Category Archives: Citizen Journalism

Wyoming’s original fire engine part of this year’s 28th Street Metro Cruise

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The City of Wyoming’s Engine No. 1 at its home, Fire Station No. 2on Division Avenue.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

It could be because it is red as a red vehicle always stands out. Then again, it is a fire engine which usually draws a crowd.

 

But more likely it is simply the fact that it is the City of Wyoming’s first fire truck that made Engine No. 1  so popular at last year’s 28th Street Metro Cruise.

 

“People love it,” said Wyoming firefighter Brad Deppe. “They’re honking. They’re waving. They’re thumbs up. They love to see it as much as we like to see it in and around the station.”

 

When restore, the truck’s details were done gold-leaf as it would have been done when purchased.

 

Deppe admits that participating in the 2017 28th Street Metro Cruise was almost an afterthought with him making the call rather late with organizers able to find a spot for the truck last year’s layout. This year, Deppe was one of the first to receive a call about this year’s event with the Engine No. 1 scheduled to be at Rogers Plaza on both days of the event, Friday and Saturday.

 

“There’ are not many communities that have the ability to say ‘Yes, we still have our original fire truck and it still goes down the road and we are still using it,” Deppe said. “It’s just really cool and a reminder of where we came from.”

 

The chase was purchased in 1931 with money raised by the Wyoming Park-Beverly area. As was typically during that time period, the body was built by the members of the department. It was put into service in 1932. The truck remained in active service until 1962 and for another eight years was used to fill and drain cisterns around the city.

 

In 1970, the truck was retired and for the next eight years, it sat in storage. That is until the question was raised on what the city should do with it, Deppe said. A group of about 18 Wyoming firefighters pushed for the truck to be restored. The restoration project started in May of 1978 and took about 14 months and approximately 610 man hours to complete, mostly done during off hours in evenings and on weekends. The cost was about $3,500.

 

During the restoration, the truck was dismantled and sent to Jackson to be repainted. When it was stripped, many of the original details and designs were discovered so the truck was restored to as much of its original look as possible, Deppe said, adding that included gold-leaf used in designs and pin stripping which was all done by hand.

 

Other details included the seat being reupholstered to as close at the original as possible. An original-style siren was located in New Jersey. Also original is one of the two ladders and the seat on the front fender which was not used when the truck was driving down the street, Deppe said, but was designed for a firefighter to sit in while helping to put out brush fires.

 

Firefighters would only seat on the fender seat when the city had a brush fire.

 

The restored engine was utilized in a number of events for several years but as those involved with overseeing the truck retired or moved on, Engine No. 1 once again was moved back into storage.

 

“About a year or so ago, the question came up again about what should we do with the truck,” Deppe said. The truck needed to be made road ready which included fixing any leaks and tracking down an era appropriate license plate.

 

The city’s firefighters knew what a gem it was to have Wyoming’s original fire truck and with that in mind, along with the help of Wyoming’s Steve Antique Repair — which is located in the old Wyoming Park/Beverly area — the staff was able to bring the engine out of storage.

 

“Now we are slowly piecing it back together,” Deppe said. “Finding some of things that use to be original on it the weren’t that have been changed at some point. Getting it back to its original state.”

 

The Wyoming’s Engine No. 1. which is housed in the Fire Station No. 2 on Division Avenue, has participated in parades, attended Department of Public Safety events, and of course, the 28th Street Metro Cruise. Deppe said the department hopes to continue to use the truck as way to engage the community, sharing a bit of the past to teach the importance of fire safety.

Snapshots: Fun news you need to know from Wyoming and Kentwood

3-bottom, Books, Citizen Journalism, Food, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , , , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

 

Quote of the Day

"It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course."

~ Hank Aaron

 

And we hardly knew ye…

Buh-bye, fatty

 

After 10 hearty seasons, 12,000 brave challengers and nearly 58 million gut-busting calories, the Fifth Third Burger is officially retiring on Saturday, Sept. 1. Get ’em while they’re still hot.

 

Remembering the People’s Princess

A class act

In honor of the anniversary of the death of Princess Diana, WKTV 25 will be airing a special half hour memorial tribute “Princess Diana: A Tribute To England’s Rose.”

 

The show will air Monday, Aug. 27, at 9:30 a.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 28, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. and Friday, Aug. 31 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

 

Save a place on your
dance card for Kate Daniel

Gladys Ewing’s dance card, circa 1912

The husband-and-wife team behind the New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels series will be visiting Schuler books & Music at the end of August. The couple is touring for the release of Magic Triumphs book 10  and the final book in the Kate Daniel series. They will be at Schuler Books & Music, 2660 28th St., at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30.

 

 

Fun fact:

In 1518, a “dancing plague” took
over the town of Strasbourg, France.

One woman started it, and others joined her. Within a month, there were 400 people involved. Many died from pure exhaustion.

Two WMHCC board members recognized as GRBJ’s ’40 Under 40′

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Luis Avila (photo supplied)

By West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (WMHCC)

 

WMHCC’s Luis Avila, Board President, and Amy Marshall, Board Secretary have been recognized as two of this year’s Grand Rapids Business Journal’s ’40 Under 40′ for their professional acumen, servant leadership, and community advocacy.
Since 2002 the GRBJ has recognized over 300 progressive young professionals who have achieved personal success and made noteworthy civic contributions to the community. This year’s honorees will be feted at GRBJ’s 2018 40 Under 40 Party on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 20 Monroe Live.
After working in Geneva, Switzerland for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Avila joined Varnum in 2011. Avila focuses his practice on labor, employment and immigration matters.
In addition to his work as an attorney, Avila currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and as a board member at the Grand Rapids Ballet, Grand Rapids Symphony and Grand Rapids Art Museum. In 2014, Governor Rick Snyder appointed Avila to serve on the Board of Medicine for the State of Michigan.
Avila has been named to the GRBJ’s ’40 under 40′ on four separate occasions. In addition, he has been named a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers and to the Lawyers of Color ‘Hot List’.
Amy Marshall (photo supplied)

Marshall is a Managing Partner at Management Business Solutions (MBS). Marshall started her journey at MBS in February 2009. As of February 2014, she achieved her goal of officially becoming a part-owner of MBS.

She is also currently serving on three Executive Boards of Directors in Grand Rapids: The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (Secretary), the YMCA Spartan Stores (Board Chair) and The Maria Lida Foundation (Secretary). She also volunteers with many local organizations including our Communities Children to help develop youth for employment opportunities.
In 2010 and 2012, Marshall received the ​GRBJ’s ​’40 Under 40′ Award and was a nominee for the ATHENA Young Professional Award. Amy has also received the ’50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan’ Award through the ​GRBJ.

On the shelf: ‘Dead Wrong’ by Mariah Stewart

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Reviews, ,

By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch

 

In February, 2004, three criminals sit together at a courthouse. They decide to play an innocent game: name three people you would kill if you knew you couldn’t be caught. Then the twist: they exchange lists.

 

Mariah Stewart’s Dead Wrong is the beginning of a four-book series which tells the tale of this horrid game and the lives threatened by it. In this first book, Mara Douglas is a Child Advocate for the Lyndon courthouse. She stands for those who have no voice: the abused, the neglected, and the lost. One of her cases has earned her a place in the game. The prize: her death.

 

When someone begins killing women in Lyndon, the police and the FBI get involved. What truly haunts them is that all the women so far have one similarity: their name is M. Douglas. Mara finds herself saddled with a former FBI agent as a bodyguard because her own sister, another FBI agent, fears something bigger.

 

As events unfold and two more die, Mara makes the connection. Once upon a time Mara advocated in court on behalf of the Giordino children. She helped their mother Diana take them away from their father Vincent. Vincent didn’t like that idea and decided that if he couldn’t have them no one would. In jail for murdering his family, Vinnie also happens to have played that game in the courthouse. And the man who took his list is after Mara.

 

Dead Wrong is full of twists and turns. It is both romance and thriller, genres that Mariah Stewart blends convincingly. But what may be the Dead Wrong’s best promise is that there are still two more lists out there with two more killers waiting.

For the culinarily challenged

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Education, Food, Health, How-To's, Senior Living, ,
Which is better? Fast food or sit-down meals? You might be surprised. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Spectrum Health Beat

 

We admit it. Most of the items in a grocery store bewilder us. We have no idea what to do with them.

 

We also know beyond a shadow of a doubt there’s no Julia Child or Martha Stewart gene in our DNA profiles.

 

And while we don’t feel destined for the drive-thru, we do eat out. A lot.

 

So just what are the health implications for those of us who eat this way?

 

At least one study finds fast food is actually no worse for your health than full-service restaurant meals.

 

In fact, diners consume more sodium in sit-down restaurants than they do in fast-food joints.

 

Regular restaurant meals also scored the worst on cholesterol content, containing an average of 58 milligrams of extra cholesterol compared with home-cooked meals. Fast-food meals only contained an extra 10 milligrams of cholesterol, the researchers said.

 

This doesn’t mean fast food is good for us, said Jessica Corwin, MPH, RDN, dietitian and community nutrition educator for Spectrum Health Healthier Communities, “it just means that certain fast food items can be the lesser of two evils when compared to restaurant items.”

 

Excess sodium, in the form of salt, poses a risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. Elevated cholesterol also hurts heart health.

 

To compare eating habits in different settings, the research team sifted through seven years of data collected by the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

 

Nearly 18,100 American adults were asked on two occasions to describe the meals they consumed in the preceding 24 hours.

 

If you’re watching your weight, eating at home wins out, hands down. The study found that on average, people who frequent fast-food places and full-service restaurants consumed nearly 200 additional calories compared to those who cook their meals at home.

 

An upside of dining in restaurants? The meals are actually healthier than fast-food meals or home-cooked meals when it comes to containing certain key vitamins (B6, vitamin E, vitamin K, copper and zinc), as well as potassium and omega-3 fatty acids.

 

“People do fuel up with more nutrient-packed meals at restaurants,” Corwin said. “But the added nutrition comes with more salt and cholesterol. That’s the downside.”

Food rules: An eater’s guide

Whether eating at home or out, choose fresh, seasonal, locally-grown, whole foods whenever possible, cooked from scratch. Granted, this isn’t always realistic for today’s hectic lives of dual working parents, Corwin acknowledges.

