“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
Mark Twain
A kaleidoscope of cultures
Immigrants in 1892
For many of our immigrant ancestors, the process of coming to this country was relatively simple. It is much more complicated today. Understanding your own family history and immigration story can help put the current discussion about immigration in context. Go here for more info.
A timely topic, discussed
From right to left: Emily Bridson, Skot Welch, Patti Caudill, and Ken Norris. (WKTV)
The latest episode of WKTV Journal’s In Focus series of podcasts focuses on the anti-discrimination public policies — a timely topic as the City of Grand Rapids City Commission just this last passed a Human Rights Ordnance which will be the basis of the formation of future public policies. Go here.
Make one wish — or a hundred
Magic is everywhere!
Egads! It’s that time of year again — when insects seek a nice, cozy place to spend the winter. Meet your new neighbors here.
Fun fact:
Something in common
See? They even walk like us.
The beaks of octopuses and squids (yes, they have beaks) are made of keratin, the same material that a bird’s beak — and our fingernails — are made of. Say hello to your newfound relatives.
School may be in session but for Denise Kooiker, aka School Supply Santa, collecting school supplies does not stop just because the bell has rung.
“Once school starts, people can bring supplies right to Byron Ministries for the following year,” Kooiker said. “Our main part we tried to do before school starts, but we receive items throughout the year.”
School Supply Santa’s main push for collections takes place in July and August when donation boxes are put out at many area business. Staff from 36 area schools are invited to an event in August where they can pick out items for students in their school.
Almost 1,100 backpacks were handed out along with about 46,000 school supplies at the 2019 event. Schools serviced by the program include Byron Center, Godwin Heights, Godfrey-Lee, Kelloggsville, Kentwood and Wyoming.
It was 12 years ago when Kooiker, a hair stylist, had a client tell her about the needs for her students.
“I was naive,” Kooiker said. “What do you mean kids don’t have school supplies?”
She started School Supply Santa by filling her car and now has a storage facility along with the space at Byron Ministries for donations.
So as area residents hit the stores for sales throughout the year, keep in mind of the needs of area students, Kooiker said. Items most needed are dry erase markers as many schools do not use chalkboards but dry erase boards.
“Backpacks are always a big thing,” Kooiker said. “It is such a confidence booster. It is hard to come to school without one or one that is old and frayed.”
For a complete list of school supplies, visit the School Supply Santa website, schoolsupplysanta.com
You can often lose weight by making small yet strategic calorie cuts at every meal, rather than eliminating entire meals or cutting portions so severely that you never feel satisfied.
You probably already know that a cup of blueberries with a dollop of creamy yogurt has a fraction of the calories of a slice of blueberry pie.
But there are many other ways you can trim the calories in favorite meals without diminishing their satisfying taste.
Here are 5 ideas that each shave off about 200 calories:
Eggs
If your idea of a big breakfast is a fatty sausage, egg and cheese sandwich, have a veggie-filled omelet instead. Make it with one whole egg and two extra whites for more protein and “overload” it with tomatoes, peppers and onions.
Romaine
Ditch the bread and high-calorie sandwich condiments at lunch by wrapping up lean protein, such as slices of roasted chicken, in large leaves of romaine lettuce with a touch of balsamic vinegar or hot sauce.
Cauliflower
To get the toothy appeal of steak, make your main course grilled portabello mushrooms and serve them with a side of mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes. With some no-salt seasoning, you won’t taste any difference.
Squash
There’s no need to give up your favorite red sauce if you use it to top spaghetti squash (or zucchini ribbons) rather than spaghetti, plus you can eat twice as much. Want healthier meatballs? Try making them with a blend of ground turkey and a whole grain like kasha or farro.
Salsa
Love Mexican food? You can still enjoy the taste—and get the fiber and protein goodness of beans—by simply skipping the tortilla or taco shell. And you don’t need sour cream if you have a dab of guacamole. Just go easy on the cheese and rice but double up on low-cal zesty salsa.
The art event for the 2019 Fall Arts Celebration is showcasing contemporary pieces, many of which originate from Grand Valley’s carefully developed collection of art in that genre.
“Art of Today: Contemporary Collections from Chicago” features more than 40 pieces, from paintings to photographs to sculptures, that offer compelling imagery examining the issues of the day.
A public reception is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Art Gallery in the Haas Center for Performing Arts on the Allendale Campus. The exhibition runs through November 1.
All Fall Arts events are free and open to the public as a way to thank the community for its support of the university.
The exhibition also pays tribute to the important role that Chicago plays in the contemporary art world and Grand Valley’s alliance with the city’s art experts. Grand Valley art experts for the past 15 years have assembled a contemporary art collection by working closely with Chicago-based artists, gallery owners and collectors. This exhibition draws from Grand Valley’s collection and is augmented by loans from Chicago.
“Contemporary art takes courage and challenges us,” said Nathan Kemler, interim director of Grand Valley’s Galleries and Collections. “This exhibition provides perspectives on today’s society and allows our community to explore complex global themes that widen our awareness and build empathy about the human condition.”
Visitors can expect to see both bold and minimalistic work that explore and examine contemporary issues.
When researching family history, many genealogists considering tracing their family back to when they came from another country to be a milestone. Do you know how your family came to the United States? Are parts of your family Native American and have been here an extremely long time?
Understanding your own family history and immigration story can help put the current discussion about immigration in context. This can be an opportunity to learn about history and discuss current policies and those of the past. How is the experience of your ancestors the same or different than immigration today? When you are discussing this subject, try to ignore the memes and potentially out-of-context snippets, and examine the issue at a deeper.
Why do you think your family came to the United States? Was it economic opportunity? Religious freedom? Were they leaving because of a war? If you have family stories discussing this, it can be a great part of your family history. If not, looking for clues in world history might be helpful. For example, over 1.5 million Irish people came to the United States during the Great Famine, also known as the Irish Potato Famine. Another example is of Finnish people coming to Michigan in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There was a combination of economic opportunity to work in the mines of the Upper Peninsula, and Sweden and Russia warring over what is now Finland.
How did the arrival of your ancestors to what is now the United States happen? Did they just “walk off the boat” or did they have to go through a screening process?
The U.S. had open borders for nearly 100 years of its history until the Page Act of 1875, which excluded Chinese women from entering the U.S.. This was followed by laws banning Chinese men and other Asians. If your ancestors came to the U.S. before 1875, there were very little screening processes. How do you think open borders might have affected the safety of the country? Why do you think Congress waited so long to end open borders?
The Immigration Act of 1882 was the first comprehensive immigration law. It was designed to keep people out of the country who might be dangerous or would be unable to support themselves financially. How this was done was left up to the state or city where the immigration occurred. What do you think of this? Should local control determine who should enter the United States, or is this a national issue?
The Immigration Act of 1891 put the federal government in charge of processing immigrants. The most famous place where this happened was Ellis Island, which opened in 1892. The average processing time through Ellis Island was just a few hours. At first, no papers were required, and folks were checked for diseases and asked some questions. What do you think is an appropriate inspection for someone entering the U.S.? What questions would you ask someone? What background checks should be required? In 1917, literacy tests were added. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not?
From 1921 to 1965, the United States had a series of different systems that restricted how many could enter the U.S. based on their country of origin. Why might that be a good or bad idea?
In 1965, the system changed to favor immigration to relatives of current U.S. citizens, those with particular job skills and refugees seeking asylum from dangerous conditions in their own country.
Family-based immigration currently takes place between a few months to many years. Employment-based immigration can take one to four years. Refugees have an average wait time of over 700 days. What do you think is an appropriate wait time? How might this wait time affect both legal and illegal immigration?
For many of our immigrant ancestors, the process of coming to this country was relatively simple. It is much more complicated today. How do you think the change over time has affected our country? If you were recreating the system from scratch, what would you do?
Hopefully these questions get you reflecting on your own family history and how it relates to the immigration issues of today.
This article was inspired by and adapted from the 4-H Folkpatterns curriculum:
Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan 4-H Youth Development program help to prepare youth as positive and engaged leaders and global citizens by providing educational experiences and resources for youth interested in developing knowledge and skills in these areas.
Fountain Street Church, with public art across the street. (William Thompson)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
The Fountain Street Church community has been honoring its past and looking to its future during its 150th anniversary year, and its collective memory is deep with history and tradition.
But if you ask individual members — those who attend Sunday for its more traditional Sanctuary Service in the awesome and history sanctuary, or its it very non-traditional Chapel Service in its humble but equally historic chapel, or those who are at Fountain Street for the multitude of activities and groups throughout the rest of the week — it is the individual memories that often stand out.
WKTV asked three Fountain Streeters what their most cherished memories were, and the answers ranged from a special prom for youth who do not fit into the “straight” prom scene, to a woman’s group focused on community outreach, to the smiles on the faces of children reenacting the Christmas Story.
If that does not tell the story of the spectrum of people at Fountain Street, nothing will.
Fountain Streeter Todd Johnson (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“The thing I remember, that means the most to me, is when we instituted the Family Christmas Pageant, on Christmas Eve,” said Todd Johnson, co-chair of the church’s 150th Celebration committee. “We’d been holding an 8 o’clock and and 11 o’clock service, but for many of us with children that was too late for them. They’d fall asleep. So we started a 5 o’clock service and it was just great.
“For the kids, we basically reenact the Christmas story. We have Mary and Joseph, and someone reads the story, and the innkeeper and the kings and the angels and the shepherds. The kids would participate in this wonderful service. It would culminate with each kid taking a little candle, a 4-inch candle, they’d light it and they’d put it in the front of the chancel.
“It was just beautiful,” he said, fighting back tears of beautiful memories. “They’d turn the lights out and we’d all sing ‘Silent Night’. It is just a beautiful service.”
Memories, and lifelong friends, are also made outside the church.
One of the many community outreach activities of the church, which has members and attendees all across West Michigan, are having Districts, geographical divisions with district leaders who work with fellow Fountain Streeters on activities, gatherings and projects — and, sometimes, personal needs.
