Since 2014, more than 880 mayors, governors, and other state and local officials have answered the call of the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, pledging to do all they can to ensure their communities succeed.
It’s working.
Current homeless veterans have been connected to resources to secure housing and future vets can be assured a plan to secure them housing after it is known they are homeless.
On September 26, area agencies working to attain this goal — including the Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness, housing providers, federal, state, government officials, veterans, and local partners — celebrated their successes for their part in ensuring that homelessness is both rare and brief for Veterans in Kent County at an awards ceremony on the campus of Calvin College.
has identified all Veterans experiencing homelessness;
provides shelter immediately to any Veteran experiencing unsheltered homelessness who wants it;
provides service-intensive transitional housing only in limited instances;
has capacity to assist Veterans to swiftly move into permanent housing; and
has resources, plans, partnerships, and system capacity in place should any Veteran become homeless or be at risk of homelessness in the future.
“It took a team of dedicated, caring community members to rearrange structures and resources so that Kent County can ensure that no Veteran will remain homeless in our community,” Beech shared. “We must honor those who have served our country and use what we have learned in this process to end homelessness for all populations.”
In a letter proclaiming Kent County reached Functional Zero, Matthew Doherty, the Executive Director of USICH, spoke of the remarkable efforts of the agencies involved.
“We are confident that the infrastructure and systems you have built will ensure that any Veteran experiencing homelessness in Kent County will get the support they need to quickly obtain a permanent home,” Doherty wrote.
“In its efforts to end veteran homelessness, Kent County has done something remarkable that will serve as a catalyst for other communities working toward this common goal,” MSHDA Executive Director Earl Poleski said. “The State stands ready to assist with the financial, technical and collaborative resources that can help end veteran homelessness here and across our great state.”
Commissioner Tom Antor accepted an award on behalf of the Kent County Board of Commissioners.
“The County staff has shown a great dedication to helping veterans and ending homelessness,” he said.
According to Antor, more than 170 Veterans Affairs Housing Vouchers have been provided in Kent County in recent years.
According to a University of Florida study, people over the age of 75 are more likely to be involved in fatal automobile accidents than any other age group, except for teenagers. In addition, 28 percent of crashes involving older drivers happen while making a left turn. Why? There are several factors that impact our ability to drive safely as we get older.
Factors Affecting Safe Driving
One of the most common changes we experience as we age occurs in our ability to react. We react more slowly, we move more slowly, and we are more likely to be distracted by road signs, lights, billboards and other things in our line of vision. We may also have changes in our eyesight—for example cataracts or macular degeneration—that influence our ability to drive safely. Finally, physical changes such as stiffness in the neck can make it difficult for us to turn our head sufficiently while backing up or making turns, and stiffness in our legs or leg pain can impact our ability to quickly move our foot from the gas to the brake.
Warning Signs of Unsafe Driving
What are the warning signs of a decreased ability to drive safely? An increased number of traffic citations or “close calls” can be a clue that you or your loved one is no longer safe on the road. Memory issues are another red flag that it might be time to give up driving. In addition, problems with hearing, issues with eyesight or taking medications that cause drowsiness or have other side effects that might interfere with concentration and reaction time, need to be taken into consideration.
Staying Safe on the Road
One of the best ways to remain safe on the road is to take a safe driving course and brush up on your skills. A vehicle with good visibility, power brakes and power steering is a must. Keep your car in good repair and be sure that your windshield and headlights are always clean.
File photo
As we age, night vision diminishes, and you may want to consider limiting driving to the daytime if you or your loved one is experiencing changes in vision. Avoid driving in bad weather or on unfamiliar roads. If health changes persist, you may also want to consider limiting highway driving.
Alternatives to Driving
One of the many advantages to living in an independent retirement community is that it’s possible to give up driving without being housebound. Enjoyable communal activities, along with the proximity of friends and neighbors, makes it possible to have a fun, active social life even if you choose to no longer drive.
“Even bad weather can’t keep you isolated,” said Michael Loughman, director of sales for Holland Home. “Most independent living communities offer a full calendar of outings and events, along with weekly trips to the supermarket and many on-site amenities like beauty salons, banks and health centers.”
Giving up, or limiting, driving also encourages walking, which is a wonderful exercise option that leads to better health. Most towns have some form of public transportation or shuttle service. In Grand Rapids, Go!Bus provides low cost, door-to-door service for seniors over the age of 65. Taxis are another option, as is arranging rides with younger family members or friends.
Giving Up the Car Keys
At a certain point, it might be necessary to take the car keys away from a loved one because of safety concerns. This is a very delicate situation and requires a great deal of sensitivity. The key is to show respect for your loved one and be mindful of their dignity. Giving up driving is an enormous transition, and they may feel as if they are giving up more than just their car.
It is helpful to give them specific examples of times when you felt their driving was no longer safe — close calls, driving citations, unexplained dents or dings in their car. You may have to lean on other family members for help and support. It can also be reassuring to explore other means of transportation with your loved ones to avoid feelings of dependence and isolation.’
Giving up the privilege of driving isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to mean the end of independence.
Michigan produce is in season, and there is no better time to shop with all of your senses. The smells, colors, textures, sounds and tastes of the markets will aliven and inspire you.
Michigan is second only to California in the variety of fruits and vegetables grown, so each week farmers markets have new items. Eating a variety of colors will benefit your health and add color to your plate. A diet rich in bright colors helps ensure your intake of daily vitamins and minerals.
Red – heart strong
Found in tomatoes and peppers
Orange – eye health
Found in carrots, peppers, tomatoes and sweet potatoes
Yellow – immune system
Found in squash, beans and tomatoes
Green – strong teeth and bones
Found in kale, spinach, peppers, peas, broccoli, lettuces and green beans
Blue and purple – memory
Found in blueberries, eggplant, beets, carrots (look for the purple variety) and lettuces
All fruits and vegetables are full of the things we need and low in the things we need less of, such as fat, sodium and cholesterol making them helpful in reducing risk for diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
To promote our robust Michigan agriculture, economy and the health of seniors, Michigan has entered a partnership with agencies including local Commission on Aging distribute thousands of dollars in MarketFresh coupons. These dollars are used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables across the state. In three counties of northern Michigan (Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Presque Isle) alone, $24,000 in coupons have been distributed to income eligible seniors.
Double Up Food Bucks program allows recipients Michigan Bridge Card / Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) to swipe their card for tokens that can be redeemed at the market and double the value up to $20. Double Up Food Bucks helps you double the amount of dollars you can spend on Michigan produce.
Ideas to incorporate the recommended 2-3 cups of produce (based on age, gender) include eating some at every meal and snack. Suggestions I’ve heard from seniors across northern Michigan at MarketFresh presentations include:
Breakfast — smoothies, omelettes, and cereal/oatmeal topped with fruit
Lunch — salads, lettuce/tomatoes on sandwiches, grapes added to chicken salad, and tacos
Dinners — steamed vegetables, stir fry with rice, and grilled
Snacks — celery and peanut butter, raw cucumber spears, and sliced fruits
Enjoy the bountiful benefits of farm market shopping. Your health and local economy will thank you.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners approved the merger of the Area Community Services and Employment Training Council’s (ACSET) Community Action Agency (CAA) and the Kent County Community Development/Housing Commission at its meeting Thursday, Aug. 24.
The newly-formed department will operate as “Kent County Community Action,” putting all staff and resources under one roof to better serve the community.
County and CAA staff researched and evaluated the potential of combining and aligning resources of CAA and Kent County’s Community Development/Housing Commission during the last 18 months. In March 2017, the Board of Commissioners authorized staff to proceed with necessary steps for the County of Kent to be designated as the CAA for Kent County, and present necessary requests for approval and transfer of CAA programs and assets to the county.
ACSET’s CAA provides weatherization services, utility shut-off protections, food distribution, senior services and more to low-income clients in Kent County. The Kent County Community Development and Housing Commission staff often work on similar projects, programs and customers that align.
The new department will be led by Susan Cervantes, the Associate Director of the CAA since 2013. She brings nearly two decades of experience and proficiency to the role, having served with Community Action Agency since 1998.
“We truly believe that the transition of ACSET CAA to Kent County will be beneficial for our customers and that they will experience services seamlessly,” said Cervantes. “I am thrilled to see us pull together two teams with a wealth of knowledge who can serve our clients more effectively and efficiently.”
The Grand Rapids City Commission approved the merger on Aug. 22.
“We are pleased to support this partnership,” Mayor Rosalynn Bliss said. “Our residents will benefit from the enhanced coordination and more efficient operations that will result from this new alliance.”
