If you come from a large family, you may have a lower risk of cancer, a new study suggests.
Researchers analyzed data from 178 countries and found that people from larger families were less likely to get cancer than those from smaller families.
The link between family size and cancer risk was “independent of income, levels of urbanization and age,” study senior author Maciej Henneberg said in a University of Zurich news release. He’s a guest professor in the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine at the university, in Switzerland.
Family size included not just parents and their children, but also members of the extended family in the household.
This protective effect of a large family was stronger in men than in women, according to the study published recently in the journal BMC Cancer.
It’s important to note, however, that the study only found an association between family size and cancer risk. It did not prove a cause-and-effect connection.
Family life can be stressful, but can also provide positive emotional environments that can boost a person’s resistance to diseases, including cancer, the researchers said.
Family members supporting one another in following a healthy lifestyle may also provide protection against cancer, the study authors added.
Loyalty programs, such as Meijer’s MPerks and Hallmark’s Gold Crown Rewards, have been around for a long time. In fact, you can trace the roots of these programs back to about 1896, when Sperry & Hutchinson started to offer its loyalty retail program to supermarkets, gas stations and stores in the form of small green stamps.
S&H Green Stamps were a common commodity with shoppers sometimes selecting a store based on if it offered the stamps or not.
“Back in the days of the 1950s and 1960s, I think the new homemakers of the day were attracted to this idea of getting some extra value to their purchases,” said Bill Branz, from the Wyoming Historical Commission and who oversees the Wyoming History Room at the KDL Wyoming Branch. “I remember my mother saving stamps and one of the most popular were S&H Green Stamps.”
Retailers would purchased the stamps from S&H and then give them away at a rate determined by the merchant. Stamps had values of one, 10, and 50 points. Shoppers would stick the stamps in books that had 24 pages. Filling a page required 50 points and a full book contained 1,200 points. Shoppers would then exchange filled books for premiums, including housewares and other items from a local Green Stamps store or catalog.
S&H Green Stamps would come in one, 10 and 50 point stamps. It took 50 points to fill a page in one souvenir book. It took 1,200 points to fill the 24-page book.
“You would take your books of Green Stamps, and hopefully they would not be falling out, and you would come in there and you would pick out maybe a toaster or something like that,” Branz said.
One of the most well-known local Green Stamps provider was Rogers Department Store, which operated from 1955 to 2005, much of the time at 1001 28th St. SW, Wyoming. It is now where Advantage Solutions is located. Across the street, in the Rogers Plaza was a redemption center.
“So it was a unique part of our local history,” Brantz said as he looks over a few books of Green Stamps along with other similar loyalty program products.
The recessions of the 1970s are credited to the decline of collecting stamps like these.
The recessions of the 1970s is credited to the decline of the stamps, which has pretty much disappeared in the 1980s. At one point, after the redemption center closed in Rogers Plaza, Rogers Department Store started redeeming the books of stamps for Rogers Cash to be used in the store.
S&H Green Stamps still exist, online as S&H Greenpoints. The website is greenpoints.com, where you can still redeem the S&H Green Stamps, as long as you have 60 books or more.
If you would like to view the S&H Green Stamps or other Wyoming historical items, visit the Wyoming Historical Room at the KDL Wyoming Branch, 3300 Michael Ave. SW. The room is open the first and third Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and by appointment. The Wyoming Historical Commission is always looking for items related to the history of Wyoming. If you have something you would like to donate or if you are interested in volunteering, call 616-261-3508 or visit Wyoming Michigan History Room’s Facebook page.
Young children are naturally drawn to books. When children listen to a book, they are in the beginning stages of learning to read and also hear words that are quite different from the spoken language. According to Reid Lyon from the National Institute of Health and Human Development, approximately 20 to 30 percent of children have difficulties learning to read. In addition, 15 million children do not have access to any sort of reading materials. In order for children to be successful readers, they need daily exposure to books, have caregivers or parents speak to them on a continual basis throughout the day, recognize letters of the alphabet and know the parts of a book including the role of the author and illustrator.
Struggling to read can be embarrassing for children, which can lead to unmotivated young students with low self-esteem. In the long term, many of these students end up dropping out of high school in part due to reading difficulties.
