Category Archives: Citizen Journalism
Spotlight on maternal depression
By Samantha Kauffman, Spectrum Health Beat
There’s no shortage of official and unofficial celebrations throughout the year, with different days and months designated for this cause or that.
Some days feel like marketing vehicles as much as cultural celebrations, such as national donut day or national taco day.
Other celebrations are rooted in promotions of careers or important social or medical causes, such as national nurse’s week and autism awareness month.
The organization Postpartum Support International has designated the month of May maternal depression awareness month.
In previous posts on this topic, we’ve explored tips for new moms and touched on possible ways family members and friends can help as new moms adjust to life after childbirth.
There’s little doubt that Mother’s Day played some role in choosing May as national maternal depression awareness month.
The campaign encourages people to share stories and seek help when they’re feeling down.
According to Postpartum Support International, untreated depression is the No. 1 complication in pregnancy and about 1 in 7 moms experience postpartum depression, but only about 15% seek treatment. The organization also feels that many new moms aren’t asked about how they are feeling emotionally.
I can say with confidence that at Spectrum Health family birthing centers, moms take a postpartum depression screening before they leave the hospital and often another at their postpartum follow-up visit.
The postpartum period from birth until the baby is about 3 months old is often considered the fourth trimester—essentially still part of the pregnancy period.
In those few short months, a mom’s body is still adjusting from a pregnant state to a non-pregnant state.
Here are some things new moms can do after having a baby:
Lifestyle focus
- Take time for naps or occasional rest breaks. It’s not always possible to sleep, but if baby is sleeping, take that time to do something for yourself—read a book, watch a movie, take a bath or whatever you enjoy.
- Don’t set high expectations for yourself for a while. I like to tell patients in class to think of their Top 3 things they need everyday, then pick one and share with their spouse. That one thing is the goal for the first two weeks.
- Set limits with visitors so they don’t overstay their welcome.
- Create a list of things that family, friends and others can do to help out.
- Get outside for a short walk. Just a little basic exercise outside can really help you feel better.
- Be open about how you feel with your partner.
- Don’t compare yourself to others—especially on social media.
- Expect to have some good days and some bad days.
Nutrition goals
- Eat every few hours. Healthy food choices impact how we feel.
- During pregnancy, consumption of foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids can help alleviate postpartum depression symptoms.
- Your body mass index, or BMI, can affect anxiety and depression. One study showed that overweight women were at risk of elevated anxiety and depression at both four months postpartum and 14 months postpartum. (Interestingly, BMI wasn’t noted to affect anxiety levels during pregnancy.)
Seeking help
- Look for support from family and friends. Avoid anyone who discourages or seems to bring you down.
- Keep your postpartum appointment with your provider and call with any concerns that arise.
- See if there is a postpartum depression group or mood disorder support group in your community.
- Remember that dads can also experience postpartum depression symptoms—so be sure to keep an eye on dad’s mood, too.
Focus on baby
- Strengthen your bond with your baby with skin-to-skin contact. This benefits both mom and baby—and dad, too.
- An infant massage is great for bonding. It has been shown to decrease postpartum depression symptoms.
- Smile, sing and talk to your baby regularly.
If you feel you have postpartum depression, you should call your OB provider.
Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.
Hear live GR Symphony concerts on Blue Lake Radio every Sunday in May
By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk
Grand Rapids Symphony
In this time of social distancing, we need music now more than ever. While concert halls, movie theaters, restaurants and pubs are closed, the Grand Rapids Symphonyis reaching into its archivesto bring you concerts performed live in DeVos Performance Hall.
Listen to Blue Lake Public Radioevery Sunday afternoon in May and hear your Grand Rapids Symphony in a past concert originally performed live and unedited, so it’s almost like being there in the audience in DeVos Hall.
Tune in at 1 p.m. Sundays to Blue Lake Radio at WBLU-FM 88.9in Grand Rapids or WBLV-FM 90.3in Muskegon or go online to Blue Lake Radio here.
Over the next four Sundays, you can hear music by Gustav Mahler, Piotr Tchaikovsky, Johannes Brahms and Frederic Chopin among other great composers plus such eminent soloists as Grand Rapids’ own Grammy winningmezzo soprano Michelle DeYoung; 2015 International Tchaikovsky CompetitionGold Medal-winning cellist Andrei Ioniță; Grand Rapids Symphony concertmaster and violinist James Crawford; and GRS Music Director Marcelo Lehninger’smother, pianist Sônia Goulart.
Here’s the schedule for Grand Rapids Symphony concerts on Blue Lake Public Radio in May:
Sun., May 3 – Marcelo Conducts Mahler
Originally performed April 12-13, 2019
MAHLER:Symphony No. 3
Marcelo Lehninger, conductor
Michelle DeYoung, mezzo-soprano
Grand Rapids Symphony Women’s Chorus
One of his most popular orchestral works of all, Mahler’s sunny, Symphony No. 3 was named the “10thGreatest Symphony of All Time” in a poll of professional conductors for BBC Music Magazine. A lover of nature, Mahler spent summers in the countryside outside of Salzburg where he composed his Third Symphony in a tiny shed, built at the edge of a meadow, near the shore of a lake, with a view of the mountains beyond. Grammy Award-winning mezzo soprano Michelle DeYoung, who was born in Grand Rapids, is soloist in the work whose slow movement was arranged for a small orchestra and performed in New York City on the 10thanniversary of 9/11.
Sun., May 10 – Mother’s Day with Maestro
Originally performed May 17-18, 2019
RAVEL:Mother Goose Suite
CHOPIN:Concerto No. 2 for Piano
BRAHMS:Symphony No. 2
Marcelo Lehninger, conductor
Sônia Goulart, piano
Marcelo Lehninger’s mother, pianist Sônia Goulart, joins her son to celebrate Mother’s Day 2019. One of the most prominent Brazilian artists of the past 30 years, Goulart makes her Grand Rapids debut performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto in F minor, an idiomatic and highly personal work that only could have been composed by one of the greatest pianists of all time. Johannes Brahms spent nearly 20 years struggling to compose his First Symphony. With that behind him, the great German Romantic composer dashed off his Symphony No. 2 while on a summer vacation. A friend who was among the first to hear it before its premiere told Brahms, “It is all rippling streams, blue sky, sunshine and cool green shadows.”
Sun. May 17 – All Tchaikovsky
Originally performed February 8, 2019
TCHAIKOVSKY:At Bedtime
TCHAIKOVSKY:Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra, Op. 33
TCHAIKOVSKY:Nocturne for cello and orchestra
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 4
Marcelo Lehninger, conductor
Andrei Ioniță, cello
Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus
Tchaikovsky was one of the greatest composers of melody who ever lived. In his late 30s, the unabashed romantic truly hit his stride. In just four years from 1875 to 1879, Tchaikovsky premiered his First Piano Concerto, his Violin Concerto in D Major, his ballet Swan Lake, and his opera Eugene Onegin.Nestled among these are his deeply emotional, fateful Symphony No. 4 and his exquisite Variations on a Rococo Theme. Andrei Ioniță, winner of the Gold Medal at the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition, is soloist in Tchaikovsky’s only major work for cello and orchestra.
Sun. May 24 – Elgar’s Enigma Variations
Originally performed March 1-2, 2019
SAWYERS:Valley of Vision(US Premiere)
WALTON: Concerto for Violin
ELGAR: Enigma Variations
David Lockington, conductor
James Crawford, violin
The British are coming, the British are coming, led by English-born conductor David Lockington.
Edward Elgar mysteriously composed each of his 14 Enigma Variationswith a particular friend in mind. The exquisite “Nimrod” Variation, performed for the opening of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, is heard at the end of the 2017 film Dunkirk. James Crawford, Concertmaster of the Grand Rapids Symphony, is soloist on William Walton’s Concerto for Violin, written for and premiered by the great American virtuoso Jascha Heifetz. Grand Rapids Symphony has previously performed several works by Philip Sawyers, a childhood friend of Lockington’s.
Sun. May 31 – Brahms’ Symphony No. 4
Originally performed Oct. 24-25, 2014
PONCHIELLI: Il Convegno
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4
Kynan Johns, guest conductor
David Shiffrin, clarinet
Suzanna Dennis Bratton, clarinet
Composed at the height of his career as a composer, Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 was an immediate hit at its premiere in October 1885. Much like Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and Schubert’s “Great” Symphony, Brahms’ last symphony has achieved the immortality and enduring popularity of the final symphonies of those composers. The 19thcentury composer Amilcare Ponchielli is little remembered today apart his “Dance of the Hours” from his opera La Giaconda. But the prolific Italian composer wrote many works for orchestra and bands including Il Convegno, a virtuoso showpiece for two clarinetists, featuring dazzling technical brilliance from both guest clarinetist David Shiffrin and GRS principal clarinetist Suzy Bratton.
Wyoming opens Yard Waste Drop-Off site, social distancing guidelines in effect
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
There have been a few nice days these past couple of weeks and the weekend at least is looking dry, which means that many residents might be heading outside to do some lawn work. Good news if you are in the City of Wyoming: the city has opened its Yard Waste Drop-Off Site, located 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW.
Due to social distancing, the hours will follow similar to the city’s snow plowing days. Those with addresses ending in an an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7) may drop off on Monday and Wednesday and those with addresses ending in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) may drop off on Tuesday and Thursday. Friday and Saturday will be open to all residents. The hours for the site are from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Only 15 cars will be allowed in the area at one time. Staff is asking everyone to be patient as the new guidelines may cause some delays in getting into the drop-off area.
Also, those coming to the site must wear a mask and have proof of residency such as a valid photo ID or a city water/sewer bill, property tax bill or tax assessment.
Items should be sorted and placed in the correct pile. There is a leaves and grass pile for leaves, plants, flowers, and grass clippings and a brush pile for sticks, branches, bushes, and stumps less than three-feet in diameter.
Leaf and plastic bags are not accepted, so if you bring them, you must leave with them. Also not accepted is sod, dirt, rock, stones, sand, RR ties, treated wood, fencing, shingles, concrete, asphalt, furniture, carpet, glass, garbage, scrap metal, appliance, paint, and chemicals. Basically, if it does not grow on the lawn, it is not welcomed.
To enter the Yard Waste Drop-Off Site, you must make a right turn from the north bound lane of Burlingame Avenue. At the guard shack, show your proof of residency. You should wear a mask and stay six-feet apart from other people. To exit, you will need to make a right-hand turn on to Burlingame Avenue.
For more information, visit the City of Wyoming’s Yard Waste Drop-Off Site page.
Pronto Pups soon to be available in Grand Rapids
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
While many are looking at how to reopen their business, Andy Bogart and his business partner Matt Morton are investing in the future with a very familiar food item: the Pronto Pups.