Employees will all be housed in the Human Services Complex at Franklin and Sheldon in southeast Grand Rapids.
“This merger brings together staff from two programs that result in decades of understanding of the resources available to help some of our most vulnerable residents,” said Jim Saalfeld, Chair of the Kent County Board of Commissioners. “By bringing these programs together, Kent County is providing better service at lower costs, thereby serving our communities in a more efficient manner.”
Mary Wisinski, Immunization Program Supervisor for the Kent County Health Department, on the set of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” with host Ken Norris. (WKTV)
WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
On the latest episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus”, WKTV’s public affairs show, we bring to the public a discussion with a Kent County Department of Health official detailing why vaccinations are important — and required by law — for young children, but also important for teenagers and even college-age youth.
Also on this week’s show is a discussion with Wyoming City Councilor Marissa Postler, who at the age of 23 was elected to represent the city’s 2nd Ward in last fall’s election.
The timeliness of the discussion on vaccinations is not only that August is National Immunizations Month, with this week specifically prompting awareness of vaccinations for preteens and teens to “ensure a healthy future with vaccines”, but also because local public and private schools are in the process of opening the school year.
“Every state has different requirements, ours are written into our public health code,” Mary Wisinski, a registered nurse and Immunization Program Supervisor for the Kent County Health Department, said in a discussion with WKTV’s Ken Norris. “The importance is, if we don’t keep vaccinating, we call it ‘herd immunity’, we will see a resurgence of these vaccine-preventable diseases.”
Wisinski not only stresses the importance of vaccinations for kids but also for high school and college-age youth.
“Also recommended is a booster shot for meningitis at age 16,” she said. “We want those kids to be protected the last two years of high school and when they go off to college.”
“WKTV Journal: In Focus” newest program will start airing on Tuesday, Aug. 22. The program will air on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 6:30 p.m., through Aug. 31, on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.
The YouTube segment with Mary Wisinski is shown here.
By Metro Health-UM Health/U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Scores of homeless veterans from throughout West Michigan are expected to gather for the second year in a row on the Wyoming campus of Metro Health – University of Michigan Health to connect with resources that can help them rebuild their lives.
The veterans will be participating in a Stand Down event coordinated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Held throughout the year and throughout the country, Stand Downs bring homeless veterans together in a single location to provide convenient access to community resources.
The local Stand Down will be held Friday, Aug. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the Granger Green in front of the hospital at The Metro Health Village, 5900 Byron Center Ave. SW.
“We’re honored to host these veterans on our campus,” says Emil Hannesson, director of community outreach for Metro Health. “These individuals have pledged their lives to the country and now need the community’s assistance. This event is a great way to remind them how much they are valued, and that people do support them.”
Tiyanna Payne, a supervisor with the VA’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans program in Grand Rapids, adds: “Stand Downs are the nation’s most valuable outreach tool for veterans who are homeless or marginally housed.”
Nearly 50 service providers plan to participate, including federal, state, and community agencies, as well as veteran support groups. Homeless veterans will have access to food, clothing, medical care, housing assistance, job counseling, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.
In addition, military surplus items will be available for eligible vets, including sleeping bags, rucksacks, cold weather gear and personal hygiene products. The event also offers breakfast, a lunch prepared by Metro’s chef, and free haircuts.
“Veterans won’t have to go from one agency to another to access the services they need,” Payne says. “For one day, everything will be in one place, and everyone will be here to provide them with aid.”
The name of the event has its origins in the Vietnam War, when “standing down” referred to soldiers being taken off the lines to rest and recover.
“Our Stand Down is designed to give veterans an opportunity to renew their spirit, health and well-being,” Payne says. “Here’s our chance to surround this vulnerable population with the services they need.”
The event gets underway at 10 a.m. with a Color Guard presentation and national anthem. The anthem will be performed by Joyce Jones-Davis, a nurse manager with the Wyoming VA Health Care Center. Lisa Martin, director of the Wyoming VA clinic, will follow with a welcome address.
This event is for veterans only. If a veteran needs assistance getting to the event, please call the Health Care for Homeless Veterans service center (616-356-1746).
When you live in poverty, you worry about being able to provide basic needs like housing, food and health care for your family. It is no surprise this can cause tremendous stress. Data show that the rate of adults experiencing any type of mental illness is greatest among those with family incomes below the federal poverty level (about $2,050 per month for a family of four).
Photo supplied
High levels of stress can damage both mental and physical health over the long term. This is the second installment in a series that will look at how living in poverty affects health and well-being.
Severe Mental Illness
Individuals living in poverty are at increased risk of experiencing trauma. This has been linked to increased mental illness, risk behaviors and challenges to daily life functions. Additionally, poor individuals typically experience greater work-stress because of low wages and the need to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Unfortunately, poor Americans are less likely to get the mental health help they need to manage illness and deal with excessive stress and trauma. This becomes even more tragic when you consider that individuals living in poverty are also more likely to have severe mental illness and serious thoughts of suicide. Between the physical health risks and potential of suicide, poverty is killing our neighbors.
Toxic Stress
Toxic stress occurs when a child experiences strong, frequent and/or prolonged hardship. When children are exposed to constant hardship, their bodies’ stress response is on all the time. They tend to have higher heart rates and blood pressure than their peers who aren’t living in poverty.
Long-term exposure to stress can have damaging effects on multiple organs, including the brain. Many adult illnesses, such as inflammatory diseases and increased risk for heart attack, stroke and diabetes, can be traced to toxic stress in childhood. Next week, we’ll look deeper into how poverty impacts children.
ACSET Community Action Agency’s (CAAs) mission is to fight the causes and circumstances of poverty by investing in low-income individuals and families. They do this by meeting emergency needs and assisting in areas of self-sufficiency. Through dedicated staff and community partnerships, ACSET CAA provides services, resources, education and advocacy to improve the quality of life for all residents of Kent County.
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org.
City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley, second from right, was one of several government officials at this month’s Chamber Government Matters meeting. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Matters meetings brings together government leaders of all levels and a spectrum of topics, but often those attending the meeting — or watching WKTV’s rebroadcasts of the meeting — are given the rare opportunity to hear a wide-range of government voices on a single subject.
“There are really two things going on,” City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley told WKTV following the Aug. 14 meeting. “One is just to know what is going on at all the different government levels. I learn a lot just sitting with our leaders … The second is when there is a common problem, we hear about what other levels of government are trying to do to solve this problem. When we can come together … to do something, that is always good.”
Among the multi-level government discussions topics at the meeting were local and state work to control prescription opioid drug abuse, Great Lakes environment protection, and the funding crunch coming to local cities due to state funding policies.
The Chamber’s Government Matters meetings include representatives of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, Kent County, local Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, and, often, representatives of other State of Michigan and federal elected officials. The next meeting will be Sept. 11 at Wyoming City Hall.
The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Cable Channel 25. Replays are also available online at WKTV’s government meetings on-demand page (wktv.viebit.com) and on the chamber’s Facebook page.
A warning sign on a fence surrounding the inactive, but methane producing, Kentwood Landfill. A city building is shown in background. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
by K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
As part of its continuing efforts to test for and mitigate methane migration outside the boundaries of the inactive Kentwood landfill site, the Kent County Department of Public Works beginning this month will place additional gas monitoring probes as well as a second “flare” — a system to burn off escaping methane gas.
About 150 property owners within 1,500-feet of the landfill’s western boundary are being notified of the expansion of the county’s efforts, which will start later this month and should be complete in early October. Property owners will also be reminded of free on-site testing for methane continues to be available. So far, only eight of the property owners have had their homes tested.
“Testing has consistently shown that the methane is not entering the (city or residential) buildings,” Dar Baas, Kent County DPW Director, said in a supplied statement. “Public safety continues to be our priority and we will continue monitoring for methane indefinitely.”
The 72-acre municipal landfill site was closed in 1976. It continues to be designated a federal Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) Superfund site. It is bordered by the City of Kentwood City Center, library, and the City of Kentwood Public Works facility to the west; the City of Kentwood Justice Center to the northwest; and Plaster Creek and open ravine areas to the north, east and south.
Since August 2016, Kent County and City of Kentwood have been monitoring the air quality inside the city buildings on the west side of the landfill.
One of the landfill monitor wells at the site of the Kentwood Landfill. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
According to the county DWP, methane gas forms naturally in landfills. In 2015, the county DPW had installed a series of collection wells and a flare to contain the methane on-site to limit migration. During routine monitoring in 2016, the county DPW discovered migration of methane gas to the west of the landfill. So, according to the supplied statement, “it was clear that a larger system would be needed.”
