Following on his just-concluded, wildly successful UK arena tour, Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Alice Cooper has just announced his Spring 2020 tour plans. He will extend the Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back show, which debuted in Summer 2019 to the delight of fans, into the new year, including a stop in Grand Rapids on Friday, April 3, 2020, at 8pm in DeVos Performance Hall. The tour will feature special guest Lita Ford.
Presale Alice Cooper tickets available online only Thursday, Oct. 17 from 10am-10pm while supplies last. Presale Password: ROCK. GO HERETO PURCHASE.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Oct. 18 at 10am, and will be available at the DeVos Place® and Van Andel Arena® box offices as well as online via Ticketmaster.com. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order.
In other Alice Cooper news, the artist released his The BreadcrumbsEP, a tribute to some of the garage rock heroes from his hometown Detroit, on Sept. 13 via earMUSIC. Inspired by the city’s punk scene in the late ’60s and early ’70s, the Detroit-born icon returned to his roots and the raw garage sound his fans love. The Bob Ezrin-produced EP consists of six brand-new recordings, featuring legendary Detroit musicians, including Johnny “Bee” Badanjek from the Detroit Wheels, Grand Funk’s Mark Farner, and MC5’s Wayne Kramer. It was recorded at Rust Belt Studios in Detroit. The opener Detroit City 2020 is an updated rewrite of Detroit City from 2003’s The Eyes of Alice Cooper and it sets the tone for the EP. Along with Cooper’s own take on Detroit rock classics such as Suzi Quatro’s Your Mama Won’t Like Me, Bob Seger’s East Side Story, the MC5’s Sister Anne, and Shorty Long’s Devil With a Blue Dress On, as well as The Dirtbombs’s Chains of Love, the EP also features the brand-new Alice Cooper original Go Man Go.
Check out Detroit City 2020here. Check out East Side Story, which premiered at Billboard with an exclusive interview, here.
Marge Wilson is always a welcoming figure at her shop, Marge’s Donut Shop. (Photo by Colleen Pierson).
By Colleen Pierson WKTV Contributor
The time is 2 a.m. and Marge Wilson, owner of Marge’s Donut Den on 28th Street in Wyoming, wakes up ready to make the donuts, cakes, cookies, and muffins. She turns 80 in December, but that doesn’t stop this sweet dynamo from giving her all to community and business.
“I will always support this community through loyalty, and hard work—I try to give back every way I can,” Marge said.
And give back she does: Take the 222 wells campaign she has supported to provide drinking water to residents of southeast Nigeria or the countless amounts of non-profits she has helped.
“She’s first of the first class, and has a heart bigger than life,” said Vince Portelli at a recent AMBUC community event.
Donuts and cookies and more are available at Marge’s Donut Den. (Photo by Colleen Pierson).
Marge’s Donut Den, open for 44 years, is a fixture in West Michigan. She arrives to her donut shop at 4 a.m., 365 days a year since she established her business in 1975. Everything is made fresh from dough and batter to fillings and icings. Customer favorites are apple fritters and long johns.
A selection of gluten free treats from Marge’s Donut Den. (Photo by Colleen Pierson)
“When we first started, we had about 14 different types of donuts,” she said. “Now we are at 60 different varieties. My favorite is anything with chocolate or cinnamon sugar.”
On a daily basis, hundred of customers enter through the doors where the slogan, “Be kind. Be good.” is placed. You definitely are treated like family here.
Amy Mead, an employee at Marge’s, said it well: “There is no place I would ever want to work than here. So much joy and fun to be had on a daily basis.”
When I asked Marge Wilson what her future plans are, she hesitated, then said with a great chuckle…
“It used to be people would ask me, ‘What’s next for you Marge?’ I would tell them, ‘Wait until I am 80 and ask.’ Now, I have to say, ask me when I’m 85.”
She has always believed that if you make a quality product, people will keep coming back. And that belief should continue for many years to come.
The author Colleen Pierson with Marge Wilson, owner of Marge’s Donut Shop. (Photo by Colleen Pierson).
From costume contests to fall festivals, spooky performances to trick-or-treat events, West Michigan is celebrating Halloween all month long. You’ll find family friendly events, adult only parties, pumpkin carving, haunted trails, and more.
Trick or Treat Events
South West Michigan
The 12th Annual Spooky Science Saturday, a free trick-or-treating event, will be held Saturday, Oct. 19th from 11am to 3pm on the grounds of the Kingman Museum and Leila Arboretum and Kaleidoscope Garden in Battle Creek. The event–held rain or shine–is aimed at children 6 to 12 years old, but whole families are welcome. Don’t forget to dress up in your favorite costume and enjoy $1 hayrides through the Arboretum. Parking available at Northwestern Middle School (176 Limit St) or the Kaleidoscope Garden at 928 W. Michigan.
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings hosts the Candlelight Trails: Trick-or-Treat on the Trails on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 6-9pm. Dress up your little “boos” and “ghouls” and come out for Halloween fun on candlelit trails. After hiking the trails, head inside the Visitor Center for hot chocolate, warm coffee, snacks, and fall-themed activities around a crackling fire. Members $6, Non-Members $8, Family $25.
Join the Michigan Maritime Museumin South Haven on Halloween for a free Trick-or-Treating family event from 4-6pm. This event is for kids ages toddler to 10 years old. Children must be in costume and be accompanied by an adult.
Spooky decorations and family-friendly fun await you this Halloween at the downtown South Haven Trick-or-Treating event, Oct. 31st beginning at 5pm.
Central West Michigan
Come to Downtown Holland Saturday, Oct. 26th, 10am-noon, and spend the morning trick-or-treating with your children at participating stores along 8th Street.
Enjoy Halloween fun at the Holland Museum, with trick-or-treating in the exhibits, flashlight tours of the Dutch Galleries, fun games, and spooky crafts at “Monsters at the Museum”, Saturday, Oct. 26th, 11am-4pm. Come prepared with a flashlight and camera. Not recommended for children 8 years old and under.
Zeeland’sMain Street Trick or Treat event presented by West Michigan Community Bank will take place Oct. 31st from 3-5pm in downtown Zeeland; Main Street will be closed between Elm Street and Church Street. Held rain or shine, this event invites children to participate instead of or in addition to the city-wide Trick or Treating, which is scheduled from 5-8pm.
Put on your costume and celebrate Halloween at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. Trick-or-treat your way through two floors of hands-on exhibits, featuring special spooky crafts and activities, Oct. 31st, with $1.75 admission from 5-8pm.
Zoo Goes Boo is six days of trick-or-treating, costumes, entertainment, cool decorations, games, and fun at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids–and the animals get treats, too! Wear your costume, the Zoo will provide the candy. Please bring your own reusable bag for trick-or-treating, or purchase one from the gift shop. Zoo Goes Boo runs Oct. 18th-20th and Oct. 25th-27th, 10am-4pm. Tickets are $12.00 for adults, $10.00 for children, college students, and seniors, and free for zoo members.
Bring the kids for free trick or treating at Muskegon’s South Pierhead Light on Oct. 26th. Kids who come in costumes (safe for climbing) can stay and climb for free in the company of an adult (admission fees apply to adults). Join in games and prize giveaways for best costume, chosen every hour by a different Lighthouse Keeper.
Attention all Monsters and Goblins, Mermaids and Super Heroes, and all the ghosts in between: Grand Haven Main Street’s Annual Trick or Treating night is Thursday, Oct. 31st. Local businesses will provide treats for all those brave enough to endure the mystical streets of Downtown Grand Haven from 4-5:30pm on Washington Ave. from 3rd Street to Harbor Drive.
Bring the kids to Mt. Pleasant in their costumes Oct. 31st from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm for trick-or-treating at downtown businesses at the Pumpkin Promenade.
Discover the magic of Victorian Halloween traditions and superstitions this fall at the Holland Museum’s Cappon House. Tour the dimly lit rooms of the Cappon House to learn how Halloween was celebrated 100 years ago, then partake in spooky parlor games and broom races, listen to classic ghost stories, have your fortune told, and carve a mini pumpkin to take home. Visit the Halloween Haunts Oct. 18th and 19th, 6-8pm; tickets $8.00 per person for members, $10.00 for non-members, and children ages 5 and under are free.
Performances & Exhibitions
Our Town Players present Harvest Horror, a collection of psychological thrillers, Oct. 18th and 19th at the Masonic Temple in South Haven. Performances begin at 7:30pm, box office opens at 7pm.
The Barn Theatre School in Augusta just announced two special weekend performances of The Rocky Horror Show, on stage Oct. 18th through 20th and Oct. 25th through the 27th.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum hosts a special Halloween-themed Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Concert by Dale Zieger accompanying the 1920 silent film “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” Oct. 18th at 7pm and Oct. 19th at 2pm.
Costume parties & parades
Get creative at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’sHallo-Wee Ones event in Grand Rapids, a special event designed for the youngest visitors, Oct. 25th, 10am-noon. Dress your child as a sculpture, mammal, fish, insect, bird, tree, flower, geologist, or any other way that highlights something about the Children’s Garden and participate in one of two costume parades, held at 10:15am and 11:15am.
Save the date for one of the most popular parties of the year! Just Wicked will be held Saturday, Oct. 26th in the International Ballroom at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids. The first 50 guests at the door will be greeted with a specialty cocktail crafted for the event. Costume contest for cash prizes and indulgent extras will bring out the competitive spirit in you. Costume contest winners to be announced at approximately 10:45pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door (if tickets are still available). Must be 21 years of age to attend.
Courtesy Saugatuck-Douglas Convention & Visitors Bureau
There’s really no better place to be during Halloween than in Saugatuck/Douglas. While you will find many family friendly events, the show-stopper is the Adult Halloween Parade in downtown Douglas. This year’s parade will take place Oct. 26th. No sign-up required to join the parade, just come in costume and line up starting at 9:30pm to wait for the Pumpkin King to start the parade at 10pm.
Bring your furry friend to downtown South Haven all dressed up and ready to show off for the Pet Costume Parade 11am Oct. 20th. Prizes for the pet costumes that are the scariest, funniest and matching their owner.
Escape Rooms & Murder Mystery Dinners
Looking for a night filled with suspense, entertainment, and a fabulous meal? Take a crack at solving a ‘murder mystery’ while you feast on a meal that’s to die for Friday, Nov. 1st, at the W.K. Kellogg Manor House in Augusta. Guests may arrive at 5:30pm for a docent-led tour of the Manor House and the dinner and program will begin at 6:30pm.
Festivals, Races, and Other Special Events
Mark your calendar for Spooky Sip and Paint with Star Buxum, Oct. 16th at 7pm at Stella’s Lounge in Grand Rapids. Join local drag queen and artist Star Buxom as she takes over a paint and sip class you will not forget. Get ready for crude humor, vulgar language, messy sing-alongs, strong drinks, and fabulous art with a Halloween theme. Your $35 ticket includes an 11×14 canvas board, a well drink or draft PBR, an appetizer, painting instruction, and a good time. Reserve your spot today
It’s a date night for the whole family at the Lakeshore Museum Center in Muskegon, Oct. 18th, featuring extended museum hours with fun stations and themes. Smashing Pumpkins Friday Family Fun Night will feature the museum-built trebuchet.
It’s that time of year for all things pumpkin — pumpkin donuts, pumpkin pie, pumpkin chucking, and of course, the pumpkin patch, at The Great Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 19th and 20th at Lewis Farms & Petting Zoo in New Era. Come back the next weekend, Oct. 26th and 27th, for Halloween Extravaganza with wagon rides, apple cannons, U-pick pumpkins, and “Disc Dogs Live”.
Prepare yourself for fall flavors and fright-filled nights at Haven Harvest! Taste the flavors of fall as hayrides roll, pumpkins fly, and headless horseman ride. Experience a true South Haven harvest with apple orchards, bonfires, pumpkin chunkin’, and delicious good-as-grandma’s pies. Grab some cider, dance to live music, and see South Haven transform during Haven Harvest, Oct. 18th through 20th.
BOO on Your Bike will take place Oct. 20th, 1-3pm, on the Kal-Haven Trail in South Haven. This free annual event invites riders of all ages to dress up in costume and get out for a scenic fall bicycle ride on the Kal-Haven Trail starting at the South Haven trail head.
Experience the magic of science this Halloween season at the Air Zoo in Portage. Visit Oct. 26th from 10am-3pm for the first-ever Ice Cream Challenge event, where West Michigan teams will use the power of liquid nitrogen to transform flavors and ingredients into frozen treats to taste. Your votes decide the winner of this epic culinary battle, powered by spooky science.
Come to the Stella’s Lounge in Grand Rapids Nov. 1st at 10pm as they kick off their Halloween party in the front bar. Terrified of clowns, toys and dolls? Head to the back bar with DJ Chowdur and dance your fears away. $5 cover and food and beverage specials throughout the night.
According to the Geriatric Education Center of Michigan at Michigan State University, depression in older adults can seriously affect their quality of life and health. Stress, depression and anxiety can contribute to physical ailments including digestive disorders, sleep disturbances and lack of energy. Older adults who are depressed can also have an increased risk of substance abuse, reduced cognition, higher risk of suicide and a higher incidence of heart attacks.
Older adults can experience different reasons and risk factors for depression than younger adults. HelpGuide.org, a research-based website in collaboration with Harvard Medical School, says that common reasons and risk factors for depression in older adults can include:
Health problems – Illness and disability, chronic or severe pain, cognitive decline, damage to body image due to surgery or disease.
Loneliness and isolation – Living alone; a dwindling social circle due to deaths or relocation; decreased mobility due to illness or loss of driving privileges.
Reduced sense of purpose – Feelings of purposelessness or loss of identity due to retirement or physical limitations on activities.
Fears – Fear of death or dying; anxiety over financial problems or health issues.
Recent bereavements – The death of friends, family members, and pets; the loss of a spouse or partner.
Michigan State University Extension says that ways you can help are to learn about and recognize the signs and symptoms of depression in older adults and the elderly. Common symptoms include sadness, fatigue, abandoning or losing interest in hobbies or other pleasurable pastimes, social withdrawal and isolation (reluctance to be with friends, engage in activities, or leave home), weight loss or loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, loss of self-worth, increased use of alcohol or other drugs, or a fixation on death, suicidal thoughts or attempts.
Is it depression or dementia? According to Harvard Health Publications, here are some signs to watch for:
With depression, mental decline can happen quickly, but with dementia, mental decline happens more slowly.