 

For days when we need to rely on ready-to-eat (or ready-to-heat) options, whether fast food, takeout or restaurant fare, here’s what she says to look for:

  • Foods or entrees that include fresh, steamed, baked, or grilled vegetables and lean meats
  • Fruits, vegetables, green salads with lean protein, and broth-based, beans or lentil soups.
  • Key words like grilled, fresh, baja, lean, baked, steamed
  • Size—choose the small option when available, or a kids meal for a smaller portion, with apple slices in place of the fries and a small milk or water rather than a soda or juice

“It’s tough to go wrong when you aim for the basics, with foods as close to the source as possible,” Corwin said. “A grilled chicken or bean-based salad with a balsamic/olive oil vinaigrette served on the side is a winner. I prefer an olive oil-based dressing over a low-fat or fat-free dressing as manufacturers tend to crank up the sugar as they remove the fat.”

 

Case in point? McDonald’s Newman’s Own low-fat sesame ginger dressing has more than 2 teaspoons of added sugars in a single 1.5 fluid ounce packet.

 

Finally, we should remember that ‘the customer is always right’ and speak up to ask for what we want, Corwin said.

 

“Ask for your burger to be served without the special sauce and cheese, choose a small chili over the large, or request that your chicken be grilled and your potato come without the extra salt, sour cream and butter,” she suggested.

 

If nothing else, she said, ask for the extras to be served on the side.

 

“That way you are the one in the driver’s seat, determining just how much will be added to your plate,” Corwin added.

 

Call 616.391.1875 to make a personalized nutrition counseling appointment.

 

Or, sign up to take a grocery store tour with a registered dietitian online or by calling 616.774.7370.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Confronting Dementia

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Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living

 

Confronting a loved one about dementia can be a daunting task. While increasing awareness of dementia symptoms has led to earlier diagnoses, many individuals and families fall into a state of denial. As a result, the disease is left to fester until it has progressed significantly. If you’re concerned that a loved one may have dementia, don’t wait. Addressing dementia may be a sore point for your loved one, but it’s the best thing you can do for their well-being. Consider approaching the topic with these tips in mind.

Response

The idea of receiving a dementia diagnosis can trigger a powerful response. Often, the possibility of having dementia can cause extreme anxiety. Defense mechanisms such as minimization of impairments, avoidance of discussing the problem, or vagueness and circumstantiality when forced to do so are a common way of coping. At times it can be overwhelmingly frustrating when your faced with a negative or nonexistent reaction, but it’s worth tackling the issues to be able to see a loved one have a better quality of life.

 

Although a defensive reaction is a natural and common response, many have the opposite reaction to being confronted about dementia. A study done by West J. Med found that most of the participants with dementia declared they would like to know what was wrong with them or wished to get more information. Additionally, participants in this group engaged with doctors on ways to improve their current situation.

Communications Strategies

So why not take a proactive approach and start the appropriate dialog? Here are some ways to let them know your concerns:

  • Plan. Finding the optimal time to have the conversation is a crucial component for making the discussion a success. You want to be able to find a time that works with everyone’s schedule, this way you can properly focus on the conversation. Something to keep in mind when confronting dementia is that an approach that works for someone else might not work for you. Each plan needs to be customized to meet the needs of the individual.
  • Set a Goal. When you start to prepare for this type of conversation, it’s important to set goals. Deciding what your goals should be based what outcome you’re hoping to achieve. For example, are you trying to bring awareness to your loved one, are you trying to push them to seek medical advice, or is it time to discuss assistance and care needs?
  • Express Concern and Reassurance. Fear is a familiar emotion when facing a dementia diagnosis. One of the most important things we can do when talking to a loved is making sure they know your mission is to help and make sure they are okay.
  • Body Language. Being aware of your body language can make a massive difference in conversations success. One’s body language affects the overall atmosphere during your conversation. For example, crossing your arms or raising one’s eyebrow can be confrontational. Instead try opening your arms, softening your voice, and making eye contact.
  • Do Your Research. If you suspect that a loved one may have a memory loss condition, do your research. Be aware of the symptom by becoming familiar with what they look like and how they manifest. If you need additional information, there are many resources on the internet, library, and dementia helplines. However, visiting their general practitioner or another medical professional who works with them for help is the best option.

Understanding how to connect and communicate with our loved ones can be challenging, especially if they are suffering from a memory loss impairment. As a bystander, you might have conflicting feelings whether it’s your place to bring up it up, even if they are loved one. However, proactively addressing a debilitating illness such as dementia early on is better than addressing it when it’s too late.

 

Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.

 

‘A brand new kid’

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This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

By Jason Singer, Spectrum Health Beat

 

Christina Lundquist didn’t understand it.

 

Her son, Parker, was falling asleep in the car. He couldn’t stay awake during movies. He was failing his third-grade classes.

 

“His grades did not reflect what we saw his potential would be,” she said. “And I guess that’s kind of where I thought something was wrong.”

 

Parker’s school thought he might suffer from attention deficit disorder, better known as ADD, but Christina disagreed. She used to work in a hospital and the symptoms didn’t align with her understanding of ADD.

 

Christina and her husband, Phillip, paid for private testing.

 

“The psychologist doing the testing said, ‘His IQ did not come back as high as we were expecting. I’ve seen this in the other kids that have sleep apnea,’” Christina recalled.

 

The psychologist referred the family to John Schuen, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist with Spectrum Health’s Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, for further testing. Sure enough, a sleep study showed Parker had sleep apnea.

 

Dr. Schuen recommended two things: surgically removing Parker’s uppermost tonsils, called adenoids, and putting Parker on a CPAP, a machine that helps certain patients sleep.

 

“His grades went from failing to straight A’s,” Christina said. “His brain was really shutting down from being so tired, so fatigued. …Within a week of being on CPAP, he was like a brand new kid.”

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which the patient’s breathing stops and starts throughout the night, which disrupts sleep. It affects children and adults in different ways: Children often experience behavioral issues, and adults often struggle with daytime fatigue.

 

“Clues that give parents a hint is kids’ snoring, gasping, pausing when they breathe, mouth-breathing, odd noises in the middle of sleep like coughing or choking … unusual noises like that,” Dr. Schuen said. “Sometimes there are morning headaches. When I say morning headaches, I mean they have headaches that wake them up in the middle of the night or upon waking up right away in the morning.”

 

There are two types of sleep apnea, Dr. Schuen said. Central sleep apnea is when the brain doesn’t tell the body to breathe.

 

The more common version, obstructive sleep apnea, is when the patient tries to breath, but something is blocking or obstructing the airwaves. Hence, the name.

 

About 10 percent of children struggle with persistent, nightly snoring, a sign of sleep apnea. About 3 to 5 percent have obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Schuen said.

 

“When kids have obstructive sleep apnea, the most common reason behind the apnea is large tonsils and adenoids,” Dr. Schuen said. “Tonsils and adenoids look like golf balls in the back of your throat. The adenoids, (the uppermost tonsils), sit right above roof of your mouth. You can’t see them without special tools.”

 

Obesity, which leads to rings of fat in the throat or chest, can also cause obstructive apnea, Dr. Schuen said. But that didn’t apply to Parker.

 

When children exhibit possible symptoms of apnea, Dr. Schuen orders a sleep study.

 

“The study is this: We have specially designed rooms to help promote a good night’s sleep and let parents sleep next to the child in the same room,” Dr. Schuen said. “In the pediatric sleep laboratory, our sleep tech places different gizmos and gadgets on the infant or child or teen that let us assess what’s going on during sleep. During the course of the sleep study, we’ll measure an amazing amount of information: 16 different channels look at brain waves, the stage of sleep, how often they wake up, when they wake up, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, and the sleep positions they’re in when possible apnea events occur.”

 

“And if they’re not breathing properly, we can determine the type of apnea and how often these events occur.”

 

Normal people tend to have four to six sleep cycles per night and will wake in between, Dr. Schuen said, but “you’re only awake a millisecond and don’t fully appreciate the fact that you’re awake—then, boom, back to sleep.”

 

But those with moderate sleep apnea can awake five times per hour, while severe sufferers can have 10 or more micro-arousals per hour.

 

“With apnea … particularly in kids, they might not always even awaken from sleep,” he said. “But because their oxygenation may suffer, their carbon dioxide levels may rise, or they may just shift their stage of sleep. It deprives them of good sleep.”

 

Sleep is closely tied to IQ and brain function. A recent study showed that kids who ate seafood slept better, and then performed nearly five points better on IQ tests.

 

During the daytime, kids who suffer from OSA may include “academic difficulties, problems paying attention, impulsivity and rarely, sleepiness,” Dr. Schuen said.

‘A dramatic improvement’

The sleep study showed Parker suffered from moderate to severe sleep apnea.

 

In July, Parker had his adenoids removed—“the typical solution,” Dr. Schuen said—but his apnea didn’t improve. Parker still struggled with focus issues and his behavior late in the day deteriorated.

 

Dr. Schuen ordered a second sleep study in September, which showed Parker still suffered from obstructive apnea.

 

He decided to put Parker on CPAP, a machine with a nasal mask that’s held in place by headgear. The mask is hooked up to a hose, which pushes air through the lungs and opens up the airways while the user sleeps.

 

The results for Parker were nearly instantaneous. Within a week, Christina said, Parker’s academic performance and attitude changed.

 

“He’s just a better child all the way around,” she said. “His behavior is better. He was acting out during that time, and that’s gone away. He was having some anger, especially toward the evening, and that has gone away. He’s sleeping all night long. Before he’d get up several times a night, but not anymore.

 

“And he can tell, if he goes somewhere and can’t use the CPAP, he comes home and says, ‘I need to wear the CPAP.’ He can tell the difference.”

 

Parker shared that he often fell asleep in class and couldn’t pay attention.

 

“I was so tired all the time,” he said. “Now I can stay focused longer. … I can concentrate for an hour now. It used to be 10 minutes.”

 

Parker loves extreme mountain biking with his father. He enjoys math and gym class. He can tell his body has changed with better sleep.

 

“I like gym because we get to run around and do fun stuff,” he said. “But I couldn’t really run as fast as everybody because I was so tired.”

 

Christina, who also suffers from sleep apnea, uses a CPAP machine just like her son. She notices similar improvements when wearing it.

 

“When I do wear it, I feel like I have more energy,” she said. “When I don’t wear it, I’m really cranky in the morning, even after a full night’s sleep.”

