership with agencies including local Commission on Aging distribute thousands of dollars in MarketFresh coupons. These dollars are used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables across the state. In three counties of northern Michigan (Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Presque Isle) alone, $24,000 in coupons have been distributed to income eligible seniors.
Double Up Food Bucks program allows recipients Michigan Bridge Card / Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) to swipe their card for tokens that can be redeemed at the market and double the value up to $20. Double Up Food Bucks helps you double the amount of dollars you can spend on Michigan produce.
Ideas to incorporate the recommended 2-3 cups of produce (based on age, gender) include eating some at every meal and snack. Suggestions I’ve heard from seniors across northern Michigan at MarketFresh presentations include:
Breakfast — smoothies, omelettes, and cereal/oatmeal topped with fruit
Lunch — salads, lettuce/tomatoes on sandwiches, grapes added to chicken salad, and tacos
Dinners — steamed vegetables, stir fry with rice, and grilled
Snacks — celery and peanut butter, raw cucumber spears, and sliced fruits
Enjoy the bountiful benefits of farm market shopping. Your health and local economy will thank you.
If you have not discovered mystery writer Laurie Moore, you are seriously missing out. Jury Rigged is the first (but certainly not the last) of her books that I’ve read. A typical mystery, this story contains a murder or several, numerous twists, and characters quirky enough to rival Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum and friends.
The story begins with the engagement of main character, C’ezanne Martin, to Johnson County Sheriff, Bobby Noah, on Christmas day. The pair are semi-colleagues in Texas law enforcement; C’ezanne was a homicide detective in Fort Worth and bordered Johnson County where Bobby is assigned. C’ezanne has just taken a leave of absence from her detective position to launch a new career as a lawyer. The sheriff is called away on duty shortly after his marriage proposal is accepted, and C’ezanne is immediately sucked back into danger from a recently escaped felon that she helped convict.
From there, the story becomes a roller coaster ride of mishaps and intrigue, with each new character and event adding to the confusion of C’ezanne’s life. If you think Stephanie Plum has a strange family and finds herself in some tight spots, you must get to know C’ezanne Martin. Similar to Stephanie Plum, C’ezanne seems to have a talent for drawing danger into her life while just managing to squeak though the toughest situations.
Even though I hadn’t read anything by Laurie Moore prior to this book, I thought she did a good job of keeping the reader up to date on important events and characters from past encounters without sounding stilted. The pacing within the story was good. Moore delivered enough details without overwhelming reader with unnecessary facts. Moore’s writing is a little darker and more edgy that that of Janet Evanovich, but I think would definitely appeal to Evanovich’s faithful readers who may be looking for something new.
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a four-part series about how to stand out in your job search.
The internet has endless amounts of articles and videos with job search help. However, sometimes you need a little more assistance than just reading an article. There are many free resources available in Holland, ranging from computer access to one-on-one job coaching. If you’re feeling stuck in your job search, visit or contact one of these places to help you move forward in your job search.
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
In honor of Cinco de Mayo, 2017, Dr. Jen opted to give all of the ‘newbies’ for the month names of Hispanic origin; we had already had a Cinco (and Dr. Jen is saving Mayo for a white kitty).
Cute and cuddly Cuervo (born in the spring of 2013, came to us through volunteer Sandi D’s TNR efforts on the south side of town. Suffering from a full thickness right-sided facial wound, he sported a lop-sided grin for several weeks until his skin healed. Since he was all male before his rescue, it is no wonder that fighting with another cat transmitted the virus to him.
He is the type of cat that THRIVES in our free roaming shelter situation and he is enthralled by everything and captivated by everyone! He literally follows the volunteers around and throws himself at their feet, flopping over and begging for belly rubs every chance he gets; however, it is getting brushed that induces an almost catatonic, rapturous state — more than anything, this tickles his fancy to no end! He is going to make paws-itively THE purr-fect companion for the luckiest of families who scoop him up and take him home!
Want to adopt Cuervo? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here. Go here to learn about FIV. Go here to learn about FeLV.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
One of the statements hospice workers hear most often is “I wish I’d called hospice sooner”. What is hospice care and when should I seek it out?
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is a set of specialized services to help patients and their loved ones cope with advanced or terminal illness. The focus of hospice care is on improving the patient’s and families’ quality of life though a specialized team which can include doctors, nurses, home health aides, social workers, spiritual care providers and other professionals like nutritionists and therapists. Hospice care can provide support and comfort for both patients and families.
Benefits to the Patient
It’s easier to face changes in life when you are prepared. Bringing hospice on board early in the process of a long-term illness means you won’t be scrambling to get services when you reach a crisis and you’ll be able to take advantage of all the support hospice care offers.
“Starting hospice early offers the patient better quality of life, especially since their pain and problematic symptoms can be brought under control. Some hospice patients still drive and still go to work,” says Rene Wheaton, administrator of Faith Hospice. “When they reach a point where they need us, we’re already there to help.”
File photo
Benefits to Caregivers
Hospice offers benefits to caregivers as well. Caregivers can become burned out, particularly If the patient has waited too long to sign on to hospice care. Hospice staff can provide help.
Hospice staff can educate the caregiver, as well as answer questions that may come up — for example, can the patient be safely left alone or can they still drive?
Hospice nurses and aides monitor and recognize changes in the patient’s condition that may not be obvious to the caregiver.
Hospice staff includes trained volunteers able to provide short-term respite for caregivers.
Hospice Support
Hospice brings an entire team of professionals and volunteers ready to provide help and support.
Medical professionals, including doctors who are board certified in hospice and palliative care, as well as nurses trained in hospice care. The medical team is experienced in pain control and symptom relief.
