During a Presidents Day weekend closure, the Michigan Department of State will replace the outdated vehicle records system Secretary of State offices have used for decades with a modern computer system to better serve customers.
The Customer and Automotive Records System (CARS) will add new online options, improve existing online and kiosk services, and give staff a more efficient tool to process transactions.
New online options will include ordering license plates, renewing snowmobile registrations and ordering a Recreation Passport and replacement tab for a plate. Many transactions for auto dealers, repair facilities, mechanics and driver education instructors and providers also will be possible online.
During the upgrade, Secretary of State branch offices, online services and auto business transactions will be offline and unavailable from 5pm Friday, Feb. 15, until 9am Tuesday, Feb. 19. Self-service kiosks will be taken offline in phases beginning Friday, Feb. 8. The seven Super Centers usually open Saturday will be closed Saturday, Feb. 16. All branches will be closed on Presidents Day (Monday, Feb. 18).
For a few weeks, as staff gets accustomed to the new computer system, service in offices may take longer. Customers are encouraged to use CARS e-Services at ExpressSOS.com or to complete their transactions outside this timeframe.
Late fees will be waived for transactions with expiration dates between Feb. 11 and March 2.
“This is a vital project for our department and its millions of customers and the first step in implementing our 30-minute guarantee,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said. “When fully implemented, the new system will transform our technology, making our work more efficient and our service to customers better than before.”
After the vehicle records phase, the driver records system will be replaced over the next two years.
Are you ready for menopause? Or even perimenopause? The storm is coming, so now is the time to act to make it less of a tempest. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
So many women come to see me when they are experiencing what I call the Perfect Storm.
Their bodies are changing and they are faced with night sweats, increased belly fat, irritability, depression, lack of energy, irregular or heavy periods and decreased sex drive. That’s quite a list!
The Perfect Storm occurs when two fronts collide and cause havoc with your body.
The first front is caused by changing hormones, which then leads to an array of symptoms: night sweats, hot flashes, disturbed sleep, anxiety, irritability, decreased motivation and sex drive, and cravings of sweets and simple carbs. The second front is the change in your body chemistry, including changes in hormone levels.
The result? Good cholesterol levels go down, bad cholesterol goes up, insulin resistance increases, belly fat builds up and brain chemicals drop.
To more fully understand the Perfect Storm, it helps to know the three phases every woman goes through in adult life: reproductive phase, perimenopause and menopause.
Here’s a brief summary of each phase:
Reproductive phase—Many women in this phase feel normal and experience regular periods. This is the time we really don’t have to think about our hormones, and our body just makes sense. Toward the end of this phase, symptoms such as menstrual migraines, night sweats, mood changes and sugar cravings sometimes start. These symptoms are predictable and occur the three days before your period starts.
Perimenopause—This stage is sometimes referred to as midlife, and it’s also where the Perfect Storm occurs. Your periods start to become irregular, closer together and heavier, and symptoms like night sweats, sleep difficulties, mood changes and belly fat weight gain can become worse. You may even skip some periods and then begin having regular periods again.
Menopause—This phase means you haven’t had a period in 12 months—yeah! However, it’s important to note that if you go three months without a period and then you get one, the clock starts all over again. Approximately 80 percent of women experience symptoms during menopause, which typically last between two and five years after the start of menopause. The good news is that women who seem to handle the symptoms the best are the ones who continue to kept their weight in the healthy range, remain active, drink plenty of water and get plenty of sleep each night.
After menopause, it is very difficult to alter the course you are on, so if you want to weather your Perfect Storm and keep your symptoms in check, you need to make sure you are on a healthy path right now. What happens during the storm will determine the course of the rest of your life, so ask for the help you may need to sail through your Perfect Storm.
Recognizing and understanding typical team member behaviors – both positive and negative – is helpful to understand as a facilitator. These behaviors can affect team development and performance. Members of the team may exhibit these behaviors at varying times throughout the development cycle of the team. It is crucial that the facilitator model constructive behaviors to help the team reach its goals.
Groups that work well together develop a sense of trust, camaraderie and even synergy. In such groups, communication is open and honest, everyone contributes and people are excited about what they are accomplishing. Sometimes people with “challenging behaviors” can derail the work of a group and make synergy impossible. What are “challenging behaviors?” In groups or teams that have a shared purpose and some goals to accomplish, ‘challenging behaviors’ are those that make accomplishing goals difficult. They may distract, disrupt or get the group off track in some way, or contribute to difficult behaviors by either not participating or dominating the conversation.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers a Facilitator toolkit called “A Guide for helping groups get results.” The kit offers a comprehensive guide to tools, methods and techniques for assisting groups. The guide explains that sometimes it will be necessary to intervene with a particular individual or an entire team because of behavior or actions during team meetings. An intervention will include any statement, question or nonverbal behavior made by a facilitator that is designed to help the group.
The goal of any type of intervention is to maintain the group’s autonomy and to develop its long-term effectiveness. Eventually, the interventions used by a facilitator should decrease the group’s dependence on the facilitator.
An intervention is never an easy task, so it is important to recognize when to intervene and whether to intervene with an individual or the entire team. There is no set time or tried and true method for when or how to intervene, but the following are methods to deal with two of the most common issues that arise in groups; those that are silent and those that overly talkative.
Silence
Most groups include some people who are timid about sharing their opinions. They may feel unvalued, unsure of themselves or unfamiliar with the topic or process. Alternatively, they may just need time to listen, think, and formulate their thoughts. This may be a problem if they never feel comfortable sharing ideas.
Strategies:
Use an icebreaker that involves a lot of interaction.
Go round-robin in the group whenever appropriate, asking each person in turn to share a comment.
Ask the quiet person specific questions related to his or her expertise.
Distribute cards in advance for written anonymous input.
Give the group a few minutes to think silently before asking for responses to some questions or tasks.
Talkativeness
Some people talk a lot in groups, which may be a problem if they dominate discussions and don’t let others share their opinions freely. This can sometimes cause others to drop out, thus weakening the group and diminishing its chances of success. Getting through an agenda and making decisions can also be difficult.
Strategies:
Establish and enforce ground rules. Some helpful rules are: keep comments brief; balance participation; listen more than you talk; or, you can speak a second time after everyone has spoken once.
Interrupt the talker and offer to talk to him or her more after the meeting.
Put a time limit on each person’s comments for each topic, and enforce it. It may help to ask someone else to be the timekeeper.
Ask people to raise their hands to speak.
Talk to the person privately and explain that you would like to get more people participating.
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).
When Dr. Jen first laid eyes on Chococat back in mid-November of 2018, she immediately noticed that the kitty was in desperate need of medical care. A volunteer had come across him a few weeks prior and made work of catching and getting him in to safety, but it was clear that this middle-aged man (best guess is that he was born sometime in 2012) had survived an extremely troubling existence prior to the kindness we were finally able to show him. Not only was he profoundly underweight and intact, he was suffering from significant dental disease involving his three remaining teeth (he now has none left) that caused a fistula to form in between his oral and nasal cavity; the smell was horrendous and we can’t even fathom the discomfort he had been in.
He was also beyond filthy, had ingrown/abscessed thumbnails and a nasty bilateral ear infection; to top things off he tested a very strong positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). And, due to the lack of care and compassion he was shown on the streets, poor Chococat was terrified of human contact. In fact, he was so painfully shy that as Dr. Jen treated his laundry list of ailments and tried to interact with him (while he recovered at the clinic), she decided it was in his best interest to be fostered by his rescuer until he could settle in a bit more. Clearly indoor life was completely foreign to him.
So the rescuer took the poor guy home and set him up in his own room, where she spent as much time as possible trying to get him used to the fact that the hands that were feeding him were gentle and generous. After almost two months, it was time to introduce him to the other cats and volunteers at Big Sid’s, as the only way he was going to come out of his cocoon is if we forced him ever so tenderly to do so.
Currently, Chococat still prefers to keep to himself. He is oftentimes found in the shadows, hunkered down where no one can see him, BUT recently we have caught glimpses of him out napping on one of our toddler beds during broad daylight!
Dr. Jen asked her cat care team to offer up their observations of his progress thus far and what they feel would be ideal for him:
“Chococat is still terribly shy and fearful of humans. Honestly, I’m not sure he will ever be a cat that enjoys interaction with people. However, he is getting more and more comfortable in the shelter every day and I think he is enjoying being inside. He is slowly learning not to be afraid of the other cats, but he still doesn’t like it when they get too close. Chococat’s ideal home will give him plenty of space for as long as he needs and his owners need to be okay with the possibility of him never willingly interacting with them. I would love to see him with at least a couple other cats that can teach him not to be so fearful of humans.”
“Chococat — I hope so badly that the right person comes along and sees his potential and that all he needs is lots of patience, understanding, and his own space. I honestly think he’d eventually see that being inside, having endless bowls of wet food, and having his very own trusted human is not so bad after all. Seeing him going from room to room is unbelievable compared to hiding backwards in a teepee scared of his own shadow. He’s finding out that we aren’t so bad, and in time I just know he will be hanging out with his friends more. He’s a very handsome guy with the softest Angora-like fur.
“I noticed just tonight that if you approach him and speak very quietly without touching him he will allow you to put his food down without hissing or swatting. It’s progress. I would love to see him on a home with one or two other cats. No dogs! The perfect human would be one that looks past his current disposition and is willing to be there daily with him to build up his trust.”
So there you have it: Chococat’s sordid history as we know it and the baby steps he is making towards a better life for himself. With our help, we are praying we can assist him in making slow and steady strides over time, because if anyone deserves all the best life has to offer, it is this toothless, timid soul. And since he has no choppers, there is absolutely no risk of him transmitting FIV to another cat, so we can hook him up with a buddy or two hopefully, as we firmly believe there is power and strength in numbers.