“To increase the effectiveness of the existing landfill gas collection system, additional gas collection wells will be installed in nine locations along the west edge of the landfill beginning in August 2017,” the county statement continues. “Seven additional gas monitoring probes will also be installed to the west of the landfill, and a second flare will be installed next to the existing flare southeast of the library.”
Funding for this project and other Kentwood Landfill remediation efforts comes from the Kent County Solid Waste Surcharge. The county has contracted with a third-party firm — Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. — to provide the free residential testing.
For more information on the free on-site methane testing available to property owners, call the Kent County DPW at 616-632-7920. Project updates will be posted to Kent County’s website at accesskent.com/kentwoodlandfill.
National Night Out offered neighborhood interaction with local police and fire departments. (WKTV file photo)
WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
WKTV Journal’s biweekly video newscast premiers its newest episode today with segments on the Wyoming and Kentwood’s National Night Out events, the annual Metro Cruise, and Buck Creek Nature Preserve’s new braille trail.
WKTV Journal’s newscast premiers biweekly on Monday at 8 a.m., and then is broadcast at various times and dates on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 25 and on AT&T Channel 99 Community channel. This week, it will run on WKTV 25 Tuesday, Aug. 8, at the following times: 11:58 a.m., 4:55 p.m. and 5:52 p.m., and on Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 1:06 a.m. This week it will run on WKTV Channel 26 on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 6:58 p.m. and 9:52 p.m.
On the latest episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus”, Kyle Caldwell, executive director of the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University, talks with host Ken Norris about the VoiceKent survey. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
On the latest episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus”, WKTV’s new public affairs show, we bring to the public a discussion on the VoiceKent survey plans with Kyle Caldwell, executive director of the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University.
The VoiceKent survey of Kent County critical public health concerns is a joint effort of the Kent County Health Department and the Johnson Center for Philanthropy.
In the discussion, which will air twice a week on WKTV channels starting this week and running through Aug. 13, Caldwell details the importance of the survey and the innovative ways it seeks public opinion from communities not often having their voices heard.
“We (at the Johnson Center) make sure we go into venerable communities, places were people would normally not respond to a survey because they don’t normally get connected with services or programs or organizations,” Caldwell told WKTV. “So we work with non-profit partners to go into communities and get people to respond to the survey. Now we are going to go county-wide with our partnership with the Kent County Health Department.”
The survey, which collects responses through October, connects demographics with the opinions, attitudes and perceptions of Kent County residents on topics such as employment, education, racism and discrimination, ability to meet basic needs, access to health care and neighborhood safety. The data gathered from the survey will help create a baseline for conversations on these important community issues.
“WKTV Journal: In Focus” will start airing on Tuesday, Aug. 1, and the program will air on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 6:30 p.m., on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.
Also on the latest episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” is a discussion with the leaders of Exalta Health, a healthcare provider serving some of the most underserved of our community, and a member of the Kentwood Police Department detailing a crime-reporting website.
One of the most devastating words in the English language is “cancer”. Even more sobering is the fact and 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime (according to the American Cancer Society).
Pat Holland knows this pain firsthand. His dear wife, Peggy, lost her battle against cancer in 2014. Holland wanted to memorialize his wife and her 18-month journey at The Cancer Center at Metro Health Village.
“Peggy was everything to me, everything I could want in a wife and best friend,” said Holland. “I wanted to do something substantial to help celebrate her memory; something people would notice for a long time.”
Holland worked with the Metro Health Hospital Foundation and came up with a plan to install tribute bricks in the Cancer Center garden. A campaign was held offering anyone touched by the Cancer Center a chance to plant a brick in memory of a loved one. More than 30 people did so, purchasing bricks by making a donation to the Cancer Center via the foundation. Though most bricks are memorials, some bear message of hope from Cancer Center survivors.
Photo supplied
Last summer, a few dozen family members, friends and former patients gathered in the garden to dedicate the first round of bricks, which raised more than $7,000 for the Cancer Center.
“It’s a little piece of tranquility,” Holland said of the garden, which is visible through a wall of windows from the chemotherapy infusion chairs. “Peggy and I found comfort in the view during difficult times.”
If you are interested in including your message to the garden, a gift of $100 or more will add a brick with your message of hope and celebration to the path in the Cancer Center Garden. Contact Foundation to make your gift today at 616.252.5000 orfoundation@metrogr.org.
At the Government Matters Meeting were, from left, Greg VanWoerkom, District Director for U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-2nd); City of Wyoming Mayor Pro Tem Sam Boll; and Kent County Commissioner Harold Mast. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Matters meetings bring together government leaders of all levels and topics often range from local libraries to Washington. D.C. politics. You can see for yourself as WKTV replays the meetings.
At the July 10 meeting, discussion on the current state of healthcare reform took center stage as Greg VanWoerkom, district director for U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Michigan 2nd District), gave a status report to the other government officials and representatives.
Greg VanWoerkom, district director for U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Michigan 2nd District). (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“Really, all the eyes have been on the Senate the past two weeks, what their strategies are regarding healthcare, and we hope to hear more information on that this week, ” VanWoerkom said. “Everybody is watching every senator and what they are saying about it.”
Rep. Huizenga has consistently called for repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
“What we are seeing, with the Affordable Care Act, is that more and more people are not having options to purchase (medical insurance) in the individual market,” VanWoerkom said. “Counties, states, individual insurance companies are just dropping out of that exchange marketplace at a pretty good clip. … the Affordable Care Act is not working.”
To see the entire discussion, check out WKTV’s replay of the meeting (link below).
The Chamber’s Government Matters meetings include representatives of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, Kent County, local Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, and, often, representatives of other State of Michigan and federal elected officials. The next meeting will be Aug. 7 at Wyoming City Hall.
The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Cable Channel 25. Replays are also available online at WKTV’s government meetings on-demand page (wktv.viebit.com) and on the chamber’s Facebook page.
Grace Bible College’s Kate Shellenbarger, with Wyoming police Det./Lt. James Maguffee. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
Many college students live in a sort of societal cocoon, inside the walls of their schools and surrounded by their friends and classmates. Some are barely able to decide what classes they want to take each year, let alone their career path. They often change their majors multiple times as they progress through their late teens and early 20s.
Grace Bible College’s Kate Shellenbarger is not your ordinary college student. No less a witness than Wyoming Police Det./Lt. James Maguffee would testify to that fact.
Soon after she arrived at Grace, the soon-to-be junior at the Wyoming college ventured off campus and waded into the murky midst of a possible local example of the nationwide problem of human sex trafficking — and her determination to “do something” about it has brought her recognition from the City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety.
She also has decided that combatting the problem of human trafficking is the educational and career path she is driven to by her small-town upbringing, her Christian-based morals, and her ever-expanding world view.
Shellenbarger already had some knowledge of the human trafficking issue, from her high school, having been involved with the “One Dress, One Month” idea, where someone wears the same plain dress for a month to invite people to open a discussion on the issue. She brought the “One Dress” idea to her new college, but then she amped up her advocacy.
“I come from a small town in Ohio, so it was different there than it is here, in a big city, like Grand Rapids,” Shellenbarger said in an interview with WKTV. “When I came here, I had a friend who I talked with, talked to her about human trafficking. She was the one who saw something and told me and we said, ‘Lets look up and see what this particular business is.’ It looks kind of sketchy to me.”
It was a massage parlor that attracted their attention — a business that can often be legitimate and operated by law-abiding persons, but can also be the location of illegitimate but hard-to-prove criminal activities such as prostitution. And where there is prostitution there is often human trafficking.
“I got kind of mad,” Shellenbarger said. “I knew it was right down the road. I didn’t understand why it was happening right in front of my face — right here and right down the road. So I called the police. … I was hoping they were already doing something about it. That was my hope.”
Working with local authorities; not just complaining
It was then that she began her discussions with the City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety, specifically Maguffee.
This story “is a 20-something college student cold-calling the police department and waiting until she got to the right extension to talk to somebody — there is patience involved even with that,” Maguffee said. “Really, it is just a willingness to call and have a discussion with your local law enforcement about your concerns, and see where that conversation goes. In this case, … [Shellenbarger] and I talked and we had mutual concerns, things we had both seen. But instead of her just making it a ‘I’m making a complaint, now go do something about it!’, she and I were able to say, ‘Hey, what can we do together?’. What can we do next? That’s when the conversation really can get going.”
Through Maguffee, and others, she learned more about the problem and local groups working on the problem of human sex trafficking. (For more information on the subject of human sex trafficking, including a WKTV Journal — In Focus discussion with Wyoming police department’s representative on two groups battling the problem and a link to an award-winning locally produced documentary, “Stuck In Traffic”, see related story here.)