Chaplains are available to provide spiritual support to the patient and their family, if desired.
Social workers can help with the practical and emotional needs of the patient and their family.
Through hospice, aides can come to your home to help with personal care.
“There are so many benefits to bringing in hospice as soon as a patient has received a life-limiting diagnosis,” said Wheaton. “The services provided can greatly increase quality of life for both the patient and their family. We have even had people go off hospice because they have improved so much, often because they were able to leave the hospital and return home to familiar surroundings and loving family members.”
Wyoming’s Parkview Elementary School teachers demonstrated their love for new school supplies at the Teacher Resource Store, where they left with cartloads of notebooks, pencils, folders, paper and the promise to “pay it forward.”
“Oh my gosh! Look at how cute these Post-it notes are!” one teacher squealed, delighted to receive a full bag of whimsically decorated sticky notes for her classroom.
As teachers prepared their classrooms this summer, they took advantage of a new resource aimed to alleviate the cost burden of school supplies in low-income schools.
The Storehouse of Community Resources, located in a portion of Frontline Community Church, 4411 Plainfield Ave. NE, includes the Teacher Resource Store. There, teachers from schools with at least 70 percent of students qualifying for free and reduced-lunch rates can shop together as a staff twice a year for just $50 per school. Recently it was Parkview teachers’ turn to stock up.
World Vision donates supplies
“There are so many things I buy at Meijer all summer long,” said Parkview teacher Angela Clum, whose cart was filled with necessities. “It is tremendous that we can have this as a resource.”
Former teacher Jessica Johns started the volunteer-run Storehouse last October with supplies from World Vision, a global humanitarian organization. It also includes the Essentials store, where low-income families can shop monthly for toiletries, household goods and hygiene items.
Johns, a former teacher at inner-city schools in Indiana, said Teacher Resource Store helps fill a need tied to social justice. A Frontline Church member, Johns served on the missions and outreach team and worked to start a community center. That idea evolved into the Storehouse.
Parkview teachers Angela Clum, left, and Holly Moog shop for supplies
Relieving Cost to Teachers
Teachers, especially in low-income schools, spend hundreds of dollars annually to stock their classrooms, and many students rely completely on schools for supplies, said store coordinator Michaela Krull, a Grand Rapids Public Schools elementary school teacher.
“We really want to help the teachers that don’t have really strong parent ability to offer financial help,” Krull said. “Those teachers are buying everything – 100 percent of their school supplies.
“I’ve been a recipient of these supplies, and I know how burdensome it can be financially to buy all those things yourself.”
When Krull first utilized the store as a shopper in April, she realized what a gift to the community it was. Items coveted by many a teacher — Expo markers, ASTROBRIGHTS paper and pre-sharpened Ticonderoga pencils — were available for the taking. “We posed for pictures with the supplies and everything, we were so excited.”
Parkview teacher Elissa Lauer prepares to stock her kindergarten class
So far, Wyoming, Godwin Heights, Godfrey-Lee, Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming and Northview public schools teachers have shopped, and more schools are on a wait-list. Johns hopes to serve more schools in the near future.
Besides the $50 per school fee, the only other requirement is that teachers “pay it forward” in some way that involves their students and community.
Parkview Principal Katie Jobson said about 90 percent of her students are economically disadvantaged.
“This frees up teachers to use resources in other ways,” Jobson said. “It’s fantastic and what a neat message to pay it forward.”
School busses and backpacks are everywhere, which can only mean one thing: Summer is coming to an end and cooler weather is on its way. Regardless of how you feel about Michigan winters, saving money is something everyone can appreciate. Tackle these home projects now, before the snow flies, to save energy and money this winter!
Replace your furnace filter. The Department of Energy recommends replacing your furnace filter once per month (or as directed) when your furnace is in use. If you have pets or smokers in the house, it will likely need to be done more often. A clean filter means your furnace can work more efficiently, saving energy and money!
Use a programmable thermostat. If you have a programmable thermostat, be sure to use it. Set temperatures lower when no one is home or at night when sleeping. You can reduce your heating costs by as much as 10 percent a year by lowering your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees for at least eight hours a day.
Find and stop air leaks. It is estimated that the number of air leaks in the average house adds up to the equivalent of leaving a medium-sized window open all day, everyday. Leaks are most often found around windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures and attic hatches. Stop any air leaks you find using caulk, seal or weather stripping.
Seal air ducts. Air ducts carry air from your furnace to each room in your home. If there are leaks in your air ducts, you are losing heat to spaces in your walls, ceilings and floors. Look for joints in your ducts that have come loose or have obvious holes. Use tape to seal any leaks found. The Department of Energy recommends tape with the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) logo on it.
Weatherize Windows. Windows can let enough warm air escape your home to account for 10 to 25 percent of your heating bill! If you have storm windows, install them now to decrease heat loss when the weather turns cold. To further reduce heat loss install clear plastic film on the inside of your window frames. Closing curtains and shades at night will also lessen cold drafts. Open them back up during the day to allow natural sunlight to warm your house.
Learn more DIY projects to save money and energy with the Energy Saver Guide. Prefer an expert opinion on weatherizing your home for winter? Get a professional energy audit. ACSET Community Action Agency (CAA) provides free home energy audits and weatherization services to eligible low-income households. To learn more and see if you qualify, contact ACSET CAA at 616.336.4000.
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org.
Wyoming high and Holland high were featured on WKTV’s first televised game of the fall season. (WKTV)
By Rob Gee
WKTV sports volunteer/news@wktv.org
The year was 2008.