When someone is depressed, they still know things like the correct time, date and where they are, but with dementia, they become confused and disoriented and sometimes lost in familiar locations.
With depression, people have a hard time concentrating, and they may worry about memory problems. People with dementia have short-term memory loss and don’t notice memory problems or seem to care.
When someone is depressed, language and motor skills are slow, but normal, whereas someone with dementia has impaired writing, speaking and motor skills.
There is good news! According to a study published by Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Publications, for those who stuck with treatment, depression resolved in seven out of 10 people. Completing a treatment regime can increase positive mood, strengthen personal relationships, increase satisfaction in activities of daily living and help people feel like themselves again.
If you are concerned that your loved one is suffering from depression as an older adult, help them connect to their primary care provider to assess the situation and to identify health and community resources to help them restore their quality of life.
Single women comprise one of the fastest growing homeless populations in greater Grand Rapids, and Mel Trotter Ministries (MTM) has experienced a 40 percent increase of single women seeking emergency shelter over the last year. Many of the women seeking shelter are living with mental illness or are survivors of domestic violence or other traumatic situations.
Typically, the 25 beds designated for single women at Mel Trotter Ministries are enough to accommodate the need, however, MTM has been using an overflow gym with mattresses placed on the floor to accommodate the increase in numbers. The need for additional beds will become even more urgent as the weather turns colder and MTM serves upwards of 500 men, women and children each night in winter.
Mel Trotter Ministries is asking for community support to raise $25,000 by Oct. 31. The funds will help build and purchase custom wooden beds, replace old mattresses, and supply new linens and pillows.
“It is difficult for a woman who is suffering to … believe that they are loved and valued while sleeping on a mattress on the cold floor,” said Dennis Van Kampen, CEO of Mel Trotter Ministries. “As winter approaches … we’re asking our generous community to join us in this effort.”
Next Step of West Michigan — a nonprofit that provides work for individuals coming out of prison and rehab — is building 54 beds for the Mission. The beds will be delivered to the Mission at the end of October.
“All of us at Next Step are thankful for the good work Mel Trotter is doing in our community,” said Scott Jonkhoff, Founding Director. “The opportunity to build bunks beds for the women’s shelter is a great encouragement to us and we pray for those who will use these beds, that they may find rest for both body and soul.”
Any money raised beyond the designated goal will help replace and upgrade other beds throughout the Mission and support operations and expenses for the Mission.
For the first time in decades, doctors have a new weapon to fight serious cases of depression.
Of the 16 million Americans adults living with depression, as many as four million have treatment-resistant depression, which means current treatments such as talk therapy, anti-depressants and electro-convulsive therapy have given them little or no relief.
But recently, the Food and Drug Administration approved ketamine, a fast-acting drug that differs significantly from Prozac, Paxil and other anti-depressants that have been on the market since the 1990s.
Even when antidepressants work, it often takes four to six weeks to kick in, while ketamine only takes several hours to begin showing positive effects, drug trials have shown. The approval is “welcomed news,” said David Franzblau, MD, a psychiatrist with Spectrum Health Medical Group.
“The prospects for ketamine as a long-term treatment remains to be seen,” said Dr. Franzblau, the site chief of the Spectrum Health Integrated Care Campus at East Beltline.
“Trials have shown that the duration of time before symptom-relief is generally much shorter compared to current antidepressants so it at least represents a promising bridge, if not a long-term treatment.”
A stubborn illness
Depression is a mood disorder that affects the way people feel and
interferes with their ability to function at home and at work.
It can be associated with the loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating, memory impairment, and a loss of motivation and productivity, Dr. Franzblau said.
“Everybody experiences sadness and anxiety,” he said. “It’s the length of time and number of episodes, along with a constellation of other symptoms, that determine whether somebody has clinical depression.”
About one in 16 American adults suffer from clinical depression at any given moment.
“Depression is the most prevalent mental health disorder in the population,” Dr. Franzblau said. “I believe the adverse impacts of even the treatment-resistant variants can be substantially decreased, and thereby improve the quality of life (of all patients), with enough time and a systematic approach.”
The first step in combating depression is consulting with your primary care physician. First-line interventions that a mental health professional might recommend include counseling and medication.
Antidepressants regulate neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. But the results have been mixed, especially for the up to 33 percent of patients who have treatment-resistant depression.
One current intervention for treatment-resistant depression is electro-convulsive therapy. The benefits of electro-convulsive therapy “were observed accidentally,” Dr. Franzblau said, “like many scientific discoveries.”
The symptoms of depression among patients with epilepsy improved after a seizure.
“The brain is an electrical apparatus: brain activity, thinking, memory and mood regulation like arousal or anxiety, those are all electrical or electro-chemical events,” he said. “So ECT is basically inducing a seizure” in a controlled environment (often in an outpatient setting), helping severely depressed people who haven’t responded to medication.
There are misconceptions about the procedure, and suitable patients have to be chosen, but it can be effective in bringing about a recovery, Dr. Franzblau said. Sometimes one course of this treatment will suffice, or a patient may require periodic maintenance treatment.
From the club to the doctor’s office
Despite $12 billion a year spent on antidepressants globally, suicide rates have increased 25 percent nationally in the last two decades, and are rising in 49 of 50 states.
That’s why any new treatment is welcomed news.
Interest in ketamine—an anesthetic used frequently in hospitals and the battlefield—has grown steadily since the early 2000s.
In 2000, researches at Yale reported that doses of ketamine provided quick relief to seven people with depression.
In 2006, the National Institute of Mental Health documented 18 people with treatment-resistant depression who received the drug intravenously and reported their issues had disappeared almost immediately.
“What seems remarkable is that the drug also seems to help domains other than depression, like anxiety, suicidal thinking, and anhedonia”—the inability to feel pleasure, noted Dr. Carlos Zarate Jr, chief of the National Institute of Mental Health’s experimental therapeutics branch who led the 2006 study.
“It seems to have more broad effects, on many areas of mood,” shared in a New York Times article about ketamine.
Ketamine does have side effects. Ketamine was once a popular drug in the 1980s and 1990s known as Special K, and can cause hallucinations and psychotic episodes in people who are high risk for them. The drug also was less effective in drug trials for people over 65.
The drug maker, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, said the non-generic medication form esketamine, which will be marketed as Spravato, would have less dramatic side effects. Like with all new drugs, Dr. Franzblau said he’ll proceed cautiously because the benefits and costs become clear only after a medication has been used for some time.
“I anticipate I will use it,” he said. “I want to make sure that the benefits outweigh any complications and side effects.”
Esketamine will be administered as a nasal spray. Patients who receive it will have to be monitored for at least two hours, and won’t be allowed to drive on days they receive the drug.
The recommended course will be two days per week for four weeks.
In one drug trial, Janssen reported that those taking esketamine only relapsed into depression 25 percent of the time, as opposed to 45 percent with a placebo. All the people in the study had previously been diagnosed as having treatment-resistant depression, and had failed with other types of treatment.
“Clinical depression represents considerable suffering for the patient and their families,” Dr. Franzblau said. “At worse, it’s a lethal condition, as demonstrated by the rising suicides in our country. New treatments are needed and offer hope.”
Experience Grand Rapids (EXGR), the area’s official destination marketing organization, has released an updated study, The Economic Impact of Beer Tourism in Kent County (2019) which says that the economic impact more than tripled from $12.23 million to $38.5 million since 2015.
In 2015, EXGR commissioned the first Economic Impact of Beer Tourism in Kent County, Michigan. This year, EXGR hired Anderson Economic Group to conduct the study. The methodology remained similar to the 2015 study to provide comparable results such as the same questionnaire and random survey sampling. Beer tourists were defined as those respondents who said that craft beer was the primary reason for their visit and who either live outside of West Michigan or live in West Michigan but were choosing to stay at a local hotel/motel for the night.
“In 2015, we discovered a measurable outcome of beer tourism in our region,” explained Kate Lieto, Director of Marketing at EXGR. “We have since invested in promotions like the Beer City Brewsader® Passport and mobile app as well as Beer Month GR. We are thrilled that the recent study’s results have proven these efforts are attracting tourists.”
Key outcomes from The Economic Impact of Beer Tourism in Kent County include:
Economic impact tripled from $12.23 million to $38.5 million
The numerous breweries in Grand Rapids and Kent County are popular tourist attractions, attracting over 94,000 beer tourists in the study year.
During the study year, beer tourists spent $23.9 million in Kent County on craft beer, accommodations, food, transportation, and other spending.
This spending by beer tourists generated a net new economic impact of $38.5 million in Kent County during the study year.
25.3% of beer tourists came from outside of Michigan.
40% of beer tourists stayed in a hotel/motel in the Grand Rapids area.
Beer tourists supported 378 jobs and $9.9 million in earnings in the county, which is an increase from 2015 study that showed 171 jobs and $3.3 million in earnings were supported in the county.
Breweries consider EXGR to be a key driver of beer tourism in Kent County.
“The idea of ‘Beer City USA’ didn’t just happen overnight,” said Max Trierweiler, Owner of The Mitten Brewing Co. “Experience Grand Rapids has helped take an idea that there was great beer being brewed in GR and made it into a movement. First, they helped push for the literal recognition which came from Examiner.com and then they nurtured it by creating promotions like the Beer City Ale Trail, Beer Month GR and the Brewsader Passport program.”
Alongside marketing efforts, Experience Grand Rapids has utilized its brewery partners to help with convention promotion.
“It’s been a pleasure exhibiting with the EXGR sales team at the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) over the years,” said Dave Engbers, Co-Founder of Founders Brewing Co. “I’ve watched firsthand how the association executives from all over the US have positively responded to Grand Rapids as a craft beer destination. The way EXGR has embraced ‘Beer City’ in all aspects of their work, from leisure travel to convention business, is definitely something we commend and will continue to be a part of in the future.”
Additionally, hotels have embraced the moniker of ‘Beer City’.
“We’re excited to greet visitors to the Country Inn & Suites East Beltline that are here to explore the beer scene,” said Ed Wilson, General Manager of the Country Inn & Suites East Beltline. “We applaud the efforts Experience Grand Rapids has put towards ‘Beer City’, and we do our best to align with them such as selling Beer City merchandise at the front desk and offering a Beer City Ale Trail to guests.”
Overall, this study reinforces the idea that craft beer is an economic driver as well as a reason people view Grand Rapids as a destination they want to visit.
Filmmaker Daniel Joel Deal and sculptor J. Brett Grill talk about the documentary “Roger B. Chaffee: Aviator Ad Astra,” which airs on WKTV Channel 25 at Oct. 16 and 18. (Photo credit: WKTV)
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma joanne@wktv.org
When constructing a statute like the one of former astronaut Roger B. Chaffee on the corner of Sheldon Boulevard and Fulton Street in downtown Grand Rapids, the most difficult part is trying to figure out what the person looked like from behind.
“When you think about it, people never take pictures of people from behind, it is always from the the front,” said filmmaker Daniel Joel Deal, whose documentary, “Roger B. Chaffee: Aviator Ad Astra” will premiere on WKTV Channel 25 Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 4 p.m., and Friday, Oct. 18, at noon. The film follows the story of Chaffee’s life and the construction of the statue in his honor.
Astronaut Roger B. Chaffee (Photo supplied by NASA)
Sculputor J. Brett Grill, who was commissioned to create the Roger B. Chaffee sculpture, agreed.
“Figuring out how the [astronaut’s] suit is going to lay, where the folds should be to create the movement, it’s all important to the piece,” Grill said during a recent Locally Entertaining podcast.
The Michigan Military Preservation Society (MMPS), together with the Lowell American Legion Post #152, raised the funds for the statue. The statute was the swan song for the MMPS, a non-profit organization of veterans whose vision was to honor historical contributions made by West Michigan vets. The group officially disbanded after the statute of Chaffee was installed by the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum in May.
The Locally Entertaining podcast with Daniel Joel Deal and J. Brett Grill.
As part of the project, the MMPS hired Deals to create a documentary about Chaffee and the construction of the statute. Chaffee was a NASA astronaut who was part of the Apollo 1 crew. The crew, which included Gus Grissom and Ed White, all died in a flash fire during a launch pad test at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.
Chaffee was from the Grand Rapids area, having graduated from Central High School in 1953. His parents moved to the Wyoming area after his death. The City of Wyoming’s Roger B. Chaffee Boulevard is named after Chaffee and is the former landing strip of the Kent County Airport which became the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
“He was definitely up and coming,” said Deal of Chaffee. Deal spent about 18 months researching Chaffee’s life, visiting the National Archives and other sources for video. Through that process, Deals said he was able to find quite a bit of video on Chaffee including funeral footage and video of Chaffee talking about his life and career.
“So Chaffee narrates his own story, which was important to me because I wanted people to know who he is and leave some mystery as to what was going to happen,” Deal said.
Deal said having access to a facility like WKTV is vital to a person like himself who pretty much handles all the aspects of film producing.
“I am just a single producer, director, photographer and editor, so you know to have lights, cameras, and even some of the post-production stuff in the editing suites for mixing sound effects and stuff like that is important,” Deal said.
“All the rocket sounds are silent, so we added that,” he said, adding with a laugh, “I think we shook the building and someone came and told us that that rocket is too loud.”
For both Deal and Grill, the reason they wanted to work on this project was the opportunity to preserve a piece of history that was starting to fade.
“I like projects that I can keep the story alive,” Grill said. “This was one of those stories which was what drew me to being a part of this project.”
Other showings of the documentary “Roger B. Chaffee: Aviator Ad Astra” are planned, so check out the WKTV schedule on the wktvjournal.org and on wktv.org.
Researchers say new drug therapies can target certain genes that play a role in the growth and spread of prostate cancer. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
A drug that targets faulty gene repair may buy more time for some men with advanced prostate cancer, a new clinical trial finds.
Experts called the study “landmark,” because it zeroed in on men with particular gene mutations that can be targeted with newer drug therapies.
It’s an approach that is already used in treating breast, ovarian and lung cancers.
Specifically, the trial tested a drug called Lynparza (olaparib), which is currently approved to treat certain patients with breast or ovarian cancers linked to mutations in the BRCA genes.
When BRCA is working properly, it helps repair damaged DNA in body cells that can lead to cancer. When the gene is altered, those repair mechanisms go awry.
BRCA mutations do not only lead to breast and ovarian cancers, though. They also help drive some cases of prostate cancer.
