BySuzanne Pish, Michigan State University Extension
There has been a lot of controversy about whether or not young children should begin to play football. As a mother, it is hard to watch your child be under a pile of other players, wondering if they are going to get up and listening to coaches yelling at them. However, there are some great lessons learned from playing football that go far beyond the hitting and yelling. These young children are learning life skills that they can use the rest of their lives.
The social aspect of sports might be what entices children to play in the first place. Youth sports participation lets children spend time with friends in a safe environment while practicing social skills that are likely to last a lifetime. Aside from bonding with peers, kids learn to solve conflicts effectively, reach common goals and learn to be more assertive, all while getting much needed physical activity. A child’s communication skills are improved while playing a sport, giving a child needed life skills.
2. Competitive skills
Although there is such a thing as being too competitive, it’s important for a child to understand the positive aspects of competition. Adults are surrounded by competition, from getting a job to moving up in the work force. When children learn the basics of competition early, they have a better chance of succeeding. Sports participation helps children cope with competition in a friendly environment. Working to achieve a goal or being part of a team can help kids gain healthy competitive skills that they can use for the rest of their lives.
3. Sportsmanship
Sportsmanlike behavior is a lesson that children obtain from playing sports. Children learn to positively handle both the winning and losing aspect of playing a sport. Good sportsmanship is a trait that carries over from childhood to adulthood. Athletes who focus on mastering personal improvement have a good chance later on becoming good citizens and hard workers. A child who learns to be a good sport can translate that skill to better cooperating with others and making decisions based on their own morals rather than being ego-oriented individuals who behave badly, according to Education World, an online resource for educators .
4. Leadership abilities
Obtaining leadership qualities that range from being a good character to respecting others and being task oriented can be accomplished in both team and individual sports. A solid support system, such as a strong parental involvement and effective coaching can help mold a child into being a leader now, and later in life.
The coaching staff for my son’s team told them in the huddle that giving 100 percent on the field will help them to give 100 percent in whatever else they do in life. Do these boys understand that concept at this young age? Maybe not, but having the discipline to play as a team day after day and to give all they can to their team will certainly pay off for them in the long run as adults.
Finny, the finback whale skeleton, greats visitors as the enter the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) just announced new Saturday Curiosity Labs will be starting Saturday, Sept. 22. Curiosity Labs give visitors the opportunity to get hands-on with science during their visit.
Curiosity Labs will feature fun, hands-on activities themed around science for all ages. Highlights visitors can expect include: learning how a watershed works through the Museum’s water table and utilizing an Augmented Reality (AR) sandbox in which by moving and building the sand, visitors can create erupting volcanoes, rivers, oceans, mountains. Additional hands on activities will change week to week.
Saturday Curiosity Labs will be free with general admission take place every Saturday at the GRPM from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in an open house style format.
Labs begin Saturday, September 22 and will run through Saturday, May 18, 2019. For more information on Curiosity Labs and to see upcoming exhibits and programs at the Museum, visit grpm.org.
The GRPM’s Watershed Lab was funded by Great Lakes Fishery Trust and Wege Foundation. Saturday Curiosity Labs are funded by the Brookby Foundation.
For many driving on Byron Center Avenue pass Ferrand Park, their reaction might be very similar to that of the wife of Wyoming’s Council Member Kent Vanderwood.
“So my wife and I have lived in Wyoming for 13 years and my wife and I were driving by [Ferrand Park] recently and she said there’s a park in there,” Vanderwood said during an August Wyoming Council meeting.
Ferrand Park is one of the oldest city park areas in Wyoming having been donated by the Ferrand family and dedicated in 1971. However a deed restriction did not allow the city to remove any of the trees, with the city leaving the park in a natural state with a small playground area.
The ribbon cutting ceremony at the Ferrand Park rededication.
“So you see the beautiful trees?” said City Services Director Rebecca Rynbrandt. “We can not remove a tree unless it is in imminent risk to the public. So for years, we have to wait for them to die a little bit of their natural death allowing us to have space in the middle, which opened up for play.”
Now some 40 years later, the city was able to invest more than $400,000 into the pocket park with money from the Parks and Recreation Fund and the Revolving Capital Improvement Fund. On Aug. 25, the city hosted a rededication.
“We are very excited to be rededicating Ferrand Park, one of our 21 parks in the city of Wyoming,” said Mayor Jack Poll. “We are excited for the major changes that have occurred in this park and we are most thankful for our citizens for once again supporting efforts in our parks that make them some of the most beautiful parks in all of West Michigan.”
The park features a number of new amenities such as a shelter, pathways into the park, architectural features that help to identify the park, and a new, expanded playground area.
The new, expanded playground at Ferrand Park.
“I personally love the dragonfly teeter-totter ,” Rynbrandt said. “We try to make something special and unique for each park.
“We also implemented the log and step rocks. We want this to be a marriage of the environment with the landscaping and then with the traditional land features. We added and expanded the playground that is available. There is climbing walls that they never had before. They have never had swing sets at this park, so we have provided an adaptive swing as well as a regular swing.”
Another important aspect is the accessible pathways into the park, Rynbrandt said.
“We have an accessible ramp into the park,” she said. “We have a sidewalk area and we have a crush aggregate, so we also have different textures.”
There are other details as well such as a table area near the park with a handicap accessible spot facing the playground area, making it easier for all to enjoy the playground space.
All of these changes are making residents take notice of the neighborhood park.
The butterfly teeter-totter at Ferrand Park.
“We have already seen an increase in dog-walkers, exercise walkers for health and wellness because now they know the park exists,” she said. “We put the architecture detail along the road of Byron Center so people are saying ‘hey what is there?’
“Before, the playground sat very low in the hollow in the area. So now people know there is a park and they are walking in, they have a safe route to access the playground and the shelter.
Now with Ferrand Park done, the City of Wyoming will turn its attention to its oldest park, Ideal Park, with work scheduled to start on that park soon and a grand reopening celebration set for 2019.
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
When a Belding resident (and a rescuer herself) contacted us in early July 2018 about this injured little lady, Dr. Jen knew she had to make quick work of getting this kitty into our care; Kathy and the kitty’s caretaker noted this dainty girl’s wounded neck, called around for help and received no assistance locally. Upon arrival at the vet clinic, the cutie-pie (born in early 2016) proved to Dr. Jen that the quite nasty neck wound wasn’t about to dampen her spirit—she purred and trilled the entire exam! However Dr. Jen had to sedate kitty to take a closer look at what the heck was going on (a proliferative lesion known as an eosinophilic granuloma), debride the wound site of the exuberant tissue that was delaying skin healing, and treat it topically as well as systemically with antibiotics.
At that time Dr. Jen had noted a small upper lip ulcer, which can be common for this type of inflammatory condition, but it wasn’t until a few weeks later when Chanel No.2 developed another one (they are commonly called rodent ulcers) that Dr. Jen chose to treat the condition with injectable steroids. This seemed to do the trick in expediting skin repair, as did another gentle debriding at that time.
We also had to come up with creative ways to keep her neck covered so she wouldn’t excessively lick the tender skin as it slowly healed, but that proved to be quite the challenge. After trying (and failing spectacularly) with a sweater and stockinette, our cat care manager brought in a doll bib from home—and it foiled Chanel’s efforts to over-groom. Plus, she look absolutely adorable in it, though it was only needed for a few days.
The leaps and bounds of improvement Chanel made over the next few weeks were absolutely remarkable!
From the get-go, charming lil’ Chanel was a heart-stealer. Not one to ever grumble or hiss at another cat (or human, for that matter, as her lesion was tended to), this perfect little purr-machine lives for belly rubs, and absolutely craves attention. She acts as if she has always been around other kitties and received tons of attention from whomever had her at one point, so it would be to our extreme liking if we could place her in a home that would continue to treat her like a princess, as she really thrives on the pampering she has been receiving. We all have no doubt that once her bio hits the internet, we are going to be receiving inquires and applications almost immediately for our lovely, kittenish girl.
We are known for thinking outside of the box when necessary—and we certainly have a crew of creative folks working with our fur-kids! We will do whatever it takes to get our feline companions up to par so that we can ultimately send them off into loving, long-lasting homes of their own!
More about Chanel No.2:
Medium
Domestic Short Hair; Black & White/Tuxedo
Adult
Female
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Spayed
Not declawed
Good in a home with other cats, children
Want to adopt Chanel No.2? 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.
Where do I belong? This is the question asked by immigrants and expatriates for as long as human beings have migrated. Alan interviews Brazilian-born Marcos Bragança, an expat with a widely dispersed family. His American-born son Thomas talks about the ebb and flow of language and culture growing up in the United States.
"The person who says something is impossible should not interrupt the person who is doing it."
~Chinese Proverb
Good things come in threes
Three well-deserving organizations recently received grants from the GM Foundation: the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance, West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), and Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank. Read all about it here.
The dude abides (er, rides)
Kentwood resident and bicyclist-on-a-mission Ken Smith, after a brief stop at home for his anniversary and time with family, quietly headed off from downtown Grand Rapids this week as part of a 3,500-plus west coast-to-east coast trip to raise funds for his grandson, Jakob, and awareness of all persons with neurological damage. More here.
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Beam me up, Scotty
Well, maybe healthcare technology isn’t quite that advanced, but still…
Not only are physicians and other healthcare professionals becoming more accessible, but personal health information, billing, and care instructions have also become easier to find thanks to electronic health records and healthcare portals. Before electronic health records, or EHRs, patients had to request physical copies from their healthcare providers’ offices, an inconvenient process that meant that most people only received their records when they were absolutely required. Read all about it here.