Fountain Streeter Judy Botts. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“I’ve been a District leader for like 14, 15 years,” said Judy Botts, a coordinator of the Fountain Street Church 150th Anniversary Grand Celebration Street Party. “It started off being a group of 14 or 15 of us, and over the years we are down to about five people. But we come together once a month and our purpose is to help people within our geographic district that we’ve been assigned to, in terms of any care services they have, to involve people in social action kinds of things, and just plan fun things within our districts so that people can get to know each other better, to make stronger connections.
“That is what makes the church, the connections that you have,” she said. “There is long term friendships that have been established here. … That is part of what a church is about.”
Minister’s has many special memories, but …
Even the senior minister of Fountain Street, W. Frederick Wooden, a man whose efforts and accomplishments are too long to list, will — if pressed — pick one memory that stands out.
“There are too many wonderful moments. That is what keeps a clergy person going,” Wooden said. “It is the moments of real meaning and power, and they do come.
“But the one I’ll pick, because it is different from the others, is the Fountain Club meetings of our high school (age) youth. Seven years ago, maybe upwards of 10, we had the idea that there were kids their age in high schools around the area that could not go to their prom because they did not identify as ‘straight’. And if they went as themselves, they would be ridiculed, bullied or harassed.
Fountain Street Church front with Gay Pride flag. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“And they (the club), they came up with the idea that we should host a prom for all those who did not feel welcomed at their prom. … Every year since, we have had a dance for LGBTQ kids — and their friends, it is not just for LGBTQ kids but everybody else. … They come in all shapes and sizes and colors … and they are just having the best of time in the world.
“There is nothing that makes you feel more hopeful about the future,” he said. “If this is what America is going to look like, I am all for it.”
As the shadows lengthen and days get shorter, we start to see some six-legged friends sneaking around our windows, eaves and soffits. This is a good time for a reminder about just who some of these insects are and how you can tell them apart. The fall invaders are all just following their natural inclination to seek an out-of-the-way resting place to spend the winter. Unfortunately for all parties involved, what happens next is anything but natural. The exterior side walls of our structures provide a very attractive array of nooks and crannies for these critters to sneak into. The problem is that these nooks and crannies often lead into the interiors of our human dwellings.
Who are the insects on the side of my home?
Three of these fall invading species in Michigan are all closely related insects in the order Hemiptera (true bugs). They are the boxelder bug, brown marmorated stink bug and western conifer seed bug (Table 1). It is possible to find all three on the outside of structures in late summer or fall.
Of these three insects, brown marmorated stink bug is the newest arrival to Michigan and the only one that is a garden or agricultural pest, according to Michigan State University Extension. Often confused for a stink bug, western conifer seed bug is less common than brown marmorated stink bug and typically remains unnoticed until fall. Boxelder bug is a native Michigan insect that can be quite abundant in some parts of Michigan in certain years. Boxelder bugs are not garden pests, but they can be a nuisance in homes simply due to the sheer number of them that can accumulate on windowsills and in attics during winter.
In case you are unsure whether the insects in your home are brown marmorated stink bugs, Photo 1 and Table 1 will help tell them apart. The shape of their hind legs, overall body shape and color can be used to differentiate these three fall invaders. Additional information on managing brown marmorated stink bug can be found on the Stop BMSB website.
Like many of the other insects in the order Hemiptera (true bugs), these bugs have a piercing sucking mouthpart and are capable of using it in self-defense. In other words, handle them with caution. None of these insects transmit any disease or sting. They also will not reproduce in the winter. Their presence is restricted to being a nuisance. In severe cases, high numbers of these bugs may stain furniture through external secretions.
Photo
2. A multicolored Asian lady beetle (Coleoptera). Another common
invader of structures in Michigan. Photo by Nate Walton, MSU Extension.
A fourth fall invading insect worth mentioning is the multi-colored Asian lady beetle (Photo 2). These beetles spend their summers eating aphids and other pest insects in our crop fields. In the fall, they can form large aggregations on the sides of structures as they look for a place to spend the winter.
Unlike the three insects mentioned previously, multi-colored Asian lady beetles are beetles (Coleoptera), not true bugs. Asian lady beetles can bite but cannot spread disease. They also emit defensive secretions that have a slight odor, can stain fabrics and in rare cases have been known to cause allergic reactions.
What causes these insects to aggregate?
The summer months are a time when insects are active in gardens, trees or shrubs. As daylight lessens, insects undergo a physiological change known as diapause. This is characterized by an extended time of inactivity during which they do not reproduce and eat little or nothing. In their natural habitat, these insects spend winter beneath bark.
Stink bugs begin to aggregate on the sides of buildings and structures when there is less than 12.5 hours of daylight, approximately the second or third week of September in Michigan. South and west facing walls are most susceptible to large populations. They particularly move towards garages, sheds and sidings with small spaces or gaps that are protected from the weather. For several weeks in the fall, stink bugs and other aggregating insects may attempt to enter homes in search of a winter environment protected from moisture and cooler air temperatures.
How can I keep them out of my home?
During fall, search for spots on the outside of the house with gaps that are wide enough for insects to enter. These areas can be covered with wire mesh, screens or caulk. Window air conditioning units should be checked for gaps and covered. When there are hundreds of swarming insects on the outside of a home, leave the windows closed or check for gaps in the screen. A strong force of water can knock insects off exterior walls.
On homes with severe outbreaks, a pyrethroid insecticide can be applied to the foundation or siding. This will only kill insects that contact the insecticide and is not an effective long-term strategy. Since these fall-invading insects can fly up to several miles, it is likely more will return on the next warm day. When smaller numbers are present inside or outside, the insects can be knocked into a bucket of soapy water, vacuumed up or just left alone.
What can I do once they get inside?
Photo 3. Indoor stink bug and boxelder bug collection trap. Photo by David Lowenstein, MSU Extension.
The best way to control indoor nuisance pests is through removal or exclusion. Inside homes, stink bugs are attracted to light and may fly towards light fixtures, resulting in an annoying buzz. A homemade light trap with light shined into a foil pan containing unscented dish soap and water can provide relief at killing stink bugs already inside the home (Photo 3). It is not recommended to apply insecticides to overwintering insects that are already inside your home. The chemicals will only kill insects that make direct contact and will not prevent additional insects from finding their way inside.
When hundreds of stink bugs are found in the home or shed, they can be vacuumed with a shop-vac. On warmer winter days, a stray stink bug or two may emerge from diapause and walk or fly around the house. By this time, all overwintered insects are already inside a home, and hand-picking is the easiest way to eliminate them.
Job stress, high blood pressure and poor sleep may be a recipe for an early death, German researchers report.
In a study of nearly 2,000 workers with high blood pressure who were followed for almost 18 years, those who reported having both a stressful job and poor sleep were three times more likely to die from heart disease than those who slept well and didn’t have a trying job, the investigators found.
“As many as 50% of adults have high blood pressure,” said Dr. Gregg Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
It’s a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and premature cardiovascular death, said Fonarow, who had no role in the new study.
“A number of studies have found associations between greater work stress and subsequent risk of cardiovascular events. Impairment in sleep has also been associated with increased risk,” he said. However, these associations did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
In the new study, the researchers reported that among people with high blood pressure (“hypertension”), those who had work stress alone had a twofold higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, as did those who reported having poor sleep alone.
According to lead researcher Dr. Karl-Heinz Ladwig, “Sleep should be a time for recreation, unwinding and restoring energy levels. If you have stress at work, sleep helps you recover.” Ladwig is a professor at the German Research Centre for Environmental Health and also with the Technical University of Munich.
“Unfortunately, poor sleep and job stress often go hand in hand, and when combined with hypertension, the effect is even more toxic,” he added in a statement.
According to the study authors, a stressful job is one where employees have many demands but little control over their work. For example, an employer demands results but denies authority to make decisions.
“If you have high demands but also high control, in other words you can make decisions, this may even be positive for health,” Ladwig said. “But being entrapped in a pressured situation that you have no power to change is harmful.”
Poor sleep was defined as having difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. “Maintaining sleep is the most common problem in people with stressful jobs,” Ladwig said.
These problems combine over time to sap your energy and “may lead to an early grave,” he added.
Ladwig suggested that to lower the risk of an early death, people have to keep their blood pressure low, develop good sleep habits and find ways to cope with stress.
Mika Kivimaki, a professor of social epidemiology at University College London, thinks this study provides a unique look at workplace risk.
Most previous research on work stress has targeted the general working population, he said.
“The effects on health have been relatively modest. However, recent findings suggest stress might be a much bigger problem for those with pre-existing disease. This new study supports this notion,” said Kivimaki, who had no part in the study.
Focusing on people with high blood pressure was a good choice, he noted.
“In this group, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is common,” Kivimaki said. And for these patients, “stress response could increase cardiac electrical instability, plaque disruption and thrombus (clot) formation,” which can contribute to an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), heart attack or stroke.
The researchers think that employers can help by implementing programs that teach employees how to relax.
Employers should provide stress management and sleep treatment in the workplace, Ladwig added, especially for staff with chronic conditions like high blood pressure. Such programs should also include helping employees to quit smoking.
It is well known that people with high blood pressure can substantially lower their risk of heart attack and stroke by achieving and maintaining healthy blood pressure levels, Fonarow said. Whether or not workplace programs designed to reduce stress and improve sleep will pay off remains to be seen, he said.
The report was published recently in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
But it’s essential for the making of nerve and red blood cells, as well as DNA along with many other body processes.
Adults and teens need just 2.4 micrograms a day, but you can fall short even on this small amount.
You’re at particular risk of a B12 deficiency if you’re a vegetarian because animal foods, like meat and dairy, are the only foods that deliver it.
If you have a health problem that affects nutrient absorption, like Crohn’s disease, have had bariatric surgery or take certain medications, you also run the risk.
So do people over 50 because of changes in stomach acids.
Common medications that can affect your body’s B12 levels:
PPIs such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid), used for treating heartburn or GERD.
H2 receptor antagonists such as famotidine (Pepcid) and ranitidine (Zantac), also used for treating those and other conditions.
Metformin, the diabetes drug.
A deficiency can develop slowly over time or come on rather fast.