More about Chococat:
Medium
Domestic Medium Hair — Black & White/Tuxedo
Adult
Male
House-trained
FIV-positive
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Not declawed
Very timid; prefers a home without dogs or children
Want to adopt Chocacat? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To
take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids
area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming,
no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be
found.
At its best, America is a place of welcome for the oppressed and homeless of the world. A great example of this welcome is the vocational English program for Bhutanese refugees in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Krishna Bista, a Bhutanese volunteer educator, joins Minnie Morey, President of the West Michigan Asian American Association, to share the details.
The increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also causes ragweed to produce more pollen, so these plants are becoming more potent. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
If you live in the north and you’ve never experienced hay fever, new research predicts that climate change has an unwelcome surprise in store for you.
Warmer temperatures in the northern United States will allow ragweed—the plant that triggers hay fever—to flourish in areas it’s never been before. About 35 years from now, the study predicts, ragweed will be found in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and upstate New York.
But the news isn’t all bad. Folks sneezing due to ragweed in the southern United States should get some relief as the temperatures get too warm for ragweed to grow well.
Ragweed will decline substantially in central Florida, northeastern Virginia and the southern Appalachian Mountains, according to the researchers.
“Ragweed is a major cause of allergies and asthma. Climate change will make some areas worse for ragweed, and some areas may get better,” said Michael Case, of The Nature Conservancy. He co-authored the study when he was a postdoctoral researcher at the school of environmental and forest sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Ragweed is a native North American plant. It produces a lot of fine, powdery pollen from August to November. This pollen causes symptoms in people who are allergic to ragweed, including sneezing, watery eyes, itchy throat, runny nose and headaches, the researchers said.
Case and his co-author, Kristina Stinson, an assistant professor of plant ecology at UMass Amherst, created a model that included data on hundreds of areas with ragweed today, along with the conditions that allow ragweed to thrive.
The researchers then added information from 13 global climate-prediction models. These models were developed using two different pathways of potential greenhouse gas emissions.
When all of this information was combined, the new model predicted the northward creep of ragweed.
After that—from the 2050s to the 2070s—areas with ragweed may see a slight contraction. The researchers said this is because temperatures and precipitation may become more variable.
The study authors pointed out that their model was not designed to know if ragweed could become a problem as far north as Canada or further west in the United States because their model didn’t have information on those areas.
Marian Glenn, an emeritus professor in the department of biological sciences at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., reviewed the findings.
“This is another example of plants that are migrating north as the climate warms. This is happening with viruses and diseases that are considered tropical, now that the agents that cause those diseases can survive through winter,” she said.
“The increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also causes ragweed to produce more pollen, so these plants are becoming more potent,” Glenn explained.
And that means climate change will make ragweed season longer and more aggravating for allergy sufferers, she added.
Case agreed that ragweed season will probably last longer. And ragweed isn’t the only plant affected.
“Climate change is extending the growing season for everything,” he said. However, because ragweed is abundant, it made it possible to study that one particular plant.
Case said the study has practical implications. For example, weed control boards should now be aware that they might have to start monitoring for ragweed. And allergy sufferers and their doctors also need to be aware that ragweed may start becoming a problem in areas that haven’t seen it before.
The findings were published online recently in the journal PLOS One.
Move over, Florida! The American Midwest may be the next hot retirement destination. With beautiful scenery, affordable costs of living, and great quality of life, this underappreciated region is a great place to spend your retirement.
The Midwest is officially made up of twelve states, though Midwestern opinions vary on which states make the cut. According to the US Census Bureau, however, the region consists of both Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio.
Cost of Living
The Midwest far and away dominated other regions of the US in the category of financial stability and cost of living in LPL Research’s 2017 Retirement Environment Index. Michigan, in particular, experienced a huge improvement in its rank as a retirement destination, jumping from 19th to 2nd best state for soon-to-be retirees. This is due in large part to median income rising well above the national average and a lower tax burden in the face of rising taxes across the country.
The accessibility and affordability of healthcare is an incredibly important consideration as people age, and cities in the Midwest are quickly establishing themselves as centers for medical innovation. From Cleveland, Ohio, which has been ranked first in the nation for access to healthcare, to the centers for medical research in Ann Arbor, to the “Medical Mile” of Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Great Lakes region is becoming a hub of great healthcare.
Climate and Landscape
In the wider imagination of the country, the Midwest doesn’t have the best reputation for breathtaking scenery and beautiful weather. While there’s some truth to the stereotypical image of farmland stretching to the horizon and frozen winters, these states have so much more to offer. In the space of a few states, you can experience vast mixed forests, miles of beaches, golden plains, mountain foothills, river basins, and waterfalls. Long traditions of outdoorsmanship make Midwestern states popular vacation destinations for any number of outdoor sports, and actually living there makes it so much easier to get active.
While it’s true that Midwestern winters can be arduous, residents relish in the ability to experience four distinct seasons, each beautiful in their own way. Spring thaws bring fresh air and wildflowers, summers are hot but never sweltering, and falls are defined by bright, warm colors and perfect sweater weather. And for winter sportspeople, waking up to a sunlight on a fresh layer of powder is always a beautiful sight.
Overall Quality of Life
Aside from all the financial and logistical considerations, the Midwest is just a great place to live. A psychological study on personality variation in different regions of the United States found that the Midwest was just plain friendlier than other areas. The researchers who conducted this study of over 1.6 million Americans defined “friendliness” as displaying traits of sociability, consideration, and a sense of duty. Though the South gets more lip service, this report could not be better for a region prides itself on its hospitality.
All of this bodes well for soon-to-be retirees who already have roots in the Midwest, as spending more time with family is a popular aspiration for retirement. For people who are deeply connected with their family members, moving away for retirement means less time with children and grandchildren. The overall quality of the Midwest as a retirement location means that the decision doesn’t need to be difficult.
Before Jimmy King was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (a developmental disorder on the Autism spectrum), his parents knew only that he was different from other kids.
“I was a bit shy and didn’t interact with others much,” said King. “I always had my head in a book and didn’t pick up on social or nonverbal cues.”
If King’s parents wanted him to go to his room, they would point, and he’d think, “Yeah, that’s my room,” but didn’t realize that he was actually supposed to go there.
Idioms were beyond his comprehension.
“Someone would say, ‘It’s raining cats and dogs,’ and I’d sit by the window and watch for the cats and dogs.”
When the animals failed to appear, King became very disappointed and depressed. Embarrassed, too. A small embarrassment may mean very little to most people, but it can cause someone with Asperger’s to cry uncontrollably and turn inward.
Before King was diagnosed, his parents didn’t treat him any differently than his two brothers. And that would frustrate them because of his lack of social cues.
“Looking people in the eye was always a struggle for me,” said King. “It was nerve-wracking. Talking in public was difficult; I would talk in hushed tones.”
It took a lot of work with para-educators as well as speech therapy and IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) to get him to where he is today — a confident young man who works as a dietary aide at a nursing home and who is pursuing a second career in acting.
“Once in a while, I’ll go back to being unsociable,” said King. “Mostly I’ve overcome those obstacles. I look people in the eye now, talk to people calmly. I’m a happier person. I feel like I’m just a regular person.
“But no matter how normal I might feel, Asperger’s will always be a part of me.”
As children, neither musician was interested in studying stringed instruments, much less classical music. Baptiste, who wanted to study the saxophone, told NPR he ended up in the string section due to a bet between two teachers. The duo, who are Black Violin, are set to perform at the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Symphony with Soul Feb. 18 concert. Read more here.
Waiting by the window for the cats and dogs to come raining down
Before Jimmy King was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (a developmental disorder on the Autism spectrum), his parents knew only that he was different from other kids. Read King’s story here.
And all that jazz…
Xavier Davis
Pianist Xavier Davis will be the featured artist during a concert Sunday, Feb. 10, at 3 p.m., at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St. NE. Tickets are $15 general admission and $5 for students with ID, on-line or at the door. More info here.
Fun fact:
No kneecaps = no jumping.
Elephants are the only land mammals that cannot jump. Unlike all other mammals on earth (well, except for maybe whales and dolphins), elephants do not have kneecaps. Therefore, they are unable to bend their legs and acquire the needed propulsion to leave the ground.
Is it a common cold, or something more? Listening closely to your child’s cough can help you decide if it’s time to seek a doctor. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
It may be croup, a viral illness that causes swelling and inflammation of the vocal cords. The cough sounds like a bark and it may also be accompanied by stridor—a harsh, high-pitched wheeze—when your child breathes in.
Whooping
It may be pertussis. Commonly known as whooping cough, pertussis is a contagious respiratory illness that can cause coughing fits in which children are forced to inhale with a loud “whooping” sound as they gasp for breath.
Staccato
A repetitive cough with short, staccato sounds is a characteristic sign of the lung infection chlamydial pneumonia, especially in infants.
Dry
A persistent, dry cough may be a symptom of asthma, a disease affecting the lungs.
Wet
The common cold often produces a wet, productive-sounding cough with mucus or phlegm behind it.
Although it may go against your parental instincts, Dr. McGee advises caregivers to resist the temptation to medicate children with a cough suppressant. Doing so, he warns, may do more harm than good in most cases.
But parents should also know when enough is enough.
“If your child has had a persistent cough for a week or more, don’t just write it off as the common cold,” Dr. McGee said. “Make an appointment with a pediatrician to determine if something else is going on.”
Seek immediate medical help if your child appears ill and is working hard to breathe, he said.
Here’s welcome news for parents tired of forcing their kids to take a daily bath: Children may not need to bathe every day after all.
That’s the word from Dr. Robert Sidbury, an associate professor with the department of pediatrics and division chief of dermatology at the University of Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis.
“Depending on their age and activity level, most children only need a bath a few times a week,” Sidbury said in a news release from the American Academy of Dermatology. “For children, a few germs here and there are healthy, as this is how their bodies learn to fight off bacteria and build stronger immune systems.”