President George W. Bush was finishing his second term in office, Barack Obama was running for a first term. The war in Afghanistan was only six years old, OJ Simpson was convicted of a crime that would send him to prison and Lehman Brothers was still in business.
2008 was the last time that Wyoming Lee High School football would start the season with a win. After eight consecutive years of opening the season with a loss, Lee started its 2017 football campaign with a win by defeating New Buffalo, 26-8, on Thursday, Aug. 24.
As part of WKTV’s 2017-18 high school sports game coverage schedule, the video crew will be at Lee this Thursday, Aug. 31, for a 7 p.m. game. For a complete list of local high school sports scheduled visit here.
To find an opening day with Lee winning by more than 18 points, one must go all the way back to 1998, when Lee opened the season with a 64-0 win over Bloomingdale.
By no means does this set Lee up for a winning season but sure does set a tone for a different season than what Lee students have become accustom to having been 1-32 in their last 33 games.
A big catch and touchdown by speedster Thomas Robinson, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. and a defensive touchdown by JJ Williams, secured the win for the Rebels.
In other Wyoming-Kentwood area opening-night action:
Wyoming Kelloggsville was a winner in their game against White Hall by a score of 26-23, as ultra-Back Thomas Griggs scored once on the ground and once as a receiver to lead his team to the win as the Rockets try to repeat as OK Silver conference champs.
Godwin Heights defeat Hamilton, 45-35, as Susu Davenport started right where he left off last season in being an exciting playmaker.
South Christian defeated Holland Christian, 40-12, as quarterback Andrew Haan threw for a couple touchdowns and their dynamic cornerback/wide receiver Jared Gordon intercepted a pass and then scored on a reception in the next series for South Christian. Gordon went on to have a second interception later in the game.
East Kentwood got in on the winning night for area teams by crushing Macomb L’anse Creuse North, 45-6.
Wyoming High School lost its opener to Holland, 28-6, in a game that was close right up until the fourth quarter.
Tri-Unity also lost its opener to St. Philip Catholic Central (Battle Creek) by a score of 14-8.
Interested in being a WKTV sports volunteer, working game production or writing for WKTV Journal? Visit here for a story.
The Crows is the first mystery novel from local romance writer Maris Soule. The story follows P.J. Benson and her four-month-old Rhodesian Ridgeback, Baraka, as they get personally involved with a series of break-ins and murders that seem to point to Benson as the prime suspect.
The book starts with Benson finding a dying man in her house after returning from a walk with her dog. Homicide Detective, Wade Kingsley, begins to suspect that Benson may be involved in the murder, especially after a series of events keep her in the center of the mystery.
Part romance, part mystery with a dash of suspense, this book has enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Set in rural West Michigan, local readers will enjoy glimpsing their region through the eyes of the characters.
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a four-part series about how to stand out in your job search.
Hiring managers look for lots of qualities in job seekers during an interview, including ones not listed in the job description. These qualities are important to help you get and keep a job. Make sure you stand out from the rest by showing employers you are loyal, accountable and have a good attitude.
Loyalty matters
Loyalty doesn’t mean you will stay in the same job for 20 years. It means you won’t talk poorly about your manager or the company. You take pride in your work and give 100% each day. If you do switch jobs, you leave the position respectfully, not burning any bridges.
Accountability counts
Showing up and leaving on time is important to employers. Take sick days only if you are ill and leave your vacation days for relaxing. Make childcare arrangements before starting a new job to avoid unnecessary absences. Show hiring managers you’re accountable by listing any attendance awards on your resume. In your interview, make sure to mention ways you are accountable at your current job.
Attitude is everything
Employers can teach you new skills and processes for a job. But, they can’t teach you a new attitude. Hiring managers look for candidates who will bring a genuine, positive attitude to work every day. Communicate this in your interview by walking in confidently with a smile on your face. Don’t be afraid to talk about challenges you’ve faced in your last job, but make sure to let them know how you resolved it appropriately.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
Do you know a crime-fighting hero that works tirelessly in keeping our community or their neighborhood safe? If you do, Silent Observer is giving you the opportunity to nominate them for one of Silent Observer’s Community Heroes Awards. This event was created to recognize both law enforcement and civilians who have made significant contributions to safety and crime prevention. The nominee’s efforts should be directed within the boundaries of Kent County. Winners will be celebrated and recognized at Silent Observer’s First Annual Community Heroes Awards Luncheon on December 7, 2017.
Award Categories are:
Law Enforcement Bridge Builder Award
Building Stronger Neighborhoods Award
Making A Difference Community Award
Click here to download the Nomination Application for a description of each award category and for the award application. Deadline for nominations is October 20, 2017.
For more information, visit Silent Observer’s website here.
About Silent Observer:
Public Act 557 strengthens Silent Observer’s promise of anonymity to tipsters who call our tip line with information about crime. The law protects Silent Observer’s records from subpoena unless the information would clear a defendant of guilt. “The guarantee of anonymity is the most important element of Silent Observer and Crime Stoppers programs,” said Chris Cameron, Executive Director of Silent Observer. ” It is what makes our program a vital tool in obtaining leads to assist investigators in solving crime.”
Silent Observer will pay a reward of up to $1,000 if your tip leads to the arrest of an individual. The reward amount is based on the severity of the crime and how important the tip was to police. A reward is available for any serious crime solved with the help of a tip to Silent Observer. So if you have information about crime call the Silent Observer tip line at 616.774.2345.
It’s gonna be cars, cars and more cars this weekend as the 13th Annual Metro Cruise takes place this Friday and Saturday along 28th Street.
Once again, the epicenter of it all will be Rogers Plaza with cars, vendors and food along with WKTV on site to record the two-day event.