In the new trial, researchers recruited men with advanced prostate cancer who had alterations in BRCA or certain other genes involved in DNA repair.
The investigators found that, compared with standard hormonal therapy, Lynparza delayed patients’ cancer progression for a median of about three months. That means half the patients saw a longer delay and half a shorter one.
Along with that delay, the drug slowed down patients’ pain progression.
“Delaying the cancer from growing is meaningful,” said Dr. Maha Hussain, who led the trial, which was funded by drug makers Astra Zeneca and Merck.
“At the end of the day, patients want to live longer—and also better,” added Hussain, a professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago.
She was to present the findings at the annual meeting of the European Society for Medical Oncology, in Barcelona. Studies reported at meetings are generally considered preliminary until they are published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Lynparza is one of a newer class of drugs called PARP inhibitors, which block a protein that cancer cells need to keep their DNA healthy. Without it, those cells may die. Cancer cells with defects in DNA-repair genes are especially vulnerable to PARP inhibitors.
The drug class is part of a wider trend in cancer treatment, toward “targeted therapies”—where medications are tailored to target certain molecules in cancer cells that help them grow and spread.
A range of targeted drugs are available for common cancers, such as breast and lung, but prostate cancer has “lagged behind,” Hussain said.
Dr. Eleni Efstathiou, of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, described the new trial as landmark.
“Overall, these data show that, like breast and lung cancers, prostate cancer is not one but many different diseases,” Efstathiou said. “We need to start identifying different groups of patients and treating them with targeted therapy.”
She noted that only a fairly small percentage of prostate cancer patients would have alterations in DNA-repair genes—which can be inherited or arise as the cancer progresses.
And doctors do not routinely screen cancers for all those gene flaws.
Screening for inherited mutations is “becoming part of guidelines,” Efstathiou noted, but screening for non-inherited alternations is not yet done.
For the latest trial, the researchers screened 4,425 men with advanced prostate cancer that had spread to distant sites in the body and was not responding to standard hormonal therapy.
The investigators ended up with 245 patients with alterations in either BRCA or another gene called ATM. A second group of 142 patients had alterations in any of 12 other genes tied to flawed DNA repair.
Patients in both groups were randomly assigned to either take Lynparza tablets or start one of two newer hormonal therapies.
Overall, Lynparza patients saw their cancer advance more slowly, with the difference being clearer in the group with BRCA or ATM defects.
For those men, cancer progression was delayed by a median of 7.4 months, versus 3.5 months among patients on hormonal therapy. A preliminary analysis suggested their overall survival was also better—a median of 18.5 months, versus 15 months.
Lynparza does have side effects, including anemia and nausea, Efstathiou pointed out, which can make it difficult to stick with the drug. Just over 16% of Lynparza patients in the trial stopped treatment due to side effects.
The drug is not yet approved for prostate cancer, though some doctors use it “off-label” for certain patients, Hussain noted.
At this point, Efstathiou said, doctors may want to screen for DNA-repair mutations in the tumors of men with advanced prostate cancer, since “we now have evidence it can be successfully targeted.”
Like other targeted drugs, Lynparza carries a hefty price tag: Researchers have estimated that it costs more than $234,000 to extend a patient’s life by one year.
The old saying, “TV rots your brain,” could have some validity for folks as they age.
In a new study, middle-aged people who watched television for more than 3.5 hours a day experienced a decline in their ability to remember words and language over the next six years, British researchers found.
What’s worse, it appears that the more TV you watch, the more your verbal memory will deteriorate, researchers said.
“Overall, our results suggests that adults over the age of 50 should try and ensure television viewing is balanced with other contrasting activities,” said lead researcher Daisy Fancourt. She’s a senior research fellow at University College London.
For the study, researchers relied on data from a long-term study of aging involving more than 3,600 residents of England.
Participants reported the amount of hours of TV they watched daily. They also had their thinking and reasoning skills regularly tested as part of the study.
People who watched less than 3.5 hours of TV a day didn’t seem to suffer any deterioration in their brain power, Fancourt said.
But more than that amount, people became increasingly apt to struggle with words or language in tests conducted six years later.
The decline in language skills is similar to that experienced by the poor as they age, Fancourt said.
“We already know from a number of studies that being of low socio-economic status is a risk factor for cognitive decline,” Fancourt said. “If we compare the size of association for watching television for greater than 3.5 hours a day, it has a similar-sized association with verbal memory as being in the lowest 20 percent of wealth in the country.”
The worst deficits occurred in those people who watched more than seven hours of television daily, researchers found.
While only an association was seen in the study, there are a couple of potential reasons why this might happen.
“Due to the fast-paced changes in images, sounds and action, yet the passive nature of receiving these—i.e., television does not involve interaction as gaming or using the internet does—watching television has been shown in laboratory studies to lead to a more alert, but less focused, brain,” Fancourt explained.
Some TV viewing is also stressful and stress has been associated with a decline in brain power, she added.
The specific effect on verbal skills indicates that avid TV viewing could be replacing other activities that would be better for the brain, said Rebecca Edelmayer, director of scientific engagement at the U.S.-based Alzheimer’s Association.
“You’re spending more time not engaging with your family, your friends and having social conversations, because they’re specifically reporting a decrease in verbal recall,” Edelmayer said. “We know engagement with others in conversation is something that supports and protects verbal recall.”
People who want to protect their thinking skills need to socialize often and engage in other activities that “stretch” their brain, Edelmayer said.
In fact, a long-term study published just last week in the journal Neurology found that exercising both the brain and body during middle age may guard against dementia. Such mental exercise includes reading, playing music, sewing or painting, according to the report.
“The recommendation would always be to stretch yourself and stay as engaged as you can be, whatever the connection is,” Edelmayer said. “We’re asking you for best brain health to go outside your normal passive box.”
The new study was published recently in the journal Scientific Reports.
The numbers are staggering, the financial and societal costs exorbitant. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s today. By 2050, the number is expected to increase to nearly 14 million.
Courtesy Alzheimer’s Association
And here’s a sobering thought: Cognitive decline begins at the age of 25. Dementia — the deterioration of memory most often seen in aging adults — takes hold early on and starts gradually, but then accelerates when we are in our 70s and 80s.
But what if solving brain games and puzzles on a computer could reduce the chances of developing dementia and delay the debilitating loss of function?
That’s the premise behind a new clinical trial, which is seeking volunteers for a three-year study. The PACT (Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease with Cognitive Training) Alzheimer’s clinical trial needs 600 people of all ethnicities from the West Michigan area to play computer games. Overall, the study needs 7,600 people to enroll and will be conducted at 15 locations across the U.S.
The study is spearheaded by David Morgan, Ph.D., Professor of Translational Neuroscience at Michigan State University, who relocated here in late 2017 from the University of South Florida in Tampa.
The study began in East Grand Rapids this past July, and a second study location just opened this Fall in South Grand Rapids.
Specifically, participants will be provided free access to a series of computer games designed to increase your brain’s processing speed. If you qualify to help, you will complete three study visits of one hour each at the PACT Research study location nearest you. You will then complete 45 one-hour sessions on your own, in your own home, over the next three years.
“This study will definitely prove if computer games can (or cannot) reduce the risk of developing cognitive impairment leading to dementia,” said Morgan. “A critical piece is that everyone who declines cognitively during the study will receive a medical diagnosis, something not done in the earlier study.”
Participants must be over 65 years old, free of severe neurological or psychiatric illness, and able to play computer games. You may qualify if you:
are 65 years of age or older
do not have any neurological disorders
have not had a stroke or brain injury
do not have mild cognitive impairment or dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease
What’s in it for you? There’s no monetary compensation, but research has shown that brain games may:
protect against dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease
enhance mental quickness and visual attention
improve gait speed and balance
improve driving safety
maintain health and well-being
allow you to perform everyday tasks more efficiently
protect against depression
In short, all the things that money can’t buy.
If the researchers can enroll enough older adults in the trial, they will apply for a larger grant to train and monitor a cohort of participants for five to seven years. That study will include genetic testing and neuro-imaging of the brain to gain a better understanding of who is more likely to develop dementia and would benefit from this training.
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health welcomes runners and walkers of all ages and abilities to participate in the 2019 Metro Health Race Weekend. For the 13thconsecutive year, Metro Health is the title sponsor of the Grand Rapids Marathon, and for the first year Metro Health has extended their sponsorship to include Run Thru The Rapids 5k, 10K and Family Walk.
“Metro Health continues to sponsor this event year after year because it encourages health and wellness in our community,” said Greg Meyer, Chief Community Officer, Metro Health – University ofMichigan Health. “This weekend is a culmination of athlete’s hard work and training, and Metro Health is happy to help participants celebrate and cross that finish line safely.”
All of the weekend’s races start and finish at the David D Hunting YMCA, located at 475 Lake Michigan Dr. NW in downtown Grand Rapids. The timeline for the weekend is as follows:
Saturday, Oct. 19
9 a.m. Metro Heath Run Thru The Rapids 10k, 5k and Family Walk
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Health and Fitness Expo
1:30 p.m. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Kids Marathon
Sunday, Oct. 20
7:30 a.m. Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Wheelchair and Handcycle Division
8 a.m. Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Foster Swift Half Marathon Pepsi Max Marathon Relay
Metro Health’s Sports Medicine team will be providing on-site medical attention throughout the entire weekend. They will be on the course prepared to assist runners with medical issues and help them safely reach the finish line. Metro Health volunteers will also be running several aid-stations, supporting runner safety and giving back to the community.
Leading up to the race weekend as well as race day, both Greg Meyer and Metro Health Sports Medicine physician, Dr. Ed Kornoelje, will be available for interviews. Whether it’s advice from an expert marathon runner or running safety tips, Metro Health experts have it covered.
“Silence is golden” or so the saying goes, but is it always a good idea? Silence is not golden when it comes to the subject of your parents’ living expenses, healthcare and elder care costs. According to the Fidelity Intra-family Generational Finance Study (FIGS), 4 out of 10 families have not had a conversation with their elderly parents about living expenses, healthcare, and elder care costs. One reason, as stated in the study, is that parents worry that their adult children are counting too much on a future inheritance, while children don’t want to upset their parents.
Because of this reasoning, the subject of money becomes taboo and needed conversations are not happening.
According to the FIGS study, children and parents didn’t believe having a conversation about living expenses, healthcare, and retirement was difficult to start. The difficulty comes with the depth and the detail of the conversation and when to start having the conversations. The important thing to remember is don’t wait until an emergency to have the conversation.
Below is a list of topics and ages when discussing retirement issues that can help avoid future emergency conversations:
Age 50
AARP Eligible, Senior Discount Programs, Catch up contributions of $1,000 for IRA and $5,500 for 401k, 403b and TSP
Age 55
401k or retirement withdrawals without 10 percent early penalty
Age 59 ½
Take from any retirement account without 10 percent early penalty including Roth IRA, as long as it’s been held for 5 years.
Age 62
Earliest age to collect Social Security. Eligible for reverse mortgages.
Age 65
Eligible for Medicare (Apply 3 months before 65th birthday) – otherwise Medicare part B and prescription drug coverage part D may cost more money
Age 66
Full retirement if born between 1943-1954 Can collect Social Security without reduction and no offset on amounts earned.
Age 70
Maximum Social Security accrual – time to start.
Age 70 ½
IRA and 401k contributions must stop. Must begin taking required minimum distributions
Before beginning a conversation on a sensitive subject such as money, you have to realize that the conversation is not a democracy; your parents have made decisions about their money all of their life and they are not about to stop now. Remember, it is your parents’ money and their decision. Below are 10 suggestions to aid in having a conversation concerning retirement, living expenses, healthcare, and elder care.
Start Discussions Early. Do not think that it will only take one talk. The earlier you begin discussions, the more time will be on your side and the easier the discussions will become.
Include all family members. Make sure all siblings are included in the discussions. This way, everyone in the immediate family is fully aware of all decisions made and are not getting information passed on to them that may or may not be accurate.
Explain the purpose of your conversation. Communication is integral. Explain your concerns about how your parents will be cared for and how they feel about their financial future.
Understand your parents’ need to control their own lives. The conversation is not about preserving your inheritance. It is about your parent’s right to be able to live their life how they want to live it.
Agree to disagree. It is okay to disagree; the conversation is not about who is right or who is wrong.
Use good communication skills. Listen to understand not to reply. If you don’t understand, then ask for clarification.
Ask about records and documentation. Do not be afraid to ask where pertinent records are located and who would need to be contacted concerning them are.
Provide information. If you come across information you deem to be useful in helping to make appropriate decisions, provide it to everyone involved in your ongoing discussions.
Re-evaluate if things aren’t working well. Do not be afraid to take some steps backwards if conversations are not being productive.
Treat your parents with respect. Always respect your parent’s wishes regarding decisions concerning their living expenses, healthcare and elder care.
If you find yourself struggling to stay alert, it could hint at an underlying medical problem—or the need for changes to your nighttime sleep routine. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Napping isn’t just for infants and children. Adults can get in on the action, too—they need only recognize the right time, place and circumstance.
Feeling fatigued or groggy during the day? That’s a good place to start. But you first need to determine why you’re feeling that way.
A nap can be refreshing and invigorating, helping you reenergize for a trip or for the workday, or whatever activity you’re undertaking, said Mary Barr, adult nurse practitioner in sleep medicine at Spectrum Health.
But the circumstances allowing for a nap will vary.
Generally speaking, you should only be napping during the day if you’re ill or if you’re trying to relieve pain. You could also nap amid abnormal circumstances—when you’re recovering from an acute injury, for example, or managing chronic illness.
Sometimes your schedule might deprive you of some much-needed sleep. If you find there’s no way to make it through the day without stealing a few quick moments of rest—or if you’re engaged in an activity that is simply wearing you down—a short nap is entirely acceptable.
Just be sure it’s a temporary solution. You should change your activities so you can keep to your regular schedule.
If you feel sleepy while driving, pull over in a safe place and catch a few Zzzs, Barr said. Likewise, when performing tasks that require high levels of attention, consider a nap to ward off fatigue.
If you’re at work, your nap needs to happen while on break or during your lunch hour.
“A 15-minute nap—often called a power nap—can refresh you when you are feeling sluggish or inattentive, groggy or not focused,” Barr said.
Generally, a 15- to 30-minute nap is enough. You can tell if you’ve slept too long because you’ll wake up feeling more groggy than before, she said.