Sidbury provides these recommendations about bathing for kids:
If a child is aged 6 to 11, only two or three baths a week may be needed, and shampooing is necessary just once or twice a week. Black children or kids of any age with dry or curly hair only need to shampoo once every seven to 10 days.
Special circumstances require more bathing: Kids should take a bath and wash their hair when they get dirty, after they’ve been in an ocean or lake, or when they get sweaty or show signs of body odor.
When kids hit puberty, they should start taking a shower every day. It’s a good idea for them to shampoo their hair every day or every other day, and to wash their faces twice a day to get rid of dirt and oil. Black children and those with dry or curly hair can continue to shampoo their hair every seven to 10 days after the age of 12.
Kids don’t usually need to use conditioners since they’re designed to help dry and damaged hair. But conditioner—applied to the body and ends of hair, not the scalp—can help prevent tangles in kids with long, wavy or curly hair.
“While these guidelines work well for most children, every child is different,” Sidbury said. “If your child continues to have body odor, or if your child’s hair or scalp seem too oily or dry after following these guidelines, see a board-certified dermatologist.”
He also cautioned that kids with skin conditions such as eczema should follow the bathing recommendations of their dermatologist.
Extreme cold has come to West Michigan and will be a regular visitor this winter.
Parents should take extra precautions when sending young children outdoors for any length of time, and that means learning the warning signs of hypothermia and frostbite.
Parents need to know how to prevent extreme cold weather exposure and be ready to respond appropriately to problems, said Jennifer Hoekstra, an injury prevention program coordinator with Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
“Children don’t realize they can get in trouble quickly when they are out in temperatures close to or below zero,” she said.
Clothing
Problems arise when infants and children are not dressed properly, Hoekstra said. Make sure they’re dressed in several thin layers to stay warm and dry. Adequate outdoor clothing includes thermal long johns, turtlenecks, at least one shirt, pants, sweater, coat, warm socks, boots, gloves or mittens and a hat.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia develops when a child’s temperature falls below normal due to exposure. It often happens when children are outdoors in extremely cold weather without proper clothing or when their clothes get wet. If your child shivers and becomes lethargic and clumsy, hypothermia may be setting in. Your child’s speech also may become slurred.
Call 911 immediately if you suspect your child is hypothermic. Until help arrives, take children indoors, remove any wet clothing and wrap them in blankets or warm clothes.
Frostbite
Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen. This condition tends to happen on extremities like the fingers, toes, ears and nose. Watch for extremities that may become pale, gray and blistered. Children may complain that their skin burns or has become numb.
Here’s what to do if your children show signs of frostbite:
Bring children indoors and place the frostbitten parts of their bodies in warm water.
Apply warm washcloths to frostbitten noses, ears and lips.
Do not rub the frozen areas or use a heating pad.
After a few minutes, dry and cover children with clothing or blankets.
Give them something warm to drink.
If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, call your doctor.
When the temperatures drop low, “the best advice is to keep your children inside and busy with indoor activities,” Hoekstra said. Same goes for your furbabies, too.
In 2014, only about 11% of adults aged 65 and older were covered by a long-term care insurance policy. Compared to the 52.3% of seniors who will require long-term care at some point during their retirement, retirees are underprepared for covering costs. But as people age, long-term care (LTC) coverage becomes cost prohibitive, which leaves seniors and their families wondering: “Where do we find the money to cover assisted living?” Here are five financial assistance and funding options to consider.
1. Life Insurance Conversions
Many people don’t realize that their life insurance is a financial asset that may benefit them today. If your loved one owns life insurance they no longer need, or premiums have become too expensive to justify the benefit, converting their life insurance policies into long-term care funds can help you cover assisted living costs.
This can be done in several ways. First, you can check with your insurance agent about the possibility of cashing in your policy, or receiving accelerated or “living” benefits. These are all different terms for the same process: the insurance provider will buy back the policy for a portion of its value (usually around 50-75%) so that the policyholder can apply those funds to long-term care or medical expenses. Some providers only cash in policies for policyholders who are terminally ill, while others are more flexible.
Another option is converting a life insurance policy to a “life assurance” benefit. This allows you to switch a life insurance benefit into regular long-term care payments, which can go towards all forms of LTC and senior housing.
2. VA Aid & Attendance Benefit
If your loved one is a veteran, they may be eligible for benefits that help to pay for long-term care and housing.
The Veterans’ Administration offers a special pension with Aid and Attendance (A&A) benefit that is largely unknown and often overlooked by wartime veterans and their families. Paid on top of a wartime veteran’s monthly pension, the A&A benefit allows for Veterans and surviving spouses who require assisted living additional monetary benefits. Most Veterans who are in need of assistance qualify for this pension. Aid and Attendance can help pay for care in the home, in a nursing home, or in an assisted living facility. While the amount you can expect from the benefit varies, the average is a maximum benefit is $1,949 a month for married veterans, $1,644 for single veterans and $1,056 for a surviving spouse.
Costs related to senior living at an assisted living community may be tax deductible for both the community member and their family caregiver if they meet the Internal Revenue Service requirements. This article from the AARP has more information.
There are several ways for your loved one to leverage their home to help pay for assisted living. While it may not be the preferred method, selling the home outright can help to cover a significant portion of the cost of assisted living. Another way for seniors to access their home equity is through a reverse mortgage. While this does require the homeowner to live in their home as a permanent residence, it can make sense in certain cases. For instance, if one spouse is able to live independently but the other requires memory care, a reverse mortgage can help the borrowing spouse pay for their partner’s long-term care.
If home equity accounts for a large portion of their net worth, however, seniors and their families should consider opting for a less immediate strategy. Converting the home to a long-term rental property, for example, gives you and your loved one access to steady income that can be put towards long-term care. However, managing a rental property does take quite a bit of work, and will affect your property taxes, so it’s not a decision to be taken lightly.
5. PACE
PACE, or Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, is a Medicare and Medicaid program that helps seniors get the care they need. To be eligible for the PACE program, you must:
Be age 55 or older
Live in the service area of a PACE program
Require a high level of care (varies by state)
PACE is only available in certain areas, such as PACE of Southwest Michigan, and eligibility may vary by area. You can check here to see there’s a PACE program near you.
Cost shouldn’t hold your loved one back from receiving the care they need and the life they want. Check with your financial and tax advisors to see what strategies make sense for you, or contact a Vista Springs community today.
The Northrup Grumman Cygnus CRS-10 Cargo Craft will depart for the International Space Station Feb. 8. (NASA)
By Kelly Taylor WKTV
Tune in to WKTV Government 26 for the upcoming special programming events from NASA TV. On Friday, Feb. 8, WKTV will be featuring the departure of the Northrup Grumman Cygnus CRS-10 Cargo Craft from the International Space Station.
Live coverage will begin at 10:45 a.m., with the departure scheduled for 11:10 a.m.
After it’s release from the ISS, the Cygnus Cargo Craft will stay in space for two weeks, deploying various satellites at various altitudes to provide increased commercial access to space and demonstrate technology advancements.
Cygnus is scheduled to deorbit on Monday, Feb. 25, and enter the Earth’s atmosphere, where it will burn up harmlessly over the Pacific Ocean.
To learn more about the International Space Station, it’s crews and it’s research, visit www.nasa.gov/station. NASA TV can be seen on the WKTV 26 Government Channel on Comcast and AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99.
For some it is curling up with a good book. For others, its having a pint of beer. Both are excellent ways to power through the winter days and thanks to the Kent District Library, you can enjoy both at its Third Annual KDaLe Tap Takeover set for Friday, Feb. 8, at Horrocks Market, 4455 Breton Rd. SE. The event is from 5 – 8 p.m.
KDL teamed up with several local breweries that each have designed a “book themed” beer. The purpose of the event is to help create awareness about KDL and the local branches which include the one in Wyoming and in Kentwood. Brewers and brewery owners will be at the event to swap stories with patrons.
The local breweries and their book-themed beer are:
“Let me start with the story of a little girl from Alabama,” said Houston METRO Police Chief Vera Bumpers to more than 150 attendees at the 12th annual Grand Rapids Legacy Luncheon on Feb. 5 at New Hope Baptist Church.
“This little girl would travel in the car with her family and during those travels they would be stopped by police officers,” she said. “During those travels, they would be hungry or need to go to the bathroom and their father would stop and ask if they could use the bathroom, and the people would say ’no.’
“And one day, the little girl finally asked her father why he did not stand up against these people and the officers and he said ‘because I needed to protect my family.’”
Houston METRO Chief Vera Bumpers with JA PR Group’s Jessica Ann Tyson.
Looking back at this story – her story – Bumpers said she believes it was the reason why she chose the career path she did – law enforcement. She broke barriers becoming the first African-American female on the Houston METRO Transit Authority Police Department, the largest and oldest transit law enforcement agency in Texas. This paved the way to her becoming METRO’s first female to attain the ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Assistant Chief. Two weeks after being named Assistant Chief, Bumpers would break the brass ceiling, being named as Chief, the first African American female to serve in this role.
Her reason for following that career path is her belief that the interactions between law officials and the public were important. She created the cooperative urban policing which includes strategies on addressing innate bias, peer accountability and law enforcement responsibility. She has become a sought out speaker about the program.
“We all have the responsibility that there is equity in the treatment of everyone,” Bumpers said to the crowd. “We all owe that to the next generation.”
This belief is also the reason why she joined the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), which she was inducted as the organizations 42nd president this past August. Started in 1976, NOBLE was founding on the idea that black law enforcement executives could have a significantly more effective impact on the criminal justice system through a unified voice. Today, the organization serves as the conscience of the law enforcement by being committed to Justice by Action. NOBLE has nearly 60 chapters — including the West Michigan NOBLE Chapter — representing more than 3,000 members worldwide. Bumpers said membership is open to both law enforcement officials and civilians. For more on NOBLE, click here.