 

Parker says it’s a relief to no longer struggle in school.

 

“It made me feel really happy that I’m actually good at something,” he said. “Because I didn’t get much sleep, I couldn’t focus. It was messing me up.”

 

Learn more about the nationally-recognized pediatric pulmonology and sleep medicine program at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

GRAM’s popular exhibitions extended through ArtPrize

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, , , , , ,
Intersections by Anila Quayyum Agha

By Grand Rapids Art Museum

 

Visitors to the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) during ArtPrize 2018 will get a special experience as two current exhibitions, Anila Quayyum Agha: Intersections and Mirror Variations: The Art of Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, will be on display through Oct. 7, the last day of ArtPrize 2018. During ArtPrize, there will be no admission charge for these exhibitions.

 

In 2014, Intersections won the ArtPrize Public Vote and Juried Grand Prize, the first and only time in the international art competition’s history. Four years later, Intersections remains equally as popular.

 

“It was exhilarating to watch GRAM’s ArtPrize visitors encounter Intersections in 2014, and there’s been an amazing response with the return of her work this summer,” said GRAM Director and CEO Dana Friis-Hansen. “We’re excited to give our guests an extra surprise, allowing them to extend their visit during ArtPrize 10.”

 

Agha’s work is presented alongside Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, an Iranian artist with an international reputation for sculpture and drawing that fuses traditional Persian patterns based in mathematics with geometric abstract art. Her work develops out of her interest in the serial progression of rectilinear forms, such as triangles, pentagons and hexagons.

 

The work of Monir Farmanfarmaian will be up through ArtPrize.

“Monir Farmanfarmaian is one of the most fascinating artists in the world—truly an artist of the 21st century,” commented GRAM Chief Curator Ron Platt. “We are delighted to share her works with the diverse audiences that come through GRAM’s doors during ArtPrize 10.”

 

Both artists create work which draws inspiration from Islamic tradition and modern abstraction, creating objects of great beauty and depth. GRAM’s presentation of the two solo exhibitions is part of its commitment to highlighting works of art by diverse artists year-round.

 

During ArtPrize 10, the Grand Rapids Art Museum will feature 10 artists along with the exhibits of Farmanfarmaian’s and Agha’s work.

 

For GRAM’s hours and admission fees, visit artmuseumgr.org or call 616-831-1000.

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you need to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Crime Prevention, Dream Wheels, Election, Health, Kids Activities, Our Cities, Politics, Recreation, Sports, Upcoming Events, , , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

 

Quote of the Day

"There's one way to find out if a man is honest - ask him. If he says, 'Yes,' you know he is a crook."

                                                  ~Groucho Marx

Ladies and gentlemen,
start your engines!

(Courtesy Bruce Carlson)

 

 

The 2018 Metro Cruise kicks off at 4pm Friday, Aug. 24. The alternative Latin rock group Cabildo will be on the main stage at 4:30pm, followed by local favorite, Delilah DeWylde at 7:30pm performing a range of hillbilly and blues. Friday closes at 10pm.

 

 

Looking for a superhero

Well, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but Kent County is on the hunt for a new sheriff. If you have leadership skills and a background in law enforcement, you might want to consider applying for the position. With the announced retirement of Kent County Sheriff Larry Stelma, the county has formed a Kent County Sheriff Appointment Committee and is looking for applicants for the position. The individual appointed by the committee will hold the position through Dec. 31, 2020.

 

Take a walk on the wild side

Metro Health Village has a number of walking routes and even a bike trail — all perfect for an afternoon stroll with the kids or a quick, weeknight workout. Download a Walking/Bike Route map here.

 

Need a little push to get started? Check out the Couch to 5K Training Program. Even if you’re not looking to set any world records, this program will have you up and active in no time!

 

…and they came out in droves

No, not locusts, but we didn’t have a photo depicting the droves of voters who showed up for the primary election on Aug. 7. Take a good look at this photo — that’s the  power inherent in sheer numbers, people. A pat on the back for all who voted.

 

The Chamber’s WKTV Government Matters committee analyzed the impressive voter turnout during their meeting on Aug. 13. The committee also discussed county staff additions. All in all, pretty important stuff.

 

 

Fun Fact:

In Switzerland, it is illegal
to own just one guinea pig.

This is because guinea pigs are social animals, and they are considered victims of abuse if they are alone. Source.

Going green in West Michigan

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Food, Local Business, Local Food, Local History, Our Cities, Recreation, Senior Living, Travel, , ,

By Jeremy Witt, West Michigan Tourist Association

 

It’s important to take care of our planet, and luckily, many West Michigan businesses are helping, one step at a time. These organizations that are making sure they’re taking care of the environment, while still providing the best experience for travelers. Keep an eye out for some of the green practices that West Michigan businesses are adopting next time you stop by.

Environmentally friendly places to stay

Grand Rapids’s CityFlatsHotel is the first LEED Gold-certified hotel in the Midwest. In addition, AHC+Hospitality properties, located in downtown Grand Rapids, each participate in green initiatives. The Downtown Courtyard Marriott ships partially used soaps to Clean the World, where they are sanitized and sent to people in need. The nearby Amway Grand Plaza is going strawless across all of the hotel’s outlets, while the JW Marriott focuses on recycling throughout the hotel. These properties are all helping preserve the environment.

 

In Mecosta County, being eco-friendly is something that hospitality businesses have been doing for years. Most of the hotels have a detailed green program as part of hotel policy. The Holiday Inn and Conference Center is the best example of a company with an eco-friendly initiative, known as the “Green Engage” system.

 

Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville is dedicated to sustainability throughout all of the resort’s offerings. For their Farm-to-Table series, the Crystal Mountain culinary team works with local farms, making personal visits to build a custom three-course menu. Their spa has also been named Sustainable Resort Spa Of The Year by Green Spa Network. Relax knowing that your stay at Crystal Mountain comes with an eye for sustainability.

Eat and drink with sustainable initiatives

Downtown Market (file photo)

The Downtown Market in Grand Rapids was the first market in the country to receive LEED Gold certification. Inside and outside, from the ground to the rooftop, Downtown Market has put thoughtful effort into making an environmentally friendly facility.

 

The Mitten Brewing Company in Grand Rapids has successfully launched its new Sustainability Program. With the craft beer industry a driving force in the Michigan economy, it is important that they implement a program for environmental responsibility. In the first few months, they replaced much of their disposable materials, such as napkins, straws, and trash bags with eco-friendly industrial compostable alternatives. They have begun to track data and progress toward a more water-efficient establishment, a task not easily undertaken in the brewing industry. Upcoming projects include partnerships with BarFly Ventures Sustainability Program as well as evaluating the energy efficiency of their buildings.

 

Brewery Vivant, also in Grand Rapids, is the epitome of an eco-friendly business here in Michigan. They’re the first LEED-certified microbrewery in the world, and they’re a certified B Corp, a Gold-level, bicycle-friendly business, and, in 2016, they installed 192 solar panels atop the brewery and pub, making them the 31st largest brewery solar array in the world. Their dedication to being eco-friendly continues with their use of local farms, meaning that the ingredients going into your beer or meal is being produced not too far away.

 

Being green and environmentally-friendly doesn’t tell the whole story at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo. They view sustainability as the capacity for their business to thrive in future generations, all while using practices that focus on good environmental stewardship. They want to act in ways that provide benefits now and for generations to come. Reducing impact, increasing energy efficiency, and recycling only scratch the surface. Bell’s invites you to join them for a free brewery tour in Comstock and Kalamazoo to learn more about how they approach sustainability. Reserve your tour on their website.

 

Be green the next time you decide to go out with your friends for a cold one. Arcadia Brewing Company in Kalamazoo has a pet-friendly beer garden with direct access to the Kalamazoo River and Kalamazoo River Valley Trail. This means that you can get to Arcadia by kayaking, canoeing, biking, and walking. Instead of driving, hop on one of these trails next time you make your way to Arcadia. They also installed 536 solar panels in 2016, generating equivalent to roughly 25% of the brewery and tavern’s total consumption.

 

Grand Rapids Brewing Company (courtesy Barfly Ventures)

Virtue Cider in Fennville minimizes environmental impact in many aspects of their business. They purchase fruit direct from local farms in southwest Michigan, which keeps the supply chain short and their carbon footprint small. Their cider houses use extremely minimal climate control, just as traditional European cider makers did and still do today. In fact, their fermentation cider house is underground, which maintains a more consistent temperature year-round without climate control. You can view these facilities during one of their regularly offered tours. Additionally, the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program named Virtue Cider an Environmentally Verified Farm in December 2016, a distinction that they are very proud to have earned.

 

Barfly Ventures is working hard to be sustainable across all 14 of their locations. These include HopCat in Lansing, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Brewing Company, and Stella’s Lounge in Grand Rapids, all of which participate in this program. Through their various sustainability efforts, Barfly Ventures has been able to divert waste, recycle, protect clean water, and be more energy efficient.

 

Visit the Holland Farmers Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and support local agriculture. By purchasing locally grown produce, you’re helping to cut back on packaging and emissions that would otherwise be used to transport goods to grocery stores from across the country.

Things to do while going green

When looking for eco-friendly practices and sustainability take notice of the historic architecture and charming small towns throughout West Michigan. They epitomize the green effort, and one of the shining examples of preservation in this part of the state is the historic Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, built in 1882. According to the National Trust, “The greenest building is the one already built.” The organization affirms, “historic preservation is the very definition of sustainability: a smart, efficient way to reuse a community’s resources and keep its character at the same time.”

 

Saugatuck Antique Pavilion is not only reducing, reusing, and recycling, but they are also updating their lighting system throughout with LED lighting in an effort to cut down on energy use. Stop by the Saugatuck Antique Pavilion and save both money and the planet!

 

Courtesy Saugatuck Antique Market

Park the car and make your way around Muskegon on your bike. They have over 100 miles of trails for you to explore, including the paved Musketawa Trail from Muskegon to Marne through farmlands, wetlands, and villages. When you bike through West Michigan, you’re saving the Earth from your car’s emissions, so give it a shot. The environment will thank you.

 

The business of vacationing itself in South Haven makes it easy to go green. Downtown, the river, beaches, and attractions are all within walking distance. You can easily park your car for a week and never have the need to drive, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Enjoy the refreshingly clean breezes of South Haven.

