Alyssa D’Agostino can endure a lot: a battle against breast cancer, then leukemia, then a relapse of leukemia.
But when she realized she would not be home for her daughter Gianna’s ninth birthday—that drove her to tears.
“We have to do something.”
Katie Celentino heard that message over and over again from staff members at the bone marrow transplant unit at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, touched by D’Agostino’s sorrow.
And so they did. In 24 hours, they pulled together a purple unicorn party that left Gianna nearly speechless.
The little girl burst into the staff room for the party with a big “Oh!” as she whirled around, taking in the birthday banner, a unicorn drawing on the whiteboard, party hats and a table brimming with colorfully wrapped presents. Nurses and nurse technicians greeted her with a lively round of “Happy Birthday!”
D’Agostino sat beside her daughter, eyes sparkling above her yellow face mask. She wore her party attire, a green tinted wig and a headband decorated with a silver unicorn horn and peach flowers.
“This is so amazing,” she said. “I’m blown away big-time.”
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, D’Agostino underwent surgery and chemotherapy and emerged a survivor.
Photo by Taylor Ballek, Spectrum Health Beat
In July 2017, she learned she had acute myeloid leukemia. It went into remission, but resurfaced in April 2018. Again, she was hospitalized as she began chemotherapy treatments.
In late August, she went to Butterworth Hospital, with plans to get the disease back into remission so she could undergo a bone marrow transplant.
Five straight months in a hospital: That has been her spring, summer and autumn.
She hoped she would be home for Gianna’s birthday. She had gifts and planned a surprise celebration with family. When she learned that would not happen, she said, “I was devastated.”
And then, she learned a party was in the works on the fifth floor of Butterworth Hospital.
Celentino, the nurse manager, said staff members eagerly joined together to make the day special. Nurses came in on their day off or stayed after their shifts ended. Nurse technician Courtney Fend used her artistic skills to create a birthday banner and unicorn drawing.
Sharing Gianna’s big day was deeply rewarding for the staff, Celentino said.
“We don’t always get to see these moments,” she said. “These are the things that matter to our patients. This is why they matter to us.”
A gift of happiness
Photo by Taylor Ballek, Spectrum Health Beat
Gianna, a third-grader at Chandler Woods Charter Academy in Belmont, Michigan, came to the party with her grandmother, Alice D’Agostino. She wore her Halloween costume—a purple and black outfit with a purple wig. She dressed as Mal from the Disney movie Descendants.
Her mom’s gift made the outfit complete. She gave Gianna a pair of black boots, just like Mal’s.
Gianna bubbled with enthusiasm as she opened her gifts: sparkly pencils and coloring books, fluffy unicorn pajamas, card games, glittery nail polish, hair chalk, a jewelry box and a kit for making her own jewelry.
She thanked everyone and went around the room giving hugs.
Gianna then sat beside her mom and they wrapped their arms around each other.
D’Agostino said the celebration exceeded all her expectations. And seeing her daughter’s happiness was a gift in itself.
“I just loved seeing her face light up,” she said. “When she’s happy, I’m happy. Doing something special for her just makes me feel good.”
"It doesn't matter where you came from. All that matters is where you are going.”
-- Brian Tracy
It’s been an interesting year. Let’s take a look back.
Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus rehearses its holiday music.
Managing editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma has rounded up the most popular stories of 2018 and corralled them into one spot. Go here to see what readers read the most.
Everybody has a profile. Even Kent County.
Cool, fun graphic
Counties have profiles? You bet! Thanks to the Kent County Administration and their most excellent bilingual survey, the secret is out: Kent County’s median age of 34.9 years old is more than five years younger than Michigan as a whole and 50 percent of the population of about 648,594 is 35-years-old or younger. Go here for the cool details.
Get ahead of the game.
Wouldn’t it be fun to pay your tax bill with Monopoly money?
You know that big tax cut we’ve all been hearing about? The one that has corporations so excited? Well, there’s a tiny bit of relief for single people and families, too. Standard deductions for single taxpayers nearly double from $6,350 for 2017 taxes to $12,000 for 2018 taxes (the ones you file in 2019). It might get confusing, but there’s free tax help here. Take advantage of it.
Fun fact:
April 11, 1954
According to Cambridge computer scientist William Tunstall-Pedoe and his search engine project, ‘True Knowledge’, that’s the ‘Most Boring Day in History‘. After sifting through and analyzing 300 million facts, ‘True Knowledge’ divined that on April 11, 1954, a general election was held in Belgium, Turkish academic Professor Abdullah Atalar was born, and an Oldham Athletic footballer by the name of Jack Shufflebotham died. That’s it. Nothing else that matters happened.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) finished the month of November having served an all-time record number of passengers. November 2018 saw an 18-percent growth year-over-year, putting the Ford Airport just shy of 3 million passengers served for 2018. (The airport would hit three million passengers served in December.)
November marks the eleventh record-breaking month in a row, and the airport has seen growth in 64 of the last 71 months. November 2018 was the busiest November ever, and at this point in the year GFIA has surpassed its annual total reached in every other year including 2017’s record setting 2.8 million passengers.
November 2018 had 272,438 passengers come through the Ford Airport, up from 230,946 in 2017. GFIA is up 16-percent in annual passenger totals.
“We have already surpassed last year’s record numbers with one of our busiest months still to go,” said GFIA Interim President & CEO Brian Picardat. “We are thankful for the support we receive from the West Michigan community. We continue to work to add more air service by working with our airline partners to add destinations that West Michigan travelers want to visit. As we continue to grow, we look forward to more big things in 2019.”
American Airlines began new nonstop service to Miami International Airport (MIA) and Phoenix- Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) earlier this week. Allegiant announced nonstop service to Sarasota-Bradenton (SRQ) in November which will begin in April 2019.
Another year is coming to a close. But before the calendar flips to 2019, we thought it would be fun to go down memory lane and take a look at some of the most popular WKTV stories of 2018.
In compiling this list, I took a look at both page views on a story, which indicates the number of people who clicked on the article, and also social media statistics. The result is a mix of both most read and shared articles from the WKTV website.
Leading the pack on both was the Widening project on 56th Street set to start around July 9. It certainly had an impact on the community, since it is a direct route to the RiverTown Crossings mall. The project, which included widening 56th Street to three lanes and adding a traffic signal to the intersection of 56th Street and Ivanrest Avenue, was completed on time and opened before the holiday season even started.
TwoGuys Brewery was another popular story coming out of Wyoming. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The City of Wyoming snagged quite a few of the top stories as the next was On Tap: Wyoming’s new TwoGuys Brewing plans to be community catalyst. If you love beer, then you will be thrilled to know that there are more breweries scheduled to open in the area. In Kentwood, Brewery Vivant is looking to expand its operations to the city and and a brewery co-op is also set to open soon. Also, in Byron Center, they are working quickly on the Railbird Brewery.
We enjoy working with many individuals and groups who bring us stories on a variety of topics. Alan Headbloom is one of those contributors who tapes his show “Feel Like You Belong.” The show focuses on the “real stories about the real people we call migrants.” These stories cover a gamut of people who have been seasonal workers picking produce to those who have made the United States their home. One story is from Nkechy Ezeh, an award-winning educator who developed the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, and another is from refugee survivor and mentor Metta Anongdeth.
The story by Dave Thompson on the statute of former astronaut Roger B. Chaffee was among our tops stories for 2018. (NASA)
Filmmaker Daniel Deal has been working with WKTV to produce a documentary about former astronaut Roger B. Chaffee, whose parents lived in the City of Wyoming. The project lead to a statute dedicated to the astronaut earlier this year. Community contributor Dave Thompson wrote the story, Statute of former astronaut Chaffee to be unveiled this Saturday.
Curator for the Jim Crow Museum shows some of the 135 photographs by David Levinthal donated to the museum in 2018 (Ferris State University)
A little known secret is that Ferris State University houses one of the largest collection of racist memorabilia in the world at the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia. In 2018, the museum received an artwork donation valued at more than $2 million with Ferris State University sharing the story with us in Jim Crow Museum of Racists memorabilia receives artwork donation valued at $2 million.
We also partnered with the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of Michigan to help bring awareness to this rare neurological disease.
The Grand Rapids Chorus of the Sweet Adelines was our top 2018 entertainment story.
That’s Entertainment
Entertainment stories are always popular throughout the year. This year, the Grand Rapids Chorus of the Sweet Adelines made the headlines with its regional win last May with people clamoring to see the group at its holiday concert. We’ll be checking back with the Sweet Adleines throughout 2019 as they prepare to head to the international competition in September. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s annual holiday music festival was a big hit especially since it featured several local high school groups and residents followed the success of a local group in the story GR’s own Super Future ready for big day at local Breakaway EDM festival.
Brandon Kimble was named the new head football coach for Godwin Heights.
Out sports coverage kicked off bigger this year with live coverage of games and stories on local teams. Starting it all off was the New Godwin Heights football coach talks football, mentoring. All the area teams worked hard toward playoff goals:
Jack, the therapy cat, was a huge hit with residents at Wyoming’s Vista Springs as well as the community at large.
Cat Tales
Managing Editor Victoria Mullen received a call inquiring if we would be interested in meeting Jack the Therapy cat (Jack, the therapy cat, puts a spark in the spirt). The story of Jack and his visits to Wyoming’s Vista Springs captured the hearts of many leading Jack and his owner Lynn Hopkins to win a $25,000 grant from Petco for Crash’s Landing (Therapy cat’s adoption story beats odds, hits jackpot).