There’s no ideal nap time, just whenever you feel sleepy during the day. Generally, this is after lunch for most people.
Falling asleep when napping is good, although you may not necessarily fall into any deep sleep stages.
Not all naps are equal
A word of caution: Don’t nap too late in the day or too close to your typical bedtime. Such naps can interfere with normal nighttime sleep routines, Barr said.
And make no mistake—you need a good night’s sleep every single night. Usually, if your sleep routine is good, you won’t need additional napping.
Barr offered a good rule of thumb: Make sure your nap is at least six to eight hours before your normal bedtime.
She also said that napping every day could be an indication you’re not getting enough rest at night. Bad sleep habits could cause this, but there could also be a medical problem. Sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome, for example, can make people feel sleepy during the day.
One American Academy of Sleep Medicine study that found frequent napping is associated with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in older adults.
Adults who don’t sleep well at night should analyze their sleep habits to see what might be interrupting their sleep. Stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine could be to blame, but bad sleep habits could also be the culprit.
Some other napping tips from Barr:
Keep the nap short—ideally about 30 minutes.
Make sure the nap is in a safe, comfortable place where you won’t be disturbed.
Avoid long weekend naps, especially if you don’t nap during the week.
Don’t resort to napping to make up for sleepless nights.
If sleepless nights are a recurring problem, you may need to seek help from a sleep professional to determine if there is an underlying medical cause.
Too little sleep. Not enough exercise. Far too much “screen time.”
That is the unhealthy lifestyle of nearly all U.S. high school students, new research finds.
The study, of almost 60,000 teenagers nationwide, found that only 5 percent were meeting experts’ recommendations on three critical health habits—sleep, exercise and time spent gazing at digital media and television.
It’s no secret that many teenagers are attached to their cellphones, or stay up late, or spend a lot of time being sedentary. But even researchers were struck by how extensive those issues are among high school students.
“Five percent is a really low proportion,” said study leader Gregory Knell, a research fellow at University of Texas School of Public Health, in Dallas. “We were a bit surprised by that.”
In general, medical experts say teenagers should get eight to 10 hours of sleep at night and at least one hour of moderate to vigorous exercise every day. They should also limit their screen time—TV and digital media—to less than two hours per day.
The new findings show how few kids manage to meet all three recommendations, Knell said.
It’s easy to see how sleep, exercise and screen time are intertwined, he pointed out.
“Here’s one example: If kids are viewing a screen at night—staring at that blue light—that may affect their ability to sleep,” Knell said.
“And if you’re not getting enough sleep at night, you’re going to be more tired during the day,” he added, “and you’re not going to be as physically active.”
Ariella Silver is an assistant professor of pediatrics and adolescent medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City. She agreed there’s a lot of overlap in the three behaviors.
Silver, who was not involved in the study, also made this point: The two-hour limit on screen time may be tough for high school students, since their homework may demand a lot of computer time.
It’s not clear how much that may have played into the findings, Silver said.
Still, she sees screen time as possibly the “biggest factor” here. Silver agreed that it may hinder teenagers’ sleep. But another issue comes up when social media “replaces” face-to-face social interaction.
When kids do not go out with friends, they miss out on many experiences—including chances for physical activity, Silver said.
While no group of kids in the study was doing well, some were faring worse than others. Only 3 percent of girls met all three recommendations, versus 7 percent of boys.
Similarly, the rate was 2 percent to 4 percent among black, Hispanic and Asian American students, versus just over 6 percent of white kids, the findings showed.
The report was published online recently in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
Silver offered some advice for parents:
Instead of telling kids to “get off the phone,” steer them toward alternatives, like extracurricular activities, community programs or family time. “Their screen time will go down by default,” she noted.
Be a good role model. Get off your phone and demonstrate healthy habits, including spending time being physically active with your kids.
Talk to teenagers about the importance of healthy habits. “Ask them, ‘How do you feel when you don’t get enough sleep?’” Silver suggested. “Ask, ‘How do you feel when you don’t get outside in the sun and get some exercise?’” It’s important, she said, that kids notice how their bodies feel when they do or don’t engage in healthy habits.
Set some clear rules around screen time, such as no devices in the two hours before bedtime. “Make sure your kids realize these devices are a privilege, and not a necessity to living,” Silver said.
The good news, Knell said, is that since sleep, exercise and screen time are interrelated, changing one habit could affect the others, too.
“There are certainly small changes you can make that may have a big impact,” he said.
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).
Uncle Daddy is doing amazingly well, and we are all so very proud of him! Since being dumped on our doorstep back in March—along with nine other furry family members—this guy has graciously allowed us to pick him up, and he actually enjoys it, but as soon as there are too many people around, he gets scared, hisses and runs off. He and Dr. Jen are best buddies, always hanging around together and posing for photo ops; he can be quite comical—and unabashedly shameless. He’s definitely still the leader of the pack; his furry family members look up to him and sincerely derive pleasure from his company.
Now, why did Dr. Jen name the family the way she did? When Dr. Jen discovered that they were all somehow related, she started calling the one whom she assumed was the founding father ‘Uncle Daddy’. Then while attempting to retrieve one of the girls safely from a travel carrier, the good doc was rewarded with a nasty slash across the hand with talon-like claws. So, she put two-and-two together and decided to name the bunch after characters from a quirky TV show aptly called Claws.
The Shy Seven consisted of Uncle Daddy, Roller, Dean, Desna, Jenn, Polly and Quiet Ann, and with the addition of Brice, Dr. Ken and Virginnia, the cast of cats was complete; it all made purr-fect sense to Dr. Jen—and there is always a method to her madness.
At our free-roaming facility, cats like these have all of the time in the world to acclimate and adjust at their own rate, a snail’s pace if that is what is necessary. We have no cages, no time limits, no rules or regulations: each individual cat gets to stretch his legs at his own pace, each kitty gets to spread her furry little wings and fly when she is ready to leave the nest.
We offer a peaceful, secure environment to each and every cat in our care as long as they need it—and us. Slow and steady wins the race, and we firmly believe that with love, all things are possible; we surely can see endless possibilities and bright futures full of promise for this family of ours.
One final thing to note, since we have gotten to know each and every one of the 10 intimately: none of them should go to homes with children, and all require a quiet, mellow space. All except Jenn absolutely need to be placed with another cat they can snuggle up with, but not necessarily with one of the Timid 10.
The boy is shameless
Potential adopters should be aware that it will more than likely be a tough transition for any of them, but once they settle in, get themselves familiarized with their new surroundings and develop a new routine, they are going to be amazing cats. They are 100% worth the effort but they will require more patience, time and energy than your average shelter cat.
Honestly though, we feel each and everyone one of our cats is above average, especially this family, who have come so far since they day they were dumped on our doorstep. Their transformation has been nothing short of remarkable.
If you are interested in meeting one or more of the family members, we’ll set up a special ‘quiet time’ to come visit them. They really thrive in calm surroundings so we want to showcase them at their best!
More about Uncle Daddy:
Domestic Medium Hair
Black
Adult
Male
Medium
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Prefers a home without children
Want to adopt Uncle Daddy? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
In people with buildup of amyloid brain protein, regular aerobic activity might slow degeneration in the brain region tied to memory. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
For people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease, working out a couple of times a week might at least slow the onset of the illness, new research suggests.
Regular exercise over a year slowed the degeneration of the part of the brain tied to memory among people who had a buildup of amyloid beta protein in their brain.
These protein “plaques” are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s, noted researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Aerobic exercise didn’t stop plaques from spreading, but it might slow down the effects of amyloid on the brain, especially if started at an early stage, the research team suggested.
“What are you supposed to do if you have amyloid clumping together in the brain? Right now doctors can’t prescribe anything,” lead researcher Dr. Rong Zhang said in a university news release.
However, “if these findings can be replicated in a larger trial, then maybe one day doctors will be telling high-risk patients to start an exercise plan,” he said. “In fact, there’s no harm in doing so now.”
One expert who wasn’t involved in the study agreed with that advice.
“Exercise is an excellent way to both prevent Alzheimer’s and to help patients with Alzheimer’s disease stay stable for longer periods of time,” said Dr. Gayatri Devi, a neurologist specializing in memory disorders at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
“Aerobic exercise, three to four times a week, has been shown to help grow brain cells in the part of the brain called the hippocampus, the key area for both laying down new memories and for retrieving old ones,” she explained.
In the new study, Zhang and colleagues randomly assigned 70 people aged 55 and older to either half-hour workouts of aerobic exercise four to five days a week, or less strenuous flexibility training.
All of the patients had some amyloid plaque buildup in their brains at the beginning of the study and were classed as having “mild cognitive impairment,” often a precursor to Alzheimer’s.
Followed over one year, people in both groups maintained similar mental abilities in memory and problem solving, the researchers noted.
However, those in the aerobic exercise group showed less shrinkage of the brain’s hippocampus as seen on scans.
The hippocampus is an area of the brain important to memory and one of the first areas usually affected by Alzheimer’s, Zhang’s group explained.
“It’s interesting that the brains of participants with amyloid responded more to the aerobic exercise than the others,” Zhang said. “Although the interventions didn’t stop the hippocampus from getting smaller, even slowing down the rate of atrophy through exercise could be an exciting revelation.”
To further test the effect of exercise, Zhang is heading up a five-year trial that includes more than 600 older adults, aged 60 to 85, who are at risk for Alzheimer’s.
“Understanding the molecular basis for Alzheimer’s disease is important,” Zhang said. “But the burning question in my field is, ‘Can we translate our growing knowledge of molecular biology into an effective treatment?’ We need to keep looking for answers.”
Dr. Jeremy Koppel is associate professor of psychiatry and molecular medicine at the Litwin-Zucker Center for Alzheimer’s Disease & Memory Disorders, at Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, N.Y.
Reading over the new findings, he said that, on the whole, the study was “disappointing” because exercise “did not have any specific effect on tests of memory, mental flexibility or amyloid deposition in patients with mild cognitive impairment.”
While the finding regarding hippocampus size was interesting, “this was not the primary outcome measure of the study,” Koppel noted.
So, “it may be that aerobic exercise interventions are best targeted at those not suffering already from cognitive impairment,” he said.
The report was published recently in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
It is not an easy task to find an activity that will include a variety of ages and abilities and encourage people to participate. For Holland Home, the answer to completing that task came in the shape of a butterfly.
Holland Home operates several facilities such as the independent living facility Breton Woods, located near 44th and Breton Road in Kentwood, and Raybrook, located off of Burton Avenue near Calvin College. At these facilities, Holland Home offers its Vibrant Living program which provides residents with spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social and physical activities.
“We look for programs that will be inclusive to everyone along with offering new opportunities for residents,” said Director of Resident Life Marenta Klinger.
Klinger said the Vibrant Living committee came together and wanted to do a program that would encompass a variety of ages, talents, and abilities, but the committee was not certain as to what that program should be.
Enter local artist Pamela Alderman. Alderman is a familiar name as she has participated in ArtPrize for the past 10 years with several of her pieces placing in the top 20. Alderman’s work is interactive and collaborative with one of her more well-known pieces “Wing and a Prayer” had 2013 ArtPrize visitors write notes for children in need and hang them on a wall. She made 20,000 vellum cards for the 2013 event, adding that she quickly ran out.
With her signature red glasses and infectious smile. Alderman accepted the challenge presented to her from Holland Home of creating a piece of art that would be inclusive of the community’s residents and would be gallery quality to hang in the various facilities.
“My thoughts came to the Monarch butterfly,” Alderman said during a recent interview.
It takes five generations of the Monarch butterfly to migrate from Canada to Mexico and back again. Scientist believe the butterflies have some sort of internal mechanism that guides them to the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico with some butterflies returning to the exact fir trees of their ancestors.
Alderman said she began to see patterns between the butterflies and seniors, who have been part of a long journey, growing strong through the challenges and stresses of life. Alderman said she saw the project as a way to celebrate the life of the seniors and an opportunity for the participants to share their stories.
A resident paints tiles. (Supplied)
Residents help to create the Patterns of Resiliency (Broken Wings No. 3). (Supplied)
With that in mind, she created three specific projects centered around the journey of the Monarch butterfly. The first project was called Patterns of Resiliency (Broken Wings No. 3) where residents in Holland Home’s independent living painted the backs of 324 plexiglass tiles that would be assembled to create a large butterfly.
“It was interesting, because we would ask people to paint and some would say, ‘I have no talent. I can’t paint,’” Alderman said. “We were like everyone can put paint on a tile.”
Some people did designs and others share their stories such as a World War II surviver who told her story of when the Allied Forces liberated France.
“She used green and blue for the country side and then red, white, and blue for the Allied Forces that came in,” Alderman said.
The stories continued in the second project, called Legacy Journey (Broken Wings No. 4). Residents in both the independent living and the assisted living wrote or dictated legacy words on marble paper that depicted who they were or words that were meaningful to them. The papers were cut and used to form a second large butterfly.
A resident gets help in sponge painting for the final piece, Kaleidoscope (Broken Wings No. 5). (Supplied)
The last project, Kaleidoscope (Broken Wings No. 5), focused on those living in Holland Home’s assisted living and skilled nursing. Residents painted with sponges on paper that was ripped up to form the final butterfly. At the same time, a group of carpenters from the independent living constructed frames for the butterflies, creating, as Alderman called it “a kaleidoscope of activity as the Holland Home community came together to create the final pieces.”
From there, Alderman created two sets of the butterflies, a set that is on display at Breton Woods and the other at Raybrook, so all the residents could enjoy the final pieces. Klinger said the pieces were all on display together for the unveiling earlier this year. The individual pieces are displayed in the lobby of the facilities, which are not open to the general public, Klinger said.
“It was the perfect project,” Klinger said, adding that about 400 residents and staff participated in the project. “Residents in every level care at both campuses were able to participate.”
Alderman said because of the project’s scope of bring people together of all abilities, she hopes to springboard off the Holland Home project and offer similar programs to other senior living facilities.
After age 50, many people notice increased forgetfulness and may be concerned about developing dementia. Forgetting where you parked your car or where you left your glasses can be frustrating and embarrassing, and using humor to acknowledge “a senior moment” often helps to dispel some anxiety!