Bumpers served as the keynote speaker to the annual luncheon, hosted by Kentwood’s JA PR Group. The luncheon is a tribute to Black History Month. The annual event commemorates the scholarship recipients, recognize community leaders and celebrates the community. The Legacy Events has awarded more than $110,000 to students in scholarships across the State of Michigan.
This year, at the Legacy Luncheon, a check of $1,500 was presented to the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund of the Michigan Education Trust. According to Michigan Education Trust Executive Director Robin R. Lott, the Fostering Futures Scholarship assists former foster care students with college expenses. The fund recently was added to the list of charitable organizations that residents can donate their tax refunds to, Lott noted, adding that there is a fundraising luncheon for the fund set for June 26 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.
Serving as masters of ceremony were Jeremiah White Jr. and Lee Stephen of “The Afternoon Throw Down Show” on Magic 104.9. Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley and Our Daily Bread Ministries Pastor and Manager of North American Outreach Clarkston Morgan offered the prayer and Kentwood’s The Candid Yam provided the lunch.
With a focus on safety, power restoration work is underway after an overnight ice storm cut power to approximately 50,000 West Michigan Consumers Energy customers – including residents in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood – and created slick and hazardous conditions across the state.
Crews are assessing damage, securing downed wires to make them safe and beginning the power restoration process. The public is reminded to stay at least 25 feet away from downed wires and anything they are touching and to call 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
“We appreciate our customers’ patience as we make situations safe and begin restoring power,” said Guy Packard, Consumers Energy vice president of electric operations. “Safety of the public and our crews is our utmost importance.”
As of 11 a.m., 52,500 Consumers Energy customers were without power. Since 1 a.m. Wednesday, approximately 63,000 customers have been affected. Some customers who lost power overnight may not have their service restored until late Thursday night. With additional winter weather expected over the next two days, additional outages are possible, Packard said.
From damage assessors to call center representatives and lineworkers, more than 1,100 Consumers Energy employees and contractors are engaged in the restoration efforts. Twenty mutual assistance crews are headed to Michigan from Kentucky and other Consumers Energy crews from around the state are being deployed to the hardest hit areas.
Consumers Energy urges the public to keep tips in mind:
Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and keep children and pets away. Call 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050 to report them.
Be alert to utility crews working along roads. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they safely can go past workers on roadsides.
Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas.
Call 2-1-1 if you are looking for help connecting to temporary shelter or other resources that offer assistance in your community. 2-1-1 is a free statewide service.
Customers can also report an outage, check the status of an outage and get useful tips what to do after a storm by visiting www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter.
Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
(NOTE: This is an excerpt of the original story. For the complete article, click here.)
As classes resume this week, principals and teachers are scrambling to make up for lost instruction time.
Districts are required to provide 180 days and 1,098 hours of instruction time. If they fall short they will not receive their full state funding from the School Aid Fund. But they are automatically forgiven six snow days, and up to an additional three upon applying for a waiver, for circumstances beyond their control such as storms, fires and health issues.
In Rockford, last week’s five missed days — followed by this week’s ice storm — put the district’s total of closed days for the year at 11, counting days missed for extreme heat last August and for a power outage. That means Rockford has already surpassed the state’s legal limit for missed instruction days. Lowell has also had 11 snow days.
Rockford Superintendent Michael Shibler said he is talking with other superintendents in Kent County to craft a request for legislators to provide additional relief from the snow-day regulations, so districts don’t have to extend the school year further into June. Rockford and several other Kent ISD districts end June 7, while others end the last week of May.
Grand Rapids Public Schools has used eight snow days and will likely join other districts in asking for legislative relief, said spokesman John Helmholdt. Forest Hills has used nine.
Michael Shibler
Asking Snow Forgiveness
There is precedent for such relief, Shibler said, citing the 2013-14 school year when, following a winter in which districts missed an average of 9 ½ days. At that time, the Legislature and Gov. Rick Snyder allowed districts to add more minutes on to existing daysrather than schedule additional days. Given the unusual nature of last week’s storm, Shibler said it’s reasonable to ask for additional snow days to be forgiven.
“This is the first time I’m aware of that we’ve even used our six (allowed) days,” said Shibler, noting he’ll be requesting the additional three allowed by law. Even then, Rockford will need more relief because it has canceled school the maximum of nine times, he said.
Further, he doesn’t want to add more days beyond the district’s scheduled end date. Many families have already scheduled vacations, students have lined up summer jobs, and Shibler said he doesn’t want to have to cancel classes due to extreme heat as he did last August. Most Rockford buildings are not air-conditioned.
“I am going to be asking our state legislators to craft legislation to provide relief, and ask that the governor would sign that,” Shibler said.
Other school leaders are working on similar requests, said Chris Glass, lobbyist for the West Michigan Talent Triangle.
“I am hearing a common call for relief from my colleagues across the state,” Glass said. “The Michigan Association of School Administrators have also sent out communication to the superintendents across the state indicating they’re working on this as well.”
Although it’s too early to have received formal requests, “interest in forgiven days is high,” said William DiSessa, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Education. While districts may add time to each day to meet the instruction requirements, he added, the state recommends adding days, “because adding a few minutes at the end of each remaining day may not result in added learning by students.”
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 certainly have a lot of gorgeous guys here at our sanctuary, but magnificent Marcellus (born in late 2015) is by far one of THE CUTEST cats around! We were fortunate enough to have been contacted by Dr. Paula Sauer from Schoolcraft Veterinary Clinic in December of 2018, when a client of hers brought this adorable stray cat that turned out to be FIV+. So she and her team took him in and gave him all of the necessary veterinary care (including neutering him) and contacted Dr. Jen to see if we perhaps had a space for this fantastic feline. On December 11th she drove him on up to the clinic, where he and Dr. Jen spent a few days getting to know each other.
Marcellus is an absolute doll, as darling as they come and as sweet as pie. More than likely he was the victim of unfortunate circumstance while he was out fending for himself and got bit by an infected cat; he is a faint positive for the virus. Although initially he was on the timid side, it didn’t take long for this magnificent specimen of a cat to find his brave side once down at Big Sid’s.
More about Marcellus:
Large
Medium coat length; Orange & white
Adult
Male
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
FIV+
Not declawed
Prefers a home without dogs, children
Want to adopt Marcellus? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
Car seats and boosters can save lives. Just ask this family – The Smith kids, Olivia (4), Blake and Evan (1) get ready for a road trip. The Smith family, Ben and Janna, and kids Olivia, Blake and Evan, 1. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
In 2011, Janna Smith was riding in the back seat of the car with 4-month-old daughter, Olivia. Her husband, Ben, was driving when they were hit broadside by another car. The impact took place on Olivia’s side.
“I could see the base and carrier of Olivia’s car seat move slightly with the impact but then return to its original position, which was exactly what it was designed to do in an accident,” Janna explained.
While Janna suffered some painful injuries, Olivia was unharmed. And it was her car seat that saved her. While that’s a happy ending, the story doesn’t end there.
Always count on change
Fast forward to 2014.
After many struggles to become pregnant with Olivia, Janna and Ben decided to try for a sibling. They focused on their appreciation of Olivia, no matter what the future held.
When they found out they were having twins, they couldn’t have been happier. Nearly as surprising was how complicated it became to find a new car that would fit all three kids across one bench seat.
The Smiths knew from their scary accident how important it would be to have that row of car seats lined up in rock-solid, life-saving perfection.
“We looked at so many cars,” Janna said. “Will three car seats fit? No kids in the way back. Is there enough cargo room? Scratch that one, it’s got a console in the middle. Can it tow our trailer?”
Finally, they found a used Lincoln Navigator that fit the bill.
Brothers Evan and Blake, were born five weeks early on April 24, 2014. They spent their early weeks in the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Did Janna and Ben assume the knowledge they already had was up to snuff when it was time to take the new babies home?
“No way,” Janna said. “You can’t leave anything to chance. We knew all too well from our accident with Olivia how important it is to have everything snapped and perfectly adjusted. She was safe from the direct hit because the straps were adjusted for her body. You can’t underestimate the value of that, which is why we still have our seats checked as the kids grow. How do you know they are buckled right? You go to the pros. We’re on a first-name basis.”
What you might not know
While awareness of proper child restraint use in cars has increased, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration still estimates that about 75 percent of child seats and boosters are improperly installed in family vehicles.
The Smiths considered themselves lucky to be part of the positive 25 percent.
In the Smiths’ case, and for all families whose babies are going home after a NICU stay, there is extra assurance that all is well. NICU babies must pass a car seat test with monitors attached, before they can be discharged from the hospital. This automatically ensures that NICU parents receive expert guidance from the first ride home. But every healthy baby going home is just as precious, and help is easy to find.
So, before Evan and Blake got to check out of the hospital, the Smiths consulted the experts at Helen DeVos Injury Prevention program, with Olivia and the two new car seats. They learned how to get all three seats properly secured on the bench seat and confirm how to assess strap and buckle placement for each child.
“It’s not just about the car seat user manual, either,” Janna added. “Look in your car’s owner’s manual to confirm how your vehicle is designed to work with infant/child safety seats. At the Safe Kids car seat safety check events, they thoroughly install your seat in your car with your kids. They installed an additional convertible car seat in my mom’s conversion van, too. If grandparents or babysitters will be transporting your kids, their vehicles are just as important.” To get started, watch our video on how to properly secure your baby in the car seat.
If possible, plan for each car to have its own car seats. If that’s not an option, make sure everyone who is moving the seats from one car to the next is completely educated on the details. If in doubt, stop in at a local fire department to have the seats checked or to be installed in the other vehicle before transporting. Having little ones safe at every trip, in every vehicle is critical.