So what skills does a child need to learn how to read? Reading requires phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency and comprehension skills. Not one of these skills is more important than the other. (For more information, see International Literacy Association.) Learning to read is not a natural process and requires a lot of practice and exposure.
There are some common signs to look for when children are struggling to learn to read. These include but are not limited to:
Struggling to recite the words they are reading.
Starting and stopping frequently when reading.
Not really knowing the content they just read when asked about it.
Having a difficult time understanding simple directions and following routines.
Easily distracted.
Their fine motor skills are slow to develop and have difficulty holding a pencil and picking up small objects.
Avoiding storytelling and circle time.
If difficulties are determined in kindergarten or first grade and the child receives intervention services at school, many children can learn to read. A child is learning to read until the end of third grade at which time instruction makes a big shift to reading to learn at the beginning of fourth grade. In fourth grade, there is very little reading instruction and children are reading to learn in their classes.
Every year, all students in Michigan take an assessment on what they know and are able to do. For children in grades third through eighth, they are given the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or M-STEP. Only half of Michigan third graders performed at or above in the English Language Arts section of the M-STEP. As a result, Michigan passed a third grade reading law to ensure all children are proficient in reading by the end of third grade. Students that may not pass may have to repeat the third grade. The third grade reading law requires school districts to come up with an improvement plan to help students who are struggling. More information is available at the following resources:
Michigan State University Extension recommends talking and reading to children as much as possible. One of the ways to do this is to describe the colors and features of things you see throughout the day. Pointing out the yellow bananas at the grocery store or the green leaves on the tree, or mentioning the soft shirt they chose to wear to school are all simple ways to increase word exposure for your child. This is called “thinking aloud” when we talk about what we are doing and why. The more words a child hears, the more words they will learn and use. Learning experiences should be engaging and fun to keep a young child’s interest.
To learn about the positive impact children and families experience due to MSU Extension programs, read our 2017 impact report: “Preparing young children for success” and “Preparing the future generation for success.” 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.
By Elaine Bosch, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
Laura Hillenbrand knows how to turn a tale. Her first book Seabiscuit: An American Legend told the true story of the famous racehorse with all the depth and drive of great fiction. Her second book, Unbroken: A World War II story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption an equally compelling historical read, proves Seabiscuit was more than beginner’s luck.
In 1931, Louis Zamperini was an energetic, incorrigible high school student with a penchant for stealing and scheming. Saved from self-destruction by the efforts of his older brother Pete, Louis learned to pack his considerable emotional baggage into running, a talent he had long possessed, but which he had heretofore used only to elude the authorities.
Louis became a record breaking local hero known as the “Torrance Tornado”. At the age of nineteen, he represented the United States in the 1936 Olympic games. He returned from Berlin, his passion intact, intent on being the first man to run a mile in four minutes or less.
World War II intervened. The 1940 Olympics, scheduled for Tokyo, were canceled, and Louis found himself a bombardier in the Air Force. In 1943, his plane went down in the Pacific Ocean. Louis suddenly found himself battling for something far more serious than a world record — his life.
For two years Zamperini faced deprivation and degradation that few can imagine — first as a survivor adrift in the ocean, and then as a prisoner of war at the worst prison camps in Japan. Singled out due to his officer and celebrity status by “The Bird,” a psychotic, sadistic camp commander, Louis became the target of an intense campaign waged to utterly humiliate, demoralize, and destroy him. That he survived at all is amazing. That he did so with his spirit and joy intact is a miracle.
Hillenbrand will captivate you with this story, shocking and inspiring in turn. It is life and times writ large.
Sunset, Lake Michigan was one of seven Alten paintings recently gifted to Grand Valley by Anita Gilleo. (GVSU)
Grand Valley State University has several art exhibits opening this month. Below is a list of the university’s galleries and upcoming exhibitions.
“Mathias J. Alten: An Evolving Legacy”
Exhibition dates: ongoing
George and Barbara Gordon Gallery
DeVos Center, Building E, Room 103 and 202, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Gordon Gallery hours: Friday and Saturday, 1-5 p.m.; closed on holiday weekends
The German-born American artist Mathias Joseph Alten (1871-1938) is often referred to as the dean of Michigan painters. Working in a traditional representational style, Alten incorporated the aesthetics and techniques of the Impressionist Movement in paintings infused with light and punctuated with deft brushwork. Based in Grand Rapids, Alten created more than 3,800 works over a more than 40-year career, including landscapes, seascapes, portraits and florals. Grand Valley State University holds the largest public collection in the world of Alten’s work.