In fact many of the Crash’s Landings’ cat features are popular with our social media groups. So we wanted to end 2018 on a happy note with the announcement that two of the top cats featured on the WKTV Journal, Smudgee and Otter, found their “fur”-ever homes.
By Kathy Jamieson, Michigan State University Extension
When you are offered a job, it can be very exciting and sometimes confusing at the same time. Whether this is your first job, you are considering a new job, or you have been out of work for a while, there are many things to consider when evaluating a job offer. Michigan State University Extension has many resources available to help you in your job search and to make career decisions. Your answers to the following questions may help you make a decision about your next job opportunity.
Candidness
Make sure you understand the job description, what your responsibilities will be and the employer’s expectations. Consider what you will like about the job and dislike about the job.
Are you willing, interested and able to perform the day to day tasks?
Were you frank about your qualifications for the position?
Compensation
One of the first things people want to know when offered a job is what is the wage or salary. Questions about compensation and benefits should take place after the interview, once an offer has been made. In addition to the money you will be paid, consider asking about employer-provided benefits.
Does the company offer a health plan, what are the options, how much are the employee paid deductibles and when does coverage begin?
What type of retirement plan is offered and does the employer contribute?
Is tuition reimbursement or training provided?
Are there employee discounts, travel, phone, car or uniform allowance or overtime opportunities?
How much sick leave, vacation time and/or holiday time is provided?
In order to calculate the true compensation of the job offer, a dollar value can be added for each benefit provided. The human resource link on the company webpage often also describes the benefits available to employees.
Company culture
The environment in which you work can play a major impact on how satisfied you will be on the job.
Can you describe the company’s culture?
Where will you be working?
Would you feel comfortable working in this environment?
Is the environment too noisy, quiet, fast-paced, competitive, casual, prim and proper, relaxed or energetic?
What are the hours you will be working and how flexible are they?
Are you required to work nights, weekends, holidays and/or overtime?
Commute
Consider the impact driving time may have.
How long is the commute to the job?
How much money in gas will it cost to work at the company?
Is travel required?
How often will you be traveling and to what locations?
Career development
When considering a job offer, think about the big picture. Ask yourself:
Does this job fit with my personal interest?
Will this job help you get your foot in the door of the field you’re pursuing?
Does this company offer opportunities for advancement?
Will training be provided?
Will this job help you achieve your longer-term career goals?
You may want to keep these questions in mind not only when deciding on a job offer, but also when looking for a job, networking,researching a company and during the interview. More information can lead to a better career decision.
The Kent District Library’s “Let It Snow” reading program for adults returns in January.
Adults (18 and older) who participate and read a minimum of six books in different categories between Wednesday, Jan. 2, and Sunday, March 31, will receive a Let It Snow coffee mug. Participants who finish an additional four titles are entered into a drawing to win either an iPad or a one-year Costco membership.
“Let it Snow is a fun and engaging program for adults to participate in during the dreary winter months,” said former Byron Township Youth Library Barb DeYoung. “With the book lists provided, readers can find new authors or select books they normally wouldn’t pick out. Cozying up with a good book is the perfect cure for those winter blahs!”
While the program doesn’t kick off util early January, those interested in participating can check out some of the recommended reads for Let It Snow.
For more on the Let It Snow program, visit kdl.org.
Somewhere between a short story and a full novel comfortably sits the novella. This is the short, sharp, and often brilliantly paced story that can be experienced in one or two sittings. Crystalline in structure, these stories sink in with intensity, revealing characters or situations that resonate long after the story is over. These are two of my favorites.
Mr. Summer’s Story by Patrick Suskind, illustrated by Sempe
This is the delightfully illustrated story of a boy profoundly affected by a few brief encounters with an enigmatic neighbor. The unnamed narrator tells of his experiences growing up in a small German village after World War II. While much of the story focuses on the joyful exuberance of youth and the frustrations of growing up, it is through the boy’s observation of the town’s most mysterious character, Mr. Summer, that we are told a much more compelling tale.
Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville
A comment on capitalism, obsession, and social norms, Bartleby is certainly one of literature’s most perplexing characters. Bartleby is hired as a copyist at a law firm on Wall Street in the 1850s. Through his polite and passive denials when asked anything from inquiries about his personal life to direct orders of the job, always replying with the allusive “I prefer not to,” Bartleby becomes increasingly exasperating to his colleagues. A character not easily forgotten.
An older adult’s health care provider can help to determine if they’re experiencing normal aging or if Type 2 diabetes is present. (Courtesy Michigan State University Extension)
According to the Michigan State University Geriatric Education Center of Michigan, Type 2 diabetes continues to increase in the United States population. For adults over the age of 65, diabetes occurs in approximately 27 percent and pre-diabetes occurs in 50 percent of this population. When caregivers think about the overall goals of care for their loved one, it is important to understand how diabetes affects the quality of life for older adults.
The American Geriatrics Society says that older people with diabetes experience higher rates of mental and physical disability and premature death. They are also more prone to develop other illnesses, like high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. In addition, they also have a greater risk for several conditions associated with the aging process, such as depression, reduced mental function, urinary incontinence, harmful falls, persistent pain and over-medication.
Is it normal aging or is it because of Type 2 diabetes?
In order to figure out how your loved one is affected by Type 2 diabetes, it is important to know how to recognize the difference between normal aging and health problems caused by diabetes. Aging and symptoms of Type 2 diabetes have some similarities: they both can bring on poor eyesight, fatigue, high blood pressure, depression, as well as more frequent urination and higher rates of heart disease and stroke.
Michigan State University Extension says that symptoms can also look similar, but for different reasons. With aging, there may be gait changes because of arthritis and osteoporosis, but gait changes with diabetes may result from neuropathy.
Restlessness and confusion sometimes occurs with normal aging, but with diabetes it results from very high or low blood sugar. Slower reaction time often occurs with normal aging, but for people with diabetes, it can be a result of high or low blood sugar.
These and other symptoms should be signs that our loved one needs to be assessed by your health care provider to determine if they are experiencing normal aging or if Type 2 diabetes is present. Signs of very high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) include increased urination for several days, dehydration, which develops because the person doesn’t drink enough liquids and a change in alertness from generalized fatigue to stupor, coma or seizures. These changes may be mistaken for a stroke or mental illness.
How can your health care provider help?
You will need to work with your older adult’s health care provider to determine plans that are based on the status of your loved one: the high functioning individual, older adults with memory loss and elders at the end of their life. Planning also needs to take into account the living situation of the older adult, how much caregiving and support the older adult needs and how much they actually have.
After a thorough assessment, your health care provider will determine a medicine regime. Insulin will be the quickest way to get a very high blood sugar under control. Then, it will be crucial for you and your loved one to attend diabetes education classes in your community.
The major goal is blood sugar management. Besides medications to resolve high blood sugar, the American Diabetes Association says that it’s also important to help your loved one to improve healthy eating habits and physical activity. Supporting your older loved one to manage their Type 2 diabetes is a real challenge. Reach out to the many community resources available to help you and your family meet the challenge of helping your loved one maintain a high quality life.
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).
Courageous Karlie’s story is nothing short of amazing—and quite unique in the fact that she came back to us in October of 2018 after having been lost for over 3 years!
Our gorgeous girl (born in January of 2012) initially came to us in early 2015 and had only spent 2 months at Crash’s before a wonderful gal adopted her and another of our kitties. Sadly, only a few months after her arrival into her new home she somehow got outside, and no matter how hard her new mom looked for her for months on end, Karlie was simply nowhere to be found.
Many of our volunteers offered their support in staking out the neighborhood, but as time wore on, our hopes were dashed and the thought of her returning to a home she was just getting comfortable in seemed improbable. To top things off, her owners ended up moving within the year, so even if our buxom beauty had tried to return to the house she darted from, there would have been no familiar faces waiting for her there. It was a heartbreaking situation.
Fast forward to a chilly autumn day when Dr. Jen received a call from the Kent County Animal Shelter stating that a kitty with a microchip registered to us had been brought in; when she was told WHO it was, she could hardly believe it as so much time had passed! Dr. Jen was extremely surprised when she went to retrieve Karlie that she was still pleasantly plump, leading the good doctor to believe that someone had been caring for this kitty—and quite well at that.
Given Karlie’s shy nature, we suspect that she may have been leery of strangers, but a food bowl—now that was an entirely different story! Regardless of where she was for the past three years, she was found just a few short blocks away from her home, which in itself is quite astounding; wherever she hunkered down proved to be a safe hiding spot as signs posted in the neighborhood and door-to-door canvasing were unrewarded efforts.
Once back in our care, Karlie turned out to be pretty darn healthy, although she needed a fractured tooth pulled and unfortunately turned up positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), meaning that somewhere along the line she was bitten by an infected cat harboring the virus. Since this sweet girl hasn’t a mean bone in her bodacious body, there is minimal risk of her transmitting it to another cat as she prefers to spend most of her time now posing for photo ops and lounging in laps; she is definitely making up for lost time!
It took Karlie a bit to acclimate and come out of her shell at our sanctuary (who can blame her for that?), but once she began to trust us, she became the biggest snuggle-bug! In fact, she adores her cat-checker so very much she begs to be carried around for hours while Amelie works—or tries to with a 13# cat in her arms. She has found comfort not only in the embrace of her caretakers but also in the company of her fellow felines, so we’d love to find her a fur-ever home with another kitty to cuddle up to.