Metro Health Village: Go the extra mile for better health

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metro-health-a-great-place-to-walkBy Metro Health-University of Michigan Health

 

Walking is as simple as it gets for a gentle, low-impact exercise that just about anyone can enjoy. In fact, walking can help prevent and improve many common health issues like heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis and depression, to name a few. All you need is a good, supportive pair of walking shoes and a safe place to walk, like Metro Health Village, 5900 Byron Center Avenue in Wyoming.

 

Metro Health Village has a number of walking routes and even a bike trail — all perfect for an afternoon stroll with the kids or a quick, weeknight workout. Download a Walking/Bike Route map here.

 

Need a little push to get started? Check out the Couch to 5K Training Program. Even if you’re not looking to set any world records, this program will have you up and active in no time!

 

Motivation is key when starting a new physical activity. Here are some ideas to help you stay focused and interested every day:

  • Wear a pedometer. Increase your steps a little every day until you reach the recommended 10,000 steps a day.
  • Get a walking partner – a friend, spouse, child, even the dog!
  • Sign up for a race or charity walk like the Metro Way 5K & Family Fun Run or the American Heart Association Heart Walk. An upcoming event gives you a goal to reach.
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
  • Park farther from the door when running errands.
  • Plan a walking meeting at work.

Walking Safety Tips

Above all, it’s important to stay safe, no matter where or when you walk.

  • Walk with a buddy whenever possible.
  • Carry your name, address and a friend or relative’s phone number in your shoe or pocket.
  • Wear a medical bracelet if you have diabetes, an allergy or other condition.
  • Carry a cell phone, and let someone know you’re walking routes.
  • Avoid deserted or unlit streets, especially after dark.
  • Do not use headsets that prevent you from hearing traffic.
  • Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
  • Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars or other obstacles before crossing so drivers can see you.
  • Cross streets at marked crosswalks or intersections, if possible.

 

On the shelf: ‘The Turn of the Screw’ by Henry James

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Reviews, , , , ,

By Stephanie M. White, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

A good ghost story never hurt anyone, and this ghost story is up there with the best of them. Henry James’s famous tale of a governess, her charges, and a big, scary house is wrought with mystery and suspense. Even after you’ve finished the last sentence, you’ll still be wondering on whose side you should be.

 

James weaves the story from the point of view of a young governess whose first position is in a large, country house with only two children and a few servants. She is given strict instructions never to bother the master of the house, who lives in town. When the governess begins seeing strangers around the house, she quickly learns that they are the ghosts of the children’s last governess and the master’s valet, who may have been involved in a scandalous pregnancy. As the governess determines a plan of action for keeping the children safe, the plot thickens.

 

James’s readers, on a first reading, are likely to trust the governess when she tells us of the apparitions. As the story continues, though, it becomes more and more difficult to understand whether she is really seeing ghosts, whether the children are trying to trick her, or whether she is trying to trick them. The less their governess trusts the sweet children, the less readers trust the governess.

 

While this short novel will leave you wondering about who’s seeing ghosts, it will also leave you amazed at James’s talent for weaving a tale with such ambiguity and suspense.

Vaccinations Aren’t Just for Kids

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Courtesy of Cherry Health

By Mary Menchinger, BS, RN-BC, Director of Nursing

 

There are several reasons people may need to be vaccinated against a disease as an adult:

  • They weren’t vaccinated as a child
  • The childhood vaccine may have worn off
  • The vaccine isn’t needed until later in life
  • The vaccine changes on a regular basis

Influenza (Flu)

Different strains of flu affect people every year. That’s one reason you need to get a flu shot annually. Each year the vaccine is designed to protect against the types of influenza virus expected to be most common. Getting a flu shot helps keep you healthy during the flu season which can start as early as September and last through May.

 

Tetanus

Tdap is a vaccine that protects against:

  • Tetanus
  • Diphtheria
  • Pertussis

Most people are vaccinated against these diseases in childhood. However, the protection can wear off.

 

Varicella (Chickenpox)

If you never had chickenpox as a child you may want to get the varicella vaccine. Chickenpox can be a serious illness in adults. Talk to your provider to see if it is a good choice for you.

 

MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)

If you were born in 1957 or later you need at least one dose of this vaccine. Consult with your provider to determine if you need to get an adult MMR.

 

Pneumococcal

All adults over 65 are strongly urged to get this vaccine. It is also recommended for adults under age 65 with certain health conditions:

  • Long-term health problems
  • Compromised immune system
  • Asthma
  • A history of smoking

Hepatitis vaccines

Vaccine are available to protect people against hepatitis A and hepatitis B. These vaccines are generally offered to adults who work or live with high risk individuals.

 

Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

According to the Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC), one in every three Americans will develop shingles. Shingles is caused by a return of the virus that causes chickenpox. The one-time vaccine is recommended for adults over age 60. You should get the shot even if you had chickenpox as a child.

 

Talk to your provider to make sure you are up-to-date on the vaccines that are right for you. At a minimum, almost everyone needs a flu vaccine once a year. 

 

Getting immunized is a lifelong, life-protecting job.

 

Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health.

Cat of the week: Kev

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Inquisitive Kev loooooves to talk

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

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).

 

Chatterbox Kev (born in November of 2013) came to us from Focus on Ferals in May of 2018 since he was feline leukemia positive.

 

Kev originated from Greenville and ended up at Focus On Ferals in January of 2018. He came in with ringworm and had to be quarantined right off the bat, so he was chomping at the bit (as you can imagine) to be released. He has proven to be quite the motor mouth, going so far as to bend your ear and almost talk it off at times! He is full of kitten-like playfulness and spunk and yet also has a softer side that he displayed while sharing close quarters with two of our other residents.

 

He would do remarkably well in a home with another fully vaccinated cat (to decrease the risk of virus transmission) and perhaps even a mellow dog to keep him company. But more than ANYTHING we think Kev is absolutely jonesing for a kid (or 2 or 10) in his life, as he has SO much energy and enthusiasm it is hard to contain it inside of his body that appears at times to be bursting at the seams!

 

Lest I forget, he also enjoys bird-watching and catnip cocktails. He is a peach for his weekly nail trims and brushing, pretty much any manhandling that is required on a regular basis—as long as he is getting attention, Kev is in 7th heaven!

More about Kev:

  • Large
  • Tabby & Domestic Short Hair Mix (Tiger-striped)
  • Adult
  • Male
  • House-trained
  • FIV-positive
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • Neutered
  • Not declawed
  • Good in a home with other cats, children

Want to adopt Kev? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.

 

To learn about the FIV virus, go here.

 

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

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.

 

Snapshots: Fun news you need to know from Wyoming and Kentwood

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WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

 

 

Quote of the Day

 

"Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well." _ Aretha Franklin

 

Making a difference

 

Having lived in Wyoming all of his life — except for a short time when he was away at college — Chris Hall felt he knew a lot about the community he lives in. Then in 2003, he joined Wyoming’s Community Development Committee and discovered even more about his city. “It is really cool because you hear from folks who have been a part of [the Community Development Committee] and they’ve learned about stuff — me included — of things that I didn’t know existed and ways that I can help out, and I think I am a better resident, a better citizen. Because of my involvement in this committee, I am able to serve my neighbors better.”

 

 

 

Time to Sparkle

 

The Grand Rapids Ballet will celebrate the arrival of its newest artistic director, James Sofranko with a gala Oct. 18. The Wild Sweet Love Welcome Gala, so named after a ballet that will be performed that event, will start at the L3VEL at The B.O.B. and then head to the company’s Peter Martin Wege Theatre. To find out why “Wild Sweet Love” was selected and how it connects to Sofranko, click here.

 

Opa!

 

Or rather Yassou!, which is the Holy Greek Orthodox Church’s annual celebration of the culture and traditions of the Greek Orthodox community. The event takes place Aug. 17 – 19 and includes music, dancing, and of course, lots of Greek food favorites. This year’s event will be supporting the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County (CAC). The church is located at 330 Lakeside SE.

 

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

 

Also this weekend is the popular JazzFest taking place in downtown Grand Rapids at Rosa Parks Circle. The event, which is Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 18 and 19, features a host of jazz musicians from noon to dusk both days. Edye Evans Hyde, Kevin Jones, Grupo Ayé, and Marcus Anderson are just some of the performers slated for the seventh annual event. The entire two days are free, although if you plan on sitting, you might want to bring your own chair.

 

Fun Fact:

300,000 bulbs

That is how many tulip bulbs are planted in Holland every year for the annual Tulip Time, of which 50,000 are hand planted on the Window on the Waterfront Park. Organizers for Tulip Time just recently announced submission dates for the annual Art In Bloom competition, which are Sept. 29 - Oct. 4.

On the shelf: ‘Yoga Over 50’ by Mary Stewart

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Health, How-To's, Reviews, Senior Living, , , , , ,

By Kelly Helder, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

So you’ve been watching your diet and eating all the right foods in the hopes of keeping the weight off and your cholesterol down. You’re walking every day, getting out in the fresh air, working those leg muscles. “But,” you say, “that’s not enough; I need more” (and more not being cardio boot camp!). What could you do that is low impact, practiced by millions, and could improve your blood pressure while relieving symptoms of arthritis?

 

Yoga, of course! It doesn’t matter if you are over 50, can’t cross your legs or don’t know a word of Sanskrit. Yoga doesn’t discriminate.

 

Mary Stewart, author of Yoga Over 50: The Way to Vitality, Health and Energy in the Prime of Life, has been teaching yoga for over 20 years (and is herself over 50). After a brief introduction about yoga and its history, there is a section on the healthy body and how it works. Then we dive into the meat of the book — yoga poses. All of the classics are here, such as Triangle, Warrior and Downward Facing Dog.

 

Accompanying each pose is a brief description, which includes instructions on how to get into the pose and why it is beneficial to you. Step-by-step color photographs of each pose give an idea of what you are eventually aiming for (remember, the models in the book have been practicing yoga for years).

 

Through bringing together body, mind and spirit, we are shown how to relax and let our tensions dissolve. Photos and text illustrate the techniques of proper breathing, meditation and Savasana, or the relaxing Corpse pose. Beginner to advanced routines round out the book. There are also short programs for people who want to target specific problem areas of the body, such as stiff hips and backaches.

 

According to statistics, over 19% of US yoga practitioners are over 50, so come on, join the fun!