“It has grown into quite a large event,” said Bob O’Callaghan, the president of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, which ha hosted the annual event. “The original thought process was to get a few cars and a couple thousand people at Rogers Plaza to highlight 28th Street and last year we have about 250,000 people and about 16,000 collector cars.”
New to this year’s event is the Blessing of the Cars which takes place Thursday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. at Wesley Park United Methodist Church, 1120 32nd St. SW. The lot will open for cars starting at 6 p.m. Cars should enter off of 32nd Street or Michael Avenue.
On the east end of 28th Street will be the Cascade’s Metro Cruise Warm Up from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Thornapple Center, 6797 Cascade Rd SE. (near the Cascade Road and 28th Street intersection.) Along with lots of cars, there will be food trucks, live music from the band Decades, kids’ activities, and a dunk tank to benefit the Kent County Sheriff’s Department’s K9 Unit. The event is sponsored by the Cascade DDA, Cascade Community Foundation and the Forest Hills Business Association.
Other new additions to this year is expand hours for the event with it running from 4 – 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, and 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, said O’Callaghan, noting the closing times are about an hour later than in previous years.
For Friday, Aug. 25, food and vendors will be at Rogers Plaza along with a variety of cars. Main Stage entertainment will feature Big Boss Band at 4 p.m. followed by local country singer Kari Lynch at 7 p.m.
While the event starts on Friday, which O’Callaghan noted organizers have seen increase attendance Friday night over the past several years, the official opening ceremonies take place at 9 a.m. Saturday. During the ceremonies, the GM Foundation presents checks to several local charities.
At a 11 a.m., about eight ladies will compete in the annual Pin Up contest, which is an era-type contest with the ladies involved dressing according to the era they represent, O’Callaghan said,
“The belief before people get to know Pin Up is that it’s just women perpetuating the old school idea that women should be beautiful and something that men should look at,” said Amanda Miehle, who is Victory Belle and will be competing in this year’s contest. That women can’t be more than a pretty face but Pin Up is so much more than that. It is empowering. Women took something with a stigma and a label that was once almost degrading to women and they reclaimed it. These women are amazing. They are strong. They are empowering. They are uplifting to other women. They are not afraid to get on a stage and show the world they are beautiful.
“It’s kind of like taking something and making it our own.”
There is more music starting at noon on Saturday with blues group Out of Favor Boys followed by country group Stolen Horses at 3:30 p.m. and JetBeats wrapping up the evening with a performance from 7 – 8:45 p.m.
Of course there are activities all along 28th Street at various businesses and car dealerships. One such event that takes place through the entire month of August is the Art Cruise. Similar to ArtPrize, local artists are matched with 18 Wyoming businesses where the artists’ work is featured for the month.
For a complete list of the businesses — or for more about this year’s Metro Cruise — make sure to pick up a brochure at the event or visit 28thstreetmetrocruise.com.
Some of the many volunteers who helped with programming, from an August volunteer appreciation event. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
WKTV, community television for Wyoming and Kentwood, will be heading out on the road this fall for high school sports coverage of football, swimming, water polo and soccer — as well as youth equestrian competition. And for all events volunteer crews are being welcomed, trained and occasionally feed pizza.
Not a sports fan but want to get involved? There are many opportunities such as helping to produce a newscast, a public affairs talk show, and other special community events including concerts.
If it wasn’t for the commitment and participation of our community volunteers, WKTV programming would not be possible. Volunteers are trained and operate the latest technology in cameras, and other video recording and editing equipment.
For more than 30 years, high school sports has covered countless local football and basketball games. And now other sports including baseball, softball and hockey games have been added. WKTV sports crews also work the annual Golden Gloves tournament held in West Michigan.
Typically, WKTV sports covers Tuesday and Friday night contests that are aired later that night, and again the following Saturday morning. Usual commitment of time, after training, is 2-to-3 hours a night.
Newscast and public affairs show taping are typically on Thursday afternoons, also with a commitment of 2-3 hours for each show.
To get more information on volunteering for sports, contact Bill at bill@wktv.org or Davin at davin@wktv.org. For information on volunteering for newsroom projects, contact Joanne at joanne@wktv.org or Ken at ken@wktv.org .
By Brooke Hotchkiss, Humane Society of West Michigan
Each week, WKTV features an adoptable furry friend (or few) from various shelters in the Grand Rapids area. This week, we focus on Humane Society of West Michigan, located at 3077 Wilson Dr. NW in Grand Rapids.
Humane Society of West Michigan’s mission is to rescue hurt, abused and abandoned animals and find them new, forever homes. The 501(c)3 non-profit organization helps over 8,000 animals annually and is 100% donor-funded by caring individuals and businesses in the community. Additional programs help reduce pet overpopulation, provide assistance to low-income pet owners, behaviorally assess animals and reunite lost pets with their owners.
Marcel — Male Shepherd/Hound Mix
I’m a 3-year-old goofy guy looking for my forever home! I’m an outgoing and social dog who was transferred to HSWM from another shelter making much of my history a mystery, however, they do know that I have lived successfully with children in the past.I love to fetch and play around! I’m looking for a home that could give me the attention and love I deserve! Please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan and see if we are the right fit!
I’m a 5-year-old cat looking for my forever home! I would do best in a home with no small children where I would have my own space. I’m a relaxed cat that enjoys pets, but I prefer to approach people for affection. I have a sweet personality and a lot of love to give! Please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan!