Today, Olivia Smith is a charming, precocious 4-year-old. She loves her role as big sister of her equally adorable twin brothers, who just turned 1 year. And Ben and Janna Smith enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing their kids are as safe as can be, every trip, every car, every time.
Amer Ahmed grew up in the United States in the awkward brown immigrant space between black and white. Hear how one Muslim boy’s diverse upbringing influenced a career of bridging differences and teaching others to work more inclusively.
Peppermint, Mentha piperita, is a cross between water mint and spearmint. Peppermint is associated with many health benefits, especially peppermint tea. Everything seems to be better with peppermint during the holiday season, such as peppermint lattes, peppermint bark, mint-flavored M&Ms, candy canes and more.
Here are some fun facts about peppermint.
Peppermint has a long history. Ancient Egyptian medical text dating as early as 1550 BC includes peppermint.
Early history mentions peppermint in Greek mythology, by Roman philosophers, Jesus in the Bible and Monks in the middle ages.
Peppermint has naturalized and can be found growing wild in North America and Europe.
Peppermint plants grow between 18-36 inches tall and 24 inches wide.
Peppermint spreads by runners that spread above and just below the ground’s surface.
Peppermint often becomes invasive in the home garden.
Specialized cells produce peppermint oil in the leaves of the peppermint plant. The oil is released once the leaves are crushed or chopped.
The best time to harvest peppermint is on a sunny day when the plant is just beginning to flower.
Peppermint is the most extensively used volatile oil, both commercially and medicinally.
Ancient Greeks thought it could cure hiccups.
Peppermint is the number one flavor for non-chocolate, hard candies.
Dec. 19 is National Chocolate Mint Day.
Dec. 3 is National Peppermint Latte Day.
Peppermint has been used in Eastern and Western traditional medicine as an aromatic, antispasmodic and antiseptic in treating indigestion, nausea, sore throat, colds, toothaches, cramps and cancers.
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 23: Television host and comedian Bill Maher performs at The Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort on March 23, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Supplied/Photo by David Becker/WireImage)
For more than twenty years, Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television. Now, the TV host, author, comedian, and Emmy-award winning producer brings his wits and commentary to Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 23, at 8 p.m. in SMG-managed DeVos Performance Hall.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available at the DeVos Place® and Van Andel Arena® box offices, online at Ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order. See Ticketmaster.com for all current pricing and availability.
First on “Politically Incorrect” (Comedy Central, ABC, 1993-2002), and for the last fourteen years on HBO’s “Real Time,” Maher’s combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs have garnered him 41 Emmy nominations. Maher won his first Emmy in 2014 as executive producer for the HBO series, “VICE.” In October of 2008, this same combination was on display in Maher’s uproarious and unprecedented swipe at organized religion, “Religulous,” directed by Larry Charles (“Borat”). The documentary has gone on to become the 8th Highest Grossing Documentary ever.
In addition to his television program – which has featured such visitors as President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kerry Washington, Michael Steele, Howard Dean, Michael Moore, Eva Longoria, Drew Barrymore, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Gen. Wesley Clark, Susan Sarandon, Kevin Costner, Gary Hart and Pat Buchanan. – Maher has written five bestsellers: “True Story,” “Does Anybody Have a Problem with That? Politically Incorrect’s Greatest Hits,” “When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Bin Laden,” “New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer,” and most recently, “The New New Rules: A Funny Look at How Everybody But Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass.”
Maher started his career as a stand-up comedian in 1979, and still performs at least fifty dates a year in Las Vegas and in sold out theaters across the country. Four of his ten stand-up specials for HBO – 2014’s “Bill Maher: Live from DC,” 2007’s “The Decider,” 2005’s “I’m Swiss,” as well as the hilarious, “Bill Maher … But I’m Not Wrong,” – have been nominated for Emmy awards.
Maher was born in New York City, raised in River Vale, N.J. and went to Cornell University. He now resides in Los Angeles.
GEM Theatrics presents “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry” Feb. 22-24 at the Lake Effect Fringe Festival. (Supplied)
By Mary Beth Quillin
The snow maybe over, but there is still flurries in the forecast..theater flurries as the Lake Effect Fringe Festival takes center stage this month.
The annual event, which is in its seventh year, celebrates local theater with a host of events taking place at the Dog Story Theatre, 7 Jefferson SE, throughout the month and into early March.
Activities kicked off Monday with the Dog Story Theatre’s popular Comedy Outlet Mondays that will run every Monday, Feb. 11, 18, and 25, throughout the Festival at 7 p.m. Comedy Outlet Mondays (COM) is an experimental comedy hub in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.
New to the Festival is an improv workshop and Collywobbles Theatre Company from Fennville, Mich., will present Touch the Names for one night only. Also new this year: Industry Sundays! Bring a playbill or a website you can call up on your phone to show you’ve been involved in a West Michigan production over the past year and pay just $10. This offer is available only at Sunday performances and for ticket sales at the door.
Tickets for all events can be purchased in advance on the Dog Story Theater website, www.dogstorytheater.comand are $15/adults and $10/students & seniors.
This year’s full schedule includes:
February 11, 18, 25 & March 4
Dog Story’s popular Comedy Outlet Mondays will continue throughout the Festival at 7:00 pm each Monday night. Comedy Outlet Mondays (COM) is a staple for locals and visitors that takes place at Dog Story Theater in downtown Grand Rapids. The only one of its kind, COM is a weekly comedy variety show that features stand up, sketch, improv, and experimental comedic acts- now with live performances by local Musical Guest Artists! Audiences can look forward to a stage full of talent, special events, and a free improv jam for all skill levels after the show. Now in our fourth year, Comedy Outlet Mondays will be adding even more programming and opportunities for local comedic performers. The show is $6.
Feb. 8 – 10; 8 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 3 p.m. Saturday & Sunday The Brutal Sea presents The Day the Earth Refused to Die, by Declan Maher Follow a group of college students through the nightmare-proxy “Somnam” service as well as the planning process of their yearly celebration of the planet’s narrow survival. Along for the ride is the chronically-oversharing Priestess of the 1000th Dimension and her mysterious shadow, Agent Condor. A hilarious and frightening romp through dreamscapes and potential realities, this show will both delight and challenge its audience. It contains mature content and may not be suitable for young viewers.
Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company will be presenting “The Seagull” Feb. 14 – 17. (Photo from production of “Caesar.”)
Feb. 14 – 17; 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday The Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company presents The Seagull, by Anton Chekhov In a version by Christopher Hampton, based on a literal translation by Vera Liber. The Seagull follows the contentious relationship between famous actress Irina Arkadina and her son, the aspiring playwright Konstantin Treplev. When Arkadina begins a relationship with the writer Boris Trigorin, whom she brings to her family’s summer home, jealousy and resentment break out. With a play-within-a-play, references to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and an exploration of the world as stage, The Seagullhas many connections to Shakespearean theatre. Pigeon Creek’s production will employ many of the companies’ signature staging conditions, such as cross-gendered casting, direct audience contact, and live music and sound effects to bring Chekhov’s classic to life. Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company is Michigan’s only year-round, touring Shakespeare Company.
Feb. 16, Saturday; 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Alistair Watt returns to G.R. from Second City with an Improv Workshop! In this 3 hour workshop we will touch on the idea of going in the scene while taking care of yourself. Ever go into a scene and realize you didn’t bring anything to the table? This will help you practice always being prepared to play.
Feb. 19; 8 p.m.
Collywobbles Theatre Company of Fennvillepresents Touch the Names, by Randal Mylar & Chic Streetman
A staged reading with music, this touching play is based on letters and artifacts left at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall from fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, and comrades. The title refers to the memorial, in which the names of those who died in Vietnam are etched into a sunken wall of black granite, able to be felt by searching fingertips. Directed by Carole Fletcher-Catherine One Night Only!
GEM Theatrics presents Give ‘Em Hell, Harry, by Samuel Gallu
A one-man show starring Gary E. Mitchell as Harry S. Truman, our 33rd President, directed by Mary Beth Quillin.Written and performed after the Watergate scandal and Nixon’s resignation, the play and the Truman are surprisingly timely again as the nation faces yet another scandalous presidency, with an uncertain outcome. The play offers a refreshing view of a man who viewed public service as an honorable undertaking and a noble calling. It premiered at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. on April 17, 1975 and was attended by then President Gerald R. Ford. This production contains strong language.
Feb. 26 & 27; 7 p.m.
The Curious Arrow presents Polarea and the Cloud Weaver, by Stephen Douglas Wright: A reading of a new script, Tuesday, Feb. 26 only.
The suicidal Sun refuses to rise, leaving the burden of carrying “the light” to the Moon. When the exhausted Moon crash lands, it’s left to Polarea to get “the light” back in the sky.
Wednesday, Feb. 27
The Behavior of Wings, by Steven Bogart.
Mr. Bogart’s play Two Men and the Moon was chosen as an audience favorite for our Lucid Festival, so we are presenting a reading of this full length play. An eighteen year old college student drops out of her freshman year of college and shows up at her father’s campsite in the mountains of Mexico where he has been trying to protect the Monarch Butterflies.
The University Wits presentsIt’s Just a Play, by Terrence McNally
It’s opening night of Peter Austin’s new play as he anxiously awaits to see if his show is a hit. With his career on the line, he shares his big First Night with his best friend, a television star, his fledgling producer, his erratic leading lady, his wunderkind director, an infamous drama critic, and a wide-eyed coat check attendant on his first night in Manhattan. It’s alternately raucous, ridiculous and tender — reminding audiences why there’s no business like show business.
The Lake Effect Fringe Festival seeks to highlight performer-focused theater in a non-traditional theater space, creating an intimate performance experience for audiences who can expect different seating configurations and differing levels of interaction with the performers at any given performance.