“I just paid for the truck today,” said Bogart during a phone interview on April 28 about the new Pronto Pups Grand Rapids food truck. “I really believe that after all this and the shutdown, food trucks are going to be more in demand than ever because they can accommodate the social distancing requirements.”
That and the fact that the Pronto Pup is such a legend in the area, had Bogart, who is from the Grandville/Wyoming area and his partner, Morton, who lives in Kentwood, decide to make the jump into the food truck business.
“I saw the food truck at an event I was at and I always honestly thought it was just a Michigan thing,” Bogart said. “I never knew it was actually a national chain based out of Portland, Oregon.”
For many area residents, including Bogart, Pronto Pups is associated with Grand Haven where one of the most famous — and the longest running — stands featuring the popular batter-dipped dog on a stick is located. Opened in 1947, the Grand Haven Pronto Pup is located off the waterway on Harbor Drive, and its reputation has people driving miles and standing in long lines to get one of the famous Pronto Pup dogs.
But Bogart, who also owns the food delivery service Five Star Food Express, had seen Pronto Pups in East Tawas, Michigan, located off of Lake Huron, where he camped with family. After seeing the Pronto Pups truck, Bogart started doing some research on Pronto Pups and discovered it is a national phenomenon.
The story is that husband and wife team George and Versa Boyington created the speciality dog in the late 1930s. The couple ran a small hot dog stand at Rockaway Beach, Oregon, located west of Portland near the Pacific Ocean. When a rainstorm came, the hot dog buns would be ruined becoming wet and soggy. George Boyington came up with the idea of cooking a “bun” as needed. He created a pancake batter based mix and the duo came up with the Pronto Pups formula used today. According to the Pronto Pups website, by 1941 the Boyington’s invention had become a nationwide hit.
Pronto Pups are a highlight at the Minnesota State Fair and the original Pronto Pups stand is still located in Rockaway Beach, which boosts to be the home of the world’s largest corndog and the first riding mechanical corndog. The Oregon-based Pronto Pups company still specializes in providing everything to make a Pronto Pup along with other carnival and amusement park food supplies such as cotton candy and other fry items such as onion rings.
Pronto Pups Grand Rapids is a separate franchise and is not affiliated with the Grand Haven location. The Pronto Pups Grand Rapids will be serving the Greater Grand Rapids area and Kent County, along with going into other areas such as Greenville. The Pronto Pups Grand Rapids truck will feature the Pronto Pup along with Pronto Pups with a twist such as with cheese or jalapeños. Other menu items may include gourmet hot dogs, vegan hot dogs, brats, and walking tacos.
“It is really cool to be able to bring back a childhood memory of when you use to go to the fair and get a corndog,” Bogart said.
Bogart estimates that it will still be another 45 days until the truck is fully operational. During that time, he has been working to build a client base and recently joined the Grand Rapids Food Truck Association. He said he also has been looking at festivals and events to bring the truck and hopes one location will be the City of Kentwood’s annual End of Summer Food Truck Festival, which is usually in the fall.
Until then, Pronto Pup aficionados will have to follow the Pronto Pups Grand Rapids progress on its Facebook page.
The inner path to an outer glow
By Irene Franowicz, Spectrum Health Beat
Yes, some women can thank their genes for that youthful glow. But they don’t have the market cornered on smooth and seemingly ageless skin.
Those of us who haven’t been genetically blessed can still glide into our 40s, 50s and 60s with soft, dewy skin.
Vitamin-infused creams and lotions can certainly improve skin and hair, but if you really want to look great, you have to start on the inside.
The truth is, the right foods will not only help you feel great, they’ll also help you get beautiful locks and a glowing complexion.
8 essentials for better skin:
Water
Water is essential to providing moisture and suppleness to skin. It helps transport nutrients to all our cells—skin, hair and nails—and it’s a natural lubricant for our joints.
You should drink about half your body weight in fluid ounces each day. (So, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink about 75 ounces of water.)
If you’re feeling bloated, you may be retaining fluid from too much sodium. Drinking water flushes away excess sodium and aids in weight loss by removing excess water weight.
Want to add a refreshing flavor to your water? Add in a slice of lemon, lime or cucumber, or try my favorite: chopped fresh pineapple and fresh strawberries.
Vitamin A, beta-carotene
Think green vegetables, orange vegetables and fruit.
Vitamin A is an antioxidant that helps maintain and repair tissues in the body. It provides moisture for eyes, skin and epithelial cells that cover or line all our body parts, externally and internally.
Beta-carotene winners: sweet potatoes, mangoes, butternut squash, apricots, broccoli, collard greens, spinach and kale.
The options are without limit: Try some mango salsa. Toss a handful of baby spinach into your smoothie. Roast some butternut squash. Roast some sweet potatoes with olive oil. Enjoy a broccoli salad with cranberries and sunflower seeds.
You can make healthy substitutions, too. Instead of fries with your burger, trade them for baby carrots and broccoli with a spinach dip.
Just a tip: Traditional, store-bought spinach dip is laden with mayonnaise, so instead use thawed, drained and chopped frozen spinach to make it greener and healthier.
Vitamin C
The American Academy of Dermatology says vitamin C can be highly protective against sun damage. Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties help reduce skin damage caused by free radicals, a harmful byproduct of sunlight, smoke and pollution.
This vitamin also promotes production of collagen, which acts like tissue cement to help keep skin from sagging.
Excellent sources include strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and citrus fruits.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E helps keep skin smooth, healthy and younger looking. It’s an antioxidant much like vitamin C, as it counters the effects of sun exposure. It’s also used topically as a cream and lotion to soothe dry skin.
Great sources include hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, wheat germ and avocados.
B complex vitamins
A deficiency in B vitamins can cause dermatitis—an itchy, scaly skin reaction. Sources of these vitamins include bananas, eggs, oatmeal, whole grains, lentils and cereals.
Seafood
Seafood has good fats—essential fatty acids and omega-3—which help reduce inflammation in the body. These may also help reduce wrinkles.
The best types of seafood are salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel and sardines. Try adding a seafood meal twice a week. It’s as easy as a tuna fish sandwich for lunch and grilled teriyaki salmon for dinner.
Get calcium
What do milk, yogurt and soy have in common? They’re high in calcium, which makes them great not only for your skin, but for your bones and nails.
Yogurt also has probiotics that aid in digestion. It’s a great way to add protein and calcium to your smoothies.
Mediterranean staples
Don’t avoid fat just for the sake of your waistline. Eat the Mediterranean way and include plenty of olive oil, flaxseed, avocados, nuts and seeds.
Many women have dry, flaky skin because they don’t eat enough good fats—essential fatty acids. Fat is needed to absorb fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E and K.
Enjoy some guacamole, serve olives on your appetizer tray, enjoy almond butter on your whole grain toast topped with banana slices, and top your yogurt with almonds and sunflower seeds.
Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.
Kelloggsville asking for sinking fund to help with long-term projects
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
The playground at Kelloggsville’s Southeast Elementary is a mismatch of different equipment: silver monkey bars that look like they are from the 1970s mixed in with what seems like newer bright blue swings, a slider, and balance equipment.
It is easy to tell that the equipment has been used — a lot. The bright blue paint on the slider has been chipped away to reveal the metal. The slides with scratches are now a faded pink and the monkey bars have a slight bent in them.
Southeast Elementary and the district’s West Elementary are two of Kelloggsville’s oldest buildings. Admitting he is not certain of their age, Eric Alcorn, Kelloggsville’s auxiliary services director, said he estimates Southeast Elementary to have been built in the 1950s or early 1960s.
Playground upgrades at the two elementary buildings are on a long list of proposed projects that will be funded if Kelloggsville voters approve a May 5 proposed 1.0 mill sinking fund request.
“With our newest elementary building, we want to make sure that all the buildings are up-to-date and that all our students are benefiting from the rewards by being able to grow both physically and mentally,” Alcorn said.
As district officials proposed a 2018 bond request for a new elementary building (which was approved by voters), they made it clear that the new building was part of a long-term plan to update and modernize the district’s elementary schools. The sinking fund request is the next step in that plan with Superintendent Samuel Wright stating on the district’s website that “A plan has been made to identify items that are necessary to keep our buildings in excellent shape and aren’t exactly recognizable. Items such as parking lot paving, HVAC, roofs, and energy conserving projects are expensive and additional funds are needed to complete these projects.”
In Michigan, a sinking fund is a millage levied to support school safety improvements, technology improvements, and the repair and construction of school buildings. It is a “pay as you go” system that does not require borrowing money or paying interest. A sinking fund milage is calculated using the taxable value of a home, which is usually about half of the assessed value. For example, Kelloggsville Public Schools is asking for 1.0 mill. On a house valued at $100,000, the taxable value is $50,000. The annual cost to a Kelloggsville taxpayer would be $50, which is about 96 cents a week.
A sinking fund is for up to 10 years. Kelloggsville’s sinking fund request would run from 2020 – 2029. It is estimated that within the first year, 2020, the district would receive about $371,073.
An important aspect to a sinking fund, which Alcorn pointed out, is that money from that fund can not be used for things like regular maintenance, purchasing teaching supplies or textbooks, or paying teacher and administrator salaries. In fact, the law requires districts with sinking funds to keep these funds separate from the district accounts and a district also must have s separate auditor each year of the funds to ensure they are being spent appropriately.
“The fund will help us pay for long term projects that in the end will help us not have to pull from the general funds to help pay for it,” Alcorn said, adding by creating a fund that allows for the district to handle building and safety concerns, the district is able to maintain school services without concerns of having to use money for an emergency.
“We are not in a situation where an emergency needs to be addressed,” Alcorn said. “However, we do not want to have to make a decision that would move money away from student services because of a need.”
School officials have made a wish list over the 10-year life of the sinking fund of items they would address in the district’s facilities. Year one would focus on West Elementary receiving new carpet, lockers, playground upgrades, and the parking lot would be repaved. The second and third year would focus on Southeast Elementary, which would receive playground upgrades, repaved parking lot that would include a bus loop, and classroom remodels. In fact, over the 10 years, every building in the district, which also includes the Early Childhood Learning Center, the middle school, high school and the alternative high school, 54th Street Academy, would benefit from the fund by receiving roof replacements, classroom updates and parking lot repaving.
Voting by Absentee
Kelloggsville Public Schools has about 2,400 students enrolled for the 2019-2020 school year, with Alcorn noting the district continues to grow. While most Kent County school districts are pretty much contained to one area, Kelloggsville Public Schools has about half its students in the City of Wyoming and the other half are from the City of Kentwood.
Alcorn said the district was just gearing up to inform voters about the sinking fund request when the Stay Home, Stay Safe order took effect on March 24. In April, the governor issued an executive order that the May 5 elections would be done “to the greatest extent possible” by absentee voter ballots.