Summer is not over! Free Labor Day weekend events await in downtown St. Joseph

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Kids Activities, Non-Profits, Recreation, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, ,
Courtesy St. Joseph Today

By Amy Zapal, St. Joseph Today

 

Downtown St. Joseph, Mich., is doing everything it can to keep the summer vacation spirit alive right up through Labor Day. The Lake Michigan resort community has planned a series of fun activities for all ages Aug. 31–Sept. 3.

 

It’s been a beautiful summer in St. Joseph. Come back and visit for one more weekend of summer fun! Whether you enjoy the beaches, St. Joseph’s beautiful downtown shops and restaurants, local wineries, and breweries, Whirlpool Compass Fountain, or the downtown Magical Kingdom of St. Joseph Public Art exhibit, there is something for everyone.

 

The weekend’s activities kick off with a free, outdoor concert on Aug. 31, 7:30pm at the John E.N. Howard Bandshell overlooking the St. Joseph River. Concert sponsor The Boulevard Inn & Bistro will bring Summer Reunion to wow concertgoers with their classic rock.

 

On Saturday, visitors can get an up-close look at the sailboats that have raced from Chicago in the first leg of the annual Tri-State Regatta. They can then go to the Farmers Market in Lake Bluff Park to bring home fresh-picked apples, blueberries, squash, tomatoes, cheeses, bottles of wine, late summer fruits and vegetables, jams, honey, made-from-scratch pies, fresh cut flowers and much more. The market is open from 9am to 2pm.

 

From 10am to 5pm along the bluff, regional artisans and crafters will share their talent at the Lake Bluff Artisan Faire. Visitors can also shop and dine in downtown St. Joseph or play on several family friendly beaches.

 

On Sunday, early risers can send off the sailboats as they race to Indiana. Then from 10am to 5pm, more than 50 vendors will showcase their treasures at Antiques on the Bluff. Music enthusiasts can also enjoy the season’s last Municipal Band concerts at 3:30 and 7:30pm on Sunday and Monday at the John E.N. Howard Bandshell. Free, horse-drawn trolley rides sponsored by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation will entertain all ages from 11am to 2pm (weather permitting).

 

The fun doesn’t stop after Labor Day weekend. Later in September, St. Joseph will host a Fall Festival weekend to celebrate autumn, which includes family fun activities in the daytime followed by a 21 and over event, Roots & Brews, in the evening. In addition to the many spring and summer events, fall and winter are also jammed packed with fun for all ages.

 

St. Joseph Today is a 501(c)(3) membership-based organization dedicated to developing and promoting events and businesses in St. Joseph, Mich. and its surrounding communities. For more information about upcoming events, visit stjoetoday.com, facebook.com/stjoetoday, the Welcome Center or call 269-985-1111.

For school kids, vaccines are key

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Education, Health, How-To's, Kids Activities, Our Cities, , , , , , , , , ,
The best way to treat diseases is to prevent them in the first place. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

 

Be sure to put vaccinations on your children’s back-to-school lists, whether they’re just starting school or heading off to college, experts say.

 

By protecting infants, children and teens from serious diseases, vaccinations also protect families, schools and communities.

 

“The best way to treat diseases is to prevent them in the first place, and the diseases on the vaccine schedule are all preventable for the vast majority of our population,” said David Kimberlin, vice chair of pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

 

“The scientific evidence and public health statistics are comprehensive and compelling—properly scheduled and dosed vaccines are safe and effective, and they’re the reason we don’t see diseases like measles or whooping cough running rampant across our country,” Kimberlin said in a university news release.

 

Kimberlin is the American Academy of Pediatrics’ liaison to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s advisory committee on immunization practices.

 

Immunization requirements vary by state. All have a minimum requirement for dosing each school year to attend public schools. Many require an updated immunization certificate before a child enters any public school or child care center.

 

Here’s what else you should know:

  • All 50 states and the District of Columbia require vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, polio, measles and rubella.
  • 49 states and D.C. also require mumps vaccination.
  • 48 states and D.C. require varicella (chickenpox) vaccination. (Montana and Pennsylvania do not).
  • 45 states and D.C. require hepatitis B vaccination to enter kindergarten. (Alabama, Maine, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota do not).
  • Some states require Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae Type b); PCV (pneumococcal); flu and hepatitits A vaccines to enter kindergarten.

Insurance covers school vaccinations. If you don’t have insurance, your state health department can direct you to services that offer low-cost and/or free immunizations, said Dr. Rachael Lee, an assistant professor in the university’s division of infectious diseases.

 

Vaccinations are available at doctor offices, pharmacies, health centers and local health departments.

 

College students require specific vaccinations and should check with their school to learn which ones they need, university experts said.

 

Life-threatening infections such as meningococcal disease are more common among college-age people, but can be prevented through full vaccination, the experts said.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

For one Wyoming resident being on a city committee has helped him become a better citizen

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, , , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

Having lived in Wyoming all of his life — except for a short time when he was away at college — Chris Hall felt he knew a lot about the community he lives in. Then in 2003, he joined Wyoming’s Community Development Committee and discovered even more about his city.

 

“It is really cool because you hear from folks who have been a part of [the Community Development Committee] and they’ve learned about stuff — me included — of things that I didn’t know existed and ways that I can help out, and I think I am a better resident, a better citizen.

 

“Because of my involvement in this committee, I am able to serve my neighbors better.”

 

The Community Development Committee is an advisory board to the Wyoming City Council with its focus on the federally funded Community Block Development Grant program. Enacted by Former President Gerald R. Ford in 1974, the Community Development Block Grant or CDBG is one of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s longest-running programs. It funds local community development activities such as affordable housing, anti-poverty programs and infrastructure development. 

 

The funding is distributed mostly to state and local governments which controls how the funds are used.  

 

“As an advisory panel we kind of get to determine where those dollars should be spent,” Hall said. “So we make recommendations to the city council, usually it is around community development-type work, strengthening neighbors, helping with education with housing, those types of issues.”

 

Projects funded through the CBDG program have included several park improvements such as the snack area at Pinery Park and a monument at Veteran’s Park. The program has worked with various non-profits that provide affordable housing and home repair services along with helping with other needs such as English is a Second Language programs. 

 

The Community Development Committee is looking to fill some open spots. The person has to be a Wyoming resident and should be engaged in the community. The time comment is not much, about one meeting a month for a couple of hours, according to Hall.

 

“What you find you are doing is that you are more engaged between the meetings throughout the month looking for opportunities to find a nonprofit who can benefit from this or just be more engaged as a resident,” Hall said. “It’s a great opportunity for a resident of the city to participate and maybe be part of the solution.”

 

Hall went on to state that “A lot of people like to think of us as the suburbs. We are a pretty diverse city. From one end of the city to the other, there is a lot of different things happening in Wyoming. We have a lot of the same challenges we have in the urban core but the architecture is different. The cool thing is we have the ability to work on those as a community.” 

 

To learn more about the Community Development Committee or the other volunteer committees, commissions and boards at the city, visit the city’s website or contact the city clerk’s office at 616-530-7296.

Navigating Unemployment: What to Do and Whom to Contact

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Education, How-To's, , , , ,

 

By West Michigan Works!

 

One of the most frequently asked questions Michigan Works! agencies hear is, “What do I do when I become unemployed and how do I get unemployment?” There are multiple steps to take with different organizations to qualify for benefits. Here’s a break-down of who you will be working with and how to get started with the process.

  • File for Unemployment with the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA): UIA is a division of the state government that makes decisions on who receives benefits and how much they will receive. You can file a claim on their website: unemployment.state.mi.us/ or by phone: 1-866-500-0017, TTY: 1-866-366-0004. You must follow their reporting requirements to maintain your benefits.
  • Register for Work: To qualify for unemployment, you then need to register for work. You will register in person with Michigan Works! and online with Pure Michigan Talent Connect (PMTC). Both of these organizations are there to help you search for jobs and prepare for a new career. They do not make decisions on who will receive unemployment benefits.

Step 1:  You must visit a Michigan Works! service center, in person, to register.  While you are there, talk to a staff member and find out what services you qualify for. They provide a variety of assistance for eligible job seekers. Services can range from help getting reliable transportation to training scholarships.

 

Step 2: You also need to create a PMTC account and profile online. PMTC is an online portal where you can search for jobs and upload your resume so employers can find you. They also offer assessments and career information to help you find a job that fits your skills and interests. Be sure to update your PMTC profile at least once every 30 days. This ensures your information will continue to be seen by employers.

 

West Michigan Works! has an online wizard for job seekers to help you create a check list to follow when you become unemployed. The checklist also includes additional steps and resources to help you find a new job. Visit http://jobs.westmiworks.org/get-started/ and answer a few quick questions to get your own personal checklist!

 

Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.

GRandJazzFest ready for 7th festival this weekend, Aug. 18 & 19

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment,

 

By Molly Klimas

 

The seventh annual GRandJazzFest presented by the DTE Energy Foundation brings 10 diverse jazz performance acts to the Rosa Parks Circle stage Aug. 18 and 19 in downtown Grand Rapids at West Michigan’s only free, weekend-long jazz festival. GRandJazzFest 2018 also includes free face painting for the kids (and kids at heart), plus a beverage and V.I.P. area provided by the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

 

The complete performance lineup for the event in order of appearance:

 

SATURDAY, Aug. 18                                                                                        

  1. Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra with Edye Evans Hyde, 12:30 p.m.
  2. John Gist, 2 p.m.
  3. Kevin Jones and Tenth World, 3:30 p.m.
  4. Oli Silk, 5 p.m.
  5. Lin Rountree, 6:30 p.m.
  6. HEADLINER: Euge Groove, 8 p.m.

SUNDAY, Aug. 19

  1. Student Jazz Band: Lushh, 1 p.m.
  2. Grupo Ayé, 2:30 p.m.
  3. Marcus Anderson, 4 p.m.
  4. Nelson Rangell and Steve Oliver, 5:30 p.m.

The DTE Energy Foundation, the philanthropic arm of DTE Energy, is helping festivalgoers care for the environment through its greening program and encouraging them to reduce, reuse and recycle. Through last year’s program, the festival recycled 525 pounds of waste, and refused more than 720 pounds.