Michigan State University Extension recommends staying mentally active and including daily physical activity as healthy lifestyle choices to improve memory. Eat low-fat protein, fruits, vegetables and whole grains to provide the nutrients needed to keep your brain sharp. Watch what you drink – too little water or too much alcohol can lead to confusion and memory loss. Stimulate your brain by doing puzzles, learning new skills, or taking an alternate route to a familiar destination. Play games, including free online brain games such as those offered by AARP, where you can adjust the skill level.
Other factors in addition to age that can contribute to forgetfulness include medical conditions and emotional problems. It is a good idea to review your medications with your health care provider to review possible side effects that may impact memory. Stress and depression can also contribute to memory loss, so make sure to enjoy regular social interaction with family and friends, especially if you live alone. Sleep is vital in helping your brain sort, consolidate and store your memories, so try to get seven to eight hours of sleep each day.
When you really pay attention to something, you remember it better. New information is lost from short term memory unless it is repeated again and again. Focusing your attention causes your brain to release special chemicals that strengthen learning and memory. You are more likely to remember appointments and other events if you keep track of them in a special notebook or calendar. The act of writing it down or saying it out loud will reinforce it in your memory. To avoid misplacing items, be diligent about putting your wallet or purse, keys and glasses in the same place each day. When you can’t recall a word or name, review the facts of the story or event.
Remembering other details will help trigger the memory you are searching for. Who has not walked into a room and then not remembered why you were going there? These are very common lapses that usually result from lack of attention or focus. By mentally retracing your steps or physically going back to where you were, the thought will often come back. Staying focused on your immediate task will help avoid this annoying experience. Studies show that the older we get, the more the brain has to exert effort to maintain focus. It also takes longer to get back to an original task after an interruption, so avoid multitasking to reduce distractions.
While memory loss is a common symptom of dementia, memory loss by itself does not mean that a person has dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease. It is a descriptive term for a collection of symptoms that can be caused by a number of disorders that affect the brain. Although it is common in very elderly individuals, dementia is not a normal part of the aging process.
See your doctor if you have serious memory problems that make it hard to do everyday tasks. For example, you may find it hard to drive, shop or even talk with a friend. Signs of serious memory problems may include:
Asking the same questions over and over again
Getting lost in places you know well
Not being able to follow directions
Becoming more confused about time, people and places
By taking steps to maintain memory, and seeking help with serious memory problems for ourselves or loved ones when needed, we can manage cognitive changes without allowing them to diminish our enjoyment of life.
Taking medication for high blood pressure or high cholesterol can reduce the odds of stroke. Researchers also suspect improvements in diet, exercise and lifestyle are contributing to better outcomes. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Starting in the late 1980s, stroke rates among older Americans began to fall—and the decline shows no signs of stopping, a new study finds.
The researchers found that between 1987 and 2017, the rate of stroke incidence among Americans aged 65 and older dropped by one-third per decade.
The pattern has been steady, with no leveling off in recent years.
It’s not completely clear why, according to researcher Dr. Josef Coresh, a professor at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, in Baltimore.
Over time, fewer older adults in the study were smokers, which is a major risk factor for stroke. On the other hand, some other risk factors—such as high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes—became more common.
Of course, those conditions can be treated. And it’s known that for any one person, getting high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes under control can cut the risk of stroke, Coresh said.
“However,” he added, “at the population level, we found that the decline (in strokes) was larger than what would be predicted from risk factor control alone.”
That suggests something else is going on, Coresh said.
The findings are based on data from a long-running heart health study that began in 1987. At the outset, it recruited almost 15,800 adults aged 45 to 64 from communities in four U.S. states.
A previous study found that the stroke rate among the participants fell between 1987 and 2011—a decline seen only among people aged 65 and older.
The new analysis, published online recently in JAMA Neurology, shows that the trend continued between 2011 and 2017.
Over 30 years, Coresh’s team found, there were 1,028 strokes among participants aged 65 and older. The incidence dropped by 32% over time.
In more recent years, many more older adults were on medication for high blood pressure or high cholesterol, versus the late 1980s. But risk factor control did not fully explain why the stroke rate dropped so much, according to Coresh.
He said that other factors not measured in the study—including exercise, salt intake and overall diet—might be involved.
Dr. Larry Goldstein, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, made another point: The study could not account for exactly how well-controlled people’s blood pressure and other risk factors were.
That could go a long way toward explaining the decline in stroke incidence, according to Goldstein, who is also a professor of neurology at the University of Kentucky.
But while the latest findings are good news, there are also more sobering stroke statistics, Goldstein said. Although strokes are most common among people aged 65 and older, they strike younger adults, too, and the incidence of stroke among younger people has been inching up in recent years.
Plus, Goldstein said, the death rate from stroke—which had been declining—has recently “stalled” and is starting to reverse course.
“It might be because folks are now having more severe strokes,” Goldstein noted.
It’s critical, he added, that people be aware of the signs of stroke and get help quickly if they think they, or a family member, is having one.
Some of the warning signs include a drooping or numbness on one side of the face; arm weakness or numbness; slurred speech; sudden confusion or difficulty seeing or walking; or, as Goldstein described it, “the worst headache of your life.”
His advice: “Don’t delay getting help. Time saved is brain saved.”
Heartside Neighborhood in downtown Grand Rapids has a rich, colorful history. In the 1850s, it was a shanty town, home to immigrants who were new to America. The area grew quickly—at first small houses dotted the landscape, then commercial and industrial businesses, hotels, a railroad depot, stores and apartment buildings. Today, it’s a historic district containing many original buildings, 55 of which are historically significant.
The area’s renaissance is mirrored in modern apartment buildings with both market-rate and income-based units; high-end condos; parking structures; offices; a feast of food establishments; a cat café; art studios; and recently built Studio Park, which adds movie theaters, more restaurants, more offices, more apartments, and a music venue to the mix. Heartside is becoming denser by the day.
Photo by Victoria Mullen, WKTV
There’s a palpable tension in the air as newcomers and longtime residents alike struggle to co-exist with a younger, more affluent crowd and the age-old problem of gentrification. The place is dynamic and vibrant but also plagued by criminal activity—vandalism, drug activity, trespassing, prostitution and the like—and an ever-growing transient population.
As services and resources increase in number, organizations like DwellingPlace, Heartside Ministries, Mel Trotter Ministries, Guiding Light, Dégagé, and others have been inundated. Grand Rapids is known as a “destination city” for homelessness as West Michigan police departments and judges send parolees here, and Mel Trotter routinely receives folks who have been given a one-way bus ticket to downtown Grand Rapids by missions, churches, and families in other cities across the Midwest.
VOICES has hosted several people who live and work in ever-evolving Heartside. Lisa Blackburn, Victoria Kool, Tommie Wallace, Larry Dean White, and Dr. Mark Vander Meer are just a few of the folks who shared their stories recently.
Listen to their voices—and others—on the VOICESFacebook page.
* * *
Photo by Victoria Mullen, WKTV
Dwelling Place connects people to programs and resources that can help folks become self-sufficient and find affordable housing. The nonprofit advocates for the neighborhood to make it safer—like street lights so people feel comfortable when they’re out at night and accessible sidewalks so children can easily walk to school. The nonprofit also unites neighbors and strives to bring in businesses that enrich the community.
Lisa Blackburn, Resident Services Coordinator at Dwelling Place, has fond memories of the Heartside District; it was her old stomping grounds when she was a kid growing up in the 1970s.
“Back then, it wasn’t called Heartside,” said Blackburn. “There were a lot of old, abandoned buildings. I remember playing around the train tracks—I may or may not have thrown a rock through a window. It feels good now as an employee in this area to see how it has grown.”
* * *
Artist Victoria Kool lives in Heartside. Her story, while unique, shares commonalities with others who live in the neighborhood: She was abused as a child, and she struggles with mental illness and addiction. She first attempted suicide at the tender age of 8.
Lisa Blackburn
“My parents had threatened to kill me if I told anyone about the abuse,” Kool said. “I had given up on life. My mom was an alcoholic. From a very young age, I took care of my siblings. I’ve had adult responsibilities since I was 5.”
Kool began having flashbacks in her 40s and 50s. She remembers standing in a closet, counting the stripes on the carpet to pass the time.
“It was either the closet or the attic or the basement; I spent a lot of my childhood in my own little world,” she said. “Until the age of 18, I felt invisible because of the trauma.”
No one believed her, not even the police. As a kindergartener, Kool knew that ‘Policeman Ralph’ wouldn’t help.
“I was a cynical kid,” Kool said.
A high-school acquaintance thought Kool had an ideal, well-adjusted family. But it was all a facade.
Victoria Kool
Kool had planned to attend college and then start a career in social work. Those hopes were dashed when family members told her she was expected to marry. She had children and for many years played the role of little homemaker. She struggled to cope with the flashbacks.
“I had no memory of the abuse and ended up with multiple personalities to compartmentalize the trauma,” said Kool. “My family didn’t want me to talk about it and threatened to silence me. I fled my marriage.”
She sought refuge with a friend, but Kool’s ex-husband threatened the woman, and Kool was asked to leave.
At one point, Kool drove to Florida, where her 4-year-old car’s engine blew. She lived in a homeless shelter for a week, until a church bought her a plane ticket to fly back to Grand Rapids.
Photo by Victoria Mullen, WKTV
“I ended up in a recovery house with women who had just gotten out of prison,” Kool explained. “I had a mental breakdown and got kicked out after a month. Then I called Mel Trotter and started in their emergency shelter—up at 6am, out at 8am, can’t get back in until 6pm. I dragged my suitcase around all day. It really opened my eyes to the reality of homelessness—a lot of mental illness, addiction, lack of a support network.”
Mel Trotter Ministries has served the greater Grand Rapids area since 1900. Founded by Melvin Ernest Trotter, a former alcoholic, the organization was first located at 955 Canal Street. Offering substance abuse counseling and other services, the mission moved to its present location at 225 Commerce Ave. SW in 1968.
The reasons for homelessness are many—domestic violence that forces someone to flee; an illness or injury that causes loss of employment and income (eviction is often close behind); addiction; mental illness; rising rents and lack of affordable housing; the list goes on.
“Homelessness is exhausting,” Kool said. “Living in a neighborhood with so many homeless people around me—I had to be prepared. I had grown up judgmental, with an air of superiority, and I had to deal with that so I could adjust and coexist with folks who were different from me. The diversity was new to me.”
Photo by Victoria Mullen, WKTV
Kool sees many people going through the same struggles as they try to somehow make a better life for themselves.
“Living in Heartside, I am attuned to those who have suffered abuse,” she said. “I have a sense of who has been through a bad situation; I have compassion and empathy now versus being judgmental. Most people who have addictions have been abused. A lot of the people here in Heartside are mentally ill, too.”
* * *
Muralist Tommie Wallace (aka Town Hall Auk Med) lives in an income-based apartment made possible by Dwelling Place. Originally from Kalamazoo, he came to Grand Rapids after seeing a commercial for ITT Technical Institute (now defunct).
“I stayed with a cousin until his wife felt I needed to move on, and that’s how I ended up in Heartside,” Wallace said. “I liked the area, had a lot of fun. I stayed here because it’s near a bus line, the library, the store.”
Photo by Victoria Mullen, WKTV
Wallace created his first mural at the site of Goodrich and Commerce.
“People would stop and talk to me as I worked,” he said. “I met such interesting people; some bought me lunch; one lady came by and brought me an umbrella as I worked in the rain.”
Wallace lived in Washington DC for a time.
“DC is different from the Midwest,” he said. “The difference is friendliness—you don’t see it much in DC, people keep to themselves, don’t want to get into conversations; I had to adapt because I was used to saying, ‘Good morning.’ People shun you there for that.”
After graduating from ITT Tech, Wallace got a job working for an airline company. As his income increased, he moved from an income-based apartment at The Weston to a market-rate residence at Goodrich Apartments. He lived there until being laid off after 9/11.
Tommie Wallace
“I came back to The Weston and I have been there over 20 years now. Heartside is my home. I know people here, they know me. I get a good feeling when people recognize me as an artist.”
A recovering addict, Wallace attends meetings at Heartside Ministry every Friday. Heartside Ministry serves people who live in the margins of Grand Rapids. It strives to provide basic needs; in addition, it offers a GED program, art gallery, yoga class and chapel for people to practice their faith.
Wallace meets a lot of people who are older, ill or injured.
“They’re newcomers to these issues and don’t know what to do,” Wallace said.
Larry Dean White
Wallace has served on the board of directors for Dwelling Place since 2005. He likes seeing the various development projects in downtown Grand Rapids.
“So many different people are coming down, young people, rich people. Residents were afraid that they would be pushed out.”
* * *
“I got the ministry in prison,” said Arkansas native Larry Dean White. The self-described ‘redneck Christian minister’, shares his love of God with the folks who people Heartside.
“I studied for six years; my textbooks are the old and new testaments,” he said.
White sat down to share his story with Dr. Mark Vander Meer, a pastor and founder of Community Recovery International, a nonprofit organization that helps address family, individual, addictive, marital, and mental health issues of all types locally and overseas.
Dr. Mark Vander Meer
White thinks there is too much judgment on the outside.
“Instead of putting people down, help them up, like Jesus did,” he said. “People should be treated with respect.”
Vander Meer agreed.
“There needs to be more ‘heart’ in ‘Heartside’,” he said.
* * *
VOICES is available to partner with nonprofit organizations. To learn more, and to schedule an event, go here. Be sure to visit and listen to the conversations on our Facebook page here and our YouTube channel here.
Russian-born pianist Olga Kern was the first woman in 30 years to win the Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She performs with the Grand Rapids Symphony Oct. 4-5. Story here.
Right en pointe
A scene from rehearsals of Ballet 5:8’s “Butterfly”. (Supplied/Ballet 5:8)
Ballet 5:8, the Chicago-based dance company known for providing audiences with “a unique opportunity to engage in conversation on relevant life and faith topics addressed in the company’s repertoire”, will return to Grand Rapids Oct. 5 with a program both emotionally heavy and delightfully spiritual. At the DeVos Center for Arts and Worship on Saturday, Oct. 5, starting at 7pm. Go here for more info.
Got leaves? Go here.
Beginning Oct. 5, the City of Kentwood will again offer its brush and leaf drop-off sites at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, located at 5068 Breton Ave. SE. The sites will run concurrently from Saturday, Oct. 5, through Saturday, Dec. 7, with open hours from noon to 8pm, Mondays through Saturdays, and noon to 6pm on Sundays. Here’s the info.