Much of what Shellenbarger found out, many of the avenues she saw to get involved, frustrated her.
“I wanted to do something right now, and a lot of them were ‘You can do this when you get this degree’ or ‘You can do this when you turn this age’,” she said. “I was getting frustrated, but then I found S.O.A.P.”
Other groups working on the problem
Shellenbarger’s discussion with Maguffee led her to the Kent County Human Trafficking Taskforce, a Western Michigan victim-advocacy group which includes the local chapter of Women at Risk International (WAR). (For more information on an upcoming conference led by representatives of WAR, see related story here.)
And a seemingly small activity working with WAR during the 2015 run of ArtPrize led Schllenbarger to “do something now” — she decided to volunteer with WAR and other local groups working on the S.O.A.P. Project (Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution), to deliver soap to area hotels and motels — soap wrapped in paper with the telephone number of a hotline to help victims report and escape trafficking crimes.
“There were a lot of people — men and women and kids, all helping to package soap,” she said. “There were a group of girls from Grand Valley (State University) helping me pass out the soap.”
Working with WAR’s S.O.A.P. project in 2015, inspired her to lead a can drive to raise funds for the 2016 S.O.A.P. project — both at her college and, with Maguffee’s help, throughout the City of Wyoming. That combined effort led to about 4,000 cans and about $400 to buy soap to be distributed to motels and southern Kent County.
It also led to Shellenbarger being honored this March at Wyoming Department of Public Safety’s annual award ceremony, and to her deciding to change her educational and career path.
“It boosted my confidence a lot. I showed me that I can do something right now, even being a broke college student, I can do whatever I put my mind to,” she said. “As far as my career, I wasn’t planning on doing anything associated with criminal justice — I was going to get into human services, to be a child psychologist. But that changed once I realized how passionate I was about this.”
She added that she hopes to work with Wyoming Police Department through a college internship, then, maybe, go to work with the FBI, or a nonprofit in the field, or doing research on the issue, she said.
As far as her continued work with the Wyoming Police Department, Maguffee said he would not be surprised by anything Schllenbarger does.
“To me, this is the important moral of this, especially for people like … [Shellenbarger] and other young people who are interested in getting started and making a change,” he said. “It is really patience over the long term.
“The cynic could talk about her and say that [only a little was accomplished] through a lot of effort — collecting $400 and buying toiletries with a hotline number on them and distributing them to hotels. That’s a great thing. And my hope is that some exploited individual will call one of those numbers and get some help.
“But even if that doesn’t happen, all of this is worth it because a group of young people at Grace Bible College are saying ‘Hey, there are some things going on that we can have an impact on’.”
Women at Risk International (WAR) will lead a discussion July 20 on the dangers of human trafficking as well as provide resources to help combat this growing crime against women, children and others. (Supplied)
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
Tourism and hospitality industry leaders will be meeting with the local chapter of Women at Risk International (WAR) on July 20 for a day-long session to help educate the business community on the dangers of human trafficking as well as provide resources to help combat this growing crime against women, children and others.
But those interested in simply getting more information on the issue are invited to attend.
“The event is open to anyone who would like to attend, but much of the information will be focused in toward hospitality and tourism related businesses,” said Dianna Stampfler, executive director of the Kent County Hospitality Association. “Much of the underlying information and statistics however will be related to anyone interested in learning more about this epidemic.”
For a story on how one local college student became involved, see WKTV’s story here.
The event is Thursday, July 20, from 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the downtown Grand Rapids Courtyard Marriott. The conference is sponsored by the Kent County Hospitality Association, Women in Lodging-Grand Rapids and Experience Grand Rapids.
According to supplied information, Michigan is one of the leading states for human trafficking — a modern-day form of slavery. It is defined but the U.S. Department of State as: the “recruiting, harboring, transportation, providing, or obtaining of a person for compelled labor or commercial sex acts through force, fraud, or coercion”.
Human trafficking affects over 20 million victims worldwide, according to the Polaris Project, with a total market value of over $32 billion. More than 1.2 million children are trafficked each year and this epidemic affects at least 161 countries worldwide. Between 100,000 and 300,000 underage girls are sold for sex in the United States every year.
According to WAR, in many instances, hotels and motels, in both rural and urban areas are prime locations for human trafficking activity. And, when there are major influxes of people — such as during major events like ArtPrize — cases often soar.
The conference will allow tourism and hospitality professionals to find out why such activity is bad for business, how to be on the lookout for this crime and how to report suspicious activity.
Wyoming police department Det./Sgt. Waters-Adams talks with Ken Norris of WKTV Journal In Focus (see the entire YouTube video here).
By. K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
According to the local chapter of Women at Risk International (WAR), Michigan is one of the leading states for human sex trafficking. In many instances, hotels and motels, in both rural and urban areas, are prime locations for such activity.
And, when there are major influxes of people — including during major Grand Rapids area tourist events such as ArtPrize — instances of trafficking increase locally as well, also according to WAR.
The U.S. Department of State defines human sex trafficking as the “recruiting, harboring, transportation, providing, or obtaining of a person for compelled labor or commercial sex acts through force, fraud, or coercion.”
Human trafficking affects over 20 million victims worldwide — according to the Polaris Project, a Washington, D.C., based group battling human trafficking — with a total market value of over $32 billion. More than 1.2 million children are trafficked each year and this epidemic affects at least 161 countries worldwide. Between 100,000 and 300,000 underage girls are sold for sex in the United States every year.
“The act of prostitution is not new … in ancient civilizations there was prostitution … and sex trafficking is not new,”the act just used to be called “pimping,” said Detective Sgt. Julie Waters-Adams, the City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety’s representative on two groups combatting human trafficking in Western Michigan. “It is not a new crime, but as law enforcement we are looking at it differently. … As a society and law enforcement, we are looking at it differently. We are looking at the reasons why someone may engage in prostitution. And that is my not be their choice.”
Det./Sgt. Waters-Adams represents Wyoming on WEBCHEX, the West Michigan Based Child Exploitation team, as well as the Kent County Human Trafficking Taskforce. The first is a law enforcement focused group including federal, state and local agencies; the second is a local group generally more focused on helping victims escape the trade — part of the “different” way to look at the crime and battle it.
(For a YouTube video on Det./Sgt. Waters-Adams talking with WKTV Journal — In Focus, go here.
To view the West Michigan-based, Eclipse Award winning, docmumentary “Stuck in Traffic” by Rich Jackson and Lisa Zahodne, follow this link.
Another member of the Western Michigan victim-advocacy taskforce is the local chapter of WAR.
Exalta Health provides health care to an underserved population at two clinics, one in the 2000 block of Division Avenue. See close up of plaque below. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
Exalta Health is a south Division Avenue based healthcare provider for low income residents of Wyoming, Kentwood and south Grand Rapids — serving patients who “have no place else to go,” the organization likes to say.
“There is a saying in health care that the best predictor of you heath is not your genetic code but you zip code,” President Bill Paxton said during a recent taping of WKTV Journal’s new “In Focus” public affairs program. “What we know is where people live is often reflective of their access to good health care services. It is really reflective of socio-economic status.
President Bill Paxton and Medical Director Laura Vander Molen of Exalta Health. (WKTV)
“What we are seeing is that people who have less income, less revenue, have poor health and poor access to health care — and that is across the country. Both in rural areas and in urban areas such as Wyoming and Kentwood and Grand Rapids. … What we see is that people with lower income often have other barriers to health care — cultural barriers, language barriers, transportation barriers.”
Exalta works to break down those barriers to health care by providing “compassionate … quality … and accessible care” at its Clínica Centro, at 2060 Division Ave S, and its South Clinic at Streams of Hope, 280 60th Street SE.
We provide “mainly primary care, that’s medical care, trying to have patients have continuity care with the provider,” said Medical Director Dr. Laura Vander Molen. “We also have dental care — in the past we have separated dental care from medical care but now we are trying to see the patient as a whole person.”
Exalta has many care providers who either work or volunteer at their clinics, but it also works with community partners — including Spectrum Health, Mercy Health St. Mary’s, and Metro Health-University of Michigan Health — for speciality care services. But that sometimes leads to problems for patients.
“We work to get our patients in to see specialists if they need care beyond us,” Vander Molen said. “But when we send people out for speciality care, that tends to drive up the costs” and “becomes an insurance issue” for the patients.
“We (also) try to educate people on chronic diseases, so we do a class for people with diabetes. We also have behavioral health, which includes medical and social workers, and also counseling for our patients who may be struggling with behavioral health issues.”