Residents who have not received a notice for an absentee ballot may request one from their local clerks office. The Kelloggsville Public Schools’ website also has information on how to obtain an absentee ballot. The ballot must be mailed and received by 5 p.m. May 1 or you may bring the ballot to your city’s clerk’s office on the day of the election, May 5, by 8 p.m.
Also according to the May 5 elections order, the clerk’s office in both cities will be open for people to request, fill out and return an absentee ballot. Voters may also register and vote that day as well. According to the Kelloggsville website, you may request ballot up until 4 p.m. on May 5 and you have until 8 p.m. to return an absentee ballot.
For specific guidelines on May 5 voting, visit the City of Wyoming Clerk’s Office page or the City of Kenwood Clerk’s Office page.
Photo of the Week: Spanish Charm
While this photo might look like a set for an upcoming movie, it is actually of a small but charming village in Spain, pre COVID-19 that is. The photo is from Tom Norton.
Do you have a photo you would like considered for photo of the week? Then submit it to Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma at joanne@wktv.org.
Opera Grand Rapids announces new dates for ‘Turandot’
BY WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Opera Grand Rapids has moved its Turandot performance to September. The new dates are Sept. 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. at DeVos Performance Hall in downtown Grand Rapids.
The performance, which had been scheduled for the beginning of May, was moved due to the governor’s executive order limiting large gatherings.
Those who already have tickets to “Turandot” will automatically have their tickets transferred to the corresponding show in September. For example, if you have purchased tickets to attend on Friday, May 1, your tickets has automatically been transferred to Friday, September 25. You will need your existing tickets to attend the show.
Those unable to attended the rescheduled performance have the following options:
Transfer your ticket to a different of the performance. (For example, if you had tickets on Friday, you can change to Saturday.)
Transfer your ticket to any other Opera Grand Rapids production
Donate your ticket back to help Opera Grand Rapids with COVID-19 emergency relief
Receive a full refund
Fo more information, call the Opera Grand Rapids box office at 616-451-2741.
Looking for a new recipe? WMTA offers free online West Michigan Cookbook
By Adrianne Brown-Reasner
West Michigan Tourist Association
With so many people spending part of their time at home in the kitchen, the West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) decided to round up the area’s best recipes for home cooks to try their hands at.
Working with restaurants, farm markets, wineries, and more from throughout the area, WMTA has collected and compiled a cookbook full of delicious dishes and drink recipes from around West Michigan. Aspiring chefs and pro home cooks alike will find recipe options to re-create a favorite dish, make a homemade version of a restaurant staple, or try something new.
“We thought it would be fun to share these local recipes with people, especially now when so many people are doing more home cooking,” said WMTA’s Marketing Director Courtney Sheffer. “Whether you’re looking for a recipe for a fancy meal, or something simple to make with the kids, you’ll find a West Michigan recipe here to try out.”
The cookbook is split into four sections: Sides/Apps, Mains, Sweets, and Drinks. A selection of dishes from each section is listed below:
Sides/Apps
- Cherry Broccoli Salad from Cherry Republic, Glen Arbor
- Crispy Vinegar and Salt Potatoes from Oryana Community Co-op, Traverse City
- Cucumber Salad from Grossnickle Farms, Kaleva
Mains
- Michigan Apple Cheddar Burgers from Virtue Cider, Fennville
- Two Hearted Chicken Tacos from Bell’s Brewery, Kalamazoo
- Apple and Squash Pierogi from Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay
Sweets
- Apple Crisp with the Dutch Touch from Dutch Farm Market, South Haven
- Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting from W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, Augusta
- Vegan Rosemary Blueberry Scones from Stuart Avenue Inn, Kalamazoo
Drinks
- Red Sangria from Dablon Winery & Vineyards, Baroda
- Central Lake Sour from Mammoth Distilling, Bellaire
- Oliver’s Ocean from Long Road Distillers, Grand Rapids
WMTA encourages people to try out a new recipe, and to share photos of the end result using the hashtag #WestMichigan.
View or download the West Michigan Cookbook (PDF) here: https://www.wmta.org/beer-dine-wine/west-michigan-cooks-at-home-free-digital-cookbook/
10 foods that boost energy and build endurance in seniors
By Vista Springs Assisted Living
As older adults continue to age, it’s critical that they eat foods with nutrition to boost their energy levels and build their endurance. Without enough energy, physical and mental health can begin decline. In order to get that much needed energy boost, here are 10 foods that provide multiple health benefits for seniors.
1. Nuts
Nuts are full of healthy fats and proteins that give seniors nutritional energy. The amino acids in nuts can also help rebuild and strengthen muscles, which is great for simple stretching and exercising.
Walnuts
Walnuts have plenty of fiber for seniors, and can be eaten on their own as a snack or in salads, deserts, and other dishes. Their high calorie count will also help provide seniors with all-day energy.
Almonds
The carbs and fiber in almonds are complicated and are broken down slowly, which provides energy throughout the day rather than all at once. This makes nuts a great pick-me-up with a long-lasting effect.
2. Berries
As with nuts, berries can be a quick snack that taste great and have many added health benefits that seniors can take advantage of.
Blueberries
Blueberries are full of antioxidants, which not only provide immune-boosting effects, but can help protect muscles from weakening over time. Blueberries also have water packed into them, which keeps seniors hydrated and energized.
Strawberries
Strawberries have a lot of the antioxidants found in blueberries, along with vitamin C and healthy sugars that fight fatigue and slow inflammation in the body.
3. Whole grains
Healthy carbs like whole grains have complicated cellular structures that take time to break down during digestion, which provides a constant source of energy throughout the day. Switching from unhealthy carbs to whole grains is a small step that has lasting health benefits.
Oatmeal
The rumors are true—oatmeal is good for your heart! A bowl of oatmeal in the morning can give you much-needed energy throughout the day, as well as providing fiber and protein that seniors need to build their endurance.
Quinoa
Quinoa, which is more of a seed than a grain, is packed full of healthy carbs and protein. It also helps build and repair muscles, which helps seniors maintain their muscle mass and mobility as they age.
4. Sweet potatoes
Rather than white or yellow potatoes, give sweet potatoes a try! Sweet potatoes have much more nutritional value than other potatoes, even though the “sweet” in the name might imply otherwise. The sweetness actually comes from the complex sugars and carbs that give seniors energy and encourage them to exercise and build muscle mass.
5. Greek or plain yogurt
Plain or Greek yogurt provides a big boost of energy with healthy proteins and fats. Rather than the sweetened versions that add lots of sugar, unflavored yogurt gives you lasting energy. You can add some fruits or berries to get natural sweetness if you need!
6. Bananas
As most people know, bananas are high in potassium. What isn’t as well known is what potassium helps to balance hydration and deliver energy. In addition, bananas have anti-inflammatory properties that help seniors build endurance and heal torn muscles faster.
7. Beans and lentils
Beans and lentils are high in a number of vitamins and minerals, such as zinc, iron, and magnesium. Replenishing minerals can help seniors maintain blood sugar levels, which in turn helps provide a constant stream of energy.
8. Water
While water is a drink, not a food, it is still one of the best things seniors can have to boost energy and build endurance. Without proper hydration, muscles won’t be able to function properly and seniors can easily lose both strength and mobility over time from dehydration.
If drinking water isn’t your thing, then take a look at some other ways you can get your daily dose of hydration.
Senior health tips for hydration
9. Seeds
Seeds are another example of a healthy snack that can give seniors a quick boost of energy and build endurance.
Chia Seeds
The slower you naturally digest food, the more steady your energy levels will be throughout the day. That’s why seeds that are high in fiber like chia seeds are a great high-energy snack.
Pumpkin Seeds
Like chia seeds, pumpkin seeds have a high fiber content that helps regulate digestion throughout the day. You can easily make your own pumpkin seeds at home by baking them in the oven with a little salt.
10. Avocados
Avocados provide some of the healthiest natural fats found in any food item. Healthy fats are used as energy, rather than unhealthy fats which are stored by the body. Seniors can take advantage of the energy provided by avocados to motivate themselves to exercise and move.
Seniors need to find the energy to move, stretch, exercise, and socialize as they age, or they face serious health consequences. Rather than losing independence, eat the right foods and stay healthier for longer!
Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.
Snapshots: Some things to do this weekend
Sometimes you can have the smallest role in the smallest production and still have a big impact.
Actor Neil Patrick Harris
By WKTV Staff
Bottoms Up!
Missing a Station 3 Oatmeal Stout form Two Guys Brewery? Good Mooed from Railtown Brewery is what you need to get into a good mood? If you were not aware, many local breweries are offering up packaged craft beer and other goodies that are available for curbside pick and delivery. For more, click here.
Follow The Reading Train
Take a spin on The Reading Train as host and producer Judy Bergsma returns to share some of her favorite stories and share a special COVID-19 message. Many area residents may recognize Judy especially if they were children in the late 1990s and early 2000s and came to WKTV to be part of The Reading Train’s audience. For more, click here.
Sing, Sing a Song
Taking the Sesame Street of “Sing, Sing a Song” to heart, GVSU Senior Joseph VanArendonk wrote a little ditty to express his feelings about the COVID-19. I little sentimental and somewhat tongue-and-check, the song has struck a cord with many of those who are graduating this year — whether they be high school or college. Click here, to lear more.
A is for April and Aphrodite
In the initial Roman calendar, April was the second month of the year. January and February were added in 700 BC. Because it the second month of spring, it is believed that April comes from the latin word “to open,” describing when the trees would open. It is also believed that the name April may have come from the Greek goddess Aphrodite.
Absolute Floor Covering, Inc.
Horrocks Market
‘The Reading Train’ returns with old favorites, special COVID-19 message
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Some students know Judy Bergsma from her work at the Kelloggsville High School counseling office, but a lot of students who went to Kentwood and Wyoming, Bergsma is more well known as the host of the popular local children’s program, “The Reading Train.”
For more than 20 years, “The Reading Train” has spread the love of reading with Bergsma, who also is the producer of the show, reading books and talking to students about reading. In fact, over the years, more than 12,000 West Michigan school children have enjoyed visiting the WKTV studios and been apart of “The Reading Train” audience.
“If you talk to someone that is a little order and grew up going to one of the elementary schools in Wyoming, Kentwood or Gaines area, they might of heard of ‘The Reading Train,’” Bergsma said during a recently taped show. “They might have been on a show. Their class might have taken a class trip and been in the audience or they might have watched a show.”
Bergsma returned to the WKTV studios this month to tape about 20 more segments.
“With the children being out of school, we started production again,” Bergsma said, noting that due to the Stay Home, Stay Safe order, the recent tapings did not have an audience. Bergsma said she felt that it was a great time to again spread the love of reading along with providing positive messages of friendship, hope, and learning.
“It is fun to do them and I am excited to do them again,” Bergsma said. “The stories never grow old. You can always be telling stories and they are good for all ages/ I hope the adults enjoy them as must as the kids.”