Possible warning signs include emotional or thinking problems, fatigue, weakness, weight loss, constipation and numbness or tingling in hands and feet. These can also be symptoms of many other conditions, but it takes only a blood test to diagnose a B12 deficiency.
If you don’t eat animal-based foods, you can boost B12 with fortified soy foods or grain products like cereal.
And unless the deficiency is severe, you’ll get enough through a multivitamin supplement. When the deficiency is more serious, your doctor might give you a B12 shot to bring your level up to normal.
Be certain that the doctor who prescribes B12 supplementation for you is aware of any medications you’re taking to avoid negative interactions.
The semi-final rounds of the Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy begin on Sunday! Comedians will compete Sunday and Sept. 15 for a chance to appear in the finals on Sept. 22, the day the Kingpin of Comedy will be crowned. Admission is free with the show starting at 8:30 p.m. at the Spectrum Entertainment Complex, 5656 Clyde Park SW, Wyoming. Click here to learn more.
Rendering of Kaleidoscopic by artist Amanda Browder
The ArtPrize Project
From Sept. 7-Oct. 27, Project 1: Crossed Lines exhibition will occupy multiple outdoor sites in Grand Rapids and will feature temporary public artworks by five artists. The seven-week run will be punctuated by a series of events, volunteer opportunities, educational programs and performances. Each Saturday in September and the last week in October will feature a different program of free and open-to-the-public events that will activate the artists’ works in an unforgettable way. Many other exhibitions, community events and performances will be happening throughout the run of the exhibition. Fore more, click here.
A Haunting We Will Go
Looking for a good ghost story? Author and promoter of all things Michigan Dianna Stampfler certainly has a few. Next week Stampfler will be sharing a few at three local KDL libraries in Plainfield (Sept. 10), Alpine (Sept. 11), and Tyron (Sept. 12) townships. She will be sharing stories from her recently published book, Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. Click here for details.
247
Speaking of lighthouses, did you know that there are 247 lighthouses in Michigan. One-hundred and five (105) are featured on the West Michigan Tourist Association’s West Michigan Lighthouse Map and Circle Tour. There is nothing like viewing the lighthouses during a fall color tour, so snap up one of those lighthouse maps or click here for the online edition.
Bassnectar is bringing Freakstyle 2019 Day of the Dead Dark Parties to SMG-managed Van Andel Arena for two unique sets in the dark Nov. 1-2, 2019, at 7pm. Friday, Nov. 1 will also feature Kursa, Stylust, and SuperDre, and Saturday, Nov. 2 will feature J:Kenzo, Aztek, and Distinct Motive.
Two-day passes will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Sept. 6 at 12pm.
Passes are general admission and will be available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices as well as online at Ticketmaster.com. See Ticketmaster for all current pricing and availability.
In keeping with the traditions of this special Mexican Holiday, Bassnectar will be setting up a Remembrance Altar, to honor those lost but still cherished in our hearts — in doing this one can sense an even deeper respect for life, and for all the radiant beauty of the present moment.
Aaaaaaannnnnnnd: party-goers are encouraged to paint their faces — feel free to share inspiration with one another, and for those who don’t arrive in face paint, the Bass Network will set up face-painting stations!
Get ready for the unexpected, the strange, and downright weird… freestyle, darkstyle, wildstyle, FREAKSTYLE!!!
This is an 18+ event
About Bassnectar
By combining sound and force with weight, the Bassnectar experience engulfs the senses. The experience of Bassnectar is more visceral than auditory, as the music sets any stage for an adventure without rules or limitations. On Bassnectar’s stage, there is no hesitation in fusing the familiar with the strange or the classic with the cutting edge.
Bassnectar is the brainchild of Lorin Ashton, and his open-sourced musical project is as diverse as it is imaginary, as raw as it is meticulous, and as fierce as it is stunning. Spanning the spectrum of sonic style, the music draws inspiration from every genre imaginable and supplies a synthesis of intense, wobbling basslines and hypnotic soundscapes for a devout international audience that desires the beautiful and the bestial in the same breath.
If you have developed swallowing problems as you age, a new study may explain why.
A loss of muscle mass and function in the throat helps explain why 15 percent of seniors have difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), researchers have found.
“Dysphagia has serious consequences for health and quality of life,” said study author Sonja Molfenter. She is an assistant professor of communicative sciences and disorders at New York University in New York City.
“This research establishes the need for exercise programs for older adults that target throat muscles, just like those that target the muscles of the arms, legs and other parts of the human body,” Molfenter said in a university news release.
Swallowing problems can also lead to health issues such as malnutrition, dehydration and pneumonia from food and drink that end up in the lungs instead of going down the throat.
Research has also shown that when patients with dysphagia are admitted to the hospital, they’re in the hospital an average of 40 percent longer than those without dysphagia. That adds up to an estimated cost of $547 million a year, the study authors said.
Dysphagia in older adults is concerning as the proportion of seniors in the United States is expected to top 20 percent by 2030, the researchers noted.
The findings were published in the journal Dysphagia.
Valley City Electronic Recycling, a Kentwood-based Certified Benefit Corporation – or B Corp – has been named a Best For The World 2019 honoree by B Lab for its significant positive impact in communities, sustainability and environment excellence throughout the state, President Jason Kehr announced on Wednesday, Sept. 4. The electronic recycling company, which provides services throughout Michigan, is ranked among the top 10 percent of all B Corp companies, joining world-renowned businesses, such as Patagonia, Beautycounter, Dr. Bronner’s, TOMS and Seventh Generation.
B Lab, a global third-party nonprofit that honors for-profit businesses with the B Corp designated seal, recognized Valley City Electronic Recycling as a Best ForThe World 2019 company in the Community and Environment categories for its exemplary supplier relations, community involvement throughout Michigan, environmental performance and sustainable business practices.
“We are thrilled to be named a Best ForThe World company by B Lab,” Kehr said. “We pride ourselves on offering a sustainable service that not only is beneficial for our clients, but also makes a positive impact in our community and in the environment. Being ranked with companies, like Patagonia, is a testament to the dedicated business model we believe in wholeheartedly and practice every day.”
Headquartered in Kentwood, Valley City Electronic Recycling received its B Corp designation in June 2018 based on its business practices and level of care for the community and environment. Using the B Impact Assessment, B Lab evaluates how a company’s operations and business model impact its workers, community, environment, and customers. There are 3,000 Certified B Corps throughout 150 industries within 64 countries. Valley City Electronic Recycling is one of 23 B Corps in Michigan.
“We’re incredibly proud of this year’s Best ForThe World honorees,” said Anthea Kelsick, chief marketing officer of B Lab. “These inspiring companies represent the kinds of business models and impact-driven business strategies that are building a new economy—one that is inclusive, regenerative, and delivers value to all stakeholders, not just shareholders. To that end, B Corps like Valley City Electronic Recycling are redefining capitalism and showing that it actually can work for everyone.”
B Lab’sBest ForThe World 2019 honorees will be recognized during the Certified B Corporation’s Champions Retreat in Los Angeles, Calif., in mid-September.
Pamela Benjamin came to the U.S. from Australia on a spousal visa only to discover she couldn’t even check out a library book.
Angelique Mugabekazi fled the atrocities of the Rwandan genocide when she was five years old, then struggled to survive daily life in a lawless refugee camp.
Grand Rapids native Donna Troost remembers a rubber shortage during World War II and the time her dad had to get permission from the government so that she could ride her bicycle to school.
Angelique Mugabekazi
Three women with very different backgrounds—and one thing in common: Each shared her unique journey with WKTV’s VOICES, a personal and family oral history project. The project’s mission is “to collect, share and preserve the narratives of people in our community”—of our lives; of people from all walks of life.
Oral history—the collection and study of individual histories, experiences of disasters, important events or everyday life—is a tradition as old as civilization itself. Using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews, oral history strives to obtain information from different perspectives, most of which cannot be found in written sources. Some academics consider oral history akin to journalism as both are committed to uncovering truths and compiling narratives about people, places, and events.
Since its launch in September 2017 at ArtPrize Nine, VOICES has collected the conversations of people from a myriad of places, such as Indonesia, Kenya, Rwanda, Australia, Spain, as well as the U.S. (California and Michigan (including Wyoming, Grand Rapids, and Lansing).
VOICES’s vintage 1958 Airstream® trailer has been made into a mobile studio
A free public service, VOICES travels throughout the West Michigan region to encourage neighbors, friends and family to tell their stories—the narratives that make us human—of our lives, experiences, sorrows, triumphs and tragedies. We all benefit from knowing each other’s background; the shared bond that helps us build community.
VOICES offers a comfortable, mobile video recording studio with a relaxed atmosphere, and utilizes high-tech video and audio equipment to capture the narratives for posterity. Conversations usually take place between two people who know and care about each other. These can be friends, family, or mere acquaintances. Any topic may be explored, whether a specific event in a person’s life, a childhood memory, a family tragedy—no subject is off limits.
Jimmy King
Those who step inside VOICES’s 1958 Airstream trailer—outfitted as a mobile studio— are welcomed into an inviting atmosphere to sit back, relax, and have a conversation. All VOICES conversations are audio- and video-recorded to provide participants with a link to each conversation and for possible airing on Channel 25 in Wyoming, Kentwood and Gaines Township (U-Verse Channel 99).
VOICES participants find the experience valuable and gratifying.
“I hope that people will listen to my story and learn what it’s like to come from a different country—what we had to do to come to America,” said Lana Lie, who emigrated to the U.S. from Indonesia.
Lana Lie
Jimmy King, who shared his experiences as a young man with autism, said, “The experience was absolutely incredible. They really listened to me and had a genuine interest in my voice.”
Every second Saturday, VOICES is at Marge’s Donut Den at 1751 28th St, SW for ‘Second Saturday at Marge’s’. The next date is April 14. It’s free, just go here to reserve a time.
How much will health insurance cost in the Marketplace? This seems to be a big question for many consumers. The Affordable Care Act mandates that most people are insured either through their employer or by purchasing their own policy.
You can also use the Kaiser Family Foundation Subsidy Calculator. With this calculator, you can enter your zip code, different income levels, ages, family sizes and tobacco use to get an estimate of your eligibility for subsidies and how much you could spend on health insurance in the Marketplace. Income, age, family size, geographic location and tobacco use are the criteria the Marketplace uses to determine premiums for your eligible health insurance plans.