 

The two-day GRandJazzFest is free for the seventh year in a row thanks to presenting sponsor DTE Energy Foundation, along with the City of Grand Rapids, GR and Jazz, IntentPR, Mobile GR and Parking Services, Corporate Live, GRAM and many others (see the full list at http://grandjazzfest.org/sponsors/). The festival also is grateful to the many volunteers who contribute to the successful execution and experience of GRandJazzFest.

Tips for festivalgoers:

Location

GRandJazzFest will be held at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Rosa Parks Circle is located at 135 Monroe Center NW, Grand Rapids, MI  49503. You can find Rosa Parks Circle on Google Maps.

 

Mobile GR encourages attendees to walk, bike or ride the bus to the festival

A new festival partner this year is the City of Grand Rapids’ Mobile GR and Parking Services department. Mobile GR encourages festivalgoers to consider walking, biking, riding the bus, or sharing a ride with a friend to the festival. There are bike racks installed by the City of Grand Rapids around the Rosa Parks Circle venue for stowing and self-locking bikes.

 

Learn more about getting around Grand Rapids, and parking options for those who drive, https://grandjazzfest.org/plan-your-visit/.

 

Get there early — especially if you love big band music. Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra with Edye Evans Hyde kicks off the festival, which starts at noon on Saturday, Aug. 18. The fest goes until 10 p.m. that night and continues Sunday, Aug. 19, starting at 1 p.m. and going until approximately 8 p.m.

 

WHAT TO BRING

Bring lawn chairs, mini-coolers and sunscreen. The event takes place in a sunny, open area with some shady areas around the perimeter. The fest’s main tent will have bottled water for sale, the adjacent Grand Rapids Art Museum will be featuring a special refreshment area, and there are plenty of places surrounding Rosa Parks Circle to grab a quick bite and beverage. Plus, it’s Restaurant Week during GRandJazzFest! Learn more here: http://www.experiencegr.com/restaurants/restaurant-week/.

 

Also: There’s free Wi-Fi at Rosa Parks Circle via iserv, compliments of The City of Grand Rapids. GRandJazzFest’s website is mobile-optimized, which makes it easy to find the fest schedule and more. Plus, take photos while you’re at the fest and share on social media. Got feedback? Take our online survey (www.grandjazzfest.org/2018-survey/) with your phone to help us keep producing great fests.

 

For local hotel information, please visit experienceGR.com. Hotels within walking distance of Rosa Parks Circle include:

  • Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
  • City Flats Hotel
  • Courtyard by Marriott Downtown
  • Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Downtown

Is your workplace making you fat?

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Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat

By Serena Gordon, HealthDay

 

The dilemma is all too familiar: It’s Monday morning, you walk into your office and see that someone has left a big box of donuts in the break room. Then, your co-worker tells you there will be cake later for yet another birthday celebration.

 

One thing’s for sure. You’re not alone.

 

A new federal government survey found that about one-quarter of Americans “acquire” nearly 1,300 calories at work every week. Even worse, the survey only included foods people didn’t bring to work themselves, and food they didn’t purchase from outside vendors.

 

“The majority of the calories people got at work, people didn’t pay for—70 percent of the calories were free,” said study co-author Stephen Onufrak, an epidemiologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

The food and beverages that were most commonly obtained at work, he said, were:

  • Coffee
  • Sugar-sweetened soft drinks
  • Sandwiches
  • Tea
  • Cookies
  • Brownies
  • French fries
  • Pizza
  • Salad
  • Water
  • Diet soft drinks

When the researchers looked at the foods by calories, pizza was the leading source of calories obtained at work, followed by sandwiches and regular soft drinks.

 

Onufrak said the foods obtained at work might have been lunch—some workplaces did have onsite cafeterias and foods purchased at an employee cafeteria were included in the survey.

 

The study included more than 5,200 people from a nationally representative group that completed a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey in 2012 and 2013. The volunteers answered questions about the foods they obtained at work over a seven-day period. They only reported food they acquired at work, and they didn’t say whether or not they ate the foods.

 

Onufrak said the survey didn’t ask about what people ate at home, so it’s hard to know for sure if they continued eating foods that were high in refined sugar, salt and empty calories once they left the office. But he said that based on other research he’s done, “a lot of the eating patterns we saw tend to be consistent.”

 

The findings show that employers have an opportunity to improve their workers’ health, he said.

 

“If you look at data on worksite wellness programs, they’re effective at getting people to have healthier behaviors, reducing health care costs and reducing absenteeism. I think encouraging a healthy diet is an essential part of a worksite wellness program,” Onufrak explained.

 

Nutritionist Samantha Heller noted that offering healthy fare could provide a benefit to employers, because employees who eat well “will feel better, will have more energy and can focus better.”

 

Heller, who’s with NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, added, “When we feed our bodies well, our bodies and brains respond. It’s a win-win for the company and the employees.”

 

But what if your workplace doesn’t offer healthy options? The best option may be to bring your own lunch, Heller suggested. That way, you’re in charge of what foods are available to you, and it saves you money.

 

If you don’t bring your own lunch, she said, you should do some scouting to see what healthy food choices are available around your workplace. And it’s a good idea to do this when you aren’t hungry.

 

And what about all those free sweets at work?

 

“People bring a lot of treats to work. People like to feed each other to show affection. But it’s OK to say no to the birthday cake or the brownies. It’s always going to be somebody’s birthday or another celebration. Decide ahead of time that you’re going to say no to treats at work,” Heller advised.

 

Onufrak is scheduled to present the findings at the American Society for Nutrition annual meeting in Boston. Research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

 

For help developing better eating habits, visit Spectrum Health Nutrition Counseling or schedule a personalized appointment by calling 616.391.1875.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Get your Greek on at Yassou! Greek Festival Aug. 17-19

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Food, Kids Activities, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, Senior Living, Upcoming Events,

 

By Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

 

Yassou! celebrates the culture and traditions of the Greek Orthodox people. There’s something for everyone — from a great, live band and dance demonstrations, to wine tastings and cooking classes. The food is to die for — appetizers, full meals, sandwiches and side items — and you won’t want to miss the baklava. Trinkets beckon from vendors’ stalls.

 

Be sure to join hands with members of the dancing circle and dance! Beginners are always welcome. Traditional Greek dancing brings the community together at key points of the year, such as Easter, the grape harvest or patronal festivals; and at key points in the lives of individuals and families, such as weddings.

 

Yassou! will be held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church at 330 Lakeside Dr. NE between Fulton and Michigan. Limited numbers of handicapped spots will be provided within steps of the main admission. Beyond that, nearly 1,000 parking spaces have been reserved within the immediate vicinity of the event. An air-conditioned shuttle is available to transport festival-goers to the event.

 

For bus riders, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is conveniently located within steps of a Grand Rapids ‘Rapid’ bus stop– bus Route 14 to be exact.

 

This year, Yassou! will be supporting the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County (CAC) as its charity sponsor. The CAC is a nonprofit, community-based organization that is dedicated to the awareness and reduction of child sexual abuse. For more information, go here.

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you need to know

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WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

 

 

Quote of the Day

"I would travel only by horse, if I had a choice."- Linda McCartney

 

 

Come One, Come All

 

Patrons visit the GRAM for free during ArtPrize.

The Grand Rapids Art Museum recently announced it would be part of the Museums for All programs, providing free admission, for up to four people, with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card; commonly known as the Michigan Bridge Card. The GRAM joins the Grand Rapids Children Museum and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in offering free and reduce admission. The Grand Rapids Symphony has the Symphony Scorecard program, which provides up to four free tickets to those receiving financial assistance from the State of Michigan and/or are active, reserve or guard military families.

 

 

A horse is a horse, of course, of course…

 

Bill catches up with an old friend at Lee’s Summit Equestrian.

WKTV volunteers Bill and Charlotte Rinderknecht have hit the road in search of stories about horses and the people who work with them for their documentary series “Horses and Their People.” Follow the couple as they journey through the United States, visiting ranches and exploring the local culture of the communities they visit.

 

Feeding the Mind and the Body

 

Snatching up the snacks

During the summer, Kent District Library’s newest branch, the Kelloggsville branch, has been participating in The Meet Up and Eat Up program. Sponsored by the state, the program is designed to bring nutritious meals to lower income areas. Set to wrap up this week on Aug. 17, the KDL Kelloggsville Meet Up and Eat Up served students living near the high school, where the facility is located. As KDL Executive Director stated “Feeding the minds, imaginations and spirits is something that we have always done at KDL, but now we are literally feeding hungry people.”

 

 

 

Murder She Wrote

 

The cast of the upcoming production of “And Then There Were None”

At first, no one wanted to produce the play version of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” because they insisted that the storyline wouldn’t work on stage and that people would laugh at it. In 2015, it was voted the World’s Favorite Christie having been made into several movies with such groups as the Superman comics and “Family Guy” making parodies of it. This weekend you can catch several local residents as they perform the murder mystery at the Jenison Theater of the Arts, which has productions running Aug. 17-19 and 24-26. If you can’t make that production, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre will be offering a production in January. In between the two productions, you can always read the book.

 

Fun Fact:

17 hours

That is how long it took to make all the costumes and puppets for the Broadway production of Disney's The Lion King. It took 750 pounds of silicone rubber with the tallest animal being the 18-foot giraffes and the smallest being a five-inch trick mouse on Scar's cane. You can see it all next year as Broadway Grand Rapids recently announced that Disney's The Lion King will be part of its 2019-2020 season.

On the shelf: ‘Helen & Troy’s Epic Road Quest’ by A. Lee Martinez

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Reviews, ,

By Grand Rapids Public Library

 

If you’re looking to take a road trip this summer but you don’t have the gas money, this is the book for you! A. Lee Martinez’s Helen & Troy’s Epic Road Quest follows two teenagers on a cross-country road trip with mythical pit stops.

 

While working together at a fast food restaurant called Magic Burger, Helen and Troy are forced into a quest that requires them to travel together in search of special relics in order to help an outcast god. Along the way, they stumble into magical tourist traps and outrace an angry group of ‘orks’. Sound farfetched? It’s not. The tourist traps are trying to survive in these hard economic times like any other business. The orks work as accountants to make ends meet when they aren’t called upon by the gods to do their dirty work. The government agency, the National Questing Bureau, offers just enough vague advice to be frustrating.

 

Will Helen and Troy find all the magic relics they need to save their lives? Will the outcast god be satisfied? Will Helen and Troy survive their quest without destroying half the country?