Kylie — Female American Staffordshire Terrier/Pointer Mix
I’m a sweet dog who has so much love to give! I’m social and friendly with people and I love to snuggle, lay on laps, give hugs, and give lots of kisses. I’m a laid-back dog who has successfully lived with young children and cats in the past. I do need to be adopted into a home where I am the only dog. I am very kennel-stressed right now and am reactive when I am on my leash and see another dog. This means that I need to be placed in a home with no other dogs where I would have the time and space to destress. My adoption fee is sponsored by Kool Toyota, plus they will give my adopters a $100 gift card to Chow Hound to get me all of the things I need to start a great life! Please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan and see if we are the right fit!
I’m a 6-year-old cat looking for my forever home! I have a relaxed personality and I like to have my own space, but I can also be very social and love to get pets when I approach. I would do well in a calm home that would give me time and space to adjust and warm up to my new surroundings. Please come meet me at Humane Society of West Michigan!
The Humane Society of West Michigan automatically microchips all adoptable animals using 24PetWatch microchips, which include FREE registration into the 24PetWatch pet recovery service. For more information visit www.24petwatch.com or call 1-866-597-2424. This pet is also provided with 30 days of FREE ShelterCare Pet Health Insurance with a valid email address. For more information visit www.sheltercare.com or call 1-866-375-7387 (PETS).
Humane Society of West Michigan is open Tues-Fri 12-7, Sat & Sun 11-4.
Experience Grand Rapids, in partnership with My City Bikes, has launched an app to help visitors access the city’s best local attractions and nearby communities on two wheels.
The new bike amenities include a comprehensive bike map with local road, recreational, and mountain biking opportunities, plus two self-guided bicycle day tours. Local bike maps and self-guided tours are available online at www.experiencegr.com/biking or in the free My City Bikes Grand Rapids mobile app.
Recommendations from the Destination Asset Study released in December 2016 showed that Grand Rapids has an opportunity to leverage outdoor recreation to increase travel to the area. Due to these findings, Experience Grand Rapids wanted to further promote and organize the biking scene which led to the partnership with My City Bikes and the development of two self-guided bicycle day tours.
Self-Guided Tour: West Side to Uptown Day Tour The “West Side to Uptown” Day Tour is a 9-mile loop that starts and finishes at John Ball Zoo. The day tour features a beginner-friendly route with destinations including the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, Rosa Parks Circle, Donkey Taqueria, New Holland Knickerbocker and more.
Self-Guided Tour: Stops Along the White Pine Trail The “Stops Along the White Pine Trail” Day Tour is a build your own adventure along Michigan’s second longest rail-trail. Beginning in Riverside Park in Grand Rapids, users can make the 6-mile round trip ride to Comstock Park, the 21-mile round trip ride to Rockford, or the 35-mile round trip adventure to Cedar Springs. The tour features highlights like Elk Brewing and the Rockford Dam Overlook at every stop along the way.
The self-guided bicycle tours and interactive Kent County bike map developed through a partnership between Experience Grand Rapids and global beginner biking specialists My City Bikes provide visitors with a bicycling adventure to enjoy at their own pace. Simply follow the turn-by-turn directions to pedal to historic places, delectable local flavors, and entertaining attractions for a quintessential Grand Rapids experience.
As with any bicycling adventure, safety should always come first. When riding a bicycle, always wear a helmet and use bike lights. Obey traffic signals and stop signs just as a car would, and stop at all intersections when on a shared-use path. Use hand signals like indicators to tell traffic when turning left or right. Use a bike lock to secure the bike to a rack when stopping at local attractions. For more information about bicycle safety, visit http://grdrivingchange.org.
It is not just the local school that will be starting before Labor Day, but many of the area’s private schools as well.
Both Wyoming and Kentwood are home to several faith-based and charter schools. Most of these schools will be opening Aug. 28. Those schools include: Grand River Prep, Potters House, South Christian High School, West Michigan Aviation Academy, West Michigan Lutheran ad Legacy Christian School. West Catholic and Catholic Central High Schools also are starting on Aug. 28.
Grand Rapids Christian High School started before everyone — and this includes public schools as well — on Aug. 16, while the first day of school for all the Calvin Christian schools is Aug. 29
Tri Unity Christian High School is one of the only private schools scheduled to start after Labor Day on Sept. 5.
Michigan law mandates that public schools may not start before Labor Day. However, districts may seek a wavier with the Michigan Department of Education reporting a record number of waivers for this school year totaling 123. This included 99 school districts and charter schools and 24 intermediate school districts, which includes Kent Intermediate School District. The Kent Career Technical Center is started on Monday, Aug. 21.
A for a list of the public school start dates, click here.
Living below the poverty level (less than $24,600 per month for a family of four) is a reality for 1 in 5 children in Kent County. Not only does living in poverty have negative effects during childhood, it can also cause life-long health issues like the ones discussed in part two of this series. Living in poverty effects nearly every aspect of child’s life including academic performance, emotional development and physical health.
Academics
For children, the effects of poverty begin before they are born. Low-income parents are more likely to experience environmental toxins, poor nutrition and exposure to excessive stress. All of these factors play a role on how a baby’s brain develops and can have long-term effects.
As poor children grow, they continue to face roadblocks to learning. They have decreased access to quality child care, which provides important building blocks needed to succeed in school. A lack of basic needs can also affect performance. How can a child concentrate in school when they are hungry?
Emotional Development
Quality early child care and education also builds the social and emotional foundation that children need. Without these skills, they are more likely to struggle with emotional and behavioral problems when they begin school.
Imagine growing up worrying about when you will eat next or if you will have a safe place to sleep. It is no surprise that children in poverty have more anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Many times these same concerns lead to challenges for their parents, such as marriage problems and depression. All of these pressures have been associated with mental illness in children.
