Category Archives: Citizen Journalism

Wyoming closes offices, only essential staff reports

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

With the governor’s stay-at-home order, the City of Wyoming buildings and offices have closed as of March 23. Only essential staff are reporting to their work sites, according to the city’s website, wyomingmi.gov.

Essential services include police, fire, emergency medical, water, sewer, and public works. The city has implemented aggressive cleaning regimes and eliminated overlapping schedules as protective measures for first responders. 

Emergencies Services

Call 911

Police Non-Emergency Services 

Call 616-530-7300

Police Non-Emergency Services

Call 616-530-7314.

Email dpsrecords@wyomingmi.gov

These include: FOIA Requests, Accident Reports, Firearm Permit Applications, and SOR Registration

Much of the city’s remaining staff will continue to work from home if they are able. The city provides a number of online resources and services. Staff will continue to monitor responses to contact forms, emails, and phone calls.

Those unable to find the information they are looking for may use the city’s contact form or call 616-530-7226.

Limited Public Meetings

The City of Wyoming will be limiting public meetings to only take what actions are necessary. Most of the city’s scheduled public meetings have been canceled. Check the city’s website for a specific meeting.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order allowing public meetings to take place digitally.  We encourage everyone to submit written public comments instead of attending meetings to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Bot the City Council and Planning Commission meetings are streamed live on Facebook and WKTV local channels. Members of the public are encouraged to view City Council meetings from home. For the City Council meetings, residents may submit public comments in writing through the City Clerk’s Office webform. For the Planning Commission meetings, residents may submit public comment in writing to planning_info@wyomingmi.gov.

For both meetings, members of the public who are in attendance should follow social distancing and sit away from others. The City Council and the Planning Commission will limit public comments to one and a half (1.5) minutes per person.



62-A District Court and Kent County

Last week, the 62-A District Court announced there would be no in-person, public access to the facility. Residents are encouraged to pay tickets and check records online. Filings may be mailed to the 62-A District Court, 2650 DeHoop Ave. SW, Wyoming MI 49509. 

Many of the Kent County buildings have closed to the public including the County Clerk’s Office and the Treasurer’s Office. 

For up-to-date information about the City of Wyoming visit wyomingmi.gov. The city also has a page on its website dedicated to coronavirus information www.wyoming.gov/covid.

The power of a hearty nap

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In a years-long study, those who napped once or twice a week cut their risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure nearly in half. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay


Could grabbing a nap once or twice a week help you live longer?


A new study reports the occasional nap appears to cut in half people’s risk of heart attack, strokes and heart disease, compared with folks who never nap.


But more frequent napping provided no benefit, researchers found.


“In fact, we found that frequent nappers had initially a higher risk for incident cardiovascular disease,” said lead author Nadine Hausler, a postdoctoral researcher at University Hospital of Lausanne in Switzerland. “However, when we took sociodemographic, lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors into account, this increased risk disappeared.”


The findings left experts scratching their heads.


“I don’t think it’s anything definitive, in terms of whether napping is actually helpful or not helpful,” said Marie-Pierre St-Onge, director of the sleep program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City.


She noted that the health benefits of napping are a source of intense debate among researchers, with many arguing that naps are a sign of lousy nighttime sleep and, therefore, not a good thing.


“This throws a little bit of a curveball, because they found one to two naps per week might be beneficial,” St-Onge said.


For this study, researchers looked at napping patterns of nearly 3,500 randomly selected people in Switzerland and then tracked their heart health for more than five years.


About three in five said they don’t nap.


One in five said they nap once or twice a week—the same number who reported napping three or more days a week.


Frequent nappers tended to be older men with excess weight and a tobacco habit. Though they reported sleeping longer at night than those who don’t nap, they also reported more daytime sleepiness and were more likely to have sleep apnea, a condition that wakes a person repeatedly in the night when their breathing stops.


During the five-year follow-up, participants had 155 fatal and non-fatal heart events, the findings showed. These could include heart attacks, strokes and heart disease caused by clogged arteries that required surgical reopening.


Napping once or twice a week cut a person’s risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure by 48%, compared with people who don’t nap at all, the researchers found.


Frequent naps initially appeared to increase a person’s heart risk by 67%, but that disappeared after accounting for other risk factors, the study authors noted.


Dr. Martha Gulati, a cardiologist who is editor-in-chief of CardioSmart.org, the American College of Cardiology’s patient website, said it makes sense that frequent napping could be a red flag for health problems.


“I worry that somebody that naps every day isn’t getting good sleep,” she said. “Somebody who takes six or seven naps a week, I ask, are you not sleeping well at night? Is that how you’re catching up with your sleep?”


Gulati added, “But I am still going to enjoy my Sunday naps and now say I am working on lowering my risk for heart disease when my husband asks.”


Researcher Hausler couldn’t say exactly why a couple of naps each week might do a body good.


“The mechanisms are not straightforward,” she said. “We assume that occasional napping might be a result of a physiological compensation allowing to decrease the stress due to insufficient nocturnal sleep and, thus, could have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease events.”


Though she said the results should first be confirmed by other studies, Hausler added: “We can say that an occasional nap can potentially decrease cardiovascular disease risk for healthy adults.”


The study was published online recently in the journal Heart.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



Acupuncture—therapy for dry mouth?

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, , ,
This holistic treatment could help with a common condition often experienced by those undergoing radiation therapy for cancer. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay


Dry mouth can be a troubling side effect of radiation therapy, but acupuncture may ease its symptoms, a new study suggests.


Of 339 patients getting radiation for head and neck cancer in the United States and China, those who had acupuncture had fewer symptoms of dry mouth, or xerostomia, than those who didn’t have acupuncture.


Patients who had fake acupuncture, a placebo, had about the same relief as the no-acupuncture group, the researchers found.


The placebo treatment involved a real needle at a spot not indicated for xerostomia, real needles at sham spots and placebo needles at sham points, the study authors explained.


A year after treatment, 35% of acupuncture patients had dry mouth, compared to 48% of those given fake acupuncture and 55% of those who didn’t get acupuncture, the findings showed.


For the study, participants were randomly assigned to real, fake or no acupuncture. Treatments were given three times a week on the same day as radiation.


“Dry mouth is a serious concern for head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. The condition can affect up to 80% of patients by the end of radiation treatment,” said lead investigator Lorenzo Cohen, director of integrative medicine at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.


“The symptoms severely impact quality of life and oral health, and current treatments have limited benefits,” he added in a university news release.


Further analysis showed a significant difference between patients in China and the United States in response to fake acupuncture. Chinese patients had little to no placebo response, while Americans had a large placebo response, showing both forms of acupuncture worked, the researchers said.


More studies are needed to figure out these differences. It might be that the environment in which acupuncture is given, cultural influences or the relationship between patient and doctor are at play.


Also, more study is needed to confirm these findings and understand how acupuncture relieves dry mouth.


In the meantime, Cohen said it can be used to relieve xerostomia symptoms.


“I think with this study we can add acupuncture to the list for the prevention and treatment of xerostomia, and the guidelines for the use of acupuncture in the oncology setting should be revised to include this important chronic condition,” Cohen said.


The report was recently published online in JAMA Network Open.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.




5 Misconceptions about assisted living

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Senior Living
Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living


When it’s time to start looking at alternative living options for your aging loved one, you’ll know it’s time using these indicators, chances are, they might be a little hesitant. Moving out of their home is a big change, and there are a lot of things they may think they will be giving up. They’ll have a lot of reasons why staying right where they are is the best option. But, many of the reasons people give for avoiding assisted living facilities are actually misconceptions.


Here are a few common misconceptions about life in an assisted living facility.

Loss of independence

Many feel that when they enter into an assisted living facility, they will be giving up a lot, most importantly their independence. But, many facilities are designed to offer their residents the same amount, and sometimes more, independence, than they had a home. Small details make the difference here, like their own mailboxes, the option to have their car or utilize public transportation, and the ability to bring their own furniture and even cook for themselves if they want to.

More expensive than home

Another common argument refers to the cost of an assisted living facility. And while the cost will vary depending the type and amount of care needed, in many cases choosing assisted living over staying home can save money. If an aging loved one lives alone but can’t complete many household tasks such as cleaning or yard work, they may be paying someone else to do it for them.


And, if they are slowly finding themselves uneasy and are afraid of falling, they may need railings or special tubs installed throughout their home. Adding these features, combined with medical bills or in home care if a fall or injury occurs around the house, costs can begin to add up. An assisted living facility has the features your loved one needs already built in and extra care in included in the price of the facility.

Life is over

Many see assisted living as a “final stop” and imagine all the things they will be losing, including the things that make their lives fulfilling including friends, visits, and activities. But at facilities like Vista Springs, they strive to provide a community that is “Full of Life.” Their daily activities focus on rediscovery, reconnection, and renewal and aim to target areas such as social wellness, vibrant living, and optimism.


In many ways, given the level of care and features meant to enhance life, residents find they can do more within the facility than they ever could while living at home. In a close, active community, everything they need to live a fulfilling, active life is right at their fingertips.

You lose the “homey” feel

Many see assisted living facilities as sterile environments full of sick people, medicines, bland food and cheesy hospital decor. But many facilities, like Vista Springs, are far from that description. In certain locations, the halls and rooms are designed to mimic the feel of a neighborhood street, with street signs and rooms with framed, picture windows lining the hallways. Fireplaces and pianos offer a soft, calming ambiance and sunrooms and cozy nooks provide places to find peace. Resident’s rooms can be customized with their own flair and nurses stations are situated off the beaten path, out of the way of foot traffic.