Each segment features Bergsma introducing a theme for the show and then reading some of her favorite stories such as “The Glassmakers of Gurven,” by Marlys Boddy and “Charlie’s Checklist,” by Alison Bartlett and Rory S. Lerman. The camera moves from Bergsma reading to illustrations in the book to give a more interactive experience.
“We’re back for some very special episodes,” Bergsma said, with one of those programs focused on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Laura Bennett, a limited license psychologist in the Greater Grand Rapids area, wrote the script for Bergma’s special message to kids during this time of COVID.
“It’s important to know that there are lots of smart doctors and scientists and your parents or caregivers working to make this sickness go away and keep you safe and healthy,” Bergsma said during “The Reading Train.” “Its important to know that you won’t have to stay away from your friends or school forever. Just for a while. We don’t know exactly when yet, but in time you will go back to school and playing with your friends and things will feel more normal.”
As Bergsma does with every show, she offers fun activity suggestions for students such as inventing a new game, drawing a picture, visit with a friend or grandparents via the phone or video chat and or trying something new such as reading a new book.
Since 1997, “The Reading Train” has been a part of the WKTV broadcast lineup and can be seen on the WKTV Channel 25 and AT&T 99 at 4 p.m. Monday, 4:30 p.m. Friday, and 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The show is available through WKTV’s live stream at wktv.org.
The 7 best retirement hobbies for creative types
By Vista Springs Assisted Living
After retirement, you might discover that you have more time on your hands than originally expected. In order to fill that time, many seniors start exploring new hobbies and activities. But many common activities like golfing, traveling, and fishing aren’t geared towards seniors who would rather stay at home than go out.
Luckily, there are plenty of senior hobbies that don’t need a lot of time, money, or physical capability, and can take place in your own living room. Retirement offers a perfect opportunity to learn new skills, so take a look at these seven different retirement hobbies that are perfect for creative types.
1. Painting and drawing
Creating artwork like paintings and drawings is an activity that has almost no limitations on what can be created. From watercolors to acrylics to oils to charcoals, there are countless mediums of art, so you can find the perfect one that works best for you.
Local community centers typically have plenty of art classes that are great for beginners. These also provide seniors with a new way to get out of the house and socialize with others. Whether you go big with canvases and materials or keep it simple with a few pencils and paper, painting and drawing can help you feel relaxed and calm while helping you build your artistic skills.
2. Crafting
Crafting is another example of a creative activity that doesn’t require a lot of mobility or physical effort, and it includes all kinds of hobbies such as:
- Jewelry making
- Needlework
- Beadwork
- Scrapbooking
- Knitting
- Soap and candle making
- Crocheting
- Creating home decor items
Crafting can also be a way to make a little extra money after retirement. Going to craft shows or selling your items online can be a fun way to earn some extra cash while exploring a new activity and meeting plenty of new people.
3. Cooking
There are almost an unlimited number of ways to learn new cooking skills, from looking at old family recipes to watching cooking shows to swapping ideas with friends. There’s so many recipes out there that everyone from the most basic beginner to seasoned experts can find something new to work with.
Cooking also provides seniors with a way to take control of their health, explore different cuisines, and share meals with others. Whether you’re gaining a few basic cooking skills or perfecting your talents, retirement is a perfect time to explore new cooking opportunities. Looking for some great beginner recipes to get started with? Click the link below to try some healthy options!
4. Pottery
Pottery is an often overlooked but incredibly satisfying hobby. It typically requires a significant amount of time, which makes it a perfect creative outlet for retired seniors who can now afford to dedicate the necessary hours to create ceramics.
Like many other crafting opportunities, pottery gives seniors a chance to earn some additional income by selling their wares either online or at festivals and craft shows. Pottery can create useful items like bowls, plates, and vases, or fun home decor items and abstract art pieces.
5. Woodworking
If you like a hands-on approach to retirement hobbies and want to try something a little out of the box, then woodworking might be the best option for you. While getting the right tools can be an expensive up-front cost, woodworking is a wonderful creative outlet that your friends and family might not have seen before.
6. Gardening
If you think that all gardening involves kneeling down in the dirt and having to perform back-breaking labor, then you would be wrong! Gardening can take place out of doors in flower beds, but it can also be adapted to meet a senior’s needs, especially if getting up and down is difficult.
Container gardening is a great way to get enjoyment out of planting and growing your own flowers or vegetables without having to perform as much physical labor. Raised containers like planters, baskets, and pots can help you protect your back health, and can take place both indoors and outdoors.
7. Writing
As you age, you might discover that there are many things you want to record and preserve for posterity. Or you might have some creative ideas that you want to explore through writing. Either way, there’s never a better time to start than today!
Writing can include everything from novels to poems to short stories, as well as everything in between. If you are looking for a good place to start, then consider reminiscence writing as a way to help you connect to past events while providing helpful therapeutic results.
Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.
Mackinac State Historic Parks debuts ‘Explore at home’ online resources
By Dominick Miller
Mackinac State Historic Parks
The mission of Mackinac State Historic Parks is simple and encompassing – we protect, preserve and present Mackinac’s rich historic and natural resources to provide outstanding educational and recreational experiences for the public.
With that in mind, MSHP is excited to announce its “Explore at Home” collection of online resources. Included are online exhibits and demonstrations, movies detailing the histories of Fort Mackinac, Colonial Michilimackinac, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, activities for kids like coloring books, online puzzles and activities, and easy access to our extensive library of blog posts and timeline histories.
“We hope these resources will be helpful to those unable to visit us now, but at least provide a glimpse into what our sites have to offer,” said Steve Brisson, Mackinac State Historic Parks Deputy Director. “There is a great sampling of material available taken directly from the sites. Other items have been carefully crafted for the website.”
The online collection can be found at mackinacparks.com/exploreathome. Content will be updated regularly, and everything on the “Explore at Home” tab is free.
Curator of History Craig Wilson and Exhibit Designer Keeney Swearer were driving forces in getting a lot of the content created and ready for publication. Marketing Manager Dominick Miller and Brisson assisted with review, ideas, and publication. The team thanks staff past and present for contributions to the content.
“Our ‘Explore at Home’ pages give us a chance to share stories from our museums and historic sites with people who might not be able to physically visit us in person,” Wilson said. “I hope people get a little extra taste of Mackinac at home.”
Photos of the Mackinac State Historic Parks’ sites are available upon request. A downloadable version of this release can be found here. For further information call 231.436.4100 or email mackinacparks@michigan.gov.
Mackinac State Historic Parks, a family of living history museums and parks in northern Michigan’s Straits of Mackinac, is an agency within the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Its sites—which are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums—include Fort Mackinac, the Biddle House, The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, Historic Downtown Mackinac, and Mackinac Island State Park on Mackinac Island, and Colonial Michilimackinac, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park and Michilimackinac State Park in Mackinaw City. Mackinac State Historic Parks is governed by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, established in 1895 to protect, preserve and present the parks’ rich historic and natural resources for the education and recreation of future generations. Visitor information is available at (231) 436-4100 or on the web at www.mackinacparks.com.
The upside to milk
Dairy foods have been getting a lot of attention from researchers in recent years, notably from studies done both jointly and separately by scientists at Harvard and Tufts universities.
They looked at the relationship between full-fat dairy and the risks for heart disease and diabetes.
A 3,000-participant study found that people who included dairy fat in their diet had a lower risk of diabetes. One theory for the link is that people who skip or limit dairy might compensate by eating more refined, low-fiber carbohydrates, which can increase diabetes risk.
A study that followed more than 200,000 people over several decades looked at the relationship between dairy fat intake and heart disease.
It found no increase in heart disease risk among people who ate dairy fat, although the risk was lowered when calories from dairy fat were replaced with calories from plant-based fats or whole grains—24% when they were replaced by polyunsaturated fats and 28% when replaced with whole grains.
On the other hand, the risk went up by 6% if those calories went instead to foods with other types of saturated fat, like red meat.
A third piece of research reviewed nine studies that looked specifically at butter—another source of saturated fat—and its role in heart disease, diabetes and all causes of death.
The analysis found that while plant-based fats are healthier, small amounts of butter aren’t likely to hurt you.
What might you do with all this information? The familiar bottom line is moderation.
While it’s still healthier to cook with olive oil, for instance, you can indulge in a pat of butter on your hot whole-grain cereal or an ounce of cheese on whole-grain bread or, perhaps best of all, a serving of full-fat yogurt and a cup of berries.
Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.
Photo of the Week: Sign of the Times
This photo was taken at Kentwood’s Pinewood Park and sent in by Kentwood Resident Gerald DeMaagd. DeMaagd took the photo shortly after the state’s announcement that to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the play equipment and other communal items such as picnic tables in all parks would be closed to the general public.
Do you have a photo you would like considered for photo of the week? Then send it to WKTV Journal Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma at joanne@wktv.org.
In a time of social distancing, one Kentwood family found a way to share a hug
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
Kentwood resident Amy VanDorp made regular visits to her mom’s place, bringing her groceries, dropping off items and just spending time with her.
“I was going over there at least once to a couple of times a week,” VanDorp said.
That was until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early spring and Michigan’s governor announced the Stay Home, Stay Safe order along with social distance guidelines of at least six feet or more between people, encouraging strict enforcement for those who are older and at higher risk of contracting the virus and becoming seriously ill.
So VanDorp’s visit to her mother changed to her and her family standing on the lawn of her mother’s Byron Center home at least six-feet from the porch where VanDorp’s mother stood. There was no contact, not even a hug.
“I realized I was becoming more frustrated because all I could do is look at her,” VanDorp said. “The more I saw her, the more I just wanted to hug her.”
As a social worker, VanDorp recognizes the power of human contact.
“The power of the human touch releases endorphins,” VanDorp said. “It connects us. It decreases depression.”
After a recent visit with her mom, VanDorp recognized that her desire to have that contact — to at least hug her mom — was so strong, she decided to do something about it.
“I figured someone probably had created something,” VanDorp said, adding that she started thinking about science fiction films that always had a scientist using a glove box, a clear box where the scientist could put their hands in gloves to touch an unusual object or conduct an experiment. She also thought of a neonatal incubator for premie babies that has armholes so a parent is able to touch their child.
But a search through the internet led to VanDorp discovering nothing that would allow her to give her mom a hug. So she decided to make something herself and began to look around her home for items she could use. She spied a clear plastic drop cloth that could be used as a buffer and clear plastic bags that could be used as sleeves to put a person’s hands and arms in to give a hug.
Enter VanDorp’s husband, Jeff, an engineer, who armed with Duct tape, was able to take VanDorp’s idea of the Hug-Able and make it a reality.
“We took the plastic sheet and cut it to create armholes and then used the clear plastic bags and taped them to the armholes,” Jeff VanDorp said.