Lastly, she said, there is spiritual support if needed and requested.
“We also have spiritual care. We feel that people are emotional, spiritual and physical, so we are trying to meet all those needs,” Vander Molen said.
Plaque at entrance to Exalta Health’s Division Avenue clinic and office. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
While Exalta is proud that it is a religiously-motivated organization, Paxton makes clear they are more focused on serving the community than spreading the Gospel.
“We are a Christian organization, that is really our motivation for doing what we do,” Paxton said. But “overall, what we really want to see is a healthy community. Reflecting what we think the call is to us — as Christians, to do as Christ would do — to show compassion, and (provide) quality care. That is why we do what we do.”
For more information on Exalta Heath, call 616-475-8446 or visit exaltahealth.org.
Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center math coach Debbie Schuitema, right, and David Britton, retiring superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, could not keep the students at the from jumping the gun on the ribbon cutting of a new outdoor classroom. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
There was a classroom full of kids playing outdoors of the Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center building Thursday, June 8, as the school district held the grand opening of its new Outdoor Learning Lab.
The adults present — including the incoming superintendents of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools — spoke about the “educational” advantages of the facility. The kids? They just liked being able to climb on things and roll down a hill and dig in the sand.
And that is just the way the two teachers who spearheaded the project — Debbie Schuitema and Julie Swanson — wants it: an outdoor education opportunity that looks a lot like play.
Debbie Schuitema, left, and Julie Swanson. (WKTV)
“Students are naturally curious, and when you bring them out here, without books, when you take a way some of the parameters, and rules and procedures, you allow them to be creative, curious and intuitive,” Schuitema, who teaches math at the center, said to WKTV. “The things they come up with is just amazing, and that leads to more learning. You can take that back inside and build on that.”
The facility, located to the east side of the Early Childhood Center (ECC) building at 961 Joosten SW in Wyoming, includes mostly natural objects which kids can explore and play with: a tree stump, a stone and sand structure, a grassy hill.
And Swanson, a physical education instructor at the center, knows the value of outdoor exercise as part of a student’s educational process.
“Discover yourself through play,” Swanson said. “Just something as simple as which way to you hold a big branch, little side up or big side up? They are learning engineering skills, math skills. … They learn gravity by rolling down a hill. … Really just discovering a new way to learn, but they don’t know they are learning. … (We are just) removing the walls.”
The grand opening event featured permanent and temporary activities such as a mud kitchen, rock grotto, climbing hill, landscape berm, covered gathering space/stage, dead tree stands, Congo drums, weaving loom and log steps.
David Britton, left, and incoming new superintendent Kevin Polston. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
But the most important things the facility brings is the ability just to be outdoors, according to soon-to-retire district superintendent David Britten, who was present at the event along with the incoming new superintendent Kevin Polston.
“Kids today are spending far too much time indoors — it is a criticism of education in general. We are far too focused on content learning and memorization and test taking,” said Britten, who was a big supporter of the project. “We have lost some of these outdoor areas, places for kids to play in.
“So, as I walked along here a few years back, looking for historical artifacts, I thought: What a great place to have kids come out on a regular basis, and learn,” he said. “Find what native plant species that are here, what are invasive; what kind of birds and animals live in this environment. How can we make it better for them? How can we keep plaster creek clean? How can we protect the environment itself, so we can all enjoy it.”
Aside from the support of the superintendent, other supporters thanked at the facility opening include Women Who Care Grand Rapids, City of Wyoming Public Works, Dykema Excavators, DeWitt Landscape and Design, TonTin Lumber and The Stone Zone.
Special thanks were also given to East Lee students, Lee Middle School students, the Plaster Creek Watershed, Groundswell and — especially — the Godfrey Lee Board of Education.
“So many different people donated their time and energy to this,” said Swanson. “The Godfrey-Lee board of education, allowing us to do this without strings attached — that allowed us to be so creative. We really want to thank our board and our superintendent.”
Local high school graduate Jared Veldheer, now a player for the National Football League’s Arizona Cardinals, will return to the area to host the Metro Health – University of Michigan Health’s Jared Veldheer Football Camp. (Supplied)
By Jennifer Hoff
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
Local high school graduate Jared Veldheer, now a player for the National Football League’s Arizona Cardinals, will return to the area to host the Metro Health – University of Michigan Health’s Jared Veldheer Football Camp.
The camp will be held Tuesday, June 27 from 5:30-8 p.m., at Grand Rapids Christian High School Stadium, 2300 Plymouth Avenue, SE. The cost is $20 per student, and is open to students from third through eighth grade.
Jared Veldheer, in a National Football League game for the Arizona Cardinals. (Supplied)
Veldheer is a team co-captain and left tackle for the Cardinals. In 2014, he was the team MVP. He is a Hillsdale College 2-time All-American and a Forest Hills Northern graduate.
At the camp, Veldheer teams up with area football coaches and Metro Health – University of Michigan Health Sports Medicine for the night of instruction.
“I’m excited to get back to Grand Rapids for another year of this football camp,” Veldheer said. “It is exciting to teach young athletes who have a passion for sports and are eager to learn. More importantly, I’m excited to share my message about playing multiple sports, eating healthy, and being a team player. My goal is to encourage all student athletes to ‘Stay in the Game’.” All proceeds from the camp go to the Keeping the Beat Program.
Dr. Ed Kornoelje, sports medicine medical director for Metro Health – University of Michigan Health will discuss with parents and athletes sports injury prevention.
“Athletics provide a great opportunity for students to learn many skills outside of just their sport,” Kornoelje said. “It is important for all student athletes, and their parents, to understand what it takes to be a healthy athlete. This camp provides a great platform to discuss these items.”
In additional to the on field practice, Veldheer will share his personal message on the drive, focus and discipline it has taken to be one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL.
All participants registered by June 27 will receive a free T-shirt and an autographed book “Stay in the Game — Jared Veldheer’s Journey to the NFL”.
The City of Wyoming’s annual efforts to mitigate Gypsy Moth infestation in the city will continue this month, with aerial spraying of selected areas scheduled to start Monday, June 5.
Households in the affected areas should have received letters notifying of the city’s mitigation efforts.
A female Gypsy Moth.
“The City of Wyoming is once again taking measures to protect our neighborhoods against Gypsy Moths, and the aerial spray is targeted for June 5-7,” Megan Sall, Assistant City Manager, said in an email to WKTV Journal. “If weather cooperates, you may hear/see our contractor’s helicopter overhead as early as 6 a.m. on the 5th. Under ideal conditions, the entire application will take 4-5 hours to complete. The contractor will start in the southern portion of the City and work his way north.”
According to the city, the insecticide being used is derived from a naturally occurring bacteria and is known only to affect Gypsy Moth caterpillars. It does not affect honeybees or other non-leaf eating insects, birds, fish or mammals. The insecticide is applied at a quart per acre in a very fine mist that targets the trees. The carrier liquid is water and drying usually takes place within a few minutes.
Despite the fast-drying nature of the mist, the city spokesperson said, residents are encouraged to exercise common sense and stay inside while the spray is occurring in their neighborhoods.
A map of the affected areas and more information can be found on the city’s website, as well as available on the city’s Facebook page.
For West Michiganders, at least those sticking around the Grand Rapids area and not heading up north, a Memorial Day weekend visit to the Lake Michigan shoreline is a great option if not a must.
(State of Michigan)
But with the un-official start of the summer outdoor season also a Memorial Day weekend, outdoor adventures also bring the un-official start of Michigan’s deer tick season — and with black legged (deer) ticks comes the risk of Lyme disease.
Most humans are infected with Lyme disease through the bites of immature ticks, called nymphs, that feed during the spring and summer months. But these nymphs are approximately the size of a poppy seed, so they are hard to see.
“Prompt removal of ticks is the best method to decrease the chance of Lyme disease,” Dr. Paul Heidel, Ottawa County Department of Public Health medical director, said in supplied material. “Seek medical attention if you develop a fever, a rash, severe fatigue, facial paralysis, or joint pain within 30 days of being bitten by a tick.”
Routinely, ticks must be attached for 36 to 48 hours for the Lyme disease bacterium to be transmitted.
The State of Michigan and local health officials have suggestions to avoid Lyme-carrying ticks:
When outdoors, walk in the center of trails, and avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass.
Around home, create tick-safe zones in your yard by keeping patios and play areas away from vegetation, regularly remove leaves, clear tall grasses and brush around home, place wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas, and use a chemical control agent.
Use an insect repellent containing DEET (20-30 percent) or Picaridin on exposed skin, and treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks and tents) with products containing 0.5 percent permethrin — do not use permethrin directly on skin. (Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.)