Fun fact:
A new trip for Alice
Mad Hatters Tea Party in the eye of a needle by Willard Wigand
Willard Wigand makes these teeny-tiny sculptures — so itty-bitty, in fact, that he uses a microscope to create them. Wigand enters a meditative state, slows his heartbeat and sculpts between pulses. And holds his breath, apparently — one time he inhaled Alice from an Alice in Woodland tableau he was working on inside the eye of a needle.
UAW Local 167 members walk the picket line at one of the entrances to the GM-Components Holdings LLC, located on the corner of Burlingame and Burton. (WKTV)
On any given work day, Willie Holmes’ car would be one of about two in the parking lot of the UAW Local 167 office located at 1320 Burton St. SW.
However, this being day 19 of a nationwide UAW strike against GM, the 42-space parking lot is packed with vehicles as strikers head to their assigned posts and retirees come in to help prepare food and work on the organization’s newsletter.
“I’m a little tired,” said Holmes, who serves as the president of UAW Local 167, which represents employees at the GM-Components Holdings LLC, located at the corner of Burlingame and Burton in Wyoming.
Holmes does not look or act tired. He moves effortlessly through the hall, answering questions and talking to members and retirees.
“Actually things are going quite well,” Holmes said. “I think many of us didn’t expect the strike to happen so there was a little bit of chaos in the beginning as this is the first strike for many of us, but we got our groove going now.”
The last GM/UAW strike was in 2007 with about 73,000 employees striking for two days. The longest and largest GM/UAW strike was in 1970, which was 67 days and had about 343,000 GM employees striking in both the U.S. and Canada.
The parking lot at the UAW Local 167. (WKTV)
On Sept. 15, 46,000 GM workers went on strike, of which 650 employees are from the GM-Components Holdings in Wyoming. According to Holmes, there is about 137 employees still working at the plant as they support the Toyota line.
What many people do not understand is that the plant in Wyoming is a subsidiary to GM, Holmes said.
“Many have lumped us in with the traditional GM plants, saying that we make a $1,000 a week,” Holmes said. “I don’t make a $1,000 a week.”
Wages are one of the issues the UAW wants addressed as currently there is a three-tier system. For those at GM Components, a general employee who has been at the plant for 13 years makes about $22 per hour or $45,760 gross per year. The starting wage at a traditional GM plant, like the Lansing plant, is around $29 per hour. Temporary employees make $15.62 per hour.
“So for many of these temporary workers, they are working 10- to 12-hour shifts to make any money,” Holmes said. The union also wants a clear pathway for full-time employment for temporary employees. Currently there is none, according to Holmes.
“They are working one, two, three years,” Holmes said. “There is one temporary worker in Lansing who has been working for five years. That is five years of no profit sharing, no vacation days.”
While there are some places that temporary employees work well, the auto industry is not one of them, he said.
“That is another misconception in that it is grungy, basic work that anyone off the street can do,” Holmes said. “There is a lot of technology involved in auto manufacturing. You can’t just come in and push a button, you have to know why are you are pushing that button.”
From an Oct. 1 letter from UAW Vice President and Director Terry Dittes, other issues centered on health care costs, skilled trades and job security. A GM spokesperson said “We continue to negotiate and exchange proposals, and it remains our goal to reach an agreement that builds a stronger future for our employees and our company.” For more information, visit the ompany’s website, buildingastrongerfuture.gm.com.
“This is going to be historical,” Holmes said, adding that the negotiations will set a tone as to how employees in the auto industry and other places are treated. “It has been like a movement. I believe people are just tired of the greed. They are tried of being taking advantage of.”
One of the sheets listing those who have donated. (WKTV)
There has been community support with three large sheets of paper on the walls filled with individuals and businesses who have donating food and supplies in support of the union and its members.
The ripple effect of the strike also is being felt. Along with the Wyoming GM-Components Holdings, the UAW Local 167 also represents employees at Robert Bosch Fuel Systems, Challenge Manufacturing, Caravan, and North American Fuel Systems Remanufacturing. Holmes said work has slowed down with lay-offs happening at some of the businesses.
As to when the strike will end, Holmes could not predict, but the local is looking to extend services to its members and their families by offering a food pantry, a diaper drive and other resources such as financial planning. Recently, members started receiving $250 a week in strike pay, which is only a portion of an employee’s paycheck — temporary or permanent.
“We have worked to help members get deferred rent payments, deferred car payments,” Holmes said. “We are bringing people in to talk to members about spending and how to budget on a modified income.”
Tramell Louis Jr. has diabetes, and his friends all know it.
So when he collapsed at lunch while waiting to place his order, his buddy thought Tramell was having a diabetic attack.
He helped him out to his car and called LaGenda, Tramell’s wife, who drove to meet them outside the restaurant.
It didn’t take her long to figure out that this was no low-blood-sugar attack, so she followed her instincts and called 911.
“I’m asking him questions and he’s looking at me, but he won’t respond. So at that point I knew something was grotesquely wrong,” she said. “I just knew it wasn’t related to the diabetes.”
As she watched “his mouth go crooked,” she wondered whether he was having a stroke.
Clot retrieval
An ambulance took Tramell to the emergency department at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, where doctors confirmed LaGenda’s suspicions: At age 37, her husband had suffered an acute ischemic stroke.
The doctors quickly got him hooked up to an intravenous drip and administered a clot-busting medicine known as IV tPA. As the only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating acute ischemic stroke, this is the standard of care in a case like Tramell’s.
At the same time, emergency room staff called one of the hospital’s stroke specialists, who ordered a CT angiogram to pinpoint the source of the stroke. Tramell was rushed to the interventional radiology suite for imaging.
With the images on screen, the Spectrum Health Medical Group neurointerventionalist could see that Tramell was a perfect candidate for an advanced intervention called a mechanical thrombectomy, or clot retrieval.
Tramell’s brain scans showed two blood clots—one in the carotid artery in his neck and the other lodged in the left-middle cerebral artery, a major artery supplying the brain.
This second clot had shut down the blood flow to the left side of his brain, like a dam blocking a river.
“When the doctor showed me the CT scan of his brain, you could clearly see that (one) side of his brain had no blood flow to it at all,” LaGenda recalled.
Time is brain
With stroke, speed is everything. The longer the brain is deprived of blood, the more damage the brain suffers.
Studies have shown that for every minute blood supply is blocked, approximately 2 million neurons die.
So if a patient fits the criteria for intervention, “the sooner you start the procedure, the sooner you take out the blood clot, the sooner you restore the blood flow, the better the outcomes at three months.” That’s the standard measurement in the United States today.
Thankfully, Tramell beat the clock. From the moment he arrived at the hospital to the time he underwent surgery, less than an hour had passed.
Because there were two clots, the doctor used a two-step process to retrieve them. First he inserted a catheter into a blood vessel in the patient’s groin and fed it up to the carotid artery. Using a tool called the Solitaire device, he trapped the first clot in a tiny mesh stent and pulled it out.
Photo by Taylor Ballek, Spectrum Health Beat
Then he repeated the technique, fishing out the clot in the central brain. Immediately the blood began to flow again, in what doctors call complete recanalization—the channel was open again.
The results for Tramell proved to be dramatic.
His symptoms—loss of language function and right-side weakness—improved literally overnight, said Vivek Rai, MD, a neurologist with Spectrum Health Medical Group who specializes in stroke and vascular neurology. He took over Tramell’s care after his release from intensive care.
“After the procedure, the next morning when he woke up, he was night and day,” Dr. Rai said. “And he continued to do so well.”
Now that Tramell is in the clear, Dr. Rai will see him annually in the neurovascular program’s stroke clinic, keeping tabs on his carotid artery disease, which was the cause of the stroke, and monitoring his general health. To prevent a future stroke, Tramell will need to take aspirin and cholesterol medication, and carefully control his diabetes and blood pressure.
Driven to change
At five months post stroke, Tramell is feeling better than ever.
“I feel great. I really do,” he said. “I feel healthier than I have in a long time.”
He looks and sounds healthy, too, with no lingering effects. At least, none that a bystander would notice.
“The only problem I have is my speech,” he said. “When I speak, if it’s a word I haven’t used after I had my stroke, it takes—it’s like a pause and then I have to remember the word and then it jogs it, and then I start using it fluently.”
The stroke served as a major wake-up call for the father of two. Realizing his life could be snatched from him—separating him from his wife and children—brought out strong emotions.
“I felt anger, extreme anger—with myself. I just knew I had to change. I had the worst—the worst—eating habits in the world,” he said, noting that before he started taking insulin, he weighed over 300 pounds.
Today Tramell is eating better, faithfully taking his medications, drinking more water, kicking his soda habit and “running on a treadmill like crazy”—even when his job as a shipping and receiving clerk keeps him at work late.
“My wife—she’s the one that motivates me to do all the things I do,” he said.
No matter where you are in Michigan, you are never more then six miles from a body of water whether it be a river, a lake or one of the Great Lakes. Also, you are never more than 85 miles from a Great Lake.
With so much water that surrounds us in Michigan, it can be difficult for Michiganders to consider water as a scarce resource, but it is. “..,Worldwide water is going to become and is, in some areas, already a huge political issue,” said Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Dr. Stephanie Ogren.
India made the news this summer what its sixth largest city Chennai faced a water shortage. Chennai is not alone in that Cape Town, South Africa, Mexico City, Cairo, Tokyo, Melbourne, Australia, and London . According to the United Nations, four out of every ten people are affected by water scarcity — the lack of fresh water resources to meet water demand.
Grand Rapids Public Museum Vice President of Science and Education Dr. Stephaine Orgen and Science Curator Dr. Cory Redman talk about they find science entertaining in a recent “Locally Entertaining” podcast.
To help educate area residents about the need to care for the water resources in Michigan, how much water the state has and how clean it is, the Grand Rapids Public Museum has been offer a Saturday Curiosity Lab. According to Ogren, the lab, which also serves as a watershed lab for school programs, is designed to engage the public and students in watershed science.
“The reason behind developing the watershed lab really was to start engaging the public, especially the urban public that we get a lot of visitors here in that discussion around water as a resource and water as a scarce resource,” she said.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the third-floor lab is open to the public. In the Curiosity Lab, there are questions and prompts to help visitors explore more about Michigan’s watersheds. There are also several hands-on activities such as augmented sand box that allows visitors to create different landforms.
“It automatically changes the shape of the contour lines so that we can talk about how landforms are made and how water affects these landforms,” Ogren said.
The Museum also happens to be located right next to the Grand River, which provides many hands-on opportunities to discuss Michigan’s waterways and watersheds.
“So we are able to take groups and students and families down to the river and explore what we see when we pick up a few rocks and turn them over,” Ogren said. “And Really, we just try to peek everyone’s curiosity of what’s in our Grand River and what can we learn from that.”
To learn more about the Curiosity Lab or other programs and exhibits at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, visit grpm.org.
Superintendent Kevin Polston listens to community members during a community forum on Sept. 11. The forum was held to gather renovation ideas for Lee Middle and High School. (School News Network)
A pronounced entrance way, flexible spaces, better ventilation and lighting, and a separate auditorium and gym were common threads at the school district’s first community forum seeking input for the renovation of Lee Middle and High School held recently at the Early Childhood Center.
Seven classrooms and the psychologist’s office were destroyed during a roof collapse at 1335 Lee St. SW on June 5. No one was injured. It was determined that corrosion of bar joists that supported the roof structure caused it to disengage from the exterior wall.
On June 23, the remaining structure of the affected area collapsed from the weight of the debris. With localized repairs, the remaining portion of the building was ready for opening day as planned on Aug. 19.
Two more forums will be held, on Oct. 9 and Nov. 4 at Lee Middle and High School. The board plans to vote on design plans on Nov. 11.
The design phase will take place through May, and construction is planned to begin next summer.
The forum is the first of three sessions to get feedback from the community and to create a renovation plan.
Kevin Polston
Superintendent Kevin Polston said the forums will build on each other.
“We need folks to keep coming because we want the community’s voice to be represented in the final product,” he explained. “This is a community project.”
There are two phases: Phase 1 is redesigning the wing affected by the roof collapse, and Phase 2 involves planning other portions of the building.
Although a financial offer from the insurance company hasn’t yet been made, Polston said the process moves on.
“We’re trying to be patient with that … and we’ll keep the community in the loop,” he said. “I really want to credit our students and staff at Lee. We made the best of the situation, and our students were very patient finding new rooms and not having a locker in the first couple weeks.”
Polston reiterated that the site is safe during construction.
“There are fire walls and locked doors preventing students and anybody from accessing the affected area. Our contractors for plumbing, electrical, fire suppression and technology are designing how to reroute the infrastructure so we can demolish the wing.”
The wing is planned to be demolished in the next six weeks and “won’t impact our school, the learning environment,” Polston explained.
Creating A Vision
After the presentation, which included site information and a look at design trends by architectural/engineering firm TowerPinkster, community members took part in small group discussions.
Common themes included having flexible spaces, classroom connectivity, comfortable furniture, natural and better lighting, a comfortable learning environment that includes better ventilation and air conditioning, a dedicated auditorium for the arts, and a cafeteria separate from the gym.
Two other popular ideas were to build a pronounced, inviting entranceway — “a new opportunity to embrace people,” a community member said — and a courtyard open to other areas of the building.
“The feedback really resonated with what we’re trying to do; it’s about creating a vision for what the school could be and that’s exactly what we needed,” Polston said. “We had staff, community members, parents; a good cross-section of the community. Even though we didn’t have a high turnout, I think the representation was what we were hoping for.”
Other feedback included:
Safe and secure entrances
Flexibility to change with trends and needs
TVs throughout to inform and update
ADA accessibility
Include student input
Community needs to own the redesign
Transparency: what’s going on and why?
A recent photo of Lee Middle and High School shows a closed-off area of the building where the roof collapsed on June 5
Meetings Eased Fears
Cecilia Garcia, a mother of four students, said she’s attending the meetings to make sure they’ll get an updated and modernized building.
“This one has a lot of issues,” she said. “I have three kids in high school and they always complain that it’s too hot in there and they can’t concentrate during class. I want to keep updated as to what’s going on.”
Right after the collapse, Garcia said she was worried about the building and tried to transfer her kids to another district, but was too late to enroll them.
She said her worries have eased since going to the meetings.
Board of Education trustee and parent Jackie Hernandez, who has two children in middle school, said she wants to make sure they deliver clear, understandable information to the community.
She said one of the primary things her children want is air conditioning.