You should wait to move until “something happens”

“But I’m fine,” your loved one insists, and that may be true. Many think it’s best to wait and move until something happens but, when one fall can lead to more and costly medical bills can start to add up, why wait? Why not move into a safer environment in order to prevent something from happening.


These are just a small spattering of the misconceptions people carry about moving to an assisted living facility. The bottom line is assisted living facilities have come a long way, and there’s no reason that leaving home has to mean giving up a home. 


Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.



Colon test options abound—but colonoscopy is best

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Senior Living, , ,
Traditional imaging tests will typically find very small polyps, which can be removed and tested for cancer. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Len Canter, HealthDay


No one looks forward to a colonoscopy, but it can save your life.


So you might be wondering whether a home test is a good alternative. These tests involve mailing a stool sample to a lab. Older types of tests check for blood, which could signal a cancerous growth.


Precancerous polyps are harder to find with these tests, because they tend not to bleed.


Newer types of stool tests look for changes in DNA that could be signs of cancer. They’re also better at finding advanced polyps.


You’ll need to have a colonoscopy if a home test shows any positive results.


Because they can’t detect a problem as early as imaging does, home stool tests are typically appropriate for people who have only an average risk of colorectal cancer and no history of polyps or colon disease.


Imaging tests, on the other hand, can find very small polyps, which can then be removed and tested for cancer.


And they don’t need to be repeated as often as home stool tests, which must be done every one to three years. Imaging tests are repeated every five to 10 years, depending on the type of imaging done and whether any polyps are found.


There are differences among imaging tests, but all involve bowel prep.


With a traditional colonoscopy, a flexible tube with an attached camera internally examines the entire colon.


Flexible sigmoidoscopy is similar, but reaches only part of the colon.


Another option is a “virtual” colonoscopy, which is noninvasive. It allows the doctor to see your colon from outside your body, but if any polyps are seen, you’ll need a traditional colonoscopy to remove them.


Despite these different choices, a very real problem exists, experts warn: Many people are still not having any type of colorectal cancer screening.


If you’ve been putting it off, take the first step and talk to your doctor about your options.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



Kent County treasurer’s office closed for walk-in services

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , , , , ,
Kent County Treasurer Kenneth Parrish announces the closure of the Treasurer’s Office.

WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

On Wednesday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-14 extending the redemption deadline on 2017 tax foreclosures from March 31, 2020 to May 29, 2020.

Due to this order and to minimize face-to-face interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kent County Treasurer’s Office is closed to the public until further notice. Taxpayers are encouraged to mail check and money order payments to Kent County Treasurer, P.O. Box Y, Grand Rapids, MI 49501.

The order does not defer nor cancel interest charges. Interest will accrue beyond the original March 31, 2020 deadline until paid. Money orders are available at banks and many retailers. Residents should not mail cash. Staff continues to process mail and is available to take calls at 616-632-7500.

The Treasurer’s office closure follows suit with several other Kent County offices.

Kent County Clerk/Register Office

The Kent County Clerk/Register Office suspended in-person transactions until further notice.

This change, effective until further notice will apply to the Clerk Office (Vital Records), Elections Department, Register of Deeds, and Clerk of the Circuit Court. A listing of how customers can still request or obtain common services, as well as contact information for clarification, is below.

Clerk / Register of Deeds

clerk-register@kentcountymi.gov

Until further notice, the Kent County Clerk/Register’s Office will be serving customers via online or bymail services only. Below are specifics relating to service changes:

Clerk – Vital Records:
616-632-7640
https://www.accesskent.com/CountyClerk

  • Certified copies of birth, death, marriage, business certificates/licenses/ registrations can be requested online; copies will be mailed via USPS, no in-person pick-up available.
  • New birth and death certificates received via hospital or funeral home will be processed; copies will be mailed via USPS, no in-person pick-up available. No new home births processed until further notice.
  • New marriage licenses applications accepted online only, applicants will be contacted
  • No new CPL applications accepted until further notice; renewals processed online via MSPwebsite
  • No new notary applications accepted until further notice
  • No in-person access to records until further notice; call or email for assistanceClerk – Elections:616-632-7650 https://www.accesskent.com/Elections
  • All candidate filings (Affidavit of Identity, Statement of Organization, campaign finance reports) are to be submitted via email: gerrid.uzarski@kentcountymi.gov. Payments for candidate filings should be mailed. Receipt of filings will be confirmed.
  • Individuals needing to turn in petitions should contact the Elections office to make an appointment.
  • No in-person access to records until further notice; call or email for assistanceClerk of the Circuit Court: 616-632-5480 https://www.accesskent.com/Courts/Clerk
  • E-recordings will be processed uninterrupted
  • Filings received via USPS will be processed uninterrupted. For urgent filings, call or email theoffice.
  • Searches and recording copies are available online; will be mailed via USPS
  • No in-person access to records until further notice; call or email for assistance

Courts

Most of the area courts are closed to in-person, public access. For specific details on each court, please click the court below. Due note, that many of the courts do offer an online option to pay tickets and other fines.

17th Judicial Circuit Court

Kent County Probate Court

63rd District Court

62A District Court (Wyoming)

62B District Court (Kentwood)

The cost of aging: Slower fat burn

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Paired with a proper diet, regular exercise can help counteract an aging body’s tendency to retain fat. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay


It happens to most aging Americans: Excess pounds pile on, despite efforts to eat right and exercise.


Now, research in fat cells reveals why it’s so tough to stay slim as you get older. The new findings could point to new ways to treat obesity, Swedish investigators say.


A team led by Peter Arner of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm analyzed fat cells taken from 54 men and women over an average of 13 years.


People in the study who consumed the same or more calories as they got older had an average 20% weight gain.


Why? According to Arner’s group, fat cells showed age-linked declines in the rate at which fats—lipids—were removed and stored from the cells over time.


It’s a process called “lipid turnover.”


The researchers also assessed lipid turnover in 41 women who had weight-loss surgeries and how their lipid turnover rate affected their ability to maintain their weight loss four to seven years after surgery.


Only the women who had a low cellular lipid turnover rate before the surgery had increases in their rate after the surgery and were able to keep pounds from coming back in the years after the surgery.


The Swedish team suggested that these women may have had more “room” to increase their lipid turnover compared to women who already had a high turnover rate before weight-loss surgery. That gave them an advantage in terms of being able to stay relatively slim.


“The results indicate for the first time that processes in our fat tissue regulate changes in body weight during aging in a way that is independent of other factors,” Arner, a professor of medicine, said in an institute news release.


One U.S. expert in weight loss said the findings make sense, but many other factors are probably involved.


“A normal process of aging is slower metabolic rate. Our body uses less energy to function and as a result there is less ‘lipolysis,’ or breakdown of fat,” said registered dietitian Sharon Zarabi. She directs the bariatric program at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.


But, “ultimately, what influences weight loss is our metabolism, microbiome, hormones, nutrient intake, genetics, muscle composition, exercise and environmental toxins—yes, that’s a mouthful,” Zarabi said.


Arner said his team’s findings might “open up new ways to treat obesity.”


Prior research has shown that one way to speed up the lipid turnover in the fat tissue is to boost the amount of exercise you get, Arner noted.


The new study supported that theory and also suggests that increased physical activity might improve weight-loss surgery patients’ long-term chances of success.


And Zarabi stressed that “the good news is that although you can’t control your age, if you are more physically fit and have higher muscle mass, fat breakdown is still possible.”


The new findings were published in Nature Medicine.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



KDL Staff Picks: A look at the Spanish Flu of 1918

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Adult

Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World

by Laura Spinney

Describes the enormous-scale human disaster caused by the 1918 Spanish Flu and uses the latest findings in history, virology, epidemiology, psychology and economics to show how the pandemic permanently changed global politics, race relations, medicine, religion and the arts.



Pandemic 1918: Eyewitness Accounts from the Greatest Medical Holocaust in Modern History

By Catherine Arnold

Describes the outbreak of the Spanish Flu 100 years ago that killed more than 50 million people around the world, including 550,000 in the United States, right in the middle of World War I.






Immune: How Your Body Defends and Protects You

By Catherine Carver

Explains how the immune system works, likening it to a well-fortified castle, and notes how new drugs are being designed to harness its power to treat illness.



Children’s

Germs: Fact and Fiction, Friends and Foes

By Lisa Cline-Ransome

An introduction to the world of good and bad bacteria is told from the perspective of Sam the Salmonella and reveals fascinating facts about the role of germs in everyday life, how germs were discovered and the invention of important germ-fighting practices and medicines.

Fever Year: The Killer Flu of 1918: A Tragedy in Three Acts

By Don Brown

The award-winning creator of The Unwanted and Drowned City presents a graphic novel history of the devastating Spanish Influenza epidemic and its violent impact on World War I.

Urban living: Add trees for health, happiness

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Trees play a role in bolstering mental and physical health for city dwellers. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Amy Norton, HealthDay


City dwellers who live on tree-lined streets might be happier and healthier for it, a large new study suggests.


The study, of nearly 47,000 urban residents, found that those who lived in areas shaded by tree canopy reported less psychological distress and better general health over six years.


Green grass, on the other hand, didn’t cut it: People in neighborhoods with more grassy areas actually reported poorer health than those largely surrounded by concrete.


The researchers said the findings suggest there might be something particularly health-promoting about trees. Maybe people who have them nearby have more chances for walking and recreation, or enjoy a buffer against noise and traffic pollution, for example.