The family went over to the mother’s house, telling her they had a surprised but not to peek. In the family’s video, Jeff VanDorp tapes the Hug-Able to a door in the garage, creating a protective barrier between her and the family but through the plastic sleeves/garbage bags, they were able to hug.
In the video, you can see how pleased VanDorp’s mother is to be able to hug her family members, saying things such as “This is awesome.” “This is beautiful.” “Can I keep this going all night?”
“She called me the next day and said she slept wonderful that night,” VanDorp said, adding that she does credit the power of being able to hug.
The family posted a video about their journey to create the Hug-Able as to give other people ideas of what they might be able to do to keep the human connection in these times of social distancing.
“My first goal in making the Hug-Able video was to hug my mom,” VanDorp said. “My second goal was to share the love of God with the people who watched the video.”
If you have questions about the Hug-Able, you can reach the VanDorps at hugable2020@gmai.com.
Aging and loss of independence: How assisted living can help
By Vista Springs Assisted Living
There are parts of aging that we don’t like to talk about, including the loss of independence that many older people face. It’s difficult to see our senior loved ones struggle with things that used to come easy to them, but it’s even harder for them as they have to face the idea that they can no longer take care of themselves alone.
Helping a loved one accept their new situation often involves a conversation about moving to a place where they can receive aid for the things they can no longer do themselves. With bleak images of nursing homes often popping into mind, this option is incredibly unappealing to many seniors. However, a perfect balance between independence and assistance for your senior loved one can be found in assisted living.
What does loss of independence look like?
Losing independence looks different in each senior as they age, but there are three main ways elderly people begin to notice a loss of independence.
- Physical—As seniors age they lose strength and mobility, making housekeeping chores, getting out of bed, walking around their residence, bathing, and dressing difficult to do alone.
- Mental—Losing cognitive function makes it difficult for seniors to remember appointments, medication schedules, when they last ate, and other personal care tasks.
- Social—When a senior can no longer drive or move easily, they often find themselves isolated and unable to engage socially with others, which can have long-term effects on their mental health.
As a result of losing independence, seniors can feel depressed, angry, guilty, ashamed, or afraid. Seniors can also become confused about why they are losing their independence and either act out or isolate—neither of which are healthy reactions.
The most common of these feelings is depression, which can often go unnoticed in seniors. It’s important to get your loved one help if they are showing signs of depression, which include:
- Loss of interest in socializing and activities that used to interest them
- Changes in weight & appetite
- Lack of motivation
- Neglecting personal care (bathing, dressing, taking medications)
- Decline in cognitive functions
- Self-loathing
Another common reaction is extreme guilt or shame. Seniors can feel like their inability to care for themselves is their fault, or they might feel ashamed that they need help in parts of their life that they had control over when they were younger.
Every senior is going to react differently, so be aware of the different types of feelings that your loved one might exhibit during this difficult period in their life, and work with them to address the negative feelings that they have.
What can you do?
The best thing you can do for a loved one struggling through the process of accepting their loss of independence is to be patient. Your loved one may not understand their own feelings, so don’t add to their stress with your frustrations. Keeping a level head and remaining calm can go a long way.
Visit with your loved one regularly and encourage them to ask for help when they need it so you can understand what their needs are. Offer rides to get them out of their house or apartment and to places where they can socialize with others. If you are working as a temporary caregiver, remember to take your own health into consideration so you don’t burn out, causing more difficulty.
Another one of the best things you can do is encourage your loved one to move to a community that can give them both the help they need and encourage their own independence.
Assisted living and senior independence
Assisted living can be a great solution for seniors who need help in certain areas of their lives, but want to maintain their independence as well. Most communities create a plan with your loved one to provide needed services, but allow independence in the other areas of your family member’s life. Common services include:
- Medication management
- Meals and snacks
- Help with mobility and movement
- Bathing, dressing, and personal grooming
- Housekeeping and laundry
- Medical services for different levels of care needs
In addition to assistance with these types of tasks, assisted living communities also provide socialization opportunities that your loved one wouldn’t find with in-home care or a family caregiver. Rather than remain confined to a single room, assisted living communities are designed to get seniors interacting with each other and participating in fun activities.
Communities like Vista Springs are designed with independence and luxury in mind, and we look forward to giving your senior loved one every opportunity to maintain control over their lives while offering assistance with the things they do need help with. Click the link below to learn more about what makes Vista Springs different, or subscribe to our blog to get the latest information on all things assisted living!
Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.
Just the Facts: Scientists debate how to reopen the world
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Getting Off the Life Raft
“We’ve managed to get to the life raft,” says epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH), in a recent AAAS/Science Magazine article. “But I’m really unclear how we will get to the shore.”
The article states that as governments move forward, there are many things officials will have to consider such as health of citizen, freedoms of the population, and economic constraints. Countries will be follow different paths to reopen as there is no controlled experiments to compare the effectiveness of different social distancing measures with one expert noting the comparisons of these paths could be revealing.
Breaking those habits
As the debate continues on when U.S. states and cities will reopen, one item everyone can agree on is that to beat the pandemic, everyone will need to make a change in their behavior. Throughout the crisis, people have been ordered to seek protection in large and small ways from washing their hands to avoiding almost all physical contact.
According to an AAAS/Science Magazine article, politicians, executives and Facebook and Twitter leaders have consulted with Robb Willer, a sociologist at Stanford University who has recruited more than 40 top behavioral sciences to help determine how to steer people into certain actions.
U.S. Census Delayed
When it comes to the U.S. Census, it appears U.S. leaders are in agreement: data collection is going to be delayed. The Trump administration has requested that Congress give the Census Bureau a four-month extension, until April 30, 2021, to deliver its data to the president and another four months to tell each state how many seats it will hold in the 435-member House.
The reason for the request, according to an article in AAAS/Science Magazine, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the Census Bureau to delay sending out enumerators to track down anyone who hasn’t already completed the 10-question census that became available last month. Field operations are expected to continue until the end of October, making it impossible to meet the current statutory deadlines, which had field work being completed on Aug. 14.
Start Garden awards more than $300,000 to 68 entrepreneurs experiencing financial strain
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Just 10 days after announcing an aggressive relief effort that pivoted its annual 100 business ideas competition, The Start Garden 100, into a fund for existing entrepreneurs, Start Garden announces it has selected grantees of its 100 Comeback Fund. Launched April 7, entrepreneurs had 100 hours to apply for a grant from a $300,000 fund. Just yesterday, a review committee awarded more than $300,000 to 68 entrepreneurs.
It was a whirlwind experience for the Start Garden team and entrepreneurs, but organizers knew the process needed to be quick as time and money is precious for so many entrepreneurs that are trying to navigate the next 100 days.
“Each day we talk to entrepreneurs, many say that time is their biggest enemy,” said Jorge Gonzalez, Start Garden co-director. “When their April 1 bills came due, it was a serious blow. We knew they needed money before May 1, so we compressed what’s normally six months of work into three weeks. With so many requests, we wished we could do more. We’re confident we did the best we could as fast as possible.”
The results of the 100 hour application process:
- 430 applications submitted.
- $5.6 million in requests.
- 70% of fund requests were for $10,000 or less.
- 68 applicants were selected to receive funds.
- Selections were made & entrepreneurs notified in less than 100 hours.
- 88% of recipients indicated a household income of less than $60,000.
- 44% of recipients are female. 56% male.
- 35% of recipients are African American. 32% are Caucasian. 25% are Hispanic. 4% are Asian. 3% identified as Other.
“New business owners frequently pay everyone else before themselves. Almost instantaneously, their ability to provide for their own families was compromised,” said Start Garden co-director Paul Moore. “These funds targeted eliminating that problem for an entrepreneur as they spend the next few months navigating the daily changing landscape of how to make a comeback.”
Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic reached Michigan, the decision was quickly made to pivot funds to The 100 Comeback as Start Garden leaders knew that new entrepreneurs often defer paying themselves in order to grow their business and they can’t lay themselves off. Almost all federal and state small business relief comes in the form of loans, and many new businesses can’t risk the additional leverage.
“The need for entrepreneur financial support is unlike anything we’ve ever seen right now,” said Start Garden co-director Darel Ross II. “People think a business owner is taking home the biggest check. Most don’t realize they’re investing that money into their people and business. In the small business and tech startup community, the financial impact of the COVID-19 shut down hits employers and employees alike.”
“The decision making process was quite emotional,” adds Start Garden program director Laurie Supinski. “Each entrepreneur has such a unique set of problems, which having the 100 second video in the submission was critical to understanding. Their resilience and creativity is so inspiring, and the heartbreak is very real right now. We remain hopeful that this venture will help keep 68 talented entrepreneurs going instead of folding.”
Learn more about The 100 Comeback: https://100.startgarden.com/
The 68 Recipients:
5F Ventures, LLC
AgHelp
Any Colour You Like Treats LLC
Arebelo & Associates
Art Caribbean Fusion Cuisine
Aztech
Bare All LLC
BattleGR
Blackbird RSVP
Break Room Therapy
Bryan Esler Photo
Chez Olga LLC
CNN Cleaning, LLC
Daddy’s Dough Cookies
Dime & Regal
Edgerow Property Management
El Globo Restaurant
El Granjero Mexican Grill
Emonae Korean BBQ
EverythingAB
Flip Dog Yoga
Germination Labs
Grand Rapids Sport & Social Club
Graped Out
Guelaguetza Designs
Irie Kitchen
Jose Abreu Graphic Studio, antiguamente Koren Graphic Design*
KOKI
La Casa del Pollo Loco
Lawnbot
Life Addicts Studio
Lindo Mexico Restaurante Mexicano
Little Space Studio
Littlebird, That Earlybird, Kingfisher
Love’s Ice Cream & Chocolate
Luxe Artisan Preserves
Matt Everitt Productions
Michigan Clinical & Therapeutic Massage
Michigan House Creative
Mindset Meals
Mosbys Popcorn
Muse GR
New Valley Landscape LLC
Noble Strong Training LLC
Old World Olive Co.
Pack Elephant
PhotoUp
Polished Nail Bar & Spa
Pottery Lane
Rising Grinds Cafe
Rogers Wealth Management Services, LLC
RYE Venue Management LLC DBA The Lit GR
SlothWerks LLC
Soldadera Coffee LLC
Sparkle All The Time
Supreme Focus Ent (Dj Composition)
Sympl.
Tacos el Cunado
The Comedy Project
The G-1:27 Collection
The Hot Spot Metal Studio
The Wisdom Center LLC
United Freedom Painting LLC
VIVE MICHIGAN Magazine
Wallway Technologies & Women in Tech with Ariana Podcast
Wear Your Curls
Wimage, LLC
Wormies
Want to get fit? You’re never too old
By American Heart Association, HealthDay
As people age, physical activity still needs to be part of the game plan for living a healthy, happy life—and experts say it’s never too late to get active and build strength.