Fun Fact:
A sneeze travels about
100 miles per hour.
We're not sure who clocked it or why. Maybe some things are best left unknown.
A view of a Kounotori from the International Space Station.
Kelly Taylor
WKTV Staff
On Friday, Sept. 14, WKTV will be featuring the Rendezvous and Capture of the JAXA “Kounotori” HTV-7 Cargo Craft at the International Space Station. Coverage will begin at 6 a.m., with the capture scheduled at 7:40 a.m. Stay tuned for the installation of the cargo craft at 11 a.m.
The Kounotori is an unmanned cargo transporter. It is designed to deliver up to six tons of supplies including food, clothes, and experiment devices to the ISS in orbit at an altitude of about 400 kilometers and return with spent equipment, used clothing, and other waste material.
The Kounotori with waste material is incinerated when it makes a re-entry into the atmosphere. This transport operation involves a rendezvous with and docking to the ISS, in a situation requiring a highly reliable transfer vehicle.
A Kounotori cargo craft
For more information on NASA TV or the International Space Station, log on to www.nasa.gov.
NASA TV can be seen on the WKTV 26 Government Channel on Comcast and AT&T U-verse 99 Government Channel 99.
By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch
When Betty Mahmoody’s story first came to light, the United States was confronted with a problem of epic proportions: international parental abduction. Countless parents around the county were finally heard. Author Livingstone wrote Rescue My Child to help inform an entire generation of the cruelty these parents face every day.
Livingston focused on Corporate Training Unlimited (CTU), an organization composed of ex-Delta Force commandos, who would intervene in international cases. This book tells of four such cases. The stories detail the rescues of five children and one mother from various countries and situations. Laurie Swint Ghidaoui and her daughter Leila were rescued from Tunisia. Lauren Mahone was recovered in Jordan. Brittney Chowdhury was located in Bangladesh while Jeremy Hefner and his sister Amy were rescued in Ecuador.
Rescue My Child endeavored to alert the world about international parental abduction at a time when such a crime was hardly imaginable. CTU risked much to be able to help these families: prison, injury and even death. Had these men and women been discovered while on foreign soil and in possession of a child of a citizen, the United States could not have helped them. It is a reminder that some children do come home and also a reminder that some are still missing.
Advancements in medical technology have defined the practice of healthcare since a concept of healthcare has existed, from bandages to penicillin to MRIs. Today, we think of technology as digital, and it has permeated practically every aspect of our lives. It’s natural, therefore, that some of the biggest news in healthcare is related to technology and access. The tech that we use every day–our phones, the internet, computers–is transforming how people think about and receive healthcare, making it more convenient and accessible overall.
Telemedicine
One of the most talked-about trends in healthcare access today is telemedicine, which is the use of devices connected to the internet to provide clinical services. Originally, the goal of telemedicine was to make healthcare more accessible in rural regions of the United States, but after numerous studies showed these efforts to be hugely beneficial to both patients and healthcare professionals, healthcare technology companies began to develop more and more applications for telemedicine.
Telemedicine has vastly improved patient care capabilities for inpatient healthcare facilities such as small hospitals and for increasing access to specialists, who may not always be on-premises when they’re needed. A recent study from the CHEST Journal reported a reduction in patient transfers in intensive care units (ICUs) that had telemedicine systems in place, buying valuable time and providing specialized care that would have otherwise required a transfer.
The more highly discussed and visual aspect of telemedicine is the rise of applications and services that allow primary care physicians, psychologists, pediatricians, and more to examine patients without either person ever setting foot in an office. Doctor shortages around the country have made wait times for appointments longer, forcing sick people in highly-populated and rural areas alike to either pay high bills for urgent care or forgo a doctor visit altogether. Telemedicine has excelled at providing care for minor but time-sensitive health issues such as ear infections and stomach problems, meaning more convenience at a lower cost.
Healthcare portals
Not only are physicians and other healthcare professionals becoming more accessible, but personal health information, billing, and care instructions have also become easier to find thanks to electronic health records and healthcare portals. Before electronic health records, or EHRs, patients had to request physical copies from their healthcare providers’ offices, an inconvenient process that meant that most people only received their records when they were absolutely required.
Today, practices from primary care physicians to hospitals are making EHRs easily accessible through online patient portals. Visibility into personal healthcare records empowers people to be more active in their healthcare. In addition, some patient portals have other functions, such as a form of telemedicine where patients can ask their care providers questions on a secure platform, or billing statements that people can reference whenever they need to. This increased visibility into the process of healthcare offers people both convenience and insight, giving them the knowledge to make informed decisions about their health.
Personal and remote monitoring
About 45% of adults in the United States are living with at least one chronic disease; for seniors alone, that number rises to almost 80%. Managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and dementia is a constant part of everyday life, and for many people, chronic conditions mean more frequent visits to doctors and specialists. Healthcare appointments can be stressful for anyone, but for people with limited mobility or debilitating pain, they can be close to impossible.
Today, connected devices such as blood pressure and glucose monitoring devices make it easy to track health conditions and determine when intervention is necessary. Devices for home use are usually designed to be easy-to-use and offer clear insights in order to be as useful as possible to patients and caregivers. Some, such as heart rate monitors built into smartwatches and fitness trackers, are even wearable.
The ability to connect to the internet also means that remote monitoring is possible. Remote monitoring allows healthcare professionals to track a patient’s biometrics, rather than the patient tracking their condition themselves. While this may seem somewhat invasive, it is a real boon for people with serious conditions, or those who live alone or in an isolated area. Early detection of problems can help patients get the attention they need, sometimes even before they realize they need it.
Technology has always been integral to healthcare, but now, convenient healthcare technology is accessible to everybody. Services such as telemedicine and remote monitoring are still relatively new, and studies are still being done on the long-term benefits and drawbacks, but improvements to healthcare accessibility are ensuring better health for people all over the country.
As a former smoker, Hasart qualified. He remembers the day 50 years ago he caught his older brother smoking.
“He made me start so I wouldn’t tell Dad,” Hasart said.
A few days after his appointment with Dr. Litt, Hasart went to Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial Hospital in Fremont for his CT scan. Within 24 hours, Dr. Litt’s office called. They had found a suspicious nodule.
It was an early catch, which is a big advantage in fighting lung cancer.
“The idea with the screening is that we can diagnose it when it’s more treatable,” said Marc McClelland, MD, a Spectrum Health pulmonologist.
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
Lung cancer tends to have poor outcomes because it usually gets diagnosed at an advanced stage, Dr. McClelland said. The disease typically does not have any symptoms until it has advanced beyond stage one or two.
Since its creation in 2015, the lung cancer screening program has identified 33 cases of lung cancer and nine cases of other kinds of cancer, including kidney and liver. Nineteen of the lung cancer cases were found in the earliest and most treatable stage, stage one.
The program is currently following 728 patients with annual CT scans.
Harvey’s journey
A few days after receiving the bad news, Hasart met with the Lung Mass and Cancer Care Multispecialty Team. The group of cancer specialists includes a diagnostic radiologist, medical oncologist, pathologist, pulmonologist, radiation oncologist, thoracic surgeon, nurse and social worker, all coalescing to offer coordinated care for patients like Hasart.
The next step, a PET scan, revealed the nodule and a lymph node looked suspicious and needed biopsy.
Hasart’s case grew more complicated yet. Within days of his PET scan, he experienced chest pain on the golf course. He ended up needing a heart stent and he had to regularly take a blood thinner.
The multispecialty team thought it best to admit Hasart to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital for the biopsy, which allowed them to switch blood thinners and monitor his heart closely, Dr. McClelland said.
The results of the biopsy held more bad news: small cell lung cancer.
Small cell lung cancer makes up only 10 to 15 percent of all lung cancers. It is known for growing rapidly and spreading quickly, although it typically responds well to chemotherapy and radiation.
Dr. McClelland said the fact that Hasart’s cancer was small cell rather than the more common non-small cell cancer surprised him and the other specialists on Hasart’s team. It didn’t appear to be small cell originally, he said.
“That’s the beauty of the lung (multispecialty team),” Dr. McClelland said. “As long as I have been doing this, no case is the same as any other case. There’s no textbook in the world that could include the extensive variety and depth of what we see, so that’s why the team is so valuable.”
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
The team meets together on a regular basis to discuss each case, allowing for effective communication and more streamlined care. This ultimately means patients get answers faster, sometimes with same-day biopsies and results, Dr. McClelland said.
The week after Thanksgiving, Hasart started four rounds of chemotherapy at Spectrum Health Cancer Center. The day after Christmas, he started radiation. Both steps were successful fighting the cancer in his lungs.
When a scan then revealed a small lesion on his brain, the multispecialty team opted for him to receive radiation treatment to his brain, Hasart said. It’s common for small cell lung cancer to spread to the brain. In early May, a post-radiation brain scan showed the lesion was gone and there was no more evidence of cancer.
Serendipity
Hasart’s girlfriend, Deb Bisel, has been at his side throughout this journey. The two met online when Hasart lived in Wisconsin and Bisel in Newaygo, Michigan. They dated long distance a few years before Hasart retired and moved to Newaygo in November 2016.
Bisel lost her husband of 26 years, Ned, to lung cancer in 2011. By the time they found his cancer, it was too late to do much.