“It’s very hot in the school,” said Hernandez, who wants access to technology included in the new design, and to make sure a school is built with the future in mind.
Funding Needed
Polston said he has met with legislators multiple times, including with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently to tell their story and get support. He told those at the forum that the community’s voices are being heard.
Polston said the district is asking for stabilization funds for a year to avoid added pressure on the budget if enrollment falls below projections — possible if fears about the collapse prompt some to transfer out of the district.
“We’re monitoring enrollment closely to determine if that would be a solution for us,” he explained.
The district also is pushing for a structural fix for the inequity of school funding.
“A district like ours that has the second-lowest tax base in the state of Michigan on a per-pupil basis … we’re about tapped out as to what we can levy,” Polston said. “When we look at equity for our students, the kids that need the most, unfortunately, tend to get the least in the state of Michigan.
“Our students deserve the same opportunities, the same access that students anywhere do.”
With the limited funding, Polston said one possibility is a capital campaign to seek donations.
As with the mascot change last summer, the board said they wouldn’t use general funds, and to date have raised over $120,000 in community donations toward that effort.
“We’re going to keep having those conversations to see if we can raise private money to match what the community can raise,” Polston said. “The worst they can tell me is no; I take rejection well.”
For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
The Grand Rapids Chapter of Sweet Adelines perform at the 73rd International Convention and Competition. (Supplied
By WKTV Staff joanne@wktv.org
They took to the stage from all over the world. Song, Dance, Four-part harmony a cappella style. Barbershop at its best.
The Sweet Adeline’s 74rd Annual International Convention and Competition which took place in September in New Orleans, proved to be a rewarding experience for The Grand Rapids Chapter of Sweet Adelines.
“We placed fifth in the world in mid- size choruses,” said Team Leader Diane Thompson. “We had 57 members onstage. It was such a thrill to watch barbershop groups from all over the world compete.”
Master Director Denise Van Dyken said she was proud of her group.
“We wanted to create an entertaining package and we definitely achieved that goal–the audience loved it,” she said.
The Grand Rapids Chapter of Sweet Adelines used comedy, rhythm, tap dance and numerous songs to invigorate the audience.
The Grand Rapids Chapter of the Sweet Adelines perform in New Orleans at the Sweet Adelines 73rd International Convention and Competition. (Supplied)
“I have been in the group for almost three years and we have qualified to compete at two International Competitions,” said member Colleen Pierson. “It is such a thrill to be part of this group. I wished I would have joined years ago.”
Chris Segard, long time member of 26 years, said she is thrilled to be recognized and cherishes her newly acquired medal.
The 5th Place medal that the members of the Sweet Adelines Grand Rapids Chorus earned. (Supplied)
“When you place fifth in the world, that’s a medal you hang around your neck with great pride,” she said.
The group is always looking for new singers. Check out grsa.net for details on how to join and for upcoming events.
The Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus will be hosting its annual Christmas performance Dec. 14. More details to come.
Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival announces special guests scheduled to appear at the 2019 festival taking place next week from Oct. 8-12 at the Wealthy Theatre. In addition to the special guests, over two dozen filmmakers are scheduled to be in attendance.
On Friday, Oct. 11 at 7:30pm,Shelley Irwin, 2013 recipient of The Storey Award, presents the 2019 Storey Award to Elizabeth Merriman, multi-talented media maven and skilled coordinator of chaos, who has over a decade of experience in the film industry in both producing and production management roles. Merriman currently serves as Manager of Recruiting & Career Advancement for Compass College of Cinematic Arts.
Irwin is the host and producer for The WGVU Morning Show, a news magazine talk-show format on the local NPR affiliate Monday through Friday. The show, broadcast from 9-11am features a wide variety of local and national newsmakers, plus special features.
The Storey Award is a community award created by Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival, and is presented in honor of journalist, friend, and community activist Drew Storey who passed away unexpectedly in 2009. The recipient is awarded based upon their body of work, their selfless contribution and its impact on building community relationships, which promote and connect Michigan’s artists to a larger audience around the world.
Bride of Frankenstein Drag Performer Veronica Scott puts on her neck bolts and performs a special number fit for the bride of the monster on Friday, Oct. 11 at 8pm.
Veronica Scott has been performing in the art form of female illusion for over 8 years. In that time she has had the opportunity to take the stage all over the state of Michigan, Illinois and New York.
Filmmaker Inchun Oh from South Korea will attend Thursday, Oct. 10 through Saturday, Oct. 12. His film, Friday the 13th: The Conspiracy Begins, screens Saturday, Oct. 12 at Noon. Link to his movie’s trailer: https://youtu.be/dVSfvLwam5A
Visiting Artist, SFX & Animation, The Evil Dead, Tom Sullivan, Saturday, Oct. 12.
Thriller! Chiller! International Film Festival in partnership with ASIFA Central (asifa.org) presents film artist and Michigander Tom Sullivan who will give an artist presentation on Special FX history and the Evil Dead film series. Sullivan is the makeup, props and SFX artist for the Evil Dead franchise.
The Evil Dead event begins at 7pm 7pm – Tom Sullivan presentation 8pm – The Evil Dead screening.
This is the exclusive theatrical release of Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead by Grindhouse Releasing featuring the reimagined score by original composer, Mr. Joseph LoDuca and an all-new 5.1 surround-sound mix.
Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival, which takes place Oct. 8-12 at the Wealthy Theatre, is Michigan’s international film festival celebrating fantastic movies. The festival screens films from the U.S. and around the world in the categories of action, horror, sci-fi and suspense. 64 movies from 8 countries are represented at this year’s festival.
Ticket information
Entry is priced two ways for maximum access: All Access to the entire festival; or access by the day in the form of a Day Pass. There will be no tickets to individual screenings available except for the Evil Dead screening and lecture sold separately at $8.
All-Access Festival Pass, $50
Day Pass, $12 Tuesday – Friday
Day Pass, $20 Saturday
The Evil Dead, $8 for only this film + Tom Sullivan presentation
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
Dr. Jen is a firm believer that things happen for a reason and that often you end up at the right place at exactly the right time. Such is the case with T’Challa.
Dr. Jen and her fiancé were heading home from Detroit on Aug. 11, 2019, when she checked her emails on her phone. Garden City resident, Jessy Kellerman, had contacted the good doc for possible help with an FIV+ stray that she had found in her neighborhood and had been caring for since she picked him up on the 5th. Ill with an upper respiratory infection and fully intact—his mere presence was causing a small ruckus in her home—this four-year-old fella (born in the summer of 2015) was in need of placement, with the ultimate goal of adoption into a home better suited to him.
As luck would have it, the lovebirds were only about 20 minutes away from the cat in needs’ location, so they grabbed lunch and headed on over to meet and pick up their furry passenger for the two-hour ride home.
Although the strikingly handsome, petite black panther had been quite vocal at Jessy’s place, he didn’t make a single peep on the way home (ok, once—when Dr. Jen was singing along to a song that he obviously didn’t care for), sitting contentedly in his carrier on her lap. Dr. Jen set him up in her home office for the night and let him settle in a bit, although he would have much preferred to make his rounds about her house, but with two Bassets and 10 cats in residence, it wasn’t advisable.
Although grumbly when seeing the other cats through the door to Dr. Jen’s enclosed ‘catio’, T’Challa seemed more interested in exploring than anything. But since feline immunodeficiency virus is transmitted through bite wounds, and given the fact his whole world had been turned upside-down yet again, Dr. Jen confined him—and heard ALL about it the entire evening. Jessy was right when she said he had a lot to say!
The boy enjoys the ‘catio’
As expected, T’Challa had a hard time adjusting to the shelter and is just starting to settle in at the writing of his bio a month after his arrival. He seems to get along great with some of the cats, even snuggling up next to them sometimes. However, some of our more ‘manly’ cats pick on him and he just can’t understand why—but we have an idea: it’s that constant chattering, meowing and talking to everyone and everything (while in perpetual motion) that ruffles their feathers.
We want more than anything for this sweet boy to quickly find a nice, quiet home. The other cats really do overwhelm him. He’s never been aggressive but the others obviously see his “noises” as a threat. He prefers to be curled up out of the spotlight, enjoys his wet food, and loves all of us doting over him. He has quickly become a volunteer favorite and loves nothing more than to just sit on a lap. He absolutely needs a less active home with no dogs, no small kids, but possibly an older, quiet cat.
T’Challa will make someone a wonderful companion, and we have no doubt he will quiet right down once he feels at ease.
More about T’Challa:
Domestic Short Hair
Black
Adult
Male
Large
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Prefers a home without dogs or children
Want to adopt T’Challa? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Cutting or self-injury behaviors might seem ‘fringe,’ but it isn’t. Here’s what you should do if you find your teen is cutting. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Have you ever met someone who cuts himself or herself as a way to cope?
Whether you knew it or not, you likely have.
Cutting is one of a series self-injury behaviors that young people may use to gain a sense of relief from emotional pain, a sense of control over problems in their lives, or feel a break from pressures in their lives.
While cutting is the most common form of self harm, other self-injury behaviors include burning, picking or reopening wounds, punching/hitting oneself, inserting objects into the skin or purposely bruising or breaking one’s bones.
First of all, Dr. Lowery wanted to make a few things clear.
“Cutting or self-injury behaviors might seem ‘fringe’ to many parents,” she said. “It isn’t. Cutting can happen in any race, socioeconomic class, family. Many also often believe it is a suicidal behavior. While cutting can be accompanied by depression or psychological disorders, for most, cutting is a coping mechanism.”
Cutting discovered. Now what?
For anyone to see evidence of cutting in a teen, it’s always by accident. Cutters go to great lengths to hide scars and open cuts.
Discovery triggers panic in the discoverer because it is alarming, obviously, to see scars or blood. Dr. Lowery cautioned that if you see signs of cutting in your teen, the worst thing you can do is freak out, become angry or emotional.
“Remember that you don’t have to (and can’t) solve anything in the moment,” she said. “Stay calm and caring. Hide shock.”
If the teen is willing to talk about it, simply listen without telling them they must stop. Make an appointment to meet with a professional who specializes in adolescent medicine. As doctors who have dealt with this kind of issue regularly, it is the best starting point.
“I am non-threatening to your child,” Dr. Lowery said. “I can talk to him or her from a safe perspective.”
Dr. Lowery added that she works to build trust and maintains confidentiality with her patients. She is often able to learn how the patient started cutting, how long it’s been going on.
“Some know, some don’t,” she admitted.
Dr. Lowery also tries to learn how the patient feels that cutting is beneficial, for example, does the teen cut to calm down? Do they need to relieve pain? Do they need to feel pain? Do they cut alone, or with a friend or group? The answers to these questions offer clues as to how the teen can best be helped.
Getting help helps. Seek help.
“We have open conversations about it,” Dr. Lowery noted. “Once I’ve confirmed that the teen isn’t suicidal, we start talking about other coping mechanisms.”
For example, some of her patients use deep breathing, bracelets, rubber bands or necklaces as part of mindful meditation when they have the urge to cut.
Cutting can be a symptom of a condition called Borderline Personality Disorder. For patients who may have this disorder, Dr. Lowery first works with psychology professionals to diagnose the condition. Patients often exhibit a long pattern of unstable romantic, family and social relationships.
Getting dialectical behavior therapy can help. A targeted form of cognitive behavior therapy, it helps patients learn to monitor and respond to mood swings and emotional triggers more positively, with safe coping behaviors.
In some instances, anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications may be recommended.
“By carefully educating, monitoring and selecting a medication, starting on low doses, and developing a clear plan with the patient, the medications can help patients gain control over their emotions,” Dr. Lowery explained. “I give realistic expectations. It takes a while to feel the improvement. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Start low, go slow and watch as we go. This is a scary time for families. It’s important to know that we will work together. Depending on how severe it is, we will act accordingly.”
For young people who feel the need to experiment with self injury, Dr. Lowery advised that they tell a trusted adult.
“I know it’s not what you want to do,” she said. “But you can feel better. You can stop scarring your body. Or tell a friend and ask them to help you get help.”
For those who might be the friend, know that you are doing your friend a favor by telling an adult. Cutting isn’t something to be embarrassed about. It is a sign that a person is having trouble working through some problems.
Help is available and can turn things around for the better. Everyone deserves to feel better. Everyone deserves help.
A special exhibition open at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM), Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863, and the March on Washington, 1963 examines the relationship between two great people’s movements, which both grew out of decades of bold actions, resistance, organization and vision. Changing America is only open through Sunday, Oct. 13.
One hundred years separate the Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington, yet they are linked in a larger story of liberty and the American experience – one that has had a profound impact on the generations that followed.
Created by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of American History, the exhibit was toured nationwide by the American Library Association’s Public Program Office. The Changing America exhibit is now a possession of the GRPM.
In presenting and hosting it, the GRPM has enhanced it for West Michigan by including artifacts and stories from a local perspective. In addition to artifacts from the GRPM Collections, many artifacts on display are on loan from the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives (GRAAMA). Local stories are told through the eyes of our community, including oral histories. The exhibition includes a place for visitors to share their own stories, which are then added to the GRPM’s digital archive found at grpmcollections.org.
In addition to the exhibition, the GRPM collaborated with several community groups to offer community programming as part of the exhibition. Collaborations with local partners included Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives, Grand Rapids Urban League, Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, Inclusive Performance Strategies, Westside Collaborative, Mosaic Film Experience, City of Grand Rapids Community Relations Commission, George Bayard, Jamiel Robinson, Rob Yob, Michael Curtis, Ellen James, Senita Lenear and Cynthia Bailey.
GRAAMA curated a corresponding exhibit 1863-1963 American Freedom at its 87 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids, location featuring local civil rights activists, quilts and interviews. For more information, visit graama.org.
Changing America at the Grand Rapids Public Museum is open through October 13, 2019, and is free with general admission. Kent County adult residents receive reduced general admission and Kent County resident children aged 17 and under receive free general admission to the GRPM thanks to the county-wide millage passed in 2016.
Changing America at the Grand Rapids Public Museum is sponsored by the David and Carol Van Andel Family Foundation, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, and Steelcase Inc. The media sponsor for Changing America is Magic 104.9.
The VOICES Airstream parked at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Heartside
WKTV VOICES visited the Heartside district, and one of the many things we learned is that being homeless is exhausting. Go here to read and listen to what some Heartside residents and workers have to say about their experiences.