As premiums and eligibility requirements may vary, contact these resources with enrollment questions:
the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for questions about Medicaid
Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services www.michigan.gov/difs or Helpline at 1-877-999-6442
Learn local sites of Navigator and Certified Application Counselors for individual Marketplace enrollment assistance at https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/.
I have heard from a local Navigator that some folks that have successfully enrolled through the Marketplace have been pleasantly surprised with the affordability of the health insurance plan they chose.
Thousands of children each year suffer from a variety of backpack-related injuries, including back and neck pain, shoulder pain, muscle strains and spasms, nerve damage and headaches.
These conditions are preventable with just a few quick tips:
Check weight: The total weight of the load should not exceed more than 10% of the child’s body weight. For example, if your child weighs 100 lbs., the weight of the backpack should not be more than 10 lbs.
Right size: choose a backpack that fits the child’s size. An 8-year-old needs a smaller backpack than a teenager.
Design: Thick, padded straps are best. A waist strap is also very important. Our shoulders are not meant to carry all that weight
Packing: Place the heaviest items closest to the child’s back. Using the bag’s compartments to even out the weight helps too.
Wear the bag right: Be sure to use both shoulder straps when carrying the bag. If the bag has a waist strap, use it! Do not lean forward when walking or standing with the bag. Stand up straight.
Hopefully these simple tips can save unwanted pain and injury this school year.
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).
We were contacted in early July by this gorgeous girl’s owners (who had adopted her back in April of 2013) whose complaint was that she had been leaving pee spots all around their house since they brought her home, that they had tried everything to curb this activity, and that they simply couldn’t deal with it anymore. It should be stated that there was another cat in the household who could have been the culprit.
At Crash’s Landing, we strive to match adopters with a cat who will be a life-long family member. We realize that sometimes things just do not work out as anticipated, and our policy is to gladly take any Crash cat back, any time.
Such was the case with Clawdette. Dr. Jen responded to the owners asking that all previous medical records be forwarded in advance of Clawdette’s return. Unfortunately, the owners had never taken Clawdette to be seen for her presumed urinary issues and, indeed, had taken her only once to be seen by a vet, back in 2014.
When Clawdette arrived at the clinic, Dr. Jen discovered that the poor girl was crawling with fleas, which had prompted her to over-groom to try to control the flea problem. This in turn caused a secondary skin infection. In addition, Clawdette was in dire need of dental work and extractions; her lab work reflected all that was wrong with her, and quite a few drugs and treatments were needed to correct the problems that neglect had caused.
Thankfully Clawdette, our pudgy princess who was born in the fall of 2011, bounced back as if nothing had ever happened, and even though she had been gone for over 6 years, she was as welcoming and accepting of us as if she had never left.
However, she isn’t used to being surrounded by so many other cats, and consequently she isn’t afraid to vocalize her opinions about her new roomies. Because she is a bit of a darling little diva (well, ok big diva, as she weighs in at almost 12#), we would like to find her an indoor home of her very own. She spends most of her days lounging around, laying belly up and patiently waiting for a tummy rub. She has shown us her playful side as well, but attention is what she craves most, and we are more than happy to give it to her.
We have had absolutely no issues with any sort of aberrant litter box habits; if a cat is going to act up and piddle outside of the box, a shelter/multiple cat situation is where this type of behavior would likely surface. Clawdette had been set up by her former housemate.
Clawdette has been nothing short of perfect since she returned. We can’t help but think that if she were the problem in her former home, circumstances surrounding her were causative, but in all reality, none of us who have spent time with her believe that she was naughty by nature. She is such a lovely cat—everyone who meets her is simply smitten with her—that there is no doubt that she is going to make the consummate companion for someone.
More about Clawdette:
Tabby & Domestic Short Hair Mix
White, Tabby (Tiger Striped)
Adult
Female
Extra Large
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Spayed
Prefers a home without other cats
Want to adopt Clawdette? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
SpartanNash is encouraging its store guests to celebrate National Family Meals Month and share one more meal per week at home, using items purchased from the grocery store. Sponsored by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Foundation, Family Meals Month emphasizes the importance of sharing a meal together.
According to FMI, kids – from elementary to high school age – who eat meals with their families four or more times a week earn better test scores and succeed in school. Eating family meals together is also tied to a 24 percent increase in healthy food consumption, with kids eating more fruits, vegetables, fiber, calcium-rich foods and vitamins.
During Family Meals Month, SpartanNash and its 160 corporate-owned stores are challenging customers to pledge to have one more meal together each week at home. To make it easier to do so, SpartanNash and its Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery, Dan’s Supermarket and Family Fresh Market stores are offering tips and tricks online, in-store and through social media using the hashtags #FamilyMealsMonth and #OurFamilyMeals.
Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery, Dan’s Supermarket and Family Fresh Market Facebook pages will share weekly recipe videos featuring Our Family® products, all of which are easy and nutritious weeknight family meals.
The Family Fare Facebook page (@shopfamilyfare) will host a live Q&A session on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. ET, where fans can ask food and nutrition questions to SpartanNash’s Living Well team.
Store guests are encouraged to share their own family meals using the hashtag #OurFamilyMeals.
“Sharing meals can improve a family’s health and well-being, because the more meals families share, the more likely they are to eat more fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods together,” said Tom Swanson, SpartanNash senior vice president and general manager, corporate retail. “At SpartanNash, we’re proud to do our part to support our store guests as they look for healthy, nutritious ways to bring their families together at the dinner table.
“From ready-to-cook healthy proteins to pre-cut fruits and vegetables and stir fry ingredients, our stores are stocked with ingredients to make it easier for time-starved families to enjoy a quick and easy meal together – all at budget friendly prices. During Family Meals Month and beyond, we hope all our store guests will be inspired to return to the kitchen to enjoy wholesome meals together.”
In 2017, SpartanNash earned the FMI Gold Plate Award for its support of Family Meals Month, recognizing its commitment to raising awareness of the importance of eating healthier and together as a family.
Luis Solis takes the last flight of the American Airlines MD-80 from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. (WKTV)
On a Jet Plane
At 2:25 p.m. today there will be a special celebration at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport as airport officials and visitors say good-bye to one of the last American Airlines MD-80 aircrafts. The American Airlines is retiring the aircraft from its fleet. At one time, American Airlines had one of the largest fleets of MD-80s, which were considered the workhorse of the airlines industry. The American Airlines will scrap or sell off its MD-80s. Note, Delta still flies the MD-80 aircraft along with several foreign airlines. One local resident made sure to snag a ticket on the last flight. Read more about his story by clicking here.
Wyoming’s GM Component Holdings LLC gave out $30,000 in grants to three area charities. (WKTV)
Helping Hand
Three local organizations, the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance, West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), and Kid’s Food Basket were each presented with a $10,000 grant from the GM Components Holdings. The three organizations do a variety of work within the City of Wyoming. The Kid’s Food Basket provides sack suppers to at-risk students. WMEAC runs a watershed program at Godfrey-Lee Public Schools along with hosting the annual Mayor River Clean-Up and the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance will use the funds to purchase stand-alone speed monitors for the City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety. For more information, click here.
A family enjoyed the “Design Zone” exhibit, which is coming to the Grand Rapids Public Museum this fall. (Supplied)
Play Date!
With overwhelming positive feedback and popularity of its “TOYS!” exhibit, the Grand Rapids Public Museum announced it has extended the exhibit for another year. That’s right, you have another 365 days to check it out or re-visit the exhibit. The Museum, located at 272 Pearl St. NW, also announced that the popular “Bodies Revealed” would be returning this fall along with the new exhibit “Design Zone.” For more information, click here.
Helen Hunt Jackson (Wikipedia)
Who is Helen Hunt Jackson?
Helen Hunt Jackson was an American poet and writer, 1830-1885, who became an activist for the better treatment of Native Americans by the U.S. government. One of her most well-known books was “Ramona,” the story of a mixed-race Irish-Native American orphan girl who suffers racial discrimination and hardship. While popular for the way it romanized the Southern California area — which saw a tourism surge after the book’s release — the book is credit as a forerunner in helping to raise awareness of the plight of Native Americans and Mexican colonial life. Jackson wrote of her work that it was one of the only things “of which I have done that I am glad…they will live, and…bear fruit.” There have been more than 300 reissues of the book with it never being out of print since it was first published in 1884.
Tulip Time® Festival (www.tuliptime.com) announces the return of Klompen Garden, a hugely popular public art project which debuted in 2019. Klompen Garden will showcase 20 pairs of artfully designed large ‘wooden’ shoes installed in city parks and tulip beds throughout the downtown Holland area.
Artists living in Ottawa, Allegan, Kent, Muskegon and Kalamazoo counties are invited to submit a design concept and sketch for this one-of-a-kind art project. Concepts will be accepted through an online submission form until Oct. 14, 2019, at 11:59pm EST. Of the submitted concepts, 20 will be selected to create the Klompen Garden.
Tulip Time will supply each selected artist or group of collaborating artists with a large pair (34”L x 12”W x 12”H) of ‘wooden’ shoes, through which artists are encouraged to bring their concept to life.
Upon completion of the 20 projects, a juror vote and public vote will determine the favorite klompen. Tulip Time has invited John Berry to serve as this year’s Klompen Garden juror. Berry will select one grand prize winner who will be awarded $1,000 at the First Bloem Reception in February. The winning pair will be displayed at Holland Area Arts Council for the duration of the festival.
The public will also have a chance to vote for their favorites of the remaining 19 klompen between May 2–19, 2020. The top three public picks will be announced on May 10. Of the public votes, first place will be awarded $500, second place will be awarded $300 and third place will be awarded $200. Visit www.tuliptime.com/klompen-garden for full entry details and competition information!
For additional details, contact Julia Van Fleet at julia@tuliptime.com or 616.396.4221 x104. Follow this project now through the festival by using #klompengarden!