Karlie is the epitome of a lazy, lovable lap cat but given her history, we need to be sure we place her in an environment that is not too hectic and will allow her to adjust at her own pace. If you have a heart that is open wide and arms that are longing to hold a creature that will treasure you for the rest of her days, Karlie is THE cat for you! And we have it on good authority that Karlie’s wandering days are over—she promises to stay put!
More about Karlie:
Extra large
Torbie, White
Adult
Female
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
FIV+
Spayed
Declawed
Good in a home with other cats
Want to adopt Karlie? 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.
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, visiting our studio is Wyoming Public Schools new Superintendent Craig Hoekstra, talking about his history and the future of his district, including what the district plans following the recent passage of a bond measure. Also on the show is the Kent County Friend of the Court, which works with the Circuit Court in the area of domestic relations but which has duties that are moving beyond simply investigation and enforcement.
Superintendent Hoekstra began his current duties in July of this year, but his history with Wyoming Public Schools runs deep, almost 30 years in fact. First as a student, then as a custodian, teacher, principal and, from 2015, as Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services. But we talk more about his and the district’s future than his past.
The Kent County Friend of the Court is the collection, enforcement and investigative arm of the Circuit Court in the area of domestic relations. We talk Daniel Fojtik, Friend of the Court Director, and Kent County Commissioner Harold Voorhees, on the FOC and its duties, as well as a recent report on the status of a series of Community Engagement Task Force Recommendations.
“WKTV Journal In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Reouhidi Ndjerareou has an imposing name and a matching vision for leadership across the continent of his native Africa. Join us in the studio where this itinerant son of a preacher man talks of navigating the tricky issues of geography and ethnic identity. Caught between the U.S. and birth country of Chad, Reouhidi shares with viewers his take on colonialism, cross-cultural relationships, and national empowerment. Be ready to be inspired.
Boost your metabolism by eating a wholesome breakfast each day. This is just one of a few ways to rev up your calorie-burner. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
By Spectrum Health Beat Staff
Unfortunately, it’s true: Our metabolism slows down as we age.
On average, we lose 2 to 8 percent of our muscle mass per decade, and that slows our metabolic rate.
A recent article in U.S. News & World Report cites the importance of maintaining lean muscle to combat the decline.
“Strength training can help decrease this process, but adjusting your diet to eat less is also critical,” said Jill Graybill, a registered dietitian at Spectrum Health.
You can speed up your metabolism, but don’t be fooled by claims that popping a few supplements or eating certain foods will get the job done, Graybill cautioned.
“There is a lot of misinformation on this subject,” she said. “Most of it is smoke and mirrors.”
Genetics can give some people an edge, but the best way to increase your metabolism is to adopt a few good habits, including these:
1. Build resistance
Use resistance exercise to build more lean muscle mass. More muscle burns more calories, even at rest.
2. Eat breakfast
The morning meal has been shown to jump-start the metabolic process.
3. Eat every four hours
This little trick speeds up your metabolism. Skipping meals slows it down.
4. Think protein
Include protein each time you eat. It takes more energy to break down, again, revving up your metabolic rate. Sources include dairy, nuts, seeds, beans, eggs and meat. Plus, protein is slower to digest, so you feel full longer.
5. Eat enough
Yes, even while losing weight. A diet that is too low in calories slows your metabolism to a crawl. Don’t sabotage your efforts by eating too little. Most people should not go lower than 1,200 calories a day or they risk not meeting their nutritional needs. Only go lower if you’re under medical supervision.
Obesity has a way of creeping up on us. Naturally, throughout our lifespan our weight increases, but if you have seen a dramatic increase in you or your child’s weight, especially around the waistline, it may be time to think about what is contributing to the excessive weight gain.
Obesity is a complex problem in our society, there is no easy fix. According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, genetics, drugs and disease can all affect weight along with social and cultural factors such as our environment, how we eat, what we eat and when we eat.
The topic of obesity is constantly in the media, and is a component of the nutrition education offered by Michigan State University Extension. The four-part documentary series, Weight of the Nation, which premiered on HBO in 2012 examines how it has been possible that the epidemic has grown almost undisturbed, stealing self-identity and our health by talking to experts ranging from geneticists, to professors to pediatric endocrinologists.
It is easy to recognize obesity and yet feel no connection to the obesity epidemic. This lack of attachment is part of the reason why it flourishes, but if we are honest with ourselves and believe the statistics, we can see that the obesity epidemic lurks very close to home.
When we are overweight, our bodies begin to break down over time, making us more prone to certain chronic diseases. Chronic health risks associated with obesity include:
Coronary heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure
Type 2 diabetes
Cancers, such as endometrial, breast and colon cancer
High total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides
Liver and gallbladder disease
Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
Degeneration of cartilage and underlying bone within a joint (osteoarthritis)
Reproductive health complications such as infertility
Mental health conditions
Disease prevention and self-management are ammunition in the battle against obesity. Regularly visiting your doctor is the first point of contact in developing prevention and self-management strategies.
Other strategies include good nutrition, being physically active and controlling your weight. Other weight management resources include Michigan State University Extension’s weight management, chronic disease, and disease prevention management programs, along with the Center for Disease Control, Overeaters Anonymous and the National Institute of Mental Health.
Regardless of whether you love or hate winter weather, sometimes going outside for some exercise is impossible during the colder months. But even when it’s chilly, staying active is a must for health and happiness. Here are four great tips for active senior living when snow, ice, and freezing temperatures have you stuck inside:
1. Do simple exercises any time, anywhere
Who needs equipment? There are a variety of strength, flexibility, and balance exercises that don’t require anything but a stable floor. Be sure to stretch before working out, and talk to a doctor about which exercises are best for you.
Strength
Squats: With your arms straight in front of you for balance, bend your knees slightly and hold for a few breaths.
Push-ups: Try keeping your knees on the floor as you press your body up slowly.
Flexibility
Seated toe-touch: Don’t worry if you can’t reach your toes right away. Go slow!
Arm lifts: From a standing or seated position, lift your arm to shoulder height, then next to your ear, then bring it down to your side with control.
Balance
One-legged stand: Use supports, and don’t lift your leg higher than it wants to go.
Stair step-ups: No need for speed as you step onto a stair or low stool one foot at a time, then back down. Hold on one leg for a few breaths if possible.
Use walls, sturdy chairs, and handrails for support.
2. Hit the gym
Getting your cardio in is harder and less fun when you can’t head outside for a walk, run, or swim. Gym equipment like treadmills, stationary bikes, and ellipticals, as well as indoor pools, tennis courts, and more are great ways to keep your body moving when the outdoors isn’t an option. In an assisted living community, check out gym spaces and workout rooms; otherwise, check around local gyms to find an affordable option that works with your schedule.
3. Check out a fitness class
New fitness classes are springing up everywhere! Check out community boards, websites, and local gyms for senior-friendly courses. Try different variations of yoga, tai chi, low-impact barre, or dance classes like ballroom or Zumba. These fitness trends are exciting and get you motivated to exercise. The best part is that there’s a class for everyone!
4. Get active with gaming
Gaming isn’t just for couch potatoes any more. There are lots of fun games designed to get people interested in exercising. Take a look at Wii Fitness for the Nintendo Wii, which has a variety of mini-games, including yoga and strength training, stretches, and some silly exercises. You won’t even believe you’re working out!
A more recent development in gaming technology is virtual reality headsets. With these types of systems, you control the games with your body. These games get you moving, and they’re also great with family and friends. Try something new, and who knows? You might love it.
When exercising, always remember to not push yourself too far. Healthy, active senior living is about taking care of your mind and body all the time. Staying fit, limber, and strong contributes to overall wellness, so even when the weather outside is frightful, keep yourself moving!
By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
What library would be complete without Kevin Henkes’s wonderful picture book, Chrysanthemum? This book tells the story of a young mouse’s first experience at school and the confusion she feels over having a unique name. The story touches on teasing and self-confidence in a gentle and humorous way. Although targeted at pre-school and kindergarten readers, it appeals to slightly older children as well through the universal experiences of Chrysanthemum. A nice family read with a fun twist at the end.
Shug by Jenny Han, follows Annemarie “Shug” Wilcox through the perils of seventh grade: new friends, first crushes and a new school. Han appeals to a wide audience through a main character who is not your average girl. Shug is believable—a real person with real problems, normal family issues and less than perfect solutions. While some of the situations seem more likely to happen to a slightly older girl, Jenny Han is right on with the details, and readers will empathize with Shig’s experiences.
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar uses humor through the viewpoint of a geeky kid named Scott who approaches high school with a very different perspective than his older brother Bobby. Scott sets out to win a classmate’s heart by joining the school newspaper, running for student council and auditioning for a play. Although Bobby is popular with the girls, Scott becomes invisible. Many of Scott’s difficulties appear as hilarious lists dedicated to helping his unborn sibling make it safely through high school. The situations Scott encounters are realistic, and Lubar has a superb comic sense.
Bass Ackward and Belly Up by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain looks at four girls embarking on their first year of college. Written in chapters that feature each of the characters (similar to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books by Ann Brashares), the story covers four months of their lives as they follow their various dreams. At first, this book appears to be somewhat predictable, but the authors stay true to the characters Harper, Kate, Sophie and Becca in developing the story and keeping it real.
By Michelle Fitzgerald, LMSW, Maternal Infant Health Program Social Worker, Cherry Street Health Center
Parents and caregivers focus a great deal on a child’s health. Children go to regular doctor’s appointments, Women Infants and Children (WIC) teaches about healthy nutrition, and extra care is taken when there are sniffles and sneezes. Sometimes social-emotional health is overlooked, but adequate social-emotional development will help a child to live a healthy and happy life.