In a serendipitous twist, Bisel works for Spectrum Health as the manager of cancer program compliance. In this role, she helped develop the lung mass and cancer multi-specialty team. Bisel also helped plan a symposium for primary care physicians to learn more about cancer screening, including lung cancer. Dr. Litt attended that symposium.
“We are so thankful (Dr. Litt) ordered the CT scan, and we think it saved his life,” Bisel said. “This validates how important this stuff is.”
Those eligible for the screening program are active smokers with a history of 30 or more pack years and former smokers who have quit within the past 15 years. (Pack years is calculated by multiplying packs per day by years smoked.)
Patients with lower risk who do not meet those guidelines may speak with their doctors about whether they would benefit from screening outside of the program, Dr. McClelland said.
Patients like Hasart, who have quit smoking, can sometimes be forgotten, Dr. Litt said.
“This reinforces my faith in primary and preventive care,” Dr. Litt said. “You want to intervene before things go out of control, before things go in the wrong direction.”
Photo by Chris Clark, Spectrum Health Beat
Dr. Litt grew humble when she heard Hasart credited her with saving his life.
“I was doing my job as any good primary care physician should be doing,” she said. “I’m grateful and thankful he thinks highly of me, but mostly I am grateful he is doing well.”
Hasart is now focused on enjoying his retirement. He works part-time driving cars to the east side of Michigan for auto dealers. Most of the time, however, you will find him on the golf course or in the kitchen baking or cooking.
His last day of chemotherapy treatment was Valentine’s Day. He couldn’t wait to get home to make lobster dinner for Bisel.
That day, Bisel’s assistant, Diane Ivy, came down from her office in the cancer center with a celebratory gift for Hasart—a mix of cookies, a chocolate rose, a teddy bear and other goodies.
“I just wanted to come and see you for the last day,” she said.
The teddy bear, she said, was for “whenever you need a hug and Deb is not there.”
As Hasart readied to leave, a nurse wished him well and asked how he felt.
"You get to a certain age, where you know you can’t go over the wall, but I’ll never get to the age where I can’t go through it." - Actor Burt Reynolds, 1936-2018
Lending a Hand
Local nurses were on a hike at Dead River Falls, in the U.P.’s Marquette, but their day hike became a case of being in the right place at the right time. (Supplied)
When a group of local emergency nurses on vacation in Marquette, Mich., learned of an injured hiker they did what anyone with their training and background would do: they went to help. “I fully believe God placed nine ED nurses on that trail for a reason,” said Rylee Kuiphoff, one of the nurses in the group.
Are You Ready for the Challenge?
FIRST Power Up, the theme for the 2017 FIRST challenge, was based on a Mario game.
Hundreds of young technology enthusiasts will gather at Grand Valley State University September 8 to celebrate the beginning of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Tech Challenge season. The event is set for 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Eberhard Center and Keller Engineering Lab building on the Pew Grand Rapids campus. Competitions will take place in the winter.
The Rebels Who Are Turning it Around
Wyoming Lee faces NorthPointe Christian this Friday. The Wyoming Lee team has struggled in years past but last year, Coach Tom DeGennaro credited much of that success to the students: “It’s just the kids buying into the system, working out in the weight room and committing themselves to being here every day. It has nothing to do with coaching. All of the success goes to the kids.”
Killer Light Show
Well you have about a month and a half until “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the film about epic rock band Queen and its frontman Freddie Mercury, hits the theaters. Until then, the Grand Rapids Public Museum has got your Queen-fix as it will be opening “The Queen Light Show: From Mercury with Love” Sept. 15. The show will feature laser lights dancing to 10 of Queen’s greatest hits. And yes, that does include “Bohemian Rhapsody.” For more, visit grpm.org/Planetarium.
Fun Fact:
33.9 Million Miles
Or 54.6 million kilometers. That is the closest Mars and Earth come to each other. Still the distance has not discouraged a love affair with the red planet, which Grand Valley State University explores in its new exhibit "Mars: Astronomy and Culture." The exhibit is set to open Sept. 13 and will feature 140 photographs, drawings, movie posters, book covers and more spotlighting Mars.
By Brenda Long, Michigan State University Extension
The majority of U. S. households, 63 percent, have equity in their own homes. For many, it’s the largest piece of their asset portfolio, according to U.S. Census data and University of Illinois Extension. Regular maintenance and repair should be in your plans so that you can retain the value of your home. It requires time and money, whether you do the work yourself or hire someone else.
Home maintenance should be done monthly, seasonally or annually, so the expenses should not be a complete surprise. Prepare by setting aside money each month toward a home maintenance fund so that it will be there when you need it. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureaumonthly payment worksheet says a common rule of thumb is to plan to invest one percent of your home value in home maintenance each year. For example, if your home’s market value is $100,000, then 1 percent is $1,000. This amount may vary depending on your home and needed repairs.
It’s a good idea to walk around inside and out monthly to visually inspect for potential issues. Look up as well as down. Use a checklist such as this one from the University of Georgia Extension.
Water Drainage/Damage: Rain (and snow in cold climates) can cause serious water damage to insulation and drywall. Be sure gutters and downspouts are working. Look for stains and mold growth, damp carpeting, loose tiles, and cupping wood floors.
Heating/Cooling Issues: Yearly cleaning plus regularly change the filters (monthly is recommended by experts) for both long life and efficiency of these systems. If you have a fireplace, annual flue cleaning is essential to prevent the considerably higher expense relining the flue.
Roof Damage: Heavy snow, heavy rain and high winds can influence roof quality. Look for signs of damage on the roof and in the attic for water leaks. Asphalt shingles generally last about 20 years, and aluminum or steel shingles last about 50 years. Avoid walking on the roof and do not store heavy items in your attic.
Windows: Although aluminum windows are less costly, wooden windows last about ten years longer. Check regularly for peeling paint, cracks and chips in the glazing.
Several government assistance programs are available to better afford repairing and improving your home. Home improvements such as the cost of insulation, energy-efficient exterior windows, and energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems qualify for IRS residential energy tax credits. Installation costs do not qualify. Visit the Energy Star website, energystar.gov/taxcredits for details.
Plan ahead to fit home maintenance tasks into your schedule and expenses in your budget. Find tips in Jinnifer Ortquist’s article on Planning Home Improvements and Costs. Doing small repairs promptly can save you from large, costly repairs later. For example, small leaks in a roof can lead to significant damage in internal walls over time. Also learn about assistance programs and energy tax credits to stretch your dollars. For more information about homeownership in Michigan, go to the Housing link at www.mimoneyhealth.org.
By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch
Artemis Fowl has done many things in his short life. He has mastered criminal enterprise. He has taken on Russian mobsters to save his father’s life. He has even saved the entire faerie world from a master criminal pixie. What a teenager! In this adventure, Artemis has met his match in a girl named Minerva, who kidnaps a demon, one of ten families of faerie, from an opera house in Italy.
Author Eoin Colfer is a former educator who had amazing success with the first Artemis Fowl novel and has continued to toss the boy genius into exciting adventures. Colfer’s stories have been compared with C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia as well as J.K. Rowlings’ Harry Potter series. Children around the world love the way Artemis uses technology, education and logic to expose the faerie world, endanger it, and then ultimately save it.
Artemis has always been a lonely, unique boy. Minerva is his ultimate competitor.
The Artemis Fowl series contain enough world travel, fantasy and mystery to intrigue any child. Who knows, it may even give the grandchildren some ideas! Start with the original Artemis Fowl and end the series with The Lost Colony. Your grandchildren will love them!
Local nurses were on a hike at Dead River Falls, in the U.P.’s Marquette, but their day hike became a case of being in the right place at the right time. (Supplied)
A group of emergency department nurses from the Grand Rapids area ran into a scary situation recently when a planned vacation to Marquette, Mich., turned into an emergency medical incident.
The day, Aug. 25, started off as any other: 10 nurses packed up the supplies they would need for the day and drove to Dead River Falls, in Marquette, for a hike. After getting their start, bystanders who were witness to an emergency situation a half-mile up the trail flagged the nurses down. Because of their emergency medical training, the nurses determined they were could possible help.
A young man who was visiting the falls with friends that day ended up with serious injuries because of a fall off one of the cliffs while peering over the water.
Rylee Kuiphoff and Nicole Schoenborn, two City of Grand Rapids residents who were part of the group of nurses, sat down with WKTV to talk about their story.
Kuiphoff recalled the incident as a challenge. With little to no resources that a standard emergency department nurse would usually have, making the best out of the situation is all they could do.
“Initially, it was hard for us because when you see the patient there’s a list of things at work that we go through …,” Kuiphoff said. “But when you’re in the wilderness you don’t have any of that.”
Schoenborn said the most important thing, to her, was keeping the young man calm. Holding him still, she made sure he was awake, stayed still, and was talking.
After the young man was stabilized, it was time for the group to assist local emergency medical providers in getting the boy out of the trail area. With the use of a backboard to transport the young man, the team brought him back to the mouth of the trail, a process that was not easily accomplished. Walking up hills, trudging through water, and navigating rocky terrain, the hike back up took about an hour.
“It was a lot of communication …,” Schoenborn said. “We couldn’t see where we were stepping so the fact that everyone was really great at communicating to get this boy and ourselves out safely was amazing.”
Once back back home, the nurses said they were thankful that they were there to help. But Kuiphoff and Schoenborn wanted to make it clear that they did what anyone else with their type of training would have done.
“We were just doing what we were trained to do” Kuiphoff said.