The bottom line: Trees seem to matter to our well-being, said Kathleen Wolf, a research social scientist at the University of Washington’s College of the Environment, in Seattle.


Wolf, who was not involved in the study, said it adds to a body of research finding a link between “green space” and better health.


A U.K. study published recently is a case in point. It found that people who spent two hours a week outdoors gave higher ratings to their physical and mental health than those who preferred the great indoors.


“If you have one study showing an association,” Wolf said, “it gives you a heads-up—’Hey, this is an interesting finding.’”


When multiple studies show the same pattern, it suggests something is really there, she added.


A strength of the new study is that it followed people over time, Wolf said, rather than measuring well-being only once.


On average, it found, city dwellers who lived near more tree canopy were less likely to develop new symptoms of psychological distress—like nervousness, hopelessness and unexplained fatigue.


The benefit was seen among people living in areas with tree coverage of at least 30% within a mile of home. Compared with residents with few nearby trees, they were about one-third less likely to report distress symptoms on a standard questionnaire.


They were also one-third less likely to downgrade ratings of their general health to “fair” or “poor.”


Of course, there could be many things about living in greener areas that make people happier and healthier. But the researchers tried to account for those differences—weighing factors like household income, education levels and marital status.


Even then, trees still mattered to mental and physical well-being.


Why would that be? Wolf pointed to various possibilities.


Tree-lined streets and parks may give people more opportunities for exercise—which, she noted, is important not only for physical well-being but mental health, too.


There’s also a theory that being out in nature offers a better sense of perspective, which makes our daily stresses seem less significant.


“Human beings tend to ruminate on the bad things that happen, rather than the good,” Wolf said.


Some of that mental playback may fade when you’re outdoors, with things to see, smell and experience, she noted.


Living near grassy surroundings, on the other hand, was linked to higher odds of distress and poor health.


The study cannot reveal why, said Sjerp de Vries, a researcher with Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. But, he said, unlike grass, trees can make an area more walkable.


Trees are also more obvious, de Vries said. Tall trees, especially, make their presence known whether people are outside or inside.


Plus, de Vries noted, there is an argument to be made that trees are beneficial because they release chemicals called phytoncides, which may boost human immune function.


He wrote an editorial accompanying the new study, which was published online recently in JAMA Network Open.


The study results were based on 46,786 adults aged 45 and older in three large Australian cities. All remained in the same neighborhood over six years and completed the same health questionnaires at the beginning and end of the study period.


It’s possible, de Vries said, that healthier people chose to live in tree-lined areas.


But other studies have suggested that “green space” has particular benefits for lower-income people, he noted. And they have less choice about where to live than their wealthier counterparts.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



School News Network: School closings, 2020 Census

Citizen Journalism

All Districts: Uncertainty abounds during ‘unprecedented situation’ after governor orders school closure

It is a new norm for a few weeks as the state — and the nation — deal with the coronavirus. Read just how the school officials of Kent Intermediate School District and the 20 public schools districts are making the best of the situation. Click here.

Carter Korzenowski and Kalypzo Jimenez Perez model radium and calcium in the bone lattice. (School News Network)

Godwin Heights: Science lesson reveals toxic effect of radium on female workers

Through science, sophomores at Godwin Heights High School recently discovered for themselves how the radium in paint used at a 1900s factory left a legacy of illness and death its wake. Want to learn who truth? Click here.

Urban League of West Michigan staff (from left) Jahaven Haye, Dione Ford and Javonte Tubbs were at Cesar Chavez Elementary to spread the word at a school choice event held by GRPS. (School News Network)

All Districts: What does the 2020 Census have to do with school lunch?

With some funding dependent on census data, school districts hale spread the word on why its important for residents to be counted in the census. To count all the reasons why, click here.

Kelloggsville: Voters to decide sinking fund request

On May 5, voters in the Kelloggsville Public Schools district will decided on a sinking fund request that would mean about 96 centers a week per a $100,000 home but would allow the district to fund a long list of already-identified projects without borrowing money. Get the details by clicking here.

KDL Staff Picks: Celebrating Women

Citizen Journalism,

Adult

The Grace Year

by Kim Liggett

“Look around,” Kiersten says as she stares me dead in the eyes. ‘We are the only Gods here.’” Being a reader (podcast listener and movie watcher) of all things murder and mystery I expected to like this book… I didn’t, however, expect to finish it in one sitting. The Grace Year tells the story of the girls from Garner County spending their 16th year, their Grace Year, in a distant wilderness camp to rid themselves of magic. It is thought that without doing so their “magic” will run rampant and men will not be able to control themselves around these girls. Nobody talks about what happens during the Grace Year but every year girls come back disheveled, missing body parts, or not at all. This is a fast-paced book that combines horror, survival, and a healthier dose of feminism than its counterparts; a truly dark read that will linger on your mind.

– Emily at Tyrone

Here’s to You, Jesusa!

by Elena Poniatowska

In the 1960s, Elena Poniatowska, one of Mexico’s most respected and celebrated writers, a woman of wealth and privilege, developed an unlikely friendship with an impoverished and illiterate campesina she called “Jesusa”. In telling Jesusa’s story, Poniatowska told the story of Mexico’s most impoverished and disenfranchised people, while at the same time drawing strength from Jesusa’s experiences and wisdom. Available as a Book Club in a Bag.

– Mark at Krause Memorial


Mrs. Everything

by Jennifer Weiner

Mrs. Everything is a story of two sisters who were raised in Detroit in the 1950s. The two sisters are so different from each other but I found myself relating to each of them in my own way. This story shares how each sister overcome hardships in their lives but manage to keep a strong relationship with each other through it all. This is a great and heartfelt story!

– Hollie at Wyoming

Teen

A Bride’s Story

by Kauru Mori 

At 11 volumes so far the manga is a wonderful historical slice of life story that takes place in 19th century central Asia. It is about Amir, a bride from a nomadic tribe sent to be married to a groom who is eight years younger than her. The story focuses on the daily life of the new couple and the people around them. The books are beautifully drawn and full of incredible details. The artwork is amazing.

– Megan at the KDL Service Center



When We Were Vikings

by Andrew MacDonald

This book takes place in the mind of Zelda, a high functioning young adult diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome. This novel is funny, and very relatable. Zelda is obsessed with Vikings, and this make the novel super quirky and fun. If you want a feel good read, this is for you

– Hollie at Wyoming

Kent County encourages residents to call 211 for food, utility, other assistance

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



By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

For a single mom whose main income is dependent on her waitressing job, the closure of all the restaurants and bars in Michigan can be devastating. But yesterday, the Kent County Health Department released a video where residents who need food or financial assistance can get help. 

The answer: call 211 according to Essential Needs Task Force Director Wende Randall as she talked to Kent County Health Department Director Dr. Adam London.

Started in 2016, the United Way’s 2-1-1 has connected thousands of services in 14 counties such as Kent County. Services include food, shelter, utility assistance, disaster recovery, childcare, transportation, and more.

“They should call if they are in need assistance,” Randall said, adding that another excellent resource is the Heart of West Michigan United Way’s website, hwmuw.org. 

Food

“We have several resources that have started to shift operations in terms of how they provide food access to the community,” Randall said.

As reported by School News Network, 20 school districts in the Kent Intermediate School District are making free meals available to students and families during the mandatory statewide school closures. Families are invited to pick up meals of any child ages 18 and under, and students with disabilities ages 18 – 26 with an activity IEP (individualized education program.) For a complete list of the schools and schedule of pick ups, click here.

Randall said that for older adults, Meals on Wheels has continued and many area senior centers are also providing packaged meals to seniors. Area pantries are not allowing the usually shops for food but if contacted will provide a box with food items, Randall said. 

Such is the case at United Church Outreach Ministry (UCOM) which according to its website has closed its facility to the public, but food services will continue. Those in need of food services should call and talk to staff for further details, 616-241-4006. Those coming to the UCOM facility are asked to remain in their car in the parking lot and call for service.

 

The Pantry, now called the Green Apple Pantry, has announced it will be open for food distribution on March 18 on its website. However, neighbors and volunteers will not be allowed to enter the pantry. Instead, boxes will be prepared and set outside for pick up.

Randall noted that the YMCA and Kids Food Basket also are providing meal kits. On the Kids’ Food Basket website, it states that “because a virus will not and cannot stop hunger, we are committed to continuing to pack and distribute nourishing food in a safe, healthy and responsible way.”

Kids’ Food Basket stated that when a partner school is open, such as Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, Kids’ Food Basket staff and volunteers will be there to distribute Sack Suppers to the students that rely on the program.

Utility payments and other needs

“What we anticipating is the need for utility assistance is going to be delayed by a couple of weeks,” Randall said. “People may have the paycheck they’ve been working toward coming up this week or next week but then they will see their hours reduction hit their paycheck. 

“So we are anticipating the biggest need for financial support in those areas to come within the next two weeks and beyond because of course we don’t know how long these work shortages are going to continue.”

Randall said that 2-1-1 can help with referrals for rent and utility assistance, adding that there could be some qualifications for those calling. 

“Winter and spring are the biggest months for utility needs,” Randall said, adding that this could put financial strains on the organizations who help the community. 

“The greatest need right now is going to be financial support for those agencies that are providing direct service to community members,” Randall said, adding that many of these organizations run on fairly thin margins with the coronavirus situation putting a financial strain on them.

The Heart of West Michigan United Way has set up a a Kent County Coronavirus Relief Fund. 