About the juror:
Former Vice President of Corporate Communications at Herman Miller, John Berry was also the founder and first Executive Director of Design West Michigan and founder and first Director of the Design Thinking Academy at Grand Valley State University. John has an MFA in Design from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a BS in Design and Spanish from Indiana University.
Researchers have found that injuries sustained while dog walking—fractures, specifically—have jumped 163 percent in the 65 and older group over the past 15 years. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Walking the dog can be great exercise for seniors, but there could be one downside: fractures.
Fractures suffered by elderly Americans while walking their dogs have more than doubled in recent years, new research shows.
Still, taking your dog for a walk can also bring big health rewards, one joint specialist said.
“Pets can provide companionship for older adults—and the physical exercise from regularly walking a dog may improve other aspects of physical and psychological health,” said Dr. Matthew Hepinstall, who wasn’t involved in the new study.
“So, the risks of walking a dog should be balanced against potential benefits,” said Hepinstall, who helps direct joint surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
The new research was led by Kevin Pirruccio, a second-year medical student at the University of Pennsylvania. His team tracked national data and found that among people aged 65 and older, fractures associated with walking leashed dogs rose from about 1,700 cases in 2004 to almost 4,400 cases in 2017—a 163 percent rise.
More than three-quarters of the fractures occurred in women, with hip and arm fractures being the most common. About half of all fractures occurred in the upper body, with fractures of the wrist, upper arm, finger and shoulder leading the way.
The most common type of fracture was a broken hip (17 percent). That’s cause for concern, Pirruccio’s team said, because the death rate linked to hip fractures in people older than 65 is close to 30 percent.
The researchers added that the study only involved data on fractures treated at emergency departments. The actual number of dog walking-related injuries among seniors might even be higher if injuries not typically seen in a hospital—for example, tendon or muscle tears—were factored in.
Why the rising rates of fractures tied to dog walking? The study authors theorized that increased pet ownership and a greater emphasis on physical activity for older adults may be driving the trend.
In a university news release, Pirruccio stressed that walking your pooch each day “has repeatedly demonstrated social, emotional and physical health benefits.” It’s also “a popular and frequently recommended activity for many older Americans seeking new ways to stay active,” he said.
On the other hand, “patients’ risks for falls must be factored into lifestyle recommendations in an effort to minimize such injuries,” Pirruccio said.
Hepinstall agreed.
“The take-home message for older adults and their families is that, when choosing to care for a pet, be sure to consider the strength and coordination of the older adult, and the size and expected behavior of the pet selected,” he advised.
Pet ownership and care may need to be re-assessed with age, Hepinstall added.
“When the mobility of older adults changes, they should be encouraged to re-evaluate their ongoing ability to care for any pets,” he said. “This will help ensure that the health and other needs of the adult and of the pet can be properly managed.”
There is no shortage of tasty things to tempt your taste buds in West Michigan. From farm-fresh produce, homemade goodies, and dockside dining to locally crafted brews, wines, and desserts, here are some mouthwatering options for you to try.
Greater Lansing sets the table with diverse restaurants with locally sourced menu items that will tantalize your taste buds and take you for a trip around the globe. Whether you’re looking for some comfort food and enjoy Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives recommendations or enjoy a great food truck or a terrific farm-to-table experience, Greater Lansing is the perfect destination for your inner foodie.
Head to Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings for BBQ, Music, and Family Game Night Sunday, Aug. 11th. Dinner is at 5pm, music and games 6-7:30pm. Come enjoy the last days of summer vacation with good food, great music provided by the Hastings Community Music School, lawn games, family-friendly relay races and more. Member adults $16, children $8; Non-member adults $19, children $10.
Home to many locally owned and operated diners, restaurants, and pubs, Coldwater Country is the place to grab a delicious quick breakfast, find a destination restaurant, or a gourmet dinner.
Crane’s Pie Pantry bakery and restaurant offer farm-fresh products that will make you think it came right from grandma’s kitchen. Specializing in Michigan fruit pies and desserts, Crane’s bakery also includes bread, cinnamon rolls, muffins, cookies, apple cider donuts, and much more to make your mouth water. They offer a complete menu of handcrafted meals including soups, salads, and American mains, served in a historical surrounding of local memorabilia and antiques. Stop in to the Saugatuck Tasting Bar or Fennville Restaurant & Winery to grab a taste.
Courtesy West Michigan Tourist Association
Central West Michigan
If you’re in Mecosta County to tempt your taste buds, then you have come to the right place. With great food, good times, and phenomenal service, the restaurants throughout Mecosta County need to be scheduled into your next visit. For more places that will “Tempt Your Taste Buds”, check out the Mecosta County Restaurant Guide.
Bring the kids to Kitchen 242 at The MuskegonFarmers Market for a “Princess Party” with Chef Char Saturday, Aug. 10th from 10:30–11:30am. Bake cookies with Chef Char and Princess Tiana and Princess Elsa. There will be plenty of opportunities for photos with the princesses. Each little princess will roll, decorate, and bake a dozen princess-themed cookies to take home. This is for ages 5 and up. The cost is $45 and tickets are available through Eventbrite.
Ludington dining options include ’50s diners, Italian restaurants, breweries, barbeque, and the best ice cream in the Midwest.
Herman’s Boy is a great Rockford stop for a made-to-order deli sandwich. Everything is done in-house, a 100-year-old farmhouse to be exact, from fresh baked bagels to smoked meat & cheeses. Herman’s Boy is also “Home of the Bagel Dog” — a German-style wiener wrapped in bagel dough and topped with the fixings of your choosing. Herman’s Boy is a local roastery, bakery, confectionary, deli, smokehouse, kitchen, grilling gadget shop. Be sure to check out these and other treats, snacks, and coffees all done in house.
Throughout the Hollandarea, you will find an array of dining options that are sure to satisfy any craving. Grab a slice of pie made with fresh Michigan fruits or enjoy a lake perch dinner. This year welcomed a few new restaurants to downtown, which include HopCat, and Sperry’s Moviehouse Restaurant. Click through for more information on Holland’s local dining options.
HopCat restaurants in West Michigan have launched new brunch and lunch menus for guests in need of either a quick weekday meal or a well-earned weekend fun day. The restaurant family’s 9 Under $9 lunch menu is a selection of quick-service items created for guests who have places to be and budgets to watch. It includes exciting new choices like the California Club Sandwich, Pork Tostadas, and the Dbl Smash Burger alongside updated HopCat favorites like the Madtown Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Better Living Through Tacos entrée, available from 11am to 2pm Monday-Friday, alongside HopCat’s regular menu. The restaurants have also unveiled new brunch menus with mouthwatering options. The updated selections are available at HopCat’s locations in Kalamazoo, Holland, and Grand Rapids, where the original downtown restaurant now serves brunch from its recently renovated kitchen.
Courtesy West Michigan Tourist Association
Northwest Michigan
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa’s Aerie Restaurant & Lounge is proud to announce its third consecutive Wine Spectator Award of Excellence win. Wine Spectator magazine bestows the Award of Excellence to restaurants with wine lists featuring at least 90 selections that include a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style.
From family friendly and casual to fine dining,Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire has what you crave. With stunning sunsets, award-winning steaks, pasta, and homemade desserts, The Lakeview Restaurant offers simple, local, social dining. Enjoy the Macadamia Crusted Whitefish, Twisted Pasta with shrimp and lobster, or a traditional steak. The River Bistro at Shanty Creek Resort offers a more casual atmosphere to enjoy burgers, sandwiches, pizza, and classic dinner entrees including fish & chips, salmon, stir-fry, and more. Enjoy a fresh-squeezed cocktail or one of more than 45 regional or international beers while playing pub games including foosball, darts, pool, and more. Both restaurants are also open for breakfast and lunch.
From daily Summer Nights on the Patio to al fresco dining in the estate vineyard, Black Star Farms near Suttons Bay has something for every palate.
Crystal Mountain’s Farm-to-Table dining series brings the fresh flavors of northern Michigan to the Thistle Pub & Grille at the resort in Thompsonville the third weekend of each month, May through September. Their chefs work with local farms, making personal visits to many of them, to build a custom three-course menu.
Come to Traverse City and enjoy the ultimate Bonobo Winery experience. Join Cornel, Bonobo’s winemaker, on the patio for a three-course lunch. Learn more about the wines paired with each course by the winemaker himself while taking in views of the rolling vineyard with Grand Traverse Bay in the distance. Picnic lunches in the vineyard are available at 12pm and 1:30pm Monday through Friday. Just reserve a table for $50 (seats up to six people), buy your lunch from the picnic menu, and select your favorite bottle of Bonobo wine. They’ll drive you out to your special place among the vines. Reservations recommended.
Picture yourself at some point in the future — on a cruise, at an event, or reaching a milestone. How do you want to look and feel? Make a plan to achieve your picture of self. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Several years ago (well, a few more than several), when I was 39 years old and not happy with the size of scrubs I fit into at the hospital, I really began to think about how I wanted to be in the future.
I realized that if I couldn’t run a 5K or fit into yellow tie scrubs (the smaller scrubs) at 39, how would I be able to run a 5K or fit into anything I wanted to wear at age 60? So, I started to think about my future.
I am a very visual person, so I picked a specific age —53— and pictured myself at that age. When I am 53, my youngest child will graduate from high school, and I pictured myself at his graduation party. How did I want to look and feel at that age? At that party? To reach my goal, I knew my plan had to be very clear, so I sat down and started to develop my plan.
The following week, during a busy day in my office, I almost bumped into a patient as I rushed through the hallway.
I apologized and started to continue on my way when she stopped me and said, “You don’t remember me, do you?” I told her I did not recognize her, and she said, “During my appointment last year, you asked me how I wanted to be when I turned 50. I left your office and really thought about that question. I decided I wanted to be ‘hot’ — and now I am! I ran a 10K, and developed a new food plan that I love and can follow. I have so much more energy now, and I feel great!”
She looked amazing.
This patient really listened to what I had to say at her yearly physical, and she came up with a plan to reach a goal she set for herself.
The truth is that many women don’t have a plan for the future. It’s easy to think, “I will exercise and eat better tomorrow,” but tomorrow comes and nothing changes.