You might be wondering what social-emotional means; it’s about how your child interacts with the world around him/her, and how he/she manages and controls emotions. Good social-emotional development leads to success with friends as well as adjusting well to changes and challenges. Children with good social-emotional skills can focus more effectively in school, have fewer behavior problems and bounce back from difficult encounters. In short, these skills are very important!
How can you help your child develop these crucial skills?
Physical touch: This starts at birth with skin to skin contact and continues throughout childhood with hugs and positive physical touch.
Communication: Talk to your child at their level and listen to them– reading is also a great activity.
Realistic expectations: Familiarize yourself with developmental steps for your child’s age. You can sign up for free developmental questionnaires for your child from birth to age 5 here.
Be a good role model: Your child learns from you; show them how to handle frustration, how to listen and how to share.
Positive discipline: Set your child up for success. For example, don’t yell at your baby for putting something dangerous in their mouth; you know your baby will put everything in their mouth, so keep the dangerous items out of reach! Set good boundaries for your child and be consistent in enforcing those boundaries.
This is a very short list of activities to get you started! Find more information on social-emotional health below:
Aliyah Rivera unwrapped a large present handed to her by her friend, senior Lauren Gonzalez. Inside was a large painting kit with lots of tools for creating masterpieces.
Social worker Nicholle Smith hugs senior Avalon Dexter after receiving bus passes to give to students who have transportation needs
The kit was Aliyah’s wish come true through Winter Wishes, hosted by the Student Council. The Wyoming High School senior, while expressing thanks and excitement, said she hopes to major in art education in college. “It’s going to help me with my portfolio.
“I feel so honored and really happy to be one of the people that makes someone else happy,” said Lauren, Student Council vice president. “People get really joyful when they open a gift.”
Student Council members played elves on the mid-December afternoon, stopping by classrooms to fulfill gift requests submitted by their peers. They usually adopt a district family for Christmas, but this year decided to spread the love among the student body. Winter Wishes is modeled after an idea created by Jostens Renaissance to build climate and culture.
Junior Jabari Pennington opens his gift
“It’s more personal because we get to see the impact it has on them and know we are giving it to our students, said adviser Anna Servo. “Some might not have money to buy Christmas gifts, and some might have friends that just need a pick-me-up.”
Students spent $1,500 in council funds to grant 40 of 70 wishes, which ranged from candy and fuzzy socks to several Class of 2019 senior sweatshirts.
Several students and teachers made wishes to give to others.
Social worker Nicolle Smith’s request was filled for fifteen 10-ride city bus passes to help students with transportation needs.
A cart full of granted wishes
Special education teacher Cathy Kammega received a bowling ball to give to a Special Olympics Michigan athlete. Junior Marshaun Morris received a $15 Target gift card to buy his mother a Christmas present.
Junior Callie Seymour wished for flowers to deliver to her sister, Courtney Seymour, a fourth-grader at West Elementary School. “I knew it would surprise her. She is always looking up to me and I thought it would make her happy.”
Council members were so touched by Callie’s request that they presented Callie with her own flower and a $10 iTunes gift card.
There was a lot of chopping, dicing and tossing going on at Valleywood Middle School, where students learn culinary basics — and get to taste the results.
Seventh-grader Arianna Cruz holds up her finished salad
Cooking club, an extracurricular activity that’s been offered to sixth-through-eighth graders for more than a decade, brings students together for an hour and 15 minutes to learn to cook, from food prep to finished dish. “I’m a big believer in making things from scratch,” said instructor Cheryl Meyer, a volunteer who loves to cook for her family. “I really want to empower kids so they can make things from scratch, so they can go to the grocery store, look at a recipe and know they can make anything.”
On a recent afternoon, about a dozen students prepared cabbage ramen noodle salad, each challenged with adding their own flair such as apples to add tang, or carrots and broccoli to create a medley of veggies.
There’s a different recipe each session with fried chicken, gravy and biscuits being among the most popular. Students get to take their dishes home. “I do want the kids to know food is a blessing for their friends and families,” Meyer said.
Eighth-grader Mari’azia Broyles wants to be a baker someday and is thinking about launching a cooking vlog. “I’ve learned how to use knives and things the right way, and what not to do. I like cooking!”
Seventh-grader Zachary Kwekel has a personal goal for the class. “One day I hope to make breakfast for my mom.”
Christmas is over, the presents unwrapped, leftovers are eaten, friends and family have gone home, and now there’s that pesky tree to deal with. So many real Christmas trees end up on the curb headed for the landfill, but we have a better solution! Recycle your Christmas tree at Lewis Farms & Petting Zoo as a delicious treat for our herd of goats.
“We’ve
been asking for tree donations after Christmas for a number of years
now,” says owner Cindy Lewis, “The goats can devour a tree in a matter
of minutes, they get very excited!”
Pine needles are a natural worm control for goats and are full of vitamin C so they make a nice healthy snack in addition to their regular diet of hay and grain. The goats are accustomed to seeing people every day from May to October when we are open. After the farm closes for the season they can get a little bored and lonely. Having an abundance of trees on hand helps to break up the boredom and gives the goats something to look forward to!
If your family would like to spread a little extra Christmas cheer and donate your tree to the goats, we know they would certainly appreciate it. We will be accepting trees through the end of January here at the farm, 4180 W M-20 New Era, MI 49446. The drop off location is in the main parking lot marked with the sign “Thank you for the tree-mendous treat!” Please, no flocked trees, and make sure that all decorations are removed. Tinsel loses its luster when half-digested in a pile of goat droppings!
The holidays are always a time of year full of fun and a flurry of activities. Some people may be afraid that living in a senior community means missing out on some of the good times, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Assisted living communities have a lot of great ways to celebrate the holidays, from religious and spiritual services to festive activities and holiday outings.
We have put together a list of our favorite ways to celebrate the holidays, many of which are already happening in our Vista Springs communities. We’re wishing all of our community members joy this holiday season!
Trips to local churches or chapel
Many churches and other places of worship have special holiday
services that you may want to attend. Assisted living communities will
often organize trips to visit places, or if there is a service you want
to attend that doesn’t have a specially planned trip, speaking to your
event organizer can help you plan a visit.
Visits from local dance and music groups
Local dance companies, choirs, and bands have winter or Christmas
programs that they love to share. Many senior living communities like
Vista Springs will invite these groups to come and perform, so make sure
have get an event schedule so you don’t miss out on anything.
Pop-up vendors and shops
Pop-up shops and holiday vendors will often come visit communities
and bring the best of holiday shopping right to you! Not only does this
provide a great way to socialize with the rest of your community, but
you can get great deals on gifts for your family and friends all from
the comfort of your own front door. Usually these are one day events, so
if you plan on attending make sure to keep room on your schedule.
Craft projects
Ever wanted to make a pinecone wreath? A special ornament? A tiny
Christmas tree? Assisted living communities like Vista Springs have
these and any number of other fun craft projects
that you can take part in. Have a good time and feel like a kid again
while getting a little messy with glue and ribbons. Crafts are a great
way to get into the holiday spirit.
Community decorating
Most senior living communities will ask residents to help them put up
decorations around the common spaces. Decorate trees with ornaments,
hang garland, and put out table centerpieces to give the entire space
that homey holiday feel. Some communities also have decorating contests
to see who can make their doorway the most festive, so you can go all
out and show your decorating skills to everyone.
Cookie decorating
Everyone likes cookies, and during the holidays that’s especially
true. Assisted living communities can have cookie decorating activities
so you can have fun and eat your work. If there aren’t cookies, see if
there are any gingerbread house constructing or decorating activities
planned in your community.
Trips to music performances
When local groups can’t come and perform at your community, you can
get a chance to go and see them someplace else. Many assisted living
communities, Vista Springs included, will plan trips to go see concerts
and other live music performances wherever their normal venue is. Enjoy a
nice trip out and listen to good music to help you keep in the holiday
spirit.
Outings to local events
Similar to trips to listen to music, assisted living
communities can have planned outings to event spaces that are holding
holiday displays or special gatherings to celebrate the holidays.
Parades, light displays, or house and garden tours are all examples of
events that your community can have plans to see. One of our favorites
is the Christmas light show at Fifth-Third Ballpark in Grand Rapids.
Visits to tree farms
Another fun place to visit over for the holidays are Christmas tree
farms. While you might not be planning on taking a tree home with you,
there are plenty of other ways to enjoy yourself and get some fresh air.
Look at local crafts and handmade decorations, and relax with the smell
of pine trees with other community members.
Community group performances
Many assisted living communities have their own choirs and other
groups that put on holiday performances. Maybe you are even part of one!
These ensembles have put a lot of work into their programs, so make
sure to show up and support your community members as they entertain.
Movie viewings and game nights
Watch your favorite holiday movies or play fun board games with other
community members. While you might have movie or game nights other
times of the year, during the holidays there are often special treats
like cocoa and snacks to help you get in the holiday mood and get the
most out of community gatherings.
Dinner parties
Almost all communities will have a dinner party planned where you can
invite family and friends to come and visit you at your home and
celebrate together. Most of these parties happen early on in December,
so if you have family members that you won’t be able to see later on in
the year this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some special time
together.
The festivities of the holidays can be found anywhere, especially in your assisted living community. With all these activities, you can have holiday fun every day of the month.
Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict with NBC, Jenna Bush Hager is no longer able to fulfill her commitment to speak at Calvin College’s 2019 January Series. Her twin sister, Barbara Pierce Bush, has graciously agreed to fill her spot on Thursday, Jan. 10.