Some banks and credit unions also have reached out to members stating if they are having any financial issues, to contact the specific institution that you bank at.

Volunteering

Randall said some agencies may need volunteers to help. For tips on volunteering, visit the Heart of West Michigan United Way website, hwmuw.org or volunteergr.org. Volunteer opportunities will be mostly solo efforts of providing food to people at home. It is recommended if you are bringing food to someone, make sure to practice social distancing by either texting or ringing the door bell after placing the bag on the porch and then move away.

How to avoid ‘inflamm-aging’

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Add a social component to your exercise by joining a fitness class or finding a workout buddy. You’ll incorporate two major components that fight inflammation: socializing and exercising. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Len Canter, HealthDay


Tamping down inflammation is a must for people with a chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.


But you can be exposed to damaging inflammation without having a specific medical condition.


Inflammation prevents the body from adequately reacting to stressors and puts the aging process on an unwanted fast track, increasing the likelihood of problems like heart disease.


The negative effects of inflammation can be so significant that leading researchers from the University of Bologna in Italy coined the phrase inflamm-aging.


So making anti-inflammation lifestyle choices is good for everyone.

How to avoid inflamm-aging

  • Eat a heart-healthy diet focusing on foods like fatty fish, fruits and vegetables. Keep in mind that sugar is highly inflammatory.
  • Get active with moderate cardio exercise. Remember: Good health guidelines call for 30 minutes a day on at least five days per week.
  • Lose excess weight, especially if you’re carrying those pounds around your middle.
  • Avoid exposure to all forms of secondhand smoke and, of course, if you smoke, quit.
  • Limit alcohol to one drink per day if you’re a woman, two if you’re a man.
  • Clock seven to eight hours of sleep every night. Some people need more, others need less, but this is the sweet spot between not enough and too much.
  • Manage stress. Stress is often unavoidable, but you can minimize its effects with techniques like deep breathing and meditation.
  • Stay social with strong connections to friends and family.

Also, talk to your doctor about ways to boost heart health and any other steps appropriate to your needs to counter inflammation.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



School News Network: Showing school spirit

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Last fall, visual art teacher Jesse VanderBand’s students worked in teams of four to create artwork for the Legends change. (School News Network)

Godfrey-Lee: New mascot, log to be inspired by student designs

A key component in creating the new logo for Lee High School is student input according to Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Polston. Curious on what students view as the new mascot? Click here to find out.

From left, Taylor Ross, Noe Martinez, Ashley Soto, Vivian Nguyen, Norell Gill, Lisbeth De Los Santos and Keonica Hamilton operate the Wolf Den. (School News Network)

Wyoming: Shirts, slushes and spirit

Have you been to The Wolf Den at Wyoming High School? What you’ll find is a store offering the latest black and purple gear. To show your Wolf Pack Pride, click here.

Third grader Josie Day wears her team name on her head. (School News Network)

Kentwood: Third graders have the solution to organizing toys in messy bedroom

Students at Explorer Elementary tackle the task of keep a room clean by creating toy storage containers. Want to see what they created? Click here.

Schools are emphasizing thorough hand-washing and sanitizing, and keeping students home from school if they show symptoms of coronavirus or flu. (School News Network)

All Schools: School hope for the best but prepare for coronavirus anyway

From ultraviolet lights to detect germs to hand washing, area schools are doing a lot to help prevent not only the spread of coronavirus but other flus as well. To learn more, click here.

Photo of the Week: Seeing blue

Citizen Journalism

This week’s Photo of the Week comes from Managing Editor Ken Norris who is currently in Morocco. Morocco’s Blue City is Chefchaouen and it has become a photographer’s dream place because of all the shades of blue. The city was founded in 1471 s a point of defense against the invading Portuguese and why it is blue, where there is a number of legends to that. One is that a Jewish community brought the tradition of painting the buildings blue because it reminded them of God while another story said it was to repel mosquitoes and prevent malaria.

Do you have a photo you would like considered for Photo of the Week? Then email it to Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma at joanne@wktv.org.

Cleaning tips to keeping a healthy homes

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

A lot has happened over the weekend from the governor announcing a shutdown of all bars and restaurants dine-in services until April 6 to many area schools offering to step in and make sure no child goes hungry during this time.

Within only hours of Kent County Health Officer Dr. Adam London signing a Public Health Emergency Order for the county, Governor Gretchen Whitmir announced that as of 3 p.m. today all bars and restaurants will shutdown in-dining services. Carry-out will be available at many locations, so call or text first to check on availability.

Many other businesses must comply with a 50 percent occupancy. So if the building’s occupancy capacity is 100, during the lock-down it may only have 50. This is to encourage social distancing, which means to stay at home as much as possible. If you must go out, it is recommended to be six to 10 feet away from the other person. According to the Centers for Disease Control, social distancing has been one of the key factors to help China and South Korea keep the coronavirus under control or at least curb its spread.

The Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan recently sent out a newsletter with tips from the CDC on how to make your home healthy when it comes to the COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Those guidelines start with the recommendation to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas. Those surfaces include tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, and sinks. How do you do that? Follow these simple guidelines:

Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Gloves should be discarded after each cleaning. Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed.

If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

For disinfection, you can use diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, or an EPA-registered household disinfectant.

If you have a child with asthma, always separate the child from the room being cleaned to avoid the bleach triggering an asthma attack, and do not over-concentrate your cleaning solution.



Prepare a bleach solution:

  • 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water, or
  • 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water
  • Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. 

Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19.

For soft (porous) surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes, remove visible contamination if present and clean with appropriate cleaners indicated for use on these surfaces. After cleaning, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely, or use products with the EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims (examples at this link) that are suitable for porous surfaces.

Follow these guidelines from the CDC to keep your children and family safe during this time.

5 Questions to ask your potential assisted living facility

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Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living


When it’s time to move into an assisted living facility, everyone involved in the move will have a lot of questions. If you are helping a loved one decide which community is right for them, you should be asking a lot of questions during tours.


Before going in, you’ll probably have a general idea of the things you need to know and the topics you’ll want to cover. You definitely need to cover basic housekeeping questions like:

  • Cost and payment options
  • Insurance coverage
  • Waitlist
  • Discharge policy
  • What services are included and which are extra

But, there are other, more specific questions regarding lifestyle, quality of life and the general feel of the facility that you should be asking. Often, these questions reveal more about the community and are more important than the “housekeeping” questions. If you’re looking for assisted living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, or anywhere, make sure to ask the following questions.

What are the “age in place” options?

If your loved one is thinking about leaving their home for assisted living, it’s probably going to be a big change. Once they make the move, consistency will be important and another move will be the last thing on everyone’s mind. Before you choose an assisted living facility, ask about the level of care they can offer if your loved one experiences any health changes or setbacks? Do they have the services to care for them if they experience dementia or if they lose mobility? What about hospice? Is this a community your loved one can stay in as long as they need to? Make sure the next move they make is as permanent as possible.

How many personal items are allowed?

Personal touches are important when it comes to feeling at home in a new environment. How much of their own furniture, decor and home items can your loved one bring with them to their new home? Will they be able to completely outfit their apartment with their own furniture and favorite rugs? Will there be room for their favorite books, pictures, or wall art? Bringing a touch of home may be an important deciding factor in choosing a place so it’s an important question to ask.

What services are offered on site?

The services offered on site can make a facility feel more like a community than just a place. By offering beauty salons, libraries, cafes, mailboxes and even walking paths, residents can make their own appointments and attend them without leaving the facility. This can add a level of independence and they won’t need to rely on rides or public transportation to enjoy these small pleasures.

What are other residents/families saying?

During your tour, take some time to aim questions not just at the staff, but at other residents. Try to time a visit when other families will be visiting so you can chat with them as well. Ask about the general mood of their loved one, their activity levels and what their favorite things to do are.

What types of activities, either within or outside the facility, are offered?

How will the facility help your loved one remain active, engaged and social? While many residents will want to plan and attend their own activities outside the facility, it may be best for some to stay close. For these residents, it’s comforting knowing that there will be activities for them to participate in whether or not they choose to leave the community daily or stay. Daily activities and an active social life are important to everyone’s well-being and are particularly important within an assisted living facility.


Don’t just ask surface level “housekeeping” questions. To get a feel for what life will look like within a community, dig deeper and ask questions that matter.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



The power of purpose

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Volunteering for community events and helping others are great ways to find purpose in your downtime. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay


Do you feel like you know why you’re here?


The answer to that question could determine how you feel day-to-day.


If you’ve found meaning in your life, you’re more likely to be both physically and mentally healthy, a new study reports.


On the other hand, people restlessly searching for meaning in their life are more likely to have worse mental well-being, with their struggle to find purpose negatively affecting their mood, social relationships, psychological health and ability to think and reason.


“We found presence of meaning was associated with better physical functioning and better mental functioning,” said senior study author Dr. Dilip Jeste. He is senior associate dean for the Center for Healthy Aging at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine.


“Many think about the meaning and purpose in life from a philosophical perspective, but meaning in life is associated with better health, wellness and perhaps longevity,” Jeste continued. “Those with meaning in life are happier and healthier than those without it.”


This conclusion comes from a three-year study of more than 1,000 people aged 21 and older living in San Diego County.


All participants were asked to fill out a battery of questionnaires that assessed their physical and mental health, as well as how sharp their brains function.


They also filled out a questionnaire aimed at determining the amount of meaning they’d found in life, as well as their continued search for meaning.