In addition, many women don’t have any plan, and they foolishly think that being healthy will just magically happen. Unfortunately, good health doesn’t just happen. It requires commitment and a detailed strategy.
This is true for all women, including those who are successful at work, successful at home and successful at being a good parent. But, all this success doesn’t mean they are also happy with their health, weight, or energy level. In other words, they don’t plan for themselves.
So, where should you begin? Every strong plan starts with a goal, and I recommend you call your goal your picture of self.
Picture of self is simply how you see yourself at a specific point in the future. It can be short term or long term—a college graduation, before you get pregnant, one year after the birth of your child, your daughter’s wedding, retirement, or an upcoming trip. It just needs to be a specific event or time where you can picture the event well and put yourself there figuratively.
You begin with visualizing the overall picture and then breaking it down into the fine details — the style of your hair, how it feels to walk into the event, how you interact with others in the room.
Creating your picture can help you start thinking about your own health both now and in the future. Then, make a plan for how to become that picture of self. Start today.
The public is invited to the official Project 1 free events happening Saturdays during the run of the exhibition.
From Sept. 7-Oct. 27, 2019, Project 1: Crossed Lines exhibition will occupy multiple outdoor sites in Grand Rapids, Michigan and will feature temporary public artworks by five artists. The seven-week run will be punctuated by a series of events, volunteer opportunities, educational programs and performances.
Each Saturday in September and the last week in October will feature a different program of free and open-to-the-public events that will activate the artists’ works in an unforgettable way. Many other exhibitions, community events and performances will be happening throughout the run of the exhibition.
“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with community members and organizations across the city to build out a spectacular set of events throughout September,” said Jori Bennett, executive director.
ArtPrize has also partnered with community partners to provide an even richer experience at each of the Saturday events. All Art Works is putting on an exhibition to provide connections between artists and art buyers. The WestSide StreetFair will be happening on Saturday, Sept. 14th that coincides with the run of Project 1. The Grand Rapids African American Art and Music Festivalwill also be happening on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Martin Luther King Park.
“The Grand Rapids African American Art and Music Festival is thrilled to partner with ArtPrize again,” said Lisa Knight, Festival board chair and director of the Centers for Innovation, Health, Education, Youth and Community Engagement, at the Urban League of West Michigan.
“This will be the first time the Festival is held in Martin Luther King Jr. Park and the Project 1 installations there will provide exciting programming opportunities.”
Saturday, Sept. 7, presented by DTE Foundation
Join ArtPrize and the City of Grand Rapids for a day of one-of-a-kind performances and events. Begin at Rosa Parks Circle at noon to kick off the inaugural Project 1 exhibition with a headlining performance from BANDALOOP. From 2-5pm enjoy the Martin Luther King Jr Park community kick-off with a headlining performance by Jordan Hamilton.
While downtown, stop in to see the All Art Works Show: Great Art at Great Prices at 37 Ottawa Ave NW from 10am to 6pm — 200 artists of every career level are curated next to works by world-famous artists. The show is free and open to the public, and all artwork is for sale and priced for fledgling and experienced buyers. The show runs from Sept. 6 through 10.
Evening programming includes an artist panel hosted at Critical Infrastructure at the Tanglefoot site. After the talk, the Disability Drag Show, presented by DisArt, be taking place at a venue to be announced.
Saturday, Sept. 14, presented by Meijer
Start the second weekend of Project 1 at the WestSide StreetFair on Broadway and Bridge from 11am to 6pm. Enjoy live music, art and educational activities for the whole family. Community partners John Ball Zoo, Experience Live Art, Artists Creating Together, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Comedy Project, Gilda’s Club and more will be there.
Be sure to check out Meijer’s Grand Taste Truck sited at Rosa Parks Circle, which will be giving food and household items out. There will be art activities happening from 11am to 3pm.
Then don’t miss an unforgettable evening of light, sound and community at this one-night-only performance at Blue Bridge Amplified, presented by Founder’s Brewing Company. Electronic beat-maker and headliner, Dan Deacon, as well as an array of local artists and musicians will take over Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Voice Bridge, activating the sound system and 400+ lights that will traverse Grand Rapids’s iconic Blue Bridge from 8-11pm.
Saturday, Sept. 28, presented by DisArt and SiTE:LAB
For the final Saturday in September, join DisArt and its collaborators as they present Voices an immersive, multimedia project displayed and interacted with throughout the Tanglefoot site. Designed as both an aesthetic and archiving experience, Voices will gather and visualize stories of alienation and belonging from Disabled community members as well as visitors to the site. The event runs from noon to 10pm, and all are encouraged to attend and participate.
Saturday, Oct. 26
Join us at Studio Park to celebrate the final weekend of Project 1. The evening will kick off with a press conference where several exciting announcements will be made for ArtPrize 2020. The evening will unfold to feature live music in the Studio Park Listening Room.
About Project 1 by ArtPrize
The ArtPrize organization produces open citywide contemporary art experiences that encourage critical discourse, celebrate artists, transform urban space and promote cultural understanding. Project 1: Crossed Lines is the first in a series of multi-sited public art exhibitions to take place between biennial ArtPrize competitions.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” which holds true for Grand Rapids resident Luis Solis.
Solis has a ticket for a very special flight — one of the last flights of the American Airlines MD-80. American Airlines announced several months ago it would retire the last of its 26 McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircrafts, also known as the Super 80 or Mad Dog.
“When I first heard about it, I was like they are going to retire the MD-80, too sad,” said Solis, a commercial airplane aficionado who easily admits he sometimes books a flight based on the type of aircraft being used. The announcement came and went but then, American Airlines released the schedule of the final revenue (passenger) flights for the iconic plane.
“When I opened up the schedule and saw that there was a flight leaving from Grand Rapids on Sept. 3, I just began to take a look to see if there were seats and, well I was able to get one.”
The flight is scheduled to leave at 2:25 p.m. Sept. 3 from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport and will land in Fort Wayne, Texas, the final destination for many of the American Airlines’ MD-80s.
Knowing it planned to retire the MD-80, American Airlines did not update the aircraft’s exterior logos. (Wikipedia)
There is some sentimental value as well in taking the flight as the aircraft was an instrumental key to the U.S.’s current air transportation system, Solis said.
A deal in 1982 between the MD-80’s maker, McDonnell Douglas, and American Airlines is credited for saving both the companies from financial ruin. Considered a workhorse, the aircraft was crucial to American Airlines planned growth in the 1980s that included the hub concept with the carrier being able to service smaller markets such as Grand Rapids. Other airlines soon followed American Airlines lead, purchasing the MD-80.
About anyone who flew in the 1980s or 1990s probably has done so on the MD-80, especially if they took an American Airlines flight. American Airlines had the largest fleet of the aircraft, with more than 250. That number grew to around 380 — about 40 percent of the airline’s fleet — when American Airlines acquired TWA in 2001.
Because the aircraft was so common, it was associated with many fond memories for those who piloted it and were along for the ride.
“MD-80 was often the one that was taking me to my vacation or bringing me back from my vacation. It was simple and it had a smooth ride,” Solis said. “It didn’t have all the amenities that new planes have but I loved it. It is one of those planes that when you saw it, you just knew what you were going to fly.”
Time marches on and the global fleet of MD-80s started to age with American Airlines being the first to stop investing in the aircraft. The newer aircrafts are quieter and offer more entertainment amenities.
And while American Airlines is retiring its MD-80s, you still will see them in the sky. Delta, along with several foreign airlines, still utilize the aircraft and the MD-80s also are used as cargo planes.
When a U.S. airline retires an aircraft after decades of service any one of three things can happen: the aircraft can be immediately destroyed and the metal recycled; the aircraft can sit in the dry graveyard in California’s Mojave Desert; or the aircraft can be re-sold to air services in smaller, foreign countries.
The combination that this is one of the last MD-80 flights for American Airlines, which is credited with helping to develop today’s high frequency pattern of air service, and it is leaving from Grand Rapids, a rarity for last flights, makes the Sept. 3 truly an adventure, Solis said.
“It really is about the journey,” Solis said. “To know that sometime in the past I rode this and that this is it, this is the last time; it is like somebody retiring. It’s done.”
Nearly half of Americans feel lonely or left out—increasing the risk of early death by more than 45 percent, and doubling the risk of obesity. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
Sleep problems can play havoc with your social life, a new study suggests.
A series of experiments revealed sleep-deprived people feel lonelier and less eager to engage with others. That, in turn, makes others less likely to want to socialize with the sleep-deprived, researchers said.
The researchers also found that well-rested people feel lonely after spending just a short time with a sleep-deprived person, which suggests that social isolation caused by sleep problems may be contagious, according to the investigators at the University of California, Berkeley.
These findings are the first to show a two-way link between poor sleep and social isolation, offering new insight into what the researchers called a global loneliness epidemic.
“We humans are a social species. Yet sleep deprivation can turn us into social lepers,” study senior author Matthew Walker said in a university news release. He is a professor of neuroscience and psychology.
Brain scans of sleep-deprived people watching videos of strangers walking toward them showed heightened activity in networks typically activated when people feel their personal space is being invaded, the researchers found.
Sleep deprivation also reduced activity in brain regions that normally encourage social engagement, the findings showed.
“The less sleep you get, the less you want to socially interact. In turn, other people perceive you as more socially repulsive, further increasing the grave social-isolation impact of sleep loss,” Walker explained.
“That vicious cycle may be a significant contributing factor to the public health crisis that is loneliness,” he added.
Surveys suggest that nearly half of Americans feel lonely or left out. And loneliness increases the risk of early death by more than 45 percent, double the risk associated with obesity, research shows.
According to study lead author Eti Ben-Simon, “It’s perhaps no coincidence that the past few decades have seen a marked increase in loneliness and an equally dramatic decrease in sleep duration.” She is a postdoctoral fellow in Walker’s Center for Human Sleep Science.
“Without sufficient sleep, we become a social turn-off, and loneliness soon kicks in,” Ben-Simon said.
The study did offer a reason for optimism: A good night’s sleep makes a rapid difference.
Walker said that “just one night of good sleep makes you feel more outgoing and socially confident, and furthermore, will attract others to you.”