“We try to tell people the body can still adapt and it can still improve,” said Barbara Nicklas, a professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Those who engage in more occupational or leisure time physical activity have a lower risk of disease and death—and the health benefits of movement can extend to all ages, Nicklas explained in an editorial in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Nicklas cautions against placing all “older adults” who are age 60 and up into one category. Rather than basing exercise and activity goals on age, they should be geared to one’s “physical functional status.”
“What can the person do?” she said. “Not everybody is the same.”
Whether you’re 65 or 85, or a runner, a tennis player or perhaps someone who has difficulty getting around, one constant remains: the importance of moving.
“Any time you can incorporate more movement throughout the day, it is good,” said Nicklas, who urges “starting where you’re at and doing what you can.”
The U.S. Health and Human Services Department and the American Heart Association recommend at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity or a combination of both, as well as muscle-strengthening activity.
For those who have been living a sedentary lifestyle, walking is the best way to begin getting physically active, Nicklas said. She suggests going with a friend or enrolling in a walking program like the one her university offers. It adds accountability, a social component and safety, to guard against falls.
Using a “walking tool,” such as a cane or walker, if it’s needed, can help you stay active, Nicklas said.
“Slow and steady—the tortoise pace—is better than the rabbit pace when you’re starting out or starting over,” she said.
Resistance or strength training—through free weights, weight machines, pushups or pull-ups—can help with range of motion around joints and improve muscle mass, muscle strength and bone strength. It can help in the ability to perform everyday activities, improve balance and may reduce the risk of falls.
Fred Bartlit, 87, proves the point that chronological age isn’t the determining factor when it comes to strength and feeling young.
A former U.S. Army ranger, Bartlit always had been physically active. He also was an avid skier and golfer. As he reached his 50s, at the urging of his future wife, he intensified his workouts and began strength training at a gym.
Today, the Colorado attorney and author said he is stronger than when he was in the Army at age 22. In addition to practicing law, he makes it his mission to inform older adults about battling sarcopenia, the loss of muscle with aging.
“Our bodies, they’re crying out for physical activity,” he said. “And now the world is sedentary.”
For someone as active as Bartlit, strength training helps him ski challenging mountains trails with his 58-year-old son and 16-year-old granddaughter.
Multiple scientific studies point out that building strength is important in performing everyday activities and in avoiding or managing chronic disease.
Bartlit suggests working with a trainer at first, if possible, and trying to fit in strength training three times per week.
“You have to create habits,” said Bartlit. “It’s about living a full life. It changes the way you think, the way you feel, your confidence in doing things.”
Boosting physical activity and strength helps aging adults do the things they want to do in daily life—and that can be motivating, Nicklas said. It may be as simple as going to the grocery store on your own or having the energy to take grandchildren to the park or to a soccer game.
Older adults are disproportionately affected by conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and heart disease, with 80% of people over 65 having at least one of those chronic conditions, according to the National Council on Aging.
But even though some health setbacks may occur with advancing age, they don’t have to completely derail an exercise plan. “This is just reality and it’s going to happen,” Nicklas said.
“Steady improvement” should be the aim, she said. “The body is still capable of adapting.”
Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.
WKTV celebrates its volunteers at March banquet
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
About two weeks before the governor’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order went into effect, more than 100 people gathered at the WKTV station, located at 5261 Clyde Park Ave. SW, to celebrate another great year of community programming.
At the annual Volunteer Banquet, which was held at the WKTV station, giving volunteers an opportunity to check out the recently finished construction work that added a new facade to the station’s main control room along with creating a second floor above Studio A. In fact, the new meeting space already has been used for a video shoot in February.
WKTV also added to its offerings with the creation of a new podcast room where about 20 shows are taped and filmed with the video housed on the Whole Picture Podcast Facebook page and the podcasts also can be found on the WKTV Journal website.
As always, the annual banquet is designed to recognize the many amazing contributions of the WKTV volunteers.
This year’s Volunteer of the Year, Scott Baisden, has spent plenty of time at the WKTV station, clocking in more than 1,000 volunteer hours while also editing and producing shows. Baisden has done a number of handyman jobs from various construction projects to landscaping. He also has lent his expertise to several WKTV productions and podcasts.
This year’s Community Service Programming recipient also is no stranger to WKTV. Mike Moll has been a WKTV volunteer for nine years and he might be a familiar face to many as he is one of the hosts for the WKTV Sports program. Moll also has written sports articles for the WKTV Journal and served as a host for a number of WKTV projects.
Recognition was given to volunteers for both years of volunteer service as well as hours of service in 2019. Following is a list of those recognized as well as their programs or volunteer areas for those honored for years of service.
From the left, Latesha Clay and Bernadine Francis were recognized as new volunteers. (Photo by Pat Moll) 
From left, Cynthia Johnson and Randy Galaszewski received their Five-Year Awards. (Photo by Pat Moll) 
Becci Schumaker received the 10-year-Award. (Photo by Pat Moll) 
Allen Wegener received the 20-Year Award.
20 Years
Allen Wegener – Variety of shows throughout the years
10 Years
Beccie Schumaker – Sports/Concerts
5 Years
Cynthia Johnson – Sports/Parades
Randy Galaszewski – Anything Goes/Sports/Concerts
New Volunteers
Cynthia Best – Volunteer
Latesha Clay – L.I.P. Street Team
Bernadine Francis – Studio Productions
Dana Knight – Productions Involving Arts and Culture
Riley Zoet – WKTV Sports
1 – 25 Hours
Judy Bergsma – WKTV Board Member/ Reading Train
Caleb Butler – Former staff / Remotes /Council meetings
Paul Chittenden – Indie Filmmaker / Podcasting
Sagar Dangal – WKTV News /Bhutanese Talk Podcast
Joe DeJong – Infinity & Beyond Podcast
Randy Galaszewski – Anything Goes / Summer Concerts
Cynthia Johnson – Holiday Parades
Phyllis Koslow – Grand Rapids Symphonette
William McKenny – L.I.P. Street Team and Truck Remotes
Pat Moll – Photographer WKTV News
Linda Pacic – Host Parades and Specials
Les Raebel – WKTV Board
Don Schumaker – Golden Gloves
Laura Szczepanek – The Polish Pod Café Podcast
Andrew Shelest – Construction
Nathan Slauer – WKTV News
Mark Tangen – Metro Cruise
Mike Van Druemel – WKTV Fix it Man
Dick Visser – WKTV Board Member
Pat Williams – Volunteer
26 -– 50 Hours
Doug Hansen – Sports
Paul Kabelman – WKTV Sports
Romeo Keels – L.I.P. Street Team + Truck Productions
Kyle Misak – Indie Filmmaker
Reid Petro – Indie Filmmaker
Prakash Rai – WKTV News / Sports
Tom Sibley – Veterans / Sid Lenger Travel Shows
Bob Serulla – Golden Gloves / Metro Cruise
Wayne Thomas – Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters Podcasts
Meochia Thompson – New Cooking Show/ WKTV News
51 – 99 Hours
Carrie Bradstreet – Anything Goes Podcast / WKTV News Host/ 10
Mark Bergsma – WKTV Sports
Anne Cope – Why Don’t We Have Our Own Podcast
Ron Schultz – WKTV Sports
100 Hour Club
Val Fisher
Gary Vande Velde
Scott Wiseman
Kyle Cortez
Allen Wegenar
Monique Keels
Darius Young
Stephanie Norton
Renee Karadsheh
Becci Schumaker
Bill Rinderkencht
Mike Bacon
Kathy Norton
Mike Moll
Matt Kavaluskis
Matt Zuby
Michael McCallum
Rose Hammond
Doug Remtema
Scott Baisden
Programmed to pack pounds?
It’s not easy maintaining a healthy weight. Even when you manage to drop a few pounds, they often return.
Why would the body seem to encourage obesity?
New research suggests the answer lies far back in human evolution, with an anti-starvation mechanism that primes the body to store fat.
The key to this mechanism is a protein dubbed “RAGE,” according to New York University scientists working with mice. They believe RAGE evolved to help keep ancient humans from starving when food was scarce.
But today, in times of plenty, there’s a glitch at work: RAGE is produced to combat the cellular stress caused by overeating.
The protein seems to mistake this stress as similar to starvation, and so it switches off the body’s ability to burn fat. The result: fat becomes easy to accumulate, but tough to shed.
Still, there’s a silver lining to all of this, the NYU team said, because the research might lead to anti-obesity drugs.
“Our thinking is that RAGE is targetable. When we put mice with no RAGE expression at all on a high-fat diet, they ate the food but were not becoming obese,” explained study author Dr. Ann Marie Schmidt, from the NYU School of Medicine.
And a lack of RAGE appeared to be safe, at least for mice.
“When you totally delete RAGE in mice, they have normal reproduction and no problems with cognition,” she said.
The researchers hope that because RAGE seems to be active just during times of metabolic stress instead of during everyday functions, taking it away won’t create problems.
But don’t pin your hopes on a RAGE-deleting drug just yet.
Schmidt was quick to note that any such drug is a long way off yet because the research is currently in mice. Findings from animal studies don’t always translate to humans.
Still, Schmidt said the potential is exciting.
In addition to limiting the body’s ability to burn fat, RAGE also may contribute to inflammation throughout the body. So, along with taming obesity, it’s possible that removing the RAGE protein might help with some of the inflammatory consequences of obesity, such as diabetes, cancer, hardening of the arteries and Alzheimer’s disease, according to the researchers.
Dr. Michael Wood, medical director for bariatric surgery at the Detroit Medical Center’s Harper University Hospital, said the study was interesting, although very early.
And, Wood said, “obesity is a very complicated problem, and I think these findings are an oversimplification.”
But Wood noted that it’s possible the RAGE protein plays a role in excess weight. It’s just not likely the only factor in the development of obesity.
“I don’t think there’s one switch or any one thing that can solve this complicated issue. There’s no magic bullet for obesity,” he said.
Right now, if someone wants to lose weight, they have to commit to lifestyle changes, Wood said.
And, that’s true even if someone has weight-loss surgery. He added that the most significant change comes from eating fewer calories. Exercise is a healthy habit, but only a small component of weight loss.
The study was published online recently in the journal Cell Reports. Funding was provided by the American Heart Association, the U.S. Public Health Service and the American Diabetes Association.
Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.
Photo of the Week: I’ll be there for you
Before the Stay Home, Stay Safe order, WKTV hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation Party on March 7 at the WKTV station located in Wyoming. Pictured are former WKTV employee and now volunteer Caleb Butler and WKTV Production Coordinator Davin Harsila.
While the station is closed to the public right now due to the Stay Home, Stay Safe order, the staff is there and can not wait to hear about all the upcoming projects our volunteers have been planning while at home. Until then, remember to practice social distancing and wash those hands.