All performances take place in the black box performance space of the Dog Story Theater, 7 Jefferson SE, Grand Rapids, 49503. Tickets for all events can be purchased in advance on the Dog Story Theater’s website: www.dogstorytheater.com, and are $15/adults and $10/students and seniors. “Industry Sunday
Your dishwasher may get those plates spotless, but it is also probably teeming with bacteria and fungus, a new study suggests.
Microbes—from bacteria to viruses to fungi—are everywhere, including within and on the human body. So it’s no surprise, the researchers said, that a kitchen appliance would be hosting them.
So do people need to worry about getting sick from their dishwashers? No, said Erica Hartmann, an assistant professor at Northwestern University who was not involved with the study.
“The risk is probably in the realm of a shark attack,” she said. That is, most people face little to no risk, but there are select groups who may be at higher risk—in this case, people with conditions that weaken their immune defenses.
Dishwashers are an interesting case when it comes to microbes because they are actually an “extreme” habitat, Hartmann explained.
“People don’t think of them that way. It’s just your dishwasher. But it really is an extreme environment,” said Hartmann, who studies the microbiology of the indoor environment.
Dishwashers create constantly fluctuating conditions—wet to dry, high heat to cooler temperatures, low to high acidity. They also harbor mixtures of detergents and dinner scraps. So, only certain microbes will thrive.
The new study looked at which bacteria and fungi are actually dwelling there, and what factors seem to influence that microbial makeup.
Specifically, the European researchers took samples from the rubber seals of 24 household dishwashers.
Overall, they found, the most common bacteria included Pseudomonas, Escherichia and Acinetobacter—all of which have strains that are “opportunistic pathogens.” That means they are normally harmless, but can cause infections in people with a compromised immune system.
The most common types of fungus were Candida, Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula—which also include opportunistic pathogens.
Nina Gunde-Cimerman, a professor of microbiology at the University of Ljubljana, in Slovenia, worked on the study.
She said dishwashers and other microbe-hosting appliances are “generally safe” for healthy people. It’s “sensitive groups,” she said, who may need to be more cautious.
Gunde-Cimerman said she and her colleagues suspect dishwashers might play a role in fungal infections called mycoses in certain immune-compromised patients. A fungus commonly found in those patients, she said, is known as Exophiala dermatitidis, or black yeast.
And while that fungus is “hardly known in nature,” she said, it’s easy to find in dishwashers.
However, Gunde-Cimerman stressed, that’s speculation. No one has yet proven a connection between dishwasher microbes and mycoses infections.
How do fungus and bacteria get into dishwashers? The “main entry point” for fungi is the tap water that supplies the appliance, Gunde-Cimerman said. But food, people and pets are other potential sources, she added.
As for the bacteria, the source isn’t clear, according to Gunde-Cimerman. “But we speculate that contaminated food is the main entry route,” she said.
It is possible for dishwasher microbes to break free from their home: They can get out via waste water, or through the hot air produced at the end of the dishwasher cycle, Gunde-Cimerman said.
So one way to keep the microbes contained is to avoid opening the dishwasher before it has cooled down, according to Gunde-Cimerman.
“Do not open the dishwasher when it is still hot and humid,” she said, “to prevent the release of aerosols in the kitchen.”
Wiping the rubber seal with a dry cloth at the end of a cycle can also limit microbe buildup, Gunde-Cimerman said.
Hartmann agreed that people who are concerned can wipe down the dishwasher seal.
But she also emphasized the positive aspects of the microbial communities living in all our homes: Scientists have made great discoveries by studying microorganisms.
Hartmann pointed to the example of a bacterial enzyme discovered in the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park. It was instrumental in developing a breakthrough technique called polymerase chain reaction, which is now used to study DNA in research and clinical labs everywhere.
“Your kitchen might not be Yellowstone,” Hartmann noted. But, she added, it may host some “pretty amazing” microbes.
So if you are ever presented with the opportunity to have researchers swab your kitchen, Hartmann said, consider it.
The study was published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Two Grand Valley State University writing faculty members will discuss the inner workings of their creativity and craft during the annual Grand Valley Writers Series.
Chris Haven, associate professor of writing, and Gale Thompson, visiting professor, will present a faculty reading on Tuesday Feb. 5, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Mary Idema Pew Library Multi-Purpose Room, located on the Allendale Campus.
Haven teaches courses in intermediate and advanced fiction, beginning creative writing, style and techniques, and composition among other topics. His short fiction and flash fiction have appeared or are forthcoming in Threepenny Review, New Orleans Review, Arts & Letters, Massachusetts Review, Electric Literature, and Kenyon Review Online. His poems can be read in Cincinnati Review, Pleiades, Mid-American Review, and Beloit Poetry Journal, and prose poems from his Terrible Emmanuel series have appeared in Denver Quarterly, Sycamore Review, North America Review, and Seneca Review. He has been teaching writing at Grand Valley since 2002.
GVSU Associate Professor of Writing Chris Haven also will present on Feb. 5. (Supplied)
Thompson is the author of Soldier On (2015) and two chapbooks. Throughout her career, Thompson has received fellowships from the Vermont Studio Center and Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts. Her work has appeared in or is scheduled to appear in Gulf Coast, American Poetry Review, Guernica, jubilat, Bennington Review, and Colorado Review. She is also the founding editor of Jellyfish Magazine.
The Grand Valley Writers Series will offer two additional events this winter season:
Poetry Craft Talk and Reading with Janine Joseph and Oliver Baez Bendorf Thursday, March 14 Craft talk: 6:15-7:15 p.m., DeVos Center, room 121E, Pew Grand Rapids Campus Reading: 7:30-8:30 p.m., University Club, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Nonfiction Craft Talk and Reading with Sarah Einstein Monday, April 8 Craft talk: 3-4:15 p.m., Kirkhof Center, room 2270, Allendale Campus Reading: 6-7:30 p.m., Mary Idema Pew Library Multi-Purpose Room, Allendale Campus
For more information, contact Todd Kaneko, series coordinator, at kanekot@gvsu.edu, or visit gvsu.edu/writing.
Set phasers to stun and beam yourself to SMG-managed DeVos Performance Hall on Friday, April 5, 2019 at 7:30 PM for an unforgettable night with the one and only WILLIAM SHATNER, live on stage. Audiences will enjoy a screening of the classic film “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” on the big screen, followed by a live conversation with the one and only “Captain James T. Kirk.” A limited number of VIP tickets will be available which include premium seating and a photo opportunity with Mr. Shatner.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Feb. 8, at 10 a.m.Tickets will be available at the DeVos Place® and Van Andel Arena® box offices, online at Ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. See Ticketmaster for all current pricing and availability. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order.
Shatner will be sharing fascinating and humorous stories from portraying the original Captain Kirk in the “Star Trek” television series and movies, and from his career spanning more than 50 years as an award-winning actor, producer, director and writer. Fans will also have a chance to ask Mr. Shatner their questions during the audience-led Q&A.
Don’t miss your chance to see a Hollywood legend in this thrill-of-a-lifetime evening. Produced by Mills Entertainment and The Backlot Project.
About William Shatner
William Shatner has cultivated a career spanning over 50 years as an award-winning actor, director, producer, writer, recording artist, and horseman. In 1966, Shatner originated the role of “Captain James T. Kirk” in the television series Star Trek, a show that spawned a feature film franchise where Shatner returned as Captain Kirk in seven of the Star Trek movies, one of which he directed. He’s won Emmys and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of lawyer “Denny Crane” on both The Practice and Boston Legal. He received four more Emmy nominations as well as other Golden Globe and SAG Award nods.
His love of music inspired him to record the critically acclaimed album Has Been. William Shatner’s book, Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man, appeared on the NY Times Bestseller list, and his newest book, Spirit of the Horse: A Celebration in Fact and Fable, was released in May 2017. Shatner continues to act, write, produce and direct while still making time to work with charities and further his passion in equestrian sports. He and his wife, Elizabeth, and three married children live in Los Angeles.
When you think about your life, what comes to mind? Do you reflect on your job, on how your day and week is largely structured around it? Perhaps you think about your family members and how your interactions with them affect your mood. But how often do you think about how you think?
Mindfulness is one way that we can examine how we think about our patterns of thinking. This skill helps us to change how we think. Contrary to some misconceptions, mindfulness is not a religious ritual or a belief system. While some of its origins come from the Eastern cultures, mindfulness has found its way into Western spheres of thought and practice. Some of its techniques even mirror modern day cognitive therapy.
You may ask yourself why mindfulness matters in our 21st century culture. Consider this: According to the American Psychological Association, chronic stress can cause a variety of mental and physical health problems, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, muscle pain, high blood pressure, and heart disease1.
While it’s true that we can’t change some of the circumstances in our life, we can change how we think about them. This doesn’t mean we need to be happy about things that upset us in our life, but we can look at such events more objectively and have a calmer, more accepting attitude. Research also shows that mindfulness can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression2.
There are hundreds of books and articles about the origin and techniques of mindfulness, but I will highlight some of the most common techniques and concepts. In short, mindfulness means paying attention to something in the present moment, and refraining from trying to change the situation around us. Remember, mindfulness takes practice and time, and results may not come right away.
Breathing: We all do this, but we often change how we breathe based on how we think and feel. If we are angry or nervous, we tend to breathe quickly into our lungs. If we are tired or falling asleep, we breathe from our diaphragm. To practice mindful breathing, take a slow, deep breath into your diaphragm, hold it for a few seconds, and slowly release it. Repeat this process for a few minutes, and pay attention to this pattern of breathing. Your body will naturally calm itself and put you in a more relaxed state of mind.