 

You do not need a love or knowledge of mythology to enjoy this. The mythology adds a fun twist to life as we know it. This is a fun read that’s perfect for an afternoon in a hammock or at the beach. It

Honey helps when kids swallow button batteries

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Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

 

Children who accidentally swallow button batteries should immediately be given honey to reduce their risk of serious injury and death, according to a new study done with pigs.

 

“Button batteries are ingested by children more than 2,500 times a year in the United States, with more than a 12-fold increase in fatal outcomes in the last decade compared to the prior decade,” study co-principal investigator Dr. Ian Jacobs said in a Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia news release.

 

“Since serious damage can occur within two hours of ingesting a battery, the interval between ingestion and removal is a critical time to act in order to reduce esophageal injury,” he noted.

 

Jacobs is a pediatric otolaryngologist and director of the hospital’s Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders.

 

When a swallowed button battery reacts with saliva and tissue of the esophagus, it creates a solution that dissolves tissue and can cause severe damage to the esophagus, airway, vocal cords and major blood vessels, the researchers explained.

 

The longer it takes for the battery to be removed, the higher the risk of serious injury.

 

The researchers used live pigs to test if a variety of liquids—including honey, juices, sodas and sports drinks—could provide a protective barrier between a swallowed battery and tissue until the battery is removed. They found that honey and a medication called sucralfate were the most effective.

 

The study was published online in the journal The Laryngoscope, and the findings are being incorporated into the latest National Capital Poison Center Guidelines for management of patients who’ve swallowed button batteries.

 

“Our recommendation would be for parents and caregivers to give honey at regular intervals before a child is able to reach a hospital, while clinicians in a hospital setting can use sucralfate before removing the battery,” Jacobs said.

 

But the researchers said these substances should not be used in children who may have sepsis or perforation of the esophagus, severe allergy to honey or sucralfate, or in children younger than 1 year old due to a small risk of botulism.

 

“While future studies could help establish the ideal volume and frequency for each treatment, we believe that these findings serve as a reasonable benchmark for clinical recommendations,” Jacobs said. “Safely ingesting any amount of these liquids prior to battery removal is better than doing nothing.”

 

The study’s other principal investigator, Dr. Kris Jatana, a pediatric otolaryngologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, said the shiny metallic batteries should be stored where toddlers can’t get to them.

 

“Parents and caregivers should check all electronic products in the home and make certain that the battery is enclosed in a compartment that requires a tool to open and periodically check to ensure it stays secure over time,” Jatana said in the news release.

Other uses for honey

Honey is an artisanal food that can be used as a sugar substitute.

 

Lindsey Jelsma, PNP-PC, a pediatric nurse practitioner at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, recommends honey for soothing a child’s cough. Jelsma noted, however, that children under the age of 12 months should not get honey—it carries the risk of infant botulism.

Injury and poison prevention

Keep coin lithium battery-controlled devices out of sight and reach of children.

 

Remote controls, singing greeting cards, digital scales, watches, hearing aids, thermometers, children’s toys, calculators, key fobs, tea light candles, flashing holiday jewelry and decorations all contain button batteries.

 

The Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital injury prevention team has compiled information and tips to help you with home safety to limit these dangers.

 

If your child ingests a button battery, call your poison center at 1.800.222.1222 and visit your local emergency room.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Getting help with Medicare

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File photo

By Regina Salmi, Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan

 

When it comes to figuring out Medicare, it can feel as though we’ve taken on an encore career trying to sort through it all. There’s Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplemental insurance, part D coverage and then the retirement insurance you may already have. It can feel overwhelming. With the Open Enrollment period right around the corner, it might be time to get some help with deciding what plans work best for meeting all of your healthcare needs. The Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program, or MMAP for short, is available to do just that.

 

MMAP is part of a federal program that provides free local healthcare coverage counseling to people with Medicare. MMAP is non-profit and run by highly skilled volunteers.

 

Bob Callery, MMAP Regional Coordinator, states, “MMAP does not have any affiliations with insurance companies and our volunteers are not licensed to sell insurance.”

 

This is important, because it means the MMAP counselor is looking at what is in your best interest. MMAP counselors will explain Medicare benefits and how they work, review prescription plans, Medicare Advantage Plans and Medigap policies. They are also able to help individuals apply for benefits. Having the right coverage can make a big difference in a person’s life (and their finances).

 

Sharon, a MMAP counselor, met with a woman who was living on about $900 per month. She was a widow and paying for the health coverage her husband had before he died. She was paying approximately $400 a month for this coverage.

 

“That didn’t leave her much to take care of her house and utilities,” Sharon relates, “We talked about getting her on supplemental insurance through Medicare. She was really reluctant at first, but in the end we were able to save her about $300 more a month.”

 

File photo

Another MMAP counselor shared a similar story. Karen received a call from a person living on a little over $700 per month who exclaimed, “I can either eat or take my medications.” Karen was able to get help her do both by reviewing her coverage and helping her get the benefits that worked best for her.

 

Open Enrollment for Medicare begins Oct. 15 and runs until Dec. 7.  MMAP recommends Medicare beneficiaries review their plans every year to check for policy changes. The plan you’re currently on can change the medications they cover, their network of pharmacies, even premiums, deductibles and co-pays. At the same time your own needs might be changing as well, requiring a different kind of coverage than you had this year. Reviewing your benefits and insuring your coverage is right for you might help you avoid costly payments.

 

The Social Security Administration has also begun releasing the new Medicare cards. In an effort to reduce identity theft and fraud, the cards were redesigned to remove your social security number and to replace it with a unique identifier. Michigan residents will see them arriving this fall with all new cards being mailed before March 31, 2019.

 

Callery advises, “These cards will be mailed to the current mailing address on file with Social Security. Make sure you contact them if your address needs to be updated.” Mr. Callery also warns, “Social Security and Medicare do not call beneficiaries to update their records. If you receive a call like this, it is a scam. Do not give any of your personal information to the caller and hang up the phone!”

 

MMAP counselors are available to meet with people in person, over the phone and are available for home visits for those who are home-bound. If you’re interested in working with MMAP to review your Medicare benefits you can reach a MMAP counselor by calling your local Commission on Aging, dialing (800) 803-7174 or contacting Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at (888) 456-5664 or aaainfo@aaawm.org. You can learn more about MMAP by visiting their website, www.MMAPInc.org.

 

 

 

 

On the shelf: ‘And Then There Were None’ by Agatha Christie

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Reviews, , , ,

By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Ottawa Hills Branch

 

Originally published as Ten Little Indians, And Then There Were None invites ten complete strangers to a weekend getaway on a fictitious island outside of Devon, England. The host of the weekend is a millionaire who is nowhere to be found. Each guest was invited by the host under a different name.

 

Sounds like a classic mystery novel from Christie. Wait. It gets much better.

 

While most murder mysteries feature one crime, And Then There Were None tells the story of murder and mayhem over an entire weekend. The story is set to the tone of a nursery rhyme called Ten Little Indians. In the rhyme each little Indian meets a horrible fate. It’s no coincidence that there are only ten house guests.

 

Agatha Christie was no doubt the Queen of Crime when it came to the modern murder mystery. Her narrative style is enough to hold the reader by itself. Each of the ten characters is completely developed and faces their own demons as the weekend continues. Wicked pasts cannot be hidden. The rhyme ends with, “One little Indian left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.”

 

Take a look at And Then There Were None to find out who survives the weekend.

Kentwood shop owner finds business just ‘popping’

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, Local Business, , , , ,
Mosby’s Popcorn Palace owners Brian and Shave Mosby. (Photo: Michigan Radio)

By Lindsay Papciak

Community Writer

 

Each year, around 70 percent of popcorn consumed in the United States is sold in movie theaters. For gourmet popcorn business owner Brian Mosby, popcorn deserves more flavor attention than classic butter. He and his family opened Mosby’s Popcorn Palace in 2015. It is located at 6155 Kalamazoo Ave SE in Kentwood.

 

Besides being a family-favorite snack, Mosby got started in the gourmet popcorn industry in order to collaborate with other businesses within the family. One of these businesses is Bouncing Palace, an inflatable and game rental service which hosts mainly school and corporate events. Both give schools and organizations the opportunity to fundraise while benefitting the small business sector.

 

Lots of options available at Mosby’s Popcorn Palace.

“Grand Rapids is driven by small businesses,” Mosby said.  “I think [Mosby’s Popcorn Palace] is what is missing from the community and it’s just fun.”

 

Mosby encourage newcomers of the shop to brave away from the classic butter and caramel and try favorites such as Frank’s Red Hot, red velvet, and even dill pickle. “Popcorn is a flavor vessel,” Mosby said. “We have recipes for about 100 flavors. There really is no rhyme or reason to our flavor thought process. We just have a little fun in the kitchen.”

 

Although all flavors are available upon request, Mosby’s rotates through flavors based on the categories of butter, kettle, caramel, candy, cheese & savory and premium. It is the goal to create a consistent product every time. “It’s a struggle sometimes, being here so many hours, meeting the demand of our growing business,” Mosby said. “Nothing else will be important if our taste isn’t spot-on”

 

Mosby believes popcorn was just the first step. “Our first two and a half years we wanted to make sure that [popcorn] would be something sustainable,” Mosby said. “We’re getting a following underneath our feet now so we want to start bringing in more products to our line.”

 

As a way to incorporate a nostalgia factor to the shop, selections of Faygo and Jones Soda have been added as popcorn pairings. Mosby is looking to add items like old-school candies and fudge. “We’re trying to create more of an experience,” he said.

 

You can find Mosby popcorn at local farmers markets. Just check their Facebook on locations.

Mosby’s is mainly fundraiser and event-driven, making appearances at GVSU sporting events, Girls on the Run, and Movies in the Park. With its continued growth, an online store just launched in March of this year. Mosby’s is looking to branch out and ramp up production to become state-known.

 

“We’re not going to mention the store just yet, but we have new retail opportunity that’s going to be kicking off in the fall,” Mosby said. “We have some shelves in some grocery stores. It’s exciting to take on the challenge of seeing what that production can look like how we can grow.”

 

To learn more about Mosby’s Popcorn, visit their website at mosbyspopcorn.com or contact at 616-260-6466.