Although it was a tough situation, Kuiphoff doesn’t believe it was a just coincidence that they were on the trail at the right time.
“I fully believe God placed 9 ED nurses on that trail for a reason,” she said.
Fall Arts Celebration opens this year when Grand Valley State University’s Art Gallery showcases the historical fascination surrounding the planet Mars during the Mars: Astronomy and Culture exhibit. This exciting exhibit brings together photographs, drawings, movie posters, book covers, and video projections to show the impact of the “Red Planet” on popular culture, even before the 20th century.
Also, the internationally acclaimed Tesla Quartet partners with Grand Valley music faculty to perform a reflection of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s love of Italy through the composer’s famous String Sextet in D Minor, Op. 70 Souvenir de Florence.
Art–The Mars: Astronomy and Culture Exhibit reception is Thursday, Sept. 13, 5-7pm at the Art Gallery, Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts on the Allendale Campus. Exhibit dates: Aug. 24-Oct. 31.
Music–An Italian Journey: Tesla Quartet performs Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence on Monday, Sept. 17 at 7:30p at the Cook-DeWitt Center on the Allendale Campus.
Get up close and personal with animals in West Michigan! Here, you’ll find animals that are native to the area, educational zoos, and even collections of extinct species. No matter what you’re looking for, West Michigan is sure to have a unique animal encounter for your entire family.
West Michigan zoos
John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids is home to over 1,400 animals including lions, tigers, grizzly bear, chimpanzees, penguins, and many more. During the summer months, they even offer a zipline, ropes course, petting corral, and many up-close animal encounters.
Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park in Alto is a unique, hands-on experience for the entire family. The park boasts a distinct collection of exotic animals and reptiles, making Boulder Ridge anything but your average zoo!
Even if you’re visiting Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek when they aren’t hosting an event, they’re still a great place to bring the family. Discover spectacular views of wild animals from elevated boardwalks, and get nose-to-nose with one of the largest giraffe herds in the country as you explore Wild Africa.
West Michigan wildlife hotspots
The city of Lansing is a great spot to take in some beautiful nature and unique animal encounters. From zoos and parks to exotic pet shops, there is something for everyone in Michigan’s capital city!
Looking to enjoy some Pure Michigan wilderness? Michigan State Parks are always a safe bet. From nature trails filled with deer and birds to lakes and rivers bursting with local fish, you are sure to see some astonishing nature on your next trip.
There are some great zoos not far from the city of Sault Ste. Marie. This summer, stop by to tour a couple of the state’s best zoos that the kids will surely never forget!
If you think that the bustling city of Grand Rapids doesn’t have much noteworthy wildlife to take in, then think again! Sit outside on the patio at JW Marriott’s restaurant, six.one.six, or The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck to take in local dogs being walked, birds flying by, and even potential fish jumping out of the Grand River.
The city of Bellaire is the perfect place to get your animal and wildlife fix this summer! Stop by the Grass River Natural Area to catch a glimpse of rare birds, turtles, snakes, deer, bobcat, fox, and much more. Or, head on over to Shanty Creek Resort. With 4,500 acres to explore, the resort offers a variety of options to get outside and be one with nature. Grab a pair of hiking boots, walking shoes, or even a bicycle to enjoy the on-site trails.
Gull Meadow Farms in Kalamazoo will be opening this September and you will not want to miss out! They offer an exceptional petting zoo, family-friendly activities, an apple orchard, pumpkin patch, and more. This is the perfect spot to kick off your West Michigan fall.
The city of Charlevoix is a great spot to take in some beautiful West Michigan nature and animals! Whether you decide to brush up on your reptile facts and stop in one of the historic museums in the area, or simply go for a stroll through a park, you are sure to see some wildlife, along with everything else the beautiful destination has to offer.
Head on over to Muskegon to take in some wildlife like never before! The area has some great animal rehabilitation centers and animal sanctuaries that you will want to have on your summer bucket list.
Coldwater Country is home to some must-see animal sanctuaries and wildlife gardens. From being able to feed alligators to enjoying guided tours, there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy.
Other unique ways to interact with West Michigan wildlife
Critter Barn in Zeeland is the perfect spot to learn all about farm animals and have the chance to get up and personal with chickens, ducks, rabbits, sheep, goats, cows, and so much more!
Stop by Nelis’ Dutch Village in Holland to visit their adorable and friendly petting zoo and have the rare opportunity to take a goat for a walk!
This summer, take the family to enjoy pony rides, hayrides, fishing, barn animals, and feed the sheep and goats at Teusink’s Pony Farm in Holland.
Take the kids to the Grand Traverse Butterfly House in Williamsburg where they can learn all about the wonders of butterflies and their bug relatives. Stop by to take part in educational presentations, classes, outside nature walks, or even host your next private party or wedding in the beautiful and scenic garden!
Stop by Double JJ Resort in Rothbury for the horseback riding adventure of a lifetime! From riding lessons to scenic trail rides, there is something for every experience level.
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids is sure to blow you away with their beauty! They have many informative animal exhibits, not to mention the hundreds of exotic butterflies fluttering around.
Cran-Hill Ranch in Rodney is the place to be this summer. This remarkable youth camp offers a variety of great outdoor activities, including fishing, a petting zoo, and local favorite, horseback riding.
Lauren Whitaker spent long stretches of her childhood in the hospital.
Minor colds turned into pneumonia. Even when she wasn’t hospitalized, “my parents basically ran a hospital at home,” she said. They treated her daily with lung exercises, breathing treatments and a special mechanical vest that helps move fluid through her respiratory system.
“I was kept away from kids, play dates, birthday parties,” Whitaker, 17, said. “And no preschool. They didn’t want me to be exposed to viruses. I was prone to getting sick often and for a long time. And it happened so much doctors were worried my lungs would become damaged.”
Whitaker was born with tracheomalacia, a condition in which the cartilage that keeps open the trachea, better known as the windpipe, is soft and frequently collapses.
The condition restricts airflow, which allows fluid to frequently build up in Whitaker’s respiratory system. And when Whitaker coughs, the trachea can close, which prevents the fluid from clearing out.
For every 100 children with asthma, about two or three have Whitaker’s condition, said John Schuen, MD, division chief of pediatric pulmonology and sleep medicine at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
There are no good surgical options, Whitaker was told. There are no long-term cures.
But after years of suffering—hospitalizations every four to six weeks, missing kindergarten, missing out on playdates with other children—Whitaker and her family found a remedy in an unlikely place.
The music room.
Whitaker learned to play the flute in fifth grade. She fell in love with it a couple years later. It has not only contained—and mostly solved—her medical issues, it has given her a life path.
“She’s really turned a disability into an ability, and it seems to be a tremendous ability,” Dr. Schuen said. “Now she’s on the cusp of launching a brilliant, brilliant career.”
‘Like beavers building a dam’
Dr. Schuen first met Whitaker at age 4. Her family had been struggling with her recurrent pneumonia.
“She was in and out of hospital, in and out of our office, in and out of her primary doctor’s office when we first met,” Dr. Schuen recalled. “This has been something that’s been ongoing ever since she was born.”
In a healthy person, Dr. Schuen said, the airways produce thin watery secretions, which are constantly moved and which provide defense against germs and trap inhaled particles such as dust and dirt. The secretions eventually move to the throat and mouth, where they’re coughed out or swallowed, thereby protecting the lungs.
“The airways are like tiny streams or streamlets that join up to bigger rivers, until they dump into Lake Michigan,” the doctor said. “That would be what’s normal.”
But with tracheomalacia, “it’s kind of like beavers building a dam in the middle of the river,” he said. “The water doesn’t move normally. It pools behind the beaver’s dam and it just stands there. It’s great for beavers trying to make a home, but not good for homeowners.”
The buildup of fluids in the respiratory system makes infections and bronchitis much more likely, he said.
Dr. Schuen had a suggestion: In addition to daily chest exercises and use of the vest, he recommended Whitaker learn a wind instrument. It could strengthen her lung function.
If the lung muscles were stronger and produced more air and pushed that air through Whitaker’s system more forcefully, she could more easily blow through that dam, reopening the river of air.
Whitaker and her parents took his advice.
In fourth grade, her school had a presentation about joining fifth-grade band. Whitaker jumped at the chance.
“Dr. Schuen said it would be a good thing for me to play an instrument,” she said. “He said the quality and quantity of life would be better with an instrument. But honestly, I just wanted to do it. Obviously there were health benefits, but I was like, ‘Oh, an instrument, that sounds cool!’”
She originally chose the clarinet, but couldn’t produce a sound. But she was one of only two children who could produce a sound on the flute, so she said, “Let’s do this one.”
By seventh grade she began taking it seriously, practicing more and more each day. And sure enough, her health slowly improved.
“I started getting less sick with colds,” she said. “It wouldn’t hit me nearly as hard. … When I get sick now, it’s just a minor cold, not 15 days in the hospital.”
Aiming for a career
Whitaker has turned her condition into a strength.
Before her senior year of high school, she enrolled at Interlochen Center for the Arts, a boarding school with an acclaimed music program.
“I went to their summer camp for one week and liked it so much I wanted to stay the whole year,” Whitaker said.
The flute program has only 14 students, half of them international. Only two are from Michigan. Most of the curriculum is arts-based. She takes two academic classes and the rest of her curriculum is courses like music theory, band, chamber music and orchestra.
She plays the flute as many as eight hours per day. She won two concerto competitions in 2017. And she was recently accepted into the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.