Barbara is the co-founder of Global Health Corps and co-author of Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life, which takes readers on an extraordinary and deeply personal journey behind the scenes of what it is like to be born into a political dynasty, revealing never-before-told stories about the Bush family, and uncovering the enduring sisterly bond that kept them sane through it all.
The January Series runs from 12:30-1:30pm EST Monday through Friday in the Covenant Fine Arts Center on Calvin’s campus. And, the series is also available in more than 50 cities throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. In 2018, nearly 80,000 people enjoyed the series live between on-campus, remote sites, and audio livestream. Go here for more information.
"May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility." - Author Mary Anne Radmacher
Kentwood resident Cecilia Nguyen (far left holding the nutcracker) stars as Clara in the Grand Rapids Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.”
Tiny Dancer
There is still time to catch Kentwood resident Cecilia Nguyen in the role of Clara at the Grand Rapids Ballet’s presentation of “The Nutcracker.” The show runs through Sunday, Dec. 23 at the DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW. The production features the world-famous design of Chris Van Allsburg (“The Polar Express,” “Jumanji,”) Broadway-quality sets by Tony Award winner Eugene Lee (“Wicked,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Saturday Night Live”), festive choreography by Val Caniparoli, and live music from the Grand Rapids Symphony. For tickets, visit grballet.com.
The Santa’s Rocket Express is now on display at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Holiday Memories
Remember those days of yore when you and your family visited the Herpolsheimer and rode the Santa’s Rocket Express? The Grand Rapids Public Museum has the train on display for the holidays. Speaking of the Public Museum, the organization will be hosting its Snowflake Break activities again this year centered around two exhibits: “Expedition: Dinosaur” and “TOYS!” Or take a trip down memory lane to the mall, where many people will be this weekend, as WKTV takes a look at how malls in America not only changed shopping habits, but holiday traditions as well.
The Ford Airport has a few tips for those flying home, or just traveling, over the holidays.
According to Stafford University, Americans throw away about 25 percent more extra trash during the holidays with the extra trash being about 25 million tons of garbage. Want to help reduce that? The Kent County Department of Public Works has a few suggestions.
After losing to Class A neighbor East Kentwood High School by only six points in the season opener, Class B South Christian put many teams on notice this year that the Sailors are for real.
If they can put away last year’s OK-Green Conference Champion, and local rival Unity Christian, this week they may mark themselves as a team to be contended with this season in the OK-Gold.
When it comes to Friday nights game, South Christian has another reason to be excited — the Sailors will be opening up their new home floor, Located at 7979 Kalamazoo Ave in Gaines Township, to the South Christian community.
And WKTV’s Featured Game coverage crew will be there.
Entering this week’s game with a 2-2 record following an impressive win over Caledonia, Sailors coach Jeff Meengs credits the team’s early success to the defensive side of the ball.
“Defensively, because we have so many seniors, we’ve been pretty good right from the beginning,” said Meengs. “Especially against Holland Christian. We played some really good defense against them.”
Traditionally known as a high-scoring program, however, Meengs hopes his kids can continue working the ball down the court as a team.
“We have a lot of guys who like to score and can score,” said Meengs. “They’re learning how to play together in that context.”
WKTV Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
See West Michigan from a different side by going behind the scenes. These tours show things you might not see on an ordinary visit, from secret wine cellars to private tastings. You’ll receive the inside scoop on everything West Michigan during these in-depth tours.
Tour Something Unique
Get a behind the scenes look at something fun and unique! These are places that will make your visit truly special.
Schedule a group visit to Henderson Castle in Kalamazoo: Henderson Castle is the ideal place for groups of all types to gather and tour. Choose one of their tour packages or customize your experience to create exactly what you’re looking for. Tours can be scheduled to be self-guided or guided through the three-story historic castle and the surrounding property.
Holland is home to a local bowl manufacturer, crafting wooden bowls for over 150 years. Learn about their process and uniqueness of their bowls with a guided tour.
Head to Chocolates by Grimaldi in Grand Haven for a fun factory tour, and learn about the creation of chocolate, from pod and bean to delicious delicacies! Taste fresh samples right off the line and visit their production area to see where the magic is done. They use a 1950s enrober just like on I Love Lucy! Tours will not be available from November 12th to December 31st due to the holiday season.
A tour of the Kilwins Chocolate Kitchen in Petoskey is a must-see on your next visit to northern Michigan. Tours run Monday through Friday and include a comprehensive review of how Kilwins makes truffles, chocolates, caramel, brittles, and other confections. Of course, there are free samples at the end of each tour!
Beer is a way of life in West Michigan. If you have a favorite brewery, odds are that they offer behind the scenes tours. See what goes into making your favorite brews on these specially crafted tours!
Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids created the Founders Education Department to give the public fun ways to learn more about their favorite brewery. They offer several in-depth classes to teach you about the brewery, beer and food pairings, and brewery tours. There’s a lot to learn to become a craft beer expert, and Founders is here to set you down the right path.
Bell’s Brewery offers free tours at both their Kalamazoo and Comstock locations. Their original, Kalamazoo brewery is where beers like Amber and Oberon were first brewed. Their Comstock Brewery is home to their 50-barrel and 200-barrel brewhouse, located on 30 acres, and only a short 7-mile drive from Kalamazoo. This facility is designed to allow guests a first-hand look at their brewing process, fermentation, and packaging, and also includes two complimentary samples.
Dark Horse Brewing Company in Marshall has guided tours that will help you discover the process of producing the perfect craft beer, bottling it, and tasting the outcome. The tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday and end with a visit to the VIP lounge for a tasting in your souvenir pint glass.
Great Legs Winery, Brewery & Distillery in Holland is happy to provide complimentary behind the scenes tours of their compact production facility. They produce everything on-site and they’ll be bottling wines again in the near future. Want to observe the bottling experience? Call or email Great Legs to secure your spot!
Every Saturday, Saugatuck Brewing Company hosts Brewery Tours. The cost is $7.50 and includes beer samples, an SBC logoed pint glass or growler, and a full tour of all their facilities. The tour is open to the first twenty paid ticket holders, so get there early!
There’s a lot that goes into your favorite wine or cider. Find a whole new appreciation for your beverage of choice with these in-depth tours!
A fall stop at the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula often offers the opportunity to see the fall harvest in action. Pay attention as you approach the wineries to see the staff in the vineyards picking and gathering grapes for your favorite wines. Some wineries even offer tours and guided tastings, so you can get a peek behind the curtain or learn more about wine from the experts!
Set your sights on Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay in a whole new way! Plan your trip and enjoy a 45-minute guided tour through the breathtaking property, including the exclusive inn, centennial barn, and wine cave, all while learning the history of this iconic 160-acre estate and the incredible journey from grape to glass. The tour concludes with a premium tasting (souvenir glass included), featuring Black Star Farms’ award-winning wine, cider, and spirits.
Visit Traverse City and take a complimentary tour of the Chateau Grand Traverse’s grounds and winemaking facility, taking you through the winemaking process from harvest to bottling. All tours begin on their vineyard overlook deck, where your tour guide will highlight winery history and outline their growing practices. The tour will proceed into the winemaking facilities, where you will see first-hand how their wine is made.
Join Dablon Winery in Baroda on a winemaker led walking tour through their world-class vineyard, winery, and underground barrel cellar. You will experience the many components involved in creating first-class wines. Their winemaker will explain how their grapes are planted and cared for, as well as the barrel aging process. The $20 ($15 for Dablon Wine Club Members) tour also includes a wine tasting of their small-batch, handcrafted wines.
At Fenn Valley Vineyards in Fennville, tours are offered based on the season. Fenn Valley believes wine should be approachable. These tours are pretty in-depth, running an hour and forty-five minutes in length, and involve wine tasting throughout to illustrate the various points being made. During select times of the year, they also offer specially designed tours involving food and wine.
Great Legs Winery, Brewery & Distillery in Holland is happy to provide complimentary behind the scenes tours of their compact production facility. They produce everything on-site and they’ll be bottling wines again in the near future. Want to observe the bottling experience? Call or email Great Legs to secure your spot!
St. Julian Winery’s main location in Paw Paw offers free tours year round. Get more out of your experience by upgrading to a Standard or Enhanced Tour & Tasting. Standard Tours include six samples of your choice and a complimentary logo glass to take home. The Enhanced Tour & Tasting consists of an extended tour and your choice of a cheese or chocolate pairing option. Their wine educators will offer an intimate, in-depth education on the winemaking process from bud-break to bottling.
Take a tour to learn about making proper cider at Virtue Cider in Fennville. From pressing apples into juice to the ins and outs of barrel-aging, you’ll get to know Virtue and the traditional methods they use for their ciders. Virtue Cider offers three different experiences: the Cidermaker Tour, Production Tour, and Family Farm Tour. The Cidermaker Tour focuses on how Virtue Cider crafts the perfect cider, while the Production Tour takes you through the basics of their process. The Family Farm Tour is a tailored experience for families, letting the young ones meet some of the farm animals and taste non-alcoholic cider. Tours can be booked on their website.
Distilleries are finding their place in Michigan’s craft beverage scene. To learn more about this exciting industry, take a tour and talk to the experts!
Coppercraft Distillery offers tours at their Holland location, available Thursday through Saturday. These tours take you through the process of creating premium, small-batch spirits by hand using local ingredients. Learn how Coppercraft uses corn and grains from a local Holland farm to make their bourbon.