Bathe or shower after being outside in tick-infested areas (preferably within two hours). And conduct a full-body tick check (under arms, in and around ears, inside belly button, behind knees, between legs, around waist and especially in hair), especially inspect children.
Finally, if you find a tick attached, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth parts to break off and remain in the skin. Clean the area with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub or soap and water.
Grab your dark sunglasses, tease your hair, put on your spandex and headbands and join the wave headed back to the ’80s.
105.3 HotFM presents Retro Futura: HOT ’80s Rewindon Tuesday, August 1st at the Van Andel Area. Headlined by synth pioneer Howard Jones, the jam-packed show will also feature sets from the English Beat, Men Without Hats, Modern English, Paul Young and Katrina (ex-Katrina and The Waves) in support of Metro Health–University of Michigan Health Foundation.
The arena will host a pre-party prior to the show complete with a local ’80s band, ’80s costume contest, ’80s karaoke contest, games, prizes, food and drink specials and more! The show starts at 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. and the pre-show activities will begin at 5:30 p.m. For more details visit vanandelarena.com.
The Metro Health Hospital Foundation helps Metro Health meet the health care needs of more than 250,000 people annually. This includes providing assistance for people with limited or no health insurance, programs to detect cardiovascular disease in teens, summer camp for cancer patients and their families, Child Life Services for children experiencing hospitalization and funding to promote innovative treatment and compassionate care.
Tickets for Retro Futura: HOT ’80s Rewind can be purchased at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, charge by phone at 1.800.745.3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices are $45, $57.50 and $75. Ticket prices are subject to change.
The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 established a network of Community Action Agencies (CAAs) across the country as a part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. CAAs were created to coordinate poverty relief programs and help people in their communities achieve self-sufficiency. Today there are over 1,000 Community Action Agencies serving 99% of the counties in the US.
Each May is recognized as Community Action Month and provides an opportunity to celebrate the work CAA’s continue to do in the fight against poverty. ACSET Community Action Agency (CAA) is doing this work here in Kent County.
ACSET CAA’s Mission: We fight the causes and circumstances of poverty by investing in low-income individuals and families. Through dedicated staff and community partnerships we provide services, resources, education and advocacy to improve the quality of life for all residents of Kent County.
Each year ACSET CAA, with help from partnering agencies and volunteers, serves over 5000 Kent County residents. Most of these individuals live at 100% or less of federal poverty guidelines — that’s $2,050 per month or less for a family of four. They offer a variety of programs for low-income individuals, including:
Senior Services
Food Distribution
Transportation
Utility Assistance
Weatherization
Tax Preparation
Homeless Prevention
To learn more or find out if you qualify for services, contact ACSET CAA at 616.336.4000 or find them online at www.communityactionkent.org.
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org
Being a caregiver is one of the most difficult roles to fulfill, yet with the population of people age 60+ continuing to grow, it is a role that 1 in 3 people find themselves taking on. Some of us are thrust into caregiving due to an illness or an accident. Oftentimes though, we discover that the caregiving role has crept in and slowly taken over our lives.
It might start out simple — taking a loved one to the grocery store on occasion. Then occasionally turns into every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. along with doctors’ appointments several times a month. On these trips you notice difficulties with money or paperwork, so you double-check their bills, discover they are overpaying, and now you’re a shopper, bill payer, and health advocate. Sarah Sobel, LMSW, Caregiver Resource Coordinator at Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan said, “When I talk with caregivers, often times I go through some daily living tasks and I ask them about how much assistance they are providing to their loved one with these activities. Many caregivers don’t realize how much they are providing assistance on a daily basis until it is reflected back to them.”
We discover we’ve become a caregiver and didn’t even know it.
What starts out as lending a hand gradually grows into another job. The National Alliance for Caregiving estimates that caregivers spend at least 20 hours per week caring for a loved one. Yet, many people in this position still don’t consider themselves caregivers, especially if their loved one continues to reside in their own home. We regard these tasks as the duties or responsibilities that a spouse, a child, a parent or even a friend undertakes for a person they love, so we juggle the caregiver role with other parts of our lives, like our career, family and social life.
Fulfilling the duties of caregiver without recognizing that we are a caregiver can result in stress, anger and ultimately burnout, putting our own health and well-being at risk.
Sobel said, “This is why I encourage caregivers to build a village — whether formal or informal — for the times when caregiving becomes hard to handle. Do they have a friend they can call to sit with their loved one, while they take a walk? Maybe their loved one is a good candidate for an adult day program — where they might receive some attention and the caregiver can have some time off to take care of themselves.”
When we recognize ourselves as caregivers, we embrace that we are going above and beyond typical expectations, and we also then come to understand that taking care of ourselves is paramount to our being able to take care of others.
This realization also opens doors to resources that can help support us in our new role.
“An important part of my work at Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan,” Sobel shared, “is to provide the caregivers with education. These classes are a great way for caregivers to come together and learn about some of the issues they are facing.”
Taking advantage of the resources available in our communities helps caregivers build that “village” Sobel said is important, “In these classes, caregivers can come together — to share with each other about their experiences” and begin building a support network. Getting connected to resources early can also help us assess the growing needs of the person we’re caring for and, if necessary, get connected to professional caregiving services.
If you’re interested in understanding more about caregiving and the resources available, contact Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at 888.456.5664 or email aaainfo@aaawm.org. You can also visit the Caregiver Resource Network website. Caregiver Resource Network and Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan can be found on Facebook.
Local West Michigan business, Harvest Health Foods, is celebrating a milestone anniversary of 65 years of business. The anniversary celebration begins in May with special sampling events on Fridays and Saturdays, health seminars and special savings for customers throughout the month.
Henry Diedering, now 90, opened the first Harvest Health Foods in 1952 on Wealthy Street, shortly after he came to the United States from the Netherlands. It was the first grocery store dedicated to natural groceries, herbs and vitamins in West Michigan. For 65 years, it has been Harvest Health Foods’ passion to provide West Michigan with healthy groceries, healthy vitamins, and healthy answers, way before Jazzercise or kale became a rock-star vegetable.
Still family owned and operated, Harvest Health Foods has grown to three locations and employs 70 people. Henry’s granddaughter Emily and her husband Mitchell represent the third generation to be involved in the business. While specializing in natural and organic foods and supplements, Harvest Health Foods has recently expanded their wide range of local Michigan products with craft beers, organic wines and many varieties of kombucha.
Harvest Health Foods will celebrate with sampling events on Fridays and Saturdays the first three weekends in May. In addition, there will special anniversary savings throughout the store, free health seminars, give-a-ways, and prizes all month long.
Marilyn discusses her health with registered nurse Linda Lanning at a recent appointment
By Ron Rozema, Catherine’s Health Center
Life handed Marilyn a set of hard blows when her husband died unexpectedly; her cleaning and phone-answering businesses were foreclosed by the IRS in the aftermath of his death, and she had spinal surgery — all within a year. She had no insurance and needed Catherine’s for her medical care, including medications.
Insurance premiums and the cost of medications still are out of reach, although she now is exploring Medicare coverage.
Ten years ago, a friend who also is a patient encouraged her to try Catherine’s. A long history of high blood pressure unresponsive to treatment, other health complications and a lack of insurance meant she needed care she couldn’t get elsewhere.
“Dr. Jack (Walen) immediately sent me to the emergency room because my blood pressure was so high. He’s the only one who has helped me keep it down,” she said.
Although she is thrilled with the medical care and improvement she has seen, it is the way she is treated that really touches her heart.
“Candy at the desk is my friend now, the nurses make your heart happy, and the fellowship is just wonderful!” Marilyn said. “If you didn’t know it, you would have no clue that you didn’t have insurance.
“I’m getting the best health care of my life,” Marilyn said, smiling.
According to US Census data, persons 65 years or older represented 14.5% of the U.S. population in 2014; they are expected to represent 21.7% by 2040. Nearly all seniors want to stay in their homes or “age in place.” Unfortunately, there are many factors that can make living independently a challenge.
When our loved ones can no longer get dressed, fix a meal or remember to take their medications, small home modifications, transportation or in-home services may be all that is needed to help them stay in their homes. Here are some resources that can help older adults live where they choose for as long as possible.
ACSET Community Action Agency (CAA) offers services tailored just for seniors. These include nutritious meals and door-to-door transportation. To learn more about CAA’s senior services, visit their website here.
The Michigan Aging & Adult Services Agency offers an online database of aging resources. To find supports and services near you click here and search by location or service type.