Do you have a photo to be considered for Photo of the Week? Send your photos to WKTV Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma, joanne@wktv.org.
Hospitals put out the call, the community responds
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
If there is something that staff from West Michigan hospitals have learned during the past couple of weeks, if you ask, the community will rally to help.
As the announcement of the Stay Home, Stay Safe order came out and area hospitals began to see the number of COVID-19 cases rise, hospital officials put out a request for items.
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health Public Relations Manager Jamie Allen said Metro Health has received a number of donations from the community. Among those contributing are:
• Amway donated 3,400 bottles of hand sanitizer
• Steelcase donated 1,800 face shields
• Byrne Electric donated 500 face shields
• The Center for Physical Rehabilitation donated an assortment of gloves, wipes, and sanitizer
• Planet Fitness donated hand sanitizer and disinfectant products
• Posh Nail Spa and Girl Cave Nail Salon donated gloves
• Hoekwater Family Dentistry donated masks and gloves
• Home Depot donated make, filters, and gloves
“We are now asking for homemade cloth masks from the community,” Allen said, adding that they have received about 600 handmade masks from individual donors. “These are something we want to provide to our non-clinical staff members.”
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health is accepting donations from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Items are to be brought to Metro Health’s System Services and Learning Center, 1980 Metro Court, Wyoming. People should enter using the door on the south side of the building, facing M-6.
Area schools contribute
With public school and college buildings shut down due to the governor’s order, staff at KentISD and several area universities and colleges discovered they had extra personal protection equipment that would not be used for the current school year.
School News Network reported that the Kent Career Tech Center’s Exploring Health Careers program has donated personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, isolation gowns, and cleaning items like hospital-grade wipes and hand sanitizes to Spectrum Health and the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.
According to School News Network, other schools that have donated include Rockford, which donated 5,000 medical gloves and more than 1,000 masks and Grandville High School science department donated 219 pairs of protective eyewear to Metro Health. As well as Grand Rapids Community College, which donated more than 70,000 pieces of medical and personal protection equipment and have had faculty members volunteering time and expertise to Spectrum Health and GRCC’s Nursing Programs loaning thermometers and donated more than 1,500 thermometer probe covers to the Grand Rapid sPolice Department.
Various departments at Grand Valley State University have donated medical supplies to regional health care systems and facilities. Efforts include donating disposable gloves from science laboratories as well as custom-made masks designed and created by engineering students and faculty, and face shields and respirators donated by occupational safety and health laboratories.
“It seemed like the right thing to do,” said Michele DeWitt, lead lab supervisor with the GVSU Chemistry Department, who led efforts for donating 90,000 disposable gloves to Spectrum Health. “We don’t want the doctors, nurses and other health professionals to get sick. We want them to be able to help us.”
The Padnos College of Engineering and Computing and the applied Medical Device Institute worked to design and create approximately 1,000 face masks, all made by hand from fabric and metal. Because elastic is in short supply, the design incorporates a metal clamp to hold the mask in place comfortably. Those masks will be donated to American Family Care, an urgent care in Grand Rapids that was already in short supply of equipment.
Businesses getting creative
Business leaders have also rolled up their sleeves to help where they can.
Hearing that there was a major shortage of nasal swaps for the COVID-19 test kits at a Grand Rapids hospital, The Right Place staff identities Keystone Solutions Group, a member of its medical device consortium, MiDevice, that had the capabilities to fulfill the request. The company’s team worked to develop the swabs and being production for West Michigan health care systems.
Many have heard of Holland’s Coppercraft Distillery’s efforts to produce hand sanitizer with the company delivering a 1,000 gallons to Holland Hospital before the end of March and another 1,000 gallons to the Detroit Fire Department last week.
While Coppercraft is focused on area hospitals and other emergency agencies, Three Oaks’ Journeyman Distillery has answered the call of providing hand sanitizer to the community.
“In the early 1940s, the Warren Featherbone Company supported the war effort by manufacturing raincoats for the U.S. Armed Forces,” said Journeyman founder and self-proclaimed history buff Bill Welter. “Now, almost 80 years later, we’ve converted our production facility in the historic Featherbone factory to make hand sanitizer for front-line healthcare and essential service providers—as well as our community.”
In March, Journeyman had a fundraising bottle sale for its Hourly Employee Fund and from there requests for hand sanitizer started rolling in with the company website taking online orders.
Due to national restrictions, travel has been down especially on the airlines. Southwest Airlines found it had an abundance of snacks it normally serve for on-board flight service and wanted to make sure food items were put to good use. This week, Southwest Airlines Grand Rapids station dropped of 30 boxes of snacks to teams at Spectrum Health as a way of saying thanks to all the healthcare employees putting in long hours to battle COVID-19.
Donations are being accepted at many facilities. For a list of items, click here.
‘Hallelujah’ It’s the weekend!
By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk
Grand Rapids Symphony
Though the concert halls are empty, the musicians of the Grand Rapids Symphonyand Symphony Chorus have not been silent.
More than 70 musicians of the orchestra and chorus have banned together to create a virtual performance of the “Hallelujah” Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.
The production led by Music Director Marcelo Lehninger debuted Thursday evening. You can see “Hallelujah for Hope: From Our Homes to Yours” here on the Grand Rapids Symphony’s website as well as on its Facebook page and YouTube page.
More than 70 musicians of the Grand Rapids Symphony and Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus each recorded his or her performance in their own homes, and all of the individual tracks were brought together in the nearly 5-minute performance unveiled on April 9.
“During these extraordinary circumstances, we need music more than ever. Music sustains us and nourishes us. It gives us comfort when we’re troubled and offers hope for renewal,” Lehninger said. “Beethoven said it best: ‘Music can change the world,’ and we agree.”
The very first performance of Handel’s Messiah was given in April 1742 as a benefit concert to raise money for two hospitals in Dublin. The “Hallelujah” Chorus may be 278 years old, but its message of comfort still rings true, and its promise of hope is just as relevant for us today.
Grand Rapids Symphony selected the most famous chorus from the best-known oratorio in the English language because it’s so well-known and because it uses both orchestra and chorus.
“Because of its message of hope, as well as the importance of expressing joy for the gift of music, we believe this would be a powerful piece of music to share as a gift to our community,” said Mary Tuuk, President & CEO of the Grand Rapids Symphony, who also participated in the virtual performance.
In response to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Grand Rapids Symphony began cancelling concerts and events on Thursday, March 12. The GRS offices closed as of Monday, March 16 with staff continuing to work from home.
Two weeks later, the Grand Rapids Symphony launched From Our Homes to Yours featuring daily solo performances by musicians throughout the Grand Rapids Symphony family. The series debuted March 27 with a video featuring Principal Cellist Alicia Eppinga and Music Director Marcelo Lehninger on piano.
Through the end of April, you can enjoy a new performance every morning at 9 a.m., seven days a week, on the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Facebook page or YouTube page. You also can view the entire lineup of videos already posted on the Grand Rapids Symphony’s From Our Home to Yours page on YouTube.
“In challenging times, we need music more than ever,” Lehninger said. “So our talented musicians will continue to perform from their homes to yours.”
To maintain operations, the Grand Rapids Symphony has launched a fundraising campaign titled Music More Than Ever: From Our Home to Yours. All donations to the campaign (up to $5,000) will be matched dollar for dollar by generous friends and supporters who have pledged $50,000 in matching funds.
“Although the Grand Rapids Symphony isn’t performing, our musicians and staff still are being paid,” Lehninger said. “You can help us by supporting our Music More Than Ever campaign.”
6 tips for stylish (and healthy) heels
Like many women, Marisha Stawiski, DPM, would love to be able to wear a 3-inch heel on a regular basis with no pain.
“But unfortunately, the vast majority of us just cannot withstand this foot position for any prolonged course of time on a regular basis without having detrimental effects on foot health and eliciting pain,” said the Spectrum Health Medical Group Foot & Ankle podiatrist. “As a rule of thumb, the more you can avoid a shoe with a heel over 1.5 inches, the better.
“Yet many of us (myself included) will stray from this rule of thumb for aesthetics and beauty at times,” Dr. Stawiski said. “Some of us more than others.”
Her best advice?
1. Go high quality.
Buy a heel that is as high quality as possible for your budget. Certainly, something with more cushion, width and arch support will feel better than a poorly constructed shoe.
2. Go lower.
The lower the heel, the less you are going to see complications and pain associated with wear. Think a cute kitten or wedge heel.
3. Try it out.
Purchase the shoe only if you can return it. If you wear it around your home only an hour or two (don’t wear outside, stay on carpet), you will know if there is any way the heel will be something you can feasibly wear for an extended period of time and still be modestly comfortable.
4. Keep it real.
If you have certain foot pathology, sadly, you may need to give up the idea of wearing heels at all. Some examples of pathology that may preclude you from being able to wear high heels includes severe bunions or hammertoes, arthritis, hallux rigidus, or Haglund’s deformity.
5. Give your feet a timeout.
Whenever possible, avoid wearing high heels for any extended walking or standing. Bring an alternative pair of shoes with you to the office, and slip off your heels under the desk during the day to put on a more sensible shoe. Slip on your heels when getting up for meetings, but try to avoid staying in them all day long. Take them off for your commute as well.
6. Think special occasions.
Avoid wearing heels on a regular basis or every day. Have alternative wardrobes that go well with a lower heel, wedge or a flat with more support. Your feet really do need a break from wearing a high heel, and high heels should be more of an occasional thing than an everyday occurrence.
Higher risks
Remember, if you choose to wear high heels, you are at a higher risk of developing a variety of conditions, including metatarsal pain, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon issues, Haglund’s deformity and knee pain.
“There is plenty of data to show that high heels have negative long-term effects on several structures from the toes all the way up the lower extremity,” Dr. Stawiski said.
While some shoemakers market technology such as memory foam and built-in arch support that’s meant to diminish the problems associated with high-heel use, it doesn’t change the position of the foot when it’s stuffed into a heel.
“All high heels are thrusting the foot into a very unnatural position,” Dr. Stawiski said. “You cannot completely counteract the negative affects of walking or standing in heels with new technology.”
Even if considerable padding and arch support are added to a 3-inch-plus heel, the issues with the high heel still exist, she noted.
“Padding and arch support don’t change this abnormal biomechanical position, which creates many of the injuries associated with wearing high heels,” she said. “These added technologies can make the shoe more tolerable for a longer amount of time for certain individuals, but they do not eliminate the root issues inherent to a high heel.”
Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.
Snapshots: Things to do during the Stay Home, Stay Safe Order
Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.
Winne-the-Pooh
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Visit Drummond Island or check out Harbor Country
Two new Michigan destination spots added live video or virtual tours this week. The West Michigan Tourist Association added a livestream video of Drummond Island to its website, wmta.org. The stream is one of 12 livestreams featuring West Michigan locations such as the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Binder Park Zoo, and the USS Silverside Museum. To learn more, click here.