Body scanning: We tend to hold stress in different areas of our body, but because our attention is often used for other tasks, it’s easy to overlook cues our body sends us. To practice this technique, sit comfortably in a chair, and close your eyes. Allow your attention to start from the bottom of your feet. Can you focus on the feeling of your socks or the hardness of the ground? Allow your attention to slowly drift up your body. What are you feeling in your ankles? Do your lower legs feel tense? Can you feel the sensation of your upper legs against the chair? You can do this with all areas of your body, from head to toe. The key is to observe sensations in your body without judging them as good or bad. When you first do this, resist the temptation to “fix” the pain you may feel. You may be pleasantly surprised that sometimes, just examining how you feel will allow your bodily sensation to pass.
Five senses: This skill involves paying attention to our sensations based on our five senses. For example, if you are outside on a summer’s day, you can find a comfortable place to observe your surroundings. Listen to each sound you hear: the wind blowing in the trees, the birds singing in the distance, the sound of cars passing by. How does the sun feel on your skin? What smells do you notice? Are you able to pay attention to the colors and shapes in the leaves? If you choose to take a drink of cold water, can you pay attention to its taste? These techniques can be done anywhere, such as the mall or your office. The point is to become comfortable noticing your senses. Doing so can help you appreciate the moment rather than judging it or worrying about other things.
Thought monitoring: From my experience, this is perhaps the most difficult technique to practice and become comfortable with. It involves simply monitoring your thoughts and feelings as they come up, and not attempting to judge or stop them. Your thoughts and feelings will arise, settle, and pass. If you are new to this approach, it can be unsettling to become aware of something you typically don’t notice. But with practice, the approach can improve your awareness and allow you greater freedom from your thoughts. To practice thought monitoring, sit in a comfortable position in a quiet area with your eyes closed. Allow your mind to become still and free of any concerns that you are having. As you relax and allow the darkness and quiet to envelop you, some thoughts and feelings will arise. Notice them without judging or attempting to change them, and allow your mind to return to calmness. If you need a little more grounding to help you return to a state of calmness, you can use mindful breathing. These videos can help you practice this concept.3,4
Mindfulness takes practice, and it’s something that many, including myself, struggle to incorporate into daily life. Like any technique, it takes a commitment to make it a regular skill that we use in our normal daily function. The good news is that you are probably using mindfulness already, and you may not be aware of it. The choice is yours as to how much mindfulness you will incorporate into your life. If you choose to be more mindful in your life, you may be pleasantly surprised at how much peace and calmness you will find.
In 1994, Rwandan native Angelique Mugabekazi’s life was upended when the Hutu majority government ordered the mass slaughter of Tutsis. Only five years old, Mugabekazi fled along with her family, but everywhere they went, conflict followed. The young girl saw people raped and killed in front of her, as well as starvation and disease outbreaks. She lost many family members, including her parents, uncles, and siblings, also neighbors.
“Before the genocide happened, my family was well off,” said Mugabekazi, a graduate of University of Massachusetts School of Law. “My dad was a civil engineer; we came from an upper-middle class country. And then we experienced poverty on a level that we had never seen before.”
Civil war conflict met the family when they reached the Congo. By that time, Mugabekazi’s mother and uncle were gone. The little girl and her family moved on to a refugee camp in Burundi, where they lived from 1994 to 1996.
“When you first come to a refugee camp, you get basic things like a tent and food,” Mugabekazi said. “When you have the means, you can make your own house. As a civil engineer, my dad built a really good mud house out of bricks.”
But her father lost his life in Burundi, and the remainder of the family had to move on when civil war broke out there, too.
“You see a lot of rapes and killings when you are a refugee in another country,” said Mugabekazi. “When you are in a camp, you don’t have laws that protect you.”
Mugabekazi said that the UN tried to protect them, but there were conflicts within the camps, and women and children were the most vulnerable.
“You are seeking shelter to keep yourself alive — shelter like a tent or mud hut. Basic, basic medical attention. It was hard. We starved a lot.”
The next move brought Mugabekazi to Tanzania in 1996 where she and her family stayed until 1998, when their house burned down. Next, she and four siblings made their way to a city in Zambia where they lived the next two years
“Then we had the opportunity to apply to come to U.S.,” she said. “We went through rigorous questioning, blood work, medical exams. It’s not an easy thing to come to this country. They interview family members separately, it’s a very invasive process.”
Mugabekazi and remaining family members settled in Boston, in the less-than-desirable Dorchester neighborhood, where gunshots were heard during the day. Culture shock added insult to injury. She was bullied in school because she looked and smelled different.
“It was not safe for us to keep living [in Dorchester], so we moved to a more Hispanic neighborhood, but it was still not safe. So we moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, where it was more predominately Caucasian but still had a diverse population. For the first time, I had friends who were white. That’s first time I enjoyed my experience in the states.
“It’s hard because I feel like I don’t have a home really. Although I know I’m from Rwanda, I feel that has been ripped from me. And moving from one place to another, even here in America, it just caused more trauma.”
Mugabekazi said that surviving all those tragedies has made her strong.
“Africa is a huge continent, so when I moved from each country, I learned a new culture and language — that was the benefit,” she said. “When I lived in more under-resourced communities, it opened my eyes to the poverty in this country. Before, I had this Disney picture of what America was. People of color don’t have wealth in this country.”
Mugabekazi has lived in Grand Rapids since 2013 and is a Community Health Worker with Health Net of West Michigan. She works with the African community; folks that come from same region she did, single mothers who are trying to navigate this culture, working, taking care of their homes.
“We work with them to connect with resources,” she said. “I get excited about social work and am passionate about injustice to women and children, especially because of my experience. I feel like my calling is international work. I feel there is more of a need there; they lack basic human rights.”
February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, a national campaign to increase awareness and celebrate the value of programs that prepare students for the world of work.
What is Career and Technical Education?
CTE programs provide classes that directly prepare students for high-wage, high-demand careers. They are offered through high schools, CTE centers, charter schools, community colleges and four-year universities across Michigan.
CTE has come a long way in the last decade, but there are still outdated perceptions of what it is and isn’t. Today’s CTE programs deliver:
Real options for college and rewarding careers
CTE programs aren’t the shop classes of the past; they prepare students (middle school, high school and post-secondary) for both college and careers. While CTE used to be the collage alternative, it’s now more of a college pathway. Today’s programs provide opportunities for college credit, credentials and meaningful work-based learning experiences.
Fact: CTE students are more likely to have a post-high school plan, including college.1
Real-world skills
CTE provides hands-on learning and the skills and confidence to explore and pursue career options in industries that are in critical need of talent, such as health sciences and information technology. CTE students gain practical, relevant, marketable skills that will make them more employable.
Fact: CTE students and parents are three times more likely than those not involved in CTE to report they are confident in their ability to learn real-world skills as a part of their curriculum. 1
A valuable educational experience
CTE programs provide opportunities for specialized classes, internships and networking with industry experts. Student not only learn technical and academic skills, they learn critical employability skills1. Career and technical education helps students see how what they’re learning applies to the needs of employers.
The high school graduation rate for CTE students is 97 percent, compared to an average of 80 percent statewide. 2
This is the first in a series on career and technical education. Future articles will highlight CTE programs across West Michigan and how they’re helping students prepare for college and career.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
1. The Value and Promise of Career Technical Education: Results from a National Survey of Parents and Students, Advance CTE and the Siemens Foundation, April 2017
2. U.S. Department of Education, Perkins Data Explorer
Many kids love a quick bowl of instant soup or tasty noodles, but these fast foods cause almost 10,000 scald burns in children each year in the United States, a new study estimates.
What’s more, researchers found that two out of every 10 scald burns that send kids to the ER are caused by microwavable instant soup spills.
“We suspect that, in terms of risk, parents may think things coming out of the microwave may be somewhat safer than things coming off the stove,” said study author Dr. Courtney Allen. She is a pediatric emergency medicine fellow at Emory University in Atlanta.
But since so many burns are caused by microwavable instant soup and noodles, “any school-age child consuming these products needs to be adequately supervised,” she said.
Dr. Michael Cooper, director of Staten Island University Hospital’s burn center in New York City, said the study mirrors what he often sees in practice.
“We do see instant soup and noodle burns with kids in this age group,” he said.
The good news is that most of the children were treated in the emergency room and then sent home, Cooper noted. Most didn’t have to stay in the hospital and they would likely heal in two weeks or less.
“These burns are painful, but most appear to be superficial,” he explained.
Cooper said the scenario he often sees is that the parent has heated the prepackaged container of soup and given it to the child. While eating, the child knocks it over and gets burned.
A simple solution might be taking the noodles or soup from the original container and transferring them to a bowl the child is accustomed to using, Cooper suggested. A bowl probably isn’t as tall as some of the instant-food containers.
For the study, the researchers reviewed data from the U.S. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from 2006 to 2016. They looked for kids aged 4 to 12 with scald burns caused by microwavable instant soup, instant noodles, cups of soup, or water for making instant soup.
Scald burns associated with instant soups and noodles affected more than 9,500 children each year, the findings showed. The average age of a child with such a burn was 7 years old.
The most commonly burned site was the child’s torso—about 40 percent of burns occurred here.
Allen said the database didn’t specify whether kids had cooked the foods in the microwave themselves, or if parents or another caregiver had done so.
She added that injuries may occur when someone grabs a hot container from the microwave and flinches because it’s so hot, spilling it on themselves.
Allen also noted that instant noodles absorb the liquid during cooking. So if a child drops a container of noodles, the hot food may stick to the body.
Cooper said the study shows a need for more education of parents, grandparents and other caregivers. “People need to be more aware that these burns can happen,” he said.
The study is scheduled for presentation at an American Academy of Pediatrics meeting in Orlando. Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Well, at least to Spectrum Theater – which is on hill – to catch the latest production from Actors’ Theatre Grand Rapids The family-friendly musical “The Burnt Part Boys,” runs through Feb. 9. The country- and bluegrass-themed songs will get you humming as you follow this coming-of-age story set in the Appalachians.