“Multitudinaria marcha por la ley de agua 14 julio 2018” in “Water: Human Right or Commodity?” exhibition. (GVSU)
“Water: Human Right or Commodity?”
Blue Wall Gallery, DeVos Center, Building B
Exhibition on display Jan. 7-June 21
This exhibition explores human rights in a world of increasingly limited natural resources; specifically, access to clean water. A result of the research and collaborations arranged by two Grand Valley State University social work faculty members, Paola León and Steven Smith, this exhibition includes images and descriptions of the challenges faced in El Salvador and Flint, Michigan. Organized into themes dealing with civic engagement, infrastructure, ownership/legislation, public health and scarcity/contamination, these materials provide local, national and international context to water rights. The El Salvador portion of the exhibition, focusing on the lack of running water in homes, social activism and contamination by the mining industry, was organized by León. Smith organized the Flint portion of the exhibition, documenting the ongoing issues and continuing recovery of the City of Flint’s tainted water supply.
“Fallout” is part of the VMA Sabbatical Showcase opening Jan. 14.
VMA Sabbatical Showcase
Art Gallery, Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts
Exhibition on display Jan. 14-March 29
This sabbatical showcase will feature works by Grand Valley faculty members Brett Colley, Dellas Henke, Hoon Lee and Anthony Thompson.
Students using a specimen to aid in anatomy and physiology courses in “Plastination – The Art of Preservation,” opening Jan. 14
“Plastination — The Art of Preservation”
Red Wall Gallery, Lake Ontario Hall, Allendale Campus
Exhibition on display Jan. 14-June 21
Plastination is the process of infusing animal, human or plant tissues with a variety of plastic or silicone products to render the tissues odor-free, dry and permanently preserved for educational and instructional purposes. The process was invented by Gunther von Hagens in 1977 at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and became popular through his many “Body Worlds” exhibitions around the world. Beginning in 2007, members of Grand Valley State University began studying plastination and investigating the opportunity to create a lab at the university. That became a reality in 2013, and since then, more than 300 specimens have been plastinated for use in a variety of teaching roles. This exhibition tells the story of plastination at Grand Valley and walks viewers through the process and uses of plastinates. It brings together more than 20 animal specimens from the lab – currently the only plastination lab in Michigan.
For more information about Grand Valley State University art exhibits, call (616) 331-2563 or visit gvsu.edu/artgallery.
What would you do if you were a farmer thrown out of your native land? Listen as Kharka Turung tells of losing both his birth country and his ethnic homeland. With the aid of Bethany Christian Services, Kharka finds friendship through Hope Farms manager Scott Townley and meaningful work as he regains his agrarian past in the midst of a bewildering new language and culture.
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).
Frida and Dwayne (our names for them) came to us in a roundabout way in late October/early November of 2018, as both cats actually had an owner but had been abandoned earlier in the summer. As it turns out the landlord in Wyoming told this person that cats were no longer allowed, so instead of returning them to the Humane Society where they originated from quite some time ago (in Frida’s case it had been over 5 years), they were simply let go.
A good friend of Dr. Jen had been looking after them for the past four months and began to investigate a bit further when Frida (born in August of 2009) turned up injured; when she saw that the facial wounds just weren’t healing she took action into her own hands and brought this kitty’s plight to Dr. Jen’s attention. After tiring of seeing her and her younger counterpart (Dwayne was born in the fall of 2016) seeking shelter from the rain and weather that was turning cold and unpredictable, Dr. Jen’s friend contacted the former owner and asked for permission to transfer them to our care; thankfully the woman obliged with much appreciation.
Darling Dwayne fared much better than Frida did, having only fleas and internal parasites to contend with. We were able to obtain his actual adoption and medical records as he had been adopted from the Humane Society of Kent County only a year prior to his rescue. Although we initially reunited the two former housemates, neither one of them seemed to pay much attention to one another, so it was no big deal when Frida had to take up residence at Big Sid’s (she tested FIV-positive). Dwayne acclimated instantly to his new surroundings, unlike his older counterpart; being younger and more easily adaptable definitely worked in his favor. He quickly became a favorite of the volunteers as he is so laid-back, quiet and content.