Get your “Quack On” at Bellaire’s annual Rubber Ducky Festival Aug. 13-19

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Holidays, Kids Activities, Pets/Animals, Recreation, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , , ,
Photo supplied

By Jeremy Witt, West Michigan Tourist Association

 

The 31st Annual Rubber Ducky festival kicks off on Monday, Aug. 13 in Downtown Bellaire and runs through Sunday, Aug. 19. The festival features several week-long events, including Bay Area Big Band, Community Paddle Event, Commission on Aging Picnic and Car Show, Duck and Glow 5k Run/Walk and 1 Mile Kiddie Dash, Corn Hole Tournament, Kids Activities, and Rubber Ducky Parade and Race. Finish the week with the return of the Short’s Glacial Hills Challenge XC on Sunday.

 

Rubber Ducky Festival’s biggest day is on Saturday, Aug. 18, with a quarter-mile race as 2000 yellow ducks are dumped into the Intermediate River, after Bellaire’s largest parade of the year, with the finish line at RIVERSIDE MARINA. Visitors can buy a $5 race ticket that corresponds to the number on a Rubber Duck. Ducks finishing the “Top 27” win a cash prize. Prizes: 1st – $500; 2nd – $300; 3rd – $100; 4th-7th place – $50; 8th-27th place – $10. Participants do not have to be present to win.

 

Saturday also features a Fine Arts & Craft Show at the Antrim County Courthouse, Kid’s “Ducking Park” including games for all ages, bounce houses & slides, face painting, and a FREE kid’s movie. Downtown Bellaire will be alive with sidewalk and library book sales. Bellaire’s biggest parade of the season kicks off at 3pm, followed by the dropping of 2,000 ducks at the North Bridge Street Bridge. End the night with the 2nd Annual Community BBQ, Music by Frank Sinatra (aka Billy McAllister) and Jukebox Saturday Night.

 

This year’s festival is part of Bellaire’s 12 Days of Summer Celebration, Aug. 8-19, kicking off with the 3-day Antrim County Fair, with a restaurant cook-off, dog show, family movie night and horse pulls Aug. 9-11.

 

For a full schedule of events or to be a vendor, visit the Bellaire Chamber of Commerce website at bellairechamber.org or call Bellaire Chamber of Commerce at 231-533-6023.

Kitchen towels laden with bacteria

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Education, Food, Health, How-To's, , , , , ,
Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay

 

Is your kitchen towel making you sick?

 

The answer could be yes if you use the towel for many purposes, have a large family and are not a vegetarian, according to a new study of germs lurking on towels.

 

Forty-nine percent of the kitchen towels collected for the study were laden with bacteria, and the bacterial count increased with the number of family members and kids, researchers from the Indian Ocean island/nation of Mauritius reported.

 

“Cross-contamination is happening in the kitchen, and those bacteria could reach our food and cause food poisoning,” said lead researcher Susheela Biranjia-Hurdoyal. She is a senior lecturer in the department of health at the University of Mauritius.

 

Specifically, the researchers found that towels used for a variety of tasks—such as wiping utensils, drying hands, holding hot utensils or cleaning surfaces—had more bacteria than towels used for one task. In addition, damp towels had more bacteria than dry ones, the investigators found.

 

Of the 49 samples that were infested with bacteria, 37 percent had Escherichia coli (E. coli), 37 percent had Enterococcus, and 14 percent were infected with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

 

For the study, Biranjia-Hurdoyal and her colleagues sampled 100 kitchen towels that had been used for one month. They classified the types of bacteria on the towels and also how much bacteria was present.

 

Higher rates of S. aureus were found among low-income families and those with children, the findings showed. The risk for E. coli was higher in damp towels than dry ones, from towels used for several jobs rather than single-use ones, and from those used in non-vegetarian households.

 

Both E. coli and S. aureus were found at higher rates in families with non-vegetarian diets.

 

E. coli is a normal bacteria found in the intestine and is released in large numbers in human feces. S. aureus is a bacteria found in the respiratory tract.

 

The researchers’ advice? “Avoid humid and multi-usage towels,” Biranjia-Hurdoyal suggested.

 

Kevin Sauer is an associate professor of dietetics at Kansas State University College of Human Ecology in Manhattan, Kansas. He said, “The key advice is to remain attentive to food safety when preparing food in the home, which includes proper hand-washing, avoiding cross-contamination, and cooking and storing foods at the right temperatures.”

 

In a food-handling study he did in 2015, Sauer found that cloth towels were the most contaminated.

 

“However, even when provided with disposable single-use paper towels, participants were still observed using these in a way that led to additional contamination of contact surfaces,” he noted.

 

Sauer advised that people should avoid using towels in place of hand-washing, because they can easily become contaminated with harmful germs from raw meat and poultry juices.

 

“Furthermore, reusing contaminated towels to wipe hands or other surfaces can easily lead to cross-contamination, and therefore should not be reused throughout meal preparation, since they too can contribute to contamination of hands, surfaces or other food products,” Sauer said.

 

Findings from the study were scheduled for presentation at the American Society for Microbiology meeting, in Atlanta. The findings should be considered preliminary because they have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

 

According to Jessica Corwin, MPH, RDN, community nutrition educator for Spectrum Health Healthier Communities, and Kristi Veltkamp, an outpatient dietitian at Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital, we should all follow these key tips to avoid cross-contamination:

  • Always wash your hands with soap and water before preparing or handling food.
  • Keep raw meat, poultry and seafood securely wrapped to prevent any juices from contaminating prepared dishes and raw foods.
  • Take time to rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running water. Scrub any firm-skinned produce with a vegetable brush.
  • Avoid re-using towels, platters or utensils that were used with raw meats.

Corwin urges people to follow food safety precautions, even if they ignored them in the past and didn’t feel any ill effects.

 

Not everyone responds to infections the same way. Those most at risk of serious complications include small children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

 

Learn more about services for Digestive Health & Disorders at Spectrum Health.

 

For more tips about food safety in the summer, go to the U.S. Health and Human Services website, foodsafety.gov.

 

Public voting on West Michigan Photo Contest now open

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Upcoming Events, ,

 

By Courtney Sheffer, West Michigan Tourist Association

 

The public is invited to vote on the Top 50 finalist photos in the West Michigan Photo Contest to help determine the winners.

 

The 2018 West Michigan Photo Contest received over 900 photo submissions showcasing West Michigan during the month of July, and WMTA has narrowed the entries down to the top 50 photos, which the public is invited to vote on to help select the winning photographs.

 

The top 50 photo entries are posted in a photo album on the West Michigan Facebook page. Visitors to the photo album may cast votes for any photos by “liking” or “reacting” to each photo. Votes may be cast for multiple photos.

 

Public voting is now open, and the winning photos will be announced on August 15th, 2018. Go here to see the photos and to vote.

Wyoming city leaders express their ‘thanks’ to voters for approving public safety renewal

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, , , , , ,
Wyoming voters approved a permanent millage renewal for its public safety at the primary election.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

As Wyoming Public Safety officers and city leaders visited block parties and participated in activities for the annual National Night Out event last night, residents headed in record numbers to the polls to overwhelmingly approved the permanent renewal of the dedicated 1.25 mills for its public safety department.

 

A total of 11,432 people voted in Tuesday’s primary election, which determined party candidates for a number of races. That is 22.9 percent of the registered voters in Wyoming coming to the polls. The proposal passed 7,306 to 2,223.

 

The percentage turnout was one of the highest the city has seen in the past four primary elections, said City Clerk Kelli Vandenberg. In 2010, when Gov. Rick Snyder first ran, the city had a 20.1 percent voter turnout. In 2012, it was 9.26 percent, 2014, it was 13.5 percent and 2016, when President Donald Trump was elected, it was 10.6 percent.

 

“In talking to several other clerks in the area, the comment was it definitely felt more like a general election than a primary election,” Vandenberg said.

 

Indication that it could be busy primary election day started with the absentee ballots. The city received 2,261 absentee ballots which was about 600 more than in 2016. As to why the high turnout, VandernBerg said there could be a number of reasons such as the fact that there was a term-limited governor and this was the first time the Libertarian Party was included on the ticket.

 

As to the city millage renewal request, VandenBerg said it was certainly a nice surprise to see at the end of a very long night. City officials had no indication as to how the millage renewal would go as there was little commenting, except for a few positive posts on the city’s Facebook page, and no formal opposition presented.

 

This morning, city leadership expressed gratitude for the community’s continual support and stated they look forward to maintaining the excellent public safety programs and initiatives developed since the initial millage was first approved in 2010.

 

“We are pleased with last evening’s results and want to thank everyone who came out to vote yesterday,” says Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll. “Over the years, we have worked hard to be good stewards of the funding this millage provides, and it is clear our residents recognize we’ve made good on our promises.”

 

Public Safety Chief Kim Koster concurs with Mayor Poll’s sentiments, remarking the Public Safety Department’s efforts to work more closely with residents are bringing about excellent results for the community as a whole.

 

“Safety is at the core of the City’s mission, and the public safety millage allows us to maintain funding for critical services and programs,” Koster said. “We are fortunate to have the confidence of our residents and businesses, who continue to support our officers and firefighters. We look forward to working with the entire community to ensure Wyoming remains safe and welcoming.”

 

Following are some of the Public Safety Department’s accomplishments since the dedicated millage was first approved in 2010:

  • Achieved and maintained Gold-Standard police accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., putting the department in the top one percent of law enforcement agencies nationwide
  • Provided a professional public safety response to more than 37,000 calls for service every year
  • Implemented efforts to visit every school in Wyoming each school day, totaling 5,738 school visits last year
  • Conducted daily and nightly visits to businesses, making 8,606 contacts and 6,852 closed business checks in 2017
  • Equipped every police cruiser with an automated external defibrillator, or AED,  as well as supplying every officer with Naloxone, which reverses the effects of overdoses
  • Increased forensic laboratory capabilities providing faster, more comprehensive results which have contributed to a higher success rate in solving crime
  • Reduced response times with the 24/7 operation of the Gezon Fire Station and the addition of two quick-response vehicles, or QRVs
  • Added three full-time fire fighters
  • Utilized part-time employees to implement a peak load staffing model which employs more staff during times of high call volume
  • Crossed-trained and licensed 22 City employees as fire fighters and utilized paid-on-call staff
  • Secured grants that allowed staff to become licensed as EMTs and purchase CPR assisted compression device