Also, Harbor Country, which features eight towns, Michiana, Grand Beach, New Buffalo, Three Oaks, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, and Sawyer, along the southeast edge of Lake Michigan, announced it has released its annual tour guide of the area digitally. To check it, click here.
Run for the Tulips
Sign up for the Tulip Time 5K virtual run and then start training. Just do the run sometime between May 1 and 10 and you will receive a t-shirt and a finisher medal plus a dollar from each registration will go toward the Kids Food Basket. You must register by April 20 to participate in the run. For more information, click here, and remember to follow social distancing guidelines!
Check out the May ballot
Michigan’s Secretary of State’s office has announced that the coming May 5 ballot will “primarily” use a mail-in voting system by expanding the state’s existing absentee ballot process with all registered voters in areas set to vote being sent absentee ballot registrations. There are two school districts that will have items on the ballot, Kelloggsville and Godwin Heights. For more on how the May 5 election will work, click here.
Fun Fact: Lighthouses
Michigan has more than 100 lighthouses, 116 that can be toured. Ever wonder which one is the oldest? Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was established in 1825 and is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Michigan. It help keeps watch over Lake Huron at the St. Clair River.
Bonus Fun Fact
The oldest lighthouse in the world happens to be the first lighthouse, the Pharos of Alexandria, commonly called the Lighthouse of Alexandria. It was built by the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Ancient Greece sometime between 280 – 247 BCE
How will COVID-19 impact the nonprofit sector? Johnson Center research offers insights
By Nate Hoekstra
Grand Valley State University
As the novel coronavirus continues to spread throughout the United States and the rest of the world, financial implications on employees and businesses are profound.
Impacts are being felt across the economy, and the nonprofit sector is not immune. Researchers at Grand Valley’s Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy have analyzed IRS 990 form data and have identified trends in the nonprofit sector that nonprofits can expect to contend with as the pandemic evolves.
The research was led by Jeff Williams, director of the Johnson Center’s Community Data and Research Lab, and is based on an analysis of the financial vulnerabilities of nonprofit organizations.
Williams said models can help nonprofit leaders make educated decisions about their organizations, especially as it pertains to project management, disaster response and using solid data.
The Community Data and Research Lab identified three trends that leaders can use to inform decision making.
1. Before things get significantly better or worse, leaders can expect to see things ‘get weird.’
Williams said in times of crisis when we are looking for certainty the most — even if it’s bad news — is when events are most likely to be unexpected in terms of magnitude, order and topic.
“Adopting a mental posture of flexibility is key,” Williams said. “Being open about the impending storm in communications with service beneficiaries, clients and staff is essential for maintaining staff morale, too.”
2. Nonprofits are facing three distinct financial threats at the moment, each of which will impact different nonprofits in different ways.
As entire segments of the economy falter and the stock market tumbles, different types of nonprofits will see decreases in revenue in three very different ways: decreasing revenue from annual campaigns and gifts, dropping demand for services and/or changes to contracts, and decreasing value in investments and stock market fluctuations. Most nonprofits, for example, receive very little investment income, so stock market fluctuations will not be their primary concern.
Williams said a clear understanding of the different types of revenue declines is important because nonprofits are businesses that pay salaries and rent, and purchase supplies and equipment just like any other. However in the big picture, nonprofits serve a broader public mission. Williams said nonprofits should remember to secure their operations first, much like the instructions given to passengers on airliners about oxygen masks: Always secure your own mask before assisting others.
“While businesses are closing and people are at risk of losing employment, there is likely to be an increase of demand for safety net agency services, many of which will be met by nonprofit organizations and their staff,” Williams said. “But if a nonprofit cannot meet its business obligations, it will not be in a long-term position to assist its community in a time of need.”
The full report from the Community Data and Research Lab explores in depth the different financial problems nonprofits of different sizes and categories may face due to COVID-19. The report is available at JohnsonCenter.org.
3. The process of restoring normalcy isn’t a linear process. Multiple stages of recovery often exist, involving different sectors of the nonprofit world at different times.
Williams said while some disasters are a singular event, like a tornado or tsunami, others happen more slowly and recovery often takes many stages. When society works to recover from the pandemic, the nonprofit sector will see those stages take shape.
Right now, nonprofits are focused on immediate needs, like health care and direct emergency assistance, especially food. However, over time, as the situation stabilizes, the nonprofit sector will need to shift to education, housing and human services.
Once the virus is well contained, job training, workforce development and other economic and productivity concerns will come back to the forefront.
Finally, when people feel confident making longer-term plans to return to normal life, nonprofit operations will also return to a more normal activity level.
Upcoming research
Over the next several weeks, the Johnson Center will use additional IRS data to explore other financial aspects of the nonprofit sector, including cash on hand, changes in revenue sources, and what past economic shocks tell us about nonprofit organization creation and failure rates.
For more information, visit JohnsonCenter.org.
Photo of the Week: Peaceful reflection
This sunset picture was taken by Dorr resident Becky DeYoung just before the snow melted on Lake Michigan. The picture was taken at Holland State Park, which is a public recreation area covering 142 acres in Park Township, Ottawa County, four miles west of the city of Holland.
Do you have a photo you would like considered for Photo of the Week? Send it Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma at joanne@wktv.org.
Fragrance, asthma, and indoor quality
Do you have asthma, and have you experienced sneezing, wheezing, or itchy watery eyes when exposed to perfume or room deodorizers? Fragrance sensitivity may be impacting your asthma. When there are a lot of fragrances in an environment, even people without asthma may experience these types of symptoms.
As we spend more time at home, it is very important to protect our lungs by doing our best to reduce exposure to allergens and irritants. One way to improve your home’s air quality is to use fragrance-free products. From lotions, hand soaps, laundry detergent, and skincare products, there are healthier options. This article provides the information needed to promote cleaner air in the home. There are also products to avoid altogether, such as air aerosol fresheners—especially for individuals with asthma or other respiratory medical conditions.
Why Fragrances Might Be Problematic
Many of us connect our favorite scents with fond memories. The smell of Cherry blossoms in spring, the smell of your sweetheart’s favorite cologne, or even the smell of Pine-Sol may remind us of people and places that are dear to us. However, fragrance can be problematic for people with asthma, as many are either allergic or sensitive to fragrance. Fragrance sensitivity is the development of allergy-like symptoms with exposure to a certain fragrance(s). It is not a true allergic reaction but an irritation.
Symptoms
Different people will react in different ways, but fragrances can certainly lead to asthma-like symptoms such as:
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
Fragrances can also lead to symptoms such as:
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Abnormal gait
- Rapid heart rate
- Palpitations
- Chest pain
What You Can Do
Avoidance is generally the best treatment. Avoiding fragrances in the following products may help prevent symptoms:
- Fabric softeners
- Home deodorizers
- Laundry detergent
- Lotion and other skincare products
- Scented candles
- Perfume or cologne
- Soaps
When buying any cleaners, laundry detergent, lotions, and soaps, look for “Fragrance-Free” on the label.
Air fresheners and scented candles may smell pleasant to some, but they reduce the air quality in your home. Avoidance of fragrances, in general, supports lung health. By removing fragrances from your home environment, you can improve your air quality and stay safe at home.
Article Source: About.com: Fragrance Sensitivity: Making Sense of Scents by Pat Bass, MD
10 things to know about IBD
By Marie Havenga, Spectrum Health Beat
If you are suffering from urgent bowel movements, frequent diarrhea and abdominal pain, you may be a victim of inflammatory bowel disease.
But all is not doom and gloom.
With the right treatment plan, most patients can limit their symptoms and complications, allowing them to live full and active lives, said Andrew Shreiner, MD, PhD, a Spectrum Health Medical Group gastroenterologist.
Dr. Shreiner, who presented an IBD program recently at a digestive disease conference, sat down with Spectrum Health Beat to discuss what patients need to know about the disease.
1. What are the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease?
Symptoms of IBD are often related to inflammation in the digestive tract, including frequent diarrhea, blood in the stool, urgency with bowel movements and abdominal pain. Generalized symptoms such as fatigue and weight loss are common. Symptoms related to complications of IBD, including infection or intestinal blockage, are less frequent and include abdominal pain, fever, bloating, nausea and vomiting. Occasionally, symptoms may develop from IBD affecting other body areas, such as skin, joints or eyes.
2. What are the types of IBD?
The main types are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis affects the colon and often causes bloody diarrhea with urgency. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, so symptoms are variable but often include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue and weight loss.
3. What causes IBD?
We don’t know what causes IBD, exactly. It is clear that inherited genetic factors are one component, but environmental factors play a large part in the development of IBD, too. Many of the possible environmental factors are thought to be the result of modernized living, such as antibiotic use, exposure or lack thereof to microbes and changes in diet.
4. How do you diagnose it?
In individuals with symptoms that are worrisome for IBD, and not explained by another cause (such as intestinal infection), ulcerative colitis is generally diagnosed with colonoscopy and tissue biopsy, and Crohn’s disease is often diagnosed with a combination of colonoscopy and an imaging test, such as a CT scan.
5. How can IBD affect my daily life?
When IBD is active, it can have a significant impact on daily life. Frequent diarrhea, abdominal pain and fatigue can really limit an individual’s ability to maintain a normal routine. Sometimes, individuals are admitted to the hospital with severe symptoms. When IBD is well-treated and inactive, individuals can function without any significant impairments related to IBD.
6. Is there any preventive care?
Individuals with IBD—particularly those on medications to suppress the immune system—are at increased risk for a number of health problems. Preventive care is important to decrease the risk for developing these health problems. This includes vaccinations to prevent infections, sun protection to prevent skin cancer, routine check-ups to prevent osteoporosis, and a number of other preventive measures.
7. Are there any medications that can help?
Yes, there is a growing list of medications that help treat IBD. The goal of treatment is to induce and then maintain remission from inflammation, so medications work to suppress the inappropriate immune activity that promotes IBD. Various medications differ in the level of potency, so there are various options to treat IBD ranging from mild to severe.
8. How much does diet/lifestyle affect IBD?
We generally recommend a healthy diet and active lifestyle, in addition to not smoking tobacco, to promote overall health. These measures can lessen the symptom burden in IBD and they are an important component of managing the disease. It is important to note that diet and lifestyle habits are not adequate therapies by themselves to treat IBD in the vast majority of individuals.
9. Can surgery help?
There is a role for surgery in the treatment of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. In general, surgery is used as the last option for active disease or disease-related complications that cannot be adequately treated with medical therapy or less invasive procedures.
10. Can it ever be cured?
At present, IBD cannot be cured. However, it can be managed in most cases to limit symptoms and complications and to allow individuals to lead full and active lives.
Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.