MI Choice Waiver Program is an option for older adults and disabled persons who need additional help caring for themselves. The program provides in-home services covered by Medicaid to income-eligible adults. Click here to learn more about services and eligibility.
If you or a family member are starting to have trouble doing everyday tasks, check out the National Institute on Aging’s tip sheet, There’s No Place Like Home — For Growing Old. This sheet can help you develop a plan today to maintain independence in the future.
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org
In the past 20 years, opioid overdose has mushroomed from an anomaly into an epidemic.
During that span, opioid-related deaths in Kent County soared fourfold—from fewer than 20 a year to more than 80.
The strongest predictor of opioid overdose is clear: a previous history of overdose. That being the case, the ER will soon begin giving Narcan kits to overdose patients at no cost before discharge, becoming the first hospital in the region to do so. Narcan is the only FDA-approved nasal form of naloxone, which counteracts the life-threatening effects of opioid overdose.
Called O-180—O is the street name for opiates and 180 signifies reversal—the program is funded by a $40,000 grant from the Metro Health Hospital Foundation.
With Narcan nasal spray on hand, discharged patients who experience a subsequent overdose at home can be treated immediately before placing a call to 911. The Narcan kits will contain two doses of naloxone, along with information about community resources available to overdose patients and their families.
“Our goal is to reduce deaths in the community related to opioid overdoses, while also removing some of the stigma of opioid addiction,” says Crystal Gaylord, a quality and safety nurse specialist in the ER.
Since 2010, Blandford Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has been growing healthy, chemical-free produce. Today, Blandford Farm consists of 2.5 acres where the focus is on sustainable agriculture. Over 40 different types of vegetables and over 200 different varieties of vegetables are grown on the farm.
The CSA model builds a relationship between people who love fresh, healthy, local food and a farmer who grows the food. CSA members join a sustainable community of like-minded individuals invested in knowing their food and knowing their farmer.
Blandford Farm’s summer CSA offers a weekly share for 21 weeks. Its winter CSA offers a weekly share for 8 weeks.
Every growing season is different with the weather playing a large role into how each crop will do. CSA members have the opportunity of a close-up experience with eating seasonally and how different weather can influence crop productivity.
Summer is right around the corner. That means plenty of locally-grown produce options will be available. But why is choosing local produce good for you?
It’s fresh. Most wholesale produce is picked up to a week before it reaches a supermarket and travels an average of 1500 miles! Veggies and fruits grown by local farmers don’t spend days in transport. This means they can be harvested at peak maturity when they are the most nutritious and tasty.
It supports local farmers. The money you spend on local products stays in the community and boosts the local economy. It’s a win-win for you and the farmers.
It can cost less. When you purchase produce that is grown locally and in-season, you aren’t paying for the transportation costs of getting food from across the country.
What about families who have a limited grocery budget? Many local farmers markets participate in food assistance programs. Programs like Double Up Food Bucks, Senior Project FRESH and WIC Project FRESH can make buying local an affordable option for those that qualify.
ACSET Community Action Agency (CAA) also provides food assistance for qualifying families. When in-season, locally grown produce is combined with the pantry staples offered by CAA, low-income families in Kent County can put healthy meals on the table.
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org
Sunshine and warm weather provide plenty of opportunity to get outside and be active. Don’t let an emergency get in the way of your summertime fun. Here are five tips to keep your family safe this summer.
Window Safety. Opening up windows and letting in a cool breeze is a welcome change in spring but can also increase the risk of falls, especially for small children and pets. Move furniture that kids and pets might climb on away from windows. If you have double-hung windows, open the top and keep the bottom closed. Remember, screens don’t make windows safe; even a small child can fall through a screen.
Injuries. Summer provides all kinds of opportunities to get outside and be active. Be sure to wear protective gear like helmets when biking, skating or riding a scooter and appropriate pads and guards for sports activities. And don’t forget the sunscreen!
Severe Storms. As tornado season begins, be sure to identify a safe place to go when there’s a tornado risk. The best options are in the basement or a storm cellar. If you don’t have one of these options, identify an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.
Water. Swimming and enjoying Michigan’s many natural waterways is a great way to cool off in the summer. Stay safe this summer by swimming with a buddy; don’t allow someone to swim alone. Young children and inexperienced swimmers should always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket around water.
Heat Waves. Never leave children or pets alone in an enclosed vehicle. In just a few minutes, temperatures can become life threatening!
Unfortunately, no matter how prepared we are, emergencies can happen. Now, a new service, available to Kent County residents, can get you help faster.
Smart911 allows you to create a free online safety profile to assist 911 dispatch. For example, dispatch technology used by 911 systems can sometimes pin cell phone calls to inaccurate locations. However, with a Smart911 profile you can register your cell phone to a specific address. Call-takers will have a precise location for your home along with other key information like home layout, family make-up, pet descriptions, medical information and gas and electrical shutoff locations.
ACSET Community Action Agency (CAA) is dedicated to providing resources to members of our community. We hope you will visit Smart911 to learn more and sign up for this potentially life-saving service!
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org
Households in the U.S. reported spending about 12% of total income on food in 2015. That’s nearly $600/month spent on groceries and eating out. For the many Americans who live paycheck-to-paycheck, saving on their monthly grocery bill could make a big difference. The extra cash could be used to start an emergency fund or pay off debt. Here are five ways to get started:
Eat at home. Sitting down for a meal can be difficult for busy families. Eating out is much more convenient, but it comes at a price. Try to plan and prep meals ahead of time to make eating at home easier. You’ll save money and probably make healthier choices, too.
Plan your shopping trips. Avoid multiple, small trips to the grocery store. They can add up quickly! Instead, do all your shopping for the week at one time. Make a list based on your meal plan and stick to the list to avoid unnecessary purchases.
Check out the weekly ads. When you plan your grocery trip, check your weekly ads before you go. See if any of the items you need are on sale. If you have more than one store near you, compare prices to see where you can save the most money.
Look for the best deal. Grocery stores tend to put the most expensive items at eye-level, where you will see them first. Look to the top and bottom of the shelves to find less expensive options. Taking a few extra seconds to compare prices at the shelf can save you a lot at checkout.
Consider generic brands. Many generic brands are nearly identical to their brand-name counterparts but cost much less. Check the ingredient labels to ensure you are getting the same product and save a lot when you switch to generic brands.
If you or someone you know is having trouble putting enough healthy food on the table, ACSET Community Action Agency (CAA) can help. ACSET CAA works with community partners around Kent County to provide food assistance to low-income households. To learn more about qualifications, distribution dates and locations, visit CAA’s website.
Upcoming distribution locations and dates:
SECOM Resource Center
1545 Buchanan Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or while supplies last
North Kent Community Services
1075 Northland Dr NE, Rockford, MI
Thursday, April 13, 2017
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or while supplies last
Kent County Human Service Complex
121 Franklin St SE, Suite 110, Grand Rapids, MI
Thursday, April 13, 2017
1:00 to 7:00 p.m. or while supplies last
Each year, ACSET Community Action holds it Walk for Warmth to raise funds for emergency heating assistance for low-income families in Kent County. And each year, students at Sibley Elementary participate in activities to support the walk and help their neighbors in need.
For more than 10 years, second graders engaged in the social studies unit Learning About Communities, have worked together to make positive changes in their community. The students, known as the “Sibley Warmth Force,” write letters to local businesses to ask for donations for the annual Walk for Warmth.
“Our studies focus on citizenship and building community,” explained Bernice Wisnieski, a second grade teacher at Sibley. “This service project is an awesome way to bring the lesson to life.”
This year the second grade students wanted a way to get the entire school involved. They worked with the principal and scheduled the first Sibley Walk-a-thon for Warmth. Along with the Walk for Warmth on February 11th, all students at Sibley Elementary took turns walking on March 14, holding signs with the names of businesses that helped support the cause. Many of the older students remembered this project from past years and were excited to participate again.
In addition to the walk-a-thon, the students made and sold fleece blankets and brought in pennies for a total of almost $2,000 in donations. ACSET Community Action is grateful to the students for their hard work and warm hearts; to the businesses for their generous donations; and to the Sibley teachers for creating a community that cares for those less fortunate.
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org
Health professionals gather in “families” in preparation to experience a “month” in poverty. Photo by Ellie Walburg
By Ellie Walburg, Access of West Michigan
Reading a news article about someone living in poverty is one thing.
Actually experiencing it is another.
Metro Health Hospital Servicesrecently hosted a poverty simulation workshop with Access of West Michigan. The goal of the poverty education program is to create awareness of the realities of poverty and bring inspiration for change in an experiential way.