A total sweetheart by the very definition of the word, Dwayne would do well in a house with kids, but lap time is essential to his future happiness. He would be fine co-habitating with another feline friend, but on the flip side, we feel he would enjoy being the single apple of someone’s eye as well. Regardless of where he ultimately ends up, we know for a fact that dashing little Dwayne is going to make an absolutely fabulous addition to any family that is lucky enough to take him home—this time for good!
More about Dwayne:
Medium
Domestic Short-haired Tabby (Tiger-striped), White
Adult
Male
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Neutered
Not declawed
Good in a home with other cats, children
Want to adopt Dwayne? 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.
Your life partner has a much greater influence on your longevity than the genes you inherited from your family, according to a new analysis of the family trees of more than 400 million people.
“While it is a widely held belief that lifes pan heritability ranges from approximately 15 to 30 percent, the findings discussed in this paper demonstrated that the heritability of human longevity is likely well below 10 percent,” said lead researcher Cathy Ball. She is a chief scientific officer for Ancestry, the popular genealogy website.
Earlier estimates were skewed because they didn’t account for the strong influence that a person’s spouse or life partner can have on their longevity, Ball and her colleagues said.
People tend to select partners who share traits like their own, the researchers explained. If you have a lifestyle that’s going to contribute to a longer life, you’ll likely choose a mate who shares that lifestyle.
Dr. Gisele Wolf-Klein is a geriatrician with Northwell Health in Great Neck, N.Y. She said, “Chances are you’re going to try to partner with someone with equal interests in terms of health habits. If you find someone who wants to run a marathon with you rather than be a couch potato, chances are you’ll keep running more marathons.”
Wealth could be another nongenetic trait shared by mates, the researchers suggested. If income contributes to lifespan and wealthy people tend to marry other wealthy people, that could also add to their longevity.
After correcting for the effects of such mating, Ball’s team concluded that genetics contributes not more than 7 percent to longevity, and possibly even less.
“The research findings expose the complex dynamics of longevity,” Ball said. “Although there is a genetic component, this study shows that there is a major impact from many other forces in your life.”
For the study, researchers combed through 54 million public family trees generated by Ancestry.com subscribers, which represented 6 billion ancestors.
From there, the team refined the records until they wound up with a set of human pedigrees that included more than 400 million people, each connected to another by either birth or marriage.
Things got interesting when the researchers started looking at people related only by marriage. They found that siblings-in-law and first-cousins-in-law had similar life spans, even though they aren’t blood relatives and generally don’t live under the same roof.
Further analysis showed that factors important to life span tend to be very similar between mates. People are choosing folks who share values that will either shorten or extend longevity, the researchers noted.
The findings were published Nov. 6 in the journal Genetics.
“I think it’s a very optimistic and positive message for us,” said Wolf-Klein, who was not involved in the research.
“It outlines something that’s becoming more and more obvious to all of us—we have a certain control over who we are and what we become,” she added. “Regardless of your genetics, if you adhere to good diet, good exercise, healthy habits, you can overcome some of the dooms of genetics.”
Dan Sippel, Executive Director at the West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA), will introduce M. Christine Byron and her husband Thomas R. Wilson when they present the 100-year history of West Michigan Tourist Association to the Rockford Area Historical Society on Thursday, Feb. 7. The 1pm meeting is at the Rockford Community Cabin on Monroe Street.
The West Michigan Tourist Association was founded in Grand Rapids in 1917. Established as a non-profit organization based on membership, it was the first grass-roots tourist association in the country. At the time, the tourist industry was in its infancy.
Although railroad lines, steamship companies, and various hotels and resorts promoted the region they served, there was no concentrated effort to boost the tourism advantages of the state. With strong leadership and the committed members of WMTA, tourism has grown into one of Michigan’s leading industries. Byron & Wilson will feature some of the noteworthy efforts to advertise and promote our state over the last 100 years.
Christine Byron is retired from the Grand Rapids Public Library and together she and her husband have written five books focusing on the history of West Michigan tourism. They have been collecting postcards and Michigan tourism ephemera for over 30 years. The public is welcome to this event. In the event that Rockford Public Schools close due to bad weather the Rockford Area Historical Society will not meet.