She hopes to make a career as a flutist.
“We keep our fingers crossed,” said her mother, Laurie Whitaker. “It’s a very, very competitive field. But it’s really been neat. She got to play at DeVos (Performance Hall). She got to do a solo. It was quite an honor.
“It’s been a wonderful journey,” Laurie added. “Her health has been so great, partially because she’s playing a ton. When she gets sick, she picks up the flute and she feels like she can breathe better. And now she sails through colds and viruses like her peers. … I’m just so proud of her.”
Dr. Schuen called Whitaker’s story inspirational. The idea that a disability can be turned into an ability with the right mindset and commitment, he said, could resonate with a lot of patients.
“She’s turned a negative into a positive,” he said. “She could wind up going to Juilliard, Boston Conservatory, she could play with national or international fields.
“There are many people who have problems like Lauren. But she and her parents were, (1) proactive, and (2), very positive and innovative. When we made suggestions, they ran with it. … Lauren’s an incredible young woman. I’m really happy and excited for all of them.”
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).
Beguiling, handsome Bunsen Honeydew is the coolest boy—we kid you not! Even if you ignore his twisty half-tail that curves to the right and those gorgeous ocean blue-green eyes of his, you can’t overlook his charm and the super-chill, surfer-dude vibe he gives off.
This fabulous four-year-old (born in the summer of 2014) came to us from the west side of Grand Rapids in late July 2018, after he was wrangled and whisked to Focus on Ferals to be tested for FELV and FIV (both negative, thank goodness) and neutered. He was initially thought to be a bit of a wild child; he appeared a bit rough around the edges (just look at his tattered and torn ears) from living on the streets for so long, had an upper respiratory infection and was terribly flea-ridden.
Once rescued, the boy gobbled down two entire cans of food in a flash — proof-positive that the way to a wayward boy is through his stomach.
At our free-roaming facility, Mr. Honeydew here instantly meshed with his new surroundings; in fact he is so laid back that he literally hangs out on top of our intake cages (doors are always open) and simply waits for a volunteer to approach him, make eye contact and wander on over to receive kisses! He is oblivious to the presence of the other cats as it is human companionship that he craves with every ounce of his beautiful being.
We would LOVE to be able to place him in a home where he can be the center of attention; though he won’t demand it, he will reciprocate with the sweetest gestures of gratitude and affection. If you are looking for a people-pleasing, sweet and stunning cat to be your cuddle buddy, Bunsen Honeydew is exactly whom you need to take home with you!
More about Bunsen Honeydew:
Large
Domestic Short Hair
Adult
Male
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Spayed
Not declawed
Good in a home with other cats, children
Want to adopt Bunsen Honeydew? 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.
David Alvarez grew up on the thin slice of rock between earth, sky, and sea called Gibraltar. With a view of the dying vestiges of British colonialism in his own life, he launched on a career of researching and telling about that provocative legacy in other lands. He chats with us about S. Africa, Palestine, and Healing Children of Conflict.
"Life is like riding a bicycle. In order to keep your balance, you must keep moving."- Albert Einstein
Love to Ride His Bicycle
Kentwood resident and avid bicyclist Ken Smith, 70, whose father was a fireman and son is a fireman, is riding from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean — Seaside, Oregon, to Boston, Massachusetts — in hopes of raising $30,000 to provide for possible care of and therapy for his grandson Jakob. He returned home last week, riding more 2,500 miles. He is set to continue the journey soon. Ken Smith has set up a Facebook page (facebook.com/rideforjake/) and a GoFundMe page (gofundme.com/ride-pacific-to-atlantic-for-jakob) to detail his journey and raise the funds.
Food for Thought
Hank Meijer
Meijer Chairman Hank Meijer, along with Richard Norton Smith, will be the featured lecturer this Friday for the Grand Valley State University’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. The topic is “Mackinac Conference at 75,” which will be presented at 7 p.m. at L.V. Eberhard Center, Room 215, 301 W. Fulton St. The series, which continues through Dec. 5, will feature eight speakers who will encourage meaningful discussions about leadership and the search for common ground at a deep level, without the heated political rhetoric of the day.
And While We’re Talking Food
You might want to put a big food truck doodle on Sept. 15 as that is when Kentwood will be hosting its third annual End of Summer Food Truck Festival. Nearly 30 trucks are expected to participate at this year’s event. We know it will be the end-of-summer celebration you won’t want to miss because Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma is still talking about last year’s event and all the food choices. Oh, and for the beer lovers, there will be a beer tent running from noon to 10 p.m. featuring a selection of craft beers.
At one time in China, a woman’s value was judged by her marriage and children. For Imperial wives and concubines, this could mean life or a secret death. Author Anchee Min introduces Tzu His who became China’s last empress. Orchid, as she was known in the Forbidden City, began life as an innocent country girl who became the Emperor’s fourth wife.
While others have told Empress Orchid’s story, author Min uses her own childhood in China to tell this story of a girl turned goddess. Orchid rises above all other women in the Forbidden City to become her Emperor’s favorite wife. She gives him an heir and, when enemies threaten China, leads her people as regent for 46 years.
Min’s native tongue helps give the story its scope. Her descriptions tell a tale of a time when the Boxers were gaining power and the Imperials were losing it. It was a time when the wives and concubines of an emperor fought for the chance to have an heir and the power and security that a son could bring. Orchid is the Cinderella of 19th century China: a woman who had to become more than a simple country girl to rule her people in peace and justice.
By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch
The Commissario Guido Brunetti Series
by Donna Leon
Your plans for a trip to Italy fell apart? Until you can visit Rome or glide through Venice’s canals, do this: Take up with a policeman.
Donna Leon, an American living in Italy, has just brought out the 15th book, Through a Glass Darkly, in her mystery series set in Venice. Commissario Guido Brunetti is patient, principled and long suffering in the pursuit of justice in a bureaucracy that is often corrupt. He is married to Paola, who cooks wonderful meals and provides shrewd commentary. You finish a book feeling you’ve had a privileged homestay and seen sites far from the tourist track.
It’s best to begin the series with the first book, Death at La Fenice, since the author often refers to earlier incidents. Here, in the celebrated opera house, the world-famous conductor Maestro Helmut Wellauer, is poisoned during a performance of La Traviata. Brunetti, accustomed to the mazey corruptions of Venice, is surprised at the number of enemies Wellauer has made on his way to the top. That title is followed by Death in a Strange Country, in which the body of an American soldier is found in a canal. Next in the series is Uniform Justice, in which a cadet from Venice’s elite military academy is found hanged. The investigation leads to a wall of silence and hostility.
The series is very popular throughout Europe, and is gathering lots of fans in the U.S., many of whom also couldn’t vacation in Venice this year.
By Bill Hill, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
March of the Penguins
by Luc Jacquet and Jerome Maison
It is a strange life.
The Emperor penguins are born into darkness at the coldest end of the earth. To get to their mating territory 70 miles inland, they must waddle in short steps for a week through a hazard of up thrust ice scored by crevasses. As deep winter comes on, the females hatch one egg each, pass it to their partner and make the long march to the shore to feed and recover. The male Emperors stay behind cradling their precious eggs on the tops of their feet. They will huddle together through the long Antarctic winter going without food for as much as four months.
The darkness and terrible cold ease as the sun climbs higher. Shortly after the eggs hatch the females return, ready to spell the exhausted males who now must totter to the sea. The parents take turns shuttling to the sea for food till their chicks are old enough to make the journey themselves, and the cycle begins again.
Despite its billing as the “Official companion to the major motion picture,” this book is a distillation of the movie in 160 pages of photos with the movie’s narration for text. There is a short end chapter on the making the film. The publisher, National Geographic, has produced a handsome and fascinating book, one that could be shared with the rising generation.
By Bill Hill, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
Dakotah Treasures Series (Ruby; Pearl; Opal; Amethyst)
by Lauraine Snelling
Hearing that her father is dying, Ruby Torvald takes her little sister Opal and leaves New York City for the wilds of Little Missouri in Dakota Territory. When they arrive in this pioneer town, they are shocked to discover their father is very near death and owns Dove House — a sordid bar, complete with barmaids. Before he dies, Per Torvald makes Ruby swear she will “take care of the girls” — the soiled doves in residence. Ruby finds herself suddenly faced with life on the frontier in a barely-there town.
Over the course of four books, Snelling tells the story of Ruby Torvald and Little Missouri. The author focuses on each of four women: Ruby Torvald, Pearl Hossfuss, Opal Torvald, and Amethyst O’Shaunasy. These women find themselves in circumstances often beyond their control in a time when women were not considered strong in body or emotion.
Ruby finds herself taking on the reform of Dove House while her younger sister Opal confronts societal views of women in the West. Pearl goes from riches in Chicago to a one-room schoolhouse in Little Missouri, and Amethyst comes to find her lost nephew Joel in Medora. The four women learn something about themselves and about God in this Inspirational Fiction series.
By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch
You don’t always remember what they say, but you remember how they make you feel. The people we encounter throughout our day have the ability to improve our lives one interaction at a time.
In their various roles in service industry jobs Jen Joseph, Dave Janes and Chris Testillo interact with many people every day. They’re on their feet all day, working long hours, yet they serve their patients or customers with care, respect and a smile. Their service has been so impactful to others that they have been recognized for it!