Meaning in life is a very individualized concept, Jeste said. It could be drawn from your faith or from your family, from your work or your community service, or your role in society.


Jeste and his colleagues found that as people get older, they tend to follow along a U-shaped curve in their search for meaning in life.


The search for meaning is high in young adulthood, as people make decisions about career and education and family that will shape the rest of their lives, the study reports.


“That’s a period of considerable anxiety. You are desperately searching for meaning, but you haven’t found it,” Jeste said of people in their 20s.


As people grow older and settle into their lives, they are more and more likely to discover the things that give their lives meaning, the researchers found.


But then, as people enter their old age, the search for life’s meaning again starts to roil within them, results show.


Physical and mental infirmity challenges their notion of themselves—and the increasingly frequent deaths of family and friends force them to contend with grief and their own mortality, Jeste said.


“They start questioning the meaning that they’d found in life at an earlier age and they start searching again,” Jeste said. “The purpose at 75 cannot be the same as that at 35.”


These big questions—and whether you’re still looking for the answers, at whatever age—are associated with your personal health, results show.


Contentment with life was associated with better physical and mental health, while a continuing search for meaning was associated with poorer mental health and less effective brain function, the study showed.


You could imagine that a doctor finds meaning in their life because they help people who are suffering, and that provides them with satisfaction and a solid base for happiness, said Dr. Philip Muskin, a professor of psychiatry with the Columbia University Medical Center, in New York City.


On the other hand, a doctor suffering from burnout who questions whether they’re really helping others isn’t going to be either happy or healthy.


“If you are still searching for meaning as a physician, that is likely to make you unhappy,” Muskin said. “Not necessarily depressed, but if you are still searching for meaning that is likely to make you uncomfortable in life.”


So what can you do to provide yourself with a firmer understanding of your life’s purpose?


Jeste suggests that the Serenity Prayer provides one blueprint—accepting the things in life you can’t change while working to improve the things you can.


“You can find the things that you can do that make you happy and that are useful to others,” Jeste said. “By doing that, you create your own value to society.”


Thoughtful conversation also can help, Muskin said, either with your friends or your family, or a religious figure or a therapist.


“Ask yourself the hard question. What is it I want to get out of this?” Muskin said. “Meaning comes from many different sources, and if you truly feel you don’t have meaning, you should sit with someone and have that conversation. What are we doing?”


Middle-aged people can help maintain the meaning they’ve found in life by making solid plans for what they will do in retirement, Muskin added.


“I see this all the time in my practice—people who retire into nothing,” Muskin said. “They have made no plans. They were professionals for years and decided to retire and their lives are empty. Now they’re searching for meaning in life because what they did and who they were never much separated.”


The new study was published online recently the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



List of closures increases as Gardens, Civic, KDL all close

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

In response to the COVID-19 — more commonly called the coronavirus — several organizations today have announced closures. Remember, if you have an event you are planning to attend, double check by calling or visit the event’s website to confirm the event will be taking place.

The Kent District Library (KDL) Kentwood Branch Library. (WKTV)

Kent District Library

In a statement released today, KDL officials said that in the interest of mitigating the impact of the virus, all branches are closed to the public. Programs, outreach visits, bookmobile visits, and book sales are cancelled. KDL is planning to reopen all its branches when schools are scheduled to reopen on April 6.

The staff is explored alternative ways to continue providing service. For updates, visit the KDL.org/coronavrius and the KDL social media pages. The library does provides many digital services such as:

  • Audiobooks, movies, music and more at kdl.org/downloads
  • Magazines, databases and other online resources at kdl.org/research
  • Online reading clubs: download the Beanstack application for your smartphones (search for “Beanstack” in your online app store).


For assistance or more information visit kdl.org or call 616-784-2007.

Grand Rapids Public Library

The Grand Rapids Public Library also has closed until further notice. For updates on the Grand Rapids Public Museum, visit grpl.org.

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

The plan was for Grand Rapids Civic Theatre to continue performances but this morning the organization announced it was suspending the rest of the run of “Matilda: The Musical.”

Civic will be offering all patrons who have purchased tickets a voucher for a future show. Officials are asking that patrons not call the box office at this time. All tickets have been recorded and staff will be contacting patrons individually to assist with rain checks. Patrons also will be given the opportunity to donate the cost of their ticket back to the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre to help offset the company’s lost from the show. For pressing concerns about Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, call 616-222-6650.

Postponed: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Broadway Grand Rapids

Broadway Grand Rapids announced to patrons that due to the governor’s order to cancel or postpone gatherings of 250 persons or more, the organization has postpone the rest of the run for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Patrons with tickets should hang on to those tickets as the BGR is hoping to bring the show back.

Performances of “Ecsape of Margaritaville,” which are May 26-31, are expected to go on as scheduled.

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is closed until further notice. (Supplied)

Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum has closed until further notice. Private events scheduled at the Pubic Museum that are under the 250 persons (guests and staff) threshold will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Earlier this week, the Museum had announced that its Free Day set for March 15 had been postponed.

While there has been no confirmed coronavirus cases connected to the Museum, officials have announced that staff been performing rigorous cleaning routines and there are plans to announce next steps soon.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has closed temporarily. Classes will continue unless otherwise notified. However, anyone signed up for a class through April 12, 2020 may request a full refund. Private events happening at Meijer Gardens during this time will take place if guests and staff are under the 100-person threshold. Event hosts will be contacted by their event coordinator.

To kept up-to-date on Garden activities, visit meijergardens.org.

Grand Rapids Symphony

Yesterday, the Grand Rapids Symphony announced it has cancelled all performances for the next 30 days, until April 10.

Ticket inquiries and requests will be answered by phone on a limited basis. Tickets for cancelled concerts maybe exchanged for upcoming concerts later this season or for the 2020-2021 season. Exchanges may be mailed to: 

Ticket Exchange

Grand Rapids Symphony

300 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 100

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

LowellArts

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and in support of the Governor’s and CDC’s request the LowellArts has decided to cancel/postpone any live events for the next 30 days (including tonight’s LaughFest event). The gallery will remain open with officials stating their plans for future events subject to the conditions at that time. For more information, visit lowellartsmi.org.

Kent County elections leaders discuss busy voting season on WKTV Journal In Focus

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By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

Michigan voters are starting a busy election with the just-completed presidential primary, so on the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus we offer a review of how the State of Michigan in general — and Kent County in specific — handle elections so that they provide voter accessibility, ballot security and accurate results.

With us is Lisa Posthumus Lyons, Kent County Clerk and Register of Deeds, who was elected to the position in 2016 after serving three terms as a Republican in the Michigan House of Representatives. Also with us is county elections director Gerrid Uzarski, who was appointed by Ms. Lyons in late 2017 and, previously worked for ElectionSource, a local company which, along with Dominion Voting Systems, is contracted by the state to provide election hardware and software.

WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

Grand Rapids Public Museum to host free day March 15

Citizen Journalism,
Finny, the finback whale skeleton, greats visitors as the enter the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Supplied)

Editor’s Note: This event has been postpone.

By Christie Bender
Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today that in partnership with Kent County Farm Bureau, they will be offering a Museum Free Day for the third year in a row. On March 15, 2020, the GRPM will open their doors free of charge for visitors to explore the Museum’s three floors of core exhibits. 

“We’re thrilled to offer a Free Day at the Museum to the community for yet another year,” said Kate Kocienski, VP of Marketing and PR for the GRPM. “We truly appreciate our partnership with the Kent County Farm Bureau because it continues to give the gift of curiosity for visitors of all to explore science, history and culture at the Museum without the barrier of an admission fee.”

The Free Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 15. Kent County Farm Bureau will have additional agriculture themed hands-on activities available as part of the day. Visitors can participate in an apple taste test and vote on their favorite apple variety, as well as learn how to milk a cow by interacting with “Casey the Cow” a life-size cow figure. Educational handouts of My Food Plate will be distributed as well as free apples, and other snacks on a first come, first serve basis. For additional information or to reserve your free ticket, please visit grpm.org, click the purchase tickets link and select March 15 for date of visit to receive free admission.

“Kent County Farm Bureau looks forward to once again partnering with the Grand Rapids Public Museum to welcome friends into the Museum free of charge,” said Bill Seif, Kent County Farm Bureau President. “On behalf of more than 1,200 Kent County farmers, we are delighted to work with the GRPM to continue inviting the community to learn more about our agriculture and food production through this experience.” 

The GRPM is a place of never-ending inspiration and discovery, featuring three floors of hands-on fun and educational exhibits for visitors of all ages to explore. Visitor favorites include the Streets of Old Grand Rapids, an immersive exhibit that transports visitors back to 19th century of downtown Grand Rapids, and West Michigan Habitats, an exhibit that showcases the vast wildlife found in West Michigan.

Take a trip down memory lane in the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s “TOYS!” exhibit.

Special exhibits TOYS! and Design Zone will be included free of charge for visitors to enjoy on the Museum’s Free Day. TOYS! is an interactive, multi-generational exhibition of toys and games that rekindle childhood memories and spark the creation of new ones. In Design Zone, visitors explore a variety of concepts to learn the processes and tools needed to create a successful design by engaging with interactive games and activities.

 

Additional experiences for visitors include the special traveling exhibit Bodies Revealed and planetarium shows that are available for an additional charge.

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is located at 272 Pearl St. SW. For more information, visit grpm.org.