By Julie Beukema, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
Are you young at heart? Although marketed for teens, I argue that any age group will highly appreciate The Hunger Games, an adventurous tale. I can guarantee that most teens in your life have at least heard of it. Thus reading it yourself could provide not only hours of entertainment, but also open a door to great discussion with those teens.
The Hunger Games tells the story of a post-apocalyptic United States. The United States government has collapsed for many reasons, including drought and war. Those who survived are now governed by a bureaucracy known as Panem and have been divided up into 12 Districts and a Capitol. Each district is required to provide a Tribute of one boy and one girl who are forced to fight to the death in an annual televised contest known as The Hunger Games.
Katniss, a 16-year-old girl from one of the poorest Districts, District 11, offers to be the female tribute in place of her younger, weaker sister. What follows is a tale of compassion and survival guaranteed to grip readers and to provide many points for discussion.
In 2018 West Michigan Works! (WMW) helped 44,890 job seekers, served 3,193 employers and filled 10,463 jobs. This work isn’t done in isolation; it’s accomplished through partnerships with employers, training providers, educators and community organizations. Each December, WMW looks back over the year and recognizes a few of its key partners:
Flexfab, a manufacturer based in Hastings, MI, received the 2018 Employer of the Year award due to their dedication to developing their current workforce, engaging future manufacturing talent and recruiting diverse employees. Flexfab is committed to providing education and training so their workers can obtain higher paying jobs within the company. They also work with local organizations, like Barry County Veterans associations, to target a diverse job seeker pool.
Literacy Center of West Michigan (LCWM) is West Michigan Works! 2018 Partner of the Year. They received this award because they successfully use community partnerships to create positive change. LCWM has partnered with the local construction industry, Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) and the Urban League to provide workplace English as a Second Language instruction for participants in the construction training program. They also provide literacy services at one of West Michigan Works! service centers. Providing instruction like this to job seekers helps remove language barriers and can help them obtain further training, education and/or a good job.
The Michigan Works! Impact Awards honor those who have built economic results by actively creating jobs and developing fresh talent in their communities. In West Michigan, Spectrum Health, GRCC and Sterile Processing Technician, Gina Mancha, received the 2018 Impact Award. To address a common need in the health care field, West Michigan Works! partnered with health care employers, GRCC and the US Department of Labor to create the Sterile Processing Technician Registered Apprentice program. Through this program, Gina was able to learn a new skill and start a new career after working for years in automotive manufacturing.
Want to learn more about how the Sterile Processing Technician Registered Apprentice program changed Gina’s life and how the other 2018 award winners are making an impact in West Michigan? Check out West Michigan Works! Annual Report at westmiworks.org/2018-annual-report/.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
It’s that time of year for residents of the northern states to drive south in search of warmth and sunshine, leaving the cold and snow behind. For others it’s time to take that long-awaited family road trip, escaping harsh weather for more mild conditions. No matter the distance or length of the road trip, what’s at the top of everyone’s list is arriving there safely. For individuals with diabetes, getting there safely becomes more than just safe driving.
For a person who is insulin-dependent, blood glucose level is paramount to the ability to drive safely. Experiencing a rapid drop in insulin levels (a severe hypoglycemic event) could possibly bring on symptoms of double vision and disorientation. Clearly problems for any driver behind the wheel.
For road trip safety, understand your physical health, chart your blood glucose levels frequently and don’t skip meals. Be prepared. Talk with your doctor about fast-acting glucose products that can be used in the event of an emergency. Your doctor and diabetic nurse educator are the best people to talk to regarding which glucose products are right for you.
Keep a glucose kit in your car at all times, it should be tolerant to warm and cold temperatures.
Before driving any distance be aware of your levels; think about how you are feeling, don’t be afraid to ask someone else to drive you if you’re feeling tired or stressed.
Carry your cell phone with pre-programmed numbers of 911 and family members in the case of an emergency.
Stop often, don’t skip meals, eat the right foods and sugars which will keep you active and alert.
As always, buckle-up, don’t text and drive and enjoy your road trip!
Michigan State University Extension recommends the following professional diabetes resources:
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/.