Participants in the ‘Living on the Edge’ poverty simulation at Metro Health were assigned profiles detailing their name, age, family, income level and other related details. Each “family” then completed four weeks, made up of 15-minute increments, in providing groceries, paying bills, attending doctor’s appointments and other requirements as outlined on their profiles.
Afterwards, participants engaged in small group discussions to debrief and learn from one another’s insights.
Linda Bos is a registered nurse with Metro Health and attended the workshop. She, along with Heather Rayman, were given the roles of a 75- and 72-year-old couple struggling to make ends meet. Bos, playing the role of Anthony Xanthos, and Rayman playing his wife, Zelda, spent each “week” trying to keep up on their mortgage payments, provide $50 for food and make it to expensive doctor appointments.
At one point during the four weeks, they couldn’t buy groceries. Towards the end of the month, they were evicted from their home as they couldn’t provide proof of their mortgage payment.
Mobility was also a major issue for them.
‘We were struck that we were always concerned about traveling places,” Bos said. “We were never together — it split us up. We never did things together.”
Conversations about how they were doing or if they wanted to plan a vacation never arose during their time of balancing their meager budget and keep all their bills afloat “We sure didn’t talk about anything fun,” Bos added.
To accompany the small social assistance check they received for the month, Bos sought out other options.
“I also tried to get a job, but there was age discrimination,” she said. “There were forms to fill out that were difficult.”
Access of West Michigan Staffers share their own story of poverty during group discussions. Photo by Ellie Walburg
Not having an opportunity for additional income made balancing finances even more troublesome.
“There was no way out for us,” Bos said. “Neither one of us could get a job.”
Rayman was reminded, “Don’t forget we have to eat at some point in our life,” as she recalled the struggle of purchasing weekly groceries.
For both Bos and Rayman, living life as an elderly couple with little money was an eye-opening experience.
“Everything was tension-producing rather than pleasurable,” Bos noted.
That tension is something Bos knows first-hand. While currently employed and doing well, she has felt that same stress.
“There was a time when I didn’t have money to buy diapers, when we didn’t have money to pay the mortgage,” she said
Bos and Rayman agreed that this simulation could change the way they work with their patients and others they encounter.
“I think for me, I’ll be much more cognizant of transportation needs,” Bos said. “I’ll think, ‘What can I do to relieve some of those transportation issues.’”
Bos’s work as a nurse involves serving moms and newborns.
“I try to be very intentional with younger moms,” she said. “I’ll ask, ‘Do you need anything else for your child?’ ‘Do you have diapers?’ ‘Do you have formula?’”
She said she anticipates building upon that intention with those she sees.
“I think so often we don’t want to offend people,” she added. “But it’s really just about asking, ‘I want to help, what is it that you need?’” That intention, she said, can come through her following up with her clients through phone calls or other additional conversations.
Staffers Candice and Cindy are ready at their “health clinic” table to help participants. Photo by Ellie Walburg
Rayman added, “I feel like this makes me much more aware of things like transportation, medication, samples, getting them to a care manager or something like that — things I didn’t really think of before.”
As the simulation event drew to a close, attendees were reminded that while they stopped playing a role in a fictitious family, there are so many in the community who must continue with that difficult reality everyday. And now that the participants had experienced the frustration and stress of living in poverty, they, and all, are left with the question Bos wondered, “What might you do differently?”
The City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety honored its police and firefighter personnel, as well as civilians, at an award ceremony late last month. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
Wyoming Department of Public Safety Director James Carmody, addressing a standing-room-only crowd at the department’s annual award ceremony late last month, made clear his feelings on the role his police and fire personnel have in the Wyoming community.
“Tonight you will hear stories of unselfish acts of bravery, generosity, compassion and guy-wrenching determination,” Carmody said at the Feb. 23 event at the Wyoming Senior Center. “The events we speak of tonight are just a few of the many thousands of times that our men and women step into the breach of danger and work to keep our city a safe and comfortable place to live, work and play.”
While the evening honored all of the long list of winners of Certificates of Merit, Certificates of Achievement, Life Saving Awards and individual and unit commendations, the highlights of the evening were the five personnel who gained special honors. (See complete list here.)
Ofc. Carmen Morales was honored as Officer of the Year, Firefighter Lance Bowman was recognized as Firefighter of the Year, Milt Zaagman was honored as Civilian of the Year, and Det. D.J. VerHage and Firefighter Brad Dornbos each received the Chiefs Award of Professional Excellence.
Each of the five had their stories told and, afterword talking with WKTV, reacted to their awards.
Officer of the Year
Ofc. Morales has been with the department for more than 20 years, serving as a patrol officer, a detective and now in the warrant unit. She has been a long-serving member of the peer support group and awards boards. Carmody, in supplied material, described her as “passionate about bringing justice to the victims of crime and believes in the dignity of all. Her unwavering commitment to professional policing, her fellow officers and the community makes her someone we can all be proud to represent us as our Officer of the Year.”
Ofc. Carmen Morales (WKTV)
The award “means a lot to me,” Ofc. Morales said. “Number One: I was chosen from my peers. … I have been with the city of Wyoming for 25 years, so I have dedicated myself to this department for 25 years, even though I consider them my family. It means a job well done, for me. I have been in so many units in this department, that I have to say I am glad I was chosen for this award and not for one specific thing I have done for the city of Wyoming but for a collaboration of things.”
“Tonight’s special honorees have been recognized by their peers, this is a peer-driven process,” Carmody said of the award process. “The awards you see tonight are recommended and voted on by their peers.”
Firefighter of the Year
Firefighter Lance Bowman (WKTV)
Firefighter Bowman has served as the director of the Wyoming Public Safety Fire Divisions Quarter Master Program since its creation in 2014. He is responsible for providing clothing and equipment for full-time, part-time, dual trained and on call firefighters. Of Bowman, Carmody said, in supplied material: “We commend him for his bravery and thank him for his service. His commitment to the department and his continued display of courage in emergencies serves as an exemplary role model for his peers.”
“I am very pleased to accept this award from my peers that I work with everyday,” Bowman said.
Civilian of the Year
Milt Zaagman is congratulated by Wyoming Department of Public Safety Director James Carmody (WKTV)
Zaagman, a building maintenance worker for the City of Wyoming, has served the community for over 40 years and remains an integral part of keeping the department operating successfully. “Milt defines responsibility,” a release by the Pubic Safety Department stated. “He is often seen before the sunrises and on days off shoveling the sidewalks or sweeping leaves from garages, according to a peer panel evaluation. He is highly respected among his peers. His name is synonymous with kindness, respect, service and selflessness throughout the department.”
“I have 41 years with the City of Wyoming, with the police department,” Zaagman said. “Back in the ’60s, when I was in the military, I understood exactly what a brotherhood and sisterhood was, and I have felt accepted and felt that same thing with all these years with the Wyoming police department.”
Chiefs Awards of Professional Excellence
Firefighter Brad Dornbos (WKTV)
Dornbos, the fire divisions emergency medical technician coordinator, established a mutually supportive relationship with Metro Health. This partnership led to a $10,000 grant, which allowed the department to purchase advanced medical equipment and fund the training of their full-time firefighters as EMTs. “Brads dedication to improved service has been instrumental in enabling our department to save more lives,” Carmody said in supplied material. “The ability to provide improved services to our residents and our community is because of his hard work.”
“It is an honor to receive the award,” Dornbos said. “It’s definitely a team effort amongst my lieutenant, chief, and our crew that we all work together… it’s a reaffirmation that we’re doing the right thing and moving forward to help the citizens of Wyoming and hopefully save more lives with the upgraded licensure and with the future accreditation coming forward.”
Det. D.J. VerHage (WKTV)
VerHage has served on the department for 24 years and has been forefront on many of its most important criminal cases. “Detective VerHage has been a top candidate of this award many times, but this year was his year,” Carmody said in supplied material. “Each day he embodies our values of honor, courage, duty and trust through his determination and dedication.”
“It is very humbling. The chief was very gracious, by what he said,” VerHage said. “I am very thankful and grateful for my coworkers, everybody I get to work with. This is a team effort and anything that I did is only possible because of my coworkers and everybody that helps out with every case. Every complaint, everything that comes into the police department from our civilians, to all of our police officers, detectives, and the admin as well. It’s very nice what he said and very gracious and there’s many many more deserving of this award, so, thank you.”
For more information on the City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety, visit the city’s new website at wyomingmi.gov .
By Lisa LaPlante, Kent County, Michigan
In a letter proclaiming Kent County reached Functional Zero, Matthew Doherty, the Executive Director of USICH, spoke of the remarkable efforts of the agencies involved. 