The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
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).
Gratiot Area Animals in Need (G.A.I.N.) contacted us in early July of 2019 in hopes of us being able to accommodate a FIV+ girl they had in their foster program. Although she had been with them since April, she wasn’t tested until her spay appointment in June, and when her viral status was discovered, they were in need of locating a shelter, such as ours, that caters to their special status. The only way the virus can be transmitted is through bite wounds, so at some point she was injured by another cat.
Lyanna hasn’t a mean bone in her lovely three-year-old body (born in the summer of 2016); in fact, she has proven to be one of our most outgoing, gregarious girls. In the words of our volunteers:
“Lyanna definitely goes against the “torti rules” by being the sweetest little thing. She enjoys gazing through the French doors to the lobby just waiting for one of the volunteers to pop in, scoop her up, and give her the attention she adores so much. She loves to follow us around and watch everything that is going on. I’ve seen her sass a few of the bigger boys and stand her ground when challenged, but she is not at all physically aggressive. She’d make the perfect companion for a home with kids, maybe a smaller dog, (she was fostered with dogs) and access to plenty of playtime. I’d worry a little about her trying to get outside because she does try her darnedest to sneak in to the lobby on occasion, so that should be taken into consideration.”
That. Face.
“Lyanna is the perfect mix of sweet and sassy. She loves people, but doesn’t have a ton of time to be held or sit in laps, as there is just too much to do! She is very playful and loves to chase bell toys around. She will sometimes play with other cats, but other times she wants nothing to do with them. She has one of the biggest appetites of all our residents—probably to fuel her high level of energy!”
We firmly believe that being FIV+ is not going to hinder her from finding a home as her charming personality, pawsitively stunning looks, and non-torti temperament (they are typically quite opinionated and, shall we say, less than agreeable) make her an awesome candidate for companionship. A word of friendly advice: don’t miss out on the chance to make lovely Lyanna yours!
More about Lyanna:
Tortoiseshell & Domestic Short Hair Mix
Adult
Female
Medium
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
FIV+
Spayed
Good in a home with other cats, dogs, children
Want to adopt Lyanna? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Grand Rapids-based Pasta Per Trio, the Michigan franchisee of Noodles & Company, announced today that it will partner with No Kid Hungry® for the fourth consecutive year to help end childhood hunger in America.
By donating $2 to the nonprofit campaign at participating Noodles restaurants through Sept. 24, guests will receive a coupon for a free Shareable item to enjoy on their next visit. In addition, Noodles will match every $2 donation made on August 28. Each $2 donation helps supply 20 meals to kids in need. There are two Noodles locations near the Wyoming/Kentwood area, 3871 Rivertown Pkwy SW, Grandville, 5070 28th St. SE, and 2289 East Beltline, Grand Rapids.
Locally, the No Kid Hungry® campaign supports children who attend Grand Rapids Public Schools and Kelloggsville Public Schools.
There are two Noodles and Company restaurants in Grand Rapids, the one above is located in Grandville and there is another on the East Beltline and one on 28th Street.
Studies by No Kid Hungry® indicate that one in six kids experiences hunger on a regular basis and that 95 percent of teachers believe hunger impacts their students’ ability to succeed. In addition, 77 percent of teachers directly correlate hunger with poor academic performance. With the start of the academic year, Noodles believes there is no better time than now to support families struggling to afford enough food for their families.
“In 2018, Noodles & Company guests in Michigan donated more than $25,000 to make an impact on childhood hunger,” said Tom Shephard, vice president of Pasta Per Trio, the Michigan Noodles & Company franchisee. “We’re proud to serve great food and believe there is no reason any child in Michigan should be hungry. With the help of our guests, we’re committed to doing our part for families in need in our state.”
With the help of its guests, Noodles has donated nearly $1.7 million, or approximately 17 million meals, to No Kid Hungry® since 2016. This year, the company hopes to raise more than $550,000 nationally.
On Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Noodles will also participate in ‘No Kid Hungry Live with Busy Philipps,’ a livestreamed variety show. The show will feature funny moments and games, interviews, and a special money-can’t-buy giveaway experience offered by No Kid Hungry/Dine at Noodles & Company to one lucky viewer. The 90-minute show will stream on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Viewers must visit NoKidHungry.org/Dine to enter for a chance to win the sweepstakes and to find participating restaurants. The sweepstakes will run Sept. 4 – 30.
Swithina Mboko is a professor at the Seidman college of business at Grand Valley State University. In this interview, she discusses the culture differences between Zimbabwe and the US, the trials of teaching in a foreign country, and her qualitative research surrounding refugee entrepreneurs.
Researchers believe that Alzheimer’s disease may be a double-prion disorder in which two rogue proteins destroy the brain. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
With findings that might alter the path of Alzheimer’s research, scientists say misfolded forms of two proteins appear to spread through patients’ brains similar to an infection.
The findings suggest that Alzheimer’s is a “double-prion” disorder. This discovery could help lead to new treatments that focus directly on prions, according to researchers from the University of California, San Francisco.
A prion is a misshapen protein that can force other copies of that protein into the same misfolded shape and spread in the brain.
It’s best known for its role in bovine spongiform encephalopathy—”mad cow” disease—and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a degenerative brain disorder.
In the new research, the university team analyzed the brains of 75 Alzheimer’s patients after death and found self-propagating prion forms of the proteins amyloid beta and tau. Higher amounts of these prions were associated with early-onset Alzheimer’s and younger age at death.
Alzheimer’s patients have amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, but efforts to treat the disease by clearing out these inactive proteins have failed.
These new findings suggest that active amyloid beta and tau prions could drive Alzheimer’s and offer targets for effective treatment, according to the researchers.
“I believe this shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that amyloid beta and tau are both prions and that Alzheimer’s disease is a double-prion disorder in which these two rogue proteins together destroy the brain,” said study senior author Dr. Stanley Prusiner, director of the UCSF Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Prusiner won a Nobel Prize in 1997 for discovering that prions were responsible for mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Prion levels also appear linked to patient longevity, he noted.
“We need a sea change in Alzheimer’s disease research and that is what this paper does. This paper might catalyze a major change in AD research,” Prusiner said in a university news release.
For this study, the researchers used recently developed laboratory tests to rapidly measure prions in human tissue samples. They can reveal infectious prion levels in just days.
These tests “are a game-changer,” said study co-author William DeGrado, a UCSF professor of pharmaceutical chemistry.
In order to develop effective therapies and diagnostics, scientists must target the active prion forms, rather than the large amount of protein in plaques and tangles, DeGrado said.
The researchers hope that measuring the prion forms of amyloid beta and tau might lead to the development of drugs that either prevent them from forming or spreading, or help remove them before they cause damage.
The study was published recently in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
You have health insurance, but not all expenses are included in the insurance premium. Doctor visits, medicine, braces and glasses are some expenses you may have to pay. The good news is there are ways to manage your health care costs to save money. This article will focus on health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Also, look for related articles on reasons to have health insurance (Part 1) and health savings accounts (Part 4).
Setting money aside to manage health care expenses helps reduce your need to use credit to pay medical bills and reduces your concerns that you can cover a bill, according to the University of Maryland Extension. You can save money in your emergency fund. You might qualify for a health Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
Health Flexible Spending Accounts allow you to contribute pre-tax dollars and then be reimbursed for qualified medical expenses based on IRS code. FSA accounts are only offered through employer’s benefits plan packages; you cannot open one as an individual consumer. Typically, you enroll once a year during your employer’s open enrollment season. The amount you choose is automatically deducted from your paycheck and is placed in an account managed by a third-party agency.
You choose the amount to save, up to certain dollar limits. It is important to plan carefully and not put more money in your FSA than you think you will spend during the year on things like co-payments, coinsurance, prescriptions and other allowed health care costs. Otherwise you may lose any money left over in your FSA.
How do you figure out how much to contribute? A good place to start is to calculate your out-of-pocket expenses for the past year. You can get this information from receipts, looking at your explanation of benefits, or obtaining a print out from your doctors’ offices and pharmacy for all visits and prescription purchases. Use the worksheet or online health care cost calculator.
Toes may well be the most neglected parts on our body, but when something goes wrong they can generate plenty of pain.
And for those who like a good workout—running, hiking, soccer, walking and the like—these peanut-sized digits take it on the chin.
While a variety of things can go wrong with your toes, there is a single preventive solution to almost all of them: The right shoe in the right size, said John Harris, DPM, a foot and ankle surgery specialist with Spectrum Health Medical Group Orthopedics.
“You should wear the appropriate shoe for your activity and it needs to fit well,” Dr. Harris said. “There should be a thumb’s distance between the end of your longest toe—whether that’s the big or second toe—and the end of the shoe.”
A general athletic shoe is OK for low-level participation in any sport, but Dr. Harris recommends upgrading to a sport-specific shoe the moment you become serious about a workout.
Ill-fitting shoes are the source of many problems.
With every step, you wind up bashing the front of your toe into the shoe, causing micro-injuries that soon add up to significant issues.
This causes two of the most common toe woes: injured toenails and callouses.
Injured toenails
They go by the not-so-catchy name of subungual hematoma—a collection of blood under the nail. These wounds stem from some kind of insult, often from poorly fitting shoes.
If they are painful, have a doctor check them out.
“Sometimes, we can drain the blood out and reduce pain,” Dr. Harris said.
Even when these toenail injuries don’t hurt, healing requires some patience. It can take eight months to a year for a toenail to replace itself.
Callouses
People often accept callouses as inevitable because of the shape of their toes.
Dr. Harris said underlying conditions, such as hammertoe, certainly make callouses more prevalent.
But properly fitting shoes can prevent this problem.
Treatment for painful callouses includes modifying the style and fit of the shoe. In some cases, surgery is needed to straighten the toe. (Wondering what the difference is between a callous and corn? Nothing—a corn is just lay terminology.)
See a provider about any stubborn toe pain and rethink the way you shop for shoes. Check and double-check the fit, keeping in mind that sizes can vary from model to model.
Runners and soccer players are particularly prone to the smaller-is-better myth, resulting in plenty of toe problems.