Physical Health
Living in a poor community means increased exposure to environmental toxins like lead and violence that can lead to injury. It has also been linked to increased risk for diseases later in life, such as asthma, high blood pressure and stroke. Check out part one of this series to learn more about how growing up poor leads to long-term health problems in adults.
Living in poverty is a dangerous reality for too many in our community. That is why programs that decrease the effects of poverty, especially on children, are so important. ACSET Community Action Agency is addressing these outcomes by providing emergency assistance to families, like supplemental food and homelessness assistance programs. By supporting our neighbors, we are creating a brighter future for our children.
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org.
ArtPrize Labs offers hands-on contemporary art experiences to event visitors of all ages, encouraging them to not only experience the event but also to create works of their own.
ArtPrize, the independently organized art competition recognized as the world’s largest annual public art event, today announced 2017 programming for ArtPrize Labs, sponsored by Grand Valley State University, Herman Miller Cares, and Switch—which will encourage ArtPrize visitors to not only experience the art, but also to unleash their creative spirits at the ninth annual event and create works of their own. ArtPrize Nine is slated to return to Grand Rapids, Michigan from September 20-October 8, 2017.
“ArtPrize provides opportunities for people of all ages to discover, learn and create in a city transformed by art and overflowing with creative energy ,” said Becca Guyette, ArtPrize Education Director. “Through ArtPrize Labs, we seek to offer hands-on contemporary art experiences—and spark the curiosity of the next generation of art lovers.”
Returning for a third year are the ArtPrize Labs Studios—with two locations for ArtPrize Nine, inside the ArtPrize HUB/HQ and at Rosa Parks Circle. The drop-in studios provide materials for visitors of all ages to rest, unwind and explore their creative inspiration in a self-directed way. The studio at Rosa Parks Circle will be open daily from Noon-6 p.m., and the HUB/HQ location from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., daily during the event.
Additionally, ArtPrize Labs will once again feature Studio Events with hands-on activities at Rosa Parks Circle each Saturday during the event from Noon-3 p.m. Each event will feature different creative experiments including, a large collaborative cardboard installation, a 20-foot sharpie mural and a paint catapult.
On September 23, visitors can join ArtPrize Labs and Herman Miller Cares in building a gigantic temporary cardboard installation at Rosa Parks Circle. On September 30, ArtPrize Labs and Newell Brands will present a fun-filled afternoon of drawing and coloring, with visitors working together to create a large-scale Sharpie® mural. On October 7, Air Zoo will join ArtPrize Labs to send paint flying from two catapult systems, launching paint-covered objects at a canvas to create colorful, collaborative impact art.
Returning for a second year is the ArtPrize Labs Mobile Workshop, presented by Herman Miller Cares. The ArtPrize Labs Mobile Workshop, which unfolds from a bicycle, will tour around the ArtPrize district throughout the 19-day event—bringing pop-up art-making activities to thousands of visitors, all done with repurposed materials.
Visitors are also invited to attend ArtPrize Labs Partner Programs, with a variety of hands-on art making programs produced by leading arts and cultural organizations throughout the 19-day event. ArtPrize Labs Partners include Artists Creating Together, GRKids.com, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, and Lions & Rabbits.
Complete details on ArtPrize Labs events and programming is available at artprize.org/learn.
Doctor Carrie Ames would be the first person to tell you she is not a coward. Whatever else she is, you can bet on that. At least until she finds herself attacked while working at the local hospital. Then all bets are off. Carrie is shocked to find herself one of the undead: a vampire capable of many things. She is tied by blood to the one who made her, and there are a lot of people who want to see her dead. Why? Because it is unlawful to create new vampires.
Thrust into a world she knows nothing about, Carrie struggles to find allies and a reason to continue living. For someone solely dedicated to the health and welfare of the people around her, can she survive being forced to be a part of something she views as evil and dark?
She’s not alone. Carrie soon finds herself a friend in another vampire living in town. It’s really too bad he’s good looking, a successful entrepreneur, and an elite vampire who hunts those who violate vampire law. It’s all well and good except that last little piece.
Author Jennifer Armintrout cites her experience working for Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan as an influence in her writing. Her Blood Ties series begins with The Turning, a romp into the world and politics of being a vampire. Possession and Ashes to Ashes round out more of this world hidden from view.
Carrie is a unique voice and brings the reader into a new understanding — a reality of the choices and decisions that might accompany being forced into becoming something one never imagined. Fans of JR Ward and Patricia Briggs will certainly enjoy this series. I know I did. This southwest Michigan native has done quite well. Pick up a copy of The Turning today!
Today all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun, and NASA Television will carry it live from coast to coast from unique vantage points on the ground and from aircraft and spacecraft.
Programming begins at noon EDT with a preview show hosted from Charleston, South Carolina. That program is followed by the main show which begins at 1 p.m. EDT.
The main program will cover of path of the eclipse from Oregon to South Carolina. The program will feature views from jet aircraft, high-altitude balloons, satellites and specially modified telescopes. It will also include live reports from Salem, Oregon, Idaho Falls, Idaho, Beatrice, Nebraska, Jefferson City, Missouri, Carbondale, Illinois, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Clarksville, Tennessee and at our home base at the College of Charleston (SC).
NASA TV may be seen on WKTV 26 and AT&T 99 Government. Please note: All content is subject to change in real time and without notice.
Barry Brown knew it was time to retire when the daughters of his first waitresses from 1996 began applying for jobs at the diner.
“It feels like I moved this diner here just yesterday, the time has gone by that fast,” said Brown, whose classic 1950s-style diner, Pal’s, has been a mainstay at 6503 28th St. SE for more than two decades.