10 tips for a safer home

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An emergency health kit is a must-have component in bolstering home safety. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Len Canter, HealthDay


Here are 10 suggestions from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  1. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every month. Yes, this is an addition to changing the batteries once a year.
  2. Wash your child’s toys just as you do your hands. (Think of how much time they spend on the floor.)
  3. Wipe up spills as soon as they happen to avoid bacteria growth.
  4. Put together a mini health kit and tuck it into your daily tote. Include adhesive bandages, alcohol wipes, pain relief medication, hand sanitizer, a mini tube of sun protection and an instant ice pack.
  5. Make that wellness appointment you’ve been putting off. Ask if you need a tetanus booster. It’s a must every 10 years.
  6. Put the poison control number—800.222.1222—on all phones and make sure all family members know when to call it.
  7. Before leaving the house do a double check for safety. That means putting on sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for a walk and other activities, or a helmet and other gear for bike riding, or looking at the treads of your shoes before a run.
  8. Schedule a radon test for the air in your home. Have your water checked if you get it from a private well.
  9. Change your contact lenses on the right schedule. Don’t risk eye health by trying to extend their life past the prescribed usage, whether they’re dailies, monthlies or anything in between.
  10. Can’t do a full floss after lunch? Use dental picks to get rid of food caught between your teeth and prevent bacteria buildup.

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.




Want to keep sharp? Stay social

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Staying engaged socially and creatively at age 50 and beyond could help you ward off mental decline. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay


The evidence continues to mount that staying socially engaged as you age helps keep dementia at bay.


In a new study, British researchers found that being socially active in your 50s and 60s may reduce the risk of developing dementia.


The findings showed that people in their 60s who interacted with friends nearly every day had a 12% lower risk of developing dementia than people who saw a couple of friends every few months.


“This has important implications for people in middle-age as it suggests that keeping socially active is important for brain health. We know that it has other health benefits in terms of benefiting physical and mental health,” said lead researcher Andrew Sommerlad, a research fellow in the division of psychiatry at University College London.


Social activity during midlife was linked with better memory and reasoning skills, he said.


“We think this may be because social contact gives us a chance to exercise different aspects of thinking, like memory and language, which may make people more resilient against the damage which accumulates in the brain in people who develop dementia,” Sommerlad explained.


For the study, Sommerlad and his colleagues collected data on more than 10,200 people who took part in the Whitehall II study between 1985 and 2013. During that time, the participants were asked about their contact with friends and relatives.


In 1997, the study participants also took tests of their thinking abilities. The group was followed until 2017.


The researchers also found an association between being socially active and dementia risk for those who were 50 and 70, but it wasn’t statistically significant.


Sommerlad said that other studies have shown similar results, but this study followed people for a much longer time.


“This gives us much more confidence in the idea that more social contact may reduce dementia risk, although a study like this can never definitively prove it,” he said, since it can only show an association.


In any case, Sommerlad encouraged people to stay connected.


Dr. Sam Gandy is director of the Mount Sinai Center for Cognitive Health and NFL Neurological Care in New York City. He said, “I tend to believe these findings are correct.”


Many studies have shown that being mentally and physically active affects keeping the mind sharp, he noted.


“Physical activity, mental stimulation and social engagement are popping up in these studies left and right all around the world,” Gandy said.


Some patients in these studies may have the beginnings of mild cognitive impairment, which is an early stage of dementia, he said. But he is confident that this possibility is well known and researchers can take it into account.


The bottom line for Gandy is that keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol low and maintaining a healthy weight along with eating a healthy diet—and staying mentally and socially active—is the best recipe for delaying or preventing dementia.


Some studies have suggested that even people with dementia can benefit from a healthy lifestyle, he added.


Gandy thinks that for those with early signs of dementia, these interventions might have some value.


“But not for those with mid- to late-stage dementia or those who are bed-bound,” he said.


The report was published online recently in PLOS Medicine.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



A Tale of Two Cities: The Truth behind Grand Rapids Brewing in Muskegon

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, ,

Jackie Huss
Lakeshore Museum Center

It sounds bizarre to many that a company named Grand Rapids Brewing Co. bottled its product in Muskegon. Hear the story behind it, a bubbly narrative, as uncovered by a man who traced the corporate history of those that once brewed our beer. The one-night Lakeshore Museum Center event “The Curious History of Grand Rapids Brewing in Muskegon” hosts West Michigan author Pat Evans and his research on the surprising history of Muskegon beer. The event coincides well with the museum’s latest exhibit “Cheers! A History of Brewing in Muskegon”.

“Our exhibit content manager, Aaron Mace, came across this book in research. The author now lives in Las Vegas, so it’s a rare opportunity to talk to him while he’s back in town,” said Lakeshore Museum Center Program Manager Jackie Huss. “It’s a little known fact that Grand Rapids Brewing Co. operated out of Muskegon, so it’s a great opportunity to learn more about Muskegon’s unique brewing history.”

Evans, author of Grand Rapids Beer: An Intoxicating History of River City Brewing was a reporter for The Grand Rapids Business Journal for five years. He also regularly contributed to Grand Rapids Magazine as a food and sports writer. His work as a corporate historian allows him to combine his passion for both history and hops to explain just how Grand Rapids Brewing Co. ended up in Muskegon.

Cheers! A history of brewing in Muskegon is currently running at the Lakeshore Museum Center through Aug. 8.



“Not a lot of history books cover beer. I think beer is often forgotten,” Evans said when the book was released in 2015. “I think people will be surprised that there’s that much of a beer history… to know that Grand Rapids Brewing Co. back then was bigger than Founders is now.”

This one-night event on Wednesday, March 18, at 5:30 p.m. is free to all Muskegon County Residents and $5 for non-residents via Eventbrite. Copies of Evan’s book will be available for purchase and signing. To learn more about this event, contact Jackie Huss at jackie@lakeshoremuseum.org​ ​or call 231-724-5526.

Weekend binge? Brace for week-long woes

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Food, Health, How-To's, Senior Living, , ,
A devil-may-care diet on the weekends can wreak long-lasting havoc on your gut microbiome. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Len Canter, HealthDay


Do you eat healthy during the week, then ease off the brakes on the weekend? You’re not alone.


But such a five days on-two days off eating regimen can erode diet quality, according to a study published recently in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.


Not only did participants take in more calories on weekends than on weekdays, they were less healthy calories, to boot.


They consumed more alcohol and fat, and ate less of the good stuff, like yogurt, fruits, dark green and orange vegetables, chicken, nuts and seeds, and whole grains.


And if the calories you consume on the weekend exceed the number you take in during the week, that’s a net surplus—read: weight gain.


Besides stalling any weight-loss efforts, weekend junk-food binges can also negatively impact the healthy bacteria in your gut.


A lab study published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research found that cycling on and off junk food was almost as detrimental to the delicate balance of the gut microbiome as eating it all the time.


In particular, a junk-food diet reduces the microbes needed to metabolize flavonoids, a category of micronutrients thought to help with weight loss and brain health.


If you look forward to letting loose on the weekends, find other ways to unwind.


For instance, try a new activity—you’ll burn more calories and boost your weight-loss (or control) efforts.


If going out for a big brunch is your downfall, schedule a trip to the gym instead.


Weekends are also perfect for doing some healthy cooking. Make enough to have for brown-bag lunches so weekday eating is more satisfying.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.




How to plan the move to assisted living

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, How-To's, Senior Living
Courtesy of Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living


Though the decision to move to assisted living may be bittersweet or difficult, making the process of moving easy and fun can help a new resident settle in more quickly and begin the enriching lifestyle that assisted living communities provide. Here is a rough timeline of how to plan the move to assisted living in the coming year. Let’s get started!

6+ Months ahead: 

Six months or more ahead of the move may seem like a long ways away, but it’s never too soon to start decluttering. Start sorting out keepsakes, allowing plenty of time and opportunities to talk about the memories associated with them. Friends and family may feel similarly attached to objects such as childhood artwork or trophies, so it’s great to get everyone involved in this first stage. Giving things full of memories to family is a great way to keep them around while decluttering. If you can, limit sorting to only about one to two hours per day, and keep things light and companionable.


In terms of logistics, gather up important or sensitive documents, and if necessary, go over them with trusted accountants, doctors, and other professionals to determine what needs to be kept.


It’s also time to begin searching for a real estate agent, if necessary. Gather a few options and go with the best fit for you.


Also, start planning creative meals with pantry and frozen food items. Who knows what you’ll come up with?

3 Months ahead: 

Contact your assisted living community and obtain a floor plan for you or your loved one’s future apartment. Start planning what goes where, and don’t be afraid of downsizing. Make lists! Are you giving furniture to friends and family, and if so, who gets what? What are essential medications and toiletries that need to get to the apartment? Start decluttering in earnest, and research moving companies if finances allow.

2 Months ahead: 

Visit the assisted living community and start getting familiar with their facilities. Making a new home is daunting, but the more comfortable you are with the space before you move, the better. Plan a garage sale and start donating any furniture, decorations, clothing, or other items. It’s also important to make plans for any pets – can they come with you, or do they need another home?

1 Month ahead: 

Buy packing materials, such as boxes, tape, and labels, and start packing non-essential items slowly. Be sure to label everything clearly to make unpacking simple. Start donating frozen and canned foods to local food pantries.


This is also a great point to notify the post office, utilities, banks, credit cards, and others about you or your loved one’s change of address. Make a list of everywhere your address needs to be changed and check it off as you go.

2 Weeks ahead: 

Get family and friends together for packing and cleaning. Leave no stone unturned! Coordinate plants and valuables, and consider leaving them in a trusted family member’s care so they don’t get neglected in the action.