Time’s running out to share your vision
City leaders are looking for community input on the future of the City of Wyoming, and will be hosting another Wyoming [Re]Imagined meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3 from 6-8pm at Godwin Heights High School, 50 35th St. SW, Wyoming. More details here.
Well, isn’t that grand?
Woodland Mall sketch new entrance Von Maur wing 2019 (Supplied/Woodland Mall)
This fall, shoppers will enjoy the long-anticipated grand opening of first-to-portfolio department store Von Maur and the expansion of what will be known as the Von Maur wing at Woodland Mall, along with The Cheesecake Factory as a new dining anchor. Read all about it here.
Fun fact:
232 years
He was a very good boy
The number of years by which Adwaita outlived Lord Clive.
Lord Clive later became an opium addict and committed suicide in 1774 at the age of 49.
Adwaita’s shell cracked in 2005, and he died from infection and liver failure in 2006. At the time of his death, he was estimated to be between 150-255 years old.
If the topmost number is to be believed, then Adwaita outlived Clive by 232 years.
As the days get cooler, the autumn landscape blooms with golds, oranges, and reds of the changing leaves. From scenic drives along the Lake Michigan shoreline to winding trails through the inland forests, West Michigan celebrates the colors of the season with color tours, unique viewing experiences, and special fall stops along the way.
Driving, biking, and walking color tours
Jump into the car, onto a bike, or motorcycle and wander along the Harbor Country Fall Motor Tour. You’ll find easy stops to shop, pick a pumpkin or grapes, and ease back with great eats and an end-of-ride drink along the routes that runs between New Buffalo, Three Oaks, Union Pier, Lakeside, and Bridgman in Southwest Michigan.
The best places to view the fall colors in South Haven are on the nature trails. Hike or bike the Kal-Haven and Van Buren Trails, or kayak the Bangor/South Haven Heritage Water Trail under a canopy of fall colors.
Experience the fall colors of the Holland area as you climb Mount Pisgah, a towering dune east of Holland State Park, which is accessible via a boardwalk and stair system. With its apex 157 feet above Lake Michigan, the boardwalk culminates with scenic views of Lake Macatawa, Lake Michigan, and Big Red Lighthouse, surrounded by a heavily wooded area in vibrant hues of orange, red and, yellow. Or view the fall colors from the comfort of your car — here are a variety of driving routes around the greater Holland area.
Whether you are driving, hiking, biking or paddling, Ludington is a great place to explore the beauty of the fall season.
For the first three Saturdays in October, Muskegon and White Lake invite you to celebrate the vibrant colors of the area woods, dunes, and water with the Depot-to-Depot Fall Color Tour. Drive your car or ride your bike along this self-guided route that stretches from the Muskegon South Pierhead Light to the White River Light Station. Travel on some of Muskegon’s most scenic roads along Lake Michigan and the West Michigan Pike Byway. This tour is free and participants will receive fall refreshments and coupons to area businesses. There are also free pumpkins for the children and complimentary Visit Muskegon postcards for the grownups (while supplies last). Stamp your map at the designated stops and enter to win 2 round-trip passes for the Lake Express High-Speed Ferry between Muskegon and Milwaukee to use in the 2020 season. Check in on social media for chances to win weekly giveaways using #VisitMuskegon, #D2D19, and #LiveWhiteLake.
With Fall on its way, so is the Mecosta County Fall Color Tour. The 2nd Annual Fall Color Tour is being coordinated by Jeep Freakz of Michigan, and they’ll be riding with the Reed City Trail Rides Off Road Group. On Saturday, Oct. 5th, from 11:30am-5:30pm, the groups plan to travel to Hungerford before exploring other local trails throughout Big Rapids and Mecosta County.
You can also enjoy a Mecosta County Color Tour through self-guided canoe and kayak trips down the Muskegon River. Stop in to the Welcome Center at 127 South State Street in Big Rapids, or visit BigRapids.org to pick-up/download the Color Tour brochure.
Manistee County has two fall color seasons: Inland and Coastal. Check out the latest fall color tour routes and videos for weekly fall color updates live from around Manistee County and Northern Michigan.
Great color, beautiful scenery and interesting places to stop — you’ll find it all in the Petoskey Area. Five suggested routes take you in and around Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Charlevoix, and Boyne City — some offer lake views and all are known as favorite places to enjoy fall’s splendor.
The drive around Lake Charlevoix is a great color route; this journey will take you on the Breezeway through both East Jordan and Boyne City. The surrounding countryside is full of gently rolling hills and abundant foliage that is sure to satisfy that fall color trip you’ve been waiting for.
The contrasting evergreen and hardwood forests of the Grayling area are spectacular in autumn. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy a leisurely drive down the back roads, biking or hiking through Hartwick Pines State Park, or taking in the riverside colors while canoeing down the world famous AuSable and Manistee Rivers.
Set on the shores of Lake Superior, Travel Marquette has partnered with Noquemanon Trail Network (NTN), the leading trail network in the Central Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to deliver ‘Trail Talks’, enriching and engaging talks and expert led tours of the region throughout the 2019 summer and fall season. On Oct. 16 from 6:30-8:30pm, Travel Marquette and NTN will host a Picture This Trail Talk where expert photographer Shawn Malone shows trekkers how to capture the beauty of fall foliage with all levels of equipment including smartphones. Register for free to help organizers plan for the event. Location to meet the group: Marquette Board of Light and Power, 2200 Wright Street, Marquette, MI 49855.
Unique ways to view the fall foliage
Watch as Benzie County transforms into a kaleidoscope of color during Fall Chairlift Rides at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville. Fall Chairlift Rides are available select dates through the month of October.
Enjoy the beautiful fall colors from the deck of the 77′ schooner Inland Seas as she sails around Suttons Bay. Fall is a relaxing season in northern Michigan as temperatures are comfortable and traffic is light. On this sail, participants can help the crew in raising the sails and steering the ship, or just sit back and relax while taking in the wonder our Great Lakes provide us. Cost is $30 for adults and $20 for children. For more information, visit schoolship.org/buy-tickets.
Courtesy West Michigan Tourist Association
Two of the Mitten’s premiere paddlesport rivers, the Pine and the Big Manistee, wind their way through beautiful river valleys, revealing new color palettes at every bend. The Pine River Paddlesports Center in Wellston is here to make your fall color tour on the river an absolute breeze.
Experience Mother Nature’s fall color show from a different perspective. Hop on the Blue Chairlift in Shanty Creek Resort’s Schuss Village in Bellaire for a colorful ride to the top of Schuss Mountain. Just $5 per person, Chairlift Rides take place from noon-4pm on Saturdays through Oct. 19th.
Take a fall foliage tour via the Chippewa River by kayak or canoe and explore the fall foliage or hike to the “elusive” mountain in Mt. Pleasant, Bundy Hill Preserve, home to the highest point in Isabella County.
Home to more than 100 lakes, including two chains of lakes, getting out on the water in Coldwater Country is the best way to see the fantastic fall foliage. Launch a boat, kayak, or canoe at one of the many public access points or rent a boat from one of the area marinas to get out on the water.
Stops to add to your color tour
Looking for the perfect spot to take in the fall color with a glass of wine in hand? Located on the 16th floor of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Williamsburg, Aerie Restaurant & Lounge gives you 360-degree views of Northern Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay. Best of all, Aerie is a three-time Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner, so whether you’re looking for an Old World classic or a local favorite, you’ll find the perfect bottle.
The Courtyard by Marriott Petoskey is your perfect beginning and end to your fall color tour. Only 15 minutes from M-119, the new property offers refreshing rooms and a bistro to share with family, friends, and loved ones alike.
After a day of exploring Northern Michigan, stop in downtown Charlevoix for dinner, a craft beer, or a tasty treat. Explore downtown boutiques for fall discounts and one-of-a-kind merchandise. While taking a fall color tour, celebrate nature’s harvest at the annual Apple Festival, Oct. 11th-13th, where you can enjoy an art and craft show, a variety of food vendors, and family friendly events. Stop at Friske’s Farm Market in Atwood to enjoy numerous tasty treats like a slice of apple pie, you-pick apples, and apple cider.
Lewis Farms & Petting Zoo in New Era is the perfect place to stop for all your fall favorite goodies along the beautiful drive up US-31 between Muskegon and Ludington. Stop in the market for apple cider and fresh donuts, pick up some delicious Michigan apples, or grab a bag of our homemade kettle corn to snack on along the way.
Crane’s is a family owned, family run business that has been a treasured travel destination in West Michigan for decades, nestled in the lush, rolling hills of their family’s fruit farms just minutes from Lake Michigan’s shore.
Special events to celebrate autumn colors
An annual celebration of autumn, Chrysanthemums & More, on display now through Oct. 27th at Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, is the largest show of its kind in Michigan, featuring expansive chrysanthemum displays, fall foliage and family friendly activities. Mum Day, Oct. 20th will provide members and guests an opportunity to interact with horticulture staff and learn more about the fascinating chrysanthemum and fall themed plantings.
Courtesy West Michigan Tourist Association
Gaylord’s Treetops Resort will be holding a Fall Color Tour and Progressive Dinner on Oct. 5th and a Farm 2 Fork dinner on Oct. 12th.
Celebrate the vibrant fall colors of Southwest Michigan. Maple Row Sugarhouse is one of the stops on the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce’s Fall Color Tour, which takes place Oct. 13th from 10am-5pm. Tour the Sugarbush and learn how maple sap is collected, enjoy samples of many different maple products, and learn how the French colonials made maple syrup and maple sugar.
Otsego Resort in Gaylord will host Wine & Cheese Color Tour Saturday, Oct. 19th, beginning at 2pm.
Thriller! Chiller! International Fantastic Film Festival announces its official selections and final schedule for this year’s festival on Oct. 8-12 at the Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids.
The action, sci-fi, suspense and horror-themed film festival will screen a total of 64 independent movies from 8 countries in the genres of sci-fi, action, suspense, and horror at the five-day event. The lineup includes: 13 features and 40 shorts, including 10 Michigan movies. Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Republic of Korea, Sweden, U.S., UK are represented at this year’s festival.
Cult classic screenings of five, fun, fantastic films round out the event:
Night of the Living Dead
Shaun of the Dead
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
Bride of Frankenstein
The Evil Dead (First-round, limited-release EXCLUSIVE screening of digitally remastered, with a new reimagined scoreby original composer, Mr. Joseph LoDuca.)
The Evil Dead SFX and Makeup arts TOM SULLIVAN to appear and give a presentation on his art created for the Evil Dead franchise (Saturday)
* Zom-Com DOUBLE FEATURE – Night of the Living Dead & Shaun of the Dead (Tuesday) *BRIDEZILLA!! – (yes, there will be costumes & cake!) Featuring Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (Thursday) + Bride of Frankenstein (Friday Night Freak-out) *Cosplay and costume contests. Private Party & Online screenings available for Passholders only.
2019 Thriller! Chiller! Pass Information
All-Access Pass or Day Pass
Individual Tickets available for “The Evil Dead” screening & presentation
Pricing
Entry is priced two ways for maximum access: All Access to the entire festival; or all access by the day in the form of a Day Pass. There will be no tickets to individual screenings available except for the EVIL DEAD screening and Tom Sullivan talk sold separately at $8.
All-Access Festival Pass, $50
Day Pass, $12 Tuesday – Friday
Day Pass, $20 Saturday
The Evil Dead, $8 for only this film + Tom Sullivan presentation
THEATRE A – MEANWHILE MOVIES presented by Thriller! Chiller! – 8pm, Night of the Living Dead – 10pm, Shaun of the Dead
THEATRE B – 8pm, The Tangle with The Call – 10pm, Volition with Zero
Wednesday, Oct. 9
THEATRE B – ONLY – 6pm, SHORTS BLOCK: Rebecca Gold, Boy!, Kiss the Devil in the Dark, Exhibit Man – 8pm, Ascension (feature) with The Phone Call
Thursday, Oct. 10
THEATRE A – 6pm, MICHIGAN SHORTS BLOCK: Emergency Alert, Puppet Dimension, Roulette, Living Deadhead, Keeper of the Light, Poaching Death, Emma, Bury Me, The Hunt for the GorillaDactyl
Michigan Film & Digital Media Office’s $250 Filmmaker Grant to be announced!
– 8pm,Rockford Brewing Company presents Godzilla vs. Destoroyah – North American Big Screen Premiere of this cult gem!
THEATRE B – 6pm, The Invisible Mother with The 404 Diner – 8pm, Fugue with Madame
Friday, Oct. 11
FRIDAY NIGHT FREAK-OUT The wildest, bloodiest, most offbeat movies screen on Thriller! Chiller!
THEATRE A – 6pm, Bob Freeman: Exterminator for Hire with Night of the Fluffet, Braineater, Five Course Meal
Storey Award presentation will take place prior to the Bride of Frankenstein event.
– 8pm, “Bride of Frankenstein” with “Filth“
Including a Best of Bride of Frankenstein cosplay and a special guest Emcee to be announced later this week.
THEATRE B – 6pm, To Your Last Death with The Devil’s Fire – 8pm, Barney Burman’s Wild Boar with Rough Love, Lost Lake
Saturday, Oct. 12
Saturday Spook-a-thon
THEATRE A – 12pm, The Dark Red with Bad Dream – 2pm, Super Shorts – Block One Bad Dreams, Anacronte, Ripple, Heads will Roll, Atomic Ed, Lili Sees You, Jacindu – 4pm, Attack of the Demons with Don’t Croak and Moon Ghost – 6:30pm, Film Awards Ceremony –7pm, THE EVIL DEAD event: TOM SULLIVAN. Make-up, props and SFX artist for the Evil Dead series, Tom Sullivan, presentation on his art created for the Evil Dead franchise. Sponsored by Asifa.org. – 8pm – EVIL DEAD screening.
This is the EXCLUSIVE theatrical release of Sam Raimi’s EVILDEAD by Grindhouse Releasing featuring the reimagined score by original composer, Mr. Joseph LoDuca and an all-new 5.1 surround-sound mix.
THEATRE B – 12pm, Friday the 13th: The Conspiracy Begins! with Friday Night Death Slot -2pm, Straight Edge Kegger -4pm, Beast Mode with Blank Verse -6pm, Super Shorts – Block Two Zero, Miracle Desert, Last Trip, The Hand, Bleeding Backs, 12/14, The Alluring Frontier, The Furious Gospel of Johnny Tan
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