According to Nike, the behemoth shoe manufacturer, about 60% of Americans are walking around in shoes of the wrong size.
If you’ve got growing kids, Dr. Harris suggests using the same fit-test on them at least twice a year.
“Kids’ sizes change so fast that parents have to be vigilant,” he said. “I do the thumb test on my kids at the start of every sport season. If their toes are smashing against the end of the shoe, they need a new pair.”
When someone says wine tours, you might immediately think Traverse City or Sutton Bay area, but probably not in your own backyard of Greater Grand Rapids.
For Kris Mathis and his wife Chawntrell, both avid wine drinkers and who have been on a number of wine tours, having just such a tour in Grand Rapids made sense.
“People were like how are you going to create this wine experience when there are no wineries?” Mathis said. “What we do have in Grand Rapids is a rich, diverse restaurant scene many of which serve an array of wines from all over the world.”
So Mathis decided to incorporate the restaurants into a wine tour that celebrates the city’s rich diversity of food and culture. The public quickly embraced the tours, which is appropriately called Raise A Glass Wine Tours. The popularity of these weekend events, many of which have sold out, has encouraged Mathis to expand to include a walking tour that makes stops at downtown’s House of Wine and Bar Divani.
No matter what tour you attend, Mathis said it is all about the experience and breaking down the barriers to wine tasting and enjoyment.
“People view wine tastings as you have to have a certain level of knowledge, which is not true,” Mathis said, adding that when people sign up for a Raise A Glass tour, they are asked about their level of knowledge along with if there are any food allergies.
“Often times when my wife and I would go to wine pairings or tours, we would be the only African-American couple in the room,” Mathis said. “I saw the tours as way to introduce more people into the world of wine where sometimes they feel like it is over their head.”
Mathis added that the ulitmate goal is to make everyone feel welcome enough to share their experiences and thoughts regardless of their expertise.
What to expect?
Recently Mathis and his wife were host to a media tour that was A Taste of Culture Dinner Tour. The program, which takes about four hours, includes three stops: Forty Acres Soul Kitchen, 1059 Wealthy St. SE; St. Julian Winery – Rockford Tasting Room, 4425 14 Mile Rd. NE; and House of Wine, 53 Monroe Center St. NW.
The entire venture is like a progressive-style meal with the first having appetizers, the second, a small plate meal, and the third, dessert. All the pairings were small plates and to be honest, all the restaurant hosts offered more than just what was on the menu. In fact, owners and representatives were on hand to talk about the food and wines, answer questions, and discuss trends in the industry.
Kris Mathis and his wife Chawntrell
Forty Acres Soul Kitchen Chef Trimell Hawkins
Salmon Chowder Soup at Forty Acres Soul Kitchen
Earl Stevens’ Tropiscato at Forty Acres Soul Kitchen
Nashville Hot Chicken at Forty Acres Soul Kitchen
Meochia Thompson and her daughter Disha Roddy at Forty Acres Soul Kitchen
Our hosts from Here.To.Serve, a local hospitality company, commented on how much they love going to Forty Acres because the experience is never the same. In fact, Holland-raised Chef Trimell Hawkins delivered an incredible sampling of food from a watermelon salad to Nashville Hot Chicken (which I did not know you could get in Grand Rapids).
Co-owner Lewis Williams came to the table to talk about the night’s presentation which he said focused on traditional African-American soul food that has been upscaled paired with wines from African-American-owned wineries such as Earl Stevens, better known as rapper E-40, who had a twist on the moscato called Tropiscato.
St. Julian Winery offers more than just wine.
Cheers with the A&G Reserve brandy
Guest Becky DeYoung and Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
St. Julian Winery is a familiar name to many Michigan residents having operated in the Paw Paw area for almost 100 years. More recently, the winery entered into a joint venture with Flo’s Wood Fired Pizza and thus the tasting room in Rockford was opened last year. Brushetta, Caponata (an eggplant dip) and cheese bread from Flo’s menu were paired with wines from St. Julian which included a Pinot Grigio, Michcato, and Red Sangria.
Another item people may not know is that St. Julian also has its own line of spirits, A&G Reserve, which has been aged in Hungarian and French barrels. The winery also has a line of ciders.
Tucked neatly along Monroe Center, House of Wine is a father-daughter team of Jim and Emily Lynch. Opened in December 2018, House of Wine offers more than 70 wines that are from Michigan and beyond. The reason for the range is to allow patrons to discover what they like and to be able to venture out of their confront zone.
For us, it was samplings of a Canard Duchene Champagne, a Chateau de Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc, and a Napa Valley Quilt Cabernet Sauvignon paired with a three-generation recipe cheesecake — all of which made for a nice conclusion to the evening.
Kris Mathis with WKTV host Meochia Thompson, WKTV Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma and Becky DeYoung (Sam Cooper Photography)
Wrap Up
The tours are all inclusive so the $129.99 per person covers all the wine tasting fees, six different wine tastings, dinner small plates at each location, a wine tour guide and gratuity along with some other amenities. The walking tour, which is $74.99, includes the same amenities except there is no transportation as you walk to the different locations. To contact Raise A Glass Wine Tours, visit raiseaglasstours.com.
Mathis said expansion is definitely in the future which is mostly focused on building the brand of Raise Your Glass. He has no intention of moving into beer, a market that has a number of tour and tasting opportunities. He also noted that beer and cider changes the tour and he wants to continue to provide that luxury experience (which includes a Mercedes 12-seat bus) for people to explore wine and its many facets.
And in a city that is known for its beer, it is nice to know there is another option that celebrates the state’s long history of wine making by not only presenting Michigan wines but expanding upon it to give residents a better understanding of the global affair with wine.
You use your hands nearly every minute of the day, so any time they hurt it’s important to find out why.
Certain conditions can affect people who do the same hand movements for hours every day. Repetitive strain injury can cause pain in muscles, nerves and tendons.
Carpal tunnel syndrome swelling compresses a key nerve. The lesser known de Quervain’s tenosynovitis typically affects tendons on the inner sides of the wrist.
An autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis often causes joint pain. Without treatment, it can lead to deformities in your hands. The wrist and finger joints are common targets of osteoarthritis, which occurs over time from normal wear-and-tear.
Treatment might start with an over-the-counter or prescription NSAID to temporarily relieve pain, but their long-term use has been linked to side effects such as liver or kidney damage and elevated heart attack risk.
Stronger medications may be needed to stop a degenerative disease like rheumatoid arthritis. Corticosteroid injections are an occasional option to reduce inflammation.
Heat can ease stiffness while a cold pack can relieve soreness.
If you have a chronic condition, an occupational therapist can teach you how to limit stress on joints when using your hands. During a flare, he or she might suggest a splint to stabilize your hand.
Sometimes surgery is needed.
Dupuytren’s contracture, a thickening under the skin on the palm of the hand, can develop into firm lumps that cause fingers to bend inward. Unless lumps are removed early, it may be impossible to straighten fingers later on. If other options don’t help carpal tunnel and de Quervain’s, surgery might be the answer.
Many conditions worsen without appropriate treatment, so don’t delay in seeing your doctor or a hand specialist.
Rosanne Cash and her husband, musician/composer John Leventhal in concert. (Supplied by the artist)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
The pending arrival of September means the busy October beginning of St. Cecilia Music Center’s 2019-20 concert season is just a few weeks away. And while the impressive Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and jazz series lineups have been set and on sale for months, there have been two recent additions the Acoustic Café Folk Series you might have missed.
The Infamous Stringdusters. (Supplied/Aaron Farrington)
After a busy October for the folk series — with Lee Ann Womack opening the fall season on Oct. 3 followed by an encore visit by Judy Collins on Oct. 20 — the folk series has added nights with The Infamous Stringdusters and Rosanne Cash to an already busy February 2020 folk feast on the Royce Auditorium stage.
After the Stringdusters on Feb. 6 and Cash on Feb. 20, Chris Thile will visit on Feb. 25 and Raul Midón on Feb. 27 — and doesn’t a night of folk music sound perfect for a midwinter escape from the weather?
St. Cecilia also says “additional folk series concerts may be announced for the 2019/2020 season.”
While the Stringdusters are a good get for St. Cecilia, the addition of Rosanne Cash is a sure sell-out.
“We are delighted to feature Rosanne Cash and her husband, musician/composer John Leventhal in concert,” Cathy Holbrook, St. Cecilia Music Center executive director, said in supplied material. “With both of their many achievements and personal work together, this will be a very special evening.”
Cash is touring in support of her most recent release, “She Remembers Everything”, which is described as “a poetic, lush and soulful collection of songs of personal songwriting and reflection.”
Rosanne Cash (Supplied by the artist)
“There is a woman’s real life, complex experiences and layered understanding, in these songs,” Cash said in supplied material. “I could not have written them 10 years ago …time is shorter, I have more to say.”
“She Remembers Everything” was produced by collaborator and husband Leventhal and Tucker Martine (who has worked with The Decembrists, My Morning Jacket, Mavis Staples, Neko Case).
One of the country’s pre-eminent singer/songwriters, Cash has released 15 albums of that have earned 4 Grammy Awards and 11 nominations, as well as 21 top 40 hits, including 11 No. 1 singles. In 2015, she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. She also currently writing the lyrics for a musical “Norma Rae” with Leventhal serving as composer and John Weidman as book writer. (More about the artist at rosannecash.com .)
In addition to the folk series, the jazz series will open in October as well, with Fred Hersch featuring special guest Julian Lage coming on Oct. 17, followed in the new year by Emmet Cohen’s Master Legacy Series featuring Benny Golson on Jan. 16, Luciana Souza on March 5, and The Clayton Brothers — a must-hear for jazz fans — on April 16.
We will have to wait for November for St. Cecilia to raise the curtains on the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center series, with a program titled “Great Innovators” on Nov. 21. The final two concerts will be “French Enchantment” on Jan. 23 and “From Prague to Vienna” on April 30.
Tickets to all shows are still available and can be purchased by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224 or visiting the box office at 24 Ransom Ave. NE. Tickets can also be purchased online at scmc-online.org. Many concerts have a post-concert “Meet-the-artist” party with a cash bar will be offered to all ticket-holders.