These three outstanding employees are Essential Service Awards winners. Here is some of what their employers/customers have shared about them:
Jen Joseph, nurse aide, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, 2017 winner
For almost 30 years, Jen has worked tirelessly with our staff and patients to ensure the best care possible. She approaches every situation knowing exactly how to help or what to say. For example, there was a family whose mother was not making a lot of progress. The family was upset. Once Jen walked in, the patient lit up and the family’s mood shifted.
Dave Janes, post office clerk, US Postal Service, 2016 winner
Dave makes going to the post office a delightful experience. He provides true customer service to each individual waiting in line, regardless of their attitude. I’ve seen Dave diffuse tense situations with angry customers through humor. He genuinely cares about his customers and attempts to connect with each one personally.
Chris Testillo, CNA, Sunset Retirement Communities & Services, 2015 winner
Chris will pick up shifts on the schedule even when she doesn’t want to, to ensure her team is always staffed. She is often helping others once she knows her assigned residents are well taken care of. Our follow-up satisfaction surveys always mention Chris by name as someone who went ‘above and beyond’ for them for their stay.
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond in their service industry job? Nominate them for a 2018 Essential Service Award: westmiworks.org/esa.
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
By Joy Fountain, Vision Technician Supervisor at Heart of the City Health Center
Do you use a computer, cell phone or tablet at work, school or home? You may have noticed symptoms related to excessive use of these digital devices. Computer vision syndrome, also known as digital eye strain, is the combination of vision and eye problems associated with the use of any device with an electronic display.
Some of the most common complaints reported with computer vision syndrome include:
Eyestrain
Tired eyes
Glare
Irritation
Redness
Blurry vision
The good news is an eye exam can help make your eyes more comfortable while using these devices. Anti-glare lens coatings are available for glasses. This will significantly decrease the computer screen glare (as well as glare from headlights). Often times, a person experiences blurry vision, because the eyes do not focus well. In this case, making the text larger on your device or using glasses would help.
If you experience any of these uncomfortable side effects with use of a digital device, please schedule an appointment to get your eyes checked today.
Karen Gomyo, who had taken up Suzuki violin only a few months earlier, was just 5 ½ years old when she decided she would make music her life’s work. That was after her mother took her to a performance by the famous violinist Midori Goto.
“After seeing Midori, I just wanted to do what she was doing,” Gomyo told the Winnipeg Free Press in November 2012.
Two-and-a-half years ago, Gomyo was scheduled to make her Grand Rapids Symphony debut but had to cancel at the last minute. In September, the Canadian violinist will be on stage to open the Grand Rapids Symphony’s 89th season with Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto.
Music Director Marcelo Lehninger will be on the podium for Beethoven’s 7th at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday Sept. 14-15, 2018, in DeVos Performance Hall. Appointed Music Director in July 2016, Lehninger enters his third season at the helm of the Grand Rapids Symphony.
The opening concerts of the 2018-19 Richard and Helen DeVos Classical series opens with Leonard Bernstein’s Divertimento and conclude with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. The Concert Sponsor is Spectrum Health. Guest Artist Sponsor is the by Edith I. Blodgett Guest Artist Fund.
“It’s such a wonderful way to start a season,” said Lehninger. “Not only with Beethoven, but with that Beethoven Symphony.”
In the climactic scene of the 2010 film The King’s Speech, which won the Oscar for Best Picture, King George VI overcomes the stammer he’s had since childhood to announce on radio that The United Kingdom was at war with Nazi Germany.
As King George VI, portrayed by actor Colin Firth, addresses the nation on BBC radio, the gravitas of the moment in the film is supplied by the solemn and stirring allegretto from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.
Beethoven’s mature Symphony No. 7 in A Major is known today for the rhythmic vitality of all of its movements. All four are in a faster tempo than was normal for the time, giving the symphony a fiery energy seldom heard in the concert hall.
Leonard Bernstein’s Divertimento, a cheeky work full of nods to other composers, inside jokes and extraverted humor was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 1980.
Samuel Barber, best known for his Adagio for Strings, composed his Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 14, just before his 30th birthday. The neo-romantic work looks nostalgically to the past in its first two movements while the finale, which is more irregular and aggressive, looks to the future.
Gomyo (pronounced “GAHM-yo) has performed with top American orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra in the United States as well as with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Symphony, and Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.
Born in Tokyo to a French-Canadian father and a Japanese mother, Gomyo moved to Montreal at age 2 where she began studying Suzuki violin. At age 11, Gomyo moved to New York City to study at The Juilliard School with violinist Dorothy DeLay, the legendary pedagogue whose students include Itzhak Perlman and Sarah Chang as well as violinists such as Midori and Anne Akiko Meyers, all of whom previously have graced the Grand Rapids Symphony’s stage.
At 15, she became the youngest violinist ever accepted on the management roster of Young Concert Artists. In 2008 at age 26, she was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant.
Gomyo, who served as violinist, host and narrator for a documentary about Antonio Stradivarius titled The Mysteries of the Supreme Violin, performs on a 1703 Stradivarius violin that was bought for her exclusive use by a private sponsor. Unlike many Stradivari, the instrument dubbed “Aurora, ex-Foulis” never was owned previously by a renowned violinist. Through the entire 20th century, it only had three owners, including Gomyo, which also is rare for an instrument of this caliber.
Gomyo said it took her years to get acquainted with the instrument because an instrument such as a Stradivarius has its own character.
“It comes with a strong personality and you can’t impose yourself on it. You have to let it speak,” Gomyo told Utah based classical music writer Edward Reichel in October 2015. “I’ve had my Stradivarius for 10 years, but it’s only been in the last few years that I can say that I have bonded with it.”
Inside the Music, a free, pre-concert, multi-media presentation sponsored by BDO USA, will be held before each performance at 7 p.m. in the DeVos Place Recital Hall.
Tickets start at $18 and are available at the Grand Rapids Symphony box office, weekdays 9 am-5 pm, at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across from the Calder Plaza), or by calling 616.454.9451 x 4. (Phone orders will be charged a $2 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum.)
Tickets are available at the DeVos Place ticket office, weekdays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. or on the day of the concert beginning two hours prior to the performance. Tickets also may be purchased online at GRSymphony.org.
Full-time students of any age are able to purchase tickets for only $5 on the night of the concert by enrolling in the GRS Student Tickets program, sponsored by Calvin College. This is a MySymphony360 eligible concert.
What kicks off with a Labor Day Bridge Walk at 10am and goes all day long? Why, the West Michigan Labor Fest at Ah-Nah-Awen Park, from 11am-5pm Monday, Sept. 3rd.
Enjoy free admission all day to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum; free, live entertainment by Rochelle & the Spoilers, Mustang Band, Evidence, Krystal Klear, and Mark Swanson.
Fun things for the kids include a penny throwing contest, free rides on the kiddie Ferris wheel, jump for free in the Bouncy House, free rides on the Berry-Go-Round. Your little ones can also create sidewalk chalk art, enjoy free Country Fresh ice cream, and face painting.
Don’t forget the food: Patty Matters Food Truck, Coney Girl, Saladino Smoke, D&D Gluten-free Food Truck, Kona Ice, and more to be announced later. Dad (and mom) can check out the beer tent.
Local arts and crafters will be selling jewelry, candles, wood, clothes, crocheted items, fused glass art and more.
‘American Made’ car and motorcycle show and shine, with dash plaques to the first 50 cars in the show!
No back-to-school season would be complete without Kevin Henkes’ 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.
Shugby 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 Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
Grand Rapids—Community and Industry by Thomas R. Dilley
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.
Tom Dilley will be a presenter at the Grand Rapids Public Library’s annual Celebration of the Book on Wednesday, October 18 at 7:00 pm in the Ryerson Auditorium, Main Library.
By M. Christine Byron, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch
Professor Douglas Vander Griend of the chemistry and biochemistry department plans to conduct a symphony this summer, with the assistance of two student researchers and Calvin’s new supercomputer. Or at least, that’s how he invites those not well-versed in technical chemistry to understand his current work building a chemometric website for the modeling of complex chemical solutions.
The website software takes the spectrographic—or light—output of an experiment and tries to match it against a multitude of simulated experiments. When a similar simulated output is found, the software then shows the researcher what chemical interactions may have produced that output.
“Imagine that you’re in a concert hall, and you’re listening to instrumentalists play on a stage, but the curtain is drawn so you can’t see anything, and everybody’s playing instruments you’ve never heard before,” Vander Griend said. “So you can hear what they produce, and your job is with your ears to figure out how many instrumentalists are on stage and what type of instruments each one is playing.
“We do almost the exact same thing with molecules and light,” he added, “we make them play a song.”
Harmonizing distinct disciplines
Aiding him in conducting this obscure orchestra are student researchers Joyce Chew and Nathanael Kazmierczak. Chew is a junior majoring in math, and minoring in computer science and chemistry, while Kazmierczak is a senior majoring in music and chemistry, and minoring in ministry leadership.
Vander Griend points to both students’ backgrounds in multiple disciplines as a strength: “When someone can bring in a mindset and toolbox developed in a different area, they bring fresh insight into new problems.”
Both are thrilled with the interdisciplinary nature of the project. “I really like that this [research] integrates math, computer science, and chemistry, because those are my core three interests,” said Chew.
Kazmierczak views this kind of research as unique to Calvin: “as a liberal arts institution, Calvin has really open lines of communication between the disciplines;” he added, “there’s a lot of collaboration work going on in the sciences.”