1 Week ahead: 

Pack a day-of-the-move kit, including toiletries, clothes, and bedding. Check and double check rooms, and get rid of any remaining food in order to defrost the refrigerator.

Moving day: 

Work with your movers on fragile or special pieces, but most of all, stay relaxed. You’ve done all the legwork, so focus on you and your loved ones today.

After move-in: 

Arrange lots of visits with family, and make a goal to try out one new activity every day. Pretty soon, it’ll feel just like home!


Moving to assisted living in Michigan doesn’t have to be a hassle. By leaving yourself plenty of time and doing things little by little, your 2018 move will be just an exciting next step.


Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.



East Grand Rapids’ free-throw shooting ends East Kentwood upset bid in girls District Championship battle

Citizen Journalism, Education, Kentwood Public Schools, Sports, WKTV Featured sports, ,
The 2019-20 East Kentwood High School girls basketball team. (East Kentwood Falcons)

By Mike Moll, WKTV Sport Director
sports@wktv.org

The East Grand Rapids Pioneers were crowned Division 1 District 10 champions Friday, March 6, after defeating the East Kentwood Falcons for a second time this season, 56-53, at Caledonia High School.

It was a game where the Falcons had visions of bringing the championship trophy back to East Kentwood until they committed three consecutive turnovers inside the last two minutes of the game and East Grand Rapids displayed amazing free throw shooting throughout the game.

East Kentwood finishes the year at 19-4 while East Grand Rapids moves to 21-1 and advances to the Division 1 Regionals at West Ottawa to meet 21-2 Muskegon Reeths-Puffer Tuesday, March 10.

The game started off basket-for-basket until the Pioneers ran off 12 of the final 14 points in the first quarter to take a 16-6 lead. East Grand Rapids was led by Jillian Brown with 5 points in the quarter, while East Kentwood had three scorers with two each, Raven Jemison, Kaybriana Hallman, and Madisyn Tillman.

The theme of the night was turnovers right from the first quarter as the Falcons committed seven compared to just two by the Pioneers.

The second quarter had the Falcons getting their offense rolling as they scored 15 points in the quarter, led by Alexis McCully with four including a triple and a free throw along with a three by Deyonce Thompson. Even with that production, the closest they could cut the deficit to was eight as EGR countered with 13 of their own, led again by Brown with six to maintain the lead at the break, 29-21. Just as in the first quarter, the difference was East Grand Rapids capitalizing on four turnovers compared to just another two of their own.

The Falcons were much more aggressive on both ends of the floor after the break and were able to take advantage as the Pioneers more than doubled their turnover total of the first half in just the third quarter with 5. McCully was the main force as she totaled seven points in the stanza but had support as Hallman and Tillman each had four, cutting the lead to just a pair entering the final quarter 40-38. EGR’s sophomore Alli Carlson was responsible for the difference as she had five points.

The final quarter had two ties and two lead changes, as the Falcons were able to go on a 10-1 run to go from down three to what seemed like a huge lead inside the 2-minute mark, 50-44, as they held the Pioneers to no field goals over a 4-minute window. East Kentwood was led by junior McCully with nine points in the final quarter, but after back to back turnovers by EK, and Jillian Brown converting two free throws and a three by her freshman sister Macy Brown, the lead was cut to just one with 1:27 left.

The turnover issues continued for East Kentwood on a third consecutive trip on offense and after a foul on the defensive end, Jillian Brown made two more free throws to give the lead back to EGR with under a minute to play. That was a lead they would not relinquish as the Falcons could only counter with three free throws over the last minute to fall short in the end compared to near perfect free throw shooting for EGR.

The turnover war was the final enemy in that quarter as EK committed seven compared to just two for EGR.

On the night, the Falcons were led by McCully with 20 points, Jemison with nine, Hallman and Tillman with eight each. EGR only had five field goals in the entire second half but countered that low number by making 14-of-17 free throws in the half, including 10-of-12 for Jillian Brown alone, and Carlson was 3-of-4 in the fourth quarter. As a team, East Grand Rapids was 16-of-19 for the game. They were led by Jillian Brown with 21 points, Carlson 16, and Macy Brown with 10.

Snapshots: Three ‘scenes’ to check out this weekend, next week

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“Harry doesn’t mind, if he doesn’t, make the scene. He’s got a daytime job, he’s doing alright.”

Dire Straits, “Sultans of Swing”
Kids of all ages and butterflies mix at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition. (WKTV)

The spring butterfly scene

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition — reportedly the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the nation — is bringing more than 7,000 tropical butterflies to West Michigan. Go here for the story.

Laurie Sears. (Courtesy of the artist)

The jazz club scene

The Listening Room’s jazz series featuring the Robin Connell Trio with guests will continue Saturday, March 7, with singer Mary Rademacher and saxophonist Laurie Sears as guest performers. Go here for the story.

One local resident enjoys his food at a past year’s Taste of Kentwood event.

The foodie scene

The City of Kentwood invites residents and all West Michiganders of all ages to a celebration of food, fun and local business at a community-celebration event, Taste of Kentwood, on Thursday, March 12. Go here for the story.

Fun fact:

Who ‘d foodie?

Some say the word “foodie” originated with the “The Official Foodie Handbook” by Ann Barr and Paul Levy, an 1984 British volume that made merciless fun of the food-obsessed. Source.

Adventures in Michigan: Crystal Mountain set for snow, sun, fun throughout March

Citizen Journalism,

By West Michigan Tourist Association

Crystal Mountain is tapping into spring excitement with four themed weekends during the month of March, all of which feature live outdoor entertainment and fun on-hill competitions and lift ticket discounts for those in costume.

As backyards begin to show signs of spring in March, it’s traditionally a much different story “Up North” as a 50-inch packed snow base holds strong for skiing and snowboarding at Crystal Mountain. The resort plans to soak up the sun and bluebird skies, making the most of winter’s last blast with a month-long celebration featuring bands, food and drink right at the base of the slopes.

“We make the most of winter every March,” John Melcher, chief operating officer, said. “There will be lots of activities for guests of all ages, outside and inside. It will be a great time to come out and enjoy Crystal Mountain and make the most of the rest of winter.”

Here’s a list of some of what’s in store for March at the Mountain:

Mardi Gras on the Mountain, March 6-7

“Let the good times roll!” on Crystal Mountain. Mask making, costume contests, slopeside deejay, a Mardi Gras cookout with BBQ and seafood boil, beads for the entire family and more highlight the first weekend of March at the Mountain.

Spring Carnival, March 13-14

The weekend kicks off with the Cardboard Classic and Slush Cup. Enjoy the slopeside deejay and cookout and stay for the after-party in the Vista Lounge with music from Skarcasm.

Celts and Kayaks, March 21

St. Patrick’s Day weekend features plenty of Irish fare, Celtic dancers, family fun activities like the Shamrock Search with the popular on hill Kayak race and second round of the Slush Cup. Look for Leprechauns! Stay afterward for the free slopeside concert featuring the band Typo.

Retro Day, March 28

Take on Thor’s Challenge and race straight up Thor, or join our Rubik’s Cube contest. There will be lots of retro activities and a free concert featuring the band Risqué.

Spring Break = Free Skiing, March 22 to April 4

Stay, play and relax with free skiing and activities for the whole family. At Crystal Mountain, stay with us March 22 through April 4 in hotel-style accommodations, with room rates starting at $129 per night. Stay at least two nights and get free skiing.

For more information about March on the Mountain, visit www.crystalmountain.com/event/march-at-the-mountain/

6 weight loss tips to FIT into your schedule

Citizen Journalism
Walking is free

By Dr. Abha Varma, Adult Medicine Physician at Heart of the City Health Center Adult Medicine


Your doctor tells you to lose weight. And you already know this, but it isn’t easy. The following statements may seem obvious, but they can work for you if you commit to a few:

IF YOU DON’T BUY IT, YOU CAN’T EAT IT

Well, duh. But it’s true. If it is not available in your pantry or your fridge, you cannot drink the soda, eat the bag of chips, or indulge in a dish of ice cream.

STAY IN YOUR LANE

Avoid the interior of the grocery store where the cookies and two liters live. Stay on the perimeter or outer circle where the milk, eggs, produce and healthy meats are. There isn’t frozen pizza on the outer sections. You have to walk the distance to arrive at those salty late-night snack attack boxes, so stay on the outer lane and eat to your health.

WALKING IS FREE

Do not long for that gym membership and put off the exercise when the ground beneath you is free and available. When it’s nice out, you should have tennis shoes and socks on and enjoy that walk through the neighborhood. I tell my patients to take advantage of the sidewalks, downtown attractions and bridges along Grand River by going for a cleansing walk after our downtown visits. No excuses — walking is free!

COUNT YOUR STEPS

10,000 steps a day takes a pound of fat off each week. Check your smart phone and clock your steps. Each 2,200 steps is a mile. Don’t stop after one, keep going, take an hour. For all the hours we spend on our back sleeping (7-9 hours) and sitting (another 4-8 hours), we most definitely have an hour to spend walking for our health.

TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR BEST YOU

Find your best you and achieve that. Celebrate with a photograph of your goal or your best self in your wallet or on your desk. Know that your goals are achievable as long as you make your health a priority. Don’t long for what was, work for what still can be.

YES, YOU CAN!

Find a verse in your text of choice, or affirmations on success.com and keep the positive words flowing.

  • “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” – Lao Tzu
  • “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse.” – Florence Nightingale
  • “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Say it, believe it, live it.


Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health.


Yoga over 60: It’s not too late to get started

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, Senior Living
Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living


Starting yoga at or after 60 is extremely beneficial to your joints, muscles, bones and for your flexibility. It also allows you to stay mentally fit even as you experience changes in your body. Instead of focusing on what you do, start by focusing on how you do it. Some poses may require you to use a chair or extra mats for comfort. Prioritize your well-being at all times; get an instructor or studio with experience working with yogis over 60 to help you get started. Speak to your doctor in advance if you have pre-existing condition that may affect your flexibility.


Some of the poses to help you get started with yoga at 60 started include:

Tree pose

The tree pose helps you with your balance.

  • Place your feet together firmly on the ground
  • Slightly lift one leg, with the toes touching the ground and the heel touching the inner part of your ankle. Hold it for up to 30 seconds if possible and repeat with the other leg.

As your balance improves, move your raised foot upward; the goal is to try and get the leg to rest above your knee.

Warrior II

Warrior II is a standing pose that strengthens your lower body, stretches the hip area and improves your bone density.

  • Place your feet firmly on the ground at hip-distance, and your arms resting on your side.
  • Turn right and move your right foot up to 4-feet wide at a 90-degree angle.
  • Take a deep breath, lift your arms to shoulder height, and exhale. As you exhale, lower your right leg, allowing the thigh to stay parallel with the floor and your lift leg straight. Try to hold it for up to 30 seconds and focus your energy on your breathing.
  • Release slowly and repeat with the other leg.

Bridge

The bridge pose is an excellent choice for your hips and lower back, especially if you spent many years working at a desk or if you have not stayed active over the years.

  • Lie flat on your back, allowing your feet to rest flat on the floor, keep them apart at hip distance under the knees with your arms resting straight on your side.
  • Feel the floor, breath in and press your hands to the floor.
  • As you exhale, squeeze your ab muscles, lift your pelvis and spine off the ground and try to get them into the bridge position. Try to hold it for up to 30 seconds, and release slowly starting with the shoulders until you are lying flat on the floor again, with a towel or a blanket under your shoulders for extra support.

Yoga improves lives; it reduces anxiety, stress and depression, it lowers the risk of obesity, cancer, cardiac conditions and diabetes, improves performance and makes you feel good. Start slowly with simple poses and advance gradually to stretch your body further and hold poses longer. You will also enjoy the reflective activities that allow you to focus your energy inwards.


Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.



South Christian opens girls basketball district play with win over Grand River Prep

Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Education, Sports, WKTV Featured sports,
South Christian High School girls basketball, game preview graphic. (From South Christian Facebook page)

By Mike Moll, WKTV Sports Director
sports@wktv.org

The Michigan High School Athletic Association tipped off March Madness girls-style Monday, as district play opened throughout the state. A pair of WKTV’s local teams met at South Christian where the Sailors entertained the Titans from Grand River Prep.


When the final buzzer was heard, the Sailors advanced to Wednesday night’s semi-final matchup after their 49-28 victory.


The game plan for the Titans was to get the ball low and they were able to do that multiple times early, but the shots were simply not falling for center Shaelyn Robinson nor guard Gabby Koon.

The first points were scored on a pair of free throws early in the game by Robinson and, after a tying basket and a made free throw by South Christian, the floor leader for Grand River Prep, senior Shaniah Jones, who would later leave the game with a shoulder injury, scored her only two points on the night to give Grand River Prep a 4–3 lead.

The Sailors then began their dominance and would continue it through the end of the third quarter as they would outscore the Titans 8-0 during the remainder of the first, 13-2 in the second to take a 24-6 lead at the break, and then 14-6 in the third quarter to have the game well in control, 38-12 heading into the final stanza.

Grand River Prep came to life in the final quarter from long distance as Abigail Rivera-Sosa, Jasmyn Koon, Kiara Walter, and Tiarra Weddle all connected to help the Titans outscore the Sailors 16-11 to close the game. Jasmyn Koon led the Titans with 6 points on the night as they had nine different scorers, but the Sailors had 11 players score, including fourth-quarter 3-pointers by both Taylor Newhof and Josie Vink.

The Sailors were consistent the entire game on both ends of the floor, between their rotation of players and how they scored when playing together by putting up between 11 and 14 points in each quarter.

Sophomore Sydney Vis was the game’s leading scorer with 11, all in the first three quarters, followed by Maria Schrotenboer with 8, and Kinsey Brinkert with 6.


Coach Josh Bouma’s Titans finish the season at 10-7, while Kim Legge’s Sailors improve to 11-10, and will face 7-13 West Michigan Aviation in the second game of Wednesday’s double header.


The other side of the district bracket will pit 13-8 Wayland, after their 56-40 win over 12-9 Hopkins on Monday, against O-K Silver champion Kelloggsville and their 16-4 record. The two winners will meet in the championship game Friday at 7 p.m., also at South Christian.

KLD Staff Picks: Celebrating Women’s History Month

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism,

Adult

Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive

by Stephanie Land 

If you enjoy nonfiction books that are read like a story then you will love this book! Maid is an incredible story of how the author struggled to make ends meet but still managed to raise a child and get a degree. The author’s story sheds light on poverty, and the many hardships people have to overcome to provide for themselves or their families.

– Hollie at Wyoming


The Dutch House

by Ann Patchett 

“Patchett tells an engrossing story of two siblings who grew up in the most beautiful house in town, a house that becomes almost a character in this novel about family, and how we often spend much of our lives trying to go back to figure out and make right our childhoods.”

– Penni at Cascade


Mighty Justice: My Life in Civil Rights

by Dovey Johnson Roundtree 

Mighty Justice: My Life in Civil Rights by Dovey Johnson Roundtree is the life story of a Black woman born in 1914 whose strength, drive, and ambition were truly awe-inspiring. She prevailed in spite of overt and covert racism to graduate from college, become one of the first female officers in the armed services, go to law school, and answer the call to become a minister.

– Susan at Plainfield

Children’s

You Loves Ewe!

by Cece Bell 

Oh my goodness! This book will win the hearts of elementary students and grammar police of any age. Hilarious twists on our weird English language make for a sweet and memorable story.

– Sara at Nelson Township/Sand Lake



Leyla

by Galia Bernstein

The book Leyla by Galia Bernstein is so sweet. Leyla, a young baboon runs from her large family and comes across a lizard who is busy doing nothing. The lizard teaches her how to seek out moments of peace during chaos. Leyla runs back to her family knowing that wherever she goes she can return to peace any time.

– Ashten at Wyoming

Auditions for Circle Theatre’s 2020 season set for this weekend

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, , , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Well it is finally here! Auditions for Circle Theatre’s 2020 Main Stage productions will be this Friday and Saturday. 

Area thespians have until Thursday, March 5, by noon to sign up to audition for any of the five Main Stage productions which include “Disaster!,” May 7 -23; “Moon Over Buffalo,” June 4 – 20; “Always…Patsy Cline,” July 16 – Aug. 1;  “Noises Off,” Aug. 13 – 29; “Hair,” Sept. 10 – 26; and the Magic Circle production “Goldilocks and the Three Pigs,” June 29 – July 1.

On person who is definitely interested in the upcoming auditions is Mike Hull, director of Circle Theatre’s first production, the musical “Disaster!.” Hull and Circle Theatre’s Market and Outreach Specialist Ashlee McGreevy recently visited the WKTV’s “Locally Entertaining” podcast to talk about Circle Theatre’s 68th season which is set to open in June and run through September.

McGreevy said it is an action pack four-months as the theater company hosts the five Main Stage productions, the Magic Circle Theatre show and its popular Concert Series, which will host auditions on March 13 and 14. 

“There really is something for everyone,”McGreevy said, adding that for those who are not interested in being on stage but want to be part of the theater, there are a number of volunteer opportunities including ushering and backstage.

Audition Info

For the Main Stage Musicals (”Disaster!,” “Always…Patsy Cline,” “and “Hair”), all auditions are at one time, in the same room. This means that when auditioning for a musical. attendees will be auditioning for all the musicals at once. Even if they’re only audition for one show, they’ll be auditioning in front of al of the directors of all of the musicals. 

Those who are auditioning should be prepared with 16-32 bars of a prepared song along with sheet music. An accompanist is provided, so singing a cappella or with a music track is not allowed. Those auditioning should note that they may be cut off early while singing if the production team(s) have seen what they needed.

For the Main Stage Plays (“Moon Over Buffalo”  and “Nosies Off”) and Magic Circle (“Goldilocks and the Three Bears”), those auditioning will be asked to read from the script of the show for which they are auditioning and should note that no prepared monologues are necessary. Al plays audition during the same weekend, however; they do audition separately in different rooms. 

If an attendee is auditioning for more than one play, they should sign up for each play and allow enough time to attend each audition. It also helps to let the stage manager or director of each show know that you are auditioning for other shows.

Concert Serie Auditions

Next weekend, March 13 and 14, Circle Theatre will be auditing for its concert series. So even if attendees are auditioning for one show, they will be auditioning for all of the Directors of the concerts. Those auditioning for a concert you will be required to bring two contrasting pieces of music, with 16-32 bars of each, along with sheet music. An accompanist is provided, so singing a cappella or with a music track is not allowed. Those who play an instrument are permitted to accompany themselves. The deadline to sign up for the concert series auditions is Wednesday, March 12.

For more information about auditioning, visit the Circle Theatre website, circletheathre.org. The auditions information is under the “Get Involved” tab.