Gray Skies Distillery, located on the north side of Grand Rapids, began whiskey production in December 2015. Last year, Gray Skies began offering weekend tours to guests looking to learn more about craft whiskey and peek behind the scenes at the distillery. They offer two tours: their Gray Skies Tour and the Craft Whiskey Tour, both offering guests insight and samples.
Drop by and take a tour of the Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks. See first hand how whiskey is made and explore the history of the Featherbone Factory. Tours at Journeyman Distillery include a general overview of the production process along with a unique historical perspective on the building itself. Journeyman Distillery is located in an 1800s factory building with several unique architectural and historical talking points. Most importantly, at the end of the tour, you’ll have a chance to sample Journeyman’s finest spirits.
Visit Long Road Distillers in Grand Rapids for a tour, where visitors are taken through the distilling process and the principles behind it. You’ll get the chance to know what’s in your glass and where it came from. Each tour is conducted by a distilling expert who is friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to answer any question. Best of all, after learning about the spirits, you get to try them!
Great Legs Winery, Brewery & Distillery in Holland is happy to provide complimentary behind the scenes tours of their compact production facility. They produce everything on-site and they’ll be bottling wines again in the near future. Want to observe the bottling experience? Call or email Great Legs to secure your spot!
It’s easy to get a behind the scenes look at your favorite places in West Michigan. These tours take you to multiple places, making it easier than ever to get a peek behind the curtain.
Guided tours are a great way to experience the Saugatuck/Douglas area, as many of them are tailored toward specific interests like food, beverage, art, or activities like running or biking. The brewery tour at Saugatuck Brewing Company gives you a look at what goes into your favorite beers, with samples along the way! If wine is more your thing, the Fall Vineyard Tours at Fenn Valley includes a wine tasting, tour of the vineyard, explanation of how the grapes are grown, and a look into their wine-making process. The area offers more tours, ranging from art and fall colors to the lakeshore.
If you want a unique way to tour the Grand Rapids beer scene, take a ride with the Great Lakes Pub Cruiser. Hop on this 15-person party bike with your friends and family as you make your way around Grand Rapids, stopping at bars, breweries, and restaurants along the way. Personalize your tour and choose the stops and route that you want.
Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel offers Adult Tour Groups. These tours provide an unforgettable setting for any group, with its distinctive dining and accommodations, as well as Afternoon Tea, golf, biking, swimming, and many other activities. In addition, there’s plenty to explore on Mackinac Island. All group tour rates include meals and accommodations.
Grand Valley State University’s Beckering Family Carillon will fill the air above Grand Rapids with the sounds of the season during a special holiday concert.
The concert will take place on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, from 9:30-10:15 p.m. on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, and will be performed by Julianne Vanden Wyngaard, university carillonneur. The concert will be free and all Grand Valley parking lots will be open to the public.
The Beckering Family Carillon Tower was dedicated in fall 2000 with the support of the Beckering family of Pioneer Construction. The 151-foot bell tower completes the look of a European village square on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus and contains 48 bronze bells cast at the Paccard Bell Foundry in France. The largest bell, called the “bourdon,” weighs 4,500 pounds; the smallest weighs 25 pounds.
For more information, contact the Music, Theatre, and Dance Department at 616-331-3484. Please note that Grand Valley State University will be closed from Dec. 24-Jan. 1.
Like many adult children, you want your loved ones to live a healthy and happy life. When they need advanced care, you’re left with a tough decision. The idea of moving to an assisted living community is still uncharted territory for many, crawling with misconceptions. A significant portion of what we think we know is influenced by media depictions. How many times did we see Dorothy from the Golden Girls threaten her mother, Sophia with going back to the dreaded Shady Pines retirement home? Too many!
Believe it or not, those who enter an assisted living community are not subject to cruel or unusual punishment. In fact, most seniors have the opposite experience. Assisted living can be the solution you and your loved one have been dreaming about. So, If you are just starting your research or just want to know more, here are three things you didn’t know about assisted living.
It’s Just Like Home. When considering assisted living for a loved one, it’s easy to picture a shared, sterile, hospital-like room. If that’s what comes to your mind, you probably think that’s no place to live a happy, fulfilling life. We agree! That would be a horrible place to live. Luckily, you don’t have to.
It might surprise you to know many assisted living communities encourage seniors to personalize their living arrangements to feel like home. Some even welcome furry friends. They can be similar to apartments regarding privacy, and often include amenities like a personal bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen area.
Vista Springs consists of 11 uniquely themed senior communities in Michigan and Ohio. Check out a few of our location to get a feel for what you can expect here.
Independence. Being a part of an assisted living community has the ability to give seniors a newfound sense of freedom and independence. When seniors have limited mobility, which frequently comes with age, there can be a decrease in their overall well-being. A few vital services assisted living communities provide is access to transportation, housekeeping and laundry services, and meal preparation. Service like these are essential for older adults with cognitive or physical impairments.
Different Levels of Care. Searching for an assisted living community can be overwhelming. With so many care options available how can you be sure you’re making the right choice? It’s important to recognize not all senior communities provide the same level of care. It often depends on the community’s licensing. Many states have a tiered system of licensing whereby communities with a higher degree of licensing are able to provide more care. Being aware of what care options are offered can help you find the perfect place where your loved one can live life to the fullest without worrying about managing care. Compare some of our Vista Springs care services listed here.
A home is more than just the essential amenities. It’s feeling a connection to one’s community. Finding a good fit is important for solidifying that bond. The right assisted living community allows your loved ones to stay healthy while focusing on living their best life.
Birthday celebrations for children have become grand and often expensive affairs. People share photos of meticulously planned and themed parties for their children and there’s often a lot of social pressure to have the perfect party for your child. These parties can be expensive, difficult to plan and stressful. There are lots of meaningful ways to celebrate your child’s birthday that aren’t big, fancy parties. Michigan State University Extension has some ideas for alternative birthday celebrations for your child.
Community service or volunteer project. Encourage your child to spend their birthday giving back. Find a community service or volunteer project that matches your child’s interests. Your animal-loving child can volunteer at an animal shelter, or your nature-loving child could participate in a river clean up.
Go on an adventure. Even if you can’t take a big vacation, you could have a mini-getaway for your child’s birthday, even if it’s just a day trip. Hop in the car and take a mini-road trip to visit someplace you’ve never been or visit family or friends.
Plan an event. Allow your child to pick an event to attend on or around their birthday. Maybe there’s a play, concert or sporting event they would love to see. You could also offer to bring a few of their closest friends to really make the event special.
Make it a day of surprises. You can plan your child’s day and not tell them what will happen—make it a day of surprises. Plan a special meal, trip or activity, something you know your child will love! Surprise them with a list of the reasons that you love them, or with the people they love to be around.
Have a day of favorites. Give your child a day of favorites—eat their favorite meals, do their favorite things, see their favorite people, watch their favorite movie. Make their special day all about what makes them special.
Make it meaningful. However you celebrate your child’s birthday, you can make it a really meaningful day. Have your child reflect on their last year: What were they most proud of? What were their successes? What friends did they make? What did they accomplish? Ask them to think about what they wish for the next year: What do they want to achieve/get better at/explore?
Despite the many Pinterest pages devoted to excessive children’s birthday parties, your child’s celebration does not need to be big, extravagant or expensive to be special. Choose a celebration that works for your family, your budget and what it is you really want to celebrate.
For more articles on child development, academic success, parenting and life skill development, please visit the Michigan State University Extension website.
To learn about the positive impact children and families experience due to MSU Extension programs, read our 2017 impact report. Additional impact reports, highlighting even more ways Michigan 4-H and MSU Extension positively impacted individuals and communities in 2017, can be downloaded from the Michigan 4-H website.
America faces an epidemic of youth e-cigarette use, which threatens to engulf a new generation in nicotine addiction and lung damage. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
More than 20 percent of high school students use electronic cigarettes, risking nicotine addiction, lung damage and the temptation to try traditional smokes, U.S. health officials reported.
Between 2011 and 2018, the number of high school teens who started vaping, as e-cigarette use is called, increased from 220,000 (1.5 percent) to just over 3 million (20.8 percent), according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“These new data show that America faces an epidemic of youth e-cigarette use, which threatens to engulf a new generation in nicotine addiction,” Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, said in a news release.
Those startling statistics have prompted federal health officials to take action.
On Thursday, U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb announced that his agency was seeking to stop the sale of flavored e-cigarettes other than mint and menthol flavors to minors.
His proposals include having stores that sell vaping products make them available only in age-restricted areas. In addition, Gottlieb called for stricter age verification for e-cigarettes sold online.
“By one measure, the rate of youth e-cigarette use almost doubled in the last year, which confirms the need for FDA’s ongoing policy proposals and enforcement actions. HHS’s work will continue to balance the need to prevent youth use of e-cigarettes with ensuring they are available as an off-ramp for adults who are trying to quit combustible [tobacco] cigarettes,” Azar said.
The findings were reported in the Nov. 16 issue of the CDC publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
“The youth use of e-cigarettes is at an epidemic level. It’s truly troubling,” said Erika Sward, assistant vice president for national advocacy at the American Lung Association.
E-cigarettes are a gateway to smoking regular cigarettes, she said. Moreover, chemicals in them can cause lung damage and result in addiction to nicotine.
According to the new report, e-cigarette use among high school students increased 78 percent from 2017 to 2018.
During the same year, the use of flavored e-cigarettes among high school students already using e-cigarettes increased from 61 percent to 68 percent.
In addition, the use of menthol or mint-flavored e-cigarettes rose from 42 percent of all e-cigarette users to 51 percent.
Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat
E-cigarette use also increased among middle school students, from less than 1 percent in 2011 to nearly 5 percent in 2018, researchers found.
“FDA has to act, but we also need state and local government to act as well,” Sward said. “This is too big for everybody not to have a role in reducing the use of e-cigarettes.”
Sward said the lung association is upset that the FDA stopped short of banning mint and menthol e-cigarettes. “FDA’s plan is not going to go far enough,” she noted.
Many teens use mint and menthol e-cigarettes, which Sward believes are specifically marketed to attract minors.
“The tobacco industry knows that mint and menthol help the poison go down,” she said. “And they have been using menthol cigarettes to addict millions of people for decades, and that trend has tragically continued with e-cigarettes.”
If you’re looking to eat healthier, but don’t want to give up those deliciously satisfying foods, look no further.
What you want exists—it’s the Mediterranean diet.
The best part of it all: A plethora of research correlates this cuisine with improved health and longevity. A Mediterranean-style diet reduces risk factors for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and Alzheimer’s, and it also fights inflammation and adds antioxidants.
People who eat this kind of diet live longer with less disease.
Offer a Middle Eastern vegetarian appetizer menu at your holiday events and reap the delicious health benefits. You can buy many of these items at a Middle Eastern deli.
The diet limits red meats, placing emphasis on plant-based proteins and nuts, and promoting seafood and chicken along with legumes, veggies, high-antioxidant fruits and whole grains.
The result is a lower-glycemic diet, which can help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity and the function of cells in the pancreas, which helps to improve blood sugar control.
Olive oil replaces butter in Mediterranean recipes, and delicious herbs and spices make it easier to reduce salt.
In my series Eating the Mediterranean Way, participants have reported significant reductions in blood sugar with minimal weight loss. Because the cuisine emphasizes good fats instead of low fat, it’s better for weight loss than a low-fat diet.
The Mediterranean diet is more satisfying because people feel less deprived by their meals—they’re getting essential nutrition in a delicious way. They also report reduced cravings for sugar, which makes weight loss easier.
An important thing to keep in mind: Lifestyle is just as important as food.
People from Mediterranean countries enjoy and savor their food, turning every meal into an excuse for a social occasion with family and friends. A little red wine may be part of the menu, too.
Learn more about or sign up for the next Eating the Mediterranean Way class by calling 616.774.7779.
By M. Christine Byron, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
A second book by Tom Dilley, one of Grand Rapids premiere postcard collectors, has just been released by Arcadia Publishing in their Postcard History Series. This volume covers aspects of Grand Rapids History between 1900 and 1960. Intended to supplement the themes developed in Dilley’s first book, Grand Rapids in Vintage Postcards 1890-1940, the book features 116 postcards, most from the author’s personal collection.
Dilley gives us glimpses of life in Grand Rapids in the first half of the 20th Century. Postcards portray street scenes, scenic views, recreation and local events, such as the flood of 1907 and John F. Kennedy’s visit to the city in 1960. The book features businesses of Grand Rapids, including formerly prominent establishments such as Herpolsheimers, the Pantlind Hotel and Joppe’s Dairy Company.
The earliest postcard views of neighborhoods portray Heritage Hill streets and homes. As the city grew outward, neighborhoods such as Madison Square, Eastown and Ottawa Hills are shown. Ramona Park and Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids became favorite amusement spots, as evidenced by many postcards.
Different types of postcards are reproduced in the book, including rare leather cards and double or panoramic postcards. Dilley also included two collectible series of cards: the Mr. Rover cards and the 1910 Homecoming postcards. Dilley’s book will interest postcard collectors, historians, researchers and anyone who might enjoy taking a stroll down memory lane.
At approximately 2:45 am on Dec. 20, 2018, an officer from the Wyoming Dept. of Public Safety was traveling southbound on US 131, near 44th St SW, when he observed a wrong way driver going northbound in the southbound lanes. The officer immediately activated his emergency lights and siren to warn other drivers of the possible impending danger and pulled alongside of the wrong way vehicle, which was traveling at approximately 50-60 mph. The officer noticed that the driver appeared to be sleeping and used his cruiser to push the car to a stop. This quick thinking action almost certainly prevented a head-on collision which could have injured or killed someone.
It does not appear that alcohol or drugs were a factor in this incident and there were no injuries to the driver or officer. The driver of the vehicle stated he had been awake for more than 40 hours and was sleep deprived.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety would like to take this opportunity to remind drivers of the dangers associated with “drowsy driving” or “fatigued driving.” The National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 90,000 vehicle crashes in 2015 were caused by drowsy drivers in the United States. Additionally, there were 795 traffic fatalities in 2017 due to drowsy driving. Below are some tips from the NHTSA on how to avoid driving drowsy:
How To Avoid Driving Drowsy
1. Getting adequate sleep on a daily basis is the only true way to protect yourself against the risks of driving when you’re drowsy. Experts urge consumers to make it a priority to get seven to eight hours of sleep per night. For more information on healthy sleep, see Healthy Sleep At A Glance (PDF, 1.81 MB) at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website.
2. Before the start of a long family car trip, get a good night’s sleep, or you could put your entire family and others at risk.
3. Many teens do not get enough sleep at a stage in life when their biological need for sleep increases, which makes them vulnerable to the risk of drowsy-driving crashes, especially on longer trips. Advise your teens to delay driving until they’re well-rested.
4. Avoid drinking any alcohol before driving. Consumption of alcohol interacts with sleepiness to increase drowsiness and impairment.
5. Always check your prescription and over-the-counter medication labels to see if drowsiness could result from their use.
6. If you take medications that could cause drowsiness as a side effect, use public transportation when possible.
7. If you drive, avoid driving during the peak sleepiness periods (midnight – 6 a.m. and late afternoon). If you must drive during the peak sleepiness periods, stay vigilant for signs of drowsiness, such as crossing over roadway lines or hitting a rumble strip, especially if you’re driving alone.
Short-term Interventions
1. Drinking coffee or energy drinks alone is not always enough. They might help you feel more alert, but the effects last only a short time, and you might not be as alert as you think you are. If you drink coffee and are seriously sleep-deprived, you still may have “micro sleeps” or brief losses of consciousness that can last for four or five seconds. This means that at 55 miles per hour, you’ve traveled more than 100 yards down the road while asleep. That’s plenty of time to cause a crash.
2. If you start to get sleepy while you’re driving, drink one to two cups of coffee and pull over for a short 20-minute nap in a safe place, such as a lighted, designated rest stop. This has been shown to increase alertness in scientific studies, but only for short time periods.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) just announced Snowflake Break activities and additional displays at the Museum for the holiday season. Snowflake Break includes a variety of family friendly programs and activities themed around special exhibits Expedition: Dinosaur and TOYS!
Finny, the finback whale skeleton, greats visitors as the enter the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
During Snowflake Break at the GRPM, visitors can make a variety of crafts including their own themed snowflakes, sock monkey hats, dinosaur kirigami, punch tin, play a variety of over-sized games, and explore Expedition: Dinosaur and TOYS!
Expedition: Dinosaur is perhaps the closest experience to what it would have been like to be in the presence of a living, breathing Mesozoic-era dinosaur, and TOYS! lets visitors rekindle childhood memories as they create new ones. Additionally, the Museum has holiday displays for visitors of all ages to enjoy from additions to the Streets of Old Grand Rapids, the Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train from the Museum’s Collections, historic LEGO® display of Grand Rapid and more.
Snowflake Break runs from Dec. 22 through Jan. 6. General admission includes hands–on activities for Snowflake Break, special holiday displays and the TOYS! exhibit. Expedition: Dinosaur is an additional $4 per person and $2 for Museum members.
Kent County residents receive reduced admission. Kent County adults are only $5 for general admission and Kent County children 17 and under are FREE general admission.
Holiday Displays
Historic LEGO® Display – See historic Grand Rapids like never before; built from LEGO®s. The 1925-era display, complete with operating trams, will be on display in the Streets of Old Grand Rapids exhibition now through January 18, 2019 and is included with general admission. Built by the West Michigan LEGO® Train Club.
Santa’s Rocket Express is now on display at the museum through Jan. 18.
Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train – Visitors to the Museum can enjoy a community favorite on display – the Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train. The Train is included with general admission to the Museum and will be on display through Jan. 18.
The monorail train debuted as “Santa’s Rocket Express” when the new Herpolsheimer’s Department Store opened in in 1949. Recognizable to any baby-boomer resident of Grand Rapids, the train chugged along the ceiling of the toy department at the Herpolsheimer’s Department Store, which sat at the corner of Fulton and Division streets in downtown Grand Rapids.
Santa and Elf Hunt – Find 15 historic Santas from around the World in the Streets of Old Grand Rapids, and 12 elves hidden throughout the 3 floors of the Museum. The Santa & Elf Hunt is included with general admission.
Let it Snow Planetarium Show – Let it Snow features a new variety of festive classics from Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee, and includes a stunning multi-media finale by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The soundtrack is visually enhanced with thematic animation, laser imagery and special effects. Tickets are $4 each with general admission to the Museum, free to Museum members and $5 each for planetarium only tickets. Let it Snow will run through Jan. 6.
Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium
The GRPM announced that the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium recently underwent upgrades introducing the latest Digistar technology! The new Digistar system provides the latest in resolution quality, content features and immersive surround sound for an out of this world experience.
The Planetarium re-opened this November with its newest upgrade since March of 2014 after a major renovation that included new technology, sound system, full dome and seating.