In addition to being able to work within multiple fields, both also enjoy working with Vander Griend. Having done research with him for over two years, Kazmierczak identified his attitude as “a hands off one, which really helps you develop as an independent scientist.” Chew agreed; although this is her first time doing chemistry research, she said “he made it really easy for me to jump in, get into the literature, and get caught up with what was happening in his lab.”
Cutting-edge tools
Vander Griend’s ensemble is completed by Calvin’s new supercomputer. Access to the supercomputer, according to Vander Griend, is “expanding out the functionality” of the software, allowing for the automation of model construction, the building of a database for results, and extensive error analysis.
Vander Griend identified the error analysis specifically as one of the super computer’s key contributions to the project: “you’re talking hours and hours and hours [of computations]; the supercomputer can bring that down minutes.”
(L-R) Gordon Oosting from Mel Trotter Ministries joins Airport Board Members Floyd Wilson, Jr., Dan Koorndyk, GFIAA CEO Jim Gill, Airport Board Members Roger Morgan and Birgit Klohs, and Lake Michigan Credit Union’s Don Bratt in donating coins for the ‘For GRReat Change’ program. (Photo supplied)
Loose change in your pockets now has a home, thanks to new donation coin containers at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA). The coin containers are in place at both the standard screening line and the TSA Pre-Check line, and airport board members were among the first to drop in coins this morning as a part of the airport’s new program, “For GRReat Change”.
GFIA installed the new coin containers in an effort to support a local West Michigan charity, while at the same time expediting the security screening process. All donations will go to Mel Trotter Ministries with donations being matched by Lake Michigan Credit Union.
“We know many travelers come to the security checkpoint with change in their pockets. Normally, they would empty their pockets and place it in a bowl before going through security, but now they can drop it before they go through security and donate to a good cause,” said GFIA President & CEO Jim Gill. “This not only expedites the security lines because it is one less item to screen, but it goes toward helping to end homelessness in West Michigan. We are proud to partner with Mel Trotter Ministries and Lake Michigan Credit Union to give back to our community.”
GFIA is unveiling the new containers before a busy fall schedule for the airport when seasonal flights gear up, which is also a crucial time for Mel Trotter Ministries prior to the holidays.
“We are always exploring unique ways to partner with individuals and organizations in West Michigan and this coin container project is another example of how together we can make a greater impact,” said Abbey Sladick, VP of Communication at Mel Trotter Ministries.
“We are grateful to the generous passengers, to the airport and to LMCU for their commitment to solving a serious community issue that affects thousands of our neighbors every year.”
“Lake Michigan Credit Union is thrilled to be a part of this creative way to make a difference benefitting Mel Trotter Ministries at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport,” said Lake Michigan Credit Union SVP of Marketing Don Bratt. “We are excited to double the impact that passengers can make through the donation of their change.”
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).
Naming this cute-as-a-button calico was challenging in a fun sort of way, as Dr. Jen wanted something that embodied her personality and was as unique as her arrival to the shelter.
On the evening of July 30th, 2018, a nice guy by the name of Kyle found this kitty wandering around on Turner NW too close to the highway off ramp. He had briefly seen her in the neighborhood a time or two before, assumed she belonged to someone, but he was certain she did NOT belong in the middle of the busy road dodging traffic. He scooped her up, popped her in his car and actually drove over to our facility with her riding in the back seat.
Now we aren’t actually equipped to take strays in directly off the streets like this, but he was so sweet with her and had nowhere else for her to go, so we made an exception and set her up in the lobby away from the other cats, treated her external and internal parasites, let her fill her belly and then sleep off the events of the day.
Cerys (pronounced ‘care-iss’) had a nasty bilateral ear infection secondary to ear mites. This caused quite a bit of trauma at her ear bases as she scratched and rubbed them—and who could blame her—so at her workup the next day at the clinic, comfort was first priority. Dr. Jen also spayed Cerys a few days later, even though it appeared that she had had a litter earlier in the spring. Dr. Jen guestimates Cerwys was born in January of 2016, so who knows how many kittens she had actually birthed prior to her rescue.
Everybody fell in love with this darling cat, so we settled happily on the name Cerys, whose Welsh meaning is simply ‘love’.
Dr. Jen likes to ask shelter and cat care managers to give the scoopdidoo on our residents when it comes time to write their bios, as she usually only spends time with them at intake and again at their one month recheck. The gals had this to say about our lovely little lady:
“Cerys definitely has a calico disposition at times; she is getting along better with the other residents but did have a tough time at first. She absolutely loves human attention, and will let you hold her for some one-on-one time. She is also very playful, gives great head bumps, and enjoys the windows and bird feeders. She would do best in a home with another cat and where she will receive lots of attention. She loves to follow us around, and will jump up on any surface to make sure you see her. “
“Cerys is so sweet with people but is overwhelmed with all the other cats at the shelter. I think she would be fine with another cat, just not 20. She definitely makes sure she gets her fair share of attention, she follows everybody around asking for pets!”
So the consensus is in: Cerys is ready to be loved AND she’s a lover! We think this is exactly the type of cat most folks are looking for, so we suspect that once her story goes public, we aren’t going to have her with us for very long.
More about Cerys:
Medium
Calico & Domestic Short Hair Mix
Adult
Female
House-trained
Vaccinations up to date
Spayed
Not declawed
Good in a home with other cats, children
Want to adopt Cerys? 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.
Love of an American made her move to the United States. Love of food from her Brazilian homeland made her enter local cooking contests. And an entrepreneurial spirit made her a baker of the tasty pão de queijo, a staple of her childhood and reason for her growing business. Love and a Brazilian oven in Kalamazoo, Michigan!
Before lacing up, make sure you know the dos and don’ts of nutrition when it comes to exercise. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
By Christine Khamis, PA-C, Spectrum Health Beat
What to eat before and after a workout is one of the most common questions I’m asked.
Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting your exercise journey, there are some general guidelines.
If you’re looking for advice on meal planning and customization, you can follow up with your health care provider or dietitian.
Pre-workout nutrition
It’s best not to eat immediately before a workout.
Eat larger meals at least 3-4 hours before exercising. Ideally, you should fuel your body about 1 to 3 hours before working out with a small meal or snack.
Carbohydrates are the main fuel for your muscles. The harder your engine is working, the more carbs you need for optimal performance. In addition to carbs, your pre-workout meal or snack should also include some protein. While carbs are the fuel, protein is what rebuilds and repairs your muscles.
Here are some suggestions for pre-workout fuel:
A banana with peanut butter
Plain Greek yogurt with berries
Oatmeal with low-fat milk and blueberries
Apple and peanut or almond butter
During workout
The need to fuel during exercise depends on exercise time and type:
If your workout is less than 45 minutes, focus on water for hydration.
For sustained high-energy exercises that last 45-75 minutes, you need small amounts of carbs throughout the activity to optimally fuel your muscles and performance. Hydrate with sports drinks or a small serving of applesauce every 20-30 minutes.
For endurance exercise lasting 75 minutes or longer, you need 30-60 grams of carbs an hour, such as a handful of raisins or 1 medium banana.
Post-workout nutrition
Getting protein and carbs into your system is even more vital post-workout.
Your body uses stored fuel in your muscles and liver, in the form of glycogen, to fuel your workout.
Ideally, you should get carbs and protein into your body within the first two hours after exercising—the sooner the better.
This gives your muscles the ability to replenish the glycogen you just used and allows for protein and amino acids to repair your muscles.
Here are some ideas for post-workout nutrition:
Recovery smoothie
Turkey on a whole-grain wrap with veggies
Yogurt with berries
When it comes to exercise and nutrition, everyone is different—consider keeping a journal to monitor how your body reacts to meals and pay close attention to how you feel and perform during your workout.
Let your experience guide you through which eating habits work best for you.
By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Ottawa Hills Branch
When I picked up this book, I was looking for something light to read that involved characters that I could relate to—and I was not disappointed. In The Hot Flash Club, Nancy Thayer introduces the reader to four very diverse women ranging in age from fifty-two to sixty-two. The only things they have in common are a mutual acquaintance and the process of menopause.
I found my self quickly drawn into the world of Faye, Alice, Shirley and Marilyn, characters who give the term “aging gracefully” a whole new meaning.
As the four women plunge into an unexpected relationship with each other, they explore many current women’s issues with gentle humor, honesty, and nerve. Rather than viewing menopause as the end of childbearing years, Thayer suggests it is the launching point into late middle-age. Her characters are far too busy living their lives and following their dreams to focus on things that might hold them back, like arthritis, divorce, retirement and widowhood. Those topics are simply a part of their lives, not the main focus, and this positive approach works well within the framework of the story.
While the story holds a lighter tone than works by authors such as Elizabeth Berg, it is an entertaining and positive look at women and aging, as well as being a gentle reminder that life is a journey, not a destination, and our perception of the process is vital to how much we enjoy the ride.
Every year, the first Monday of September is designated as Labor Day: a celebration of the achievements of our nation’s workforce. Falling on Sept. 3rd this year, it’s also considered the unofficial end of summer. Take this as an opportunity to spend time with family as they head back to school, or grab some friends and enjoy a nice, long weekend seeing what’s going on in the area. Many West Michigan locations are hosting fun events throughout the weekend, meaning you won’t need to go far to find something fun each day of the three-day weekend.
Labor Day Events
Kick off your Labor Day in Holland at the Annual Labor Day Boardwalk and Pancake Breakfast on Monday, Sept. 3rd. The patriotic four-mile walk winds through Kollen Park and ends at beautiful Windmill Island Gardens where a delicious and scenic pancake breakfast will be held. Afterward, bring the family to the annual Truck Parade downtown! Big rigs that carry locally-made products rumble through downtown Holland and Zeeland, complete their route by parking at the Holland Civic Center, where free food and prizes are all part of the end-of-parade celebration.