The recent weather may not have been optimal for driving, but the weekend should be great to head over to the Michigan International Auto Show which is at DeVos Place all weekend. From classics to the latest vehicles, it should be a show worth a drive-by peek.
Fun fact:
Queen in Space
Queen guitarist Brian May combined his passion for astronomy (he has a doctorate in astrophysics) and his music to write a song of NASA’s New Horizon’s historic flyby of Ultima Thule, the farthest object in the solar system visited by a spacecraft. (New Horizon flew past it on Jan. 1, 2019.) It is exactly the kind of epic you would expect from the man who wrote “We Will Rock You” with soaring guitars and dramatic lyrics. Check out the video below.
The Grand Rapids Ballet and Spectrum Health have enjoyed a harmonious relationship for the past five years, with sports medicine professionals and athletic trainers helping dancers achieve ultimate health and conditioning.
“Spectrum sent someone right over,” Houser said. “She really helped me out a lot because I had an important rehearsal that day.”
‘Piece me back together’
Houser said he’s grateful for the quick response, and grateful he could continue his love of “expressing emotion, physically.”
He’s on the mend.
“There was a bunch of stuff out of alignment,” he said. “It sent everything into spasm. It took a couple of weeks to get to a normal place. I think without that quick response, it would have taken much longer to heal.”
Even when there aren’t unexpected injuries, Spectrum Health athletic trainers Emilee Van Hoven and Allie Hoyt visit the ballet twice a week; Heather Pietrzak and Paige Bachelor visit the ballet three times a week. They work with dancers who are recovering from injury.
“It’s a bit reoccurring, so they all help piece me back together,” Houser said.
After six hours a day of dancing—for six, sometimes seven days a week—even the strongest and most fit bodies tire.
“They keep an eye on things that could turn into something major,” Houser said. “My hip hurts a little bit today. My ankle feels a bit jammed. Those little things can become chronic if you can’t be seen quickly. Them being here so frequently is incredibly helpful.”
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
Houser said Fridays are typically the hardest day because the aches and pains compound over the week.
“Even if you’re just getting your calves to relax a little, it helps,” he said.
Depending on the nature of the injury, the sports medicine team will sometimes do soft tissue work, sometimes mobilization.
“Sometimes they’ll give you exercises and tools we can use on our own to maintain certain things, like stretches,” Houser said. “Or they’ll tape us up to help keep things in place.”
Hand in hand
Phillip Adler, manager of the Spectrum Health Medical Group Sports Medicine program, approached the ballet about a partnership in 2011. Dr. Axtman had previously worked with the Atlanta Ballet and other dance groups.
“The expertise he had really made the ballet believe we had the experience to manage this unique area of sports and performing arts medicine,” Adler said. “I was the primary athletic trainer that would go down whenever the ballet needed anything.”
And so began Spectrum Health’s performing arts medicine partnership with the Grand Rapids Ballet.
By the second year of the collaboration, Adler brought on additional sports medicine staff to help in the endeavor. They covered not only rehearsals, but performances.
“I have worked with a lot of high-level athletes and NFL players, but I’ll be honest, ballet dancers are not nice to their bodies,” Adler said. “They have to go on point balanced on one leg, with the hip bent at 90 degrees for 15 or 20 seconds with maybe a partner. They’re working eight or more hours a day.”
Ballet companies typically don’t have injury prevention or strength and conditioning programs like many other professional sports teams do.
“I don’t think the vast majority of people realize what goes into putting on a ballet performance,” Adler said.
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
Adler said the partnership can help extend dancers’ careers.
“They have such a finite time to be a professional ballet performer,” Adler said. “How can we help them prevent injury or manage injury so that it prolongs their career? Not so long ago a surgery for a ballet dancer was career-ending. We’re making sure if those things come up, how do we maintain careers?”
Ferraro said he has noticed a huge decline in injuries since partnering with Spectrum Health.
“It’s been a huge benefit to us,” the ballet manager said. “The dancers have absolutely loved it.”
The athletic trainers often spot and prevent things before they become serious injuries.
“If somebody starts to feel an issue or something isn’t feeling right, they can let us know and the athletic trainers will come pretty much any day they’re needed,” Ferraro said, noting he’s grateful for the assistance.
“A lot of bigger ballet companies don’t even have this benefit,” he said. “It’s just a phenomenal relationship for us.”
When was the last time you had a good cry? It is a natural human reaction to many emotions, beyond sadness. We cry in reaction to stress, frustration, grief and yes, even joy. Scientists have studied the content of our tears and have categorized them into three different types:
Basal — or the protein/antibacterial fluid that gets released when you blink
Reflex — the fluid that gets released in response to irritants like smoke
Emotional — this one in particular contains higher levels of cortisol and adrenaline, both stress hormones
Many people don’t like to cry for a variety of reasons. One is that people believe themselves to be ugly criers. They complain that their faces swell and turn shades of red, along with their eyes. It may seem to take forever to recover from crying also. This is a normal, physical reaction to crying. Additionally, people don’t like to cry because crying often means anger, and in the moment, individuals don’t want to come across as a weak person and not a warrior prince or princess they try to portray. The final reason people don’t like to cry is that it seems like literal flood gates open. Tears are not something that are easily turned on or off.
According to Marleen Becht, Department of Clinical Health Psychology at Tilburg University, Netherlands (2002) women cry more often to men, an average of 3.5 times per month for women as compared to 1.9 times per month for men. Considering our societies cultural norms, men are not encouraged or supported to cry. That is just a crying shame.
A Crying Proneness Scale (Denckla, 2013) helps mental health professionals measure how often people cry and looks at contributing triggers. Frequent crying may be a sign of something serious such as depression or other mental health issues. If a person is experiencing frequent crying and may be showing other signs of depression, they should talk to their doctor.
All humans can benefit from crying. Over the years, studies have shown that crying can help relieve stress and improve your mood. Tears help your eyes fight bacteria and irritants. In addition, tears trigger empathy and compassion in others and softens anger (Trimble 2013).
Have you ever laughed so hard that you cried? That is because the emotional and physical responses are quite similar. We cry in response to intense emotions of sadness, joy and laughter. Surprise, tear content is the same! Cortisol and adrenaline are released which help ease stress.
Not many people can say they have performed at the Metropolitan Opera and for Howard Stern on “America’s Got Talent,” but its only a couple of the many accomplishments opera star Sean Panikkar has on his résumé.
“With Forte, (the classical-crossover-operatic pop trio that Panikker is a member of), we have a popular music fan base that discovered us on TV,” Panikkar said. “It is quite different to perform for that base than opera crowds…
“There is some overlap and particularly right after we were on ‘American’s Got Talent,’ a number of Forte fans traveled across the country to see me in various operas. Forth Worth Opera had Forte perform at concerts the day after I sang a performance of Pearl Fishers on the same Bass Hall stage.
That was the perfect confluence of what crossover can do for the classical opera world as the majority of the Forte fans had never seen an opera, but made a week of it and attend both shows.”
Opera Grand Rapids is looking to have the same crossover connection as Forte performed for the Opera Grand Rapids’ 50th Anniversary Gala last May and now Panikkar will perform solo Thursday, Feb. 7, as part of Opera Grand Rapids’ newly launched Opera Unlimited Series.
“Opera Grand Rapids is a mission driven organization , that translates into our creating opportunities to engage all of our citizens through the power of music and opera,” said Oper Grand Rapids Artist Director Maestro James Meena, “By using these universal qualities, Opera Grand Rapids can bring people from diverse backgrounds together for a shared, positive experience.”
Panikkar too, believes it is important for opera companies to foster growth of classical music by doing more outreach and education in the communities.”
“If you ask any opera singer which audiences are the best ones they have performed for, it will always be a final dress rehearsal crowd where the company invited local school students to attend,” Panikkar said. “They are the most enthusiastic and receptive crowd. They experience opera the way it was meant to be experienced and it resonates more with them if the people on stage reflect the community they are in.”
Presentations in the Opera Unlimited Series that have taken place already this season include an appearance by Opera Grand Rapids at the Grand Rapids Hispanic Festival, a Season Kick-Off Party highlighting local talent, and two masterclass presentations by Meena.
Accompanying Panikkar is pianist Rohan De Silva, who was worked with violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman and teaches as MSU. (Photo credit: Chris Beebe)
For the February program, Panikkar is set to perform with Rohan De Silva, who has partnerships with many of the leading violin virtuosos such as Itzhak Perlman and Joshua Bell. The evening will feature a mixture of opera and art songs in the Betty Vandel Opera Center.
“Choosing repertoire for recitals is a bit of an art form,” Panikkar said. “My goal in a recital is always perform things that are interesting to me, the pianist, and the audience. Too often, I have attended recitals that were focused soley on challenging the audience and while there is a value in that, I prefer to have a more balanced approach of styles while also presenting beautiful music.”
Originally from Sri Lanka, Panikkar grew up in Bloomsburg, Penn. He came to Michigan as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan and “I immediately fell in love with Ann Arbor.” He stayed at UofM for his masters and then moved to San Francisco to train as an Alder Fellow for the San Francisco Opera. Panikkar loves midwestern sensibilities and “the fact that we have four seasons,” so when his wife and him were expecting, they moved back to Michigan, living in Ann Arbor.
He looks forward to bringing his passion for music to the Grand Rapids area.
“I genuinely love everything I am performing in the moment and I approach every rehearsal and performance with an attitude of gratitude for the opportunity to sing,” Panikkar said. “It doesn’t matter whether I am singing Mozart, a world premiere, atonal music, or contemporary crossover, I love it all and I find the beauty in it.”
Panikkar, accompanied by Rohan de Silva, performs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at the Betty Van Andel Opera Center, 1320 Fulton St. E. Tickets are $25/general and $5/students with ID. For tickets or more information, call 616-451-2741, ext. 3, or visit operagr.org.