The Planetarium is named for Grand Rapids native, Roger B. Chaffee, who died with fellow Apollo 1 astronauts Gus Grissom and Ed White during a pre-launch test in 1967. The Planetarium was originally opened in 1994 and has gone through renovations to provide the best experience for Planetarium visitors.
Two happy children are having fun pretending to be in the dinosaur jaw
Expedition: Dinosaur
Expedition: Dinosaur explores the fascinating world of dinosaurs and the hunt for their fossils! From life-sized and lifelike animatronic dinosaurs – some controlled by visitors – to mechanical and electronic learning stations. The exhibit includes a number of hands-on interactives that explain dinosaur movement, digestion, and evolution, and show the life and methods of dinosaur hunters from the 1800s to today.
Expedition: Dinosaur taps into our fascination with these incredible creatures. It is perhaps the closest experience to what it would have been like to be in the presence of a living, breathing Mesozoic-era dinosaur.
Take a trip down memory lane in the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s “TOYS!” exhibit.
TOYS!
TOYS! is an interactive, multi-generation exhibition of toys and games to rekindle childhood memories and spark the creation of new ones.
Baby Boomers loved Paper Dolls, Erector Sets, and Mr. Potato Head, Gen Xers preferred Holly Hobbie and Hot Wheels, and Millennials have never known a world without Super Mario or My Little Pony. Some toys, like Barbie and G.I. Joe, have adapted to appeal to different generations and remain popular today. Toys and games have changed over time, but the desire to imagine, compete, and create has not.
The exhibit, designed and curated by the GRPM staff, features toys and games from the Museum’s Collections and on loan from community members. Visitors will imagine, compete and create, while going on a journey of toys through generations.
Through the design process of the exhibition, the Museum worked with several experts from the community making sure the design was as inclusive as possible so everyone visiting can enjoy it. The exhibition is being presented in both English and Spanish, and also includes Braille.
There is that nostalgic Christmas image of people walking through downtown looking at the beautifully decorated store windows. But for many who were born in the late 1960s, their holiday memories and traditions centered around visiting Santa at the mall.
The Woodland Mall in the 1970s.
“I grew up in Grand Rapids,” said Cecily McCabe, who earlier this year became the Woodland Mall’s marketing manager. “So it was always a big deal to be able to come here with my family and go Christmas shopping and see all the Christmas décor. We liked to go see Santa every year. So Christmas here was a special time of year.”
In 1954, Northland Mall opened in Southfield, Mich., with a radically new concept: a regional shopping center where people could shop several different stores in one location. Seven years later, the regional shopping concept would come to the Greater Grand Rapids area with Rogers Plaza opening in Wyoming in 1961 followed by Woodland Mall in 1968. What municipality Woodland Mall’s land would be in became such a concern the residents of Paris Township voted to become the City of Kentwood in 1967, keeping the mall in Kentwood.
Construction of Woodland Mall in the 1960s.
By the end of the 1960s, malls had become a staple in American life. This changed holiday traditions that instead of downtown department stores competing to having the best St. Nick and the most lavish decorations to local malls offering an array of holiday experiences. There were indoor ice rinks to a New Jersey mall with a 48-foot Santa. In fact, that Santa was remembered so fondly, the mall brought it out of retirement for this holiday season.
Decorations at Woodland Mall also were special, noted Ann Schlink who has worked at Woodland for 21 years.
The Arctic Forest decorations at Woodland Mall.
“The first one was very elaborate,” Schlink said. “It was throughout the mall, the plaids…There was a big Christmas tree in the mall and then after the redevelopment it got moved down to the Macy’s wing which was nice because it was Hudson’s at the time and it tied into the the Hudson’s theme a lot.”
Eventually those decorations were retired to the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The former mall decorations are now used in the museum’s Streets of Old Grand Rapids.
Woodland also had a Santas around the world display and Schlink said most people will remember the Christmas tree from a couple of years ago, which now stands in the mall’s outside plaza. The current Arctic Forest decorations, which was unveiled in 2017, includes 12 decorated trees and a 12-foot lighted polar bear known as Ursa. Even the Woodland Mall stores get into the holiday spirit with decorated windows just like what the department stores use to do.
Children visit the Rogers Plaza Santa. Picture is from the 1970s. (Courtesy, personal collection.)
Besides having Santa, Malls also hosted a variety of activities. Rogers Plaza has had the Wyoming Gives Back for the past 12 years. After first opening, Woodland Mall had a production of “A Christmas Carol.” Today, Woodland hosts a holiday concert series and RiverTown Crossings, which opened in 1999, has had pop up shops featuring an array of vendors.
“We use to really like Marshall Fields because they had frozen yogurt upstairs so it was a big deal for us to get our frozen yogurt everytime we came to the mall,” McCabe said. “So we had these little family traditions based around our shopping habits as a kid. It was fun.’’
Schlink said she always enjoyed the piano player at Hudson’s with McCabe adding Woodland is excited about having Von Maur open next year as the store will be bringing the tradition of a piano back to Woodland Mall.
Hudson’s, a Detroit-based company, became Chicago-based Marshall Fields, which later was taken over by New York City’s Macy’s.
With the passage of time, things change. Hudson’s became Marshall Fields which became Macy’s. Other stores, such as Gantos, Kinney Shoes, Disney Stores, Florsheim Shoes, and Anchor Blue, and even some malls — Northland Mall was torn down in 2017 — have since faded from the landscape. The places are remembered fondly with sites dedicated to past malls and stores. Geoffrey Hudson talks of visits to the former North Kent Mall, which was located on Plainfield Avenue from 1971 – 2000, in his blog GR Retro.
“I used to go to North Kent almost exclusively to hang out at Aladdin’s Castle, one of the last great old-school game arcades,” Hudson writes on the site. “…Another thing I remember is for a while, NK was the home to the only old-style photo booths. Not the sort that are around today where you can be superimposed in front of the backgrounds and such, but the type where it fires off four takes and you get a strip of (black & white!) photos at the end.”
Along with changing photo booths, technology has changed shopping patterns, but malls like Woodland remain a focal point for many especially during the holidays.
A choral performance at Woodland Mall during the 1980s.
“It’s so busy and full of families excited to see Santa Claus and enjoying all our decor and special events,” McCabe said. “So it’s just really fun to see families gathering here and shopping and enjoying this special time of the year.”
“The people that I have worked with over the years and met through the mall over the years, they comeback at Christmas,” Schlink said. “It’s like a reunion of the people and it’s magical because now they are bringing their children to see Santa Claus and to do shopping and it just feels like home.”
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
Dr. Jen absolutely fell head over heels in love with this engaging and extremely charming FIV+ fella the minute she laid eyes on him, but once she picked him up and nuzzled him close, she was even more smitten! And when it came time to name this fantastic fella (born in October of 2016), she really didn’t have to do much research, as the white heart on his chest and the way he stole hers instantaneously led her to Eros, the Greek god of love.
Even though Eros was quite banged up upon arrival, bearing scars and scabs left over from his days of fighting and fending for himself, Dr. Jen found him to be a breathtaking beauty, with that adorable white locket and ivory tufts of fur between each and every toe! How could one cat be so darned handsome?!
Once at our sanctuary Eros proved to be a boisterous, busy boy who only stopped moving when a bowl of canned food came into sight. Although he was a bit timid around his caretakers at first (we think he was a bit overwhelmed by being indoors and not having to do anything to earn his keep), he took to chumming around with some of the more outgoing guys at Big Sid’s which ultimately helped him gain confidence. In fact, at the writing of this bio two months after his arrival, we can tell you that Eros has become a bit big for his britches and has needed a time out on more than one occasion.
Now that he knows he can play with the others and sometimes get them riled up with his rambunctious behavior, we have to monitor his activity— he can be quite the little instigator. Eros reminds us of that pesky little brother who delights in ruffling the feathers of his siblings simply to watch the reaction it causes; he is a little stinker sometimes but we sure do enjoy him!
We would like to find Eros a home with another FIV+ cat if possible, one that will rough-and-tumble with him when he gets things going. As far as the type of human companionship we feel he is best suited for, we can see him becoming best buds with youngsters in a household as his energy level will certainly rival theirs! Considering that this gorgeous guy is typically in perpetual motion a busy, bustling household beckons him! Come meet our enthusiastic Eros for yourself and fall in love with this social butterfly!
More about Eros:
Medium
Black
Adult
Male
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
FIV+
Neutered
Not declawed
Good in a home with other cats, children
Want to adopt Eros? 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.
“This is a way for the families to take a break from their worries and just enjoy the holiday season,” Santa said.
Santa knew just how to hold the tiny little ones he visited. Behind the beard is Al Jones, MD, a retired neonatal medicine specialist.
He has donned his fur-trimmed red jacket, hat and pants with a broad-buckled belt for the past six years to help create these moments.
Santa’s helper is Amy Nyberg. She is the March of Dimes family support program coordinator at the children’s hospital who makes this visit happen each year.
“Families love it,” Nyberg said. “Santa comes and they are able to hit that milestone and have that memory of baby’s first photo taken with Santa.”
Amy, also dressed in fur-trimmed red, gives candy canes and small toys to young siblings of the NICU babies. She arranges for a professional Santa portrait to be sent to the families.
Raelynn Rhodes wore a special outfit for her photo with Santa. Her mom, Morgan, found the perfect fit, an American Girl doll ensemble complete with ice skates.
Parker Davis’ mom, Megan Alexander, said they woke up bright and early to make sure they didn’t miss Santa’s visit.
“We didn’t expect him until after Christmas,” Alexander said of her little preemie. “He’s our little Christmas baby.”