Come October 1st, Brown and his wife, Sam, are hanging up their aprons to begin the next phase of their lives — retirement. They’ll still be busy with other businesses, but the long hours that a restaurant requires will be a thing of the past. This summer, the Browns sold the lot on which Pal’s Diner stands, and the new owners have no intention of moving the diner; they would like to see it keep running. So the hunt is on for a new operator.
Interested parties must be realistic, however. Maybe you’re a great cook at home, but are you up for supervising employees, buying inventory, maintaining equipment and putting in round-the-clock hours this type of business requires? Going in blind is a recipe for disaster.
“The restaurant business is highly stressful,” said Barry. “It’s a lot of work and long hours. The new owner should be experienced and should know the business. It’s not as simple as saying, ‘I make a great cake.’ You need to be on board 100 percent.”
That said, operating Pal’s Diner could offer the perfect situation for the right person. Some people may have the smarts and the dedication to take on a business like this, but lack the capital. It takes at least $500,000 to open a restaurant.
The interior of Pal’s Diner
“Someone could just step in on a turnkey business,” Barry said.
The Pal’s Diner name will attach to the business, but the new operator would have to set up a new LLC and buy workers’ compensation insurance. Rent would be paid to the new property owner, and it would be necessary to hire a seasoned crew. Barry would train the new operator.
This time is bittersweet for the Browns. On the one hand, there are so many wonderful memories.
“We’ve had three marriage proposals and an actual wedding in here,” said Barry. “I’ve made two marriage matches. Several films have used Pal’s as a location.”
Business is booming — up 25 percent in the last few months. Barry credits the millennial generation for that.
“The trend seems to be in the direction of home cooking and away from franchise restaurant food,” said Barry. “We’re seeing this on a national level, with i-Hop and Applebee’s shutting down in some locations.”
Sam and Barry Brown in the 1980s
And a lot of people from New Jersey are making a special trip here as the diner began life in that state before relocating to Grand Rapids. A couple who met standing in line at Pal’s out east renewed their wedding vows here.
But the hard work has taken its toll. Brown has had a hip replacement. At 65, it’s difficult to stand on his feet all day. It’s time to pass the baton and relax.
The 6th annual GrandJazzFestis Aug. 19 & 20, 2017, at Rosa Parks Circle, in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. On stage, notable jazz performers as well as up-and-coming artists will please a diverse audience. The festival showcases a jazz headliner and features a wide and encompassing range of jazz artists and acts.
The event is family friendly. Bring folding chairs, blankets and snacks, and get ready to relax for a couple of hours or for the whole weekend! Try out some of the local restaurants and pubs, and be sure to visit other Grand Rapids attractions.
By Matthew Makowski, Grand Valley State University
On Monday, August 21, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun, and anyone within the “path of totality” will be able to see a rare total solar eclipse.
The total eclipse path, called the corona, will stretch from Salem, Oregon, to Charleston, South Carolina. Those outside of this path, like those in Michigan, will see a partial solar eclipse.
Ross Reynolds, professor of physics at Grand Valley State University, said that the Grand Rapids area will see the maximum amount of coverage (81 percent) around 2:20 p.m. Reynolds added that at the maximum coverage time in Michigan, the planet Venus may be visible about one third of the way between the sun and the western horizon.
Reynolds explained that safety should be a top priority for eclipse enthusiasts. When watching the eclipse, it is most important to avoid looking directly at the sun without proper protection, such as special-purpose solar filter “eclipse glasses” or handheld solar viewers. Homemade filters and ordinary sunglasses are not safe for looking at the sun.
To help keep eclipse viewers safe, Regional Math and Science Center will be distributing eclipse glasses at three locations on the Allendale Campus from 10-11:30 a.m. on August 21. These locations include outside of The Connection, at the RMSC office located in Mackinac Hall (room C-1-120), and outside of Mackinac Hall near the Copeland Hall Living Center.
Reynolds said that another safe way to view the eclipse is to make a “pinhole projector” by poking a hole into a piece of cardboard or an index card. Then, hold the card approximately three feet above a surface area to project an image of the sun as the moon passes by it.
No matter where someone watches the eclipse in Michigan, Reynolds said all areas of the state will have similar views of the event.
“The further south and west, the more complete the eclipse will be, but the best will only be a bit more at 85 percent down on the border near Michigan City and the worst will be around 70 percent in the Upper Peninsula,” he said. “As the eclipse will happen around 2 p.m., the sun will be high in the sky so there is no need to look for big open spaces with low horizons because anywhere without clouds will do.”
NASA’s live stream of the eclipse, available at www.nasa.gov/eclipselive, will be available to watch in the RMSC office, and in the Learning Alcove of the Mary Idema Pew Library.
Faculty members from Grand Valley’s Physics Department will be partnering with the Grand Rapids Public Museumfor the museum’s Eclipse Party. Faculty will be on-hand to facilitate a variety of activities for both children and adults. The Eclipse party will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on August 21 at the museum, complete with telescopes equipped with solar filters, tracking devices that can track the Sun during the eclipse, and multiple hands-on activities that illustrate eclipses and the sun-moon-Earth system.
According to NASA, the last total solar eclipse to cross the U.S. coast-to-coast occurred in 1918, and the next total solar eclipse in the continental U.S. won’t occur until 2024.
While this eclipse will be noted in the history books, Reynolds said that, among physicists, the most “famous” eclipse occurred in 1919.
“During the 1919 eclipse, Sir Arthur Eddington made observations of stellar positions and was able to show that the positions were displaced by an amount predicted by Albert Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity,” Reynolds explained. “It was seen as the first test of that theory.”