The city of Muskegon has some great events planned around Labor Day that you should not miss. On Monday, Sept. 3rd, the city kicks off the holiday with their annual Labor Day parade, followed by a celebration filled with food vendors, bounce houses, prizes, and more. The 12th Annual Labor Day Community Walk in nearby Whitehall lets your family explore the White River Bridge and scenic nearby trails.
Labor Day weekend is a great time to make a getaway to the Greater Lansing area. Whether you’re a fan of BBQ or buffalo, you won’t want to miss the annual Chicken Wing Festival over Labor Day weekend. The event is filled with music, activities, and, of course, wings! That’s not all the capital city has to offer for the long weekend, so make your Labor Day plans today.
The Labor Day Bridge Walk in Cheboygan is Monday, Sept. 3rd. Participants will get to take in the complete beauty of the town while marching up and down the historic streets. The walk will be followed by a community picnic, the perfect place to socialize with friends and family.
Courtesy Kiwanis Club of Boyne City
There are tons of events happening in the Boyne City area over Labor Day weekend. Follow the sounds of oldies music to Veterans Park and the Boyne Kiwanis Car Show on Saturday, Sept. 1st. A visit to the area over Labor Day weekend can also include watching sailing races on Lake Charlevoix or drag races at the Boyne City Airport. To further help you plan your travels, the Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce has a special events calendar for Labor Day and beyond.
After your short Labor Day work week, stop by Marshall from Sept. 8th to 9th for the 55th Annual Historic Home Tour. This legendary event features eight historic homes, a Civil War Ball, Art Faire, Civil War Encampment, and so much more.
Labor Day specials and packages
With Labor Day coming up, the long weekend poses the perfect opportunity to squeeze in one last getaway to Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire. With boating, biking, golf and more, Shanty Creek offers the perfect balance of relaxation and recreation.
Stop by Waters Edge Golf Course in Fremont, where veterans golf for free this Labor Day weekend. This great deal includes a cart and your choice of 9 or 18 holes.
Spend Labor Day weekend at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Williamsburg! Featuring golf specials on all three championship courses, live music at the private Beach Club, and countless activities for kids, this is one deal that you do not want to miss. Check out the full calendar of events to plan your visit.
Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville is packing so many great deals and activities into Labor Day weekend that it’s almost hard to believe! On Saturday, Sept. 1st, enjoy a “float-in” movie in the pool. Come back on Sunday, Sept. 2nd, for one last splash pool party to wrap up summer. On Monday, Sept. 3rd, celebrate the unofficial last day of summer with some fantastic two-for-one discounts on laser tag, climbing wall passes, adventure course tickets, and much more!
Courtesy Crystal Mountain
This Labor Day weekend take the opportunity to discover quaint communities during a getaway to Coldwater Country. Home to more than 100 lakes, it’s a haven for relaxation on the water. You can also stop by the area’s unique shops, which includes everything from antiques to magic. End the day with a performance at Tibbits Opera House or a movie at one of Michigan’s most iconic drive-in movie theatres, the Capri Drive-In Theatre.
Spend this Labor Day at TreeRunner Adventure Park in Grand Rapids and enjoy 20% off your ticket price on Monday, Sept. 3rd.
Located at Hotel Walloon in Walloon Lake, Tommy’s is hosting a Labor Day sale on Sept. 1st and 2nd. Purchase everything you need to get out on the water, including boards and skis, life jackets, inflatables, and more. If you’re not in the market to purchase gear, you can rent everything you need from Tommy’s to enjoy the holiday weekend on Walloon Lake!
Eat and drink your way through the holiday
Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo knows that Labor Day weekend is a time for family fun. Don’t let the fun stop by visiting one of their on-site restaurants for a hand-crafted meal that your taste buds will thank you for.
Start off the long Labor Day weekend at Vineyard 2121 in Benton Harbor on Friday, Aug. 31st for fire-baked pizzas and live music. Wrap up the weekend at Sangria Sunday where you can sip on some tasty sangria and tap your feet to live music all night long!
Courtesy JW Marriott
Don’t feel like grilling out this Labor Day? No problem! Stop by Grand Rapids and indulge in a unique and delectable meal with friends and family at six.one.six, located inside the JW Marriott. If you’re looking for drinks, check out The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck’s affordable Happy Hour to go along with some mouthwatering eats.
Jam out at Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids this Labor Day weekend with live performances on Saturday and Sunday. While you’re there, don’t forget to taste some of their legendary brews or pick up a six-pack in the gift shop to take a taste of Founders home with you.
MyNorth Tickets has beer-centric events that are perfect to add to your long holiday weekend. Head out to the picturesque slopes of Treetops Resort in Gaylord on Sunday, Sept. 2nd for Beer, Blues & BBQ. Your visit will include plenty of stellar blues rock, frosty beers, and great food! Visit MyNorth Tickets’ website for a full calendar of events in Northern Michigan.
One of the most frequent complaints women have about midlife and menopause is trouble sleeping.
Although not every woman walks through my office door saying, “My problem is poor sleep,” quite a few do.
Many talk about their sleeping issues in other ways. What they say usually goes something like this:
“I am so irritable, I do not like myself.”
“I cannot seem to remember anything.”
“Why am I so tired?”
But I know the real problem is they are either not sleeping well or enough.
Sleep disturbances are common and have many causes. And, although I am not a sleep doctor, I have learned about sleep during midlife and menopause.
First of all, just before your periods, the hormone drop can cause little night sweats, which disturb sleep just enough to be noticeable. Many women also describe falling asleep without any problems, but then waking up between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. and not being able to fall back asleep.
Does this scenario sound familiar? If so, keep reading.
Your normal sleep consists of cycles that vary between deep sleep and light sleep. When you are in light sleep, you can usually get yourself back into deep sleep without waking. However, in midlife and menopause, you are more likely to be awakened by a full bladder, your bed partner’s snoring or a little hot flash.
Unfortunately, once you are awake and alert, your brain tends to go into overdrive: “Oh, no, I’m awake—what if I can’t get back to sleep? I have a big day tomorrow, and I have so many things to do. There’s that big presentation, cookies for John’s class and my mom’s doctor’s appointment.”
The worry machine goes into high gear and the adrenaline starts flowing.
Here’s how to fix the problem. Get out of bed, go to the bathroom, get a drink of water and go to a quiet spot in your home (not the bedroom) to practice metered breathing.
First, find a comfortable spot with just enough light so it is not totally dark. Glance at the clock so you can keep track of the time. The goal is five minutes. After you are comfortable, close your mouth, open your eyes and find a focal point—a spot on the wall or anything fixed and neutral. As Baron Baptiste says, “By focusing on one spot, it will send soothing messages to your mind.”
Then, just breathe through your nose, not deep or forced. Just be and breathe, focusing on the sound of your breath for five minutes. If you think of something that is worrying you, it’s OK. Focus for a second on the thought and then let it go.
Then go back to bed. If you find you can’t go back to sleep, get back up, go to your spot and repeat the metered breathing. It may take your body several times to retrain. Just be patient.
In addition to metered breathing, keep in mind the Seven Essential Elements of Daily Success (SEEDS) that will help you sleep better and be ready for your day. Not doing these things will trigger more night sweats.
Drink plenty of water
Get plenty of sleep
Take your vitamins daily
Eat a balanced diet with minimal sugar, caffeine and alcohol several hours before bed
Exercise regularly
Eat plenty of fiber
Start a gratitude journal
If you have tried the metered breathing and all of the SEEDS, and you’re still having trouble sleeping, it may be time to consult with a Spectrum Health Medical Group sleep specialist. Remember, sleep is everything.
By Terry Gibb, Michigan State University Extension
Water makes up 75 percent of the Earth’s surface; the human body is 60 percent water. We use water every day. And then we discard it down the drain to . . . WHERE?
According to the Michigan 21st Infrastructure report, 70 percent of Michigan homes and businesses are connected to a municipal sewer system that collects the dirty water in huge underground pipes, takes it to a treatment plant where it is cleaned, filtered and sanitized before being sent back into local water bodies for reuse.
That leaves 30 percent of homes and businesses that use another system for waste water treatment. For these, onsite wastewater (septic) systems are the only option because a municipal sewer system is too costly to connect to or not available.
What do you know about your waste water treatment?
Are you on a septic or municipal system?
Where is your septic tank and drain field located?
When was the last time you had your septic system inspected?
Do you have a drinking water well?
Is your well near your septic system?
What are some easy actions to protect your septic system from failure and your wellhead from contamination?
Many home and business owners don’t realize there is a problem with their septic system or well until it becomes a major one. A failed system can cost the owner thousands of dollars to repair, if it is even possible, or replace.
Michigan State University Extension is hosting a live webinar, “Septic (Onsite Wastewater) System Maintenance and Wellhead Protection” on Thursday, Sept. 20 from 3 to 4 p.m. This program will cover what a septic system is, how it works, best management practices to protect the system, how to identify trouble in the system, steps to take if a problem occurs and alternative system options. It also will include basic information about drinking water wellhead protection. The presentations will be followed by a live question and answer session via the chat box.
You will receive a confirmation email with login instructions upon registration. Registration is available right up until the webinar begins but please allow additional time to connect to the webinar.