Global refugees often find themselves warehoused in makeshift camps for years — or even decades. The lucky ones are eventually resettled by a generous nation to start a new life.
But new struggles, especially for older refugees, then begin: trying to learn a strange language, adapting to new climates and customs. Who is the best to help with the daily tasks that natives take for granted: driver’s license, bank forms, job applications, healthcare appointments, school registration for kids? It’s often fellow refugees who came before. Like the courageous Leela Dhakal.
Residents of Kent County are again being contacted by individuals claiming to be from the IRS. Below is an example of one of the voicemails:
“Hello, we have been trying to reach you. This call is officially a final notice from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). The reason of this call is to inform you that the IRS is filing a lawsuit against you. To get more information about this case file, please call immediately on our department number (gives number). Thank you.”
If you call the number provided, they will often ask you to obtain a prepaid credit card from a local store and provide them the credit card number.
This is another reminder that these are scams. Once the money is taken from the credit card, there is very little law enforcement can do to identify the suspect and recover the money. The suspect(s) are often not from the area and are difficult to identify because they use spoofed phone numbers that change frequently and are problematic to trace.
Other common scams include the following:
A stranger sends you a check and asks you to cash the check and keep some of the money. A different variation of this is a Craig’s List transaction where the buyer “accidentally” overpays and asks you to cash the check and send them the amount of the overpayment. The banks will most likely cash the check and not realize the check is forged until several days later. You are then financially responsible for the amount of the bad check.
We are also getting complaints of residents being contacted by a person saying they have found a virus on the resident’s computer. They ask for remote access to the computer and then hold the computer hostage until a ransom is paid.
A person contacts you over the phone and claims to be your relative who has been arrested. They ask you to provide them with the number off a prepaid credit card for bond money.
If a stranger asks you to provide them with a prepaid credit number or iTunes card, it is a scam.
The best way to avoid these scams is to avoid talking to them on the phone. We are aware of all of these scams and the many variations in our area, and there is no reason to report them to law enforcement unless you are a victim who suffers a loss as a result of one of these calls.
When we think of skilled nursing facilities, we tend to think of the nursing home where grandma went to live when she could no longer care for herself. Skilled nursing facilities are actually rehabilitation centers that cater to short-term stays, and function as a bridge between acute care or care in the hospital and a patient’s home.
What Skilled Nursing Facilities Provide
Many patients in skilled nursing facilities are recovering from an illness or injury or have had surgery such as a joint replacement.
“Hospitals are discharging patients earlier than ever, and some of those patients might need a few more weeks of skilled nursing or rehabilitation therapy,” said Sara Heethuis, Executive Director of Holland Home’s Breton Rehabilitation & Living Centre.
A skilled nursing facility can provide around-the-clock nursing care, as well as appropriate therapies —physical, occupational and speech. A skilled nursing facility can also provide specialized medical services such as wound care.
“Our main goal is to get the patient functioning well enough so that they can go back home. As a matter of fact, we begin planning for their discharge the minute they arrive,” said Heethuis. “We do have some long-term care patients, but most of our patients are only here until they are well enough to go home,”
Choosing a Skilled Nursing Facility
Family members are often faced with making the decision about a skilled nursing facility within days or hours of their loved one’s discharge from the hospital. It can be a confusing and frightening time.
One of the best places to start is at medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare. By plugging in your zip code or city, you can access information on all facilities in your area. All skilled nursing facilities are inspected and regulated by its state’s Department of Health Services and are given an overall rating, as well as ratings on health inspections, staffing and quality measures. The site also allows you to choose three facilities and compare them side-by-side.
“Breton Rehabilitation & Living Centre consistently receives four and five stars in all the areas measured. All of Holland Home’s skilled nursing facilities, including Raybrook Manor and Fulton Manor, receive four and five stars overall,” said Heethuis.
Another measure of the facility’s quality is their outcomes. Ask about the facilities’ discharge and re-hospitalization rates.
“Holland Homes’ outcomes are higher than the national average,” said Heethuis. “More of our patients are discharged to their homes, as opposed to needing re-hospitalization, than most other facilities.”
Amenities
Many facilities provide a wide range of amenities that may include catering to specific diet preferences, cable television, telephone, Wi-Fi throughout the facility, tastefully decorated private rooms, life enrichment activities and assisted excursions.
A stay in a skilled nursing facility can be a beneficial experience allowing you to return home with improved function and on the path to wellness.
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
On June 13th, 2017, we took in this affectionate little girl, about 18 months of age (born in late 2015). As it turned out, Salsa was pregnant (and eating bird seed in her rescuer’s yard to feed her growing belly).
Salsa was very lucky that she stumbled into the yard of volunteer Sandy R, as she put food out for the darling calico until such a time that she could coax her into her good graces and bring her in to Dr. Jen. She recovered well from her spay surgery and was totally meshing with the other residents at Crash’s when she fell ill with Calici virus, a very contagious feline respiratory disease that strikes unvaccinated, immunocompromised kitties. Thankfully we were able to treat her successfully and she recovered fully.
Salsa has earned the nickname of ‘Sassy Salsa’ — she is a spitfire, but only in a totally endearing way. She has a lot of spunk in her teeny little body; for example, she will only eat wet food that she steals from other cats, even if you put the same food in front of her. She is not afraid to show her roommates who’s the boss and will smack them right across the face if she doesn’t like what they are doing. She will do very well in any home that has lots to do, but she would probably prefer to be the only cat.
Want to adopt Salsa? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
By Kalista Castine, GR Public Library, Main
